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Wolves preparing Cajuste swoop

An update has emerged on Jens Cajuste, regarding Wolves’ plans to sign him this summer…

What’s the talk?

According to SportExpressen, as relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves are one of the clubs eyeing up a swoop for FC Midtjylland central midfielder Jens Cajuste this summer, alongside Premier League rivals Leeds and Crystal Palace.

The report claims that all three teams are preparing bids for the midfield enforcer and interest in his services ARE expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

The Northern Echo have also reported that Newcastle have dropped out of the race, due to his £13m valuation.

Neves replacement

Ruben Neves is being touted with both Manchester United and Arsenal this week, which could mean that Bruno Lage will need to replace the Portuguese international ahead of next season. This could tie in with the club’s pursuit of Cajuste as the Midtjylland man may be viewed as his replacement.

The Swedish international is three years younger than Neves and plays a similar role in the midfield.

Their statistics match up well against each other to back up this point. Last season, their pass success, long pass accuracy, tackles made, duels won, take-on success rate and clearances were all similar according to Opta (viaSquwka’s comparison matrix).

Following the reports of interest from Elland Road, Leeds Live journalist Ed Mackey said of him: “Cajuste is an all-action midfielder whose attributes look ready-made for Premier League football. Tough tackling, close control and accurate passing are seen as his main strengths but he offers everything you would want in a player of his position.

“Standing at 6 foot 2, he is dominant both in the air and on the surface which would provide vital stability in the middle of the park for Leeds. The 21-year-old also enjoys exhibiting his flair with a number of fancy but effective touches and passes being a particular stand-out feature of his overall game.”

This suggests that, if Neves is sold, Cajuste could be an excellent replacement for the former Porto captain. Hopefully, Wolves’ bid is enough to convince the Danish side to part ways with the midfielder and that they can ensure Palace and Leeds do not sneak in ahead of them to beat them to his signature.

At the age of 21, he also has plenty of room to develop and improve. Lage could work with him on the training pitch to fulfil his potential and possibly replicate or even exceed the heights Neves has managed to reach at The Molineux in recent years.

AND in other news, Lage must brutally axe £50k-p/w Wolves dud this summer, Coady said he’s “outstanding”…

Man City fans flock to big Joao Felix claim

Flocking to Twitter, Manchester City fans have had plenty to say after a claim emerged on Tuesday involving Atletico Madrid sensation Joao Felix.

The 21-year-old burst on to the scene with former club Benfica before he left for La Liga, bagging 15 goals and seven assists in the Portuguese top flight over a head-turning 2018/2019 season (WhoScored).

Atletico soon snapped him up and Felix has now spent the past two years at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium under manager Diego Simeone.

Now, sharing news on the exciting young attacker, Eurosport journalist Dean Jones has explained that his future in Spain seems ‘uncertain’ amid City’s long-standing interest in the player.

It is also explained that Atletico want Sky Blues star Bernardo Silva who is now being heavily linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium and is apparently keen to leave (Eurosport).

While City are generally not open to swap deals involving Bernardo, one involving Felix could be a different case.

The La Liga side’s interest in City’s star may present the opportunity for an exchange, and flocking in reply to City Xtra on Twitter, many Sky Blues had plenty to say on the matter.

Find all of their best verdicts down below.

Man City fans flock to Felix claim

“Might be the only good swap deal we can have if Bernardo really want to leave. Joao under Pep could be mental”

Credit: @mcenturions

“Hmmmm interesting”

Credit: @DiasCEO

“I beg, this is the only way I’ll be happy if Bernie goes”

Credit: @JoeRH7

“Let’s gooooo”

Credit: @Sbusiso_Nkambul

“Yes please”

Credit: @mcfcvm

“Please make it happen, if Bernardo forces his way out this is the best deal we can get. Joao Felix can play as a striker or Cam, he’s really good with the ball and creative. He can be our next De Bruyne.”

Credit: @Aguero10Sergio

“that’s a swap deal I want to see… joao cancelo bernardo silva out – joao felix saul niguez in”

Credit: @andreaskazakeo1

“Now we are talking……if Bernardo is to leave City then Felix in return from Madrid is not a bad deal in fact on the contrary it’s a good deal…. because we get a false 9 striker(Guardiola style) & then we can buy grealish as a Bernardo replacement.”

Credit: @param44

In other news: Man City overjoyed as club announce ‘big news’…find out more here.

Windass can’t see Lingard at West Ham

Despite not bringing in a striker during the January transfer window, Jesse Lingard fired West Ham United to a European spot but Dean Windass can’t see him returning.

West Ham ran out of steam in the race for a Champions League spot but considering they were fighting against relegation last season, it is a monumental turnaround that David Moyes has masterminded at the London Stadium.

There have been reports that Lingard is wanting to earn £100,000 per week if he is to sign for West Ham this summer on a permanent basis, which could prove to be a stumbling block if Moyes wants to spread his transfer budget out.

It would be a huge blow for the Hammers if they couldn’t afford to bring the current £75,000 per week midfielder back to the club this summer, and that could be the unfortunate reality according to Windass who spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“I can’t see him back at West Ham because listen, we all want £100,000 per week and a four-year contract. So yeah, I can see him back at Man United.

“I can’t see West Ham paying that sort of money because he might be a flash in the pan and if they give him £100,000 a week and a four-year deal but then end up in a relegation battle next year, that could ruin the club.”

It will be a huge summer for West Ham as they will undoubtedly have to bat away a lot of interest in Declan Rice, especially if he performs well at the Euros for England.

Moyes will know that he must add to his squad this summer as injuries almost derailed their season this year and with the added fixtures because of the Europa League their squad will have to increase in size.

Rangers urged to sign Abdou Harroui

Paul Robinson has urged Glasgow Rangers to complete the signing of transfer target Abdou Harroui this summer.

The Lowdown: Gers eye Harroui

The Gers have been linked with a move for the midfielder, who currently plays in the Netherlands for Sparta Rotterdam.

The Ibrox outfit even sent scouts to watch the 23-year-old at the European Under-21 Championship, in which the Dutch reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Germany.

The Latest: Robinson urges Gers to complete signing

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson has urged the 55-time Scottish champions to complete the signing of Harroui. The former Tottenham goalkeeper said:

“On paper, he’s got great stats and his numbers.

“And at that age, he’s the right type of player for what they’re trying to build for the future.

“We’ve seen them sign youngsters, we’ve seen them put the building blocks and the foundations in place.

“It’s not just a short-term project and they’re making sure that Rangers stay where they are for a long time.

“Those types of players will go a long way to help the club sustain their success over a long period of time.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Plans for the Gers’ next campaign are already in full swing. Fashion Sakala has already been signed from Belgian outfit Oostende (rangers.co.uk), and now Ross Wilson and co are looking at a number of other players. Harroui is one of them, and he would appear to be a very attractive signing if they can get a deal over the line.

The central midfielder scored six goals and provided three assists in the Eredivisie last term (Transfermarkt), while he appeared in all but one of his country’s matches at the European Under-21 Championship.

Valued at a cost-effective £3.15m by Transfermarkt, he would not break the bank either. As Robinson has said, this is the kind of signing the Gers should be making.

In other news, Rangers have been urged to sign this 24-year-old ace.

Transfer update emerges on Jerry Yates

Nottingham Forest have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Jerry Yates to The City Ground this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Lancashire Telegraph, who claim that Blackpool are yet to receive any contact from Blackburn Rovers regarding a move for the 24-year-old striker, with Rovers having been reported to be one of the many Championship clubs interested in a move for the £90k-rated man this summer.

Nottingham Forest and Bristol City are another two sides reported to be keeping a close eye on the situation of Yates, for whom Blackpool are believed to be demanding a fee of around £5m in order to part with in the coming months.

Hughton will be buzzing

With Forest appearing to be in desperate need of a fresh face up front ahead of their upcoming Championship campaign, the news that Yates remains an available player is sure to be news that will leave Chris Hughton buzzing.

Indeed, over his 47 League One appearances for Neil Critchley’s side last season, the £2.1k-per-week man scored a whopping 21 goals, provided eight assists and created six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making one key pass per game.

These returns saw the striker earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.99, ranking him as Blackpool’s sixth-best performer in the third tier of English football, with the 24-year-old playing a crucial role in his side’s promotion to the Championship.

Yates also scored a further two goals and provided one assist in the club’s run in the FA Cup, returns that took the centre-forward’s haul for the season to 23 goals and nine assists.

And, with Lewis Grabban only managing six goals for Forest in the Championship last season, while Lyle Taylor scored an even less impressive four league goals, it would indeed appear as if Hughton could do with the addition of a forward who can put the ball in the back of the net on a much more regular basis next season.

As such, the fact that the man whom Critchley dubbed an “outstanding” player is still available this summer is sure to come as delightful news for the Forest manager, although he better act quickly if he wants to ensure that Yates does indeed make a move to The City Ground, rather than anywhere else, this summer.

In other news: Imagine him & Johnson: Hughton must sanction Forest summer swoop for 14 G/A “threat”

Cooper should be in the mix for Palace job

Former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer has told The Transfer Tavern in an exclusive interview that Swansea City boss Steve Cooper deserves to be in the mix for the Crystal Palace job.

The south London club are on the lookout for a new manager following Roy Hodgson’s departure and could consider Cooper for the vacancy.

In fact, according to Swansea Independent, the 41-year-old is actually Palace’s No.1 choice to replace Hodgson.

If that is the case and Swansea do end up winning the play-off final on Saturday, it will be interesting to see what Cooper does. Whatever the case, Palmer believes the former England U17 boss should be in contention.

“Listen, he’s had a fantastic season,” the ex-Leeds United player exclusively told TT. “He’s one game away from getting Swansea City into the Premier League, so he’s done fantastically well – that is for sure.”

“He should be in the mix. I think he’s doing really well.”

Again, a lot could depend on what happens in the play-off final, while Palace are also said to be considering the likes of Frank Lampard and Barnsley’s Valerien Ismael, so who ends up in the Selhurst Park dugout is anyone’s guess.

Based on this season, though, Cooper certainly deserves to be in the conversation.

Klopp handed Phillips injury boost

Jurgen Klopp has been handed a big injury boost at Liverpool as Nathaniel Phillips was set to make his return against Manchester United on Sunday before the game was called off due to protestors at Old Trafford.

The centre-back was forced to sit out recent games against Leeds United and Newcastle United due to a hamstring issue and was a doubt for Sunday’s game against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

However, Phillips was set to start alongside Ozan Kabak in central defence at Old Trafford, with Fabinho moving back into a midfield position.

Although the game was postponed, it is still great news for Klopp to have Phillips back available, especially after he and Kabak formed a formidable partnership earlier in the season.

The 24-year-old, who reportedly earns £64k per week at Liverpool, has proven himself to be an excellent option for the German manager to have this season, capitalising on the long-term injuries suffered by Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to establish himself as a first-team regular at Anfield.

After spending last season on loan at VFB Stuggart in the Bundesliga 2, it seemed as if the young defender had no real future with Liverpool, especially after Klopp confirmed earlier in the season that he was close to leaving last summer due to interest from Championship clubs.

However, he impressed on his Premier League debut against West Ham, with Klopp full of praise for his performance, saying:

“He’s a brilliant guy, smart guy, intelligent, everything. He’s not easy on the eye, he’s not Messi but who cares? In the air, he’s a monster! He was incredible.”

Phillips hasn’t looked back since then and has gone on to make 12 appearances in the top-flight this season, averaging an impressive 7.09 rating for his performances, so it is definitely a boost that he is back fit for the remaining fixtures.

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In fact, the Bolton-born defender has achieved somewhat star status at Liverpool, with his old-school style of play making him somewhat of a cult-hero with the fans.

Furthermore, as explained by David Lynch, Liverpool have only won one of nine games since January with Fabinho at centre-back, whereas they’ve won four of six with him in midfield and had that trend continued in the next few games, Liverpool’s chances of Champions League qualification would have been dead,

So, Phillips’ return will allow Fabinho to return to his natural defensive midfield position, and if he and Kabak can pick up where they left off, then the Reds have a great chance of finishing strongly and earning a Champions League spot for next year.

It’s a perfect illustration of how The Reds’ campaign has gone so far that the return of a player who was very, very close to moving to the Championship is now being seen as a man who is needed to help salvage something from what has been a rotten season.

And, in other news… Liverpool handed huge Salah blow ahead of 2021/22, Klopp surely fuming

QPR must move for Neil Taylor this summer

Mark Warburton’s Queens Park Rangers are considering a move for Neil Taylor this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Sun, who claimed that both QPR and Stoke City are closely monitoring the situation of the Aston Villa left-back, whose contract at Villa Park expires this summer.

However, there is also reported to be interest in the 32-year-old from abroad, with QPR looking likely to face a battle with both Istanbul Basaksehir and Trabzonspor, as well as Stoke, in order to get a deal for the 43-cap Wales international over the line.

Bhatia must act

While Taylor – whom Dean Saunders dubbed “lightning-quick” – has become something of a bit-part player for Dean Smith’s side over the past two seasons, making just 22 appearances for the club over the past two years, the £1.62m-rated defender has proven during his time at Villa that he is more than capable of doing a job for a team at the top end of the Championship table.

Taylor featured 29 times for Villa in the 2017/18 season at that level, averaging 0.8 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 0.6 key passes per game with a SofaScore match rating of 6.79, helping them to secure a fourth-place finish in the league as the reached the play-off final.

The following season, the £39,000-per-week defender once again proved an important part of Smith’s promotion-winning side, registering three assists and helping his side to keep eight clean sheets, as well as averaging 0.6 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and 0.5 key passes per game over his 31 league appearances, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 6.76.

As such, should Amit Bhatia wish to provide Mark Warburton with the best possible chance of his QPR side mounting a promotion push next season, the addition of a player who has been there and done it before with Villa would appear to be a very wise piece of business by the chairman, particularly on a free transfer.

In other news: Bhatia must not cash in on £7.1k-p/w QPR gem this summer, he’s crucial to Warburton – opinion

Tottenham could be offered Abraham for Kane

According to a report by ESPN, Tottenham Hotspur could now be offered the chance to sign Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham in a player-plus-cash offer for Harry Kane this summer.

The Lowdown: Kane exit saga waging on

After Sky Sports broke the news of Kane and his reiterated desire to leave Tottenham, a plethora of clubs both domestically and abroad have been touted with a possible move.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are said to be watching closely in the Premier League, while Mauricio Pochettino’s Paris Saint-Germain have also been tipped as suitors from abroad.

The 27-year-old also spoke candidly over his future to Gary Neville recently and appeared to send a clear message to chairman Daniel Levy, pleading for a sit-down with the Lilywhites chairman (The Overlap).

The Latest: Abraham could be offered to Tottenham

Swap deals have even been touted as a potential solution to bring down Levy’s stunning £150m asking price for Kane, as also mooted by ESPN.

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Football Insider recently claimed that Manchester United could even offer both Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial in exchange for Kane.

Bringing a development, ESPN have now touted another player-plus-cash proposal – this time from London rivals Chelsea. They claim that the Blues could table Abraham as a makeweight to bring down Levy’s price tag for Kane.

Chelsea are apparently mindful that Spurs will be looking to rebuild if they agree on a sale for the 27-year-old and they believe that Abraham would offer sufficient appeal. The forward is also valued at around £40m, a figure based on his form prior to the global pandemic when he found the net on 15 occasions between between August 2019 and March 2020.

The Verdict: Avoid…

Reports of United’s willingness to offer Lingard and Martial for Kane certainly come as far more enticing than this ESPN development.

It’s evident that Abraham has proved himself in the Premier League, having bagged 21 goals in 37 Premier League starts since the beginning of 2019/20 (WhoScored), but he isn’t quite on the Spurs striker’s level.

Also, the 23-year-old’s last Premier League goal came in December, with Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel often leaving him out the squad (Transfermarkt).

Despite recent events, former Scotland boss Alex McLeish is adamant that Abraham is still a ‘phenomenal player’, as he told Football Insider in March, but we still believe that Spurs must avoid this deal.

In other news: Manager dubbed ‘one of the best coaches in Europe’ now ‘listening’ to Spurs offer, find out more here.

Liverpool fans call for Wijnaldum to leave

A number of Liverpool fans have been calling for Gini Wijnaldum to leave Liverpool this summer, after The Liverpool Echo claimed Jurgen Klopp is still hoping to convince him to stay.

The Dutchman is coming towards to the end of his fifth season as a Reds player, during which time he has been a wonderful servant.

A surprise signing at the time, back in 2016, Wijnaldum has become a key cog in the machine, knitting things together in the centre of Liverpool’s midfield and racking up 230 appearances.

The 30-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of this season, however, and he has been continually linked with a move away, namely to Barcelona.

Wijnaldum still hasn’t committed his future to the club, but the Liverpool Echo claim that Jurgen Klopp ‘hasn’t give up hope’ of keeping him at Anfield into the future.

Liverpool fans want Wijnaldum to leave

Some Liverpool supporters appear to have made their minds up regarding the Netherlands international, however, taking to Twitter to disagree with the manager.

“Let him go, sign Bissouma maybe for £30m, then Neuhaus for £35m. Big money moves”

Credit: @FLX203

“So we need freshening up with creativity and yet we are still trying to give Wijnaldum a new deal. Joke. He offers nothing now just get rid and buy a young creative dynamic midfielder”

Credit: @Braden_Simmonds

“Klopp’s blind loyalty to Gini has done nothing but hurt us this season”

Credit: @Ouellette_Brian

“Just go, give more chances to Curtis”

Credit: @Sanin18508808

“Get rid of him, he offers nothing”

Credit: @MarkPriddy9

“Klopp is finished if he thinks Gini will solve our problems next season”

Credit: @IhNafis

In other news, a surprise figure was slammed by some supporters for his performance against Real Madrid. Find out who it is here.

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