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Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now dropped a worrying Glasgow Rangers claim on Alfredo Morelos.

The Lowdown: Morelos’ future uncertain

It has been reported that the Ibrox outfit will consider selling the Colombian in the summer, should he not sign a new deal at the club.

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His current contract expires in 2023, but with no signs of renewing at the moment, the board could now look to cash in while the 25-year-old still holds a decent market value.

The Latest: O’Rourke claim on Morelos

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has claimed that there is now a ‘real possibility’ that Morelos may have played his last game for Rangers, as it was confirmed that the Colombia international has undergone surgery on a thigh injury and will only come back to training in pre-season.

The journalist stated: “It could be a real possibility that we have seen the last of Morelos in a Rangers shirt. We’ve had speculation about his future every transfer window since he’s been at the club.

“He’s scored goals again in Europe, which is going to attract interest from teams in the Premier League and across Europe, and he will not be short of offers in the summer because of his goalscoring record.”

The Verdict: Worrying

The possibility of Morelos being sold this summer is certainly worrying for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Rangers.

Despite his injury, the 25-year-old still remains the Gers’ top scorer this season with 19 goals in total across all competitions, so he would be a very difficult man to replace.

It looks as if Celtic are going to wrestle the Premiership title back off of the Light Blues, so to give Rangers the best possible chance of winning it next term, they will almost certainly need Morelos to stay, given his proven status as a regular scorer in Scotland.

In other news, find out what ‘brilliant’ Ibrox update has now emerged

Crystal Palace are eyeing a summer move for RB Leipzig striker Hwang Hee-chan.

What’s the story?

Roy Hodgson’s side have once again endured a difficult Premier League season in front of goal, managing just 34 goals thus far – in fact, only five teams have scored less than them, and three of them sit in the relegation zone.

According to The Telegraph, Palace have got their eye on signing South Korea international Hwang, but that they are set to face significant competition from fellow Premier League rivals West Ham.

Erling Haaland loves him

While his career at RB Leipzig hasn’t exactly gone to plan – he’s scored just three goals in his debut campaign for the club – there’s no questioning that Hwang has got the potential to be a real star at Selhurst Park.

An article on Bundesliga.com raved about his ability to finish off both feet, while also having the speed, movement and trickery to be a real force up front.

It said: “Hwang is not dissimilar to Liverpool’s former Hoffenheim striker Firmino. Happy leading the line as part of either a duo or a front three, Leipzig’s first summer signing likes to get on the ball and has a trick or two up his sleeve to shake off a defender.

“Comfortable with both feet, with the strength to hold off an opponent and the pace to exploit space, he could cause problems for many a Bundesliga defence – just like Brazil international Firmino did before him.”

And, after the £13m-rated ace caught the eye in the Champions League against Liverpool last season, his former teammate Erling Haaland said: “Absolutely crazy – he was brilliant today. He’s so important to the team.”

Meanwhile, former Salzburg head coach Peter Zeidler added: “He’s exceptional, has a brutal dynamism. I’ve rarely seen anything like it.”

With 45 goals and 29 assists in 126 games for the Austrian side, Hwang has proven before that he can be effective at both finding the net himself and setting his teammates up too.

It’s no surprise then that Palace are eyeing a move for the striker this summer.

Aston Villa, Arsenal and Everton are all interested in signing Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Anguissa this summer.

And, as to be expected, Villa’s interest has had a lot of supporters talking on social media.

According to a report from the Daily Mail, the Cottagers are expected to sell Anguissa after Scott Parker’s sides’ relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on Monday.

Villa are thought to be monitoring developments regarding the 25-year-old and are reportedly better placed than most clubs financially heading into the transfer window.

Fulham would want around £20m for the Cameroon international, who has made 60 appearances for his current employers in all competitions.

That’s £2.25m cheaper than his current Transfermarkt valuation, with Anguissa thought to be on £70,000-a-week at Craven Cottage.

Villa fans react

@villareport shared the club’s interest in Anguissa on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

These Villa fans were delighted at the links, with one describing the midfielder as ‘composed’.

“PLEASE”Credit: @catrinedwards18″Would be buzzing with this”Credit: @_JackAvfc”let’s goo”Credit: @tom32322125″I rate him highly very good on the ball composed and likes to make things happen would definitely class him as a box to box but seems to have good defensive positioning and presence about him”Credit: @TheKyzer007″Please get it done”Credit: @ConCarp98″I am here for this exactly what we need”Credit: @shauny12

In other news: Villa leapfrog PL rival in race for defender; he’s been at the club, find out more here. 

Even though Aston Villa may have had a fairly impressive January transfer window in terms of the business they completed throughout the month, it seems as though they’ve now been dealt a blow in their apparent chase to sign one of the Premier League’s most promising young talents.

What’s the latest?

After being linked with a move for Manchester City midfielder James McAtee during the recent January transfer window among many other clubs also vying for his signature, Villa and those other clubs have now been dealt a big blow in their future attempts to sign the 19-year-old.

That’s after he recently put pen to paper on a new long-term deal at the Manchester club on Wednesday evening.

Gerrard gutted

In 81 appearances for City’s youth sides, McAtee has managed to rack up 42 goals and 26 assists, highlighting the clear attacking talents he has and presumably why so many clubs were apparently after him last month.

This also shows how disappointed and gutted Villa manager Steven Gerrard will be at missing out on having a young talent like McAtee in his ranks.

Described as an “intelligent” player in the past by City academy coach Brian Barry-Murphy, he could have been the perfect replacement for current Villa teenager Carney Chukwuemeka with the future of his time at Villa Park in doubt.

Now that the midfielder has pledged his future to the reigning league champions and current leaders until 2026, this could put an end to the possibility of the Midlands side or any other team signing him on a permanent basis in the immediate future.

However, with the teenager only making three senior appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side across all competitions so far this season, all coming from the substitutes bench, there’s every chance that a loan move away where he’d be able to play regular senior minutes would be seen as beneficial for the youngster.

With that in mind, when the next summer transfer window opens, if the Englishman doesn’t manage to break into the City team before then and isn’t likely to get much senior game time, it would definitely be worth seeing if they’d be willing to loan him out to a club like Villa.

In other news: Alan Nixon claims Villa are “going to sign” highly-coveted gem, he’s a “real talent” – opinion

Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski is eager to join West Ham United after they renewed their interest, according to Football Insider.

The lowdown

The publication reports that the Hammers are targeting Tarkowski once again after first trying to sign him last year.

They’re apparently intent on recruiting a ‘top-level centre-back’ in the summer transfer window.

The 28-year-old Englishman, valued at £22.5million by Transfermarkt, is about to enter the final year of his contract at Turf Moor.

Tarkowski made 36 appearances for Burnley last season, averaging 4.6 successful aerial duels, 4.4 clearances and 1.8 tackles per 90 minutes (via WhoScored).

Defensive partner Ben Mee has hailed Tarkowski as ‘honourable’ after he resisted earlier interest to remain at Burnley.

The latest

Tarkowski may now have decided the time is right to seek a new challenge. The report states that he would jump at the chance to join the Irons.

Encouragingly for West Ham, Burnley have already set to work on a possible replacement in the form of Stoke City’s Nathan Collins.

Last year, the Clarets rejected a bid as high as £31million for Tarkowski.

The verdict

If West Ham want a top centre-half, then Tarkowski fits the bill. He’s an upgrade on what they currently have, and could slot in alongside Angelo Ogbonna to form an enviable partnership.

Craig Dawson and Issa Diop would then provide excellent depth behind that duo.

From the player’s point of view, this move is long overdue. He’s been consistently impressive for a number of seasons now, but there’s only so far he can go with Burnley and if he wants to earn more England caps in the future, a move to a side in the Europa League could help him showcase his talents on a bigger stage.

In other news, West Ham are weighing up a move for this former Arsenal star. 

Aston Villa are planning a third transfer bid for Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, according to The Sunday Mirror (04/07, p76), as cited by HITC.

The Lowdown: Two offers turned down

Smith Rowe is thought to be Villa’s top target, with a number 10 the club’s priority in the summer transfer window.

Villa offered the Gunners £25m in the middle of June and also made a £30m bid at the end of the month, with both proposals turned down by the north Londoners.

Dean Smith’s side haven’t given up hope despite the two rejected bids, and it now seems as if their patience could be about to pay off.

The Latest: Third bid…

According to The Sunday Mirror, as cited by HITC, Villa now think that the Gunners are willing to do business.

Villa’s third bid is thought to be in the region of £32.5m, and with Arsenal failing in their attempts to tie Smith Rowe down to a new deal at the Emirates Stadium, they could now reportedly cash in reluctantly.

Villa are confident that a deal can be struck, and should a £32.5m move go through, Smith Rowe would become the club’s second-most expensive signing of all time.

The Verdict: Where should Villa strengthen next?

If Villa can land Smith Rowe after staying patient with a third offer, it will be interesting to see where the club will look to strengthen next. A move for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse has been touted, although Dean Smith’s squad seems bare at centre-back.

Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Kortney Hause are the club’s only senior central defenders following Bjorn Engels’ departure, so securing a fourth centre-back could be a smart decision.

New signing Ashley Young can provide cover at both left-back and right-back, so perhaps a move for a centre-back could be wise before Villa possibly go big on Ward-Prowse.

In other news: ‘Absolute madness’, ‘Leave us alone’ – Many AVFC fans erupt at ‘garbage’ transfer news, find out more here.

Sunderland-born Steve Howey believes that the loss of Charlie Wyke is going to be a major blow for the Black Cats.

Following a goal-shy first two seasons at Sunderland, the striker scored 31 times in League One last season to help the north-east giants finish in the top-six.

However, despite being named as the club’s Player of the Year, Wyke he rejected the opportunity to extend his stay at the Stadium of Light and was therefore available to sign on a free transfer.

And Wigan did exactly that, securing Wyke’s services earlier this month, leaving Sunderland manager Lee Johnson with a tough job on his hands to replace his goals ahead of their fourth straight season at League One level.

Howey exclusively told Football FanCast:

“Well, it’s a blow, if somebody scores 30 goals a season, it’s going to be a blow. But the lad got his move from it.

“But Sunderland are in a situation where they can’t afford to be paying players sums of money that if you’ve had a good season, you’re going to get offered by other teams.”

With Wigan in the same division as Sunderland, this did appear a surprise move for Wyke and one that he perhaps accepted due to the Latics offering a better financial package.

In terms of chances of getting promoted, the Black Cats are firm favourites to end their stay at League One level and win the title, whilst Wigan are expected to challenge for the top-six.

Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici is now reportedly in talks to try and sign Corentin Tolisso for Spurs after contacting his agents.

The Lowdown: Ndombele replacement?

Calciomercato reported earlier on in the week that Spurs are ‘in the running’ to sign Tolisso alongside some of the biggest names in European football, namely Inter Milan, Juventus, PSG and Atletico Madrid.

Perhaps they have one eye on Tanguy Ndombele potentially leaving the North London club, given recent reports of interest from abroad and the fact he wanted to leave during the summer, per The Times.

Nonetheless, if Nuno Espirito Santo were to lose one of his central midfield players, then a replacement would be needed.

The Latest: Paratici wants Tolisso

According to a most recent report from Calciomercato, Tolisso has made the ‘surprise decision’ not to renew his current deal at Bayern Munich, which is expiring next summer.

He is reportedly a ‘long-time ball’ of Paratici, who has been talking to his agents to try to bring him to the Lilywhites.

However, there is ‘nothing advanced or defined’ at this moment in time, as Atletico Madrid have been named as a club who could potentially hijack a deal.

The Verdict: Ndombele out, Tolisso in

It has not quite worked out for Ndombele at THFC, with a mere ten goals and eight assists in 83 games on total over all competitions across the last three consecutive seasons (club-record £63m for him, fans should certainly expect more.

At a good age of 24 and still holding a market value of £40.5m, now may be the best time for Nuno and Paratici to cut their losses.

In would step Tolisso, who could come on a free transfer next summer, and if it does not work out, they can always sell him on for a profit.

Nonetheless, there is no reason why it should not, given that he has scored three times as many goals (48) as Ndombele (16) has from midfield in his club career so far, and is capable of playing anywhere across the middle of the park like Ndombele can, providing depth in multiple positions.

A UEFA Champions League and World Cup winner as well (Transfermarkt), Tolisso has that extra winning mentality, which would be very useful for a side who have not won a major trophy since 2008.

In other news, find out who this Tottenham ‘insider’ believes may be offered a new deal here!

An update has emerged regarding Leeds’ reported interest in Torino midfielder Sasa Lukic.

What’s the talk?

According to Tutto Mercato Web, the Whites are interested in a deal to sign the 24-year-old this summer. Leeds are keen on the Serbian, as are Russian giants Spartak Moscow, and could make a move for him before the end of the transfer window.

The midfielder recently commented on speculation over his future, saying: “I don’t read the newspapers much. It’s normal for a player to be the subject of rumors (about his future) but I don’t think about that.

“I am a Toro player and I plan to do well this season. It’s my fifth year (at the club) and I feel like home.

“Every year I try to do the best I can: last year I got off to a good start, then Covid stopped me for a few weeks and I couldn’t go back like before. But I am working hard. I hope to have a good season, myself and the whole team.”

Fans would be fuming

Leeds chief Victor Orta has to avoid making a costly blunder with Lukic this month. He must avoid lashing out a big fee on the Serbian as it could represent a blunder in the transfer market given his form throughout his career in Serie A.

There are a couple of reasons why this could work for Leeds. For starters, his versatility has seen him play as a holding, central and attacking midfield player for Torino in Italy. This shows that he is capable of adapting to several different roles, which could come in handy for Marcelo Bielsa should injuries or suspensions arise.

Lukic also has room to improve at the age of 24. This means that he is not the finished article and could have more development left in him, which Bielsa could potentially unlock through his coaching. These two reasons are why he could be a decent addition if the price is minimal.

However, there has been nothing to suggest that this will be a loan deal or one where Torino are happy to let him go on the cheap, especially when there is interest from multiple clubs, which could spark a bidding war. If Leeds do need to shell out a sizeable fee for him, then they must avoid it completely.

Fans would be frustrated to see the club take a gamble on Lukic given his performances for Torino in recent years. Last season, he averaged a lowly WhoScored rating of 6.48 in Serie A across 32 appearances, which was still an improvement from the 6.31 he managed in 30 games the previous campaign.

This shows that his performances have been statistically poor in Italy, which is why Leeds fans might not be happy to see him join unless it’s a loan or on a very cheap deal. If he has been unable to perform consistently in Serie A, that might well also be the case in the Premier League, so  Orta must avoid a costly howler with Lukic in this transfer window.

AND in other news, Leeds handed boost over maestro who has “something special”, Bielsa will be delighted…

Wayne Rooney’s Derby County are still at risk of receiving a points deduction this season.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a claim made by John Percy, with The Telegraph journalist revealing on Twitter that talks are ongoing between Derby and the EFL over an “agreed sanction” for the club’s financial breaches, with the governing body pushing for a points deduction – with a nine-point sanction on this season’s total, with a further three-point suspended deduction, being a possible outcome.

Percy continued by stating that the Rams insist that their accounting did not break EFL rules, so a compromise must be reached between the two parties – something which both Derby and the EFL wish to resolve as soon as possible.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “DCFC update: talks ongoing with the EFL over an “agreed sanction” for financial breaches. EFL pushing for points deduction (-12 & -3 suspended possible). Derby insist their accounting policy is fair, so compromise must be reached. Both sides determined to finally resolve it ASAP.”

Fans will be worried

The news that the EFL are still pushing for a points deduction is sure to come as a headache to everyone professionally involved with Derby County, while it is also bound to leave fans of the club rather worried.

Indeed, despite Wayne Rooney’s side starting their Championship campaign in impressive form considering the club’s off-field issues, picking up six points over their opening five fixtures of the season and suffering defeat just once, a possible nine-point sanction would completely wipe out this decent early season form, and then some.

However, with it appearing as if there are negotiations to be had with the EFL regarding the severity of the club’s punishment – Percy revealed in a further tweet that “Derby will either try and agree a compromise or fight [the sanctions]” – it would certainly not appear as if a nine-point penalty is inevitable.

As such, all of Rooney, Mel Morris, the Derby County players and fans of the club will undoubtedly be hoping that a positive resolution can be found regarding the Rams’ fate in this matter, and then they can finally begin to put this whole mess behind them.

In other news: Alan Nixon reveals worrying off-field Derby County development, fans will be fuming