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An update has emerged on Sunderland and their plans to bolster Tony Mowbray's attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What’s the latest on Sonny Perkins to Sunderland?

According to TEAMtalk, the Black Cats are one of a number of teams eyeing up a swoop to sign Leeds United striker Sonny Perkins on loan this summer.

The report claims that fellow Championship sides Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers are keen on landing the teenage talent’s signature.

It states that the Whites are prepared to sanction a temporary exit for the centre-forward and are willing to send him to another team in the division, with Kristjaan Speakman now pursuing his services.

Where would Sonny Perkins fit in at Sunderland?

The 19-year-old gem is a versatile player that could be deployed in a multitude of roles across the frontline for Mowbray next season.

He could, however, feature alongside current Black Cats marksman Ross Stewart to play a part in making the Scotland international unplayable.

The 26-year-old finisher enjoyed an immense partnership with former loanee Ellis Simms as a strike partnership at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, which showcased his potential as part of an attacking duo.

Stewart plundered a stunning five goals and three assists in six Championship starts alongside Simms in August of last year. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.65 across those matches, which is higher than Ryan Manning’s league-leading average rating of 7.46 last term.

This suggests that the former Ross County star was one of the best performers in the division, if not the best, whilst playing next to another striker.

Therefore, Perkins could get the best out of Stewart as the Leeds prodigy, who can also play out wide or in midfield, has shown immense potential at youth level.

The £1.6k-per-week prospect scored 11 goals and provided three assists in 18 Premier League 2 matches last term, while the hotshot also managed 12 strikes in 21 league outings for West Ham's U21s in 2021/22.

His former youth boss Michael Skubala once described him as a "goal machine" and the exciting teenager's statistics back that up, with more than a goal every other game over the last two seasons.

This suggests that the potential is there for Perkins to be a prolific forward option for Sunderland, albeit he is yet to prove that at senior level, which could make him the ideal player to slot in alongside Stewart.

As was the case with Simms, who scored seven goals in 14 league starts for the club, opposition defenders would have another number nine to deal with and would not be able to focus all of their attention on the Scotland international, which could then open up the space for the exceptional striker to return to the unplayable form he displayed last year.

Manchester United are reportedly interested in a Serie A ace, as Erik ten Hag aims to bolster his squad in the direction of challenging at the top next season.

The Red Devils showed signs of reaching the heights of Manchester City and Arsenal last campaign, however, were unable to keep their momentum which saw them finish third in the table.

The Dutchman impressed during his first season at Old Trafford and could push the club to greater heights next term by recruiting smartly this summer, which is something he could accomplish by signing the latest individual linked to the club.

What’s the latest on Federico Dimarco to Man United?

As reported by The Independent, Manchester United have shown interest in Inter Milan defender Federico Dimarco.

The report states that the Premier League giants are ‘set to rival’ Real Madrid for the Italian, claiming that both clubs have ‘spoken’ to Inter about the full-back.

While no estimated asking fee for the defender is reported, the 25-year-old is valued at €40m (£34m) by CIES Football Observatory.

What could Federico Dimarco offer to Man United?

Described as having ‘immense versatility’ by journalist Miguel Delaney via The Independent, the Milan-born gem has shone this season in what has been a memorable campaign for his boyhood club.

In a year that saw Inter make the Champions League final, Dimarco cemented himself as a firm starter on the back of his breakthrough season with I Nerazzurri, making 33 Serie A appearances and recording an average match rating of 7.17, via Sofascore.

Hailed as a “beast” by one Serie A expert on Twitter, the 25-year-old could elevate the performance level at United, in a move that could prove to be bad news for Luke Shaw.

While the Englishman has performed highly under Ten Hag towards the end of the season, displaying skills in playing at centre-back when called upon, the 27-year-old could be forced to lose his position at left-back to the expertise of Dimarco.

This season’s top two managers in the Premier League have found success in deploying their full-backs in an inverted role, allowing for increased impact offensively while maintaining defensive stability.

Ten Hag could replicate the influence Pep Guardiola has passed to Mikel Arteta in playing Dimarco over Shaw, whose statistics prove him to be one of the best attacking full-backs in Europe.

As per FBref, the Italian leapfrogs Shaw in terms of attacking play on the flank, ranking in the top 1% of full-backs in Europe with reference to total shots, averaging an impressive two per 90 to the Englishman’s 0.41, showing his impact in the final third.

A similar pattern is evident in his overlapping play, receiving 7.98 progressive passes per 90 to the United ace’s 3.03 to further communicate the threat he could add in wide areas to Ten Hag’s side from defence.

The two have similar averages in defensive duties, with Sofascore revealing that both players won an average of 56% of their total duels, with Shaw coming out marginally on top making 1.91 tackles per 90 to the Inter gem’s 1.29.

The league has seen this season just how potent it can be having full-backs with competency in the final third, adding a new dimension to gameplay in an area that could bolster Ten Hag’s chances to take United back to the top. It may well relegate their current option at left-back, but United's manager it would surely be worth it.

Sunderland enjoyed an impressive return to life in the Championship in the 2022/23 campaign as they battled early disruption to reach the play-offs.

Alex Neil quit the Stadium of Light to join Stoke City in the first month of the season and Tony Mowbray came in to lead the Black Cats to sixth before losing to Luton Town, who went on earn promotion to the Premier League.

The head coach and Kristjaan Speakman now have the summer transfer window to bolster the squad again with the aim of going all the way and moving up to the top-flight at the end of 2023/24.

One player the club have been linked with a swoop for ahead of next term is Universidad Católica prospect Alexander Aravena, who could be the dream heir to a current Sunderland ace.

How would Alexander Aravena fit in at Sunderland?

The 20-year-old right winger could come in and eventually replace Patrick Roberts on that side of Mowbray's attacking line-up next season or in the years to come.

In the Primera Division in 2023, the exciting youngster has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.08 and chipped in with seven goals and two assists from out wide in 13 outings. The number 18 has created one chance per game for his teammates and showcased his ability to open up the opposition for his fellow attackers.

His form this year comes after an impressive 2022 in the top-flight of football in Chile.

Aravena averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 in the league last term and contributed at the top end of the pitch with 11 goals and three assists in 30 matches as a winger.

These statistics show that the young ace, whose intelligence was once praised as "magnificent" by press officer and scout Salvatore Gandhi, has the quality to be a big goal threat, whilst also being able to provide creativity, as a right winger.

Roberts, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.83 and racked up five goals and seven assists in 42 appearances in the Championship in the season just gone.

This suggests that the Chile international could provide more than him in front of goal if the 20-year-old is able to adjust to English football, based on his return of 18 goals and five assists in his last 43 league games is more impressive than the Englishman's statistics in the second tier.

Aravena's age, however, means that Mowbray would not have to rush him into the starting XI or expect him to hit the ground running on Wearside. Sunderland could take their time with the prolific magician and bed him in slowly as the long-term heir to Roberts' position on the right flank.

Burnley have taken Southampton's spot in the Premier League and they may be about to raid the Championship-bound Saints for one of their key players.

What is Che Adams' Southampton future?

According to TEAMtalk, Burnley are considering an approach for Che Adams to replace Ashley Barnes, who has made the move to Norwich City after almost a decade at Turf Moor.

Then-Southampton boss Nathan Jones strongly ruled out an exit for Adams in the January window, when Everton were said to be circling, but the Saints' relegation has changed the complexion entirely.

Adams is now into the final year of his St Mary's contract, and it is reported that a bid of £12m would be enough to land a player who is also still a target for Everton, as well as Leeds United and Nottingham Forest.

Where would Che Adams fit in at Burnley?

Vincent Kompany has transformed Burnley's playing style, but that is not to say a route-one-type striker is not still valued as the Clarets look to add a Plan B of sorts for their return to the Premier League.

With an average of 2.76 aerial challenges won per 90 minutes over the past 12 months, Adams ranks among the top 18% of his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues, as per FBref, while he is also high up the list for clearances per 90 minutes (0.99 – top 16%).

Those numbers are very similar to another British player who has been linked with a Premier League return in Roma's Tammy Abraham. The former Chelsea striker is said to be available for around £40m, which is over three times the amount Adams could be signed for.

Abraham had a hugely successful first season in Serie A, but based on last season's figures, there is not a great deal between him and Adams. Abraham edged things in terms of combined goals and assists per 90 minutes (0.45 v 0.36), but Adams came out better in other metrics.

For example, the Scotland international's successful take-ons percentage of 48.5 was higher than that of Abraham (32.4), as was the number of carries he managed per 90 minutes (18.3 v 17.3) and completed passes per 90 minutes (14.9 v 14.1).

Perhaps more tellingly, Adams also ranks slightly higher for tackles per 90 minutes (0.77 v 0.70), which may be a big factor in why Kompany supposedly wants to bring him to Turf Moor. After all, Barnes averaged a near-identical 0.75 tackles per 90 minutes last season.

Adams is coming off the back of a decent enough Premier League campaign, with his five goals and three assists in 28 appearances not enough to keep the Saints in the top flight.

As pointed out by Ally McCoist, a prolific striker during his playing days, Adams is a "clever player" with his movement and someone capable of finding the net regularly with the right support.

The 26-year-old may not get the Burnley supporters' pulses racing, having never hit double figures for Premier League goals, but his numbers put him on a par with players likely to be out of the Clarets' reach this summer, making him a good value for money investment.

For all the attacking talents in their ranks last season, Chelsea managed just 38 goals in 38 Premier League games – only four teams in the entire division performed worse.

Bringing in a clinical forward this summer is therefore imperative if new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is to have any chance of turning things around at Stamford Bridge.

Who is Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson?

The Evening Standard reports that Chelsea are in talks over the signing of Nicolas Jackson, who is coming off the back of a campaign in which he scored 12 goals and assisted four more in 26 LaLiga appearances for Villarreal.

Nine of those goals came in his final eight outings as Villarreal climbed into a Europa League spot, though it may have come at a cost for the Yellow Submarine as their star attacker is now wanted by numerous clubs.

The report suggests Jackson is available to purchase for £30m this summer, making him a far cheaper option than Napoli's £125m-rated Victor Osimhen, who was widely considered to be the Blues' top target.

Where would Nicolas Jackson fit in at Chelsea?

According to FBref's player comparison model, Jackson's form in LaLiga over the past year puts him in a similar bracket to superstar strikers Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski.

That is quite some company, but the statistics very much back that up. For example, with 0.68 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes across the past 12 months, Jackson is in the top 2% of all his positional peers across LaLiga.

The Senegal international averaged 0.90 goals and assists per 90 minutes last season, compared to 0.97 for Benzema at Real Madrid, but he performed better in terms of non-penalty goals per 90 – 0.97 v 0.90.

Jackson was more precise than Benzema when it came to shooting last season, too, finding the target from 56.1% of his attempts, which is an improvement on the latter's 36.4% accuracy.

Benzema did come out on top in terms of aerial duels won between the pair (51.9% v 30.2%), but Jackson's strengths lie in other departments, such as take-ons (2.08 v 1.95) and tackles won (0.62 v 0.22), showing two different sides to his game.

Still aged just 21, Jackson was labelled "extraordinary" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig for his output in 2022-23, which includes a goal conversion rate of 29%.

To put Jackson's clinical nature into some perspective, his average of 0.67 goals per 90 minutes came from an expected goals (xG) value of 0.45. At Chelsea last season, Joao Felix led the way with 0.38 goals per 90 minutes, yet this came from an xG of 0.47.

Effectively, that means Jackson requires far fewer chances to put the ball in the net, which is exactly what Chelsea require.

While he may not have the reputation of Benzema and Lewandowski, or indeed Osimhen, Jackson's performances last season suggest his current £30m valuation will only continue to rise with time. Chelsea would be wise to pounce while they can.

West Ham United manager David Moyes will be frustrated by comments striker Michail Antonio made recently regarding differences between Gianluca Scamacca's style of play and the Scot's tactical approach, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest news involving Moyes, Antonio and Scamacca?

Speaking on the Filthy Fellas podcast via The Daily Mail, West Ham striker Antonio questioned whether fellow attacker Scamacca would succeed at the London Stadium under Moyes.

Antonio stated regarding Scamacca: "I'm going to be honest with you lot. He's actually quality. He is a quality player. The problem is, he can't play the way the gaffer (Moyes) plays. He needs a different type of manager to play his type of football. He needs a manager (where) he can play and have other players come off him and stuff like that. You can see the ball comes into him and it sticks; he's tidy. But how David Moyes plays is more like if you're up front, you're dealing with scraps and you've got to be more of a fighter, and that's not him."

As cited by Football London, Moyes replied to £85k-a-week earner Antonio's comments in the run-up to West Ham's Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina on Wednesday, stating: “I've got no issues with Gianluca. Gianluca is a terrific player, a really good footballer, someone who we really like, but unfortunately, he’s been hit with injuries for periods of this season. Micky has his own opinions but we're not getting into that.”

Scamacca has had a mixed spell in east London and has made 27 appearances in all competitions, registering eight goals, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that Moyes will have been inconvenienced by Antonio's comments on Scamacca.

Brown told FFC: "As a journalist, I love the honesty in the way that Michail Antonio can go on that podcast and say whatever he likes. I think it's the kind of thing that should be encouraged because we're always complaining about footballers never having an opinion and not being allowed to speak from the heart. So, that part, I fully agree with. However, I'm not sure his manager will be too keen that he said that."

Should Michail Antonio have commented on Gianluca Scamacca?

It's hard to say really and there wasn't anything malicious in Antonio's comments; however, it was hardly ideal preparation for Moyes ahead of their crunch European final.

The Guardian claimed earlier this month that Antonio is actually someone who could 'push to leave' the Hammers this summer, potentially provoking some change in the striking department moving forward.

Football Insider had reported that David Moyes may also walk away from West Ham in the off-season, even though they won against Fiorentina in the final of the Conference League, in order to return to his family home in Lancashire.

According to The Sun, Moyes may also be a likely candidate to take over at Scottish champions Celtic should Ange Postecoglou complete his expected departure to Tottenham Hotspur, signalling that plenty of alterations could take place at the London Stadium ahead of 2023/24.

Harry Kane will be wasting his time if he chooses to stay at Tottenham Hotspur any longer, pundit Perry Groves has claimed.

What's the latest on Harry Kane's future?

The England captain has one year left on his deal at Spurs, and with the Lilywhites failing to qualify for European football, the 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away.

Kane has scored 30 league goals this season, a tally only bettered by Erling Haaland, and given that Spurs are still yet to appoint a sporting director or a new manager, it does feel unlikely that they may challenge for major honours next season.

There have been whispers that Kane could stay at Spurs for one more year before departing for free, but Perry Groves has told TalkSPORT that this would be a waste of time for the striker.

"If he does stay for one more season at Spurs, I think that shows an unbelievable lack of ambition," Groves stated.

"I think it means that he's a little bit too comfortable there.

"He will waste a season of his footballing career if he stays at Spurs. It will be a complete and utter waste of time for him, and I always think that the elite sportsmen should always try and play at the highest level that you can probably play for your talent. He's not."

Where should Harry Kane go?

The £200k-per-week star has arguably achieved all he can at Spurs, becoming their all-time record goalscorer this season, and the club finishing eighth in a campaign where Kane has been outstanding on an individual level highlights the issue he faces there.

If he is to leave in search of major honours, he may have a few different options depending on the level of interest shown this summer. Manchester United have been heavily linked, and Erik ten Hag has reportedly made Kane his top target.

Whilst United have improved this season, their Carabao Cup victory was their first trophy in five years, and there is no guarantee that Kane could challenge for major honours there.

Kane has been linked with Real Madrid amidst uncertainty over the future of Karim Benzema, and he could follow in Gareth Bale's footsteps and regularly challenge for the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Kane may not favour a move abroad as he takes aim at Alan Shearer's Premier League goals record, and with United his only realistic option for a move within England right now, it remains unclear what the striker will choose to do.

Liverpool are ready to trigger Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte's release clause in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Have Liverpool been linked with Ugarte?

Midfield is clearly the main area of the Reds' team that need improvements this summer, with that part of the pitch causing huge problems throughout this season. The likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have looked past their best, struggled to match their past performance levels, while Thiago, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones have been unavailable too often through injury, with Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner all set to leave when their contracts expire.

A number of new signings are needed in the middle of the park, with three midfield additions mooted, and Ugarte is one player who has been linked with a move to Anfield this summer, having shone for Sporting in 2022/23, standing out as arguably one of Europe's most promising young defensive midfielders.

The £16,000-a-week Uruguayan has started 28 Primeira Liga matches this season, also making 10 appearances in Europe – six in the Champions League and a further four in the Europa League – and proving to be one of his side's most important players.

Now, a fresh update has emerged over Liverpool's pursuit of him in the summer window, as they continue to track both him and Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister, with a move for the Argentine seemingly close.

Could Reds trigger Ugarte's release clause?

According to Le Parisien [via Sport Witness], the Reds are "ready" to pay the €60m (£52.1m) required to trigger Ugarte's release clause at the end of the season, with the 22-year-old preferring the idea of a move to the Premier League instead of Paris Saint-Germain.

Ugarte could be such a great signing for Liverpool if they get a deal over the line, with the eight-time capped Uruguay international described as a "machine" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig. His aforementioned bite in the tackle and ability to cover ground are both attributes that the Reds' midfield so badly needs, so he could be viewed as Fabinho's long-term replacement in the No.6 role.

He is also excellent in possession, however, rather than simply being a destroyer off the ball, enjoying a 91.8% pass completion rate in the league this season, as well as 85% and 89.3% in the Champions League and Europa League respectively. At 22, the Sporting man is also still so young, so he could develop into an even more formidable player at Anfield in the coming years, potentially even matching Fabinho's level of influence eventually.

It is no secret that West Ham United have a dismal track record when it comes to making centre-forward additions in recent years, with the GSB era having been littered with bizarre and at times costly transfer mistakes.

Among a lengthy list which includes the likes of Mido, Lucas Perez and Jordan Hugill, to name just a few, is Ecuador striker Enner Valencia, the diminutive speedster having failed to truly make his mark in English football.

Signed for £12m in the summer of 2014 after hitting 18 goals in just 24 games for Mexican outfit Pachuca, the 5 foot 9 marksman was expected to hit the ground running at Upton Park, particularly having netted three times during a standout World Cup campaign in Brazil.

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Although his arrival seemed something of a coup at the time, it quickly became apparent that the club – and then-manager Sam Allardyce – had fallen for the age-old trap of signing a player off the back of some impressive yet fleeting displays at a major tournament.

A stunning goal on his full league debut against Hull City looked like it would be the start of a bright spell in the Premier League for the versatile forward, but that early-season effort would be just one of four league goals that he scored in his first campaign in east London.

The former Emelec man would go on to score just four more league goals in 2015/16. albeit having spent much of the season on the treatment table due to injury, before being shipped out on loan to Everton in August 2016.

However, despite being labelled “strong” by then-Everton manager Ronald Koeman, he fared little better on Merseyside. He was waiting until January 2017 to score his £14.5m.

During that stint on loan, Valencia also sparked controversy for appearing to fake an injury during a match for his country, leaving the field in an ambulance in order to escape the clutches of the police, who were pursuing him for failing to pay child maintenance bills.

Unsurprisingly, following his return to east London at the end of the 2016/17 season, the 70-cap Ecuador international was subsequently sold on to Tigres in a deal worth between £6m and £7m, with the Irons taking a loss on their initial investment.

In the end, the Hammers would likely have just been wishing to get the £40k-per-week dud off their books as quickly as possible, having cost them £1.5m per league goal in relation to his transfer fee.

After three seasons back in Mexico – where he scored 34 goals in 118 appearances in all competitions – the £2.61m-rated man was signed by Turkish club Fenerbache on a free transfer in the summer of 2020, with the 32-year-old netting 24 goals in 67 appearances since then.

A reliable goalscorer elsewhere, it simply didn’t work out for him in England, with West Ham left to look back on what was simply an expensive mistake.

In other news, West Ham eyeing swoop for “aggressive” £45m-rated warrior, just imagine him and Rice

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira should make a move to bring Aaron Wan-Bissaka back to the club, according to pundit Carlton Palmer.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the former England international suggested that the Manchester United man would be welcomed back at Selhurst Park, should he opt to secure a return to south London this summer.

Asked about the player potentially linking back up with the Eagles, Palmer said that: “I think they would (welcome Wan-Bissaka back). I mean, he was a fan’s favourite when he was there. We’ll have to wait and see what Ten Hag thinks about him as a football player.

“He’s a good defender, Wan-Bissaka, but he’s pretty short on dealing with the football coming out, and I’m assuming that at Manchester United, with the way that they will want to play under Ten Hag, the full-back positions will be crucial. So, it may be that Wan-Bissaka goes back to Crystal Palace, he’s still a young player, and learns more about his craft under Patrick Vieira.”

This follows recent reports that suggested that Palace are considering a move to re-sign the full-back, although there has been an inclination that he may wish to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford next term.

Welcome return

Vieira and co may have to wait and see what incoming United boss Erik ten Hag makes of the player, although should they be able to do a deal it would no doubt represent a sensible piece of business.

Having sold him on for a club-record fee of £50m in 2019, the right-back is likely to return for a much-reduced fee – amid suggestions he could be worth less than half of that original price – while a loan deal has also been mooted.

The Red Devils’ hastiness to let him go may be a marker of his struggles over the past few seasons, although that’s perhaps as much of a reflection of the overall turmoil surrounding the Theatre of Dreams than the man himself, with the Englishman not the only player to have suffered a real dip in performances.

It would seem that there is still a quality defender in there somewhere, with the £27m-rated man – who has been dubbed “top class” by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – once described as the “best one-on-one defender for a full-back in the world” by pundit Jamie Carragher.

That assessment may have been made in his early stint at Carrington, although it shows the high regard he was held in following his original exit from Palace, notably averaging 3.7 tackles, 2.4 interceptions and 3.7 clearances per 90 during his final Premier League season at his former club during the 2018/19 campaign.

Equally, at still just 24, there is plenty of time left for the £83k-per-week warrior to recapture his form and finally realise his early potential, with Vieira potentially the right man to aid that progression having improved a number of youthful stars so far this term.

Most importantly, a new addition on the right side of defence is also needed, with both Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne both into their thirties, and with young Nathan Ferguson struggling for fitness since his move from West Bromwich Albion two years ago.

It may prove to be something of a shock move, although Palace must secure a deal for the United man’s return.

IN other news, “Agreement close…”: Ornstein drops huge CPFC update that supporters will love