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Aston Villa must look to sign PSG midfielder Rafinha this summer amid a recent transfer claim.

What’s the story?

According to reports in Spain, the French giants – who have just signed Lionel Messi – are ready to let Rafinha leave this summer in order to raise some funds and Villa could come in for the Brazilian.

And now, speaking exclusively to FFC, Ligue 1 expert Adam White said: “I think he has already been pushed quite significantly towards the exit at PSG and he would be a good signing for Villa.

“The Premier League is a little bit of a step up and he wouldn’t be playing in such a dominant team, so that’s perhaps something that Villa fans will need to think about. PSG would be keen to sell.”

Messi rates him highly

Talking about the 27-year-old, former Barca defender Andreu Fontas once said: “Rafinha is a great player. Physically, he is a beast and, technically, he is superb.”

As per Whoscored, the midfielder boasted an impressive 90.9% pass accuracy in Ligue 1 last season (considerably better than any Villa player with more than one start), while he also averaged 2.3 tackles per match as well (only Matty Cash fared better with 2.5).

The £13.5m-rated play-maker could bring that same fearlessness and intensity both on and off the ball to Villa Park should Smith land his man this summer.

And, given reports have previously claimed that now PSG superstar Messi rates the Brazilian very highly and was completely on board with seeing the midfielder become a prominent part of Barcelona’s side, is a real indication of just how talented he is.

Villa could strike gold with a deal for Rafinha.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has dropped a new Aston Villa transfer update…

Some Liverpool supporters have been left frustrated after it emerged that rumoured Reds transfer target Harvey Barnes is set to sign a new deal at Leicester City.

Jurgen Klopp has had a quiet summer in the transfer market, with only two pieces of business standing out. Ibrahima Konate joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig early in the summer, while Gini Wijnaldum traded Anfield for Paris Saint-Germain.

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It doesn’t look as though much more business is going to be done between now and the end of the transfer window, although Saturday’s 3-0 win at Norwich City would suggest that is no great issue.

One player who has been linked with a move to Liverpool is Barnes, who has shone for Leicester, scoring 21 goals and registering 15 assists in 101 appearances and netting against the Reds in a 3-1 win for the Foxes back in February.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, however, the 23-year-old is expected to extend his stay at the King Power Stadium, so the Reds will most likely miss out on him this time around.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/the-latest-liverpool-transfer-news-copy-4/” title=”The latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans fume at Barnes update

These Liverpool fans on Twitter reacted to the update from Ornstein and they swiftly took out their anger on club owners FSG, whose frugality has often irked the fan base in the past.

“Liverpool always have interest but never buying. Ugh”

Credit: @Shyntefen

“That’s a big blow given our long term interest in Barnes. Fee would be huge now if we were to try & get him”

Credit: @Jay82_LFC

“We are really going to be stuck with Bowen aren’t we?”

Credit: @I_Am_Artanis

“Yeah that’s us dead in the water in terms of signing him”

Credit: @dylan_the_kid_

“All we do is admire. Embarrassing football club”

Credit: @cfjayden

“FSG sleeping lol”

Credit: @AminurAbid1

In other news, some Liverpool fans are delighted with one major piece of news that has emerged. Read more here.

Crystal Palace are set to agree a deal for Watford midfielder Will Hughes as the squad overhaul under Patrick Vieira continues to gather pace.

What’s the story?

According to The Sun, Palace are poised to agree a £10 million fee for the 26-year-old after he entered the final year of his current contract with the Hornets and refused to put pen to paper on fresh terms.

The report claims that £7m will be paid upfront, with the remaining figure arriving through add ons. It’s also stated that personal terms shouldn’t be an issue. The Eagles are planning to offer Hughes £60,000-a-week to secure his signature.

Hughes’ arrival at Selhurst Park will see the capital club end their pursuit of Huddersfield midfielder Lewis O’Brien, leaving fellow Premier League side Leeds United free to snap up the highly-rated youngster.

He’ll be another Parish masterclass

After making 118 appearances for Watford in all competitions following his arrival back in 2017, Hughes established himself as a fan favourite at Vicarage Road, and his impressive performances earned several plaudits.

Former Watford boss Javi Gracia was one of those to sing the ex-England Under-21 international’s praises, lauding him following a standout display on his return from injury.

“I’m not surprised,” Gracia said of Hughes’ comeback. “I think he did a very good job in the time he was on the pitch. He was very clever, made a very good assist, and took care of the ball. I think he was very good for us.

“He was out of the team for a long time because he was injured, but I did not need to stay with him long to know he is able to do different things for the team with high quality.”

Hughes’ arrival in south London will add to the other astute purchases made by Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish this summer.

The likes of Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher have provided significant strength to Vieira’s ranks following the departures of several experienced campaigners, meaning getting Hughes could be another masterstroke from the club’s hierarchy.

And, in other news…Vieira confirms Crystal Palace selection blow before Brentford, he will be gutted 

Graham Roberts believes that Tottenham and David Levy must be ruthless and get rid of their deadwood.

Nuno Espirito Santo has already managed to move on three players that are surplus to requirements in Juan Foyth, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela, who joined Sevilla with Bryan Gil heading the other way.

However, Spurs have put several other first-team players up for sale. Notably, the likes of Davinson Sanchez, Serge Aurier, Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko, but the Colombian played 90 minutes against whist the latter two were unused substitutes against the Premier League champions, which would suggest they could be in Santo’s plans.

Should Harry Kane stay at the club, it’s likely to be a case of selling some before buying for the Spurs boss, who’s already added three new faces to his squad and spent more than £60m.

Spurs are expected to move on a couple before the transfer window slams shut later this month, but Roberts has urged his former side to get a move on with their business:

He exclusively told Football FanCast:

“Get rid of the ones we’re not seeing and not watching. We’re not looking to the future, we’re looking for tomorrow, and that’s what the club have to do, they have to get rid of some of these players.”

Aston Villa are ready to meet Juventus’ demands for midfielder Weston McKennie, according to Corriere dello Sport, cited by Sports Witness.

The Lowdown: McKennie profiled

McKennie, a USA international, is a central midfielder who can also play in a defensive role or on the right-hand side.

He made his loan move to Juventus from Schalke permanent this summer in a deal worth £18.45m.

McKennie, described as a ‘leader’ by David Wagner, has made 46 appearances for the Italian giants and has turned out in a remarkable eight separate positions during his career.

The Latest: Villa bid

According to Corriere dello Sport, cited by Sports Witness, Villa are ready to satisfy Juventus’ €30m (£25.7m) valuation for McKennie.

The report added that McKennie ‘did not accept’ a move to West Ham and also ‘doesn’t like’ the sound of a Villa Park switch.

However, they finish their story by saying that might change before the end of the month, so a deal could be one to keep a close eye on.

The Verdict: Avoid

If McKennie doesn’t like the sound of a Villa Park switch, then Johan Lange and co should end Villa’s interest straight away.

The club have managed to lure the likes of Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey to the Midlands this summer, so if McKennie isn’t keen, perhaps Villa should look elsewhere.

The report claims that McKennie might have a change of heart in the final days, but it sounds as if he wants a move to Tottenham, so Villa shouldn’t wait around and play second best.

In other news: Aston Villa source: Talks opened for ‘brilliant’ ace to leave; Smith already given his blessing. 

Aston Villa have suffered a major injury setback ahead of their Premier League clash against Brentford this afternoon.

Dean Smith’s side welcome the newly-promoted side to Villa Park as they look to register back-to-back wins in the top-flight, but will have to do so without one of their marquee summer signings.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece revealed that Leon Bailey will once again be missing from action, with the game against the Bees on Saturday coming too soon following his hamstring issue last week.

The news is sure to come as a bitter blow to Smith as he looks to mould this new look Villa side together, especially considering the kind of electric debut he enjoyed in the defeat to Watford.

The £31.5m-rated star came off the bench to great effect against the Hornets on the opening day, marking his Premier League debut for the club by setting up John McGinn’s goal and almost sparking a late comeback.

Speaking before Villa officially confirmed the deal to sign the Jamaican, the club’s former defender Alan Hutton threw his backing behind a move for the former Bayer Leverkusen ace.

He said: “I’m so excited to see this one. I’ve heard a lot about him over the past two or three seasons. He’s obviously still very young but he’s electric, he gets people off their seats. That’s what you want in a player.

“But what’s more impressive, 15 goals and 11 assists from wide areas in the German league. That’s unbelievable. It’s the kind of consistency you want from your wingers.”

With Bailey now ruled out, Smith will have to keep the faith with Anwar El Ghazi, who of course enjoyed a fine week himself after netting against Newcastle from the spot, before bagging a brace against Barrow in the Carabao Cup second round.

While the Dutchman is in a mini streak of goal-scoring form, Bailey’s absence and the prospect of seeing their new signing make his competitive home debut for the club is sure to leave fans gutted.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on this Aston Villa transfer target…

Ryan Finnigan is getting rave reviews in the Southampton academy, and if he continues to impress, he could even prove to be the Saints’ next James Ward-Prowse.

Southampton gained a reputation for establishing young talents such as Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Luke Shaw and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the past, whilst Ward-Prowse has come through the academy and become the captain of the first team.

However he and Jack Stephens, are really the only current examples of regular players to start their careers with Southampton’s academy before moving into the first team, with the Saints opting to aggressively target youngsters from other clubs in this summer’s transfer window.

The likes of Alexandre Jankewitz and Michael Obafemi, who were arguably two of the brightest young talents at St Mary’s, both left on permanent deals this summer, so there is arguably a shortage of homegrown academy players who are close to breaking into the first team at Southampton.

Finnigan could well prove to be an exception, with the 17-year-old seemingly set for a big future with the Saints’ first team.

The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon sang his praises on the Total Saints podcast recently, saying: “You speak to people within the club, they do generally rave about him.

“They think, of all the academy players kind of coming through at the moment, he’s the one that stands out the most.”

Ralph Hasenhuttl also spoke about Finnigan and fellow youngster Oludare Olufunwa after they appeared in a pre-season friendly against Swansea City, saying: “Very good, I must say they are getting stronger every day and when we are working together, it’s good for them to be with the first team.

“It’s good for them to learn quick and always a fantastic opportunity for the young lads to be part of the game.”

As a central midfielder who is making waves in the Southampton academy, there are clear similarities between Finnigan and Ward-Prowse.

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If he can prove to be even half as good as Ward-Prowse has been at Southampton, with the England international contributing 34 goals and 42 assists in 326 appearances for the first team so far in his career, then Finnigan will surely prove to be a big hit with the St Mary’s faithful in the future.

In other news… Southampton could’ve signed Hasenhuttl’s ideal number 6 with bargain £10.3m swoop

Tottenham striker Harry Kane would have given Manchester City a different dimension, says former Premier League defender Steve Howey.

Kane was the subject of heavy interest from City during the summer transfer window, with Pep Guardiola confirming that the club wanted to sign the 28-year-old.

He was in incredible form last season, scoring an impressive 23 goals and providing 14 assists in 35 league games.

It makes it no surprise that City spent the whole of the last transfer window chasing after the England captain.

For Howey, City adding Kane to their squad would have given the team a completely different dimension. The former Citizens star told TT:

“To have someone like Kane, which is a focal point, I think would’ve given them a different dimension.”

Having won the title last season using the likes of Ferran Torres and Kevin De Bruyne up front instead of a recognised centre-forward, City can survive without Kane.

They still, of course, also have Gabriel Jesus, whose record in front of goal is very good since joining City. That being said, having failed to acquire that world-class No.9 while rivals Chelsea and Manchester United managed to bag incredible forwards in Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo, some at the Etihad may be feeling a little worried.

Donny van de Beek only became a Manchester United player a year ago, but the writing could already be on the wall for the technically gifted midfielder.

After joining the Red Devils from boyhood club Ajax in a £40 million deal last summer, Van de Beek struggled for game time during his maiden Premier League campaign, starting just four top-flight fixtures.

His lack of action led to speculation that the Netherlands international could seek pastures new in the recently concluded transfer window, with a loan move to Everton widely rumoured.

However, the midfielder has played down any talk that he was close to leaving in an interview with former United ace Rio Ferdinand, insisting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was certain about his future at the club.

“No, I spoke with the manager and the club, and they said they wanted me to stay here,” Van de Beek explained to Ferdinand on his YouTube channel (as relayed by The Mirror).

“The manager was really positive about me, and he said ‘I need you, and I want to keep you here’. He also said: ‘What I see from you every day at training, is a different Donny now’,” he added.

“He was really positive about me, and now I am feeling well, I am in good shape, and I hope that I can show the fans that I have improved a lot. He said he sees a big difference, maybe I am a bit stronger now, and he can see that I have one year of experience in England now.”

Nevertheless, despite Van de Beek’s positive outlook, it appears as though the Old Trafford outfit are already lining up a potential replacement for the 24-year-old.

Well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has recently revealed that Leicester City maestro Youri Tielemans is on United’s wishlist, possibly resulting in the Dutchman’s departure.

“I am told that he is on many top clubs’ list. Real Madrid have his name in mind for the future, Barcelona the same,” Romano said (as relayed by the Leicester Mercury).

“In England, many clubs are interested. Manchester United have to decide on Paul Pogba, but Tielemans is one to watch for the future for Manchester United.”

Although Pogba has entered the final year of his current contract with the 20-time English champions, his style varies greatly from that of Tielemans, and it’s unlikely that the Leicester gem would be considered a direct successor for the World Cup-winning colossus.

As a result, it’s likely to be Van de Beek that makes way for the Belgium international should United make their move, with Bruno Fernandes instrumental to their play and Fred and McTominay positioned further back.

It’s been a frustrating spell on English shores for Van de Beek, and he’ll surely be hoping to use this season as a platform to showcase his true ability on the biggest of stages.

And, in other news…Man Utd suffer potentially huge selection blow pre-NUFC, Ole will be absolutely gutted 

Celtic head into their first match of the European group stages with problems mounting for manager Ange Postecoglou.

The Hoops struggled to come through the Champions League but have secured a pathway into the Europa League where they face some tough opponents.

First up is Real Betis, a side who love to dominate possession and pass you off the park.

The Bhoys travel to Seville in Spain and will have their work cut out with a number of injuries to contend with.

Therefore, what kind of XI can we expect from Postecoglou on Thursday night? Here’s what we’re predicting on Football FanCast…

We’re tipping the manager to make as many as five changes to his injury-depleted squad this evening.

Albian Ajeti is set to resume his place as the lead striker with Kyogo Furuhashi out for around a month and Giorgos Giakoumakis lacking fitness.

Next to him in the forward areas are Jota and Adam Montgomery. The self-professed “tricky” teenager is a winger by trade but has been used at full-back throughout his senior career so far.

Yet, with Liel Abada due to miss the game for religious reasons and James Forrest out injured, Montgomery is used in attack.

Callum McGregor has picked up a knock so he is replaced in the starting XI by summer signing James McCarthy. Betis are expected to dominate possession so we anticipate Postecoglou to bring Ismaila Soro back into the fray ahead of Tom Rogic to offer more defensive protection.

Greg Taylor is set to undergo shoulder surgery so Josip Juranovic plays at left-back as he did in the Old Firm derby.

That means that Anthony Ralston returns on the right-hand side after missing out against Ross County with his own injury.

The final alteration is at centre-back where Carl Starfelt is axed in favour of Stephen Welsh, a player we’ve championed to start this week.

This is a huge uphill task for Celtic given the sheer number of fitness issues in the squad but Postecoglou will still have a number of experienced campaigners in his side.

AND in other news, £55k-p/w gem saw value rise by £25.3m after leaving Celtic, he’s now “one of the best”…