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West Ham will reject a loan bid from FC Schalke for striker Lucas Perez before the transfer deadline, Football FanCast can confirm.

The Irons have thus far adopted a stance that they will not loan out any first-team players in this transfer window.

A BBC report claimed on Wednesday that the German club had lodged a loan offer for Perez, who has struggled for minutes thus far this season in east London.

However, the Irons would prefer to receive a transfer fee for Perez and value him at around £4million.

Perez has played 10 times in the Premier League, per Transfermarkt, but has yet to complete 90 minutes under Manuel Pellegrini in the top flight.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Nevertheless, Football FanCast understands the club intends to retain Perez as cover for Marko Arnautovic, who recently signed a new contract at the London Stadium, and Javier Hernandez.

Andy Carroll is injury-prone and as we exclusively revealed earlier this month, would likely be allowed to leave if a deadline day bid is tabled. However that appears unlikely, given his patchy fitness record and poor form when he has played.

Football FanCast also understand that Reece Oxford has been told that he can leave on loan, having failed to play a single minute for the first-team thus far this season.

It remains to be seen if an offer will be forthcoming that suits his needs, however.

Frank Lampard has emerged as a managerial candidate for West Brom this summer, as the Baggies look to replace the departed Sam Allardyce.

The Lowdown: Search for a new manager

After a disappointing season that saw West Brom relegated back to the Championship, the search is on for a new manager at the Hawthorns.

Allardyce has moved on after failing to keep the Baggies in the Premier League and a host of names have been linked with replacing him, including Barnsley boss Valerian Ismael.

The Latest: Lampard linked with job

The latest name to emerge is Lampard, with the Express & Star reporting that West Brom are keen on acquiring the Chelsea legend’s signature.

The 42-year-old is on the lookout for a new job and open to Championship offers after being sacked by the Blues earlier in the year, and has been hailed as ‘amazing’ by their current manager Thomas Tuchel.

The Verdict: A risky choice?

Lampard remains a relatively unknown quantity in management, making West Brom snapping him up a risk, but he is an exciting young option.

The former England midfielder did an impressive job with Derby in the Championship, guiding them to the playoff final in 2019 and playing good football along the way – the Rams escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth this season with Wayne Rooney at the helm.

Another Premier League job may arguably be too soon for Lampard, but taking charge of a promotion-chasing team could be ideal, and he could also boast good links to Chelsea in terms of attracting loan signings – Blues star Mason Mount scored nine times under Lampard at Pride Park back in the 2018/19 campaign.

In other news, another manager has been linked with the vacant West Brom job. Find out who it is here.

Writing on Twitter, reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold has dropped a behind the scenes claim on the manager hunt in north London – saying that ‘a number’ of Spurs players ‘would be happy’ if the club pursued Brighton boss Graham Potter.

The Lowdown: Potter linked to Spurs job

The 45-year-old has been heavily linked to the Tottenham Hotspur job ever since former manager Jose Mourinho was sacked last month, with reports claiming that he is a target.

This includes technical performance director Steve Hitchen, who apparently has Potter on his shortlist of recommendations for chairman Daniel Levy (The Daily Mail).

The Seagulls gaffer is said to have other admirers within the club, but Hitchen’s list is the one that ‘goes upstairs’ for consideration by Levy as Spurs search for the next manager (The Daily Mail).

The Latest: Gold drops claim involving Potter

Now, writing on Twitter, Lilywhites inside source Gold has dropped a rather interesting claim involving the Premier League boss and ‘a number’ of players.

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Indeed, he says that there are certain members of the squad who would be happy if Tottenham pursued Potter as an heir to Mourinho after being taken aback by his footballing philosophy.

“Told a number of the Spurs players had a lasting impression left on them by the style of Brighton’s play and would be happy if Graham Potter was pursued to become the club’s next manager.” said Gold on social media.

The Verdict: Potter too risky…

It’s clear he fits the profile of an attack-minded boss reportedly wanted at Tottenham after the arguably regrettable Mourinho era (The Guardian).

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is also a huge admirer of Potter, recently calling him the ‘best English manager’ (Brighton and Hove Independent).

However, while he has also been lauded as a ‘genius’ by an unnamed former Swansea City player (The Athletic), Potter could come as a risky appointment given his lack of experience managing big players.

He would have many to watch over at Spurs, including the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, and it’s debatable whether he has the experience for such a big job at Tottenham.

In other news: Spurs now keen to sell this 66-cap ace, find out more here.

Plenty of Arsenal fans have been reacting to an injury update on Kieran Tierney on social media.

Mikel Arteta revealed earlier this month that the left-back, who suffered knee ligament damage against Liverpool, would probably miss the rest of the season.

However, in a recent injury update on the club’s official website, it appears as if Tierney could be back sooner than expected.

The Gunners provided an update on a number of sidelined players ahead of Friday’s clash with Everton on Wednesday.

On Tierney, the club said he is making ‘positive progress and is hoping to be back in training within two to three weeks’.

Tierney, who suffered a knee injury earlier in the campaign, has made 33 appearances in all competitions this season, showing he is a crucial part of the manager’s plans.

Arsenal fans react

@ltarsenal shared Tierney’s positive progress and training return timeframe on Twitter on Wednesday evening.

This is what these Gunners had to say in reply, with one describing the update as ‘huge news’, perhaps casting an eye towards a potential Europa League final, which would take place on May 26.

“Huge news #KroenkeOut”

Credit: @_SakaSZN_

“No way”

Credit: @goonerjames

“love to see it”

Credit: @leeah3x

“The miracle worker Mazziotti at work!”

Credit: @sunnysathvik

“At least some positive news”

Credit: @Sam27542817

“Things we love to see #KroenkeOut”

Credit: @DennisAFC

In other news: Many Arsenal fans buzz at news of Stan Kroenke protests, find out more here. 

Former Tottenham Hotspur captain Graham Roberts has told The Transfer Tavern that he believes that the club are for sale at the right price.

Football Insider reported last week that the club’s owner, Joe Lewis, is lining up a huge sale that would see the club valued at over £1bn.

They reported that there was interest from a buyer who would have taken a 50% stake of the club, paying £800m to do so, but the deal ultimately fell through.

Lewis is 84 and is said to be actively looking for a buyer, having seen Spurs spend over £1bn to build a world-class new stadium.

And Roberts is unsurprised by the development, with Spurs seemingly primed for a wealthy investor to pick them up.

Indeed, the UEFA Cup winner believes that there are plenty of legs in the story, with almost every Premier League club, including Liverpool and Manchester United, available for the right price.

He told TT: “I would think that has a lot of legs to it. Every football club is for sale, isn’t it, it all depends on how much.

“I read in the paper this week that somebody had offered the club, Daniel Levy, £800 million for 50% of the club and he said no.

“When you’ve got a billion pound stadium, I would think the club’s got to be worth £2.5bn, so they’re not going to take £800m for 50%.

“I would think every club is up for sale, Liverpool’s up for sale, Man United, if the right person comes along.”

Liverpool have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Paris Saint Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe ironically by the French club’s interest in current Reds’ star Mo Salah.

According to Telefoot, the reigning Ligue 1 champions have opened talks with the Egyptian forward in the event that Mbappe elects to leave the Parc des Princes.

The Frenchman is out of contract next summer and could leave on a free transfer, with the Reds thought to be interested in swooping for his services.

The simple fact that the Parisiens are looking for a replacement already could suggest that he has decided on his departure as early as this summer, giving the Reds a huge boost in his pursuit.

Mbappe would certainly be an exhilarating signing for the Merseysiders having plundered an eye-watering 123 goals in 163 appearances for the French giants since arriving from AS Monaco.

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Despite that, it would also be leaving current Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp with a huge dilemma over whether to let the £200k per week Salah leave for PSG.

The 28-year-old has been nothing short of sensational in his time at Anfield after arriving from AS Roma. He has scored 122 goals, ironically one fewer than Mbappe, in 195 appearances as the Reds have scooped the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

Should he depart then, he would certainly be a big miss. However, should Liverpool elect to sell to Paris Saint Germain, this would give them a huge boost in the pursuit of Mbappe, with a potential swap deal maybe in the offing.

So, whilst interest in star forward Salah will initially worry the Reds, it could potentially morph into a benefit in the club’s long-term transfer aspirations of signing Mbappe.

AND in more news, take a look at why swooping for a Barcelona star this summer would be a mistake by FSG…

Everton will never rue the day that Oumar Niasse departed Goodison Park for the final time, as the striker seals his long-awaited return to the game with a move to Huddersfield Town.

The Championship side announced the capture of Niasse on Friday, with the forward moving to the John Smith’s Stadium on a deal running until the end of the current season.

Huddersfield sit 18th in the second tier during the March international break and hold a seven-point margin to the relegation places after winning just two of their last 15 league games.

Everton released Niasse at the end of his contract last June, marking the stop point to a tepid four-year tenure at Goodison Park for the former Lokomotiv Moscow striker, who was signed by Roberto Martinez for £13.5m.

Niasse spent 273 days as a free agent, having rejected offers to return to the game following his release in favour of continuing in England to remain close to his family.

“A big part of our recruitment process focuses on the character of the players we’re bringing in and we’ve spoken with Oumar and his representatives over a fair period of time,” Huddersfield Town’s Head of Football Operations Leigh Bromby said.

“We’ve had very positive conversations throughout and it’s clear he will be a good fit within our group. He’s had plenty of offers since leaving Everton, but he was keen to stay in England and, ideally, in the north so he is close to his family.

“His pedigree speaks for itself, having played in top divisions, in European competitions and commanded huge transfer fees. However, his character is just as impressive. He’s a very positive guy and is determined to show everyone what he is capable of.”

Niasse will now continue working with the Huddersfield first team to rebuild his fitness, having begun training with the Terriers before signing a short-term deal.

Niasse will hope that his return to the game will present opportunities to earn a longer-term contract at the John Smith’s Stadium and show Everton why they were wrong to release him at the end of his contract last summer.

However, it is extremely unlikely that the Toffees will ever be expected to rue the day that the 30-year-old left Goodison Park for the final time, having proven to be an expensive flop in the years which followed Martinez sanctioning his arrival.

It took until the end of April 2016 for Niasse to earn his first start in royal blue following five substitute appearances from a possible 10 games across all competitions, and the arrival of Ronald Koeman that summer triggered the derailment of his Merseyside career.

Koeman told Niasse after one 45-minute appearance in pre-season that he was not wanted at the club and instructed the striker to train with the under-23s, before sending the former Senegal international out on loan the following January.

The move to Hull City helped Niasse earn a second chance under Koeman the following season, only for the appointment of Sam Allardyce to see his chances be reduced once again and the subsequent hiring of Marco Silva put an exit in sight.

Niasse would only make seven appearances across all competitions in 18 months under Silva and just one of those in the starting line-up, before playing a mere 18 minutes under Carlo Ancelotti in the final months of his £55,000-per-week contract.

Four managers passing on Niasse after Martinez was fired just went to show the struggles the striker had at adapting to the demands of the Premier League and English football, and why he left Everton with just nine goals in 42 games – of which he only started 13 – to his name.

The 30-year-old is now at a club in Huddersfield where the head coach is seemingly prepared to back him, with Carlos Corberan lauding the “dynamic” forward as he brings a hard-working mentality, a will to press the opponent and the ability to attack spaces to the Championship.

Those traits were all too rarely on show at Goodison Park, making his release a must last summer and why Everton will never be expected to rue the day that he walked away.

AND in other news, Everton dodged a £13m bullet in a “remarkable” talent as the hype falls silent…

According to a report by reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold, Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy have towering Fiorentina colossus Nikola Milenkovic on their radar for this summer – coming as the Lilywhites scour for a potential leader.

Indeed, as explained by Gold, signing a defender with leadership qualities who can marshal the Lilywhites backline is among Levy’s top priorities for the next transfer window.

Tottenham eyeing Milenkovic

Many names have been mentioned by Gold, writing for football.london, and one that stands out among them is Serie A powerhouse Milenkovic.

The 23-year-old, standing at a gigantic 6 foot 4, is said to be on Levy and Tottenham’s watchlist – especially considering his vast experience at international level despite his fairly young age.

He already has 28 caps for his native Serbia and is a regular for Fiorentina at club level, marking him out as a sure fire candidate to be targeted this summer.

The defender’s contract will have just one year remaining after the 2020/2021 campaign, coming as another bonus which could gift Levy plenty of negotiating room.

Transfer Tavern take

Pol Lirola, one of Milenkovic’s teammates at Fiorentina but currently on loan at Marseille, heralded the star centre-back in an interview on Instagram page ‘SOSFantacalcio’ – calling him ‘extraordinary’ and ‘ready for a great team’ (via XSport.news).

As well as this, a past report shed light on Jose Mourinho’s fondness for the player – with the Portuguese scouting him personally in 2018 alongside Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (The Sun).

Time will tell whether he becomes Tottenham’s main target above all others, but this reliable information from Gold indicates he is on the agenda.

In other news: Gold also dropped a big Tottenham stadium naming rights update, find out more here.

Leeds United could clinch a transfer bargain this summer by making a move for Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks and months have suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are one of a number of sides interested in signing the 9-cap Spain international this summer, with the winger’s contract at the Santiago Bernabeu set to expire come the end of the season.

Now, Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness), have delivered an update on his situation, revealing the nature of his summer demands.

It’s suggested that Vazquez is looking for €3m (£2.6m) a year – a number which will be after tax. It’s added that “the player is clear” with his demands and that if Madrid don’t offer that amount then he will have no problems looking elsewhere.

Bye-bye Helder Costa

Despite only signing on a permanent deal from Wolves last summer, it appears the writing is already on the wall for Helder Costa’s long-term future at Elland Road.

Reports recently have claimed that the Whites are willing to listen to offers for the Portuguese ace, and see him as someone who could be sold to raise some cash for reinforcements.

Selling Costa for a chunk of money would more than pay for the wages of Vazquez – there would obviously be no transfer fee involved given it the Spaniard would arrive as a free agent – and it would be absolute bargain for Victor Orta.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has waxed lyrical about the winger and what he brings to the table, and it’s surely music to the ears of Bielsa.

Speaking after a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo earlier this year, the French icon said: “What he’s doing right now doesn’t surprise us. Not only do I like him, we all like him because he is always on the job and reliable. He always gives everything on the pitch and we appreciate that. I congratulate him.”

Vazquez’s reliability and work-rate is something Bielsa will surely love given how he wants his teams to play with intensity, and add that to the fact he would arrive for virtually nothing, Leeds could strike gold with a move this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds must unleash this academy starlet who’s like Raphinha…

In a recent interview, Noel Whelan criticised the players of Tottenham Hotspur in giving his backing to Jose Mourinho’s style of football.

Having been on a decent run of form heading into the North London Derby last weekend, winning three consecutive Premier League fixtures for the first time since November, Tottenham’s lacklustre performance in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal reignited debate regarding Mourinho’s future at the club.

However, speaking recently to Football Insider, former Premier League forward Whelan stated his belief that it is the Tottenham players who are to blame for their disappointing performance against the Gunners, rather than their 58-year-old manager.

He said: “I don’t think it’s Mourinho, it’s the players. There are attacking players out there. That’s not a defensive side that’s gone there for a draw. There are very attacking players that can win matches on their own.

“They started off really slow. They got the goal that should have been the breakthrough, the starting point. That should have been when they kicked into overdrive and stepped up the gears and really took the game to Arsenal. But it was Arsenal who were controlling and dictating the game. I don’t think they did enough to go out and win that game. I think the right team won on the day.”

Transfer Tavern Take

Indeed, with Mourinho putting out a more attacking starting XI than the side which had started the 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace a week before the Arsenal clash – with Tanguy Ndombele replacing Harry Winks – it would seem as if, on the surface, the Spurs manager did not plan for his team to have just one shot in the first half of the derby, or six in total over the course of the 90 minutes.

However, while Mourinho’s team selection may have been attacking on paper, there is no guarantee that the Portuguese boss did not instruct his players to play in a defensive manner; and considering that The Telegraph reported that a number of Spurs players believe “they are being stifled” by Mourinho’s style of football, this would not appear to be an overly outlandish thought.

In other news: Tottenham have been sent a warning over Harry Kane – find out more here!