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After West Brom fell desperately short in their bid for promotion, their Technical Director Luke Dowling hinted that the club could be in for a busy summer, per quotes in The Express & Star.

What’s the word?

With Albion being relegated last season they took the decision to keep the brunt of the squad that had played their part in the Premier League. That meant the likes of Kieran Gibbs, Ahmed Hegazi and Jay Rodriguez all rather surprisingly stayed at the club.

However, with another campaign in the Championship looming things could be about to change at the Hawthorns.

There will be a host of things for West Brom to address in the coming weeks and months with a new manager surely at the top of their agenda.

Making the right changes among the playing staff will also be a key task after a number of loans departed.

With that in mind, Dowling revealed to The Express & Star that there would be change, hinting at a busy summer for the club. He said:

“We had a group of players who we believe can play in the Premier League. When I joined in September, they as a group were willing to give it this one season. I’m not going to sit here and say we’ll be kicking off next season with the same squad – we won’t be.

“There will be changes but they will be changes made for the right reasons for this football club.”

Change is necessary

There is a considerable amount to do in the transfer window for West Brom after a number of their players simply failed to show they were up to the task.

Therefore, Dowling’s comments hint that there could be somewhat of an exodus in the summer.

Significant deadwood needs to be cleared whilst replacements for the loan stars who departed also need to be considered.

Chief amongst those replacements will be finding someone to make up for the goals that Dwight Gayle will leave behind.

A summer of change could be exactly what West Brom need to kick start a revival and a new era. The fact the club are considering it is refreshing but after the recruitment in January, it’s difficult to trust their judgement.

The Baggies will need to consider things thoroughly. After plan A failed in 2018/19, they now need to discover plan B. Arguably that should be finding players who are capable of producing the goods at Championship level.

We all know how bad Alfredo Morelos can be and when the red mist comes down he’s the worst player you can wish for out on the pitch. However, his goals have gone a very long way to atoning for his obvious lack of a brain, and the Gers will need to replace him properly if he leaves. With that in mind, Steven Gerrard cannot afford to sign Karim Ansarifard.

The Nottingham Forest striker has been plying his trade in the Championship since he was snapped up at The City Ground back in November as a free agent, and his numbers have been woeful. The Championship and the Scottish Premier League aren’t too far apart in terms of quality, and it’s hard to imagine that Ansarifard would be able to better his return of two goals in 12 if he did move to Ibrox.

Then there’s the fact that with both Morelos and Jermain Defoe scoring a combined 38 goals in all competitions they just do not need the Iranian forward. Should Gerrard act on the rumours from Football Insider he would be shooting this Rangers side in the foot. We’d even go as far as to say that big target-man Kyle Lafferty does a much better job than the Nottingham Forest failure.

At 29-years-old, if Ansarifard did find his way to the Gers this summer the striker has no resale value given his age and no track record to suggest that the goals would flow freely north of the border. Two goals in 12 this season is a pathetic return, and as Gerrard has been tying up some smart business for progressive young players, this link sticks out like a sore thumb amid some genuinely impressive moves.

Rangers fans, do you agree with that Ansarifard is a no-go? Comment below!

Newcastle fans were treated to yet another Rafa Benitez masterclass this season and, obviously, they’re praying the Spaniard’s journey at St James’ Park continues. It just has to, right? 

Clearly, Benitez – by now – knows how loved and adored he is by fans and the Magpies have put in a number of noticeable performances this season, optimised by some very talented players, despite the obvious love-in for a manager enjoying the kind of popularity previously reserved for the likes of Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson.

Salomon Rondon has been their talisman alongside Ayoze Perez but despite only playing nine Premier League games before getting injured, Sean Longstaff was a highlight of many fans’ seasons.

Longstaff, (who is somehow only valued at £2.2 million on Transfermarkt) emerged onto the scene when starting against Chelsea at the beginning of 2019. Indeed, that marked the start of eight games played in a row, where Newcastle fans quickly fell in love with the 21-year-old.

What a journey it was for everyone connected to the black and white cause, watching a Geordie develop into a top-level player, really connecting the fans to the club. Frankly, Newcastle needed that.  With the futures of both Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey uncertain, no matter who is in-charge of Newcastle, they must utilise the fantastic quality and potential of Sean Longstaff.

If there is one thing Mike Ashley loves to do, it’s save money and that’s exactly what using Longstaff more and more could allow them to do, in place of those who depart. In short, just don’t sell him to Manchester United, if they do come calling as the Telegraph predicted they would earlier this week.

Simply put, fans love nothing more than seeing a young talent emerging through the ranks and it’s clear to see that unlike others in the past, Sean Longstaff has the ability to go very far in the game and could be a proper modern-day hero at St James’ Park.

The club have certainly lacked them in recent times.

Do you agree Sean Longstaff has to be used a lot more next season… Let us know!

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Rangers are set to wait until later in the summer to make a move for Hearts defender John Souttar, according to website Football Insider.

What’s the story?

The outlet reckon that while Steven Gerrard and his recruitment team at Ibrox are keen on on the Tynecastle stopper, the player himself is unlikely to make an early summer move away from Edinburgh.

Clubs such as a Derby County are also keen on the defender, according to the report, so it could be a tricky few months when it comes to securing his signature.

Defence is clearly a priority for Gerrard, with reports this week that a third bid will be lodged for Oldham centre-back George Edmundson.

Urgent action

Gerrard’s problem when it comes to a potential Souttar deal is that he badly needs the right personnel in place for upcoming UEFA Europa League qualifiers, which kick off in less than two months’ time.

Check out Keith from C’mon the Hoops’ fascinating video on the origins of the Old Firm derby below…

With Joe Worrall leaving to go back to Nottingham Forest and Gareth McAuley’s contract expiring, it’s crucial that Rangers get the right business done in the defensive line as early as possible. Back-up could be needed in case of injury to Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic.

Ordinarily a player of Souttar’s calibre would be worth waiting on, but the European qualifiers are so important to Rangers’ progression at the club. The run to the group stages of the competition in 2018/19 gave the side great confidence and huge financially.

If the Hearts defender is not up for a move until later in the window, it could be time to move onto other targets.

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Leeds United fans on Twitter are split as to what the club should do with Jay-Roy Grot next season.

The Dutchman spent last season out on loan in his home country at VVV-Venlo where he has been quite impressive.

He scored six goals and created three assists for teammates in the Eredivisie during his loan spell, and that has prompted Leeds fans to wonder if he should return next season.

He didn’t reach those types of levels when he pulled on the famous white shirt of Leeds during his first season at the club where he scored only once in 20 appearances for the Yorkshire outfit.

Aged just 21 there is plenty of time for the youngster to develop as a player, and while some supporters want to see him given a chance next season others want him to go out on loan again.

Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…

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Romelu Lukaku is a bit like Marmite. There’ll be those who point to him being a proven Premier League goal-getter and Belgium’s all-time record goal-scorer, and those who proclaim his as nothing more than a flat-track bully.

Indeed, after his disappointing showing at the Emirates against Arsenal back in March, Lukaku had the paltry record of only having scored once in 17 games for Manchester United against the Premier League’s proverbial ‘big six’.

Amid reports suggesting that the Belgian, who makes £180,000-a-week on his current deal, could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer, Lukaku himself has revealed that he is a big admirer of new Inter boss Antonio Conte and described him as the “best manager in the world”.

After hearing the 26-year-old’s comments, United fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the matter, with people seemingly divided about whether he should stay or go.

Some seemed to suggest that selling him would be a “huge mistake” and urged him not to go, whilst many felt he had disrespected the club by openly praising another manager.

Indeed, certain Red Devils supporters appeared to claim that they would be relieved if Lukaku finally left the club, and bemoaned his poor first-touch as a main reason why he would never be able to cut it at United.

Check out some of the mixed reaction to Lukaku’s comments below:

Manchester City are said to be in pursuit of Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly as the club’s search for Vincent Kompany’s replacement begins, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport.

If there’s one man who’s dominated the headlines so far this summer, it’s Napoli’s £67.5million-rated defender Kalidou Koulibaly amid links with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.

So, with Vincent Kompany gone from the club after securing back-to-back titles and the domestic treble (as per Goal.com), and Nicolas Otamendi reportedly open to a move away, Guardiola is in need of another commanding centre back.

In step Koulibaly. It’s easy to see why he’s so highly rated as a player and how he has become one of the most sought after players in European football. While both mammoth in size (6 ft 5) and stature, the Senegal international is paradoxically elegant on the ball, and his style is starting to mirror that of his biggest idol, Lilian Thuram, the Rolls Royce of 90s football and a legend of the French international squad.

“He’s the player who inspired me,” Koulibaly said in 2014 (as per FourFourTwo). “He gave me a lot of joy, alongside other stars who won the World Cup in 1998. Thuram was an example on and off the pitch, and I hope to reach his level.”

Ironically, back when Koulibaly played for Belgium giants Genk, team-mate Julien Gorius claimed, “we haven’t had such a talented centre-back in our league since Vincent Kompany”. But how does the big man compare to the star he’s tipped to replace?

Well, according to WhoScored, while Kompany produced an average 0.9 tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 3.2 clearances and 0.5 blocks, Koulibaly managed 1.7 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 3.9 clearances and 0.9 blocks. His distribution, which we all know to be essential in a Guardiola side, stands up pretty well too, with two assists to his name and an average of 71.9 passes made at a success rate of 88.7% (Kompany ranked at 72.2 average passes at 93%).

This is a man who’s primed for a Guardiola tutoring masterclass; someone who can reach new levels of greatness under the Spaniard and become a model modern centre-back.

City fans, do you think you have a Kompany replacement in Koulibaly? Who would you like to sign this summer? Let us know in the comments below…

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Loads of Liverpool fans have been weighing in on the latest transfer link to Napoli centre back Kalidou Koulibaly.

Liverpool fans have seen first hand this season how good Koulibaly can be, as the Senegalese international dominated Napoli’s 1-0 win against the Reds in October.

And according to Italian publication Il Matino, via The Daily Express, the Reds have made contact with the player’s agent over a potential move.

Napoli would want a minimum of €110m (£97.79m) according to the report, leaving many Reds fans turning their noses up at a potential deal purely because of the price.

Others are too busy fantasising about a centre back pairing for the ages to worry about the price, and putting the Napoli star next to Virgil van Dijk would certainly be a sight to behold.

“The worst we’ve played all season” but “our most straightforward final since 2003” – a Liverpool fan reflects on the UCL final in the video below…

The 27 year-old won 2.2 aerial duels per game and 1.7 tackles per game in Serie A last season, scoring two goals and adding two assists, per Whoscored.

Take a look at the Twitter reactions down below, where the Anfield faithful are divided over a possible move…

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Real Madrid have placed a €50m (£44.6m) asking price on midfielder Dani Ceballos amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur, per AS.

What’s the word?

Ceballos is currently playing for Spain at the Under-21 European Championships in Italy and AS report that his situation at Real is “complex”.

Indeed, they claim that boss Zinedine Zidane would be open to selling the midfielder this summer, though Florentino Perez, the president, rates him highly.

As such, a €50m (£44.6m) asking price has been placed on the 22-year-old, with negotiations not set to start until such a bid is made.

Spurs are touted as the “best placed club” to sign him, with manager Mauricio Pochettino making him a priority addition this summer.

AS even report that they have already discussed a move with the player.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Who does Pochettino prioritise?

This one feels a little bit bizarre.

Ceballos is hardly a heavyweight midfield star with European pedigree, despite the club he plays for.

He was included in the starting XI in La Liga just 13 times in 2018/19 and is deemed as expendable by his manager.

That Spurs would potentially make him one of their top targets makes little sense when one considers the fact that they have also been heavily linked with Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele.

Ndombele is a full France international and has made 96 appearances for the Ligue 1 club; it makes more sense for the Argentine to prioritise a move for him instead of Ceballos.

At €50m, too, the price seems just a bit too rich for Spurs as they look to reinforce their squad for the first time since January 2018.

They would be better off making Ndombele their “priority”.

With Matt Clarke gone to Brighton, losing another star player would have severely crippled Portsmouth’s ambitions of a promotion bid next season, but recent developments around Jamal Lowe might just quash any speculation of another departure.

The Portsmouth winger has been at the heart of plenty of transfer talk over the summer, with Sky Sports News recently reporting that the 25-year-old attacker had handed in a transfer request as the likes of Millwall, Wigan and Nottingham Forest are all reported to be highly interested in the attacker according to the Nottingham Post, but recent comments from Kenny Jackett paint a different picture.

Speaking to the Portsmouth News, the Pompey manager said about the speculation: “Jamal Lowe hasn’t requested a transfer. There has been a lot of speculation. We turned down two bids in the summer.

“I don’t think that club are coming back now, whether there are any bids in the future I don’t know. We haven’t got any appetite and our board of directors have no appetite to sell him.”

The change in narrative in the Jamal Lowe transfer story is one that will surely please Portsmouth fans, considering his contribution last season.

Last season the winger was one of the most productive players in League One, scoring 15 goals and assisting nine as the south coast side missed out on a chance of promotion via the hands of Sunderland in the semi-final play-offs, but if Lowe is now to remain, the attacker will have another chance of taking the former Premier League side back to the Championship.

Portsmouth fans, will Lowe remain at the club this summer? Let us know!