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Newcastle United transfer target Ibrahim Sangare could be the ‘perfect foil’ for Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, journalist Pete O’Rourke has said.

The Lowdown: Newcastle linked with Sangare

According to a report by Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur, the Magpies and fellow Premier League outfit Leicester City are among the defensive midfielder’s most prominent admirers.

However, more recently, Sky Sports have claimed that Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested in signing the Ivory Coast international, with both clubs looking to reinforce their midfield engine rooms.

It is reported that Sangare has a £29.9m release clause in his contract, which is not due to expire until the summer of 2025.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s claim

O’Rourke believes that the arrival of Sangare at St James’ Park would allow fan favourite Guimaraes to push further forward, allowing the latter’s attacking flair to flourish.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the journalist claimed: “Sangare has been linked with several Premier League teams.

“He’s had a very good season for PSV, and he looks like he could be the perfect foil for Bruno Guimaraes, allowing him to maybe push further forward in midfield and get into attacking positions and score goals while Sangare is sitting back in front of the defence and marshalling that side of the team.”

The Verdict: Strong prospective signing

Previously dubbed ‘an outstanding all-round midfielder’ by former PSV manager Roger Schmidt, it is easy to see how the 24-year-old earned that appraisal.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the Ivory Coast international topped some of his team’s statistical leaderboards, averaging 3.3 tackles and 2.6 interceptions per game in the Eredivisie (via WhoScored).

Going forward, the midfielder totalled eight goal contributions in 49 appearances throughout the season (via Transfermarkt).

Therefore, Sangare’s well-rounded contributions both defensively and in an attacking sense illustrate why he would be a strong signing for Eddie Howe’s side, and indeed possibly let Guimaraes off the leash a bit more.

In other news: Jacque Talbot reveals Roger Fernandes ‘discussions’

Liverpool must tie down midfielder Naby Keita to a new contract this summer after some improved form, according to former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: Keita much improved

The 27-year-old’s Reds career has been somewhat hit-and-miss over the past four years, with fitness issues and inconsistent performances holding him back at times.

That being said, Keita enjoyed a strong 2021/22 season for Liverpool, making 30 appearances in all competitions and averaging an 84.5% pass completion rate. As per WhoScored, his performance rating and number of Premier League starts were much higher than in the previous campaign.

The Guinean only has one year remaining on his current deal, but it looks as though he will extend his stay at Anfield this summer.

The Latest: Robinson calls for new Keita deal

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson talked up the idea of Keita remaining at Liverpool beyond 2023.

The Sky Sports pundit said:

“It is important that they keep Keita. He had a lot of game time last season and he played well. I was really impressed by him.

“When you consider that [Sadio] Mane has gone and that [Mohamed] Salah and [Roberto] Firmino only have a year left it is important that you keep Keita. You don’t want too much upheaval in the squad.

“Keita played a lot better than people expected him to this year. I think he was excellent at times. It is very important that they keep him in my eyes. He has been much improved.

“You have to remember that they lost [Georginio] Wijnaldum last year and did not replace him. They can’t really afford to lose another.”

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The Verdict: Worth keeping

Keita is one of those players who could be divisive among the Liverpool fanbase, with some huge advocates of him and others feeling that he is overrated.

However, he showed last season what an effective cog in the machine he can be – Jurgen Klopp hailed him as ‘outstanding’ after the 5-0 demolition of Manchester United last autumn – and he can become a regular starter in a midfield which is starting to age.

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Keita could still do with going up another gear, both in terms of consistency and all-round influence, but at 27, he could be about to hit the peak years of his career, so losing him in a year’s time wouldn’t make sense for Liverpool.

TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has suggested Wolverhampton Wanderers will have to prioritise a new contract for Joao Moutinho over incomings. 

The lowdown: Portuguese dilemma

Wolves are facing somewhat of a midfield conundrum this summer as talismanic star Ruben Neves has been heavily linked with a move away from Molineux.

The Molineux hierarchy have since been working hard to find a replacement for the 25-year-old and have seemingly earmarked Sporting Lisbon sensation Matheus Nunes as the leading candidate to fill the void.

However, that move has its own roadblocks, while veteran midfielder Moutinho is also set to become a free agent this week and the 35-year-old is seemingly no nearer to extending a four-year spell in the Midlands.

The latest: ‘Haven’t got the money’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Crook has suggested that Wolves will be more inclined to offer a new deal to Moutinho as they ‘haven’t got the money’ for Nunes.

He said: “I think it’s already come out in Portugal that they haven’t got the money to do that deal at the moment unless they were to sell Neves.

“I think it’s more likely at this stage that they’re going to pump money into extending Moutinho’s contract and get him tied down to stay for the long haul.”

The verdict: Has to be both

Although the potential suitors for the £70million rated Neves appear to have subsided, for the time being at least, it remains within the realms of possibility that the cultured ace will be at the centre of renewed interest this summer and a sale could well be the outcome.

As such, tying down the evergreen 145 cap Moutinho and adding a long-term successor in the shape of Nunes has to be high on the list of priorities for the Old Gold board.

Still an elite-level operator despite his advancing years, the £100,000 per week maestro – who was described as a ‘class act’ by journalist Tim Spiers – earned a 6.96 Sofascore rating last during 2021/22 whilst showcasing his impressive ball retention skills with 47.6 accurate passes per game at an 87 per cent success rate.

Given the continued levels of performance and the lack of ready-made replacements in situ at Molineux, Bruno Lage should be pushing hard on Jeff Shi to tie down the mercurial Portuguese star whilst still actively pursuing Nunes.

Crystal Palace are closing in on signing midfielder Cheick Doucoure from RC Lens and supporters should be “very excited” about his arrival according to Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge.

What’s the story?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Bridge said: “They’re replacing Cheickhou Kouyate and Conor Gallagher with one player. And that’s not to say they’re only going to just bring him in, they’ll probably want to bring in another midfielder.

“But I’m hearing this guy is a bit of everything, and he’s good at everything, and he’s a nightmare to play against. So, Palace fans should be very excited.”

That may seem like a lot but he also said that the club will want to bring in another midfielder as well which will ensure they have enough depth in the position.

Supporters will be excited

The importance of Conor Gallagher for Palace last season can’t be overstated, so not having him for the next campaign is a big miss and will have left many supporters feeling down.

However, the imminent arrival of Doucoure should life the mood massively, and although he’s got big shoes to fill his form backs up the hype.

The 22-year-old made 34 appearances in Ligue 1 last season and was vital in helping Lens secure a seventh placed finish.

His defensive abilities are extremely impressive and when compared to positional peers in Europe’s top five league’s over the last year he ranks in the top 13% for tackles won.

He’s also great at pressing with 36% of his presses per 90 minutes being successful. He will only get better as he becomes more experienced and a move to the Premier League seems to be the logical next step.

When you compare him to Kouyate his statistics also prove that he is very much capable of replacing him. Doucoure made 55 more tackles and interceptions than him last season.

He seems to be a perfect fit for the Premier League, not being shy to get stuck in and show the aggression needed to win battles in the middle of the park.

If Palace and manager Patrick Vieira want to improve on their 12th place finish last season then Doucoure can help them do that, but he probably won’t be enough on his own, so they’ll need to look at further additions as well.

IN other news: Palace can land “perfect” Gallagher replacement in deal for “sensational” £25m maestro…

Liverpool have held a long-term interest in Jude Bellingham and have been continuously linked with a move for the player this summer, but now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the Borussia Dortmund star.

What’s the latest?

According to Italian news outlet La Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Paisley Gates), FSG are determined to complete the signing of Bellingham in order to please Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

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As per the report, the club are targeting the talented player in order to add youth to the midfield options in the squad and Bellingham possesses all the qualities that Klopp likes in a midfielder.

Huge Keita upgrade

Liverpool have started their pre-season by adding three new players to their ranks so far, and it remains to be seen if they will add another recruit before they return to action next month in the Premier League, but adding new midfielders to the centre of the pitch is reportedly a top priority for the club.

Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson and James Milner are all well into their 30’s at this point, and despite the trio still capable of performing at the highest level, Klopp will surely be wanting to freshen up his midfield for the future in the same way the addition of Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho has freshened up the forward line.

Bellingham is one of the hottest young prospects in the world right now following his performances for Borussia Dortmund over the last few seasons, attracting interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid alongside the Merseyside giants according to James Pearce.

The 19-year-old gem was hailed “phenomenal” by Gareth Southgate, after the England manager praised the star for his contributions in the England team, and will surely be included in the Three Lions’ upcoming World Cup squad in Qatar at the end of this year.

It was reported that Dortmund have now slapped a £103m price tag on the £72m-rated gem, but are not willing to part ways with the player during this transfer window due to the departure of Erling Haaland.

There is no doubt that Bellingham would be a huge upgrade on Liverpool’s current midfielder Naby Keita, and the club could save a lot of money by not further extending the 27-year-old’s current contract that expires in June 2023, instead investing the money into the signing of the former Birmingham City wonderkid.

When you compare the pair’s output (via SofaScore) in both attacking and defensive play in their respective roles in their leagues last season, it is clear to see that Bellingham offers more especially in availability and creativity for the forwards, registering 1.3 key passes a game to Keita’s 0.7 per match.

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With that being said, if FSG can complete the deal for Bellingham next summer it would be a huge coup for Liverpool over their competitors, as the young midfielder would provide unbelievable talent in the heart of the team for many years to come.

AND in other news: “Liverpool want..” – James Pearce drops update from Anfield that supporters will love

Southampton are plotting a move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks this summer as they aim to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

What’s the story?

According to The Daily Mail, Saints are keen on signing the out of favour star who has been left out of Spurs’ pre-season trip to South Korea.

The 26-year-old has been told he is free to leave the club this summer as boss Antonio Conte looks to overhaul his squad. The north London side are expected to listen to offers around the £20m mark.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side aren’t the only club interested with Everton also making contact in hope of securing the Englishman.

The news comes just days after the Saints landed Joe Aribo from Rangers.

Imagine him & Ward-Prowse

One player that Winks would be playing alongside if he moved to the south coast is Saints captain James Ward-Prowse. The two have featured in the same England squad before so would likely fit together well.

Winks made just nine starts in the top flight last season so he wouldn’t be missed greatly by Spurs, whereas he could make a real difference in the Southampton team.

In the time he did get on the pitch last campaign he registered an impressive 88% passing accuracy per game proving he will find a teammate more often than not.

Ward-Prowse’s percentage was a very similar 86% which shows that they would form a good duo.

If you compare Winks to his positional peers in the Premier League last season he also performs well, ranking in the top 6% for progressive passing distance.

The player who was once dubbed “perfect” by Mauricio Pochettino also ranks in the 93rd percentile for dribblers tackled showing he isn’t someone who shy’s away from a battle.

These are all qualities that Hasenhuttl will like, and alongside Ward-Prowse, Saints would have a very solid midfield, and with both players still relatively young they could rely on them for many years.

His departure would likely prompt mixed emotions from supporters as he is from London and came through the youth setup at The Lilywhites. However, it seems like a move is best for all parties and it would give Winks a chance to kick start his career again.

IN other news: Southampton plot bargain bid for “exceptional” £10m talent, he’s the ideal Broja heir…

Southampton are still in the hunt for Lyon striker Moussa Dembele.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Pete O’Rourke, who had the following to say to This Is Futbol on any interest from the player’s side:

“It will be interesting to see if Southampton could sell the project to him, because it does look like they are changing things at Southampton, going down the younger route with some of their signings so far this summer.

“I think the Premier League’s an attractive proposition for any player right now.

“Southampton are such a well-run club and it’s something that Dembele would definitely consider.”

Supporters will be buzzing

Not only are the comments that O’Rourke has uttered about Southampton flattering, but the news that they could finally be going for a striker will be music to Saints supporters’ ears.

Ralph Hassenhuttl himself has admitted to needing a striker, with his latest admittance coming after his side’s 0-0 draw in pre-season.

Their French target enjoyed a fine goalscoring season last year, bagging 21 league goals and assisting a further four in just 30 league appearances.

His goals helped keep Lyon at a respectable eighth place in the table, which could have been much worse without Dembele’s proficiency.

His 7.11 average SofaScore rating was particularly impressive despite the hardships felt throughout the season, and this was only bettered by a handful of his teammates.

The 26-year-old could more than deputise for Armando Broja, who only managed six goals last season, as Dembele ranks in the 87th percentile for non-penalty goals.

Back during his Celtic days, Liverpool journalist DaveOCKOP labelled the striker a “huge talent”, suggesting he would have been delighted to have him at Anfield. Given where the Reds currently lie in the table, that should be endorsement enough.

Now reportedly available for just £10m, this would represent great value in today’s market, especially for a side not inundated with cash.

He also shows a willingness to get stuck in, and for a Hassenhuttl side that will not dominate possession, this is of paramount importance. He ranks in the 88th percentile for blocks and 89th percentile for clearances per 90.

Finally, the Saints seem poised to replace Broja, and in this fine goal scorer, they could certainly have an impressive foundation to build what could be a very strong season on.

AND, in other news: “Set to sign..”: Romano drops Saints transfer update, supporters should be excited.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga is one of the names who could leave north London this summer as journalist Fabrizio Romano shares an update for Lilywhites supporters.

The Lowdown: Spurs exodus?

Following a plethora of activity in terms of incoming transfers, little progress has been made in terms of outgoings and reports suggest that could be the immediate priority.

Spurs do have plans to make more Premier League signings, as explained by Dan Kilpatrick, who claims that they remain in the market for a creative midfielder and could yet target another centre-back.

However, it appears sporting director Fabio Paratici’s focus is on sales with the club chief even travelling to Italy this week for exit discussions.

The Latest: Romano shares Tanganga news…

Taking to Twitter in the last 48 hours, reporter Romano now has some exit news for supporters as Paratici and Milan told talks over the departure of Tanganga.

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He claims that the Spurs director held a meeting with Rossoneri chiefs in Milan on Thursday and Tottenham’s 23-year-old is ‘one of the names now discussed’.

Romano stated:

“Tottenham director Fabio Paratici met with AC Milan board today in Milano. Negotiations ongoing for Japhet Tanganga deal. #THFC Tanganga, one of the names now discussed between the two clubs – in touch for potential opportunies in the next weeks.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Whether on loan or on a permanent deal, a move away for Tanganga is best for all parties given the defender needs game time to develop and Antonio Conte needs to make room in his squad.

There is little question he can be a real asset on his day, especially remembering his start to the 21/22 campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo, but the competition at Spurs may be too intense for now and Italy could be a great destination for the starlet to improve.

Tottenham Hotspur have been keeping tabs on Max Kilman…

What’s the word?

That’s according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs, who revealed to the ‘Last Word on Spurs’ podcast that the north Londoners have “scouted” the Wolverhampton Wanderers defender, though are yet to make a formal offer for him.

“Tottenham have also, by the way, scouted Max Kilman historically, which is more of a domestic option,” he said.

“They’ve not made any kind of move over the course of this summer. Interesting, again, to see whether that changes. I don’t think that Wolves would like to sell.”

The 25-year-old signed a new long-term contract extension back in November, tying him down at Molineux until 2026 and it’s believed it would take in excess of £40m to lure him away from the Old Gold this summer.

“You’re probably thinking he is worth £40million plus. I think he could maybe be worth even more than that right now,” journalist Pete O’Rourke explained to GIVEMESPORT.

Shades of Jan Vertonghen

Kilman has emerged as one of Wolves’ standout players in recent times, notably last season when The Athletic’s Tim Spiers described him as “exceptional” and claimed that he was “heading towards the Neves/Jimenez/Neto bracket of players you’d fear Wolves could lose.”

Indeed, he finished the 2021/22 campaign as Bruno Lage’s second highest-rated player to feature in 20 or more games in the Premier League, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.87, which was better than the aforementioned duo of Ruben Neves (6.85) and Raul Jimenez (6.66).

Not only was he a colossus in the air, winning 2.2 aerial duels per game, but he also put in 1.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per outing, too, which suggests that he excels in reading the game.

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But what is most interesting is his versatility and having come from a Futsal background, he is equally adept with the ball at his feet. Kilman is capable of playing left-back and in central defence, as shown by Transfermarkt.

That would earn plenty of similarities to that of former Lilywhites man Jan Vertonghen, who was a rock solid option for the club in both roles.

The Wolves colossus also ranked inside the top 14% for left-footed passes (33.9 per 90) and the top 12% for successful dribbles that led to a shot (0.03 per 90), when compared to his positional peers in the Premier League last season, via FBref.

Kilman, who has been described as “a brilliant professional” by Molineux teammate Conor Coady in the past, could well become Tottenham’s next Vertonghen, should sporting director Fabio Paratici follow up their initial interest in the centre-back with a firm bid.

On the above evidence, he is a proven Premier League talent and one that can play in multiple defensive positions, which would surely delight manager Antonio Conte.

So, it would make sense for Spurs to launch an offence before the end of the current transfer window on September 1st.

AND in other news, Paratici could repeat Dejan Kulusevski 2.0 with “explosive” £34m-rated gem…

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has shared an update regarding Hoops midfielder Reo Hatate after he was taken off through injury during the Parkhead club’s recent 2-0 win over Aberdeen.

What’s the news?

Speaking (via The Scotsman) after the match that saw the Bhoys secure their first win of the new season thanks to goals from Stephen Welsh and Jota, the 56-year-old had this to say about Hatate.

“He copped a couple of hard knocks, to be fair. He was a bit sore after the game.”

This seems to imply that the midfielder was not too badly injured during the match, despite being substituted off after 66 minutes following a blow to the mouth, in addition to needing treatment for a knock he took in the first period of the game.

Despite not completing the entire game, the Japan international still managed to show how significant he is to the Hoops as he racked up three key passes against Aberdeen as well as having two shots at goal and making one tackle and one interception.

Celtic fans will be buzzing

The 24-year-old showed after his arrival in January just how useful he is for the Hoops as he ended the previous SPFL season with 29 shots at goal, 23 crosses delivered, 12 interceptions and seven successful tackles.

As well as this, the January recruit managed to score four goals and provide three assists in 17 league appearances.

With Postecoglou implying that there wasn’t any serious damage done to Hatate during Sunday’s clash, this should relieve Celtic fans and leave them hoping that he’ll be fit enough to play in the Bhoys’ next game against Ross County on Saturday.

While the midfielder may have some recovering to do from his battle against Aberdeen, he still has the next few days ahead of him to train and get prepared for the next clash as Celtic look to continue their solid start to the campaign with another victory.

With Saturday’s clash with County in mind, it’s safe to say that given what Hatate offers the team in the middle of the pitch, Postecoglou will be hoping that the player can shake off the knocks he picked up and be available for selection.

AND in other news: Postecoglou could seal big CCV upgrade with Celtic bid for “tremendous” 25 y/o target