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West Ham United have been dealt a major blow in their bid to secure a deal to bring Gabriel Barbosa to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Anton Toloui, with the Sky Sports journalist revealing on Good Morning Transfers that, despite there being an offer on the table from West Ham, Gabigol’s agent has stated that the 25-year-old is happy in Brazil, and will only leave Flamengo for a bigger club than the Serie A side.

Speaking about the Hammers’ interest in the centre-forward, Toloui said: “You can see that a need [for a new striker] is increasing [for West Ham]. Gabriel Barbosa is the man they’ve targeted, the former Brazilian wonderkid who went to Inter [Milan] early in his career. It didn’t quite work, [he] went back to South America with Flamengo, won the Copa Libertadores and his stock is high again now.

“West Ham came in with a loan deal at the beginning of January – an 18-month loan with a view to a permanent move. Interestingly, his agent has come out over the weekend, Junior Pedroso, [and] told Globo in Brazil: ‘An offer did come in, the player is happy at Flamengo [and] he will only move back to Europe for a project that is bigger than the one he has currently at Flamengo’.”

Fans will be livid

With the signing of a new centre-forward very much being the priority for West Ham over the remainder of the January transfer window, the news that Gabigol appears to be unconvinced of a move to East London this winter is sure to have left Hammers fans livid.

Indeed, considering just how impressive the 25-year-old has been for Flamengo in recent seasons, the £23.4m-rated man would have appeared to make a fantastic addition to David Moyes’ current options in attack.

Over his 18 Serie A appearances last season, the Brazil international bagged 12 goals, provided five assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.6 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £49k-per-week hitman earn a rather astonishing seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.21, ranking him as Flamengo’s fourth-best player in the league.

The former Inter Milan forward also highly impressed over his 13 Copa Libertadores outings last term, scoring 11 goals, registering four assists and creating five big chances for his teammates – with these returns seeing Gabigol average an even more remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.57.

As such, it is clear for all to see that the signing of the 25-year-old would have been something of a coup for the Hammers, however, following Toloui’s latest update, whether Moyes will be able to convince the Brazilian of a move to the London Stadium this month appears very much up in the air at present.

In other news: “Special” 56-goal “fighter” gives West Ham transfer the green light, GSB must now act

Neil Lennon has now dropped an exciting two-word Sunderland manager claim after being linked with the vacant job.

The Lowdown: On the shortlist

As per Sky Sports, Lennon is one of four names on the managerial shortlist, alongside Neil Warnock, Grant McCann and Roy Keane, with the latter even being interviewed already following the departure of Lee Johnson.

Keane himself issued a ‘no comment’ claim when asked about his links to a return to the Stadium of Light, but Lennon has been much more open when recently asked about the vacancy.

The Latest: Lennon intrigued

Speaking on talkSPORT (14:23pm) on Friday afternoon (via Roker Report), Lennon admitted that the Black Cats job is ‘very appealing’ to him:

“It’s very appealing – big club, fantastic fanbase and in a good position in the league.”

The Verdict: Get him in!

While Keane may look like the overwhelming favourite at the moment given his interview, if there was a choice between him and Lennon, then the board should hire the latter.

Having won no fewer than ten trophies at Celtic, including a domestic treble (Transfermarkt), Lennon certainly trumps Keane in this sense, who has no silverware to his name as a manager.

He also massively trumps Keane in terms of his overall win ratio as a coach, having won 58.4% of his matches, while Keane boasts just a 39.8% win rate.

Yes, you could argue that Lennon did not have as much competition managing in Scottish football, but that does not change the ultimate winning mentality that he would bring to SAFC, which they badly need if they are to gain automatic promotion from League One up to the Championship.

In other news, find out what double boost Sunderland received before Doncaster Rovers here!

Wolves have been handed a boost regarding Joao Moutinho’s fitness, with journalist Tim Spiers claiming that the midfielder will be available for the clash with Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Moutinho misses win at Spurs

Wanderers enjoyed another memorable Premier League victory on Sunday afternoon, winning 2-0 away to Tottenham to keep their top-four hopes alive.

Raul Jimenez and Leander Dendocker scored the goals for Bruno Lage’s side as they sealed all three points even without the influential Moutinho in the middle of the park.

The Portuguese missed out on a place in the matchday squad because of a calf injury, having been superb so far this season, starting 20 league games and chipping in with two goals and one assist.

The Latest: Spiers makes positive Moutinho claim

While there might have been fears that Moutinho could miss a chunk of action, Spiers allayed any such concerns in a nine-word verdict on Twitter, claiming that the 35-year-old could face Leicester at Molineux next Sunday

The journalist issued the nine-word update of: “Moutinho not ruled out of Leicester game next weekend.”

The Verdict: Huge boost for Wolves

Moutinho’s evergreen influence has played a key role in Wolves having such a good season, with the Portuguese a class act alongside Ruben Neves. He has enjoyed an 86.7% pass completion rate in the league, along with averaging 2.2 tackles per game, putting himself in the squad’s top four players for both metrics.

For that reason, the possibility of having the 35-year-old available for a crucial clash with Leicester is a massive boost, and his vast experience is going to be huge in the race for Champions League football, when big games will arrive.

Moutinho has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Premier League legend Alan Shearer, which is no faint praise, and having him back for the visit of the Foxes next weekend would greatly help Wolves’ cause.

In other news, Wolves are reportedly favourites to sign one midfielder. Find out who it is here.

West Ham United and midfielder Tomas Soucek are reportedly progressing with talks regarding an extension of the Czech Republic international’s contract with the Hammers.

What’s the latest?

According to Football Insider, the east London outfit are confident that a deal will be reached between both parties to extend Soucek’s contract at West Ham after talks were opened last week, with the 26-year-old’s deal set to expire in 2024.

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds goalkeeper and pundit Paddy Kenny said:” It would be massive statement for West Ham to tie him down. It would be a statement of intent as well after they didn’t sign anyone in January.

“Let’s see if they get this one done because you never know with things like this.

“West Ham will want it done quickly I’m sure. It would be a boost for the whole club.”

Since joining the Hammers from Slavia Prague in July 2020, the Czech has been a revelation in the middle of the park for David Moyes’ side and therefore it’s no surprise that West Ham want to tie the midfielder down to a new deal.

After a stellar debut campaign in claret and blue last season, it was reported by The Athletic that Manchester United were already planning a swoop for the 26-year-old last summer, however, nothing serious materialised.

Although, you wouldn’t put it past United or another elite club to attempt a swoop for Soucek this summer, hence why the Hammers are keen to extend the midfielder’s deal.

West Ham must extend Soucek’s contract

With West Ham still in the hunt for Champions League football, it’s vital that Moyes has as many players fit and focused as possible, with Soucek certainly one of the Scotsman’s key assets.

The Hammers are sat in fifth and are just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United. However, games in hand won’t be doing them any favours.

United have one game in hand on the east Londoners whilst city rivals Arsenal in sixth are level on points (42) and have three games in hand, meaning that a top-four finish is currently well out of their hands.

As well as the Premier League, Moyes’ side are still in the FA Cup and Europa League, with the final months of the season set to be hectic.

The turnaround at the London Stadium since Tomas Soucek’s arrival is certainly remarkable. Just days prior to his move to the capital, the midfielder’s current employers had secured Premier League survival on the final day of the season after a turbulent campaign.

Within the space of one season, the Hammers had gone from relegation fodder to pushing for Champions League qualification, eventually settling for a sixth-place finish last season.

During that campaign, the former Slavia man didn’t miss a single minute of Premier League football, scoring ten goals in the process, making him a kingpin in Moyes’ bid to secure a European spot.

This season has been a similar story, with the 26-year-old having missed just two league games through injury. Moreover, Soucek’s significance was highlighted during his absence particularly with the Hammers losing 3-2 to struggling Leeds at home.

The Czech’s rise at the London Stadium has been meteoric and West Ham will want to ensure that the midfielder plans to stay put for the coming seasons.

In other news: Moyes can finally axe “terrible” £40k-p/w flop as West Ham plot bid for £8.5m “animal”

Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst has been handed a major injury relief at Ibrox over some of his first-team players…

What’s the latest?

Three Gers players were missing from the squad for the 1-1 draw with Dundee United in the Premiership on Sunday and are all set for swift returns.

The club Tweeted: “Jon McLaughlin misses today with a virus whilst Aaron Ramsey and Leon Balogun have minor knocks. All three players will return to the group during the week.”

Delight

Van Bronckhorst will surely be delighted by this news as he has been handed a triple boost ahead of the second-leg clash with Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League on Thursday.

Firstly, he will be pleased to have his second-choice goalkeeper back in the squad. McLaughlin being available will mean that Allan McGregor has a capable deputy in case he picks up an injury or is sent off on Thursday night, rather than the Dutch head coach potentially being forced to dip into his third-choice in a huge European clash.

He will also be buzzing to have Ramsey available due to his quality and experience. The Welshman is yet to start a Europa League or Premiership match but has proven throughout his career that he has the ability to produce at the top level.

In 371 matches for Arsenal, he provided 130 goals and assists in all competitions. He then moved on to Juventus, where he managed six goals and six assists in 70 outings for the Italian giants – playing in the Champions League for both clubs.

This shows the quality that he can potentially bring to the table and that is why van Bronckhorst will be keen to have him available on Thursday.

Finally, he will be over the moon to have Balogun back in training and in contention to face Dortmund. The Nigeria international has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.25 in the Europa League this season and only Alfredo Morelos (7.27) has averaged a higher score.

This suggests that he has been one of the club’s best players in the competition and having him back would be a huge boost to the side. He has proven that he can put in excellent performances on a regular basis in Europe and his strong defending could be key to Rangers maintaining or extending their two-goal lead in the tie to progress through to the next round.

AND in other news, Forget Helander: Rangers dud who lost 72.7% duels cost GVB the three points today…

Antonio Conte will be wanting to see his Tottenham Hotspur side build on their triumph at the weekend when they head north to face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round this evening.

It presents the final opportunity for the Italian stalwart to seal some instant silverware on his long-awaited return to England after he replaced Nuno Santo in the Spurs dugout back in November.

Indeed, the Lilywhites have suffered a trophy drought since 2008, whilst Conte picked up his last piece of glory only last season, where he led Inter Milan to their first Scudetto in over a decade.

Daniel Levy and co will be hoping he can make a similar sort of impact at Hotspur Way and a trip to the Riverside to face a Championship outfit presents the perfect opportunity to move one step closer with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

As such, it will be interesting to see what sort of side Conte will name against Boro as several of Spurs’ key stars have been ever-presence since his arrival and some could ultimately do with a rest – a place in the top four is still a target and there are tricky games on the horizon, including one against a direct rival in Manchester United.

One player who has been handed a lifeline under the 52-year-old is Harry Winks, who was once one of Mauricio Pochettino’s most trusted lieutenants in the engine room.

Under former manager Jose Mourinho and then Nuno, the England international sunk down the pecking order and as such, his involvement with Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions also dwindled.

And whilst he has looked shades of his former self with Conte at the helm, the 26-year-old maestro isn’t the sort of player that will last long-term, so it could prove to be a pretty pointless experiment to continue to play him.

“Harry has the profile of the perfect midfield player,” once claimed Pochettino (via the Evening Standard). “His characteristics are perfect. When we talk about midfielders like Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta, he’s like this type of player.”

Well, since those comments in September 2018, that just hasn’t been the case. Take this season, for instance, only two players to have started eight or more league games have averaged a worse seasonal rating than him, as per WhoScored.

Evidently a good passer of the ball (89.7% career passing accuracy), the £15.3m-rated midfielder does little else in the engine room, averaging only 0.9 tackles and 0.8 key passes per game this term, so he’s rarely having an influence at either end of the pitch.

If Rodrigo Bentancur or Oliver Skipp are fit, then he’d have no place in the starting XI anyway.

Meanwhile, this sort of encounter could be a good chance for Conte to take a look at alternatives and perhaps players who are likely to be here for the longer term, such as Alfie Devine or Harvey White, both of whom have impressed in the U23 ranks.

Therefore, the Spurs head coach must be ruthless and axe the £91k-per-week star, starting with tonight’s FA Cup clash against Boro.

AND in other news, Paratici can kickstart Spurs summer rebuild with £30m “machine”, Conte badly needs him…

Leeds United have brought in Cameron Toshack to be Jesse Marsch’s assistant at Elland Road.

What’s the story?

Writing on Twitter, Leeds Live’s Beren Cross revealed: “A big first day for Marsch to make the right first impression at Thorp Arch today. The little differences with Bielsa are already clear. Former Swansea coach Cameron Toshack spotted in the club’s behind the scenes video too.”

That news followed on from Joe Donnohue’s own post detailing Toshack’s own achievements and history, saying: “Cameron Toshack in as Jesse Marsch’s #LUFC assistant coach, it seems. UEFA Pro Licence holder, PL2 Div 2 winner with Swansea U23s, Premier League Cup winner, finalist in the same competition a year later, and has worked with Dan James previously. He comes highly-rated.”

Another exciting appointment for Leeds

Following Marsch’s own appointment as Marcelo Bielsa’s successor at Elland Road, news of Toshack’s hire is another promising step in the right direction.

Donnohue’s background information on the Welshman makes for good reading for Leeds fans, noting that he is “highly-rated” and is someone who seems to have extensive appearance with working with young, promising talent in his time with Swansea.

The news that he has also worked with Leeds’ own Dan James previously is another another added bonus for the Whites, with the winger enduring a bit of a hit-and-miss time of things since his move from Manchester United.

Surrounding Marsch with the right personnel, especially as quickly as they have done, means the American can hit the ground running at a time when the Whites are desperate for all the points they can get in the Premier League.

A clash against Leicester City in the early Saturday lunch-time kick off poses Marsch’s first test as Leeds manager, and having Toshack by his side ensures he has at least some sort of English football experience to lean on.

Meanwhile, Marsch could become an instant crowd favourite at Elland Road by unleashing this academy star…

John Percy has dropped a potentially worrying off-field update regarding Aston Villa loanee Philippe Coutinho ahead of the trip to Leeds United.

The Lowdown: Starring at Villa Park

Coutinho was Villa’s first signing under Steven Gerrard, joining from Barcelona on loan until the end of the season.

Villa have an option to make a move permanent for the Brazilian, who has starred in the Midlands since leaving the Nou Camp.

The 29-year-old has contributed to six Premier League goals in 521 minutes of action and his displays back in England have led to speculation over a permanent switch.

The Latest: Percy’s update

Percy shared a link to a story on The Telegraph on Twitter, describing a full-time move to Villa Park as ‘complicated’, despite the fact Villa’s owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens would have no problem paying the option to buy fee.

The reliable reporter revealed that Coutinho will need to take a significant cut to his £480,000-a-week salary in order to seal a permanent deal.

Villa are currently paying around £120,000-a-week to the playmaker, and due to the finances involved, another loan deal has already been discussed.

The Verdict: A worry?

As Percy claims, a permanent move to Villa appears to be a complex one, and it is a worry learning the finances involved. Villa are only paying around 25% of Coutinho’s wage, so it could be a huge ask for the player to take a 75% pay cut on a full-time basis.

Even though an option to buy is included in the loan, it doesn’t seem a straightforward transfer, so all Coutinho can do for now is continue his fine form on the pitch under Gerrard and deal with his future at the end of the campaign.

In other news: Villa now gifted another late injury boost pre-Leeds as Preece shares news on ‘outstanding’ ace. 

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Malcolm Ebiowei to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a recent report by The Sun, who claim that Leeds have now joined the race to land the Derby County winger this summer, with the 18-year-old set to become available on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract at Pride Park at the end of the current campaign.

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The report goes on to state that the likes of Tottenham Hostpur, Crystal Palace and RB Leipzig are also keeping a very close eye on the situation of the England youth international ahead of a potential swoop this summer.

The next Gelhardt

While it would appear unlikely that, should Victor Orta go on to seal a deal for Ebiowei in the coming months, the youngster would be thrown straight into the Leeds first-team next season, considering the sheer amount of potential the forward possesses, it would never the less appear wise for the Whites sporting director to do everything he can to land the 18-year-old this summer.

Indeed, over his 15 Championship appearances this term, the £140-per-week winger has highly impressed for Wayne Rooney’s side, scoring one goal, registering two assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.3 shots, making 1.1 key passes and completing a whopping 3.2 dribbles – the most of any player in the league – per game.

These returns have seen the former Arsenal and Rangers starlet average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.79, ranking him as the Rams’ tenth-best player in the second tier.

As a result of these eye-catching performances, Ebiowei has come in for a considerable amount of praise, with Derby’s first-team development coach, Justin Walker, stating of the teenager earlier this season:

“I think he has been a breath of fresh air. You can see how much the fans have warmed to him, he gets people out of their seats. He has got that little bit of X-factor, if you like, that creativity we have lacked at times in the final third.

“The only thing probably missing from his game is a goal, but I am sure that will come. He has got so much talent, and more importantly his attitude and his character.”

Furthermore, following the 18-year-old’s man of the match performance in a 1-1 draw with Coventry City back in March, Rooney also raved about the potential of the youngster, stating:

“He has got an enormous amount of ability. He’s brave; he’s not afraid to take players on, get tackled, and make mistakes. I thought he was excellent all game. He was the best player on the pitch.

“It is one of the best performances I have seen from a young player consistently for 90 minutes in a long time, and he deserves that because he’s worked so hard. His attitude is incredible, and he’s an exciting young player. I know it means a lot to him.”

As such, with Orta boasting an impressive record of cherry-picking some of the most exciting young talents in the English game – such as the signings of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood – it would very much appear the signing of Ebiowei would fall into the same bracket as the arrivals from Wigan Athletic and Arsenal, as it is evident that the Derby starlet has an incredible future.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Phil Hay reveals latest Leeds injury news, Jesse Marsch will be fuming

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could be set for an extended stay in English football, according to the latest reports…

What’s the word?

As per The Sun, the serial-winning coach has ‘agreed in principle’ a deal with the club to stay at the Etihad beyond his current contract, with his existing deal having been set to expire next summer.

There had been speculation that the 51-year-old – who replaced Manuel Pellegrini in the dugout in 2016 – could walk away when that contract comes to an end, although this latest revelation would seemingly quash such rumours, with the former Barcelona boss set to agree to a two-year extension, with the option of an extra 12 months.

The report also suggests that the £370k-per-week man committing his future to the club could also be key in ensuring the arrival of Borussia Dortmund starlet Erling Haaland this summer, with the Norwegian having been heavily linked with a switch to the Premier League powerhouse.

Rivals will be terrified

The timing of this news is intriguing in the sense that it was only a matter of days ago that title contenders Liverpool confirmed long-serving manager Jurgen Klopp had agreed to a two-year extension himself, with Guardiola seemingly keen to keep the relentless tussle between the two managerial heavyweights running beyond next season.

The two elite sides are currently going toe-to-toe at the summit of the table and could also meet in what would be an enthralling Champions League final showdown, with both sides having run out winners in their respective semi-final, first-leg ties.

To have two sides of such quality – led by two such impressive figures – battling it out both in Europe and domestically is a fantastic advert for the Premier League, with it looking likely that this intense rivalry will continue over the coming years.

As for their rivals, however, these contract extensions will have come as something of a body blow, particularly for struggling outfit Manchester United, with club legend Gary Neville previously admitting that the Red Devils may have to wait for both Klopp and Guardiola to depart before they can even contemplate ending their title drought.

In recent times, however, even the Merseysiders have struggled to keep pace with a rampant City side, with the current league leaders having claimed three of the last four league titles, notably becoming the first side to break the 1o0-point barrier during the 2017/18 campaign.

Dubbed a “genius” by Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, Guardiola has been instrumental in maintaining his side’s consistent pursuit of silverware, while he has also proven pivotal in re-shaping the English game with his tactical acumen and managerial approach, having had a “massive influence” on clubs up and down the country, according to Brighton manager Graham Potter.

Despite reports that he could well be in line for the Brazil national team job following the Qatar World Cup this winter, it looks as if the City boss is here to stay – something that will be a point of concern for the chasing pack.

In other news, Man City eyeing £45m-rated “Portuguese Mbappe”, he’s the dream Jesus replacement – opinion