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Former Manchester City player Paul Stewart believes the club could sign both Harry Kane and Jack Grealish this summer.

The Sun have reported that Kane is set to join City in a deal worth £160m, with the England captain set to earn £400,000 per week at the Etihad, but journalist Fabrizio Romano has said that Tottenham are denying these rumours and there is nothing agreed between the clubs.

Kane was the Premier League’s golden boot winner last season, scoring 23 goals, taking his tally to 221 goals for Tottenham Hotspur’s first-team. The England captain also led the assist charts last season, as he provided 14 goals for his teammates.

The Premier League champions will look to defend their crown next season and look to go one step further in the Champions League by winning it.

Because of this, the Cityzens will look to strengthen their already star-studded side, with Stewart believing the club can spend big this summer and get both Kane and Grealish, telling TT: “They have no problem doing that. If Manchester City want two players, and Pep says ‘I want those two players’, then they will back him and spend it on them won’t they.”

The departure of Sergio Aguero from the Etihad Stadium has left City with Gabriel Jesus as the only recognised striker in the first team, so is an area of the pitch you would imagine Guardiola will look to strengthen this summer.

Many Wolves fans have been left to fume as a transfer update emerged on Samu Costa.

As per Record (via Sport Witness), the Midlands club are reportedly interested in signing the Portugal U20 international in the summer window, and there is a belief that they would be willing to pay the €25m (£21.5m) fee required in order to secure his signature.

While Costa is a very promising player in his own right, having represented his country youth level and helped Almeria reach the La Liga 2 play-offs while on loan from Braga in the 2020/21 season, he is still quite raw at just 20 years of age, and has no prior experience of playing in the Premier League.

Thus, £21.5m does seem a bit steep for someone who is not guaranteed to be a success at Molineux.

Wolves fans on Costa transfer update

These WWFC supporters fumed as the transfer update was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it was ‘stupid’:

“If this happens at these prices then it will just confirm who is driving our transfer strategy. Absolute joke”

Credit: @PaulaAdey

“This smells funny”

Credit: @Ry_Oakley

“If they sign this kid for that price Fosun need to drop any pretence of them not being Mendes pocket greasers. Joke”

Credit: @LoneWol99231327

“Poor business that”

Credit: @logan67890

“This is so stupid”

Credit: @Millenwwfc

“Joke of a price”

Credit: @lewis__wwfc7

In other news, find out what transfer update has been slammed by Wanderers here!

Wolves won’t have a great deal of money to spend this summer. It’s an unfortunate eventuality but ultimately one which cost Nuno Santo his job in the Midlands.

It would appear that the only way to spend big this summer will be to sell some of their prized assets.

What’s the word?

One player who has been on the radar of the Old Gold for a while now is Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha. They’ve been interested in the 25-year-old since last year but, despite winning Liga NOS with Sporting this term, he could be heading for the exit door.

According to Record (via Sport Witness), Wolves are the strongest candidates for his signature but a concrete proposal is yet to be made.

A separate report stated that Everton are also chasing his signature, which means that his agent, a certain Jorge Mendes, could be key in luring him to Molineux instead.

Ideal Neves replacement

Palhinha may not possess the long-range shooting of Ruben Neves, but he’d be a stellar replacement for the 24-year-old in the middle of the park.

The Wolves midfielder looks likely to leave this summer, with the Old Gold needing to sell before they can spend this summer. The Athletic claimed that a fee of £35m will be enough to tempt the Molineux hierarchy into selling the Portugal international.

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If Neves does move on, it would be a huge blow. He has been the glue holding Wolves together for a number of years now, thriving in English football after becoming the most expensive signing in Championship history.

Wonderfully composed in possession of the ball, Palhinha is also a tough-tackling general in the middle of the park.

Those are two attributes synonymous with Neves. During this season, the 24-year-old completed 84.4% of his passes and registered 2.4 tackles per match.

Comparing those numbers to Palhinha, the Sporting stalwart was successful with just over 83% of his passes in Portugal, winning 3.3 tackles per game.

Neves is more productive in the final third but, if the club’s new manager requires someone who can win the ball back on a more regular basis, then Palhinha is their man.

Standing at 6 foot 3, the £35m midfielder’s game is well suited to the Premier League. His physical qualities are outstanding, bullying opponents to one side and then starting attacks.

The Portugal international’s 1.3 shots per game indicate he can also still get forward, which is important when considering how he can replace Neves.

A destructive force, Palhinha would come at a high cost. However, if they are going to lose one of their best players from the Nuno era, they will have to spend.

AND in other news, Wolves eye swoop for “outstanding” 25 G/A beast, he could be their new Traore…

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…

Wolves are interested in 19-year-old SL Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos, according to a report from Portuguese outlet Novo.

They claim that the club are in ‘early talks’ with the Liga NOS outfit over the signing.

The lowdown on Wolves target Goncalo Ramos

Ramos is primarily a second striker rather than an out-and-out number nine.

After scoring 15 goals and providing six assists for Benfica’s B-team, he earned his opportunity at senior level, and he’s hit the ground running with six goals in his first 13 appearances.

Ramos has also featured eight times for Portugal’s Under-21s, including a substitute appearance in the final of the European Championship earlier this month.

Portugal, whose starting line-up for the game included Wolves loanee Vitinha, lost 1-0 to Germany.

Were he to join Wolves, he would be seen as part of their next attacking generation, along with Fabio Silva, a £35.6million signing last summer.

Fan feed Talking Wolves relayed the report, and here’s what the fans made of it.

Wolves fans react as Ramos talks get underway

“Are we running a football club or a crèche?”

Credit: @MKG661

“On a real note, would we need him since we have Fabio though? Wouldn’t we need a slightly older backup striker?”

Credit: @iamrockymstar

“Wonderkid FC”

Credit: @xGJHP

“That’s not how you spell Sergio.”

Credit: @wolfinbristol

“Another one for the youth them loaned out…. Another Rafa Mir”

Credit: @Wolfie71209247

“We’re just playing Football Manager, aren’t we?”

Credit: @adamwwfc03

In other news, fans were much happier with this transfer update. 

A number of Liverpool supporters were left frustrated with Fabinho’s performance against Burnley on Wednesday, despite a vital win for Jurgen Klopp’s men.

The Reds faced a must-win game at Turf Moor on Wednesday evening, facing a Clarets side with nothing left to play for this season.

Liverpool didn’t have it all their own way, however, with the hosts giving it their all and causing problems for a makeshift defence.

[freshpress-quiz id=“355458″]

Despite that, the defending Premier League champions got the job done in professional fashion, securing a crucial 3-0 victory in the end.

Roberto Firmino, Nathaniel Phillips and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got the goals and Liverpool now just have to beat Crystal Palace on Sunday to all but certainly secure a top-four finish.

Someone who was well below his best at Turf Moor was Fabinho, with the Brazilian curiously sloppy by his high standards – he won just two of his eight duels, per Sofascore, a mere 25 per cent win rate.

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Liverpool fans unhappy with Fabinho display

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to show their frustration at his performance.

“Fabinho has been tackled 3 or 4 times from taking too long on the ball”

Credit: @TaintlessRed

“Looked knackered tonight. Another that needs a rest. Give us 1 more Fab”

Credit: @greenislandlife

“Okay but what is Fabinho doing…he was poor yesterday”

Credit: @footandnut

“He has had his worst Liverpool performance in that black kit”

Credit: @SpamInc2

“Bad day imo, we got the result and that’s what matters”

Credit: @VivekLFC14

“Fabinho was very poor today but because he played in midfield we still won”

Credit: @3ric20

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been calling for one player to leave this summer. Find out who it is here.

It looks as if Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham is set to return to Parkhead this summer.

That’s after Marseille president Pablo Longoria notably missed out the Hoops man when discussing the club’s plans for next season, as reported by the Daily Record.

The Ligue 1 side landed Ntcham on loan on deadline day and have an option to make the deal permanent for £4.5m this summer, but it is perhaps no surprise to see them refuse that option given his lack of impact in France.

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Ntcham, on £14,000-a-week, has made just six appearances back in his native country and hasn’t exactly blown fans or coaches away with his performances, so it seems as if they’ll be sending him back to Glasgow over the coming months.

Transfer Tavern take

New Celtic CEO Dominic McKay could really do without this update. Hoops sources recently revealed (via Football Insider) that Ntcham has made it clear he doesn’t want to play for the club again, so it could’ve been ideal for McKay if Marseille signed him for £4.5m.

However, it looks as if McKay will now have a player who doesn’t want to be at the club on his hands ahead of the 2021/22 season, and with just 12 months left on his deal in the summer, the Hoops may have to accept a cut-price fee for the 25-year-old which isn’t ideal.

Even worse, given he has mustered up a horrific 6.13 average match rating (Whoscored) in Ligue 1 and is now forever linked with the infamous Andres Villas-Boas storm (talkSPORT), McKay may not even be able to sell him, leaving the new chief needing to rebuild a squad while players like Ntcham act as roadblocks to that happening.

In other news: Celtic may have just been handed huge Eddie Howe boost as source drops 10-word development, find out more here. 

Harry Wilson’s permanent departure from Liverpool this summer is ‘looking likely’, The Athletic journalist Caoimhe O’Neill reports. 

The lowdown

Wilson made just his second senior appearance for Liverpool in the League Cup Round of 16 against Arsenal before joining Cardiff City on loan – it is Wilson’s fifth temporary spell away from Anfield.

He spent the 2019/20 campaign at Bournemouth after previous stints at Derby County, Hull City and Crewe Alexandra.

A hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Birmingham City last weekend took Wilson to seven Championship goals for the season, alongside his 12 assists (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

O’Neill expects Wilson to prepare for the 2021/22 season with Liverpool before making a permanent exit.

The Reds demanded £15million for Wilson last summer and, as it stands, that price-tag hasn’t changed.

Burnley were rebuffed in their £12million approach for the Wales international and it’s understood that they won’t revive their interest. He has two years left on his contract.

The verdict

Liverpool couldn’t have asked for much more from Wilson while out on loan.

The 24-year-old ranks second in the division for assists and was labelled a ‘magic’ player by Neil Harris, who was in charge in South Wales until January.

He would be a good squad player for the Reds, deployed predominantly in cup competitions.

But Wilson is good enough to be playing consistent Premier League football, albeit in the bottom half of the division, so it could be a win win for all parties for the Reds to finally cash in this summer.

In other news, fans have been reacting to this sensational Mohamed Salah claim.

West Ham United can seal a place in the Europa League with at least a draw in their final Premier League game of the 2020/21 season.

David Moyes and his side welcome Southampton to the London Stadium later this afternoon, where they’ll be looking to round off their phenomenal year in style.

It was only last season that the Scotsman saved the Irons from relegation with one game to go, now they need a solitary point to be competing on the biggest stage next term.

The 58-year-old has plenty to ponder in terms of team selection, so it will be interesting to see what sort of line up he selects, so here’s our predicted XI ahead of kick-off…

There could only be one change from the side that defeated West Brom in midweek.

Moyes may decide to revert back to the 3-4-3 system that has served the Hammers so well throughout the campaign in a bid to ensure a point, which would mean a defender would have to come into the side.

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Issa Diop is the obvious candidate to pair up alongside Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson.

In the warm-up at the Hawthorns, Lukasz Fabianski pulled up with a knee problem, so Darren Randolph is expected to deputise between the sticks once again, with Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal taking up their usual roles out wide.

It means Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice continue their impressive partnership in the middle, whilst it is the £26m-rated Pablo Fornals who makes way for the 24-year-old Frenchman.

Michail Antonio will undoubtedly lead the line and he’ll be joined by Said Benrahama and Jesse Lingard, who Moyes does have a big decision over. The Man Utd loanee has been out of form recently, failing to score in their last five games, whilst he’s also only provided one assist in that run, too.

He does keep his place over the potential inclusion of Jarrod Bowen.

AND in other news, West Ham given big boost ahead of Southampton clash as injury news emerges…

After signing from Marseille in the January transfer window, it’s fair to say it’s been a rather slow start to life at Aston Villa for Morgan Sanson.

The Frenchman was initially kept out of the starting line-up in the Premier League by Dean Smith, with the Villa boss understandably wanting to ease his new signing into English football.

A few months later, Sanson has still yet to show any real sign of why Villa splashed the cash to sign him in the first place.

The £17m-rated ace has made the starting line-up for the last two top-flight games against Tottenham and Fulham respectively, but hasn’t really done enough to convince anybody that he should keep his place when the Villans take on Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

In fact, writing in his post-match player ratings for the game against the Cottagers for the Birmingham Mail, Ashley Preece gave Sanson a lowly five, noting: “The Frenchman was much deeper today after playing as a No.10 against Spurs before the break. Sanson was caught between two positions today as he left Douglas exposed at times while, at the other end, the January addition showed some good purposeful runs which won Villa free-kicks down the sides.

“Sanson took a whack to his left knee with Marvelous Nakamba readied to replace him but he soldiered on. Didn’t really have an impact here, though, and was replaced as Villa went onto to be much better without him.”

There have also been suggestions that those behind the scenes at Villa feel they may have made a mistake in signing him.

According to sources who have told Football Insider: “There is a feeling in the corridors of power the club “haven’t done their homework” over the 26-year-old Frenchman. He is said to be very difficult to manage, and proved to be so much trouble for two of his former agents they decided to let him go.

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“Dean Smith had hoped that Sanson would improve the team and bring greater cohesion to the midfield. But, while the central midfielder is energetic and tenacious, he does not have the technical ability that was hoped.”

Smith must make the ruthless call to drop the Frenchman against Liverpool today.

Meanwhile, Villa could hire their perfect Dean Smith successor in this “winner”…