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According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Wolverhampton Wanderers are ‘definitely looking’ at potential moves for duo Haris Seferovic and Goncalo Inacio.

The Lowdown: Inacio signing a possibility

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Bruno Lage recently met with Seferovic to discuss the possibility of signing a deal at Molineux, but it appears as though it’s actually Inacio who could join the Wanderers as early as next week.

In an article published by The Mirror, it’s reported that the Midlands outfit are now ‘closing in’ on the 20-year-old, with the source stating that the defender is keen for the move to happen and that both parties are expected to soon meet to arrange details.

The centre-back remains under contract at the Jose Alvalade until 2026, but has a £39m buyout clause included as part of his deal at Sporting CP, allowing potential suitors to take him off their hands earlier than anticipated.

The Latest: Jones confirms Wolves interest

Jones confirmed that Wolves are currently ‘looking’ at both Inacio and Seferovic, but believes that it’s the Portugal U21 starlet who the club could swoop for ‘this week’. He told GiveMeSport:

“They are definitely looking at them. And I think Inacio is one to perhaps even look out for this week.

“They’re trying to get a better idea of whether they can make a breakthrough and get this signing done. If not, they want to move on quite quickly from it.”

The Verdict: Positive impact at both ends

If Lage was able to get the signing of Inacio over the line, he would be a fantastic addition to the defensive backline, where he’s proven to be so solid in Lisbon.

This season, the 6 foot 1 colossus, who was once hailed a “quality” player by former Sporting manager Jose Lima, made 28 appearances in Liga Portugal, recording six goal contributions whilst averaging 2.4 clearances and 1.4 tackles per game, via WhoScored, showing his ability to make a positive impact at opposite ends of the pitch.

Whether Wolves will be able to fend off interest from Manchester United remains to be seen, but his potential arrival at Molineux could come as a huge advantage for the club as they look to regain a place in Europe next term.

In other news… Wolves have offered a 22 y/o ace a new contract in a bid to keep him at the club.

Maccabi Haifa midfielder Mohammad Abu Fani is reportedly pushing for a move to Celtic after it’s been revealed that he’s held exit talks with his agent over a possible summer departure.

The Lowdown: Confirmed Celtic interest

The 24-year-old has been part of the Israeli outfit ever since joining the club at U19s level back in 2017, working his way up through the ranks to make 99 senior first-team appearances across all competitions for the club to date.

Even though the maestro still has four years remaining on his current contract with Barak Bakhar’s side, the 14-cap international has recently been linked with a move away from Maccabi amid interest from the Hoops, and following a fresh update, it seems as though the creative midfield man is keen to make the switch.

The Latest: Abu Fani pushing for Celtic move

In a new article published by the Daily Record, it’s claimed that Abu Fani is ‘pushing for an exit’ after hearing of the Bhoys’ interest, with the Scottish Premiership champions’ scouts having already ‘watched’ the £900k-rated ace playing for his country during the recent Nations League fixtures.

The source further states that the club are ‘demanding’ £800k to let the player leave during the upcoming transfer window, but won’t stand in his way if the right offer was to come in.

As relayed by the report, Israeli outfit ONE have revealed that ‘talks have taken place’ between Haifa chiefs and Dudu Dahan’s ScoutPush agency, with the representative wanting to see his client move to a European league in the coming weeks.

The Verdict: Hoops hold huge advantage

The fact that Celtic have already sent employees out to watch Abu Fani in action just shows how serious they are about trying to secure a deal for their target, and there’s a chance that they could hold a big advantage over any other potential competitors.

Dahan, the player’s agent, has already engineered moves to the Glasgow giants in the past for the likes of Nir Bitton and more recently Liel Abada, who is an international teammate of the 5 foot 6 playmaker, so there’s every chance that he will want to grasp the opportunity of working alongside someone he already has a strong relationship with.

Having provided four assists and scored two goals in Ligat ha’AL this season, as per Transfermarkt, Abu Fani could be the perfect replacement for the departing Bitton and Rogic, with Ange Postecoglou looking to get this deal over the line way in advance of the start of the new campaign.

In other news… the Hoops have been handed a huge transfer blow in the pursuit of one of their summer targets.

Celtic could be at risk of missing out on securing a deal for their reported summer transfer target Mohanad Jeahze.

What’s the news?

According to Sport Expressen (via Fotboll Direkt), French club Troyes have scouted the Hammarby full-back despite Celtic’s reported interest in signing the defender.

Back in April, it was reported that the Hoops were looking to secure a £2m deal for the left-back as Ange Postecoglou wants to bolster his defensive ranks.

Now that some weeks have passed, the Parkhead club could see their chances of signing the Iraq international take a blow as a result of this behind-the-scenes development.

The 25-year-old joined Hammarby back in the 2020 summer transfer window from fellow Swedish side Mjallby AIF.

Since then, the full-back has made 62 appearances for his current side across all competitions.

In those appearances, Jeahze has scored three goals and delivered 13 assists along the way, highlighting the attacking talent he has from the defence.

Bad news for Celtic

With nine league appearances under his belt this season, the left-back has provided more crosses (46) and made more interceptions (19) than any of his current teammates as well as winning 13 tackles, proving his defensive prowess as well.

This shows how much of a disappointment it would be if the Bhoys were to miss out on signing the defender.

Taking into account how current Celtic left-back Boli Bolingoli has barely been involved with the Hoops throughout this latest season and has been away on his own in Belgium, this highlights the club’s need to add a player like Jeahze to their ranks.

If the French club are looking to make a swoop to sign the Hammarby figure, Celtic will have to spring into action if they want to be the ones to secure his signature this summer.

As reigning SPFL champions and participants for the next round of the Champions League, it shouldn’t be too hard for the Hoops to convince Jeahze to make a move to Parkhead.

Then with Troyes finishing only three places ahead of the relegation zone in Ligue 1, it would be safe to suggest that the Hammarby defender would have more of a chance of winning some silverware at Celtic rather than with the French club.

Either way, the news they now have competition for hi signature is simply awful news for Celtic’s recruitment team.

In other news: Celtic eyeing move for “exciting” teenage prodigy, he can be their next Edouard

West Ham United are reportedly looking to capitalise on Burnley’s recent relegation and economic woes with a move for England stopper, Nick Pope.

What’s the word?

As per talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, in his transfer notebook, the Hammers are keen to exploit the financial uncertainty at Turf Moor by making a bid for the 30-year-old this summer, with the eight-cap international one few ‘saleable assets’ that the Lancashire club can cash in on.

Mike Jackson’s side are facing a perilous period due to their failure to stave off the drop, with the report outlining that the club now need to pay off a significant loan due to a relegation clause, hence the potential need to part ways with their first-choice ‘keeper.

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Previous reports have suggested that they will still hold firm on their asking price, however, with the east Londoners set to have to fork out around £40m to secure his services.

One of the best

That figure may appear sizeable to those at the London Stadium, although it could prove a relative bargain for a player who has been a colossal figure since establishing himself as the Clarets’ undisputed number one back in 2017.

In 141 Premier League outings, the former Charlton Athletic man has registered an impressive 46 clean sheets, while the most recent campaign saw him finish joint-fourth in the division for saves made (121).

An imposing presence at 6 foot 3, the £13.5m-rated monster has already caught the eye of a notable West Ham figure, with Three Lions colleague Declan Rice dubbing him “one of the best in the world” when it comes to making saves near the top of the goal.

The praise doesn’t end there, however, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp having described him as “sensational” following a 1-1 draw at Anfield back in July 2020, as the £59k-per-week giant kept the then champions at bay.

Such displays have seeming become the norm for the dynamic shot-stopper, with it no surprise that GSB are eyeing a deal, particularly with current goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski having only recently turned 37 – heightening the need for a younger, long-term option.

Pope has also already proven his quality to David Moyes and co after producing a heroic display when the two sides met back in December to ensure a hard-fought point for Sean Dyche’s side, with that performance rubberstamping Rice’s claim that he is one of the very best in his position.

IN other news, “Another target…”: Ex drops big WHU summer transfer claim that supporters will love

West Ham United are set to step up their interest in midfielder Josh Brownhill after Burnley were relegated from the Premier League, reports 90min journalist Toby Cudworth.

The Lowdown: Lack of depth

The Hammers are looking to add depth to David Moyes’ squad this summer after their sensational Europa League run visibly strained the players’ fitness, with a number of injuries occurring along the way.

With club legend Mark Noble having retired at the end of the season and Alex Kral seemingly not part of Moyes’ plans whatsoever, the Irons will surely be looking to bring in an extra midfielder to fill the deficit.

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The Latest: Irons interested in Brownhill

90min journalist Toby Cudworth has revealed that West Ham are now ready to enter the market for Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill, interest which has previously been spoken about in the press.

Taking to Twitter, Cudworth claimed: “Anticipate Josh Brownhill interest to step up too after Burnley’s relegation.”

In the attached article, it is reported that the 26-year-old should be available for a reasonably cheap price after Burnley’s relegation – Transfermarkt value him at just £6.3m.

The Verdict: Good signing

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has spoken of his admiration for Brownhill, saying that he’s “a fabulous player” who reminds him of John McGinn.

Having played 35 games in the Premier League this season, and considering two of the three he missed were due to Covid-19, the midfielder’s durability would come as a huge bonus to Moyes, especially with another European campaign to embark upon next term.

In fact, the Englishman has missed just seven games through injury in his entire Burnley career, and if West Ham can get the deal over the line for a cut-price this will be a shrewd singing for the east London club, providing depth in a key area and keeping plenty of funds left for other positions.

In other news: West Ham United: Agreement with Rennes for Nayef Aguerd ‘is nearing’

Manchester United are reportedly sizing up a move for Ajax’s left centre-back Lisandro Martinez.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from The Telegraph, who claimed that Ten Hag is keen on a reunion with the 24-year-old and sees Martinez as an “ideal player” due to his pace and passing ability.

As such, it is said that the 52-year-old has added Martinez, whom he signed for Ajax from Defensa y Justicia in 2019, to his wish list, alongside Ajax team-mate Jurrien Timber.

At current, Martinez has three years left on his contract at Ajax, with a reported fee of £25m enough to prise him from the clutches of the Amsterdam outfit.

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Ideal option

Martinez’s arrival would spell trouble for Harry Maguire, who is not an orthodox centre-back by way of Ten Hag’s style.

As a 24-year-old left-footed centre-back at a major European club, with three years left on his contract, his reported £25m fee looks to be a bargain. Add in the fact that Ten Hag has worked with him and understands his character and competency as a ball-playing defender, and you have a foolproof and versatile central defender for an absolute snip.

These are the sort of signings that the 52-year-old should be looking to make – underrated but proven stars who can be astutely acquired for a relatively small fee.

Martinez not only fits the bill financially but possesses numbers far greater than the options in the United back-line. His averages of 80.88 completed passes, 3.13 tackles, 11.63 ball recoveries and 6.13 progressive carries per game illustrate that he is excellent at his job, with his scores ranking him between the 89th and 99th percentile for the aforementioned metrics, as per FBRef.

For additional context, Raphael Varane averages 50.64 completed passes, 1.23 tackles, 9.23 ball recoveries and 3.13 progressive carries per game.

Martinez’s “bulldog-like” approach in defence has seen him scoop Ajax’s Rinus Michels Player of the Year award, joining a list which boasts the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Jari Litmanen, Frank Rijkaard and Luis Suarez, to name a few.

Ten Hag is right to add Martinez to his shortlist, and with United’s desperation for a left-footed centre-back, you would hope that the 24-year-old’s name is high up on the Dutchman’s list.

In other news: Man United lead the race to sign £84.9m “exciting prospect”, he’s a dream Cavani heir 

Sunderland have put themselves in a prime position to earn promotion to the Championship next season after progressing to the play-off final at Wembley against Wycombe Wanderers this month.

Since Alex Neil arrived in February, he has transformed the team and gone unbeaten in 16 of his 17 games in charge, deservedly earning their golden opportunity to get back into the second tier of English football, and supporters are surely delighted with the progress the Black Cats have made in the last few months.

That being said, the 40-year-old can only take partial credit for the impressive performances we have seen come from the Black Cats over the last few months, with some players offering huge match-winning moments which have led their team to victory and put them in a position to challenge for a place in the Championship next season.

One player in particular who has been a formidable driving force for Sunderland in the latter stages of the campaign is Elliot Embleton, who has provided game-changing performances towards the end of the season which won them vital points in their pursuit of a place in the play-offs.

The midfielder, who was dubbed a “class act” by Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie, was integral in Sunderland’s final few games of the League One campaign, with a winning goal against Oxford United and an assist for the winner against Gillingham earning the Black Cats vital points in the push for promotion.

Those decisive contributions earned the 23-year-old high praise from journalist Josh Bunting, who hailed the Sunderland ace as the “huge difference” in the team ahead of the last few fixtures of the season, tweeting: “He’s made a huge difference and has contributed to 6 points that may be crucial at the end of the season.”

With eight goals and eight assists in 47 appearances this term from his role in the middle of the park, there is no doubt that the young midfielder has a huge future at Sunderland and should be unleashed in the starting line-up more often whether or not the Black Cats rise to the Championship next season.

AND in other news: Neil heading for Sunderland disaster over “quality” star who’s got the “X-Factor” 

West Ham are plotting a bid for Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill in the summer transfer window as David Moyes aims to bolster his squad.

What’s the word?

According to 90min, the Irons will follow up on their long-standing interest in the 26-year-old this summer.

With the Clarets’ Premier League status in jeopardy, the Hammers may be able to sign the player for a fee of around £15m.

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Other Premier League clubs such as Aston Villa, Wolves, and Everton have all been linked with the player previously, but West Ham now appear to be the frontrunners.

Moyes needs to strengthen the West Ham midfield

Moyes needs players to occupy the central midfield role, as the Hammers have relied on Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek for the majority of this season.

With the news that the England international won’t sign a new deal and the future of the Czech Republic ace uncertain following his contract talks being put on hold, then a new midfield addition is a must.

Brownhill would make the perfect heir to the latter as they both have similar attributes, and Moyes could pull off a masterstroke by signing the “energetic” Burnley maestro, as hailed by Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie.

Both players have similar defensive stats, with Soucek making 66 tackles compared to Brownhill’s 64, while the Englishman makes more interceptions (76 to 52).

The Czech international offers more of a threat going forward, having scored five goals this season, whereas Brownhill only has two, but the Burnley midfielder has provided two more assists than the West Ham colossus.

These figures suggest that Brownhill could be the perfect replacement for Soucek if the 27-year-old were to leave the London Stadium, with his offensive and defensive abilities being very high.

The £6.3m-rated Clarets midfielder won’t come cheap, but Moyes could well have a wonderful talent on his hands if he makes the move.

AND in other news, Forget Rice: Moyes now set for West Ham disaster on “remarkable” £125k-p/w giant

Tottenham Hotspur could be set for a huge boost in their attempts to land the signing of Joao Palhinha this summer, as the price tag of the Sporting Lisbon star plummets.

The Lowdown: Spurs’ interest in Palhinha

According to a story published by O Jogo last week [via Sport Witness], it was claimed that Antonio Conte’s outfit are currently monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation in Portugal and are eyeing the signing of a player in his midfield position ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

It still looks highly likely that the Lisbon club are planning on selling the 12-cap international at the end of the season, but following a new update, it seems as though Sporting are resigned to the fact that they might have to let him leave for less than they initially wanted.

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The Latest: Huge price reduction

In a fresh article by Correio da Manha (via Sport Witness), it has been reported that Palhinha is at the ‘top of the list’ to depart the Primeira Liga club, with the previous demand of the €40m (£33.5m) price tag now seeming ‘impossible’ to be reached by those interested.

The source added that Sporting are set to reduce the asking fee to €30m (£25.1m), resulting in an appealing price drop of just over £8m.

The Verdict: Get it done

The £23.4m-rated talent has made 36 appearances in all competitions for Ruben Amorim’s side this term, netting three goals in that time (as per Transfermarkt), but he hasn’t had the best campaign, with injuries and suspensions prompting multiple spells out of the team.

As a result, Palhinha has lost his place in the Portugal national team, so it’s little wonder that Sporting have been left with no choice but to decrease their asking price for the 26-year-old.

Nonetheless, having once described as an “aggressive” player by former Sporting and Manchester United winger Nani, the 6 foot 2 maestro could be a worthy prospective capture for Spurs, and now would be the perfect time to make a move for him given the reduction in his asking price.

In other news… a source has made some fresh claims regarding this Tottenham transfer target

The Sun journalist Tom Barclay has admitted that he would ‘be surprised’ but ‘not shocked’ to see Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu depart the St. Mary’s Stadium this summer.

The Lowdown: Romeu wants to stay

The Spaniard first joined the Saints from Chelsea in a £5m move back in 2015, since establishing himself as a regular in the starting XI, going on to make 251 club appearances and creating 14 goal contributions during that time, via Transfermarkt.

The 30-year-old recently admitted that he would love to remain a Southampton player beyond the end of the season, but with only one year remaining on his current contract, it still remains to be seen whether or not the hierarchy will offer the tenacious midfield maestro a new deal.

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The Latest: Barclay can’t rule it out

When asked about Romeu’s future at the club, Barclay told GiveMeSport:

“The age he’s at, with a year left (on his contract), they don’t like losing players on free transfers. So, I’d be surprised if he left but not shocked.

“And I hope he stays because I think he’s become a pivotal player, who Ralph loves, and I think he said he’s the most professional player he’s ever coached.”

Romeu is not the only midfielder linked with an exit, as James Ward-Prowse is expected to draw major interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Verdict: Must keep

If the £59k-per-week star was to leave the top-flight outfit, this would come as a huge loss to Ralph Hasenhuttl because he’s such a valuable player in this Saints side, having made 33 Premier League starts this campaign, forming a great partnership alongside James Ward-Prowse.

Romeu has been an absolute rock in the middle of the park this term, averaging 2.3 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, and 1.3 dribbles per 90 minutes across all competitions, as per WhoScored, displaying the effects he can have at both ends of the pitch.

Once dubbed as being “one of the best” by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, there’s no doubt that the Austrian boss will do everything he can to retain his engine room operator in a bid to secure a top ten finish next term.

In other news… Southampton have reportedly joined the race to sign one of their transfer targets.