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Southampton are once again being linked with Arsenal ace Ainsley Maitland-Niles this summer and given his versatility, he could be a superb addition to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

According to the Mirror, Arsenal are willing to let the 23-year-old leave the Emirates this summer, which has put both Southampton and Watford on high alert.

The report claims that Arsenal are tempted to cash in on the academy graduate as they look to fund some expensive summer moves, and Southampton could make an official approach for the England international as early as next week.

Would he be a good signing?

Southampton were heavily linked with a loan move for the youngster in the winter transfer window, so he is clearly a player who is on Hasenhuttl’s radar.

After Maitland-Niles made it clear that he sees his future as a midfielder rather than a full-back, where Southampton were perhaps keen to deploy him as back-up to Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Bertrand, he would end up joining West Brom on loan instead.

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During his time at the Hawthorns, he would make 15 appearances in the Premier League, managing no goals and one assist, earning a less than impressive 6.48 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He would show his class in impressive back-to-back wins against Chelsea and Southampton earlier in the season where he made a combined eight tackles and three interceptions. That certainly helped West Brom to improve in the second half of the campaign but was ultimately unable to save them from relegation.

However, the £14.4m-rated Englishman has plenty of experience in the Premier League, would be able to add to Hasenhuttl’s depth at full-back and in midfield, and also has plenty of time to improve, so he could prove to be a shrewd signing by the South Coast club this summer.

Given his versatility, he certainly seems like the sort of player Hasenhuttl would love to have in his squad next season, so whilst he would likely cost more than the £10m limit the Austrian set for Southampton ahead of the transfer window, CEO Martin Semmens should definitely explore the possibility of bringing him to St Mary’s.

And, in other news… Hasenhuttl suffers fresh setback with “incredible” Southampton beast, Saints fans will be worried

Xherdan Shaqiri has been linked with a move away from Liverpool this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to rebuild his squad.

What’s the story?

According to Turkish reporter Ekrem Konur, several teams across the continent are interested in acquiring the 29-year-old’s services, including AS Roma, Lazio and Sevilla.

It’s also claimed that the Anfield outfit are only interested in entertaining permanent offers for Shaqiri, with transfer funds expected to be limited due to the ongoing pandemic.

Klopp must sell

The Switzerland international arrived at Liverpool for just £13 million back in 2018 from Stoke City thanks to a relegation release clause in his contract.

His arrival was deemed to be an astute piece of business by the Reds as Shaqiri had won major trophies during his stint with Bayern Munich and had proved himself to be a talented Premier League force throughout his time with the Potters.

However, things have not quite worked out for the diminutive forward on Merseyside. A string of niggling injures have kept Shaqiri on the sidelines for large spells of his Liverpool career, limiting him to just 18 league starts in three seasons.

Alongside his fitness concerns, there have also been question marks lingering over the creative talent’s attitude and application for many years.

“I’m not a fan of Shaqiri, to be honest with you,” Gary Neville revealed ahead of Switzerland’s World Cup opener against Brazil in 2018.

“I think that was to be fair made worse by the fact that he distanced himself from his teammates at Stoke. They were unprofessional last season, there’s no doubt. And he epitomises it.”

Nevertheless, the £80,000-per-week gem is still capable of producing a magical moment on his day and has done sporadically throughout his stay with Klopp’s charges.

Important goals in victories over bitter rivals Manchester United and Everton rank just behind an assist in Liverpool’s famous Champions League semi-final second-leg comeback against Barcelona in Shaqiri’s highlight real, but they were individual stand-alone moments rather than a product of consistent quality performances.

If Klopp wants to wrestle his Premier League crown back from Pep Guardiola and Manchester City next season, then he must axe Shaqiri in order to make room for fresh legs to add new attacking impetus into his forward line.

Liverpool need a magician they can rely on, not one who’s likely to disappear for months at a time.

And, in other news…Liverpool tipped as club who could move for £650k-p/w liability, Edwards must avoid 

Dwight Gayle agreed to sign a new deal at Newcastle United ‘a few weeks ago’, Lee Ryder has clarified in a fan Q&A for Chronicle Live.

The lowdown

The £4.5m-rated striker made 20 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring just one goal.

The Athletic reported at the end of March that Gayle had extended his stay at St James’ Park by signing a new three-year contract on reduced terms, but rumours around his future have continued to swirl.

Ryder’s Chronicle Live colleague Mark Douglas said he could still see the striker departing, while a report in the Sunday Mirror suggested that Chris Wilder was keen on bringing the 30-year-old back to West Brom if he is appointed manager at The Hawthorns.

The latest

As per Chronicle Live, Ryder was asked to confirm Gayle’s contract situation by a Newcastle supporter who was still unsure after reading ‘mixed reports’.

The journalist claimed: “I was told it [the new deal] had been verbally agreed or done in principle”, adding that Gayle’s family are said to be “settled” on Tyneside, hence his inclination to stay.

The 30-year-old is currently on holiday, so an official announcement could be made after his return.

The verdict

The real question mark here is whether Newcastle have moved to extend Gayle’s deal because they consider him a valuable part of the squad, or because they’re looking to protect his value. Of the striker’s 20 appearances last term, 16 came as a substitute, which certainly doesn’t suggest that he is a central figure at St James’ Park.

It does have the air of a pragmatic step from a club which probably won’t be shedding its deadwood while it remains in limbo amid the ongoing takeover saga.

In other news, Newcastle have been urged to recruit this partner to Callum Wilson.

When Moise Kean signed for Everton, Marcel Brands told his family that the club would look after him.

“We will take of your son,” the Toffees figure said to his mother on the day he signed his contract.

Unfortunately, that statement was far from the truth. Kean only started six Premier League games last season before he was remarkably taken on loan by PSG this campaign.

The 21-year-old’s time in Merseyside has not gone according to plan. Once a wonderkid at Juventus, he has only bagged four goals for Everton and has even been substituted on and off in the same game.

As he slowly trudged down the Old Trafford sideline after being hauled off by Duncan Ferguson last term, it painted a desperately sad image.

This was not the promise Brands had made when Kean first signed.

However, after a stellar campaign in France, Everton really need to consider handing him a proper opportunity. Alongside the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the youngster hasn’t looked out of place.

He has been ruthless in front of goal, showing an extraordinary amount of confidence for someone who appeared to be so shy at Goodison Park.

From an Everton point of view, the focus has always been on bringing through Anthony Gordon; the jewel in the crown of their academy.

He might be homegrown but Everton would be foolish to waste a player like Kean. After all, he’s shown mesmeric form at the highest level throughout 2020/21.

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The youngster has scored 17 goals in 40 outings for PSG this term, scoring three Champions League goals on their run to the semi-finals.

Kean’s early form was impeccable. After his first 13 games in the French top-flight, he’d found the back of the net on nine occasions. He even scored against Barcelona in the last 16 of Europe.

The striker shone under Thomas Tuchel before he was given the boot by Paris chiefs but he was clearly a player the German loved.

Tuchel described him as “fearless” earlier in the campaign, a word you wouldn’t have associated with his opening year in English football.

His confidence levels are flowing and if he is willing to have a second opportunity at Everton, they must take it with open arms.

PSG don’t have an option to buy Kean in the terms of his loan deal but he surely won’t be short of many suitors.

Everton are reportedly seeking a bid of £40m to sell the attacker but they must avoid losing him at all costs; he is one of the best young talents in European football.

AND in other news, Worse than Holgate: Ancelotti surely enraged by Everton gem who made just 15 passes…

Wayne Rooney is facing a battle in his bid to bring Dion Charles to Derby County this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Sun on Sunday (via Football League World), who claim that Rotherham United have entered to race to sign the Accrington Stanley centre-forward, with Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town all also believed to be keen on the 25-year-old.

A report by The Sun back in April revealed that John Coleman’s side would be demanding a fee of around £1.5m in order to part with the former Northern Ireland U21 international this summer.

Rooney must move

With goals having been something of a problem for Rooney’s side this season, with the Rams’ total of 36 goals for being the lowest amount scored by any Championship side in 2020/21, up front is certainly an area in which the 35-year-old must improve in the upcoming transfer market if Derby wish to have any hope of mounting a promotion push next term.

And, considering just how impressive Charles was in front of goal for Accrington this season, the Preston-born striker could prove to be an extremely astute piece of business for the Rams.

Over his 42 League One appearances for Accy in 2020/21, the 25-year-old bagged a whopping 19 goals, provided three assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, as well taking an average of 2.7 shots and making 0.7 key passes per game, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 6.91.

Aside from his clear eye for goal and decent creative capacity, the finances involved in a potential deal for Charles would also appear to be extremely appealing for Derby.

At present, the striker earns a modest £870-per-week at The Wham Stadium, while his £1.5m asking price is also likely to be affordable for the Rams, even with the current uncertainty regarding the club’s ownership.

As such, Rooney should be doing all he can to convince Charles – whom Ian Baraclough claimed had been “fantastic” this season – of a move to Pride Park this summer, as the centre-forward appears to have the potential to be both an improvement on a number of the club’s current options in attack, as well as one who is incredibly cost-effective for the club.

In other news: Key figure drops Derby County takeover update that’ll surely have fans buzzing – opinion

Former Everton striker Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that Romelu Lukaku isn’t consistent enough to be Sergio Aguero’s replacement at Manchester City.

With the Argentinian recently announcing that he’ll be leaving City at the end of the season, a host of top forwards have since been linked with a move to the Etihad.

And whilst Harry Kane and Erling Haaland are reportedly top of Pep Guardiola’s wish-list, ex-Manchester United man Lukaku is also a target for the Premier League champions elect.

Since leaving United for £74m following his failed stint at Old Trafford, Belgium’s all-time top goalscorer has scored 61 goals across two seasons and is on the verge of firing Inter Milan to their first Serie A title for a decade.

But despite his goalscoring exploits in the Italian capital, Bent told Football FanCast that he doesn’t think that Lukaku is trustworthy enough to fill Aguero’s boots:

“You can’t replace him [Aguero]. He’s a goalscorer through and through, his record is up there with the best.

“Lukaku had his stint at Manchester United, he’s inconsistent for me, although he’s a seasoned-pro and does score goals, he seems to go on runs and then he’s out of form and might score one or two.

“He can be quite lazy at times, I can’t see them bringing in a straight ace for an ace because you can’t replace him.”

Eddie Howe won’t be able to take former Bournemouth colleague Richard Hughes with him to Celtic Park, according to a report from Football Insider.

They have been informed by a Celtic source that the Hoops are ‘wary of appointing Bournemouth technical director Hughes after Nick Hammond’s wretched rein’ – 12 words which could have major implications on the club’s pursuit of Howe.

The 43-year-old wanted to bring Hughes with him to Glasgow during talks with the Celtic board, but it looks as if the Hoops are closing in on Manchester City’s Fergal Harkin to fill the newly-created director of football role.

Hammond left his role as football operations chief last month and it doesn’t look as if Celtic want to bring in a replacement for him any time soon.

Transfer Tavern take

In our view, this development could be massive in regards to Howe’s possible Parkhead switch. Celtic don’t look like bowing to his demands regarding a reunion with Hughes, which may possibly scupper the prospective deal completely.

Reliable reporter Alan Nixon has stated that Howe also wants to bring in his own coaches, but they are still in work with Bournemouth at this moment in time. Reports have named Cherries coaches Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone as men wanted by the 43-year-old, but it doesn’t look like Hughes will be moving north any time soon.

That could possibly be the deal-breaker which ends Celtic’s chances of giving Howe the manager’s job.

In other news: Celtic have £4.35m bid for defender turned down, find out more here. 

A number of Liverpool supporters have been calling for Sadio Mane to leave at the end of the season, following a dreadful run of form.

The 28-year-old has been an incredible player for the Reds, joining from Southampton in 2016 and being a hugely important figure ever since.

Mane helped take Liverpool up another gear, and along with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, he has made up one-third of arguably Europe’s best attack in the last three or four years.

For possibly the first time at Liverpool, however, the Senegalese superstar is going through an extremely hard time, playing with no confidence and form whatsoever.

Mane has only scored three Premier League goals since the middle of October and seems to have completely lost his spark for the time being.

His performance against Real Madrid in midweek was particularly poor and supporters appear to be losing faith in Liverpool’s No.10.

Liverpool fans call for Mane to leave

Incredibly, some Reds supporters have taken to a Twitter calling for Mane to leave this summer.

“Time to sell and get Mbappe”

Credit: @mikedyrated

“If someone said to me for Mbappe to come to Liverpool you get rid of Mane I would get rid of him”

Credit: @_Simraann

“Sadio Mane’s been that bad this season I honestly wouldn’t feel too bad if we were to sell him this summer. His performances have been unacceptable. Firmino just as bad”

Credit: @Strictly_Scouse

“He’s off in the summer”

Credit: @jaywhittakerbhp

“Sell Mane”

Credit: @Vic21Mc

“Mane needs to be sold”

Credit: @curtisjonesla

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting positively to a fresh transfer claim. Find out who the player in question is here.

SL Benfica harbour a ‘strong interest’ in Wolves defender Ruben Vinagre, according to Football Insider.

He started two of Wolves’ first three Premier League fixtures this season, lining-up in the defeats to Manchester City and West Ham, but when Rayan Ait-Nouri came in, Vinagre sealed a loan move to Olympiacos.

Vinagre’s mixed fortunes on loan

That deal included an option to buy, but it didn’t work out in Greece. He made only two league appearances before the loan was cut short at the mid-point of the season.

Another loan move was agreed in January, this time to lower mid-table Liga NOS outfit Famalicao. The 22-year-old has established himself as a consistent starter this time.

Benfica, who were knocked out by Arsenal in the Europa League Round of 32, have seemingly been impressed with his displays in Portugal, as a Wolves source has told Football Insider of ‘strong interest’ in the youngster.

Wolves paid £2million to sign Vinagre from AS Monaco in July 2018 and could more than double their money through a sale, considering he boasts a Transfermarkt value of £4.5million and still three years left on his contract.

Transfer Tavern verdict

It’s clear that Vinagre isn’t part of Nuno’s plans going forward. Jonny, when fit, Ait-Nouri and Marcal are all ahead of him in the pecking order and aforementioned, his contract situation could actually allow Wolves to earn a small profit on a move that simply hasn’t worked out.

The Portuguese Under-21 international failed to show that he has what it takes to be a consistent starter in the Premier League, but his level is surely higher than the 13th-placed side in Portugal, given Benfica’s interest.

Perhaps the Molineux outfit could insert a buy-back or sell-on clause if he does make the move, just in case he starts racking up the accolades with the 37-time Primeira Liga champions.

In other news, fans slammed the display of one of Vinagre’s compatriots on Friday.

Many Glasgow Rangers fans are far from happy with a tweet from the club in the aftermath of the Glen Kamara racism row.

On Thursday, as the Gers were knocked out of the Europa League after losing 2-0 to Slavia Prague, the Finland international claimed to have been racially abused by Ondrej Kudela. This has led to Slavia releasing a statement defending their player (slavia.cz), while Rangers have also made it clear that they will be standing by their man and have offered him their full support (rangers.co.uk).

On Saturday, a number of teams shared messages backing Kamara, and the Gers decided to retweet plenty of them. They even shared a photo from their Glasgow rivals of Scott Brown holding up a Show Racism the Red Card sign, and added the hashtag #OldFirmUnited.

There has been plenty of discussion about the use of the Old Firm phrase, with Celtic saying they are not a part of it while Rangers wear it with a badge of honour (Glasgow Times). In this case, however, many supporters were upset that the club decided to use Kamara’s situation to have a dig at their rivals.

These fans took to Twitter to share their displeasure.

Let’s see what the Rangers fans had to say below

“Delete this before anymore people see it.”

Credit: @RB14__

“Delete, the # at the end is a snide dig that seriously wasn’t needed during something like this.”

Credit: @staunchlaurent

“So many better copy choices could’ve been man than this. Delete this.”

Credit: @BluenoseFranco

“no no I’m sorry but no”

Credit: @stevonevo1

“No references specifically to Glen, an old stock picture with Brown smiling at what? And a dig at our club thrown in, This wasn’t support at all, Others yeah I get it but this no.”

Credit: @bluebreeze1970s

“Well said Rangers but that hashtag is just petty”

Credit: @BryanSpark2

In other news, many Rangers fans slam this BBC pundit’s comments.