All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea are gearing up for yet another busy transfer window under the stewardship of Todd Boehly, with the American businessman set to spend another pretty fortune.

It looks as though the midfield is one of the key priorities, with Moises Caicedo and Manuel Ugarte linked in recent weeks.

What's the latest of Manuel Ugarte to Chelsea?

The Uruguayan has been the subject of keen interest from the Blues, particularly in the last week.

Possessing a release clause of €60m (£52m), Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim has already admitted it will be difficult to keep the midfielder in Portugal.

Lo and behold, his worst fears appear to be on the verge of being realised.

That's because the latest reports from Record, via Sport Witness, state that the 22-year-old has in fact now chosen to join Chelsea.

It's thought the deal is now 'closed' with the Premier League club set to beat PSG to his signature.

Who have Chelsea signed from Liga Portugal?

The Blues have often dipped their toes into the Portuguese market, most recently to bring Enzo Fernandez to Stamford Bridge in a record transfer for a British club of £106.8m.

That said, he isn't the only elite individual to swap Iberia for the United Kingdom.

Throughout the years, Chelsea have welcomed many a pretty talent from Portugal, with the enigmatic David Luiz initially swapping Benfica for London.

Ramires was another to arrive from Portugal, while the likes of Jose Bosingwa and Paulo Ferreira both traded Porto for a stint in the Premier League.

Perhaps the most successful transfer was that of Ricardo Carvalho, a player who Ugarte will no doubt be aiming to follow in the footsteps of.

Carvalho took to English football like a duck to water with the central defender a key component of the sides that won the Premier League in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

The centre-back eventually left Chelsea in 2010 after six excellent years where he won eight trophies, made 210 appearances and scored 11 goals.

Now 45, he is known as one of the finest to grace Stamford Bridge in the last 20 years and fortunately for Ugarte, he possesses the same steely nature that could make him an equally big success.

READ MORE: Chelsea could sign Man United defender this summer

The midfield "machine", as he has been dubbed by scout Jacek Kulig, was a titan in the centre of the pitch for Sporting this term, notably making the most tackles per game (3.9) of any player in the Portuguese top flight.

That has ensured he's made 121 tackles in the league alone this season, the most of any player.

Not just content with dominating Portugal, the Uruguay international has dominated the continental stage too, making a whopping 4.8 tackles per game in the Champions League, more than any individual.

That means that despite playing far fewer games (6) than those to reach the latter stages of the competition, he is set to end the tournament with more successful tackles than anybody (29).

To be successful in the Premier League, one requisite is to be physical, a player who is willing to put their body on the line to batter opponents. Clearly, Ugarte has that in abundance. He is all ready to be just as successful as Carvalho should this move get confirmed.

Crystal Palace have submitted a bid for Sunderland winger Jack Clarke, but there are a number of Premier League clubs vying for his signature, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?

Despite not having a new manager in place ahead of next season, Palace have already been linked with a number of players, including former loanee Conor Gallagher, who Chelsea could let leave for £40m, according to talkSPORT's Alex Crook, while the Eagles are closing in on a move for Bournemouth midfielder Jefferson Lerma, as reported by Romano.

The Eagles are also expected to bid for Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey, who is valued at €15m (£13m) by the Turkish club, however, there will be a number of teams battling for his signature, with Arsenal and Wolfsburg expected to make offers.

There may also be a number of key departures at Selhurst Park this summer, as Jean-Philippe Mateta wants to leave, while Wilfried Zaha has been linked with a move elsewhere, with his contract set to expire at the end of June.

As such, Palace may be tasked with replacing the winger, and Romano now reports they have already submitted a bid for Sunderland's Clarke, but there is set to be fierce competition for his signature.

Burnley and Brentford have also submitted bids for the 22-year-old, and there is a chance that he remains at Sunderland, given that a new deal is currently being negotiated, as the Black Cats consider him a "vital" player.

Should Crystal Palace sign Jack Clarke?

Hailed as "unreal" by journalist Josh Bunting, the winger played a vital role in Sunderland's promotion push in the Championship last season, weighing in with 11 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, the most attacking contributions of any player.

The £17k-per-week ace averaged two dribbles per game in the second tier, the same amount as Zaha averaged in the Premier League, while a figure of 1.7 key passes ranks him way out in front as the Black Cats' most creative player.

Although no Crystal Palace fan will want to see Zaha leave the club, there are signs that Clarke could be a very good replacement, ranking in the 86th percentile for successful dribbles per 90, when compared to players at a similar level.

The Sunderland gem is yet to gain any experience above the Championship, however, he is showing all the signs that he is ready to make the step up, and it looks as if this will be one to keep an eye on.

Chelsea have made some questionable transfer decisions in the last year, namely since Todd Boehly secured his takeover after Roman Abramovich was forced to sell up.

Their pursuit of continued glory across ownerships was one well-funded, but not so well-thought-out. As such, three different managers have graced the Stamford Bridge dugout this campaign, with Mauricio Pochettino expected to be the man to now lead them into the future as of next season.

The Argentine has an almighty task on his hands, not least at culling this bloated squad whilst securing his own additions, alongside a hierarchy that has already proven their desperation to force their involvement despite their continued profligacy in the market.

One such example of their failures was the acquisition of Raheem Sterling last summer, who left Manchester City for just £47.5m, a loss on what they first bought him for despite having developed him into one of the Premier League's most dangerous wide men.

It has since become clear that the 28-year-old seems more of a fair-weather player, thriving when things are going well, as he has largely gone missing in west London amidst the misery the club has suffered.

By signing the castoff of another big club, they have been left with a huge financial burden that will weigh on their books for years. Should they actually make the touted move for Sadio Mane this summer too, the expectation is that it would only end in one way again.

Would Sadio Mane be a good signing for Chelsea?

At 31 years old, the former Liverpool star exited England after a contract dispute forced him to Bayern Munich. However, his time in Germany has soured quickly, with an explosive fight with Leroy Sane earlier in the year seemingly forcing him towards the exit door once again.

His return of 12 goals and six assists in all competitions has been far from impressive, considering just how clinical the £48m-rated speedster had been at Anfield.

Featuring 269 times, Mane was one of Jurgen Klopp's foundational signings, with which he forged his hugely successful system off.

Joining from Southampton, he would go on to score 120 goals and assist a further 48, winning nearly every trophy available to him throughout his stay. Former teammate Diogo Jota had even branded him "world-class" during his peak, but those days are far behind him now.

Although many might suggest he could once again be the catalyst for a turnaround should he join Chelsea, that hunger has seemingly long since gone, and it could instead end up being a deal akin to Sterling's.

The England international has only managed to record 13 goal contributions this season in all competitions, despite having recorded 226 goal contributions in 339 games for the Citizens.

Having already signed one ageing winger to earn his final big payday, the mercenary Mane, who reportedly left the Reds due to his desire for more money, would not be a wise first signing for Pochettino.

Aston Villa are now plotting a bid for Burnley centre back Ben Mee as Steven Gerrard looks to improve his backline ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Mirror [via Read Aston Villa], who reported that West Ham and Everton are also in the hunt to sign the Clarets defender this summer.

The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the month and will be available on a free transfer as he looks set to leave Burnley following an 11-year spell at the club.

Gerrard can add to his squad

The Villa manager has already made a head-start on his Premier League rivals in the transfer market and it hasn’t even officially opened yet, having signed no fewer than four players for the Midlands club in the last month.

Among them is a defender, Diego Carlos, who will add a greater presence at the heart of the Villa backline, but Gerrard doesn’t want to stop there considering the reports emerging about Mee.

The £73k-p/w Burnley centre-back, whose former boss Sean Dyche once called “very strong”, would be a solid and reliable signing for the 42-year-old as he aims to build a new-look defence.

His ability in the air and talent for reading the game well could see another one of the Villa backline potentially leave, as the manager clearly wants to bring in his own signings to challenge for places.

Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa were both underwhelming during the 2021/22 season. With WhoScored ratings of 6.74 and 6.43 respectively, placing them 10th and 17th in Gerrard’s squad, they hardly set the world alight as Villa conceded 54 goals in the Premier League.

Although he maybe not as exotic as new signing Carlos, Mee could prove to be a cost-effective short-term solution to a longer-term problem at Villa Park.

If a move does materialise for the 32-year-old, Gerrard will surely have to axe either Mings (who has been targeted by Newcastle) or Konsa in order to continue the restructuring of his side.

Villa needs a strong start next season, or else the project that Gerrard has got going in the Midlands might go up in a puff of smoke. The same could be said for Mings’ Villa career if Mee does come in and prove to be a success.

AND in other news, Lange can land “the next Declan Rice” as Villa eye talent who’s “getting rave reviews”

Rangers chief executive Ross Wilson is set for a big summer transfer window at Ibrox, as it will be Gio van Bronckhorst’s first extended chance to shape his squad.

The Dutchman had one month in January to bolster his playing ranks and was given a number of loanees to work with as Amad Diallo, James Sands and Aaron Ramsey all came in.

Nathan Patterson was also sold for a club-record transfer fee after coming through the academy setup, and he is one of many players over the years to achieve success after rising through the ranks at Ibrox.

However, one youth product on whom the club dropped a clanger was defender Craig Halkett, who Mark Warburton allowed to leave on a free transfer in 2016.

The centre-back was never offered an opportunity to play at senior level for the Gers, as he went on loan twice before joining Livingston on a permanent deal.

This gave him the chance to get regular game-time under his belt and he played 137 times in three-and-a-half seasons for Livi, helping them to climb from League One to the Premiership with back-to-back promotions – an extraordinary feat.

He then earned himself a move to Hearts in 2019 and he has played more than 100 matches for the Edinburgh club to date, catching the eye in the 2021/22 campaign.

Jam Tarts manager Robbie Neilson previously hailed the 26-year-old’s “standout” performances, while Hearts TV pundit Robert Borthwick claimed in March that Halkett had been “immense all season”, and the statistics back that up.

In the Premiership, he averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.14 across 28 outings. He made a whopping 4.5 clearances per game and won an impressive 67% of his duels as he showcased both his positional awareness and his physical strength at this level.

For context, that rating would place him seventh in the Rangers squad for outfield average ratings in the top flight. This suggests that the £2.4k-per-week enforcer would be one of the Gers’ top performers if Van Bronckhorst had him as an option within his squad.

At the age of 26, Halkett is now heading into the prime years of his career, and he still has room to hone his skills even further as he continues to gain experience.

Therefore, Warburton dropped a huge clanger by allowing the defender to leave for nothing six years ago, as the Hearts tank has gone on to make a success of himself elsewhere. The former Rangers boss must surely be regretting the call to axe him from the squad in 2016.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Lundstram: GvB can form scary Rangers duo by signing £4.5k-p/w machine…

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is eyeing an ‘impressive’ signing whilst also showing one of his players the summer exit door, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Big summer of change…

The Times, sharing news in the last week, revealed a private dinner between Conte and chairman Daniel Levy where the pair were thought to have discussed potential transfers.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Spurs’ head coach, guiding the Lilywhites to within touching distance of a Premier League top four finish, has a plethora of incomings in his sights for the next transfer window with just as many leaving N17.

Looking to ‘offload’ the likes of Sergio Reguilón, Emerson Royal, Steven Bergwijn, Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele, the Italian also wants to bring in ‘at least’ six major signings (The Times).

A reserve goalkeeper to provide support for long-serving mainstay Hugo Lloris has also been touted with West Bromwich Albion keeper Sam Johnstone heavily linked.

The Latest: The Sun make Gollini and Johnstone claim…

According to The Sun, Conte is indeed eyeing a Bosman move for Johnstone as Spurs make ‘contact’ ahead of the summer window.

This comes after the ex-Chelsea boss tells current number two Pierluigi Gollini he’s set to leave and return to parent club Atalanta this summer, and contrasts with claims from The Athletic that they may have turned their attention to Fraser Forster.

The Verdict: Right move?

Called ‘amazing’ behind-the-scenes by defender Eric Dier, it appears Conte hasn’t been in agreement over 2021/2022 judging by Gollini’s lack of game time in the top flight.

Johnstone’s potential incoming would solve a gaping hole behind Lloris after Gollini’s exit and go some way to solving their current homegrown quota issue.

Taking this into account, it’s little wonder members of the media like journalist Pete O’Rourke believe he would be a ‘really impressive’ signing at Spurs.

In other news: ‘Spurs will…’ – Fabrizio Romano shares exciting behind-scenes update with Conte ‘very happy’…find out more here.

Newcastle United are closing in on a colossal signing as they head towards the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

The Mirror’s James Nursey has revealed that fellow Premier League side West Ham believe that he will be signing for the Magpies at the end of the season.

He is out of contract this year and it remains to be seen whether or not Burnley will be able to convince him to put pen to paper on fresh terms, which would force PIF to shell out a transfer fee for him.

Nursey Tweeted: “WHUFC end interest in free agent James Tarkowski as they expect him to go to Newcastle.”

Supporters will be elated

The Toon supporters will surely be elated by this news as Tarkowski would be a colossal signing for Eddie Howe’s team.

He is a proven Premier League performer who has been consistently brilliant at the back for a number of years at Turf Moor. Tarkowski has racked up 192 top-flight appearances for Burnley since their promotion in 2014 and has been a considerable part of their success in staying in the division for the past eight years.

His side are currently 17th and battling against the drop but have a better defensive record than nine other teams in the league. The centre-back has been key to this as he has averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 7.17 across 33 outings this term.

Tarkowski has won a whopping 68% of his individual duels and won 4.4 aerial battles per game. He has been a dominant force in defence and his form over the years proves that it has not been a fluke this year and that he is comfortable at this level.

The English defender has averaged a rating of 7.04 or higher in each of the last five Premier League seasons respectively. This shows that he has consistently delivered high-quality performances for Burnley and that is why he would be a colossus for Newcastle at the back as he knows how to perform in the English top flight and would be able to slot straight into the team.

Therefore, supporters will be elated by the prospect of Tarkowski lining up week-in-week-out for the Magpies next season. He can be a colossus at the heart of the back four and improve Howe’s defence, as no Toon centre-back has averaged a higher rating than 6.98 this season.

AND in other news, Howe now plotting £17m move for “terrific” machine, he’d be a “big influence” at NUFC…

Having missed the play-offs in what is their first season back in the Championship, the Baggies will be underwhelmed over this season and apprehensive about their chances of escaping the division come next season.

What’s the latest?

Bruce has already stated that he intends to bolster the West Brom squad, having already signed Jayson Molumby from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Speaking to BirminghamLive, Bruce said: “I think we need as many as five or six [transfers] – a major overhaul is needed.

“The supporters need a new face or two who they can get right behind.”

On the chalkboard

One of those new faces could well be MK Dons’ 22-year-old forward Scott Twine, who has been linked in a report from TEAMtalk and has enjoyed a prosperous campaign.

It has seen him notch up a staggering 33 goal contributions in League One, totalling 20 goals and 13 assists in 44 appearances to help the Dons march into a play-off semi-final that saw them narrowly miss out on their Championship aspirations.

Being in the form that he is in, Twine may look to cut ties with Liam Manning’s side, in order to continue his development in the division above.

Considering his £3m-rated market value, age, and pondering his potential, West Brom would be right to rival the reported teams of Burnley, Norwich City and Middlesborough for his signature.

With his goal tally in mind from the third tier, Twine has outscored two of Bruce’s forward options in Robinson and Carroll, who have scored a combined total of 12 in the Championship this season.

With the Baggies set to lose the latter upon his contract expiry at the end of the season, Twine would represent an astute replacement who could form a formidable partnership with Karlan Grant and allow Bruce to axe Robinson, who despite being the Baggies’ second-highest goalscorer this season has tailed off towards the end.

The 27-year-old is far from the “pest” that Gabby Agbonlahor once described with the Irishman scoring just twice in his final 20 appearances.

Though his ability to play on the wings could make way for Daryl Dike’s inclusion in the squad – with Twine also demonstrating his creativity this season with 13 assists – the second-highest total in England’s third division.

Bruce looks to play a strike partnership up top – whether it be through the means of a 3-5-2 formation or 4-4-2 system. And with the opportunity to play on the wings or through the middle, Bruce could help to transition the form of the “difference maker”  – in the words of Sky Football – to the Championship.

In other news: Forget Grant: West Brom’s 104-touch star put on an impressive display against Barnsley 

Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino’s foot injury could keep him out for ‘longer than expected’, according to injury expert Ben Dinnery.

The Lowdown: Firmino missing due to foot injury

Jurgen Klopp has been fortunate in that department of late, having almost a full squad to choose from for some crucial Premier League and Champions League games.

With Divock Origi recovered after a brief illness, Firmino – who has been struggling with a foot issue since the middle of April, not appearing at all in that time – is the only Reds player currently absent.

The hope was that the Brazilian would be back available by now but he is still out for the Champions League semi-final second leg clash with Villarreal on Tuesday night.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-30/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Latest: Expert drops fresh Firmino injury claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery admitted that Firmino may simply be reacting slower than others in his recovery, with his return potentially still a way off. The injury expert outlined:

“Sometimes things can take longer than expected. He might have been expected to respond in a certain way and it hasn’t worked out like that.

“It is a science but not an exact science. Individuals respond to treatment in different ways. If you suffer a setback or reaction, you need to make sure you return pain-free.

“They aren’t just thinking about the next game. They have got the rest of the league campaign and possibly a Champions League final. It is better to take that additional recovery time than rush him back. They are well-stocked in those positions now anyway.”

The Verdict: At least there’s depth now

In the past, losing Firmino at such a massive point in the season would have felt fatal for Liverpool, considering how dependent they were on him, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane staying fit.

Thankfully, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota have now provided Jurgen Klopp with some incredible squad depth, meaning the Brazil international isn’t as badly missed, especially as he has arguably drifted past his absolute peak.

Nonetheless, the hope is that Firmino is back as soon as possible, allowing for squad rotation to come into play during Liverpool’s quest for an unprecedented quadruple.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has dropped an exciting Liverpool transfer claim. Read more here.

Everton took a huge stride towards Premier League survival on Sunday afternoon after recording a hard-fought – and much needed – 1-0 win over Chelsea at Goodison Park, with Richarlison netting what proved to be the game’s defining goal.

Buoyed by a raucous home crowd, the Brazilian fired Frank Lampard’s men ahead just minutes after the interval, with the Toffees boss earning sweet revenge against the side that had brutally sacked him just over a year ago.

While the goalscorer – and the victorious manager – may well grab the headlines, alongside England stopper Jordan Pickford, one man who was something of an unsung hero in that triumph was summer signing Demarai Gray, with his tireless display integral to the hosts hanging onto all three points.

Despite making just 11 passes in the match, the former Leicester City man caught the eye with his seemingly boundless energy, putting in a real shift defensively as he won five of his six ground duels and made three tackles, all while giving the usually unflappable Reece James a real tough afternoon down the visitors’ right flank.

Gray – who has previously been dubbed “influential” by pundit Martin Keown – was also decisive at the other end in helping his side get ahead on 47 minutes, teeing up teammate Richarlison to slot home after the duo had capitalised on some errant defending from Blues skipper, Cesar Azpilicueta.

That performance was also highly praised by Liverpool Echo writer Adam Jones, who handed the pacy wide man an 8/10 match rating and said of his display that: “Another who tried to cover every blade of grass for his side and his high press was pivotal in the build up to the goal. His defensive work in the second half was absolutely fantastic too, which made up for a few errors at the other end of the pitch.”

Unsurprisingly, the 24-year-old also earned an 8.0 match rating via SofaScore, for that impressive outing, with only the aforementioned Pickford recording a better score on the day (8.1) across all 22 starters on the pitch.

That pivotal assist also means that the £19.8m-rated man now has eight goal contributions for the season in the top-flight, continually making his £1.7m signing from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen appear an absolute bargain.

If he keeps delivering the goods then it should stand Lampard’s men in good stead on their quest to retain their Premier League status, with the Merseysiders now just two points behind 17th placed Leeds United, and with a game in hand on both the Elland Road outfit and fellow strugglers, Burnley.

They will, however, need to translate their strong home form into positive results on the road, with their record of just one away win the worst in the division this season.

In other news, Benitez howler: Everton facing setback over £27m-rated star, supporters will be fuming – opinion