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Backing reports made through the media, Sky Sports have now dropped their own update on manager David Moyes’ situation at West Ham United.

The Lowdown: Moyes new deal?

Moyes has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks after a phenomenal 2020/2021 season with West Ham.

Indeed, the Scotsman guided them to what was an arguably unexpected Europa League finish, especially given they ended the season prior in 16th place – narrowly avoiding relegation.

As a result of his brilliant job at the London Stadium, the club recently rewarded him with the offer of a new deal – but Everton’s managerial situation threw a spanner in the works.

After Carlo Ancelotti left the Toffees for Real Madrid, Moyes became linked with a return to Goodison Park and worry emerged over his future in east London.

The Latest: Sky back reports of Moyes development…

Backing other claims, Sky Sports have now come out with their own update on the Moyes’ contract situation.

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Indeed, in what is good news for West Ham fans, the broadcaster say Moyes has in fact agreed a new three-year deal.

“David Moyes, we’re hearing, agrees a new three-year contract,” explained Sky (via Football Daily).

“A very much deserved reward for the season he guided West Ham through.

“There have been talks of him going perhaps elsewhere, even Everton, a return there.

“But, it looks like he’s staying at West Ham, the terms have been agreed, it just needs to be finalised.”

The Verdict: Great news for the Hammers…

News of Moyes committing his future, with it now looking like he is indeed staying, definitely comes as great news for the Hammers.

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The 58-year-old has done a fine job for West Ham, re-installing faith and excitement with a big 2021/2022 campaign looming.

West Ham have qualified for the Europa League group stage through their sixth-placed finish last season and supporters will be ecstatic to hear Moyes won’t be going anywhere.

In other news: West Ham now want to sign this ‘dangerous’ 25-goal monster, he’s ‘similar’ to van Nistelrooy…find out more here.

Manchester City must sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez this summer, even if it means sacrificing one of their own first team regulars.

What’s the talk?

According to The Times, Spanish champions Atletico Madrid have proposed a trade deal with City which would see the 26-year-old head to the Etihad Stadium and Bernardo Silva go the other way. The report claims that Atletico believe Saul is worth around the same price (£70m) as the Portuguese winger and have offered City the chance to swap the players to aid their financial fair play status.

Both players are said to be disgruntled at their current clubs and are open to moves this summer. Saul is reportedly unhappy with the amount of game-time he received during the 2020/21 campaign, whilst Bernardo is considering his future in England. [The Times]

Back in 2015, Atletico manager Diego Simeone claimed that Saul “has absolutely everything” and heaped praise on the Spanish international midfielder. The Argentine told Goal.com: “It’s clear that Saul has heard a thousand times what I think of him. He has absolutely everything. He can play anywhere in the midfield, he can score, he can pass well.

“We will be very demanding, because we believe that being demanding is the only way to make players like him grow.”

Txiki masterstroke

Manchester City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain could pull off a masterstroke by sending Bernardo to Atletico and receiving Saul in return. Fernandinho is out of contract at the end of the month and City are poised to lose one of their few enforcers in midfield, which leaves a space in the squad for a player like Saul to come in and stake a claim for a place next season.

This is not to say that City should be rushing to kick Bernardo out of the door. The Portugal international has been a classy performer for the club in recent years, with an average WhoScored rating of above 7.0 in his past three Premier League campaigns for the club. However, The Times claimed that he is open to leaving City, and therefore Txiki must pounce on the opportunity to bring in Saul if it allows Bernardo to get his wish of moving to a new club as well.

The £238k-per-week Saul is not a technical and creative player like Bernardo, but he could offer some steel to City’s midfield. In 340 competitive career appearances for Atletico and Spain, he has averaged four tackles and interceptions per game, along with 2.6 aerial battles won and 1.7 clearances.

For context, no Manchester City player managed four tackles and interceptions per game in the 2020/21 Premier League campaign and Aymeric Laporte was the only player who could match Saul’s 2.6 aerial battles won per game.

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This suggests that the Atletico stalwart could be a superb addition to Manchester City’s squad and add a different dimension to Pep Guardiola’s midfield. Txiki could pull a masterstroke by bringing Saul to the Etihad in exchange for Bernardo if the deal goes through this summer.

AND in other news, Txiki heading for Man City disaster over “complete” £16k-p/w dynamo – opinion

Writing on Twitter, reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold has shared a major managerial development now coming out of N17 involving Antonio Conte.

The Lowdown: Spurs and the Conte hunt…

The Italian emerged as a frontrunning candidate for the vacant Spurs job following difficulties in acquiring former favourite Mauricio Pochettino from Paris-Saint Germain.

Indeed, PSG made life difficult for Tottenham in pursuit of the Argentine and have been determined not to let him leave – resulting in the club starting to focus on Conte as an alternative.

Spurs have held extensive discussions with the 51-year-old over this last week.

The Latest: Gold shares major development…

Now, writing on Twitter, yet another twist has emerged in Spurs’ hunt for an heir to former boss Jose Mourinho – who they sacked in late April.

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Spurs have been without a manager for over six weeks now and the wait shows no sign of ending after this latest update.

Backing previous reports, Gold has shared that Spurs’ interest in bringing Conte to N17 has reached its conclusion.

Alas, Tottenham have now ‘pulled the plug’ on talks with the Premier League title-winning boss – despite there being plenty of promise early in negotiations.

“Word just now coming out of Spurs that they’ve completely pulled plug on talks with Conte,” explained the reporter on social media.

“Despite promising early discussions. Utter mess from Spurs really.

“Went in a completely different direction to what they were looking for initially with a very different type of manager and character and then weirdly shocked when they realised he didn’t fit their means or that profile they were looking for.

“Bizarre waste of a week or so.”

The Verdict: Big blow, but hardly surprising…

Losing out on a manager with Conte’s pedigree comes as a massive disappointment for Lilywhites supporters.

Indeed, he appeared to be a very credible option given his record with previous clubs – especially considering his impressive haul of eight major trophies across three different clubs (Transfermarkt).

He has also averaged an impressive 2.01 points per match across his managerial career.

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However, given Spurs’ financial struggles and Conte’s demanding nature, this is hardly a shock.

Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy confirmed his checklist for the type of manager he wants in his annual end of season letter to supporters, with the ex-Chelsea gaffer arguably not fitting into any of the boxes.

It is also unlikely Levy would have been able to back Conte sufficiently in the transfer market this summer.

As Simon Jordan put it on talkSPORT, it would have been a ‘match made in hell’.

In other news: BBC pundit thrilled by ‘great news’ for Spurs, find out more here.

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is eyeing a transfer reunion with Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi this summer.

What’s the story?

The Whites were heavily reliant on Patrick Bamford to score the bulk of their goals up top, and while the Englishman rose to the occasion with 17 goals to his name in the Premier League, it’s perhaps no surprise that Bielsa has his eye on reinforcing that area of the pitch.

And, according to The Telegraph, Bielsa is keen on landing Batshuayi from Stamford Bridge, with the Belgium international spending last season on loan at fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace and struggling for game-time.

The forward managed just two goals and two assists in 18 appearances, with many of those outings coming as late game cameos.

He was left stunned by Bielsa

During his time at Selhurst Park with Palace, former Celtic striker John Hartson claimed that Batshuayi has “clearly got genuine quality”, while he also has a staunch admirer in Frank Lampard, who of course managed him at Chelsea.

He said: “He’s positive, hard-working, loves scoring goals. That might sound simple for a striker but I’ve seen some who don’t love it quite as much. He loves scoring in training, he always stays out to do extra practice. I’m thankful to have him in the squad.”

Lauded as a “real goal-scorer” by former Borussia Dortmund boss, Peter Stoger, the £9m-rated Belgian has got history with Bielsa having worked with him at Marseille, and while it was a tough period for him, it’s something he acknowledges now that was absolutely necessary for his development.

Batshuayi himself said: “But looking back, I tell myself he knew who to do this with. Some needed this support. Me, he understood my personality, he knew that I could draw on my resources.

“I’ll tell you something. One day he told me something shocking. For several months, he hardly spoke to me. And the time he came to talk to me, he just said, ‘When you go out of here, you’re gonna go for 40 million’. He just told me that. In my head, I said to myself, ‘But he’s crazy’. In the end, he was right.”

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Given their previous history, it’s understandable that Bielsa is keen on reuniting with the Belgian this summer.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa is eyeing a record-breaking swoop for this Brazilian star…

A number of Liverpool fans have been reacting in delighted fashion to the news that Ibrahima Konate has officially become a Reds player.

Jurgen Klopp managed to guide his team to a third-place finish in the Premier League in 2020/21, but it was an extremely difficult season for the German.

The 53-year-old had to overcome a number of obstacles, the most notable of which was having to make do without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip for the vast majority of the campaign.

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The trio are all still injured and Liverpool ended up playing unproven duo Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams as a centre-back pairing in the final games.

It has highlighted the need for the Reds to sign a new defender this summer and Konate has always looked set to be that man, having been continually linked with a move to Anfield.

On Friday, Liverpool confirmed that a deal for the RB Leipzig man had been completed, with the 22-year-old arriving on a ‘long-term’ contract.

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Liverpool fans react to Konate update

These Reds supporters have taken to Twitter to provide their thoughts on the positive news.

“Happy Friday Reds”

Credit: @AnythingLFC_

“Things you love to see. Welcome, Ibrahima Konate”

Credit: @LFC_JamieBS

“What a signing. Let’s go, LFC”

Credit: @Akki_SwagMan

“Love this, Liverpool going out and getting exactly the player needed early doors. A player who has all the potential to become one of the best in the world and form a formidable partnership with Van Dijk”

Credit: @DHardayal

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“This is exceptional value”

Credit: @lrchandley

“Let’s gooooooooooo”

Credit: @Kea_IsTheName

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been bemoaning an update on one Reds player. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle United are reportedly chasing Edin Terzic as a potential successor to Steve Bruce.

The Lowdown: Bruce future uncertain

A source from St. James’ Park has reportedly claimed that Bruce’s future in the North East would be uncertain if the proposed takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group were to go through.

The former Aston Villa and Sunderland boss does not have the best relationship with the fans anyway, having been recently booed by several members of the Toon Army despite their 1-0 home win over Sheffield United, which may force him out of the Tyneside club.

The Latest: Newcastle chase Terzic

As per Bild (via Sport Witness), the Magpies are chasing Terzic, who is currently the manager at Borussia Dortmund.

However, they would likely face competition from both Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace to bring him to NUFC.

Terzic has turned down the chance to manage Eintracht Frankfurt, and has been praised by the news outlet, as they have described him as an ‘eloquent’ man who ‘knows the Premier League’.

The Verdict: Newcastle should hire Terzic

Newcastle should seriously consider hiring Terzic to succeed Bruce, given the latter’s poor relationship with his own fanbase.

Terzic is a much younger manager than Bruce for a start, at just 38 years of age, and so has a lot of potential to grow into one of the world’s best coaches.

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In his short spell at Dortmund, he has managed to get them from looking like a mile off qualifying for the UEFA Champions League to securing qualification with a game to spare (Bundesliga).

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The German has also won silverware in the domestic cup, which should give the Magpies hope of ending their long trophy drought.

Nonetheless, Terzic is a fresh face with a lot of promise, and somebody that the Toon can quickly get behind.

In other news, find out what promising insight from the takeover consortium on arbitration has been shared here!

A number of Liverpool supporters have been reacting with glee to footage of Jordan Henderson continuing his injury recovery.

The Reds have had a disastrous season in the injury department, with the centre-back situation particularly dire. Jurgen Klopp has had to make do without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip for many months, which has played a big part in their struggles during the campaign.

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Henderson has also been a noticeable absentee, with the captain not featuring since the 2-0 defeat at home to Everton back in February. The 30-year-old has been a huge loss, both in terms of quality and leadership, and he faces a race against time to be fit for Euro 2020 this summer.

However, footage has emerged of Henderson stepping up his recovery from his groin problem [via Watch LFC], working in the gym and returning to the training pitch.

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Liverpool fans love Henderson video

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to provide their thoughts on the video, with much positivity in the air at seeing the captain step up his recovery.

“Missed this earlier! So excited to see Hendo again!!!”

Credit: @lfccxt

“Ahhhhh yeahhhhh”

Credit: @LFCSai7

“Captain fantastic”

Credit: @satriafaisal

“My idol”

Credit: @Cellextine72

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“Nice to see the Cap on the road to recovery”

Credit: @red_klopp

“My captain”

Credit: @OJITRIPUOJI

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a move for a world-renowned player with endless trophies. Find out who it is here.

Sheffield Wednesday need to be open to the idea of selling key midfielder Barry Bannan this summer, according to journalist Dom Howson.

The Lowdown: Superb servant for the Owls

The Scotland international has been one of the Owls’ best players in their recent history, making 258 appearances and also scoring 13 goals and registering 39 assists for good measure, gaining a reputation as a fans’ favourite at Hillsborough.

Wednesday’s relegation to League One could make it tough for the club to keep hold of the 31-year-old, however, with some Championship sides surely considering a move for him.

The Latest: Howson says Bannan should move on

Speaking in a Q&A for Yorkshire Live, Howson claimed that it was time for Bannan to end his stay at Hillsborough, assuming a bid comes in for him, with Josh Windass in the same boat. The journalist said:

“If offers come in for Barry Bannan, Josh Windass or anybody else this summer, it would be foolish in Wednesday’s financial position not to consider cashing in.

“Part of the reason the club have got themselves in this situation is because they haven’t sold players and then reinvested that money back into the team. They stockpiled players and knocked back a number of bids.”

The Verdict: Beneficial for all partiesIn an ideal world, Wednesday would be in a healthy financial situation and Bannan would be happy to stay put, but sadly that isn’t the case.The Scot is one of the club’s most prized assets, and as Howson alluded to, it would be reckless for the Owls not to accept a bid for him, especially given his age.It will be sad to see Bannan leaving Hillsborough, considering the contributions he has provided in the middle of the park for the last six years, but a fresh challenge makes sense for everyone concerned, and Howson is right to advocate taking the money for him this summer if an adequate offer is made.In other news, Sheff Wed have received a positive piece of news regarding the future of one player. Find out who it is here.

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has suggested that Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis will get his chance to shine against Everton in the Premier League.

What’s the story?

In what was a disappointing afternoon all-round for Dean Smith’s side on Sunday against Manchester United, Ollie Watkins received his marching orders late on in the game and will now miss the upcoming clash against the Toffees.

And, responding to a question in his post-match Q&A for The Athletic, Evans said: “Sure Davis will get his chance against Everton now. Will be good for him, but a shame for Watkins who would have liked to maintain his 100% attendance record.”

Time for Keinan Davis

With 15 goals in 37 games in all competitions in his debut campaign for the club, there’s no questioning that Watkins has been an absolute success story at Villa Park this season.

What has been even more remarkable arguably, is the fact he had played every single minute in the Premier League up until the point he was sent off against United on Sunday.

But with him now missing, Smith will surely turn to Davis to be his main man when the Toffees come to town in mid-week, with Wesley surely unlikely to be given a start just yet given the nature of his knee injury.

Davis has been restricted to just substitute appearances all season due to Watkins’ form, but has recently shown the ability to change a game off the bench, providing an assist against Fulham and then netting a late equaliser against West Brom.

The striker will surely be champing at the bit to make his mark on the side, and give Smith the belief that he’s someone who the manager can really rely upon going forward.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/villa-dean-smith-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-premier-league-buendia-berge-mcneil-trezeguet-villa-park” title=”Read the latest Villa transfer rumours and news!”]

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It’s exactly why Villa fans will be buzzing at finally seeing Davis get his reward of starting from the off when they take on Everton at home on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, this Villa ace had a shocker vs Man Utd…

Leeds United beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at Saturday lunchtime to move up to ninth in the Premier League.

Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo were all on target as they returned to winning ways following their disappointing defeat at Brighton last weekend.

And it was only Dallas (7.6) and Bamford (7.5) who earned higher SofaScore ratings than Robin Koch (7.4).

The numbers behind Koch’s Tottenham display

Koch was deployed in front of Leeds’ centre-backs Diego Llorente and Pascal Strujik, and the German won five of his seven ground duels and two of his four aerial battles, via Sofascore.

He also contributed two clearances, two blocks and three tackles and wasn’t dribbled past during the game.

Overall, Koch touched the ball 50 times and completed 29 of 35 attempted passes, an accuracy of 83%.

He had Leeds analyst Josh Hobbs backtracking – Hobbs tweeted that, in light of Koch’s ‘glorious’ performance, he may have to retract his argument that centre-backs shouldn’t play in the defensive midfield role.

Koch himself tweeted a celebratory message after the game, and here’s how supporters reacted to his six-word post which read: “Who you gonna call? Leeds United!”.

Leeds fans buzzing with Koch’s performance against Spurs

“Absolutely unbelievable performance from you today big man. Love having you back in this team. What a win”

Credit: @TonyLUFC28

“Can’t wait for that chant ringing out around Elland Road next season.”

Credit: @Anguini

“Love you big fella, class today”

Credit: @callumlufc

“You were Man of the match for me, had a great game in that role, long may it continue”

Credit: @CasperEngland

“You were absolutely immense today big man”

Credit: @Guysley

“Unbelievable in CDM mate”

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Credit: @Olijhulme

“Top game Robin, looked a natural there”

Credit: @petewoodhead99

“Never leave”

Credit: @lufcliam_

In other news, fans were less than pleased with this player’s efforts.