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Leeds United’s Jamie Shackleton could be set to join Millwall on loan, according to two separate sources. 

The lowdown

The Whites have offloaded five players so far in the summer transfer window, with Kalvin Phillips’ £45m move to Manchester City the headline departure.

Meanwhile, Laurens de Bock has left for Zulte Waregem on a free transfer, Liam McCarron has joined Stoke City and Tyler Roberts has sealed a loan switch to Queens Park Rangers.

Intriguingly, Leeds have already sent one player to Millwall, with 19-year-old centre-back Charlie Cresswell heading to the Championship outfit earlier this week.

The latest

Graham Smyth, chief football writer at The Yorkshire Evening Post, says that there is the ‘potential’ for Shackleton to make what would be a ‘good’ loan move to The Den.

Meanwhile, Football Insider reported that Millwall have already agreed a deal with Leeds to take the 22-year-old to London on a temporary basis.

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The verdict

Shackleton may only be 22, but he has already clocked up 78 first-team appearances for Leeds.

He made seven Premier League starts and 14 appearances overall in the top flight last season, with two more outings in the Carabao Cup.

Only one player who started at least five league matches could better his passing accuracy of 86.1% (Pascal Struijk), while only Phillips and Junior Firpo averaged more tackles per 90 minutes.

If you apply the same filter, Shackleton recorded the best xG plus/minus per 90 in the entire squad, which duly indicates that he’s a valuable player for the Whites.

Capable of playing at right-back and central midfield, he also brings welcome versatility; while he was named the club’s fittest player in 2021, which Jesse Marsch will surely appreciate given the American’s preference for a high-pressing approach.

If the mooted loan move to Millwall proves to be a success, Shackleton could conceivably force his way into the Leeds manager’s plans in the longer-term.

Ryan Taylor has dropped an update on reported Leeds United transfer target Otavio.

What’s the talk?

In a recent article for The Express, the journalist claimed that, despite Victor Orta’s recent £22m capture of Feyenoord winger Luis Sinisterra, the Spanish director of football could yet continue his pursuit of further additions to strengthen the wide attacking areas of Jesse Marsch’s squad – with one name of interest said to be FC Porto’s Otavio.

Taylor continued to state that, with Sinisterra favouring a position on the left of a front-three, the Whites could still be in the market for a right-footed forward following the impending sale of Raphina – who looks set to join one of Arsenal, Chelsea or Barcelona in a deal worth north of £55m.

“Phenomenal” signing

Considering just how impressive Otavio was for Porto last season, Taylor’s claim that Orta remains keen on a move for the 27-year-old forward this summer is sure to be news the Elland Road faithful will love.

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Indeed, over his 32 Liga Portugal appearances in 2021/22, the £27m-rated talent was in electric form for the Dragões, scoring three goals, providing 13 assists and creating 17 big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 2.3 key passes, taking 1.6 shots and completing 1.1 dribbles per game.

The £32k-per-week attacker who Alex Goncalves labelled “phenomenal” also chipped in at the back, making an average of 3.2 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.5 clearances and winning 7.4 duels – at a success rate of 51% – per fixture.

These metrics saw the seven-cap Portugal international average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.48, ranking him not only as Sergio Conceicao’s best performer in the league but also as the joint third-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, it would very much appear as if Otavio would be something of a perfect replacement for Raphinha in the Leeds squad next season – leading us to believe that Orta simply must do everything in his power to land the €60m (£52m) talent this summer.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals “done deal” for £25m Leeds target, supporters will be gutted

Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic in the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas.

The Lowdown: Juranovic shines for Celtic

The Croatian has been an important figure for the Hoops since arriving from Legia Warsaw last summer, performing with consistency at right-back.

Juranovic started 23 games in the Premiership last season, helping Celtic to clinch title glory as he and Anthony Ralston shared the workload on the right-hand side of Ange Postecoglou’s defence.

However, a new transfer update suggests that the 25-year-old could be on the move this summer.

The Latest: Atletico linked with Juranovic

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Thomas claimed that Atletico see Juranovic as a possible addition before the start of next season.

He revealed:

“Exclusive: #AtleticoMadrid are interested in signing #Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic. More on #SSN and online soon.”

The Verdict: Keep hold of him

Juranovic may not necessarily be Celtic’s most glamorous figure but he is one of those players who makes a team tick, bringing solidity and character to a defence which conceded a league-low 22 goals last term.

For that reason, losing him to Atletico this summer would be a big blow, just as Ange Postecoglou’s men are about to embark on an exciting Champions League group stage campaign.

Juranovic’s defensive nous would arguably be the biggest loss – he averaged 1.4 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game in the league last season, ranking in the top three of regular first-teamers for the former – but three goals and one assist are also proof of the attacking quality that he can offer.

The hope is that he stays put in Glasgow for many years to come, ignoring Atletico’s advances in the process.

A big summer transfer exit update has emerged regarding Liverpool defender Neco Williams.

What’s the news?

According to The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest are in talks with the Merseyside club over the possibility of signing the Welsh youngster, whose club want £15m for him.

A battle could be about to commence for the 21-year-old, as Fulham and Southampton are also credited with an interest in the Wales international.

Klopp will be delighted

Williams played a big part in Fulham’s Championship-winning side last season, spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Craven Cottage as Marco Silva’s team sealed a return to the Premier League.

He played 15 times for Fulham, scoring twice and registering two assists, and it appears that Klopp doesn’t want the academy graduate to go out on another loan but to instead sell him.

Williams has played 32 times for Liverpool and won the Premier League in 2020, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold holding down the right-back spot for the previous few years and the signing of Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen recently, its time for a move for the Welshman.

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With Nottingham Forest about to embark on their first top-flight campaign for 23 years, they will be looking for additions who can bring Premier League quality to the team and ensure that they avoid relegation.

With 21 caps for Wales and featuring in the World Cup play-off win against Ukraine, it’s likely that Williams will increase that tally and play on the grandest stage of all.

After spending close to £100m on signing Fabio Carvalho, Darwin Nunez, and Ramsay, there will need to be some player sales from Liverpool in order to balance the books.

Selling Williams for £15m would represent a good piece of business by Klopp. With first-team opportunities set to be limited for the Welshman, it makes sense if he gets a move to another club, and it could benefit all parties in the long run.

AND in other news, Klopp can finally axe £125k-p/w dud in LFC deal to sign “top class” £77.2m metronome

West Ham United have kept moving after sealing a deal for Morocco international Nayef Aguerd with news emerging on Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips.

The Lowdown: Irons set for busy summer…

According to Sky Sports and reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the east Londoners could be set for a ‘very busy’ summer as manager David Moyes allegedly sets his sights on ‘at least’ six new signings before starting the 2022/2023 Premier League season.

This comes after the arrival of Aguerd from Rennes with West Ham seemingly determined to strengthen and back Moyes this summer.

The Hammers narrowly missed out on qualification for the Europa League at the end of 21/22, falling just short of Man United on the final day, with Moyes meaning business this time round.

The Latest: Phillips bid made…

Now, as per Football Insider, it appears West Ham have made another offer as news emerges on Leeds star Phillips.

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The England international, heavily courted by league champions Man City, is also attracting Moyes’ interest with the report claiming both Villa and West Ham ‘submitted bids’.

However, as per their information, Phillips is still highly likely to make a switch to the Etihad Stadium and Moyes looks ‘set to miss out’.

The Verdict: Ambitious move…

While it is unlikely they can capture Leeds’ star with City in the picture, this alleged offer perhaps sums up the ambition being displayed at the London Stadium.

The marquee England star, said to be valued at around £50 million, has performed brilliantly when fit and available for the Whites.

Teammate Liam Cooper even called him one of the best midfielders in world football last year and ex-Leeds star Andrew Hughes also branding Phillips a ‘very special’ player (The Athletic).

His comparisons to Andrea Pirlo have been well documented and this is the level of player West Ham should be moving for.

Arsenal are reportedly ready to break the bank in order to land RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku, according to the latest reports.

What’s the word?

As per the Independent, the Bundesliga side have set an asking price of around £100m for the exciting Frenchman, with the Gunners – as well as Paris Saint-Germain – believed to be ‘willing’ to match that figure.

That potential deal would eclipse the £72m, club-record fee that the north Londoners paid to prise Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019, with the Emirates outfit in need of new forward additions following the recent departure of Lyon-bound Alexandre Lacazette, having already allowed former skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to join Barcelona in January.

Premier League rivals Manchester United are also named by the report as another potential suitor, although the Red Devils are ‘unlikely’ to cough up such a sizeable fee with other areas of the squad still to address.

Superstar signing

Having only brought in backup goalkeeper Matt Turner and promising Brazilian, Marquinhos, so far this summer, Gunners supporters will no doubt be impatient for more high-profile additions, with these latest links to Nkunku likely to set pulses racing.

Dubbed a “superstar” by journalist Robin Bairner earlier this season, the versatile 24-year-old would no doubt be able to make an instant impact in the Premier League, fresh off the back of an explosive, breakthrough campaign in Germany last time out.

In 50 games in all competitions in the 2021/22 season, the former PSG gem fired in a truly staggering 35 goals and 19 assists, notably netting a goal every 117 minutes in what was a simply breathtaking and relentless scoring spree.

That haul also included 20 league goals – the fourth-best record in the German top-flight – while he also fired in seven goals in just six games in the Champions League, despite Leipzig having crashed out in the group stage.

That tally – which included a devastating hat-trick in the matchday one defeat to Manchester City – ensured he was the joint-fifth highest scorer in the competition, while he also went on to add a further four goals after dropping into the Europa League.

Such a prolific nine months has come somewhat out of the blue, with the £72m-rated man only having scored 12 goals in all competitions across the last two seasons combined, yet that will do little to temper the excitement regarding a possible link-up with Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal are undoubtedly in need of a new focal point in attack, with Nkunku seemingly the superstar attraction who can help fire them back into top-four contention.

IN other news, Arsenal now have “genuine interest” in signing £45m “baller”, it would be a huge coup 

Newcastle United are reportedly set to abandon their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby this summer, according to Football Insider. 

The lowdown: Newcastle interest in Diaby

The French forward has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence in Germany after moving from boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, directly contributing to 72 goals in 124 outings for the Bundesliga outfit.

Following a spectacular 2021/22 campaign for the 22-year-old, the Magpies have been heavily linked with a move for him in recent weeks, and it had appeared as though an offer would be forthcoming.

However, it now seems as though the Tyneside club might have been priced out of a move at this stage…

The latest: Newcastle now back away from Diaby

As per a ‘recruitment source’ for Football Insider, Newcastle will back away from the six-cap France international, having learned of a lofty price tag for him.

The report claimed that the Premier League club have been ‘put off’ by a £60m demand from Leverkusen and will now be ‘prioritising other attacking options’ in the market.

It’s stated that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe wants to add an attacker who can make an ‘instant first-team impact’ on the squad at St James’ Park, but that now seemingly won’t be Diaby, who was described as ‘electric’ by journalist Eduardo Hagn owing to his phenomenal pace.

The verdict: Worth the money

Walking away from this deal at £60m would be an interesting stance from the Tyneside club as a nod towards their spending powers, willingness to invest or indeed the limits to which they are restricted due to Financial Fair Play regulations this summer.

At just 22, under contract until 2025 and of the back of a season in which he racked up 17 goals and 14 assists, signing Diaby for the mooted fee would still be a sensational piece of business from Newcastle.

Equally comfortable on either wing, the Frenchman averaged a 7.07 rating in the Bundesliga this term, taking 1.7 shots, completing 1.8 dribbles and making 1.9 key passes per game in the process (Sofascore), highlighting gis all-around talent.

Sharing close stylistic traits with Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah and Manchester City duo Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden (FBRef), PIF should perhaps reconsider their reported view on Diaby.

In other news: Newcastle now in the mix to sign ‘clinical’ international, read more here

Rangers have suffered a blow in their pursuit of a new goalkeeper as Giovanni van Bronckhorst looks to do his transfer business early at Ibrox this summer.

What’s the word?

According to The Scotsman, the Light Blues’ interest in Bosnian ‘keeper Vladan Kovacevic appears to be wide of the mark.

The 24-year-has two years left on his contract and is valued at £1.8m by Transfermarkt, so if Rangers were to make a move then it would involve a fee.

This particular transfer doesn’t look likely, however, as the Gers start to look at other targets for the goalkeeping position.

Supporters will be gutted

Van Bronckhorst has had a solid start to his managerial life at Rangers, winning the Scottish Cup and leading the team to a historic Europa League final which ended in heartbreak as Eintracht Frankfurt won on penalties.

There is an excellent base from which to build as the squad head into pre-season in a few weeks’ time, but the Dutchman could have a few conundrums to work out first.

The goalkeeping position is one which could be a headscratcher. With first-choice Allan McGregor now 40 and his future up in the air, the hunt is on for a replacement.

News surrounding Kovacevic is a big blow to the supporters and Van Bronckhorst, mainly due to a similar playing style as McGregor, although the Bosnian appears to be much better with the ball at his feet.

The Ibrox club have been linked with a whole host of shot-stoppers since the turn of the year such as Benjamin Siegrist and Sam Johnstone, but whoever comes in will have a hard job replicating the standards that McGregor has set for the previous four seasons.

Unfortunately, everyone’s time to retire comes at some stage, and if he does end his career this summer, the 40-year-old can be happy that he went out on a high by lifting the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park last week.

Van Bronckhorst will have confidence in Jon McLaughlin ahead of next season, as the backup ‘keeper has been excellent whenever he has featured for the club, but competition for places is never a bad thing.

AND in other news: GvB set for big Rangers contract lift that’ll leave supporters buzzing…

Manchester United’s interest in Ajax defender Jurrien Timber is “serious and concrete” according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the word?

United are seriously interested in reuniting Timber with his former manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, although Romano has stressed that any deal is still at an early stage.

His name has been discussed internally at The Theatre of Dreams alongside highly rated Villarreal defender Paul Torres, as the club look to strengthen their defensive options.

The Red Devils ended the Premier League season in sixth place, and with a final goal difference of zero, their task is to make sure they concede less next season.

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In full, the reporter said: “Manchester United interest in Jurrien Timber is concrete and serious, deal now still at early stages with Ajax. Timber name has been discussed internally with ten Hag alongside Pau Torres. Ajax have also offered Timber a new short term deal, in case he doesn’t leave.”

Supporters will be buzzing

As always with United, many names have been linked with the club heading into the summer, but with the arrival of Ten Hag, it’s no surprise that the club are interested in players from his former employers.

The Dutch manager had a lot of success in Amsterdam, with their squad containing several talented players with high potential. If Timber moves to England then it’s Ten Hag who will be able to get the best out of him.

He’s come through a famed academy that has produced recent stars such as Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.

Timber ranks in the top 2% for percentage of dribblers tackled, when compared to positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year.

However, it’s on the ball where he really impresses, ranking in the top 3% for progressive carries which proves that he is composed when playing out from the back.

As a result, he would massively improve United’s defence which has come under constant criticism this season with the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof underperforming.

44 of his tackles this term have resulted in his team winning back possession of the ball, which can prove vital in any game, that’s higher than all three of United’s defenders in the same period.

At just 20-years-old he can revolutionise their backline and be at the heart of Ten Hag’s spine, thus leaving supporters elated and overjoyed in the process.

IN other news: Man United eyeing swoop for “wonderful” £31.5m-rated gem, he’s even better than Sancho…

Newcastle United have a realistic chance of signing Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer, claims talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: DCL linked with Everton exit

According to 90min, Everton could be forced into selling one of Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison this summer, as the club face financial difficulties amid the beginning of a much needed rebuild.

It is believed that the Toffees are more willing to part ways with the England international.

As a result, a number of clubs have been linked with the Toffees man; the most prominent of which has been Arsenal, who are desperate to sign a striker this summer.

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The Latest: DCL could be open to it…

Football Insider recently reported that Newcastle have held preliminary talks with Calvert-Lewin ahead of a proposed summer switch.

TalkSPORT journalist Crook has weighed in on the situation, claiming that he can ‘see the attraction’ of signing for Newcastle.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, he claimed:

“Yeah, I can see the attraction because I think they are a more upwardly mobile club than Everton at this stage.

“Obviously, it’s a World Cup year as well, so he needs to be playing at the best level he can. So, I could see that happening.”

The Verdict: Great signing

Valued at £37.8m by Transfermarkt, Calvert-Lewin apparently has a £60m price tag, but would be a great signing for an emerging Newcastle side if they can get that fee down closer to the neutral valuation.

Hailed by former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti as a “top striker”, it is easy to see why a number of Premier League teams are interested in securing his services – according to FB Ref, the 25-year-old ranks in the 95th percentile for aerial duels won across positional peers in the whole of Europe’s top five leagues.

This suggests that the Englishman would fit the Magpies’ current system, with Eddie Howe utilising Chris Wood as a singular centre-forward, while Wood has not exactly set the world alight.

With constant questions over the fitness of Callum Wilson, having Calvert-Lewin to call upon alongside Sunday’s match-winner would be superb for Howe.

In other news: Newcastle United: Magpies are already ‘looking’ at three ‘quality’ signings, claims pundit