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Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain recently and if he were to join Steven Gerrard’s side this summer he could prove to be his own version of Jude Bellingham.

According to Football Insider, Villa have turned their attentions towards signing the former Arsenal man ahead of next season, with the 28-year-old reportedly available for a cut-price of just £10m, as he seeks regular first-team football away from Anfield.

Since joining the Reds in a £35m deal in 2017, he has gone on to make 133 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side, in which he has contributed 17 goals and 15 assists.

The strength of the German’s midfield meant opportunities were hard to come by for Oxlade-Chamberlain last season and it is perhaps no surprise that he is seeking a move away, and Villa could be the ones to benefit.

Although Villa fans might not take too kindly to a potential signing being compared to Bellingham, given that he started his career at fierce rivals Birmingham City, there seems little doubt that he will become one of the best midfielders in world football.

At 18, he is already a fully-fledged England international and a regular for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, with his performances in the German top-flight last season earning him an impressive 7.12 average rating from WhoScored.

FB Ref suggests that Oxlade-Chamberlain and Bellingham have very similar styles of play, with both excelling at progressive carries and dribbling, which suggests that the Liverpool man could add some real dynamism and counter-attacking threat to Gerrard’s side next season.

WhoScored also suggests that Oxlade-Chamberlain and Bellingham like to dribble, so it seems clear that both midfielders like to carry the ball and use their athleticism to go past opposition defenders.

Therefore, while the “fantastic” £16.2 million rated Liverpool man in the words of Gerrard, might have ten years on Bellingham, he could perform a similar role to the teenager in Gerrard’s squad next season for a much cheaper fee, so Villa should definitely consider bringing him in.

And, in other news… Gerrard already has his dream Watkins heir at AVFC in “bullish” rarely-seen 20 y/o

Celtic could be set to miss out on signing reported transfer target Ola Solbakken this summer.

What’s the news?

According to a recent tweet from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Norwegian is a “top target” for Italian club AS Roma this summer. The journalist also added that “negotiations are progressing” between Roma and Bodo/Glimt behind the scenes over the potential transfer switch.

The winger joined his current club in January 2020 from fellow Norwegian club Ranheim IL. Since then, the 23-year-old has gone on to make 72 appearances in total for Bodo/Glimt across all competitions, scoring 17 goals and delivering 18 assists along the way.

Taking this into account, it’s easy to see why Celtic were linked with a move for him and why Roma are reportedly in talks to add him to their ranks.

Bad news for Celtic

With 19 appearances to his name this season, the attacker has found the net eight times and provided five assists in the process.

Having netted three goals in four games against Jose Mourinho’s side, along with scoring one goal and supplying one assist in two matches against the Hoops in the Europa Conference League, this will have given both clubs a good look at the player and his talent.

Given the clear attacking talent he has and the versatility to be able to play on both the left and right flanks, it would certainly be bad news for Celtic if they let the player slip out of their grasp and sign for Roma this summer.

As the winger was linked with a move to Parkhead as a contingency plan if they were not able to secure a permanent transfer deal for on-loan attacker Jota, Solbakken’s potential move to Italy would ramp up the pressure on the Bhoys to make sure that they secure the Portuguese star’s signature.

If Celtic are keen to sign the Bodo/Glimt deynamo, then they should be doing all they can to make sure they rival the Europa Conference League holders and get him to make a move to Glasgow instead of Rome.

If not, they will then just have to move on and focus on other attacking targets that they may have in their sights.

In other news: Celtic now eye move for 19-year-old “breath of fresh air”, he could be their new Scott Brown

Steven Gerrard will be looking forward to the new Premier League season, especially when you consider the signings that Aston Villa have made before the transfer window officially opens.

The 42-year-old has managed to secure Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal, while Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara have also arrived, and the spine of the side looks excellent so far.

The signing of Carlos in particular has been a pleasing one for the Villa faithful, with the defence being an area of concern last season. They conceded 54 goals in the league in 2021/22, so the signing of the Brazilian centre-back should improve this aspect next term.

The question is, who will partner with him? Tyrone Mings (6.74) and Ezri Konsa (6.43) ranked 10th and 17th in the Aston Villa squad on WhoScored for the most recent campaign, signifying that their performances have been underwhelming.

However, with a report from The Athletic stating that Villa are favourites to sign Burnley defender James Tarkowski, Gerrard may have found the perfect partner for Carlos.

Imagine Tarkowski and Carlos

The £70k-p/w centre back, who was described as a “rock” by journalist Alex James, has plenty of Premier League experience (194 games) and would slot well into the Villa backline.

Tarkowski ranks in the top 1% compared to positional peers in the big five European leagues for both blocks (2.67 per 90) and aerial duels won (4.95 per 90), so his would certainly appear to be a shrewd signing for Gerrard to make.

His physical prowess and defensive ability would be welcomed at Villa Park ahead of what is a crucial season for Gerrard and his team. A fast start is required or there might be a few doubts lingering in the air as to whether or not the 42-year-old is suited to Premier League management, having lost more matches than he’s won so far in the Midlands.

Only time will tell, but Villa supporters will love that the manager has made a head start on recruitment, with more new faces on the way hopefully.

AND in other news, Gerrard must axe “frustrating” Aston Villa liability in deal for “unreal” £10m dynamo

West Ham United are believed to be monitoring Lille midfielder Amadou Onana, according to reports coming out of France.

What’s the word?

As per Foot Mercato, the Hammers have been keeping an eye on the 2o-year-old in recent times ahead of a possible move, with Premier League rivals Arsenal also believed to be credited with an interest.

The report suggests that despite only signing for the Ligue 1 outfit last year, the Belgian ace ‘could leave’ in the upcoming transfer window, with the French side potentially needing to cash in on their star assets after missing out on European qualification.

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Although no ‘concrete offer’ has been made by any interested party as yet, previous reports have suggested that the Senegal-born ace could be available for a fee in the region of £20m.

The next Tchouameni?

The report also named Monaco as one side who are interested in the former Hamburg man, with Philippe Clement and co eyeing Onana as a possible replacement for midfield talisman Aurelien Tchouameni, with the young Frenchman seemingly heading off to Champions League winners, Real Madrid this summer.

The fact that the Lille man has been identified as a possible replacement for the £54m-rated colossus is a sure sign of his talent, with Tchouameni currently one of the most coveted defensive midfielders in Europe such has been his stunning form of late.

The 22-year-old is arguably one of the best performing players in his position at present across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 1% for interceptions made, the top 13% for aerial duels won and the top 18% for tackles made, showcasing his steely quality in the centre of the park, despite his youth.

Equally, in an attacking sense the £19k-per-week brute is also no slouch, ranking in the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 15% for passes attempted, while he also netted three goals and supplied two assists in 35 league outings in the most recent campaign.

Although not at that level yet, Onana seemingly possesses similar attributes as the Madrid-bound star, with David Moyes and co potentially set to have their own, highly-coveted talent on their hands if a deal can be struck this summer.

The Belgium U21 international ranks in the top 6% for tackles made compared to his peers, while in the 2021/22 season he averaged 0.9 interceptions and 1.5 tackles per game, as well as winning a solid 59% of his total duels.

He may not yet be the man to come straight into the first-team at the London Stadium – having only started 11 league games in the most recent campaign – although he is already showing plenty of promise to suggest he can blossom into a standout regular in the future, potentially in the mould of the aforementioned Tchouameni.

That is an exciting prospect indeed for those of a West Ham persuasion.

IN other news, “Another target…”: Ex drops big WHU summer transfer claim that supporters will love

Celtic are reportedly edging closer to signing Portuguese starlet Jota on a permanent deal, with the winger having dazzled on loan for the Hoops this season.

What’s the word?

As per the Daily Record, a deal for the 23-year-old is expected to be confirmed this week following a ‘final round of talks’, with parent club Benfica set to sanction his departure on a £6.5m deal.

The Lisbon-born gem was a relative unknown prior to his deadline day arrival on a season-long loan deal last summer, although has since proven instrumental in the Glasgow outfit’s tenth Scottish Premiership triumph of the last 11 seasons.

While not yet confirmed, the imminent permanent deal could prove vital to Ange Postecoglou’s side retaining their title next term, as they also attempt to navigate their way through the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2017.

The next Jinky?

It would no doubt be a travesty for all concerned were the £4.95m-rated speedster not to be at Parkhead next season, although all the indications are that he will be, handing him the chance to truly solidify his emerging cult status.

The fleet-footed wideman has proven a revelation in Glasgow thus far, notably netting ten goals and registering a further ten assists in the Scottish top-flight in the 2021/22 campaign, with such form seeing him dubbed “unbelievable” by the man who brought him to the club, Postecoglou.

The £7.1k-per-week playmaker has caught the eye of fans and pundits alike with his dynamic displays and bravery in possession, with pundit Owen Hargreaves praising the loanee for being so “direct” in his play.

Whisper it quietly, but such eyecatching showings have even evoked memories of a figure entrenched in the club’s folklore and one of the Old Firm outfit’s legendary ‘Lisbon Lions’ – Jimmy Johnstone.

Affectionately nicknamed ‘Jinky’ for his ability to bamboozle defenders with both trickery and cunning, the former Scotland international remains an iconic figure both in his home country and beyond, having notably been dubbed the “Flying Flea” by the French press following a particularly standout display against Nantes.

A star of the ’60s and ’70s at Celtic Park – having risen through the club’s youth ranks  – the European Cup winner is arguably the greatest and most talented player to have adorned the famous green and white jersey, playing an integral role as Jock Stein’s side claimed nine successive league titles between 1965 and 1974.

Such is his importance to the history of the team and its supporters, he was even immortalised with a statue outside the club’s home ground in 2008, with the legendary status of Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone set to be retained for generations to come.

To replicate the success of such a club hero may appear unlikely, although in Jota, Postecoglou has seemingly uncovered his own one-of-a-kind, unique diamond, with it an exciting thought as to just how high the young man can go.

For those of a Celtic persuasion, they will be praying that his development can continue in Scotland as the club enjoys further success over the years to come. Perhaps more importantly, however, will be the hope that he can simply continue to entertain, as the great Johnstone so often did…

IN other news, Celtic can unearth a new Giakoumakis after submitting bid for “very strong” £2.5m gem

Jurgen Klopp heavily rotated his Liverpool team against Southampton last night which led to worry about the fitness of key players ahead of the last day of the Premier League season and the Champions League final. However, a new update has emerged that will relieve supporters.

What’s the latest?

In a Q&A session on The Athletic website, Liverpool reporter James Pearce gave a promising response to a concerned supporter who was worried about Sadio Mane’s fitness as he did not appear in the matchday squad at St Mary’s on Tuesday evening.

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Pearce gave a promising four-word response when asked if the Senegalese winger had picked up an injury: “Just rested I believe.”

Supporters will be delighted

Supporters will be delighted that Mane was just rested and hasn’t picked up an injury after Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Mo Salah have all had fitness worries since the FA Cup Final, especially when you consider how effective he has been for Liverpool over the last few months.

The 29-year-old has scored 22 goals and contributed five assists in 49 appearances this season, with three of his goals scored in important knock-out games in the Champions League. He’s also bagged eight Premier League goals since the turn of the year, proving highly effective and making a huge impact on Liverpool’s quadruple challenge.

With that being said, Klopp clearly made the right decision in resting the attacker in the victory over Southampton last night and has given him the opportunity to recover ahead of the final game of the season and the trip to Paris to face Real Madrid in the Champions League final, two games his positive influence and impact will be desperately needed in.

The German coach recently held high praise for Mane when he scored the winner against Aston Villa last week to keep Liverpool’s dream of a second Premier League alive.

“He’s a machine, I told him after the game,” Klopp claimed.

“Massive player. [His] physicality is brutal, this mix of technique, desire, and physicality in this moment when everybody has a few yards in the legs…you can see it with him to be honest. Top goal, just fantastic, a world-class player.”

It will be interesting to see whether Klopp involves the forward in his line-up on the last game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers or saves him for the Champions League final in Paris. Either way there is no doubt that unleashing Mane in the team over the next two games will lead to more outstanding performances.

AND in other news: Forget Matip: £150k-p/w Liverpool “beast” who won 80% duels stole the show v Saints

Everton have made a lot of mistakes when it comes to transfer decisions over the years since Farhad Moshiri arrived at the club, spending over £500m on signings with no improvement. In fact, the club are in a highly vulnerable position.

The Toffees have found themselves struggling in a difficult relegation battle over the last few months and despite a good run of results over the last few weeks, winning three and drawing two of their games, the side are yet to secure safety in the Premier League ahead of next season with just two games to go.

Despite the battle at the bottom of the table, there has been one player who joined last summer that has been a worthwhile investment for the club, with Demarai Gray making an instant impact on Merseyside.

When you consider that Everton paid just £1.7m for the winger from Bayern Leverkusen, they have struck gold with the 25-year-old who has scored six goals and contributed four assists this season placing him third for goal contributions in the entire squad.

The £42k-per-week star’s goal contributions are not the only attributes worth noting for the player who has been successful in the majority of his ground duels (51%), effectively succeeding in 50% of his dribble attempts, creating five big chances and making 1.3 key passes on average per game for the Toffees in his 32 Premier League appearances.

According to Transfermarkt, Gray is now rated as worth £19.8m which is 1064% more than they paid for him, proving that the signing was a massive coup for Moshiri, who is usually known for his poor transfer decisions.

Former Everton manager Rafa Benitez was part of the process of bringing Gray to the club ahead of this season, and held high praise for the player in a press conference last year (via Liverpool Echo):

“He can make a difference. He’s a young player with desire, commitment and quality. We need that.”

Benitez truly got the best out of Gray with the attacker scoring all of his goals during the Spaniard’s short tenure, but has still been a consistent figure in the team and forward line upon Lampard’s arrival. He has struggled to keep the momentum going with his goal-scoring only assisting once in the victory over Chelsea earlier this month.

With that being said, the former Chelsea boss must find a way to get Gray back into form next season as he clearly has the ability to be effective and make an impact in the team.

AND in other news: Everton plotting bid for £9.9m-rated “monster”, he’s miles better than Holgate

Aston Villa should turn to Burnley defender James Tarkowski in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Josh Holland. 

The lowdown: Leader required

Steven Gerrard recently admitted that he would be ‘working on’ adding senior squad members in the transfer window, failing to rule out naming a new captain for the 2022/23 season to replace Tyrone Mings.

Despite the manager’s reservations about the 29-year-old, Mings has completed 90 minutes on 23 occasions in the Premier League since Gerrard’s arrival at Villa Park, missing just one match in that time.

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However, with doubts remaining over the long-term captain at the club, one top-flight stalwart has been tipped to do the job…

The latest: Holland suggests Tarkowski

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Holland dismissed the idea of bringing Rangers captain James Tavernier to Villa to take the armband and instead cited Burnley colossus Tarkowski as an ideal target.

The journalist said: “If you bring in James Tavernier, is he going to get in over Matty Cash? And, you know, a captain who’s not playing.

“I think if we’re talking about captain replacements who they can bring in, James Tarkowski is a good shout. His contract runs out at Burnley this summer, whether they stay up, I still don’t think he will stay at the club; you’d like to think they would have confirmed it by now.”

Newcastle United and West Ham United have both been extensively linked with a move for the 29-year-old in recent months as the former Brentford ace prepares to leave Turf Moor as a free agent.

The verdict: Shrewd move

A vastly experienced operator with 192 top-flight matches under his belt, Tarkowski has also been recognised at international level, earning two caps for England under Gareth Southgate.

This season, the Mancunian has made 35 appearances across all competitions for the Clarets, taking the armband on 11 occasions in the absence of club captain Ben Mee.

The no-nonsense defender, who was hailed as ‘outstanding’ by ex-Burnley boss Sean Dyche, has earned an impressive 7.17 Sofascore rating in the current Premier League campaign, winning 6.9 duels, completing 5.3 clearances and making 1.8 tackles per game.

Combined with Tarkowski’s leadership and experience, that form makes him a worthwhile prospective capture for Gerrard and the Villans this summer, particularly as a free agent.

In other news: NSWE now close to agreeing deal for another midfielder alongside Coutinho

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that West Ham United are interested in a move for Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the respected insider revealed that the Englishman is on David Moyes’ transfer shortlist ahead of this summer, with the Hammers seeking a new midfield addition as club captain Mark Noble departs at the end of the season.

Asked whether the 26-year-old was a target for the London Stadium outfit, Jones revealed that: “He definitely is on Moyes’ list. Moyes is a big admirer of him.

“You’ve got to consider every asset of the game, and it’s technical ability, but also willingness to work and carry out instructions, and Josh Brownhill could actually slot really nicely into that West Ham midfield.”

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This revelation comes following a report from 90min last week that suggested the east Londoners were interested in pursuing a deal – with a bid of around £15m likely to tempt the relegation-threatened Clarets into a sale – albeit with a handful of other Premier League sides also named as potential suitors.

Supporters will be buzzing

The former Bristol City man could well prove to be an ideal fit were he to link up with Moyes and co this summer, having already proven his talents both at Ashton Gate and at Turf Moor in recent years.

Having made his senior debut with Preston North End in 2013, the £6.3m-rated man was plucked by the Robins in 2016, going on to score 17 goals in 161 appearances for the club over the next three-and-a-half years, notably playing his part in the Championship side’s surge to the League Cup semi-finals in 2018 and being made club captain by former boss Lee Johnson.

That form alerted the attention of Dyche and co, as he was snapped up on a £9m deal in January 2020, with that acquisition now looking like something of a bargain purchase such has been his form since then.

This season, in particular, has seen the £45k-per-week playmaker catch the eye despite the club’s struggles, netting twice and adding three assists in 32 league outings so far this term.

A real box-to-box presence, the Warrington-born star has also been impressive defensively, averaging 1.9 interceptions, two tackles and 1.2 clearances per 90 in the top-flight during the 2021/22 campaign, while he also ranks in the top 28% for aerial duels won among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.

Such form has seen him earn praise from pundit Lee Hendrie, who dubbed him a “fabulous player”, with it no surprise that West Ham are seemingly keeping tabs on his progress.

GSB can delight the club’s supporters by getting the deal done in the coming months, whether or not Burnley avoid relegation.

IN other news, GSB must complete WHU swoop for “unbelievable” £31.5m-rated star, Moyes will love him..

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in talks with star midfielder Ruben Neves over a new contract, but could still lose him this summer according to journalist Peter O’Rourke.

What’s the story?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, O’Rourke revealed that talks are ongoing over a new deal but that Wolves will “find it hard” to keep hold of Neves for another year.

He explains how there will be a big decision to be made over the players future amid interest from several Premier League clubs. Manager Bruno Lage recently suggested that he could be worth up to £100m in the current market.

In full, the journalist commented: “I think Wolves are going to find it hard to keep hold of him this year. Talks are ongoing over a new deal, but I think there’s a realisation on both parties here that maybe the time has come for them to move on.

“I’m sure Ruben Neves in the summer will have a big decision to make on his future.”

Fans surely gutted

The 25-year old has been a key player at Molineux ever since he arrived in 2017 from FC Porto and thus, the news that he could finally depart this summer is certainly not good.

That said, he is represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes who has several other clients playing for the West Midlands club.

This may help Wolves in their efforts to tie the midfielder down to a new contract as they could make life difficult for Mendes in the future. If he does sign a new deal, then it may include a release clause that ensures Wolves get the money they deserve.

When you compare him to his teammates this season, the difference in quality is clear. He has the most progressive passes out of any other player at 121, and also has the most amount of touches in the midfield third, therefore proving his dominance and how crucial it is for the team.

He’s been described as “sensational” by presenter Kelly Somers, and whilst Wolves would be able to reinvest the money made from a Neves sale, most of that would need to be spent on his replacement.

Academy graduate Luke Cundle has been touted as the man to step up if the Portuguese international leaves, and although he has great potential, he just won’t be anywhere near the levels needed to replace Neves straight away.

In order to keep competing for European places, the Old Gold need to be doing all they can to keep hold of players like Neves. If they show a bit of ambition then he might be persuaded to stay slightly longer, but if Champions League football is on offer elsewhere it will be a difficult sell.

IN other news: Wolves can finally replace Jota by signing “special” Mendes client, imagine him & Raul…