All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

As per German newspaper Stuttgart Nachrichten, via Inside Futbol, some big Tottenham Hotspur transfer news has come to light as they step up the chase for Sasa Kalajdzic.

The Lowdown: Conte in striker chase…

Spurs manager Antonio Conte has his eyes on a new striker to partner or back up striker Harry Kane with consistent links surrounding the likes of Man City star Gabriel Jesus.

This comes after the Lilywhites confirmed both Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster’s arrivals on Bosman deals, but now the transfer window is officially open, club chief Fabio Paratici can start making more big-time moves.

Jesus isn’t the only forward on Spurs’ radar as some news from the continent emerges concerning VFB Stuttgart striker Kalajdzic.

The Latest: Spurs step up Kalajdzic bid…

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

According to Stuttgart Nachrichten (via IF), the north Londoners, and by extension Conte, are ‘stepping up’ their attempts to sign the Austria international as they push for a move.

It is believed that the Premier League giants are ‘intensifying efforts’ for Kalajdzic as Spurs seemingly up the ante in their chase for a striker transfer.

The Verdict: Get it done?

This report claims the 24-year-old would only cost around €25 million (£21m) to sign this window, an arguably affordable fee for Spurs and Paratici.

Described as an ‘Ibrahimovic-machine‘, you could argue Kalajdzic’s physicality is almost tailor-made for English football given his quite staggering 6 foot 6 frame.

He’s also scored a solid 22 goals in 48 Bundesliga appearances, a record which arguably could be better if Stuttgart’s star didn’t spend half of 2021/2022 sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Kalajdzic may well be one to keep an eye on over the summer.

In other news: Tottenham make contact as they ‘world-class signing’ for Conte! Find out more here! 

Leeds United are looking at another American-based player along with New York City FC striker Valentin Castellanos, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Castellanos links

The Whites are thought to be ‘most interested’ in Castellanos after Manchester City passed up on their option to sign the 23-year-old.

Victor Orta and Angus Kinnear were recently spotted alongside Leeds director Massimo Marinelli just over five miles from New York City’s Yankee Stadium.

It seems as if Castellanos could be the third signing of the summer with Brenden Aaronson signed and a move for Rasmus Kristensen at an advanced stage, but Leeds aren’t stopping there.

The Latest: Another…

90min shared a story on Friday looking at Leeds’ interest in Castellanos. They added that as well as the Argentinian, Leeds have unnamed representatives looking at another American based player.

The report doesn’t reveal who that player is, although the Whites were linked with Philadelphia Union left-back Kai Wagner in the final weeks of the season.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-4/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Double deal?

Kristensen looks set to become the second player to swap RB Salzburg for Leeds, and it appears as if the Whites have their eye on another double raid over in the US.

Castellanos would bolster Jesse Marsch’s attacking ranks, something which is needed after Patrick Bamford’s injury struggles last season.

Another USA-based player could also be on their way to Yorkshire by the looks of it, and if it is Wagner, he’d provide competition to Junior Firpo at left-back with Stuart Dallas sidelined.

In other news: Graham Smyth: Orta now looking at Leeds move for new striker target wanted by numerous PL clubs. 

Aston Villa fans were left reeling by the exit of club captain and talisman Jack Grealish last summer when he joined Manchester City, but Steven Gerrard may already have a natural heir for the £100m man up his sleeve in teenage wonderkid Louie Barry.

The forward, who joined Villa after a spell in Barcelona’s La Masia academy, has already won a lot of plaudits for his performances in the academy and out on loan, after spending the second half of last season with Swindon Town in League Two, helping them to a playoff position in England’s fourth tier.

Barry is already well-known to Villa fans after marking his senior debut with a goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup during the 2020/21 season, when the Villans were forced to start an academy side after a virus outbreak at the club.

The youngster contributed 23 goals and six assists in just 30 appearances for the academy sides before Villa decided he was ready for a taste of senior football and it certainly didn’t take him long to adjust, as he contributed six goals and one assist for Swindon last season.

Swindon boss Ben Garner was full of praise for the teenager after a sensational performance against Walsall, saying:

“He’s very coachable, very very coachable and takes things on. Tactically very intelligent.

“The confidence of the goal at Carlisle last week and then these two finishes on Tuesday, for a young lad at 18-years-old, to go in like that and show that composure, is wonderful.”

Birmingham Live reporter Ashley Preece also suggested that the “hype is real” regarding Barry after he scored twice against his old side West Brom in an academy fixture, which suggests that Villa fans can be really excited about his future at the club.

Although he was initially seen as a striker, Barry featured predominantly on the left-hand side for Swindon and showed that he could finish with devastating effect with both feet with this brace against Walsall – something which Villa fans became accustomed to seeing on a regular basis during Grealish’s spell at the club.

WhoScored suggests that Barry’s strengths include his shooting, dribbling and ability to play through balls, so the similarities with Grealish are clear to see.

While he might need another loan or two at a higher level before making his mark on Villa’s first-team squad, all the signs suggest that Barry will have a very good career, and there seems no reason why he can’t emulate what Grealish achieved at his boyhood club.

And, in other news… Forget Suarez: Gerrard must unleash Villa’s “unsung hero” next season

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could well prove to be the deciding factor in any move for Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the respected insider suggested that Arteta’s links to the forward – having previously worked under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad as assistant manager – may well help tempt the 25-year-old into a move to north London.

Amid reports linking the 54-cap international to the Emirates, O’Rourke revealed that both the Gunners boss and their Brazilian contingent could have an impact on the move going ahead: “I think the opportunity to work under Mikel Arteta again would be a big factor in any decision from Jesus and there’s quite a few Brazilian players at Arsenal as well, which would maybe make it easier for him to settle in if he were to leave the Etihad for the Emirates.

“Arsenal are going the right way under Mikel Arteta, I think it’s fair to say, so I’m sure it’s something that he would definitely consider if Arsenal do follow up their interest.”

This latest claim follows centre-back Gabriel teasing a move for his compatriot to join him at the club, with a new striker seemingly on the agenda despite Eddie Nketiah nearing a contract renewal.

Supporters buzzing

That update from O’Rourke will only get pulses racing among Gunners supporters, with Jesus an ideal fit to solve their centre-forward woes, particularly with experienced marksman Alexandre Lacazette looking set for a departure.

In truth, while it had been a turbulent last 18 months or so prior to his eventual exit in January, former skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has no doubt left a notable void in Arteta’s squad, with the Gabon international having scored 68 Premier League goals during a four-year spell at the club.

In the most recent campaign, the squad’s highest scorer was Bukayo Saka with 12 goals in all competitions, although only two other players got into double figures, with that shortage of goals potentially proving costly in their failure to secure a top-four berth.

That is where the City gem comes in, with the £45m-rated hotshot having scored 13 goals and registered 12 assists across all fronts in the 2021/22 season for the title winners, notably bagging four in a brutal dismantling of Watford back in April.

As well as offering versatility, having featured on either flank or through the middle during his time in England, the 5 foot 9 speedster also offers a wealth of experience when it comes to lifting silverware, including winning four league titles in just the last five seasons.

In what remains a youthful squad in north London, adding a player of such elite calibre could well prove a real masterstroke, with supporters set to be ecstatic at managing to pluck such a gifted asset from a Premier League rival.

Although it is perhaps a worrying thought that City are so well-stocked that they are potentially happy to cash in on a player who has scored 95 goals in 236 games for the club since his £27m arrival back in 2016, it would remain a coup for Arsenal nonetheless.

Having fallen short in their bid to secure Champions League football for the first time since 2017, the club – and its supporters – will no doubt be optimistic that Jesus can finally get them over the line next term.

IN other news, Vieira 2.0: Arsenal gifted chance to sign “top-class” £25m ace, he could guarantee UCL…

New Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, is looking forward to working with former Ajax player Donny van de Beek when he returns from his loan spell at Everton.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from super-journalist Fabrizio Romano, who took to his Twitter page to relay Erik ten Hag’s comments in his first press conference.

Romano shared Ten Hag’s statement: “I really had a good relationship with Donny. Of course, I’m looking forward to meeting him again on the pitch. We had a fantastic squad at that time in Ajax.”

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-man-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more-nunez-ten-hag-nkunku-richarlison” title=”Read the latest Man United news!”]

Exciting news

Before his move to United back in 2020, Van de Beek was a key man for Ten Hag’s Ajax side that won the Eredivisie title and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2018/19 season.

His heroics for Ajax under Ten Hag are unquestionable. You only have to look back at his numbers under the now 52-year-old to understand he was a key part of the promising side that featured the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs De Ligt, David Neres and Hakim Ziyech.

In 110 appearances for the Amsterdam outfit under the guidance of Ten Hag, Van de Beek conjured up 32 goals and 29 assists, a combined total of 61 attacking returns

His final season at Ajax saw him drum up eight goals and six assists in 23 Eredivisie league appearances before departing for Manchester United, for what appeared to be an extremely positive move for both parties.

Though it was not the case, with Van de Beek failing to establish himself as a regular, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer picking roughly the same team week in, week out.

His time at Everton has also not panned out how he would have expected it to, so a chance under former boss Ten Hag when he returns to his parent club could well be his final chance to revive his Premier League career.

Under Ten Hag’s guidance, this could feel like a new signing for Manchester United fans, an exciting eventuality no doubt and one they will love.

In other news: MUFC now in pole position to sign £27m-rated “absolute beast”, he’s better than Varane