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Sunderland want to sign midfielder Alex Gorrin when his Oxford United contract expires, Football Insider report. 

The lowdown

Sunderland will take on Wycombe Wanderers for a place in the Championship in Saturday’s League One playoff final, but it’s clear that preparations for next season are already well underway.

Gorrin spent ‘several years’ at Sunderland’s academy before he was released back in 2014.

His deal at The Kassam Stadium is due to expire in a matter of weeks’ time, meaning he’s currently set to leave on a free transfer.

The latest

A recruitment source has told the publication that Sunderland have established contact over a potential deal for Gorrin.

‘A number of other clubs’ are monitoring the situation too, and that may be what prompted the club to act.

Oxford are said to be ‘desperate’ to hold onto him and have offered him an extension.

The verdict

Gorrin hasn’t actually played for United since the first round of the FA Cup against Bristol Rovers back on 7 November, when he sustained a season-ending knee injury in the first half.

Initial patience may be required, then, as he works way back up to full fitness and sharpness, but he could still be a shrewd pick-up.

The Spaniard, formerly of Motherwell, has racked up 79 games’ worth of experience in the third tier.

Prior to his injury, he was averaging 30 accurate passes, 1.8 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per 90 minutes, helping to protect the defence and keep things ticking along.

The £225,000-rated ace has the potential to be a favourite at The Stadium of the Light, with manager Karl Robinson declaring him ‘the hardest-working man I’ve coached’ and dubbing him a ‘phenomenal’ signing.

In other news, James Copley has been stunned by this development ahead of the playoff final. 

Leeds United forward Raphinha is keen on joining Barcelona during the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports. 

The lowdown: Hot property

Having previously been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool and West Ham United, the 25-year-old is once again expected to be much sought-after in the transfer market.

Barcelona have recently emerged as the main contenders to sign the Brazil winger, and a big-money offer has been mooted for some time now.

Despite just avoiding relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season, with Raphinha himself on the scoresheet before joining in the post-match celebrations, it seems as though the writing could be on the wall for his time at Leeds…

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The latest: Sky Sports drop Raphinha news

Speaking live on Sky Sports, it was reported that Barcelona are set to make their interest ‘formal’ very soon.

Presenter Hayley McQueen said on air: “Barcelona are expected to make formal their interest in Leeds United forward Raphinha in the coming days. He’s actually got two years left still on his contract, he’s not expected to sign a new deal.

“One source has told us at Sky Sports News that he would like to join Barcelona. Here’s the link, he’s represented by Deco, friend and former team-mate of Barcelona boss Xavi.

“West Ham were also one of a number of Premier League clubs who tried to sign Raphinha in the last transfer window. He stayed at Leeds, they have stayed in the Premier League but they might not be able to keep hold of him.”

The verdict: Mega offer needed

Having retained their top-flight status, the onus is now on Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta to ensure that any summer departures recoup the maximum value in the market so that Jesse Marsch can adequately replenish the playing ranks.

In an ideal world, the likes of Raphinha would remain with the Whites and look to spearhead a wholly different campaign in 2022/23, but it already appears as though that ship might have sailed after another stellar season in which he directly contributed to 14 goals in 36 league outings.

Instead, it may already be on the club’s mind to concentrate on extracting every possible penny from any deal for the £40.5m-valued ace and immediately adding the funds to Marsch’s transfer budget in order to avoid a repeat of their brush with relegation from this season.

In other news, Leeds are eyeing up a second signing after Aaronson. Find out who it is here

Can’t get enough Liverpool football content? Watch Liverpool FC live streams and other videos at StreamFootball.tv.

Sadio Mane has made progress regarding a summer move from Liverpool to Bayern Munich, according to reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Mane to leave Liverpool

On Sunday, numerous journalists reported the big news that the Senegal star is set to leave the Reds this summer, having spent six memorable years at Anfield.

The 30-year-old is believed to be keen on a fresh challenge while he is still at his peak, with Bayern Munich seemingly the front-runners to snap him up.

A fresh claim further suggests that a move to the Bundesliga could be on the cards for Mane.

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The Latest: Plettenberg provides Mane transfer update

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Sky Sports journalist Plettenberg talked up the chances of Mane joining Bayern, claiming that talks are ongoing between player and club. The reporter tweeted:

“Update #Mané: Talks and negotiations with #FCBayern ongoing and confirmed. All parties speak about a possible 3-y-c until 2025 and a transfer fee of around €30m + Bonus. Agreement is possible.”

The Verdict: Undisputed Liverpool legend

While it is hugely sad to see Mane move on, it is hard to begrudge him one last big move in his career, much in the same way that Thiago opted to trade Bayern for Liverpool at a similar age in 2020.

There is no doubt that the Senegalese superstar is a true Anfield legend, having won every trophy possible in his time at the club, also scoring 120 goals in 269 Reds appearances.

He should be remembered as one of the greatest attacking players in the club’s history, proving to be Jurgen Klopp’s first great signing at Liverpool and hitting the ground running from day one, when he scored a stunning goal at Arsenal on his debut in a 4-3 win which ultimately proved crucial in getting the Reds back into the Champions League as they pipped the Gunners for fourth place that season.

In other news, Liverpool are reportedly still in the hunt for one signing. Find out who it is here.

Johan Lange is looking to continue the Aston Villa summer spending spree with a move for West Ham youngster Sonny Perkins.

What’s the word?

According to ExWHUemployee, Villa want to sign the teenager on a permanent contract when his London Stadium deal expires at the end of this month.

Steven Gerrard has been very active so far in the transfer market, and the 18-year-old would be an exciting signing for Villa.

The next Declan Rice

Villa have clearly spotted the potential in Perkins and will be aiming to tempt him away from West Ham with an enticing offer.

The England under-18 international has been in fine form for the Irons’ under-18s and under-23s this season, bagging 14 goals across Premier League 2 and the Under-18 Premier League.

These performances gave Moyes the incentive to call him up to the first-team squad, with Perkins making three senior appearances during the campaign, and the future looks extremely bright for the youngster.

His potential led ExWHUemployee to state last year that Perkins can be “the next Declan Rice”, while also describing him as a player who is “getting rave reviews” for his performances.

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The 18-year-old’s versatility could be a big advantage for Gerrard – although typically a centre-forward, Perkins can operate on either flank and in midfield if required.

Everyone has seen the progress that Rice has made at West Ham, as clubs continue to circle for the 23-year-old despite Moyes placing a £150m price tag on his head.

Of course, there is no guarantee over any player’s future success, which depends on a multitude of factors. All the signs with Perkins are promising, though, and Gerrard may just see a swoop for the teenager as an opportunity for Villa to make a fortune in the next few years.

Whatever happens, securing the West Ham starlet on a free transfer would appear to be excellent business and could give the Villa manager the freedom to move for more expensive targets in the summer market.

AND in other news, “Set to…”: Fabrizio Romano drops huge Villa summer claim, supporters will be buzzing

Leeds United are closing in on their second signing of the summer…

What’s the word?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Yorkshire giants have struck a deal to sign RB Salzburg full-back Rasmus Kristensen, having already clinched a £25m move for his teammate Brenden Aaronson, who has joined on a five-year deal.

“Full agreement set to be reached between Leeds and RB Salzburg for Rasmus Kristensen. Danish right-back’s expected to join Leeds in the coming days, once final details will be resolved,” he tweeted.

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“Kristensen will be able to undergo medical tests after international duty.”

Sky Sports believe it could cost the Whites in the region of just £10m to secure the 24-year-old, something of a bargain as Transfermarkt currently value him at £13.5m.

Marsch will be elated

If the club’s ambition wasn’t obvious already, it is now and a move for the impressive right-back is sure to leave manager Jesse Marsch absolutely delighted.

Whilst Aaronson adds a much-needed and threatening option to a threadbare engine room, Kristensen will help bolster one of the Premier League’s leakiest defences, and he is a surefire upgrade on the struggling Luke Ayling.

Indeed, the side conceded a whopping 79 goals from their 38 matches (2.07 each outing), a feat that only relegated Norwich City (84) were worse for.

Meanwhile, the long-serving vice-captain’s season ended in disgrace after he was sent off for a needless and reckless challenge against Arsenal, leaving his club in the lurch heading into the final few games.

He was brandished as an “idiot” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, who also suggested that it could be his last-ever game in the Premier League.

Kristensen is a player that Marsch knows very well. The American head coach was in charge of 64 of his 107 appearances for the Austrian champions. During that time, the attack-minded full-back provided 13 goals and 19 assists, so it’s easy to see why he’s being brought in.

The Denmark international was Salzburg’s best-performing player in the Champions League this term, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.91. He also led the squad for tackles (a whopping 4.6 per game) and also managed 1.1 shots and one dribble per game, too.

“He is an absolute leader on the pitch. His emotions push the whole team. As a right-back, he has a very strong offensive drive, marches up and down the line and is also a goal threat,” his current boss, Matthias Jaissle, once said of Kristensen.

On the above evidence, Leeds and Marsch will be getting a reliable upgrade at right-back heading into next season, where they must avoid a disastrous repeat of 2021/22.

AND in other news, Orta given green light for “unstoppable” £21m signing, it’d be a huge coup for Leeds…

Leeds United have always been good for a goal or two, even prior to Marcelo Bielsa guiding the Elland Road outfit back to the Premier League. Chris Wood, for example, rose to stardom at the Yorkshire club, yet was never a part of a Leeds team that earned promotion – instead jumping ship to Burnley.

Upon their return to the top flight, Leeds were able to turn to Patrick Bamford for goals, while during his absence through injury last season, it was Raphinha who stepped up.

The Brazilian winger single-handedly kept Leeds afloat at times, and could be rewarded with a big move this summer as a result.

Next season, Jesse Marsch will be hoping to return Leeds to the comforts of mid-table. It won’t be an easy task, though, with the Premier League as competitive as ever and Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Fulham fresh from promotion.

We could see a new top contributor of goals for next season, following in the footsteps of the players listed below, as revealed by TransferMarkt.

12/13: Luciano Becchio – 20 goals, 4 assists (24)

Although it may feel like a long time ago that Leeds United were in the Championship, travel back a decade and you’ll see a side nowhere near promotion. They did, at the very least, have a serial goal scorer, with Luciano Becchio netting 20 and assisting a further four.

The contributions could only lead the Yorkshire club to a place in mid-table, though.

13/14: Ross McCormack – 29 goals, 10 assists (39)

Speaking of serial goal scorers, Ross McCormack was exactly that in the 2013/14 campaign, netting a total of 29 goals in all competitions, whilst also assisting a further 10. The 29 goals were enough to secure the Golden Boot, but not a place near Championship promotion.

Instead, the forward was forced to settle for 15th place.

14/15: Mirco Antenucci – 10 goals, 2 assists (12)

As it turns out, the goals from Ross McCormack weren’t making too much of a difference, as, in the next season, Leeds finished 15th in the Championship for the third consecutive season.

This time, it was Mirco Antenucci with 10 goals and two assists who took the contributions crown in an underwhelming season.

15/16: Chris Wood – 13 goals, 4 assists (17)

More goals in the 2015/16 season meant a jump up in two places for Leeds, who rose to 13th to end their run of 15th-placed finishes. The man behind the extra goals? Chris Wood. The New Zealand international netted 13 and assisted four.

16/17: Chris Wood – 30 goals, 4 assists (34)

Picking up where he left off in the season prior, Wood went on to score an impressive 30 goals in all competitions, which included 27 Golden Boot winning goals in the Championship. Four assists in all competitions made it a total of 34 contributions for the season.

The goals didn’t stop Leeds’ frustration, however, as they finished seventh to miss out on a play-off place.

17/18: Kemar Roofe – 14 goals, 5 assists, Pablo Hernandez, 9 goals, 10 assists (19)

Without Wood, who swapped the Championship for the Premier League and Burnley, the responsibility fell to Kemar Roofe and Pablo Hernandez to find the goals. And they did exactly that.

Roofe, the goalscorer of the duo, netted 14 whilst assisting five. Meanwhile, Hernandez, the chief creator, scored nine and assisted a further 10, as Leeds once again had to settle for a place in mid-table.

18/19: Pablo Hernandez – 12 goals, 12 assists (24)

In the first season under Marcelo Bielsa, Hernandez managed to pick up where he left off in the previous campaign, scoring and assisting 12 goals to tally an impressive 24 contributions.

It was enough to earn Leeds a place in the play-offs, before Frank Lampard’s Derby County ended their season in heartbreak with a semi-final victory. Bielsa’s first campaign showed plenty of promise, however.

19/20: Patrick Bamford – 16 goals, 4 assists (20)

The first under Bielsa turned out to be a warning shot for the rest of the Championship. In the next campaign, Leeds finally made a return to the Premier League and in some style – winning the league with 93 points.

Amongst the key players involved in their promotion was Patrick Bamford, whose 16 goals and four assists in all competitions propelled Leeds to the promised land.

20/21: Patrick Bamford – 17 goals, 8 assists (25)

Bamford did not let the jump up in quality get in the way of his goal scoring capabilities once promoted.

The forward scored 17 goals in all competitions, whilst assisting a further eight, as Leeds shocked the rest of the Premier League by finishing ninth in a season full of praise for ‘Bielsa-ball’.

21/22: Raphinha – 11 goals, 3 assists (14)

Last season wasn’t quite as comfortable for Leeds as a campaign full of injuries led them into the relegation battle. In the end, survival was achieved on the final day.

It felt fitting that Raphinha managed to get on the scoresheet against Brentford in the final day victory. The Brazilian took his goals total to 11 to accompany his three assists in all competitions.

The biggest struggle this summer may just be keeping Raphina. With Barcelona interested, according to Fabrizio Romano, Leeds may be forced to bid a fond farewell to their Brazilian winger.

If that is to be the case, the Yorkshire club will need to find a replacement; it may just be imperative to their survival next season.

Glasgow Rangers winger Josh McPake is reportedly now set for a ‘shock’ move away from Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Lost his way

The 20-year-old is a player who has been ‘very highly’ regarded at his parent club.

That is according to former Morecambe manager Stephen Robinson, who dubbed him a ‘really exciting’ signing last July when they brought him in on loan.

However, that was already McPake’s fourth loan spell away from Rangers (a subsequent stint at Tranmere made it five); and given that he has only ever made one senior appearance for the Light Blues, his long-term future has to be put into doubt.

The Latest: ‘Shock’ move?

As per Football Scotland, McPake has now emerged as a ‘shock’ transfer target for Israeli club Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

In what has been described as a potentially ‘sensational move’, Hapoel are ‘keen’ to bring him in on loan with an option to buy for next season.

The Verdict: Interesting

Given that Hapoel finished second in Israel’s top flight last term and have qualified for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round (Football Scotland), a move there for McPake could well be beneficial in terms of playing regular competitive football.

It would certainly be interesting for him to move from Scotland to Israel, but he may enjoy a different climate and a change of scenery.

Nonetheless, at 20 years of age, something now has to give with McPake, and this prospective loan move could determine whether or not he still has a future with the Light Blues.

In other news, find out which Rangers gem ‘will’ leave next month

Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards this summer.

What’s the word?

That is according to journalist Tom Barclay, who, in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, confirmed that Palace are indeed eager to capture the talented teenage defender.

However, Barclay goes on to state that it will not be easy for the defender to make the step up to the Premier League at this stage in his career.

Barclay told GIVEMESPORT: “Palace are interested in him from what I’m told, but he’s someone who’s very young, only played Championship football last season but in a struggling team.

“So to expect him to come into a Premier League side, if they were playing regularly that way in a back three, could be tough, although I was told that maybe a three would suit him more, so maybe that would make sense as well.”

As mentioned in a report by The Sun, Palace boss Patrick Vieira is planning to switch to a back five when the new Premier League season gets underway in August, with new additions amongst the backline most certainly targeted.

One for the future

The signing of Edwards would be one that future-proofs the side, whilst bolstering depth options – particularly when bearing in mind Vieira’s potential switch in system ahead of the new season.

At 19 years old, he registered metrics that place him well within the top five in comparison to his teammates as per WhoScored; averaging 1.4 interceptions, 3.7 clearances and 0.6 blocks in the Championship last season, with his efforts earning him 7-caps for the England U19s squad thus far.

As such, it is not difficult to understand why the Peterborough chairman, Barry Fry, took the time to heap a considerable amount of praise on the youngster, stating of Edwards last season: “Ronnie is a Rolls Royce. We knew that when we signed him.

“I used to watch a lot of U18s football at Barnet as well as Posh and I told the gaffer about him. And when we brought him in for a game Darren watched him for 20 minutes and told me to sign him. Spurs were watching him at the time and Brentford were very keen on him. In fact Brentford were so upset when we did the deal they complained to the FA!

“It’s no secret how highly Ronnie is rated by other clubs and by the England set-up. We had 18 Premier League scouts watching him play for the under 23s at our stadium. Ronnie is money in the bank for the club. He’s a certainty to have an outstanding career in the game, but there’s no better place, and no better manager than Darren Ferguson, to help him develop quickly.

“We want to thrive and prosper in the Championship so selling our better players is not an option. A couple of good seasons in the Championship would make him worth £10m to £20m. There will become a time when we can’t stand in his way as he’d make life-changing money like Ivan Toney as a Premier League player.”

And, as per George Cannon on Twitter, the £4m “wonderkid” is still being watched by the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Southampton so Vieira and co will need to act fast if they are to secure his signature – with the defender’s arrival at Selhurst Park sure to be one that would leave supporters buzzing.

AND in other news: “Set to sign..“: Fabrizio Romano drops big CPFC transfer update, Vieira surely buzzing 

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Zak Sturge to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim that Victor Orta is now preparing an offer for the Brighton & Hove Albion left-back – whose current contract at the American Express Community Stadium is set to expire on Thursday.

And, despite further reports suggesting that Chelsea have already won the race for the 18-year-old’s signature, Nizaar Kinsella recently revealed in a post on Twitter that, despite the Blues’ interest in the England U18 international, these claims are wide of the mark.

In his tweet, GOAL’s Chelsea correspondent said: “Chelsea have been interested in signing Brighton’s Zak Sturge since January. But reports he’s about to join are wide of the mark. Lots of interest from the top PL academies and also from German clubs.”

“Very exciting”

While it would appear as if Orta will have to fight off a great deal of competition if he is to seal a deal for Sturge this summer, considering just how exciting a prospect the full-back is, it would very much seem as if the teenager’s signature is well worth fighting for.

Indeed, while the defender is yet to make a senior appearance for the Seagulls, he has highly impressed in Brighton’s youth ranks over the last two years, providing five assists over 44 appearances for both the U18 and U23 sides.

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Furthermore, Brighton’s former U18 manager, Mark Beard, clearly believes that the left-back has an exceptionally bright future in the game, with the 47-year-old stating in an interview with Sussex Live of his former player:

“You don’t get called up for your country if you are not a good player. When he was an U16 he trained with the U18s sometimes and you could see his great attributes; he was lightning quick, likes to get forward, taking people on – we just encouraged him to use his strengths.

“Technically he got a lot better and defensively improved a lot, too. In the first six months that he played for us, he was flying. He played every single game for us and then he got called up to the U23s under Simon Rusk.

“In those six months, I never saw anyone take him on. The first person that did and made him struggle a bit was Manchester City’s Carlton Palmer, which is something in itself.

“Then we had to think about something else as [Palmer] was the first one to take him on. So we carried on working with him and he has done brilliantly. One of his biggest strengths, along with his pace, is his attitude. He really wants to learn.”

As such, with left-back being a position in which Jesse Marsch is desperately lacking depth, it would appear an extremely wise move for Orta to do everything in his power to attempt to land the “very exciting” – in the words of Richie Mills – Sturge ahead of Chelsea this summer, as the England youth international undoubtedly boasts the potential become a starter on the left of Whites’ back four in not too distant future.

AND in other news: Leeds make “contact” for £25m target with “three lungs”, he’s a “top replacement”

West Ham United are in talks for an ‘amazing’ player who rejected manager David Moyes just last year, according to a report in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye deals…

After sealing a £30 million deal for Morocco international defender Nayef Aguerd from Rennes, it appears the east Londoners are aiming to keep that momentum by landing more of Moyes’ targets.

As explained by Sky journalist Dharmesh Sheth, West Ham are expected to be ‘very busy’ in this summer market and want at least six new signings for the 2022/2023 Premier League season.

They are reportedly closing in on a permanent deal for goalkeeper Alphonse Areola from Paris-Saint Germain, and according to a new report, the Hammers are also locked in other negotiations.

The Latest: West Ham in agent negotations…

Indeed, as per a recent claim from Italy, it appears West Ham are in negotiations with the entourage of Juventus defender Luca Pellegrini.

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Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness) state Moyes’ side are ‘in contact’ with the 23-year-old’s agent with discussions ongoing but an agreement is yet to be found on personal terms.

There have also been no talks with Juve over a fee, just talks with Pellegrini’s agents.

The Verdict: Take it further?

Irons left-back Aaron Cresswell is slowly entering the twilight phase of his career and Pellegrini would come as a potentially shrewd heir.

Called ‘amazing’ by Juventus journalist Max Aimé-Thierry, who founded independent club news page ‘Max Statman’, perhaps the Italian could come to the London Stadium as Cresswell’s potential understudy.

Still very young, Pellegrini would have plenty of time to adapt and improve under Moyes in the English top flight.

However, as per Il Bianco Nero, West Ham may have some convincing to do given the player rejected a move to Rush Green just last year.