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Gabby Agbonlahor has backed forgotten Celtic man Boli Bolingoli to be granted another chance by Ange Postecoglou in 2021/22 [Football Insider], comparing the defender’s situation to his own under Steve Bruce.

The Lowdown: Celtic gear up for the 2021/22 season

Moving towards the new campaign, Australian boss Postecoglou will be desperate to utilise all viable avenues in order to sustain a Scottish Premiership title challenge this term.

Acquiring high-profile players will be key to this process, however rejuvenating existing tools at the club will also take precedence.

One man who may be given a surprise opportunity this season is 26-year-old Bolingoli, who was farmed out on loan to İstanbul Başakşehir last year following a major breach of COVID-19 guidelines [Daily Record].

The Latest: Agbonlahor backs Bolingoli to be gifted another chance by Postecoglou

Prompting former Aston Villa man Agbonlahor to respond in an interview from Football Insider, the 34-year-old was very complimentary of his chances of re-claiming a first-team berth, stating:

“I think he will do.

“When a new manager comes in it’s a fresh start for everybody. It happened with me with Steve Bruce when he came in he brought me back into the Aston Villa squad.

“I’m sure that’s what Postecoglou will be doing with Bolingoli. He’ll look at everybody over pre-season and give those that weren’t involved last season a chance to impress.” [Football Insider].

The Verdict: Bolingoli should be given an opportunity to prove himself again at Parkhead

Correctly, the ex-England international identifies the need for a clean slate at the football club, upon the appointment of a new manager.

Capable of providing a forward threat from the left-hand side, Bolingoli is capable of producing consistent performances when given the platform to do so.

In 2020/21, the Belgian made 18 appearances for Boz Baykuşlar as they finished in 12th position [Transfermarkt].

Never afraid to muck in defensively, the former Rapid Vienna full-back made 1.8 tackles per game across the piece in the Turkish Super Lig [WhoScored].

Progressing through the next few months, Celtic should look to reintegrate Bolingoli back into the first-string picture at Parkhead, giving him six months to impress before the next transfer window in January.

In other news, Noel Whelan has dropped his verdict on a Celtic winger.

Dean Windass has offered some advice to Aston Villa, regarding their reported interest in West Brom’s Matheus Pereira.

What’s the talk?

Former Premier League midfielder Dean Windass has claimed that Dean Smith will not want West Brom attacker Matheus Pereira at Aston Villa this summer. Villa are reportedly looking at Pereira as a potential signing and Windass does not believe that he has the work rate Smith requires from his players in the Premier League. He told Football Transfer Tavern:

“I can’t see that because he’s not a Dean Smith sort of player, compared to Jack Grealish who always tracks back and Pereira doesn’t do any of that.

“When you play in the Premier League, you can’t carry anybody so I don’t think that will happen.”

Earlier this year, Kevin Campbell said that Pereira had been “disappointing” for West Brom in the Premier League. He told Football Insider:

“I think the football club expected Pereira to have a hell of a season because he took the Championship by storm. They thought they had a match-winner in him because he can score and create goals.

“Let’s be honest though, he has been pretty disappointing. You need your better players to step up, especially at the top end of the pitch and we haven’t seen him do that.”

Smith would hate it

NSWE must avoid making an error by opting against a deal for Pereira this summer. Looking at his statistics from an attacking sense, it is clear to see why clubs would be interested in him. Pereira recorded 11 goals and six assists in a West Brom team struggling at the bottom of the table, which suggests that he has the ability on the ball to perform at Premier League level.

However, there are two sides to the game and Pereira’s defensive numbers are disappointing. As Windass explained, Pereira does not engage in the defensive side of his responsibilities and that is something Smith will not allow his players to avoid next season.

Pereira averaged 0.8 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game, whilst also allowing opponents to dribble past him 1.3 times per game. This highlights the £39k-per-week midfielder’s lack of effort against the ball, as he did not want to work hard to help his team out.

Recent Villa signing Emi Buendia, on the other hand, has the attributes Smith will want from his forwards. In Norwich’s 2019/20 Premier League campaign, Buendia averaged 2.3 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per game for the Canaries, which increased to 2.4 and 1.1 respectively in the Championship season just gone.

Jack Grealish, meanwhile, managed 1.2 tackles per game last season and was only dribbled past an impressive 0.3 times per game.

This shows why Pereira would not fit in at Aston Villa and why NSWE must avoid bringing him to the club this summer. He does not have the defensive awareness to effectively operate in Smith’s side, which is also why the Villa boss would hate having him on the wing. it would open up his fullbacks to increased pressure due to a lack of protection in front of them.

AND in other news, NSWE could land Aston Villa’s next Paul Merson in “extraordinary” £20k-p/w dynamo…

Writing on Twitter, reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold has backed reports of big news coming out of north London involving Toby Alderweireld.

The Lowdown: Alderweireld asks to leave Spurs…

The Athletic first broke this news coming out of Tottenham with Alderweireld apparently informing the club that he is ready to end his six-year stay.

The Belgian, according to this report, is apparently hopeful of leaving Spurs and confident a move can be completed this summer.

Tottenham are also open to letting him go and won’t stand in the way if they receive a suitable offer for his services.

The Latest: Gold backs reports…

Now, reliable correspondent Gold has backed these reports and goes into further detail surrounding this Alderweireld development.

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The journalist says that he actually requested an exit from north London ‘a little while ago’ and was going to push for it regardless of who succeeded Jose Mourinho.

“Changes coming to Spurs’ defence this summer,” Gold explained on social media.

“As per Eccleshare, Toby Alderweireld asked to leave. Understand it was a little while ago and he wanted to leave regardless of whoever the new head coach was going to be, but a move will be difficult.”

The Verdict: Big summer ahead…

Spurs will need to adopt a sell-to-buy policy ahead of a busy summer and their defence in particular needs a major rebuild.

Alderweireld’s age and slowly diminishing sell-on value may mean that Spurs should cash in on him as soon as possible with the futures of Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier also a point of discussion.

It will certainly be interesting to see just how much Tottenham’s defence will change under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo as the club look to put the dark days of Jose Mourinho behind them.

In other news: ‘I’d be excited, Spurs fans’…Stan Collymore thrilled by major news out of N17, find out more here.

West Ham United could revisit their interest in Hans Vanaken this summer, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Dutch website Voetbal 24 claimed that the Irons are still monitoring the Club Brugge midfielder ahead of a potential swoop in the transfer window, having wanted to sign him for just €15m (£13m) last year.

It’s thought that the 28-year-old may struggle to command in excess of €20m (£18m) after a season of poor performances on the pitch.

When the Premier League club were originally linked with Vanaken, it was claimed – by the same outlet – that he was enticed by the idea of joining the Hammers, and it’s hard to imagine his stance has changed much now that they have qualified for the Europa League.

Bargain price

With Vanaken’s value decreasing, it could be the perfect time for David Moyes to strike, so he must urge GSB to stump up the cash this summer as it could well be a bargain on their part.

A new central midfielder could be low in the priority list this window but they will certainly need to bolster right across the pitch if they are to remain competitive across a season which, with European commitments, could exceed 50 matches.

Vanaken, valued at just shy of £12m by Transfermarkt, presents a cheap but solid solution.

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He could well fit Moyes’ system like a glove as, like Tomas Soucek, he is capable of providing a goal threat from the engine room. His ten caps for Belgium have seen him find the net twice, whilst he scored 16 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions last season, via Transfermarkt.

Vanaken also captained Brugge in some key matches, including Champions League group games against Paris Saint-Germain and a Europa League knockout tie against Manchester United, so it’s no wonder Moyes appears to be keen on the 28-year-old.

“He has been one of the finest footballers in [the] Belgian league for several years,” claimed Sporza commentator Frank Raes. “Hans has good feet, is strong with the head, has insight and also his running and scoring ability are of high quality.”

Journalist Peter Vandenbempt added: “Vanaken gets better every year. He has everything Club Brugge wants: vision, technique, the right mentality and scoring ability.”

David Sullivan must look to add this goalscoring maestro to Moyes’ ranks at West Ham this summer, as he’d be an experienced option (464 club career games) and a potential bargain alongside Declan Rice and Soucek given his modest valuation.

AND in other news, West Ham set for huge boost as Rush Green update emerges…

Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry insists that Scott Parker will only join Bournemouth if he is convinced the club want to win promotion this season.

The Fulham boss has been heavily linked with a potential move to their Championship rivals following the Cottagers’ relegation to the second-tier.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that Parker is expected to leave Fulham this week and Bournemouth are subsequently set to approach him to become their new manager, with The Athletic reporting on Tuesday it looks likely to happen.

The report claims that the Cherries want a manager who is experienced at winning promotion to replace Jonathan Woodgate after the club failed in the play-offs this term.

Bournemouth finished sixth in the Championship and were beaten by Brentford in the semi-finals of the play-offs, losing 3-2 on aggregate, as the Bees went on to Wembley and beat Swansea City to seal their promotion.

Fry believes that Parker will only move if he knows he is going into a club with ambitions of automatic promotion, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United midfielder having guided Fulham into the Premier League in 2019/20 via the play-offs.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Fry said: “Scott would want a club in the Championship that’s going to have a right go at going up. He wants to go up again.”

Graham Roberts insists there is next to no chance of Harry Kane leaving the club purely because of the sheer enormity of the funds involved.

According to Sky Sports, Kane has asked to leave the club this summer.

That has reportedly led to interest from Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea.

But Roberts is doubtful that any club can truly afford to do a deal to sign the England captain, who is preparing to lead his country into Euro 2020 this summer.

Roberts insists that any deal would cost £150m in terms of a transfer fee, and he believes that there would have to be a further £150m, minimum, spent on his wages.

That equates to at least £300m, and Roberts does not believe that either City or United will be able to afford such a package.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “I don’t think he can go anywhere. He’s got three years on his contract. If you can name a club that’s going to pay £150m, because that’s the minimum the club will accept. Plus whatever Harry Kane’s wages are going to be.

“If they’ve bought you for the highest money, then Harry Kane’s going to want the largest wage. So you’re talking another £150m or £200m.

“So somebody’s got to have £350m in their kitty just for one player. I can’t see it happening, I just cannot see that happening, whether it be Man City, Man United, whoever.”

Kane enjoyed a phenomenal season, winning the Golden Boot and the league’s Playmaker Award, having scored 23 goals and laid on 14 assists in the top-flight.

Many Wolves fans have been left to rage as Tim Spiers gave an update on their final game of the 2020/21 term in the Premier League on Sunday 23rd May.

As per a tweet from The Athletic journalist, ticket prices for their match against Manchester United, at which 4,500 fans will be allowed in at Molineux, stand at £45 to sit in the Steve Bull stand, and £40 in the North and South Banks and Graham Hughes stand.

Several members of the Wanderers faithful have been left angered at just how much money the Midlands club are charging them, given that they have not been able to go to the stadium all season long and these prices are not affordable at all for some.

Spiers also tweeted a comparison with other clubs, with Burnley letting their supporters in free of charge, while some ‘Big Six’ teams even have cheaper ticket prices, with Arsenal and Manchester City charging as little as £25.

Wolves fans on ticket prices

These WWFC supporters raged as the ticket prices were shared on Twitter, with one fan even going as far as to claim that they were ‘disgusting’:

“£45 quid…… what a joke! What happened to the games we had from last season which we didn’t get to see and the Europa game we paid for??? “Football is nothing without the fans”…….”

Credit: @DaveWillis1981

“Massive own goal this”

Credit: @cagwassell

“Disgusting prices !!!”

Credit: @EuropeanSam

“Robbing us blind”

Credit: @Stonewolf68

“Ludicrous price tbh”

Credit: @wolfieandwendy

“Shocking prices”

Credit: @Beardo92

In other news, find out what transfer update has left Wanderers fuming here!

Chris Hughton has been dealt a blow to his hopes of bringing James Garner back to Nottingham Forest this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Manchester Evening News, who claimed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning on including the 20-year-old central midfielder in his first team squad at Manchester United ahead of next season.

It is believed that Hughton is keen to keep the £3.6m-rated England under-20 international at the City Ground this summer following his successful loan spell at the Championship side in the second half of last season.

Hughton will be gutted

Having only linked up with Forest in the January transfer window, Garner went on to prove a remarkable piece of business from Hughton’s side, with the midfielder quickly establishing himself as a first team regular at the Reds.

Over his 20 Championship appearances for the club, the youngster scored four goals, as well as averaging two tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 1.1 key passes per game, culminating in an impressive average WhoScored match rating of 6.98 – ranking him as Forest’s best performer in the second tier.

Indeed, Forest’s 62-year-old manager was certainly impressed with the midfielder’s performances for the Garibaldi, claiming that he has been “absolutely delighted” with Garner, as well as suggesting that “Manchester United know what we think of him” when asked about the potential of a return to Nottingham this summer.

However, it is not just Hughton who has been impressed with the 20-year-old’s talent, with United midfielder Fred also complimenting Garner’s “impressive vision of the game” as well as his “incredible” range of passing.

As such, if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does indeed put the brakes on the midfielder leaving Old Trafford ahead of next season, it will come as a gutting blow to Hughton, who will have undoubtedly been hoping that Garner’s influence within his side could help fire Forest up the Championship table next season.

In other news: Forest set for major blow as City Ground news emerges, fans will surely be gutted – opinion

A number of West Brom supporters have been hailing Sam Johnstone following an exceptional save on England duty over the weekend.

The Baggies may have been relegated back to the Championship last season, but the 28-year-old was one of the few positives to take from the campaign. He was arguably one of the Premier League’s standout players in his position, producing great consistency between the sticks.

Johnstone’s form has been rewarded with a place in England’s Euro 2020 squad and he started Sunday’s 1-0 win over Romania, making his debut for the Three Lions in the process.

Not only did the 28-year-old keep a clean sheet, he also made a magnificent save in the second half, ensuring England got the win at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

West Brom fan laud Johnstone brilliance

West Brom gave a shoutout to the goalkeeper’s moment of brilliance on their official Twitter account, excitedly posting “WHAT. A. SAVE.” followed by the heart-eyes emoji.

These Baggies fans replied to the tweet to heap praise on Johnstone, having produced a memorable moment on a proud day for him.

“Sam Johnstone doing @samjohnstone50 things”

Credit: @le_lebouf76

“England’s future number 1”

Credit: @Jevo_01

“MY KEEPER”

Credit: @JoshhhWBA

“Class”

Credit: @liamwba_

“Lifetime contract 100k a week”

Credit: @WBADyl

“Done himself proud”

Credit: @hovis8

In other news, West Brom are believed to be keen on signing a player who is appearing at Euro 2020 this summer. Find out who it is here.

David Sullivan can seek revenge on Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United for their involvement in the European Super League (ESL) with a move for West Ham to sign Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri this summer.

What’s the word?

According to La Razon, the Hammers are in pole position to secure En-Nesyri’s signature at the end of the season. West Ham have remained interested in a deal for the 23-year-old Moroccan after seeing a bid of €25m (£22.5m) (plus €5m (£4.5m) in add-ons) rejected in January.

Sevilla are loath to part with their 22-goal striker, but efforts to tie down En-Nesyri to a new contract carrying a release clause worth in excess of €60m (£52m) have so far proven unsuccessful.

Los Nervionenses will be forced to listen to offers for En-Nesyri should the 35-cap forward continue rejecting new terms, as the La Liga outfit are obliged to make one high-ticket sale in the next transfer window.

That will no doubt be considered a boost at the London Stadium, where club figures are said to be willing to lodge an improved offer worth around €46m (£39.5m) after being encouraged by the Irons’ challenge for European qualification under David Moyes.

If En-Nesyri is the one who departs the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, it will allow Sevilla to retain Chelsea target Jules Kounde, who has also been linked with a potential move to Liverpool, while Manchester United are reluctant to trigger his £68m release clause.

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Sevilla also have a possible replacement for En-Nesyri lined up in Rafa Mir, with it expected that the 23-year-old will return to Wolverhampton Wanderers despite Huesca having a €12m (£10.5m) option to buy the on-loan striker, who has scored 15 goals in 31 games.

Should West Ham sign Sevilla’s En-Nesyri?

It remains to be seen how much Sullivan and the West Ham hierarchy are willing to pay for En-Nesyri, but the Sevilla striker is clearly well-regarded at the London Stadium, where he was the club’s top transfer target in January.

Moyes’ need for offensive cover is yet to be resolved, either, having opted against signing a striker to replace Sebastien Haller during the winter market, leaving Michail Antonio as his only recognised senior option at centre-forward.

Since then, En-Nesyri has continued to get amongst the goals with three in his last six La Liga appearances, while hitting a brace away to Borussia Dortmund in a 5-4 aggregate defeat in the Champions League round of 16.

His continued rich vein of form in Spain has seen La Liga expert Terry Gibson claim that En-Nesyri is worth at least £50m, adding that he is no longer a “world-beater” in the making but the real thing.

“For a striker of his age, with the goals he’s scoring this season, he’s got to be £50m-plus now,” Gibson said on El Tel & Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast.

He added: “My opinion, until this season, has been that one minute he looks like a world-beater, the next he looks like a novice; gangly, trips over the ball.

“But, when you look at his attributes, he’s as good in the air as anyone now. Not only is he tall, he’s got that athletic ability to leap as well. He seems to really enjoy aerial challenges.

“He’s quick, he’s strong, great attitude, his finishing has improved, his first touch has improved, his movement has improved – all those things you expect players to improve on, he is doing.”

West Ham now paying whatever Sevilla demand in order to sell En-Nesyri in the summer can also see Sullivan seek revenge on some of the Premier League’s big hitters after the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United signed up for the proposed European Super League.

Not only could En-Nesyri arriving in east London potentially prevent the trio from signing Kounde, but Liverpool and Manchester United have also asked to be kept informed of the Moroccan centre-forward’s situation in view of a potential approach.

West Ham have come out and stated that they are ‘wholeheartedly against’ the idea of the ESL, and can seemingly deal a blow to three of the six English clubs behind those plans in one fell swoop.

AND in other news, West Ham set to land second chance to sign “unbelievable” £18m-rated forward this summer…