Spurs: Romano drops Lo Celso update

There has been an update regarding the future of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, with the Argentine having spent the last six months on loan at Villarreal.

What’s the word?

As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the future of the 26-year-old appears somewhat uncertain, with it looking as if the playmaker is no closer to securing a return to the La Liga side.

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Relaying comments from Villarreal CEO Roig Negueroles, the transfer insider wrote on Twitter that: “Villarreal CEO Roig Negueroles: “Lo Celso is a player who has been happy here and has made us happy, so we would like to continue together”, tells @EsportsVila.

“He’s a Tottenham player and it is a very complicated operation as of now – we’re not even in talks”.”

The former Paris Saint-Germain man had joined the Spanish side back in January after failing to establish himself under manager Antonio Conte, with the deal reportedly including an option to buy.

Supporters annoyed

That news will no doubt come as a source of annoyance to Spurs supporters, with the player having appeared to be an asset that the club could cash in on this summer, in order to generate funds for prospective targets.

Although a £150m injection has provided the Italian with a significant transfer kitty for the current window, gaining additional cash from player sales could also prove vital, with the former Chelsea boss plotting a squad revamp ahead of next season.

Reports have suggested that as many as eight first-team players – including Lo Celso – could be set for the axe this summer, with sporting director Fabio Paratici keen to ensure his compatriot has a squad capable of challenging in the 2022/23 season.

Having been signed from Real Betis three years ago, initially on loan, the 39-cap international has struggled to ever really nail down a regular starting role in north London, making just 26 league starts across the last three seasons combined, including just two in the most campaign season prior to his loan departure.

In total, the 5 foot 10 ace has scored just eight goals and provided a further six assists in 84 games in all competitions for the Lilywhites, failing to really justify the reported £27.2m transfer fee that was paid to make his temporary switch a permanent one in January 2020.

Not only will there be a great deal of frustration that the move has thus far failed to work out, but supporters will also undoubtedly be angered by the club’s current inability to part ways with a player who simply appears surplus to requirements.

In truth, Lo Celso is a reminder of the muddled transfer mess of the last few seasons, with the club needing to move on from him this summer.

AND in other news, Spurs can unearth dream Kane heir in deal for “invaluable” £22m “Ibrahimovic-machine”…

West Ham eye swoop for Calvert Lewin

West Ham United are one of three clubs interest in signing Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from the Telegraph who claim the 11-cap England international has caught the eye of David Moyes’ side.

Though there are a couple of potential stumbling blocks that are mentioned in the report.

Firstly, West Ham’s competition in the form of Newcastle United and Arsenal renders them bottom in terms of financial ability, which transitions into perhaps the biggest stumbling block – the £50m fee that Everton will demand for the 25-year-old forward.

As stated in the report, it’s a fee that presents a lot of risk for a striker who clearly has ability, but has endured an injury-plagued campaign.

An unbelievable coup

If West Ham were able to negotiate a lower price for Calvert-Lewin, a player dubbed “unbelievable” by Oliver Holt, Moyes would seal a tremendous coup and would also unearth a mouth-watering partnership in the process.

The 25-year-old has indeed suffered with injuries this season but managed to prove the campaign prior his potency in front of goal – having managed 16 goals from 33 appearances, living up to the tag of a “nightmare” in the words of Richarlison.

Seven of his returns were in the form of headed goals, which will be music to the ears of Aaron Cresswell who is not only on corner duty for Moyes’ side but is an exquisite crosser of the ball from open play also.

In the same season that £72k-per-week Calvert-Lewin notched his 16 goals, Cresswell managed eight assists – beating his previous record total from the 2017/18 season.

The link up between the two is not obvious and represents an unorthodox approach in the eyes of some.

But when you look at the potency of full-backs in the modern system, merged with the technical ability of a player like Cresswell – you get the impression that a traditional poacher like Calvert-Lewin would have a field day in the claret and blue of West Ham.

In other news: West Ham can seal “unreal” deal in bid for 115-goal great, imagine him & Rice 

Tottenham: Sky Sports reporter shares ‘hopeful’ transfer update

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has now shared a ‘hopeful’ Tottenham Hotspur transfer update for supporters.

The Lowdown: Spurs set for busy summer…

Already bringing in Croatia footballing legend Ivan Perisic on a Bosman deal, Spurs are showing real statements of intent so far as they aim to back manager Antonio Conte.

The Lilywhites’ recently announced a £150 million equity increase which, according to reliable reports, will be used to reinforce the Italian’s options ahead of his first full Premier League season in charge.

Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni, Brentford big name Christian Eriksen and Man City striker Gabriel Jesus are just some of the names on Conte and transfer chief Fabio Paratici’s radar.

In what could be a real summer of change, Bridge of Sky Sports has now shared a ‘hopeful’ update after Spurs completed a deal for Perisic.

The Latest: Bridge shares ‘hopeful’ Spurs transfer update…

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Writing on Twitter in the last 48 hours, in reply to a supporter who asked if a right-wing-back and centre-half were next through the door, he explained:

“What I can say now is the club wouldn’t target anyone they thought wouldn’t join the club. That’s why I’m hopeful. I’ve just had to remind myself it’s May 31st.”

That statement is following on from a previous message where he claimed Tottenham want two more additions over the ‘next few weeks’.

The Verdict: Promising?

Tottenham, based off these messages from Bridge, appear to be getting a fair bit of their business done early and are aiming to fulfil Conte’s desires.

That alone is very promising as the club steer away from chairman Daniel Levy’s age-old tactic of doing deals late in the window to pressure clubs into quick-fire cheap sales.

Indeed, it’s safe to say this summer could be the most exciting one at Spurs for some time, given how long supporters have grown frustrated by Levy’s tactics.

In other news: £50 million Tottenham target drops teasing four-word transfer hint for Conte…find out more here.

Wolves: Guedes would be a dream move

Wolverhampton Wanderers can make their dream signing this summer in the form of Valencia winger Goncalo Guedes.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Dean Jones writing in GIVEMESPORT, Guedes has the ‘wow factor’ and would be a dream signing that could help Wolves take off again. The Portuguese star could also be available at a good price due to Valencia’s financial condition.

He is rated at £36m and for a player of his quality that is quite a bargain. He plays for Portugal at international level and can play anywhere along the forward line, but his preferred position is as a left winger.

If manager Bruno Lage can secure his signature then it can take his side to the next level heading into next season.

He’s better than Neto

Guedes is a client of super-agent Jorge Mendes, and given Wolves’ past association with him, it might make any transfer easier to negotiate.

One player currently at the club who is also represented by Mendes is Pedro Neto. Also Portuguese, he moved to Molineux in 2019 and has gone on to become a key player under Lage.

However, Guedes would be an upgrade on his compatriot and be exactly what the West Midlands side need to get back to challenging for a European place.

He’s been described as “special talent” by the analytics site Between the Lines and he is exactly that when you look at the statistics.

The 25-year-old has made 36 La Liga appearances this season and been directly involved in in 17 goals during that time, making him Valencia’s top scorer.

If you compare him directly to Neto this season he performs better in many categories. His number of shot creating actions per 90 minutes is 0.48 compared to the Wolves man’s 0.19.

He also puts in a shift for his team with a successful pressure percentage of 30% compared to Neto’s 24%.

The current Wolves player is 22-years-old so arguably has more time to develop, but the Old Gold need to revitalise their squad now so they can get back to competing.

Signing Guedes would allow them to do that, and with Valencia also missing out on Europe, the chance to come and play in the Premier League will be extremely attractive to him.

His contract only has a year remaining so any decent offer will likely be accepted, Wolves just need to make sure they get hold of him before another team do.

IN other news: Lage must now brutally sell Wolves’ £20m “catalyst”, he won’t make it at Molineux…

Celtic: O’Rourke drops Ange contract claim

Celtic will likely be working hard on sealing a new contract for Ange Postecoglou imminently, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Ange working wonders

The Australian took charge at Parkhead last summer and has enjoyed an incredible start to life at the club, proving to be a hugely influential figure.

The 56-year-old won both the Premiership and Scottish League Cup in his maiden campaign in Scotland, quickly winning over many Celtic fans in the process as the Hoops put the misery of 2020/21 firmly behind them.

Worryingly, his one-year deal expires on Tuesday, so a new contract needs to be sorted almost immediately.

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The Latest: New deal imminent?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that the Celtic hierarchy will already be hard at work behind the scenes to ensure that Postecoglou does not leave any time soon. The journalist stated:

“Celtic are hoping to build on this season and hopefully have Postecoglou around for quite a few years, so I’m sure talks will be ongoing right now to secure the Australian on a long-term contract and reward him for the success he’s had so far.”

The Verdict: Simply has to happen

Frankly, the thought of Postecoglou suddenly leaving Celtic doesn’t even bear thinking about, considering the massive success he has already enjoyed in Glasgow.

It would be a huge surprise if that were to happen, though, and it is surely just a case of the manager and the club agreeing terms on a deal in the coming days, especially with the 56-year-old recently speaking glowingly about his time in Scotland so far.

Postecoglou seems happy at Parkhead and has Champions League football coming his way next season – the hope is that this is just the start for him at Celtic.

In other news, Celtic are eyeing up a move for a Championship player. Find out who it is here.

West Ham make "initial enquiries" into Lingard

West Ham United are reportedly hoping to secure a reunion with Jesse Lingard this summer, with the player destined to leave Manchester United in the coming months.

What’s the word?

As per Sky Sports News presenter Tom White, “West Ham have made initial enquiries” into bringing the versatile midfielder back to the London Stadium in the upcoming transfer window, with the 29-year-old set to be available on a free once his existing deal expires in June.

Having spent the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan in east London, the Red Devils academy graduate had been linked with a £25m permanent move to the Hammers last summer. Instead, he ultimately spent the entire campaign back at Old Trafford, where he was restricted to a bit-part role.

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A loan move to Newcastle United also fell through in January towards the end of the month, with a host of clubs now set to reinvigorate their interest to try and capture the 32-cap international for nothing.

Supporters will be delighted

That news will no doubt be music to the ears of Irons supporters and David Moyes, with the £18m-rated maestro having been a revelation during his previous stint at the club, rejuvenating his career after falling out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

In a stunning six-month spell at the London Stadium, Lingard netted nine goals and registered five assists in just 16 appearances for Moyes’ team, helping the club to secure Europa League qualification after narrowly missing out on the top four.

That blistering form saw the Warrington native with 165 Premier League appearances return to the England setup under Gareth Southgate, albeit that he was omitted from the Euro 2020 squad, with it expected that he would be able to kick on in the 2021/22 campaign.

However, his decision to remain at the Theatre of Dreams rather than push for an exit last summer has not gone to plan, as the £80k-per-week playmaker has started just two league games all season, having failed to earn a starting berth despite some notable cameos in the early months of the campaign.

One such outing saw the 29-year-old come off the bench to haunt the Irons, netting a stunning curled effort late on to secure a 2-1 victory for the Red Devils last September.

That strike was simply a marker of his undoubted quality, and it was bizarre to see him not being afforded a chance to prove his worth at Man United over the last few months, despite their dismal form.

It is easy to forget that this is a player who has scored at a World Cup and netted in three Wembley triumphs for his current club, with the Red Devils potentially more to blame for his current woes than he is himself.

Should GSB be able to secure a deal this summer, it would no doubt represent a major coup, with West Ham supporters set to be hoping that he can recapture the stunning performances that he showed at the London Stadium last year.

IN other news, Cost £1.5m per goal: GSB made a colossal blunder on “strong” £40k-p/w West Ham flop

Rangers: Aaron Ramsey drops transfer teaser

A teasing Rangers transfer claim has emerged ahead of the summer transfer window at Ibrox…

What’s the talk?

Gers midfielder Aaron Ramsey has confirmed that talks will take place later this month to determine what he will be doing next season.

He is currently on loan to the Ibrox giants and has two more games left to play – in the Europa League and Scottish Cup finals – before that loan spell comes to an end.

As quoted by Rangers Review, when asked about a permanent move to Glasgow, Ramsey said: “That’s to be decided at the end of the season, there is no update on that yet.

“I’m just looking forward to the final few weeks here and hopefully making it a very memorable experience for me.

“I’m sure there will be conversations to be had after the season is finished but right now I’m just focused on trying to win these two competitions with Rangers.”

Gio van Bronckhorst will love it

The Gers head coach will surely love this tease from Ramsey, as the prospect of signing him permanently is an exciting one for the Dutch head coach.

Upon the Welshsman’s arrival at Ibrox in January, sporting director Ross Wilson outlined why it was an excellent signing for the club, saying: “This is a really exciting signing for both Rangers and Aaron. As soon as I was made aware of the opportunity we had to bring Aaron to Rangers around a week ago, we have worked really hard to secure his signature.

“Not only is Aaron a world-class player who will play a key role in our team, his level of ability and professional standards will be an inspiration to our existing players.”

When fit, the 31-year-old has showcased his quality in the Premiership in recent months as he averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.93. The Welshman provided two goals and one assist in seven league outings as he showed glimpses of the attacking threat that he can offer from out wide and in the middle of the park.

Ramsey would also be a hugely important member of the squad at Ibrox next season if the club win the Europa League this Wednesday.

They would automatically qualify for the Champions League with victory in Seville, and the ex-Arsenal man has plenty of experience in that competition, playing in it for both the Gunners and Juventus throughout his career as he has racked up 57 appearances in Europe’s premier club tournament.

Ramsey’s knowledge of the Champions League and the quality he has shown in the Premiership are two reasons why Van Bronckhorst will be excited and delighted by the prospect of bringing him back for a second spell at Rangers next season.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst must finally unleash “powerful” 19 y/o Rangers gem who “took his chance” in 2022…

Liverpool: O’Rouke makes Milner claim

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has made a claim regarding the future of experienced Liverpool midfielder James Milner. 

The lowdown: Seven-year service

The 36-year-old joined the Reds as a free agent and has since made 285 appearances for the club – making Liverpool Milner’s most represented club during an illustrious career spanning permanent spells at Leeds United, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Manchester City prior to arriving on Merseyside.

Out of contract at the end of this season (Transfermarkt), the former England regular faces an uncertain future at Anfield as things stand.

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However, according to one journalist, Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to see the influential midfielder stick around…

The latest: ‘Future manager’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke has claimed that the Reds’ boss is keen to keep Milner beyond the end of the 2021/22 season.

The journalist explained why when asked whether Klopp wanted the 61-cap ex-Three Lions ace to stay: “Yes 100%. He’s such a great servant to the club. Jurgen Klopp is a huge admirer of James Milner as well, not just because of what he does on the pitch but also off the pitch.

“He can probably see James Milner as being a future manager because of the way he is. I think a lot of people have said that because he’s just so absorbed with football and he’s always been available for Liverpool whenever needed.”

The verdict: Continuity is key

As Liverpool prepare for the next cycle under Klopp with the likes of Harvey Elliott, Luis Diaz and the incoming Fabio Carvalho at the forefront, Milner’s growing off-field influence could be crucial in overseeing a successful transition at the AXA Training Centre and beyond.

A stalwart of 586 Premier League appearances – fourth in the all-time list – few can offer the insight, knowledge and experience of the top-level football like the Leeds-born star and keeping someone with the ability to pass on information to emerging youngsters cannot be underestimated.

Albeit a diminished role on the field this season, the man labelled as ‘remarkable’ by Gary Lineker following a 3-0 victory over Leicester City in 2020 has still managed 35 appearances across all competitions for Klopp’s side.

That continued role in the German’s plans and an ever-developing father figure type position that as seen Milner keep a close eye on the academy outfits should be enough for the club to make a renewal offer.

In other news, French newspaper cites Liverpool interest in ‘unstoppable’ speedster. Read more here.

Leeds: News source shares worrying Stuart Dallas injury update

A Leeds United source has dropped a further worrying update regarding Stuart Dallas’ serious injury, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Femoral fracture

The Northern Irishman, who has started 121 of Leeds’ last 122 league games, became the latest Whites star to suffer a major injury this season.

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The 31-year-old was involved in a heavy collision with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish last weekend and had to be stretched off shortly before half-time.

Leeds have since confirmed the worst, with Dallas suffering a femoral fracture and facing a lengthy period on the sidelines. The versatile full-back has already undergone surgery on the problem, but it looks as if it could be even worse going off a recent update.

The Latest: Leeds source

FI shared a story regarding Dallas on Friday morning after being informed by a Leeds source.

They were told by the Elland Road source that Dallas’ injury is worse than first feared and that he could be out for 12 months, describing it as a ‘devastating’ blow.

The Verdict: Nightmare

Should FI’s reveal prove accurate, then Dallas looks likely to be unavailable for most of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge.

That would be horrible news, with Dallas regularly the go-to man to provide cover in a number of different areas. Dallas has also been the club’s third-best Premier League performer this season behind Raphinha and Liam Cooper, as per WhoScored, turning out at left-back, right-back and in midfield.

He has established himself as a Leeds legend with his displays over the last three seasons, and hopefully, he’ll have a setback-free recovery and return sooner than this latest timeframe has suggested.

In other news: Leeds officials sent abroad as Radz plots move for 56-goal attacker. 

Man United step up chase for Darwin Nunez

Manchester United are “one of the best placed clubs” to secure the services of Benfica’s 22-year-old sensation Darwin Nunez.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Portuguese outlet Record, via Sport Witness, who highlighted United in the competitive chase for the Uruguayan’s signature.

The report states that the Old Trafford club are not only “attentive” but are actually “one of the best placed clubs” to land the striker over the next few months.

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There is uncertainty in the United front-line going into next season, with the likes of Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford touted as forwards who could depart in the upcoming transfer window.

As such, it is reported that Nunezis “one of the targets” for the Red Devils.

Imagine Nunez and CR7

The signing of a young striker who has registered four assists in 40 appearances for Benfica this season would be one of the biggest statements of intent that Erik Ten Hag and Ralf Rangnick can make.

Nunez on his own would bolster the United attack, but with Cristiano Ronaldo looking as though he will honour his contract at the club, the partnership between the two could be terrifying for the rest of the Premier League.

Whilst Ten Hag mainly deploys a 4-3-3 formation for Ajax, Nunez could make the centre-forward role his own. The likes of Ronaldo could play off the left-wing as an inside-forward, with Rangnick feeling that the role of centre-forward is not his best position despite the Portuguese icon being United’s top scorer this season with 18 goals in the Premier League and 24 in all competitions.

What makes Nunez so well-suited to United at this current moment is his clinical nature in putting the ball in the net.

The 22-year-old, who has been described as a “diamond”, has averaged just 2.35 shots per 90 this season, almost 1.5 fewer than Ronaldo in the Premier League.

The 37-year-old’s creativity often goes unnoticed due to his success rate in front of goal, but with a match average of 2.99 shot-creating actions per 90, the Portugal veteran offers a burst of expression from which Nunez, a goal-poaching centre-forward, can thrive.

Whether United acquire their €100m-valued (£83m) target ahead of next season remains to be seen, but the potential partnership between Nunez and Ronaldo is surely enough to whet the appetite of the Old Trafford faithful.

In other news: Ten Hag plotting £29.8m bid for “unbelievable” 26-year-old; he’s better than Wan-Bissaka 

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