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Reputable journalist Christian Falk has backed reports of Liverpool’s interest in Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic this summer. 

The lowdown: Klopp connection

Despite never playing under Jurgen Klopp, Pulisic has often been indexed to the German, having come through the ranks and being given a first senior training session by the 54-year-old before representing Borussia Dortmund on 127 occasions.

Klopp hailed the USA captain as a ‘fantastic skilled boy’ in 2018, whilst the 23-year-old reciprocated the praise in describing the Reds manager as a ‘great guy’ when asked for his opinion on potentially playing under him in the future.

Having initially been linked with a move to Anfield prior to spending three years at Chelsea which have been truncated by injuries, Liverpool could be about to reignite their interest in the American…

The latest: Falk backs Liverpool links with Pulisic

Taking to Twitter, SPORT Bild’s chief football reporter Falk has seemingly confirmed that the Reds are considering a move for the 23-year-old.

He stated: “TRUE @LFC is interested in Christian Pulisic (23) as replacement for Sadio Mané (@FCBayern) @ChelseaFC”

The verdict: Assurances needed

Despite Pulisic’s talents, any move for the versatile forward would need to firstly see fitness concerns were allayed, as the American has missed an eye-opening 44 matches over his three seasons in London.

Recently praised by journalist Kyle Bonagura for a ‘world class’ goal for the USA against Morocco, the 49-cap ace scored eight times and provided five assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season.

Equally adept on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, Pulisic – who holds a perceived market value of £40.5m from Transfermarkt – would offer a supreme versatility to the Anfield squad that would be a welcome addition to Klopp’s ranks.

Although the American has only made 10 career outings as a striker, the role in which Sadio Mane ended the 2021/22 campaign, his age and his ability to adapt to new roles could lend themselves to another noteworthy transformation under Klopp if the 23-year-old swaps west London for Merseyside.

In other news: Liverpool are preparing to up their chase for PL ‘magician’ this summer, read more here

David Lynch has dropped an update on the future of reported Leeds United transfer target Takumi Minamino.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, the journalist revealed that the 27-year-old is now closing in on a move away from Liverpool this summer, with the Japan international’s agent said to have made contact with Leeds United, Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fulham and AS Monaco regarding a summer switch.

Lynch went on to state that, considering the sheer amount of interest in his services, the forward’s future is likely to be resolved quickly, with Jurgen Klopp’s side hoping to receive a fee in the region of £17m from the former Red Bull Salzburg winger’s sale.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “Takumi Minamino closing in on a Liverpool departure with his agent having flown to Europe to field interest from Leeds, Southampton, Wolves, Fulham and Monaco. Situation likely to be resolved quickly – Liverpool hoping to secure £17m.”

Marsch will be buzzing

While it is true that Minamino has not enjoyed the best spell of his career since his £7.25m move to Liverpool back in January 2020, it is undeniable that the 27-year-old is nevertheless an extremely talented player.

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Indeed, despite having made just 24 appearances – with only nine of these coming as starts – across all competitions in 2021/22, the £12.5m-rated attacker still managed to score ten goals and provide his teammates with one assist – averaging a direct goal involvement every 92 minutes of football played last season.

Furthermore, the £72k-per-week talent has already proven how effective he can be under the leadership of Jesse Marsch, with the 27-year-old bagging nine goals and registering 11 assists over his 22 fixtures for the American at RB Salzburg –  once again averaging an extremely impressive direct goal involvement every 81 minutes.

As such, should Victor Orta manage to fight off the competition for Minamino’s services this summer, the Japanese sensation would very much appear to be yet another impressive early piece of business by the Spanish sporting director – not to mention being a signing that would leave Marsch buzzing.

AND in other news: Victor Orta now edging closer to “lovely” £8.5m signing, he’s Leeds’ next Raphinha

Newcastle United target Sven Botman has the ‘unanimous’ approval of key figures behind the scenes at St. James’ Park, according to The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope.Â

The lowdown

Amanda Staveley claimed earlier this year that Lille centre-back Botman ‘desperately wanted’ to join Newcastle in January.

The Magpies submitted ‘multiple offers’ but the Ligue 1 outfit simply refused to negotiate a winter sale (via The Athletic).

Eddie Howe did manage to add Dan Burn to his ranks in January but he would still like to sign another centre-back in the coming weeks.

Botman, under contract at Lille until June 2025, is valued at £27million by Transfermarkt.

The latest

North-East football correspondent Hope writes that the Botman deal is ‘one they’d like to do’ during the summer transfer window.

Unlike some other players on Newcastle’s shortlist, he says, the Dutchman has total backing from Magpies chiefs.

All at Newcastle have said ‘yes’ to the pursuit, and now it remains to be seen if they can pull it off.

The verdict

Botman has attracted some rave reviews.

The director of his agency has billed him a ‘golden boy’ who has shown ‘extraordinary courage’, while compatriot Jaap Stam has backed him to become ‘one of the best centre-backs in Europe’

But the problem for Newcastle is that the player’s preference may be to join newly-crowned Serie A champions AC Milan.

Italian journalist Daniele Longo worryingly claims that Botman has made a move to the San Siro his ‘absolute priority’.

In other news, this journalist is buzzing over an NUFC transfer link.

Celtic are reportedly edging closer to signing Portuguese starlet Jota on a permanent deal, with the winger having dazzled on loan for the Hoops this season.

What’s the word?

As per the Daily Record, a deal for the 23-year-old is expected to be confirmed this week following a ‘final round of talks’, with parent club Benfica set to sanction his departure on a £6.5m deal.

The Lisbon-born gem was a relative unknown prior to his deadline day arrival on a season-long loan deal last summer, although has since proven instrumental in the Glasgow outfit’s tenth Scottish Premiership triumph of the last 11 seasons.

While not yet confirmed, the imminent permanent deal could prove vital to Ange Postecoglou’s side retaining their title next term, as they also attempt to navigate their way through the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2017.

The next Jinky?

It would no doubt be a travesty for all concerned were the £4.95m-rated speedster not to be at Parkhead next season, although all the indications are that he will be, handing him the chance to truly solidify his emerging cult status.

The fleet-footed wideman has proven a revelation in Glasgow thus far, notably netting ten goals and registering a further ten assists in the Scottish top-flight in the 2021/22 campaign, with such form seeing him dubbed “unbelievable” by the man who brought him to the club, Postecoglou.

The £7.1k-per-week playmaker has caught the eye of fans and pundits alike with his dynamic displays and bravery in possession, with pundit Owen Hargreaves praising the loanee for being so “direct” in his play.

Whisper it quietly, but such eyecatching showings have even evoked memories of a figure entrenched in the club’s folklore and one of the Old Firm outfit’s legendary ‘Lisbon Lions’ – Jimmy Johnstone.

Affectionately nicknamed ‘Jinky’ for his ability to bamboozle defenders with both trickery and cunning, the former Scotland international remains an iconic figure both in his home country and beyond, having notably been dubbed the “Flying Flea” by the French press following a particularly standout display against Nantes.

A star of the ’60s and ’70s at Celtic Park – having risen through the club’s youth ranks  – the European Cup winner is arguably the greatest and most talented player to have adorned the famous green and white jersey, playing an integral role as Jock Stein’s side claimed nine successive league titles between 1965 and 1974.

Such is his importance to the history of the team and its supporters, he was even immortalised with a statue outside the club’s home ground in 2008, with the legendary status of Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone set to be retained for generations to come.

To replicate the success of such a club hero may appear unlikely, although in Jota, Postecoglou has seemingly uncovered his own one-of-a-kind, unique diamond, with it an exciting thought as to just how high the young man can go.

For those of a Celtic persuasion, they will be praying that his development can continue in Scotland as the club enjoys further success over the years to come. Perhaps more importantly, however, will be the hope that he can simply continue to entertain, as the great Johnstone so often did…

IN other news, Celtic can unearth a new Giakoumakis after submitting bid for “very strong” £2.5m gem

On-loan Nottingham Forest striker Keinan Davis is not for sale this summer, according to parent club Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard as reported by the Mirror.

The Villa boss has stated that he sees Davis’ loan spell at the City Ground as a “valuable part of his development” with the striker scoring five goals this season for Forest who are set to face Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final next Sunday.

However, although a permanent deal is currently out of the question, a second loan move hasn’t been ruled out as well as any mention of the 24-year-old being in Gerrard’s plans for regular football at Villa Park.

Therefore, Steve Cooper must push to sign the striker on loan again next summer, regardless of whether or not Forest are promoted.

Forest must keep Davis

The striker has made an excellent impression at the City Ground and has done exactly what he was signed to do: score goals.

Having netted just 21 career goals, six for Villa and ten for their U23s alongside five for Forest, regular first-team football is exactly what the Englishman needed at this stage of his career.

Cooper has certainly provided Davis with that, handing him 14 starts in the 15 matches he was available for prior to the play-offs with a hamstring injury keeping the Englishman out of action for the final six games of the regular season.

The Welshman will also be delighted that he can call upon the forward at Wembley if needed after two substitute appearances against Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals.

Granted, if Forest are promoted then the Nottinghamshire outfit may opt to invest more money in a higher quality forward than Davis.

However, Premier League experience will be invaluable for Cooper’s men and the 24-year-old, described as “strong” by former Villa teammate Jack Grealish, certainly has that with 24 top-flight appearances for Aston Villa.

If the opportunity to take Davis back on loan for next season arises, it would be an absolute no brainer, especially if Forest are to face another season in the Championship next term.

AND in other news: Forest given ideal chance to sign “magic” £6.3m-rated “threat”, imagine him in the PL

Everton narrowly avoided relegation with a stunning 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace last week, which ensured the club didn’t have to live through a nerve-shredding final day of drama.

A 5-1 defeat to Arsenal, although disappointing, seemed irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Frank Lampard has a major job on his hands this summer, and that’s if he is still in charge over the next few weeks.

Whatever happens, the squad needs a major overhaul, with too many players coasting through matches this season and contributing very little despite their talents and bulging wage slips.

One such player is Alex Iwobi, the winger who has flattered to deceive this season, averaging a score of just 6.58 on WhoScored, which ranks him 15th out of the whole Everton squad.

The 25-year-old – dubbed “embarrassing” by David Prentice – has only contributed two goals and two assists all campaign and surely his £100k-per-week wage could go on someone who will contribute more?

With Everton being linked with a few players recently, the interest in Derby winger Tom Lawrence should be taken further and would allow the manager to axe Iwobi.

Lawrence has been superb this season as Derby were eventually relegated, despite putting up a decent fight. His tally of 11 goals and five assists prove how much of an attacking threat he is from a wide position.

The 28-year-old is a much greater danger than Iwobi, he has registered almost five times as many shots this season (101 to 24) and puts in over double the number of crosses (81 to 30) showing how poor the Everton man has been this season.

Lawrence will surely be on the move this summer, he is far too good a talent to be plying his trade in League One and Lampard could potentially make a shrewd move. with former manager Gary Bowyer describing him as a “fabulous talent” a few years ago, a move to Everton could be the catalyst for him to fulfil his potential.

AND in other news, Moshiri plotting Everton bid for “fantastic” 19y/o “huge talent”, Lampard needs him

Manchester United look set to finalise terms between Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren, who will become some of the first arrivals under the Erik ten Hag era.

What’s the word?

That is according to the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano, who has confirmed news surrounding their arrival at Old Trafford.

Taking to Twitter, Romano said: “Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren will be part of new Man United coaching staff, confirmed. Full agreement at final stages and set to be signed with both of them.”

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With the Ajax managerial position now filled, as Alfred Schreuder gets set to take over, the logistics surrounding Van der Gaag’s switch to United are much simpler.

Key Arrivals

The acquisition of Van der Gaag is astute, though ten Hag has only worked with the 50-year-old for the last season, in what has been successful in fairness to both. However, with that in mind, he will surely be delighted to welcome him through the door.

As for McClaren, it’s another big coup and establishes familiarity for both the Dutch coach and the foundations of Manchester United – considering that the 61-year-old worked with ten Hag at FC Twente and bearing in mind that he was Sir Alex Ferguson’s number two also.

One of the biggest mistakes that David Moyes made was jettisoning Ferguson’s backroom staff and bringing in his own, in a move that saw him dismissed before the end of the season.

With these additions to the backroom staff, the new head coach has hit a beautiful balance between new school and old school, laying the foundations in the form of McClaren and building them higher through Van der Gaag.

This is why it is essential that a manager, especially of this calibre, has their say on who they want to work with.

The first two signings are entirely positive for United but have arrived in the slightly unusual form factor of two coaches.

Player signings will of course follow.

In other news: In “talks”: MUFC plotting swoop for “reliable” £30m dynamo, ETH would love him