West Ham's transfer plans are heading into overdrive ahead of the upcoming Premier League season as they close in on another signing on a two-year deal, it has been revealed.

West Ham United sign Crysencio Summerville

Julen Lopetegui's side have already been busy this summer, with the arrival of Max Kilman from Wolves as their headline addition. And in an impressive move the London Stadium side have also flexed their muscles in the market on two occasions. First, they beat off competition to sign Luis Guilherme from Brazilian outfit Palmeiras, with the teenager arriving in a big-money move.

Now, they have won the race for Leeds United winger and Championship Player of the Year Crysencio Summerville, who arrived in east London in a deal worth in excess of £25m, with the Dutch U21 international penning a five-year deal with the option for a further year should both sides wish to exercise it.

“I’m very happy, and I can’t wait to get started,” Summerville told the West Ham media.

“I always try to follow my heart, and I had the feeling that this is the best place for me to continue developing as a player, and to push my potential as much as possible."

Despite the significant outlay so far this summer, the Hammers are showing no signs of slowing down, and already have another move lined up.

West Ham closing in on midfielder

That comes amid news that West Ham are closing in on Guido Rodriguez, who is currently a free agent, as they look to end their hunt for a new midfielder.

The former Real Betis midfielder saw his stint with the Spanish club come to an end this summer and had been linked with a move to Barcelona, but Xavi's departure changed that.

Now, he is bound for east London, with Sky Sports revealing that the Hammers 'have agreed a deal' for the Argentine midfielder, who was part of the squad that lifted the Copa America earlier in the summer.

Related Reporter has heard West Ham are eyeing move for £16m Liverpool midfielder

Could he be an ideal addition for Julen Lopetegui?

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Meanwhile, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has shed more light on the move, explaining that the 30-year-old will pen a two-year deal at the London Stadium, with Rodriguez now set for a medical with the Hammers.

Valued at €20m (£17m) by Transfermarkt, he will arrive on a free transfer following 139 La Liga appearances for Betis, in which time he scored six times and grabbed two assists. Statistically, he ranks similarly to Edson Alvarez, and it is likely that the pair will be fighting for the same spot in Lopetegui's XI, though Rodriguez's addition will take some of the importance away from the Mexican and allow him to be rested more often.

Guido Rodriguez vs Edson Alvarez 2023/24

Stats via Fbref

Edson Alvarez

Guido Rodriguez

Appearances

31

24

Tackles and interceptions per 90

4.62

4

Tackle % won

47%

61.8%

Pass accuracy

85.6%

85.2%

Shot creating actions per 90

1.21

1.17

Aerial duels won %

46.9%

58.8%

On a free transfer and with a deal just two years long, it feels like a very sensible addition for the Hammers.

Quinton de Kock remains central to South African cricket’s plans although there is no indication of when he will be ready to play again.De Kock is on a mental health break and did not take part in the recent CSA domestic T20 Challenge. He is unlikely to feature in the first-class competition this month, and has been relieved of the national captaincy in all formats.”It was felt that the burden of leadership was just too much for a person or a player like Quinton,” said Graeme Smith, Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket. “We wanted to free him up.”His commitment to South African cricket is there. We want to get the best out of him as a player and as a team man. He’ll certainly form part of our leadership group, but we felt this was the right way to move for South African cricket and back a consistent way forward.”Related

• Quinton de Kock to return to competitive cricket with Titans vs Lions game this week

• Revamped two-tier South African domestic structure ready to take off

• Dean Elgar braces for 'tough' South Africa captaincy tenure

• Quinton de Kock to take mental-health break during domestic T20 campaign

• South Africa name Dean Elgar Test captain and Temba Bavuma ODI and T20I captain

De Kock was appointed South Africa’s white-ball captain last February, when Faf du Plessis was removed from the role, and asked to stand-in as temporary Test captain for this summer. He took them to a home series win over Sri Lanka, though his own form suffered, and then defeat in Pakistan, where his unease with the struggles of living in a biosecure environment and leading the team became apparent.On the Pakistan tour, when it was announced that Australia had postponed their three-Test series in South Africa that was due to be played in March, national coach Mark Boucher said de Kock would be released from the burden of Test captaincy as soon as the international season ended. He did not discuss de Kock’s ODI or T20 leadership, but selection convener Victor Mpitsang and Smith have decided it is best for de Kock to also be freed from those roles.”He hasn’t been fired,” Mpitsang said. “The agreement with Quinton when I got into the job was that we needed a Test captain, and it was just an interim job until after the Australian series, which never happened. Quinton probably feels that he needs to focus on his game. I wouldn’t want to see that as a burden because, at the time we made that decision. We’ve come to an agreement to say that he doesn’t need the captaincy any more.”Asked what de Kock’s feelings around being stripped of the captaincy across the board was, Smith acknowledged it would have been tough on him.”There’s always a bit of emotion around these things,” Smith said. “Quinton understands that there’s a burden that comes with leadership. It hasn’t been an easy time for him either. He’s a proud guy. I’m sure there’s a bit of emotions and feelings around this.”We have engaged with Quinton on this and the burden of leadership has been mentioned on a number of occasions. It required us to make a tough and important decision for South African cricket.”Smith and Mpitsang have decided to split the captaincy between Dean Elgar (Tests) and Temba Bavuma (ODIs and T20s) because “we feel it’s a very difficult job to captain in all three formats,” Smith said. “The stresses on one man to do that, the workloads, the job in itself… we felt it was too much to give to one person.”With no Tests scheduled for South Africa until the end of the year, Elgar will have to wait to begin his work, but Bavuma’s starts next month. South Africa host Pakistan for three ODIs and four T20s between April 2 and 16, and could be without several key players, who will be required at the IPL.”That series is very important, especially the one-day series. It’s still the qualifying period for the 50-over World Cup. A few of the T20 players might have to leave earlier, but we’ll still have some players in the T20 side,” Mpitsang said.It is not known whether de Kock will be back to playing at that time, be it for South Africa or the IPL and it is likely his availability will depend on medical advice. De Kock is contracted to the Mumbai Indians.

Premier League teams, including Arsenal, have been warned to steer clear of Paul Pogba as the ex-Manchester United & Juventus ace plots his next move.

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• Pogba has Juventus contract terminated
• Arsenal have been linked with the midfielder
• Premier League teams advised to steer clear

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The French midfielder can return to football in March 2025 – and begin training from January – after his doping ban was reduced. However, Pogba must find a club to prove his critics wrong as his contract with Juventus has been terminated.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Once hailed as one of the most promising talents in world football during his first spell at Juventus, Pogba has struggled to consistently deliver on his potential. Now 31 and without a club, Pogba is reportedly considering his options, with Arsenal urged to sign the World Cup winner by their former defender Bacary Sagna.

  However, questions regarding his ability to stay fit have dominated discussions about his future. His second stint at Juventus was marred by injuries and an inability to make a meaningful impact. With his physical reliability in question, many wonder if Pogba’s career can regain its former lustre.

• WHAT GALLAS SAID

  Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender William Gallas has strongly advised against the Gunners making a move for Pogba. Speaking to , he said: "Can Paul Pogba go back to the Premier League? I don't think so, because the Premier League is very intense. We know Pogba can't play for a very long time. He will show desire to play and probably train very hard, but it's tough for him to play a lot of games in the Premier League for a whole season. Clubs like Arsenal will think twice before signing Pogba. If you buy Pogba, there's a guarantee that he won't last the whole season without an injury, especially at 31 years old."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  However, Emmanuel Petit, a former Arsenal double-winner, has offered a more optimistic yet cautious view of Pogba’s prospects. Speaking to , Petit acknowledged Pogba’s quality but questioned whether Arsenal would have the courage to take a gamble on the player.

  "I'm not sure big clubs like Arsenal actually have the guts to sign a player like Pogba. Remember what happened with some top players that join Arsenal, most of them have been a failure," he said.

  "I'm not sure as well that signing Paul Pogba fits with the philosophy of Arsenal actually, especially after Edu walked out. It's a gamble, but I'm not sure that Arsenal will take it. I'm pretty sure that some French clubs will be very interested in him."

حقق منتخب مصر لكرة اليد، الفوز على الأرجنتين، في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العالم لكرة اليد.

والتقى منتخب مصر، مع الأرجنتين ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى من منافسات المجموعة الثامنة من البطولة.

طالع أيضًا | القنوات الناقلة لكأس العالم لكرة اليد 2025 

وفاز الفراعنة، في المباراة التي انتهت منذ قليل بنتيجة 39-25 في الجولة الافتتاحية من البطولة المقامة في  كرواتيا والدنمارك والنرويج، أهداف مباراة مصر والأرجنتين لكرة اليد

يشارك منتخب مصر في منافسات المجموعة الثامنة من بطولة العالم لكرة اليد 2025، والتي تُعتبر مجموعة قوية نسبيًا، حيث تضم بالإضافة إلى مصر كلاً من: كرواتيا والأرجنتين والبحرين.

وضمت قائمة منتخب مصر في مباراة الأرجنتين الآتي:

حراسة المرمى: كريم هنداوي (الزمالك)، محمد علي (سبورتنج لشبونة البرتغالي).

الجناح الأيسر: أحمد هشام “سيسا” (ڤويڤودينا الصربي)، بلال إبراهيم مسعود (بيرجيشر الألماني).

الظهير الأيسر: علي زين (دينامو بوخارست الروماني)، أحمد هشام “دودو” (مونبيلييه الفرنسي)، عبد الرحمن فيصل (الأهلي).

صناع اللعب: أحمد خيري (الأهلي)، سيف الدرع (ليموج الفرنسي).

الظهير الأيمن: يحيى خالد (باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي)، محسن رمضان (الأهلي).

الجناح الأيمن: محمد سند (نيم الفرنسي)، أكرم يسري (الزمالك).

الدائرة: إبراهيم المصري (الأهلي)، أحمد عادل (الأهلي)، ياسر سيف (الأهلي).

Once costing Derby County an eye-watering £10m back in 2019 to win his services, nobody would have anticipated five years on from this bumper move to Pride Park that Krystian Bielik would go on to ply his trade in League One.

Yet, that's exactly what the former Arsenal youth man will be doing next season with Birmingham City, having agreed a new deal with the Blues to stay put, even as third-tier football is soon dished up.

One of his midfield partners might not be sticking it out at St Andrew's for the drop down a division, however, as Chris Davies continues to contemplate what his side will look like as they wrestle with the image of being a big fish in a small pond.

Tyler Roberts' time at Birmingham

Many Birmingham fans might well have forgotten the fact that Tyler Roberts was even on the books at the club still, with his time in the West Midlands ravaged by injury problem after injury problem.

The former Leeds United man wasn't exactly a cheap buy either, costing the Blues around £750k reportedly, with his limited game time since joining last year making this move already feel like a dud purchase.

The Welsh attacker only featured 17 times across the dismal 46-game Championship season for Birmingham, missing large chunks of the season in the opening few months to the dismay of the Blues faithful, before then finding it hard to cement a place in the first-team ranks when back fit.

The injury-prone 25-year-old would only pick up one assist from his 19 overall outings in all competitions, with no goals coming his way, as he averaged just 43 minutes of action on the pitch across these unmemorable clashes.

With the ex-Whites man himself even admitting he has a "point to prove" this forthcoming League One campaign, after being a regular fixture in the St. Andrew's treatment room since leaving West Yorkshire behind, Davies could grow more and more restless with Roberts if he can't wriggle free of his injury demons soon.

He has already suffered a setback in trying to get this monkey off his back, having been absent from Birmingham's first pre-season fixture owing to injury, with the Blues manager tempted to cash in if any club would take him on.

Roberts is amazingly worth more than Bielik, according to Football Transfers, despite the Polish star being presumably one of the first names on Davies's teamsheet when League One action starts.

Roberts' value in 2024

Even with the knowledge that Roberts' first season in the West Midlands has been stop-start, Football Transfers estimates the Birmingham number eight's value to stand at £3.1m.

Bielik, who was present 36 times last season in the Championship compared to Roberts' constant absences, is worth a lesser £2.8m surprisingly.

Value/Stat – per 90 mins*

Roberts

Bielik

Current value

£3.1m

£2.8m

Games played

17

36

Goals scored

0

0

Assists

1

0

Touches*

22.2

56.4

Accurate passes*

8.8 (68%)

36.8 (85%)

Interceptions*

0.2

1.6

Tackles*

0.8

1.5

Ball recoveries*

1.8

7.0

Total duels won*

2.8

5.3

Looking at the table above, it makes for bleak reading from Roberts' perspective, whilst it looks encouraging from Bielik's end that he could be a battling and disruptive presence in the division below to help his side achieve their goal of instant promotion.

Bielik's staggering seven duels won on average per match last season means Davies will start the ex-Derby man week in, week out you imagine, whilst Roberts is in danger of falling further down the pecking order, if he can't be available regularly again.

Therefore, if the Blues can tempt another party in wanting to gamble on Roberts to come good, they could try to offload him this summer still, before he causes the powers that be at Birmingham more distress down the line.

Birmingham eyeing move for £15k-p/w ace with "knowledge and experience"

The Blues mean business in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByTom Coates Jul 16, 2024

A £45m-rated Liverpool player could now decide to quit Anfield after learning he was involved in a potential swap deal this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Liverpool transfer rumours

The Reds are believed to be in the mix to sign Wolves winger Pedro Neto in the summer transfer window, being seen as an alternative to Anthony Gordon. While the Portuguese's injuries are a concern, Arne Slot could see him as a superb additional option in attack, having racked up nine assists in 18 starts in the Premier League last season.

In defence, a new centre-back could be ideal for Slot, as he looks to replace the departed Joel Matip and provide more competition for others, and Juventus ace Gleison Bremer has been linked with a move to Liverpool. The Brazilian has impressed in Turin since arriving from Torino in 2022, averaging four clearances per game in Serie A in 2023/24.

Fabinho arguably hasn't yet been fully replaced at Anfield, even though Wataru Endo has done a solid job sitting in front of the defence, and PSV Eindhoven ace Joey Veerman has been backed to help fill that void before next season gets underway. He featured six times for the Netherlands at Euro 2024, helping them reach the semi-finals of the competition.

One of the star players at the Euros was Dani Olmo, who shone brightly for eventual winners Spain, and he is also seen as a target for Liverpool. The RB Leipzig attacking midfielder is wanted by Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, too, however, so it won't be easy for Liverpool to get their man.

£45m Liverpool player could now quit Anfield

According to a new update from Football Insider, Joe Gomez could now quit Liverpool this summer after learning he was part of a possible swap offer involving Newcastle United winger Gordon.

The report says that the 27-year-old is "considering" his future at Anfield, with an earlier claim suggesting that the Reds value Gomez at £45m and held discussions to hand Newcastle the defender and a fee with Gordon heading in the opposite direction.

The Merseysiders would reportedly "be willing to sell Gomez at the right price heading into the next four weeks", with Liverpool's longest-serving player potentially waving his goodbyes after nine years at the club.

Losing Gomez would be a real shame, considering what an excellent utility player he has become, being capable of thriving all the way across the back-line. He now has 224 Liverpool appearances in total – it would be far more were it not for injury woes – and he has won eight trophies during this time there.

The England international is arguably now into his peak years, however, and he may feel that he needs to be a regular starter somewhere, which Slot may not be able to promise him.

With Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate potentially the strongest pairing at Liverpool currently, and Jarell Quansah improving all the time, it is hard to see how Gomez's situation is going to change, meaning the Reds could be wise to cash in on him.

Liverpool in the race to sign £60m "monster" who could be better than Gordon

FSG must seriously consider advancing their interest in this Premier League star.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 2, 2024

Having Gomez around arguably remains the preferable option, given his aforementioned versatility, but if he wants to leave, Slot shouldn't stand in his way, potentially getting as much as £45m for his signature in the process.

Former French midfielder Robert Pires believes Kylian Mbappe needs to up his ante at Real Madrid to better coexist with Vinicius Jr. at the club.

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Pires wants Mbappe to adapt to ViniDuo have failed to click since Mbappe's arrivalFrance captain has just eight goals in 16 gamesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Kylian Mbappe needs to take the responsibility of improving his on-field chemistry with Real Madrid star man Vinicius Jr. in order to turn a corner and thrive at the club, according to former France midfield maestro Robert Pires. Mbappe has, so far, failed to live up to his reputation as one of the best players in the world and has been overshadowed by Vini's exploits at times.

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Real Madrid haven't had the best of starts to this season, falling six points behind Barcelona in the LaLiga title race after only 12 matchdays. Meanwhile, they have already lost twice in the Champioons League group stage. The struggles of Carlo Ancelotti and Co. have coincided with Mbappe's lack of killer punch in front of goal.

The Frenchman has scored eight goals in 16 games in all competitions, but has scored just once in the team's last seven games. In the same duration, his strike partner Vini Jr. has notched two hat-tricks, taking his contribution for the season to 12 goals and seven assists in 17 games in all competitions.

Pires, thus, opined that Mbappe must adapt to Vini's status as 'the' left-winger of the team and mould his game to become a more well-rounded No. 9.

WHAT ROBERT PIRES SAID

Appearing on Egyptian television channel MBC MASR 2 (h/t MARCA), Pires said: "He is facing strong criticism in both France and Spain, as he is not at his best. Currently, he is not decisive for Real Madrid and is not scoring or creating many goal-scoring opportunities.

“Real Madrid fans had high expectations for Mbappe since his arrival. However, changing country, team and team-mates is not easy, especially when it comes to a club with the best players on the planet. Mbappe must face these criticisms, change his style of play, recognize that he is not at his best and improve his performance."

Mbappe's misfiring start to his chapter in the Spanish capital has been blamed to the presence of Vini Jr, who is unchanged as the team's undisputed left winger. Pires, though, diasgreed: "Mbappe dreamed of playing for Real Madrid. He knows perfectly well that Vinícius, who is an exceptional player, plays in the same position as him, is decisive and scores a lot of goals. Mbappe must adapt to this situation and to the different tactics of the team.

"Turning down Real Madrid is difficult for any player. The solution is for Mbappe to adapt to Real Madrid's tactical style, and it is Ancelotti's job to find tactical solutions that suit both Mbappe and Vinícius."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE?

Mbappe was surprisingly left out of the France squad by Didier Deschamps for this month's Nations League fixtures, sparking rumours of a potential rift between Les Bleus boss Deschamps and the French captain. He'll stay back in Valdebebas to rediscover his best form ahead of Madrid's next game, a visit to Leganes on November 24.

Tottenham think they can seal a £60 million deal for a striker who wants to join Ange Postecoglou's side, with Spurs in the market for a centre-forward who can finally replace club legend Harry Kane.

Spurs target new striker with Richarlison up for sale

Earlier this week, reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano backed reports that the Lilywhites are in the market for a fresh striking option, and potentially a new winger.

Tottenham consider swap move for £162k-a-week forward with Ange "obsessed"

The Australian is desperate for a new attacker.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 1, 2024

Postecoglou was heavily reliant on Son Heung-min and his 17 goals in all competitions for the majority of Tottenham's output in the final third, so the Australian will be keen to add more attacking impetus, especially given the South Korea star is out of contract next year.

Meanwhile, reports claim that Spurs are determined to sell Richarlison this summer, despite him managing 12 goals and four assists last season as the club's second top scorer behind Son.

Son Heung-min

7.30

James Maddison

7.17

Pedro Porro

7.05

Cristian Romero

7.04

Dejan Kulusevski

7.03

The Brazilian doesn't appear to be viewed by those within Tottenham as a long-term solution to succeed Kane, who completed a multi-million-pound move to Bayern Munich last summer. Richarlison is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, and has been all window according to some reports, so his exit could be one to watch before deadline day.

With the north Londoners in the market for a new forward, there are a few interesting names who've been linked recently. Brentford's Ivan Toney is thought to be one of them, with the England international out of contract next year and still on the lookout for a new club.

Toney is rumoured to be keen on a move to Spurs as he seeks an exit from Brentford this summer. The 27-year-old scored 20 Premier League goals during the 2022/23 season before his hefty on-field ban for alleged gambling breaches and helped England beat Slovakia in the last 16 of Euro 2024 through his extra-time assist for Kane.

Another English top-flight striker who really likes the idea of joining Postecoglou, according to a report by TEAMtalk this week, is Bournemouth star Dominic Solanke.

Solanke wants to join Tottenham as Spurs believe £60m deal possible

Spurs have apparently been in contact with Solanke's representatives, and hold a belief that they can sign the forward for around £60 million – £5 million less than his full £65 million release clause.

Solanke wants to join Postecoglou at Tottenham, and the club also view him as their ideal pick to lead the line in the next campaign. The 26-year-old scored 21 goals across 42 appearances in all competitions for Bournemouth last season, attracting praise for his exceptional performances.

“He is flying at the minute and he’s looking like the player that I always thought he was going to become," said pundit John Wenham.

“I have watched him dominate Tottenham many times over the years while in Chelsea’s youth teams, and to tell the truth I’m pleased for him as I always thought he was a really good player.

“I think he will be knocking on the door of the next England squad. I know that Ollie Watkins scores a lot of goals, but Solanke is the closest England striker to Harry Kane in terms of the way he plays and what he offers in terms of his ability to hold up the ball."

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna will be slightly concerned about the attacking players at his disposal come the opening Premier League game of the season against Liverpool, knowing that George Hirst could now be out of action alongside an injury-stricken Nathan Broadhead.

The beloved Tractor Boys boss revealed after a recent friendly game versus 1899 TSG Hoffenheim that main striker up top George Hirst will need to see some specialists owing to an injury concern sustained this pre-season.

Therefore, more attacking reinforcements could now be needed, as the Suffolk side push on to try and land this long-sought-after target to really strengthen their options.

Ipswich bidding for "ridiculous" attacker

As per Ipswich-based website TWTD last weekend, McKenna and Co are very much still chasing Sammie Szmodics' elusive signature, with a bid in the region of £10m recently fielded by the newly promoted outfit.

It has also been revealed, via TWTD, that yet another bid being turned down by the Riversiders has led to showdown talks between the former Peterborough United man and the powers that be at Ewood Park taking place, with Szmodics clamouring for an exit route out of the Lancashire club, and up to the bright lights of the Premier League.

What Szmodics could offer Ipswich

Szmodics' arrival into the building would no doubt quell any possible selection headaches McKenna is having to put up with involving who starts up top against the Reds, with the explosive 28-year-old fresh off a golden boot winning season in the Championship.

Labelled as "ridiculous" last campaign for his free-flowing exploits in front of goal by football journalist Josh Bunting, Szmodics could come into his own even more jumping up a division, playing for his new plucky underdogs as the potential main source of goals.

Although he wasn't outwardly deployed as a centre-forward last campaign, Szmodics' insane goal haul of 33 strikes in all competitions means he won't look out of place whatsoever in the Ipswich XI leading the line if he is thrown into this position soon.

Indeed, the Republic of Ireland international has bagged eight strikes from the centre-forward spot when wearing a Riversiders strip.

Hirst's league numbers (23/24) vs Szmodics (23/24)

Stat (* = per 90 mins)

Hirst

Szmodics

Games played

26

44

Goals scored

7

27

Assists

6

4

Shots*

2

3.3

Shots on target*

0.9

1.4

Scoring frequency

255 mins

145 mins

Big chances missed

10

17

Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, Hirst could find minutes hard to come by in the division above even when he's back to full sharpness, with Szmodics blowing his numbers out of the water last season in the Championship.

Missing a colossal 17 big chances in the second tier also proves that the former Posh attacker could potentially become even more clinical, and with the added talent of Conor Chaplin and Omari Hutchinson surrounding him going forward at Portman Road, he could well be the goalscoring hero Ipswich need to attempt to survive in the elite league.

A breakaway strike against Leicester City on the final day of last season ensured John Eustace's men staved off the second-tier drop zone by the skin of their teeth, and Szmodics will hope he has more memorable strikes in his back pocket if he moves to Suffolk.

Capable of also providing competition to the likes of Chaplin behind the lone striker, this feels like a buy Ipswich should prioritise, even if it will dent the bank in the short term.

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Celtic have identified a potential new addition this summer, and the move seemingly already has the approval of Brendan Rodgers ahead of the new Scottish Premiership season.

Adam Idah in limbo

After helping fire Celtic to the title and scoring the winner in the Scottish Cup in a phenomenally successful loan spell at Parkhead, Adam Idah's future remains unclear. Speaking straight after the Cup win, Rodgers insisted he wanted to keep the Norwich man, who found the net nine times in 19 games after joining on loan in January.

"The board know how I feel on Adam, that was the reason for bringing him in,” Rodgers said. “He’s been a real catalyst for us, especially over the last few months.

“He’s been absolutely immense for us and he’s clearly someone I’d like to do something with."

Celtic could unearth Taylor upgrade in swoop for "highly talented" star

The Hoops are reportedly interested in the impressive young defender this summer.

ByDan Emery Jul 31, 2024

But there has been little positive movement on a deal since, and the 23-year-old striker is wanted by new Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup.

“Like we said from day one, he’s a vital part of the group and of the squad here. Adam’s working hard in training, a good guy with good energy. He’s really doing well and I hope it’s obvious for him and everyone that he will play a vital part for this team.”

Now part of the pre-season group at Carrow Road, a move for Idah is looking somewhat complicated despite his clear desire to play north of the border. As a result, Celtic have reportedly begun looking elsewhere.

Celtic enquire for goalscorer

Now, HITC report that Celtic have had early enquiries over Scottish Premiership marksman Lawrence Shankland, who is also thought to be a target for fierce rivals Rangers. The £3k-per-week Hearts striker scored 31 times in all competitions across 2023-24, including 24 in the Scottish top flight.

Lawrence Shankland's last three league seasons

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Appearances

26

37

37

Goals

5

24

24

Assists

4

4

5

Min per goal/assist

200

103

110

It was not a fluke either, with his talents long having been evident. Speaking earlier in the season, Brendan Rodgers admitted the striker had been on his radar since his first spell at Celtic Park, during which time Shankland was at Ayr.

"When I was here the first time he was a player that was on the radar. I heard people speak about and any time I saw him in clips you could see he was a goalscorer.

"Having come back and seen him in the Premiership playing, he's a boy who looks superconcentrated in the games. He's got really good technique, uses his body well to protect the ball, scores all types of goals.

"So he's a very good player and one that we have to manage well."

With Idah's £8m valuation considered too high for Celtic, they are now "stepping up" their pursuit of last season's golden boot winner north of the border, and have "made enquiries" about landing the striker ahead of Rangers, with Shankland thought to be valued at around £3m.

However, they will have to overturn their rivals, with Rangers still thought to be in "pole position" for his signature. But should Celtic act fast, they may be able to hijack the move.