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Journalist Alex Crook has dropped a claim on reported Newcastle United target Armando Broja.

The Lowdown: Bid considered

It has been reported that the St James’ Park outfit are considering making a bid for the Albania international before the transfer window closes.

They have also reportedly been interested in RB Salzburg’s Benjamin Sesko and Atalanta’s Luis Muriel, so it is clear that Eddie Howe still wants to bring in a new striker.

The Latest: Crook’s claim

However, peaking to GIVEMESPORT, Crook has claimed that, contrary to reports, Howe does not want to sign Broja, who is not on the list of targets at Newcastle.

The talkSPORT journalist claimed: “I’m not convinced by the Newcastle links to Broja, to be honest. I’ve been told Howe doesn’t want him. I’m there to be proved wrong, but I’m told he’s not on their list.

“I think he wants too much money as well. There’s a certain wage structure in place at Newcastle that he would probably try and break.”

The Verdict: It’s a shame

It would certainly be a shame if the Tynesiders were to miss out on signing Broja this summer.

Hailed as ‘devastating‘ by Albania assistant coach Sergio Porrini, and dubbed a striker with ‘incredible pace and strength’ by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, the 20-year-old impressed while on loan at Southampton from Chelsea last season, scoring nine goals and supplying one assist across all competitions (Transfermarkt).

He already has four goals in 14 caps for Albania too (Transfermarkt), so he seems to be a forward with a maturity beyond his years.

If Chelsea make him available on the market, now represents the perfect opportunity for Newcastle to snap up Broja, as the likelihood is that he will only get better and better as he progresses through his 20s.

Newcastle United have reportedly ‘made an offer’ to sign Valencia striker Maxi Gomez, according to Turkish outlet Aksam. 

The lowdown: Career so far

Signed from Celta Vigo for £13.05million in 2019 having made his name in Galicia following a move from Uruguayan outfit Defensor, Gomez has scored 22 times and provided 12 assists in 105 outings for Valencia.

Despite that relatively lowly return, the 25-year-old Uruguay international has previously been linked to Wolves, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal.

Now, it appears as though Newcastle are the latest suitors for Gomez as Eddie Howe attempts to bolster the attacking options at his disposal in the North East…

The latest: ‘Made an offer’

As per Aksam, Newcastle are believed to have ‘made an offer’ to sign the 27-cap star.

It’s claimed that the Magpies have ‘asked about’ Gomez this summer, although there is serious competition from Turkish Super Lig outfit Fenerbahce.

The report states that Valencia want offers of around €12million (£10.1million) for the Uruguayan frontman who has been nicknamed ‘The Bull’ due to his combative playing style.

The verdict: No brainer

At the mooted asking price, signing Gomez – who earns £49,000 per week at Valencia (Salary Sport) – would make an abundance of sense for the Tynesiders in order to strengthen the ranks whilst still keeping money in the coffers for more expensive potential targets such as Anthony Gordon.

Last season, the £10.8million valued ace scored five times and provided three assists in 29 La Liga outings, earning a 6.81 Sofascore rating whilst winning 5.1 duels and taking 1.5 shots per game – showcasing impressive battling quality to accompany a keen eye for goal.

Standing at 6 foot 1, Gomez shares similar traits to Alvaro Negredo and Newcastle’s own Chris Wood (FBref), suggesting another physical focal point type striker could be on the way to St James’ Park.

Nottingham Forest are plotting a shock move for Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko in the summer transfer window, journalist Luca Bianchin has claimed.

The Lowdown: Midfield addition needed?

Steve Cooper will be delighted with his business this summer, with the Reds signing a whole host of exciting players from Neco Williams to Taiwo Awoniyi.

Forest’s midfield could still do with reinforcements, however, as highlighted by their apparent raid of Atalanta’s ranks, eyeing up both Remo Freuler and Ruslan Malinovskyi.

Yet another midfielder has now appeared as a potential target, with the transfer window ending in just under three weeks.

The Latest: Forest eye up Bakayoko move

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Bianchin, who covers Milan for La Gazzetta dello Sport, claimed that Forest want to sign Bakayoko from Chelsea, ending his loan spell in Italy:

“Tiemoue Bakayoko is an option for #NFFC. Bakayoko could end his two-year loan at #Milan to sign with Forest. Talks ongoing to find an agreement on the player’s wages.”

The Verdict: Is he good enough?

The 27 year-old enjoyed a triumphant 2021/22 season for Milan, winning the Serie A title and playing a decent squad role, making 14 league appearances in total.

While he would likely be a strong acquisition for Forest, given his pedigree as a newly-crowned title winner and the fact that he has won one cap for a France side littered with quality, he has struggled in the Premier League before.

His 43 appearances for Chelsea have been forgettable, hence the loan spells at Milan, Monaco and Napoli, although he has matured as a player over that time. Forest would, therefore, be wise to try a loan move, arguably getting the best years of his career without the risk of being saddled with a potentially expensive flop.

Free agent Adnan Januzaj is reportedly ‘interested’ in a move to Everton if Anthony Gordon leaves.

The Lowdown: Chelsea interest

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are readying an improved £50m bid for Gordon, after having their first offer rejected by the Goodison Park outfit.

Were the Blues to accept a new bid, the Merseyside club would of course have to find a replacement, having already lost key attackers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to injury and transfers respectively.

The Latest: Januzaj ‘interested’

Taking to Twitter, journalist Sacha Tavolieri has revealed that Januzaj would be ‘interested’ in a move to Frank Lampard’s team should Gordon depart, adding that he has ‘refused’ all other offers so far:

“Adnan #Januzaj waits #EvertonFC! The leaders of #Toffees checked the name of #DiablesRouges in the event of Antony’s departure #Gordon. Reciprocal interests. #Januzaj, interested, has refused everything so far because he wants to find the #PremierLeague!”

The Verdict: Sign

As a free agent, the Toffees won’t find much better than signing a player of the quality and experience that Januzaj has.

Hailed as ‘very special’ and ‘gifted’ by journalist David Cartlidge, the Belgium international showed a lot of promise coming through as a youngster at Manchester United, where then manager David Moyes even likened him to world superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Since then, he has made nearly 300 senior appearances for both club and country combined, playing at a high level for the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Real Sociedad, and at 27, is entering his prime.

Of course, losing Gordon would be a big blow, but signing up Januzaj would save the Blues a lot of money, which could then be used to bring in a much-needed new striker.

Liverpool are preparing to make an opening offer for Brighton and Hove Albion star Moises Caicedo, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Klopp’s injury crisis

The Reds suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Premier League rivals Manchester United on Monday night, but were severely hampered by injuries, with nine players ruled out of action and facing spells on the sidelines.

Jurgen Klopp finally caved and admitted prior to the Old Trafford showdown that he would like to add another midfielder to his squad as a result of the current crisis, and it sounds like he’s identified the 20-year-old as his prime target.

The Latest: Liverpool set to make their move

South American outlet Studio Football (via The Mirror) claim that Liverpool are ‘looking to sign’ Caicedo this summer, and are in the process of ‘preparing a bid’ in the region of €50m (£42m).

It’s stated that the Seagulls have made it clear that the Ecuadorian is ‘not for sale’, though the Merseyside outfit are ‘set to ignore that warning’ and go ahead with their attempts.

The Verdict: Bellingham alternative

Liverpool have held a long-standing interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, but valued at a staggering £101m, it’s likely that Caicedo would be a much cheaper yet still as effective alternative.

The 23-cap international, dubbed a ‘machine’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, currently ranks fifth for the most tackles made in the Premier League this season (11), alongside averaging 1.3 key passes per game, showing his effectiveness on both sides of the ball.

Caicedo has experience under his belt having become a regular member of Brighton’s first team since January, and he would be a highly-promising player to come in and fill that much-needed midfield void for Klopp.

Everton have already signed one striker this week, and they now could be set to add another…

 What’s the word?

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, the Toffees are getting close to finalising a deal for a reported target in Ben Brereton Diaz.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he claimed: “Everton are closing in on Brereton Diaz, which would be significant given the interest in him this summer.

“I’m hearing we are looking at a deal worth a guaranteed £17.5m and then add ons would take it beyond £20m. Lampard wants up to three new forwards before the deadline.”

Could be Lampard’s best signing

With a deal for Neal Maupay completed on Friday, it gives Frank Lampard some added freedom with his next striker purchase, as he can take a risk on someone without Premier League experience.

He should duly look no further than the Championship, where Brereton Diaz earned huge praise last season for his fine goalscoring performances.

The Chile forward was instrumental in Blackburn Rovers’ unlikely play-off push, which was derailed as soon as he got injured. He still managed to net 22 goals in just 37 appearances, also chipping in with three assists.

Although Maupay could likely guarantee at least eight goals a season, a return that he has managed or exceeded in each of his Brighton and Hove Albion, the unknown potential of this Brereton Diaz deal is an exciting thought.

Not only was he prolific last term, but his new international coach Eduardo Berizzo also had plenty to commend about the striker, saying: “Brereton is very intelligent in his movement and found himself behind rival defenders several times.”

Berizzo continued: “He is a footballer with many qualities… He is a player of interesting movements. He will be an important reference for us.”

Whilst Everton’s new French forward can link up the play with his 78% pass completion rate, Brereton Diaz’s goal-poaching instinct could see him benefit from the wicked deliveries of another summer addition in Dwight McNeil, who averaged 1.3 key passes per game last season.

If the Chile star can replicate his Blackburn goalscoring feats for the Toffees, for just £20m he could quickly become Lampard’s best signing to date at Goodison Park. He appears to have all the ability to thrive in the Premier League; he just needs someone to take a punt on him.

Jurgen Klopp hasn’t made many mistakes in the transfer market as Liverpool manager, especially when you look at some of the names he has brought to the club.

The likes of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho are just a few of the German’s successes when adding players to bolster his squad, and he could well have another in Darwin Nunez if the Uruguayan settles down well following his recent suspension.

This summer represented a few difficulties, however, with some big transfer targets not arriving or joining other clubs.

With Jude Bellingham staying at Borussia Dortmund for at least another year and another target in Aurelien Tchouameni joining Champions League winners Real Madrid, the failed attempt at signing Spanish prodigy Gavi looks like one of the biggest mistakes that Klopp has made.

If it wasn’t clear in the summer, two wins from seven Premier League and Champions League matches have subsequently shown that Klopp badly needs to rejuvenate his ageing and injury-plagued midfield.

With Jordan Henderson (32) Thiago Alcantara (31) and James Milner (36) all on the wrong side of 30, bringing in some youth should have been the manager’s main priority. However, with the performances against Manchester United and Napoli particularly poor, a move for a player such as Gavi has never been more welcome.

The 18-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Barcelona in 2021/22, making 46 appearances in all competitions and scoring twice while adding a further six assists to burst his way onto the scene and become the latest youngster from La Masia to thrive at the club.

With the youngster’s contract expiring next season, Liverpool were willing to pay the £42.5m release clause to bring the player to Anfield. However, the Catalan club are confident that a new deal can be agreed with Gavi, and with plenty of clubs sniffing around the player, they will need to act fast.

The Spaniard would be an impressive signing for the Reds, and with his precocious talent and incredible start to his club career, he looks destined for the top. Journalist Charlotte Coates dubbed Gavi as a “wonderkid”, praise which is warranted considering how high a ceiling he seems to have.

Forget Bellingham and Tchouameni, Klopp has made a big mistake in missing out on the Barcelona starlet during the summer transfer window, and it could have deeper implications as the season progresses.

Aston Villa were understandably keen to strengthen their squad following promotion back to the top flight in 2019 but a lot of their signings have proven to be a waste of money.

The likes of Ezri Konsa, Douglas Luiz and Tyrone Mings remain key parts of the squad at Villa Park, whereas less successful signings such as Trezeguet, Ally Samatta and Bjorn Engels have been and gone.

One man who stands out as a really poor piece of business from that summer is former Birmingham City winger Jota.

The Spanish attacker joined Villa in a deal worth a reported £4m, as he became Dean Smith’s first signing of that summer’s transfer window, having worked together at Brentford, and was paid £25k-per-week during his time at Villa Park, the majority of which was earned from the bench.

With just 16 appearances under his belt across all competitions before leaving in October 2020 on a free transfer to Spanish club Alaves, the winger ended up costing the Midlands club £250k-per-appearance, while his one goal in all competitions meant that the club paid £4m for the one time he found the back of the net.

In 25 appearances for Alaves, the Spaniard – who described his time with the Villans as “tough” – failed to score even once before being released last summer, and he remains without a club.

It had seemed like a promising signing after he had starred at St Andrew’s the previous season, with three goals and 11 assists to his name in the Championship, but he clearly didn’t adapt to the Premier League.

It seems as if the move has really damaged what was once a promising career in the Championship with Birmingham and Brentford, where he contributed an impressive 23 goals and 11 assists in 78 appearances, as he has been without a club for some time, with an early retirement potentially on the cards unless another side takes a chance on him.

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It always feels like a risk when a player moves between rival sides and in this case, the divisive move on Villa’s part, did not work out at all.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s chances of landing Goncalo Ramos ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Magpies target is set to be available for a fee in the region of £25m as a host of teams sniff around his services.

The report names Manchester United, Newcastle and Bayern Munich among the interested parties, with the Red Devils having already made contact with the player’s representatives.

It is stated that he has a £100m release clause in his contract at Benfica but the Portuguese outfit are willing to cash in on him for £75m less than that figure.

Big Chris Wood upgrade

Eddie Howe must push to land a deal for Ramos in the January window as the 21-year-old has the potential to be a big upgrade on Chris Wood.

Football scout Jacek Kulig previously described the gem as “incredibly prolific” and his form for Benfica and Portugal justifies that comment.

In the 2022/23 campaign, Ramos has plundered eight goals and five assists in 12 competitive appearances in all competitions for the Portuguese side.

He had made his step up to the first team after producing 27 goals and nine assists in 55 outings across various youth levels, scoring 22 in 71 matches since making his senior bow.

The youngster has also caught the eye at international level. In 33 caps for Portugal at U19 and U21 level, he has found the back of the net an eye-catching 23 times – highlighting his exceptional ability in front of goal.

At the age of 21, he has shown that he has huge potential as he has been able to translate his prolific youth form into Benfica’s senior team. He has plenty of time left ahead of him to hone and develop his skills and could be a terrific signing for Newcastle, if he is able to adapt to English football.

Chris Wood, meanwhile, has struggled badly in front of goal since his £25m move to St. James’ Park from Burnley in January earlier this year. He has scored two goals and failed to register a single assist in 24 Premier League outings for the Magpies to date and has found himself behind Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson in the pecking order.

The New Zealand international has not offered much at the top end of the pitch and that is why Ramos could be a big upgrade on the dud. Wood, 30, is not an up-and-coming player like the Benfica gem, 21, and this means that the Magpies could improve their team in the immediate term and in the future by making this switch.

Ramos would also suit Howe’s pressing style of play as he has been described as an aggressive and determined presser from the front, whereas Wood is distinctly average in this sense – ranking in the 57th percentile among strikers in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days for pressures per 90.

Leeds United made some of their most unpopular transfer decisions over the summer and there is no doubt that the Elland Road faithful would’ve been fearful for what the Premier League season ahead was going to hold when both Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha were sold.

The sale of the Brazilian winger was much anticipated, as transfer rumours surrounding Raphinha’s future were non-stop last season, but the thought that Leeds would sell academy graduate and prodigy Phillips was something that would’ve been out of the question to supporters this time last year.

Without a care for the backlash that awaited them, the powers at the club made their decision to sell the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ to Premier League powerhouse and title-winners Manchester City for £42m back in July.

Despite the obvious sentiment of being a local lad and the clear-cut quality that the England midfielder possesses, Orta will be counting his blessings that he did take the risk of letting go of such a talented player, a decision that appears to be somewhat of a masterclass given what the player has gone through this season.

Noel Whelan has spoken out on the “massive” blow to Phillips, as the player has now had to undergo surgery on a shoulder injury that could leave him unable to compete for a spot on the plane to Qatar for the World Cup – as the timescale remains unclear on when he will be able to return.

The £150k-per-week ace, who Yannick Bolasie dubbed a “monster”, has completed just 13 minutes of action over three substitution appearances for the Premier League champions this season, and injury problems plaguing his ability to perform will be nothing new to Leeds supporters.

Phillips spent 99 days last season recovering from a hamstring injury that saw him miss 16 fixtures for Leeds, and the Whites’ heavy reliance on the midfielder certainly contributed to their struggle to comfortably compete. Indeed, another season spent relying on him could’ve cost the club dearly, so they look to have hit the jackpot selling him when they did for so much money.

Marsch’s side are currently 11th in the Premier League table after six outings, and although supporters may have been worried initially with the loss of such an important player in the heart of the team, the recruitment and new signings have been hugely impactful so far.

With that being said, selling Phillips may have been a blessing in disguise for Leeds as, had they not sold him, it could’ve been another difficult season for United, but there is no doubt that his quality is something that will be sorely missed by supporters for a long time.