All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Tottenham Hotspur supporters will have been emboldened by the recent acquisition of James Maddison from Leicester City, and could now return for Harvey Barnes.

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to Tottenham?

According to The Telegraph, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is interested in raiding the King Power Stadium once again for the 25-year-old, with Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Newcastle United also vying for his signature.

The report does continue to state that sources suggest a transfer is not forthcoming for any of the aforementioned outfits at present, though this could change as the transfer window rages on.

Leicester were relegated from the top-flight this year and now face a rebuild, and while the Lilywhites have already tied up a £40m deal for Maddison, securing his teammate's services for a reported £30m could bode well ahead of the new campaign.

Should Tottenham sign Harvey Barnes?

For the past decade, Tottenham have been lauded for their attacking intent and guile despite failing to end the interminable wait for silverware.

Former manager Jose Mourinho hailed Heung-min Son as "on fire" and talisman Harry Kane for giving the club a "big dynamic" several years ago, but the recent term has illustrated the necessity for newfound talent after an eighth-placed finish in the league yielded no European football next year.

The former, Son, has been a stalwart for the London side since signing from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported £22m in 2015, scoring 145 goals and supplying 80 assists from 372 outings, but the 30-year-old has been criticised for "performing so far short of his usual standards" this season by journalist Charlie Gordon.

Barnes could not only be viewed as an option to alleviate the burden on the South Korean's shoulders but also be a potential successor under Postecoglou's wing, much like Maddison could be the heir to Christian Eriksen's throne at the club.

Following the confirmation of Maddison's arrival, The Telegraph's Matt Law said: "James Maddison will give Tottenham something they’ve missed since the Christian Eriksen days. Really good signing."

Eriksen forged 305 displays for Spurs before departing for Inter Milan for £17m in 2020, scoring 69 goals and registering 90 assists as he captured the awe of hordes of onlookers for his footballing intellect and aptitude as a midfield orchestrator, with former Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy praising him as "world-class" during his time at White Hart Lane.

Maddison can emulate his impact from the centre, having scored ten goals and provided nine assists from 28 starting appearances in the Premier League despite the Foxes' relegation.

Dubbed a "magician" by Statman Dave, the £110k-per-week menace ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 17% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

The three-cap England international has also been described as a "world-class" midfielder by his international manager Gareth Southgate, and possesses all the tools necessary to forge a prosperous career at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, rekindling his "dynamic" partnership with Barnes, who was described as such by journalist Adam Goodwin.

The crux of Leicester's seasonal demise did not lie in the offence – the outfit's 51-goal return bettered all within the bottom half of the final standings – and Barnes thrived as he plundered 13 strikes from 34 matches, putting him among the top 6% of positional peers for goals per 90.

Clearly boasting an innate understanding on the pitch, the duo could rejuvenate Spurs' attack and take the emphasis off Kane's shoulders – who may yet depart the club this summer.

Leeds United are yet to make their first move in the 2023 summer transfer window with the 49ers club takeover yet to be concluded, but that has not stopped rumours of Jayson Molumby's possible transfer to Elland Road.

The West Bromwich Albion star has been in fine fettle and one of the centrepieces behind the Championship outfit's resurgence after a dismal start to the most recent campaign, and Leeds have taken note.

That's according to The Sun's Alan Nixon, who has recently claimed via his Patreon account that Leeds have earmarked the dynamic midfielder as a top target this summer.

Rated at £4m by Football Transfers, Molumby would be an excellent fit for the West Yorkshire outfit, at least, that's according to transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who said: "You need players that the Leeds fans can trust and identify with. And this is someone who would certainly show all the determination and drive that you would really expect from Leeds and want in his position.”

How good is Jayson Molumby?

If Leeds could pull off what would be a signing to catalyse the central midfield's robustness and effectiveness, it could represent the dream replacement for Weston McKennie, who endured a lacklustre six-month loan spell with the Whites after signing from Juventus in January.

This is not to explicitly say that Molumby is a 'better' player than McKennie, who, of course, boasts a wealth of experience across multiple top-flight European leagues and has starred for USA at the 2022 World Cup, but it simply didn't work out for the industrious midfielder at Elland Road, and he floundered to an average rating of 6.67 – as per Sofascore – across his 19 matches in the division. This was just the 13th-best rating in the squad last term.

Hailed as "an insane talent" by journalist Rudy Kinsella, Molumby is tried and tested in the second tier and would surely view a transfer to Leeds as a step up in his career and the chance to cement a starting berth in an outfit hoping to rectify the past wrongs with a swift return to the Premier League.

The omens are certainly promising, with the Waterford-born ace playing 43 times in the Championship this season as West Brom eradicated the concerns over relegation and forged a path to promotion contention, missing out on the play-offs by just three points.

The 23-year-old recorded an average rating of 6.83 after posting four goals and assists apiece, also completing 86% of his passes and averaging 1.4 tackles per game.

Praised as an "animal" by manager Carlos Corberan, the Republic of Ireland international seemingly boasts the tenacity and guile to succeed in the Championship, and he would certainly be a massive upgrade on McKennie, who was indifferent during his time at Elland Road.

Journalist Josh Bunting has praised Rangers and their signing of forward Sam Lammers from Atalanta, calling it an “interesting” move by the club.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news?

Michael Beale and the Teddy Bears have undergone a major summer overhaul thus far, with many former first-teamers departing Ibrox in late May.

Indeed, ex-mainstays like Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Filip Helander and Steven Davis all departed at the end of their contracts, leaving Rangers with the almighty task of replacing them.

They’ve done an exceptional job of it thus far, completing deals for Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland and now Lammers for a fee of around £3 million.

The Dutchman has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at Rangers, with Beale now signing a replacement for Morelos and potentially astute addition.

Reporter Josh Bunting, writing on Twitter after the Gers confirmed his capture, is completely aware of Lammers’ ability and believes the club have pulled off a major coup.

The journalist detailed exactly what supporters can expect from Lammers, namely his technical ability, sweet left foot and in-game intelligence.

How many goals has Sam Lammers scored?

The 26-year-old, who stands a towering 6 foot 3, could have the physicality suited for Scottish football and some of his past numbers suggest he could do well under Beale.

Lammers spent the 2022/2023 campaign on loan at Sampdoria, where he bagged just one goal and an assist, but his previous spell at SC Heerenveen in 2019 indicates there is a real goalscorer waiting to be unearthed.

During the 18/19 season, Lammers bagged an impressive 16 goals and five assists on loan at Heerenveen in the Dutch top flight, which may have prompted Atalanta to later snap him up from PSV Eindhoven.

While his career arguably didn’t work out there, Lammers has been handed another chance to succeed at Rangers and showcase his true ability.

Heerenveen boss Kees van Wonderen has also praised the attacker.

“What you get from him as a player is first and foremost a superb work ethic. He’s a left-footed striker and is good technically,” said van Wonderen.

“He’s a player who has an eye on the tactical aspects of the game, he appreciates how the game is played, where the spaces are and how to deal with circumstances on the pitch.”

Liverpool are considering a summer swoop to bring Torino defender Perr Schuurs to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Perr Schuurs?

Schuurs is a centre-back who currently plays his football for Ivan Juric’s side having joined from Ajax last summer, and he’s been a regular feature during his debut season, clocking up a total of 33 appearances to date.

The Dutchman still has another three years to run on his contract, but being the Serie A outfit’s top-performing defensive player, has caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp, and it’s not the first time he’s been talked about at Anfield.

The Reds reportedly wanted to sign the 23-year-old back in 2020 but never fully pursued a move, though with the boss believed to be entering the market for a new centre-back during the upcoming window, it appears that he’s ready to return and take a second bite of the cherry for his former target.

Are Liverpool signing Schuurs?

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have “added” Schuurs to their “list” of transfer options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. The Merseyside outfit are “considering” an approach for the 6 foot 3 colossus who is also attracting interest from Juventus, and it’s stated that Torino would be “ready to start negotiations” for a fee between €20-25m (£17-21m) in order to sanction his sale.

Should FSG submit an offer for Schuurs?

Football Insider have reported that Liverpool are open to offers for Joel Matip and Nat Phillips this summer so backline reinforcements will be needed should one or both of the duo depart, and having been dubbed a “mountain” by journalist Josh Bunting, Schuurs could be a perfect acquisition.

The Nike-sponsored titan averaged 3.2 clearances and two aerial wins per league game last season, via WhoScored, not to mention that he made 51 tackles which was the second-highest number in his squad, highlighting how much of a rock he can be (FBRef).

The Nieuwstadt native, who has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in defensive midfield, can also get involved at the opposite end of the pitch having posted three goal contributions (two assists and one goal) in 33 outings for Torino.

Finally, Schuurs already knows what it takes to compete for silverware and be successful at the highest level having secured six trophies throughout his career, so he would be able to match and even add to the winning mentality of the current squad already at Anfield.

Celtic secured the domestic treble on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Inverness at Hampden in the Scottish FA Cup final but their joy has been short-lived as manager Ange Postecoglou is now on the verge of leaving the club.

The Athletic's David Ornstein has reported that the Australian coach is set to finalise a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the coming days.

This means that the Scottish giants are set to be in the market for a new boss to replace the 57-year-old, who is seemingly set to depart after winning five trophies in two seasons at the helm.

Who could replace Ange Postecoglou?

Celtic's head of recruitment Mark Lawwell could pull off a potential masterclass by using his contacts to replace Postecoglou with Manchester City assistant coach Enzo Maresca.

Last month, Football Insider reported that the Hoops were keeping tabs on the Spaniard with a view to him being on their shortlist of possible targets for the job, should it become available.

It appears as though the role is now about to be vacant, if the current boss' move to Spurs goes ahead as reported, and Maresca, who journalist Dean Jones claimed would be an "interesting" option, could come in and take it.

Lawwell worked at The Etihad prior to arriving at Parkhead last year and he could use his connections with the Premier League giants to strike a deal for the 43-year-old coach, who is said to be 'well-regarded'.

He does not have a wealth of experience as a manager but did showcase his potential whilst in charge of Manchester City's U23 side.

The tactician won 17 of his 24 matches at the helm of the academy side and won 2.33 points per game on average, which shows that he does know what it takes to make a winning side, albeit that has only been proven at youth level.

Maresca has worked as an assistant at Sevilla with Vincenzo Montella, West Ham with Manuel Pellegrini, and has been Pep Guardiola's assistant for 60 matches – winning the Premier League and the FA Cup so far.

It would be a gamble for Celtic to sign the Spanish coach due to not having a proven track record as a manager but appointing him at this point in his career could be a masterclass as they could bring him in before he becomes hot property.

Mikel Arteta had never managed a senior match prior to leaving Guardiola as his assistant to join Arsenal as their boss and has since led them to an FA Cup trophy and, this season, a second-place finish in the Premier League.

Therefore, Celtic could take a lead out of the Gunners' book to make Maresca their head coach before he moves elsewhere and forges a reputation that could put him beyond the club's reach in the future.

This is why this swoop could be a stroke of genius by Lawwell and one that could be an exciting step for the Hoops after Postecoglou's reported departure.

Blackburn Rovers are interested in signing Queens Park Rangers striker Lyndon Dykes, according to recent reports.

What's the latest Blackburn Rovers transfer news?

With the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Bradley Dack and Daniel Ayala all leaving Ewood Park in the coming weeks, it's set to be a busy summer for Rovers as they look to replace them.

After missing out on the playoffs by goal difference, Jon Dahl Tomasson's side has moved quickly, signing Plymouth Argyle striker Niall Ennis last month.

A lack of depth up front has been a cause for concern for the Lancashire outfit all year, with the departing Brereton Diaz (16) the only player to score in double figures for the side this season.

Rovers aren't finished there, though, and according to the Daily Mail, they are among a number of teams interested in QPR striker, Dykes.

The Lancashire Telegraph reports that the club will need to sell players to generate any finances for a transfer, though, with full-back Tayo Edun being linked with a move away from Ewood, with both Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City interested.

Will Lyndon Dykes join Blackburn Rovers?

With eight league goals this season in a struggling QPR side, the 27-year-old would add some firepower to a Rovers team that's been severely lacking it this year.

No Rovers player outside of Brereton Diaz scored more league goals than the Scottish international during the Championship's latest campaign and adding him will help alleviate any pressure on Sam Gallagher's goal-scoring output.

The 27-year-old talisman, once hailed "dangerous" by former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard shortly before his team faced Dykes and Livingston in 2020, excels as a big target man, winning 4.8 aerial duels a game according to WhoScored, almost two more than Rovers' current number nine, Sam Gallagher who wins three per game.

While Tomasson has prioritised a possession-based style of football, playing out from the back, his side has also shown a tendency to pick out a long ball whenever they identify space behind the opposition back line, firing 66 long passes a game, and having a forward like Dykes on the receiving end would see the £8k-a-week man almost certainly reap the rewards.

Rovers certainly aren't the only team interested in the Scottish international, though, with fellow championship outfit Stoke City and newly-promoted Burnley both also targeting Dykes, so the club have got their work cut out for them if they're going to lure the QPR man to Ewood Park.

Tottenham Hotspur have now set their sights on a summer move for Leeds United defender Robin Koch, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham will need to bring in a new defender this summer, given that they are reportedly open to offers for Ben Davies, regardless of who is appointed as their new manager, and they have identified a number of key targets.

It has recently been reported that Spurs have reached an agreement with Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, with the Turkish club now working on sanctioning a sale, which could amount to €25m (£21m), as the player has made it clear he wants to leave.

The Lilywhites are also eyeing a move for Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, but it would take a "huge bid" to pull off a deal, meaning they could turn their attention to other targets, including Villarreal's Pau Torres.

According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham have also set their sights on signing Koch this summer, with the defender potentially set to be available for a cut-price fee of £15m, following Leeds United's relegation to the Championship.

Spurs have shortlisted the German as a potential target as we now enter the summer transfer window, and he is deemed likely to be on the move this summer, as his contract with Leeds is set to expire at the end of next season.

Not only that, but the 26-year-old is also keen on playing in the Premier League, potentially opening the door for a move to north London.

Should Tottenham sign Robin Koch?

There is no doubting that the centre-back is quality on his day, having been hailed as "excellent" by members of the media back in January, however, there are question marks about whether he would be able to make the step up to Tottenham.

The 6 foot 4 colossus is very impressive in the air, ranking in the 91st percentile for aerials won per 90 in the past year, however, he has no other stand-out attributes defensively, and he failed impress for Leeds last season.

With an average Sofascore rating of 6.63 in the Premier League, the defender ranked just 17th in the squad, and Leeds conceded more league goals than any other top-flight side. As such, Tottenham may be better off avoiding making a move for Koch this summer, and they could look to instead continue to focus on other targets.

The EFL have issued a huge Sunderland ticket update ahead of the club’s upcoming League One play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers on May 21.

The Lowdown: Extra ticket allocation

The Black Cats have set up a meeting with Gareth Ainsworth’s side at the end of the month after securing a 2-1 aggregate victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-final, and so will obviously want to have as many fans there backing them as possible.

The Wearside outfit sold an allocation of 43,960 tickets in just a few days, so an additional 2,500 were made available for purchase on Wednesday, with the club confirming that this would be the final distribution.

The Latest: EFL release statement

Despite the capacity of Wembley being approximately 90,000, Wycombe have so far only sold 22,000 tickets, meaning that there is set to be a huge number of empty seats around the ground.

However, in a new update, the EFL have revealed that due to the segregation of supporters, they are unable to offer any more to the Black Cats. As quoted by Sunderland Echo, the statement read:

“Following discussions with Sunderland AFC and Wembley National Stadium over the past 48 hours, the EFL is pleased to confirm that an additional allocation of approximately 2,500 tickets will be made available to Sunderland supporters for this Saturday’s Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final.

“The configuration of Wembley Stadium presents a number of challenges for the event organisers that must be considered while implementing the requirement for the segregation of supporters, but this final allocation ensures that there will be in the region of 46,000 Sunderland supporters attending this fixture.

“The EFL acknowledges that it will be incredibly frustrating for fans who have been unable to secure a ticket to see a number of empty seating blocks on show at the weekend, but the decision by Wembley National Stadium to make this the final allocation of tickets has been taken in the primary interest of supporter safety.”

The Verdict: Positive track record

If Alex Neil’s men manage to sell out their extra allocation, this would mean that there would be over 46,000 fans inside the ground on the day urging their team to try and gain promotion to the Championship.

Sunderland have got a good track record against their opponents, having secured a 3-1 win at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season, followed by a 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture.

Yet to be defeated by Wycombe this campaign, the Black Cats should be going into this game with the confidence that they are more than capable of pulling off another big result on the one day that it matters most, and the only shame is there won’t be even more Wearsiders down South to enjoy it in the flesh.

In other news… a former Sunderland captain has backed his old side to join him in the promotion party.

Everton have had a troubling season in the Premier League and their battle with relegation has led to wide speculation on the future of players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and now Frank Lampard has addressed the rumours surrounding the striker.

What’s the latest?

The Toffees manager took to his pre-match press conference to quash rumours about the 25-year-old potentially leaving Goodison Park this summer, after Newcastle United were strongly linked with him earlier this week.

Lampard told the press (via Daily Mail): “He’s a huge player, they are not very common. He is contracted to us, three years left on his contract, and I want to take this club forward and players like Dominic help that.”

‘He’s a player that would be wanted by clubs because of the level of player he is. There are not many strikers out there, they cost a lot of money. I’m not worried about him at all.”

Supporters will be delighted

There is no doubt that Calvert-Lewin has become a fan favourite at Everton when you consider his goal contributions to the team since his arrival at Goodison Park six years ago, so supporters will surely be delighted that Lampard has no intentions of letting the striker leave this summer and is planning for a future which includes him.

The transfer rumours come after a disappointing season by the striker’s standards, with numerous injury problems plaguing the England international throughout. As a result, he has not scored a goal for the Toffees since August as he struggles to gain a consistent run of form this season.

Despite Calvert-Lewin’s injury problems this term, the centre-forward is by far the biggest attacking threat the club has had over the last few years, with an impressive 56 goals and 17 assists in 188 appearances for Everton since he joined back in 2016.

Lampard’s admission that the striker is firmly in his plans is a promising update for supporters, as the 25-year-old has been constantly linked with multiple Premier League clubs, with Arsenal also reportedly interested in snatching him away from Merseyside this summer.

That being said, if the former Chelsea boss can’t pull off the great escape in the relegation battle by the end of the season, it will almost definitely play a huge part in potential outgoings at Goodison Park this summer, so focusing on getting the points needed to remain in the Premier League is essential.

AND in other news: Thelwell plotting Everton swoop for “exceptional” 6 foot 2 tank, Lampard would love him

Manchester United are reportedly interested in making Feyenoord’s Tyrell Malacia their first signing of the Erik ten Hag era.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from The Sun who claim that Manchester United will back their incoming manager in this summer’s transfer window, with Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia “set” to join the Premier League side for a fee of around £20m.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-man-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more-nunez-ten-hag-nkunku-richarlison” title=”Read the latest Man United news!”]

The Pitbull

Known as a “pitbull” for his tackling technique, Malacia has been described as “the sharpest [full] back in the Eredivisie” as per NOS Sport.

In 31 league appearances this season, Malacia has notched up a respectable five attacking returns in the form of one goal and four assists.

Whilst boasting some healthy numbers for his defensive participations, with his average of 2.7 tackles per game perhaps a standout, the 22-year-old has asserted himself as a creative threat this season.

Malacia’s eight big chances created see him rank second in Feyenoord’s squad this season, with his expected assists total of 5.9xA another demonstration of his offensive quality.

Though the signing of the Netherlands international will most certainly provide additional competition for Luke Shaw, the move could also see the likes of Alex Telles and Brandon Williams axed, something that would no doubt delight supporters who are keen to see the overall quality of the squad improve.

Brandon Williams has been on loan at Norwich this season and having suffered a relegation with the Canaries, is eager to return to Old Trafford having said: “I know I can play in this league, and I know I can get to the top and that’s what I want to do” (as per Manchester Evening News).

Telles, on the other hand, has started just 44% of his 19 appearances for United this season having chipped in with four assists – a creative return more than Luke Shaw, who has shared the left-back spot with the Brazilian this season.

The signing of Malacia could cause a domino effect for Manchester United’s full-backs this summer, with the likes of Telles and Williams surely concerned over their place in the squad, come next season.

In other news: ETH plotting major MUFC deal for “unbelievable” £29m “weapon”, he’s Beckham 2.0…