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Looking to strengthen before the summer transfer window slams shut, Leeds United could reportedly turn their attention to the Premier League as they attempt to build a squad capable of promotion at the first time of asking.

So far this summer, Daniel Farke has welcomed a total of four new arrivals, with the pick of the bunch being Joe Rodon on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Now, however, the Yorkshire club could reportedly turn to Jonjo Shelvey.

What's the latest on Jonjo Shelvey to Leeds United?

According to reports, Leeds are considering making a move for out-of-favour Nottingham Forest midfielder Shelvey this summer. The former Newcastle United man is yet to make an appearance for Steve Cooper's side this season, and missed the final part of the last campaign after a reported bust-up with the manager.

Now, Leeds could swoop in to end a saga to forget for the Englishman, after they recently lost Tyler Adams to Bournemouth, leaving them in need of a midfielder, as per Teamtalk.

With plenty of experience to his name, it would certainly be interesting to see Shelvey make the move to Elland Road this summer. If he does stay at Forest, game-time looks unlikely to come his way anytime soon.

Should Leeds United sign Jonjo Shelvey?

Replacing a 24-year-old midfielder with a 31-year-old player who was frozen out at the back end of last season is far from a good look on paper for Leeds. However, Shelvey's experience could be crucial in a young squad at Elland Road.

The likes of Ethan Ampadu and Archie Gray could undoubtedly do with a bit of guidance in the middle of the park to combine with their youthful fearlessness. So, whilst Shelvey is far from a star player, he could yet play a pivotal part if he made the move to the Yorkshire club.

It's worth noting, too, that the midfielder has experience of earning promotion from the Championship after securing the league title with Newcastle back in the 2016/17 season.

When at his best, Shelvey has earned plenty of praise, too, including from former Hull City man Michael Dawson, who said on Sky Sports, via Nottingham Forest News: "He certainly creates chances, he gets on the ball and makes things happen. That’s something that Forest in the first 60 minutes, or even in previous games, have been missing.

“He will get on the ball in the middle of the field, he’s got a wide range of passes, he’s a very confident player. Not just confident, he can execute that pass when he sees it, if it’s a long-range one he can hit that.”

So far this season, Leeds have struggled for control in some areas and have, therefore, failed to get off to an emphatic start.

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Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

In their opening three games, Farke's side have struggled, failing to win a single game, with draws against Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion, as well as a surprise defeat at the hands of Birmingham City.

Shelvey could bring some much-needed calm to what is a rocky ship at Elland Road, if he does end up making the move this summer.

Crystal Palace are in the market for a defensive player before the transfer market closes for business on September 1st.

What's the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?

According to 90min, Palace are one of several ‘admirers’ of Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier.

Monaco, Celtic, and a number of Bundesliga sides are also keen on acquiring his services.

Dier’s nine-year stint in North London could be drawing to a close as this outlet revealed that he is not in the ‘immediate plans’ of new head coach Ange Postecoglou.

The 29-year-old was left out of the club’s matchday squad for their Premier League opening day draw against Brentford, with the manager stating that it was not due to injury:

“He’s working hard in training and available for selection”, said Postecoglu. “ My decisions then are what I think will give us the best chance of success for any given game and then we reassess the week after.”

Dier has also reportedly been omitted from the manager’s new-look leadership group and with just one year left on his current deal, the chance of an exit is looking increasingly likely with Selhurst Park touted as a destination.

Is Eric Dier better than Marc Guehi?

The Englishman has been at Spurs since 2014 and as his career has progressed he has transitioned from a defensive midfielder into a centre-back.

Over the last three years, Dier has been exclusively deployed as a centre-half but his awareness, intelligence, and decision-making have often been questionable.

As a central defender, these traits boil down to a player's solidity and ball-playing competence, but Dier is lacking in both departments. Over the past 365 days compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, the 49-cap international ranks in the lowest 41% for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90. Then defensively, he resides in the bottom 31% for tackles and interceptions.

The second statistic is a particularly chastening indictment of Dier’s level as under Antonio Conte, the club played an extremely, defensive, disciplined and rigid style, so there would be an expectation that players would score impressively for those types of metrics. However, Dier has failed to deliver, and it raises questions if he would be suitable for a team such as Palace.

The £85k-per-week mishap has been branded as “terrible” by commentator Jim Beglin and someone “nowhere near the required level” to bring success by journalist Ryan Taylor.

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From an Eagles perspective, for that wage and his quality, he is unlikely to be considered a better option than either Marc Guehi or Joachim Andersen. Last term, this pair started 37 and 32 Premier League games respectively, and Palace’s sturdy mid-table status is built upon these pillars of reliability.

In the club’s opening day 1-0 victory over newly-promoted Sheffield United, both players were in imperious form. Andersen registered six clearances, three tackles, ten accurate long balls, and won ten duels, as per Sofascore. Guehi followed a similar pattern, recording 89% pass accuracy, two clearances, two blocks, two interceptions, and winning 100% of his ground duels.

The signing of Dier would only make sense if one of these titan’s left or if the former Sporting CP man was intended to be a backup. However, it is unlikely that Dier is willing to migrate between substitute benches, so Palace can surely find a more exciting alternative to create more meaningful competition.

Jose Mourinho will undoubtedly go down as one of football’s best managers, but it is his big personality that may well be remembered the most, whether it be his work as the Premier League’s pantomime villain, or as an Instagram influencer at AS Roma.Some may have questioned his tactics in the past, too, accusing the self-proclaimed ‘special one’ of using the dark arts of football to secure silverware across Europe, taking a more negative approach to the beautiful game.The days of Mourinho sprinting down the Old Trafford touchline are over, however, but he still has the knack for making headlines.His latest act – as if he is trying to balance things out after the early drama of his career – saw AS Roma reduced to 10 men in a pre-season friendly with Partizani.You would assume that this was the referee and his red card’s doing. That was anything but the case, though. Instead, it was Mourinho, himself, who reduced his side. The question, then, is why?

Why did Jose Mourinho substitute Houssem Aouar?

It wouldn’t have shocked us if Mourinho reduced his side to simply send a statement to an underperforming player, but the answer, on this occasion, is far more commendable.

As reported by Corriere Dello Sport, Partizani manager Zoran Zekic mistakenly attempted to substitute a player for another he had already brought off, the referee intervened to rule the change out, and forced the Albanian side to play with 10 men. Now feels like the perfect time to remind everyone, including the referee, that this was a pre-season friendly…

Noticing the mix-up, in a true act of sportsmanship, Mourinho reduced his side to 10 men later in the game, sacrificing summer arrival Houssem Aouar in the 79th minute of play, much to the midfielder’s confusion.

The Frenchman was quick to share his bafflement and anger with his manager, who, in turn, explained the reason for the decision.

You can see footage of the incident here:

Following the act, Partizani’s Tedi Cara, ironically a substitute, scored what would only prove to be a consolation strike from the spot in the 85th minute, as Roma ran out 2-1 winners, courtesy of goals from Stephan El Shaarawy and Andrea Belotti.

How did AS Roma perform in pre-season?

As they look to extend the trend of a different team winning the Scudetto for the past four seasons, following the victories of Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Napoli, Roma had themselves a fairly successful pre-season.

Starting their run of friendlies up against Braga, El Shhaarawy’s goal was cancelled out by Bruma to end things level at 1-1, before the Serie A side picked up their first win of pre-season against Estrela Amadora, winning 4-2.

Following that win, however, Mourinho’s side suffered their first defeat, losing 2-1 against Ligue 1 side Toulouse.

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They then ended their preparations with the aforementioned 2-1 victory over Partizani.

So, overall, Roma enjoyed a solid pre-season, and now turn their attention towards the opening day of the Serie A season, which will see them square off against Salernitana next weekend.

Somehow, we doubt Mourinho will show the same kind of sportsmanship that he showed against Partizani when actual points are on the line.

Liverpool will "bid again" for Southampton's exciting young midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer and could do it as soon as "the next few days", according to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Romeo Lavia joining Liverpool this season?

It has been a summer of change for Liverpool this year, especially in the centre of the park.

So far, the club have sold two of the players that have been instrumental in the domestic and European successes of recent seasons, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson making their way to the ludicrously wealthy Saudi Pro League.

Coming the other way have been Alexis Mac Allister, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth £35m, rising to £55m and Dominik Szoboszlai, who swapped life in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig for Meyseyside in a deal worth £60m.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

And while these additions to the team certainly make Jurgen Klopp's side stronger, they still need to add a new number six into the mix, something they seem well aware of considering their pursuit of Saints star Lavia.

So far, the Merseysiders have made two separate offers for the youngster, one worth in the region of £34m plus £4m in add-ons and a second worth £41m, both of which were rejected by the Southcoast club, per the Liverpool Echo.

Not a club to be deterred, the Reds are now preparing a third offer for the Belgian international and could make it as soon as the "next few days", per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on the That's Football YouTube channel, saying:

"We have to wait for Liverpool to prepare the third proposal for Romeo Lavia. The first one was £37m rejected, the second was £42m rejected, so it was a very clear way from the club because Southampton want £50m. That's what they want for Romeo Lavia.

"And let me say that [Southampton] have always been strong in negotiations this summer, for example, with Newcastle. When they negotiated for Tino Livromento, many rumours were saying £23m-£24m, Southampton always said £40m package or nothing and in the end, they got £40m for Tino Livromento. So it is almost the same for Romeo Lavia.

"They want £50m, that's going to be the fee, Liverpool know that very well, so I expect them to bid again, I expect them to try again in the next days this week. Lets see if they can reach an agreement, but for sure Romeo Lavia remains the main target for Liverpool in the midfield."

Would Romeo Lavia be a good signing for Liverpool?

To be succinct, Lavia could be an excellent signing for Klopp to make this summer. The move is only made all the more essential following the departure of Fabinho to Saudi Arabia, meaning that the team now have a glaring vacancy in the midfield just ahead of the back line, a vacancy Lavia could make his own.

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In his 26 starts for Southampton last season, the 19-year-old provided one assist maintained a passing accuracy of 86.4% and maintained an average match rating of 6.56, per WhoScored.

His standout statistic, however, is the number of blocks he makes per 90, 1.90, which according to FBref, puts the 5 foot 11 "monster" in the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues.

If Klopp and Co can negotiate a lower price for Lavia, they should certainly be doing all they can to bring him in, and to be honest, they should just pay the £50m if the Saints refuse to budge because, at just 19, the young Belgian could be a genuine superstar in the future.

Al-Hilal are now considering a world record bid for Harry Kane and there is a belief it could tempt Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy into doing a deal.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?

The 30-year-old has entered his final year as a Spurs player, and with his contract expiring in around 11 months time, these next few weeks could be pivotal.

August, arguably, represents the last chance for Tottenham to acquire a sizeable fee for Kane if the Englishman doesn't wish to pen fresh terms – as interested clubs would have plenty of wiggle room to bid far less in January.

The north Londoners have offered Kane a huge new contract, according to reliable media sources, but those same reports claim the striker has zero intention of signing it this window.

As a result, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich sense an opportunity and appear above all on Kane's heels. The German champions, despite seeing bids rejected, are still attempting to sway Levy into selling before deadline day.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, has admitted that he is far from relaxed about the Kane situation – especially as he prepares for his first full season in charge.

“Fair to say I am not relaxed about it," he said.

“It’s not something you go: ‘Ah, well, you know if it does or doesn’t happen!’ I mean it’s a very important part of this football club, not just the team, but the football club.

“So, you’ve got to deal with it, and I think, for everyone concerned, we don’t want to be doing it for too long. I don’t think that is good for anyone. I don’t think it is good for Harry, I don’t think it is good for the club, because as laser focused as we want to be, you end up sort of repeating yourself along the way."

The saga, according to TEAMtalk, may now have taken another interesting twist as Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal weigh up a huge move.

It is believed they're "considering making a world record bid" for Tottenham's talisman, namely £200 million, which would eclipse the fee PSG paid for Neymar in 2017.

Intermediaries close to Al-Hilal believe this fee would "tempt Levy into a deal", but the problem lies with Kane, as it is suggested that he currently has no desire to make a move to the Middle East.

The Saudi Pro League giants are determined to add a superstar to their ranks, having already seen approaches for both Kylian Mbappe (PSG) and Victor Osimhen (Napoli) rejected.

What's been said about Harry Kane?

Every football fan is all too familiar with the quality of Kane.

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The superstar forward shattered record after record during his most recent full campaign, becoming both England and Tottenham's all-time top goalscorer.

Former Spurs boss Antonio Conte called Kane "world class" and "not normal" before the Italian coach and Tottenham mutually parted company.

"We are talking about a world class striker,” he said.

“He deserves the best because he's a great worker, hard worker… this is not normal because usually the players that have talent many times don't like to work hard because they have talent.

“In my career I didn't have great talent [so] for this reason I worked hard. What I liked about him from the first time was his ability. He was a big example for his team-mates."

Newcastle United are still interested in Southampton right-back Tino Livramento after seeing an initial advance rebuffed, and could re-enter formal negotiations in the coming days.

What's the latest on Tino Livramento to Newcastle?

That's according to i news, who claim that the Magpies remain in transfer talks for the 20-year-old Englishman after a £30m transfer offer was rejected by Saints earlier this month, with his team demanding £50m.

It is said that there is still a gulf in respective valuations of the player, with Eddie Howe's club likely needing to raise their offer to £40m to see the south coast side part with their precocious talent following relegation from the Premier League this year.

The report underscores Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth's emphasis on squad improvement this summer by landing two further incomings to consolidate the return to Champions League football, with the Toon finishing fourth in the English top-flight last term.

Is Tino Livramento a good player?

Kieran Trippier has proved a remarkable signing for Howe's Newcastle project since arriving from Atletico Madrid in a £12m deal in January 2022, earning praise as a "revelation" by talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan and recording a remarkable average Sofascore rating of 7.61 in the league last season.

However, the England international will be 33-years-old in two months' time and Howe is working aptly in identifying an heir.

Livramento, who was restricted to just two Premier League appearances across the 2022/23 campaign following his recovery from a long-term injury, is now hoping to return to full fitness and could find his comeback well-suited to the role as Trippier's understudy, making the increments to both fitness and form as he ascends to the upper echelon of full-backs in English football, already praised as "excellent" by England manager Gareth Southgate.

Once hailed for his semblance to Premier League legend Gareth Bale by former teammate Theo Walcott, Livramento looks to hold the qualities requisite for success at the zenith of the game, and why not continue his burgeoning rise at a team enjoying their own rise to the fore in Newcastle?

Walcott said:

"Do you know what, he reminds me a little bit of Gareth Bale when he came through as a full-back. That's a big statement of course to compare him to someone like that but just feel like his presence and the way he drives and the pace and the power and it's no surprise that you know what he's going to do."

By utilising his pace, power and surging nature down the right flank, he could effectively contribute to both offensive and defensive sequences, which would aid winger Jacob Murphy in his efforts to succeed next season.

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Murphy was a figure shrouded in shadow for much of his time on Tyneside after signing from Norwich City in a £12m move 2017 but played 36 times in the Premier League last season as Howe found good use of his industrious nature and "relentless" work rate – as was dubbed by Chris Waugh – and he now looks an indispensable member of a thriving outfit.

The £35k-per-week gem also ranks among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 16% for touches in the attacking box and the top 17% for progressive passes received, as per FBref.

Effectively, this means that he would be well-placed to thrive with someone such as Livramento behind him, constantly pressing the player further up the pitch and allowing him to drift into promising openings in the danger areas, and Newcastle must now swoop.

With the new Premier League season commencing in less than a month, the most important task for West Ham United boss David Moyes is to replace Declan Rice’s quality and influence on the pitch.

One of the leading candidates is Edson Alvarez, who the Hammers has already expressed a keenness to sign.

What’s the latest on Edson Alvarez to West Ham United?

According to a piece published by The Athletic last week, the Hammers have contacted Ajax to start the conversation over the transfer of the midfielder.

An offer is yet to be made, but it is expected, with the Dutch Giant set to command a fee of around £40m for Alvarez’s services.

The 25-year-old was also the subject of Premier League interest last year, with Chelsea close to sealing a deal that eventually broke down as Ajax felt there was insufficient time to find a replacement.

Christian Falk believes that the Irons could be front-runners for Alvarez, ahead of Bayern Munich in the pecking order.

Speaking exclusively to GIVEMESPORT, he said:

“Bayern Munich also had him on the radar — and still — but it's not so hot. He's not the only one in this position — and it would only happen after everything is done with Kane and perhaps Kyle Walker — so he's not the first option. For West Ham, they have the money and Ajax want to see money, so they have a good chance."

Would Edson Alvarez be a good signing for West Ham?

Alvarez has been at Ajax since 2019 and has made 147 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Upon his arrival, then-director of football Marc Overmars described him as “versatile.” This has been proven by the Mexican’s ability to play in defensive midfield (139 games) or centre-back (83 games) across his career, as per Transfermarkt.

For the Irons, he could be a key midfielder and is an infinitely better option than Flynn Downes. From a defensive perspective, the 69-cap international outranks the former Swansea man for tackles per 90 (2.47 vs 1.89), interceptions per 90 (1.25 vs 0.83), and aerials won per 90 (3.38 vs 1.06).

Furthermore, Alvarez also performs better than Downes on the ball, with more progressive passes per 90 (7.76 vs 2.60), progressive carries per 90 (2.54 vs 0.35), and successful take-ons per 90 (0.63 vs 0.12).

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These damning statistics place Downes are part of the reason as to why the Englishman only managed seven Premier League starts last year. It is perhaps even more eye-opening when you consider that he couldn’t get game time over the abject Tomas Soucek.

Last September, the ExWHUemployee slammed the Czech for his poor form, saying: “Honestly, I’ve been saying this for over a year now, I’ve been saying this for about a year and a half. The game just bypasses him.”

Therefore, the signing of Alvarez could put the final nail in Downes’ unsuccessful West Ham career as the chance of regular minutes looks like a far-fetched dream.

Once lauded as a “monster” by Felipe Cardenas, this transfer would be an excellent way to help the east London faithful recover from Rice’s exit.

Rangers' wait to bring in Danilo from Feyenoord will have to go on it seems, with the Daily Record, via Ibrox News reporting that he will only be allowed to leave when a suitable replacement is found.

How many goals has Danilo scored?

The 24-year-old is coming into this summer transfer window off the back of a successful campaign with Feyenoord. Not only did the Dutch side claim the Eredivisie title, but the striker himself was a regular on the scoresheet. He had ten goals to his name in just 14 starts, with a further three assists to boot.

Whilst he did actually appear in a total of 34 league games – meaning most of his action came from off the bench – his total number of 90 minutes played stood at 14.8. It means he ended the campaign with a goal contribution rate of 0.88 per 90 – almost one or the other in every fixture he featured in.

It's not the first time that the Brazilian has flourished either. Before joining up with his current club, he hit 31 league goals in 39 starts for Jong Ajax, producing a similar rate to what he is at now. He was unable to feature much for the Ajax first-team though, appearing 14 times with only one start, but still bagged two goals and an assist. His prolificness doesn't stop there either – at FC Twente, he plundered a further 17 goals in 31 league starts.

Are Rangers signing Danilo?

Danilo then is a player that certainly knows where the back of the net is, and has proven as much with every team he has featured for to date. He is yet to venture away from the Netherlands for his gametime though – and that could be about to change this summer.

That's because Rangers have been desperately trying to sort out a transfer for him, with Michael Beale a big fan of the attacker. Recently, reports stated the Scottish Premiership outfit had even lodged a new bid for his services.

However, according to a report from the Daily Record, via Ibrox News, the Gers may have a wait on their hands to sign the Brazilian. That's because his current side Feyenoord are not willing to part with the 24-year-old until they have brought in an adequate replacement.

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It seems they don't want to leave a gap in their own frontline and will not do business for the striker until they have managed to find a new signing. It did seem as though that was about to happen – the Netherlands club were set to sign Emanuel Emegha – but with that deal collapsing, the wait will now continue for Danilo to head to Scotland.

If the Gers can land the attacker this summer, then it could really help them take the fight to Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title. He has a proven track record of finding the back of the net when he has got onto the field and if he can find regular gametime with the club, he could be a real force for the side. They just need to get a deal over the line now for the Brazilian.

West Ham United are now ready to test Harry Maguire's resolve to stay and fight for his place at Manchester United, with the centre-back high up on David Moyes' list of centre-back targets, according to a report from The Telegraph.

Is Harry Maguire leaving Manchester United?

Journalist Ben Jacobs believes that Maguire may seek pastures new this summer, despite the fact Erik ten Hag may want to keep hold of him as a back-up option, recently saying:

"Obviously, ten Hag's perspective is that Maguire is going to get diminished game-time, but he is valued as a leader at the football club. Maguire may look to go elsewhere because he has to start thinking about the Euros and, ultimately, the long-term England game-time."

There have been several Premier League clubs linked with moves for the England international, with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fulham and Sheffield United recently being named as potential suitors by transfer insider Dean Jones.

Jones also details that £35m could be enough to seal a deal for the centre-back, although some of his sources believe that Man United will ot be able to receive that figure, so they may have to consider selling him for a lower fee.

According to a report from The Telegraph, West Ham are now ready to test the defender's resolve to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez now above him in the pecking order.

The Englishman believes he can force his way back into the Man United starting XI, and he is currently happy at the club, but he is now emerging as one of Moyes' top targets to bolster the centre-back area.

The offer of first-team football would give the 30-year-old a huge decision to make ahead of the European Championships next summer, with the Hammers looking to bring him in on loan at this stage, rather than on a permanent basis.

How good is Harry Maguire?

The Man United defender, hailed as "fantastic" by former teammate David de Gea earlier this year, has received heavy criticism over the past few years, and he has admitted he has found it difficult to ignore the critics at times, but a lot of it has been unwarranted, given the level of some of his performances.

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At the 2022 World Cup with England, the former Leicester City man averaged a 7.34 SofaScore match rating, the second-highest figure in the squad, showcasing that he is still very capable of competing at the top level.

The Sheffield-born centre-back only received limited game time for the Red Devils last season, making a total of 16 Premier League appearances, but he did impress at times, ranking in the 88th percentile for aerials won per 90, and the 89th percentile for blocks in the past year.

A move to the London Stadium could be exactly what Maguire needs to reignite his career, particularly if he wants to keep his place in the England team for next summer's Euros, and West Ham should undoubtedly pursue a deal. However, a loan move is probably wise, as it may be difficult to match the defender's £200k-per-week wages if he is signed on a permanent basis.

Sunderland have had their opening bid of €4m (£3.4m) for Matija Frigan immediately turned down by Rijeka, who are set to hold out for a higher offer, according to recent reports from Croatia.

What's the latest Sunderland transfer news?

Sunderland have already completed the signing of one striker this summer, with Benfica's Luis Hemir Silva Semedo joining for an undisclosed fee, agreeing on a five-year deal, but Tony Mowbray is still keen to bolster his attacking options further.

However, the Black Cats lost the race for former loanee Ellis Simms, with the forward putting pen to paper on a move to Coventry City, and they could now be set to miss out on another one of their attacking targets.

It has been reported that Mowbray would "love" to sign Amad Diallo again for the upcoming season, however, his performances in the Championship last term have alerted Burnley and Sheffield United to his potential availability.

Diallo led the charge for the play-offs last season, scoring 13 league goals, but he could be attracted by a move to the Premier League this summer.

Sonny Perkins has also been named as a potential target for Sunderland, with Leeds United thought to be willing to let the striker leave on loan next season, however, there has seemingly been little progression in their pursuit of the 19-year-old since the end of June.

The Black Cats appear to have turned their attentions to Friga, who has also been targeted by Scottish Premiership side Rangers this summer, with reports from Croatia claiming Mowbray has now sanctioned a €4m (£3.4m) bid for the striker (via The 72).

However, the offer has immediately been knocked back by Rijeka, with the Croatian club unwilling to sell any of their players for lower than their value, and they are set to seek more money if they are to let the 20-year-old leave. It remains to be seen whether Sunderland are willing to return to the negotiating table with a higher offer for the forward.

Who is Matija Frigan?

Although he is still very young, the Rijeka star emerged as a vital player in the 2022-23 campaign, weighing in with a very impressive 14 goals and three assists in 27 league appearances for his hometown club.

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Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described the starlet as a "very interesting talent", while he has also lauded him as a "complete forward", with similar strengths to those of Lazio striker Ciro Immobile, including finishing, instinct and movement.

It could be a risk for Sunderland to take a chance on a player unproven outside of Croatia, but the 6 foot 1 attacker is clearly very clinical, given his goal return last season, and he could still improve considerably, given that he is only 20-years-old.

Last season, the forward averaged a SofaScore match rating of 6.98 in the Croatian top flight, the third-highest figure in the squad, and he could now be ready to test himself at a higher level, so it would not be a surprise if Sunderland come back in with another offer, making this one to keep an eye on.