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Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is interested in signing Chelsea starlet Valentino Livramento this summer.

What’s the story?

Having already completed the signing of Emi Buendia, Villa appear to have swiftly turned their attentions elsewhere as they look to strengthen Smith’s squad.

And, according to Goal, the Midlands club are eyeing up a move for 18-year-old right-back Livramento this summer, and that while Serie A giants Milan have got in touch, “Villa are among clubs that seem more viable options for the young full-back”.

The report further claims that the versatile teenager’s future at Stamford Bridge could be in doubt if the Blues land Achraf Hakimi from Borussia Dortmund.

Fans will love it

At just 18, Livramento would join the array of exciting young talents already at Villa, with the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka and Louie Barry in particular surely hoping to make a big impression on the first-team next season.

The Midlands club were, of course, the winners of the FA Youth Cup at the back end of last season, and that’s a real testament to the outstanding work Villa have been doing at academy level.

And in the 5 foot 8 Livramento, they would be getting another superb young addition.

Dubbed as a “huge talent”, the England youth international has even captained the Young Lions, playing through the U16s all the way to the U19s.

A profile piece done by Chelsea’s official website, said: “Tino Livramento is a defender who plays predominantly at right-back or right wing-back, from where he likes to get forward and attack.

“2020/21 saw Livramento become regular for the development squad, and while still available for our youth team, by January he had contributed eight assists and two goals in 14 Academy outings from various positions on his favoured right side of the pitch.”

And, despite his age, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was particularly effusive in his praise of the 18-year-old.

He said: “I love the academy boys. We have Anjorin and Livramento regularly joining training. The academy has outstanding quality. Every club who has young guys constantly coming in making it, it creates a bond in the club and supporters.”

While signings for the here and now – like Buendia for example – are absolutely key to Villa’s chances of succeeding next season in the Premier League, making sure the academy is in good hands too is paramount.

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It’s exactly why Villa fans should be buzzing at the prospect of Johan Lange going after a rising star from the reigning Champions League holders.

Meanwhile, Villa are interested in signing this Premier League star…

Leeds United are ‘stepping up their interest’ in colossal FC Koln defender Timo Hubers, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Leeds links

The Whites are thought to be planning a defensive overhaul this summer ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge after conceding 68 times in 32 Premier League games.

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Robin Koch has been linked with an Elland Road departure, while Hubers has been name-checked as a potential target.

Leeds are one of five Premier League sides who are thought to be tracking the 25-year-old, who is at the top of his game with a career-high £2.7m Transfermarkt valuation, and it looks as if Victor Orta and co are increasing their interest.

The Latest: Source shares update

FI shared a story on Sunday morning regarding Leeds and Hubers after being informed by a recruitment source.

They claimed that Leeds officials watched the 6ft 3 defender in action for Koln on Saturday, scouting who Hubers has a £6.3m release clause in his current deal.

The Verdict: Whites possibly left impressed

Hubers actually scored an own goal in a 3-1 win for Koln, however, as per SofaScore, he was the best-rated defender on the pitch.

The German, labelled as an ‘exemplary’ professional by Hannover 96’s sporting director Gerhard Zuber, won seven duels, made five clearances, three interceptions and blocked two shots.

He also had more touches than any other player on the pitch, so Leeds scouts could have left Germany impressed with Hubers ahead of a possible £6.3m summer swoop.

In other news: Phil Hay: Marsch now eyeing Leeds move for ‘quality’ rising star alongside Aaronson. 

Liverpool may make Naby Keita available for transfer this summer, according to Sunday World journalist Kevin Palmer.

Keita started the first leg of the Reds’ Champions League quarterfinal clash with Real Madrid, but he was substituted off before half-time as his side fell two goals behind.

The Guinean hasn’t played a single minute since, and now his future is in doubt.

Palmer reports that a sale may be sanctioned to boost Jurgen Klopp’s transfer funds – Keita joined for an initial £48million ahead of the 2018/19 season.

But they may have to accept a loss on the injury-riddled midfielder, now valued at £34.2million by Transfermarkt.

He could follow Georginio Wijnaldum out the exit door, with the report noting that the out-of-contract Dutchman is nearing an agreement with FC Barcelona.

Liverpool in £35million Bissouma talks

One of the ‘interesting transfer noises coming out of Liverpool’, according to Palmer, is that Brighton’s Yves Bissouma has been identified as a ‘top target’ to replace the outgoing pair.

Talks over a £35million deal for the 24-year-old are said to be underway.

Reds legend Jamie Carragher said after Brighton’s goalless draw with Everton last month that Bissouma was ‘head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch’, claiming that the Mali international ‘really does look like a top quality player’.

Transfer Tavern verdict

For the most part, Keita’s performances have been reasonably good when fit.

But it’s hard to escape the sense that the early substitution against Real was the final damning indictment of his Liverpool career.

Curtis Jones will probably take on a greater role if Keita does leave, with the impressive Bissouma a direct replacement for Wijnaldum.

In other news, fans have called for this defender to be retained.

Manchester City appear to have won the race for long-term Aston Villa transfer target Julian Alvarez.

That’s according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, and a number of Villa fans have been giving their thoughts to the news on social media.

Villa have been linked with the River Plate attacker since the summer, with the player’s agent Fernando Hidalgo reportedly planning to speak to the Midlands club over a potential move. However, it is Pep Guardiola’s side who look set to announce an €18.5m (£15.43m) transfer for the 21-year-old, who scored 24 goals and registered 18 assists in 2021.

Romano revealed on Tuesday evening that an agreement has been reached with the Premier League champions, and Alvarez will pen a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium before returning to River Plate on loan until the summer.

Villa fans react

Here is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply to Romano’s post regarding Alvarez, with many of them not exactly thrilled and some thinking it could be a mistake not landing him over the summer.

“Being violently sick right now.”

Credit: @AVFCFaithful_

“Nothing to be said, we bottled it. Now we must get Aaron Hickey in the summer before City do.”

Credit: @ZM_AVFC

“Made a big mistake signing others over him”

Credit: @Jamie_UTV

“I hope it’s because he was never going to sign for us. Otherwise, yeah. Nauseating.”

Credit: @nallivdam

“He won the Ballon D’or for us in my FIFA 21 Villa career. I thought it was a sign when we were linked to him.. clearly not”

Credit: @charliepowellm1

“We had a chance and bottled it.”

Credit: @MogarFinley

In other news: ‘Yessss’ – Many Villa fans buzzing as John Percy shares ‘amazing’ transfer news

Leicester City have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij this summer.

What’s the story?

According to the Sunday Express, the 29-year-old’s agent Mino Raiola has presented the Foxes with an opportunity to sign his client in the current window.

The report also claimed that Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur plan to hijack the proposed move if talks between Leicester and De Vrij are unsuccessful.

Jon Rudkin could form a dream duo

Brendan Rodgers has been in the market for a new centre-back since former club captain Wes Morgan announced his retirement at the end of 2020/21, and Wesley Fofana’s horrific injury in pre-season has accelerated the manager’s search.

Schalke 04 youngster Ozan Kabak has been strongly linked with a move to the King Power Stadium in recent weeks, but now Leicester may have another option available to them.

De Vrij has established himself as one of Europe’s top central defenders since arriving in Serie A from boyhood club Feyenoord back in 2014. After initially joining Lazio, the Netherlands international moved to domestic rivals Inter three years ago and has gone on to make 124 appearances for the San Siro giants in all competitions.

He played a pivotal part as the Nerrazzuri’s claimed their first Scudetto in 11 years last term, putting in a string of impressive performances as he scored once in 30 top-flight starts, achieving a highly respectable 6.89 WhoScored rating along the way.

The £45m-rated gem was hailed as a “monster” by former Lazio defender Mauricio, and his underlying numbers for 2020/21 illustrate why.

As per WhoScored, De Vrij recorded 1.3 interceptions, 2.9 clearances and 0.6 blocks per league game, placing him in the top two for each metric when compared to his teammates, highlighting the outstanding set of attributes that he’d bring to Leicester should they make a move for him. Furthermore, his passing success rate of 93.8% was the highest of anyone who started more than ten league games for Inter last term.

Therefore, Foxes director of football Jon Rudkin must swoop for the 6 ft 2 beast before Spurs attempt to snatch him away.

Due to Inter’s desperate financial situation, the Serie A champions have been forced to sell some key players already in this transfer window and appear to be open to De Vrij’s departure as well.

As a result, Rudkin could form a dream centre-back duo made up of the experienced, calm-natured Jonny Evans and the physical, elite passer that is De Vrij. Having conceded more league goals than Brighton last term, a deal for the Dutchman could be the one which finally propels Leicester back into the Champions League if he and Evans strike up a formidable partnership at the back.

In other news… Well-known journalist reveals Leicester transfer update that’ll leave fans buzzing 

Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts has hit out at Steve Hitchen’s record at the club in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

Hitchen was previously the chief scout at Spurs and is now the club’s Head of Recruitment, meaning that he heads up the search for new signings in north London.

However, Spurs have struggled in recent transfer windows and have failed to bring in a multitude of targets.

The club have been linked with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias, and Milan Skriniar, with Hitchen actually pictured in Italy negotiating for the latter.

Fernandes and Dias moved to Manchester United and Manchester City, while Skriniar is still at Inter Milan.

Last summer, for example, there was something of a mixed bag of a transfer window, as Spurs brought Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon, Matt Doherty, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joe Rodon, Carlos Vinicius, Joe Hart and Gareth Bale to the club.

It is arguable that none of those players have been complete successes, and Roberts believes that Hitchen should be held to account for his work.

He told FFC: “Our recruitment has not been the best.

“It’s not been the best.

“And Steve Hitchen has a lot to answer for really, to be fair.”

BBC Sport reporter Simon Stone provided an update on Crystal Palace’s pursuit of Patrick Vieira on Thursday.

And, as to be expected, a number of Eagles supporters gave their thoughts to the news on social media.

News broke on Tuesday regarding Vieira and Palace, with the two parties reaching an agreement in principle over the vacant managerial role.

Three days on and a move is yet to be announced, however, Stone admitted that there are no major issues and the Frenchman will be installed as Roy Hodgson’s replacement.

Vieira has been out of work since December after his sacking at Ligue 1 club Nice but now looks set to return to the dugout with the Eagles.

Recent reports elsewhere have suggested that Vieira could be handed an £80m transfer kitty this summer at Selhurst Park, with 11 senior players now out of contract at Selhurst Park.

Palace fans react

@cpfc_xtra shared Stone’s update on Palace’s managerial hunt on Twitter.

Here are what some Palace fans had to say in reply…

“Oh my goodness”Credit: @HorseKaboom”Of course there isn’t”Credit: @ZacCPFC”They love to take their time these lot”Credit: @Thomas01568186″We can come up with an issue, we’re palace”Credit: @poltak_cp60″Probably discussing transfer targets”Credit: @RomfordRoger”another week till we announce him then yawn”Credit: @notconnorlmao

In other news: ‘Honestly speechless’ – Many Crystal Palace fans ‘amazed’ at Thursday development, find out more here.

Leeds United will once again be without Kalvin Phillips ahead of their Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday afternoon.

What’s the story?

The 25-year-old was not involved in the matchday squad against Southampton last time out amid an injury which forced him to pull out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the international break.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the match against Wolves today, Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa said: “Kalvin is healthy, but he hasn’t competed for three weeks. If he played on Saturday it would be far too quick. After three weeks out, it’s necessary some more football training.

“And in this stage he’s done training sessions for recovery and physical preparation and progressive work with the ball. I think that to think of him for Saturday would be to bring him back too soon before he’s back at his best.”

Bielsa will be gutted

Make no mistake about it, no Phillips in this Leeds team makes them an absolute shadow of what they can be.

Including the two games that he has missed this season (against Southampton and the opening day at Manchester United), and the nine that he missed last year, the Whites have won just two matches and lost the other nine.

That speaks to a worrying level of reliance on the talismanic midfielder to control things in the engine room for the Whites, and his absence is a major loss of influence. For instance, his match average of 2.3 tackles is bettered only by defender Liam Cooper, which shows just how much bite Leeds lose when the England international isn’t in the midfield engine room.

Given the kind of rut in which Leeds find themselves, being without someone like Phillips is a hammer blow to Bielsa and is sure to leave the manager gutted that the 25-year-old won’t be able to make it for today’s game against a resurgent Wolves.

Meanwhile, Leeds must finally unleash this academy starlet…

Carlton Palmer reckons that a conversation needs to take place between Rafa Benitez and James Rodriguez over the Colombian’s Everton future.

Rodriguez only made the switch to the Premier League last summer, but his Toffees career has been in major doubt since Carlo Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid last month.

But whilst another reunion with the Italian at Madrid is now looking unlikely, AC Milan have entered the race to sign the former Monaco and Bayern Munich attacker, who’s got just 12 months left on his deal.

Rodriguez made an impressive start to his Everton career, scoring plenty and assisting even more as Ancelotti’s side topped the Premier League during the early weeks, ending the campaign with six goals and nine assists in 26 appearances in all competitions.

However, an ongoing calf problem saw the 29-year-old miss the best part of four months between December and March, with Rodriguez’s lack of minutes seeing him left out of the Colombian squad for the Copa America.

Despite uncertainties over his future, he’s currently in USA with the rest of the Everton squad for their pre-season tour of Orlando.

And Palmer exclusively told Football FanCast that he thinks Rodriguez is someone Benitez needs to keep on board:

“I’m sure Rafa is going to sit down with him and talk. He had a lot of injuries in the second half of the season, and I believe he’s the highest paid player at the football club.

“He’s a talented player, so I’m sure Rafa will sit down and talk to him, maybe he’s got over his injuries.

“The one thing you don’t want to do as a football manager, you don’t want to let good players leave the building if you can help it.”

Leicester City may face a battle to keep Youri Tielemans at the club next summer after multiple European heavyweights were linked with a move for the highly-rated 24-year-old.

What’s the story?

The Belgium international was heavily linked with an exit from the King Power Stadium in the most recent transfer window, although no formal offer came in for his services.

However, with his current contract set to expire in just two years’ time, rumours continue to circulate regarding Tielemans’ future, and well-known journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on his situation.

“Behind the scenes, many clubs wanted to sign Youri Tielemans this summer,” Romano said on his YouTube channel (as relayed by the Leicester Mercury). “They wanted to keep this player. He was also thinking about his future, and he decided to stay.”

“The next big battle in the transfer market next summer will be for this guy. I think this summer was really complicated for him to move because, after the Euros, his price was around £60m to £65m.

“Many top clubs were not able to approach Tielemans because the cost of the deal was really complicated. But next summer, Youri Tielemans will be one to watch.

“I am told that he is on many top clubs’ list. Real Madrid have his name in mind for the future, Barcelona the same. In England many clubs are interested. Manchester United have to decide on Paul Pogba, but Tielemans is one to watch for the future for Manchester United.

“Leicester are very good in their strategy. They said no over James Maddison and said no for Tielemans. They always protect their best players. It will not be easy to sign him because Leicester will put a big price on this player.”

Leicester City fans will be worried

The Belgium international has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most promising young talents since making his initial six-month loan move from Monaco permanent back in July 2019.

In 112 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ charges, Tielemans has scored 18 goals and laid on a further 19 assists, and played a pivotal part in Leicester’s maiden FA Cup success last season, scoring the winning goal against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.

Therefore, the club’s supporters are likely to be very worried about this latest revelation. The technically gifted midfielder has played a pivotal part in the Midlands outfit’s recent success, and his departure would be a significant setback in their push for further honours.

And, in other news…8 duels won, 3 key passes: Leicester gem leads the way with superb August