Football

Ipswich Town make offer for Leeds United and Leicester City target

01/07/2024 Raymond 0

Ipswich Town has reportedly made a verbal offer to Tottenham Hotspur for defender Joe Rodon, as revealed by Alasdair Gold. On the other hand, Leeds United is gearing up for another season in the Championship after finishing third last season, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion behind Ipswich Town and Leicester City. Despite a strong campaign, Daniel Farke’s side lost in the play-off final to Southampton, condemning them to another Championship campaign.

Rodon, 26, spent the previous season on loan at Leeds United, featuring prominently with 46 Championship appearances and four outings in the FA Cup. His opportunities at Spurs have been limited since the 2020/21 season, making just 15 Premier League appearances, suggesting his tenure at the club may be nearing its conclusion.

While Leeds United and Leicester City have also shown interest in the Welsh defender this summer, it is Ipswich Town that has taken the initiative with a verbal offer. Although the offer remains informal, Ipswich’s proactive approach this summer could prompt Leeds and Leicester to accelerate their pursuit of Rodon. Ipswich Town’s ambitious moves in the transfer market, including the recent signing of Omari Hutchinson, underscore their determination to strengthen the squad ahead of their upcoming season in pursuit of top-flight promotion.

Former Rangers star ‘agrees’ Sheffield Wednesday contract and he could be joined at Owls by current Ibrox ace

01/07/2024 Raymond 0

Sheffield Wednesday might have some reminders of Rangers this season. The Owls are reportedly interested in a current Rangers player, who would join a former Ibrox star already at the club. Josh Windass, with Sheffield Wednesday since 2020, was uncertain about his future as his contract neared its end. Despite stalled negotiations in early June, The Star has reported that Windass is now expected to stay at Hillsborough, with a deal agreed to keep him at the club. Since joining from Wigan, Windass has recorded 57 goals and assists in 135 games for Sheffield Wednesday.

Manager Danny Rohl expressed optimism about ongoing contract talks with his players, stating, “All in all, I am positive at the moment. I am still in contact with all the players, we are in talks, and now it is about finding the agreement to take the next step.” One potential new arrival is Scott Wright, a Rangers winger linked with a move to Sheffield Wednesday, who almost transferred to Turkey last summer and now faces increased competition at Rangers.

Danny Rohl now ‘ready’ to make ‘highly-rated’ gem his sixth summer signing at Sheffield Wednesday

01/07/2024 Raymond 0

Danny Rohl has been making significant strides with Sheffield Wednesday’s transfer activities in recent weeks. Sheffield Wednesday announced their fifth signing of the summer yesterday, securing Jamal Lowe on a free transfer after his release from Bournemouth. The club has also added Yan Valery, Max Lowe, Svante Ingelsson, and Ben Hamer to their roster.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Sheffield Wednesday is set to re-sign 19-year-old James Beadle, with a deal possibly finalized today. Beadle was clearly Rohl’s top priority after achieving the second-highest clean sheet percentage (42.1%) among goalkeepers who played more than two games in the Championship last season. He was comfortably one of Wednesday’s standout players last term, and continuing his role at Hillsborough will benefit both the club and the player.

Transfer Rumours: Swansea City’s Interest in Stoke City Midfielder?

01/07/2024 Raymond 0

Swansea City is reportedly one of three Championship clubs interested in acquiring Stoke City midfielder Josh Laurent. Laurent, who is in the final year of his contract with Stoke, is also drawing attention from clubs abroad. Despite the interest, it seems unlikely that Stoke will want to part ways with Laurent, given his importance to the team. Any potential move would depend on Laurent’s desire to leave, and there has been no indication that he is looking to transfer this summer, especially to another Championship club.

For Swansea, central midfield is an area that needs strengthening, although there are more urgent positions to address. While a midfield pairing of Matt Grimes and Jay Fulton lacks dynamism, and Joe Allen is expected to play a limited role due to fitness concerns, a move for Laurent seems improbable given his value to Stoke and Swansea’s constrained transfer budget. In conclusion, while the rumors of Swansea’s interest in Laurent are intriguing, they appear to be speculative at this stage. Only time will tell if any concrete developments will emerge.

Sunday Matt O’Riley Bid Rumour

01/07/2024 Raymond 0

Southampton are reportedly preparing a significant £20 million bid for Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley, including potential add-ons that could push the total amount beyond Celtic’s previous record sales of approximately £25 million. Southampton manager Russell Martin, who previously worked with O’Riley at MK Dons, is keen to reunite with the Danish international. Since his move to Celtic, O’Riley has thrived, becoming a key player and significantly contributing to their double-winning campaign last season.

Aware of financial fair play constraints, Southampton is unlikely to meet Celtic’s initial asking price directly. O’Riley’s impressive performances for Celtic have attracted considerable attention, including from Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and several other European clubs, although no formal offers have met Celtic’s valuation yet. Celtic, having secured O’Riley on a new contract in October, are in a strong negotiating position and are unlikely to accept anything less than their valuation. It remains uncertain if Southampton will meet Celtic’s demands, but a bidding war could ensure Celtic secures the best possible deal for their star midfielder.

Leeds United offered £5m+ by Real Betis in new Diego Llorente transfer development

30/06/2024 Raymond 0

Leeds United has received a bid of approximately £5 million from Real Betis for defender Diego Llorente, according to Il Messaggero. The Italian newspaper reported that Betis is eager to secure the former Real Madrid player’s services on a permanent basis, offering €6 million (£5.1 million) for Llorente, who spent the 2023-24 season on loan with Roma. If this transfer goes through, Llorente would join his former teammate Marc Roca, who recently completed a move to Manuel Pellegrini’s squad after a loan spell. Leeds is facing a busy transfer period, especially with the potential £40 million transfer of their young star Archie Gray to Brentford. Selling Llorente could be beneficial for Leeds, as he has been away on loan for 18 months, and the £5 million fee would help the club address financial concerns and reinvest in the team.

Southampton and Leicester show interest in Slovenia midfielder Timi Max Elsnik after his impressive display against England at Euro 2024

30/06/2024 Raymond 0

Southampton and Leicester City have both set their sights on Timi Max Elsnik, the talented Slovenian midfielder currently making waves at Olimpija Ljubljana. At 26, Elsnik’s stellar form has not only secured him a place in Slovenia’s Euro 2024 squad but also garnered attention from top clubs across Europe, including Lazio and Lyon. Despite interest from abroad, the £5.5 million price tag has made Elsnik an enticing prospect for Premier League returnees Leicester City and Southampton, who are eager to strengthen their ranks ahead of the upcoming season.

Sunderland next move & Celtic latest amid Newcastle & Boro links

30/06/2024 Raymond 0

This week’s North East Notes highlights the goalkeepers from Newcastle and Middlesbrough, but first, let’s focus on Sunderland, who have had an eventful week at the Stadium of Light. Hummel has rejoined forces with the Black Cats and has taken extraordinary measures to create a unique shirt specifically for Sunderland. On Friday morning, anticipation ran high as queues wound around the car park in anticipation of the official store opening.

Scott Wright sees Rangers transfer exit route emerge as Sheffield Wednesday make their signing pitch

30/06/2024 Raymond 0

Sheffield Wednesday has shown interest in acquiring Rangers winger Scott Wright, who has a year left on his contract. The 26-year-old has caught the eye of Wednesday’s manager, Danny Rohl, who is eager to bring him to the Championship side. Wright, who joined Rangers in 2021 and played in the Europa League Final against Eintracht Frankfurt, has found it difficult to secure a regular spot under manager Philippe Clement. With Clement planning significant changes and already adding five new players to the squad, Wright’s future at Ibrox is uncertain. Sheffield Wednesday hopes to finalize a deal for Wright before the new season starts.

Manager Philippe Clement discussed his vision for the team, emphasizing the importance of a balanced squad with both young talents and experienced players. He highlighted the recent departures and the need to integrate new signings quickly. Clement expressed excitement about the upcoming pre-season and the opportunity to instill the team’s principles in the new players, despite the challenges of managing a larger squad. He stressed the collective motivation of the players and staff to perform well from the outset, ready to tackle nine top games in the first four weeks of the season.

Stoke City bring in ‘winner’ and the Zoom call that sealed transfer

30/06/2024 Raymond 0

Stoke City head coach Steven Schumacher was notably impressed during a Zoom chat that played a pivotal role in finalizing the signing of Ben Gibson. Both Schumacher and Gibson were in sync when the defender interrupted his family holiday to discuss his potential move to Stoke City. Gibson, a 31-year-old center-half, joins Stoke as a free agent following his successful tenure at Norwich, where he helped the team reach the play-offs in the last year of his contract. Schumacher was keen on bringing in experience and leadership to his squad, which had lacked players aged 30 or above starting 20 or more league games in the previous season.

Schumacher shared his thoughts on Gibson, highlighting his strong references and impressive career, which includes numerous promotions from the Championship. He emphasized the importance of leadership and a winning mentality within the dressing room, qualities that Gibson exemplifies. Schumacher’s positive external references about Gibson further reinforced his decision, portraying Gibson as a dedicated professional and a winner—traits crucial for the team’s growth.