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Frenkie de Jong’s proposed move to Manchester United is looking ‘unlikely’, according to SPORT1’s chief reporter Patrick Berger.

The lowdown

De Jong is very much the man new United boss Erik ten Hag wants after they worked together at Ajax.

Indeed, The Daily Telegraph’s James Ducker has written that the manager is ‘desperate’ for a reunion at Old Trafford.

And The Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel has billed him as the 54-year-old’s ‘number one target’ for the summer window.

The latest

Berger took to Twitter on Sunday evening to share the latest on De Jong’s situation.

He says that the player is currently opposed to the move, but equally, is upset with Barcelona.

“Frenkie de Jong is back at FC Barcelona after summer vacay [vacation]. A transfer to Man United is unlikely at the moment. Been told he definitely doesn’t want to leave Barça for MUFC!

“But he is also very disappointed about the way the Spanish side treated him. Difficult situation.”

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The verdict

Barcelona reportedly owe De Jong as much as €17million (£14.4million) in deferred salary payments after an agreement in 2020.

You can understand, then, why the Dutchman might feel a little angry or disillusioned with the Catalan club’s officials.

But it seems that his love for the La Liga giants remains, and that he still sees himself at Barcelona in the long run.

And perhaps United, who only finished sixth last season, aren’t the most attractive proposition at the moment.

They may have a new manager, but the news that Cristiano Ronaldo would like to leave has cast a renewed shadow over the club ahead of 2022/23.

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce has ruled out a summer move for former Baggies loan star Okay Yokuslu.

What’s the news?

Speaking to the Express & Star after seeing his side beat Leyton Orient 2-1 in their first pre-season game of the summer, Bruce discussed the possibility of securing a deal for the Turkish midfielder, who is now a free agent following the expiry of his contract at Celta Vigo.

The Albion manager said of the 28-year-old: “He was a very good player, he didn’t play a lot last year – if I’m being brutally honest I think that ship might have sailed.”

In January 2021, the Midlands club signed Yokuslu on loan from Celta until the end of the 2020/21 Premier League season.

Bad news for West Brom fans

During his time with the Baggies, the midfielder ended up playing 16 league games for the club, providing one assist in the process. In those appearances, the 28-year-old won 33 tackles and made more interceptions (42) than any other player in Sam Allardyce’s squad, as it was at the time.

He also made 25 blocks, 40 clearances and 89 successful pressures, further highlighting his importance to the team from a defensive point of view in midfield.

His overall performances earned him a season rating of 6.96/10 from WhoScored, making him the joint-highest rated West Brom player for the season alongside Matheus Pereira.

This shows just how useful he was for the Baggies in the top flight and how pivotal he could have been for them in the Championship last season had they been able to secure a permanent transfer for the player last summer.

Taking all this into account, to hear Bruce suggest that Albion will not be pursuing a deal to bring Yokuslu back to The Hawthorns on a free transfer this summer will surely be disappointing for Baggies supporters, given how impressive the Turk was during his stint in the team.

With the Midlands club adding the likes of John Swift and Jed Wallace to their ranks this summer, West Brom fans must hope that the squad will have enough strength and depth to make a strong push for promotion next time around.

AND in other news: Steve Bruce plots West Brom bid for £2.25m-rated gem, supporters will love him

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte is personally ‘pushing’ to seal a ‘big signing’ for the club, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs show ambition…

Perhaps Spurs’ busiest transfer window in years has gotten off to a fine start with the confirmed signings of Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma and now Richarlison.

The quartet of arrivals signals a change in attitude at Hotspur Way as ENIC, chairman Daniel Levy and sporting director Fabio Paratici seek to back Conte whilst appeasing the Italian’s demands.

Ahead of the ex-Chelsea manager’s first full Premier League season in charge of the Lilywhites, supporters have much reason to be excited ahead of what will be a very interesting campaign.

Indeed, qualification for the Champions League has gifted the club a huge lift and helped them to financially compete in the summer market.

The Latest: Conte ‘pushing’ for another Spurs transfer…

As per reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, Conte is personally ‘pushing’ to seal another Spurs signing.

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The reporter claims Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet is edging nearer a move with the ‘final details’ being polished.

Lenglet, as explained, is also ‘happy to join’, he stated:

“Tottenham have now reached full agreement with Clément Lenglet on personal terms. He’s happy to join Spurs with Antonio Conte pushing to have him. 

“Tottenham and Barcelona are still in direct contact to resolve final details of the loan deal, then… here we go, soon.”

The Verdict: ‘Big signing’?

Former top flight keeper Paddy Kenny, speaking to Football Insider on the 27-year-old, claims Lenglet’s likely addition is a ‘real statement from Tottenham’ and a ‘big signing’.

Despite the Frenchman’s lack of starts for Barca last season, you can see why Kenny has this theory given Lenglet’s real experience at the top level – having amassed 314 appearances across three clubs whilst lifting a Spanish title in that time (Transfermarkt).

Also racking up international caps in a competitive France squad, Lenglet’s composure and assurance is perhaps best exemplified by his impressive 91% pass accuracy out from the back over 21/22 (WhoScored).

This is a higher number than any Tottenham regular managed last campaign, and the fact they’re getting him on loan means this transfer is very low risk financially.

Lenglet’s highest ever market value of £54 million hints there is a player of real quality there and it’s certainly possible he could become a real asset for Conte.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s chances of landing Gabriel Barbosa in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to Dean Jones, in his transfer column for GIVEMESPORT, the Magpies are set to be given the green light to land the striker (nicknamed Gabigol) in the coming weeks.

The report claims that, alongside fellow Premier League outfit West Ham, they will be offered the chance to snap him up from Flamengo ahead of the 2022/23 campaign as his agent attempts to secure him a move to England.

It has previously been reported that the Brazilian club would demand a fee in the region of £3om for Barbosa, although it remains to be seen how much the Toon would be willing to pay for him.

Gabriel Jesus 2.0

Whilst Manchester City centre-forward Gabriel Jesus is reportedly on his way out of the Etihad Stadium this summer, Newcastle can swerve him and instead land their own version of the striker by snapping up a deal for Gabigol.

Aside from having the same first name, the pair share similarities in that they are both Brazil internationals and dynamic, 25-year-old strikers who both stand at under 5 ft 11. They are not target men like Chris Wood who will win flick-ons all game but they are lethal finishers who can link the play.

Jesus has scored 95 goals and provided 46 assists in 236 games for City as he has proven that he can make a big impact in the final third over the years, scoring goals and setting up his team-mates by being actively involved in the build-up.

Meanwhile, Barbosa has plundered a stunning 100 goals and set up a further 28 in just 153 matches for his current club, whilst also scoring five goals in 18 games for Brazil.

Former Brazil international Zico previously hailed the Flamengo star’s potential, saying: “I think Gabigol has everything to be the greatest striker in Flamengo’s history. It’s getting there. His performance got better and better, consolidating himself as one of the greats.

“He’s already gone down in history. He is young and can do much more, and hopefully, he can do it. Doing this is always good to give joy to the Rubro-Negro fan and, logically, we always expect this from a guy who has the potential that he has.”

These quotes suggest that Barbosa has the scope to develop further as he gains more experience at the top level, with Zico believing that the 25-year-old has all of the attributes to become a historic centre-forward.

This means that he could be a longer-term investment for Newcastle along with being an excellent signing in the short-term as they have the chance to land their own Jesus-esque goal machine at St James’ Park.

AND in other news, Newcastle can seal big Targett upgrade with “eye-watering” move for “class” £30m star…

Leeds United will need to pay €22m to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, according to journalist Santi Aouna.

The Lowdown: Leeds bid

The Whites haven’t wasted any time this summer when it comes to first-team signings, with midfielder Marc Roca now officially becoming the third addition.

Attention has since turned to a deal for Kalimuendo, with The Independent revealing that Leeds have made a bid in the region of €20m (£17.1m).

The 20-year-old forward scored 12 goals in 27 starts in Ligue 1 on loan with Lens last season, and any switch to Elland Road would likely include a buy-back clause.

The Latest: Journalist’s update

Aouna took to Twitter on Thursday lunchtime following the news of the ‘official offer’ that was reported ‘in England’.

He added some more ‘info’, claiming that PSG will now demand a €22m (£18.9m) fee to part ways with Kalimuendo.

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The Verdict: Good move?

European football expert Antonio Mango has hailed Kalimuendo as a ‘superstar in the making’, and should he arrive in Yorkshire, he would provide Jesse Marsch with a much-needed centre-forward option.

Patrick Bamford missed 30 games through three separate issues last season, and there is little depth behind the England international.

The Frenchman would also be able to provide cover on the left wing or in a deeper central role, but it seems as if Leeds will need to up their initial offer slightly to get a transfer over the line.

Transfermarkt currently has a probability of a move going through at 63%, so it looks like this one does have legs, especially with reporters abroad such as Aouna now getting additional scoops on the news.

In other news: £25m: Leeds now want ‘complete’ Phillips replacement; just waiting for Radz green light. 

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has backed the Reds to sign either Declan Rice or Kalvin Phillips during the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Midfield addition in?

The Reds are likely to look to sign a midfielder between now and the start of the season, with fresh blood required in an ageing area of the pitch.

Jordan Henderson is arguably not quite the player he was and Naby Keita is inconsistent, so a third player to accompany Fabinho and Thiago is perhaps needed.

As such, Aurelien Tchouameni has been linked with a move, but could a player closer to home come in?

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The Latest: Murphy backs Reds to sign England star

Speaking to talkSPORT [via Liverpool Echo], Murphy urged Liverpool to bring in either Rice or Phillips, both of whom have been hailed as ‘superb’ by Barcelona manager Xavi:

“I’d be going all out for (Declan) Rice or (Kalvin) Phillips. English, hungry, someone you know will be around for a long time, can come in hit the ground running, that’s where I’d be looking.”

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The Verdict: Seems unlikely

Both Rice and Phillips are undoubtedly excellent footballers who have become key individuals for England, helping them reach the final of Euro 2020 last summer.

However, it is hard to envisage either of them heading to Liverpool this summer, with the former expected to stay put at West Ham for one more season.

Meanwhile, Manchester City have been linked with a move for Phillips and the Reds could end up finding themselves out-priced by the 26-year-old’s bloated homegrown fee.

In other news, James Pearce has dropped a key Liverpool update. Read more here.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou ended his debut season in charge of the Parkhead club by taking the Hoops to the Premiership title.

The Bhoys did it in style, too, ending the campaign with more goals scored and fewer conceded than any other team in the league.

However, one man who didn’t play a huge part in Celtic’s title-winning season is Ismaila Soro.

Soro an outcast at Celtic

With 19 appearances to his name across all competitions this term, the midfielder only played in eight league games, starting just one of them. That came right at the outset of the campaign, when he played the full 90 minutes in their 2-1 defeat against Hearts.

Since October, the 24-year-old was included in just six league matchday squads and only played three minutes of Premiership action. This makes it quite clear that the £10.5k-per-week outcast is not that high up in the pecking order under Postecoglou.

Now that the season has ended and the summer transfer window is set to open soon, this could give the Hoops the opportunity to get rid of the Ivorian.

Should they end up parting ways with Soro, one player with whom the club have been linked recently and could be an ideal replacement for him is Christopher Scott.

Axe Soro, sign Scott

After working his way through Bayer Leverkusen’s youth ranks, the midfielder joined Bayern Munich’s under-19 side in January 2020.

With 115 appearances to his name at senior and youth levels, the 19-year-old has scored 44 goals and provided 17 assists in the process, showing that he has a knack for scoring and setting up goals.

Described as a “very aggressive accurate passer” according to Bhoys Analytics on Twitter, Scott could be a very exciting prospect for Postecoglou to unearth and to offer a platform to play regular senior football.

Taking into account how Soro only managed a pass success rate of 86.9% in the league this season, having a sharp passer such as Scott in the team could make him the ideal upgrade.

As he is out of contract at the end of June, securing a deal for the German teenager could end up being a great bit of business from Celtic, especially if they’re able to cash in on Soro at the same time.

In other news – Terms agreed: Celtic close to signing “outstanding” ace permanently, Ange will love it

Manchester United are willing to pay Villarreal €50m (£42.8m) to sign centre-back Pau Torres, according to Marca.

The Lowdown: Torres linked with United

The Red Devils were name-checked with an interest in Torres by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano towards the end of April, who stated that the Red Devils and their crosstown rivals Manchester City were ‘interested’ in the 25-year-old, who has a release clause of €55m-€60m (£47.1m-£51.4m).

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Erik ten Hag is seemingly keen to bolster his defensive ranks, with Ajax’s Jurrien Timber also of interest at Old Trafford.

The Latest: Torres transfer update

Marca shared an update regarding Torres and United on Monday afternoon. They claimed that the Red Devils, who remain owned by the Glazers, are willing to pay Villarreal €50m (£42.8m) for the Spain international.

The report adds that Ten Hag wants a ball-playing centre-back, with Torres fitting perfectly into his plans.

The Verdict: Smart move?

It appears as if United are looking at lowering the cost of a possible deal and are willing to knock off €5m to €10m (£4.3m-£8.6m) of the defender’s release clause. However, you’d like to think that if push came to shove, the club would be willing to activate Torres’ release clause.

The Spain international, who was hailed as ‘sensational’ by his national team boss Luis Enrique, appears to be entering the prime years of his career, with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation.

He now has experience of playing in the Champions League and for his country on a regular basis, and given that he is also wanted by Pep Guardiola, Ten Hag could strike an early blow to United’s closest rivals shortly after arriving in England.

In other news: Man Utd and Ten Hag launch ‘important offer’ to sign ‘the future’ of football along with De Jong. 

Two years on from his international retirement, Kyle Abbott is well settled in his freelance life as a yorker specialist who also has many other tricks up his sleeve

Deivarayan Muthu16-Feb-2019Kyle Abbott bowled a perfectly pitched ball that seamed away to find the outside edge of Kusal Perera’s bat in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final. It was the wicket that set South Africa up for the thrilling semi-final against New Zealand, but Abbott didn’t get to play that match. Vernon Philander returned to the side for the crunch game and Abbott was once again relegated to the sidelines.Tired of playing replacement man for four years, Abbott gave up his international career and signed a Kolpak deal with Hampshire in 2017. You remember the teary press conference.Nearly three years after being benched by South Africa in the World Cup in New Zealand, Abbott is back in the country, this time as a “carefree” freelancer, helping Northern Knights to the Super Smash T20 final. He’s among Knights’ most economical bowlers this season and has carried the load when Mitchell Santner has been away playing for New Zealand and Anton Devcich for Sydney Thunder.ALSO READ: Northern Knights’ formidable reserves come to the foreMore importantly, Abbott is feeling at home away from home, surfing in Mount Maunganui, reeling in kingfish, and catching up with his old schoolmate Chad Bowes, who was on the fringes of the Dolphins side when Abbott was playing for them and now represents Canterbury in New Zealand domestic cricket. Abbott has also watched on TV as his best friend David Miller has captained South Africa.”David and I go back a very long time. It’s a bit like you get Abbott, you get Miller for free,” he quips. “Watching him captain South Africa is special and I want to play under him… but yeah, very happy for him. I don’t know how to describe our friendship.”Abbott’s great South African dream is over, but he is at peace with himself as he travels the world to play for Hampshire, Khulna Titans, Lahore Qalandars, Durban Heat and now Northern Knights. He is still enjoying himself – reeling batsmen in on the field and fish off it.The stint with Knights came from out of nowhere. After enjoying a homecoming of sorts in the inaugural Mzansi Super League, where he was Durban’s top wicket-taker, Abbott had planned to put his feet up and enjoy Christmas when Knights called him up as a replacement for Chris Jordan, who joined Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.Abbott has established himself as a yorker specialist – he can nail the stumps as well as spear it wider – an enviable skill honed by playing T20 cricket around the world. This time last year, according to , Abbott was the second most prolific yorker bowler in T20, behind only Lasith Malinga.

Unsurprisingly Lasith Malinga is the most prolific yorker bowler in T20 history: 7.8% of his deliveries are yorkers – 14% better than the second best: Kyle Abbott. https://t.co/WmhRoPEZg7. #CricViz pic.twitter.com/Qfy9TGlZNV

— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) February 27, 2018