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An update has emerged on Nottingham Forest’s pursuit of Djibril Sow in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Sport1 reporter Christopher Michel has confirmed that the player has opted against a £22m (€26m) move to The City Ground.

He Tweeted: “Decision made: Djibril Sow negotiated intensively with @NFFC for days. The salary would have more than doubled, the transfer fee would have been 20 million € + 5-6 million € bonuses. But Sow called it off! He will not join #Nottingham.”

This came after he initially Tweeted: “Exclusively @SPORT1: Nottingham Forest is vying for Djibril Sow! The Premier League newcomer offers around 19 to 20 million euros, bonuses could make the package even more expensive. Sow could also earn significantly more. The future of Sow suddenly open again. #SGE #Eintracht”

Big blow for Steve Cooper

The news that Sow has turned down the Tricky Trees may leave the head coach frustrated because the reported fee and the claim that he would have his wages doubled suggests that he was a key target for the club.

A fee of £22m would be a club-record for Forest after the £17.5m deal to bring Taiwo Awoniyi in from Union Berlin smashed their previous record.

Cooper being willing to sanction such a move for Sow, therefore, suggests that he was eager to sign him as it seems unlikely that a club-record fee would be splashed out for a back-up target or a player to come in as a squad option.

This means that Forest will now have to look elsewhere in the market to improve their options in the middle of the park, with this failed move showing that the manager wants to strengthen in that position.

Another reason why missing out on him is a blow is because of the quality he had the potential to provide the team in midfield.

In the Bundesliga last season, Sow made 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game across 31 appearances. Orel Mangala, playing in the same division, meanwhile, managed just 1.0 per match in 28 outings.

The Belgian scored one goal and set up three, whilst completing 84% of his passes, while the Frankfurt man completed 83% of his passes whilst chipping in with two goals and three assists.

These statistics suggest that the Switzerland international, who is only one year older than Mangala, performed to a higher level in the same competition as the current Forest player last term. They had a similar impact in possession but offered more quality on the defensive side of the game, which may be why Cooper wanted to bring him in.

Therefore, being rejected by Sow will come as a frustrating blow to the manager and the club will now need to source an alternative in the market in the coming weeks.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Moise Kean in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to Jeunes Footeux, the Magpies are eyeing up the young centre-forward alongside Premier League side Leeds United.

Juventus have an obligation to sign him from Everton for €28m (£24m) and the Magpies are willing to pay €20m (£17m) to sign him.

It’s thought the Old Lady could be willing to part ways with him before the conclusion of the transfer window.

Better than Hugo Ekitike

The Magpies are clearly in the market for a number nine after missing out on a deal to sign Hugo Ekitike from Stade Reims, as PSG snapped him up earlier this summer.

Eddie Howe could now bring in a better player than Ekitike in the immediate future by securing a swoop for the Italian marksman.

He could suit the way the former Bournemouth manager wants his team to press as a unit as Get French Football News once stated that he is “willing to do the defensive work, counter-pressing & tracking back in equal measure”, whilst the interest in him suggests that they believe he will fit into what they want to do on the ball.

Journalist Mina Rzouki once dubbed him “electric” and previously said that he is “lovingly clinical”, which highlights the kind of energy he can provide at the top end of the pitch.

He could get fans off their seats with his quick running and ability to find the back of the net, having scored 82 goals in 224 games in his club career to date. The 22-year-old has also scored four goals in 12 caps for Italy, which shows that he can perform at international level too.

Kean could offer more of a goal threat than Ekitike at this point in his career. The current Juventus loanee scored 13 goals in 26 Ligue 1 matches whilst on loan at PSG from Everton in the past, whilst Ekitike has found the back of the net ten times in 28 French top-flight matches to date.

The Italian could also find the transition to playing for Newcastle easier than the Frenchman would have done as he has already played 39 times for the Toffees in England, which means that he will not need a period of time to adapt to English football.

Therefore, Kean could be better than Ekitike for the Magpies this season not only due to his goal record, but because of his suitability to the team, and his familiarity with English football.

Arsenal are plotting a second bid for Youri Tielemans, according to verified journalist Sacha Tavolieri…

What’s the word?

“Youri #Tielemans stay in #Arsenal’s target lists, ready to make a second bid next week for #LCFC midfielder,” the Belgian reporter revealed on Twitter.

“As announced yesterday, #Arteta valid the profile & next week will be decisive. More options for #AFC board: Sandro #Tonali, Moises #Caicedo.”

The Gunners have been heavily linked with the Leicester City midfielder, who is thought to be available for around £25m. Fabrizio Romano believes that he remains “top of the list” heading into the final week of the summer transfer window.

The next Aaron Ramsey

Back in July, it was believed that the Belgium international had already agreed on personal terms with technical director Edu Gaspar but were yet to submit an offer to the Foxes.

That could now change.

The north London giants are now running out of time to complete this deal and it is one that could benefit manager Mikel Arteta hugely as Tielemans is capable of providing goals and assists from midfield.

Just like the Spaniard’s former teammate Aaron Ramsey, who delivered 64 goals and 65 assists across 371 appearances. That’s a rate of one direct contribution every 185 minutes, a more than respectable return from someone deployed as a no.8 in the engine room.

In many ways, Tielemans is a similar sort of player, having scored or assisted 48 goals since his arrival in England back in July 2019.

The 25-year-old dynamo is also capable on set-pieces and can do his defensive duties adequately too – for example, he averaged 2.3 tackles per game in the Premier League last term, yet still scored six goals and laid on four assists, via WhoScored.

As per FBref, who liken Tielemans to other goalscoring box-to-box maestros such as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Leon Goretzka, the Foxes star was within the top 10% of other central midfielders for goal-creating actions (0.41 per 90) and ranked inside the top 13% for total shots (1.95 per 90).

That sort of threat, arriving late from deep, could certainly provide Arteta with his own Ramsey-like beast in the engine room.

Tielemans has been described as a “phenomenon” and an “outrageous talent” in the past, so undeniably, the Gunners would be getting an elite player capable of adding something important to the squad.

Edu must look to get a deal for the £33k-per-week maestro over the line before the 11pm deadline on September 1st.

AND in other news, David Ornstein drops Nicolas Pepe transfer update…

Aston Villa are amongst a host of clubs looking to sign Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton-Diaz before the transfer window shuts on the 1st of September.

What’s the news?

That’s according to journalist Alan Nixon, who claimed that Villa are in a “queue” with a host of other clubs via his Patreon.

Fellow Premier League sides Everton, West Ham United, Southampton, and Brighton and Hove Albion have all shown interest in the striker as they aim to bolster their squads.

Blackburn are believed to want £20m for their main goal scorer and this is a fee that Steven Gerrard could afford to improve his attacking options.

Gerrard needs him

Villa have started off their season in poor fashion, losing three of their four league matches as they currently sit 15th in the Premier League table.

The pressure is mounting on Gerrard and the last few days of the transfer window will be absolutely key if he hopes to revive the club’s season.

With Diego Carlos missing the majority of the campaign with an injury sustained against Everton, a defender remains an important addition.

However, with the side only scoring three goals in four league matches so far, Gerrard really needs to add another attacking option to his squad, and Brereton-Diaz could be a great addition.

The 23-year-old scored 22 goals in the Championship last season, adding in a further three assists and he really burst into life.

This equalled a goal every 139 minutes and he displayed his intent to score as often as possible by having 2.8 shots per match while also missing a staggering 17 big chances during the campaign.

He completed just under half of his dribble attempts (47%) while showing an intent to push into the danger zones regularly, he was fouled 1.3 times per match.

Brereton-Diaz has also proven he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level, scoring for Chile at the 2021 Copa America tournament and Gerrard could do no worse than bring him to Villa Park.

Having been described as a “superstar” in some circles, his rise to the top of the game doesn’t seem to be slowing down and hopefully, he can be performing in the top flight before long.

With Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins scoring just once each so far this term, the addition of a ruthless forward in the shape of the Blackburn man is most definitely required. It’s time to go and sign him, Johan Lange.

Newcastle United have reportedly made an ambitious move to sign Tottenham Hotspur winger Lucas Moura, with the Brazilian having slipped down the pecking order in north London.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Magpies have ‘enquired’ regarding a possible loan deal for the 30-year-old as they look to make him their fifth major signing of the transfer window so far.

The report suggests that Spurs’ potential interest in Leeds United winger Daniel James could well pave the way for the 35-cap gem’s arrival, with Moura having made just two late substitute appearances for Antonio Conte’s side so far this season.

Excellent signing

That limited involvement – totalling a measly 12 minutes – is a reflection of the former Paris Saint-Germain forward’s standing at his current side at present, with the Brazilian no doubt deserving better having so often delivered for the Lilywhites.

Despite never truly managing to nail down a regular starting berth for the club for one reason or another, the 5 foot 8 “genius” – as described by one source – still boasts an impressive record at Tottenham to date, having scored 38 goals and provided 27 assists in 204 games in all competitions.

The £18m-rated speedster – who arrived in England on a £23m deal back in January 2018 – notably etched his name into Spurs folklore after netting a stunning second-half hat-trick against Ajax in the Champions League three years ago, firing Mauricio Pochettino’s team into the final as a result.

It is hard to shake off the feeling that the £80k-per-week menace has been harshly treated by his current club, having subsequently been dropped for the final defeat to Liverpool following Harry Kane’s return from injury.

In need of a new home and a fresh start, the explosive talent – who is also attracting interest from Aston Villa – could well be a player to light up St James’ Park, with manager Eddie Howe no doubt in need of further attacking additions.

While the arrival of Alexander Isak has no doubt significantly bolstered the Magpies’ attacking ranks, the recent injury absence of Allan Saint-Maximin in the defeat to Liverpool showcased just how light the Tynesiders are on the flanks – hence the need for Moura to arrive.

Tipped to be an “excellent signing” after originally arriving in the Premier League four years ago – as per journalist James Olley – the feeling is that it could well be a real marquee capture if Newcastle were able to get a deal over the line before tonight’s deadline.

CBS Sports Golazo journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Newcastle United are ‘tracking’ winger Mykhaylo Mudryk ahead of a potential move in January.

The Lowdown: High praise

Mudryk has recently earned high praise from Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Darijo Srna, who called him a ‘serious talent’ and claimed that he is third best player in his position in Europe behind only Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior:

“Mudryk is a serious talent. After Mbappe & Vini Jr, he’s the best player in Europe in his position. If someone wants to buy Mudryk they must spend a lot, a lot, a lot of money & respect our club.”

The attacker currently boasts two goals and three assists in five games in total over all competitions so far this season, including four goal contributions already in the UEFA Champions League (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Newcastle ‘tracking’ Mudryk

Taking to Twitter, Jacobs has revealed that the St. James’ Park outfit are one of a number of clubs currently ‘tracking’ Mudryk ahead of a potential January deal, although he has told the journalist that he ‘couldn’t say no’ to Premier League rivals Arsenal:

“Bit more on Shakhtar winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who has two #UCL goals in two games. Mudryk is hoping for a January move and told me he “couldn’t say no” to #AFC. Several European clubs now tracking him, including Newcastle, Sevilla, Leverkusen and Ajax.”

The Verdict: Unlikely

Given the calibre of clubs in for Mudryk, and the fact that he would be open to joining Arsenal, who can offer him European football, it seems highly unlikely that the Magpies would be able to sign Mudryk in January.

Shining in the Champions League already, the 21-year-old will no doubt have lofty ambitions, and it does not seem that Eddie Howe’s team are at the right time of the project to fulfil them.

Nonetheless, they may have a chance of signing him in the future, but for now a deal seems highly unlikely.

Mikel Arteta really improved the Arsenal squad during the summer transfer window, giving it a proper overhaul in order to push for a top-four spot this season.

Quality arrivals such as Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko certainly improved their starting XI, while the Spaniard managed to get rid of some deadwood such as Bernd Leno and Konstantinos Mavropanos.

These decisions seem to have worked wonders, with Arsenal currently sitting top of the Premier League table.

It might have been even better, with Edu missing out on bringing a talented young La Liga star to England.

Edu must be red-faced

Arsenal were linked with a move for Yeremy Pino during the latter stages of the summer, with a fee of around £42.2m looking like it might be enough to convince Villarreal to sell, especially due to their current financial situation.

The 19-year-old has already made 85 appearances for the La Liga side, scoring 15 goals in the process and his form has attracted the likes of Arsenal.

The club were linked with a few right-wingers during the transfer window, with Pedro Neto from Wolves being a key target, however, Edu must be regretting not stumping up the cash for Pino when he had the chance.

This season, Pino is second in the Villarreal squad with big chances created (three), second for successful dribbles per match (1.7), and sixth for goal contributions (one).

With Presenter and pundit Jack Collins describing Pino as the “real deal” back in August, Arteta and co may have just missed their best opportunity to bring the player to London for a bargain price.

The Spaniard would slot into the Arsenal frontline with ease, with his versatility adding some real depth to the Arsenal attack and he might have taken them to the next level.

Pino has international experience with Spain, winning four caps and even scoring against Iceland in March, as well as having Champions League experience with his club, reaching the semi-finals last season.

At such a young age, his growing maturity is something that Arteta would have loved at Arsenal and it could have been a match made in heaven. With January fast approaching, could the 40-year-old launch a surprise bid? Only time will tell.

Newcastle United are still paying two-thirds of Dwight Gayle’s salary, despite his move to Stoke City this summer.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a recent report by The Telegraph, who revealed that, although the 32-year-old sealed a free transfer to the Potters in July – despite having two years remaining on his contract at St. James’ Park – Newcastle’s owners are still paying a whopping £40k of the centre-forward’s £60k-per-week wage.

The report goes on to state that this is because the Championship side were struggling to meet FFP regulations and could not afford a move for the striker unless the Magpies were willing to offer a cut-price deal – something that it is now evident PIF decided was the best option for Eddie Howe’s side.

Ashley’s biggest shocker

While it is true that, following his £10m signing in the summer of 2016, Gayle played a starring role in the club’s promotion back to the top flight – scoring 23 goals over 32 Championship appearances in 2016/17 – considering just how little the 32-year-old offered the Magpies in the time since, his signing must be considered as one of Mike Ashley’s worst pieces of transfer business.

Indeed, following their promotion-winning campaign, the £1.35m-rated centre-forward found the back of the net just 303 minutes of top-flight football played for the Magpies – something that clearly demonstrates the striker was not up to the standards required for England’s top tier.

However, despite his dwindling returns of both goals and appearances year-on-year at Newcastle, Ashley baffled the club’s fanbase when he handed the £60k-per-week forward a new three-year deal in the summer of 2021 – something that was, rather understandably, met with widespread disdain from the St. James’ Park faithful.

Indeed, in the season following Gayle’s contract extension, the 32-year-old would play a grand total of 30 minutes of Premier League football, over which he scored no goals, before the club’s new owners finally cut ties with the striker this summer – albeit while still paying him a princely £40k a week.

As such, when considering that the player who Matt Murphy dubbed “shocking” cost Newcastle £29m in wages and fees during his 316-week spell in the North East, in addition to a further £4m over the 101 weeks remaining on his Newcastle contract while playing for Stoke, it is clear to see that the £33m invested in Gayle was well and truly money wasted by Ashley.

Glasgow Rangers have had their fair share of gaffes and successes in the transfer market over the years as they have failed to get the best out of players and unearthed gems in recent transfer windows.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has only had two windows in charge at Ibrox but may already feel like he has brought in a star or two in Antonio Colak and Rabbi Matondo, whilst the likes of Ben Davies, Malik Tillman, and Ridvan Yilmaz, among others, still have more to offer.

His predecessor, Steven Gerrard, enjoyed a host of successful windows during his time at Rangers as he snapped up the likes of Ryan Kent, Calvin Bassey, and Ianis Hagi.

Another diamond the current Aston Villa boss unearthed was central midfielder Joe Aribo, who he signed from Charlton in the summer of 2019. He was out of contract with the League One outfit but Rangers had to pay a compensation fee of £300k due to his age.

At the time of the move, Gerrard claimed that the dynamo had interest from Premier League and Championship clubs in England, which means that the Gers fought hard to win the race for his signature.

The midfielder did not take long to settle into life at Ibrox as he made 49 appearances in all competitions during his first year at the club, including 27 in the Premiership.

He then played 42 matches, with 30 coming in the Scottish top-flight, in the 2020/21 campaign as Rangers won the title under Gerrard.

Ezri Konsa previously claimed that the ex-Liverpool midfielder played a huge role in Aribo’s development, saying: “Having Gerrard as his manager at Rangers, that has made him go up another level.

“Joe’s style is unique. When I was with him at Charlton he did remind me for a while of a left-footed Yaya Toure. But you don’t get a lot of midfielders like Joe, there aren’t many around.

“Like Toure, for a tall guy he’s got such great feet. But that languid style he’s got is actually fairly unique in the game.”

The English manager left Glasgow in November of the 2021/22 season but Aribo’s form did not falter as he adapted to van Bronckhorst’s style of play and remained a key member of the squad.

He ended the campaign with a whopping 148 matches in total.

The Nigerian phenomenon was rarely injured and was a consistent performer for Gerrard and van Bronckhorst over those three years, which earned him a move to Southampton in the summer just gone for a fee rising to £10m.

Rangers got three years of excellent service from Aribo on the pitch and then raked in a whopping £9.7m profit on the initial £300k they paid for him, which means that it was a masterclass of a deal from a footballing and financial perspective.

Sheffield Wednesday reporter Joe Crann has been reacting to the news of young goalkeeper Pierce Charles signing a first professional contract with the Owls.

The Lowdown: Long time coming

Hillsborough officials have been in talks for weeks to get a deal for Charles over the line, with the 17-year-old training with both the Owls’ first-team squad this season and the Northern Ireland senior squad last month.

A maiden professional contract is now officially completed, with Wednesday confirming the news on Friday. Darren Moore hailed the teenager, saying that he hasn’t looked out of place training with the first team, and Crann has had his say on the in-house deal.

The Latest: Crann reacts

Crann took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to react to the update involving Charles.

He was ‘delighted’ at the news and said it was ‘great work by the club’, labelling the ‘keeper as ‘a big talent’ who is ‘very much in-demand’.

The Verdict: Good news

We echo Crann’s thoughts towards the news regarding Charles, who could well become Wednesday’s first-choice ‘keeper in years to come.

He is already in and around the senior side at the tender age of 17, so if he continues his upward trajectory, a first-team appearance – possibly in the EFL Trophy – could be just around the corner.

Charles will need to continue the hard work following his contract, but it looks as if the Owls may have a future star on their hands, judging by his involvement with senior setups and the testimonies of Moore and Crann.