All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Manchester United have made just one summer signing so far during this transfer window, with Mason Mount arriving from Chelsea and with the Premier League campaign just a few weeks away, Erik ten Hag will need to act swiftly to improve his squad.

With reinforcements required across all areas of the first team, bolstering his attacking options seems to be at the forefront of the Dutchman’s mind and United have offered Atalanta a players-plus-cash deal for striker Rasmus Hojlund, however, the Serie A outfit are demanding a cash-only bid in a saga which threatens to rumble on for the next few weeks.

Could the Old Trafford side perhaps look at alternative options should a move for the Dane fail to materialise?

Man Utd transfer news – Goncalo Ramos back on the radar

According to Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, the Red Devils could go back in for Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos – speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said:

“Manchester United are looking for a new striker, at the moment there are two names on the shortlist, and one is Goncalo Ramos.

"After a few weeks of silence, the English club is ready to reopen talks with Benfica again. At the moment the position of the Portuguese team is quite adamant: the player has a release clause of €120 million (£102 million) and this value represents his price.

"However, Manchester United will try to figure out the room for negotiation to lower the price, even if at the moment there is not much confidence.”

Will Man Utd sign Goncalo Ramos?

The urgent requirement for a striker ahead of the 2023/24 campaign certainly suggests that a move could go through this summer, especially considering they scored only 58 Premier League goals last term.

Hojlund appears to be the main target, but Ramos could sparkle at Old Trafford if given the opportunity to shine under Ten Hag, and he could form a dream partnership with Marcus Rashford.

The Englishman was in the form of his life last season, having registered 41 goal contributions – 30 goals and 11 assists – across all competitions, and he ranks in the top 8% across Europe’s big five leagues for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.92), suggesting that he does get into scoring positions often.

The 25-year-old machine also ranked third across the United squad for league assists (five) and sixth for big chances created (five), indicating that Ramos would benefit from his ability to generate opportunities from the left wing.

Across the next big eight competitions on the continent, Ramos ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.75) and in the top 7% for total shots per 90 (3.87). In contrast, his 27 goals last season demonstrate that he is certainly proficient in front of goal and Ten Hag needs an out-and-out striker with this sort of ability.

Rashford was either deployed on the left wing or as a centre-forward last term, yet it is clear his best position is out wide, having scored 16 of his goals from there during 2022/23.

With Ramos leading the line, it would take the pressure from the United gem that was clearly abundant during Ten Hag’s maiden campaign.

Journalist Josh Bunting once lauded the young forward as “powerful” and as a “top prospect” last year and there is no doubt he is ready to make the step up to performing for a club such as United.

The next few weeks will be interesting regarding who Ten Hag manages to lure to Old Trafford, and Ramos may not only be an ideal alternative to Hojlund but a perfect partner for Rashford heading into the new campaign.

Chelsea are believed to be interested in signing Montpellier attacker Elye Wahi this summer, rivalling Wolves for his signature in the process.

Who is Elye Wahi?

The 20-year-old is an exciting young footballer currently making a name for himself in his homeland of France, catching the eye with his performances for Montpellier over the past 12 months or so, in particular.

Wahi proved to be one of the standout attacking players in the whole of Ligue 1 last season, scoring a hugely impressive 19 goals in just 29 starts. He also chipped in with five assists for good measure, showcasing his potential and no doubt making various clubs take notice.

The youngster is also a three-cap and one-goal France Under-21s international, and he has represented his country at Under-20, Under-19, Under-18, Under-17 and Under-16 level, too, showing that he has been considered a prospect for a number of years now.

Wahi is contracted with Montpellier until the summer of 2025, and while that is still two years away, the French club may start to become wary that they are slowly running out of time when it comes to receiving the biggest amount of money for his signature.

With Chelsea eyeing up attacking signings ahead of the new Premier League season, it looks as though the French ace could be seen as a potential acquisition in the summer transfer window.

Could Chelsea sign Elye Wahi this summer?

According to a new report from French outlet L'Equipe, the Blues are interested in signing Wahi this summer, and have been negotiating with him over a move for a number of days. Wolves have been in the conversation for the Montepellier man, but it looks as though the English team mooted recently is Chelsea.

A bid of around €30m (£25.6m) could be enough for the west Londoners to get their man, as Mauricio Pochettino looks to turn his side's fortunes around after a dire 2022/23 campaign, with new signings vital for that to happen.

Wahi could be a brilliant signing by Chelsea before the new season starts, having been described as "a powerful, athletic and fast player with a range of dribbling skills where only he knows what he is going to do next" by former Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo in the past.

At just 20, he has already shown that he can excel in one of Europe's big five leagues, and while the step up to the Premier League is still great, he has all the time in the world to mature as a player and adjust to life in the division.

Chelsea are absolutely crying out for a young centre-forward who can spearhead the attack for many years to come, with the departed Kai Havertz and the ageing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also not the long-term solution moving forward.

Granted, there is still a rawness to Wahi's game that means another more experienced striker could also do with coming in, but he looks to have maturity beyond his years already, as highlighted by the relentless goal scoring form he produced in a Montpellier shirt last term.

Manchester United have made the signing of a new striker one of their top priorities this summer and now a new update has emerged on a strongly linked transfer target.

Will Man United sign Rasmus Hojlund?

According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United are holding talks to sign Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund this summer.

As per the report, the acquirement of a new centre-forward is something that Erik ten Hag wants to be resolved before pre-season training commences and the club's hierarchy are continuing to hold discussions for their main targets for the position with Hojlund named alongside Randal Kolo Muani.

How many goals has Rasmus Hojlund scored?

It is no secret that Ten Hag has been a long-term admirer of Harry Kane and reportedly has had the Tottenham Hotspur striker as his top transfer target since he arrived at Old Trafford last summer.

Indeed, the Red Devils have been continuously linked with the England captain, however, it is looking extremely unlikely that Spurs will be willing to part ways with their superstar before his contract expires at the end of next season.

As a result, Ten Hag must turn his attention to targets that are more of a realistic prospect and Hojlund would definitely be a worthy alternative to Kane.

The Danish youngster burst on the scene of Italian football with Atalanta and has already made his mark on the Denmark national team with six goals scored in just five appearances.

Over 42 appearances in all competitions last season, the 20-year-old star – who has a reported price tag of €60m (£52m) – scored 16 goals and registered seven assists, which is a fantastic output with only Marcus Rashford scoring more (30) in the Man United team.

To compete with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United next season for a spot inside the top four and to potentially become a title contender, it will be absolutely essential for Man United to acquire the services of a striker who can make an instant impact in the Premier League.

One player who has had a record-breaking start to life in the Premier League is Erling Haaland, a striker who has often been named as a similar profile of goal-scorer to Hojlund, with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini boasting about the similarities between the pair in an interview:

"Hojlund has this spirit, energy, intensity, but also the technical quality that is just remarkable. He still has so much margin for improvement, too.

"He has very similar characteristics to Haaland. He is so quick, he’s under 11 seconds over 100m and that’s not even trying very hard. Considering his height, he has a low centre of gravity. I am convinced he’ll have a great career, he just gets stronger every day."

With all considered, there is no doubt that Hojlund would be an exciting prospect for Man United to sign this summer and if he can adapt to the English top flight to a similar standard that Haaland has set, his impact on the team and the future of the club's success would be priceless.

Newcastle United are reportedly keen to prise Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City this summer, as Eddie Howe seeks to continue his midfield overhaul at St James' Park.

What's the latest on Phillips to Newcastle?

With the Magpies having already wrapped up a deal for AC Milan playmaker, Sandro Tonali, the Telegraph are now reporting that the club could turn their attention towards the England international over the coming weeks, with the 27-year-old having endured a difficult debut season at the Etihad.

While the report suggests that the former Leeds United man – who made the move to Manchester on a £45m deal last summer – is hoping to stay and fight for his place under Pep Guardiola, a possible swift exit from the treble-winning outfit is potentially still on the cards.

Although the piece does not state how much a deal for the Yorkshireman would cost, the Mirror reported earlier in the window that Premier League rivals Liverpool were eyeing a £35m move for the 5 foot 10 ace.

Would Phillips be a good signing for Newcastle?

There is no denying that it proved to be a frustrating first season for Phillips with the Cityzens, with the 27-cap maestro having been restricted to a bit-part role in the club's glittering success, after racking up just 21 appearances in 2022/23, making only two league starts in that time.

While previously described as a "machine" by The Athletic's Jordan Campbell during his prior stint at Elland Road – where he made 234 appearances across all fronts and helped guide the club to promotion – the £150k-per-week man's recent woes should well be of concern to Howe and co.

Newcastle may wish to avoid making the same mistake as that of their bitter rivals, Sunderland, with talkSPORT pundit Ray Parlour suggesting that the situation of Phillips at City is "very similar" to that of Jack Rodwell – who also endured infamously dour stint at the Stadium of Light.

Much like his compatriot, Rodwell had shown early promise after rising up through the ranks at Everton, with then-Toffees boss David Moyes stating that the midfielder had a "good future ahead of him", prior to making the move to Man City on a £15m deal in 2012.

As it proved, the Southport-born dud arguably "wasted two years of his career" at the Etihad – according to journalist Leigh Curtis – as he made just 25 first-team appearances, before joining the Black Cats in 2014.

That move proved even more disastrous as Rodwell endured a run of 39 top-flight games without a win – a league record – having also been lambasted by former boss Chris Coleman due to his apparent willingness to see out of his contract, rather than move on elsewhere.

Described as the 'worst signing in Sunderland's history' by the Chronicle's James Hunter back in 2018, the current Sydney FC man endured a torrid time of it in the northeast, with those at St James' Park perhaps wary of seeing history repeat itself.

The Tynesiders could well follow in the footsteps of their long-time foes with the addition of Phillips, with the Leeds native – who Guardiola described as "overweight" last season – seemingly not the solution for Howe this summer.

Newcastle United are expected to officially complete the signing of Italy international Sandro Tonali this week as their second piece of incoming business this summer, following Yankuba Minteh through the door.

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that the Magpies have delayed their announcement and that it will arrive in the coming days, with the central midfielder poised to join from Serie A giants AC Milan.

However, Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth still have around two months left of the summer transfer window to bolster the squad with further additions as they prepare for Champions League football next season.

One player who has been linked with a switch to St. James’ Park ahead of the 2023/24 campaign is Rennes attacking midfielder Lovro Majer, who is said to be available for a fee in the region of €40m (£34m).

What is Lovro Majer’s style of play?

The Croatian is a silky left-footed number ten who could become Howe’s own version of Manchester City magician David Silva if he arrives on Tyneside this summer.

Majer's performances for Rennes in France last season earned him a comparison to the Spaniard, who currently plays for Real Sociedad in LaLiga at the age of 37.

As you can see in the above graphic, as provided by Opta, both players excel at receiving touches in the opposition's box and are able to create chances at an impressive rate among their positional peers.

Silva was an outstanding creative threat for City during his time in England as he registered 106 assists in 309 Premier League matches, which is an average of an assist every 2.91 starts. This shows that the mercurial talent was capable of providing his teammates with goalscoring opportunities on a regular basis.

Majer is a player who has the potential to offer a similar level of quality in possession, based on his form for Rennes since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

Over the last two seasons, the Croatian maestro has racked up 13 assists along with 12 'big chances' created in 39 Ligue 1 starts, which works out as an assist every three starts on average.

The 25-year-old, who was once lauded as "phenomenal" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also managed nine assists in 31 league games for Dinamo Zagreb in the 2020/21 campaign before his move to France.

These figures show that the 21-cap international has been a consistent creative threat for his clubs over the last three years, which suggests that he has the potential to be an outstanding creator for Newcastle in the same way that Silva has been throughout his career.

No Magpies midfielder produced more than six Premier League assists last term and Majer, who has conjured eight or more assists in two of the last three league seasons, could come in to provide a boost in that department as a player with the ability to unlock a defence week-in-week-out.

Aston Villa have reportedly shown an interest in Borussia Dortmund ace Thomas Meunier, in a move that could significantly strengthen Unai Emery’s side.

The Villans are expected to have a busy summer, with Monchi set to team up with his former Sevilla colleague in the bid to continue the progression at Villa Park.

What’s the latest on Thomas Meunier to Aston Villa?

As reported by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Aston Villa have emerged as a potential suitor for Dortmund defender Meunier.

The report claims that the £165k-per-week Belgian is ‘studying’ options this summer after informing the club of his desire to leave.

Villa are named alongside Inter, Juventus and AC Milan as clubs that have ‘asked’ about the player’s situation, with a fee reported to be as low as €2m (£1.7m).

What could Thomas Meunier offer to Aston Villa?

Lauded as a “machine” by members of the media, the 31-year-old could prove to be a valuable asset to Emery’s squad, acting as a significant upgrade at right-back.

In 408 recorded career appearances, as per Transfermarkt, the Belgian has played at the top level against and among some of the continent's best talents, making him an individual with heaps of experience.

With Premier League veteran Ashley Young leaving the club this summer, Emery may opt to recruit added experience to his defence. He could achieve that by signing Meunier and equip the right side with a player capable of dethroning current options in doing so.

Matty Cash made 26 Premier League appearances for Villa this season at right-back, performing adequately as communicated by his average match rating of 6.76, via Sofascore.

The Poland international has been called “inconsistent and naive” in the past by Talent ID Andrew Ashburn, and as supported by his statistics, could find himself replaced should Meunier opt to make the move to the Midlands.

As per FBref, the former Paris Saint-Germain full-back averages 66.66 attempted passes per 90, ranking him in the top 11% of full-backs in Europe over the past year, showing his desire to be involved in game play.

Based on their numbers over the past year, the 31-year-old averages marginally higher than Cash in a variety of attributes required to excel as a successful full-back, averaging 2.79 tackles to the 25-year-old’s 2.72 per 90 and 1.44 interceptions to his 1.29 per 90.

Being a strong full-back in the Premier League nowadays relies a lot on an individual's ability to be progressive in play, with managers opting to hand inverted roles to their wide defenders in the bid to support offensively.

Meunier averages higher than the Villa right-back when it comes to progressive passes, recording an average of 3.94 to Cash's 3.71 per 90, with a similar pattern evident in progressive carries, scoring 2.31 per 90 to Cash’s 2.08.

For a limited price, Emery could capture an experienced and established full-back in the Belgian, who could upgrade and provide depth at right-back ahead of next campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur seem to be engaged in a fierce battle for their top target this summer, with the latest update outlining the competition…

What's the latest on James Maddison to Tottenham?

Taking to his Twitter, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano offered the latest verdict on the future of Leicester City gem James Maddison.

With the midfielder having starred in a relegated team, many are vying to rescue him from a level far below his station.

Ange Postecoglou obviously shares the hierarchy's interest in the 26-year-old, but Newcastle United stand in their way.

The Italian journalist wrote on Twitter: "Newcastle will insist on James Maddison deal this week as they don’t want a long saga — he’s top target but decision has to be made soon. Tottenham are also working on player side, still pushing and into the race; no bid was submitted last week despite reports."

It is expected that the Foxes will command a fee in excess of £50m, likely buoyed by this saga set to develop.

Could James Maddison help the Tottenham squad?

In acquiring this creative England international, Postecoglou could instantly reinvigorate an attacking force that somewhat faltered last campaign. Were it not for the goalscoring exploits of Harry Kane, it could have proved a truly abysmal year for the Lilywhites, even worse than it already was.

The 29-year-old notched 30 league goals, and was hardly helped out by the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-min Son.

The latter's underperformance in particular was frustrating given how consistent a threat he had proven to be since joining in 2015. He has hit double figures in the league in every season but his first, yet saw his numbers drop from 23 goals in the 2021/22 term, and 17 the year prior, to just ten league strikes in his most recent campaign.

To reignite the 30-year-old back to his previous levels, this midfield magician would surely offer the supplementary talents needed to place him in more profitable situations.

After all, for a weak Foxes side, he still managed 19 goal contributions and maintained an impressive 2.3 key passes per game.

His scything passing range could cut through defences to find the electric Son in behind, with the former Norwich City maestro's early-season form even leading pundit Dean Saunders to suggest he was "world-class".

Perhaps when surrounded by such an abundance of truly quality attacking talent, placed in the free-flowing system that Postecoglou will seek to employ, Spurs and indeed Son could finally get back on track with Maddison the catalyst for such a return to the top.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for Harry Kane this summer but now a new update has emerged that could put a dampener on the dreams of bringing him to Old Trafford.

What's the latest on Man United's interest in Harry Kane?

According to The Times, the Red Devils are losing hope of being able to secure the signature of the Tottenham Hotspur striker this summer.

As per the report, Daniel Levy remains firm on not wanting to part ways with his biggest asset whilst Erik ten Hag remains keen to make Kane his leading man in the forward line.

It is claimed that Man United have tried to strike a deal to secure the striker's services already but Levy is adamant that he will not be sold to strengthen a Premier League rival, despite having just one year left on his contract.

Should Man United continue their pursuit of Harry Kane?

There is no doubt that the Manchester giants will be desperate to strengthen in the centre-forward role this summer after the abysmal efforts from loanee Wout Weghorst and mainstay Anthony Martial, with no time to waste in finding the perfect player to take up the role ahead of next season.

However, giving up on the signing of Kane – dubbed "exquisite" by Jamie Redknapp – should not be an option for Ten Hag as the 29-year-old would be a huge asset in the forward line and would comfortably become the club's answer to Wayne Rooney, with the now retired striker never really replaced at Old Trafford.

The compatriots boast incredible similarities as Kane replaced the Man United legend as the most trusted centre-forward for the England national team, not only following in his footsteps to captain the side but also breaking his all-time goal-scoring record on the international stage too.

In terms of their style of play, the pair share even more likeness with Rooney often dropping deeper than a traditional number nine into a versatile play-making role towards the latter stages of his career.

That very much saw him trouble opponents in the same way the Spurs striker does for his team too, both comfortable, confident and prolific in a deeper role with quality wingers either side operating to provide chances for them.

Whilst taking all into consideration, the most striking and vital resemblance that the pair possess is their unrivalled finishing and ability to kill games with their vision for goal, something that would take Man United back to the elite level they were playing at when their all-time goalscorer represented the team in the final third.

Over 49 appearances in all competitions this season, the £100m-valued England captain – hailed as a "GOAT" of the Premier League by Christian Stellini – scored a whopping 32 goals and delivered five assists, as well as making up for 47% of Spurs' goal participations in the top flight and only finishing second to Erling Haaland in the race for the golden boot.

With that being said, if there is even the slightest chance that Man United could strike up a deal to sign Kane this summer they should grab the opportunity with both hands, as his leadership, style of play and hunger for goals could solve Ten Hag's biggest headache next season.

RB Leipzig are still pushing to complete the signing of Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho this summer, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

Is Carvalho still at Liverpool?

There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of the 20-year-old of late, following a disappointing first season in a Reds shirt where one may be forgiven for forgetting his existence in the squad.

Carvalho arrived at Anfield from Fulham in last summer's transfer window, with much expected of him, but he ended up being a bit-part player, at best. While a dramatic late winning goal at home to Newcastle United in August was a high point, the £40,000-a-week attacking midfielder only made four Premier League starts.

With new midfield signings expected to come in this summer – Naby Keita has joined Werder Bremen to free up spaces in the squad – and with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez all strong attacking options, it could be difficult for the Liverpool man to enjoy regular football in 2023/24, so he could depart soon.

A move to Leipzig has been strongly mooted numerous times of late, although it remains to be seen if Carvalho could leave on a permanent or temporary basis.

Are Leipzig signing Carvalho?

Writing on Twitter on Friday, Romano said that Leipzig are continuing to push hard to snap up Carvalho this summer, with negotiations ongoing in the coming days:

"Understand RB Leipzig have had more talks with Liverpool this week over Fabio Carvalho deal — told negotiations will continue over the weekend. Liverpool don’t want to lose the player on permanent transfer, now looking for the best solution."

Losing Carvalho permanently doesn't make a huge amount of sense for Liverpool, considering he still such a young player with a bright future, having been hailed as "unbelievable" by Jurgen Klopp earlier in the campaign.

A loan move is surely the best outcome for all parties, allowing the former Fulham man to enjoy some regular playing time next season, before returning to Merseyside a more mature player.

Should Carvalho then fail to kick on beyond that date, it could be time to simply accept that it is a move that hasn't worked out, but selling a big prospect at just 20 years of age, when he could yet become a huge star in years to come, feels reckless.

It should be stressed that he joined a Liverpool team who have struggled all season long, which won't have helped him settle and pick up confidence, so it is harsh to overly judge the lack of impact he has made.

Newcastle United are interested in making a "staggering offer" RB Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

Is Szoboszlai shining for Leipzig?

This is arguably the most exciting time to be a Magpies supporters in many years, with everything seemingly going smoothly on and off the pitch under Eddie Howe.

Newcastle are preparing for a return to the Champions League next season, having finished fourth in the Premier League in 2022/23, and it now essential that they bring in top-quality new signings to ensure they keep moving in a positive direction.

One of those players could be Szoboszlai, who has caught the eye with his performances for Leipzig of late, proving to be one of their most effective creative players. Last term, he scored six goals and registered eight assists in 28 Bundesliga starts, as well as averaging 2.3 key passes per game – more than any other player at the club.

With Newcastle still seemingly circling for the £35,000-a-week Hungarian's signature, a key update has now emerged regarding the current situation.

Could Newcastle sign Szoboszlai this summer?

According to L'Equipe [via Sport Witness], the Magpies are "preparing to make a staggering offer" for Szoboszlai, amid interest in Lens striker Lois Openda, too.

The Leipzig man's current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2026, meaning they aren't necessarily in a rush to sell him, although they would clearly be able to receive big money for his services if they do move him on during the upcoming summer window.

Szoboszlai could be such an eye-catching signing for Newcastle, should they get a deal over the line, with the youngster a huge talent with an enormous future ahead of him. He has already scored 62 goals and added 67 assists during his club career, despite his tender years, across spells at FC Liefering, RB Salzburg and Leipzig, not to mention finding the net seven times in 30 caps for Hungary.

He has been dubbed "The Hungarian Maestro" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who has also described him as "something special", further highlighting what big talent he is.

Most at home in a central attacking midfield role, Szobozslai could be an alternative, and potentially cheaper, option to rumoured Newcastle target James Maddison, coming in and offering more of an attacking spark and goal threat than the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, for all their many plus points as players.