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Everton are interested in SL Benfica and Switzerland striker Haris Seferovic, according to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Seferovic enjoyed a fine 2020/21 season, directly contributing to 29 Liga NOS goals (22 goals, seven assists) in only 24 starts.

He finished as the second top-scorer in the division behind Sporting Lisbon’s Pedro Goncalves (23 goals).

Seferovic has gone on to find the net three times at the European Championships, netting a double as the Swiss stunned world champions France in the Round of 16.

Everton may be about to bolster their striking ranks this summer after 29 year-old Josh King left the club at the end of his short-term deal.

The latest

The report states that Everton have ‘collected references’ about Seferovic and may yet make a formal offer for the 29-year-old.

But they could face Premier League competition for his signature from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

Seferovic, who has three years left on his Benfica contract, will apparently cost in the region of €25million (£21.4million).

The verdict

Seferovic struggled initially at the European Championships before coming alive and underlining his ability to the watching world. He found the kind of form he’d been displaying domestically, and it was pretty devastating.

Everton do need a player who can provide cover and competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the summer transfer window, and perhaps a seasoned goalscorer is the way to go.

The problem is the price tag. Everton probably shouldn’t be splashing that kind of money on someone who’ll be playing second fiddle. There are more sensible deals out there for younger players with more room to grow.

In other news, the manager of this Everton target expects him to leave.

Shields Gazette journalist Liam Kennedy has predicted that Newcastle United will loan out Matty Longstaff next season, while colleague Jordan Cronin admits he ‘just can’t see’ the midfielder having a future under Steve Bruce.

The lowdown

The younger Longstaff brother was limited to just 377 Premier League minutes across five outings in 2020/21. His final league appearance of the season came on 18 January in the 3-0 defeat away to Arsenal.

The 21-year-old, who is valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, is about to enter the last year of his contract at St James’ Park.

The latest

In a fan Q&A for the Shields Gazette, Kennedy stressed about Longstaff’s future: “This is a tough one. If I had to predict, I’d say a loan deal for next season and a possible short contract extension. But it really is impossible to know.”

However, Cronin thinks it will be bad news for the 21-year-old if Joe Willock joins permanently or a similar player is recruited. His prospects are said to be looking somewhat bleak while Bruce is in charge and he added that “things seem very complicated” after his minimal involvement in 2020/21.

The verdict

It was worrying to see Longstaff feature so little in recent months. He actually played fewer games than he did in 2019/20 when he first broke into the side.

Bruce seems to rate Jonjo Shelvey more highly despite his underwhelming performances and strong fan criticism, and so you certainly couldn’t blame Longstaff for seeking a way out.

As Cronin has said, a return to Tyneside for Willock would probably keep the 21-year-old well down the pecking order at St James’ Park, which may lead to Kennedy’s prediction of a possible loan move being fulfilled.

In other news, Mark Douglas has offered the latest on another midfielder who struggled to get a look-in. 

Speaking to Football Insider, former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie has made a major claim involving reported club target Junior Firpo.

The Lowdown: West Ham eyeing Firpo…

Over these last few months, consistent reports have emerged linking West Ham with a move for Barcelona defender Firpo.

Firstly, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claimed back in April that the Hammers and Inter Milan had looked at the 24-year-old.

Going by far more recent claims, Firpo certainly seems like a player firmly on the West Ham radar.

ExWHUemployee believes that manager David Moyes ‘definitely’ has an interest in the Spaniard while Mundo Deportivo came out just two days ago and said West Ham are ‘one of the best positioned’ to sign him.

The Latest: McAvennie drops major claim involving Firpo…

Speaking to Football Insider, ex-Irons front man McAvennie has shared what he knows on the Firpo situation from his contacts.

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Indeed, after speaking with the player’s agent, he believes Firpo could leave Barcelona for as little as £15 million.

“I know the boy, he’s talented,” McAvennie explained.

“I spoke to his agent a couple of days ago. Barcelona are trying to offload players, they have no money. I’m hearing it will take £15million.

“He’s a good talent. I don’t see why he couldn’t come to West Ham.

“It’s a gamble coming from Europe, they need to adapt. If you’re even in Barcelona’s third team then you’re clearly good.

“He’s a talent and West Ham need talent. If he leaves Barca, he’ll have a point to prove and that’s what you want.”

The Verdict: Bargain?

At £15m, West Ham could land a fairly astute acquisition and really bolster their full-back options.

However, he is also a risky swoop, especially given his severe lack of playing time at the Camp Nou since his move there from Real Betis in the summer of 2019.

He started just three La Liga matches for the Catalans over 2020/2021 but his form for Betis over 2018/2019 suggests he could still be a promising player.

Firpo averaged an impressive 1.3 completed dribbles per 90 in the Spanish top flight that season, even more than 20/21 loan sensation Jesse Lingard managed for West Ham during his spell (WhoScored).

Moyes may want to store that £15m aside to either seal a permanent deal for Lingard or sign a new striker, but swooping for Firpo still shouldn’t be ruled out going by recent developments.

In other news: West Ham fans overjoyed by this ‘excellent news’…find out more here.

‘The reality’ is that Freddie Woodman will leave Newcastle on loan once again next season, according to Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder.

The lowdown

The goalkeeper spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Swansea City, where he kept a league-high 21 clean sheets for Steve Cooper’s promotion chasers. The Swans reached the Championship play-off final, but it was heartbreak for Woodman and his team-mates as they were beaten 2-0 by Brentford at Wembley.

Nonetheless, Woodman was included in The Athletic’s Championship team of the season in recognition of his starring role. Despite his ‘hugely impressive’ performances, though, the door to the Newcastle first team is seemingly shut given that the incumbent Martin Dubravka signed a six-year contract as recently as the 2019/20 season.

The latest

Ryder says that both Swansea and the player himself are ‘keen’ on a return next season, although Woodman – who is ‘attracting so much attention’ – may have his head turned.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton and Scottish giants Celtic are now said to be ‘in the mix’ for the 24-year-old. Ryder noted that the Hoops first expressed an interest in Woodman back in 2018.

His colleague Mark Douglas had urged the club to sanction a sale for a fee of £15m, provided the deal included ‘smart clauses’ such as first refusal on future transfers or a ‘hefty sell-on’. However, it seems a seventh temporary departure (after earlier spells at Hartlepool, Crawley, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen) is in the offing instead.

The verdict

The likelihood of another loan for Woodman probably speaks to the weakness of the market right now, and it underlines the difficulties Newcastle may have in raising funds to boost a transfer budget which could be as meagre as £12m.

Still, a successful stint at Southampton or Celtic should only boost his price tag in time for next summer, while he remains fairly young and therefore could still attract a sizeable fee.

In other news, Newcastle are in pole position to land this forward.

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman must seal a deal to sign St Johnstone defender Scott Tanser amid interest from League One rivals.

What’s the talk?

According to the Sunderland Echo, St Johnstone defender left-back Tanser is one of the players on the club’s radar heading into the summer transfer window. The report claims that Sunderland are eager to add to their depth at left-back and that they have already offered a new contract to Denver Hume, who is the only senior left-back at the club.

Three of their League One rivals are also interested in the fullback. According to Football Insider, Doncaster, Sheffield Wednesday and Shrewsbury are all keen on a deal for Tanser. He is out of contract at the end of the month and appears set to depart from the Scottish club on a free transfer, allowing Sunderland and the other interested parties to swoop in without negotiating with St Johnstone.

Callum Davidson called Tanser “tremendous” and the St Johnstone boss lauded the defender’s attitude earlier this season. He told FourFourTwo:

“Scott Tanser, who I thought was tremendous, again could be disappointed (to be left out at Hampden) but what an attitude he showed.”

Sunderland fans would love it

Sunderland fans would love it if the club are able to bring Tanser in this summer. Speakman has already decided to release Callum McFadzean at the end of the month, with the left-back having not been offered a contract extension at the Stadium of Light. McFadzean started 20 of Sunderland’s games in League One at left-back and his exit opens the door for a fullback to come in and take his place.

Tanser would be exactly that; a quality recruit. The 27-year-old enjoyed an impressive season with St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership and proved his talent as a defender. He averaged an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.08 in 17 starts as a left wing-back for St Johnstone, whilst McFadzean averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.61 in 20 starts as a left-back.

This suggests that Tanser would be a sizeable upgrade on McFadzean and Speakman could be playing a blinder by allowing the latter to leave on a free and replacing him with the former for nothing.

The £800-per-week beast could come in and compete with Hume for a starting spot, should Hume decide to accept the club’s attempts to pin him down to a new deal. Hume averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.03 in 13 starts as a left wing-back for Sunderland, which shows that he is considerably closer to Tanser in terms of quality than McFadzean. This could allow Hume and Tanser to battle it out for the jersey and potentially push each other on to improve, creating competition for places in Lee Johnson’s squad.

And in other news; Sunderland are lining up a deal for this ace…

Chelsea could try to bring Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah back to Stamford Bridge this summer in a sensational swoop, if Bild journalist Christian Falk is to be believed.

Falk reports that Salah ‘is on the shortlist’ of Thomas Tuchel and Champions League finalists Chelsea ahead of the transfer window.

Chelsea paid £14.85million to sign Salah from FC Basel in January 2014, but after just 19 appearances and two goals, he was sold to AS Roma for a £1million loss.

Salah has apparently been identified as a possible target, alongside Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland another former Blue, Romelu Lukaku.

Could Chelsea really be after Salah?

Chelsea may feel as if they need more firepower; £45million signing Timo Werner is their top scorer but he’s only managed 12 goals in all competitions.

Salah is about to enter the final two years of his contract and has said his future is in Liverpool’s hands.

The Londoners have lured a Reds superstar to Stamford Bridge before let’s not forget – in 2011, they paid a then-record £50million to sign Fernando Torres.

Liverpool fans react to Falk’s Salah revelation

“They have the funds”

Credit: @Bishop_Yayo_

“Is this 2011 again?”

Credit: @essinem7

“FSG would drop him off”

Credit: @ZakLFC7

“Not good news, but I think Salah knows from previous experience that he’d be better off elsewhere, even without Mourinho at the club”

Credit: @LFCdiscord

“Whatttt!!”

Credit: @SharafJuhayr

“If FSG is truly sorry, they will do everything they can to keep Mo. We’re in the mid-table without him”

Credit: @Dionasauruss

“Have I gone back in time?”

Credit: @lfcxcathal

In other news, Liverpool have joined the race to sign this 26-year-old Serie A star.

David Moyes is close to agreeing on a new long-term contract at West Ham United…

What’s the word?

That’s according to the Evening Standard’s Jack Rosser, who claims the 58-year-old has been in talks with co-owner David Sullivan over something more permanent following the East Londoners’ phenomenal rise under his tenure.

The Scotsman does have a one-year extension which can be triggeres as part of the deal he signed upon his return to the London Stadium in December 2019 but that is due to expire at the end of the current campaign.

Moyes was let go during his first stint and was not offered the chance to build on his work at the club, so this would seem like a fresh and positive approach from the Irons’ hierarchy this time around.

Huge boost

The Hammers have enjoyed a remarkable change in fortunes under Moyes’ leadership, going from firm relegation candidates to being one game away from qualifying for Europe.

A point to Southampton on Sunday will seal a place in the Europa League next season, over the likes of Spurs, Everton and Arsenal, which is certainly some feat considering they survived with one game to go last year.

Moyes deserves a lot of credit for returning to the club that ditched him and then subsequently guiding them to what will be their best-ever finish since the 1998/99 campaign.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-and-the-latest-gossip” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and more!”]

His recruitment in the transfer window, signing unknown names like Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal, as well as keeping hold of Declan Rice and bringing in Jesse Lingard on loan at just the right time, has played a major role.

Whilst he’s had to deal with a fair share of injuries too.

Even then, that would be an understatement as it’s been quite the nightmare – at one stage, the Hammers boss was without five or six first-team starters and that still hasn’t derailed their season, surprisingly.

The fact that Moyes and Sullivan have been talking at Rush Green over fresh terms is hugely encouraging and shows that they have learned from their previous mistakes.

It’s time for the club to build on this phenomenal run and prove that they aren’t merely one-season wonders, and that’ll be done by putting more faith into the former Manchester United and Everton boss.

This development should serve as a major boost across the club, and as a result, fans will be absolutely buzzing.

AND in other news, Forget Antonio: “Immense” West Ham monster who made 6 tackles stole the show for Moyes…

A number of Aston Villa supporters have been heaping praise on teenage midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka following his impressive FA Youth Cup display on Tuesday evening.

The 17-year-old, who signed a professional deal at Villa Park back in October, scored three times in the club’s 6-1 win over Newcastle United.

Chukwuemeka netted his second and third goals in the space of three minutes in the second half to ensure Villa would advance to the semi-finals, where they will face local rivals West Brom.

The Englishman, capable of playing as a defensive, central or attacking midfielder, was the star of the show at St James’ Park, and his performance caught the eyes of hundreds of Villa supporters on social media.

Villa fans react

The club kept fans up to date during the quarter-final on their official Twitter page.

As to be expected, the news of Chukwuemeka’s hat-trick had a number of supporters talking, with one labelling the youngster’s potential as ‘insane’.

“I’ve seen enough play him on Saturday”

Credit: @catrinedwards18

“Silly”

Credit: @AVFCharvey04

“This lad is gonna be insane”

Credit: @TomLiversage

“Send Barkley back to Chelsea and start this man, baller”

Credit: @PearsallHarry

“It’s a joke. Please get him in the team”

Credit: @_Whittall

“Omg man this guy is unstoppable.”

Credit: @LukeKing_

In other news: Aston Villa outcast a shock target for European giants, find out more here. 

West Ham United are in line to receive a huge boost ahead of Saturday’s match against Brighton and Hove Albion…

What’s the latest?

According to the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee, Irons midfielder Declan Rice is set to finally return from injury after missing their last six Premier League games, which included disappointing defeats to Chelsea, Newcastle and, most recently, Everton on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking on ‘The West Ham Way’ podcast, he revealed: “I can tell you that Rice will be back for the Brighton game. I think he’ll come straight into the starting XI. He should be back for the Brighton game. Noble will be available for the Brighton game as well, so that gives us a bit more options there.”

Big boost

This will come as massive encouragement to David Moyes and the rest of the Hammers squad, as the England international has been an integral part of their success this season. There has been a huge void to fill in the heart of midfield and the 22-year-old watched on yet again as the Toffees carved open West Ham’s engine room on their way to a narrow 1-0 victory on Sunday.

The east London outfit are still firmly in the race for a spot in Europe next season but their chances of making the Champions League have been severely hampered following three defeats in their last four games, with Rice being sorely missed.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-latest-west-ham-transfer-rumours-gossip-team-injury-news-gsb-update” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and more!”]

They now need Manchester United to do them a favour and win against both Leicester City and Liverpool this week, as a win over the Seagulls would see them sit two points behind fourth with only two games left to play.

The Irons are currently in fifth place but could be leapfrogged by the 2019/20 champions if they win at Old Trafford on Thursday, whilst Everton in eighth are now only three points behind, so it’s certainly getting very tight now.

Having Rice back will give the side a massive boost, for both morale and performances on the pitch.

He is among their top five performers on the season with an average WhoScored rating of 7.02, whilst he leads the way for average passes (47.4) and interceptions (two) per game and isn’t too far behind the top spot for tackles (1.9) either.

As explained by Kevin Campbell to Football Insider, Rice is “a phenomenal holding midfielder” and has been a “revelation in midfield” this season.

Moyes and everyone at the London Stadium will be buzzing to have him available on Saturday night in what is a must-win clash for the Hammers.

AND in other news, Get it done: Moyes could seal huge West Ham upgrade by signing “fearless” £26m “beast”…

Many Everton fans have been lauding the news from football.london that Alisher Usmanov could invest in the Goodison Park club.

The Merseysiders have recently been told that they can proceed with plans for a proposed new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which could provide an opportunity for the Russian billionaire.

Usmanov revealed to the Financial Times last year that he was ready to increase his involvement with Carlo Ancelotti’s team, and further hinted at potentially striking a deal for the naming rights at the new stadium.

With the plans been given the green light, the 67-year-old tycoon may well get his wish, and that may not be the last of the money that he could pump into the Toffees.

The news has got several Blues excited over his potential involvement with the club, as they could stand to benefit from an embarrassment of riches.

Everton fans on Usmanov news

These Everton supporters lauded the news of Usmanov’s potential investment on Twitter:

“Welcome to the people’s club big dog.”

Credit: @Gazefc1979

“Oh go on then @chriscally1977 @wazzaevo @birdy9680 @Tr1ckyTrev88″Credit: @BH_Design”Ohhhhh hello”Credit: @jfenwickeverton”Up the Billionaire Blues”Credit: @JonathanDunn12″And with the changes coming in the FFP things are looking good for us”Credit: @mattiemahon”Inject it £18.5 billion mate Mbappe is ours”Credit: @Spinkseey9In other news, many Everton fans were delighted with this transfer update.