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Football Insider have shared an update on Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips and a possible new Elland Road contract.  

The Lowdown: Manchester United links

Rumours have emerged in recent days regarding Manchester United’s interest in Phillips.

The Daily Star believe Old Trafford bosses have abandoned their interest in West Ham’s Declan Rice and will target Phillips as a result.

Phillips, 25, is under contract until 2024, but it appears as if the Whites want to tie him down to a new deal over the coming months.

The Latest: Source shares new update

Football Insider shared a story on Tuesday afternoon, where Alan Hutton gave his thoughts on Phillips’ future.

Within their report however, they shared the latest from a Leeds source, who told the site that talks of a new Whites contract are at an early stage.

Interestingly, they also added that Leeds, led by Andrea Radrizzani, want a new deal completed before January 1.

The Verdict: Next few months key

It seems as if Leeds want to put to bed rumours of their star man leaving by the New Year to avoid any uncertainty during the next transfer window, so the coming months will be key.

The holding midfielder only signed a new Elland Road contract in 2019, however, he has taken his game to the next level over the past two years.

Phillips picked up England’s Player of the Year recently, so, on that basis, you’d like to think Leeds would be willing to make him their top earner ahead of Raphinha and Patrick Bamford.

In other news: Phil Hay drops six-word Leeds verdict that could be bad news for Bamford.

A number of Liverpool supporters have reacted negatively to a rumour claiming the Reds could look to sign Declan Rice next summer.

Gini Wijnaldum left Anfield to join Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the summer, bringing an end to five memorable years at the club.

The Dutchman was such a dependable figure that his absence could leave a gaping void in the middle of the park, especially as Liverpool opted not to replace him.

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Granted, the emergence of Harvey Elliott has helped improve Jurgen Klopp’s options, but a new midfielder coming in could have been a shrewd move.

Liverpool will now wait until next summer, and according to 90min [via Anfield Edition on Twitter], the Reds see Rice as a potential option to bring in, having excelled for West Ham and England in recent times.

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Liverpool fans react to Rice claim

Despite this, these Liverpool fans took to Twitter to react to the news, saying they don’t want the 22-year-old to come in.

“No chance we sign an English player from a premier league club. The English tax would be mad. Rather Bellingham/Gravenberch”

Credit: @Sarrvish

“Just go for Gravenberch”

Credit: @msuhail_17

“Pathetic story!”

Credit: @BrooksFruit

“We don’t need him with English tax. Sign Nicolo Barella and Federico Chiesa”

Credit: @iamSaikatIslam

“No thanks he’s bang average and would cost a bomb because he’s English”

Credit: @azler85

“Not happening either way, but I’d rather Bellingham than him”

Credit: @6timesladd

In other news, some Liverpool fans are bemused by what happened to one Reds player on international duty. Read more here.

Kevin Phillips has made a worrying claim on the future of Connor Goldson at Rangers, with the centre-back yet to sign a new deal with Steven Gerrard’s side at Ibrox.

What’s the word?

It has been rumoured for some time now that Goldson is close to signing a new deal at Ibrox but he is yet to commit, which means that as it stands, he will be free to leave the club at the end of this season when his contract expires.

The powerful centre-back has attracted interest from the likes of West Ham in recent months and after Rangers blew their chance of securing Champions League football this season, the former Brighton man may well be keen on a move back to the Premier League.

Kevin Phillips recently spoke about Goldson’s situation at Rangers to Football Insider, saying:

“To me, it sounds like he wants to wait until January to see what other clubs will offer him.

“Why would you not have agreed a new deal by now when you have been negotiating for quite a while? It smells a little bit of outside interest.

“Someone is perhaps in his ear telling him to hang fire. I hope that is not the case because I would like to see him stay there.

“But, if a deal has not been struck by now, you start to wonder why. The only reason I can think is that people are telling him other clubs will come knocking in January.

“If that is the case, I hope it is not false hope they are giving him. We have seen in the past players being tapped up and then not getting a move for whatever reason. Let’s hope that is not the case.

“Ideally his contract gets ironed out and he remains a Rangers player because he is a big player for them.”

Could Goldson leave Ibrox?

Given that Goldson reportedly earns just £25k per week at Ibrox, he could almost certainly earn a significant more if a Premier League club were to come knocking, so you cannot blame him for keeping his options open.

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Gerrard is a big fan of the 28-year-old and sang his praises last season, saying:

“Connor has been an absolute mountain for this team, a warrior. He has had a lot of stick over the years, wrongly in my opinion, but he has continued to improve and strived to improve from a personal point of view. He has been one of our most consistent players.”

Therefore, it would be a massive blow for Rangers to lose Goldson and fans may well be concerned by Phillips’ comments on his future at Ibrox.

And, in other news… Manager makes worrying claim on “fantastic” Rangers ace

According to a report in the paper edition of Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), agent Kia Joorabchian has been moving to get his client, Philippe Coutinho, a deal – even contacting Tottenham Hotspur over a possible move.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye new attacking additions…

Tottenham have been linked with a plethora of new attacking additions this summer.

Firstly, Spurs are on the lookout for a new out-and-out forward who could partner or replace superstar Harry Kane.

The Lilywhites and managing director Fabio Paratici have also had their eyes peeled for creative influences, linked to Sampdoria sensation Mikkel Damsgaard.

Now, Mundo Deportivo bring news of a possible opportunity involving Coutinho.

The Latest: Spurs offered Coutinho chance…

As per the Spanish news outlet, the former Liverpool star’s agent has been in contact with Spurs as he looks to secure his client a move away from Barcelona.

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The La Liga giants need to reduce their hefty wage bill and are open to any kind of offer for their Brazilian playmaker, including a loan deal.

Coutinho is apparently determined to get back to his best form and the Spanish press believe that Spurs could have the opportunity to grasp a ‘star’ signing this summer.

The report fails to add Tottenham’s stance on signing Coutinho after Joorabchian’s alleged contact, but we believe he could be a stellar addition.

The Verdict: Big statement

If Paratici and co were to secure a move for Coutinho, it would be a big statement on Tottenham’s behalf.

Taking the 63-cap international on a season-long loan would be a step in the right direction financially but much will also depend on the payment structure of his wages.

Coutinho is thought to be on a whopping £250,000 per week (€15m per year) at Barcelona and Spurs are unlikely to be willing to pay all of it.

If Paratici and co were to negotiate a deal to suit both sides, though, the 29-year-old would add real attacking impetus for new boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

His Brazil teammate Roberto Firmino waxed lyrical over him at the end of last year, calling Coutinho ‘phenomenal’ with ‘magical powers’ (Goal).

Meanwhile, ex-Liverpool player turned pundit Phil Thompson hailed him as a ‘genius’ (via the Evening Standard).

Indeed, his 41 goals and 37 assists in 152 English top flight appearances (Transfermarkt) indicate he could just need an opportunity to shine again with regular football.

In other news: Tottenham set sights on signing yet another defender, he is ready for move away…find out more here.

Michael Ball insists that Harry Kane will end up at Manchester City before the end of the transfer window.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker has been at the centre of a transfer saga throughout the summer.

City are reported to be heavily interested in a deal to bring him to the Etihad Stadium and noted transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has claimed that a new bid worth €150m (£127.3m) is being prepared by the Premier League champions.

The Times, by comparison, has reported that there is no direct dialogue between the two clubs over a deal to sign Kane this summer, and that he may well end up remaining at Spurs for another season.

Still, Ball believes that a deal will get done, with City having the money required to sign him, even after signing Jack Grealish for a British-record £100m.

Kane was left out of the Spurs squad to face City on Sunday but Nuno Espirito Santo’s side managed to win the game 1-0, thanks to a goal from Son Heung-Min.

Asked if he expected Kane to join City, Ball told Football FanCast: “I think so.

“To be honest, in the summer, I didn’t think they’d be able to afford Jack and Kane this summer but with Pep coming out strongly about the deal for Jack Grealish, probably means that they have got the money in the pot to bring Harry Kane to the football club.”

Leeds United building a replica pitch to Elland Road at Thorp Arch is further proof of the club’s current positive momentum, according to Kevin Phillips.

The Lowdown: New pitch built at Thorp Arch

Last week, it was confirmed that Marcelo Bielsa had requested for the Elland Road turf to be copied at Leeds’ training ground, in order to aid his team further.

The idea is that the players will grow even more accustomed to the dimensions of their home pitch, enhancing their chances of positive results in the process.

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The Latest: Phillips hails decision

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips lauded the decision, which has also been implemented at other clubs, saying it highlights the fresh thinking of Bielsa:

“Top Premier League clubs do the same. Even top Championship clubs have a training pitch that’s identical to their home pitch.

“It just makes sense doesn’t it? If you’re training on a pitch every day that’s different to your stadium. Imagine that, it’s so bizarre.

“It shows how Leeds are moving forward. It’s a forward-thinking move from the club. And of course you have to give Bielsa the credit for that.”

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The Verdict: Typical of Bielsa

Bielsa is known for his incredible dedication to the specifics of football and this outlines the lengths he goes to make his team as good as possible.

It may not be rocket science, but it is something that a lot of managers may not even consider, but the Leeds boss is always looking for those little extra advantages.

The hope is that the new pitch makes the Whites’ Elland Road form even better, having won eight of their 19 home Premier League matches last season.

If the club can improve that even further and really make Elland Road into a fortress, perhaps we could see a push for the European places next term.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly still interested in signing a Premier League attacker this summer. Read more here.

Southampton are once again being linked with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Thomas Delaney, and the Denmark international could be a superb addition to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.

What’s the word?

According to German news outlet Sport BILD, Dortmund will sell the 29-year-old for just £9m, with Premier League trio Norwich City, Southampton and Crystal Palace all credited with an interest.

Although Southampton’s transfer model under Hasenhuttl has mainly prioritised younger players, the summer signing of Theo Walcott shows that the Austrian is willing to buck that trend on occasion, and he should do the same with Delaney, who was also linked with the Saints back in June.

The former Werder Bremen man is available for a bargain fee which is within Southampton’s budget and would add some much-needed depth in midfield.

Last season saw Southampton’s form drop off a cliff when Oriol Romeu was out injured, with Ibrahima Diallo struggling to replicate the Spaniard’s form, whilst Stuart Armstrong looks wasted in the middle and doesn’t offer the defensive discipline of someone like Romeu or Delaney.

The 29-year-old was a key part of Kasper Hjulmand’s Denmark side this summer as they reached the semi-finals of the European Championship, contributing one goal in six appearances and averaging a very solid 6.96 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Imagine him and Ward-Prowse

During the early stages of last season, we saw how effective a midfield partnership of James Ward-Prowse and Romeu could be, with the former Chelsea man doing the dirty work (no Southampton regular won more tackles per game), allowing the Saints captain to push forward and contribute more in attack.

Delaney could perform a similar role at St Mary’s next season and would even open up the possibility of switching to a formation with three central midfielders, which could make Hasenhuttl’s team a lot more defensively secure after they shipped the second-most goals in the top flight last season.

WhoScored describes Delaney’s main strengths as blocking the ball, tackling, interceptions and aerial duels, which is everything you could hope for in a defensive midfielder, so he would surely compliment Ward-Prowse very well in Southampton’s side next season.

Former Dortmund interim boss Edin Terzic was full of praise for the Denmark midfielder last season, saying: “Thomas Delaney always performs well, not just in the last two games. He is definitely a very important player who stabilises our defence and is always capable of destabilising our opponents. That is very important in this position. We are lucky to have a player like him in the squad.”

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However, it now seems as if the 29-year-old will be available at a bargain price this summer, so Martin Semmens should definitely be looking to bring him to St Mary’s.

In other news… Southampton dealt blow over “fantastic” Euro 2020 star, fans will be gutted

Watford have confirmed their eighth signing of the transfer window, as Peter Etebo joins on a season-long loan from Stoke City, which should delight manager Xisco Munoz.

Watford confirmed on Friday afternoon, just before announcing Josh King, that the Nigeria international has joined from the Potters on loan for a season, with the Hornets holding the option to buy him permanently should he impress during his spell at Vicarage Road.

Munoz’s side have enjoyed a busy window thus far, with Imran Louza, Emmanuel Dennis, Mattie Pollock, Kwadwo Baah, Ashley Fletcher, Dapo Mebude and Danny Rose all joining on permanent deals, and Etebo now joins the ranks on loan ahead of Watford’s return to Premier League action.

The 25-year-old, who joined Stoke in a deal worth £6.35m in 2018 after his performances for Feirense and Nigeria, endured a difficult spell at the Bet365 Stadium, contributing just two goals and one assist in 51 appearances.

He spent the second half of the 2019/20 season on loan with Getafe, before joining Galatasaray for the entirety of the 2020/21 season, and it seems clear that he has no future at Stoke City, so this deal should hopefully benefit both parties.

Stoke boss at the time of his signing Gary Rowett was full of praise for what Etebo could offer, saying:

“Etebo is a very mobile, energetic midfielder and he’s a great age. He has played in the top divisions in Portugal and Spain and, of course, he’s heading into the World Cup with Nigeria which will be an amazing experience for him.”

Although he has no experience in the Premier League, Etebo should be able to challenge the likes of Will Hughes, Tom Cleverley and Nathaniel Chalobah for a starting spot in Munoz’s side next season.

Consequently, the Spanish manager will undoubtedly be delighted to add some more depth to his midfield ahead of the season’s kick-off next month.

It will certainly help to have a man of international pedigree in the squad and he shouldn’t need too long to adapt considering he’s already spent time in England.

And, in other news… Bye-bye Gray: Watford should seal swoop for striker rated “the best” for his country

Many Aston Villa fans have shared their delight on Twitter following an official club post showing Brazilian striker Wesley being involved in training over the weekend.

Enduring an injury-ravaged time in the Midlands, the 24-year-old has chipped in with seven goal contributions in 25 appearances for the club, with six goals and one assist [Transfermarkt].

Horribly damaging his anterior cruciate ligament in a horror challenge with Burnley captain Ben Mee on New Year’s Day 2020, he has rarely featured for the Villains since undergoing extensive recovery treatment.

However, he now appears to be participating in pre-season preparations, which will come as a major boost to manager Dean Smith in terms of his offensive weaponry.

In light of this snap, no wonder loads of Aston Villa diehards took to Twitter to revel in seeing Wesley back in training.

Aston Villa fans react

Replying to the club’s official Twitter account, here is how some supporters summarised their feelings on seeing the “awesome” Brazilian gearing up for the new season:

“WESSS”

Credit: @catrinedwards18″What a beast he’s looking like. Hope he has a big season for us”Credit: @AndreVillaGamer”He looks awesome scary and he’s Villa #utv”Credit: @johnmacgold”Beast”Credit: @GV18271″Looking brilliant Big Wes, can’t wait to see him back in action”Credit: @straightedgeze2″BIG WES !!!!!! Gonna score some worldies this season”Credit: @wesmavfcIn other news, one Aston Villa player is being linked with a move to Italy.

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is intensifying transfer talks with Hertha BSC star Matheus Cunha.

What’s the story?

According to recent reports from German publication Bild (via Sport Witness), Bielsa’s side have already expressed their interest in signing the £27m-rated forward, and a move could be on the cards after the 22-year-old received approval from Hertha to leave the capital club.

Brazilian outlet UOL now claim that the Whites have intensified talks with Hertha over bringing him to Elland Road this summer, and that despite the German club’s high demands, Leeds are promising to make a big effort and won’t give up on his signing.

Imagine him and Rodrigo

Speaking on a Facebook Live video, Leeds Live’s Beren Cross said: “Cunha, yeah I mean I think anybody that’s done a basic level of analysis or read some of the stuff around Cunha will know that he’s a bit like (Rodrigo) De Paul, really, he’s a very exciting footballer – he’s got a lot going for him.”  

Dubbed as “something special” by former Hertha BSC manager Bruno Labbadia, the £55,000-a-week Cunha enjoyed a superb campaign in the Bundesliga last season, scoring eight goals and providing another eight assists in all competitions.

With Cunha’s ability to play as a number ten, through the middle and out wide on the left, the Brazilian could strike up a partnership with last summer’s signing Rodrigo.

The duo are hugely versatile, with the Leeds man also able to play as the number nine or just behind the central striker – in fact, he was at his most prolific last season when playing in the second striker role, scoring three goals in five games.

Both have the pace, the movement, the creativity and the knack of breaking into the box at the right time to be a real attacking threat – Cunha averaged 2.6 shots and 1.8 key passes per game in the Bundesliga last season, while Rodrigo managed 1.8 and 1.2 respectively in the Premier League.

The two could either play just behind Patrick Bamford and operate as number tens, or Bielsa could instead use one of them as the centre-forward and let the other one drop deeper.

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In either case, Cunha could strike up an exciting partnership with Rodrigo were he to join Leeds.

Meanwhile, Leeds United facing major transfer blow…