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Leeds United are closing in on signing Manchester City midfielder Darko Gyabi, according to The Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski.  

The Lowdown: One in one out

The Whites agreed on an initial £42m fee with Manchester City for Kalvin Phillips last week. Leeds were in separate talks with the Premier League champions for Gyabi, who Phil Hay said is expected to sign a four-year deal in Yorkshire.

Phillips is set to undergo his City medical today, and it looks as if Leeds’ move for Gyabi in the opposite direction isn’t too far behind.

The Latest: Journalist’s update

Bajkowski ran a Q&A for The MEN on Thursday and was asked if anything could go wrong with deals for Phillips or Gyabi.

He said that the two announcements should be at similar times, adding a £5m fee is ‘significant’ for Leeds, who have also agreed to ‘clauses’ that will benefit City if Gyabi impresses at Elland Road.

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“The two announcements should be at similar times but any delay wouldn’t suggest anything is wrong.

“Gyabi looks an excellent prospect from what I’ve seen, but £5m is a significant amount of money for someone who hasn’t played any senior football and there will be clauses in the deal to benefit City should he go on to thrive at Leeds.”

The Verdict: Good news

Gyabi is set to become the club’s fourth signing of the summer and second midfield addition through the door after Marc Roca. He is highly rated by those who know him well, with scout Xander Wilkinson describing him as a ‘Rolls Royce’ midfielder.

Therefore, a move to Leeds should be viewed as good news, and you’d expect he’ll initially link up with the U23s at Thorp Arch.

Only time will tell if a £5m transfer will turn out to be a shrewd piece of business, and if it is, it looks as if Leeds will need to pay more money in the long run for the central midfielder.

Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham, who breaks club news on his Lilywhites Rose social media accounts, has praised chairman Daniel Levy after his ‘game changer’ in N17.

The Lowdown: Exciting days…

Antonio Conte guiding Spurs to a top-four finish in the Premier League last season was subsequently followed by a £150m equity increase courtesy of ENIC and the board.

Tottenham qualifying for the 2022/23 Champions League has seemingly had a hugely positive ripple effect filtering right through to this summer’s transfer window.

The Lilywhites have already confirmed three major signings in Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma as Fabio Paratici seeks to back Conte with new additions.

The Latest: Insider praises Levy…

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham has now heaped praise on Levy for a ‘game changer’ which will also have hugely contributed to the club’s on-field investment recently.

Indeed, the Spurs ‘insider’ claimed that Tottenham’s marquee new stadium being open for a full season will have had a huge effect on the club’s finances.

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Wenham explained: “Tottenham’s finances now we have had that full season of the stadium being open to fans, this is a game changer.

“This is why you are seeing money available at the level it is. This is why we will continue to make big signings this summer.

“Even before [the pandemic] we found ourselves in the top-ten European clubs in terms of money. We had overtaken Arsenal already but that gap is going to become mammoth in the coming years.

“Tottenham took more from their club shop than Burnley took in gate receipts last season. These are staggering numbers and it’s only going to get bigger.

“We still have the naming rights deal to come. Tottenham have, and credit to Levy and the board, organically pushed themselves beyond what seemed unimaginable 15 or so years ago without Russian or Saudi money.

“We are now becoming a European superpower and I don’t use that word lightly. The facts speak for themselves.”

The Verdict: Massive…

We’re in full agreement with Wenham. Spurs may now finally be reaping the rewards of that big investment amid previous concerns surrounding debt due to the stadium, which cost £1bn but has now had a full season with an average attendance of 56,523, the third-highest in England last term.

Once Levy and co find a sponsorship agreement for the stadium naming rights, the sky may well be the limit in terms of Tottenham and their finances, especially if Conte can maintain their place in the top four domestically.

Rangers could potentially have the edge in the race to bring a young striker to Ibrox this summer according to one journalist.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Pete O’Rourke suggested that there is hope Giovanni van Bronckhorst can bring Cameron Archer to Rangers this summer.

The respected insider hinted that the Ibrox side’s connection with Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard could aid them in their bid to sign the 20-year-old, should the Midlands outfit sanction a departure this summer.

Amid reports linking the Old Firm giants with the striker, O’Rourke outlined the role Gerrard could play: “It would definitely give them maybe increased hope that they could agree a deal between both clubs.

“There will be a relationship obviously between Gerrard and Rangers, so maybe he might be more inclined to send Cameron Archer up to Ibrox if it does come down to that, knowing what Rangers can offer the striker as well.”

That connection with their former boss could prove vital in helping to fend off rival interest – notably from Watford – although The Athletic report that the former Liverpool skipper will take a closer look at the academy product this summer, before deciding whether or not to sanction a temporary exit.

GvB will love him

That claim will be music to the ears of manager van Bronckhorst, with the Dutchman seemingly keen on the promising forward, amid the club’s search for new attacking recruits.

With Cedric Itten having joined BSC Young Boys on a permanent deal and with Alfredo Morelos tipped for a departure – with just 12 months left on his current deal – the need to bolster the forward ranks has become a top priority.

In Archer, the Glasgow side have identified a talent who is seemingly only going to get better in the coming years, having begun to earn wider acclaim after a real standout campaign for both club and country.

Having joined Preston North End in a six-month loan deal in January, the £5.4m-rated gem went on to score an impressive seven goals and provide one assist in just 20 Championship outings at Deepdale, with manager Ryan Lowe left in awe by his “abundance of talent”.

The £2.4k-per-week starlet followed up that eye-catching loan stint with a stunning burst of form for the England U21 side, netting four times in just four games for the Three Lions, with such form seeing him dubbed a “goal machine” by Ty Bracey.

Equally, while his role back at his parent club has been limited thus far, the Walsall-born ace has still managed to net a remarkable four goals in just six games for Villa at senior level, notably scoring a terrific header in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup back in September.

It would seem then that the lethal marksman is set to kick on even more if handed regular game time next season, with Van Bronckhorst and co potentially able to offer valuable minutes at a top-level club, as they juggle European and domestic duties.

As for the former Feyenoord boss – who replaced Gerrard in the dugout back in November – having such an exciting weapon in his arsenal such as Archer can only be a positive.

AND in other news, “Rangers will…”: Jordan Campbell drops big transfer update, supporters will be livid…

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola may have been gifted a significant boost in the race to sign Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: City eye Phillips move…

The Premier League champions have been heavily linked with a bid to sign Leeds’ midfield maestro as club legend Fernandinho puts an end to his glittering nine-year stay at Eastlands.

Guardiola is reportedly after an heir to the City fan favourite who has played a pivotal role in the Sky Blues’ dominance of English football over the last decade.

In what could be a real summer of change, many first team players have been tipped to potentially follow Fernandinho out of the door with Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus all entering the final year of their contracts (The Times).

Sharing news on who could come in, journalist Rudy Galetti of Tribal Football has shared a very promising update on the chase for Phillips.

The Latest: City enter pole position…

According to the reporter, City are ‘now leading the race’ to sign Jesse Marsch’s star man and have ‘started talks’.

As well as this, Galetti claims Phillips wants to play for Guardiola, even stating the 26-year-old could ‘push with Leeds’ to let him leave ‘unhindered’.

The Verdict: Promising development…

Phillips could leave Elland Road for around €70 million (£61m) according to this report, potentially making him one of the more astute central midfield options for Guardiola.

The England international averaged more tackles per 90 than any City star over the 2021/2022 season and may well come as a solid choice to protect an already resolute back four – with Leeds ambassador Noel Whelan even calling him ‘phenomenal’.

As City’s transfer window gets well and truly underway with the recent announcement of Erling Haaland, supporters should expect far more twists and turns to come.

In other news: Man City now a ‘dream’ move for this very exciting defender…find out more here.

West Ham have been regularly linked with a move for Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd in recent months and if the latest reports are to be believed, he is on the brink of joining David Moyes’ side.

What’s the word?

The Moroccan centre-back has been tipped for a €40m (£34m) move to the Hammers in recent weeks and journalist Dean Jones has now claimed that the deal is in its final stages.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s almost there. They’re just ironing out the final stages of that deal now, so I think it’ll probably be announced by the end of the month. It sounds like all the other pieces are in place, they just need to get the actual finances signed off.”

Moyes’ dream?

West Ham underwent a centre-back crisis last season, with Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma all suffering long-term injuries during the campaign, with Craig Dawson often left as the sole centre-back option in Moyes’ squad.

Therefore, it was always likely that the Scottish manager would move for a new, younger centre-back this summer, with Ogbonna perhaps never likely to fully recover from an anterior cruciate injury at the age of 34.

As impressive as Dawson was last season, he recently turned 32 and West Ham need to look to the future, so the signing of a 26-year-old Aguerd makes a lot of sense.

Last season saw the Rennes defender make 31 appearances in Ligue 1, contributing two goals and two assists, averaging a solid 6.88 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

The 6 foot 2 defender has regularly popped up with goals during his time in France and will undoubtedly add a new attacking threat for West Ham from corners and free-kicks, with the Hammers having scored 14 goals from set-piece situations last season.

Moyes will certainly be able to rely on the 26-year-old to be defensively sound, with WhoScored suggesting that Aguerd had only made two errors leading to shots in his last 90 games of football for Rennes and Dijon.

Therefore, with the Hammers set to splash the cash on Aguerd this summer, Moyes will be delighted that he has a new, younger centre-back to rely on next season.

And, in other news… Moyes given green light for “unbelievable”  £25m West Ham signing, it’d be a huge coup…

West Ham have been linked with a move for Burnley star Maxwel Cornet recently and the 25-year-old could solve a key issue for David Moyes at the London Stadium ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, the Hammers could ‘definitely’ make a move to sign the Ivorian this summer, following Burnley’s relegation to the Championship.

He told GIVEMESPORT:

“I could definitely see West Ham making a move for Cornet. This relegation release clause makes Cornet very attractive to a number of clubs, not just in the Premier League but probably abroad as well.

“I think Cornet had a good debut season in the Premier League for Burnley; he was one of their better players.”

Although he only joined Burnley last summer, the former Lyon man will surely be keen to continue his stay in the Premier League after a standout season that saw him finish as the Lancashire side’s top scorer in the top flight.

He is also reportedly available for just £17.5m due to a relegation release clause in his contract, so would represent a fairly cheap option for the Hammers this summer.

Solving a key headache:

It is a common consensus among West Ham fans that their season dropped off last year due to a lack of squad depth and January signings, as players were regularly forced to play twice a week after their run to the Europa League semi-final.

Moyes lacked a backup striker to Michail Antonio and with the Jamaica international sadly quite injury-prone, it was always going to be difficult for the Hammers to maintain their early season form throughout the campaign.

They could also be said to lack depth at left-back, with Arthur Masuaku inconsistent at the best of times, and Aaron Cresswell showing his vulnerability with costly red cards against Lyon and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Cornet’s performances last season earned a lot of plaudits, including from Roy Keane, a man who is notoriously difficult to impress.

He said: “He started the season really well with some real quality goals.

“Brilliant strike rate and technique. He is obviously a big plus to Burnley. He hit the ground running, with some brilliant strikes. Fantastic.”

Therefore, signing someone as versatile as Cornet, who is more than capable of playing as a left-back, winger or striker, would make a lot of sense for Moyes and would give him a lot more depth and cover ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

And, in other news… West Ham could land next £75m star in 30-goal gem who’s “similar to Hazard”

Recent reports have seen Arsenal heavily linked with re-signing Germany international Serge Gnabry from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, the 26-year-old having initially joined the Gunners’ youth ranks in 2011, before departing five years later after failing to establish himself in the first team at the Emirates.

With just ten Premier League appearances for the north Londoners under his belt, the Stuttgart born gem joined Werder Bremen on a permanent deal in 2016 after a disappointing season-long loan stint at West Bromwich Albion.

The 31-cap speedster was famously deemed not good enough for the Baggies by then-boss Tony Pulis during his dismal period at the Hawthorns, although has since made that assumption look truly ridiculous, having gone on to win a plethora of major honours at the Allianz Arena.

Having joined his current side in 2017 – initially spending the first campaign on loan at Hoffenheim – Gnabry has gone on to score 64 goals and register 40 assists in 174 appearances in all competitions, notably winning four successive league titles as well as the Champions League in 2020.

Once moved on by Arsene Wenger for just £7m, the latest indication is that the £115k-per-week menace could now cost as much as £34m, with that figure having only been reduced due to his contract expiring next summer.

There is, as expected, a great deal of excitement regarding a potential return to English football, although one club that will no doubt be fearing the worst is rivals Tottenham Hotspur, with the Lilywhites having been on the wrong end of a Gnabry masterclass a few years ago.

Then Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino saw his side completely dismantled by Hansi Flick’s rampant Bayern outfit in a brutal Champions League group stage mauling back in October 2019, with the hosts suffering the further ignominy of being torn apart by the aforementioned former Gunners gem.

In a scintillating showing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Gnabry hit four in a remarkable 7-2 victory for the eventual tournament winners, with the result seemingly contributing to Pochettino’s sacking just a month or so later.

The encounter had been relatively even heading in at the interval as the visitors led 2-1, before a blistering second period saw Flick’s men surge to victory in ruthless fashion, with the former Arsenal man becoming the first player to hit four second-half goals in a Champions League game.

His first illustrated his lightning speed as he tore past a lunging Davinson Sanchez before cutting onto his right foot to unleash a remarkable precise finish past Hugo Lloris, before bettering the Frenchman again with a composed finish off the post with his weaker left foot.

The £63m-rated man then put the game out of sight late on with another quick-fire double, wrapping up his hat-trick after racing clear to again slide the ball past a helpless Lloris, before completing his haul with a divine strike across goal that gave little chance to the flailing ‘keeper.

In truth, his greatest impact for Arsenal did in fact come in the red of Bayern, as the Gunners supporters revelled in that display, before he again punished a London outfit by netting twice against Chelsea in the last-16 a few months later.

Not living on past success, however, he has again impressed in the most recent campaign, netting 17 goals and ten assists in all competitions for the German champions, while he also compares remarkably well to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking highly in a string of attacking metrics as per FBref.

Once described as “magic” by Transfermakrt’s Stefan Bienkowski, the lethal forward has that rare quality to make an impact at the highest level on a consistent basis, with his arrival only set to bolster Arteta’s hopes of returning to Europe’s premier competition.

If not to aid them in getting back into the top four, Arsenal simply must sign Gnabry so that he can torment their north London rivals once again.

In other news, Arsenal eye bid for £76.5m-rated “fighter” who “always creates”, he’s better than Saka

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has made a major transfer decision involving former Spurs star and current midfield target Christian Eriksen, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Reunion on the cards?

As per a recent report by The Telegraph, after the 52-year-old secured Champions League football for Spurs next season, the Lilywhites are set to offer the Italian six summer signings in a plea for him to stay in north London.

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It is believed that the Premier League giants will let Conte lead the way in terms of summer targets with ex-Spurs playmaker and fan favourite Eriksen on a list of potential targets.

Transfer chief Fabio Paratici will apparently fly to Italy to hold talks with the manager over plans for the upcoming window, but according to a fresh claim by Football Insider, it appears that Conte has already made a big decision regarding the Denmark international, whom he managed at Inter.

The Latest: Conte green-lights Eriksen move…

According to Football Insider, the Tottenham manager has ‘sanctioned a move’ for Eriksen this summer as his contract with current club Brentford nears its end.

The club have apparently ‘already been in contact’ over a potential agreement, while a source from the outlet explained that the 30-year-old ‘would be keen’ on a ‘sensational’ return to Spurs if a deal can be struck.

The Verdict: Promising update?

Going by this fresh update, it appears that a return for Eriksen to Tottenham could be growing increasingly likely.

We believe that N17 is a perfect landing spot for him given that Spurs can offer the midfielder Champions League football and a chance of working with a manager he knows well in Conte.

Having finished the season as Thomas Frank’s best player going by average match rating, all while making more key passes per 90 than any Bees player (WhoScored), it’s clear that Eriksen still possesses the creativity to be an asset at Hotspur Way.

Pontus Jansson summed up his team-mate’s pedigree by branding him a ‘superstar’, and that perhaps highlights why Conte and co are interested in landing the ex-Spurs star on a Bosman deal.

In other news: ‘Told Spurs are ready…’ – Dam Kilpatrick has exciting transfer news for supporters! Find out more here.

After his performance in the League One play-off Final, Alex Pritchard could be a vital piece in Sunderland’s Championship campaign next season.

The Spurs youth graduate has enjoyed a prosperous campaign on a personal level, having chipped in with eleven assists in League One this season.

And whilst he was able to show consistency throughout a successful league season, he’s demonstrated that he can perform in the big games, starting three appearances in the League One play-offs and providing two assists to help the Black Cats realise their Championship promotion ambition.

The 29-year-old’s performance in the final had chief Sunderland writer Phil Smith waxing lyrical about the former Spurs man in his player ratings, giving Pritchard a rating of nine, making him the joint man of the match with Elliot Embleton also handed a glowing review.

Commenting on Pritchard’s performance, Smith said this as per Sunderland Echo: “Alex Pritchard – 9; Pressed really well and pulled into some excellent areas throughout the first half. Superb work rate and got his reward with the assist for Stewart’s fine second goal. What a moment. 9.”

Operating primarily as a central attacking midfielder in Alex Neil’s alternating systems of 3-4-1-2 and 4-2-3-1, Pritchard – who has scored 43 goals across the course of his career –  has managed to rejuvenate his career at the Stadium of Light and now finds himself as a Championship player once more, in a system that tactically fits him well.

One of the biggest difficulties for Sunderland and indeed the largest priority for Neil will be keeping hold of the core members of this squad.

Pritchard, who was dubbed “especially impressive” for his performance on Saturday, is one of those core players, and having garnered the majority of his experience in England’s second-tier, he knows exactly what it takes to survive at that level.

In the prime of his career at 29, he could be a vital piece for Sunderland in the Championship, and a player who consequently saves them millions of investment in the transfer market.

In other news: Forget Pritchard: £13k-p/w SAFC tank with 11 duels won was the real promotion hero 

Everton were saved from relegation by the skin of their teeth on Thursday night in a stunning comeback win over Crystal Palace.

The Toffees had looked in trouble following their defeat against Brentford, and knowing that a win against Palace would secure their Premier League status regardless of other results, it was the biggest win for the club in years.

The hero of the night? Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

It’s no secret that there hasn’t been a standout player this season for Everton, with Frank Lampard toiling by the week with a struggling side. However, if the 25-year-old marksman can get back to the form that the fans know he is capable of, then next season could be very different for the team.

Calvert-Lewin transfer blinder

The Merseyside club pulled off a blinder with his signing, having bought him from Sheffield United for a mere £1.5m in 2016. His market value as of March 2022 stands at £37.8m, with a high of £40.5m in December 2020.

His rise to stardom and England honours has been wonderful, and it’s a testament to his belief and talent that he has gotten this far in his career – and that there is probably still plenty to come.

If Everton were relegated, the likelihood is that Calvert-Lewin would have left the club and remained in the Premier League, with recent reports linking him with a move to Newcastle United.

His goalscoring record at Goodison Park rose exponentially until niggling injuries and a lack of goals dented the player’s confidence. Having struck 36 times in all competitions in the two campaigns prior, he has just scored five league goals this season, albeit with the most recent of those the most important one in the club’s modern history. Nonetheless, he will be aiming to improve that return next season.

Whatever happens, Everton could make a huge profit on the striker if they really wanted to this summer, especially with another three years left on his current contract.

Lampard will be desperate to keep the player, whose ability in the air was dubbed “prodigious” by academy coach John Ebbrell. Given Calvert-Lewin’s obvious talent, it’s easy to see why.

AND in other news, Forget Richarlison: Everton “nightmare” with 17 duels won was ther real star against Palace