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Wolverhampton Wanderers are among the clubs interested in signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder Matheus Nunes, according to a report from Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rise to prominence

Signed by Primeira Liga side Estoril in 2018 from Portuguese minnows Ericeirense, Nunes continued on a pathway to stardom when making a switch to Sporting just six months later.

Since then, the Brazil-born star has directly contributed to 15 goals in 99 outings, lifting the Portuguese League Cup twice, the domestic cup once and the top-flight title in 2020/21.

With the future of Ruben Neves in doubt at Molineux beyond this transfer window, Bruno Lage now appears to have set his sights on an international teammate as a possible replacement…

The latest: Wanderers named

As per Foot Mercato, translated by SW, Wolves and Fosun are ‘ready to bet big’ on Nunes this summer and have even made an approach already.

It’s claimed that the Midlands club, Newcastle United and Everton all have an interest in the eight-cap Portugal ace whilst Manchester Cty have also recently been linked.

The report also states that Sporting have ‘refused an approach’ worth €45million (£39million) from an unnamed Premier League outfit for the 23-year-old heralded as ‘one of the best players in the world’ by Pep Guardiola following a UEFA Champions League round 16 tie in 2020.

The verdict: At all costs

Already heavily indexed to Joao Palhinha, Wolves are rightly wasting little time in planning for life after the hotly sought-after Neves.

During 2021/22, Nunes scored five times and registered four assists in 50 appearances across all competitions, earning a 6.98 Sofascore rating whilst winning 6.5 duels on average per league game in the process, illustrating a combative prowess to accompany an eye for goal.

Even at the mooted €60million (£51.5million) asking price, signing the renowned Portuguese playmaker would be a worthwhile move from the Wanderers hierarchy regardless of what happens with Neves, Palhinha and Joao Moutinho alike as Lage and Fosun look to develop the squad further and take the club to the next level.

In other news… Wolves are reportedly in negotiations to sign an exciting new striker.

Leeds United central midfielder Kalvin Phillips is attracting increasing interest ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Spanish publication SPORT (via Metro), who claim that Liverpool have ended their pursuit of a deal for Barcelona midfielder Gavi – with the 17-year-old looking set to put pen to paper on a new deal at the Camp Nou – and have now entered into talks with the Whites regarding a move for the England international.

The report goes on to state that both Manchester City and Manchester United are also keeping a very close eye on the situation of the 26-year-old ahead of a potential move of their own in the coming weeks, while Leeds are believed to be demanding a figure in the region of £60m in order to part with their academy graduate this summer.

Marsch will be devastated

With recent reports suggesting that, despite his continued links with a move away from Elland Road this summer, Phillips would be more than happy to remain at Leeds beyond the closure of the transfer market on September 1, the news that Liverpool have now started talks with the Whites concerning a move for the midfielder is sure to have left Jesse Marsch devastated.

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Indeed, while a hamstring injury limited his game time in the 2021/22 campaign, the £45m-rated talent still managed to impress over his 20 Premier League appearances, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.2 interceptions, 2.7 tackles, 38.9 passes, 3.5 long balls and winning 4.5 duels per fixture.

Furthermore, according to FBref data, the £38k-per-week deep-lying playmaker also ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for pressures per 90, in addition to the top 3% for tackles, the top 4% for blocks, the top 23% for clearances, the top 35% for interceptions and the top 45% for aerial duels won over the last 365 days.

As such, considering his remarkable returns for the Whites, it is not difficult to see why the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are all reported to be interested in a move for Phillips this summer, nor is it hard to understand why losing the services of the Leeds-born dynamo would come as a gutting blow to Marsch and the Elland Road faithful alike this summer.

AND in other news: Kinnear could unearth the next Tevez with Leeds bid for “exceptional” £12.8m talent

Rangers won the Scottish Cup for the first time in 13 years and reached the Europa League final in a season which will go down as one of the best in recent memory at Ibrox, despite the Light Blues missing out on the Premiership crown.

The onus for Giovanni van Bronckhorst now is to build on that success and form a side which can reclaim the league title from their Glasgow arch-rivals and continue the club’s impressive European form, hopefully by qualifying for the Champions League group stage.

One of the Dutchman’s key tasks over the summer will be to secure long-term deals for a few players whose contracts expire next year. As it stands, the likes of Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo, and Alfredo Morelos are all free to look for another club next January, and this needs to be nipped in the bud sooner rather than later.

There is some good news on that front, though, with Gers insider The 4th Official now stating that “Rangers have no intention of selling him”, which is in reference to Aribo as interest from Crystal Palace appears to be growing.

Rangers fans will surely be absolutely ecstatic to hear this news, as the 25-year-old has been one of the Ibrox club’s key players over the previous two campaigns.

The Nigeria international has scored 17 times in all competitions during 2020/21 and 2021/22, while also adding 17 assists, showing that his creative spark could well be crucial to any Gers success.

Aribo has proved his defensive worth this season, too. Compared to positional peers in the top five leagues in Europe, the 25-year-old ranks in the top 1% for aerial duels won (3.18 per 90) and also in the top 5% for interceptions (1.71 per 90) and clearances (1.06).

If there is one player that Van Bronckhorst needs to keep at Rangers next season (and beyond, preferably), it is arguably Aribo, as the above statistics show how vital he is at Ibrox.

Despite the positive transfer twist emerging about the midfielder, the Gers faithful might still have to endure a nerve-wracking summer until the Nigerian’s future is nailed down officially.

AND in other news, Huge Ibrox summer development emerges, Rangers supporters will be buzzing

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has urged Celtic to sign winger Jota on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Jota shines for Celtic

The 23-year-old completed a loan move to Parkhead from Benfica last summer, as he looked to earn regular playing time away from his parent club.

Jota has proven to be a superb signing by Celtic, playing his part in their Scottish Premiership title win, chipping in with seven goals and eight assists in the competition.

The hope is that the Hoops now sign the Portuguese permanently – something they are working on currently, with Sky Sports reporting a negotiation over the level of sell-on clause the deal will have.

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The Latest: McLeish makes fresh plea

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish, a regular pundit on Sky Sports, urged Celtic to hurry up and get the deal done:

“I think give them it (the sell-on clause). I think it’s a no brainer. He has been outstanding for them and very instrumental in them winning that league.

“Why not do a deal? It’s a kind of safe way to get him to sign on the dotted line. I would say definitely Celtic should do some kind of deal.”

The Verdict: No-brainer for Hoops

The thought of Celtic losing Jota after such an impressive season is worrying, with his trickery and end product from out wide proving to be a key attacking weapon.

He certainly appears to be happy at Parkhead, meaning the move seems set to happen, but the Hoops need to act quickly to ensure he isn’t snapped up by someone else.

Signing Jota in the coming weeks would arguably feel more significant than any new summer arrival, given the impact he has made in his short time in Scotland.

In other news, Celtic are reportedly ‘keeping tabs’ on one player. Find out who it is here.

According to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor, Wolves will ‘probably go for’ Valencia forward Goncalo Guedes during the upcoming transfer window.

The Lowdown: Long-term Guedes interest

The 25-year-old first joined the Spanish giants in a £36m move from Paris Saint-Germain four years ago. He has since gone on to make 178 appearances at the Mestalla, scoring 36 goals and registering 30 assists during that time, as per Transfermarkt.

The Old Gold have been linked with a move for the Portuguese winger for quite a while now, and despite him still having just over 12 months remaining on his current contract, Valencia recently confirmed that they have suffered losses of €31.2m (£26.3m), so they might have no choice but to sell some of their most valuable assets this summer.

The Telegraph have also claimed that the Premier League outfit are to prioritise signing a new striker ahead of next season. The report stated that Wolves are ‘set to move’ for Guedes, who is a client of Jorge Mendes, an agent with very close links to Molineux.

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The Latest: Guedes/Wolves links talked up

Taylor has suggested that he thinks Wolves are likely to view the 29-cap Portugal international as an ideal candidate to bolster their attacking ranks at Molineux, especially given the multiplicity of compatriots already in Bruno Lage’s squad.

He told GiveMeSport: “Goncalo Guedes is a player that they will probably go for. There’s been a long-standing interest in him, obviously he’s got that Portuguese connection; Joao Palhinha as well.”

The Verdict: Competition for Jimenez

Should the £36m-rated talisman decide to make the move to Molineux, he is someone who could provide some strong competition for Raul Jimenez, who has been subdued in front of goal this season.

Along with Daniel Podence, the Mexican has been the club’s joint-highest scorer this term with just six goals each across all competitions. Guedes found the net on 13 occasions for Valencia in 2021/22 and even turned provider six times for his team-mates.

This highlights just how much of a difference the 25-year-old could make in Lage’s starting XI, and with the aforementioned Portuguese connection, it’s a deal that the Wolves manager should be looking to get over the line as soon as possible.

In other news… Tim Spiers has dropped a huge update on the future of one of Wolves’ exciting young talents

Bayern Munich are still hopeful of signing Liverpool superstar Sadio Mane this summer, according to reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Magnificent season for Mane

The Reds have had numerous standout heroes during a memorable season and Mane has undoubtedly been one of his side’s star men, having once been hailed as a ‘machine’ by Jamie Carragher.

The 30-year-old has thrived in a new central attacking role, scoring 16 times in the Premier League, not to mention netting huge winning penalties for Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final and a World Cup playoff.

Mane has recently been linked with a summer move to Bayern, however, as they look to replace Robert Lewandowski and capitalise on a contract with just 13 months left to run.

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The Latest: Fresh ‘talks’

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany claimed that Mane is considering joining the Bundesliga champions and is already in ‘talks’ over a move:

“News #Mane: He can really imagine to join #FCBayern this summer! There is movement in talks with the player and his management. Next 3-4 weeks are decisive. Nagelsmann & Brazzo want him. Transfer fee probably less than €50m.”

The Verdict: Could he actually leave?

While it would be a surprise in Mane didn’t sign a new deal at Liverpool, this update does suggest that his exit is actually possible this summer.

At 30, the attacker may feel that he has one more big move in him during his prime, and it could be that he feels a fresh challenge will be beneficial after six years with the Reds.

That being said, Bayern are still not the proposition Liverpool are currently, in terms of their manager and standing in European football, so we feel a new contract is still to be expected.

In other news, one Liverpool attacker has been backed to stay at Anfield. Find out who it is here.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped a fresh update regarding reported Liverpool transfer target Kylian Mbappe…

What’s the word?

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider delivered an update on the Frenchman’s future which will serve as a notable blow to Jurgen Klopp and co. It looks as if the 23-year-old is edging ever closer to a long-awaited switch to Real Madrid, with the Bernabeu outfit “more than confident” of striking a deal.

Delivering the latest on the hot topic that is the Paris Saint-Germain forward’s next destination, Romano revealed: “Key hours ahead for Kylian Mbappé, he’s back from Qatar for final meeting with his family and his whole camp. Real Madrid are waiting for the final steps, more than confident – still no official communication to PSG. #Mbappé Real Madrid contract has been ready for months.”

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This follows a report from Marca which suggested that the £144m-rated sensation had informed the Anfield club that he would not be moving to Merseyside, despite being flattered by their admiring glances, with Klopp himself having only recently admitted that the Reds are/were interested in a deal (albeit while appearing to rule them out due to the hefty financial package it would require).

Huge blow for Liverpool

Although making a deal for the £413k-per-week gem appeared a long shot anyway, with a move likely to have only disrupted Liverpool’s stringent wage structure, this latest update will still come as a notable blow for the quadruple chasers.

Having just witnessed Premier League title rivals Manchester City announce a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund starlet Erling Haaland this summer, the Merseysiders would likely have been keen to secure a marquee signing of their own, as they look to keep pace with Pep Guardiola’s side in the coming years.

Despite the wealth of attacking talent already on offer at Anfield, Mbappe would have represented a simply unique and frankly “unstoppable” addition – as he has been described by Carlo Ancelotti – with the 54-cap France international arguably one of the most exciting talents in world football.

Amid what has been an at times turbulent campaign at the Parcs des Princes under Mauricio Pochettino, the former Monaco starlet has been the real shining light for the Ligue 1 champions, eclipsing both Neymar and summer signing Lionel Messi throughout the campaign.

In just 45 games in all competitions this term, Mbappe has registered a staggering 36 goals and 26 assists, taking his total haul for the club to 168 goals and 87 assists in 216 matches since his mammoth £166m move back in 2017.

Just five years on from that high-profile switch, the 2018 World Cup winner is set to be available on a ‘free transfer’, with his contract set to expire at the end of June and the Parisien outfit desperately scrambling to avoid losing him for nothing.

Whether or not he departs his current club this year, it would appear that a move to Liverpool is now off the table, which is set to be a real source of frustration for Klopp and Reds fans everywhere.

In other news: Liverpool eye bid for exciting wonderkid, he could become a “scary” £127m-rated talent

Manchester United have been handed a boost over the potential signing of Benfica’s Uruguayan goal machine, Darwin Nunez.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from The Mirror, who state that the 22-year-old has decided that he wants a move to the Premier League.

As per the report, Nunez’s advisors have given a positive indication on where his future may lie and believe his style could be well suited to English football. And United clearly think so too, with the Old Trafford side now monitoring developments around the 22-year-old.

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There is both a positive and a negative to come out of this report though.

On one hand, Man United should not suffer any threat for the Uruguayan’s signature from the likes of Manchester City, having just agreed to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

Though, there is a potential sticking point that could make life difficult for United, and that is the lack of Champions League football for next season.

It is said that Nunez, who has a £130m buy-out clause could be prised from the clutches of Benfica for a figure of around £70m, and his reported ambition of playing Premier League football of course serves as a major boost for United.

Imagine Nunez & CR7

Whilst the lack of top European football for next season is annoying, if “Mr. Champions League” Cristiano Ronaldo can put up with it, then so can Nunez.

With Ronaldo looking as though he may stay at United for at least another year if Ten Hag confirms that he is in his plans, the partnership between Nunez and the great Portuguese forward could be unstoppable.

He may already be testing the efficiency of this system with the idea of putting both Nunez and Ronaldo up top in what would make for an unplayable strike partnership.

Having just won the Eredivisie title for the third time with Ajax, the last three games saw him deploy a 4-1-2-1-2 system and a 4-3-1-2 variation also. What’s the relevance you may ask?

The Dutchman has veered away from his usual 4-3-3 over the last three matches and has opted for two formations that utilise two strikers up-top.

With a combined domestic goals total of 44 – 26 goals for Nunez and 18 goals for Ronaldo – they could take the Premier League by storm, and with the latter’s underrated creative ability, we could well see a playmaking side to the Portuguese veteran that Nunez would most certainly benefit from.

The centre-forward has been described as a “diamond” by Steve McManaman, and indeed, that’s exactly what he’d be if he signed for United; a precious entity who can blossom next to Ronaldo.

In other news: Better than Pogba: MUFC can land dream Rice alternative in “exceptional” £50m monster