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West Ham are reportedly considering a move for Hellas Verona striker Giovanni Simeone this summer, and the Argentine could be the ideal heir to Michail Antonio at the London Stadium.

According to ExWHUemployee (via Patreon), the 26-year-old is on the Irons’ list of targets as they look to bolster their attacking options this summer.

Moyes was forced to settle for just one natural centre-forward last season and it came back to bite the Hammers, as their run in the Europa League combined with a lack of squad depth arguably cost them on both fronts as they were forced to settle for a spot in the Europa Conference League for 2022/23.

It is perhaps no surprise that the 32-year-old Antonio is so injury-prone, considering that last season he made 45 appearances in all competitions, often in a lone striker role which requires him to do a lot of pressing.

The Jamaica international has undoubtedly been a great servant for the Hammers, becoming their top Premier League scorer of all time. However, he will turn 33 next season and it is vital that West Ham have someone to compete with him before eventually becoming the main centre-forward as Antonio winds down his career.

Simeone, who is the son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego, could be the ideal option.

Last season saw the Argentina international contribute 17 goals and five assists in 35 Serie A appearances, averaging an impressive 6.89 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This included a four-goal haul in a superb win against Lazio, after which his coach Igor Tudor sang his praises by saying: “I hadn’t seen a performance like this for a long time, not just for the four goals, but also his movements, energy, pressing, it was really impressive.”

Energy up front is exactly what Moyes demands from his players and Simeone clearly has the finishing ability to match, so he could be a great prospective addition to the Irons’ squad next season.

He might even be the ideal man to take over from Antonio in the long-term as West Ham’s go-to centre-forward.

In other news… West Ham can sign their own Smith-Rowe with swoop for “explosive” gem, Moyes would love him

Leeds United are working on a deal to bring a new centre-forward to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

That’s according to a report by the Yorkshire Evening Post (via Leeds All Over), who claim that, following the recent signings of central midfielder Marc Roca, right-back Rasmus Kristensen and attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, Victor Orta has now turned his attention in the market to the addition of a new striker.

The report goes on to state that, while the director of football has a number of candidates on his transfer shortlist for a new centre-forward, there is one player in particular who the Spaniard is targeting to become the Whites’ fourth signing of the summer window.

In the report, it is stated: “Leeds’ search for a striker goes on. They have a number of other targets for the role and director of football Victor Orta is currently working on landing one of them to strengthen Jesse Marsch’s attacking options.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While the identity of Orta’s fourth target in the summer transfer window is not revealed by the Yorkshire Evening Post, the news that the club have identified and are currently working on a deal for a specific player in the position is sure to have left the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

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Indeed, with Patrick Bamford having spent the vast majority of the club’s 2021/22 campaign sidelined due to various injuries, it was clear for all to see just how much Jesse Marsch’s side lacked a backup option to the England international in spearheading the Whites’ attack.

It is true that both Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood – who featured in 20 and seven Premier League fixtures respectively last term, with the former bagging two goals – are exciting options for the future in the position, however, with only right-winger Raphinha reaching double figures in league goals in 21/22, it is obvious that Marsch requires greater depth up top.

As such, the fact that Orta is currently working on a deal for a new striker is undoubtedly fantastic news for everyone involved with the Whites, not least the club’s American head coach.

AND in other news: Orta can land the next David Silva as Leeds now plot bid for “special” 18-goal talent

Leeds United are reportedly close to securing a transfer for Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Marca, the Yorkshire club are closing in on a deal, said to be worth between €13m and €15m (£11.1m – £12.8m), for the 25-year-old.

The report also adds that the player will be signing a three-to-four-year deal at Elland Road and is expected to have a predominant role in Jesse Marsch’s side.

Marsch will be buzzing

As a product of Espanyol’s youth system, the midfielder went on to make a total of 172 appearances for the Spanish club across their senior and youth sides in all competitions.

In those appearances, Roca found the net nine times and delivered six assists before joining the Bundesliga side back in October 2020.

Since then, the midfielder has only made 24 appearances for Julian Nagelsmann’s side and hasn’t scored one goal or delivered one assist.

This makes it easy to see why Bayern have reportedly been willing to sell him to Leeds as he clearly isn’t near the top of the pecking order in the squad.

In fact, the Spaniard only made 13 appearances for the German side across the Bundesliga and Champions League this season, starting just four of them.

That said, it would still be a fantastic signing for the Whites. Having already secured deals for the likes of Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen, Marsch will be over the moon to get another new player through the door so early in the transfer window.

Praised by Nagelsmann for his “impressive” performances when he has been given the chance to play, Roca could well relish the opportunity to not only play for a big club like Leeds in the Premier League but also to play regularly once again instead of being a bit-part player at Bayern.

This also shows that he could well be a good fit at Leeds and in the English top division if he’s able to deliver impressive performances at a club like Bayern.

With current Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips linked with a move away from Elland Road this summer, adding a player like the £6.3m-rated figure could be the best way forward for the Whites should they end up losing the England international.

In other news: Leeds receive green light to seal third summer signing for free, Orta will be buzzing

Everton could be offered Lucas Moura as part of Richarlison’s prospective move to Tottenham Hotspur, The Telegraph’s Matt Law reports.

The lowdown

It emerged at the weekend that Antonio Conte and Spurs want to add Richarlison to their ranks this summer.

Spurs have not yet made a formal offer and they do have other targets in mind if they deem Everton’s demands excessive.

29-year-old Moura played most of his football last season on the right flank but also operated as an attacking midfielder/second striker at times.

He isn’t a first choice option at the North London club, with 15 of his 34 Premier League appearances in 2021/22 coming as a substitute.

Law had already reported that Spurs are willing to include midfielder Harry Winks in a package for Richarlison.

The latest

Now Law writes that Spurs are open to offering the Toffees both Moura and Winks.

Everton value Richarlison at ‘well over £50million’, and so they’d only accept a package that was equivalent to their price tag.

They will, of course, have to be interested in both players too.

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The verdict

Should Everton be interested in Moura? Well, he has played 137 games in the English top-flight, but his headline numbers aren’t spectacular – 19 goals and 16 assists.

However, former Spurs ‘keeper Paul Robinson believes he makes up for that with his work rate.

“Regardless of when and where he plays, you get 150 per cent from him,” he told Football Insider. “His energy with and without the ball is second to none.”

The Brazilian, who featured in the 2018/19 Champions League Squad of the Season after a hat-trick in the semifinal comeback against Ajax, brings pedigree and relentlessness, but is the lack of end product a concern?

In other news, this journalist is fretting after what he read about Richarlison.

Liverpool have given up on attempting to sign Barcelona prodigy Gavi in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh report.

The Lowdown: Liverpool keen on Gavi

The Reds will hopefully have a productive summer ahead of them as Jurgen Klopp looks to further build upon the excellent squad alerady at his disposal.

One player with whom Liverpool have been linked is Gavi, with the 17-year-old considered one of the most exciting young talents in world football.

The Spaniard has already made 46 appearances for Barcelona despite his tender years, with his manager Xavi describing him as a ‘spectacular’ player, and on Sunday he became his country’s youngest-ever goalscorer when netting against Czech Republic.

The Latest: Reds ‘give up’ on signing Gavi

It looks as though that transfer is now dead in the water, though, with Sport reporting on Monday morning [via Sport Witness] that Liverpool now ‘give up’ on signing him.

The Reds are the one club who have been ‘most aware’ of the teenager’s potential availability and ‘would have paid’ his buyout clause, but he now looks set to stay put at Camp Nou.

The report claimed that Gavi is close to signing a new contract at Barcelona, with a final meeting scheduled between his entourage and the club this week which would see his release clause skyrocket from €50m (£42.7m) to an incomprehensible €1bn (£853.8m).

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The Verdict: Was never going to happen

In truth, this was a transfer which always felt like more a pipe dream than a reality, with Barcelona absolutely desperate to keep hold of such a prized asset.

La Masia graduates also generally stay loyal to the club – the likes of long-serving Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets are all proof of that – which is a further reason for Gavi remaining with the Catalan giants.

It would have been special to see him plying his trade at Liverpool, given his enormous potential, but with FSG being notoriously frugal and the teenager’s release clause reaching an astronomical figure, this now looks like a lost cause for the Reds.

In other news, Paul Joyce has dropped a fresh Liverpool transfer claim. Read more here.

To suggest that affairs at Manchester United over the last year have been a mess would be putting it lightly.

Fortunately for those of a United persuasion, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

What’s the word?

When the going gets tough, the Red Devils’ hierarchy tends to look into their bank account and find the largest sum available to spend on new players.

It’s unsurprising, therefore, that another spending spree looks set to be sanctioned this summer.

One of the club’s targets in Darwin Nunez looks likely to arrive in the Premier League this summer and according to Dean Jones’ sources, a deal is close.

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Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider said: “One source described this deal to United to me as being ‘extremely close’.

“They consider Atletico Madrid as their main rivals to sign him, from what I hear, but obviously, loads around Europe are looking. If Darwin does move to Old Trafford, it will be a brilliant signing for the Ten Hag era.”

Previous reports suggest he could cost the new manager around £50.6m.

The new Forlan?

Last summer’s business from Man United was incredibly impressive with Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane all arriving in the northwest of England.

However, judging by their dreadfully frantic season in 2021/22, supporters may well have to be a little more reserved when assessing ten Hag’s first signings at Old Trafford.

Yet, in Nunez, he’d surely uncover a gem for the Red Devils.

In fact, the Benfica striker has already been dubbed a “diamond” by Steve McManaman, and it’s clear to see why.

This is one of the most clinical forwards in world football at the moment, scoring 34 In 41 appearances across all competitions this term.

Based on that scoring record and his Uruguayan nationality, he could well become the club’s next Diego Forlan.

The veteran never really lit up Old Trafford but after leaving United behind he became one of the most feared and rampant attacking products around.

Ten Hag and the club’s supporters would certainly hope he betters Forlan’s record of 17 goals in 96 matches for the Premier League outfit but his record later on in his career is comparable to Nunez, an offensive revelation capable of bullying goalkeepers around the world.

A special talent with speed, robustness and confident finishing ability, Nunez really does feel like the type of player who could inspire United back to greatness.

He is bang in form, relatively cheap in today’s market for his goal tally and he’s still very young at 22.

It would take some player to live up to Forlan but at the same age, you sense that the Benfica star has a much higher ceiling.

It would mark ten Hag’s first major move of the window but there would be no real greater statement of intent than by signing the Uruguay international.

AND in other news, Man United now closing in on “sensational” £50m signing, he’s the next Paul Scholes…

Glasgow Rangers insider The 4th Official has now revealed some fresh exit news involving Calvin Bassey.

The Lowdown: Bassey a wanted man

As per The Times, there is strong interest from the Premier League in the 22-year-old.

The Daily Record reported that scouts from Aston Villa were sent to watch him play in the Gers’ Scottish Cup final win against Hearts last weekend.

As seen by the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Kieran Tierney and Odsonne Edouard over the years, a move to the Premier League from the Scottish Premiership is hard to turn down, so Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side may find it difficult to keep Bassey this summer.

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The Latest: More clubs interested in Bassey

According to The 4th Official, a respected podcaster who regularly breaks Ibrox news and updates on their official Twitter page, Villa are one of more than six clubs who are reportedly ‘interested’ in signing Bassey.

They tweeted: ”According to my sources, Rangers have over 6 clubs interested in Bassey right now and Aston Villa are one of them.”

The Verdict: Worrying

Bassey is clearly a player who will be in high demand given his impressive performances on the big stage, as he was described as ‘astonishing’ by BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves in their Europa League final loss against Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.

As per Football Insider, the Teddy Bears are lining up new contract talks with the 22-year-old and will offer him a ‘massive’ pay rise to try and convince him to stay at Ibrox. However, Premier League clubs should be able to offer him more money, and overall a more competitive level of football for Bassey.

Nonetheless, it looks likely that he will leave the Light Blues, providing that the price is right.

In other news, the Gers are now set for a ‘huge’ off-field boost

As we head into the final day of the Premier League season it is clear Manchester United have already shifted the focus onto their transfer business this summer, with a new update emerging on a transfer target.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Jonathan Shrager, Man United are now “frontrunners” to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber in the upcoming transfer window.

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Shrager tweeted:

“At this moment, Timber to Manchester United is not done, and there is competition from other clubs, but Jurrien’s representation is currently in England to learn about MUFC’s plans.”

Following up with a second tweet to confirm;

“There is a belief that Manchester United are currently the frontrunners to sign Jurrien Timber.”

Ten Hag needs him

There is no doubt that Man United are crying out for changes in the team after yet another disappointing season for the supporters, with the club now falling into its longest trophy drought for 40 years.

One area that has come under major scrutiny is the defensive players in the squad, and when you consider the fact that the Red Devils have conceded the eighth most goals out of the 20 Premier League teams this season, more than newly promoted Brentford and relegation battling Burnley, it is clear that Erik ten Hag needs to sign Timber this summer.

The £35m ace who was hailed a “great leader” by Ten Hag, has been a dominating force for Ajax in their second consecutive title-winning season scoring three goals and assisting twice, with an astonishing 90.8 touches on average per game, winning the majority of his duels (67%) and making 2.4 tackles, 1.4 clearances and 1.7 interceptions per game.

These statistics prove just how much of a threat and presence Timber can be at just 20 years of age, he identifies as the type of player that Man United desperately need to dominate and lead the backline to inspire better performances and ultimately put the side in a position to compete at the highest level again.

Bayern Munich are also linked with wanting to sign the Dutch defender this summer and although Man United should be at an advantage with his former coach holding the reigns at Old Trafford they will need to move fast to not lose out to the Bundesliga side who, unlike the North West club, will play Champions League football next season.

AND in other news: Ten Hag plotting MUFC move for “magic” £40.5m-rated wizard, just imagine him & Ronaldo

West Ham United are one of the Premier League clubs expected to target a move for Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer.

That’s according to former Scotland defender Alan Hutton, who said to Football Insider: “West Ham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, even the likes of Everton and Palace, all these teams are building for the future. They’re building something special as well and why would you not want to be part of that?

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“He could be an integral cog for one of these teams moving forward. He’s still got a lot to give, plenty of time. The only question mark is the injuries.”

It was reported by the Daily Mail earlier this month that the midfielder was considering his future with game time at Anfield currently scarce.

However, the Hammers must ensure that they aren’t the club that takes a gamble on the 28-year-old.

West Ham must avoid Oxlade-Chamberlain

With just nine Premier League starts this term, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s season, from a personal point of view, has been pretty uneventful.

Despite his side playing the maximum amount of games possible this season with a quadruple still on the line, the Englishman has played 1,526 minutes of football across 29 appearances, an average of 52.6 minutes per appearance.

In truth, his entire Liverpool tenure has been of mixed fortunes with an impressive start followed by a horrific knee injury that ended up keeping the 28-year-old out of football for 16 months.

It does appear that Oxlade-Chamberlain will have to depart Merseyside in order to boost his playtime, however, David Moyes must avoid being the one who takes a shot on the midfielder.

The Hammers already have a pretty unbreakable midfield partnership in Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek with the duo making a combined 99 appearances this term.

Even if Rice was to leave this summer amid serious speculation, the Liverpool man wouldn’t be a suitable replacement.

In the Premier League this season, Oxlade-Chamberlain has averaged 31.6 touches a match whilst completing 18.3 passes at an 82% accuracy.

Moreover, defensively the £125k-per-week Englishman provides 0.4 interceptions, 0.9 tackles and 0.3 clearances a game.

As for Rice, the 23-year-old has made 54.5 touches a game whilst completing 54.5 passes at a 92% accuracy as well as making 1.7 interceptions, 2.1 tackles and 1.3 clearances.

West Ham will undoubtedly need recruitment in the middle of the park this summer, especially if Rice is to leave. However, Oxlade-Chamberlain isn’t the answer and the deal would have glimmers of the Hammers’ Jack Wilshere failure a couple of seasons ago.

The former Arsenal midfielder left the Emirates on a free transfer, moving from north London to east in 2018 but made just 19 appearances for the Irons.

Signing Oxlade-Chamberlain would spell nothing but disaster for West Ham given the midfielder’s injury record as well as being below the level of player Hammers supporters would expect to see signed if Rice was to be sold.

AND in other news: “Definitely a target…”: Ex drops major West Ham transfer update, Moyes will love him

Patrick Vieira has had a solid start to life at Crystal Palace so far, leading his team to a challenge for a top-half Premier League finish in his first managerial role in England.

Add to that a run to the FA Cup semi-finals and it has been a productive season, but the 45-year-old won’t want to stop there. His winning mentality shone through as he captained Arsenal to a host of trophies during his playing career and he will aim for Palace to win some kind of silverware.

In order to do so, he will need to bolster the squad, and there have been links with many talented players, with Joe Aribo being one of the standouts.

Palace’s interest in the 25-year-old stretches back to October last year, during a spell where the Nigeria international was arguably Steven Gerrard’s best player at the time at Ibrox.

His ascendency from young prospect to a player who is imperative to Rangers’ success has perhaps always been in the making. His performances once led Gerrard to claim he “has the world at his feet” and indeed Aribo has looked like a player who could thrive in any league.

The £14k-p/w star would enhance a Palace team that Vieira is looking to lead to big things, and with him and Wilfried Zaha in the same team, defenders would be in for a torrid time.

Whilst Aribo has fewer goals than the Ivorian this season (eight to 14) the 25-year-old has registered more assists in all competitions (seven to two), proving that scoring isn’t his only strength and that he has the creative skills to make him a success in England.

Vieira would surely love to have both Aribo and Zaha in the same team, although there is no doubt that the Rangers side would be much poorer without the midfielder, and it could well take a big fee for Giovanni van Bronckhorst to even consider selling the Nigerian.

It could be a nervy time for Rangers fans in the summer transfer window, but a very exciting one for the Selhurst Park faithful.

AND in other news, “Agreement close…”: Ornstein drops huge CPFC update that supporters will love