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Manchester United are being linked with a move for Porto midfielder Vitinha, but his previous form in the Premier League suggests that he would add very little to Erik ten Hag’s squad.

What’s the word?

According to the Portuguese outlet, Record, United and Arsenal are ‘ready to pay’ the £35m release clause of the 22-year-old midfielder after an impressive season with Porto, as he helped Sérgio Conceição’s side to the Liga NOS title.

With United having already lost Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic after their contracts expired, it is clear that ten Hag needs midfield reinforcements if United are to be a force again next season, but there is little to suggest that Vitinha would be better than any of the players released.

Worse than Matic?

In Vitinha’s last spell in the Premier League, he made just five starts and 14 substitute appearances for Wolves, in which he contributed no goals and one assist, averaging a less than impressive 6.26 rating from WhoScored.

For comparison, Matic, who has been reunited with Jose Mourinho at Roma after leaving Old Trafford, would average a 6.63 rating from WhoScored last season, even contributing four assists from defensive-midfield.

The Serbian was still deemed not good enough by large portions of the United faithful and left on a free transfer, so it would be baffling for United to replace him with someone that clearly didn’t cut it last time he was in the Premier League.

Although Vitinha was much improved last season with Porto, averaging a 7.23 rating from WhoScored, that was with a title-winning side in a significantly weaker division, and Ten Hag would surely be better off looking at more established talents, such as Frenkie de Jong and Christian Eriksen who have both been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

During Vitinha’s spell with Wolves, former manager Nuno Espirito Santo suggested that the midfielder was still adapting to the Premier League and “has to decide better” when using the ball, which suggests that he would take some time to get up to speed with the demands of the English top-flight.

Ten Hag needs Premier League-ready players who can make a difference from the off, and for £35m, United would surely be better off looking elsewhere for new midfield acquisitions.

And, in other news… Bid made: MUFC submit offer to complete “world-class” signing, imagine him & De Jong 

Celtic are closing in on the imminent signing of Lanus left-back Alexandro Bernabei, reliable journalist Mark Hendry reports.

The Lowdown: Ange looking for depth

Ange Postecoglou has a good squad at his disposal currently but there is still a lack of depth in certain areas, away from a strong starting lineup.

With Champions League football returning to Parkhead next season, it is vital that Celtic bring in a number of new faces and improve the depth to be able to fight on four fronts, especially with stars like Tom Rogic moving on.

Defence is one area that needs reinforcements and it looks as though a new signing is close.

The Latest: Hoops close in on Bernbei

Taking to Twitter, and writing for Football Scotland, Hendry confirmed that Celtic are closing in on Lanus man Bernabei:

“EXCLUSIVE! Celtic close in on Lanus’ Alexandro Bernabei.”

Sharing more details in his article, the reporter says the deal is ‘close’ and the player could even arrive in Glasgow in the next few days.

The Verdict: Good competition for Taylor

This could be a really shrewd signing by the Hoops, providing Greg Taylor with some strong competition ahead of what could be a busy 2022/23 campaign.

Bernabei is an Argentina Under-23 international – he is still only 21 – and his current deal expires next summer, meaning Lanus need to sell and won’t be able to demand a huge fee.

He has four goals and ten assists to his name in 84 appearances for the Argentine side, showing that he could bring some attacking thrust from left-back, too, where he will likely replace Boli Bolingoli in the squad.

In other news, Kieran Devlin has dropped a fresh Celtic transfer claim. Read more here.

Arsenal’s summer transfer window could be an incredibly busy affair with the Gunners aiming to bolster their chances of reaching the top four in 2022/23.

What’s the word?

One area where Mikel Arteta’s men will need severely strengthening is in attack where both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang have departed in the last six months.

Fortunately, it looks as though Edu and the club’s recruitment team have spotted a solution.

According to Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sport Witness), they are interested in a deal for Sassuolo striker Gianluca Scamacca.

The Italian has already attracted a bid of €32m (£27.2m) plus bonuses reaching around €40m (£34m) but that has been rejected by the Serie A side.

As a result, if Arsenal want a successful end to talks, it’s thought they will have to pay closer to €50m (£42.5m).

Giroud 2.0

The north London club look extremely short from an attacking perspective as the new season commences.

Eddie Nketiah remains the sole striker in their ranks and even his future is still uncertain. That said, it does look as though he’s set to sign a new £100k-per-week contract with them.

Even if that happens, Arsenal will need to sign another forward if they are to have any chance of leapfrogging their rivals in the Premier League next season.

A deal for Scamacca represents a risk considering his tally of 16 goals last term. That is a solid return but for a player who could cost over £40m, you’d want a bit more for your money.

That said, this is a player who has the all-round game to trouble many a defence with scout Jacek Kulig once describing him as an “outrageous talent.”

The 23-year-old has progressed nicely in recent years, developing from a potent threat in Serie B to now one of the most sought-after forwards in the top-flight of Italian football.

That journey rather mirrors that of former Arsenal star, Olivier Giroud, who also plied his trade in the second tier, albeit in France, before becoming a genuine star in the top division.

Arsene Wenger would later go on to sign the Frenchman and if we dive into FB Ref’s similar players model, Giroud is directly compared to Scamacca when assessing his statistics in Serie A.

Known for his heading and work off the ball, it’s easy to see why he’s cut from a similar cloth as the World Cup winner.

Although Scamacca is vastly better when beating an opponent and carrying the ball forward, there are plenty of parallels between the two strikers.

For starters, they both win a similar percentage of aerial battles with the Italy international reigning supreme in 55.7% per 90 to the AC Milan forward’s 58.7%. With that in mind, they are also fouled at a similar rate when contesting duels with Giroud drawing a foul 1.19 times per 90 minutes compared to Scamacca’s 1.05 fouls drawn.

As for recoveries of a loose ball, there is not much to choose between the two with Arsenal’s current transfer target registering 3.94 per 90 in comparison to their former attacker’s 3.24.

Their attacking numbers also draw parallels with Scamacca’s xG per 90 of 0.45 very close to Giroud’s 0.49 xG. Furthermore, their shot-creating actions are impressive as the Sassuolo star registers 2.22 every 90 minutes while his fellow attacker amasses 2.38.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why the offensive duo are so similar. The idea of another Giroud penning terms at Colney might not get pulses racing but it would surely be an exciting signing nonetheless.

AND in other news, Left for £0, now worth £49.5m: Wenger had huge Arsenal howler on 29 y/o “maverick”…

As per London World and journalist Rahman Osman, there has been an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of former star playmaker Christian Eriksen.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move…

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte and transfer chief Fabio Paratici, after their summit in Italy, have already been very busy before the summer market has even opened.

Both Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster have arrived at Hotspur Way on Bosman deals with the Lilywhites already sealing two signings ahead of Conte’s first full Premier League season in charge.

The north Londoners are reportedly eyeing another potential free agent swoop for ex-favourite Eriksen, but it won’t be easy, with the Brentford ace attracting plenty of interest.

The Latest: Tottenham ‘hot on his heels’…

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Sharing an update, London World explain that Tottenham are ‘hot on his heels’ amid the competition with Conte ‘looking to build a side that can compete both in Europe and the Champions League’.

As Paratici and co attempt to sign Eriksen, the report also explains that Brentford supporters ‘are really on the edge’ given their love for the 30-year-old and would love to have him for another season.

The Verdict: Time to pounce…

Finishing 2021/2022 as the Bees’ best-performing player by average match rating, Denmark’s international legend also managed the most key passes per 90 for them in the final third (WhoScored).

Described as ‘amazing’ by Conte himself, it’ clear the £158,000-per-week star still has what it takes to be a real asset for the Italian at Spurs.

On a possible Bosman deal, a move for Eriksen really feels like a low-risk one and no-brainer for Paratici.

In other news: ‘Better and better’ – Insider claims Tottenham could make announcement ‘in the coming days’…find out more here.

Journalist Rudy Galetti has shared a Tottenham Hotspur transfer update from ‘sources close’ to star Benfica striker Darwin Nunez.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye new striker…

After last week’s meeting in Turin with club chief Fabio Paratici, it is believed that an alternative frontman to Harry Kane is on manager Antonio Conte’s agenda for this summer window (The Telegraph).

The Lilywhites are on for a really interesting few months, already confirming the signing of free agent Ivan Perisic, and there is no sign Spurs are finished after their £150 million equity increase.

Conte has set his sights on a major overhaul after guiding his side to a Premier League top-four finish with Man City forward Gabriel Jesus among the strikers he is interested in.

Nunez is another, with Galetti sharing what he knows – ‘according to sources close’ to the Uruguay sensation.

The Latest: Galetti shares update…

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According to the Sport Italia TV reporter (via Twitter), while the north Londoners are still firmly ‘in the race’ for Nunez, it is believed that his favourite club is actually Man United.

Indeed, he says that Tottenham and Newcastle could still sign the 22-year-old but United have swooped in first to make ‘constant contact’ with his entourage.

The Verdict: Take action?

Reportedly valued at around £100 million, Nunez could be just out of Spurs’ reach given his price and all the competition.

Called a ‘superb’ striker by ex-Arsenal star Kevin Campbell, his phenomenal 34 goals in 41 appearances over 2021/2022 certainly back up his potential, but alternative options like Jesus or Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez could be more attainable.

Jesus, valued at £55m, and Martinez (£67.3m) could prove more realistic options for Conte in terms of price and both men have proved they’re capable of finding the net in recent years.

In other news: Alasdair Gold now suggests £122,000-per-week ‘genius’ is open to joining Spurs! Find out more here.

Celtic are reportedly interested in Manchester City youngster Taylor Harwood-Bellis, according to reports.

What’s the word?

As per Sky Sports, Ange Postecoglou’s side are believed to be ‘monitoring’ the 20-year-old ahead of a potential deal, albeit with contact yet to be made regarding a possible switch.

The report suggests that the Scottish champions are keen to strengthen defensively this summer – at both centre-back and left-back – even if they manage to secure Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent deal.

The desire to bolster at centre-back has also been heightened by Christopher Jullien’s ‘uncertain’ situation, as per the report, with the Frenchman having been linked with a return to Ligue 1.

Frimpong 2.0

As the report also outlines, the Old Firm outfit have enjoyed good relations with City – and the City Football Group – over the last few years, having brought in a number of players from the Etihad that have gone on to do well north of the border.

One such figure to have impressed after making the move from Manchester to Glasgow was young Dutchman Jeremie Frimpong, the attacking full-back having been signed straight from the academy back in 2019.

Having joined for a reported fee of just £1m, the Amsterdam-born ace went on to quickly catch the eye at Parkhead, eventually recording 11 goal contributions in 51 appearances in all competitions over the next 18 months.

Such were the nature of his displays that it wasn’t long before one of Europe’s elite came knocking, with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen plucking him for €11m (£9.3m) in January 2021 – representing a tidy profit for the club.

Although Postecoglou and co will be more concerned with the potential impact that Harwood-Bellis could have on the pitch were he to join this summer, the Frimpong example illustrates how the club can successfully nurture young talent in order to generate funds, with the player also aware that Celtic Park offers the platform to impress as well as win silverware.

The £6.3m-rated defender has spent time on loan at Blackburn Rovers, Anderlecht and most recently at Stoke City in the Championship, having failed to really break into Pep Guardiola’s first-team thoughts.

In his time away from his parent club, however, the Stockport-born starlet has certainly showcased his talent, with Tony Mowbray having praised the “old school” youngster for his “aggressive” approach during his time at Ewood Park.

It would no doubt be a step up to join a club who are set to compete in the Champions League next term, although as the Frimpong case study shows, there is a pathway to success for emerging prospects at Celtic.

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

Rangers must wipe away the tears after the heartbreak in Seville earlier this week, as they have the chance to end the season on a high in the Scottish Cup today.

The Gers can win a trophy in their final match of a gruelling campaign to give the club a much-needed lift after the loss on penalties in the final of the Europa League on Wednesday night.

Gio van Bronckhorst’s men were held to a 1-1 draw by Eintracht Frankfurt over 120 minutes after Joe Aribo opened the scoring in that game, losing in the penalty shoot-out as Aaron Ramsey failed to score from 12 yards.

They now come up against Hearts in the final of the Scottish Cup, and one player that Van Bronckhorst must bring into the starting XI is academy midfielder Alex Lowry.

Gio must unleash Lowry for Rangers

He was an unused substitute in Seville but has the potential to be Rangers’ big cup hero today. Lowry can put down a marker ahead of next season by making the difference for the Glasgow giants on this occasion.

The 18-year-old played against Hearts on the final day of the Premiership season and was absolutely outstanding throughout the match. As per SofaScore, he completed 33 of his 38 passes, created one ‘big chance’ and made two tackles whilst playing on the left of the front three.

He ended the match with a goal and an assist to his name, brilliantly rolling the ball into the corner for his goal and setting up Cedric Itten to score with a precise corner.

Van Bronckhorst has now handed the youngster four appearances in the top flight this season and Lowry has averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 7.05 in those matches. The Scottish starlet is showing that he can perform at first-team level in spite of his tender age, and he has the quality to be the hero of today’s final.

Scottish coach Andy Goldie hailed the youngster as “care free and gallus” in an interview with The Athletic, whilst he also said that the midfielder is a “master” of the ball in a way unlike many young players in the country.

These quotes suggest that Lowry has the playing style to make him standout in a cup final. He has the magic touch in possession to make things happen, as proven in the team’s last clash against Hearts, and that is why Van Bronckhorst must place him in the starting XI for this game.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst eyeing Rangers swoop for “phenomenal” £1m destroyer, supporters would love him…

Celtic have reportedly stepped up their pursuit to complete the permanent signing of winger Jota during the upcoming transfer window, according to a Portuguese source.

The Lowdown: Jota’s impressive loan spell

The Bhoys look set to complete the capture of Mohanad Jeahze soon, and it appears as though Jota could follow as the second signing through the door.

The 23-year-old first joined the Hoops on a season-long loan from Benfica last summer, and as part of that deal, it’s reported that the club do have the option to buy.

The forward has majorly impressed during his spell with the Glasgow giants this season, having scored 13 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt, and following a fresh update, it’s no surprise that the club are keen to retain his services for next term and beyond.

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The Latest: Celtic ready to trigger clause

In a new article published by Portuguese newspaper Record (via Sport Witness), it’s claimed that the Scottish Premiership outfit ‘want to trigger’ the buying option, which has reportedly been set at €7m (£5.9m).

In fact, the outlet’s headline even claims the deal is ‘agreed’, while they say that Ange Postecoglou and co. want to get the deal over the line ‘quickly’ and ‘don’t consider the hypothesis of losing the opportunity’ to sign him on a permanent basis.

The Verdict: Handful in the final third

Jota, who has been dubbed an “outstanding” player by his manager Postecoglou, has clearly caught the eye of the hierarchy following his scintillating run of form, and it sounds like the club are very confident of securing his signature in the coming months.

The 5 foot 9 attacker has proven to be a real handful for his opponents in the final third this season, having averaged 2.7 shots and 1.7 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premiership, via WhoScored, which played a huge part in the Hoops taking the league title.

It now looks like purely a matter of time before we’ll be seeing Jota playing in the green and white stripes week in, week out, where he will no doubt go on to contribute to plenty more success at Celtic Park in years to come.

In other news… an ex-BBC pundit is thrilled by the ‘brilliant’ news he’s heard coming from Parkhead.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has encouraged Tottenham Hotspur to make an attempt to sign Chelsea midfielder Jorginho this summer. 

The lowdown: Spurs eyeing replica

Spurs boss Antonio Conte will certainly be in the market for more reinforcements following the arrival and subsequent positive impacts of Juventus pair Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur in January.

Following a report from the Evening Standard claiming that Spurs transfer chief Fabio Paratici will seek to find a player of a similar ilk to the 30-year-old Jorginho, a cultured midfielder is clearly on the list of priorities at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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However, one reputable journalist has suggested that the north Londoners could make a move for the real deal…

The latest: ‘A lot of talk’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones has suggested that Tottenham should make a move for the 43-cap Italy ace.

He said: “If Conte wants a Jorginho, then go and try and sign Jorginho, because I think that Chelsea might be open to him leaving at this point.

“There’s a lot of talk of him potentially being reunited with Maurizio Sarri this summer. And I think that we will be reading headlines about him potentially leaving Chelsea.”

With off-field matters still not resolved in west London, Jorginho is out of contract in 2023 and is currently unable to negotiate a new deal with the club.

The verdict: Not the right fit

Albeit nigh on impossible to question Jorginho’s quality having been named the Best Player in Europe in 2020/21, the experienced Italian midfielder isn’t where Spurs should be looking at this juncture, despite Conte previously recognising his improvement in becoming a ‘stronger’ player since arriving in the Premier League.

Instead, the Lilywhites need to bring younger options with the potential to flourish and develop further whilst at the club into their ranks.

For this, when using the FBref player comparison tool, names such as 25-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt defensive midfielder Djibril Sow, Lyon starlet Maxence Caqueret and Sassuolo 24-year-old Maxime Lopez all trend alongside Jorginho stylistically and would fit a more suitable age bracket.

Whilst a move on the cheap for the man described as ‘relentless’ by manager Thomas Tuchel would be a welcome one, we feel Conte and Paratici would be best served looking at long-term options.

In other news: Reliable source: Tottenham agreement now ‘very likely’ as Conte closes in on ‘top signing’, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt an injury blow ahead of their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Saturday night.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via football.london), Antonio Conte confirmed that Sergio Reguilon, who missed the win over Leicester City last weekend due to a groin injury, is once again unavailable for selection this evening.

The 52-year-old went on to state that, with just two weeks remaining in the current Premier League campaign, the left-back may well be ruled out for the rest of the season as a result of his latest knock.

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Regarding the current condition of the 25-year-old, Conte said: “Sergio Reguilon is not available. He hasn’t had a training session with us. Honestly, I don’t know, it’s only two weeks until the end of the season and I’m not sure if he’ll be back.”

Conte will be fuming

While it is true that Reguilon has not enjoyed the best campaign of his career, the fact that the Spain international could be set to miss the remainder of the season due to injury is nevertheless sure to have left Conte fuming.

Indeed, although the full-back has often left a lot to be desired from his performances in 2021/22, he has still been a solid option for the Italian over his 25 Premier League appearances this term. The £25.2m-rated defender has scored two goals, provided three assists and created five big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 0.8 shots, making 1.2 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

The £53k-per-week Spaniard has also been sturdy at the back, helping his side to keep six clean sheets, in addition to making 1.2 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and 1.6 clearances and winning 4.6 duels (at a success rate of 52%) per match.

These returns have seen the former Real Madrid starlet average a SofaScore match rating of 6.92, ranking him as Spurs’ 12th-best performer in the English top flight.

As such, with the top four race looking as if it will go down to the wire, and Conte’s other left wing-back option Ryan Sessegnon having suffered numerous injuries of his own this season, the fact that Reguilon is unavailable for a fixture as important as the trip to Liverpool tonight – and potentially the remainder of the campaign – is undoubtedly a huge blow for the 52-year-old and his team.

Indeed, with Tottenham very much in need of a result at Anfield – and in their further three league outings – if they are to have any hope of securing Champions League football next season, Conte will need as many of his first-team regulars fit and firing as possible in order to give themselves the best chance of sealing a top-four spot.

AND in other news – “Expect to see”: Eccleshare drops £145m Spurs summer claim, supporters will be buzzing