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Leicester City star James Maddison is “likelier” to join Tottenham Hotspur than Premier League rivals this summer, according to journalist Miguel Delaney of The Independent.

Who will Tottenham sign?

Ange Postecoglou’s arrival from treble-winning Celtic marks the dawn of a new era and attacking football’s return to N17, coming after the more pragmatic eras of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte before him.

The domestic transfer window is officially open for business and it is now the task of chairman Daniel Levy to scour the market for much-needed Spurs upgrades.

A major rebuild is on the cards at Tottenham, with Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks facing uncertain futures (The Telegraph).

There have been suggestions that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be facing the axe as well, meanwhile major doubts surround 2022 summer signing Richarlison.

Of the players who could come in, Postecoglou apparently wants a new centre-back, a goalkeeper to replace Hugo Lloris, forward additions and Leicester star Maddison.

Going back to the latter player, reliable reporter Delaney of The Independent has shared an update, with Spurs battling Newcastle for the 26-year-old’s signing.

However, despite Eddie Howe enjoying the luxury of Champions League qualification for next season, Maddison is actually “likelier to go to Spurs”.

It is stressed in his report, though, that neither side are that close to agreeing a fee for the midfielder – with Enzo Maresca’s side demanding almost double £45 million.

How many goals has James Maddison scored for Leicester?

Maddison, during his time at the King Power, has racked up an impressive 55 goals and 41 assists in all competitions.

Last season, the former Norwich City star totalled 10 goals and nine assists in the league alone – standing out as Leicester’s best-performing player by average match rating (WhoScored).

Journalist Rob Blanchette also hailed Maddison for his “sensational” form last year he got the England nod over Man United winger Jadon Sancho.

“James Maddison is an easy pick ahead of Sancho,” said Blanchette on Twitter.

“His form for Leicester has been sensational, while Jadon has declined.”

Arsenal are closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window as Kai Havertz is nearing a switch to the Emirates Stadium, according to reports…

Arsenal transfer news – Kai Havertz

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has provided a fresh update on the Gunners' pursuit of the Chelsea star as he took to Twitter on Sunday morning:

"News #Havertz: He‘s very close to join @Arsenal now! All depends on the final offer from Arsenal.

"Havertz, keen to join #Arsenal now as personal terms are almost agreed. Arteta loves to see him in addition to Jesus.

"Bayern inquired about conditions in the last days but the negotiations with Arsenal are too advanced – Bayern informed. Therefore no offer/hijack from Bayern yet.

"Transfer fee package expected: at least around €80m [£68m] all in."

How good is Kai Havertz?

The north Londoners have endured a mixed bag when it comes to signing players from their capital city rivals over the years.

Petr Cech has perhaps been the most successful arrival, whilst the likes of Willian, David Luiz and William Gallas have certainly divided opinion amongst the Gunners' faithful.

Havertz is more than likely to fall into the latter category.

The German international has been something of an enigma since his £72m arrival in English football back in August 2020.

At Bayer Leverkusen, the 24-year-old was utilised largely as an attacking midfielder or false nine, with his 46 goals and 31 assists from 150 appearances being the very reason behind the Blues stumping up such a hefty sum, but he hasn't really been able to replicate that since.

Just 11 games shy of the aforementioned appearance total, Havertz has managed 14 fewer goals and 16 fewer assists, largely being deployed as a sole striker under an array of different managers, as per Transfermarkt.

It seems likely that Havertz would be deployed in a similar role at the Emirates, given Mikel Arteta's 'love' for him to be an alternative to current no.9, Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian is actually a comparable player when using FBref's player comparison model and what the Chelsea star lacks in terms of goal threat, he more than makes up for in and out of possession – in some ways similar to Jesus.

When compared to other forwards across Europe's top five divisions over the past year, the £150k-per-week talent ranks inside the top 6% for pass completion, the top 9% for progressive passes, and the top 10% for tackles, all per 90 via FBref.

It's perhaps why Gunners legend Thierry Henry made a glowing comparison to another former Arsenal forward – speaking on CBS Sports' Champions League coverage earlier in the year, he said:

"He reminds me sometimes, a little, of Robin [van Persie] – back to goal the way he can hold the ball. Now he needs to make sure he can transform that into more goals because you can play off him."

The 6 foot 4 "machine" – as once lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – would certainly be a bold risk for Arsenal to take during the offseason but if anyone can get him back to his brilliant best, it's Arteta.

There will also be plenty of question marks over the £68m price tag, especially after the failings of club-record signing Nicolas Pepe, but the Arsenal boss has proven that he must be trusted – if he wants the player, then sporting director Edu Gaspar should do all he can to secure him.

Newcastle United are looking to make a "sensational" move for West Ham captain Declan Rice this summer, according to a new update.

Is Rice leaving West Ham this summer?

The 24-year-old has grown into a wonderful player for the Hammers, and on Wednesday night, he lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy, following a dramatic late win over Fiorentina in the final.

The general consensus is that that was Rice's last-ever appearance in a West Ham, with the £60,000-a-week midfielder now set for a new challenge this summer. A move to a Champions League-playing club is likely on the cards, and as things stand, Arsenal look like the favourites to snap him.

Newcastle can also promise elite players a place at Europe's top table next season, however, as they approach what has the potential to be a memorable summer transfer window.

In that respect, a fresh claim suggests that the Magpies could be eyeing an audacious move for Rice, as they look to seal some eye-catching business.

Are Newcastle signing Rice?

According to Football Insider, Newcastle "are considering a sensational bid for Declan Rice as they look to hijack Arsenal’s deal", in what is a major update. The report goes on to add that they are "interested in the West Ham star in what would be a stunning swoop".

That being said, the Gunners are still believed to be "leading the race" to snap up the England star in the coming weeks and months, with a "verbal agreement" in place and move to the Emirates potentially just "days away".

Rice could be the perfect summer signing by Newcastle, should they gazump Arsenal and others for his signature, also representing a huge signal of intent if they are chosen as his next club.

The West Ham star has arguably grown into one of the best players in his position in the Premier League, being lauded as "world-class" by former Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley and maturing into a huge box-to-box presence.

In 2022/23, Rice scored four goals and registered two assists in the league, but he also averaged 2.1 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game, showing that he has become someone who can thrive on and off the ball.

For England, he was also an ever-present at the 2022 World Cup, starting every game, and he could even be a future captain of his country, further outlining why Newcastle signing him would feel so significant.

Newcastle United have identified Everton midfielder Amadou Onana for transfer this summer and could ramp up their interest in short time as Eddie Howe looks to bolster his thriving squad.

That's according to iNews, who claim that the Magpies are 'monitoring' the Belgian midfielder ahead of a possible swoop, with Onana impressing for Everton during his side's relegation-threatened campaign.

Despite only signing the combative ace one year ago for £33m from Lille, the Toffees are in need of funds to fuel a summer rebuild and have been reported to consider the sale of one of their most coveted assets due to his skyrocketing value, with £60m enough to prise him away from Goodison Park.

Newcastle have been imperious across the board this term but there is a sense that several well-placed acquisitions would be enough to consolidate the club's newfound strength, and Onana could integrate into the fold on Tyneside with seamless ease.

Should Newcastle sign Amadou Onana?

In the perfect world of Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, the £60m demand for Onana would be met, but with conflicting reports that the Blues would sanction a sale for £50m, Toon technical director Dan Ashworth might be able to whittle down the price considering Onana's outfit are desperate to grow their purse.

Once hailed by former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez as "one of the most talented young players in Europe", Onana finished his first Premier League campaign with an average Sofascore rating of 6.92, completing 84% of his passes, averaging 2.2 tackles and 1.1 interceptions and clearances per match, also winning 59% of his ground duels.

The £100k-per-week ace is a tenacious tackler and an imposing aerial presence, with Richard Buxton describing him as "superb" for his seasonal endeavours, and he would only burgeon as a prospect among the established likes of Joe Willock, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes, with the latter in particular possibly the perfect partner for Onana to blossom into a world-class engine.

Guimaraes was one of the first to sign for Newcastle following the PIF takeover in October 2021 and has since made 57 appearances, scoring ten goals and supplying six assists more following his £40m transfer from Lyon in January 2022.

Hailed as "world-class" by teammate Dan Burn, the 25-year-old's success lies in his aptitude to conduct the play and keep the system whirring at full throttle, with the £120k-per-week phenom ranking among the top 13% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, progressive passes and successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

On top of this, he has averaged 2.4 tackles and 1.1 interceptions in the Premier League this season, and with such a robust option as Onana alongside him, Newcastle's midfield might be awash with dynamism and an iron-clad resolve to leave the opposition quaking.

Onana, dubbed a "leader" by Martinez, would utilise his crisp passing and ball-winning prowess to enhance Guimaraes' own dynamic output, also confirming his imposing flair by ranking among the top 7% of positional peers for aerials won per 90.

He must be signed, Newcastle's midfield is already thriving but the addition of Onana would only enrich the outstanding Magpies centre as Champions League football awaits.

Neymar would be Manchester United's best player if he was to join the club in the summer transfer window, presenter Terry Flewers has claimed.

What's the latest on Neymar and Man United?

The Brazil superstar looks set to depart Paris Saint-Germain this summer, and the 31-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Newcastle and Man United two possible destinations.

Neymar has suffered with a lot of injury problems over the years, but has still provided 18 goals and 17 assists in 29 outings across all competitions this season.

Speaking on The Football Terrace, Flewers claimed that Neymar would be the best player at United as soon as he walked through the door, in terms of ability and status, but injuries may be of some concern.

"Ability, yes. Output, yes. The name, the man, the magic the skills, I want Neymar at Manchester United for all of these reasons," he stated.

"He would be the best player at the club by a country mile as soon as he arrives, whether he plays on the left instead of Rashford, whether he plays in a kind of 10, off the striker role instead of Bruno Fernandes, if he plays on the right instead of Antony or Sancho, this guy is better than all of them."

"The injury problems though, that's my worry. The injury situation surrounding Neymar is my only concern around him."

Should United pursue Neymar?

United are in the market for a forward, and have reportedly made Harry Kane their top target.

Neymar is a wide attacker rather than a central striker, but should he arrive, Rashford could move to a striker role to accommodate the 31-year-old.

His injury problems, combined with his £941k-per-week wages, means that Neymar looks more like he could follow the route of other big names who arrived and failed at Old Trafford, such as Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Bastian Schweinsteiger, but if he can stay fit, he could help raise United's level.

Erik ten Hag's side have made good progress this season, winning the Carabao Cup and securing a third-placed finish, but someone with Neymar's quality and experience could help turn them into title challengers.

Wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho have scored a combined 15 goals in all competitions, less than Neymar alone, and the Brazilian would be a significant upgrade on both in terms of end product.

If the finances on any deal for Neymar are reasonable, then the Red Devils could benefit in the short term, by having an attacker with Neymar's quality in the squad, even if he isn't available for the whole season.

Watch more of The Football Terrace on YouTube now!

Leeds United's relegation from the Premier League means that the club must now turn their focus to finding a manager capable of bouncing back in the Championship next season.

Burnley are perhaps the prime example of a club dropping to the second tier and potentially returning a much stronger outfit, with the Clarets a completely different side under the highly-rated Vincent Kompany, as he led them to the Championship title at the first time of asking.

Manager links will be rife throughout the summer but Andrea Radrizzani needs to act quickly if he wants to seal an instant return to the top flight, in order to give the new man in the dugout plenty of time to implement his ideas and have his say on the summer transfer window business.

One man who has been touted as a potential option for the Yorkshire outfit in recent weeks is former Leicester City and Liverpool boss, Brendan Rodgers.

Could Leeds appoint Brendan Rodgers?

In a recent article for The Athletic, Phil Hay discussed some of the managers Leeds could look to appoint this summer, with Sam Allardyce's interim spell coming to an end following the game against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

He wrote: "Should they go down, recently-sacked Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is likely to come into the equation, at least in terms of the sort of coach they would want."

Although things would end badly for Rodgers at the King Power Stadium, he did average 1.59 points per game during his time with the Foxes, during which time they won the FA Cup and played in the Europa League.

He also delivered seven trophies during his time at Celtic and narrowly missed out on winning the Premier League title with Liverpool in the 2013/14 campaign, so he has plenty of experience managing at the top of a league.

The 50-year-old, who prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation, enjoyed spells with Reading and Watford but arguably first made a name for himself with Swansea City in the Championship and hasn't returned to the second tier since, but could provide plenty of experience and a winning mentality at Elland Road as Leeds look to seal an instant return.

Following his sacking at Leicester, Rodgers was dubbed "unbelievable" by Michail Antonio, while Kolo Toure called him "invaluable," so he is clearly held in high regard by his former players.

If Radrizzani can bring him to Elland Road and allow him to make the sort of signings which will turn Leeds into a top Championship outfit, then an instant return to the top flight could certainly be on the cards.

Referee Andre Marriner and his VAR team may have made a big mistake in the recent Newcastle United draw as he failed to send off Bruno Guimaraes.

What’s the latest on Newcastle and VAR?

Eddie Howe’s side were able to secure a spot in the top four and this qualify for the Champions League despite being held to a draw against Leicester City.

The Magpies dominated with 78 per cent possession, 12 concerns to one, and 23 shots to one, but still couldn’t score as the game ended 0-0 (via BBC Sport).

Even so, Newcastle will be delighted to get that one point that means they cannot be caught by Liverpool who are fifth in the Premier League with only one game to play.

However, they can potentially count themselves lucky to have completed the game with 11 men on the pitch as Guimaraes landed a brutal challenge on Boubakary Soumare.

In the end, the referee only opted to dish out a yellow card but as you can see by the still image shared on the TalkSport Twitter feed, it was bad foul potentially deserving of a red card.

You can also see the footage here.

Did Bruno Guimaraes deserve a red card?

In the end, Guimaraes wasn’t sent off with VAR opting not to upgrade the yellow card to a red but as you can see with how high his studs are raised, he’s a lucky boy.

Had that been a dismissal, Newcastle may well have lost the game and not secured Champions League football on the night as they would have had to play from the eighth minute onwards with just ten men.

In the ChronicleLive player ratings, journalist Lee Ryder noted the midfielder was “lucky to stay on with a wild challenge.”

He wasn’t the only one to comment on the bad tackle either, with football writer Craig Hope also adding: “That looked like a red card to me?”

After the game, Foxes manager Dean Smith wasn’t happy about the tackle. He told the press: “I do feel that Bruno could have been sent off. It was a dangerous lunge that endangered the opponent.”

Manchester United are keen on signing Adrien Rabiot this summer as Erik ten Hag aims to bolster his midfield options ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Adrien Rabiot to Manchester United?

According to RMC Sport (via the Daily Mail), United have reportedly offered a contract to Rabiot ahead of a potential switch this summer.

It comes after the Old Trafford side missed out on the Frenchman a year ago despite a fee being arranged, with the deal falling through due to wage demands. He is out of contract at the end of this season and Ten Hag is going for a second bite of the cherry hoping another move is successful.

Could Man United sign Rabiot this summer?

With Rabiot's deal at Juventus coming to an end, United won't have to worry about a transfer fee and could perhaps offer more in terms of wages to safely negotiate a move for the midfielder.

Convincing the Frenchman that United is the best move for him could spell bad news for Fred, who may be moved on before next term as a result.

There is no doubt the Brazilian has improved under the Dutchman, enjoying a new lease of life while partnered alongside a genuinely world-class operator in Casemiro, and despite starting just 11 Premier League games this term to date, he has chipped in with three goal contributions, created three big chances and made 1.3 tackles per game, proving that when he is called upon, he is contributing.

The 30-year-old has just one year on his current contract and this could give Ten Hag licence to move him on for a fee this summer in order to free up room for Rabiot.

The Juve star has enjoyed something of a career renaissance this season with club and country. The 28-year-old is ranked as the best midfielder in the Juventus squad for his Serie A performances this term, with an overall rating of 7.06/10 from Sofascore, while he has also chipped in with eight goals and one assist, demonstrating how effective he can be going forward, which could be a big bonus to Ten Hag.

For France, the £150k-per-week machine was in wonderful form during their run to the World Cup final in Qatar last year. Across six matches, he registered two goal contributions and averaged 61.5 touches per game, controlling the game from the midfield as France came so close to retaining their title.

It’s no wonder national coach Didier Deschamps described him as a “complete midfielder”, and there is no doubt that he could bolster United's ranks ahead of Ten Hag’s second season in charge.

West Ham must accelerate their efforts to sign Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah.

What’s the latest on Yunus Musah?

According to recent reports in Spain, the Hammers are keenly tracking the 20-year-old, who could be an extraordinary coup and an excellent replacement for Declan Rice, who looks set to leave the London Stadium.

The club captain's contract expires in 2024, rejecting all efforts to sign a new deal, and it has been suggested that it could take offers of over £100m to force the Englishman’s departure, with David Moyes recently hinting that an exit is edging closer.

Moyes said: “We would love him to be a West Ham player but we are aware that might not be the case. That is one of the scenarios.

“Our plans are to have Dec here but we are also fully aware there is a good chance that we won't have him."

With the club all but resigned to his long-awaited and expected exit, the arrival of Musah, who has a release clause of €100m (£88m), could ease the pain and fill this void.

Why should Yunus Musah sign for West Ham?

The New York-born titan moved to London at the age of nine in 2012 and joined Arsenal’s academy.

The Gunners U16 coach Trevor Bumstead eulogised over the 24-cap international and said: “He’s got fantastic physical attributes and the drive and determination to go with that. He would play anywhere to get in the team, but his favourite was as a central attacking midfield player."

The American eventually departed north London and joined Valencia in 2019. He made his first-team debut in September 2020 and two months later, he netted in a 2-2 draw against Getafe to become the youngest non-Spanish player to score for the Mestalla outfit, aged 17 years and 338 days.

The £25k-per-week man has made 104 appearances for Los Che and has been praised by US coach Gregg Berhalter as someone who makes everything "look easy".

When ESPN published their top 39 starlets aged under 21, they lavished praise on Musah and said: “Often a victim of his own versatility, Musah has been assigned a more suitable No. 8 role in the centre of midfield for Valencia. His speed of dribbling with the ball and eagerness to press opponents are other attributes that keep Premier League clubs alert to his availability."

His chameleonic ability to seamlessly slot into a variety of positions, which has included shifts across the midfield and at right-back, means he is one of the most coveted prodigies in the world.

He ranks in the top 6% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers over the past 365 days for progressive carries per 90, as well as the highest 19% for successful take-ons, as per FBref.

To sign a talent of this versatility and skill would be a huge statement and an adequate way to reinvest the Rice money.

Glasgow Rangers have struggled this season, there is absolutely no doubt about it.

The Ibrox outfit should have come into the season riding the wave of momentum gathered last year by winning the Scottish Cup and reaching the Europa League final, but things soon turned sour between the club and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, with the Dutch coach sacked in November.

Poor business in the transfer market didn’t exactly help either, with Van Bronckhorst splashing out on players such as Ben Davies, Ridvan Yilmaz and Antonio Colak, with the jury out on the former two as we approach the end of the campaign.

Shipping out striker Cedric Itten for £1.5m last summer seemed like a sensible option, especially considering he had scored only eight goals during his time at the Gers.

Yet with his current form in Switzerland for BSC Young Boys, might the Dutchman have pulled the trigger too soon?

How much is Cedric Itten worth now?

Much was made of his arrival in the summer of 2020, with ex-manager Steven Gerrard looking for the Swiss international to compliment his other forwards in the squad, and to add some more competition.

Six goals during his debut season ended with the Light Blues lifting the Premiership trophy, yet he was sent out on loan to Bundesliga side Greuther Fürth for the 2021/22 season.

Despite scoring against Bayern Munich, Van Bronckhorst recalled him in January 2022, stating that he had “different qualities” to that of Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe, however the decision didn’t work out, with Itten netting just twice during the second half of the season.

A move away was inevitable and recouping £1.5m was seen as decent business.

However, the striker has since enjoyed a resurgence after joining Young Boys, where he has scored 22 goals and registered 12 assists across all competitions as they have steamrolled everyone in the Super League to win the title, whilst they are also in the final of the Swiss Cup.

It looks as though perhaps Van Bronckhorst got rid of the player too soon looking at his performances and goal return this term while FootballTransfers now value the 26-year-old at €6.2m (£5.5m) and this could still rise depending on how he performs in the Champions League qualifiers next season.

It has been a remarkable transformation for the striker and although nothing was guaranteed had he remained at Rangers this season, yet he could have enjoyed a more productive spell under Michael Beale and the club have endured a nightmare on the 9-cap dynamo.