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Glasgow Rangers have acted swiftly during the summer break, signing seven players so far as Michael Beale looks to rejuvenate a squad which stagnated last term, with no silverware being added to the Ibrox trophy room for the first time since 2019/20.

There will likely be one or two more arrivals before the transfer window shuts and this could give the Gers a much-needed boost as they look to end the dominance that Celtic have held in the Premiership over the last couple of seasons.

Funding this revamp means Beale has to move some players on and the most recent departure is that of Antonio Colak, who leaves the Light Blues after just one season.

What is the latest Rangers transfer news?

Having cost £1.8m, the Gers sold him for £2.5m to Parma, which represented a solid profit on a player who will soon turn 30.

The Croatian hitman scored 18 goals across all competitions, yet struggled when Beale arrived in mid-November, making just five starts during the second half of the season and despite his obvious goal threat, the additions of Abdallah Sima, Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers may have the Ibrox faithful looking forward.

The manager could forget all about Colak by also making a move for Haji Wright from Turkish side Antalyaspor, with a fee of £7m being touted as enough to lure him to Ibrox this summer.

Could Haji Wright join Rangers?

The Scottish giants are currently trying to sign Feyenoord frontman Danilo, having gone back in with a second bid for the player after the first was rejected, yet much will depend on whether the Dutch side believes the second offer is high enough.

He appears to be Beale’s first choice to complete his attacking lineup ahead of next term, yet due to the turbulent nature of the transfer window, Wright may still have a chance at securing a move to Glasgow.

The American talisman has a better strike rate than Colak, scoring 16 times in 29 games as opposed to the 18 in 39 games for the former Gers striker and this could make him an attractive proposition for Beale.

Wright also created more big chances per game (four to three), more successful dribbles per game (one to 0.2) and won more aerial duels per game (2.2 to 0.6) than Colak domestically last term, suggesting that whilst the 29-year-old is clearly excellent in the box, Wright, on the other hand, has a much more rounded approach and could be a useful addition, not just with the ball at his feet but also at set pieces due to his strength in the air.

Praise was lavished upon him by former Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt, who once claimed he was a “dangerous striker” and the statistics certainly back that statement up, especially over the previous 12 months.

With Champions League football gracing the Ibrox pitch yet again, Beale will surely aim to assemble a side that can qualify for the group stages for the second consecutive year.

Adding a player such as Wright, with his evident attacking qualities, could make that challenge slightly easier as he looks to move on from Colak.

Newcastle United have already completed their first summer signing with Sandro Tonali joining the club ahead of next season and now a new update has emerged on the club's next potential transfer target.

Will Newcastle sign Goncalo Inacio?

According to Football Insider, Newcastle remain keen on signing Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio this summer.

As per the report, the Magpies are hoping they can seal the deal for a cut-price fee instead of paying the talented centre-back's €60m (£51m) release clause.

It is claimed that Eddie Howe is keen to bolster key areas of his squad this summer to ensure Newcastle can compete in Europe and it is believed that Inacio is seen as a long-term investment for the club.

How good is Goncalo Inacio?

There is no doubt that Howe will be wanting to strengthen his squad ahead of the club's long-awaited return to Champions League football, and the acquisition of Tonali is a testament to the coach's desire to add some much-needed European experience.

Indeed, the likes of Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes have all earned opportunities to play on the elite European stage before their time at St James' Park, however, it would be advantageous to add more experience in key roles.

As a result, the signing of Inacio could not only be a great chance to add another player with Champions League experience but also offers Howe a youthful prospect he can develop and polish to become his next defensive prodigy.

Fabian Schar is now 31 years old and potentially reaching the latter stages of his career, so identifying a worthy successor in his role and a player who can form a successful centre-back partnership with Botman will be a priority for Howe in the not-so-distant future.

As per FBref, Inacio – hailed a "sensation" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers across the men's next eight leagues for shot-creating actions, successful take-ons, progressive carries, progressive passes, pass completion and assists, demonstrating that he is a confident ball-winner with no trouble providing attacking opportunities to his teammates.

Despite being only 21 years old, the Portuguese youngster has already tallied up 122 appearances for Sporting as a first-team regular and due to his impressive development has more recently earned a spot in his national team, with Roberto Martinez handing his debut to the defender in the UEFA Euro qualifying fixtures back in March 2023.

The left-footed Sporting star boasts several similarities to Botman in his style of play and when comparing their output last season the pair came close in a number of key attributes including aerial duels won (60.2% v 65.2%), tackles won (23 v 24), successful take-ons (85% v 100%) and pass completion (89.6% v 86.5%).

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Howe to bolster his defensive options this summer and bringing in a player like Inacio who has similar qualities to Botman could double up their threatening presence when playing out from the back and ultimately make the side unstoppable in their pursuit for success.

Liverpool want to sign another midfielder this summer, despite having already brought in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, according to Sky Sports' Melissa Reddy.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

Having just endured one of their worst league campaigns under Jurgen Klopp since his arrival, Liverpool are in dire need of a transformation this summer.

The lack of investment in midfield over recent years – Thiago Alcantara being the last traditional central midfielder the club signed permanently before this summer – resulted in a significant drop-off in performance levels last term, with the Reds ending up fifth and without a major trophy.

The Reds have gone some way to remedying that this summer, bringing in Mac Allister and Szoboszlai for a combined £95m, while James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left on free transfers.

Their spending spree may not be over just yet though, with journalist Reddy claiming that Liverpool are still in the market for another central midfielder this summer.

Speaking on Sky Sports (via Football Daily), Reddy stated: "Liverpool have managed to get Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister over the line for under £100m. All nice and early, and yet their midfield rebuild may not yet be done.

"Now, ahead of the summer we were expecting Liverpool to sign at least two new options in the centre of the park. They've already gone and done that, but they're still exploring potential deals for Romeo Lavia and Khephren Thuram.

"Now remember, even though Bayern Munich don't want to sell him, Ryan Gravenberch has been enthused by a move to Anfield and working with Jurgen Klopp. So, all things considered, we can expect a minimum of one more addition there in the centre of the park."

Given the Reds have lost three central midfielders, and Thiago could be on his way out of the club if reports are to be believed, it is not a surprise that Klopp wants to replace the numbers he has lost in the centre of the pitch.

Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are both enormous upgrades on the Reds' three midfield departures this summer, while Lavia, Thuram and Gravenberch would also add tremendous strength and depth to Liverpool's midfield options.

Which midfielders could Liverpool sign?

As Reddy mentioned, Lavia is a big target for Liverpool. Fabrizio Romano recently reported that those at Anfield have been in contact with the Belgian's representatives for a fortnight, with Southampton reportedly wanting £50m for their 19-year-old star.

Lavia appears to be a priority target for Liverpool, not only due to his excellent performances but because he helps the Reds fill their homegrown quota. The midfielder would be classed as a homegrown player by the time he turns 21 due to his time at Manchester City and Southampton, and would solve a future problem for Liverpool.

Thuram has also been strongly linked with Merseyside and now that he has exited the U21 European Championship with France, a potential transfer could come closer into view.

Gravenberch looks far less likely to join the Reds despite Reddy's claims that he is interested in a move.

In a recent interview, the Dutchman said: "I assume I will still play here [at Bayern] next season. That is really how I feel. I’m at a top three club in the world. I find that beautiful and special. I won’t give that up just like that. My goal is still to succeed at Bayern."

Tottenham Hotspur could sign centre-backs Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van de Ven this summer, according to Alasdair Gold.

What's the latest on Tottenham's transfers?

Having recently made two new additions to their squad this summer in the form of Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison, attention has shifted to bolstering the centre of Spurs' defence.

Ange Postecoglou will be keen to improve a backline that conceded 63 Premier League goals last season and will have to explore the transfer market to make that happen.

Tottenham have been strongly linked with a number of defenders, but the most concrete of those surround Bundesliga pair Tapsoba and Van de Ven of Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg respectively.

According to Alasdair Gold, both centre-backs are appreciated by Spurs' hierarchy, and the journalist believes that there is a possibility of both of them arriving in north London.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Gold stated: "Obviously defence has to be dealt with now. The feeling that I get is that Edmond Tapsoba is the main target, as the top target at centre-back."

"But, you know, there's two ways of looking at this. There is one aspect of, a little bit like David Raya and Vicario himself, that if they can't get the price down on Tapsoba, then Micky van de Ven is a very, very good young centre-back on the market, the Wolfsburg defender. So, you could say if they can't get him [Tapsoba], they turn to him [Van de Ven]."

He added: "Depending on the departures at Spurs, there's no reason really, if they were able to make sure to get players out the door, of going for both."

Gold went on to reiterate that Tapsoba is indeed Spurs' "top target" but a deal may hinge on the potential transfer fee of the 24-year-old. He suggests that he has heard the Burkina Faso international valued at £25m, but also at a much larger figure, creating an element of uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Van de Ven has been valued closer to the £26m mark, making him a much cheaper alternative should Tapsoba's fee rise closer to £50m.

Spurs would need to move on several defenders to make all of this possible, with Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez already linked with moves away.

Would they improve Spurs?

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that Tapsoba would significantly improve Spurs but Van de Ven remains a slightly more unknown quantity.

While the Dutchman was just dumped out of the U21 Euros at the group stage, the 22-year-old still put in a respectable performance at the tournament. He has also been repeatedly praised for his Bundesliga performances this term.

One of the key attributes Van de Ven possesses is his ability on the ball. Compared to centre-backs in Europe's top-five leagues, the Champions League and the Europa League last season, the Wolfsburg man showcased his quality in possession.

He has a solid average of 87.7% pass accuracy, putting him in the top 27% of centre-backs, while he was also in the top 10% for progressive carries, carries into the final third and successful take-ons, highlighting his ability to step out of defence when required.

The former Volendam man also boasts tremendous pace, as has been shown in a widely-circulated clip on social media.

Aston Villa are being strongly linked with Juventus winger Federico Chiesa as the Italian looks to be nearing the exit door in Turin.

Is Chiesa joining Aston Villa?

After enduring an injury-hit couple of seasons at Juventus, Federico Chiesa could be ready to call time on his career with I Bianconeri. There is a feeling that the attacker's fitness issues have made it impossible for him to fulfil the potential he arrived with from Fiorentina in 2020.

According to some sources, Chiesa has fallen out with Juventus boss Max Allegri and is now looking for a possible escape from the Allianz Stadium in the transfer window, with a host of top clubs seeking his signature.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Aston Villa are "ones to watch" in the race for the 25-year-old's services, suggesting that the club have even made contact with Juventus for the player.

Initially speaking about Newcastle United's links with Chiesa, Jacobs told Steve Wraith: "I think that it's probably more likely at this stage that Aston Villa are the ones to watch because they are pushing a little bit more aggressively than Newcastle at this point."

He later added: "I think Villa have already either made a verbal offer, or at least intimated the direction they want to travel and basically had that deal turned away at this point."

Jacobs suggests that Villa were quickly turned away initially, but only because they did not meet Juventus' valuation of the player.

It is believed that Juventus would expect approximately £52m to part ways with the 41-cap international, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain all considered to have an interest in the forward. Aston Villa may have to move quickly to put themselves at the front of that prestigious queue.

Is Chiesa good enough for the Premier League?

When Chiesa first arrived in Turin from Florence, initially on a two-year loan deal, there was a huge expectation that he would quickly become a superstar. This expectation was undoubtedly made bigger by the fact that the winger is son of Serie A stalwart Enrico Chiesa.

The Italian – who has been hailed a "wizard" – had racked up 59 combined goals and assists after breaking into Fiorentina's team at 19-years-old but his move to Juventus was derailed by injury. The winger missed almost an entire year with a cruciate ligament problem that massively hindered his natural progression.

However, when compared to attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and the Europa League over the past year, it is obvious why Chiesa is still highly sought after.

Mainly appearing on the left-wing, Chiesa ranks in the top 4% for assists per 90 (0.42), the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 (4.52) and the top 12% for crosses into the penalty area per 90 (0.57). Chiesa is a direct runner and a very creative individual who loves taking shots, even if his goal tally and shot accuracy are not tremendous.

He also puts in a lot of tackles per 90, mostly in the attacking third, showing his willingness to press – something that is crucial in the Premier League.

If he can stay fit, there is no doubt that Chiesa is an incredible talent who could make a host of top English clubs better.

Scottish champions Celtic are reportedly plotting an audacious move for Leicester City star, Wilfried Ndidi, with Brendan Rodgers seemingly keen on a reunion with the Nigerian midfielder at Parkhead.

What's the latest on Ndidi to Celtic?

According to the Daily Mail, the Old Firm giants are said to be 'interested' in a possible summer deal for the 26-year-old, with the Lagos native potentially facing something of an uncertain future at the King Power Stadium following the Foxes' recent relegation.

The Glasgow outfit are seemingly not alone in their interest in the former Genk man, however, with journalist Ahmed Ragab having reported earlier this week that Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab have held talks with Ndidi regarding a potential summer swoop.

The 52-cap machine – who made the move to England on a £15m deal back in January 2017 – currently has just a year left to run on his existing deal with the Midlands side, hence the possibility that he could be sold on ahead of next season.

Would Ndidi be a good signing for Celtic?

It would certainly represent a major coup if Rodgers could tempt his former asset to make the move north of the border, with it not too long ago that the Northern Irishman suggested that the midfielder would be worth "much more" than £50m, amid interest from the likes of Aston Villa.

That sizeable figure is a marker of just what a talent Ndidi truly is, having also been hailed as a "shining light" for Leicester in the past by pundit Luke Chadwick, after racking up 237 appearances in all competitions over the past six years or so, scoring 11 times and contributing 12 assists in that time.

While evidently not a player who is likely to make an impact in the final third – as that goal return can illustrate – the experienced ace "does that defensive midfield job really well", according to Chadwick, as he "covers a lot of ground" and "uses the ball really effectively" from his deep-lying role.

As Rodgers himself also stated, it is "incredible" just how the Lagos native is able to win the ball so impressively, with that destructive brilliance showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for interceptions made as well as in the top 5% for tackles made.

Even as part of a side that slipped to relegation last season, Ndidi still caught the eye after averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game from his defensive midfield berth in the Premier League, with that a better record than what Hoops star Callum McGregor achieved, for instance, in the Scottish Premiership – 1.2 tackles and one interception per game.

The addition of the £75k-per-week titan could then help to free up Celtic's other midfield talent – such is his defensive prowess – with Reo Hatate, in particular, among those who could benefit, with the Japanese international able to place greater emphasis on making the difference in the final third.

While currently a player who is "everywhere" on the pitch – according to pundit Alan Hutton – the presence of Ndidi could allow Hatate the licence to remain higher up the park, thus helping to bolster his already impressive creative record.

Lauded as a "joy to watch" by journalist Sacha Pisani, the 25-year-old notably created ten big chances and recorded eight assists in the Premiership in 2022/23, although the hope would be that the former Kawasaki Frontale man could kick on again next term.

As such, if Ndidi is to be signed this summer, Rodgers could partner the towering menace alongside the dominative maestro to form what could be a truly stunning, all-action duo.

Aston Villa are interested in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire this summer, according to reports.

What’s the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

It looks set to be a busy summer at Villa Park ahead of Unai Emery’s first full season in charge, with NSWE set to back the Spaniard with a “huge” transfer budget.

The first deal has already been agreed with Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, and another could be on the way with Villa in pole position to sign Arthur Melo, who spent last season on loan at Liverpool.

A new attacker could also be on the wishlist with links to Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos, while defensive reinforcements another area where Villa could add to under Monchi, Villa’s new president of football operations.

According to reports, Aston Villa are interested in signing Maguire this summer. Alongside Villa, both Newcastle and Tottenham are also thought to be keen, although the 30-year-old is currently happy at Old Trafford.

However, should Manchester united sign a new centre-back this summer, it is believed that Maguire could fall further down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag, with left-back Luke Shaw even preferred at centre-back over Maguire at points in recent months.

How much does Harry Maguire earn at Man United?

Maguire has a good record against Aston Villa, winning six of his eight games against the Villans, and would bring plenty of experience at the highest level to the Midlands.

He is currently on a £200,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford, the highest salary of his career after previously being on £6,200-a-week at Hull City back in 2015.

The England international has made 219 appearances in the Premier League and has 56 caps for his country, with his form for Leicester City earning him a big-money move to Old Trafford back in 2019.

He has struggled at points in Manchester, however, Ten Hag did praise the defender back in March, labelling him as a “dominant” and showing “leadership”.

"I'm really happy with the progress that Harry is making in this moment.

"He's more dominant and dictating, he's taking more initiative on the training pitch and I think also in the Real Betis game, he showed leadership, especially in those aspects of initiative and dictating of the game."

Therefore, a move away from Manchester to the Midlands could be what Maguire needs at this point in his career, and with Villa playing Europa Conference League football next season, a move could well appeal to the player, providing game time is guaranteed, making this one to watch.

It is all systems go at Leeds United as they begin a new chapter under the full ownership of 49ers Enterprise, potentially meaning some exciting new players arriving this summer.

In the days before and since confirmation of that takeover was made public, United have been linked with an array of players – some more attainable than others.

With no sporting director nor manager currently in place, there is still a period of uncertainty ahead at Elland Road. However, if recent reports are anything to go by, plans are already firmly in place to bolster their squad ahead of their first Championship season since 2019-20.

According to a report by SampNews24, 5 foot 10 Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks is among those being targeted by Leeds in what would be an audacious move on the face of it.

Where would Harry Winks fit in at Leeds United?

Winks spent the past campaign on loan with Sampdoria, who have ironically just been purchased by Radrizzani, and made 20 Serie A appearances.

With Sampdoria dropping into the second tier after finishing with just 19 points from their 38 matches, they are not expected to take up the option to sign Winks permanently, meaning he could be up for grabs this summer.

Dropping into the Championship would be considered a fall from grace for a player who seemingly had the world at his feet not so long ago. Indeed, Spurs team-mate Danny Rose described Winks as a "little Iniesta" in 2018 and backed him to become a key midfielder for England.

That has not quite been the case, with the most recent of his caps coming in 2020, but Winks will be eager to get his career back on track – even if that means taking a cut on the reported £20,000 a week he was earning last season.

Even accounting for his time with a struggling Samp side, Winks still ranks highly for interceptions (1.26 per 90), clearances (1.26) and progressive passes (6.14) over the past year, as per FBref, with that a better record than that of Marc Roca, for instance, who averaged just 0.89, 0.93 and 6.69 for the same two metrics, respectively.

It is fair to say a move to an elite club is unlikely for Winks this summer, assuming new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou does not attempt to retain the midfielder, but their loss could be another team's gain – especially in the case of a Leeds side with ambitions of earning an immediate promotion.

United could do with a ball-playing midfielder, which is an area Winks thrives. The Spurs academy product averaged 45.7 passes per league game last season, as per WhoScored – only Tyler Adams (55.3) and Diego Llorente, who both look set to leave Elland Road, ranked higher among Leeds players.

Roca, the man Winks would likely replace, averaged just 37.8 passes, with the struggling Spaniard – who has been linked with a surprise move to Barcelona of late – having been described as "embarrassing" by content creator Conor McGilligan due to his dismal form.

Winks' ability to keep play ticking over earned him the nickname of "the washing machine" by Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, and it is that calmness on the ball – plus the motivation to prove a point – that could seriously bolster Leeds' promotion hopes if they pull off the coup.

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce recently hinted at the possibility of a significant transfer overhaul taking place at The Hawthorns during the summer.

Having failed to get near a promotion place by the end of the campaign, it’s easy to see why the Baggies manager thinks that some changes to the squad need to be made to put them in good shape to go again next season.

One area of the squad that the club could look to strengthen is their attack, especially after the news that Andy Carroll will not be with them for the 2022/23 campaign.

However, rather than dive into the transfer market and potentially spend millions of pounds on bringing in a new striker, one player to whom Bruce could turn and who wouldn’t cost the club a penny to unleash is Mo Faal.

After joining West Brom’s under-18 back in November 2019, the 19-year-old has gone on to make 50 appearances across the club’s under-18 and under-23 sides. In that time, the young striker has scored 16 goals in total, providing five assists along the way, showing just how much of a danger he is up front.

His latest appearance saw him play an integral role in the recent win over Wolves’ under-23 side in the Premier League Cup final, where he scored an acrobatic equaliser to take the match to penalties.

The teenager has made just one senior appearance for the Baggies, which came back in August during their disheartening 6-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup. In his 26 minutes on the pitch against the Gunners that night, the centre-forward made one key pass and one tackle and won two duels.

Hailed by Baggies under-18 boss Peter Gilbert as a player with a “physical presence” who “links the game up well, scores goals and is an aerial threat”, this is the sort of thing that the teenage prodigy could offer to Bruce’s side should he find himself getting a chance to shine on a regular basis in the first team.

Regardless of what transfer business Albion get done in the summer, giving Faal some regular game-time next season should definitely be in the manager’s plans.

In other news – Imagine him & O’Shea: Bruce can form powerful WBA duo by signing “immense” machine

Injury expert Ben Dinnery believes Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford will have a ‘special role from the bench’ in the club’s final two Premier League fixtures, Football Insider report. 

The Lowdown: Back in team training?

Bamford has had a season to forget, as have the Whites, and have just two games remaining against Brighton and Brentford to avoid relegation.

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The 28-year-old has been out since March with a foot problem but appears to be on track for a possible return on Sunday.

Jesse Marsch revealed earlier in the week that he expects Bamford to be involved in team training ahead of the weekend, which could put him in the picture for a place in the match-day squad at Elland Road.

The Latest: Bamford return is ‘huge’

Dinnery, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI about that news of a possible Bamford return.

He labelled the forward as a ‘huge’ part of the Whites squad and feels the striker will play a key role from the bench.

“With a fully fit Patrick Bamford, Leeds would be nowhere near where they are currently.

“They don’t really have a natural goalscorer at the moment. They have tried a few up there but no one has got anywhere near his goal return.

“It depends on results elsewhere. I certainly think there is a special role from the bench to be had for Bamford.

“He isn’t going to be where they want him in terms of fitness and sharpness but he knows how to score. He will make opportunities for himself and he is huge for that Leeds team.”

The Verdict: Needed

Leeds are down to the bare bones due to injury and suspension as they look to avoid the drop, so having Bamford involved again would be a timely boost.

Marsch’s side haven’t scored from open play in four games and don’t look a threat in attack, managing over 1.0 expected goals (xG) just once in their last five games.

Therefore, Bamford’s possible return to the bench would be a much-needed one, especially as he has scored 19 Premier League goals and registered 10 assists in the last two seasons.

In other news: Leeds and Orta now planning for the Championship as contact made to sign £5k-p/w flop – opinion.