All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Rangers’ recent links with a striker could pave the way for Alfredo Morelos to leave Ibrox.

There has been some uncertainty over the Colombia international’s future under Giovanni van Bronckhorst in Glasgow, and that could continue to be the case despite reports this week that he is in talks over a new deal with the Light Blues.

The Premiership giants have been linked with a move for Sunderland striker Ross Stewart recently, and if he were to arrive at Ibrox this summer, it could be the catalyst for Morelos departing.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have been regularly linked with the Scottish striker after he excelled in English League One last season, hitting 26 goals as the Black Cats were promoted to the Championship.

If the 25-year-old were to make the move back to Scotland, then it would perhaps not be a surprise to see Morelos move on from Ibrox, especially if contract talks ultimately lead nowhere.

While it will be very difficult to replace ‘El Bufalo’ after his sensational performances for Rangers in recent years, which have seen him hit 113 goals in 224 appearances for the Teddy Bears, Stewart’s displays last term suggest that he could be a more than capable heir to the South American.

[freshpress-quiz id=“712674″]

The former Ross County marksman earned an incredible 7.40 average rating from WhoScored for his performances in League One, which ranked him as the third-best player in the division across the campaign.

During his time in Scotland, Stewart enjoyed moderately prolific spells with the likes of Alloa Athletic and Ross County, so he could find the net on a regular basis if afforded better service at Rangers.

Former Gers right-back Alan Hutton is a big fan of the Sunderland predator, telling Football Insider: “He was outstanding in League One but we’re talking about elite level. Only time will tell if he can reach those heights.

“I’m pretty sure Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have sights on a few different players. Stewart is a particular type of number nine. He’s a big guy, he’s not the usual profile that Rangers go for.”

Stewart could certainly offer Rangers a different option up front next season, as Morelos was the club’s best attacking aerial threat last term, with just 1.8 headers won per game, whereas the Scotland international won 5.6 per match in League One.

The Sunderland striker offers pace, power and clinical finishing, so if Morelos is to leave Ibrox this summer, Stewart could well be the ideal replacement. It’s a prospective deal which Rangers chief Ross Wilson simply must get done over the coming weeks and months.

In other news… “I’m sure…”: talkSPORT pundit drops Rangers claim that’ll leave supporters buzzing

Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be excited at the latest Rangers transfer claim that will be sure to please the Ibrox faithful ahead of the new season.

What’s the news?

Scott Wilson, a journalist for the Northern Echo has tweeted about Rangers’ interest in striker Ross Stewart.

He said: “Rangers make Sunderland striker Ross Stewart their number one option to replace Alfredo Morelos, with contract talks with the Colombian stalling.”

With Morelos’ current contract expiring next season, Rangers are keen to get the striker to sign a new deal but there haven’t been any advancements on this recently.

Van Bronckhorst will be excited

Unfortunately, the Ibrox side won’t be able to count on their Colombian talisman forever and with every passing summer striking up new interest in the player, this could well be the year that sees him leave the club.

He was the Gers’ leading scorer in the Scottish Premiership with 11 goals last season, but it is his all-around ability that is crucial to success, especially in continental competition.

Stewart could be a solid and exciting replacement if Morelos does leave, scoring 26 goals in all competitions as he helped Sunderland finally gain promotion from League 1 via the play-offs.

The 25-year-old’s contract also expires at the end of next season, with the club indicating that they are willing to discuss a new deal shortly.

The striker’s stock has certainly risen in the past year which has culminated in him winning his first Scotland caps in the recent Nations League matches and Sunderland may want to strike when the iron is hot.

Van Bronckhorst won’t want to spend over the odds on someone, who despite having a wonderful season, hasn’t been tried and tested regularly on the big stage and this is something he will have to ponder.

If a deal can be done that involves the club not paying over the odds for Stewart, then it could be very shrewd indeed.

AND in other news, “Rangers will…”: Jordan Campbell drops big transfer update, supporters will be livid…

According to journalist Jacque Talbot, Tottenham Hotspur have made an offer for Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence amid competition from Nottingham Forest.

The Lowdown: Interest since April

During April, it was reported that more than 10 clubs had declared their interest in signing the 21-year-old, who was impressing in the Championship whilst on loan at Forest.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich even sent scouts to watch the right-back play at the City Ground, although it has since been reported that Steve Cooper’s side, along with Spurs and Arsenal, lead the race to secure the youngster’s signature.

The Latest: Talbot’s news on Spence

Taking to Twitter, Talbot has now shared the latest news involving Spence’s potential destination ahead of next season.

He claimed: “Exc: Understand that Tottenham have put in an offer for Djed Spence but that Nottingham Forest are involved as well. Allure of European football will be the only thing standing in the way of Spence and Forest continuing their relationship next season.”

In a subsequent tweet, Talbot added: “Contrary to reports, Spence has not definitively chosen to join Spurs. Conte’s side are one of the clubs with a huge foot in the door.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Get it done

Whilst Spence clearly has a good relationship with Forest manager Cooper after their promotion to the Premier League, the pull of Antonio Conte and Champions League football could yet entice the youngster to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This would be a good addition for the north Londoners, given Conte’s preference to play attacking wing-backs and the 21-year-old’s ability to bomb up and down the flanks.

Ian Wright even claimed that one of Spence’s displays in the FA Cup was “one of the best right back performances” he had seen in a very long time, raising comparisons with “unbelievable” full-backs such as Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Therefore, Paratici should do anything he can to get this deal done.

In other news: Journalist drops Lautaro Martinez to Spurs transfer claim

Newcastle United have learned how much they will need to pay for Joao Pedro in the summer transfer window as they plot a swoop for the attacker. 

What’s the talk?

According to UOL, Watford are predicting that they will be able to sell him for a fee as high as €4om (£34m) in the coming months.

The report claims that he is seen as one of the club’s biggest assets and they may now cash in on him, amidst interest from the Magpies, Benfica and West Ham.

Eddie Howe would love him

The Magpies’ head coach would love him at St. James’ Park as he is a promising young player who he can work with over the course of a number of years.

He is not an established star who will require an instant spot in the starting XI and this means that Newcastle can bring him in as a squad option initially. Howe can then help him on the training pitch with an eye on developing him into a starting-quality player for the club in the Premier League.

The 20-year-old does, however, have top-flight experience under his belt. He played 28 times – starting 15 games – in the division for Watford as they were relegated in the season just gone, as well as three substitute outings during their 2019/20 relegation.

In that time, he managed three goals and one assist whilst playing out wide on the left and through the middle. The dynamo also enjoyed a fine season in the Championship between the two campaigns as he scored nine goals and provided two assists as his side won promotion at the first time of asking.

Former Watford man Jobi McAnuff previously claimed that the gem has a “bright future” ahead of him and current Hornets midfielder Tom Cleverley once hailed the Brazilian, saying: “He’s hungry, he’s another one who works hard. He’s put about 7kg of muscle on since he arrived in the country, he knows what he wants to do and it’s nice to see.”

These comments highlight his potential and how much he is willing to work to achieve his goals. His willingness to improve his physical condition shows that he is dedicated to getting the best out of himself and that is why Howe will love working with him if PIF are able to strike a deal with Watford for his signature.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Burn: Howe can seal terrifying NUFC duo by signing £13m “Rolls-Royce”…

An update has emerged on Oleksandr Zinchenko amid interest from Newcastle United heading into the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to The Athletic, the Magpies and Everton have both been touted as possible destinations for the Manchester City full-back ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that his future at the Etihad Stadium is up in the air this summer, although there is no mention of how much money it would take to snap him up from the Premier League champions.

The player is currently valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt.

Forget Matt Targett

Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth must forget Targett after his loan spell on Tyneside and instead secure a deal for the Ukraine international.

They can get St James’ Park rocking with excitement by striking a move for the City defender, who is a proven, top-quality Premier League performer who knows exactly what it takes to win trophies.

He has won four league titles since joining the Cityzens in 2017 and racked up 128 appearances for the club in that time, scoring two goals and providing 12 assists.

Pep Guardiola previously heaped praise on the full-back’s understanding of the game, saying: “He knows how to play football. He’s playing at a good level, his consistency especially and he is always tactically smart and defensively, he is so, so smart he doesn’t make mistakes. He knows what he has to do to help the central defenders.”

The City manager added: “For our build up he is fundamental in the way we play. He understands the game perfectly.”

These comments show that the 25-year-old would surely be able to adapt to Howe’s tactical setups, and his ability in the build-up will be crucial in developing an attacking style of play.

In the 2021/22 campaign, Zinchenko averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.07 in the Premier League as he provided four assists from left-back and created 1.1 chances per game.

He has also been outstanding for his country in their World Cup qualifying campaign, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.48 across five games. In those matches, he scored one goal and produced one assist as he made 2.4 key passes per match.

With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that Aston Villa reporter Gregg Evans dubbed him a “frightening” player earlier this season.

Meanwhile, Targett averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.96 in the top flight for Newcastle and Villa combined this season, with one goal and one assist in 33 games. Whilst these are solid statistics from the English full-back, Zinchenko’s ability on the ball can elevate the attack with his build-up play and chance creation.

This is why Magpies fans would be excited by the Ukrainian dynamo’s prospective arrival, so Howe must now secure a deal to sign him from Manchester City.

AND in other news, PIF plotting NUFC bid for “tremendous” £30m “champion of the world”, he’s Ben Arfa 2.0… 

Adam Jones has been left thrilled by some news that he has now heard from Everton.

The Lowdown: Everton hand contract to Warrington

As confirmed by the Toffees’ official website, under-23s midfielder Lewis Warrington has now signed a new two-year deal which will keep him at the Merseyside club until the end of June 2024.

He spent the second half of this season on loan at Tranmere Rovers, where he scored one goal and supplied two assists in League Two (top-half finish as they narrowly missed out on the play-off spots.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-5/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Jones reacts to Warrington contract

Taking to Twitter, Liverpool Echo journalist Jones was left thrilled by the update, claiming that there is a ‘lot of excitement’ over Warrington’s contract at Everton.

Sharing a corresponding article on the news, he tweeted: “Understandably a lot of excitement around Lewis Warrington’s new contract. He’s had a very strong season, both with the U23s and on loan, and certainly given himself a great platform to build.”

The Verdict: One for the future

Warrington is certainly one for the future, and his exposure to men’s football at Tranmere should help him with his eventual transition into the Everton first team when Frank Lampard feels that he is ready.

The 19-year-old has played 51 times at youth level for the Toffees over the last four seasons, scoring five goals and supplying three assists and showing his versatility by adapting to a number of different positions across the pitch (Transfermarkt).

Also, at such a fledgling age, he will surely only get better as he continues his development with the Blues, so it’s little wonder that Jones is so enthused by the confirmation of a new Everton deal for the youngster.

In other news, Everton are now ‘waiting’ to sign this 6 foot 1 colossus

Former Premier League striker Noel Whelan has delivered his verdict regarding the future of Neco Williams at Liverpool. 

The lowdown:  Loan sensation

The 21-year-old spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Fulham and helped the London club earn a promotion to the Premier League.

Having previously acted as an understudy to Trent Alexander-Arnold for the most part, Williams scored twice and provided another two assists in 14 Championship appearances following the January switch.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-33/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

As a return to the AXA Training Centre beckons in the coming weeks, the Wales international’s future is bound to be in the spotlight during the summer transfer window and a source close to Craven Cottage has already revealed there is interest in a permanent £12million move.

And with the player valued at just £7.2million by Transfermarkt, Julian Ward would be starting his reign as the new Anfield transfer guru with a hefty 40 per cent mark-up.

The latest: ‘Nice little boost’

Speaking to Football Insider, former BBC pundit and now Leeds United employee Whelan has suggested that selling Williams could be the best move for all parties.

The 47-year-old said: “He’s done a fantastic job at Fulham. He was shown a lot of trust by Marco Silva and Jurgen Klopp. He’s repaid it by playing his part in the title win.

“He’s well worthy of that £12million price tag. I think he put himself on a platform with his performances at Liverpool over the past few seasons. I just can’t see him having a future in that red shirt – for sure.

“If they can get that kind of money for three or four players on the fringe like Williams, wow…that could be a nice little boost to the transfer budget.”

The verdict: Ward’s first move

Although there is little question as to whether Williams is a Premier League level operator having already made 13 top-flight outings in a fledgeling career, the 18-cap Wales ace is unlikely to usurp surefire starter Alexander-Arnold at Anfield and was often overlooked in favour of Joe Gomez and even James Milner.

Therefore, it seems inevitable that the Welshman will seek more regular first-team action this summer having contributed so heavily at Fulham in recent months, particularly in light of Liverpool’s reported pursuit of Aberdeen youngster Calvin Ramsay.

One thing that is definite, new sporting director Ward will be tasked with emulating his predecessor Michael Edwards in extracting the maximum possible fee for outgoings to fund possible signings for Jurgen Klopp’s squad, and it looks like the sale of Williams could be the first.

In other news: BBC man stunned by ‘obscene’ news coming out of Liverpool, read more here

Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Bergwijn is expected to leave the north London club in the summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Bergwijn’s January transfer saga

The 24-year-old was at the centre of a hectic transfer saga in January, with a move to Ajax appearing likely at one point but failing to materialise before the end of the window.

The Eredivisie giants made an initial £15m bid for the Netherlands international before later coming back in with an improved offer. However, Spurs were said to be holding out for a sum closer to the £27m that they paid for him two years prior.

Despite keeping hold of the attacker, Bergwijn has failed to start a single Premier League game since the January transfer window closed.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-newest-updates/” title=”Tottenham newest updates…” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Bridge’s claim on Bergwijn

Bridge believes that it is very likely that Bergwijn will leave Tottenham in the coming months.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the Sky Sports reporter said of the 24-year-old: “I think he would be one of many where Tottenham go ‘we can get a few quid for him’.

“I would be shocked if he didn’t leave, whether it’s Ajax, I don’t know, but I would imagine that he would probably move on.”

The Verdict: Good squad option

With Tottenham still battling it out for Champions League qualification, Antonio Conte will likely be pondering over his squad options for next season.

Ranking in the 99th percentile for clearances and the 98th percentile for non-penalty expected goals for positional peers among Europe’s top five leagues (via FBRef), Bergwijn’s underlying stats illustrate why he is the perfect example of great squad player.

He has also shown an uncanny ability to make a telling impact off the bench, most notably with his match-winning stoppage-time brace against Leicester earlier this year, while his manager has previously said that the 24-year-old possesses “a lot of quality”.

However, if the Dutchman has his heart set on a move away from N17, then there probably isn’t much that Fabio Paratici can do to keep him in north London.

Therefore, Bergwijn’s expected departure would come as an unwelcome loss to Conte’s squad depth at Tottenham, if indeed it materialises this summer.

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

Liverpool kept their Premier League title dreams alive against Aston Villa last night, however, the victory was bittersweet after an in-game injury worry occurred in the first half of the clash.

What’s the latest?

Fabinho hobbled off the pitch in the first half an hour of the game at Villa Park on Tuesday night and now Jurgen Klopp has given an update on the midfielder’s condition following the full-time whistle.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

Jurgen Klopp updated in his post-match interview on Sky Sports casting doubt on his player’s condition (via Metro):

‘That’s a massive problem. That’s a big blow for us. I don’t know (how bad), hopefully not that bad, but I don’t know.’

Klopp will be frustrated

There is no doubt that the Liverpool manager will be massively frustrated to potentially lose such a key player in his team ahead of the FA Cup final and Champions League final coming up over the next few weeks.

The Brazilian midfielder has been one of the most influential players in the centre of the pitch and has been integral in Liverpool’s chase for multiple trophies this season so to lose him when the side has one hand on two huge trophies is a massive blow.

Fabinho has been involved in Liverpool’s incredible 17-game unbeaten run, scoring four goals during this time as well as providing consistent solid defensive performances in his role in the centre of the pitch.

According to SofaScore, the Liverpool star has been successful in an impressive 73% of his dribbles, wins 63% of his aerial duels and makes 1.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions on average per game in the Premier League this season.

Anfield and Brazil teammate Alisson Becker even called Fabinho “the most important” player for Liverpool and his national team in an interview:

“I believe that Fabinho is the most important player for both the club and the national team, this is my opinion about that, he’s a very important player wherever he is, he always proves his worth on the pitch.”

With that being said, there will surely be a further update on the star player’s condition ahead of the Chelsea clash on Saturday afternoon at Wembley and supporters will be anxiously hoping for positive news on Fabinho’s availability.

AND in other news: Klopp must now finally axe Liverpool gem who lost the ball every 3 touches yesterday

Nottingham Forest have had a phenomenal season since the arrival of manager Steve Cooper and after securing a place in the Championship play-offs they have a golden opportunity at promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

Despite these amazing achievements, with success in football comes a spotlight on the players who have become integral in making a difference in the team’s challenge and Brennan Johnson in particular has been attracting a lot of attention from Premier League clubs following an outstanding season for Forest.

Leeds United, Everton and Newcastle United have all been linked with making a move for the young forward’s signature this summer, with the club reportedly valuing the gem at £20m.

The 20-year-old who was hailed an “outstanding” talent by Martin Keown, became the highest-scoring and assisting player under the age of 21, with 16 goals and ten assists in 46 appearances in the 2021/22 Championship season, which is an impressive achievement alongside his other statistics that go hand in hand with his goal contribution.

Johnson has created 15 big chances, making 1.3 key passes and 1.9 shots on average per game, proving that he is a consistent attacking threat and an asset to his team that Cooper cannot afford to lose.

In the January transfer window, the Forest manager made it explicitly clear that the young talent was not for sale, and since then has further given an insight from his perspective on the future of Johnson who was dubbed “easy on the eye” by Michael Appleton.

Cooper said (via The 72):

“It’s a good thing he’s getting interest. It shows he’s doing something right. We’re enjoying working with him.

“He wants to do extra and review how he can improve his game. He’s a local boy and is very proud to play for the football club.”

With that being said, the Welsh manager must do everything he can to keep Johnson at the club, and if they can secure Premier League promotion this season it will surely be a massive boost in securing the winger’s future, and it could potentially open the door for an extension on his current contract that will expire in June 2023.

Losing him, however, would be nothing short of a disaster for Cooper who will also see James Garner return to Manchester United this summer.

Nottingham Forest will take on their promotion challenge this weekend in the Championship semi-final in their first leg against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, and the transfer interest surrounding Johnson will need to take a back seat until the side’s fate is sealed in their push for a return to top-flight football.

AND in other news: John Percy: Forest will “make an offer” to sign “superb” 27 y/o, he can replace Garner