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Manchester City will coast to the Premier League title by Christmas if they sign Harry Kane and Jack Grealish, according to Michael Ball.

Pep Guardiola’s side are the reigning champions and he is looking to boost their chances of winning back-to-back crowns by bolstering his attacking options.

Kane has been at the top of Guardiola’s wishlist since the England captain publicly confirmed he was looking to leave Tottenham Hotspur in a bid to challenge for silverware.

Grealish has also been among City’s top targets, with the club reportedly looking to bag the Aston Villa skipper and Kane in deals worth a combined total of £215million.

Kane finished last term as the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner, having netted 23 goals in the top flight, and also collected the Playmaker award thanks to registering 14 assists.

Grealish would give the Etihad Stadium-based side an added dimension behind Kane and Ball, who featured for City in his playing days, hopes the prospect of the duo joining this summer becomes a reality.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Ball said: “It’s going to be a massive summer of spending if they bring those two to the football club.

“The season could be wrapped up by Christmas if that happens.”

Liverpool have reportedly begun laying the groundwork for a move for Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski. 

According to Corriere Mezzogiorno journalist Ciro Troise (via AreaNapoli), the Reds have made contact with the player’s entourage.

But they face could face competition from their arch-rivals Manchester United, who have also been in touch with his representatives.

The Reds actually tried to sign Zielinski back in 2016 when he was at Udinese.

They submitted an £11.7million bid for the Pole ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s first full season at Anfield, but it was rejected.

Mighty creator Zielinski wows Fernandes

Zielinski featured for his country at this summer’s European Championships, creating 2.3 chances per 90 minutes across their Group E fixtures. That put him in the tournament’s top 10.

United star Bruno Fernandes admitted earlier this year that, ‘technically’, former team-mate Zielinski was ‘better trained’ than him.

He has three years left on his contract in Naples and is valued at £45million by Transfermarkt.

Fan feed LFC Transfer Room relayed the report, and here’s what supporters made of it.

Liverpool fans weigh in on fresh Zielinski links 

“I remember he was coming to us after Klopp’s first season then at the last he’s gone to Napoli. Hope he comes this time”

Credit: @Ahmad_A_Abusada

“It wouldn’t be a transfer window without this one”

Credit: @SoLockedIn

“6 years ago, would have been decent”

Credit: @NikaBochorishv3

“Is this an annual event?”

Credit: @Kopbappe

“GIVE HIM UP, IT’S NOT 2016”

Credit: @JakeFutbol_

“Back to 2016 it is”

Credit: @Stephen_LFC__

In other news, fans were buzzing as links to another midfielder emerged.

Liverpool are unlikely to sign Portugal midfielder Renato Sanches in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update from Paul Gorst.

The Lowdown: Liverpool linked with Sanches move

Gini Wijnaldum’s exit to Paris Saint-Germain has heightened the need for a new midfielder to join the Reds this summer, and Sanches has been linked with a move to Anfield.

The 23-year-old enjoyed an excellent Euro 2020 campaign with Portugal prior to their round of 16 exit, and he also won the Ligue 1 title with Lille last season.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359326”]

The Latest: Journalist plays down interest

Although Sanches would appear to be an exciting option, the Liverpool Echo’s Gorst has poured cold water on the claims, saying that it is a move which is unlikely to materialise. He outlined:

“With Sanches, the issue would be that he is a player who would come in on wages that would not fall in line with where his place would be within the squad.

“Would he be ahead of Keita? There is an argument to say yes, but those who love Keita would say not.

“So that means Sanches would be a tough one to bring in, and I think if they are looking at midfield options, it might be elsewhere.”

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The Verdict: Look for alternatives

Sanches has already played for the likes of Bayern Munich in his career and won the European Championship in 2016, while he has been hailed as ‘incredible’ by Kevin Campbell.

However, there are potential downsides to signing him, not least his injury history. Also, as Gorst outlined, his wages in comparison to the current Liverpool squad indicate that he may not be a guaranteed starter – Sanches takes home £51,000 per week, less than half of what Reds midfielders Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Naby Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain earn.

While the Portuguese may have been an eye-catching addition to the squad, it looks as though Jurgen Klopp will need to focus on an alternative option in the middle of the park.

Liverpool simply must sign another midfielder in the coming weeks – not making an addition would be a huge risk, considering that Henderson and Thiago are in their 30s, not to mention Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain being injury-prone.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has provided a key Liverpool transfer update. Read more here.

Rafael Benitez has asked Everton to place Kalidou Koulibaly’s name at top of their summer ‘shopping list’, according to 90Min.

The lowdown

The 30-year-old centre-back has made 283 appearances for Napoli, including 26 in the Champions League (via Transfermarkt). He has twice been named the Senegalese footballer of the year – in 2017 and 2018 – and was recognised as Serie A’s best defender in 2018/19.

Koulibaly played 26 league matches last season, averaging 1.5 successful aerial duels, 1.4 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 2.2 clearances and 4.8 accurate long balls per game (via WhoScored).

Benitez was in charge when the Senegal defender arrived at Napoli and took charge of the player’s first season there before the Spaniard moved to Real Madrid.

Former Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has described the defender as ‘extraordinary’ and hailed the ‘security’ he offered in front of him (via Goal).

The latest

90Min claimed that Benitez and Everton’s director of football Marcel Brands have been working to identify transfer targets, with the new manager wanting Koulibaly to be made a priority.

Benitez is said to view the 30-year-old as a replacement for £18m-rated Yerry Mina should the Colombian leave Goodison Park.

Encouragingly for Everton, Napoli will apparently entertain offers in the region for £35m for a player they once considered untouchable (via 90Min).

The verdict

A wily operator with ample Serie A and Champions League previous, Koulibaly would take Everton’s defence up a level. Even at 30, he may be worth the money because he could probably perform at an elite level for another few years and could be the foundation for their European charge.

Michael Keane has been a hugely reliable operator for the Toffees, but a truly ambitious club would look to upgrade him. Koulibaly could form an imposing partnership with the exciting Ben Godfrey, and offer the 23-year-old an education in the process.

Everton could again be about to reap the rewards of big-name managers’ past relationships after reuniting James Rodriguez and Allan with Carlo Ancelotti last summer.

In other news, Everton may end up in a bidding war for this target.  

An update has emerged regarding the asking price for Rangers transfer target Santiago Moreno this summer.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Rangers have been handed a boost in their pursuit of the Colombian winger, whose club America de Cali have dropped his price tag by £2m, with the Gers now able to bring the attacker in for £3m instead of the £5m they were initially quoted for him this summer

They will face competition in the hunt for his signature, though. The report claims that English Premier League clubs Southampton, Leeds and Norwich are all tracking Moreno as they look to bolster their squads ahead of next season. However, the former two may be the only competitors in the race as local Norwich press rebuffed the link to the 21-year-old.

Fans would love it

Steven Gerrard must ensure that Rangers are able to secure Moreno’s services. The Rangers boss needs to seal a deal for the youngster to improve his attacking options heading into the 2021/22 campaign as the flying winger could add a new dimension to their attack. His price being lowered to £3m could also mean that Rangers are potentially landing a bargain, as they will not need to pay the full £5m they were previously quoted.

Football Insider claim that Moreno has been likened to Liverpool star Sadio Mane. If Moreno is even half as good as the Anfield ace, then £3m will be looked back upon as an unbelievable deal for Rangers if they are able to pull it off in the coming weeks.

Mane has scored 97 goals and set up another 43 in 218 games for the Merseyside club and is currently sat on 95 career goals in the Premier League. That is not to say that Moreno will go on to match those achievements in his career, but stylistically he is seemingly similar to the Senegal international, and that could excite Gers fans who want to see a player who can get them off their seats when they return to Ibrox.

The £3m-valued dynamo is still full of potential at the age of 21. He has produced six goals and four assists in 25 games this calendar year, which shows that he is already able to contribute with direct goal contributions at a respectable rate, but he still has plenty of room to improve.

Moreno only turned 21 in April and could be a player who Gerrard is able to coach and develop over the course of a number of years, hopefully turning him into the next Sadio Mane whilst at Ibrox. This is why Gerrard must bring the Colombian to the club, as it could work out well for Rangers in the short- and long-term.

AND in other news, “In with a chance” – Exclusive: Graham Roberts drops big Jermain Defoe claim at Rangers…

This summer has been full of riveting drama on the managerial front for a number of clubs in the Premier League, including Everton.

Crystal Palace are on the hunt for a Roy Hodgson successor while the Toffees are finding life difficult to find a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti.

Spurs have also been caught out by Paulo Fonseca, who will no longer become their new boss after a breakdown in talks.

What’s the word?

Tottenham were in discussions with Gennaro Gattuso on Thursday evening but after a fan protest on social media, it looks as though the north Londoners will turn their attentions elsewhere.

That could be good news for Everton who have also taken an interest in the Italian head coach.

Reporting towards the end of the week, Calcio Mercato suggests that his exit from Fiorentina this week could pave the way for a move to Goodison Park.

He left the Serie A side after just 23 days in charge, perhaps a notion that sums up his rather tempestuous nature.

Bad news for Benitez

The hunt to find a new manager for the first-team squad at Everton has taken twists and turns on a regular basis.

Nuno Santo appeared to be the initial favourite but after talks began to stall, Farhad Moshiri and co turned their attentions towards Rafa Benitez.

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However, in much the same way Spurs fans complained to their board over Gattuso, the Goodison Park faithful haven’t been too keen on the former Liverpool boss.

He dubbed the Toffees a “small club” back in 2007, something he’s tried to apologise for, but if Everton do genuinely have other irons in the fire, it can’t be good news for the Spaniard.

That being said, you have to doubt Gattuso’s credentials.

A mean-mannered footballer back in the day, his ruthless and sometimes violent personality could spark a sense of change in Merseyside. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly and isn’t afraid to rock the apple cart.

Though, he doesn’t have the greatest of records to date. The 43-year-old failed to win over 37.5% of his games in his opening four roles with Sion, Palermo, OFI and Pisa, while he was sacked at Napoli and left AC Milan by mutual consent.

What Everton need now is a sense of stability, a manager who is happy to indulge himself in a long-term project.

Gattuso hasn’t racked up 100 games in management for a single side yet; he shouldn’t be the manager that Moshiri calls on this summer.

AND in other news, Everton submit bid to sign “extraordinary” 6 ft 4 colossus, he’d be a huge upgrade…

Nottingham Forest have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Jerry Yates to The City Ground this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Lancashire Telegraph, who claim that Blackpool are yet to receive any contact from Blackburn Rovers regarding a move for the 24-year-old striker, with Rovers having been reported to be one of the many Championship clubs interested in a move for the £90k-rated man this summer.

Nottingham Forest and Bristol City are another two sides reported to be keeping a close eye on the situation of Yates, for whom Blackpool are believed to be demanding a fee of around £5m in order to part with in the coming months.

Hughton will be buzzing

With Forest appearing to be in desperate need of a fresh face up front ahead of their upcoming Championship campaign, the news that Yates remains an available player is sure to be news that will leave Chris Hughton buzzing.

Indeed, over his 47 League One appearances for Neil Critchley’s side last season, the £2.1k-per-week man scored a whopping 21 goals, provided eight assists and created six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making one key pass per game.

These returns saw the striker earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.99, ranking him as Blackpool’s sixth-best performer in the third tier of English football, with the 24-year-old playing a crucial role in his side’s promotion to the Championship.

Yates also scored a further two goals and provided one assist in the club’s run in the FA Cup, returns that took the centre-forward’s haul for the season to 23 goals and nine assists.

And, with Lewis Grabban only managing six goals for Forest in the Championship last season, while Lyle Taylor scored an even less impressive four league goals, it would indeed appear as if Hughton could do with the addition of a forward who can put the ball in the back of the net on a much more regular basis next season.

As such, the fact that the man whom Critchley dubbed an “outstanding” player is still available this summer is sure to come as delightful news for the Forest manager, although he better act quickly if he wants to ensure that Yates does indeed make a move to The City Ground, rather than anywhere else, this summer.

In other news: Imagine him & Johnson: Hughton must sanction Forest summer swoop for 14 G/A “threat”

West Ham are under no pressure to sell Declan Rice this summer, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has told The Transfer Tavern.

Rice continues to be linked with a move to Chelsea, with The Telegraph claiming that Thomas Tuchel is a fan of the player, while Fabrizio Romano claimed on his ‘Here We Go’ podcast, via Give Me Sport, that Chelsea are in talks with his representatives.

Last year, it was reported that West Ham owed £70m from player transfers, which may sound worrying to some supporters.

However, after borrowing money over the last 12 months, Maguire is confident transfer fee issues can easily be addressed without having to sell key assets.

“No, I don’t think they have to sell,” The Price of Football author exclusively told TT. “They have borrowed money over the course of the last 12 months, so that will allow them to deal with those transfer fee issues.

“If they choose to sell, it’s because somebody comes in with a really good offer for Declan Rice. They won’t be in a firesale or liquidation sale environment, where you’re desperate to sell in order to keep the bank manager happy, so I think they’re in a strong position this summer.”

It is great news for manager David Moyes, who will not want to lose any of his star players after such a successful season.

The Hammers, of course, were able to qualify for the Europa League after finishing sixth in the Premier League table, and the Scotsman will surely be hoping to build on that and make sure it was not a one-off.

USMNT star Johnny Cardoso has made a dream start to life at Real Betis as he landed a top La Liga honour for his exploits in February.

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• Cardoso enjoying life in Spain
• Signed for Betis until 2029 from Internacional in January
• Was awarded U23 player of the month for February

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Brazilian midfielder, who made the leap from Internacional to Betis during the winter transfer window, has been enjoying a dream start to life in Spain. He scored his team's third goal in a recent 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao and had earlier bagged an assist as well in February during a 2-0 triumph over Cadiz. And now the 22-year-old has been recognised by La Liga for his efforts and was honoured with the U23 Player of the Month award for February.

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• WHAT PELLEGRINI SAID

  Manuel Pellegrini, coach of Real Betis, lavished praise on Cardoso after his impressive performance against Athletic and told reporters: “He is very organised and intelligent. He needs to adapt to the league but from the first minute, he is performing very well.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The victory over Athletic keeps Betis in contention for European football next season, as they are currently sitting in sixth place in the league table. Reflecting on his goal-scoring moment, Cardoso exuded confidence, stating that he had no doubts when the opportunity presented itself.

  "When I saw the ball coming, I had no doubt to go for goal,” he said.

  “I’m very happy. It still hasn’t sunk in yet but I’m just enjoying the moment with my team-mates. Our goal is Europe, we’ll make it happen.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  On the international stage, Cardoso has represented the US Men's National Team (USMNT) on nine occasions since his debut in 2020. His recent involvement in friendlies against Germany and Ghana highlights his importance to Gregg Berhalter's plans for the national team's future.

The Gunners centre-back has taken her game to the next level over the past few months, and with others out injured, she should get her chance to start

There was plenty for Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall to be happy about following his side's emphatic 3-1 victory over Manchester United in front of a Women's Super League-record Emirates Stadium crowd on Saturday. Following a shock defeat to West Ham, as well as an FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City, the Swede has been under pressure recently, and the welcome win moved the Gunners back to within three points of leaders Chelsea with eight games to play.

Cloe Lacasse seriously impressed on a rare start, Beth Mead was unplayable at times and Lia Walti ran things in the middle of the park. But at full-time, Eidevall made sure to give his makeshift back four – disrupted by Leah Williamson and Amanda Ilestedt being absent – special credit for the victory, singling one player out in particular.

"We had to rejig and you could see Laia Codina, for example, she has been training really well so she was ready to play. But it is still a new back four to play together. But in that unit we have to acknowledge a player like Lotte Wubben-Moy. We have to acknowledge the level she is playing at this season and seeing how she develops," he said.

"A performance like she has today is incredible. I think it is something the whole club should be very proud of because she is Arsenal through and through. She is coming from our academy, our community and to see her excel the way she does at Emirates Stadium, it is fantastic. I am really, really happy for her and the club to see that."

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  Stepping up last season

  Her manager's glowing appraisal after Saturday's huge result has been echoed by most onlookers throughout the current campaign. Almost every Arsenal fan would agree that Wubben-Moy is firmly in the conversation for the Gunners' Player of the Season award, while a spot in the WSL Team of the Year also seems likely if she continues on her current trajectory.

  Wubben-Moy's emergence as a key player has not come out of the blue, though. Following Leah Williamson's devastating ACL injury last season, and with other starting centre-back Rafaelle missing a decent chunk of the 2022-23 campaign too, she stepped up when it mattered, playing near enough every minute of her side's congested run-in.

  Forming an unorthodox partnership with Steph Catley at the heart of the defence, she chipped in with a string of vital contributions; none more so than in her side's Champions League semi-final second leg against Wolfsburg, where she provided the pinpoint cross for Jen Beattie's headed equaliser that sent the game to extra-time.

  Heartbreakingly, it would be Wubben-Moy's tired error in that additional period that would eventually gift the German side their place in the final, but she did not let this setback affect her performances for the remainder of the season, scoring in Arsenal's victory over Everton a few weeks later, a result that went a long way to sealing their spot in the Champions League for the following campaign.

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  Reaching new heights

  New heights have been reached since then, though, with few defenders enjoying better WSL seasons so far. And it was telling that when Williamson did return to the WSL starting line-up in February against West Ham, it was World Cup star Ilestedt that dropped to the bench, not Wubben-Moy, suggesting that the Englishwoman has risen to the very top of the defensive pecking order.

  Delving into the statistics, it's not hard to see why. Earlier in her career, there were concerns that Wubben-Moy was not as effective in possession as some of her club and international colleagues. But this campaign, no outfield player has completed more long balls or racked up more progressive passing distance than her in the WSL.

  She is also carrying the ball effectively; just five WSL players (Anna Patten, Maya Le Tissier, Laia Alexandri, Alex Greenwood and Jess Carter) have racked up more progressive distance than Wubben-Moy's 1766 yards this season. And of those players, just Greenwood has registered fewer minutes than the Arsenal star.

  Wubben-Moy has always excelled at bread-and-butter defending too, and this has continued recently. Bunny Shaw, Sam Kerr and Rachel Daly are among the top-class centre-forwards that she has kept scoreless this season, and she is yet to make an error that's led to an opponent having a shot this term. Meanwhile, only Liverpool's towering forward Sophie Roman Haug has won more aerial duels.

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  Struggling for international recognition

  But amid this excellent run of form, Wubben-Moy has found international recognition under Sarina Wiegman hard to come by this season. She made her Lionesses debut back in 2021, coming on as a substitute during an emphatic friendly victory over Northern Ireland, eventually earning a maiden start in her side's infamous 20-0 thrashing of Latvia in November that same year.

  Since then, she's been a near ever-present in England squads, only pulling out of a few camps due to injury. Despite this, her playing time has been frightfully limited. In fact, since that Latvia game, she's only managed a single start, a 45-minute outing in a friendly against Belgium in June 2022.

  Thus, while she has a Euro 2022 winners' medal, and was a part of the Lionesses' impressive run to the 2023 World Cup final and Finalissima triumph, it all came as a spectator. That will surely change in the upcoming fixtures against Austria and Italy, though.

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  Timing is everything

  In the past, it's been easier for Wiegman to ignore Wubben-Moy. During the Euros, Williamson and Millie Bright were always going to be impossible to displace at the heart of defence. And at the World Cup, Greenwood and Carter each emerged as deserved starters as the England boss flipped between a back-three and back-four.

  But in this camp, Bright and Williamson are unavailable due to injury, and it's hard to argue that Carter and Esme Morgan – who has taken a lot of Wubben-Moy's potential minutes in recent times – are in anything like the same form as her at club level. The same can also be said of United pair Le Tissier and Millie Turner.

  With all of that in mind, and with two low-stakes games for Wiegman to experiment in coming up, it is surely time for Wubben-Moy to seize her opportunity.