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Graham Smyth has dropped an update on reported Leeds United transfer target Valentin Castellanos.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Yorkshire Evening Post’s chief football writer revealed that, despite recent reports linking the Whites with a move for the New York City FC centre-forward this summer, he has been informed that the 23-year-old is not currently on Victor Orta’s list of attacking targets in the transfer market.

In response to a supporter asking whether or not there was any truth to the rumours of Leeds’ interest in the Argentina under-23 internatioal, Smyth said: “Been told he’s not on the list.”

Supporters will be gutted

Considering just how exciting a prospect Castellanos undoubtedly is, in addition to how well-suited the striker would appear to be for Jesse Marsch’s setup at Elland Road, the news that the club are not currently pursuing a deal for the 23-year-old is sure to leave supporters gutted.

Indeed, over his 35 MLS appearances in 2021, the £10.8m-rated talent was in astonishing form for NYCFC, bagging 22 goals, providing eight assists and creating eight big chances for his team-mates, in addition to taking 4.1 shots, making 1.1 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

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These metrics saw the £3.5k-per-week striker – who Conor McGilligan dubbed an “absolutely perfect” fit for the Whites – earn a quite spectacular seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.28. That ranked him not only as Ronny Deila’s second-best performer in the league, but also as the 21st-best player in the MLS as a whole.

The 23-year-old has been in similarly fine form over his 11 league outings in 2022, with the Argentine having already scored seven goals, registered one assist and created four big chances for his team-mates, with these returns seeing the forward average a breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.43.

As such, with the signing of a new centre-forward reported to be one of Orta’s primary targets in the summer transfer window, it would very much appear as if the £12.8m-valued Castellanos would make an exceptional addition to Marsch’s current options up top.

However, following Smyth’s latest update, it looks as if the NYCFC starlet is not being considered by the Leeds sporting director at present, an outcome which is sure to disappoint the Elland Road faithful.

AND in other news: Orta must now ruthlessly axe Leeds’ £30m “worst signing”, he’s been “hellaciously bad”

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an Everton transfer claim which will please both Frank Lampard and the Premier League club’s supporters.

What’s the word?

The Italian journalist tweeted: “No changes on James Tarkowski deal. Medical already completed one week ago, full agreement with Everton on personal terms and agent fees. Official statement pending.”

This is great news for Lampard, and it now seems just a matter of time before the ex-Burnley defender joins up with the Toffees’ squad in time for pre-season training.

Tarkowski can improve Everton’s defence

Having endured a tough start to his time in charge at Everton, Lampard managed to guide the club to top-flight safety following a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace in their penultimate fixture of the season.

This won’t be enough to keep the supporters happy, though, and the 43-year-old faces a hugely important first month or so at the start of next season to prove to the fans that he is the right man to take the club forward.

Improvement is needed all over the pitch, especially in defence, as the Toffees conceded 66 goals in the Premier League last term, the fifth-worst record in the division.

With the signing of Tarkowski imminent, he could make a massive difference at the heart of the Everton backline, and that is exactly what Lampard needs.

Despite Burnley’s relegation, the 29-year-old ranked first in the squad with a rating of 6.97 on WhoScored, while also winning an incredible 4.4 aerial duels per match, the most of anyone at Turf Moor in 2021/22.

Compared to positional peers in the top five European leagues, the 29-year-old ranks in the top 1% for blocks (2.67 per 90) and in the top 3% for clearances (6.26 per 90), as per FBRef.

Tarkowski also won 42 tackles last season, more than any Everton centre-back during the same time period; along with winning 171 aerial duels over the course of the campaign, 50 more than Michael Keane, who led the way for Everton.

These figures clearly show that the defender could be a crucial signing for Lampard as the Toffees manager looks to improve on the disappointing 16th-place finish from 2021/22.

AND in other news, Dele Alli 2.0: Everton plotting swoop for “average” £20m dud, supporters will be fuming

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce must finally axe Callum Robinson and sign a better replacement ahead of next season.

What’s the latest?

A report from Football League World states that West Brom are reportedly willing to listen to offers for the winger, with one pundit telling them that he believes now is ‘the right time’ for Robinson to move on.

Cashing in on the player would allow Bruce to reinvest the money elsewhere and sign a better replacement. Robinson has had an okay spell at The Hawthorne’s but there have been questions over his commitment with him being booed off the pitch at one point last season.

West Brom can do better

Robinson’s form last season wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either.

He scored eight goals in all competitions which is fairly consistent compared to his previous seasons but was quite far behind the Baggies’ top scorer Karlan Grant.

He moved to the West Midlands in 2020 in an exchange deal between West Brom and Sheffield United that saw Oliver Burke move the other way. It was an exciting addition at the time and he signed a five-year contract signalling the club’s intent to make him a key part of their future.

However, he hasn’t turned out to as significant to their success as they may have first hoped and is he really the player who’s performances can lead them back to the Premier League?

Irish Football pundit Eamon Dunphy has described Robinson as “overhyped” and we agree.

He’s an average Championship striker and the Baggies can do better. The Irishman is currently being paid £18k per week so selling him would not only free up space, but also funds that could be used to buy someone who can make them serious contenders.

The club have recently been linked with Derby County player Tom Lawrence who could be available on a free transfer, he performed well in a struggling side last season and could offer everything Robinson can and they wouldn’t have to pay a fee.

Ultimately the club need to be setting their sights on better players if they want to be competitive and secure at least a play-off place next season. Allowing Robinson to leave would be the best decision for both parties.

AND in other news: Bruce eyeing “inspirational” £27k-p/w gem for West Brom, he’s a big Robinson upgrade…

Leeds United may have to pay Otavio’s £50m+ release clause to sign him from FC Porto. 

That’s according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Leeds apparently made a bid in the region of €30m (£25.9m) for Otavio, but this was promptly rejected.

The 27-year-old played most of his football (43 matches) on the right flank last season, but he also has plenty of experience in central roles. He could duly be a replacement for Raphinha, who is expected to leave Elland Road if Leeds’ £60m demands are met, as per The Athletic.

The Mirror claimed at the weekend that Otavio’s agent is in England to thrash out a deal for his client, but an agreement between the two clubs will be necessary first.

The latest

A Bola claimed (via Sport Witness) that Otavio’s contract includes a release clause worth around €60m (£51.7m).

The Portuguese outlet also suggested that Porto will point interested clubs towards that figure if they want to sign the Brazil-born maestro rather than doing business for a lower fee.

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The verdict

In theory, Leeds could use the £60m that they hope to receive for Raphinha to cover the cost of a move for Otavio. They are also set to bank up to £45million from the imminent sale of Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City.

The deal should therefore be viable for the Whites, even if it would nearly double their existing record transfer outlay.

It’s not hard to understand why Porto might demand the full amount for Otavio, as he set up 11 goals in last season’s Primeira Liga, ranking him fifth among all players in the Portuguese top flight.

He also earned a place in the division’s Team of the Season, another reflection of his class.

Wolves have been credited with an interest in Mario Vuskovic recently and the Hamburg centre-back could be the ideal man to replace Romain Saiss in Bruno Lage’s side next season.

According to Sky Germany, Wolves are keen on signing the 20-year-old after his impressive performances with the Bundesliga.2 side last season.

Despite only exercising their option to buy the defender for £2.7m in March, the German side are seemingly looking to make a quick profit on the young defender, with the report from Sky Germany claiming that they value him at around £8.6m.

Although he is only 20, Vuskovic has already amassed 76 senior appearances for Hadjuk Split and Hamburg SV, while he is also a regular in the Croatia U21 side, so could be a solid addition to Lage’s backline next season.

The Old Gold are still yet to make a signing this summer and with the season set to kick off in less than a month, supporters will be desperate for some new additions, especially after a disappointing end to last season.

Wolves’ success in the early part of the last campaign was built on a strong defence, and Saiss was a big part of that, making 31 appearances in the top-flight and averaging a strong 6.84 rating from WhoScored for his appearances.

If Lage is going to stick with playing three centre-backs again next season, then another signing is needed to support Conor Coady and Max Kilman in Wolves’ backline, and Vuskovic could represent an excellent long-term option for the Old Gold.

At 6 foot 2, he is unlikely to struggle with the physicality of the Premier League, and £8.6m could prove to be a bargain if he can adjust quickly and live up to his obvious potential.

BBC contributor and podcaster Dave Azzopardi was full of praise for the centre-back recently, suggesting he was “very highly rated” by those at Hamburg and given Wolves’ need for new signings, the Croatian should be a priority for Lage this summer, as he could slot in on the left-hand side of the defence to fill the gap left by Saiss’ departure.

And, in other news… Lage plotting game-changing Wolves bid for £22.5m-rated star, he’s “one of the best”

Celtic have been handed a blow to their hopes of securing a summer deal for Ferencvaros striker Ryan Mmaee.

What’s the news?

When asked in a Q&A (via the Daily Record) about the possibility of Mmaee joining Celtic this summer, Ferencvaros sporting director Tamas Hajnal said that a move this summer is probably not possible: “He is currently recovering from his injury. We are waiting for him to help us when he is in good condition. It is almost impossible for him to leave before the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year.”

However, Hajnal didn’t totally rule out a move, as he said:

“At the moment, every position has the right competitive situation. Based on the composition, we can play football in different game systems. But I cannot conclusively state that there will be no more changes. There is still a lot of time until the end of the transfer window.”

Celtic supporters will be gutted

These comments from Hajnal could be a ploy just to get the Bhoys to come in with a substantial offer for the player but with a move now seemingly off the table this summer, it will surely leave Ange Postecoglou and the Parkhead fanbase gutted.

After scoring 25 goals in 59 appearances for his previous club AEL Limassol, the 24-year-old joined Ferencvaros during the previous summer transfer window.

In his debut season with the Hungarian club, the Moroccan found the net 17 times and supplied 11 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, proving what a menace he can be in the opposition’s penalty area.

It backs up why he was labelled as “prolific” by journalist Maher Mezahi on Twitter, as in 142 club appearances at senior and youth level, the striker has bagged 49 goals and also registered 26 assists.

Thus, with the Parkhead club struggling to pull off a deal for Mmaee this summer, it will surely have lots of Celtic fans gutted given how impressive the player has been in front of goal throughout his career.

While it could be a challenge to get Ferencvaros to allow their star attacker to leave the club summer, it is something that the Hoops should definitely explore as he’d improve the team significantly.

AND in other news: Postecoglou can land Kyogo 2.0 as Celtic eye move for “deadly” £1.35m-rated dynamo

Everton are reportedly in the mix to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga, according to the latest reports…

What’s the word?

As per Gazetta dello Sport, (via Sports Witness), the Toffees have been named as one of the clubs who are in the race for the 23-year-old’s signature, with a loan departure potentially on the cards for the Englishman.

The report suggests that AC Milan are keen on landing the Spurs academy product this summer – having also been linked with a move in January – although the Serie A side could face competition from both Frank Lampard’s side and Brentford, who could make ‘more convenient offers’.

It remains to be seen whether the talented gem has a future at his parent club, having only featured 19 times in all competitions last season, before picking up a knee injury in February that ruled out him for the remainder of the campaign.

Imagine him and Tarkowski

While there may be doubts about his future under Antonio Conte, that’s not to suggest that Everton would be bringing in a busted flush, with the £10.8m-rated ace having showcased his talent in north London in recent seasons.

The subject of praise from Jose Mourinho following his top-flight debut against Liverpool just over two years ago, the £25k-per-week “beast” – as described by Nick Reilly – has proven himself something of a defensive colossus, while also offering invaluable versatility to feature at both centre-back and full-back.

A powerful, pacy asset, the Hackney-born brute also compares favourably to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 1% for clearances made and the top 6% for aerial duels won, showcasing his physical dominance in the backline.

With suggestions that Lampard is keen to build a ‘young and hungry’ squad moving forward, Tanganga could well fit the mould perfectly, with the 6-foot star likely to be chomping at the bit for regular involvement after enduring a disrupted 2021/22 season.

As for the Goodison outfit, defensive reinforcements are seemingly a necessity following what was a dismal last campaign, the club shipping 66 goals – the fifth-worst record in the division – while Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher labelled the back four as “Championship” level.

One man who has already come through the door to help spark an improvement is James Tarkowski, the 29-year-old arriving on a free transfer from Burnley after six years at Turf Moor.

The former Clarets man will provide instant steel to Lampard’s squad, having averaged an impressive 5.2 clearances, 1.8 tackles and 1.4 interceptions in 35 league games last term, while he’s also racked up a total of 194 top-flight appearances.

That wealth of experience could prove vital, although his lack of mobility could be an issue, hence the need to bring in a figure such as Tanganga who can act as the aggressive, front-foot defender alongside the more solid Englishman.

That pairing would seemingly be an obvious upgrade on the club’s current options, with Everton simply needing to shore up their leaky backline.

AND, in other news: Everton want to sign “dangerous” £57.8m ace this summer, supporters will be buzzing.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are heading for a disaster if they sell their star midfielder Ruben Neves to fellow Premier League side Manchester United this summer.

According to journalist Alex Crook, United are plotting a move for Neves if their pursuit for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong fails. It would be a nightmare for the Old Gold if he left as Jeff Shi would struggle to find a replacement to match his quality.

Reports also said that the hierarchy at Old Trafford believes he would have no trouble fitting in at the club due to the presence of his compatriots Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes.

Wolves boss Bruno Lage has placed a £100m price tag on the Portuguese international which could put the Red Devils off, but either way, he needs to do all he can to keep the midfield maestro at the club.

Since arriving from FC Porto for a Championship record £15.8m fee in 2017 he has been a crucial part of their success, so much so that we think he is irreplaceable.

He helped the Old Gold win the Championship in his first season and subsequently bossed the midfield during their meteoric rise to Europe. In 212 appearances he’s been directly involved in 36 goals, which might not seem a lot, but he contributes so much more.

When you compare the £34m-rated midfielder to positional peers in Europe’s big five leagues over the last year, he ranks in the top 7% for passes into the final third and passes under pressure, showing the complete composure needed to succeed at the highest level.

He’s been described as “sensational” by the Athletic’s Tim Spiers and “unreal” by David Cartlidge, and his performances consistently prove why.

Neves also ranks in the top 4% for switches, proving how good he is at picking out a teammate even if they are at a distance.

Not only are players as good as him hard to come by, but Wolves would also more than likely face a lot of competition for a suitable replacement, so could struggle to get a deal over the line for anyone as good.

If United come knocking then they need to resist. The fact that the Red Devils can’t offer Champions League football next season makes the move less attractive for Neves, but if a club that is in the competition make an offer, then he could well force them to accept it.

AND in other news: “A bit of a shock”: Journo surprised by Wolves move, Lage could’ve made a huge mistake

Rangers have recently been linked with left-back Ridvan Yilmaz and the defender could be the ideal man to replace Calvin Bassey in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Ibrox ranks.

After receiving a record transfer fee for Bassey earlier this week, Rangers will undoubtedly be in the market for a new left-sided defender.

While Ben Davies has arrived from Liverpool he is primarily a centre-back and Giovanni van Bronckhorst undoubtedly needs some more cover at left-back next season, as he currently has just Borna Barisic available there.

Considering the Croatian has also been linked with a potential move away from Ibrox, left-back will be a priority concern for the Teddy Bears as they prepare for the new season, and they could find the ideal man in Besiktas full-back, Yilmaz.

It was reported earlier this week that Rangers could look to sign the 21-year-old defender following Bassey’s exit and could pay in excess of £4m for the Turkey international.

Despite being in the final year of his contract with the Super Lig side, Yilmaz is highly-rated and has plenty of experience with Besiktas, having made 62 appearances for the senior side in his career thus far, in which he has contributed an impressive four goals and seven assists.

Last season saw Yilmaz make 27 appearances in Turkey’s top flight, notching three goals and four assists, averaging an impressive 6.77 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

The youngster has already earned six caps for Turkey and clearly has a lot of potential, so could be the ideal man to replace Bassey, with the hope that he can also develop into a top player before making the Gers a significant profit in the future.

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Yilmaz excels at dribbling and playing key passes, so he would definitely be able to contribute going forwards next season, and could be a quality addition to Van Bronckhorst’s side.

Therefore, following the windfall from Bassey, Ross Wilson should definitely consider bringing the “incredible talent” to Ibrox this summer.

AND, in other news: “On Rangers’ radar” – Journalist claims GvB is looking at signing £6m Bassey replacement

Newcastle United have made a shock move for James Maddison this weekend, and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s progress in completing a move for the player.

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth, Newcastle have seen a £40m bid rejected for the Leicester City attacking midfielder and are weighing up their options going forward.

Sheth tweeted on Saturday morning: “Leicester City have rejected a £40m bid from Newcastle United for James Maddison. Newcastle deciding whether to go back in with an improved offer. Leicester valuation thought to be closer to £60m.”

Supporters will be buzzing

Newcastle supporters will be buzzing that the club is showing intent to strengthen the attacking threat this summer, but it will be interesting to see how he fits into Eddie Howe’s system owing to the fact that the club have bid £40m for the player – so he will clearly be a first team regular.

There is no doubt that the Leicester City star would certainly add a lot of quality to the high-pressing style that the Newcastle boss loves to play, something he proved with the Foxes last season.

Over 35 Premier League appearances, the 25-year-old scored 12 goals, delivered eight assists and created 11 big chances, as well as made an average of 1.4 key passes, 1.1 tackles and took 2.4 shots per game, in addition to winning the majority of his duels (55%) and successfully completing the majority of his dribbles too (65%).

Maddison ranked ninth for chance creation and eighth for shots on target in the entirety of the Premier League last season, proving that he is an ideal versatile playmaker that could certainly boost Newcastle’s goal-scoring opportunities.

With that being said, the signing of Maddison would be a big coup for the North East club, however, Howe and the powers at St James’ Park will need to decide whether they need him enough to improve their £40m bid in the coming days.

AND in other news: “I’m sure..”: Transfer insider drops big Newcastle claim that’ll excite supporters