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According to a report by Football Insider, West Ham United, and by extension GSB, are lining up a bid to sign West Bromwich Albion ace Sam Johnstone this summer – and it is believed he is ‘very keen’ to join the club.

The Lowdown: Johnstone and West Ham…

Links to the England shot stopper are nothing new with David Moyes’ men keeping tabs on his exploits for quite a while now.

Indeed, previous reports even claimed that West Ham are above other competitors in the race for his signature as the Irons search for an eventual heir to current mainstay Lukasz Fabianski.

The Latest: GSB lining up bid…

It is now claimed by Football Insider that GSB and West Ham United are lining up a bid to sign the player this summer and he is a firm target for the club.

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As well as this, Johnstone has apparently told friends he is ‘very keen’ on a move to east London and has privately made it clear he wants an instant return to the Premier League.

He was relegated with current club West Brom last season but reports claim the Baggies will still demand a lofty price tag.

The Sun stated recently that they have slapped a £20m price tag on Johnstone despite their Championship status.

The Verdict: Do it West Ham…

Even though his mooted fee could be lofty given these uncertain financial times, the price tag could yet be negotiated depending on developments and the notion of West Ham lining up a bid is exciting.

Johnstone was arguably one of the shining lights for WBA last season, starting 37 Premier League matches and only missing one match all campaign (WhoScored).

He kept six clean sheets in that time and even bagged an assist during West Brom’s surprising 5-2 victory at Stamford Bridge (Transfermarkt) – with pundit Kevin Phillips lauding him as their ‘outstanding player’ of the campaign (West Brom News).

At 28-years-old with plenty of years ahead between the sticks, he could be a brilliant option for the Hammers this summer.

In other news: West Ham fans horrified by club announcement, find out more here.

Sheffield Wednesday could well sell a number of their star players if Dejphon Chansiri receives a suitable bid for them this summer.

What’s been said?

That’s according to the Yorkshire Live journalist Dom Howson, who claimed he wouldn’t be surprised if, in order to balance the books at Hillsborough this summer, the club’s owner will seriously consider selling any of the Owls’ contracted players in the upcoming market, regardless of their importance to the team.

Speaking on the Singing The Blues Podcast (as reported by Football League World), Howson said: “You have to say that the revenue hit that they’re going to take now from relegation, there are genuine concerns about [Chansiri’s] ability to continue financing the football club and there’s no sign of him walking away or looking to sell up.

“But Wednesday, this summer, when it comes to some of their playing assets, such as Josh Windass, Barry Bannan, Dominic Iorfa, those three players who are under contract for next year – I tell you what, if they get some decent offers on the table, for any of their players, they’re going to have to seriously look at it this summer to again try and make ends meet.”

Fans will be furious

It is inevitable that, following the club’s relegation to the third tier of English football, the Owls will have to make financial cutbacks in a number of areas this summer in order to make up for the lost revenue that Championship football brings.

However, if Chansiri attempts to make up for this loss in revenue by selling the club’s most influential players, Wednesday very much run the risk of finding themselves stuck in League One for a great deal longer than just one season – something that would be yet another grave mistake on the part of the 53-year-old.

Furthermore, with the businessman already struggling to pay the wages of his players, the drop in division is only going to tighten the financial strain on the club, and, if Chansiri cannot afford to stump up the cash to pay players’ salaries, rather than selling off key assets this summer, the question must be raised as to whether he is fit to continue running the club.

However, as Howson states, with no sign of the owner selling up any time soon, in addition to this latest news regarding the potential sales of players such as Windass, Bannan and Iorfa, the future of Wednesday does not look overly bright at present, something that is likely to leave the Hillsborough faithful understandably furious.

In other news: 67% passes completed: Sheff Wed passenger who lost possession 22x cost Moore dearly – opinion

With news of Roy Hodgson set to leave his role as manager at Crystal Palace at the end of the season, Marcus Bent, who was signed by Palace for £405,000 in 1998, has exclusively told Football FanCast that his former club may regret appointing a younger manager like Frank Lampard.

There have been strong reports suggesting that Lampard is the favourite to replace Hodgson and now that it is official Hodgson will be leaving Selhurst Park, the board may decide a younger manager is required to take the club forward.

Lampard has had two jobs in his relatively short managerial career as he guided Derby County to an eventual play-off final defeat in 2019, before taking over at Chelsea when they were placed under a transfer ban, but he was sacked in January this year.

Palace will have to begin the search for a new manager after Hodgson manages his final game on Sunday and appointing a young manager may not be the right decision. That is according to former Eagle Bent, who spoke exclusively to FFC:

“Hodgson has always been consistent throughout his career and he’s done well at most clubs he’s been at, but there does come a time when you need to go forward as a club.

“So, if they bring Frank in then they might live to regret it, who knows? If Hodgson was to move upstairs at Palace then someone like Frank would have someone there to give him advice.”

Hodgson has had a long career as a manager which has seen him manage clubs such as Inter Milan, Liverpool and West Brom as well as winning eight trophies along the way.

Whoever does replace Hodgson as manager at Selhurst Park will have a rebuild on their hands as they have 16 players set to be out of contract at the end of the season.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed Southampton tried to sign Timothy Castagne last summer before he made the move to Leicester City instead.

Saints tried to sign Castagne

Castagne made the move from Atalanta to the King Power Stadium last year for a fee of £21.5m (BBC).

Speaking prior to the Saints’ clash with the Foxes on Friday, Hasenhuttl revealed his side attempted to capture the 25-year-old but were unable to do so. He told Hampshire Live:

“He was a player we were interested in. He was available and we knew this.

“Although they have lost players like [Riyad] Mahrez or [N’Golo] Kante or [Harry] Maguire, you see that Leicester are still able to bring very good players in,

“We had an eye on [Timothy] Castagne but as soon as they are in the duel, then we have no chance to get him. This is exactly what makes the difference between these two clubs. It is normal.”

Shame

Other than a couple of spells on the sidelines through injury (Transfermarkt), Castagne has proven to be an inspired signing for Brendan Rodgers and co. He has managed two assists and four goals in all competitions and has displayed his versatility by playing both at left-back and right-back, as well as in midfield.

It was an ambitious move from the Saints to sign him – after all, he competed in the Champions League last term with Atalanta and will have been wanting to play for a side that harboured ambitions of featuring in that tournament on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the south-coast outfit are unable to offer anything close to that at the moment. However, at least they are looking to capture top talent, it seems.

In other news, Southampton have been dealt this transfer blow.

Frank McAvennie has exclusively told Football FanCast that West Ham should be all over Sam Johnstone this summer.

The former Manchester United youngster has been one of the standout goalkeepers in the Premier League this season, although his excellent form is unlikely to save West Brom from relegation.

Providing the Baggies don’t make a great escape in the coming weeks, the £32,500-a-week England shotstopper, who was recently rewarded with his first call-up by Gareth Southgate, is likely to leave the club.

Reports believe that Johnstone will be available for just £10million, although the Hammers could face stiff competition from London rivals Tottenham, who might also need a new goalkeeper.

Number one Lukasz Fabianski recently extended his deal with the Hammers, but mistakes have been creeping into the Pole’s game this term, none more so than in the defeat at Newcastle earlier this month.

And McAvennie told Football FanCast that Johnstone would be an ideal replacement:

“I think it would be really good business.

“When you’re playing for West Brom you’re not short of action, he’s probably made more saves than most of the keepers put together, and that’s no disrespect to them but without him they wouldn’t have as many points as they have got.

“For £10million, I can’t believe I’m saying it, but it’s nothing in this game. That’s the nature of the beast now, and it’s right up West Ham’s street that kind of money.”

Rangers are reportedly considering a summer move for IF Elfsborg centre-back Joseph Okumu as they eye up potential replacements for Filip Helander in Steven Gerrard’s squad, with the Swedish international having been linked with a move away from Ibrox in recent weeks.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Light Blues have made preliminary enquiries for the 23-year-old defender, as they prepare for the possibility of both Helander and Edmundson leaving this summer.

Helander has played a key role in Rangers’ title success this season and has earned admirers from the Premier League as a result, with both Leicester City and Aston Villa said to be keen on the former Bologna man.

Would he be a good signing?

After spending time in his home country Kenya, Okumu has had spells in South Africa and the USA before finding his feet in Sweden with Elfsborg.

Since then, he has made 34 appearances for the Allsvenskan side, in which he has contributed no goals and one assist.

The Kenyan international clearly had an impressive impact last season, as Elfsborg lost just two league games when he featured, which helped them to a second-place finish in the 2020 league table.

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When Okumu made the move to South Africa earlier in his career, a source at the club praised Okumu as one of the best signings the club made that year and praised the defender, saying:

“He spent few days with us training with us and did well to impress the coach. He is a young, talented boy destined for a great future in football.”

The 23-year-old could help realise that potential should he make the move to Rangers in the summer, although with the report suggesting that there has already been a £2 million bid for the youngster, it seems that he won’t come cheap this summer.

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However, the 6 foot 3 defender could well prove to be an excellent replacement for Filip Helander, so Ross Wilson and Gerrard should definitely look at bringing him to Ibrox ahead of next season.

And, in other news… Rangers could make huge summer profit on gem dubbed “the steal of the century”

Former Newcastle United midfielder Steve Howey has exclusively told Football FanCast that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Manchester City sign Danny Ings this summer.

Pep Guardiola is going to need a replacement for Sergio Aguero after the Argentine striker recently revealed that he’ll be leaving the Etihad at the end of the campaign.

The City manager has opted for the likes of Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden in a false nine role at times this season, with Gabriel Jesus his only other senior recognised frontman.

Guardiola recently went on record and by saying that signing an Aguero replacement is going to be “impossible” – although City have already been strongly linked with Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.

But with those two likely to cost in the region of £100m, Southampton’s Ings, who might be available at a cut-price, with his contract running out next summer, has also been touted as a potential addition to Guardiola’s side.

Ings has endured an injury-hit campaign, scoring just 10 Premier League goals, but Howey believes that he would be a good addition for City.

He told Football FanCast:

“I’ve always liked Danny Ings. I remember Newcastle were interested in Danny Ings and the fee was £10m then £12m then £15m and I know he’s had his injury problems, but he’s a goalscorer. Last season he had a fabulous season.

“That wouldn’t surprise me, he’s a good footballer, he’d have good link-up play. But Pep sometimes doesn’t really play with an out and out number nine. Look where Jesus was the other week against Manchester United, tackling on the edge of his box badly, but he was there.

“Sometimes they’re strange ones, but they seem to work out. If it’s paper talk it’s paper talk, but if Guardiola has looked at it then he feels like he can do something.”

Newcastle United will strive to get back to winning ways in a crucial relegation six-pointer with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday night, but Steve Bruce is set to remain without Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin.

The Toon have failed to win any of the five matches played since Wilson sustained a hamstring injury against Southampton last month to now sit only two points clear of the drop zone, having once held a nine-point gap to the relegation places.

Newcastle can move five points clear and still hold a game in hand over 18th-placed Fulham with a win at the Amex Stadium, where Miguel Almiron could make his return from the knee injury sustained in the 1-1 draw with Wolves which also saw Saint-Maximin sidelined with a groin issue.

Almiron is unlikely to be the only change Bruce makes from the line-up which drew with Aston Villa last time out. With that in mind, here’s a potential United XI that Brighton could face…

Joelinton and Dwight Gayle led the line at St James’ Park as Newcastle drew 1-1 with Aston Villa last Friday, but neither could end their droughts in front of the net to remain on a single goal each in the Premier League this season.

A change to a more centralised position for the second half also failed to help Gayle find a foothold in proceedings, as he cut an invisible bystander for much of the game and will likely make way for Almiron to return if the latter is passed fit.

Joelinton is expected to remain as one of Bruce’s two split strikers on Saturday, as the Toon boss was pleased with his efforts against the Villans despite failing to find the back of the net.

“I thought Joelinton, arguably, had his best game in a Newcastle shirt,” Bruce said, via quotes shared by the Shields Gazette. “I thought he was terrific on the night. But, of course, a striker has to top it off by scoring a goal. He understands that, but his overall performance was very, very good. I thought he led the line very, very well.”

Ryan Fraser, who initially occupied a false nine role against Aston Villa before a move to the wing to accommodate Gayle, will also be expected to drop to the bench at Brighton after being slammed for underperforming in the 1-1 draw.

Bruce opting to axe Fraser may see Jacob Murphy awarded first Premier League start in nine games, having impressed the United boss from the bench last week while setting up Jamaal Lascelles’ stoppage-time equaliser.

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“I thought he was very, very bright when he came on [against Villa],” Bruce said of Murphy. “We like Jacob, he trains well every day and gives us a different option with his pace and directness. He had an impact last week, which is what we’re looking for.”

Bruce will be expected to name a mostly unchanged defensive and midfield line at Brighton, with Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden and Joe Willock once again protecting Paul Dummett, Ciaran Clark, Lascelles and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

However, the right-back spot could feature a new name after Emil Krafth struggled with closing down opposing players against Aston Villa before the £58k-per-week defender was replaced by the returning Javier Manquillo.

Manquillo had played no role in his side’s previous four games due to an ankle injury sustained against Southampton, but returned to fitness quicker than expected and may now be given his 10th start of the Premier League season.

AND in other news, Newcastle’s hopes of signing a “standout performer” have taken a major blow…

Aston Villa’s disappointing run in the Premier League continued with a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday night.

Dean Smith’s side are now winless in their last four in the top flight, and goals from Carlos Vinicius and Harry Kane were enough to consign Villa to yet another damaging result in their hunt for a European place for next season.

One man who really let his manager down was Trezeguet.

As per Sofascore, the Egyptian lost 15 of his total 20 duels on the night, which was a real indication of how much he struggled to get past right-back Japhet Tanganga.

The Spurs man’s experience of playing in the centre of defence saw him easily outmuscle the Egyptian in those one-on-one contests down the flank, and the Villa winger’s lack of real conviction told a big story of his struggles.

He managed to complete just one dribble, which was a third of what Bertrand Traore managed on the opposite flank despite being hooked at the one hour mark at Villa Park.

The £9m-rated Trezeguet just couldn’t get himself involved enough, which meant it was no surprise that he managed just ten successful passes in the time that he was on the pitch – the fewest of any Villa starter and even fewer than goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Writing in his post-match player ratings for the Birmingham Mail, Ashley Preece gave the winger the joint-lowest score of three, noting: “Had a first half to forget. The Egyptian miscontrolled almost everything that came his way. Trezeguet was offside on a couple of occasions. He was picked out well by Sanson after the break but, again, he lacked conviction once more with the winger without a goal all season which dates back to his strike against Arsenal in July 2020.

“Just not understanding what Trezeguet brings to the team of late. Struggling in terms of quality, for me, and should be out of the team after the international break.”

With no goals in the Premier League whatsoever this season, and just the one assist, it’s hard to see what Trezeguet is bringing to the team in terms of the top end of the pitch.

It’s all well and good being a hard-working winger who won’t shirk defensive responsibilities, but offering that crucial goal threat at the other end is surely why he’s being picked in the team.

Smith simply has to drop him from the starting line-up after yet another shocking display.

Meanwhile, Villa are surely ruing this January call…

Carlo Ancelotti must shoulder part of the blame for Mason Holgate feeling that his performances have not been up to his normal standards for Everton this season.

The 24-year-old earned his 14th start of the Premier League campaign during Saturday’s Merseyside derby win away to Liverpool, partnering Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey in central defence in the absence of the injured Yerry Mina.

Holgate had earned just four of his 13 prior top-flight appearances in his natural centre-back position this term, with Ancelotti often fielding the Doncaster-born talent at right-back.

Ancelotti’s selection of Holgate at full-back initially came through a need to plug a gap in defence following Seamus Coleman’s hamstring strain, but soon saw the £16m-rated ace establish himself as the Italian’s secret weapon amid calls to strengthen in the position.

At centre-half or right-back, praise has since come Holgate’s way, with former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch only able to wax lyrical over the ex-England U21 international following the Merseyside derby.

“Mason Holgate was brilliant. He needs to be mentioned, he’s different class and is going to be a top player,” Crouch noted in his column for the Daily Mail.

And yet Holgate believes that his performances still have a sizable margin for improvement.

“We have to stay level-headed and keep going. I am coming into it [reaching form] a bit more,” Holgate told EvertonTV.

“I am not where I’d like to be and hitting it consistently, but I can only work as hard as possible. I have not done too badly but am not near my normal standards.

“It is hard to come to the season partway through, but I am feeling stronger and fitter now and am happy the way things are going. Hopefully, I can keep it going.”

Holgate missed the first seven games of the Premier League campaign with a toe injury sustained during a pre-season friendly with Preston North End, which sparked Everton to explore central defensive signings before the £20m capture of Godfrey from Norwich City.

Rarely has Holgate been given a look in at his preferred position since and, despite the high moments occasionally seen at full-back, Ancelotti should accept some of the blame for the 6 ft 1 defender feeling as if he is yet to reach his best levels this term.

Holgate’s longest run of appearances in a single position for top-flight fixtures so far has lasted just four games, when fielded at right-back for much of December whilst Coleman was back in the treatment room after aggravating his hamstring issue.

One game back at centre-half then resulted in Holgate returning to right-back for four of the Blues’ following five games, before going back and forth between the two roles this month.

Never having a settled role to play in the Toffees’ push for European qualification is likely holding Holgate back from reaching his max potential, all the while Godfrey puts his teammate in his shadow.

“He’s really stepped up to the plate. We all knew he was a good player when Everton signed him and had high hopes, but he’s exceeded those expectations by the level of his performance, both in central defence and also in full-backs as well,” former Everton defender David Weir told Football Pass of Godfrey.

So, while Holgate’s injury meant the 24-year-old’s season started later than for some, Ancelotti must accept part of the responsibility for how his campaign has since turned out, for better or worse.

AND in other news, Everton face widespread PL competition for the transfer of an £18k-p/w beast this summer…