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The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has revealed what the ‘final target’ position for Leeds United is, and what ‘major’ business they still need to ‘negotiate’.

The Lowdown: Sinisterra signs

The Elland Road outfit confirmed the signing of winger Luis Sinisterra from Feyenoord at lunchtime, and he becomes their sixth new arrival in this window joining Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Darko Gyabi, Rasmus Kristensen and Marc Roca.

FC Barcelona and Chelsea are currently tussling over the signing of Raphinha, which would give Jesse Marsch’s side further funds to potentially spend and bring in more recruits.

The Latest: New forward targeted

Writing in his latest piece for The Athletic, Hay has revealed that the Yorkshire club will ‘invest’ in a new forward, which is the ‘final target’ on their list.

This can be done with the sale of Raphinha, which Hay says is the only ‘major’ piece of business that they still need to ‘negotiate’.

The Verdict: Needed

The arrival of Sinisterra should accommodate for the likely departure of Raphinha, so the Whites can use the money received to invest in a much-needed striker for the team.

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Patrick Bamford is the only senior one in the current squad, and his season was seven Premier League starts.

Both Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood are still learning their trade at 20 years of age, and so the Peacocks could really do with another senior frontman in case Bamford faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Crystal Palace are looking to hijack Fulham’s deal for Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Brazilian publication FogaoNET, who claim that Palace have made contact with United over a potential deal.

Fulham had agreed a deal of £9m with the Red Devils, but this late attempt from Patrick Vieira has given the player a decision to make.

Pereira will decide his future within the next few days, and also has Lyon as a potential suitor.

Vieira would love him

The Brazilian’s career at Old Trafford has certainly been tumultuous, however, he picked a good year to leave on loan as United slumped to their worst ever Premier League season.

Having initially been touted as an attacking midfielder upon first bursting onto the scene, this season has seen him develop into more of a deep-lying playmaker. He could be the perfect player that Vieira needs to balance his fresh midfield.

With Cheick Doucoure all but announced, and a number of other midfielders linked, Pereira could be the glue to tie them all together.

This season for Flamengo, the £6.75m-rated maestro averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.93 in the league; a solid return for a holding midfielder.

Also offering three goal contributions in just 13 appearances, his time as an attacking midfielder means he has a touch of class that differentiates him from other defensive midfielders.

It is this class that has led his manager for the season, Renato Gaucho, to be full of praise for him: “He is versatile, he is a player I talked to even before joining Flamengo.

“He is a player who knows how to defend, knows how to attack too, he has the quality for that. That’s what I said, he is a player who is above average. Without a doubt, it was a great signing for Flamengo.”

Pereira had struggled to make his mark at Old Trafford, but perhaps being a slightly larger fish in a smaller pond, and this slight positional tweak, could unlock a remarkable player.

Already labelled a great signing for Flamengo, perhaps he could be the same for Vieira and link together his new acquisitions.

AND, in other news: “I see…”: Fabrizio Romano drops big Man Utd transfer claim, supporters will buzzing.

West Ham are reportedly closing in on the signing of Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, but if the Senegal international does arrive at the London Stadium, it could well be the catalyst for Jarrod Bowen to depart.

ExWHUemployee recently revealed on his West Ham Way Patreon: “There has also been some talk of Sarr being 70% done by a source who seems to have taken the Watford equivalent of my name. I believe we had had talks with Watford but these need to continue for the deal to go anywhere.”

The 24-year-old managed just five goals and two assists last season as the Hornets were relegated from the Premier League, but previous performances, most notably his two-goal display in a 3-0 win against Liverpool in February 2020, demonstrate his ability.

Reports have suggested that Sarr would cost interested clubs as much as £40m this summer, and while West Ham fans would surely be hoping to see him arrive as competition for Bowen on the right-hand side, he could instead be arriving as the England international’s replacement.

Bowen enjoyed a fantastic season for David Moyes’ team, contributing 12 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League and averaging a superb 7.15 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

His displays earned him a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad recently and he will no doubt want to stay there ahead of the World Cup in November.

Although Declan Rice has shown that you can play for West Ham and still be called up for the Three Lions, there is arguably more competition for wingers in Southgate’s squad than central midfielders, and Bowen may feel that he has a better chance if he is playing his football elsewhere.

He may also be tempted to test himself in the Champions League, and with the likes of Liverpool having been linked in recent weeks, his head may well be turned by a move to Anfield.

However, Sarr could be a quality replacement for the former Hull City dynamo if he is given time to develop and reach his obvious potential.

When the Watford winger arrived in the Premier League, he was described as “rapid” by Senegalese compatriot Sadio Mane, while BBC journalist Garth Crooks later compared him to the new Bayern Munich signing last year after he hit a brace against Norwich.

Sarr hasn’t yet shown the same level of goal-scoring instincts of Bowen, but if the Englishman does leave the London Stadium this summer, the Hornets star could well be the ideal replacement on West Ham’s right flank.

In other news… West Ham can sign their own Smith-Rowe with swoop for “explosive” gem, Moyes would love him

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s future at Liverpool has been highly speculated over the last few months, and now a new update has emerged on Jurgen Klopp’s decision on the player amid transfer interest.

What’s the latest?

According to The Mirror, the Liverpool boss has made it clear he doesn’t want to lose his midfielder this summer as Aston Villa show interest in signing Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer.

Darwin’s a Red! Get your special edition Darwin Nunez tee here.

As per the report, Taki Minamino is expected to be sold with Monaco as the front-runners to sign the Japanese forward, and Klopp does not want to lose Oxlade-Chamberlain as well during the transfer window.

Klopp must axe Oxlade-Chamberlain

Despite the German coach’s decision to keep the midfielder this summer, it would now be a good time for Klopp to cash in on the player and axe him from the team ahead of next season.

The 28-year-old’s contract expires in June 2023 so this could be FSG’s final opportunity to make some money on the player before he leaves on a free transfer next summer.

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In 28 appearances for the Reds this season, Oxlade-Chamberlain whose decision-making was branded “awful” by Patrick Boyland, has scored three goals and contributed three assists averaging 53 minutes per game, however aside from his goal contributions he has been largely ineffective in his performances.

Over his 17 Premier League appearances last season, the £125k-per-week dud lost possession of the ball every 4.2 touches and every six minutes while completing just 0.7 dribbles on average per game, whilst losing the majority of his aerial and ground duels combined (58%).

Despite his inconsistencies the former England star is still a player Klopp admires with the Liverpool boss hailing Oxlade-Chamberlain “outstanding” in an interview with The Guardian last season:

“[Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain did not even play and he is in outstanding shape. It is really tough for the boys sometimes.”

With that being said, if Liverpool do not make a midfield signing this summer it may be Klopp’s only option to remain loyal to his player.

However, from FSG’s perspective if they can entice a large transfer fee from another club they should finally axe the midfielder to ensure they can make some money before he leaves at the end of next season.

AND in other news: Liverpool handed green light to sign “talented” £85.6m “phenomenon”, FSG must act now

Leeds United would be willing to let Raphinha leave the Yorkshire club during the current summer transfer window.

What’s the news?

In a recent post on Twitter by Fabrizio Romano, the journalist and transfer insider had this to say on the Brazilian’s current situation at Thorp Arch.

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He said: “Leeds United have been pretty clear with all clubs interested in Raphinha: he can leave but they want at least £65m fee. Arsenal after first bid rejected, Spurs after new direct talks, Chelsea after contact through [Todd] Boehly… and Barca via Deco, got the same message.”

Leeds signed the attacker back in October 2020 on a four-year deal from Rennes worth £17m.

Bad news for Leeds fans

It didn’t take long for the 25-year-old to become a pivotal player for the Whites as he scored six goals and delivered eight assists in 29 Premier League appearances throughout his debut season.

His previous campaign also showed just how important he is for the Yorkshire club having found the net 11 times and supplied three assists, leaving him with more goal contribution than any other player in the squad.

With that in mind, it’s safe to say that without the winger in their ranks, Leeds could well have been relegated from the Premier League last season.

This not only shows why so many clubs in the top flight are looking to snatch him away from Elland Road but also why it’d be such a blow for the club and the fans to lose him this summer.

Given everything he’s done for the club since his arrival and his clear talent and ability to play in the Premier League at a high level, it makes sense for the Whites to command a hefty transfer fee for him.

Should they end up selling the Brazil international this summer for around the apparent £65m fee, they would have to make sure that money is used to bring in a suitable replacement for the winger so the team doesn’t suffer as a result of his absence.

Moving forward, having already rejected a bid from Arsenal, it’ll be interesting to see if any other offers come in and if they will be tempting enough for Leeds to sell their star man.

AND in other news: Victor Orta now plotting Leeds bid for “beautiful” £26m target, he “has everything”

According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Takumi Minamino plans to leave Liverpool this summer and talks have been initiated with three suitors.

The Lowdown: Bit-part player

The 27-year-old first arrived in the Premier League when he joined the Merseyside outfit from Red Bull Salzburg back in 2019, where he’s made 55 appearances to date.

Despite still having two years remaining on his contract at Anfield, the Japanese maestro has struggled for game time under Jurgen Klopp this season, having only played 179 minutes of top-flight football, something which has seen him being linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks.

Following a fresh update, it now looks highly likely that the forward’s time with the Reds will be coming to an end in the weeks ahead.

The Latest: Romano shares Minamino exit talks

In a new post on his personal Twitter account, Romano revealed that Minamino is in ‘talks’ with potential suitors and is currently considering his options. He wrote:

“Takumi Minamino will leave Liverpool this summer, plan hasn’t changed. Three clubs have opened talks to explore potential permanent move – Minamino’s gonna decide soon.

“Price tag for Minamino deal will be around €17m (£14.7m).”

The Verdict: Right time to go

Minamino considerably fell down the pecking order under Klopp throughout the 2021/22 campaign, and with the new arrival of Fabio Carvalho in the same position, it’s now even more likely that he’ll struggle for minutes.

Even though the 41-cap international only clocked up a total of 24 outings across all competitions for the Reds, he still managed to provide 11 goal contributions, as per Transfermarkt, showing that he would be the perfect addition to another team’s starting XI, just not Liverpool’s at this moment in time.

The Osaka-born talent is definitely making the right choice in leaving, where he will hopefully be able to revive his playing career and look back on a trophy-laden time at Anfield.

In other news… one pundit has backed a Liverpool star to make a shock move to a Premier League rival this summer.

An update has emerged on Rangers and their interest in bringing in a new defender to Ibrox during the upcoming summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Gers are plotting a move for left-back Josh Tymon as Ross Wilson attempts to bolster the squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that Stoke are set to demand a fee of £5m for the full-back and this means that the Light Blues, without any sales, will need to qualify for the Champions League group stages in order to afford a deal.

Gio van Bronckhorst would love him

The Ibrox head coach will be hoping that Wilson can now seal a swoop for the defender, one way or another, as he would love to have him in Glasgow next season.

Tymon enjoyed an impressive campaign in the English Championship with Stoke as he caught the eye down the left flank with his attacking play from full-back.

He showcased both his quality and durability throughout the season as he started 44 of their 46 league matches and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.80.

Potters boss Michael O’Neill heaped praise on the left-back after he put pen to paper on a fresh contract last year, saying: “Josh is still a young professional but he has a great attitude. He works incredibly hard in training, has a real willingness to learn and has been one of our most consistent performers so far this season.

“He richly deserves a new contract and I’m delighted he’s going to be part of our plans moving forward.”

These comments from the Stoke manager suggest that van Bronckhorst would enjoy working with Tymon. The English enforcer is seemingly keen to improve himself on the training pitch and this means that he can be a dream for the Dutchman to work next season.

He can also be a player the Gers boss loves to have in his team because of his creativity from left-back. In the 2021/22 campaign, the 23-year-old created a whopping 14 ‘big chances’ and 1.2 chances per game as he regularly provided a big threat from out wide.

Borna Barisic, meanwhile, created three ‘big chances’ in 23 Premiership outings. This suggests that the Stoke man can come in to offer a higher level of quality in his deliveries into the box from left-back and van Bronckhorst would surely love to have him as an option to call upon.

AND in other news, GvB can find dream Bassey heir by unleashing 20 y/o Rangers gem who has a “big future”…

Leeds United officials Victor Orta and Angus Kinnear have been spotted in New York, just over five miles away from the stadium of a rumoured summer transfer target.

The Lowdown: Valentin Castellanos links

The Whites have made a start on their summer business after guaranteeing another season of Premier League football by signing Brenden Aaronson.

Rasmus Kristensen now appears to be the next potential arrival from FC Salzburg, with Leeds also after a striker.

New York City FC forward Valentin Castellanos could be that forward addition at Elland Road, with journalist Dean Jones recently labelling it as one to watch.

Castellanos, described as a ‘quality player’ and even dubbed the ‘new Didier Drogba’, can also play on the wing and has contributed to 76 goals in 126 games for the MLS side.

The Latest: Orta and Kinnear spotted

Orta and Kinnear were snapped alongside Leeds director Massimo Marinelli at Quality Meats Steakhouse on Central Park – just 5.6 miles away from New York City’s Yankee Stadium.

Marinelli uploaded the image of the three on Tuesday evening on his private Instagram account, which was shared by @LUFCBayArea on Twitter.

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The Verdict: Move possible?

Leeds fans quite often go into investigator mode whenever a player is linked – with the most recent example coming with Aaronson’s flight to England even being tracked across the channel.

We’ve saves supporters the work this time to show that Orta and Kinnear may well have been in New York to see Marinelli and work on a move for Castellanos.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a fine 2021/22 season, contributing to 16 goals in 17 games, so a transfer could indeed be one to watch closely over the coming days.

In other news: After Kristensen: Radz & 49ers now ready to write Leeds cheque for ‘really exciting’ midfielder. 

The Daily Mail have now shared an interesting Tottenham Hotspur transfer update involving Wolverhampton Wanderers forward and current Barcelona loanee Adama Traore.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye January move…

The Spaniard was a serious Premier League transfer target for Spurs in the winter window, as backed by reliable sources like The Athletic, who revealed that manager Antonio Conte was eyeing him as a makeshift right-wing-back option.

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GiveMeSport even shared news that a move was very close at one point with both the Lilywhites and Traore’s representatives shaking hands on personal terms and agreeing to make him the club’s fourth-highest earner.

However, when the Catalans swooped in late-on, Tottenham’s plans were scuppered and Conte was left without a new-and-improved wing-back signing.

The Latest: Mail share interesting update…

The Mail, sharing news after Conte held crunch transfer talks with sporting director Fabio Paratici in Italy on Friday, now say that Traore has re-emerged as a target for Spurs.

Indeed, according to reliable reporter Mokbel, writing for the outlet, Tottenham’s boss has seemingly set his sights on a former flame.

The Verdict: Move on?

We believe, with some serious work, Traore could still be an asset for Conte as a makeshift attacking option on the right side of his defence – particularly considering he averaged a phenomenal 4.2 dribbles per 90 for Wolves before joining Barca (WhoScored).

It’s clear, when at his very best, the 26-year-old can be an extreme threat from out wide and members of the media seem to agree having watched him in England regularly.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke, commenting on the links to Spurs in January, raved over the ‘absolute world-beater’ who ‘nobody can stop’ with his pace and power.

Depending on Wolves’ asking price, it could well be a move Conte should consider.

In other news: Conte could see ‘one of the best in the world’ join Spurs after behind-scenes demand! Find out more here.

Celtic ended their 2021/22 SPFL season with the best defensive record in the league having conceded just 22 goals in 38 games.

To further highlight their defensive strength, the Hoops faced fewer shots on target (76) than any other side in the top flight.

One figure that played a big part in Celtic’s title winning campaign at the back was Carl Starfelt.

Signed during the previous summer transfer window from Rubin Kazan on a four-year deal for a reported fee of £4m, the centre-back quickly became a prominent figure for Postecoglou.

Throughout his debut campaign, the Sweden international made 49 appearances across all competitions and played more minutes in the league than any other outfield player.

With the second-highest number of interceptions (42) and tackles won (30) to his name, Starfelt also had the joint-second highest average of clearances (3.5) and joint-highest average for aerial duels won per game (4.2) in Celtic’s ranks.

This highlights just how much of a capable defender he is and how significant he was for the Hoops this term.

Now that the campaign has drawn to an end, the summer transfer window will give Postecoglou the chance to potentially make some more changes to his squad so they can progress.

One figure that could potentially fit in the side well and possibly make a formidable defensive duo with Starfelt is Mohanad Jeahze.

The Hoops were linked with a reported £2m move for the Hammarby left-back, who has been labelled as a “class” player by Darijan Bojanic, last month.

With eight league appearances to his name this season, the defender has racked up the highest number of interceptions (18) and second-highest number of tackles (13) in Hammarby’s squad.

This shows how much of a tough defender he is and how he could be a solid fit next to Starfelt to make Celtic stronger on the left side of the defence.

Despite the current Celtic defender already showing his defensive talents, having another defensive full-back next to him, such as Jeahze, could make Postecoglou’s side an even tougher side to play against.

Taking into account how the Hoops will be facing off against some of Europe’s top teams in the Champions League next season, having some extra defensive reinforcements would not be a bad thing for the Parkhead club as they’ll be aiming to regain the SPFL title as well.

In other news: Better than Edouard: Celtic eyeing “feisty” 51-goal dynamo, supporters surely buzzing