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A number of West Brom fans are hugely excited after the Baggies were linked with a summer move for Barnsley captain Alex Mowatt.

Valerien Ismael has taken charge at the Hawthorns, arriving from Barnsley after guiding the Tykes into the Championship playoffs in 2020/21.

He takes over from Sam Allardyce after West Brom’s relegation from the Premier League, with a rich brand of attacking, high-energy football expected.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359326”]

Attention now swiftly turns to new signings, as Ismael looks to perfect his transfer plans, and he has been tipped to bring his former captain Mowatt to his new club.

That’s according to The Athletic‘s Steve Madeley, who claims that the 26-year-old is being targeted as Ismael’s first signing, having started all 46 of Barnsley’s Championship matches last season.

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West Brom fans love Mowatt rumour

These West Brom fans took to Twitter to show their excitement at the Baggies’ interest in Mowatt, tipping him to be a great signing.

“Quality”

Credit: @JamesDuffy97

“Yes please”

Credit: @JoshBland13

“We love to see it”

Credit: @OwenBurborough1

“Centre midfield an area we are chronically lacking”

Credit: @gavin_poulton

“I’m loving this already”

Credit: @wbaliam

“What a signing if we could pull this off”

Credit: @ftbl_joey

In other news, West Brom are reportedly interested in signing a Premier League player on loan this summer. Find out who it is here.

Barry Fry insists West Ham United need to sell Felipe Anderson this summer.

The Hammers winger endured a frustrating season as he went on loan to Portuguese club FC Porto but roundly failed to make any sort of impact.

He made just 10 appearances for the club and he had just the one start in the Portuguese league.

He did not manage to complete the 90 minutes either, as he played a maximum of 57 minutes against Belenenses in February.

Anderson has subsequently, and unsurprisingly, returned to east London and it remains to be seen if he will be able to find himself a new club this summer.

Lazio are said to be interested in a potential reunion with Anderson, having seen him become a star during his time in Serie A prior to his move to east London, making 177 appearances and scoring 34 goals.

And Fry believes that he has simply failed to adjust to life in England, and should be moved on by the club if they can receive a decent fee.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “I think he’s showed in glimpses he’s got wonderful skill but he certainly hasn’t adapted to the Premier League and if they can get the majority of their money back he would be one, if I was in charge of West Ham, I’d be letting him go.”

Anderson arrived for a fee of £36m in 2018.

According to Calciomercato, Everton are interested in signing Juventus defender Mattia De Sciglio this summer.

The Lowdown: Toffees struggling

As we approach the 2020/21 campaign, the Toffees remain in a difficult situation as they continue their search for a new manager after the departure of Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid (Sky Sports).

It appears that Rafa Benitez is the favourite to take over (The Telegraph), but even though he is not yet confirmed as the new boss, Everton must continue to pursue transfer targets.

The Latest: Everton eye De Sciglio

Calciomercato reported that Everton, along with Villarreal, are eager to sign De Sciglio from Juventus this summer.

The Italy international, who spent last season on loan at Lyon, could be available for as little as €5m (£4.3m) during this transfer window.

The Verdict: True bargain

There is no doubt about it – such a deal for De Sciglio would represent a huge bargain. The full-back has plenty of experience under his belt, making 151 appearances in Serie A (Transfermarkt) and winning the Italian league title on three occasions. He has also earned 39 caps for Italy and, in the past, he has even been compared to Italy and AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini (Goal.com).

He has obviously not lived up that huge comparison, but that does not make him a poor player. For such a price, Everton would struggle to find a better performer in the market – even the fee being quoted for De Sciglio is €2.5m (£2.1m) and 33% lower than his €7.5m (£6.4m) market value (Transfermarkt). Marcel Brands should move quickly to try and secure his services amid Villarreal’s apparent interest.

In other news, many Everton fans were fuming over this journalist’s question to Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Conor Coady has been the beating heart of Wolverhampton Wanderers for a grand total of six years.

The defender signed for Wolves in 2015 after a season at Huddersfield, and since then, he’s become one of the most impressive English centre-backs around.

Coady is now the club captain at Molineux after barely missing a single game under the stewardship of Nuno Espirito Santo. He is also a full England international and has captained his country on two of the five caps he’s been awarded by Gareth Southgate.

With those adulations comes the potential to go on to bigger and better things. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Tottenham and Everton, who are set to battle it out for his signature this summer.

The new manager of Spurs is Nuno, so it’s hardly a surprise to see him touted with a move to north London.

If he does leave the Midlands behind, though, the void in the middle of defence will be enormous. Willy Boly is still a brick wall of solidity but Romain Saiss was suspect last term and has also been linked with an exit.

One player Bruno Lage could bring to Molineux is Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski. The Telegraph reported last month that they had joined the queue with West Ham to prise him away from Turf Moor.

Tarkowski’s contract with the Clarets expires in 12 months’ time, so he could be snapped up on the cheap; he is currently valued at £22.5m. If does arrive at Wolves, then he’d be the ideal replacement for the potentially exit-bound Coady.

A fellow England international, the Burnley titan isn’t a captain of his club but he still forms part of the core leadership group under Sean Dyche.

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Tarkowski leads by example on the pitch and, at the age of 28, possesses all the necessary experience to replace such an influential player at Wolves.

Tony Philliskirk, former Head of Academy at Oldham, once told The Athletic about the Burnley defender: “He became the main man on defensive and attacking set pieces, that as a player makes you think you are an integral part of the team.

“He became that because of his level of performance. He was humble and never got ahead of himself. His confidence increased and he became a leader which we discussed with him, organising those in front of him.”

Out of context, that could quite easily describe the bold and brave Coady as well. A leader of men, he regularly barks orders towards his teammates.

Also described as “exceptional” by his peers, the £50,000-per-week Tarkowski is a player who continues to get better. He may have fallen out of the England squad but, like the Wolves skipper, he is a reliable and composed performer.

It would be smart business from Wolves to sign him.

AND in other news, Jimenez 2.0: Wolves must swoop for 26-goal bully who’s been “fantastic” at Euro 2020…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Everton defender Michael Ball believes Jonjoe Kenny could be given a chance by Rafael Benitez this upcoming season.

The 24-year-old right-back has spent the last couple of campaigns out on loan at Celtic and German outfit Schalke.

Kenny has since been linked with a surprise move to Arsenal, with the MailOnline claiming that he is one option being considered in the event that Hector Bellerin departs the Emirates this summer.

If the Englishman decides to remain at Everton, though, Ball thinks he could be given an opportunity under Benitez.

“He’s going to have a good opportunity now,” the ex-Everton player told FFC. “Maybe he comes back to pre-season fully fit and ready to go and Rafa might give him that confidence. ‘Yeah, you could be our next number two. You’ll take over from Seamus Coleman or be a great back-up for Seamus.’ ”

With Coleman turning 33 this year, perhaps Kenny could return to succeed the Irishman or at least provide cover for him.

It probably would not be a total shock, though, to see the former England U21 international leave the club on another loan.

Talk coming out of the Netherlands suggests the Toffees are pushing hard to sign another right-back in Euro 2020 star Denzel Dumfries from PSV Eindhoven.

Tottenham Hotspur have gained an advantage over Arsenal as both clubs track Real Madrid attacking midfielder Isco, according to the Sunday Express.

The Lowdown: Spurs settle into life under Espirito Santo

Progressing towards 2021/22, many onlookers up and down the country will be intrigued to see how Nuno Espirito Santo revitalises a fragmented Spurs outfit going into the new season.

Although the Lilywhites haven’t secured any transfer targets as of yet, Takehiro Tomiyasu is said to be close to completing a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium [Football London].

Building ahead of pre-season, Spurs may be set to make progress in another pursuit following recent developments.

The Latest: Isco wants to move to a club competing in Europe next season

Isco is interested in a move to England, although he would prefer it to be to a team playing in Europe, according to the Sunday Express.

With both north London clubs keen on the 29-year-old, Spurs hold an advantage over their adversaries after qualifying for the inaugural Europa Conference League at the Gunners’ expense [Football London].

Real Madrid are looking to sell Isco this summer as his contract is set to expire in 12 months’ time. Not wanting to lose him on a free next summer, the La Liga giants could demand as little as £6m for his services. [Sunday Express]

The Verdict: Isco would be a marquee addition for Tottenham Hotspur

Upon reflection, the Spain international would be a marquee addition to the Tottenham fold. Renowned for his creative intuition, he would bring flair and a colourful nature to any starting XI.

Across his time in Madrid, Isco has registered 107 goal contributions in 336 appearances, with 51 goals and 56 assists [Transfermarkt].

He has been a major player in one of the most glorious eras in Los Blancos’ history, winning 16 trophies in his time at the Bernabeu – four Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, four Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, two Spanish Super Cups and the Copa del Rey trophy [Transfermarkt].

In spite of this glittering CV, the Benalmádena-born attacker may be in need of a fresh challenge after only registering two assists from 28 goalless outings in 2020/21 [Transfermarkt].

Once described as ‘incredible’ by former Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta [FotMob], Tottenham could be the perfect platform for Isco to get his career back on an upward trajectory.

In other news, Spurs are interested in a move for this wonderkid.

Speaking to Football Insider, Kevin Phillips has claimed that Everton manager Rafael Benitez may have implicitly told suitors to ‘come and get’ James Rodriguez.

The lowdown

When asked about the Colombian’s future, the 61-year-old refused to ‘talk about individuals’ because it’s ‘not fair for the other players’ (via Liverpool Echo).

Patrick Boyland and Greg O’Keeffe, Everton correspondents for The Athletic, wrote in June that ‘question marks remain’ over whether Rodriguez be keen to stay in the absence of Carlo Ancelotti, who brought the 30-year-old to Goodison Park last summer after previously working with him at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but the Italian has now returned to Los Blancos.

Rodriguez was directly involved in 10 Everton goals in 21 starts last season, scoring six goals and setting up four (via WhoScored). However, the Colombian struggled with his calf, causing him to miss a total of 11 games between December and April.

The latest

Phillips interpreted Benitez’s response as an indication that Rodriguez will be free to leave and thinks that interested parties will be on high alert after the Spaniard’s subtle remark.

“It’s definitely a hint or a sign,” the former Sunderland striker told Football Insider.

“He doesn’t want to comment on it and I understand that managers don’t want to sometimes. But that’s almost a way of saying ‘He’s there, come and get him’ without actually having to say those words.

“Managers always like to make a statement and I think that might be his way of saying it judging by the way he’s answered that question.

“From my experience, that suggests that the player will be made available.”

The verdict

Ability-wise, Rodriguez is surely the standout player in Everton’s squad. There were a number of matches season in which he showed his class, carving the opposition open.

It isn’t all down to talent, though. Supporters wouldn’t necessarily want the Colombian to stay put unless they were certain that he remained fully committed. Also, some fans may have grown frustrated with his persistent fitness struggles, particularly when he’s said to be banking £140,000 every week, which makes him the joint-top earner in the squad.

Phillips’ comments on Rodriguez’s future may indeed be pertinent.

In other news, this Everton starlet is growing ‘impatient’. 

Nottingham Forest have been handed a huge boost to their chances of keeping Joe Worrall at The City Ground this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Alan Nixon, with The Sun journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that Forest were under the impression that Brentford would be attempting to complete a deal for the centre-back last weekend. However, the Premier League newcomers appear to have turned their attention elsewhere in the transfer market.

Earlier reports had claimed that, along with the Bees, the likes of Burnley, Norwich City and West Ham were all considering a move for the 24-year-old in the summer transfer window, with the Reds believed to be demanding a fee in the region of £10m in order to part with the defender ahead of next season.

However, if Nixon’s latest comments are anything to go by, it now appears that Brentford – who looked as if they were leading the race for the former England under-21 international – are no longer interested in Worrall, with the journalist stating: “Forest thought Worrall was going to Brentford at weekend. Brentford now going for someone else.”

Fans surely buzzing

Considering just how important Worrall has been for Forest in recent seasons, Nixon’s 15-word update hinting that the centre-back’s departure from The City Ground looks increasingly unlikely this summer is sure to have left fans of the club buzzing.

The 24-year-old impressed over his 31 Championship appearances for Chris Hughton’s side last season, with the £3.6m-rated man helping his team to keep 12 clean sheets, averaging 1.1 interceptions, 0.8 tackles and 4.2 clearances and winning 3.5 duels per game.

The £10k-per-week defender also chipped in for his team going forwards, bagging one goal, registering one assist and averaging 0.3 key passes per league game.

These metrics saw the man who Steven Gerrard dubbed an “outstanding” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as the Garibaldi’s fifth-best performer in the Championship last time out.

As such, with Hughton undoubtedly hoping to improve upon his team’s disappointing 17th-placed Championship finish from last season, keeping hold of Worrall this summer would very much appear to provide the 62-year-old with a huge boost to Forest’s chances of doing so

With a little while left before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August, Forest fans should not take this latest update to mean that Worrall will definitely be playing his football for their club next season, although it certainly seems a big step towards him staying put.

In other news: Imagine him & Grabban: Murphy must seal Forest swoop for £36k-p/w “leader” this summer

Crystal Palace are interested in a move for former Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak, according to The Guardian’s Ed Aarons.

And, as to be expected, a number of Eagles fans have been sharing their thoughts on a possible swoop on social media.

According to Aarons, Palace are one of several Premier League clubs interested in a permanent deal for Kabak, who made 13 appearances under Jurgen Klopp last season.

The Reds decided against making Kabak’s Anfield loan a permanent transfer this summer, but it seems as if the Schalke defender could be heading to England for good after all.

Aarons claims Schalke are likely to ask for £12m for the 21-year-old, who has 12 caps for Turkey to his name. He is valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt and still has three years left on his contract, so a £12m move could be a shrewd piece of business by the Eagles in the long run alongside their recent swoop for Marc Guehi.

Palace fans react

Aarons’ social media post on Tuesday evening regarding Palace and Kabak received plenty of positive interaction from a number of Palace supporters. This is what some had to say in reply…

“Guehi and Kabak? My god the rebuild”Credit: @Kevbartleyy”This window is something special.”Credit: @Scrivum”Okay we are moving mad now”Credit: @NAL_UK”Would be unreal”Credit: @unIocaIpIa9tic”Please”Credit: @FPLWILSON”Guehi and Kabak partnership is unreal”Credit: @joelcpfc_

In other news: Pundit has exclusively backed a Crystal Palace pursuit of a reported target.

West Brom and Valerien Ismael want to bring a new centre-forward to The Hawthorns this summer, journalist Luke Hatfield has told Football FanCast.

At West Brom, most of the transfer talk has been dominated by star man Matheus Pereira and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, with Ismael admitting that he expects to lose both players before the window closes.

The Midlands club, however, have been able to bring in Alex Mowatt on a free transfer from Barnsley, as well as Brighton’s Matt Clarke for the season.

And if all goes to plan, the two could be joined by a new striker at The Hawthorns, according to Hatfield.

“I think Albion are after a striker,” the Express & Star journalist said. “It’s a position they’ll be desperate to bolster.”

Last season, West Brom really struggled for goals, albeit in a much stronger division compared to the one they are in now.

After Pereira, who scored 11 times in the Premier League, their next highest goalscorer was Callum Robinson with five strikes.

As a whole, the Baggies were one of the lowest-scoring teams in the top flight (as per WhoScored), so perhaps they could do with the addition of a new No.9 this summer.