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Sheffield United are interested in a deal that would bring Siriki Dembele to Bramall Lane.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Darren Witcoop, with the Reach journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that Slavisa Jokanovic is keen on a move for the Peterborough United winger, although the 53-year-old needs to offload some of the United deadwood before he can sanction a move for the 24-year-old.

In his tweet, Witcoop said: “Sheffield United keen on Peterborough’s Siriki Dembele but need to offload players first.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how poorly Sheffield United have started their 2021/22 Championship campaign, with the Blades having scored a single goal and picked up just two points over their opening five fixtures of the season, the fact that the club are believed to be interested in a player as exciting as Dembele is sure to have United fans buzzing.

Indeed, over his 42 League One appearances for Posh last season, the £1.08m-rated man scored 11 goals, registered 10 assists and created a whopping 17 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots and making 1.5 key passes per fixture.

These returns saw the player Barry Fry dubbed an “exciting” talent earn a highly impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.06, ranking him as the club’s joint seventh-best performer in the third tier of English football.

Furthermore, the 24-year-old looks to have continued this fine form after making the step up to the Championship, having already scored two goals over his four appearances in the league, in addition to averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.95 – ranking him as Darren Ferguson’s second-best player in the second tier.

As such, it would very much appear as if the signing of the £2.6k-per-week Dembele could well help solve Sheffield United’s obvious lack of creativity and goalscoring edge so far this term, with his arrival potentially being the boost Jokanovic needs to finally kickstart the Blades’ season.

In other news: Jokanovic heading for grave Sheffield United transfer error over £225k-rated flop

Tottenham Hotspur have made Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic their top target for next year, as news emerges from Italy, after failing to land the 6 foot 3 colossus this summer.

The Lowdown: Linked previously to Spurs

Vlahovic, 21, was heavily linked with a transfer to the Premier League this summer with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that Spurs were willing to fork out £60million to sign the striker.

The striker has scored 34 times in 88 appearances for the Italian side since arriving from FK Partizan Belgrade and he has got the 2021/22 campaign off to the perfect start with three goals in three games – including two in the recent 2-1 away win at Atalanta.

Vlahovic, who is valued at £36million, also attracted interest from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.

The Latest: Spurs remain keen

According to CalcioMercato, Vlahovic is Fabio Paratici and Spurs’ number one target next summer after their interest was made known for the forward already.

Fabrizio Romano claimed that Tottenham didn’t actually submit a formal bid for the striker in the summer, but it is now alleged that they will re-visit the situation at the end of the season.

Fiorentina were desperate to retain the services of their striker in the previous transfer window but could face an uphill battle to keep him if Spurs or Atletico come back in for him.

The Verdict: Massive potential

The signing of Vlahovic would be a massive step forward for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, whether that be to replace Harry Kane or to provide competition for the club’s record goalscorer.

One of Spurs’ main problems in recent years is having no back-up to Kane, with Vinicius Junior struggling last season, so Vlahovic, who has been hailed ‘incredible’ by Serie A expert Conor Clancy, could provide exactly this and eventually be a replacement in the future.

Bringing Vlahovic in at such a young age and then nurturing him to be the clubs leading man in attack – when Kane is either sold or retires – looks to be a smart strategy from Paratici and co. The 21 year-old gets better every season.

In other news, Paul Scholes has made a claim about Spurs man following Palace defeat. Find out more here.

According to journalist Phil Smith, Sunderland could be without Nathan Broadhead for Saturday’s game against Portsmouth.

The Lowdown: Loan move

The 23-year-old joined the Black Cats on loan after making two appearances for Everton, coming on in the final two minutes in last December’s 0-0 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Broadhead spent the 2019/20 campaign at Burton Albion, where he scored three times and grabbed three assists, and he joined Sunderland in August, making four League One appearances so far on Wearside.

However, after playing 90 minutes in the 5-0 home win over Cheltenham on Tuesday night, unfortunate news has emerged about the youngster.

The Latest: Very unlikely

In a Q&A for the Sunderland Echo, Sunderland correspondent Smith has discussed the possibility of the 23-year-old featuring in Saturday’s game at Portsmouth following an injury concern from the midweek romp.

He said: “Though Sunderland retain some hope that the scan will come back clear, it seems unlikely that Nathan Broadhead will be available from the start given the hamstring injury picked up on Tuesday night.

“Lee Johnson thinks he could be sidelined for a couple of weeks, depending on what the scan shows.”

Smith added: “That’s the one change he’ll have to make, and to be honest I think he may well have looked to bring one of his playmakers (Elliot Embleton or Alex Pritchard) back into the fold anyway.”

The Verdict: He’ll be missed

Broadhead has only scored against Wigan Athletic in the Carabao Cup, drawing blanks in the league games against Burton Albion, AFC Wimbledon, Fleetwood and Cheltenham (Transfermarkt), so he has not been hugely prolific so far for Sunderland. However, his versatility as a winger or a striker could be a big miss for their trip to Fratton Park.

The league leaders, who are 10 points ahead of Pompey going into the weekend’s clash, may need to call upon Elliot Embleton or Leon Dajaku, the latter of whom scored in Tuesday’s win, to replace Broadhead on the right wing.

As Smith stated, they remain optimistic that the 23-year-old’s scan will come back clear, so he could be available for forthcoming matches against Oxford United or Gillingham.

In other news, many Sunderland fans have hailed one man’s midweek performance. Find out more here.

Nottingham Forest have been dealt a major blow in their bid to bring Morgan Rogers to the City Ground.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Alan Nixon, with The Sun journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that Bournemouth have joined the race for Manchester City winger Morgan Rogers, who has also been heavily linked with a move to Forest this summer.

Nixon continued by stating that the 19-year-old will make a decision as to which club he will be joining for the 2021/22 campaign on a season-long loan deal shortly, before claiming that there are a great many teams interested in the England U19 international.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “Bournemouth. Also in the queue for young Rogers at Man City. Top prospect who could step up to Championship. Loan decision shortly. Many takers.”

Fans will be worried

While it initially appeared as if Forest were the side leading the race for Rogers’ signing this summer, with the starlet being spotted at the City Ground last weekend, Nixon’s claim that Bournemouth are also in the running for the winger – the side who defeated Forest 2-1 on Saturday – will strike fear into the hearts of Forest fans, as the 19-year-old’s attention may well have been on the Reds’ opponents, rather than their own side.

Indeed, it would appear that missing out on a deal for the forward would be a significant blow for Chris Hughton and his side, as the Manchester City man appears to be a player with a significant amount of potential – something that Rogers demonstrated during his loan spell at Lincoln City last season.

Over his 28 League One appearances for the Imps last term, the £1.17m-rated winger scored six goals, provided two assists and created nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

These returns saw the man Michael Appleton dubbed an “outstanding” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.09, ranking him as Lincoln’s second-best player in the third tier of English football.

As such, it would very much appear as if Rogers is more than capable of making the step up to Championship football, with the City starlet clearly having the ability to make a real difference for a second-tier side this season, be that with Forest or elsewhere.

In other news: Forest transfer news confirmed on “talented” £2.5k-p/w gem, Hughton will be buzzing

Newcastle United have spoken to Manchester United about the possibility of signing Axel Tuanzebe, according to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards.

The lowdown

Bruce is certainly familiar with Tuanzebe, who was twice loaned to Aston Villa during the manager’s stint in the Midlands.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started the 23-year-old just four times in last season’s Premier League. He averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.7 clearances and 1.9 accurate long balls per 90 minutes (via WhoScored).

After he helped his side reach the semifinals of the Europa League last term, Solskjaer hailed him as ‘outstanding’.

Tuanzebe is into the final 12 months of his contract, but Manchester United have the option to extend it for a further year. He’s currently valued at £7.2million by Transfermarkt.

With less than three weeks to go until they open the season against West Ham, Newcastle have still yet to make a senior signing.

The latest

The report says that Newcastle are hoping to ‘finally make a breakthrough in the transfer market’ by striking a deal for Tuanzebe.

He’s ‘another name in the frame’ at St James’ Park and ‘could be [their] first signing’ as they play the waiting game for former loanee Joe Willock.

Tuanzebe ‘looks set to leave Old Trafford’ with a move for Raphael Varane being lined-up.

They may either pursue a loan deal or a permanent transfer, having discussed both options with the Red Devils.

The verdict

Newcastle could do with a centre-back this summer, and Tuanzebe would a smart addition. He’s a talented young defender who should be available for a reasonable price, and he has played in a three at the back system before, as well as holding experience playing for Bruce specifically.

Perhaps his most impressive recent performance came in a 2-1 Champions League group stage victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. Tuanzebe was drafted into the side and coped well with the immense threat of superstar Kylian Mbappe.

That display should perhaps be viewed as an indication of his potential and his readiness for the top level.

In other news, this ‘sensational’ star is closing in on a Newcastle exit.

West Ham United star Declan Rice is itching for a move to a Premier League club readying themselves for another season of Champions League football, according to Dean Windass.

Rice was one of West Ham’s most consistent performers last term as they registered a club record Premier League points tally to qualify for the Europa League.

After making 35 appearances for the Hammers last term, Rice went on to start all of England’s fixtures as they reached the Euro 2020 final before falling agonisingly short of being crowned champions of Europe.

Rice has been heavily linked with making a move back to Chelsea, where he enjoyed time in the youth academy before moving onto West Ham following his release at the age of 14.

Manchester City have also kept tabs on the 22-year-old, while Manchester United have been told it would take a bid close to £100million for the Hammers to entertain selling Rice.

The defensive midfielder has rejected two new contract offers made by West Ham and ex-Premier League striker Windass is certain Rice feels ready to compete in club football’s leading European competition.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “You want to play at the highest level for the best clubs in the world.

“Declan was one of England’s pluses at the Euros and the big hitters will come calling. He is a London boy and who wouldn’t want to play for the likes of Chelsea?

“If you turned around to Declan and asked if he wants to go and play in the top four, he’s not going to say no.”

Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge believes that it is only Manchester City who have the money to afford Robert Lewandowski.

Sky Sports were told that Lewandowski is happy at Bayern Munich but wants a move to another top European club before he is 35.

Lewandowski, who turns 33 on his next birthday (21 August), has been in fine goalscoring form for Bayern Munich, scoring 297 times in 331 matches. The Poland international is second on the all-time top goal scorers in Bundesliga, with 276 goals.

Last season alone he managed to score an incredible 48 goals in all competitions.

The Sky Sports report also says that Bayern Munich value Lewandowski at more than £100m, with Michael Bridge believing it’s surely only Manchester City who have the money for the striker, telling Football FanCast: “Is it only City? I mean, surely it’s only City and we know how much Pep loved him at Bayern Munich, but no other club has the money to pay.”

City have been linked with a move for Harry Kane throughout the summer and there were also reports of them being interested in Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic, but journalist Fabrizio Romano posted on his Twitter account that the Fiorentina president Commisso had said: “I don’t know what’s gonna happen but I’m planning to keep Vlahovic this summer, I want him to stay. But if we receive a bid of €100m, I’ll think about it.”

Ange Postecoglou wasn’t backed early in his Celtic reign on the transfer front but you can’t accuse the club of not working hard.

They’ve been dealt a tough hand in pre-season, with James Forrest having to isolate and a number of injuries rocking the camp.

However, in the last week or so, they have completed some shrewd moves. Liel Abada put pen to paper and scored an all-important goal in the Champions League, while Carl Starfelt has arrived as their Kristoffer Ajer replacement.

Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide were early acquisitions, while we’re still awaiting images of Kyogo Furuhashi in Celtic colours after he completed a switch.

Next on their radar could be a record-breaking swoop. Not since Odsonne Edouard signed from PSG in 2018 for £9m have they usurped such a price tag but they may have to shell out more than that to land Aaron Boupendza.

After selling Ajer for £13.5m, the finances are certainly there, and their coffers could be boosted further by the exit of Edouard. If the Frenchman does take his leave. then Postecoglou would seal his best deal yet by moving for Boupendza.

He is reportedly the Hoops’ top priority but Turkish club Hatayspor want a fee of around €12m (£10.4m) for his services.

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The following quote describes in a nutshell why they must bring him to Glasgow:

“He’s a very good footballer, a goal machine, the top scorer in the championship. And we won’t be sorry if he stays with us. If he stays, he will be top scorer in the championship again, and we’ll sell him twice as much,” said Hatayspor president Nihat Tazearslan.

Boupendza was on fire in the top flight of Turkish football last term, finding the net on 22 occasions and providing one assist.

Being compared to Kylian Mbappe, the forward has been given the nickname of a “panther”, something which illustrates his dangerous qualities and scintillating speed.

He fired a mighty 3.1 shots per game towards goal last term and completed an eye-catching 2.6 dribbles per match.

Not only did he replicate Edouard’s goal tally from 2020/21, he did so with fewer shots per match than the Frenchman. His dribble tally was also more than any other player in Celtic’s ranks.

Possessing a ruthless streak in the penalty area, he can also stroll past players with absolute ease.

It’s clear to see why Postecoglou must break the bank to acquire Boupendza’s signature this summer. He is a fabulous player and, at the age of 24, still has plenty of room to grow.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Starfelt: Celtic must swoop for 6ft1 tank who’s “one of the very best”…

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit and BBC Radio 5 Live regular Alan Hutton has been left thrilled by the news he’s seen out of Tottenham involving Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey.

The Lowdown: Spurs now eyeing Lamptey…

Sky Sports broke the news last week that Spurs are now eyeing a move for the youngster as one of the right-back candidates to replace Serge Aurier this summer, who is now being heavily linked with a north London exit.

The exciting 20-year-old started just 11 Premier League games for the Seagulls over 2020/21 but hugely impressed in his most of appearances, propelling him on to Spurs’ radar.

The Latest: Hutton thrilled by this news…

Reacting to this news which has come out of Tottenham, Hutton has been left thrilled and believes it is a potential signing which could actually excite supporters.

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“I think Brighton have got the best deal ever. What did they buy him for, £2-3million? We’re probably talking about a big figure here,” the Scottish pundit explained to Football Insider.

“I think he had an excellent start to the season. Yeah, he did drop off a little bit but that’s to be expected.

“Your first main season within the Premier League, especially for one so young, you’re going to have a little dip in form.

“I think that’s a move that the fans would be really excited about. He’s an exciting player and he’s going to get better as he gets more experienced.

“I think it’s one the fans would like.”

The Verdict: On the backburner…

While we agree that Lamptey is an exciting prospect, Tottenham should be prioritising the acquisition of at least one capable new centre-half, preferably two.

It has long been a problem position for Spurs and it may need reinforcing the most this summer, with chairman Daniel Levy not exactly having a king’s ransom in transfer funds. Tottenham need to adopt a sell-to-buy policy and any funds off a potential Aurier sale should go first and foremost towards signing a colossal centre-back.

In other news: Journalist says Spurs now after this ‘magical’ man as ‘official contacts’ begin, find out more here.

Ipswich Town will be looking to mount a serious challenge for promotion back into the Championship next season under the management of Paul Cook.

It’s likely to be an interesting summer transfer window ahead, with player departures likely, as Cook looks to rebuild his squad ahead of the 2021/22 league campaign.

The Tractor Boys finished ninth in the League One table last term, as they narrowly missed out on a top-six finish in the third tier standings, much to the frustration of the Portman Road faithful.

They showed glimpses of their quality, and the club’s supporters will be eager to see their side challenge for promotion into the second-tier.

Experienced heads Luke Chambers and Cole Skuse were among some of the players to leave the club upon the expiration of their contracts, and reinforcements are certainly needed moving forwards.

One player that has recently been linked with a move to Ipswich is Everton defender Lewis Gibson, with the East Anglian Daily Times reporting that Paul Cook’s men are weighing up a temporary or permanent move for the 20-year-old.

Gibson has a point to prove

Gibson spent the 2020/21 season on loan with Championship side Reading but endured a frustrating campaign with the Berkshire-based side.

The Everton loanee made 13 appearances in all competitions during that season and was often behind the likes of Tom McIntyre and Tom Holmes in the pecking order at the Madejski Stadium.

Gibson only made seven starts for Veljko Paunovic’s side in that league campaign, as they finished seventh in the second-tier standings.

At the age of 20, he’ll be eager to get his career back on track, and a move to Ipswich Town could present him with the ideal opportunity to do just that.

Reinforcements are needed at Ipswich Town

As previously mentioned, Luke Chambers has left the club upon the expiration of his contract at Portman Road, and so additional strength in depth is needed in defence moving forwards.

Gibson is still relatively young and will be eager to prove a point, having not being given much of a chance with both Everton and Reading so far in his career.

He would be no stranger to playing his football at League One level either, having made 11 appearances in total for Fleetwood Town, in a loan spell back in 2020, as they earned a spot in the play-offs, although they narrowly missed out on promotion after a defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in their play-off semi-final in the 2019/20 campaign.

It’d be a real statement of intent

Ipswich certainly aren’t messing around when it comes to adding to their squad this summer either, with the likes of Rekeem Harper, Wes Burns, Matt Penney and Macauley Bonne being just some of the players to sign up with Paul Cook’s side ahead of the 2020/21 season.

They’re making serious moves in the summer transfer window already, and it would be a real statement of intent by the Tractor Boys if they were to strike an agreement to land Gibson’s signature as well.

The pressure will be on Cook’s men though, as they seem to be building a squad that is more than capable of making a serious push for promotion into the Championship this term.