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Leeds United appear to be leading the race for long-term target Rodrigo de Paul.

The Whites were linked with the Argentine last summer and reportedly came agonisingly close to landing the central midfielder ahead of their first season back in the Premier League.

However, with Marcelo Bielsa’s side all but guaranteeing their top-flight status for the 2021/22 campaign, links to De Paul are starting to resurface.

‘Leeds above all’ for De Paul

A recent report from TuttoAtalanta, cited by TEAMtalk, shared Atalanta’s interest in the €35m-rated star.

The story claimed Udinese are open to selling the player in the upcoming window, but De Paul’s choice this summer is ‘Leeds above all’.

The likes of Liverpool and Inter Milan are also thought to be keen on the 26-year-old, but it seems as if a move to Yorkshire is one that is appealing to De Paul the most at this moment in time.

Transfer Tavern take

Should a €35m (£29.8m) deal go through this summer, De Paul would become the club’s most expensive signing of all time – eclipsing Rodrigo Moreno’s move last year.

De Paul’s potential arrival could prove to be a huge moment for the Whites. It seems as if Bielsa could do with a marquee addition in the middle of the park to help Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich.

Utility man Stuart Dallas has been solid in recent weeks, however, if Leeds want to progress, bringing in a player of De Paul’s quality could be massive in the long run.

In other news: Leeds keen on 16-goal forward this summer, find out more here. 

Speaking to the West Ham Zone, former Irons striker Frank McAvennie has told GSB to seal the signing of Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham – coming after a big ExWHUemployee update that he is now the number one striker target for David Moyes.

The Englishman, who hasn’t enjoyed the same amount of game time as last campaign, starting just 12 Premier League matches, is unlikely to commit his future at Stamford Bridge.

McAvennie urges Abraham swoop

ESPN recently reported that Chelsea have now put Abraham’s new deal talks on hold after he was expected to put pen to paper on a fresh contract last season.

The apparent reason for it’s delay was a dispute over his wage demands, and this has apparently prompted Abraham to enter the West Ham transfer radar.

Previously touted as a target, ExWHUemployee recently revealed in a big update that he is now Moyes’ first choice striking option – and McAvennie has now urged the club to get a deal done.

“I think he would be a great signing. He’s pals with Rice so that would be good,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.

“I keep thinking they need someone who’s different to Antonio. Antonio’s a big powerhouse but I think they need someone different and Abraham will score goals – that’s for sure.

“He’s a London boy so I would think he would want to stay in London and if they can get him at West Ham, he’s a striker I would take.”

Transfer Tavern take

He has certainly proved himself prolific in the English top flight over these last two seasons, scoring 21 goals in 37 league starts since the beginning of 2019/2020 (WhoScored).

Abraham also stands at an imposing 6 foot 2 and could prove a handful for most defenders, not to mention the fact he is homegrown.

Valued at £36 million by Transfermarkt, these factors and his relatively young age of 23-years-old mark him out as a sure-fire striking candidate and arguably worth the heavy investment.

In other news: West Ham handed Jesse Lingard blow, find out more here.

Manchester City take on PSG away from home in the Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday night, with Pep Guardiola’s side looking to secure a positive result ahead of the return leg at the Etihad next week.

The Citizens have never reached the Champions League final so will be looking to make history over the next couple of weeks, although they face a tough test against Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who were edged out against Bayern Munich in last year’s final.

Guardiola’s side are fresh from winning their fourth consecutive Carabao Cup final at the weekend, where the Spanish manager selected a strong team, which suggests that a few changes are likely ahead of the trip to Les Parc de Princes.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Guardiola to line his side up on Wednesday evening, with three changes from the side that started the 1-0 win against Spurs…

Although he managed a clean sheet in the final, Zack Steffen will sit this one out to allow first-choice Ederson to reclaim his place in goal.

Despite John Stones being available after missing the final through suspension, we feel that Guardiola will stick with the same back four for this one, as Aymeric Laporte deserves to keep his place after scoring the winner, whilst Stones’ last performance against Aston Villa was less than impressive.

There is one change in midfield, as Rodri comes in for Fernandinho after being rested for the final, and he features alongside the magnificent Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan.

Finally, there is one change in attack, as Raheem Sterling is replaced by Bernardo Silva, with the “exceptional” former AS Monaco man playing as a false nine, with Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez supporting him from the wings.

And, in other news… Guardiola must ruthlessly axe “remarkable” Man City star or risk dire Lyon repeat

Tottenham Hotspur’s Paulo Dybala saga could be set for a renewal this summer, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Italian outlet Calciomercato claimed that Juventus are ready to sell the Argentine forward after an injury-hit campaign at the Allianz Stadium, putting both Spurs and their Premier League rivals Chelsea on high alert.

The 27-year-old will be entering the final year of his current contract at the end of the season and sporting director Pavel Nedved remained coy on his future, telling DAZN (via Marca): “He has a contract for one more year and I have nothing more to add to what [Fabio] Paratici and president [Andrea] Agnelli have already said. But it is clear that at Juventus we evaluate every business opportunity.”

Spurs would be keen to sign him, but for no more than €45m (£38m) after having agreed on a deal for him back in 2019, only for it to collapse at the 11th hour due to controversy over his image rights.

Imagine him & Ndombele

Indeed, Dybala has endured a tough season in Turin. Before suffering “a low-grade lesion of the medial collateral ligament of the left knee,” the Juventus attacker had only provided three goals and two assists in 16 appearances in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

The long-standing Spurs target has not played since the start of January, when he was dealt the devastating injury blow, and it remains to be seen when he could return, having visited a specialist in Barcelona last month.

That said, one poor stop-start season doesn’t turn a superstar into a bad player overnight, especially as he is still their sixth-best rated player.

Last term, Dybala delivered a total of 31 goal contributions in 46 appearances (17 goals, 14 assists). Only a Harry Kane or Heung-min Son could put up anywhere near those returns, even less so with Juventus competing in the Champions League.

Former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey has often been left in awe by him since he swapped north London for Italy, telling The Athletic last year: “I can just confirm that Dybala is an unbelievable player. He’s very gifted — a team player — and some of the things he’s done in training and some of the games this season has been quite breathtaking.”

Spurs still lack a true number 10 to fill the void of Christian Eriksen – Giovani Lo Celso has spent large parts of 2021 on the treatment table, the future of Dele Alli under Jose Mourinho is rather dubious, whilst Tanguy Ndombele has formed quite the partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in a deeper role.

Perhaps the arrival of Dybala could help bring the best out of the box-to-box Frenchman. He is among Spurs’ most influential players in the final third, managing a total of 68 pressures, which is only behind Kane and Son, via FBRef.

Similarly, he tops the charts for successful dribbles (2.92) and is second for most touches per 90 in the middle third (40.7). He needs that extra presence in front of him to truly thrive, and this is where Dybala comes in.

Had he been at the club since 2019, then the loss of Eriksen may have not been so difficult. Daniel Levy cannot let him escape his grasp a second time – he must sanction a deal for the £54m-rated gem this summer.

Just imagine him alongside Ndombele and Hojbjerg.

AND in other news, “very exciting” Spurs gem can become Mourinho’s next William Gallas

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Carlton Palmer discussed the counter-attacking tool Marcelo Bielsa has been using at Leeds United this season.

When it comes to goals scored on the counter in the Premier League in the current campaign, Leeds rank among the elite, registering an impressive total of six, and Palmer has put that devastation on the break down to recent signing Raphinha.

The £28,000-a-week Brazilian joined from Ligue 1 outfit Rennes last summer and has managed to make an instant impact in attack. He has been directly involved in 10 league goals and currently averages the most successful dribbles per game in Leeds’ squad (1.7, per WhoScored), and it is that ability to carry the ball that is aiding Bielsa’s side on the counter, according to Palmer.

The former England international told FFC:

“The one thing that happens, and especially when you’re playing away from home, you know, if you’re going to play the way Leeds play, which is on the counter, counter-attacking football, the one thing that breaks the team down is somebody who can dribble with a ball at pace. It really does because a team can set up against you, make it very difficult for you to pass through them, be very solid, very organised. 

“But if you set up that way and you’ve got somebody then who can just dribble past two players, that just breaks that defensive system down. There’s no answer to that and he [Raphinha] gives Leeds United that.”

Leeds have also shown that they are a team capable of taking the game to their opponents, rather than just solely relying on counter-attacks and transitions.

Despite only recently being promoted to the Premier League, the Whites rank in the top five for ball possession, recording an average of 57.2%.

Undoubtedly, thanks to additions such as Raphinha and the brilliance of Bielsa, Leeds have been able to make a seamless transition from the Championship to English football’s top flight.

Speaking to the press, via football.london, West Ham United boss David Moyes has dropped a promising transfer hint that loanee Craig Dawson could soon become a permanent Irons player – with the Scotsman confirming that the club are ‘very close’ fulfilling the obligation to buy clause.

Dawson, who has been a revelation for the Hammers since signing on loan from Watford in the summer, could soon become a permanent Hammers man as the club near the amount of games needed to trigger a deal.

When asked how likely it is that the defender becomes a fully fledged Iron, Moyes responded by saying that there is indeed a ‘good chance’ – going on to say that the club are indeed approaching that outcome.

David Moyes drops enticing hint in West Ham transfer message

“There is a good chance although we are not quite there yet,” explained the West Ham manager.

“But there is a clause in it after a certain amount of games and we are getting very close to that number.

“His performances, his attitude and determination are certainly worthy of that anyway.

“We brought him in, it took him a while until the Southampton game I think it was before he got a start but that was because of the form of Fabian Balbuena and Angelo Ogbonna but he has come in and added goals to us as well and his experience has been really important and he is playing really well this season.”

Transfer Tavern take

Given how much he has shone as a centre-back partner to both Ogbonna and, more recently, with Issa Diop – Dawson signing permanently at the London Stadium could come as another boost to the club as they chase European football for this season and beyond.

Time will tell exactly when he becomes a permanent West Ham man, but it almost appears inevitable judging by this Moyes message.

In other news: A West Ham source lifted the lid on this GSB plan, find out more here.

The 26th of March marked five years since Jamie Vardy’s first goal for England against Germany.

The striker, then making his fifth appearance for his country, showed lethal instincts to flick Nathaniel Clyne’s cross behind himself and past Manuel Neuer into the back of the net.

It was another glorious chapter for Vardy, whose goals were soon to guide Leicester to the most miraculous Premier League title triumph.

However, fast-forward five years and the 34-year-old is now firmly out of the Three Lions reckoning, having all-but retired from international duty after the 2018 World Cup in Russia with 26 caps and seven goals to his name.

Whilst there have been suggestions that Vardy’s decision was slightly too premature, he has certainly been vindicated.

Since he stepped back, his performances for the Foxes have remained excellent. He has scored an eye-watering 55 goals for Leicester in the time following, playing a key role as the East Midlanders secured a place in the UEFA Europa League last term but also as they look to better that with a UEFA Champions League return this time around.

The striker, dubbed “wonderful” by Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers, scooped another fantastic personal achievement last year, too. He become the first Leicester City player to claim the Golden Boot, with his 23 strikes in 2019/20 enough to see him edge ahead of the likes of Harry Kane, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mo Salah.

All of this may not have been possible had Vardy had the strains and travels of international football to contend with.

After all, the toll on his body appears to be worsening already. Vardy has missed seven matches in all competitions this season through injury – the highest amount for he has been unavailable in one campaign since Leicester earned promotion back to the Premier League. This could have potentially been even worse with England duties had he not stepped back from the international scene.

At the time of his unofficial retirement, the veteran also suggested that a lack of game-time had “an impact” in his decision. Kane, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck were all preferred by Roy Hodgson and Gareth Southgate.

That competition has only been enhanced, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Danny Ings, Ollie Watkins, Patrick Bamford and of course Kane having fantastic personal seasons and all vying for a place in the Three Lions setup.

Whilst it could be argued that Vardy has the quality to challenge for a place, he will reflect on a solid England career which all kicked off with that stunning finish against Germany in 2016, and will surely believe he made the correct decision in drawing it to a close when he did.

AND in more news, Leicester should not look to sign William Carvalho once more…

Former English Premier League referee Mark Halsey has dropped a hint on what outcome Rangers fans can expect to emerge from their club’s appeal of Kemar Roofe’s two-match ban.

Roofe was initially given a yellow card for a tackle on Murray Davidson during the Gers’ 1-0 win over St. Johnstone last week but he was subsequently issued a notice of complaint and handed a two-match ban for ‘serious foul play.’ Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has since confirmed that the Glasgow club is appealing this ban.

What has Halsey said about Rangers’ appeal?

However, speaking to This Is Futbol, Halsey has indicated that this appeal is unlikely to result in a positive outcome for the Gers.

The former referee said: “Obviously, in the SFA rules, they can serve notice if the referee hasn’t seen the challenge in its entirety, so I reckon Rangers are well within their right to appeal that notice. But, I think when the SFA serve a notice for a challenge of that nature, I can’t see Rangers winning an appeal, personally.”

Transfer Tavern take

Perhaps it’s not a surprise that the Premiership leaders have decided to try and get Roofe’s ban overturned, given that it may be fair to say the Englishman has quickly become a key player at Ibrox since joining the Glasgow club last summer for £4.5m, as Roofe is currently Rangers’ second-highest goalscorer (10) in the league.

So, with Halsey claiming that Rangers are “well within their right to appeal,” their decision to do so may be understandable, especially as fellow Gers forward Alfredo Morelos is also banned at present.

However, unfortunately for Rangers, it seems from what the pundit had to say that this ban may well be an unavoidable blow for Gerrard’s side and they may have to make do without Roofe for their next two games.

In other news, this newspaper article had many Rangers fans fuming.

Wolves have had a rather strange couple of weeks.

They were dispatched by Liverpool and also beaten by both Aston Villa and Burnley. However, Nuno Santo’s men have also picked up four points against Chelsea and Tottenham.

Therefore, it’s rather difficult to predict what to expect from the Old Gold on Tuesday evening.

Nuno’s side have a funny habit of picking up points against the better sides in this division so perhaps we’ll see an energised Wolves team out for blood.

However, they will have to do so without a number of their key players. Here’s the XI we’re tipping the manager to field against United.

From the team that drew with Spurs, we think that Wolves will make as many as three changes. The first one to note is that there is no Adama Traore.

The Spaniard was lively in certain moments against the Lilywhites but the fact remains that he’s now not scored in the Premier League for over a year. Touted with a £40m switch elsewhere, his focus may not be entirely with Wolves.

As a result, we think Daniel Podence should move out wide with Owen Otasowie coming into the XI and playing in a forward role as he did when the Clarets came to Molineux.

Providing Leander Dendoncker is fit again, he should start over Joao Moutinho. We’ve already staked our claim for why the Portuguese should miss out after struggling versus Spurs.

The final change may be an enforced one. Marcal had to be substituted with an injury last time out so Rayan Ait-Nouri is his natural successor at left-back.

Fabio Silva spurned a fabulous opportunity to score against Tottenham but despite that, he keeps his place as the main centre-forward. Raul Jimenez is still missing and recovering from a fractured skull.

AND in other news, Wolves ace who’s made “incredible progress” was Nuno’s hero on Sunday…

Plenty of Everton fans have been left lauding a transfer update from Fabrizio Romano as they are in talks to sign Joshua Zirkzee on loan from Bayern Munich.

As per a tweet from the Italian football journalist and transfer guru, the Goodison Park faithful as well as Parma are currently in negotiations to sign the Netherlands U21 international on loan for the rest of the 2020/21 term, but no official decision has been made as of yet.

If Cenk Tosun were to leave in this month’s window, then there would not be much cover at all for Dominic Calvert-Lewin up top, and Zirkzee could well be the man to fill that void.

The striker has already broken into the first team of the current UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga holders at the tender age of just 19, playing in 17 senior games in all competitions in total over the past two consecutive seasons, scoring four goals and making one assist (Transfermarkt).

He would likely improve a lot being managed by Carlo Ancelotti, and so it could be a wise idea to bring him to the Toffees.

Everton fan reaction to Zirkzee update

These Blues lauded the transfer update on Twitter, with one EFC supporter even labelling Zirkzee as a ‘king’:

“I’ve watched him on YouTube he’s massive and it’s effortless he just glides around the pitch, some footballer he is”

Credit: @DaveJoh67709299

“YES FAB WELL IN”

Credit: @adamsg1878

“PLEASE PLEEEEEEEEEEASE BE TRUE”

Credit: @DannyMazuar

“Tosun out and Zirkzee in, make it happen”Credit: @ElyodMada”GET IT DONE MARCEL.”Credit: @exiledtoffee”Come home king”Credit: @jay_smith1In other news, find out what news involving their game versus Leicester City has left Everton fans unhappy here!