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Jota will complete a permanent summer move to Celtic when he returns from his summer holiday, former Hoops hero Frank McAvennie has claimed.

The Lowdown: Jota sparkles at Celtic

The Portuguese forward joined Celtic on loan from Benfica last summer, as Ange Postecoglou guaranteed him more regular playing time than at his parent club.

Jota excelled throughout the 2021/22 campaign, helping the Hoops to win the Premiership and Scottish League Cup, scoring 13 goals and registering 14 assists overall.

The hope is that the 23-year-old joins permanently in the coming weeks, and with Celtic reportedly in talks with the player over personal terms for an outright transfer, there is a strong chance of a deal being struck.

The Latest: McAvennie confident of Jota deal

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie claimed that the transfer will hopefully be completed once Jota is back for pre-season.

The 62-year-old stated:

“There is a lot of speculation about Jota. If you look on social media the boy is all over the place, he’s away on holiday.

“I’m just hoping he has said he will sign it when he comes back. I think that is what it will come down to. I really want him to sign because he really is a talent.

“Hopefully he is just away and he has told Ange he will sign when he comes back.”

The Verdict: Brilliant summer addition

Much like Cameron Carter-Vickers, another 2021/22 loanee who has now signed for Celtic permanently, bringing in Jota for good this summer could feel more significant than any other new signing, given his influence last season.

He brought so much quality and end product from wide areas, with no other Hoops player matching his tally of 27 goal contributions; and given his tender years, he is someone who could become a hero at Parkhead for many years to come.

Signing players of Jota’s quality will be vital to Celtic’s hopes of dominating the domestic scene over the next few years, not to mention trying to make their mark in their return to the Champions League.

In other news, Celtic are believed to be eyeing up a move for one player. Find out who it is here.

A new name has emerged in Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans this summer…

What’s the word?

According to Alasdair Gold of football.london, Spurs have been tracking Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who Premier League rivals Newcastle United tried to sign earlier this year.

It remains to be seen how much the Brazil international would command, given how much of a regular he was for the Ligue 1 outfit last season.

Transfermarkt currently value the 24-year-old star at £31.5m, whilst he is thought to be earning wages in the region of £49k-per-week at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

AC Milan will be due 15% of any sale due to an agreement in the €20m (£18m) deal to sell him.

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Frightening midfield unit

The arrival of Paqueta in north London would be quite the coup and could allow manager Antonio Conte to form one of the better midfield departments in the English top-flight.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the Lyon star delivered a total of 11 goals and seven assists from attacking midfield across both domestic and European competitions.

As such, WhoScored graded him as L’OL’s highest-rated player (7.24), whilst as per FBref, he ranks inside the top 6% for progressive passes (9.25 per 90), top 9% for shots (3.06 per 90) and top 12% for non-penalty xG+A (0.59 per 90) of his positional peers across Europe’s top five divisions.

“I love his dribbling and blind passing, but what I love is his desire, his activity, his selflessness, his commitment,” once claimed former Premier League talisman Thierry Henry.

With similar workmanlike players such as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Rodrigo Bentancur, Paqueta could fit right in to make Spurs’ engine room one to be feared every week.

Meanwhile, teammate Jerome Boateng has also waxed lyrical about the Brazilian’s exploits, declaring:

“He brings so much to our team. He’s running a lot, his skills of course, his technique, his creating chances, his passing, his fighting for the ball, he helps us a lot. And I think he has a big potential to be really a world star in football.”

As such, sporting director Fabio Paratici must look to swoop for the Lyon playmaker in the coming months. He’d be a fine addition to Conte’s squad heading into a Champions League campaign.

AND in other news, Paratici now eyeing £18m-rated Spurs bargain, could be bye-bye “horrendous” Nuno flop…

David Moyes has enjoyed a tremendous campaign at West Ham this season, as a seventh-place finish in the Premier League and a run to the Europa League semi-finals gave the Hammers faithful some wonderful memories.

There is no doubt that Moyes wants similar success next season, and with new challenges on the horizon, a major one is quickly zooming into focus, navigating the summer transfer window.

There are areas of the squadwhich  urgently need improvement, and whilst the West Ham attacking options on the surface appear good, with Jarrod Bowen (18 goals in 2021/22), Said Benrahma (11) and Michail Antonio (13) all contributing heavily, the latter remains the club’s only senior striker.

Their striking woes might soon be solved, though, following an update from a target with whom Moyes has been linked recently. According to French outlet Foot Mercato, West Ham are looking to bring in Clermont striker Mohamed Bayo to London this summer in a deal worth a potential €10m (£8.4m).

The striker has now spoken about his future with Footballogue, saying: “I had a season in National, I scored, I did a season in Ligue 2, it went well.

“We have stayed in Ligue 1 this season. The logical next step is to move towards a new challenge.

“I don’t want to run for the money, I want a project where in the game I feel important.”

This news will be encouraging for Moyes, and he could well be in pole position to bring in the Clermet marksman.

West Ham urgently need another centre-forward in order to take the burden off of Antonio, and a prospective £8.4m deal for the 23-year-old would represent excellent value for money.

This season, Bayo scored 14 times and grabbed five assists in 32 Ligue 1 matches, an impressive tally. He is still raw, but his incredible speed and physical prowess ought to stand him in good stead in the Premier League.

Moyes should act quickly, as otherwise he could face an intense battle for the Guinean’s signature.

AND in other news, West Ham eyeing deal for “exceptional” £35k-p/w monster, he’s the perfect Noble heir

Journalist Ryan Taylor believes Aston Villa will sign Rangers star Calvin Bassey this summer because he’s ‘highly rated’ by Villa chiefs, GiveMeSport report.

The Lowdown: Closing in?

Bassey, who Owen Hargreaves labelled as ‘astonishing’ for his display in the Europa League final, appears to be next on Villa’s transfer radar.

NSWE have already signed Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara on permanent deals while also reaching an agreement with Sevilla for centre-back Diego Carlos.

Reports over recent days have suggested that Villa chiefs are now closing in on a move for Bassey, and Taylor has had his say on a possible transfer after Sky Sports called the youngster a ‘key’ target for Gerrard.

The Latest: Villa love Bassey, ‘deal will happen’

Talking to GMS, Taylor said that Bassey is extremely well thought of by those at Villa Park and believes a ‘deal will happen’.

Taylor did add that Carlos’ arrival could possibly change things, however, he described a move for Bassey as a ‘no-brainer’.

“Bassey is clearly highly rated by Villa. I think that deal will happen; I can see it happening. Obviously, [Diego] Carlos coming in might change the picture, but it’s clear Villa rate him highly, and for me, it’s just a no-brainer.

“The way he played in the Europa League, he looks like a player that’s just naturally ready to step up and perform.”

The Verdict: Smart…

Bassey appears to be ready for the next step in his career after starring on the European stage and is entering the final two years of his Ibrox contract. Rangers could see this summer as the right time to maximise the defender’s value, should he wish to leave.

You’d expect that agreeing on a fee with the Scottish giants could be the only potential obstacle. Villa already know Bassey’s agency well as they represent Jacob Ramsey, who recently penned a new Villa contract, so it wouldn’t come as a shock if the Nigerian was the club’s fourth major signing.

In other news: Villa may now move for another Rangers star after Bassey; Gerrard loves him – transfer insider. 

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Kenedy to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a recent report by the Daily Mail, who claimed that, with the left-winger’s current deal at Chelsea set to expire in June 2023, Thomas Tuchel’s side are now willing to entertain offers for the 26-year-old in the summer.

The report added that this development could open the door for Leeds, who were linked with a move for the former Brazil under-23 international in the January transfer window, to make a move for the attacker ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Bye-bye Harrison

With both Raphinha and Jack Harrison being heavily linked with moves away from Elland Road in the summer transfer window, it is easy to see why Jesse Marsch and Victor Orta would be considering a move to bring Kenedy to LS11 in the coming weeks.

Indeed, despite struggling to cement a starting spot at Chelsea following his arrival in west London, the £6.3m-rated winger has shown glimpses of the potential which convinced the Blues to sign him back in 2015 during various loan spells away from Stamford Bridge.

The highlight of these temporary moves undoubtedly came at Granada in 2020/21. Over his 28 La Liga appearances that season, the £25k-per-week talent scored four goals, registered three assists and created five big chances for his team-mates, taking 1.3 shots, making 0.6 key passes and completing 1.3 dribbles per game.

Furthermore, the player who Tuchel dubbed “very talented” also proved he still has what it takes to perform at Premier League level in his one top-flight outing this season. He made two key passes, five tackles and 34 passes, created one big chance and registered one assist in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Watford last weekend, all of which saw the Brazilain earn a SofaScore match rating of 7.5.

As such, if Harrison does end up moving on to pastures new this summer, Kenedy could be a very decent – not to mention cost-effective – option to replace the 25-year-old winger if Marsch believes that he can help the former Fluminense starlet get back to his best at Elland Road.

AND in other news: Victor Orta now plotting Leeds bid for “exceptional” £12m target, he’s Ian Harte 2.0

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their pursuit of Sven Botman heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies remain keen on a deal for the centre-back ahead of the 2022/23 campaign after failing to land him in January.

The report claims that Italian giants AC Milan, who recently lifted the Serie A title, are also keen on the defender, and it remains to be seen who will win the race for his signature.

It is stated that the Dutch defender is keen on a switch to the Premier League and that may be a factor in his decision, with Tottenham and Manchester United also keeping tabs on his situation.

Supporters would love it

Newcastle supporters would surely love to see the club securing a deal for Botman, and Eddie Howe can get St James’ Park rocking by bringing the 22-year-old to Tyneside this summer.

Botman’s agent Francesco Miniero previously dubbed him a “golden boy”, and it is easy to see why when you look into his statistics for Lille in France.

In Ligue 1, he averaged SofaScore ratings of 7.08 and 7.10 in his first two seasons respectively. The team kept 28 clean sheets in that time as he delivered consistently excellent displays on the pitch, as shown by his average ratings over the course of two years.

He has managed this at the young age of 22, showing maturity ahead of his years. This suggests that he has a bright future ahead of him, as he has already proven his immense quality at a high level in the early parts of his career.

It has been reported in Italy this year that Milan are closing in on an agreement with Lille for €33m (£28m), so Newcastle must work hard to convince him that a move to Tyneside is the right step for him to take in his career.

His statistics suggest that he has the quality, consistency and potential to be a superb prospective signing for the Magpies, and that is why his arrival would leave St James’ Park rocking with excitement.

The supporters would also love it as it would mean snubbing the Italian champions and a team who’ll in the Champions League next season in order to join Howe, without any European football, at Newcastle. This would be a huge statement of intent from the Magpies, given what they are competing against, and would show the fans that the club now has a huge pull in the market.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Bruno: NUFC can form a deadly duo by signing “outstanding” £34m “rock”…

Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension Fabio Paratici, could be ‘in the mix’ to sign a £51 million star for Antonio Conte this summer, hints Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites officials spotted…

According to a report from 90min, Lilywhites officials were recently sent on a mission as they were tasked with running the rule over certain transfer targets.

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Spurs scouts were allegedly in attendance for both of Villarreal’s clashes with Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals recently as the Premier League top four chasers eye both defender Pau Torres and winger Arnaut Danjuma.

The latter man has been in fine form under Unai Emery in Spain since joining from Bournemouth last summer as transfer chief Paratici is now linked with a potential swoop.

The Latest: Bridge drops Tottenham hint…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, reporter Bridge of Sky Sports now hints Spurs, and by extension Paratici, could be ‘in the mix’ for Danjuma if he becomes available – despite not hearing anything ‘concrete’ concerning them yet.

He explained:

“I do think he would be [an upgrade on Bergwijn]. He’s a real talent and another level to Bergwijn.

“But I don’t think there’s anything concrete on Tottenham, I’ve not heard anything, but would they be in the mix if he became available? Maybe.”

The Verdict: Hopefully…

Depending on developments, Spurs joining the race for Danjuma comes as an exciting proposition.

Villarreal have apparently slapped a €60 million (£51m) price tag on his head given the ex-Championship forward’s sensational form this season, a valuation which could arguably be worth it.

Branded ‘near enough unplayable’ earlier this season by pundit Owen Hargreaves, Danjuma has racked up the most goals and assists combined under Emery domestically whilst also attempting the most shots at goal per 90 (WhoScored).

His signing would be a major upgrade for Conte in the forward positions and supporters could be hoping their side do indeed enter the mix.

In other news: Conte green-lights Spurs move as he now gives ‘unbelievable signing’ absolute priority, find out more here.

Wolves are the front-runners to sign Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha in the summer transfer window, according to a new report that has emerged this week.

The Lowdown: A Champions League beast

Bruno Lage will be looking to sign a number of new faces at the end of the season, with his side’s Premier League campaign fizzling out a little, perhaps due to a lack of squad depth.

One player who has been continually linked with a move to Molineux is Palhinha, who has matured into one of Sporting’s most reliable and tenacious players in recent years.

The 26-year-old started all six of his side’s Champions League group stage matches this season, averaging an monstrous 3.7 tackles per game in the competition.

To put those incredible numbers into perspective, no Wolves player with three or more appearances is averaging more than 2.7 tackles per game in the Premier League.

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The Latest: Wolves in pole position

It looks as though Wolves’ interest in Palhinha hasn’t gone away, with A Bola [via Sport Witness] claiming that they are the ‘main favourite’ to acquire his signature this summer.

It is stated that ‘everything indicates’ that he will leave Sporting and that a move to the Premier League is on the cards. Jorge Mendes is tipped to work his magic and bring him to Wanderers instead of Tottenham.

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The Verdict: No.1 Neves replacement?

With Ruben Neves looking increasingly likely to leave Wolves in the summer, it is imperative that Lage brings in a like-for-like replacement – someone who can enjoy a similar level of influence on proceedings in the middle of the park.

Palhinha certainly looks the most likely option, in that respect, possessing his compatriot’s deep-lying ability in midfield, proving to be strong both on and off the ball.

His aforementioned tackling statistics highlight one part of his game but he has also scored three goals and enjoyed an 87.8% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga this season, showing that he is an all-round package.

In other news, journalist Tim Spiers has dropped a key Wolves exit claim. Read more here.

Everton will travel down south this evening to take on Watford and despite the boost that Watford are already relegated from the Premier League, there has been a huge blow to Frank Lampard’s relegation battle.

What’s the latest?

The Toffees boss took to his pre-match press conference to confirm that Yerry Mina will not be available for selection following a small calf injury and will likely not feature until the last game of the season.

When asked about Mina’s availability Lampard told the press (via Liverpool Echo):

“Yerry’s not, he’s got a small injury in his calf so he won’t be playing in this game.

“We’re probably looking towards the last game Yerry could be in contention for.”

Lampard will be gutted

This will surely be hugely frustrating for the team and Lampard will likely be gutted to lose one of his best centre-backs ahead of the final hurdle of their relegation battle considering they have begun to pick up some momentum and crucial points in the Premier League since Mina’s return.

Everton have picked up seven points in the last three games that the defender has been involved in over their last five games, winning two and drawing one, so his return to the team and involvement has clearly had a hugely positive impact, something Lampard will now have to work without.

In fact, the Colombian has been involved in eight of Everton’s ten wins this season further proving that having him in the team makes a massive difference to the side’s ability to take points from their opponents.

On top of this blow to the backline, the former Chelsea boss is also without Ben Godfrey who is working to recover and get his fitness back on track ahead of the end of the season following a thigh injury, so Lampard will need to lean on Michael Keane and Mason Holgate for the foreseeable.

With that being said, there are now only four games to go for the Toffees and four opportunities for the side to pick up as many points as they can ahead of the end of the season to seal their fate and potentially survive in the Premier League.

AND in other news: Everton now plot bid for “red-hot” £17m sensation, just imagine him and Doucoure

Glasgow Rangers reportedly now face a ‘big fight’ to keep Ryan Kent this summer.

The Lowdown: Europa League hero

Kent was just one of many Europa League heroes for the Teddy Bears as they overcame RB Leipzig 3-1 at Ibrox on Thursday night to book themselves in the final against Frankfurt.

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The winger grabbed the assist for the opening goal of the game by James Tavernier, and also recorded a team-high two key passes, while he won three of his duels, made two tackles and one interception (SofaScore).

The Latest: ‘Big fight’

Taking to Twitter, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team now face a ‘big fight’ to keep hold of Kent in the summer, as he is ‘attracting interest’ from a number of clubs in the Premier League.

Expanding in his latest piece for 90min, Bailey added that the Light Blues have accepted that they will not be able to match teams in the top flight in terms of contract offers, given that he only has a year left on his current deal.

Bailey’s sources have confirmed that the uncertainty over his contract is now attracting interest, with Leeds United, Everton, Wolves and Fulham named as possible destinations.

The Verdict: Worrying

It is certainly worrying for the supporters to hear of uncertainty over Kent’s long-term future, as they will no doubt find it difficult to pull him away from the attraction of the Premier League.

He has been one of their best performers in both the Europa League and the Scottish Premiership, and at 25 years of age, has not yet reached his full potential.

Nonetheless, if the Gers do decide to sell him, then they need to make sure that they get a sizeable fee in order to help find a suitable replacement.

In other news, find out which ‘absolute legend’ Andrew Dickson hailed against Leipzig here!