Nottingham Forest Favourites For ‘Frightening’ £15m Star

Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, as he looks to rebuild his career in England.

Steve Cooper must add firepower to his squad this summer should they wish to remain in the Premier League, after securing safety in the penultimate game of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Reds have been linked to an array of talent ahead of the new term, as the City Ground eyes star names to add to their promising squad that sit on the fence between the top and second division.

After scoring just 38 goals in 38 games, Cooper must install a significant threat to his attack as Forest bid to improve in the final third, which is something Cooper could achieve in signing Hudson-Odoi.

As reported by a journalist associated with Football Transfers, Forest are among the 'favourites' to sign the 22-year-old, who according to the Guardian could leave Chelsea for a fee of £15m.

AC Milan have also been named as a club that could potentially acquire the Chelsea academy graduate, in a move that could see him follow the likes of Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to Milan.

What could Callum Hudson-Odoi offer to Nottingham Forest?

After playing for the Blues since U8s level, the Englishman could call it quits from his home surroundings as his contract nears its 2024 expiry date.

The tricky winger has returned to the Blues after an underwhelming season-long loan at Bayer Leverkusen, in which he scored just once in 21 appearances in all competitions for Die Werkself.

A number of years tainted by injury have seen the Londoner fall down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, after bursting onto the scene in the 2019/20 campaign, in which he registered one goal and five assists in 22 Premier League appearances for Chelsea.

Despite enduring a difficult period in his budding career, the Champions League winner could rejuvenate his past form in a new environment, and could flourish in Coopers’ set-up at the City Ground.

The 22-year-old could follow the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White in opting for change to become a firm starter in the top division, in a move that could be successful for the club and player.

Hailed as “frightening” by Scouted Football, Hudson-Odoi could add a threat from the wing to Forest’s game plan. Indeed, he represents a player particularly well suited to featuring alongside the talent of Gibbs-White.

Morgan-Gibbs-White

The former Wolves midfielder has lit up the City Ground after signing from Molineux last summer, in a campaign that saw him voted as the BBC’s pick for Forest Player of the Season.

As per FBref, the playmaker averaged an impressive 1.91 key passes and 2.29 passes into the final third per 90 in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, providing chances all over the pitch for his teammates.

Cooper could further the exploits of his star man by signing Hudson-Odoi, who flexes strengths in the final third that suggest he could be the perfect partner for the 23-year-old ace.

Despite not being at his most dangerous, the winger ranked in the top 13% of those in his position in Europe over the past year in terms of progressive carries, averaging 4.71 per 90 as well as 2.02 successful take-ons, via FBref.

The Englishman’s threat could be integral to adding a new-found fear factor to Cooper's XI, in a talent that could be dispatched frequently by the likes of Gibbs-White in the bid to take Forest higher up the table.

Celtic Could Ditch £3.75m Flop With Swoop For PL Ace

Celtic officially confirmed the arrival of Brendan Rodgers for his second spell at Parkhead last month and the new head coach has two months to build his squad before the deadline.

Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio have already come through the door to bolster the Northern Irishman tactician's midfield and attacking options but there could also be additions in the defensive third of the pitch.

The Scottish Sun recently claimed that Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney would consider a return to Paradise on loan next season as the defender is currently weighing up whether or not to depart the Emirates on a temporary basis.

However, the report stated that the Hoops would need to reach a compromise with the Premier League side over the Scotland international's £120k-per-week wages, along with the club paying a significant loan fee for his services.

Where would Kieran Tierney fit in at Celtic?

The 26-year-old enforcer, who left the Glasgow giants to sign for Arsenal in 2019, would arrive as Rodgers' third senior left-back option alongside Greg Taylor and Alexandro Bernabei.

There may not be any need for three first-team players in that position, and that could open the door for the manager to ruthlessly ditch Bernabei, a year on from his £3.75m move to the club.

Celtic left-back Alexandro Bernabei.

The Argentinian full-back endured a difficult debut year in Scotland as his performances left too much to be desired. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.55 across 15 Scottish Premiership outings, which placed him 28th (out of 30 players) in the squad, while the dud also lost 60% of his duels.

Tierney only started six of his 27 Premier League appearances last season, but his form as a regular starter in the 2021/22 campaign indicates that the quality is there for him to be a huge upgrade on Bernabei.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 across 22 starts along with a duel success rate of 52%. This suggests that the ex-Hoops academy graduate has the quality to perform to a higher standard week-in-week-out while also being stronger in his physical contests in comparison to the current Celtic flop.

The 38-cap dynamo is also a proven performer in Scotland, having won 11 domestic trophies during his spell at the club, and has already worked with Rodgers at Parkhead.

Tierney, who was once hailed as a "leader" and a "warrior" by former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, could hit the ground running to make an instant impact on loan next season as a ready-made left-back for the manager.

The signing of the Gunners ace would then allow Rodgers to ruthlessly ditch Bernabei, whether that be by reducing his game time to almost nothing or by allowing the dud to move on in the coming months.

Arsenal Want ‘Elite’ £39m Saka Partner

Arsenal's constantly-increasing stature in the game is already paying dividends this summer, as they seem set to secure yet another deal…

What's the latest on Jurrien Timber to Arsenal?

Having already reportedly tempted Kai Havertz to join their revolution, with it well reported that he "only wanted to join Arsenal", Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has now detailed another star who is reportedly desperate to mimic such a move.

Writing on his Twitter, he outlined the Gunners' interest in Ajax star Jurrien Timber and the reciprocal feeling of the Dutchman: "J. #Timber wants to join Arsenal as his move was prepared in detail in the last weeks. #Ajax in negotiations with Arsenal now. Agreement expected between €40-45m. ManUtd no topic as they have a similar profile with Martinez."

With the apex of his price tag settling at this €45m (£39m) fee, this seems one of the more affordable deals given the figures being touted for some of their other potential deals. Given he could strike up a fine partnership with Bukayo Saka down that right flank too, it truly is a tantalising option.

How good is Jurrien Timber?

Although predominantly a centre-back, his immense versatility means that the 22-year-old is just as comfortable as a central midfielder, and therefore also as an inverting full-back.

Such qualities have understandably drawn comparisons with another of the Gunners' technically-proficient defenders, with journalist Sam Dean suggesting he was a "Zinchenko-type player".

bukayo-saka-arsenal

When delving into his underlying statistics, it is clear that he is comfortably one of the best ball-playing central defenders in Europe. This aids in the notion that his true potential lies in a more advanced role, perhaps just behind Saka to form a truly potent right side.

FBref details what makes Timber so special, by pitting him against others in that centre-back role across the continent. The youngster still manages to rank in the top 1% for passes attempted, pass completion rate, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Football writer Anthony Onifade even outlined why the defender would be ideal for Mikel Arteta's fluid system in particular, taking to Twitter: "Jurrien Timber would be EXCEPTIONAL for Mikel Arteta, just as he would be for Erik ten Hag. He’s an elite-level footballer, incredible tactical smarts and intelligence who’d fit into any possession-based side like a glove. A masterstroke if AFC pull this off."

To place such creativity behind Saka could help the England international take his game to another level, despite enjoying a true standout campaign last term. The 21-year-old found the net on 15 occasions, offering up 11 assists too in all competitions whilst featuring in every single league game.

He did all this with the defensively solid but creatively-lacking exploits of Ben White behind him, further emphasising the attacking quality of their young trickster.

After all, the 25-year-old could only muster 0.7 key passes per game in the league. Swapping that out for Timber could prove revolutionary, and might be the catalyst to make Arteta's team true Premier League challengers.

Celtic Could Unlock Turnbull With’Elite’ £75k-p/w Signing

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has been thrust straight into the job in the middle of a summer transfer window and will need to get his feet under his desk as quickly as possible.

The 2023/24 campaign is on the horizon and teams are already starting to bolster their squads with new signings to achieve their goals next term.

Ange Postecoglou departed the Scottish giants earlier this month to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and the distraction of looking for a new boss may be the reason that the club are yet to make their first addition of the window.

The Daily Mail recently reported that the 50-year-old manager is now hoping to tempt Wilfred Ndidi to quit the King Power to link up with him again in Scotland, although it remains to be seen how viable a deal is for the Nigerian.

How would Wilfried Ndidi fit in at Celtic?

Postecoglou did not line up with an out-and-out defensive midfielder last term and Rodgers bringing the Leicester anchor to Parkhead could allow attacking midfielder David Turnbull to finally thrive.

No Celtic midfielder made more than 2.2 tackles and interceptions per Scottish Premiership game in the Australian chief's 4-3-3 system in 22/23 and the lack of a natural number six may have played a part in Turnbull's lack of minutes.

Celtic midfielder David Turnbull.

The 24-year-old only started six league matches for the Hoops but Rodgers' 4-2-3-1 formation could provide the Scotland international with an opportunity to strut his stuff if Ndidi comes in to provide the required defensive protection in one of the two deep-lying roles.

Leicester's midfield general was once described as an "elite player" by journalist John Bennett and the £75k-per-week gem's statistics back that up.

He ranks in the top 1% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues over the last 365 days for interceptions and clearances per 90, whilst he is also in the top 5% for tackles and top 11% for blocks, which included him making 5.31 tackles and interceptions per 90.

This suggests that Ndidi has been one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe over the past year when it comes to cutting out opposition attacks and putting his body on the line for the team.

His ball-winning ability could allow Turnbull to thrive in the number ten role without having to worry about tracking back and exerting all of his effort in transitions.

Prior to Postecoglou's arrival, the Scottish wizard averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.47 across 36 Premiership outings in 20/21 and contributed with nine goals and 12 'big chances' created.

No Celtic player achieved an average rating higher than 7.45 in 22/23 and Turnbull's 2.9 key passes per match in 20/21 is more impressive than the club-high 2.1 chances created per game that Matt O'Riley managed last term.

Therefore, signing Ndidi, who was once lauded as a "monster" by journalist Colin Udoh, could improve the team defensively and offensively, with his efforts off the ball allowing Turnbull to be unlocked as a creative threat in possession.

Arsenal Battling Spurs In The Race For £20k-p/w "Lion"

Arsenal are battling Tottenham Hotspur and multiple other clubs in the race for Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, according to journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

With reports indicating that Ben White is poised to switch back to a central role next season, Arsenal have set their sights on bringing in a new right-back, and they have reportedly already made an offer for Galatasaray's Sacha Boey.

The Gunners have tabled a bid worth £12m for Boey after meeting with Galatasaray vice-president Erden Timur in London, however the Turkish side are holding out for £17m, which means the offer may need to be increased.

Another option being considered by Mikel Arteta is Manchester City's Joao Cancelo, who the Spaniard knows well from their time working together at the Etihad Stadium, and a bid of around £35m may be launched in the coming days.

Not only is a move for a new right-back in the offing, the Gunners have also identified Galatsaray centre-back Nelsson as a potential target, with Sports Digitale's Sabuncuohlu taking to Twitter to confirm they are in the race for his signature.

The journalist claims that a whole host of teams are battling it out for the Denmark international, including Arsenal, Tottenham, Sevilla, Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund.

However, the English clubs may hold a major advantage, as the centre-back's "first choice" is a move to the Premier League.

Who is Victor Nelsson?

The Dane does not have any experience in one of Europe's "big five" leagues, having spent the majority of his career in his home country, during spells with FC Nordsjaelland and FC Copenhagen, before moving to Galatasaray.

However, the Hornbaek-born defender has played a vital role for his current club en-route to winning the Turkish Super Lig title, which is now mathematically confirmed, recording 35 appearances in all competitions this season.

It is fair to say the £20k-per-week ace has done enough to impress the Galatasaray hierarchy, with board member Resit Omer Kukner branding him a "Danish lion", while praising him for his "attitude on and off the pitch".

Soccer Football – Europa League – Round of 16 First Leg – FC Barcelona v Galatasaray – Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain – March 10, 2022 Galatasaray’s Victor Nelsson during the match REUTERS/Albert Gea

Football scout Jacek Kulig has also highlighted Nelsson's leadership skills, and claims that he is capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, showcasing his versatility.

That said, if White is switching to a central role next season, Arsenal would be better off bringing in a new right-back, and they should instead focus on signing Cancelo, who has proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years.

Newcastle Enquire About Deal For "Confident" £57k-p/w Wizard

Newcastle United have enquired about a deal to sign Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams this summer, according to reports.

Who is Nico Williams?

Williams is a right-sided winger who currently plays his football at the San Mames Stadium having graduated from the academy to become a regular feature of Ernesto Valverde’s first-team, clocking up a total of 85 senior appearances to date.

However, the 20-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season meaning that the current window will be the final opportunity for the La Liga outfit to cash in on their prized asset, and being their overall best-performing player last season with a WhoScored match rating of 6.89, he won’t be short of suitors.

Back in February, The Athletic reported that PIF and Eddie Howe had internally “discussed” a deal to sign the Spain international at the start of the new year, and whilst a switch at the time failed to come to fruition, Magpies chiefs appear ready to take a second bite of the cherry.

Are Newcastle signing Williams?

According to 90min, Aston Villa have “opened talks” regarding a move for Williams, but Newcastle and Manchester City have also “enquired in recent months”, with Arsenal too “keeping close tabs” on his situation. Athletic Bilbao “want to keep” the forward beyond the summer but “know” that they would “struggle” to match any kind of proposal from an admirer in the Premier League.

Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams.

Where would Williams fit in at St. James'?

Whilst Allan Saint-Maximin is usually out on the left, his versatility means that he can also operate on the right flank and he’s been heavily linked with an exit, so should he depart over the summer, Williams would be the perfect replacement.

The World Cup participant, who pockets £57k-per-week, posted 11 goal contributions (six goals and five assists) in 36 La Liga outings last season, form which saw him take home three man-of-the-match awards, but he was also a threat even when the ball didn’t hit the back of the net by being able to provide for his peers.

The Pamplona native ranked in the 92nd percentile for successful take-ons and also whipped 174 crosses into the box, which was more than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef. His form on the international stage also saw him lauded “confident” and “direct” by journalist Josh Bunting, so should the opportunity to sign him arise in the coming weeks, it’s a no-brainer of a deal for PIF to complete.

Celtic: O’Rourke drops Ange contract claim

Celtic will likely be working hard on sealing a new contract for Ange Postecoglou imminently, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Ange working wonders

The Australian took charge at Parkhead last summer and has enjoyed an incredible start to life at the club, proving to be a hugely influential figure.

The 56-year-old won both the Premiership and Scottish League Cup in his maiden campaign in Scotland, quickly winning over many Celtic fans in the process as the Hoops put the misery of 2020/21 firmly behind them.

Worryingly, his one-year deal expires on Tuesday, so a new contract needs to be sorted almost immediately.

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The Latest: New deal imminent?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that the Celtic hierarchy will already be hard at work behind the scenes to ensure that Postecoglou does not leave any time soon. The journalist stated:

“Celtic are hoping to build on this season and hopefully have Postecoglou around for quite a few years, so I’m sure talks will be ongoing right now to secure the Australian on a long-term contract and reward him for the success he’s had so far.”

The Verdict: Simply has to happen

Frankly, the thought of Postecoglou suddenly leaving Celtic doesn’t even bear thinking about, considering the massive success he has already enjoyed in Glasgow.

It would be a huge surprise if that were to happen, though, and it is surely just a case of the manager and the club agreeing terms on a deal in the coming days, especially with the 56-year-old recently speaking glowingly about his time in Scotland so far.

Postecoglou seems happy at Parkhead and has Champions League football coming his way next season – the hope is that this is just the start for him at Celtic.

In other news, Celtic are eyeing up a move for a Championship player. Find out who it is here.

Everton set for disaster with Richarlison

Everton have had a disappointing season and as a result, many players have been speculated about a move away from the club, with a new update emerging on Richarlison’s potential exit from Goodison Park this summer.

What’s the latest?

According to Goal Brasil, the Brazilian forward’s agent Renato Velasco has been in “talks” with clubs in the top European leagues.

The report suggests that Richarlison is keen on a move to a giant club but prefers to stay in the Premier League, with Manchester United and Real Madrid already showing interest in signing the Everton player.

Lampard set for major disaster

After such a difficult season and a rollercoaster relegation battle, it would be a major disaster for Frank Lampard if he was to lose one of the best players in the squad, especially if they stay in the Premier League next term.

Everton missed out on the opportunity to secure safety in the top-flight after losing to Brentford and going down to nine men at Goodison Park on Sunday, and it could’ve given the Toffees boss a head start in working on the transfer business ahead of next season. However, it will need to continue to be put on pause.

Despite the stressful relegation battle, the £110k-per-week goal-machine who was hailed “hard-working” by teammate Allan, has been highly effective and integral in the challenge for survival scoring five goals and assisting twice in the last nine games, proving he is extremely important to this Everton team.

With that in mind, if he does depart the club, it would surely leave the fanbase at Goodison rather fuming with proceedings.

Losing the 24-year-old who has been dubbed a “match-winner” by former Blues forward Kevin Campbell would be a complete disaster for the club, and they would need to work incredibly hard to replace him this summer if they were to accept an offer to let him leave Merseyside.

The Toffees will play their penultimate Premier League game and last home fixture against Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace on Thursday and fortunately for Lampard their chances of survival are still in their hands with another opportunity to secure safety in the league before the last game of the season this weekend.

AND in other news: Rejected for £60k: Everton snub of £135m-rated “cyborg” will haunt Moshiri forever

Tottenham: Outlet makes Amrabat claim

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Fiorentina defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, according to French outlet Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Well-traveled star

A product of the youth academy at Utrecht, the 25-year-old made a switch to Feyenoord in 2017 before spells with Belgian outfit Club Brugge, Serie A side Hellas Verona and current club Fiorentina.

The tenacious midfield destroyer has made 57 appearances for La Viola, scoring just once but picking up 12 yellow cards, and has become a mainstay for the Morocco international team.

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Now another move could be on the horizon for Amrabat as Spurs boss Antonio Conte begins to plan for the summer transfer window…

The latest: On the radar

As per Foot Mercato, translated by SW, Tottenham are believed to ‘want’ the 34-cap ace who also represented Holland at youth level due to being born in the European nation.

It’s claimed that Spurs are ‘preparing’ for their end of season business and the man tipped to become ‘world class’ by BBC Africa journalist Mohamed Qoutb is seemingly a top target.

The report states that Conte and transfer chief Fabio Paratici have ‘targeted’ Amrabat as Inter Milan also ‘strongly appreciate’ the Moroccan.

The verdict: No brainer

Despite injuries ruling out the combative midfielder for 44 days, so far this season Amrabat has earned a 6.75 Sofascore rating from 22 league outings, winning 2.0 ground duels per game, completing 90% of all his passes and only being dribbled past on 0.3 occasions per game on average.

Ironically, the £8.1million valued man compares stylistically with Spurs youngster Olivier Skipp as well as Leeds United ace Kalvin Phillips and former Liverpool general Lucas Leiva (Fbref) – that last one is perhaps no surprise given his record of picking up yellow cards.

With the futures of Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks still in doubt, signing a player of the quality of Amrabat would be a huge boost to the defensive solidity in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium squad.

In other news: Conte admits one thing this season left him ‘very angry’, find out more here

West Brom: Molumby proving his worth

West Bromwich Albion bowed out of their disappointing Championship season on a high at The Hawthorns, in an impressive team performance that will give fans new hope for next season.

The Baggies put on a four-goal show in the final game of the season in front of their home fans following a difficult campaign of highs and lows for the club, showing resilience and a taster of what is to be expected when they return to chase promotion back into the Premier League in August under new manager Steve Bruce.

West Brom dominated on all fronts throughout the game with 65% possession, five more shots on target, more big chances created and over twice as many accurate passes than their opponents on Saturday afternoon.

Karlan Grant found the back of the net twice to bag a brace, with Adam Reach and Matthew Clarke in an attacking display that Barnsley just couldn’t cope with and one player, in particular, gave an incredible all-round performance despite not getting on the scoresheet.

Jayson Molumby put on a phenomenal display after securing his future permanently at the club earlier this week in a three-year deal and certainly showed the West Brom faithful exactly what he is capable of offering over the time he has in the future.

The Baggies midfielder had an astonishing 104 touches of the ball against Barnsley, completing 76 passes, winning nine out of his 15 duels, making two interceptions and three tackles, proving that the 22-year-old was intent on making his presence known on the pitch and became a complete nuisance for his opponents.

Bruce spoke out this week about the former Brighton player’s new deal (via BBC Sport);

“We’re really pleased to have Jayson on board permanently.

“He’s managed to force himself into our XI recently and now his challenge is to stay there by continuing to show improvements in his game.”

Following the West Brom manager’s comments, Molumby clearly wanted to show his boss exactly why he deserves to be included in the team going forward and show that he can continue to improve at the club, which will surely put him in good stead to regularly feature next season.

Despite Bruce securing this masterclass signing, there is still a huge amount of work to do to ensure that West Brom doesn’t suffer another season of disappointment and can challenge throughout to secure Premier League promotion at the end of their next campaign.

AND in other news: West Brom eyeing summer swoop for “brilliant” 19 y/o “cheat code”, Bruce needs him

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