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Sunderland are reportedly eyeing up a move for former Chelsea youngster Silko Thomas and have seemingly taken him on trial, with the player spotted in action over the weekend.

What’s the latest Sunderland transfer news?

The Black Cats and Tony Mowbray have been fairly busy in the transfer market this summer, looking to build on an impressive first season back in the Championship after finishing in the playoffs during the previous campaign.

The club have brought in a number of young players already, all of which are aged 20 or under. Defenders Jenson Seelt and Nectarios Triantis have arrived from PSV Eindhoven and Central Coast Mariners respectively, whereas midfielder Jobe Bellingham has made the move from Birmingham.

In attack, Luis Semedo has swapped Benfica for Sunderland, and by the looks of things, more additions could be on the cards.

Sochaux teenager Eliezer Mayenda looked like he could be the next through the door at The Stadium of Light, however, a move is reportedly being held up, whereas a move for free agent centre-back Axel Tuanzebe could be one to keep an eye on before the summer transfer window ends.

Djurgardens IF youngster Gideon Granstrom is on trial with Sunderland, and it looks as if he has now been joined on trial by another youngster in Thomas.

According to The Sunderland Echo, the club have appeared to have taken Tomas on trial, with the teenager spotted playing for the club’s under-21 side against non-league King's Lynn Town over the weekend.

The report adds that Thomas was previously on trial with newly-promoted Premier League side Sheffield United earlier in the summer but he has now moved on to a stint with the Black Cats, looking to earn a deal.

Who is Silko Thomas?

Thomas is 19 years of age and is currently a free agent after being let go by Chelsea earlier this month. An England U18 international, Thomas is represented by CAA Base Ltd, actually the same agency as Sunderland players Anthony Patterson and Patrick Roberts.

The left-footed attacker made around 60 appearances in Chelsea’s youth sides, contributing to 15 goals but is yet to get a real taste of senior football, something he could get at Sunderland in the future.

The Sunderland Echo’s recent report says that he has been described as an attacking player who is comfortable on either wing as well as through the middle and is exciting to watch whilst possessing an eye for goal, showing how he could be a versatile and direct attacking option for Mowbray in the long run.

It looks as if a move will be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, and who knows, should he impress, Thomas could be the latest youngster to pen terms with the club. If Sunderland like what they see and offer him a contract, they could decide to put Thomas initially in their academy ranks, potentially looking to catch the eye around the U21s with a view to breaking into the first-team picture further down the line.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to Football Scotland journalist Mark Hendry, the Hoops have made an "approach" to sign Gremio winger Ferreira during the summer transfer window.

"Exclusive! Ferreira Celtic transfer approach made as Gremio striker on wishlist for summer move," he tweeted.

The accompanying report claims that Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers wants to sign another winger who can chip in with goals and assists to improve his attack next season, with the Brazilian talent now being pursued as a target to fill that role.

It states that a fee in the region of £6m could be needed for the Scottish giants to clinch this deal and that the player is interested in making the move, which suggests that personal terms would not prove to be a stumbling block.

This comes after Portuguese winger Jota left the treble-winning side to join Saudi Arabian team Al-Ittihad Club in a deal reportedly worth £25m earlier this month.

How good is Ferreira?

The 25-year-old forward, who can be deployed on the left or right flank, is a player with the potential to be a dream heir to Jota at Parkhead if Rodgers can unearth the best of his talents next season.

Unfortunately, Ferreira would join Celtic off the back of two disappointing seasons with Gremio as injury has seriously disrupted his progress in Brazil.

He has missed 31 competitive matches through injury since the start of August 2022, which has restricted the 5 foot 9 whiz to just 14 appearances in 2023.

During that time, the talented winger still produced three goals, along with three assists – a respectable return in front of goal given his fitness issues. That came after Ferreira scored one goal in 15 outings during the 2022 campaign.

However, the Brazilian magician's form throughout 2021 suggests that the quality is there for him to be an effective outlet on the flank.

He scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists across 52 matches in all competitions, which included 11 strikes and seven assists in 21 cup games.

That is not too dissimilar to the level of production that Jota displayed last season for Celtic.

The Portuguese speedster contributed 15 goals and 12 assists over 43 outings for the Glasgow giants.

Jota was able to prove himself to be a constant threat down the left wing due to his ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate, and Ferreira is a player with the potential to emulate that at Parkhead next term, which may be why the club are now looking into a deal for his services.

The one-time Benfica star was the only Hoops player who managed to hit double figures for goals and assists in the Scottish Premiership during the 2022/23 campaign. His departure has left a gap to fill out wide and the Gremio ace could be the man to take on the responsibility of being a match-winner week-in-week-out.

Whilst it is a gamble for Celtic, as there is no guarantee that he will be able to replicate his form from 2021, Rodgers could back himself to get the best out of the tricky winger in order to unearth a dream Jota heir.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Brazilian defender Lucas Beraldo, as the Old Gold prepare for a squad rebuild this summer.

Julen Lopetegui has bid farewell to seven players already this transfer window, in both sales and expirations of contracts at Molineux.

With almost £80m accumulated in sales, the Spaniard can set his focus to replenishing his squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, as Wolves hope for an improvement on last term.

Could Wolves sign Lucas Beraldo?

As reported by GOAL Brazil earlier this week, Wolves have Sao Paulo centre-back Beraldo in their sights.

The report claimed that the Midlands club are interested in the Brazilian, with it noted that they could offer Sao Paulo a fee in the region of €7m (£6m) despite no formal proposal sent as of yet.

Contracted until 2026 with the Brazilian side, Wolves’ valuation of the defender could be deemed too low, with his release clause reported to be set between €40m and €50m (£34m-£43m).

How good is Lucas Beraldo?

Lopetegui could snatch a bargain for the 19-year-old at a critical time at Molineux.

Having just sold centre-back Nathan Collins to Brentford, and Max Kilman’s future uncertain, it’s integral that the Spaniard hires in the central defence department this summer.

In 10 Brazilian Serie A appearances this year, the teenager has asserted his dominance on the back line in winning a monstrous 67% of his total duels, via Sofascore.

At just 19, the "gem" has been lauded as being a "superb ball-playing" centre-back by Kulig, signifying that he could be just the player that Lopetegui requires to rejuvenate the defence at Wolves.

Such praise is supported by his numbers, with FBref revealing the extent of the luxury Molineux could add to their ranks, with Beraldo averaging an impressive 5.85 progressive passes per 90 over the past year.

To highlight what the Brazilian could offer to Lopetegui, fellow centre-back Max Kilman averaged 3.46 progressive passes per 90 in the Premier League last term, suggesting that the Spaniard could unlock a new dimension of play from the back.

While filling numbers are integral this summer ahead of the new season, Wolves must introduce added quality to make up for those lost in the transfer market.

Nathan Collins fell out of favour with the manager which subsequently paved the way for his departure to Brentford, however, Lopetegui could land himself a player of the Irishman’s calibre in his replacement.

As per FBref, the 22-year-old averaged 3.18 progressive passes per 90, as well as averaging 1.34 tackles and 4.17 clearances per 90 in the Premier League last term.

While the teenager’s progressive outlet was an improvement on Collins’, his defensive stability over the past year suggests that he could be a talent of similar force to the Brentford man at Molineux.

As told by FBref, the Piracicaba-born gem averaged 1.75 tackles and 4.72 clearances per 90 for Sao Paulo, as well as making an average of 1.14 blocks and winning 1.75 aerials per 90.

At just 19, Lopetegui could integrate an influential talent to his back line, in a player that has the numbers to suggest he could adequately fill the boots of the departed Collins this summer.

Manchester United appear to be keen on possibly bringing Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to Old Trafford.

Are Man United interested in signing Robert Sanchez?

The Red Devils unveiled Mason Mount as their first summer signing on Wednesday, with the midfielder penning a deal until 2028 and the option of a further year in a deal worth a total package of £60m.

Arriving from Chelsea, the England international could be the first of many through the door ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge, with a new goalkeeper now seemingly next on the agenda.

Reports have suggested that Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana is a real target, with an Old Trafford contract already agreed upon between the player and United.

However, a fee still needs to be agreed with Inter and Man United have verbally proposed a new £39m offer for his services. The Serie A side want around €60m, though, which could result in United looking elsewhere, where Sanchez comes into play.

According to The Daily Mail, Man United and other Premier League clubs are circling over a potential move for Sanchez.

The Spaniard has fallen out of favour under Roberto de Zerbi, with Jason Steele number one on the south coast and Bart Verbruggen recently brought in from Anderlecht for £16.3m.

As a result, Sanchez could be on the move this summer, and United view him as a cheaper alternative to Onana as he is valued at £30m.

Who is Robert Sanchez?

Sanchez, who shares the same agency as Luke Shaw, first moved to Brighton from Levante back in 2013 and has come through the youth ranks with the Seagulls.

The 25-year-old, now a full Spain international, spent time out on loan with the likes of Forest Green Rovers and Rochdale during the early stages of his career, turning out on 17 occasions in League Two and 26 in League One.

He broke into the first team setup during the 2020/21 season and has made a total of 90 senior appearances for Brighton, keeping 29 clean sheets, one of which came in the FA Cup semi-final with the Red Devils last season.

He is under contract until 2025 and earns £25,000-a-week with his current employers, and he came in for praise from former Brighton boss Graham Potter, who labelled him as ‘powerful’ and ‘fast’ who has ‘everything to be a top goalkeeper’.

“He is a monster in terms of his physicality. He’s not just big but he is powerful, he is fast.

“In terms of attributes as a goalkeeper, he has got everything to be a top goalkeeper.”

As per WhoScored, Sanchez averaged more passes and had a better completion rate than De Gea last season, whereas he stopped more crosses and averaged a shorter average length of goal kick than Onana, as per FBref. This shows how he could suit Ten Hag’s style of playing out from the back, and by the looks of things, a move could be one to keep an eye on.

Celtic could soon sign Gangwon FC forward Yang Hyun-jun, with the K League 1 side now ready to sanction a deal.

Are Celtic signing Yang Hyun-jun?

The Hoops are prepared to back new manager Brendan Rodgers with a £30m transfer kitty this summer, with midfielder Odin Thiago Holm and winger Marco Tilio both signing five-year deals from Valerenga and Melbourne City respectively.

Scotland internationals Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay have also been linked with moves to Celtic Park from Arsenal and Manchester United, with Yang another player of interest.

It emerged last month that the Hoops had made a significant offer to bring the forward to Scotland, and recent reports claimed a £2.1m fee has been agreed between the two clubs.

However, Gangwon wanted to keep their forward until January when their season finishes, but it looks as if their stance has now changed.

Football Scotland relayed an update from Sports Chosun regarding Celtic and Yang, describing it as a transfer breakthrough.

It is believed that Gangwon are now ready to allow the forward to leave immediately, adding that CEO Kim "showed an open-minded and embracing attitude" and that Yang's transfer "remained a matter of time".

Yang has been desperate to make the move to Parkhead, saying that he would even give up his salary in order to push through a transfer.

"It is an opportunity that does not come easily (to join Celtic). I told the CEO, general manager, and coach that I wanted to advance.

"I want to go to Celtic this summer. I hope Gangwon will allow me to transfer. If the transfer fee isn’t enough, I’ll even give my salary."

Who else is leaving Celtic?

The Hoops will be without midfielder Aaron Mooy next season after he announced his retirement, whereas star winger Jota has completed a move to Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.

Meanwhile, Liel Abada could also be on the move later this summer, with Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas claiming the forward is of interest to both Sporting CP and Ajax.

Therefore, should Abada join Jota in leaving Glasgow, Yang could arrive and bolster Rodgers’ wide options. The 21-year-old is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle, so would bring plenty of versatility to Scotland.

He was hailed as “excellent” and a “level above” in the media following a pre-season display against Tottenham last year, so he could be the next success story when it comes to Celtic signing players from Asia, potentially playing alongside the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Oh Hyeon-gyu, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda.

A transfer appears to be on course following the apparent change in heart from Gangwon, so we could soon the forward make the move relatively soon with an agreement already reached, making this one to keep an eye on over the coming days.

West Ham United have submitted an enquiry for AZ Alkmaar star Tijjani Reijnders in the hope of bringing him to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Tijjani Reijnders?

Reijnders is naturally a central midfielder who currently plies his trade at the AFAS Stadium having joined the U21s there from PEC Zwolle back in 2017 before getting promoted to the first team the following year, as per Transfermarkt, where he’s since gone on to become a regular feature.

In the Eredivisie, the Dutchman started all 34 games under Pascal Jansen last season and established himself as his side’s third overall best-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.26, and David Moyes has already had the chance to assess him live in action.

During the Europa Conference League, the Irons had to face the 24-year-old’s side and will know exactly what he’s capable of having put a goal past Lukasz Fabianski, something which has tempted the boss into trying to entice him to E20.

Are West Ham signing Reijnders?

According to Sport Italia (via Sport Witness), West Ham have made an "in-depth" enquiry to discover the availability of Reijnders in the "past few days" ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. AC Milan and other unnamed clubs are also believed to have "expressed their interest" in AZ Alkmaar's prized asset, but at this stage, there's no indication as to how much it would cost to secure his services.

Should Moyes consider a bid for Reijnders?

Whilst Reijnders is a central midfielder, West Ham will know that he is much stronger in the attacking aspect of his game, and having been dubbed “unplayable” by journalist Josh Bunting, Moyes and the hierarchy should definitely consider tabling an opening offer.

The ESA & GFM client, who earns £8k-per-week, racked up 11 goal contributions (eight assists and three goals) in 34 Eredivisie appearances last season, with this form seeing him collect three man-of-the-match awards, but he’s also a creative threat away from the net.

Reijnders, who has the versatility to operate in seven various positions, including everywhere across the centre and out wide on both wings, ranked in the 96th percentile for progressive carries so loves to push up the pitch but was also calm and composed in possession with an 88.8% pass success rate which was higher than any Irons player, therefore he would be an upgrade on the boss’ current options at the London Stadium.

Declan Rice's future continues to dominate the transfer columns, but West Ham United may well have already found an ideal replacement for their departing captain.

England international Rice is certain to move on this summer – chairman David Sullivan confirmed as much earlier this month – but United are continuing to haggle over a fee for a player they value at a nine-figure sum.

It seems likely they will get their wish, with Arsenal now joined by Manchester City in the bidding, meaning plenty of money will be available to bring in a new central midfielder.

What's the latest on West Ham's hunt for Declan Rice's replacement?

According to The Sun reporter Alan Nixon, David Moyes is hopeful of raiding former club Everton for in-demand Amadou Onana, who is also being eyed up by Chelsea and Manchester United.

Moyes is said to have missed out on Onana last summer when Everton signed him from Lille for £30m, and his valuation has now climbed to as much as £50m.

Given that will potentially be just half the amount they get for the sale of Rice, it surely makes sense for West Ham to move quickly and bring in the Belgium international, rather than being left stranded come the second half of the transfer window.

Is Amadou Onana a good replacement for Declan Rice?

Onana has taken no time at all to settle into the Premier League, as reflected in a number of key metrics. For example, he ranked in the top 10% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for aerial duels won last season, as per The Analyst.

Rice was only in the top 40%, though he does, of course, thrive in other areas. There are plenty of similarities between the two men, however, such as direct goal involvement (0.14 per 90 minutes for Rice, 0.11 for Onana), pass completion rate (86.5% v 83.3%) and take-ons attempted (1.73 v 1.88).

As per FBref, both players find the target at an identical rate (0.22 per 90 minutes) and, while Rice edges things in terms of shot-creating actions – which factors in passes and take-ons leading to a shot – at 2.75 per 90 to Onana's 1.63, the latter comes into his own in the tackles won per 90 metric (1.56 v 1.04).

As the Manchester Evening News reporter Tyrone Marshall put it in October, Onana is a "supreme athlete and very mobile", which would also be a good way to describe Rice.

Whoever is brought in by West Ham will have to hit the ground running if they are to come anywhere close to replacing fan favourite Rice. In Onana, they have a Premier League-ready option waiting to do exactly that.

Financial expert Kieran Maguire has been reacting to a Leeds United update involving the 49ers Enterprises and Elland Road.

What’s the latest Leeds news on the 49ers?

It was confirmed earlier this month that the 49ers Enterprises have completed a full takeover of Leeds from Andrea Radrizzani. The investment vehicle, which have links to NFL side the San Francisco 49ers, are now full owners of the Whites after previously having a 44% stake in the club.

A takeover was valued at £170m and includes the ownership of Elland Road, something which Maguire has been giving his thoughts on.

Talking to Football Insider regarding the news, Maguire, who contributes for Sky Sports, believes that “Leeds fans will love” the fact that the stadium and club are in the hands of the same party.

“I think there is an inevitability in regards to the 49ers’ investment in Leeds United that has been mooted for some time.

“I think it is a very good idea to have continuity of ownership of both football club and stadium and I’m sure Leeds fans will love this.”

What did Andrea Radrizzani try and do with Elland Road?

Radrizzani has moved on from Leeds, heading back to his native Italy with a takeover of Sampdoria. However, the former Leeds owner and chairman recently explored the prospect of offering to use the club's Elland Road stadium as security against a £26m bank loan, doing so without informing the 49ers.

That was before a Leeds agreement was reached with the 49ers, so it is good to see that Elland Road has been included in the takeover and is not still on the books of a company run by Radrizzani.

The new owners are now looking to take the club back into the Premier League at the first time of asking and are on the search for a new manager, and who knows, should they succeed, they may look into plans to redevelop Elland Road over the coming years.

Manchester City appear to be closing in on reaching an agreement with RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.

What’s the latest Man City transfer news?

Pep Guardiola and his City squad completed a historic treble during the 2022/23 season, however, it looks as if City aren’t wasting any time when it comes to adding to their squad.

A deal for Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic appears to be close, with a verbal agreement reached with the Croatia international. However, Kovacic isn’t the only Croatia star City have their eyes on, with Gvardiol another target.

The Secret Scout took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share a claim on City and Gvardiol. They said that everything is in place when it comes to an Etihad contract for the defender, who is a key target once Kovacic is signed. City still need to agree on a fee with Leipzig for Gvardiol, though.

“Everything now in place in relation to contract between Man City and Gvardiol.

“Once Kovacic deal complete, Gvardiol is the key target for LCB. Now it’s for RB Leipzig & Man City to agree T&Cs of the fee + add ons.”

Who is Josko Gvardiol?

Gvardiol is primarily a left-footed centre-back who can also play as a left-back and appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €75m (£66m) Transfermarkt valuation.

The defender actually scored against City in the Champions League earlier this year, and admitted he had a conversation with Guardiola after the second leg.

"I extended my hand to Guardiola and congratulated him on advancing in the Champions League. Guardiola, a great coach, threw a few words at me, but I will keep them to myself."

He appears to be a real star in the making, with pundit Owen Hargreaves believing that Gvardiol will be "the best centre-back in the world one day” following the game against City.

"He [Gvardiol], I think, is an absolute top one. I think he’ll be the best centre-back in the world one day. He’s learned a lot today, and probably wouldn’t mind playing in a team like this rather than against them."

As per WhoScored, the Leipzig man actually outperformed City defenders Manuel Akanji and Kyle Walker last season, while also averaging more interceptions per game than any City player.

As per FBref, Gvardiol also ranks in the 99th percentile for centre-backs when it comes to passes attempted, progressive passing distance and medium passes completed, so he could be a shrewd addition to Guardiola’s side who are known for building attacks from the back.

Arsenal could be set to immediately bin one of the club's recent failures, with another big-money move, but this time of Mikel Arteta's choosing.

What's the latest on Samuel Chukwueze to Arsenal?

That's according to CalcioMercato, who claim that the Gunners are battling with many clubs over Villarreal's star winger Samuel Chukwueze.

With AC Milan and Real Madrid also in the race and contact expected to be made soon, it will take an almighty task to tempt this Super Eagles star to the Emirates ahead of such European royalty. This hefty competition likely aids the €80m (£68m) asking price that continues to be referenced by the Spanish club.

Such an astronomical fee will likely have fans of the north London outfit worried that this left-footed right-winger might follow down the same path that Nicolas Pepe took, having struggled since his £72m move in 2019.

In fact, it has been revealed that Edu is currently seeking out a buyer for their Ivory Coast flop, as he aims to trim their squad starting with their biggest duds. Another potential transfer howler is a situation the club simply must avoid.

Is Samuel Chukwueze better than Nicolas Pepe?

Pepe's drop-off since moving to the Emirates was nothing short of astronomical, and was made all the more apparent when Unai Emery later admitted it was a deal he did not sanction.

Given he would go on to play just 121 times, scoring 27 goals, it is clear to see that this once impressive wide man was a fish out of water in England. Especially considering how in his final year before moving from Lille he would notch 23 goals and assist a further 12 in all competitions, nearly equalling that aforementioned tally across four whole years in north London.

Having since been temporarily sent back to Ligue 1 last term, just six league goals are suggestive that their ridiculous investment continues to fall flat.

Meanwhile, in a division ranked as the second-best in Europe just behind the Premier League, as opposed to the fifth-place standing of France, Chukwueze has slowly been growing into a stunning footballer who seems ready to take that next step.

This year has comfortably marked his pinnacle thus far, with the 24-year-old having scored 13 and assisted 11 from that right flank.

Having also dressed that up with an immense level of finesse and flair, it even led his boss Quique Setien to claim:

"For a few weeks, he’s been giving us a lot, he’s a permanent threat. Not just in goals, but in passes, chances, he’s an extraordinary player, who is giving us a lot". This culminated in his status as a "crazy dribbler" too.

With Pepe seemingly already with one foot out the exit door, to spend big once again on another in his exact role would surely mean the end of an Arsenal career that promised much but delivered next to nothing.