West Bromwich Albion have only seen a handful of new faces coming to The Hawthorns during this summer’s transfer window.

The first new arrival through the door was John Swift, who joined the Baggies from fellow Championship club Reading as a free agent on a three-year deal.

Having scored 11 goals and delivered 13 assists in his 38 league appearances last season, it’s easy to see why Albion were keen to sign him and what he may be able to offer to Steve Bruce’s team.

With there still being five weeks left before the transfer window ends, this could give the Baggies the opportunity to bring in another player who can strengthen the squad and give their manager the opportunity to form a frightening partnership alongside Swift.

One player who has been mentioned with a move to The Hawthorns and who could fit this bill is Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.

In 56 combined appearances for United’s under-18 and under-23 teams, the midfielder has found the net seven times and provided 19 assists along the way, highlighting his clear attacking ability.

This mirrors the attributes that Swift brings in being able to not only score goals but create them for his team-mates as well.

To further highlight what sort of player the 19-year-old is and what he could offer to the Baggies on the pitch, Tunisian Football Federation sporting director Mohamed Slim Ben Othman had this to say about him:

“He can play in a lot of positions: he can be a playmaker, he can be a regista (deep-lying playmaker), he can be a defensive-midfielder, he can be a winger… but for me, his best position is central-midfield.

“He likes to be the player who can organise and coordinate his team. He has big physical abilities and is very selfless despite his large technical qualities.”

Taking all this into account, and considering West Brom’s track record when it comes to signing young players on loan from Premier League clubs in the past, it’s safe to say that, should the Baggies secure a deal for the United prodigy, he could be a very exciting addition to Bruce’s squad and find himself thriving next to someone like Swift.

AND in other news: The Athletic journalist reveals big transfer update that West Brom supporters will love

BBC journalist Alex Howell has now confirmed some exciting Tottenham Hotspur transfer news involving Udinese left-wing-back Destiny Udogie.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites keep busy…

The Lilywhites and head coach Antonio Conte have been seriously attacking the transfer market this summer with six major signings having already been confirmed.

Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence have put pen to paper on moves to N17 with there being reports of more in the pipeline.

Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo, like Udogie, has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in the last few weeks and it appears the latter man is certain to join Spurs after Fabrizio Romano revealed a fee had been agreed during the week.

The Latest: BBC reporter says done deal

Indeed, as now backed by the ever-reliable BBC via their reporter Howell, there has indeed been an exciting Udogie development with the north Londoners reaching a full agreement.

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The journalist confirmed (via Twitter):

“Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign defender Destiny Udogie from Udinese. The left back will be loaned back to his club before joining up with Spurs next season.”

The Verdict: Great move…

A player with vast potential, members of the media have certainly been quick to point out the 19-year-old’s ability since the links to Spurs popped up.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has highlighted Udogie’s ‘superb technique’ and ‘footwork’ for a player of his stature whilst Islington Gazette reporter Josh Bunting has claimed the defender is ‘incredible’.

The Italy Under-21s international certainly comes with a glowing reputation already and sporting director Fabio Paratici may have just sealed an absolutely brilliant addition at N17 – not to mention a possible future star.

Leeds United are ‘working hard’ to secure manager Jesse Marsch a new striker…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Sky Sports journalist Tim Thornton, who provided a fresh update on the state of play at Thorp Arch to GIVEMESPORT this week.

He revealed:

“They’ve been working hard on this, this is not something they’re suddenly shining a light moment where we need to get a striker in, they’ve known about it and have identified the targets.”

Marsch needs a striker

Indeed, the west Yorkshire outfit have been linked to an array of potential forwards in recent weeks, including Stade Rennes’ Martin Terrier, Arnaud Kalimuendo of Paris Saint-Germain and a proven Premier League talent in Che Adams from Southampton.

It’s been a busy summer of activity for director of football Victor Orta and chairman Andrea Radrizzani as they have overseen some major departures and as many as six new signings.

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Some of the Whites’ recent protagonists such as Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips have moved on, the latter signing for reigning champions Manchester City.

They have been replaced by Luis Sinisterra from Feyenoord and Marc Roca from Bayern Munich, whilst manager Jesse Marsch has sealed a plethora of his former players in Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen and Tyler Adams.

All of which add something considerable to Leeds – four of the six signings made their debut in the 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, only going to show their importance already and exactly why they were signed.

Now, the priority must be a new striker as both the American and his predecessor, Marcelo Bielsa, suffered from a lack of frontline options last season. That’s because of the persistent injury problems to Patrick Bamford, which limited him to only nine Premier League appearances.

Without an alternative, the burden fell on young striker Joe Gelhardt, who whilst undoubtedly talented isn’t ready for a regular starting berth, and diminutive winger Dan James, who is far from a leading striker in the big time.

Whether it be Terrier or Adams, the arrival of a new frontman could be Orta’s latest masterclass as it’s abundantly clear that the American is in dire need of another forward if Leeds are to avoid a fatal repeat of last season.

Bamford, who bagged a squad-high 17 goals a season earlier, needs competition and backup if the Yorkshire giants are to steer clear of the relegation zone this time around and as such, it would be an ideal seventh signing of the summer, whoever it may be.

AND in other news, Leeds have “definite interest” in £34m goal machine, he’d be a “real coup” for Marsch…

Dean Jones has dropped a claim concerning reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Mohammed Kudus.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider revealed that, following a recent report by GhanaWeb suggesting that Fabio Paratici and his Tottenham transfer team have been monitoring the forward-thinking Ajax midfielder over the past six months, the Italian sporting director is targeting a player in the 22-year-old’s mould this summer.

Jones went on to claim that, while reports have also linked Antonio Conte’s side with a £60m move for Leicester City talent James Maddison in recent weeks, the Ghana international would more than likely be available for a much more palatable price than the England international.

Regarding Spurs’ reported interest in Kudus, the journalist said: “I do believe that it’s potentially a position that they are looking to add even more depth to. And the signs are, I think, that he actually might be available at a much better fee than you would get someone like James Maddison at, so we’ll have to watch this space.”

“Incredible”

While it is undeniable that Maddison would make a fantastic addition to Conte’s first-team squad this summer, considering just how much the 25-year-old would set Spurs back, coupled with how talented a prospect Kudus quite clearly is, there is an argument to be made that the Ajax starlet could well be a perfect alternative to the £45m-rated Foxes star.

Indeed, following his €9m (£7.5m) move to the Johan Cruijff ArenA back in the summer of 2020, the £9m-rated midfielder burst onto the scene over his 17 Eredivisie appearances in the 2020/21 campaign, scoring four goals and registering three assists, as well as taking an average of 1.2 shots, making 0.6 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per game.

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For context, although Kudus falls behind Maddison for shots and key passes, he is actually far more comfortable at beating his man, with the Leicester star managing just 0.9 dribbles per match last season. With that in mind, he could be a more dynamic alternative should Paratici submit a formal offer this summer.

The 22-year-old also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, completing an average of 29.7 passes – at a success rate of 91% – making 1.4 tackles, 0.4 interceptions and winning 4.3 duels per fixture.

As such, with it being evident that Kudus is something of an all-action midfielder, who is clinical in the final third, accurate with his passes and adept at breaking up play in the middle of the park, it is clear to see that the 22-year-old is an ideal fit for the mould of a central midfielder Conte likes to possess in his squad.

Furthermore, with the £14k-per-week Ghanaian who Erik ten Hag claimed has “incredible potential” and Owuraku Ampofo dubbed a “special” player being able to operate from defensive, central and attacking midfield, as well as on the right wing and up front, the former FC Nordsjaelland starlet’s versatility is yet another attribute that would appear to make him something of a dream match to Conte’s tactical setup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

As such, while it is undeniable that the also versatile Maddison – who scored 18 goals and registered 12 assists over much better fee” than the Englishman’s £60m asking price, the 22-year-old could well prove to be a perfect alternative to the Foxes forward.

West Ham United are reportedly ‘very interested’ in signing OGC Nice forward Amine Gouiri this summer, according to Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rise to stardom

Signed by Nice from fellow Ligue 1 outfit Lyon in 2020, Gouiri has directly contributed to 46 goals in 84 outings for his current employers.

The 22-year-old France youth international has previously been linked to Liverpool and Newcastle United but is yet to get close to making a move away from his homeland.

Now, it appears as though the Hammers have joined the admirers for Gouiri and are actively pursuing a transfer in the ongoing window…

The latest: ‘Very interested’

As per Foot Mercato, translated by SW, West Ham are ‘very interested’ in signing the 21-cap France Under 21 starlet.

However, it’s claimed that Nice have ‘other plans’ for their prized asset and a sale is ‘therefore absolutely not on the agenda’ as things stand.

The report also states that Rennes are keen on the youngster, who was labelled a ‘potential world-class talent’ by Ligue 1 expert Adam White.

The verdict: Stellar signing

Although this deal is seemingly some way off becoming a possibility, should the Hammers be able to entice Gouiri to the London Stadium and indeed convince Nice to sell, it would have to be regarded as a sensational coup for the east Londoners.

Capable of playing across the frontline, the exciting youngster would be a welcome attacking option in the Irons’ ranks, potentially to go alongside the heavily linked Napoli supremo Piotr Zielinski.

Last season, the £37.8million valued attacker – who was once praised by Kylian Mbappe no less – scored 12 times and provided ten assists in 43 appearances across all competitions, earning an impressive 7.05 Sofascore rating whilst completing 1.6 dribbles, 1.3 key passes and 40.7 touches on average per top-flight outing.

Sharing similar stylistic traits to such highly regarded forwards as Memphis Depay and Paulo Dybala (Fbref), signing Gouiri would be a superb addition to David Moyes’ squad to accompany the capture of Gianluca Scamacca and if possible, should be regarded as a must-do piece of business for GSB and Rob Newman.

Transfer insider Dean Jones believes Che Adams is the perfect fit to end Leeds United’s striker search. 

The lowdown: Orta approach for Adams

The Whites have been reliably linked with a move for Adams in recent weeks, with reports suggesting that Southampton could be willing to sanction the departure of the striker and an approach from Victor Orta revealed.

Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest, Everton and Newcastle are all also believed to be keen on the 26-year-old Scotland international, with the south coast club demanding £15million for their man.

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Now, as Leeds continue to be linked with attacking options such as Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro and Adams himself, one well-informed onlooker has stated why the Scot could be the ideal candidate to bolster Jesse Marsch’s ranks…

The latest: ‘Good fit’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones – a journalist for Eurosport – claimed that the 19-cap frontman is the perfect target from Orta.

He said: “I can see why they would want to land him. They need that central option up front far more than they need another wide player, in my opinion.

“They keep getting linked to wide players, but they’ve got loads of them so I think Che Adams would be a good fit.”

The verdict: Spot on

Operating almost exclusively as a centre-forward throughout his career, Adams would certainly provide genuine competition to Patrick Bamford for a place in the starting XI.

Last season, the former Birmingham frontman – who was hailed as ‘fantastic’ by his manager Hasenhuttl in 2020 – scored eight times and provided three assists in 33 appearances across all competitions for what was a struggling Saints side for the most part.

Holding an estimated market value of £16.2million and under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), signing Adams for the mooted fee would represent a smart piece of business from Orta and Andrea Radrizanni, adding much-needed strength in depth to the attacking options in the process.

Additionally, with Southampton going through a period of unrest at present, the player could be keen to seek pastures new and a move to Yorkshire could be the ideal solution.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly still keen on signing Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos this summer but the Portuguese side aren’t happy with the initial offer.

The Lowdown: Forest linked with Ramos signing

It has been a summer transfer window to treasure at the City Ground, with a whopping 12 exciting signings made after the Reds’ promotion back to the Premier League.

One of several players who has been tipped to be the 13th addition for Forest is Ramos, with recent reports claiming that they have bid €30million (£25.3m) for the 21-year-old.

It looks like a transfer saga that is still alive but one with a slight glitch, following a new update.

The Latest: Bid rejected

According to both Mais Futebol and journalist Bruno Andrade on Twitter [via Sport Witness], Forest’s offer for Ramos isn’t enough to force Benfica to part ways with their player.

The Eagles are thought to be ‘a little reluctant’ to accept the bid but are keen to sell, holding out for more interest from other Premier League clubs.

The Verdict: Look elsewhere for targets?

The Reds are seemingly shopping for a marquee big signing to round off their impressive summer, also seeing offers rejected for Morgan Gibbs-White.

And Ramos is an impressive striker with a record of 17 goals in 61 appearances for Benfica, but it does feel as though they could end up demanding too much for his services, given they are keen to sell to the highest bidder.

It would require Forest to comfortably break their transfer record of £18.45m set by Taiwo Awoniyi earlier this summer and spending so much on one player could be deemed a risk.

Instead, the Reds would be better off looking at other potential attacking targets who could complement the likes of Awoniyi and Brennan Johnson, perhaps someone like last year’s popular loanee Keinan Davis.

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for Houssem Aouar this summer, and now a reliable source has given an update on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports Italy (via Sky Sports News), Nottingham Forest are close to completing a deal for the Olympique Lyonnais midfielder.

As per the report, the newly-promoted side could complete the signing of the Frenchman due to a collapse in a deal for the player to move to Real Betis and he currently only has 12 months left on his contract.

It could the club’s 16th signing of a very busy summer window.

It would be a big coup

The signing of Aouar would be without a doubt a major coup for Steve Cooper in the final weeks of the summer transfer window and would be a big statement of intent on making his former Championship side a team that is ready to compete and establish themselves as a Premier League club again.

Aouar is a talented midfielder who has been linked with moves to both Liverpool and Arsenal over the last few months so if Forest can pull off the deal over the coming days, it would be quite the addition for a side who have only just embarked on their journey at the country’s top table.

It is not a surprise he has been linked with some of Europe’s elite clubs with the 24-year-old France international being compared among the likes of Bernardo Silva, Nicolo Barella and Kevin De Bruyne by FBref.

That fact is no shock when you look more closely at the midfielder’s attributes. Aouar ranked in the top 1% for pass completion compared to positional peers in the top five European leagues, and also ranked in the top 15% for tackles and dribble completion.

Over 36 Ligue 1 appearances last season, the Lyon star scored was emphatic in the final third, scoring six goals, delivering four assists, creating eight big chances, making 1.1 key passes and taking 2.1 shots on goal per game.

He has a wonderful all-round style to his game, successfully completing 54% of his dribble attempts and making 1.3 tackles a match, proving that he could be a valuable asset for Cooper in midfield.

Forest have already signed Orel Mangala, Remo Frueler, Cheikhou Kouyate and Lewis O’Brien this summer, so it will be interesting to see where Aouar fits into the squad, especially after the side were victorious yesterday against West Ham United with a 1-0 win.

Despite that, if the powers at The City Ground can get a good deal for Aouar over the line it would be a great piece of business. There is no question that the player has outstanding qualities he can bring to the Forest team, and to land a man targeted recently by Liverpool would be a seismic coup.

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, West Ham United have made ‘three’ enquiries regarding a move for Chelsea sensation Conor Gallagher.

The Lowdown: Four-way race

The midfielder spent last season out on loan with fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace and enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Selhurst Park, with his performances catching the eye of several potential suitors.

90min have claimed that Everton, Newcastle and the Eagles themselves have all been in contact with the Blues to ask about the 22-year-old’s availability, though they aren’t the only ones as the Irons have now also been credited with an interest and appear serious in their pursuit.

The Latest: West Ham make Gallagher enquiries

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones confirmed that West Ham have made several approaches for Gallagher this window, and that they remain focused on monitoring his transfer situation.

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He wrote:

“Conor Gallagher is a player they’ve asked about three times so far this summer, just to keep tabs on it more than anything.

“They’re just making sure that, as we go through the summer, Chelsea haven’t changed their mind on his stance. There’s still a possibility they do and they want to be in that conversation. So, they’ve got quite a bit of work to do still, West Ham. They’re definitely not finished.”

The Verdict: One for the future

David Moyes only currently has Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek at his disposal as experienced senior options in the midfield, and Gallagher could come in and provide a whole new creative outlet for the Hammers.

The four-cap international, dubbed a ‘warrior’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, made 13 goal contributions for Palace in all competitions last season, and averaged 1.5 shots, 1.3 successful dribbles and 1.1 key passes per top-flight game, via WhoScored.

Gallagher’s performances earned him his first call-up to the England squad towards the end of last year, and he is a player with bags of potential who will definitely be one to watch in the future.

One young man who has caught the eye of late at Rangers is playmaker Alex Lowry, with the teenager seemingly one prospect who could go on to become a firm fixture of the senior set-up at Ibrox moving forward.

This time of year is so often dominated by talks of potential incomings and high-profile transfers, but it can often be wise for a manager to look closer to home to find their next bargain, with youth talent offering the chance for clubs to save millions.

Indeed, the 19-year-old has already showcased his talents in his embryonic, first-team career thus far, having scored two goals and laid on two assists in seven appearances for the Old Firm giants last season, making a goalscoring debut off the bench against Stirling Albion back in January.

A first Scottish Premiership start soon followed against Livingston, with the Glasgow-born gem having seemingly impressed manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, with the Dutchman stating of the highly-rated prospect that he is “very dangerous and very energetic”.

The Gers’ B team head coach David McCallum also lauded the young Scotsman earlier this summer, insisting that he has “loads of talent and everyone can see the difference he makes in games”, having also netted on the final league game of the season against Hearts.

An exciting midfielder with an eye for goal, Lowry is seemingly the perfect long-term heir to current regular, Scott Arfield, with the £16k-per-week star also possessing that knack for providing the decisive touch in the final third.

Since joining from Burnley in 2018, the former Canada international has scored 35 goals and provided 18 assists in 193 games for the Scottish Premiership side in all competitions, proving himself a hugely reliable yet at times unsung figure for the club.

A key part of the side that won the title under Steven Gerrard back in 2021, the Scotland-born gem has been a prominent part of the club’s rise in recent years, having also featured 12 times during the run to the Europa League final last term.

As for the new season, the 5 foot 10 ace has already been an influential asset for Van Bronckhorst and co, notably netting a vital equaliser to kickstart the comeback victory over Livingston on the opening weekend.

With just a year remaining on his current deal, however, it remains to be seen whether he has a long-term role to play at the club, while at 33 he may well be nearing the end of what’s been a hugely respectable career.

Should the Glasgow side be eyeing up possible replacements for the one-time Huddersfield Town man, they should look no further than young Lowry, with the teen seemingly offering the chance for the club to save millions.