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Leeds United journalist Graham Smyth has dropped an update on the club’s reported interest in Red Bull Salzburg’s Mo Camara. 

The lowdown

The 22-year-old’s agent told LUFCFANZONE last week that the Whites have been ‘in direct contact’ with Salzburg over the Malian and ‘like the player’s profile’. However, he said that they had not yet made an offer for the midfielder, instead merely demonstrating ‘their interest’.

Leeds have already picked up two players from the Austrian Bundesliga champions this summer, completing deals for attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson and right-back Rasmus Kristensen. Current Whites manager Jesse Marsch was, of course, in charge at the Red Bull Arena between 2019 and 2021.

Camara operated almost exclusively as a defensive midfielder last season, but he also has extensive experience in a more advanced role.

Meanwhile, Leeds look set to lose Kalvin Phillips after an initial £42m bid from Manchester City was accepted.

The latest

Sharing a corresponding article he penned for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Smyth tweeted that Camara has been identified ‘as one of a trio of potential Kalvin Phillips replacements’.

According to the report, RB Leipzig’s Tyler Adams is also under consideration too, while Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta admires Camara, for whom a move this summer ‘cannot be ruled out’.

However, the Salzburg player is ‘thought’ to be one of the ‘pricier’ options, while it’s unclear at this stage how much the Whites are willing or able to spend.

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The verdict

Is Camara – valued at £24.3m by Transfermarkt – worth purchasing for Leeds?

He may be playing in a league currently ranked eighth on UEFA’s association club coefficient, but as per football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the ‘midfield general’ showed that he could hold his own against elite opposition with a ‘huge’ performance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16 earlier this year.

In fact, Kulig has even put Camara forward as a potential heir to Barcelona veteran Sergio Busquets – a ringing endorsement considering the Spaniard’s glittering CV.

Leeds may yet be tempted to do whatever is required to sign a player who journalist Ben Bocsak dubbed a ‘brilliant holding midfielder’.

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver has admitted defeat in his hopes of signing Jack Diamond from Sunderland this summer.

The Lowdown: Impressed

Diamond impressed while on loan at Harrogate last season, scoring 14 goals and making a further seven assists in 45 games in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt).

He has also played 42 times for the Stadium of Light outfit over the past four campaigns, scoring twice and supplying six assists (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Weaver update

Speaking to The Harrogate Advertiser, Harrogate boss Weaver has claimed that although they tried, it is ‘unlikely’ that Diamond will be returning to the club for next term, after getting ‘knocked back’ by the Wearside club:

“I would say Jack Diamond coming back is unlikely now, but we really did try.

“We had a good go at getting him back here again. We’ve tried to sign him on a permanent deal but got knocked back. We’ve tried to bring him back on a loan basis, on any basis we could to be honest.“We’ve tried, but Sunderland own Jack, he is their player and we have to respect that.“With regard to the loan, they’ve said to us that they want to see the lad tested at League One level now that they have gone up to the Championship.“Obviously it is disappointing because Jack Diamond is a real talent and he made a big impression during his time here. But, we are excited by the transfer business that we have already done this summer and the other deals that we are still currently working on.”The Verdict: InterestingIt is certainly interesting for the Black Cats supporters to hear that the club want to send Diamond out on loan to a League One side next season, having smashed it in League Two.Of course, promotion up to the Championship might have tempted Diamond to stay put next term, but Alex Neil clearly wants the 22-year-old to further his development before being a part of his squad.Diamond has shown that with regular game time he can perform at a high level, so perhaps a similar vein of form in the third tier next season could see him become a fixture in Neil’s first team from the 2023/24 campaign.

Aston Villa have already made two great new signings in the summer transfer window, with Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos both making the move to the Midlands ahead of next season.

However, it is unlikely that the incomings will stop there, with numerous players being linked with the club, including Luis Suarez and Ben Foster more recently.

One player who has been now linked with a chance to stand out in Steven Gerrard’s team next season is Gareth Bale, with the club reportedly monitoring the former Real Madrid star’s situation as he becomes a free agent after completing a nine-year stint in the Spanish capital.

The Welshman has won five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles and three UEFA Super Cups during his time with Los Blancos, but with his contract expiring, he will now look for a move to continue playing elsewhere.

Bale has scored 106 goals and contributed 67 assists in 258 appearances with the Champions League holders, equating to a goal contribution every 105 minutes, but in more recent years he has been getting less and less game-time.

In the 2021/22 season, the 32-year-old made just seven appearances in all competitions, with one goal and no assists, but he was still picking up a whopping £528k-per-week despite his lack of input in Real Madrid’s successes.

Villa’s interest in the Welshman is a concern, as they should be building for the future of their forward line instead of finding a stop-gap for a short-term solution which could ultimately cost them millions in wages with little return on investment.

Not only are his wage demands concerning, his availability and fitness should also be a cause for trepidation, with the 32-year-old sustaining eight injuries last season alone with Real Madrid, all while being dubbed a “controversial” figure.

Bale did make a return to the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan in 2020/21, again finding it difficult to stay fit as he sustained three injuries, missing 31 days and eight matches and making just 20 league appearances in total.

Villa could easily repeat the nightmare which unfolded with the signing of Ross McCormack, whose wages shot up to £70k-per-week when they were promoted to the Premier League in 2019 despite not playing a league match for the club in two years prior to their promotion. They could be on a similarly wasteful path by offering Bale a high salary.

Ultimately, Gerrard and Johan Lange should carefully assess whether the winning mentality of Bale, as evidenced be his aforementioned trophy haul, is worth the large salary and almost inevitable fitness issues which could see him sidelined frequently. It is definitely a huge risk for Villa.

AND in other news: “Villa will..”: Fabrizio Romano drops transfer news that’ll leave Gerrard buzzing

A Turkish top flight club are now very keen to sign Borna Barisic from Glasgow Rangers this summer.

The Lowdown: Not the best season

Barisic did not have the best season individually for the Ibrox outfit, despite them getting to the UEFA Europa League final and winning the Scottish Cup.

BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer Tom English described him as looking ‘punch-drunk‘ during an abject performance against bitter rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, while he was also criticised by The Rangers Review journalist Jonny McFarlane during the UEL final loss against Frankfurt.

It is safe to say that the Croatia international has struggled in big games, and so Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team may now be looking to part ways.

The Latest: Trabzonspor interest

As per Football Scotland, Trabzonspor are now ‘weighing up’ a move for Barisic, and are ‘very keen’ to lure him to Turkey.

They are ‘likely’ to come in with an offer, which comes after the Light Blues rejected a £2m bid from Watford for Barisic in the January transfer window.

The Verdict: Get rid

The Teddy Bears have been heavily linked with a move for Stoke City left-back Josh Tymon, and so should they sign him and manage to keep Calvin Bassey on their books, then Barisic will no longer be needed.

The 29-year-old only has two years left remaining on his contract with the Gers, and so the summer provides the optimum time to sell in order to get his maximum worth.

Nonetheless, some of his performances last term were quite frankly disappointing, and so his time at the club could well be up.

In other news, find out what ‘massive, massive blow’ for RFC has now emerged here!

West Ham United are reportedly set to offer a new deal to forward Jarrod Bowen, following his sparkling recent form for the club.

What’s the word?

As per 90min, the Hammers are ‘readying a bumper new contract’ for the 25-year-old as a statement of his growing importance to the club, as they also look to ward off any potential interest, notably from Liverpool.

The report suggests that discussions had been had in east London back in December regarding an extension to his existing deal – which currently runs until 2025 – although his impressive form and recent England call-up have heightened the desire to tie him down to improved terms.

This news comes following recent reports that suggested teammate Declan Rice won’t be signing a new deal this summer, with that fact potentially putting greater emphasis on the need to commit the former Hull City man long-term.

Signing of the summer

For all the business that David Moyes may undertake this summer, the key transfer dealing could well be hanging on to the £80k-per-week sensation, with securing that new deal likely to be a top priority for the former Manchester United boss.

Managing to do so would be like a signing in itself, particularly with Bowen now believed to be valued at roughly £75m, with it unlikely that GSB would be able to find a suitable replacement who would make an equally as instant impact.

Plucked from the Championship on a £20m deal in January 2020, the Leominster-born gem has gone on to score 27 goals and register 23 assists in all competitions for the Irons thus far, having previously netted 54 goals and provided 14 assists at his former club.

The most recent campaign proved particularly profitable as he provided 29 goal contributions in all competitions, coming out on top among the Hammers squad for both goals (18) and assists (11).

Those statistics have underlined his importance to Moyes’ machine, with supporters likely desperate to see him commit himself to the club for the long haul, particularly amid those doubts over Rice’s future.

Having been recently handed a long-awaited international nod by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, the forward will likely be hoping to force his way into the manager’s reckoning for this year’s World Cup in Qatar, despite the intense competition for places.

The fact he is even in the conversation is a marker of just how far he has come since life in the second tier, with both the club – and supporters – praying that he recognises the role that West Ham has played in his development by signing a new deal.

Should he do so, it would likely eclipse any other dealings that the club does this summer.

IN other news, “Another target…”: Ex drops big WHU summer transfer claim that supporters will love

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their pursuit of Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin heading into the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to The Telegraph, the Magpies are planning a bid to sign the England centre-forward – who was valued at £60m in January – as Dan Ashworth looks to make his first moves as the Tyneside club’s sporting director.

However, the report claims that the Toffees do not want to sell to a direct Premier League rival, which could complicate negotiations.

Eddie Howe’s own Cristiano Ronaldo

The Magpies head coach can land his own Ronaldo by working with Ashworth to convince the England international to make the switch to St James’ Park in the coming months.

Richarlison previously compared the 25-year-old’s aerial ability to that of the Portuguese legend as he praised his Blues teammate. The Brazilian said: “He’s had a superb start to the season and without doubt deserved his England call-up. He must be a nightmare to play against and he has an incredible leap on him like Cristiano Ronaldo.”

John Ebbrell, the Everton academy coach who previously worked with Calvert-Lewin, has also lauded the striker’s ability in the air as “prodigious”. This is reflected in the 25-year-old’s statistics, as 19 of his 45 Premier League goals have come via his head, along with 20 right-footed strikes and five with his left foot.

In fact, he has eight more headed goals in the English top-flight than Ronaldo (11) has for United. This suggests that the Toffees striker may be a bigger threat in the air than the former Real Madrid sensation, and this means that he can be a target for Newcastle to try and pick out in the penalty box.

Howe would have a player he can trust to get on the end of crosses, and this means that he can build his team around the target man. The 44-year-old will know that he can deploy his wingers and full-backs with the aim of creating overloads out wide to deliver balls into the box, knowing that Calvert-Lewin has the quality to finish the chances they create.

The England international is a proven Premier League scorer, as shown by the aforementioned statistics, and he would be a long-term signing as he still has plenty of years left to give at the age of 25.

Hopefully the Tyneside club can now strike a deal for Calvert-Lewin and the Magpies will have their own version of Cristiano Ronaldo leaping high to win headers in the opposition penalty box next season…

AND in other news, Ashworth can land big Wood upgrade in NUFC deal for £30m gem who’s “one of the best”…

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Ben Brereton Diaz to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch have discussed the possibility of making a move for the Blackburn Rovers centre-forward this summer – with the Championship side reported to be demanding a figure in the region of £15m in order to sanction the 23-year-old’s sale.

Further reports claim that West Ham United and Sevilla are also interested in a move for Chile international in the coming months, while Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and newly-promoted Nottingham Forest are also believed to be keeping an eye on the situation of the striker ahead of a potential swoop.

“Could be the real deal”

Considering just how impressive Brereton Diaz was for Blackburn this season, in addition to it being reported that the signing of a new centre-forward is one of Orta’s priority targets in the summer transfer window, it is easy to see why the Spaniard would be keen on a deal to bring the Chilean to Elland Road.

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Indeed, over his 37 Championship appearances in 2021/21, the £14.4m-rated talent was in breathtaking form for Tony Mowbray’s side, scoring 22 goals, registering three assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.8 shots, making 0.6 key passes and completing 1.6 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £6.5k-per-week striker who Matias Grez dubbed “unbelievable” and Matt Davies claimed “could be the real deal” average a SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as Rovers’ eighth-best player in the second tier of English football.

And, with Leeds only managing to hit the back of the net 42 times in the Premier League this season, something that was largely down to the continued absence of Marsch’s first-choice number nine Patrick Bamford, it is evident that the Whites could do with greater attacking firepower at Elland Road next term.

As such, it would appear extremely wise for Orta to do everything he can to win the race for the £15m Brereton Diaz this summer, as the Chilean sensation – who can also operate on either wing – could indeed prove to be the real deal in the Whites’ frontline.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano drops “key” Leeds United transfer update, supporters will be buzzing

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has been reacting to Aston Villa’s interest in Rangers defender Calvin Bassey, GiveMeSport report.

The Lowdown: Villa closing in

NSWE have wasted no time in backing Steven Gerrard ahead of his first full season in charge at Villa Park. A permanent deal for Philippe Coutinho has gone through, while the club have also put a deal in place for Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara when he becomes a free agent in July.

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Sevilla defender Diego Carlos looks set to become the next player to pen terms in the Midlands after an agreement was reached with the La Liga side on Thursday evening.

However, Villa aren’t stopping there, with The Times suggesting that Villa are also closing in on a move for Rangers star Bassey.

The Latest: Bridge’s comments

Talking to GMS regarding Bassey, Bridge said he’s aware Gerrard is a fan of the defender but added that he is unsure if a move will go through during the upcoming window.

“It’s always hard to tell when they’re in inferior leagues, but he was outstanding against Frankfurt.

“Gerrard is a fan. Gerrard and his coaching team did bring him in. Whether it’s this summer or next [for a move], I don’t know.”

The Verdict: Wow

Bassey, described as ‘phenomenal’ when coming through with Leicester, could become Villa’s fourth permanent outfield signing before the end of May.

It’s clear to see that Villa officials have been hard at work behind the scenes in the closing weeks of the season to get everything in place for Gerrard, so they deserve huge credit for a busy start to the summer.

There may well be even more to come after Bassey, should a move materialise, but you’d expect the club could turn their attention to several outgoings before making any further additions.

In other news: Journalist drops exciting Aston Villa claim involving ‘world class’ EPL star. 

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”