Celtic could make a move for exciting Bristol City attacker Antoine Semenyo in the summer transfer window, journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

The Lowdown: Semenyo’s excellent season

The Robins may have had a fairly unspectacular season, finishing 17th in the Championship, but the Ghanaian stood out as one of his team’s star players.

The 22-year-old registered eight goals and 12 assists in the division, also averaging 1.1 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per match throughout the campaign.

It could be that Semenyo leaves this summer and looks for a new challenge, with Celtic potentially emerging as candidates to sign him. Indeed, the Hoops’ interest dates back to the winter, when senior scout Craig Strachan was sent to watch the player in action against Reading.

A move to Glasgow certainly doesn’t seem to be out of the question, according to one journalist.

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The Latest: Celtic backed to make move for Semenyo

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that he could see the Ghanaian at Parkhead next season. He stated of Semenyo:

“I think he’s someone that Celtic have been watching for quite a long time. There was talk of a possible move last summer, and also during the January transfer window, and I’m sure Celtic have continued to monitor his situation. He’s got potential, Semenyo.”

The Verdict: Could be a great signing

Signing top young talent is vital for Celtic in order to aid their long-term planning, and Semenyo is a player who could be both one for the present and the future.

He has already stood out in a notoriously tough league, being hailed as a “real threat” by his manager Nigel Pearson, and he could bring some added firepower to Ange Postecoglou’s squad ahead of a relentless 2022/23 campaign.

The fact that Semenyo only has one year remaining on his current deal means that Bristol City could be willing to sell too, in order to avoid losing him for free next summer.

In other news, Celtic are believed to be keeping tabs on one player. Find out who it is here.

Tottenham Hotspur may have been handed a boost in their pursuit of former star Christian Eriksen, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites eye reunion…

The Denmark superstar’s return to the grass after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 has been nothing short of a fairy tale story.

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Eriksen ended the 2021/2022 Premier League season in fine form on a temporary spell at Brentford with a return to Spurs becoming possible.

The Times add Antonio Conte’s former midfielder at Inter Milan is a target for the Lilywhites alongside Leicester City playmaker Youri Tielemans, and what’s more, he could be open to re-signing.

The Latest: Eriksen eyeing return…

According to Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport, if the right conditions are met, Eriksen ‘would be keen on a return’ to Spurs this summer as he eyes a move back to north London.

He adds that Tielemans, Weston McKennie (Juventus), Joao Palhinha (Sporting Lisbon) and Idrissa Gueye (PSG) are also potential midfield additions at Tottenham.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Eriksen has displayed flashes of his best Spurs form under Thomas Frank across London.

According to WhoScored, he finished the campaign as Brentford’s best all-round performer by average match rating – making the most key passes per 90 for the Bees and displaying real creativity.

Indeed, the ‘big name’ attacker will also be available on a Bosman deal as things stand – arguably a snip given Spurs themselves valued at him at £100 million just three years ago.

Taking all of this into account, it may well be a no-brainer to get it done.

In other news: Tottenham eyeing shock move for ‘unplayable’ star who Pochettino called ‘huge’, find out more here.

Everton are reportedly among the frontrunners to sign Burnley defender James Tarkowski this summer, as Frank Lampard looks to bolster his defensive options at Goodison Park.

What’s the word?

According to Dominic King in the Daily Mail, the Toffees and Aston Villa are the frontrunners to sign the 29-year-old centre-back on a free transfer, as he prepares to leave Burnley following their relegation to the Championship.

Fulham, Leeds United and Leicester City are also credited with an interest in the former England international but the Toffees will be hoping that they can attract him to Merseyside, and they may have the edge over Villa after the latter confirmed the signing of Diego Carlos from Sevilla earlier this week.

Would Tarkowski be a good addition?

Everton’s defensive woes were a key element in their fight against relegation last season and Lampard will surely be keen to add experience and quality at the back if his side are to steer well clear of the bottom three in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

The Toffees conceded 66 goals in the top flight, which was the fifth-worst of any side, while their top defensive performer according to WhoScored was Lucas Digne, despite the Frenchman leaving for Villa in January.

Tarkowski offers a wealth of experience, having made 194 Premier League appearances in his career thus far, in which he has contributed seven goals and five assists.

His performances have also earned him two England caps, and the £19.8m-rated centre-back will no doubt be aiming to reclaim his spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad with some strong performances next season ahead of the winter World Cup in Qatar.

Former Clarets boss Sean Dyche labelled Tarkowski “outstanding” after he made his Premier League debut in 2017 and the defender has gone from strength to strength since then, regularly averaging above a 7/10 rating from WhoScored for his performances across a top-flight season.

Considering that he is available on a free transfer, this signing would surely be an impressive one for the Toffees, so supporters will be hoping that the recent reports suggesting that Lampard’s side are in a prime position to sign him are true. Everton must now seize that apparent advantage and get this coup over the line ahead of rival Premier League clubs.

And, in other news… Everton can sign their own Lampard in 21 y/o wonderkid 

Celtic have been dealt a blow to their hopes of signing Ferencvaros striker Ryan Mmaee during the upcoming summer transfer window after a worrying behind-the-scenes development has emerged.

What’s the news?

Speaking to Hungarian media outlet NS (via Daily Record), Ferencvaros sports manager Tamas Hajnal made clear his stance on Mmaee’s future after recent reports emerged linking him with a move to Parkhead.

He said: “At the moment, however, I can’t report anything specific about this. Ryan is recovering from his injury anyway and I am sure he will stay with us this summer.”

Having scored 19 goals and delivered 11 assists in 37 appearances for the Hungarian club across all competitions this term, it’s easy to see why the Hoops have been linked with a move for Mmaee and why his current side are looking to keep hold of him.

Also, with the striker only signing for Ferencvaros last summer and still having a couple of years left on his contract, it’s understandable why the club would be reluctant to let him leave during the upcoming transfer window.

Bad news for Celtic

These comments from Hajnal will undoubtedly be bad news for Celtic and their hopes of signing the 24-year-old this summer, although it could just mean that it might take a substantial amount of money from the Bhoys to secure his signature.

If Celtic still want to test the Hungarian club’s resolve and try to bring Mmaee to Parkhead, it could be worth the gamble given the impressive attacking form he has shown this season.

However, while Ange Postecoglou may want more depth in his squad as they look to not only regain the Premiership title but go as far as they can in Europe, having the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis in his squad would still offer the Hoops a lot of attacking power.

In 41 league appearances combined this season, the Celtic pair racked up 25 goals between them, showing that Postecoglou can definitely rely on them to do the business at the top of the pitch for the Hoops when called upon.

Either way, if the Australian is looking for another striker to add to his squad this summer and should a move for Mmaee end up being out of the question, the Bhoys will then have to move on to other potential targets.

In other news – Better than McGregor: Postecoglou must secure Celtic move for “massive” £8m “rocket”

Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha is definitely on Wolves’ ‘shortlist’ of potential summer signings, according to reliable journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Constant Palhinha links

The 26-year-old has been constantly linked with a move to Molineux in the summer transfer window, as Wanderers likely have to plan for life without Ruben Neves.

Palhinha has emerged as one of Sporting’s most influential players, not only catching the eye in their midfield but also winning 12 caps for Portugal to date.

Wolves’ interest doesn’t appear to be going away but it looks as though they will have to battle to get their man.

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The Latest: Spiers drops fresh claim

Taking to Twitter, Spiers confirmed that Wanderers want to sign Palhinha:

“Wolves maintain an interest in Joao Palhinha (as do a lot of clubs) and he’s on their midfield shortlist for the summer.”

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The Verdict: Snap him up, Wanderers

Palhinha really does look like the perfect option to come in as Neves’ replacement, with the pair not dissimilar in style, in terms of their deep-lying midfield brilliance.

The Wolves target enjoyed an 87.8% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga in 2021/22, compared to Neves’ 84% in the Premier League, and he also averaged three tackles per game. Manager Ruben Amorim has called him a ‘special’ player in the past.

The fact that there is interest elsewhere could be a stumbling block – Tottenham have been linked and can offer Champions League football – but Bruno Lage must do all he can to snap up his compatriot if he believes he is the man to replace Neves.

In other news, one Wolves player has been backed to thrive next season. Find out who it is here.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a huge boost in their bid to bring Jonas Hofmann to the Premier League this summer.

What’s the talk?

In recent comments cited by BuliNews, the Borussia Monchengladbach winger revealed that he has not yet agreed to sign a new deal with the Bundesliga outfit, as the club’s failure to capture Lucien Favre as their new manager has left him concerned about the direction in which Gladbach are heading.

This is sure to come as a huge boost to Fabio Paratici and Tottenham, with reports last month revealing that the Italian has been in regular contact with Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus concerning a move for the Germany international, whose current contract at Borussia Park is set to expire next June.

Regarding putting pen to paper on a new deal with Monchengladbach, Hofmann said: “The timing just isn’t right at this moment. I can only hope that the [coaching] issue is resolved quickly so that everyone can start planning. An answer would simplify the situation for the club, the players, and everyone involved.”

The forward then added in relation to his telephone conversations with Virkus about a new contract: “It’s important to me that, when I have conversations, I look my counterpart in the eye. Discussing such things over the phone is not my style.”

Kulusevski 2.0

Considering just how impressive Hofmann was for Gladbach this season, and with it being reported that the winger could be available to sign for as little as €22m (£19m), the fact that he seems to have given Paratici the green light to make a move for him this summer is undoubtedly fantastic news for Spurs.

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Indeed, over his 26 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22, the £14.4m-rated talent was in breathtaking form, scoring 12 goals, registering five assists and creating six big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 2.1 shots and making 2.7 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £53k-per-week forward – who can also operate from defensive, central, left, right and attacking midfield, as well as on either flank – average a quite sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.41. That ranked him not only as Monchengladbach’s best performer in the league but also as the fifth-best player in the German top flight, behind only Joshua Kimmich, Erling Haaland, Christopher Nkunku and Robert Lewandowski.

Furthermore, considering his hugely impressive positional versatility, his clear eye for goal and his ability to play a defence-splitting pass, it would very much appear as if Hofmann is a player in the mould of Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham’s January signing who scored five goals and provided eight assists over his 18 Premier League appearances this season.

As such, should the 29-year-old – who Hansi Flick claimed has “enormous quality” – indeed be available for just £19m this summer, it would seem advisable for Paratici to do everything possible to get a deal over the line for the German forward, as Hofmann could well prove to be the sporting director’s next Kulusevski-type discovery in the transfer market.

AND in other news: Conte could unearth the next Beckham as Spurs eye £21m “weapon” with “huge potential”

With Aston Villa finishing the Premier League season in a disappointing 14th place, it hasn’t exactly been the start that Steven Gerrard would have wanted when he took the reins last November, arriving from Rangers after he had revived the Glasgow club’s fortunes.

There has been some positives along the way, though, especially in the transfer market. The 41-year-old reunited with former Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho, signing the Brazilian on a permanent deal from Barcelona after he impressed on loan in the Midlands.

Gerrard has also signed Diego Carlos and Lucas Digne as he aims to build his own squad ahead of a massive season for the club, and there is more news which will be sure to delight the supporters.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that the Villa manager wants to get his top targets into the club before pre-season.

The journalist told GIVEMESPORT: “I think that he wants that sorted before they get to pre-season so that he’s got the base and the spine of his team there. So, then he can work around and add a couple of little flair players or bits and pieces that can finish off the job.”

Villa fans will love it

Villa supporters will be delighted to hear that, much like at Rangers, Gerrard wants to have his incoming transfer business sorted as soon as possible to give players the best chance of bedding into the squad well before the start of a new season.

With Coutinho, Carlos and Boubacar Kamara already added to the Villa squad for next term, the 41-year-old doesn’t appear to be stopping there.

Interest in Rangers defender Calvin Bassey could enhance their defence, and a move for another former Anfield team-mate in Luis Suarez could be a massive move due to his tremendous scoring record and the chance to land him on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.

Potentially adding these two players after the business that Gerrard has already done could be vital in terms of Villa challenging for a European spot next season, which must be their aim.

There is certainly no shortage of backing from Johan Lange, and if the manager gets it right, Villa could be a force to be reckoned with next season.

AND in other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Alessandro Bastoni is one of Tottenham Hotspur’s top targets this summer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Eurosport transfer insider Dean Jones, who delivered a fresh update to GIVEMESPORT over the weekend, where he claimed:

“Bastoni is clearly the one they’re going after at Tottenham at the moment.

“It’s hard to look beyond that and it’s clearly a prime position that they’re looking to fix quickly. Bastoni is the one they would want.”

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Reports in Italy, via Calciomercato, suggest that Inter Milan would only accept an offer in the region of £51m, with Chelsea, both Manchester clubs and arch-rivals Arsenal also keen to sign him.

Big coup

Spurs are struggling in their attempts to lure the Italy international to north London, even despite him being in the English capital for a Finalissima clash with Argentina on Wednesday.

Antonio Conte is clearly desperate to add a left-footed central defender to his armoury. The Inter colossus is certainly a strong candidate, especially given that the 52-year-old has already coached him in his young career to date.

Jones’ firm statement about the Lilywhites’ interest in Bastoni is sure to leave many supporters absolutely buzzing as the prospect of Bastoni lining up alongside Eric Dier and Cristian Romero next season is very exciting indeed.

The 23-year-old defender has earned comparisons to the likes of Leonardo Bonucci and Alessandro Nesta and has been lauded as a “complete” “dominant” and a “tenacious tackler” by scout Jacek Kulig.

His passing accuracy (89.6%) in 2021/22 outranked every single one of Conte’s current options, whilst an average of 1.4 tackles per Serie A outing backs up those rave reviews.

Valued at £60m by CIES Football Observatory, who assess the transfer value of professional footballers on a scientific basis, signing him for £9m less would certainly represent something of a steal for Tottenham.

It’s a good time to be a Spurs fan heading into 2022/23.

AND in other news, “For sure..”: Italian journo drops £100m Spurs transfer claim…

Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch is heading into his first summer transfer window in charge of the Premier League club.

The American manager kept the Whites in the top-flight and will now be working with Victor Orta to improve the team with a view to progressing further up the table next term.

One player who has been linked with a switch to Elland Road is RB Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen, with a £10m deal being touted.

When asked about the need to Google Leeds in a recent interview, the Denmark international said: 

“No, not the last few days, but I do not need to google Leeds United to know about that club.

“There is both a former teammate and my former coach who has switched to them. It is a huge club, a traditional club. It is the world’s best league, and it will be huge to get a foot in there.”

New fan favourite

Journalist James Marshment reacted to these comments by claiming that he can be a “terrace hero” for the Premier League side if he is able to match his personality with quality on the pitch.

He will surely have endeared himself to the Leeds fanbase instantly with those remarks as they illustrate how highly he respects the club and how much he would love to play in the famous white shirt.

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His manager, Matthias Jaissle, dubbed him an “absolute leader” and this suggests that he would also be a fan favourite with his ability to lead his teammates on the pitch. It shows that he has the mentality required to lift the team on and off the pitch and fans would enjoy seeing his passion in Premier League matches.

Kristensen’s statistics in the 2021/22 campaign also suggest that he has the footballing quality to go along with his terrace hero potential.

In the Austrian Bundesliga, he averaged a sensational SofaScore rating of 7.31 as he chipped in with seven goals and three assists from right-back. Whilst making key contributions in the final third, he was also solid in his defending as he won 60% of his duels and made 2.4 tackles and interceptions per game.

The 24-year-old caught the eye with his displays in the Champions League as he made an incredible 5.9 tackles and interceptions per game across eight appearances – winning 58% of his duels.

These statistics suggest that he will become a fan favourite at Leeds because he is a strong defender who has proven himself domestically and at the top level in European competition, whilst also having the personality to get the supporters enjoying his presence in the team.

Therefore, Marsch must work hard to ensure that he is able to get a deal over the line for the full-back in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, “No chance..”: Journo reveals crushing Leeds transfer claim, supporters will be gutted…

Liverpool were involved in one of football’s biggest deals some years ago when they sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in a mega-money deal worth £142m.

After joining from Inter Milan back in 2013 for £8.5m, the Brazilian went on to make 201 appearances for the Reds across all competitions.

In those appearances, the playmaker scored 54 goals and delivered 45 assists before making his move to Spain.

Now that Liverpool have successfully moved on from their former hero by winning the Premier League and Champions League after his exit, it seems as though Jurgen Klopp could have the chance to secure what could be the Merseyside club’s next Coutinho.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Reds could look to make a move for Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio.

With 235 appearances for the Spanish club, the 26-year-old has scored 49 goals and delivered 24 assists in the process.

Despite making 42 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti’s side across all competitions this season, the Spaniard only started 23 of them, suggesting that he’s more of a rotation player than anything else.

In those appearances, he still managed to find the back of the net 12 times, highlighting his attacking talent.

Labelled as a “magical” player by Casemiro, Asensio is currently picking up a weekly wage of £117k-per-week and is also as one of the players of a similar vein to Coutinho according to FB Ref.

To highlight the similarities between the two players, they both ended their recent domestic seasons with an average of over two shots per game and at least one key pass per game. With that in mind, it would appear that the attacking midfielders are both capable of creating and scoring goals in pretty equal measure.

In terms of a potential move to Anfield this summer, the prospect of potentially getting more regular minutes whilst playing in the Premier League under a manager like Klopp could be a very tempting one for the Spain international.

Combine that with current Liverpool winger Sadio Mane looking to leave the club this summer, his potential exit could pave the way for a player like Asensio to work his way into the first team.

Should an opportunity to strike a deal with the Spanish club to sign the 26-year-old arise, Liverpool should definitely explore the option to see if he can be an extra goal threat for them at Anfield.

In other news: Klopp could finally axe £125k-p/w Liverpool flop by signing “unbelievable” £60m star