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Sheffield Wednesday are believed to have rejected Millwall’s bid for midfielder Josh Windass, as his Owls future continues to hang in the balance.

The Lowdown: Windass could leave Sheff Wed

Darren Moore’s side suffered the agony of relegation to League One last season, following heartbreak at Derby County on the final day of the campaign.

A number of established players could now leave Wednesday this summer, with Windass one of those who could move on, following strong interest from Millwall.

The Latest: Millwall bid rejected

According to the Sheffield Star, however, the Owls have rejected the Championship side’s first bid for the 27-year-old, with a ‘much-improved’ offer required to prise him away from Hillsborough.

A number of clubs are thought to be interested in signing Windass, including Preston North End, QPR, Fulham and West Brom.

The Verdict: Expect midfielder to move on

Windass was Wednesday’s top scorer in the league last season with nine goals, highlighting why it would be preferable to keep hold of him.

That is going to be difficult, unfortunately, with the Englishman no doubt keen to be playing Championship football in 2020/21, rather than dropping into the third tier.

Only a sizeable bid should be accepted, however, with that money then being spent on the right signings this summer, in order for Wednesday to earn immediate promotion on the first attempt.

In other news, Sheff Wed have reportedly suffered a blow in their attempts to sign one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle United must avoid making a major howler this summer and offering Andy Carroll a new contract, amid Steve Howey’s intriguing claim.

What’s the story?

The Magpies striker played just 381 minutes of football in the entire Premier League season, and in fact, had played less than ten minutes since the beginning of March.

Despite the lack of game-time, Howey has insisted he would keep Carroll at St James’ Park, and instead laid the blame at Steve Bruce’s door for the lack of first-team action.

He said: “I’m surprised that Carroll will be out of contract because me personally, I would keep him for another year, I really would. He’s been fit this season but just hasn’t been given the opportunity to play so that’s not his fault.

“It’s not his fault that he’s not played, that’s the manager’s fault because all Carroll can do is be fit. I still think he’s a threat and that centre backs still won’t like playing against him.”

Would be a disaster

While Carroll may be the kind of different dimension of striker that teams might like, he simply hasn’t shown he’s really cut out for this level for a long time now – injuries of course have played their part, but the fact he’s scored just five goals in the past four seasons is a real telling sign of his decline.

Earning a basic £20k-a-week, that rises to a monumental £75k-a-week if he actually starts, and to £35k-a-week if he comes off the bench, Carroll is simply making up the numbers at St James’ Park, at a time when the Magpies desperately need to be getting rid of the deadwood and freeing up the finances.

It’s already been indicated that money will be tight on Tyneside this summer, and having Carroll still pick up a pay-cheque for doing virtually nothing week-in and week-out would be a ridiculous waste of wages.

If Bruce simply doesn’t trust him enough, or doesn’t fancy him, then it’s best for the club to just let him go and loosen up the wage bill a little. The Magpies need to save every penny they can to make a go of signing players like Joe Willock to really take the next step up.

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Keeping Carroll in the hope that he can get back to his best from years ago seems like a foolish mistake to make, and it’s one that won’t have the fans happy at all.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are risking another Andy Carroll disaster with this signing…

After Nuno Santo announced that he’d be resigning from his position as Wolves manager, Fosun didn’t hang around in their pursuit of a replacement.

The Old Gold clearly had a contingency plan in place and they’ve never once diverted from their number one target; Bruno Lage.

What’s the word?

Lage was undergoing a work permit hearing last week that he successfully passed as he bids to become the new manager of Wolves.

Tim Spiers issued a fresh update on the situation of the Portuguese at the start of this week. He took to Twitter to reveal that it was only a matter of time before he was given the keys to Molineux.

The Athletic journalist commented: “Bruno Lage contract details being finalised, should be announced as Wolves’ new head coach later this week. Backroom team will take a little longer to confirm, work permit process might take that into next week.”

Fosun must be buzzing

When it became apparent that Nuno would be leaving the club after four successful years in the Midlands, fears were rightfully apparent.

The former goalkeeper had taken the Old Gold from a mid-table side in the Championship to one on the periphery of European football after being promoted to the Premier League.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-wolves-transfer-news-guedes-toney-shaqiri-neves” title=”Read the latest Wolves transfer news!”]

Nuno had done a number of wonderful things in the Midlands, developing young players for the future and building an identity that should remain in place for years to come.

Therefore, to have a deal for Lage on the verge of completion after such a quick turnaround should have the hierarchy elated.

With the transfer window rapidly approaching, they needed someone in place swiftly before they started missing out on targets and big fees for their best players.

This will be a challenging first summer in the job for Lage who is faced with losing Ruben Neves to Arsenal and an ongoing contract war with Adama Traore.

Without a manager, negotiations over the Spaniard’s future will have drawn to a halt while their recruitment plans will have been left in the dust.

Fortunately, the 45-year-old is close to a switch and can already start thinking about who he wants to bring with him to England.

Lage is similar to Nuno in a few ways. They’re both clients of Jorge Mendes but crucially, he knows how to develop young players.

You only need to look at the way he brought through Joao Felix and Ruben Dias at Benfica before their mega-money moves to Atletico Madrid and Manchester City.

That should be particularly appealing for the likes of Pedro Neto and Fabio Silva.

AND in other news, Better than Vitinha: Wolves must sign £13.5m-rated gem who was nicknamed Maradona…

This has been an inconsistent season for Everton and Carlo Ancelotti but they will continue to fight until the end in their bid to secure European football.

That was the goal when Ancelotti first took over the reins at Goodison Park, reiterating the desire to get the Merseyside outfit back in the Champions League.

Unfortunately, he may be heading elsewhere.

What’s the word?

The Italian manager has only been back in the Premier League for 18 months but he’s already in danger of moving on.

That’s according to Football Insider who report that both Real Madrid and Barcelona could be set to go head to head in order to lure him back to Spain.

Both clubs are searching for a new manager with division rivals Atletico Madrid a point away from winning La Liga.

It’s claimed that owner Farhad Moshiri is growing increasingly worried about the future of the club’s manager.

Huge blow for Everton

When the Toffees moved to appoint Ancelotti as their new manager it was a landmark appointment.

After Ronald Koeman, Marco Silva and Sam Allardyce failed to really revive Everton’s fortunes, they needed a stalwart of the game, someone who’d been there and done it all before.

Consequently, when the current boss put his name in the hat, Marcel Brands and co couldn’t find a more ideal candidate than the 61-year-old.

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He’s won the league in England, France, Italy and Germany, while he’s guided both Milan and Madrid to Champions League triumphs; this is one of the greatest tacticians to grace our game.

Ancelotti is a huge coup for the football club and it’s unlikely they’d be able to replace him with someone of a similar ilk.

The former Chelsea manager has a win percentage of 46.8% in Merseyside at the moment, the best of any permanent head coach since Howard Kendall in the 1980s.

With that in mind, it would be gutting for the supporters to see him walk through the exit door.

He’s in the process of building a squad that can finally compete for a place in Europe again. They have a striker in Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is free-scoring while the lure of new signings is greater with Ancelotti in the dugout.

Without him, proceedings could unravel and their ability to sign some of the best talent out there could also take a hit.

In short, there are zero plus points to losing him this summer. Everton chiefs and supporters should be incredibly concerned.

AND in other news, Everton eye move for “very talented” £26m gem, he’d be a big upgrade on Coleman…

Flocking to social media, plenty of Sky Blues supporters have applauded a gesture by Manchester City ahead of their first ever Champions League final in Porto on Saturday evening. 

Pep Guardiola’s men, in what is a huge week for the club, gear up to take on Chelsea with the aim of securing a first European Cup triumph for City and their supporters.

Having just celebrated a fifth Premier League crown and third under Guardiola, it is immediately back to business for the Citizens with the prospect of winning a historic treble.

Ahead of the final in Portugal, for many of the supporters who can’t attend, Manchester City’s official club account has now announced a big gesture.

Indeed, the Sky Blues have confirmed that the final will be screened at the academy stadium for up to 4,000 fans and tickets will be available for just £5 – with priority given to 2019/2020 season ticket holders.

As a result, plenty of City supporters flocked and applauded this move from the club – coming after Sheikh Mansour even offered to personally fund the official club trip to Porto.

Find all of their best verdicts on the official announcement down below.

Man City fans flock to official announcement

“Wow, this is a proper club, £5 for a ticket. actually respect the fans instead of charging silly money like £50+”

Credit: @MCFCHag

“YESSS”

Credit: @MCFC_Latino

“Yeahhhhh city..what a gesture!”

Credit: @KunAme10

“SIUUU”

Credit: @officialgilbert

“Massive club”

Credit: @KunHyder

“Great gesture from City”

Credit: @wendyfitz9

“Love this!!!”

Credit: @mschmidt_soccer

“This is how you do it”

Credit: @SkyHigh_Blu

In other news: Sky Blues excited by Harry Kane claim, find out more here.

Some Liverpool fans are terrified at the prospect of Jurgen Klopp quitting as manager amid reports of a European Super League forming.

The German has transformed the Reds since taking charge in October 2015, improving matters both on and off the pitch and becoming a legendary modern figure at Anfield.

Klopp has masterminded a glorious period in the club’s history, winning both the Champions League and Premier League, along with working wonders in the transfer market by signing the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk among others.

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On Sunday, news broke regarding the Premier League ‘big six’ breaking off and being part of a new European Super League, which has prompted widepsread fury. In the past, Klopp has spoken of his displeasure at the proposal actually coming to fruition, claiming that he sees few positives behind the idea.

Liverpool fans fear Klopp exit

A number of Liverpool supporters have taken to Twitter to voice their concern about Klopp’s future, with those in question fearing that he could walk away based on the furore over the new Super League and his vocal opposition to the concept in the past.

“The horrible thing about all this I can see Jurgen Klopp walking away, and that’s not something I’m ready for”

Credit: @ScouserChrisLFC

“Genuine concern Klopp could walk away”

Credit: @DFImpressionist

“Jurgen Klopp appreciation post. If he walked, I wouldn’t blame him one bit”

Credit: @TheKop_com

“If Klopp leaves we’re all following, right?”

Credit: @AnfieldMagic

“Genuinely concerned as to how Jurgen Klopp reacts to this. 100% does not align with his views”

Credit: @BenWebbLFC

“Klopp could leave any minute, I feel sick”

Credit: @archielfc

In other news, one Liverpool player is thought to have told friends he wants to leave this summer. Find out who it is here.

Jesse Lingard is ‘almost certain’ to seek a permanent exit from Manchester United this summer, according to Eurosport journalist Dean Jones.

The 28-year-old has been in sensational form since making a loan move to West Ham in January, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in 11 appearances (Transfermarkt). Irons team-mate Vladimir Coufal hailed him as an ‘unbelievable player’ and admitted that he ‘couldn’t understand’ his lack of involvement at Manchester United.

The Europa League semi-finalists have inevitably taken notice of his form and will decide on their course of action at the end of the season.

Lingard was unhappy with Solskjaer

However, Lingard is said to have been left ‘frustrated’ and ‘unimpressed’ by his treatment earlier in the season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not hand him a single Premier League appearance in 2020/21 before he relocated to east London.

The Eurosport report stated that West Ham tried to insert a £15m option to buy in the loan agreement but the Red Devils refused this request.

Nonetheless, they are ‘convinced’ that qualifying for Europe will be enough to persuade Lingard that he belongs in east London. The Hammers are well-placed to do just that, currently sitting fifth and only three points off the top four.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Manchester United’s hesitancy is understandable. Lingard has reminded the whole of English football of his ability and he could be a valuable part of Solskjaer’s squad given more opportunities. However, he has been thriving as an attacking midfielder for West Ham, and a certain Bruno Fernandes has that role nailed down at Old Trafford.

Lingard must recognise his limited prospects and he seems a perfect fit at the London Stadium. Manchester United should focus on maximising the fee, because West Ham will be desperate to retain him.

You can probably add another £10m onto that January figure.

In other news, some Irons fans have been reacting to reported interest in one of their star players.

Eddie Howe doesn’t have the ‘personality and weight of character’ of two successful Celtic predecessors, according to former Hoops striker Kris Commons.

It was reported last week that Celtic were close to an agreement with the former Bournemouth manager, their first choice to replace Neil Lennon long-term.

Commons: Howe is no ‘force of nature’

Writing in his Scottish Daily Mail column, Commons compared Howe with Martin O’Neill and Brendan Rodgers. The former memorably led Celtic to a UEFA Cup final in 2003, while the latter won seven trophies in his three seasons in Glasgow.

Commons is concerned that Howe doesn’t arrive with the same stature, as he wrote in the paper’s print edition (via Daily Record):

“Howe is not the Messiah in the way Martin O’Neill was. Nor is he Brendan Rodgers, who revelled in the limelight from the moment he arrived.

“O’Neill and Rodgers were forces of nature throughout their time in Glasgow. Their personality and weight of character always gave them a chance of succeeding.

“Howe, by contrast, seems more reserved. He is articulate, but softly spoken. It is difficult to imagine him holding court in the dressing room in the same way O’Neill or Rodgers did.”

Commons: Bournemouth can’t compare to Celtic

Commons went on to warn Howe that he faced an ‘almighty culture shock’. Bournemouth have been described as a ‘tiny club’ in the 37-year-old’s words, while Celtic are former European champions.

“On the day Rodgers was unveiled, 13,000 fans were there in Celtic Park to greet him,” Commons wrote. “He was an instant hero.

“Howe was managing a club whose home ground only holds 11,000 fans. More people turned out to see Rodgers parade a Celtic scarf above his head than can fit inside Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium.

“This is not meant to sound flippant. Just an indication of the reality into which Howe is about to be thrust. It will be an almighty culture shock.”

Transfer Tavern verdict

Every manager has to start somewhere, and Howe’s success at Bournemouth was remarkable, guiding them from the bottom of the English Football League to spending five seasons at Premier League level.

This is the kind of opportunity for which he’s surely been waiting. He can be expected to relish the added scrutiny rather than shrink in the spotlight, and who’s to say he can’t go on to surpass the likes of Rodgers if indeed he is appointed?

Indeed, for all the Northern Irishman’s domestic success, he never made it beyond the Europa League round of 32. While regaining the title from Rangers is of course the immediate priority, the ultimate measure of a Celtic boss is perhaps their continental success.

Hopefully Commons’ concerns about Howe prove to be unfounded, if indeed the anticipated appointment is confirmed.

In other news, might Celtic face some late competition for Howe? 

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Wolves legend Steve Bull has revealed that he wishes Sir Bobby Robson gave him a chance in the semi-final against West Germany at Italia 90, claiming they wouldn’t know what had hit them.

Bull featured 13 times for England with his first call up coming when Wolves were still in what is now known as League One, something that has never happened since and likely never will again.

England ended up finishing fourth in 1990 after losing to the Germans on penalties in the semi-final, before losing to Italy in the third-place play-off 2-1 thanks to a Salvatore Schillaci penalty in the 87th minute.

Speaking on why he was so desperate to be given a chance against West Germany and what the one thing was that stopped him making an appearance, Bull told FFC:

“It was an absolutely unbelievable experience and I’ve got my fourth place medal on the wall and whenever I walk past it on my stairs I think, ‘we could have won that’.

“The one thing I wish Bobby Robson would have done for me was put me on. He told me to get warmed up and I was about to go stand on the halfway line ready to go come on but by the time I got there that man who eats Walkers crisps, is it Lineker or something? He had scored and then Bobby turned to me and said just sit down.

“I was thinking, just give me 20 minutes because I would’ve been like the Tasmanian devil and they wouldn’t have known what had hit them. I would have just run around like an idiot, I would have been hustling and bustling and I think I would have got one chance.”

It required 83rd and 105th-minute penalties against Cameroon to secure England’s place in the semi-finals of the World Cup, but they were once again undone on a penalty shoot-out by Germany.

West Germany ended up winning the World Cup as they beat Argentinea1-0 in the final after an 85th minute winning penalty from Andreas Brehme, who scored in the shoot-out against England.

Many Glasgow Rangers fans loved seeing a photo of Alfredo Morelos’ daughter and wife prior to the Old Firm derby on Sunday.

The Gers faced their Glasgow fierce rivals for the third time this season and came away with a 1-1 draw as they remain unbeaten in the Premiership (BBC). Mohamed Elyounoussi opened the scored, but Morelos levelled things up with what was his first goal against Celtic (Transfermarkt). With one game left against the Parkhead outfit this term, he will be hoping to add to that tally.

With fans unable to enter the stadium, Morelos’ young family were forced to watch the game at home. It seemed they were still enjoying themselves, though, as Yesenia held up daughter Leonela to their television screen when £10.8m-valued Colombia international Alfredo appeared as the Gers warmed up.

The photo was shared on Twitter by @RangersClips, and it is fair to say that the image melted the hearts of many Gers supporters. These fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the picture of the Morelos family below

“If ever their was a picture that melted my heart!!”

Credit: @runcornbear

“Too emotional”

Credit: @kyler1872

“Brilliant Alfie absolutely gorgeous just love this photo”

Credit: @Jack1872Royal

“That’s superb”

Credit @1petti

“Brilliant photo.”

Credit: @robbielogan72

“Ok this is adorable”

Credit: @rachlizziexx

In other news, many Rangers fans slammed this man’s performance against Celtic.