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Leeds United are closing in on a deal to bring Arnaud Kalimuendo to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by French publication L’Equipe (via Leeds Live), who claim that Victor Orta is now just £4m short in negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain regarding the transfer of the centre-forward – with it being reported that the Spanish director of football had launched an initial €20m (£17m) bid for the 20-year-old last month.

Leeds Live go on to suggest that, with Raphinha now looking set to join Barcelona in a €72m (£61m) deal, Orta should have no trouble in stumping up the extra cash in order to get a deal for the France U21 international over the line – something that means Kalimuendo could now be set to become Jesse Marsch’s seventh signing of the summer window.

“New wave”

Considering just how exciting a prospect Kalimuendo undoubtedly is, the news that Leeds appear close to sealing a deal for the striker this summer is certainly fantastic news for everyone involved with the Whites – not least Marsch himself.

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Indeed, over his 34 Ligue 1 appearances while on loan at RC Lens last season, the £16.2m-rated talent was in sensational form, scoring 12 goals and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots – 0.9 of which hit the target – making 0.6 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

Furthermore, according to FBref, the £6.6k-per-week hitman also ranks in the top 28% of centre-forwards in Europe’s big five leagues and European competitions for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the top 1% for passes completed, the top 19% for progressive carries and the top 11% for progressive passes received over the last 365 days.

As such, with it being clear that the player who Jacek Kulig dubbed a “new wave” talent is exceptional in the final third, fantastic in his progression of the ball and is excellent in involving his fellow attackers in build-up play, it is unsurprising to learn that the 20-year-old is now Orta’s “top target” ahead of 2022/23 – according to James Marshment.

Indeed, if the French youth international is available for as little as £21m, and the striker continues his astonishing development after a potential move to Elland Road, Kalimuendo’s signing could easily prove to be one of the Spaniard’s best captures this summer.

AND in other news: “Sources say..”: Phil Hay reveals big Leeds transfer update, supporters surely buzzing

Leeds United have been dealt a blow in their bid to bring Charles De Ketelaere to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Gianluca Di Marzio, who revealed in a recent post on Twitter that AC Milan have now made their first offer for the Club Brugge forward – believed to be in the region of €20m (£17m) plus add-ons.

In his tweet, the Italian journalist said: “First offer of Milan for De Ketelaere.”

However, the transfer insider went on to state in a supporting article that the Rossoneri face competition for the 21-year-old’s signature from the Whites, while further reports have also revealed both Arsenal and Lyon’s interest in the Belgium international – for whom Brugge are said to be demanding a figure of €35m (£30m) in order to part with this summer.

Supporters will be gutted

Considering just how exciting a prospect De Ketelaere undoubtedly is, in addition to it being reported that the versatile attacking midfielder is one of Victor Orta’s priority targets in the summer transfer window, Di Marzio’s claim that Milan have now made a move for the youngster, coupled with the new interest of Arsenal and Lyon, is sure to have left the Elland Road faithful gutted.

Indeed, upon making his first-team debut for Brugge back in 2019, the £27m-rated talent burst onto the European football scene, having scored 25 goals and registered 20 assists over his 120 appearances for the Jupiler Pro League side – averaging a direct goal involvement every 190 minutes of football played.

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The £17k-per-week versatile forward – who can operate from almost any position in midfield and attack – particularly caught the eye last season, bagging 18 goals and providing ten assists over 49 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League, the Champions League, the Beker van Belgie and the Belgian Supercup.

These returns have seen De Ketelaere receive a significant amount of praise, with De Krant van West-Vlaanderen journalist Frans Buyse even going as far as to compare the 21-year-old to Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.

In an interview with BBC Sport last October, Buyse said: “Charles’ best position is number 10, but experienced star Hans Vanaken plays there, so he had been moved around, used in attack, on the wing and even at left-back.

“Lately, he started to enjoy life in the penalty area, but his biggest strength is to have a lot of the ball in central midfield.

“De Ketelaere’s style is reminiscent of De Bruyne. He is intelligent, and possesses great vision and a superb passing range. His dribbling is similar to De Bruyne’s too. Eventually, he should take his place for Belgium.”

As such, with it being abundantly clear just how promising an attacker the Brugge starlet is, should Leeds miss out on a move for the eight-cap international, it would undoubtedly come as a gutting blow to the Whites – leading us to believe that Orta simply must do all he can to land the forward ahead of Milan, Arsenal and Lyon this summer.

AND in other news: Victor Orta agrees £30m deal for Leeds sixth summer signing, imagine him & Tyler Adams

Alexandro Bernabei will undergo a medical at Celtic imminently and a move could be completed ‘this weekend’, according to reliable journalist Anthony Joseph.

The Lowdown: Bernabei heading to Celtic

Hopefully the Hoops have a productive summer in the transfer window ahead of them as Ange Postecoglou strengthens his options for next season.

One player who looks to be on the verge of a move to Celtic is Bernabei, who has excelled at left-back for Argentine side Lanus, becoming a key figure for the club at just 21. He started 23 league games for them last season and was their fourth-best player according to WhoScored performance metrics.

It now looks as though the youngster’s proposed move to Parkhead is edging closer all the time.

The Latest: Joseph drops Bernabei transfer claim

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Joseph claimed that Bernabei would have a medical at Celtic imminently, with the £3.75m move potentially being completed before Monday.

The reporter tweeted:

“UPDATE: Alexandro Bernabei is due to undergo his medical at Celtic this weekend, before signing a long-term contract. The deal with Lanus is £3.75m, with a 10% sell-on clause. Bernabei & Jota are expected to be with the Celtic squad travelling to Austria for pre-season in July.”

The Verdict: Strong summer addition

Left-back is an area which could do with added depth this summer for Celtic, with Greg Taylor a good option there but more rotation needed ahead of a hectic 2022/23 campaign.

Bernabei looks like an exciting addition in that respect, coming in as a young player who can mature into a force for the Premiership champions, having won one cap for Argentina’s under-23s to date and established a reputation as a tough tackler – his average of two per game last term was better than any of the Hoops’ regulars.

The defender may not come in as an immediate first-team regular as he adjusts to his new surroundings, but over time there is no reason why he can’t become first choice under Postecoglou at Parkhead.

A claim has emerged regarding Sunderland’s pursuit of Leicester City goalkeeper Daniel Iversen in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

The Black Cats are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Dane in the coming weeks, although Alan Nixon has now revealed that they are one of numerous teams eyeing him up.

When asked about Sunderland’s chances of landing the shot-stopper, the journalist tweeted: “There’s a queue for him”. He went on to add that it “doesn’t sound like there’s much money about” for the Wearside club ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

When questioned on the budget, Nixon said: “Young guy comes in with big ideas. Then finds out the reality and cost of football. I think they will start spending low and if it goes well … then have a go. Maybe not a bad strategy. You don’t blow all your cash at once. Seen that before and clubs go pop.”

Speakman will be concerned

Black Cats sporting director Kristjaan Speakman must now be concerned that he will not be able to negotiate a deal to sign former Preston loanee Iversen this summer.

Nixon’s claim that the club do not have much money to work with, coupled with there being a queue for the shot-stopper, does not make for good reading from a Sunderland point of view.

Whilst it remains to be seen who the other interested suitors are in Iversen, Speakman will surely be worried that the lack of funds available to him will put the Wearsiders at a disadvantage in the transfer race.

This will be frustrating for the Stadium of Light chief, as Iversen has the potential to be a superb signing for the Black Cats. He is a proven Championship performer who can come in and push Anthony Patterson for the number one jersey, duly creating real competition for places.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the 24-year-old averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.93 across 46 appearances in the division. He saved 70% of the shots on target against him and kept an impressive 13 clean sheets for the mid-table outfit.

Iversen also spent the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan at Deepdale and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.95 in 23 games, saving 71% of the shots against him and keeping nine clean sheets.

These statistics show that the 24-year-old knows how to perform consistently to a high level in the second tier, and that is why Speakman will be concerned by the impending battle for his signature.

AND in other news, Speakman can land a big Gooch upgrade at Sunderland with swoop for “fantastic” £33k-p/w wizard…

There has been a fresh update regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in promising Englishman, Djed Spence…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that negotiations are “ongoing” regarding a move for the 21-year-old – who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest –  although Middlesbrough’s valuation is proving something of a sticking point.

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He stated: “Talks are definitely ongoing. I think the big issue here is the fact that Nottingham Forest had a pre-agreed deal to sign Djed Spence at a price that was about £13million.

“Tottenham are being quoted a price that is higher than that because they didn’t already have an arrangement in place.”

The full-back – who is likely to cost in the region of £20m – has reportedly been a target for the north London side since March, with the player seemingly favouring a move to the club over a return to newly-promoted Forest.

Bye-Bye Emerson

It is remarkable how quickly a player’s career can change, with Spence having gone from being dubbed surplus to requirements at parent club Boro, to now being on the cusp of joining a Champions League level side in Spurs, all via a breakthrough temporary spell at the City Ground.

That standout 2021/22 campaign saw the £7.2m-rated gem play a vital role in Steve Cooper’s side securing a long-awaited return to the top-flight, scoring two goals and proving four assists in 42 Championship appearances, averaging an impressive 1.5 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.1 clearances per game in that time.

It was his form in the club’s impressive FA Cup run that firmly thrust him into wider focus, however, playing an integral part of a side that saw off the likes of Arsenal and Leicester City en route to the last eight, where they were only narrowly defeated by eventual winners, Liverpool.

A player clearly on the rise, the £4.4k-per-week starlet has seemingly been earmarked by sporting director Fabio Paratici as the man to solve the Lilywhites’ wing-back woes this summer, with neither Matt Doherty nor Emerson Royal having truly convinced on the right flank under manager Antonio Conte.

The latter man, in particular, has struggled for consistency since his £25.8m switch from Barcelona last summer, scoring just one goal and providing only a solitary assist in 31 Premier League outings, with such a poor attacking output simply not up to scratch in what is such an important role in Conte’s 3-4-3 formation.

As pundit Alex McLeish has suggested, the former Real Betis man appears to be “struggling to cope with the pace” of the English top-flight, with his unconvincing displays thus far having heightened the need for a new recruit.

The Brazil international has been linked with an exit of late, with the arrival of Spence seemingly set to hasten his departure – a fact few of a Tottenham persuasion will shed any tears over.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano now reveals “very advanced” talks, Spurs supporters will be gutted

West Ham United are eyeing a move for soon-to-be free agent Andrea Belotti this summer.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Milan News. where it is said that the Scotsman is desperate to lure the centre-forward to the London Stadium in order to bolster his attacking ranks.

In the same report, it is claimed that the Hammers are a “concrete option” for Belotti this summer, with the forward set to leave Torino at the end of the month.

The next Zola

Being a technically gifted and prominent striker, Italian striker Belotti could well be the next Zola in the Premier League.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a notable Italian force up-top and the Torino man can fill that void, whilst also solving David Moyes’ depth issue at striker.

Like Zola, it’s Belotti’s ability to read the game that makes up for what is a lack of pace on the whole and truthfully, having endured his second-worst goal-scoring season in Serie A, it is time for the 28-year-old to move on and give his prime years to a more progressive side.

Belotti, who has been dubbed a “machine” who can “chop people down” according to Siavoush Fallahi on Twitter, bagged eight goals in 22 Serie A games this season and whilst that is still solid, it’s a far cry from his 26 goal haul from the 2016/17 season.

West Ham could well offer the Italian a platform in the Premier League with his only real competition being Michail Antonio.

He could go one further than Zola who managed West Ham and instead become their main bagsman.

For a player who is in his prime and possesses a market value of around £18m, according to Transfermarkt, it is a move that comes with little to no risk.

It’s a no-brainer for Moyes and co.

In other news: Enquiry made: West Ham could land a new £36m-rated monster by signing £21k-p/w gem 

Wolves have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from CM Jornal, the Old Gold have reached an agreement with the Portuguese club to sign their midfield star. Wolves will reportedly pay €20m (£17m) up front and a potential €5m (£4.2m) in add-ons for the 26-year-old.

Across a combined 170 senior appearances for Sporting Lisbon and Braga, the midfielder has scored 13 goals and delivered three assists in the process. He also has experience of playing in the Europa League and the Champions League, which could be useful for Wolves as they aim to break into Europe under Bruno Lage.

In fact, he got a good taste of what it’s like to come up against the Premier League’s top brass as he played the full 90 minutes against Manchester City in the Champions League in February.

Great news for Wolves

His latest season with Sporting saw him score three goals in 27 league appearances and earn himself an overall performance rating of 7.03/10 from WhoScored.

However, it was his defensive talent which stood out throughout the campaign, as the midfielder won more tackles (47) than any other player at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Taking into account how Wolves only won two of their final 12 Premier League games of the season and conceded 23 goals in those matches, it’s easy to see why they have sought to secure a deal for Palhinha so early in the summer transfer window.

Also, with current Old Gold midfielder Joao Moutinho’s contract at Molineux set to expire at the end of the month, this reported deal could see the £22.5m-rated figure come in and be a potential long-term replacement for his veteran compatriot.

Bearing in mind how the Midlands club already have a significant number of Portuguese players in their ranks, and coaching staff as well, this could make it easier for Palhinha to settle into life at Molineux.

Even though the summer transfer window has only just opened for business, it would undoubtedly be great news for the club and their fans if they’re able to get the midfielder through the door and announced as soon as possible, so that they can then move onto other potential targets who may be on their radar.

In other news: Wolves eyeing swoop for “terrific” 20 y/o “hotshot”, he can be their next Moutinho

Leeds United have once again been name-checked with an interest in Wolves forward Adama Traore according to journalist Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Barcelona loan

Traore, hailed as ‘unplayable’ by Jurgen Klopp, headed out on loan to Barcelona during the January window after scoring just once in 23 Wolves appearances in the first half of the season.

However, the 26-year-old continued to struggle despite a change of scenery, failing to score in 17 games at the Nou Camp.

As a result, the Spanish giants won’t be exercising their option to make a move permanent but it looks as if a move to Elland Road could be on the cards.

The Latest: Bailey’s claim

Bailey took to Twitter on Wednesday morning to provide an update on Traore. The journalist shared a link to a story for 90min, saying that Leeds, Newcastle and Tottenham all remain ‘interested’ in the right-winger’s services.

It is thought that Wolves are focusing on parting ways with Traore ‘for good’, with Victor Orta and Co already making contact over a potential transfer, while Newcastle have also enquired.

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The Verdict: Unlikely?

This isn’t the first time Leeds have been linked with a move for Traore and may not be the last, with rumours dating back to 2020 during the club’s first season back in the Premier League.

Traore has scored just 26 senior goals in over 300 games, not exactly an eye-catching return. Leeds are already well-stocked when it comes to wide options with Raphinha still a Whites player.

Jesse Marsch has also shown signs of looking to implement a narrower formation by signing attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, so a move for Traore could be unlikely.

In other news: After Kristensen: Radz & 49ers now ready to write Leeds cheque for ‘really exciting’ midfielder. 

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has suggested that Everton would be set to face some serious competition if they tried to sign Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer.

The Lowdown: Zinchenko’s future up in the air

The Ukrainian first made the switch to the Etihad from FC Ufa back in 2016, where he has since gone on to make 128 appearances and nine trophies for the Sky Blues during his six-year spell at the club.

The 25-year-old still has two years remaining on his current contract with the Premier League champions, but it was recently reported by The Athletic journalists Patrick Boyland and Greg O’Keeffe that his future is very much up in the air, with the likes of the Toffees and fellow top-flight side Newcastle United believed to have identified the full-back as a possible transfer target for the upcoming window.

The Latest: Robinson unsure about Everton move

When asked during an interview with Football Insider whether or not he thought Zinchenko would be a strong addition at Goodison Park, Robinson said:

“As much as Zinchenko is a top-quality player, where does he fit in at Everton?

“They already have [Vitaliy] Mykolenko.

“Zinchenko is unlucky not to get more game time at Man City. He’s a very good player.

“If he is going to make a move this summer there will be a lot more clubs than just Everton looking to sign him.

“He can play left-back and in the midfield. His versatility and quality make him a very attractive proposition for a lot of clubs.

“I’m sure there would be a lot of managers keen on a player like him if it becomes common knowledge that he’s available. 100 per cent.”

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The Verdict: Zinchenko’s high ambitions

Despite only making 15 top-flight outings this campaign, the 48-cap international has more than shown what he’s capable of when he’s on the pitch, having provided four assists, as per Transfermarkt.

As well as making 1.3 tackles per game, the defender has been equally as threatening going forward, recording 1.1 key passes and 1.6 long balls per league game, via WhoScored, and he is exactly the profile of player that Everton should be looking at signing if they are aiming for a much higher place finish next season.

However, even if Zinchenko were to leave the Manchester outfit in the coming weeks in a bid to get more game time, he would highly likely want to switch somewhere that he’ll have a strong chance of continuing to get his hands on silverware after his success with City, a factor that might end up being a disadvantage for Everton in the race for their man.

In other news… Fabrizio Romano has revealed the transfer intentions of one of Everton’s ‘best’ players.

Nottingham Forest have secured promotion into the Premier League next season after taking the victory over Huddersfield Town at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, and they could already be about to make their first summer signing.

What’s the latest?

According to The Star, Nottingham Forest are keen to extend Max Lowe’s stay at The City Ground this summer following an impressive loan spell at the club.

As per the report, sources in the East Midlands have claimed Steve Cooper would like to keep the midfielder when they challenge in the Premier League next season but are aware that Sheffield United could offer their player a contract extension to tempt him away from signing a deal with the newly-promoted side.

Cooper would love it

It would not be surprising that the Forest manager wants to keep his winning side together for next season and take some of his loan players who have become key components into the Premier League with him.

Cooper would clearly love to keep Lowe at the club following his high praise of the player this season after he returned from a nasty groin strain that kept him sidelined for two months:

“I’m proud of Max, and generally pleased for him.

“He’s been an absolute credit to his profession in how he has handled himself through his rehab and his recovery.”

The £14k-per-week ace who was hailed a “king” by journalist Ryan Conway, has been phenomenal from the centre of the pitch for Forest this season, with SofaScore ranking him as the ninth top-rated player in the squad.

Lowe has scored one goal and contributed four assists, creating three big chances, making 1.5 interceptions, 1 key pass and 3.7 tackles on average per game as well as winning the majority of his duels (58%), and proving successful in the majority of his dribbles (53%) in his 20 Championship appearances this season.

These statistics prove that he has been a reliable and consistent performer in the Nottingham Forest team this season, and further illustrate good reason for the club to attempt to further extend Lowe’s time at the club and deploy him in the squad in the top flight.

With that being said, there is work to do now for the club and Cooper to identify the right players to get the best out of their campaign in the Premier League and will be hoping they will have enough to maintain their status in the league next term.

AND in other news: Nottingham Forest must secure deal for “unbelievable” £20m gem, Cooper loves him