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The agent of Fabian Schar is reportedly now in talks over a potential move away from Newcastle United in the summer.

The Lowdown: Schar soon out of contract

The 30-year-old is out of contract at St James’ Park in the summer, meaning that he can leave as a free agent.

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The Switzerland international has been one of their best performers in the Premier League so far this season, so it would not be a surprise to see a number of clubs line up for his signature.

The Latest: Milan talks over Schar

As per transfer insider Rudy Galetti, Schar’s agent Volker Struth has now held a ‘meeting’ with AC Milan over a possible move for his client to the Serie A giants this summer.

Other names have also been discussed, but the Swiss defender will no doubt stand out to those at Newcastle.

The Verdict: Worrying for Newcastle

It is certainly worrying that there have been talks held over Schar’s potential exit from Tyneside.

The defender is reportedly close to signing a new deal with the Magpies, but his head could well be turned by Milan, who have a rich history and are currently top of Serie A.

Newcastle will not want to lose Schar on a free transfer given that he still holds a decent market value, and he will not be an easy player to replace as he has been virtually ever-present under Eddie Howe and, as outlined above, has impressed for the Toon this season.

In other news, find out who NUFC are now considering selling in a swap deal

Taking to Twitter, journalist Nathan Gissing, a contributor for Sky Sports’ Gianluca Di Marzio’s website, has made a Southampton transfer claim involving Chelsea defender Levi Colwill.

The Lowdown: Saints looking to summer?

As the Saints seem to successfully navigate relegation for another year, transfer chief Martin Semmens and manager Ralph Hasenhuttl will be looking ahead to the summer window.

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Links have already emerged to possible targets with Union Berlin forward Taiwo Awoniyi and West Brom shot stopper Sam Johnstone reportedly having been earmarked.

Conducting much business with European giants and Premier League rivals Chelsea over the last few seasons in particular, news has now come to light involving another player from the west London club.

The Latest: Saints enter mix for Colwill…

As per Gissing, Southampton are now in the mix for promising centre-back Colwill – who is currently enjoying a fruitful spell on loan at Huddersfield Town.

He explained (via Twitter): “Levi Colwill has interest from many clubs including Leicester, Fulham, Southampton, Everton, Huddersfield (if promoted) & European clubs

“Chelsea will assess Levi in pre-season and make a final decision there.”

The Verdict: Make a move?

The 19-year-old, a key player for The Terriers over his temporary stint, has certainly impressed those around the club.

Steven Chicken for example, a Huddersfield Town reporter for Yorkshire Live (via Chelsea Loan Army), branded Colwill ‘sensational from day one’ and ‘flawless’ since joining.

The England Under-19 international has been a mainstay under Town boss Carlos Corberán, making 26 Championship appearances this season and even pitching in with two goals (Transfermarkt).

Widely regarded as a top emerging talent, Colwill can be deployed at left-back as well as in the centre of defence, potentially backing why the Saints hold a firm interest.

Amid all the competition, perhaps Southampton’s past dealings with Chelsea could put them above other clubs in the pecking order.

In other news: Sky Sports: Southampton also in mix for ‘world class’ international! Find out more here.

Manchester United handed rivals City a big favour as they held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon.

The Red Devils overcame the odds somewhat in a bizarre game which saw injury after injury for United, including one for Jesse Lingard, who was only introduced himself in the first period.

However, the 0-0 scoreline was just reward for a dogged and determined display which left it all to play for at the top of the table and gave cross-city rivals City improved hopes of making it a second successive Premier League title.

Of course, the focus should be on United though, and in particular manager Solksjaer, who has been superb since stepping into the fold following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

His ability today to get the best out of a team which was seemingly being torn apart by injuries was to be admired, and it showed that he is not simply all about attacking and expansive football just to go about pleasing the fans at Old Trafford.

The assured way his players went about their business was testament to just how well Solskjaer has done at the club, and we think that the job is his in the summer barring an absolute disaster of events.

The Norwegian has earned his keep so to speak within the confines of the United supporters, and he will no doubt be impressing at board level too.

If he can keep getting the results, secure Champions League football, and deny Liverpool the title in any way he can, then he’ll be the man to take United forward 100%.

Sunderland have been handed a huge double boost over Alex Pritchard and Nathan Broadhead…

What’s the latest?

Alex Neil has revealed that both players are ahead of schedule and closing in on returns from their respective injuries.

The Scottish head coach has admitted that they are still a doubt for the match against Gillingham, however, as they have only just made their way back to training.

He told the club website: “We were concerned that both would be long-term issues, but they have recovered quicker than anticipated.

“That’s great and both have been out on the grass this week, so we have hopefully seen flashes that they are coming back.

“Whether they will be back for this weekend’s game against Gillingham, I’m not quite sure, but they certainly aren’t far away.”

Cloud nine

This news will surely leave the Black Cats boss on cloud nine for multiple reasons.

Firstly, he will be delighted that both players are set to come back earlier than expected. He was seemingly worried that he would be without them for a longer period of time and that would have been a huge blow to the club’s promotion hopes.

Therefore, he will be pleased with how they have worked to recover from their respective blows. It shows that they have been putting in the hard work behind the scenes to ensure that they are back as quickly as possible and Neil will be impressed with their progress.

The ex-Preston coach will also be delighted because of what their returns mean to Sunderland. Having them back will be a major boost to the side as they have both proven themselves to be quality options at League One level this season.

Pritchard has averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.08, scoring four goals and providing seven assists from midfield. He has created an impressive two chances per game for the Mackems and his dynamic play in the middle of the park will bolster Neil’s attacking options.

Broadhead, meanwhile, has seven strikes in his last ten appearances for Sunderland in all competitions. He has also scored five times in nine third division starts, which shows that he knows how to find the back of the net on a regular basis at this level.

Therefore, Neil will be buzzing to have both of them back and available in the upcoming matches as they both have an abundance of talent to offer in the final third.

AND in other news, Speakman heading for SAFC shocker on £2.7k-p/w gem who’s the best “in the division”…

West Ham United are in the midst of a crucial period of their season in the Premier League and Europa League.

Tonight sees the Hammers take on Lyon in the Europa League once again to try and secure their place in the semi-finals.

While the east London club are also aiming to finish as high up the Premier League table as they can, it seems as though they may have to continue their efforts without one of their key figures.

What’s the news?

According to a recent tweet from journalist Jack Rosser, Irons defender Kurt Zouma is set to have “further scans” on an ankle injury he picked up during the 2-0 defeat against Brentford at the weekend.

Additionally, and rather worryingly, the Evening Standard reporter added that there is “some fear” that the Frenchman could be ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Since arriving at the London Stadium last August from fellow Premier League side Chelsea in a £29.8m deal, the centre-back has become a vital player for David Moyes. With 26 appearances to his name across all competitions, this shows how important he has been for his new club.

Moyes will be devastated

To highlight how impressive the 27-year-old has been for West Ham, he is currently the highest-rated centre-back in Moyes’ squad for his performances in the Premier League and Europa League according to WhoScored.

Also, with more clearances made in the league than any of his team-mates (123), the former Chelsea colossus has also won 73.9% of his duels in the current campaign, a higher success rate than any other Irons player to have been involved in more than five duels.

Taking all this into account, it’s safe to say that if the defender is ruled out for the rest of the season, it would be a devastating blow for West Ham and Moyes.

With that in mind, it seems as though the Hammers boss will have to make do with the other defensive options he has at his disposal and hope that they can maintain their fitness until the season comes to an end.

In other news: Moyes can form “dangerous” duo as GSB plot bid for £25m gem who could “explode” at WHU

West Ham United centre-back Angelo Ogbonna is already attracting interest ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Citta Celeste, who claimed that the Hammers defender has emerged as a target for Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, who are hoping to land the 33-year-old on a free transfer upon the expiry of his current contract at the London Stadium in the summer.

Previous reports had claimed that, despite the former Italy international’s season-ending cruciate ligament injury, the Irons are planning on offering him a new one-year deal, although a move back to his homeland could well tempt the former Crotone, Torino and Juventus defender.

Disaster

While it is true that Ogbonna may not have too many years ahead of him in which he is capable of playing a starring role at the very highest level of the professional game, it is undeniable that the centre-back still has much to offer West Ham in the short-term. That leads us to believe that his departure this summer would be a disaster for David Moyes and his team.

Indeed, in recent years, the £1.8m-rated defender has proven himself to be one of the Hammers’ most important players in the top flight, earning seasonal SofaScore match ratings of 6.82 in 2019/20, 6.81 in 2020/21 and averaging a rating of 6.71 over his 11 Premier League appearances in the current campaign prior to his injury.

This form led to the £70k-per-week defender receiving some huge praise, with Declan Rice stating of the Italian in December 2020: “He’s so good. Honestly, he’s gone to another level this season. He looks like a real top, top centre-half and he’s stepped up when it’s really mattered.”

West Ham podcaster Sam Delaney also praised the influence of the 33-year-old on the Irons’ backline in March of last year, stating: “The fact is he’s a real leader and he’s marshalled that defence whether we played in a four or a three. You can see him being vocal and he was so integral to it.”

As such, it is clear to see just how much of an impact Ogbonna has made in the heart of the West Ham defence, not only with his consistently solid performances but also with his leadership abilities. Moyes simply cannot afford to jettison such qualities in the summer, especially on a free transfer.

In other news – Forget Diop: West Ham liability with 40 touches must have just played his last game for Moyes

Leeds United have been heavily linked with Red Bull Salzburg star Brenden Aaronson in 2022, and his performance on Sunday will certainly have caught Victor Orta’s eye.

This forms part of our Transfer Watch series, where we react to a performance from a current transfer target.

The Lowdown: Leeds hoping to wrap up Aaronson deal

Aaronson has been the Whites’ main target this year after the club made two bids for the USA international in the January window.

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As we know, the attacking midfielder remained in Austria with Salzburg but is still on Leeds’ radar ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge at Elland Road.

Aaronson made 25 appearances under Marsch last season and reports have suggested that the Whites are hoping to wrap up a move for the 21-year-old this summer.

The Latest: Impressive display from Aaronson

Salzburg clinched a ninth straight Austrian Bundesliga title on Sunday following a 5-0 win over Austria Vienna. Aaronson returned to action after a six-week layoff with a knee problem and impressed, ending with a SofaScore match rating of 7.3/10.

The attacking midfielder scored a penalty and registered three key passes, one of which led to a big chance.

He only had 30 touches of the ball during his 64-minute display but he starred upon his return and even showed off his pace after the final whistle when looking to dodge a beer shower from his team-mates.

The Verdict: Sign him

Should they stay in the Premier League, Leeds should be looking to wrap up a move for Aaronson as soon as possible.

Marsch doesn’t have an out-and-out attacking midfielder to choose from at Elland Road, making the 21-year-old’s arrival even more crucial.

Described as a player with a ‘monster mentality’ by Salzburg manager Matthias Jaissle, Aaronson has now contributed to 28 goals in 61 games for the Austrian champions, and with an impressive record under Marsch already, he could slot in perfectly at Elland Road.

In other news: Leeds and Orta may agree fee for ‘quality’ target ‘this week’ after Phil Hay’s reveal

Gabriel Martinelli endured an absolute nightmare for Arsenal as they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and his sending off only told half of the story.

The Gunners held out for their first win of 2022 after the Brazilian was sent off in the 69th minute in an unusual and quickfire fashion. He was shown two bookings within seconds – one for blocking a throw-in and one for a late foul on Chiquinho.

Mikel Arteta would’ve been glad that his side took an early lead after centre-back Gabriel poked home new captain Alexandre Lacazette’s flick-on in the 25th minute.

Arsenal’s first win in six outings moves them into fifth place, just one point outside of the top four, with two games in hand.

Martinelli’s red card was the 12th of the Spaniard’s reign at the Emirates Stadium and fourth of the year so far, and for once, it wasn’t Granit Xhaka, though he was still booked, of course.

The 20-year-old shoved Daniel Podence as he was trying to take a throw-in and referee Michael Oliver let play continue and the Arsenal gem ran down the Wolves substitute and fouled him.

Oliver immediately showed him two yellow cards and he was sent off.

But truth be told, Martinelli was struggling throughout the entire match, so even if he remained on the pitch, he would’ve struggled to contribute – if Arteta wasn’t planning to hook him at some point.

The £34m-rated dynamo was awfully lightweight and weak, so there’s some irony in the fact that he was booked for actually putting in a challenge as he won only two of his 13 duels (15%).

He also lost possession a whopping 16 times from only 34 touches, meaning he gave away the ball once every 2.1 times he had it, as per SofaScore, who also graded him as the worst player on the pitch (5.3 rating).

His lacklustre presence in the final third was evident by the fact that even the goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, had more touches of the ball (40).

The Brazil international also failed to have a single shot, couldn’t register a successful dribble from two attempts and was dribbled past on four occasions.

All in all, it was an absolute nightmare outing from the young winger and he’ll now have to earn Arteta’s trust back once he serves his one-game suspension.

AND in other news, Forget Patino: Arteta could discover Arsenal’s next Saka in “phenomenal” Hale End gem…

Ange Postecoglou has suggested that Tom Rogic will be available for selection in Celtic’s upcoming Premiership clash.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by Football Scotland, the 56-year-old revealed that, despite having only recently returned from international duty with Australia, the attacking midfielder does not require a rest from first-team football and will be available for Sunday afternoon’s trip to Motherwell.

Speaking about the availability of the 29-year-old, Postecoglou said: “He’s back and he’s ready to play.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Rogic has been for the Bhoys so far this season, the news that the midfielder will be available for selection for the trip to Fir Park tomorrow is sure to have left the Parkhead faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 18 Premiership outings in the current campaign, the £1.35m-rated Australian has been in fantastic form for the Hoops, having already bagged three goals, provided six assists and created nine big chances for his teammates, along with taking 2.1 shots and making 1.8 key passes per game. These returns have seen the £15k-per-week midfielder average a SofaScore match rating of 7.00.

Furthermore, with Rogic’s fellow attacking midfielder David Turnbull still unavailable because of his hamstring injury, the return of the 29-year-old will undoubtedly be very welcome for Postecoglou, who will certainly be hoping that Rogic and his Celtic team-mates can continue their remarkable recent form with yet another positive result against Motherwell.

Rangers face a challenging test against third-placed Hearts tomorrow, and should the Bhoys’ Glasgow rivals once again slip up, a victory at Fir Park could well see the Hoops move clear in the Premiership title race – an outcome which would undoubtedly delight everyone involved with the Parkhead club.

In other news – Forget Dembele: Postecoglou must now unleash “generational” Celtic prodigy who has “no fear”

West Ham United will take on a Chelsea side without Antonio Rudiger and Mateo Kovacic in the Premier League this afternoon.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to the media ahead of the match, as quoted by Football.London, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel stated: “For Sunday, both of them [Kovacic and Rudiger] are not back, but there are no other new injuries.”

Rudiger missed Wednesday evening’s 4-2 defeat to Arsenal with a groin injury whilst Kovacic couldn’t manage 30 minutes in the Blues’ FA Cup semi-final victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, withdrawing with an ankle injury.

Moyes will be buzzing

Of course, they can’t let their heads drop, however, Chelsea’s chances of finishing third in the Premier League look pretty secure whilst the Hammers will have plenty to play for.

The Irons will leapfrog Manchester United into sixth with a victory at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, with the gap between the two sides now just two points after Ralf Rangnick’s men lost 3-1 at Arsenal yesterday.

David Moyes’ men are very much in contention of securing another top-six finish, whilst qualification for Europe is also still possible with a Europa League triumph, with the east London side taking on Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their semi-final on Thursday.

However, in order to guarantee European football via the league, there is now very little room for slip-ups for the Hammers, with Wolves very much in the picture too.

Both Rudiger and Kovacic are major absentees for the west London outfit, with the duo making 47 and 40 appearances this term for Tuchel’s side respectively. Rudiger, in particular, was a big absentee in midweek when Chelsea’s defence were error-prone and mistake-riddled on their way to a 4-2 defeat versus Arsenal.

West Ham must take confidence into their meeting with Chelsea from the fact that they ran out 3-2 victors in the reverse fixture whilst the Blues’ home form of late has been woeful, losing 3-1 to Real Madrid and 4-1 to Brentford in their last two matches at Stamford Bridge prior to the Arsenal crushing.

Moreover, the fact their London rivals will be without two key players will have Moyes buzzing.

AND in other news: Forget Diop: Moyes must now unleash West Ham wonderkid who’s “seriously good” today