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Everton are reportedly taking an interest in Fenerbahce centre-back Kim Min-jae ahead of the summer transfer window, and with the South Korea international reportedly in England, a deal with a Premier League club could well be on the cards.

What’s the word?

According to Turkish journalist Volkan Demir, the Toffees and Tottenham Hotspur are both interested in signing the 25-year-old this summer after his impressive performances in Istanbul.

Both clubs are reported to have progressed in negotiations with the defender, and it seems as if Kim may well be on move again this summer after making the switch to Turkey in 2021.

An instant upgrade for Everton?

The 2021/22 season saw Kim make 31 appearances in the Turkish Super Lig, in which he averaged an impressive 6.91 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which was better than any defender in Everton’s squad in the Premier League.

Valued at just £12.6m, the centre-back would also represent a relatively cheap option for Frank Lampard this summer, as the 43-year-old looks to improve on a Toffees defence which shipped 66 goals in the most recent top-flight campaign.

Meanwhile, Fenerbahce conceded 38 goals in the same number of matches in their league, which suggests that, although the Super Lig is of a lower standard compared to the English top flight, Kim can be relied upon to keep opponents out.

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At 6 foot 3, he certainly won’t lack the physicality required to play in the Premier League, while his performances have also earned him the praise of Turkish news outlet Potomac, who described him as “indispensable” in recent months.

The 2021/22 season saw the 25-year-old average 1.5 tackles, 2.3 interceptions and 4.1 clearances per game in the Super Lig. This was more interceptions and clearances than anyone in Everton’s squad, while only Ben Godfrey averaged more tackles from Lampard’s central defensive options.

In addition to making an impact on the pitch, the signing of a popular South Korea international could do wonders for Everton off the field, as has been seen with the formation of South Korean Tottenham Hotspur fan clubs following the success of Heung-min Son in north London.

Therefore, it seems clear that Kim would be an excellent addition to Lampard’s squad this summer, and is a deal that Farhad Moshiri must now look to complete.

In other news… Everton in prime position to sign £19.8m-rated titan, he won’t cost a penny

Celtic won’t be completing the signing of Benfica youngster Paulo Bernardo this summer, according to a new transfer update from his homeland.

The Lowdown: Celtic linked with Bernardo move

Ange Postecoglou will be hoping for a productive summer in the transfer window, as the Hoops look to build on last season’s Scottish Premiership triumph and build a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts.

One player who has been linked with a move in recent days is midfielder Bernardo, who is making a name for himself at Benfica, appearing 24 times for the first team to date, dubbed a player with ‘endless’ potential.

Now, it appears as though Celtic will need to look elsewhere, however.

The Latest: Transfer off the table

According to A Bola [via Sport Witness], there is not ‘any kind of negotiation’ between Celtic and Benfica over a summer move for Bernardo, pouring cold water on the claims.

The 20-year-old is expected to remain at his current club moving forward, with the Portuguese giants seeing him as an important figure for their future, even protecting that with a €100m (£85m) release clause.

The Verdict: Move on and look elsewhere

While this is a blow, considering Bernardo’s standing as a talented young midfielder, it is no disaster to miss a target this early in the summer and Postecoglou has plenty of time to move on and look at alternatives.

Midfield is certainly an area of the pitch that needs additions this summer, with Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton moving on and leaving a sizeable void in the middle of the park.

Someone older than Bernardo would make sense however, in terms of coming in as an immediate regular with experience on par to one of those departing heroes, while David Turnbull could be ready to go up a gear, too.

In other news, Celtic have been backed to seal the signing of one player. Find out who it is here.

Manchester United are being linked with a move for Porto midfielder Vitinha, but his previous form in the Premier League suggests that he would add very little to Erik ten Hag’s squad.

What’s the word?

According to the Portuguese outlet, Record, United and Arsenal are ‘ready to pay’ the £35m release clause of the 22-year-old midfielder after an impressive season with Porto, as he helped Sérgio Conceição’s side to the Liga NOS title.

With United having already lost Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic after their contracts expired, it is clear that ten Hag needs midfield reinforcements if United are to be a force again next season, but there is little to suggest that Vitinha would be better than any of the players released.

Worse than Matic?

In Vitinha’s last spell in the Premier League, he made just five starts and 14 substitute appearances for Wolves, in which he contributed no goals and one assist, averaging a less than impressive 6.26 rating from WhoScored.

For comparison, Matic, who has been reunited with Jose Mourinho at Roma after leaving Old Trafford, would average a 6.63 rating from WhoScored last season, even contributing four assists from defensive-midfield.

The Serbian was still deemed not good enough by large portions of the United faithful and left on a free transfer, so it would be baffling for United to replace him with someone that clearly didn’t cut it last time he was in the Premier League.

Although Vitinha was much improved last season with Porto, averaging a 7.23 rating from WhoScored, that was with a title-winning side in a significantly weaker division, and Ten Hag would surely be better off looking at more established talents, such as Frenkie de Jong and Christian Eriksen who have both been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

During Vitinha’s spell with Wolves, former manager Nuno Espirito Santo suggested that the midfielder was still adapting to the Premier League and “has to decide better” when using the ball, which suggests that he would take some time to get up to speed with the demands of the English top-flight.

Ten Hag needs Premier League-ready players who can make a difference from the off, and for £35m, United would surely be better off looking elsewhere for new midfield acquisitions.

And, in other news… Bid made: MUFC submit offer to complete “world-class” signing, imagine him & De Jong 

Liverpool’s next transfer target has been revealed, following the recent signing of Benfica hotshot, Darwin Nunez…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that the Merseyside outfit’s next priority this summer will be to focus on bringing in a central midfielder, having wrapped up a club-record deal for the Uruguayan in recent days.

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Looking ahead to what manager Jurgen Klopp will do next in the current window, Jones stated that the centre of the park is the German’s main focus: “I think it’s the next big position that he’ll be looking at. We know they’ve had an eye on players like Tchouameni recently, and they might have gone through with it, but they were definitely keeping an eye on players at that level.

“If Milner would have gone and Oxlade-Chamberlain was leaving, then I would feel like they had reason to strengthen right now. But, as it stands right now, Liverpool have got loads of numbers in that area of the field.”

As the respected source alluded to, the Reds had been heavily linked with a move for French starlet Aurelien Tchouameni in recent months, although the 22-year-old has since opted to make the switch from Monaco to 14-time European champions, Real Madrid.

Supporters buzzing

That verdict will no doubt be music to the ears of the Anfield faithful, with supporters likely to be demanding even more transfer activity in the coming weeks, despite fending off rival interest to land the highly-coveted Nunez.

Even at the end of a campaign that so nearly saw Klopp’s men swoop an unprecedented quadruple, the belief is that the Premier League powerhouse will need to strengthen once again if they are to keep pace with title winners Manchester City, particularly with the Etihad outfit having added Erling Haaland to their stellar squad.

Having begun to assemble an enviable forward line of their own – even with Sadio Mane’s looming exit – the FA Cup winners will now need to focus on other areas of the pitch, with adding further quality in the centre of midfield seemingly a must.

The current first-choice trio of Jordan Henderson, Thiago and Fabinho were instrumental in that stellar campaign last term, although some younger, fresher legs could well be needed, hence the previous interest in the aforementioned Tchouameni.

Equally, the former Borussia Dortmund boss also has a number of fringe players in his midfield ranks that may need to be moved on, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain having been heavily linked with a £10m exit this summer.

There has been a suggestion that England wonderkid Jude Bellingham is a top priority for FSG, although the teenager is likely to be a target of the future, with it yet to be seen just who could be coming through the door in the current window.

Nevertheless, just knowing that Liverpool aren’t resting on their laurels and are still keen to bolster their ranks will be welcome news to the club’s supporters.

AND in other news: Bid made: FSG now in LFC talks to land “world class” £60m “storm”, imagine him & Nunez

Newcastle United transfer target Ibrahim Sangare could be the ‘perfect foil’ for Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, journalist Pete O’Rourke has said.

The Lowdown: Newcastle linked with Sangare

According to a report by Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur, the Magpies and fellow Premier League outfit Leicester City are among the defensive midfielder’s most prominent admirers.

However, more recently, Sky Sports have claimed that Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested in signing the Ivory Coast international, with both clubs looking to reinforce their midfield engine rooms.

It is reported that Sangare has a £29.9m release clause in his contract, which is not due to expire until the summer of 2025.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s claim

O’Rourke believes that the arrival of Sangare at St James’ Park would allow fan favourite Guimaraes to push further forward, allowing the latter’s attacking flair to flourish.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the journalist claimed: “Sangare has been linked with several Premier League teams.

“He’s had a very good season for PSV, and he looks like he could be the perfect foil for Bruno Guimaraes, allowing him to maybe push further forward in midfield and get into attacking positions and score goals while Sangare is sitting back in front of the defence and marshalling that side of the team.”

The Verdict: Strong prospective signing

Previously dubbed ‘an outstanding all-round midfielder’ by former PSV manager Roger Schmidt, it is easy to see how the 24-year-old earned that appraisal.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the Ivory Coast international topped some of his team’s statistical leaderboards, averaging 3.3 tackles and 2.6 interceptions per game in the Eredivisie (via WhoScored).

Going forward, the midfielder totalled eight goal contributions in 49 appearances throughout the season (via Transfermarkt).

Therefore, Sangare’s well-rounded contributions both defensively and in an attacking sense illustrate why he would be a strong signing for Eddie Howe’s side, and indeed possibly let Guimaraes off the leash a bit more.

In other news: Jacque Talbot reveals Roger Fernandes ‘discussions’

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has provided an update regarding Leeds United’s reported interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers man, Adama Traore.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider revealed that sporting director Victor Orta is driving the pursuit of the dynamic Spaniard, following reports that the Elland Road outfit are interested in the 26-year-old.

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O’Rourke stated:

“Victor Orta, the Leeds United head of recruitment, is a huge fan of Adama Traore having previously worked with him at Middlesbrough and has been chasing him for a long time, so it’s a deal that he will definitely try and push over the line.”

The one-time Aston Villa man had spent the second half of last season on loan at La Liga giants Barcelona, although is set to return to his parent club this summer with the Nou Camp outfit unable to afford his reported £29m buy option, due to their ongoing financial crisis.

With just a year remaining on his deal at Molineux, the eight-cap gem is set to fetch in the region of £18m, with the Yorkshire side having previously been linked with a deal last summer during Marcelo Bielsa’s time in charge.

Raphinha heir

The desire for a new attacking addition in the current window has been heightened by the seemingly imminent departure of talisman Raphinha, with the Brazilian ace looking set to join fellow Premier League side, Arsenal, this summer.

Replacing the 25-year-old’s 29 goal contributions from the last two top-flight campaigns combined will undoubtedly be difficult, as too will be replacing his influence on the game, with the £17m addition having posed a constant threat down either flank with his speed and trickery.

In Traore, however, Orta has identified a player who can perhaps offer an even greater attacking threat, with the “unique” colossus – as dubbed by former boss Nuno Espirito Santo – a simply rare asset for any side.

While his attacking output has been poor in recent seasons in truth, with just eight goals and 14 assists in his Premier League career thus far, the £18m-rated man did impress on his brief return to Catalonia, registering four assists in all competitions for Xavi’s side.

An improvement on that end product is needed, although it is his explosive pace and immense power that makes the £46k-per-week machine such an eye-catching and devastating presence, with the former Middlesbrough man a simply unstoppable force on the counter-attack.

Unsurprisingly, the statistics reinforce that claim, as he ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed and in the top 3% for progressive carries among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, showcasing his brilliance in dragging his side up the pitch.

Described as a “freak” by journalist Tim Spiers, the 5 foot 10 menace would seemingly suit the often relentless, high-octane style that is on show at Elland Road, with it a mouthwatering thought as to the carnage he could cause while willed on by frenzied home support.

Undoubtedly, the loss of Raphinha would be a blow for next season’s preparations, although in Traore the Whites can find his perfect heir.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano now reveals “crucial” transfer development, it’s great news for Leeds

Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham has suggested that Emerson Royal could be sold this summer as a result of not being a homegrown player.

The Lowdown: Spurs reject Atletico offer

The Brazilian first made the move to the Premier League when he joined the Lilywhites from Barcelona last summer, making 44 appearances across all competitions in his debut season in N17.

Despite the 23-year-old still having a solid four years remaining on his contract though, the right-back has recently been linked with a move away from the English top-flight, with Atletico Madrid interested in signing him this window.

Football Insider reported earlier this week that the Spanish giants had tabled an offer for the defender after hearing that Antonio Conte would be willing to let him leave, but the opening proposal was rejected by Spurs, as per Sky Sports.

The Latest: Wenham’s exit claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham claimed that Emerson would be let go by Tottenham this window due to his non-homegrown status complicating squad registration next season. He said: “I feel a bit sorry for Emerson.

“Towards the end of the season, he actually did really, really well. He contributed to us finishing in the top four.

“The issue for him is that he is Brazilian and doesn’t count as homegrown or anything like that. The issue with that is, if it is between him and Matt Doherty who needs to be sold, it will be him.

“It’s unlucky, it really is unlucky. I hate to say it but that’s just how it is. There are reports saying Atletico are interested.

“That is one to watch in the coming days.”

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The Verdict: Not in the long-term vision

With Middlesbrough starlet Djed Spence closing in on a move to Spurs, it’s likely that he would be Conte’s first-choice right-back over Emerson, so an exit could be the best option for both parties.

The Sao Paulo-born talent, who was once hailed an ‘incredible’ player by club correspondent Alasdair Gold, doesn’t have the attacking ability down the flank that the Italian boss looks for in his wing-backs, having only provided one assist all last campaign, compared to Spence’s five.

Tottenham definitely won’t want to let Emerson go for a significant loss, but the interest in Spence proves he isn’t part of Conte’s long-term plan, and therefore, a departure is very much likely to be on the cards.

According to a Brazilian outlet, Tottenham look set to miss out on Lyon star Lucas Paqueta after making an approach to sign him this window.

The Lowdown: Midfield priority

Antonio Conte will now be on the lookout for his fifth addition of the summer having already secured the signatures of Perisic, Forster, Bissouma and Richarlison, and the midfield seems to be an area that he’s trying to target.

The 24-year-old first arrived in Ligue 1 when he joined the French giants from AC Milan back in 2020 and has been in superb form ever since, but despite receiving serious interest from the Premier League, it looks as though the maestro will be staying put in Lyon, much to the disappointment of his potential suitors.

The Latest: Spurs make contact with Paqueta

In a new article published by ESPN Brasil (via Sport Witness), it’s claimed that Tottenham, alongside Arsenal and Manchester City, have all ‘made contact’ with Paqueta in recent weeks, but regardless of the ‘strong approach’ from the English trio, it’s reported that talks ‘did not advance’.

The source states that it’s unclear just how much the Lilywhites were willing to pay for their target, but insist that he is ‘completely adapted’ in France, which is why he won’t force a transfer in the immediate future and is expected to link up with Lyon for the start of their pre-season preparations later this week.

The Verdict: Blow for Conte

Hearing the news that Paqueta is likely to be continuing at Lyon will come as a huge blow to Conte, who will have been hoping to add someone like the Rio de Janeiro-born talent to his ranks to provide much-needed creativity and goals in the middle of the park.

Indeed, no Spurs central midfielder managed more than two goals or four assists in the Premier League last season (WhoScored).

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The 33-cap international, who was once hailed an ‘extraordinary’ player by his manager Peter Bosz, found the back of the net 11 times and provided seven assists across all competitions for Lyon last season, as per Transfermarkt.

He would have been the perfect candidate to walk into the Italian’s starting XI, with the likes of Kane and Son being able to benefit from his service, but Paqueta appears to have made his transfer stance pretty clear so Spurs will now have to turn their attention elsewhere.

Leeds United could make their move for Noa Lang this summer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who revealed that the Club Brugge hotshot has been a long-term target for the Elland Road hierarchy.

He told GIVEMESPORT:

“We know that they’ve been looking at some other really exciting names. Noa Lang is a long-term target, somebody that they definitely like. Gakpo is definitely admired and somebody that they’ve had on their list.”

It’s believed that the Dutch winger would cost in excess of €30m (£25m), as per Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws (via Sport Witness).

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Raphinha 2.0

Indeed, Lang has regularly been linked with a switch to west Yorkshire and this off-season could be the ideal time for Leeds to make their move.

Raphinha, who has now been left out of their pre-season tour of Australia, appears to be edging ever closer to an exit. Fabrizio Romano claims the Yorkshire giants are “in talks” over his exit, with Barcelona and Premier League rivals Chelsea battling it out for his signature.

Leeds have already taken steps to fill the inevitable void left behind by signing Feyenoord star Luis Sinisterra for £25m but his primary position throughout his career has been on the left, rather than the right, though he is versatile to play on either side.

That said, a more scattergun approach to trying to replace him could pay off, so it would make sense to launch an offence for Lang, who could well become the next Raphinha around Elland Road.

The 23-year-old, who stands at 5 foot 10, continued his impressive form in the Jupiler Pro League as Club Brugge clinched the title last season – as per Transfermarkt, he registered seven goals and 14 assists, taking his total for the club to 26 goals and 26 assists in 85 appearances.

Formerly of the Ajax academy, the five-time Dutch international has been lauded for his exploits regularly.

Belgian sports journalist Peter Vandenbempt has lauded Lang as a “phenomenon”, whilst scout Jacek Kulig has described him as being “unstoppable” at times.

FBref compare his style to that of Jadon Sancho and Adama Traore, both of whom are in the Premier League, so perhaps he would need little time to settle in based on their experiences.

Lang also ranks in the top 2% of his positional peers across Europe for progressive passes (6.18 per 90) and the top 10% for dribbles completed (2.56 per 90), which is an encouraging sign and one that only adds to the possibility of him replacing Raphinha on the right flank – his natural position, too.

As Jones suggests, he could well be an exciting arrival for Leeds, should director of football Victor Orta pursue his signature before the September 1st deadline.

AND in other news, Orta could seal dream Rodrigo heir with Leeds bid for “highly-rated” 44-goal sensation…

According to a Spanish outlet, Tottenham and Antonio Conte have given the green light for Giovani Lo Celso to leave the club this summer.

The Lowdown: Lo Celso not in pre-season squad

The Argentine left the Premier League to spend the second half of last season out on loan at Villarreal after experiencing a considerable lack of game time in N17, with the deal including an option to buy.

The Lilywhites have omitted the midfielder from their squad for their pre-season tour of Asia, suggesting that an exit is inevitable, and there’s a strong chance that he could be returning to La Liga after a successful spell over the past couple of months.

The Latest: Spurs ready to sanction exit

In a new article published by Spanish website El Periodico Mediterraneo (via Sport Witness), it’s claimed that Tottenham and Fabio Paratici have ‘opened the exit door’ for Lo Celso, which in turn has also opened the ‘entry door’ for Villarreal to re-sign him.

The source states that his exclusion from the team is a ‘clear sign the talented footballer has free rein to find a new destination’, and report that he is very much keen to make the move to join Unai Emery again ‘no matter what’.

It’s believed that the Lilywhites ‘could ask for between €25-30m’ (£21.1-25.3m) for their midfield maestro, which are currently ‘prohibitive figures’ for the Spanish giants, though there’s hope that they will generate the required transfer funds from the sales of existing players.

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The Verdict: Time to move on

Conte clearly doesn’t view Lo Celso as someone he wants to involve as part of his long-term project at Spurs, so making the switch back to Villarreal or finding a new club would be the best option for both parties.

Before his loan, the 26-year-old, dubbed a ‘technically gifted’ player by teammate Harry Winks, only made three appearances in the top-flight in the two months that he spent under the Italian boss, so understandably wanted to go out and find more game time elsewhere.

Lo Celso became a fan favourite during his short stint at Villarreal and played regularly, helping them reach the Champions League semi-finals, so it wouldn’t come as any surprise to see him return and make his stay permanent in the weeks ahead.