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Wolverhampton Wanderers journalist Steve Madeley gave his immediate reaction to Nathan Collins’ ‘reckless’ challenge that saw him sent off vs Manchester City.

The Lowdown: Collins sees red

The Old Gold hosted Pep Guardiola’s side at Molineux on Saturday, but suffered a 3-0 defeat thanks to two first-half goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland, followed by Phil Foden adding a third on 69 minutes, making this the club’s first loss in four Premier League games.

One of the most notable moments though was the centre-back being shown a straight red card for a high-waisted tackle on City’s opening scorer, meaning that he will now be temporarily suspended and unavailable for selection.

The Latest: Madeley’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Madeley insisted that whilst Collins’ lunge wasn’t done on purpose, his dismissal was a completely fair decision by referee Anthony Taylor. He wrote:

“No malice in the challenge from Collins but it was seriously reckless and he can have no complaints about the sending off. He’ll now miss the next 3 games, exposing Wolves’ lack of depth at centre-back.”

The Verdict: Bad day at the office

Whilst Wolves beating Man City in this game wasn’t impossible, the likelihood is it wasn’t going to happen given the reigning champions’ current form and the absence of Lage’s natural strikers.

Collins receiving his marching orders so early on made the task of dealing with their world-class opponents twice as difficult, though his karate-esque challenge was never going to be viewed as anything less brutal.

It’s fair to say it was an all-round disappointing day at the office, but it’s important that the Wanderers now use the international break to regroup and come back fighting against West Ham in the hope of securing all three points without Collins in the XI.

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is reportedly set to raid former club Liverpool for the signing of defender, Joe Gomez.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Star (via the Express), the Midlands side are said to be ‘pressing ahead’ with their move to bring the 25-year-old to Villa Park, having been heavily linked with a deal this summer.

The report suggests that Gerrard is a ‘huge fan’ of the England international and is readying a £30m bid in order to try and tempt the Merseyside outfit into a sale, with the player facing a ‘dilemma’ over whether to stay at Anfield or depart.

Despite falling down the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp in recent times, the Reds boss is believed to be keen to keep the former Charlton Athletic man at the club for the long-term, with two years still to run on his existing deal.

Imagine him and Ake

The 11-cap colossus has undoubtedly endured a difficult period in recent times after falling out of favour for both club and country, having once been tipped to be the Three Lions’ next Bobby Moore by pundit Garth Crooks.

Having missed almost the entirety of the 2020/21 campaign after suffering a knee injury while on international duty, the £16.2m-rated brute was then restricted to a viewing brief again last term, making just four Premier League starts – all of which came as a makeshift right-back.

With Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate ahead of him in Klopp’s centre-back pecking order, the £85k-per-week star has somewhat fallen by the wayside of late, with a departure perhaps best for all parties.

Not that Villa would be acquiring a busted flush, however, with the London-born defender having previously been instrumental in Liverpool’s title triumph in the 2019/20 campaign, notably averaging 0.8 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 2.1 clearances from his 28 league outings.

Once dubbed “one of the most underrated players in the Premier League” by John Barnes, Gomez is an undoubted talent who is simply in need of regular game time, something that the Villans would seemingly be able to offer.

He could well be joined at the club by Manchester City man Nathan Ake, with the 27-year-old believed to be of interest to Gerrard and co this summer, as the club targets a new left-sided defender.

Those two potential new arrivals could potentially form a hugely exciting and destructive defensive pairing, with Ake perhaps another in need of more action to truly showcase his impressive talent.

Even with his involvement limited under Pep Guardiola – making just 14 league outings last term – the versatile Dutchman still compares favourably to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 4% for progressive carries, as well as in the top 13% for aerial duels won.

Two players comfortable in possession but that can defend first and foremost, the duo could well provide an instant upgrade to a squad that shipped 54 top-flight goals last term – the tenth-worst record in the division.

Signing both may seem fanciful – having already brought in Diego Carlos – although with doubts over the futures of both Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, a double swoop from NSWE could well be what is needed.

AND in other news, Lange eyeing Villa move for £30m “goalscoring machine”, he’d be their own Darwin Nunez

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on securing a deal for Ajax winger Antony.

What’s the news?

According to a recent article from The Sun, the Red Devils are on the verge of completing their first summer signing of the window which will reportedly see the Ajax star make the move to Old Trafford in a deal worth £40m.

After working his way through Sao Paulo’s youth ranks and eventually scoring four goals and providing six assists in 37 senior appearances, the 22-year-old joined Ajax back in the 2020 summer transfer window.

Ten Hag will be buzzing

Erik ten Hag will surely be delighted to see a move for his former Brazilian prospect with the attacker a diverse player capable of terrifying defenders.

Since moving to Ajax, he has found the net 22 times and delivered 20 assists in 78 appearances, highlighting his deadliness in front of goal.

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His latest season with the Dutch club saw the attacker score eight goals and supply four assists in 23 league appearances.

To further highlight his attacking prowess, only Sebastien Haller (100) ended the campaign with more shots at goal than the Brazil youngster (79), who also delivered 100 crosses in total for his current side.

Having played under the management of ten Hag more than any other coach he’s played under, the pair will undoubtedly know all about each other, which could help the winger settle into life at Old Trafford a lot easier should he end up as a United player in the coming days.

Given the knowledge the new United manager will have of the player, who has been described as “unreal” by Andre Noruega, he’ll surely be elated to get the chance to work with him again and make him a Premier League star.

United have seen the likes of Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata wave goodbye to the club since the end of the season, so it’s easy to see why the Red Devils have been looking to bring a young attacking figure like Antony.

Meanwhile, with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho only scoring seven Premier League goals between them last term, having someone like the Ajax star in the squad would give the English duo positive competition for a place in the starting XI, enabling them to hopefully raise their game as a result.

If United can get Antony through the door as soon as possible, this would not only give the fans something to shout about but also give the club the chance to move on to other potential targets.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano: MUFC could sign de Jong alternative in £70.5m gem, he’s Fernandes 2.0

Aston Villa are reportedly set to snub the chance to sign Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, despite the rampant speculation regarding a move for the Englishman in recent weeks.

What’s the word?

According to BBC Sport journalist Phil McNulty, following the recent links that the 28-year-old could be a player of interest for the Midlands outfit, the belief is that Steven Gerrard and co will not be pursuing a deal this summer.

Writing on Twitter about Villa’s possible interest, the respected source stated: “Aston Villa will not be making any move to sign Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and their position on Luis Suarez remains unchanged. No move planned.”

Previous reports had suggested that the Reds are keen to cash in on the former Arsenal man this summer – who they signed from the Emirates in 2017 on a £35m deal – with the reported asking price believed to be just £10m, with only a year remaining on his existing contract.

Supporters annoyed

That would have seen the Villa Park outfit able to land the 35-cap gem for a relative bargain price, yet as it is supporters are set to be disappointed and annoyed, with Gerrard seemingly set to pursue other targets to that of his former Three Lions colleague.

A new midfielder is believed to be on the agenda for the 42-year-old in the current window – despite having already signed Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara – yet it would appear that Oxlade-Chamberlain is not viewed as the right fit.

Although there may perhaps be understandable concerns over his fitness record – as he has endured lengthy spells on the treatment table during his time on Merseyside – the £14.4m-rated man is a player with a wealth of experience at the elite level and has won a host of major honours, hence the possible fury that Villa are set to snub a move.

While the most recent campaign saw him make just 28 appearances in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s side, the £125k-per-week ace still managed to chip in with a respectable tally of six goal contributions, proving he may simply need regular game time in order to totally showcase his talent.

Once dubbed a player who “offers something totally different” by pundit Rio Ferdinand, the one-time Southampton man also compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 8% for dribbles completed, illustrating his dynamism from his central midfield berth.

A player who can also offer invaluable versatility – having wing-back role during his time in north London – it would seem a bold call not to at least attempt to try and secure a deal this summer, with little to lose for Gerrard and co with the reported fee so small.

As it is, supporters will likely be fuming if the Portsmouth-born maestro goes on to be a success elsewhere next term, unless Villa can recruit a notable alternative.

IN other news, AVFC face battle to land “aggressive” £60m machine, he’s one of the “best” in his role

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their pursuit of striker Nathan Broadhead in the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Northern Echo reporter Scott Wilson has claimed that the Black Cats have made contact with Everton as Kristjaan Speakman plots a deal for the attacker.

However, the journalist has also revealed that his parent club will not make a decision in the imminent future as they weigh up what they want to do with the forward.

He Tweeted: “TRANSFER UPDATE: SAFC have held talks to try to re-sign Jack Clarke and Nathan Broadhead – but a final decision on both players is unlikely until later in the summer. Both are entering the final year of their current deals with Spurs and Everton…”

Alex Neil will love it

The Black Cats head coach will love this update as he will surely be keen to be reunited with the Welsh centre-forward this summer.

Broadhead was sublime on loan at the Stadium of Light last term and showcased his quality on a regular basis, playing under the Scot and Lee Johnson.

He ended the campaign with an impressive ten League One goals in 15 starts, along with two goals in three League Cup outings. This shows that he was lethal in front of goal when he was available to play, which is one of the reasons Neil will be buzzing with the club’s attempts to sign him.

Speakman recently hailed the youngster as he said: “Look, he’s had some incredible moments and he’s been an inspiration in many respects in terms of some of the goals he’s scored. It has been harder for him of late because of injury but you can’t take away from the fact that he has got all the attributes to go and play at Championship level.”

This shows that the club believe Broadhead has the quality to make the step up to the second division. Sunderland will be looking to avoid the drop at the first time of asking and will need as many Championship standard players as possible to do so.

Neil will want players with the potential to thrive in the second tier and, at 24, the Everton man falls into that category. Therefore, he will be eager to get the Welshman in the door and will surely be pushing Speakman to do everything in his power to get a deal over the line.

AND in other news, Speakman can find SAFC’s own Kane in swoop for “incredible” £7k-p/w gem who’s “flying”…

Leeds United target Sonny Perkins is under contract at West Ham United for a year longer than previously thought. 

That’s according to Irons insiders Claret & Hugh.

The lowdown

Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Thursday afternoon that Leeds had ‘opened talks’ to sign Perkins from West Ham.

Perkins is an 18-year-old centre-forward who’s also made 16 appearances on the left flank in his fledgling career.

It was thought that Perkins’ deal was up in a matter of weeks, potentially enabling his suitors to line him up on a free transfer. But now Leeds are forced to negotiate with West Ham to get a deal done.

The latest

A ‘key source inside the London Stadium’ told C&H that Perkins is ‘with us for another year’.

West Ham are hopeful of extending his contract, but they’re encountering problems with the player’s representative.

The source explained that ‘the agent wants silly money to extend his contract’, so perhaps Leeds could still look to capitalise on the situation.

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The verdict

If negotiations between the two parties break down because West Ham refuse to meet the demands, then it would be worth making an offer.

Perkins is an exciting prospect, scoring nine goals in 31 appearances at Under-18 level before adding ten more in 22 games for the Under-23s (via Transfermarkt).

He’s also earned international recognition, with seven caps and two goals to his name for England U18s.

David Moyes has been so impressed that he handed him Europa League group-stage minutes against Rapid Vienna and Dinamo Zagreb.

The noises from the academy circles, according to ExWHUemployee, are that he could be ‘the next Declan Rice’ in terms of his potential to break into the first-team and become a star.

Together with Joe Gelhardt, he could be part of the next generation of young attackers at Elland Road.

In other news, Leeds have made contact with a former Chelsea ace.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in signing Alvaro Morata in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Calcio Mercato, the Magpies are keen on a deal for the Spain international as Juventus have opted against signing him.

The report claims that they do not want to pay the €35m (£30m) option included in his loan deal to make it permanent, which has opened the door for other teams.

Newcastle, Arsenal and Barcelona have all made enquiries as they consider making a swoop to sign the Atletico Madrid forward.

Big Chris Wood upgrade

Dan Ashworth, who recently arrived as the club’s sporting director, can seal a big upgrade on Wood by securing a deal to sign Morata this summer.

In two Serie A seasons on loan with the Old Lady, the Spaniard scored 20 goals and provided 16 assists, creating 20 ‘big chances’ in total.

He has proven at the top level that he can score and assist goals on a regular basis. Whilst he is not a prolific scorer in the style of a Karim Benzema or a Robert Lewandowski, he offers a scoring threat and a heap of creativity from a forward role.

Juventus boss Max Allegri hailed the attacker earlier this year, saying: “Morata is one of the best in Europe at a technical level, he struggles with his back to the goal, but if he goes diagonally, with into space, he’s better and brings his characteristics to the table. There are many of them.”

He has also proven his quality in La Liga and the Premier League, scoring 12 goals in 25 starts in his last season for Atletico and 16 goals and six assists in 35 starts for Chelsea. This shows that he can adapt to playing in different countries and teams, which suggests that he would be able to hit the ground running under Eddie Howe.

Meanwhile, Wood scored five goals and failed to provide a single assist in 32 starts in the 2021/22 campaign for Burnley and Newcastle combined.

The 30-year-old struggled in front of goal and has never managed more than three assists in a season at the top level, which shows that he does not have the creativity to fall back on – as Morata does – if he is not scoring.

Therefore, signing the Atletico gem would represent a big upgrade on the New Zealand international and Ashworth must now work hard to pip the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal to his signature.

AND in other news, “Newcastle asked..”: Reporter delivers big transfer claim that’ll leave Howe excited…

West Ham United manager David Moyes is stepping up his transfer push ahead of what could be an interesting 2022/23 Premier League season, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Moyes set for busy summer…

As per reports, the east Londoners seem set for a busy summer, with four departures already confirmed and the Irons’ manager increasing the tempo in attempting to land his targets (Evening Standard).

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Talks have been held over Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd and it is believed that a striker, central midfielder and left-back are ‘high’ on Moyes’ personal wish list.

This comes after West Ham’s failure to land much-needed upgrades in January, with the Scotsman seemingly determined to make sure they have sufficient depth for next season.

The Latest: West Ham set for imminent Lunin talks…

According to the print edition of The Sunday Mirror (via West Ham Zone), Moyes and co are set for imminent talks to sign Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin ‘this week’.

West Ham, and by extension their manager, are ‘stepping up their loan interest’ in the Ukraine international, who is personally ‘looking for a temporary move’ away from the Bernabeu.

The report claimed that a loan with the option to buy is possible as the Hammers eye a move for the 6 foot 4 powerhouse.

The Verdict: Surprising claim…

Reports have suggested that West Ham are actually ‘close’ to finalising a permanent deal for Paris-Saint Germain loanee Alphonse Areola, so we believe that this update comes as a surprising one.

Unless there has been an unknown twist to the tale, or if Moyes is planning to significantly strengthen his goalkeeping department to have three brilliant deputies for Lukasz Fabianski, a move for Lunin could make little sense when taking into account their alleged interest in sealing a permanent swoop for Areola.

In other news: West Ham now ahead of European giants in race to sign £21m forward! Find out more here

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou could be heading for an early summer transfer disaster as the Hoops are at risk of losing defender Osaze Urhoghide permanently.

What’s the news?

According to a recent article from the Daily Record, Belgian club KV Oostende are weighing up a permanent move to sign the centre-back just a year after he signed for Celtic.

Last July, the Hoops secured a deal for the defender from Sheffield Wednesday, making him the first signing of the Postecoglou era at Parkhead.

After making just one senior appearance for the Bhoys, which came during their 3-2 win over Real Betis in the Europa League in December, the 21-year-old joined Oostende on loan in the January transfer window. Since then, the former Hillsborough youngster has made seven league appearances for the Belgian club.

In those appearances, he showed what a capable defender he is by averaging 2.1 tackles, 2.9 interceptions and 1.7 clearances per game. He also earned himself an overall performance rating of 6.81/10 from WhoScored, making him the second-highest rated player at the club in the 2021/22 season.

Taking this into account, and with Urhoghide still having a lot of time ahead of him to grow into an important and very capable first-team figure for the Hoops, seeing him potentially leave on a permanent basis this summer after barely getting a chance to show what he can do at Parkhead could be a big mistake from Postecoglou.

Bearing in mind how the Hoops have seen young players leave the club in recent times such as Ben Doak and Leo Hjelde, having Urhoghide added to that list of ex-Parkhead youngsters to potentially thrive and blossom elsewhere would not be a good look for the Bhoys.

While Oostende are reportedly weighing up a decision as to whether or not they will use their option to sign the 21-year-old on a permanent basis, the Hoops will need to hope that the Belgian club don’t trigger this option and instead send the player back to Glasgow.

Otherwise, if they do sign him outright, Celtic’s decision to put in a purchase option when they loaned him out could well come back to bite them.

In other news – “Celtic have..”: Transfer insider drops exciting claim that’ll have supporters buzzing

Everton are reportedly now eyeing up a double swoop for Brennan Johnson and James Tarkowski this summer.

The Lowdown: Positions identified

With links to the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jack Harrison recently, it is clear that the Goodison Park faithful are now targeting a new central defender and winger this window.

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It has been reported that up to seven first-team players could be allowed to leave, including Michael Keane and Andros Townsend, and so the Merseyside club will need to strengthen if that is to happen.

The Latest: Double swoop

Taking to Twitter, reliable journalist Craig Hope has revealed that the Toffees are now eyeing up moves for Johnson and Tarkowski, with the former depending on how Nottingham Forest get on in their Championship play-off final against Huddersfield Town:

“Everton eye move for Nottingham Forest winger Brennan Johnson, but a lot hinges on Forest fate in play-off final. Newcastle, Leicester, Brentford have also watched 21-yr-old. James Tarkowski also near top of Everton list this summer.”

Expanding in his article for The Daily Mail, Hope added that Johnson would likely cost around £20m, and a move away from Forest would be more likely if they lose the final.

The Verdict: Exciting

These are exciting times for Blues supporters given their links to Johnson and Tarkowski, who would both be excellent acquisitions to the team.

The former comes off the back of a standout season in the Championship, where he won the league’s Young Player of the Year award after scoring 19 goals in 50 games over all competitions (The Daily Mail).

Meanwhile, Tarkowski already has that added Premier League experience, and is available on a free transfer with his contract at Burnley set to expire.

Given that he is currently valued at £19.8m on the market, signing him for free would prove to be a real bargain.

In other news, find out which £44,000-per-week star EFC are now showing ‘interest’ in here!