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Glasgow Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara has been the subject of interest from clubs across Europe this summer, throwing his future at Ibrox into doubt.

What’s the word?

Recent reports have suggested that the 26-year-old is a target for the likes of Nottingham Forest, Galatasaray and Marseille in the current transfer window, with the Premiership giants said to value the Finland international at around £10m.

Reliable journalist Pete O’Rourke has now delivered his verdict on the future of the former Dundee man, insisting that it would likely need a sizeable offer for the Light Blues to even contemplate the 42-cap gem’s exit from Ibrox.

Speaking with Football FanCast, the transfer insider stated: “I think again, like some of the other players we’ve talked about, it would take a big transfer fee for Rangers to agree to sell Glen Kamara as well.

“He is still a key man for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and I’m sure he would ideally like to keep hold of the midfielder.”

Rangers must keep him

As O’Rourke stated, the versatile midfielder is a crucial figure in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side, with the Dutchman unable to afford to lose yet another highly-rated talent this summer.

Rangers have already seen Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo departing for Ajax and Southampton respectively, with losing another key asset potentially set to derail the good work which had been done last season in reaching the Europa League final.

Kamara proved integral to that lengthy European adventure, scoring once and providing two assists in 14 outings in the competition (11 of which came from the start), while also proving his worth in a defensive sense by averaging 1.2 interceptions per game.

His most telling contribution came in the semi-final as he netted in the 3-1 second leg victory over RB Leipzig to help secure a place in the final in Seville, where the Gers were only narrowly edged out by Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties.

Dubbed a “monster” by his former boss Steven Gerrard, the £21k-per-week Kamara represents a colossal figure in the centre of the park for Rangers, and it’s hard to imagine being able to secure a like-for-like replacement between now and the summer transfer deadline without breaking the bank.

Having signed for just £50,000 three-and-a-half years ago, there is the chance to make an immense profit on the former Arsenal man with a sale in the coming weeks, although it could well prove more valuable to keep him at Ibrox beyond the current transfer window.

West Ham United may have been handed a significant boost in their chase to sign Paris-Saint Germain defender Thilo Kehrer this summer.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye defender deals…

Irons boss David Moyes, amid somewhat of a defensive crisis at Rush Green, is reportedly eyeing moves for multiple new additions – particularly at centre-back.

There have been links to Kehrer as well as ex-Borussia Dortmund defender Dan-Axel Zagadou in recent days with both summer signing Nayef Aguerd and Angleo Ogbonna currently sidelined.

Craig Dawson also has just one year remaining on his West Ham deal and concerns surround the fitness history of Kurt Zouma, prompting the club to enter talks for PSG’s ace in particular.

The Latest: West Ham handed Kehrer boost?

Replying to a supporter on Twitter, Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has shared a potential boost for the Hammers in their bid to sign the Germany international.

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When asked if Kehrer would be interested in joining West Ham this summer, the reporter simply replied ‘yes’ – gifting West Ham supporters what could be a significant update as the player’s stance becomes known.

The Verdict: Keep pushing…

Now that the 25-year-old is interested in joining Moyes, it may be the time for West Ham to push ahead and quickly secure their new centre-half option.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is one admirer of Kehrer, even claiming that the defender is a manager’s dream by stating ‘he’s the sort of player any coach would like to have’.

A glowing endorsement from one of the Premier League’s big name bosses, the player’s versatility is also a huge bonus given he can play both at left-back and in the centre of defence, and GSB shouldn’t be waiting around if this is a player Moyes wants.

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring William Mikelbrencis to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Loic Tanzi, with the L’Equipe journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that, as well as 2. Bundesliga side Hamburger SV, Victor Orta has now submitted an official bid for the FC Metz right-back.

However, Tanzi goes on to suggest that, should the 18-year-old opt for a move to Germany ahead of one to the Premier League, he would have an immediate place in the Hamburger starting XI, while first-team opportunities would likely be much more limited at Elland Road.

In his post, the journalist said: “Leeds have also made an offer but in Hamburger, William Mikelbrencis will have a place as soon as he arrives in the first team.”

The next Aarons

Considering just how promising a talent Mikelbrencis evidently is, in addition to the fact that Orta is well-known for his desire to bring the most exciting youth prospects to Elland Road – as evidenced by his signings of both Sonny Perkins and Darko Gyabi in the current transfer window – it is not hard to understand why the Spaniard would be keen on a move for the 18-year-old.

Indeed, despite Metz’s relegation from the French top flight last season, the £1.8m-rated talent still managed to catch the eye over his nine Ligue 1 appearances in 2021/22, helping his side keep one clean sheet, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.2 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and taking 0.7 shots per game.

These returns have generated a great deal of interest in the teenager’s services this summer, with Atalanta, Eintracht Frankfurt, Cologne and Stuttgart all reported to be keen on the youngster, alongside the likes of Leeds and Hamburger.

Furthermore, according to FBref, the £1k-per-week defender also ranks in the top 23% of full-backs in Europe’s big five leagues and European competitions for assists per 90, in addition to the top 18% for pressures, the top 24% for shots, the top 38% for dribbles completed and the top 43% for progressive carries over the last 365 days.

These metrics see FBref list Norwich City’s £20m-valued Max Aarons – the 22-year-old right-back who has been linked with both Barcelona and Bayern Munich following a number of particularly impresses in dribbles completed, progressive carries and pressures over the past 12 months.

As such, should Orta manage to get a deal for the France U18 international over the line this summer, the Spaniard could well have unearthed the new Aarons for Leeds – a prospect that is sure to delight the Elland Road faithful and Jesse Marsch alike.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch will have all of his summer signings at his disposal for the trip to Southampton on Saturday, Beren Cross reports.

The lowdown

Leeds travel to St Mary’s for a 15.00 kick-off, looking to start the campaign with back-to-back wins after beating Wolves 2-1 last weekend.

The Whites have spent just over £95million in this transfer window, recruiting goalkeeper Joel Robles, right-back Rasmus Kristensen, midfielders Marc Roca, Darko Gyabi, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson along with winger Luis Sinisterra.

Kristensen, Adams, Roca and Aaronson all made full debuts against Wolves, while Gyabi was an unused substitute.

Sinisterra was absent for the game, but he’s now recovered from the hamstring problem he sustained in pre-season.

The latest

Leeds Live’s Cross writes that ‘all’ of the new arrivals are ‘finally available to Marsch’ for the clash with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.

‘At last’, that should mean that the American has a bench with ‘multiple game-changing options’ on it.

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The verdict

Leeds fans should be excited for their first glimpse of Sinisterra.

The 23-year-old put up outstanding numbers for Europa Conference League finalists Feyenoord last season, scoring 23 times and providing 14 assists in all competitions.

But even beyond those contributions, he looks like he’s going to be an electrifying player to watch.

Indeed, he comfortably led the Eredivisie for successful dribbles per game last season with 3.6, a full 0.7 clear of nearest challenger Cody Gakpo.

The Colombian will want to prove he can fill the void left by Raphinha’s club-record £52.2million move to Barcelona.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to Thursday’s edition of Kicker, via Get Football News Germany, the Magpies are among the clubs interested in signing the attacker, as Dan Ashworth looks to improve Eddie Howe’s options at the top end of the pitch.

The report claims that Bayern Munich would be willing to cash in on him for a fee in the region of €20m (£17m), although it remains to be seen whether or not the Toon will firm up their interest with a bid.

It is stated that, despite Borussia Monchengladbach and Augsburg eyeing him up, a move to another Bundesliga team is unlikely because of the finances involved.

Imagine him & Allan Saint-Maximin

Ashworth could form an exciting partnership for Newcastle in the final third by signing Zirkzee to pair him with Saint-Maximin.

In the Premier League last season, the Magpies wizard provided 1.4 key passes per game and created seven ‘big chances’ for his team-mates. However, he only registered five assists, which suggests that the team did not make the most of his creativity.

This was also the case in his first two top-flight campaigns with the club as he created 14 ‘big chances’ and was rewarded with eight assists.

The Frenchman addressed this issue in an interview earlier this year in which he claimed that he could reach 15 assists in a season with better finishers around him.

Zirkzee, who has been dubbed “prolific” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, could be the dream team-mate for Saint-Maximin, as his goalscoring record at youth and senior level in recent seasons is eye-catching.

He spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Anderlecht in Belgium and racked up 18 goals and 13 assists in 47 outings in all competitions. This came after he scored a whopping 40 goals and set up 16 in 49 matches for Bayern’s under-17 and under-19 teams combined.

Zirkzee then scored four goals from 2.66 xG in 12 Bundesliga outings for Bayern, showing that his finishing has been above average, albeit with a small sample size.

These statistics suggest that the marksman has the potential to be the finisher that Saint-Maximin is crying out for, as he has shown that he can find the net on a regular basis.

At the age of 21, he is also a player with the scope to develop further under Howe’s coaching, and he could be a player that Newcastle – and Saint-Maximin – enjoy for many years to come.

Nottingham Forest could add two or three new signings before Thursday’s transfer deadline, according to The Telegraph.

The Lowdown: Hectic transfer window

The Tricky Trees have navigated a full-flowing transfer window, having forked out nearly £150m on 17 new additions. Only Chelsea have spent more than the Reds among Premier League clubs this summer.

Furthermore, Steve Cooper is now seemingly on the brink of securing Renan Lodi from Atletico Madrid ahead of a season-long loan, making the Brazilian defender his 18th signing of the summer transfer window.

However, the Forest manager still expects to sign a couple of new additions before deadline day on Thursday.

The Latest: Could still be more to come

According to a report by The Telegraph, Forest could sign a further two or three players before the summer transfer deadline.

Ahead of his team’s Premier League clash against Tottenham earlier today, Cooper reiterated the need for more signings as the Reds look to build a squad that they feel is capable of top-flight survival.

As quoted by The Telegraph, the 42-year-old claimed: “After the first few games it’s been even more important to recognise that we need to give ourselves the best chance to compete every week.

“To do that, you need a good team and a big squad, there’s no doubt about that. We want to be able to compete and if I’m being honest, I’d like us to sign even more players before the window is closed.”

The Verdict: Risky business

Whilst it is all well and good splashing the cash on revamping the squad, other newly-promoted Premier League sides have done the same in the past – sometimes to no avail.

In 2018, Fulham spent £105.3m in the transfer market and still failed to avoid relegation, finishing the subsequent campaign in 19th place with just 26 points. Meanwhile, Aston Villa spent £144.5m in the summer of 2019 just about managed to survive with 35 points, just one place above the relegation zone.

Illustrating a stark difference in their approach, Brentford spent a meagre £31.1m after being promoted last year. Exceeding expectations, the Bees comfortably remained in the top flight, having gained 46 points and finishing in 13th place.

Therefore, it goes to show that spending big money doesn’t guarantee Premier League survival, so let’s hope that the summer spending spree pays off for Cooper’s team, with the manager facing the task of trying to keep all his new recruits happy by giving them adequate game-time.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly closing in on the signing of Serge Aurier on a free transfer, in a deal that could represent a late blunder from Steve Cooper.

It was suggested by Sky Sports earlier this week that Aurier would sign a two-year contract at the City Ground, where he will likely compete with Neco Williams for a starting spot in Cooper’s side.

Reporter Dharmesh Sheth tweeted on Tuesday that Willy Boly would become Forest’s 19th signing of the new window, unless Aurier was completed first, which suggests that an announcement for the Ivorian is imminent.

The Reds have done some remarkable business following their promotion back to the top-flight, spending over £140m on almost an entirely new squad, as Cooper looks to defy the odds and keep Forest in the Premier League, and his ambition was matched with marquee signings such as Jesse Lingard, Morgan Gibbs-White and Renan Lodi.

However, Cooper could undo all that hard work by bringing Aurier in this summer, as the former Tottenham Hotspur man emphasised during his time in north London that he is a liability both on and off the pitch.

After a number of misdemeanours at PSG, which included homophobic slurs and a visit to court, Aurier’s time at Spurs wasn’t much better, as he was guilty of breaking lockdown rules a number of times during the pandemic, which suggests that he is the sort of character Cooper should avoid having in the squad.

His performances on the pitch weren’t much better, with his attitude towards defending often criticised by former professionals, such as Jamie Carragher.

He said: “Aurier is maybe one of the biggest liabilities in Premier League football and is a player who would possibly put you off management with the amount of crazy decision he makes.”

It’s hardly a glowing review and indeed, those claims were backed up by Jamie Redknapp and Michael Dawson who lambasted the full-back after he gave away a decisive free-kick when Manchester City defeated Spurs in the 2020/21 Carabao Cup final.

Redknapp said: “Aurier does well to start with – he follows the one-two and then just makes the most ridiculous and rash decision, that we see him do so often,” before Dawson added it was a “criminal” error.

That campaign was a particularly poor one, making three mistakes that led to a shot and giving away a penalty.

Cooper already has Williams and Giulian Biancone as his right-back options, and while Aurier could provide some experience, his attitude and previous performances in the Premier League do little to suggest that he would be a good addition, and he could even disrupt things in the dressing room and undo all Nottingham Forest’s hard work this summer. It would be a big mistake to sign him before the deadline.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a possible hope over signing Atalanta forward Ruslan Malinovskyi in 2023, as per Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Spurs pursue Malinovskyi deal…

The Lilywhites and their sporting director Fabio Paratici were allegedly pursuing a deal for the Ukraine international before transfer deadline day.

Indeed, reports suggested that Spurs had held talks over signing Malinovskyi amid Antonio Conte’s search for a creative midfield option.

Alas, a Premier League move for the 29-year-old didn’t come to fruition, but reliable journalist Romano has shared some potential hope for Tottenham supporters.

The Lowdown: Romano gives Spurs hope over Malinovskyi…

Expanding on Malinovskyi’s situation, the transfer journalist claims that the Ukrainian was dreaming of joining Spurs in the summer window.

However, while Atalanta’s president Antonio Percassi blocked the move, Romano says that the player’s situation ‘remains open for the next year’ – gifting Spurs a possible future opportunity during one of the transfer windows in 2023.

He explains: “Tottenham and Olympique Marseille wanted Ruslan Malinovskyi on loan with buy option. Player’s dream was to join Spurs but Atalanta president Percassi decided not to sell him. Situation remains open for the next year.”

The Verdict: One to watch…

Given the player’s previous desire to join Spurs, this may well be one to watch for the future if Atalanta ease their not-for-sale stance.

As per WhoScored, Malinovskyi ranked in their top five for attempts at goal, key passes made and completed dribbles per 90 in 2021/22, backing why Spurs have held an interest.

Hailed as one of Atalanta’s ‘top players’ by journalist Jake Anderson, for the right price Tottenham could sign a very capable forward addition in 2023 if they decide to move for the Ukrainian again.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is ‘giving consideration’ to a potential move to Bayern Munich, according to 90min journalist Sean Walsh.

The Lowdown: Bayern interest

The 29-year-old has been the subject of strong interest from the Allianz, with the Bundesliga outfit having failed to sign him earlier in the summer, and they are now believed to be preparing a second big-money approach.

The Three Lions skipper has two years remaining on his deal with the Premier League giants, but Spurs are yet to open talks over a new contract, and reports have suggested that he is open-minded about a move elsewhere.

The Latest: Kane open to Spurs exit

Taking to Twitter, Walsh revealed that Kane is now thinking about Bayern, who have ‘advanced’ their chase, leaving Fabio Paratici ‘concerned’.

“Tottenham are becoming increasingly concerned about Bayern Munich’s pursuit of Harry Kane.

“Spurs aren’t in a rush to finalise new deal (up in 2024), but the England captain is giving consideration to Bayern’s interest which has advanced recently.”

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The Verdict: Need to act fast

Tottenham’s hierarchy seem adamant not to begin contract negotiations simply due to Bayern’s interest, but they need to act fast and tie him down if they don’t want to risk losing their star man.

The forward, dubbed a ‘legend’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has played a significant part in the Lilywhites’ success over the years, netting 254 goals and providing 60 assists in 395 appearances (Transfermarkt).

Whilst Spurs would likely receive a huge sum should Kane depart, he’s pretty much an irreplaceable player and one that the club would miss dearly if they failed to retain his services.

Celtic may well have been left to rue their failure to land Scotland international Scott McKenna just over four years ago, with the current Nottingham Forest man having gone on to become a key figure for both club and country.

Reports back in 2018 suggest that the Hoops had seen an offer of around £3.5m rejected for the then-Aberdeen colossus, with those at Pittodrie having reportedly been demanding a fee of around £10m if they were to sanction a sale.

The towering centre-back subsequently submitted a transfer request a year later in order to engineer an exit from the Scottish Premiership side – amid interest from a number of Football League clubs – with the Old Firm outfit having been said to have made a ‘substantial offer’ in the January 2019 window.

As it proved, the 6 foot 2 brute was ultimately snapped up on a £6m deal by his current side in the summer of 2020, with the defender having since gone on become a vital presence at the City Ground.

There may well be a great sense of frustration that the Glasgow side – then managed by Brendan Rodgers – were unable to strike a deal in 2018, with potential question marks over whether the club could have made a more sizeable offer, particularly considering they would go on to fork out for £7m for Christopher Jullien instead a year later.

Pundit Peter Grant has since noted his astonishment that Rodgers – who admitted his interest in the player at the time – wasn’t able to secure his signature, stating:

“I 100 per cent thought that Celtic would take him from Aberdeen because he is a natural left-sider and they were only going to make money from him because he was only going to get better.

“I can’t believe they didn’t go for him. He was available and it’s so key to have a left-sided player in the modern game. He’s like an old school centre back. There are no tattoos. You can imagine him in the pub playing darts. He doesn’t get carried away with all the trappings of it he just wanted to get better.

“His distribution can be better but defending is his thing and he’s very good at it.”

That glowing praise comes amid what has been an impressive two years for McKenna in England, as he has gone on to rack up 83 games in all competitions for his current side thus far, scoring three goals and laying on four assists in that time.

That haul includes a tally of two goals and three assists in 51 games last term as Steve Cooper’s side secured promotion to the Premier League, while the £6.3m-rated man has gone on to start all seven games in the league in the current campaign.

At international level, the 25-year-old has also impressed of late, notably starring in Scotland’s impressive Nations League group stage performance, recording two clean sheets from his four outings, winning 93% of his aerial duels and recording an impressive 91% pass completion rate.

Clearly a player who can offer quality defensively but also in possession – having been lauded for having a “hell of a lot of attributes” by the aforementioned Grant – the £15k-per-week man could well have thrived under current Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou, with the title-winning coach currently lacking a left-sided option at the heart of the backline.

As it is, it looks as if McKenna will be a case of what-might-have-been as far as Celtic are concerned, with the champions set to have to see the 28-cap rock continue to impress both for his club and on the international stage.