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West Ham United could move quickly on from Grady Diangana with a dip into the transfer market and one name has been linked with a move to the London Stadium this week…

What’s the word?

According to A Bola (via Sport Witness), the Hammers are one of three Premier League clubs chasing Sporting Lisbon winger Jovane Cabral this summer.

It’s claimed that West Ham have been following the 22-year-old since last season, although the Portuguese outfit are yet to receive any concrete offers for their attacking star.

They are believed to want around €20m (£18m) for his services with Tottenham Hotspur and newly-promoted Fulham also in the race.

Diangana alternative

On Wednesday, news broke that the Irons hierarchy had accepted a bid of £18m from West Brom for their loan sensation Diangana, meaning the Hammers are going to lose out on one of their own exciting talents.

However, Cabral wouldn’t be a bad replacement whatsoever.

Per WhoScored, the Portuguese wizard provided six goals and two assists in just 19 appearances, averaging 2.9 shots, 2.1 dribbles and 1.2 key passes per game.

It means Cabral manages more attempts at goal than any other Hammers player, including Michail Antonio and Seb Haller so clearly he’d be a nice threat to have in east London.

He has been likened to one-time Irons target Gelson Martins and dubbed as a “wing sensation” by PortuGOAL whilst Manchester United’s January addition Bruno Fernandes has been a bit of a mentor for him even since swapping Portugual for Old Trafford.

“I didn’t teach him anything. What he did in the game is down to his quality, his ability. In my opinion, he did not have a great game because I know Jovane’s quality and I think he can give more,” said Fernandes to Canal 11 (via InsideFutbol).

David Moyes couldn’t do much wrong if he manages to clinch Cabral as a direct successor to the departing Diangana.

AND in other news, Hammers plotting shock transfer for the ‘German Messi’…

Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold has suggested Brentford striker Ollie Watkins “ticks a few boxes” for Tottenham,

What did he say?

Having missed out on promotion to the Premier League after their play-off final defeat to Fulham, Brentford attackers Watkins and Said Benrahma have already been linked with big-money moves away.

Now, Gold has insisted that more so than Benrahma, Spurs could find an “exciting” player in Watkins, although did admit that the north Londoners could find some obstacles in bringing him to the club this summer.

Is it Mido or Pedro Mendes? This Spurs quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

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He said: “This makes more sense than the Benrahma links, with the 24-year-old Englishman having struck 26 goals in the Championship this season for Brentford.

“With his homegrown status he ticks a few boxes and could prove to be an exciting back-up or partner for Kane. As with Eze though, it would be all about that game time and other Premier League clubs would be able to offer more. Brentford reportedly value him and Benrahma at more than £25million each which would put off Spurs.”

Bigger priority than Benrahma

Whilst Benrahma arguably stole the show in the Championship, Watkins should be the bigger priority for Daniel Levy and co this summer.

Their glaring lack of depth up front saw Jose Mourinho have to scramble around his first-team squad to find players who could step up in Harry Kane’s absence from injury earlier this year.

Rather than going after another trademark winger in Benrahma, Spurs could bring in someone who could share the goal-scoring burden with Kane – Watkins scored an impressive 26 goals in the Championship last season.

When you look around some of the Premier League’s top sides, most if not all, have two or three potential genuine options to play in the number nine role. Barring Kane, Spurs don’t have another recognised first-team striker. Watkins could change all that.

Eberechi Eze has been tipped to move to the Premier League after catching the eye for Queens Park Rangers. 

QPR have reportedly rejected an offer from Crystal Palace for the attacking midfielder this summer, and Eze has been touted to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although the Lilywhites have been informed that he will cost at least £20m, amid interest from West Brom and West Ham.

According to Football.London’s Alasdair Gold, Spurs have a ‘great relationship’ with QPR, with plenty of links between the two clubs. Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is rumoured to be a keen admirer of the two-cap England under-21 international as he seeks to rebuild his midfield before the start of next season.

The Lilywhites have been linked with the 22-year-old before and he has admitted that he is inspired by Dele Alli, who made the jump from MK Dons to Spurs and went on to play for England at the World Cup.

Spurs duo Jack Clarke and Luke Amos both spent the past season on loan at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, which could pave the way for Eze to head in the opposite direction.

Gold notes that QPR want to sign Amos, as he has a close relationship with Mark Warburton, and Daniel Levy may look to use the defensive midfielder as leverage to sort out a deal for his teammate in the summer.

Eze, who is 22 years of age, scored 14 goals and supplied eight assists in the Championship last season (via WhoScored).

Mourinho knows that he must strengthen in the summer, as Spurs struggled to score during Harry Kane’s absence, although he will have a limited budget with which to work in the transfer window.

While the set-piece specialist has made it clear that he wants to “play at the highest level”, he will want to play first-team football, which is something Mourinho cannot guarantee. The Lilywhites should be able to offer European football if they progress through the qualifying rounds of the Europa League, although Eze could decide to take his chances elsewhere instead.

It would be a real shame if Mourinho misses out on his man, with Eze emerging as one of the best players in the Championship. Levy will have to act quickly if he wants to avoid a repeat of not getting Aston Villa star Jack Grealish for a cheaper price, as the Midlanders’ captain will now cost a staggering £80m in the transfer market.

Tottenham fans, do you think Levy should sign Eze this summer? Let us know your opinion in the comments below!

With the Premier League getting set to restart next month, all matches are likely to be played with no fans in attendance, and that of course raises the question about what will happen to those who have already bought tickets.

And according to The Chronicle’s Mark Douglas, Newcastle are “yet to communicate any plans for refunding fans on season tickets or tickets purchased for Cup and away matches”.

Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…

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Douglas adds that despite approaching the club on the issue, “there is nothing being planned at the moment to address what happens to the money paid for matches which will now be played behind-closed-doors”.

And after hearing about the update, Newcastle fans flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

A few Newcastle fans blamed Ashley for the mess, and suggested that the lack of action is probably “because of his cash greed”.

Despite the focus being on the club’s takeover, the Magpies’ board and hierarchy need to be doing a much better job of communicating with the fans on where the situation with potential refunds stands.

As a couple of fans themselves have said, it’s perhaps an area where the new owners can come in and instantly get a ‘win’.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho will have to work with a reduced transfer budget this summer, according to reports, as the north London side try to financially cope post-pandemic.

It means Spurs could see themselves restricted to free transfers and swap deals just one year after the club broke their record transfer fee to land French midfielder Tanguy Ndombele in a £55m coup.

One target that fans seem to be pleased with is Ryan Fraser – the AFC Bournemouth winger is set to leave the Cherries at the end of the season following the expiry of his contract.

The 26-year-old hasn’t had the best of campaigns, scoring just once in 32 appearances albeit with four assists, too but the south coasters have endured a tough season overall.

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Although last term, Fraser enjoyed a fruitful spell, bagging eight goals and 15 assists, via Transfermarkt.

Which is why many in north London appear to be happy over the thought of clinching the Scotsman on a free, especially instead of Willian and even over Erik Lamela.

Here’s what the Spurs faithful have been saying about the potential move…

AND in other news, Spurs fans react to fresh Milinkovic-Savic reports…

Many Leeds United fans have been reacting to news about Ben White, after The Athletic’s Phil Hay revealed a number of Premier League clubs are interested in signing the defender in the summer.  

Speaking on his weekly podcast, The Phil Hay Show, the sports writer provided an update on White’s future at Elland Road, with many of the league’s biggest clubs keeping a close eye on the youngster.

Hay said: “he’s had Liverpool on his case right the way through the season. Their talent scout is Andy O’Brien, the former Leeds defender, who’s been watching him a lot.”

He added: “I’m hearing that both City and Manchester United are keen as well.”

The Brighton loanee has attracted a number of admirers, including the likes of Premier League giants Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United, following a string of impressive performances for Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites.

After arriving at the Yorkshire outfit from the Seagulls last summer on a short-term contract, the 22-year-old has put in a defensive shift at the back, featuring in 37 games in the Championship, making 1.7 tackles per game, averaging 2.3 interceptions, and successfully completing 3 clearances on average in the English second tier (via WhoScored).

Naturally, loads of supporters responded to the pundit’s latest revelation. While some noted there are alternatives if Leeds get promoted, others lamented the suggestion White could leave the Peacocks before the start of next season. One fan sarcastically commented “cheers Phil, just what we need when we’re on lockdown.”

Scroll through some of the mixed reactions down below…

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A selection of West Ham United fans have offered up a surprise name to potentially replace Manuel Pellegrini as head coach of the club, with Leeds United’s Marcelo Bielsa emerging as a name in the conversation.

The Hammers are on a really rotten run of form at the moment, failing to win any of their last seven in the Premier League.

Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur made it three straight league defeats, and it is not as if it gets any easier as they prepare to head to Chelsea this weekend.

West Ham have reportedly held talks with Pellegrini about the alarming drop of form.

And some of the London club’s supporters think that they might have the solution to their problem.

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Indeed, when Leeds United boss Bielsa, 64, was named as a potential incoming at the London Stadium, some of the fans suggested that it would be a very good idea.

Leeds would surely fight tooth and nail to keep hold of the Argentine, although the lure of the Premier League would be very strong indeed.

With the Whites in the ascendancy and chasing promotion from the Championship, though, it seems unlikely the Hammers would be able to persuade him to move to east London in mid-season.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Meanwhile, amid the team’s struggles, Pellegrini seems to be fast losing faith in one player in particular.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Danny Murphy has said on talkSPORT that Harry Kane would get into the Liverpool side ahead of Roberto Firmino.

What did he say?

Tottenham are struggling at the moment. They are currently 11 points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in the Premier League table, and they recently suffered the ignominy of losing 7-2 at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The former Reds midfielder, along with talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham, has suggested that failure to qualify for European football’s premier club competition may force the England captain to depart north London.

Were he to do so, the 42-year-old believes that he would replace Roberto Firmino in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI. He explained:

“I think Harry Kane would get in Liverpool’s team ahead of Firmino, because I think he’d score more goals. I love Firmino but he’s not Harry Kane.”

Not the best fit

There is certainly an argument to be made that Firmino could score more goals. His highest-scoring season in the Premier League is 15, which compared with the likes of Kane, Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, does not really come close.

Considering that he plays for a team that has scored 173 times across the last two full terms – 89 last season and 84 during the 2017/18 campaign – you would expect more than his return of 27.

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However, as we all know, scoring goals is not his main remit as the number nine in this Liverpool outfit.

With Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane on the wings, both of whom are stellar goalscorers – along with Aubameyang, they shared the Golden Boot last term – he is expected to be more of a creator than a marksman. In the last two-and-a-bit seasons, he has 31 assists in all competitions. Kane, by comparison, has 12.

He does have 75 goals across the same time period, though, which is very impressive. But his goalscoring ability would perhaps come with a price. Last term, he averaged 3.6 shots per game in the Premier League, compared to the Brazil international’s 2.2. Mane and Salah are so influential to how Liverpool play, but with Kane up front, there is a strong possibility that their overall goal threat would be heavily reduced.

Considering his ability, the 26-year-old would not struggle to find a new club were he to depart the Lilywhites. A move to Merseyside, though, would potentially unbalance the whole Reds squad. And with his Transfermarkt value currently resting at £135m, it would be far too much of a gamble.

Newcastle travel to Aston Villa on Monday and could be without Ciaran Clark for the visit to Villa Park, but several fans aren’t too concerned that he might not be available.

That is mostly because the pair of Florian Lejeune and Fabian Schar could be in line to make a comeback from injury, two players who a lot of fans consider to be amongst the team’s best centre-backs.

Clark, however, has played well of late in Newcastle’s three-match unbeaten run, scoring in two of those games, and probably would be in line to start had he not picked up a knock whilst on international duty for the Republic of Ireland.

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The fact some supporters are disappointed that they may have to play without Clark shows how important he’s been of late, with a few raising concerns that they have lost not only a solid defender, but a goal threat too.

Despite also being without skipper Jamaal Lascelles there is still not too much concern amongst the fanbase, and that highlights the strength the Magpies have at centre-back.

Here is some of the reaction to the news that Clark may be unavailable for Monday’s clash.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Tottenham Hotspur defender Danny Rose has confirmed that he intends to leave the club when his contract expires, per The London Evening Standard.

What’s the word?

The England international says that Spurs attempted to sell him in the summer – he was spotted at Watford’s training ground on transfer deadline day – after being told that he would not be given a new contract.

And Rose now says that, with his current deal set to expire at the end of next season, he will not be committing to fresh terms.

He said: “It’s pretty obvious what happened (during the summer). People upstairs at Tottenham were trying to do what they were trying to do. I’ve said, I’ve got 18 months left on my contract and I’m not going anywhere until my contract has ­finished.

“In January, you’re probably going to hear something (regarding a possible departure). I’m telling you right now that I’m not going anywhere until my contract is finished.

“(Spurs chairman) Daniel Levy told me in the summer there was no new contract for me at Tottenham, which is fine. I respect that. We move on.

“My contract is up in 18 months’ time and I’ll leave the football club then. People can save their time ­trying to get stuff ready for January about me being sold.

“Because I can tell you now: it ain’t happening. I know what people were trying to do in the summer… There were no bids — that was rubbish.”

The worst possible timing

Spurs haven’t won a league game since September.

They haven’t won away from home since January.

The club are currently 14th in the Premier League and 11 points behind the top four.

This is not the time for personal revelations about the transfer window.

Admittedly, Rose is currently on England duty so he is technically freed from his club responsibilities but, surely he knows that this comes at the worst possible time.

Spurs need to be presenting a united front, a togetherness that speaks to the supporters and tells them that they are working as hard as possible to steady the ship and come out of a slump that has led to reports that Mauricio Pochettino could lose his job.

Instead, Rose is in the press, talking about how he was nearly pushed out of the club and how he is likely to stay for at least another season essentially against their wishes.

This is despite a decline in form that has seen Rose collect an average rating of 6.61 from WhoScored thus far this season. He has already collected five yellow cards in just nine games.

He has no real right to open his mouth in the manner he has and this is unlikely to endear him any further to the fans who are paying to watch him, and the rest of the Spurs team, struggle on a weekly basis.