Tom Cairney has been touted as a transfer target for numerous clubs this summer, including West Ham United.
It is easy to see why the midfielder is wanted given his impressive performances for the Cottagers over the last few seasons.
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During the 2017-18 campaign, Cairney scored six goals and created five assists in 37 appearances for Fulham.
Now that the club are back in the Premier League thanks to their playoff final win over Aston Villa, it is understandable that they want to keep hold of one of their best players.
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On Thursday, the club announced via their official website that Cairney has signed a new five-year contract, which means that West Ham and co have missed out on a potential new signing.
Judging by the reaction on social media, the Hammers’ following are not too cut up about it, and perhaps that is because Jack Wilshere is believed to be on the verge of moving to the London Stadium.
According to Sky Sports News, the midfielder is close to agreeing a deal after ending his 17-year spell at Arsenal.
Comment from discussion West Ham target Tom Cairney reportedly signs new 5-year deal with Fulham..Comment from discussion West Ham target Tom Cairney reportedly signs new 5-year deal with Fulham..Comment from discussion West Ham target Tom Cairney reportedly signs new 5-year deal with Fulham..Comment from discussion West Ham target Tom Cairney reportedly signs new 5-year deal with Fulham..Comment from discussion West Ham target Tom Cairney reportedly signs new 5-year deal with Fulham..Comment from discussion West Ham target Tom Cairney reportedly signs new 5-year deal with Fulham..
Manchester United fans have taken to Twitter to discuss Barcelona’s injury problems ahead of the Champions League quarter-final tie between the two teams.
The Red Devils welcome the Spanish champions to Old Trafford on the 10th April, before heading to the Camp Nou just six days later with a place in the semi-finals at stake as well as the fate of your William Hill bonus code for the tie.
Watch the video below to find out what Jesse Lingard is like off the pitch in the latest Match Of The Bae with Emma Conybeare…
Interestingly, however, Ernesto Valverde’s side could be without Luis Suarez for the first leg, after the Uruguay international sprained his ankle – they will definitely be without Ousmane Dembele, who tore his hamstring in the last 16 against Lyon.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men fought back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Paris Saint-Germain and make the quarter-finals, which they are set to be the underdogs in against Barcelona.
With the latest fitness update, however, United have been handed a lifeline.
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The Red Devils’ fans on Twitter are obviously happy to hear the news, and have taken to Twitter to react with jubilation…
Alan Hutton has now dropped a big Glasgow Rangers transfer claim on Cedric Itten.
The Lowdown: Exit on the cards?
As per Football Insider, a source from the Ibrox faithful has revealed that the club are now ‘open’ to letting Itten go out on loan again in the summer, or even letting him go completely.
The Switzerland international spent the first half of the season on loan at German side Greuther Furth, where he scored two goals, but has since been recalled back by Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Transfermarkt).
However, he has not been picked for a matchday squad since the 3-0 loss away at Celtic in the Scottish Premiership back in early February.
The Latest: Hutton reacts
Speaking to Football Insider, former Teddy Bears right-back Hutton has claimed that Itten will now be ‘moving on’ this summer:
“It’s more what we haven’t seen from him.
“He came back into the fold but hasn’t been involved a lot under the new manager. You just think that maybe he’s had a look at him and thought that the options ahead of him are good enough.
“There’s no space for him in the matchday squads – which can be difficult when you have to leave players out.
“I do feel for him that way.
“But the bigger picture is that it hasn’t worked out for him, and that can be how it works out – sometimes it doesn’t run smoothly.
“In the summer he needs to be thinking about his future and playing football. You’d think that he’ll be moving on to pastures new.”
The Verdict: Sell
The Light Blues should not waste their time with any more loans for Itten, and instead should be looking to sell the striker on permanently.
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He is simply £14,000-per-week to stay, and when he has played, he has not exactly lit the world alight, with just seven goals in two seasons in a Gers shirt.
Nonetheless, RFC already have plenty of forward options, and so Itten would not be missed.
In other news, find out which ‘excellent’ attacker Rangers are now eyeing here!
Everton are now reportedly targeting a move to finally sign a replacement for Seamus Coleman after their scouts were impressed by a Premier League star.
Everton send scouts to watch Coleman replacement
At 37 years old, Coleman deserves every bit of credit for how he’s still playing his part at Everton. When 2026 arrives, however, the Toffees must move Jake O’Brien back into the heart of their backline and find a permanent solution to their right-back problem. Coleman has been an excellent servant, it would be a transfer failure if The Friedkin Group failed to find a replacement.
With the Republic of Ireland defender set to become a free agent at the end of the season, his farewell is certainly set to be an emotional one. In many ways, it’s almost fitting that David Moyes – who handed Coleman his Everton debut – will get the chance to oversee his final match for the Toffees.
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The veteran manager has already been full of praise for his captain this year, telling reporters back in March when it looked as though the right-back was on his way out of the club: “You don’t just keep people for the sake of keeping them because if you did every club would have hundreds of old players there.
“But if we had our way, we would try and keep Seamus around – definitely. Or give him the opportunity to be around but he may have something else on.
So, off the pitch there may still be a role for Coleman. On the pitch, though, the Toffees are seemingly assessing their options. According to Football Insider, Everton are now targeting a move to sign Jayden Bogle to succeed their well-respected captain in 2026 after their scouts were impressed with the Leeds United defender.
"Unbelievable" Bogle would finally replace Coleman
In terms if candidates, Bogle should be among those at the very top of Everton’s list to replace Coleman next summer. The Leeds defender has endured a solid season so far, with the Whites currently on course to achieve Premier League survival, and he could receive a summer switch as a result.
Whether Leeds choose to stand in his way is the big question. Daniel Farke is certainly a fan of the 25-year-old, having told reporters back in February: “He’s an unbelievable lad, unbelievable attitude – in all aspects. He works relentlessly, his defensive behaviour is so crucial, also his offensive behaviour, he’s a top team-mate in the dressing room, a perfect age and home-grown. What more do you want?”
PL stats 25/26
Bogle
O’Brien
Minutes
1,403
1,310
Assists
1
1
Tackles Won
19
13
Ball Recoveries
72
40
Based on this season’s numbers, Bogle would be an upgrade on central defender O’Brien, who has been asked to play the right-back role in place of Coleman so far this season.
Subscribe to our newsletter for Everton transfer insight Want deeper coverage? Our newsletter breaks down Everton’s right-back search – player stats, scout notes and transfer scenarios showing why Jayden Bogle is being linked as Seamus Coleman’s likely successor, alongside wider Premier League transfer analysis. Subscribe to our newsletter for Everton transfer insight Want deeper coverage? Our newsletter breaks down Everton’s right-back search – player stats, scout notes and transfer scenarios showing why Jayden Bogle is being linked as Seamus Coleman’s likely successor, alongside wider Premier League transfer analysis.
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If Moyes’ side are to push on, then welcoming a natural option down their right-hand side should be among their top priorities when the summer transfer window arrives.
Adam Jones has given his reaction to a fresh injury blow for Everton that has now emerged ahead of their game at home to Boreham Wood in the FA Cup.
The Lowdown: Onyango out
Writing in his latest piece for The Liverpool Echo, Jones relayed the latest team news from Frank Lampard confirming that Lewis Dobbin, Reece Welch and Isaac Price will all be in the squad for tonight’s match.
However, Tyler Onyango will unfortunately miss out with a hernia issue.
The Latest: Jones reacts
Taking to Twitter, Jones has now given his reaction to the news of Onyango’s absence, labelling it as a ‘real shame’:
“Real shame for Tyler Onyango, because I think he’d have maybe even had a good shout of starting tonight.”
The Verdict: Chances will come
Onyango should not be too disheartened with missing out tonight, as his chances will come with the senior team later on in the season.
He has already made three appearances in the Premier League this term, and if the Goodison Park faithful progress further in the competition, then Lampard will have to keep rotating his squad, which should give Onyango some more opportunities to impress.
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Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he has been suffering from injury issues all season, and so he will want to recover this time as soon as he can so that he can prove his fitness to Lampard once he starts getting more call-ups.
In other news, find out what other big Toffees injury update has now been dropped here!
Newcastle United royalty in Alan Shearer was far from happy with his dearest team’s abysmal showing in the Tyne-Wear Derby on Sunday afternoon.
Indeed, after the dust had settled on the 1-0 defeat, the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer wouldn’t mince his words, branding the lifeless performance from the away side as “pathetic”, especially in such a high-stakes contest.
Shearer would also call into question Eddie Howe’s team selection, as the ex-AFC Bournemouth boss continues to skate on thin ice in the St James’ Park dug-out, with Anthony Elanga – in particular – dismissed as “awful” by the Magpies hero.
Elanga has nowhere to hide now with the former Nottingham Forest winger surely the first name to be dropped from Howe’s starting XI for Newcastle’s EFL Cup tie with Fulham tomorrow evening.
Howe's puzzling decision to start Elanga
The Swedish attacker would be thrown into the deep end of the starting lineup unexpectedly, with this reintroduction against Newcastle’s arch nemesis going down as only his seventh start of the season.
The 23-year-old’s minutes have been extremely limited for good reason, too, with the number 20 only boasting a single assist from 16 Premier League appearances this campaign so far.
This is a major drop-off from his City Ground peak, with six goals and 11 assists collected last season, seeing him be dubbed a “special” talent by his ex-boss in Nuno Espirito Santo.
He is nowhere near those heights now, having since completed a £55m switch from Forest to Tyneside, tallying up no shots, dribbles or crosses at the Stadium of Light, making the decision to start Elanga in such a key match feel very confusing.
It’s even more of a perplexing alteration when you consider Jacob Murphy has three goal contributions himself in Premier League action this season, leading to former St James Park attacker Craig Bellamy once hailing him as an “outstanding” talent, who often shines on the big occasion.
Elanga & Murphy vs Sunderland
Stat
Elanga
Murphy
Minutes played
59
31
Goals scored
0
0
Assists
0
0
Touches
27
24
Accurate passes
13/19 (68%)
11/15 (73%)
Key passes
0
1
Accurate dribbles
0/2
1/1
Total duels won
0/4
2/3
Stats by Sofascore
The 30-year-old also offered up a lot more verve and energy than his disappointing counterpart from his limited minutes on Sunday, with two duels won and one successful dribble mustered up, despite only being on the pitch for barely half an hour.
He isn’t the only option Howe has up his sleeve to replace the insecure number 20, with a long-term option for the future also in his plans.
Exciting youngster can replace Elanga at Newcastle
Howe could be prepared to think outside of the box when replacing the lacklustre 23-year-old, largely as he’s been consistently let down by senior individuals this season. 19-year-old Antonio Cordero is catching his eye as a potential replacement.
The Magpies’ purchase of Cordero this summer, after the expiry of his contract at Malaga, very much went under the radar, as Howe and Co jumped to the front of the queue for his services, ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But, when assessing his previous red-hot form in Spain, he could soon return to England following a loan stint at KVC Westerlo and become a surprise senior presence that makes Elanga’s first-team spot even less fixed.
A blistering seven goals and nine assists came the Spain U19 regular’s way from just 60 appearances, with his standout efforts in Andalusia nearly sealing promotion for Malaga up to La Liga.
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It’s led to rave reviews, notably from former Newcastle sporting director Paul Mitchell, who called him an “exciting talent,” while Como scout Ben Mattinson has previously suggested that he is “like Gordon and Murphy.”
He hasn’t set the world alight out on loan in Belgium just yet, with only 89 unmemorable minutes of action coming his way, leading to zero goals or assists being picked up.
But, with Howe clearly capable of getting the very best out of his youngsters at St James’ Park, as seen in Lewis Miley scoring against Bayer Leverkusen, Cordero might soon be fast-tracked to the first team.
Elanga does still have time on his side to turn around his disappointing stint to date, but Howe’s patience will be running very thin, as more no-show performances like the one against Sunderland could ultimately cost him his employment.
As bad as Woltemade: Newcastle star who lost 100% duels could now be sold
Eddie Howe could now cash in on this Newcastle star, who was as bad as Nick Woltemade in their narrow Tyne-Wear Derby defeat.
The Hoops have coped extremely well without their most creative and prolific players, though, dropping just two points from a possible 30 in the Premiership.
They have established a three-point lead over Rangers, with journalist Mark Guidi believing Furuhashi could be back for the trip to Ibrox at the beginning of April. Even more positive injury news has now emerged regarding Turnbull, who could actually make a return before his attacking teammate.
The Latest: Nearing return
Smith relayed comments from Postecoglou in a story for The Scotsman on Thursday afternoon.
The manager revealed that Turnbull, all being well, will train with the team next week after the game with Dundee United and refused to rule the Scot out of the clash with Ross County next Saturday.
The Verdict: Huge news
Turnbull, labelled as ‘phenomenal’ by Alan Hutton, has created a whopping 99 chances in 28 games this season, 50 more than any other Celtic player.
So, having him back fit before the month is out would be a major boost as the Hoops enter the crunch stage of the season.
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You’d expect the attacking midfielder will be around for the Glasgow Derby at the beginning of April, and possibly before going off Postecoglou’s update.
In other news: ‘For Celtic…’ – BBC Radio 5 Live man reacts to ‘great’ news he’s now hearing from Parkhead.
An update has emerged regarding Newcastle’s interest in Philippe Coutinho, who is currently on loan to Aston Villa from Barcelona.
What’s the talk?
According to Sport, the Magpies are interested in a deal to sign the Brazil international and are willing to offer him more money in wages to turn down a permanent move to Villa Park.
The report claims that the Midlands club can sign him for €40m (£34m) this summer as part of their loan agreement, with the Toon now hoping to swoop in ahead of them.
Cabaye replacement
Callum Wilson is Newcastle’s top scorer in the Premier League with just six strikes in the top flight, with Allan Saint-Maximin (five) their only other player with more than two goals.
The Toon have struggled to find goals across the pitch and lack attacking quality in the middle of the park. No Magpies central midfielder has more than three direct goal contributions this season, which suggests that they are still looking for their Yohan Cabaye replacement.
In two-and-a-half seasons with the Tyneside club, the Frenchman produced 17 goals and 10 assists from midfield as he proved that he had the quality to be a difference-maker in the Premier League. The statistics from the current campaign show that no-one has been able to take on his mantle this term, but Eddie Howe can now finally replace him with a deal for Coutinho.
As you can see from the graphic above (with stats via WhoScored and the Premier League), both players are similar in terms of their actions on the pitch. They both like to create chances for their team-mates on a regular basis, whilst also taking plenty of shots themselves.
Both players are deadly from set-piece situations, with Cabaye’s four Premier League free kicks and Coutinho’s five showing that they can be a danger from a dead ball. Bringing in the latter would duly add another weapon to Howe’s attacking armoury.
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Roberto Firmino previously dubbed the Brazilian “phenomenal” and claimed that the 29-year-old has “magical powers” and Coutinho’s statistics back up that high praise. The former Liverpool midfielder has 45 goals and 38 assists in his English top-flight career, proving that he can score and set up goals at the top level, creating moments of magic in the final third with his quality on the ball.
This means that Newcastle can find their new attacking threat from midfield, a Cabaye 2.0 if you will, by signing the Brazil gem this summer. PIF must splash the cash to make sure that they can bring him in ahead of Villa to bolster Howe’s squad.
AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops major Newcastle United transfer claim which will excite supporters…
It didn’t take long for news to surface over a possible Parkhead return, with The Scottish Sun claiming the Hoops would be willing to create a coaching pathway for their former captain.
There could be a role in the senior academy and B-team for Brown, while Celtic are also on the lookout for a new coach for their Under-18 side.
The Latest: McLeish reacts
McLeish, who contributes for BBC Radio 5 Live, was asked by Football Insider for his thoughts on the links regarding Brown.
This is what he had to say in reply, labelling it as a ‘great idea’ by the Hoops.
“If he feels the urge to hang up his boots, then it kind of smacks of common sense, Celtic giving him an opening.
“I think his desire is to become a coach and possibly a manager in the future. First, Scott has to retire.
“For Celtic, I’m sure it’s a great idea to bring one of the legends back to the club in a coaching capacity. If they’ve got the space, then why not?”
The Verdict: Hoops need to act fast
If Celtic want to bring Brown back to Glasgow, they may have to act fast, with Leicester City and former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers already offering him a quick return to coaching in the Midlands.
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Ange Postecoglou seemed open to the idea of the 36-year-old returning to Lennoxtown when talking on Thursday, however, it doesn’t look like Brown will be short of options. It could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, as Brown looks “to focus on his coaching development”.
In other news: ‘Seems that’ – Journo now drops more Parkhead exit news on ‘horrendous’ Celtic ‘waste of money’.
Erik ten Hag is set to leave Ajax for Manchester United in the summer, should the Red Devils make their move, according to journalist Mike Verweij, as relayed by Sport Witness.
The Lowdown: Preferred candidate
It looks set to be a summer of change at Old Trafford, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick expected to move into a consultancy role at the end of the season.
One of his first tasks will be to help bring in a new full-time manager, with Samuel Luckhurst believing that Ten Hag is the preferred candidate at this moment in time.
The 52-year-old has been in charge of Ajax since 2017 and has averaged an impressive 2.35 points per game in charge of the Dutch giants. [Transfermarkt]
The Latest: Weekend update
Sport Witness relayed comments from Verweij regarding Ten Hag on Saturday, claiming that the Ajax boss had an agreement with Marc Overmars to leave the club if he were to receive a tempting offer.
Overmars is no longer at the Johan Cruyff Arena, although the journalist believes that the agreement would still be honoured by former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who is the Amsterdam club’s chief executive.
Verweij also had information with regards to who could move with Ten Hag to Manchester, saying: “I don’t think so [Ten Hag’s entire backroom staff will leave]. I heard that [assistant] Mitchell van der Gaag is nominated to go.”
The Verdict: Rangnick set to get his way
It looks as if Rangnick will get his way when it comes to the search for a new manager, with reports suggesting that the interim boss wants to pursue the Dutchman.
Should he arrive at Old Trafford, Ten Hag may inherit a smaller squad than the one Rangnick currently has, with five players out of contract at the end of June, one of whom is Paul Pogba.
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It appears that the Ajax boss is the main target, though, and following this update, it seems as if a deal is there to be done between the two clubs.
In other news: Deal until 2025: Romano reveals Man Utd have secured ‘intelligent’ move ahead of summer shake-up.