REPORT CLAIMS MOYES PREFERS ARSENAL TARGET DECLAN RICE TO JOIN CHELSEA but he chooses Liverpool Done deal

REPORT CLAIMS MOYES PREFERS ARSENAL TARGET DECLAN RICE TO JOIN CHELSEA but he chooses Liverpool Done deal

West Ham United boss David Moyes likes the idea of selling Declan Rice to Chelsea – because Conor Gallagher could move in return.

David Moyes would like to bring Conor Gallagher to West Ham United as part of a swap involving Declan Rice.

That is according to a report from The Sun, who claim that Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are all trying to sign Rice.

West Ham believe Rice has his heart set on a move to Arsenal but Moyes would allegedly prefer him to go elsewhere.

The report claims that Moyes likes the idea of Rice joining Chelsea with midfielder Conor Gallagher heading in the opposite direction.

This comes after Football Transfers reported last week that Moyes personally wants to bring Gallagher to East London.

An exchange doesn’t seem likely though as Rice has allegedly made it clear that he has no interest in returning to Chelsea.

Rice started his career in the Chelsea ranks before moving on to West Ham in 2014, where he has now become a star.

The 24-year-old is now prioritising Arsenal over Chelsea, leaving Moyes’ swap idea in tatters.

West Ham will still have a chance to sign Conor Gallagher
This isn’t the end of the hope for West Ham when it comes to Gallagher though.

There seems to be a real chance that Gallagher is sold by Chelsea this summer.

The Mirror (04/06, p77) claimed that new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino would reluctantly sell Gallagher to raise funds.

TalkSPORT even reported in May that Gallagher hasn’t done enough to convince the Chelsea hierarchy that he should stay.

The 23-year-old has come up in the Chelsea ranks but may find regular starts hard to come by.

West Ham would give Gallagher a starring role though, handing him the platform to shine in the Premier League and potentially lock down a spot in the England squad for Euro 2024.

There is major competition for Gallagher and a deal involving Rice would have given West Ham the upper hand on other clubs.

West Ham still have a real chance to land Gallagher though and should look to spend some of the Rice money on signing him.

Aston Villa make ‘succulent offer’ to player – Release clause ‘affordable’, set on transfer

Aston Villa ‘have set their eyes’ on Athletic Club Bilbao forward Nico Williams and would offer him ‘much more money’ than the Spanish side to move to Villa Park.

That’s according to COPE, who back up earlier claims from Spain that Aston Villa were moving for Williams after missing out on Marco Asensio.

They explain that the forward’s current contract includes a €50m release clause, which would be more than ‘affordable’ for the Premier League side.

They’re ready to put a ‘succulent offer’ on the table for him and pay him much more money than he current earns at Athletic, having been impressed by his performances this season.
Williams was an undisputed star for the Spanish side across this campaign, scoring six and assisting another five in 36 games in the league.

He’s only further enhanced his reputation as one of the rising stars of Spanish football and Aston Villa are now ready to move for him to ensure that growth in under Unai Emery in Birmingham.

They’re taking advantage of the fact Williams’ current contract with Athletic expires in 2024 and a new deal, which has been offered but is trumped considerably by the money Aston Villa are proposing, hasn’t been signed as yet.

The player’s own choice will naturally be key but Villa are very much in the market for him and ready to pay to secure a deal after missing out on Asensio..

Aston Villa now eyeing move for Premier League star who’s also wanted by Pep Guardiola

Aston Villa are reportedly one of many sides who hold an interest in signing Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson this summer.

According to The Daily Mail, Johnson has interest building from ‘several clubs’ ahead of the summer window.

Unai Emery will be keen to bolster his squad over the coming weeks as he prepares Aston Villa for a return to European football.

The Spaniard did an incredible job last time out as he guided Villa to a seventh-placed finish after taking over with the club sitting just above the relegation zone.

Villa have already moved to bring in Youri Tielemans on a free transfer after he left relegated Leicester City, while they are seemingly closing in on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain too.

And it seems that the Villains are eyeing another Premier League-proven player in Brennan Johnson.

Villa keen on Johnson
The Mail reports that Johnson is attracting plenty of interest ahead of the summer window.

He has caught the eye of several clubs, including Villa.

Johnson enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in the top flight with Nottingham Forest as he played a pivotal role in helping them avoid the drop.

The 22-year-old netted eight times in the Premier League and provided three assists along the way.

His form has even led to interest from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, according to Football Transfers.
Villa will be keen to strengthen their forward line before the new season gets underway and Johnson seems like a good fit for Emery’s system.

The ‘devastating’ forward has proven to be efficient in front of goal and his direct style would go down well at Villa Park.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not Forest will be tempted to cash in on the talented youngster.

Steve Cooper’s men will be hoping to build on avoiding the drop and selling one of their star players wouldn’t exactly be a great start for them.

Aston Villa: Journalist talks up Pedro Goncalves signing
BY
HENRY JACKSON
PUBLISHED 51 MINUTES AGO
The Sporting CP midfielder could be a great signing.

Sporting CP midfielder Pedro Goncalves would be a “great” signing for Aston Villa this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Has Goncalves been linked with Villa move?
The 24-year-old enjoyed a superb 2022/23 season for the Portuguese giants, catching the eye with his relentless end product in the final third. Goncalves scored 15 goals and registered 11 assists in the Primeira Liga, and he also found the net three times in the Europa League, including an outrageous long-range effort away to Arsenal.

The £25,000-a-week Portuguese could well be a wanted man this summer, and while his current Sporting deal doesn’t expire until 2026, they could find it difficult to keep hold of him, especially if he has decided that he wants to enjoy a new challenge.

Villa have been linked with a move for Goncalves in recent times, as NSWE look to provide plenty of transfer funds this summer, and a new update has now emerged regarding his future.

What’s the latest on Goncalves to Villa Park?
Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones admitted that a move for Goncalves could be difficult for Villa to get over the line, but talked up his brilliance as a player:

I think he would be great. But he’s got a big release clause. And even with Villa pushing the boat out at this next transfer window, I would be surprised if they can jump into this sort of territory. I kind of hope they can, because he’s an extremely exciting talent.”

While this isn’t necessarily the most positive update in the world, it does still suggest that Villa have genuine interest in Goncalves, with Unai Emery seeing him as someone who could provide great quality in attacking areas.

The Sporting hero was described as “incredible” by former striker Kevin Campbell, following his aforementioned goal against Arsenal, and he is someone who could relish life in the Premier League, proving to be a talismanic figure in attacking midfield areas, having won two caps for a star-studded Portugal team.

Given the money being discussed, though, it will clearly be hard for Villa to acquire the services of Goncalves – he could also be eyeing a move to a club who are in the Champions League or Europa League next season – but if they could get a deal over the line, it would be a signing that makes the rest of the country sit up and take notice.

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TITLE-WINNING £25M STAR TOLD HE SHOULD HAVE JOINED ASTON VILLA OR TOTTENHAM

Orkun Kokcu has been warned he may have made a mistake joining Benfica with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur two Premier league clubs who may have been ideal destinations.

After becoming the first Feyenoord captain to lift the Eredivisie trophy since Dirk Kuyt back in 2017, Orkun Kokcu opted against ‘doing an Arne Slot’ in committing his immediate future to life at De Kuip.

The Dutch-born Turkey international joined Benfica in a deal £25 million deal over the weekend.

The Dutch-born Turkey international joined Benfica in a deal £25 million deal over the weekend.

But while a spell in Lisbon did not do the likes of Enzo Fernandez or Darwin Nunez much harm – the former Benfica duo moving to England for combined fees of nearly £200 million – former Netherlands forward Wim Kieft wonders if Kokcu could have cut out the middle man by moving immediately to the Premier League.

(Benfica) are big club. But in a competition that can be compared to the level of the Eredivisie,” Kieft tells De Telegraaf. “So, is Kokcu really going to get better in Lisbon?

The top Portuguese clubs often succeed in selling their best players to top European clubs. However, when you hear that there is English interest and names like Manchester United and Liverpool are mentioned, you wonder; should you choose Benfica at this stage of the transfer window?”

Orkun Kokcu leaves Feyenoord for Benfica
According to Rotterdam-based publication 1908, Man United scouted Kokcu in the spring. It’s likely, however, that the 22-year-old was seen at Old Trafford as a back-up to Erik ten Hag’s top targets; Mason Mount and Declan Rice among them.

United, however, were not the only English-based club mentioned. And Kieft, who won six Eredivisie titles during his time at Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, believes a move to Aston Villa or Tottenham – especially one now under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou – would have been ideal for a man who blossomed from a number ten into a deep-lying playmaker under Arne Slot.

“If you are not confident that you will immediately become a regular starter player (at a United or a Liverpool), you can also go to a ‘sub-top’ team in the Premier League,” Kieft adds.

“And then later make it to the top via Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton and Hove Albion or Aston Villa.”