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Leeds United remain interested in a deal to bring Cody Gakpo to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Ryan Taylor, who revealed in a recent article for The Express that, despite Victor Orta looking set to seal a £22m deal for Feyenoord winger Luis Sinisterra in the coming days, the Spanish director of football could still pursue a move for a further wide-attacking player this summer.

Taylor goes on to state that one such target could be PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo – the 23-year-old forward with whom Leeds have already been linked with a €40m (£35m) move – as, unlike Sinisterra, the Netherlands international is predominantly right-footed, making him an ideal replacement for the outbound Raphinha.

“Beautiful” duo

Considering just how exciting a talent Sinisterra appears to be – with the 23-year-old scoring 23 goals and providing 14 assists over 49 appearances for Feyenoord last season – should Orta also manage to get a deal over the line for Gakpo this summer, the Spaniard would have undoubtedly formed an incredibly exciting attacking duo in Jesse Marsch’s squad ahead of 2022/23.

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Indeed, over his 27 Eredivisie appearances last season, the £27m-rated talent was in breathtaking form, scoring 12 goals, registering 13 assists and creating 11 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.0 shots, making 2.6 key passes and completing 2.9 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £7.4k-per-week forward average a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.51, not only ranking him as Roger Schmidt’s best performer in the division but also as the fourth-best player in the league as a whole.

Furthermore, the player who Josh Bunting dubbed a “beautiful talent” and Wierd Duk labelled an “enormous” prospect also impressed over his combined 15 appearances in Champions League qualifying, the Europa League and the Europa Conference League last time out, scoring seven goals and providing one assist over all three competitions.

As such, the prospect of Gakpo linking up with Sinisterra in LS11 next season will undoubtedly be an incredibly tantalising one for the Elland Road faithful – leading us to believe that Taylor’s latest update on the club’s continued pursuit of the flying Dutchman is sure to have left Leeds supporters buzzing.

AND in other news: Offer made: Orta in Leeds talks for £32m “elite signing”, he’s the “complete package”

Arsenal’s next transfer target could well be Benfica defender Alejandro Grimaldo, according to the latest reports.

What’s the word?

As per Portuguese outlet Record [via TEAMtalk], the Gunners have made contact over a potential move for the Spaniard, with the club seemingly targeting quality cover and competition for first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney.

The report claimed that the Premier League giants have enquired about a price for the 26-year-old but have yet to present an offer, with Benfica thought to be open to the player’s departure from Lisbon.

The 5 foot 7 menace – who joined the Portuguese club from Barcelona in January 2016 – could potentially be available for as little as €20m (£17m), with the chance that he could leave for nothing next summer with just one year remaining on his existing deal.

One of Edu’s best

This possible interest also comes amid doubts over the future of fellow full-back Nuno Tavares, with the 22-year-old – who only arrived at the Emirates Stadium in a £6.8m deal last summer – believed to be the subject of interest from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille.

With the Gunners said to be open to offers for the Lisbon-born starlet if they can secure a replacement, the man who could well come in to fill his place is his former Benfica team-mate Grimaldo, with the former Spain under-21 international seemingly a notable upgrade.

During his seven-year stint with the Primeira Liga giants, the £18m-rated defender has chipped in with an impressive tally of 19 goals and 50 assists in 247 games in all competitions, including 15 goal contributions from the most recent campaign.

That haul saw the £27k-per-week talent supply five goals and five assists in the league, while he also provided Champions League quarter-finals, eventually crashing out at the hands of Liverpool.

His impressive domestic form in particular saw the Valencia native record a strong 7.33 average match rating from SofaScore, a figure only bettered by three of his team-mates from last season.

Previously dubbed “one of the best left-backs in Europe” by Benfica sporting director Tiago Pinto, the La Masia academy product would seemingly be an astute capture for the north Londoners were he to be signed this summer, particularly given the recent injury history of the aforementioned Tierney.

The Scotland international was restricted to just 22 league appearances last term as a result of his frequent stints on the sidelines, with the 25-year-old sadly not a figure who can be relied upon to stay fit for an entire campaign.

In Grimaldo, Arsenal transfer chief Edu could well find the ideal candidate to fill the former Celtic man’s shoes when required and also provide direct competition for the Scot, with a strong understudy needed ahead of a season which will see the Gunners compete on four fronts.

Although it might not be a headline-grabbing addition, the defender’s potential arrival at the Emirates could prove to be one of Edu’s best pieces of business in his current role.

AND, in other news: Arsenal plotting move for £19.8m-rated “assist machine”, could be better than Raphinha

Rangers appear to have won the race for highly sought-after winger Tom Lawrence as Giovanni van Bronckhorst continues to strengthen his side.

What’s the news?

That’s according to Rangers’ journalist Chris Jack, who revealed in the Glasgow Times that the Ibrox side have won the race to sign Tom Lawrence.

Rangers fought off competition from Sheffield United to land the Welshman following his departure from Derby County and the Gers won’t have to pay a fee for him.

It is another good signing that will surely only improve Van Bronckhorst’s side ahead of an important season.

The manager will be delighted

Having added John Souttar and Antonio Colak to the Ibrox first team, along with a host of young talent that will beef up the B team, Lawrence could be a valuable option going forward.

Having reached the Europa League final and won the Scottish Cup last season, the onus is on Van Bronckhorst to reclaim the Premiership crown from Celtic in what will be a closely contested title race.

The Ibrox side relied a bit too much on winger Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos for goals and assists last year and Lawrence could add some extra creative spark to the first team.

The 28-year-old was a standout for Derby in the Championship despite their relegation, scoring 11 goals and registering five assists. He displayed his attacking talents by taking 2.82 shots per match and delivering 81 crosses during the course of the season.

Lawrence averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.86 last season, ranking him third in the Derby squad in what was an excellent campaign personally.

It’s unlikely that he will dislodge Kent from the left-wing at Ibrox anytime soon, but he is a more than able deputy if injury or suspension occurs. Add to the fact that he can operate on the right or just behind the striker and this versatility will be a big bonus for the club going forward.

It could well be a masterstroke from the Dutchman to bring such a quality player to the club for free, hopefully, there are more signings to follow.

AND in other news: Wilson plotting Rangers bid to sign £6m wizard, he would be a dream Aribo replacement

Tottenham Hotspur are now keen on a move for Pervis Estupinan…

What’s the word?

According to El Periodico Mediterraneo (via Sport Witness), the north London outfit are targeting the Villarreal left-back and have even made contact with his representatives over a potential move.

It’s thought that manager Antonio Conte has made Sergio Reguilon available for transfer this summer and that he sees the Ecuador international as a viable replacement.

The 24-year-old, who is valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, was once on the books at Watford, though he never made a senior appearance for the former Premier League side.

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Emerson 2.0

It would be an interesting move from Spurs if they were to ship Reguilon out in favour of Estupinan, who may not even be an upgrade on the Spaniard. Last summer’s arrival of Emerson Royal should be enough to put the Lilywhites off completing this deal.

The ex-Barcelona full-back has struggled to adapt to life in England, leading to major concerns about his ability. According to The Times back in January, the Italian head coach wanted to sign a new right wing-back because of Emerson’s poor qualities in the final third.

There are some similarities to be had with the Yellow Submarines star, as he has struggled to influence the game further up the pitch – as per FBref, the 24-year-old dynamo has some of the worst attacking returns compared to his positional peers.

He ranks outside the top 70% of full-backs for shot-creating actions, averaging 1.34 per 90, and also ranks outside the top 70% for assists per 90, too.

Elsewhere, even former Spurs liability Serge Aurier (6.53) registered a better average WhoScored rating for the Yellow Submarines than Estupinan (6.52), who ranked 20th from all of Unai Emery’s players for the 2021/22 campaign.

Despite being lauded as “one of the best left-backs in LaLiga” and “underrated” by scout Jacek Kulig, it seems as if the former Hornets man would be something of a big risk to take this transfer window.

Spurs already know what they get with Reguilon and aside from some injury concerns, he is a pretty solid alternative to Ivan Perisic.

Given their track record with signings from the Spanish top-flight under the current regime, it would be wise for sporting director Fabio Paratici and Conte to swerve this deal.

Otherwise, they risk signing another Emerson and that’s surely a recipe for disaster at Hotspur Way.

AND in other news, Sky Sports drop exciting Spurs transfer update…

Everton have been offered the chance to re-sign Ross Barkley from Chelsea.

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Mirror, who claim that Chelsea are looking to offload Barkley after what has been a disappointing stint in London.

Thomas Tuchel has reportedly lost faith in the midfielder and sees his future elsewhere with the player also offered to Aston Villa.

Despite leaving the Toffees in frustrating fashion back in 2018, he could be ready to return and provide the creative spark they have been lacking.

Lampard would love him

Back when he used to play at Goodison Park, Barkley would have been the perfect attacking midfielder for Frank Lampard to mould in his image.

However, it just so happens that at that time, Lampard was still playing professional football rather than managing.

It has been five years since he made the ill-advised switch to Chelsea that has seen a career destined for the stars dashed in the English capital, however, a return could be exactly what both club and player need.

Everton are crying out for a creative spark in their midfield, whereas Barkley is crying out for some faith and a run in a team. Perhaps now is the perfect time for Lampard to take him under his wing and squeeze out whatever talents have survived his Chelsea excursion.

Having only featured six times last season, the 28-year-old marked what could be his last appearance for the club with a goal on the final day of the season. This came after a 20-match run without an appearance, despite being on the bench for most of those games.

The season prior he did get a stint at Aston Villa where he managed to recover some of his old form, as he scored two in his first four before suffering a hamstring injury and never truly recovering.

Luck has not been on his side, but perhaps if Everton are to take a chance on this £100k-per-week pariah, his luck might just start to change.

Back when he used to manage both the club and the player, Roberto Martinez hailed Barkley as “an example to the new generation of English football.”

He continued to claim that “we all saw that he had the potential to be world-class” and that he was a “special talent”

Although it appears that he never truly fulfilled this potential, there was clearly enough there to demand such praise.

Hopefully, if he is to return to the Toffees he would be welcomed back, and it would provide the perfect fairy-tale story that would delight Lampard and supporters alike. Whether he would be welcomed back by Goodison Park is a completely different thing, however.

AND, in other news: Everton get green light to sign “incredible” £28k-p/w gem, he’d be their own Gallagher.

Liverpool have made three signings this summer but lost one of their biggest players with Sadio Mane making a move to Bayern Munich early into the transfer window, and it has been feared in recent days that another forward could be set to follow the Senegal winger out the door at Anfield.

Roberto Firmino was named as a primary transfer target for Serie A giants Juventus in their attempts to rebuild their attacking threat this summer, with a bid reportedly rejected by the Reds, who are adamant that their Brazilian number nine will remain at the club this season.

Jurgen Klopp spoke out ahead of the Community Shield clash to reassure Kopites that the forward is part of his future plans, saying (via liverpoolfc.com): “Bobby is crucial for us, Bobby is [the] heart and soul of this team.”

“I am absolutely fine and, for me, there’s no doubt about his quality. All the rest, we will see how this year goes, but yes, he is essential for us.”

Despite the manager and the club making it clear that Firmino is not leaving this summer, it does put into perspective the fact that he will be out of contract in less than 12 months’ time as it stands, so who could replace one of the supporters’ most beloved players to currently wear Liverpool red?

One player who has been linked with a move to the six-time Champions League winners is PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo.

The versatile £38m-valued Dutch midfielder is not traditionally a centre-forward – making just 18 appearances in the position, in which he has scored eight goals – but that wouldn’t trouble Klopp in the slightest as he is renowned for trying out his players in different roles, with Mane spending the second half of last season playing through the middle with ease.

According to SofaScore, Gakpo is effective and experienced in the attacking midfield, left wing and centre-forward roles, a versatility which would be valuable if Firmino were to depart in the coming months.

Over 27 Eredivisie appearances last season, the 23-year-old scored 12 goals, delivered 13 assists and created 11 big chances, making 2.6 key passes and winning 5.5 duels per game and completing the majority of his dribbles (59%).

Gakpo has been the recipient of high praise for his performances, with former Netherlands midfielder Theo Janssen saying in an interview with NOS: “That boy (Gakpo) has everything. Fine feeling for the ball, a good through ball, dribbles and is strong between the lines.”

With that in mind, the 23-year-old could be the ideal Firmino heir that Klopp needs in order to continue his pursuit to win trophies with Liverpool. However, with the Brazil international looking likely to stay put, it could be an unlikely move for the time being, albeit one to consider next summer.

AND in other news: FSG plotting Liverpool bid to sign “daring” £42m phenomenon, imagine him & Nunez

Former Arsenal striker turned Sky Sports pundit Kevin Campbell has been left overjoyed by recent comments from technical director Edu. 

The lowdown: Edu opens up

Discussing the current situation at the Gunners in an interview with The Athletic, Edu outlined the current strategy at the Emirates Stadium, underpinned by what has been an impressive summer transfer window so far.

The 44-year-old Brazilian, who played for the north Londoners on 127 occasions and won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one Community Shield during his time at the club, also insisted that Mikel Arteta’s side ‘cannot accept’ the current dominance enjoyed by Manchester City and Liverpool in England.

Upon hearing the comments, another fellow former Gunner has given his verdict on the positivity coming out of N7…

The latest: ‘Music to my ears’

Speaking to Football Insider, Campbell – who made 193 appearances for Arsenal and now contributes for Sky – proclaimed that this is exactly the kind of bravado that he experienced when arriving in north London.

He said: “This was music to my ears, let me tell you. Listen, the first time I walked into Arsenal that was the mindset. That is exactly what George Graham thought in ’86.

“Of course Man City and Liverpool are up there. They are amazing teams but they have the target on their back. They are the ones you have to go for.

“If you get in amongst them, you have a chance. The top four is important but it doesn’t make you successful. Getting in amongst City and Liverpool come the end of the season makes you competitive and successful.

“That has to be the aim for Arsenal. They have been there before. The level of consistency from Liverpool and City has been incredible. But that has to be every team’s goal.”

The verdict: Spot on

Arsenal have been enjoying sure signs of incremental growth of fwhat is a young and talented squad under Arteta ever since the Spaniard’s appointment, backed up by the work in the market by Edu this summer in particular.

However, steady improvement can only take a perceived superpower such as the Gunners so far and eventually something tangible has to come from the steps taken, a matter that those in power at the Emirates are seemingly keen to address in the upcoming 2022/23 campaign.

Still linked with such renowned names as Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Cody Gakpo, Edu could well further bolster the ranks prior to the September 1 deadline, further underlining the perceived newfound backing from the board.

Whether or not those targets and the completed captures of the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are enough to bridge the 34-point gap to eventual Premier League champions remains to be seen, but, a sustained challenge in the upper echelons, prolonged domestic cup runs and a deep dive into the Europa League are surely attainable targets for Arteta’s men.

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Julian Weigl to the London Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Portuguese publication Record (via Sport Witness), who claim that Rob Newman has made contact with Benfica regarding a potential move for the defensive midfielder, with the West Ham head of recruitment believed to have been informed that the Germany international will cost around €20m (£17m) including add-ons.

The report goes on to state that the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Monchengladbach, Hertha Berlin, AC Milan and Atalanta BC have also made an enquiry with the Liga Portugal side regarding the 26-year-old, although Weigl’s £49k-per-week wage is said to be the reason no clubs have submitted an official bid for the player as yet.

Dream Onana alternative

While another of West Ham’s reported defensive midfield targets, LOSC Lille talent Amadou Onana, is undoubtedly an extremely exciting prospect, considering that the Ligue 1 side are demanding a figure of around €40m (£34m) to part with the Belgium international this summer, Weigl could well be West Ham’s dream alternative to the 20-year-old.

Indeed, the £19.8m-rated German was in remarkable form over his 29 Liga Portugal appearances last time out, scoring two goals, registering three assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.7 shots, making 0.6 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.

The former Borussia Dortmund starlet who Marc Bartra claimed is “very similar to Busquets” also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 2.0 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 57.4 passes – at a success rate of 91% – 4.3 long balls and winning 4.9 duels – at a success rate of 57% – per fixture.

These returns saw the 26-year-old average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.06, ranking him as Roger Schmidt’s 14th-best performer in the top flight of Portuguese football last time out.

For comparison, while Onana is very much in the infancy of his professional career, Weigl bested the £9m-rated talent in almost every metric, with the 20-year-old scoring one goal and creating three big chances over his 32 Ligue 1 appearances in 2021/22, as well as making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 0.9 tackles and winning 3.4 duels – at a success rate of 54% – per game.

These metrics saw the £5.5k-per-week midfielder average a very admirable SofaScore match rating of 6.85, ranking him as Lille’s joint ninth-best player in the top flight of French football last season.

As such, while it would appear extremely likely that Onana will go on to enjoy a fantastic career, considering the fact that Weigl will cost half the price of the Belgian this summer, in addition to the German having played almost five times the amount of professional games as the youngster – 322 to 67 – should Newman fail in his pursuit of the 20-year-old, the Benfica centrocampista would appear to be something of a dream alternative for the Hammers.

Sporting Lisbon maestro Matheus Nunes would be a ‘real coup’ for Wolverhampton Wanderers if Bruno Lage’s side secure the midfielder’s signature, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Nunes linked with Wolves

The 23-year-old has been at the centre of much transfer speculation this summer, with a number of European clubs touted with interest.

Premier League giants Liverpool have also been regularly involved in the rumours surrounding Nunes, with a £51m release clause holding the midfielder back from a move to the English top flight.

According to reports from Portugal, the Old Gold joined the race in July after submitting a bid for the player.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s claim

O’Rourke thinks that Nunes’ possible arrival at Molineux would be a fantastic signing for the club, given the standing of the other clubs who are also in the race for the Sporting Lisbon ace.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the journalist claimed: “It looks a real exciting addition. I think it’d be something of a real coup for Wolves if they’re able to land Nunes from Sporting Lisbon because he’s been linked with some top clubs all across Europe, the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, and a few top clubs in Spain.”

The Verdict: He’d be brilliant

At just 23, Nunes has already made 100 appearances for Sporting. Staggeringly, he featured 50 times for the club last season, illustrating his reliability and impressive athleticism.

Furthermore, the player’s underlying statistics highlight why he would be a brilliant addition to Lage’s squad. As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, Nunes ranks in the top 1% for both assists and dribbles completed.

Goncalo Santos, a former team-mate of Nunes, hailed the youngster’s praises after he helped Sporting to win their first Primeira Liga title in 19 years in 2021, saying: “It’s unbelievable when he has the ball at his feet. Nobody can catch him; it’s impossible because he’s too fast.”

Bearing those figures and that endorsement in mind, if Wolves can beat off the competition and secure the Portugal international’s signature, it would indeed be a fantastic coup for the Old Gold.

Nottingham Forest have completed a whopping 12 new signings this summer, and now a reliable source has suggested that they could be closing in on what they will hope is a lucky 13th.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Remo Freuler is set to become a Nottingham Forest player in the coming hours and days.

Romano tweeted:

“Remo Freuler to Nottingham Forest, here we go! Full agreement for €9m plus add-ons. Remo will sign until June 2025, medical booked.

“Huge signing, one more international Swiss midfielder and key player for Atalanta – Miltiadis Marinakis on it showing ambition again.”

Cooper should be thrilled

Steve Cooper should be thrilled with his 13th signing of the summer, as Freuler can add bags of experience as well as solving a key issue that stood out for the Welsh manager in the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League opener last weekend.

Cooper took to his post-match interview to detail the problems Forest were facing in game that cost them two goals and ultimately three points at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon, saying:

“We fell short in our performance today, but we live and learn. We were not right today in possession, and there were not enough passes when we could get them off, and that ultimately cost us the two goals.

“The way we gave up the ball in the play before the goals, that’s not the team I want us to be.”

Now with Freuler deployed in the centre of the pitch for Forest there is no doubt that the Swiss midfielder can improve those problems that need to be resolved when you take a closer look at his strengths in the Atalanta team.

The 30-year-old who is the fourth most comparable player to N’Golo Kante over last season had a 85.5% pass completion rate, ranking in the top 10% of players in the top five European leagues for progressive passes and the top 15% for progressive carries, attempting 63.42 passes per 90 minutes, proving that he is a midfielder who looks after the ball as well as distributing it with great precision.

RTS Swiss national team commentator David Lemos hailed Freuler “tireless” when analysing the player’s contribution in the Atalanta team:

“He is not a shiny midfielder, but incredibly reliable and precise. He is a tireless worker – one of those you don’t notice, but who are involved in almost every move.”

With that being said, Freuler is a fantastic signing for the Reds and a real bargain at just £7.6m, especially if he can comfortably incorporate his meticulous midfield skills into the team over the season ahead.