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Manuel Pellegrini is surely expected to strengthen his options at right-back during the summer transfer window.

The Hammers signed Ryan Fredericks from Fulham in the summer but the Englishman has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League. Instead, Pellegrini has used Pablo Zabaleta on the right flank for the majority of the season. However, his long-term future at the club remains unclear with the ex-Manchester City man fast approaching the end of his career.

The 34-year-old has reportedly (as per Claret and Hugh via City Watch) been offered a coaching role at the London Stadium but is yet to confirm whether he will retire from the professional game. Nevertheless, Pellegrini must bolster his options on the right side of defence. Reports from the Daily Mail suggest West Ham are lining up Manchester United veteran Antonio Valencia on a free transfer.

Instead, the Hammers should make a move for Strasbourg flyer – Kenny Lala. Valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, the 27-year-old has proved to be a fantastic addition since signing on a free from Lens in the summer of 2017. Lala has been one of the most consistent performers in Ligue 1 this season which should make the West Ham scouts sit up and take notice.

The Frenchman has been a constant threat from the back, scoring an impressive four goals as well as registering nine assists from defence. His blistering pace and dribbling ability make him a nightmare to deal with and would cause plenty of headaches for Premier League defenders. Not only does Lala excel offensively, he doesn’t neglect his defensive duties, averaging an impressive 2.5 tackles per game in Ligue 1 this season (WhoScored).

With his contract set to expire in the summer, West Ham should grab themselves a bargain.

West Ham fans, thoughts?

As per Fanatik, an update has come to light on Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans involving Fenerbache defender Kim Min-jae.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target centre-half…

The Athletic recently revealed that Spurs and manager Antonio Conte have a new central defender in their sights this summer with a number of key targets already shortlisted.

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According to their information, Joško Gvardiol, Alessandro Bastoni, Sven Botman and Nico Schlotterbeck have all been identified for possible attempts this summer as club chief Fabio Paratici gets to work on the 2022/2023 campaign.

Now, with news emerging on another defensive candidate out of Turkey, it appears Conte has personally approved a move for Kim.

The Latest: Conte green-lights move…

According to Fanatik, Tottenham and Everton have ‘taken action’ over Kim with Lilywhites officials scouting the player and recommending him to Conte.

Subsequently, the Italian has now personally approved a move for the South Korea international defender by giving the ‘green-light’.

The Verdict: Right call?

The 52-year-old wants to see new additions at N17 over the summer as he seeks to improve Tottenham further over his first full season in charge next year.

Kim, who could cost around €23 million (£19m), certainly comes as an affordable alternative to fellow targets on the list with the defender also being called a ‘monster’ in his homeland.

The 6 foot 3 powerhouse, branded one of the stars of the transfer window this summer by Fanatik, may well be one to watch out for if Spurs can’t offload players like Tanguy Ndombele for a profit.

In other news: Tottenham official dispatched as Conte identifies ’emerging superstar’ signing, find out more here.

As per Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), West Ham United, and by extension head of recruitment Rob Newman, have their sights on a new transfer target for David Moyes.

The Lowdown: Newman scrutinised…

Coming from Manchester City with a good reputation, even credited in playing a role over their signing of Aymeric Laporte (The Athletic), the West Ham chief has since faced criticism inside his new club.

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Following a questionable January window, doubts have come to light surrounding Newman and whether he is truly qualified enough to spearhead West Ham’s chase for new signings (Claret & Hugh).

In what could be a crucial summer window for the ex-Sky Blues head scout, news has now emerged on a first pre-summer move as he allegedly eyes Svanberg from Bologna.

The Latest: Newman opens pre-summer West Ham dialogue…

According to CDS (via SW), West Ham and Newman have opened pre-summer dialogue to sign the box-to-box Serie A ace – making their first move in the form of an enquiry.

This comes as Svanberg’s club could now say goodbye to their 23-year-old sensation given Bologna need to raise funds for their own summer transfer activity.

However, West Ham may need to invest significantly, with Corriere also claiming the Italian minnows will demand a ‘high’ price.

The Verdict: Take it further?

As Newman looks to redeem his regrettable transfer window, he could do worse than signing Svanberg, who has been described by an iNews source as ‘probably one of the top four’ No 8’s in Europe.

Amassing 18 international caps for Sweden already at such a young age, Svanberg’s potential seems limitless, leaving no wonder West Ham are thinking about backing Moyes with his capture.

Much could depend on his eventual price tag, though, and how much he could cost to bring to east London.

In other news: ‘Deal is there to be done’ – West Ham insider makes exciting striker claim as price falls by £20m! Find out more here.

Noel Whelan has been left fuming at what he has now heard from an Everton source involving Richarlison in the build-up to the clash with Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Agent talk

Speaking to Football Insider, a source from the Goodison Park faithful has revealed that Richarlison has now told his agent to find him a new club in the summer as another crucial fixture looms this evening, when the Toffees welcome Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes to Goodison Park.

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The Brazil international still has over two years left of his contract remaining on Merseyside, but given how the season has gone, it looks as if he wants to bail out now.

The Latest: Whelan fumes

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan, who regularly used to feature as a pundit for the BBC, fumed when he heard the news, claiming that ‘it’s not right’ that Richarlison is ‘plotting’ a way out of the Toffees when they are struggling near the bottom of the Premier League:

“That doesn’t surprise me at all.

“I’ve said all along that I wouldn’t want to be in the trenches with him, and that just proves my point.

“You just knew all along, once Everton got into this struggle, he would be sitting at home and plotting his way out.

“That’s not commitment to me. That’s not fighting for the cause. It’s not right.

“Will he get the move? Of course he will. He’s Brazil’s number nine, and he had Barcelona at his door only a couple of years ago.

“I’m sure he’ll get the move he wants, but it won’t be cheap. Everton will hold on for what they think he’s worth – provided they’re still in the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Sell

Richarlison has often been criticised for having problems with his attitude, and this seems no different as he reportedly looks to force his way out of the club.

He has not exactly been on top form either this season so far, with just six goals to his name in the top flight, and at 24 years of age, Frank Lampard’s team could demand a sizeable fee for him this summer.

Nonetheless, the Blues could then use that money to strengthen in other key areas of the pitch, so letting a player go who is seemingly unhappy would not be the worst thing.

In other news, find out which ‘fantastic specimen’ EFC are now eyeing here!

Manchester United are predicted to make huge changes this summer, including the appointment of a new manager and now Fabrizio Romano has made a huge claim on the transfer plans at Old Trafford.

What’s the word?

According to popular transfer insider and journalist Romano, Manchester United are already making plans to sign their next striker, with Richarlison and Darwin Nunez named as two players the club are interested in.

The Italian took to his YouTube channel to make the claim:

“Erik ten Hag knows how important it is to decide who is the perfect striker for Manchester United as soon as possible.

“For example, Darwin Nunez, and Richarlison are already players they have discussed internally.

“The perfect striker will be discussed with ten Hag before jumping into negotiations. Man United will 100% sign a new striker regardless of what happens with Ronaldo.”

Supporters will be excited

Following the shocking 4-0 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday evening, supporters will surely be excited that the wheels are in motion to start making changes and improving the squad with Richarlison and Nunez named as potential candidates.

Richarlison is currently embroiled in a relegation battle at Everton, however, at just 24 years old could be a great signing for Man United to improve the quality in the front three.

The Brazilian striker usually plays on the left wing to accommodate his partnership with Dominic Calvert-Lewin who plays in the centre-forward role at Goodison Park but has proven he can also be effective in his team-mate’s role too following his absence this season through injury.

The Toffees attacker has scored 49 goals in 145 appearances for his current club, but with the right service and guidance could have the potential to become a much more consistent goal threat and would be a good prospect for replacing Marcus Rashford if he was to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, as per reports.

Nunez is a hugely hot prospect for many Premier League clubs with Liverpool and Arsenal also speculated to be interested in securing his signature this summer following a fantastic season so far from the Benfica striker.

The 22-year-old has scored an impressive 33 goals in 38 appearances for his Portuguese club and has caught the eye of several clubs following his Champions League performances scoring six goals in the competition against Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax.

With that being said, if ten Hag does join the club he will have a challenge on his hands to identify the right players to make an instant impact on the struggling Man United side to ensure next season they have the opportunity to compete for trophies, and signing a new strike force is clearly a promising priority.

AND in other news: Ten Hag must brutally axe “terrible” MUFC flop who made just 11 passes v LFC

Paul Robinson has now dropped a big Newcastle United claim involving Ciaran Clark.

The Lowdown: Clark’s indiscipline

The Irishman has come under the spotlight recently due to his indiscipline, as footage shared last month showed him punching an opponent in a friendly against Al-Ittihad, which resulted in him being sent off.

This comes after he was given a red card just nine minutes into their 1-1 draw at home to Norwich City in the Premier League in November, and with the signing of Dan Burn from Brighton on Transfer Deadline Day, the 32-year-old’s future at St James’ Park will have to be questioned.

The Latest: Robinson reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson – who regularly appears on Sky Sports – has now claimed that Clark may have even played his last game for Newcastle, saying:

“You don’t know what has gone on behind the scenes but that was the perfect example of how not to perform in an audition in front of your new bosses.

“You don’t get sent off in a friendly game in front of your new owners when you’re on a training camp.

“He has played in quite a few games this season. If the manager sees him as surplus to requirements I’m surprised we didn’t see him move on before the deadline.

“Given his recent disciplinary record, this could be the end for him at Newcastle.”

The Verdict: Get rid

Following the arrival of Burn on Tyneside, Newcastle can now afford to get Clark off of their books.

The Republic of Ireland international is currently ranked as the fifth-worst player in the top flight at the moment, and the worst out of his teammates (WhoScored), so he would not be a big loss should the Magpies decide to get rid.

Nonetheless, he should at least be frozen out by Eddie Howe for his indiscipline until such time that a suitable buyer comes in for him.

In other news, NUFC are interested in this £83.3m-rated ‘engine’

Premier League safety is within touching distance for Leeds United but by no means is it guaranteed.

The Whites’ 0-0 stalemate with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday night moved them five points clear of Frank Lampard’s Everton, meaning their destiny is firmly in their own hands with five games left to play.

They won’t be easy fixtures either as the Yorkshiremen face league leaders Manchester City this weekend before heading to north London to face a red-hot Arsenal side, with Chelsea to come after that.

Failure to pick up any points during that run, combined with the possibility of the Toffees and Burnley making up ground, could leave manager Jesse Marsch sweating heading into the final few weeks of the 2021/22 campaign.

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He could do himself a favour, though, by axing two of his faltering stars in Mateusz Klich and Daniel James.

Both players were hooked prematurely on Monday.

The Poland international lasted until half-time before being replaced by Robin Koch, largely due to him being left an absolute passenger, whilst the Welsh winger was taken off for academy gem Sam Greenwood, a rather damning indictment on his performance.

Leeds’ disastrous duo have struggled for form throughout the season, and perhaps one is more worrying than the other given he is the club’s record £30m signing.

During his time at Manchester United, pundit Darren Bent described the winger as “headless” in his decision making and with only three direct goal contributions in the last 11 games, we’re starting to see that – none of which have been him finding the net either.

Some of his poor form can be attributed to the fact that he’s been filling in for the injured Patrick Bamford but apart from his speed, he has offered very little threat otherwise. Indeed, he currently ranks 12th for average WhoScored rating. Eight players are managing more successful dribbles per game than him, too.

Meanwhile, Klich ranks 17th, which is the worst of any player to have started 21 or more league games this term.

Earlier in the year, Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison described the Pole as being “non-existent” in midfield and we caught another glimpse of that earlier this week as he managed only 26 touches and 13 accurate passes in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch, per SofaScore.

It’s hard to make a case for either of the two stars to keep their place amongst the starting XI heading into some tough encounters. City, Arsenal and Chelsea all possess the firepower and strength to devour the struggling duo.

As such, Marsch must look to axe the pair of them as they continue to hold back his side during this relegation dogfight.

AND in other news, Alan Nixon: Leeds plot bargain bid for “special” 18 y/o, he could be the next Cancelo…

Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Wolves winger Pedro Neto in the summer, according to a new transfer rumour which has emerged during the international break.

The Lowdown: Neto a prized asset

Bruno Lage has a number of talented players at his disposal but Neto is arguably the most prized asset at Molineux currently, perhaps along with Ruben Neves.

The 22-year-old has already scored 10 goals and registered 11 assists for the Wanderers and he is now back in the fold after a long-term injury absence, recently penning a new deal to keep him at the club until 2027.

A worrying rumour is now doing the rounds regarding the Portuguese starlet’s future, though, as the summer window slowly edges closer.

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The Latest: PSG keen on move

According to The Daily Mail, PSG have added Neto to their list of potential signings at the end of the season, with the Ligue 1 giants ‘monitoring his progress’ between now and May.

Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele are also thought to be options.

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The Verdict: Can’t afford to lose him

At 22, Neto still has so much time on his side that it would be a disaster for Wolves to lose him this early in his career, having been hailed as a ‘huge talent’ by Premier League legend Alan Shearer.

The youngster can be the attacking star of the team for Lage for a number of years, making the left-sided role his own and maturing into an even more formidable player as he regains fitness and earns more Premier League experience.

Should Neto suddenly demand a move, however, that new deal does at least run until 2027, meaning PSG or other suitors would likely have to pay an extortionate amount for his services, generating funds for replacement signings at Molineux.

In other news, a journalist has dropped a claim regarding one Wolves player. Read more here.

West Ham United are once again interested in a deal to bring Hugo Ekitike to the London Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that, after failing with a bid for the Stade Reims centre-forward in January, West Ham remain interested in a move for the 19-year-old at the end of the current campaign.

The report goes on to state that the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Arsenal are also keeping a close eye on the situation of the France U21 international – for whom the Ligue 1 side are believed to be demanding a figure in the region of €20m (£17m) in order to part with this summer.

“The next Mbappe”

Considering just how much potential Ekitike quite clearly possesses, in addition to the fact that David Moyes is in rather desperate need of a new centre-forward this summer, the argument that the teenager would be something of a dream signing for West Ham is a rather easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 21 Ligue 1 appearances this season, the £18m-rated forward has been in sensational form for Reims, bagging nine goals, registering three assists and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.3 shots and making 0.6 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the striker who Graeme Bailey dubbed an “outstanding talent” – as well as claiming that “many in France believe he could be the next Mbappe” – average an incredibly impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.88, ranking him as Oscar Garcia’s 10th-best player in the top flight of French football.

As such, with Moyes currently only having the option of the 32-year-old Michail Antonio up top – a player who has suffered terribly with injuries in recent years – it would indeed appear an extremely wise move for the West Ham board to finally provide the Jamacia international with adequate backup and competition in leading the Hammers line, with Ekitike very much looking to be an extremely exciting prospect for the Irons.

AND in other news: Sold at £37m, now worth £58.5m: Moyes had a WHU nightmare on “unplayable” £56k-p/w ace

Aston Villa have made a late offer for Bologna left-back Aaron Hickey.

That’s according to Italian outlet Il Resto Del Carlino, and as to be expected, a number of Villa supporters have flocked to the update on social media.

Hickey was linked with a move to Villa Park earlier this month, with Gregg Evans believing that a swoop for the highly-rated Scottish teenager was more likely in the summer.

However, it seems as if NSWE and club CEO Christian Purslow have decided to launch a formal bid for the 19-year-old late in the winter window, possibly due to the fact that Matt Targett is set to join Newcastle until the end of the campaign.

Il Resto Del Carlino revealed that Bologna have turned down a €10m (£8.3m) offer from Villa which included a 20% sell-on clause.

Villa fans react

The AVFC Faithful on Twitter relayed the claims of a move late bid for Hickey on deadline day. Here is what these Villa fans had to say in reply…

“Anyone actually watched him on a consistent basis? Numbers look good mind. Would make the Targett deal make sense.”

Credit: @Hiddenvillian93

“Oh my, say it again faithful”

Credit: @AvfcTalkTime

“So that’s why Targett can leave… Makes some sense. Come on Purslow, pay up.”

Credit: @villaman12345

“GET IT DONE”

Credit: @KishinJay

“Double it boys, idc”

Credit: @AlexPickworth1

“Bro make it happen. Send a 15 mil bid in”

Credit: @ZM_AVFC

In other news: ‘Hats off to the board’ – Sky Sports pundit purrs at ‘amazing’ out-of-the-blue Villa transfer news