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Birmingham City are interested in a deal to bring Josh Windass to St. Andrew’s this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Sheffield Star, who claim that Lee Bowyer’s side are one of a number of Championship clubs keeping a close eye on the situation of the Sheffield Wednesday forward ahead of a potential move in the summer transfer window.

It is reported that that the Blues have made an enquiry regarding the availability of the 27-year-old, for whom the club are thought to be hoping to sign at a reduced price due to the Owls’ current financial situation.

Bowyer must move

Despite the fact that Darren Moore’s Sheffield Wednesday side finished rock-bottom of the Championship table last season, Windass was one of the few bright sparks in what was an otherwise disastrous campaign at Hillsborough.

Over his 41 Championship appearances last term, the former Rangers man scored nine goals, provided six assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making 0.7 key passes per game.

These returns saw £10k-per-week attacking midfielder earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.80, ranking him as Moore’s seventh-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, with Bowyer looking to build a side that is much more capable than merely avoiding relegation next season, the addition of a player who outscored every single Birmingham player in the Championship last term, as well as ranking behind only Ivan Sanchez in terms of assists, would appear to be an extremely good piece of business for the 44-year-old to get over the line this summer.

Furthermore, if Wednesday are indeed desperate to sell the man dubbed an “explosive” player by his father, Dean, in order to balance their books, a deal for the £1.44m-rated forward could well be something of a bargain for the Blues.

So, it would seem highly advisable for Bowyer to make a move for the Sheffield Wednesday man at the earliest possible opportunity in the summer transfer window, as any one of the club’s Championship rivals will undoubtedly pounce for the 27-year-old sooner rather than later.

In other news: BCFC dealt huge blow over 24 y/o gem once dubbed the next Messi, Bowyer will be gutted

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing a transfer move for Cristian Romero in the summer window.

The Lowdown: Centre-half needed

Spurs conceded as many as 45 goals in the Premier League in the 2020/21 term, which is a rate of more than a goal a game and more than all four teams who secured Champions League football, so they could do with signing a shiny new centre-back for the new manager to build the team’s spine around.

Toby Alderweireld is also not getting any younger at 32 years of age, and so they should be looking to replace the Belgium international sooner rather than later and perhaps sign a long term partner and leader for Joe Rodon, who is impressing at Euro 2020.

The Latest: Spurs eye Romero

According to  L’Eco Di Bergamo (via Sport Witness), the North London club reportedly have their ‘eyes open’ with regards to potentially signing Romero.

The news outlet also mentions that Fabio Paratici bought him for Juventus, and so clearly rates him very highly.

The Verdict: Good option

Romero would certainly be a good option to bolster the squad for whoever the new manager may be – Serie A expert Conor Clancy explained this month how the defender is ‘phenomenal’ but ‘deceptively dirty’, praising his quality on the ball as well as off it.

At just 23 years of age, the Argentina international certainly has room to grow too, and could perhaps tone down that beastly side – he averaged 2.3 fouls per game in Serie A and picked up ten yellow cards this term – and become more streetwise with more experience.

Having already played at the highest level with Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League last season, and helping qualify for the elite European competition for the next campaign, he is a player who knows how to perform in big games.

Currently rated at £27m by Transfermarkt, signing Romero could turn out to be a shrewd piece of business by the Lilywhites – he scored three goals last season and more importantly was a colossus in front of his own goal, averaging 2.6 tackles and 4.3 interceptions per game.

In other news, find out which ‘outstanding’ talent THFC are interested in here!

West Ham United could be about to enter a bidding war for one of their mooted summer targets…

What’s the word?

According to reports in Italy (via Football Italia), the Irons are set to battle Premier League rivals Leeds United for the signature of Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nandez this off-season.

The 25-year-old powerhouse is a key target for Marcelo Bielsa after missing out on Udinese’s Rodrigo De Paul, who is set to join Atletico Madrid in a €35m (£30m) deal.

It’s claimed that the Yorkshiremen could offer the Serie A outfit in the region of €36m (£31m) but Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedulla suggests the Hammers are prepared to beat that with a bid of over €40m (£35m).

Shades of Kante

If there’s genuine interest in 37-cap Uruguay international, then David Moyes is surely at the front of the queue as he’ll be able to offer the midfielder European football, having qualified for the Europa League with their sixth-place finish last term.

The prospects of remaining competitive across a 50-plus game season are currently quite low, given the lack of solid squad depth options at the Scotsman’s disposal.

Of course, much of the priority this summer will be bringing Jesse Lingard back permanently, as well as finding that elusive new striker but West Ham shouldn’t turn their nose up to strengthening the engine room.

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They’re only one injury to Declan Rice or Tomas Soucek away from having to rely on retiring skipper Mark Noble and if two of the three are out, then Moyes is left in a sticky predicament.

Nandez would be a quality addition.

The diminutive £14m-rated dynamo may only be 5 foot 7 but he offers an industrious presence in midfield and is by no means an easy man to beat. As per SofaScore, he averaged 1.8 tackles and won an impressive 6.1 duels per game during the 2020/21 season.

He also managed to provide two goals and three assists, as per Transfermarkt.

You could argue that Nandez is in the mould of a N’Golo Kante, which is the sort of presence that is lacking in the Hammers’ current midfield, considering Rice and Soucek are much more physically imposing at over six foot.

Nandez ranked inside the top-20 Serie A players for distance covered last season, averaging 10.95km per game, which is even more comparable to Chelsea’s energiser bunny.

The tough-tackling midfielder has been described as a “machine” by Forza Italian Football editor-in-chief Conor Clancy during an exclusive interview with This is Futbol. He added: “He’s so powerful but at the same time, has really, really good ball control.”

All in all and on the above evidence, Nandez would be a mighty fine addition to the Irons’ playing squad ahead of next season. Given the interest from their top-flight rivals, GSB must look to seal this move as soon as possible.

AND in other news, ExWHUemployee drops encouraging transfer update amid growing concerns…

Many Everton fans have been left to fume as a transfer update emerged on Matheus Nunes.

As per Record (via Sport Witness), although the Goodison Park faithful are currently in talks over signing the Sporting Lisbon ace, no deal will be done until they have a new manager.

They describe this as a ‘setback’ due to Tottenham Hotspur approaching Nuno Espirito Santo, who was the Merseyside club’s first choice to replace Carlo Ancelotti.

Playing in 31 matches in the Liga NOS in the 2020/21 season, scoring three goals and making a further two assists (Transfermarkt), Nunes was a key figure in his team’s recent title triumph, and would certainly add another quality option in the centre of midfield.

However, it looks as if the Toffees will have to wait longer before they can make their move, which of course potentially opens the door for other sides to come in and sign him.

Everton fans on Nunes transfer update

These Blues fumed as the transfer update was shared on Twitter, with one EFC supporter even going as far as to claim that it was ‘ridiculous’:

“Can’t sign players without a manager. It’s ridiculous.”

Credit: @Jackolaa81

“We are a shambles”

Credit: @b3nCSGO

“I don’t understand why this is being dragged out to this extent!”

Credit: @skjones505

“Don’t know anything about him either but Christ @Everton are amateurs”

Credit: @ctayts

“If it’s true it just highlights how much our Director of Football model isn’t functioning as it should”

Credit: @ScouseJesus

“Nothing straight forward with Everton!”

Credit: @alan4duk

In other news, find out which Euro 2020 beast Everton are among the ‘hottest contenders’ to sign here!

Glasgow Rangers ace Kai Kennedy has been named in the UEFA Youth League Team of the Year for the 2019/20 season.

The Lowdown: Kennedy shines in Youth League

The Ibrox starlet enjoyed himself during the 2019/20 UEFA Youth League campaign, managing three assists in five games in the competition (Transfermarkt).

Those performances appear to have earned him particular praise from European football’s governing body.

The Latest: Kennedy in TOTY

UEFA have named Kennedy in their Youth League Team of the Year for the 2019/20 campaign (UEFA via The Daily Record).

He has been named alongside players from Real Madrid, Juventus and Ajax, while Croatian defender Joseph Gvardiol has represented his country’s at this summer’s European Championship.

The Verdict: Knocking on the door

Kennedy has previously been compared to Gers legend Davie Cooper by John Robertson (Glasgow Live), but he has had some issues with the Ibrox hierarchy in the past. He was said to be pushing for a move away from the club, refusing to sign a new contract (Football Insider) last summer amid interest from the likes of Manchester City and Barcelona.

Ultimately he remained at Ibrox and he is now starting to knock on the door of Steven Gerrard’s first team squad. Last season, he impressed in a loan spell with Raith Rovers, scoring once and providing four assists in 16 league matches. Clearly blessed with plenty of ability judging by his UEFA recognition, Gerrard may feel that Kennedy has earned the right to compete for a first team place at Ibrox next season.

In other news, Rangers ramp up their interest in this 27-year-old.

Interest is growing in Birmingham City midfielder Fran Villalba this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a reports in the Spanish media outlet, which claim that Sporting de Gijon are targeting the 23-year-old Blues midfielder as a potential replacement for Manu Garcia, who is wanted by Real Betis Balompie.

It has also been reported that Lee Bowyer is prepared to part with the former Spain U19 international this summer, as he has just one year remaining on his current contract at St. Andrew’s.

Bowyer will be buzzing

Having made just 17 appearances for Birmingham since joining the club from Valencia CF back in the summer of 2019, it would seem a fair statement to make that the man the Blues dubbed “one of Spain’s most exciting prospects” upon his arrival in England has not quite lived up to expectations.

Indeed, having made his debut for Valencia as a 17-year-old back in 2015, the £1.35m-rated man went on to impress during a loan spell at CD Numancia in 2018/19, scoring four goals and registering seven assists over his 39 LaLiga 2 appearances that season.

This form was enough to convince Birmingham of a move for the £5.3k-per-week midfielder, awarding Villalba a three-year deal at the club back in 2018.

However, having scored just one goal over his 17 Championship appearances in the first half of the club’s 2019/20 campaign, the Spaniard failed has failed to make a single for Birmingham appearance since, being loaned out to UD Almeria for the second half of the season, as well as for the entirety of 2020/21.

As such, the fact that Bowyer has the chance to keep the man once likened to David Silva off the club’s books next season is sure to have left the 44-year-old buzzing, as both the space the departing Spaniard would free up in his squad, as well the money saved on his wages, will help the manager land one of his own targets in the position this summer.

In other news: Nixon drops transfer claim on 21 y/o gem with a “huge future”, it’s good news for BCFC

West Bromwich Albion winger Matheus Pereira looks set to leave The Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a Joseph Masi report in the Express & Star, in which the comments of the new West Brom manager, Valerien Ismael, regarding the future of the 25-year-old forward were relayed.

Pereira has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, including the likes of West Ham United, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Leicester City, following Albion’s relegation last season.

And, according to Ismael, the Brazilian looks highly unlikely to remain at The Hawthorns this summer, with the 45-year-old confirming that he expects the winger to leave the club ahead of next season.

Fans will be devastated

Considering just how impressive Pereira has been for West Brom since joining the club from Sporting Lisbon on a permanent deal last summer, the fact that Ismael very much appears resigned to losing the services of the forward this summer is likely to devastate Albion fans.

Indeed, over his 33 Premier League appearances for the Baggies last season, the £13.5m-rated man scored 11 goals, registered six assists and created 11 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of two shots and making 1.8 key passes per game.

These returns saw the man Noel Whelan dubbed a “fantastic” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.18, ranking him as West Brom’s best performer in the top flight of English football.

As such, considering how important a part of the West Brom side the £39k-per-week winger was last season, should Ismael go on to lose the Brazilian’s services this summer, it would undoubtedly be a huge blow to Albion’s chances of going on to secure an immediate return to the Premier League come next summer.

However, after the Frenchman’s latest comments, if we were fans of the Baggies, we would not be holding our breath hoping the forward will be playing his football at The Hawthorns next year.

In other news: West Brom plot bid for £12k-p/w beast with “so much potential”, Ismael would love him

Crystal Palace are in talks with former Swansea City man Andre Ayew, according to 90min. And, as to be expected, a number of Eagles fans have been giving their thoughts to the news on social media.

Ayew, brother of Palace forward Jordan, is currently a free agent after leaving the Championship side at the beginning of the month.

According to 90min, Ayew is thought to be keen on a move to London, which would see him link up with his brother for the third time after spells at Swansea and Marseille.

The 31-year-old was on a whopping £83,000-a-week in the second-tier last season, scoring 17 goals and registering four assists in 47 appearances under Steve Cooper.

Ayew has 91 caps for Ghana and has also made 89 Premier League appearances during his career.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared a story from Give Me Sport, who cited 90min’s report regarding Ayew.

This is what these Palace fans had to say in reply, with many not exactly thrilled, possibly due to his age and big salary.

“Nowhere good enough. Signings like this will take us backwards.”

Credit: @HalesKeithhales

“Ayew kidding me? One Ayew is more than enough! Didn’t we try this with 2 Benteke’s?”

Credit: @Midgecpfc

“Too old”

Credit: @RichieLobe

“haemorrhaging wages on spent players isn’t the way to go we’ve done that and got the t-shirt”

Credit: @NoContextHumour

“It’s starting to feel like we are positioning the team to one that will be ok in the championship. I’m ok with signing highly promising ones like Eze, Olise but not this”

Credit: @rickyj555

“Please please not another ayew”

Credit: @Ukhilal1957

In other news: Many CPFC fans react as fresh links to Watford ace emerge, find out more here. 

Speaking to Sky Sports (via Football Daily), reporter Kaveh Solhekol has shared what he believes on the possibility of Chelsea moving for Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane this summer.

The Lowdown: Kane exit saga…

Sky Sports broke news of Kane’s desire to leave Spurs this summer with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea tipped as the three clubs who could offer him a way out of north London.

The Spurs talisman is approaching 28-years-old and time is running out for him to win major honours at both club and international level, potentially prompting him to consider his future.

The Latest: Solhekol shares what he believes on Kane to Chelsea…

Speaking to Sky (via FD), Solhekol has shared what he believes on the chances of Kane signing for Chelsea this summer.

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While Kane remains a target for Thomas Tuchel’s side, the verdict is not positive from a Chelsea perspective as the reporter makes his case when dropping an update on the Blues’ search for a striker.

“Then it comes to Harry Kane, could he go to Chelsea, we know he wants to leave Spurs,” explained the reporter.

“Personally, I can never see Spurs selling Harry Kane or any other player to one of their biggest, if not their biggest rival, Chelsea.

“I just can’t see that happening, very rarely do Chelsea and Spurs sell or buy players between each other.”

The Verdict: Good…

The last thing supporters would want is to see Kane plying his trade at Stamford Bridge, so this Solehkol claim could alleviate some concerns.

Scoring 23 goals and assisting 14 others last season in the Premier League for Spurs (WhoScored), it is arguable that Fabio Paratici and Daniel Levy will be unable to fully replace him if they do choose to sell this summer, no matter how much money the spend on said replacement.

However, if they are going to let him go, London rivals Chelsea would certainly be the least popular destination, and a move which would put Paratici in supporters’ bad book almost immediately.

In other news: Spurs chiefs perform Harry Kane U-turn as report shares behind-scenes developments, find out more here.

Wolves have started productively in the transfer window this summer but they still face the probability of losing key players.

Ruben Neves and Adama Traore are both pushing for moves away from the Midlands, while Rui Patricio has already sealed an exit.

What’s the word?

One player who the club haven’t actively looked to sell this summer is Portuguese sensation Pedro Neto.

He attracted the interest of Manchester United earlier this summer in a mega £50m move but, according to 90min, the Old Gold are tempted to sell him.

They are weighing up whether they want to grant the youngster an exit, with a number of Europe’s top clubs pursuing his signature.

According to the report from 90min, Spurs, Juventus and Liverpool have all made enquiries in the hope of signing him.

Big error

Wolves are in a position this summer where they may need to sell a few of their prized assets in order to build funds to acquire new players.

However, while somebody like Neves is more expendable, letting Neto walk out of the Midlands this summer would be a huge error of judgement from Bruno Lage; his biggest yet since becoming the club’s new manager.

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Neto was absolutely magnificent throughout 2020/21 and, in the process of scoring five goals and registering six assists, he was named the club’s Player of the Season.

A dazzling winger adept with the ball on both feet, his frantic style of play has caught the eye of many. He was described as “sensational” by Jamie Redknapp last season, completing 2.1 dribbles and two key passes per match, the highest of any Wolves player.

Neto was also their joint-top scorer and provided their most assists. With that in mind, selling him would be nothing short of catastrophic.

They have signed Trincao to bolster their ranks in the final third and he will likely improve their chances of scoring more goals.

However, after a campaign in which they were missing Raul Jimenez since November with a fractured skull, Wolves need to keep those in the squad who are capable of finding the net regularly.

Neto is such a huge presence in the squad and currently their best player, so allowing him to leave would be foolish. It would also deeply upset the loving Molineux faithful – as a supporter, you never want to see your star players departing.

AND in other news, Wolves in contact to sign “spectacular” £21.3m beast, he could be their new Jota…