Wolves fans on Vinicius and Vinagre swap

Many Wolves fans have been buzzing as a transfer update emerged on Carlos Vinicius and Ruben Vinagre.

As per Correio da Manha (via Sport Witness), Benfica have opened talks with the Midlands club over a potential deal for Vinagre, which could see Vinicius head to Molineux.

Wolves are seen as a ‘viable’ option for the striker as Benfica are ‘considering loaning’ him out once more following his spell at Tottenham Hotspur in the 2020/21 campaign, during which he netted 10 goals in all competitions.

Wolves struggled to score goals once Raul Jimenez was injured, recording a mere 36 in the Premier League, with only the three relegated teams and Burnley scoring fewer (Sky Sports). Therefore, they need to bring in another striker in case the same were to happen again next season, and having gained the experience of playing in the division with Spurs, Vinicius may well fit the bill.

If Wolves can manage to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri on a permanent deal, and given that they have left-back Marcal as well, then Vinagre is not really needed (he was loaned out twice this season), this potential swap could very much suit them.

Wolves fans on Vinicius and Vinagre transfer update

These Wolves fans were all for the proposed swap as the transfer update was shared on Twitter:

“Would take that all day!”

Credit: @JackBrownieee97

“Make it happen for me.”

Credit: @cjamr97

“I like this”

Credit: @Cal_Wood1990

“Now we’re talking”

Credit: @FW90

“Take it!!!!”

Credit: @Dan__Vincent

“I’d be all over this like a rash if it was a straight swap”

Credit: @toddo08

In other news, this managerial update has left some Wolves fans fuming.

Everton plotting move for Wilfried Singo

Everton are in a vulnerable position this season and have now found themselves in the relegation zone following their defeat in the Merseyside Derby, however, despite the struggles the club are still linked with transfer interests this summer.

What’s the latest

According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Calciomercato), there are several Premier League clubs interested in signing Torino player Wilfried Singo, including Everton.

The report suggests that the club could make an offer for Singo, competing with Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Leicester to secure his signature this summer.

Better than Iwobi

The 21-year-old has been performing at a high level for his Italian club, and has been deployed in predominantly a right midfield position this season but can also play right-back.

Singo, who was hailed a “revelation” by journalist Matteo Bonetti, has become more of an attacking threat for his Serie A team this season scoring three goals and contributing four assists, winning the majority of his duels (58%), making 1.6 tackles and 1.4 clearances on average per game, proving he can impose an attacking threat as well as providing defensive qualities.

With that being said, the Ivorian national could be the perfect upgrade for Alex Iwobi this summer following a disappointing stint at Goodison Park over the last three years.

Iwobi has only scored seven goals in 91 appearances for Everton, and despite playing on the left compared to Singo on the right, the impact in comparison that the latter could provide for the club would be huge if he can emulate his performances for Torino on Merseyside next season.

Frank Lampard has been giving Iwobi his second chance in the team since arriving in January, becoming a consistent player in the team and despite scoring the winner against Newcastle United last month has otherwise not positively impacted the team to secure safety from relegation this season so far.

Everton may have competition to sign the in-demand £13.5m-rated star, and it could be much harder to add Singo into the team if they drop into the Championship this season and Premier League clubs make a move for him. Therefore, the Toffees boss will need to work hard to make sure that he can secure top-flight football in the remaining games.

AND in other news: Frank set for disaster on “fabulous” £5.1k-p/w gem, EFC supporters may not forgive him

Gold backs Potter links with Spurs job

Writing for football.london and backing up reports made through the media, reliable correspondent Alasdair Gold has stated that Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy hold an interest in Brighton manager Graham Potter.

Gold backs reports of Tottenham interest in Potter

Indeed, the reporter insisted that Potter is on Spurs’ growing list of managerial candidates to replace the recently-sacked Jose Mourinho, alongside Julian Nagelsmann, Brendan Rodgers, Erik ten Hag and Massimiliano Allegri.

Potter, who has been called a ‘genius’ by one unnamed Swansea City player who worked under him (The Athletic), is apparently earning a number of admiring glances from Premier League clubs for his work at the Amex Stadium.

This includes Tottenham, and Gold said there is a ‘growing belief’ that the 45-year-old can transfer his methods to a larger club with little adaptability needed. The Daily Mail recently reported that Potter could emerge as a managerial target, with Gold now backing those reports in his own update.

Transfer Tavern take

As well as being called a genius, the former Ostersund gaffer has been hailed as an ‘excellent manager’ by esteemed members of the press for his tenure on the English south coast (Miguel Delaney).

Operating on a relatively small budget for Premier League level, Potter has also earned praise from Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola as ‘the best English manager right now’, known for playing an attractive brand of football.

For these reasons, we also believe he is an attractive outside candidate for the Tottenham job, even if Spurs are rightfully tipped to primarily target Nagelsmann.

In other news: Journalist lifts lid on what Mourinho told Spurs players after sacking, find out more here.

Will Aston Villa sign Kulusevski?

When Steven Gerrard was appointed as manager of Aston Villa, plenty of eyebrows were raised around the country.

The Liverpudlian is clearly a very talented and highly-rated coach but rightly or wrongly, there is always an element of scepticism attached to those arriving on English shores from Scottish football.

What he achieved north of the border was tremendous, as he guided Rangers to the Premiership title last term, doing so in unbeaten fashion.

That was the biggest boon attached to his CV upon arriving at Villa Park but we have quickly discovered there is another hugely appreciated bonus that he brings with him; that of attracting footballers to come and play for him.

The signings of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne prove that, as two impressive regular internationals joined the club, marking a set of acquisitions that were some of the most impressive in the club’s recent history.

However, there could be arrivals before the window is closed with Johan Lange and Gerrard targeting a certain Luis Suarez no less.

It appears as if the Uruguayan is enthralled by the idea of working with somebody he respects highly from when the ex-midfielder was still a player, and what a signing he’d be.

Boasting 241 goals in Europe’s top five leagues, he is a generational talent, someone who has found the net throughout his career with jaw-dropping consistency.

Yet, he isn’t the only offensive name that could still put pen to paper at Bodymoor Heath before January 31st.

Another player who has been linked with a move is Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski.

The Juventus star has been touted with switches to the likes of Tottenham Hotspur in recent times but it’s Villa who must secure his services.

After all, the £27m-rated gem could create a destructive and compelling partnership alongside both Coutinho and Suarez in the forward line.

Described as “explosive” by former Villa and Sweden striker Marcus Allback, Kulusevski has attributes in his locker that could scare opposing defenders up and down the country.

Capable of playing all across the front line, he has scored nine times and registered ten assists for Juve, but it was at Atalanta where he was most prolific.

He beat the goalkeeper on 17 occasions while proving himself to be a creative marvel, racking up 26 assists.

Indeed, with that kind of service for Suarez, they’d have the potential to create an awe-inspiring attack under Gerrard.

Admittedly, bringing both of them to the Midlands this winter seems unlikely, but supporters can always dream.

AND in other news, Grealish 2.0: Gerrard must avoid transfer howler on AVFC’s “selfless” £31.5m-rated gem…

Journalist: Celtic may have to "bite the bullet" with Aaron Hickey

Celtic Way journalist Anthony Haggerty believes Celtic may have to ‘bite the bullet’ and secure Aaron Hickey’s return to Parkhead.

Hickey, who was born in Glasgow, had a spell in the Bhoys’ youth academy before moving onto Heart of Midlothian in 2018.

The 19-year-old left-back departed Scotland for Serie A side Bologna in September 2020.

However, it seems as though Hickey could be set to return to his homeland less than 12 months after heading to Italy as Celtic are keen to acquire his services.

The Bhoys have already seen a £3.5million bid rejected by Bologna for the star on Ange Postecoglou’s radar, with boss Sinisa Mihajlovic claiming he wants to keep the Scotsman, but they are likely to return with another offer.

Lengthy lay-offs, both through injury and after contracting coronavirus, led to Hickey being restricted to just 12 appearances last season.

But Haggerty, a reporter for The Celtic Way, believes new boss Ange Postecoglou should make signing Hickey a priority if the price is right.

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, Haggerty said: “I think Celtic would baulk at paying £5million for a player they had in the door. It’s an admission of not being able to see what others saw but they might have to bite the bullet on that one at some point if they really like him and think he can do a job.

“At Bologna, they rate him really highly. Celtic may have to say they called it wrong and here’s a second chance.”

Insight on Newcastle takeover case

Liam Kennedy has dropped some insight from sources on a potential timescale for Mike Ashley’s latest Newcastle United takeover case.

The Lowdown: Ashley launches another legal case

As per the Shields Gazette, Ashley and the St James’ Park club have launched another legal case against the Premier League, this time accusing them of what they believe to be anti-competitive behaviour in their decision-making process on the proposed deal from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.

This is separate to the other case that the chief executive of Sports Direct has held against the league over the failed takeover, which is pending an arbitration hearing.

The Latest: Potential timescale for case

Writing in his latest piece for the Shields Gazette, Kennedy has outlined that proceedings for the case could reach a court date in less than six months, depending on the outcome of an impending hearing, according to sources.

The legal representatives of Newcastle, along with those of the Premier League, will also take part in a case management conference to determine whether their case will be expedited, and this should happen within the next seven to 10 days.

The Verdict: Premier League under pressure

The Premier League have certainly been put under pressure by Ashley and the Tyneside club in what is now two legal cases being launched against them relating to the failed takeover bid.

Nonetheless, the results of both cases should be quite interesting to see and will surely give a clearer understanding over where the potential takeover of Newcastle United is heading.

In other news, find out what Lampard-likened ace is wanted by Newcastle!

Spurs: Serie A warrior perfect for Ten Hag

Daniel Levy could kickstart a perfect summer at Tottenham Hotspur by doing two things…

First, he needs to find his next manager as it’s been over two months since Jose Mourinho was sacked from his post. Several names have been linked to the role and they’ve faced blow after blow.

One intriguing candidate is Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag, who has been regularly mooted throughout their arduous managerial search.

According to ESPN, the North London outfit are reassessing candidates and the Dutchman is thought to be under consideration. He has been described as someone who is “perfect” and “ticks all the boxes” by football.london’s Alasdair Gold.

This is because he fits the two key criteria reportedly set out by the Lilywhites chairman, as per the Guardian.

Spurs’ new manager must be attack-minded in terms of tactics – Ten Hag’s Ajax side has averaged a whopping 2.71 goals per game – and they must be willing to develop the club’s young prospects – Ajax have an average squad age of just 23.8.

If he were to arrive, then it would be wise for the club to provide him with some backing in the transfer market in order to get Spurs back on track.

And recently, one of their mooted targets was given one hell of a glowing endorsement that should have both Levy and Ten Hag salivating from the mouth.

Gazzetta dello Sport have linked the Premier League side with a move for Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella this summer, though they face competition from the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Former Spurs striker Jurgen Klinsmann compared the 25-cap Italy international to N’Golo Kante, he said (via football.london): “He has the same function as Kante – but the Inter player is in the development phase.”

After the success Ten Hag had with Frenkie de Jong, the 24-year-old dynamo could thrive under his stewardship in N17.

Valued at a whopping £60m by CIES, Barella played a crucial role in helping steer Inter to their first Serie A triumph in over a decade, he provided three goals and nine assists in the league, whilst ranking near the top for tackles (1.6) and key passes (1.4) per game, as per WhoScored.

It’s no wonder he has been lauded as a “warrior” in the past as his “extraordinary” qualities make him seem like the perfect box-to-box midfielder.

Just imagine the damage he could do under an attacking coach like ten Hag, so Levy and Paratici must ensure they bring the pair to North London this summer.

They could well form a dream partnership at the club.

AND in other news, Paratici risks Mourinho 2.0 at Spurs with “special” 47 y/o, he averaged 1.18 league goals a game in 2020/21…

Jesse Lingard looks likely to leave Man Utd

Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard appears to be edging ever close to the Old Trafford exit door after being linked with moves to both Barcelona and AC Milan.

What’s the story?

The 28-year-old has entered the final years of his current contract with the Red Devils and has reportedly rejected the offer of fresh terms amid concerns over his limited playing time.

And now, according to ESPN reporter Rob Dawson, two European football heavyweights have joined the race for his signature.

Dawson’s report states that: “Barcelona and Milan are among a host of clubs monitoring the situation, and Lingard is open to moving to either Spain or Italy as he plots the next step in his career.

“The opportunity to sign an experienced England international on a free transfer during a time when finances have been restricted because of the coronavirus pandemic has made Lingard an attractive prospect for a number of Europe’s top clubs.”

Solskjaer may be concerned

News that Lingard appears to be attracting interest from huge clubs abroad will surely leave United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer feeling concerned.

The England international struggled following the Three Lions’ run to the World Cup semi-final back in 2018, but a short-term loan move to West Ham United back in January revitalised the versatile attacker’s career.

In just 16 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, Lingard scored nine goals and provided a further five assists for his teammates, playing a pivotal part as David Moyes’ charges finished in an incredible sixth position.

His outstanding performances saw Solskjaer reward him with another opportunity to impress at his boyhood club this season, deciding to sell Dan James to make room for Cristiano Ronaldo instead.

However, Lingard has found opportunities to impress extremely hard to come by in the opening weeks of the campaign, starting just one game and playing only 136 minutes of first-team football throughout 2021/22.

Despite his limited game time, the United academy graduate has still scored two goals and laid on an assist, adding further cause for frustration as he’s forced to watch on from the sidelines.

With Paul Pogba and Juan Mata also out of contract over the summer and Donny van de Beek’s future far from certain, the prospect of losing Lingard as well may be a daunting one for Solskjaer, and the Norwegian tactician could regret the creative talent’s departure.

And, in other news…Andy Mitten reveals promising Man Utd update, fans should be excited 

Ball: Benitez can win over Everton fans with derby win

Rafael Benitez can win over Everton supporters by defeating Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby of the season, says former Toffees defender Michael Ball.

Some Everton fans were far from happy with the club’s decision to appoint Benitez as manager following his spell with their city rivals.

During that time, the Spaniard called Everton a “small club”, comments which he has since clarified.

However, he will have to do more than that if he is to win over all of the Evertonians, and Ball believes beating his old side could go a long way towards accomplishing that.

In an exclusive interview with FFC, the ex-Everton full-back said:

“I think the big question mark is when obviously the first Merseyside derby comes along. How does he set up? Is he positive enough? Do we get a positive result?

“If that happens and he turns them over, I think a lot of Blues will start to back him a bit more. You know, some fans are saying that they won’t even turn up at Goodison Park. I think they’ll start coming back if that happens.” 

The first league encounter between the two sides will take place in November, with Everton welcoming their neighbours.

As for the beginning of the campaign, the Toffees have some very favourable fixtures. They do not play anyone from last season’s top six until the start of October, a trip to Manchester United, so Benitez has a chance to build some real momentum here.

Wolves transfer update on Caleta-Car

Many Wolves fans have been left pleading for the Midlands club to sign Duje Caleta-Car as a transfer update emerged.

As per Sky Sports, they are now interested in signing the Marseille ace before the summer window ends, but face an uphill battle to try and convince the player to join, as he wants to play European football.

However, the Ligue 1 team need to sell players before the deadline, and Caleta-Car is currently rated at €20m (£17m).

The Croatia international was a key player for Marseille in France’s top flight in the 2020/21 season, winning no fewer than 3.7 of his duels per game, while he also averaged 3.9 clearances and 1.3 interceptions per match, helping his side keep five clean sheets in the process (Sofascore).

Nonetheless at 24 years of age, he has not hit his peak yet, and could be a solid option for Bruno Lage in the centre of the defence.

Wolves fans on Caleta-Car transfer update

These members of the Molineux faithful pleaded for WWFC to sign Caleta-Car as the transfer update was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that they were ‘begging’ for his signature:

“Please Jeff”

Credit: @AutismLWHF

“I’m begging”

Credit: @eve_elizabethxx

“The man we’ve been dreaming about”

Credit: @charliewwfc_

“PLEASE AND THANK YOU JEFF”

Credit: @alexdunnesf

“This is more like it”

Credit: @roneilcallo

“Yes please”

Credit: @le_tr0llface

In other news, find out what transfer claim has Wanderers buzzing here!

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