Chelsea Preparing Bid For £26m "Real Beast", He’d Be Better Option Than Jackson

Chelsea are in the process of overhauling a squad that desperately underperformed in the Premier League last season, with new boss Mauricio Pochettino potentially eyeing another striker.

Who have Chelsea signed so far?

The Blues have added Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson to their squad already this summer – players boasting 28 goals combined in the Bundesliga and La Liga last season – while teenage wingers Angelo Gabriel and Diego Moreira have joined from Santos and Benfica respectively.

Those arrivals have helped to offset the departures of Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Kai Havertz, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N'Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Christian Pulisic, among others.

Chelsea are said to have made signing Moises Caicedo their top priority before the transfer window closes on 1st September, but Brighton & Hove Albion are continuing to play hardball.

However, Pochettino may have better success when it comes to bringing in another attacking player, as L'Equipe reports that Chelsea are preparing a bid for Montpellier ace Elye Wahi, who is reportedly valued in the region of €30m (£26m).

How old is Montpellier striker Elye Wahi?

Despite only turning 20 earlier this year, Wahi is already an established Ligue 1 player as he has featured 84 times for Montpellier, including 33 appearances last season as La Paillade finished 12th.

Wahi was directly involved in 24 goals across those 33 games (19 of his own and five assists), which puts him on a par with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar. Indeed, only six others in the French top flight could better that tally – Kylian Mbappe (34) and Lionel Messi (32) among them.

Given his age, his already-proven ability and a reasonable price tag, Wahi looks to be a steal on the face of it. Indeed, the youngster may even be a better option than Jackson to potentially partner – or indeed, fill in for – Nkunku should he arrive.

The France U21 international scored seven league goals more than Jackson last season, doing so at a rate of 0.68 per 90 minutes, compared to 0.67 per 90 for the Senegalese, as per FBref.

Mauricio Pochettino new Chelsea manager

Wahi was also slightly more accurate in terms of shooting accuracy, finding the target from 58.1% of his efforts, compared to 56.1 for Jackson, while there is also little between the pair when it comes to carries (19.2 v 19.5 respectively).

Jackson does pose more of an aerial threat, winning 30.2% of his duels in the air compared to 20.4% for Wahi, but the Frenchman's game is based more around pace and power.

That is not to say Jackson is not a superb player himself, but according to The Analyst, Wahi is already ranked in the top 11% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored last season and does not turn 21 until next January.

Described by Diario AS reporter Andres Onrubia Ramos as a "real beast", Wahi will no doubt be hungry to hit the ground running should Chelsea win the race for his signature.

On the basis of what he has already shown in France, do not bet against him challenging for a regular starting spot as Pochettino's Stamford Bridge revolution continues.

Man United Eye Move For £40m Eredivisie Dynamo

Manchester United are believed to be nearing the signing of Rasmus Hojlund, and now a fresh update has emerged on another potential target who could join the striker at Old Trafford.

What's the latest on Man United's interest in Mohammed Kudus?

According to Dutch football journalist Marcel van der Kraan, Ajax star Mohammed Kudus is on Man United's list of targets this summer.

Speaking on Football Daily, van der Kraan revealed:

"He [Kudus] is very keen on a move to the Premier League whether that be a top club in London or Manchester."

"But I think as soon as Ten Hag would knock on his door, he will go."

"He is on their list, he might not be the number one yet but if the players mentioned fail to come or talks break down, Kudus could be an ideal option."

How good is Mohammed Kudus?

It is no secret that Erik ten Hag has continued to have a huge admiration for his former Ajax squad, with a number of the Eredivisie club's players being linked with a move to Old Trafford since the manager was appointed last summer.

Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana are all players that have followed their former Ajax coach to the north west of England, whilst the likes of Jurrien Timber and Frenkie de Jong have been previously linked too.

Now Kudus – who reportedly has a £40m price tag – could be the next Ajax ace to join Ten Hag's rebuild project at the Theatre of Dreams this summer, and would provide strong competition for the players deployed in the attacking threat, especially Antony who hasn't had the explosive impact desired so far.

Over 25 Premier League appearances last season, the Brazilian delivered just four goals and two assists, as well as missing four big chances in front of goal and failing to complete 54% of his dribble attempts, as per SofaScore.

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When comparing Kudus' output to the Man United winger's last season, the Ghana international comfortably outperformed his positional competitor in a number of attributes including goal contributions (14 v 9), shots on target rate (39.1% v 32.1%), pass completion (85.5% v 79.1%), successful take-ons (62.3% v 42.7%) and shots on target per 90 (1.36 v 1.18), as per FBref.

Not only that, Dutch legend Marco van Basten spoke out on the former Ajax teammates upon Antony's big-money move to Man United, claiming that Kudus is a much better player:

"Kudus has much better technique, and he knows what he is doing. Antony may be faster, but Kudus is smarter and more technical.

"He is much more of a footballer, you can place him anywhere on the pitch, an all-rounder for the team.

"In fact, I like him much better than Antony. He's more fun to watch play."

Indeed, Kudus' great versatility in positioning means that the pair could play alongside each other for the Red Devils, with the 22-year-old experienced in playing central midfield, attacking midfield, in the centre-forward role, as well as on the right wing too.

However, providing competition for Antony on that right flank could ultimately unlock his true potential and push the winger to improve his performances, something that would put Ten Hag in a great position by having two young and hungry prospects vying to prove themselves next season, with Hojlund spearheading the attack through the middle.

With that being said, the signing of Kudus would be a great piece of business for Man United; adding depth to a number of key areas on the pitch and delivering Ten Hag another huge talent that can impact the attacking threat.

Everton: Dyche Looking To Bid For His Next Barnes In "Powerful" £85k-p/w "Handful"

Everton have received a boost in their bid to sign Michail Antonio from West Ham United this summer, with Sean Dyche looking to continue the restructuring of the frontline following a subpar season.

What's the latest on Michail Antonio to Everton?

According to Football Insider, the Hammers striker has seen negotiations for a move to the Saudi Pro League collapse, paving the way for Everton to swoop in and offer the 33-year-old a deal to move to Merseyside.

Dyche's side previously pushed for the Jamaica international's signature in January, to no avail, and could now return to add the experience, leadership and winning mentality that was lacking at Goodison Park last term.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Arnaut Danjuma has already been signed, while Sporting Lisbon's Youssef Chermiti is nearing a £13m move to Merseyside, though aged 19 he is deemed one for the future.

Would Michail Antonio improve Everton?

Having served the Irons over a lengthy period, scoring 75 goals and providing 43 assists from 276 appearances since arriving in 2015 from Nottingham Forest on a reported £7m deal, Antonio has etched his name into West Ham folklore.

Especially after starring last term in the Europa Conference League, scoring six times and supplying two assists as the east London outfit would go on to clinch the European piece of silverware.

And despite his age, Antonio still looks capable of playing a part in an ambitious Premier League outfit, having scored 35 goals across his past four league campaigns.

Antonio, an imposing and "powerful" forward, as stated by personality Godfrey Akoto Boafo, has even been likened to Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku by Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who said:

"He's a handful, very, very difficult. He's a little bit like Lukaku in terms of the power and the speed but also a very good finisher."

Premier League, Everton, Everton news, Everton transfers, Everton transfer news, Michail Antonio

He would certainly open up a different dynamic to the Everton attack, ranking among the top 15% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, which underscores the energy and driving presence the £85k-per-week gem brings, belying his age.

Dyche could replicate his move to sign Ashley Barnes, who he signed from Brighton & Hove Albion while at the helm of Burnley in 2014, enjoying great success with the 33-year-old forward.

The 6 foot 1 Englishman, who once played for Austria U20s, scored 42 times from 200 Premier League appearances for the Clarets and embodied the qualities that are so intrinsic to a Dyche system, winning an average 2.8 aerials per game across his career, as per WhoScored.

Antonio has a more robust approach but can match Barnes' physicality and aerial dominance to a tee, having averaged 2.4 aerials won across the duration of his own career.

Having also been praised as "strong" by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Antonio could be the brutish force Dyche could effectively utilise to provide his squad with something a little different this season, making an impact that will steer the club away from the danger area and toward the stability that the centre of the division provides.

Liverpool Still Keen On Signing 21-Year-Old Bayern Munich Player

Liverpool remain interested in signing Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch this summer, with Jurgen Klopp believed to be a huge admirer.

How old is Ryan Gravenberch?

The Dutchman, who is still only 21 years of age despite seemingly being around for a long time, joined Bayern from Ajax last summer, in what was seen as a big piece of business by the Bundesliga champions.

Gravenberch had already made 103 appearances for Ajax, even though he is still so young, but with huge things expected of him, he found it tough in his first year in Germany.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

The midfielder may have featured in 24 of Bayern's league matches, but he only started three of them, with the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka preferred in the middle of the park, among others.

Gravenberch is one of numerous players to have been linked with a move to Liverpool earlier in the summer, with the Reds potentially viewing him as someone who could make a big difference, following so many issues in that area of the pitch last season.

With Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai already coming in, and Romeo Lavia and Andre both looking like primary targets, it seems as though the Reds' interest in Gravenberch hasn't completely gone away yet.

ryan-gravenberch-liverpool-transfer-premier-league

Will Liverpool sign Ryan Graveberch?

According to the Bayern Insider podcast [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are in the best position to sign the Netherlands international when compared to other clubs, with Klopp thought to rate him highly as a player. It is believed that the Reds manager is confident that he could reach his vast potential at Anfield, coming in as an exciting long-term acquisition at the club.

Gravenberch is clearly a hugely gifted footballer, even though his spell at Bayern has been underwhelming to date, but there would have to question marks over whether he is the best option for Liverpool at this point.

The Dutch youngster can operate as a No.6, but is more at home in more of a No.8 role, using his physicality and attacking ability to showcase his box-to-box brilliance. In Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, the Reds have already sorted that area this summer, though, with defensive midfielders far more important.

For that reason, it is essential that Liverpool look to bring in at least one of Lavia or Andre before deadline day arrives – bringing in both would make more sense – in order to make up for the loss of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, with the former particularly brilliant there at his best over the years.

Nailing down someone in the No.6 position is so vital for any team – Curtis Jones has been deployed there at times in pre-season, but is far from an experienced natural in the role. Adding Gravenberch to Mac Allister and Szoboszlai could feel a bit samey, even though compatriot and former Netherlands international Kim Krief has spoken highly of him in the past, once saying he is "greatest talent" in his country, while Frank De Boer has described him as a "fantastic" footballer.

Crystal Palace Eye Move For £17.5m-rated "Talent"

Crystal Palace are still in the market for new additions this summer despite only a few weeks remaining before the transfer window closes, and now a fresh update has emerged on a potential target.

What's the latest on Crystal Palace's interest in Curtis Jones?

According to Caught Offside, Crystal Palace are interested in acquiring the services of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones this summer.

As per the report, Roy Hodgson is pushing for the signing of the midfielder as he believes that he is the perfect fit for the type of player Palace need to sign, with the club still weighing up a loan offer that could include an option to buy at the end of this season.

How good is Curtis Jones?

It is no secret that the Eagles struggled to maintain their high standards last season and found themselves getting dragged into the tight Premier League relegation battle at certain points over the 38-game campaign.

Whilst Patrick Vieira's youth revolution at Selhurst Park was hugely celebrated in the 2021/22 season, the fresh and entertaining football consistently seen previously failed to transpire on occasions in the following season, with Conor Gallagher's departure contributing to that.

Gallagher enjoyed a whirlwind breakthrough campaign with Palace during his season-long loan which earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate's England squad – having scored eight goals and provided three assists in the league for the Eagles – but decided to push for a regular starting spot at Stamford Bridge instead of completing a permanent move to the South London.

conor-gallagher-england-premier-league-crystal-palace

As a result, acquiring the services of Jones next season could be the perfect way to emulate Gallagher's impact at Selhurst Park, as the young Liverpool talent has proven on many occasions that he is an explosive and influential presence in the centre of the pitch.

The England U21 star has been a regular but inconsistent feature at Anfield due to the enormous quality Liverpool has boasted in their squad over the last half a decade, but Jones has taken every opportunity to prove his worth to both Jurgen Klopp and on the international stage.

Jones played an integral part in the England U21 European Championship success this summer and was named the Player of the Match in the final of the competition for his contributions.

Over five appearances in the tournament, the £17.5m-rated whiz – once hailed an "exceptional talent" by Klopp – scored one goal, completed an impressive 94% pass completion rate and successfully completed 50% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 88.4 touches, 72.2 accurate passes and 4.2 duels won per game, proving that he was a huge presence for the England youth side.

When comparing Jones' output with Gallagher's last season, the Liverpool star outperformed his Chelsea positional peer in a number of key attributes including pass completion (90.3% v 81.1%), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.30 v 2.61), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.35 v 0.17) and percentage of dribblers tackled (58.1% v 27%), proving that he could either match or improve upon his compatriot's impact for Palace.

With that being said, if Palace could complete a deal for Jones in the coming weeks it would give Hodgson a high-quality perspective to unleash in the centre of the pitch and in turn, improve their performances over the season ahead.

Aston Villa: Emery Could Face Disaster With "Prolific" 21 y/o Gem

After a far from desired start to the Premier League season, Aston Villa could suffer another mishap so early into the campaign after what was a thrilling summer for Unai Emery.

The Spaniard teamed up with Monchi at Villa Park to deliver some exciting moves in the transfer window on the back of a successful end to the 2022/23 calendar, welcoming Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby to the fold.

Things have rapidly taken a turn for the Villans, with two major injury blows shocking the squad, seeing Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings both away from the action for the foreseeable future.

An opening day rollicking by Newcastle United left a bitter taste for those associated with the club, however, things could still take another negative turn regarding the side’s outgoings.

Who could leave Villa Park this summer?

The most expected player to depart Villa Park at present is Philippe Coutinho, who has been linked with a lucrative move to Qatar after a failed spell back in the Premier League.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Another name speculated to be allowed to leave the club is academy product Cameron Archer, who according to journalist Alan Nixon is a player the Villans are open to selling for the right conditions, as relayed by Birmingham Live.

The speculation regarding the striker's future could be a blow for the club, who have one of the country’s most promising young forwards at their disposal.

How many goals has Cameron Archer scored?

Having once been hailed as “incredibly prolific” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 21-year-old showcased just what he can do if given the chance last season, where he thrived during a half-season loan at Middlesbrough.

The Englishman wasted no time in becoming accustomed to his surroundings, scoring 11 goals and securing six assists in only 20 Championship appearances for the Reds.

With Ollie Watkins as Emery’s first-choice striker, there’s little room for the academy graduate to worm into the starting eleven, however, given his success in the senior game last term, there is surely a place for his talents in the squad.

Considering the busy schedule ahead for Emery’s side, with the potential of added fixtures in the Europa Conference League, the Spaniard could save the club millions by exerting Archer’s talents rather than seeking alternative reinforcements in the market.

Selling the marksman could be a mistake that has been made by the Villans before, with a similar narrative evident in the sale of fellow academy graduate Carney Chukwuemeka to Chelsea.

While Villa received a healthy £20m fee for the midfielder, his talents have become apparent already in the 2023/24 campaign, with Mauricio Pochettino selecting the 19-year-old to start against Liverpool in the Blues’ season opener.

Receiving substantial pay-outs for sporadic players is a plus to a degree, however, working with an upcoming star from the club's academy to the benefit of the player and the team is more rewarding.

Emery could save Villa millions by integrating Archer into his current side, who at 21 could be the eventual heir to Watkins and beyond if given a shot at his boyhood club.

Chelsea Make Enquiry To Sign £6k-p/w Forward

Chelsea have made an enquiry for Lyon forward Bradley Barcola, but a reliable journalist has revealed that they aren’t the only club in the race to secure his services with interest outside the Premier League.

Who is Bradley Barcola?

Barcola is naturally a right-winger who has plied his trade at the Groupama Stadium since his childhood days having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first team back in January 2022, where he’s since gone on to make a total of 46 senior appearances.

The France youth international still has another three years remaining on his contract, but having established himself as Laurent Blanc’s third best-performing offensive player last season, he’s caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

According to RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins, Todd Boehly has placed the 20-year-old on a shortlist of options as an alternative to Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise who ended speculation of a move by signing a new long-term contract with Roy Hodgson’s side, with chiefs entering the market to find a replacement for Christian Pulisic following his permanent switch to AC Milan.

Lyon forward Bradley Barcola.

Are Chelsea signing Bradley Barcola?

Taking to X, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Chelsea have now developed their interest in Barcola by approaching Lyon to discover what it would take to complete a transfer before the end of the summer window. He wrote:

“Paris Saint-Germain are not happy with club to club talks for Bradley Barcola as OL have changed original asking price multiple times. Barcola agreed terms with PSG in June but club to club situation now tense. Chelsea also asked for Barcola deal conditions last week.”

In Ligue 1 last season, Barcola racked up an impressive 14 goal contributions (nine assists and five goals) in 26 appearances, form which saw him receive three man-of-the-match awards, but he also proved to be a threat even when the ball didn’t always hit the back of the net.

The Gestifute client, who pockets £6k-per-week, ranked in the 94th percentile for number of attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area and the 92nd percentile for aerial wins, highlighting his desire to not only create chances but additionally make himself a target man in the final third, despite only standing at 5 foot 11.

Read The Latest Chelsea Transfer News HERE…

Furthermore, Villeurbanne’s native has been deployed in four different positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even slightly deeper on the left side of the midfield, so he would provide the boss with some welcome versatility where he could easily adapt to the role he’s asked to play in.

Finally, Barcola has been dubbed an “elite” player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and whilst it's unknown whether he would be ready to slot straight into the first-team fold considering that he's still only 20 and has no experience at this level, Pochettino clearly feels he can utilise him immediately to be targeting him as an alternative to Olise.

Rangers’ 77-Touch Titan Was Beale’s Real Hero Vs County

Glasgow Rangers secured a solid 2-0 victory over Ross County in the pouring rain at Dingwall, setting them up nicely for the trip to Eindhoven in midweek.

Michael Beale made a few changes from the 2-2 draw against PSV at Ibrox on Tuesday, and this included a start for Kemar Roofe – his first since April 2022.

Having lost their first Premiership tie against Kilmarnock and slipping immediately behind Celtic, all three points were required, and they duly delivered.

How did Rangers perform vs Ross County?

A solid, if unspectacular performance secured another win, and Beale will be pleased by how comfortably the game went by, especially in the first half.

Captain James Tavernier led by example with yet another wonderful performance, and his goal was a sight to behold.

Striding forward with purpose, the right-back looked in a menacing mood and unleashed a stunning, dipping shot that nestled into the top corner to give the Light Blues a two-goal advantage following Kemar Roofe’s opener.

Alongside his goal, the Englishman also demonstrated how effective he is going forward by making four key passes during the tie, while also succeeding with one successful dribble and taking three shots during the game.

Defensively, he won 50% of his ground duels along with making one tackle and one interception, as well as committing just one foul, which was good enough to help his team keep a clean sheet.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

But as good as Tavernier was, it was centre-back John Souttar who was an absolute rock at the back for Beale against the Highland side, and he was a major contributing factor to the club keeping a clean sheet.

How did John Souttar perform against Ross County?

Speaking to the media before this match, fellow defender Leon Balogun praised the Scot, saying:

“I think he’s a very strong player. Last season didn’t go the way he planned as he got injured early on. Since I’ve come back, you can see that he’s a good defender and there are a few things that I’ve wanted to copy from him.

“We’ve got really good defenders in the backline and there’s no point being sour because we have big targets this season. In order to achieve them, you need a strong squad and that’s what we have.”

John Souttar

Against County, Souttar was a rock, while also showing how comfortable he is on the ball by taking 77 touches and completing 48 passes as he looked to start attacks from the back often.

Souttar won eight of nine total duels during the match, showcasing his physicality. He also made seven clearances, three interceptions and two tackles, and wasn’t dribbled past once across the 90 minutes.

It was a commanding performance by the former Hearts defender, and he has certainly emerged as a first-choice centre-back alongside Connor Goldson.

With two tough games against PSV and Celtic to come next week, seeing the 26-year-old in this sort of form will undoubtedly please Beale ahead of tougher tasks.

Spurs team news: Ange must unleash £13m "weapon" vs Burnley

Tottenham Hotspur will be seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the new Premier League season with a positive result at home to newly-promoted Burnley this afternoon, with Ange Postecoglou's men also likely keen to shake off their recent Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Fulham.

After a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage in normal time, a much-changed Spurs side crashed out on penalties to further limit their chances of ending what is now a 15-year wait for silverware, with that swift departure from the competition somewhat souring the mood amid a largely impressive month for the Lilywhites.

Following the opening weekend draw with Brentford, the north London outfit have since recorded 2-0 wins against both Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth to put themselves in the mix at the top of the table, with the change in the dugout seemingly paying off at present.

As the midweek loss to the Cottagers showcased, however, there is still plenty of work left to do for Postecoglou if he is to truly revive the club's fortunes, both this season and beyond, with the ex-Celtic boss likely wary of complacency against a Clarets sides who are yet to earn a point since returning to the top-flight.

Will Tottenham make changes against Burnley?

With Postecoglou having made nine alterations for the trip to west London on Tuesday night, it is likely that the Greek-Aussie will revert to a similar side to the one which saw off the Cherries just a few days earlier – with only Richarlison and Micky van de Ven having kept their place against Marco Silva's men.

That being said, however, the new boss may still be waiting to see his attacking unit, in particular, truly click into gear, with the likes of Heung-min Son and Richarlison yet to get off the mark in the league with a goal or an assist.

Ange Postecoglou

With that in mind, it may be time for Postecoglou to shake things up somewhat and hand a first top-flight start of the season to summer signing, Manor Solomon, with the former Shakhtar Donetsk ace having shown flashes of his quality in midweek.

How good is Manor Solomon?

The Israeli international was arguably one of the more understated arrivals of the summer window for the north Londoners after joining on a free transfer, although there have already been glimpses of the attacking threat that the 24-year-old can offer to his new club over the coming years.

Having previously scored four league goals last term during an injury-disrupted stint on loan at Fulham, the wideman has since been restricted to just a solitary substitute appearance in the top-flight this time around, having come off the bench late on against Man United.

Manor Solomon

However, up against his former employers earlier this week the 5 foot 7 speedster illustrated his 'quick feet on the ball', as per the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick, having also gone close to finding the back of the net with a delightful, curling effort.

That outing saw the £13m-rated ace notably complete three of his five attempted dribbles as a sign of his desire to make things happen in the final third, having also won six of his 12 ground duels as an indication that he is willing to put in the hard yards defensively.

While largely overlooked by Postecoglou in the league thus far, today's encounter with Vincent Kompany's side could be a chance for that situation to change, with journalist Paul Brown previously telling Football FanCast that Solomon good be a "good weapon" for his new club, as he has a "knack for goal".

Although thus far the new addition has been something of a bit-part player in the early weeks of the season, he could well represent a secret 'weapon' if given a more prominent role this afternoon.

Man City: Guardiola eyeing "exceptional" ace with 4.3 clearances per game

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is now targeting a new defensive reinforcement in the January transfer window, according to latest reports.

What's the latest news involving Manchester City?

According to The Sun, Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne wants to finish his career at the Etihad Stadium and will reject any big-money approaches from the Saudi Pro League in 2024.

The Belgium international reportedly has no interest in moving to the Middle East to continue his career amid a belief that he can perform at the elite level for some time to come. If De Bruyne does ever choose to leave the Premier League champions, it is believed that he would rather remain in Europe.

And in Manchester City news from the world of international football, England boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed that he has talked veteran defender Kyle Walker out of retiring from Three Lions duty on two separate occasions, as cited by The Guardian.

Southgate has spoken glowingly about Walker's impact in an England jersey, stating: "I’ve talked him [Walker] out of retirement twice. After the Euros and after the World Cup. I think he loves being here, he’s wanted to keep going and now he’s thinking about how many caps he can get. He’s critical to us. If we’re talking about world‑class players in their position in our team then he’s probably one of them."

Meanwhile, as per The Daily Star, Manchester City are believed to be 'confident' of fending off competition from Brighton & Hove Albion and Serie A giants Juventus to land Boca Juniors full-back Valentin Barco, who has an £8 million release clause that Guardiola is willing to activate.

Joan Patsy, who is Manchester City's South American-based sporting director, is driving the move for Barco and the Blues' knowledge and recruitment success from the continent has increased the appeal of completing a deal for the 19-year-old.

Who else are Manchester City keen to bring in?

According to The Sun, Manchester City are monitoring West Ham United defender Nayef Aguerd and could swoop for the Morocco international next summer.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool are also keen on the 27-year-old and are now keen to strengthen their defence due to Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip being on the wrong side of 30 years old. Aguerd has also attracted interest from Saudi Arabia in recent times.

During his spell at the Hammers, Aguerd has become a hit among supporters and has featured 33 times in all competitions for West Ham United, registering three goals in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Labelled "exceptional" by Gary Lineker on Match of The Day, via West Ham Zone, back in February, Aguerd has started 2023/24 in strong fashion and has completed 4.3 clearances per match in the Premier League.

In the Hammers' 2-1 victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road before the international break, Aguerd asserted his dominance at the heart of David Moyes' backline, winning six aerial duels, according to Sofascore.

Manchester City boss Guardiola is known for his talent ID and would be carrying out a shrewd bit of business by bringing Aguerd to the Etihad Stadium.

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