The fresh feeling around Burnley, generated by Vincent Kompany’s attacking, free-flowing football and a glorious promotion back to the top flight, has opened a realm of new transfer opportunities.
The club are heading in the right direction and Turf Moor has become a realistic home for young prospects.
Another played tipped to join the Clarets’ revolution is Johan Bakayoko.
Burnley transfer news – what's the latest?
On 11 August, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Burnley had asked for the conditions on a Bakayoko deal and Kompany was driving the interest.
However, the Italian journalist reaffirmed that it isn't an easy deal as many clubs are chasing the PSV winger, with the Dutch outfit set to command a ‘big fee’ to sanction his departure.
But, according to Sacha Tavolieri, a recent development has emerged which has seen Everton open talks for Bakayoko, and they are set to make an ‘official approach.’
This is likely to prompt a domino effect, encouraging Burnley to accelerate their interest in the deliciously talented youngster.
Who is Johan Bakayoko?
Featuring predominantly as a right-winger for various PSV youth sides and the senior team, Bakayoko has registered 62 goal contributions in 105 appearances from this position and formed a formidable reputation for his skilful dribbling, hypnotic technique, and blistering directness.
Last season, the Belgian bagged nine goals and crafted six assists in 30 starts across all competitions, with ten of those coming in the Eredivisie.
Although is still in the infancy of his career, the £12k-per-week sensation has resoundingly demonstrated that he is untouchable in the Dutch top flight. Over the past 365 days, in comparison to his positional peers outside of Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks within the top 10% for assists per 90, shot-creating actions per 90, progressive carries per 90, and successful take-ons per 90.
His form has generated huge acclaim from former PSV manager and Manchester United Ruud van Nistelrooy, who said: “He is so dominant. He’s a boy who, if he continues to invest in what he’s doing now, hopefully at the end of the season can make a nice step towards first. He’s worked hard on multiple facets of his game, and that’s showing through now. Maintaining this level in the longer term is his goal.”
Bakayoko has seemingly fulfilled his target and looks set to embark on a new challenge.
The right-wing spot at Burnley is there for the taking too.
In the club’s season opener against Manchester City, Luca Koleosho began in that position but failed to make any meaningful impact. In 61 minutes, the attacker failed to record any accurate long balls and crosses or forge any successful dribbles, as Burnley were defeated 3-0 by the reigning European champions.
Of course, it is hard to judge a player in these circumstances on his Premier League debut against the most elite opposition. However, to place a large portion of trust with less than ten senior appearances to his name is extremely risky, and the club could clearly benefit from the arrival of an exciting prospect such as Bakayoko. Indeed, he would surely represent a big upgrade.
Tottenham Hotspur are "informed on the conditions" required to land an exciting forward described as being "born to score", per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.
Tottenham Hotspur news – what is the latest?
It has been a real summer of ups and downs for the Spurs faithful this year, with brilliant signings and painful departures.
On the positive side of things, the club have been able to genuinely improve elements of the first team with the signing of the ever-exciting James Maddison and the Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
The arrival of Manor Solomon, whilst not necessarily improving the first eleven, is clearly still a positive addition and should help to strengthen the squad as a whole.
Read the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news HERE…
However, for as good as those three are and as convincing as Ange Postecoglou has been, the exit of club talisman Harry Kane is an enormous blow to the side's attacking output, an output that the current crop of forwards do not seem equipped to replace.
With that in mind, it appears that Spurs have identified one of Europe's most exciting and prolific goalscorers as the man who could potentially come in and help the team find those 20-plus goals a season they are bound to lose in the absence of Kane, Gift Orban.
According to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, the north Londoners have "appreciated" the youngster for some time now and are well aware of what is required to bring him to N17 this summer.
He explained the situation on his Here We Go podcast, saying:
"Orban is appreciated, Tottenham are informed on the conditions of the deal so let's see if they decide to bid. At the moment, they have not sent any bid. I saw some rumours saying it's close or something like that; no, there is no bid yet. It can't be close without a bid.
"Tottenham know the conditions of the deal, [they have] been following the player for a long time. I told you this two weeks ago on here that they like Gift Orban, but at the moment nothing else evolved yet."
How many goals has Gift Orban scored?
It has been a rapid rise to fame for the 21-year-old former Stabæk striker, with prolific form propelling him to the forefront of transfer lists across the continent.
So far, the Nigeria under-23 star has scored 44 senior club goals and provided nine assists in just 50 appearances in Belgium and Norway, which is only 37 fewer than Richarlison's 81 career goals at club level.
In his 16 league appearances for Gent last year, the "superb finisher" scored 15 goals, provided two assists, won four Man-of-the-Match awards and averaged a genuinely impressive match rating of 7.40, per WhoScored.
gift-orban-tottenham-transfer-news-premier-league
With a goal involvement on average every 85 minutes in senior football, it isn't hard to see why Spurs are interested in the player that football talent scout Jacek Kulig described as "born to score."
With Kane out the door and their current crop of forwards struggling in front of goal, the Lilywhites need to do what they can to secure Orban's services before he inevitably joins one of Europe's super clubs and continues to score for fun on the biggest stage.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly still in the race for Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott, as Julen Lopetegui looks to rebuild his side this summer.
The Spaniard has begun the task of a well-needed clear out, in which the Old Gold have made almost £80m in sales so far.
Next, the former Real Madrid boss is expected to focus on introducing players that could become part of a new era at Molineux, with youngster Alex Scott still named as a talent that is wanted in the Midlands.
Links between the teenager and Wolves span back to March, where Dean Jones, via GIVEMESPORT, predicted a ‘summer bidding war’ for the thriving English midfielder.
Amidst Wolves’ Financial Fair Play (FFP) battles, suspicion regarding the club’s interest in the £25m-rated starlet disappeared, however news this week reinstated the belief that the Englishman could arrive at Molineux.
According to The Athletic, the 19-year-old is still ‘very much on Wolves’ radar’, and now that sales, there is hope that the Midlands side ‘could bend the rules’ in the bid to secure the talent.
How good is Alex Scott?
Lauded as “terrific” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Bristol City gem was named the Championship’s Young Player of the Year for the 2022/23 campaign.
The teenager burst onto the scene the season prior, securing himself as a firm starter for the Robins, making 38 appearances and contributing to six goals and assists in his first senior term, via Transfermarkt.
Scott’s battery is yet to run out, as he carried the form of his debut campaign to last season, in which he made 42 Championship appearances as the club’s star man.
The central midfielder hit a high in the FA Cup, where he shone against treble winners Manchester City during his side’s 3-0 defeat to the European champions.
Following the game, the teen was praised as being “unbelievable” by Pep Guardiola, in a game that earned him a 7.0 match rating for a blistering 90-minute display against the best of the best, via Sofascore.
His performance on that day suggested that the teenager is ready for the jump to the top tier.
Against City, the Guernsey-born starlet won nine ground duels and two aerial duels up against a midfield including Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.
The youngster could be a revelation in Lopetegui’s new-look side and an asset in midfield alongside other talents in the ranks at Molineux.
Joao Gomes arrived at the club in January from Flamengo and has impressed so far, giving Wolves fans a glimpse of what he could offer in his first full season.
Should Lopetegui secure the signing of Scott, the Old Gold could have a midfield partnership that many would envy, in two young talents capable of dictating play in the engine room.
Both players are innate tacklers, as highlighted by their averages across their respective seasons based on their minutes played.
Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes.
As per FBref, Gomes averaged a monstrous four tackles per 90 in his half-season at Molineux, as well as averaging 2.62 progressive passes per 90 to show his ability in dispatching the ball to advanced areas.
Similar numbers were hit by Scott, who over 3381 minutes in the Championship averaged 2.05 tackles per game, as well as 1.41 blocks showing the tenacious nature of the Englishman’s playing style.
Like Gomes, the 19-year-old exercised his abilities in advanced areas, averaging 2.34 progressive carries per 90 to show how rounded his talents in the middle of the park are.
Lopetegui could unearth a powerful duo by signing Scott, however, the club must act fast in their pursuit of the in-demand starlet.
Leeds United are in desperate need of some reinforcements to their squad following their relegation from the Premier League last season and now a fresh update has emerged on a potential transfer target.
What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Ryan Fraser?
According to the Sunday Mirror, Leeds are interested in signing out of favour Newcastle winger Ryan Fraser this summer.
As per the report, it is claimed that Fraser is expected to leave St James' Park this summer and Leeds are joined in their interest of forward by fellow relegated club Southampton.
How good is Ryan Fraser?
Leeds are set for a hugely transformative summer with a full takeover confirmed and Daniel Farke appointed as the new head coach at Elland Road in recent weeks.
Now the behind-the-scenes issues have been resolved it is time to start focusing on recruitment plans and identifying players who can help the club bounce back from the devastating relegation and achieve instant automatic promotion by dominating the second tier next season.
As a result, the signing of Fraser – once hailed a "dream" by his former Bournemouth teammate Eunan O'Kane- could be a great piece of business for Farke this summer as the Newcastle outcast has a lot to offer in the attacking third and could ultimately form a formidable partnership with Patrick Bamford to get the striker scoring consistently again.
The Scotland international reportedly had a disagreement with manager Eddie Howe and has since been banished to the youth set-up, so it is difficult to measure his output when his game-time has been limited for the majority of the campaign.
However, the 29-year-old has proved on many occasions over his career that he can be a real asset in the wide positions of the forward line, tallying up 34 goals and 52 assists over 312 club appearances, but it's not just his goal contributions that would make him a valuable asset to Farke.
Before falling out of favour, Fraser displayed many of his qualities over eight league appearances for Newcastle last season by successfully completing 100% of his dribbles and winning the majority of his duels combined (59%).
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Only in 2018/19, did he create a whopping 14 assists in one Premier League season, demonstrating strong attributes in his ability to play the final pass into the box and deliver goal-scoring opportunities.
The Scot can replicate that at Elland Road he could be extremely valuable to Bamford next season and with more chances played into the box, it would surely boost his goal tally in the Championship.
Despite his recent troubles in the North East, Fraser has earned high praise during his career, especially for his influence on the Scotland national team, with his compatriot and former Aberdeen player Charlie Nicholas telling Sky Sports Soccer Saturday:
"What I like is that he is a little pocket dynamo. He is quite an old-fashioned type of player – what we used to call a tanner ba' – from the days when Scottish players were very popular. He has a little bit of that. He has obviously put a lot of muscle on and built himself up to be able to take the knocks and kicks that come his way."
With that being said, it is reported that Newcastle will command a fee of around €8m (£7m) this summer which would be a steal for a Premier League proven player who could work alongside Bamford to ensure Leeds can comfortably compete in the Championship next season.
Manchester United's ongoing crisis encapsulates the demise that has occurred at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
During his glittering and long-serving tenure, the Scot brought unparalleled success to the club and spearheaded their dominance, scooping 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues in his 27-year spell.
Since his departure, United haven't come close to reaching the heights that were achieved under Ferguson, as mismanagement at the top and consistently poor recruitment in the transfer window has led them on a downward spiral in the decade that followed.
In his near three-year spell at the club between December 2018 and November 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became the longest-serving manager in the post-Ferguson era, demonstrating that the managerial position at Man United really has transformed into a poisoned chalice.
Although he didn't manage to win a trophy as manager, the Norwegian did enjoy a certain degree of success in the transfer window, bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo for his second spell, Edinson Cavani, Raphael Varane and perhaps their most successful signing of the past decade, Bruno Fernandes.
While those additions achieved success in their own right, the 50-year-old also brought in his fair share of players who have gone on to endure an underwhelming time at the club, including Daniel James, Odion Ighalo, Alex Telles while Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek were the highest profile of his failed transfers.
Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho.
Van de Beek arrived in the summer of 2020 from Ajax, joining the club on a five-year deal and was a player they trusted to become a fulcrum in their midfield for several years to come.
How much did Man United sign Donny van de Beek for?
In a season that saw Amad Diallo, Facundo Pellistri and Telles join the club for a combined total of £37m, Van de Beek became their marquee signing at a cost of £35m after chalking up eight goals and six assists in the Eredivisie.
The Netherlands international, who was 23-years-old at the time, was chased by several clubs following his impressive displays in the Champions League in 2018/19, helping Ajax reach the semi-finals against Tottenham.
Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek.
Real Madrid were said to be battling it out for his signature, but a deal broke down, leaving van de Beek feeling "angry" as United swooped in to land the highly-rated Dutchman.
What was the reaction when Van de Beek signed?
Lauded as the "next Paul Scholes" by United legend Edwin Van der Sar, the hype surrounding the signing of Van de Beek was unprecedented as the Dutchman was met with waves of expectation upon arrival with many believing he had the ability and football brain to thrive in the Premier League.
In full, the ex-United stopper said: "He can play in different positions in midfield – he can be a six or an eight or a 10, he has a great eye for a goal. His technique is brilliant, he can go box to box.
"I’d compare him a little bit to Scholesy, although Scholesy had a cracker of a shot from 30,40 yards out and that’s not Donny’s strength, but he likes to come into the box and chip in with goals."
Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek.
Rio Ferdinand was another who enjoyed what he saw, as the former Manchester United defender waxed lyrical about the player.
Speaking in 2020, shortly after the signing was announced, he said: “He brings goals, he brings assists, he runs into the box, [he has] a good work ethic and an unbelievable brain. [As an] Ajax guy, he knows how to play good football.
“Imagine van de Beek alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes, being fed.
"In the last three seasons, if you put him up against any of the midfielders in the Premier League, in terms of goal involvements, he's second, only to Kevin de Bruyne."
With 40 goals and 29 assists in his last three seasons at Ajax, it's clear to see why rivalling De Bruyne for goal contributions would have people salivating over the prospect of seeing him play at United, and Solskjaer echoed that sentiment, saying:
"Donny has all of the technical attributes needed to perform in this team and has the personality required to succeed at Manchester United.
“His ability to see space, time his movements and read the game will really complement the qualities that we have in midfield and his arrival really strengthens the depth of talent we have in that position."
Ultimately, having promised so much hype upon arrival, the Dutchman's career has gone on a downward spiral since joining the club and the 2019 Ballon d'Or nominee is desperate to leave after a rotten three years in Manchester.
What has gone wrong for Van de Beek at Man United?
In three years, the midfielder has only managed six Premier League starts and two goals, one on his debut and one in Solskjaer's last game in charge with a further 30 games coming from the bench.
During his time at the club, the 26-year-old has failed to impress any of his United managers which led to a loan move to Everton in January 2022, although he hoped this would be the catalyst to resurrect his career, the confidence shot midfielder failed at the Toffees too, managing just seven appearances in the league.
Manchester United'sDonnyvandeBeekapplauds fans after the match
With his confidence on the ground, Van de Beek's last hope of rekindling his Man United career was the arrival of his former manager, Erik ten Hag, in the summer of 2022.
The Dutchman would get a few chances last season but struggled to impress, failing to score in ten outings, before suffering a knee injury in January that ended his campaign.
Any hopes of him featuring this season were quickly halted by his exclusion from their 25-man squad for the Champions League group stages while in their opening five Premier League fixtures, van de Beek hasn't even made the bench.
From becoming one of the most productive midfielders on the planet, it's a shame how the talented midfielder's career has unravelled at United but at 26-years-old, there is still time for him to resurrect his footballing powers elsewhere and showcase why he was initially branded the "next Scholes".
Aston Villa moving for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso this summer under Unai Emery would not be a 'complete surprise', according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
Is Giovani Lo Celso moving to Aston Villa?
According to Birmingham Live, Lo Celso is on a list of targets at Villa Park this summer; nevertheless, Tottenham are likely to ask for an obligation to buy to be included in any prospective loan deal for the £70k-a-week ace.
Napoli have also been in the mix to sign the Argentina international in this off-season, though they could pull the plug on their interest due to the contract renewal of Piotr Zielinski.
Spanish journalist Javi Miguel claimed earlier in the window that Barcelona manager Xavi requested to his employers' hierarchy that La Blaugrana target Lo Celso alongside Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo and now-signed midfielder Oriol Romeu.
Nevertheless, Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor indicated that Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou would be keen to keep Lo Celso around this term alongside teammate Tanguy Ndombele, stating to GIVEMESPORT: "I would keep both players, and it looks like Postecoglou will do that despite interest from elsewhere."
Last term, Lo Celso, who has been hailed as "technically gifted", featured 29 times in all competitions on loan at Villarreal, registering two goals and three assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.
His future at Tottenham remains up in the air and transfer insider Jones wouldn't be shocked to see him link up with Aston Villa boss Emery in the West Midlands.
Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones stated: "He’s had a good pre-season yet still serious doubts remain over whether he has a future at Spurs and if that drags on it would not be a complete surprise to see Emery look into whether an agreement can be found. To be fair, Lo Celso probably has more chance of succeeding under Ange than anyone else in the recent past but if even now he can’t find a role in the set-up then he really does have to get out of there."
What next for Aston Villa?
Aston Villa are shaping up well ahead of the new campaign and have been savvy in the transfer market, recruiting three additions in the form of Youri Tielemans, Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres, as per Transfermarkt.
Reports from Spain transcribed via Sport Witness claim that Barcelona forward Ferran Torres is another potential arrival at Villa Park and they are still pushing to land his signature.
Football Insider have revealed that former Wolves winger Adama Traore has emerged as a surprise target for Aston Villa this summer and is being pursued by Emery due to his 'pace and cutting edge' that could be put to use in the final third.
Czech outlet Idnez via METRO have signalled that Manchester United backup goalkeeper Matej Kovar is being courted by the Villans to provide competition for Emiliano Martinez and Robin Olsen between the sticks.
Sparta Prague and clubs in Germany are keen to snap up the 23-year-old stopper; nevertheless, they are put off by the £6 million price tag set by Manchester United.
Over the next few weeks, Aston Villa could be set to shake things up and bring in further squad depth as they get ready to juggle both domestic and European football in 2023/24.
Bournemouth verus Tottenham Hotspur is not a fixture which runs deep in the history books of the Premier League. However, Football FanCast has everything you need to know ahead of their meeting on the south coast this Saturday.
Although it is still early days in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, the Cherries already find themselves lingering around the wrong end of the table having only taken one point from their opening two games.
In contrast, the Lilywhites are flying high under their new boss, Ange Postecoglou, following their impressive victory on Saturday against Manchester Unite.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What's their head-to-head record?
Rodrigo Bentancur and Ben Davies celebrate a late winner for Tottenham Hotspur in their game against Bournemouth.
This fixture is one which has not provided a long history of meetings with just 13 clashes between these two sides across all competitions.
The majority of those meetings have come within the last eight years since the Cherries' initial promotion to the Premier League with 12 matches written in the history books since the 2015/16 campaign.
You have to go all the way back to the 1956/57 campaign to find the ver first meeting between the two sides which saw the Cherries run out 3-1 victors in the FA Cup.
Bournemouth wins: 3 Draws: 2 Tottenham wins: 8 Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What's their record at Bournemouth?
Rayo Vallecano coachAndoniIraola
Andoni Iraola's men were able to secure a point on their opening game of the campaign at the Vitality Stadium against West Ham United, however, their home record against Spurs is not one they can look back fondly on.
Out of the six meetings between these two sides on the south coast, the north Londoners have ran away with the points on three occasions, two draws have unfolded and only one win for the Cherries has been recorded.
This includes last season's stunning comeback from Spurs which saw Rodrigo Bentancur's last minute goal seal a dramatic 3-2 victory – rest assured Bournemouth fans, the Uruguayan remains unavailable for Saturday's meeting.
Bournemouth wins: 1 Draws: 2 Tottenham wins: 3 Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What's their Premier League record?
Dominic Solanke scores in Bournemouth's away victory against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
The Cherries endured late heartbreak on the south coast against the Lilywhites last season, however, they were able to inflict revenge on the Londoners later in the season in the reverse meeting.
In an almost carbon copy of the game on the south coast, Dango Outtara sealed all three points for the visitors in the capital with a goal in the fifth minute of added time.
Although Saturday's hosts had the last laugh when these two sides previously met, it is not a fixture which has reflected kindly on the south coast side.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: Which team has the most goals?
Despite their only being 12 Premier League meetings between these two sides, it is a fixture which has provided a significant return of goals.
Across their six meetings at the Vitality Stadium and in north London, 40 goals have been scored between the two sides with 17 of those goals coming on the south coast.
More goals have, therefore, been scored in north London (23) but this is a fixture which has seen three meetings where there have been five or more goals scored at the Vitality.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What happened in last season's fixtures?
Arnaut Danjuma scores a late equaliser in the game against Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Last season provided two stunning games between these two sides which significant similarities to how both of the meetings panned out.
Spurs were able to come back from what was a seriously underwhelming first half which saw them 2-0 down inside the opening 50 minutes of the game. Goals from unlikely sources in Ben Davies, Ryan Sessegnon and Bentancur proved enough to secure a stunning turnaround under Antonio Conte.
However, the Lilywhites were served their revenge when the two sides met in April after Arnaut Danjuma thought he had rescued the hosts a point with his 88th-minute goal. But it was Ouattara who was able to secure the points for the Cherries with a dramatic finish to the game in N17.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What is Dominic Solanke's record?
This is not typically a matchup which Solanke excels with the Englishman having only scored once against the north London outfit. However, that goal did come in their previous meeting when the Cherries sealed the points in dramatic fashion.
Although Solanke has not faired so well in his previous meetings against Spurs, the 25-year-old has made a bright start to the campaign having netted in their curtain raiser and provided an assist on the weekend against Liverpool.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What is Son Heung-min's record?
Son Heung-min celebrates his goal for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League against Bournemouth.
Unlike Solanke, Spurs' South Korean has seriously enjoyed this fixture with the 31-year-old having recorded six goals and two assists in his previous 10 outings against the Cherries.
Despite enduring a sub-par 2022/23 campaign – by his usual high standards – Son was still able to get his name on the score sheet in the defeat at home to Bournemouth in April.
Having been handed the captain's armband over the summer following Harry Kane's departure, the Korean forward is still in search of his first goal of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham:What is Bournemouth's biggest win?
Bournemouth celebrate their late winner against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Bournemouth have only tasted victory on two occasions when facing Tottenham in the Premier League and those two victories have both come through one-goal margins.
Back in the 2018/19 campaign, the Cherries secured a 1-0 victory over the north Londoners on the south coast, however, April's stunning victory at Tottenham will take the prize for one of the cub's most memorable wins in England's top flight.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham:What is Tottenham's biggest win?
Spurs, on the other hand, have enjoyed a number of high-scoring victories in this fixture with two four-goal margins wins coming against the Cherries in the Premier League era.
Their first meeting since the Cherries were promoted to England's top tier came in the 2015/16 campaign but was a game the hosts will not want to remember with Spurs coming out of the game as 5-1 victors.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: What are the recent results?
Bournemouth score late in their Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
In their last five meetings, there have been four victories which have been decided by just one-goal margins.
Over that run of games, the two sides have shared two wins each with victories coming for both sides on each other's home soil. Along with the dramatic 3-2 victory on the south coast last season, Spurs were able to beat the Cherries by the same score line in N17 back in 2019.
The only other meeting in that time frame ended as a 0-0 draw on the south coast in the 2019/20 campaign.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham: When is it?
Bournemouth welcome Tottenham to the south coast on Saturday 26 August for the Premier League's early kick-off (12:30 BST).
The Cherries go into the game with their campaign still really yet to take off following their opening two games against West Ham and Liverpool. Undoubtedly, Iraola's men have faced a difficult start to the campaign, but potentially coming out of their third game in the league with just one point to their name would be far from what their new manager would have had in mind.
As for the visitors, victory on the road would surely make for a real statement from Postecoglou's side. Having lost their all-time record goal scorer over the summer, big question marks were left hanging over the direction of the club, but coming out of their opening three games – potentially – with seven points would be a seriously impressive start to the season.
Both sides come into the campaign with new managers at the helm and the game on the weekend could certainly leave lasting impressions on the direction for their seasons.
Qatari investors looking to complete a takeover at Manchester United are growing in confidence over a deal, according to Football Insider.
The Lowdown: Takeover plans
Reports last month suggested that Qatari investors were planning a mega-money swoop at Old Trafford and had big plans.
The Qatari group wanted ‘things done quickly’ so they could help Erik ten Hag with transfer funds heading into the summer, with stadium redevelopment and fan engagement also at the heart of their bid.
The Latest: Positive update
Adam Williams, FI’s finance and governance correspondent, shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Qatari investors.
The title of the story claimed that the Qatari investors are in pole position to buy Manchester United, adding that they ‘are growing in confidence as fewer bidders than expected have met the Glazer family’s deadline for offers’.
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The Verdict: Record-breaking?
The Glazers value the club at around £6billion, which could see United become the most expensive sports team ever ahead of the Denver Broncos.
However, none of the bids received have matched their valuation yet, so a takeover could need some work despite this positive feeling involving Qatari investors.
Reports elsewhere suggest that a takeover is more likely to happen in May, so it looks as if speculation may continue over the coming months, but Ten Hag will have all of his focus on playing matters, with the Red Devils still in three more competitions after winning the Carabao Cup.
An update has emerged on Manchester United and their plans to bolster their options in the middle of the park during the summer transfer window…
What's the latest on Taylor Booth to Manchester United?
According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils are weighing up a bid to sign FC Utrecht central midfielder Taylor Booth ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The report claims that Erik ten Hag is a fan of the American international and has been impressed by his performances in the Netherlands.
An approach is now being considered as the Premier League giants eye up alternative targets to Mason Mount, with their pursuit of the Chelsea ace currently at a standstill after an offer of £55m was submitted.
It states that Celta Vigo, Stuttgart, and Lyon are also interested in snapping the 22-year-old talent, who has been valued at €12m (£10m) by the Dutch side.
What is Taylor Booth's style of play?
The Utrecht star is a creative midfield player who could help United to unlock opposition defences in the years to come, while being the dream long-term heir to Christian Eriksen's position.
A technically excellent number eight with the ability to make things happen in possession, the Denmark international enjoyed a strong debut campaign at Old Trafford.
Eriksen averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.95 across 28 Premier League appearances and conjured six 'big chances' for his teammates to go along with one goal. Only Jadon Sancho (1.7) and Bruno Fernandes (3.2) created more chances per game than the 31-year-old maestro (1.3) last term.
Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen.
Booth, who was hailed as "wonderfully direct" by The Athletic journalist Jeff Rueter, is a player with the quality to make an almost identical impact in the final third.
The USMNT dynamo delivered 1.3 key passes per match across 24 Eredivisie outings and produced six 'big chances' for his colleagues, alongside an average Sofascore rating of 6.85.
Both players have averaged between 0.19 and 0.20 xAG (Expected Assisted Goals) per 90 over the last 365 days, which indicates that they both create opportunities of similar quality from a midfield position.
Defensively, Eriksen did not rank in the top five United players for tackles or interceptions per match and Booth's 1.7 combined defensive interventions per clash for Utrecht does not crack that list either.
These statistics suggest that United would be bringing in a player with comparative qualities to the former Tottenham Hotspur magician as Booth is a number eight who has the potential to be one of the club's most creative outlets.
At the age of 22, he could be the long-term heir to Eriksen, 31, at Old Trafford and come in as a signing with the scope to improve over time, rather than one with the aim of him hitting the ground running with high expectations.
As part of Tottenham Hotspur's summer spending thus far, new boss Ange Postecoglou notably sanctioned the permanent capture of Sweden international, Dejan Kulusveski, with the 23-year-old signing on a £25m deal after spending the last 18 months in north London.
The wing wizard was originally snapped up by former boss Antonio Conte on loan from Juventus back in January 2022, with the Lilywhites having opted to bring the forward to England alongside teammate, Rodrigo Bentancur.
While Conte – and ex-sporting director Fabio Paratici – are no longer at the helm at N17, it looks as if the Premier League side are still scouring the Serie A market in order to find possible recruits, having already sealed a deal for Empoli goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario earlier in the window.
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Postecoglou and co could again look to Italy to try and secure a repeat of their Kulusevski masterclass, amid reports that the club are interested in Juve full-back, Andrea Cambiaso.
Who is Andrea Cambiaso?
According to a report from Italian outlet, Tuttosport last week, Tottenham have been named alongside Nottingham Forest as the clubs who are interested in signing the 23-year-old this summer, with the former Italy U21 international having spent last season on loan at Bologna.
As per the piece, the Old Lady are looking for a fee in the region of €20m (£17m) if they are to part ways with the former Genoa ace over the coming weeks, with the emerging talent having yet to make a first-team appearance for his parent club since making the move to Turin last year.
andrea cambiaso
While Cambiaso is yet to try his hand outside of Serie A – much like Kulusveski prior to joining Spurs – the promising defender could prove to be another wise investment as far as Daniel Levy is concerned.
How good is Andrea Cambiaso?
Having splashed the cash on Kulusevski of late, the Lilywhites seemingly liked what they saw from the wide man over the last year-and-a-half, with the one-time Parma ace having warranted that strong show of faith.
Despite enduring a difficult 2022/23 campaign, the 6 foot 1 dynamo was still able to contribute a respectable haul of two goals and seven assists in 30 Premier League games, having previously registered 13 goal involvements in just 18 appearances in the competition in the tail-end of the previous season.
Lauded as "a real player" by pundit Paul Robinson, the hope will be that Kulusevski can kick on again next term now that his future is secure, with the Stockholm native having clearly shown more than just glimpses of his quality in a Tottenham shirt to date.
Dejan Kulusevski
While making the transition to life in the Premier League from Serie A may not be easy, Kulusevski has shown the benefits of looking to the Italian market, hence why snapping up Cambiaso – who has been "on fire" of late according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – could prove a wise move.
The Juve ace notably registered three assists in the league last season during his spell at Bologna as a marker of his creative threat, having also chipped in defensively after averaging 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game – a greater record than Ben Davies achieved, for instance, for Spurs (1.5 tackles and interceptions per game).
A player who is comfortable on the ball and can easily beat a man down the flanks, the £31k-per-week machine notably ranks in the top 15% among his European peers for pass completion, as well as in the top 14% for successful take-ons.
Such traits could well help the Genoa native slot in nicely into Postecoglou's attack-minded, 4-3-3 formation, with the hope being that he can replicate Kulusevski's impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.