Manchester United "Pushing" To Sign "Exceptional" £43m Star

Manchester United are "pushing" to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

Plettenberg has recently confirmed that Man United are "monitoring" Leon Goretzka's situation at Bayern Munich, ahead of a potential summer swoop, however the midfielder has made it clear that he wants to stay with the German club.

As such, the Red Devils may continue to pursue other targets, including Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat, who they have recently shown a "serious" interest in, and Mount, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reporting he is "keen" to move to Old Trafford.

Journalist James Ducker recently claimed that United are set to make a £50m bid for the 24-year-old, with the Blues set to demand even more, however a more recent update indicates that a deal could be done for cheaper.

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg confirmed that Erik ten Hag has set his sights on the Englishman, while he also offered some clarity on the price Man United can expect to pay.

The Sky Sports reporter said: "Been told MUFC is pushing a lot! Ten Hag and the bosses share the same opinion about him: They definitely want him! Within the club all are convinced of him.

"Understand he will decide between ManUtd or Liverpool. Price valuation at this stage: €45-50m with bonuses included."

Will Man United sign Mason Mount?

The Red Devils are set to do battle with their bitter rivals for the England international, and one potential advantage they have is that Champions League football is on offer at Old Trafford next season, while Liverpool had to settle for the Europa League.

As such, a move to Man United is surely a very attractive proposition for the Chelsea star, and there is evidence he would be a quality addition to the squad, particularly if he is available for just €45m – €50m (£38m – £43m).

mason-mount-chelsea-derby-leeds-united-championship-academy-charlie-allen

Hailed as "exceptional" by former Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel, the maestro is very astute defensively for an advanced midfielder, ranking in the 87th percentile for tackles completed per 90 over the past year.

While the midfielder's form dipped in the Premier League last season, scoring just three goals, he has previously proven himself as a real threat on the front foot, amassing more goal contributions than any other Chelsea player in the 2021-22 campaign.

Mount would be a solid addition to Ten Hag's squad, and it is promising news that he could be available for less than previous reports suggested.

£200k p/w Spurs Star In Communication With Levy Over Future

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is open to a potential move away from north London this summer but he and his camp are not agitating for a move.

Who wants to sign Harry Kane?

The 29-year-old striker is now coming into the final year of his deal with his boyhood club and speculation as to whether he will see that final season out remains rife.

Indeed, the England captain has finished his campaign for the Lilywhites having shone in what was a seriously underwhelming term for the club.

Kane was able to net a whopping 30 goals in the Premier League which was just six off the league's top scorer Erling Haaland who was playing Pep Guardiola's extraordinary Manchester City side.

And having impressed once again in a Spurs shirt, Kane is believed to have attracted the interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid.

This comes two years after the England captain was believed to be pushing for a move away from north London amid the interest from City.

However, speaking on the Five YouTube channel, David Ornstein has claimed this is not the case this summer with the striker's camp very much in contact with the chairman Daniel Levy:

"As far as I know, he is open to all opportunities, including Real Madrid, I'm not aware that he would not play outside the Premier League like some have suggested."

"Harry Kane, his family, they love Spurs, they're Tottenham supporters, it would do them no greater pleasure than to succeed, win trophies, compete in the Champions League with Tottenham, that is their ideal scenario.

"But we're not living in an ideal world. And that's why they are open to everything. I don't sense they're agitating, like some perceive them to be in the summer of 2021. I think there is communication on this occasion with Daniel Levy, which there wasn't at that time. And so I think things are very calm."

Will Kane sign a new deal?

There are contrasting reports over the interest coming from Madrid now with some claims from Spain suggesting Los Blancos could be willing to wait until next summer to make their move for Kylian Mbappe.

If this is the case then it could possibly halve Kane's options this summer to just United as Erik ten Hag looks to solve their issues up top.

Tottenham Hotspur chairmanDanielLevy

However, it is believed Levy would be willing to allow Kane to run his contract down next season rather than allowing him to leave this summer for the Red Devils.

Given United are said to be so desperate to address their issues at striker this summer, missing out on Kane could potentially see them find an alternative long-term option.

If this were to be the case, then it could put some serious question marks as to where Kane could actually move.

And there is certainly potential for this to work in Tottenham's favour if Kane's options are to fade away as it could leave the £200k-per-week striker open to signing a new deal in north London.

As Ornstein suggests, it appears the striker would be open to staying at Spurs this summer and there is no burning desire to force a move, currently.

So if his options are to fade over the coming months, it could possibly leave Spurs his most attractive offer.

Man United Favourites To Sign "Complete" 28 y/o

Manchester United appear to be in pole position to sign Adrien Rabiot this summer, with the Red Devils considered great favourites for his signature.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

Erik ten Hag seemingly wanted Rabiot at Old Trafford last summer ahead of his first season in charge. The United boss was reportedly on board with a transfer that would have been worth an initial £15m, however, a deal fell through and the midfielder remained at Juventus.

Rabiot was again linked with a move to Manchester prior to the New Year, and it seems as if he is still of interest to United officials after making 48 appearances for his current employers during the 2022/23 season, contributing to 17 goals.

Recent reports have suggested that a concrete offer has already been placed to the player, who is set to become a free agent in a matter of weeks when his Juventus contract officially expires.

Sport Witness have relayed a new update from Spanish outlet AS regarding Rabiot, citing Atletico Madrid’s interest in the player. However, they add that it is United who are the ‘great favourite’ to sign Rabiot at this moment in time in what appears to be a transfer boost for Ten Hag and co.

adrien-rabiot-juventus-man-united-transfers

Who is Adrien Rabiot?

Rabiot would provide Ten Hag with an experienced and versatile option in midfield, with the 28-year-old’s Transfermarkt valuation currently standing at €30m, so from a business perspective, a transfer appears to be a smart one.

He can play as a central, holding or left midfielder and was once labelled as a ‘complete player’ by legendary midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who said:

“He is a complete player, I have rarely seen someone so strong both physically and technically.

“He doesn’t even know the potential for improvement he can have, and we work on the mental side of things to make him understand that he is a champion. He is improving game after game.”

The Red Devils could lose a midfielder of their own this summer with Scott McTominay’s future up in the air, so Rabiot could be viewed as a solid addition after ending the campaign as Juventus' best-performing player, as per WhoScored.

He would bring a winning mentality to United’s squad alongside the likes of Raphael Varane and Casemiro who arrived from Real Madrid in recent years, with the midfielder winning an impressive 24 major honours during his career to date.

Rabiot has come off the back of a season where he has played plenty of football with Juventus, and who knows, his balance could make him a smart signing, possibly featuring alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes next year.

Italy U21s Denied Clear Goal Against France At Euros

The Italy under-21 side were left absolutely furious with the referee during their match against France after their would-be last-minute equaliser was not given despite the ball seemingly crossing the line.

What happened between Italy U21s and France?

This week, the European Under-21 Championship began in Romania and Georgia and the Azzurrini played their first game on Thursday night.

Taking on a talented French team, the Italians initially fell behind when Arnaud Kalimuendo opened the scoring after just 22 minutes.

Still, they were back level before halftime thanks to Pietro Pellegri who headed in a free kick from Newcastle transfer target Sandro Tonali.

After the break, though, Les Bleus restored their lead when Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie lost the ball cheaply inside his own box, allowing Bradley Barcola to fire in what turned out to be the winner.

However, the game probably should have ended 2-2 when Raoul Bellanova had a header cleared off the line by French defender Castello Lukeba.

In reality, it looks as though the ball actually hit the post and then crossed the line before being cleared, but without VAR in use or any goalline technology, the goal was not given.

You can see an image of the incident shared on Twitter below.

While a full replay was uploaded to Reddit.

Understandably the Italian players were incensed, protesting widely with the referee. While their manager Paolo Nicolato proved how enraged he was after the game with some fiery comments.

Indeed, the Italian coach told RAI Sport, as per Football Italia: “Honestly, I struggle to talk about the game today.

“It’s not possible to see refereeing like this and I have the impression it affected the result far too much. We were also unlucky, even if we lost to a great team.

“It was a good performance, we deserved more.”

Fans on social media were equally as baffled. Here are some of the best Twitter reactions…

One fan even pointed out the ball may have then been cleared with the use of a hand too.

Everton May Sell £100k p/w Ace This Summer At Goodison Park

Everton midfielder Amadou Onana could be the 'most likely' player at Goodison Park to be sold this summer, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest transfer news involving Amadou Onana?

As per The Guardian, Chelsea have emerged as suitors for Onana this summer as they look to add some steel in the middle of the park at Stamford Bridge.

The report states that the £100k-a-week ace could be a natural replacement for veteran Chelsea anchorman N'Golo Kante, who is set to move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad at the end of the month.

Manchester United have also been monitoring Onana's situation as Erik Ten Hag seeks to add some more power to his options in the engine room and the Dutchman has signalled his intention to bring the Belgium international to Old Trafford, as per Football Insider.

Everton will play hardball with any sides that are keen on Onana and may demand up to £60 million in order to give themselves a platform for Sean Dyche to rebuild his squad this window, according to claims from the same outlet.

Financial difficulties have engulfed the Toffees of late and it is believed that they are 'under pressure' to sell Onana due to being in 'special measures' with the Premier League as a consequence of accumulating losses of over £370 million in a three-year period, as cited by The Daily Mail.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Brown thinks that Onana is one of the 'most likely' players to depart Everton this summer.

Brown said: "We still really haven't heard exactly what the player himself wants to do. I'd like to hear from Onana whether he really is committed to Everton for the long term or whether he does fancy a move to another club. That's the big question mark here. He didn't really pull up any trees the last few weeks of the season.

"You don't really want to be see your club sell any of its regular first team players… but if it comes to it, I think he's probably the most likely one to go."

Would losing Amadou Onana come as a blow to Everton?

In all likelihood, yes it would, seeing as Onana enjoyed a promising debut campaign as an Everton player and helped them to maintain their league status in the English top-flight.

In 2022/23, the 21-year-old made 35 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees, registering one goal and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Everton'sAmadouOnanareacts

Onana also stood strong in the tackle across the season and successfully averaged 2.2 successful challenges per match in the Premier League, as per WhoScored.

FBRef show that he also had the capacity to get forward from deeper positions and support his teammates, laying on 45 shot-creating actions in total.

Everton will want to keep hold of Onana this summer; however, it may be difficult given the calibre of side keen on taking him off their hands.

Arsenal Could Bin Holding By Signing ‘Special’ Defender

Arsenal are pushing to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, as Mikel Arteta bids to bolster his defensive depth this summer.

The Gunners enjoyed a joyous campaign last season, which they will aim to continue next term with sufficient reinforcements.

Depth in defensive areas was a title-costing problem last campaign, however, is a topic that can be made positive this transfer window.

What’s the latest on Jurrien Timber to Arsenal?

As reported by Fabrizio Romano via his Youtube channel, Arsenal will "bid again" for Timber with their opening offer of £30m rejected.

The Gunners have an ‘agreement with the player’, who is ‘excited’ by the project at the Emirates, as stated by Romano (04:59).

The Athletic’s David Ornstein first reported the news, claiming that Ajax want a fee in the region of £50m for the defender, a price that Arsenal are optimistic to strike a compromise to lower.

What could Jurrien Timber offer to Arsenal?

Following the injury to William Saliba in March, Arteta opted to deploy Rob Holding in his place, in a switch that left the side pining for the Frenchman’s return.

The Englishman was called a “Championship defender” by former Premier League ace Gabriel Agbonlahor, via talkSPORT, and exposed Arsenal’s weaknesses in not having the depth to allow for the absence of Saliba.

Disappointing performances when called upon could signal the end of the 27-year-old’s time in north London this summer, particularly with news emerging regarding Arteta’s ploy to sign Timber.

The Dutchman would be a significant upgrade on Holding and could be the individual to cut the underperforming centre-back loose from the squad, giving Arsenal the chance to bolster their squad with undeniable quality.

Praised as “special” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Timber would be a leap in the right direction for the Gunners to expel the deadwood from their side, adding assured quality in numbers to allow for the challenges that come in a Premier League season.

rob-holding-arsenal-southampton-premier-league-title-ramsdale-arteta

The 22-year-old excels in a variety of areas in comparison to Holding, particularly in terms of his ability to get the ball forward from the back with similar attributes to Arsenal’s favoured centre-back William Saliba.

As per FBref, Timber averages an assured pass completion rate of 91.6%, with Holding averaging behind with 87.6% over the past year.

Taking into consideration his progressive play, Timber could equip Arsenal with another Saliba-style star in place of Holding, with the Englishman averaging 4.35 progressive passes to the Dutchman’s monstrous 8.62 per 90.

Defensively, the 22-year-old comes out on top over the Gunners centre-back, making 1.40 tackles to his 1.07 per 90, as well as 1.25 interceptions to the 27-year-old’s 0.69 per 90, showing the upgrade Arteta could introduce.

With just one year remaining on his contract, Holding’s time at Arsenal could be coming to a close, however, the Gunners are showing indications of progression in their efforts to sign Timber, who has shone as one of the bright stars in Europe this term.

Man City Can Ditch £130k-p/w Dud For £40m Huge Talent

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is not allowing the club's incredible achievements last season to stop him from improving the squad this summer.

The Citizens boss has already added Chelsea central midfielder Mateo Kovacic to his roster after securing the treble of the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup trophies in the 2022/23 campaign.

There could be further changes to the Spanish head coach's options throughout the coming weeks. Arsenal and Juventus are both reportedly interested in signing centre-back Aymeric Laporte, who only played 12 league games last term.

The Spain international found himself below Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake in the pecking order, which could make an exit this summer the right time for the 29-year-old stopper, to avoid another year of irregular game time.

Who could replace Aymeric Laporte at Manchester City?

The Evening Standard recently reported that City are one of a number of clubs showing an interest in Chelsea central defender Levi Colwill, who could be a dream replacement for Laporte.

It has been claimed that the Blues have offered him a new contract to remain at Stamford Bridge but the England U21 international wants to hold talks with Mauricio Pochettino to ascertain his role moving forward before committing to them.

Bringing Colwill in, who may cost around £40m, would allow Guardiola to sanction an exit for the former Athletic Bilbao enforcer as, like the current City man, he is a left-footed defender who can play in the heart of the backline or as a full-back.

Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte.

The 20-year-old would come in as a player with the potential to be an excellent long-term addition to the side, rather than as an immediate upgrade on what the manager already has at his disposal.

This means that he would suit the limited role that the £130k-per-week outcast played last season as the English titan would not be relied upon as a regular starter and would be allowed to ease his way into life at The Etihad.

Colwill, who was once described as a "huge talent" by scout Jacek Kulig, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.76 across 17 Premier League appearances on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion during the 2022/23 campaign, which would place him 19th in the City squad.

However, he averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.10 across 29 Championship outings for Huddersfield in the previous season and that score would rank him ninth for City along with being above the likes of Stones and Dias.

This suggests that the potential is there for the talented youngster to be an outstanding left-footed centre-back if he can adapt to top-flight football and eventually translate his form for the Terriers over to the Premier League.

Therefore, Colwill could be a shrewd long-term investment by Guardiola and City, whilst also allowing the manager to part ways with Laporte before the deadline.

Man United Flop Has Seen His Value Crash By £50m

To say that Harry Maguire's £80m move to Manchester United hasn't worked out would be an understatement. The defender was signed with the intention of replicating Virgil van Dijk's impact at Liverpool, but he's done anything but, and arguably the opposite.

Handed the captain's armband in 2020, the former Leicester defender has since lost his place at Old Trafford, with Erik ten Hag often preferring a centre-back partnership of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

The 6 foot 4 England international particularly struggled in the 2021/22 season, making mistake after mistake as United endured a campaign to forget, finishing outside the Premier League's top four, and as low as sixth.

His struggles have culminated in reports suggesting that a move away could be on the cards this summer, but United may be forced into a significant loss on Maguire's initial record-breaking fee, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

Jones told Football FanCast: “He’s, at the very least, a £30m defender. If you were to really argue his case, you might be able to say he’s a £50m defender, given the fact that he’s got over 50 England caps to his name, and captain of Man United, he’s been established in that England set-up.”

How much is Harry Maguire worth right now?

Making just eight starts last season, Maguire's valuation has never been lower. According to Transfermarkt, the 30-year-old is currently worth just €20m (£17.06m), which is £62.94m less than the fee that United paid for his arrival back in the summer of 2019.

It's no real surprise that his valuation has collapsed, however, given just how mistake-prone he has become over the years. During his time at Old Trafford, he has made seven errors leading to goal, with his performance against Brentford at the start of last season particularly concerning.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.

If you could point out just where Maguire's United career really looked on its way to ending, it was the 4-0 loss against the Bees, who scored four goals in the space of 35 first-half minutes to run riot against the Red Devils.

The result came just one week after Ten Hag's side lost to Brighton & Hove Albion, and saw the club captain lose his place. United went onto defeat Liverpool 2-1 in their next game without Maguire.

Speaking on the defender, Simon Jordan criticised Maguire, saying on talkSPORT: “I’m not worried about people like Maguire being fit. Personally I think he’s a bit of a liability.

“He’s a colossus of a player but turns like an ocean liner. A quick forward is going to run him!”

What happens next with the centre-back remains to be seen, but it looks as though a starting place at United is a long way off from ever happening again. The Red Devils had the third best defensive record in the league without him, and will only continue to improve.

Those at the club may well be forced to simply cut their losses this summer, and move on from what, quite frankly, has been a horrible transfer mistake.

West Ham In The Mix To Sign 24-Year-Old Japan Star This Summer

West Ham are reportedly battling with Fulham for the signing of Fortuna Dusseldorf midfielder Ao Tanaka this summer, according to a fresh update.

Who is Ao Tanaka?

The 24-year-old is currently plying his trade with Dusseldorf in Germany, making 39 starts in the Bundesliga 2 over the past two seasons, shining at the heart of his side's midfield. He has also won 19 caps at international level for Japan, scoring three goals in that time and also appearing three times at the 2022 World Cup, starting two of his country's matches.

It could be that Tanaka is interested in a move away from Dusseldorf during the current transfer window, however, even though his current deal there doesn't expire until the end of the 2024/25 season. A move to a top league is likely to appeal, and it looks as though a switch to the Premier League could potentially be on the cards in the coming weeks.

That's where West Ham come into play, as David Moyes aims to conduct some strong transfer business before the start of the 2023/24 campaign, looking to build on their fantastic UEFA Europa Conference League success last term.

Soccer Football – 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship – South Korea v Japan – Busan Asiad Stadium, Busan, South Korea – December 18, 2019 Japan's Ao Tanaka in action with South Korea's S Jun Ho REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Would West Ham sign Ao Tanaka this summer?

According to Rheinische Post [via Sport Witness], the Hammers are in the conversation to sign Tanaka this summer, but they won't have a clear path when it comes to snapping him up. Fulham are also credited with interest, with West Ham's London rivals also eyeing squad reinforcements with the new Premier League season looming.

It is reportedly "no secret" that Dusseldorf expect to lose the Japan international in the near future because he himself "wants to leave" in the current window. Only €3m (£2.5m) would supposedly be required to prise him away from his current team, making it a cheap piece of business.

Tanaka wouldn't necessarily be a marquee signing by West Ham in the summer, considering he isn't exactly a household name, but he could be a shrewd addition who help fill some of the void left by Declan Rice, assuming his big-money move to Arsenal is eventually announced sooner rather than later.

He has proven himself at a World Cup, averaging one tackle and aerial duel win apiece as last year's tournament, and he is at a good age to come in and bolster the Hammers' squad options, potentially maturing as a player over time and also excelling alongside better players to the ones at Dusseldorf.

In fact, Tanaka was even handed the Player of the Match award after Japan's unforgettable 2-1 victory over Spain at the World Cup, in which he score the winning goal and generally excelled throughout – this should excite West Ham fans who could otherwise potentially feel underwhelmed about the east Londoners signing him.

Granted, signing him alone won't help make up for the incoming huge loss of Rice, who has been such a dominant performer in the middle of the park over the years, but it is a case of finding a number of quality new players in that area, in order to fully make up for his exit.

Man United To Make Fresh Move For 9-Goal Youngster

Manchester United are seemingly not giving up in their efforts to sign Rasmus Hojlund this summer, with Fabrizio Romano revealing they will now move for the striker after wrapping up Andre Onana.

How many goals has Rasmus Hojlund scored for Atalanta?

The 20-year-old has only spent one season with current club Atalanta, but has already caught the eye and showcased his ability in Serie A. He was given 32 league games for the Italian outfit over the course of the 2022/23 season, with 20 starts, and managed to bag nine goals with two assists along the way. They were his best totals in any league to date – showing that he is only getting better with more minutes and more gametime under his belt.

Prior to his move to Atalanta, he had spent time in both Denmark and Austria. Making his league debut with FC Copenhagen at just 17-years-old, he initially struggled to find the back of the net for the club despite making 19 appearances for them (albeit only two of those were actual starts).

The attacker then headed off to Sturm Graz to get regular football and with that came the goals. His first season in Austria led to seven goal contributions in 13 Bundesliga games, and he followed that up with five in five the season after before his switch to Serie A.

rasmus-hojlund-premier-league-man-united-transfers

Have Manchester United made a bid for Rasmus Hojlund?

He's continued to go from strength-to-strength and his potential, as well as his current ability, has led to several sides all eyeing deals to sign him this summer. One of those clubs is Man United, with the Premier League side allegedly having already made a bid to try and bring him in to Old Trafford this window. Their attempts so far though have fallen on deaf ears.

Now, according to a report from Romano, writing for The Guardian, the Red Devils are lining up a new attempt to try and tempt Atalanta into a sale. It's unclear how much they will table to try and sign Hojlund, and Romano actually disputes reports of a previous bid, but he says they have held discussions and will ramp up efforts once the Onana deal is complete. Atalanta will apparently demand around €70m (£60m) to let the player go.

Despite his age, Hojlund has already caught the eye. It's therefore no surprise to see United trying to tie up a deal for an attacker that is currently seen as perhaps one of the hottest properties in his position right now. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig stated that the youngster is a "complete forward" already and added that he has a "huge future".

It means that not only would the Red Devils be getting a player who can immediately come into their frontline and improve it, but could also get even better and become perhaps one of the best strikers in the league. If the club can get a deal sorted then, it could be a really shrewd piece of business.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus