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An update has emerged on Rangers forward Alfredo Morelos, regarding Porto’s attempts to sign him…

What’s the talk?

According to Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur, Rangers have turned down a £10m (€12m) offer from Portuguese giants Porto for forward Alfredo Morelos. The Gers have rejected Porto’s opening salvo and are said to be in no rush to cash in on him.

Konor adds that Porto are not the only team interested in signing Morelos, although he has not dropped any specific names in terms of other clubs.

Disaster

Steven Gerrard must avoid a disaster for Rangers with Morelos this summer. The ex-Liverpool man cannot afford to be bullied into selling the attacker for less than he is worth to the club and rejecting this first bid from Porto is a promising first step in the transfer window.

Morelos has been a prolific scorer since joining the Scottish giants and has proven his worth over a number of seasons. The Colombian international has scored an impressive 94 goals, and provided 43 assists, in 182 competitive appearances for the club.

If a club has the finances to come in and blow Rangers away with a very attractive bid, then Ross Wilson and Gerrard will need to hold their hands up and realise that that money could go a long way to improving the squad. They could spend it on several additions and round out the overall strength of the squad to make up for the departure of Morelos.

The £33k-per-week dynamo leaving would be a blow to Gerrard’s squad and that is why they need to hold out for as much money as possible. Not only does he have a fantastic goalscoring record, but his peers are also full of praise for him. Speaking anonymously to The Athletic in 2019, a Scottish Premiership player labelled Morelos as “non-stop” and praised the way his movement made him difficult to defend: “In my experience, he is just non-stop.

“There’s never a time when he’s walking about or not interested in the game. He’s always involved, whether that’s taking you away or dragging you closer to the ball.

“He’s kind of dropping deep now and going out wide. That’s a nightmare for defenders because he’s your player that you’re meant to be man-marking but then you’re dragged out of position and you’ve got midfield runners taking his space. That means you need to start talking to your full-backs and centre-mids to start swapping players, which makes it a lot more difficult.”

Rangers have done well to reject Porto’s opening offer, they must stick to their guns and only allow Morelos to leave if a club makes a significantly larger offer. Selling a proven goalscorer on the cheap would be a disastrous move for the Gers.

AND in other news, “Better for his career” – Exclusive: Pundit drops verdict on £43k-p/w gem who snubbed Rangers…

An update has emerged on Sassuolo right-back Mert Muldur, regarding West Ham’s interest in his services…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham are battling it out with Tottenham to sign Sassuolo right-back Mert Muldur this summer.

The report claims that both clubs are interested in a deal for the Turkish international and both have been attracted to him due to the versatility he has shown for club and country this year.

Fans would love it

West Ham boss David Moyes must sanction a deal to sign Muldur from Sassuolo in the coming months to bolster his squad.

Ryan Fredericks and Ben Johnson, the club’s two right-backs behind Coufal, averaged dismal WhoScored ratings of 6.44 and 6.39 respectively, which shows that there is an opening for someone to come in and compete with the Czech international.

Coufal was one of the top performers at the London Stadium in the Premier League. He averaged a score of 6.95, which only four of his teammates were able to better. This highlights the gap in quality between himself and Fredericks/Johnson, which is why Muldur could be an ideal signing ahead of next season to come in and provide healthy competition whilst also pushing for a place in the starting line-up.

Muldur’s agent, Max Hagmayr, commented on his future last month and opened up on the possibility of him signing for Napoli. He hailed his client as a “very promising” defender and said that he wants to take the next step in his career.

He told CalcioNapoli:

“In the past, I talked about him with Napoli because Mert is a very promising full-back, still young and who played well against Switzerland as a left-back.

 “We will see what happens in the summer.

“Muldur would like to take the next step in his career.

“It’s hard to say now but I can say that all players would be happy to play for Napoli. Right now, he has a contract with Sassuolo until 2024 (but) Mert feels ready for the next step.”

The £10k-per-week, aged 22, still has plenty of potential and is far from the finished article, which means that he could the long-term answer to West Ham’s right-back position rather than being a player who can come in and make an instant impact.

Muldur averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.97 at the European Championships for Turkey and registered a score of 7.07 in two World Cup qualifiers for his country.

This shows that he has the quality to perform at the top level and he’s a player who the fans would love to watch bomb up and down the flank as he is an exciting young talent who has already put in good performances at the international level, playing at both left-back and right-back.

Bringing in versatile, young players to add depth to the squad is something West Ham must be considering as they look to embark on a Europa League campaign, Muldur seems to fit the bill perfectly.

AND in other news, The Athletic drop concerning West Ham update on £10m “leader”, Moyes will be gutted…

Manchester United have reportedly made an offer for Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to strengthen his first team squad.

What’s the story?

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Red Devils are interested in acquiring the 18-year-old’s services this summer and have already tabled an offer worth €20m (£17m) for his signature.

United are allegedly hoping to take advantage of Barca’s dire financial situation and lure one of their most promising young stars to Old Trafford for a relatively modest fee.

A massive upgrade on McTominay

The Red Devils made solid progress last season, finishing second in the Premier League standings while reaching the Europa League final. However, the 12-point gap to champions Manchester City and another trophyless campaign highlighted the work that’s still left to be done by the 20-time English champions.

Solskjaer has already agreed a deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho in an attempt to close the gap on the Cityzens, but his summer’s work appears to be far from complete. The likes of Raphael Varane and Eduardo Camavinga have been heavily linked with moves to United in recent weeks, and Moriba is the latest player to catch the eye of the club’s hierarchy.

Despite still being a teenager, the Spain under-18 international made a name for himself in the Blaugrana first team last season after impressing during a handful of appearances. In 14 La Liga outings, Moriba showcased his top-class ability and potential, and his underlying numbers indicate he’d already be an upgrade on some of the options currently available to Solskjaer.

His three assists, 1.2 dribbles per league game and 91.6% passing accuracy all outperformed Scott McTominay’s tallies for those metrics, and it’s no surprise that United are interested in snapping up the £22.5m-rated Moriba up while they have the chance.

The Red Devils’ engine room has been an area of weakness for many years now, but with Paul Pogba finally fulfilling his potential on a regular basis and Bruno Fernandes continuing to produce world-class displays, the addition of Moriba could finally restore it to its past glories.

In other news…Samuel Luckhurst drops major Man Utd transfer update that’ll surely leave fans buzzing 

Newcastle United fans have been urged to forget about the potential takeover at St James’ Park by former Toon star John Barnes.

The Lowdown: Newcastle takeover case

The arbitration case between the St. James’ Park faithful and the Premier League over the failed takeover deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group is set to take place over the coming months, and the results could be pivotal in terms of the direction of where the bid is heading.

Amanda Staveley, who is a member of the consortium, has spoken to Sky Sports referencing a letter that she wrote urging both the UK government and football regulators to ensure that the arbitration process is to be made public in order to give more transparency over the whole saga.

The Latest: Barnes on takeover

Speaking in a recent interview (via The Chronicle), former Magpies winger Barnes has urged supporters of the Toon Army to stop thinking about the potential takeover, and believes that Steve Bruce is the right man to take the North East club forward:

“A takeover would be a turning point for any club if someone comes in with loads of money.

“They’ve been talking about a takeover for many years and it hasn’t happened, so they have to stop thinking about a takeover.

“If it does happen, they can assess it then, but they can’t look too far into the future.

“Steve Bruce is the right man to take them forward and what they need is harmony.

“They need togetherness until the club is sold.

“They have to support the manager.

“If they keep having problems and fans are booing, that’s not going to help the players and the manager.

“As much as they have their reasons for not liking the owner, that is not going to help the club.

“Until he (Ashley) sells, support them.

“When you’re there for 90 minutes, support the team.”

The Verdict: Do not give up

Although the Tyneside club’s main focus should of course be how to best prepare themselves for the new 2021/22 season ahead, Ashley should not give up on trying to secure the takeover.

The arbitration hearing could well go in his favour, and a positive result could speed up the whole takeover process.

In terms of backing Bruce as the manager, the majority of the fanbase seemingly do not see him as the man to take them forward, with as many as 97% wanting the former Aston Villa and Sunderland boss to be sacked in a poll back in March.

The owners-in-waiting may want to go for their own coach anyway to take NUFC into a new era, and so it is difficult to see Bruce keeping his job if a takeover happens.

In other news, find out which ‘excellent’ Newcastle ace has been left out of pre-season here!

Noel Whelan believes that Celtic would be getting a good deal if they can garner around £15 million for the sale of Kristoffer Ajer to Brentford [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: Incomings and outgoings expected at Celtic this summer

Fresh in the door at Parkhead, newly appointed Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou will be desperate to get his house in order ahead of a crucial upcoming season for his side.

Acquiring some high-profile talent will be essential for the Aussie to really kick this squad on and challenge Rangers, but moving top assets on to fund such transactions will also be a pressing priority for the 55-year-old.

The Latest: Whelan ecstatic as Celtic encounter potential Ajer windfall

One player who looks set to move on is 23-year-old Ajer, who was reported to be ‘close’ to a £13.5 million move to Brentford last week.

Likely to include add-ons within the agreement, pundit Whelan was ecstatic in his evaluation of recent developments surrounding the burley Norwegian in an interview with Football Insider, stating:

“I mean, wow, if they can get close to £15million for him, that will go a long way. That kind of money could be used to bring in a couple of top signings and Celtic desperately need new faces.

“I don’t like the way Ajer has gone about his business. It’s not good to have players at a football club who don’t want to be there. You cannot turn their thinking around.

“If they can get £15million it would be a good bit of business. It’s a very good price for a player who has just one year left on his contract.

“From Ajer’s point of view, he needs a move to the Premier League. He needs a change of scenery.” [Football Insider]

The Verdict: Ajer sale would be good business for Celtic

Upon reflection, the former Leeds United man is right to point out the need for Celtic to command a respectable fee for someone as talented as Ajer.

In 2020/21, the giant stopper was in excellent form, registering six goal contributions in 46 appearances for Celtic; two goals and four assists [Transfermarkt].

Impressing with his desire to dispose of dangerous situations at the back, the former IK Start defender averaged 3.4 clearances per game in the Scottish Premiership across the piece [WhoScored]. Full of experience for someone at such a young age, he has won eight trophies throughout his time in Glasgow.

Progressing forward, Celtic should look to complete the sale of the Norway international in order to avoid losing him for free in 2022.

In other news, a reporter has their say on the future of a Celtic talisman.

Carl Starfelt fits the bill for Celtic, according to The Celtic Way journalist Tony Haggerty.

The Sweden international has agreed a move to Celtic Park from Rubin Kazan, subject to international clearance, for a reported fee of £4m.

Starfelt made 31 appearances for Rubin Kazan last season, scoring three goals in the process, and has represented his national team on three occasions.

Tony Haggerty believes Starfelt is the calibre of player that new manager Ange Postacoglou wants in his team and is pleased with the experience Celtic’s new signing has, telling Football FanCast: “I think it’s the kind of calibre Postacoglou wants. 

“Starfelt fits the bill, you see he’s got Europa League experience also got some good experience in the Swedish League and the Russian League and he’s got some international experience to. If you put all that together that’s a player that could thrive in Scotland and Celtic have a successful track record of recruiting Swedish players.”

The Hoops have recruited four other players so far this summer, with Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada, Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide all arriving at Celtic Park.

Starfelt plays at centre-back and his arrival comes following the departure of Kristoffer Ajer, who left Celtic to join Premier League newcomers, Brentford, for an initial fee of £13.5m according to Sky Sports.

Southampton have recently been tipped to sign West Ham centre-back Issa Diop, and the Frenchman could be the ideal replacement for Jannik Vestergaard in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side should the Denmark international leave St Mary’s this summer.

What’s the word?

Southampton were linked with a move for the former Toulouse defender by Foot Mercato earlier this month, and former Saints player Carlton Palmer has now suggested that the 24-year-old could be an excellent addition to Hasenhuttl’s squad.

He told This Is Futbol: “I think that would be a good move. Again, Diop wants to play, he would play regular football at Southampton, and it would be a good move for both parties.”

Could Diop replace Vestergaard at Southampton?

Vestergaard has attracted a lot of interest this summer after an impressive campaign with Southampton, before playing a key role for Kasper Hjulmand’s Denmark side as they reached the semi-finals of the European Championship.

Roma currently look to be the main contenders to sign him, with Jose Mourinho clearly keen on the former Borussia Monchengladbach man as Spurs were also heavily linked before the 58-year-old was sacked at the north London club.

After a tricky start at Southampton, the 28-year-old is now one of the first names on the teamsheet for Hasenhuttl as his passing has drastically improved from previous seasons, whilst his 1.99m (6 foot 6) frame obviously makes him a threat in both boxes, evidenced by his three Premier League goals last season.

However, his current contract is set to expire at the end of next season, and with no extension on the horizon, it would perhaps not be a surprise to see him depart this summer, which suggests that a replacement needs to be brought in.

Diop may have lost his regular starting place in West Ham’s side last season, making just 18 appearances in the Premier League, but he is still only 24 and has emphasised in the past that he can be a top defender when he is on form.

After an impressive performance for the Hammers against Manchester United in 2018, Mourinho labelled the £16.2m-rated Diop a “monster”, which suggests that the Frenchman could replace the aerial therat offered by Vestergaard in this Southampton side.

Indeed, like the Danish defender, the Irons centre-back also has a happy knack for popping up with headed goals.

[freshpress-quiz id=“594431”]

Therefore, if a deal can be done with David Moyes’ side this summer and Vestergaard is sold, then Southampton should definitely be looking to bring in Diop as his replacement.

In other news… Southampton look set for third signing as player confirms exciting update

Tottenham Hotspur have announced that their youngest-ever player and goalscorer Alfie Devine has signed his first professional contract at the club, signing a deal until 2024.

The 17-year-old gem joined from Wigan Athletic last summer and made his senior debut in their FA Cup win over non-league Marine back in January this year.

Devine has featured in two pre-season friendlies under Nuno Santo so far, and with Spurs soon to be competing in the UEFA Conference League on top of the domestic cup competitions, the manager should look to unleash him in his first-team squad.

The highly-rated teenager is now an attacking midfielder by trade but started off his career as a striker in Liverpool’s youth system – but that’s not why he’s earned comparisons to none other than Harry Kane.

It’s his exceptional attitude on the training ground, combined with his phenomenal potential, which has many seeing him as the next Kane at Hotspur Way.

“I remember the first time I saw him I just thought he had a bit of everything. He could handle the ball, hold off defenders, he had that determination,” claimed former Leeds boss Peter Reid, who was technical director at the Latics when Devine was sold, to The Athletic. “He’s always had that technical ability and has a great chance of reaching the top.”

It’s no wonder excitement is building around Devine as he’s contributed five goals from the engine room across the academy and senior squads, not to mention the way he handled his sending off following a crunching tackle against former England international Danny Drinkwater.

Meanwhile, the Spurs prodigy was named on The Guardian’s Next Generation list for 2020, where they described him as an ‘imposing’ box-to-box beast.

Devine has also been lauded as “so special” and “very talented”, so all the signs are pointing towards him one day making the grade at Tottenham Hotspur, but when you’ve ‘got it’, it doesn’t matter how young you are.

With Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko potential departure candidates, there could well be a spot for a player like Devine in Nuno’s squad, and there won’t be a better manager to help him develop. He’s had great success with Wolves’ youngsters, notably Pedro Neto, Max Kilman and Morgan Gibbs-White.

If the 17-year-old dynamo were to be unleashed, then it could well save chairman Daniel Levy and Spurs millions in the transfer window this summer.

AND in other news, Nuno dealt huge Spurs blow as worrying transfer report emerges, fans will be furious…

Speaking on Sky Sports (via Football Daily), reporter Kaveh Solhekol has now made a £75 million claim involving Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane and Manchester City.

The Lowdown: City eyeing Kane swoop…

As confirmed by Pep Guardiola yesterday, Premier League champions Man City are definitely interested in signing the superstar striker this summer, but he admits it is all down to Spurs’ stance on negotiating (BBC).

The forward himself is said to prefer Eastlands above all other destinations and is widely believed to want a move away from north London before August 31.

Sky reporter Solhekol, bringing the latest, has shared an update on the saga whilst dropping a £75m claim.

The Latest: Solhekol makes £75m claim…

Solhekol, speaking live to the broadcast giant (via Football Daily), reiterates Tottenham’s firm stance that Kane is not for sale this summer.

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However, in this on air message, he details the kind of figures that City have been mentioning when it comes to a swoop for the 28-year-old.

“It’s a free world, you can make an offer, but your offer has to be realistic,” explained the journalist.

“The kind of figures that Manchester City have been talking about, I’ve been told that it’s £75 million plus some players, Spurs are just not interested in that.

“They’re not interested in £75m, they are not interested in players as part of the deal either, as far as they’re concerned they are in a very strong position.”

The Verdict: Consider it?

£75m is arguably a low-ball figure on it’s own, especially considering he won the Premier League Golden Boot last season and captained England to a Euro 2020 final.

Even factoring in his age, City will have to up the ante if they seriously wish to tempt chairman Daniel Levy into selling his prized asset before deadline day.

If that fee does indeed include the offer of players, however, it should at the very least get Levy and managing director Fabio Paratici thinking.

Aymeric Laporte, for example, would be a stellar defensive partner for new signing Cristian Romero as Spurs reportedly aim to add at least two new centre-backs for Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Spaniard has been called ‘incredible’ and the ‘best left central defender in the world’ by Guardiola and Tottenham could realistically afford his £120,000-per-week salary (spotrac.com) – especially if they offload more players.

Acquisitions of his calibre, who could be included in a possible swap, should be considered as Kane’s desire to leave grows stronger.

In other news: Bid made – Tottenham have now lodged offer to sign player with ‘gigantic buzz’, find out more here.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is closing in on signing Legia Warsaw’s Josip Juranovic, according to The Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Juranovic’s 2021/22 season

Juranovic has already made eight appearances this season, six of which have come as a starter.

In all six games, the Croatia international has started, he has played as a right midfielder.

The 25-year-old, on £317,200-a-year with Legia Warsaw, is thought to be keen on a move to Parkhead, and it seems as if a Scotland switch is edging closer.

The Latest: Daily Record report

The Daily Record shared a Celtic-related story on Wednesday evening regarding Juranovic and Thomas Henry.

They claimed that Postecoglou is closing in on signing Juranovic in a deal worth £3m.

Postecoglou has reportedly turned his attention to Juranovic after struggling in attempts to sign Aurelio Buta and George Baldock.

The Verdict: Shrewd move

Juranovic has started this season as a right-midfielder, but you’d expect he’ll rival Anthony Ralston to be first-choice right-back, should a move to Celtic get over the line as expected by The Daily Record.

Postecoglou only has Ralston and Lee O’Connor as right-back options at this moment in time, so a £3m deal for Juranovic appears to be a smart move at first glance as he has made over 100 appearances in that area.

It’s good to see that Juranovic will be capable of playing further forward if required, as he has shown in recent weeks, and it appears as if he’ll become Celtic’s eighth summer signing.

In other news: ‘Celtic have started official talks’ for versatile £10,000-p/w ace; he’s ‘incredibly fast’.