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Dean Windass thinks that signing Callum Hudson-Odoi would make Everton’s front three “unbelievable”.

Whilst Hudson-Odoi doesn’t turn 21 until later this year, he’s already approaching the 100-appearance mark for Chelsea having made his first-team debut in an FA Cup tie just two months after his 17th birthday.

However, whilst the wide man appeared 37 times in all competitions last season, plenty of those were from the bench.

And with some of Chelsea’s other attacking players hitting top form towards the end of the campaign, the 20-year-old could seriously benefit from a season away from Stamford Bridge to get regular game-time.

That’s because just over half of those 37 outings were from the start, with Hudson-Odoi an unused substitute on 12 occasions under Thomas Tuchel.

With that in mind, Windass wants the youngster to play more regularly, and believes that Goodison Park might be the perfect destination for that to happen, especially with Everton’s right-wing position vacant.

He told Football FanCast:

“I like him. He’d be a great fit for Everton, I just want to see him have a run of games.

“He’s got pace, he’s an athlete, he’s a tall lad, with Richarlison on one side. Unbelievable front three. When I do watch him, I’d like to see him have a run of games and see how good he is.”

Southampton’s hopes of signing Arnaut Danjuma this summer have seemingly been handed a boost after Bournemouth failed to win promotion back to the top-flight with defeat in the play-off semi-final against Brentford recently.

The Dutch winger was linked with a move to St Mary’s earlier this year, with The Sun claiming that both Southampton and West Ham were keen on bringing the former Club Brugge man to the Premier League.

However, it had seemed as if he could help the Cherries secure an immediate return to the top-flight following their relegation last season, as they finished the season in fine form and earned a spot in the playoffs.

They met Brentford and earned a 1-0 win in the home leg thanks to Danjuma’s goal before he added another in the return leg to put Jonathan Woodgate’s side 2-0 up on aggregate.

However, the Bees would fight back and would progress to the final after a 3-1 win, consigning Bournemouth to another season in the second tier.

Given that Danjuma managed an impressive 17 goals and seven assists in 35 Championship appearances this season, it would be a surprise if he doesn’t earn himself a move away, and Southampton could be the ones to take advantage of the Cherries’ failure to win promotion.

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Goals from out wide has been a real problem for Ralph Hasenhuttl this season, with Nathan Redmond, Moussa Djenepo, Theo Walcott and Stuart Armstrong managing just 10 Premier League goals between them, so signing a winger with an eye for goal like Danjuma could be a superb addition ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Woodgate was full of praise for Danjuma earlier this year after his impressive form helped fire Bournemouth up the table, saying:

“I know last season that he didn’t really get a run in the Premier League and he maybe found it a bit difficult to get game time, but this season he’s been outstanding. I can only talk of what he’s done under my reign, but at the minute, he’s playing some exceptional football, and what else he is doing is working for the team.”

A player of Danjuma’s quality deserves to be playing in the Premier League and given that Southampton hold a geographical advantage in any potential discussions, you would hope that Saints CEO Martin Semmens can convince him to make the switch to St Mary’s this summer.

And, in other news… Semmens should overrule crazy Hasenhuttl decision and swoop for £8.1m-rated beast

Dean Windass believes that if given the opportunity, Steve Bruce would love to sign out of favour Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham as he’s the ideal player for the manager’s system.

Bruce will know that a striker is crucial this summer considering that Callum Wilson scored 12 of the Magpies’ 46 Premier League goals and Joe Willock, who has returned to Arsenal, got eight as well, so it’s natural that they have been linked with a move for Abraham who is valued at £36m by Transfermarkt.

Abraham thrived under Frank Lampard during the 2019/20 campaign after netting 18 goals in all competitions, however since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel, the England international has been bumped down the pecking order even finding himself left out of the squad in the FA Cup final.

If the £57,692 per week striker moved to Tyneside he could reignite his career which at one stage looked set for stardom, and when asked about if Newcastle fans would be happy and if Abraham has any future at Chelsea, Windass had this to say, telling Football FanCast exclusively:

“Yeah, they will be and I think his days are numbered now at Chelsea especially after they won the Champions League and he wasn’t involved, and sometimes he wasn’t even making the squad.”

Of course, Abraham, who has 30 goals in 82 games for the Blues in total, will have a long line of potential suitors this summer, with West Ham set to test the waters but Windass believes that Abraham would be perfect for Bruce and Newcastle, he added:

“I know Steve both as a manager and as a man so I think he’d be right up his street. So, if Steve is going down that line then I could see Steve signing someone like that.”

It would be an attacking force to be reckoned with if the Magpies could rely on Abraham, Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron next season. It would also surely see them aiming for greater heights than 17th.

After narrowly falling to defeat to Manchester City last time out in the Premier League, Newcastle will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they take on Sheffield United at home on Wednesday evening.

Steve Bruce’s side were on the wrong end of a thrilling 4-3 encounter against the champions, with a hat-trick from Ferran Torres leaving the Magpies with no points.

While the majority of the Newcastle team played commendably, one man who struggled to rise to the occasion was Federico Fernandez.

The Argentine had been out of action for the best part of two months with a thigh injury before making his return to the first team earlier in April, and he has been a consistent presence in the Newcastle defence since then.

However, his performances have left a lot to be desired, with only one of his last five Premier League games seeing him earn a higher match rating than 7.0 from Whoscored – his latest display against City earned him a measly 5.62.

As per Sofascore, the £45,000-a-week earner made zero tackles and interceptions over the course of the game and competed in only two duels, winning one. Fernandez looked a touch slower than everyone else in either getting tight to City’s front-line or trying to step in and react to danger, while he also had fewer touches than Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

He finished the game with a 5.9 match rating, which was by far the lowest of any outfield player on the pitch (Sofascore).

Writing in his post-match player ratings for the Shields Gazette, Liam Kennedy gave him a five, saying: “Looked a yard off the pace. Second to every ball. Since returning from injury it’s not been the best of runs in the side for the usually reliable Argentine.”

With his contract on Tyneside coming to an end this summer, and The Athletic claiming that his long-term future is in limbo, Bruce must surely consider dropping a player who looked well off the pace against City.

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He looked a liability against the Premier League champions, and the Magpies would surely be better off giving someone from the club’s academy a chance to shine and make an impression before the end of the season rather than an out-of-form and soon to be out-of-contract defender.

Meanwhile, Steve Bruce is eyeing a move for this Premier League starlet…

A number of Liverpool supporters have been calling for Takumi Minamino to leave the club this summer following an update on his future.

The Reds could be set for a busy time of things in the next transfer window, with numerous incomings and outgoings expected at Anfield.

One player who has had a curious Liverpool career to date is Minamino, with the Japanese forward arriving from RB Salzburg in December 2019.

The 26-year-old has been limited to just 31 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side, having been loaned out to Southampton in January and not being considered a key part of the Reds’ plans. He has found the net just six times in 42 matches since moving to England, a far from encouraging return for a forward. He has also been questioned over his physicality, being deemed a “lightweight” by some pundits.

It remains to be seen whether Minamino has a future at Liverpool, but the Liverpool Echo claimed that the Merseysiders are open to the idea of selling him this summer.

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Liverpool fans want Minamino to leave

These Reds fans took to Twitter to provide their thoughts on Minamino’s future. with many believing that he doesn’t have the right attributes to succeed at Premier League level.

“Imagine signing a player for £7m and still getting ripped off. Wanted him to do well but he isn’t built for the Prem”

Credit: @RizAhmed98

“He’s good for 45 mins then goes missing in the 2nd half of games”

Credit: @Euphoria1983

“Minamino has proven he’s not good enough and would probably get more for him, we would get more than £15m for Origi, don’t underestimate Michael Edwards. I would prefer us to get Malen and Daka with an attacker and maybe Aouar or Renato Sanches if we are going into Ligue 1”

Credit: @GerWillzLFC

“Sell. We’re just wasting his talent”

Credit: @DpainTedRed

“Sell imo, he’s not good enough”

Credit: @kingcurtis100

“Sell”

Credit: @NPhillipsthe

In other news, one Liverpool star could reportedly extend his deal at Anfield. Find out who it is here.

Jacob Murphy may leave Newcastle United for Rangers in the summer transfer window, according to Kevin Campbell.

Speaking to Football Insider, the former Arsenal, Everton and West Brom striker has claimed that Murphy may be attracted to winning trophies and potentially playing in the Champions League, and therefore could make the move to Glasgow. The 51-year-old said:

“There’s a good chance for Rangers to get him.

“He hasn’t played that much this season, he’s a Premier League player and he’d be quite a big name to go up there. 

“To play, to challenge for trophies, to play in the Champions League, hey listen, that’s a big stage and it will turn his head. 

“Let’s face it, Newcastle aren’t going anywhere fast are they?”

Newcastle should keep Murphy

There is no doubt that, if possible, Newcastle should do all they can to keep Murphy at St James’ Park and not let him be tempted by a potential swoop from Steven Gerrard’s men.

The 26-year-old has emerged as a key player for Steve Bruce’s team playing in the right wing-back role of late, and given that he is a winger by trade, his added versatility is a very useful asset to have in the squad.

Murphy has contributed a goal and an assist in his last five games for Newcastle in the Premier League (Transfermarkt), showing that he can certainly provide in terms of key contributions.

Nonetheless, the Englishman still has a lot to offer to the Magpies, and selling him in the upcoming summer transfer window would not be a smart bit of business given his recent run of form.

In other news, find out what PIF claim has been dropped on the potential takeover!

George Edmundson may have already played his last game for Rangers, with recent reports suggesting that he could be set for an Ibrox exit this summer after being overlooked by Steven Gerrard earlier in the season.

The 23-year-old centre-back was sent out on loan to Derby County in the winter transfer window after breaking some of the lockdown guidelines set out by the government back in 2020. Since signing from Oldham Athletic in the summer of 2019, the defender has made just 17 appearances for the Light Blues, in which he has contributed two goals and one assist.

Edmundson had made only two Gers appearances earlier in the season before his loan move, so it was always going to be difficult for him to return to Ibrox and re-establish himself in Gerrard’s squad, especially with their impressive title win this year.

The Gers remain unbeaten in the Premiership this term and much of that is down to their superb defensive record, which has seen them concede just 12 goals in 35 games.

Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Leon Balogun have all impressed at centre-back, whilst Gerrard will also have Nikola Katic and Jack Simpson as options in that position next season, so it is difficult to see where Edmundson fits in.

Given that he hasn’t exactly set the world alight during his time with the Rams in the Championship, making eight appearances and averaging a 6.68 WhoScored rating for his performances, there seems little evidence that he would be a regular at Rangers next season.

Therefore, it would perhaps not be a surprise to see him depart Ibrox this summer, and now Football Insider have claimed that Rangers would be willing to sell him for a fee close to £1m should there be interest in him, so his future in Glasgow certainly looks bleak.

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Unfortunately for Edmundson, he may well have played his last game under Gerrard, and it seems as if his off-field misdemeanours earlier this season could well end up costing him his Rangers career.

In other news… Assombalonga’s potential signing will surely be the final nail in the coffin for this Gerrard favourite at Ibrox.

Tottenham Hotspur are said to be on the hunt for a new central defensive leader for their back four this summer, according to the ever-reliable Alasdair Gold at football.london.

It’s claimed that there has been a ‘clear lack of cohesion’ and ‘leadership’ in the backline this season, even despite Spurs holding the accolade of having the third-best defensive record in the Premier League.

Jose Mourinho has frequently chopped and changed his central options, currently, Davinson Sanchez and Joe Rodon are the flavours of the month but it is Eric Dier, who has been snubbed from six straight league games, that has started the most matches (21) in the role this term.

Whilst there are increasing doubts over the future of vastly experienced Toby Alderweireld amid reports he could return to his home country, Belgium.

It’s no wonder that a new option in defence is the top priority in the upcoming transfer window, and as such, the north Londoners have been linked to an array of names, including former target Milan Skriniar, who was close to joining last summer.

As Gold outlines in his article, Spurs came close but in the end, a £12m difference in valuation stopped them from securing the Inter Milan beast. His price tag will have only increased substantially as Antonio Conte’s side find themselves leading the Serie A, and the Slovakian has been crucial at the back.

Italian transfer guru Fabirizo Romano believes Inter would now want in the region of £63m to £68m, and that’s just not something Spurs will be able to afford unless they offload several key players.

Fellow Serie A monster Nikola Milenkovic is another on their radar, whilst Gold also mentions Brighton veteran Lewis Dunk and Fulham loan sensation Joachim Andersen.

But following the successful signing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Levy would be smart to raid Southampton once again this summer as Jannik Vestergaard is a viable and far cheaper alternative.

According to the Daily Express, Spurs are to step up interest in the Saints star as he’d only cost around £18m.

In comparison to Skriniar, the Danish man-mountain has the benefit of Premier League experience, and that seems like it would be a better immediate fix right now than having to wait for a foreign player to adapt to new surroundings.

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Indeed, Vestergaard has racked up 64 appearances in the English top-flight, and a total of 70 for the Saints, as per Transfermarkt. In addition, he’s been capped 21 times by Denmark.

Despite James Ward-Prowse taking the armband from Hojbjerg at the end of last season, the 6 foot 6 colossus is regarded as one of Ralph Hassenhuttl’s key influences.

Speaking to HampshireLive, the Saints boss claimed: “I think he feels at the moment like a real leader on the pitch. When he performs well and shows the form that he has shown since the summer break, since then he has been physically strong, he is definitely one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.”

In addition to his clear aerial ability (3.6 duels won per game) and strength (as evident above), Vestergaard is able to dictate play from the back, a key factor towards why he could well be best-suited for the role Spurs are so desperate for this summer.

The £16.2m-rated defender’s average passing accuracy of 83.7%, despite playing more long balls than any other outfield player (3.6), is enough to rank him alongside some of their best midfielders and even above the likes of Oriol Romeu and Stuart Armstrong, via WhoScored.

Of course, a perfect case can be made for Skriniar, but given Vestergaard’s experience, form in the Premier League, and price tag, there should only be one answer to who Spurs should sign.

Simply put, Levy must sanction another snatch-and-grab on Southampton this summer.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Reguilon: Spurs can form lethal duo with swoop for £45m-rated “beast”…

Jose Mourinho was sacked by Tottenham on Monday morning, three days on from their 2-2 draw at Everton.

Harry Kane scored 20 minutes from time to secure a point for Spurs after Gylfi Sigurdsson’s double. It’s a result which leaves Spurs five points adrift of the top four and only one clear of eighth-placed Everton, who have a game in hand.

A sequence of one win in six matches in all competitions spelled the end for three-time Premier League winner Mourinho.

Ancelotti, Moyes, Rodgers… now Mourinho

BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty made an intriguing observation after the news broke. He noted that three other big-name managers had been sacked after failing to win at Goodison Park.

Current Everton boss Ancelotti was dismissed by Chelsea after a 1-0 defeat on Merseyside on the final day of the 2010/11 season. Former Toffees manager David Moyes also saw his Manchester United tenure come to an end in April 2014 after an unhappy return. Eighteen months later, a 1-1 Merseyside derby draw was the last straw for Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool.

This led McNulty to label Goodison Park ‘a bit of a graveyard for managers’.

Some Everton supporters felt that reflected badly on the club, whereas others took it more positively. One pointed to the similar example of Leicester, who inflicted decisive losses on both Mourinho and Frank Lampard at Chelsea.

Everton fans react after Mourinho joins list of Goodison casualties

“After some of the teams who have won at Goodison this season, it should be”

Credit: @real_dav_ral

“Is that a sign, well if you can’t even beat Everton then you’re gone”

Credit: @FreddieCollier

“Just shows that everyone expects to beat Everton! :-(“

Credit: @KramRetals

“Well if you can’t beat us, you deserve the sack”

Credit: @1878domingo

“Happens against Leicester too. I’d consider it a compliment. We’re the measuring stick for retaining their grip on the top spots.”

Credit: @TonyWitters

“That’s why they don’t want us in the #europeansuperleague”

Credit: @rodo_uk

In other news, Everton are at risk of losing one player as update emerges from transfer insider.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s hopes of keeping Danny Ings at Southampton this summer look to have suffered a huge blow, with Manchester City reportedly interested in signing him ahead of next season.

According to Sky Sports, City have identified the 28-year-old as a more attainable replacement for Sergio Aguero than Erling Haaland should the Argentinian leave this summer when his contract expires.

City would be in a strong position to sign Ings, too, given his precarious contract situation at Southampton, with his current deal set to expire at the end of next season.

The former Liverpool man has publicly revealed his desire to play for a club in the Champions League and City would certainly be able to provide that, with Pep Guardiola’s side well on their way towards winning the Premier League title this season.

You would not blame the £19.8m-rated forward for wanting to join a club such as City and play under Guardiola but it would undoubtedly be a huge blow for Hasenhuttl and Southampton, considering Ings’ impressive record on the south coast.

The striker has contributed 42 goals and nine assists in 92 appearances for the Saints, which included 22 goals in the top-flight last season, which saw him finish as the joint-second top scorer in the Premier League.

His performances earned him a call-up to the England squad and, although he has struggled with minor injury problems this season, he still has eight goals and three assists in the top flight.

Given Southampton’s struggles this season, which have seen them dragged into a relegation battle despite a promising start to the campaign, some may worry that without Ings they would struggle to score anywhere near as many goals.

Although Che Adams has found form again recently, he endured a difficult run earlier in the season and it would be tough on him to step up as Southampton’s main goalscorer should Ings depart.

Last season, former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was full of praise for Ings’ performances in the Premier League, saying: “The most impressive thing about Danny is, of course, he’s an outstanding player.

“Technically he’s very good, plays with real intelligence and the way he’s come back from his disappointments, the injury setbacks he’s had, the way he’s fought back and kept his mental strength has been hugely impressive.”

Although Southampton are clearly desperate for Ings to sign a new deal, it seems clear that he wants to join a Champions League outfit, and this reported interest from Man City could prove to be the catalyst for him leaving the south coast this summer.

And, in other news… Southampton signing £7.2m-rated beast could be bad news for £55k-p/w Saints regular