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Dyche Eyeing Everton Move For £17m "Handful"

Everton remain interested in Salernitana forward Boulaye Dia, despite the recent news of an agreed deal with Sporting Lisbon to sign 19-year-old striker Youssef Chermiti.

Is Boulaye Dia signing for Everton?

That's according to Italian outlet La Citta di Salerno – via Sport Witness – who believe that even though Dia has shown a willingness to remain with the Serie A side for at least one more season, he could be charmed by the Toffees, who can offer him a starring role in the Premier League.

It was previously claimed that Sean Dyche's outfit had offered €18-20m (£15-17m) plus Neal Maupay for the Senegalese striker, though negotiations do not appear to have entered the culminating phase.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Everton survived relegation from the top-flight by the skin of their teeth last season, and with Wolverhampton Wanderers the only side to score fewer goals than the Merseyside club's 34, owner Farhad Moshiri's present focus on the frontline this window is more than rational.

Who is Boulaye Dia?

Everton's endeavours were certainly hampered by the squad's inefficacy in front of goal; this year, Dyche will be determined to eradicate the past maladies and chart a course for success.

One of the few bright sparks was Alex Iwobi, who looked reformed and revitalised in his new role as a central playmaker, as opposed to his previous deployment as a winger.

Across his first three Premier League campaigns on Merseyside, Iwobi mustered just four goals and five assists from 83 appearances; this term, despite Everton's woes, the 27-year-old scored twice and produced eight assists in the Premier League.

As per FBref, the 63-cap Nigerian ranks among the top 14% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90.

boulaye-dia-everton-transfer-premier-league

By signing Dia and deploying him in front of the £120k-per-week Iwobi, a continuous flow of offensive energy would rekindle the Goodison Park side's attacking impetus, with the 26-year-old scoring 16 goals and supplying six assists in the Serie A last season.

Described as a "handful" by journalist Josh Bunting, Dia ranks among the top 16% of forwards for goals despite ranking among the bottom 6% for total shots per 90, which highlights his clinical ability, something that Iwobi could latch onto as he channels his creativity into the former Villarreal striker's lane.

The marksman only penned a permanent deal with Salernitana this summer, for a reported €12m (£10m), after dazzling on loan, but that has not stopped Dyche from advancing negotiations.

With his ability to find the back of the net at ease an attribute that has been sorely missed on the blue half of Merseyside in recent years, Dia could be a first-rate acquisition to send Goodison Park into cacophonous cheer once again.

And with Iwobi pulling the strings behind him, driving into the danger area and serving opportunities into Dia's path on a silver platter, the verve of this Everton team might just return.

Mikel Arteta Asks For Patience Over £65m Arsenal Arrival

The summer transfer window is all about patience. Whether that be when waiting for a club to bring in reinforcements, or then waiting for those reinforcements to find their feet.

Things can't always instantly click, and that's when a sense of calm needs to be projected by those in charge at the club.

Of course, in an ideal world, the player who has just cost a club a likely absurd amount would make an instant impact. And this can sometimes be the case, too. Just look at Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool, who helped bring silverware to Anfield as a direct consequence of his arrival.

In cases such as Kai Havertz and Arsenal, however, patience may be needed. In a new side, which operates contrastingly differently to former club Chelsea, Havertz may need time to settle in but has already faced criticism in the media.

Mikel Arteta has been quick to keep calm about the forward, too, even commenting on his physicality.

What did Mikel Arteta say about Kai Havertz?

Speaking to the press recently, Arteta said (via Goal): "We have to find the right balance but a year ago Granit could never play as an attacking midfielder. It's the first time we played with four players inside and three of them had never played together, ever. So: tranquilo.

"Day by day, keep doing the right things and give people the opportunity to settle in and we will be fine. You use the word 'physical' but if I put Granit and Kai [together] who is more physical? Granit? Yeah? Havertz is 1.91 metres.

"It depends what physical is. Physical is to run, to run in behind, run forward, to tackle, to defend. He will fit in with the qualities we have for sure and the good thing is that we have options in midfield. When we want a game to become more physical we have the options to be very, very physical so we have the right options."

How many goals did Kai Havertz score in his Chelsea career?

Former Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz.

To say that Havertz's Chelsea career didn't live up to the hype would be quite the understatement. Of course, the German will forever have his place in Blues history after scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final to defeat fellow Premier League side Manchester City, but he never really progressed after that.

In total, during his time at Stamford Bridge, Havertz scored just 32 goals in 139 appearances. For a player used as a striker more often than not, that record simply wasn't good enough.

With that said, it came as a slight surprise when Arsenal so willingly splashed out a reported £65m for his signature this summer, but fans of the North London club will trust Arteta's plan – especially as he appears likely to be reimagined as a midfielder and not a striker.

The former Chelsea man has already shown glimpses of what he is capable of, scoring his first goal for the club in a recent 5-0 thrashing of MLS All-Stars.

Havertz will hope to have finally found the place to realise his potential in England's top flight, as Arsenal attempt to compete for the Premier League title, and more, next season.

The Gunners will certainly be an interesting watch.

Wolves: Wanderers Keen On Signing Emiliano Martinez

Wolves are thought to be interested in signing Uruguayan midfielder Emiliano Martinez in the summer transfer window, according to a recent rumour.

Who is Emiliano Martinez?

The 23-year-old, who isn't to be confused with his namesake who plays in goal for Aston Villa and Argentina, is currently at FC Midtjylland, one of Denmark's biggest clubs, and he has grown into an important player for them.

Having arrived from Red Bull Bragantino in 2022, Martinez has made 33 appearances for his current club, seven of which came in the Europa League last season, with six starts coming his way. He has also won two caps for Uruguay in a star-studded side that has featured the likes of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, Darwin Nunez and Fede Valverde.

The midfielder is currently contracted to Midtjylland until the summer of 2027, meaning it may not be easy for clubs to sign him on the cheap, but there could still be interest in him during the summer transfer window.

Wolves are on the lookout for new signings, as they aim to improve on a fairly underwhelming 2022/23 campaign, and it looks as though Martinez has emerged as a target to come in and make up for the loss of Ruben Neves.

Are Wolves signing Emiliano Martinez?

According to Football Insider, Wolves are "among a number of English clubs" interested in signing Martinez this summer, with West Ham also mentioned in the report. He has been receiving "rave reviews" for his performances for Midtjylland, highlighting why Wanderers are seemingly in the mix to acquire his signature.

The player's father and agent, Luis Ferrer, is thought to have been "instrumental" in Kylian Mbappe's move to Paris Saint-Germain and is looking to seal a big move for his son and client somewhere across Europe, amid plenty of intrigue in him.

Martinez may be an unknown to many, with all due respect to Midtjylland, who aren't necessarily Europe's most closely-followed team by fans of other clubs. It seems clear that he is a standout figure in Denmark, however, so it is exciting to Wolves in the mix to sign him before the new campaign kicks into gear.

The fact that he has forced his way into Uruguay's plans from a weaker league says a lot about his ability, given some of the midfield quality at their disposal, from Valverde to Manuel Ugarte, and he is still a young footballer who should only develop over time.

It is essential that Wolves fill the void left by the influential Neves this summer, and while Martinez may not be able to do that alone, given his lack of experience in an elite league, he could still make a noticeable difference in the middle of the park.

Last season, he averaged an eye-catching three tackles per game in the Europa League – no Wolves player matched or had a higher tally in the Premier League – so he could be a real force out of possession, but he also enjoyed an 81.4% pass completion rate, showing that he is also perfectly good on the ball.

Sky Sports: Celtic Interested in £15k-p/w "Hero"

Celtic are thought to be interested in a move for Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

The Hoops have been working hard behind the scenes ahead of Brendan Rodgers’ first season back as manager, with two new players already signed at Parkhead.

Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm has arrived from Valerenga and winger Marco Tilio from Melbourne City, with the pair both agreeing to five-year deals in Glasgow. More new faces could soon be on the way, especially after Celtic lost Jota, who has signed for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.

An attacking player who could come in for the Portuguese winger is Gangwon FC forward Yang Hyun-jun, with a fee of just over £2m now agreed between the two clubs. Another South Korean player who could follow Yang to Glasgow is Busan I-Park midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu. The Hoops have been tracking the player for some time and even made an offer in the winter window, but it looks as if they could now get their man after making an improved bid.

Celtic also still have their eyes on the European market, and by the looks of things, Livakovic could be the latest player the Hoops make a move for.

Joseph took to Twitter on Friday evening to share a further transfer update from Parkhead, this time on a new goalkeeper. The club are thought to be eyeing Livakovic, who is into the final 12 months of his Dinamo Zagreb deal.

“Celtic are in the market for a goalkeeper this summer. It’s understood one target being monitored closely is Croatia & Dinamo Zagreb No1 Dominik Livakovic, who has a year left on his contract.

“Fiorentina’s interest has cooled recently. Villarreal & Fenerbahce are also keen.”

However, the Hoops may need to be quick if they are to sign the shot-stopper, with Fabrizio Romano since claiming that Fenerbahce are close to a move and have agreed on personal terms.

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Third-Place Playoff – Croatia v Morocco – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar – December 17, 2022 Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic celebrates after Josko Gvardiol scores their first goal REUTERS/Lee Smith

Who is Dominik Livakovic?

Livakovic, on £15,000-a-week, is 28 years of age and has been with Dinamo Zagreb since 2015. The Croatia international is valued at €12m by Transfermarkt and has made 283 appearances for Zagreb, keeping an impressive 131 clean sheets.

The club captain has won eight major honours during his time with Zagreb and he has also played in two World Cups, helping Croatia to the final against France back in 2018.

He also starred in a penalty shootout in Qatar last year against Brazil, where he was praised by some major figures in the game, including former Bayern Munich chief Oliver Kahn, who called him a “hero”.

"The man who stopped Brazil will always be a hero to me,

"Livakovic is worthy of praise. Such a goalkeeper must play at a top club. I have no doubt that this will be the case in the new season, but at the same time, he is not within the scope of our interests."

Should Livakovic move to Celtic Park, he would bring plenty of experience at the highest level to Rodgers' side, and at the age of 28, you’d like to think he has plenty of years left in the tank, so could be a long-term replacement for Joe Hart, who turned 36 in April.

Tottenham Ready To Make Offer For "World Class" £68m Star

Tottenham Hotspur are now ready to make their first offer for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, according to a recent report from Italy.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?

Tottenham have now offered striker Harry Kane a massive new contract, with chairman Daniel Levy looking to bring the transfer saga involving the 29-year-old to an end, however he has made no immediate decision on his future.

Bayern Munich remain in the hunt for the England captain, having recently submitted an offer of £70m plus add-ons, but Levy is expected to stand firm unless a £100m package is tabled, meaning the German side are still some way off in their valuation.

While no Spurs fan will want to see Kane leave this summer, the club have started to identify some potential options to replace him, with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins previously being named as one of the targets.

Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi was also linked with a move to north London, however he has now put pen to paper on a new four-year contract at Parkhead, which indicates he will not be reuniting with former manager Ange Postecoglou.

Vlahovic is also a target for the Lilywhites, with a report from Sport Mediaset (via Sport Witness) detailing that they are now ready to make an initial bid of at least €65m (£56m) for the striker, a figure that would make Juventus consider selling him.

However, there will be fierce competition for the Serbian's signature, with Chelsea and Man United also "at the window", ready to make an offer of their own this summer.

Sport Witness also relay a report from Il Giornale, which suggests Juventus are set to hold out for a fee of €80m (£68m), so Spurs may be some way below the asking price at present.

It is clear that the Italian club would be willing to sanction the 23-year-old's departure for the right price, with 90min reporting manager Max Allegri has given his blessing to sell him this summer, after he handed in a transfer request in June.

How many goals has Dusan Vlahovic scored?

The former Fiorentina man has an impressive goal record at both club and international level, scoring 75 goals in 198 games across spells with Partizan Belgrade, Fiorentina and Juventus, while also picking up 12 in 21 for national side Serbia.

Sports journalist Siavoush Fallahi hailed the 6 foot 3 striker in September last season, however he also indicated he is not being used correctly at the Allianz Stadium, saying: "Vlahovic is a beast. Half chance, wrong foot, against two and scores. Offside but insane how little allegri-ball is serving a world class striker. He’s like an animal in a cage."

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

It is no wonder the Juventus marksman wants to leave, but there are doubts about whether he is a necessary signing for Tottenham, if Kane remains at the club this summer.

Vlahovic is unlikely to want to play second fiddle, and he will not come cheap, with Juventus holding out for £68m, so Tottenham should only target the forward if Kane departs.

Nottingham Forest Favourites To Sign £20m "Monster" From Chelsea

Nottingham Forest have emerged as a frontrunner to sign Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi this summer, according to fresh reports.

Is Callum Hudson-Odoi leaving Chelsea?

The Premier League’s left-sided winger worked his way up through the youth ranks to graduate from the academy at Stamford Bridge and become a regular feature of the first-team, where he's so far made 126 senior appearances, but his future is currently extremely uncertain.

Last season, England’s former international was sent out on a season-long loan to Bayer Leverkusen to receive more game time, but that spell didn’t go as well as hoped as he only made seven starts all term which will have been disappointing for both the player and his parent club.

The Blues product, however, will be out of contract at the end of the next campaign so this window will be Mauricio Pochettino’s final opportunity to cash in should he not want to lose him for free, and should he depart, he’s already got a heavily invested suitor at The City Ground.

The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg recently reported that the Reds, Fulham and AC Milan have all registered an interest in the 22-year-old who is ready to embark on a new challenge, but if the following update is to be believed, it’s the former who have leapfrogged their competitors into pole position.

Are Nottingham Forest signing Hudson-Odoi?

According to Football Transfers, Nottingham Forest are the “among the favourites” to sign Hudson-Odoi should he secure a move away from Chelsea. The SW6 outfit “want to sell” the attacker and Steve Cooper is a “huge fan” of his target having managed him at the England’s U17s World Cup earlier in his career. The Blues are “looking” to demand £20m, though if a deal is to be agreed, it likely won’t be until “later” in the window.

Bayer Leverkusen forward Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Should Marinakis make an offer for Hudson-Odoi?

Nottingham Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis will know that Cooper holding an existing connection to Hudson-Odoi means he knows a lot about what he’s capable of, and even though he only scored one goal and provided the same number of assists last season at Leverkusen, he still looked promising and could thrive in the next chapter of his career in the Midlands.

Chelsea’s forward was averaging 3.86 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes over in Germany which was the third-highest total throughout his squad, as per FBRef, not to mention that he had strong link-up play with his teammates, recording an 86.9% pass success rate, higher than any of the regular current starters in NG2.

The Wandsworth-born ace, who has the versatility to operate in seven different positions across the pitch, also knows what it takes to compete and be successful having won five senior trophies with his boyhood club, including the Champions and Europa League, so could bring a much-needed winning mentality to the side.

Last but not least, Hudson-Odoi has been dubbed a “monster of a talent” by journalist Nizaar Kinsella and it’s obvious that he has bags of potential to be unleashed, and this is exactly what could happen should he sign on the dotted line to become a new recruit under Cooper.

Arsenal Could Sign "Special" £50m Vieira Heir

Arsenal have enjoyed a fruitful start to their summer transfer window, having announced Kai Havertz as the first of what promises to be many new additions.

Mikel Arteta is wasting no time in ironing out his new-look squad for the upcoming campaign, seeking to get all his business done as early as possible.

However, one deal that has run on far longer than he would have liked has come through their pursuit of Declan Rice.

Such a lucrative switch was always going to be a tricky one to negotiate, and with Manchester City entering the race at one point too, the pressure ramped up significantly. Despite that, it now seems like they are set to get their man, with a £105m package agreed with West Ham United.

In an effort to offer him the perfect partner, and in turn emulate one of their legendary past captains, it seems their interest in Southampton's Romeo Lavia remains strong, as a fine option for £50m.

Could Romeo Lavia emulate Patrick Vieira?

Having already been branded as a "special player" by journalist Dan George, his debut season in senior football stunned many with his maturity in the engine room despite being only 19 years old.

He was a combative yet classy presence for the relegated Saints, battling for every ball but then boasting the technical gifts to progress the play.

As such, his 6.80 average rating in the Premier League was largely upheld through his 86% pass accuracy, 68% dribble success rate, 2.1 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, via Sofascore. Only Thomas Partey for the Gunners could equal his tackling tally from that term.

patrick-vieira-arsenal-amadou-onana

His lack of experience did not affect his ability to battle with the very best, and with time he is certain to only flourish further. Especially if that future is overseen at the Emirates, under the tutelage of Arteta.

Vieira was a true Arsenal legend, playing 401 games for the club and winning plenty of silverware throughout his illustrious career. His role in leading Arsene Wenger's 2003/04 team to an unbeaten league campaign is a feat that still remains unmatched today.

His longevity was not owed solely to his immense stature and relentless work rate, although it helped greatly, but also his touch of class to dictate the play. Lavia's aforementioned figures suggest that the foundation is in place for the Belgium international to one day grow into a similar player, and partner Rice for the next decade.

After all, the England international has added key offensive statistics to his already well-rounded game to make him a perfectly versatile option to highlight this summer revolution.

Last term, his 7.19 average rating would have made him the Gunners' third-best player as they pushed for the title, with his six goal contributions aided through one key pass and 2.1 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Combining these two physical assets, who both have the requisite skillset to thrive in the modern day, could prove the catalyst for truly making the north London outfit a tangible threat to Manchester City.

Kyle Walker Linked With Shock Move to Premier League Club

Kyle Walker has been touted with a shock future return to newly-promoted Sheffield United, with his time at Manchester City potentially running out.

Is Kyle Walker leaving Manchester City?

Despite having helped the Sky Blues win the treble last season, Walker could be about to call time on his six-year, trophy-laden stint at Man City. With just a year remaining on his current deal, Pep Guardiola could well cash in on the 33-year-old should they choose not to renew his contract.

According to Dharmesh Sheth, who was speaking on Sky Sports News's Transfer Talk podcast, one potential destination could be his boyhood club Sheffield United.

When quizzed about Walker, Sheth said: "I think another one to look out for, maybe not in this summer's transfer window but maybe in the coming years. I think he's always said he'd want to go back and play for his hometown club again in Sheffield United."

While Sheth admits it would be an unlikely return this summer, he went on to add that it was "definitely one to keep an eye on" as the transfer window unfolds. Sheffield United's return to the Premier League could certainly make a potential move back to the city of steel a more interesting proposition for Walker.

Walker was born in Sheffield and came through the academy at Bramall Lane and, despite only making 35 appearances for his hometown side, has previously spoken about how he would like to play for the Blades towards the end of his career.

There is, of course, a chance that Walker will complete his final season at Man City before moving on for free in the summer of 2024, which could be when he opts to make his return home.

Which clubs want Kyle Walker?

If Sheffield United are to sign the right-back, who featured 39 times for City last campaign, they will have to fend off some stern competition.

Sheth also names Bayern Munich as holding an intense interest in the defender, with Sky Germany even suggesting that the Bavarians are in "advanced talks" with Walker.

Considering Bayern are potentially looking to offload their current first-choice right-back Benjamin Pavard this summer, Walker would certainly have an opportunity to stake his claim for a starting berth under Thomas Tuchel in Germany.

Slightly more outlandish reports have even suggested that Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool are interested in the 76-cap England international, although a move looks very unlikely at this stage.

Aston Villa “Pushing” To Sign £63k p/w Defender

Aston Villa are believed to be pushing to bring Pau Torres to Villa Park this summer and reunite him with his former manager, Unai Emery.

How old is Pau Torres?

Villa enjoyed a seriously impressive 2022/23 campaign which saw them end the season in style by pipping European-regulars Tottenham Hotspur to seventh spot.

In doing so, Emery's men have secured the opportunity to play European football next season after securing their spot in the Europa Conference League qualifiers.

However, it does not look as if Villa are willing to sit back and settle on what they done in the 22/23 campaign.

Indeed, reports would suggest the Villa owners are looking to take advantage of their European status by potentially bringing in some significant additions.

And one name which is seemingly on their radar is the 26-year-old Torres who has previously played under Villa's Spanish boss.

Torres has made 105 appearances under Emery from their time together at Villarreal and he has even been able to provide an impressive return of 10 goals and three assists (via Transfermarkt).

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Premier League side are now pushing to bring the Spaniard to Villa Park this summer:

"They [Tottenham] always appreciated Pau Torres, but at the moment it is Aston Villa, the club pushing for Pau."

How much does Pau Torres earn?

Villa are not the only Premier League side who are being linked with a potential move this summer for the Spaniard.

Indeed, it is believed Spurs are looking at the 26-year-old as a potential option for this summer as they look to address their own defensive issues.

However, it will be intriguing to see whether the north London side could hold a candle to Villa's proposal – at least on personal terms.

Villa have European football on the menu for next season, a manager who Torres his strived under and potentially even a more promising project.

Even financially, Villa are no small fry when it comes to the transfer window with Villa showing last summer they were willing to spend significantly on centre-back Diego Carlos.

But it does not appear the £63k-per-week is only garnering interest from England with reports from Spain (via SportWitness) suggesting Juventus are also keen on the 26-year-old.

Whether Villa could beat the likes of the Italian giants to the potential signing of Torres may be another question.

However, they certainly seem to be in a good place to launch an attractive bid for the 26-year-old.

Chelsea Transfer News: Boehly Losing Battle for Poch Target

Chelsea’s standing in the race to sign West Ham star Declan Rice is diminishing in the eyes of “multiple sources”, reports reliable journalist Ben Jacobs.

Who are Chelsea signing this summer?

The Blues will no doubt be busy in the now open summer transfer window, with Mauricio Pochettino sure to want to put a stamp on a squad that is seen by many to be oversized.

It means we will likely see plenty of ‘deadwood’ cleared out, with the likes of Kalidou Kouliably, Romelu Lukaku, Trevoh Chalobah and Mateo Kovacic all linked with exits, while one would expect a new goalkeeper to replace one or both of Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga too.

In terms of incomings, Todd Boehly and Pochettino are seemingly dead set on brining Brighton star Moises Caicedo to the club, with reports on Friday suggesting they are winning the race for the Ecuador international.

They have also been linked with a move for Rice, seemingly ready to do battle with London rivals Arsenal for the Hammers icon’s signature, with reports revealing the Blues have jumped into the race after seeing the Gunners rejected with their opening bid.

However, according to Jacobs, Boehly and Pochettino may have to focus all their efforts on Caicedo, with word coming through the grapevine on Rice.

“Chelsea's chances of landing Rice are being downplayed by multiple sources,” the CBS journalist said. “CFC do have a long-standing interest in him, but the club are working on other priorities as it stands.”

Is Rice better than Caicedo?

It’s pretty difficult to separate the two players looking at the numbers, so it may come down to personal preferences – or club allegiances – when deciding who the better signing will be.

Rice, labelled “world class” by Danny Cowley, sits in the 56th percentile of midfielders in the big five leagues for tackles per 90, while his interceptions puts him right up in the 95th. Caicedo meanwhile, dubbed “magnificent” by Jamie Redknapp, is 87th percentile for tackling and 89th for interceptions.

They both read the game excellently then, and there’s not much to split their abilities on the ball either, with Rice leading the way when it comes to ball-carrying and Caicedo the better passer, ranking higher for total passes and pass completion.

If the Brighton star lands at Chelsea and his West Ham counterpart finds himself in north London, there will be quite the battle for supremacy when the two come head to head next season.

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