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West Ham United could move for a Premier League midfielder this summer as they look destined to lose Declan Rice at the end of the current season.

What’s the latest on Scott McTominay to West Ham?

According to Football Insider, West Ham could make a move for McTominay this summer after Manchester United revealed they are prepared to listen to offers for the midfielder.

The Old Trafford side believes they could get £25m for the 26-year-old and with David Moyes preparing for life after Rice, a summer swoop for the Scot could potentially be on the cards.

The Englishman has admitted he wants to play Champions League football and with the Hammers looking for in excess of £100m for their prized asset, they will have plenty of funds to lure McTominay to London.

Would signing McTominay be the end for Rice at West Ham?

The United player has been a one-club man for his entire career, just like Rice, yet he hasn’t enjoyed the finest of seasons under Erik ten Hag this term.

The midfielder has played 25 times this term, yet completed 90 minutes in just eight matches and he could well see this campaign as his last at the Red Devils.

Having played 195 matches for United, scoring 18 goals, it looks like a fresh start is what’s needed, and Moyes could potentially land a player who has yet to hit his peak years.

McTominay enjoyed his finest football under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, especially during the 2020/21 season where he averaged a rating of 7.08/10 across 32 Premier League appearances, ranking him as the fifth-best player in United’s squad that term.

He scored four goals, created three big chances, and made 0.5 key passes as he displayed his attacking talents while also averaging 53.1 touches per match, showing extreme confidence in his ability to dictate possession.

By winning 59% of his total duels and making 1.6 tackles and 1.3 clearances per match, it was arguably his defensive skills that were most of use to United, screening the back four with his ability and physical presence.

Indeed, he was even dubbed a “physical monster” by Solskjaer following a match against Manchester City and despite recent seasons not quite living up to expectations, if Moyes could return him to that kind of form, he will be an excellent addition, even if it may well mean the end for their captain’s time in the east of London.

With proven Premier League experience, however, McTominay would be the logical replacement for Rice should he depart the club this summer and for a £25m fee, it would be a bargain.

Leeds United have reportedly approached Al-Gharafa manager Pedro Martins ahead of a potential move to Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Martins profiled

Martins, who is best known for his four-year stint in charge of Olympiacos, has only been with Al-Gharafa since November, taking just five games with the Saudi side.

The 52-year-old likes to play a 4-2-3-1 formation and has a huge 558 games of experience as a manager, winning 277 of those. He has wins over Mikel Arteta, Sean Dyche and Nuno Espirito Santo on his CV, and it looks as if Leeds are keen on his services.

The Latest: Leeds update

Journalist Pedro Jorge da Cunha shared a story for Zero Zero on Tuesday evening regarding Martins and Leeds.

He said that an informal approach has been made, with talks set to resume between the two parties in the coming days, and Martins is keen on a move to England.

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The Verdict: Finally?

The Whites have been dealt a number of setbacks when it comes to finding Jesse Marsch’s successor, but it seems as if they may well be onto something with Martins, who appears to be keen on a move to the Premier League.

A move could be a gamble, though, due to his lack of experience in a top European league. Martins did average 2.13 points per game with Olympiacos and won four major honours in Greece, so hopefully, should he move to Yorkshire, he’ll adapt to coaching in England relatively quickly, especially with Leeds in another relegation battle.

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has revealed that Elland Road officials ‘admire’ Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola.

The Lowdown: Iraola profiled

Iraola began his managerial career at AEK Larnaca back in 2018 and has also been in charge of CD Mirandes before taking over at Rayo Vallecano in 2020.

The 40-year-old likes to play a 4-2-3-1 system and has averaged 1.53 points per game with Los Vallecanos in 118 matches. Iraola actually ended his playing career at New York City as a team-mate of Jack Harrison, with the Spaniard making 21 appearances alongside the Leeds star, and it now seems as if he is of interest to potentially take over from Jesse Marsch, who was sacked on Monday.

The Latest: Leeds interest

Hay took to Twitter on Monday evening, stating that Iraola is ‘one of the coaches Leeds United particularly admire’ as he shared a corresponding article from The Athletic.

The reliable reporter said that the 40-year-old ‘has built a very good team’ at Rayo Vallecano and is on Leeds’ radar as a result.

The Verdict: Shrewd move?

Iraola has led Rayo Vallecano to fifth place in La Liga this season after 20 games, drawing with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and defeating Real Madrid.

All Leeds TV presenter Oscar Marrio believes that the Spaniard has a similar philosophy to another reported Whites managerial target in Carlos Corberan – ‘high pressing, possession based football with a heavy emphasis on maintaining width’.

Therefore, a Leeds swoop for Iraola by owner Andrea Radrizzani and Paraag Marathe, the president of investors 49ers Enterprises – who appear to have the decisive say when it comes to managerial decisions – could prove to be a shrewd one. However, his lack of Premier League experience may also make it a risk, with the club once again involved in a relegation battle.

One major problem at Manchester United in recent times has been the inability to offload players who are surplus to requirements, with the long-serving Phil Jones the most obvious example of a figure who has arguably outstayed his welcome.

By contrast, there have also seemingly been occasions where the Red Devils have hastily moved players on, only to see that decision blow up in their face, with promising youngster Angel Gomes one such talent who has thrived since exiting Old Trafford.

The diminutive playmaker – who was part of England’s U17 World Cup-winning squad under Steve Cooper in 2017 – had been earmarked for big things at United after making his first-team debut at the tail end of the 2016/17 campaign, with the then-16-year-old replacing Wayne Rooney late on at home to Crystal Palace.

Despite that early bow under Jose Mourinho, the 5 foot 6 starlet was unable to force his way into the senior setup on a consistent basis, going on to make just ten appearances for the club over the next three years.

Lauded as an “unbelievable” talent by former youth coach Nicky Butt, the London-born sensation particularly fell by the wayside during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time in charge, with the Norwegian said to have taken a ‘dim view’ of the youngster’s failure to agree to a new contract.

That “dispute” – as worded by Butt – ultimately ended with Gomes moving on when his deal expired in summer 2020, having only made six appearances under Solskjaer during the 2019/20 campaign.

Having had concerns over his ability to earn a regular place in the team at the Theatre of Dreams, the then-teenager took the decision to join Ligue 1 side Lille on a free transfer, having since proven his former employers wrong for allowing him to depart.

After an impressive season on loan at Primeira Liga outfit Boavista in 2020/21, in which he provided 12 goals and assists in 32 games in all competitions, the eye-catching ace subsequently returned to his parent club the following year, forcing his way into the first-team reckoning at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

After recording three goals and two assists in 30 games last season, the Englishman has truly “exploded” this term according to journalist Andres Onrubia Ramos, who added that Gomes has proven himself as a player who “makes a difference” in the final third.

This breakthrough campaign has seen the 22-year-old score three goals and provided three assists in 24 games to date, ensuring that he ranks in the top 15% among his positional peers in Europe’s five main leagues for assists.

It is the quality of the £12k-per-week youngster’s goal contributions which have particularly caught the eye, however, having netted a stunning long-range strike against Pau last month before following that up with a “filthy backheel assist” against Rennes earlier this week, as per writer Zach Lowy.

That remarkable rise in recent months has ensured that Gomes is now valued at around £13m according to CIES Football Observatory, albeit with that figure only set to increase should his impactful displays continue.

With Erik ten Hag’s side currently lacking a playmaking alternative to Bruno Fernandes, it may well be a source of frustration for United to see their former creative asset blossoming in France.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has slammed Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to loan out Bryan Gil for the rest of the season.

What’s the word?

In the final hours of the winter market, Spurs managed to complete a couple of incomings that may have pleased fans. Most notably, Pedro Porro moved from Sporting Lisbon on loan with an obligation to buy.

On top of that, youngster Jude Soonsup-Bell also arrived from Chelsea. Before the final day, though, Arnaut Danjuma also arrived at the club. Making way for the Dutchman, Gil was loaned out to Sevilla.

It seems as though that particular deal has not gone down too well with Gold, who made his feelings known while speaking on the Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham podcast.

Indeed, he said: “This deal irritates me more than probably any of the transfers that happened in the window.

“Because I think Bryan Gil is going to be such a super little player. I really think he is. And I don’t think he’s done anything in the recent weeks to justify him kind of being pushed out the door, either.”

Bad call?

Gil has certainly struggled to make himself a regular starter in the Spurs team since arriving in north London. For instance, manager Antonio Conte has only started him twice in the Premier League this term.

However, in recent weeks, he had been playing a little more than usual, with both those starts coming in January, so he had looked on the verge of potentially breaking into the first team.

Indeed, he even picked up a 7/10 Sofascore match rating after playing 77 minutes and claiming an assist in the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace early last month.

Still, it seems this wasn’t enough to convince Conte and has been loaned out until the summer, much to the disappointment of Gold.

Seeing as Sevilla originally sold him for £22m and also got Erik Lamela as part of the deal, they will certainly be delighted to now have their former player back – so at least someone has done well out of this all.

Whether Spurs live to regret this decision remains to be seen as they chase a Champions League place.

Newcastle United and Eddie Howe quickly identified the defence as an area in need of strengthening during the January transfer window.

During that month, the Toon brought in the likes of Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Matt Targett to try and stem the tide of leaking so many goals and avoid getting relegated.

This ended up working wonders for the Magpies, as they only lost five league games after January, four of which were against the teams who ended the season in the top four.

Now that the summer transfer window is set to open, this will once again give Howe the chance to strengthen his squad and put them in a good place to take on the next campaign.

One figure with whom Newcastle have been linked recently and who could potentially make them even stronger at the back is William Saliba.

In the summer of 2019, Arsenal signed the defender in a deal worth a reported £27m. Since then, the £27m-rated Frenchman has had loan spells in his homeland with clubs such as Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille.

His recent campaign on loan with Marseille saw the 21-year-old show his capabilities at the back by making more interceptions (80) and clearances (91) than any other player at the Stade Velodrome. He also made more tackles (47) in the defensive third of the pitch than any of his latest crop of temporary team-mates.

Dubbed a “confident” defensive player by former Arsenal ace Bacary Sagna, Saliba has also been likened to fellow countryman Raphael Varane by Fabio Frasconi.

As one of Europe’s most highly-decorated players, the opportunity to have Newcastle’s own next version of Varane in the shape of Saliba would be a mouth-watering prospect for Howe.

Presumably as a result of playing 14 more league games than the Manchester United defender this season, the Gunners outcast racked up more tackles, interceptions, blocks and pressures than the 2018 World Cup winner.

If Newcastle sense an opportunity to sign the young centre-back either on a permanent move or loan deal from Arsenal this summer, it is something that they should definitely pounce upon, as the 21-year-old certainly seems to have what it takes to show that he can succeed in the Premier League.

In other news: Howe can finally axe “nervous” dud as Newcastle plot bid for “superb” £14k-p/w tank

Liverpool have been battling to get some players fit for tonight’s Champions League final against Real Madrid, and an official update has emerged which will excite supporters ahead of kick-off.

What’s the latest?

The club’s official Twitter channel has delivered an update on Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho’s inclusion in the matchday squad for the final in Paris.

Liverpool FC tweeted: “Thiago and Fabinho will be included in our travelling squad for the #UCLfinal against Real Madrid”, along with images of both players in training ahead of the Stade de France showdown.

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Supporters will be excited

This latest update will surely get Liverpool supporters excited, following doubts over both midfielders being in the squad for the Champions League final.

Fabinho was pictured returning to full training on Tuesday following a thigh injury sustained in the Premier League clash against Aston Villa earlier this month. He duly missed the FA Cup final a fortnight ago, but Jurgen Klopp had been confident that the Brazilian should be in contention for tonight.

Thiago was the bigger doubt out of the two, with the Spanish star suffering an Achilles injury against Wolves on the last day of the Premier League season six days ago.

On Wednesday, Paul Joyce tweeted; “Jurgen Klopp said Thiago Alcantara has a good chance of making the Champions League final. He will train this afternoon.”

A subsequent update on Liverpool’s official website stated that the 30-year-old has indeed trained in the meantime.

Following the update, it suggests that the relentless midfield duo could be in contention for the final, which is a massive boost for the Reds. They have both featured regularly in Liverpool’s journey to the decider, with Fabinho playing in all 12 games in the European campaign, and when they come together they combine to make a formidable midfield force.

Since Thiago arrived at the club, the Reds have only lost one game in all competitions when the Brazilian and the Spaniard start together. That is an astonishing statistic, and one which proves that the pair are desperately needed to start against Real Madrid tonight.

Klopp and Liverpool supporters will be hoping that the duo can combine to inspire another positive result in Paris, as Liverpool chase their third trophy of the season.

AND in other news: James Pearce shares exciting Liverpool update that supporters will love

Yosuke Ideguchi could end up being Celtic’s long-term answer to Parkhead legend Scott Brown in midfield, according to former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: Ideguchi’s injury problems

The 25-year-old made the move to Glasgow during the January transfer window but struggled to play a key role in the Hoops’ Premiership title win.

Ideguchi’s progress has been halted by injury problems, meaning that he failed to make a single start in the league and has been limited to just 134 minutes of action across six appearances for the club in all competitions thus far.

The hope is that the Japan international becomes a key player moving forward, and there is one man who believes that will certainly be the case.

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The Latest: Ideguchi backed to be Brown’s successor

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie has backed Ideguchi to end up being the ideal replacement for Brown at Celtic in terms of his style of play in the middle of the park. The 62-year-old claimed:

“I have been saying this for a while, Celtic are missing Scott Brown. He was the catalyst in that midfield for so long. He dictated everything that went through there.

“I just wonder if Ideguchi could be that guy. He has barely played really, we don’t know what kind of player he is. Maybe he is that kind of perfect player we need. Next season will be a big one for him because the jury is still out.

“Rogic and Bitton are going so there will be a chance for him and we know he wouldn’t have come if the manager didn’t rate him. He has been so unlucky with that injury so hopefully we see a bit more of him in pre-season.”

The Verdict: One to watch

Ideguchi has become something of a forgotten man at Parkhead because of others excelling during Celtic’s title triumph, but he could yet become a formidable player in his own right.

Ange Postecoglou has described the midfielder as the ‘hardest worker’ at the club, and that is something for which the legendary long-time captain Brown was famed during his time with the Hoops.

With Tom Rogic leaving this summer, a gap will open up in Celtic’s midfield, and a strong pre-season and return to full fitness could yet see Ideguchi fill that void.

Having averaged 2.3 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.7 successful duels per game in his final season in the J-League last year (Sofascore), the evidence is there to suggest that the 25-year-old could be the industrious Brown-like presence in the Hoops’ engine room over the coming months and years.

In other news, Celtic are reportedly eyeing up a move for one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle United reportedly ‘remain keen’ on signing Sven Botman in the summer, despite a ‘sensational twist’ that has now emerged.

The Lowdown: Milan bound?

It has been reported that the St. James’ Park faithful have ‘not given up hope’ of signing Botman in the summer, despite AC Milan already verbally agreeing personal terms with the Lille central defender.

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After failing to sign him in the January transfer window, the North East club have continually held ‘extensive negotiations’ over the potential signing, but it looks like Milan could be the favourites for his signature.

The Latest: Remain keen

As per Football Insider, the Tyneside outfit ‘remain keen’ on signing Botman, even though a ‘sensational twist’ has now emerged in the form of a new suitor.

According to a source from Manchester United, the Red Devils are now ‘exploring a move’ for the Dutchman, with ‘preliminary talks’ set to take place after a board meeting involving new manager Erik ten Hag.

The Verdict: Get it done

With Manchester United, who can offer Botman European football just like Milan, now entering the frame, the Magpies need to act fast to get this deal done.

Described as a ‘golden boy‘ by his agent Francesco Miniero, he is one of the most promising up-and-coming players in the game at just 22 years of age, having already played regularly at the highest level.

Nonetheless, at six-foot-five, he is an imposing centre-back, and could form a truly scary partnership with the six-foot-seven Dan Burn.

In other news, find out which ‘terrifying’ star NUFC are now eyeing here!

Wolves host already-relegated Norwich in the Premier League this afternoon with Bruno Lage’s men looking to end the season strongly after a run of five games without a win.

The Molineux outfit have been in poor form of late, shipping ten goals in their last three matches having conceded just 29 in the 33 games prior.

But against a side whose fate is already sealed in the Canaries, Wolves have an excellent chance to sign off in front of their home fans with a victory.

But who is available for Lage’s side and how will the Portuguese opt to set his team up?

Injury News

According to Premier Injuries, both Max Kilman and Nelson Semedo have been ruled out for the season with respective issues whilst defender Romain Saiss could also miss the final two games of the campaign.

However, the Moroccan’s absence will be particularly painful for the Wolves faithful. The defender is likely to leave this summer with his contract set to expire next month.

The only other likely absentee is Daniel Podence who is nursing a foot injury.

Wolves Predicted XI

After a thumping 5-1 defeat by Manchester City at Molineux on Wednesday night, Lage could be tempted to make wholesale changes. However, we expect the 46-year-old to make just a few alterations…

Wolves XI: Sa, Jonny, Coady, Boly, Chiquinho, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Marcal, Silva, Jimenez

The defensive trio keep their place with Saiss still absent whilst Chiquinho also stays in the side after an impressive full Premier League debut on Wednesday despite the heavy defeat and registered two assists in the draw with Chelsea.

Dendoncker, Neves and Moutinho all keep their spots in midfield too whilst there is a change at left-wing-back with Marcal coming in for Rayan Ait-Nouri.

The £33k-per-week 20-year-old, labelled as “immature” by Wolves legend Steve Bull in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, had a poor outing vs Manchester City and has struggled for consistency of late.

As for Marcal, the 33-year-old is set to leave Molineux with his contract expiring next month and therefore deserves the chance to play in front of the Wolves supporters one last time.

Then the second change comes up front as Fabio Silva comes back into the fold in place of Pedro Neto alongside Raul Jimenez.

Although the 19-year-old is yet to score this season, he was crowned as Wolves’ player of the month for April and has shown glimmers of the potential that tempted to the West Midlands club to fork out a club record £35.6m almost two years ago.

This afternoon’s match proves to be a good opportunity for Wolves to sign off at home with a victory whilst also allowing players set to depart the opportunity to say goodbye one last time.

AND in other news: Forget Neto: Lage must now unleash Wolves £26k-p/w “top player” who’s “got everything”