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An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their attempts to add a new number nine to their squad in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Cyriel Dessers to Rangers?

According to the Daily Record, the Light Blues remain locked in talks with Cremonese to land centre-forward Cyriel Dessers as Michael Beale eyes a swoop for the ace.

The report claimed that the club tabled a significant seven-figure offer for the striker and the publication has since put out an update on the story that states that the Gers have failed with two substantial bids, with the Ibrox giants remaining in pursuit.

Their latest article also reveals that the Serie B side are keen to keep hold of their star striker and that it would take a fee of at least £6.5m – the amount they paid to sign him from Genk last year – to tempt them into cashing in on the gem.

Would Cyriel Dessers improve Rangers?

Beale could land a big upgrade on one of his current Light Blues number nines as the 28-year-old could offer far more than Jamaican international, Kemar Roofe.

First and foremost, Dessers has a fitness record that suggests that Rangers would be bringing in a player who is more durable and able to compete over the course of a season. The Nigerian international has only missed 15 matches due to injury since the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

Roofe, on the other hand, has been absent for a staggering 87 games in the same time. The ex-Leeds United forward was out for 35 clashes with a knee injury in 22/23 and has a long, concerning, track record of picking up injuries during his spell at Ibrox.

This suggests that the 30-year-old is not a player who Beale can rely upon ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as his injury history indicates that the dud is unlikely to be available for many games throughout the year.

Dessers, who scored six goals in 19 Serie A starts this term, could also be an upgrade based on what he is able to offer on the pitch.

The ace plundered 19 goals and three assists in 16 starts in the Eredivisie and Europa Conference League combined for Feyenoord in 21/22, which shows that the experienced marksman has the potential to be a prolific scorer domestically and on the European stage.

Roofe, meanwhile, managed 12 goals and one assist in 13 starts in the Scottish Premiership and Europa League combined for the Gers in 21/22, which is an excellent return but not quite as impressive as the Nigerian international's form in the Netherlands.

Therefore, Dessers, who was hailed as "awkward" to play against by journalist Josh Bunting, could be a big upgrade on the current Rangers striker due to his consistency with his fitness and his ability on the pitch to score and create goals on a regular basis.

Napoli ultras have returned the steering wheel from Luciano Spalletti’s stolen Fiat Panda as a parting gift with the manager set to leave after winning Serie A.

Why was Luciano Spalletti’s car stolen?

It’s been a remarkable season for the Italian club as they won their first Scudetto since 1990 – back when Diego Maradona was dazzling defenders for Gli Azzurri.

Napoli’s recent success is quite remarkable when you consider that the manager had his beloved Fiat Panda stolen during protests in 2021. Not long after, the ultra’s then offered him an ultimatum about returning the car if Spalletti would leave.

The manager quipped back: “First of all we have to see in what condition the Panda will be returned in, how many kilometres it has travelled, whether there are Pino Daniele CDs inside.”

Well, both parties have now stuck to their promise as even the CDs have been returned to the 64-year-old Italian who is set to take a sabbatical in the summer and leave.

As shown in footage circulated on Twitter, the Napoli ultras met Spalletti inside the club’s dressing room before handing him a big blue box. He unwraps the present and breaks into a big smile, having had his property returned at last.

Why is Spalletti leaving Napoli?

Spalletti took charge of Napoli in 2021 and has kept up a remarkable rate of 2.10 points per game since then, which helped deliver a first Serie A title in 33 years.

However, after securing the Scudetto, he immediately spoke about how much it had taken out of him, telling the press:

“I no longer have the energy to be up to the standard of what people love so much, so I have to take two steps back and leave.

“I am not someone who changes idea easily and I decided to leave because I feel that I’ve given all I had.”

Despite still having one year on his contract, President Aurelio De Laurentiis was happy to acquiesce to this demand, telling Italian broadcaster Rai (via Evening Standard): “He’s a free man, now it’s right that he continues to do what he wants. I thank him.”

And so now was the perfect moment for the ultras to finally return those stolen items and allow Spalletti to depart on perfect terms.

Arsenal, like everyone else in world football, would love a player akin to Erling Haaland. Fortunately enough, they might just have the opportunity to secure that man this summer, as fresh transfer information has come to light.

What's the latest on Rasmus Hojlund to Arsenal?

That's according to 90min, who actually report on Manchester United's interest in Atalana's young striker Rasmus Hojlund.

However, later on it is stated that a host of top European clubs have been alerted to the availability of the forward, following his frustration at missing out on Champions League football. Among those mentioned are the Gunners, alongside Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, all of whom have already begun talks with the player's representatives and agent.

The Italian outfit will command a huge fee to pry the 20-year-old from Bergamo, with €65m (£56m) thought to be the asking price that sporting director Edu Gaspar would have to stump up.

How good is Rasmus Hojlund?

With their Scandinavian heritage and hulking blond physique naturally drawing comparisons, both Haaland and Hojlund have enjoyed fine personal seasons, although one has been far more impressive than the other.

Few could compete with the freakish goalscoring nature of Manchester City's main man, with his 52 goals in all competitions having shattered numerous records. Standing at 6 foot 4 yet blessed with lightning-quick speed, he truly is a petrifying threat to all defences.

However, the Denmark international has also proven himself a danger to his opposition, with writer Sacha Pisani even claiming that he is "scary quick" despite also boasting a 6 foot 3 frame. Meanwhile, scout Jacek Kulig also suggested he was "an absolute monster in the making" given his stature for someone so young.

At two years Haaland's junior, his record of 15 goals in all competitions, married with seven assists, showcases his own penchant for finishing that would be a welcome addition to Mikel Arteta's roster. This is without mentioning the fact that he has five goals already for his national team, despite only featuring four times.

Pep Guardiola, for all his revolutionary tactical advancements over the years, arguably made his greatest and simplest one when he reverted back to a classic no.9 for this term as it has proved to be the missing piece that could well culminate in an infamous treble.

As someone who has borrowed heavily from his former master's style of play, the Gunners' boss could once again seek to replicate this feat by acquiring his own massive striker to bully centre-backs into submission.

To surround him with the quality of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, this could prove to be a profitable venture for all involved, with Hojlund's numbers sure to skyrocket when supplied by these world-class stars in north London.

The Danish prodigy could well be Arsenal's answer to the talismanic Haaland.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur now have a ‘deal agreed’ to sign Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster ‘in the coming days’.

The Lowdown: Forster’s Saints departure

The 34-year-old veteran first arrived at the St. Mary’s Stadium in a £10m move from Glasgow giants Celtic back in 2014, where he has since gone on to make 161 appearances during his eight-year spell with the south coast outfit.

The shot-stopper’s contract with the Saints, however, is set to expire at the end of June, making him a free agent to any potential suitors interested in securing his services.

With it recently being confirmed by the Lilywhites that current second-choice keeper Pierluigi Gollini will be leaving the Premier League following the conclusion of his loan spell, it’s no secret that Antonio Conte’s side will need a suitable replacement.

The Italian has already dipped into the free agent market to sign Ivan Perisic, and Romano brings more good news…

The Latest: ‘Deal agreed’

In a post on his personal Twitter account, Romano confirmed that the deal is now ‘completed’, with an announcement from the club expected imminently. He wrote:

“Contract until June 2024 for Fraser Forster as new Tottenham goalkeeper. Two year deal agreed with Spurs to replace Gollini, Forster will be announced as second signing after Perisic in the coming days.

“Paperworks already completed, waiting for official statement.”

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The Verdict: Perfect second signing

With the six-cap international soon set to be unveiled as a new Spurs player, he could prove to be the ideal backup option for number one Hugo Lloris and will no doubt provide some strong cover for the Frenchman in Conte’s match-day squad.

The Hexham-born talent, who was once hailed an “exceptional” player by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, has got plenty of experience under his belt, not only in the top flight with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton, but also in the Scottish Premiership with the Hoops, having kept a total of 199 clean sheets throughout the duration of his career.

Standing at a staggering 6 foot 5 between the sticks, Forster’s most memorable day of 2021/22 was actually ‘one of the best goalkeeping performances in the league this season’ against Arsenal, giving a ‘ridiculous’ display in a 1-0 Saints win that helped put Tottenham back in the top four race (Josh Bunting).

In other news… a reliable journalist has shared a fresh update on the future of one of Spurs’ summer transfer targets.

West Bromwich Albion had one of the strongest defences in the Championship this season as only AFC Bournemouth (21) and Sheffield United (20) ended the campaign with more clean sheets than the Baggies (19).

One figure that played a significant part for the Midlands club at the back this season was Semi Ajayi.

With 31 league appearances to his name, the Nigerian racked up an average of three clearances per game, leaving only Kyle Bartley (4) and Matt Clarke (3.1) with a higher rate.

Last month, the centre-back put pen to paper on a new contract which will see him stay at the Hawthorns until 2025.

This shows just how valued he is at the club and how highly they rate him and his talents on the pitch.

Now that the season has ended and the summer transfer window is upon us, this will give the Baggies and Steve Bruce the chance to strengthen the squad and give them a better chance at securing promotion back to the Premier League.

While their current defensive players certainly proved their worth, one player that the club have been linked with recently that could be a potential upgrade on Ajayi is Darragh Lenihan.

With a total of 219 appearances in the Championship under his belt, the 28-year-old certainly has enough experience to come in and be a ready-made first-team option for Bruce.

In terms of his defensive capabilities, the Irishman made 58 interceptions and won 43 tackles in 41 league games this season, the second and third-highest in Blackburn’s squad respectively.

Having totalled an average of 4.1 clearances per game as well, this further highlights how significant the £14k-per-week centre-half can be at the back and why he could be an upgrade on Ajayi.

His overall performances earned him an impressive season rating of 7.1/10 from WhoScored, making him the highest-rated player at Rovers.

This would also make him the highest-rated player for West Brom by the same metric.

Labelled as a “special footballer” by Tony Mowbray, Lenihan could be just what the Baggies need if Bruce feels the need to make what is already a solid defence into a formidable one.

In other news: Bruce can finally replace Pereira as WBA eye move for “inspirational” £27k-p/w dynamo

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on their first signing of the summer…

What’s the word?

According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Ivan Perisic is set to join Spurs on a two-year deal following the expiry of his contract at Serie A giants Inter Milan.

It’s thought that a medical is set to take place in north London next week, once everything has been signed. It’s also said that manager Antonio Conte wanted the 33-year-old as a priority signing for the Premier League outfit.

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“Ivan Perisić’s set to join Tottenham, here we go! Full agreement set to be signed on a two-year deal. Inter have received final communication,” he tweeted.

“Medical could take place next week in London, once everything will be signed. Antonio Conte wanted Ivan as [a] priority.”

Big signing

On the face of it, signing a 33-year-old veteran is hardly an inspiring move. However, Perisic will add an abundance to the Lilywhites, who will be competing in next season’s Champions League after their top-four finish.

As football.london reporter Alasdair Gold put it perfectly, the Croatian star “would be a big signing” for Spurs. He’s won multiple titles – including the UCL – has bundles of experience and the exact mentality that the Italian head coach desires.

Despite his advancing years, Perisic contributed ten goals and nine assists across 49 appearances in all competitions, largely playing a left wing-back role, and that adds to his ten goal contributions on Inter’s way to the title in 2020/21, too.

Across the last three seasons alone, he’s picked up five trophies. Something that few, if any, in the current Spurs squad can match.

The 6 foot 1 dynamo, whose “physique is that of a horse” according to former manager Luciano Spalletti, is a very shrewd addition for Spurs and Conte indeed.

He’s certainly still got it, having also averaged the second-highest WhoScored rating in the Inter squad in the Serie A this campaign. He led the team for interceptions (1.3 per game) and was third for key passes per game (1.6), proving to be solid defensively and very much a creator in the final third.

Also lauded as a “physical monster” by Eurosport journalist Siavoush Fallahi, it’s evident that age is merely a number when it comes to the £125k-per-week brute.

As such, Perisic could indeed be a big signing for Tottenham heading into next season. He and Heung-min Son down the left flank is certainly an intriguing prospect indeed.

The Lilywhites faithful, and the manager, must be absolutely buzzing by Romano’s latest update.

AND in other news, Spurs will “try and sign” £18m-rated “monster” after scouting mission, he’s Bale 2.0…

Leeds United secured Premier League safety with a dramatic final day victory over ten-man Brentford on Sunday afternoon, thanks to goals from both Raphinha and Jack Harrison.

After having a goal chalked off in the first half for offside, the Whites could be forgiven for thinking that things wouldn’t be going their way down in Hounslow but a spot-kick from the Brazilian sensation got them on their way.

Sergi Canos equalised before being sent off before the former Manchester City winger fired home in the 94th minute to seal a famous victory for the Yorkshire giants, on the same day his old club won the title for a second successive year.

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Both Harrison and Raphinha will take plenty of plaudits, especially the latter, who proved to be a constant nuisance and Leeds’ main threat all game. However, Kalvin Phillips put in an absolute Rolls-Royce of a display in the engine room to help steer his boyhood club over the line.

Despite going up against the more creative exploits of Christian Eriksen (65), it was the England international who led the match for touches, registering a whopping 92 in total across the 90 minutes, effectively making one touch every minute played.

With his dominant possession, Phillips made 58 passes, in which one was a key chance created, whilst he also did his usual defensive duties as that anchor-like rock in front of the backline.

As per SofaScore, the £45m-rated powerhouse recorded a team-high three clearances, a match-best of three interceptions, and he also made two tackles and won six duels in midfield.

LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross was equally impressed by the long-serving star, claiming that he ‘Roamed across the field making the tackles the team needed him to. Brought steel to the middle of the park and read a lot of danger’ in his post-match ratings column.

The 26-year-old, who has been lauded as a “destroyer” in the past by Steve McClaren, was certainly all over the Bees’ pitch and as such, he absolutely ran the show for manager Jesse Marsch.

If that was indeed his final game in a Leeds shirt, then supporters can be delighted to have seen him at his very best one last time.

AND in other news, Beren Cross issues fresh Marcelo Bielsa claim at Leeds…

Former Premier League manager Alex McLeish has been left thrilled by the news that Tottenham Hotspur could be set to appoint Yaya Toure as a coach. 

The lowdown: Toure inbound…

Recently, a report from the Evening Standard confirmed that Spurs are considering offering the 38-year-old a permanent role at Hotspur Way.

Toure has been in situ in north London since December, working with the Lilywhites Under 18s whilst also learning towards his coaching badges.

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Having suitably impressed with his work, club officials are now set to hold talks with the one time UEFA Champions League winner over an ongoing full-time role moving forwards, a decision McLeish has given his backing to.

The latest: ‘Shrewd appointment’

Speaking to Football Insider, the former Scotland and Aston Villa boss suggested that Toure’s appointment would be an inspired one.

The 63-year-old said: “A great player. I’m sure that all the students, the wannabe coaches and wannabe players will look up to him definitely in a big way.

“Of course, that’s a massive influence. It’s a very shrewd appointment as well by Spurs. You would think that Yaya Toure will be looking at predecessors, and ex-teammates doing so well in the game now.

“He’ll be saying: ‘I want a piece of that. I want to still be involved in football,’ because of his love for the game.”

The verdict: Smart thinking

Albeit the ability to coach successfully has to come first, adding someone of the ex-Barcelona and Manchester City star’s experience and class to the coaching team in N17 can only be a positive influence on the young Spurs starlets.

A four-time African Football of the Year, Toure boasts a trophy-laden career and the type of winning credentials that first-team coach Antonio Conte would undoubtedly welcome to the behind the scenes ranks.

This is just another example of Daniel Levy and co perhaps finally getting their ducks in a row following numerous failed appointments between the departure of Mauricio Pochettino and the eventual arrival of Conte.

In other news: Report claims one ‘amazing’ Tottenham man is heading for the exit, find out more here.

Manchester United are looking to recruit a new centre-back this summer and see Villarreal’s Pau Torres as an option.

What’s the word?

That is according to the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano who took to his Twitter page to present the latest report around Manchester United.

He said: “Manchester United are discussing Villarreal’s Pau Torres as one of 3/4 options for the new centre-back. No proposal made yet, as it depends on Erik ten Hag decision and Man Utd board changes.

“Chelsea are also monitoring Pau.€55/60m release clause into his contract.”

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A Ten Hag signing

Pau Torres’ attributes in possession make him a typical ten Hag signing.

Whilst he has scored 4.43 progressive passes per game with an average of 4.68 passes into the final third – exceptional stats considering his position as a centre-back.

As a natural left-footer, the 25-year-old Villarreal youth product presents an option that does not currently exist at Manchester United, with all of the Red Devils’ centre-backs natural right-footers.

In terms of his individual defensive stats, they are rather lacklustre this season and sit in and around the same average numbers as Harry Maguire.

Though it is worth noting that Villarreal boasts the third-best defence in La Liga this season having conceded just 34 goals throughout the entirety of the campaign, and with Torres featuring in 86% of the Yellow Submarine’s games this season, he has of course played his part in helping Unai Emery’s side to achieve that feat.

The Villarreal youth product would slot in nicely into the four-man defence at United and would most likely take Maguire’s place in the team, with the fact that he is a natural left centre-back playing a big part in this and Ten Hag also preferring a left-footed player in that position.

The Spaniard could present an astute option in the hunt for a new centre-back and as Romano points out, “he is one of 3/4 options.”

United will await the decision of Ten Hag on this signing and if he gives the green light, United will have bagged an experienced, composed, left-footed defender to bolster their ranks, something the new manager will undoubtedly love.

In other news: “Pushing to sign..”: Fabrizio Romano drops big transfer claim, it’s bad news for MUFC