All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

West Ham United 'still have interest' in Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez this summer as David Moyes eyes midfield reinforcements, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Is Edson Alvarez moving to West Ham United?

According to Football Insider, West Ham are said to be 'confident' that they can land Alvarez this summer for a fee of between £35-40 million at the London Stadium.

The report states that Alvarez, who has been hailed as a "monster" and is listed as the biggest player in his agency, is a key contender to replace now-Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice in east London and Alvarez himself is believed to be keen on testing himself in the Premier League. Borussia Dortmund have shown rival interest in Alvarez this window, though talks between both parties collapsed over a potential move.

Journalist Christian Falk spoke to GIVEMESPORT about the Irons' pursuit of Alvarez and talked up West Ham's chances of acquiring the Mexico international, stating: "For West Ham, they have the money and Ajax want to see money, so they have a good chance."

Last campaign, Alvarez made 44 appearances in all competitions for Ajax and managed to register four goals and three assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Putting in some impressive displays in the engine room, Alvarez managed to record around 2.3 successful tackles and 1.1 interceptions per match in the Eredivisie, as shown on WhoScored.

Now looking set for a fresh challenge, journalist Brown thinks that Alvarez could be someone who ends up joining West Ham between now and the close of the play in the market.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Brown stated: "I think it's clear West Ham are going to buy a midfielder, I think they'll probably buy two. They still have interest in Alvarez, they still have interest in James Ward-Prowse. I think particularly in Ward Prowse's case, at the beginning of the window, there was a lot of interest in him. I think some of that has waned from other clubs now and West Ham are hoping that the price for him comes down by the end of the window because if there's less competition around, I think they think that Southampton might be forced to take less than they would have wanted at the beginning of the window. I don't think West Ham are really in any hurry to do that one. Alvarez could be in a similar position. I'm not sure there are many other clubs around Europe chasing him too hard."

Who else could join West Ham United this summer?

West Ham are believed to have held initial discussion with Manchester United over Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay; however, it would cost a considerable sum of money to tempt the Old Trafford giants side into selling either of the pair, as per Sky Sports.

Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher was subject to a failed £40 million plus add-ons bid from West Ham this window and it is feared that he may stay put at Stamford Bridge to fight for his position under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, according to The Daily Mail.

Shaun Whetstone has claimed that West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Chelsea forgotten man Callum Hudson-Odoi this summer.

Manchester City youngster Carlos Borges is on the verge of joining West Ham for a fee in the region of £14 million that will include a buyback clause, as per The Daily Mail.

Journalist Conor McGilligan believes Leeds United simply must sign a central attacking midfielder this summer to help their creativity issues next season.

How is Leeds' pre-season going?

New Leeds manager Daniel Farke has now seen his side lose twice in pre-season, albeit in tricky fixtures against Manchester United and Monaco.

Both games ended 2-0 and perhaps pointed to a wider issue within the Leeds squad: a lack of creativity.

While the effervescent Luis Sinisterra and Crysencio Summerville posed some threat on the wings, there was not a great deal of spark coming from central areas, with the club not currently possessing a ruthless number ten.

That's an area Leeds simply must improve in the remainder of the transfer window if they have any hope of making a swift return to the Premier League, according to McGilligan

Speaking on his One Leeds Fan Channel, he said: "The problem with Leeds now is we don't have a CAM [central attacking midfielder]. If you think Archie Gray is that CAM, he's not. If you think [Darko] Gyabi is a CAM, he's nowhere near it.

He added: "He needs a CAM, Farke. We need a CAM, and if you don't have a CAM, the striker is naturally going to suffer because the CAM and the striker, as you saw in Farke's system before when it was [Emi] Buendia and [Teemu] Pukki, their synergy is absolutely imperative for a team to go up. It's imperative."

When asked by his live audience who he would consider a good fit for the role, McGilligan said: "Ilias Chair [from Queens Park Rangers]. I think he's gettable as well. I think with the money that Leeds have got, I'd love someone like Ilias Chair.

"I think he's proven it in the Championship, he's a top player. He is of the Buendia mould and I'd be stunned if he wasn't on Farke's list. I'd be really stunned. Ilias Chair would be perfect, he'd be perfect."

Whether Leeds will dip into the market for a natural attacking midfielder who can link with the likes of Patrick Bamford up front is an important decision for Farke to make before the window slams shut.

Chair would certainly be a very good option having provided five goals and a further nine assists in the Championship last season at QPR, although the 25-year-old Moroccan has been linked with a move to Leicester City in the Foxes' pursuit of a James Maddison replacement.

The Whites have only made one addition to their squad so far this summer, bringing in young Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea, while a host of the club's biggest names have left either permanently or on loan, with more likely to depart in the near future.

One midfielder that could arrive at the club imminently is Paris Saint-Germain's Edouard Michut who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, while Leeds also supposedly hold an interest in Swansea City forward Joel Piroe as they look to sharpen their attack.

When do Leeds next play?

Leeds have the opportunity to put two disappointing pre-season results behind them when they face Nottingham Forest on July 27th at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium.

The Whites then have three days before they travel to Edinburgh to face Hearts in what will likely be Leeds' final pre-season venture before the Championship season begins.

Leeds begin their league campaign against Cardiff City at Elland Road on July August 6th, a game which can be seen on Sky Sports, and Farke will be hoping to have a few fresh faces in his side before that game comes around.

Newcastle United have begun preparations for next season but have only made one new signing so far this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

According to Saudi news outlet WinWinSport via Corriere Dello Sport, Newcastle have submitted a €95m (£82m) offer to sign Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

As per the report, after signing Sandro Tonali the Magpies are exploring targets in the Serie A and have presented a huge offer to sign Napoli's star player this summer.

How good is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

It is no secret that Eddie Howe is looking to strengthen the wider-forward positions of his impressive squad ahead of next season, and the Newcastle boss spoke out following the pre-season friendly with Gateshead to confirm that he is still in the market for new additions this summer:

"There have been difficult days, because obviously you want the end result, you want the best squad you can get. We were very pleased to get Sandro through but we know we need more."

As a result, the signing of Kvaratskhelia could be a huge opportunity for Howe to add more talent to the attacking threat ahead of their highly-anticipated Champions League return, and would be a much better alternative to strongly-linked Leicester City winger, Harvey Barnes – who has been valued at around £40m.

The 22-year-old talent has been a revelation for Napoli of late, ranking first for shot-creating actions, assists, progressive carries and goal-creating actions in the entire Serie A last season, as per FBref, having registered 31 goal involvements in all competitions in his debut season at the club – a far greater return than Barnes enjoyed (16 goals and assists across all fronts).

Not only that, Kvaratskhelia ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shots on goal, assists, progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches, proving that he is one of the hottest attacking prospects in Europe.

The goal-hungry winger also boasts much-needed experience in European competition with 11 appearances, two goals and four assists tallied up, something that could be incredibly valuable to Howe next season.

When comparing the Georgia international's output with Barnes' last season, Kvaratskhelia comfortably outperformed his Leicester counterpart in a number of key attributes in the league, including goal contributions (22 v 14), pass completion (79.2% v 69.8%), shot-creating actions per 90 (4.86 v 2.09), goal-creating actions (0.86 v 0.46), successful take-ons (37.7% v 29.7%) and aerial duels won (38.1% v 33.7%).

The 6 foot ace has been the recipient of high praise over his career so far, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailing Kvaratskhelia's impact on the pitch:

“He’s a good player. But he is really good, the boy, and really quick and you have to defend him together in these moments. When he has the advantage of the first movement, then he is already gone."

"You have to try to be there in the moment when the ball arrives, but if you cannot do that then you need to be protected because he has speed, he is cheeky, he goes inside, he can go outside, that makes it always really difficult."

With that being said, if Newcastle could seal a deal for Kvaratskhelia he would be worth every penny and would, without a doubt, prove a far more impressive, albeit far more expensive coup than the signing of Barnes.

An update has emerged regarding Manchester United’s pursuit of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, and it will come as good news to Erik ten Hag as he aims to significantly bolster his attack ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

How much will Dusan Vlahovic cost?

Having been linked with a move for the Serbian hitman earlier this summer, Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Man United News) are reporting that Juventus have lowered their asking price to just €65m (£55m) and this could tempt Ten Hag into making a move for the player.

The Serie A side had previously valued him at around €80m (£68m) according to the same publication, and although it still represents a large fee, it is much lower than previously expected.

The Old Trafford outfit made a bid to sign Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, which included a players plus cash deal, according to The Athletic, yet it was booted out by the Italian side as they aren’t looking to budge from their £86m price tag that has been set for the youngster.

Vlahovic then, could turn into an ideal alternative for Hojlund should any potential move fail to materialise during the transfer window.

Could Manchester United sign Dusan Vlahovic?

The Red Devils have made just one acquisition this summer, luring Mason Mount from Chelsea and although this is certainly a step in the right direction with regard to bolstering his attacking options, Ten Hag now needs a proper centre forward to join ahead of next term.

Only Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes scored more than ten goals for the club throughout the whole of last season and the Dutchman will be looking for another one or two players who could arrive and boost this area.

Despite conceding just 43 goals in 38 league matches, United scored only 58 goals, with all but two of the top ten scoring more than them and this heightens their need for a player who could score plenty.

Vlahovic didn’t enjoy the best season for Juventus compared to previous years, yet he still managed to score 14 goals and grab four assists across all competitions, and he could prove to be a big upgrade on Anthony Martial, who managed just 12 goal contributions in comparisons.

Indeed, not only does the Serbian score more than Martial, he has also registered more shots per 90 (3.12 to 2.26), taken more touches in the attacking penalty area (144 to 58) and made more progressive carries into the final third (29 to 15) suggesting that his game revolves around more than just scoring, and he puts himself in excellent positions to shoot often and also in order to create chances for others.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Carlo Garganese, Vlahovic, as evidenced by the statistics, offers a more well round approach than Martial, while also being capable of scoring more often and this should tempt Ten Hag into making a move for him this summer.

The fee of £55m may seem a lot on the surface, but in terms of value for money and the chance to further develop the 23-year-old at United, it could be a wise investment by the club.

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has shared a "major" Harry Kane update after Tottenham Hotspur's "jaw-dropping" behind-the-scenes contract offer recently.

Will Harry Kane leave Tottenham?

This isn't the first time Spurs' star striker has been linked with a move away from north London, with treble-winners Man City showing a very serious interest around two years ago.

Pep Guardiola's side lodged bids in excess of £100 million for Kane, who was rumoured to have a "gentleman's agreement" with Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy to leave the club. That ultimately didn't come to fruition, and City instead ended up capturing star striker Erling Haaland one summer later.

Tottenham were in a strong position to refute City's advances back then, but with Kane's contract expiring in 2024, they're in a far more precarious situation this year. The England star has just 12 months remaining on his current deal, meaning he can leave for free next year.

Ange Postecoglou, speaking in his first Spurs press conference the other day, is in no doubt that Kane would prefer to stay at the club and battle to make them successful.

"Kane is one of the premier strikers in the world and I want him involved here," Postecoglou said.

"I just want to introduce myself to Harry, give him my vision, get an understanding from him over what his vision is and try to be successful.

"My conversation with him will be about how we can make this club successful and there is no doubt that is what he wants as well."

Bayern Munich, though, are seriously knocking at the door for Spurs' talisman and have made a second proposal to Levy – an offer apparently amounting to around £68.5 million plus add-ons.

According to Football Insider and O'Rourke – who claim to share a "major" Kane update in the last 24 hours after Tottenham's "jaw dropping" contract offer – Spurs are set to reject Bayern's second bid and will refuse all offers for him this window.

Despite this, it's believed Kane still has no intention of signing a new deal, regardless of the mammoth numbers behind it, before the window shuts – meaning a stalemate is on the cards.

The 29-year-old is keen to join Bayern in the coming weeks, despite Tottenham's offer to make him one of England's top earners, but Levy is set to dig his heels in over Kane.

Spurs have privately made it clear that their superstar is not far sale under any circumstance.

How good is Harry Kane?

The Three Lions forward has thrived at Tottenham over the last 12 months, scoring 30 league goals in 38 matches last season.

Former Spurs boss Antonio Conte heaped praise on Kane for his quality and attitude, calling him "world class" in an interview with the press last season.

"I am happy for him because we are talking about a world class striker,” he said.

“He deserves the best because he's a great worker, hard worker… this is not normal because usually the players that have talent many times don't like to work hard because they have talent.

“In my career I didn't have great talent [so] for this reason I worked hard. What I liked about him from the first time was his ability. He was a big example for his team-mates."

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur over a player who could be on their way out of the club ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, Atletico Madrid have opened talks with Spurs over a potential deal to sign central midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer.

The report claims that the two clubs are having discussions as the Spanish side are attempting to convince the Premier League team to part ways with their battler, as they are currently reluctant to sanction a transfer.

It is stated that the Denmark international is interested in making the switch to La Liga as they have Champions League football to offer him next season.

Who could replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at Tottenham?

Ange Postecoglou could forget all about the former Bayern Munich enforcer by securing a deal to sign Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat before the end of the summer.

Tottenham were keen on signing the Morocco international in the January transfer window and have reportedly retained their interest throughout the year.

Fiorentina are reportedly demanding €30m (£26m) for the defensive midfielder and Daniel Levy must work with the Australian head coach to bring him to England as a replacement for Hojbjerg, should he move to Madrid in the coming weeks.

As you can see in the above graphic, as provided by Opta, the Danish dynamo excels at winning possession back and taking plenty of touches of the ball across the pitch in comparison to his positional peers.

This shows that he is a possession-based midfielder who is also excellent at breaking up opposition attacks to protect his own goal.

Meanwhile, Amrabat, who has been hailed as "criminally underrated" by journalist Muhammad Butt, is a similar type of number six as he is also impressive in those aspects of the game – as shown in the Opta chart below.

Their respective statistics from last season suggest that they are both defensively excellent midfielders, which means that Postecoglou would not be weakening his side from a defensive perspective by signing the Serie A star to line up in Hojbjerg's place next season.

However, the former Celtic boss could improve the quality of his team's play in possession by making this switch as Amrabat is exceptional at using his range of passing to progress the ball.

The 26-year-old titan has averaged 7.93 progressive passes per 90 over the last 365 days, which places him among the top 8% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions in that time.

Whereas, Hojbjerg has completed 6.59 progressive passes per 90 during that period and does not crack the top 20% of midfielders in that statistic.

Therefore, Amrabat, who was described as an "absolute colossus" by Morocco by ex-England ace Stuart Pearce, could offer more in possession to find his teammates in better positions, as he is capable of progressing the ball more frequently than the former Southampton man.

These statistics indicate that Postecoglou could forget all about Hojbjerg in a swoop for the Fiorentina gem due to his outstanding ability in and out of possession, which would allow the manager to sanction an exit for the 27-year-old general.

Leeds United defender Robin Koch is now wanted by Serie A champions Napoli this summer, according to a fresh transfer update.

Which players are leaving Leeds?

The Whites' relegation from the Premier League last month was a bitter pill to swallow for anyone associated with the club, following three years back in the top flight of English football.

It will create problem for so many reasons, not least the fact that Leeds are going to find it extremely difficult to keep hold of key players beyond the summer. Playing in the Championship will not appeal to many of their top young talents, especially if they have the opportunity to return straight to the top level at another club.

A host of current Whites heroes are being linked with summer moves away from Elland Road, with the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Jack Harrison among those in the mix to depart.

Koch is another who has been tipped to move on, however, as he looks for a new challenge.

Is Koch potentially joining Napoli?

According to Sky Italia journalist Franceso Modugno (via Gianluca Di Marzio and Sport Witness), Napoli are eyeing up a summer move for the £38,000-a-week defender, as they look to bring in a tailor-made replacement for centre-back Kim Min-jae, who looks set to join Bayern Munich.

The report claims that the Serie A giants see Koch as a strong target because he "stands out for his physicality and ability in aerial play", with a bid now possibly in the offing.

In truth, these are the sort of departures that Leeds simply have to accept in the summer transfer window, with someone of Koch's standing no doubt intrigued by the idea of joining a Napoli side that excelled so much last season.

While it would be nice to see the 26-year-old stay put with the Whites and help them make a speedy return to the Premier League, it is difficult to be too critical of him moving on if a club of such stature comes in for him.

Granted, Koch hasn't always covered himself in glory for Leeds, starting 36 of his side's 38 league games en route to relegation in 2022/23, but he has been hailed as a "machine" by teammate Max Wober and he would be a loss, certainly boasting the physicality to thrive in the second tier.

The fact that the German's current Whites deal expires next year does make this a realistic time to sell him and receive good money, though, which is the one positive to take from his likely exit.

Chelsea are “confident” that they can complete a summer deal for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

The Premier League playmaker still has another four years remaining on his contract with Roberto De Zerbi’s side, but having established himself as last season’s top-performing defensive player at The Amex, he’s caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino in SW6.

The Evening Standard have reported that the Blues have identified the 21-year-old as the leading contender to replace Mateo Kovacic who is close to joining Manchester City, with Galetti also claiming that the boss has personally “asked” to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

As well as Kovacic, N’Golo Kante has left to embark on a new adventure in Saudi Arabia and Denis Zakaria has also confirmed his return to Juventus upon the conclusion of his loan, so reinforcements in front of the backline with definitely be needed, and the Seagulls star could be the perfect candidate.

Are Chelsea signing Caicedo?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti revealed that Chelsea are closing in on Caicedo, with Brighton’s midfielder expected to green-light the deal imminently. He wrote:

“#Chelsea are still pushing for Moises #Caicedo. Understand that #CFC are working to close the gap with #Brighton and they're confident to reach an agreement for the MF. Personal terms set to be agreed: evolving situation.”

Could Caicedo be a strong recruit for Pochettino?

Caicedo may only be 21 years old but he’s already been dubbed a midfield “leader” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and he’s at the age where you could build a team for the long-term future around him, so he would definitely be an excellent addition for Pochettino.

The Ecuador international, who earns £60k-per-week, is stronger in the natural aspect of his game protecting the backline, having made 100 tackles last season which was higher than any of his teammates, via FBRef, whilst averaging 1.5 interceptions per top-flight game.

The World Cup participant, however, is also capable of chipping in at the opposite end of the pitch on occasion, having scored one goal and provided an assist during the previous campaign too.

Finally, Caicedo is a versatile operator having been deployed at right-back and slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his usual role, which will be yet another attractive quality to the boss, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for the Blues.

The task for West Ham, David Moyes, and his conquering squad is to keep going.

The Europa Conference League title is a ceremonial moment in the history of the club that will forever be revered and cherished.

However, the Irons cannot rest on their laurels, another year of European football beckons and the team must be moulded to keep up with this demanding ask.

Players of sufficient pedigree and experience must be landed with Joaquin Correa touted as a possible addition to the London Stadium.

What’s the latest on Joaquin Correa to West Ham?

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the East London outfit and Everton have opened 'tentative' talks to sign the Inter Milan man.

In a previous report, it has been suggested that the 28-year-old could be available on the market for as little as €15 (£13m).

David Moyes supposedly tried to sign the Argentine in the summer of 2021, before he joined the Nerazzurri, and the Hammers look set to reignite their interest in the forward.

Would Joaquin Correa be a good signing for West Ham?

The 6 foot 2 star has played in Italy since 2018 and has developed a solid reputation as a dependable and productive player. He has recorded 51 goal contributions in 175 Serie A outings.

However, the 19-cap international has endured a rather frustrating campaign, managing just 15 starts in all competitions and was an unused substitution in the Champions League final defeat to Manchester City.

Therefore, the former Sevilla star is seeking a new challenge, which could come in the form of the Irons.

Despite his lack of game time, the statistics still make for impressive reading – in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers, Correa ranks within the top 13% for assists per 90, progressive passes per 90, and successful take-ons per 90.

Furthermore, his chameleonic nature to appear in various positions across the frontline demonstrates a fascinating versatility that could make him crucial for Moyes next season.

Indeed, according to FBref, he possesses a similar profile to that of World Cup winner Angel Di Maria.

Not only do the two attackers share nationality but they also have a nimble frame, an effortless first touch, a venomous strike, and a hypnotic dribbling technique.

Described as “sensational” by Matteo Bonetti, Correa performs relatively closely to his compatriot in various metrics, such as goals and assists per 90 (0.38 vs 0.53), % shots on target per 90 (36.4 vs 32.4), pass completion (79.2% vs 72.1%), and shot creating actions per 90 (3.51 vs 5.48).

This signing would provide depth in various positions, whilst adding quality and attacking thrust hoping to regain a position in the top half of the Premier League and win a European competition for a consecutive season.

Chelsea are holding an interest in Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, according to a report from Calciomercato via the Chelsea Chronicle.

Will Chelsea sign Gleison Bremer?

The 26-year-old currently plays for Juventus, who he joined at the very beginning of the 2022/23 season. Despite only just joining the Turin outfit, he has already become a first-team regular for them and played often in Serie A, featuring on 30 occasions and even managing four goals and an assist along the way.

Whilst Juventus struggled with off-field difficulties and slipped to seventh in the standings, Bremer was able to flourish and become a key player, standing out as one of the few silver linings in their campaign.

He's clearly a very offensively minded centre-back too, with the Brazilian standing out as one of the best in his position in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe when it comes to hitting the back of the net. His rate of 0.15 non-penalty xG for example puts him in the top 1% of defenders in that stat – and suggest he is constantly able to get chances for himself and putting himself in positions to score for his team. His 1.63 blocks per 90 and 4.34 clearances per 90 also point at a player who is equally adept at putting in a real defensive shift too.

It's this form that has caught the eye and now, despite being a first-teamer at Juventus, he could be on the move this summer. According to a report from Calciomercato, via The Chelsea Chronicle, the defender is now a target for Chelsea, who have registered their interest.

Another Premier League side in Man United are also credited with interest, so it appears as though both could go head-to-head for the player, who would cost around 60 million Euros (or £51m).

When does Bremer's contract expire?

It is no surprise that Juventus would want so much already for the player, with his contract not set to expire until 2027.

That's because Breimer has already caught the eye for his breakout with Torino and now their cross-town rivals. He's been praised for his work at the back in the past, with football journalist Josh Bunting calling the player "superb" and adding that he can dribble out of the defence "with quality" too.

It shows a centre-back that is confident with the ball at his feet and with Chelsea wanting to strengthen their backline, they could clearly do a lot worse than Breimer this window.