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An update has emerged on Aston Villa target Leon Bailey, regarding his thoughts on a move to the Premier League…

What’s the talk

According to the Daily Mail, Aston Villa target Leon Bailey is interested in a move to the Premier League this summer from Bayer Leverkusen. The Villans have had a £25m bid rejected for his services, but have not given up on the race as of yet.

Norwich City midfielder Todd Cantwell is also said to be a player who is being looked at as a potential signing should Jack Grealish depart for The Etihad in the coming weeks.

Smith will be delighted

Johan Lange must make sure that he takes advantage of this latest update to secure a deal for the exciting attacker before the end of the transfer window. The forward wants a transfer to England and this could play perfectly into Villa’s hands as it could end with the Jamaica international pushing for a move, forcing Bayer Leverkusen to cede their ground in terms of pricing.

Dean Smith would be delighted if Lange could get this one of the line as the £70k-per-week gem could be a terrific addition to the team. He has proven his quality over in Germany and shown that he has what it takes to perform consistently at the top level, playing domestically and in Europe.

Ex-Ajax coach Ronald de Boer once praised his attributes, highlighting his speed and ability on the ball. He said: “He’s so fast it’s not normal. His speed, combined with his technique, is very rare. Exceptional. He has no weak points.”

Leverkusen’s sporting director Rudi Voller lauded his “extraordinary” speed. He said: “He’s got extraordinary pace, he’s very skilful with the ball, and he will give further impetus to our attacking department.”

The attacker enjoyed a sensational 2020/21 campaign as he racked up 15 goals and 11 assists in all competition for Leverkusen, including five goals and two assists in eight Europa League games. This shows that he could come in and make an impact in the Premier League, whilst he also has the potential to be a key player for the club if they are ever able to qualify for Europe.

Smith could also enjoy working with him on the training pitch to aid his development. The former Brentford coach has helped Jack Grealish improve in recent years and Bailey could follow a similar path as he only turns 24 in August. This means that he still has room to grow as a player and could flourish at Villa Park, which is another reason why Lange must go in with another offer for his services.

AND in other news, Update emerges over Villa target with “god-given” talent, Lange must avoid big howler…

As another day comes and goes, West Bromwich Albion’s search for a new manager rumbles on, with the Baggies being linked to yet another new name who could potentially take up Sam Allardyce’s mantle at The Hawthorns.

In a hunt that has seen Guochuan Lai rejected more times than a blackout Take Me Out contestant – with Roy Hodgson, Frank Lampard, Michael Appleton, David Wagner and Tony Puils all reportedly unmoved by West Brom’s admiring glances – the Baggies owner appears to quickly be running out of options to find the club’s perfect managerial match – or is he?

TEAMtalk have reported recently that the Chinese businessman has turned his attention closer to home – to the Chinese Super League, to be exact – with the Henan Jianye FC manager, Javier Pereira, now thought to be a front runner for the job in West Bromwich.

Lai is risking fury

While an explanation may not be required as to why appointing a manager who finished bottom of the Chinese Super League Group A last season could be considered something of a risky move by Lai, it is worth outlining anyway.

Having left his role as Fulham’s assistant head of football operations in order to take over at Henan Jianye in September of 2020, the 55-year-old oversaw 14 regular league games at the Chinese club last term, winning one, drawing three and losing 10 of his fixtures in charge, with his side scoring 14 goals while conceding a whopping 33.

These results saw the Spanish manager’s side finish five points behind Dalian Pro at the foot of the Group A table, however, due to the play-off relegation system they have in the Chinese Super League, Henan Jianye rather remarkably avoided dropping out of the top flight, beating Tianjin Jinmen Tiger – a side who finished bottom of Group B on just three points – over three legs to earn a stay of execution.

Indeed, things do not appear to have picked up for Pereira’s side this season either, with Henan Jianye once again being rock-bottom of their division after four games played.

As such, with the above being the 55-year-old’s only experience in football management, we would argue that his record doesn’t particularly scream of a coach who could take the Baggies back to the Premier League at the first attempt – something that will undoubtedly be the expectation of Lai next season.

So, if the club’s owner really does want to avoid the wrath of the West Brom fanbase – something that we are finding extremely questionable at present – it would be highly advisable for Lai to turn his focus back towards a more suitable candidate for the job, or else West Brom could find themselves in a very similar situation to when they were under the leadership of Pepe Mel back in 2014.

In other news: Lai could have just made his biggest West Brom mistake to date, fans are rightly livid

Some Liverpool supporters are desperate to see the Reds sign Leeds United star Raphinha this summer, following a report claiming as much.

Jurgen Klopp will be on the lookout for new additions in the next transfer window, as his side look to bounce back from a taxing season.

With Ibrahima Konate joining from RB Leipzig and bringing depth at centre-back, attention may now turn to signing another attacking player.

Both Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino fell a long way short of their best last season and even more competition for places could be healthy moving forward.

According to Futbol de Ingelaterra [via the Liverpool Echo], Liverpool are considering a £32million bid for Leeds winger Raphinha, who chipped in with six goals and nine assists in the Premier League last season.

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A number of Reds fans took to Twitter to give their thoughts on Raphinha potentially heading to Anfield, with many fully behind the idea and one even calling the possible signing ‘amazing’.

Liverpool fans react

“Please be true”

Credit: @parkthebus8989

“PLEASEEEEEEE”

Credit: @lfc_rhys

“Finally, these are the players we need to go all out for. Would be brilliant to come in too when Mane and Salah go AFCON”

Credit: @lfcxcathal

“£35m + Harvey Elliott on loan should do the trick”

Credit: @Nabyesta

“That’s more like it. Top class baller”

Credit: @ShaunlfcT

“Amazing signing if true, another piece in the 4-2-3-1 puzzle”

Credit: @LFCYan

In other news, one divisive Liverpool player has been linked with a summer exit. Find out who it is here.

Wolves striker Rafa Mir has said that his agents are ‘working on’ resolving his future at the end of his loan spell.

Speaking to Marca, the 23-year-old said that he wanted to ‘continue growing as a footballer’ and hoped to find the ‘best place’ to do that. He added that there is a ‘decision to make’ this summer but acknowledges that it’s not entirely up to him.

Mir’s stock grows on loan in Spain

Mir spent the season at Huesca in the Spanish top flight and managed to score 13 league goals. That left him joint-eighth in La Liga’s top scorers list, level with Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann.

What’s more, he accomplished that feat for a side who ended up getting relegated, but he considerably underperformed on his expected goal tally of 16.5 (via Infogol).

Could Lage offer Mir a lifeline?

Mir has only made four appearances for Wolves’ senior side, each of them in the 2017/18 season when they were a Championship club.

Wolves’ seemingly incoming manager Bruno Lage prefers a 4-4-2 formation, so may be keen to deploy the Spaniard alongside Raul Jimenez in attack at Molineux.

Fan feed Talking Wolves relayed his comments, and here’s how some supporters reacted.

Wolves fans respond as Rafa Mir considers future

“Bring him back”

Credit: @jtrogers18

“Unless we are getting £20m keep him and give him a go.”

Credit: @kywolves

“Not gonna lie could do with him staying, with how paper thin the squad is he could do a job for us next year”

Credit: @thedannyl

“You know if we are gonna go 4-4-2 with Large next season, I say see how he does with Jimi upfront in a two, try him out.”

Credit: @cpj93070

“He’s going!! I don’t think he’d be that good in the Premier League! Jose’ scored numerous goals in the Spanish league, but was useless at Wolves!!”

Credit: @SteveWiles20

“Sounds like he doesn’t want to come back”

Credit: @gricey88

In other news, Wolves have been warned not to offload this star.  

Steve Howey has offered his opinion on Manchester City transfer target Andre Silva regarding how well he could do in the Premier League.

What’s the talk?

Former Manchester City player Howey believes that the Eintracht Frankfurt striker would do well in the Premier League as he has been able to perform in the Bundesliga. He told Football Transfer Tavern: “The Bundesliga is still a tough league without a doubt and I do feel as though he would do quite well.”

A few weeks ago, Sport Bild, as transcribed by Sport Witness, claimed that City have an interest in Silva and made contact with his agent. Eintracht Frankfurt are said to want at least £34m (€40m) for their top goalscorer to allow him to leave this summer.

Earlier this year, Frankfurt boss Adi Hutter hailed Silva as being “ice cold” from the penalty spot, comparing him to Bayern Munich centre-forward Robert Lewandowski. He said: “André Silva is the solo forward up top, but he does it really well.

“He wasn’t rewarded against Leverkusen, today he was. His composure on penalties reminds me of Robert Lewandowski, who always turns ice cold.”

Pep needs him

Txiki Begiristain must sanction a swoop for Silva this summer. Sergio Aguero’s departure has left a hole to fill in City’s squad and the 25-year-old could be ideal replacement for the Argentine next season. Pep Guardiola needs a new starting centre-forward to lead the line and Silva fits the bill for what City should be seeking.

His goal return in the Bundesliga for Frankfurt last season was sensational. The Portugal international found the back of the net 28 times in 32 starts for the German outfit, averaging an incredible WhoScored rating of 7.51.

For context, Kevin de Bruyne was the only Man City player who averaged a higher WhoScored rating in the Premier League than Silva did in the Bundesliga. His 28 goals were also 15 more than any City player managed in the top flight, as Ilkay Gundogan ended the season as Guardiola’s top league scorer with 13 goals.

Therefore, the £34m-valued goal machine could be a much-needed addition to Guardiola’s squad. He could provide the goals City lacked from central areas, with Gabriel Jesus’ tally of nine the most any striker racked up for City in the Premier League.

If you have any concerns over Silva potentially being a one-season wonder for Frankurt, he also scored 12 goals in 16 starts for the club in the 2019/20 campaign, emphasising that he is a lethal goalscorer at the top level. Therefore, Txiki needs to make sure that he is able to seal a deal for Silva this summer to fulfil Guardiola’s squad needs.

AND in other news, Txiki must avoid grave Man City error with £260k-p/w “warrior”, fans would be livid…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie believes Ollie Watkins would have been superb for Leeds United.

This comes after the 25-year-old forward recently discussed Leeds’ interest in him last summer on the Sky Sports Super 6 podcast.

Watkins left Brentford for Villa in a big-money move and has become an instant Premier League success, firing his side to an 11th-placed finish a year after the club almost got relegated.

The England international finished the season as Villa’s top goalscorer with 14 league goals, and Hendrie has hinted at him being able to have a similar level of impact at Leeds, suggesting he would have been a great alternative to Patrick Bamford.

In an exclusive interview with FFC, the Sky Sports pundit said:

“If Bamford wasn’t doing it [Leeds could’ve struggled], which he has done, and they’ve been very fortunate that he has because I think there was big speculation whether he was going to be able to do that in the Premier League.

“He has done and hats off to him. I was one that doubted him but, you know, he’s done fabulous. [But] I think having a back-up plan of an Ollie Watkins would have been superb.”

Based on Watkins’ words, it is quite clearly something Leeds strongly considered. For whatever reason, though, nothing materialised.

Nevertheless, in Bamford, who managed to stay fit this whole season, they have one of the leading goalscorers in the division who is able to play consistently.

Celtic target Milan van Ewijk is set to leave ADO Den Haag in the summer, and the right-back looks set to be available in a cut-price deal as details have now emerged about his price tag.

The Lowdown: Hoops on the hunt for a new right-back?

The Hoops appear to be in desperate need of a right-back this summer. They’ve lost both Jeremie Frimpong and Hatem Elhamed in 2021 and had to bring in Jonjoe Kenny from Everton on loan.

Kenny proved to be Neil Lennon’s final signing as Celtic boss, but it doesn’t appear as if a permanent Parkhead move for the Toffees man is on the cards.

Therefore, the Hoops could do with bolstering their right-back ranks in the summer window and expressed their interest in van Ewijk back in March.

The Latest: van Ewijk available in cut-price deal

According to a recent report from Dutch outlet AD, ADO Den Haag see the summer as a good time to part ways with van Ewijk and want around €750,000 (£650,000) for his services.

Van Ewijk is valued at £675,000 by Transfermarkt and has just over 12 months remaining on his current contract, so it seems as if the Hoops can swoop in a touch under his valuation by submitting a £650,000 bid.

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The Verdict: McKay may have to act fast

New Celtic CEO Dominic McKay may have to act fast, should he wish to solve the club’s right-back woes ahead of the 2021/22 season with the signing of van Ewijk.

That’s because in AD’s latest report, SC Heerenveen have been given permission to enter talks with the 20-year-old.

They’ve offered ADO Den Haag around €500,000, so Celtic may well have to gazump Heerenveen by offering a figure closer to the asking price.

It seems as if a deal is doable for the Hoops, but time could be crucial to avoid missing out on their man with other sides now lurking.

In other news: Celtic’s off-field mess could scupper Hoops’ first summer signing, find out more here. 

Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry has told Football FanCast that Tottenham Hotspur have to keep Harry Kane this summer if they are to challenge next season, and says that must kick-start a rebuilding job in north London.

The striker has been in electric form this season and has scored 31 goals in all competitions, while also providing 16 assists.

Kane has been heavily linked with a move away from the club this summer, with The Athletic reporting that he is keen to leave for a new challenge, particularly if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Spurs are currently sixth, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with four games to go.

The club have, of course, sacked Jose Mourinho and have placed Ryan Mason in interim charge of the team until the end of the season.

It remains to be seen who will take over – there have been a number of managers linked with the club – but Fry says there is a major job to be done, though the first task is ensuring that the England captain remains.

His current contract expires in 2024 and Fry thinks he needs a new deal to show his commitment to Tottenham.

He told FFC: “Whoever comes into Tottenham, Kane’s got to stay, so they’ve got to give him a new contract and do whatever they’ve got to do to make him stay because no matter who comes in, without him, they’re going to struggle.

“There’s no doubt about it, they’re going to struggle.

“He’s got three years left on his contract, Tottenham are obviously in charge of that but we’ve all known before when a player is unhappy.

“I’m not saying Harry Kane’s unhappy, he loves Tottenham, he’ll do anything for Tottenham, but there comes a time when without massive rebuilding there, they’re not going to be challenging for the league title for a start.”

Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero may be surplus to requirements at Manchester City but he’s certainly not short of new admirers. A number of major clubs across Europe have been linked with his signature and the latest side to emerge as front runners are Chelsea.

Under Thomas Tuchel, the Blues have made it through to the Champions League final but, with Timo Werner finding his feet in English football, the need for striking support is evident.

Fitting the Bill

Chelsea have striking options but Tuchel seems reluctant to have the faith in Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham that was displayed by former manager Frank Lampard. Werner is the big money signing and the German is the future but he’s struggled up front with just 12 goals in 47 matches so far.

Contrast that with Sergio Aguero’s record of 258 goals in 357 games for Manchester City. With Werner learning his trade alongside the Argentinian, he can develop into a more prolific striker.

Chelsea could use some attacking intent as they prepare to face Aguero’s Manchester City in the final of the Champions League. According to sports betting markets linked via asiabet, City are the clear favourites for the win at around Even Money. Chelsea are some way behind at 3/1 and Werner will be crucial if the Blues are to defy those odds.

Anyone interested in staking on that Champions League final will also find news updates and opinion pieces related to the game. Any readers of asiabet that are ready to make a move can also access some of the best offers and promotions available.

Chelsea are up against it and, if they fail, the club will be anxious for transfer reinforcements as they look to regroup for the new season.

Cutting Edge

That incredible return has made Sergio Aguero the leading goal scorer in the history of Manchester City Football Club. In his ten years at the Etihad, he helped City to claim a number of major trophies while picking up some individual awards of his own.

Aguero is a Golden Boot winner as the EPL’s top goal scorer and his best return came in the 2016/17 campaign when he scored 33 goals in 45 matches across all competitions.

There’s no doubting his ability but the only issue with Sergio Aguero surrounds his fitness. Injury has kept him on the sidelines on many occasions and, had he stayed fit, he would surely have passed the 300 club goal mark for his current employers.

He’ll be 33 in June and that fitness, along with reported wages of £200K per week, may be a concern but there still appears to be a queue for Aguero’s signature.

Where Next?

Chelsea are among a clutch of English Premier League clubs being linked with a move for Sergio Aguero this summer. West Ham, Everton and even Manchester United have been mentioned in connection with his signature.

Moving further afield, Barcelona may be a likely destination if the Argentinian decides to leave England behind. Barca are desperate to keep hold of their star man Lionel Messi but the main strikers Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele are struggling in front of goal.

If Messi were to link up with his Argentinian international teammate Aguero, he could be tempted to stay.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid and Juventus have also been mentioned as possible destinations but it seems that Chelsea and Barcelona are the current front runners. Sergio Aguero is far from finished as an attacking force but it will be fascinating to see where his career takes him next.

Airdrie manager Ian Murray has suggested that Glasgow Rangers should let Nathan Patterson join Hibernian or Hearts for free.

Murray makes Patterson claim

This season has been Patterson’s breakout campaign at Ibrox, even despite receiving a six-game ban for breaking lockdown regulations (Sky Sports). He has made 12 appearances in all competitions for the Gers first team, scoring twice (Transfermarkt), and has shown himself to be an able deputy to first-choice right-back James Tavernier.

However, speaking to BBC Scotland (via Edinburgh Live), Murray suggested that the Gers should let him leave for free. The Airdrie boss said:

“We’re not talking for Rangers here, but if Rangers want to improve young players so much, and their fans and everybody wants to improve Scottish football, why don’t they go give Patterson to Hibs?“Give him to Hearts, St Mirren and don’t ask for any money.“If you want to progress the player and get him games, there you go.“But they won’t and I understand why.”

OutrageousIt is hard to decide whether Murray is actually being serious with these comments. From his point of view, the only argument he could be making is that the Gers allow him to leave so he can play more regularly, but why would they do so for free? Even a loan deal would require another club to at least contribute to his wages.Steven Gerrard’s staunch defence of the 19-year-old after he broke lockdown rules (Daily Record) shows that he is a big fan of the teenager. As such, why would he let him depart for free, especially now that he has proven capable of stepping up to the first team? Perhaps Murray should take a little more time to think before sharing such bewildering opinions.In other news, many Rangers fans were delighted with this man’s performance against Hibernian.