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The likelihood of Sadio Mane leaving Liverpool this summer is ‘increasing’ all the time, according to fresh transfer reports.

The Lowdown: Mane expected to leave

The 30-year-old’s Reds adventure looks set to be coming to an end this summer, following a glittering six years at Anfield.

Mane has matured into one of the world’s best attacking players and he is thought to be looking for another big challenge before his best days are behind him.

Bayern Munich now look almost nailed-on to sign the Senegal forward, with the Bundesliga giants aiming to replace the seemingly exit-bound Robert Lewandowski.

The Latest: Mane transfer latest

According to reports from Sport BILD and Sky Sports Germany [via Sport Witness], the chances of Mane completing a move to Bayern are ‘increasing’ by the day.

Liverpool are ‘prepared to hand over’ the attacking superstar, with Darwin Nunez seemingly coming in as his direct replacement from Benfica.

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The Verdict: Only a matter of time

There is no surprise about this update, in truth, with Mane’s exit now looking almost inevitable considering that Nunez appears to be closing in on a big-money switch to Anfield.

It is hard to begrudge the Senegal legend a new challenge at this stage of his career, having given every ounce of quality and energy to the Reds since 2016, scoring 120 goals and winning six trophies for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

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In fact, Liverpool could end viewing this as a shrewd summer in the transfer market, with 22-year-old Nunez a much younger (and hugely potent) option and 30-year-old Mane possibly past the absolute peak of his powers.

In other news, Liverpool are interested in signing an emerging player. Find out who it is here

Newcastle are in the running to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio, according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Newcastle are working on deals to sign centre-back Sven Botman from Lille and striker Hugo Ekitike from Reims, having already signed left-back Matt Targett permanently.

But manager Eddie Howe may also want to strengthen his midfield during the transfer window.

Milinkovic-Savic is predominantly a no. 8, though he can play in an attacking midfield position too.

The 27-year-old started 36 of a possible 38 Serie A games under Maurizio Sarri last season, underlining his importance to Lazio.

The latest

The report states that Newcastle and fellow Premier League side Arsenal have entered the race to sign Milinkovic-Savic.

Neither side can offer the carrot of Champions League football, after Newcastle finished 11th and Arsenal fifth, but that may not disqualify them from contention.

Lazio are said to be aware that Milinkovic-Savic’s price will continue to drop as he enters the final two years of his contract.

But they’ve still set their demands at €65million (which equates to about £56.4million) plus bonuses.

The verdict

Newcastle’s transfer record currently stands at £39.6million, the fee they paid to sign Joelinton from Hoffenheim in 2019 – is it worth breaking to land Milinkovic-Savic?

Well, his record of 11 goals and ten assists in last season’s Serie A is hugely impressive for a midfielder, ranking him in the 97th and 96th percentiles across Europe (via FBRef).

He’s able to advance the ball through dribbling (1.2 per 90, 85th percentile) and can find space to receive progressive passes (6.17 per 90, 98th percentile).

The Serbian is similar in profile to Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and even Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne, according to his numbers.

What’s more, he’s collected a litany of individual honours, including two Lazio Player of the Year awards (2020/21 and 2021/22) and the Serie A midfielder of the year prize (2018/19).

Team-mate and former Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva believes ‘he has everything a top player needs to have’ and called him ‘unmarkable’ in the air. There’s a compelling case to make an offer.

In other news, Newcastle have made a bid for another Serie A player.

Celtic are once again being linked with a move for Bristol City striker Antoine Semenyo in the upcoming summer transfer window, this time by Ghanasoccernet.

The lowdown: Hot prospect

Born in London but of Ghanaian descent, the highly-rated forward has enjoyed a steady rise to prominence in the southwest of England, having graduated through the Robins’ youth system.

Having spent time on loan at Sunderland, Newport County and Bath City, the 22-year-old has already made 137 senior appearances despite his tender years.

Heading steadfast towards the final year of his contract at Bristol City, a move could now be on the horizon for the talented forward…

The latest: Celtic watching Semenyo

As per Ghanasoccernet, Celtic are believed to have ‘set sights’ on Semenyo as Ange Postecoglou looks to bolster the Hoops’ ranks ahead of next season.

It’s claimed that the Ghana international, who made his Black Stars debut this week against Madagascar, has ‘been on the radar’ at Parkhead for a prolonged period, and officials from the Glasgow club have been ‘closely monitoring’ his development.

The report added that the Hoops will allow £5m flop Albian Ajeti to leave the club in order to make room for the youngster, who was touted as a ‘real talent’ by journalist Gregor MacGregor in 2019.

The verdict: Make it happen

Predominantly operating at centre-forward, Semenyo scored eight times and provided 12 assists during 2021/22, showcasing selflessness and an ability to bring team-mates into goalscoring positions while also having a sharp eye for the net himself.

Valued at £2.25m by Transfermarkt, the Championship outfit were previously holding out for offers in the region of £20m for their talented youngster as Nottingham Forest and Watford both attempted to land the Ghanaian.

However, with the aforementioned contract entering its final 12 months, Celtic should be testing the waters with a much lower initial offer in an attempt to sign the talented attacker, particularly if Ajeti moves on following a torrid campaign for the Swiss forward, in which he scored a paltry  three goals.

In other news: Ex-Scotland manager makes Celtic transfer claim

Rangers’ hopes of signing Mateo Cassierra this summer have been handed a boost after the striker reportedly revealed he was keen on a move to Ibrox.

What’s the word?

Rangers have been heavily linked with the Colombian striker in recent weeks and according to the 4th Official, a trusted insider, on Twitter, he wants to join Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side ahead of next season.

They tweeted: ”When pressed on how close the move is in reality, I was told that the player has several options but Rangers is where Cassierra wants to move. But, Rangers would not be paying anywhere close to £8.5m for the striker.”

A big boost for Rangers?

The 25-year-old has enjoyed a fruitful spell during his time at PF Sochi, contributing 14 goals and six assists in just 23 appearances for the Russian League side.

Recent reports have suggested that they value him at £8.5m but given that his Transfermarkt value stands at just £4.05m and his contract is set to expire next summer, Rangers will surely be looking to negotiate a lower price.

Both Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe only just hit double figures in the league for Rangers last season and after injury problems, van Bronckhorst was forced to start Joe Aribo up front for the Europa League final loss against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Therefore, a clinical striker could make all the difference for the Teddy Bears next season as they aim to go one step further in Europe, as well as reclaiming their place at the top of domestic football after relinquishing their Premiership title last season.

As well as impressing at Sochi, the 25-year-old forward has also enjoyed impressive spells with Deportivo Cali and Ajax’s youth sides, where he was prolific with 42 goals, so he clearly knows where the back of the net is and could be a superb addition to van Bronckhorst’s attacking options next season.

If Cassierra is indeed keen on a switch to Ibrox, then director of football Ross Wilson should act quickly to bring him in, before other European sides begin to take notice of the Colombian’s impressive form in Russia.

And, in other news… After Goldson: Mark Guidi promises more good news for Rangers supporters

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham, is open to the idea of leaving Elland Road this summer, according to The Telegraph.

The Lowdown: Spurs rumours

Harrison netted a late winner against Brentford on the final day, his 10th goal of the season, to guarantee Leeds’ Premier League status.

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The 25-year-old has been a regular over the last four seasons, making 166 appearances for the club. He eventually made his move from Manchester City permanent last summer, however, he has already been linked with a move away.

Tottenham view Harrison as a player who can turn out as a wing-back under Antonio Conte after a recommendation from Andrea Pirlo, who played with the Leeds man at New York City.

The Latest: Exit update

The Telegraph shared a story on Monday morning regarding the Whites after they survived in the Premier League.

They claimed that the club still have a task on their hands to keep hold of both Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, adding that Harrison is also ‘open to the idea’ of an exit, labelling it as ‘one to watch’.

The Verdict: Decision needed

Harrison has proven to be an extremely reliable member of a mostly successful Leeds squad in recent years, contributing to 50 goals. He’s been a regular under Jesse Marsch and scored four times in the run-in which eventually helped the club secure safety.

However, it looks as if Leeds chiefs will now have a big decision to make as Harrison enters the final two years of his contract.

If he wants to leave, then perhaps now is the time Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers should maximise his value and cash in with Spurs seemingly keen.

As The Telegraph mention, it looks like it could be one to keep an eye on in what could be an extremely busy summer in regards to incomings and outgoings.

In other news: ‘Listen…’ – Sky Sports man reacts as Leeds and Marsch now linked with ‘exceptional’ PL forward. 

West Ham United have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their important final day game against Brighton and Hove Albion today with Said Benrahma declared fit ahead of the clash.

The Hammers secured some form of European football next season after drawing 2-2 against title hopefuls Manchester City last weekend. However, they could finish the campaign in a Europa League place if they defeat Brighton and Manchester United drop points.

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Speaking in his pre-match press conference manager David Moyes said that Benrahma, who missed the City game through injury, will be back in the squad.

It will be the news Moyes wanted to hear with the Algerian having been a key player for the East London side this season. He has played 32 Premier League games and been directly involved in 14 goals in that time.

Most recently he produced a dazzling display in The Hammers’ 4-0 thrashing of Norwich City where he scored two goals. At just 26-years-old he has his best years to come and if he spends them at The London Stadium he could help the club push to get into the Champions League.

Journalist Toby Cudworth described his performance in that game as “what we’ve been waiting for”. The quality he can produce is the reason he was signed from Brentford permanently in 2021 for £20m after impressing on loan the season before.

If he can produce performances to that standard on a consistent basis then he could become their most important player. When you compare him to Jarrod Bowen, a player who gets spoken about a lot, their statistics are pretty similar.

Benrahma produces on average 2.86 shot creating actions per 90 minutes which is close to Bowens 2.96. He has also made 129 progressive passes this season which is one more than the Englishman.

They should be spoken about in a similar manner because both players are just as crucial to West Ham’s success on the pitch. He’s contracted till 2026 so if any other clubs were interested they would have to pay a lot of money for him.

If Benrahma continues with his recent form then we can only see one outcome from this match and that’s victory for The Hammers.

IN other news: Moyes must finally axe £27k-p/w WHU dud who’s causing “problems”, he’s cost them badly…

Leeds United’s chances of survival on the final day of the Premier League season were thin.

They started the day inside the bottom three and with injuries and suspensions cutting through the squad like a knife through butter, there wasn’t really much hope.

Jesse Marsch’s men had to travel to London, a part of the country where for some strange reason, Leeds struggled under the tenure of Marcelo Bielsa.

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However, as Victor Orta was all too keen to point out at full-time, Marsch is now the manager and he is very much here to stay.

The curse of failing to win in the big smoke is surely now over as this group of players ensured they left Brentford with three points and Premier League safety in the bag.

It felt like the moment their place was secure, they got to work in the transfer market.

It’s thought that Brenden Aaronson will finally join the club from RB Salzburg but Orta can form a devastating duo by lining him up alongside Noa Lang.

The former Ajax man is now playing his football in Belgium for Club Brugge and has been superb on the flanks. So much so that Football Insider revealed this month that Leeds had been in talks over a potential summer switch.

During the current campaign, he has found the back of the net on nine occasions while registering a mammoth 15 assists in all competitions.

With that in mind, should Raphinha leave as is widely expected, there would be no better replacement than Lang, someone who in the eyes of FB Ref is a similar player to Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho.

Potentially costing in the region of £33m this summer, the Dutchman has been described as both “unstoppable” by scout Jacek Kulig and a “phenomenon” by Belgian journalist Peter Vandenbempt.

A look at the stats tells you why that assessment has been made.

He ranks in the top 2% when comparing his numbers across Europe’s best five leagues for progressive passes per 90, the top 5% for progressive carries per 90 and the top 10% for dribbles completed.

Sancho, in comparison, also ranks in the best 6% for progressive carries, proving how dangerous the pair can be when given the chance to isolate a defender and take them on.

Lang would be a stellar first signing this summer and if Victor Orta can conclude a deal, supporters may well forgive him for some suspect recruitment in the last few years.

AND in other news, Leeds United supporters will be fuming at what Victor Orta did at full time yesterday…

Celtic could break their own Scottish record of earning £100m in a season, according to financial expert Kieran Maguire.

The Lowdown: Memorable season at Parkhead

The Hoops are on the verge of regaining their Premiership title, with just one point required in their final two matches of the season.

Ange Postecoglou has come in and done a superb job in his first campaign as manager at Parkhead, with the Scottish League Cup already added to the trophy cabinet earlier in the season.

It appears as though Celtic are thriving on and off the pitch, following a fresh revelation from a financial guru.

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The Latest: Expert makes £100m Celtic claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire claimed that the Hoops could generate more money next season than their record £100m earnings back in 2018. He revealed:

“Celtic are the only club in the history of Scottish football to generate more than £100m in a single season. That came in 2018 when they were in the Champions League. It is transformational.

“Last year, they generated £60m worth of income. I expect that to go up because they will have a full season of matchday in 2021-22.

“For every £1 in the Europa League, you get £5 in the Champions League. Celtic will be joyous in the boardroom with this news.”

The Verdict: Hugely exciting times

This is a wonderful time to be a Celtic fan again, with last season’s on-field disappointment and football behind closed doors now a suppressed memory.

The Hoops are excelling both in terms of performances on the pitch and being run shrewdly behind the scenes, with this latest update indicating their healthy financial position.

It means that funds should be available to make significant signings during the summer transfer window, ensuring that Postecoglou builds an even more potent squad moving forward – something which will be vital ahead of a return to the Champions League group stage.

In other news, one Celtic player has been backed to leave this summer. Find out who it is here.

Graham Smyth has dropped a promising injury update on Leeds United centre-back Liam Cooper ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Arsenal.

What’s the latest?

In a recent article for the Yorkshire Evening Post, the journalist revealed that Jesse Marsch is optimistic the sensation the defender felt in his knee ahead of the Manchester City loss last weekend is not a serious injury, before going on to state that it is possible the Scotland international plays against Arsenal on Sunday.

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Smyth went on to write in his piece: “Cooper has been described at Leeds as the master of getting himself right for matchdays even after a disrupted week of training and if he’s in any way close to contention, he’ll push to be involved in such a big game.”

Marsch will be buzzing

Should Cooper indeed be deemed fit enough to feature at The Emirates this weekend, it would certainly be an outcome that will have Jesse Marsch and the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

Indeed, while injury has severely limited the 30-year-old’s game time this term, the £6.3m-rated Scot has nevertheless proven his importance to the Whites over his 18 Premier League appearances, helping his side keep five clean sheets, as well as making an average of 2.1 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 3.4 clearances and winning 6.9 duels – at a success rate of 67% – per game.

These returns have seen the £35k-per-week defender average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.07, ranking him as Leeds’ best performing outfielder in the top flight.

As such, considering just how important the Arsenal fixture is in Leeds’ season – with the Whites currently sitting just two points above the relegation zone – Cooper’s return would undoubtedly come as a huge boost for Marsch, something the 48-year-old manager desperately needs at present.

AND in other news: Sources: Orta eyeing Leeds bid for £19.8m-rated ace, he’s like “Messi inside the area”

Fabrizio Romano has dropped a transfer update on Leeds United winger Raphinha, who has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona.

The Lowdown: Deco talks

Reports earlier this month suggested that Deco, Raphinha’s agent, jetted out to Barcelona looking to progress talks over a summer transfer.

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Both Deco and the Catalan giants were looking to finalise personal terms in what could be a five-year deal at the Nou Camp.

Raphinha has remained fully focused at Elland Road, with Jesse Marsch’s side five points clear of safety after picking up 11 points from a possible 15.

The Latest: Romano’s reply

Romano, who has 7.6m Twitter followers, took to the platform on Wednesday morning to reply to rumours regarding Barcelona and Raphinha.

He clarified the situation when responding to a fan, saying Barcelona and Leeds haven’t spoken over a move as of yet, with the only talks involving Raphinha’s representatives themselves.

The transfer expert’s reply went under the radar due its place mid-way through a conversation between other users, receiving just over 1,100 likes – about 0.014 per cent of his following.

“Still no talks Barça/Leeds – it’s only on player side. Too early to say he’s close to join FCB – even because he’s focused on Leeds now, important games are coming.”

The Verdict: Exit inevitable?

Even though Leeds are yet to discuss a move with Barcelona in regards to Raphinha, it does appear that a summer exit from Elland Road is inevitable.

The Whites will want to ensure they get the best possible deal, should they decide to sell, making Premier League safety even more important.

There is apparently a €25m relegation release clause in the 25-year-old’s deal but no release clause if Leeds remain in the top flight, so the Whites could bring in a huge fee if they stay up.

In other news: Radz and 49ers will now reward Marsch if he keeps Leeds up by moving for 29-goal forward.