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Journalist Dean Jones has suggested that Cody Gakpo's future is at centre-forward as the Liverpool attacker continues to adapt to life in the Premier League.

What did Jones say about Cody Gakpo?

When Liverpool announced a new signing at the beginning of last season's January transfer window, many fans were mightily relieved. Finally, a new midfielder to help steady the ship.

But that wasn't quite the case, with the arrival of attacker Cody Gakpo, while recognised as a great piece of business, not the kind of signing the Liverpool supporters were after.

With Jurgen Klopp managing to mould the forward into a prime Roberto Firmino replacement, Gakpo was instrumental in the Reds' Europa League qualification last season, managing to salvage something from a torrid campaign.

While the 24-year-old arrived from PSV Eindhoven as a left-winger, Klopp has rarely played the Dutch international there, instead moving him centrally into a false-nine role.

Finishing the season with seven goals and three assists in the Premier League, the experiment worked, also helping others around him find better form such as Diogo Jota.

Dean Jones believes that Gakpo is destined to play in a central role moving forward, arguing that it is the position in which Liverpool can get the most from their winter signing.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones said: "He did keep going though and as the older he gets, the more you would be willing to expect him to overcome those difficulties in front of goal."

He added: "He does look and have the build of somebody who probably should be a centre-forward. So, I think that that's probably the best route for them to go down. But Gakpo is just so versatile, so smart that it's just nice to know you've got that one up your sleeve."

Liverpool fans will be hoping that Gakpo can impress even further next season with a full pre-season under his belt and a more settled and well-stocked squad around him.

The Reds are not expected to go into the market for an attacker, instead prioritising a midfield rebuild and defensive reinforcements in the summer window.

What do the stats say about Cody Gakpo?

While Gakpo may not have flourished into a goalscoring number nine yet, the signs suggest that he is still a very clinical player. In the Premier League last season, compared to other forwards, Gakpo was in the top 3% for goals per shot on target, averaging 0.58.

The Dutchman also outperformed his 6.2 xG, netting seven times, and also finished in the top 30% for goals per game.

His defensive stats compared to other strikers are superb, sitting in the top 8% or higher for tackles, tackles in the attacking third and dribblers tackled. This highlights his importance in leading the press for Liverpool and forcing turnovers high up the pitch, something which Klopp will undoubtedly love about Gakpo.

Described by Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders as having a "special skill set", the balance he provides Klopp's side is of great significance, and he has already made himself the perfect heir to Firmino's Anfield throne.

Manchester United have made initial contacts over a move for midfielder Moises Caicedo and are now set to approach Brighton, Sky Sports report.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils are yet to bolster Erik ten Hag’s senior squad this summer, with an ongoing takeover saga continuing in the background at Old Trafford.

However, the off-field process on a takeover won’t impact United’s transfer business, with money available to Ten Hag regardless of the outcome, and it looks as if a new marquee midfielder is high up on the club’s wishlist.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester, with personal terms already agreed ahead of a transfer. Agreeing on a fee with those at Stamford Bridge has been an issue, though, and a £55m offer is still live.

Another midfielder the Red Devils appear to be firming up their interest in is Caicedo, with Sky Sports stating on Wednesday that initial contacts have been made and an approach to Brighton is expected.

“We know that Manchester United are in the market for a midfielder. Our understanding is that not only is Mason Mount potentially one of those targets – we know that there has been several offers and that final offer of £55m remains on the table.

“But Manchester United are expected to formally approach Brighton with regards to midfielder Moises Caicedo after making initial contacts this week.”

Who else wants to sign Moises Caicedo?

Caicedo, described as a "physical monster" by Sports Scientist Dr Rajpal Brar, is a wanted man this summer, with United not the only side keen on his services.

Fabrizio Romano revealed on Wednesday that Chelsea were set to open talks to sign the Brighton star in the coming days, adding that personal terms won’t be an issue.

Caicedo and Mount are fairly different midfielders, with the Brighton man naturally a holding midfielder and the Chelsea ace more of an attacking midfielder. Therefore, United may, in an ideal world, want both players to come in and bolster Ten Hag’s midfield options, especially with the club preparing for life back in the Champion League next season.

However, that could prove tricky, but who knows, Chelsea’s pursuit of Caicedo could help United in a potential move for Mount, and by the looks of it, there could be movement from Old Trafford soon as the Red Devils look to kickstart their summer business.

Manchester City are expected to make an opening offer for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice on Thursday, according to David Ornstein.

Are Manchester City signing Declan Rice?

Pep Guardiola’s side are wasting no time in looking to bolster their treble-winning squad this summer, with midfield additions seemingly a priority at the Etihad.

Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic looks like he could be the first through the door, with a £30m agreement now reached with those at Stamford Bridge over a transfer.

Fabrizio Romano revealed on Wednesday that Man City will pay a guaranteed fee of £25m to their Premier League rivals, with another £5m included in add-ons and will be activated if the Sky Blues add to their trophy cabinet over the coming years.

Alongside Kovacic, who still needs to undergo a medical before his transfer can be finalised, another star midfielder in Rice could be on the move north.

Premier League rivals Arsenal have been desperate to sign the England international and have made two bids so far, the second of which being worth £90m, but it looks as if City will now look to hijack a transfer.

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Ornstein shared the big development, saying that a Man City offer is expected to be submitted today.

“Manchester City expected to submit an offer to West Ham for Declan Rice today. MCFC have serious interest in recruiting 24yo England midfielder + it is anticipated a formal bid will be lodged soon to rival Arsenal for signing.”

Who is leaving Manchester City this summer?

City appear to be working on a number of deals, with RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol another target at the Etihad and talks with the German side now very advanced.

However, there could be plenty of departures from the treble winners over the coming months, with club captain Ilkay Gundogan closing in on a deal with Barcelona.

Alongside Gundogan, Bernardo Silva is being heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, whereas defender Kyle Walker is wanted at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Should all three leave City ahead of the 2023/23 season, reinforcements would more than likely be needed, so Kovacic, Rice and Gvardiol could be those to come in and work under Guardiola.

Rice could end up pushing a similar fee to the £100m club record move for Jack Grealish following Arsenal’s rejected £90m bid, and by the looks of it, City are about to make their move in what is a dramatic development.

Tottenham Hotspur target David Raya may hold out on the Lilywhites' interest to see if any offers from a club in the Champions League arise for him, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest transfer news involving David Raya?

According to Football Insider, Manchester United may rival Tottenham in their pursuit of Raya this summer as they look to find a replacement for veteran stopper David de Gea.

The report states that both clubs are courting the £25k-a-week ace and he is said to have impressed Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag due to his ability to play out with the ball at his feet.

90min have claimed that Spurs could walk away from the deal amid concerns over Brentford's asking price, which is believed to be around £40 million.

Raya is said to be keen on moving across London to join Tottenham; however, the north Londoners could be forced to turn their attention towards alternatives, with Giorgi Mamardashvili, Gregor Kobel, Robert Sanchez and Guglielmo Vicario all in their thoughts as Ange Postecoglou aims to get a long-term number one goalkeeper into the building.

Brentford have already added to their goalkeeping ranks by bringing in former Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken on a long-term contract at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown wouldn't be surprised if Raya was to hold off on joining Spurs to see if offers come in from clubs that will feature in the Champions League in 2023/24.

Brown told FFC: "I don't think personal terms will be an issue between Spurs and Raya, but I also don't think he's in a massive hurry to get this done. I think it suits him really to wait and see if a Champions League team comes in for him; there is a possibility that might happen."

How did David Raya fare for Brentford during the 2022/23 season?

Raya fared well for Brentford during the campaign just gone and it is unsurprising that he has attracted interest from high-level sides such as Tottenham and Manchester United due to his performances.

In 2022/23, the Spain international made 39 appearances in all competitions for the Bees and managed to keep 12 clean sheets in total, as per Transfermarkt.

As per FBRef, Raya also achieved a save percentage rate of 77.7% in the Premier League, demonstrating his presence as a reliable figure between the sticks.

WhoScored show that Raya was Brentford's fifth-most consistent performer over the course of the term behind Ben Mee, Bryan Mbuemo, Ethan Pinnock and Ivan Toney, gaining an average match rating of 6.92/10.

Spurs could do with someone of Raya's ilk as their last line of defence; however, it remains to be seen whether they can close a deal to sign the Brentford goalkeeper this window.

Chelsea may have to deal with Romelu Lukaku leaving the club this summer, with the player keen to leave Stamford Bridge straight away, according to a report from Football Insider.

Is Romelu Lukaku leaving Chelsea?

The striker didn't feature in a single league game for the Blues over the course of the 2022/23 Premier League season, as he was instead shipped out to Inter Milan on a loan deal. Having re-joined Chelsea in 2021/22, he was not given a chance to star for them over the course of the last campaign and instead had to make do with minutes in Italy instead.

Despite his side finishing third in Serie A, the forward was once more a key player for the club and played 25 times for them in the league, bagging ten goals and six assists along the way.

His performances actually made him stand out once more as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe, when compared to others in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues. His non-penalty goal rate of 0.49 per 90 for example saw him sit in the top 20% in that area and he did even better when it comes to assists, managing a rate of 0.34 per 90. That number meant that he is in the 98th percentile for that particular figure – meaning that there aren't many better strikers at setting up teammates than the Belgium international at the moment.

Despite a solid campaign for Inter though, the player is not likely to return to his parent club and get gametime under new boss Mauricio Pochettino now, despite previous reports revealing the new boss was ready to hand the player a fresh start.

Instead, the striker is unlikely to play a single minute for the new boss, with a report from Football Insider stating that he intends to exit the Blues this summer before even trying his luck under the Argentine. The player himself wants a move back to Inter Milan on a permanent basis and it means that he will likely be shown the door by Chelsea, rather than being brought back into the first-team fold. CIES Football Observatory though suggest they might not recoup much of what they paid for him, as they feel his value currently sits around 20 million Euros (or just £17m).

How does Lukaku compare to other strikers?

Lukaku's latest stint at Chelsea then, if he is sold this summer, could amount in just 16 starts and eight goals. The player though is by no means incapable of producing the goods upfront though, as the previously stated comparison stats show.

In addition to those, he has one of the highest rates of progressive passes received amongst those in his position in the 'Top Five' leagues, with 8.68 per 90 (93rd percentile). He also has a rate of 2.44 progressive passes per 90 himself (78th percentile). It means that not only does he score goals and set them up but he is capable of taking the ball and making things happen, finding himself in clever positions but also finding his teammates in them too.

His all-round game has improved then – and Inter would certainly benefit if the player does leave Chelsea this transfer window.

Following their dramatic promotion to the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday are wasting no time targeting summer signings after securing in the League 1 playoff final.

The Owls gained promotion to the second tier of English football via a 123rd-minute header from Josh Windass against Barnsley, securing a 2-1 playoff final victory at Wembley.

Darren Moore has now reportedly highlighted Republic of Ireland international Chiedozie Ogbene as a target heading into the summer window but will face competition from a number of Championship clubs, as per The Yorkshire Post.

Who is Chiedozie Ogbene?

Ogbene has been a star player for Rotherham United since joining the Millers in 2019. The 5 foot 9 forward is predominately a right-sided winger but can play on the left flank also.

The nippy frontman scored eight goals and registered four assists in 39 league appearances for Rotherham this season, per Transfermarkt, and helped the Millers survive in a relegation dogfight in which they finished two places above the drop zone in 19th.

Ogbene’s domestic form was rewarded with his Ireland debut in 2021 and Chiedozie has gone on to become a key figure in the Irish squad under manager Stephen Kenny, who hailed the "spectacular" wide man as a "real threat" back in March.

The 26-year-old has scored four goals in 14 caps for The Boys in Green, including a stunning overhead kick in a friendly against Belgium.

Will Ogbene join Sheffield Wednesday?

As per journalist Leon Wobschall in the aforementioned report, Wednesday face competition from a host of Championship clubs for the Irishman’s signature this summer.

The club reportedly turned down transfer offers for the player in January, with Rotherham still hoping the player will sign a new deal to stay at the New York Stadium.

Wobschall also states the versatile winger has rejected offers from the Millers to extend his stay thus far.

Clubs have been circulating around the availability of Rotherham’s star man since January, with Millwall and Swansea City maintaining interest in the player.

Ogbene’s contract runs out on 30th June, according to Transfermarkt, and was even linked with a move to Turkish champions Galatasaray in April, according to reports in Turkey (via The Sun).

Would Ogbene be a good signing for Sheffield Wednesday?

Ogbene has shown in the last few seasons he could become a key player for a Championship side if given the chance.

His international achievements have proved this. Kenny relied on the former Brentford ace in a recent 1-0 defeat to France, in which the forward played the entire 90 minutes and finished with the joint second-highest match rating, per Sofascore.

Meanwhile, back in the Championship, Ogbene was rated as Rotherham's eighth-best performer, per WhoScored figures, and played the second-most minutes of any player in the squad as he also led the team for goals, man of the match awards (four) and shots per game (1.4).

Expect the one-time Cork City gem to play an important role in Ireland’s upcoming international games against Greece and Gibraltar and perhaps he could soon be swapping one side of south Yorkshire for the other as the Owls could do little wrong in signing the exciting talent, who Kenny

Glasgow Rangers have shown interest in Scottish striker Lawrence Shankland ahead of the summer transfer window, with Michael Beale looking to bolster his attacking options ahead of 2023/2024.

What’s the latest on Lawrence Shankland to Rangers?

Following three signings already, with Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling all arriving at Ibrox on free transfers, the Gers are looking at making Hearts striker Shankland number four according to TEAMtalk.

He features highly on Beale’s list of targets and with Alfredo Morelos leaving the club, it’s clear that they urgently need another goalscorer or two in order to properly challenge Celtic next season for the Premiership title.

The £3k-per-week forward currently has a contract until 2025 with Hearts and although a fee has yet to be mentioned, Beale will need to stump up in order to secure his signature from the Edinburgh side.

Could Lawrence Shankland improve Rangers?

Last season, joint top scorers James Tavernier and Antonio Colak netted 18 goals each, hardly a tally to get excited about, especially considering Shankland scored 28 goals across all competitions for the Tynecastle outfit in a stunning individual season, clearly suggesting he would be worth a gamble.

The Gers could certainly repeat their Kris Boyd masterclass from 2006 by signing the 27-year-old. Boyd joined for a fee of just £400k from fellow top flight side Kilmarnock and went on to plunder a total of 145 goals across two spells with the Ibrox side, becoming their main outlet for goals under Walter Smith.

Shankland does offer more than just being a penalty box poacher, creating five big chances and playing one key pass per game during the 2022/2023 season, suggesting Beale could be getting an all-round centre-forward if he manages to land the Scot.

He has vast experience in Scotland, scoring 168 goals across spells with a variety of clubs and this could be a big advantage for the 42-year-old, as Shankland wouldn’t require any time to adjust, meaning he could hit the ground running and this could be vital during the early parts of the season.

Journalist Joel Sked waxed lyrical about the five-cap gem late last year, saying: “Lawrence Shankland has been different class for Hearts. So much more to his game than goals. His ability to drop in, act as that focal point and link player, his awareness, and the way he creates space for himself. All so good and so vital.”

While Boyd arrived at Ibrox and immediately started scoring for fun, Shankland could also offer a similar result, however, there is a lot more to his game than the former Gers striker and Beale must take a gamble this summer on the Scotland international.

Leeds United attacker Brenden Aaronson could seal a quickfire exit from Elland Road in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

How has Aaronson performed for Leeds?

The 22-year-old joined the Whites last summer, coming in from RB Salzburg and being considered an exciting signing, with Jesse Marsch knowing him well from their time together at the Austrian club.

As it turns out, Aaronson has endured a really tough first season in a Leeds shirt, though, never really coming close to matching to expectation levels of him. In 36 Premier League appearances, 28 of which were starts, he scored just one goal, with a further three assists coming his way.

The £45,000-a-week American has seemingly struggled with the pace of English football and he ended up being powerless to prevent the Whites from being relegated to the Championship last weekend, after the 4-1 loss at home to Tottenham.

While the deal he signed last year runs until the summer of 2027, the idea of playing second-tier football is unlikely to appeal to him ahead of next season, leading to serious doubts surrounding his future at Elland Road.

Could Aaronson quit Whites this summer?

That certainly seems to be the case, with Football Insider reporting that Aaronson is "set to quit the club this summer", and that a "move to Germany could be an avenue available to the 22-year-old following his impressive spell at Red Bull Salzburg in neighbouring Austria."

He is thought to be "highly regarded" by a number of Bundesliga teams, with a return to the Premier League with a different club not looking likely, following just one year in the division.

It is hard to see Aaronson still being a Leeds player when the 2023/24 campaign gets underway in August, in what has ultimately been a hugely underwhelming transfer.

Despite being called "impressive" on his debut by Steve Nicol, he hasn't had anywhere close to the impact so many hoped he would, having registered 28 goal contributions (13 goals and 15 assists) in 66 appearances for Salzburg, and he should shoulder some of the blame for the Whites' relegation.

The key now is to ensure that Leeds earn as much as possible for the 29-cap USA international's signature – his contract situation does at least put them in a strong bargaining position – in order to use the funds for new signings in the summer, boosting their chances of returning to the top flight in the process.

TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has hinted that Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips may have a relegation release clause in his Elland Road deal, GiveMeSport report.

The Lowdown: Man City links

Phillips may have played his final game at Elland Road as a Leeds player and stayed out after the full-time whistle on Sunday with Raphinha.

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The England international has now been linked with a move to Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola viewing the 26-year-old as an ideal replacement for Fernandinho.

City will face competition from Aston Villa and West Ham for Phillips, however, they could triple his current wage at the Etihad.

The Latest: Crook’s comments

Talking to GMS, Crook said that an exit for Raphinha is ‘most likely’, with reports suggesting the winger has agreed on personal terms with Barcelona.

It’s no secret that Raphinha has a €25m relegation release clause in his Whites deal, however, Crook then added that ‘there’s a suggestion’ Phillips also has one.

“I think he’ll go anyway, whether they stay up or go down. I think he will probably end up at Barcelona – that looks the most likely outcome.

“They’re going to struggle to keep Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips whatever happens. I think there’s a suggestion they’ve both got release clauses in their contracts if they do go down.”

The Verdict: Interesting

There haven’t been any concrete reports from those close to Elland Road regarding Phillips and a relegation release clause, so this claim is certainly an interesting one.

Hopefully, Jesse Marsch’s side remain in the Premier League over the weekend, which will put an end to any relegation release clause speculation on the boyhood Whites fan.

Leeds chiefs would then be able to demand larger fees for Raphinha and Phillips, who are both valued at £40.5m by Transfermarkt, meaning the club could pocket close to £100m for the star duo, making Sunday’s trip to Brentford even more crucial.

In other news: Radz and Orta have had enough of Leeds ‘liability’; now set to be released from Elland Road. 

Tottenham Hotspur ‘insider’ John Wenham has been left exciting by some promising Lilywhites transfer news involving a ‘monster’ defender.

The Lowdown: Paratici set for big summer?

Spurs transfer chief Fabio Paratici is reportedly facing a big summer window with manager Antonio Conte allegedly demanding as many as six major signings behind-the-scenes (The Telegraph).

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The Italian sporting director, as a result, has his finger in many pots and is also working on sealing deals for potential stars of the future.

Middlesbrough ace Djed Spence and Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards are just a few examples of lower league talent on the radar at Tottenham with a promising update recently coming to light on Blackburn centre-half Ashley Phillips.

As reported by The Sun’s reliable source Alan Nixon, the Lilywhites are ’emerging as favourites’ to sign the England youth international as they enter pole position.

Nixon also claims that the Premier League top-four chasers are ‘ready to get the deal done as quickly as possible’.

The Latest: Wenham excited…

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham has been left excited by the development, imploring the north Londoners to reach an agreement ‘ASAP’ – also branding Phillips a ‘monster’ defender.

He explained: “I looked into him, he’s a monster. He seems to have the assets and all the physique you want in a centre-half.

“For me, that is no risk, high reward. Get that done as soon as possible. We have a really good relationship with Blackburn.

“We sold them Dilan Markanday in January. To get one over on Chelsea and Man United would be fantastic as well as him looking like a top young talent.

“The update from Alan Nixon is really positive as I rate him highly, he really knows his stuff about the EFL and lower leagues.

“Hopefully we can get this one done ASAP.”

The Verdict: Great news…

Highly-rated by those within Blackburn and beyond according to Nixon, the towering 6 foot 3 starlet looks to be heading to the top judging by verdicts like this one from Wenham.

Hotspur Way chiefs could apparently have to fork out £3 million to seal an agreement but Phillips’ sky high potential may well be worth investment.

His signing could also go some way to balancing Tottenham’s prevalent homegrown quota issue in the future and there is no surprise Paratici is eager to strike a fast agreement.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano says ‘monster’ Spurs player is now ‘expected to leave’! Find out more here.