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Journalist Liam Keen has claimed that Flamengo want Wolverhampton Wanderers target Joao Gomes to go to Lyon as they would get a higher transfer fee.

The Lowdown: Gomes wants Wolves move

TalkSport’s Alex Crook claimed on Twitter that Julen Lopetegui’s side are still hopeful of landing the Brazilian and suggested the player wants to join the Premier League side.

Gomes has played 29 times in Brazil’s Serie A during 2022, providing an assist and scoring twice in the Copa do Brasil in the same year.

The 21-year-old tends to operate as a central midfielder but has experience playing in a deeper defensive midfield role, as well as out on the left-hand side.

The Latest: Flamengo want Lyon move

Keen spoke about the transfer situation on the most recent Express & Star Wolves podcast, claiming that Lyon are offering slightly more money, but the player wants to join Wolves instead.

He also added that the club will be making a decision in the next 24-48 hours if no progress is made.

He stated: “So they are still at loggerheads, they’re still stuck in a position where Lyon’s offer is slightly more than Wolves’.

“Lyon have also typically had a lot of Brazilian players over the years as well. So definitely links there, but financially as well, they want him to go there for the little bit of extra cash. And the player is simply saying I want to go to the Premier League, I want to go and join Wolves. As it stands that that hasn’t changed.

“Wolves, from their point of view, don’t want this to drag on until the final few hours of the deadline day and we’re still scratching our heads wondering, waiting with bated breath to see [if] he’s going to sign for Wolves.

“They would like it to be wrapped up, obviously as soon as possible, we’re hearing maybe [in the] next 24-48 hours or so, we could get an idea of where it’s going.”

The Verdict: An exciting prospect

We believe that Gomes could be an exciting prospect for Wolves and could thrive under the management of Lopetegui.

The Flamengo midfielder has been described as ‘tireless in pressure and recovery’ by Spanish outlet Diario AS, which suggests he will add real bite to the Old Gold’s options in the middle of the park.

Some of his stats certainly indicate this, as Gomes ranks in the top 1% for tackles made by a midfielder over the last year in competitions of a similar level according to FBref, averaging 4.26 tackles per 90 minutes.

Lopetegui has managed some top talent in his time including Barcelona’s Jules Kounde and Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic, and this could give the 21-year-old a massive opportunity to develop his game should he make the switch to Molineux.

Liverpool have recently been tied to audacious claims on the transfer front that Juventus’ Federico Chiesa is of interest to the club, and could replace the struggling Mohamed Salah.

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb.it, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is considering an unforeseen transfer for the club’s offensive stalwart in Salah, and could move for the Old Lady’s Chiesa, who is valued at €60m (£53m) to replace their prolific focal point.

The report continues to state that while Liverpool could part with the Egpytian, who signed a new contract last year, he would command a high fee and Liverpool would maintain to hold all the cards in a prospective deal.

Speaking to Football FanCast to give his thoughts on the situation, transfer insider Pete O’Rourke remarked on the interest, stating that Chiesa would indeed be a player on Klopp’s radar, should an apt opportunity arise.

He said: “I’m sure he’s a player that Liverpool do admire and like, but I don’t think anything’s going to happen this month. Maybe in the summer, they might look at it to see if they can bring Chiesa in to improve their attacking options as well.”

Is it time to ditch Salah?

Salah has been nothing short of sensational for Liverpool since arriving in a £34m deal from AS Roma in 2017, but the 30-year-old has been at the epicentre of the recent strife following a notable downswing in form and fluidity.

While the Egyptian gem has 17 goals and registered six assists from 29 appearances across all competitions this season, only seven have come in the Premier League – where he has formed the bulk of his playing time – and his lapse in form has been a factor behind the spluttering season on Merseyside.

As per Sofascore, the £350k-per-week star’s average rating of 6.93 is the lowest across six terms since his arrival at Anfield, and the first time his rating has dropped lower than 7.14 (20/21).

And with his 3.3 shots per match in the Champions League and 3.2 shots per game in the English top-flight still among the highest average output of his career, there should be far greater success from the direct offensive, albeit with a flagging midfield deployed behind him.

So, should Liverpool decide that their iconic forward has run himself past his high-octane, pinpoint best, the more youthful Chiesa could indeed be an avenue to delve down.

One year ago, the Italian ace suffered a detrimental injury blow to rule him out of contention for ten months, missing a seismic chunk of football, and he has softly reintegrated into the Juve outfit this term, scoring one goal and providing two assists from just one solitary start across all competitions.

And while the 40-cap phenom’s progress has been blighted by setbacks over the past couple of years, in 20/21 – this last fully fit campaign – the young Chiesa announced himself as a major player on the European scene by plundering 15 goals and 11 assists during his debut year with Juventus – with a goal and assist apiece coming for Fiorentina in the maiden phase of the term.

And with his integral role in Italy’s 2020 European Championship triumph (hosted in 2021 due to the pandemic) leaving him with an average rating of 7.06 and scoring two goals, the “unreal” gem – as hailed by 90min’s Jack Gallagher – that is Chiesa will be in good stead to continue his career development with the Reds.

Valued at just €20m (£18m) by CIES Football Observatory, Chiesa could be the catalyst for a new era, and while ditching Salah from contention entirely would be as bold a move as any manager has made across recent times, Klopp could have the perfect heir on his hands with a successful bid.

Scottish champions Celtic are back in action at home to Livingston this evening, with Ange Postecoglou’s side having run out 2-0 winners over Dundee United in their most recent league clash last weekend.

That rather comfortable outing saw second-half goals from Jota and Aaron Mooy prove the difference for the Old Firm outfit, with the Glasgow side having re-established their nine-point advantage at the summit with what was their 21st top-flight win of the season.

The rampant league leaders will also go into tonight’s encounter having already beaten David Martindale’s men on two occasions so far this term, notably claiming a 2-1 victory when the two sides met at Parkhead back in December.

With the Hoops looking to inflict even more misery on Livi this time around at Paradise, how will they line up?

Here’s what Football FanCast are predicting:

Postecoglou revealed in his pre-match press conference that the only injury absentees are likely to be that of Anthony Ralston and Benjamin Siegrist, while on-loan Danish midfielder Oliver Abildgaard has subsequently sealed a move to Italian outfit, Hellas Verona.

With that in mind, we predict that there will be four changes from the side that claimed victory at Tannadice on Sunday, with January arrival Yuki Kobayashi potentially set to be the only alteration in the backline, allowing the Japan international the chance to partner Cameron Carter-Vickers in the centre of defence for the first time.

A further two changes could lie in midfield, with the midweek clash potentially allowing the chance for Postecoglou to hand reliable skipper Callum McGregor a well-earned rest, with Tomoki Iwata in line to take his place for what would be his first start for the Bhoys.

With the aforementioned Mooy likely to remain in the side following his goal and assist against the Tangerines, it could well see Matt O’Riley come in to take the final midfield berth, with the £12k-per-week “magician” – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – having struggled for a regular role of late.

That should well see “outstanding” asset Reo Hatate – as described by former Celtic Park hero Chris Sutton – drop to the bench, with the 25-year-old another to potentially benefit from a brief break from the action amid what is a hectic fixture schedule.

As for the forward line, the only tweak could see Liel Abada make way for Daizen Maeda on the right flank, with top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi and Portuguese gem Jota set to retain their places in the side.

Chelsea are interested in a deal to sign AC Milan’s Rafael Leao in the summer, and the prolific winger could emulate the success of the Blues’ London rivals Tottenham Hotspur Heung-min Son with a move…

That’s according to La Stampa (via TMW), who claimed over the weekend that the Blues are now the most interested party in the player ahead of the summer transfer window, with Todd Boehly keeping one eye on the 23-year-old’s negotiations with Milan over a new deal, which have still not seen a breakthrough.

Chelsea have spent over £550m on new signings since last summer, Boehly’s first window as the owner of the west London outfit, and could look to continue the spree with the gem, who has a release clause of €150m (£134m).

Son 2.0

Scoring nine goals and providing nine assists from 28 appearances this season – including eight goals and six assists from just 16 starts in the Serie A – Leao is indeed emerging as one of the game’s finest and most thrilling young flankers, with Chelsea’s now prolonged interest in the player meaning that should contractual talks irrevocably fall apart, Stamford Bridge will be the likely location.

As per FBref, Leao ranks among the top 17% of positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for rate of goals and the top 10% for rate of assists, also in the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons.

Effectively, this illustrates his direct approach and dynamism as an offensive outlet that sets him a step ahead of the abundance of wingers plying their trade across Europe, with his innate footballing ability certainly complemented by his prolific output.

Indeed, based on those numbers and ability, the budding “superstar” – as heralded by sport writer Theo Mwangi – could replicate the devastating South Korean that is Son, just at Spurs’ fierce city rivals instead.

Son has made 353 appearances for the Lilywhites since his £22m move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, scoring 139 goals and registering 77 assists while also sharing the Premier League golden boot with Mo Salah last term.

And with Antonio Conte’s wing wizard boasting a dynamic skill set composed of ambidexterity and a unique advantage in maintaining speed with the ball at his feet, Leao could certainly take a leaf from the 30-year-old’s book if he does indeed clinch a move to the Premier League.

Indeed, compared to Leao, the Spurs ace sits in the top 7% of wingers in Europe for goals per 90 as a marker of their similarly clinical abilities.

Son is similarly creative, having registered an eye-catching ten assists last term while his direct speedy nature is highlighted by his career average of 1.4 dribbles a match.

Chelsea may well have spent large amounts of money on new signings, and while the wide areas appear to be nicely taking shape, the acquisition of Leao could be that ‘superstar’ signing to truly ensure the club soar to the very top of the European scene for years to come.

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that Wolves won’t be able to keep hold of Ruben Neves at the end of the season as the player won’t renew his contract.

What’s the word?

Over the weekend, the club took a potentially huge step towards Premier League survival as they blew Liverpool out of the water with a 3-0 win at home.

Of course, it’s just three points, but a win like that will give the fans and players great confidence that things are heading in the right direction under new boss Julen Lopetegui.

However, while Wolves may progress well between now and the end of the summer, a dark cloud hangs over the club due to the fact that key player Neves could leave in the summer when his contract will enter its final year.

Indeed, while speaking about it all on Chasing Green Arrows, Jones damningly claimed that Neves is unlikely to hang around even despite the team’s improvement under Lopetegui.

He said: “It’ll be interesting to see whether they can, now beyond this season, then actually build on this moment because there’ll be so much interest in players like Ruben Neves and it seems unlikely he will stay any longer.”

Time to say goodbye

Apart from new signing Craig Dawson (who has played just one game), no Wolves player has performed better than Neves in the Premier League this season.

That is according to WhoScored, who have the midfielder as the highest-ranked member of Lopetegui’s squad with an average player rating of 7.03 spread across 2o games.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why his exit could be a real setback for Wolves and with his contract set to expire in June 2024, it really does look as though he could leave.

Newcastle United have been linked in the past with journalist Craig Hope suggesting that he’s on the club’s list and they’re “keeping very, very close tabs on” the 25-year-old.

And so, if Wolves don’t want to lose Neves for free, and they can’t convince him to stay, he may well have to be sold in the summer.

Leeds United remain managerless and are deep in relegation trouble after they were beaten by Manchester United at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon.

Whilst it was the second strong showing against the Red Devils this week, the Yorkshire outfit desperately need to pick up points or risk going back to the Championship after just three years back in the big time.

Late goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho extended the Whites’ winless run to nine straight matches in the Premier League. It also means that Leeds have scored just three goals in five outings too.

Patrick Bamford’s struggles since making a permanent comeback from injury have certainly continued…

How did Patrick Bamford do against Man Utd?

It was only one-and-a-half seasons ago that the Englishman had completed a prolific campaign in front of goal as he helped Marcelo Bielsa’s side to a ninth-placed finish with his 17 goals and seven assists.

Since then, injuries have wrecked his time in west Yorkshire and he’s returned as a shadow of himself post-surgery as this latest blank has made it four straight without a goal, via Transfermarkt.

This wretched record is doing Leeds more harm than good and with a club-record signing waiting in the wings, it could be an easy switch for any new manager to make.

Against United, Bamford mustered up fewer touches of the ball (16) than even goalkeeper Illan Meslier (31) – hardly a surprise given he was hooked before the hour mark but a rather damning indictment of just how ineffective he’s been.

Indeed, the 29-year-old – who earns a reported £74k-per-week at Elland Road – missed one big chance at 0-0 and had that fallen to him during the 2020/21 season, then you’d imagine it would be buried, without fail.

The former Chelsea youth graduate also managed just four accurate passes from his 16 touches, which was the same number as his replacement managed in half the time, whilst just one effort was on target, via Sofascore.

If Leeds’ next manager is to turn the tide at Elland Road, then he’ll quickly need to find a solution in the final third, with Bamford misfiring once again. It’s been a frequent occurrence since his return, so perhaps it’s finally time to see what Georginio Rutter can offer.

AND in other news, Marsch downgrade: Orta could put the final nail in Leeds’ coffin with “clueless” 55y/o…

Wolverhampton Wanderers are enjoying their best run of form in a long time under Julen Lopetegui, with a 2-1 win over Southampton last weekend taking them away from a relegation dogfight at the bottom of the table.

This win followed the famous 3-0 victory against Liverpool, and it shows that this Old Gold have what it takes to not only save themselves from the drop but to potentially push for the top half of the Premier League table.

Lopetegui’s January signings have given the club a new lease of life, rejuvenating a squad that was on the slide under Bruno Lage. Craig Dawson has added some solidity in defence, winning three headers per game while Matheus Cunha is offering a different attacking dynamic compared to Diego Costa.

However, it is Joao Gomes who might just be the best of the mid-season arrivals, especially considering his debut performance for the club.

Could Gomes be Lopetegui’s finest January signing?

The Brazilian arrived at Molineux in the dying embers of the January transfer window, signing for £15m from Flamengo as Wolves saw off Lyon to secure a deal for the young midfielder.

It could prove to be a very sensible move by Lopetegui, who is clearly bulking up his midfield options ahead of the summer, with Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes both being linked with moves away from the club.

With Wolves down to ten men and trailing Southampton 1-0 at the weekend, it looked as though it would be an afternoon to forget. However, just minutes after Gomes was introduced to the game for his Old Gold debut, Jan Bednarek scored an own goal before the 22-year-old entered the record books.

His 87th-minute strike gave Wolves all three points and he became the youngest Brazilian to score on their Premier League debut in the process, rounding off a wonderful cameo.

Lopetegui praised the midfielder after the game, saying that he “will be a good player for sure”, and this will likely give Gomes plenty of confidence. His 20-minute spell off the bench produced two shots, one successful dribble, one tackle and 19 touches, which shows just how much devastation he could cause if unleashed from the start.

He also brings a winner’s mentality to Molineux, having lifted the Copa Libertadores, Brazilian Cup and two Brazilian league titles at Flamengo, with his former club’s official Twitter channel describing him as a “pitbull” upon his departure for England.

If Gomes’ debut performance is an indication of just what he can offer to Wolves, then Lopetegui has certainly secured a bargain, with the 22-year-old looking to kick on and become an integral part of the starting XI from now on.

Whenever a manager at Chelsea finds himself under pressure, Jose Mourinho is usually one of the first to be linked with a return to Stamford Bridge but the experienced Portuguese could be the ideal man to save the Blues this season.

Could Jose Mourinho take over from Graham Potter at Chelsea?

Graham Potter is understandably being linked with the sack and seems to have lost all support from the fans, while Mourinho has made it clear that he would welcome the opportunity to return to Chelsea if given the opportunity.

He told Sky Sports last year:

“I just know the club has reached such a level that it doesn’t matter who it’s with, Chelsea will always be Chelsea. Chelsea will always be.

“My house will always be 200 metres from the stadium and I want to keep listening to the sound of happiness and success and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be like that.”

Journalist Richard Keys has also suggested that the Special One could be a get-out-of-jail-free card for Todd Boehly and Chelsea as the new chairman looks to rescue a nightmare season and get the fans back on side at Stamford Bridge.

Therefore, there is clearly interest from both sides and if Potter cannot rectify his recent run of form, then Mourinho could be the ideal replacement as the Blues look to salvage European football for next season.

Could Mourinho rescue European football for Chelsea?

Chelsea currently sit tenth in the Premier League following last weekend’s shocking 1-0 defeat against Southampton, which leaves them 11 points behind fourth-placed Spurs.

On current form, Potter’s side look unlikely to produce a turnaround against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League after losing 1-0 at Signal Iduna Park last week, so Mourinho could rescue the Blues with his world-renowned abilities, which suit tournament football perfectly.

Last season saw the Portuguese manager become the only coach in history to have won the Champions League, Europa League and the new Europa Conference League, while he also boasts a mammoth ten title wins across spells with Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter and Porto, so it is easy to see why Owen Hargreaves labelled him a “serial winner.”

There is no doubting the quality that Chelsea possesses in their squad following the investment of Boehly in January and if Mourinho can get them playing to their potential, there seems no reason why he couldn’t turn the Blues into a winning machine once again, as he has proven capable of throughout his career.

The season can still be salvaged for Chelsea, but Boehly needs to admit his mistake in hiring the inexperienced Potter and bring in a born winner such as Mourinho before it is too late for the west London side.

YouTuber Mark Goldbridge has expressed his concern that the summer transfer business of Manchester United is in “peril” due to the current takeover uncertainty.

What’s the latest on transfers and the Man Utd takeover?

At one point, it had seemed as though the Glazer family could finally be ready to sell the club with bids coming in for their assets from Qatari-linked Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

However, it has since been reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano that the owners are prepared to “fight” in negotiations to make sure they get their full evaluation – which could be as much as £7bn.

On top of that, it’s unclear if the Glazers are actually even that open to a sale amid reports that they may instead just want to find a new minority investor.

Taking it all into account, Goldbridge has warned that it could prevent Man Utd from planning properly for the upcoming transfer market.

Speaking on The United Stand, he explained (19:14): “Let’s be honest, let’s be blunt, United’s summer transfer window is in peril.

“It’s in peril because we can’t plan and as Fabrizio said there, it’s very difficult to plan your summer transfer window when you don’t know what your budget is.”

What does the latest takeover news mean for Man Utd’s transfers?

You certainly need a cohesive plan if you want to perform well in the always competitive transfer market. And if Erik ten Hag and co don’t even know will be writing the cheques this summer, it will be hard for them to identify realistic targets at this stage.

For instance, according to Corriere dello Sport (via Goal) the club are keen on signing Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae, especially as he has a £42m release clause.

However, there is only a two-week period in the summer when they can get him for that price and if they can’t plan early to make sure they can convince the player to join in that time frame, the opportunity will likely pass them by.

On top of that, they have also been linked with £100m moves for the likes of Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen but it remains unclear if the Glazers or a possible new owner would sanction such a deal.

With that in mind, the club really need things sorted out soon behind the scenes if they want to have a successful summer transfer window.

Chelsea will welcome Leeds United to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, and anxiety will undoubtedly pervade through the home ranks, who will be desperate for a victory to get the club back on track.

After sacking Thomas Tuchel in the maiden phase of the term, owner Todd Boehly spent £288m to get his west London outfit back on track, but mired in mid-table obscurity and boasting just two victories from 15 outings across all competitions, it’s not flowing as anticipated.

Candidly, manager Graham Potter is under immense pressure, and despite the Telegraph’s Matt Law stating that he has two matches to save his tenure, failure to defeat the Whites would raise few eyebrows if Boehly consequently severed ties with the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss.

And in order to ensure another slip against a relegation candidate does not further chasten the club – Chelsea fell to bottom-placed Southampton in their previous home outing – Potter must unleash £88.5m winter signing Mykhaylo Mudryk, who has endured an indifferent start to life in the Premier League.

Should Potter start Mudryk against Leeds?

Mudryk’s transfer saga was one of the most prominent and entertaining of the winter market, with ostensibly months of hard graft from Arsenal dissipating after opulent Chelsea swooped in like a bird of prey and ensnared the Ukrainian phenom with a bumper package.

It hasn’t quite gone to plan thus far, and he certainly hasn’t made the resounding introduction many expected, with his first six matches for the Blues leaving him still chasing his first direct contribution.

Regardless, the fleet-footed winger is one of the most exciting prospects in Europe; scoring ten goals and supplying eight assists from 18 appearances for his previous team Shakhtar Donetsk in the first half of the campaign.

The “special” Mudryk – as dubbed by Joe Flemons – was “dazzling” in his feats, as lauded by the Champions League’s official Twitter after one dominant display, catching the eye in Europe after scoring three goals and two assists in the group phase.

Leeds are desperately seeking to stave off the threat of relegation from the top-flight, just one point and one place above the bottom three, and given their 39 goals shipped is worsened only by the bottom two, Mudryk could hope to wreak havoc from his dynamic role down the left.

Lauded as an “agent of chaos” by The Athletic, the £97k-per-week ace’s pace and power in his gliding gait marauding down the left flank has left defenders bamboozled and indeed Champions League defences unravelled, with the 22-year-old ranking among the top 1% of positional peers for non-penalty goals and 6% for assists per 90 over the past year in Europe’s top five leagues and European competitions.

The “frightening” talent, as heralded by journalist Josh Bunting, has yet to make a mark on English football, but when he does, the searing blaze left in his wake will burn brightly, eclipsing anything his outfit have encountered for several years.

With the fear to leave backlines quaking in their boots, Mudryk is just waiting to harness the abundant potential that brims from his feet, and with a good performance against Leeds, the torrent of potency that so many have expected might finally gush onto Stamford Bridge.

Therefore, Potter must unleash him from the start this afternoon and afford the attacker the opportunity to finally make his mark in England.