West Ham United have reportedly submitted a bid for Metz and Georgia forward Georges Mikautadze.
The 23-year-old burst onto the continental scene at Euro 2024 in Germany, where the striker helped the Crusaders to reach the last 16 of the competition during their first-ever appearance at a major tournament.
Finding the net in all three of Georgia's group matches, Mikautadze was the leading goalscorer at the European Championships ahead of the knockout stages.
The Metz attacker was unable to breach the net of Spain's Unai Simon in the last 16, though, as La Roja recorded a 4-1 success to knock Willy Sagnol's side out of the competition.
After impressing massively at Euro 2024, Mikautadze has attracted interest from Premier League outfit West Ham, according to Football Insider.
The report claims that the Hammers have submitted an initial offer for the 29-time international, who enjoyed a prolific second half of last season at French club Metz.
Mikautadze scored 13 goals in just 20 Ligue 1 appearances, however such attacking heroics were not enough to prevent his side from avoiding relegation to the second tier.
Preparing for life in Ligue 2, there is an understanding that the former Ajax marksman will not stick around, with Metz looking to pocket £21.1m from the sale of the striker.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers 'identify' Max Kilman replacement
Julen Lopetegui is hoping to bolster his attacking ranks with the signing of Queens Park Rangers defender Jake Clarke-Salter only days after the acquisition of defender Max Kilman from Wolves.
The Black Country club earned £40m from the sale of the centre-back, with Gary O'Neil's side now on a mission to recruit an adequate replacement.
That search has led Wolves to scour the Championship market, as per Football Insider, with Clarke-Salter of interest to the Premier League club.
It is understood that the West Midlands outfit are plotting a summer swoop for the former Chelsea defender, who has featured 49 times for the R's since making the permanent switch from Stamford Bridge in 2022.
Clarke-Salter was reportedly watched by Wolves during the closing stages of the 2023-24 campaign, when Marti Cifuentes's troops produced a rich vein of results to avoid a relegation battle in the second tier.
Due to his impressive performances, the 26-year-old is expecting advances this summer and QPR are preparing themselves ahead of incoming offers for their captain.
The R's other centre-back options include Jimmy Dunne, Morgan Fox and Steve Cook, with the latter two coming towards the twilight of their careers.
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Alex Cairns returns to Leeds United
Focusing on a player who could be entering the Championship this summer, Salford City have lost their first-choice goalkeeper to Leeds United.
Alex Cairns featured in a mammoth total of 51 matches for the League Two outfit across all competitions last season, keeping eight clean sheets in the fourth tier.
Despite his importance to Salford, the 31-year-old has departed after just two years to Yorkshire powerhouses Leeds.
It is understood that the Whites had a six-figure bid for the keeper accepted, with personal terms between the player and the purchasing club being agreed easily.
Cairns had 12 months left on his deal at the Peninsula Stadium, where Salford will begin their sixth straight term in League Two during the middle of August.
The former Rotherham United man will help Leeds fill their homegrown quota, with each EFL club required to name at least eight homegrown players in their 25-man squad.
Cairns is not expected to be challenge Illian Meslier for first-choice status at Elland Road, where Daniel Farke's side will be gunning for promotion to the Premier League.
Carter White
