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Taking to Twitter, reliable reporter Roshane Thomas of The Athletic has now leaked another major West Ham United development out of Rush Green involving Vladimir Coufal.

The Lowdown: Eventful times at West Ham…

After West Ham confirmed the appointment of Rob Newman in the new head of recruitment role, a change which could have a big impact on transfers, it appears that more news has emerged out of east London, this time regarding fresh terms for Coufal.

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West Ham and GSB have been in talks over a new deal for their 2020 summer signing over these last few months, but an agreement had stalled over reported disputes regarding salary (Sky Sports).

The 29-year-old, who shone last season under David Moyes, is only one of the Czech Republic fan favourites subject to fresh terms at the London Stadium. His compatriot Tomas Soucek has also been touted with a blockbuster new deal, while the club also want to tie down star midfielder Declan Rice (Claret & Hugh).

In a major development, Thomas has now shared exactly how West Ham are getting on in tying down Coufal to a new contract.

The Latest: Coufal signs new deal…

As per The Athletic reporter, sharing the ‘great news’ on his Twitter profile, Coufal has now put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with West Ham, including the option for a further year.

In a ‘huge boost’ for Moyes, the 29-year-old has committed his long term future in east London after quickly becoming a fan favourite.

It is believed that Coufal even turns up to Rush Green on his days off and has helped change the culture at West Ham.

The Verdict: Absolutely massive…

One of the first names on Moyes’ teamsheet having started 34 league games last season, news of the right-back extending his stay is nothing short of massive for the Irons.

He finished his debut season in England as West Ham’s joint-highest tackler per game and attracted praise from club legend Mark Noble, who called him a ‘machine’ of a player.

His dynamism and application on that right-hand side is an absolute joy to behold at times and it’s arguable that he was the Premier League’s best right-back of 2020/21.

Moyes will be delighted that Coufal looks set to remain in the east end of London for a while longer.

In other news: Reliable reporter: West Ham fans should also be ‘excited’ by another big update, find out more here.

Ollie Watkins playing on the left-hand side is something Aston Villa fans may see this season following Danny Ings’ arrival from Southampton, says Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield.

Watkins was Villa’s first-choice striker last season and impressed as he led the line for Dean Smith’s side. The England international made 40 appearances in all competitions and scored 16 goals.

However, albeit a good one, Smith now has a dilemma on his hands after the acquisition of Ings. Like Watkins, Ings has proven himself to be an efficient No.9 in recent seasons, scoring 34 goals over the last two Premier League campaigns.

But with Villa mostly using a 4-2-3-1 last term, there will only be room for one centre-forward if that remains Smith’s go-to system. As a result, Hatfield would not be surprised if supporters saw Watkins deployed on the left flank from time to time.

“It’s an interesting one,” the Aston Villa journalist said to FFC. “I think that’s what a lot of fans are asking as well.

“I think you’ll see a number of systems used this season by Villa. The 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, both very similar, of course, but they were in place and they did revolve around [Jack] Grealish. 

“I still think we’ll see that 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with Watkins maybe on the left-hand side.”

It will be interesting to see what happens, but again, it is a good problem to have.

Just over two weeks on from their 1-0 win over Aston Villa which led to Dean Smith losing his job at the Midlands club, Southampton come up against the 50-year-old once again for his first game in charge of Norwich City this afternoon. 

Speaking ahead of the match at Carrow Road, Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed that defender Jack Stephens is the only player unavailable for selection as a result of the serious knee injury he sustained earlier in the campaign. 

With this in mind, here’s how we think Southampton will line up against Norwich, with two changes from the starting XI from the win over Villa 15 days ago. 

In goal, considering that he’s played in every league game so far this season, it would be safe to assume that Hasenhuttl will stick with Alex McCarthy. 

In defence, with Valentino Livramento being declared fit after dropping out of England’s under-21 squad last week through injury, we can see him starting at right-back, with Kyle Walker-Peters occupying the left-back position. 

For the centre-back pairing, we think Hasenhuttl will stick with Mohamed Salisu but bring Lyanco in for Jan Bednarek after the Brazilian impressed during the last 34 minutes of the game against Villa. On that night, he blocked two shots and made one tackle, one interception and one clearance whilst winning three of his four duels, ultimately earning himself an overall match rating of 7/10 from SofaScore.

In midfield, we can see Hasenhuttl sticking with the central duo of Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse, who has recovered from a bug which forced him out of international duty for England.

On the wings, with Nathan Redmond being available for selection after missing the Villa game as a result of a positive virus test, we think he will go straight back into the team. Stuart Armstrong, who is currently earning a wage of £50k-per-week according to Spotrac, drops to the substitutes’ bench after an ineffective display against Villa as Mohamed Elyounoussi returns to the right-hand side.

Up top, even though Armando Broja has apparently been declared fit enough to play, we can see Hasenhuttl sticking with the duo of Adam Armstrong and Che Adams to see if they can get Smith’s reign at Norwich off to a bad start and pick up another win for the Saints. 

In other news: Ralph could save Southampton millions with £1.8m-rated beast who “fancies himself”

Antonio Conte recorded his first Premier League victory in charge of Tottenham Hotspur as his side came from behind to defeat Leeds United in north London on Sunday evening.

Spurs went into the break trailing by a goal and without a shot on target but came out in the second half as a completely different outfit, with goals from two unlikely sources in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Sergio Reguilon sealing all three points to make it three games unbeaten under the Italian.

Truth be told, the visitors will return to Yorkshire feeling a little disappointed and gutted as they deserved to come away with at least a point, having racked up more possession and attempts on goal than the home side.

But Conte’s back-three held firm against the weakened Whites, with Eric Dier arguably stealing the show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In the absence of Cristian Romero, who missed the match with injury, the English colossus stepped up to be the aggressive ball-playing beast in the heart of the backline.

As per SofaScore, he recorded the most touches (76) in the Spurs team, which only goes to show that the bulk of their play came out through him in the middle of the defence. This was also reinforced by the fact that he managed more passes (53) than any other player in the side, too.

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It was even more impressive that he managed to create one big chance, with one key pass and managed three successful long balls.

Elsewhere, he defended soundly, managing a game-high seven clearances, as well as winning five of his nine duels, both in the air and on the ground, via SofaScore.

Alasdair Gold of football.london was also impressed by the 27-year-old, whom he described as the ‘quarterback’ of the team due to the lack of creativity elsewhere and also claimed that he ‘had more success with his defending though, with little getting past him.’

With Romero expected to be out for a little longer, the £92k-per-week Dier will need to keep to this standard to ensure more positive results under Conte.

So forget the goalscoring Reguilon, who won Sky Sports’ ‘Man of the Match’ award, the English powerhouse arguably stole the show in north London on Sunday.

AND in other news, Spurs could find new Christian Eriksen after January transfer boost…

According to a report by 90min, West Ham have held ‘conversations’ with Chelsea over signing attacking midfielder Ross Barkley – with manager David Moyes now personally keen if the club don’t seal a deal for Jesse Lingard.

The Lowdown: West Ham want attacking midfield man…

Claret & Hugh outlined Lingard as West Ham’s priority target for this summer window but the Manchester United player is looking more and more likely to stay at Old Trafford this summer.

This has lead to the club targeting other players as they look to bolster Moyes’ attacking midfield options, with West Bromwich Albion star Matheus Pereira also heavily linked as an alternative.

Now, 90min claim another player is on West Ham’s radar for that position.

The Latest: West Ham hold ‘conversations’ over signing Barkley…

As per the outlet, West Ham are still keen on Lingard, but have held ‘conversations’ with Chelsea over signing Barkley.

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Moyes is thought to be interested in reuniting with his former player at the London Stadium and the 27-year-old has also been told he can find a new club this summer.

Barkley spent the 2020/2021 season on loan at Aston Villa and impressed in spells, with the Hammers boss remaining a ‘big fan’.

It is also said that the former Everton ace may ‘jump at the chance’ to reunite with his ex-manager.

The Verdict: Good option?

Going by statistics, the £100,000-per-week midfielder, valued at around £18 million by Transfermarkt, actually doesn’t appear to be a bad option in the grand scheme of things.

According to WhoScored, he averaged 1.6 key passes per 90 in the final third over 18 Premier League starts for Villa last term – more than Lingard managed during his loan spell with the Hammers (WhoScored).

He also competed more dribbles in that time (1.2) than the Red Devils ace (1.1), not to mention Chelsea would apparently be ‘prepared to sanction’ a loan deal for Barkley.

The only warning sign could be his major dip in form after an impressive start to 2020/2021 under Villans boss Dean Smith, with the playmaker drawing some criticism thereafter (Birmingham Live).

Could Moyes give his former prodigy another fresh start at the London Stadium?

In other news: ‘Wow’, ‘Incredible’, ‘Please have truth in this’…West Ham fans flock to forward update, find out more here.

Wolves are still said to be favourites to land Olympiakos goalkeeper Jose Sa, following an intriguing update by Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos.

The Lowdown: A busy start to Wolves life for new manager Bruno Lage

As Wolves prepare for life under Bruno Lage in 2021/22, there has been no shortage of discussion regarding the reshaping of their first-team roster.

On the one hand, star men Adama Traore and Ruben Neves have been linked with high-profile moves away from Molineux [Sportsmole].

Conversely, the West Midlands club are known to have been plotting advances for Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale alongside Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha.

However, a new target has seemingly emerged in the form of the Olympiakos stopper.

The Latest: Wolves remain front-runners on one condition

As it stands, Wolves are set to be frontrunners despite competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid for Sa’s signature [Sport Witness], if Rui Patricio leaves.

That information has been shared by Sportime.gr reporter Chorianopoulos on Twitter, as he dropped the latest on the current situation, stating:

“According to @diarioas Jose Sa is in Atletico Madrid ‘s list (among 5 candidates). According to our sources at @sportimegreece Wolves are the favorites atm to sign Olympiacos GK if/when Rui Patricio leaves for Roma” [Sport Witness].

The Verdict: Sa would be a good replacement for Patricio

Losing current goalkeeping number one Patricio would be a huge blow to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nevertheless, his prospective replacement Sa could be another excellent asset between the sticks, should he make the move.

Ever-present for Olympiakos this term, he made 44 appearances for the Greek outfit, achieving 19 clean sheets in the process [Transfermarkt].

Never afraid of the big occasion, his shot-stopping heroics earned him the Greek Super League goalkeeper of the year title in 2020 [90Min].

He boasts an impressive resume, having won two Greek top-flight titles and a domestic cup, alongside winning the 2017-18 Liga NOS with former club Porto [Transfermarkt].

At 28-years-old, there is every chance that Sa could be a dependable figure between the sticks for Wolves for years to come. As the club step up their summer recruitment drive, the Portugal international could be a quality replacement if Patricio is lured away.

In other news, Wolves fans react to a potential signing update.

Crystal Palace target Jeremie Boga has refused to make the move to Selhurst Park, according to journalist Sebastien Denis.

And, as to be expected, a number of Palace supporters have been reacting to the news on social media.

Recent reports suggested that Palace could attempt to sign Boga after initiating contact with Sassuolo.

However, according to Denis, the left-winger has refused to make the move to London and will remain with the Serie A side.

Patrick Vieira looks set to make at least one deadline day addition, though, with Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard completing a medical ahead of a £14m move.

They don’t seem to have had that kind of progression with Boga, however, so Edouard could well be the club’s sixth and final addition of the summer window.

Palace fans react

Both @cpfc_xtra and @CPFCtransfersHQ shared Denis’ claim on Boga on Twitter.

This is what these Palace fans had to say in reply…

“See you in January…”

Credit: @PalaceScout

“You were the chosen one”

Credit: @Benteke_SZN

“Lack of ambition, we won’t forget that.”

Credit: @RednBlueRich

“jeremie who?”

Credit: @poltak_cp60

“Next. JRS time. Shame we didn’t have a cheaper and younger option lined up but if he refused”

Credit: @CHSCPFC

“He’s Not Even Good Didn’t Get The Hype Anyway”

Credit: @Djamel__1997

In other news: ‘Huh?’, ‘Odd’ – Lots of CPFC fans react as ‘interesting’ deadline day link emerges.

Manchester United have suffered a big blow in their pursuit of Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka.

What’s the story?

The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the powerful 26-year-old throughout the summer after he entered the final year of his current contract, and well-known journalist Christian Falk has provided an update on the situation.

He tweeted: “True @ManUtd was interested in Joshua Kimmich. But Kimmich decided to make a new contract with @FCBayern. Same procedure with Leon Goretzka @FCBayern #EnglischeWoche @altobelli13.”

Solskjaer will be gutted

United are believed to be in the market for a new midfielder in the current window, with Paul Pogba’s future at Old Trafford still far from secure.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was believed to be keen to secure Goretzka’s signature in order to boost his engine room options for 2020/21, although that prospect now appears to be increasingly unlikely.

The £63m-rated gem has established himself as one of the world’s best central midfielders in recent years, scoring 25 goals and providing 26 assists in 115 appearances for Die Roten.

His powerful and energetic performances have caught the eye of several onlookers since his arrival at the Allianz Arena three years ago, including new Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann, who said: “Leon is one of the best box-to-box players in Europe. He has incredible goal threat and knows when to bomb forward.”

Goretzka’s domineering displays and impressive trophy haul of three Bundesliga titles, one Champions League crown and two DFB-Pokals have seen his stock rise exponentially in recent years, and it’s little surprise that United’s hierarchy identified him as a possible replacement for Pogba.

Therefore, Solskjaer is likely to be gutted at the latest revelation regarding the German international’s future.

By bringing Goretzka to Old Trafford, the Norwegian tactician would have been signing a readymade heir in the centre of the pitch, and one who has proven himself to be a top-class operator and natural winner at the highest level.

However, if recent reports are to be believed, United will now have to focus their attention on other targets, with Goretzka set for an extended stay in Bavaria.

And, in other news…Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Man Utd transfer update that’ll have the fans buzzing 

Nottingham Forest have confirmed that James Clarridge has signed his first professional deal with the Reds.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a statement posted on the club website, in which Forest revealed that they have tied the highly-rated 17-year-old centre-back, who has been on the club’s books for 10 years, down to a professional contract.

In reaction to the deal, Clarridge said: “This is a really big step for me and I’m excited to continue my time with the club. My first professional contract is a big step for me and my family and it’s a really proud moment for us all.”

Hughton will be buzzing

With The Athletic’s Paul Taylor stating his belief that Clarridge is one of Forest’s stars of the future, the fact that the Reds have got the signing of such a promising young player over the line is sure to delight Chris Hughton.

According to Taylor, the 17-year-old is seen as a “very interesting” prospect by the Nottingham Forest academy staff.

Having regularly featured for both the club’s U18 and U23 sides this season, the centre-back has demonstrated that he is already comfortable while in possession of the ball, as well as showing that he has the attributes to develop into a leader at the club. It is also claimed by The Athletic that Clarridge is very strong physically, while also being accomplished technically.

In the same article, it is reported that a number of Premier League clubs had been beginning to take notice of the Forest youth prospect, who is currently a part of the England U17 setup.

As such, the fact that Clarridge will now be spending the next few years with Forest, at the very least, is undoubtedly fantastic news for the club, as it would very much appear as if the Garibaldis could have a real talent on their hands in the not so distant future.

In other news: Promising transfer news emerges on “unreal” 23 G/A star that’ll have NFFC fans buzzing – opinion

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has given the Glasgow Rangers’ youth players a chance at Ibrox since replacing Steven Gerrard back in November.

In his very first press conference, the Dutchman mentioned that chances would be given to players regardless of age, and so far, he has stuck by that mantra in his six months in charge.

Opportunities have fallen to youth starlets such as Alex Lowry and Charlie McCann, with the two being deployed in the earlier stages of the Scottish Cup to great effect.

Lowry came on for Ianis Hagi against Stirling Albion and made an immediate impact, scoring in front of a raucous Ibrox crowd.

Meanwhile, former Manchester United youngster McCann emerged from the bench in the next round against Annan Athletic and suitably impressed.

This has led many to push for young striker Tony Weston to be given a chance in the first team, especially considering the fact Alfredo Morelos is out for the rest of the season through injury.

Weston signed for Rangers from Blackpool in the summer of 2020 on a three-year contract and has continued to impress ever since – scoring goals aplenty for the B team – 21 in the Scottish Lowland League alone this season – and pushing towards a first-team opportunity.

Rangers youth coach Steven Smith sang his praises earlier on in the season, dubbing him “clinical” following a double against Dalbeattie Star.

These goals have given the striker the perfect platform to impress Van Bronckhorst with the final furlong of the season approaches.

And, considering his impressive goalscoring record for the B team, Rangers could well have the next 355-goal Ally McCoist in their midst, and if Weston was even half the player that Super Ally was, then the Gers have got something special on their hands.

AND in other news: Van Bronckhorst can brutally axe “shaky” Rangers dud in deal for “annoyingly brilliant” £0 machine