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An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Christian Eriksen during the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Northern Echo reporter Scott Wilson has claimed that the club have held discussions with the player’s agent as they attempt to sign the midfielder in the coming weeks.

He Tweeted: “TRANSFER LATEST: NUFC have held preliminary talks with Christian Eriksen’s representatives – but accept that, at this stage, Man Utd and Tottenham are much likelier destinations for the Dane, who will not be staying at Brentford…”

The Denmark international signed a short-term deal with the Bees in January and can now join another team on a free transfer ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Supporters will be excited

Whilst Newcastle are not the favourites to land him, supporters will be excited by the club’s attempts to snap the gem up and will be buzzing with the prospect of watching the magician in black and white next season.

If the Magpies are able to fight off interest from Tottenham and Manchester United then it would be a huge coup for the club as Eriksen is a brilliant talent who has proven that he is an exceptional Premier League performer.

Prior to spells with Brentford and Inter, the midfielder spent seven seasons in the English top-flight with Spurs and averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.22 or higher in four of those campaigns – with two of them coming before the site registered ratings.

This illustrates how much experience he has in the division and shows that he knows what it takes to deliver high-quality performances on a consistent basis.

After suffering a cardiac arrest at the European Championships, Eriksen made a remarkable return to the Premier League with Brentford in January of this year.

He slotted straight back into his old self as he averaged a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 7.53 across 11 appearances for the club. In that time, he chipped in with one goal and four assists as he created a whopping 2.8 chances per game from central midfield.

These outstanding statistics prove that he still has what it takes to be a brilliant performer in the Premier League, with BBC reporter John Bennett dubbing him a “world-class” player after an impressive display for the Bees against Chelsea.

Therefore, Newcastle supporters will now be excited by the thought of the club signing Eriksen and will be hoping that their team can win the race for his signature.

AND in other news, NUFC can land their own Foden in deal for “explosive” £30m dynamo, he’s “dangerous”…

Tottenham Hotspur have shown no sign of slowing down after completing a deal to sign Premier League star Yves Bissouma, as news emerges on Torino’s Gleison Bremer.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye central defensive upgrade…

Looking to upgrade his options for the 2022/23 campaign, Spurs manager Antonio Conte has set sights on a marquee centre-back signing for his back three, according to reports.

Indeed, The Athletic have named club chief Fabio Paratici’s numerous targets for this role, including Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) and Villarreal colossus Pau Torres.

Bremer is believed to be another player for whom Spurs could make a move, with the Brazilian openly admitting to media that he wants to leave Torino and play in the Champions League.

The north Londoners’ qualification for Europe’s premier club competition at the end of last season could seemingly play a major role, with SportMediaSet now sharing an update on Spurs’ pursuit of the 25-year-old.

The Latest: Tottenham push for Bremer…

According to their information, Tottenham’s ‘pressure has risen’ in the chase to sign Torino’s mainstay ‘in the last few days’.

However, the report also claimed that Serie A giants Inter Milan are ‘on pole’, with Bremer even green-lighting a potential move to the San Siro.

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The South American is apparently a man in demand and Spurs will have to contend with ‘several suitors’ in this particular transfer race.

The Verdict: Continue the battle?

Tottenham could entice Bremer with the prospect of European football and competing in one of the world’s foremost domestic leagues.

It isn’t unreasonable to believe that they could leap ahead of Inter in the race with a proper proposal, and we believe Paratici’s effort could be well worth it.

Bremer stood out as one of Serie A’s best-performing defenders over 2021/22, even making more interceptions than any other player in the Italian top flight and averaging the joint-fifth most clearances per 90 (WhoScored).

It’s hardly surprising that some members of the media have called the 25-year-old an ’emerging superstar’ (Rajath Kumar, ex-Forza Italian Football writer).

Torino president Urbano Cairo has allegedly set a price tag of around €35m (£30m), and this valuation could come as a real bargain given Bremer’s evident talents.

In other news: Tottenham eyeing ‘big’ 183-goal player move, Harry Redknapp called him ‘priceless’! Find out more here

Leeds United’s move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Arnaud Kalimuendo could be ‘a goer’, according to Beren Cross.

The Lowdown: Kalimuendo rumours

The Independent reported last week that the Whites had made an offer for Kalimuendo in the region of €20m (£17.1m).

PSG would like to insert a buy-back clause in any exit for the forward this summer, and reports in Italy have actually suggested that rumoured opening offer may even be enough to meet the Parisians’ price tag.

Kalimuendo has been labelled as a player with ‘a beautiful palette’ and enjoyed a successful loan spell with Lens last season, scoring 12 goals in 34 Ligue 1 games.

The Latest: Cross shares update

Cross replied to a Whites fan in a LeedsLive Q&A on Monday afternoon regarding a possible move for Kalimuendo.

The journalist said that Leeds do ‘like’ the forward but admitted that rumours of an offer may well be ‘wide of the mark’. Cross did add that a transfer ‘could well emerge as a goer’, though.

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“Kalimuendo is one Leeds are understood to like, but talk of a formal bid may be wide of the mark. He’s a striker on a lot of clubs’ shortlists, we are told. He’s not the number one target, but one that could well emerge as a goer.”

The Verdict: One to watch…

A striker appears to be next on the agenda at Elland Road, although Cross has claimed that Leeds could now ‘pause to assess their next step’ after securing three transfers relatively quickly.

It is vital that Victor Orta and Co get an attacking addition spot on to rival the likes of Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season, especially following Bamford’s injury struggles and just four sides scoring fewer goals than Leeds last season.

Kalimuendo is seemingly on the list despite a deal not being as advanced as many believe, and he could be a smart addition. Yes, he doesn’t have Premier League experience, however, he appears to be a future star with 21 senior club goals to his name, and would also be able to play on the left or in a deeper role if required.

In other news: Orta now working on signing 31-goal striker for free; famous Leeds fan may help Elland Road move. 

Newcastle United have been linked with a move for former Real Madrid midfielder Isco.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from AS (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are battling Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma to secure the Spaniard’s signature this summer following his exit from the Bernabeu.

After scoring 17 goals and delivering 12 assists in 84 appearances for Malaga, the midfielder joined Los Blancos during the 2013 summer transfer window.

In 352 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid, the 30-year-old ended up scoring 53 goals, delivering 56 assists and winning numerous trophies including five Champions League titles.

Imagine him and Saint-Maximin

Since the start of the 2017/18 La Liga campaign, Isco – who was picking up a hefty wage of £211k-per-week at the Bernabeu – has racked up 258 shot-creating actions and 150 successful dribbles in the Spanish top flight.

This shows just how creative and tricky player he is for opponents to face and illustrates what he could offer to the Toon should he find himself at St James’ Park this summer.

In fact, when Spain beat Italy 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier in 2017, the Azzurri’s Marco Verratti got a clear picture of how impressive Isco can be.

After that emphatic result, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder said: “I suffered a lot against Isco. I was taken aback by his performance. Not even [Lionel] Messi has come close to that level. When I saw his nutmeg, I felt like standing up and applauding too.”

Bearing in mind how Newcastle ended their previous Premier League campaign with fewer shot-creating actions (653) than the likes of Southampton (732), Leeds United (711) and Everton (667), adding a player like Isco to their ranks could be just what Eddie Howe needs in order to make his side a bit more dynamic going forward.

Allan Saint-Maximin was by far Newcastle’s most creative player in the Premier League last season with more shot-creating actions (114) to his name than any of his team-mates. In terms of a potential move to Tyneside for Isco this summer, the Frenchman’s statistics would suggest that having him and the Spaniard in the same team would make the Magpies a much more dangerous attacking outfit.

With the 30-year-old now a free agent following his departure from Real Madrid, Newcastle and PIF should be doing all they can to beat Roma to his signature and get him to start a new chapter in his career as a Premier League player.

AND in other news: Newcastle “very” keen on deal for “superb” 19 y/o “huge talent”, he could be ASM 2.0

Manchester United are progressing quickly in finalising a deal for Feyenoord’s full-back Tyrell Malacia.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who had the following to say on Twitter: “Tyrell Malacia agents are in direct contact with Manchester United to discuss personal terms. Proposal has been sent, after today’s exclusive update on OL [Lyon] deal hijacked.”

He went on to note the fee, stating that there is “Key hours ahead after full agreement between Man Utd and Feyenoord for €15m plus €2m add ons.”

Supporters will be buzzing

Manchester United’s search for a new left-back could be over, as Erik ten Hag appears to be closing in on his compatriot.

This could spell danger for the underperforming duo of Luke Shaw and Alex Telles, as the Netherlands international has enjoyed a fine personal season.

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He boasts an average SofaScore rating of 7.09, which comfortably beats the 6.88 for Shaw and 6.98 for Telles. This consistent high-performance level and added reliability could be the reason for Ten Hag wanting to revamp this terrible United squad.

Statistically, this is the worst Red Devils outfit of all time, and these two full-backs played their part in equal measure as neither seemed to be able to nail down the starting spot.

It is therefore unsurprising that the 22-year-old who offered five goal contributions in a third-placed Feyenoord side is so desired at Old Trafford.

Conversely, if you combined the attacking output of both United left-backs, they would still only have contributed towards seven goals in the league, just two more than Malacia.

To combine this input into one solid performer, and hopefully recoup a fee on either one of these duds could be in the minds of the United hierarchy.

Earlier this summer, when Ten Hag had played down talks of a move for the defender whilst at Ajax. In a press conference, he stated “We do think he is a good player, yes”, showing how he has held an interest for some time now.

Having disappointed for so long, the new boss will want to gut this terrible squad and add some reliability in players he trusts, rather than the ones that have let down so many managers before him.

This action marks a change in transfer strategy, that does not discriminate and only wants the best to be playing at Old Trafford. Surely this should excite supporters.

AND, in other news: Ten Hag eyeing Man United swoop for “excellent” £50m sensation, imagine him & Bruno.

A big update has emerged on Sunderland and their pursuit of Jack Rudoni in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, the Black Cats have had an offer turned down for the central midfielder as AFC Wimbledon stand firm in negotiations.

The report claims that fellow Championship sides Luton and Huddersfield are also keen on the gem and have had bids of their own knocked back.

It is stated that all three teams are expected to go back in for the Englishman with renewed offers to snap him up from the League One outfit.

Huge Corry Evans upgrade

Kristjaan Speakman must now seal a deal to sign Rudoni as he would be a huge upgrade on Corry Evans in the middle of the park.

The experienced Northern Irishman played 36 times in the third tier last term and struggled to catch the eye as he was largely unimpressive in midfield.

Evans won 51% of his individual ground duels – making 1.3 tackles per game – and did not offer much of a threat going forward as he scored two goals and created two.

Rudoni, meanwhile, won 52% of his battles and made 1.7 tackles per match, which suggests that he was – slightly – better than the Sunderland man in that area.

South London Press reporter Edmund Brack recently showered the gem with praise in an interview with the Bristol Post, saying:

“He’s quite direct. When he picks up the ball, his first thought is always to go towards goal. It’s a 1-2 and then he’s off.

“He’s quite fearless. Anyone his age, they could be affected by the winless run AFC Wimbledon went through last season (the Dons failed to win 28 games in all competitions from December 11 through to the end of the season) but he continued to put in performances, and he nearly kept them up alongside Ayoub Assal and Luke McCormick.”

It is in attack where Rudoni can be a huge upgrade on Evans. The Wimbledon man plundered an impressive 12 goals and five assists in League One – 13 more goal contributions than the Black Cats man managed to produce.

This means that they have a similar level of defensive effectiveness whilst there is a significant gap between their offensive outputs. Therefore, Speakman can improve Alex Neil’s team by signing the League One maestro to replace the ex-Blackburn dud.

AND in other news, Sunderland enter race to sign 22y/o gem who can be “the difference”, he’s Neil’s dream…

Leeds United sent scouts to watch Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz in action during pre-season, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Striker wanted

The Whites have made six signings this summer at a cost of £95m, with winger Luis Sinisterra becoming the latest to pen Elland Road terms.

However, Victor Orta and co aren’t finished there and want to bring in a senior striker ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge.

The likes of Charles De Ketelaere and Arnaud Kalimuendo have been linked with Leeds in recent weeks, but it looks as if Brereton Diaz is also of interest once again with the new season fast approaching.

The Latest: Leeds scouting mission

Football Insider shared a story on Monday regarding Leeds and Brereton Diaz after being informed by sources.

They claimed that Yorkshire talent spotters were in attendance for Blackburn’s pre-season game with Accrington Stanley at the weekend, with the Whites holding a long-term interest in the Chile international.

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The Verdict: Smart move?

Brereton Diaz, who has been described as the ‘face of Pepsi’ in Chile due to massive marketing campaigns following his international success, and was also labelled an ‘extraordinary talent’ by his former Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, could be a shrewd signing as an alternative to De Ketelaere and Kalimuendo.

Still just 23 years of age, Brereton Diaz scored 22 goals in 37 Championship games last season, playing on the left and through the middle.

He would provide similar versatility as De Ketelaere, as he would be able to turn out as an inside forward or as a secondary striker to Patrick Bamford.

Brereton Diaz has just enjoyed his best season in front of goal and is also into the final 12 months of his contract at Ewood Park, so Leeds could look to take full advantage.

West Ham are considering making a move to sign Bournemouth defender Jordan Zemura this summer, according to talkSPORT.

The Lowdown: Achieving promotion

The left-back was a standout performer at the Vitality Stadium last season, helping the Cherries gain promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

The 22-year-old only has just under 12 months remaining on his contract with Scott Parker’s side though and is yet to put pen to paper on fresh terms, leaving his future on the south coast up in the air.

The Latest: West Ham plotting Zemura raid

In a new article published by talkSPORT, it’s claimed that West Ham are ‘keeping a keen eye’ on Zemura, with David Moyes looking to ‘bring in young legs’ to provide competition for Aaron Cresswell.

It’s stated that the Cherries ace has ‘been discussed as a potential option’ for the Scottish boss, though it’s believed that Bournemouth will be ‘inclined’ to increase new contract talks with their man after ‘being told’ of the Irons’ ‘interest’.

The Verdict: Potential bargain deal

With Cresswell being 32 years of age, Moyes will be on the hunt for defensive reinforcements and it’s likely that whoever he signs next in that left-back position will be his first-choice long-term – Zemura has already shown that he more than has the potential to fulfil that duty.

The six-cap international, who’s been hailed an ‘excellent’ player by his manager Scott Parker, is an energetic full-back who is strong defensively but can also add pace down the flank, having averaged 1.5 tackles and 1.2 dribbles per league game last term, via WhoScored.

Given his contract at Bournemouth is set to expire next summer, there’s every possibility that the Hammers could snap him up for a bargain fee this window so should aim to get this deal wrapped up as soon as possible.

Newcastle United are plotting a big-money move for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Howe’s striker hunt

The Magpies have been linked with a myriad of strikers this window as the North-East club look to build upon their recent successes in the transfer market.

The main rumour has of course concerned Hugo Ekitike, who has now joined Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan. Newcastle had agreed a £33m transfer fee with Reims for the youngster, but a series of disagreements with the player’s agent meant the Premier League outfit pulled out of the deal.

More recently, Eddie Howe’s side have been linked with Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad and Ivan Toney from Brentford; although, the quoted fees have seemingly put the club off pursuing these deals further.

The Latest: DCL the top target

According to Jones (via GiveMeSport), Calvert-Lewin remains Newcastle’s top striker target this summer and the Magpies are plotting a big-money move for the Toffees man.

Reportedly holding an asking price of £60m, insiders are said to be ‘convinced’ that Howe and Dan Ashworth will push the boat out to sign the 25-year-old and that the club will ‘splash out for the first time’ since the PIF takeover.

The Verdict: Great signing

When looking at the forward’s underlying statistics, it is easy to see why the Toon boss is so keen on bringing him to St James’ Park.

Compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, Calvert-Lewin ranks in the 95th percentile for aerials won (via FBRef), having averaged a whopping 5.5 aerials won per game last season (via WhoScored).

To put that into perspective, that’s more than 6 foot 7 Dan Burn managed for the Magpies last season, leaving little wonder why Alan Shearer once praised Calvert-Lewin for the way he ‘absolutely battered’ former Chelsea defenders Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen.

The 25-year-old would provide Howe with an alternative play-style to Callum Wilson, allowing a change in tactics when needed.

This could be a great signing for the Magpies.

Manchester United transfer target Frenkie de Jong still doesn’t want to leave Barcelona, reports journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: De Jong a big target

The Dutchman has emerged as arguably United’s biggest target of the summer, as Erik ten Hag looks to bring in one of his former Ajax players.

Midfield is clearly an area of the pitch that needs strengthening ahead of the new season and De Jong is seen as someone who can make a huge difference there, with Romano even reporting the clubs have agreed a deal for the transfer.

While Barca are willing to sell the 25-year-old this summer though, it doesn’t appear the player himself has any intention of leaving Catalonia.

The Latest: Midfielder doesn’t want move

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano revealed that De Jong is happy at his current club and still doesn’t want to move to United:

“As of today (Tuesday evening), I’m told that it’s still the same situation. He wants to continue at Barcelona. He loves the city, the club, everything about Barcelona, so he doesn’t want to leave. The situation is pretty clear on Frenkie’s side.”

The Verdict: Do you sign an unhappy player?

This is a clear blow for United, considering their obvious interest in De Jong, but it still feels perfectly feasible that they could end up getting their man if Barca push him out of the door.

That being said, there is then the risk of the Red Devils having an unhappy player in their ranks – someone who isn’t necessarily going to buy into Ten Hag’s plans, even though the pair know each other well.

For that reason, it could be wise for United to look at alternative options in the middle of the park, in order not to repeat previous transfer errors and sign players who don’t want to be there, with Paul Pogba recently hinting that he was rarely happy during his stay.