Sean Dyche was thrilled to see two Everton new boys get on the scoresheet in their 3-0 win over Preston North End on Saturday, alongside a host of key players returning from injury.

Second-half goals from summer signings Jake O’Brien and Jesper Lindstrom completed a comfortable friendly victory for the Toffees after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had opened the scoring from the penalty spot before half-time.

6ft 4″ centre-back O’Brien lashed home a powerful volley from the edge of the box after Preston failed to clear a delivery into the box.

61' Goal! Jake O'Brien makes an impact off the bench. A fine finish!

?? 0-2 ? https://t.co/2VsWpyRq02 pic.twitter.com/c3QQqp1YMA

— Everton (@Everton) August 3, 2024

Lindstrom’s effort was arguably even more impressive, curling a beautiful free-kick over the wall and into the back of the net from distance.

70' Goal! Another debutant on the scoresheet as Lindstrøm curls home a great free-kick!

?? 0-3 ? https://t.co/2VsWpyRq02 pic.twitter.com/A7qpKjRFnM

— Everton (@Everton) August 3, 2024

Both players were making their debuts after joining Everton from Lyon and Napoli, respectively, and Dyche was delighted to see them make a fast start to life in blue — while the likes of Tim Iroegbunam and academy graduate Harrison Armstrong also caught the eye.

“I’m really pleased for the new lads, of course. Jake and Jesper getting two different kinds of goals, but both good goals. Dom (Calvert-Lewin) was looking sharp. [There were] a lot of good habits on show today,” Dyche told evertonfc.com after Saturday’s match at Deepdale.

“You want centre-halves to score, but it’s not always that type of goal. It was a great strike.

“And Jesper, you want him to enjoy that and show signs of little bits of magic. In training, he’s looked like that, whipping them in.

“Tim (Iroegbunam) locked in another 90. He’s new to us, and young Harrison (Armstrong) getting another taste of what we’re about, so I’m pleased for him, as well.”

Preston win a step in the right direction for Everton

Saturday’s victory and the manner of the performance will come as a massive relief to Evertonians, who had watched their side fail to win any of their summer friendlies previously — 2-1 and 3-0 defeats to Salford and Coventry, respectively, following a 3-3 draw with Sligo Rovers.

Dyche himself admitted the ‘mixture’ was better, especially with the likes of James Tarkowski, Vitaly Mykolenko and Idrissa Gana Gueye returning to action.

“After Tuesday, going into this game, we expected to see a difference. We did see a difference, and of course, very important players [returning] who have shown they’re very important players over time. That mixture just felt better and looked better on the eye, as well,” said Dyche.

Everton have one more official friendly to come before they open the 2024/25 Premier League season, taking on Italian giants Roma in the last-ever friendly at Goodison Park on Saturday.

• How to buy tickets for Everton games at Goodison Park

The post Everton boss Sean Dyche names two big positives from Preston win appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Sean Dyche believes new signing Jesper Lindstrom’s versatility and ‘hunger’ can help add another dimension to the Everton attack this season.

Everton completed the signing of the 16-time Denmark international on a season-long loan from Napoli on Friday, with Lindstrom joining Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam as the club’s summer arrivals so far.

Lindstrom can play in all three positions behind the main striker and despite struggling for Napoli last season following a big move from Germany — failing to register a single goal or assist in 29 appearances across all competitions — he’s already proven he has European pedigree with 14 goals and 14 assists in 80 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt between 2021 and 2023.

Getting familiar with Goodison. ?? pic.twitter.com/c5BC6cfJ7K

— Everton (@Everton) July 27, 2024

Dyche believes the 24-year-old can add some extra quality and desire to the Everton forward line in 2024/25.

“Jesper is a player with very good ability who can operate in a number of different attacking roles, which will benefit us heading into the new season,” Dyche told Everton’s official website.

“He joins us with a range of different experiences. He is hungry and eager to succeed with us, and that’s a strong starting point as we look to add more productivity to our attack.”

Director of football Kevin Thelwell added: “We’re delighted to have completed the loan signing of Jesper to further bolster our options at the top end of the pitch, having already brought in Iliman Ndiaye and the return of Jack Harrison.

“Jesper is a player we have been interested in for a long time. He has exciting attributes that we know Evertonians will appreciate and we look forward to working with him to help him produce his best football in an Everton shirt.”

Lindstrom ‘ready’ to show why he should stay at Everton

Everton hold a permanent option in their loan deal for Lindstrom, so it’s now up to him to prove he deserves to stick around.

The midfielder already has a wealth of experience in football, including playing 11 times in the Champions League and winning the 2022 Europa League with Frankfurt.

Lindstrom is hoping to call upon those past successes to drive him forward toward a long career on Merseyside.

“I feel like all of the experiences I’ve had so far have readied me for this moment,” Lindstrom said. “I’ve played in a few different leagues now, I’ve played international football and in the Champions League and Europa League. I feel like I’m ready. I feel like I can help the team and that is what I want to do. I want to show the fans that I’m here.

“This is a season for me to come back on track. I think this is a very good fit for me and I’m ready to show why I should stay here.”

The post Sean Dyche highlights the qualities new Everton star can bring to squad appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool were reportedly interested in signing the Denmark midfielder Jesper Lindstrom.

The midfielder has now confirmed in an interview that Liverpool were keen on signing him before he opted to join Italian champions Napoli.

The 23-year-old midfielder decided to join Napoli instead he wants to play regularly this season. He revealed that he has always been a Liverpool fan and it would have been a tremendous experience to play for the Reds. However, the transfer would not be a smart decision because he might not play regularly at Anfield.

Napoli are also one of the biggest clubs in the world and the opportunity to play for them will be attractive for most players. In addition to that, Napoli have promised him ample game time and therefore he has chosen to move to the Italian champions.

He said via TipsBladet: “There was Liverpool after all, but would I get playing time? Would it be smart to go to Liverpool? I’m a Liverpool fan, it says it everywhere. So it could also be an insanely cool experience. But if I’m not playing, I might as well sit and watch them on TV for another club. I’m at an age now where I have to play some football. That’s why I think Napoli is a good change. It is a top club in the world and they have expressed that I will play and I will get a lot of chances. “

More Stories / Latest News

Former Everton chief executive drops West Ham points deduction verdict after £110m signings

Aug 12 2024, 0:18

Chelsea in shock talks for former player to return after collapse of £34.5m transfer

Aug 11 2024, 23:38

Chelsea’s €40m transfer falls through after major problem finalising contract

Aug 11 2024, 22:54

Napoli won the Scudetto last season and they will look to build on that and do well in the European competitions now.

Lindstrom will add goals and creativity to their midfield. He is versatile enough to operate as the central attacking midfielder as well as in the wide areas. The midfielder had nine goals and four assists to his name across all competitions last season.

He has the attributes to develop into a top-class playmaker for Napoli. If he manages to fulfil his potential in Italy, he will have plenty of opportunities to join a big club like Liverpool in the near future.

The post ‘I’m a Liverpool fan’: 23-year-old playmaker opens up on interest from the Reds appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Good morning and welcome to today’s Daily Briefing – click here to subscribe for this round-up ad-free and straight to your inbox, as well as exclusive columns from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Jonathan Johnson, Christian Falk and Neil Jones!

Today’s top stories:

• Man City advancing in their pursuit of Matheus Nunes
• Liverpool have a very clear stance regarding Mohamed Salah
• Manchester United will decide the future of Marc Cucurella

Ajax

• Mohammed Kudus has joined West Ham from Ajax as part of a €45m package, plus a sell-on clause.

Arsenal

• Kieran Tierney has joined Real Sociedad on loan for the season – no buy option clause included in the deal.

AS Monaco

• Monaco are back in talks with Fulham to sign Tosin Adarabioyo. They hope to get the Folarin Balogun deal done first and will then try to complete the deal for Adarabioyo.

Aston Villa

• Al Duhail have approached Aston Villa for Philippe Coutinho but there’s still no formal bid on the table. Discussions are advanced on the player’s side.
• Cameron Archer has joined Sheffield United as part of a £18.5m deal with Aston Villa.

Barcelona

• Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said: “We will have space with Financial Fair Play to sign more than one player.” The first player that will arrive is Joao Cancelo from Man City.

Bayer Leverkusen

• Nathan Tella has joined Bayer Leverkusen from Southampton for £20m.

Chelsea

• Roma feel they can reach an agreement for Romelu Lukaku within the next 24 hours and want the deal done on Monday. José Mourinho is pushing a lot for the player after a loan fee in excess of €5m was offered. Negotiations took place on Sunday night to get it over the line.

• Manchester United and Chelsea spoke on Saturday about a Marc Cucurella loan deal. The decision on how this deal moves forward comes down to United – more info can be found here.

Crystal Palace

• Dean Henderson is set to join Crystal Palace from Manchester United as part of a £20m deal, with a sell-on clause.

Eintracht Frankfurt

• PSG are still optimistic that they can get a deal done with Eintracht Frankfurt for Randal Kolo Muani. Negotiations will enter into the key stages very soon.
• Napoli are closing in on a deal to sign Jesper Lindstrøm from Frankfurt.

Everton

• Recent changes to Al Shabab’s board have slowed down a deal for Everton’s Demarai Gray.
• Everton will look to make the signing of Beto from Udinese official soon. The player’s medical and some formal steps still need to happen.

Fulham

• Fulham are close to reaching an agreement with Leicester City for Timothy Castagne.
• Monaco are back in talks with Fulham to sign Tosin Adarabioyo.

Lazio

• Lazio have reached an agreement with Olympique Marseille over the €18m transfer of Mattéo Guendouzi. First, the player will join on loan with a €1m loan fee included, then there will be an obligation to buy worth a €12m fixed fee plus €5m in easy add-ons.

Leicester City

• Nottingham Forest are set to bid for Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi. The player has agreed personal terms and negotiations will now start between clubs.
• Fulham are close to reaching an agreement with Leicester City for Timothy Castagne.

Liverpool

• Liverpool have a very clear stance regarding Mohamed Salah amid interest from Al Ittihad – the full story can be found here

More Stories / Latest News

Former Everton chief executive drops West Ham points deduction verdict after £110m signings

Aug 12 2024, 0:18

Chelsea in shock talks for former player to return after collapse of £34.5m transfer

Aug 11 2024, 23:38

Chelsea’s €40m transfer falls through after major problem finalising contract

Aug 11 2024, 22:54

Manchester City

• Manchester City have submitted a new bid to Wolves for Matheus Nunes. The offer is €60m with add-ons and the Manchester club are confident it will be enough to get it done. Personal terms have already been agreed with the midfielder. For more info on this story – click here!

Manchester United

• Manchester United and Chelsea spoke on Saturday about a Marc Cucurella loan deal. United will decide the future of Cucurella – plus their other left-back targets are mentioned here.
• Dean Henderson is set to join Crystal Palace from Manchester United as part of a £20m deal, with a sell-on clause.

• The truth about the failed Harry Maguire and West Ham deal can be found here.

Napoli

• Napoli are closing in on a deal to sign Jesper Lindstrøm from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Nottingham Forest

• Tottenham are preparing to approach Nottingham Forest for Brennan Johnson this week.
• Nottingham Forest are set to bid for Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi. The player has agreed personal terms and negotiations will now start between clubs.
• Corinthians’ Murillo will travel to Europe in the next few days to undergo medical tests ahead of becoming a new Nottingham Forest player.

Paris Saint-Germain

• PSG are still optimistic that they can get a deal done with Frankfurt for Randal Kolo Muani. Negotiations will enter into the key stages very soon.

Roma

• Roma feel they can reach an agreement for Romelu Lukaku within the next 24 hours and want the deal done on Monday. José Mourinho is pushing a lot for the player after a loan fee in excess of €5m was offered. Negotiations took place on Sunday night to get it over the line.

Sheffield United

• Cameron Archer has joined Sheffield United as part of a £18.5m deal with Aston Villa.

Tottenham

• Tottenham are preparing to approach Nottingham Forest for Brennan Johnson this week.

West Ham

• Mohammed Kudus has joined West Ham from Ajax as part of a €45m package, plus a sell-on clause. The player has signed a contract until June 2028 with an option for a further season.
• The truth about the failed Harry Maguire and West Ham deal can be found here.

Wolves

• Manchester City have submitted a new bid to Wolves for Matheus Nunes. The offer is €60m with add-ons and the Manchester club are confident it will be enough to get it done. Personal terms have already been agreed with the midfielder. For more info on this story – click here!
• Wolves full-back Bendeguz Bolla will join Servette on loan with an option to buy included.

The post Transfer news: Man City submit €60m plus bid for Premier League star, West Ham complete impressive signing, Lukaku deal gets closer & more appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Newcastle United are keen on signing the Bundesliga winger Jesper Lindstrom.

According to a report from the German publication BILD, Newcastle could look to submit an offer for the 23-year-old winger this summer.

Apparently, the player is valued at €35-€40 million and a club with Newcastle’s resources should be able to afford him.

The Magpies need to add more goals and creativity to their midfield and Lindstrom could prove to be a quality acquisition.

The 23-year-old Swedish winger has nine goals and four assists to his name across all competitions last season.

Newcastle struggled to score goals consistently and they ended up drawing 14 league matches last season. They will have to fix the problem if they want to do well next year.

Furthermore, the Magpies will compete in the UEFA Champions League next season and they will be up against top-class defences.

There is no doubt that they will have to improve their attacking unit and the 23-year-old will certainly add goals and creativity to the side.

The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be an attractive option for the player and he is likely to be tempted if there is a concrete approach from Newcastle.

More Stories / Latest News

Former Everton chief executive drops West Ham points deduction verdict after £110m signings

Aug 12 2024, 0:18

Chelsea in shock talks for former player to return after collapse of £34.5m transfer

Aug 11 2024, 23:38

Chelsea’s €40m transfer falls through after major problem finalising contract

Aug 11 2024, 22:54

Lindstrom is still only 23 and he is likely to improve further with coaching and experience. Working under a manager like Eddie Howe could help him develop further in the coming seasons.

Newcastle will be an attractive destination for most players, especially after Champions League qualification. With their financial muscle, they should be able to get these deals across the line.

The post Newcastle could submit an offer for 23-yr-old attacker with 13 goal contributions appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Newcastle are believed to be preparing an offer for Eintracht Frankfurt winger Jesper Lindstrom according to the latest from BILD.

The German outlet has claimed that Newcastle are among the clubs interested in signing the winger along with AC Milan.

It further states that both the clubs have ‘expressed a concrete’ interest in the player and are said to be ‘preparing an offer’ for him.

Frankfurt are ‘demanding’ €30-40m for him and have only recently rejected a €25m from Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig who are on the verge of losing star player Dominik Szoboszlai to Liverpool who was also a target for the Magpies.

Newcastle United are ‘preparing an offer’ for Eintracht Frankfurt winger Jesper Lindström, having shown an interest in him."

He’s a versatile forward . And is available for between €30-40m. [Bild] #NUFC

— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) July 1, 2023

More Stories / Latest News

Former Everton chief executive drops West Ham points deduction verdict after £110m signings

Aug 12 2024, 0:18

Chelsea in shock talks for former player to return after collapse of £34.5m transfer

Aug 11 2024, 23:38

Chelsea’s €40m transfer falls through after major problem finalising contract

Aug 11 2024, 22:54

Newcastle enjoyed a great season under Eddie Howe and ended up qualifying for the Champions League. Backed by the Saudi PIF, they have the resources to spend big on the players they want.

They have already agreed to sign their first marquee signing in Sandro Tanoli for £52m and are now working on signing him the 23-year-old who has scored 14 goals and assisted 13 other in 77 appearances for the German side in all competitions.

The post Newcastle have expressed a concrete interest in signing Frankfurt star but the club is ‘demanding’ €30-40m appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Today’s exclusive transfer round-up from Bundesliga insider Christian Falk, featuring Bayern Munich, Arsenal, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and more.

Today’s top stories:

• Bayern in direct competition with Man United over defender…
• The latest on Joshua Kimmich’s future…
• And further updates on Manu Koné, Kai Havertz, Karim Adeyemi and more!

FC BAYERN MUNICH

Ever since Oliver Kahn (CEO) and Hasan Salihamidzic (Head of Sport) were fired, there has been a seven-person Task Force talking through transfer business in Munich. The committee meets once a week and two former bosses, Uli Hoeneß (Honorary President) and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (former CEO), have an important say. They are currently working through their defence, midfield and attacking shortlists.

Napoli’s Kim Min-jae is now at the top of the list in Munich and the reason for that is Lucas Hernandez has recently informed his bosses at Bayern that he would like to go to Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern are expecting an offer of €50m euros from PSG for Hernandez and their bid for Kim Min-jae depends on this. That’s because the South Korean’s contract exit clause until 2025 is said to also be for the same amount. The pursuit of Kim Min-jae will put Bayern into battle with Manchester United and the Red Devils should be warned – the player is Bayern’s top defensive target this summer. Villarreal’s Pau Torres, whom Juventus are also interested in, is an alternative back-up option for Bayern if they’re unable to land the Napoli star.

Benjamin Pavard is another defender that wants to leave Bayern this summer. In addition to FC Barcelona, Premier League clubs Liverpool and Chelsea, as well as Serie A’s Inter and AC Milan are also interested, as I reported in my last column. In order to be prepared for the possible departures of both Hernandez AND Pavard, Bayern have another two defenders on their list. As with Kim Min-jae, the Bundesliga champions have Premier League competition to contend with as Micky van de Venfrom Wolfsburg is wanted by both Bayern and Liverpool. It’s the Reds that have a slight edge given that it was their new sporting director, Jörg Schmadtke, who brought van de Ven to Wolfsburg from FC Volendam in 2021 for a fee of just €3.5m. The 22-year-old’s market value is now €18m, and he has a contract at Wolfsburg that runs until 2027 without an exit clause. Schmadtke knows best. Man City’s Kyle Walkeris the other player being monitored, and Bayern have already informed his agents of their interest.

Another name being discussed in the corridors of power in Munich is an interesting one for both Chelsea and Arsenal. Thomas Tuchel is considered a big supporter of Kai Havertz, and the German striker’s name was also mentioned at the recent Task Force meeting. However, Havertz is said to prefer a move to Arsenal if Real Madrid don’t intensify their interest in him. In addition, Bayern has other, more important needs, and defensive midfield is a particular area that they have to strengthen.

Tottenham Hotspur may well be affected by that part of Bayern’s transfer plan. The club have decided not to make an offer for West Ham’s Declan Rice for the time being because Arsenal appear to be the clear favourites for his signature. Therefore, focus has now turned to another player in the Premier League: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The midfielder played for Bayern before moving to Southampton in 2016, and then to Tottenham in 2020. Hojbjerg’s name was another openly discussed at the transfer meeting. With Pini Zahavi, he has an agent who is not only known in Munich but feared, and Hojbjerg is the second player from Tottenham that’s of interest to Bayern as they still haven’t completely given up hope of landing Harry Kane.

With regards to a striker signing, the club will first concentrate on trying to prise Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt. Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested, so the price could rise significantly. Other candidates being considered are Juve’s Dusan Vlahovic and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.

Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo on the other hand will not move to Munich. Bayern have been officially informed that the player wants to stay in England, and they’ve probably lost out in this particular race to Chelsea. The Londoners are said to be in promising negotiations with the Ecuadorian, and an agreement with the player is therefore imminent. Talks between Chelsea and Brighton about the fee will then follow.

There have been many rumours about Joshua Kimmich this week. To make it clear – something that the player himself has also done: It’s not true that he wants a transfer to FC Barcelona and he will stay in Munich.

The rumours that Dayot Upamecano also wants to leave the club are not true either.

Though many of the Bundesliga transfer rumours this week have centred around Bayern, other clubs haven’t been idle either.

Borussia Dortmund

One rumour being heard in Spain is that Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi could be of interest to Real Madrid after a strong second half of the season, and Los Blancos are believed to have had the 21-year-old forward under consideration from as far back as 2018 when he broke through at RB Salzburg. The player has a contract until 2027, Dortmund have received no offer for his services to date, and even Adeyemi’s representatives have heard nothing concrete in any event.

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig are another German club that appear to be sitting at the poker table with an English counterpart, and the object of their desire is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Danish midfielder, Jesper Lindstrøm. Arsenal are also interested in the player and, after Leipzig failed with their first offer of €25m, the Bundesliga side are now preparing a higher second offer to beat the north Londoners to his signature.

More Stories / Latest News

Former Everton chief executive drops West Ham points deduction verdict after £110m signings

Aug 12 2024, 0:18

Chelsea in shock talks for former player to return after collapse of £34.5m transfer

Aug 11 2024, 23:38

Chelsea’s €40m transfer falls through after major problem finalising contract

Aug 11 2024, 22:54

Borussia Monchengladbach

Sporting director, Roland Virkus, has demanded commitment from Florian Neuhaus and Nico Elvedi, both of whom have contracts that expire in 2024. If he feels that neither are willing to give that commitment – something that appears to be the case at present – he wants to sell them both.

In the case of Manu Koné, ‘Gladbach want over €40m for the midfielder and are still hoping for an offer from Liverpool. Paris Saint-Germain can still be considered as an interested party, whilst Aston Villa and Wolves currently have an outside chance of securing a deal.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Robin Koch is now on the market at Leeds United. His release clause has become active because of their relegation to the Championship, and despite having a contract in place until 2024 the defender can leave the Elland Road outfit on a free transfer. As a result, Eintracht Frankfurt have now lodged their interest with the player, giving him the opportunity to return to the Bundesliga after three years in England.

The post Christian Falk’s Fact Files – Leipzig and Arsenal set to battle for midfielder, Tottenham need to be wary of approach, Kim Min-jae latest & more appeared first on CaughtOffside.

RB Leipzig will offer Eintracht Frankfurt more than €25m to sign attacking midfielder Jesper Lindstrom.

That’s according to transfer expert and CaughtOffside columnist Christian Falk, who claims the Germans are in direct competition with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to sign Frankfurt’s talented Danish playmaker.

Looking to follow in the footsteps of Gunners’ captain Martin Odegaard, Lindstrom, who displays similar attributes to his compatriot, is wanted by Arsenal but there are no guarantees the 23-year-old will seal a big transfer to England’s top-flight.

More Stories / Latest News

Former Everton chief executive drops West Ham points deduction verdict after £110m signings

Aug 12 2024, 0:18

Chelsea in shock talks for former player to return after collapse of £34.5m transfer

Aug 11 2024, 23:38

Chelsea’s €40m transfer falls through after major problem finalising contract

Aug 11 2024, 22:54

And that is because RB Leipzig have so far been relentless in their pursuit. Having seen their first bid of €25m almost immediately knocked back, according to Falk, Marco Rose’s side are preparing an improved offer – one they hope their domestic rivals will accept.

“RB Leipzig are another German club that appears to be sitting at the poker table with an English counterpart, and the object of their desire is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Danish midfielder, Jesper Lindstrom,” Falk wrote in his CaughtOffside SubStack column.

“Arsenal are also interested in the player and, after Leipzig failed with their first offer of €25m, the Bundesliga side are now preparing a higher second offer to beat the north Londoners to his signature.”

During his first two years with Frankfurt, Lindstrom, who has three years left on his deal, has scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists in 77 games in all competitions.

The post RB Leipzig determined to beat Arsenal to 23-year-old Bundesliga playmaker appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Newcastle, United and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the Denmark midfielder Jesper Lindstrom.

The 23-year-old midfielder has done quite well for Eintracht Frankfurt this season and his performances have caught the attention of the two Premier League clubs as per Ekstra Bladet (h/t SportWitness)

Newcastle need to add more quality and depth in the middle of the park at the 23-year-old Bundesliga is could prove to be a quality long-term acquisition. Lindstrom will add creativity and goals to the Newcastle midfield. The Magpies have been linked with a number of similar players like James Maddison.

Apparently, the midfielder is valued at €35-40 million and Newcastle certainly have the financial resources to afford him. It remains to be seen whether they can get the deal across the line in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to add more craft and goals to their midfield as well. It remains to be seen whether the North London side can compete with Newcastle and secure the 23-year-old’s signature.

More Stories / Latest News

Former Everton chief executive drops West Ham points deduction verdict after £110m signings

Aug 12 2024, 0:18

Chelsea in shock talks for former player to return after collapse of £34.5m transfer

Aug 11 2024, 23:38

Chelsea’s €40m transfer falls through after major problem finalising contract

Aug 11 2024, 22:54

Newcastle certainly have more financial resources compared to Tottenham and they are well-placed to secure Champions League qualification as well. The 23-year-old could be attracted to the idea of joining a Champions League club. Tottenham must look to ensure that they secure a top-four finish this season.

Lindstrom has nine goals and four assists to his name across all competitions and he could develop into a quality long-term acquisition for the two English clubs.

Both clubs would represent an exciting opportunity for him, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up eventually.

The post Newcastle to compete with Tottenham for 23-year-old Bundesliga ace appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Good morning guys and welcome to my latest Daily Briefing! Thanks as always for reading – click here to subscribe!

Arsenal

There has been some strong speculation about Arsenal and Liverpool being in contact over trying to sign Jesper Lindstrom from Eintracht Frankfurt. I’d never deny info from others; can just say that I’m told it’s true that Premier League clubs are informed on Lindstrom but I’m not aware of proposals, bids or advanced negotiations yet. Price tag could be around €40m.

Arsenal have a strong interest in Real Madrid attacking midfielder Marco Asensio (TMW)

Barcelona

Xavi: “I trust Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres, I’m happy for them. Ferran always works, it’s wonderful to train him. He always wants to improve, he’s honest and hard-working.”

Bayern Munich

Thomas Tuchel on how he ended up taking the Bayern Munich job: “I was surprised at the beginning that Bayern wanted me immediately. I thought it was just an exploratory call for summer but bosses were very clear. There was no tactics from me. There were some enquiries, but for me the plan was to work abroad in the summer.”

Benjamin Pavard is focusing on his football despite being asked about his contract expiring in 2024: “I was expecting this question. There are currently no talks with the club, we’re focused on our season goals. I’m just trying to play my best football, win trophies. We’ll see this summer.”

Oliver Kahn responds to Kai Havertz rumours: “It doesn’t make sense to mention it right now. As I said, our focus is fully on this season and not on future topics. We are not discussing new signings with Tuchel now.”

Celta Vigo

Interest in Gabri Veiga is there from many top clubs in Premier League and La Liga, the move this summer will only happen for €40m release clause, or at least this is Celta Vigo position. To understand what’s next for Gabri Veiga is going to be crucial to follow the situation on agent side, as he will pick new agent soon.

Chelsea

Chelsea officially announced the decision to sack Graham Potter last night. Bruno Saltor will take care of Chelsea as Interim coach. The Chelsea board always supported their manager in difficult moments but things changed yesterday as they held internal conversations over his future. They were not happy at all as they dropped out of the top half of the Premier League table.

Graham Potter’s sacking is not surprising as the situation was very tense after Villa game, and the feeling was that some of the players were not happy with how things were going. The Chelsea board decided about it in the night between Saturday and Sunday with communication to Potter around lunch time. It was not an easy moment because the whole board supported him for a long time and all really wanted him in the summer when they replaced Thomas Tuchel. It was not easy to communicate on the human side, but this is football.

They decided to change as they felt this group needed different kind of ideas and different energy; Potter was no longer considered the right man for the job. I think this is a decision we can understand as the feeling was never so positive on this appointment. Chelsea also still feel they can do something in the Champions League, and a change in manager can be the right kind of shock for the squad.

Julian Nagelsmann is emerging as a strong candidate for the job. He’s really appreciated by the board and the owners, so he’s an option for sure. I think he’s an excellent, talented coach who could do great job in the Premier League. Chelsea like his vision, fresh ideas, they know the next coach has to be the right one for many years and they feel Julian could be perfect. It’s important to remember that Nagelsmann is still under contract at Bayern and there has been no agreement yet on terminating the contract. Still, he is considering the option of going to Chelsea, but it’s not clear yet if he will come straight away or at the end of the season. Chelsea will try to have Nagelsmann as soon as possible, but let’s see what he will decide. He’s very disappointed with how things ended at Bayern, it was a shocking story for him.

From what I understand, Nagelsmann has already spoken with those close to him to get their opinions on the Chelsea job, what they think about the club, and the project, and whether it would be good to join now or at the end of the season, so these talks will be crucial.

Ruben Amorim and Luis Enrique are also appreciated; no contacts with Mauricio Pochettino at this stage, but he was on the list last September before Chelsea appointed Potter. We know Pochettino is a big name on the market right now, but at the moment he’s still not speaking with Chelsea, and he’s also an option for Real Madrid in case Carlo Ancelotti leaves at the end of the season – the Champions League will be crucial to determine his future.

Enrique has fans on the Chelsea board and he’s been public in saying he’d love to go to the Premier League. Amorim, meanwhile, is doing great work at Sporting, he has a great relationship with the club’s board and with the fans, he’s doing an excellent job and he’s one to watch as well.

Away from the manager situation, Chelsea will sign Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Paez from Independiente del Valle — as exclusively revealed in February. Born in 2007, Kendry will join when he will turn 18. The deal will be signed soon, and the overall package could reach €20m fee [main part add-ons]. Here we go!

Espanyol

Luis Garcia will be new Espanyol head coach — agreement in place, he will be the replacement for Diego Martinez. The former Espanyol player will become the new coach.

Gent

Gift Orban is expected to be on the move this summer. The talented young Nigerian striker has 14 goals and 2 assists for Gent. I understand the 2002-born striker’s price tag could be more than €20m this summer with clubs already monitoring him.

Juventus

Wojciech Szczesny insists he’s not worried about his Juventus contract expiring in June 2024: “I’m not worried. I’m focused on the pitch, I don’t see myself in another club – just here at Juve. Being at Juventus makes me happy and motivated.”

Adrien Rabiot on potential PSG return as his Juventus contract expires in June: “Very sincerely there is nothing special. I hear a lot of noise. I know it interests a lot of people but I’ll say it again: I’m really focused on this end of season with Juventus.”

Leicester City

Leicester City officially announced the sacking of Brendan Rodgers yesterday, saying: “The task ahead of us in our final 10 games is clear. We now need to come together, show the poise, quality and fight.”

In terms of how this affects some of Leicester’s star players, I honestly think there was never a chance to keep Youri Tielemans, with or without Rodgers. James Maddison is a situation to discuss in the summer, Newcastle have his name on the list since long time but there are also other clubs interested.

More Stories / Latest News

Former Everton chief executive drops West Ham points deduction verdict after £110m signings

Aug 12 2024, 0:18

Chelsea in shock talks for former player to return after collapse of £34.5m transfer

Aug 11 2024, 23:38

Chelsea’s €40m transfer falls through after major problem finalising contract

Aug 11 2024, 22:54

Liverpool

There has been some strong speculation about Arsenal and Liverpool being in contact over trying to sign Jesper Lindstrom from Eintracht Frankfurt. I’d never deny info from others; can just say that I’m told it’s true that Premier League clubs are informed on Lindstrom but I’m not aware of proposals, bids or advanced negotiations yet. Price tag could be around €40m.

Mallorca

Kang-In Lee, expected to leave Mallorca in the summer. Premier League clubs are monitoring South Korean midfielder with possible move in the next months

There are good chances for Lee to try a new challenge in England — with good money and profit for Mallorca.

Manchester United

Luke Shaw confirms an agreement is imminent over new deal: “I’m close to a new contract. Nothing has been signed yet. We’ve agreed certain things. We’ll take it from there.”

Shaw’s new contract will be valid until June 2027, to be signed soon with Manchester United to approve it.

Erik ten Hag on Wout Weghorst potentially part of his long-term plans: “Of course. I think he is doing a lot of elements of football really well — Wout is doing a really good job for us.”

Manchester United’s loan deal from Burnley does not include buy option clauses.

Ten Hag has also spoken about the potential Man Utd takeover, including a chance meeting with Sir Jim Ratcliffe: “They leave me out of it which is fine because others have to decide. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, I met him, we shook hands, but that was all. But there was a coincidence because we coincidentally met in the corridor, but so not officially.”

PSG

Xavi Simons won’t be drawn on a possible return to PSG: “People ask me about PSG clause to bring me back… but I also say: I signed with PSV Eindhoven for 5 years, no? PSV trust me, I wanna do great things here.”

PSG have a buy-back clause close to €12m, but Xavi Simons has the final say on whether or not to go back.

Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti speaks again on his future: “I’m confident because of the players I have and the backing I have from the club. I’ve clarified my future already. My contract ends in 2024 and my plan is to fulfil it. If Real Madrid are happy, then… I will stay until 2034!”

West Ham

West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca has signed with CAA Stellar agency as new representatives to plan for his future.

The post Exclusive: Next Chelsea manager, Arsenal & Liverpool transfer links, and more – Fabrizio Romano appeared first on CaughtOffside.