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Now backed by mega-rich owners, Newcastle United are a far greater force in the transfer market than they were during the Mike Ashley era, having only recently secured the club-record arrival of Alexander Isak.

For all the focus on potential incomings, though, manager Eddie Howe could well save PIF millions by promoting from within, with the Magpies having a handful of emerging prospects who could well be unleashed on the first team in the near future.

One such academy talent is that of midfielder Joe White, with the 19-year-old yet to feature at senior level despite having impressed in the youth ranks, having previously scored eight goals and provided nine assists in just 33 games for the club’s under-18s.

The Carlisle-born starlet also impressed after joining Hartlepool United on loan in January, registering three assists in just 16 appearances for the League Two outfit.

There had even reportedly been interest in the playmaker from Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers – among others – prior to that, albeit with the Englishman subsequently quashing such speculation by signing a new long-term deal at St James’ Park in March.

While another temporary exit was mooted over the summer for the “talented” starlet – as dubbed by Howe – no such move came to fruition, ensuring that the youngster is available to be called upon by the former Bournemouth boss.

A chance in the first team should well be afforded to the attacking midfielder amid the current injury woes at the club, with Jonjo Shelvey facing an extended period on the sidelines, while January addition Bruno Guimaraes has been out of action of late.

With midfield options already limited, there should seemingly be a chance for White to stake his claim as the season progresses, with fellow academy prospect Elliot Anderson having already managed to take on a more prominent role in the early weeks of the season by making four appearances thus far.

It would certainly be a positive statement for the club’s youth department if those two academy graduates could go on to become key figures for the Tynesiders over the coming years, and it’s a mouthwatering prospect to imagine the pair running riot in midfield for Howe’s side.

Amid the recent interest in Leicester City’s James Maddison – who could cost more than £60m – Newcastle could well avoid splashing the cash by turning to young White instead.

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their interest in Sean Clare in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Football League World, the Black Cats are one of a number of Championship teams eyeing up a swoop for the right-back.

The report claims that Huddersfield and Norwich are also keen on the 25-year-old after being impressed by his performances last season.

He has one year left on his current contract with the League One club, although it is stated that Charlton want to pin him down to a fresh contract.

Lynden Gooch upgrade

Kristjaan Speakman could land the club an upgrade on Lynden Gooch at right wing-back by securing a deal to sign Clare from the Addicks.

The third-tier outfit may be tempted to cash in on him within the next week if they cannot reach an agreement on fresh terms as they would be running the risk of losing him for nothing next summer.

Sunderland could, therefore, swoop in to sign him on a permanent basis to bolster their options on the right side of their defence.

Gooch has had a solid, if unspectacular, start to the Championship season. He has chipped in with one goal and one assist in five matches but has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.72 – placing him 14th in the squad.

This comes after he averaged a rating of 6.77 in 41 League One outings last term, making 2.0 tackles and interceptions per game as he was directly involved in six goals.

He has struggled with the physical battles in both divisions. Since the start of the the 2021/22 campaign, he has lost the majority of his combined aerial and ground duels.

Clare, meanwhile, could offer an upgrade on the right in terms of his overall performances and his defensive reliability. The £13k-per-week gem averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.91 in League One last term and made 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game, whilst winning 56% of his battles.

TalkSPORT’s Natasha Everitt recently claimed that he “plays out of his skin” every match and his statistics this season back that up as he has taken his game up a level.

In five third tier outings, he has averaged a rating of 7.08 and made 4.0 tackles and interceptions per game. Along with that, he has won 58% of his duels and chipped in with one goal.

These statistics suggest that Clare, who is a year younger than Gooch, has the potential to be a huge upgrade on the American on the defensive side of the game. At League One level, he has shown that he can put in a higher standard of performances, whilst making more defending actions at a higher success rate.

It would be up to the Charlton man, however, to make the step up to Championship level and show – at wing-back – that he can maintain those standards whilst contributing in attack.

Manchester City are reportedly closing in on securing a deal to sign RSC Anderlecht left-back Sergio Gomez.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post, journalist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, had this to say on the matter.

“Excl: Sergio Gómez to Manchester City, here we go! Verbal agreement reached with Anderlecht. Fee will be more than €10m, closer to €15m – to be signed soon.”

Romano then added that Gomez “has good chances to be part of City team – otherwise, he will be loaned out to La Liga side Girona.”

Guardiola will be thrilled

In addition to seeing Oleksandr Zinchenko join Arsenal, the Citizens also missed out on signing Marc Cucurella before he eventually joined Chelsea after being linked with a move to City.

This shows why the Manchester club have been looking to bring Gomez in to strengthen their left-back position, should he end up staying at the Etihad Stadium rather than being loaned out to Girona, as Romano mentioned.

It also makes it safe to say that Pep Guardiola will be over the moon to see a new left-back brought in before the summer transfer window closes.

After spending time in Barcelona’s youth ranks, the Spaniard joined Borussia Dortmund in 2018 before making his move to Belgium last summer.

With 49 appearances to his name across all competitions last season, the 21-year-old ended up scoring seven goals and delivering 15 assists along the way.

In fact, with 34 league appearances under his belt last season, the full-back delivered more crosses (284) than any other player at the Belgian club, as well as racking up the third-highest number of interceptions (53) and the fourth-highest number of successful tackles (32).

This shows just how dangerous he can be up the pitch and how useful he can be without the ball in a defensive sense.

Lauded as a “superb” player by football talent scout, Jacek Kulig, Gomez, who could now be heading to the Etihad for a fee of €15m (£12.6m) according to Romano, certainly has the talent to be a useful member of City’s squad rather than being loaned out.

Moving forward, if the Premier League champions end up sealing a deal for the left-back, they should keep him in the senior squad and see if he can make an impact on the team and be as impressive for them as he was for Anderlecht last season. Irrespective of whether he kicks a ball for City this season, or fans have to wait until next term, Guardiola will be thrilled to further deepen his squad.

Newcastle United have been hit with a big setback in their pursuit of Carney Chukwuemeka in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the teenage Magpies target is set to move to one of their Premier League rivals for a fee rising to £20m.

He Tweeted: “Carney Chukwuemeka, in London together with his agents and family. He will undergo medical tests today in order to be unveiled this week as new Chelsea player for £15m fee plus add-ons up to £20m package. Contract will be until June 2028. 100% confirmed.”

This comes after the Blues confirmed: “Aston Villa and Chelsea can confirm that the clubs have reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Carney Chukwuemeka. The 18-year-old has been given permission to travel to London to discuss both personal terms and undergo a medical.”

90min reporter Graeme Bailey named Newcastle as one of a number of clubs interested in snapping up a deal for the youngster last month and they now appear to have lost the race to sign him.

Eddie Howe’s own superstar

This is a setback for the Magpies as the 18-year-old is an exciting prospect who could have been a huge part of the club’s future.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig previously dubbed him a “superstar in the making” and a “special talent”, having watched him in action for England’s U19’s in the European Championships over the summer.

The gem scored three goals in four games from central midfield and found the back of the net in the final as he helped his country to beat Israel to the trophy.

He does not turn 19 until October and played 14 matches for Villa’s first team last term as he broke into Steven Gerrard’s squad – featuring in 12 Premier League games. In those outings, Chukwuemeka picked up one assist and won 55% of his battles on the pitch, which suggests that he has the physicality to handle himself in the top-flight against experienced professionals.

Now, imagine what he could be capable of with more maturity in his game and an improved physique as he grows into his body. At the age of 18, he has many, many, years left ahead of him to develop and he could become the superstar Kulig has tipped him to be by gaining more experience in the seasons to come.

The gem could have been Howe’s own midfield general and star man in the future, if he is able to fulfil the potential his stature at such a young age suggests he has, but the Magpies head coach will now have to watch on as he continues his career at Chelsea, whether that is at Stamford Bridge or out on loan for now.

West Ham United transfer target Oleksandr Zinchenko now seems poised to join Arsenal.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who had the following to say on Twitter: “Arsenal and Manchester City have reached an agreement for Zinchenko in the morning. £30m fee. No doubt it’s done between clubs. Negotiations ongoing on player side for personal terms and salary details, then it will be completed”.

West Ham had shown reported interest in the Ukrainian as far back as June.

Supporters will be gutted

Although only a tenuous interest, Zinchenko would’ve been a fine addition to West Ham’s squad. Admittedly, he would have been for most Premier League clubs.

With incredible versatility, an eye for a pass and multiple years being coached by Pep Guardiola, the Ukrainian international offered it all for just £30m.

An incredibly well-rounded player, he featured just 14 times in the league last season for Manchester City. However, he still managed four assists whilst largely filling in positions in which Pep Guardiola was lacking.

He also managed a remarkable SofaScore rating of 7.07, which shows just how dependable he could be. If he was to make the step down to West Ham, he would have been guaranteed game time in his preferred central midfield position.

When viewing his stats on FBref, it makes for astounding viewing. He ranks in the 96th percentile for shot-creating actions and in the 99th percentile for both progressive passes and carries.

He has deputised as a defender, but his creativity is wasted there and would be a welcome addition to Moyes’ midfield.

Guardiola has been vocal in his admiration for the pass-master in the past, claiming:

“He is well-educated, he knows exactly what it means. He adapted and said: ‘Okay, what does the team need? I’m going to do it.’

“He is a reliable player, honestly. He is focused, a guy who handles the pressure, otherwise he would not have played the final of the Champions League.”

It therefore makes it even more frustrating that the Hammers seem poised to miss out on the 25-year-old to London rivals Arsenal. Supporters especially have reason to be frustrated because of this, as Moyes looks set to miss out on a top target.

AND in other news: “Still talking to..”: ExWHUemployee drops big WHU transfer update supporters will love

An update has emerged on Tottenham and their interest in signing Lisandro Martinez in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

90min reporter Sean Walsh has claimed that Spurs are in the race to land the defender alongside a host of Premier League outfits.

He Tweeted: “Arsenal are leading the chase for Lisandro Martinez, but they face significant competition from likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle. Erik ten Hag and Man Utd also admirers but further down their shortlist.”

Fabio Paratici is plotting a swoop for the Argentine gem and will reportedly need to shell out £25m to tempt Ajax into selling him.

Big Ben Davies upgrade

By securing a deal to sign Martinez, the Spurs chief can land Antonio Conte a big upgrade on Ben Davies at left centre-back.

The Wales international enjoyed a solid campaign with Tottenham as he started 28 times in the Premier League and helped them to secure Champions League football.

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He averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.88 and won 54% of his duels as he established himself alongside Eric Dier and Christian Romero on the left-hand side of the back three.

In Martinez, however, Spurs can find themselves a superior player to improve their XI heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

Journalist Casey Evans previously claimed that the defender has a “bulldog-like” approach, much like Carlos Tevez, and his statistics suggest that it is an accurate comment.

In 2021/22, the brute won a whopping 69% of his individual duels and made 3.9 tackles and interceptions per game in the Eredivisie – showing that he is an aggressive defender who wins the majority of his 50/50’s.

These stats show that he is a physically dominant player, despite standing at 5 foot 9, who can outmuscle opposition players in battles at a much higher success rate than Davies.

Martinez has also shown that he has potential to deliver a higher standard of performance on a regular basis than the former Swansea man. Last season, the Argentina international averaged a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 7.61 from centre-back as he produced quality displays week-in-week-out in the Netherlands.

At the age of 24, he also has the potential to improve and is a player Conte can work with on the training pitch to help him develop in the years to come. This means that he can be a big upgrade on Davies in the short-term, if he can adapt to the Premier League, whilst also being an investment for the future.

AND in other news, Conte can axe £80k-p/w “nightmare” as Spurs plot bid for £50m gem who “rarely misses”…

Everton youngster Ellis Simms is wanted on loan by Scottish Premiership side Hearts next season, according to a report from Edinburgh Evening News. 

The lowdown: Hot prospect

Formerly of the youth system at Manchester City, Simms joined the Blues in 2017 and has since progressed remarkably through the ranks on Merseyside.

The 21-year-old striker amassed an incredible 62 direct goal contributions in 84 outings across the Everton Under 18s and Under 23s before a spell out on loan at Blackpool, where the starlet netted ten times in 24 appearances for the then League One side.

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Set to return to Goodison Park this summer following a loan spell at Hearts last season, Simms is wanted for a second spell north of the border.

The latest: Approach made

As per the report from Edinburgh Evening News, Hearts officials have already made a ‘strong pitch’ to take the frontman back.

It’s claimed that the Toffees will wait to make a decision on Simms amidst interest from a ‘number of teams’ in the Championship and to allow Frank Lampard to ‘assess him’ during pre-season.

The report also states that the man lauded for an ‘absolutely magnificent’ goal against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup semi-final could be required to fill the void left behind by either Richarlison or Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The verdict: Keep him

Given the lack of striking options at his disposal due to injuries and suspensions last season, Lampard should seriously consider keeping Simms for the 2022/23 campaign, regardless of what happens with Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin over the coming weeks.

Standing at an imposing 6 foot 2, the Oldham-born youngster has the physical attributes to cope with the Premier League and could provide a younger, more agile alternative to 32-year-old target man Salomon Rondon, who was so often the go-to option in times of need late last term despite only scoring once in the league.

Having enjoyed further senior success and big match exposure whilst scoring seven times and providing two assists in 21 outings in Scotland, the ace who won the 2018/19 Premier League 2 Golden Boot award with a staggering 32 strikes can be an affective member of the Everton squad moving forwards.

In other news, Everton are eyeing this midfielder from a big-six side

Lisandro Martinez is among the players that Erik ten Hag and Manchester United have identified as a summer target. 

That’s according to Paul Hirst, Manchester football correspondent for The Times.

The lowdown

Ten Hag is preparing for his first season in charge at Old Trafford after he was appointed permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The 52-year-old enjoyed great success at Ajax, winning the Eredivisie title and KNVB Cup twice each.

He selected Martinez at centre-back 37 times across all competitions over the course of the recently-concluded season.

Valued at £28.8m by Transfermarkt, the Argentine is under contract at the Johann Cruyff ArenA until the summer of 2025.

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The latest

Hirst wrote for The Times that Martinez’s name features on Ten Hag’s transfer shortlist at United, along with team-mates Jurrien Timber and Antony.

Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, two Dutchmen who previously played under Ten Hag at Ajax, are also ‘candidates’ for a summer move to Old Trafford.

Away from the Netherlands, Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres is also the subject of admiration from the Red Devils.

The verdict

Based on his interest in Martinez, Timber, De Ligt and Torres, it seems that Ten Hag has decided that he needs an upgrade in the heart of defence. He appears dissatisfied with his existing options, which include Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof, who all featured in a team which shipped 57 Premier League goals this season.

According to FBRef, Martinez boasts a similar playing style to Manchester City’s Ruben Dias, ranking in the 99th percentile among positional peers in the major European leagues for both progressive passes and tackles per 90 minutes. It’s no surprise that the 24-year-old is exceptionally comfortable in possession, given that he has also operated as a defensive midfielder during his career.

Indeed, he demonstrated his ability on the ball in Ajax’s Champions League group stage victory over Besiktas last year, playing a pass in the build-up to the first goal which journalist Karl Matchett called ‘ridiculous’ and talent scout Jacek Kulig said ‘should be in the Louvre’.

He looks like a very good option for the new United manager to target this summer.

In other news, this insider has dropped a big claim on another Man United target 

Liverpool transfer target Robert Lewandowski has submitted a transfer request at current club Bayern Munich ahead of the upcoming summer window.

What’s the story?

As confirmed by Bayern’s director of football Hasan Salihamidzic, via the Liverpool Echo, the Polish striker has lodged a transfer request and intends to depart Bavaria this summer despite still having another year on his contract with the Bundesliga giants.

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Liverpool have recently been claimed to be interested in signing the 33-year-old after previous target Erling Haaland’s move to Manchester City was confirmed this week.

With Divock Origi looking likely to depart Anfield whilst Roberto Firmino’s future hangs in the balance, Jurgen Klopp will certainly need depth amongst his strikers and reuniting with Lewandowski after the two worked together at Borussia Dortmund would provide the German would an even more deadly front line.

Liverpool must sign Lewandowski

Although Bayern are holding their cards close to their chest, with president Herbert Hainer stating: “Lewandowski has a contract until June 2023 and will play for us until then,” it seems likely that the Poland international will move on this summer.

It will be incredibly hard for the German juggernaut to keep hold of the striker following the submission of a transfer request, and Liverpool must pounce.

Striker Diogo Jota has had an excellent campaign for the Reds, scoring 21 goals for Liverpool. However, it seems as though the arrival of Luis Diaz, whilst being predominantly a winger, has seen the Portuguese fall down the pecking order slightly.

The 25-year-old started Saturday’s FA Cup final from the bench but was brought on to replace the injured Mohamed Salah and played a total of just 63 minutes across the two legs of Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final tie against Villarreal.

Therefore, extra firepower up front is needed and Lewandowski has a mouthwatering pedigree in front of goal.

Labelled as a “freak of nature” by journalist Sam Tighe and “breathtaking” by Owen Hargreaves, the 33-year-old has scored a whopping 509 goals and registered 135 assists in 675 appearances throughout his club career, with 50 of them coming this season alone.

Moreover, in 374 appearances for Bayern Munich, the Polish forward has found the back of the net on 344 occasions whilst providing 72 assists, averaging 1.11 goal contributions every appearance.

Lewandowski is a serious goal machine and would provide Liverpool with an answer to City’s acquisition of Haaland, something that could propel them towards their second Premier League title.

AND in other news: Liverpool must now brutally sell £85k-p/w dud who’s lost possession every 4.5 minutes

Everton will be looking to pick up their first three points of the new season when they face West Ham at Goodison Park on Sunday and Frank Lampard can give his side the best chance by finally unleashing new signing Idrissa Gana Gueye.

The Senegal international, who returned to Merseyside from PSG during the summer transfer window, is yet to start a game since his return to the club.

However, in his 28-minute cameo against Liverpool, he demonstrated exactly what he’d offer this troubled Toffees side. He made one tackle and two interceptions, with the latter being the joint-highest of average interceptions in the Everton squad alongside James Tarkowski.

It is clear what the experienced midfielder can offer Lampard and playing against a strong midfield duo of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, Everton will need to be at their best if they want to dominate the central areas against the Hammers.

After last weekend’s fixture was postponed, Gueye should now be much closer to full fitness having trained all week, and there is no reason why Tom Davies should start ahead of him against David Moyes’ side on Sunday.

The Englishman has earned a disappointing 6.31 rating from WhoScored so far this season, with an average of 1.4 tackles and just 0.6 interceptions per game.

The fact that Gueye has arguably outperformed him, earning a 6.52 rating from WhoScored despite only featuring for 28 minutes against Liverpool, shows that the former PSG man is the superior option in midfield, and the prospect of him starting alongside Amadou Onana is one that a lot of Premier League sides will fear.

When Gueye returned to Everton in the summer he was hailed by Micah Richards, who described him as “frightening”, while he also earned the praise of Thomas Tuchel during his time at PSG.

He said: “He’s a machine, eh! He never stops running.”

Everton need machine-like players of Gueye’s ilk if they are going to improve on last season’s relegation near-miss, and now that he has had more time to get match fit, Lampard must unleash the Senegal international against West Ham this weekend.