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Leeds United are in advanced talks over a deal for Valerenga goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Casilla’s departure

The Whites are on the hunt for another goalkeeper after Kiko Casilla completed a switch away from Elland Road earlier this month.

Casilla, who joined Leeds back in January 2019, made the move to La Liga side Elche on loan for the upcoming campaign.

The Yorkshire Evening Post claimed the Whites shortlisted Klaesson, Levante’s Dani Cardenas and Newcastle United’s Freddie Woodman as potential replacements for the 34-year-old, and it seems as if they are closing in on one of those three.

The Latest: Source shares Klaesson update

A Leeds source informed Football Insider on Thursday that discussions were progressing well over a deal for Klaesson and the 20-year-old has been offered an Elland Road contract.

Leeds have applied for a work permit for the 6ft 2in shot-stopper, with a move edging closer.

Phil Hay backed up the update regarding Klaesson on Friday, revealing he will fly into England next week for a medical.

The Verdict: Orta has acted fast

Casilla sealed his Whites exit less than two weeks ago, so Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta has acted relatively quickly in regards to signing his replacement.

There have been productive negotiations between Leeds and Valerenga over the last fortnight, with Klaesson playing in a Europa League Conference fixture on Thursday evening.

Attention will more than likely turn to a new central midfielder, should a deal for Klaesson get over the line, and it seems as if the Whites’ senior and academy business is shaping up nicely ahead of the new campaign.

In other news: Leeds gem set to leave for good after three-and-a-half years as source shares transfer agreement.

Arsenal appear to not be afraid of splashing the cash this summer so it could be wise for the Gunners to try and recoup some of the money they are looking to spend.

Someone they could sell is Joe Willock to Newcastle United with former defender Steve Howey hoping dialogue has already commenced between Steve Bruce and Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners look a different sort of club this summer compared to previous years where they have had to be frivolous with their spending, compared to other big clubs, as they are reportedly closing in on a deal for Brighton’s Ben White which will set them back a staggering £50 million.

Like many clubs though, they have been hit hard by the pandemic and a lack of revenue so, if they wish to recoup almost half of that money they are spending on White, selling Willock to the Magpies after he thrived there on loan last campaign could be a smart piece of business.

Bruce has publicly admitted his admiration for Willock and how much he would love to keep the 21-year old on Tyneside for next season, so with that accompanied with Arsenal’s potential need to sell after spending heavily, Howey hopes that there are talks going on between Bruce and Arteta over Willock and he spoke exclusively to Football FanCast on the matter:

“It’ll be interesting to see what happens and you would have thought that Bruce will have been speaking to Arteta or speaking to Willock and he will be talking to his manager and agent, but as a player I’d want to know where I was playing next season.”

Willock was a huge success during his time on Tyneside as he helped lift the club away from the threat of relegation with his eight goals but also, on a personal level, he thrived getting game time, equalling Alan Shearer’s record of scoring in consecutive games and also winning May’s player of the month award.

Despite Arteta claiming that Willock’s future was being sorted out at Arsenal for next season, there doesn’t appear to be a clear pathway into the first team regularly for Willock and that is something he needs as a young midfielder so he can continue his development.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Rekeem Harper looks set to depart The Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Express & Star, who claim that the 21-year-old is on the brink of joining Ipswich Town after passing a medical with Paul Cook’s side in the last few days.

It is reported that the deal will cost the League One team up to £1m if all clauses are met, with the baseline figure believed to be £500k.

The Express & Star also reveal that the Tractor Boys had originally contacted West Brom regarding the possibility of loaning Harper ahead of next season, before being informed by the Championship club that a permanent deal could be done.

Grave error

Having been a highly-rated part of the West Brom youth setup and first-team for the best part of a decade, the news that Harper looks set to move onto pastures new this summer could well be something of a cause for concern among Baggies fans.

In his breakthrough campaign with the club back in 2018/19, the £2.25m-rated midfielder went on to make 16 Championship appearances, over which he scored one goal, provided one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, earning a seasonal SofaScore rating of 6.60.

These performances saw the former England U19 international linked with a move to the likes of Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur, however, £8k-per-week youngster eventually committed his future to the Baggies, signing a three-year deal with the club in the summer of 2019.

Over the last two seasons, however, game time has become more limited for the midfielder, with the 21-year-old making just ten Championship appearances in the club’s 2019/20 campaign and a mere two appearances in the Premier League last term.

However, despite this lack of minutes – something that has undoubtedly stifled his development as a footballer – the decision to offload the player whom Slaven Bilic claimed has “no limits” in the game looks to be something of a backwards step for West Brom. With a little more trust placed in him, it would very much appear as if Harper has the talent and ability to become a real star for the club.

In other news: West Brom handed boost over “top-class” manager target that should have fans buzzing

A major  transfer update has emerged, one regarding reported Ipswich Town target Martyn Waghorn.

What’s the talk?

According to The Athletic, Derby County are struggling to pin striker Martyn Waghorn down to a new contract at the club. The report claims that Derby have made no progress in their efforts to keep Waghorn at the club, with his deal due to expire at the end of the month – making him a free agent at the start of July.

Football League World reported last month that Ipswich are considering a swoop for Waghorn to bring him to Portman Road for a second spell. The report claimed that Ipswich will weigh up whether or not to make a move for Waghorn if he becomes a free agent this summer.

Speaking about Waghorn in 2019, former Derby boss Frank Lampard lavished praise on the incredible forward. Lampard highlighted his ability on and off the ball, along with his quality on and off the pitch. He told the Derby Telegraph:

“I get asked (about him) regularly when he hasn’t been playing at times this season. We have competition in forward and wide areas.

“But at the moment, he is in fantastic form. He’s giving everything to the team, on and off the ball, and quality with it.

“He got his goal at Southampton and has shown an incredible work rate – and he’s incredible around the place day in, day out, in how he is in the group.

“I’m delighted with him, and we need to have that and more from everybody.”

Cook needs him

Paul Cook needs Waghorn next season and CEO Mark Ashton must ensure that he can seal a deal for the attacker in the coming weeks. This latest update from the Derby side appears to suggest that Waghorn is due to become a free agent, as he has not made any clear indications that he will be staying in the Midlands, which could be a major boost for Ipswich.

It could now allow the Tractor Boys to snap him up on a free transfer, avoiding the need to lavish out on a transfer fee for the attacker.

The £7.9k-per-week beast enjoyed a sensational season in his one year at Ipswich earlier in his career. During the 2017/18 Championship campaign, Waghorn scored 16 and assisted 13 goals in 44 appearances for the Blues to help them finish in midtable. He then moved on to Derby, where he has scored 30 and assisted 13 in 112 competitive games for the Rams. This proves that he is a quality attacker at Championship level, as he has scored goals at a respectable rate whilst also being a provider for his teammates.

Therefore, Ipswich manager Cook would love him in Suffolk next season. Waghorn should be able to flourish at League One level as it is a step down in the pyramid from the Championship, where he has already shown that he can score goals.

He could be the goalscorer Cook is currently lacking in his squad and Ipswich must seal a deal for the 31-year-old this summer.

Ipswich’s top scorer last season was James Norwood with nine goals, highlighting the lack of threat at the top end of the pitch in Cook’s squad.

If Waghorn is going to be available, as is looking likely, Ipswich must do all they can to sign him this summer.

AND in other news, ITFC dealt major transfer blow with “brilliant” £6.4k-p/w ace, Cook will be livid…

Crystal Palace are looking to bring Osian Roberts to Selhurst Park as Patrick Vieira’s assistant, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Vieira announced; transfer budget emerges

Vieira was officially announced as Roy Hodgson’s successor on Sunday lunchtime, penning a three-year deal with the Eagles.

The Frenchman will reportedly have around £50m to spend on summer signings ahead of the new campaign, with just 15 senior players remaining on the books from last season.

The 45-year-old was joined by academy coaches Paddy McCarthy and Shaun Derry as he took his first Palace training session on Monday, with the club confirming his full backroom staff will be announced in due course.

The Latest: Roberts wanted

The Sun claim that Vieira is planning to bring Roberts to Selhurst Park as his No.2.

Roberts, who was described as ‘the most influential man in Welsh football’, is currently the director of football at the Morocco FA.

He admitted last year that he often speaks to Vieira, with the report claiming the latter is a fan of Roberts.

The Verdict: Palace need to act fast

Time is ticking ahead of the new season, so with Vieira now in charge, Palace really need to get going on incomings both on and off the pitch.

Hopefully, a move for Roberts can be sorted swiftly, as it appears he is the man Vieira wants.

Plenty of new additions to the playing squad will also be required, and Vieira may also make calls on 11 senior players who are now out of contract at Selhurst Park.

The likes of Joel Ward, Gary Cahill and Andros Townsend are just three players who are now technically free agents, so Vieira may well want to get some of those back at the club.

In other news: Many CPFC fans give their thoughts to Vieira’s priority Palace target, find out more here. 

Sheffield United are interested in a move to bring Tom Cairney to Bramall Lane this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by TEAMtalk, who claim that the Blades’ new manager Slavisa Jokanovi, is keen on a reunion with the Fulham midfielder, who could be available for around £10m in the upcoming transfer window.

However, it is also reported that Fulham will not sanction the sale of the 30-year-old until they have decided whether or not they wish to continue with Scott Parker in charge of the west London side.

Jokanovic must move

While an injury kept Cairney – whom Parker has dubbed an “outstanding” player – sidelined for the majority of Fulham’s Premier League campaign, the Scotland international nevertheless demonstrated his talent for the Cottagers over a limited amount of fixtures this season.

Over his 10 top-flight appearances for Scott Parker’s side, the £8.1m-rated man bagged one goal, provided one assist and created one big chance for his team-mates, as well as taking an average of 1.2 shots and making 1.7 key passes per game.

Cairney’s range of passing was also impressive, with the midfielder completing an average of 54.8 passes per game, in addition to averaging 2.9 successful chipped passes and four successful long balls over each of his league appearances.

These returns saw the 30-year-old earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.28, ranking him as the club’s best performer in the Premier League.

Furthermore, the £27,000-per-week Scot also highly impressed in Fulham’s promotion-winning campaign last season, scoring eight goals, registering three assists and creating six big chances over his 39 Championship appearances for the Cottagers, earning a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.12.

As such, a move for Cairney should be an absolute priority for Jokanovic this summer, as the midfielder would appear to have the quality to help fire Sheffield United back to the Premier League next season, as well as the potential of helping the Blades remain in the top flight thereafter.

In other news: Jokanovic could be heading for his first major Sheffield United transfer mistake

Wolves’ win over Brighton on Sunday lunchtime felt like a landmark moment for not only Nuno Santo, but also for a number of his young players.

It’s not often that he hands out opportunities to players coming through the academy but their prized asset, Morgan Gibbs-White, fired them to victory.

The jewel of the Compton academy, Gibbs-White had amazingly never scored a Premier League goal before last weekend.

Though, with Wolves winning 2-1, it was the young attacking midfielder they had to thank.

Gibbs-White missed a simple chance late in the second half but just minutes later reacted brilliantly by scoring just as the clock ticked over 90 minutes. The Englishman set himself and then curled the ball home expertly.

The Old Gold may have received a helping hand following Lewis Dunk’s red card but it spoke volumes that one of their most pleasing second-half performances came with their youngest XI of the season.

It should send a message to Nuno that he can rely on the younger players in this squad to shine. He was able to take a look ahead to next season and with nothing to play for between now and the season’s end, he should do so again in the coming weeks.

One player the manager should consider ahead of next season is Austin Samuels.

The striker has started to find the net regularly in the back half of the campaign for the U23s which bodes well considering their lack of depth up front.

Raul Jimenez is still out with a fractured skull while Fabio Silva hasn’t lived up to his enormous potential yet with only four goals all term.

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Wolves could welcome back Rafa Mir next season, a man who is in the form of his life on loan at Huesca. He’s scored 16 times in all competitions with his latest strike particularly catching the eye.

With the goalkeeper a tad off his line, the Spaniard looked up and placed the ball over his head from a tight angle.

It was a mesmeric piece of play from Mir but it feels unlikely he’ll be an Old Gold player for too much longer. Real Madrid and Valencia are just two clubs interested in prising him away from English football for good.

If he does go then Samuels should be waiting in the wings patiently for his opportunity to play.

The 20-year-old has already gained senior experience on loan at Bradford City where he played 14 times for the Bantams earlier this term.

His spell was cut short in January but he’s impressed since being reintegrated into James Collins’ side.

Samuels has netted four goals in 13 Premier League 2 outings, including a brace against Newcastle back in March.

Speaking after that game, Collins waxed lyrical about his qualities: “They’re the goals you have to get as a forward and he loves getting goals. He works so hard on his finishing, they boys are doing it every day after training, almost too hard at times,” he began.

“When he misses one, he practices more and practices more because that’s the only way he knows. Sometimes I think that can almost get in his head a little bit, but he’s had a really good week working at it, so I’m delighted for him to get those goals, because I felt he’s really deserved it,” Collins concluded.

Possessing the ability to play on the flanks as well as through the middle, he’d offer valuable depth to a frontline currently plagued by injuries.

Nuno could do far worse than beginning to integrate him into the senior side in the last few weeks of the season. He hasn’t played for the first-team yet but that should change.

AND in other news, Forget Traore: Wolves “danger” who played 3 key passes was Nuno’s true hero on Sunday…

Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips could miss England’s Euro 2020 campaign with a shoulder injury, which would be a huge blow to the midfielder.

The Lowdown: Key man for Leeds

The Whites beat West Brom 3-1 at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon, sealing a highly impressive ninth-place finish in the Premier League.

It has been a season full of strong individual performances, but the £24.3m-rated maestro has arguably been as good as anyone for the Whites, mastering the defensive midfield role and starting 28 league games.

The Latest: Phillips could miss Euro 2020

Phillips left the pitch with a shoulder issue late on against the Baggies, and according to The Athletic, he is a genuine doubt for the European Championship.

There is thought to be ‘concern’ from Leeds over how serious the injury is and Gareth Southgate will now be sweating over his availability.

Whites manager Marcelo Bielsa told BT Sport [via The Athletic]: “I couldn’t tell you if the injury is severe or not but I hope that he can go to the Euros. Sincerely I haven’t received any information as to the gravity of the injury. We all hope that it’s something that can be resolved quickly.”

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The Verdict: Cruel blow

Phillips had looked a certainty to make Southgate’s squad, potentially even starting their first game next month, partnering either Declan Rice or Jordan Henderson in midfield. He had started the majority of England matches since the start of the 2020/21 season, a sign that he had earned the trust of his international boss.

To miss out now would be a tough pill to swallow, with the 25-year-old a player at the peak of his powers and one who will have been desperate to impress on the world stage.

Hopefully the issue isn’t as serious as first feared and Leeds fans can watch their midfield hero shine for his country this summer.

In other news, Leeds have been urged to bid for a current Premier League striker. Find out who it is here.

West Ham United may have received a big boost in their pursuit of signing Jesse Lingard permanently…

What’s the word?

According to Irons insiders Claret & Hugh, the 28-year-old playmaker is waiting to learn about David Moyes’ future at the club before pushing for a move to the London Stadium.

The Scot had been linked with a sensational return to Everton this week following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid but as per the same source, the club’s hierarchy is confident that Moyes will honour the three-year extension put to him.

It’s thought that the 58-year-old’s position is key to Lingard’s situation and once that is official, he will push forward with his desire to sign on the dotted line in East London.

A big boost?

This development will come as huge news to many around West Ham, especially the supporters and even the manager himself.

As Claret & Hugh claim, Moyes is expected to sign a new deal in the coming weeks, which will subsequently open the door for them to strike on Lingard.

It’s believed that the Manchester United loanee is a top priority this transfer window and it’s no surprise that he is considering the impact he’s had since initially joining on loan during the January transfer window.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-latest-west-ham-news-irons-transfer-gossip-rumours-more-moyes-striker-gsb” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and more!”]

WhoScored rated him as the Hammers’ second-best player for the entire campaign (7.22), only behind Tomas Soucek (7.36) whilst only two players outscored his nine goals.

He also provided four assists, proving to be amongst Moyes’ most creative outlets, with 1.1 key passes per outing.

Speaking at the end of the 2020/21 season, the Irons boss expressed his desire to keep hold of the £20m-rated dynamo. He told reporters (via the Evening Standard):

“I hope Jesse’s here, we’d like to keep him, he’s done an exceptional job for us but there’s no guarantees, he’s not our player. But I hope Jesse realises we’ve been good for him as well, and that he joined a club on the up.”Therefore, this latest claim will be exciting news as Moyes will know that once he signs his contract, his chances of clinching Lingard will increase tenfold.

AND in other news, Hammers could seal “frightening” 6 ft 3 goal machine who gave Pellegrini nightmares…

Former Leeds United star Jon Newsome has told The Transfer Tavern that there is no chance of Sergio Aguero moving to the club this summer.

The Manchester City legend is leaving the Etihad at the end of the season after a legitimately legendary career at the club.

Signed from Atletico Madrid in 2011, he has gone on to make 385 appearances for the club, scoring 257 goals.

He scored that fabled 96th minute winner as they beat QPR to win their first Premier League title, and he has gone on to win three more league titles, along with the FA Cup, and five League Cups. That could become six with a win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup final this month.

One report from 90min claimed that Leeds were in the running to sign the legendary striker this summer but Newsome doubts it, with his wages alone enough to cripple most clubs financially, while he also doesn’t think he would be a stylistic fit for Bielsa’s side.

He told TT: “I can’t see it, in all honesty, I can’t see that being a possibility.

“I don’t think Sergio Aguero would fit into the Leeds United, Marcelo Bielsa way of playing.

“We’ve got Patrick Bamford who leads the line, and then he has either a 10 plus a striker playing in the hole, or an attacking midfielder playing in the hole there.

“And just things like the wage structure of the club. Suddenly, you bring in Sergio Aguero on a free, you’ve given him half the city to sign.”