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Everton winger Nathan Broadhead will sign a new two-year deal ‘soon’, according to The Athletic.

The lowdown

The 23-year-old made 18 Premier League 2 appearances last season, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists. Only six players in the division netted more.

Broadhead made his senior Premier League debut as a late substitute in the goalless draw at Brighton & Hove Albion in April.

Everton under-23 boss David Unsworth has labelled him a “terrific” player, adding that Broadhead was “one of the best players I’ve worked with at this level”.

The latest

The Athletic’s Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland reported that Broadhead will soon commit his future to the Toffees – his contract had been due to expire this summer. Under-23 team-mates Ryan Astley, Kyle John and Joe Anderson have also been offered new deals.

Boyland also discussed Broadhead’s chances of breaking into the first team, saying that midfield duo Tyler Onyango and Isaac Price and left-back Thierry Small are ahead of him of the queue for the moment.

The verdict

This is a slightly curious situation. Everton are clearly keen to keep Broadhead on their books, but there doesn’t seem to be an immediate prospect of first team football.

He’s 23 now, so it’s getting to the stage where he’s not really a ‘youngster’ anymore, and he might have to consider his future if he can’t force his way into the Toffees’ first team plans during the upcoming season.

In other news, many Everton fans react to exit links surrounding one of their key players.

West Ham United will take on a Chelsea side without Antonio Rudiger and Mateo Kovacic in the Premier League this afternoon.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to the media ahead of the match, as quoted by Football.London, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel stated: “For Sunday, both of them [Kovacic and Rudiger] are not back, but there are no other new injuries.”

Rudiger missed Wednesday evening’s 4-2 defeat to Arsenal with a groin injury whilst Kovacic couldn’t manage 30 minutes in the Blues’ FA Cup semi-final victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, withdrawing with an ankle injury.

Moyes will be buzzing

Of course, they can’t let their heads drop, however, Chelsea’s chances of finishing third in the Premier League look pretty secure whilst the Hammers will have plenty to play for.

The Irons will leapfrog Manchester United into sixth with a victory at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, with the gap between the two sides now just two points after Ralf Rangnick’s men lost 3-1 at Arsenal yesterday.

David Moyes’ men are very much in contention of securing another top-six finish, whilst qualification for Europe is also still possible with a Europa League triumph, with the east London side taking on Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their semi-final on Thursday.

However, in order to guarantee European football via the league, there is now very little room for slip-ups for the Hammers, with Wolves very much in the picture too.

Both Rudiger and Kovacic are major absentees for the west London outfit, with the duo making 47 and 40 appearances this term for Tuchel’s side respectively. Rudiger, in particular, was a big absentee in midweek when Chelsea’s defence were error-prone and mistake-riddled on their way to a 4-2 defeat versus Arsenal.

West Ham must take confidence into their meeting with Chelsea from the fact that they ran out 3-2 victors in the reverse fixture whilst the Blues’ home form of late has been woeful, losing 3-1 to Real Madrid and 4-1 to Brentford in their last two matches at Stamford Bridge prior to the Arsenal crushing.

Moreover, the fact their London rivals will be without two key players will have Moyes buzzing.

AND in other news: Forget Diop: Moyes must now unleash West Ham wonderkid who’s “seriously good” today

Manchester United may look to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Tom Heaton this summer.

That’s according to a report from The Sun, who claimed that the Red Devils will target Heaton if they can’t land West Brom’s Sam Johnstone. Both shot-stoppers have been on the books at Old Trafford previously, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looking for experienced goalkeeping cover in the summer transfer window.

Heaton, who earns £47,000 per week at Villa Park, is out of contract at the end of the season. The 35-year-old has played second fiddle to Emiliano Martinez since returning from long-term injury, and the latest report claims that the ex-Burnley stopper ‘would have to be happy as an understudy’ at Manchester United – eight words which seem crucial to any potential deal.

Transfer Tavern take

Heaton may well be looking at a Villa Park exit in search of regular game time, so Manchester United viewing him as an experienced backup ‘keeper may not appeal to him.

Former England number one Paul Robinson recently described the veteran stopper as ‘phenomenal’, and we feel that he is too good to sit on the bench in the final stages of his career. He has more than 100 appearances in both the Premier League and Championship under his belt, along with three England caps.

On that basis, he could be a shrewd signing for any club looking for a new number one, providing he doesn’t extend his stay at Villa Park.

In other news: Many AVFC fans buzz as club make South American ‘top transfer target’, find out more here. 

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a shock move for Pedro Neto in this transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to 90min, Wolves are contemplating whether to sell the 21-year-old winger, with several teams across Europe interested in his signature, including Spurs.

It’s thought that the club’s owners are open to selling several of Bruno Lage’s key stars, namely Ruben Neves and Adama Traore, but would need a huge offer to be tempted into Neto’s sale.

Premier League rivals Liverpool, who are second favourites for the League with fans using their Ladbrokes sign up bonus, and Serie A giants Juventus are also named among the clubs to have made an enquiry about the three-cap Portugal international.

Nuno dream

Spurs have been linked with several wingers in recent weeks, ranging from Sampdoria’s Mikkel Damsgaard to Sevilla’s Bryan Gil, but you’d imagine a swoop for Nuno Santo’s former star would eclipse them all.

After the departure of Diogo Jota from Molineux, Neto came into his own and thrived under the tutelage of his fellow countryman.

Despite Wolves’ struggles on the pitch in the absence of Raul Jimenez, the £31.5m-rated whizzkid provided five goals and six assists in 31 appearances, which included an assist against Spurs in their 1-1 draw.

Nuno has regularly waxed lyrical about the young wide man.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-team-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!”]

“When they [Neto & Adama Traore] have the ball and they can release this talent they become unpredictable and very difficult to stop,” the 47-year-old said after Neto’s goal against Southampton in February.

Neto averaged two key passes and 2.1 successful dribbles per game throughout the 2020/21 season, via WhoScored, so it’s evident that he can be a monumental threat on his day.

These are returns which would see him sit top of the tree in North London, with only Heung-min Son managing to create as many chances per 90 (two), and only Tanguy Ndombele managing more dribbles per 90 (2.2).

Neto is described as an “elite talent” with “electric pace and acceleration” by football scout Jacek Kulig, whilst Sky Sports reporter Adam Bate dubbed him a “huge talent” who often goes under the radar.

The Lilywhites may need to splash in excess of £50m on the Portuguese star but it would be £50m well-spent, and they’d undoubtedly save a chunk on wages too as he’s reportedly on just £50k-per-week in the Midlands. For context, even Joe Hart is on a higher salary at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Considering Nuno’s familiarity with Neto, there cannot be a more perfect signing for Spurs to make this summer. Paratici and co must do all they can to make it happen.

AND in other news, Romano reveals £18m-rated Spurs target will “fly to London”, fans will be buzzing…

Former Liverpool player Paul Stewart thinks that captain Jordan Henderson will sign a new deal with the club. 

Henderson has two years to run on his current deal which he signed in 2018, but The Telegraph are reporting that talks over a new contract have stalled.

Henderson has been instrumental in the midfield at Anfield, helping the club lift the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and the English League Cup. The central midfielder was also named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 2020.

Whilst contract talks have stalled, Paul Stewart told Transfer Tavern: “I think he’ll sign a new contract. I think him you know when we talk about Harry Kane and Grealish being one club men, he loves Liverpool too much to just walk away.”

Liverpool have made one summer transfer so far, that of Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig for a fee of £36million and after losing one of Henderson’s midfield partners in Georginio Wijnaldum to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, the club will be looking to replace him.

The Daily Mirror are reporting that Atletico Madrid have given Liverpool the green light to sign midfielder Saul Niguez, should a reasonable offer be made.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, David Norris, who made 36 appearances for Leeds United, has praised Jack Harrison for the way he’s stepped up his performances this season.

Harrison is currently on his third loan spell with the Lillywhites, making 124 appearances in that time, and it’s expected that the 24-year old will finally make the move permanent this summer.

The former New York City winger has been part of Leeds’ terrifying front three this season, which has seen himself, Patrick Bamford and Raphinha score 27 goals between them in the Premier League.

Speaking on how people at Leeds have been amazed at how much Harrison has stepped up and that people rate him very highly at the club, Norris exclusively told FFC:

“I think from the people I’ve spoken to at the club, he certainly hasn’t gone under the radar because they like him and I think he’s stepped it up a level this year.

“He’s done a couple of brilliant pieces of skill and has scored some great goals but he’s really direct, quick and exciting to watch.”

Having signed for Manchester City from New York City in 2018, Harrison has failed to make an appearance for his parent club, but he has certainly found a home at Leeds.

His future may be impacted by what Marcelo Bielsa decides to do as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, with some reports linking him with the vacant Tottenham Hotspur job.

The decision to decrease ticket prices was a good move by Dejphon Chansiri, former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer has told The Transfer Tavern.

Per The Star, season tickets for adults have dropped by around 20% as Chansiri looks to rebuild his relationship with supporters after a difficult campaign.

Wednesday were relegated from the Championship to League One after finishing bottom in English football’s second division and had very little stability during that season.

It is something the Wednesday owner has to take responsibility for having sacked two managers, Garry Monk and Tony Pulis, in the same term.

For Palmer, though, this latest move is a step in the right direction. He told TT:

“It’s a good move. At least it’s showing some good faith to the supporters in very difficult times because money is tight with people being furloughed and you want to get the crowds out. Obviously, it’s a fantastic gesture.”

Given how shambolic the 2020/21 season was, there is probably still a long way to go until all is forgiven.

There are also other matters that certainly need addressing, like the fiasco surrounding unpaid wages, though that does seem as if it is being sorted. But the decision regarding ticket prices should bring some positivity to supporters.

Tottenham Hotspur will still be without two first-team players as they return to UEFA Europa Conference League action later this evening…

What’s the word?

Spurs’ form has taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks, losing three straight heavy defeats in the Premier League, whilst they only just salvaged a point against Stade Rennes in their group stage opener two weeks ago.

Nuno Santo will probably be wanting to change things up on the pitch but he’ll be limited in his options as he won’t be able to call upon either Steven Bergwijn or Ryan Sessegnon.

Bergwijn picked up an injury during that clash in France, whilst Sessegnon has been injured since the international break at the start of the month.

“Nothing has changed,” the Portuguese told the club’s official website this week. “Sess and Stevie will not join the group. The rest of the squad is available. We will also bring in some Under-23s to help us, and we go for the game.”

Big setback

This will be hugely frustrating for the 47-year-old and it may leave him a little worried heading into kickoff, even if it is against a team of much lower quality.

Spurs will remember the Dinamo Zagreb clash from last season, which saw the Croatian champions perform a stunning comeback to knock them out of the Europa League, so no team should be taken lightly.

Nuno badly needs to shake things up, so having a player with a point to prove like Sessegnon available would’ve been an interesting option, whilst Bergwijn had started their opening three league games before his injury.

It can’t be that much of a coincidence that the Lilywhites won all three of those games, too.

He is also one of their biggest threats in the final third, having averaged 1.3 key passes and 2.3 shots per game, a feat only bettered by top goalscorer Heung-min Son, as per WhoScored.

Nuno may have to call upon some of the players that have severely let him down in defeats to arch-rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace in recent weeks.

The Spurs boss is also thought to be under increasing pressure, according to some reports in the press, so it’s crucial that he gets a result and avoids an embarrassing upset against Mura tonight.

Given their recent performances, Nuno may well be gutted to not be able to change his side completely heading into this fixture.

AND in other news, Paratici risking catastrophic Spurs transfer disaster with £40.5m-rated “lightweight”…

Leeds United defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips has faced speculation over his future in recent weeks as Manchester United reportedly circle around him ahead of January.

The Red Devils are in the market for a holding player and have identified Phillips as an alternative target to West Ham’s Declan Rice, although it remains to be seen how much money they are willing to spend on the Yorkshireman.

Football Insider recently reported that Phillips wants to put pen to paper on a contract extension with Leeds and is in advanced talks with the club over a deal. The Whites want it to be signed and sealed before the opening of the January window, which could see him remain at Elland Road until the end of the season at least.

Whether it comes in January or next summer, Phillips may leave Leeds at some point in the future, given the interest in his signature, and this could leave Victor Orta and Marcelo Bielsa scrambling around to find a replacement.

Bielsa, however, could save Orta a job, as well as millions of pounds, by unleashing academy midfielder Lewis Bate in the first team. The 18-year-old joined from Chelsea’s U23 side in the summer and could be the natural successor to Phillips at Elland Road if he is able to fulfil his potential.

Bate has been capped ten times by England at various youth levels and recently earned praise from Bielsa, who said the youngster can “thread it through a needle” when speaking about his passing ability.

MRKT Insights co-founder Ram Srinivas also compared the youngster to Phillips and highlighted his key strengths as a footballer. He said:

“Bate is a well-rounded deep-lying midfielder; he’s well capable of helping a team control possession, acting as a metronome to keep things ticking over as well as being very productive in build-up. He’s very positive in his passing and shows good awareness of the spaces opening up around him and team shape, which helps his team play out of a press and also attack the opposition in transition.

Srinivas added: “All in all he’s just a multi-faceted midfielder whose biggest weakness is probably just his size but he more than makes up for it with his other qualities. He’s very well-suited to Bielsa-ball and probably capable of serving as an understudy to Kalvin Phillips.”

This, along with Bielsa’s willingness to hail Bate’s quality, suggests that Leeds could have a very promising central midfielder in their U23 squad.

Therefore, Bate could end up saving the club millions of pounds by making the step up and replacing Phillips, leaving Orta with no need to sign a replacement.

However, it all comes down to Bielsa and how he handles the situation. The Argentine coach will need to unleash Bate in the Premier League and offer him a chance to show what he can do at senior level, whilst working with him on the training pitch to ensure he knows Bielsa-ball inside and out. If he can do that, then Orta may put the chequebook away…

AND in other news, Fresh report provides key Leeds update that’ll leave Elland Road bouncing…

A Portuguese news outlet has claimed that Wolves will now sign Vitinha in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Vitinha promise

Upon signing Vitinha on a loan deal from FC Porto at the start of the 2020/21 season, Jeff Shi dubbed him as an ‘exciting’ player and a ‘special young talent’, with an ‘abundance of technique and creativity’ (Wolves).

This was clearly evident by the influence that he had on his teammates, as he recorded the highest pass success percentage (90.3%) out of any Wolves player to have played 10 or more matches in the Premier League last term (Whoscored).

The Latest: Vitinha will be signed

As per Jornal de Noticias (via Sport Witness), the Molineux faithful will complete the signing of Vitinha on a permanent deal for €20m (£17.1m).

He will reportedly sign a contract of ‘four or five’ years, after originally starting pre-season training with FC Porto.

The Verdict: Great news

It is certainly great news to hear that Vitinha will join up with the Wanderers permanently under new manager Bruno Lage.

He became a fans favourite very quickly during his short time at WWFC, with some supporters recently showing their delight at the news.

Nonetheless, at just 21 years of age, Vitinha has a lot of potential, and so £17.1m could turn out to be an absolute bargain if he fulfils it, providing that there are no remaining obstacles in the way to get the deal over the line.

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