West Ham’s £65k-p/w Star In Line For New Contract Talks

West Ham United goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is in line for talks about a new contract, which would keep him at the London Stadium until the end of next season, according to a report from Football Insider.

Which West Ham players could leave in the summer?

West Ham have a number of first-team players who could be leaving the club in the summer, with the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Angelo Ogbonna and Vladimir Coufal all set to be out of contract at the end of the season.

Not only that, but Declan Rice has long been linked with a move away from the London Stadium, and Arsenal are believed to be well-placed to sign the central midfielder, although Chelsea have not given up their chase either.

It has been reported that Gianluca Scamacca could be allowed to leave this summer, after a disappointing first season with the Hammers, and clubs in Italy are expected to launch formal interest in his services at the end of the campaign.

Pablo Fornals and Tomas Soucek have also been linked with moves away, despite extensive negotiations taking place with the latter player in regard to a new contract.

One player that David Moyes is keen to keep, however, is Fabianski, as Football Insider report West Ham are set to discuss a potential contract extension with the goalkeeper in the off-season.

Given that the £65k-per-week shot-stopper is now 38-years-old, it is likely his deal will only be renewed by one additional year, should he be willing to extend his stay at the London Stadium.

Should West Ham offer Fabianski a new contract?

The veteran keeper was lauded as "superb" by journalist Roshane Thomas earlier this month, following a very solid performance in the 1-0 win away at Fulham, making three saves and winning all the duels he contested.

Performances of that calibre indicate the former Poland international still has a lot to offer, and he has been a consistent performer in the Premier League this season, ranked by Sofascore as the Hammers' seventh-best performing player.

Lukasz Fabianski

That said, Moyes does have a competent back-up option in Alphonse Areola, who has managed to keep five clean sheets in the Europa Conference League this season, the second-highest amount of any goalkeeper.

Given Fabianski's age, it may be time he swapped with Areola in the pecking order, but the Pole should still be offered a new deal by West Ham, if he is willing to stay at the club as a second-choice option.

Pochettino Could Revitalise Chelsea’s £97.5m "Monster"

Todd Boehly appears to be closing in on a new Chelsea manager, with Sky Sports claiming that Mauricio Pochettino could be formally announced as soon as next week.

The club need some stability and the Argentinian coach would bring a wealth of Premier League experience alongside the ability to manage massive egos from his stint at Paris Saint-Germain, and it could be a match made in heaven.

He will of course be given large funds to spend in the summer transfer window, although with a fairly strong squad to use as a base, he may not need to add many players before the start of next season.

There is no doubt he could give the players a massive lift by being appointed, and it could give hope to the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ethan Ampadu and Malo Gusto who are all currently out on loan with ambitions to get regular action next season.

One player who Pochettino could definitely revitalise is Romelu Lukaku as the Blues are currently lacking any sort of goalscoring threat this season, scoring only 30 goals in the league so far, which for context, is lower than Leeds United and Leicester City.

Could Romelu Lukaku return to Chelsea for next season?

The Belgian striker is currently on a season-long loan deal at Inter Milan, having re-joined the club following his poor stint at the Blues during 2021/2022, where he scored just 15 goals after signing on a £97.5m deal – a long way short of the 30 he scored for the Serie A side the season before.

The 51-year-old could be willing to give him another chance to shine at the London side and if he could get him firing, it will certainly save spending vast sums in the transfer window.

Pochettino usually deploys an attacking 4-3-3 formation which could benefit Lukaku, who would be flanked by two attacking wingers that could provide him with countless chances during every match which he could thrive on.

Across 598 games managed during his career so far, Pochettino has seen his teams score a quite remarkable 1027 goals, working out at 1.71 goals per game, and it’s evident that Chelsea could soon potentially see a lot more goals next term.

Inter Milan'sRomeluLukaku

At Tottenham Hotspur, he managed to help turn Harry Kane from a relatively unknown, academy graduate into arguably the "world's best striker" – as per pundit Paul Merson – and although Lukaku, on his day, is up there with the best, Pochettino could perhaps relight his fire and give him a newfound energy ahead of what promises to be arguably the most important season in their recent history.

The 6 foot 3 “monster” – as dubbed by writer Thierry Nyann – has scored 283 goals during his club career so far and don’t be surprised if this total goes over the 300 mark in 2023/2024.

Rangers: Major Signing "Inches Closer" For Beale

Rangers are inching closer to the signing of Championship midfielder Kieran Dowell with a medical held, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest Gers transfer news?

The Scottish Premiership giants have endured a season to forget overall, with two managers overseeing a lacklustre campaign as arch rivals Celtic chase a domestic treble.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who led Rangers to a Europa League final last year, was relieved of his duties after a poor start with Steven Gerrard's former assistant Michael Beale picking up the pieces since.

A plethora of both first team and fringe members of the squad also look set to depart Ibrox on a Bosman this month, with Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Jack, Filip Helander, Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, Allan McGregor and Kieran Wright all out of contract (Transfermarkt).

Rangers have been planning a major summer overhaul behind-the-scenes, according to reports, as the club make contact with a few key transfer targets. Ecuador international Jose Cifuentes, who featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has apparently been subject to an approach from Beale's side.

Norwich's Kieran Dowell and Josh Sargent celebrating a goal.

As well as the aforementioned midfielder, goalkeeper Jack Butland and Aberdeen winger Leighton Clarkson have been heavily linked, but Football Insider reporter O'Rourke has a big update on Dowell for supporters.

The Norwich City star, who is set to leave on a free at the end of this season, has completed a medical at Rangers as his signing 'inches closer'.

Dowell apparently snubbed a new deal at Carrow Road, in order to depart and start a new chapter, with Beale personally giving the green-light for Rangers to make this move.

The 25-year-old, as a result, is on track to become their first signing of the summer barring any last minute complications.

What could Dowell bring to Rangers?

A former Premier League player with both Norwich and Everton, Dowell could bring both quality and experience to Glasgow as a creative midfield force.

The Englishman has been brilliant under David Wagner this season, chipping in with eight goal contributions (five goals and three assists) domestically, even despite the Canaries missing out on promotion.

With no jump back up to England's top flight beckoning for Dowell, the next best thing is definitely a move north of the border, where he could well help to bridge the gap between Rangers and Celtic.

As Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos near departures, Beale will need all of the attacking reinforcements he can get.

Newcastle United Eye Transfer Return For £6m-Rated Midfielder

Newcastle United are considering a deal to bring Nabil Bentaleb back to the club this summer, according to the Algerian media, via Sport Witness.

Will Newcastle sign Bentaleb?

The Toon have had the midfielder on their books before, with former manager Steve Bruce bringing the player to the club back in 2020 as part of a loan deal. He managed only eight starts during his time with the Premier League outfit though, as they finished 13th in 2019/20.

The club opted not to extend his deal and after falling out of favour at Schalke, he made the move to current club Angers. With the French side, he has now stepped his game up a notch and has become a key player for the Ligue 1 outfit. This season, he has managed to bag four goals and four assists in 27 league games – the best totals of his career to date.

Now, Bentaleb could be set for a shock Premier League return to St James' Park. Reports from the Algerian media via Sport Witness are suggesting that Newcastle are eyeing a transfer swoop for the midfielder because his fee would not amount to too much and the club want options in case they have a campaign in Europe.

The report adds that the Toon have already "made an offer" directly to the player too, suggesting that a deal could very much be on the cards when the window opens. With five options already that can play in the centre of the field for the club, Eddie Howe appears to want more depth that can help the club to compete on all fronts.

Would Bentaleb be a good signing?

The 28-year-old could actually be a shrewd addition for the Toon this summer if the club do decide to launch a bid for his services.

Bentaleb has continued to evolve in his midfield role and is now playing some of the best football of his career. His WhoScored rating of 7.05 for Angers this season is his best ever score on the website (bar a handful of games for Schalke in the Europa League), suggesting that he is now in the prime of his career and at the peak of his game. Considering that he could also be available on a cut-price fee – Transfermarkt value him at just £7m – a deal makes plenty of sense.

He's also been praised highly by those involved in the game, with journalist Ollie Holt admitting that the player was "excellent" back when he began his career with Tottenham. With Bentaleb now playing even better football than that, he could be a bargain buy for Eddie Howe's side during the summer window.

Tottenham: Spurs Now Favourites To Appoint "Elite" Manager

Tottenham Hotspur are now in "pole position" to appoint Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, according to recent reports out of Italy.

What's the latest Spurs manager news?

The Serie A title-winner, who recently guided Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years, is currently a reported target for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

The north Londoners have apparently completed the due-diligence stage of their search for Antonio Conte's replacement with Levy set to step up talks with candidates.

Julian Nagelsmann, who was surprisingly sacked by Bayern Munich earlier this season, is reportedly a top target for Spurs alongside former Barcelona manager and Champions League winner Luis Enrique (Evening Standard).

The aforementioned duo are just a couple of options for the Lilywhites, as reports suggest that exciting in-work managers like Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen) and Ruben Amorim (Sporting Lisbon) are also on Levy's shortlist.

Napoli coachLucianoSpalletti

Spalletti has emerged as an interesting option for Tottenham in the last week after he guided Napoli to an historic title win, with journalist Paolo Bargiggia even claiming the 64-year-old has an 'important proposal' from Spurs.

Now, another Italian source has weighed in on the matter, as Radio Kiss Kiss Naples (via Tutto Napoli.net) say Tottenham are actually the current favourites to snatch Spalletti away.

It is believed that Tottenham are now in "pole position" to appoint the former Roma boss ahead of other unnamed Premier League clubs.

Not much else is said on Spurs' chase for Spaletti, but according to Radio Kiss Kiss, it appears the north Londoners are out in front of the competition.

What could Spalletti bring to Spurs?

The tactician hasn't just enjoyed success at Napoli – winning a grand total of eight major trophies across spells at numerous clubs.

Spalletti had enjoyed great success at Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia over a decade ago, clinching two league titles, a Russian Cup and Super Cup during his time there.

The ex-Roma boss also boasts two Coppa Italias and an Italian Super Cup from his spell at the Stadio Olimpico in the 2000s, with Spalletti certainly possessing no shortage of experience.

BBC journalist John Bennett has also praised his "amazing job" at Napoli this season whilst branding Spalletti an "elite football coach".

Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini also holds the coach in high esteem, recently calling him a "phenomenon" in an interview with Radio Kiss Kiss:

“They put on a show yet still manage to kill-off the opponent. They have such a unique yet spontaneous way of playing. I think they’re capable of making a splash in the European competitions, too.“Spalletti? He’s a phenomenon—a stubborn yet sharp guy. He stays as close as he can to the players to ensure they grasp even the small details and it shows on the pitch.”

Everton Takeover Latest: Deal Not As Close As Being Reported

Everton are hopeful of having a takeover deal completed soon but a report from Football Insider has revealed that a deal for 777 Partners to take the reins is not yet close to happening.

What is the latest on a potential Everton takeover?

The Toffees are currently struggling to avoid the drop in the Premier League and will be hopeful of securing their top flight status soon. They are currently sat in 17th and any drop down to the Championship could be catastrophic both for their current finances and potentially for any interested buyer.

Everton are looking to try and secure some additional funding ahead of the build of their new stadium, which they plan to bring to life on Bramley Moore Docks. That could involve a new buyer coming into the club and current owner Farhad Moshiri is already looking at three prospective candidates ahead of a takeover deal.

It is 777 Partners that looked as if they could be the ones to secure a deal for the Toffees too, with some reports suggesting that a deal was moving along nicely and was even "close". However, a new report from Football Insider states that the idea talks could soon be completed is "premature" and that instead, it may take much longer for anything to go through.

Everton manager Sean Dyche.

Whether an eventual deal would be a full takeover or not is also unconfirmed, as FI say "reports suggesting Miami-based 777 Partners are on the brink of completing a deal are wide of the mark". Moshiri is holding talks over potentially handing everything over to a buyer or it could just be a small stake in the club – which would secure additional funding but wouldn't see a completely new owner at Goodison Park.

777 Partners are not the only interested party either. The Liverpool Echo reports that MSP Sports Capital are another firm that could potentially invest in Everton, with talks having already taken place between Moshiri and their two co-founders Jahm Najafi and Jeff Moorad. MSP though would only buy a 25% stake in the Premier League side.

What is happening with Everton?

It's not just off the pitch in which the Toffees need some help. They could use it on the field too, with Sean Dyche managing to drag the club away from the relegation spots by only a point currently. The side may not be in the bottom three right now but with two games left, it is still a very real possibility.

The club then need to focus on ensuring they stay in the top flight for now. Once they have secured their safety and can plan ahead for at least another season in the Premier League, they will then be a lot clearer about where they stand and can push on with takeover talks.

£120k-p/w Chelsea Man Praised In Defeat at Man City

Pundit Clinton Morrison has praised Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek for his display in their most recent game.

What's the latest on Man City vs Chelsea?

Essentially nothing beyond pride was on the line for either team as the Blues travelled way to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola's men wrapped up the title yesterday with Arsenal losing, and so the side with 115 alleged breaches of financial rules to their name enjoyed a guard of honour for Chelsea ahead of kick-off.

And much of the first half was played at the sort of pace you would expect from two teams will little on the line and this was reflected well by the opening goal.

Wesley Fofana misplaced a pass and City broke with purpose as Cole Palmer found Julian Alvarez who finished well when through on goal.

Chelsea came out in the second half and did well to keep themselves in the game and it seems Loftus-Cheek was one of the standouts.

Indeed, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, Morrison noted: "Chelsea are making a game of it in the second half. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been travelling well with the ball, he's so elegant when he carries it. Chelsea are definitely looking to get on the front foot a bit more."

How good was Ruben Loftus-Cheek vs Man City?

The intensity of the match as summed up well by Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp as he noted:

"There's a testimonial feel to the game.

"Man City players won't want to get injured and Chelsea just want this season over with now. It's been that bad for them."

Ruben Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea

But even so, Loftus-Cheek still put in a decent shift. Indeed, in his 81 minutes before being subbed, he showed quality on the ball with 24/26 (92% attempted passes, one out of one long balls attempted and lost the ball just three times from 36 touches.

On top of that, he battled hard for his team winning six of seven ground duels and was fouled three times too (via SofaScore).

All in all, it's fair to say the £120k-p/w midfielder was a rare bright spot in another drab day for the Blues.

Leeds Can Save Millions With 20 y/o "Big Talent"

Leeds United are in strong contention to be relegated from the Premier League this weekend after enduring a tight relegation scrap at the bottom of the table.

The Whites need a victory on the final day against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road, but even that would not be enough if Everton win their game against Bournemouth.

Sam Allardyce will be feeling the pressure after a defeat to West Ham United last week stopped his team from keeping their fate in their own hands, but now all he can ask is that they win their last game of the season in front of the home support at the very least.

No matter the outcome, there are some big changes on the horizon for the West Yorkshire outfit both on and off the pitch, with a new sporting director and manager expected to be welcomed this summer.

Not only that, improvements on the pitch will be desperately needed after a troubling campaign, and if Leeds do suffer a drop to the Championship, there is no doubt that some players will want to make a swift exit.

As a result, Andrea Radrizzani has a huge challenge on his hands to not only identify the right management for the club moving forward, but to make sure the squad can improve without breaking the bank.

One player who could be a huge asset to Leeds next season upon his return from loan is Charlie Cresswell, with the centre-back thriving in the second tier with Millwall.

Who is Charlie Cresswell?

The 20-year-old joined the Championship side on a season-long loan last summer to earn himself some much-needed first-team football and hasn’t disappointed in his efforts.

Leeds supporters will be familiar with the young defender as he made his Premier League debut under Marcelo Bielsa last season against West Ham and also featured for the first team in a number of FA Cup and League Cup clashes.

Cresswell’s top-flight debut led to huge praise from presenter Joe Wainman, who expected him to start pushing the first-team defenders for their position:

“These centre-backs that are not fit or are looking to come back into the side, they need to be worried, because that boy, for me, was unbelievable and I don’t think he should come out of the side.”

charlie-cresswell-leeds-united-premier-league

Cresswell went on to make seven senior appearances in total for the Whites, before getting his opportunity to become a key player in Millwall's campaign this season.

Over 28 league appearances, the 6 foot 2 titan – hailed a “big talent” by Lions boss Gary Rowett – averaged 1.3 interceptions, 3.1 clearances, and a whopping 7.6 duels won per game – placing in the top three within his team in each department, suggesting that he is a reliable and consistent defensive presence.

Not only that, Cresswell has also been effective in the attacking threat with four goals scored, two assists registered and successfully completing 73% of his dribbles, before having his season cut short due to a fractured eye socket.

If Leeds do suffer a drop to the Championship this weekend, their young talent could be a key player in the team next season as his experience could be a huge asset in their pursuit to bounce straight back to the top flight.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for Cresswell, and if he can continue to thrive upon his return to West Yorkshire, he could be the ideal heir to take over from Liam Cooper in years to come.

Newcastle Could Find Bruno Fernandes 2.0 in £69k p/w Ace

Newcastle United have had a season that will have exceeded even their wildest expectations, with Eddie Howe's men confirming a slot in the Champions League last year following a 0-0 draw against Leicester City on Monday night.

The Magpies have earned their good fortune this campaign and have recruited in excellent fashion along the way, bringing in the likes of Alexander Isak and Sven Botman, who have gone on to make a major impact at St James' Park.

Coming into the summer, finding the balance between adding quality and quantity to the squad will be another big challenge for boss Howe, who has been linked with moves for several high-profile players amid their return to Europe's elite competition for the first time in 20 years.

As per Sky Germany via Sport Witness, RB Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is a target for the Toon this summer and they have recently scouted him several times.

What's the latest news involving Dominik Szoboszlai?

The report claims that Szoboszlai, alongside his teammate Amadou Haidara have been watched by Newcastle United several times, with the former said to have an exit clause of around €70 million (£60.6 million) inserted into his current €80,769 (£69,931) terms at the Red Bull Arena.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones has indicated that Szoboszlai is a well-suited player in terms of his standing and would be a great signing if they could entice him to the North East this summer.

Jones told FFC: "I think Szoboszlai has got an unbelievable mindset as well as a brilliant skill set that he could bring to Newcastle. He's kind of the perfect level that Newcastle should be aspiring to as they look to take the next steps of their build. I mean, you can talk about what it would be like to bring in a Neymar or any player on that level. But there's also something to be said about not moving too quickly and that's one thing that Newcastle have done brilliantly."

RB Leipzig'sDominikSzoboszlaicelebrates scoring their third goal

Capable of operating on either flank or in attacking midfield, Szoboszlai had made 44 appearances in all competitions for RB Leipzig this term, notching nine goals and 13 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

The 22-year-old is also takes the responsibility of being a leader on the pitch in the mould of Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes and is captain of the Hungary national side despite his young age.

His Hungary coach Marco Rossi praised his qualities back in 2020 during an interview, stating: “Szoboszlai is a midfielder who makes assists and scores goals. He can play centre midfielder or behind the main striker. At Juventus, he would be ideal as a back-up to Aaron Ramsey. We are talking about one of the top ten talents in Europe.”

Much like Fernandes at Manchester United, Szoboszlai excels in his capacity as a chance provider, as per FBRef, and has managed to rack up 173 successfully carried out shot-creating actions in 2022/23.

WhoScored also notes that the Hungarian talent has outperformed the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Dani Olmo this season and has been RB Leipzig's most consistent performer overall, managing to obtain an average match rating of 7.34/10.

As cited by The Analyst, his former manager Jesse Marsch spoke about his unique skill set back in 2021, stating: “I’ve developed a very good relationship with a lot of highly talented youngsters, but I feel I had the strongest bond with Dominik. We’ve talked a lot, watched videos together, and discussed in private what the next step could be to improve. As talent goes, there aren’t many better players that can play his position – some are strong, some are technical, some are good tactically, and some can defend well or run a lot. However, Dominik is special because he has all of these skills combined.”

His career is only getting started and it looks as if a move to the Premier League could be an inevitability at some point and Newcastle United could land their own Fernandes-architype signing in the form of Szoboszlai if they can get a deal over the line.

Tottenham Hotspur Have "Sent Their Scouts" To Watch £47m Giant

Tottenham Hotspur have "sent their scouts" to watch Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, however there are "several" clubs interested in his signature, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham are set to battle north London rivals Arsenal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi this summer, as per the Evening Standard, with Clement Lenglet set to return to Barcelona, and Davinson Sanchez facing an uncertain future.

In recent days, it has emerged that Spurs are also keen on bringing in Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, who has a €18m (£15.5m) release clause, which would need to be activated before the beginning of July.

Tah is not the only Leverkusen defender the Lilywhites have set their sights on, however, as Romano has recently told GiveMeSport that they hold an interest in Tapsoba, who is also a target for Arsenal.

The transfer expert details that a number of teams are interested in the defender, while he also claims his big price tag could also be a stumbling block for Tottenham, saying: I think it will be a tough race and situation because several clubs are interested. Also, Tottenham sent their scouts, and there is interest in Tapsoba. But also, because Bayer Leverkusen will only let him go for big money, more than €50m-€55m (£43m-£47m).”

Who is Edmond Tapsoba?

Tapsoba has made a total of 137 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen since transferring to the German club in January 2020, and he played a vital role in the Bundesliga this season, missing just one game.

The Burkina Faso international has established himself as a key first-team player for the German side, commonly playing alongside Tah at the back, and considering Spurs are weighing up a move for both players, it is worthwhile to compare them.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba.

Over the past year, the 6 foot 4 giant has averaged more tackles and blocks per 90 than his teammate, however he ranks lower for interceptions and aerials won during the same timeframe.

Not only that, but there is very little separating the two players, in terms of their average WhoScored match rating this season, indicating they are similar in quality, but Tah will be available for a fraction of the price, so he could well be the better purchase.

Despite Tapsoba being lauded as "solid as a rock" by football scout Jacek Kulig, if Tottenham are to make a move for any Bayer Leverkusen player this summer, it should be Jonathan Tah.

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