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Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Maxwel Cornet to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by 90min, who claim that, despite West Ham United believed to be progressing in talks to sign the Burnley forward, the likes of Newcastle United, Everton and Nottingham Forest have also made contact with the Clarets concerning a deal for the 25-year-old, while Leeds are another side said to be keeping tabs on the Ivory Coast international.

The report continues to state that Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City are also casting an eye over the former Olympique Lyon winger, who it is believed has a £17.5m release clause written into his current contract at Turf Moor.

“Unbelievable”

Considering just how quickly Cornet took to English football following his €15m (£12.5m) move to Burnley last summer, in addition to the fact that the Ivorian is also capable of operating from left-back – a position it is well documented Victor Orta is looking to strengthen – the argument that the 25-year-old would be an unbelievable signing for £17.5m is an easy one to make.

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Indeed, over his 26 Premier League fixtures for the Clarets last time out, despite his side’s struggles in the top flight, the £13.5m-rated forward still managed to catch the eye, bagging nine goals, providing one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots, making 0.6 key passes and completing 0.5 dribbles per game.

Compared to those at Leeds, he would have been their third top-scorer behind Jack Harrison and Raphinha, so it’s evident how much he’d give to Marsch’s men if he pens terms in Yorkshire, especially considering the latter has now left.

The above returns saw the £30k-per-week flanker who Maximiliano Bretos dubbed an “unbelievable talent” and Ale Moreno labelled an “explosive player” average an impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.84 – a rating that, were he to have played for the Whites last season, would have ranked him as Jesse Marsch’s joint eighth-best performer in the top flight.

As such, while it would appear as if Orta will face fierce competition from a number of Premier League rivals in pursuit of Cornet this summer, the 25-year-old would very much appear to be worth the fight – as the winger’s versatility, ability in the final third and £17.5m release clause would all look to make him something of an unbelievable signing.

Nottingham Forest have made an enquiry regarding Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri, according to the Evening Standard. 

The lowdown: Moreno alternative

The Reds had been actively pursuing a deal for Real Betis left-back Alex Moreno and were seemingly edging towards a deal for their long-term target before the Spaniard opted to stay in his homeland.

Forest were even believed to have reached an agreement to sign the full-back for £9million, taking the overall expenditure at the City Ground beyond the £90million mark for the Premier League new boys.

Now, it appears as though Dane Murphy is wasting little time in moving on to alternative options and 28-year-old Italy international Emerson could be the next on the radar in the Midlands…

The latest: Enquiry made

As per the Evening Standard, Nottingham Forest are understood to have ‘enquired’ about the availability of the 27-cap star.

It’s claimed that Serie A giants Juventus are also ‘still interested’ in acquiring Emerson’s services this summer, although the capture of Filip Kostic this week could cool their admiration.

The report makes no mention of a fee required to sign the Brazil-born ace who was praised for his ‘unbelievable qualities’ by Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel in 2021.

The verdict: Make it happen

Boasting a wealth of experience from his spells at Lyon, Roma and Santos, Emerson would be a smart addition to Steve Cooper’s ranks.

Predominantly utilised as a left-back last season, the marauding Italian scored once and provided two assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, earning a 6.91 Sofascore rating whilst winning 4.9 duels, completing 1.0 successful dribble and making 2.1 clearances on average per Ligue 1 outing on loan at Lyon.

Capable of operating in more advanced positions and centrally, Emerson – who shares similar stylistic traits to the likes of Dani Carvajal, Benjamin Pavard and Alex Telles (FBref) – appears ready-made to slot into Cooper’s preferred 3-4-1-2 system.

Valued at £12.6million and under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), this is likely to be an affordable venture for the Forest hierarchy and if possible, the Reds should look to reach an agreement at around a similar fee to that agreed for Moreno.

Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz could well be set to stay at Craven Cottage, despite persistent links regarding a move elsewhere.

What’s the word?

According to respected journalist Alan Nixon, the 21-year-old appears in line to remain part of Marco Silva’s plans this season, despite reports that Championship outfit Middlesbrough are eyeing a possible loan swoop.

Amid that interest, the transfer insider provided an update on the future of the Brazilian, writing on Twitter: “That one isn’t moving forward very quickly … still needed at Fulham … and they’ve not brought anyone extra in to force him away …”

The highly-rated forward only arrived in England on a five-year deal last summer, playing a bit-part role as the west London outfit secured promotion back to the Premier League.

Solomon replacement

The £4.5m-rated striker unsurprisingly found it difficult to usurp the prolific presence of Aleksandar Mitrovic in attack last term, with the Serbia international having scored a record-breaking tally of 43 league goals.

Despite having been largely resigned to a supporting role, Muniz still managed to showcase his “exciting” talent – as dubbed by Tony Khan – on occasion in his debut campaign with the Cottagers, scoring five goals from 28 appearances in all competitions – only four of which came from the start.

The 5 foot 10 menace had been earmarked as a hugely impressive prospect during his previous stint in Brazil – where he scored five goals in 25 games for Flamengo – with talent scout Jacek Kulig notably dubbing him a “revelation”.

Also lauded for his “killer instinct” in front of goal by Kulig, the explosive forward could well prove something of a hidden gem for Silva and Fulham this season, despite having failed to make it off the bench in the opening weeks of the season.

Further involvement could also be on the cards following the cruel recent blow to summer signing Manor Solomon, with the winger set to be ruled out until after this year’s World Cup after sustaining a knee injury in a behind-closed-doors match last week.

With the 23-year-old now expected to be on the sidelines for an extended period of time, it could well provide young Muniz with the chance to fill that attacking void, with the £7.5k-per-week ace having briefly featured on the flanks in his career thus far.

While there are reports that the Cottagers are plotting a move for a new striker in the form of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Neal Maupay, the loss of Solomon should ensure that Muniz is kept at the club regardless, with Silva’s squad already lacking attacking depth.

Fulham are reportedly interested in signing PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa this summer and the Frenchman could be a superb addition to Marco Silva’s side.

What’s the word?

According to the Evening Standard, Kurzawa is Silva’s main defensive target ahead of the transfer window shutting next week, with the Cottagers looking to strengthen further after a strong start to life back in the Premier League.

Silva’s side earned impressive draws against Liverpool and Wolves before earning a last-gasp win over Brentford last weekend, but the Portuguese manager is clearly keen to bolster his squad after seven signings so far this summer.

Kurzawa has lost his place in PSG’s starting XI to Nuno Mendes since his arrival and has barely featured for Les Parisiens in the last 12 months, making just 19 appearances last season, so could be available at a cut-price this summer as the French champions look to get him off their books.

Silva would love him

Silva currently has Antonee Robinson and Joe Bryan available as his main left-back options in Fulham’s squad, the latter of which is unlikely to be deemed good enough for the Premier League having made just 15 appearances in the Championship last season.

Therefore, with Bryan’s contract set to expire at the end of this season, Silva would surely love to bring in Kurzawa, who earns £88k-per-week at PSG, as a replacement.

While the Frenchman has struggled in recent seasons for PSG – failing to register a seasonal performance rating above a 6.9 – his form with the French giants in his first few seasons, when he regularly averaged above a 7/10 rating from WhoScored, shows that he could be a quality addition at Craven Cottage.

The defender, who has dubbed himself “crazy” in the past, would bring plenty of winning experience with him should he join Fulham, having won 18 trophies during his time with PSG.

Combine that with his creative nouse – he has 23 career assists – and the boss would be adding some qualities to his ranks that he’d surely love to have considering his side lacks top-level experience.

Indeed, that experience could prove vital in both the dressing room and on the pitch as Fulham look to avoid relegation back to the Championship, and considering his pedigree and capable displays in the past, Silva should definitely look at bringing the former France international to Craven Cottage this summer.

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison could be tempted by a move to Newcastle United this summer, according to ex-Whites goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: Harrison linked with Newcastle switch

The Magpies have had a steady summer rather than a spectacular one, although the signing of Alexander Isak is an undoubted major signal of intent right before the deadline.

One individual who has been continually linked with a move to St James’ Park is Harrison, who has become a key man for Leeds in recent years, scoring 29 goals in 169 appearances.

It is a rumour that is refusing to go away, as Newcastle look to bolster their attacking options after the injury to Callum Wilson.

The Latest: Robinson worried

Speaking MOT Leeds News, Robinson, now a regular on Sky Sports, claimed that it is easy to envisage Harrison wanting to trade Leeds for the Magpies this summer:

“Listen, Newcastle are going places.

“It’s well documented how much money they’ve got and are going to have in the future. It’s a club on the up and it’s a club who are moving forward and looking to challenge the top-half of the Premier League and get into the Champions League eventually.

“It’ll be difficult for a player to admit his head hasn’t been turned by a club like that – it’s only natural. If you look at the wage structure and wage bill at Newcastle compared to Leeds. It’s nowhere near.

“When you look at the two clubs without the takeover at Newcastle, it’d be a sideways move. But with the way Newcastle are and the direction they’re moving in, it would be a forward move and it’d be a hard one for a player to turn down if they come knocking.

“They’ve got potential for success in the future and there’s the financial package they could offer you. It’s only going to be natural to have your head turned by that.”

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The Verdict: Big loss for Leeds?

Harrison is someone who has provided consistent quality from wide areas for a sustained period, helping Leeds get out of the Championship and then taking his form into the Premier League.

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While the former Manchester City man may not always have stood out as much as other attackers, from Raphinha to Patrick Bamford, 74 top-flight appearances in the space of two-and-a-bit years highlight his importance.

Harrison’s versatility and durability allows him to impress both out wide and in a central attacking midfield role, while an average of 2.3 tackles per game in the league this season highlight the defensive work that will also appeal to Jesse Marsch, so losing him would be a big blow.

West Ham United may have a long-term heir to Aaron Cresswell waiting in the wings, as Emmanuel Longelo could become a top talent in David Moyes’ side.

The Irons manager brought in Emerson Palmieri during the summer transfer window and the Italian has started two of the last three fixtures against Aston Villa and his former club Chelsea. However, he is yet to really impress, averaging a disappointing 6.07 rating from WhoScored for his performances so far this season.

Meanwhile, Cresswell has made 299 West Ham appearances in his career but showed his vulnerabilities towards the end of last season as he picked up red cards in important Europa League games against Lyon and eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

The 32-year-old could be set to play more of a bit-part role in Moyes’ side this season; and with his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, the West Ham manager may have to consider a long-term replacement for the Englishman in his squad, as someone will be needed to compete with Emerson.

Longelo could be the ideal candidate for Moyes, having impressed in the Premier League 2 last season, contributing one goal and five assists in 18 appearances.

The 21-year-old joined Birmingham City on loan for the 2022/23 season and spoke about his key attributes upon joining the club, saying: “I have got pace and a bit of flair, I can also defend, so I have a bit of everything. I have come here to prove myself.”

The youngster will be hoping to play a key role for the Blues this season and come back to West Ham a more experienced player, in the hope that he can challenge for a starting spot with the Hammers next term.

Longelo made his full first-team debut against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League group stage, with his performance being lauded as “very impressive” by Evening Standard journalist Jack Rosser, while Nottingham Forest were said to be interested during last January’s transfer window.

If Longelo can impress at Birmingham, then he could be the ideal man for Moyes to unleash as Cresswell’s replacement should the 32-year-old leave the London Stadium at the end of his contract.

While he never actually made an appearance for Everton, the Toffees’ signing of Henry Onyekuru proved to be a great decision by Farhad Moshiri from a financial perspective.

The Nigeria international would join Everton from KAS Eupen in a deal worth £7m in 2017, before being immediately sent on loan to Anderlecht.

There he would hit ten goals in 28 appearances in the 2017/18 season but that wasn’t enough to convince the Merseyside outfit that he was worth a shot in the first team, as he was sent to Galatasaray for the 2018/19 campaign.

During his time with Anderlecht, former manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck criticised Onyekuru, saying:

“It does not make much sense to put Onyekuru at the centre, but when he is standing there, he does not move, and he just moves to the left… he always lets himself down.

“He does score now and then, but the last few weeks have not been as good either, his contribution went down.”

Once again, the now 25-year-old impressed, contributing 16 goals and six assists in his first season with the club but still, the Toffees weren’t keen, and they cashed in on him that summer, selling him to Monaco for £12.5m.

It seems remarkable to nearly double your money on a player that would fail to play a single minute for the club and Moshiri deserves a lot of credit for this, especially considering Onyekuru’s form since leaving the club.

After failing to score in four appearances for Monaco, the Nigerian was loaned back to Galatasaray but he struggled to rediscover his previous form at the Nef Stadium, managing just one goal in 12 appearances.

There was a sense of deja vu again in the 2020/21 campaign, as after four disappointing appearances for Monaco, Onyekuru was sent back to Galatasary again, this time hitting five goals and four assists in just 15 Super Lig appearances.

However, the French side had clearly made their mind up on Onyekuru at that point, selling him to Olympiacos last summer.

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The Nigerian’s crazy career would continue as after struggling to make his mark in Greece, he returned to Turkey again this season, signing for Adana Demirspor on loan.

Although he has started well there, with two goals and two assists in the league, it seems clear that he never would have made it at Everton when you consider his career since leaving, and therefore Moshiri deserves credit for somehow managing to make a profit on him.

Sheffield Wednesday have taken free agent Max Haygarth on trial ahead of a potential out-of-window move.

The Lowdown: Haygarth profiled

Haygarth is 20 years of age and is a left-footed winger who left Brentford over the summer. Previously on the books of Manchester United, Haygarth is valued at £90,000 by Transfermarkt.

He made three senior appearances for Brentford but has been without a club since the summer, and it looks as if a move to Hillsborough could be on the cards.

The Latest: Wednesday trial

According to The Star, Haygarth is now on trial with Wednesday after spending time with Luton Town earlier in the summer.

Their report claims that Haygarth isn’t the only player on trial with The Owls, with an unnamed trialist also in action for the U21s on Tuesday.

The Verdict: Good first impression

Haygarth will be looking to earn a contract with Wednesday and made the best first impression possible against Coventry City yesterday. The youngster netted a late winner for the U21s in what was just their second win of the season.

You’d expect that he may feature in upcoming games against Wigan Athletic and Sheffield United, and more positive performances could earn him a professional deal.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Hugo Lloris has withdrawn from international duty with the France national team after suffering an injury, according to reliable journalist Rob Guest.

The Lowdown: International fixtures

France manager Didier Deschamps is preparing his side for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Austria and Denmark this week, with World Cup squad selection just around the corner.

Lloris, who is also his national team’s captain, has made an incredible 139 appearances for his country since making his debut back in 2008.

During his tenure, the 35-year-old has kept 62 clean-sheets.

The Latest: Lloris’ injury

Guest has now shared an update on the French goalkeeper, revealing a potential injury blow for Tottenham boss Antonio Conte.

Taking to Twitter, the reliable journalist said:

“Hugo Lloris is now not part of the France squad for this week’s games due to injury. He was at their Clairefontaine base on Monday morning but an issue was detected by the team’s doctor.”

In the adjacent article, he reports the shot-stopper had a small injury to his right thigh diagnosed by the medical team, resulting in his immediate withdrawal from France’s squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures.

The Spurs hierarchy will be hoping this injury isn’t too serious, with north London rivals Arsenal as their next opponent in the Premier League.

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed…

Having made a stunning 425 appearances for the Lilywhites, it is fair to say Lloris is crucial to Spurs’ success, as he has been the only constant in the squad since he signed for the club in 2012.

So far this season, the goalkeeper has played every minute of Premier League and Champions League football. In the English top-flight, he has averaged 2.3 saves per game – 0.7 saves in the penalty area and 1.6 saves from outside the box (via WhoScored).

Conte will be hoping his captain can make a swift recovery in time for the north London derby. Otherwise, new addition Fraser Forster may have to make his debut for the club.

Football betting is becoming more and more popular with each passing year.

What are some common betting strategies for football?

According to the TPP`s recent blog post there are a number of different betting strategies that can be employed when betting on football matches. Some common strategies include:

1. The moneyline bet: This is the most straightforward type of bet, where you simply pick the team that you think will win the match.

2. The point spread bet: This type of bet is more complex, as it involves picking not only the winning team, but also how much they will win by.

3. The over/under bet: This type of bet involves predicting whether the total number of points scored in a match will be above or below a certain number set by the bookmaker.

4. The parlay bet: This is a more risky type of bet, where you combine two or more bets into one single wager. If any of your bets lose, then your entire parlay loses.

The most important pros and cons of football betting

The Pros:

1. Football betting can be a lot of fun. If you’re a big fan of the sport, then placing bets on your favourite team or players can add an extra layer of excitement to the game.

2. There are many different ways to bet on football. Whether you want to bet on who will win the game outright, who will score the first touchdown, or even how many yards a certain player will run for, there are plenty of options available for you to choose from.

The Cons:

1. No matter how much research you do or how lucky you think you are, there’s always a chance that you could lose your money.

2. Football betting can be addictive.

How to avoid common mistakes when betting on football

One of the most common is betting on your favourite team. While this may seem like a good idea, it can often lead to disappointment if your team doesn’t win. It’s important to remember that you should be betting on teams that you think will win, not necessarily the ones you want to win.

Another common mistake is betting on too many games. It’s important to be selective and only bet on the games that you feel confident about.

Finally, another mistake people make is not shopping around for the best lines. There are a lot of different sportsbooks out there, and they all offer different lines.

If you are looking to bet on football, be sure to do your research first and weigh the pros and cons.

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