Leicester City: Maresca "confident" of keeping £65k-p/w star

Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca is 'confident' he can keep hold of Belgium international Timothy Castagne this summer despite interest in his services from elsewhere, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Timothy Castagne leaving Leicester City?

According to Tutto Juve, Castagne would like to return to Italy this summer and join Juventus amid uncertainty over his future at the King Power Stadium, which has also alerted Fulham and several other Premier League clubs.

The 27-year-old is believed not to be phased by Juventus being banned from competing in the Europa Conference League and his signature is viewed as a 'concrete goal' for the Old Lady as they aim to bolster their options in the full-back areas.

Alongside Fulham, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are also interested in offering Castagne a return to the English top-flight; however, it is expected that Leicester City will hold out for a 'substantial fee' before allowing the £65k-a-week ace to depart, as per The Evening Standard.

Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri claimed earlier in the window that Arsenal were also keen to add Castagne to the ranks and had started talks with Leicester City over a potential transfer in the event they couldn't convince their preferred target, Real Sociedad right-back Ivan Fresneda, to move to the Emirates in the off-season.

Last campaign, Castagne made 42 appearances across all competitions for Leicester City, registering two goals and four assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jacobs thinks that Leicester City boss Maresca will be keen to keep hold of Castagne alongside his teammates Wilfried Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, who have also been linked with an exit from their current employers in recent times.

Jacobs stated: "They'd like to keep hold of Kelechi Iheanacho and Timothy Castagne, even though there's Premier League interest.

"If they do keep those kind of players, the first team squad will be relatively experienced and it will give them a real opportunity of coming back up.

"That's why I think if Enzo Maresca is confident of keeping that spine – and Wilfried Ndidi counts, and again, there's interest in him as you'd expect – then he can really build for the future because he's got enough now in his squad to help Leicester get back up, as long as he doesn't lose too many between now and the end of the transfer window."

What now for Leicester City?

Leicester City manager Maresca will be hoping to add some extra depth to his squad this summer to follow the additions of Conor Coady, Harry Winks, Mads Hermansen and Callum Doyle, as per Transfermarkt.

According to Football Insider, newly-relegated trio Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton are all in competition to sign Swansea City striker Joel Piroe.

joel-piroe-transfer-gossip-swansea-city-leeds-united-farke-injury-bamford-rutter

Former Aston Villa youngster Arjan Raikhy is in talks over a move to the King Power Stadium and could join the Foxes as a free agent to help their promotion push, as per The Daily Mail.

Montpellier attacker Stephy Mavididi has signed a five-year contract at Leicester City and is set to be announced imminently after undergoing a medical at the club, as per Football Insider.

Palace May Sign “Unbelievable” £25k-p/w Phenom

Alongside Zaha’s seemingly inevitable exit from Selhurst Park, the news on Michael Olise is another huge blow to Crystal Palace.

The 21-year-old is facing up to three months out after injuring his hamstring in a game for France against Norway in the UEFA U21 European Championship.

The incident is reported to be a grade three tear, the most serious category of hamstring injury, which could mean that the Eagles will be deprived of one of their most productive assets until the end of September.

This leaves Palace in a precarious predicament as Jordan Ayew is the only recognised senior winger under contract. This means that Roy Hodgson will need to accelerate his search for fresh faces and Demarai Gray has emerged as a possible option.

What’s the latest on Demarai Gray to Crystal Palace?

According to a report from 90min earlier this week, Everton are ‘ready to listen to offers’ for Gray, who is the subject of interest from several Premier League and Saudi Pro League sides.

The possible English suitors include Palace, as well as West Ham and Brentford, who are all keenly tracking the 27-year-old’s uncertain future on Merseyside.

Is Demarai Gray a good signing for Crystal Palace?

After bursting onto the scene for Birmingham City back in 2013, the career of Gray reflects the age-old narrative of ‘untapped potential.’

A move to Bayer Leverkusen at the beginning of 2021 was seen as the new dawn for the winger, but six months later with just 12 appearances to his name, he left Germany and joined Everton.

The 5 foot 11 phenom began his time at Goodison Park in scintillating fashion, notching five goal contributions in his first nine games for the club. This impressive start laid the foundation for a commendable debut season in which Gray reached double figures (11) for goals and assists in 30 starts. That season, he averaged the most dribbles (1.6) in the squad, to underline how was beginning to unlock his brimming potential.

However, it is difficult to consistently shine in a challenging and disjointed Everton setup is difficult, but the £25k-per-week man still ended the season with a degree of respect. He ranked third-highest in the squad for dribbles and key passes per game in the side. His stunning long-range curler against Manchester City was the biggest highlight of the term and proposes the unanswered question of what he could achieve in a more stable and attack-minded environment.

Therefore, the possibility of a move to Selhurst Park is an interesting idea, especially when you assess the meteoric rise of Olise since his arrival in the English capital.

The former Reading prodigy has exploded into top-flight prominence thanks to a marvellous year.

Michael Olise

The youngster was named as Palace’s Players’ Player of the Season and clinched the club’s Goal of the Season award. He also became the first Palace man to claim 10 or more assists in a league campaign and remarkably was the youngest Premier League player to record three open-play assists in the same match. This meant the France U21 international ranks within the top 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for assists per 90.

Similarly, Gray is somewhat of a creative hub for Everton, creating 38 chances in 36 matches last season and if afforded more freedom and more possession in a more dominant side, he could flourish. It is murky and questionable terrority, but with the Eagles’ notoriously slim budget, it seems low-risk.

Previously labelled as “unbelievable” by Rio Ferdinand, Gray could elevate his career to the long-awaited next level at Palace in a similar way to Olise.

Leeds Could Secure Farke’s New Isak In £66k-p/w "Machine"

Leeds United could be set to hand Daniel Farke a new man to spearhead his reign, who bears a striking resemblance to an old star of his…

Who is Yussef Poulsen?

The latest on that proposed move came early last week, as it was reported that the Whites were interested in a swoop for RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the hulking striker has endured a largely profligate career but boasts a stunning work rate that could make him an asset to a new-look side.

Having kickstarted his tenure in his homeland, the 29-year-old moved to Germany in 2013 and has never looked back. He has been a mainstay throughout the Red Bull revolution of the club, starting when they were in the third tier and progressing up into the Bundesliga.

He could now be set to finally depart, moving to Elland Road to help earn another promotion. The speedster has just one year left on his £66k-per-week deal.

Farke will likely notice the physical similarities the lanky front-man shares with Alexander Isak, who the German boss managed briefly during his time with Borussia Dortmund's reserve team.

How many goals did Alexander Isak score last season?

Both of these men have come a long way since their paths last crossed, as the coach has since led Norwich City to two Championship promotions, whilst the Sweden international has become Newcastle United's record purchase, joining from Real Sociedad.

Last year marked his first in English football, with the gangly forward acclimatising to its physicality well. He would notch 10 goals in just 22 Premier League appearances, impressing through what was an injury-hit campaign.

Although he likely is a far more technically-superior asset, given he has also starred from the wing, Poulsen has also shown a similar turn of pace to rival this dynamism, clocking a 21.2 mph top speed in the Bundesliga just five years ago. That has since dropped to a still-strong 18.95 mph.

alexander-isak

However, his 23-year-old counterpart showcases that youthful exuberance well, given how the 6 foot 4 Magpies ace ranks against other strikers across Europe. He sits in the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, whilst also being in the top 5% for blocks made per 90, via FBref.

It is such solid defensive work rate that truly brings the two even closer together, with the RB Leipzig man having been lauded by teammate Willi Orban for such a tireless attitude: "With or without the ball he's a machine. And he does an incredible amount of work for us."

Boasting 68 caps for his country too, the experience he would bring to Yorkshire would be phenomenal.

Not to mention that he does know where the back of the net is, although he might not find it with as much regularity as he would like.

Just last season saw him score just four goals in all competitions, and the year before a further six in the Bundesliga alone. However, it is his mere physicality that would prove to be a huge asset, especially in a league as physically demanding as the Championship.

Although their time together was short-lived, Farke could still seek to reimagine his relationship with Isak by signing Poulsen this summer.

Fulham Set Sights On "Invaliuable" Signing

Fulham have set their sights on Leeds United striker Rodrigo this summer but face stiff competition from Saudi Arabian side Al Rayyan, according to journalist Bruno Andrade.

Who are Fulham signing?

It's been a summer of transfer links for manager Marco Silva as the Whites, following a successful first campaign back in the top flight, aim to strengthen their ranks.

As a result of last season's impressive performances in parts, major clubs across England could look to poach a few key Fulham players, most notably the likes of Joao Palhinha and Antonee Robinson.

The former could apparently command over £90 million to sign as Fulham set a marquee price tag, and if any side decide to pay in and around that figure, some of the funds could be re-invested into Silva's squad.

There are no shortage of players linked with a move to Craven Cottage, including Southampton star James Ward-Prowse, Japan international Ao Tanaka, Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres, Fenerbahce defender Ferdi Kadioglu and Roma centre-back Ibanez in recent weeks.

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi will also be made available for just £15 million, a development which has apparently sparked Fulham's interest in the Englishman.

Rodrigo, who starred for Leeds last season, is now also on Fulham's radar as Gyokeres apparently nears a move to Sporting Lisbon.

Leeds United striker Rodrigo.

The Spaniard was heralded as Leeds' player of the season last year by members of the media like The Athletic's Phil Hay, with Silva eyeing a move.

However, Saudi Arabian side Al Rayyan are looking to continue this growing summer trend of players making the move away from Europe to the Middle East.

Al Rayyan are confident they can Rodrigo, but according to journalist Andrade of UOL Esporte, Fulham are still pose a very real threat.

"Al Rayyan remains confident in signing Rodrigo Moreno, but has already learned that the Spanish player is also in Fulham's sights," the reporter said on his personal Twitter account.

How many goals did Rodrigo score last season?

The 32-year-old finished 2022/2023 as Leeds' top scorer in the English top flight, standing out as their star player with 13 goals and one assist (WhoScored).

No other Leeds player managed more attempts at goal per than Rodrigo either, making him a credible alternative to Aleksandr Mitrovic in the Fulham forward line (WhoScored).

Hay, writing for The Athletic, also praised his attitude and demeanor during Leeds' scrap against the drop – saying Rodrigo looked up for the fight.

"The noticeable thing about Rodrigo this season is that he has looked game for the scrap," said Hay.

"His attitude and body language have been more feisty and, as much as it is possible to do this when results are imploding around him, he has looked like a forward who is ‘having himself’, a forward who expects to score."

Meanwhile, former Whites striker Noel Whelan branded the forward "very invaluable" last year, with reports suggesting Rodrigo has a meagre £3 million release clause in his deal after Leeds' relegation.

This could certainly be a price more than worth paying.

Leeds Could Revive £45k-p/w "Lightweight"

Leeds United have a tough task on their hands to gain an instant return to the Premier League, but with the right guidance, it could be one made relatively straightforward.

For two years now, the Whites have seemingly lost their identity, with Marcelo Bielsa's stubborn tactics leaving the hierarchy unsure as to how they move on from such a legendary figure in their recent history. They had quite clearly gone 'all-in' on the 67-year-old, which made his dismissal even more heart-wrenching.

Jesse Marsch followed, and it was his tenure that arguably doomed the West Yorkshire outfit to their relegation, which neither Javi Gracia nor Sam Allardyce could halt.

Appointing the right boss this summer is integral in ensuring their Championship stay is a short one, and doing it soon could be key to convincing their key assets to remain at Elland Road.

If fans are not too desperate to see Brenden Aaronson stick around, should his potential is unleashed, he could have a huge hand in returning them back to the top flight.

Of the various managers touted for their dugout vacancy, the United States international would surely prefer Daniel Farke to get the job given their philosophical alignment with regard to how football should be played.

Will Brenden Aaronson stay at Leeds United?

The 22-year-old was brought up on the heavy-metal football associated with the Red Bull system, having been brought over by Marsch to spearhead his midfield.

However, with just one goal and three assists in the league last term, this has been a wholly failed experiment.

Should the 49ers seek to appoint the former Norwich City man, perhaps he would have a few tricks up his sleeve to unearth the potential of this high-octane maestro, who had notched 16 goal contributions across all competitions in his final year in Austria.

Whilst he is sure to implement a high-pressing system, Farke could also accommodate the youngster by harking back to his work with Emiliano Buendia, given how he transformed this diminutive Argentinian dynamo into one of the Championship's top performers – now a solid Premier League asset.

During his second promotion with the Canaries, the success of the 46-year-old boss was buoyed by the emergence of the current Aston Villa man, who shone from his right flank.

Aston Villa forward Emiliano Buendia

In scoring 15 times and assisting a further 17 in the league, he was the deserving recipient of the Championship's Player of the Year award, despite standing at just 5 foot 8.

Given Aaronson has been called a "lightweight" by pundit Jon Newsome when talking to BBC Radio Leeds, he too could be toughened up by this new regime, perhaps by being allowed to star from the left flank and drift onto his right foot as a mirror image of the 26-year-old.

After all, he does boast that same silkiness and tenacity that Buendia enjoyed, with Marsch even telling MLSsoccer.com's ExtraTime podcast: "He gets better every day. He's like a weed. You almost see him grow before your eyes. It's really amazing. He's a special young man.

“It's so much just about his ability to make final plays and slow himself down a little bit in the last third. He has more quality than people think. He's a good finisher, he's really clever with how to put passes together in tight spaces."

All these attributes have helped Farke's former prodigy grow into an instrumental figure in Unai Emery's Midlands revolution, and the hope around Elland Road will be that he can repeat this feat with their £45k-per-week flop.

Celtic Could Hire Dream Ange Heir In 4-3-1-2 Manager

Celtic are in the market for a new head coach as they prepare for the 2023/24 campaign after they were rocked by the loss of Ange Postecoglou this week.

The Hoops enjoyed a terrific weekend as they beat Inverness at Hampden in the Scottish FA Cup final to secure the domestic treble, after winning the double with the Australian boss last term, and it only took a few days for that joy to turn to disappointment.

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur came calling and Postecoglou was officially confirmed as their new manager on Tuesday, as they finally landed their replacement for Italian boss Antonio Conte.

Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chairman Peter Lawwell, along with the rest of the board, must now appoint his successor. 90min recently reported that Brendan Rodgers, Jesse Marsch, Matthias Jaissle, and David Moyes are possible candidates.

Who is Matthias Jaissle?

Desmond could find the dream Postecoglou replacement by appointing 35-year-old RB Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle, who has been in charge of the Austrian giants for the past two seasons.

The now-former Hoops boss is a proven winner who has been able to manage successful teams throughout his career. He has a points-per-game average of 1.92 and has won 177 of his 306 domestic league matches, while losing just 73 in his time in Australia, Japan, and Scotland.

Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.

This allowed him to be a huge success at Parkhead as the 57-year-old won 2.64 points per game across 66 regular season Scottish Premiership outings, which led to two titles for the club.

In comparison, Jaissle, whose coaching was once hailed as "top quality" by journalist Josh Bunting, has only been in senior management for three years, after spending two seasons at U18 level, but has averaged 2.47 points won per game across 103 matches in his career so far.

The young tactician has only lost three of his 63 Austrian Bundesliga fixtures with Salzburg and has won the title in both of his seasons in charge, to go along with one Austrian Cup.

These statistics show that the German, who typically deploys a 4-3-1-2 formation, knows how to instil a winning mentality and is capable of leading teams to back-to-back titles, much in the same way that Postecoglou did with Celtic before his move to Spurs this week.

Therefore, Jaissle could be the dream replacement for the Australian; he is a young, up-and-coming coach who has already shown promise as a manager who turns his teams into winning machines, something the Hoops should be looking for to continue their dominance of Scottish football.

Whilst the German boss is a young head who has not proven himself in a major European league, or in Scotland, his work at Salzburg suggests that he has the qualities required to be an excellent appointment for Celtic.

Liverpool Eyeing Dream Van Dijk Heir In £21m Mountain

Liverpool technical director Jorg Schmadtke is interested in completing a swoop for Torino's Dutch centre-half Perr Schuurs this summer, according to recent reports…

What's the latest on Perr Schuurs to Liverpool?

That's according to Caught Offside, who claim that Liverpool have added the 23-year-old to their list of transfer targets as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to rejuvenate his squad after a subpar season.

Torino are believed to be willing to initiate talks regarding Schuur's possible transfer with potential suitors for around €20-25m (£17-21m), which could leave Schmadtke convinced of securing a shrewd signature to leave ample room for further investment elsewhere.

While the emphasis is, understandably, on bolstering the centre of the park after Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League, Fabrizio Romano has recently confirmed that the club are searching for a centre-back and will make their move if the right chance arises.

Should Liverpool sign Perr Schuurs?

The 6 foot 3 colossus has gone under the radar somewhat but is undoubtedly one of the Serie A's most efficient and composed central defenders, with Torino finishing tenth this term and shipping just 41 goals all season – a better record than three of the top five.

Having started 28 league matches this term, the Dutchman earned a solid average rating of 6.87 – as per Sofascore – completed 88% of his passes, averaged 1.7 tackles and 3.2 clearances per match, dubbed a "mountain" by journalist Josh Bunting.

As per FBref, the £30k-per-week titan ranks among the top 8% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues for rate of assists, the top 19% for successful take-ons and the top 19% for rate of tackles per 90, indicating a varied approach to his craft that tantalises a possible moulding into a superlative modern-day central defender, something Liverpool's star defender Virgil van Dijk could play a pivotal role in.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk

Schuurs' compatriot has been one of Europe's leading forces since signing for the Reds for £75m from Southampton in 2019, making 222 appearances, scoring 19 goals and supplying 12 assists while playing a definitive part in a period in Liverpool's history littered with silverware.

Brazenly named "the best centre-half of all time" by Michael Owen, the 31-year-old bears a resemblance to Schuurs in that he averages 4.9 clearances per game across the duration of his career, as per WhoScored, and could allow his younger peer to absorb the fruits of his sweeping aptitude, and given that he towers above most at 6 foot 5, he could help nurture Schuurs' own aerial ability.

The 'mountain' would fall into Liverpool's defensive crop at a time when he would likely be allowed to integrate slowly, with Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all shouldering the burden, but in time, he could take Van Dijk's mantle and cement a prominent role in a prestigious Premier League outfit.

Newcastle United Could Bring In £110k p/w Ace This Summer

Newcastle United have 'always wanted' Leicester City playmaker James Maddison and will be in the race to sign the England international this summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest transfer news involving James Maddison?

As per The Mirror, Newcastle United will rival Tottenham Hotspur this summer as they try to acquire Maddison from Leicester City in a deal that could cost around £40 million.

The Athletic report that Leicester City will try to sell Maddison in the off-season to raise funds for their assault on the Sky Bet Championship; however, the Foxes are hopeful that they can initiate a bidding war for his services.

Arsenal have also been linked with a swoop for the £110k-a-week ace and could let go of Emile Smith Rowe to make room for the Coventry-born midfielder.

Football Insider claim that Newcastle United are 'frontrunners' to sign Maddison and boss Eddie Howe is 'close to a breakthrough in negotiations' with the former Norwich City man.

According to the outlet, the Magpies have leapt in front of Tottenham in the race to land Maddison as they prepare for a tilt at Champions League football next term.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Romano has detailed that Newcastle United have always been among the suitors to land Maddison.

Romano stated: "Maddison for sure because for the player they have been in the race since last summer. They always wanted him, they always appreciated him."

Would James Maddison be a good signing for Newcastle United?

Maddison, who was hailed as a "Champions League player" on TalkSPORT, is a wonderfully talented midfielder and would add extra goals and creativity to Newcastle United ahead of the 2023/24 season.

In 2022/23, the 26-year-old made 32 appearances in all competitions and managed to register ten goals and nine assists, as per Transfermarkt.

james-maddison-leicester-premier-league-man-united-transfer

Speaking on Sky Sports via The Daily Mail earlier this year, pundit Graeme Souness waxed lyrical over Maddison, stating: "He'll do the hard yards as well, he's an all round top man and I really think it will be hard to hold onto him. Over £100million for him. Chelsea spent £110m on Fernandez, you're buying potential with him, Maddison is a great player."

According to FBRef, Maddison also managed to lay on 138 shot-creating actions this campaign, demonstrating his ability to be an inventive presence in the middle of the park.

Unsurprisingly, Maddison was also Leicester City's most impressive performer, racking up an average match rating of 7.24/10, according to WhoScored.

With Newcastle United looking for some creative genius ahead of the new campaign, Maddison would be an excellent capture by Eddie Howe, all things considered.

Australia lose No. 1 Test ranking after 3-0 defeat in Sri Lanka

Australia have conceded the No. 1 Test ranking to India after losing all three Tests on their tour of Sri Lanka. Virat Kohli’s team – currently ahead of Pakistan by one point – must win the fourth Test against West Indies, beginning on August 18 in Trinidad, to retain their top ranking.Australia slipped to No. 3 after the 163-run defeat at the SSC; they had begun the series with 118 points but finished the contest just ahead of England, who also have 108 points at No. 4, on the ICC’s rankings.As a result of Australia being whitewashed 3-0, Pakistan have risen to No. 2, having drawn their four-Test tour of England 2-2. Should India fail to beat West Indies in Trinidad, Pakistan will become the No. 1 ranked Test side for the first time.Sri Lanka’s performance led to them over-taking South Africa to move into sixth place with 95 points. They had begun the home series against Australia at No. 7 with 85 points.ICC Test rankings 1 India (112 points), 2 Pakistan (111), 3 Australia (108), 4 England (108), 5 New Zealand (99), 6 Sri Lanka (95), 7 South Africa (92), 8 West Indies (65), 9 Bangladesh (57), 10 Zimbabwe (8)

Crystal Palace Given Potential Boost With £50k-A-Week Star

Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi could stay at the club beyond the end of this season, according to an update from transfer expert Dean Jones.

Is Guehi having a good season for Palace?

The Eagles have managed to steer themselves away from the Premier League relegation zone recently, with the decision to replace Patrick Vieira with Roy Hodgson ultimately proving to be a masterstroke. It means that the club can now look ahead to next season and eye up new signings, as they look to go up another level, potentially under a new manager.

While reinforcements are imperative, it is also important that Palace look to keep hold of as many key players as possible, from Wilfried Zaha to Michael Olise. Another player who is undoubtedly huge is Guehi, who has enjoyed an impressive campaign, starting 34 league games and averaging 3.7 clearances per game, which is only bettered by centre-back partner Joachim Andersen (6.1).

At 22, the hope is that the £50,000-a-week Englishman remains at Selhurst Park for many years to come, but other clubs are interested in signing him. His current deal doesn't expire until 2026, however, so big bids would be required to snap him up.

Will Guehi stay put this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones talked up the idea of Guehi remaining a Palace player past the summer transfer window:

"I mean, I think he will be linked with clubs. I'm not convinced he's going to leave. We'll have to wait and see what happens with the manager and what path Crystal Palace go on here because he will need to see a certain level of ambition.

"But if Palace's top young players hang around as well, like the attacking lads, then I think Guéhi will probably be willing to stick through it a little bit longer, too. But it's going to be dependent on there being that excitement factor and knowing that it's not going to be another season like this one."

Guehi staying put feel as important as any new signings, considering what an influential player he has already blossomed into, being described as "magnificent" by journalist Andy Sixsmith.

He still has much improving to do, despite already being such a force, so for Palace to lose him and see him develop elsewhere from afar would be a massive blow.

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