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Nottingham Forest are reportedly not set to make a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, despite their recent links with the player.

What’s the word?

As per journalist Matt Davies in a Q&A for Nottinghamshire Post, a deal to sign the 22-year-old now appears unlikely, with the Englishman’s reported £30m asking price seemingly set to prove too high for the Reds.

Asked whether the playmaker will make the move to the City Ground this summer, the Forest correspondent stated: “I’m not sure he will now. Ask me a week ago and I was very confident but the injury to Raul Jimenez is a real problem. Speaking to people over the summer, MGW would be happy to come to Forest, but Wolves want a huge price to fund other moves.

“They really need a striker now, but Bruno Lage is a big fan of MGW. Will Wolves sell another attacking option when their main striker is out early on. Not sure? Jimenez says he’ll only miss a couple of games, but it’s also been reported he’ll miss 8.

“Forest might have to wait till late in the window and then test Wolves with a bid. Every player has a price, but also a price limit and £30m is a lot! Not sure you can go that high.”

Previous reports have suggested that Steve Cooper and co were interested in Gibbs-White, although other reports have claimed that the Stafford-born gem is keen to remain at Molinuex this season.

Cooper will be gutted

That news will serve as a notable blow to those of a Forest persuasion, with the club’s promotion-winning coach in particular likely to be gutted at not being able to add such a promising talent to his ranks before the September 1st deadline.

The Welshman has already overseen 12 new arrivals in the transfer window thus far, albeit with further acquisitions needed having seen a host of last season’s loanees return to their parent clubs.

In Gibbs-White, the 42-year-old would have been able to secure the addition of not only a familiar face – having coached the youngster at England under-17 level and at Swansea City – but also a versatile asset, with the £9.9m-rated ace comfortable all across the midfield and the forward line.

Although the explosive menace is yet to truly nail down a regular role for the Old Gold, having made just ten starts from his 46 Premier League outings so far for the club, his form on loan at Sheffield United last term showcased just what a huge talent he is.

In 35 Championship appearances for the Blades during the 2021/22 season, the 5 foot 10 speedster recorded a haul of 11 goals and nine assists, while also creating 16 big chances in total and averaging 1.6 key passes per game, showcasing his creativity and his potent threat in the final third.

That sparkling form saw him prove “instrumental” for the Bramall Lane outfit, in the words of former team-mate Billy Sharp, while he has also previously been dubbed a “sensation” by journalist Mike McGrath.

A fresh start now appears to be on the cards for Gibbs-White at his parent club following that string of eye-catching displays in the Championship, with Cooper likely to be frustrated at having to come up against him in 2022/23 rather than having the player as a part of his squad.

Journalist and broadcaster Andy Sixsmith has praised the potential signing of Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: In talks

As per Italian football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the St. James’ Park outfit are preparing an offer for Ramos, and talks are ongoing with him and Benfica over a potential move.

PSG are also thought to be interested in signing him, but the North East club have made him their ‘top target’.

The Latest: Sixsmith reacts

Taking to Twitter, Sixsmith, a broadcaster for BBC Sport and Radio 5 Live, gave his instant reaction to the news, praising Ramos’ qualities and claiming that he would be the ‘perfect fit’ on Tyneside:

“Talk really building on Goncalo Ramos to NUFC – what a smart signing this would be. Brilliant in the air, a real clever finisher & a proper grafter up front – all for a manageable fee. He’d bring goals, quality & competition. Perfect fit.”

The Verdict: No time to waste

With the likes of PSG. who can offer him UEFA Champions League football, interested in Ramos, there is no time to waste for Eddie Howe’s side to get this deal over the line.

He has started the season very well, scoring a hat-trick in Benfica’s 4-1 home win over FC Midtjylland in their Champions League qualifier, while he’s also registered three assists this term already (Transfermarkt).

The 21-year-old had a breakthrough season last campaign, when he managed eight goals and four assists in 46 matches in total across all competitions (Transfermarkt), and is really starting to make a name for himself around Europe.

Nonetheless, Ramos would provide the perfect competition to both Callum Wilson and Chris Wood up top.

Tottenham Hotspur central midfielder Tanguy Ndombele is closing in on a move away from north London this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that the 25-year-old is closer to joining Napoli in the coming weeks, with negotiations between the two clubs expected to continue in order for an agreement to be reached for the France international to move to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

However, despite Gli Azzurri’s serious interest in the midfielder, it is said that the Serie A outfit are unable to pay the entirety of Ndombele’s hefty weekly wage, with it being suggested that Tottenham will likely have to contribute to the Frenchman’s salary in order to get him off of their books prior to September’s transfer deadline.

Ndombele must go

Considering just how poor Ndombele has been for Spurs ever since his £63m move to north London back in the summer of 2019, should it require Tottenham paying a chunk of the 25-year-old’s salary in order to move him onto pastures new in the coming weeks, the argument that Fabio Paratici simply must do so is an easy one to make.

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Indeed, after featuring relatively sparingly over his first two seasons at the club – starting 40 of a possible 76 Premier League fixtures in 2019/20 and 2020/21 – the £27m-rated midfielder’s turbulent spell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was summed up in the first half of the 2021/22 campaign.

Over his nine Premier League appearances – only six of which came from the off – last time out, the £200k-per-week Frenchman lost possession of the ball an average of 9.4 times, completed just 25.6 passes, was beaten by an opponent 0.8 times and lost 56% of his duels per game.

These returns saw the player who John Wenham dubbed “laughable” and claimed can’t “be relied upon” average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.58, ranking him as Conte’s second-worst performer in the top flight of English football last time out – before he was shipped out on loan to Olympique Lyonnais in January.

As such, when considering the fact that Ndombele earns the same wage as Harry Kane, as well as more than every other player at Spurs, coupled with the fact that the 25-year-old is yet to feature in a matchday squad this season, it is clear to see that the midfielder simply must be moved on this summer – whatever the cost to Tottenham.

West Ham United are eyeing Spezia centre-back Jakub Kiwior ahead of a potential move in 2023, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

The lowdown

Spezia signed Kiwior from Slovakian club MSK Zilina last summer in a £1.98million deal.

He went on to make 22 Serie A appearances for the club last season, helping them consolidate their place in the division in their second season following promotion.

Kiowir, 22, is naturally a central defender but he can also play in front of the back four in a defensive midfield role.

The latest

Writing on his CaughtOffside Substack (via West Ham Zone), Romano claimed that West Ham are lining up a future move for Kiwior.

“I believe West Ham will be busy in the next few days – while Spezia centre-back Jakub Kiwior is being monitored by the Hammers for the future and not for this summer,” he said.

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The verdict

Starting at the heart of a back three, Kiwior showed why West Ham are interested in him during Spezia’s season-opening victory over Empoli at the weekend.

He made nine clearances and completed 41 out of 44 passes, including seven out of ten long balls, to earn an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.2/10.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig included him in his European Under-23 Team of the Week.

The Pole is actually similar in profile to a former West Ham player in Cheikhou Kouyate, also capable of playing as either a CB or a DM.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has issued a worrying verdict regarding the future of Celtic defender Josip Juranovic, with the Croatia international having been linked with a departure from Parkhead of late.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider suggested that the 27-year-old could be tempted into leaving the Premiership champions before the end of the window, amid reported interest from Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea.

As deadline day approaches, O’Rourke delivered his thoughts on the future of the 20-cap gem, saying: “I think it’s hard for any player to turn down the chance to move to the Premier League, a chance to move to a top club like Manchester United, or Chelsea as well is a very hard proposition to resist.

“And obviously, the finances would be better for the player if he moved down to the Premier League, and also, his profile will be raised if he moved to English football as well.

“So, a lot to contend with, and unfortunately for Celtic, or anybody else in Scotland, they aren’t able to compete with the riches that are on offer in the Premier League.”

Real blow for Celtic

The thought of losing the impressive full-back – who could reportedly cost in the region of £15m – would no doubt prove a real blow to Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, with the defender having been a hugely influential figure at the club since his arrival from Legia Warsaw this time last year.

The fact that he has already been tipped for a departure may have come as somewhat of a surprise with it still early days in his Hoops career, although it is also a testament to the “outstanding” form that he has shown so far, in the words of former Scotland defender Alan Hutton.

The 5 foot 8 menace has looked right at home in Postecoglou’s attacking system since his arrival in Glasgow, scoring five goals and registering three assists in 39 games across all competitions to date.

Having been a vital part of the team which reclaimed the league title last season – he was their seventh-highest rated outfield player according to WhoScored – the £6.3m-rated ace has also begun the new campaign in fine fashion, having already registered one assist in the opening four league games.

His value is also represented by the fact that he is able to feature on either side of defence, with such versatility likely to be crucial ahead of a campaign which will see the Bhoys compete both domestically and in Europe.

Those in Glasgow will no doubt be desperate to keep him beyond the end of the transfer window, while the defender’s former Legia team-mate – and ex-Celtic goalkeeper – Artur Boruc has suggested that it could be to his benefit to stay at the club for another year at least.

With four years remaining on his current contract, it will likely take a sizeable offer for the Parkhead club to be tempted into a sale, with supporters no doubt hoping that Juranovic honours that deal by staying a little while longer.

Should the bright lights of English football spark a desire to leave Glasgow, though, it will not only leave a sizeable void in Postecoglou’s side, but also very little time to fill it, with the market closing on 1 September.

Leeds United employee Noel Whelan has urged the club to let Cody Drameh exit Elland Road on loan before Thursday night’s transfer deadline.

The Lowdown: Marsch and Drameh in talks

After spending his fair share of time playing for the White’s under-23s in Premier League 2, the right-back spent the second half of last term on loan at Cardiff City and excelled in the Championship, winning the club’s Young Player of the Season award.

Jesse Marsch admitted on Friday that he is still unsure about where the 20-year-old will be playing his football this season after having some difficult conversations with the youngster about his future earlier in the summer.

The Latest: Whelan urges Drameh loan exit

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan backed Drameh to seal a loan exit from Leeds before the end of the transfer window to try and enhance his development.

The club ambassador said: “I think if he’s not going to be used by Jesse Marsch, he may well feel a loan is better for his progression and therefore better for Leeds United.

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“There’s no point keeping him around if he’s not playing. You get to a point where Under-23 football just isn’t enough anymore – and we’ve already seen the likes of Charlie Cresswell going out to the Championship.

“If Marsch [is] considering another loan, then it’s in Drameh’s best interests – and the best interests of the club, because he could well come back a better player.”

The Verdict: Minutes needed

Leeds vice-captain Luke Ayling will soon be making a return from injury and Rasmus Kristensen has been holding down the fort in that right-back position, so it would make complete sense for Drameh to leave temporarily in search of more regular game-time elsewhere.

The Dulwich-born prospect started all 22 matches for the Bluebirds in the Championship last season after his loan move, registering three assists during his spell in Wales (WhoScored), so a similar move would likely do him the world of good.

Elland Road starlet Ian Poveda has recently joined Blackpool on a season-long loan, and Drameh has the chance to reap the same rewards if he follows in the 22-year-old’s footsteps ahead of transfer deadline day.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the ‘key hours’ of completing a deal for Universidad de Chile winger Dario Osorio, according to Chilean journalist Rodrigo Arellano.

The Lowdown: Kalajdzic signs

Bruno Lage recently made former Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic his fifth summer signing, and the 18-year-old Osorio could be following in his footsteps to make the switch to the Premier League.

Earlier in the window, it was claimed that the Molineux side had already reached an agreement with the forward, though his club were reluctant to sanction the sale.

Following a fresh update though, it appears that Wanderers have taken another bite at the cherry and have been successful in their second attempt to secure their target.

The Latest: Wolves set to sign Osorio

Taking to Twitter, Arellano confirmed that Wolves are in the final stages of negotiating a deal to sign Osorio, with ‘key hours’ ahead.

Translated, he wrote:

“Let’s talk a bit about Chilean soccer. We are already in the key hours of the sale of Darío Osorio.

“Key days to close with Wolverhampton. Gathering and crossing documentation.”

The Verdict: One for the future

Osorio would definitely be a player for the future at Wolves given his age, but he’s such a talented prospect and one that Lage should be excited about having in the building.

The teenager, dubbed ‘very fast’ by Universidad’s sporting director Manuel Mayo, has netted six goals in 20 Primera Division games this campaign (Transfermarkt), and already has an international cap for Chile to his name.

He would likely have to be loaned out initially due to international player rules, but it’s great to see Fosun are planning for the years ahead and not just the present.

Leeds United – and Victor Orta in particular – have formed something of a habit of targeting and subsequently signing some of the most exciting young talent English football has to offer in recent seasons, with the likes of  Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood, Lewis Bate and Darko Gyabi having all arrived at Elland Road over the past two years.

However, while all four of these aforementioned starlets have all gone on to feature in at least one of the Whites’ Premier League matchday squads under the management of Jesse Marsch, there is one recent young signing who is yet to get a look in at senior level, despite arguably being one of the club’s most exciting prospects at present.

Indeed, after arriving at Thorp Arch from West Ham United on a free transfer this summer, Sonny Perkins has made an instant impact within Michael Skubala’s U21 side, having scored five goals over four Premier League 2 appearances so far this season – returns that see him rank as the PL2’s joint-top scorer alongside fellow Leeds attacker Mateo Joseph.

The 18-year-old’s clinical nature in the final third has already seen him come in for a considerable amount of praise, with Skubala stating of the striker after his brace in a 2-1 win over Aston Villa last month:

“He’s a goal machine, he loves scoring goals. He’s working on other parts of his game that he still needs to improve, but Sonny’s not had the best pre-season so he’s slowly becoming stronger and faster but two great finishes and that’s what Sonny’s all about.”

Harry Brooks – a private coach of the England U18 international – took his praise of Perkins to another level in an interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post back in July, going as far as to compare the teenager’s ability on the ball to that of Barcelona legend, Andres Iniesta.

Brooks said: “A player like Sonny, they come around every so often – not that often. And they’re usually the ones to break into first-team football earlier on than the others. He’s got the mentality and the qualities to cope with that.

“The first time I worked with Sonny, it was a few years ago, my colleague and I did a group session for top young talents. And there was some incredible talent there, players from Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur – top clubs. And, after a couple of minutes, my colleague and I were like, ‘wow, this is a real footballer’.

“I don’t like comparing players but his style is like an Iniesta with size and power, and the ability to drive and gallop. He’s got incredible feet. Really smooth, he’s creative. As a ball striker, he’s probably the best ball striker I’ve ever worked with. Happy off both feet and a real natural footballer where you want him to get on the ball as often as he can.

“As a character he’s fantastic. He’s got magic, intelligence and football ability – not many players have magic nowadays, but he certainly does. I’m looking forward to seeing the season he’s going to have.”

As such, while Perkins certainly has a long way to go before he can sincerely be compared to the Spaniard who scored 57 goals, registered 138 assists and won every club trophy possible over his 674 appearances for Barca, considering the 18-year-old’s returns in U21 football so far, Brooks’ assessment of the forward does not appear overly wide of the mark at present.

Indeed, if the former West Ham starlet can continue his early form for the youth side after being unleashed by Marsch in the senior squad – something, it would seem, is likely in the very near future – the 48-year-old could well unearth an Iniesta-esque talent at Elland Road, a prospect that is sure to excite everyone involved with the Whites.

Sunderland have made plenty of big transfer missteps that ultimately led to their slump down the divisions.

However, arguably their worst ever signing was the decision to bring in Jack Rodwell for a large fee on a five-year deal.

Coming from Manchester City, the English midfielder naturally demanded big money, but for the promise he had shown at Everton it seemed worth it.

However, those that have seen the Netflix show ‘Sunderland Til I Die’ will know first-hand just how costly this decision was for the club.

Rodwell was draining resources from a club languishing in the Championship in 2018, and with the 31-year-old on £70k-per-week, he was asked to move on to ensure the safety of the club’s finances.

His refusal brought frustration from fans and those in the hierarchy of the club, as he oversaw yet another relegation to confirm their fall from grace.

He played just 76 times for the Wearside outfit, including twice during that 2017/18 season.

Rodwell was moved on following that season, but the damage had already been done by that point.

In total, it was 211 weeks of misery for the club. They had seen their £10m investment backfire tremendously. All in all, he cost his team £24.8m during his spell, which is roughly over £300k for each of his miserable appearances.

Even when he did play, during their relegation from the top-flight, he averaged just a 6.80 SofaScore rating in 20 appearances He provided no goals and just one assist.

He was labelled a “terrible” and “awful signing” for the Cityzens, but he did not have half the negative impact on them as he did on the Black Cats.

Even now they are striving for a Premier League return, battling away in the Championship.

Many would view the deal to sign Rodwell as one of the worst in Sunderland’s history, with his selfishness caught on camera for all to see.

He rinsed the club dry at their worst moment, and his refusal to leave despite struggling for game time had huge financial ramifications that they are still paying for now.

It will make them think twice before handing out long-term expensive contracts to risky transfer suggestions.

Southampton recently bid farewell to a mainstay at the club, as Oriol Romeu decided to call time on his career at St Mary’s.

Having signed from Chelsea back in 2015, a £5m outlay marks incredible value given his reliable presence at the heart of the Saints engine room.

The Spaniard featured 256 times whilst on the south coast, and by the end of his tenure had struck up a finely balanced partnership with James Ward-Prowse.

He acted as the enforcer, and fans will certainly miss his 1.4 interceptions and 2.1 tackles per game from last season.

His absence will be felt heavily, but one man from their past who would have filled his vacancy with ease is Victor Wanyama.

The hulking midfielder was a dominant presence way before Romeu was around at the club, with his performances earning him his £11m move to Tottenham Hotspur.

It is clear that Mauricio Pochettino thought highly of him, to bring him along as he too had made that same switch.

The Kenyan midfielder featured 97 times for both Spurs and the Saints, but the season prior to his transfer was when he truly shone.

He recorded a 7.00 average SofaScore rating, whilst managing 2.3 interceptions and 3.1 tackles per game, a marked improvement from Romeu’s final season. He was labelled a “destroyer” who was “so powerful” by journalist Jack Rathborn that season.

The man who they brought in from Celtic in 2013 quickly established himself as a mainstay in the Premier League, with his defensive work second to none.

He was also liable to score the occasional thunderbolt, with his goal against Liverpool for Tottenham the best that comes to mind.

With a huge Romeu-shaped hole in their midfield now, adding a prime Wanyama back into the fold would be perfect for Ralph Hasenhuttl.

He was strong, a good passer and tackler, and had an incredible engine; ingredients perfect for the Austrian to work with.

If he could return, fans would quickly forget about their absent Spanish stalwart in favour of the return of the true midfield powerhouse.