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Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele this summer, according to a transfer report which has emerged from a Spanish outlet.

The Lowdown: Dembele to leave Barcelona?

The 25-year-old has had a curious career in many ways, possessing undoubted ability but not always meeting the huge expectations thrust upon him.

Dembele did enjoy an improved 2021/22 season, though, registering an impressive 13 assists in just 21 La Liga appearances, making his mark under current Barcelona manager Xavi as he achieved the best goals/assists output for a league campaign in his five years at the club.

Nonetheless, the France international could be allowed to leave the Nou Camp this summer, with his current contract expiring later this week.

The Latest: Liverpool linked with Dembele

According to Sport, Liverpool are in the conversation to sign Dembele this summer, with Jurgen Klopp apparently a fan of the player, although the report did attribute that as originating from English media.

They instead focus more on Chelsea, who appear to be the front-runners to sign the winger. The Blues are thought to have a ‘firm proposal’ in place to sign him.

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The Verdict: Too hit-and-miss?

Dembele is an enormous talent who is capable of match-winning moments on his day – he was once described by ex-Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu as a ‘better player than Neymar’ – so there is bound to be some excitement over him being linked with Liverpool.

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That being said, injuries have consistently curtailed the 25-year-old’s progress, while his attitude has been questioned at times, making it a potentially risky move by the Reds.

In that case, Klopp would be better off looking elsewhere for another attacking signing, with Porto winger Otavio linked in recent days and arguably a more consistent and reliable performer.

Leeds United could be interested in a move for Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech this summer, according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs. 

The lowdown: Illustrious career

Signed from Ajax in 2020 for £33.3million (Sky Sports), Ziyech arrived in the Premier League having already lifted the Dutch Eredivisie title and the Dutch Cup.

Since then, the man who was named the Holland Footballer of the Year in 2018 has added the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup to his trophy cabinet whilst scoring 14 times and providing ten assists in 84 outings for the club.

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Now, as Chelsea hotly pursue Elland Road star Raphinha, it has been suggested that the Yorkshire club are keen on the Morocco international…

The latest: ‘Don’t be surprised’

Speaking to The Football Terrace (28:07), journalist Jacobs has claimed that Leeds are keen on Ziyech regardless of what happens to Raphinha.

He said: “Don’t be surprised if Chelsea advance their interest if they bring Hakim Ziyech into the equation because my understanding from talking to Leeds sources separate to Raphinha is that Ziyech, should he leave Chelsea, has been a player on their radar.

“So there might be a possibility to do some business with Raphinha coming one way and Ziyech being given to Leeds. Because Leeds don’t just want a chunk of money for Raphinha to the tune of £55 or £60 million potentially, they would love to have a ready-made replacement.

“And they see Ziyech as a viable option and that would remain the case even if Raphinha goes elsewhere.”

The verdict: Without a doubt

Capped on 40 occasions by Morocco and a serial winner, adding a player of Ziyech’s calibre to Jesse Marsch’s ranks this summer would be a sensational coup for the club.

Predominantly operating from the same right-wing role as Raphinha, as a replacement for the Brazilian the 29-year-old who netted eight goals and provided six assists in 44 appearances across all competitions last season would be among the ideal candidates.

The former Ajax man – who shares a close stylistic likeness with star names such as Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria, Bayern Munich star Kingsley Coman and AS Roma maestro Lorenzo Pellegrini (Fbref) – earned an impressive 7.09 Sofascore rating last season whilst completing 1.2 successful dribbles and making 1.3 key passes on average per Premier League outing.

Hailed as ‘world class’ by Tim Cahill following a two-assist display against Sheffield United in 2020, Ziyech certainly possesses all of the creativity required to fill the void potentially left behind by Raphinha at Elland Road and should be considered a top target for Director of Football Victor Orta.

West Ham United could renew their interest in Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri, having been heavily linked with the player over the past year or so.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Paul Brown has suggested that the Hammers will still be keeping tabs on the 25-year-old amid their current striker search, although a sizeable offer appears unlikely due to the Moroccan’s recent dip in form.

The transfer insider stated: “I’m pretty sure he’s still on their radar. They had quite a big bid turned down for him at one point when it looked like he was their most likely option that window.

“Since then, his forms gone off a cliff a little bit. He hasn’t had a great season, and it would be a surprise if West Ham were to make a big bid for him now.”

The east Londoners are believed to be contemplating a move this summer having reportedly seen a £27m bid rejected in January – short of the Spanish side’s £40m valuation – with their interest stretching back to January 2021.

Moyes’ own Giroud

As Brown alluded to, the former Leganes man did endure a difficult last campaign in Spain, netting just five league goals and providing just one assist in 23 games for the La Liga outfit.

Prior to that, however, the 48-cap marksman had scored 24 goals in all competitions in what was a real standout campaign during the 2020/21 season, notably netting six times in just eight Champions League games for the Andalusian outfit.

That “prolific” form – as described by journalist Muhammad Butt – unsurprisingly caught the attention of those at the London Stadium, with the £45k-per-week man seemingly the figure who can finally end their centre-forward woes.

Despite reports that manager David Moyes will not break the bank for a new number nine, the continued void left by the departure of a newly-rejuvenated Sebastian Haller 18 months ago has placed for too great a burden on Michail Antonio, with extra competition seemingly vital ahead of next term.

The former Manchester United boss may potentially have doubts over En-Nesyri’s lack of Premier League experience, although according to FBref, the one-time Malaga man shares a number of stylistic and statistical similarities to a man who does – Olivier Giroud.

The current AC Milan hotshot spent nine years in English football prior to his move to Italy last summer, netting 144 goals and providing 55 assists in 372 games in all competitions across spells at London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, notably winning the FA Cup on four occasions during that time.

The 2018 World Cup winner – who is the second-top scorer for France at present with 48 goals in 112 caps – has dazzled with his repertoire of delightful finishes throughout his career, producing a catalogue of goals that would be the envy of anyone in Europe.

To potentially find a comparable figure in En-Nesyri – who is also left-footed like the veteran ace – will no doubt be a huge source of excitement to both Hammers supporters and the club itself, with the Irons seemingly in need of a lethal leading man who knows where the goal is.

IN other news, Moyes plotting move for “special” £45m “baller”, he’d be a “superstar” for West Ham

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has dropped a concerning update regarding the future of Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane…

What’s the word?

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider has revealed that the Senegal international’s move to Bayern Munich has taken a step closer, with the 30-year-old having agreed personal terms with the Bundesliga outfit: “Sadio Mané has reached full verbal agreement with Bayern on personal terms. Three year contract ready – talks will enter into final stages with Liverpool, new bid set to be submitted.

“LFC are aware of his decision: Mané wants Bayern – and it’s really close now.”

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This follows reports from the end of last month that revealed the former Southampton man is ‘expected’ to leave Anfield this summer, having also teased a potential exit while on international duty.

The long-serving forward – who joined the Merseyside club from the Saints back in 2016 in a £34m deal – has just a year remaining on his existing contract, hence the increased uncertainty over his future.

Klopp gutted

While the arrival of Benfica starlet Darwin Nunez has helped to somewhat soften the blow, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will no doubt be gutted at the prospect of losing one of his key men this summer, with Mane having been instrumental in the club’s rise under the German.

Since his switch six years ago, the £63m-rated speedster has gone on to register a staggering 120 goals and a further 40 assists in 269 games in all competitions, notably winning the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title the following year.

Part of a ruthless and lethal forward line alongside Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah for much of his time at the club, the £200k-per-week machine has at times been overshadowed by the prolific Egyptian, yet his impact has certainly not gone unnoticed, with club legend Jamie Carragher full of praise for the way the winger has “sacrificed” for the team in recent years.

A relentless workhorse in Klopp’s remarkable side, the one-time Red Bull Salzburg man enjoyed yet another stellar campaign last time out, scoring 23 goals and providing five assists in all competitions as the Reds came within a whisker of winning an unprecedented quadruple, eventually settling for a domestic cup double after final day heartache and a European showpiece defeat to Real Madrid.

That most recent loss could well have been the 5 foot 9 marksman’s last game in a Liverpool shirt, with it looking like his fairytale run at the club is set to come to an end this summer.

That fact will be a bruising one for Klopp, not least due to his star asset’s potential destination, with the former Borussia Dortmund coach having routinely tussled with Bayern during his stint in charge in the Bundesliga.

The 55-year-old will not enjoy seeing the Bavarian giants getting one over on him…

AND in other news: Bid made: FSG now in LFC talks to land “world class” £60m “storm”, imagine him & Nunez

Fresh news over West Ham United’s stance in their hunt for Christian Eriksen has emerged.

What’s the word?

According to a report from the Daily Star, the Hammers deployed scouts to watch the former Spurs man in Denmark’s 2-1 victory over Austria.

Amidst their latest actions, it is said that West Ham are one of several clubs considering a bid for Eriksen, who is of course available on a free transfer this summer with his six-month contract at Brentford set to expire at the end of this month.

As per the same report, it is said that sources who are close to Eriksen insist that he could still choose to stay at Brentford, who have offered the Denmark international a new contract.

Imagine him and Rice

Having secured his Premier League return against all odds, Eriksen endured a mightily successful campaign that reestablished his prowess at the top level.

The scouts who were sent to watch the 30-year-old would have had their reasoning in signing him boosted, with the current Brentford star chipping in with an assist in his side’s victory in the Nations League.

Whilst he has enjoyed positive numbers internationally this season, his metrics have also been solid domestically speaking, having acquired five attacking returns in the form of one goal and four assists in 11 appearances for Thomas Frank’s side this season.

A move to West Ham presents an opportunity to boost these metrics further, with more attacking freedom to be had in Moyes’ 4-2-3-1 system that features midfield solidity in the form of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek.

The former has established himself in the elite category when it comes to interceptions with his average of 2.76 seeing him placed within the 95th percentile, as per FBref.

Though it’s his ability in possession that would serve a greater purpose to Eriksen, with the 23-year-old’s consistency to both carry and pass the ball into the final third a surefire catalyst for Eriksen’s end product. The England international’s 6.60 passes into the final third and average of 2.36 carries into the final third are yet again elite metrics.

For Brentford, he has asserted himself as the sole chance creator, but having scored eight or more goals in four separate seasons at Spurs, we know he is capable of increasing his goal return – especially bearing in mind the 52 Premier League goals scored throughout his career.

A partnership between Rice and Eriksen, who has been dubbed “unreal”, could be detrimental to the rest of the Premier League.

In other news: Moyes could land his own Kane with West Ham bid for “dangerous” £155k-p/w goal-machine 

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has provided an update on Manchester United’s attempts to sign Frenkie de Jong.

The Lowdown: Romano’s reveal

United have been linked with a move for the Barcelona star ever since Erik ten Hag took over at Old Trafford at the end of April.

Fabrizio Romano provided a key update regarding De Jong and the Red Devils on Wednesday morning. The transfer expert revealed that United have ‘opened direct talks’ with Barca, who want €85m for the midfielder’s services.

De Jong reportedly wants to play Champions League football, something United can’t currently offer, however, they are still looking to ‘push’ for a move.

The Latest: Sheth’s update

Sheth took to Twitter hours on from Romano’s claim on De Jong to share what he knows regarding a possible transfer.

The Sky Sports reporter stated that United have indeed ‘held initial talks’ over a transfer, but he’s been ‘told’ there are ‘significant obstacles’, name-checking a fee and will of the player as two.

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The Verdict: Barca’s financial situation key?

As Sheth claims, agreeing on a fee and persuading De Jong to move to Old Trafford could prove tricky. However, something that could work in United’s favour is Barcelona’s ‘financial issues’.

The Catalan giants ‘need to solve’ their problems off the pitch, according to Romano, so selling De Jong for a big fee would certainly help their situation.

It appears as if a move could be extremely complicated, and with United looking at a ‘number of midfielders’ and making it their priority area to bolster, it’ll be interesting to see how long they pursue De Jong before moving on to alternative targets.

In other news: MUFC eye £28.8m-rated maestro after ‘Louvre’-worthy moment – Paul Hirst. 

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has offered an exciting update regarding Aston Villa’s interest in Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder, Yves Bissouma.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider has claimed that Steven Gerrard and co will be in for the Mali international again this summer, having seen a bid rejected for the 25-year-old back in January.

Having already brought in Boubacar Kamara this summer on a free transfer, O’Rourke revealed that Villa could look to bolster their midfield ranks even further: “We all know Villa have held a long-term interest in Yves Bissouma. They tried to sign him in January, but Brighton managed to hold on to him. I would expect Villa to be considering a move again for him in the summer transfer window.

“If they were to get him and Kamara in the same window, I think we’d definitely see an improvement in that Villa midfield in general.”

This follows a report from 90min last week that stated that the Midlands side were keen on rekindling their interest, with a bid of around £30m seemingly on the cards for a player who is out of contract next summer.

Imagine him and Kamara

With Kamara’s arrival already confirmed, NSWE are seemingly set on a total revamp of the club’s midfield, with Bissouma’s potential capture only set to add increased quality in the centre of the park alongside the promising Frenchman.

Having made the move to the Amex from Lille in 2018, the Seagulls star has been an integral asset to manager Graham Potter, emerging as one of the most coveted midfield players in the Premier League following his impressive displays in recent seasons.

A “Champions League level” player, in the words of his manager, the £31.5m-rated gem has the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch, while also driving his side forward with an unerring calmness in possession.

Capable of a spectacular strike from distance, the £29k-per-week powerhouse is perhaps most widely-regarded for his defensive ability, notably averaging a remarkable 2.9 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 1.8 clearances in his 26 league outings in the 2021/22 campaign.

Not only an imposing midfield presence, however, the 18-cap maestro also possesses a silky quality with the ball at his feet, ranking in the top 10% for dribbles completed and the top 9% for pass completion among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.

With Kamara in tow – who also ranks in the top 4% for pass completion and the top 3% for attempted passes – Villa would have a midfield duo capable of keeping the ball out of the reach of the opposition, but a partnership that also has the defensive instinct to win back possession if needed.

That combination would no doubt be the envy of clubs far higher in the league table, with – as O’Rourke suggested – Gerrard’s men set to enjoy a rapid improvement if the pair are unleashed at the start of next term.

The signing of the 22-year-old Marseille man is already in the bag, it now requires Villa to make their interest concrete in Brighton’s “phenomenal” star – as dubbed by pundit Lee Hendrie.

A Kamara-Bissouma midfield axis is simply a mouthwatering prospect.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

West Bromwich Albion were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempt at securing promotion back to the Premier League this season after finishing 10th in the Championship.

The Baggies ended their underwhelming campaign with 67 points on the board from 18 wins, 13 draws and 15 defeats.

One player in West Brom’s squad who didn’t end up having much of an impact throughout the season is Matt Phillips.

Having appeared in 28 league games, the 31-year-old only scored three goals and provided two assists, all of which came between August and September.

With that in mind, it’s safe to say that, despite his versatility in playing across numerous attacking positions, the Scotsman was not a reliable attacking figure for the Baggies.

Now that this dismal season has come to an end, West Brom’s focus can shift to the upcoming summer transfer window and their preparations for the 2022/23 campaign.

In terms of potential incoming transfers, one figure who has been linked with a move to The Hawthorns and could be a big upgrade on Phillips is Scott Twine.

Twine can be huge Phillips upgrade

After joining MK Dons last summer, the 22-year-old went on to have a storming debut season with the League One side. In 46 league appearances, he found the net on 20 occasions and delivered 13 assists in the process.

This shows just how consistent he can be when it comes to not only scoring goals but setting them up for his team-mates as well, which is something that West Brom needed from Phillips this season.

With Twine averaging 3.3 shots per game this season in the third tier, this is more than double the average that Phillips (1.4) managed for his side.

As a result of his impressive efforts on the pitch, the MK Dons gem ended the season as the joint-second highest-rated player in the entire league according to WhoScored, with an overall performance rating of 7.41/10.

Labelled a “terrific character” by his manager Liam Manning, Twine is reportedly valued at £3m.

Given his fairly young age and his clear attacking talent, the former Swindon Town ace certainly has what it takes to not only be a prospective solid summer signing for West Brom but also a big upgrade on the misfiring Phillips.

In other news: Bruce can unearth WBA’s next Pereira by unleashing “splendid” rarely-seen teenage prodigy

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has been full of praise for Manchester City star Jack Grealish for delivering a ‘refreshingly honest’ TV interview after lifting the Premier League trophy on Sunday.

The Lowdown: An underwhelming start

The 26-year-old was named on the bench and ended up being an unused substitute in Pep Guardiola’s matchday squad for the Sky Blues’ final game of the season against Aston Villa last weekend, where they secured an astonishing 3-2 comeback victory to clinch the title in dramatic fashion in front of their jubilant home supporters.

The England international made the switch to the Etihad Stadium in a British record £100m move from the Midlands last summer, but he hasn’t been able to make the start that he would have hoped for in Manchester. So far for City, he has only scored three goals and provided the same number of assists in 26 top-flight appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

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The Latest: Robinson praises Grealish

Speaking to Sky Sports immediately after the match on Sunday, the former Villa captain admitted that he has felt ‘nervous’ playing under Guardiola since his arrival at the Etihad, but Robinson believes that there will be a ‘big improvement’ in Grealish ahead of the 2022/23 season.

The ex-England goalkeeper told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs: “I liked his interview after the game. I thought it was refreshingly honest.

“He has found it tough this season but it’s a different role for him. He has stepped out of his comfort zone into a dressing room full of stars with an expectation to win the Premier League. Man City are expected to win every competition they are in. Grealish hasn’t had that before.

“It is very different playing week in, week out for Villa being the main man. At City he is not guaranteed a game.

“I think the experiences of this season will stand him in good stead for next year though. I expect we will see a big improvement next season. He will only get better.”

The Verdict: More to come from Grealish

Despite his sparsity of goal contributions so far at City, the 20-cap England international has still made a positive impact whenever he has been on the pitch, having averaged two key passes, 1.7 shots and 1.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League, via WhoScored.

Grealish is definitely capable of creating more in the final third, which he did with ease during his time at Villa, where he racked up 75 goal contributions. This is something which could come more naturally over time once he has had the chance to properly blend into the City starting XI.

Having just claimed yet another top-flight title, Guardiola will now be preparing for the start of the new term, when the £250k-per-week star could go on to play a pivotal role in maintaining the club’s unprecedented run of success from over the past decade.

In other news… a Sky Sports pundit has backed one of Man City’s first-team stars to put pen to paper on a new contract

Leeds United winger Raphinha remains on the radar at Barcelona ahead of the summer transfer window, according to the latest update from Mundo Deportivo. 

The lowdown: Growing interest in Raphinha

Unsurprisingly following what has been a disappointing second season back in the Premier League, there has been heightened speculation over the future of the Whites’ top talents.

That applies to nobody more so than Raphinha, as the likes of Bayern Munich and Liverpool have previously been credited with an admiration of the 25-year-old.

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However, it now appears that there could be a new frontrunner in the pursuit of the flamboyant Brazilian…

The latest: Price drop pending?

As per a report from Mundo Deportivo highlighting the top summer targets in Catalonia, Barcelona manager Xavi has Raphinha in his ‘sights’ as the legendary former midfielder turned manager attempts to strengthen the ranks at Camp Nou.

It is claimed that the deal is ‘conditional on the future’ of Leeds, which suggests that relegation for the Yorkshire club would mean a definite departure for the seven-cap Brazil international.

Furthermore, the report claimed, that despite Raphinha holding a current market value of £40.5m from Transfermarkt, a loss of top-flight status could see a move completed for around €25m (£21m) this summer.

The verdict: Premier League status is crucial

Having played 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Brighton at Elland Road on Sunday, BBC journalist Jonathan Buchan took to Twitter to suggest that the man who was dubbed a ‘magician’ by team-mate Dan James could’ve played his final home game for Leeds.

With 28 direct goal contributions in 66 outings so far for the Whites, Raphinha has been a superb capture for £17m from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes (BBC) in October 2020 and has certainly proven to be at a good enough level to remain amongst the upper echelons of European club football.

Whilst the retention of top-flight football is pivotal for more than just the winger’s continued presence at the club, avoiding a possible cut-price sale of such prized assets – as has been mooted by this report – is almost as important for the club financially.

Selling Raphinha or indeed the much-coveted Kalvin Phillips at a bargain fee due to the loss of Premier League status would be a huge blow to the Whites’ finances and would likely hinder any plans that Jesse Marsch and Andrea Radrizzani may have in place to strengthen the squad at Thorp Arch this summer.

In other news: Leeds want this powerful 12-goal striker who is ‘ideal’ for the Championship