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Allan Saint-Maximin continues to endear himself to the Newcastle United fanbase both on and off the pitch but Mike Ashley club could look to sell the Frenchman to give Steve Bruce a larger transfer budget, something former defender Steve Howey would not like to see.

Saint-Maximin dazzled during the second half of last season for the Magpies with his willingness to drive forward with the ball and attract three or four players to him at once something that really helped the club claw their way out of relegation trouble.

Newcastle have reportedly slapped a £70 million price tag on his head but the work he has done off the pitch recently is priceless, donating a handful of gaming consoles to a local school, which is what the fans would take hard if he left this summer.

The 24-year-old was signed as a very rough diamond from OGC Nice and if the club were to sell him this summer they could make a sizeable profit on the £16 million they paid in 2019, which would allow Bruce to improve a lot of his squad by selling just one player according to Howey, who spoke exclusively to Transfer Tavern:

“To build a better team you’ve got to keep him, unless the club are so wise and so clever with the money that they’d get from him to make the team better because if it does, then that’s fine. However, for me, I don’t want the club to sell him.”

Saint-Maximin is a crowd-pleaser, entertainer and such a talent that the Magpies could not afford to head into next season without the one player that makes everything click for Bruce’s side.

It is reported that Bruce is set to be dealing with a tight budget this summer so in one sense, selling someone for potentially £70 million could be feasible, however it would be disastrous given how the club acted when they last spend heavily in the transfer market on their current number nine.

Lautaro Martinez ‘would take Spurs to a different level’, former Lilywhites goalkeeper Paul Robinson says. 

The lowdown

Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sempre Inter) named Spurs alongside Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona as one of the main candidates to sign Inter Milan striker Martinez this summer.

They claim that the North London outfit have expressed a concrete interest in the 24-year-old in recent weeks. Inter have apparently set an asking price of between €60million (£49.7million) and €70million (£58million) for the Argentine.

Spurs, then, could break their existing transfer record – the £54million they paid to sign Tanguy Ndombele in 2019 – in order to land Martinez.

Antonio Conte worked with the forward at the San Siro between 2019 and 2021.

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The latest

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson, a regular pundit on Sky Sports who played for Tottenham between 2004 and 2008, expressed at his excitement at the prospect of landing the ‘amazing’ Martinez.

He believes it could give Antonio Conte a similar luxury to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

“I think he would take Spurs to a different level,” he said. “He’s an amazing player.”

“Spurs have a great front three but they cannot play every week. Jurgen Klopp has found that out with his front three. He has five players in rotation for those positions.

“As well as Spurs’ front three are doing at the moment they cannot play every game. It is a squad game now more than ever.”

The verdict

Conte will surely have fond memories of Martinez, whose 17 league goals helped propel Inter to the Serie A title last season – the player himself has credited Conte with changing his ‘mentality’ and helping him to ‘grow’.

Off the back of their success, Martinez finished joint-21st in the 2021 Ballon D’Or voting, alongside Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.

There’s no doubt, then, that he’s an elite forward and potentially a blockbuster addition to the Spurs squad.

Conte used a 3-5-2 shape at Inter to accommodate both Martinez and Romelu Lukaku, but doing the same at Spurs could see Heung-min Son left out. It would be a dilemma for the manager, but as Robinson notes, the level of depth would be enviable.

In other news, Dean Jones shares a left-field James Maddison development concerning THFC.

Queens Park Rangers defender Todd Kane has been charged for directing abusive and/or insulting language towards an opponent.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a statement posted on the QPR website, which relayed the news that the FA have charged Kane for directing abusive and/or insulting language regarding the nationality and/or ethnicity of an opponent towards Brentford midfielder Sergi Canos, with the 27-year-old having until May 17th to respond to the charge.

Kane must go

This latest charge is not the first time that Kane has been involved in controversy this season, as, during an interview with ‘R’ Generation back in April (via West London Sport), the defender stated his belief that he is a “better” right-back than Osman Kakay.

Since this incident, the former Chelsea man has played just 45 minutes of Championship football, coming on at half-time as a replacement for the injured Jordy de Wijs against Rotherham.

Meanwhile, Kakay has been turning in a number of impressive performances at right-back, most noticeably when earning a SofaScore match rating of 7.2 against Coventry City, receiving a 7.0 rating against Rotherham United and when picking up a 7.9 rating last time out against Stoke City.

In contrast, over his 28 Championship appearances for QPR this season, Kane has been distinctly average, with his seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.75 only being enough to rank him as the club’s 15th best performer in the second tier.

So, when considering the performances of the right-back so far this season, in addition to his disrespectful claim regarding a teammate, as well as the latest shameful incident the £7,000-per-week man now finds himself involved in, it would appear highly advisable that Mark Warburton should look to move the defender on this summer, as he appears to be a far greater hassle away from the pitch than his performances on the pitch are worth.

Indeed, following the news of his recent FA charge, fans of QPR appear to want rid of the 27-year-old, with some calling for the club to “terminate his contract” while others stated their belief that Kane should “not be anywhere near our first team.”

In other news: “No doubt” – QPR man drops claim on £8k-p/w ace amid exit links, fans could be gutted – opinion

Wolves could still make a last-gasp move for Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey this month, according to a late transfer rumour which has emerged.

The Lowdown: Ramsey leaving Juve?

The Welshman has struggled to make his mark during his time in Italy, only registering six goals and six assists since arriving from Arsenal in 2019.

Juve are thought to be keen on offloading Ramsey before the January transfer window ends, and Wolves have been linked with a move in the recent past.

Leeds have also been backed to sign him, though, as a return to England for the rest of the season potentially comes to fruition.

The Latest: Wolves tipped to make late move for Ramsey

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Wolves’ move for Ramsey could ‘resolve’ itself at the 11th hour.

It is stated that ‘Jorge Mendes takes care of it’, suggesting that the agent could get a deal over the line for the 31-year-old, who has scored 20 goals in 71 caps for Wales.

The Verdict: Strong last-gasp addition

If Wolves sign Ramsey before deadline day ends, it could prove to be a bonus during an already positive month on the pitch at Molineux, following four wins in a row in all competitions.

While the Welsh midfielder arguably isn’t at his peak anymore, he has proven Premier League pedigree – 40 goals and 51 assists – and could complement the deeper-lying pair of Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves.

With Wolves looking to finish in the European places this season, Ramsey could add a sprinkling of stardust to provide more depth and quality in key matches between now and May.

In other news, some Wolves fans are happy with an update on one player. Find out who it is here.

Aston Villa learned their opponents for the second round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, which had a number of supporters talking on social media.

Villa will make the trip to Holker Park to take on Barrow AFC, with Dean Smith’s side the final ball out of the north side of the draw.

Round Two ties will be played during the week commencing Monday, 23 August, and you’d expect Villa’s meeting with Mark Cooper’s men could be one for TV selection.

Villa have enjoyed some success in the competition in recent years, making the final during the 2019/20 campaign where they lost to Manchester City at Wembley.

The club have won the League Cup on five occasions over the years, and their quest for a sixth will begin at a stadium that has a capacity of just over 5,000.

Villa fans react

This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply to the tie with the League Two side, with one labelling it as ‘class’.

“As if”Credit: @coombes24″Gets no bigger than this”Credit: @rybbow”Barrow… brilliant”Credit: @DTTbeard”Out of all the teams available, we draw the team with 5,000 capacity and 1,000 seats. Class.”Credit: @HarryBatters”Love it”Credit: @Jtavfc2000″Class”Credit: @avfck1eran

In other news: £10m offer made: Villa first club to make bid for versatile international at the top of his game.  

Sheffield United were boosted by the news recently that Daniel Jebbison has signed a professional deal at Bramall Lane, which should hopefully keep him with the Blades for a while longer.

The 17-year-old signed his first professional deal alongside fellow academy talents Femi Seriki, Andre Brooks, Jordan Amissah and Oliver Arblaster, with Sheffield United suggesting that they have all been tied down to long-term deals.

Jebbison has burst onto the scene at Bramall Lane in recent weeks, as he was handed his senior debut as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace before earning a start for the game against Everton at Goodison Park.

The young Englishman scored the only goal of the game as Paul Heckingbottom’s side picked up an impressive win against the Toffees, and the youngster has unsurprisingly started every game since.

It had seemed as if the teenager could well be on the move this summer, with the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund all reportedly interested.

Blades fans would surely be disappointed to lose such a bright young prospect so early, so will be delighted that he has now signed a long-term deal with the Bramall Lane outfit, one which should hopefully increase the chances of him staying with the club this summer, thus allowing him to make a positive impact in the Championship next season.

There seems no reason why, after a promising few appearances in the Premier League, Jebbison can’t have an impact in the second tier next season and potentially help the Blades challenge for promotion back to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards was full of praise for the youngster recently, saying:

“I really like the look of him. He just gets in the right areas, and they needed that with all the negativity that’s gone on at the club.

“You want to bounce back straight away, and you want to go to the end of the season with positivity.

“They’re playing for pride, and he’s the shining light.”

Therefore, Blades fans will be buzzing that one of the few positives from a disappointing season has committed his long-term future to the club, as he looks to have a very bright future at Bramall Lane.

And, in other news… Winckel heading for huge mistake with “very good” SUFC academy gem

Former Scotland defender Alan Hutton believes John Lundstram could be a superb signing for Rangers, also hailing Steven Gerrard’s influence.

The Lowdown: Lundstram join Gers

The Scottish Premiership champions are looking to build on last season’s success and ensure they secure back-to-back league titles in 2021/22.

The Gers have completed the signing of Lundstram from Sheffield United, with the midfielder heading to Ibrox on a three-year deal.

The 27-year-old was a key man for the Blades in the Premier League, making 120 appearances for the club overall and excelling in the middle of the park in the 2019/20 season in particular.

The Latest: Hutton hails signing

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton was delighted with the signing, saying it is testament to Gerrard that the Gers have signed such a good player:

“I think it’s massive. Just look at his experience in the last couple of seasons.

“We know last season didn’t go to plan for him or the team in general but he’s still got that experience of playing in the Premier League. Not only that but the Championship as well.

“He’s what, 27? He is coming into his prime years if you want. I think to get someone from the Premier League to come up to Scotland is massive anyway, No matter how you look at it.

“To get someone in their prime I think is special. It just shows you the kind of manager Steven Gerrard is that he can attract these guys up north.

“I think it is a real coup for Rangers.”

The Verdict: Brilliant addition by Gerrard

Lundstram really does have the potential to be a huge signing at Ibrox, with his quality undeniable, having proved it in arguably the toughest league in the world.

He bagged five goals and assists apiece in the Premier League, also averaging an impressive 1.4 tackles and 1.3 clearances per game in 2019/20.

The Gerrard factor must surely have played a part in his decision, with the manager one of the most highly thought of players of his generation.

Lundstram could learn so much from working alongside such an iconic midfielder, making the Gers an even more formidable proposition.

In other news, a pundit is worried about one Rangers player leaving this summer. Find out who it is here.

Rangers may currently sit at the top of the league table but there is no denying that this has been an inconsistent few weeks for Steven Gerrard’s Gers side.

The Glaswegian outfit have only won one of their last three outings and have clearly struggled with Ryan Kent’s absence through injury.

He has been missing since the middle of September and their clash on Thursday evening will still come too soon for the winger.

His extended spell on the sidelines have led to selection dilemmas for Gerrard but he has another big decision to consider in midweek.

On the chalkboard

Rangers face a difficult task this evening as they face Brondby in the Europa League.

The Danish outfit travel to Scotland with the hosts still searching for their first points of the group stage campaign.

They sit at the foot of their group and face an uphill battle in their bid to reach the knock-out stages.

One problem that won’t help is the form of Alfredo Morelos of late. The Colombian has only found the net twice in eight Premiership outings this term and particularly struggled against Hearts last weekend.

Morelos lost possession 17 times and failed to hit the target with any of his seven shots during the encounter. That has taken his tally of attempts at goal to 29 this term with very little reward.

With that in mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Gerrard took the decision to axe him from the team.

That’s despite backing the forward in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. He commented:

“It’s quite obvious he’s not in his best of form but he’s still getting in the right places and his all round game is still okay. It’s only a matter of time before the goals come for Alfredo. He’s sitting on 99 so I’m sure he’ll be desperate to get to 100…”

However, if they really want to give themselves the best opportunity of picking up three points, they must unleash Kemar Roofe.

The striker has found the net on six occasions in 12 outings this term and is the club’s top scorer this term. Consequently, he could strike fear into the eyes of the Brondby defence and terrify their backline.

It’s not just the £26k-per-week earner’s talent in front of goal that stands out, though. His all-round game is eye-catching and his pace could cause the opposition all sorts of problems on Thursday.

Speaking about him last term, Gerrard said: “He’s doesn’t stop, he’s like a Duracell bunny. He’s hitting numbers that you don’t really expect from a forward player.”

Quotes from Eddie Gray back in 2019 also paint a vivid picture of why he needs to replace Morelos this evening. Speaking to LUTV, he remarked: “He’s lead the line well, but he’s got that little bit of pace. It is something we [Leeds] have not got in abundance. Real pace. I’m talking about.”

Roofe has previous in this competition too, scoring a remarkable goal from the halfway line last term. Coincidentally, that was nearly a year ago to the day as he found the net against Standard Liege on 22nd October 2020 with a simply outrageous strike.

Of course, we’re not expecting another miracle like that, but the same sort of potency and desire will be hugely important for his teammates.

AND in other news, Fresh twist emerges on key Rangers figure that’ll leave fans over the moon…

Aston Villa could sign a real upgrade on Anwar El Ghazi this summer by landing Bournemouth star Arnaut Danjuma.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that Dean Smith’s side are one of the clubs interested in signing the Cherries winger this summer, with the Midlands club already making an enquiry.

According to the print edition of The Sun, 18/07, p61, (via Football League World), the Championship club are demanding a fee in the region of £35m to part ways with the Netherlands international.

Huge upgrade on El Ghazi

Given that he predominantly plays on the left, but is also capable of playing out wide on the right and through the middle too, as per Transfermarkt, Danjuma would presumably be most in competition with El Ghazi for a place in the starting line-up.

When you compare their numbers last season, it’s the Bournemouth man who comes out on top by far. Danjuma netted an impressive 17 times in 37 games for the Cherries across all competitions, while he also managed eight assists and was one of the key reasons behind his team making it into the play-offs – in his last 13 matches of the regular Championship season, he scored nine goals and set up another five.

El Ghazi, on the other hand, managed ten goals, and was very streaky in terms of his form, blowing hot and cold at varying stages of the season – not the kind of consistency that Smith will want heading into the new Premier League campaign.

As per WhoScored, the Cherries winger also averaged more key passes, dribbles and crosses per game than El Ghazi, while he was also fouled more times per match – a real indication of the kind of influence he had in trying to lead the Bournemouth attack.

Jonathan Woodgate, Danjuma’s former boss at Bournemouth, said: “He’s an exceptional player, in a really good place at the minute, Arnie. He’s another one who I’ve always done a lot of work on him at his previous clubs, so I knew all about him coming into this role, I knew what type of player he was.

“I know last season that he didn’t really get a run in the Premier League and he maybe found it a bit difficult to get game time, but this season he’s been outstanding. I can only talk of what he’s done under my reign, but at the minute, he’s playing some exceptional football, and what else he is doing is working for the team.”

The £35,000-a-week earner clearly showed with the Cherries last season that he’s more than capable of posing a real threat going forward, and given that Villa have already snapped up another exciting Championship talent in Emi Buendia, they could strike gold again by signing Danjuma.

Meanwhile, Villa must unleash this starlet in the Premier League…

Although Rangers would’ve preferred a better start to the season, with their Premiership unbeaten run over and an embarrassing defeat to Malmo ending their Champions League hopes, James Tavernier has been superb at times for Steven Gerrard’s side.

The captain led the way last season as they stormed to the Premiership title, contributing a remarkable 12 goals and 11 assists from right-back in the league for the Bears.

Despite the team’s dip in form, the former Wigan Athletic man looks set to be a star performer for Gerrard’s side once again this season, with three assists in three league appearances for the Gers so far this term.

The 29-year-old has been one of the key attacking threats in Rangers’ side in recent weeks, with only Alfredo Morelos (3.7) and Ryan Kent (2.8) averaging more than Tavernier’s 2.7 shots per game in the 2021/22 Premiership.

He also looks to be the chief creator, as no Rangers player comes close to the 4.3 key passes he has averaged per game so far this season, with fellow full-back Borna Barisic in joint-second with just 1.5 key passes per game.

This emphasises just how important the 29-year-old is in this Rangers team and he will surely be key if the Gers are to retain their title this season, although they are currently playing catch-up to Hibernian and Hearts, who have both enjoyed unbeaten starts to the 2021/22 campaign.

Tavernier is also the highest-rated player in Rangers’ side so far this season according to WhoScored, with his 7.69 average rating in the Premiership comfortably the best of any player in Gerrard’s side. That matches his rating from 2020/21, when he was also the squad’s best performer.

The 41-year-old was full of praise for his captain last season, saying: “I think Tav is someone who, when he goes through the gears, is unstoppable, and we have seen that, or flashes of that so far this season. I think he is really close to being at his best.”

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Judging from these statistics and his performances this season, it is easy to see why Gerrard dubbed him “unstoppable”, and he will be hoping to maintain this strong early-season form throughout the whole campaign.

In other news… Rangers missed out on 36 G/A beast who Gerrard would’ve loved