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Aston Villa right-back Frederic Guilbert could leave on deadline day, according to Matt Maher of The Express and Star.

The Lowdown: Incomings unlikely

Villa have been fairly busy in the transfer window this summer, making three big-money signings in Emi Buendia, Leon Bailey and Danny Ings.

Ashley Young and Axel Tuanzebe have also returned to the club, however, according to Maher, barring any late twists, no further incomings are expected at Bodymoor Heath.

That doesn’t mean Villa are done with departures, with Conor Hourihane joining Sheffield United on loan on Monday.

The Latest: Guilbert to leave?

Maher shared a story on Tuesday morning, admitting Guilbert, on £40,000-a-week at Villa Park, could leave before the window shuts.

Football Insider have since reported that the 26-year-old has agreed a loan move to Strasbourg after spending the second half of the previous campaign with the Ligue 1 club.

The Verdict: A risk?

Guilbert is one of two out-and-out senior right-backs Dean Smith has at this moment in time, so parting ways on deadline day could be a risk.

New signings Young and Tuanzebe can fill in when required, but hopefully, Smith can rely on Matty Cash all season once again.

It’ll be interesting to see where that leaves Guilbert’s long-term future in the Midlands, with the French defender having two years on his Villa contract.

In other news: ‘A sad day’ – Lots of Villa fans flock to ‘dreadful’ transfer news. 

Southampton go in search of their first victory of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign as they host West Ham at St Mary’s this afternoon.

The Saints have picked up two points from their opening three league outings, losing to Everton and drawing with Manchester United and Newcastle.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side did thrash Newport County 8-0 in the Carabao Cup in between their two Premier League draws, but they are yet to taste a top-flight win to earn them three points since the campaign started.

Will Hasenhuttl make any changes to his side against West Ham? Here is our predicted XI for the match…

We are predicting that the Austrian will make three changes to his starting XI from the draw at St James’ Park, with Romain Perraud, Jan Bednarek and Nathan Redmond coming into the team.

Starting off in the heart of the defence, we are predicting Bednarek to come into the team in place of Jack Stephens after six goals conceded in three league matches. Hasenhuttl needs to do something to address the leaky backline and starting the Poland international could help. We have published an article explaining our reasoning behind this proposed switch, with the 25-year-old’s performances last season suggesting that he could have a bigger impact than Stephens.

The second change we are predicting is Perraud for Kyle Walker-Peters. The former Spurs defender had a solid game at left-back against Newcastle, but we believe that the balance of having a left-footed player at left-back will be more effective for Southampton against West Ham. It allows the build-up play to progress faster down that side, instead of Walker-Peters needing to cut back onto his right foot when he receives the ball as he is a right-back by trade.

Our final change to the XI is Redmond in for Moussa Djenepo on the left. The Mali international endured a torrid afternoon against the Magpies as he recorded a SofaScore rating of 6.1, missing a ‘big chance’ and losing seven of his 10 duels on the pitch.

He lost possession nine times from 37 touches and was tackled in three of his five dribble attempts. This shows that he had a poor performance and deserves to drop out of the side, with the £16.2m-rated Redmond coming in to have a chance to show what he can do. The wing wizard came on for Djenepo at Newcastle and created a ‘big chance’ in just 32 minutes on the pitch, offering a glimpse of the threat he can provide.

We are predicting that the rest of the team will remain the same from the draw with Steve Bruce’s side a fortnight ago.

AND in other news, “Now close”: Ralph makes claim on 21y/o maestro that’ll leave Southampton fans buzzing…

Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their interest in AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie as the club’s hierarchy searches for Paul Pogba’s potential successor.

What’s the story?

According to Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport (as relayed by Daily Mail), the Red Devils have identified the Ivory Coast international as a possible replacement for Pogba should he decide to depart next summer.

Kessie is in a similar situation to United’s World Cup winner as his current contract at San Siro is set to expire in under 12 months time, meaning he’s free to negotiate with non-Italian clubs from January.

Previous reports have claimed that the 24-year-old wants an €8m (£6.8m) yearly salary – around £132,000-a-week – but Milan are only offering €6.5m (£5.5m), meaning an imminent exit could be on the cards.

Fans will be delighted

With Pogba continuing to be linked with a move to either Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, supporters of the Old Trafford outfit will surely be delighted to learn that the club’s chiefs have a solid contingency plan in the event of his departure.

Kessie has established himself as one of Serie A’s most dominant engine room operators in recent years, playing a pivotal part in Milan’s second-place finish last season.

As per WhoScored, only Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored more than the Ivorian’s 13 league goals for the Rossoneri throughout 2020/21, whilst he also averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.2 dribbles per top-flight fixture.

The box-to-box dynamo’s ability in both defence and attack would, therefore, be invaluable to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s charges as the Norwegian tactician aims to find a balance in the middle of the park.

Although a holding midfielder appears to be the priority for the Old Trafford outfit as they plan for further midfield additions in the upcoming windows, Kessie’s arrival on English shores would be a significant coup.

It remains to be seen if football director John Murtough makes a concrete offer for the Ivorian, but many supporters will be hoping he can get this deal over the line. After all, he feels like the perfect heir to Pogba in the middle of the park.

If the Frenchman leaves, supporters won’t be pleased but this signing could help counteract an angsty feeling at Old Trafford.

And, in other news…Man Utd suffer potential blow in pursuit of “excellent” £60m gem, fans will be gutted

Former professional footballer Steve Howey was happy to see Luke O’Nien sign a new contract at the Stadium of Light.

The 26-year-old put pen-to-paper on a new three-year deal with Sunderland, which will run until the summer of 2024.

The versatile player has featured in over 140 matches for the Black Cats, scoring eleven goals and creating a further 13, and Howey has said he pleased to see him sign a new deal with the club, exclusively telling Football FanCast: “I think getting Luke O’Nien as well to sign his contract was a good one.”

League One Sunderland have made an excellent start to the League One season, winning their opening two matches against Wigan and Milton Keynes Dons and also getting through to the second round of the Carabao Cup after beating Port Vale 2-1.

The Black Cats have made five new additions to the first team this summer, with Corry Evans, Alex Pritchard, Callum Doyle, Frederick Alves and Dennis Cirkin all arriving at the Stadium of Light.

Tottenham Hotspur are offering a player plus cash deal to lure Northampton Town striker Caleb Chukwuemeka to north London [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: Spurs gear up for the 2021/22 season

Slowly preparing for their reintroduction to competitive football in 2021/22, Spurs fans up and down the country will be praying that newly appointed manager Nuno Espirito Santo is able to secure his preferred targets across the field.

Signing up first-team stars like Pierluigi Gollini and Bryan Gil will be imperative to any prospective success, but keeping a keen eye on the next generation of talent will have significant long-term benefit for the club.

Following this train of thought, the north London outfit look set to test the waters for Northampton Town’s 19 year-old gem following recent reports.

The Latest: Tottenham eye player-plus-cash deal

According to a Spurs source at Football Insider, the Lilywhites are offering a deal rising to £1 million for Chukwuemeka’s signature.

Furthermore, Tottenham are also willing to include Derby-born forward Kion Etete to seal the transfer, who is currently on the books at Under-23’s level.

Chukwuemeka has impressed scouts in his time at the Cobblers, being watched extensively by his suitors’ recruitment adviser, David Pleat.

The Verdict: Chukwuemeka would be an astute signing for Tottenham

Likely looking to acquire players with plenty of room to develop under Nuno as they enter a new era, Chukwuemeka should be an ideal target for the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy.

Bringing in young talent from the lower reaches of English football, such as Dele Alli, who has blossomed at the club, they have shown their ability to successfully enact this recruitment strategy in the past.

In 2020/21, Chukwuemeka enjoyed a breakthrough season with Northampton, registering three goal contributions in 28 fixtures; two goals and one assist [Transfermarkt].

Fleet of foot as well as technically gifted, there is certainly scope that he could develop into an established footballer in years to come.

Once labelled as a ‘great’ player by former manager Keith Curle, Spurs should look to close a deal ahead of any potential rivals in the race [Northampton Chronicle].

In other news, an ex-Tottenham man has backed his former employers to sign a lethal poacher.

Aston Villa could enter the race to sign Lazio’s Joaquin Correa, according to Il Messaggero (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Correa is capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or down the left but last season he was used as a centre forward. In 25 Serie A starts, he scored eight goals and provided three assists (via WhoScored).

Tuttosport have reported that Lazio need to raise up to €30million (£25.4million) in order to register new signings Elseid Hysaj, Felipe Anderson, Dimitrije Kamenović and Luka Romero and fund a move for Bordeaux’s Toma Basic. As such, they are willing to let Correa leave for that fee.

Legendary countryman Juan Sebastian Veron has actually urged him to remain in Serie A, where’s been ‘crushing it’ (via Goal) – high praise indeed.

Villa have already spent more than £95million on four new signings, but Jack Grealish’s move to Manchester City has put them back in the black (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

The report states that Villa Park is a possible destination for Correa, though there’s competition from Premier League rivals Everton and Leicester City.

The player’s agent is said to be hard at work to arrange a route out of the Italian capital.

The verdict

Do Villa really need Correa? Well his versatility would make him a good asset, but you could argue the funds would be better spent elsewhere.

The likes of Danny Ings, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Buendia appear to block Correa’s path into the starting line-up.

There is a potential gap on the left-hand side, but Todd Cantwell would be better suited to that role.

It might be the case that Correa’s representatives have made an approach to Villa, rather than the other way around.

In other news, fans react to Gregg Evans’ Danny Ings claim. 

Chris Turner has offered his thoughts on the future of Sheffield Wednesday loanee Bailey Peacock-Farrell. 

What’s the talk?

The former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper and manager has tipped the Northern Ireland international to join the Yorkshire club on a permanent basis next summer. He is predicting that the 24-year-old will not want to go back to Burnley if he enjoys a successful year at Hillsborough.

Turner told the Belfast Telegraph: “What I’ve already seen of him at Wednesday, he clearly has the attributes required for the modern game. He is good with his feet and his hands, and he has a presence. I think he will do very well there.

“I predict that if he has a good season and hopefully helps them to promotion then he won’t want to go back to Burnley. He will want his future to be with Wednesday, for sure.”

Splash the cash

Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri must splash the cash next summer to sign Peacock-Farrell on a permanent deal, assuming he keeps up his current form and does not encounter any major injury issues. The £18k-per-week beast has had a phenomenal start to life with the Owls and could be a terrific player for the long-term future of the club, as well as in the short-term.

The on-loan Burnley shot-stopper has kept four clean sheets in four games and has looked assured between the posts for Darren Moore’s side. He has already an exceptional SofaScore rating of 7.63, saving a penalty and averaging 2.3 saves per game. This shows that he is able to win matches with his saves by preventing the opposition from scoring any goals – even if they are from the spot – which then allows the Owls attackers to do their work without worrying about how many goals will be conceded behind them.

After an impressive display against Rotherham, Moore hailed Peacock-Farrell as a first-class goalkeeper and praised the confidence he brings to the side. The Owls boss said: “He’s a first-class goalkeeper. He’s calm, he’s confident and he gives confidence to those around him. Make no mistake, that was not a miss, it was a save. And it’s a great save too and the turning point of the game.

“It’s another clean sheet for Bailey and the group, we do a lot of work on shape and discipline with and without the ball, everyone plays their part and clean sheets are a credit to them all.”

Rotherham boss Paul Warne also lauded him as the best goalkeeper in the division, which further goes to show the impact he has already had in the third tier since joining the club.

At the age of 24, Peacock-Farrell also has the scope to develop further as a player. This is another reason why Chansiri must ensure that he can secure a permanent deal for the goalkeeper, who can be an excellent player in the here-and-now whilst also having the potential to follow Sheffield Wednesday up the divisions if they are successful on the pitch.

AND in other news, Dom Howson drops claim on £6k-p/w dud’s exit that’ll leave SWFC fans buzzing…

As Everton star Jordan Pickford dove to his left-hand side during Italy’s second penalty in the Euro 2020 final, there would have only been one thought in the Toffees goalkeeper’s mind – how can I stop this effort?

The attempt towards goal was taken by Andrea Belotti but the Goodison Park gem sprawled across his line to make a fantastic save and give England the advantage in the shootout.

The rest of the story isn’t one we want to repeat but, despite that save, it was Belotti who had the last laugh and left Pickford absolutely heartbroken.

The ‘keeper was a pillar of solidity in the shootout but one thought which would have escaped him was whether Belotti would be an Everton player in 2021/22. That’s because the Toffees were linked with a move for the Italian back in April.

He failed to score during the European Championship, but with the Toffees in need of providing some competition to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, he’d be a fine pick-up by Rafa Benitez and co.

Valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, a deal might be particularly pricy to conclude, but that should not deter them. The Torino star has long been one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, taking the interest of a host of Premier League clubs in the last few years.

Speaking in 2017 when he was first linked with a big move away, Fabio Capello said: “Belotti is one of the best strikers in Europe.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-everton-news-benitez-kamara-romero-dumfries” title= “Read the latest Everton transfer news!”]

“He knows how to move, he basically knows how to do everything. He’s fast, technically skilled and is probably better than Batistuta.”

With those qualities in mind, he’d surely be a superb addition to the Premier League. He is bullish in his approach and most importantly, knows where the back of the net is. The 27-year-old beat the goalkeeper on 13 occasions last term and has a habit of scoring double figures in a season.

His career hasn’t quite lived up to the dizzy heights expected when he bagged 26 in one campaign but he’s still a fabulous striker. That he is now in his prime should also be an attractive selling point.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who played alongside him at Torino, once raved about the Italian’s style. He said: “Andrea is similar to all the great strikers, English and not.

“It’s hard to compare him to someone else because he’s special. He’s Belotti and that’s it. He has instinct for goals, personality and he’s a team player: he’s always focused on his team and plays hard to help it.”

A hard-working, tenacious striker, he would offer plenty to Benitez’s squad next season, and the Toffees must bring him to Goodison Park.

AND in other news, Everton present offer to sign 6 ft 4 giant who’s “performed miracles”, Rafa needs him…

Frank Lampard is back in the mix to take over at Crystal Palace, according to London News Online.

The former England midfielder has been out of work since January following his sacking at Chelsea. He was a leading contender to replace Roy Hodgson back in May and was reportedly open to a Selhurst Park switch.

As we know, Palace are still on the hunt for a new manager after talks with both Nuno Espirito Santo and Lucien Favre broke down in the final stages.

It now seems as if Lampard is back in contention for the vacancy, with the 2021/22 season less than seven weeks away.

Palace fans react

@cpfc_xtra shared London News Online’s report on Twitter on Saturday afternoon and these Palace supporters all appeared to be in favour of a move for the 43-year-old, with one fan describing him as ‘the right man all along’.

“Please, I’m on my knees”Credit: @palace__dylan”This is key. Have to do whatever it takes”Credit: @BRL__18″The right man all along….”Credit: @gidleymike”Get this done.”Credit: @RICHPM14″Yessss my manager”Credit: @PrideOfSouthLDN”Best choice in my opinion”Credit: @cjbearcpfc

In other news: Palace express tentative interest in ‘Drogba-esque’ striker on £82,000 per week despite no manager, find out more here. 

Celtic’s first pre-season encounter threatened to disappoint until the fruits of Ange Postecoglou’s labour shone through.

The Hoops endured a nightmare start by conceding after three minutes but the pressing that the Australian is renowned for became greater as the game went on, eventuality prevailing 3-1.

What’s the word?

Wednesday afternoon’s win was the ideal start to Postecoglou’s tenure but you sense as though his opening few months at Parkhead will be judged on transfer activity.

The Bhoys have already welcomed Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide to the club in the last few weeks but they are keen to press on with further acquisitions.

That was the word of the new manager who in his post-match press conference, excitingly revealed that they hope to have some more announcements in the next week or so.

The 55-year-old commented: “We are working on multiple fronts. There are some pretty obvious gaps we have in the squad. They are the areas we are working really hard to find the right players.”

Postecoglou continued: “I know exactly how I want to play and the kind of players we need. So we are looking far and wide. There’s challenges with getting players into the country and doing business so early in the window.

He concluded: “The whole club is working hard and I’m hoping over the next week or so, we have some announcements.”

Ideal news

These are a set of quotes that are likely to leave the supporters at Paradise absolutely elated.

Celtic have started the transfer window in promising fashion and they are in talks to sign a number of players.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-news-doig-nketiah-mccann” title= “Read the latest Celtic transfer news!”]

Conversations have reportedly been taking place over the signing of Croatian defender Mario Vuskovic while discussions have been had over Bologna’s Aaron Hickey as well.

Those two players aren’t the only defenders in the crosshairs of Celtic as they aim to improve on a disastrous 2020/21 campaign.

A move for Swedish centre-half Carl Starfelt could be on the cards while Cameron Carter-Vickers is on their radar as well.

This summer, more than any other, Postecoglou needs to complete transfer activity quickly.

They have a number of holes to fill in the squad with Scott Brown departing and loan players heading back to their parent clubs.

The sooner they get new players in, the quicker they’ll be up to speed with the manager’s style. It’s doubly important that fresh faces arrive over the next week so that they’re ready to feature in Champions League qualifying.

At the moment, Celtic could head into that game with Midtjylland without James Forrest who is a doubt. They also have a particular shortage at right-back.

Consequently, Hoops fans should be delighted if they address those areas during the next seven days.

It will be a major boost to their hopes of being in the group stages of Europe’s premier competition next term.

AND in other news, Celtic open talks to sign “unbelievable” 13-goal gem, he may end Christie’s Hoops stay…