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Everton have reportedly now made contact over the potential signing of Harry Winks.

The Lowdown: Out of favour

The 26-year-old has fallen out of favour under Antonio Conte, having played just 24 times under the Italian over all competitions last season, and only completing the full match in eight of those appearances (Transfermarkt).

With Yves Bissouma signing from Brighton and Hove Albion, the Englishman is likely to fall further down the pecking order, so he could seek a move away this summer.

The Latest: Everton make contact over Winks

As per Football Insider, Everton outfit have now made Winks a ‘top priority’ after officially registering their interest in the player.

A source from the Merseyside club has revealed that they have ‘made contact’ over a potential deal, which would cost them in the region of £20m.

The Verdict: Avoid

Dubbed a ‘fabulous’ player by former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Winks has shown his qualities in the past, making his senior England debut in 2017, but he has not played for his country since 2020 (Transfermarkt).

His dip in form has coincided with that of his club, who made the Champions League final three years ago but have only just managed to get back into the competition recently with a fourth-placed finish last season.

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Astonishingly, Winks has only managed 11 goal contributions in more than 200 games for Tottenham (Transfermarkt), the kind of numbers which would hardly impress Everton manager Frank Lampard.

With the possibility that the Toffees could lose Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer, the 43-year-old would surely want to sign a midfielder who can contribute more goals and assists than what Winks has done in north London.

In other news, find out which ‘incredible’ ace the Toffees are now most keen to sign

According to an Italian source, Liverpool are said to be plotting a shock move for Juventus defender Matthijs De Ligt.

The Lowdown: Strong Anfield links

The Dutchman has become a regular feature at the Allianz since joining the Italian giants from Ajax back in 2019, having made 117 appearances during his three-year spell to date.

Even though the 22-year-old still has two years remaining on his contract in the Serie A, he has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in recent weeks, in particular to Anfield, and after a fresh update, the Reds have now been put even more firmly into the picture for his signature.

The Latest: Liverpool join the race

In a new report published by Italian newspaper Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), it’s claimed that Liverpool have now ‘joined’ their top-flight rivals Chelsea in the race for De Ligt’s services, with the Reds ‘edging forward’ for a move.

The outlet says to ‘pay attention’ to the Merseysiders, with any big offers coming from England said to be too ‘difficult to refuse’.

It’s believed that Juventus ‘want to keep’ the £63m-rated star and have been trying to tempt him into signing a new deal, but would want him to agree to a decrease in wages, in return for a lower release clause, which opens up the chances of a cheaper move for potential suitors.

The Verdict: Not an essential signing

De Ligt, who was once hailed an “oil tanker” by Mino Raiola, will already have an established relationship with Virgil Van Dijk as a result of the pair representing the Netherlands together, but as solid as a centre-back he is, now is not the right time for Liverpool to be considering a move.

Jurgen Klopp already has the four incredible options of VVD, Matip, Gomez and Konate to choose from, and it seems unnecessary for FSG to be thinking about breaking the bank for the transfer of a player in a position that they don’t even need to cover for.

After spending a club-record £85m fee on the signing of Darwin Nunez, it would be sensible for the club to keep the rest of their pot at bay for the moment and then reassess the situation come next summer when a few individual situations may have altered.

West Ham United insider Claret & Hugh say ‘lots of talks’ have been held as GSB eye a ‘very clever’ signing for David Moyes.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye striker move…

After the arrival of Nayef Aguerd in a £30 million deal from Rennes, the Hammers are reliably tipped to carry that momentum long into the summer amid ‘very busy’ times at the club.

As backed by Sky journalist Dharmesh Sheth, Moyes and the club are seeking at least six new additions as they gear up for what will be a very intriguing 2022/2023 Premier League season.

The east Londoners narrowly missed out of Europa League football for next campaign and this may have come as a warning sign for West Ham who wish to keep chase with England’s elite.

The Latest: Insider shares ‘lots of talks’…

As per insider C&H, sharing a message from their source, it is believed that ‘lots of talks’ are being held through agents for one forward.

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Indeed, according to their information, Chelsea striker Armando Broja is indeed Moyes’ top target amid these regular discussions with intermediaries and the 20-year-old is open to joining the club.

West Ham apparently wish to pay £30 million for the Albania international but whether that proves to be enough will be found out soon enough.

The Verdict: Make the move…

Even though Broja tailed off towards the end of 20/21 on his Southampton loan spell, potentially signing him for £30m could be seen as good business.

He dazzled in all matches against West Ham last season and attracted plenty of praise over the course of his St. Mary’s temporary deal.

Pundit Noel Whelan, speaking to Football Insider, claimed an Irons swoop for Broja would be a ‘very clever’ signing for Moyes and we’re inclined to agree given he is still just 20-years-old and already proven in the top flight.

It is ‘likely’ that a bid for Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo will arrive at Ibrox and that a bidding war could ensue between Premier League clubs, according to popular insider The 4th Official.

The Lowdown: Aribo’s contract

After a successful season in the Premiership, the 25-year-old has attracted strong interest from a number of English top-flight sides.

The midfielder’s current deal at Ibrox expires at the end of next season, possibly forcing Rangers into selling the player this summer as a way of avoiding losing him on a free transfer next year.

Aribo has a current Transfermarkt valuation of £9m, so the Glasgow outfit will surely be desperate to yield a decent transfer fee from his possible departure.

The Latest: Bidding war?

According to The 4th Official, the insiders who first broke news of Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s move to Ibrox back in November, it seems likely that Crystal Palace will make a move for the Nigeria international, possibly sparking a bidding war for the Rangers gem.

Taking to Twitter, the insider claimed: “I spoke with several people close to action at Crystal Palace & it seems that a bid’s likely for Joe Aribo.

“Details inside as possibility of a bidding war for the Rangers midfielder cannot be ruled out with Aston Villa & Nottingham Forest also interested.”

The tweet included a snippet from The 4th Official’s Patreon which posed the question as to whether Palace could land him for £8m or the Light Blues would demand closer to £12m.

The Verdict: Big dilemma

When analysing Aribo’s underlying statistics, it makes sense as to why Van Bronckhorst’s side would be so reluctant to let their midfielder leave.

When compared with positional peers across Europe’s major leagues and continental tournaments over the past year, the 25-year-old ranks in the 99th percentile for aerial duels won, the 97th percentile for expected assists and the 95th percentile for interceptions and clearances (via FBRef).

However, having entered the last 12 months of his contract at Ibrox, there is a big risk that Aribo could leave the club on a free transfer next summer.

Therefore, depending on the offers received in the coming months, the Light Blues may have a significant dilemma to ponder.

West Ham United appear to be the frontrunners to sign Juventus defender Luca Pellegrini, according to reports coming out of Italy.

What’s the word?

As per Spazio Juve, the Irons are said to be ‘very close’ to striking a deal for the 23-year-old, with the east Londoners currently in ‘pole position’ despite interest from newly-promoted Serie A outfit Monza.

The report suggests that the left-back – who still has three years left to run on his existing contract in Turin – could be worth in the region of just €10m (£9m), having been something of a bit-part player under Max Allegri last term.

This follows a previous report which suggested the London Stadium outfit were keen on a deal for the one-cap Italy international, albeit with the Serie A giants hoping to exploit that interest by trying to strike an agreement of their own for Jarrod Bowen.

Bye-bye Masuaku

That potential incoming could spell the end for one player’s West Ham career, with fellow full-back Arthur Masuka seemingly the man most likely to give way if Pellegrini is signed, having failed to ever nail down a regular role since his move from Olympiakos six years ago.

Despite often operating in an attacking, wing-back role in David Moyes’ side, the DR Congo international has a fairly dismal record with regards to his attacking output, having registered just two goals and ten assists in 127 appearances in all competitions.

Dubbed “terrible” by West Ham-focused analyst Carl Goodall, the 28-year-old has rarely looked like a player capable of performing on a consistent basis, failing to usurp first-choice pick Aaron Cresswell from his usual starting berth.

There have been suggestions that Moyes may seek to hand the £43k-per-week dud another chance in pre-season, with two years left on his existing deal plus the chance of a further extension. However, the hope may be that a new arrival could alter that situation, with the £4.5m-rated African having seemingly outstayed his welcome.

In Pellegrini, the Hammers would no doubt be able to acquire a young, hungry asset who can prove a more reliable deputy to the aforementioned Cresswell, while also potentially replacing the 32-year-old in the years to come.

Although it proved a frustrating campaign last time out at the Allianz Stadium – where he made just 15 league starts – the £8.1m-rated starlet has previously showcased his talent while on loan at Cagliari, recording seven assists in just 36 games for the club in all competitions during his 18-month spell.

Former Italy under-21 coach Paolo Nicolato has also lavished him with praise in the past, insisting that the £30k-per-week menace has “remarkable physical skills” and is “destined to have a great career”.

It looks like his race is run in Turin, although the Irons could no doubt offer him the chance to blossom “without pressure” – as Nicolato stressed – with the club’s place in the Europa Conference League potentially handing him the chance for regular game-time.

His arrival may not have an instant impact on the starting XI, although it could help to usher out a player in Masuaku who simply needs to move on.

AND in other news, Moyes plotting move for “special” £45m “baller”, he’d be a “superstar” for West Ham

BBC broadcaster Andy Sixsmith has been left wowed as Newcastle United reportedly eye up a potential club-record deal to sign Alexander Isak.

The Lowdown: Bid weighed up

Writing in his latest piece for The Daily Telegraph, journalist Luke Edwards has revealed that the St. James’ Park outfit are now weighing up a club-record bid to sign Real Sociedad striker Isak.

It would surpass the £40m that they paid Hoffenheim for Joelinton back in 2019, and if a deal went through, he would become Eddie Howe’s fourth major signing of the summer after Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Matt Targett.

The Latest: Sixmith wowed

Taking to Twitter, Sixsmith was left wowed over the prospect of Isak moving to the North East, claiming that it would be a ‘sensational’ deal for the Tynesiders:

“Fully expect #NUFC to make one more ‘marquee’ signing in attack this summer, whether that budget goes towards a central striker or a right winger. Alexander Isak would be a sensational deal if it can be done – he fits the club’s profile perfectly.”

The Verdict: Statement signing

Isak would certainly be a statement signing, given that he has been courted by the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal in the past.

Often described as a ‘unicorn’ for his ‘mixture of size & technical ability’ according to scout analyst Kev Lawson, the six-foot-four colossus produced ‘staggering’ xG/A numbers per 90 the season before last.

In the 2020/21 campaign, Isak averaged a goal every two games in La Liga, while also producing two assists (Transfermarkt).

The 2021/22 term was not nearly as fruitful for the Sweden international, but he is still only 22 years of age, and so there is still plenty of time for him to develop into one of the world’s best strikers.

Rangers centre-back Calvin Bassey is set to leave the club for a record-breaking fee this summer, with Brighton and Ajax tussling for his signature.

The Lowdown: Bassey on the move

The Nigerian has been a dominant figure for the Gers since joining from Leicester City back in 2020, proving his mettle on the big stage by making 14 appearances in last season’s Europa League and performing heroically in the final defeat to Frankfurt.

Bassey’s influential showings in Europe have caught the eye of a number of clubs though, and a summer departure from Ibrox now looks almost guaranteed to be on the cards.

A new update suggests that the 22-year-old’s exit could be record-breaking, in what could be a big boost for the Gers.

The Latest: Key update emerges

According to a late-night update from the reliable Sam Wallace of The Telegraph, Rangers will earn a club-record amount for Bassey’s services once he moves on.

Nathan Patterson currently holds that title after joining Everton for £12.6million earlier this year, but that figure looks set to be easily eclipsed and even potentially doubled.

It is claimed that Brighton and Ajax are locking horns over a move for the central defender, who has been hailed as ‘astonishing’ by Owen Hargreaves in the recent past.

The Verdict: Spend it wisely…

Losing Bassey is clearly a big blow for anyone of a Rangers persuasion but there is an element of inevitability about it, given his potential as a player, and adding £20m or more to the coffers would be some silver lining.

The key now is that Giovanni van Bronckhorst spends the big sum of money wisely on new signings, bringing in a similarly formidable centre-back and also improving in other areas.

Sometimes, losing a star man and replacing them with three or four excellent signings can end up being more beneficial – Rangers must make sure that is the case, as they look to wrestle back their Scottish Premiership title from Celtic.

Ben Jacobs has dropped an update on the future of reported Leeds United transfer target Arnaud Kalimuendo.

What’s the word?

In a recent post on Twitter, the CBS journalist revealed that, despite previous reports claiming that Paris Saint-Germain would be willing to part with the centre-forward for a figure in the region of €25m (£21m) this summer, he has now been informed that the 20-year-old’s exit is no longer a given, as the France U21 international has highly impressed Christophe Galtier in pre-season.

Jacobs goes on to state that, while the Ligue 1 champions have recently secured the signing of Stade de Reims forward Hugo Ekitike on a season-long loan with an option to buy, Kalimuendo is doing all he can to convince the PSG manager that he is worthy of a place in the Les Parisiens first team squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “Leeds remain very interested in Arnaud Kalimuendo but a deal is not a given even with Hugo Ekitike’s arrival in Paris. Told Kalimuendo has impressed Galtier. He’s in the squad for the Japan pre-season tour and doing all he can to stay in Paris.”

Orta will be fuming

Considering the fact it was previously reported that Victor Orta had all but been given the green light to seal a deal for Kalimuendo this summer, Jacobs’ latest update is sure to be news that will have left the Whites’ director of football fuming.

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Indeed, it is not difficult to understand why the Spaniard is keen on a deal to bring the 20-year-old to Elland Road ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign, as Kalimuendo is quite clearly an extremely exciting prospect.

Over the course of his £16.2m-rated forward highly impressed, scoring 19 goals, registering five assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.5 shots, making 0.6 key passes and completing 0.85 dribbles per game.

These returns played a huge role in Les Sang et Or securing back-to-back seventh place finishes in the Ligue 1 table, a quite extraordinary feat for a club who were only promoted to the top tier of French football after finishing second in Ligue 2 back in 2019/20.

As such, when taking into account his age, prolific nature in the final third and extremely reasonable asking price, it would very much appear as if Kalimuendo would make something of a perfect addition to Jesse Marsch’s attacking options this summer – leading us to believe that the latest twist in Orta’s pursuit of the 20-year-old is sure to have come as a gutting blow to all involved with the Whites.

AND in other news: In talks: Orta closing in on deal for “special talent”, Leeds supporters will love it

Leeds United employee Noel Whelan has been reacting to the club’s move for Sonny Perkins, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Perkins in demand

Perkins officially left West Ham at the beginning of the month and was linked with Leeds, Aston Villa and Tottenham. It was the Whites who won the race for the 18-year-old’s signature, though, with the club confirming a deal last week.

Perkins has signed a three-year deal at Elland Road and is set to initially link up with the U21s, with a fee involved possibly set for tribunal.

The Latest: Whelan’s comments

Talking to FI regarding the move for Perkins, Whelan said that there is ‘real potential’ for the youngster to follow in the footsteps of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood.

“I think it’s a really attractive proposition for players like him.

“There is that clear pathway from the Under-23’s into the first-team, and it’s not just filling spaces – there is real potential to be the next Gelhardt or Greenwood.

“Many young players at clubs around the country don’t really have that pathway in place, and that can be really frustrating.

“Leeds United have got that set-up in place.

“They’ve got a real successful track record of giving these kinds of players first-team football.”

The Verdict: Good to see

Leeds have put their trust in a number of youngsters over the last 12 months, making history with eight teenagers making their Premier League debuts during the 2021/22 campaign.

The club’s plans to sign and develop some of the best young players around appears to be working, and you’d expect that Perkins would have been fully aware of the pathway through to first team level in Yorkshire.

Hopefully, he’ll hit the ground running at Thorp Arch, and you never know, an impressive start could see him catch Jesse Marsch’s eye, which may result in a place in a first-team match-day squad sooner rather than later.

Alexandre Braeckman has dropped a fresh update on the future of reported Leeds United transfer target Charles De Ketelaere.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Belgian RTL journalist revealed that, despite AC Milan having submitted a new offer of €33m (£27.7m) plus bonuses for the 21-year-old, the Serie A champions are still yet to reach an agreement with Club Brugge, who remain adamant on their €35m (£29.4m) asking price for the centre-forward.

This is sure to come as a huge boost to Victor Orta and Leeds, as the Premier League side are reported to have already made an offer of €37.5m (£31.8m) for the Belgium international, with Milan’s apparent reluctance to meet Brugge’s demands potentially paving the way for the Whites to land the striker.

In his tweet, Braeckman said: “No agreement between Brugge and Milan. Club wants €35m cash. Milan offers €33m [sic] and bonuses, no more. We, therefore, remain at an impasse. We are here today.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While it is a near-certainty that Leeds supporters will be growing extremely tired of De Ketelaere’s summer transfer saga – the feeling is mutual – Braeckman’s latest update on the situation on AC Milan’s most recent failed bid for the forward is nevertheless sure to have left the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

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Indeed, with many outlets reporting that the Rossoneri’s €33m proposal will be their final offer for the £27m-rated talent, it would now appear as if De Ketelaere is presented with two choices concerning his immediate future: remain at Brugge or move to Leeds.

Also, considering Phil Hay’s revelation that the Whites will be able to meet the 21-year-old’s wage demands, and with the club being able to offer the striker the platform of the Premier League in which he can showcase his ability before potentially securing a big-money move further down the line (see Raphinha), it would very much appear as if the youngster’s decision is an obvious one.

As such, while a move to the San Siro is not yet completely off the table for the eight-cap Belgian this summer, Braeckman’s latest update would very much appear to turn the tide in the pursuit of De Ketelaere’s signature back towards Leeds.

When taking into account the youngster’s undoubted ability, that is sure to delight everyone involved with the Whites.

AND in other news: Contract ready: Orta closing in on Leeds’ 7th summer signing, Marsch will be buzzing