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Tottenham would only consider an initial loan move for Aston Villa target Weston McKennie.

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who admitted there are other Premier League clubs keen on the Juventus midfielder, which had a number of Villa fans talking on social media.

McKennie emerged as a player of interest to Villa earlier in the week, with reports suggesting both Villa and Crystal Palace had joined Spurs in the race for the 22-year-old.

Romano revealed on Thursday that Tottenham aren’t considering any swap deal and would ideally want to sign the USA international on loan.

Reports elsewhere have claimed that the Italian giants would want cash offers only for McKennie.

Villa have already made three big-money signings in Emi Buendia, Leon Bailey and Danny Ings, so McKennie could well be the fourth in a late swoop, should Villa firm up their interest.

Villa fans react

Romano’s post regarding Spurs, McKennie and other interested Premier League clubs on Thursday had these Villa supporters talking.

“Villa and Everton are looking like the other contenders, Lange do ur thing”

Credit: @Avfc_Barry

“GET IT DONE VILLA”

Credit: @ConnorFlynn719

“Gotta be us”

Credit: @Avfc_Barry

“Come on Villa”

Credit: @JackAVFC__

“Who else want him and are they negotiating? Villa please!”

Credit: @TheVillaDecree

“McKennie to villa here-we-go”

Credit: @KONSAISTHEGOAT

In other news: Aston Villa source: Talks opened for ‘brilliant’ ace to leave; Smith already given his blessing. 

According to a report by 90min, Jesse Lingard made it clear to Manchester United that he didn’t want to return to West Ham United amid a prospective late push by the Irons to sign him this summer. 

The Lowdown: Hammers return never materialised 

Lingard spent the second half of last season on loan with David Moyes’ side, notching nine goals in 16 games to help the club qualify for Europe for the first time since 2016. 

It was rumoured throughout the summer that Lingard would be brought to the London Stadium again – either on a permanent deal or a loan – but it never materialised and West Ham spent their money elsewhere on Kurt Zouma and Nikola Vlasic. 

The 28-year-old has only appeared for four minutes for Manchester United this season, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes ahead of him in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.  

The Latest: Lingard to fight for Manchester United place 

The report by 90min states that Lingard ‘communicated to joint chairman David Sullivan personally’ that his preference was to remain with Manchester United rather than try his luck with West Ham again. 

His inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for their triple header over the international break against Hungary, Andorra and Poland gives him a chance to show his worth to Solskjaer ahead of the next four months before the winter transfer window, with an inside source claiming that Lingard will reassess his situation then. 

Solskjaer has confirmed that the midfielder will be used and could play an important role for the Red Devils, but with less than 12 months on his contract at Old Trafford, the player’s options will remain open in January. 

The Verdict: Let’s hope Lingard doesn’t regret it

Lingard is Manchester United through and through. He is best friends with one of the Red Devils’ key players in Marcus Rashford and was one of their most influential players only a few years ago, being labelled as ‘unique’ by the club’s current coach Michael Carrick in 2018.

He would have been disappointed with missing out on the European Championship in the summer and maybe a move to West Ham would have put him in good stead to make England’s World Cup squad in 2022.

For now, though, the playmaker must take his chance when it comes to him at Old Trafford and hope that his decision to reject the Hammers is the right one in the long run. 

In other news, West Ham remain keen for ‘extraordinary’ player after missing out on him in the summer transfer window, find out more here.

Queens Park Rangers have been dealt a blow regarding the fitness of Sam McCallum ahead of their upcoming Championship fixture.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by West London Sport, Mark Warburton revealed that the Norwich City loanee will once again be unavailable for the visit of Birmingham City on Tuesday evening, as the left-back is yet to recover from a hamstring injury sustained in the Rs’ Carabao Cup penalty shootout victory over Everton last week.

Speaking about the current condition of the defender, the 59-year-old QPR boss said: “He won’t be ready for the game.”

Fans will be gutted

Considering just how impressive McCallum has been since completing a season-long loan switch to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in the summer transfer window, coupled with the fact that fellow QPR left-back Lee Wallace is also currently sidelined due to injury, the news of the 21-year-old’s continued absence is sure to have left fans of the club gutted.

Indeed, over his four Championship appearances for QPR so far this season, the £3.15m-rated defender has already bagged two goals, as well as taking an average of 1.5 shots and making 0.8 key passes per game.

The £5k-per-week left-back has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 0.5 clearances and winning 5.5 duels per match.

These returns have seen the man Warburton himself dubbed a “quality” talent earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.92, ranking him as the Rs’ ninth-best player in the second tier.

As such, being without the 21-year-old for the visit of Birmingham on Tuesday will undoubtedly come as a major blow to QPR’s chances of picking up a positive result against Lee Bowyer’s side, as McCallum has not only been solid at the back for the Rs but also highly influential going forwards.

In other news: Huge blow: Warburton confirms double QPR injury setback which will leave fans gutted

Rangers are reportedly planning a bid for Fenerbahce winger Bright Osayi-Samuel and if he were to join Steven Gerrard’s side at Ibrox, he could prove to be their next Ryan Kent.

What’s the word?

According to Turkish journalist Talha Arslan, Rangers are preparing a bid for the former QPR man, who has endured a less than successful stay with Fenerbahce since joining the club in January 2021.

Gerrard’s side were said to be keen on signing him from QPR earlier this year, perhaps in the hope that they could bring him to Ibrox on a free transfer when his contract with the Championship side was set to expire at the end of last season.

However, he would complete a move to the Turkish league side and has since gone on to make 19 appearances in all competitions for Fenerbahce, managing just one goal and one assist in that time.

During his time at QPR, the Nigerian winger would contribute 13 goals and 13 assists in 115 appearances, although he was superb for the Loftus Road outfit in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns, so it is easy to see why Rangers might be interested in bringing him to Ibrox.

After he starred in a win against Bristol City in 2020, opposition manager at the time Dean Holden sang his praises, saying:

“Bright was outstanding.

“I’ve watched him for a number of years now and he is a top player in this division.

“Bright was getting the ball a bit easily and he’s a very good player when he gets the ball to his feet, it was about stopping the supply to him and we did that more in the second half.”

Rangers’ next Ryan Kent?

There certainly seems to be a lot of similarities between Osayi-Samuel and Kent. Both have spent time in the lower leagues of English football and are capable of featuring on either wing.

Like Kent, Osayi-Samuel is a right-footed player who prefers to feature on the left, often using his pace to cut inside and shoot, but he also possesses the ability to go to the byeline.

The former Liverpool man endured difficult spells away from Liverpool, particularly with Bristol City and SC Freiburg, before finding his feet at Rangers and Osayi-Samuel could also reignite his career after a less than impressive time with Fenerbahce.

[freshpress-quiz id=“593776”]

Therefore, if Ross Wilson can agree on a fee for the 23-year-old this summer, he could prove to be a very good signing for Rangers in the future.

And, in other news… Rangers handed boost with “absolutely outstanding” gem, Wilson must deliver

German outfit Bayer Leverkusen have reportedly stated their interest in a possible move for Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.

What’s the story?

According to Sky Sports (as reported by the ECHO), Leverkusen have contacted the 24-year-old’s agent over a potential transfer, although several Premier League clubs have also been credited with an interest.

The report claims that Brighton and Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Burnley and West Ham United are also keen on signing Phillips this summer after he impressed last season.

He’s not good enough

After an injury crisis left Liverpool unable to call upon Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, Phillips came to the Anfield outfit’s rescue, putting in a string of solid performances.

The 6 ft 2 beast made 15 top-flight appearances for the Reds last term, helping Jurgen Klopp’s charges to a third-place finish, something which looked well out of their reach at the midway point of the campaign.

However, despite his admirable showing, serious doubts remain over Phillips’ long-term suitability for a club as ambitious as Liverpool.

He made a few costly errors during his run in the first-team, with Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville highlighting a mistake the youngster made against his old team.

“Why is a centre-back back in there? Why does he go back so deep? He is playing them onside, he is unlikely to block the shot. It’s difficult for him,” Neville said on Sky Sports Premier League (8:25pm, May 13, 2021):

“I think Alisson would have saved that. Lack of composure from Nat Phillips. A disappointing moment for him, but a great moment for United.”

With Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip all set to return to full fitness ahead of the upcoming campaign, alongside the acquisition of Ibrahima Konate, Phillips is expected to find himself well down the Liverpool pecking order.

And while he excels at the traditional aspects of defending, he evidently struggles with some of the modern demands placed upon a centre-back.

As per WhoScored, Phillips recorded 0.8 blocks per league game in 2020/21 and 4.8 clearances, the highest tallies compared to his teammates.

But it was a different story with the ball at his feet. He completed just 87.2% of his passes, made only 2.90 progressive carries per 90, and attempted a single dribble.

Several reports have indicated Liverpool are set to demand £15m for the English defender, a fee which would make a significant difference to the Anfield outfit’s relatively limited transfer budget.

Achieving such a healthy fee for a player who was plying his trade in the second-tier of German football as recently as 2019/20 would represent a good piece of business by director of football Michael Edwards and would potentially allow Klopp to bring in one of his key targets this summer.

And, in other news…Get it done: Edwards must seal Liverpool swoop for “explosive” £27m-rated “revelation” 

Newcastle United have earmarked Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley as an alternative option if they are unable to lure Joe Willock back to St James’ Park, according to Shields Gazette reporter Liam Kennedy.

Former England under-21 international Willock scored eight goals in 14 appearances after joining the Magpies on loan for the second half of last season.

The 21-year-old also became the first player to score in seven consecutive Premier League fixtures since Alan Shearer.

Willock is Newcastle boss Steve Bruce’s top target in the transfer window, with the club initially looking to agree permanent terms before exploring whether another temporary deal could be possible.

However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has insisted Willock is part of his plans and Barkley is seen as a potential loan arrival if a deal for Willock fails to materialise.

Barkley spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, but a hamstring injury restricted him to just 24 appearances.

Kennedy believes Chelsea are willing to sanction another temporary move for the £100,000-a-week 27-year-old and Newcastle could be his destination.

He told The Transfer Tavern: “I think if they don’t sign Joe Willock, you will probably see loan players coming in.

“Ross Barkley is interesting Newcastle United, but they can’t move on to players like him and risk taking up a loan place which may have to be used for Joe Willock.

“They really want Willock. He is their number one target.”

An update has emerged on VVV-Venlo striker Georgios Giakoumakis, regarding Celtic’s pursuit of the forward.

What’s the talk?

According to The Daily Record, Celtic have agreed a £2.1m (€2.5m) fee with Dutch side VVV-Venlo for the transfer of centre-forward Georgios Giakoumakis.

The report claims that the Greek striker will now discuss personal terms with the club, having travelled to Germany to speak with Werder Bremen earlier on Wednesday.

Ange will be buzzing

Ange Postecoglou will be buzzing with this news as it means that Celtic are closing in on an exciting signing. Agreeing the fee with Venlo is a huge step towards bringing him to the club, but they now need to convince him that a transfer to Scotland is more beneficial to him at this point in his career than playing in the second division in Germany with Bremen.

The Greek international scored 26 times in 30 games for Venlo in the Eredivisie, averaging a stunning WhoScored rating of 7.30. He also won an impressive four aerial battles per game and provided one key pass every other match, showing that he had more to his game than just goals.

This means that Celtic could be getting a player who is able to score goals consistently and hold the ball up to link the play throughout matches. Postecoglou would surely love to have a player with these qualities as the old adage states – goals win you games, Giakoumakis produces them like a machine.

Football Oranje founder and editor Michael Bell labeled him as ‘deadly’ and said that he would be a shrewd buy for the Hoops. He told 67HailHail:

“Giakoumakis is a presence up front who is good in the air but also has a strong right foot. He is a handful for the backline and is always full of running. Giakoumakis took a lot of shots for VVV last season and scored a varied range of goals. He is a great penalty taker and deadly from close range.

“However, this is all based on one season for VVV, who relied fully on the Greek forward and built their side around him.

“The big question mark around him is whether he can do it for a side challenging at the top of the table.

“To be honest I am surprised that he hasn’t been snapped up yet. Feyenoord were linked for a while but that seems to have gone cold. I think he would be a good signing for Celtic or Werder [Bremen].”

Therefore, the 6ft 1 goal machine could be an excellent addition to Postecoglou’s squad, if he is able to make the transition from scoring goals in the Netherlands to doing it in Scotland. For a price of £2.1m, it is worth the gamble for the Hoops.

AND in other news, 100% duels lost: Celtic disaster who made just 3 passes embarrassed Ange vs AZ…

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher after the youngster impressed throughout 2020/21.

What’s the story?

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Eagles are attempting to sign the 21-year-old this summer after agreeing a deal for fellow Blues youngster Marc Guehi.

The report claims that any deal to sign Gallagher would be on a loan basis, but his arrival would still be a significant coup for the south Londoners.

Fans will be buzzing

Patrick Vieira’s revolution at Selhurst Park has started to take shape in recent days, with former Reading midfielder Michael Olise already part of the capital club’s first team setup. Adding Gallagher would be another potentially pivotal signing, with a boost of energy, quality and youthful legs to the Palace engine room.

The England under-21 international shone during a season-long loan at West Bromwich Albion in 2020/21, scoring two goals and providing two assists in 30 Premier League appearances for the Baggies.

As per WhoScored, Gallagher also contributed plenty without the ball, averaging 2.7 tackles per league game, the highest total when compared to his teammates.

With the experienced James McCarthy departing Palace following the expiry of his contract last month, the Eagles’ engine room is currently rather threadbare, so the club’s supporters must surely be buzzing to hear that chairman Steve Parish is plotting a move for the promising Gallagher.

Vieira will need several more new additions before the new season kicks off in four weeks’ time, but adding Gallagher to Olise and Guehi would be a brilliant start to the transfer window for the new manager.

Previous Palace boss Roy Hodgson brought consistency and stability to the club during his four-year reign, but the former England manager left behind an ageing squad in desperate need of renovation.

However, Parish and Vieira appear to be doing a good job of rebuilding at Selhurst Park so far, and the potential loan acquisition of Gallagher could be one of their best signings yet.

In other news… Reliable journalist drops exciting Palace transfer update that’ll leave fans buzzing 

West Ham had hoped ‘to finish’ a deal for Red Bull Salzburg forward Patson Daka before the striker opted to join Leicester instead, according to journalist Ekrem Konur. 

The marksman caught the eye with a number of impressive performances for the Austrian club during the 2020/21 campaign as they won the domestic league title and competed in the Champions League group stage.

The 22-year-old Zambia international netted 34 goals in 42 appearances in total for Salzburg last term, and his strong performances hadn’t gone unnoticed heading into the summer transfer window.

West Ham were rumoured to be keen on reaching an agreement to land Daka’s signature as they soughtto add depth to their attacking options ahead of the 2021/22 season, but the player revealed that he has chosen to pursue a move to Leicester instead, which will come as a hugely frustrating update to the east Londoners.

The Irons finished sixth in the Premier League last term, just one place behind the Foxes, and will be eager to pick up where they left off when they take on Newcastle in their opening match of the 2021/22 season on 15 August.

Check out some of the best of the reaction from West Ham supporters to Konur’s update on Daka below…

“Wanted to hang around and see if we could pick him up on the cheap. Leicester pile in and get him.”

Credit: @WestHamRambles

“Sure he’d choose Leicester over West Ham ahahahaha we didn’t fancy it.”

Credit: @Westhamfan987

“Don’t blame him, Leicester much better run club and facilities.”

Credit: @Callumfitzer__

“So it wasn’t the board’s fault for once.”

Credit: @AmbitiousAnang

“There’s a reason why no one has snapped him up sooner and it’s probably because he’s not good enough!”

Credit: @ELTEL241

“Leicester are a bigger, more successful club than us, simple as that.”

Credit: @H4YDEN0503

“Because we are inept?”

Credit: @westhamhour

“He’s alright but I think Tammy Abraham is better.”

Credit: @geno474

In other news, plenty of West Ham fans reacted to this update on another Irons transfer target.

Paul Robinson has made an Everton transfer claim involving goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

The Lowdown: Romero leaves Manchester United

The 34-year-old is now a free agent after letting his contract run down at Manchester United.

As reported by Football Insider last month, the Goodison Park outfit have offered the Argentina international a lucrative deal in order to try to win the race for his signature.

The Latest: Romero claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson – who is now a pundit after playing for the likes of Tottenham, Leeds and Blackburn – has claimed that Romero will not want to move to the Toffees if he is to be a backup for Jordan Pickford, and would not be able to force himself into becoming first choice under Rafa Benitez.

The 41-year-old commented:

“I cannot see anyone taking the gloves off Jordan Pickford at the moment. He has been exceptional at the Euros.

“I don’t think Romero wants to be in a situation when he is number two again. He has wasted enough time on the bench and I think he will want to go and play now.

“It would be very frustrating for him if he went to a club like Everton and did not play.

“He has done his time as an understudy. His next move has to be to a club where he is the number one.

“He is a good keeper who has brilliant distribution. He has been unfortunate at United.”

The Verdict: Competition does not hurt

Even though Pickford may well be the established number one at Goodison Park, it would not hurt for the England international to have some healthy competition in between the posts.

Romero would be perfect for that, given that he is already highly experienced in English football and would perhaps offer a calmer head than the 21-year-old Joao Virginia.

The 34-year-old has also won a fair share of accolades in his long footballing career, and he could be a good character to have off the pitch as well as on it.

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Given that Romero would not cost a penny in transfer fees either, it would be a deal which the Toffees would be silly not to at least try to make.

In other news, find out what recent news has left these Everton fans fuming