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Everton have been heavily linked with a move for Maxwel Cornet this summer, and now a new update has been revealed that could put a dampener on the club’s plans to sign the player.

What’s the latest?

According to BBC journalist Fraser Fletcher, Everton remain interested in signing the Burnley forward this summer, but negotiations have proven difficult.

Fletcher tweeted: “Newcastle now well and truly in the running for Maxwel Cornet. Everton still keen to land him and have verbal agreement on player side but negotiations with Burnley tricky. Cornet at this point could still end up at any club.”

Supporters will be gutted

It is no secret that the Toffees are desperately in need of reinforcements to improve their squad, and Cornet would be a great addition to add depth to the attacking threat at Goodison Park so supporters will surely be worried about the lack of progress ahead of their return to action next week.

Everton have already made three great signings this summer with James Tarkowski, Dwight McNeil and Ruben Vinagre making the move to Merseyside, however, with Richarlison securing a £60m deal to join Tottenham Hotspur, Frank Lampard will want to ensure the attacking threat is fully covered.

Cornet is an extremely versatile player, capable of playing across the front three and in all three of the left-sided positions including left-back – which would give the Everton boss the opportunity to deploy him in a number of positions depending on the demand of the team who had the worst injury record in the Premier League last season.

Over 26 league appearances for Burnley, the 25-year-old scored nine goals, delivered one assist and created two big chances, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots and winning 1.9 duels per game last season – finishing the season as the top goal-scorer for the Clarets.

The Ivory Coast international was the recipient of high praise for his impact on the side last season with former team-mate Nick Pope hailing Cornet a “breath of fresh air”.

The Burnley goal machine has a £17.5m release clause attached to his contract, and with other clubs like Newcastle United interested in signing Cornet this summer, Farhad Moshiri will need to act fast and pay the fee that the Championship side are clearly wanting to be met.

AND in other news: Lampard can land his very own Gnabry with Everton bid for “extraordinary” £50m wizard

Manchester City managed to secure their fourth Premier League title in five years last season after beating Liverpool to the finish line.

One figure in Pep Guardiola’s squad that played a very big part in City’s previous campaign was Joao Cancelo.

With 36 league appearances to his name, the full-back racked up more minutes than any other player at the Manchester club.

In those appearances, Cancelo scored one goal and provided seven assists for the side, in addition to racking up more shots at goal (81) than any of his teammates. He also topped the list for successful tackles (54) and interceptions (75) at the club as he capped off an enthralling campaign in Manchester.

However, with the transfer window still very much open for business it could give the Citizens the chance to bring in what may well be their next version of the Portuguese defender.

One player that has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium in recent days would fit the profile is Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo.

In his 29 league appearances last season, the 26-year-old found the net five times and supplied five assists for his side, highlighting his attacking talent and the threat he carries in front of goal.

He also provided more crosses (172) than any other player at the Portuguese club as well as making 28 interceptions and 32 successful tackles.

This shows the clear attacking prowess he has as well as the useful defensive attributes he can produce, just like Cancelo.

His overall performances earned him a season rating of 7.28/10 from WhoScored, making him the fifth-highest rated Benfica player.

This backs up why he was hailed as being “one of the best five left-backs in Europe” by Benfica’s sporting director Tiago Pinto.

Bearing in mind how Cancelo worked his way through Benfica’s youth ranks at the early stage of his career, it shows an added similarity between the duo.

With a reported price tag of €20m (£16.8m), securing a deal for Grimaldo should be at the top of City’s priority list, especially as they could do with adding another full-back to their squad following the departure of Oleksandr Zinchenko and recent claims that a move for reported target, Marc Cucurella, has stalled.

Newcastle United have reportedly ‘made an offer’ to sign Valencia striker Maxi Gomez, according to Turkish outlet Aksam. 

The lowdown: Career so far

Signed from Celta Vigo for £13.05million in 2019 having made his name in Galicia following a move from Uruguayan outfit Defensor, Gomez has scored 22 times and provided 12 assists in 105 outings for Valencia.

Despite that relatively lowly return, the 25-year-old Uruguay international has previously been linked to Wolves, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal.

Now, it appears as though Newcastle are the latest suitors for Gomez as Eddie Howe attempts to bolster the attacking options at his disposal in the North East…

The latest: ‘Made an offer’

As per Aksam, Newcastle are believed to have ‘made an offer’ to sign the 27-cap star.

It’s claimed that the Magpies have ‘asked about’ Gomez this summer, although there is serious competition from Turkish Super Lig outfit Fenerbahce.

The report states that Valencia want offers of around €12million (£10.1million) for the Uruguayan frontman who has been nicknamed ‘The Bull’ due to his combative playing style.

The verdict: No brainer

At the mooted asking price, signing Gomez – who earns £49,000 per week at Valencia (Salary Sport) – would make an abundance of sense for the Tynesiders in order to strengthen the ranks whilst still keeping money in the coffers for more expensive potential targets such as Anthony Gordon.

Last season, the £10.8million valued ace scored five times and provided three assists in 29 La Liga outings, earning a 6.81 Sofascore rating whilst winning 5.1 duels and taking 1.5 shots per game – showcasing impressive battling quality to accompany a keen eye for goal.

Standing at 6 foot 1, Gomez shares similar traits to Alvaro Negredo and Newcastle’s own Chris Wood (FBref), suggesting another physical focal point type striker could be on the way to St James’ Park.

West Bromwich Albion have added a couple of new players to their squad since the end of their previous season in the Championship.

One of the earlier deals that they completed saw the Baggies secure a three-year contract for John Swift, who left fellow Championship club Reading as a free agent.

After making 201 appearances for his previous club in which he netted 34 goals and provided 37 assists, the midfielder hit the ground running with the Baggies as he provided the assist for their goal against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season.

With the end of the summer transfer window on the horizon, the next few weeks could not only give Albion the chance to strengthen their squad but also potentially unearth the next version of Swift at the same time.

One player who has been mentioned with a move to The Hawthorns who has the criteria to do this is Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.

With 57 appearances under his belt for United’s youth teams, the 19-year-old has scored seven goals and supplied 20 assists, which just goes to show how effective he can be in front of goal – similarly to Swift, who showed during his time at Reading how capable he is of scoring and creating goals.

This also shows why Nicky Butt lavished praise on the Red Devils youngster by saying that the Tunisian has “immense talent” in him.

Another similarity between the two players is their versatility to operate in numerous positions across the pitch.

For example, speaking about Mejbri’s versatility, Tunisian Football Federation sporting director Mohamed Slim Ben Othman had this to say about the youngster: “He can play in a lot of positions: he can be a playmaker, he can be a regista (deep-lying playmaker), he can be a defensive midfielder, he can be a winger… but for me, his best position is central midfield.”

As for Swift, he has played in every midfield position possible throughout his career, which will likely have been a big reason why Albion chose to sign him.

Bearing in mind how the Baggies have not been shy when it comes to signing young players on loan from Premier League clubs in the past, such as Conor Gallagher, Harvey Barnes and Tosin Adarabioyo, adding the Old Trafford prodigy to that list could be very beneficial for all parties involved should a deal take place before the transfer window closes.

Wolves are the favourites to sign Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes, with a fresh update claiming they are the ‘most interested club’ currently.

The Lowdown: Nunes reports constant

The Portuguese maestro’s future has been a big saga throughout the summer transfer window, with a host of clubs interested in acquiring his signature.

Wolves are one of them, with constant links emerging in recent weeks, as Bruno Lage looks to make a significant midfield signing to bolster his team before the deadline.

It appears as though Wanderers are still pushing hard to get their man, following a new update.

The Latest: Fresh update arrives

According to Sky Sport Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg on Twitter, Wolves are in pole position for Nunes, although Premier League titans Manchester City and Liverpool are also interested:

“Matheus #Nunes: Been told that Wolverhampton is the most interested club at this stage. #MCFC is still in. #LFC keeps an eye on him but it’s not very hot. Sporting will be open for offers around €35m + resale participation in the future.”

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The Verdict: Positive news

It is encouraging to see Wolves still be in the mix to snap up Nunes, with the Sporting man someone who could forge an outstanding partnership with Ruben Neves, should he stay put.

Nunes has been hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by former teammate Goncalo Santos in the past and his technical ability when driving with the ball is really a sight to behold.

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He and Neves know each other at international level with Portugal and their ball-playing expertise, coupled with strong out-of-possession work, means Wanderers could dominate midfield battles.

At 23, Nunes represents a long-term investment, and his 86.2% pass completion rate and average of 2.5 dribbles per game in the Primeira Liga last season highlight the technical class at his disposal.

West Ham United are ‘progressing’ in talks to sign Club Brugge star Hans Vanaken this summer, as backed by journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Hammers working…

The Hammers are working to back manager David Moyes with more Premier League signings before this window’s cut off on September 1.

Indeed, reports suggest that the club wish to strengthen at both left-back and in midfield after securing a move for centre-back Thilo Kehrer from Paris-Saint Germain.

Vanaken, after West Ham had an opening bid turned down, remains a target for the east Londoners as reporter Jones shares what he knows.

The Latest: West Ham ‘progressing’…

Commenting on the links and sharing his own update, the journalist claims West Ham appear to be ‘progressing’ in a move for the Belgium international.

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Speaking to GiveMeSport, he explained:

“Vanaken, from Brugge, is quite an interesting one.

“I got mixed reports on on it initially, but it does seem one that they are progressing.

“They were in for him a while back, so he must have stayed on their radar since then and come back onto the agenda just due to the circumstances West Ham are in right now, looking for numbers in that area of the field.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

Vanaken has been a star in Brugge over the last few seasons with their manager, Carl Hoefkens, very recently calling him ‘quality’.

His numbers back this up with WhoScored revealing the 29-year-old finished 2021/2022 as their third-best performer by average match rating, earning an impressive 7.25/10 per 90.

Indeed, Vanaken was an indispensable part of Brugge’s side with only goalkeeper Simon Mignolet playing more league minutes than the attacking midfielder.

His tally of 11 goals and nine assists in Belgium’s top flight is yet another incentive to move before it’s too late.

Leeds United have expressed a ‘firm interest’ in signing Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan this summer, according to reliable journalist Liam Keen.

The Lowdown: Hwang linked with Leeds move

Jesse Marsch is still searching for a new striker before the summer transfer window ends, with injury problems continuing to plague Patrick Bamford.

Hwang is one player who has been linked with coming in and bolstering Leeds’ attack, having spent one season at Wolves after joining from RB  Leipzig.

Reports have claimed the player is keen on the move, and a fresh update suggests the Whites’ interest is very much serious.

The Latest: Interest is genuine

According to The Express & Star‘s Wolves correspondent, Leeds have indeed ‘expressed a firm interest’ in signing Hwang this summer, with a potential exit from Wolves on the cards.

Bruno Lage ‘wants to keep’ the South Korean but a reunion with Jesse Marsch could see a move to Elland Road appeal.

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The Verdict: Is he worth it?

Hwang is a good player who shone under Marsch during their RB Salzburg days together – he scored 45 goals in 126 appearances – but he is yet to set the Premier League alight, despite Ian Wright praising his ‘pace, skill, touch and awareness’.

After a bright start last season, the 26-year-old only has five goals in 35 matches for Wolves, so that lack of productivity in the final third could be a worry.

That being said, Marsch knows Hwang inside out as a player, and if he believes he can take Leeds up another gear, he has to be trusted. The signings of Rasmus Kristensen and Brenden Aaronson already look inspired, for example, suggesting the American knows what he is doing.

An update has emerged regarding Glasgow Rangers’ plans for Ryan Kent’s future at Ibrox… 

What’s the talk?

The 4th Official has claimed that the Light Blues are keen on pinning the English winger down to an extension as quickly as possible.

Writing on their Patreon page, via Ibrox News, they said: “Rangers made no secret of the fact that the players they would have looked to bring in during the last few days of the transfer window would have been dramatically different if they didn’t qualify for the Champions League.

“First, Rangers do want to get Ryan Kent on a new contract ASAP and that could cost between £11m-£12m (this is an estimate from my end).”

Gio van Bronckhorst’s own Mbappe

Securing the ex-Liverpool man’s future at Ibrox would be a fantastic piece of business by the club, as he is the manager’s own version of Paris Saint-Germain’s French superstar Kylian Mbappe.

It was once claimed on Sky Sports’ YouTube channel that he is “the Mbappe of Scottish football”, and whilst he may not be scoring 28 goals and setting up 17 in one season like the 23-year-old did in Ligue 1 last term, the Englishman has shown that he can be an influential player at the top end of the pitch for Rangers.

Kent produced 19 assists in all competitions in 2021/22 for the Gers and chipped in with 10 goals and 11 assists in the Premiership in the campaign prior as he helped the team to win the title.

The £18k-per-week wizard, who was described as “electric” by journalist Jacob Schneider, has proven that he can regularly deliver goal contributions for the Scottish giants, and that is why he is a valuable player for the club.

Goals win games and Kent is a potential match-winner with his ability to score them and set them up, like a mini Mbappe. There is no guarantee that anyone the Gers bring in would be capable of replicating his quality, so keeping him would be a huge boost for van Bronckhorst.

He is out of contract next summer so, as it stands, he will be free to sign a pre-contract deal with a foreign club in January. The 25-year-old would be able to negotiate with other clubs and decide on his future then, or else wait until he becomes a free agent ahead of the 2023/24 campaign to make a decision.

This means that getting him to sign a new deal in the coming weeks would take away the fear of him leaving for nothing next year, whilst also reiterating his commitment to the Gers, and it would represent a terrific piece of work.

Despite Aston Villa’s precarious position in the Premier League table, Steven Gerrard has by all accounts had a solid summer transfer window.

The club have brought in quality, with Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara, and Philippe Coutinho arriving at Villa Park in permanent deals.

Deadline day saw another two additions, with Leander Dendoncker and Jan Bednarek arriving for £13m and a season-long loan respectively and this has given Gerrard options in the two positions that arguably needed it most.

They were also after another forward in the window, with Blackburn Rovers star Ben Brereton-Diaz being linked recently, however, no move materialised for the player.

This might not matter though, as the club could already have a talent within their ranks who might be a Premier League star in the making.

Caleb Chukwuemeka is a forward for Villa’s U21 side and older brother of Carney Chukwuemeka, who recently joined Chelsea from Villa in a £20m transfer.

There is no doubt that Chukwuemeka could follow in his brother’s footsteps with the talent he possesses, with Gregg Evans describing him as a “real prospect” and there appears no limit to what he can achieve in the game.

Gerrard has sent the youngster out on loan to Crawley Town for the remainder of the season and the manager will be hoping he continues his development in League Two.

In the Premier League 2 last season, he netted seven goals in just nine appearances, grabbing a further five assists and he won the player of the month award for September.

Aston Villa beat Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers to the signing of the 20-year-old just last year and he joined Premiership side, Livingston, for the second half of last season.

No goals were scored during his stint in Scotland, but first-team football for a top-flight team was excellent for his development and if he carries on improving, then he could well be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

West Bromwich Albion attacker Grady Diangana has won praise for his performance in Saturday’s Championship clash with Norwich City.

The lowdown

West Brom took a hard-earned point from high-flying Norwich City at Carrow Road to move just clear of the relegation places and bounce back from midweek’s torrid display.

Dara O’Shea’s goal inside the first 10 minutes was not enough to secure a three much-needed points for Steve Bruce, but it does still feel as though they have stopped the rot given the Canaries’ form before the clash.

Diangana’s made his eighth start in ten Championship matches, lining up on the left of the three behind focal point Brandon Thomas-Asante.

The latest

Elias Burke of The Athletic commended Diangana for one first-half moment that saw him beat a number of Norwich defenders, while Lewis Cox of The Express & Star hailed his display more generally.

Burke tweeted: “Diangana, that’s filthy. Dribbles past three or four players on the left and wins and free-kick, comes to nothing, unfortunately.”

And Cox said: “Diangana looks at it today. Sharp. Lightning feet. WBA fans loving it.”

The verdict

The stats (via SofaScore) show that Diangana did indeed have quite the afternoon at Carrow Road.

He won the majority of the ground duels he contested (11 of 19), completed 90% of his passes and contributed out of possession too by making four tackles.

His afternoon’s work was even more impressive when you consider that he was actually a doubt for the game.

As Cox reported before the game, Bruce faced a 50-50 call on whether to include Diangana as the 24-year-old nursed a groin issue.

If he reached this level without being 100 per cent fit, then he deserves extra praise.