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Leeds United have been handed a boost in their chase to sign RB Salzburg star Brenden Aaronson in the summer transfer window.

What’s the story?

Reports earlier in January had initially suggested that Jesse Marsch’s side had a bid rejected for the USA international, but it now seems that Aaronson is a player the Whites will be looking to renew their interest in.

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Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Pete O’Rourke said: “That was the one they tried to do in January and were just not able to do it, so they will definitely rekindle their interest in that one, and Jesse Marsch with his American connections should boost their chances of getting that deal done.”

Marsch’s influence

As O’Rourke says, Marsch’s own connections back in America could see Leeds be handed the decisive advantage when it comes to finally luring Aaronson to Elland Road.

The midfielder is clearly highly-rated by those who know him best, with his former head coach at Philadelphia Union, John Curtin, revealing that Marsch himself was left impressed by the £18m-rated American’s work ethic.

He said: “He looks like he should be in a boy band rather than a Champions League game. But when he steps on the field and the whistle blows, he’s ruthless, man. He is a killer and he’s relentless. It’s important too, his teammates freaking love him. I can’t stress that enough. There’s so many great young talents that know they’re great, and maybe don’t fit in in the locker room.

“But the kid is a sweetheart. Instantly, Jesse was like, ‘The whole team has fallen in love with Brenden. They root for him like he’s a mascot, almost.’ And now he’s like one of their best players. He just has such a good way about him.”

Given the Whites’ generally disappointing Premier League season, the summer transfer window has just gone up in importance.

Getting deals done for key targets as early as possible and integrating them into the first-team set-up at Elland Road will be key to ensuring the club don’t come stumbling out of the blocks at the start of the new campaign.

This latest update suggests the ball is firmly in Leeds’ court, and if a deal can be done, it would certainly excite Marsch.

AND in other news – Leeds facing major nightmare as worrying news emerges, Elland Road would be devastated

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing Valencia’s Uruguayan forward Maxi Gomez.

What’s the word?

That’s according to a report from Spain (via Sport Witness), which claims that the West Midlands side have “set their sites” on Gomez.

Wolves were linked with the Uruguayan around the time of Raul Jimenez’s serious head injury, with the Old Gold reportedly still keen on the 25-year-old and are wiling to make a bid for his services this summer.

According to reports, Valencia are looking to raise funds through player sales this summer, and with Gomez one of the greater valued assets in the squad, he is expected to be placed on the market.

A huge risk

In truth, Bruno Lage would be taking a risk with the £13.5m-rated Valencia forward, who has misfired this season for Los Che.

The Uruguayan has just three goals and 24 appearances in LaLiga this campaign.

Although this is his first Fabio Silva.

He’s a physical forward who relies more on his positioning than his pace.

Though his record at previous club Celta Vigo allows you to enter the thought process of Bruno Lage.

The £47k-per-week Uruguayan had two successful goal-scoring seasons for Celta, scoring 13 goals in his second.

This gives Gomez a lifeline and insinuates that his playing style does not suit Valencia boss Pep Bordalas’ counter-attacking system.

Valencia have the fourth-worst possession statistics this season, with Los Che relying solely on transitional play to get them goals.

At Celta Vigo, Gomez mainly functioned as a centre-forward in a 4-3-3 side that looked to contest possession, which allows us to understand the reasoning behind his lack of goals this season.

Bruno Lage has clearly done his research with reports claiming that the Molineux side would be willing to make a proposal to sign the Uruguayan who Phil Vickery dubbed a “throwback” and “fearsomely strong” this summer.

The Portuguese manager must feel as though he can get Maxi Gomez back to his goalscoring ways at Wolves, in a move that would be a huge risk with the potential to pay dividends for the Old Gold.

AND in other news: Lage can now axe £75k-p/w “top talent” by unleashing Wolves’ “Foden-esque” sensation

Wolves have reportedly held advanced talks over the potential summer signing of Shakhtar Donetsk winger Pedrinho.

What’s the word?

That is according to Goal Brasil, who stated that Wolves’ interest should result in a positive outcome during the next transfer window.

As per Gazeta Esportiva, the Old Gold reportedly showed interest shortly after the suspension of the Ukrainian Premier League.

Pedrinho in, two out?

The signing of the 24-year-old Brazilian could give Lage the license to axe Francisco Trincao and Daniel Podence, who cost Wolves a combined £183k-per week and have underperformed this season.

Trincao’s loan from Barcelona has not gone to plan, with even Lage admitting that the 22-year-old’s spell at the Molineux has been poor. As per Birmingham Mail, the manager said: “We’ve talked about it since the first day because we’ve not scored too many goals. It’s not just about Trincao, but when you look at your numbers. One goal and one assist is not good.”

Whilst Trincao has managed just one goal and one assist in the Premier League, Podence is another who has failed to deliver for Lage, having netted just two goals and three assists this season in what is almost a replica of his returns the season prior.

The man who could replace the pair is Pedrinho, who was on track to achieve his best run of attacking returns in the Ukrainian Premier League before it was suspended.

With Trincao due to head back to parent club Barcelona at the end of the season, Wolves will only have one left-footed winger in the squad in the form of Pedro Neto. Therefore, Pedrinho could offer great value as an inverted winger for Lage, a move which could boost the Molineux side’s goal returns next season.

Pedrinho has achieved the same amount of attacking returns as Podence has this season in 14 fewer games, with his two assists proving crucial in Shakhtar’s run for the Ukrainian league title before football was stopped in the war-torn country.

In other news: Wolves plot exciting bid for £13.5m-rated “octopus”, £133k-p/w duo could be axed

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been backed to plot a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in this summer’s transfer window…

What’s the word?

That is according to Journalist Pete O’Rourke who spoke to GIVEMESPORT: “Wolves are very much in the market for a new striker this summer. It’s a key position for Bruno Lage, and if he wants to sign someone like Toney – he’s ready-made for the Premier League.”

O’Rourke added: “He knows what it’s all about, it wouldn’t be a gamble for him. And I think Ivan Toney’s really proved himself to be a good enough player to play in the Premier League, when a lot of people maybe doubted that when he was signed by Brentford in the first place from Peterborough.”

Previous reports suggest he could cost around £30m.

Jimenez upgrade

Toney has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water. The 26-year-old’s four assists are evidence of this, with his threat up-top proving crucial in Brentford’s ambitions of staying up.

With his 12 goals from 30 matches, he has doubled Raul Jimenez’s tally, with the Mexico international playing the same amount of games.

Though it’s Toney’s clinical nature that would make him a real asset to Wolves, with the Englishman missing just five big chances this season compared to Jimenez’s eight.

This is a stat that looks worse when you bear in mind both Brentford’s and Wolves’ number of big chances created, with the Old Gold creating just 35 big chances this season – meaning that Jimenez’s eight misses weighed more on the team than Toney’s five missed chances for Brentford.

Although there is the caveat that Toney has spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues, the 26-year-old has accumulated 124 in 394 games.

The Englishman who has “the mindset of a lion” according to Thomas Frank would be a huge upgrade on Jimenez in a creative sense too, with his match average of 2.52 progressive passes bettering the Mexican’s average of 1.61.

With Wolves struggling to score this season, Toney could prove to be a big upgrade on Jimenez.

In other news: Wolves want to sign £2.7m-rated “immense” gem, he’s better than Boly…

Rangers are on the verge of playing one of their most important matches of the season as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men prepare for a huge clash in Europe at Ibrox.

The Gers are 1-0 down on aggregate heading into this game as they attempt to land a place in the final of the Europa League.

They will need to overcome the one-goal deficit in order to book a spot in Seville and come into the match off the back of a 1-1 draw with their rivals in the Premiership at the weekend.

Gio van Bronckhorst may look to make changes to his starting XI to give his team the best chance of coming out on top against RB Leipzig and one player who must finally be unleashed from the start is striker Kemar Roofe.

He has missed the last three matches with a knee issue and it has been reported that he has made good progress in his recovery. The Dutch head coach is reportedly expecting him to be fit enough for the squad and the Jamaican must finally make his return from injury for this game.

Roofe has four goals and one assist in his last three matches for Rangers in all competitions and this suggests that he has the ability to be the match-winner for the club tonight. The centre-foward was hitting his stride prior to his blow and must now be given a chance, if fit, to show that he can continue to be the main man at the top end of the pitch for van Bronckhorst.

Noel Whelan previously claimed that the forward, who was dubbed a “Duracell Bunny” by Steven Gerrard, can be “invaluable” for Rangers and his recent statistic suggest that to be the case heading into this clash with Leipzig.

One player who desperately needs the striker to start is winger Ryan Kent. The former Liverpool man cut a frustrated figure as he had to play in a front two with Scott Wright in the first leg. He was made to play without a natural striker to link with and only managed one key pass as a result of that.

The winger has produced one goal and four assists in the Europa League this season, with 18 assists in all competitions, and his creativity combined with Roofe’s goalscoring can be the key to Rangers winning the tie. Therefore, they must be unleashed as part of a front three tonight, with the ex-Anderlecht hitman making his return in the number nine role.

AND in other news, Rangers are now set to repeat their awful Gilmour disaster, Gvb will be livid…

Spanish newspaper AS (via Sport Witness) have brought a fresh update regarding Liverpool and the pursuit of highly sought after AS Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. 

The lowdown: Rife speculation

With the summer transfer window fast approaching it appears that the interest in the 22-year-old Frenchman is intensifying.

The Reds have been extensively linked with Tchouameni in recent weeks despite the main focus being on the upcoming FA Cup and Champions League finals, as it becomes apparent a future away from the Ligue 1 outfit awaits at the end of the ongoing campaign for the powerful youngster.

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Now as the speculation rumbles on, it’s been suggested that the Anfield club will have to pay big money to fend off Real Madrid and PSG…

The latest: ‘Very close’

The Spanish press believe the Reds have already made their first offer, and now according AS, translated by SW, sources close to the player have indicated a major move is expected this summer – the player has decided to leave Monaco.

It’s claimed that Liverpool are the ‘main rivals’ to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the pursuit of the eight-cap France star, who is ‘very close’ to resolving his future and currently prefers a move to the Spanish capital.

The report also states that the Reds will need to spend between €70-80million (£60-68million) in order to sign the ace hailed as ‘outstanding’ by journalist Robin Bairner following a recent match-winning brace against LOSC Lille.

The verdict: Much-needed signing

Given the cruel setback suffered to Fabinho ahead of a crucial month for Jurgen Klopp’s side, the timing of the links to Tchouameni couldn’t be more salient.

Predominantly operating as a defensive midfielder, with very strong tackling and aerial ability (WhoScored), the Frenchman would be the perfect candidate to bolster the Anfield ranks as currently there is no natural understudy for Fabinho.

This season, Tchouameni has added goal contributions to an ever-developing game with seven in 48 appearances across all competitions whilst also boasting an average Sofascore rating of 7.33, the eighth-highest in Ligue 1, just behind the likes of PSG trio Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

At just 22 and already an accomplished top-level operator, Liverpool should be pulling out all the stops to make this deal happen.

In other news, French outlet drops Liverpool claim involving ‘unstoppable’ superstar. Read more here.

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira must place his trust in Eagles youngster Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, amidst his latest injury setback.

What’s the latest

Crystal Palace will be without their French sensation Michael Olise for the remainder of the season, after he picked up a knock that saw him miss the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.

Asked about the injury in the post-match press conference, as per Football.London, Vieira said: “Michael was injured. He had a step back and he’s not going to play again this season.”

Eberechi Eze started in place of Olise, whilst versatile Ghanian international Jeffrey Schlupp took up the right-wing position with just 12 minutes to go – scoring the all-important equaliser, having been on the pitch for just three minutes.

Opportunity Knocks

Having recently been named Crystal Palace’s U23 player of the season, Rak-Sakyi deserves a chance in the absence of Olise.

The 19-year-old has already spoken of his desire to impress Eagles boss Vieira before the end of the season, and with just two games left, he will need to stake his claim sooner, rather than later.

Last week, Vieira revealed that some of the U23s would train with the first team until the end of the season. Of course, Rak-Sakyi, who has been in and around the first team – having made the match-day squad on several occasions – is one of these players, having hit 15 goals and a further five assists in just 24 appearances in Premier League 2.

The 19-year-old, who has been described as a “standout” player by Dan Gibbs, has praised his manager for the number of opportunities he is willing to give to youth players.

As per Winsford Guardian, Rak-Sakyi said: “He [Vieira] is a great manager. I would say that he really trusts the youth. It just shows that if we work hard and we just put in the work in training and games then there are opportunities here.

“I have just got to work hard, keep training hard and hopefully I will get more minutes.”

With Olise out, Rak-Sakyi should be given the opportunity to make his second, and hopefully third, Premier League appearances in what are the final two league games for Palace.

In other news: Imagine him & Guehi: CPFC can save millions with 19 y/o starlet who’s “full of energy”