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Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne has suffered a ‘possible stress fracture’ to his right ankle, according to L’Equipe.

The Lowdown: Injury issues

Steven Gerrard has had a number of injury problems to deal with this season, with many coming at the back.

Marquee summer signing Diego Carlos ruptured his achilles tendon in August while Matty Cash missed the win over Southampton with a hamstring issue.

Defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara suffered an injury of his own against the Saints that has ‘worried’ Gerrard, and fellow countryman Digne is also now set for a spell on the sidelines.

The Latest: Digne update

L’Equipe provided an update on the extent of Digne’s injury after it emerged he was ruled out of France’s UEFA Nations League clashes with Austria and Denmark.

They claimed that ‘initial examinations revealed a possible stress fracture’ of the right ankle, which would rule him out for several weeks.

The Verdict: Never ending

Villa can’t catch a break when it comes to injuries, and it looks as if Digne will spend a somewhat lengthy spell out, should this claim prove accurate.

Many ankle stress fractures heal in a four to six-week time period, so Digne could miss all of October should it push towards a six-week absence.

That would rule the left-back out of a busy month with Villa set for six Premier League fixtures and may damage his chances of a spot in France’s World Cup squad.

Crystal Palace have reportedly made a £27m bid for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash at home to Brentford.

The Lowdown: Gallagher loan spell

Described as a ‘monster’ in midfield by journalist Tom Dutton, the England international enjoyed a brilliant loan spell under Patrick Vieira last season, making 39 appearances in all competitions.

The 22-year-old won Palace’s Player of the Season award and was also nominated for the PFA Player of the Year accolade.

The midfielder has struggled upon his return Stamford Bridge under Thomas Tuchel, receiving his first career red card at the weekend, and it looks as if the Eagles want to bring him back to Selhurst Park late in the transfer window after making an approach earlier in the month.

The Latest: Palace bid

The Sun relayed a report from The Times regarding Palace and Gallagher.

They claimed that a £27m offer has been tabled by Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman, with the Eagles hopeful that a permanent agreement can be reached.

The Verdict: Statement…

Gallagher, who has scored 28 senior goals during his career, starred under Patrick Vieira last season, so it makes sense for Palace to test the water with a late offer.

The midfielder hasn’t had the best of starts to the season with Chelsea, with his first start coming in a 3-0 defeat to Leeds.

He followed that up with a red card against Leicester, so all parties involved may well be open to the idea of a £27m move, making this one to watch prior to Thursday’s deadline.

Newcastle United could reportedly turn to Valencia star Maxi Gomez in their quest to land a new centre-forward recruit.

What’s the word?

According to reports in Turkey – via Aksam – the Magpies have been named as one of the clubs who are believed to be interested in signing the 25-year-old, albeit they will face a race against time as Turkish side Fenerbache step up their approach.

The report suggests that the Uruguay international – who has two years remaining on his existing deal at the Mestalla – could be available for a fee of around €12m (£10m), having spent the past three seasons with the La Liga side after joining from Celta Vigo in 2019.

A new striker appears to be a major priority for the Tynesiders this summer, with Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie revealing that the northeast are likely to bring in a new figure to lead the line – as well as a winger – before the September deadline.

Howe’s own Suarez

Managing to secure the former West Ham United target would no doubt be a major coup for the Premier League side, with the £10.8m-rated man having proven himself a reliable goalscoring presence in recent seasons in Spain, having scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists in 102 games for his current side.

Prior to that, the £49k-per-week menace had registered 31 goals and 12 assists in just 75 games across all fronts at Celta, while also bagging 41 goal contributions in just 52 games at his prior stint at Montevideo outfit, Defensor Sporting Club.

Equally, at international level, the 6 foot 1 “throwback” – as dubbed by South American football expert Tim Vickery – has netted four times in 27 caps thus far, with the suggestion being that he can go on to emulate compatriot and international colleague, Luis Suarez, as his nation’s leading man.

Gomez himself has previously opened up on those comparisons, stating that: “[Suarez] is my idol. I admire him a lot for the way he works. People in Uruguay say that I am going to be his successor in the national team, and I hope that will be the case.”

Such a claim will no doubt have caught the eye of those at St James’ Park, with it a mouthwatering prospect as to the thought of someone being able to replicate the success of the genius figure that is Suarez.

The 35-year-old – who recently returned to former club Nacional after 16 years away from the club – has been a prolific figure in European football over the last decade or so, notably enjoying a fine previous stint in England at Liverpool.

His spell at Anfield saw the often controversial forward score 82 goals and provide 46 assists in just 133 games for the Merseyside outfit in all competitions, notably producing one of his finest goals for the Reds against the Tynesiders back in November 2012.

After joining Catalan giants Barcelona in 2014, the 132-cap menace went on to provide 307 goal involvements in 281 games across all fronts, before adding a further 40 goals and assists in just 83 games at Atletico Madrid.

Such remarkable statistics are a marker of just how talented the 6-foot sensation is, with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe no doubt licking his lips at the prospect of having a Suarez-like figure in his ranks in Gomez.

Leeds United held transfer talks on Monday and are targeting Southampton’s Che Adams and Atlas’ Julian Quinones, according to The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones.

The Lowdown: Marsch’s comments

The Whites have already spent close to £100m this summer, but it looks as if they will surpass that figure over the coming weeks. Andrea Radrizzani is set to be in Leeds this week to plan the club’s next moves in the market, with a new forward and left-back areas which could do with bolstering.

Phil Hay has recently stated that Arnaud Kalimuendo and Martin Terrier ‘remain of interest’ at Elland Road, but it looks as if two different players are also firmly on their radar.

The Latest: Journalist’s update

Jones shared a story in The Daily Mail on Monday, saying that Leeds would discuss transfer targets, so those talks would have now taken place.

The journalist name-checked both Adams and Quinones, claiming that the Whites are ‘targeting’ the attacking duo.

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The Verdict: Cheaper options

Leeds would reportedly like to do business with Southampton for Adams at £10m, whereas Quinones holds a £4.5m Transfermarkt valuation.

They appear to be cheaper options compared to Kalimuendo and Terrier, with the former having an asking price of €25m (£21m) and the latter in excess of £30m.

The money appears to be there for the Whites, who were willing to pay what would have been a club-record £31m for Charles De Ketelaere, so it’ll be interesting to see who arrives in Yorkshire over the next four weeks and at what price.

talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has provided an update on Aston Villa’s search for a new centre-forward…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider revealed that Villa boss Steven Gerrard is likely to be in the market for a new striker this summer, having already bolstered other areas of the pitch with five major arrivals thus far in the current window.

Crook stated: “They got a lot of business done early and then it’s gone a bit quiet. They were obviously linked with Luis Suarez. So, I think Gerrard is scouring the market and that would probably have a knock-on effect with Danny Ings.”

As the journalist alluded to, the future of Danny Ings is currently uncertain, amid reports that the Midlands side are ‘open to offers’ for the Englishman, despite having only signed him on a £25m deal last summer.

With regards to potential incomings, it would appear that Luis Suarez won’t be arriving at Villa Park, despite previous links, although Lille’s Jonathan David is one name that has been mentioned of late.

Pulses racing

That news will no doubt bring with it a real deal of excitement among the club’s supporters, with hope brewing that the Villans can recruit a top-class centre-forward in order to help solve their goalscoring woes.

The most recent campaign saw Ollie Watkins finish as top-scorer with just 11 goals – all of which came in the league – while the aforementioned Ings finished in second place with only seven goals to his name, showcasing the need for a more prolific presence to lead the line.

There are high hopes for academy graduate Cameron Archer following his recent impressive form at England U21 level, the 20-year-old netting four goals in just four games for the Young Lions over the summer, although it remains to be seen whether he will be handed a first-team chance or shipped out on loan.

One highly-rated forward who has already secured a temporary departure from the club is former Barcelona man Louie Barry, the teenager joining MK Dons until the end of the season.

It would appear then that Gerrard is keen to look beyond the academy for a new striking addition, with solving the club’s final third woes of paramount importance, having seen his side concede more goals (54) than they scored (52) in the top-flight last term.

Knowing that the 42-year-old is ‘scouring the market’ for a quality recruit will, however, set pulses racing, with there no doubt a sense of anticipation as to just who could be coming through the door.

A deal for Ings came out of the blue last year, perhaps there will be another surprise swoop before the start of next season…

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez

Everton have been heavily linked with a move for Harry Winks this summer, and a reliable journalist has now given an update on the club’s progress in signing the player.

What’s the latest?

In a Q&A with football.london, Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold gave an update on the Toffees’ pursuit of the 26-year-old.

In response to a question about the player’s future at the north London club, the reporter claimed: “There doesn’t seem to be anything close with outgoings at the moment, although of course, that can change the moment someone meets Spurs’ valuation. Everton are still in talks over Harry Winks.”

Lampard’s very own Jorginho

Frank Lampard will now be getting desperate to start signing some players to strengthen his squad ahead of the new Premier League season next month, and signing Winks has been reportedly of much interest to the Everton manager.

The 26-year-old has found himself out of favour under Antonio Conte and has not played a full 90 minutes since February. The player will surely be keen to pick up more consistent game-time elsewhere, even though he is a boyhood Spurs fan who came through the academy and broke into the first team.

Despite Winks’ lack of minutes on the pitch, former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino always had high praise for the £20m-valued midfielder and even claimed that he was like “Xavi and Iniesta” in the past.

Pochettino stated in 2018 (via Daily Mail): “Harry has the profile of the perfect midfield player. His characteristics are perfect… When we talk about midfielders like Xavi and Iniesta, he’s like this type of player.”

In fact, Lampard could land his very own Jorginho by signing Winks this summer, as the Chelsea midfielder was the most comparable player to Winks last season, according to FBRef.

Despite the Italian recording more goals and assists and playing more minutes than the Spurs midfielder, Winks outperformed him in terms of shot on target percentage (33.3% to 22.2%) and posted more goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (0.39 to 0.32).

Farhad Moshiri will need to get to work to replace not only Richarlison this summer, as he has effectively sealed his move to Spurs, but also to fill in the gaps in midfield, with loanee Donny Van de Beek returning to Manchester United and Fabian Delph now out of contract.

As a result, the signing of Winks would be a major coup for Everton as they attempt to strengthen and add depth to their squad to ensure that they can compete in the Premier League next season.

AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals major Everton transfer development, Moshiri will be scrambling

A big update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their agreement to bring James Sands to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Ibrox ranks in 2023… 

What’s the talk?

Journalist Tom Bogert has revealed that Rangers will be able to sign the versatile gem for a fee in the region of £4.8m next year, at the end of his current loan spell.

He Tweeted: “Was told Rangers’ purchase clause for on-loan NYCFC and USMNT defender James Sands is $6 million. Dunno if there was a loan fee too or not. I would assume Rangers will trigger that. Think he’ll be really good this year.”

Supporters will be excited

The Gers supporters will be excited by this news for multiple reasons.

Firstly, it shows that there is money in the bank to spend a decent amount of money on permanent signings. The club have agreed a near-£5m fee for Sands, albeit with the intention of paying it in 2023, and fans will be pleased with the ambition shown by being willing to spend that kind of money.

Rangers have not spent more than £4.5m on a permanent signing since they brought Ryan Kent in from Liverpool in 2019 and this news indicates that they may be able to open up the purse strings again.

The supporter will also be excited by the prospect of seeing Sands develop at Ibrox in the years to come by signing him on a full-time basis.

He has now had five months to settle into life in Scotland and will be able to hit the ground running in 2022/23 with some valuable experience under his belt. The 21-year-old played 12 times in the Premiership and Europa League combined as he played at centre-back and in central midfield, showing off his impressive versatility as a youngster.

Sands showcased his potential in the 2021 MLS campaign for New York City FC as he won 58% of his duels and made 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game – averaging an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.91 whilst playing in multiple positions.

These statistics illustrate the kind of player he can grow into as he has strong defensive instincts and is not bullied by the opposition in individual battles, whilst he is also capable of delivering good performances on a regular basis.

At the age of 21, he has plenty of growth left to go through and can, hopefully, fulfil his potential in Glasgow as he gains more experience, which is why the supporters will now be excited by Bogert’s expectation that the club will sign him permanently.

AND in other news, Big setback: Rangers dealt hammer blow that’ll leave van Bronckhorst fuming…

Liverpool had reportedly agreed on personal terms with Aurelien Tchouameni last month, but now as a new update emerges on the player’s future the Reds could be ready to move on to a new potential transfer target this summer.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Aurelien Tchouameni has agreed to join Real Madrid.

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Romano tweeted: “Aurelién Tchouaméni to Real Madrid, here we go! Talks were at final stages yesterday night between Real and Monaco, it’s now fully agreed after final meeting for €80m plus add-ons to €100m.”

With the Monaco midfielder now unobtainable, Liverpool have been handed the green light to sign another target in Carlos Soler with reports from Spain (via The Express) suggesting that Valencia are prepared to sell him in a deal that could be worth £34m (€40m).

Tchouameni alternative

The current midfielder situation at Liverpool is not in crisis but there is definitely room for fresh new talent to start making an impact on the side, especially when you consider the age range in the squad in terms of the centre of the pitch.

Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and James Milner are all in their 30s at this point and Jurgen Klopp is likely feeling that he needs to start planning for the future, which reflects in their interest for Tchouameni already this summer.

Carlos Soler was reportedly in talks with the Reds earlier this year but since then nothing more has materialised. However there are now reports that Valencia are set to sanction a sale of the player which is a massive green light for Liverpool to take the next steps in their interest.

The midfield maestro who was hailed “complete” by Curro Torres, has scored 11 goals, delivered five assists and created five big chances, making 1.7 key passes, taking 1.3 shots per game and winning the majority of his duels (54%), proving that he is highly effective in attacking play but also offers defensive attributes too.

The 25-year-old midfielder could be the perfect cheaper alternative to Tchouameni for Liverpool and thanks to his diversity in positioning with the Spain international capable of playing a wide range of midfield roles he could certainly add quality depth to every area which will be a huge bonus for Klopp.

With that being said, FSG should act upon their interest and finally make an official move for versatile Soler this summer, especially with his Spanish club ready to sell up there’s a golden opportunity for Liverpool to seal a good piece of business.

AND in other news: Offer made: Liverpool now “want to sign” 34-goal “diamond”, Klopp absolutely loves him

Aston Villa are reportedly in the running to sign Burnley defender James Tarkowski this summer, according to reports.

What’s the word?

As per the Daily Mail, the Midlands side have been named as one of a handful of clubs who are interested in the 29-year-old, with the player set to be available on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract in June.

The Clarets had held firm on their asset in January to thwart any potential interest from Premier League rivals, although now appear set to lose the centre-back for nothing, with the Turf Moor outfit’s drop into the second tier likely to only heighten the £19.8m-rated man’s desire to depart.

Alongside interest from Steven Gerrard’s men, however, newly-promoted Fulham and Everton are also in the running for his signature, as per the report.

Instant upgrade

Not only would his arrival prove something of a coup owing to its bargain nature – particularly as he had been valued at roughly £50m just under two years ago – securing the services of the two-cap England international would also prove an instant fix to try and solve the club’s defensive woes.

Villa’s final day defeat at the Etihad saw the visitors ship three goals in the space of just five minutes to squander a 2-0 lead and hand their hosts the title, with those efforts also ensuring that Gerrard’s charges ended the campaign with 54 goals conceded – the tenth worst record in the division.

That is in fact a marginally worse record than that of Burnley, even though the Lancashire side suffered relegation, with it having largely been problems at the other end of the pitch that had culminated in relegation for Mike Jackson’s men.

Amid that difficult campaign, the £70k-per-week Tarkowski still boasted some impressive statistics, averaging 5.2 clearances per game, as well as 1.4 interceptions and 1.8 tackles, while also winning an impressive 68% of his total duels.

Compared to centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues, he also ranks in the top 1% for blocks and aerial duels won, as well as in the top 3% for clearances made, while also proving himself more than just a defensive asset as he ranked in the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area and in the top 17% for progressive passes received.

A real solid presence at the back – having been labelled a “rock” by journalist Alex James – the former Brentford man is a defender first and foremost, with his arrival at Villa Park likely to allow the creative, attacking talent ahead of him to shine with less concern about having a leaky defence.

Current skipper Tyrone Mings has been the notable source of blame this season, with pundit Danny Mills suggesting that there is “a mistake in his game somewhere”, with the 29-year-old notably ranking in just the top 44% for aerial duels won among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues, as well as in just the top 82% for tackles made.

Those statistics make pretty grim reading, with it clear that an upgrade is needed for Gerrard next season, with Tarkowski seemingly the man to do the job.

AND in other news: “Villa would…”: Gregg Evans drops huge transfer claim, supporters will be buzzing

Financial expert Kieran Maguire believes that Manchester United fans will be ‘shocked’ at how much the Glazers have spent on the club’s infrastructure over the last decade.

The Lowdown: Ronaldo not impressed

Cristiano Ronaldo’s future was a hot topic of conversation over the summer, with speculation over a potential move away from the Premier League giants. The 37-year-old appears unsettled at Old Trafford but remained at the club beyond the transfer deadline.

Recent reports have suggested that Ronaldo has repeatedly complained about the standard of the club’s amenities, and Maguire has shared figures when it comes to United falling behind their top-six rivals off the field.

The Latest: Maguire’s comments

Maguire, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding United’s infrastructure spending.

He said that the club’s fans ‘will be shocked’ to know that the likes of Brighton, Leicester and Brentford have all spent more than the £94m that the Red Devils have shelled out in this respect since 2010.

Maguire revealed:

“Man United have spent £94m since the start of 2010-11 on infrastructure costs. This is substantially behind not only cubs in the ‘Big Six’ but other Premier League clubs as well.

“Spurs have spent £1.5bn, City £379m, Liverpool over £250m. That could be expected but I think fans will be shocked that their club has spent less than smaller clubs such as Brighton, Leicester and Brentford as well.

“I think part of the reason for this is that, under Project Big Picture and the Super League project, the Glazers were hoping to get a central fund to provide grants to pay for infrastructure costs.

“Now that both of those causes have collapsed, for the time being at least, they realise they have to access external funding to keep the club on par with their peers.”

The Verdict: Needs sorting

Gary Neville has recently described the Glazers’ lack of investment off the field as “unforgivable”. Things have stood still at Carrington and Old Trafford in recent times, whereas United’s rivals have sought to improve their own facilities.

It doesn’t look as if the Glazers have any pending plans for an infrastructure shake-up, so the only way that things can go to the next level may well be if they sell up, which again has been a hot topic of conversation in recent months.

Should a change of ownership materialise, you’d like to think that improvements at Carrington and Old Trafford would be high up on a new owner’s wish list, but only time will tell.