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Newcastle United have now reportedly made contact with Aaron Ramsey over a potential move.

The Lowdown: Midfielder wanted

The St. James’ Park faithful have recently been linked to the likes of Franck Kessie and James Ward-Prowse, suggesting that they are targeting a new central midfield player following the completed takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.

The new owners will have to wait until the January transfer window opens to really stamp their financial authority, but with the calibre of names being linked with a move to the North East already, it promises to be an exciting one for the Toon Army.

The Latest: Ramsey contact

As per Sport Mediaset, the Tyneside club have now made ‘first contacts’ with Ramsey over a potential move from Juventus, and are ‘ready’ to offer him a three-year deal.

The Old Lady seem keen to offload him, as Max Allegri is looking for a more ‘dynamic and physically powerful’ midfielder.

The Verdict: Sign

Even though he may be 30 years of age now, Ramsey is still ‘world-class’ on his day, as claimed by his Wales teammate Joe Allen after a narrow 1-0 loss away at eventual champions Italy in the Euros.

A player who is more than capable of offering goals from midfield, with no fewer than 91 in total in his senior career for both club and country so far, Ramsey also has the added experience of playing in the Premier League before with Arsenal.

He would certainly be a smart signing by the Magpies, providing they can keep him fit, the one major worry with the Wales star being his extensive injury record.

In other news, find out which ‘realistic and ambitious name’ NUFC could sign here!

Tottenham Hotspur have received a huge defensive boost ahead of Sunday’s Premier League tie with Chelsea.

The Lowdown: Problems at the back

Despite winning their opening three league games of the season, Nuno Espirito Santo suffered his first defeat as Spurs boss last weekend as Crystal Palace ran out 3-0 winners.

Tottenham were without Cristian Romero, Davinson Sanchez and Giovani Lo Celso due to their involvement with Argentina and Columbia, with the trio currently training in Croatia with a member of the Spurs coaching team.

With Japhet Tanganga being sent off and Eric Dier limping off after only 12 minutes at Selhurst Park, Nuno’s options at the back are slim, but he is now set to be handed a huge boost ahead of the meeting with the European champions.

The Latest: Defensive boost

In a report by the Daily Mail, Spurs’ defensive concerns will be eased as Romero and Sanchez are set to return to the side, with the duo arriving in England on Saturday.

Sanchez and Romero, alongside Lo Celso, have been training in Croatia together to avoid having to self-isolate for ten days after returning from red-list countries.

The report claims that the trio will arrive in London 24 hours before the meeting with Chelsea so are available for selection against Thomas Tuchel’s side.

The Verdict: Eases the blow from Palace

Spurs’ defensive woes were evident in the drubbing at Selhurst Park, with Tanganga losing his head and receiving two yellow cards and Dier being forced off the field.

The return of Romero and Sanchez, the latter of whom was lauded as ‘a beast’ by Mauricio Pochettino, will be pleasing news for Nuno.

Last season, Sanchez produced 2.2 tackles per game, 4.7 clearances per game and won 60% of his aerial duels, and he has started the current campaign off in top form too.

With Romelu Lukaku bagging goals for fun at the moment for Chelsea, having the return of these two extremely physically strong defenders will certainly make Sunday easier and potentially help Spurs return to winning ways.

In other news, Spurs top target for 2022 has been announced after making no bid this summer. Find out more here.

The 2021/22 season has not been kind to Wolverhampton Wanderers so far with Bruno Lage struggling to engineer many successful results since being appointed as manager.

Wolves have created plenty of goalscoring opportunities but only have two strikes to their name in the league.

The Carabao Cup has been a little kinder to the Molineux outfit, though.

They demolished Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the last round but will face a much tougher test in former manager Nuno Santo’s Tottenham.

With such a stern encounter to come, it’s unlikely Lage will want to take out too many of his star men.

However, we are anticipating some changes to be made. Here’s our predicted XI for the game…

We are tipping the Portuguese coach to make as many as six changes to the side that lost to Brentford last weekend.

Cup goalkeeper John Ruddy comes back into the side at the expense of Josa Sa while £46k-per-week Willy Boly makes his first appearance for Wolves since the final day of last season.

There are changes on the flanks where Rayan Ait-Nouri dislodges Marcal in the starting XI. The latter has impressed at times this term but gave away a strange penalty on Ivan Toney a few days ago.

Ki-Jana Hoever is also afforded a chance on the right where he comes in for the more experienced Nelson Semedo.

Raul Jimenez keeps his place in attack despite Fabio Silva’s need for more minutes. He is joined by Adama Traore again but summer signing Trincao drops out in favour of another recent acquisition in Hwang Hee-chan.

The South Korean is the only member of the Wolves squad to find the net in the top-flight this season so has to start against a team like Spurs.

The final change is in the middle of the park where Joao Moutinho is given the night off. That means Ruben Neves partners Leander Dendoncker at the base.

This selection gives Wolves a nice blend of youth and experience in a match where both teams are likely to field under-strength starting XIs.

AND in other news, Lage must unleash £16.2m-rated Wolves beast on Spurs, he can create “danger”…

Speaking to TUTTOmercatoWEB, Roberto De Fanti, the agent of Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga, has refused to rule out a temporary move away for the player before August 31.

The Lowdown: Tanganga wows against the champions…

The Englishman put on a stellar display at home to Manchester City on the opening weekend of Premier League action, nullifying the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish on his side.

This prompted reports of a transfer U-turn from Nuno Espirito Santo with Football Insider claiming Spurs were set to keep him in the first team for 2021/2022.

Now, Tanganga’s own agent has come out and hinted he could still go out on loan with ‘days before the market closes’.

The Latest: Agent refuses to rule out Tanganga move away…

De Fanti, speaking in an interview with TUTTOmercatoWEB, has refused to rule out the possibility of a temporary move away for the 22-year-old before deadline day.

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“We have received many proposals for the dry loan because Tottenham firmly believes in the player and does not want to grant a sale,” the agent explained.

“The market is constantly evolving, already two years ago he had to be loaned and then [José] Mourinho made him one of the pillars of his defence before Covid.

“There are still days before the market closes, we will see what happens. He comes from a great recognition, that is man of the match on the occasion of the last match [against City].”

The Verdict: Keep him…

The youngster could be a real asset for Nuno over the Portuguese tactician’s debut season in charge of Spurs.

Lauded as an ‘excellent player’ by Tottenham legend Gary Mabbutt (FootballFanCast), Tanganga could save the Lilywhites money on investing in a new right-back.

Tottenham target Takehiro Tomiyasu is a very similar young player considering he can also act as a right-back and centre-half when called upon.

Given Tanganga’s presence, managing director Fabio Paratici may not have to swoop for an addition on that side after all – so we believe loaning him out certainly wouldn’t be in Nuno’s best interests.

In other news: Offer incoming: Levy readying Spurs bid to sign ‘amazing’ player who Nuno personally wants, find out more here.

A number of Liverpool supporters are frustrated that Taiwo Awoniyi was allowed to leave the Reds, following his excellent start to the season in Germany.

Jurgen Klopp’s men could only draw 1-1 at home to 10-man Chelsea on Saturday evening in what was a disappointing encounter at Anfield. The performance was good in patches, but as the minutes ticked by, Liverpool seemed to run out of ideas in the final third.

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There is a feeling that the Reds are one player short in attacking positions, with a new signing needed to freshen things up and provide more competition for playing time.

One player who could potentially have been an option is Awonoyi, but instead the 24-year-old was sold to Bundesliga side Union Berlin this summer, having never even played for Liverpool despite signing for them in 2015, being forced to undergo numerous loan spells due to difficulties obtaining a UK work permit.

The Nigerian has made a flying start to the season in the Bundesliga, scoring three goals in as many games, including a superb effort against Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday.

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Liverpool fans unhappy with Awoniyi sale

These Liverpool fans have fumed at the club’s decision, taking to Twitter to say that Awoniyi could have been a perfect option in the squad.

Some supporters feel he would have been a better option than current Reds forwards Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino, who between them have scored five goals in 34 appearances for the club since the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

“Maybe he could have been the option”

Credit: @keswickbro

“Better than Origi and Minamino”

Credit: @LFC_Brett

“Didn’t even give the lad a chance”

Credit: @ThatRexGuyAgain

“So we didn’t give him a chance but kept Origi”

Credit: @97HassanM

“Why did we let him go and Origi survives”

Credit: @AChxmz

“Why didn’t we give this kid a chance?”

Credit: @Nvli_dvn

In other news, some Liverpool fans have hailed one player’s performance against Chelsea. Find out who it is here.

Sky Sports pundit Kevin Phillips has urged Tottenham Hotspur to stump up the funds for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, regardless of whether Harry Kane chooses to stay in North London this summer [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: Spurs seek positive changes in 2021/22

Needing to step up the ante in 2021/22 after a disappointing campaign last year which resulted in UEFA Conference League football, newly crowned Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo will have aspirations of raising standards at the club through high-profile additions.

In regard to the centre-forward position, Kane’s future creates another unsettling dynamic at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium amid continued interest from Manchester City [Guardian].

Spurs have however also been heavily linked with Martinez alongside arch-rivals Arsenal [Football London].

The Latest: Phillips urges Tottenham to pursue Martinez

Ex-England striker Phillips responded bullishly in an interview with Football Insider, adamant of the need to bring the Argentina international to north London: “You have to make provisions in the case Kane leaves.

“It’s a matter of time so Tottenham are lining up someone else to come in.

“If it was Martinez, Inter are getting £160million in the space of a week with Lukaku going.

“How much are Tottenham paying? £60million? £70million? That’s not bad.

“They aren’t in a position to turn that down, we know about their financial troubles.

“They need a great signing like him even if Kane doesn’t go so I can see it happening for £70m, they won’t reject that.

“It might not end up being him but they need a player like that to push on.”

The Verdict: Spurs should look to acquire Martinez as a matter of priority

Correctly, the former Sunderland frontman identifies that the Lilywhites can’t wait on Kane forever to clarify his future.

In 2020/21, Martinez was in excellent form, registering 30 goal contributions in 48 appearances; 19 goals and 11 assists [Transfermarkt].

Regularly involved both as a goalscoring threat and creator, the 23-year-old managed to accomplish a respectable 2.9 shots per fixture across the year [WhoScored] while supplying one key pass per match,

Martinez should indeed be acquired if possible whether Kane stays put or moves on to pastures new, but whether Daniel Levy will stump up the cash to make it happen is another matter entirely.

In other news, Spurs are interested in a La Liga ace.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has been boosted by the news this week that James Ward-Prowse is back in Southampton training and is in contention for today’s game against Everton.

What’s the word?

There were doubts that the club captain would be fit enough to feature at Goodison Park for the Saints’ Premier League opener after he missed much of pre-season with a knee injury.

Despite missing the friendly games against Levante, Cardiff City, Swansea City and Athletic Bilbao, the 26-year-old looks likely to start against Rafa Benitez’s side on Saturday after making his return to training earlier this week.

Hasenhuttl confirmed that the England international has proved his fitness in time for the game, saying: “He is going to be okay. I am looking forward to seeing him back on Saturday.”

A huge boost for Hasenhuttl?

Considering that Ward-Prowse has played every single minute in consecutive Premier League seasons for Southampton, it would have been a huge blow to have him missing for the opening fixture, as the Saints look to win their opening game of the season for the first time since 2013.

The 26-year-old was the Saints’ most consistent performer last season, continuing to impress despite their slide down the Premier League table in 2021, and it seems clear that he will be hugely important once again this campaign, especially following the departures of Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard.

Ward-Prowse contributed eight goals and seven assists in 38 Premier League appearances in 2020/21, averaging an impressive 7.07 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which was comfortably the best of any Saints player.

Therefore, it is vital that he stays fit this season, as without him you’d worry that Southampton could get dragged into a relegation battle should they continue their woeful form from the second half of last season.

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However, it seems as if he will be starting Saturday’s game against Everton, and Southampton fans will surely be delighted to see him feature and will count on him to help them earn a rare win at Goodison Park.

In other news… Hasenhuttl should unleash “brilliant” Saints gem vs Everton

Liverpool could sign their ideal Jordan Henderson replacement this summer after being linked with a move for Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

What’s the story?

The Reds have joined Juventus and fellow Premier League side Arsenal in the race to sign the highly-rated 23-year-old, according to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (as reported by Football Italia).

With Gini Wijnaldum already departing Anfield and club captain Henderson potentially seeKing pastures new over the coming months, Liverpool are thought to be in the market for a new central midfielder.

Sassuolo are believed to want £34m for their prized asset, while the club’s CEO Giovanni Carnevali has set a deadline of August 8 for any transfer of one of their stars, so Locatelli’s future should be resolved relatively quickly.

He’s an ideal Henderson replacement

Locatelli has established himself as one of Serie A’s most exciting young talents over the last couple of campaigns, putting in a string of outstanding performances for the Mapei Stadium. The box-to-box midfielder contributed four goals and provided three assists in 34 top-flight appearances for Sassuolo last season, catching the eye of some of the continent’s top clubs.

As per WhoScored, the 23-year-old recorded 1.1 key passes, 2.4 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per league game throughout 2020/21, placing him in the top three amongst his teammates for each metric.

The Italy international carried his incredible club form onto the international stage during this summer’s European Championship. He was a key competent for Roberto Mancini’s triumphant side, scoring two goals in five games for the Azzurri as they claimed the Euro 2020 trophy after a dramatic final at Wembley.

Famed for his energy, tough-tackling nature and eye for a pass, the 1.85m (6 ft 1) beast would be the perfect candidate to succeed Henderson on Merseyside should the 31-year-old leave, and it’s no surprise that Eurosport Italy journalist Carlofillipo Vardelli recently dubbed the Sassuolo ace a “complete” player.

Liverpool supporters will surely be hoping that the Reds can keep hold of inspirational skipper Henderson, but the disappointment of his exit would be significantly softened by the arrival of Locatelli.

He could provide the driving force required to propel the 19-time English champions back to the Premier League summit, so the club’s hierarchy must swoop for the youngster, therefore bolstering Klopp’s midfield ranks ahead of the upcoming campaign.

In other news… Imagine him and Thiago: Edwards could form dream Liverpool duo with swoop for £20m gem 

Crystal Palace could revisit their interest in Watford winger Ismaila Sarr this summer, according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, and a number of Eagles supporters have been sharing their thoughts on the rumours on social media.

Palace had a £25m bid turned down for Sarr last season following the Hornets’ relegation to the Championship.

The 23-year-old starred at Vicarage Road in the second tier during the 2020/21 campaign, with his 13 goals and 10 assists proving vital to helping Watford seal an immediate return to the top flight.

According to The Sun, the Eagles are looking for a winger and could go back in for the Senegal international, who still has three years remaining on his Watford contract.

Palace have also been linked with Manchester City winger Morgan Rogers, with Patrick Vieira recently making Michael Olise his first signing in charge at Selhurst Park.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared the links to Sarr on Twitter on Saturday evening. Some Eagles fans were all for the move – one described a possible transfer as ’absolutely beautiful’ – although others were against a potential deal for the Watford maestro.

“YES YES YES”Credit: @CPFC_Ollie_”Would rather go down than give Watford £40 million.”Credit: @briansparrow191″I know that the source is The Sun but taking a talented player like Ismaila Sarr away from Watford and adding him to our team that has Zaha, Eze, Olise, and Benteke would be absolutely beautiful.”Credit: @alex_westry”They’re gonna try scam us even more than before”Credit: @BenM_CPFC”Too expensive and not that good anyways”Credit: @loyal_palace”How was he last season? Seemed to go a bit quiet but then again I wasn’t keeping track of Watford, would be a good edition either way”Credit: @kade_bladeSE25

In other news: ‘Massive’ – Many CPFC fans go wild as ‘excellent news’ is confirmed

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham have made a bid to sign exciting young Rangers forward Kai Kennedy this summer – with the Gers now replying to their offer.

The Lowdown: West Ham recruiting youngsters…

Already this summer, West Ham have been busy in landing a plethora of young starlet signings – including the likes of Armstrong Oko-Flex, Thierry Nevers and Pierre Ekwah Elimby (football.london).

Indeed, manager David Moyes appears to have his eye on restructuring the Irons’ academy whilst bringing some star future talent to Rush Green.

Now, it appears West Ham have their eye on another one in forward Kennedy.

The Latest: West Ham make bid to sign Kennedy…

As per the Mail, an offer has emerged from West Ham to sign exciting youngster Kennedy this summer – with the Gers firmly replying to the £600,000 bid.

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Rangers have rebuffed the approach, but the 19-year-old’s agent, Paul Tait, even confirmed the Irons’ fondness for Kennedy and that offers had been made. He confirmed that the club are ‘very keen’.

They apparently want to lure Kennedy down south and have been tracking him for months, but it appears they will have to wait longer to capture his signature.

The Verdict: Exciting starlet…

The teenager, lauded as a player who ‘excites people’ by former Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson at the end of last year (Glasgow Live), would certainly come as West Ham’s biggest youngster signing yet.

He has even earned an admirer in Gers boss and Premier League legend Steven Gerrard, who once called Kennedy a ‘fabulous little player’ (Daily Record).

The forward is also pretty versatile and has experience playing in all sorts of positions up the pitch, including left wing, right wing, attacking midfield and even as a second striker (Transfermarkt).

Given his versatility, high praise and impressive form while on loan spells away from Ibrox, this certainly seems like an exciting one to keep an eye on for Hammers fans.

In other news: ‘Blimey’, ‘I am salivating’…West Ham fans flock to ‘exciting’ club announcement, find out more here.