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Everton are in need of bolstering their squad this summer following a difficult Premier League season, and now they are reportedly interested in a new target ahead of the transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to French news outlet L’Equipe, Everton are interested in signing Stade Rennais left-back Adrien Truffert.

As per the report, the Toffees are following the player’s situation alongside West Ham United, Leicester City, Ajax and Hoffenheim this summer.

Baines 2.0

There is no doubt that Frank Lampard will be wanting to add quality and depth to his Merseyside based squad ahead of next season to ensure they don’t find themselves in another tough relegation battle and Truffert could be the perfect addition to make an instant impact in the team.

Lampard has a penchant for developing young players with Mason Mount, Reece James, Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja just four of the players the former Chelsea boss has brought into the spotlight, and the 20-year-old Frenchman could be his next youth project at Goodison Park.

By no means is Truffert inexperienced with 75 appearances in total and has been a standout player for Rennes, with high praise after his debut in 2020 from former coach Julien Stéphan who hailed the youngster “ultra decisive”.

This season the £10.8m-rated dynamo has shown his quality more than ever over his 30 appearances in Ligue 1, scoring three goals, delivering two assists and creating two big chances, as well as making 1 tackle and winning 2.7 duels on average per game, proving that he has the potential to be a threat in attacking play and offers defensive qualities too.

The young left-back could follow in the footsteps of Everton legend Leighton Baines who signed for the Toffees when he was just 22-years-old back in 2007, becoming one of the most promising left-sided defenders in the Premier League, earning 30 caps for the England national team thanks to his impressive impact at club level.

Truffert is currently in the France U21 team and will surely be hoping that he can one day break into the senior France team, something he could achieve by gaining more game-time and developing his craft with Everton just like Baines did for England.

With that being said, Lampard could unearth a great young prospect in the squad that can help him not only add depth on the left side of the squad but Truffert could also add another attacking threat in the side by emulating his success in forward play at Rennes.

AND in other news: Offer accepted: Everton closing in on 1st summer signing, Lampard will be ecstatic

Sky Sports journalist Manuele Baiocchini has now made a promising Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving central defensive target Sven Botman.

The Lowdown: Bastoni alternative?

Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni was a top target for Spurs manager Antonio Conte but both the Italian and club chief Fabio Paratici were dealt a major blow on Wednesday afternoon.

The player’s agent confirmed that he seems set to stay at the San Siro with it now seeming like the Lilywhites must turn to alternatives if they wish to back Conte ahead of his first full Premier League season.

One of these possible targets is thought to be Lille star Botman who has been attracting serious interest from Newcastle United, Manchester United and AC Milan.

The Latest: Baiocchini shares promising update…

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Sky Italy reporter Baiocchini, sharing news on Twitter, has made a promising claim involving Spurs – going on to state that the north Londoners have emerged as ‘stronger and stronger’ contenders for Botman.

This comes as Milan fall behind in the race to sign Ligue 1’s sensation but Tottenham will still face competition from Newcastle and The Red Devils.

The Verdict: Battle on?

Still just 22-years-old, Botman has been a colossal defensive presence for Lille in the French top flight – making more clearances per 90 than anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

He also finished 2021/2022 as their third-best performer by average match rating, just behind star men Renato Sanches and Benjamin Andre (WhoScored).

The in-form Dutchman could also leave his current club for the very reasonable price of €40 million (£34m), potentially marking Botman out as a real standout alternative to Bastoni.

In other news: ‘Better and better’ – Insider says Tottenham could make announcement ‘in the coming days’…find out more here.

Leeds United winger Raphinha has turned down a summer move to Liverpool.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Spanish publication SPORT (via Sport Witness), who claim that, despite receiving a “succulent” offer from Jurgen Klopp’s side, the 25-year-old has rejected a move to Anfield in a fresh twist, as the Brazil international has his heart set on securing a switch to Barcelona this summer.

The report goes on to state that Victor Orta was more than willing to do business with the Premier League and Champions League runners up, something that SPORT suggest is down to the Reds possessing greater financial muscle than the Catalan outfit, as well as the fact that Liverpool were willing to offer the Whites Takumi Minamino in a player plus cash deal.

However, it is said that Raphinha – who has already agreed personal terms with Barca – is only interested in a move to the LaLiga club, and is waiting for Xavi to strike a deal with Leeds in order for his proposed switch to the Camp Nou to go through – with it being claimed the Premier League side are demanding a figure of €65m (£55m) to part with the winger.

Orta will be gutted

While there is an argument to be made that Raphinha joining Barcelona would be preferable to the winger securing a move to Liverpool this summer – as this would dramatically reduce the Whites’ chances of lining up against the forward in the coming seasons – the fact that the 25-year-old has now turned down the chance to join the Reds is more than likely to have left Victor Orta gutted.

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Indeed, not only does it appear much more feasible that Klopp’s side would be able to stump up the £40.5m-rated talent’s asking price in an upfront payment, but the prospect of also landing Minamino – a player who the Whites have been reported to hold an interest in signing this summer – as part of the Brazilian’s deal would undoubtedly have been viewed as a huge bonus by the Spanish sporting director and Jesse Marsch alike.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s well-documented financial difficulties have cast serious doubts as to whether or not the LaLiga side will be able to afford a move for the winger at all this summer – with the Catalan club already being unable to register new signings Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen due to their dire accounts.

As such, Raphinha’s apparent adamance on a move to Barcelona above any other club could well, in time, prove to become a source of great frustration for Orta and Leeds, as it is obvious that receiving £55m from the forward’s sale towards the start of the transfer market as opposed to the nearer the end – if at all – would be much more beneficial for the Whites’ own planning and shopping in the summer window.

AND in other news: Surprise: Orta must boldly axe “special” £60k-p/w Leeds ace, Marsch doesn’t need him

Everton appear to be leading the race for James Tarkowski as Frank Lampard aims to bolster his defensive options ahead of next season.

What’s the news?

According to The Telegraph, the Toffees now lead the chase for the Burnley defender, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Ham.

The England international is a free agent this summer following the expiry of his contract at the end of June, and with the Clarets’ relegation to the Championship confirmed on the final day of the Premier League season, it seems unlikely that he will remain at Turf Moor.

Tarkowski could be Everton’s “rock”

Lampard has endured a difficult start to life at Everton, with the club narrowly avoiding relegation to the Championship as they finished 16th in the top flight, and that won’t be enough to satiate the supporters.

The Toffees conceded 66 league goals last season – only four teams let in more – and the defence is in urgent need of improvement.

Tarkowski has been earning £70k-p/w at Burnley and would likely want that matched or improved if he comes to Goodison Park.

His former manager Sean Dyche dubbed him “outstanding”, with journalist Alex James previously describing the defender as a “rock”, and there seems little doubt that he would instantly improve Lampard’s leaky defence.

The 29-year-old has an average rating of 6.97 on WhoScored this season, the best of anyone in the Burnley squad, which shows that he was a vital presence at the back despite their relegation. Also, Tarkowski ranked in the top 1% out of positional peers in the big five leagues in both blocks (2.67 per 90) and aerials won (4.95) during 2021/22.

The Everton defence could look a lot different next season if Lampard can secure the signature of the Burnley colossus. It could prove to be the most important signing that the club make during the summer, if indeed it comes off.

AND in other news, Lampard could unearth the new Richarlison with Everton bid for “dangerous” £58m talent

Journalist Jacque Talbot has revealed that Newcastle United now ‘want’ to sign Renan Lodi this summer.

The Lowdown: Targett alternative?

It is not guaranteed that the St. James’ Park faithful will sign Matt Targett on a permanent deal from Aston Villa this window, despite 97.5% of surveyed supporters wanting him to stay.

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Thus, they may have to look at other targets in the left-back area in case the Englishman stays put at Villa Park, albeit in what would be a pretty surprising twist.

The Latest: Lodi wanted

Taking to Twitter, Talbot has revealed that they now ‘want’ to sign Lodi, with the Atletico Madrid left-back ‘keen’ on a move to the North East:

“Told Renan Lodi is yet to hear from Atletico and Newcastle regarding the move but club want him and the player is keen.”

The Verdict: Options…

Of course, the Tyneside outfit could still go back in for Targett, but it is good to see them exploring other options, especially in the form of Lodi.

Described as a ‘very dangerous’ player by Atletico manager Diego Simeone, the Brazilian has proven himself at the highest level, playing in the UEFA Champions League this season, while also helping Atletico win the La Liga title last campaign ahead of the likes of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

Nonetheless, the Magpies were already able to lure another one of their full-backs in Kieran Trippier to the club in January, and so they should back themselves to get a deal done for Lodi as well.

In other news, find out which ‘exemplary’ soldier NUFC are now ready to sign here!

A huge Rangers update has emerged regarding Ibrox machine Connor Goldson heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Gio van Bronckhorst has revealed that the defender looks set to leave the club upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the month.

The Dutch head coach has not completely ruled out a new contract for the Englishman but is being realistic about the chances of the 29-year-old still being at Ibrox next season.

Van Bronckhorst told the Glasgow Times before the Scottish Cup final: “Regarding Connor, the club has been in talks with him to extend his contract. So far, he hasn’t extended it. The chance he will still be a Rangers player after tomorrow will be small.

“I would love to have Connor in the team next year. But as you see quite a lot, when players are getting out of contract, there are two possibilities – to keep playing or to move on and maybe have another challenge.

“I still have in my mind that he will be part of Rangers next year. That’s my feeling more than the reality. We will have to watch in the coming weeks. But I think Connor has been amazing for this team in all of his years as a Rangers player. Will it be his last game on Saturday? I don’t know right now.”

Supporters will be gutted

Gers supporters will surely be left feeling gutted by these comments from the manager, as they suggest that Goldson will be on his way out of the club this summer.

Van Bronckhorst states that the likelihood of the defender staying at Rangers is ‘small’, and this will be upsetting for fans as the centre-back has been a vital player at Ibrox in recent years.

In the Premiership this term, Goldson averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.18 as he started 36 of the Light Blues’ 38 matches. He produced consistently brilliant performances at the heart of the defence as he made himself a reliable option for the head coach.

Last season, he started al 38 top-flight games and averaged a phenomenal score of 7.39 for the Gers as he helped the team to keep a whopping 26 clean sheets on their way to the title. He won an impressive 71% of his duels and made 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game as he played a pivotal role in their success.

Goldson also showcased his quality on the continental stage as he caught the eye in the Europa League, with an average Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 14 starts as Rangers fell short in the final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

These statistics illustrate how impressive he has been for the Glasgow giants and shows why the supporters will surely be gutted by his potential exit ahead of next season.

AND in other news, Ross Wilson plotting Rangers swoop for 16 y/o “teen talent”, GvB will be buzzing…

Transfer insider Dean Jones says that Newcastle United will now ‘listen to offers’ for Allan Saint-Maximin in the summer.

The Lowdown: Time up?

Saint-Maximin has been linked with a big-money move away from St. James’ Park this summer, with Aston Villa thought to be one of the clubs interested in his signature.

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With just five goals and four assists so far this season (Transfermarkt), perhaps we have not seen the best of him, and so he could be sold in order to help fund a mega spending spree which could comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

The Latest: Jones update

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones has shared that the North East club will now ‘listen to offers’ for Saint-Maximin, claiming that he ‘didn’t help himself’ by asking for a new deal earlier this season:

“Saint-Maximin didn’t help himself by asking for a new contract at a time where he probably didn’t need one or maybe deserve one. From what I understand, Newcastle will listen to offers for Saint-Maximin in the summer.”

The Verdict: At the right price

The Tyneside outfit should only be looking to sell Saint-Maximin for the right price.

Dubbed a ‘top-class’ player by Kevin Phillips, his influence on the team is still unquestionable, as he currently ranks as their second-best performer in the Premier League overall, and top in terms of assists, shots and dribbles per game (WhoScored).

However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) may want to aim even higher in the market now that they have secured their Premier League safety, and so Saint-Maximin could be sold to help balance the books for FFP.

In other news, find out which ‘absolute beast’ NUFC are now eyeing this summer here!

Aston Villa and West Ham are reportedly readying big offers to sign Lille forward Jonathan David.

The Lowdown: David profiled

David, primarily a centre-forward who can also play as a second striker or as an attacking midfielder, has been with Lille since 2020. [Transfermarkt]

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Valued at £45m, the Canada international has scored 30 goals in 94 appearances for the Ligue 1 side and has an impressive record for his country, netting 20 times in 30 games.

Labelled as ‘fearless’ by Canada manager John Herdman, the two-footed forward is under contract in France until 2025, but it looks as if a summer exit could be on the cards.

The Latest: Villa ready to write ‘big cheque’

Sports Witness relayed a story from a French outlet regarding David on Thursday. They claim that both Villa and West Ham stand out in a long list of potential buyers, adding that they are ‘likely’ to write a ‘big cheque’ for his services.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and PSG are also name-checked in the report, with a €50m (£42.5m) fee mooted.

The Verdict: Watkins replacement?

It looks as if both Villa and West Ham are willing to spend big on a forward ahead of the 2022/23 season, with the Hammers actually keen on Ollie Watkins.

Reports in recent days have stated that David Moyes’ side are eyeing up a move for the forward this summer, with Villa looking to make a substantial profit on the 26-year-old.

So, should West Ham come in with a bid for Watkins, NSWE could then put those funds towards a move for David, who now has Champions League experience and has netted at least 13 league goals in each of the past three seasons, turning out in a variety of attacking roles.

In other news: NSWE now close to agreeing deal for another midfielder alongside Coutinho.  

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe strengthened his team with a host of new signings throughout the January window.

The Magpies head coach was given the funds by PIF to make major additions to his squad in the form of Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Matt Targett, Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn.

These players, along with the existing playing roster, have propelled the Toon clear of relegation. They are 11 points above the bottom three in the Premier League with three games left to play and look set for another year in the top flight.

The focus may now turn to the summer transfer window and the players they want to bring in to take the team to the next level.

Earlier this season, it was reported that Newcastle are interested in landing Borussia Dortmund gem Axel Witsel at the end of the campaign with a contract offer of €7m (£6m) per season.

They have recently been handed a golden opportunity to go through with that, as the Belgian midfielder has confirmed that he will be a free agent this summer, stating earlier this month: “I’ll be gone next season. I am very happy that I have played here (Dortmund) for four years at the highest level. But I am sad to leave the club. I have many friends and great teammates here.”

Howe must now pounce on this chance to swoop for the enforcer, for whom Dortmund paid €20m (£17.1m), as he would be a superb addition to the Newcastle squad with his quality and experience at the top level.

Dortmund icon Marco Reus previously heaped praise on the Belgian battler, saying: “Axel has a lot of international experience as a number six and a number eight. He radiates calmness and self-confidence – in critical situations, too. Axel showed what he can do at the World Cup. He will make us better.”

These comments show how highly Witsel’s captain rates him, which is understandable when you look at his career. The 33-year-old has played a staggering 120 matches for Belgium at senior level and featured in more than 100 games for each of Dortmund, Zenit and Standard Liege.

Throughout his career, he has averaged an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.98 across 353 outings, making 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game. This shows that the holding midfielder has played to a high standard consistently over the course of many years, which is why he would be a fine player for Howe to call upon.

Imagine him and Bruno Guimaraes lining up in the Magpies’ midfield. Whilst Witsel can use his defensive quality and experience to shield the back four and keep things ticking over, the Brazilian can go forward to inject life into the attack.

The January signing has four goals and one assist in eight Premier League starts, and his attacking flair mixed with the Belgian’s nous can make for an exciting midfield partnership, which is why Newcastle must snap up the 33-year-old on a free transfer.

AND in other news, PIF prepared to make NUFC bid for “well-schooled” £17m tank, Howe would love him…

Journalist Alasdair Gold has been full of praise for Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero following his ‘superb’ performance against Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Eye-catching performance

Antonio Conte named the 24-year-old in his starting line-up for the Premier League clash against the Foxes on Sunday afternoon as the Lilywhites secured a 3-1 victory at home, with goals coming from captain Harry Kane and a brace from Son Heung-Min.

The Argentina defender caught the eye of the football.london correspondent when making a challenge which ultimately led to Son scoring Spurs’ second goal of the match on the hour mark.

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The Latest: Gold praises Romero challenge

Gold took to Twitter immediately after the goal to share his thoughts on Romero’s fateful intervention, which prompted some Leicester complaints over what they felt was a foul on Caglar Soyuncu.

Providing updates on the match for football.london, the journalist wrote: “Son fires home to double Spurs’ lead, with Kulusevski setting him up. It all came from a huge, crunching tackle from Romero in the centre of the pitch. Full commitment from the Argentine, who has been superb today once again.”

The Verdict: Romero was excellent for Spurs

Aside from that moment, the £29k-per-week Romero was a standout performer against Brendan Rodgers’ side, proving to be an absolute rock at the heart of the defence. As per SofaScore, the Argentine made five clearances, three tackles and three interceptions, along with winning both of his aerial duels and five of his ground duels.

His challenge turned out to be a pivotal moment in the game because it helped to give Spurs a two-goal safety cushion, at a time when Conte’s side were lacking a bit of inspiration while the match was very much in the balance.

This crucial win for Tottenham sees them remain firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place at the end of the season, with just four games of the current campaign left to play.

In other news… a Spurs source has shared some big in-house player news