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Manchester United have made contact with the representatives of Tottenham striker Harry Kane, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Striker wanted

The Red Devils are already planning for the summer, with a new striker thought to be a priority. Erik ten Hag currently has just two senior options at this moment in time in Anthony Martial and loanee Wout Weghorst.

Martial has suffered a number of injury issues in recent months, while there is no option to make Weghorst’s move permanent, which appears to have led to United laying the groundwork over a possible move for Kane.

The Latest: Kane update

The Sun shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding United and Kane, revealing the Red Devils are confident of signing the forward, assuming Spurs finish outside the top four – they will be fifth if Liverpool win their game in hand as things stand.

The report adds that those at Old Trafford have even already ‘made contact with Kane’s camp through a third party and have been encouraged by the response’.

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The Verdict: Perfect signing

Kane, hailed as ‘world-class’ by Antonio Conte, has a proven track record in the Premier League, scoring 201 times and registering 49 assists in 308 top-flight appearances.

The 29-year-old has netted ten or more Premier League goals in each of the last nine seasons, so could be the missing piece in Ten Hag’s side. He even embarrassed David de Gea at Old Trafford in a 6-1 win for Spurs back in 2020, scoring twice and registering one assist.

Kane has been Tottenham’s best player this season, as per WhoScored, and has outperformed every Manchester United player, so he could take the Red Devils to the next level over the coming years.

Liverpool have fallen flat this season after many imperious years under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, and now face a tall order in securing Champions League qualification after pushing for a historic quadruple last term.

Languishing in seventh place in the Premier League this season, nine points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur – though holding two games in hand – the Reds are a mere shade of their former selves and require emphatic reinforcement come the summer.

With the FA Cup fifth round commencing this week, a competition the club have fallen from already, Klopp will be looking to galvanise his squad and set Anfield in rapture with a league victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening.

The respective sides have already waged battle on three occasions in 2023: a home draw in the FA Cup third round preceded a narrow Reds victory at Molineux, before Julen Lopetegui’s outfit bulldozed Liverpool into submission with a 3-0 drubbing in the Premier League.

A slip in the road is simply inconceivable, and in order to secure a third victory in four league matches, the Merseyside outfit’s German manager must consider unleashing Roberto Firmino from a starting role against the Old Gold, with the Brazilian stalwart recently returning from injury.

Could Firmino save Liverpool’s season?

Signing from Hoffenheim for £29m in 2015, Firmino’s arrival preceded Klopp’s by a matter of months, and his role as the dynamic centre-forward was paramount to the illustrious success that Liverpool have clinched under their manager’s tutelage.

Scoring 107 goals and supplying 78 assists from 352 outings, the 55-cap gem has been instrumental in winning a plethora of major honours notably including the Champions League and the Premier League.

And this season, having plundered nine goals and four assists from only 16 starts, Firmino has been a shining light amid the drab setting of Liverpool’s campaign.

But having injured himself prior to a Carabao Cup clash against Manchester City in December, the veteran has only just returned to competitive action this month, and the tie against Wolves presents the perfect opportunity for him to return to goalscoring prominence, picking up the baton from where he left off.

As per FBref, the £180k-per-week phenom ranks among the top 9% of forwards for goals, 7% for assists, 2% for progressive passes, 2% for tackles and 1% for interceptions per 90, which highlights the spherical scope of his skill set, capable of producing the whole gamut of skills required for success under Klopp’s wing.

Hailed as a “leader” by Henry Winter, his experience and presence on the pitch have been missed on Merseyside, with the 31-year-old indeed last starting in the top flight against Southampton, where he scored, before the 2022 World Cup.

With Liverpool’s “abject” – as branded by one journalist – season desperate for a sprinkling of its former verve, Firmino’s return to the starting fold could finally get things up and running at the optimum time for Klopp and co.

And given the forward’s purple patch at the start of the season, and the searing requirement for newfound offensive fluidity on Merseyside, cohesion could be revived with Firmino taking centre stage over the business end of the campaign.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United youngster Oliver Scarles should be back in just a couple of weeks despite having to wear a protective boot.

What’s the latest on Oliver Scarles and his West Ham injury?

While the Hammers have plenty to worry about immediately as they fight to avoid being truly pulled into a Premier League relegation scrap this season, one eye will always be on the future.

And in Scarles, they have potentially a major talent on their hands. After all, despite still being just 17 years of age, the midfielder has already represented the club in Europe this season.

This is why it may have been concerning to some that Scarles had to come off during the academy’s recent U18 FA Cup win over Ipswich Town.

In an update on the situation, Ex told The West Ham Way podcast, that the teenager has since been in a protective boot but is expected to be back in just a few weeks.

He said (6:11): “Oliver Scarles, people asked me about what his injury situation was because he went off injured in the academy match against Ipswich – which they won in the cup, and I went to it. It was really really good to see some of the academy players, which I’ll talk about a bit later.

“He went off injured in that and he’s been in a protective boot for the last… since that game. But they only think he’ll be out for maybe two weeks. So hopefully he’ll come back soon.”

What does Oliver Scarles’ injury mean for the Irons?

While he’s still only a teenager, much won’t be expected of Scarles in the first team this season. However, he has already impressed with David Moyes’ side in the Europa Conference League earlier on in the campaign.

He was actually just 16 years old when he “starred” in a 3-0 win over FCSB in Bucharest becoming West Ham’s sixth-youngest player to represent the club.

With that in mind, he’ll perhaps be hoping to get fit in time for the club’s next European tie which is against AEK Larnaca on March 9.

Judging by the sounds of it, Scarles could be in with a slight chance of making that game but could be back for the return leg on March 16 which certainly would be good news for the player and his club.

Newcastle United are interested in signing Wolves centre-back Max Kilman this summer although they are set to face ‘stiff competition’ for the defender.

The Lowdown: Kilman a key player for Wolves

The Englishman has continued to be an influential figure at Molineux this season, starting all 24 of his side’s Premier League matches to date.

While Wolves are struggling towards the wrong end of the table, it has been difficult to criticise Kilman’s displays. As per WhoScored, he is their second-highest rated player to have started more than four league games for them in 2022/23.

The 25-year-old isn’t out of contract at Molineux until 2026, but the club could face a challenge in trying to keep hold of him this summer.

The Latest: Newcastle eyeing up Kilman

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are ‘plotting a move’ for Kilman at the end of the season as they look to bolster their defensive options at St James’ Park.

The Magpies are set to face ‘stiff competition’ from other clubs, highlighting the impressive level that the Wolves defender has reached.

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The Verdict: He’d be a big loss

There is no denying that Kilman leaving during the summer would be an almighty blow for Wolves, considering that he has recently been hailed as ‘absolutely unbelievable’ by journalist Liam Keen.

The centre-back has averaged a hugely impressive 4.6 clearances per game in the league this season, which is more than any other player in Julen Lopetegui’s squad.

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At 25, the £15,000-per-week Kilman is also someone whose best years will likely still be ahead of him, so Wolves would be losing him at the worst possible time in his career.

It would be hard to begrudge him a move to a club like Newcastle, though, especially if they qualify for the Champions League. If the defender is intent on leaving Molineux, then Wolves must get as much money as possible for him, given his importance to the current squad.

According to journalist Jacque Talbot, Tottenham Hotspur have made an offer for Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence amid competition from Nottingham Forest.

The Lowdown: Interest since April

During April, it was reported that more than 10 clubs had declared their interest in signing the 21-year-old, who was impressing in the Championship whilst on loan at Forest.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich even sent scouts to watch the right-back play at the City Ground, although it has since been reported that Steve Cooper’s side, along with Spurs and Arsenal, lead the race to secure the youngster’s signature.

The Latest: Talbot’s news on Spence

Taking to Twitter, Talbot has now shared the latest news involving Spence’s potential destination ahead of next season.

He claimed: “Exc: Understand that Tottenham have put in an offer for Djed Spence but that Nottingham Forest are involved as well. Allure of European football will be the only thing standing in the way of Spence and Forest continuing their relationship next season.”

In a subsequent tweet, Talbot added: “Contrary to reports, Spence has not definitively chosen to join Spurs. Conte’s side are one of the clubs with a huge foot in the door.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

Whilst Spence clearly has a good relationship with Forest manager Cooper after their promotion to the Premier League, the pull of Antonio Conte and Champions League football could yet entice the youngster to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This would be a good addition for the north Londoners, given Conte’s preference to play attacking wing-backs and the 21-year-old’s ability to bomb up and down the flanks.

Ian Wright even claimed that one of Spence’s displays in the FA Cup was “one of the best right back performances” he had seen in a very long time, raising comparisons with “unbelievable” full-backs such as Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Therefore, Paratici should do anything he can to get this deal done.

In other news: Journalist drops Lautaro Martinez to Spurs transfer claim

Reports last month suggested that Newcastle United had offered Sean Longstaff a new four-year deal, and lo and behold, he put pen to paper earlier this week, penning what was actually a new three-year deal at St James’ Park.

That previous report had suggested that the academy graduate had ‘sought assurances’ over his playing time under manager Eddie Howe – hence the initial delay in any negotiations – but he does now have a future under the former Bournemouth boss.

Howe had indicated that he wanted the 24-year-old to stay at the club beyond the end of the season – with his past deal set to expire in just over a month – but fortunately, he now has his wish.

The North Shields-born ace made just 15 Premier League starts in the 2021/22 campaign, although that is the same as he managed in the previous season, having failed to really establish himself in the side under both Steve Bruce and his successor.

The 5 foot 11 star had initially burst onto the scene during the 2018/19 season, making nine top-flight appearances and reportedly catching the attention of Manchester United, who were linked with a hefty £50m bid in the summer of 2019.

Longstaff – and teammate Isaac Hayden – had also earned praise from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in that debut season in the first team, with the serial-winning coach stating that his side “could not deal with” the midfield pairing after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at St James’ Park.

Such displays had seen then-boss Rafa Benitez tip the youngster for an England call-up, although the Spaniard’s subsequent departure – and frustrating injuries for the player – have stunted his progress, with a Three Lions bow now seemingly a long away off.

Nevertheless, the £11.7m-rated man is clearly a valuable asset – having been dubbed “immense” by Chronicle Live journalist Charlie Bennett – with the club possibly now forming a dream duo in the middle of the park.

There will likely be another raft of high profile incomings this summer as PIF look to realise their lofty ambitions, although having a local lad in tow also remains important, ensuring that the spirit of the club is not lost in the coming years.

Newcastle already have Bruno Guimaraes in their ranks but they could add positively to their midfield options in the shape of Jesse Lingard this summer too.

The Magpies very nearly signed the Manchester United attacking midfielder in January but a deal fell through. However, his contract is expiring this summer and there is no sign of a new deal on the table with Newcastle linked again.

Thus, the future of Howe’s midfield could very much look like a Longstaff, Guimaraes and Lingard triumvirate, something that would no doubt spark intrigue and fear in opposition team’s up and down the country.

Longstaff’s renewal, therefore, is not just for sentimental reasons. He has also performed impressively on the pitch of late, ranking in the top 4% for tackles made among midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues and in the top 13% for pressures made.

He may not be a glamour name, but Longstaff deserves to be a key part of Howe’s squad for the years to come and must be unleashed more regularly next term.

IN other news, Signed for £20m, now worth £9m: Ashley had a howler on “struggling” £50k-p/w NUFC dud 

Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension their transfer chief Fabio Paratici, are eyeing a move for Southampton star James Ward-Prowse.

The Lowdown: Conte and Paratici talks held…

After the north Londoners announced a £150 million equity increase, more good news followed as manager Antonio Conte decided to stay at Spurs for the 2022/2023 Premier League season.

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The Italian and Paratici have now got to work on identifying targets with The Telegraph reporting that they held a transfer meeting in Turin on Friday.

Spurs are apparently willing to invest the bulk of the £150m in Conte’s squad as they now seek to gift their elite manager full backing over what should be a promising summer.

The Latest: The Athletic make Ward-Prowse claim…

According to The Athletic, Saints star Ward-Prowse is a target for manager Conte, sporting director Paratici and Spurs.

They claim the Lilywhites ‘retain a long-standing interest’ in the 27-year-old, but due to the new long term contract he signed last summer, it would be a seriously expensive deal to pull off.

The Verdict: Ambitious…

While signing Ward-Prowse is unlikely, Tottenham’s interest could certainly signal their intent to seriously support Conte and match his unwavering ambition.

The Englishman is exactly the kind of calibre player Spurs should be going for this summer, with former striker Darren Bent calling him ‘sensational’ in an interview with talkSPORT (allfootball).

Ward-Prowse’s stats go some way to backing Bent’s theory given he finished last season as Southampton’s highest-rated player, top goal-scorer and best creator in terms of key passes per 90 in the final third (WhoScored).

Called a ‘quality’ player by Man City boss Pep Guardiola also, it’s hardly surprising his move would be a marquee one and reports suggest he could cost around £75 million.

In other news: Meeting held: Tottenham enter talks over ‘beast’ as Conte eyes marquee striker move…find out more here.

Liverpool have been linked with Jude Bellingham for a while now and with the transfer window coming up the links have begun to reignite as the Reds set out to improve their midfield this summer.

Aurelien Tchouameni has been heavily linked with the side over the last month, with terms reportedly agreed with the Frenchman who has also attracted interest from Real Madrid too, so it is clear that the Merseyside club are putting themselves out there to sign fresh perspectives in the centre of the pitch.

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The transfer speculation has reignited after Liverpool Echo journalist Ian Doyle told supporters in a Q&A that Bellingham is “a player that they really like”.

The 18-year-old who was hailed “scary” by England teammate Jack Grealish, has been catching the attention of the football world and the youngster has even been compared to former Liverpool captain and Premier League hall of famer Steven Gerrard.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Jamie O’Hara claimed:

“He is the closest thing we have had since Steven Gerrard. I say that given the fact Steven Gerrard was unbelievable, but Bellingham is obviously not at that level yet.”

It is no wonder that the young midfielder is being compared to the former Reds midfielder when you consider his attributes on the pitch with both incredible defensive and offensive qualities that constantly trouble his opponents.

According to SofaScore, Bellingham has scored three goals and contributed eight assists, creating ten big chances, making 1.3 key passes, 1.3 interceptions and 1.6 tackles on average per game, as well as winning the majority of his ground and aerial duels combined (51%) and successfully in the majority of his dribbles (57%) in the Bundesliga this season.

These statistics prove he commands the ball and is fearless in making his presence known on the pitch just like Gerrard was for Liverpool, and he would clearly be a huge coup for Klopp if he could convince the £101m youngster to leave Germany this summer.

With that being said, after selling Erling Haaland to Manchester City this summer already it would be highly unlikely that Dortmund would be willing to let go of another one of their most talented stars at the club right now, so unless Liverpool can come up with an offer the Bundesliga side can’t refuse it will be surprising to see the signing made this summer.

AND in other news: Liverpool handed perfect chance to sign “extraordinary” £60m brute, Klopp needs him

Celtic ended their season as Premiership champions last weekend in Ange Postecoglou’s debut campaign in charge of the Hoops.

As result of their title win and their inclusion in next season’s Champions League group stage, the Bhoys will reap a tidy sum of £40m.

Looking ahead to the upcoming summer transfer window, it seems as though a clue has emerged regarding what the Hoops could do with that prize money ahead of the 2022/23 season.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to Football Insider, former Celtic player Frank McAvennie was discussing the upcoming summer transfer window and the potential business that the Hoops should be looking to execute.

He said: “New players have to come in, that’s for sure. We have a pretty good squad at the moment, but we saw how stretched it got when we were playing in Europe.

“It will be even harder in the Champions League next season as well so new players will have to come in. I think four players, around that number, hopefully more. Four players who can challenge for a starting spot or of that quality to start every week.

“We are getting that money so hopefully Ange gets a bit to spend. I’m sure he will because he has worked wonders with this squad.”

Great news for Celtic fans

Last summer’s transfer window proved that Postecoglou is not slow to make significant changes to his squad if he feels it is needed.

Taking into account how successful the Hoops were in the league in terms of not only winning the title but ending the campaign with the best attack and defence in the top flight, the prospect of further transfer business at Parkhead this summer should be a very exciting one for Celtic fans.

With the likes of loanees Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers set to see their deals expire soon, an immediate priority for Celtic should be to sort their futures out before thinking about bringing in new players.

Also, with not only the league title to regain but the Champions League to tackle once more, the 56-year-old will want to ensure that his squad has the depth and quality to pick up as much silverware as they can.

With that in mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see another busy summer transfer period at Lennoxtown in the coming weeks and months.

In other news – Worth £473k in 2020, now valued at £3.6m: Ange played a blinder on “crucial” Celtic star

Club insider ExWHUemployee has now shared some exciting transfer news out of West Ham United involving long-time target and Manchester United playmaker Jesse Lingard.

The Lowdown: On the radar…

Irons manager David Moyes has been interested in signing the England international on a permanent deal ever since his phenomenal 2020/21 loan spell.

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Lingard shone in east London over the second half of last season, recording nine goals and four assists in just 16 Premier League starts.

The 29-year-old just missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad despite his fine form under Moyes, but a lack of opportunities at Old Trafford since then has seemingly motivated Lingard to leave as a free agent.

The Latest: Ex shares exciting update…

Speaking in a Q&A on The West Ham Way website, insider Ex has now confirmed that Moyes and GSB ‘will make an offer’ for the out-of-contract Lingard this summer.

He added that West Ham are ‘definitely’ keen on bringing the 29-year-old back to the capital, explaining:

“David Moyes is a huge admirer of Jesse as we all know. He did so well on loan for us and loved his time at West Ham.

“Yes we are definitely keen to bring him back, and I believe we will be making an offer. Lingard though will have many on the table, with a few Italian clubs in for him too.

It’s my understanding that Jesse will weigh up the offers this summer and make a move, and lets remember this is his last part of his career. The door is certainly not closed on us signing Lingard.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

News of the Hammers’ unwavering interest in bringing Lingard back and their intention to make an offer should come as music to the ears of the club’s supporters.

Lauded as a potentially ‘huge’ and ‘massive’ signing by pundit Paul Robinson, the attacker’s sensational spell at West Ham last year is an indicator that he could be a serious snip on a Bosman deal.

West Ham could have an advantage over other teams in the race to sign Lingard given his great relationship with Moyes and the fact that he already knows the club quite well.

We certainly won’t rule out a move this summer, and this Ex update comes as an extremely promising one.

In other news: Report: Moyes now very likely to make big bid for ‘world class’ player after claim he likes West Ham! Find out more here.