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West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has been speaking about midfielder Manuel Lanzini ahead of his side’s clash against Manchester City on Wednesday night, and the signs are that the Argentine star won’t be making his first start for the club since May.

What did he say?

After a long injury absence, the 26-year-old finally made his long-awaited return to action as a substitute in the 3-1 win against Fulham at the London Stadium on Friday, and no doubt Irons fans will be hoping to see their man back in the XI as soon as possible now.

Speaking prior to the perhaps daunting trip to the Etihad Stadium, Pellegrini looks to have dampened those hopes by telling whufc.com: “We must be careful with [Manu].

“He did very well in his 15 minutes and the important thing was that he was not afraid and remembering his knee, so we will see what the best way is to get minutes in every game. You must be careful when you give more minutes.”

Will he definitely not start?

While West Ham will want to finish in seventh position and as the best of the rest this season, taking a risk on a player of the calibre of Lanzini away against City would be a huge risk given he has only just returned, and his manager seems to acknowledge that.

Yes, Pep Guardiola’s men may have played 120 minutes in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and could be a little leggy just a few days later, but Pellegrini can’t risk potentially aggravating the injury given the South American ace isn’t 100% match fit.

Irons supporters will need to be more patient in their bid to see the London Stadium hero back in the side, and they now have the squad depth for that to be an acceptable thing.

Celtic have two distinct financial plans in place for whether or not they qualify for next season’s Champions League, according to football finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley.

The Lowdown: Celtic closing in on title

The Hoops are enjoying a memorable season to date, with Ange Postecoglou proving to be an inspired managerial appointment last summer despite a rocky start in Glasgow.

As the season slowly reaches its conclusion, Celtic find themselves six points clear of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership title race, as well as preparing to face their arch-rivals in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

If Postecoglou’s side are crowned champions of the league they would of course qualify for the Champions League, as they look to make their mark in Europe’s biggest club competition.

The Latest: Financial plan in place

Speaking to Football Insider, Plumley revealed that plans are in place at Celtic financially, in terms of them qualifying for the competition or not, as it could make a £17m difference:

“You have to be careful, of course. Celtic know near enough what their revenue will be each year because it’s almost guaranteed that you’re going to finish first or second.

“They sell out every week and they know what they’re working with. The differentiator is, of course, European football. If they win the league this year, they get automatic qualification, which is going to be worth £17m minimum.

“That makes a big difference, so they’ll have different models depending on different possibilities.  Model A, they make the Champions League. Model B, they don’t. That extra money makes a big difference.

“Everything is based around those distinct models and whether you can repeat the trick and qualify year on year.”

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The Verdict: Shrewd approach from Desmond

This is a really smart approach after major shareholder Dermot Desmond hinted at as much recently, ensuring the club is run in sensible fashion rather than recklessly.

The expectation should be that Celtic are in the Champions League next season, of course, but in the event that it doesn’t happen, it is only right that a contingency plan is in place.

While Postecoglou and his players deserve huge praise for their performance on the pitch this season, the manner in which the club is being run as a whole is also worthy of positive reviews.

In other news, Kieran Devlin has singled out one Celtic player for praise. Find out who it is here.

Wolves are favourites to beat Tottenham to the signing of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Wolves linked with Palhinha move

The 26-year-old is one of Sporting’s most influential players, scoring three goals in 22 Primeira Liga appearances this season and being hailed as a ‘special’ player by his manager Ruben Amorim.

Palhinha has been linked with a summer move to Wolves as Bruno Lage looks to add more to his quality to his squad, ensuring that his side continue their current trajectory.

However, the midfielder’s current deal at Sporting expires in the summer of 2026, so a big fee may be required to prise him away given the cushion of that lengthy contract.

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The Latest: Jones makes fresh Palhinha claim

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Wolves are the front-runners to snap up Palhinha ahead of fourth-placed Spurs. He claimed:

“Wolves are definitely in the hunt for people like that, and I think Tottenham were interested in Palhinha. But I would imagine that Wolves would probably have the jump on them for a player like that, to be honest.”

The Verdict: Neves replacement?

It looks increasingly likely that Ruben Neves could move on to a fresh challenge this summer, in which case it is imperative that a top-quality replacement comes in.

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Palhinha could be exactly that, possessing a similar standard of playmaking ability in the middle of the park, enjoying a 91.9% pass completion rate for Portugal at Euro 2020 last summer.

His Portuguese roots could also allow him to fit in seamlessly at Molineux and, at 26 with more than 200 club career appearances, he has a perfect mix of experience and still having many years left in him.

In other news, Tim Spiers has provided a double Wolves injury update. Read more here

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing “talented” Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos this summer.

What’s the story?

According to reports in Brazil, a number of clubs are interested in signing the youngster who currently plays for Vasco da Gama in the second tier in the country.

Wolves are one of the clubs who want the 17-year-old who hasn’t yet started for his club but has impressed on international duty.

His club are determined to agree a new contract with the player with his current deal expiring next year. As a result it’s not a surprise to see clubs circling as they may be able to get him for free.

He’s got great potential

Santos undoubtedly has great potential, he’s impressed playing for the Brazilian U-20 side and has even wore the captains armband for them.

His stats at youth level on the international stage are impressive and probably one of the reasons he’s rated highly. At u-16 level he scored two goals in six appearances from defensive midfield.

According to further reports his club value him at £25m which seems a lot for a player who is yet to make a start, but with demand high they believe they can command a higher fee.

Wolves are no stranger to risky transfers, they signed Fabio Silva in 2020 for £36m from FC Porto and he had only made 12 league appearances for them at that point.

They obviously have a lot of trust in their scouting network and with clubs such as Benfica, Everton and even FC Barcelona known admirers of Santos they must have good judgement.

However, with clubs as big as that interested it will make it even harder for Lage to persuade the player to come to Molineux. Players dream of playing for the likes of Barcelona and as a midfielder it’s likely that he would love to play under Xavi.

Ultimately it would be a risk paying a huge fee for Santos, but there’s a reason so many clubs are interested in him. With his contract running down if Wolves can persuade Vasco to sell for less, then it might be worth securing his signature.

Molineux could be rocking with a genuinely exciting teenage sensation.

IN other news: Lage must avoid big Wolves mistake over “brilliant” £75k-p/w ace, “nothing phases him” – opinion…

Wolverhampton Wanderers have once again been linked with a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney this summer.

According to a recent report by 90min (via Birmingham Live), Bruno Lage is in the market for adding a striker to his squad ahead of next season, although his side could be priced out of a move for the Englishman.

Toney has settled into the top-flight excellently after catapulting the Bees into the Premier League last term with 33 Championship goals, finding the back of the net 12 times in the current campaign for Thomas Frank’s side, who now look all but safe after their first season in the first division.

Having played in League One, the Championship and now the Premier League over the last three seasons, the 26-year-old’s rise up the English football ladder has been remarkable.

Netting 139 senior goals over the course of his career, Toney has been a kingpin for Frank’s men, despite only joining in September 2020.

The Danish manager has previously labelled the striker as “special” whilst also claiming that he has the “mindset of a lion.”

The former Newcastle youth player has quickly established himself as one of England’s most prolific forwards and is certainly destined for bigger things, with no disrespect to Brentford.

Although the Englishman would see sides that can offer European football as a preference, joining Wolves would certainly be a step up with the West Midlands club enjoying a successful first campaign under the management of Bruno Lage.

The Old Gold currently find themselves eighth in the Premier League, although they are three points behind seventh-placed West Ham with a game in hand.

Securing European football is still very realistic for Lage’s men which, if they are successful in doing so, will make them a much more attractive prospect for potential signings.

Despite their strong campaign, quality in the final third has frequently been lacking for Wolves who have scored just 33 goals in 32 matches – with only Brighton, Burnley, Watford and Norwich have scored fewer.

Therefore, adding a prolific striker will certainly be a priority for the Portuguese manager.

This season has seen the return of forward Raul Jimenez after a horrific skull fracture that could’ve easily forced the Mexican into early retirement.

However, while the 30-year-old is Wolves’ joint-top goalscorer this term, he has been well below the standard previously set prior to his injury, scoring just six goals.

Although there were extra matches with the West Midlands outfit reaching the quarter-final of the Europa League, the 2019/20 campaign saw Jimenez score a whopping 27 goals and assist a further 10 in 55 games.

Moreover, the season prior saw the Mexican find the back of the net on 17 occasions in 44 appearances.

Had Wolves’ defence not been as good as it has been this campaign, the Golden Boys would undoubtedly find themselves well out of contention for a European spot.

Therefore, adding a more consistent goalscorer over the summer is vital as Lage’s men cannot rely on solely shutting teams out regularly to progress. With a good record, plenty of potential and top-flight experience, Toney would be an excellent candidate.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Wolves dealt late injury setback ahead of Burnley, Lage will be gutted

A key boost has emerged for Rangers in their pursuit of a centre-back signing for Gio van Bronckhorst…

What’s the talk?

According to 24Sata, via the Daily Record, Gers target Danilho Doekhi has rejected a contract offer from Dinamo Zagreb in a last-gasp twist on deadline day.

It was reported last week that the player was set to make a decision between signing a pre-contract deal with the Croatian outfit or Rangers. The latest report does not state that he has now agreed to join the Scottish giants, but they now appear to be the only horse left in the race for the Vitesse beast.

Elation

This update will surely leave fans feeling elated as this news suggests that the club will be able to snap Doekhi up on a free transfer in the summer.

If the earlier report is to be believed then the defender may be keen on a move to the Gers and a late deadline day pre-contract deal could be on the cards. Although, it remains to be seen whether or not Ross Wilson will look to strike an agreement now or wait until the end of the season when he officially leaves Vitesse.

Either way, supporters will be buzzing with the prospect of him arriving at the club as he could be an excellent addition to the squad. He is enjoying a fine season with the Dutch club in the Eredivisie, with an average SofaScore rating of 6.99.

The Dutchman has won an impressive 66% of his duels, making 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game. This shows that he is strong in his individual battles and capable of regularly winning possession back for his side, which is why he could be a solid player to add to the Gers squad.

He could also be a fantastic piece of business for the future. At the age of 23, van Bronckhorst could work with him in training to help him improve over time, making him a shrewd signing in the short and long term for the Gers.

It is now down to Wilson to take advantage of this boost that he has been given by Zagreb’s offer being rejected. He must swoop in on Doekhi and close out a deal for the defender.

AND in other news, Rangers suffer key transfer D-Day “knock back” that’ll leave fans devastated…

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has claimed that he would not be surprised to see Christian Eriksen return to Tottenham Hotspur, despite interest from Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Eriksen’s contract

Having been released by Inter due to not being allowed to play in Italy with a cardioverter-defibrillator implant device, the former Spurs man was snapped up by Brentford on a short-term contract which is set to expire at the end of the season.

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Consequently, rumours have emerged linking Eriksen with a whole host of Premier League clubs. This includes the Lilywhites, following Football Insider’s report which revealed that Tottenham are keeping tabs on the Denmark international.

The Northern Echo have claimed that Newcastle have a strong interest in the signing Eriksen, and are also hopeful of striking up a deal with the Brentford midfielder.

The Latest: McLeish’s claim…

McLeish, who can be heard on BT Sport nowadays, has admitted that he would not be surprised to see Eriksen lining up in a white shirt next season due to his ‘love’ of the club.

Speaking with Football Insider, he claimed: “Spurs did lose their rhythm a little bit losing someone like Eriksen. He was a key individual in those years where they came very, very close.

“He’ll be a free agent so it wouldn’t surprise me if he went back to Spurs with his love for the club.

“Newcastle are ambitious as well. They’ve had a couple of great results since Eddie Howe brought in a couple of great players in.

“Also, he seems a very honourable guy. If he stayed at Brentford it would be an incredible gesture.”

The Verdict: Could be a good move

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte heaped praise on Eriksen after his Spurs side were held to a 0-0 draw against Brentford at the weekend. He claimed that “it’s amazing” to see the midfielder performing at the level that he is after recovering from the cardiac arrest he suffered last summer.

With the 30-year-old ranking in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals and the 98th percentile for shots and expected assists among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues (via FB Ref), it is easy to see why Tottenham would be interested in bringing the Dane back to Hotspur Way.

Therefore, if Fabio Paratici can get a Bosman deal over the line, this could prove to be a strong addition to Conte’s squad on the cheap.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Alasdair Gold leaks more info on Conte, Pochettino and PSG

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has told those close to him that he wants to quit Old Trafford over the coming months, Football Insider have reported.  

The Lowdown: Barcelona and Liverpool links

The 24-year-old has struggled this season under both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, scoring just four Premier League goals.

He was recently labelled ‘absolutely shocking’ by talkSPORT pundit Micky Gray and is thought to be ‘concerned’ over his lack of playing time.

Barcelona and Liverpool have both been linked with a move for the forward this year, with Rashford out of contract in 2023.

The Latest: Source drops update

Football Insider shared a major update regarding Rashford after being informed by a source with knowledge of his situation.

They claimed that the Englishman has told friends that he wants to quit Old Trafford and a new challenge could be the best option.

The Verdict: Big…

It looks as if Erik ten Hag could come in to replace Rangnick in the Old Trafford dugout after ‘positive talks’ last week, but it seems as if Rashford will still want out regardless.

This summer may well be the last chance for the Red Devils to receive a respectable fee for the 24-year-old’s services, so an exit and a fresh start could be best for all parties.

Plenty of change off the pitch looks set to materialise over the coming months, and Rashford leaving could be a big part of a summer shake-up at United.

In other news: ‘Agreement in place’ – Fabrizio Romano drops huge Man Utd news after Old Trafford ‘breakthrough’

Leeds United are set for a huge boost in the coming weeks with reports claiming that Raphinha is set to sign a new contract at Elland Road.

What’s the story?

Reports back in the January transfer window suggested that fellow Premier League side West Ham were keen on signing the Brazil international, but Football Insider have now claimed that there is confidence behind the scenes at Thorp Arch of the winger actually staying put for the foreseeable future.

The report added: “Leeds United are confident of securing Raphinha to a ‘huge’ new contract that will make him the club’s best-paid player. A Leeds source has told Football Insider that a deal could be signed within weeks.

“Raphinha’s current deal is due to expire in June 2024 and United are keen to hand him a pay rise to reward him for his performances over the last two seasons.

“They are increasingly confident of now doing so following a breakthrough in negotiations with the player’s camp. A new contract for Raphinha would be “huge”, the source explained, and see him catapult above club-record signing Rodrigo to become the best paid player at Elland Road.”

Fans will be buzzing

Speaking recently, former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell admitted that he couldn’t see Raphinha staying at Elland Road in the long-term.

He said: “His stock is rising all of the time. Let’s not forget, there was already some interest in him last summer. Whether you like it or not, Leeds are not where they were 20 years ago. They are not what they once were.

“If one of the big boys comes in for him, Leeds will sell. They will sell. I think it is just a matter of time. I cannot see him being a Leeds player at the beginning of next season. If he continues to perform like this he will be gone.”

However, if the Yorkshire club are intent on making progress and eventually closing the gap to the Premier League’s ‘big six’, pushing for a potential European spot too, keeping the likes of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips will be crucial to achieving that objective.

It has now become imperative for Radrizzani to put his money where his mouth is and show his star players and the fans as a whole that he wants this club to take that all-important next step.

One big statement to the club’s fans would be getting Raphinha to sign on the dotted line, and it’s exactly why this latest update is sure to have fans buzzing.

Meanwhile, Beren Cross has delivered this Kalvin Phillips update…

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left pleading for Juan Alegria to be given a chance in the first team ahead of their Old Firm clash on Wednesday night.

The Colombian striker opened the scoring in the Academy’s game against Civil Service Strollers in the Scottish Lowland League on Saturday afternoon with a ‘stunning finish’, leaving members of the Ibrox faithful flocking to the post and calling for him to get an immediate first-team call-up.

He has already shown his credentials numerous times already this season, including scoring a hat-trick back in October for Rangers B.

After supporters were particularly critical of Cedric Itten’s performance in the senior team’s 3-3 draw away at Ross County, the 19-year-old could perhaps now be given a chance to impress Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the biggest match of their campaign so far.

Rangers fans on Alegria

These Teddy Bears pleaded for Alegria to be promoted to the first team ahead of the derby against Celtic on Twitter:

“Get him in…Itten is finished”

Credit: @MackaMac

“Please please please call him up to the 1st team”

Credit: @YakuzaBoozer

“Promote Alegria and send Itten to B team please”

Credit: @Williamkh__

“Itten’s natural replacement”

Credit: @JackC1872

“Defo due a shout soon, like Lowrie he’s 100% got it”

Credit: @BoxingFootball2

“Promotion time! Get it done”

Credit: @Ganders_76

In other news, what contract update has Gers gushing here!