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Interest is hotting up over Nottingham Forest defender Jordan Gabriel this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Alan Nixon, who revealed in a post on Twitter that Blackpool and Huddersfield Town are in a fight to sign the Forest right-back in the summer transfer window, with the journalist stating that a deal for the £225k-rated man “won’t be cheap.”

An earlier report by Nottinghamshire Live claimed that Portsmouth are also keen on a move for the 22-year-old this summer, although went on to state that Chris Hughton plans to assess Gabriel in pre-season before making a decision on the youngster’s future.

Forest fans should be fuming

While it would appear far from certain that Gabriel will be leaving The City Ground ahead of next season, if Hughton does eventually decide to cash on the defender Forest fans should be fuming with their manager.

Indeed, the right-back impressed over his 29 League One appearances while on loan at Blackpool last term, helping his side keep 10 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 0.8 interceptions, 0.9 tackles, 1.5 clearances and winning 4.6 duels per game.

The £1.2k-per-week man also chipped in for his team in a creative capacity, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 0.7 key passes per league fixture.

These returns saw the man the journalist Matt Scrafton dubbed an “important” player earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.75, playing a huge part in Neil Critchley’s side going on to secure promotion to the Championship.

Aside from his obvious potential, the fact that Cyrus Christie has now returned to Fulham, in addition to Hughton informing Carl Jenkinson that he is free to leave the club this summer, means that Gabriel could well be the 62-year-old’s only option at right-back at Forest next season.

As such, not only would the sale of Gabriel be sanctioning the departure of a player who could well go on to become a star for the Garibaldi, it would also leave the club incredibly short of options in the position, leading us to believe Hughton should not even consider the prospect of letting the 22-year-old leave this summer.

In other news: Forest now open transfer talks over “remarkable” £12k-p/w gem, fans should be buzzing

West Brom confirmed on Thursday morning that young wing-back Taylor Gardner-Hickman has signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract.

And, as to be expected, a number of Baggies supporters have been reacting to the news on social media.

Gardner-Hickman made his senior debut against Arsenal in the EFL Cup earlier this season and has gone on to make five Championship appearances.

The wing-back, who was named Man of the Match against Coventry, has played in three different positions in four second-tier starts.

His previous contract at The Hawthorns was set to expire in 18 months time, with manager Valerien Ismael delighted at securing Gardner-Hickman’s services until 2026.

Baggies fans react

He turned 20 on Thursday, with the Baggies revealing the news on their official Twitter page.

This is what these West Brom fans had to say in reply to the contract news, with many going wild at the update and one labelling it as ‘massive’.

“Val’s done it again”

Credit: @KipreSun

“Finally a massive slice of great news.”

Credit: @Baggiephil

“COME ONNNN. TGH 2026. BRILLIANT NEWS.”

Credit: @StevoSmith0

“Now that’s some signing!”

Credit: @Albionwestand

“Massive”

Credit: @PhaseVisuals

“BIG WWWWWWWW!!! Cleary next admin?”

Credit: @__Hashar9

In other news: ‘Lost the plot’ – Many West Brom fans fume at ‘laughable’ official post. 

Transfer insider Dean Jones has now dropped a claim involving Newcastle United and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund.

The Lowdown: FFP thoughts

Of course, with the riches that the consortium possess, they will have to have one eye on Financial Fair Play (FFP) before they start splashing the cash in the summer.

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The St James’ Park club had already spent around £90m on five signings in the January transfer window, but The Daily Telegraph have reported that the owners have ruled out making ‘expensive superstar signings’ when the summer market opens.

They want ‘room for manoeuvre’ under FFP regulations, but that does not mean they won’t spend a lot of money providing that the club can stay within the parameters.

The Latest: Jones reacts to PIF/FFP development

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has now claimed that PIF will put FFP in the back of their minds if an ‘amazing’ transfer opportunity comes up for Newcastle over the summer.

He stated: “They’ve always got that ability to land big signings based on the fact that their budget is almost limitless.

“I know people talk about FFP, but to be honest, that’s something they’ll think about further along the line if an amazing opportunity crops up.”

The Verdict: Exciting for Newcastle fans

It is certainly exciting for the Toon Army that it seems as if PIF will look to spend big this summer.

Newcastle have already been linked with some star names like Kalvin Phillips, Jarrod Bowen and Victor Osimhen, so if they can bring in a few players to strengthen their starting XI, then the Tynesiders can well and truly kick off their long-term project.

Nonetheless, they will need to comply with FFP rules, but everything appears to be pointing towards a busy summer for the Magpies on the transfer front.

In other news, find out what could be the ‘best money’ that NUFC have ‘ever spent’

Paris Saint-Germain may have a readymade replacement if Mauricio Pochettino is lured to Manchester United.

The Telegraph’s Jason Burt reported that the Ligue 1 leaders have been made aware that former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane would be keen on the job at the Parc des Princes.

Is Pochettino to United now on?

This could be a crucial development because, according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, PSG will let Pochettino go to United if they have a successor lined up for the Argentine. Conveniently, he also says that Zidane is their preferred candidate.

Incidentally, the former Real Madrid boss has himself been ‘repeatedly linked’ with the Red Devils.

No need to wait?

United’s initial plan following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was to appoint an interim manager to lead the team until the end of the season, but it seems as if the prospective appointment of Pochettino could be fast-tracked, with Zidane now said to be waiting in the wings.

Fan feed utdreport relayed Burt’s update, and here’s what a selection of supporters said in response, with many voicing excitement over the potential chain reaction which would see the Argentine coming to Old Trafford soon.

“I’m starting to get excited about our club again”

Credit: @koreen_didier

“This now looks inevitable. we need to get it sorted before Chelsea.”

Credit: @stefanduro

“Get it done”

Credit: @ellis22szn

“Get in”

Credit: @niarra4v

“Ok that works. Let’s do that. Everybody wins.”

Credit: @TheRealRobLaw

“It’s all coming together…”

Credit: @UtdLG

In other news: What of Erik ten Hag? These Man United fans have flocked to an update on the Dutchman.

According to a report from RMC Sport (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are interested in a move for Angers striker Mohamed-Ali Cho.

The lowdown: Rising stock

The 18-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence in France and has previously attracted interest from Leicester City and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Despite not boasting an impressive goal return in domestic football, Cho has netted two goals in three outings for France at under-19 level.

A fresh update has now emerged suggesting that Liverpool could be among the clubs looking at the talented youngster…

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The latest: Premier League giants watching Cho

As per RMC Sport, as translated by Sport Witness, the Anfield club and their Premier League rivals Chelsea are both ‘keeping an eye’ on Cho.

It is claimed that RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid are also interested in the teenager as the Ligue 1 outfit eye a ‘record’ sale exceeding the €25m (£20m) they received from Lyon for Jeff Reine-Adelaide.

Formerly of Paris Saint-Germain and Everton at academy level, leaving the Goodison Park club in 2020, the report states that Cho is ‘one of the most highly-rated youngsters on the market’.

The verdict: Firmino successor?

Possessing a perceived market value of £13.5m and out of contract in 2023 (Transfermarkt), signing the French teenager – who was described as possessing ‘bags of potential’ by Alan Hutton when discussing Tottenham Hotspur’s previous interest – would be a relatively inexpensive deal for the Reds.

As Jurgen Klopp and outgoing sporting director Julian Ward prepare for life after Divock Origi and (potentially long-term) Roberto Firmino, adding a new centre-forward to the squad will be necessitated over the coming transfer windows.

Although a lowly two goals in 49 senior appearances from Cho doesn’t make for excellent reading, the ‘intelligent’ starlet – as hailed by his manager Gerard Baticle – has been a regular feature this season, starting on 18 occasions in Ligue 1. That makes him a viable option to continue the pattern of Liverpool turning lesser-known prospects into eventual stars.

In other news: Liverpool could now sign South American beast for a bargain as price drops by 38%

Many Everton fans have been left raging as some news emerged on the recent takeover of Newcastle United.

As per The Daily Mail, the Merseyside club were one of the most angry and vocal Premier League teams in a call to discuss the takeover on Tyneside, along with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

There was a belief among others that their anger centred around the prospect of increased competition for spots in the UEFA Champions League, hinting at potential jealousy of what the Magpies could now achieve with the money that they have available.

The news has certainly left a bitter taste among several Toffees supporters, who were disappointed with the way that the Blues allegedly acted in the call, and generally feel as if the takeover is none of their business.

Everton fans on Newcastle takeover news

These EFC fans were left raging as the news was shared on Twitter, with one Evertonian even going as far as to claim that it was ’embarrassing’:

“Meh, Moshiri is probably just angry out of jealousy. He had his chance to invest in us properly but let Steve Walsh waste hundreds of millions. So it’s his fault.”

Credit: @Evertxn

“Don’t really see why we should have been so incensed. If it’s because of our dislike of the Saudis, we are on a terribly slippery slope. Who are we to decide whether MBS is better or worse than e.g. President Xi – who approves all of China’s material foreign investments?”

Credit: @mitdevani

“I have to say as an Everton fan I find it a little embarrassing to be fair. Why we complaining? We’re scared of Newcastle doing what we all thought Farhad was going to do for us by spending millions and building a team to challenge at the top.”

Credit: @ianefc73

“Is this to distract from the Sky 6? Blame someone else. No club would’ve turned this type of takeover down. Newcastle are the beneficiaries, there you go.”

Credit: @DCT1962

“It’s none of our business…”

Credit: @MikeNSNO1878

“Vocal because it will be an 8th-place finish at best instead of 7th for us”

Credit: @bluetom77

In other news, find out what news before West Ham United has Toffees fuming here!

Flocking to Twitter, lots of Manchester City supporters have gone wild over news coming out of Eastlands involving Bayer Leverkusen sensation Florian Wirtz.

The 18-year-old, who is now emerging as of the hottest prospects in European football, has enjoyed a stellar start to the new season, with four goals and four assists in just three Bundesliga starts (WhoScored).

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His sensational run of form has attracted attention from top Premier League clubs, and Man City appear to be one of them.

Despite the plethora of attacking midfield talent already at the Etihad Stadium, manager Pep Guardiola appears to have his sights set on another as Bild journalist Christian Falk shared news (via Sport Witness).

The German insider claimed that Guardiola has personally sent scouts to watch the 18-year-old ‘time and time again recently’ with the Sky Blues ‘very specifically’ interested among the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

As news of City’s intense interest emerges, these Sky Blues supporters have gone wild and pleaded for sporting director Txiki Begiristain and co to get a deal done, with one of them calling it the “best news” they had heard today.

Check out some of their verdicts from Twitter below.

Man City fans go wild over Wirtz news…

“Serious baller”

Credit: @emperor_teejhay

“I beg we get this done”

Credit: @McfcRobbo23

“Yes please”

Credit: @Centurion_City

“Praying”

Credit: @hipyjon

“YESSSSSSS”

Credit: @XeVeYT

“Best news I’ve read this morning”

Credit: @SatieMCFC

In other news: ‘Insanity’, ‘No way’…Man City fans erupt as Txiki sets sights on £103.5m ‘machine’ who is ‘better than Lewandowski’, find out more here.

According to The Daily Record, sources close to Glasgow Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos are not expecting an offer from Porto this summer.

The Lowdown: Speculation

So far this summer, there has been speculation surrounding the future of Morelos, with Portuguese outfit Porto believed to be the main side interested in his services.

The £10.8m-valued Colombia international (Transfermarkt) was even said to have agreed personal terms with the two-time Champions League winners (Antena 1), but nothing official has materialised.

The Latest: No Morelos bid expected

Now, as per this latest report, Morelos and co are not expecting an offer during this transfer window from Porto.

At the moment, at least, it seems as though he could be staying at Ibrox.

The Verdict: Still up in the air

Of course, Steven Gerrard and co will be eager to hold on to Morelos. The midfielder has managed 95 goals in 184 games for the club (Transfermarkt), while he showed even in the Gers’ 2-1 Champions League defeat to Malmo on Tuesday that he still knows where the back of the net is.

The problem is whether the Gers can match Morelos’ ambitions. He has previously stated his desire to play in a more prestigious league (Goal.com), and has revealed he dreams of playing in the Premier League (Radio Caracol).

The Champions League is also likely to be a big objective of his – the Gers will now not be competing in that competition this term. Even if Porto do not want to make a move for his services, another European outfit might.

In other news, Rangers fans rage at this SPFL move.

Newcastle go in search of their first Premier League win of the season as they host Brentford at St James’ Park on Saturday.

Eddie Howe will be in the dugout for the first time since being named as the permanent successor to Steve Bruce and he will be looking for a reaction from the players on the pitch.

The Magpies were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton last time out in the top flight, with Graeme Jones in charge that evening, and the former Bournemouth boss could look to stamp his personality on the side following that result.

How many changes will Howe make to the team? Here is our predicted XI…

We are predicting that he will make three alternations to the team which started at Brighton, with Jamal Lewis, Fabian Schar and Joe Willock all coming in today.

Along with the change in personnel, Howe could deploy a 4-3-3 formation. Jones lined up with a 5-4-1 against Brighton and looked to set up defensively. However, the ex-Cherries boss may want his side to be on the front foot and trying to attack the opposition, which is why 4-3-3 could be implemented from the start.

With this formation, a change in defence will be required. We published an article explaining why Fabian Schar must be unleashed against the Bees and this means that two of the centre-backs who started against Brighton need to be dropped – Ciaran Clark and Emil Krafth, neither of whom has been especially convincing of late. This leaves Schar and captain Jamaal Lascelles as the two centre-backs to start Howe’s reign at St James’ Park.

At left-back, Jamal Lewis could come in for his first start of the season in place of Matt Ritchie. The Scottish defender played under Howe at Bournemouth but he has been in patchy form of late – with SofaScore ratings of 6.4 and 6.3 against Tottenham and Chelsea respectively – and it could be time for Lewis to get a chance to shine.

The former Norwich man has only made one appearance in the league this season, which came off the bench, and Howe’s arrival has provided a clean slate for him. He could be given an opportunity to come in and show that he can perform to a higher level than Ritchie of late, with the £44k-per-week dud set to be axed from the starting XI.

Finally, Joe Willock could return to bolster the midfield, coming in to replace Krafth and facilitate the change in formation. The ex-Arsenal man scored eight Premier League goals during his loan spell on Tyneside in the second half of last season and could provide a goalscoring threat from midfield to improve Newcastle’s chances of finding the net, which is why he could be selected in the team today.

AND in other news, Sissoko 2.0: Howe could solve major NUFC problem in gem “inspired” by Yaya Toure…

Celtic are interested in signing Nathan Byrne this summer according to a fresh report.

What’s the talk?

Via the Daily Record, the Hoops have identified the Derby County right-back as a potential signing to bolster their defensive options this summer.

The report claims he has been singled out by the scouting department as a player who could be a good addition to the group, but Ange Postecoglou has not given the green light as of yet.

Ange needs him

Postecoglou needs Byrne this summer following Jonjoe Kenny’s return to Everton after his loan spell with the club during the second half of last season.

The Toffees full-back was brought in after Jeremie Frimpong joined Bayer Leverkusen in January and Byrne could finally be the ex-Man City man’s replacement ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Frimpong averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.86 in the Scottish Premiership last term for the Hoops, providing one goal and two assists; this highlights what Postecoglou is missing in his squad. Byrne, meanwhile, achieved a score of 6.81 in the Championship for Derby, failing to score but providing four assists for his teammates.

Derby journalist Ryan Conway once praised the development he has made in an attacking sense. He said:

“Again, Nathan Byrne was excellent again, really, really good – and out there, he was very vocal out there as well.

“What has been so pleasing about Nathan is when he first came to Derby, he was much more of a defensive-minded right-back. His final product and his attacking qualities weren’t great; they were okay, but he was much more of an accomplished defender than he was an attacker.

“As the season’s gone on, Nathan’s got really, really good at getting quality crosses into the box, and he did that again [against Millwall].”

This shows that the Englishman could be an apt replacement for Frimpong and be a solid addition to Postecoglou’s team. He is a reliable defender and proved that with his 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game for the Rams in the second tier of English football.

He also offered plenty of attacking threat down the right.

The £11k-per-week dynamo has racked up 14 assists in the past three seasons combined, showing that he can get forward from defence and put in quality crosses to aid the attack. Therefore, Celtic must ensure that they get a deal done for the full-back.

AND in other news, Postecoglou may be on the verge of his first Celtic howler, fans would be furious…