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An update has emerged regarding West Brom’s valuation of Leeds transfer target Matheus Pereira.

What’s the talk?

According to the Express & Star, Albion are expected to demand a fee of at least £30m for the 25-year-old this summer. The report claims that the Whites, West Ham and Arsenal have all been keeping tabs on the attacker.

Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal are said to have made a £6m bid for Pereira, which is well below the £30m the Baggies want for their star man.

Orta must strike

Leeds chief Victor Orta must sanction a swoop for Pereira this summer following this latest update. £30m could be a good price for the attacker and bringing in a player of his quality would be a boost to Marcelo Bielsa’s squad ahead of next season.

The club reportedly paid £27m for Rodrigo from Valencia last summer and he provided seven goals and two assists in 26 appearances, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.67. Meanwhile, Pereira scored 11 goals and set up another six in 33 appearances for the Baggies as they were relegated from the Premier League, recording an overall average match rating of 6.96.

This suggests that £30m for the Brazilian is a fair valuation from West Brom and that it could prove to be more worthwhile than Leeds’ deal for Rodrigo. The Spaniard had a solid first season in England, with his eight goal contributions, but Pereira is five years younger than him and showed himself to be more effective in the final third at top-flight level.

Former Leeds player Noel Whelan recently offered his thoughts on Pereira potentially arriving at Elland Road, hailing him as a “fantastic” player who could fit in well with the rest of the squad.

He told Football Insider: “We missed out on certain players last season, and this is a player that excites everybody. I would definitely take him all day long.

“He’s a fantastic player, he’s great on the ball, he can turn people inside out. Pereira’s another option we can use right across that front three and maybe in a number 10 role as well.

“He’s the right age and he’s the sort of player we should be looking at. Imagine, if you put him alongside Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison etc, that’s pretty formidable.”

The £39,000-per-week gem averaged 1.8 key passes per game for the Baggies, a haul bettered only by Raphinha (2.1) for Leeds. This suggests that, along with his goalscoring – having found the back of the net 11 times – Pereira could add some extra creativity to Bielsa’s squad and improve upon their attacking options.

That is why Orta must sanction a £30m deal for the playmaker this summer and get in ahead of any other clubs who are looking at him.

AND in other news, Big update emerges on £36k-p/w Leeds flop, fans will be buzzing…

Queens Park Rangers have been dealt a blow in their bid to bring Stefan Johansen to the Kiyan Price Foundation Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by West London Sport, who claim that, despite Mark Warburton’s side remaining in negotiations with Fulham, talks regarding the 30-year-old’s transfer to QPR have been held up due to the uncertainty surrounding Scott Parker’s future at Craven Cottage.

It is then reported that, should the 40-year-old indeed go on to leave the recently relegated side this summer, his replacement will want to assess the Fulham squad, something that could curtail the Rs’ proposed move for Johansen altogether.

Warburton will be gutted

With it being thought that a deal for Johansen is one of Warburton’s main priorities in the summer transfer window, the possibility of a move for the midfielder being called off is likely to leave the 58-year-old manager gutted.

Indeed, it is easy to see why the QPR boss is so eager to bring the £1.8m-rated man back to the club ahead of next season, as he highly impressed during a loan spell at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium last term.

Over his 21 Championship appearances for the Rs last time out, the Norway international scored four goals, provided two assists and created two big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 1.6 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the £8k-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.00, ranking him as Warburton’s sixth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, with QPR undoubtedly hoping to build off the back of a remarkable second half of the season last term – with the club ranking third in the Championship table since the turn of the year – in their upcoming campaign, the return of the midfielder whom Ronny Deila dubbed an “unbelievable” player would certainly appear to increase the Rs’ chances of continuing their assault on the top six in 2021/22.

However, whether or not Johansen will be making a return to the club this summer very much appears up in the air at present, with both Warburton and fans of the club facing an anxious wait regarding Fulham’s eventual decision regarding the 30-year-old.

In other news: Massive QPR transfer news is confirmed, it should have the fans buzzing

Liverpool are reportedly in advanced talks with Porto attacker Otavio as the Reds eye up an exciting summer move for the Brazilian.

The Lowdown: Attacking guile needed?

Jurgen Klopp is expected to bring in new players in the coming weeks and months, with Ibrahima Konate already arriving from RB Leipzig.

Liverpool could arguably do with a little more guile in attacking midfield areas, with the supply to the attack not always at its best last season – Curtis Jones was their highest-scoring player in that position with four goals in 2020/21.

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The Latest: Liverpool in talks with Otavio

According to A Bola [via Sport Witness], the Reds are eyeing up a move for Porto midfielder Otavio, with talks at an ‘advanced’ stage.

The 26-year-old is described as an ‘express request’ for Klopp following an impressive season which saw him score three goals and register eight assists in Liga NOS.

Otavio’s release clause is set to rise from €40m (£34.3m) to €60m (£51.4m) on July 15, so Liverpool may look to trigger it before that date.

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The Verdict: Exciting attacking option

The £21.6m-rated Otavio could be a shrewd addition by Liverpool, giving them something different in the middle of the park. He averaged 1.7 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game in the league last season, highlighting his ability to break the lines with his quality on the ball.

Otavio’s versatility allows him to play out wide also, so he could be a strong backup for the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, further improving the squad depth at Klopp’s disposal.

In other news, some Liverpool fans are against the idea of one player joining the Reds this summer. Find out who it is here.

A major update has emerged for Southampton, one that could lead to them finding a potential heir to Danny Ings’ throne.

What’s the talk?

According to Le10Sport, Ligue 1 outfit Nantes have decided that they are willing to part ways with striker Randal Kolo Muani this summer for a fee in the region of £8.5m (€10m).

Muani is out of contract at the end of next season and Nantes are hoping to cash in now before they lose him on a free transfer. The report claims Bundesliga side Frankfurt have already failed with a bid for Muani as they were unable to match Nantes’ price tag.

Last month, Le10Sport claimed that Premier League clubs Southampton and Crystal Palace are interested in signing the forward to bolster their squads ahead of next season. French side Lyon were also mentioned as being extremely keen in the report, although no bids from Lyon, Palace or Southampton have been made as of yet.

Danny Ings heir

Southampton CEO Martin Semmens could land the heir to Ings’ throne by landing a deal for Muani in the transfer window. Ings is out of contract at the end of next season and The Telegraph reported last month that Manchester United are considering a swoop for the English centre-forward. This could open the door for a striker to come in and take over from Ings, if the former Liverpool man does depart from St. Mary’s, and Muani could be that man.

Ings scored 12 goals and registered four assists in 29 Premier League appearances for Southampton in the 2020/21 campaign, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.84. Muani, meanwhile, racked up nine goals and four assists in 35 starts for Nantes in Ligue 1, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.91. This suggests that he could be on a similar level to Ings, as the Saints man only managed a few more goals, whereas Muani achieved a superior match-by-match rating across the season.

The £2k-per-week dynamo is also six years younger than Ings. This means that Muani could have the potential to improve further and become a key player for Southampton for years to come if they are able to sign him from Nantes in the coming months.

At the age of 22, Ralph Hasenhuttl could coach Muani into becoming the leading figure for Saints, with the French forward having already shown he has the quality to perform on a similar level to Ings.

Even if Ings stays at Southampton and sees out of the final year of his contract, Muani could be a great addition to the squad. Muani could compete with Ings and Che Adams for a starting spot and potentially learn from the former in order to improve his own game before taking over his throne in 2022.

For £8.5m, this is a deal that Semmens must look to get done.

AND in other news, Saints must act swiftly to land “complete” £5.5k-p/w ace, compared to Virgil van Dijk…

According to a report by the Daily Express, West Ham United now want Ukraine striker Roman Yaremchuk and it is believed he will ‘push hard’ for his next move this summer.

The Lowdown: West Ham and the striker chase…

Manager David Moyes reportedly has three main priorities in this summer window, namely a permanent deal for 2020/2021 loan sensation Jesse Lingard, a star centre-back and the acquisition of a new striker (Claret & Hugh).

Of the strikers linked in recent months, many have been named, including the likes of Tammy Abraham, Youssef En-Nesyri, Ivan Toney and Adam Armstrong (ExWHUemployee).

Many others are now coming out of the woodwork as the transfer window opens, with Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah most recently linked as well (Fabrizio Romano).

The Latest: West Ham now want Yaremchuk…

As per the Daily Express, West Ham are now eyeing a move for Euro 2020 star Yaremchuk with the 25-year-old now falling into consideration on Moyes’ striker shortlist.

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It is believed he will ‘push hard’ for his next move this summer after having a stellar season with current club Gent.

Yaremchuk bagged 17 goals in the Belgian Pro League last season and stands at a towering 6 foot 3 – potentially marking him out as a good fit for the physicality of the Premier League.

The Verdict: Solid option…

The summer window is still young and West Ham will want to assess the best possible forward options before making any concrete swoops.

Yaremchuk emerges as a potentially fruitful name to enter the fray going by his stance on an exit this summer and fairly impressive tally in front of goal over 20/21 – having managed 23 strikes in all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Valued at around £13.5 million by Transfermarkt, he could also prove to be a less expensive alternative to the likes of Abraham who may cost around £40m by comparison.

In other news: ‘OHHH YESSSS’…Many West Ham fans rave over ‘fantastic news’, find out more here.

West Ham could sign one of their mooted transfer targets for nothing this summer, if emerging claims are to be believed…

What’s the word?

Last summer, 90min reported that the Irons were one of several teams eyeing a move for Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham, whilst over a year ago, it was thought that the two were in advanced talks over a transfer, as per Foot Mercato.

The 25-year-old joined Ligue 1 outfit Marseille during the January transfer window after they failed to secure Hammers star Manuel Lanzini, according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon.

It appears that his future at Parkhead is in serious doubt, if not already over. Celtic are set to terminate his contract a year early, meaning he would be available on a free transfer this summer.

And now it has been revealed by the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee that the Frenchman is represented by a familiar figure, Will Salthouse, who also has the likes of Michail Antonio, Aaron Cresswell, Craig Dawson and Ryan Fredericks on his books.

Squad depth option

Now that the season is done and dusted, and the unthinkable has been achieved, it’s time for David Moyes and the club’s hierarchy to move on with plans ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 58-year-old has transformed the East Londoners from firm relegation candidates to sealing a place in Europe in the space of just one year.

However, if the Irons go into battle next season as they are, they could well struggle due to the lack of rotation options at Moyes’ disposal.

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For instance, the Scotsman is just one injury to Michail Antonio away from not having a senior striker and this is a similar case right across the squad, with the Hammers lacking depth in midfield and in defence.

If Ntcham is available for nothing, then it could be a very shrewd decision to swoop for him, especially given his ties to a reliable figure in Salthouse.

Things have not gone to plan for the Bhoys midfielder at Marseille, where he has averaged an abysmal rating of 6.13, whilst L’Equipe rated one of his performances a brutal 3/10 back in March (via The Sun).

But, truth be told, his stint at the Stade Velodrome was hampered from the minute he walked through the door as then-manager Andre Villas-Boas resigned because he did not want the player.

It wasn’t too long ago that Ntcham was being touted as a £7m target for Premier League teams, whilst current Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has always been a fan of his, having described him as a “terrific talent” in 2018.

Even Neil Lennon lauded him as “one hell of a player” during his time in charge of the Glasgow giants, so to get him for nothing would be a steal.

Another body in midfield is certainly needed this summer as next season will be Mark Noble’s final campaign in the claret and blue, with Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice the only other two out-and-out central options available to Moyes.

Ntcham won’t be expected to pull up many trees but is surely a worthwhile candidate to consider. He’s set to be available for nothing and Salthouse could well do GSB a major favour.

AND in other news, Moyes could secure his own Vardy with a West Ham swoop for “crazy” £27m-rated talisman…

Former Tottenham captain Graham Roberts has exclusively told Football FanCast that the club are likely to appoint a new manager after the season finishes.

Jose Mourinho was sacked last month with Spurs at risk of missing out on qualifying for the Champions League for the second consecutive season.

But Daniel Levy has since missed out on appointing any of his top three targets.

Julian Nagelsmann left Leipzig, only to become the new Bayern Munich boss, Brendon Rodgers confirmed that he’ll be staying at Leicester, whilst Ajax boss Erik ten Hag ended speculation by penning a new contract in the Dutch capital.

Ryan Mason was placed in interim charge for the remaining six Premier League matches and has made a bright start with victories over Southampton and Sheffield United sandwiching the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

The likes of Graham Potter, Scott Parker and Nuno Espirito Santo have also been mentioned as potential replacements for Mourinho, but Roberts doesn’t expect an announcement until the end of the campaign.

He told Football FanCast:

“Ryan Mason has been told he’s got it until the end of the season, so I’m not expecting anything before then. If we win our last four games, you got a chance of the Champions League, but you need to win all four.

“The aim is either to finish in the Champions League or Europa. They threw the last cup final away and have got four more.”

Leeds United defender Ezgjan Alioski has again been tipped to join Galatasaray at the end of the season, as his time at Elland Road is now surely reaching its conclusion.

The Lowdown: Alioski set to leave

The 29-year-old has been a good servant for the Whites, making a total of 170 appearances and even being hailed as ‘brilliant’ by former England striker Kevin Phillips.

Alioski has chipped in with two goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, but his future looks set to belong elsewhere.

The left-back is out of contract at Leeds in the summer and Galatasaray have been continually linked with snapping him up.

The Latest: Fresh update emerges

According to Fanatik [via Sport Witness], the Turkish giants still ‘want to sign’ Alioski, with the North Macedonian top of their summer wish-list and talks now ‘officially’ beginning over a deal.

It is claimed that the player has already spoken to manager Fatih Terim, as he approaches what will finally be his last-ever Leeds game this weekend, at home to West Brom.

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The Verdict: Good move for all parties

A move to Galatasaray appears to be a good move for all concerned, with Alioski clearly happy to take on a fresh challenge and Leeds willing to move him on.

At 29, he isn’t getting any younger and signing and out-and-out left-back, such as Ajax’s much-linked Nicolas Tagliafico, could make the Whites an even more balanced outfit.

Alioski has undoubtedly been a positive influence overall at Leeds, but it is time to move him on, especially following last weekend’s incident with Burnley’s Dwight McNeil looming over his head while the FA decide how to react.

In other news, Leeds have been linked with a move for an exciting South American player. Find out who it is here.

Former Everton star Marcus Bent believes that Josh King is likely to leave the club this summer after a disappointing stint at Goodison Park.

The Norway international moved to Merseyside in the January transfer window from Championship club AFC Bournemouth.

King did not make a single start under Carlo Ancelotti after joining the club, with his longest appearance on the pitch lasting just 34 minutes, in the 2-0 loss to Fulham.

He did not score a goal, nor provide an assist, and his contract expires at the end of June.

As a result, he could well move on this summer, and the player has been linked with a potential move to Turkish club Galatasaray.

Bent feels Everton have a decision to make, but he thinks that King is likely to move on given the six-month contract he was handed when he joined the club.

It remains to be seen where he could go, of course, if he does move away.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “The fact that he hasn’t started a game would suggest that Carlo doesn’t fancy him.

“He’s only had cameo appearances late in games, so he might say he hasn’t been given a chance but he does seem to have been doing well in training.

“He’s only signed a six-month deal so if he does go, it’s not really a big issue because it’s only six months. He hasn’t played much and it suggests he’s not really doing well in training, that just tells it all, I think they’re trying to make a decision on whether they keep him or whether he goes.”

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have hit out a social media post regarding on-loan midfielder Ross Barkley.

Birmingham Live shared Noel Whelan’s transfer comments to Football Insider on the attacking midfielder, with @AVFC_News asking fans if they would like to see a permanent deal materialise for the Chelsea ace.

Barkley’s Villa woes

Barkley has struggled at Villa Park despite a bright start in the Midlands, with Dean Smith last selecting the midfielder from the off in the Premier League back in February. The 27-year-old, who earns £100,000 per week, has made 19 appearances in total for Villa, scoring three times.

A permanent deal looks unlikely over the coming months, especially due to the January arrival of Morgan Sanson and the emergence of Jacob Ramsey.

Whelan is adamant that a big-money move to Villa won’t go through and thinks Barkley will head out on loan again next season. He told  Football Insider:

“I do not think a permanent deal is going to happen, absolutely not.

“That is probably already decided.

“He is not that important to Villa. If he was, he would be starting every single game.

“I think he will be going back to his parent club and they will be looking for another loan deal for Barkley.

“He just has not made the most of the opportunity that has been given to him while he’s been on loan at Villa.”

Villa fans react

Here is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply to @AVFC_News when they asked about a permanent deal for Barkley off the back of Whelan’s comments, with many vehemently opposed to the idea:

“Are you for real?”

Credit: @The_Latin_Lions

“Not a chance!! After only 1 or 2 decent games from 30 odd. Earned how many millions for that?”

Credit: @Andysouthall01

“Absolutely not. No footballing brain and continually makes the same stupid mistakes”

Credit: @richlowther1

“No spend the money on Tammy”

Credit: @Chardrocknroll

“Lemme just learn all 7 thousand languages so I can say no in all of them”

Credit: @NCAVFC

“That’s a big no no”

Credit: @paulmidster

In other news: Many AVFC fans react to club’s interest in another Premier League midfielder, find out more here.