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Leeds United have been given a green light in their pursuit of Tyler Adams…

What’s the word?

The RB Leipzig midfielder has been subject of interest from the Yorkshire giants, particularly since his former manager and fellow countryman Jesse Marsch took the reins.

Major League Soccer insider Tom Bogert believes the Whites will “try for Adams” during the off-season, whilst journalist Jacque Talbot has claimed that he would be a “great addition” at Elland Road.

Now, it appears his future with the Bundesliga side is up in the air, leaving the door open for director of football Victor Orta and his team to make their move.

German outlet Kicker (as relayed by ESPN commentator Derek Rae), reports that the USMNT international is “giving thought to a move” this summer after falling out of favour under manager Domenico Tedesco.

He could be available for around €20m (£18m).

Midfield upgrade

Interest in the 23-year-old dynamo should come as no surprise and he’d be a massive statement following the arrivals of Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen, who Marsch has also worked with before, too.

The American head coach wants to press from the front, so his attackers and midfield need the energy and defensive nous to win the ball back, something that Adams excels at.

As per FBref, he currently ranks inside the top 2% of his position peers across Europe for blocks (2.50 per 90), the top 18% for passes completed (61.82 per 90) and the top 20% for pressures (22.53 per 90).

The £26m-rated machine has even been lauded as a “special talent” by Marsch himself.

“He’s a special person, he’s a special personality, he’s a special talent and the ceiling for him is massive. Massive here in Leipzig and in the Bundesliga and beyond.”

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Players like Mateusz Klich – who was deemed “non-existent” by Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison – and Rodrigo – who was lambasted as “completely anonymous” by LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross – underdelivered in 2021/22, so the Whites must pounce on an opportunity like this.

Adams, who has been capped 28 times internationally and featured in the Champions League, would be an obvious and familiar upgrade for Marsch’s midfield.

Given the need for reinforcements in the heart of the pitch and the manager’s past relationship with the 5 foot 9 gem, Adams would be something of a dream signing this off-season.

AND in other news, Leeds could land their next £60m talent with Orta now in talks for “interesting” deal…

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is open to a move away from Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Dean Jones, with the transfer insider revealing in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that, despite the fact that Leeds secured their Premier League status on the final day of the season, the 25-year-old is still hoping to depart LS11 in the coming months – with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United both reported to be interested in the forward.

Concerning the future of the former England U21 international, Jones said: “Jack Harrison is willing to consider his options at the moment, which I don’t think people thought would happen if Leeds stayed up.”

Orta must axe Harrison

While it is true that Harrison has provided the Whites with a number of memorable moments over his four-year stay at Elland Road – such as his hat-trick in a 3-2 win over West Ham United back in January and the winner that all but secured the Whites’ top-flight survival in the 2-1 victory over Brentford on the final day of the season – should the winger wish to move onto pastures new this summer, Victor Orta must surprisingly cut the 25-year-old loose.

Indeed, despite the £17m-rated forward hitting the back of the net eight times over his 35 Premier League fixtures in 2021/22, in truth, these goals somewhat papered over the cracks of the former Manchester City starlet’s largely poor performances.

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Aside from his strikes, the £60k-per-week attacker offered Jesse Marsch’s side very little going forwards, with FBref ranking Harrison in the bottom 15% of wingers and attacking midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty xG per 90, as well as the bottom 15% for shots, the bottom 5% for assists, the bottom 6% for xA, the bottom 9% for npxG+xA and the bottom 25% for shot-creating actions over the last 365 days.

As such, it is clear to see that the Whites’ £11m signing who Patrick Vieria dubbed a “special talent” very much underperformed this season – despite the fact that Raphinha was the only Leeds player to outscore the former New York City FC forward across all competitions in 21/22.

Furthermore, with Marsch looking set to deploy his favoured 4-2-2-2 formation next term, there may also not be a guaranteed spot for Harrison in the American’s starting XI, leading us to believe that a parting of ways between the 25-year-old and the Whites may well be desirable for both parties this summer.

AND in other news: Huge Leeds United summer transfer twist emerges, Jesse Marsch will be devastated

Amongst a whole host of Premier League clubs, Newcastle United are interested in signing New York City striker Valentin Castellanos, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Hot property

The 23-year-old became one of the hottest properties in North America after he won the Golden Boot in Major League Soccer last year, having scored 19 goals in 32 regular season appearances.

The Argentine then went on to net three times in his team’s play-off outings, firing the New York outfit to MLS Cup glory.

The Latest: Man City pass up chance

According to a report by 90min, New York City’s parent club Manchester City have passed up the chance to bring Castellanos to the Etihad Stadium.

Instead, it is claimed that Pep Guardiola’s side have recommended the forward to a number of Premier League clubs, and Leeds are thought to be the most interested.

However, if the Whites are to secure the 23-year-old’s signature, they will need to fend off interest from Newcastle, West Ham and Everton, all of whom he has been linked with in the recent past.

The Verdict: Great signing

When compared with positional peers across the MLS over the past year, Castellanos’ attacking threat really shines through, as he ranks in the 98th percentile for shots, non-penalty expected goals and total touches in the attacking penalty area (via FBRef).

With Newcastle keen on bringing in a striker to St James’ Park, the Argentine could be the perfect option, given his goalscoring record and low market value of £10.8m.

New York City boss Ronny Deila has described the attacker’s progress as “unbelievable”, and at just 23 years of age, there could still be much more to come from the clinical marksman, making this a very exciting prospect for Magpies fans.

In other news: Craig Hope drops exciting Moussa Diaby transfer update

After significant speculation that Connor Goldson was set to depart Rangers this summer, the Ibrox outfit surprised fans with the news that the centre-back had signed a new four-year deal with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side earlier this week.

The Englishman, who was heavily linked with a move to newly-promoted Nottingham Forest, could go on to form a superb partnership with new signing John Souttar next season at the heart of Rangers’ defence.

Since signing from Brighton in 2018, the 29-year-old has gone on to make 222 appearances for the Gers, contributing 22 goals and nine assists.

Goldson was a key player in van Bronckhorst’s side this season, with WhoScored awarding him a 7.07 average rating across his 32 appearances in the Premiership, while he also appeared 14 times in the Europa League, as the Teddy Bears reached the final.

Therefore, now the £27k-per-week defender has committed his future to the club, it seems clear that he will continue to be a key man at Ibrox next season, as the Gers look to reclaim the Premiership title and make a strong impression again in Europe.

Considering the disappointing injury records of fellow centre-backs Leon Balogun and Filip Helander, it seems likely that he will partner new signing John Souttar in van Bronckhorst’s 4-3-3 system next season, especially if Calvin Bassey completes a move away from Ibrox.

The 25-year-old has now officially joined Rangers after signing a pre-contract deal in January, and if his performances for Hearts are anything to go by, he will be a stellar addition at Ibrox.

Last season saw Souttar average an impressive 7.12 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the Premiership, which was better than any centre-back in Rangers’ squad would manage.

Both Souttar and Goldson are extremely adept in the air, averaging 3.2 and 3.6 aerials won per game in the Premiership respectively, which suggests that they will be a threat in both boxes next season.

The latter has been labelled an “absolute mountain” in the past, and if he can continue his impressive form alongside Souttar next season, then they could form a dream partnership for van Bronckhorst’s side.

And, in other news… After Goldson: Journalist makes big Rangers claim, supporters will be excited

Sunderland and the rest of the English Football League will suffer a major financial blow if the League Cup is to be discontinued in favour of more Champions League matches, claims football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

The Lowdown: New Champions League format

UEFA are set to change the format of the Champions League, with two extra group stage matches being added from the 2024/25 season (via GiveMeSport).

The Daily Mail recently reported that the League Cup could be scrapped as a means of making room for the extra games which will need to be scheduled.

The Latest: Maguire’s claim

Maguire believes that the removal of the League Cup would see the EFL’s £119million-a-year TV deal fall rapidly in value. As a result, teams across the EFL would suffer a major financial hit.

Speaking with Football Insider, who say the TV deal is ‘on the line’, Maguire revealed: “The EFL TV deal is estimated to be worth £119m per year.

“Some people say that between a third and a half of that is due to the League Cup because it has the likes of Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool in it.

“We know that quite a few clubs put forward weaker teams for it, so the value of matches in the early rounds tends to be relatively low. But as you progress through the competition, there is more interest.

“It is important in terms of it being a flagship competition and good for the EFL brand. The prize money is buttons, so they get a lot of money coming in but don’t have to pay a lot out.

“Proportionately, a greater element of the money goes to EFL clubs themselves.”

The Verdict: Would be a major financial loss

After Sunderland’s emphatic 2-0 victory over Wycombe saw the Black Cats’ promotion to the Championship, the North East club will be grasping on to every last penny that they have as they look to reinvest in the squad ahead of next season.

The League Cup being scrapped will have a huge impact on clubs outside of the Premier League, which could see an even bigger disparity form between the top-flight and its second division.

Sunderland will be hoping to make it past the quarter-finals of the competition next year after being knocked out in that round this year, and more importantly, clubs from the EFL will be doing anything they can to stop the competition being abandoned.

In other news: Sunderland: Lynden Gooch makes claim over his future

Recent reports have seen Newcastle United linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio, with the 20-year-old potentially set to be available for £38m owing to a release clause in his existing contract.

The Magpies are believed to have seen a €30m (£25.3m) bid for the Portuguese starlet rebuffed by the Primeira Liga club in January, although they are seemingly set to re-enter the market for the youngster in the upcoming transfer window.

The £16.2m-rated gem – who has also been linked with a move to Manchester United – only made his senior debut in October 2020, although he featured heavily for the remainder of that campaign as Ruben Amorim’s side claimed the league title.

He has kicked on again this term, making 45 appearances in all competitions, including seven outings during the club’s run to the Champions League round of 16, and it is no surprise that transfer interest is starting to flood in.

A highly-rated young prospect, the 6 foot 1 centre-back has received particularly glowing reports from playmakerstats.com’s Portuguese expert Daniel Oliveira, who has compared him favourably to current Manchester City captain Ruben Dias.

Asked about the Portuguese duo, Oliveira stated: “It’s always difficult to compare players. One obvious difference is that Dias joined Manchester City when he was 23, so he was further along in his development than Inacio, who is still only 20. It is unlikely, therefore, that Inácio could have the same impact as Dias, who was crowned the Premier League’s best player at the end of his first season.

“Dias was always a natural leader and Inácio’s communication may be one area in which he can improve. Physically-speaking, I believe the young Sporting defender would be able to handle the Premier League, as he is very strong in the tackle and in the air.

“He’s also smart in his defending, as just two bookings all season will tell you. In terms of his quality on the ball, I would probably rate Inácio higher than Dias – he’s very good on the deck and has a 91% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga this term.

“Like I say, it’s hard to make comparisons. I’m 100% sure about one thing: the 20-year-old Inacio is a better player than Ruben Dias was at the same age.”

That final statement will have particularly caught the eye of those at Newcastle, and it is high praise indeed to suggest that Inacio is already considered to be ahead of where the City star was at the same age.

Dias has proven an influential figure in Pep Guardiola’s side, taking on the captaincy this season after a fine debut campaign in England last term, with his performances in that title-winning year seeing him crowned the Premier League Player of the Season.

Should Inacio reach such heights, he could help to propel Eddie Howe’s men towards the upper echelons of the English top flight, with European qualification likely to be the ambition for the mega-rich new owners.

The £9.2k-per-week gem’s statistics this season further illustrate what a colossal talent he is, as he averaged 2.4 clearances, 1.4 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game in the league, along with helping his team to keep 14 clean sheets.

By contrast, Dias has averaged 0.8 interceptions, 0.9 tackles and 2.2 clearances per game and has kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League thus far, albeit while forming part of a backline which has conceded just 24 goals this season, the fewest in the division.

Of course, it is hard to know how smoothly Inacio would find the transition from Portugal to England if he comes to Newcastle, although all the signs are pointing towards him reaching the same heights – or even bettering – those of his compatriot at the Etihad Stadium.

IN other news, Eddie Howe can now help NUFC sign “spectacular” £64m “nightmare”, he’s better than Saint-Maximin

West Ham United are believed to be interested in bringing Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips to the club this summer, having previously tried to do a deal in January.

What’s the word?

As per The Sun, Hammers boss David Moyes is eyeing new midfield targets ahead of next season, with the Scotsman keen to welcome the Euro 2020 star to the London Stadium in the upcoming transfer window.

Such a move would not be viewed as a replacement for Declan Rice, though, with the east Londoners holding firm on their desire to keep the £150m-rated talisman at the club, despite his recent rejection of a new contract offer.

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Moyes and co had reportedly seen a £50m offer for Phillips rebuffed in the winter, although the 26-year-old – who has also been linked with a move to Manchester United – could now be available for a reduced fee should Jesse Marsch’s side suffer relegation.

Imagine him and Rice

Despite the persistent rumours about Rice’s future, it would appear that West Ham are anticipating the 23-year-old to still be at the club next season, hence the move to try and bring in his England colleague to rekindle the formidable partnership which inspired the Three Lions to the Euro 2020 final last summer.

Although Phillips has endured a frustrating season due to injury – with his absence having been a notable factor in Leeds’ demise – his displays in his first major tournament and in his debut Premier League campaign last term showcased just how huge a talent he truly is.

Such were the quality of his performances on the international stage, managerial icon Fabio Capello dubbed the £45m-rated man the “best modern midfielder I have seen”, while also labelling him as an “aggressive player” for his all-action, robust style.

More excitingly for those of an Irons persuasion, the veteran coach also heaped praise on the Rice-Phillips midfield axis, dubbing them a “phenomenal” duo and saying of their partnership: “They are the secret of this great England. If the defense is iron, it is thanks to them because they protect their comrades.”

Furthermore, even amid a trying season at Elland Road, the £38k-per-week warrior has still produced a string of impressive statistics, averaging 1.1 interceptions, 2.7 tackles and 0.8 clearances per game in his 18 league outings.

A ferocious competitor with seemingly boundless energy, he also ranks in the top 1% for pressures made among midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, as well as the top 4% for both tackles and blocks made.

A real workhorse, the Leeds academy graduate appears a perfect fit for Moyes’ approach and the perfect long-term partner for Rice at West Ham as well as for England.

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

Tottenham Hotspur will be delighted with UEFA’s latest U-turn, which involves awarding additional spaces in the Champions League based on a league-specific coefficient system, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has claimed.

The Lowdown: UEFA’s plans

UEFA had originally intended to hand out two extra places in the Champions League, which fell in accordance with clubs’ 10-year coefficients. However, critics argued that this represented an unwarranted insurance policy for the ‘big clubs’ who were seen to be underperforming.

As a result, The Times have reported that UEFA will now award an extra spot based on a country’s performance in the competition, which would likely lead to a fifth team qualifying from the Premier League.

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The Latest: Maguire’s claim

With Tottenham still fighting it out for a fourth-place finish and a spot in the Champions League, Maguire has claimed that Spurs, and by association their chairman Daniel Levy, will welcome this news – especially with the potential to earn up to £150m from qualifying for the competition.

Speaking with Football Insider, he proclaimed: “It is a backstop for the likes of Spurs.

“Qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League generates more money than winning the Europa League, and the upper limit is £150m.

“We can argue about the fairness of it but this is why Tottenham would understandably be so keen to have these insurance options in place.”

The Verdict: Levy will be delighted

With the new insurance policy set to come into play, Levy will be delighted with the increased probability of gaining revenue as a result of Champions League qualification.

Furthermore, this could also act as an incentive for manager Antonio Conte to remain with the club, as it has previously been reported that it is unlikely that the Italian would stick around in N17 without Champions League football.

Therefore, the introduction of a backstop will surely be welcomed by Spurs, as Maguire has suggested.

In other news: Noel Whelan drops Richarlison/Spurs transfer claim

Manchester City have been rather proactive when it comes to signing new players during recent summer and winter transfer windows.

As the Manchester club are looking to secure their fourth Premier League title in five years, it seems as though they have been dealt a blow in regards to one potential transfer deal for the upcoming window.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post, journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano relayed comments from RB Leipzig director, Oliver Mintzlaff, regarding the future of Christopher Nkunku, who has been linked with a move to City.

He said: “We have clearly discussed it internally: we won’t let Nkunku leave this summer, we told him and his agent.”

Romano then added that Leipzig “will also try to extend his contract but talks are still at [the] early stages.”

Guardiola will be fuming

Now that it has been revealed that Leipzig will not be allowing their star figure to leave in the summer, this will surely be bad news for City, thus leaving Pep Guardiola fuming.

Since joining the German club back in 2019 from Paris Saint-Germain, the Frenchman has gone on to make 134 appearances for Leipzig across all competitions.

In those appearances, the 24-year-old has found the net 46 times and delivered 47 assists along the way with a whopping 54 of those involvements coming this term alone. That shows precisely why a team like City would have their eye on adding him to their ranks.

To further highlight how much of an impressive attacking and creative figure he is, no other player in the Bundesliga has racked up more shot-creating actions than Nkunku (129) this season.

He also ranks fourth for shots on target (36) and successful dribbles throughout the current Bundesliga campaign, making him a real handful for defenders and goalkeepers to deal with.

However, with it recently being reported that a deal for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is close to being completed, this could take some of the sting away from City fans and Guardiola over potentially missing out on signing Nkunku.

Although should the Manchester club fancy their chances of swaying the hierarchy at Leipzig into selling their French talent, he would certainly be an exciting addition to what is already a rather deadly attacking side if he doesn’t sign a new deal at his current club.

In other news: “Man City will..”: Romano drops behind scenes transfer claim, it’s bad news for Pep

Former Aston Villa striker Frank McAvennie has warned Steven Gerrard against a move for Rangers centre-back Filip Helander. 

The lowdown: Villa linked with Helander

A Villa Park source recently told Football Insider that the 41-year-old was considering revisiting his former employers in an attempt to bring the Swedish defender to the Midlands.

The 29-year-old was signed for the Light Blues by the current Villa boss in 2019, arriving at Ibrox for £3.5m from Serie A outfit Bologna (BBC).

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Since then, Helander has gone from strength to strength in Scotland, being an integral part of the Rangers side which lifted the Premiership title in 2020/21.

The latest: McAvennie unsure about Helander

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie – who represented Villa three times in the first Premier League season – has suggested that Gerrard could be best served to look elsewhere for central defensive reinforcements.

The 62-year-old said: “Helander is alright but the Premier League is a big jump. It’s not like Van Dijk. When he was at Celtic, it was clear he was miles better than anyone else.

“He had to move to the Premier League, he was too good. He used to just stroll around the pitch. When you see players like that, you know they are going to do great things.

“Is Helander that player? I’m not sure. Fair play to him though, Gerrard must think he’s good enough.

“I just wonder with the money Villa have and where they want to be, would they not be looking at a player with Premier League experience. It’s a risk, for me.”

The verdict: Better options elsewhere

Not only is the 19-cap Sweden international unproven in the Premier League, at 29 and with a worrying injury track record there seems not much scope for him to quickly adapt to life in the English top flight.

This season, Helander has made just 11 appearances across all competitions, falling way short of an impressive 2020/21 campaign in which the towering defender earned a 7.10 average Sofascore rating from 22 league outings.

Despite the 29-year-old previously being hailed as a ‘leader’ by Gerrard, the Villa boss should be looking elsewhere for defensive reinforcements to complement Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa this summer.

In other news, BBC man urges Aston Villa to sign ‘magical’ star. Read more here.