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Manchester United are reportedly considering a move for Jean-Clair Todibo this summer and the French defender could be a superb addition to Erik ten Hag’s side.

What’s the word?

According to French news outlet Foot Mercato, United and Newcastle both appreciate the player and could make their move before the transfer window shuts, while Sevilla and Napoli have already contacted OGC Nice about a potential deal.

The former Barcelona man has become a key figure for the Ligue 1 side since signing but is valued at just €20m (£17m), which could prove to be a bargain from United’s perspective, considering he is just 22 years old.

The news comes with Man United now on the verge of signing former Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen.

Should United sign Todibo?

Defensive reinforcements are a must for United if they are to improve on what was a disastrous 2021/22 Premier League campaign.

Erik ten Hag has already brought in Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord but is seemingly keen on adding a centre-back to his ranks at Old Trafford, which is no surprise when you consider the form of Harry Maguire last season.

United would ship 57 goals in the top flight, the eighth-most in the division, which emphasises why their quest for Champions League football was ultimately unsuccessful.

In Todibo, someone who thinks of himself as a “phenomenon” in the words of his former agent, Bruno Satin, they would be signing a young defender in a confident mood, after another impressive campaign in France.

The young centre-back featured 36 times in Ligue 1 and was a big part of the Nice defence that conceded just 36 goals, which was joint with PSG as the least of any team in the top flight.

Todibo’s performances earned him a solid average rating of 6.87 from WhoScored, which was better than all of United’s centre-back options last season, which goes to show just why defensive reinforcements are needed this summer.

After he initially joined Nice on loan from Barcelona, he formed a partnership with fellow loanee William Saliba at the heart of Les Aiglons’ defence, which earned a lot of praise from former head coach Adrian Ursea.

He said: “Despite their young age, they bring a lot of personality and control, and it affects the stability of the team.

“A defender must first know how to defend, and both do. But we want to start our attacks from the defence, and Todibo and Saliba give us peace of mind in this.”

United certainly need some more security at the back and Todibo could certainly provide this, so ten Hag should definitely look at bringing him to Old Trafford this summer.

And, in other news… Ten Hag plotting MUFC bid for £34m gem who’s “one of the best”, imagine him & Eriksen

Aston Villa have suffered a setback in their pre-season preparations, with defender Kortney Hause set to be absent for an extended period of time.

What’s the word?

As per the Express and Star, the 26-year-old recently underwent surgery for a ‘minor operation on his right knee’ and is now expected to be absent for around four to six weeks, essentially ruling him out of the club’s summer schedule.

That absence could also make him a doubt for the start of the new Premier League campaign, which kicks off for the Midlands outfit on 6 August away to Bournemouth, leaving Steven Gerrard with a potential shortage of centre-back options for that trip to the Vitality Stadium.

The Liverpool legend will seemingly head into pre-season without the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man and fellow defender Ezri Konsa in tow, the latter set to be absent until early September after sustaining a knee injury of his own in May against Crystal Palace.

Gerrard will be gutted

Although the Villa manager will still have Calum Chambers and Tyrone Mings to call upon, along with summer signing Diego Carlos, it is far from an ideal circumstance to head into a new campaign without a full complement of players, with the 42-year-old seemingly praying for no further injury woes in the coming weeks.

In the case of Hause, the former England under-21 international – who has been linked with an exit from the club – may not have been a regular starter a Villa Park since his move (initially on loan) from Molineux in 2019, although the £25k-per-week colossus has proven himself a valuable squad asset in that time.

He has scored four goals in 55 appearances in all competitions in that time, notably netting a late winner in the 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford back in September, having featured on the left of a back three in that clash.

While he has largely had to play second fiddle over the past three seasons, he could well take on a more prominent role amid doubts over the futures of both Mings and Konsa, hence the further frustration for all concerned that the 26-year-old won’t be able to showcase his talent in pre-season.

The £3.6m-rated defender’s qualities and attributes have previously been highlighted by journalist Pat Rowe, who stated last September: “He’s another player that’s just developed tenfold under Smith.

“He always looks so assured now this season, and physically, he just dominates players, he’s got the pace.”

That glowing assessment illustrates the scale of the 6 foot 3 brute’s talent, and both he and his manager will no doubt frustrated that he won’t be able to demonstrate that quality in Gerrard’s first full pre-season at the helm of Aston Villa.

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez

Tottenham have been busy in the summer transfer window and they may not be done yet as they are said to be keen on a deal for Leeds forward Jack Harrison.

Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas recently claimed that the club have an interest in the English attacker ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

He tweeted:

“#Spurs have also inquired about #PSV’s Cody Gakpo, I can exclusively reveal, but he is one of many #Netherlands players told by Louis van Gaal he must be playing regularly to get in the #WorldCup2022 squad. #thfc also like Jack Harrison a lot but has huge valuation.”

The Telegraph previously reported that the Whites value the Englishman at £30m, which put Newcastle United off of a deal for him.

Phil Foden-esque

Tottenham can land a masterclass by signing their own version of the Manchester City star in a deal to land Harrison from Leeds this summer.

Just like Foden, the former MLS man played for the Cityzens at youth level and is a left-footed player who typically play on the left side. In the age of inverted wingers cutting inside onto their stronger foot, both of them tend to line up on their favoured foot down the left.

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Both of them are also proven in the Premier League, albeit to different degrees. The City gem has won four top-flight titles by the age of 22 and managed nine goals and five assists in the division last season, after producing the exact same tally the year before.

Harrison has scored 16 goals and provided nine assists in two Premier League campaigns for Leeds. This means that – in the last two years – Foden has been directly involved in just three more goals, showing that they have had a similar level of production – with the 22-year-old playing in a far more successful side.

Reporter James Marshment has dubbed him “ultra-talented” and Leeds boss Jesse Marsch once hailed the player’s ability on the ball, saying: “He can run all day, he is explosive, he’s effective in 1-v-1s, he’s dangerous, he’s smart. I’m asking him to play a different role, I want him to play a little bit more of an interior player. I just want to give him the confidence to apply our ideas of football and achieve.

“His application [of shooting] in the first game was really good.”

These quotes suggest that he will be perfect for games when Conte wants to hit teams on the counter.

He has the pace to burst down the left to supply the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski – depending on who plays – and his statistics in the Premier League show that he has the end product to deliver quality in the final third.

Therefore, the Italian head coach can seal a masterclass by bringing Harrison to North London as the Foden-esque gem would be a terrific addition to the squad. He adds something different to Son cutting in on his right down the left and could even be used at wing-back if his defending is deemed good enough by Conte.

AND in other news, Contact made: Spurs eyeing “extraordinary” £80m “tank”, Conte can now forget Bastoni…

Aston Villa are now open to offers for midfielder John McGinn following links to Tottenham, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Conte target

Reliable reports from The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath revealed last month that McGinn was one of six players wanted by Antonio Conte in north London this summer.

Spurs have been extremely busy early on in the summer window, already securing deals for Fraser Forster, Ivan Perisic and Yves Bissouma, so it looks as though they are about half way through their business.

The 27-year-old Villa star meanwhile missed just two Premier League games under Seven Gerrard last season, who hailed the midfielder as ‘unique’.

Gerrard was adamant that the Scot was an irreplaceable part of his plans at Villa Park, but it looks as if he has made a surprise U-turn when it comes to McGinn’s future.

The Latest: Source shares update

FI provided an update regarding McGinn on Monday morning after being informed by a ‘Villa source’.

They claimed that Villa are now willing to listen to ‘top-tier’ offers for the midfielder, with Gerrard ‘not totally convinced’.

The source added that McGinn is always ‘whinging’ behind the scenes at Bodymoor Heath and isn’t the easiest to manage.

The Verdict: Interesting

This is an extremely big claim made by FI regarding McGinn, given his status as a near untouchable in the XI last season, so his future is one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

Villa have already bolstered their midfield ranks by signing Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer, but should McGinn leave, they would surely need another star addition.

Manchester United have also been linked with the Villa star this year, so it will be interesting to see if Villa receive any offers from north London or Manchester prior to the new season.

In other news: ‘Him and Coutinho…’ – Pundit excited by potential AVFC partnership amid interest in 103 G/A ace. 

Everton are plotting a bid for Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury as Frank Lampard aims to boost his squad.

What’s the news?

That’s according to the Mirror, which states that Everton are keen on bringing Choudhury to Goodison Park during the summer transfer window.

The Toffees face a battle with Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest for the player however and with a year left on his contract, they may be able to land themselves a bargain.

He’s better than Gomes

It’s no secret that Everton needs to massively overhaul their playing squad and get rid of the deadwood, especially as Lampard enters his first summer transfer window.

With the signing of James Tarkowski all but confirmed, it’s been a solid start, but there is still plenty of work to be done.

Having conceded 66 goals in the Premier League last season, the fifth-worst total in the division, the main area for the 44-year-old to prioritise is the defence. Tarkowski will be a crucial element at the heart of defence but making a move for Choudhury could be another shrewd signing.

He earns £61k-per-week at Leicester now and will surely be looking to earn more at Everton. Brendan Rodgers described him as “sensational” and he could well be a better option than Andre Gomes.

Choudhury made 83% of his completed passes last season compared to 77% for Gomes, while also taking more touches on average during a game than the Everton player (36.2 to 29.4).

Defensively, the Leicester midfielder won two interceptions per match (0.1 for Gomes), made 1.5 tackles (Gomes 1.1), and was only dribbled past 0.3 times per game (1.7 times for Gomes).

These stats clearly show who would be the better option for Lampard going forward and from an economic point of view, it makes sense. Gomes earns a staggering £120k-per-week and moving him on can free up some money for a player who will provide more of an input.

AND in other news, “On the radar..”: Everton plotting £46.8m-rated triple swoop, Lampard will be buzzing…

Former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor has reacted to reports linking Leeds United with a move for Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino. 

The lowdown: Wanted man

Signed from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020 after the Reds met a £7.25m release clause (Sky Sports), Minamino arrived in England with a growing reputation as a talented creator, having impressed under current Whites boss Jesse Marsch in the Champions League.

However, things didn’t quite go to plan on Merseyside for the Japan international, who was sent out on loan to Southampton for the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.

After another season of predominantly taking a watching brief at Anfield, Minamino could now be on the move amidst interest from Wolves, AS Monaco, Southampton, Fulham and indeed Leeds.

The latest: Agbonlahor has his say

Speaking to Football Insider, regular talkSPORT pundit Agbonlahor suggested that the Whites would almost certainly benefit from the capture of the 41-cap winger.

The former Aston Villa striker said: “When I watched him at Salzburg when he played that one game against Liverpool he looked really good. Liverpool just bought him after that one game. At Liverpool, he’s not really kicked on, but maybe the pressure of Liverpool, we’ve seen it with the likes of [Christian] Benteke, can get to players.

“If he went somewhere like Leeds you would see more out of him. If Jesse Marsch knows him well then it could work. It will be interesting. We know how hard it is to get players so if they know they can get one they might go for it.”

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The verdict: Could be ideal for Leeds

Seemingly destined for a fresh start this summer, reuniting Minamino with Marsch would likely be a superb move for all parties as Victor Orta attempts to bolster the Elland Road squad and the Japanese forward looks to rekindle a stalling career.

Hailed for an ‘amazing’ goalscoring performance against Southampton in the latter part of an exhausting 2021/22 season by Liverpool team-mate Joel Matip, the decorated 27-year-old has also had his praises sung highly by Jurgen Klopp during what has been a stop-start spell at Anfield.

Last season, Minamino directly contributed to 11 goals in 24 outings across all competitions, operating across the entire frontline and also an attacking midfield role. He would duly offer unrivalled versatility in the attacking department, and that would be a huge positive for Marsch’s options in attack, which have been quite sparse at times in recent months.

In other news: Leeds handed blow as Ligue 1 club lead the race for ‘clinical’ star, read more here

West Bromwich Albion have been linked with a move for Luton Town defender James Bree ahead of the summer window.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from the Express & Star, “Bree is understood to be one of the players under consideration as Albion look to strengthen at full-back.”

The right-back joined Luton on a permanent deal back in 2020 after spending some time there on loan from Aston Villa.

Bruce’s new weapon

During his time at Kenilworth Road, the 24-year-old has gone on to make a total of 114 appearances for the club across all competitions.

In those appearances, the Englishman has scored two goals and delivered 16 assists along the way.

Having played more minutes in the Championship this season than any other Luton player, this shows just how important he is to the side and why the club may be reluctant to let him leave this summer, especially to another side in the division.

With more crosses delivered (272) and tackles won (47) than any of his teammates as well, this shows that he is just as impressive off the ball as he is on it.

Back in March, Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd described a free-kick scored by Bree as a “thing of beauty,” which further highlights the talent he has.

The defender, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £5.1k-per-week according to Salary Sport, was also described as being a potential “weapon” for Villa back in 2018 by presenter and podcaster Dan Bardell.

However, it seems as though he’s become a rather important weapon for Luton since his move away from Villa Park and could now become one for West Brom should he make a move to the Hawthorns this summer.

Having played 21 times under Bruce during their time at Villa, the Baggies boss will be aware of what Bree is capable of and what he can add to his side.

With the summer transfer window set to open for business tomorrow, if the Baggies can secure a deal for the former Villan as soon as possible, he could be a great asset for the side and give them a good chance of getting closer to promotion.

In other news: Bruce can seal dream Sawyers replacement as WBA plot bid for “very special” £10m star

Leeds United have once again been name-checked with an interest in Wolves forward Adama Traore according to journalist Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Barcelona loan

Traore, hailed as ‘unplayable’ by Jurgen Klopp, headed out on loan to Barcelona during the January window after scoring just once in 23 Wolves appearances in the first half of the season.

However, the 26-year-old continued to struggle despite a change of scenery, failing to score in 17 games at the Nou Camp.

As a result, the Spanish giants won’t be exercising their option to make a move permanent but it looks as if a move to Elland Road could be on the cards.

The Latest: Bailey’s claim

Bailey took to Twitter on Wednesday morning to provide an update on Traore. The journalist shared a link to a story for 90min, saying that Leeds, Newcastle and Tottenham all remain ‘interested’ in the right-winger’s services.

It is thought that Wolves are focusing on parting ways with Traore ‘for good’, with Victor Orta and Co already making contact over a potential transfer, while Newcastle have also enquired.

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The Verdict: Unlikely?

This isn’t the first time Leeds have been linked with a move for Traore and may not be the last, with rumours dating back to 2020 during the club’s first season back in the Premier League.

Traore has scored just 26 senior goals in over 300 games, not exactly an eye-catching return. Leeds are already well-stocked when it comes to wide options with Raphinha still a Whites player.

Jesse Marsch has also shown signs of looking to implement a narrower formation by signing attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, so a move for Traore could be unlikely.

In other news: After Kristensen: Radz & 49ers now ready to write Leeds cheque for ‘really exciting’ midfielder. 

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has offered an exciting update regarding Aston Villa’s interest in Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder, Yves Bissouma.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider has claimed that Steven Gerrard and co will be in for the Mali international again this summer, having seen a bid rejected for the 25-year-old back in January.

Having already brought in Boubacar Kamara this summer on a free transfer, O’Rourke revealed that Villa could look to bolster their midfield ranks even further: “We all know Villa have held a long-term interest in Yves Bissouma. They tried to sign him in January, but Brighton managed to hold on to him. I would expect Villa to be considering a move again for him in the summer transfer window.

“If they were to get him and Kamara in the same window, I think we’d definitely see an improvement in that Villa midfield in general.”

This follows a report from 90min last week that stated that the Midlands side were keen on rekindling their interest, with a bid of around £30m seemingly on the cards for a player who is out of contract next summer.

Imagine him and Kamara

With Kamara’s arrival already confirmed, NSWE are seemingly set on a total revamp of the club’s midfield, with Bissouma’s potential capture only set to add increased quality in the centre of the park alongside the promising Frenchman.

Having made the move to the Amex from Lille in 2018, the Seagulls star has been an integral asset to manager Graham Potter, emerging as one of the most coveted midfield players in the Premier League following his impressive displays in recent seasons.

A “Champions League level” player, in the words of his manager, the £31.5m-rated gem has the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch, while also driving his side forward with an unerring calmness in possession.

Capable of a spectacular strike from distance, the £29k-per-week powerhouse is perhaps most widely-regarded for his defensive ability, notably averaging a remarkable 2.9 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 1.8 clearances in his 26 league outings in the 2021/22 campaign.

Not only an imposing midfield presence, however, the 18-cap maestro also possesses a silky quality with the ball at his feet, ranking in the top 10% for dribbles completed and the top 9% for pass completion among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.

With Kamara in tow – who also ranks in the top 4% for pass completion and the top 3% for attempted passes – Villa would have a midfield duo capable of keeping the ball out of the reach of the opposition, but a partnership that also has the defensive instinct to win back possession if needed.

That combination would no doubt be the envy of clubs far higher in the league table, with – as O’Rourke suggested – Gerrard’s men set to enjoy a rapid improvement if the pair are unleashed at the start of next term.

The signing of the 22-year-old Marseille man is already in the bag, it now requires Villa to make their interest concrete in Brighton’s “phenomenal” star – as dubbed by pundit Lee Hendrie.

A Kamara-Bissouma midfield axis is simply a mouthwatering prospect.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Recent reports have suggested that Celtic are nearing a £6.5m move for loan star Jota, the Portuguese starlet having dazzled as the Hoops reclaimed the Scottish Premiership title from their Old Firm rivals.

In 29 league outings the 23-year-old – who joined the club on deadline day last summer – scored ten goals and recorded a further ten assists, with only James Tavernier having registered more assists in the Scottish top-flight (13).

Such form has seen him earn praise from fans and pundits alike, with Owen Hargreaves dubbing him a “terrific player” for his impactful displays this term under Ange Postecoglou.

There has unsurprisingly been a clamour to see him snapped up from parent club Benfica on a permanent deal in the coming months, with the £4.95m-rated gem likely to be integral to the Celtic Park outfit if they are to retain their title next season and enjoy a strong run in the Champions League.

His reported fee may well appear a bargain price anyway, particularly in the modern market, although the club’s supporters will likely be stunned by the fact that he could have been signed for a much-reduced price years earlier, only for the Glasgow outfit to snub the deal.

According to former scout David Moss, the Scottish champions could have struck a deal for the Lisbon-born playmaker years prior to his eventual move, with a fee of just £200k having been mooted – less than 30 times less than what his expected asking price is set to be in the upcoming window.

The then 16-year-old had been recommended by Benfica coach Helena Costa to Moss, although he revealed that the club failed to act upon the scout report.

Reflecting on that missed opportunity, the scout stated that: “I was scouting for the Celtic academy when she [Costa]said to me: ‘David, you need to try and sign this winger before he signs a contract with Benfica.’ I went over there a few times to watch him and met him and his parents.

“For whatever reason, I just don’t think Celtic were in a position back then to go and spend £200k or whatever the fee would have been to take on a teenage player with no first-team experience.”

Although it hasn’t proven a case of one that got away, with the player eventually ending up in Scotland, it will no doubt serve as a real headscratcher to both Postecoglou and supporters that the club overlooked such a promising talent the first time around.

There is no doubt sense in not forking out a fee for player yet to taste senior action, although the club are now set to pay the price for that inaction, with the only saving grace being that the potential deal this summer won’t come at too great a cost.

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