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West Ham can look to next season with huge excitement and optimism. Their first major trophy in 43 years secured Europa League football and makes them a compelling option for any footballer looking to challenge themselves at a higher level.

After their £166m outlay last summer, David Moyes has demonstrated he isn’t afraid to be active in the transfer market, and the club is set for a busy summer.

One player who has been linked to joining the Hammers at this fruitful time is Brennan Johnson, who has been one of Nottingham Forest’s most consistent and productive players since their promotion back to the Premier League.

What’s the latest on Brennan Johnson to West Ham?

According to the Daily Mail, the 22-year-old is set to be the subject of an intense transfer battle between Everton and West Ham.

This outlet details that the Welshman is valued at £40m due to his massive effort to keep his side away from relegation.

However, with the added attractive option of European football, the East London outfit may have the edge to secure this talent.

How would Brennan Johnson fit in at West Ham?

The tricky attacker has been an indispensable component of a Reds side that gained promotion and kept their Premier League status.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the forward recorded 25 contributions in 46 appearances in the second tier and followed this up with 11 goal involvements in his debut season at the top level of English football.

Johnson appeared in every single domestic game and his manager Steve Cooper is a massive fan, saying: “He’s a fantastic player, we know he’s got qualities and is a great finisher.”

One of his most impressive attributes is his chameleonic ability to play across the frontline and his potential link-up with the dazzling Lucas Paqueta is a mouth-watering prospect.

The dazzling Brazilian ranks within the best 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive passes per 90, and has averaged the second-most dribbles per game (1.2) in the West Ham squad.

Described as “simply sensational” by CBS’ James Benge, the former Lyon star’s impudent vision, skill, and passing, coupled with Johnson’s endless running and commendable athleticism could be a devastating method of attack next term.

The way Paqueta expertly slipped in Jarrod Bowen to win the final last night is a teaser of how Johnson can benefit from his creativity.

The 18-cap international was born in Nottingham and has been in the youth ranks at Forest since 2009 – to tempt Johnson to leave his boyhood club will take a humongous proposal.

The £30k-per-week man’s current deal expires in 2026, so it would certainly be an audacious swoop for the high-flying Hammers.

Newcastle United are hoping to leapfrog Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race for Napoli centre-half Kim Min-jae, who has been impeccable in Serie A this season.

What's the latest on Kim Min-jae to Newcastle?

Erik ten Hag's Red Devils are believed to be leading the race for the South Korean defender and are willing to meet his £42m release clause this summer, according to one Italian transfer specialist, but the Magpies could yet throw a spanner in the works.

That's according to the Sun, who claim that Toon representatives recently held 'secret' talks with the player's entourage at St. James' Park ahead of a possible hijack, with Kim's release clause activating on July 1.

The 26-year-old has only plied his trade for I Partenopei for one year after signing from Fenerbahce for just €18m (£16m) but has already earned a place among the pantheon of modern defensive titans for the magnitude of his performances in Naples.

Should Newcastle sign Kim Min-jae?

Newcastle finished the 22/23 Premier League season boasting a fourth-placed finish and the division's joint-mightiest defensive record, alongside champions Manchester City.

Sven Botman was signed in the summer for roughly £35m to complement the signings of Keiran Trippier and Dan Burn the previous winter.

Fabian Schar, who has made 141 appearances for the Toon, has undergone a resurgence under the stewardship of Eddie Howe and played a central role in the resounding success of the past 18 months, but at 31-years-old and with just one year left on his contract, he is unlikely to be deemed indispensable.

And with a signing of Kim's calibre entering the fray, having recorded an average rating of 7.22 in the Italian top-flight this term, as per Sofascore, posting two goals and assists apiece, completing 91% of his passes, winning 62% of his duels and averaging 1.6 tackles and 3.5 clearances per outing, he certainly deserves the acclaim that has left the likes of teammate Kvicha Kvaratskhelia dubbing him an "iron barrel".

While the 75-cap Schar has been a distinctive presence at the back over the past year, ranking among the top 6% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues for rate of assists and the top 2% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, he is not of the same ilk as Kim, who has been described as an all-encompassing defender with "no flaws" by journalist Ivan Zacharoni.

Indeed, he ranks among the top 14% of positional peers for shot-creating actions but also the top 3% for passes attempted, 10% for pass completion and 12% for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, which could play very nicely into the hands of his ostensible partner, Botman.

The Dutchman is considered a no-nonsense, traditional centre-back, and his ruthless tenacity and Kim's ball-playing aptitude could craft a perfect state of confluence and keep the club's equilibrium balanced so perfectly.

The 23-year-old has already demonstrated that his skill set matches up with the more creative air that his Swiss partner exudes, and the South Korean would only be an upgrade in this regard.

With Botman already hailed for his "incredible impact" by Leon Osman, the thought of this newfound partnership on Tyneside is a devastating proposition for rivals, and with Manchester United circling on his signature, Howe and co must act swiftly to tie up a deal that could cement the burgeoning rise.

Leeds United have had their fair share of ups and downs since the Yorkshire club made their way back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.

Last season saw the Whites end the campaign in the top half of the Premier League table with 59 points on the board.

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This latest campaign was much more of a difficult one for the club as they flirted with relegation for most of it and only just managed to hang on to their place in the top flight by finishing 17th.

One reason why the Whites struggled this season could be down to the fact that they had to play a lot of their games without Patrick Bamford in the side.

After appearing in all of their league games the season before and scoring 17 goals in the process, the Englishman only featured in nine matches this time around and only completed the full 90 minutes on four occasions.

Having only scored 42 goals in this campaign compared to the 62 they scored throughout the 2020/21 season, it’s safe to say that Bamford was a big miss for them in that regard.

Now with the next season on the horizon, Jesse Marsch will undeniably be hoping that the striker will be able to get his fitness back and play regularly for the side once again.

In terms of potential incoming summer transfers, one player that the Whites have been linked with recently that could give the Leeds boss the chance to form a deadly attacking duo with Bamford is Morgan Gibbs-White.

During his loan spell away from Wolves this season, the midfielder showed how much of a deadly attacking threat he is by racking up 12 goals and ten assists in 37 appearances for Sheffield United.

Labelled by David McGoldrick as a player that has “the world at his feet,” ended his campaign at Bramall Lane with the joint-highest average for key passes per game (1.6).

This shows just how much of a useful player he could be for Leeds and Bamford if he’s able to deliver the striker with lots of goal-scoring opportunities.

With a reported price tag of £25m, this is a potential deal that Leeds should be all over as the Wolves figure certainly has the attacking talent in him to make sure that the Whites aren’t facing another season-long relegation battle.

In other news: “Leeds are..“: Romano drops big transfer update that’ll leave supporters buzzing

Phil Hay has dropped a big hint on one of Victor Orta’s potential Leeds United transfer targets this summer.

What’s the talk?

In a recent Q&A on The Athletic, the Leeds United correspondent revealed that there is an internal discussion currently ongoing at Elland Road regarding the signing of a more experienced backup option for first-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier – with Orta believed to be tempted by the idea of a move for a new shot-stopper this summer.

In response to a question asking whether – following a shaky campaign between the sticks – the France U21 international could see his position as the Whites’ number one come under threat upon the signing of a new ‘keeper, Hay replied:

“No, Meslier wasn’t flawless but I think it’s absolutely the right decision to continue pushing him as the No 1.

“There is a discussion going on at Leeds at the moment about what to do with their goalkeeping ranks. They’re tempted to bring in a more experienced No 2, someone to sit behind Meslier and ahead of 21-year-old Kristoffer Klaesson. It’s something to keep an eye on.”

Supporters will love Hay’s update

While it is undeniable that Meslier is a talent who boasts an incredible amount of potential for future development, the fact that Leeds shipped an enormous 79 goals in the Premier League last season – with only bottom of the table Norwich City conceding more – cannot be avoided.

And, while the 22-year-old is not solely to blame for the Whites’ extremely worrying defensive record in 2021/22, it would be a difficult argument to make that the signing of an experienced second choice goalkeeper would not be a sensible addition for Orta to make this summer.

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Indeed, this would provide the £18m-rated Frenchman with much greater competition for his starting spot in Jesse Marsch’s side – something that typically increases performance levels – while the former FC Lorient starlet would also be likely benefit from the input and advice of a player who is longer in the tooth.

Furthermore, should the £41k-per-week shot-stopper find himself going through a rough patch of form – as he did in December, March and May this season – being taken out of the firing line for a couple of matches would almost certainly help the youngster get back on his feet more quickly.

As such, the signing of a new number two would very much appear to be an intelligent deal for Orta to pursue this summer, with Hay’s update sure to be news that the Elland Road faithful will love.

AND in other news: Victor Orta now given green light for “outstanding” Leeds signing, he’s John Terry 2.0

Manchester United’s move for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber is ‘practically closed’, according to Portuguese journalist Pedro Almeida.

The Lowdown: Timber talks

Erik ten Hag has seemingly made the 20-year-old his first major target as United manager. The Red Devils first made contact over a possible move at the end of April, and a transfer has slowly gathered pace with the defender’s representatives in England last weekend.

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Timber, described as a ‘top talent’, as per the official UEFA Champions League Twitter channel, can play anywhere across the back four and is valued at a career-high £27m by Transfermarkt.

The Latest: Almeida’s update

Almeida took to Twitter on late on Friday evening to provide a Manchester United transfer update.

He revealed that a move for Timber is ‘practically’ done, adding that the club are now turning their attention to Villarreal’s Pau Torres.

The Verdict: New partnership?

Although Timber can play as a full-back, Ten Hag mainly used the Netherlands international at centre-back last season. He made 38 appearances at the heart of the defence and just five at right-back, helping Ajax to the Eredivisie title, conceding just 19 times in 34 games.

It looks as if he will become the club’s first major signing of the Ten Hag era, and with United now looking at a move for another centre-back in Torres, that could spell trouble for the likes of Harry Maguire, who was heavily criticised last season.

In other news: Reliable journalist leaks Man Utd talks as Ten Hag now eyes ‘terrific’ Englishman. 

West Bromwich Albion have seen numerous players work their way through the club’s youth academy and make names for themselves.

Players such as Chris Wood, Tyler Roberts and Kemar Roofe have all spent time in the Baggies’ youth ranks in previous years.

One current Albion youngster who could find himself in with a shout of breaking into the first team on a regular basis next season after working his way through the youth ranks is Zac Ashworth.

A product of West Brom’s academy, the 19-year-old has made 50 appearances at youth level for the Baggies across their under-18 and under-23 sides. In that time, the full-back has scored three goals and provided six assists along the way.

He has even described himself as having a “knack of scoring” goals, which could be really useful for Bruce’s side, who often struggled to find the net in the 2021/22 campaign.

After making his senior debut for the club back their FA Cup defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion in January, the teenager made an appearance in both of West Brom’s final two league games of the season. This shows that Bruce is not shy when it comes to giving young players their chance to show what they can do in the first team.

Taking into account how Taylor Gardner-Hickman was given the opportunity at that level after making 19 Championship appearances following his senior debut against Hull City in November, Ashworth could well follow in his team-mate’s footsteps once next season kicks off.

Having played in numerous positions across the defence and midfield, his versatility could also make him a very useful figure for the Baggies moving forward should they need to rely on him for whatever reason.

Also, with Bruce recently talking about the need for West Brom to have a significant overhaul to their squad during the upcoming summer transfer window, unleashing Ashworth could potentially save the club millions and give them the chance to focus on other areas of their squad to strengthen.

Having the youngster as a regular first team option next season should definitely be in Bruce’s plans for their upcoming campaign and beyond, as the benefits could be substantial.

In other news: Bruce can finally axe “desperate” WBA flop by signing 22 y/o “human highlight reel”

Everton will host Brentford at Goodison Park this afternoon in their penultimate Premier League home match of the season, and although the Toffees’ home record is much better than when they play away, there has been some disappointing injury news which could be a huge blow for Frank Lampard.

What’s the latest?

The Toffees manager took to his pre-match press conference to deliver the bad news that Fabian Delph will not be available for selection after sustaining an injury.

Lampard told the press (via Liverpool Echo): “Fabian won’t be fit for the game against Brentford, we’ll see for the rest of the season. It’s a small injury, a muscle injury, but it’s an injury and enough to keep him out of this game.”

Lampard will be gutted

There is no doubt that Delph has made a huge difference since he returned to the team following a long-term injury which kept him out of the side for most of the season, and his influence will surely be sorely missed in midfield when you consider how his impact aligns with the team’s recent results.

After suffering a hamstring injury in January and missing 12 games for Everton, the 32-year-old returned to action just in time to make a crucial impact for his team in the middle of the park last month, and Lampard’s selection of the experienced midfielder seriously paid off.

In their last six games, Everton have won three, drawn two and lost one, with Delph featuring in every match apart from the one they lost, illustrating that he has become a real leader and a hugely positive influence for the team since his return.

That being said, it will be interesting to see how the Toffees manage without him against Brentford today. However, they have had a potential boost in midfield with Donny Van de Beek available for selection either today or against Crystal Palace on Thursday.

If Everton can take all three points from their clash on Merseyside this afternoon, it will take a lot of pressure off them in their final two games, especially if Tottenham can take all three points against the Toffees’ relegation rivals Burnley in the early kick-off. However, a win for Lampard’s men may be harder to come by without Delph to call upon, which will leave the 43-year-old gutted.

AND in other news: Huge boost as Lampard drops Everton transfer update that’ll delight supporters

West Bromwich Albion failed in their first attempt to make it out of the Championship and back into the Premier League following last year’s relegation.

In their 46 league games this season, the Baggies won 18, drawn 13 and lost 15 along the way under the management of firstly Valerien Ismael and then Steve Bruce.

One factor which has been a big disappointment for Albion at times in the 2021/22 campaign was their ability to score and create goals. Only four other clubs, three of which were relegated, had a lower rate of goals and assists per 90 minutes than West Brom this season.

A player that the Baggies had in their ranks in 2020/21 who could have fixed this issue is Conor Gallagher. After spending that season on loan at the Midlands club, the Chelsea midfielder found himself loaned out again this term.

With 31 league appearances under his belt for Crystal Palace, the Englishman has scored eight goals and provided three assists along the way.

This suggests that, had the Baggies been able to keep hold of the 22-year-old, he could have improved their attack and possibly given them a better chance of securing promotion.

Now that the summer transfer window is close to opening, one figure that Albion could look to sign as a potential replacement for Gallagher and could make them a deadlier team in front of goal is John Swift.

Last month, it was reported that the Midlands club are eyeing up a summer move for the Reading midfielder, who like Gallagher is a product of Chelsea’s youth system.

His current contract is set to expire in June, and Berkshire Live reported this week that his club are due to meet with the player’s representatives in the coming days to discuss his future and try to secure a new deal for him with the Royals, amid reports that West Brom are ‘optimistic’ of luring him to the Midlands.

During his time with Reading, the 26-year-old has scored 34 goals and delivered 38 assists, showing how much of an attacking and creative threat he can be. To further highlight how dangerous a player he is, no other Royals player had more crosses (213) or shots on target (30) than the Englishman.

Having been praised by journalist Charles Watts for an “outrageous” goal he scored in 2019, Swift reportedly had a price tag of £7m. However, with his current contract due to expire next month, the Baggies may not have to worry about splashing out to sign him.

Taking all this into account, adding the Reading star to their ranks should be at the top of Bruce’s priority list for the summer transfer window.

In other news – Ashworth howler: West Brom had a transfer nightmare on “top-class” £120k-p/w “genius”

A big Newcastle United claim has been made on their transfer plans for the summer…

What’s the talk?

Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards has revealed that the club will be looking to cash in on a number of players in the upcoming window.

Ahead of the Magpies’ 5-0 loss to Manchester City in the Premier League, Edwards Tweeted: “Think Howe will be looking very closely at players today. Man City is another barometer test Several came up short against Liverpool. They are all playing for futures in some respect, either to stay at club or to keep first team place. There’s going to be a summer clear out.”

After the match, he added: “Most of the starting XI will survive in terms of still being at the club next season but three or four of them will become back up not first choice. The main clear out is players who can’t get a game or haven’t even made squad. The money – or lack of it – they bring in is crucial.”

Supporters will be excited

The Toon faithful will surely be excited by these claims from Edwards as they suggest that the club are set for a busy summer of ins and outs.

They will be buzzing to learn that PIF and Howe are willing to axe the players who are not good enough for the team, whether that comes in the form of them being dropped from the XI or from them being sold or loaned out to another side.

Against Manchester City, Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth, Martin Dubravka and Sean Longstaff all recorded SofaScore ratings of 6.3 or lower and were all at the club prior to the takeover from PIF. If they cannot prove that they are capable of putting in strong performances against the top teams in the division then they may be among the players axed in the upcoming window.

Fans will want to see underperforming individuals punished for their poor displays by being dropped or sold and that is why they will be buzzing and excited by Edwards’ claim. Not only will it mean that they will see duds move away from St. James’ Park but it will also mean that they have the prospect of new arrivals bringing fresh promise to the squad.

It is now down to Howe to decide on the players he wants to replace and who he wants to replace them with, as the Toon supporters look forward to the coming months with excitement.

AND in other news, Major blow: Howe hit with big NUFC injury setback that’ll leave supporters gutted…

Manchester City have never been shy when it comes to getting involved with various transfer deals over the past few years.

Now that the next summer transfer window is around the corner, this will give the Manchester club yet another opportunity to make whatever changes to their squad that they see fit.

However, it seems as though a clue has emerged around one deal that could take place behind the scenes at the Etihad Stadium. Although, it’s not regarding a player.

What’s the talk? 

Speaking to Football Insider, Gabby Agbonlahor had this to say about the possibility of Guardiola putting pen to paper on a new deal with the Citizens.

“I’m sure Pep will sign a new deal as well and Liverpool and Man City will be winning the league for a long time. Pep will think he wants to sign a new deal but he knows there is no rush. There is nobody good enough to take his job, he’s doing so well.

“He’s got two years left on his contract so there is no rush and he can sign a new one next season. I’m sure Pep will be fine. There’s talk of [Erling] Haaland [signing] so I’m sure Pep will want to stay for a long time and get the best out of Haaland.”

Great news for City fans

Since his appointment back in the summer of 2016, Guardiola has taken charge of 347 games in total across all competitions, making him the longest-serving manager in the club’s history.

In those games, City have won 257, drawn 38 and lost just 52, winning a whopping ten trophies along the way. As a result of that, the Spaniard is the most successful manager in the history of the club, making him a legend at the Etihad Stadium.

Thus, taking into account how successful and domestically dominant the Manchester club have been under the 51-year-old’s reign, it’s undeniable that City fans will be over the moon to hear Agbonlahor’s claim that Guardiola would be willing to sign a new deal at the Etihad Stadium.

If the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager does pledge his future to his current club for some more years of service, it will surely lead to even more titles for the Citizens, an eventuality that will no doubt leave supporters buzzing.

In other news: Guardiola can unearth his next Aguero as MCFC plot bid for “outstanding” £17m predator