All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Liverpool have submitted a bid of €30m (£26m) for Fluminense midfielder Andre, and they have now received a response from the Brazilian club, according to a report from ESPN.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

The Reds have been linked with a late summer move for Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips, and The Express report Pep Guardiola has already given the green light for the midfielder to leave this summer, which means a move to Anfield could be on the cards.

However, more progress has been made in the pursuit of Ryan Gravenberch, with Liverpool already tabling a contract offer to the Bayern Munich midfielder, who they will be one of the favourites to sign if he makes it clear he wants to leave the German club.

According to Rudy Galetti, there is a quartet of targets on Jurgen Klopp's shortlist, with the journalist recently telling GiveMeSport: “Despite the surprising arrival at Liverpool of Endo, the names followed by the Reds remain substantially the same, including Gravenberch, Kone, Thuram and Amrabat."

It is disappointing that Liverpool have seen their bid for Andre knocked back, but it would be unwise to submit a higher offer for a player unproven outside of Brazil, particularly considering Fluminense have no plans to let him leave.

West Ham United are keen on signing another forward before the transfer window slams shut on Friday night, with a new update now emerging on the club's pursuit of a popular target.

What's the latest West Ham transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham are competing with Brentford to secure the last-minute signing of Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike.

As per the report, Brentford have made enquiries about the young goal-scorer, however, the Hammers are keen to seal a deal for the player as they prepare to rival their Premier League peers by flexing their financial power to win the race for Ekitike in the coming hours.

What is Hugo Ekitike good at?

There is just over a day left for West Ham to complete their business before the transfer window closes tomorrow evening and despite their recent signing of Mohammed Kudus, there is no doubt that Ekitike would be a great acquisition for the east London club.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Danny Ings has found himself falling out of favour since joining the Hammers in January and is the lesser favoured striker option with David Moyes preferring Michail Antonio and Gianluca Scamacca in his starting line-up last season – with Ings tallying up only 15 Premier League starts and averaging just 46 minutes per appearance.

The 31-year-old has been the subject of interest for Everton this week, with the Toffees stepping forward to secure the services of Ings following their struggles to find consistency in front of goal, however, it remains to be seen whether the Irons forward will be willing to move on in the dying hours of the window.

If Ings doesn't make a last-minute exit, he could fall even further down the pecking order if West Ham can complete a deal for Ekitike, as the PSG youngster has the potential and talent to play a big part in the forward line at the London Stadium.

Despite struggling for game-time with the Ligue 1 champions last season, Ekitike has made a name for himself as one of the hottest young prospects in Europe after bursting on the scene with Stade de Reims before his huge move to PSG.

When comparing the 21-year-old with his positional peers across the top five European leagues over the last 12 months, Ekitike ranks in the top 5% for assists, pass completion and interceptions, as well as ranking in the top 25% for progressive carries, successful take-ons, tackles and blocks, as per FBref, outlining him as an all-round asset.

Indeed, as per WhoScored, the Frenchman's biggest strengths lie in dribbling, long shots and defensive contributions, whilst also prolific in layoffs and an indirect threat from set-pieces, traits that combined could be highly valuable to Moyes over the season ahead on both the domestic and European stage.

Ekitike – who has a reported €35m (£30m) price tag – has also earned high praise from renowned scout Jacek Kulig who claimed that the PSG youngster is a "clinical finisher" who is "fast and powerful" and possesses "superb flair, agility & coordination for a player of his size."

With that being said, if West Ham could complete the signing of Ekitike it would deliver Moyes an experienced yet youthful presence to deploy in his forward line and with regular game time in the Premier League, could become a huge threat for opponents.

Hearts are continuing to work to land players this summer, and Football Scotland has revealed that the club have a centre-back as their top priority in the transfer market at present.

Have Hearts signed any players this summer?

The Scottish Premiership side have yet to make a single signing as of yet this summer, with the club instead seeing plenty of their own players head out the exit door. Josh Ginnelly, who featured 30 times for them in the league last season, has been allowed to leave and join Swansea for nothing for starters, which will be a blow to the club.

He bagged 12 SPL goals last time around and also had four assists – career-best totals for the winger. However, he opted not to stay on with the side and has now left for the Championship again,

Further to that, the Jam Tarts have also lost youngster Scott McGill to Raith Rovers. He only ever featured in one league outing for the side mind, and will now play his football elsewhere. Euan Henderson has left to join Hamilton, having spent four seasons in Edinburgh. He struggled to get going with Hearts though, scoring only three times in the league for them, and spent the 2022/23 season with Queen's Park. Five more players have also been let go.

Who has been linked with a Hearts transfer?

It means there is certainly room for more bodies and improvements in the squad as things stand. Hearts had been eager to wrap up a deal for Riku Handa, but that deal collapsed. The defender has featured heavily in Japan in the J1 and J2 Leagues for Gamba Osaka and Montedio, and it looked like a switch to Scotland could be on, but Steven Naismith and Co will have to move on to other targets.

According to a report from Football Scotland's reliable Mark Hendry, the Jambos have identified what area they would most like to strengthen this summer. Naismith, who is currently their technical director, has been working hard to find potential incomings and a central defender is seen as the main area for improvement this transfer window. It looks likely then that any linked names in the coming days and weeks will fall into that category.

Henry also adds that a right-back is also quite high up on the shopping list – so it appears that most of their focus, at least for now, will be on improving their backline in front of Zander Clark.

With Hearts finishing in an impressive fourth in the Scottish Premiership last season, they will not want to let their standards slip ahead of the new campaign. With Ginnelly having left, it will be hard to replace his goals and creativity. However, the Jam Tarts staff worked hard to take their team into the top four last time around and have proven their ability to do so. Supporters will have to trust that they can now get the job done again and bring in the right players this transfer window.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are considering a shock summer swoop to sign Nice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel as a new report reveals the club's concerns over the long-term future of Jose Sa.

How old is Kasper Schmeichel?

Schmeichel is 36 years of age having been on the scene now for almost two decades. He spent 11 years of his career in the Premier League with Leicester City, but eventually he left the King Power Stadium in August 2022 to join Francesco Farioli's side at the Allianz Riviera.

The Denmark international firmly established himself as their official number one following his arrival having started 36 out of the 38 games in Ligue 1 during his debut season, and despite still having another two years remaining on his contract, the shot-stopper has been attracting interest once again in England.

Nottingham Forest are believed to have identified the 6 foot 2 colossus as a suitable alternative to Manchester United’s Dean Henderson should they not be able to secure his services, though if the following update is to be believed, a new competitor has entered the running in the form of Gary O’Neil at Molineux.

Are Wolves signing Kasper Schmeichel?

According to TEAMtalk, Wolves are "considering a move" for Schmeichel before the end of summer transfer window.

The Old Gold feel that they could be "forced to lose" Sa as a result of needing to balance the books to help with their financial worries, and Nice's goalkeeper is one that Fosun are "keeping tabs" on because they view him as a "ready-made replacment" for their current first choice.

The Premier League's former star is thinking about a return to England, so this could be one to keep a close eye on in the final weeks of the market.

How many clean sheets has Kasper Schmeichel kept?

In Ligue 1 last season, Schmeichel kept 11 clean sheets from 36 games, so even though he’s not getting any younger, he’s still performing at an extremely high level, therefore it’s no surprise that Wolves are contemplating a swoop for the experienced man between the sticks.

Sponsored by New Balance, the shot-stopper also recorded 105 saves from 141 shots on target against, giving him a success rate of 77.3%, via FBRef, which was significantly higher than Sa’s 67.1%, showing that he’d be an upgrade on O’Neil’s current number one.

Nice’s £65k-per-week earner additionally has a strong range of passing having completed 100% of his short passes and 97.4% of his medium attempts last term, showing that he clearly has an eye for picking out balls to his outfield teammates, so for someone who is this well-rounded in terms of being equally strong with his hands and his feet, he's the perfect target for club chiefs to be pursuing.

Finally, Schmeichel, who has been dubbed a goalkeeping “legend” by journalist Josh Bunting, possesses a winning mentality having won five pieces of silverware since the start of his career, so could help to create a positive mindset should he put pen to paper in the Midlands.

Newcastle United are now showing an interest in signing Blackburn Rovers defender Ashley Phillips, who will be available for just £2m when his release clause kicks in this Friday, according to a report from The Sun.

Who is Ashley Phillips signing for?

Reports from earlier this month indicated that Phillips was closing in on a move to Tottenham Hotspur, with journalist Charlie Eccleshare saying:

"Tottenham set to sign highly-rated 18yo centre-back Ashley Phillips from Blackburn for around £3 million. Understood it won't affect Spurs' plans to try and sign at least one senior CB. Phillips expected to have medical in next 24 hours before hopefully joining the tour."

However, there has been little progress since that point, and now The Sun are reporting that Newcastle could make a late move to sign the 18-year-old, with Blackburn still hoping to receive £9.45m if they are to sanction his departure.

Tottenham's stand-off with Blackburn is set to come to an end this week, as a £2m release clause kicks in this Friday, which would allow Ange Postecoglou to snap up the youngster for a heavily reduced fee.

However, Spurs are waiting to see whether Blackburn find another buyer before that point, with the Magpies showing an interest, although they are yet to make an offer above what their Premier League rivals are currently willing to pay.

As such, a move to north London appears to be the most likely outcome at the moment, however there is still time for Eddie Howe to make a late swoop and hijack the Lilywhites' deal, if he is willing to outbid them.

For now, the Blackburn defender is set to continue training ahead of the Championship opener against West Bromwich Albion, but he is unlikely to be risked in games in case of injury.

Who is Ashley Phillips?

Despite the fact he is just 18-years-old, the youngster has already started to gain some first-team experience with his current club, making 14 appearances for the Rovers, including eight in the Championship during the 2022/23 campaign.

The youngster has predominantly played at centre-back throughout his short career so far, where his 6 foot 4 frame would undoubtedly be useful for Newcastle, and former manager Tony Mowbray has also praised his ability in possession, saying:

"He's 6ft 4', he's fast, mobile and can pass it really well. He can use both feet, he's composed. Ash is just a phenomenal young boy; if you were to create a defender in the mould of how you would want one, this kid has got every attribute."

It is still very early days for the Blackburn starlet, given that he only turned 18 last month, but he is showing all the signs that he could go on to be a top player in the future, and it is exciting news that Newcastle are still in with a chance of signing him.

That said, Tottenham appear to be in pole position at the moment, and the Magpies will need to move swiftly if they are going to hijack the deal for Phillips.

The teenager could be worth a push from Newcastle, though, given his clear potential to be a brilliant defender.

Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo parted ways controversially to say the least in 2022, yet there was no doubting his ruthless nature in front of goal.

During his second stint at Old Trafford, the mercurial Portuguese forward netted 27 goals, with his 24 efforts during the 2021/22 campaign enabling him to finish as United’s top scorer.

Marcus Rashford stepped up to the plate following Ronaldo’s departure in November last season, going on to score 30 goals across all competitions, yet he was mainly deployed out wide.

Erik ten Hag has signed Rasmus Hojlund already this summer, but he is eyeing a move for Marcos Leonardo, who could turn into a perfect heir to Ronaldo.

Could Manchester United sign Marcos Leonardo?

According to Calciomercato.it, United have shown interest in the Brazilian striker, although they face stiff competition from Serie A side AS Roma.

The Santos youngster wouldn’t exactly break the bank either, with the South American outfit looking at a fee of around €15m (£13m) and Ten Hag will be hoping that the allure of playing for one of the finest teams in the world, along with Champions League football, will convince him to move to Manchester.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

For a player who has the world at his feet, this low fee represents a perfect opportunity for the Dutchman to invest in someone who could potentially generate a massive profit in the coming years.

How many goals has Marcos Leonardo scored?

Like Ronaldo, Leonardo has made a splash for his first club side at a tender age. He made his debut for Santos aged just 17 back in 2020, and it didn’t take him long to showcase his clinical nature in front of goal.

He netted 12 times during his first two seasons before turning into a player they could depend on during the 2022 campaign as he scored 21 goals across all competitions.

Leonardo has carried on this form into the 2023 season, scoring 15 times already and he ranks first across the squad in the league for goals (seven), shots on target per game (1.1) and second for big chances created (two) and this suggests he is already among one of the most influential players in the team, despite being in the embryonic stages of his career.

The 20-year-old has also made a mark at international level, emerging as arguably Brazil’s brightest spark during the recent U20 World Cup.

Not only did he score five goals during the tournament which showcases the best young talent across the globe, but his performances ranked him highly across a variety of metrics.

Not only did Leonardo rank sixth for overall Sofascore rating, but he also finished third in the competition for goals and assists, fourth for big chances per game and for penalties won, suggesting that his game revolves around more than just scoring goals.

Lauded as a “special talent” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, there is no doubt a move to Europe is the next stage in his development.

Across his fledgling career to date, Leonardo has netted 48 goals in 150 matches, which works out as a goal nearly every three matches, ensuring he could potentially sparkle if handed the chance to impress at Old Trafford.

As United saw in the case of Ronaldo – who Leonardo could help replace this summer – taking a gamble on a promising attacking talent can prove particularly beneficial, with the Portuguese ace winning three league titles and the Champions League during his first stint at the club, after signing from Sporting CP at the age of just 18 back in 2003.

With Ten Hag in need of a new attacking figurehead following the veteran's exit back in November, the young Santos forward could prove to be the dream successor to Ronaldo next season as another potentially prolific asset.

Arsenal are reported to be close to cashing in on the sale of Hale End graduate Folarin Balogun, leaving questions over whether Mikel Arteta will eye another striker.

The Spaniard has already signed versatile forward Kai Havertz this summer in attack, however with Gabriel Jesus only just nearing his return from injury, the Gunners have had to rely on Eddie Nketiah to lead the line so far this campaign.

Arteta has utilised Havertz in midfield at the Emirates, which is a plus for the German who excelled in such areas while at Bayer Leverkusen, however theoretically leaves Arsenal short in the depth of their strike department.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

Considering the injury blow to Jurrien Timber, it’s highly unlikely that the north Londoners will prioritise anything above signing a defender in the time remaining in the transfer window.

However, a swoop in January could come at the perfect time for one player that has been rumoured to be of interest to the Gunners.

A report from the Times has revealed that Brentford are braced for bids in the attempt to sign striker Ivan Toney in January, with Arsenal named as one of the ‘interested parties’.

The Englishman will be able to return to action in January 2024 from his eight-month ban from football due to betting breaches of the FA’s rulings, setting up a potentially exciting swoop for the north Londoners in the winter window.

It’s said that the forward is valued at £80m by the Bees, who will be reluctant to let the 27-year-old leave when he returns.

What could Ivan Toney offer to Arsenal?

Most clubs in the Premier League would be honoured to have a marksman as potent as Toney in their squad, not many more than Arsenal who are arguably a reliable goalscorer away from being in the same calibre as Manchester City.

Considering Balogun’s transfer status, it could be the ideal time for Arteta to consider a potential move for Toney, who revealed on the Diary of a CEO podcast his admiration for the Gunners.

In Balogun, the north Londoners could have had more potent goalscorer than the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus, with the American netting 21 times in Ligue 1 last season during his loan at Rennes.

On his return, it never seemed as though the 22-year-old’s future would be within Arteta’s squad, making the opportunity to cash in on him an attractive prospect for both parties.

While the Hale End graduates’ scoring streak was impressive, it was the first time he had consistently found the net at senior level, with his three goals scored on loan at Middlesbrough the season prior far from impressive.

In Toney, Arsenal could have the definition of an “extremely prolific” striker, as he was once lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Scoring 24 goals in his final campaign in League One at Peterborough before joining Brentford, where he then scored 31 goals in the Championship to fire the Bees to promotion, via Transfermarkt, there were naturally questions over whether he could do it in the top-flight.

During the two campaigns since Brentford’s promotion, the Englishman has scored on 32 occasions in the Premier League, including 20 goals last term, seeing him dubbed a “lion” by manager Thomas Frank in 2021.

Arsenal could ease the woes of Balogun’s departure by making a swift move for Toney in January, in a purchase that could make Arteta’s side forget all about the Hale End product and close the gap on City.

Wolves were heavily linked with signing Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott in January and it seems as if the Old Gold missed a trick in not bringing him to Molineux after he starred against Manchester City in the FA Cup this week.

Should Wolves have signed Alex Scott?

John Percy of The Telegraph revealed in January that Wolves were in talks with the Robins over a potential deal for the teenager but weren’t willing to meet the Championship side’s £25m price tag.

That price tag only looks likely to increase after Scott showed just what he is capable of in front of the television cameras, with the 19-year-old impressive despite the 3-0 loss against Pep Guardiola’s side.

The former Barcelona boss was certainly complimentary of Scott in his post-match conference, labelling him an “unbelievable player.”

Henry Winter, the chief football editor for The Times, was also wowed by the England U20 international’s performance at Ashton Gate.

He said: What a talent Alex Scott is. I covered him in the Eng U19s Euro triumph last summer and he’s even better now, flourishing at Ashton Gate and totally fearless against MCFC. Ex-Isthmian League. Destined for the Premier League.”

Despite his tender age, Scott has been a regular in Bristol City’s first team for two years now, with 81 senior appearances under his belt, in which he has contributed five goals and seven assists.

This season has seen the Englishman make 32 appearances in the Championship, contributing four assists and earning a 6.84 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which would rank him as the third-best performer at Wolves if he had replicated those performances in Old Gold colours.

Considering no player at Molineux has managed more than two assists in the Premier League this season, Julen Lopetegui could have definitely used a player of Scott’s creativity in his side.

Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat against Liverpool saw Wolves once again fail to find the back of the net in the top flight, with Lopetegui’s outfit still ranked as the joint-lowest scorers in the division.

With Ruben Neves (potential transfer) and Joao Moutinho (contract expiry) both looking likely to depart Molineux for different reasons in the summer, a talented young midfielder such as Scott could have been the ideal signing in January.

After another strong display which has earned the Bristol City man a lot of media attention, he may now be destined for bigger things than Wolves, while his January asking price only looks likely to rise further.

Therefore, the Old Gold arguably missed a trick by not signing Scott in the winter transfer window.

Arsenal "could reluctantly be forced" to cash in on striker Folarin Balogun with his value at an all-time high, according to journalist Charles Watts.

Who will leave Arsenal this summer?

Following the marquee signings of Germany international winger Kai Havertz, midfielder Declan Rice in a £105 million deal and defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax, the north Londoners need to balance the books.

Further additions haven't been ruled out this summer, with Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia attracting Mikel Arteta's interest, though outgoings are of the upmost importance right now.

Granit Xhaka has already completed his multi-million pound move to Bayer Leverkusen, with the likes of Thomas Partey and Balogun linked to the exit door also.

The latter player is a curious case after his scintillating season on loan at Reims. The USA forward scored 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances last campaign, putting a host of clubs on red alert given his Arsenal contract also expires in two seasons.

Journalist Charles Watts, writing on his official website, claims Arsenal could be forced to sell Balogun given he has no intention of going out on loan again and has also showed little willingness to pen fresh terms.

"Arsenal’s academy product scored 22 goals in all competitions in France, sending his reputation through the roof," wrote Watts.

"That has allowed him to go into the transfer window holding all the cards when it comes to taking his next step.

"Balogun is coming off the back of a superb individual campaign. He still has two years left of his deal and he has just agreed to be the poster boy for the United States ahead of their home World Cup in 2026. So his value, both in footballing terms and commercially is sky high."

How good is Folarin Balogun?

The 22-year-old's goal record in France is just one indicator of his quality, with Balogun also attempting more shots at goal per 90 than any other Reims player and ranking among their best-performers overall (WhoScored).

Balogun is a player of serious potential and attacking quality, making him an attractive proposition for any interested side, domestically or abroad, who are in need of a prolific forward.

Arsenal could apparently demand as much as £50 million for the frontman, who Arteta has previously praised for his commitment and bravery as well.

“He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career," said Arteta.

"He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special."

Nottingham Forest could be set to table a bid for an exciting player, but a new report has revealed that they aren’t the only club looking to bring him to the Premier League.

What's the latest transfer news at Nottingham Forest?

Over the summer, Steve Cooper was extremely busy in the window, bringing in a total of 14 fresh faces which included the likes of Ibrahim Sangare, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Divock Origi just to name a few, but whilst there were plenty of new recruits entering the building, a big number of players also completed departures.

In terms of outgoings, Brennan Johnson led the big-name permanent exits, whilst the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Emmanuel Dennis and Lewis O’Brien were all sent out on loan, as per Transfermarkt, and with a bit more space in the squad having been freed up, this will allow the boss to bolster his ranks further in January.

One of the players he could turn his attention to is Benfica’s defensive midfielder Florentino Luis, who despite still having another four years remaining on his contract, could find himself on the move having previously been linked with a switch to The City Ground.

The Reds reportedly joined the race to sign the 24-year-old back in August, and whilst the same outlet claimed that they were preparing an approach, a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline, though if the following update is to be believed, the hierarchy are now considering taking a second bite of the cherry.

Are Nottingham Forest signing Florentino Luis?

According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (via Sport Witness), Nottingham Forest could make an “irrefutable” offer for Luis, alongside Fulham, Barcelona and Bayern Munich who are also named as interested parties.

Benfica’s central talisman, who is sponsored by Adidas, has a €120m (£103m) release clause included in his contract, but his current market value is only €20m (£17m), meaning that a cheaper deal could be available.

The Eagles are already looking for a replacement as they know their star is likely to be on his way out in the new year, and with his list of admirers growing, it “isn’t known” how much longer they will be able to hold onto their prized asset.

Is Florentino Luis a good player?

Previously, Luis has been dubbed a “Portuguese Octopus” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and the way that he protects his backline when sitting in front of them is remarkable, so it comes as no surprise to learn that Cooper and Nottingham Forest have reignited their interest in their former target.

The Team of Future client currently ranks in the 99th percentile for interceptions and the 96th percentile for tackles, via FBRef, displaying his ability to win back possession for his team and get stuck into challenges, but he’s also capable of having a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch.

Since the start of his career, Luis, who has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his usual role, has posted 13 contributions (ten assists and three goals), so being such a well-rounded player, it would be a massive coup if he was to put pen to paper in the Midlands in January.