Sky Sports injury expert Ben Dinnery has now given his reaction to some news that has now emerged on Everton right-back Nathan Patterson.

The Lowdown: Scotland return

Patterson made his return from injury on Wednesday night as Scotland beat Armenia 2-0 at home in their UEFA Nations League group.

He has only managed to play once for the Goodison Park outfit since his January move from Glasgow Rangers, in a second half of a season that was plagued by injuries.

The Latest: Dinnery reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery has now given his reaction to the news of Patterson’s return, claiming that him playing games again is ‘massive’ ahead of the new campaign with the Merseyside club:

“Absolutely, it’ll be huge.

“Quite often, and especially at this sort of year, being in the gym and doing rehab – it can be a very lonely part of the job.

“Mentally and psychologically, it’s tough. The physical demands – you come to expect those, although it is Patterson’s first major injury and surgical intervention.

“Just to be back in that competitive environment and part of the squad gearing up for games will be massive.

“Even when you come across other squad members in the gym or getting your lunch – you never quite feel a part of it. You’re looking from the outside in.

“Returning at this point gets him in a really positive mindset.

“Being part of this Scotland squad will allow him to attack pre-season with a renewed confidence.”

The Verdict: Big boost

Of course, having Patterson out on the pitch again is not only a big boost for the Toffees, but for the player himself as well.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-7/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The supporters will certainly want to see more of their new signing next term, and Frank Lampard could definitely give him more opportunities if he can stay fit.

Jonjoe Kenny has decided to move on from the Blues despite being offered fresh terms on his contract, while Seamus Coleman will be 34 in October, so Patterson should be able to get a consistent run of matches at right-back, which will help with his development.

In other news, find out which EFC ace David Moyes is now eyeing here!

Reliable reporters Sami Mokbel and Adrian Kajumba of The Daily Mail have now shared a promising Southampton transfer update involving Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks.

The Lowdown: Saints set for big summer…

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, under the ownership of Sport Republic and guidance of transfer chief Martin Semmens, could be set for their busiest summer in years.

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

Many Saints players are currently either out of contract or heading into their final year with Semmens recently admitting that the Premier League side already have a plan in place and intend to move earlier for targets than in previous windows (Daily Echo).

One of those supposed players on Southampton’s radar is Spurs outcast Winks as The Mail now share a promising update.

The Latest: Southampton ‘lead the race’…

According to their information, courtesy of Mokbel and Kajumba, Semmens and co ‘lead the race’ to sign Antonio Conte’s peripheral player alongside Newcastle United.

It is understood that Southampton, as well as The Magpies, have ‘early interest’ in Winks as Hasenhuttl and Semmens seemingly set their sights.

However, if they wish to seal a deal for the Englishman, Spurs have set their price at £25 million.

The Verdict: Make the move?

The 26-year-old, having been linked with a move to the south coast last year, could well be a shrewd capture for Hasenhuttl.

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has previously tipped Southampton as the perfect move for Winks, citing their style of play and claiming it would suit Tottenham’s outcast ‘down to the ground’.

The player has no shortage of backing when it comes to pundits with ex-Lilywhites shot stopper Paul Robinson admitting he’s a ‘big fan’ – even branding Winks a ‘fabulous player’ and ‘versatile’ enough to play anywhere in midfield (Football Insider).

Conte himself has even praised the England international as a ‘reliable’ asset before, so we believe all of these plaudits may well point to someone who can do a job for Hasenhuttl ahead of next season.

In other news: Hasenhuttl personally sets his sights on signing ‘absolute beast’ for Southampton, find out more here.

Alasdair Gold has dropped an update on the future of reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Alessandro Bastoni.

What’s the talk?

In a recent Q&A on football.london, the journalist revealed that, following widespread reports of Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici’s interest in a move for the Inter Milan centre-back this summer, the 23-year-old is understood to be keen to work with the former Nerazzurri coach once again.

Gold went on to suggest that the Serie A club’s pressing need to raise funds in order to complete their own signings could also play into Tottenham’s hands, with a figure of £51m mentioned as the amount that Inter may be seeking in order to part with the Italy international in the coming months.

In response to a question concerning Spurs’ interest in Bastoni, Gold said: “There are two sides to this one in that Alessandro Bastoni is understood to be keen to play under Antonio Conte again at some point, but he is happy at the moment at Inter Milan and it’s worth remembering that he only just turned 23 last month so he’s young in terms of his career and uprooting from Italy. For someone like Romero, he had already uprooted from his homeland.

“Spurs’ hope is that Bastoni can bring added quality to the left side of Tottenham’s back three to complement Romero’s strength and quality on the other side. They see him as a potential heir to Jan Vertonghen with a similar skilful style to the Belgian in being a ball-playing defender rather than an aggressive one like Romero. That could potentially make his adaptation to the physical nature of the Premier League slightly more gradual than the Argentine’s and perhaps that is a concern the player also holds.

“The key to whether Tottenham can get this deal done may come down to how much Inter need the money and whether they help push Bastoni towards the door, particularly as he has only two years left on his contract. The Serie A club want to sign players this summer, not least Gleison Bremer from Torino for around £21m, and if they decide that selling Bastoni for more than £51m can fund more deals then they may help influence his decision. Things change quickly in the transfer window.”

Supporters will love Gold’s update

Considering just how exciting a talent Bastoni undoubtedly is, Gold’s latest update concerning Tottenham’s interest in the 23-year-old is sure to be news that the Spurs faithful will love.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/tottenham-hotspur-latest-news-updates-transfer-rumours-gossip-spurs-thfc-conte-paratici” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]

Indeed, over his 31 Serie A appearances this season, the £60m-rated defender highly impressed on the left of Inter’s backline, helping his team to keep eight clean sheets, making 1.1 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.8 clearances and winning 4.1 duels (at a success rate of 60%) per game.

The £122k-per-week left-footer also impressed in a creative and attacking capacity, scoring one goal, registering three assists and creating four big chances for his team-mates, along with averaging 50.5 passes, four long balls and 0.5 key passes per match.

These metrics saw the 11-cap Italy international average a remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Simone Inzaghi’s eighth-best player in the Italian top flight.

As such, considering his age, ball-playing talent and ability to play on the left of a back three, it is clear to see that Bastoni would be something of a perfect signing for Paratici to get over the line this summer, especially if the centre-back is available for as little as the £51m fee that Gold has mentioned.

AND in other news – “Am told…”: Dan Kilpatrick reveals huge Spurs transfer twist, supporters will be fuming

Newcastle United are among the clubs interested in signing Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata this summer, according to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato. 

The lowdown: Premier League flop

Signed by Chelsea in 2017 for a deal which could eventually have risen to £70m (Sky Sports), the Spaniard has spent the bulk of his career at the top level in Europe.

However, the former Real Madrid star only managed 24 goals and six assists from 74 outings during his time in west London and was promptly sent out on loan before securing a permanent exit.

Having spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Juventus from Atletico, Morata now faces an uncertain future in the Spanish capital, and Newcastle could be set to benefit…

The latest: Newcastle linked with Morata

As per Calciomercato, Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Barcelona are all in the mix to sign the 29-year-old this summer.

It’s claimed that the Toon have ‘taken information’ on the 54-cap Spain forward, whilst Juventus are interested in taking Morata back on a permanent basis.

The report claimed that Atletico will seek a fee in the region of €30m (£25m) for the man previously praised for a ‘clinical’ Champions League performance against Dynamo Kiev by journalist Carlo Garganese.

The verdict: Statement signing

As the new era at St James’ Park beckons, spearheaded by ownership group PIF, signing the £27m- valued Morata for the mooted asking price would be a huge statement of intent from the club, having swept comfortably clear of relegation in 2021/22.

Despite his struggles in England previously, the two-time Champions League winner has amassed a staggering 136 senior career goals from 413 outings and remains a legitimate threat after notching nine times in Serie A last term.

At present, Eddie Howe only has an injury-prone Callum Wilson, the rarely-seen Dwight Gayle and a goal-shy Chris Wood to call upon as genuine centre-forward options, meaning that any pursuit of Morata by new transfer chief Dan Ashworth would very much be a welcome one for the Newcastle manager.

In other news: Magpies make offer for this Serie A gem

A report out of Italy has now shared some interesting Manchester City transfer news involving manager Pep Guardiola and Inter Milan sensation Alessandro Bastoni.

The Lowdown: Sky Blue summer spending spree?

Sky Blues chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, speaking in his annual end-of-season interview last week, confirmed that there will be more arrivals following the Premier League champions’ moves for both Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez.

After retaining their domestic crown in emotional and dramatic fashion, Guardiola could be about to oversee a real summer of change at Eastlands with Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus all heading into the final year of their contracts (The Times).

Defensive exits are also possible for the likes of Nathan Ake and Oleksandr Zinchenko, according to reports, with City allegedly keeping an eye on options for their backline as a result.

The Latest: Guardiola eyeing Bastoni…

According to FC Inter News, one of City’s potential targets is Nerazzurri centre-half Bastoni, even despite the notion he wishes to remain at the San Siro.

It is claimed that Guardiola is personally eyeing a move alongside Spurs and Paris-Saint Germain, with the Spaniard personally appreciating Inter’s gem.

The report goes on to claim that Bastoni, amid all of this interest, is ‘seriously in danger’ of being sold this summer.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Even if Ake departs the Etihad Stadium, competition will be fierce for a starting place in Guardiola’s backline, with England international John Stones even struggling for regular game time despite his phenomenal 2020/2021 campaign partnering Ruben Dias.

Bastoni, valued at €70 million (£60m) by Inter, would certainly come with a glowing reputation as members of the Italian media have already branded him ‘world class’ (Kaustubh Pandey, GIFN).

The £122,000-per-week ace, still just 23-years-old, has even been tipped as an heir to Italy international legend Giorgio Chiellini in the centre of defence.

However, taking into account the form of both Dias and Aymeric Laporte as a partnership over 2021/2022, he will have to seriously impress Guardiola behind-the-scenes.

In other news: ‘I understand’ – Journalist says Man City attempt to sign ‘phenomenal’ star is ‘in motion’…find out more here.

Aston Villa have already been busy in the summer transfer window, with four permanent signings secured, and a reliable source has now given an update on one potential outgoing.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that an “official proposal” has been made for Trezeguet by a Turkish suitor.

The transfer insider tweeted: “Trabzonspor have made an official proposal to Aston Villa for Mahmoud Trezeguet. Negotiations are set to begin. There are also other clubs interested in Trezeguet from Turkey and different leagues.”

Supporters will love it

Steven Gerrard will have the opportunity to strengthen his squad this summer and, at the same time, get rid of players who aren’t up to scratch to free up the wage bill and make some money to reinvest. Therefore, supporters will surely love it if Villa can sell Trezeguet this summer with one year remaining on his contract.

The Egyptian winger has struggled to make a consistent impact at Villa Park since he joined in 2019, with 64 appearances, nine goals and five assists over the last three years. He has averaged just 55 minutes per appearance, and following his disappointing output in the Midlands, he was sent on loan to Istanbul Baseksehir in January.

The £47k-per-week flop who was criticised by ex-Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor for being “erratic” and fell out of favour this season following a long-term knee injury. He was given a chance upon recovering after nine months on the sidelines, but he made a controversial dive in the January defeat against Brentford before being shipped off to the Turkish league.

Due to the 27-year-old’s poor output and decision-making in a claret and blue shirt, Gerrard made the decision in January to acquire former Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho on loan to make an impact from the left wing. The Brazilian has now had his initial six-month deal extended to a permanent transfer which secures his future at Villa Park until 2026.

It would be ideal for Villa if they can offload the Egyptian winger this summer ahead of his contract expiring in 12 months’ time, as he does not appear in the plans of the club going forward.

AND in other news: Romano reveals Villa have “opened talks” for 18-year-old starlet, Gerrard surely buzzing

Pundit Alan Hutton has been reacting to Leeds United’s move for Marc Roca, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Roca deal

Roca was officially announced as a Whites player on Friday evening, becoming the club’s third addition of the summer after Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen.

The Spanish midfielder has penned a four-year contract at Elland Road and has cost an initial £10m. He becomes the second holding midfielder at the club alongside Kalvin Phillips, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City.

The Latest: Hutton reacts

Hutton, who now contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI regarding the move for Roca.

He admitted he was ‘surprised’ at how quick the club have acted this summer and labelled Roca as a ‘key’ addition.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-45/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

“I’m slightly surprised to see them doing this business so quickly.

“Especially after the January window didn’t go to plan for them. They’ve obviously learned from their mistakes and they’re trying to get their business done early.

“Going for a midfielder with that sort of experience is key for them.

“We don’t know what is going to happen with Kalvin Phillips, but they’re acting quickly to get their targets in so that they can move forward ahead of the new season.”

The Verdict: Positive signs

Roca was never viewed as a replacement for Phillips, so Leeds will need to go after another defensive midfielder should he make the move to the Etihad.

All of the signs so far this summer when it comes to incomings have been extremely positive and swift, with Andrea Radrizzani backing up his recent promise when it comes to signings.

It looks as if there will be more to come even if Phillips remains at the club, with a new centre-forward thought to be on the agenda after a bid was made for PSG’s Arnaud Kalimuendo.

In other news: ‘In England…’ – Reporter now drops ‘info’ of another Leeds move after Roca; £18.8m fee mooted. 

Wolves have received an offer from Manchester United for star midfielder Ruben Neves, according to a fresh transfer report which has emerged.

The Lowdown: Neves expected to leave

The 25-year-old has become a hugely influential figure at Molineux, delighting fans with his technical brilliance in the middle of the park.

It appears as though Neves’ time at Wolves has reached its natural conclusion, though, with the Portuguese midfielder reportedly eyeing up a new challenge ahead of next season.

Barcelona have been strongly linked with a move for Neves, but United are also still in the mix.

The Latest: Man United make offer for Neves

According to O Jogo [via Sport Witness], Wolves have received an offer from United ‘in hand’, with their bid described as ‘more advantageous’ and ‘much more attractive’ to the Old Gold in a financial sense.

Barcelona’s interest is still mentioned in the report but they may now have to bid more if they want to usurp the Red Devils in this transfer race.

[freshpress-quiz id=“398117″]

The Verdict: United would be preferable

Purely for financial reasons, Neves choosing United over Barcelona does now look the most beneficial option for Wolves, even if it does mean Bruno Lage’s team coming up against him twice in the Premier League next season.

[freshpress-poll id=“399044″]

Judging by this report, it would mean that more funds are available to Fosun for new signings this summer, and it would allow the Old Gold to complete a move for Joao Palhinha, which is reportedly now ‘close’.

However, if Barcelona match United’s offer, it would be preferable to see him going there, given their prestige as a club and the fact that Wolves wouldn’t have to face him every season.

In other news, Tim Spiers has provided a worrying Wolves update. Read more here.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has suggested that Everton would be set to face some serious competition if they tried to sign Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer.

The Lowdown: Zinchenko’s future up in the air

The Ukrainian first made the switch to the Etihad from FC Ufa back in 2016, where he has since gone on to make 128 appearances and nine trophies for the Sky Blues during his six-year spell at the club.

The 25-year-old still has two years remaining on his current contract with the Premier League champions, but it was recently reported by The Athletic journalists Patrick Boyland and Greg O’Keeffe that his future is very much up in the air, with the likes of the Toffees and fellow top-flight side Newcastle United believed to have identified the full-back as a possible transfer target for the upcoming window.

The Latest: Robinson unsure about Everton move

When asked during an interview with Football Insider whether or not he thought Zinchenko would be a strong addition at Goodison Park, Robinson said:

“As much as Zinchenko is a top-quality player, where does he fit in at Everton?

“They already have [Vitaliy] Mykolenko.

“Zinchenko is unlucky not to get more game time at Man City. He’s a very good player.

“If he is going to make a move this summer there will be a lot more clubs than just Everton looking to sign him.

“He can play left-back and in the midfield. His versatility and quality make him a very attractive proposition for a lot of clubs.

“I’m sure there would be a lot of managers keen on a player like him if it becomes common knowledge that he’s available. 100 per cent.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-5/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Zinchenko’s high ambitions

Despite only making 15 top-flight outings this campaign, the 48-cap international has more than shown what he’s capable of when he’s on the pitch, having provided four assists, as per Transfermarkt.

As well as making 1.3 tackles per game, the defender has been equally as threatening going forward, recording 1.1 key passes and 1.6 long balls per league game, via WhoScored, and he is exactly the profile of player that Everton should be looking at signing if they are aiming for a much higher place finish next season.

However, even if Zinchenko were to leave the Manchester outfit in the coming weeks in a bid to get more game time, he would highly likely want to switch somewhere that he’ll have a strong chance of continuing to get his hands on silverware after his success with City, a factor that might end up being a disadvantage for Everton in the race for their man.

In other news… Fabrizio Romano has revealed the transfer intentions of one of Everton’s ‘best’ players.

Mike McGrath has dropped an update on the future of reported Leeds United transfer target Noa Lang.

What’s the word?

In a recent post on Twitter, The Telegraph journalist revealed that, despite Victor Orta holding a long-term interest in the Club Brugge forward, Leeds could ultimately end up missing out on a deal for the 22-year-old this summer, with AC Milan and West Ham United now said to be plotting a move for the Netherlands international – and both clubs being able to offer European football next season.

In his tweet, McGrath shared the following twist to the story: “In attack, Leeds are long-term admirers of Club Brugge’s Noa Lang but face competition from AC Milan and West Ham who can both offer European football.”

Supporters will be gutted

Considering just how impressive Lang was in Belgium last season, coupled with the fact that Leeds were reported to have agreed personal terms with the winger ahead of a proposed £21m transfer last summer, the news that Orta could now be set to miss out on a deal for the 22-year-old is sure to have left the Elland Road faithful gutted.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

Indeed, over his 37 Jupiler Pro League appearances in 2021/22, the £19.8m-rated forward was in breathtaking form for Brugge, bagging seven goals, providing 12 assists and creating 19 big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.0 shots, making 1.9 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £20k-per-week talent average a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.20, ranking him as Alfred Schreuder’s joint fifth-best player in the top flight of Belgian football.

As such, with Raphinha looking increasingly likely to move onto pastures new this summer, it is clear to see that the signing of a player such as Lang would have appeared to make something of a perfect replacement for the outgoing Brazil international.

However, considering McGrath’s recent update on the future of the 22-year-old, it now seems as if Orta could end up missing out on the flying Dutchman ahead of the Whites’ upcoming Premier League campaign, news that is sure to disappoint both supporters and Jesse Marsch alike.

AND in other news: Contact made: Orta now in talks to sign £19m Leeds target, he’s a “beautiful palette”