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Leeds United are in advanced talks with Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber, according to reports.

What’s the latest off-field Leeds news?

The Whites are set for a busy summer after the 49ers Enterprises agreed a full takeover from Andrea Radrizzani last week.

A new manager and full-time sporting director are needed, although Leeds confirmed that they have brought in former Celtic and Newcastle man Nick Hammond to oversee the club’s short-term business as an interim football advisor.

Leeds are hoping to bring in a new permanent director of football by October who can then focus on the January transfer window, and it looks as if Webber could be that man after it was confirmed that he would leave Norwich following a smooth transition period.

According to Football Insider, Webber and Leeds are in advanced talks over a move to Elland Road, with the 39-year-old not expected to join until after the summer.

The report adds that discussions over a move are advanced and the expectations are growing that an agreement can be reached.

Who is Stuart Webber?

Webber, a lifelong Leeds fan, has been with Norwich as sporting director since 2017 and has been a part of two Championship title-winning sides at Carrow Road.

Prior to his stint with the Canaries, the Welshman has had various roles with Wrexham, Liverpool, QPR, Wolves and Huddersfield and has worked with reported Leeds manager target Daniel Farke. Former Norwich manager Farke appears to be a fan of the sporting director, praising him back in 2021:

“You can’t ask for a better job than what Stuart Webber has done. It’s always like when the wind is in your face and it’s difficult times, then he is there like a shield for the club and he helps in each and every moment. Then when there is success, he always hides and doesn’t need to be there, he always hides from the spotlight.”

Meanwhile, Delia Smith also praised Webber’s work after bringing in Farke, calling the director “amazing”.

"He's just amazing. We trusted him from the word go. The minute he came in with his list of managers that he was going to interview and what he was going to do, it was just glaringly obvious that we were in another league.”

Therefore, should Farke arrive in Yorkshire as the new manager, he and Webber could look to make it three promotions together from the second tier, making this one to watch.

Everton are keen on a deal to bring Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres to the Premier League, according to reports.

Is Viktor Gyokeres leaving Coventry?

The Swedish international was a standout star at the Building Society Arena last season after establishing himself as Mark Robins’ top-performing offensive player, and with his contract expiring in 12 months time, he could be set for a big-money exit in the weeks ahead.

Sky Sports have reported that the Bluebirds will be looking for offers in excess of £17m in order to sanction the 25-year-old’s sale during the upcoming window, and his impressive form after being named the second-highest goalscorer in his division is bound to attract plenty of interest.

The Merseyside outfit and Sean Dyche are likely to enter the market for a new centre-forward due to the consistent injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the uncertainty hanging over Neal Maupay, who’s been linked with a move to Salernitana, and they could well have identified an ideal target in the Midlands.

Are Everton signing Gyokeres?

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness), Everton are “interested” in a summer swoop for Gyokeres. Sporting CP are also eyeing a deal for the Coventry striker, hence the report from Portugal, but with them only being willing to pay a fee less than their target’s price tag, teams in the English top-flight are likely to hold an advantage.

The Toffees have been “keen” on the attacker since last year and are “determined” to add to their ranks in the final third, but it remains to be seen whether they too would be able to afford Gyokeres.

Should Everton sign Gyokeres?

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has been full of praise for Gyokeres, describing him as “powerful” and even comparing his qualities to those of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, so should the centre-forward put pen to paper, he could be a fantastic recruit for Everton.

The 6 foot 2 titan posted a remarkable 31 goal contributions (21 goals and ten assists) in 46 Championship appearances throughout the previous campaign, with his displays seeing him pick up an outstanding ten man-of-the-match awards.

Coventry’s talisman, who is a versatile operator with his ability to play in six different positions, was also a threat even when the ball didn’t hit the back of the net having recorded a total of 191 shot-creating actions, which was higher than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, so it would be a massive coup for Dyche if he was to make the move to Goodison Park.

Aston Villa are eyeing a move for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney ahead of the summer transfer window, with Unai Emery looking to strengthen his squad for the challenges of European football next season.

What’s the latest on Kieran Tierney to Aston Villa?

According to The Times, both Villa and Newcastle United are set to battle it out for the Arsenal defender once the transfer window opens.

Emery signed Tierney from Celtic when he was in charge of the Gunners back in 2019 and is clearly a fan of the Scot.

Football Insider state that the North London side value him at around £30m and with Emery likely to move a few players on this summer, he would be more than affordable.

Could Kieran Tierney sign for Aston Villa?

It is certainly within the realm of possibilities, though with Champions League football returning to Newcastle for the first time in over 20 years, Emery may have trouble convincing him.

The two know each other well from their spell at Arsenal, however, and this could be a key part of any potential move, while the Spaniard would be getting his very own Oleksandr Zinchenko, as the pair are statistically similar according to FBref.

The Ukraine star has made a big impression since swapping Manchester City for Arsenal last summer, ranking third in the squad for accurate passes per game (55.8) and fifth for both tackles (1.5) and interceptions (0.8) per game, showcasing his importance to the side.

Zinchenko is the tenth-most comparable player across the previous 365 days to his fellow teammate.

They have both registered similar statistics with regard to goal-creating actions (both four), tackles won (18 to 11), touches in the attacking penalty area (33 to 15), crosses (37 to 24) and shots per 90 (1.19 to 0.79), indicating that both offer a key attacking threat going forward from a defensive position, something that Emery would love to have in his side.

Tierney was dubbed a ”warrior” by former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, whilst ex-Rangers striker Kris Boyd lauded the Scot as “unbelievable” and having won five Premiership titles and a host of domestic cups during his spell at Celtic, he would arrive at Villa Park with a winning mentality that could prove crucial.

With Villa taking part in a European competition next term, Emery is clearly keen on taking his team to the next level, so signing Tierney, who has won trophies in Scotland and England, could be a stroke of genius, especially if he only costs £30m.

Liverpool have reportedly made a convincing stride in the pursuit of Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio, and are now believed to be the frontrunners in the transfer race for the touted star.

What's the latest on Goncalo Inacio to Liverpool?

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness), Liverpool may have taken the lead in the race for the 21-year-old defender from Sporting, who are said to be willing to negotiate if his release clause of €45m (£39m) is met.

While Jurgen Klopp's Reds are not explicitly fronting the charge for the Portuguese's name, the fact that they are the solitary outfit named among the 'English and Italian suitors' suggests that they could be the primary outfit contesting for his signature.

In a separate recent report, Manchester United are also in pursuit and will seek to expand their Portuguese pool by signing the gem – only emphasising the necessity for concluding a deal in the early phases of the transfer window.

How good is Goncalo Inacio?

Inacio is but one maiden step into the scope of his professional career, but has already captured the attention of some of Europe's foremost sides for his exploits in his homeland with the Leões.

Having risen through Sporting's youth ranks, Inacio has made 121 appearances and demonstrated his capabilities outside the defensive aspects of his game by scoring ten goals and providing eight assists.

The two-cap Portugal starlet is close to completing his third season of continual progress at the top level, and has flourished in Liga Portugal this term, playing 32 matches, earning an average rating of 7.00 – as per Sofascore – and completing 90% of his passes, earning praise as a "complete" defensive ace by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Indeed, as per FBref, the 6 foot 1 colossus ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across top eight divisions below the European 'big five' for assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive passes, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, underscoring his aptitude as a modern defender tailor-made for a first-rate outfit such as Liverpool.

With such brilliant ball-playing credentials, he could be the optimum alternative to coveted target Josko Gvardiol, with the RB Leipzig star arguably the hottest defensive commodity in world football at present, having been regarded as the perfect modern defender.

Hailed as a "Rolls-Royce" by journalist Zach Lowy, the Croatian prodigy ranks among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for goals, the top 1% for attempted passes, the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90. Clearly, Inacio and his Leipzig confrère are cut from the same cloth, albeit the former has largely been playing at a different level.

The crux of the problem vis-à-vis Liverpool's pursuit of Gvardiol lays in the exorbitant fee touted, with Leipzig supposedly demanding his release clause of €110m (£95m) is met in its entirety in order to prise him away, and with him contracted until 2027, Marco Rose's outfit certainly appear to hold the bargaining chips.

Inacio, whose £39m tag seems paltry in comparison, might just be the better avenue to delve down, as he is cheaper and boasts every bit of the skill set required to succeed under Klopp's wing.

Manchester United will try and negotiate with Chelsea to land midfield target Mason Mount on a cheaper deal, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Mason Mount?

As per The Independent, Manchester United are the frontrunners to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this summer, though have yet to match the Blues' valuation of seeking at least £55 million to let the England international depart Stamford Bridge.

The Red Devils are in the process of being taken over and 'agreement on a price is now the only obstacle to his move to Old Trafford' amid rival interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, with Mount's preference said to be moving to Manchester United.

90min have revealed that Mount is said to be sitting down with his current employers next week for a meeting over his future in west London, as he is set to enter the final year of his £80k-a-week contract at Chelsea.

Mauricio Pochettino, who will manage Chelsea next term, is a big admirer of Mount and wants him to be a key part of his squad heading into 2023/24 if he can fend off admiration from Premier League clubs in his services.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Manchester United may try to land Mount for a cheaper price to reflect his contract situation at Chelsea.

Jacobs told FFC: "When I talked to the suitors, they believe that Mount should be worth, given the contract situation, £15-£20 million less than that, so there would be some negotiation to be done in order to broker a deal. All parties, regardless of what happens, whether Mount stays or goes, would like a speedy resolution. Mount wants to know his next club early in the window. Manchester United want to get business done early if they possibly can, despite the complications that I've outlined and Chelsea know that if Mount tells them he has no interest in staying and signing a new deal, that they will need the fee."

Would Mason Mount be a good signing for Manchester United?

Mount is a talented midfielder with plenty of Premier League experience and would fit nicely into Erik Ten Hag's project at Old Trafford as he looks to build on an impressive debut season in charge.

The 24-year-old did endure an inconsistent 2022/23 campaign with Chelsea, registering three goals and six assists in 35 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored also takes into account that Mount has been a creative force at the Blues in a campaign of disappointment, averaging around 1.3 key passes per match in the English top-flight.

Previously labelled as "unbelievable" by former Chelsea icon Joe Cole, it isn't hard to see why Chelsea are desperate to keep hold of Mount for next season, though Manchester United look to be in pole position to offer the Portsmouth-born ace a Stamford Bridge escape route, as things stand.

Pundit Paul Robinson has made a transfer claim involving Aston Villa and soon to be free agent James Tarkowski, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Free transfer shopping

Villa have already explored the free agent market by signing Boubacar Kamara from Marseille. The French midfielder will officially become a Villa player from July 1 and Steven Gerrard also has his eyes on a move for former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez following his release from Atletico Madrid.

Tarkowski could be another to head to the Midlands for nothing, with Sky Sports claiming last month that Villa were in talks with the Burnley defender.

The Latest: Robinson’s comments

Robinson, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI regarding Tarkowski. He labelled the centre-back as a ‘very good player’, adding that ‘he’d be a good fit’ at a club like Aston Villa.

“Tarky is a very good player.

“He is not a top-four defender.

“You could put him in a Liverpool side alongside Virgil van Dijk but he would be best suited as a ball playing centre-half at a Newcastle, an Everton, an Aston Villa. There’s talk of Newcastle.

“He will be a great acquisition for somebody on a free.

“He has been clever running his contract down. It has worked out well for him. He will get the move that he wants.

“I think he’d be a good fit at Newcastle, Everton, Aston Villa or West Ham.”

The Verdict: Things can change…

Tarkowski has yet to pen terms with another side, although Gregg Evans has described a move to Villa Park as unlikely.

That could well change once again, though, so until the experienced centre-back secures his next move, a transfer to the Midlands shouldn’t be ruled out entirely.

Reports even suggested that Gerrard was desperate for the club to get a move over the line, believing there isn’t a better deal to be struck all summer, so it may well be one to watch closely.

In other news: Sky Sports man now drops ‘crazy’ Suarez to AVFC claim after what he’s heard from Villa Park. 

Leeds United have been dealt a setback in their pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Sun, who claim that Southampton are now leading the race to sign the Wolverhampton Wanderers attacking midfielder – who is also reported to be a target of Victor Orta – this summer.

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The report goes on to state that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are willing to offer a figure in the region of £20m in order to land the England U21 international, while it is claimed that Wolves could be tempted into a big-money sale of the forward – despite recent reports suggesting that Bruno Lage has offered Gibbs-White a new contract at Molineux.

Imagine him & Aaronson

With Victor Orta having already sealed the extremely exciting signing of Brenden Aaronson this summer, the prospect of the Spaniard pairing the USA international with Gibbs-White in Jesse Marsch’s midfield will certainly be a mouthwatering one for the Elland Road faithful.

Indeed, over his 37 Championship appearances on loan at Sheffield United this season, the £9.9m-rated forward undoubtedly proved he is ready for top-flight football next term, scoring 12 goals, registering ten assists and creating 16 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.5 shots, making 1.6 key passes and completing 1.4 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £1.5k-per-week talent who Pete Smith dubbed “dangerous” and Chris Basham claimed “glides past players” average a quite extraordinary WhoScore match rating of 7.14, not only ranking him as Paul Heckingbottom’s best performer in the league but also as the joint fifth-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, while it would appear as if Orta will face a tough battle in order to get a deal over the line for Gibbs-White this summer, the struggle would very much look to be worth it, as the 22-year-old would undoubtedly make an excellent addition to the former Red Bull Salzburg starlet in the Whites attack next season.

And, if he is available for a figure in the region of £20m, the England youth international would also represent something of a bargain, leading us to believe that Orta must do everything in his power to land the Wolves starlet in the coming months.

AND in other news: Jesse Marsch could unearth Rice 2.0 with 8-figure Leeds bid for “sensational” target

According to journalist David McDonnell of The Daily Mirror, an interesting Manchester City transfer update has come to light involving Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

The Lowdown: Guardiola eyes Fernandinho heir…

After a near-decade long stay in the Premier League, Sky Blues must wave goodbye to veteran and faithful club servant Fernandinho who has been a pivotal figure both on and off the field since signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.

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The Brazilian has made a brilliant 382 appearances for City in all competitions, featuring over four Premier League title-winning campaigns and winning 13 trophies in total (Transfermarkt).

Fernandinho has put pen to paper on one-year contract extensions twice over the last two years, but as already confirmed, this 2021/2022 season will be his last in blue.

Pep Guardiola, as a result, is currently on the lookout for his replacement with links having emerged to the likes of Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona and even Man United outcast Paul Pogba.

The Latest: City join Phillips hunt…

Now, as per McDonnell of The Mirror, the Sky Blues are now in contention to sign Leeds star Phillips in their hunt for a new midfielder.

Etihad Stadium officials have even been sent to run the rule over Jesse Marsch’s star on numerous occasions with both Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Begiristain agreeing Phillips could be the ‘ideal’ signing for them.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Having been linked with West Ham star Declan Rice this summer, with that interest since dying down due to his enormous price tag, City could find a similar tough-tackling ace in Phillips for a much lesser fee.

The England international is apparently rated at around £50 million, a far more attainable bid than the £100m for Rice, with the 26-year-old also having what it takes to slot in Guardiola’s system.

According to WhoScored, Phillips has averaged more tackles per 90 (2.7) than any City player in the top flight this season – potentially backing how he could add more steel in a rotation with Rodri.

In other news: Man City ‘ready to pursue’ agreement for ‘sensational’ new target who ripped United to shreds, find out more here.

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez could be set to depart Anfield this summer after struggling for game time since returning from a serious knee injury.

What’s the story?

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan suggested that a move out of Merseyside for the centre-back is “on the cards” with Aston Villa long term admirers of the 24-year-old.

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It was reported by the Mirror earlier this week that Villa boss Steven Gerrard is keen to bring the Englishman to the West Midlands in order to get his career back on track having failed to bring Gomez to Villa Park in January.

The defender has been limited to just 20 appearances across all competitions this term and now finds the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate ahead of him in the pecking order.

Liverpool must part ways with Gomez

Although Gomez has been an excellent servant for Liverpool, it seems incredibly unlikely that the 24-year-old will manage to climb up the pecking order and become a regular under Jurgen Klopp once again.

Prior to rupturing his patella tendon on international duty in November 2020, Gomez had been a regular in the Reds’ Premier League title-winning campaign in 2019/20, making 28 league appearances as well as another 15 across other competitions.

However, since returning to the fold, the Englishman has found himself further down the food chain and it appears as though his days at Anfield are now numbered.

The £85k-per-week defender has struggled to impress when handed a rare opportunity in the top-flight this season, losing possession on average once every 4.5 minutes, although game time has been limited.

However, based on his performances prior to his injury, Gomez would be an excellent addition for Villa with Gerrard reportedly keen to upgrade on his current first-choice centre-back pairing of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.

In the 2019/20 season, the defender won over half of his duels at 56% whilst also averaging an 88% passing accuracy and providing 1.4 interceptions, 0.8 tackles and 2.1 clearances.

To put that into perspective, Konsa, whose average match rating of 6.73/10 this season has been slightly lower than Mings’ 6.91, has provided a slightly better duel success rate of 64% but has a lower passing accuracy at 86% whilst averaging 0.5 interceptions, 0.9 tackles and 2.9 tackles.

Of course, it also has to be considered that playing in a title winning-team, Gomez’s Liverpool would’ve seen much more of the ball over the course of the season than Villa have this term and therefore the defender wouldn’t have been called upon as regularly to intervene.

Can’t get enough Liverpool football content? Watch Liverpool FC live streams and other videos at StreamFootball.tv.

There is proof that the defender would slot in nicely at Aston Villa if that was to be his next club and Liverpool should allow the 24-year-old to move on with game time set to be limited at Anfield. It’s ruthless given his injuries but he surely has no place in Klopp’s plans for the future.

AND in other news: 107 touches: Liverpool metronome who won 11 duels was Klopp’s unsung hero today

Manchester United look set to miss out on a potential transfer swoop for Ajax winger Antony.

What’s the word?

That is according to a fresh report from The Mirror which claimed that the Brazilian has uploaded a picture of him and his agent Emerson Santos in France to social media, which has fuelled transfer speculation around the 22-year-old.

As per the report, it is believed that Erik ten Hag – having just won the Eredivisie title with the Brazilian – is interested in bringing him to Old Trafford in what looks to be a huge rebuild project for the Red Devils.

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However, it is said that Thursday evening’s photo could hint at Antony playing his football elsewhere, with both him and his agent pictured in what is believed to be Nanterre, a suburb in Paris.

Back in March, it was said that Paris Saint-Germain were leading the race for his signature, so with the starlet pictured in the French capital, it looks as though he is set to engage in talks with the Ligue 1 champions.

Disaster for Ten Hag

The latest report comes as a big blow for United, who would have fancied their chances of signing the €35m-rated (£30m) player due to their new contact in Ten Hag.

The 52-year-old is also bound to be disappointed, having understood exactly what the “supremely skillful” Brazilian’s game is all about, as they recently achieved what was their second Eredivisie title together in Amsterdam.

Despite starting only 64% of Ajax’s matches this season due to two injuries which kept him out for around 10 games, Antony played a big part in helping Ajax to realise their ambitions of winning the Dutch league title once more.

His eight goals and four assists in 23 appearances have reiterated the quality which was on display throughout the season. Also, with the nine-cap Brazil star being a natural left footer, he could have offered United an option they have not had in years, an inverted winger who could operate in the half-space and punish teams with his directness, in the same way that Pep Guardiola utilises Riyad Mahrez for Manchester City.

Ten Hag may not be forced to look elsewhere for that option, if the social media image of Antony and his agent is anything to go by.

In other news: Man United now plot bid for £63m-rated “monster”, imagine him and Ten Hag