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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith could revive England and Spurs star Dele Alli’s career amid Dean Windass’ transfer claim.

What’s the story?

Alli has endured a difficult spell in north London over the past 12 to 18 months, with former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho sidelining him from the starting line-up and even the matchday squad on occasion – he played just 15 times in the Premier League last term, and even that only amounted to 617 minutes of football.

Windass has now suggested that the 25-year-old should make the move to Villa Park, and he even claimed that it wouldn’t necessarily have to be in place of Jack Grealish either.

The 52-year-old told Football FanCast: “I think that would suit Dele Alli, he would be a big player for Villa. I know he’s a different type of player to Jack, but with him being young and English.

“Dele wants to play, players want to play, they’re not happy when they’re not playing. Would be a good fit for Villa even if they keep Jack, to strengthen the team, he would be unbelievable.  They would probably want £50m-£60m for Dele Alli, but that’s the type of player Dean Smith would want to bring in if Jack left.”

Imagine him and Grealish

During the 2016/17 Premier League campaign, the £100,000-a-week earning Alli scored a whopping 18 goals from midfield and pocketed a second successive Young PFA Player of the Year award to crown off an outstanding season which displayed the potential and ability he has.

It’s no surprise that he’s earned some rave reviews, not least from former England international Darren Anderton, who said: “I’ve got to say that I loved Stevie G as a player and Scholesy but Dele Alli for his age is just a freak of a talent. I love his arrogance on the pitch, how clever he is in finding the positions that he does and his willingness to try everything. He is a real joy to watch.”

Eric Dier, Alli’s current teammate at Spurs, said (via The Independent): “Everyone knows his qualities, but I think he also has a lot of qualities which go unnoticed. The amount of second balls he wins, the amount he runs for the team and presses.

“He’s always attached to the game, it’s like he’s on a string to the ball. He is always attached to the game in every moment and that’s a great quality to have.”

While things may not have worked out for the 25-year-old at Tottenham in the past couple of years, Smith would surely feel confident of getting the £27m-rated Alli to rediscover his best form with a move to Villa Park, just like he’s turned Grealish into a superstar now.

The duo could form an incredible partnership going forward, with Grealish’s creativity and Alli’s ability to score goals from deep combining to great effect.

The ability is there; it’s just a question of getting the best out of him with the right manager. Smith could well be that man.

Meanwhile, Villa are closing in on this big-money signing…

According to a report by TUTTOmercatoWEB, Serie A giants SS Lazio could now make approach for West Ham United midfielder Felipe Anderson ‘in days’.

The Lowdown: Anderson’s woes…

The Brazilian couldn’t contribute in West Ham’s journey to Europa League qualification with manager David Moyes shipping him out on loan to FC Porto for the entirety of 2020/2021.

Over his temporary spell in Portugal, it’s safe to say he endured a nightmare at the Estádio do Dragão.

Indeed, the 28-year-old started just one Liga NOS match all season for the club whilst playing a meagre 128 minutes in total (WhoScored).

This has lead to reports linking him with a move away from West Ham as news emerges of another club now interested in the player.

The Latest: Lazio could now approach ‘in days’…

As per news outlet TUTTOmercatoWEB, Lazio could now make an approach for Anderson ‘in days’ as a ‘concrete lead’ emerges.

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New boss Maurizio Sarri is looking to start a fresh era at the Stadio Olimpico and is subsequently eyeing new signings for the Italian capital club.

He ‘continues to push’ for Napoli winger and Italy international star Lorenzo Insigne, but he is a ‘complicated option’ given his current salary.

Anderson, on the other hand, is far more realistic and Lazio could make contact in days to discuss the ‘feasibility of his return’.

The Verdict: Time to go…

Moyes reportedly has three signing priorities for West Ham and it is arguably wise to move Anderson on and recuperate as much as money as possible through outgoings.

Striking targets like Tammy Abraham could cost as much as £40m and West Ham now face a fight to sign Jesse Lingard on a permanent deal from Manchester United.

Duje Caleta-Car is said to be on the radar of West Ham as they also eye a new centre-back, but if the club wish to make these signings a reality, shifting deadwood is crucial in this climate.

In other news: West Ham now want this colossal 23-goal powerhouse who will ‘push hard’ to leave club, find out more here.

A shock new contender has emerged for the vacant West Bromwich Albion manager’s job this weekend…

What’s the word?

According to The Mirror, former Baggies boss Roy Hodgson is being considered for The Hawthorns hot seat in a surprising twist as the Midlands outfit continue their search to find Sam Allardyce’s successor.

It was confirmed earlier this month that the 73-year-old would be leaving Crystal Palace after four seasons at the helm in south London, and he’s now on the shortlist of potential options at West Brom.

Former Sheffield United chief Chris Wilder is thought to be the favourite, with Barnsley head coach Valerian Ismael also high up on the list.

Albion appear to be edging nearer to what would be a landmark appointment following their relegation to the Championship after Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre reported that they were ‘very close’ to making a decision [27th May 18:00].

Dowling’s big dilemma

Baggies sporting director Luke Dowling now has a difficult decision on his hands. Picking the next manager to take Albion forward is no easy feat, especially considering the candidates.

Wilder has an impressive track record behind him, having transformed the Blades from mid-table League One strugglers to the cusp of being a Europa League side in the space of just four years, whilst Hodgson’s previous time at West Brom saw them record their highest top-flight finish in over two decades.

After such a dismal campaign back in the Premier League last term, recording a club divisional low of five wins, it is important for Dowling to get this appointment absolutely spot-on.

Performances did improve a bit under Allardyce  – drawing at Liverpool and thrashing Champions League winners Chelsea on their own patch – but ultimately it wasn’t enough as they struggled for goals and couldn’t stop leaking them either.

As revealed by The Mirror, it is thought that the Baggies to not want to restrict their choice to just one man, with Frank Lampard also in the running.

Working in Hodgson’s favour is the fact that there would be no compensation to pay for his services, on top of his previous success at The Hawthorns, whereas Barnsley want £1.5m to let their transformative head coach depart Oakwell.

The 73-year-old hasn’t ruled out staying in the dugout either, so it would certainly be an interesting yet surprising twist to see him return to his former club.

It’s now on Dowling to select the best candidate as Albion hone in on their next manager.

AND in other news, “I understand”: Journalist drops big claim in West Brom manager hunt, fans surely buzzing…

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Atalanta defender Christian Romero as the summer transfer window approaches.

What’s the story?

According to Italian outlet Eco Di Bergamo (via Sport Witness), the Old Trafford outfit have already made a “super offer” worth €45 million (£38.5m) for the 23-year-old.

The aforementioned fee would make Romero Atalanta’s record sale, and the local paper claim it would be impossible for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side to turn down the offer.

Imagine him and Maguire

Centre-back has been a problem position for the Red Devils for a number of years now, with several expensive flops failing to have the desired effect upon the United backline.

While club captain Harry Maguire has slowly won over the majority of the club’s supporters, putting in consistently impressive displays for many months now, the England internationals string of partners have left a lot to be desired.

Victor Lindelof has shown glimpses of star quality, but those performances have been undermined by lapses in concentration, and his limited physical attributes are a constant source of problems for the 20-time English champions.

The likes of Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones have also done little to convince Solskjaer, or the fans, that they’re capable of being Maguire’s long-term partner at the heart of defence – either through a lack of form, injury issues, or both – and therefore a new centre-back is believed to be high up on United’s wish list this summer.

Romero could be the answer to the club’s defensive woes after impressing throughout the 2020/21 campaign. The Argentine beast made 31 league appearances, achieving a 7.14 WhoScored rating as Atalanta finished third in Serie A.

He combines the traditional, tough-tackling duties of a centre-back with the role’s modern responsibilities to perfection, often launching into tackles before picking himself up and playing a composed pass.

Although this style leads to frequent bookings – he picked up 15 in all competitions last season – it’s something which can be worked on, and the positives to Romero’s game certainly outweigh the negatives.

The South American’s pace, ability with the ball at his feet and love for a challenge would make him the perfect partner for Maguire and should see him adapt to the demands of the Premier League with ease.

It’s a move that Ed Woodward must sanction over the coming months if United want to challenge for major honours again and could prove to be the final piece in the jigsaw for Solskjaer’s side.

In other news…Man Utd must swoop for £18m-rated beast this summer, he has “outstanding quality” 

Speaking live on Sky Sports (via Football Daily), reporter Paul Gilmour has shared what he has been told about Paulo Fonseca and Tottenham Hotspur after the club pulled out of manager talks.

The Lowdown: Spurs still eyeing new manager…

It’s now been two months since former boss Jose Mourinho was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in what has been a whirlwind chase for new management.

Tottenham have been linked to a host of different managers and, at one point, attempted to bring former boss and current Paris-Saint Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino back to north London (BBC).

After PSG dug their heels in, Spurs turned to ex-Chelsea gaffer Antonio Conte only for those conversations to eventually cease (BBC).

The Latest: Sky Sports reporter shares Fonseca update…

Spurs also looked very likely to appoint Fonseca as their new boss, but in another sensational twist, they decided to pull out of negotiations.

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Speculation mounted as to why this was the case, with some believing it was due to financial complications, but Gilmour has now come out with ‘verified’ information on the story.

“We have had that information verified, the information coming from our colleagues in Italy, that indeed those talks with Fonseca have indeed broken down,” he explained on Sky (via Football Daily).

“We’re told it is a decision that Tottenham themselves have taken and we are also told that it is not to do with anything financial in those negotiations.”

The Verdict: Crazy…

Despite arguably not exciting to many supporters as the likes of Conte or Pochettino, Fonseca still had his merits – like style of play and willingness to promote youngsters for instance (Evening Standard).

Time is running out for Spurs to appoint a new boss in good time for the 2021/2022 season and we believe the decision to pull out of yet more advanced discussions comes as truly crazy if it was not due to a financial disagreement – why did discussions get that far if the club weren’t even convinced he was their man?

Lilywhites will be hoping that chairman Daniel Levy, and new managing director Fabio Paratici, have a managerial ace up their sleeve in what is fast becoming a summer of chaos in north London.

In other news: “Now all parties confident”…Fabrizio Romano makes exciting Tottenham claim, find out more here.

Mel Morris is in talks with US consortium as he looks to finally complete the sale of Derby County, according to Mirror journalist James Nursey.

The lowdown

Morris is intent on selling the club, having invested £200million of his own money during his time at Pride Park.

Derby just about stayed up on the final day of the season after a thrilling 3-3 draw with relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday, although they are yet to discover the punishment for a breach of Financial Fair Play regulations.

A points deduction could be in store, but it’s been reported that it wouldn’t be imposed until next season, meaning they won’t be relegated after the fact.

Morris has already tried in vain to sell the club to Sheikh Khaled, a cousin of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, and to Spaniard Erik Alonso.

The latest

Nursey says there could be ‘hope on the horizon’ for the club, with negotiations underway.

The prospective American owners are said to have ‘experience in sport’, coming after Rooney begged for ‘clarity’ and said simply of a potential takeover: “It has to happen.”

The verdict

At this point, Derby fans will just be desperate for the saga to end, and for some sense of stability to be restored to their football club.

Indeed, the respite of survival may be short-lived if talks drag on into the coming months.

Their hands may be tied in the transfer market if that uncertainty persists. Throw in a points deduction and the Rams could be in serious trouble.

As Rooney states, Morris’ future at the club simply must be sorted as quickly as possible.

In other news, Rams fans want to see this man sold.  

Celtic interim boss John Kennedy has emerged as a candidate for the Hoops’ director of football vacancy.

That’s according to a report from The Scottish Sun, who claim that the Celtic hierarchy wants Kennedy to work closely with target Eddie Howe.

Howe remains on course to become Neil Lennon’s long-term successor this summer, and it seems as if Kennedy could end up working closely alongside the 43-year-old at Parkhead.

Manchester City’s Fergal Harkin is another man who has been linked with the DoF role, and he is still thought to be in contention for the position.

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Transfer Tavern take

To us, this comes as a shock. Kennedy, who likes to play a 4-4-2 formation, does have off-field experience at Celtic Park, but we’d have thought he could have been one of Howe’s assistants, not the new DoF.

Kennedy, who has recently denied the rumours, has worked as a scout for the Hoops previously and worked closely with Lennon during his first stint in charge of the club back in 2010, but it feels truly bizarre to think a fairly young and inexperienced assistant manager can make the absolutely huge step up to a DoF position, where the weight of expectation will be colossal.

Who knows, it may turn out to be a shrewd move by the Hoops, and it looks set to be a busy few months ahead of the 2021/22 season, but given Kennedy’s limited experience in relation to the role and the strength of other candidates like Manchester City’s Harkin, it would be shock move from the Hoops to go this route.

In other news: Premier League giants keeping tabs on Celtic starlet, find out more here. 

Many Everton fans have been left to slam a transfer update from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sports Mole) involving Wojciech Szczesny and Moise Kean.

As per the news outlet, the Goodison Park faithful are understood to be monitoring the former Arsenal goalkeeper along with Chelsea, with Juventus president Andrea Agnelli hoping that the Merseyside club can be persuaded to agree on a swap deal involving him and Kean.

One could question whether a straight swap would represent good value for money for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, given that Szczesny is 31 years of age and Kean just 21, while the latter has been on fire for PSG so far in the 2020/21 term, scoring no fewer than 16 goals in total in 38 games over all competitions (Transfermarkt), as the Toffees may want to think about keeping him or holding out for a mammoth offer.

Everton fans on Szczesny/Kean transfer update

These Blues slammed the transfer update as it was shared on Twitter, with one EFC supporter even going as far as to claim that it would be ‘horrendous’ while another the update as ‘peak Everton’:

“Absolutely horrendous swap deal”

Credit: @MartinLobb6

“Swap deal, funniest thing I have heard all pandemic”

Credit: @dobzzie

“Would be a terrible swap”

Credit: @DavidStenson12

“Is this a joke?”

Credit: @Youngda48943002

“Peak Everton. Someone on the brink of financial ruin trying to hold our feet over the fire to swap a bog average goalkeeper for one of Europe’s most in demand forward.”

Credit: @PeterFearns

“Lol”

Credit: @robjones673

In other news, find out what transfer update has left Toffees buzzing here!

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to CaughtOffside, the Red Devils are among a number of Premier League clubs interested in acquiring the 22-year-old’s signature over the summer.

The report also reveals that Chukwueze has a release clause of £69 million and that Liverpool and Chelsea are among his potential suitors.

Woodward must avoid

Chukwueze has impressed since joining the Yellow Submarines back in 2017, making 119 appearances for the La Liga outfit during his time with the club.

The Nigeria international’s dazzling displays earned praise from fellow African footballing star Samuel Eto’o last year, who lauded the 22-year-old’s talent and potential before adding that an improvement to his end product is required.

“He is an incredible player who is growing in leaps and bounds,” claimed Eto’o.

“He is a quality player and he needs to score more goals, but he has the quality and ability to be more than just a goal-scoring forward. Once he gets all of that he will be top.”

However, in the 12 months since the former Barcelona and Inter striker outlined where Chukwueze needs to improve his game, there has been little evidence of progress.

In 2019/20, the £18 million rated attacker (as per Transfermarkt) bagged four goals and provided six assists in all competitions. In the recently concluded campaign, he boosted those numbers only marginally to five goals and eight assists.

While Chukwueze is certainly a talented player with plenty of room to grow, it’s questionable whether he’s at the level that United currently need in order to close the gap to newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City, his goal and assist tallies suggest that he isn’t.

The Old Trafford outfit finished 12 points behind Pep Guardiola’s men in 2020/21 and were dumped out of the Champions League in the group stages, indicating significant progress is still required until they’ll be able to challenge for football’s greatest honours.

With Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho reportedly available for £75m this summer – just £6m more than the Chukwueze’s release clause – Ed Woodward would be making a huge mistake in prioritising the Villarreal man’s signature ahead of Sancho’s.

It’s highly unlikely that United can afford both right-wingers, or that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can find room for both men in his first-team squad, and therefore, Sancho must be the focus rather than Chukwueze.

And, in other words…James Cooper drops huge Man Utd transfer claim that’ll surely have fans buzzing 

Mike Ashley should sanction a new contract for Jacob Murphy as Steve Bruce seeks to keep the Newcastle United forward at St James’ Park long-term.

What’s the word?

Via quotes shared by the Shields Gazette, Bruce has revealed his hopes of seeing Murphy put pen to paper and commit his future to the Magpies.

The 26-year-old is due to become a free agent when his contract expires in June, marking the potential end to a four-year union following a £12m transfer from Norwich City in 2017.

Bruce has awarded Murphy 23 appearances across all competitions this season, starting 12 games including last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur when he shone at full-back in place of Javier Manquillo.

Murphy now has eight more matches to prove to Newcastle that he deserves new terms, but Bruce is eager to see an offer being put on the table.

“I sincerely hope that we tie Jacob Murphy down. He’s been a big plus this season after spending a couple of years [out] on loan,” the Toon manager said.

“He’s played a big part in the season. He’s had, for him, a really good season where he knows now that he belongs in the Premier League.

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“I’ve been very, very pleased with him. Moving forward, I’d love to see him at the club. It’s what we want: young, hungry, determined to do well – he ticks all of those boxes.”

Should Newcastle retain Murphy?

Murphy’s run of 12 starts over 23 appearances in all competitions this season is the most the winger has made in black and white since his maiden campaign at St James’ Park in 2017/18. His debut season on Tyneside featured 15 starts over a combined 28 outings, in which he offered one goal and one assist to the two goals and three assists registered so far this term.

The forward’s direct output may not be supreme and offers a glimpse as to why Newcastle rank a lowly 16th in the Premier League’s scoring charts with 30 goals in 30 games, but Bruce has clearly been impressed with Murphy’s overall contributions.

His defensive showing against Tottenham last Sunday featured an abundance of determination to try and prevent Jose Mourinho’s men from scoring, while he offered a lively attacking cameo from the bench against Wolverhampton Wanderers in February.

Murphy again demonstrated his offensive threat from the bench against Aston Villa by teeing up Jamaal Lascelles’ to equalise, and the £25,000-per-week dynamo had come close to scoring himself when he rattled the crossbar after twisting his way into the box.

Those moments offer flashes of the potential that Murphy can deliver when given a chance, which all too often was not there in previous years, and a platform to continue building from if Ashley sanctions a new contract.

Murphy would not be able to demand a lucrative pay rise to put pen to paper given his limited starts and direct goal involvements, which surely makes retaining the forward a no-brainer when funds for potential replacements are expected to be thin – if there at all – this summer.

AND in other news, Newcastle have landed a boost in the race to sign a £26m target backed to be “one of the best in Europe”…