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Former Glasgow Rangers defender Alan Hutton has delivered his verdict on the interest from Giovani van Bronckhorst and Ibrox in signing Israel youth international Oscar Gloukh. 

The lowdown: Gers interested

Following a report from the Daily Record claiming that the Glasgow giants were keen on signing the 18-year-old, Maccabi Tel-Aviv have placed an £8million price tag on the midfielder.

Already capped on three occasions by Israel at the Under 21 level, Gloukh has also made 10 senior domestic outings despite his fledgeling years.

Upon hearing about the interest from the Europa League runners-up and Espanyol, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund, one invested onlooker has reacted to the possibility of the teenager becoming a Ger next season.

The latest: ‘Huge risk’

Speaking to Football Insider, regular Rangers TV pundit Hutton – who made 111 appearances for the club – claimed that this is a transfer thwart with danger, despite hearing of his glowing displays for Israel.

He said:

“It’s a difficult decision for him. Any player wants to play at the highest level. Obviously he’s only 18, I heard that he’d lit it up for Israel in the European Championships.

“I don’t know an awful lot about him but I think when you’re talking that amount of money from Rangers, it’s going to be difficult. It’s a huge risk, it’s a huge gamble. Some of the elite teams within European football, they can maybe afford to take a bigger gamble than Rangers can.

“It has to be a sure thing if you’re that size of transfer fee so I do think it would be a risk for Rangers to go ahead and pay that sort of money, even though all indications point to him being a real talented football player.”

The verdict: Steer clear

Albeit clearly a player of immense talent given the levels of interest at such a tender age, delving into the coffers and spending anything close to the mooted asking price for a teenager who holds a market value of £450,000 (Transfermarkt), would most certainly be a concerning move from the Rangers hierarchy even with the imminent windfall from the sale of Joe Aribo.

Still unproven over a prolonged period at any level, the Israeli attacking midfielder remains a prospect at present and far from a player Van Bronckorst could put any level of faith in when it comes to performing in the Scottish Premiership and in Europe.

Ultimately, the club would be best served to heed the advice of Hutton and take a watching brief of Gloukh, for now, to allow the pursuit of ready-made first-team operators to take priority given the financial constraints.

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for Neco Williams, and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s progress in their pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

Sports journalist for The Daily Express, Ryan Taylor, has revealed that Nottingham Forest have had a bid turned down by Liverpool for defender Neco Williams.

Taylor tweeted on Wednesday lunchtime: “Liverpool have rejected an opening offer from Nottingham Forest for Wales international right-back Neco Williams.”

Cooper will be gutted

The right-back role is something that needs to be addressed at Nottingham Forest with the departure of Djed Spence who took on the role during his season-long loan at The City Ground, so Steve Cooper will surely be gutted to see a bid turned down to source a replacement.

Forest have been linked with a move for Spence, however, Tottenham Hotspur have shown a strong interest in the player, clearly prompting the club to look elsewhere hence their bid for Williams.

The Liverpool player struggled for game-time at Anfield with Trent Alexander-Arnold comfortably covering the right back role in the team but was given the opportunity to show off his talents and ability during a six-month loan in the Championship with Fulham.

Williams scored two goals, delivered two assists and created two big chances, making one key pass, 2.6 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 1.6 interceptions, whilst completing the majority of his duels (53%) and being successful in the majority of his dribble attempts (51%) over 14 league appearances.

The 21-year-old’s performances have proven he has the potential to be a great asset in any team when given the opportunity to play consistently, something Nottingham Forest will be able to provide if they manage to get a deal done with the Champions League finalists this summer.

If not, Cooper will need to identify another player to come in and strengthen his defensive line ahead of their long-awaited return to Premier League next season, as losing Spence will leave a big hole in the team.

With that being said, the powers at The City Ground must not give up on Williams and come to an agreement that will suit Liverpool’s demands, otherwise they could be weakened in their first season back in the top flight.

AND in other news: NFFC expected to “entice” £9m-rated “spectacular” star, Cooper can “turn his head”

Sunderland journalist and podcaster Philip West has been left thrilled by some news on Anthony Patterson.

The Lowdown: New deal

As per the official website of the Stadium of Light outfit, Patterson has now signed a new long-term deal that will keep him at the Wearside club until 2026.

The 22-year-old has been rewarded after a breakthrough season that saw him make a total of 25 appearances in all competitions, keeping 10 clean sheets (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: West thrilled

Taking to Twitter, Roker Report’s West was left thrilled by the update, labelling it as ‘brilliant, brilliant news’:

“Brilliant, brilliant news. His form and composure towards the end of the season was remarkable, & the way he handled the playoff final was superb. He’s not the finished article yet, but his potential is enormous. Should start the new season as #1, for me.”

The Verdict: Deserved

Patterson’s contract is certainly deserved given his form last season.

He was often praised by the media for some of his match-winning performances, which ultimately helped Alex Neil’s side gain promotion from League One up to the Championship.

The Englishman conceded less than a goal a game in the division, and averaged two saves per match, making no errors that led to goals (SofaScore).

Nonetheless, with Lee Burge joining Northampton Town and Ron-Thorben Hoffman only on loan from Bayern Munich (Transfermarkt), there is no reason why Patterson cannot establish himself as the number one again at the Black Cats for next term, and even though the Championship is a step up from League One, his new contract should give him the confidence to rise up to the challenge.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring David Raum to the Premier League this summer.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Jonathan Shrager, with the journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that Fabio Paratici has now made contact with the Bundesliga side to express his interest in a move for the 24-year-old in the coming weeks.

The journalist went on to reveal that the likes of Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United have also been in contact with Hoffenheim concerning a €35m (£30m) deal for the Germany international, with the latter of the trio said to have already held initial discussions regarding the defender’s transfer.

In his tweet, Shrager said: “Spurs, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United are among the numerous clubs to express an interest in David Raum at various points. MUFC recently made an enquiry, but my impression is that it was only an initial conversation and certainly no offer has been made.”

The new David Alaba

Considering just how impressive Raum was for Hoffenheim last season, it is not difficult to understand why Paratici would be interested in a move to bring the left-back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

Indeed, over his 32 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22, the £26m-rated full-back was in imperious form, scoring three goals, registering 13 assists and creating 19 big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 2.7 key passes, taking 0.8 shots and completing 1.0 dribble per game.

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The £6.4k-per-week defender also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, helping his side keep four clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.6 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 clearances and winning 4.5 duels – at a success rate of 51% – per fixture.

These returns saw the 24-year-old average a rather breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.29, not only ranking him as Andre Breitenreiter’s best performer in the league but also as the 12th-best player in the division as a whole.

Furthermore, according to FBref data, Raum also ranks in the top 1% of full-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for assists per 90, in addition to the top 1% for xA, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for non-penalty goals, the top 14% for progressive passes and the top 16% for touches in the opposition penalty area over the last 365 days.

As such, it is easy to see why the left-footer – who can also play at centre-back, central midfield and on the left-wing – has been compared to the former Bayern Munich and current Real Madrid defender David Alaba, nor it is hard to understand why Hoffenheim sporting director, Alexander Rosen, took the time to praise the full-back’s remarkable rise earlier this season.

Speaking about Raum’s sensational campaign last time out, Rosen said: “David is a highly talented and extremely fast player with a strong left foot who has developed into one of the most sought-after full-backs in Germany thanks to his outstanding performance this season.”

As such, while competition for his signature will undoubtedly be extremely high, it would appear highly advisable for Paratici to do everything he can to get a deal over the line for the Hoffenheim star this summer, as Raum could very well go on to become Antonio Conte’s very own Alaba at Tottenham.

AND in other news: “Understand…”: Gold now reveals big Spurs transfer twist, supporters will be gutted

Leeds United are reportedly closing in on the signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca, with the Spaniard set to be the club’s third summer addition.

What’s the word?

As per The Athletic’s Phil Hay, a deal to bring to the 25-year-old to Elland Road is now imminent, with the transfer insider revealing that the move “should get done this week.”

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This corroborates an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano who revealed that it is now a “done deal”, with the former Espanyol man set to sign for a fee of around €12m (£10.4m) plus add ons having committed to a contract until 2026.

The Yorkshire side have already acted swiftly to land Red Bull Salzburg duo Rasmus Kristensen and Brenden Aaronson, with the Jesse Marsch revolution currently in full swing.

Supporters will be buzzing

Despite no confirmation from the club as yet, the indication is that Roca is firmly on his way to becoming a Premier League player, bringing to an end what has proven a brief and frustrating stint in Germany.

The £6.3m-rated gem had been plucked from La Liga two years ago for a fee of around €15m (£13m), although has since gone on to make just 24 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga champions, failing to score or register an assist.

That may be a point of concern for some sections of the Leeds support, although the £31k-per-week gem is undoubtedly a hugely talented individual, having even been compared to former Liverpool and Real Madrid maestro Xabi Alonso following his move to the Allianz Arena.

In his final campaign for the Catalan side, during the 2019/20 season, the 6 foot playmaker showed just what an impressive impact he can make when handed the chance, having averaged 2.3 tackes, 0.9 interceptions and 1.4 clearances per game in his 35 league outings, while also averaging a solid 2.3 dribbles per game.

Clearly a player capable of doing a bit of everything, he will add quality to a midfield that has been devoid of depth in recent seasons and ultimately been stretched to breaking point, while his arrival will also help to soften the blow should prize asset Kalvin Phillips depart, with the local lad reportedly a top target for Manchester City.

Roca will seemingly be able to take on the Englishman’s role at the base of the midfield if required, with his qualities in and out of possession making him an ideal fit for the role, having been lavished with praise by former Bayern technical director Michael Reschke: “Roca plays like a quarter-back. He has good passing, short and long range, his technique is good and he has a good mentality.

“Defensively, he is very aggressive in one on one situations and brings a lot of emotion to the team. He was certainly well respected by his teammates. The one downside perhaps is that he could be a little stronger.”

That glowing assessment will be music to the ears of the Elland Road faithful, with supporters no doubt buzzing that the club are on their way to securing even more early transfer business, as they look to improve upon last season’s nail-biting, relegation scrap.

IN other news: Leeds now plotting swoop for “reliable” £22k-p/w starlet, he’s the new Dani Alves

Sheffield Wednesday are closing in on the signing of AFC Wimbledon centre-back Ben Heneghen, reliable journalist Dom Howson has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Owls in need of reinforcements

After the disappointment of failing to get out of League One last season, it is now time for Darren Moore to focus on strengthening his squad once more.

Some individuals have moved on after their contracts expired, including Sam Hutchinson, and it could be that a new centre-back is one of the Owls’ priorities.

Wimbledon captain Heneghen is an option, in that respect, and it looks as though a move is close.

The Latest: Heneghen move close

Taking to Twitter on Monday, The Yorkshire Examiner‘s Howson claimed that Heneghen looks set to move to Wednesday imminently:

“I understand SWFC are close to finalising a deal for defender Ben Heneghan. Barring any late hitches, the deal should go through this week. Wednesday want Heneghan in in time for pre-season training, which starts next week.”

The 28 year-old has over 300 games of experience across various levels of senior football, scoring 18 goals during that time.

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The Verdict: Strong defensive addition

Heneghen could be exactly what Wednesday are after at the heart of their defence, especially after the departure of the experienced and influential Hutchinson.

At 28, the Wimbledon defender has been around for years at a good level, making 132 appearances in League One to date, but he is also at a good age in terms of being at but not past his peak.

The fact that Heneghen would come in on a free transfer is an added bonus, following the expiry of his current deal, so even if it doesn’t work out, it won’t feel like money wasted.

In other news, one player is ‘open’ to a move to Sheffield Wednesday. Find out who it is here.

Wolves have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from CM Jornal, the Old Gold have reached an agreement with the Portuguese club to sign their midfield star. Wolves will reportedly pay €20m (£17m) up front and a potential €5m (£4.2m) in add-ons for the 26-year-old.

Across a combined 170 senior appearances for Sporting Lisbon and Braga, the midfielder has scored 13 goals and delivered three assists in the process. He also has experience of playing in the Europa League and the Champions League, which could be useful for Wolves as they aim to break into Europe under Bruno Lage.

In fact, he got a good taste of what it’s like to come up against the Premier League’s top brass as he played the full 90 minutes against Manchester City in the Champions League in February.

Great news for Wolves

His latest season with Sporting saw him score three goals in 27 league appearances and earn himself an overall performance rating of 7.03/10 from WhoScored.

However, it was his defensive talent which stood out throughout the campaign, as the midfielder won more tackles (47) than any other player at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Taking into account how Wolves only won two of their final 12 Premier League games of the season and conceded 23 goals in those matches, it’s easy to see why they have sought to secure a deal for Palhinha so early in the summer transfer window.

Also, with current Old Gold midfielder Joao Moutinho’s contract at Molineux set to expire at the end of the month, this reported deal could see the £22.5m-rated figure come in and be a potential long-term replacement for his veteran compatriot.

Bearing in mind how the Midlands club already have a significant number of Portuguese players in their ranks, and coaching staff as well, this could make it easier for Palhinha to settle into life at Molineux.

Even though the summer transfer window has only just opened for business, it would undoubtedly be great news for the club and their fans if they’re able to get the midfielder through the door and announced as soon as possible, so that they can then move onto other potential targets who may be on their radar.

In other news: Wolves eyeing swoop for “terrific” 20 y/o “hotshot”, he can be their next Moutinho

Liverpool are reportedly preparing to step up their pursuit of Leeds United winger Raphinha this summer, according to a report from The Mirror. 

The lowdown: Anfield admiration

Directly contributing to 31 goals in 65 Premier League appearances since arriving from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes in October 2020, Raphinha has made a spectacular impact for the Whites and was integral to the Yorkshire club’s survival last term.

That form has led to strong links with a move away from Elland Road for the Brazilian winger, with Barcelona long touted as the main suitors.

However, having initially been linked with Raphinha last year, it appears as though the Reds could be about to reignite their admiration for the 25-year-old…

The latest: Klopp’s a ‘fan’ of Raphinha

As per The Mirror, Liverpool are said to be ‘ramping up’ their interest in Raphinha ahead of the summer transfer window.

It’s claimed that Jurgen Klopp is a ‘big fan’ of the 25-year-old and could be willing to ‘sacrifice’ Takumi Minamino as part of a deal, as the Japanese forward has previously worked with Leeds manager Jesse Marsch at Red Bull Salzburg.

The report added that the man lauded as a ‘magician’ by team-mate Dan James is valued at £60m and ‘fits the bill perfectly’ for the Reds, as Klopp and Julian Ward seek a potential replacement for the seemingly wantaway Sadio Mane.

The verdict: Better options…

Although signing Raphinha would appear to be a sensational piece of business from Liverpool, the skilful Brazil international predominantly operates as a right winger and cuts in from that side on his left foot, a position occupied on a near-permanent basis by Mohamed Salah at Anfield.

After ending the campaign operating as a centre-forward following the success of Luis Diaz’s capture, Klopp and co would be best served to replace Mane with a natural central option, a role that the eight-cap Brazil ace has carried out on just one occasion in his career.

Despite another stellar campaign in 2021/22, during which Raphinha scored 11 times and provided three assists in 35 league outings, at the mooted lofty asking price Liverpool should be looking elsewhere for their Mane successor. They have already been credited with an interest in the likes of Darwin Nunez, who may be a better fit for the number nine role, having racked up 34 goals in the most recent campaign.

In other news: Another Liverpool rumour has emerged regarding this winger

Former Premier League manager now Sky Sports pundit Alex McLeish has been reacting to Manchester City’s interest in Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips.

The Lowdown: City make Phillips priority

Phillips helped the Whites secure their Premier League status on what was a dramatic final day at the top and bottom.

The 26-year-old played the entirety of the 2-1 win at Brentford, while Pep Guardiola’s side staged an incredible comeback against Aston Villa to lift a fourth title in five years.

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City have now turned their attention to summer signings, and in a big update from The Times, apparently have Phillips at the top of their list to replace Fernandinho.

The Latest: McLeish reacts

McLeish, 63, was talking to Football Insider regarding Phillips and the update on a possible move to the Etihad.

He believes the Premier League champions would need to pay a ‘hefty’ fee to have any chance of a move materialising.

“Wow, there will have to be a hell of a fee for him. I don’t see him leaving quite at this moment.

“I don’t know Kalvin, I don’t know his team. The one thing you can’t stop is a juggernaut coming for you. I mean one of the giant teams coming for you and paying the money that you just can’t refuse.

“That is possible. It would need to be hefty, he’s kind of at that status now.”

The Verdict: £50m?

Reports last month suggested that Phillips was ready to sign a new deal at Elland Road. Journalist David Anderson recently backed up that claim, however, City’s interest may well scupper those positive plans.

The Premier League champions would be able to offer Champions League football, something other interested sides Aston Villa, Newcastle or West Ham can’t at this moment in time, as well as inevitably huge wages.

Leeds now have a decision to make but should be able to bring in a ‘hefty’ fee, should they decide to cash in over the coming months. Phillips is entering the final two years of his current contract, so a £50m fee could be enough, as reports have claimed.

In other news: Leeds and Orta ask about signing ‘extraordinary’ talent for Marsch. 

Celtic wrapped up the SPFL title at the end of Ange Postecoglou’s debut season in charge of the Parkhead club after his appointment back in June.

Despite this impressive feat, the Hoops did, however, fail to secure any of the other domestic trophies and also failed to make their mark in Europe.

This shows that the Bhoys certainly have some progress to make before they can be dominant in all competitions.

Luckily for them, the upcoming summer transfer window can give the Parkhead club the chance to make some improvements to their squad before their next campaign kicks off.

With that in mind, it seems as though an exciting Lennoxtown claim has emerged regarding what this window could look like for Postecoglou’s side.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist and transfer insider Pete O’Rourke had this to say about Celtic’s potential transfer plans for the summer window.

“I think if they could get those two in [Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers] it would be good business and they’ll probably be looking at, at least another four, maybe five signings for Celtic.

“I think there are positions in the team that they’ll need to strengthen, especially in midfield with Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic both leaving the club on free transfers, making a couple of midfield spots up for grabs.”

Great news for Celtic

Looking back to the significant overhaul that took place at Celtic during the previous summer transfer window when it came to moving players in and out of the club, this news will certainly reassure Hoops fans that the club’s hierarchy are capable of doing it again this time around.

It’ll also be great for the club to see many new players come in this summer to go on and not only potentially regain the league title but also win more silverware. An important area will also be going further in Europe with their previous Champions League campaigns ending before they’ve barely even got underway.

In addition to the areas of their squad that O’Rourke mentioned for Celtic to focus on in terms of recruitment, it’ll be interesting to see where else the 56-year-old would want to strengthen his side.

This could rely on which current players end up potentially making moves away from the club in the coming weeks and months.

With a recent report from The Athletic claiming that players such as Ismaila Soro, Boli Bolingoli, Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas and possibly Christopher Jullien could be getting their bags packed this summer, it would be safe to assume that the club would immediately look to find suitable replacements for them.

Considering they rarely played, finding more high-quality replacements is an eventuality that will delight plenty at Parkhead.

In other news: Postecoglou can finally axe “selfish” flop as Celtic plot bid for £3.78m-rated machine