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Celtic are reportedly closing in on a move for Lanus full-back Alexandro Bernabei, according to journalist César Luis Merlo. 

The lowdown: One out…

This comes after the Hoops agreed to send Liam Scales on loan to Aberdeen for the duration of the 2022/23 campaign. The 23-year-old will work under Jim Goodwin at Pittodrie and look to obtain much-needed first-team match experience before returning to Glasgow.

Despite being a natural central defender, Scales was predominantly utilised as a left-back to act as cover for Greg Taylor, last season and Ange Postecoglou appears to have wasted little time in replacing the young Irishman…

The latest: Two in…

Taking to Twitter, Argentine journalist Merlo has claimed that Celtic have reached a ‘verbal agreement’ with Bernabei ahead of a switch to the Premiership champions.

He stated: “There is verbal agreement for Alexander Bernabei to go to Celtic in Scotland. Lanús is exchanging documentation for an operation that is carried out for 90% of the economic rights.”

Arriving for a reported £4m transfer fee, the 21-year-old – who was hailed as a ‘very complete winger’ by reporter Ezequiel Liniado due to his versatility and unwavering work ethic – has been spotted bidding farewell in Argentina.

He is expected to follow the permanent signing of Jota, who starred on loan last season and is reportedly on the brink of penning a long-term deal to remain in Glasgow.

The verdict: Exciting times

Given the unquestionably sublime work already achieved by Postecoglou in the transfer market during his time in situ, it can be anticipated that the addition of Bernabei to the Lennoxtown ranks will be one of great success.

Boasting impressive dribbling, finishing and defensive contribution (WhoScored), the versatile Argentina youth international certainly possesses all the hallmarks of a full-back suited to the style of play under the 56-year-old, capable of playing anywhere up the left flank.

Albeit only in its infancy, Bernabei has already enjoyed a thriving senior career, with four goals and ten assists in 85 appearances, and the marauding wing-back will no doubt be hoping to evolve onto the next level as a Bhoy whilst pushing Taylor hard for a starting berth.

Seemingly perfectly suited to the manager’s system, it’s unlikely that the Celtic hierarchy would’ve allowed Scales to exit on loan without the Argentine starlet edging closer to an deal at Parkhead, and this seemingly imminent capture – alongside Jota’s permanent arrival – would mark an excellent start to the transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur’s attempts to sign Everton star Richarlison may have been given a boost as an update comes out of north London.

The Lowdown: Spurs keep moving…

After completing a trio of deals to sign Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma, it is reliably believed that Spurs transfer chief Fabio Paratici has his eye on more incomings for manager Antonio Conte.

A right-wing-back, central defender and centre-forward are said to be priorities for the Lilywhites, who are looking to build upon their top four Premier League finish at the back end of last term.

Subsequent qualification for the Champions League has gifted the club a £150m equity increase which has so far been put to use in the summer market, with a promising update now coming to light involving one of the Lilywhites’ targets.

The Latest: Romano shares promising Richarlison update…

Toffees striker Richarlison, who is said to be on Spurs’ radar, may well be on the move before the start of 2022/2023.

Taking to Twitter, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that the Brazil international is now interested in a move to Hotspur Way with the club having ‘discussed’ him in recent transfer talks with Everton.

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The transfer guru explained: “Tottenham are still well informed on Richarlison – was discussed during talks for Harry Winks-Everton. Richarlison would be open to Spurs move. It also depends on Raphinha domino.

“Winks talks going slow, as he could be included in Richarlison talks or separated deal.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Finishing 2021/22 as the Goodison Park club’s best-performing player, as per WhoScored, we believe that the South American would be a grand addition for Conte.

He was also Everton’s top scorer last season in the top flight (10) whilst averaging more attempts at goal per 90 than any member of Frank Lampard’s squad (WhoScored).

It’s little wonder that journalists such as CBS Sports editor Mike Goodman have claimed that the 25-year-old is a ‘unique’ player, and Richarlison may well fit in to what Conte is building in N17.

Leeds United have made a request to sign Sassuolo’s Hamed Traore, according to the Italian club’s CEO.

The lowdown

Leeds have already been busy in this summer’s transfer window, bringing in three new faces.

Attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson and right-back Rasmus Kristensen have joined from RB Salzburg, while central midfielder Marc Roca has arrived from Bayern Munich.

The trio have cost a collective £52million, but Leeds could be due to bank up to £105million from the sales of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.

Traore is a 22-year-old attacking midfielder who can also play in a deeper role or on the left wing.

Valued at £19.8million by Transfermarkt, he’s under contract for another two years.

The latest

Speaking to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Sassuolo chief Giovanni Carnevali confirmed that Leeds had been in touch. But he was keen to stress that the club will not being sell all of its coveted assets this summer.

“We have received a request [from Leeds], but I repeat, we will not sell all of them,” he said.

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The verdict

Another Sassuolo player attracting interest is Gianluca Scamacca, who’s said to be admired by Arsenal, Newcastle United and West Ham United.

You can see why the club might be reluctant to lose the 16-goal striker and Traore, who scored seven times and provided four assists last season, in the same window.

It might take a special offer for Leeds to lure away the midfielder, who’s similar in profile to Philippe Coutinho and Raphinha with quick feet and elite close control – he actually completed more dribbles per game in Serie A last term than Raphinha did in the Premier League.

For Leeds, it would be a long-term investment in a player who was ‘fantastic’ last term, in the words of sports journalist Josh Bunting.

Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is considered a backup option to Frenkie de Jong at Manchester United, should the Red Devils fail to sign the Dutchman this summer.

The Lowdown: Neves expected to leave Wolves

The 25-year-old has been an outstanding player for the Old Gold over the past five seasons, growing into arguably one of the Premier League’s most creative central midfielders.

Neves looks likely to leave Wolves this summer, though, having appeared to be waving goodbye to supporters on the final day of the 2021/22 season and with numerous clubs circling for his signature.

United have been one of those linked with signing the Portuguese maestro in recent weeks, along with Barcelona, and some big news has emerged in that respect.

The Latest: United see Neves as transfer backup

According to talkSPORT, United see Neves as one of their backup options to bolster their midfield, should they fail to acquire De Jong from Barcelona.

Leicester City star Youri Tielemans is also considered a potential suitor as Erik ten Tag looks for a high-profile addition in the middle of the park.

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The Verdict: Any chance of him staying?

With each passing week, there remains lingering hope that Neves could end up staying put at Wolves, even though that may feel like a pipe dream more than anything.

It still feels more likely that he will move on and join either Barcelona or United in order to kick on during the next phase in his career, with his peak years potentially ahead of him.

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Should that be the case, it is imperative that Wolves quickly find an adequate replacement for Neves, in order for his exit to be as seamless and undamaging as possible.

From a Molineux perspective, a lot could hinge on whether United can land their primary midfield target in De Jong.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly now eyeing up a move to bring Japhet Tanganga to Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Lack of game-time

After a bright start to the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, having been hailed as ‘really special’ by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville after an impressive performance on the opening day against Manchester City, the 23-year-old found himself slowly falling out of favour at Tottenham Hotspur.

He played just 19 times in all competitions and completed the full 90 minutes in just 11 of those games (Transfermarkt); and with Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet signing on loan for Spurs for next term, Tanganga’s future has been further cast into doubt.

The Latest: Newcastle offer for Tanganga

Taking to Twitter, TUTTOmercatoWEB journalist Marco Conterio has revealed that Newcastle have now offered a loan with an obligation to buy deal for Tanganga, a proposal which Spurs ‘like’.

Translated from Italian, he tweeted: “#Milan remains strong on the Japhet Tanganga talent of the #Tottenham for the defence but there is the insertion of #Newcastle.

“#NUFC offers the loan with obligation to redeem to #THFC, a formula that Spurs like.”

The Verdict: Low-risk

Signing Tanganga on an initial loan presents a low risk deal for Newcastle, who may also get a discounted price for the Englishman given that he seemingly no longer has a place in Antonio Conte’s squad at Tottenham.

Once dubbed ‘amazing’ by former Lilywhites manager Jose Mourinho, the defender still has a lot of promise at just 23 years of age.

Nonetheless, Eddie Howe will likely be confident that he can get the best out of the player; and if he does, it could turn out to be an exceptional prospective signing for the Magpies.

Everton have been linked with a move for Maxwel Cornet this summer, and a reliable source has given a new update on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Toffees could trigger the Burnley forward’s €21m (£17.86m) release clause before the transfer window closes.

Giving an update on Everton’s prospective dealings, the transfer insider tweeted: “The release clause for Maxwel Cornet could be triggered for €21m fee”

Supporters will love it

The Goodison Park faithful have been starved of signings so far this summer, with only James Tarkowski joining on a free transfer earlier this month, but supporters will love hearing that it seems there is now work ongoing to improve the squad following a disastrous 2021/22 campaign.

Everton only retained their top-flight status by the skin of the teeth when they secured enough points to survive in a 3-2 comeback against Crystal Palace in the penultimate game of the season, and Lampard will want to avoid a similar outcome as they return to action next month.

Despite being relegated with Burnley last term, Cornet was a standout player, putting in some impressive performances which helped his team take their relegation battle right down to the final minutes of the last day.

Over 26 appearances, the 25-year-old scored nine goals, delivered one assist and created two big chances, taking 1.8 shots and winning 2.8 duels per game, proving that even in a struggling team he can pose an attacking threat and offer creativity.

Not only has Cornet shown his capabilities and talent at Turf Moor, he also offers diversity in his positioning and is capable of playing across the front three, as well as left full-back and left midfield, which could make him a highly valuable asset to Lampard next season as he attempts to find the perfect system for Everton.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is a huge fan of the Ivorian, saying of the former Lyon winger’s talent: “I was very impressed by the talent of Maxwel Cornet.”

The Toffees manager will be keen to add strength to his attacking threat this summer after losing Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin could develop a new strike partnership with Cornet if Farhad Moshiri can complete a deal to bring the Burnley marksman to Goodison Park.

AND in other news: Moshiri plotting Everton bid to sign 6 foot 2 “serious talent”, imagine him & Tarkowski

AC Milan are believed to be ‘trembling’ in their pursuit of striker Charles De Ketelaere this summer, giving Leeds United hope in the battle to sign him.

The Lowdown: De Ketelaere battle continues

It looks like a two-way fight to snap up the Club Brugge youngster in the summer transfer window, with both the Whites and Milan doing all they can to get him.

In recent days, it has looked as though the Serie A champions have been in pole position to sign De Ketelaere, even though Leeds have tabled a big offer for his services.

A fresh update suggests that all hope is far from lost for Leeds, though.

The Latest: Leeds handed De Ketelaere boost

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Milan are ‘trembling’ after talks with De Ketelaere stalled, with the report also stating that Brugge have received an ‘important offer’ from the Whites worth ‘at least’ €37m (£31.4m).

Milan don’t want to bid that high, which is proving to be a key stumbling block, meaning that their chances of signing him are ‘decreasing’.

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The Verdict: Big boost for Leeds

This is undoubtedly a significant boost for Leeds in their quest to sign De Ketelaere, with Milan seemingly stalling at an important moment, giving the Whites genuine hope of signing a player who has been hailed by international colleague Radja Nainggolan as an ‘undisputed star’ at Brugge.

Leeds are clearly willing to offer more for the 21-year-old than the Serie A champions but the key now is whether or not he deems Elland Road to be as attractive a proposition as the San Siro, given the lure of Champions League football in Italy.

It appears as though Leeds view De Ketelaere as their top attacking transfer target this summer, so to get him now after this ongoing saga would feel massive, particularly with him having scored 14 league goals last season.

Birmingham City are interested in signing Derby County midfielder Krystian Bielik this summer, according to a new transfer rumour that has emerged.

The Lowdown: Bielik on the move?

The Rams are preparing for life in League One after their relegation from the Championship last season, as they hope to make a swift return to the second tier.

Derby’s relegation has led to plenty of summer exits and one player who could be moving on is Bielik, having previously been hailed as an ‘X-Factor’ player by journalist Ryan Conway.

The 24-year-old only started 12 league games last term but it is unlikely that he will want to be plying his trade in League One in 2022/23.

The Latest: Birmingham keen on signing

According to The Birmingham Mail, Birmingham are ‘keen’ on signing Bielik on a temporary basis this season, as he continues to work his way back from an injury suffered during pre-season.

There is believed to be ‘intense competition’ for the Pole’s services, however, including interest from Watford and Galatasaray, with his exit looking highly likely.

The Verdict: Hard to keep hold of him

Bielik is a Poland international with five caps to his name, so it is understandable why he wouldn’t want to be stuck in the third tier, especially with the World Cup around the corner.

He still has two years remaining on his current Derby deal and the best bet may be for them to sell him permanently next summer, rather than losing him on a free transfer in 2024.

The brutal reality for Derby is that footballers of Bielik’s calibre will want to be playing at a higher level, hampering the Rams’ chances of gaining a quick promotion back to the Championship.

Everton’s move to bring Paris Saint-Germain star Idrissa Gueye back to the club has drawn immense praise from former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

The lowdown: Fan favourite

During his distinguished first spell on Merseyside, Gueye endeared himself to the Goodison Park faithful whilst amassing 108 outings for the Toffees.

The 32-year-old Senegal international has since made 111 appearances for PSG, taking his overall domestic career tally to 431, including spells at Lille and Aston Villa.

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Upon hearing the reputable Fabrizio Romano confirm that a return to Merseyside is close for Gueye, one pundit has provided his verdict on the transfer…

The latest: ‘Be excited’

Speaking to Football Insider, ex-England stopper turned Sky Sports contributor Robinson claimed that bringing the 94-cap stalwart back to Everton is a shrewd move from Frank Lampard.

He said: “To be able to get him back would be good. He did not play a lot at PSG but he is a talented player, of that there’s no doubt.

“He is a player that Frank has obviously wanted. Frank knows they have to freshen it up. They cannot have the same situation as last season. A club of that size and stature should not be fighting relegation.

“Gueye would enhance their chances of improving upon last season. Having a player like that at the base of the midfield will help the likes of Dele Alli. I expect we will see a different Alli this year. In an Everton side on the front foot you will get a much better Alli. He will be like a new signing.

“There’s reasons to be excited.”

The verdict: Spot on

A deal is now thought to be very close, and adding a player of the defensive acumen of Gueye to the midfield ranks will undoubtedly be a huge boost to Lampard’s plans. It may indeed up the likes of Dele Alli to express themselves further up the pitch without the shackles of carrying out too much in the way of defensive duty.

Coming from an ultra attack-minded team such as PSG, containing the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar, all of whom have little defensive responsibility, the Senegalese workhorse has made a career out of his ability to break up play and stop opposition attacks, previously being likened to N’Golo Kante by ex-Blues boss Sam Allardyce.

Last season, Gueye earned an impressive 7.04 Sofascore rating whilst winning 4.0 duels, making 2.3 tackles and completing 93 per cent of all passes on average per Ligue 1 appearance – showcasing that aforementioned defensive prowess and an ability to recycle possession effectively.

Clearly still a more than capable elite-level operator, having obtained further trophy-winning and UEFA Champions League experience, Everton could be welcoming back an even better performer than the first time around.

Coupled with a new striker arrival amidst links to Maxwel Cornet and Armando Broja, there could well be reasons for optimism in the blue half of Merseyside.

Journalist and broadcaster Andy Sixsmith has praised the potential signing of Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: In talks

As per Italian football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the St. James’ Park outfit are preparing an offer for Ramos, and talks are ongoing with him and Benfica over a potential move.

PSG are also thought to be interested in signing him, but the North East club have made him their ‘top target’.

The Latest: Sixsmith reacts

Taking to Twitter, Sixsmith, a broadcaster for BBC Sport and Radio 5 Live, gave his instant reaction to the news, praising Ramos’ qualities and claiming that he would be the ‘perfect fit’ on Tyneside:

“Talk really building on Goncalo Ramos to NUFC – what a smart signing this would be. Brilliant in the air, a real clever finisher & a proper grafter up front – all for a manageable fee. He’d bring goals, quality & competition. Perfect fit.”

The Verdict: No time to waste

With the likes of PSG. who can offer him UEFA Champions League football, interested in Ramos, there is no time to waste for Eddie Howe’s side to get this deal over the line.

He has started the season very well, scoring a hat-trick in Benfica’s 4-1 home win over FC Midtjylland in their Champions League qualifier, while he’s also registered three assists this term already (Transfermarkt).

The 21-year-old had a breakthrough season last campaign, when he managed eight goals and four assists in 46 matches in total across all competitions (Transfermarkt), and is really starting to make a name for himself around Europe.

Nonetheless, Ramos would provide the perfect competition to both Callum Wilson and Chris Wood up top.