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CSKA Moscow have made an offer for Leeds United defender Ezgjan Alioski, with his future increasingly appearing to lie away from Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Alioski’s future up in the air

The 29-year-old has been a good servant for the Whites, making 171 appearances over four years while scoring 22 goals and registering 19 assists along the way.

However, Alioski is yet to sign a new deal at Leeds, and with his current contract expiring this summer, a move away has been mooted.

The Latest: CSKA Moscow make offer

A fresh update on the left-back’s future has now arrived, courtesy of Fanatik [via Sport Witness], who claimed that CSKA Moscow have ‘made a proposal’ to Leeds.

The Russian giants have offered to pay Alioski €2.5m (£2.1m) per season, although he won’t make a decision until after his involvement in Euro 2020 with North Macedonia.

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The Verdict: Stay put at Leeds?

While Alioski is arguably more likely to leave Leeds than sign a new deal, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing if he stayed put, with Kevin Phillips once describing him as ‘magic’.

Granted, at 29 a long-term offer may not make sense, but he is a steady performer for the Whites and now has a huge amount of experience.

That said, it wouldn’t be a disaster were Alioski to leave, so Leeds are almost in something of a win-win situation, eyeing up potential left-back alternatives such as Marcelo and Nicolas Tagliafico, if he moves on.

In other news, Marcelo Bielsa is believed to be keen on spending big on one player this summer. Find out who it is here. 

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to CaughtOffside, the Red Devils are among a number of Premier League clubs interested in acquiring the 22-year-old’s signature over the summer.

The report also reveals that Chukwueze has a release clause of £69 million and that Liverpool and Chelsea are among his potential suitors.

Woodward must avoid

Chukwueze has impressed since joining the Yellow Submarines back in 2017, making 119 appearances for the La Liga outfit during his time with the club.

The Nigeria international’s dazzling displays earned praise from fellow African footballing star Samuel Eto’o last year, who lauded the 22-year-old’s talent and potential before adding that an improvement to his end product is required.

“He is an incredible player who is growing in leaps and bounds,” claimed Eto’o.

“He is a quality player and he needs to score more goals, but he has the quality and ability to be more than just a goal-scoring forward. Once he gets all of that he will be top.”

However, in the 12 months since the former Barcelona and Inter striker outlined where Chukwueze needs to improve his game, there has been little evidence of progress.

In 2019/20, the £18 million rated attacker (as per Transfermarkt) bagged four goals and provided six assists in all competitions. In the recently concluded campaign, he boosted those numbers only marginally to five goals and eight assists.

While Chukwueze is certainly a talented player with plenty of room to grow, it’s questionable whether he’s at the level that United currently need in order to close the gap to newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City, his goal and assist tallies suggest that he isn’t.

The Old Trafford outfit finished 12 points behind Pep Guardiola’s men in 2020/21 and were dumped out of the Champions League in the group stages, indicating significant progress is still required until they’ll be able to challenge for football’s greatest honours.

With Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho reportedly available for £75m this summer – just £6m more than the Chukwueze’s release clause – Ed Woodward would be making a huge mistake in prioritising the Villarreal man’s signature ahead of Sancho’s.

It’s highly unlikely that United can afford both right-wingers, or that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can find room for both men in his first-team squad, and therefore, Sancho must be the focus rather than Chukwueze.

And, in other words…James Cooper drops huge Man Utd transfer claim that’ll surely have fans buzzing 

Ex-Everton man Michael Ball has expressed his disappointment over Richarlison’s form this season amid talk over his future.

The Brazilian has been linked with an exit from the club in the wake of manager Carlo Ancelotti’s shock decision to move to Real Madrid.

Football Insider have reported that the Toffees are braced for Richarlison to ask to leave, with Ancelotti considering a reunion with him at the Bernabeu.

Richarlison endured a difficult season under the Italian, scoring seven goals and laying on three assists in 34 league games.

The 24-year-old scored four goals in four games between February and March, but then went on a run of just one goal in 12 games.

And Ball believes that the forward pushed himself too much as he tried to earn himself a summer move, and ended up letting himself down.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, the ex-Everton ace said: “I feel Richarlison, especially, his performances, while his work rate is fantastic and he works really hard for the team, I feel he was probably trying too hard.

“Maybe he knew that this was a big season for him, if he did well, he could move on but I feel he’s let himself down by maybe trying too hard and forcing the issue and not being composed, and getting the goals that he wanted to get to that next level.”

Richarlison has been with Everton since 2018 and is valued at £54m by Transfermarkt.

Watford have been handed a huge boost in their bid to bring Lewis Ferguson to Vicarage Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Record, who claim that the 21-year-old has stunned Aberdeen by handing in a transfer request shortly after the club rejected a Watford bid for Ferguson – something which the midfielder’s agent Bill McMurdo claimed was disappointing.

McMurdo said: “I can confirm that Lewis has handed in a written transfer request to Aberdeen. When he signed the extension to his contract, he made it clear that he saw his future in the English Premier League.

“An English Premier League club has now made an offer, which has been rejected, but the club involved haven’t been given an asking price, which is disappointing.”

Xisco will be buzzing

The news that Ferguson has informed Aberdeen of his desire to move to Watford is something that will have left Cristiano Giartetta delighted, as the transfer request very much forces the Scottish Premiership side’s hand in moving the player on this summer.

Indeed, the development is also sure to have Xisco Munoz buzzing, as the Scotland U21 international would very much appear to be a fine addition to the Spaniard’s midfield ahead of their Premier League campaign next season.

Over the £2.7m-rated central midfielder’s 35 league appearances for Stephen Glass’ side this term, he scored nine goals, provided two assists and created three big chances, as well as making an average of 1.2 interceptions, 1.8 tackles and 0.9 key passes per game, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 7.19 – ranking him as the club’s best performer in the Scottish top flight.

However, at present, Aberdeen appear to be firmly against the idea of letting Ferguson leave Pittodrie this summer, with the club issuing a statement suggesting that Watford’s original offer for the 21-year-old was “insulting,” before going on to claim that the £3k-per-week man remains an “integral part of Stephen Glass’s squad.”

Although, as is typically the case when players demand a transfer, a move to Watford would now appear imminent for the midfielder whom Derek McInnes dubbed “outstanding,” with it simply being a matter of Giaretta negotiating a reasonable price with Aberdeen in order to get the deal over the line.

In other news: Giaretta must sanction Watford swoop for 21 y/o likened to Son with “ancient flavour” – opinion

Manchester City are arguably heading towards a big mistake with Jack Harrison this summer, with recent reports suggesting that he will be sold to Leeds United for just £15m.

The winger has spent each of the last three seasons on loan at Elland Road and was expected to join Marcelo Bielsa’s side permanently last summer following their promotion to the top-flight.

However, the deal was renegotiated, perhaps due to the financial impact of the pandemic and he would instead join on loan with an option to buy.

The 24-year-old has been one of the standout performers for the Yorkshire side in an impressive first season back in the top-flight, with Bielsa’s side finishing 9th in the Premier League table after a superb end to the season.

According to the Daily Star, Leeds have now opened talks with Manchester City over making his deal permanent, with the “really impressive” winger expected to cost the Whites just £15m.

Considering Harrison contributed eight goals and eight assists in 36 appearances for Leeds this season, averaging a very solid 6.96 rating from WhoScored, you could definitely argue that they are getting a bargain if they sign him for £15m.

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Transfermarkt currently values the former New York City FC man at £13.5m, whilst his contract at City is set to expire in 2022, which could easily be extended if he was actually given an opportunity to impress in Pep Guardiola’s side.

Since joining from City’s MLS sister side in January 2018, he hasn’t made a single senior appearance for the club but has 128 appearances for Leeds, in which he has contributed 18 goals and 20 assists.

Considering his role in the Yorkshire side’s success under Bielsa, a man who Guardiola holds in extremely high regard, it seems strange that he has never been given an opportunity to impress under the Spanish manager.

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However, it now seems extremely likely that he will join Leeds United on a permanent deal this summer and if he continues to impress at Elland Road, then the decision to sell him for just £15m may well go down as something of a disaster by City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain in the future.

And, in other news… “Magnificent” Man City beast who played 4 key passes nailed down a CL starting spot with superb display vs Everton

As per Hampshire Live, Southampton are interested in signing defender Leo Hjelde.

Southampton eye Hjelde

Southampton are said to be interested in signing 17-year-old Hjelde, who currently plays for Ross County in Scotland, on loan from Celtic.

Ralph Hasenhuttl stated last week that the Saints will have to be clever in the transfer market and will therefore be looking to sign players for under £10m rather than for £20m or £30m. Hjelde, therefore, is a realistic target given his inexperience.

Van Dijk successor?

Hjelde is currently on loan at Ross County, where he has made nine appearances since making the move from the Bhoys in January (Transfermarkt). Ross County manager John Hughes recently told the BBC that the teenager is the next Virgil van Dijk – high praise indeed and comments that have only led to increased interest in the Norwegian.

Whether Hjelde is comparable to the £63m-valued Liverpool star (Transfermarkt) is up for debate, but it is clear the centre-back has plenty of ability, with Hughes hailing him as ‘absolutely fantastic’.

As Hasenhuttl and co look to play their cards right, Hjelde could be a realistic option for them in the transfer market. The Saints have a good working relationship with Celtic, with several players moving in both directions in recent seasons. They may be able to make use of that partnership to secure this signing.

In other news, Southampton fans slammed this man against West Brom.

A number of Liverpool supporters have got behind the idea of the Reds selling both Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi this summer.

There could be incomings and outgoings at Anfield at the end of the season, with Jurgen Klopp’s squad in need of being freshened.

The Premier League champions have suffered a horrible season, with everything seemingly going wrong, from injuries to key players losing form.

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Two individuals who have contributed very little are Shaqiri and Origi, with the pair drifting further into exile as the campaign has progressed.

Shaqiri has started just five games in the league, while Origi has been limited to only 182 minutes of action in the competition.

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool still ‘expect to sell’ the pair in the summer transfer window, with Klopp deeming them surplus to requirements.

Liverpool fans call for Shaqiri and Origi to leave

These Reds fans took to Twitter to call for Shaqiri and Origi to move on.

“About 4 windows late”

Credit: @NovCooper

“Very important, even though I love Shaq”

Credit: @hideesoul

“Origi finally going thank god”

Credit: @ricciardoszn

“Please do ASAP”

Credit: @TeeBillions

“Well they need to replace the pair of them simple as that”

Credit: @lathamphil1

“While on the way out, don’t forget the injury prone players that can’t play 6 straight games”

Credit: @DozieLfc

“Replace them with Raphinha and Malen”

Credit: @Anggara16126514

“That alone funds Malen/Vlahovic/Daka and then we can buy Bissouma , Kabak, Konate and Raphinha”

Credit: @tobym4353

In other news, some Liverpool fans want to keep hold of one Reds loanee this summer. Find out who it is here.

Alex McLeish has urged Celtic to land Everton striker Josh King this summer.

The Hoops have been linked with a move for the Norwegian forward should Eddie Howe take over as their new manager ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

King set for Everton exit

The 29-year-old made the move to Merseyside on a short-term deal back in January, but he looks set to depart Goodison Park at the end of the season.

King, who recorded a quicker top speed than Marcus Rashford last season, is thought to be on £45,000-a-week with the Toffees.

Talking exclusively to Football Insider, McLeish urged Celtic to land the Norway striker, labelling him as a potential ‘tremendous addition’.

“If Josh has still got his speed, then yes. He is a higher level player than the Scottish Premier League.

“We’ve said that about some other players and they haven’t quite worked out in the Scottish Premiership for one reason or another.

“However, Josh is quick and he knows his way around the penalty boxes. If he still retains that speed, still has that speed, then yes, it would be a tremendous addition to Celtic’s frontline.”

Transfer Tavern take

We’re with McLeish in believing that King could be a ‘tremendous addition’ to Celtic’s attacking ranks, especially with Odsonne Edouard pushing for a Parkhead exit.

Should Howe arrive in Glasgow, the Norwegian could then become the ideal replacement for the France under-21 international. King has scored 48 goals in the Premier League, has more than 50 international caps under his belt and won’t turn 30 until 2022.

A free transfer could be just what Celtic need.

In other news: Celtic could release one player this summer, find out who it is here. 

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Howey, who made 150 appearances for Newcastle United, has claimed that the way Steve Bruce is handling Andy Carroll’s situation and the minutes he is giving him is being done to potentially just annoy the academy graduate.

Since joining Newcastle as a free agent in 2019, Carroll has been handed just eight league starts, four in each season thus far. This had yielded a reward of one goal and four assists across 35 Premier League games.

Carroll made his name at Newcastle during the 2009/10 Championship season under Chris Hughton when he scored 17 times in 39 appearances, leading the line at just 20-years-old as the Magpies won promotion straight back to the Premier League.

Speaking on why he can’t understand Steve Bruce’s substations, especially when they involve Andy Carroll, Howey told FFC:

“I don’t know why they play without a striker and I can’t understand what the point is in bringing Andy Carroll on for 30 seconds.

“What’s the point? Unless Bruce has done it to annoy him? If that’s the case, then he’s done a good job because it would annoy me.”

Carroll got his first goal since returning to Newcastle at the end of last year when the Magpies were beaten 3-1 by Leicester City when he volleyed home in added time.

This season the £75,000 per week striker has been afforded just 385 minutes and has not featured from the start even when Callum Wilson has been sidelined.

Manchester City continued their march towards a potential quadruple in March, winning five of their six games this month, which saw them progress in the FA Cup and Champions League, whilst also pushing themselves closer to the Premier League title.

Although Pep Guardiola’s side have undoubtedly been in sensational form in recent months, not all of his players have been at their best and Bernardo Silva, in particular, had a disappointing month.

The Portuguese forward appeared in all five of City’s wins, in which they managed 16 goals, and yet the former AS Monaco man failed to register a single goal or assist.

The 26-year-old has been utilised in a number of different positions by Guardiola this season, featuring as a false nine, on the wing and in midfield, yet he struggled to really have much influence on any of the games he appeared in during March.

His first appearance came in the 4-1 win against Wolves, where he earned a solid, if unspectacular, 6.7 rating – which is lower than his 7.09 average in the top-flight so far this season.

He followed that up with two fairly strong performances against Southampton and Fulham, although when you consider the number of chances City had in both of those games, it is disappointing that he wasn’t able to get himself on the scoresheet or provide an assist.

This may have knocked his confidence, as he then slipped back down to a 6.7 rating for his performance against Borussia Monchengladbach, before producing his worst display of the month against Everton last time out, earning a less than impressive 6.37 rating for his performance.

After recent seasons where he has been a solid contributor of goals and assists, his measly return of two goals and three assists in just 22 Premier League appearances this season is slightly concerning, and also baffling when you consider how dominant City have been in recent months.

Therefore, you could definitely argue that Silva, who is currently valued at £63 million by Transfermarkt, dropped his standards in March after an impressive February, as he once again failed to contribute a single goal or assist in all competitions.

And, in other news… Some City fans were ‘underwhelmed’ by 23 y/o beast, but Txiki has delivered again