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Wolves fans on Semedo transfer update

Some Wolves fans have been left buzzing as a transfer update has emerged on Nelson Semedo.

As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the former FC Barcelona man has been named as a potential target for AS Roma under new manager Jose Mourinho, with super agent Jorge Mendes willing to help try and get a deal through.

Semedo has been largely underwhelming in some eyes of the Molineux faithful so far in the 2020/21 term, with a mere one assist recorded in the Premier League despite him mostly playing as a right wing-back for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

For the £27m that they paid for him, the Portugal international should really be doing more to affect games, especially on the attacking side of the pitch, and some WWFC supporters feel already that it could be time to recoup a large chunk of that money back.

Wolves fans on Semedo transfer update

These Wanderers buzzed as the transfer update was shared on Twitter:

“Rip their hands off if we can get most our money back. probably the most overrated player we have, cause of FIFA. Average at best”

Credit: @JMT___

“Sell him and get Max Aarons”

Credit: @davidellerton

“Please take him”

Credit: @satsomboon

“I will drive Semedo to Roma myself if we can still get the money we paid for him or more.”

Credit: @Kaldj22

“TAKE ANY MONEY AND RUN”

Credit: @MikeHorton_09

“I’d fly him to Rome.”

Credit: @GrantLewis_10

In other news, find out what transfer update has been slammed by Wanderers here!

Phil Hay on possible Aaronson move to Leeds

Reliable journalist Phil Hay has outlined three key factors which could ensure that Leeds United sign Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson this summer.

The Lowdown: Aaronson linked with Leeds move

The American has already become a key player for Salzburg at the age of just 21, starting all eight of their Champions League matches this season.

Back in the January transfer window, he was strongly linked with a move to Leeds, and that was before his former manager Jesse Marsch had replaced Marcelo Bielsa in Yorkshire.

It could be that the Whites’ interest in the midfielder returns in the summer, as Marsch looks to further make his mark at Elland Road.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Hay discusses possibility of Aaronson to Leeds

Writing for The Athletic, Hay claimed that a move to Leeds for Aaronson could easily materialise for three key reasons, with the Whites planning to try their luck with him again. The reporter stated:

“The intention is, or certainly was, to bid again for Aaronson. He’s interested in the move, he’s played under Jesse Marsch before and Salzburg are likely to be more open to bids in the summer than they were in January.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-39/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Ideal midfield addition

On the face of it, Aaronson looks like an ideal player to come in and make Leeds stronger in the middle of the park, bringing more guile to that area of the pitch.

Along with averaging 1.8 tackles per game in the Champions League this season, he has also scored 12 goals and registered 15 assists throughout his time with Salzburg, showing what an effective all-round footballer he can be.

The fact that Marsch is now in charge surely only increases the chances of Aaronson joining him at Elland Road, with the American compatriots knowing each other well from their mutual time at Salzburg.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has revealed a key Leeds transfer update. Read more here.

Newcastle set to pay £12m for Trippier

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Kieran Trippier regarding the fee they are expected to shell out…

What’s the talk?

Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has revealed how much the Magpies are set to pay for the Atletico Madrid defender before add-ons come into play. He tweeted: “Hearing fee for Kieran Trippier is in region of £12m”

It has also been reported elsewhere that the England international is not in training with the Spanish giants on Tuesday. He is officially out with fitness issues, although the noise suggests that a transfer back to the Premier League could be behind his absence.

Fans will be buzzing

Newcastle fans will surely be buzzing with this update from Hope as it suggests that the club will be landing a bargain for the defender. The Guardian reported that the deal is worth a fee in the region of £25m, with Hope now claiming that it is £13m cheaper than that, although add-ons could take it higher.

This means that the Magpies may be getting an excellent deal for Trippier which represents a coup in the market for his price and the quality that he could provide. He is an experienced top-level defender who could make a huge impact on the team in the second half of the campaign, as he knows what it takes to perform consistently at Premier League level.

Gareth Southgate previously heaped praise on the ex-Burnley full-back, saying: “What Kieran has, firstly, is hugely underestimated. People are still seeing the lad that was at Spurs a couple of years ago and not the defensive animal that has grown at Atlético Madrid, trusted by one of the best and most successful coaches in the world.

“He gets his distances right on cover, he’s good one-v-one to stop crosses and his talking is really good. There was always going to be changes to our back four and we felt that communication and organisation was an important part.”

Trippier has played for England at the World Cup and European Championship, whilst also playing in the Premier League and La Liga for Tottenham and Atletico during his career. This highlights his experience, whilst his career average WhoScored rating of 7.13 shows that he has performed to a high level on a consistent basis. That is why fans could love to see him join Newcastle this month, especially for just £12m.

AND in other news, Hammond could save NUFC’s season with £20m January deal for “extraordinary” predator…

Ismael could save WBA millions with Cleary

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

Leeds: The issue with Rodrigo

What do Leeds United’s hybrid pitch and Rodrigo both have in common? Well, they both look tired, they are both difficult to watch and so far, they are a both proving to be a waste of money.

The Whites spent £300,000 on acquiring a new pitch from Tottenham at the start of the year but as Thomas Tuchel will tell you, it wasn’t the ideal surface to play on.

The ball was bobbling up and consequently, there was a lack of passing rhythm on Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately, Rodrigo was also lacking in rhythm. The Spaniard arrived for £30m last summer; a club-record fee.

However, for the money he cost, he has not delivered. The former Valencia forward has netted just three times this season which, for a man of his quality, isn’t good enough.

Many players struggle to adapt to life in England initially and fewer managers make it tougher than Marcelo Bielsa. Whether it be Jean-Kevin Augustin, Jay-Roy Grot or Ouasim Bouy, there’s a list of players who have not made the grade under the great Argentine.

Rodrigo, of course, cannot be counted in the same category. He is playing regular minutes and he has at least scored in a Leeds shirt. That being said, he has disappointed on English shores and nothing sums that up more than his cameo against Chelsea.

Rodrigo scored twice against Wolves U23s last week in what was an emphatic return to action. Though, he was off the pace and struggled to get into the game at Elland Road this weekend.

The 30-year-old replaced the injured Patrick Bamford shortly after the half-hour mark but then he found himself substituted with 11 minutes to go. Rodrigo trudged off at the far side with a perplexed look in his eye.

Very rarely does a £30m player get brought off after being introduced as a substitute earlier in the fray. Though, it was typical of Bielsa, someone who revealed he was merely subbed because of a lack of fitness.

Indeed, you may well argue that, but the statistics make for grim reading. The Spain international now hasn’t scored in senior football since the 5-0 rout over West Bromwich Albion in December and his form is becoming a problem, especially for the price Leeds paid.

Rodrigo only had 20 touches of the football on Saturday, 30 fewer than goalkeeper Illan Meslier. On top of that, the attacker produced just ten passes for his troubles, 77% of which were successful.

He did have one shot on target, but he never really looked like troubling Edouard Mendy in the Chelsea goal.

This isn’t the first time Bielsa has been left dissatisfied with the experienced striker, though. He was dragged off after just 65 minutes against Tottenham back in January while he was substituted on and then off again in the win over Sheffield United in September.

Leeds’ manager has never been one for routine and tradition but he has treated Rodrigo in a peculiar fashion.

With Bamford now nursing an injury, he will need his Spanish dynamo firing on all cylinders sooner rather than later.

AND in other news, Leeds’ £9m-rated gem just sent Bielsa a huge message, Phil Hay dubbed him “impressive”…

LUFC: Whelan on Gelhardt’s debut chances

In a recent interview, former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan discussed Joe Gelhardt’s chances of becoming the surprise replacement for Patrick Bamford on Friday if the latter cannot get over his knock.

Since joining Leeds from Wigan Athletic last summer, Gelhardt has been in rather remarkable form for the club’s U23 side, scoring eight goals and providing three assists over his 14 appearances in the Premier League 2.

However, despite his impressive form for the youth side, the £5,100 per week centre-forward has still yet to make his first-team debut for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Although, with Patrick Bamford picking up an injury in the club’s recent 0-0 draw with Chelsea, and, at present, the 27-year-old remaining a slight doubt for the upcoming clash with Fulham, Gelhardt could theoretically be in line to replace the striker in Bielsa’s starting XI.

However, speaking recently to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that he couldn’t imagine the 18-year-old being thrown in at the deep end by Bielsa this Friday, suggesting that Rodrigo could be played in a more advanced role instead.

He said: “I’m not sure if he will [start]. We’ll probably see him more on the bench, but while we still need points to guarantee safety, I can’t see that actually happening.

“I think you’ve got to go for experience and tried and trusted players in Rodrigo and Tyler Roberts, depending on which way they want to play it and which way round they want it.

“It’ll be hard to justify a £29 million player sitting on the bench for a teenager who hasn’t had any game time for Leeds United.

“It’s a massive loss losing Patrick and it was a massive risk. We knew that from two years ago when he was our only striker and he’s done so well not getting injured until now.”

Transfer Tavern Take

Indeed, considering Bielsa’s apparent reluctance to field Gelhardt previously this season, it would be a surprising turn of events if the 65-year-old suddenly changes his mind and opts to throw the teenager in from the start against Fulham.

However, considering how impressive Gelhardt has been for the U23 side this term, perhaps he does deserve a chance in the first team, something which would also bring the benefit of allowing Bamford more time to recover from his knock.

In other news: Leeds are ‘thinking seriously’ about making this key addition – find out more here!

Aston Villa: Talks at advanced stage for permanent Robin Olsen deal

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’. 

Spurs have ready-made Gareth Bale replacement in Ryan Sessegnon

Tottenham Hotspur witnessed the sensational return of Gareth Bale in 2020, though his impact thus far has been far from that.

Of course, nobody was expecting the Welsh superstar to his the dazzling heights of his former spell in north London considering he’s 31, but he’s barely shown any signs of why the Premier League outfit should keep hold of him past the summer.

Injuries have somewhat blighted Bale’s spell, restricting him to just 598 minutes in all competitions; he isn’t likely to usurp Heung-min Son or Harry Kane either.

Eurosport journalist Dean Jones believes both Jose Mourinho and Daniel Levy are enticed by the idea of keeping the Real Madrid star around despite all of the doubts – something that would certainly please the La Liga giants as it would get his enormous salary off the wage bill.

Spurs are thought to only be paying 40% of his £600k-per-week wages, luckily.

Whilst it would be a fairytale to see Bale back to his best in a Lilywhites shirt, it is probably time to move on from that dream and accept that it just hasn’t worked out.

And they needn’t worry as they have a ready-made replacement waiting in the wings – or at least, waiting over in Germany as Ryan Sessegnon continues to impress during his loan spell at Hoffenheim.

The 20-year-old is getting valuable game time and has quickly become their first-choice left wing-back, the very position where Bale made his name.

In nine Bundesliga starts, he has contributed to four goals and has also made 12 dribbles, 16 interceptions and 24 tackles, per WhoScored.

We’re finally starting to see why Spurs paid £25m for him in 2019. It would be silly to not give him an opportunity upon his return.

Already, he’s been likened to Bayern Munich dynamo Alphonso Davies, whilst Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen has dubbed him “highly talented.”

Even before his arrival in north London, Sessegnon was drawing. comparisons to Bale, so it seems only right that the transition is made with the Welshman now back at the club.

The “huge talent” – now valued at £18m – is doing everything asked of him out on loan and will present far better value than whatever Spurs will have to pay to keep hold of their former generational talent.

AND in other news, Fresh injury BLOW a cause for concern for Spurs boss Jose Mourinho…

Pundit claims Ake would want Spurs move

In an exclusive interview with The Transfer Tavern, Dean Windass, who made 402 appearances during his career, has claimed that Nathan Ake would like to sign for Tottenham Hotspur as he is not good enough for Manchester City.

Ake was signed for £40 million last summer following Bournemouth’s relegation to the Championship, however, injuries have seen him sit on the sidelines for 105 days this season, with his big blow coming while on international duty.

The former Bournemouth defender has been handed more starts towards the end of the season as Pep Guardiola rested his star players for the Champions League, with Ake starting three of the last four Premier League matches.

Speaking on how Ake isn’t good enough for Man City and if he would think a move to Spurs would be good, Windass exclusively told The Transfer Tavern:

“I don’t think he’ll stay at City because I don’t think he’s good enough to play for them in my opinion but also, I can’t see him going back to Bournemouth.

“He’s an athlete, he looks easy on the eye as he’s good on the ball, a threat from set-pieces and he’s quick. So I think that would be a good fit and the alarm bells would start ringing for him if he knew Tottenham wanted to sign him. That would be a massive, massive club for him to go to.”

Ake has established himself as a quality Premier League centre back having made 155 appearances since making his debut for Chelsea during the 2012/13 season before he was sold to Bournemouth in 2017.

Pep Guardiola appears to have found his much-desired centre back partnership in John Stones and Ruben Dias who have helped City concede just 26 goals in the league all season.

Newsome hints at Buendia and Aarons stay

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Norwich City defender Jon Newsome has suggested that the likes of Emiliano Buendia and Max Aarons could remain at Carrow Road this summer.

Both Buendia and Aarons have been heavily linked with moves away from Norwich after strong campaigns in the Championship.

Buendia was excellent in attack as Daniel Farke’s side strolled to the title, scoring 15 goals and providing 16 assists.

As for Aarons, he also showed some attacking initiative from that right-back position, averaging 1.4 key passes per league game – the fourth highest average in the Canaries’ squad (via WhoScored).

Furthermore, it is not a surprise that both players are attracting interest from other clubs. Newsome, however, thinks Farke has a good chance of keeping hold of two of his most prized assets.

Discussing the futures of Buendia and Aarons with FFC, the ex-Norwich player said:

“For me, I don’t think the players will want to leave, you know. They’ve had a really tough campaign, they’ve gone up as champions. 

“Financially, yes, if they move, they will be rewarded obviously bigger and better than what they might get at Norwich City at this moment of time.

“But that money will come to them anyway even if they have a season at Norwich and prove themselves in a team that they’re comfortable in, happy with, they’ve got confidence in.”

Last time Norwich were in the Premier League, the club really struggled, so Farke will probably be desperate to keep all of his key players to bolster the Canaries’ chances of survival.

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