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Leeds United are reportedly locked in a battle with several other Premier League clubs to sign Sunderland midfielder Josh Hawkes this summer.

The Lowdown: Hawkes impresses for Sunderland

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the most exciting players in the Black Cats’ academy this season, scoring 14 goals in 21 appearances in total, as well as registering seven assists.

Sunderland Under-23s boss Elliott Dickman has hailed Hakwes as ‘excellent’ and a number of top clubs are now thought to be eyeing him up.

The Latest: Leeds keen on move

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are one of those who are interested in signing the attacking midfielder, with West Ham, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United also mentioned.

Hawkes’ current contract expires next summer, meaning this may be the last chance for Sunderland to receive a decent fee for his services.

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The Verdict: One for the future?

It is always exciting to see Leeds linked with talented young British players, with a nucleus of homegrown individuals important in any Premier League squad.

Hawkes could certainly be viewed as an exciting option for the future, with the youngster having the chance to excel under a special manager like Marcelo Bielsa.

It is unlikely that he would be a first-team regular to begin with, given his lack of experience, but signing him would be further proof that Bielsa is looking at the long-term picture and that Leeds are putting plans in face for long term success, rather than short-term quick wins.

In other news, ‘huge’ offers are expected to be made for one key Leeds player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Former Everton star Michael Ball believes Ross Barkley would welcome a return to Goodison Park this summer, and hopes the Toffees can get the deal over the line.

Barkley has spent the season on loan at Aston Villa from Chelsea, having struggled to make a real breakthrough at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea paid £15m to sign the ex-England international in 2018, and he has made 86 appearances for the club.

The 27-year-old has never played more than 27 Premier League games for the Blues in a single season.

Ball thinks that Barkley could be available this summer as Everton look to bring in some genuine dynamism to the squad, as the Toffees have a number of similar players currently in their squad.

As a result, Ball thinks the Toffees should bring their former star back to the club, and says he would welcome such a move.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “It’s an opportunity for Everton to bring a player like Ross Barkley to the football club. It’s what they need. That dimension is lacking.

“Everton have got a lot of the same players. If, say, (Gylfi) Sigurdsson is not doing too good, he comes off to bring (Andre) Gomes on. They’re a similar type of player so you’re going to get the same dimension; it’s easy for the opposition.

“I won’t call it like a plan b but it’s like having a different dimension in midfield when you get a player like Ross Barkley who’s got the drive to get the ball and run 20, 30 yards with it up the pitch. Everton are really lacking that.”

Barkley is currently valued at £18m by Transfermarkt.

If Wolves want to spend any form of sizeable cash this summer, their incoming manager will be faced with the prospect of losing his best players due to the club’s tight budget.

That wouldn’t be an ideal start for Bruno Lage or whoever the boss will be next season.

Ruben Neves feels like the most expendable in terms of a high fee this summer. The Portugal midfielder could fetch as much as £35m, with Liverpool coveting his signature in the past.

What’s the word?

Considering that Wolves won’t be able to spend much in the coming months, they will have to work shrewdly in the window. That begins by sending Willian Jose back to Real Sociedad and refusing to exercise their £18m option to buy after his underwhelming stint in the Midlands.

Instead, the Old Gold should consider spending that sum of money on Orlando City striker Daryl Dike. The 20-year-old has been linked with a move to Molineux over the weekend, with Everton and a number of other Premier League clubs interested.

His opening campaign in English football was a roaring success, smashing in nine goals in 21 Championship outings during a loan spell with Barnsley.

The Tykes could sign him for £18m but are now troubled by their failure to win promotion to the Premier League, so Wolves could spot an opening as they attempt to bring the young American to the Midlands.

The new Afobe?

Renowned for his immense strength, there are few players who possess more physical power than Dike. Writing about the forward previously, The Athletic’s Joseph Lowery said: “At 6’1”, 220 pounds, it shouldn’t come as a shock that Dike is a force in the box.”

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The striker is a brutal opponent for any defender and, after starring in the Championship, he could be Wolves’ new Benik Afobe.

The Arsenal academy graduate is now playing in Turkey but enjoyed a productive spell in the second tier with the Old Gold, for whom he netted 13 goals in 21 outings across the 2014/15 campaign.

Similar to Dike, the former Wolves attacker was a brutal force of nature. Eddie Howe once commented: “He’s strong, you just look at him and know he is going to be a handful, but he has good technique.”

Afobe was also productive at bringing others into play, registering five assists during the aforementioned season.

Wolves target Dike played a pivotal role in the build-up phases of play for Barnsley this season too, using his strength to hold defenders off and bring others into play.

Possessing similar qualities and having found the back of the net at a similar rate in the Championship, there are obvious comparisons to make with Afobe.

After Wolves struggled so much in front of goal this season with Raul Jimenez out injured, the arrival of Dike would surely be a welcome one. After all, he is a “ruthless” individual, according to his former coach George Gelnovatch.

AND in other news, Fosun buy Toney in £110m spending spree, Neves axed: How Wolves may look under Lage…

Newcastle United youngster Elliot Anderson is a ‘man in demand’, while a summit will be held to decide Rodrigo Vilca’s next move.

That’s according to Chronicle Live journalist Mark Douglas, writing in his Newcastle notebook for the publication.

The lowdown

Vilca moved to St James’ Park in October 2020 for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year deal and joining up with the under-23s (via nufc.co.uk).

The attacking midfielder made nine Premier League 2 appearances over the course of the season, with the highlight a 3-2 win over Stoke City in December in which he scored his first goal and provided an assist.

Meanwhile, Anderson netted eight times in 18 outings at youth level last season and also featured twice for the senior side.

Newcastle travelled to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal twice in January, first for an FA Cup clash and then for a Premier League meeting, and the 18-year-old earned run-outs on both occasions.

The latest

Douglas wrote that ‘recruitment meetings are planned for the next week or so’, where the future of players in need of game-time will be on the agenda.

Vilca is a priority, and he’s said to be attracting interest from the Eredivisie and Belgium as well as clubs closer to home in the Championship and League One. Meanwhile, Anderson is wanted by second tier outfit Luton Town, who were also keen at the turn of the year. [Chronicle Live]

The verdict

The door to the first team appears frustratingly shut for the moment, so a loan move would be wise for Anderson as it would allow him the valuable experience of consistent senior football.

Regarding Vilca, his first season at the club was a little underwhelming, so this could be a key loan spell for his ambitions.

You’d expect Newcastle’s preference to be a domestic move to a Football League club, where there would likely be guarantees of regular game-time and where he could be monitored more closely.

In other news, Gabby Agbonlahor made this claim about a potential Newcastle target. 

Sunderland are set for a fourth consecutive season in League One after they were beaten by Lincoln City in the play-off semi-final, but with their new owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus at the helm football finance expert Kieran Maguire expects him to make a big impact in the transfer market this summer.

The Black Cats are in need of somewhat of a summer overhaul after releasing players such as Max Power and Grant Leadbitter, as well as Aiden McGeady and Charlie Wyke still being yet to sign new deals despite their contracts running out this summer.

When Louis-Dreyfus bought the club off previous owner Stewart Donald he became the youngest chairman at a football club in England, but despite being just 23-years-old he has family experience of running football clubs as his family used to have a majority share in Marseille.

Sunderland fans will be hopeful that their new owner is more willing to spend money than Stewart Donald with his last effort of pleasing the fans being the panic signing of Will Grigg on deadline day back in 2019, but Maguire expects Louis-Dreyfus to dip into his own pocket this summer as he exclusively told Football FanCast:

“In League One, you’re allowed to spend 60% of your revenue, plus any money that the owner puts into the club. So, depending on how much he wants to fund a recruitment drive, he could have a massive impact.

“The club’s previous owner Stewart Donald was, I suspect, far more cautious when it came to spending money because he wasn’t as wealthy as Louis-Dreyfus.”

During Sunderland’s three seasons in League One, they have qualified for the play-offs twice having been beaten at Wembley in the last minute against Charlton the first time before falling to even finish in the top six the season after.

Despite having to face another season in League One at least the Black Cats finally managed to win at Wembley after three visits in the last three season when they beat Tranmere Rovers 1-0 in the Papa John’s Trophy.

A Glasgow Rangers source has dropped a transfer update involving George Edmundson.

The Lowdown: Edmundson not in Gerrard’s plans

Edmundson is a player that is clearly not in the plans of Steven Gerrard, having only played in two games under the Gers manager before being shipped out on loan to Derby County in the January transfer window (Transfermarkt).

The six-foot-two central defender did not do too badly in the EFL Championship, winning no fewer than 6.1 of his duels per game, while also averaging 3.5 clearances and 1.4 tackles per game (Sofascore).

The Latest: Bids made

As per Football Insider, the Ibrox faithful have rejected multiple bids from English teams for Edmundson, and a Rangers source has shared that clubs in England are keen on taking advantage of him slipping down the pecking order.

It looks likely that he will end up leaving Ibrox in the summer window, given that he does not seem to be in Gerrard’s plans, and the Gers may end up accepting a bid for Edmundson assuming that more come in.

The Verdict: Sell Edmundson

The writing may already be on the wall, but Rangers should be looking to sell Edmundson in this window for as much money as possible.

At 23 years of age, they could demand a decent fee, and then could use those funds to help invest in other positions that are needed ahead of trying to defend their Scottish Premiership title.

Derby could be one to benefit from a permanent move given his performances for the Rams, and as Edmundson got a lot more game time at Pride Park, it is a move that the Englishman would likely be happy with, perhaps creating a win-win scenario for all parties involved.

In other news, find out what big update has Gers buzzing here!

Tottenham Hotspur remain keen on Marcel Sabitzer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to football.london reporter Rob Guest, who delivered a fresh update to supporters in a recent Q&A session on the website. When asked about interest in the RB Leipzig skipper, he said:

“He’s definitely a player Spurs like a lot. A move away from RB Leipzig could well happen this summer due to his contract status but he will have plenty of clubs to choose from if he can shine for Austria at Euro 2020.

“Spurs could do with bringing in a midfielder who can score and assist regularly but that’s down to Fabio Paratici to decide who they should bring in. He really could be a bargain buy for someone ahead of next season.”

Back in late March, German outlet Sport Bild (via GiveMeSport) claimed that there was a ‘75% chance’ that Sabitzer would join the North London outfit, with him set to cost in the region of €42m (£36m).

The Austrian midfielder was a key target for Jose Mourinho, who is expected to try and bring him to his new club, AS Roma. But reports in Italy have named Spurs as a ‘dangerous competitor’ despite the Portuguese moving on since the initial links.

Imagine him and Son

This would arguably be one of the signings of the summer, and just as Guest claims, Sabitzer is a “bargain buy” for someone out there. Truth be told, the Lilywhites have been crying out for his sort of presence in midfield for at least a year.

Since Christian Eriksen’s departure in January 2020, Spurs have lacked substantial goals and creativity from midfield. The Dane contributed 69 goals and 90 assists across 305 appearances, which is a direct contribution every 151 minutes.

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These are numbers that neither Tanguy Ndombele (a goal or assist every 267 minutes) or Giovani Lo Celso (a goal or assist every 334 minutes) have looked like matching in the time since his exit.

Sabitzer solves this thanks to his electric record, as well as his comparisons to the legendary former playmaker.

Since the start of the 2019/20 season, the Leipzig talisman has bagged 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which is a direct contribution every 151 minutes – exactly like Eriksen, who Get German Football News editor-in-chief Daniel Pinder believes Sabitzer is just like.

He told Football FanCast during an exclusive interview:

“I think he’d bring a lot to Tottenham. He’s very similar to Eriksen, he’s that sort of player that Spurs have been missing in midfield.”

Indeed, it’s why he’s been lauded as a “goal threat” by departing boss Julian Nagelsmann and likened to David Beckham for his set-piece ability.

Dubbed the ‘mentality monster’, it is the sort of signing that would help Spurs bolster their claims to get on track next season and with Harry Kane wanting to leave, Sabitzer could be a very teasing option to stay.

Just imagine the damage he could do with the Austria international and Heung-min Son behind him, having broken Premier League records with just the South Korean last term.

Paratici must look to secure Sabitzer as one of his top priorities this summer.

AND in other news, Spurs set for huge boost as Romano drops exciting update, fans surely buzzing…

Many Glasgow Rangers fans are delighted after the club congratulated Tom Stoltman, who became the World’s Strongest Man on Sunday.

The Gers have plenty of famous fans to go along with their success on the pitch. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is a big fan of the club and even played for them as a youngster before a serious injury curtailed his career, while WWE wrestler Drew McIntyre is also known for his affiliation to the 55-time Scottish champions.

Now it seems they can add another fan to that list. On Sunday, Stoltman became the World’s Strongest Man. He was pictured wearing a Rangers shirt, and the club’s official Twitter account took to the social media platform to congratulate Stoltman upon his achievement. That will no doubt be something the man himself will cherish.

The tweet attracted plenty of attention from Gers supporters, and these fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on the “tremendous” post.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about Stoltman

“Tremendous big man, well done”

Credit: @robertjess92

“Yasss get in there”

Credit: @donnalang321

“What a year for us blue noses”

Credit: @Bod1872

“Amazing champ”

Credit: @20112013g

“Yesssss big man!! Never any doubt”

Credit: @thefoxster40

“What a tweet champions”

Credit: @hannahfirman_30

In other news, Rangers reject several bids for this controversial ace.

West Bromwich Albion are considering a move to bring Alex Mowatt to The Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Athletic, who claim that the new West Brom manager Valerien Ismael is targeting a move for his former Barnsley captain in the summer transfer window.

The report goes on to state that a number of Championship clubs have made contact with the central midfielder regarding the offer of a contract, with the 26-year-old set to become a free agent at the end of the month.

However, The Athletic claim that Albion are the favourites to land the £3.6m-rated man this summer as a result of his ties with Ismael and the Baggies’ status as one of the favourites for promotion.

Ismael would love him

Considering just how important a part of Ismael’s Barnsley side Mowatt was last season, it is clear to see why the Frenchman is keen to bring the midfielder into his West Brom team this summer.

Over his 44 Championship appearances for the Tykes last term, the 26-year-old scored eight goals, registered seven assists and created nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots and making 1.5 key passes per game.

The former England U20 international also impressed in more typical central midfielder metrics, making an average of 0.8 interceptions, 1.7 tackles, 1.3 clearances and winning 4.9 duels per league fixture, in addition to touching the ball an average of 60 times per game.

These returns saw the £6.5k-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Ismael’s best performer in a Barnsley side who defied pre-season expectations by securing a fifth-place finish in the second tier of English football.

And, with Ismael currently having only Romaine Sawyers and Jake Livermore as options in the middle of the park ahead of next season, central midfield is certainly an area in which the 45-year-old will be looking to strengthen in the summer transfer window.

As such, with Mowatt being available on a free transfer, combined with his brilliant performances for Barnsley and West Brom’s desperate need for reinforcements in the position this summer, a move by Albion for the man Steve Evans dubbed a “special” player would appear to make a great deal of sense, as well as one that Ismael would undoubtedly love to get over the line.

In other news: Ismael must secure bargain West Brom swoop for “fabulous” £3.15m-rated gem this summer

A major update has emerged in Manchester City’s pursuit of Reece James this summer…

What’s the talk?

According to talkSPORT, Chelsea have told City that they are not open to cashing in on Reece James this summer, amid interest from Pep Guardiola in the defender.

The Blues are not willing to sell the one-time Wigan loanee and believe that he will be key to their first-team plans for many years to come.

This comes after a report from The Athletic earlier this week claiming that the Citizens had identified him as a potential target to improve the squad, with the former Barcelona head coach said to be a huge fan of his quality.

Fans will be gutted

City fans will be gutted by this news as it seemingly rules out any chance of the club being able to sign James from their Premier League rivals.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are adamant that they want to keep the right-back at Stamford Bridge, which suggests that no amount of money from City will allow them to snap him up over the course of the transfer window.

Therefore, the club has been dealt with a major blow and they will now need to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.

Supporters should also be frustrated as the England international could have been an excellent addition to the squad ahead of next season. James is a fantastic young talent, as emphasised by his former boss at Chelsea Frank Lampard’s effusive praise of him last year.

Lampard told BT Sport:

“So I’ve always been a big fan of his natural talent. There are things he’ll want to improve on his game and that I think he can improve on his game.

“So with his great natural talent that he’s got, his great physical attributes and the things we can work on, he’s going to be a fantastic player for this club for a long, long time.”

The £58k-per-week beast was exceptional for club and country during the 2020/21 campaign. He averaged a sublime WhoScored rating of 7.26 in 16 starts as a right-back and a score of 7.16 in 15 starts at right wing-back for Chelsea and England.

James also excelled in the Champions League final, in which Tuchel’s man overcame City to win the competition for the second time.

He ranked as the Blues’ best defender (7.3), as per SofaScore ratings, and did a number in keeping Raheem Sterling quiet as he registered seven tackles and five clearances as well as winning ten ground duels.

This illustrates the talent he possesses and shows why Lampard was keen to laud him whilst he was in charge at the Bridge. It is also why Txiki Begiristain may be eyeing up a swoop for the defender, as it suggests that he could be a top-class signing and elevate the standard of their fullback options.

Kyle Walker averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.84 in 37 starts at right-back for City and England.

This suggests that the £36m-rated James could be an upgrade on the former Tottenham man, which is another reason why fans will be disappointed with this news as that improvement to the team is now unlikely to happen any time soon.

AND in other news, Forget Kane: Txiki must seal deal for £54m-rated “game changer”, Pep would love him…