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Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson this summer, but it will only be possible on one condition.

How much does Brennan Johnson earn?

The Welshman, who has the same agent as Reece James, has become one of the first names on the team sheet at the City Ground, playing a huge role in Forest getting back into the Premier League, and continuing to shine in the top flight.

Last season, the £30,000-a-week-earning Johnson scored eight goals and registered three assists in the league, helping his side pull away from the relegation battle in the process. He is going to be a vital player for them again in 2023/24, so it is clear that they are desperate to keep hold of him for as long as possible.

Chelsea are on the lookout for more attacking signings this summer, and having missed out on Crystal Palace star Michael Olise, alternatives are now being looked at.

While more of a central attacker than a wide player, it appears as though Johnson has been identified as a possible addition at Stamford Bridge before the current transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Will Chelsea sign Brennan Johnson?

According to The Daily Mail, Johnson has emerged as a summer target Chelsea, alongside Jeremy Doku, but a move will only be able to happen if they match the Reds' £50m valuation of him:

"Chelsea are in the running to sign Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson this summer. The Blues have been keen to bolster their attacking depth throughout the transfer window and were close to sealing a move for Michael Olise – before the Crystal Palace winger signed a four-year contract extension on Thursday.

"Chelsea's interest in Johnson, however, has been longstanding and the Forest star has been on their radar prior to their move for Olise falling through. However, any move for the Wales international will depend on Chelsea meeting Forest's £50m valuation for the 22-year-old."

Johnson is an excellent footballer who has shown his class for Forest over an extending period now, scoring 29 goals in 106 appearances, not to mention netting twice in 19 caps for Wales and being hailed as "fantastic" by Forest manager Steve Cooper.

For all his quality, though, it could be argued that the 22-year-old isn't quite what Chelsea are looking for this summer, with proper wide options more pressing. While he can drift into those areas, his best football is arguably played down the middle, and he doesn't possess natural width like Olise, for example.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

The step up from Forest to Chelsea is also huge, so there would be question marks over whether Johnson was at the level required to take the Blues to that next step, with the Wales man an excellent option for Forest, but someone who could ultimately look out of his depth for one of the so-called 'big six'.

At 22, it is worth stressing that he remains a very young player with a high ceiling, however, so if Mauricio Pochettino has faith in him being an ideal option before the window ends, he should be trusted in bringing in the right players.

Everton are now showing an interest in signing Manchester United's Harry Maguire, and journalist Rudy Galetti has now revealed whether the defender is likely to be on the move this summer.

Is Harry Maguire leaving Man United?

West Ham United intended to sign Maguire in a £30m deal, however the move collapsed, with it emerging that he would rather stay at Old Trafford this season, however the Red Devils still remain open to offers, despite Erik ten Hag being content to keep him.

ESPN report that United think it is too late to go into the market for a new defender, but Fabrizio Romano has recently stated they are interested in signing Jean-Clair Todibo, Edmond Tapsoba, and Marc Guehi, although Benjamin Pavard is their "priority."

If his pursuit of a new centre-back proves to be successful, Erik ten Hag could choose to sanction Maguire's departure, and there have been a number of Premier League clubs credited with an interest this summer, including Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.

Just a few weeks ago, it was reported the Toffees were leading the race for the England international, and they could now be gearing themselves up to make a move, as GiveMeSport have credited them with "shock" interest.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Galetti has now confirmed the 30-year-old is still available to sign this summer, but there has been little in the way of progress towards an exit over the past couple of weeks.

The journalist said: "Despite the deal that collapsed with West Ham, Maguire is still on the market. Only with his farewell, Manchester United will sign a new centre-back. At the moment for the former United captain, everything is going slow.

“Everton showed interest in him in the last few days, but nothing concrete at the moment. Saudi Arabia is not an option. So, as it stands, the chances to remain in Manchester grow day after day."

Read The Latest Everton Transfer News HERE

How much does Harry Maguire earn per week?

If Everton are to tempt the Englishman into a move, they may have to offer him a significant wage package, given that he is currently tied down to a £190k-per-week contract at Old Trafford, which is not due to expire until the summer of 2025.

While he has received plenty of criticism during his time at Man United, the former Leicester City man has also received praise from his teammates, namely Luke Shaw, who hailed him for his performances for England, saying:

"Look at the Euros and what he has done, people need to understand he is a big part of the England team and they have to accept it."

"He keeps putting himself in the spotlight and it shows the strength and character he has got because, come on, everyone knows that he is an unbelievable player."

Maguire's aerial ability is very impressive, ranking in the 90th percentile for aerials won per 90 over the past year, and he has proven himself at international level, receiving 57 caps for his country, so he could be an excellent signing for Everton.

There has been an update regarding Manchester United's pursuit of Fiorentina midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat…

What's the latest on Amrabat to Man United?

According to transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils are still pressing on in their desire to land the Moroccan international this summer, albeit with prior reports that a bid had been lodged for the 26-year-old having seemingly been "premature".

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider revealed: "Amrabat after friendly game: “I don’t know if I’m leaving… maybe I can stay here at Fiorentina”. Told there are no changes: Man Utd keep working on Amrabat and want him — but talks are on player side. No bid… yet.

"Reports about official bids last week were premature."

Read the latest [club] transfer news HERE…

While it would appear that an offer for the former Club Brugge ace has not yet been made by those at Old Trafford, the Daily Mail only recently reported that the 6 foot 1 maestro could cost in the region of £25m, having entered the final year of his contract in Florence.

How would Amrabat fit in at Man United?

While player sales may be needed prior to any deal for the Netherlands-born ace, it looks as if Fred could be on his way to Turkish giants, Galatasaray, while Donny van de Beek has caught the attention of La Liga outfit, Real Sociedad, thus ensuring that space could soon be available in the first-team squad at the Theatre of Dreams.

If Amrabat – who featured 50 times under Erik ten Hag during his prior stint at FC Utrecht – is to sign on the dotted line over the coming weeks, the Red Devils would be snapping up a combative and composed asset who could slot in nicely in the centre of the park.

Lauded as something of a "beast" by ESPN's Steve Nicol amid his strong form for his country at the World Cup last year, the £32k-per-week ace could potentially allow United's attacking talents to shine due to his defensive acumen, with Bruno Fernandes likely to be a notable beneficiary.

The latter man has been the undoubted creative hub for the Premier League side of late having created 32 big chances in the top-flight last season – more than any player in the division – proving himself a true master at providing quality service from his playmaking berth.

For the Portugal international to have a figure like Amrabat behind him could well prove to be a dream scenario, with the Fiorentina man having notably averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game in Qatar as a sign of his knack for winning back possession – with that record not far off what Casemiro achieved in the league last season (4.4 tackles and interceptions per game).

Perhaps the 49-cap international's most notable attribute is his ball-playing quality from a deep-lying midfield berth, with that showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, ensuring that the one-time Feyenoord man is not one to squander possession easily.

Equally, Amrabat could also be perfect for Fernandes due to his knack for playing incisive forward passes as he ranks in the top 8% for progressive passes, with that a sign that he regularly looks to find those ahead of him.

That could then benefit the United skipper – who previously joked about Fred's shortcomings on the ball, in contrast to former coach Michael Carrick – as he can regularly pick the ball up in dangerous areas to try and impact proceedings in the final third, with Ten Hag's chief chance creator likely to be able to do even more damage next season.

Aston Villa remain interested in Barcelona star Ferran Torres, with Unai Emery reportedly eyeing a move for the 23-year-old forward.

With Monchi on board, it’s expected to be a busy summer in the Midlands, with news reemerging linking the former Manchester City gem with a move to Villa Park.

The player was first rumoured to be one to watch for the Villans by journalist Graham Bailey back in May, who stated via The Talking Transfers Podcast that Villa could move for the Barcelona ace.

Fast-forward to now, and it’s been speculated that Emery’s side are ‘considering’ a loan move to lure the 23-year-old away from Catalonia, with a €25m option to buy rumoured.

That’s according to reports from Spain, where Mundo Deportivo relayed Villa’s interest in the forward last week, as per Sport Witness.

The report claims that despite the proposed approach for a loan, Barcelona may be more attracted to an immediate sale due to their ongoing financial worries, despite the player speculated to be against a ‘change in scenery’.

With Pau Torres nearing a permanent move to the Midlands, the signing of the impressive centre-back could inspire Monchi to raid La Liga once more in the bid to improve Emery’s attack.

What could Ferran Torres offer to Aston Villa?

At just 23-years-old, Torres has gathered adequate experience for his age in representing some of the continent's top clubs in Manchester City, Barcelona and Valencia.

Rising through the ranks of Valencia’s academy, the then 20-year-old signed for Pep Guardiola’s side in 2020, where he scored 16 goals in 43 appearances for the Sky Blues, as well as getting his hands on two Premier League winners medals.

Adhering to a more sporadic role for the Citizens, the £165k-per-week winger showed his versatility in attack when called upon, featuring as both a wide player and a central striker with a particular eye for goal.

The youngster opted to return to his homeland just a year and a half after arriving in Manchester, signing for the Catalan giants in the 2022 January window.

Similar occurrences have happened at the Camp Nou, in which the Spaniard has fallen down the pecking order to talents such as Raphinha and Ansu Fati, finding it difficult to secure continuous game time.

The forward could be a perfect addition to Emery’s squad, who are looking to add high-profile names to the side this summer after securing a spot in Europe next season.

The Premier League has an abundance of dynamic wingers on show, with Torres being likened to one star in particular based on his statistical comparisons by FBref, showing similarities to Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, a player Emery coached in north London.

Emery could obtain his answer to the 15-goal Brazilian in the Spaniard, who has recorded similar numbers to the Gunners starlet over the past year.

When comparing the two, it’s clear to see just what Torres could equip Villa with, averaging 0.39 non-penalty goals per 90, just shy of Martinelli’s average of 0.41.

A similar pattern is notable in the Spaniard’s threat on the ball, with him being lauded as “magnificent” by former teammate Dani Parejo, praise that's reflected by averaging an impressive 1.96 successful take-ons per 90.

That is incredibly close to Arsenal’s trickster with Martinelli averaging 1.97 successful take-ons per 90 as per FBref, showing the calibre of player Villa could find themselves possessing this summer.

Chelsea may already be well stocked at the back even after Kalidou Koulibaly's exit, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eyeing a replacement before the summer transfer window closes.

Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea and Manchester United appear to now face fresh competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who suggests Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bring in the Brazilian, meaning Chelsea must speed things up if they are indeed interested in the player.

Is Gleison Bremer a good choice for Chelsea?

Bremer only joined Juventus from Torino last year, having caught the eye across three seasons as a regular with their city rivals, especially in 2021-22 when being named Best Defender in Serie A.

As a full Brazil international and with four years still to run on his Juve contract, it is reported that it will take a bid of around £50m to tempt the Turin giants to cash in.

For those unaware of Bremer's style, FBref's player comparison tool provides a good indication. Based on their statistical profiles, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is rated as the eighth-most similar defender to the Juve star across Europe's top five leagues.

Bremer would be a long-term partner for Benoit Badiashile at Chelsea, but it is likely to be the more experienced Thiago Silva he links up with in the heart of defence next season should he join.

The international colleagues have similarities and differences, with the most notable being Bremer's ability to score goals, as reflected in the four he scored last season. That ranks him in the top 4% of all defenders across Europe's top five leagues, whereas Silva is in the bottom 16% (no goals).

That is further highlighted in the shots and touches in the box metrics (top 5% and top 8% for Bremer respectively; top 36% and top 34% for Silva), though the former AC Milan defender does come out on top for tackles won per 90 (0.99 v 0.71), as per FBref, and percentage of aerial duels won (71.2% v 62.4%).

While Bremer is 12 years younger than his compatriot, he can certainly hold his own. As former Torino team-mate Mergim Vojvoda explained last year: "[Bremer] is very strong, an animal. He is also fast, he is tall and has made a great leap in quality on a technical level, with the ball at his feet."

That is reflected in the stats, with Bremer completing 89.7% of his passes across all competitions last season – a very similar figure to Silva's 90.7% at Chelsea.

Ultimately, it appears the Brazilian duo can complement each other well in the short term, providing a springboard at the back for what Pochettino will hope is a successful first campaign in West London.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ‘likely to trigger’ a contract extension for defender Nelson Semedo, according to journalist Liam Keen.

The Lowdown: Uncertain future

The Portugal international made the switch to the Premier League from Barcelona in 2020 but his current deal is set to expire at the end of the season and he’s already been linked with an exit.

The Old Gold were reportedly considering signing a new right-back in January with the 29-year-old having re-emerged onto the radar of his former club Benfica.

However, Julen Lopetegui has made the player a regular feature since arriving at Molineux and now sounds eager to tie him down.

The Latest: Semedo set to stay?

Taking to Twitter, Keen claimed that Wolves are set to extend Semedo’s stay, with the deadline for them to come to a full conclusion revealed. He wrote:

“Wolves are likely to trigger Nelson Semedo’s two-year contract extension before the end of the season, with his current deal up this summer. Club have until mid-May to make their decision and it’s in their hands.”

The Verdict: Correct decision

Wolves’ manager is clearly an admirer of Semedo and the Midlands outfit would be making completely the right decision by keeping hold of him.

The Nike-sponsored star ranks in the 95th percentile for most tackles per 90 minutes but is also a threat going forward having whipped 28 crosses into the box so far this season (FBRef).

The Lisbon native has featured in all 12 of Lopetegui’s games in charge so is obviously a part of his long-term plans, making this a no-brainer of a deal to complete.

Leeds United have targeted a new international midfielder this summer and he appears to be keen on an Elland Road move, according to a promising update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Will Leeds challenge for promotion?

The Whites found themselves relegated from the Premier League last season, having endured a tough campaign that saw them get through three different managers in Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce.

It meant that they have returned to the Championship for the first time since the 2019/20 season, and they are arguably seen as one of the favourites to secure promotion back to the top flight.

For that to happen, further signings could be needed before the summer transfer window comes to a close, with the addition of Joel Piroe from Swansea City a very exciting piece of business, among others.

Will Leeds sign Glen Kamara?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs claimed that Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara, who has allegedly agreed terms with Leeds, prefers the idea of moving to the Whites this summer instead of staying put at Ibrox for another season.

He has been strongly linked with a switch to Elland Road and reports have claimed that a £5.5m deal was close, with Jacobs believing a transfer could be a "very decent deal".

"With Glen Kamara, that one also has some substance to it as well, in the region of £5m, which could be a bargain. I think the player would prefer the move to Leeds over staying at Rangers.

"There has been a little bit of interest from Middlesbrough as well, so there are a few Championship clubs in the mix, but at the time of recording this, nothing is necessarily done with Kamara yet."

Bringing in Kamara late on in the transfer window could be great business by Leeds, with the 27-year-old someone who has been such a key man for Rangers down the years.

He has made 193 appearances for the Scottish Premiership giants, anchoring the midfield expertly, and there is also the small matter of winning 52 caps for Finland. He won the league title with the Gers back in 2020/21, and tasted Scottish Cup glory the following campaign, and he would bring a wealth of quality and experience in the middle of the park at Elland Park.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

At 27, Kamara is primed to come in and hit the ground running, not being daunted by playing for such a big club, given Rangers' reputation throughout history, and he could take Leeds' midfield up a level in the same way Piroe will in attack, having enjoyed an 89.4% pass completion rate in the Scottish Premiership last season.

The Finn has also been hailed as both "fantastic" and "excellent" by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in the past, during their time together at Ibrox as player and manager respectively, which further highlights the pedigree he possesses as a footballer.

Tottenham Hotspur have "sent their scouts" to watch Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, however there are "several" clubs interested in his signature, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham are set to battle north London rivals Arsenal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi this summer, as per the Evening Standard, with Clement Lenglet set to return to Barcelona, and Davinson Sanchez facing an uncertain future.

In recent days, it has emerged that Spurs are also keen on bringing in Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, who has a €18m (£15.5m) release clause, which would need to be activated before the beginning of July.

Tah is not the only Leverkusen defender the Lilywhites have set their sights on, however, as Romano has recently told GiveMeSport that they hold an interest in Tapsoba, who is also a target for Arsenal.

The transfer expert details that a number of teams are interested in the defender, while he also claims his big price tag could also be a stumbling block for Tottenham, saying: I think it will be a tough race and situation because several clubs are interested. Also, Tottenham sent their scouts, and there is interest in Tapsoba. But also, because Bayer Leverkusen will only let him go for big money, more than €50m-€55m (£43m-£47m).”

Who is Edmond Tapsoba?

Tapsoba has made a total of 137 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen since transferring to the German club in January 2020, and he played a vital role in the Bundesliga this season, missing just one game.

The Burkina Faso international has established himself as a key first-team player for the German side, commonly playing alongside Tah at the back, and considering Spurs are weighing up a move for both players, it is worthwhile to compare them.

Over the past year, the 6 foot 4 giant has averaged more tackles and blocks per 90 than his teammate, however he ranks lower for interceptions and aerials won during the same timeframe.

Not only that, but there is very little separating the two players, in terms of their average WhoScored match rating this season, indicating they are similar in quality, but Tah will be available for a fraction of the price, so he could well be the better purchase.

Despite Tapsoba being lauded as "solid as a rock" by football scout Jacek Kulig, if Tottenham are to make a move for any Bayer Leverkusen player this summer, it should be Jonathan Tah.

Tottenham Hotspur have pulled the plug on signing Galatasary defender Victor Nelsson with Ange Postecoglou's side "no longer in talks" this summer.

Who will Tottenham sign?

Spurs are attempting to back Postecoglou with more fresh faces, but with just two more games of their pre-season remaining and the start of 2023/2024 just next month, they will want to make more headway soon.

The north Londoners have seen goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, midfielder James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon join the club this window – following on from permanent deals for Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski.

Next on chairman Daniel Levy's transfer agenda is the signing of a two star centre-backs, and there have been a succession of defenders linked.

Postecoglou has admitted that is something the club are currently looking at, coming after Spurs conceded a pretty woeful 63 league goals last campaign.

"That's definitely our intention, absolutely," said Postecoglou when asked about signing new defenders.

"We've been working on it for a while and we'll definitely try to get it done as quickly as possible.

"I don't think it's any secret about some of the areas we needed to strengthen. Some of it I identified early on. The goalkeeper was one and central defence is another.

"In terms of the other boys, we've got a big squad but my view is I wanted to bring them along and just work with them, get some clarity in my head and give clarity to them."

Tottenham have been seriously interested and in talks for Micky van de Ven of Wolfsburg, but reports from The Athletic this morning suggest a deal could now be off.

However, rhe long list of alternative centre-backs linked with a move to N17 includes Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona'a Clement Lenglet, Juventus defender Gleison Bremer and Nelsson.

On the latter defender, there were reports of Spurs nearing a deal to sign the 24-year-old, but journalist Charlie Gordon of The Daily Express has a contrary update.

Taking to Twitter, Gordon says Tottenham are "no longer in talks" to sign Nelsson – with Postecoglou's side seemingly giving up on a deal.

"Update on Victor Nelsson," wrote the reporter.

"Told that Tottenham are no longer in talks for the Galatasaray CB, dismissing recent reports of an agreement between the clubs."

There is little background as to why Spurs have backed away, which we find bizarre considering his contract possesses an affordable £21 million release clause.

How good is Victor Nelsson?

The Denmark international, who featured at last year's 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has been a star player for Galatasary at club level.

Boasting some impressive stats from last season's Turkish Super Lig campaign, Nelsson made more blocks per 90 and won more battles in the air than any other Galatasary player (WhoScored).

An undroppable under manager Okan Buruk, Nelsson featured over more league minutes than any of his outfield teammates last campaign – surely highlighting his importance to Galatasary and quality as a player.

The former FC Copenhagen ace has been called one the "star player" of Galatasary by sections of the Turkish press, making Spurs' decision to back off a rather curious one.

Perhaps, and this is just speculation, they edging towards an agreement for other targets like Lenglet or Tapsoba.

Everton defender Mason Holgate moving on this summer would be the 'right thing for him in his career' as Sean Dyche continues to streamline hid squad ahead of the new campaign commencing, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Who is interested in buying Mason Holgate from Everton?

According to The Daily Mail, both Southampton and Sheffield United are keen to bring in Holgate this summer as his future at Goodison Park hangs in the balance.

Everton are prepared to offload the £70k-a-week ace and Southampton are in talks with Everton to offer Holgate an escape route from Merseyside as Russell Martin priorities defensive reinforcements as he gears his side up for life in the Sky Bet Championship.

Football Insider claim that Everton would be willing to get Holgate off the wage bill by sanctioning a loan deal this window and Nottingham Forest are mooted to be another interested party in signing the 26-year-old.

Holgate is said to be free to leave Everton as he has failed to impress boss Sean Dyche. Last term, the Doncaster-born central defender featured just nine times in all competitions for the Blues, as per Transfermarkt.

Former Barnsley man Holgate featured at full-back in 2022/23; however, he may now have fallen further down the pecking order due to the arrival of Ashley Young at Everton, as per Sky Sports.

Jarrad Branthwaite has returned from his successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven and has designs on solidifying himself as a regular starter at Goodison Park, stating to official Everton media channels: “For me, I know I need to come in, have a strong pre-season and secure a place for next season. I have got the experience I need to come back and get into the team. Overall, I need to have a strong pre-season and go from there.”

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks the arrival of Young and return of Branthwaite to Goodison Park may spell the end for Holgate at the club.

Brown told FFC: "I believe that Jarrad Branthwaite is ahead of him now in the pecking order and will probably be the fourth centre-back. That makes it very difficult for Holgate to get in unless he's played as a full-back. I think Dyche did play him as a full-back in one game because he wanted his crossing ability in the team. It didn't go very well, as I recall. Now that Ashley Young is there, I think it's more than likely that we see Holgate move on, which I actually think would be the right thing for him in his career as well."

What next for Everton?

Arrivals will be a key part of this summer for Dyche at Everton as he looks to consolidate their footing in the Premier League following a rocky couple of years at Goodison Park on and off the field.

Everton are in talks with Leeds United attacker Wilfried Gnonto and are said to be 'leading the race' to sign the 19-year-old and his versatility has impressed Kettering-born boss Dyche, as per Football Insider.

Ajax striker Brian Brobbey is another target for the Toffees, who are believed to have registered their interest with the Dutch giants over the possibility of acquiring the Netherlands Under-21 cap, as per the same outlet.

Sporx via Goodison News claim that Everton are one of several clubs who are keen to land 18-year-old Istanbul Basaksehir goalkeeper Deniz Dilmen, who is also garnering attention from AC Milan, Villarreal and Wolverhampton Wanderers.