It seems that Wolverhampton Wanderers are finally closing in on finding a striker solution… 

What’s the word?

That’s according to Italian publication Gianluca DiMarzio, who claim that the agent of Roma striker Eldor Shomurudov is touting the forward’s service.

With Wolves desperate for someone to fill the absence of the injured Raul Jimenez, Scott Sellars will reportedly battle it out with Bologna for the Uzbekistan international.

He has struggled for starts under Jose Mourinho and could get his career back on track under Bruno Lage.

He can be a Jimenez repeat

Wolves will be hoping that Shomurudov can certainly fill the boots of their talismanic Mexican, due to his recent long-term injury which will see him miss the start of the Premier League season.

This could be another deal that could see the Midlands club bring in a relatively unproven striker and turn them into Premier League quality.

Having already done the same by signing Jimenez from Benfica after a successful loan spell, Lage will be hoping he can come up with his own version of this success story.

In 28 appearances last season, with the most in the league coming from the bench, the 56-cap forward managed seven goal contributions for Jose Mourinho’s side.

He would not only deputise for Jimenez but would definitely add a new dimension to Lage’s side. Shomurudov ranked in the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area, suggesting that he could be more of a poacher than someone who links play like they are used to.

This could benefit them greatly, as the service the likes of Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence could provide for the close-range finisher often would not require neat link-up play from the striker to slip them through.

The creativity in midfield would likely see them through in creating the space for these tricky wingers to feed the forward.

Also, at 27 years old, the €37k-per-week (£31k) earner enters the prime of his career. He could start to hit his stride at the perfect moment for Wolves during their attacking crisis, and prove to be a smart signing who can challenge Jimenez upon his return to fitness.

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He has been cited as being in “great shape”, further outlining him as a viable target for Lage.

There is no reason why Shomurudov cannot come and light Molineux up just as Jimenez did before him, and it would mark a handing over of the torch from one striker to another if the Roma forward could perform in his absence.

AND, in other news: “He will..”: Romano drops big transfer claim that should have Wolves supporters gutted.

Manchester United are eyeing up a move for Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko this summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Dire start to the season

Erik ten Hag had a disastrous start to his reign as United manager on Sunday afternoon, as his side lost 2-1 at home to Brighton in their Premier League opener.

The Red Devils never really got going at Old Trafford and there was a lack of firepower on show, as the likes of Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford had quiet days at the office, managing just three shots between them (and none on target).

A new striker appears to be needed before the end of the current transfer window, and Romano has shed some light on one man that the Red Devils hope to bring to Old Trafford before the month is out.

The Latest: Sesko a potential target

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano claimed that Sesko is a possible target in the coming weeks, having been strongly linked with a move to United recently.

The Italian stated:

“He’s one of the targets, one of the names they have on the list. He’s a player really appreciated by Manchester United, they had conversations with these agents.”

The Verdict: Long-term acquisition?

Sesko looks like a hugely exciting prospect, scoring the only goal against United’s rivals Liverpool in a pre-season win for Salzburg, along with registering 20 goal contributions (12 goals, eight assists) in 39 competitive appearances for the Austrian champions overall.

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At just 19, the Slovenian would represent a long-term signing by United if they get him, someone who can come in and be an important figure straight away while growing into an even more formidable player as the years advance.

Ten Hag needs to bring in youth rather than depending on someone like 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, with past managers in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era buying ageing or expensive quick fixes too often who haven’t worked out.

It has already proven a busy summer for Scottish champions Celtic with seven major deals having been wrapped up thus far, although the indication is that more incomings could be on their way, with manager Ange Postecoglou having even hinted as much at the weekend.

One name that has emerged as a surprise target of late is Marseille starlet Bamba Dieng, with the Parkhead outfit believed to be one of a number of clubs who are keen on signing the 22-year-old in the coming weeks.

The Senegal international is courting a great deal of attention due to his uncertain future at the Stade Velodrome, having been given the cold shoulder by new boss Igor Tudor despite enjoying a breakthrough season last term.

The suggestion is that the 5 foot 10 menace could be available for a fee of around £15m with a departure seemingly inevitable, ensuring that the Hoops would have to potentially pull off a club record deal to secure his signature.

That sizeable asking price may appear hefty for a player who has made just 42 senior appearances for his current side thus far, although on the basis of his recent form it would surely prove a worthwhile investment.

Last season saw the “serious talent” – as described by journalist Graeme Bailey – score eight goals and provide three assists in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit, proving himself a real livewire under former boss Jorge Sampaoli.

Capable of featuring anywhere across the front line, the youngster’s versatility would no doubt suit the often fluid attacking approach that Postecoglou favours, with the 56-year-old also likely to be demanding even further attacking depth with the start of their Champions League voyage to come in the near future.

The hope will be that the “explosive” asset – as dubbed by Sampaoli – can replicate the success of another striker who arrived in Glasgow from France in Odsonne Edouard, with the current Crystal Palace marksman having thrived in Scottish football.

After joining the Hoops – initially on loan – in 2017 from Paris Saint-Germain, the 24-year-old went on to score a remarkable haul of 86 goals and provide a further 39 assists in 179 games in all competitions, winning a plethora of major honours in that time.

Much like Dieng, the Frenchman had limited senior experience prior to his move to Scotland, having scored just once in 17 games while on loan at Toulouse, after failing to ever make a first-team outing at the Parc des Princes.

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That lack of experience mattered little, however, as he became a key figure for the club over the next four years, before joining the Eagles on a £14m deal last summer – with Celtic making a profit on their £9m investment.

Although Postecoglou won’t be thinking about losing Dieng before he’s even signed, there will be a consideration as to how they could potentially recoup a greater fee later down the line, while hoping to reap the benefits of his impressive displays in the short-term.

As the club saw with the case of Edouard, the French market can be particularly fruitful.

Tottenham Hotspur star Ivan Perisic has been the subject of praise by members of the media after a brilliant individual display against Wolves this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites seal win…

The Lilywhites sealed a 1-0 victory against Bruno Lage’s side in north London but were made to work for the opening after a tricky first half.

Tottenham struggled to take control over the first 45 minutes with Wolves even threatening to take a shock lead through a deft header from their new signing Matheus Nunes.

However, after digging deep, Antonio Conte’s side managed to take the encounter by the scruff of its neck and started to dictate play in the second half – eventually making more chances than the Premier League visitors and dominating play.

They were rewarded for their efforts when Harry Kane buried the game’s opening and only goal mid-way through the second period, thanks to an assist from Perisic.

The Latest: Journalists blown away by Perisic display…

The Croatia international, after his influential showing at wing-back, has been praised by various members of the media.

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They stated:

“This game by Perisic is the best performance by a wingback under Conte at #Spurs. Game changer.” – John Hayes, The Athletic.

“Ivan Perišić with the assist for Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon, two assists in two games for him,just holding his position just in line with the front three. He’s a beautiful footballer, really intelligent and precise in everything that he does. Won everything that he’s faced.” – Josh Bunting, Islington Gazette.

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“What a footballer Ivan Perisič is” – Jamie Weir, Sky Sports.

The Verdict: Great outing…

Having supplied Kane for the winner, Perisic also finished the match as Tottenham’s joint-best performer on the day with a 7.5/10.

The 33-year-old also created three chances, won the most duels and challenged most successfully over the 90 minutes (via Squawka), and if he continues performing like this, there is no doubt Perisic will endear himself to the Spurs faithful permanently.

Manchester United are edging closer to the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, and his arrival at Old Trafford could allow Erik ten Hag to finally get rid of Scott McTominay.

What’s the word?

After links emerged earlier in the week, talks between United and Real Madrid have accelerated, and it now seems likely that the 30-year-old will join Ten Hag’s side this summer in a deal potentially rising to €70m (£59.4m).

Fabrizio Romano tweeted on Friday morning: “Manchester United are working to get Casemiro deal approved in the next hours – medical expected within 48 hours, once Real Madrid will approve the proposal. Four-year deal for Casemiro, option for further season also confirmed. €60m & €10m add-ons bid on the table.”

Will Casemiro be a good signing?

Casemiro has been a mainstay in Real Madrid’s side since signing for Los Blancos from Sao Paulo in 2013. He has gone on to make more than 330 appearances for the club and has won an impressive five Champions League titles, so it is clear that he is a serial winner.

The “world class” midfielder – as described by journalist Josh Bunting – was in excellent form for Carlo Ancelotti’s side last season as they won La Liga, making 32 appearances as he averaged a superb 7.26 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

That was the third-highest rating of anyone to feature more than three times in that triumphant league campaign.

The Brazil international vastly outperformed McTominay, who averaged a 6.89 rating in the Premier League. The Scotland international also averaged fewer tackles (2.5 vs 0.8), shots (1.3 vs 0.9) and clearances (1.8 vs 0.8) per game than Casemiro last season, which suggests that the Real Madrid man is a much better defensive midfielder than the 26-year-old.

McTominay’s shocking performances in the opening two fixtures of the current campaign – which have seen him average a paltry 6.44 WhoScored rating – emphasise that he is not good enough to be a regular in Ten Hag’s midfield.

Paul Scholes was highly critical of the midfielder’s performance in the 2-1 defeat against Brighton, saying: “McTominay was always trying to run with the ball, ridiculous. The quality in the middle of the pitch was really poor.

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‘I was happy he didn’t get sent off [for a high challenge] but I think he was slightly lucky. Again he’s running with the ball, absolutely ridiculous.”

The 25-year-old, who reportedly earns £60k per week at Old Trafford, could well find his game-time limited by the impending arrival of Casemiro; and if the Brazilian’s deal goes through in time for him to feature against Liverpool on Monday, the shambolic performance at Brentford – which included one particularly woeful pass – could be the last we see of McTominay in a United shirt.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United gem Miguel Almiron and his future beyond the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that the Paraguay international may be on his way out of Tyneside before the deadline.

When asked about Everton potentially swooping for the winger, he told GIVEMESPORT: “There is some interest here and Almiron looks certain to be leaving Newcastle.

“Everton need options and he’s one that they’ve got on their radar just in case it can happen.”

A big mistake?

Letting the diminutive playmaker depart this summer could be a mistake by the Toon hierarchy as Almiron has enjoyed an impressive start to the 2022/23 campaign.

He has started all four of the club’s Premier League matches and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.97 – scoring one goal and creating three chances in that time. The Paraguayan ranks ninth in the squad in terms of average ratings, sitting above the likes of Sven Botman, Calum Wilson, and Joe Willock.

This shows that he is currently an important member of the team as the manager is selecting him week-in-week-out so far this term.

Whilst the attacker still has a long way to go before he can say that he is proven in the final third, with two goals and zero assists since the start of 2021/22, Almiron offers a lot of value to the team in his work off the ball.

Howe wants his team to press high and aggressively and this is where the former MLS man earns his corn. He ranks in the 87th percentile among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days for pressures per 90 with 20.92.

The £74k-per-week gem also ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles per 90 with 2.73 and the 83rd percentile for interceptions with 1.36. This shows that his pressing leads to him making defensive actions, which can then either break up opposition attacks or create counter-attacking chances for his own team.

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These statistics illustrate how important he is to the way that Howe wants his Newcastle side to play out of possession, especially when you factor in the current back-up to his position.

Ryan Fraser is the second choice on the right and ranks in the 7th, 12th, and 52nd percentiles for pressures, tackles, and interceptions respectively. The Scotland international has not been able to put in the work that Almiron has off the ball and, therefore, would be a downgrade on the 28-year-old.

Howe should now be frustrated by the prospect of the former Atlanta man moving on in the coming days and will be hoping that he remains on Tyneside. It could well be a late blunder this summer to let him depart.

Newcastle United have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria…

What’s the word?

According to Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope, the Magpies had made an enquiry regarding a late move for the Swiss international, although it would appear that the 25-year-old won’t be arriving at St James’ Park on deadline day.

Writing on Twitter regarding that interest, the transfer insider stated: “Newcastle still exploring potentially one loan deal. Calls made this week re Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles & Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria, although told that isn’t happening. West Ham defender Harrison Ashby also still on radar.”

The former Borussia Monchengladbach man is facing an uncertain future in Turin, amid reports linking him with an exit, despite having only arrived at the Allianz Stadium in January.

Howe should be gutted

Missing out on the 40-cap Switzerland gem will no doubt be a real source of frustration for Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, with the 44-year-old seemingly in need of a new midfield addition to help bolster his current squad.

The Magpies have been left somewhat bare in the centre of the park following the recent injury absence of Bruno Guimaraes, with former Liverpool playmaker Jonjo Shelvey currently facing a lengthy stint on the sidelines after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Having also allowed Isaac Hayden to join Norwich City on loan earlier this summer, the Tynesiders are currently lacking a real defensive-minded asset in midfield, with Zakaria seemingly a quality figure who could have filled that void.

An imposing presence at 6 foot 3, the £24.3m-rated ace compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, notably ranking in the top 8% for blocks made and the top 18% for clearances made.

By contrast, current Magpies man Sean Longstaff – who lined up at the base of the midfield in the narrow defeat at Anfield last night – notably ranks in just the bottom 43% for blocks and the bottom 9% for interceptions, while even the aforementioned Guimaraes only ranks in the top 26% for blocks and the top 48% for interceptions.

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That would indicate that Howe’s squad is sorely lacking a true ball-winning powerhouse such as Zakaria, who can provide protection for the back four, with their inability to get a deal over the line potentially set to come back to bite them.

Unless there is to be a surprise late twist, it looks as if this pursuit is well and truly over for PIF.

Wolverhampton Wanders look like they are about to complete a surprise move for a former Premier League striker due to their current injury crisis.

What’s the news?

The Athletic reported on Sunday night that Wolves were considering a deal to sign former Chelsea striker Diego Costa and he was arriving at Molineux on Tuesday for a trial.

This morning however, the same outlet stated that Costa will now be having a medical at the club on Tuesday ahead of a proposed move to England.

This comes after Bruno Lage lost new signing Sasa Kalajdzic to an ACL injury on his debut while Raul Jimenez is still struggling to come back to full fitness.

Costa could be a surprise fix for Lage

With the transfer window only ending last Thursday, it looked as though the Old Gold would be done with any further new arrivals in 2022. However, they have taken the rather surprising and unexpected decision to head back into the market with their hand being forced following events at the weekend.

Wolves got their first Premier League win of the campaign at home to Southampton on Saturday as they won 1-0, but it came at a cost with injuries to Kalajdzic and Jimenez overshadowing the victory.

The club’s goalscoring woes were clearly evident recently, netting only twice in the league before Saturday and with their two main goal threats ruled out going forward, it has led to desperate measures for Lage.

Jimenez was the club’s top scorer last term with six goals, while their recent arrival has bagged 24 league goals in the last two seasons.

Costa has been without a club since January 2022, with his contract at Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro terminated and this means Lage can sign him outside of the summer transfer window.

Despite his proven experience in the English top flight, the fact he hasn’t played since January could be a massive cause for concern, but Lage obviously sees the talent the player possesses.

The 33-year-old has scored 52 Premier League goals and registered a further 18 assists in the competition as he helped Chelsea to win titles in 2015 and 2017, while he also won a host of honours at Atletico Madrid, including the Copa Del Rey and La Liga.

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With ten goals in 24 appearances for Spain and having played at two World Cups, the bullish forward will certainly bring big game experience to a Wolves side badly needing rejuvenation in the form of goals and points.

It’s highly unlikely the club will get the attacker who was at his peak between 2013-2017, but it could well be a surprising Lage masterstroke, as his season could well be saved by the addition of another goalscorer.

Jose Mourinho described Costa as an “animal” during his prime and the Old Gold certainly need some predatory instincts in the box to turn around their campaign.

West Ham United have had a solid summer transfer window under David Moyes, with talents such as Gianluca Scamacca, Nayef Aguerd and Flynn Downes all arriving at the club, and they should make the squad stronger.

They aim to build upon a successful 2021/22 season, and although David Moyes has endured a poor start, the Hammers could click into gear once the new signings begin to gel.

The 59-year-old has stabilised the club and his record in the transfer market is no fluke, although it wasn’t always like this for West Ham, with the east London side having to suffer some marketplace howlers through the years.

One of the biggest blunders came under Manuel Pellegrini when the Irons signed Felipe Anderson for a then club-record fee of £36m from Serie A side Lazio in 2018. The Brazilian was described as a “real coup” by Ryan Baldi upon his arrival in London, but things just didn’t work out for the player.

The right winger scored just 12 goals in 73 appearances for the Hammers during his two-and-a-half-year spell at the club, and what once looked like a promising talent ready to take on the Premier League left with his tail between his legs.

Nine league goals and four assists in his first full season wasn’t a bad return, but Anderson couldn’t maintain the consistency which would have surely endeared him to the West Ham faithful had he improved.

He only scored three more times in a Hammers shirt, meaning that each of his goals cost the club £3m in what was a colossal waste of money. Ben Foster claimed that Anderson could “not cut it” in the Premier League, and judging by the stats and the record fee paid for him, the ex-Watford goalkeeper’s point is justified.

The Brazilian had a loan spell at Porto in the second half of the 2020/21 season before rejoining Lazio for a fee of £4m. This meant that the Irons had lost a staggering £32m on the player, who looked like he could thrive in England following his move from Italy.

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Pellegrini was sacked by West Ham in December 2019 with the club one place above the relegation zone, 18 months after signing Anderson.

Poor results obviously didn’t help the Chilean’s cause, but splashing out large fees on players such as the Brazilian without receiving much in return was also a big contributing factor in the ex-Man City manager’s demise at the London Stadium.

Steven Gerrard bolstered his Aston Villa squad with some much-needed quality during the summer transfer window, with the likes of Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos and Leander Dendoncker arriving in the Midlands.

However, with just Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins remaining as Gerrard’s two senior centre-forward options, it looked like the manager made a blunder by not bringing someone else in for some competition. Nonetheless, he could well have a secret weapon in youngster Cameron Archer, who can be the perfect heir to Watkins.

The 20-year-old has already scored four goals for the Villa first team, all coming in the Carabao Cup last season, but he still boast a mere nine senior appearances for the club and has featured for only 17 minutes so far this term.

Archer joined Championship side Preston North End for the second half of the campaign and enjoyed a solid spell in the second tier, scoring seven goals in 20 appearances to hint that he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

Preston manager Ryan Lowe wanted the youngster to remain at the club for another season in order to give him more game-time and develop the player to become a leading Premier League star.

He even compares him to a modern legend of the top flight, saying: “I think he is a Premier League player because he’s a goal scorer – a Jermain Defoe type.”

With Defoe scoring 321 goals for club and country during his wonderful career, he’s certainly not a bad player for a striker to have as a reference point. Also, Archer will be able to continue his development under Gerrard, who played with Defoe for England.

Journalist Ashley Preece described the Villa hitman as a “goal machine” following another strike for Preston last season, and if he continues like this, there is no doubt that the 20-year-old can succeed in the Premier League.

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With Villa only scoring five goals in six league matches so far this season and the clubs only strikers Watkins and Ings netting three goals combined, could it be time for Gerrard to introduce Archer in a more prominent first-team role soon?

Only time will tell, but if their struggles continue in front of goal, the 42-year-old might have no choice but to throw the youngster into action, and it could be the making of the player.