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Newly-promoted Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones this summer, according to Midlands-based journalist Trent Hutson. 

The lowdown: Liverpool prodigy

A product of the thriving youth system at Anfield, the youngster captained the club at numerous age groups whilst making his way through the ranks on Merseyside.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Toxteth native was fast-tracked to the first team and capped off a Merseyside derby debut to remember with a majestic strike in January 2020 whilst on a rapidly upwards trajectory, amassing 41 goals in 80 outings for the young Reds at under-18 and under-23 level.

After 73 appearances for the first-team under Jurgen Klopp, a move away could now be the next step in the 21-year-old’s development…

The latest: Forest keen on Jones

Taking to Twitter, Hutson has claimed that Forest are looking to land the England under-21 starlet on loan this summer.

The reporter stated: “I’m told #NFFC will explore the possibility of bringing Curtis Jones to the club this summer. Caution to be taken given the MAX TWO loan rule in the Premier League. Strong relationship & trust between Steve Cooper and #LFC. Cooper previously worked with Jones at England and #LFC”

The verdict: On one condition

Spending time out on loan and obtaining regular Premier League action would undoubtedly be a huge positive for Jones’ development. However, Liverpool – and Klopp in particular – must ensure that the squad allows for such a departure to take place without having an adverse impact on the playing ranks at the AXA Training Centre.

Last season, the flamboyant ace scored once and provided four assists in 27 appearances across all competitions for the Reds, starting 11 top-flight matches in the process. Those levels of involvement are unlikely to be found from other midfielders within the current squad, as Thiago, James Milner, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson are already stretched to their very limits of exertion.

Far from an affront to the prospects of the youngster, who is valued at £25.2m and under contract until 2025 (Transfermarkt), the Scouser should remain an integral part of the future on the red half of Merseyside; and any loan move which may manifest itself this summer would very much be viewed as a short-term way of progressing a supremely talented individual.

Held in high regard by Steven Gerrard himself after the Anfield icon hailed Jones as a ‘top player’ during his time in charge of the under-18s, Liverpool should be reticent to sanction any exit for the talented youngster until another genuine first-team midfield option is through the door.

In other news: Liverpool now considering big-money move for ‘world class’ powerhouse, read more here

Despite having already completed the signing of Marseille youngster Boubacar Kamara, it would appear that Aston Villa remain set on bringing in a further midfield addition this summer, in order to help bolster Steven Gerrard’s squad.

One name that had been mentioned was Brighton’s Yves Bissouma, although the Mali international looks to be on his way to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, while the Midlands outfit are also expected to face fierce competition from Manchester City in the race to sign Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips, having reportedly been keen on the 26-year-old.

All is not lost in Villa’s bid to bring in a quality midfield recruit, however, with journalist Pete O’Rouke – in an interview with GIVEMESPORT – revealing that the club are “keeping tabs” on Chelsea gem, Conor Gallagher.

The 22-year-old – who spent the most recent campaign on loan at Crystal Palace – is set to return to Stamford Bridge this summer in order to take part in pre-season training under Blues boss manager Thomas Tuchel, although Gerrard and co may be able to pounce if it becomes clear that he won’t play a prominent role for the west Londoners next term.

Any deal would likely not come cheap – amid reports that the asking price could be as high as £50m – although the England international has proven in the most recent campaign that he is a genuinely gifted talent and one that would no doubt fit in beautifully at Villa Park.

In what proved to be a breakthrough 2021/22 season at Selhurst Park, the £17k-per-week workhorse netted eight goals and provided three assists for Patrick Vieira’s side, while also averaging 0.9 interceptions and two tackles per 90 in his 34 top-flight outings.

Seemingly an old-school, throwback, box-to-box midfielder, the £22.5m-rated ace is able to combine his attacking intent with a willingness to defend, notably ranking in the top 7% for pressures made among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, as well as in the top 8% for dribbles completed, the top 7% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 11% for progressive passes received.

That knack for impacting the game in both boxes and his relentless pressing style has seen the youngster compared to one of his Chelsea teammates, with talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino insisting that Gallagher is “like N’Golo Kante with goals” such is his talent.

The statistics would also seemingly back up that claim, with the diminutive Frenchman also ranking highly for dribbles completed (top 7%), touches in the attacking penalty area (top 18%) and progressive passes received (top 10%), although only provided two goals and four assists in his 26 league appearances.

The 30-year-old has dazzled in English football over the last seven years, winning a plethora of major honours for both club and country and rubberstamping his status as one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe, with pundit Joleon Lescott dubbing him “the best in that position ever to play the game.”

Reaching such heights may appear impossible for young Gallagher, although the one-time West Bromwich Albion loanee has himself been lauded of late, notably being labelled “outrageous” by one journalist, while another dubbed him a “monster” for his stunning displays.

Villa will no doubt be praying that he does come on the market this summer, as Gerrard will be able to nurture his own Kante to devastating effect.

IN other news, Deal Imminent: AVFC now “set to sign” fifth summer addition, Gerrard will be buzzing

Celtic won’t be completing the signing of Benfica youngster Paulo Bernardo this summer, according to a new transfer update from his homeland.

The Lowdown: Celtic linked with Bernardo move

Ange Postecoglou will be hoping for a productive summer in the transfer window, as the Hoops look to build on last season’s Scottish Premiership triumph and build a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts.

One player who has been linked with a move in recent days is midfielder Bernardo, who is making a name for himself at Benfica, appearing 24 times for the first team to date, dubbed a player with ‘endless’ potential.

Now, it appears as though Celtic will need to look elsewhere, however.

The Latest: Transfer off the table

According to A Bola [via Sport Witness], there is not ‘any kind of negotiation’ between Celtic and Benfica over a summer move for Bernardo, pouring cold water on the claims.

The 20-year-old is expected to remain at his current club moving forward, with the Portuguese giants seeing him as an important figure for their future, even protecting that with a €100m (£85m) release clause.

The Verdict: Move on and look elsewhere

While this is a blow, considering Bernardo’s standing as a talented young midfielder, it is no disaster to miss a target this early in the summer and Postecoglou has plenty of time to move on and look at alternatives.

Midfield is certainly an area of the pitch that needs additions this summer, with Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton moving on and leaving a sizeable void in the middle of the park.

Someone older than Bernardo would make sense however, in terms of coming in as an immediate regular with experience on par to one of those departing heroes, while David Turnbull could be ready to go up a gear, too.

In other news, Celtic have been backed to seal the signing of one player. Find out who it is here.

Manchester United will seemingly be looking to get rid of two of their defenders during the upcoming summer transfer window.

What’s the news?

Journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared on Twitter that there has been a “decision made” regarding the future of Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe, with both players “set to leave” Old Trafford this summer.

Signed from Villarreal six years ago this week in a deal worth a reported £30m, Bailly has gone on to make 113 appearances for the Red Devils. However, with a worrying injury record and only seven appearances in all competitions this season, it’s easy to see why the club are looking to offload the Ivorian this summer.

The 28-year-old has largely failed to convince in a United shirt, being branded “rash” by Trevor Sinclair after a hapless own goal in the Manchester derby last November.

As for Tuanzebe, despite playing for two different clubs on loan this season, the 24-year-old failed to make an impact with either, as he made just two appearances for Napoli after he left Aston Villa in January.

After the first of those, Italian journalist Umberto Chiariello criticised the Old Trafford academy graduate for committing “mistakes that a defender should never make”.

Taking all this into account, it’s easy to see why the club are looking to move the defensive duo out of the club and off their books permanently.

Great news for United fans

This should be music to the ears of United fans everywhere and give them hope that the club are looking to move some deadwood out of Old Trafford and potentially bring in some new players to replace them.

Taking into account how the likes of Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata will not be at the club next season, this already suggests that the Red Devils will need to be rather busy to ensure that their squad is strong enough before the next campaign kicks off in two months’ time.

It’s safe to suggest that both Bailly and Tuanzebe won’t be greatly missed at the club based on what they’ve offered on the pitch, but should the pair find themselves waving goodbye to Old Trafford once and for all this summer, the pressure will then be on the club’s hierarchy to ensure that they find suitable replacements so that Erik ten Hag isn’t left short of central defensive cover over the next few months.

In other news: Bid made: Man Utd now in talks for “spectacular” signing, supporters will be buzzing

Rangers have now confirmed the sale of Ibrox flop Cedric Itten this week as he has been axed from the club after a disappointing season in Glasgow.

The Switzerland international returned from a loan spell in Germany during the January window and struggled to make an impact under Gio van Bronckhorst – with one goal in six league outings – in the final months of the campaign.

He has now been shipped back to his home country on a permanent deal and that leaves a space to be filled in the club’s attacking unit.

One player the club are reportedly interested in a deal for is FC Sochi centre-forward Mateo Cassierra as Ross Wilson attempts to bolster the squad.

He is reportedly available for a fee in the region of £8.5m and is set to leave the club due to their exclusion from European football next season.

Alfredo Morelos 2.0

By signing the striker this summer, Wilson can land the new Colombian hotshot at the top end of the pitch for the Light Blues.

Journalist Tomás da Cunha once dubbed him “complete” during his time in Portugal and his statistics in Russia back that up. 

In the 2021/22 campaign, Cassierra averaged an exceptional SofaScore rating of 7.29 across 22 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists. The striker created 1.4 chances per game for his teammates – with a pass completion rate of 84% – and completed 61% of his attempted dribbles as he showed that he can impress in a variety of ways in the number nine role.

He is a goalscorer, a dribbler, and a creator and the overall standard of his performances are superb. This backs up da Cunha’s comment and proves that he is a ‘complete’ striker, much like Rangers’ Morelos.

The Glasgow giants forward averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.32 in the Premiership in 2021/22. He managed 11 goals and seven assists in his 26 appearances and completed 80% of his passes in the division, whilst also completing 1.1 dribbles per game at a success rate of 53% in the Europa League.

These statistics suggest that the compatriots are similar strikers in the sense that they can score and assist goals, whilst also being reliable in possession and maintaining a high standard with their performances on a consistent basis.

Therefore, Wilson can land the new Morelos for Rangers by striking a deal for Cassierra in the coming months. Although, it remains to be seen whether or not they would be willing to stump up the £8.5m required to sign him from the Russian outfit.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Weston: Rangers can form deadly future duo in deal for highly-rated teen…

Everton could land South Korean defender Kim Min-Jae from Fenerbahce this summer following recent reports.

What’s the word?

According to Turkish news outlet Ajansspor, Everton are interested in making a move for Kim Min-Jae ahead of the summer transfer window in order to improve their defence.

The South Korean player has a release clause of €23m (£19.5m) and this could tempt Lampard into making a move.

The report states that the defender wishes to continue his career in the Premier League, which will be a major boost to Everton and Lampard as they push forward to make a deal happen.

Lampard must bolster his backline

The Everton boss has a major rebuilding job on his hands this summer, with too many players wasting their talents this season and contributing little as the club were saved from relegation by the finest of margins.

With 66 goals conceded in 38 matches, it’s clear to see which area Lampard should be prioritising when it comes to incoming transfers.

Kim Min-Jae has featured in 39 matches this season, scoring once as his side finished second in the Turkish Super Lig, eight points behind winners Trabzonspor.

Defensively, his average of 3 interceptions per 90 and 2.17 blocks rank him in the 93rd and 88th percentile when compared to positional peers in the big five leagues. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why he’s been nicknamed “the monster”.

His temperament is also excellent, receiving no cautions during the previous year, which ranks him in the 99th percentile, with only Vitaliy Mykolenko from Everton receiving no bookings, and he only joined in January. With that in mind, the Toffees boss would surely love to have him in his team.

These are stats that could convince Lampard to make his move for the 25-year-old. He was referred to as “indispensable” earlier this season as his side were challenging for the title and this type of praise will surely only boost his confidence.

With the player seeking a move to England, there may be more interest in the coming weeks and Everton will need to act fast in order to secure his services, and at £19.5m, it’s a bargain.

AND in other news, Moshiri plotting Everton bid for “fantastic” 19y/o “huge talent”, Lampard needs him

Fabrizio Romano has now shared a major transfer update out of Manchester City involving Manchester United star and controversial target Paul Pogba.

The Lowdown: Guardiola eyes move…

After sealing an agreement for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, putting an end to City’s long search for Sergio Aguero’s heir going forward, manager Pep Guardiola has allegedly set his sights on a new midfielder.

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The Premier League champions are set to lose club legend Fernandinho who is now confirmed this season will be his last at Eastlands, drawing the curtain on a near-10 year stay.

City’s veteran fan favourite will be sorely missed as club officials are now tasked with securing a marquee signing who can fill the void left by his departure.

Barcelona ace Frenkie de Jong is reportedly on the radar with another big name in Pogba also having been mentioned.

The rival midfielder, who is out of contract at the end of this campaign, has been targeted by City chiefs in a potentially head-turning move, with Romano now sharing what he knows.

The Latest: Romano reveals Man City ‘approaches’….

The reliable transfer source, making a claim on Twitter, says the Sky Blues have indeed made contact to sign Pogba – revealing their ‘approaches’ and attempts to sign the 29-year-old on a Bosman deal.

However, as per Romano’s information, the Red Devils ace has turned them down.

He explained:

“Meeting still ongoing between Paul Pogba’s agents and Juventus in Turin as expected, with Raiola group’s lawyer Rafaela Pimenta taking care of the negotiations. Pogba has already turned down Man City approaches, while there’s Paris Saint-Germain still in the race.”

The Verdict: Blessing in disguise…

Signing the France international, arguably sensational on his day, would make sense on paper and from a business perspective.

Called a ‘world class’ player by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, the pundit also claimed City would be ‘crazy’ not to pursue a deal for Pogba given his soon-to-be free agent status (Football Insider).

Bypassing his £49.5 million estimated valuation (Transfermarkt) would’ve seemed like a masterstroke by sporting director Txiki Begiristain, but there’s also reasons for City to turn elsewhere.

Pogba’s age and rumoured attitude problems behind-the-scenes would’ve been big issues for Guardiola and City, not to mention his status as a major rival player from Old Trafford.

The likes of de Jong, while more costly, could prove a far better potential signing in the long term.

In other news: Talks opened: Man City have also made contact to sign ‘phenomenal’ £85m man! Find out more here.

Wolverhampton Wanderers may face a battle to keep hold of Barcelona-loanee Francisco Trincao for next season, should Bruno Lage consider him part of his plans.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Sport Witness  (via TEAMtalk), who claim that the West Midlands side face competition from Liga Portugal side Sporting CP, who have made the former Braga man a “priority.”

As per the report, Sporting manager Ruben Amorim is the man who has made Trincao the club’s priority signing, with the 37-year-old having managed the Barcelona-loanee when the pair were at Braga.

Sporting understand that Wolves have an option to buy clause as part of the loan deal that saw him make the temporary switch to Molineux, though reportedly remain confident in completing a deal for the 22-year-old with Wolves undecided on activating the option to buy clause.

According to Transfermarkt, the loan cost Wolves £5.4m with the option to buy clause set at £25m.

Goncalves 2.0

Trincao’s future at Wolves is entirely dependent on Lage’s decision. Whilst he has managed just two goals and one assist in 27 Premier League games, there have been glimpses of the player that struck eight assists in 27 appearances for Braga just two seasons ago.

Going by the expected goals tally, Trincao, who has been described as a player who can make a “massive impact”, should have four goals this season, which whilst is still not exceptional for a player of his talent, would see him rank as the Old Gold’s third-highest goalscorer behind Hwang-hee Chan and Raul Jimenez who have notched five and six goals respectively.

With Trincao being one of two left-footed forwards at the club, he offers Lage an unorthodox option throughout the role of an inverted winger, and with the recent switch in tactics to a counter-pressing 3-5-2 system, the Portuguese attacker could massively benefit from such a direct approach.

As it stands, the Barcelona loanee has just two more games to prove his worth, with Lage yet to make a formal decision on the matter. He will have to decide pretty soon though amidst the expiring loan deal and severe interest from Sporting.

However, judging by the impact Pedro Goncalves has made since swapping Wolverhampton for Lisbon, the Old Gold could be staring down the barrel of another disastrous transfer decision.

Since moving away from Wolves, the fellow Portuguese star has scored 38 times in just 77 outings. The last thing Lage would want is a repeat scenario of that.

In other news: Wolves plot bid to sign “terrific” £12m-rated gem who “runs the show”, Lage needs him 

Former Scotland striker Frank McAvennie has slammed incoming Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag for the decision to allow Edinson Cavani to leave the club this summer. 

The lowdown: Cavani exit pending

This comes after reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that the Uruguayan was set to move on at the end of the season.

Out of contract in July (Transfermarkt), the 35-year-old can leave Old Trafford as a free agent and appears set to do so despite the imminent arrival of Ten Hag.

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That news has riled one pundit who believes that United have missed a trick in not offering the veteran marksman an extended stay in Manchester…

The latest: McAvennie slams Ten Hag’s decision on Cavani

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie suggested that Ten Hag would hve been best served in attempting to keep a player of the Uruguayan’s class at Old Trafford.

The 62-year-old said: “Well it looks like Cavani is going which is a ludicrous decision.

“He is an unbelievable striker and he is streets ahead of some of the other attackers there, let me tell you. When he plays, he scores, It’s as simple as that. But for whatever reason, he hasn’t played this season.

“He has the appearances but they are all off the bench. You see the likes of Sancho and Rashford playing but they are both struggling. Next season is going to be tough for them, there will be a lot of new players. You need an experienced head to keep the peace and keep everything stable.

“Cavani would be perfect for that, even if he doesn’t play so much. I know Ten Hag hasn’t even come through the door yet but this looks like mistake number one to me.”

The verdict: Correct call by Ten Hag

McAvennie is likely to be somewhat of an outlier on this one.

Whilst Cavani made a superb impact upon his arrival in Manchester, with pundits and team-mates alike jumping on the bandwagon to hail the 130-cap Uruguay star, this season has been one to forget for the 35-year-old for many reasons.

So far in the current campaign, the former Napoli predator has scored just twice in 19 appearances for the Red Devils, missing 25 matches through various injury issues and ultimately being below-par when called upon compared to the exploits of 2020/21.

As the club attempts to head in a new direction under Ten Hag, cutting ties with Cavani seems to be a smart move, particularly given the striker’s age and £250,000-per-week salary (Spotrac).

In other news: Ten Hag working on big free transfer after Man Utd meeting; agent now in England

Sunderland could have striker Nathan Broadhead available for tomorrow’s crunch League One play-off semi-final second leg away at Sheffield Wednesday.

What’s the latest?

The Black Cats ran out 1-0 victors against Darren Moore’s men on Friday evening, although they will feel as though their aggregate lead should be more going into their trip to Hillsborough after a dominant display.

Following the match, Sunderland boss Alex Neil claimed, as quoted by the Sunderland Echo: “He [Broadhead] will have a chance for Monday. Unfortunately, tonight was too soon.

“We will assess him over the next few days and make a call.

“Tonight he wasn’t ready. It’s tough as he is a good player but we have other good players.”

Supporters will be hopeful

Although Broadhead’s availability isn’t 100% confirmed, the Sunderland faithful will be hopeful that the 24-year-old will at least make the squad that travels to south Yorkshire tomorrow.

The Everton-loanee has had an excellent campaign for the Wearside outfit, scoring 13 goals in 25 appearances although injuries have prevented the Welshman from making a serious impact at the Stadium of Light.

With this season being their fourth consecutive campaign in the third tier, Neil’s side arguably have their best chance of finally escaping League One since suffering back-to-back relegations in 2017 and 2018.

The Black Cats did manage to reach the play-off final in their first season in League One back in 2019, although victorious Charlton Athletic were deserved winners on the day.

Despite having the lead on aggregate, their advantage is small and will certainly be tested by a Sheffield Wednesday side who boast the best home form in League One this term.

Moreover, Sunderland lost 3-0 on their previous visit to Hillsborough earlier this season, although that was under their previous manager Lee Johnson.

Therefore, having extra firepower available in Broadhead will be a major boost for Neil’s side’s chances of making it to Wembley where they will face either Wycombe Wanderers or MK Dons for a place in the Championship on 21 May.

AND in other news: Neil can blow SAFC supporters away with £3.4k-p/w gem who was made “in a laboratory”