All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Newcastle United are preparing an offer to bring Torino defender Perr Schuurs to the Premier League, according to Sky Sports Italia expert Gianluca Di Marzio.

What's the latest on Schuurs' future?

The Telegraph have reported that Eddie Howe is hoping to get six new signings through the door in the summer, one of those being a new centre-back, and the 23-year-old has been identified as a potential candidate.

The Dutchman only arrived in the Serie A back in August 2022, but in his 26 appearances to date, has already become Ivan Juric’s second best-performing defensive player, so his displays have caught the attention of the hierarchy in the northeast.

The St. James’ Park target’s current contract isn’t set to run out for another three years, so won’t come cheap when trying to get a deal over the line, but it would appear that the board are willing to try regardless.

According to Di Marzio (via TEAMtalk), Newcastle are “preparing an offer” for Schuurs and are “serious” about securing his services ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Magpies haven’t yet tabled an official bid but it’s stated that they hold the “intention” to do it in a move that could potentially see him reunite with his former teammate Sven Botman, with the pair knowing each other from during their time at Ajax and internationally for the Netherlands.

For Torino to sanction his sale, the reporter claims that the northeast outfit would have to “double” the €14m (£12m) they paid for him which would end up being approximately €28m (£24m), a fee that is likely to be “within reach” for PIF.

Would Schuurs be a good signing for Newcastle?

Newcastle will likely be able to attract the majority of their targets should they secure a place in the Champions League, and if he was to put pen to paper, Schuurs would be an excellent backline addition at St. James’.

Standing at 6 foot 3, the “mountain”, as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting, currently averages 3.3 clearances and 2.1 aerial wins per league game, via WhoScored, so holds a strong physical presence over his opponents.

The Nike-sponsored colossus, who has the versatility to play higher up in defensive midfield alongside his natural centre-back role, can also pose a threat in the final third with 37 goal contributions to his name since the start of his career, making this deal even more of a no-brainer to complete.

Manchester United are “definitely” interested in a deal to bring Napoli striker Victor Osimhen to the Premier League, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Who is trying to sign Osimhen?

The Nigeria international’s deal at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium isn’t set to run out for another two years, but having established himself as Luciano Spalletti’s top-offensive and second overall best player with a match rating of 7.55, has caught the eye of Erik Ten Hag.

Fabrizio Romano claimed in February that the Red Devils boss is a “big fan” of the 24-year-old’s skill set, whilst Florian Plettenberg has since reported that the hierarchy “really want” to bring him to Old Trafford. The Serie A forward has already handed his admirers a boost by admitting that it’s his dream to one day complete a move to the top-flight and it sounds like they are therefore keeping close tabs ahead of the upcoming window.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sheth revealed that Osimhen is indeed a serious target at Man United but insisted that any deal taking place is likely to depend on the funds that will be available to them. He said:

“Osimhen could be one of the big movers in the summer. United would definitely be interested because they want to fill that position. But again, as I mentioned before, that takeover and the finances within that club are going to hold a big key in whether they'd be able to get someone like Osimhen or not."

Where would Osimhen fit in at Man United?

Man United striker Wout Weghorst could be set to return to Burnley in the summer after a disappointing loan spell which has seen him score just two goals, so should he depart, Osimhen would be the perfect long-term replacement for Ten Hag.

The Lagos native has clocked up a remarkable 30 goal contributions (25 goals and five assists) in 30 appearances across all competitions this season and he ranks in the 99th percentile for total number of shots by strikers in the top leagues, form which has seen him lauded a “joy to watch” by journalist Josh Bunting.

The £93k-per-week star would also add excellent versatility to the squad with his ability to play as a natural centre-forward, second striker and even out wide on both the left and right flanks, so should the opportunity to sign him arise, United really have a no-brainer of a decision to make.

Jurgen Klopp’s greatest legacy at Liverpool will undoubtedly be leading the club to their first Premier League crown in 2019/20, 30 years after their previous league success. Add in a Champions League triumph along with a handful of other trophies, and he has led the Anfield side to their most successful era since the 1980s.

However, trophies shouldn’t be his only legacy with the Merseyside outfit, as he has managed to develop and incorporate several youth talents into the Liverpool first team that have gone on to play a part in their recent success.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is the main example in this regard, having made his debut under Klopp during the 2016/17 campaign and has gone on to make 267 appearances in total for the club, with surely plenty more to come considering he is still only 24 years old.

Meanwhile,young Scottish right back Calvin Ramsay makes an excellent case for being the heir apparent to the English full-back, and the next few years could define his Liverpool career.

Who is Calvin Ramsay?

The youngster signed for Liverpool last summer in a £6.5m deal from Aberdeen having impressed during the 2021/22 campaign, being thrust into regular senior football at just 17 years of age.

Across 24 Scottish Premiership outings, the right-back was one of Aberdeen’s brightest sparks, averaging 1.8 key passes per game, creating three big chances, grabbing four assists and succeeding with 49% of his attempted dribbles.

This is similar to Alexander-Arnold, who prides himself on his ability to bomb forward as much as possible to create chances for teammates – and Ramsay could well follow in his footsteps over the next few years.

The former Aberdeen starlet has even admitted that he is “similar” to the 24-year-old, and having him there to act as a mentor will certainly boost his confidence.

Former Dons manager Jim Goodwin declared Ramsay as an “exciting” talent upon his arrival at Liverpool in 2022, and although he has made just two appearances for the senior side this season due to injury problems, his time will surely come over the coming seasons.

Already capped by Scotland, his future looks extremely bright, and under Klopp, anything is possible for the young prodigy.

Chelsea are already lining up targets for the summer transfer window, with Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness) reporting that the Blues want Emanuel Emegha.

Will Chelsea sign Emanuel Emegha?

The 20-year-old only made the move to Sturm Graz during the last summer transfer window but may already be heading for the exit door after an impressive campaign in Austria.

Starting out with Sparta Rotterdam in his native country of the Netherlands, he left for Belgium and Antwerp before joining up with his current side. It's here where he has managed his best ever goal-haul, bagging eight strikes in 13 starts. With the player seemingly getting better by the season, he is now starting to grab the attention of potential suitors.

One such side is Chelsea, who have sent scouts to watch him in action ahead of Mauricio Pochettino's pending arrival. According to Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness), the Premier League side have been keeping an eye on the player and have sent scouts to judge his displays in Austria as they consider adding more attacking options for their potential new manager.

He's described as "very tall and very quick," standing at 6 foot 5, and Chelsea have seemingly liked what they have seen of the forward so may try to snap him up when the window opens.

Who is Emanuel Emegha?

For those who aren't aware of Austrian football or haven't seen the youngster play in Belgium or the Netherlands, Emegha is a bit of an unknown quantity.

However, the potential seems to be there with the striker based on his goal rate. Despite his age, he has been the top goalscorer for Sturm Graz this season (FBRef), which is even more impressive when you consider it is both his first season with the club and the first season in a new country.

Considering that no Chelsea player has managed more than seven efforts so far this campaign then (Kai Havertz tops their goalscoring charts with that amount), if he can carry that form over to England he would be a welcome addition to the side.

His stats suggest he is not afraid of having a shot either when he gets into a decent position, regularly threatening the opposition goalkeeper (50% shot on target rate) and averaging at least 2.57 shots per 90 minutes too.

Emegha then seemingly plays with confidence despite his age and having already proven that moving country doesn't faze him, he could be a really shrewd addition for the club this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are now in "pole position" to appoint Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, according to recent reports out of Italy.

What's the latest Spurs manager news?

The Serie A title-winner, who recently guided Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years, is currently a reported target for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

The north Londoners have apparently completed the due-diligence stage of their search for Antonio Conte's replacement with Levy set to step up talks with candidates.

Julian Nagelsmann, who was surprisingly sacked by Bayern Munich earlier this season, is reportedly a top target for Spurs alongside former Barcelona manager and Champions League winner Luis Enrique (Evening Standard).

The aforementioned duo are just a couple of options for the Lilywhites, as reports suggest that exciting in-work managers like Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen) and Ruben Amorim (Sporting Lisbon) are also on Levy's shortlist.

Spalletti has emerged as an interesting option for Tottenham in the last week after he guided Napoli to an historic title win, with journalist Paolo Bargiggia even claiming the 64-year-old has an 'important proposal' from Spurs.

Now, another Italian source has weighed in on the matter, as Radio Kiss Kiss Naples (via Tutto Napoli.net) say Tottenham are actually the current favourites to snatch Spalletti away.

It is believed that Tottenham are now in "pole position" to appoint the former Roma boss ahead of other unnamed Premier League clubs.

Not much else is said on Spurs' chase for Spaletti, but according to Radio Kiss Kiss, it appears the north Londoners are out in front of the competition.

What could Spalletti bring to Spurs?

The tactician hasn't just enjoyed success at Napoli – winning a grand total of eight major trophies across spells at numerous clubs.

Spalletti had enjoyed great success at Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia over a decade ago, clinching two league titles, a Russian Cup and Super Cup during his time there.

The ex-Roma boss also boasts two Coppa Italias and an Italian Super Cup from his spell at the Stadio Olimpico in the 2000s, with Spalletti certainly possessing no shortage of experience.

BBC journalist John Bennett has also praised his "amazing job" at Napoli this season whilst branding Spalletti an "elite football coach".

Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini also holds the coach in high esteem, recently calling him a "phenomenon" in an interview with Radio Kiss Kiss:

“They put on a show yet still manage to kill-off the opponent. They have such a unique yet spontaneous way of playing. I think they’re capable of making a splash in the European competitions, too.“Spalletti? He’s a phenomenon—a stubborn yet sharp guy. He stays as close as he can to the players to ensure they grasp even the small details and it shows on the pitch.”

Newcastle United's interest in Leicester City midfielder James Maddison has "never dissipated", but there will be a number of Premier League teams in the race for his signature, according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

Newcastle are keen on bringing in new midfield options this summer, and they have now been linked with a move for Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, who could be on the move after the Saints' relegation from the top flight.

New wide options are also of interest to the Magpies, and they are willing to spend big to win the race for Barcelona winger Raphinha, while they are also said to be preparing an offer for Bayer Leverkusen's Moussa Diaby.

Maddison would tick both boxes for Eddie Howe, given that he is capable of playing through the middle and on either wing, and there has now been an update on the future of the Leicester star.

In an interview with TEAMtalk, Bailey claimed that the Englishman has been a long-term target for Newcastle, while also indicating they could be set to reignite their interest in the summer.

The transfer insider said: “I am told that Newcastle’s interest in Maddison has never dissipated. They have wanted him since last summer, it is a target agreed upon throughout the club from the board, to Dan Ashworth to Eddie Howe, they are in sync.

“Sources close to the player insist there are a number of clubs showing an interest. We know Tottenham have always been big fans and remain so, whilst I wouldn’t rule out Liverpool coming in for him.

Should Newcastle sign James Maddison?

The £110k-per-week maestro has been a shining light in a poor Leicester team this season, averaging a Sofascore match rating of 7.40 in the Premier League, head and shoulders above any other player in the squad.

Hailed as "exceptional" by talkSPORT's Andy Goldstein, the England international has weighed in with ten goals and nine assists in 27 league outings this season, with the latter figure ranking him sixth in the entire top flight.

Maddison has recorded incredible attacking numbers in a struggling side, indicating he could go on to do even better things when surrounded by better players, and Newcastle should undoubtedly make him a key target this summer.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is now expected to steer clear of commercial partnerships with cryptocurrency companies.

Many cryptocurrency companies have run into trouble since the collapse of the FTX exchange and it impacted Chelsea Football Club. After agreeing a £20m-a-year sleeve deal with WhaleFin, the company experienced financial trouble prompting the Blues to terminate their agreement early.

Which companies are Chelsea interested in working with?

According to Football Insider finance reporter Adam Williams, their experience with crypto companies has led to a change in commercial strategy. Instead, Chelsea are in talks with companies from more traditional sectors such as technology, conventional finance and the automotive industry.

FI reports that Chelsea "are likely to accept a contract with a lower base rate and greater performance-related incentives" after missing out on Champions League football for the 2023/24 season.

Sky Sports reported in April that Chelsea were in talks with German bank Allianz although Football Insider reports they were unable to verify that claim.

Boehly has identified sponsorships as an area of major growth potential for Chelsea, especially given the incredible transfer expenditure he has sanctioned since taking over the club.

What are Chelsea's transfer plans this summer?

As always with a club of Chelsea's size, the rumour mill has already begun churning out names that the Blues could sign. Departures will largely define the summer with Eduoard Mendy, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic all linked with an exit.

Mendy is upset with the contract offer he received in December and with no sign of a satisfactory deal, he could leave.

Kovacic is another player Chelsea have themselves to losing as the Croatian has a single year remaining on his deal.

A recent report claims that Mount could snub interest from the likes of Liverpool to stay at Stamford Bridge but that remains to be seen.

In terms of new signings, that is as unclear as outgoings although it would be a huge surprise if Chelsea remained idle all summer. That said, fans will be excited to read that Boehly has held meetings with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi regarding the transfer of Neymar Jr.

If there is one player that most clubs would be desperate to sign given the chance, it's Neymar. Although, given his concerning injury record and admission that he has fallen out of love with football, the Premier League may not be the best destination for him.

Chelsea could potentially make a move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez in June, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Martinez enjoying a good season?

The Argentine has enjoyed as 2022/23 season to treasure to date, enjoying plenty of memorable moments for both club and country. Firstly, he has helped Inter reach the Champions League final against Manchester City next month, scoring in last week's semi-final second leg triumph over rivals AC Milan.

Meanwhile, Martinez also became a World Cup winner with Argentine back in December, in what was surely the crowning moment of his career to date. The £184,000-a-week attacker's future is up in the air, however, and Chelsea have been linked with a move for him in the recent past.

The Blues are badly in need of signing an elite striker once the summer transfer window arrives and it looks as though he could be a leading candidate to come in. His current deal expires in the summer of 2026, though, so it could take a huge bid to be able to sign him.

Is Martinez off to Chelsea this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano admitted that there are no strong links between Chelsea and Martinez yet, but that a move is still far from out of the question:

"At the moment, with Martinez, it is not concrete because we know Inter are busy with the Champions League. At the moment, they have no intention of negotiating for any player. This will be something for June.

"Honestly, at the moment, I'm not aware of any concrete discussion between Martinez’s camp and Chelsea. So, we have to wait and see on that one. I think this is a very normal link because he’s Argentinian. But it's not something concrete at this stage."

Martinez could be exactly what Chelsea are after this season, having been hailed as "spectacular" by compatriot Lionel Messi in the past. At 25, he is at a brilliant age to come in and be a key figure for five or six years at least, leading the line and adding more of a goal threat in that position than someone like Kai Havertz.

His tally of 99 strikes in 223 appearances for Inter highlights his attacking prowess, while a total of 34 assists also shows that he can create for teammates. Whether he opts to join the Blues remains to be seen – a lack of Champions League football could be a drawback – but he ticks all the boxes when it comes to summer additions.

Manchester United have enjoyed a positive campaign in Erik Ten Hag's first year in charge and stand on the brink of being able to secure Champions League qualification for next term.

The Red Devils have already achieved silverware in the form of the Carabao Cup and also have the chance to claim the FA Cup trophy if they can get past Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in early June.

Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, bringing in a few quality additions will be on the mind of Ten Hag as he looks to build a squad capable of taking Manchester United back to the top of the tree in English football.

Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane has been linked with a blockbuster move to Old Trafford and could provide the x-factor in attack that has been missing at times in 2022/23.

From a defensive standpoint, The Sun claim that Napoli man Kim Min-Jae could be on his way to the Premier League giants, with Manchester United said to be keen to 'table an offer' to try and entice the 26-year-old away from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

What's the latest transfer news on Kim Min-Jae and why is he so highly regarded?

The Sun report states that Paris Saint-Germain also have a keen interest in the South Korea international and have held talks with his entourage amid the fact that he has a release clause worth £40 million that activates in July. Manchester City are also keeping an eye on his situation, though RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is their preferred choice.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones thinks that Kim would be a statement signing by Manchester United that could help to take them to the next level after hearing he could be on his way to Old Trafford.

Jones told FFC: "I just think having someone on that level would be hugely significant in terms of upgrading the squad if they could actually make it happen."

In 2022/23, Kim has made 44 appearances in all competitions for Napoli, registering two goals and two assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

ESPN estimate that Red Devils boss Ten Hag will have between £100-£150 million to spend on rebuilding his squad in the summer, though this may dramatically increase if a deal is completed by the Glazer family to relinquish their majority ownership of the club.

In terms of who Manchester United could upgrade on by bringing Kim to Old Trafford, Harry Maguire springs to mind as an obvious candidate, as he has been linked with a move to either West Ham United or Tottenham Hotspur, as per FootballTransfers.

Comparing the two players via WhoScored, Kim comes out on top in aerial duels won, clearances completed, pass success rate and average match rating, scoring 2.7 in aerial duels, 3.6 clearances, 91% pass completion and earning a match rating of 7.10/10.

On the other hand, Maguire comes in at 1.3 successful aerial duels won, 2.5 clearances per match, 85.8% passing success and being given a match rating of 6.57/10.

€61,731 (£53,637) per week earner Kim has also excelled in the art of passes attempted compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions, having tried an average of 80.23 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the third percentile for this metric, according to FBRef.

As per Tuttomercatoweb via OneFootball, former Manchester United favourite Ji Sung-Park was full of praise for Kim's qualities as a domineering defender, stating in an interview: “Extraordinary, what a talent." He then added: “There is no doubt that he is doing extraordinary things, as a technical leader and personality in Naples.”

Journalist Fabrizio Romano shared quotes from Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti claiming that nobody in the world is a better defender than Kim at present, which read: "Kim Min-Jae is the best centre-back in the world right now. Kim does at least 20 incredible things per game. When he starts the run with the ball at his feet, he can get it into the opposition penalty area in 5 seconds flat!"

Manchester United are set for a huge summer as they find out who will control the purse strings at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future and Kim would be a major signing to kick off a new era for the club.

There is a good chance that Harry Kane stays at Spurs this summer despite heavy interest from elsewhere, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest on Harry Kane?

The England captain has one year remaining on his contract at Spurs, and given their failure to qualify for European competition, the 29-year-old could depart in search of success elsewhere.

He is Manchester United's top target this summer, but it remains to be seen whether he will choose to leave Spurs, having become their all-time top scorer this season.

Speaking on the Here We Go Podcast, Romano claimed that Kane could stay at his club, given how difficult a deal will be to negotiate for him, and that Spurs will still try to tie him down to fresh terms.

"I think yes, I'm told that there is a chance because Daniel Levy is prepared to fight in a crazy way to keep the player, to offer him a new deal and also to show Tottenham fans after a difficult season, they can keep the player at the club," he stated.

"For sure Harry Kane is considering some options, because Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is 100% convinced that Kane is the perfect striker for his idea, but again negotiating with Daniel Levy will not be easy at all, so I don't see that as an easy one for Manchester United."

What should Kane do?

At 29 years of age, Kane is still yet to win a major trophy, and Spurs have steadily declined in performance levels since reaching the Champions League final four years ago.

With no sporting director or manager in place for next season, it seems that the Lilywhites are still a long way off challenging Manchester City at the top of the table, and if Kane wants to win silverware, it likely will not come at Spurs.

If he departs England, with Real Madrid reportedly interested, he would lose the chance to become the Premier League's all-time top scorer, as he is currently 47 goals behind Alan Shearer, but he could give himself a great chance at winning major honours.

A move to Man United could be appealing, given the progress they have made under Ten Hag, as well as the opportunity to secure the Premier League goals record, although there is less guarantee that the Red Devils could challenge at the top of the league than there would be at Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.

If the striker, who has been described as "exceptional", values the top scoring record highly, then staying at Spurs will allow him to accomplish that goal, but extending his contract could dramatically lower his chances at winning a league title or Champions League than if he departed this summer or next.