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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

The plaudits just keep coming in for Sheffield United.

Although we might be jumping the gun ever so slightly when it comes to this particular assessment of how well they are doing.

What’s he said?

Speaking on the 5 Live Football Daily Podcast, Luke Edwards of The Telegraph made the rather bold claim that he thought Chris Wilder should be in contention for Manager of the Year:

“He is innovative, he is revolutionary in his own way. He’s got Sheffield United promoted that way, and he’s carried it on in the Premier League. They are, Sheffield United, for me, in what I think has been a pretty predictable season so far in many ways, the story of the season. Chris Wilder, manager of the year, I’m going to call it now.”

Find out which Premier League newcomer is a future England boss in the making in the video below…

Let’s just wait and see

People really do need to stop being victims of the moment with things like this.

Do pundits and journalists not remember when Hull City were in their first Premier League season back in 2008/09, how they were on a similar trajectory as Sheffield United right now?

Rather coincidentally, they also beat Arsenal and received plaudits in their first couple of months in the league, only to end up staying in the division by the skin of their teeth on the final day of the season.

Phil Brown didn’t receive Manager of the Year that season did he?

So let’s all just wait and see what happens as the campaign goes on before we start proclaiming just how great things are and are going to be at the end of the season. Feet must be kept firmly planted before the hype overawes the club.

Suspensions haven’t started to take effect yet, neither have any major injuries to the Sheffield United squad. Let’s see what Wilder’s credentials are like when he is really up against it in that way.

As we discussed previously, there are some big tests coming up for the Blades in the form of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, so tunes may very well change if they don’t put in the best of performances in those games.

At the end of the day, what’s going to be better for the Yorkshire side? Having their expectations set too high and then be disappointed when they don’t end up meeting them, or keep them at a reasonable level and then end up beating them?

Liverpool are believed to have submitted an offer of over £75m for an “incredible” player who shone at Euro 2024, according to a new transfer claim.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds continue to be linked with new signings, following a relatively quiet summer in the market, only bringing in Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa, with the former remaining at Valencia for the current campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain star Xavi Simons has been mentioned as one target for Liverpool, with the Dutchman scoring for the Netherlands against England in the semi-finals of the Euros. Virgil van Dijk has described him as a “very talented player”, which speaks volumes about his ability.

Liverpool are also thought to be among the clubs interested in signing Bayern Munich superstar Jamal Musiala, with Manchester City also reportedly eyeing him up. His current club are desperate to tie him down to a new contract, though, seeing him as one of their most prized assets.

Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg is a young talent with a big future in the game and the Reds have been linked with a move for him. Real Madrid are providing strong competition, however, highlighting how highly rated the 17-year-old is.

Liverpool submitted £77m+ offer for "incredible" player

According to Kicker [via Paisley Gates], Liverpool, and by extension FSG, submitted a monster £77.7m offer for Bayer Leverkusen ace Florian Wirtz earlier this year. Bayern also attempted to snap him up, but he decided to stay put at the reigning Bundesliga champions.

The 21-year-old isn’t out of contract at Leverkusen until the summer of 2027, so it is likely to take an enormous amount of money to prise him away from Xabi Alonso’s side.

Wirtz is a magnificent young player with such a big future in the game, so he would have been a spectacular signing by Liverpool if they had managed to strike a deal for him. Former Reds midfielder Joe Cole is a big admirer, saying of him back in May:

“Incredible. I’ve watched him three times this year now and he’s blown me away every time. He’s got a South American flair with a German efficiency about him. We’ve all heard of Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, and Musiala. This lad will be new to the British viewers. Let me tell you, he is every bit as talented as those players. He could go on to be anything.”

It is encouraging that Liverpool were reportedly willing to spend big on Wirtz, suggesting that the money is there to sign big-name players, and it could be that he remains a target moving forward.

10x possession lost: Slot must drop 6-pass Liverpool dud after Forest loss

The Reds fell to a shock defeat at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 14, 2024

He enjoyed a good Euros with Germany, scoring twice in three starts in the competition, and he could only get better with age in the coming years. Granted, he seems happy at Leverkusen currently, but things can change quickly in football, and who knows, he may eventually feel that a new challenge is best for him.

Newcastle United are believed to be in ongoing talks which would rid themselves of player who they rejected a £15m bid for earlier in the year, according to a new transfer claim.

Frustrating summer at Newcastle

The Magpies may not have been wholly convincing yet this season, but they have still picked up seven points from a possible nine in their opening three Premier League matches. Sunday's 2-1 win at home to Tottenham felt like a big result and the hope is that Eddie Howe's men can kick on further after the international break.

It was a frustrating summer in the transfer market at Newcastle, however, with Howe hinting at his dissatisfaction at not being backed enough financially, and failing to improve his squad enough in the process.

Lewis Hall was the most expensive addition from Chelsea, but even he was already on loan at St James' Park last season, and it could be a struggle for a top-four finish to materialise in the league, given the lack of stellar additions at the manager's disposal.

While the summer window has now slammed shut in England, some leagues in other countries are still able to sign and sell players, which has led to a key Newcastle exit update emerging.

Newcastle could loan out "unbelievable" player

According to a fresh update from Sky Sports, Newcastle could allow Kieran Trippier to leave on loan this month, having rejected a £15m bid from Bayern Munich for his services back in the January transfer window.

In fact, an exit could happen in the next fortnight while the international break is taking place, with Turkish trio Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Eyupspor all making "enquiries" about the England international and holding ongoing talks with the Tyneside outfit.

At this point, it does feel as though Trippier's time at Newcastle will come to an end in the coming weeks, having found himself down the pecking order under Howe as time has gone on, being limited to only 32 minutes of action in the league so far this season.

There is no doubt that the 33-year-old has been a brilliant signing for the Magpies, though, with none other than Alan Shearer waxing lyrical over him in the past: "Some of the balls he was putting into the box were just unbelievable. What a signing he has been for Newcastle, he’s in great form."

Given his age, it feels like the right time for Trippier to move on, however, allowing Newcastle to look to the future and continue using younger options instead of him. It will also let him enjoy regular playing time again, as he looks to kick on in the autumn of his career.

Newcastle must regret selling £13m star who's now worth more than Tonali

The Magpies sold a player in 2018 who is now at another Premier League club

1 ByRoss Kilvington Sep 3, 2024

Should he impress out on loan, a permanent exit next summer would then make perfect sense, considering the England international would only have one year remaining on his current deal at that point, but it may be frustrating from an Financial Fair Play perspective to see him leave on loan for nothing when they could have bagged themselves £15m earlier this year.

Rangers’ summer transfer business may not be over yet, as Ibrox chiefs are in talks over signing a promising in-demand talent.

Philippe Clement’s side have been very busy over the course of this summer, as Rangers not only look to close the gap to arch-rivals Celtic, but they will be bidding to move past them and return to the top of the Scottish Premiership. To do just that, Clement has obviously felt that changes were needed when it came to the playing squad, as there have been several comings and goings.

Contact made: Rangers make move to sign £34,000-a-week attacker for Clement

The Gers are still looking to improve their team before next week’s deadline.

2 ByBrett Worthington Aug 22, 2024 Rangers transfer news

The Gers have so far brought in eight new players in this transfer window, such as Robin Propper, Mohamed Diomande, Vaclav Cerny, and Liam Kelly all joining the club. But while there have been plenty of arrivals at the club, the Scottish side has also seen many players leave the club in different capacities.

Mohamed Diomande

Nordsjaelland

Robin Propper

Twente FC

Hamza Igamane

FAR Rabat

Vaclav Cerny

VfL Wolfsburg

Jefte

Fluminense

Connor Barron

Aberdeen

Liam Kelly

Motherwell

Clinton Nsiala

AC Milan U20

Players such as Sam Lammers, John Lundstram, Borna Barisic, Connor Goldson and Ryan Jack have all left the club, to name just a few. Those departures could have been joined by a high-profile player, as it was revealed earlier this week that striker Cyriel Dessers was close to leaving the football club.

It has been claimed that Rangers and MLS side Atlanta United were in talks about a deal that would see Dessers join the American side. According to the report, a deal was close to being agreed between the two clubs for a fee of around $6 million (£4.6 million), but the transfer eventually broke down as Dessers wasn’t keen on joining the MLS side.

As well as rumours regarding Dessers leaving the club, it has also been reported this week that Rangers have Fiorentina's Josip Brekalo on their transfer radar after he has been made available for a move by the Serie A side. Teams from the UK are said to have made contact regarding signing Brekalo, but they are still considered far from being completed, which may state that the Gers have not made an offer for the player just yet. But as well as potentially looking to sign Brekalo, Rangers could be about to add a promising talent to their ranks.

Rangers are looking to sign Sebastian Lochhead

According to Football Insider, Rangers are among the clubs looking to sign Dundee sensation Sebastian Lochhead. The report states that the young centre-back is seen as one of the best talents to recently emerge from Scotland.

This report goes on to add that while Rangers are interested in signing the defender, they also face competition from teams such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fulham, Burnley, and Norwich City.

Lochhead has made it onto Dundee’s first-team bench this season, and he has played twice in the Challenge Cup in the early parts of this campaign. Rangers, as well as the other interested clubs, are said to have contacted Dundee about signing Lochhead, and discussions are ongoing with all the clubs as one of them tries to win the race. All the interested clubs, including those at Ibrox, see the player as a future star and are keen to tie him down to a professional contract once he turns 17.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to improve the quality of their wide options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Reiss Nelson to Newcastle United?

According to Football Transfers, the Magpies are eyeing a swoop to sign out-of-contract forward Reiss Nelson ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the club have made contact with the player's representatives to gauge any potential interest from the winger in a move to St. James' Park.

His contract with Arsenal expired on Monday and the Premier League giants are said to have made an offer to stay at The Emirates, although Eddie Howe is now looking to tempt him into making the switch to Tyneside on a free transfer.

Would Reiss Nelson be a good signing for Newcastle?

The 23-year-old could be an excellent bargain addition for the club this summer as he has the potential to be the dream heir to Allan Saint-Maximin on the left wing.

It was recently reported that Serie A side Atalanta have enquired about a potential deal to sign the French wizard from the Magpies, which could open the door for Howe to ditch the former Nice forward before replacing him with Nelson.

The 26-year-old attacker averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 across 25 Premier League appearances last season and contributed with one goal to go along with five assists, which works out as an involvement every 4.17 matches on average.

Nelson averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.07 across 11 league outings for Arsenal, which would have placed him fifth on Newcastle's roster, while making an impact in the final third with three goals and two assists, a contribution every 2.2 games on average.

These statistics suggest that the English dynamo has the potential to provide more quality than Saint-Maximin at the top end of the pitch, while also being three years younger and having more time ahead of himself to improve under Howe's coaching.

Along with his goal contributions, Nelson, who was reportedly on £38k-per-week with the Gunners, could also be a reliable option in the build-up phase.

His Premier League pass success rate of 91% last term would place him top of the Newcastle team, while the current Toon winger only completed 75% of his attempted passes – ranking 21st in the squad in that respect.

Therefore, Howe could land the dream heir to Saint-Maximin on Tyneside by signing the "explosive" – as he was dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – Gunners ace on a free transfer, as his statistics indicate that he has the potential to be an upgrade on the French maestro.

Liverpool have made an enquiry to Celta Viga over a potential move for midfielder Gabri Veiga, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?

The Reds and Jurgen Klopp have made a start on their summer transfer business by agreeing a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for Alexis Mac Allister.

The Argentine midfielder was announced as a new Liverpool player earlier this month in a transfer that looks set to be worth an initial £35m.

However, with the likes of James Miler, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving the club as free agents and Arthur Melo ending his loan spell, more midfield additions appear to be on the agenda at Anfield.

Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone, Nice’s Khephren Thuram and Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella have all been named as potential targets, with another name being Veiga.

Reports suggested last month that Liverpool were in pole position to sign the player who Klopp viewed as a ‘star in the making’, with Veiga having a €40m (£35m) release clause.

Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share an update on Veiga, claiming that Chelsea have made an enquiry over a move for the Spaniard. The transfer expert said that Liverpool also made an approach of their own earlier in the week and are following his situation.

“Chelsea have inquired on Spanish talent Gabri Veiga's release clause; conditions, payment terms or chance to negotiate with Celta Vigo. No bid or concrete steps as of now.

“Liverpool did exactly the same earlier this week, he's one of the players LFC are following.”

Romano has since added that no bid has been made so far, with the focus on a more physical midfielder at this stage.

Who is Gabri Veiga?

Veiga is just 21 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in defensive or attacking midfield roles, making 40 of his 55 senior appearances for Celta Vigo last season, scoring 11 times and registering four assists.

The player, who has progressed through Celta Vigo’s academy, has seen his Transfermarkt valuation increase from €3m to €30m over the last 12 months.

Hailed as a "very electric player" by Romano and "dangerous" by journalist Euan McTear, Veiga was one of Celta Vigo’s top performers last season, as per WhoScored, outperforming the likes of Liverpool midfielders Fabinho, Curtis Jones, Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott.

Therefore, you could argue that the Spanish talent could be a shrewd signing bot in the short and long run, but with Premier League rivals Chelsea circling, FSG may need to act fast if they wish to bring him to Anfield after making a first approach.

West Ham United are set to add another striker to their ranks this summer, with a report from Romagiallorossa via Sport Witness stating that Armando Broja is set to seal a move to the club.

Are West Ham signing Armando Broja?

Since returning to Chelsea for the 2022/23 and being involved in their first-team squad, the forward has struggled to establish himself and to get regular minutes in the Premier League for the Blues. With his side struggling, he was turned to on just 12 occasions in total and bagged only one goal – the worst return yet of his senior career. However, only two of those 12 appearances were starts and he managed just 3.3 lots of 90 minutes in total.

With Southampton, when given the opportunity to play more frequently, the 21-year-old showcased what he could do. That loan spell produced six goals in 21 league starts and proved that he could take on and handle the top flight. Prior to that, his spell with Vitesse also amounted to ten goals and two assists in 21 top flight starts.

The Albanian could now be set for a reprieve following a difficult campaign with the Blues. That's because according to a report from Romagiallorossa via Sport Witness, West Ham are believed to be keen to bring in Broja as a replacement for outgoing Gianluca Scamacca, and a deal is not only likely but is close to being done too.

It adds that they want to tie up a deal for the 21-year-old as a replacement for the Italian, who will head to Roma on an "expensive" loan deal.

What is Armando Broja's value?

No potential fee for the player is mentioned, but CIES Football Observatory suggests that his worth could be around the 20 million Euros mark (or £17m). It means that a deal may not entirely break the bank for West Ham when you consider the current market and yet they would be getting a Premier League proven player.

It would also be a good fee, if that was the case, for a player that has been described as "sensational" by Francis Benali. Benali was a fan of the youngster during his time at former club Southampton and was quick to heap the praise on Broja. If West Ham can get a deal done for the player then, and give him the gametime he craves, then he could reach those same heights that he did with the Saints.

There is a possibility of Arsenal "revisiting talks" to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners are currently seeking to reinforce their central midfield area, and it seems like a major priority for manager Mikel Arteta. West Ham star Declan Rice, who has been subject to a rejected opening bid from Arsenal, is firmly in their thinking.

Meanwhile, as his Man City contract runs down, treble-winning captain and Germany international veteran Ilkay Gundogan is also a player attracting interest from sporting director Edu.

Caicedo, who starred for Brighton over the 2022/2023 Premier League season, was being heavily courted by Arsenal in January with the player even releasing a statement of his intention to leave the Amex.

The 21-year-old instead went on to pen a new deal at Brighton, putting them in a strong position this summer transfer window as big clubs, including Chelsea, register a real interest.

Arsenal have also been tipped to re-launch a move for Caicedo, with reporter Jones saying they could do exactly that in a column for GiveMeSport.

The journalist, when discussing their transfer targets, claimed Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen RB Leipzig's Mohamed Simakan are early targets for the centre-back area too – with Torino's Perr Schurrs also one to watch.

Expanding further, Jones claims there is a real "possiblity" of Arsenal "revisiting talks" to sign Caicedo as well, even despite their push to sign Rice from West Ham.

Who is Moises Caicedo?

Averaging more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any other Brighton player last season, it's safe to say the South American ace has marked himself out as a real defensive midfield gem.

He is also revered in his homeland, with Ecuadorian critics seeing him as their nation's "crown jewel" and great hope for a new era of football nationally.

Enrico Castro-Montes, a football historian of Ecuador, went into great detail on Caicedo's potential in an interview with Het Niuewsblad (via Sport Witness).

Castro-Montes even said he has been described as a cross between N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba

"Caicedo covers the whole field. He is much more eye-catching," said the historian.

“There will be a lot of pressure on Caicedo’s shoulders. His nickname in Ecuador is ‘La Joya’, the jewel. In his own country, he is really seen as the crown jewel of a new generation.

“Caicedo really has everything to become the best Ecuadorian footballer of all time. I think that off the ball, he is indeed somewhat reminiscent of Kante, but on the ball, he resembles Paul Pogba with his flair and his technique.

“That’s also how they describe him in Ecuador: a cross between Kanté and Pogba.”

As Manchester United look to strengthen this summer, the major priorities for manager Erik ten Hag appear to be the signing of a new number nine and central midfielder, with the Dutchman seemingly hoping to improve the spine of his team ahead of next season.

With regard to midfield additions, Manchester Evening News reported earlier this season that the Red Devils were considering a fresh approach for Borussia Dortmund starlet, Jude Bellingham, with the England international having previously snubbed United's advances back in 2020.

Any potential move for the 19-year-old now appears almost impossible following the news that Real Madrid have reached an agreement with the Bundesliga side regarding a €100m (£86m) deal for the teenager, with the former Birmingham City man looking all but set to be plying his trade in the Spanish capital next season.

To have missed out on a player who is "going to be the best midfielder in the world" – according to Three Lions colleague, Phil Foden – is undoubtedly a blow for the Old Trafford outfit, with Ten Hag needing to find another midfield solution over the coming weeks and months.

The 53-year-old could already be lining up a perfect alternative to the Dortmund ace, however, in the form of Leon Goretzka, with the Bayern Munich machine believed to be a target for the Carabao Cup winners, according to reports in his native Germany.

Should Man United sign Goretzka?

The signing of the £301k-per-week maestro could allow Ten Hag to find his own version of Bellingham, with the two Bundesliga stars said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

That likeness between the 6 foot 2 German and his English counterpart – who is also a towering figure at 6 foot 1 – is not just due to their physical stature, with the pair able to make a stellar impact at both ends of the pitch.

That is showcased by the duo's defensive strength, with Goretzka ranking in the top 3% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for blocks made, while Bellingham ranks in the top 7% in that regard.

Equally, the two men also have the desire to bomb forward and get involved in the final third, with Goretzka averaging 2.2 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 across the last 365 days, while Bellingham is only slightly ahead as he averages 3.6 touches per 90 for the same metric.

With the latter man a player who can "do absolutely everything" – according to United legend Gary Neville – the Bayern ace is also something of an all-action star in his own right, with former boss Julian Nagelsmann describing him as "one of the best box-to-box players in Europe".

Much like Bellingham – who has 24 goals and 25 assists to his name in 132 games for his current side – the former Schalke man also possesses an "incredible goal threat", according to Nagelsmann, having registered 34 goals and 35 assists in 179 games for the Bavarian giants.

While the Bochum native is less of a long-term option having turned 28 earlier this year – in contrast to the teenage Bellingham – his similar attributes to that of the Madrid-bound superstar should make him a perfect fit for Ten Hag at the Theatre of Dreams.

Everton chiefs are keeping tabs on Sunderland forward Jack Clarke ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Who is Jack Clarke?

Clarke is naturally a left-sided winger who completed his permanent move to the Stadium of Light last summer from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, following a successful loan spell the season before. As per Transfermarkt, across both periods up north, he's made a total of 70 appearances to date, scoring 12 times.

In the Championship, the 22-year-old started all 46 games last season and firmly established himself as Tony Mowbray’s second overall best-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.11, and this impressive form has been catching the eye outside of the northeast.

Football League World previously credited Glasgow Rangers, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Toffees all with an interest in the forward who is, as stated by the outlet, expected to be sold during the upcoming window, and Sean Dyche’s admiration has now once again been brought to the surface.

Are Everton signing Clarke?

According to iNews, Everton scouts are “paying attention” to Clarke’s situation and there is a definite “interest” in signing him ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Sunderland are, of course, reluctant to lose their prized asset, but it’s stated that offers of around £15m could “prompt a conversation”.

The Black Cats attacker’s agent Ian Harte, however, has claimed that his client is “happy” where he is and currently has “no intention” of pushing for an exit. The one thing worth noting though is that “every player has a price” and neither the talented prospect, nor his representatives, have “any control” over whether the club decide to accept any offers that arrive at their door.

Should Moshiri splash the cash on Clarke?

Everton should be focusing on signing an out-and-out centre-forward this summer but any kind of positive attacking reinforcement can’t be turned down, and having been dubbed “unplayable” by journalist Josh Bunting, Farhad Moshiri should definitely empty his pockets to bring Clarke to Goodison Park.

The York-born talent racked up 20 goal contributions (11 assists and nine goals) in 45 Championship appearances last season, form which saw him collect six man-of-the-match awards, and even his displays were outstanding when he wasn’t on the scoresheet.

As per FBRef, the SMI Sports Management client recorded a total of 147 shot-creating actions which was more than any other of his fellow teammates, and whipped 96 crosses into the box which was the second-highest number, so he’s always looking to pose a threat in the final third and is a player that would make a significant difference for Dyche on Merseyside.