A former Glasgow Rangers manager is now targeting a move for Calvin Bassey in the summer.
The Lowdown: Solid season
Bassey has been a mainstay in the team that has managed to reach both the UEFA Europa League and Scottish FA Cup final this season, which his ability to play at both left-back and as a central defender coming very useful to both Steven Gerrard and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
He has managed a handy three assists in the Scottish Premiership, and ranks highly among his teammates in terms of aerial duels won and average tackles, clearances, blocks, passes, crosses and long balls per game (WhoScored).
Nonetheless, there will likely be no shortage of admirers for Bassey come the opening of the transfer window.
The Latest: Villa target
As per The Daily Telegraph, Gerrard is now targeting a move for Bassey for Aston Villa, as they seek a new left-back to give competition to Lucas Digne.
Aaron Hickey is also thought to be under consideration, but Bassey is certainly of interest.
The Verdict: Keep
With the money that they have gained from their European journey, added to the fact that Bassey is under contract at Ibrox until 2024, there is no need for the Teddy Bears to sell him this summer.
Dubbed an ‘explosive’ player who is ‘as quick as anything’ by his former coach and Leicester City U23s manager Steve Beaglehole (The Athletic), he can get himself out of a lot of difficult situations with his pace, which is a valuable asset to have as a defender for the Light Blues.
Incidentally, the 22-year-old shares the same agent as Villa star Jacob Ramsey, and so they may be confident that they can push through a move, but the Gers must not be bullied by the Premier League club.
In other news, find out what ‘really bad call’ RFC have now made here!
Celtic are likely to receive a transfer boost thanks to a Ryan Christie windfall off the back of Bournemouth’s confirmed promotion back to the Premier League, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
The Lowdown: Promotion clause triggered
The 27-year-old joined the Cherries in a three-year permanent deal from the Hoops last summer for a fee believed to be in the region of around £2.5m, as he entered the last six months of his contract at Parkhead.
Christie has been a big hit on the South coast, providing 11 direct goal involvements in 36 starts.
Scott Parker’s men officially secured promotion back to the top-flight following a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Vitality Stadium in midweek, and as result of the Glasgow outfit having a reported promotion clause in Christie’s contract, Celtic look to have earned a tasty sum as part of Bournemouth’s glory.
When asked if Postecoglou’s side would receive any money off the back of the midfielder’s recent success, Nixon took to Twitter late on Tuesday night and revealed:
“Potential 2m extra on promotion AND then survival.”
Whether Nixon meant the initial £2m depends on survival or that survival would grant an additional windfall is not yet clear.
The Verdict: Ideal for future transfer funds
The £8.1m-rated star had a very successful spell with the Hoops after arriving from Inverness back in 2015, making a staggering 85 goal contributions in just 151 appearances, via Transfermarkt.
And this news will undoubtedly come as a huge boost to chief executive Michael Nicholson, who will hopefully be able to use this fee to help fund any potential transfers that might be taking place in the summer.
With Celtic close to securing the league title, having already got their hands on the Scottish League Cup this campaign, a return to domestic dominance would surely attract some of the biggest names in football to make the move to the Bhoys in the upcoming window.
In other news… a Celtic ace has been backed to make a permanent move away from Parkhead this summer.
Manchester City have a lot going on at the moment in terms of what’s happening on the pitch over the next few weeks.
In addition to their Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola’s side can’t afford to drop points in the Premier League, with Liverpool breathing down their necks.
However, it seems as though things are quite busy behind the scenes too at the Etihad Stadium in terms of one potential transfer which could take place in the near future.
What’s the news?
According to a recent tweet from journalist Samuel Luckhurst, sharing a corresponding report for Manchester Evening News, City officials have been visiting Mino Raiola, the agent of Erling Haaland, in hospital to progress the negotiations which could see the striker move to the Etihad this summer.
Considering how Raiola was taken ill recently, the fact that the City officials have been in contact with the agent in hospital shows just how keen they are to seal a deal for the centre-forward.
Since Haaland joined his current club Borussia Dortmund in January 2020, the 21-year-old has been nothing short of a goalscoring revelation. With 86 appearances to his name for the German giants, the Norwegian has scored an impressive 82 goals and provided 23 assists along the way.
To further highlight how deadly a striker he is, only Robert Lewandowski (2.35) and Patrick Schick (1.82) have a higher average for shots on target per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga this season than Haaland (1.58).
Fans will be delighted
Even though City are currently top of the Premier League table prior to this weekend’s round of fixtures, there have been times this season where they have failed to find the net, notably in both clashes against Crystal Palace.
With that in mind, having a clinical figure up front such as Haaland could be just what the reigning champions need in order to continue being successful into the future, which would surely delight a lot of supporters.
If City are able to secure a deal for the Dortmund hitman in the coming weeks, this would surely be a massive coup for them and make them an even more fearsome opponent for the rest of the Premier League, and indeed for whoever they come up against in Europe.
In other news: Man City eyeing “swashbuckling” £12.5m starlet, could be Guardiola’s next Kyle Walker
Manchester United have been linked with a summer swoop for AS Roma forward Nicolo Zaniolo.
What’s the word?
That’s according to a report from Calciomercato, who claimed that the Red Devils are “monitoring” a move for the 22-year-old, with Ralf Rangnick looking to build a “new and young” squad.
With the German set to move into a consultancy role at Old Trafford, he will work with Erik ten Hag, who has reportedly reiterated that he would not have taken on the manager’s job if he had not been “granted control over transfers”, as per ESPN.
Zaniolo in, £215k-p/w duo out?
If United are able to prise Zaniolo, away from the Stadio Olimpico, it could spell the end for the £215k-p/w (as per Salary Sport) duo of Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, who both play in the same position as the 22-year-old.
In fairness, the 34-year-old Spaniard is already nearing the conclusion of his Old Trafford career, having appeared just contract expiring in the summer. The prospective signing of Zaniolo would almost certainly be the end for Mata, who would fall even further down the pecking order.
Lingard, who has made 22 appearances in all competitions in the current campaign but started just twice in the league, would probably also see his game-time suffer.
The £29.7m-rated Zaniolo has made ten attacking returns in 15 appearances as a second striker for Roma.
Having achieved inverted right-winger suiting the Dutchman to a tee.
Zaniolo, who has been described as “explosive” by Italian legend Francesco Totti, would offer the new United boss options in both a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 system, with him able to play through the centre or out on the wing in either setup.
One thing seems certain, though – if United can prise the 22-year-old from the clutches of Mourinho, it will surely spell the end for both Lingard and Mata at Old Trafford.
In other news: Ten Hag could unearth new Berbatov for MUFC by signing 152-goal “hero”
Chelsea have held talks with one of Europe’s brightest young attacking talents and made their plan for him crystal clear, with the Blues getting a response to their serious interest.
Chelsea's plan to sign 'more Estevaos' as Blues target rising stars
BlueCo’s recruitment strategy remains firmly focused on acquiring world football’s brightest prospects before they reach superstar status, with several teenage sensations already lined up to follow in Estevao’s footsteps at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazilian wonderkid’s dazzling performances this season highlight the success of Chelsea’s approach to signing elite young talent with modest salaries.
Estevao chose Chelsea over rumoured interest from Real Madrid, PSG and Barcelona after the club spent three years of scouting, ultimately going for him ahead of Endrick, who’s since endured a torrid time at the Bernabeu by contrast.
The 18-year-old was convinced by Chelsea’s project and the playing opportunities available in London (Sky Sports), with more players like him due in West London very soon.
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Sporting Lisbon winger Geovany Quenda, who’s been called ‘the next Cristiano Ronaldo’ by Portuguese media sources, arrives next summer following a March agreement worth up to £40 million, with the young forward viewed as another potential game-changer.
Joining Quenda will be two 17-year-olds — Kairat Almaty forward Dastan Satpaev and Corinthians left back Denner — with Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha also coming to Cobham next year.
Emmanuel Emegha for Strasbourg
Looking even further ahead, 16-year-old Ecuadorian centre-back Deinner Ordonez is scheduled to arrive from Independiente del Valle in January 2028, so Chelsea are very much planning for the future.
As the Blues plot to secure ‘more Estevaos’, in the words of Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol that is, TEAMtalk now bring news of yet another rising star attracting Chelsea’s attention.
Chelsea hold talks with Austrian starlet Johannes Moser
That man is 17-year-old attacking midfielder Johannes Moser.
The teenager was one of the standout stars at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar recently, taking home the Golden Boot after a remarkable tournament which saw him bag eight goals during Austria’s route to the final against Portugal.
Moser was also named Runner-Up in the Player of the Tournament Award, taking home the Silver Ball, and he’s already clocked 13 senior appearances for FC Liefering in the Austrian second division.
All signs point towards him being a real one to watch in the coming years, and TT state that he has ’emerged as one of the finest teenage attacking players in mainland Europe’.
According to their information, Chelsea have also held talks with Moser and his representatives in a bid to convince the versatile forward to join them, alongside Man City.
Enzo Maresca’s side went as far as presenting their plan for Moser to develop as a player under the BlueCo umbrella, but TT also report some bad news on that front.
Indeed, at least for now, the Austrian is apparently set to snub both Chelsea and City’s interest in favour of remaining at Liefering, specifically the Red Bull Group, to further his development.
Liefering, who are Red Bull Salzburg’s reserve team, have managed to hold on to Moser thanks to Red Bull making it clear that his pathway into the Salzburg first team is ‘already in place’.
While a move to the Premier League is off the cards for now, the wunderkind’s sky-high potential means we shouldn’t rule out another English swoop in future.
Arne Slot, lauded as a tactical genius. And rightly so. The Liverpool coach’s smart-witted approach saw him lift the Premier League title in his first year last season, head and shoulders above his rivals.
But there’s no denying Liverpool look tactically imbalanced this year, and there are wrinkles to be ironed out. The Dutchman sprung a tactical surprise against Crystal Palace, but it didn’t work out and the Reds were ragdolled throughout a bleak first half at Selhurst Park.
They rallied, and Federico Chiesa’s late goal off the bench looked to have sealed a point. Maybe all three. Liverpool pushed and pushed and they huffed and puffed, but their late-hour charm ran out as Eddie Nketiah struck at the eleventh hour to hand the champions their first league loss of the term.
There’s a lot to unpick, but let’s dilute it down to just a few talking points here. Right-back has been a hot topic on Merseyside this summer, and Conor Bradley flattered to deceive on his return to the starting line-up.
Bradley's performance vs Palace
Bradley filled big boots this summer, with Trent Alexander-Arnold up and leaving for Real Madrid. The Northern Irish right-back has dazzled in the Premier League before, but suffered with injuries for much of Slot’s debut term.
Aged 22, Bradley has started Liverpool’s past two Premier League matches, and while he did a decent job against the in-form Jack Grealish in the Merseyside derby, he endured a game to forget against Oliver Glasner’s Eagles, hooked at half-time.
Lacking any semblance of clarity or creativity on the ball, Bradley failed with three of four attempted dribbles and lost possession 12 times, also losing four of his seven contested ground duels, as recorded by Sofascore.
However, with Ibrahima Konate producing another sloppy performance, laden with errors, Bradley was always going to be up against it.
And, moreover, Mohamed Salah was anonymous once again.
Slot should have axed Salah
Salah, 33, has been Liverpool’s all-inspiring superstar for so many years, and he ran roughshod over Premier League defences all through the 2024/25 campaign en route to the title.
Mohamed Salah for Liverpool
He has posted three goals and three assists across the opening weeks of the season, but has also lacked much of his usual swagger and gusto, and that has not been more apparent than against Palace on Saturday afternoon.
The right winger missed a big chance and created two chances, but his moments of real joy were few and far between, losing all five of his ground duels, and this is not an outlier, with the metrics across the term, when collated against last year’s data, highlighting his regression.
Matches (starts)
38 (38)
6 (6)
Goals
29
2
Assists
18
2
Touches*
49.1
43.2
Shots (on target)*
3.4 (1.6)
1.7 (0.8)
Accurate passes*
22.4 (74%)
21.0 (75%)
Key passes*
2.4
1.3
Dribbles*
1.5
0.2
Ball recoveries*
2.7
3.3
Tackles*
0.6
0.0
Duels won*
3.3
1.7
We are still early in the season, but the underlying data is telling. Salah has fallen off a proverbial cliff in regard to his application and effectiveness.
Now playing a role with a greater emphasis on hugging the touchline and maintaining space for the reformed number nine squad, the veteran is toiling.
And Chiesa’s resurgence in red continues. The Italy international has now posted two goals and two assists apiece across all competitions since the summer, and he looks a different beast indeed, with observers anticipating a return to one-time elite form.
Analyst Josh Williams remarked that the 27-year-old “should’ve started today”, and that’s an accurate assessment. Liverpool risk become stagnant and predictable, reliant on late goals, and Chiesa’s form denotes his applicability for a starting berth in the Premier League going forward.
The Liverpool Echo branded him with a 4/10 match rating and wrote that Salah ‘struggled with the basics’ and provided non-existent defensive cover for Bradley, who had a poor game but was sandwiched between two of Liverpool’s biggest problems: Salah and Konate.
Federico Chiesa equalises for Liverpool
Salah is a Liverpool great, and he will continue to play a talismanic role for the club across the season. However, there’s no denying he has looked off the pace for much of the campaign so far.
He has played every minute in the Premier League since the opening whistle against Bournemouth in August, and his performances haven’t warranted that mark.
Chiesa convsersely, has looked very bright indeed, and yet the £150k-per-week ace continues to serve a peripheral role.
Now worth more than Guehi: Liverpool lost "superstar” for less than Quansah
Liverpool must regret parting ways with this iconic Jurgen Klopp talent.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has named one of his former teammates as the “worst” signing in the club’s history, branding him “so unprofessional”.
Scholes names former teammate as "worst" Man Utd signing
It would be fair to say that very few of the signings Man United have made since Sir Alex Ferguson retired have worked out, with YouTuber Adam McKola particularly critical of one of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s additions on The Overlap earlier this month.
McKola said: “I think Jadon Sancho is the worst signing Manchester United have ever made. There’s big competition for it. We spent £80m on Antony who is useless.
“For me Jadon Sancho is the biggest waste of space I’ve ever seen in a United shirt. I think he’s a disgrace and I can’t wait to see the back of him.”
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Sancho has been widely reported to rake in £300k-a-week, yet he has never managed to deliver in a United shirt, being shipped out on loan to Chelsea last season, with the west Londoners agreeing to pay a £5m penalty fee to avoid having to sign the winger permanently.
You may expect Scholes to name one of the Red Devils’ current players as their worst signing ever, off the back of finishing 15th in the Premier League last season, but the club legend believes one of his former teammates is at the top of the list. The legendary midfielder said:
Bosnich undoubtedly one of Man Utd's worst signings
Bosnich was signed as a successor to the legendary Peter Schmeichel, but the goalkeeper was unable to make the step-up, making 23 Premier League appearances in the 1999-00 season before being snubbed by Ferguson.
Fabian Barthez was ultimately brought in to replace the Australian, who ended up moving to Chelsea, and the Frenchman fared a lot better, spending three full seasons at Old Trafford and winning two Premier League titles.
While Bosnich was undoubtedly a terrible signing for Man United, it may be a little harsh to suggest he is the worst-ever, considering the goalkeeper arrived on a free transfer from Aston Villa.
Sancho, on the other hand, is widely reported to have cost £73m, which is the fourth-highest fee Man United have ever shelled out on a player, making it even more criminal the 25-year-old mustered up just 12 goals and six assists in 83 matches.
Everton are believed to be willing to pay £16.8m to complete the signing of a midfielder who possesses “enormous qualities” this summer.
Everton pushing to sign £30m Liam Delap
The Blues have been linked with various potential new signings of late, but Liam Delap is a name who has stood out as a particularly exciting option, as they look to bolster their attack ahead of next season.
It has been claimed that David Moyes has even held face-to-face talks with the Ipswich Town striker, who looks almost certain to leave Portman Road in the summer transfer window, following relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.
Delap has enjoyed a hugely impressive season, despite the demise of his own team, scoring 12 goals in 32 starts in the league, which is three more than any Everton player managed in the competition, with Iliman Ndiaye leading the way with nine strikes.
The 22-year-old stands out as a brilliant option for the Blues with a £30m release clause, considering he is a young striker who should only mature as the years pass, and he should be looked at as the leading choice to come in and lead the line at the club’s new Bramley Moore Dock stadium this summer.
Everton also ready to pay £16.8m for new midfielder
According to a new update from Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Everton are ready to pay £16.8m to sign Lille midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau this summer, having sent scouts to watch him in action in recent weeks.
He is actually valued at £12.6m by the Ligue 1 club, but the Blues are willing to bid higher to get their man, seeing him as another strong option alongside Delap.
Mukau may not be as well-known to Everton fans as Delap, due to him not playing in the Premier League, but he is an exciting young player in his own right.
The 20-year-old has scored twice in six Champions League starts this season, as well as averaging 1.5 tackles per game across 22 matches in Ligue 1 in 2024/25. Meanwhile, Lille head coach Bruno Genesio hasn’t held back in his praise of him, saying:
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“He’s an aggressive player, with a big volume of play, capable of recovering balls from the opponent’s feet. He’s also a forward-thinking player, who can get forward from the first touch and find verticality.”
Lille president Olivier Letang has also described him as a “very likeable lad” with “enormous qualities”, adding that “he burst onto the scene” and “we know his potential and his state of mind.”
Everton could do with fresh blood in the middle of the park, considering Abdoulaye Doucoure is leaving and Idrissa Gueye is now well into his 30s, and Mukau could be a great choice to add into Moyes’ squad.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s future is still up in the air, but that won’t prevent Everton from signing a new striker this summer.
After an impressive start to life at the helm, David Moyes is looking for ways to take the Toffees to the next level. It’s like he never left.
Backed by The Friedkin Group, Moyes means business. However, his efforts to sign Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap appear to have been thwarted, the English striker opting to sign for Chelsea.
He’s not the only talented forward on the market, though, and Everton may yet secure a thrilling addition.
Everton could sign Delap alternative
As reported earlier this week by German outlet BILD, Everton are among the clubs to have registered their interest in Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade this month, though the DFB-Pokal champions are hoping to tie the 23-year-old down to a new deal.
Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are among the other contenders, so it won’t be easy for The Toffees, but Moyes will hope to convince the German that he would be making a prudent move by joining the ranks at Bramley Moore.
Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade
Stuttgart have placed a loose valuation on their towering talisman, but they could be seeking as much as €50m (£42m), should the competition remain thick over the coming weeks.
Why Everton should sign Nick Woltemade
With Delap a no-go, Everton would strike gold in signing Woltemade, with his distinctive, rounded style of play leading data-driven site FBref to record Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak as one of his most comparable players, among those in his postition across Europe’s top five leagues.
Everton manager DavidMoyesbefore the match
Woltemade scored 17 goals across 33 matches in all competitions this season, including every round of Stuttgart’s triumphant DFB-Pokal campaign, and has been hailed for his “sensational” finishing ability by reporter Bruno Alemany.
That 17-goal return surpasses Delap’s, the Ipswich man bagging 12 from 37 matches in the Premier League, but it’s his complete skill set which suggests Moyes should do everything he can to complete a deal.
Harking back to FBref, Woltemade is recorded to have ranked among the top 3% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top-five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for passes attempted, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
He’s the full package, all 6 foot 6 of him. It’s definitely a peculiar profile, with Woltemade a clinical finisher, progressive passer and creative outlet, with neat footwork and clever movements.
This does bear a similarity to Isak, who has been hailed as “the complete striker” by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.
Matches (starts)
34 (34)
28 (17)
Goals
23
12
Assists
6
2
Shots (on target)*
2.9 (1.4)
1.8 (0.9)
Big chances missed
18
11
Accurate passes*
14.9 (77%)
12.3 (72%)
Big chances created
11
8
Key passes*
1.1
1.3
Dribbles*
1.2
1.1
Duels won*
2.8
4.4
The Sweden striker scored 27 goals from 42 appearances this season, but he also dazzled with his silky running and nimble shimmies from left to right, left to right.
He’s of course operating at a higher level than Woltemade, but the template is there and Everton could offer the grounded pathway to achieve his goals.
VfB Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade in action with Bayern Munich's JoaoPalhinhaand Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae
The problem, as ever, is that Woltemade is a talented striker with a good track record, and thus bagging him will be no easy feat. But if Everton can sign such a unique profile, physical and imposing and technical and dynamic, it could revolutionise the club’s frontline.
With similarities to Newcastle’s Isak, throwing the kitchen sink at a deal is surely a no-brainer.
Moyes' own Richarlison: Everton to make huge offer for "sensational" CF
Everton could be about to land a star who could follow in Richarlison’s footsteps on Merseyside.
Already thinking about summer reinforcements, the 49ers are now reportedly plotting a fresh Rangers move to sign a relegated Premier League defender at a bargain price.
With the Scottish Premiership season coming to an end, Rangers’ search for a new manager is only likely to heat up. It’s one that the 49ers desperately need to get right after showing plenty of patience in their decision ahead of an all-important summer transfer window.
Just who arrives with that said is the big question. So far, the biggest names mentioned have been Steven Gerrard and Rafael Benitez., whilst Davide Ancelotti – the son of Carlo Ancelotti – has also threatened to steal the headlines as of late.
While he would have been an exciting appointment however, the young coach has decided he will not step into senior management just yet and will instead continue as his father’s assistant when the latter takes up his post as the Brazil national team boss.
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Meanwhile, if those at Ibrox are looking for the manager who’s most eager for the job then interim boss Barry Ferguson may find himself at the front of the queue this summer. He told reporters when quizzed on whether he’s keen to take the job a few weeks ago: “Everybody’s got an opinion, I don’t care about people’s opinion, I know I can do the job.
“I know I’ve got a real good staff behind me. I’ve been asked this question two or three weeks in a row, I think it’s clear, it doesn’t scare me one single bit. I know there’s a hell of a lot of work to be done, everybody knows that. And that’s a challenge that I would meet head on. And I know I would change it.”
As candidates continue to battle it out for the 49ers’ attention, it’s only set to get busier at Ibrox, with the summer transfer window now fast approaching. On that front, it could also be a big few months for the Gers as they attempt to bridge the gap on Scottish champions and Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Rangers plotting Burgess move
According to Rangers Review, the 49ers are now plotting a bargain Rangers move to sign Cameron Burgess from Ipswich Town this summer. The Premier League defender is set to become a free agent at the end of his contract at Portman Road next month, allowing those at Ibrox to come swooping in to land a free deal.
Whilst the current campaign ended in disaster for Burgess and his teammates, with relegation confirmed for Kieran McKenna’s side, the defender looks set to receive a fresh start, no matter what in the coming months.
Ipswich boss McKenna has been full of praise for Burgess since his debut for the club, with his comments back then shedding light on the type of personality the Ibrox faithful would be getting: “I spoke on Tuesday night about Cam Burgess; how he’s conducted himself and applied himself over the last couple of months that I’ve been here. He’s been excellent so I’m happy for him that he’s going to get his opportunity to play on Saturday and then obviously in some more games going forward.”
With a decision to make, the Ipswich defender could now be on his way to the Scottish Premiership and Rangers when his current deal comes to an end at Portman Road.