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Newcastle United have been linked with a summer transfer move for RB Salzburg midfielder Mohamed Camara.

What’s the news?

According to Salzburger Nachrichen (via TEAMtalk) the Tyneside club have an interest in signing the 22-year-old during the current summer window.

Having also been linked with a move to fellow Premier League club Leeds United, it was recently claimed by Fabrizio Romano that the Yorkshire club will not be bidding to sign the player.

As a result, it could give the Magpies the green light to launch a move to sign him.

A player with “three lungs”

The 22-year-old joined Salzburg back in the 2019 summer transfer window from FC Liefering and has since gone on to make 76 appearances for his current club, scoring three goals and delivering seven assists in the process.

In his 25 league appearances last season, the Mali international won 33 tackles and made 37 interceptions, putting him in the top three for each statistic at the Austrian club.

This shows the defensive talent he has and what he’d be able to offer Eddie Howe’s side.

Bearing in mind how Newcastle faced more shots at their goal (527) in the Premier League last season than the likes of Everton (521), Brentford (496) and Southampton (493), this highlights the need for the Toon to add a player like Camara to their ranks that can snuff out danger from the midfield.

To further highlight what sort of player he is, when asked in a Q&A who were his role models as a young player, Camara had this to say on the matter.

He said: “Firstly, Steven Gerrard. I haven’t seen too many games from him, but I like his style of play, his dedication, his personality. On the other hand, N’Golo Kante. People also call me from N’Golo Kante because we play the same way. He’s a player with three lungs, so do I. In short: he is my idol.”

Taking all of this into account, the prospect of having a player like the £24.3m-rated Salzburg star in his ranks would surely have Howe jumping for joy, especially if it would mean he would have his own version of Kante at St. James’ Park.

AND in other news: NUFC plotting bid to sign sign “fabulous” £18m “diamond”, he’s a big Shelvey upgrade

A Manchester United move for Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry is getting ‘more likely’ all the time. 

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who was speaking to GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

Sky Sport Germany reported in June that United hold an interest in the Germany winger, who is now into the final 12 months of his £115,000-per-week contract at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern will be aware that, come January, he will be negotiate pre-contract terms with a foreign club, and the Bundesliga champions’ CEO Hasan Salihamidzic recently urged the 26-year-old to be open about his wishes so that ‘we can find a solution that makes everyone happy’.

The latest

Jones has said that a prospective move to Old Trafford might be seen as a logical step for all parties, particularly because Gnabry could be available at a ‘reasonable price’.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “It’s one they’ll have to consider if it drags on. And the longer he doesn’t sign a new contract, and the longer United don’t have a solution in attack, the more likely it becomes.

“He’s a solution on the market that is doable at a reasonable price, so it’s possible.”

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The verdict

There are a number of compelling arguments for United to pursue Gnabry.

First of all, his track record is very strong. He has been directly involved 104 goals in 171 appearances for Bayern (64 goals, 40 assists), including 27 last season (17 goals, 10 assists).

In 2019/20, the former Arsenal forward made the Champions League squad of the season after helping Bayern to win the tournament outright.

Beyond that, he is also versatile, capable of operating on both flanks as well as the number 10 role. He offers a strong defensive contribution, ranking in the 70th percentile for interceptions and the 88th percentile for tackles among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues (via FBRef).

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has waxed lyrical about the Germany winger, calling him ‘phenomenal’ and ‘world class’, and the reported price tag of €40m (£33.9m) looks very tempting indeed.

Celtic have seen numerous players leave Glasgow over the years to join teams in the English Premier League.

One player who followed this path is Stuart Armstrong, who joined the Hoops in 2015 from Dundee United.

During his time at Parkhead, the Scotsman made 144 appearances across all competitions, in which he scored 28 goals and delivered 25 assists.

In 2018, Armstrong said goodbye to Celtic as he joined Southampton in a deal worth £7m. Since then, the 30-year-old has gone on to make 134 appearances for the south coast club, racking up 17 goals and 12 assists in the process.

Now that some years have passed since the Scotland international brought an end to his time as a Celtic player, it seems as though the Hoops could now have the chance to bring in their next version of Armstrong.

Last month, it was claimed on Twitter by talkSPORT’s Geoff Peters that the Bhoys are keen on signing Blackburn Rovers’ Tyrhys Dolan, who the presenter labelled as being “highly rated”, for a fee of £2m to £3m.

With 34 Championship appearances to his name last season, the 20-year-old found the net four times and supplied three assists for his team-mates.

This highlights his attacking prowess in being able to not only score goals but set them up as well, in a similar way that Armstrong did at Celtic and has done for his current club.

Also, with the youngster featuring as a wide player and through the middle of the midfield and attack, this sort of versatility puts him in the same light as the former Hoops figure, as he has also shown how capable he is of playing out wide and in the middle of the pitch when called upon.

To further compare the duo and their attacking talents, in their previous league campaigns, they both racked up at least 30 shots at goal and delivered more than 30 crosses.

If a chance to secure a deal for the Blackburn starlet arises this summer, the Hoops should definitely do all they can to bring him to Parkhead, especially since their Old Firm rivals Rangers recently signed their own young attacking talent in the form of Rabbi Matondo.

AND in other news – “Made contact with…”: Joseph drops Celtic transfer update, supporters will be gutted

Tottenham Hotspur are considering a move for James Maddison…

What’s the word?

That’s according to transfer insider and journalist Dean Jones, who has claimed that the north London outfit have “touched base” over a potential move for the Leicester City midfielder.

“I’m told Spurs have touched base over Maddison and a deal would not be impossible but it would cost them a lot of money,” he told GIVEMESPORT. “Probably more than they would want to spend. But you never know, the door isn’t closed.”

It’s thought that the Foxes may have to sell some of their top stars if they are to raise funds to bolster Brendan Rodgers’ squad, and the Englishman is one player who could garner a substantial fee, as per the reliable John Percy of the Telegraph.

Maddison could cost in the region of £50m.

Would be a huge coup

This would be something of a massive coup for the Lilywhites as they would be getting one of the top English creative talents in the Premier League – over the course of 133 top-flight appearances, he has scored 33 goals and provided 25 assists.

The 25-year-old, valued at £45m by Transfermarkt, enjoyed one of his best seasons to date last term, where he delivered a whopping 18 goals and 12 assists from 52 appearances in all competitions.

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In the Premier League last campaign, Maddison ranked inside the top 5% of his positional peers for goal-creating actions (0.70 per 90), the top 10% for non-penalty goals (0.44 per 90) and the top 12% for passes into the final third (2.89 per 90), via FBref, which only highlights his playmaking ability.

Once dubbed a “special talent” by The Times journalist Henry Winter, it’s evident that the one-time England international is something of a proven and reliable option for any top-flight team.

If Spurs are really in the market for a new no.10-type figure, as the Evening Standard suggests, then they should look no further than Maddison, especially as he has also been lauded as a “genius” by BBC Norfolk presenter Rob Butler.

Of course, any quality English talent is going to cost a pretty penny but the prospect of Maddison feeding in the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son with his creative and set-piece ability is surely enough to pull the trigger.

Tottenham are certainly considering it, based on Jones’ latest claim, so supporters around N17 are surely buzzing by the prospect of them signing Maddison as their seventh, and potentially final, signing of the summer window.

AND in other news, Paratici given green light to seal “extraordinary” £34m Spurs signing, Conte needs him…

Transfer insider Dean Jones has provided an update regarding the Leeds United loan pursuit of Manchester City youngster James McAtee. 

The lowdown: Hot property

According to a fresh report from the Daily Mail, Leeds, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and La Liga outfit Villarreal are all keen on acquiring the services of McAtee ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The 19-year-old is highly regarded at the Premier League champions and it’s believed that there would need to be assurances regarding potential playing time when deciding upon the best landing spot for the England youth international.

Now, one knowledgeable onlooker has shed some further light on the admiration from Elland Road as Victor Orta attempts to make further additions to Jesse Marsch’s squad…

The latest: ‘Leeds are looking at…’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones – who writes for Eurosport – has claimed that Leeds are certainly ‘looking at’ the possibility of signing the three-cap England Under 20 starlet on loan.

He said: “I think that it’s something Leeds are looking at and they’re interested in him. I don’t think anyone is convinced that Manchester City will let him out, so they might have to wait until the end of the window.

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“I think McAtee is also cautious about making sure he lands at a club where he gets opportunities, so there’s still lots to do there.”

The verdict: Make it happen

Likened to David Silva and Phil Foden, McAtee has certainly caught the eye in his fledgeling career to date, directly contributing to 71 goals in 87 outings for the youth teams at City.

Handed a debut by Pep Guardiola last season, the Salford-born sensation was described as ‘exceptional’ by the Spaniard and made five further outings for the Manchester giants throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

Predominantly performing as a central attacking midfielder, McAtee can also operate in numerous advanced positions and would therefore be a welcome addition to Marsch’s forward-thinking options for the upcoming season, particularly following the departure of Raphinha and injury to Adam Forshaw.

Having already shown a willingness to hand opportunities to talented youngsters such as Joe Gelhardt, Lewis Bate and Sam Greenwood, age appears to be no obstacle when it comes to finding a path into Marsch’s plans and therefore Thorp Arch could be the ideal place for McAtee to continue his development.

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is likely to extend his contract at the Emirates Stadium…

What’s the word?

That is according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who delivered a rather exciting behind-the-scenes Gunners claim to GIVEMESPORT this week, where he said:

“Edu [Gaspar] particularly won’t entertain offers for Saka at the moment and doesn’t believe that even a Liverpool bid could force the club to sell at the moment, so I think he will sign a new contract.”

The England international has reportedly attracted interest from some of the Premier League’s elite, including defending champions Manchester City and Champions League runners-up Liverpool.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mail claim that the Arsenal hierarchy have offered the versatile winger an extension that would make him one of the club’s highest-paid players, which is thought to be over double his current £70k-per-week deal.

Edu masterclass

If Jones’ words ring true, then Edu and co could be about to deliver on another masterclass in north London as Saka is integral to the Gunners’ long-term plans.

The Hale End gem broke the 100-appearance barrier last season, having featured in 43 matches across all competitions. He played a part in all 38 fixtures in the Premier League, where he delivered 11 goals and seven assists, proving to be one of Mikel Arteta’s biggest influences.

Indeed, only Martin Odegaard (2.1 key passes per game) was a more creative threat in the final third, with Saka averaging 1.8 key passes made per outing, via WhoScored.

Meanwhile, when compared to his positional peers across Europe, you can see that the Gunners dynamo has been performing at an exceptional level for quite some time – he ranks amongst the top 6% for touches in the opposition box (6.92 per 90) and within the top 18% for shot-creating actions (4.29 per 90), as per FBref.

Those returns only further reinforce his ability to change the game and this form for club and country has seen the England star earn plenty of praise from those around him.

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour described Saka as a “revelation” and claimed that he “can be anything he wants to be” to talkSPORT, whilst Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate dubbed him a “fantastic talent” after their Euro 2020 final heartbreak against Italy last summer.

Therefore, if Edu can seal Saka’s contract extension, then he could well deliver yet another masterclass at the Emirates Stadium, having already sealed the impressive signings of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fabio Vieira this transfer window.

The 20-year-old officially getting a new deal would be the cherry on top for a phenomenal summer of business.

AND in other news, Arsenal “very confident” of signing “elite-level” £25m gem, he’s their next Santi Cazorla…

West Bromwich Albion ended their previous Championship season with some rather underwhelming attacking statistics.

One of which was that despite having the third-highest number of shots at goal (646) in the division, their percentage for shots on target was the worst in the league (29.1%).

Taking this into account, it’s easy to see why the Baggies brought some new attacking players to the club earlier in the summer transfer window.

In fact, their two new recruits managed to hit the ground running during West Brom’s opening game of the new season away at Middlesbrough.

After falling behind in the first ten minutes thanks to a goal from Isaiah Jones, the Baggies drew level in the second half after Jed Wallace played the ball for John Swift to convert past Zack Steffen in goal.

Wallace, who joined the Baggies on a free transfer from Millwall back in June, not only managed to grab the all-important assist for his new side on his league debut, but he also managed to make three key passes in total and have two shots on target.

Now that the former Millwall star has hit the ground running at his new club, the remaining weeks of the summer window could give the Midlands club the chance to add even more firepower to their squad in the hope that they don’t have another misfiring season.

One name that has been mentioned with a move to the Hawthorns that would certainly help in that department is Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer, someone who could form a rather menacing attacking duo with Wallace.

With 106 appearances to his name at senior and youth levels, the 20-year-old has fired in 34 goals in total, showing that he definitely knows how to find the back of the net.

In fact, during his loan spell in the Championship with Preston North End during the second half of 2021/22, the Englishman ended up racking up the second-highest number of shots on target (20) at the Lancashire club.

Hailed as a “goal machine” by Villa journalist Ashley Preece, it’s safe to say that the young attacker could be an ideal addition to West Brom’s ranks and would surely benefit from having a player like Wallace feeding him goalscoring opportunities on a regular basis, which would certainly terrify defences throughout the Championship.

Combine that with the fact that Bruce recently said he’d be looking to secure some loan deals before the window closes, sealing one for the £2.4k-per-week striker should be at the top of the Baggies’ to-do list.

AND in other news: Bruce can land a Livermore heir by signing “outstanding” machine for West Brom

Arsenal have enquired over Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto, according to transfer insider Dean Jones…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT this week, the Eurosport journalist revealed:

“If they decide to stay in the Premier League, I think Pedro Neto could be one to look out for.

“There have been some enquiries made along that path and I think that’s one that might get talked about a little bit more in the next week or so.”

Indeed, the Gunners have held a long-term interest in the Portuguese winger, according to the Daily Express, and their search for wide additions could now take them to the Midlands, having missed out on Raphinha to Barcelona.

Neto is miles clear of Pepe

With the north London giants looking to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad with another wide man, it could be club-record signing Nicolas Pepe in serious danger of falling further down the pecking order.

The £72m man has been something of a flop since his arrival from Lille in 2019. The 27-year-old has scored 27 goals and provided 21 assists in 112 appearances for the club but was restricted to only 681 minutes in the Premier League last season, as per Transfermarkt.

One performance against Newcastle United last season saw GOAL journalist Charles Watts lambast him as an “utter disaster” and also claimed that it “could well be his final game in an Arsenal shirt.”

According to the Daily Mail last month, the Gunners are prepared to cut their losses on the Ivory Coast international this summer, with Sevilla, Lyon, Marseille and Leeds United said to be monitoring Pepe’s situation.

Neto would be something of an elite upgrade, should he be available. Some reports suggest that the Wolves star would cost in the region of £50m.

The 22-year-old missed the bulk of last season with a ‘serious’ knee injury, featuring in only 13 matches, but he still remains one of the most exciting young talents in the Premier League.

In 2020/21, Neto tore Arsenal apart in both fixtures, scoring at the Emirates Stadium and assisting a goal back at Molineux in a pair of 2-1 victories. Those were just two of his 11 goal contributions that season, as per Transfermarkt.

Despite his lack of minutes in the past year, the Portugal international still compares favourably to fellow wingers across Europe.

As per FBref, who liken his statistical profile to that of Bukayo Saka, the wide man ranks inside the top 6% for total shots (3.24 per 90), the top 9% for progressive passes received (8.74 per 90), the top 12% for progressive carries (8.58 per 90), and the top 13% for shot-creating actions (4.53 per 90).

All of which highlights his ability to get on the ball to cause a threat in the final third. Neto is capable of playing on both flanks, as well as through the middle, so perhaps it’s no surprise to see such impressive numbers as he’s firing off plenty of shots and receiving the ball in the right areas to do damage.

Something that cannot be said for Pepe.

Neto has received plenty of praise for his form and ability in England, ranging from former Premier League marksman Alan Shearer deeming him to be a “huge talent” to Sky Sports pundit and commentator Jamie Carragher lauding him as a “superstar.”

As such, technical director Edu Gaspar and his recruitment staff must look to get this deal over the line before deadline day on September 1st. It’s clear that Neto would be an outstanding acquisition in north London and one that could finally push Pepe closer to the exit door.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano reveals what Arsenal could now do in August…

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Marco Asensio throughout the summer transfer window so far, and a new update has emerged on the player’s future.

What’s the latest?

According to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo, football agent Jorge Mendes has offered the Reds the chance to sign the 26-year-old.

As per the report, the Real Madrid forward has been offered to a number of clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea as he is in the last year of his contract at the Bernabeu.

The report goes on to confirm that no official offer has been made for Asensio as of yet.

Imagine him & Nunez

There is no doubt that Liverpool already boast an extremely talented forward line with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and new signing Darwin Nunez making up the new-look front three at Anfield. However, with so many outgoings in the attacking ranks over the summer, it could be a great piece of business to sign Asensio in the coming weeks.

Divock Origi, Sadio Mane and Taki Minamino all departed the Merseyside giants over the transfer window, so the offer from Mendes could be a golden opportunity to provide strength in the attacking third as the Reds seek challenge for multiple trophies yet again this season.

Asensio has enjoyed a very successful career at Real Madrid, playing a part in winning three Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles and three UEFA Super Cups since joining the club in 2016.

The Spaniard hasn’t been a consistent starter for Los Blancos but has been a reliable and consistent performer when called upon to make an impact on the pitch, scoring 49 goals and delivering 24 assists over 235 appearances.

Indeed, Salah has now signed a contract extension at Liverpool to extend his stay until 2025; and with Luis Diaz joining the squad earlier this year prior to Nunez, it would seem unlikely that Asensio gets guaranteed first-team football at Anfield. However, due to his versatility in positioning, he could be a huge asset to Jurgen Klopp.

The £25.8m-valued star, who Real Madrid legend Guti once claimed has the “future at his feet”, has ample experience in being deployed in both the left and right wing roles and in attacking midfield, so the Liverpool boss would be bringing in a player who can cover a number of positions should it be needed.

With his winning mentality built up over the last six years at Real Madrid and experience in playing alongside elite centre-forwards like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, he could be the perfect player to come into the Liverpool forward line to get the very best out of young Nunez.

The 23-year-old hasn’t had the easiest start to his Reds career after being sent off on Monday night following an incident with Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen, so it would be great to have an experienced player like Asensio to come in and work with the youngster alongside the other forwards in the team to help the Uruguayan fulfil his potential on Merseyside.

Signing the Spaniard would be a big coup for Liverpool, but with more pressing issues in the injury-ridden middle of the park, it may be a move which is put on the backburner, with potential midfield reinforcements becoming the priority at the club over the last two weeks of the transfer window.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Joao Pedro in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope has claimed that the Magpies are set to make a second bid to land the Brazilian centre-forward.

The journalist has added that it will be short of the £35m asking price but they are looking to meet the Championship side in the middle in the coming days.

He Tweeted: “Understand Newcastle are returning with improved offer for Watford’s Joao Pedro after £20m bid was rejected. Still said to be way short of Watford’s £35m valuation, but there is confidence among some a compromise will be agreed this week.”

Dream Hugo Ekitike alternative

The Magpies missed out on one of their striker targets earlier in the window as PSG snapped up Hugo Ekitike from Stade Reims ahead of them.

Newcastle journalist Jordan Cronin has claimed that Pedro has a “similar profile” to the Frenchman in the sense that he is a young striker with the potential to improve.

Eddie Howe could now land a dream alternative to the current PSG starlet by signing the Brazilian from the Hornets this week, or in the weeks to come in the window.

Ekitike has scored ten goals in 28 Ligue 1 appearances but has never stepped foot outside of his home country at club level. It is impossible to tell whether or not he would be able to adapt to playing in the Premier League and England which is why Pedro could be a better option for the Magpies.

Both players are 20 and have plenty of room left ahead of them to develop, with former Watford man Jobi McAnuff once claiming that the Brazilian talent has a “bright future”.

He has made 31 Premier League appearances and scored three goals in his career to date, whilst he has also played 42 matches in the Championship and chipped in with ten goals and three assists.

This shows that, despite his young age, Pedro has a wealth of experience playing in England. There would be no concerns about how he would adapt to playing for Newcastle because he has already settled in the country, whereas there would have been a question mark over Ekitike in that regard.

Along with that, he could be more suited to the pressing style of play Howe wants to deploy as he has averaged more pressures per 90 (18.45) than the PSG man (17.82) over the last 365 days, whilst also averaging more tackles, blocks and interceptions – suggesting that he is more effective than the former Toon target with his work off the ball.

Therefore, the Watford man is a dream alternative to the Frenchman. He has the potential to improve – at the age of 20 – and he has the profile of a player who could hit the ground running due to his time with Watford.