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Sheffield United are interested in a deal to bring Jack Hendry to Bramall Lane this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by 90min, who claim that the Blades, as well as a number of Premier League and Championship sides, are closely monitoring the KV Oostende defender ahead of a potential move in the upcoming transfer window.

The 26-year-old is also reportedly attracting interest from Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, with it being thought an offer of around £10m should be enough to land the centre-back.

And, while Oostende have only just confirmed the £2m signing of the Scotland international themselves, they are believed to have told the 26-year-old that he will be sold if an acceptable bid is lodged this summer.

Jokanovic must move

After joining Oostende on a season-long loan deal from Celtic last summer, Hendry wasted no time in proving it was a mistake on the part of the Parkhead side to let him go, with the defender going on to star in his debut season in the Belgian top-flight.

Over his 30 Jupiler Pro League appearances for Oostende, the £8k-per-week man helped his team keep six clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 0.6 interceptions, one tackle, 4.1 clearances and winning 4.8 duels per game.

The 26-year-old also impressed going forwards, scoring two goals and registering one assist, as well as making an average of 0.2 key passes per fixture, with these returns seeing Hendry earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.01 – ranking the centre-back as Alexander Blessin’s third-best performer in the Pro League.

As such, it would very much appear as if the man who the Oostende manager dubbed a “weapon” would be a fantastic signing for the Blades this summer, as Slavisa Jokanovic looks to put together a side capable of bouncing straight back to the Premier League next season.

However, with a considerable amount of interest in the 26-year-old, the Serbian manager should act sooner rather than later, or else risk missing out on a player who appears to have a very bright future in the game.

In other news: Transfer claim emerges on “unplayable” £15m beast that’ll have Sheff Utd fans fuming

According to West Ham United insider Claret & Hugh, GSB and co will go ‘as hard as they can’ to seal the permanent signing of Jesse Lingard this summer. 

The Latest: Lingard transfer saga…

West Ham are very eager to sign Lingard permanently after his sensational loan spell, with reports suggesting he is a priority for this summer alongside a new striker.

However, the Mail dropped a rather worrying claim recently that West Ham could miss out on the 28-year-old due to his high salary demands combined with financial difficulties caused by COVID-19.

The Latest: GSB will ‘go as hard as they can’ to seal permanent deal

Refuting that report, despite West Ham’s monetary complications, club insider C&H have now reassured supporters that the Hammers will ‘go as hard as they can’ to seal Lingard’s permanent signing this summer.

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Indeed, he apparently remains very much at the forefront of manager David Moyes’ summer transfer wish list and it is their understanding Lingard will be a top target.

West Ham’s possible qualification for Europe will only strengthen their bid to sign the Manchester United man at the end of this season but the club will ‘do everything’ try and bring him in for the 2021/2022 season.

The Verdict: And breathe…

The Mail’s report came as a worry for supporters given their desire to sign Lingard on a permanent basis.

He has been a revelation for West Ham since joining in January, scoring nine goals and assisting three others in just 13 Premier League starts (WhoScored).

Such impressive form has propelled him back into England contention as the European Championships loom this summer, with C&H’s piece potentially coming as a sigh of relief.

Making Lingard an Irons player indefinitely should be one of the club’s top, top priorities after his run and it’s evident by all the praise he has received from the media.

Pundit Alan Shearer recently explained to the Premier League’s official website how he looked set to become a ‘magnificent signing’ by Moyes and Lingard’s numbers since then have certainly backed that glowing statement.

In other news: West Ham now eyeing this EFL ace, it’s not Toney…find out more here.

Daniel Farke’s Norwich City are interested in a summer move for Joshua King.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claimed that a recruitment source has revealed the Canaries are actively pursuing a deal for the Everton striker, who is set to become a free agent this summer.

The report claims that Farke is looking to add top-flight experience to his squad ahead of their upcoming Premier League campaign, with King emerging as a prime candidate.

Webber must move

While the 29-year-old did not exactly set the world alight after moving to Goodison Park in a deal in the region of £2m back in February, failing to score or register an assist for the Toffees over his 11 Premier League appearances for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, there is nevertheless an argument to be made that King would be a fine addition to the Norwich squad.

Although he did feature in 11 top-flight fixtures for Everton this season, none of these came as starts, with the £9m-rated forward averaging a mere 14 minutes on the pitch per game – significantly reducing the Norway international’s chances of having a real impact on proceedings.

However, in previous seasons, King has more than demonstrated that he is capable of finding the back of the net in the Premier League, with the £45,000-per-week striker scoring 48 goals and registering 15 assists over his 161 top-flight appearances while at Bournemouth.

Furthermore, with Farke considerably lacking in backup to and competition for Norwich’s 26-goal predator Teemu Pukki –  Jordan Hugill has managed just five goals over 34 appearances since joining the club last summer and injury-plagued 20-year-old Adam Idah still seems some way off being ready for regular first team football – a move for a centre-forward would appear to be something of a priority for the Canaries this summer.

As such, Stuart Webber should be doing all he can to convince King of a move to Carrow Road, as the 29-year-old – whom Eddie Howe previously dubbed as the “complete package” – would be a relatively cost-effective move for the sporting director to get over the line, as well as one who would bring a considerable amount of Premier League goalscoring experience to the Canaries.

In other news: Forget Skipp: Webber must seal Norwich deal for “fantastic” £6.3m-rated star – opinion

Former Everton striker Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that Danny Ings would be a good addition for the Toffees.

Ings still hasn’t signed fresh terms at Southampton, and with his St Mary’s contract expiring in just over 12 months, a summer move away from the South Coast is becoming a real possibility.

Manchester City, Leicester and Tottenham have all been strongly linked with the striker, whilst January reports included Everton in the chase for Ings.

Ings has been one of the most lethal Premier League frontmen in recent seasons, although an injury-hit campaign this time around has seen him fail to hit the heights of previous years.

Despite Ings’ stop-start season, his opener at Spurs last Wednesday was his tenth in the league, allowing him to reach double figures in consecutive seasons for the first time at this level.

While none of those 10 came in the 2-0 win against Everton at St Mary’s back in October, Ings did assist both of the goals on the day for Che Adams and James Ward-Prowse as he gave Carlo Ancelotti and his side nightmares.

“He’s 29 in the summer, he’s had a few injuries, but has been scoring goals and you want someone to come in and hit the ground running,” Bent told Football FanCast.

“I think it would be a good move for him and a good move for the club, but it would be down to the price tag.”

Manchester City are once again being heavily linked with a move for Inter striker Romelu Lukaku and the Belgian could prove to be a dream heir for Sergio Aguero in Pep Guardiola’s side.

What’s the word?

According to Italian news outlet Calcio Mercato, Guardiola wants the Belgian international at the Etihad next season and even sees similarities between the former Manchester United striker and Aguero, who is leaving City in the summer when his contract expires.

The report suggests that Guardiola believes Lukaku and Aguero share the same goalscoring instincts, whilst they are both effective at linking up play, which would obviously suit the way City play.

Would he be a good signing?

Although Lukaku perhaps wouldn’t be the most popular choice for a lot of City fans due to his time at Manchester United, which many see as a failure, his form in the Premier League with the Red Devils wasn’t exactly poor and you feel that issues behind the scenes at that club played a huge part in him struggling to perform at his best.

In 96 appearances for the Old Trafford outfit, the powerful striker contributed 42 goals and 13 assists, whilst he also impressed in his other Premier League spells with West Brom and Everton.

There were questions over his commitment at times at United but former manager Jose Mourinho was quick to rule that out, saying:

“So when I say to a striker, ‘Go there and do that job for me’, then he is a sergeant. He is a guy that you can trust. His attitude is phenomenal.”

Since his move to Inter, however, he has proven himself to be a truly world-class striker, scoring 61 goals and providing 15 assists in 92 appearances for I Nerazzurri.

This season,n he has managed 21 goals and 10 assists in 33 league appearances, averaging a superb 7.48 rating, which has put Antonio Conte’s side on the brink of the Serie A title, so it seems clear that he has the ability to score goals should he make the move to the Etihad this summer.

If Guardiola desperately wants Lukaku as his replacement for Aguero this summer then City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain should do everything he can to bring him in, as he could prove to be a huge success in the Spanish manager’s side next season.

And, in other news… Forget Torres: £63m-rated Man City beast who played 109 passes stole the show vs Palace

There were high hopes when Southampton signed Wesley Hoedt from Lazio in 2017 but the Dutch defender has endured a nightmare spell with the South Coast club and has seen his market value fall off a cliff as a result.

It is hard to believe that the 27-year-old is still contracted to Southampton after failing to make an appearance for the Saints since the 2018/19 season and the club will seriously be regretting handing him a five-year deal when he joined for £15 million in 2017.

The centre-back has spent much of the last three seasons out on loan, having spells at Celta Vigo and Royal Antwerp before returning to his old side Lazio for this season, with the Italian side holding the option to sign him permanently should they so wish.

However, the former Dutch international has struggled to perform in Serie A, and it is difficult to see Simone Inzaghi’s side wanting to make his move permanent this summer, as he has averaged a shocking 6.36/10 rating across his 15 appearances in Italy’s top-flight so far this season.

Therefore, it appears likely that he will return to Southampton in the summer and the South Coast club will undoubtedly be looking to sell him, or they risk losing him for nothing at the end of next season when his contract expires.

If they do manage to find a buyer for the former AZ Alkmaar man, it seems as if they will have to accept significantly less than the £15 million they paid four years ago, as his market value now stands at a measly £4.5 million according to Transfermarkt.

In the space of two and a half years, Hoedt has seen his market value seriously decline, as a result of his poor performances out on loan in Spain, Belgium and Italy.

Therefore, you could definitely argue that Wilson made a huge error when signing the centre-back in 2017, as it has cost Southampton a serious amount of money in both transfer fee and wages, and they look set to make a significant loss on him when he leaves St Mary’s.

And, in other news… Forget Diallo: Southampton could sign their ideal Romeu heir in 22 y/o gem

According to team update by West Ham insider Claret & Hugh, midfielder Manuel Lanzini faces a late fitness test for the clash against Leicester this afternoon despite recovering from a knock, with manager David Moyes facing the possibility of being without him again depending on the results.

Moyes could be without Lanzini

Lanzini, who hasn’t been among the favourites picked for selection in the starting XI by Moyes this season (WhoScored), missed last week’s encounter with Wolves after picking up a knock. 

Claret & Hugh now claim that the 28-year-old faces a late fitness test before West Ham’s battle with the Foxes this afternoon despite seemingly recovering, according to their previous information.

With Michail Antonio and Declan Rice both certain to miss out, the Argentine could provide that extra bit of firepower off the bench if he is indeed able to play, but Moyes could yet be without him as an option again today.

Lanzini’s highlight of the season by far is that wonder goal away to Spurs in the opening weeks of the campaign, and the Irons could do with a similar bit of magic against third-placed Leicester.

Transfer Tavern take

Today is arguably one of the most crucial games of the season for Moyes and West Ham, where a win would tighten their grip on a European qualifying spot.

Back in late December, Tony Cottee lauded Lanzini as West Ham’s ‘best footballer’ when speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (via Hammers News) as he implored Moyes to play him more.

Despite that notion being debatable, West Ham fans could be hoping they have him to call upon from the bench at least, especially if their team is in a tight spot at some point this afternoon – all the more so considering that the encounter may also come too soon for his team-mates Andriy Yarmolenko and Angelo Ogbonna (Claret & Hugh).

In other news: Many West Ham fans flocked to this ExWHUemployee tweet, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has called for the support of the club’s hierarchy to help reunite the Spurs dressing room.

Following a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League last Thursday, Tottenham quickly returned to winning ways at the weekend, seeing off Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday evening.

However, speaking to Sky Sports (via Evening Standard) after the victory, the 58-year-old discussed the current state of his dressing room, something which club captain Hugo Lloris had suggested was divided in a candid post-match interview following the loss in Zagreb.

Regarding the atmosphere in his dressing room, Mourinho said: “Football nowadays is not easy in relation to that. The selfishness is around, the individual interests are around, the agents are around, the connections between agents and press are around.

“And instead of developing a feeling of a team, empathy, ‘I do for you, you do for me’, ‘I win if I play 90 minutes, I win if I am in the stands’. This is something that you need time to develop in a group. I want to be proud of my players, it does not matter the result. I was not proud last Thursday or at the Emirates.

“For me, more than thinking about what position we are going to finish, whether we are going to win the [Carabao Cup] Final, is to try to develop this spirit that we need. But I cannot do it alone. I have to do it with my club. I have to do it with my players in the dressing room.”

Transfer Tavern Take

Considering just how much Mourinho has blamed the players at his disposal for Tottenham’s poor results so far this season, questioning their attitude, their self-confidence as well as simply throwing them under the bus on a number of occasions, it is not overly surprising to learn that the dressing room is divided.

Yes, the Spurs players may not be fulfilling their potential this season, but the dressing room atmosphere is very much part of the manager’s remit.

As such, if players are indeed doubting their abilities as footballers, their manager coming out and slating them to the press after every loss, as well as dubbing a number of them as selfish, is hardly going to inspire them to improve performances and should also raise questions with ENIC as to whether Mourinho is the man they should be awarding with more time at the club.

In other news: Tottenham have identified a potentially ‘perfect’ heir to Mourinho – find out more here!

Leeds United could clinch a transfer bargain this summer by making a move for Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks and months have suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are one of a number of sides interested in signing the 9-cap Spain international this summer, with the winger’s contract at the Santiago Bernabeu set to expire come the end of the season.

Now, Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness), have delivered an update on his situation, revealing the nature of his summer demands.

It’s suggested that Vazquez is looking for €3m (£2.6m) a year – a number which will be after tax. It’s added that “the player is clear” with his demands and that if Madrid don’t offer that amount then he will have no problems looking elsewhere.

Bye-bye Helder Costa

Despite only signing on a permanent deal from Wolves last summer, it appears the writing is already on the wall for Helder Costa’s long-term future at Elland Road.

Reports recently have claimed that the Whites are willing to listen to offers for the Portuguese ace, and see him as someone who could be sold to raise some cash for reinforcements.

Selling Costa for a chunk of money would more than pay for the wages of Vazquez – there would obviously be no transfer fee involved given it the Spaniard would arrive as a free agent – and it would be absolute bargain for Victor Orta.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has waxed lyrical about the winger and what he brings to the table, and it’s surely music to the ears of Bielsa.

Speaking after a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo earlier this year, the French icon said: “What he’s doing right now doesn’t surprise us. Not only do I like him, we all like him because he is always on the job and reliable. He always gives everything on the pitch and we appreciate that. I congratulate him.”

Vazquez’s reliability and work-rate is something Bielsa will surely love given how he wants his teams to play with intensity, and add that to the fact he would arrive for virtually nothing, Leeds could strike gold with a move this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds must unleash this academy starlet who’s like Raphinha…

According to a recent report, West Ham United are the club in pole position to sign Rico Browne this summer, despite an offer from the Hammers’ London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

The report by Football Insider claims that, despite impressing on a trial with Spurs last month, Jose Mourinho’s side failed to offer Browne a written contract offer, with the 17-year-old subsequently taking up West Ham’s offer of a trial.

However, it is also reported that, despite Tottenham eventually offering the Birmingham City youngster a deal, the north London side have now fallen behind West Ham in the race to land the centre-back, whose future in the midlands appears uncertain as Birmingham consider ditching their current youth set-up.

Transfer Tavern Take

With The Athletic describing Browne as a ‘highly-rated’ youngster within the Birmingham academy, landing the 17-year-old would indeed appear, if David Moyes’ side do end up beating Spurs to the signing the defender, quite a coup for the Hammers.

However, with the player still currently under contract at Birmingham, an offer will still have to be made to the midlands side, and, with Tottenham undoubtedly waiting in the wings, this is by no means a done deal just yet, and is certainly something for Hammers fans to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

In other West Ham United news, many fans wanted this Premier League ace after a contract claim – find out more here!