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A huge Rangers transfer update has emerged from an insider on winger Ianis Hagi, following recent speculation over his future at Ibrox…

What’s the talk?

The forward’s famous father, Gheorghe Hagi, has claimed that his son will be remaining in Glasgow despite the reported interest in his signature.

Romanian journalist Emanuel Rosu quotes him as giving this eight-word update: “He’s staying with Rangers, he loves it there”

Galatasaray and Premier League side Aston Villa have both been touted with an interest in the wide man with the January transfer window on the verge of opening.

Ecstatic

Rangers fans will surely be ecstatic with this news as it suggests that the Romania international will be going nowhere anytime soon.

Supporters may have been worrying about what could be about to come next month due to the speculation surrounding his name at the moment, but his dad, who clearly has inside knowledge on Rangers and his child, has now allayed those fears.

He may not be getting the goals and assists to catch the eye this season but his overall performances have been excellent. Hagi has averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.15 in the Premiership, despite having one goal and zero assists, which shows that he is performing well without getting the rewards he possibly deserves.

Former Gers boss Steven Gerrard once heaped praise on the attacker, saying: “We’re really happy with Ianis Hagi, he’s a joy to work with.

“He’s a student of the game. He’s always looking at areas to improve, whether that be from a physical point of view or tactically or technically. He’s someone you have to drag off the training ground.

“Ianis is always in the analyst department too. He’s never out of the gym, so he’s an absolute dream to work with, very low maintenance. We’re delighted with how he is developing and progressing and we’re happy to have him.”

Last season, he produced seven goals and 11 assists in just 23 league starts, whilst averaging a score of 7.02. This suggests that his all-around play has improved in the current campaign but he has lost his magic touch when it comes to the final action to score or create a goal.

If he can maintain his current high standards and recover his contributions in the final third from last term then he could be a phenomenal player for the club. That is why fans will be ecstatic with the prospect of him remaining in Gio van Bronckhorst’s squad, as it will give the Dutchman more time to extract the best from the young talent.

AND in other news, GVB heading for his first big disaster at Ibrox, it may be season-defining for Rangers…

Adama Traore can be perceived in two ways; exciting and impossible to defender against or, an incredibly frustrating player to watch with a severe lack of end product. No matter which way he is perceived, Wolves legend Steve Bull believes that he would fit in at Chelsea.

There have been reports that Thomas Tuchel could turn to the Wolves star if the club’s attempt to land Inter Milan wing-back Achraf Hakimi are unsuccessful, after the Blues made an audacious £56.1 million bid for the defender.

Traore, described as “unplayable” by by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp last year, had been utilised in several different positions under former boss Nuno Espirito Santo. They included wing-back, winger and a striker to accompany Raul Jimenez, but it would be the former position that Tuchel would look to deploy the Spaniard in if he brought him to Stamford Bridge.

Tuchel brought a huge amount of success to Chelsea with a top-four finish and the Champions League trophy, and with his first transfer window as manager he would be bringing in a great player if he signed Traore, and Bull could see the Spaniard fitting in as he spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“He’s fast and has nimble feet so he’d suit Chelsea and the way they play because he could use all his energy up the pitch and let the midfielders tuck in and cover him.”

Chelsea are spoilt for choice in the final third but the only option they have that can get past a defender with raw pace is Christian Pulisic but his injury record is not great so having a stronger version of Pulisic in Traore would be ideal for Tuchel.

The £43,000-per-week winger would be a massive loss for Bruno Lage before he’s even got his feet under the table as he really can flip a game on its head by himself – you just have to look at the 1-0 victory against Fulham when both sides were very poor but the Spaniard took it upon himself to smash an effort into the top corner.

PCP Capital Partners remain confident that Newcastle United’s proposed £300million takeover will go through, Chronicle Live journalist Mark Douglas reports.

They remain ‘absolutely committed’ to the deal, rebuffing any suggestions of interest in other clubs.

Meanwhile, the members of Saudi’s Arabia Public Investment Fund officially maintain they have withdrawn their interest.

But sources close to them are ‘adamant’ that they are still keen and that the process will resume if ‘a path to the takeover being completed emerges’.

Douglas’ lowdown on Newcastle takeover arbitration

That so-called ‘path’ could hinge on the decision of the independent arbitration panel, who will make a ruling on whether the PIF is separate from the Saudi government.

The Premier League determined that that was not the case.

Newcastle, Douglas adds, could still launch further legal moves if arbitration does not have the desired outcome.

The team took giant strides towards Premier League survival with a run of eight points from a possible 12 and, sharing Douglas’ words on their Twitter page, Chronicle Live claimed the takeover ‘will be the next big issue’ at the club with next season in the top flight now all but secure.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Let’s place this highly complex situation in a sporting context – we’re entering the final weeks of the season, and the opening of the transfer window is just over a month away.

Barring a swift resolution, it seems likely that Newcastle will be preparing for the 2021/22 campaign with Steve Bruce as manager and Mike Ashley as owner.

But will Ashley want to commit any significant funds to transfers if he feels a takeover may be imminent?

It feels as if the club is in limbo right now, and that could certainly be damaging to any potential transfer plans in the summer.

In other news, read Allan-Saint Maximin’s intriguing programme comments.

Rangers will face Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly at Ibrox this summer.

The lowdown

Rangers will likely be preparing for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first full season at the helm. In addition to drawing up transfers, they’ll also have to arrange friendlies to help the squad build fitness for competitive fixtures.

If Rangers finish second in the Scottish Premiership and fail to win the Europa League, then they’re likely to enter the second round of Champions League qualifiers, scheduled for the second half of July.

Meanwhile, the start of the SPFL season is pencilled in for the weekend of 30/31 July.

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The latest

Football London’s Alasdair Gold writes that Rangers held talks with Spurs this week over a potential summer meeting at Ibrox.

The Lilywhites are due to jet off to South Korea for two matches, and wanted to line up a game in Glasgow on their return.

And those efforts have been a success, with the ‘excited’ Spurs officially confirming the fixture for Saturday July 23.

The verdict: Exciting indeed

This can only be good news. Rangers’ players get the chance to test themselves against elite opposition, and the added intensity should be of benefit to Van Bronckhorst’s side.

Last summer, when they faced Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal, they could only welcome 2,000 spectators amid coronavirus restrictions, but this year, there’s no reason why they can’t get close to a full house and generate considerable funds too.

And the club hierarchy will be looking for alternative revenue sources this pre-season after backing out a friendly against Celtic in Australia following a backlash from fans.

In other news, read this journalist’s concerning Alfredo Morelos claim. 

Manchester City have been linked with both Pedro Neto and Jack Grealish in recent months but who would be the better addition to Pep Guardiola’s side?

Jack Grealish

According to the Daily Mail, City are favourites to sign the £100 million-rated Aston Villa captain this summer after his hugely impressive performances in Dean Smith’s side so far this season.

The 25-year-old has contributed six goals and 10 assists in 22 top-flight appearances so far this season, averaging a superb 7.73 rating – which sees him ranked as the second-best performer in the whole of the Premier League.

His performances over the past two seasons in the top-flight have seen him called up to the England squad, and after making his debut in September 2020, he has now earned five caps under Gareth Southgate.

Although there is no doubting his quality, Villa would undoubtedly demand a huge fee for Grealish, especially after he signed a new five-year contract with the Birmingham-based club ahead of the season.

Pedro Neto

According to journalist Duncan Castles on the Transfer Window podcast, both Manchester City and Manchester United are considering a move for the 21-year-old this summer after his excellent performances for Wolves.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have struggled in the absence of Raul Jimenez this season but have been aided by the excellent performances of Neto, who has contributed five goals and five assists in 29 appearances, resulting in an impressive 7.13 average rating.

The Portuguese international is now rated at £31.5 million by Transfermarkt, although with his Wolves contract running until 2025, you would perhaps expect the Old Gold to also demand a hefty fee for the former Lazio man.

Pundit Adrian Clarke certainly rates the winger highly, as he sang his praises earlier in the season, saying:

“I love Neto. I think Neto is destined to be a Champions League player in the not too distant future. I think they’ll do really well to hang on to him. You forget how young he is. He’s brilliant.”

Who would be the best option?

Although Grealish has arguably been the better performer this season and has the advantage of being homegrown, we feel that Neto would be the better long-term signing in Guardiola’s side as he is younger, would presumably cost less and possesses more pace than the Villa captain, so would be more useful as a counter-attacking winger at City in the mould of Leroy Sane or Raheem Sterling.

Therefore, Txiki Begiristain should consider bringing the Wolves man to the Etihad this summer, as it seems that he is destined for the top and he could become world-class under Guardiola.

And, in other news… Pep set for huge boost with “incredible” £90m-rated gem amid Romano claim

According to Football Insider, West Ham have enquired about Glasgow Rangers’ Connor Goldson as the Gers aim to give him a new contract.

The Lowdown: Gers eye new Goldson contract

Centre-back Goldson, who moved to Rangers in 2018, has just one year left on his current deal at Ibrox (Transfermarkt).

As such, the Gers are eager to offer him a new deal, and sources say they are confident the defender will put pen to paper on a three-year agreement.

The Latest: West Ham interested

That update comes amidst reports the Hammers are interested in the defender.

The report says the Europa League outfit have enquired about the availability of the former Brighton man.

However, Ibrox sources confirm that negotiations are still ongoing to extend Goldson’s deal after talks stalled earlier this year.

The Verdict: Too important to lose

A number of players will attract interest from other clubs after the Gers won the Premiership last term but, while Steven Gerrard will be eager to keep all of his star players, Goldson is one player he can not do without.

Incredibly, Goldson played every single minute of every single game in every single competition for the Gers last term – that amounted to 56 matches. Much of the Gers’ success was built on their impressive back line – they conceded just 13 Premiership goals (thefishy.co.uk) – and Goldson was at the heart of that.

The 28-year-old is currently valued at £6.75m (Transfermarkt) – a considerable fee, and one the Gers could stretch if they were looking to sell. However, Goldson is just to important to let go. Whatever they do, they must get him signed to a new contract soon.

In other news, one pundit is shocked at this Alfredo Morelos claim.

Bruno Lage has been in the Wolves hotseat for a few weeks now but he’s yet to conclude any transfer business.

The Old Gold may have to deal with potential departures before they welcome any new incomings, with Adama Traore and Ruben Neves reportedly both up for sale.

What’s the word?

If the Portugal midfielder does leave the club, they’ll need to find a replacement in the middle of the park.

Wolves already have a number of defensive midfielders at their disposal but they could land a big upgrade in Roma’s Amadou Diawara. According to reports from Italy this week, the Old Gold have submitted a bid to sign the holding player.

Valued at €30m (£27m) this time last year, it’s unknown what sum of money they submitted for his services.

Unfortunately, it looks as though Diawara has rejected Wolves’ proposal. That’s despite the idea of Granit Xhaka joining the Italian club from Arsenal this summer.

It remains to be seen whether Wolves make another offer for the 23-year-old.

Better than Dendoncker?

Wolves may have a plethora of options to play in a holding position but none are arguably more combative and forceful than Diawara, and Leander Dendoncker is one player who could suffer as a result of Wolves’ interest in the Guinea international.

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The Belgian is currently playing at Euro 2020 for his country but had a rather indifferent season under Nuno Espirito Santo at Molineux.

The 26-year-old played at centre-back and in midfield but failed to offer them much progression when in control of the ball, while his defensive statistics were also rather hit and miss.

Dendoncker won 1.04 tackles per game, which was fewer than Diawara’s impressive average of 1.64. Furthermore, the Wolves transfer target completed more interceptions (1.23 per match) than the Belgium international, who recorded 0.97 per game.

On top of that, the Guinean is a lot more comfortable in possession. He was successful with 89.3% of his passes last term; a number which put him in the 94th percentile for passing among midfielders in Europe’s top divisions. By comparison, Dendoncker ranks in the 71st percentile for completed passes.

The Roma enforcer hasn’t had the most traditional of upbringings but that hasn’t hindered his football development.

Robert Visan, an Italian agent and scout, noticed his talent from a young age and secured him a trial with a small club in the third division of San Marino back in 2015.

The club’s coach Fabrizio Tazzioli waxed lyrical about him, saying: “I saw the guy in training and thought that he is a phenomenon. He is not as strong physically, but better with his feet and has the same presence on the pitch.”

Being compared to Marcel Desailly, Diawara would be a fabulous capture for Bruno Lage and Wolves, and they must somehow convince him to come to Molineux.

AND in other news, Lage could discover his new Ruben Dias at Wolves in “phenomenal” £62k-p/w beast…

Manchester United could be handed considerable encouragement in their pursuit of Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga this summer.

The Red Devils have been linked with a swoop for the Frenchman in the past, with AS reporting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is interested in the player but would have to beat competition from the likes of Real Madrid in which to secure him.

Now, The Athletic indicate that the 18-year-old is set to reject a new contract at his current club in the aim of forcing through a move in the near future.

With his current deal at Rennes set to expire in the summer of 2022, this could see Camavinga sold by the club this year or indeed released on a free transfer at the end of next season, which may give the Red Devils considerable encouragement over whether a deal can be conducted sooner rather than later.

The £54m-rated midfielder would certainly be an excellent addition for United should they decide to profit from Camavinga’s decision.

Even in his tender years, the youngster has racked up a number of appearances for Rennes, appearing a total of 77 times for the club and harnessing a reputation as one of the most dominant defensive midfielders in world football – hence the interest in his signature from the likes of United and Real Madrid.

Whilst to be expected, even the player’s agent has been talking Camavinga up, predicting that the midfielder is going to be a “superstar” in the future.

With just one year left on his deal, signing the Frenchman could also well end up being considerably cheaper than his £54m transfer rating.

It goes without saying then that his preference to leave the Roazhon Park within the next couple of years has handed United and Solskjaer a big boost in their respective transfer plans.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-man-united-transfer-rumours-and-news-old-trafford-macheda-solskjaer-lingard-ousmane-dembele-anthony-martial-injury-rabiot-van-de-beek” title=” The latest Man United transfer rumours and news from Old Trafford…”]

AND in more news, Dean Windass has suggested that David De Gea’s Manchester United career is “over”…

Watford have been handed a huge boost to their hopes of bringing Rodrigo De Paul to Vicarage Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to The Mirror journalist David Anderson, who claimed in a post on Twitter that Leeds United are now no longer in the race for the Udinese Calcio midfielder, who is reported to be a target of the Hornets this summer.

However, a report by Tutto Atalanta would suggest that there still remains a great deal of interest in the £34.2m-rated man in the upcoming transfer window, with the outlet claiming that practically all of the big Italian sides have enquired about De Paul.

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive the 27-year-old De Paul was for Luca Gotti’s side this season, the news that Watford are now facing less competition in their bid to bring the Argentina international to the Premier League is likely to have fans buzzing.

Over his 36 Serie A appearances this term, the £31k-per-week man scored nine goals, provided nine assists and created 20 big chances, in addition to making an average of 2.3 key passes and completing 3.4 dribbles per game, seeing the midfielder earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.53 – ranking him as the club’s best performer in the Italian top flight.

Indeed, when comparing De Paul’s direct involvement in goals to those of the Watford players this season, only Ismaila Sarr’s return of 13 strikes betters the midfielder’s haul of nine, while no Hornets player bettered the Argentine’s nine.

As such, it would appear a highly advisable move for Cristiano Giaretta to do all he can to tempt the man – whom Udinese’s technical director Pierpaolo Marino dubbed a “tireless worker” – to Vicarage Road this summer, as the addition of De Paul would certainly boost Xisco Munoz’s side’s chances of retaining their status as Premier League side come the end of next season.

In other news: Watford handed boost over “outstanding” 21 G/A target that’ll leave Giaretta buzzing – opinion

Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright has predicted that Francisco Trincao will enjoy a ‘brilliant’ season at Wolves

The lowdown

Wolves signed the 21-year-old on a season-long loan from Barcelona back in July and they will have the option to buy the winger come the end of the campaign (via BBC Sport).

He has started all four Premier League matches so far under Bruno Lage, helping his compatriot to record a first win of the season at Watford on Saturday.

Trincao has averaged 3.3 dribbles per game up to now, ranking him joint-third in the Premier League alongside Dwight McNeil (via WhoScored). The 21-year-old opened his goalscoring account for Wolves in a 4-0 League Cup rout of Nottingham Forest last month.

The latest

Wright has expressed his excitement about Trincao and also stated that the Portugal ace has ‘a beautiful left foot’.

“The chances they are creating, you can see it’s starting to gel,” the Premier League Hall of Fame nominee said during Saturday night’s BBC broadcast of Match of the Day, via Birmingham Live.

He added: “We know what [Adama] Traore can do, and Trincao, he’s got a beautiful left foot – I think he’s going to be brilliant this season.”

The verdict

It’s not just the dribbling statistic which stands out for Trincao. As per WhoScored, he is also averaging 2.5 shots, 1.3 key passes and, as an indication of his work rate, 1.8 tackles per match.

In fact, his WhoScored rating of 7.1 across the first four fixtures of the season puts him second in the Wolves rankings for players who’ve started at least one game in the current campaign.

It’s very early days, but the signs are promising, and Wright’s lofty praise seems justified.

In other news, many Wolves fans flocked to this footage from the weekend.