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Steven Gerrard could add some much-needed creativity to his Aston Villa squad by signing Sergio Gomez this summer.

The versatile Anderlecht wing-back has been linked with a move to the Midlands in recent weeks, with transfer insider Dean Jones adding further fuel to the fire with a recent update on the matter.

“Sergio Gomez was a player that actually had a lot of clubs looking at him at the backend of last season coming into the summer window. So, Villa are one of those,” he revealed to GIVEMESPORT.  “I don’t know how much progress has been made to this point, but he’s definitely one to keep an eye on.”

The former Rangers boss took the helm back in November and steered the Villans clear of the relegation zone, before eventually finishing in 14th place.

A quick glance of the Premier League standings would suggest where the main problem lies, having ended the 2021/22 campaign on a negative goal difference.

With 52 goals across their 38 outings, you could argue that Villa struggled to score enough and that may well boil down to the lack of inventiveness in the squad.

Big signings such as Emi Buendia, Leon Bailey and to some extent, Danny Ings, have failed to step up to fill the void left behind by Jack Grealish.

The arrival of Philippe Coutinho certainly took steps towards solving that but with five goals and three assists, Gerrard needs much more in the final third.

Gomez can certainly aid that issue, after all, he has been described as a “playmaker” and the “king of assists” by scout Jacek Kulig.

Indeed, last season the Spain U21 international delivered a whopping 15 assists in the Belgian top-flight, also contributing seven goals, which is a pretty remarkable feat considering he largely featured at left wing-back, as per Transfermarkt.

Whilst it is only the Jupiler Pro League, the youngster came through the famed La Masia academy at Barcelona and has featured for Borussia Dortmund, largely as an attacking midfielder, though.

There aren’t many in Gerrard’s squad that matched these numbers last term, with only three players surpassing his goal tally, whilst Villa’s best provider finished on only six assists, via WhoScored.

Gomez, who has also been lauded as “simply amazing” by Kulig, would certainly be a top signing for sporting director Johan Lange to make this summer.

The £9m-rated gem could prove to be an outstanding bargain indeed.

AND in other news, Ashley Preece drops big Aston Villa transfer claim…

FSG have landed Liverpool three excellent signings already this summer, with Fabio Carvalho, Calvin Ramsay, and a club-record £85m deal for Darwin Nunez all being secured, but will there be a fourth?

This seems to be a question at the forefront of every Liverpool fan and Jurgen Klopp might want to add another fresh face or two, especially considering the recent departures.

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Fan favourites Sadio Mane and Divock Origi have already moved on to pastures new with Bayern Munich and potentially AC Milan respectively, with Takumi Minamino also leaving the Anfield side and joining Monaco.

With the club looking to go far in every competition next season, depth will be needed across all areas of the pitch, and Klopp might be looking at another attacker, with a young Brazilian being touted for the very top and could be on his way to Liverpool according to reports.

Following a match between Santos and Corinthians at the end of June, Brazilian presenter Milton Neves made comments regarding 19-year-old Marcos Leonardo, saying: “Corinthians yesterday escaped being defeated by the Santos kids. Marcos Leonardo, who’s going to Liverpool, this guy is the new Romário!”

This comment might sound light-hearted and throwaway but pundit Veloso claimed that Leonardo has already been sold to an English club and should be leaving in the next transfer window.

Leonardo, who is valued at £6.3m, is contracted to Santos until 2026, so if there has been a deal agreed with an unnamed English club, then the fee might be significantly higher than his value.

The Brazilian has already scored 25 times for Santos in just 95 appearances, living up to his tag of a “huge talent” in the words of Jacek Kulig. Having already been compared to Seleção legend Romario, who won the World Cup in 1994 with Brazil and netted 55 times in 71 matches for the national side, Leonardo evidently has got a lot to live up to.

If Liverpool are the English side mentioned, then Klopp might just have a generational talent on his hands.

AND in other news: Big mare: Liverpool could unearth Balotelli 2.0 as FSG plot bid for “unacceptable” dud

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Jude Bellingham over the last few months, and now there has been a new update on the club’s progress in making the signing.

What’s the latest?

According to 90min, Liverpool are now confident they can sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham next summer.

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As per the report, Liverpool’s interest in the star could come as a blow to Real Madrid – who are also interested in signing Bellingham in 2023.

Imagine him & Thiago

It has been reported that Liverpool are making the signing of a midfielder a priority this summer, but with the latest update on Bellingham, it may be that the club will wait another season to improve their midfield.

The Reds will be wanting to inject some youth into the centre of the pitch with Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara all now in their 30s, and the Bundesliga youngster would be the perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp’s team of the future.

Bellingham has been impressing during his time at Borussia Dortmund, and again last season proved he possesses the star quality that could be a huge asset at Anfield.

The £80m talent scored three goals, delivered eight assists and created 10 big chances over his 32 Bundesliga appearances last term, as well as making 1.3 key passes, 1.6 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, in addition to winning the majority of his duels combined (51%) and successful in completing the majority of his dribble attempts (57%) – proving that he is the complete midfielder.

Bellingham has been the recipient of high praise, with the England manager Gareth Southgate hailing the 18-year-old “phenomenal” and an “exciting player” in a press conference after naming the young talent in his Euro 2020 squad.

Southgate claimed: “Jude is phenomenal. Just in training in the last couple of days, to have a 17-year-old, who wants to compete with senior players, not only has the technique, but the competitiveness and maturity, he’s a hugely exciting player.”

Klopp could form a formidable partnership in the centre of the pitch between Thiago and Bellingham if he makes the move to Merseyside combining the Spanish star’s experience with the Englishman’s raw talent, as the side continue their pursuit for trophies.

With that being said, the powers at Anfield must prepare for competition when it comes to signing the wonderkid next summer, as Bellingham will add high quality to the heart of the midfield in any team he joins.

AND in other news: Klopp can land his own Tchouameni as Liverpool now plot £5m offer for “absolute star”

An update has emerged on Rangers and their attempts to bring a new number nine to Ibrox in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Jonas Advan Giaevar has confirmed that Rangers have made contact with one of their transfer targets.

He Tweeted: “It’s true that Rangers at least have enquired about Erik Botheim. Remains to be seen whether that leads to an offer or not.”

The centre-forward is currently a free agent after deciding to rip up his contract with Russian club FC Krasnodar, merely months on from joining them from Bodo/Glimt.

The new Alfredo Morelos

By securing a deal to sign the free agent, Ross Wilson can land Gio van Bronckhorst his new Morelos to lead the line next season.

The Light Blues are reportedly in talks with Besiktas with a view to potentially selling the Colombia international this summer and that would leave a huge hole to fill at the top end of the pitch.

In the Premiership last season, the 26-year-old scored 11 goals and provided seven assists for his teammates, showing that he can have a major impact in the final third.

Botheim, who was once dubbed a “complete forward” by scout Jacek Kulig, can be the ideal replacement for the predator this summer.

The Norweigan striker enjoyed a terrific spell with Bodo/Glimt and proved that he has the quality to score and assist goals on a regular basis. In the 2021 Eliteserien campaign, he found the back of the net 15 times and managed three assists in 30 matches.

He also caught the eye in the Europa Conference League as he produced a stunning four goals and four assists in six games, averaging a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 7.57.

This means that he scored 19 times and assisted seven in 36 outings for Bodo/Glimt in 2021/22 before sealing his transfer to Russia, proving himself domestically and in Europe.

The 22-year-old attacker can, therefore, be van Bronckhorst’s new Morelos as he has the potential to replicate the current Gers gem’s output in the final third, based on his form in Norway.

He has shown that he can score and assist goals at a similar rate and it will now be down to whether or not he can adapt to Scottish football, which is a risk that Wilson and the club will need to take if they lose their number nine.

AND in other news, “The edge..”: Transfer insider drops big Rangers claim that’ll delight supporters…

Aston Villa are reportedly set to snub the chance to sign Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, despite the rampant speculation regarding a move for the Englishman in recent weeks.

What’s the word?

According to BBC Sport journalist Phil McNulty, following the recent links that the 28-year-old could be a player of interest for the Midlands outfit, the belief is that Steven Gerrard and co will not be pursuing a deal this summer.

Writing on Twitter about Villa’s possible interest, the respected source stated: “Aston Villa will not be making any move to sign Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and their position on Luis Suarez remains unchanged. No move planned.”

Previous reports had suggested that the Reds are keen to cash in on the former Arsenal man this summer – who they signed from the Emirates in 2017 on a £35m deal – with the reported asking price believed to be just £10m, with only a year remaining on his existing contract.

Supporters annoyed

That would have seen the Villa Park outfit able to land the 35-cap gem for a relative bargain price, yet as it is supporters are set to be disappointed and annoyed, with Gerrard seemingly set to pursue other targets to that of his former Three Lions colleague.

A new midfielder is believed to be on the agenda for the 42-year-old in the current window – despite having already signed Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara – yet it would appear that Oxlade-Chamberlain is not viewed as the right fit.

Although there may perhaps be understandable concerns over his fitness record – as he has endured lengthy spells on the treatment table during his time on Merseyside – the £14.4m-rated man is a player with a wealth of experience at the elite level and has won a host of major honours, hence the possible fury that Villa are set to snub a move.

While the most recent campaign saw him make just 28 appearances in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s side, the £125k-per-week ace still managed to chip in with a respectable tally of six goal contributions, proving he may simply need regular game time in order to totally showcase his talent.

Once dubbed a player who “offers something totally different” by pundit Rio Ferdinand, the one-time Southampton man also compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 8% for dribbles completed, illustrating his dynamism from his central midfield berth.

A player who can also offer invaluable versatility – having wing-back role during his time in north London – it would seem a bold call not to at least attempt to try and secure a deal this summer, with little to lose for Gerrard and co with the reported fee so small.

As it is, supporters will likely be fuming if the Portsmouth-born maestro goes on to be a success elsewhere next term, unless Villa can recruit a notable alternative.

IN other news, AVFC face battle to land “aggressive” £60m machine, he’s one of the “best” in his role

Manchester City could launch a bid to sign West Ham United star forward Jarrod Bowen this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Pep preparing…

The Premier League champions are already preparing to defend their English top flight crown for the 2022/2023 campaign having recently announced the arrival of star signing Erling Braut Haaland.

A sweeping summer of change is possible at Eastlands as the likes of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, llkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez enter the final years of their contracts (The Times).

Nathan Ake and Oleksandr Zinchenko are other first teamers linked with moves away from the club as La Liga giants Barcelona also eye a move for City star Bernardo Silva.

Of those who could come in, Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips stands out as the most repeated name, but City could now also make an offer to sign Bowen.

The Latest: City bid could be launched for Bowen…

As shared by one transfer reporter who writes for Italian news outlet Calcio In Pillole, the Irons star is ‘admired by Pep Guardiola’ and a Sky Blues ‘bid’ for Bowen ‘could be launched’.

However, this could be dependent on whether Mahrez leaves Manchester this summer.

The Verdict: Ideal replacement?

If the Algeria international does depart Guardiola’s side, it’s safe to say Bowen would be a brilliant man to arrive in Mahrez’s stead.

The 25-year-old has played his way into Gareth Southgate’s national team squad for England, finishing 2021/2022 as West Ham’s top goal scorer with 12 and providing a brilliant ten assists (WhoScored).

Bowen was also West Ham’s best-performing player by average match rating, even above superstar Declan Rice, and CaughtOffside claim the Hammers value him at around £75 million.

While it remains to be seen whether City would be willing to table an offer around that mark, there is no questioning Bowen’s ability.

In other news: Man City now a ‘dream’ destination for very exciting defender, find out more here.

Manchester United have been tipped to sign Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia this summer and the Dutch youngster could bring an end to Alex Telles’ nightmare spell at Old Trafford.

What’s the word?

According to the Mirror, Feyenoord are willing to listen to offers for the 22-year-old defender with Erik ten Hag receiving the green light to potentially make him his first signing as United boss.

They include a report from Voetbal International which claims that Lyon have already seen two bids for the young defender rejected, so interest in the Netherlands international is clearly high after a superb season with Feyenoord.

Malacia made 32 appearances in the Eredivisie last season, contributing one goal and four assists, earning an impressive 7.14 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He also made six appearances in the Conference League where he was dubbed “sumptuous” by reporter Alex Turk, helping Arne Slot’s side to the final where they eventually lost 1-0 against Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

Could Malacia end United’s Telles nightmare?

There was a lot of excitement among United fans when Telles joined the club from Porto in an £18m deal in 2020 but the Brazilian has flattered to deceive in his time at the club thus far.

Last season saw the 29-year-old make 21 appearances in the top-flight, in which he contributed no goals and four assists, averaging a 6.89 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Martin Keown was less than impressed with his performance in United’s 3-1 defeat against Arsenal last season, as he clumsily fouled Bukayo Saka after some panicked defending.

The problem with Telles and Luke Shaw last season was perhaps that neither were given a consistent run in the side by United’s managers and if Malacia were brought in as a youthful cover for Shaw, then the Brazilian could perhaps be moved on.

Telles will turn 30 next season and ten Hag should perhaps look towards the future if he wants to overhaul United’s identity, as there have been far too many instances of players staying at Old Trafford for arguably longer than they should, with the club having already seen the likes Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic depart this summer.

Considering some of the former Porto man’s performances last season, ten Hag should take advantage of Feyenoord’s decision on Malacia and bring him to Old Trafford as Telles’ replacement.

And, in other news… Man United now plotting offer for “incredible” £106m monster, he’s Ten Hag’s dream

Wolves look set to complete the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha in the coming days, if recent reports are to be believed.

What’s the word?

According to Jordan Davies in The Sun, the Portugal international will join Bruno Lage’s side in a £20m deal this summer, with the 26-year-old likely to be confirmed as an Old Gold player in the near future.

With Ruben Neves seemingly on his way out of Molineux, Lage has worked quickly to bring in a potential replacement for the 25-year-old midfielder, with Wolves seemingly once again taking advantage of their Portuguese connections to secure a deal.

Wolves supporters will be buzzing

Palhinha has been a virtual ever-present for Sporting Lisbon in the past two seasons and has regularly produced excellent performances for the Lions, averaging an impressive 7.03 rating from WhoScored for his performances this term.

At 6 foot 3, he could add some steel to Lage’s side and may offer a different, more physical option to Neves alongside fellow Portuguese maestro Joao Moutinho in Wolves’ midfield.

The former Braga man averaged three tackles per game in the Primeira Liga this season, which was more than any Wolves player in the Premier League, which goes to show just what the 26-year-old could add at Molineux.

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim will certainly be disappointed to lose one of his most consistent midfielders, as he was full of praise for the 12-cap international this season, saying: “I tell Palhinha many times that he is very good without the ball and with the ball. More than tactical-technical, I get it into Palhinha’s head that he is a special player.”

While potentially losing Neves will undoubtedly be a blow for Wolves, considering his excellent performances for the club since joining from Porto in 2017 – he was their third-best performer to start more than 10 league games this term, as per WhoScored – supporters will undoubtedly be delighted that the Old Gold have quickly sought out a replacement in Palhinha.

If the 26-year-old can replicate his performances from Portugal in the Premier League, then he would surely prove to be a success in Lage’s side next season.

In other news… Tim Spiers has dropped this exciting transfer hint

Crystal Palace have opened talks over the potential summer signing of Manchester United defender, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

What’s the word?

That is according to reports in Italy via Inside Futbol, who suggest that the defender can leave Old Trafford this summer with talks already in play to close out a Selhurst Park return.

Potential homecoming

Back in 2019 when Manchester United signed Wan-Bissaka from the Eagles for a fee of £50m, it looked as though the then 21-year-old would go on to be a sure-fire success at Old Trafford.

Though, amidst the inconsistency at United, his development has been hampered – even more so by the resurgence of Diogo Dalot, who returned from his loan spell at AC Milan last July and has since embedded himself into the United first-team.

Besides the club’s lack of identity, Wan-Bissaka’s inconsistency has left the Englishman written off – particularly this season under interim manager Ralf Rangnick – with the 24-year-old tipped as one of the high-profile casualties at United this summer.

A return to link up with former club Crystal Palace and partake in their project under Patrick Vieira could be a tempting proposal.

From the perspective of Crystal Palace, a move for their former player is a no-brainer also.

There is room for the £27m-rated Wan-Bissaka, who has been dubbed a “tackling machine” by Jim Beglin, to become a first-team regular, with Nathan Ferguson having struggled with injury, playing just eight minutes of football for the Eagles since July 2020, which renders ageing pair Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward as his only real competition.

The now 24-year-old’s lack of offensive participations have frustrated United, but at Palace under a manager like Vieira who does not utilise his full-backs in the same way, he could be granted freedom to concentrate on the side of the game he is best at – defence.

The move seems perfect for all parties, though United could regret selling him, just like they did with Wilfried Zaha, in what could be another blunder through a lack of patience and strategy.

In other news: Vieira could land CPFC’s next £30m talent as Parish plots bid for 47-goal “champion” 

Sunderland are plotting a summer move for Birmingham City attacking midfielder Jobe Bellingham, and he could be vital to their survival in the Championship next season.

Footballer Ron-Thorben Hoffmann recently told Kicker (via The Chronicle) that his friend’s son was sat near ‘Bellingham’ at the play off final between The Black Cats and Wycombe Wanderers.

It comes after The Daily Mail reported earlier this month that the Wearsiders were interested in signing the midfielder.

Sunderland went on to win the play-off final 2-0 and secure a long-awaited return to the Championship. Next season they will face a battle to stay in the division and Alex Neil needs to build a strong side.

Bellingham is a player that could help massively and the sporting director at The Stadium of Light was at Birmingham for his brother Jude’s rise to stardom. Therefore, he already has a good relationship with their parents.

This could give Sunderland the upper hand in any race to sign the 16-year-old and reports earlier this year claimed they were invited to watch a game on Wearside.

Jobe has made two appearances in the Championship this season, which is impressive at his age. He has played most of his games in the U18 Premier League for the club, where he’s scored five goals in ten appearances.

A move to the North East could give him the chance to get more regular game time and develop in an academy that is well known for producing top talents.

Premier League midfielder and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is just one of the names that has come through the youth academy at Sunderland and by signing him, the club could unearth their new version of the experienced midfielder.

Manager Alex Neil also has a history of giving youngsters a chance, in January he re-called on-loan goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and he has since started most games for the club.

Bellingham is rated at £450k but given his level his potential it’s likely they would need to pay more to secure his services. He’s been described as an “exciting talent” by former pro Paul Robinson.

A player like him is exactly what Sunderland need next season. If they do find themselves in a battle for survival then someone like Bellingham, who his hungry to prove himself, will help them stay up.

They’ll just have to hope that like Henderson, his spell in the first team isn’t a fleeting one.

IN other news: Talks expected: Huge Sunderland development emerges that’ll leave supporters buzzing…