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While West Bromwich Albion have started life under Valerien Ismael well, with the Baggies having lost just one of their 11 Championship fixtures under the Frenchman, there have nevertheless been questions raised regarding Albion’s lack of an out and out goalscorer.

Indeed, while Ismael did secure the services of Norwich City centre-forward Jordan Hugill on a season-long loan deal this summer, the 29-year-old is yet to find the back of the net over his seven second-tier appearances for the club.

That’s something that has caused West Brom problems at times, none more so than when the Baggies failed to win three consecutive fixtures against Millwall, Derby County and Preston North End – with Albion scoring just two goals in these games.

As such, it would appear likely that Ismael is already starting to consider entering the January market for further additions up top, however, perhaps the 46-year-old could find a solution to his problem much closer to home.

Lukaku 2.0

West Brom have developed something of a reputation for developing promising young players in recent years, with the likes of Aston Villa’s Louie Barry and Crystal Palace’s Nathan Ferguson both being graduates of the Baggies academy.

However, unfortunately for the Championship side, they have often been unable to keep hold of their most exciting prospects, with many leaving The Hawthorns on free transfers, while others have been picked up by Premier League teams for a relative snip.

And, it would now appear as if West Brom have yet another diamond on their hands, this time in the shape of 17-year-old Reyes Cleary – who is already reported to be attracting the interest of Borussia Dortmund as well as many others.

Indeed, it is not difficult to see why there is significant interest in the teenager, as, over his four U18 Premier League appearances for Albion this season, Cleary has scored a brace in each fixture – which just so happen to have been against Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.

The teenager has also bagged two goals over two appearances for the Baggies’ U23 side, taking his total haul so far this season to ten goals – in addition to one assist – in just six games.

Furthermore, it is not only transfer interest that Cleary is attracting, but also extremely high praise, with West Brom’s U18 coach Peter Gilbert dubbing the striker a “powerful” player who is an “excellent” finisher – while the youngster has also been compared to former Baggies loanee and current Chelsea star, Romelu Lukaku.

Considering Ismael’s reputation for involving up and coming talents in his first-team squad, in addition to Hugill’s distinct lack of goals, it would seem a wise move for the Frenchman to begin exposing Cleary to senior football before potentially dipping into the transfer market this winter – as the teenager could well go on to save Albion millions in transfer fees.

In other news: “In talks” – Journo drops fresh West Brom claim on £30k-p/w beast, Ismael must act

Porto are reportedly interested in signing Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos and if he were to leave Ibrox this summer it would be a huge blow to Steven Gerrard and his hopes of retaining the Scottish Premiership title next season.

What’s the word?

According to Portuguese news outlet A Bola, the Liga NOS side are keen on signing the Colombia international this summer as he would be a dream addition for manager Sergio Conceição, however Rangers’ asking price is likely to be a problem for the Portuguese giants.

The report suggests that Rangers would likely demand €20m (£17.2m) for Morelos this summer, which is no surprise after another impressive season at Ibrox helped Gerrard’s side win the league title unbeaten.

A huge potential blow for Rangers?

If Morelos were to leave Ibrox this summer it would undoubtedly be a huge blow to the Gers’ hopes of winning their 56th league title next season, as he has proven himself to be one of the best players in the league since joining from HJK Helsinki in 2017.

In 182 appearances for the Teddy Bears, El Bufalo has contributed an extremely impressive 94 goals and 43 assists in all competitions, and he also broke Ally McCoist’s record to become their record goalscorer in Europe, so to lose him ahead of their return to the Champions League next season would be far from ideal.

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After he broke the record, Gerrard was full of praise for Morelos, saying:

“It’s fantastic for him from a personal point of view. Alfredo’s a top-class player, a top-class goalscorer, and it’s fantastic that he’s still here.”

Last season saw the 24-year-old forward contribute 15 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for the Gers and his performances in the Premiership before the season split saw him average an impressive 7.20 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which ranked him as the sixth-best performer in Gerrard’s side.

[freshpress-quiz id=“593776″]

Therefore, it is certainly a blow that a side such as Porto who impressed in the Champions League last season are interested in Morelos ahead of the summer, and it would be a huge shame for Rangers to lose him.

And, in other news… Rangers facing major blow with 25 y/o “Rolls Royce”, Gerrard would be gutted

Graham Roberts has told Football FanCast that Nuno Espirito Santo should not be considered for the Tottenham Hotspur job, after a report in The Express suggested he’s been identified as a possible replacement for Jose Mourinho.

The ex-Spurs captain does not believe that the Wolves manager plays the right way to be appointed as the successor to Mourinho following the Portuguese’s sacking.

Ryan Mason has been placed in interim charge of the team until the end of the season and there have been plenty of stories linking Spurs with various managers.

Santo was linked with the post too, but Roberts is not sold on the abilities of the Molineux boss.

Indeed, Wolves have endured an underwhelming season themselves and currently sit 12th in the table, having won just two of their last five games.

Roberts wants to see Spurs appoint a manager who can take the club back to their attacking roots, rather than another boss who is pragmatic, as Mourinho was during his reign in north London.

He told FFC: “I don’t think the Wolves manager will be good enough for us. They don’t play the most attacking style of football. I think the fans have had enough now, they want to go back to that exciting football that we used to play.”

Aston Villa are thought to be in advanced talks over a permanent move for goalkeeper Robin Olsen, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Olsen’s loan move

Olsen was one of four senior signings made by Steven Gerrard in his first transfer window in charge at Villa Park.

The 32-year-old arrived on loan from AS Roma and has been on the bench for every Premier League game since moving to the Midlands.

Olsen has served as back up to Emiliano Martinez, and it looks as if the pair will continue to work closely together at Bodymoor Heath beyond the summer.

The Latest: Source shares update

FI shared a story regarding Villa and Olsen on Thursday afternoon after being informed by a recruitment source.

They revealed that Olsen has impressed Gerrard since joining and talks over a permanent move are now at an advanced stage.

The Verdict: Good news

Although Olsen is yet to turn out in a Villa shirt, it is good news that he looks set to make his Villa stay a full-time one.

Labelled as ‘monstrous’ by the Spanish press following a performance for Sweden, Olsen has plenty of experience across Europe and on the international stage, winning seven trophies during his career.

He appears to be happy as second choice to Martinez, so it looks as if Villa will now have two high-quality shot-stoppers on the books heading into Gerrard’s first full season.

In other news: ‘What a signing he would be’ – Journalist buzzing at ‘fantastic’ Aston Villa transfer ‘reveal’. 

Crystal Palace have reportedly become the latest club to register an interest in Hatayspor striker Aaron Boupendza.

According to 90.com, the Eagles have been monitoring the Gabon international, alongside a host of fellow Premier League sides, namely Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Leicester City and West Ham United, amongst many others.

Steve Parish and the Palace hierarchy need to ensure that they push themselves to the front of the queue and secure the £6.3m-rated striker in the summer.

Boupendza is currently in lethal form for Hatayspor. He sits top of the Turkish Super Lig scoring charts with 18 goals in just 26 matches. That record is even more remarkable considering that the 24-year-old has started just 16 matches in the league this term.

He would certainly bring a distinct eye for goal to Selhurst Park should he sign for the Eagles, an aspect that Roy Hodgson’s current options are certainly missing.

Of the strikers currently at the club, Christian Benteke is the highest-scoring with a measly five strikes. Meanwhile, fellow forwards Jordan Ayew, Michy Batshuayi and Jean-Philippe Mateta all sit on just one goal each.

It goes without saying then that the Eagles need to bring in someone capable of finding the back of the net.

When comparing his match statistics, Boupendza continues to come out on top.

According to WhoScored, he attempts more shots per game than any of Crystal Palace’s current players with 2.8.

Remarkably, the striker also completes a huge 2.7 dribbles per game which would be by far and away the best in the Eagles’ squad – an astounding feat considering the fleet-footedness of the likes of Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha.

It is no surprise then that there is considerable competition for his signature. Palace must make sure they push themselves to the front for him as they are in desperate need for a forward who can find the back of the net.

AND in more news, take a look at which former Premier League boss would be the perfect replacement for Roy Hodgson…

Andriy Yarmolenko ‘wants to reassess’ his future at West Ham United this summer, according to The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas.

The lowdown

West Ham signed the Ukrainian from Borussia Dortmund in 2018 for a fee of £17.5m and he has gone on to make just 54 appearances in an injury-disrupted spell at the club, scoring 10 goals.

Yarmolenko only made one Premier League start in 2020/21, notching a further 14 substitute appearances, but he has shone for Ukraine at Euro 2020 so far, scoring a sublime goal in a 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands before finding the net again in the subsequent win over North Macedonia.

Yarmolenko is valued at £3.6m by Transfermarkt and has one year remaining on his contract.

The latest

Thomas reported for The Athletic that Yarmolenko is considering his options after a season of limited involvement at the London Stadium. West Ham could look to offload the 31-year-old, who has been earning more than £100,000 per week, as a means of raising funds.

Thomas added that Ukraine manager Andriy Shevchenko told Yarmolenko prior to the tournament: ‘You need to remind everyone how good you are for the national team’.

The verdict

If West Ham are keen to sell Yarmolenko, they’ll be licking their lips after his exploits at the Euros. He might well have doubled his value by reminding the footballing world of his quality.

He could be a decent option next season if the Hammers are looking to rotate during the Europa League group stage, while Irons team-mate Declan Rice has raved about the 31-year-old’s ‘special’ technique and his ‘beautiful’ left foot.

If he does move on, however, West Ham fans may be tempted to ponder what might have been. Yarmolenko has shown devastating ability in flashes, but injury has consistently stalled his West Ham career. Having finished sixth last season with him playing only a peripheral role, he would not seem a major loss if he were to depart.

In other news, a La Liga expert has issued his verdict on this West Ham target. 

Former Premier League striker Dean Windass has told The Transfer Tavern in an exclusive interview that he can imagine Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey at Tottenham.

Lamptey, 20, is currently being linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Sky Sports reporting earlier this month that the north London club are interested in signing the right-back.

Meanwhile, talk of Serge Aurier returning to Paris Saint-Germain to reunite with Mauricio Pochettino has emerged, meaning a move for Lamptey really could be on the cards.

Asked by TT whether Lamptey would be a good addition to Spurs’ squad, Windass said:

“Yeah, he’s got bags of pace, hasn’t he? You know, I was surprised that Chelsea let him go. And Brighton, they’d have been delighted probably or surprised as well that Chelsea let him go. So, yeah, I can see it.”

If Tottenham can land Lamptey this summer, he would surely be a smart capture. The English youngster was brilliant down that right flank last season before picking up a serious injury.

He earned recognition from Gary Neville, arguably one the greatest right-backs the Premier League has ever seen, after his display against former club Chelsea, where his quality was on show.

Especially if Aurier does end up leaving this summer, Lamptey could be a great a signing for this Spurs team.

Crystal Palace head into Monday evening’s clash with Everton eyeing a place in the Premier League top-half.

The Eagles have only finished in the top ten once since promotion in 2013 so with five points separating them and Arsenal in tenth, Roy Hodgson’s men could really stake a claim with victory against the Toffees at Goodison Park.

How could they line up on Merseyside?

Roy Hodgson could likely make two changes from the side having sustained no new injury worries following the 1-0 win against West Bromwich Albion before the international break.

Vicente Guaita should remain in goal having played every league game so far this season.

There will be a slight change to the defence in front of the Spaniard though. Gary Cahill, Joel Ward and Patrick van Aanholt should all stay in the starting line-up.

However, Scott Dann could potentially replace Cheikhou Kouyate after the Senegalese returned from international duty late.

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Palace have settled on a regular first-choice XI in recent weeks so again, there shouldn’t be too many changes in midfield.

Captain Luka Milivojevic should be partnered by Dutchman Jairo Riedewald, whilst Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha should take their respective places on each flank.

The second, and final alteration, should be seen in the Eagles’ attack. First choice Christian Benteke is likely to start but having not scored a Premier League goal since November, Jordan Ayew could potentially be replaced by the £13.5m-rated Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Hodgson will be without the services of Mamadou Sakho, James Tomkins and James McArthur as the Eagles trio remained sidelined through injury.

AND in more news, find out which World Cup winner Palace have been linked to…

Sheffield Wednesday defender Tom Lees is attracting interest ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, who claimed in a recent post on Twitter that Huddersfield Town are considering a move for the 30-year-old in the upcoming transfer window, with the £1.98m-rated centre-back set to become a free agent upon the expiry of his contract at Hillsborough.

Nixon said: “Huddersfield: Big interest in Tom Lees. Sheff Wed defender and soon to be a free agent.”

Moore will be gutted

While Sheffield Wednesday endured something of a season to forget in the Championship, with the Owls finishing the season rock bottom of the second tier, statistically speaking, Lees was one of Darren Moore’s better players.

Over his 38 Championship appearances, the defender helped his side to keep nine clean sheets, as well as averaging 1.8 interceptions, 1.2 tackles and 5.4 clearances per game. He also scored one goal and provided one assist, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 6.88 – ranking him as the Owls’ third-best performer in the division.

As such, potentially losing a player as solid as the £22,000-per-week Lees is likely to come as a hammer blow for the 47-year-old Sheffield Wednesday manager as he attempts to build a side capable of bouncing straight back to the Championship next season.

However, Lees does not look likely to be the only departure from Hillsborough this summer, with a number of Wednesday’s first team regulars, including the likes of Adam Reach, Barry Bannan, Joey Pelupessy and Osaze Urhoghide among many others, on contracts which expire in a matter of weeks.

It would very much appear as if Moore has a lot of work to do in the upcoming transfer window just to put a team out for the club’s league opener next season, let alone one which is capable of mounting a promotion charge.

In other news: Dom Howson drops huge Sheffield Wednesday transfer claim which will surely have fans buzzing – opinion

Aston Villa duo Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez are planning to travel to Argentina against the club’s wishes for the upcoming international break.

That’s according to broadcaster Christian Martin, cited by @AVFCFaithful_, and, as to be excepted, a number of Villa fans have been giving their thoughts on social media.

Villa confirmed on Monday that both Buendia and Martinez have been called up by Argentina for three World Cup qualifiers next month.

The Premier League then released a statement in regards to clubs not releasing their players to represent their nations in red-list countries.

Argentina is currently on the UK Government’s red-list regarding travel to England, meaning a 10-day period of hotel isolation would be required if Buendia and Martinez turned out for their country.

And it seems as if the pair are willing to defy Villa and play for Argentina against Venezuela, Brazil and Bolivia.

Villa fans react

@AVFCFaithful_ shared the news on the duo on social media on Saturday lunchtime. This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with one labelling the pair’s decision as ‘disgraceful’.

“The pain never stops”

Credit: @MasonUTFV

“we r finished”

Credit: @joegodwin_

“Fine them the same wages for the weeks as they’re gone. Outright disgraceful and disrespectful if true”

Credit: @AndreVillaGamer

“We can’t catch a break at the minute”

Credit: @avfcjamess

“Don’t pay them the 10 days they have to self isolate then. Embarrassing”

Credit: @ConnorWoolf1995

“Don’t pay them then”

Credit: @AVFCTranstweet

In other news: ‘The deal we’ve been waiting for’, ‘Exactly what we need’ – Many Villa fans buzz as news emerges.