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When Leeds United sold Pontus Jansson for a figure in the region of £5.5m to then-Championship rivals Brentford back in the summer of 2019, many at Elland Road must have been wondering why the Whites had sanctioned such a deal.

Indeed, the centre-back had consistently been one of the club’s best performers following his move from Torino in 2016, averaging seasonal SofaScore match ratings of 7.44 in 2016/17, 7.09 in 2017/18 and 7.16 in 2018/19 – ranking him as Leeds’ best, best and third-best performer in each respective Championship campaign.

This was a trend that continued following the Sweden international’s departure, with Jansson playing a key role in Brentford’s run to the play-off final in 2019/20 – in which the Bees narrowly missed out on promotion after a 2-1 AET defeat to Fulham – as well as starring in the club’s promotion-winning campaign the following year – this time besting Swansea in the play-off final.

And, following Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League, the £6.3m-rated defender quickly proved that has the ability to thrive in the top flight, scoring three goals and helping his side keep seven clean sheets over 37 appearances in 2021/22, as well as making an average of 1.4 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, 5.0 clearances and winning 4.1 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per game.

These returns saw the player who Frank dubbed both “immense” and a “threat” average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.86, ranking him as Brentford’s 10th-best performer as the club secured an incredibly respectable 13th place finish in their first ever Premier League campaign.

As such, while the £31k-per-week talent himself claimed back in 2019 that Leeds sold him in order to help balance their books – despite other reports claiming that the reason for his sale was that Marcelo Bielsa simply did not get on with the Swede – considering just how much success the Brentford captain has enjoyed since his departure, Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani must rue selling the 31-year-old when they did.

Indeed, should the Whites have held onto the defender a little while longer, the club would have likely received a much bigger fee from his sale following their own promotion to the Premier League in the campaign following his sale – with Leicester City, Newcastle United and Everton having all been linked with a move for the defender in January of this year.

Liverpool have been dealt another injury blow with the news that centre-back Joel Matip is expected to be sidelined for longer than previously expected.

The Lowdown: Matip absent for Liverpool

The 31-year-old was a regular presence for the Reds last season, starting 31 Premier League matches and avoiding the injury problems which have so often plagued him.

Unfortunately, Matip has been absent since featuring in the 2-2 draw away to Fulham on the opening weekend of the campaign, with a groin issue keeping him out of last week’s clash against Crystal Palace.

The hope was that the Cameroonian could return for tonight’s trip to Manchester United, but a negative update has emerged prior to the Old Trafford encounter.

The Latest: Injury worse than first feared

Speaking to reporters [via This Is Anfield], Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Matip’s absence is expected to be prolonged, due to what the Liverpool manager has described as a ‘strange’ injury which could rule the defender out for up to four weeks, having initially been expected to miss just two.

The German outlined:

“Joel now, that was strange as well. How it happened, didn’t feel anything in training, walked in then said ‘yeah, there is something’ and then out for, I don’t know, three weeks, four weeks, whatever.”

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The Verdict: Another big blow

Injuries have really hurt Liverpool already this season, with the likes of Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate and Thiago currently missing, among others, and this update is another blow for the Reds.

It means that Joe Gomez will probably start against United after Nat Phillips struggled at home to Palace last Monday, but Klopp’s centre-back options are certainly limited.

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History suggests that Matip can often be out for longer than initially feared, and if he doesn’t return sooner rather than later, it could have a detrimental impact on Liverpool’s Premier League title chances, especially considering that he was the Reds’ fourth-best performer last term according to WhoScored.

Newcastle United’s pursuit of Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is ‘one to watch’, according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Howe’s striker pursuit

Despite Chris Wood’s arrival at St James’ Park in January, Magpies boss Eddie Howe appears keen on signing another out-and-out striker before the summer transfer window closes.

Callum Wilson remains the Toon’s first choice at number nine, given his excellent goalscoring record on Tyneside, with 20 goals in 46 appearances for the club.

However, the 30-year-old only Premier League last season, being ruled out for a large chunk of the campaign with a serious calf injury and a hamstring issue.

The Latest: Jacobs’ news on Calvert-Lewin

Considering Wilson’s injury woes, Jacobs believes that Newcastle are interested in Calvert-Lewin, having held a long-term admiration for the striker, who has been linked with the Magpies over the summer.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the reliable journalist claimed: “Calvert-Lewin has been a player historically on Newcastle’s radar but they’ve not moved at this point and Everton are probably trying to keep him now that Richarlison has gone to Spurs. [It’s] one to watch, though, during the window.”

The Verdict: He’d be a great signing

Hailed a ‘top striker’ by former Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti, it is easy to see why Howe is a big fan of the 25-year-old.

Over 163 appearances in the Premier League, Calvert-Lewin has amassed 45 goals in an inconsistent Everton team.

Having ranked in the 95th percentile for aerial duels won over the past year when compared with other forwards from Europe’s top five leagues (via FBRef), the England striker would provide Howe with a tactical alternative to Wilson, who tends to run behind defences, getting on the end of long overhead passes.

Therefore, if Newcastle do decide to go all-in for the Everton striker, he could be a great addition to the Magpies’ squad.

Can’t get enough football? Watch Newcastle United live streams and highlights on StreamFootball

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Julian Draxler in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

French journalist Alexis Bernard has revealed that the Magpies are plotting a swoop to sign the German attacking midfielder ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Dan Ashworth is looking to improve the squad before the end of the window and now appears to be in talks to land the 28-year-old, who could cost up to £25m.

He tweeted: “Newcastle is interested in Julian Draxler. Contact with Paris and the player. Paris wants €20/30m.”

Eddie Howe’s own Zidane

The Magpies could land Eddie Howe his own version of Zinedine Zidane by securing a deal to sign the PSG maestro before the start of September.

Josuha Guilavogui, one of his former teammates, once compared him to the ex-Real Madrid and Juventus midfielder, saying:

“In the way he controls the ball, he reminds me of Zidane. His stepovers too. He’s not particularly quick, but he’s able to dribble past any opponent. He’s able to control the ball wonderfully. Even at full stretch, he still manages to keep the ball close to him.”

The central midfielder has used his Zidane-like ability on the ball to catch the eye in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 over the years. During his time in his home country, he made 153 appearances in the German top-flight and racked up 23 goals and 26 assists from the middle of the park.

Former Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt previously hailed his qualities, stating: “Julian is very, very young and his development isn’t over yet. That’s what makes him such an attractive proposition. It’s fantastic to have a player with such extraordinary talent here.”

Since making the move to PSG, Draxler has made 131 appearances in Ligue 1 and chipped in with 17 goals and 24 assists. In all competitions for the French team, the German maestro has scored 26 goals and set up 41 in 198 outings.

Zidane played 158 games in the French top-flight during his career, managing 32 goals and seven assists, before going on to produce 49 goals and 67 assists in 226 games for Real Madrid.

Whilst Draxler may not go down as a legend in the game, he could be Howe’s own version of the former Galactico by coming in and making an impact in the final third from midfield by scoring and assisting goals.

AND in other news: Howe could land his own Dias for Newcastle in £38m deal to sign “underrated” colossus

West Bromwich Albion have a previous track record when it comes to signing players on loan from fellow English clubs.

One player that the Baggies signed on loan in recent times who proved to be a success was Conor Gallagher.

Signed on a season-long loan from Chelsea in 2020, the midfielder ended up making 32 appearances in total for Albion, chipping in with two goals and two assists along the way.

In terms of what he offered to West Brom on the pitch, no other player could match the number of combined tackles and interceptions that the Englishman racked up during his stint at The Hawthorns (121).

He also ended up winning the club’s Young Player of the Season award for his efforts, highlighting just how impressive he was throughout the campaign.

Now that another summer transfer window has arrived, the next few weeks could give the Baggies the chance to find their next version of Gallagher and continue their track record of signing young players from Premier League clubs.

One player with whom West Brom have been linked recently and who could fit this bill is Manchester United’s Hannibal Mejbri.

In 54 appearances for United’s under-18 and under-23 sides, the midfielder has scored seven goals and delivered 19 assists, highlighting just how useful he can be in front of goal. This also backs up Nicky Butt’s praise about the £13k-per-week youngster when he said that the Tunisian has “immense talent” in him.

Bearing in mind how Gallagher scored eight goals and provided five assists in his 39 appearances with Crystal Palace last season, this mirrors the sort of attacking talent that the two players have from midfield.

Despite making two senior league appearances for the Red Devils towards the back end of last season, there’s no guarantee that the Tunisian will be a regular first-team figure for United next term.

With that in mind, a possible move to the Midlands on loan where he’d be able to potentially get regular game-time under Steve Bruce and help the Baggies get back to the top flight could be a tempting prospect for the player.

AND in other news: West Brom plotting bid for “effortless” 31-goal “ballerina”, it would be a massive coup

Newcastle United have been linked with a summer transfer move for RB Salzburg midfielder Mohamed Camara.

What’s the news?

According to Salzburger Nachrichen (via TEAMtalk) the Tyneside club have an interest in signing the 22-year-old during the current summer window.

Having also been linked with a move to fellow Premier League club Leeds United, it was recently claimed by Fabrizio Romano that the Yorkshire club will not be bidding to sign the player.

As a result, it could give the Magpies the green light to launch a move to sign him.

A player with “three lungs”

The 22-year-old joined Salzburg back in the 2019 summer transfer window from FC Liefering and has since gone on to make 76 appearances for his current club, scoring three goals and delivering seven assists in the process.

In his 25 league appearances last season, the Mali international won 33 tackles and made 37 interceptions, putting him in the top three for each statistic at the Austrian club.

This shows the defensive talent he has and what he’d be able to offer Eddie Howe’s side.

Bearing in mind how Newcastle faced more shots at their goal (527) in the Premier League last season than the likes of Everton (521), Brentford (496) and Southampton (493), this highlights the need for the Toon to add a player like Camara to their ranks that can snuff out danger from the midfield.

To further highlight what sort of player he is, when asked in a Q&A who were his role models as a young player, Camara had this to say on the matter.

He said: “Firstly, Steven Gerrard. I haven’t seen too many games from him, but I like his style of play, his dedication, his personality. On the other hand, N’Golo Kante. People also call me from N’Golo Kante because we play the same way. He’s a player with three lungs, so do I. In short: he is my idol.”

Taking all of this into account, the prospect of having a player like the £24.3m-rated Salzburg star in his ranks would surely have Howe jumping for joy, especially if it would mean he would have his own version of Kante at St. James’ Park.

AND in other news: NUFC plotting bid to sign sign “fabulous” £18m “diamond”, he’s a big Shelvey upgrade

Everton have been in talks with Tottenham Hotspur over a potential deal for Richarlison, and now a shocking new update has emerged on the ongoing negotiations.

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports News, Spurs are now interested in signing Anthony Gordon in a package deal that also includes Richarlison.

In a clip on Twitter from Sky Sports Premier League the news source revealed: “Breaking transfer news this hour coming out of Tottenham involving not one but two Everton players.

“There’s a package deal being discussed between Richarlison and Anthony Gordon, that is a new name for Tottenham Hotspur, that’s a target this summer as well.”

Moshiri will be scrambling

The breaking news that Spurs are now looking to make a move for Richarlison and now Gordon as well will surely leave Farhad Moshiri scrambling as losing two of the most important players at Goodison Park would be an absolute disaster –

Gordon has been a revelation at the club and has been a breakthrough star in the Everton academy, so supporters will likely be furious at the thought of the boyhood Evertonian leaving this summer.

The 21-year-old scored four goals, contributed two assists and created four big chances over his 35 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, as well as making an average of one key pass, 1.5 tackles and winning 4.9 duels per game – proving that he has been an important part of the team at Goodison Park.

Frank Lampard holds the player in high regard, lavishing praise on Gordon upon his managerial appointment at the club:

“I’m really excited. I’ve been watching Anthony this season as an outsider, a neutral, and I love things about his game.

“When you come to see someone you try not to make too many judgments but I’ve seen him first-hand and he loves this club and he has a great attitude and all the attributes to do what he wants in this game.”

To put into perspective the impact on the side both Richarlison and Gordon provide, the pair delivered 15 goals and eight assists last term, with their goal contributions combined playing a huge part in Everton’s securing survival in the top flight – with the Brazilian winger scoring six of his goals in the last 10 games of the season.

With that being said, Moshiri must avoid a complete nightmare this summer, as the club should be looking to strengthen their team not weaken it by losing key players who offer a positive influence on the side.

AND in other news: EFC submit offer for “exceptional” £228k-p/w maestro, he can be Frank’s own de Bruyne

Everton are in need of a transformative transfer window this summer following a difficult season in the Premier League that left them in a relegation battle for the most part, and now a new potential target has been revealed.

What’s the latest?

According to Italian news outlet Tutto Udinese, Everton are interested in signing Udinese defender Rodrigo Becao.

As per the report, the Toffees will need to compete with Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur this summer to secure the signature of the player with a reported fee of €20m (£17m).

Big Holgate upgrade

There is no doubt that Frank Lampard will be looking for ways to improve his squad ahead of next season to make sure the club does not find itself in the same position as the previous Premier League campaign with the side surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth in the penultimate game of the season.

With that being said, the powers at Goodison Park must identify players that can come in to replace the underperforming members of the team with Mason Holgate one of the clear culprits for the lack of good defensive play that led Everton to concede the fifth-most goals in the entire league last season.

Holgate has been in the firing line for criticism over the last campaign with Micah Richards branding the defender “out of control” after Holgate received a red card for a dangerous challenge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in a 0-0 draw with Spurs.

“You know when you come on and want to make an impact, he got a little bit excited there, but he can have no arguments with that.” Richards claimed.

“That is reckless, out of control so, red card.”

The signing of Becao can inspire a fresh start, giving Everton’s backline better control and stability next season, and when you compare his defensive attributes for Udinese it is clear he would be a big Holgate upgrade.

The Brazilian monster who was dubbed “insurmountable” by journalist Bruno Queiroz, has made more tackles and interceptions on average per game, put in ten more league performances proving his reliability and won more duels as well as being more successful in his dribbles compared to the Everton defender.

As a result, it would be a big signing for Farhad Moshiri if he could get a deal done for Becao this summer and tempt the player away from a move to Spurs in favour of a move to Merseyside as he could play a huge role in Everton’s attempts to compete in the Premier League next term.

AND in other news: Moshiri plotting Everton bid for “powerful” £25m monster, he can be Calvert-Lewin 2.0

Aston Villa may have completed four signings before the transfer window has even officially opened but it seems as if Steven Gerrard is still planning for a busy summer of incoming and outgoings, with Calvin Bassey reportedly still of interest to the Villa boss.

What’s the word?

According to Birmingham Live reporter Ashley Preece, Bassey remains “on the club’s radar” as Gerrard looks to improve the spine of his XI.

The Rangers man is well-known to Gerrard after his time at Ibrox and enjoyed a superb 2021/22 campaign which has attracted interest from plenty of sides across Europe.

Gerrard’s dream?

The former Leicester City man started his Rangers career as a left-back, so could provide cover for Lucas Digne, but some of his best showings for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side last season came as a central defender.

Bassey was particularly impressive in the Europa League final defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt, with BBC awarding him their man-of-the-match award, while Owen Hargreaves also sang his praises on BT Sport, saying:

“Calvin Bassey, my word, what a performance.

“That was astonishing, the energy and effort. Everything about his game was fantastic.

“Anyone watching that will be thinking: ‘That’s the kind of player I want in my team’.”

Gerrard has already waxed lyrical about Bassey during his time as manager of Rangers and he is someone that he clearly wants to work with at Villa in the Premier League.

Last season saw the young defender make 50 appearances for Rangers in all competitions, in what was a breakthrough campaign for him, considering he had only made 15 appearances in the previous campaign.

Therefore, it seems fair to suggest that he will only get better with more experience and playing time, and it is easy to see why Gerrard wants to bring him to Villa Park this summer.

Considering Villa have already spent big on fellow defender Diego Carlos, it will be interesting to see if they are willing to meet Rangers’ reported £25m asking price for Bassey. However, from what Preece suggests, they will definitely try and convince him to make the move south, something that would be a dream for Gerrard.

And, in other news… Gerrard now given green light for “fantastic” £10m Aston Villa move, Lange must act

Wolverhampton Wanderers have their sights set on a swoop for Vitoria Guimaraes’ young midfield duo, Andre Almeida and Guilherme Guedes.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Portuguese outlet Zero Zero who claims that negotiations are underway between Wolves and Vitoria SC.

As per the report, Wolves have long been tracking Almeida with the intention of moving for the 21-year-old in what will be a package deal, that would also see the 19-year-old known as Gui included.

It is said that a sum of between €10m (£8.5m) and €15m (£12.8m) could be enough to secure the duo in a package deal, with the fee expected to be closer to the latter mentioned €15m (£12.8m).

As of yet, no official agreement has been made.

Neves & Moutinho replacements?

With the uncertainty surrounding a certain Wolves duo in Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho, the Vitoria SC youngsters could help to fill the rather large void that the pair would leave.

Though, with Moutinho at least in talks with Wolves over a possible extension, and only one of the Vitoria SC duo ready to go straight into the first team, it’s more like a mix and match package.

Almeida, having featured 31 times for the Liga Portugal side is a player who could quickly be integrated within the Old Gold first team.

His average of 2.4 successful dribbles per 90 are better than Moutinho and Neves’ averages combined – with the Wolves pair’s 0.5 and 0.9 respective averages totalling 1.4 successful dribbles per game. Almeida’s average is actually around that of a winger, with his average this season also beating the likes of Daniel Podence, who has registered 2.1.

It’s a severely underrated but important metric in the centre of midfield, with Lage’s side lacking a central option that can consistently progress the ball. Almeida would allow them to be more direct in the attacking transition and allow them to build on the measly total of 41 big chances created – a metric that ranks the side as the fourth worst for BCC.

Gui, having made just five appearances in Liga Portugal will need a longer amount of time to establish himself in Lage’s side, but with Lage already negotiating a deal for the Portuguese starlets, you can see where his head is at amidst his rebuild this summer.

In other news: Tim Spiers drops behind-scenes Wolves update that’ll worry supporters at Molineux