Manchester United reportedly have a “nice envelope” for recruitment summer.

What’s the word?

That is according to TopMercato.com, who state that the club is “currently having difficulty concluding its files”, with the report mentioning the targets of Marco Asensio, Arnaut Danjuma and Darwin Nunez as players whose proposed transfers “seem to be in trouble.”

TopMercato added that Frenkie de Jong is Erik ten Hag’s priority at United, and a report from Manchester Evening News give fresh hope of one signing.

The Manchester-based outlet have an understanding that the Red Devils are keeping tabs on Danjuma, with the Dutchman’s recent admission adding some momentum.

The 25-year-old told Sky Sports, via Manchester Evening News: “There’s definitely unfinished business for me in England. The reason why I joined Bournemouth originally was for me to play Premier League football. I think how big the league is and it’s seen as the best league in the world for many of us.”

Forget De Jong

With headway slowly being made in the chase for De Jong, United should learn to compartmentalise like the rest of Europe’s elite clubs and give further attention to 25-year-old Danjuma.

The former Bournemouth man has had a stellar campaign with Villarreal, notching 16 goals this season means he has now scored 67 goals over the course of his career.

Listed as ‘both footed’ by Fotmob, Danjuma is a technical winger who would suit the style of Ten Hag, with the Villarreal star perhaps the key to attacking transitions for the 52-year-old due to his direct style of play.

Statistically similar players to the Netherlands international include the likes of Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe, as per FBRef; and with an average of 0.61 goals per match, it’s easy to see why.

Danjuma represents a high-potential purchase for United, and if Ten Hag decides on an attacker, the former Bournemouth ace could well be the man to provide the spark which the Red Devils need in the final third.

In other news: Romano issues Man Utd twist on £31.5m-rated brute, Ten Hag needs him 

The Rangers Review journalist Jonny McFarlane has now revealed some big Glasgow Rangers transfer news on Alfredo Morelos, contrary to recent reports.

The Lowdown: Sevilla bid?

According to Estadio Deportivo, Sevilla have now made an offer worth €8m (£6.9m) to the Ibrox outfit to sign Morelos this summer.

The Colombia international reportedly sees the potential move as the ‘perfect step’ in his career, and the Gers will supposedly have to decide whether they are to cash in as he only has one year left on his contract.

The Latest: No bid…

Taking to Twitter, McFarlane has revealed that reports of Sevilla making a bid for Morelos have been ’emphatically denied’:

“I’m told Sevilla have NOT bid for Alfredo Morelos. Suggestions coming out of Spain were that an €8m bid has been submitted but this has been emphatically denied.” The Verdict: Relief

It will come as a relief to the Light Blues faithful that a bid has not been made for Morelos, as it will give them more hope that they can keep him and even extend his deal.

There is no sugar-coating the fact that he is such an important player for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team, evidenced by him finishing as their top scorer over all competitions last term with 19 goals in total.

Given his contract situation, the Teddy Bears should be expecting offers to come in for their prized asset this summer, but they need to do everything within their power to keep him in Glasgow.

Everton have reportedly now ‘asked for’ versatile Porto midfielder Otavio and are expected to make an official bid soon.

The Lowdown: Liverpool target

Otavio has been strongly linked with a move to Merseyside rivals Liverpool this summer, but given that they are now set to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica, they may put any potential move for the FC Porto attacker on the back-burner.

This would open the door for the Goodison Park outfit, as Frank Lampard looks to strengthen his starting eleven ahead of the new season.

The Latest: Enquiry made

As per O Jogo (via Sport Witness), the Toffees have now made an enquiry over the possibility of signing Otavio and have ‘asked for’ the Portugal international.

They are expected to make an official bid, but Otavio is protected by his whopping €60m (£51.2m) release clause.

The Verdict: Unrealistic

Given that Porto will be playing in the UEFA Champions League next term after winning their domestic title, and that the Blues have reportedly had financial trouble over the last year, it just seems too unrealistic that they would be able to sign Otavio, especially for his asking price.

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He would be a great signing, having scored five goals and made a further 14 assists in total over all competitions last campaign (whole of the frontline and on both flanks would be a valuable asset to Lampard.

However, the club should not be wasting their time here unless they can seriously whittle that release clause down.

In other news, find out what ‘massive’ boost EFC have now received here!

Aston Villa are now set to sign Rangers forward Rory Wilson, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Wilson links

Wilson, a 16-year-old striker, has been on Villa’s radar for some time now, with Steven Gerrard keen on beating Liverpool to the youngster’s services.

Regarded as one of the best young players in the United Kingdom, Wilson has already signed a boot deal with Adidas. The Scot netted a ridiculous 49 goals at youth level this season, and it looks as if he’ll be plying his trade in the Midlands next season.

The Latest: Romano’s post

Transfer expert Romano took to Twitter on Monday morning to provide a further update regarding Villa and Wilson.

He revealed that Villa are officially ‘set to sign’ the forward, who has ‘now agreed’ on personal terms. Gerrard has been the ‘main factor’ in Villa winning the race for his services, with a move to officially go through on July 1.

The Verdict: Good news

NSWE have already brought in four first-team additions this summer, so Wilson will now become the fifth but the first academy arrival.

Villa have been active over the last 12 months when it comes to adding to their academy talent, so bringing in Wilson is yet another exciting move.

The club have reaped the rewards of signing some gifted teenagers, with Tim Iroegbunam already a full-time member of Gerrard’s first-team squad less than a year after swapping West Brom’s academy for Villa.

Hopefully, Wilson will continue his fine goalscoring form at Bodymoor Heath, which could result in him being fast-tracked through to Gerrard’s plans over the coming years.

In other news: Villa now receive ‘official proposal’ for player with ‘unbelievable’ work rate. 

Rangers have yet to receive an ‘official bid’ for defender Borna Barisic, according to The 4th Official.

The lowdown

Turkish outlet Fanatik reported at the weekend (via Ibrox News) that an offer had been made for the Croatian left-back.

It came from Trabzonspor, who are said to be one of the three Turkish Super Lig outfits showing an interest in the 29-year-old.

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell is unsure whether Barisic will deem that league ‘the right challenge’ but says that the player could leave ‘if the right bid comes in’.

The latest

The 4th Official tweeted on Sunday evening: “As of right now, Rangers have not received any official bid for Borna Barisic.”

They stated via Patreon that ‘two separate sources have confirmed’ this, but it remains to be seen whether or not a concrete offer arrives for the 29-year-old in the coming days and weeks.

The verdict

Barisic is valued at £5.4m by Transfermarkt and still has two years remaining on his £18,000-per-week contract, so Rangers should be able to bank a healthy sum to inflate their transfer budget.

He has played 155 games for the Gers, commendably providing 35 assists from left-back in that time, in addition to seven goals. James Tavernier, the man on the opposite side of Rangers’ defence and no slouch himself in terms of setting up goals, has called him a ‘quality’ player with an ‘unbelievable’ delivery.

However, there have also been concerns raised about Barisic, with the Croatian accused of ‘sleeping’ in a 1-1 Old Firm draw in May.

Should the 29-year-old leave Ibrox, Calvin Bassey is capable of taking over the left-back role, with John Souttar potentially slotting in alongside Connor Goldson in the heart of defence.

In other news, a football finance expert is stunned by these Rangers allegations

Nottingham Forest are looking to strengthen their team ahead of their return to the Premier League next season, and now a huge transfer update has emerged from a reliable source.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Forest have begun negotiations to sign Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Romano tweeted:

“Excl: Nottingham Forest have opened talks with Manchester United to sign Dean Henderson on loan with option to buy [around £20m].

“Negotiations ongoing – Nottingham Forest want Henderson and it’s now a possibility also considered by the player. Talks on.”

Supporters will be excited

There is no doubt that supporters will be excited at the prospect of signing Henderson this summer even if it is just on a loan deal, especially with Brice Samba potentially set to leave the club.

It was reported on Tuesday that Ligue 1 side Nantes had submitted a bid for the current wantaway Forest ‘keeper who rejected the advances of his newly Premier League promoted side to secure his future.

As a result, Forest are clearly not waiting around to see if Samba stays on for the last 12 months of his contract and the signing of Henderson would be a great piece of business and a worthy replacement for the Congolese stopper.

Despite a lack of game-time at Old Trafford, Henderson is a Premier League proven keeper with 29 appearances for Man United offering a wealth of experience that could be hugely valuable as they navigate through their first season in the top flight for the first time in 23 years.

The 25-year-old has only made five appearances this season falling out of favour due to David de Gea’s impeccable form, and has reportedly expressed his desire to leave the Manchester club to get more first-team football elsewhere, something Forest would be able to provide following the departure of Samba.

With that being said, both Steve Cooper and Henderson can mutually benefit from the deal as it could resolve a potential problem for Forest and also offer the player an opportunity to play consistently in the Premier League next season.

AND in other news: Nottingham Forest plot bid for “electrifying” £3m magician, he can be Cooper’s Sancho

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Brighton gem Marc Cucurella in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to The Guardian, the Magpies are one of the Premier League clubs keen on a deal to sign the Spain international.

The report claims that PIF are plotting a swoop for the gem alongside Chelsea and reigning champions Manchester City – who are said to be the player’s first choice.

It is stated that Brighton want a fee in the region of £50m for their star defender, but Pep Guardiola’s side believe that they can sign him for £40m.

Imagine him & Kieran Trippier

If Dan Ashworth can pull off a deal with his former club to bring the Spaniard to St. James’ Park then he will hand Eddie Howe an exciting full-back combination to use in the top-flight next season.

The Magpies’ head coach would be able to deploy Kieran Trippier and the current Seagulls star on the flanks and they would be an exceptional pairing for the club. Both players are capable of making an impact at either end of the pitch as they are strong defenders, first and foremost, who can also deliver offensively.

Cucurella, who was dubbed “infectious” by Graham Potter and a “class act” by Lewis Dunk, has proven that he can do it in the Premier League and this means that he would be able to hit the ground running on Tyneside if the club can sign him.

As you can see in the graphic above, both players were able to win the ball back for their respective teams on a regular basis whilst winning the majority of their individual duels.

Along with that, they both created more than one chance per game and this means that they can both provide a supply line to the likes of Callum Wilson, Chris Wood and Allan Saint-Maximin without abandoning their defensive duties.

At the age of 23, Cucurella also has the potential to improve in the years to come. He can be at Newcastle for a number of seasons and develop as a player in that time, whilst also offering a strong full-back partnership with Trippier in the short term.

This is why the Magpies must sanction a deal for the gem this summer and should act quickly to beat Chelsea and Manchester City to his signature.

AND in other news, NUFC can unearth their own Abraham as Ashworth plots bid for “fearless” £25m bulldozer…

Wolves have been linked with a move for Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks recently, but there is little to suggest that he would be a worthwhile addition to Bruno Lage’s side.

What’s the word?

According to 90min, Spurs are looking to cash in on the former England international this summer, and the Old Gold are among the clubs taking an interest.

Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton and Leicester are also said to be keen on the 26-year-old, while Spurs have reportedly offered him to Rangers, which suggests that his future lies away from north London this summer.

Lage would be crazy to sign him

Although the Wolves futures of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho have been in doubt, The Athletic have suggested that it is increasingly likely that both will stay at Molineux this summer.

Even if they do leave, it would represent a significant downgrade if Winks came in to fill the void, considering his less than impressive form for Spurs in recent years.

Last season saw the midfielder make 19 appearances in the Premier League, in which he contributed no goals and one assist, with WhoScored awarding him a shocking 6.43 rating for his performances.

Nobody who made more than 10 starts in the league for Lage’s side last term had a worse average rating, which suggests that he certainly wouldn’t improve what Wolves already have.

Having graduated from Spurs’ academy, the midfielder has gone on to make 202 appearances for the first team, but he has never averaged a seasonal WhoScored rating of more than 6.57 for his performances in the Premier League, which suggests that he would be a rather underwhelming signing by the Old Gold.

Journalist Josh Bunting did not hold back in his criticism of Winks when discussing a potential move to Everton recently, saying: “Do Everton honestly not learn, 20-25 million for Harry Winks is an absolute waste. A club that have got themselves into an awkward situation regarding financial fair play and then go out and spend that money on an utterly pointless player right now for them. Crazy.”

Therefore, even if Neves and Moutinho do end up departing, Wolves would be better off looking elsewhere than signing Winks for £20m, as he could be a disastrous addition to Lage’s side judging by his fortunes over the past 12 months in particular.

In other news… Lage could seal dream Nunes partner with Wolves bid for “very talented” starlet

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in signing Croatian youngster Ivan Lepinjica this summer and the defensive-midfielder could form a superb partnership with Matheus Nunes in Bruno Lage’s side next season.

According to a recent report by Football Insider, Wolves and Rangers are battling it out to sign the Rijeka man this summer, with the Old Gold expected to blow the Scottish giants out of the water by striking a deal for the 22-year-old.

The report claims that Lepinjica has previously been on the radar of a number of Premier League sides but they were put off by the injury issues that saw him miss much of the last two seasons.

However, the six-foot-three midfielder has previously captained Croatia U21s and was a regular at the end of last season, so seems to be over the injury issues that plagued him in previous campaigns, and he could be an excellent fit at Molineux.

Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho were Wolves’ top midfield tacklers last season and with the former seemingly on his way out and the latter set to turn 36 next season, Lage definitely needs a younger, more physical option in his midfield for the future, and Lepinjica could be the ideal man.

If he were to join this summer, he could form an excellent duo with Nunes, who looks set to join the club from Sporting Lisbon, according to recent reports.

Nunes’ impressive passing and dribbling skills would surely complement Lepinjica’s more physical defensive style and considering they are 23 and 22 respectively, they could enjoy a successful partnership in Wolves’ midfield for many years to come.

Back in 2020, Croatian journalist Ivan Žeželj revealed that Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were both interested in signing Lepinjica and praised him, saying:

“He is a very talented kid, obviously. If he was English, he would already cost £20m. This way, Rijeka is asking ‘only’ £5m.”

Although Rijeka’s asking price may have changed since then, Transfermarkt values Lepinjica at just £360k, so he could represent a bargain option for Lage this summer and would be a no-risk addition alongside Nunes.

And, in other news: Wolves now expect to seal “the best” £43m signing, he could be their own Joelinton

The Evening Standard have shared some Tottenham Hotspur news on the club’s – and by extension sporting director Fabio Paratici’s – transfer plans for the centre-forward position this summer.

The Lowdown: Spurs keep chasing deals…

After seeing midfielder Yves Bissouma arrive in north London from Premier League club Brighton, Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is reliably believed to be chasing yet more deals before the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

Having also secured Fraser Forster and Ivan Perisic on free transfers, the north Londoners have now set their sights on a right wing-back, a central defender and a new striker to compete with superstar Harry Kane (Evening Standard).

Sharing some news on the latter plan, one outlet and reliable source has some news for Lilywhites supporters.

The Latest: Paratici’s striker plans explained…

According to the Evening Standard, as arch-rivals Arsenal reportedly close in on Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, Spurs and Paratici have their eyes on another forward.

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Indeed, Everton star Richarlison is believed to be in Tottenham’s sights, with the club ‘also interested’ in signing him.

In a possible boost for Conte and Spurs, while the Toffees are demanding more than £50m for the 25-year-old, it is believed that Everton ‘could be forced to lower their valuation’ given their need to sell.

The Verdict: Take advantage?

Once set with a price tag of around £100m, Richarlison’s valuation has already dropped significantly over the last few years, despite the South American continuing to impress at Goodison Park.

If Everton are forced to lower their price even more and gift Spurs a discount, we that believe this move would be a no-brainer for Conte.

As per WhoScored, Richarlison finished 2021/22 as Everton’s top scorer (10 goals) and best-performing player by average match rating, leaving no wonder as to why pundit Noel Whelan called him one of their ‘big name’ players and his manager Frank Lampard labelled him a ‘huge talent’.