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Celtic could sign Hannes Wolf on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach, according to German publication Bild. 

The lowdown

Gladbach paid £8.55m to sign the 22-year-old from RB Leipzig last summer off the back of a season-long loan. Having started 14 times in the Bundesliga under Marco Rose last season, though, he has only been selected for two league starts by new boss Adi Hutter so far in the current campaign (via WhoScored).

Wolf, who earns €20k (£17,100) per week, is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also operate on either flank and even has some experience playing as a centre-forward (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

Wolf could leave Borussia Park on loan just six months after joining, according to Bild.

Along with Celtic, Austrian Bundesliga outfit Rapid Vienna are apparently ‘dealing with the flexible offensive all-rounder’.

The verdict

As he’s played so little this season, it’s probably best to look at 2020/21 for an indication of Wolf’s qualities, when he was directly involved in five goals (scored two, set up three) in his 32 league outings.

Data from FBRef shows that his defensive contribution is immense – he ranks in the 97th percentile for pressures per 90 minutes and the 95th for tackles.

When you consider his industry, and the reality that the Bundesliga (the fourth-best league in Europe as per UEFA’s coefficient) is a step up from the Scottish Premiership (ninth) in quality, he seems to have the potential to be a fan favourite at Celtic Park.

In other news, there has been an update on the timeline for the Reo Hatate deal

Crystal Palace will take on local rivals Charlton Athletic in a pre-season friendly, the club confirmed on Friday morning.

And, as to be expected, a number of Eagles fans have been reacting to the news on social media.

Palace revealed that they will take on the Addicks at Selhurst Park on Tuesday, 27th July.

The two sides faced off in a pre-season friendly prior to the 2020/21 campaign, with Eberechi Eze starring in what was his first appearance as a Palace player.

Eze won’t be available this time around, though, after he suffered a serious injury in training which will keep him out for at least six months.

The Eagles are still on the search for a new manager, and you’d hope the club will have found Roy Hodgson’s long-term successor by the time they take on the League One side next month.

Palace fans react

Palace shared the news on their official Twitter page, with a number of supporters giving their immediate reaction to the fixture below, with one describing the match as ‘tasty’.

“This might not end well”Credit: @MattCPFC”what a day”Credit: @cpfcbennn”Good game to try out our youth, respect to Parish for giving small local clubs a chance”Credit: @bazbrown123″Gonna be tasty but announce Ismael”Credit: @CPFCMax9″Let me be manager”Credit: @eaglescpfcsam”Should be good”Credit: @cpfc_sean

In other news: Many Palace fans react as ‘positive’ transfer news emerges, find out more here. 

West Ham are now thought to be leading the way in the race to sign Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard this summer, another twist after reports claimed Arsenal and Leicester are chasing a deal.

That’s according to the latest report from Football Insider, who have been informed by a Hammers source that the club are now laying the groundwork over a possible deal.

West Ham make Edouard progress

Progress has been made in London over recent days regarding a swoop for the striker, with West Ham hoping to get a deal in place prior to the summer window opening.

Edouard, who has scored 81 times in 163 appearances for the Hoops, wants to leave Parkhead this summer, regardless of who comes in to replace Neil Lennon.

Transfer Tavern take

With the likes of Arsenal and Leicester City also interested in Edouard, there may well be scope for Celtic to receive over £8-10m – a price range the forward’s representatives believe he could leave for this summer.

If both clubs, along with West Ham, are seriously keen on the striker, the Hoops could look to play them off against each other, resulting in a bidding war for his services.

The Hoops are also looking to insert a sizeable sell-on clause in any deal for Edouard over the coming months, which, in the long run, could see them pocket even more for the 23-year-old.

In other news: Source shares major Eddie Howe update; Celtic’s chances of securing a deal have diminished, find out more here. 

Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United finally return to Premier League action this evening, with the Whites making the trip to south London to face Crystal Palace in Monday’s 20:00 kick-off – 16 days after their 3-0 win over Watford.

As a result of this time off, the 48-year-old manager has had plenty of time to work with his first-team squad at Thorp Arch, something that could well give Leeds the edge over tonight’s opponents – who were bested 1-0 by Newcastle United last Wednesday.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-marsch-raphinha-dest-philhay” title=”Read the latest Leeds news!”]

The gap between fixtures will have also afforded a number of the Whites’ injured and fatigued players a much-needed rest from the hectic Premier League schedule, although, it is reported that the meeting with Palace will still come too soon for Patrick Bamford.

And, with Daniel James having once again struggled when playing through the middle at Vicarage Road, it would appear highly advisable for Marsch to finally unleash 19-year-old Joe Gelhardt from the off against the Eagles.

“Banging on the door”

Indeed, since the American’s appointment in the Elland Road dugout, Gelhardt is yet to be included in the 48-year-old’s starting XI, featuring just four times in the Premier League under the management of Marsch, in which time he has bagged one goal – the stoppage-time winner against Norwich City a little over a month ago.

However, looking at the campaign as a whole, the £4.5m-rated striker’s impact is clear for all to see, with the England U21 international having scored two goals and registered three assists over just 486 top-flight minutes – averaging a direct goal involvement every 97.2 minutes of football played.

For comparison, while James’ record of four goals and five assists over 30 Premier League outings does better the 19-year-old’s returns, when taking into account the Wales international directly contributes to a goal an average of once every 253.4 minutes played, it is obvious who is the more deadly.

Furthermore, over the last seven top-flight fixtures in which the £16.2m-rated winger has been deployed up front, James has failed to hit the back of the net, something which would very much suggest that he is simply not suited to a central attacking role.

As such, despite his tender age, Marsch must finally place his trust in the player who Beren Cross dubbed Leeds’ “next big thing” against Palace, as it is clear to see from his impressive record in the final third that Gelhardt is very much “banging on the door” – in the words of Phil Hay – for a start under the American.

AND in other news: Joe Donnohue drops early team news ahead of Palace, it’s a double boost for Leeds

Rangers have finally done it. They are Scottish champions for the first time in a decade after Steven Gerrard’s men officially won the title on Sunday.

This season has been a jubilant one for the Gers, a team who have knocked aside the negativity that surrounded Ibrox at the end of last term to usurp their biggest rivals.

This was not in the script but Gerrard has torn that to shreds and created his own story instead. This is his first league title as a player and a manager and it’s definitely one he’ll saviour for a long time.

Where Rangers go next is fascinating. They’re still in the Europa League and will have to add to their ranks once the summer window opens; the Glaswegians cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

That being said, there is still the fear of Alfredo Morelos leaving. His exit looked inevitable last summer and despite Rangers’ title win, he could still depart in a few months time.

Noel Whelan told Football Insider this week that the final piece of the jigsaw may have been put in place for his departure, suggesting the Teddy Bears could sanction an exit if a big-money offer comes in.

“It depends on whether he feels this was the final piece of the jigsaw that he needed to move. Maybe he wanted to leave in this sort of manner, with a championship under his belt,” he said.

Gerrard himself also hinted that Morelos could be on the lookout for move after the recent Europa League win Antwerp, suggesting that the forward likes that particular competition as it can put him in the shop window and allow him to prove to anyone watching that he can be successful at European level.

If the Colombian does indeed walk through the exit door then Rangers will certainly need a new striker. Fortunately, they already have one in their sights.

The Scottish Sun linked Gerrard’s side with a move for Zambian forward Fashion Sakala last month. He currently plays for Oostende in Belgium but is out of contract in the summer. Thus, the Gers are trying to steal a march in the race to sign him.

The 23-year-old isn’t a household name but his goal-scoring record is an eye-catching one. Sakala has netted 13 times this season, taking his tally in Belgium to 28.

Of course, Gerrard has Kemar Roofe who could take Morelos’ place up top but it would be foolish to rely on him alone, especially with Jermain Defoe out of contract.

Sakala possesses a host of qualities, not least the ability to hit the back of the net. Importantly, however, is his power. That’s a key quality Rangers will be missing if Morelos chooses to leave.

Speaking about Sakala previously, his former teammate Toby Sibbick commented: “Fashion has a lot of pace and is direct on the ball.”

Sibbick continued: “He is quite tricky as well and is good in front of goal with the ability to finish with both feet, there’s no issue with that. He is powerful – not necessarily tall – but strong and quick so there’s a lot to his game.”

With the ability to stretch defences, beat markers for power and find the net, he feels like a very suitable option for the Gers in a few months time. Add the fact that Morelos could leave and Sakala would be a great replacement.

AND in other news, Gerrard can cast an eye to the future by axing £30k-p/w Rangers gem amid exit links…

West Brom youngster Rekeem Harper is reportedly on the verge of joining League One side Ipswich Town, having passed a medical.

The Lowdown: Harper struggles at West Brom

The 21-year-old has struggled to make a significant impact at the Hawthorns, making only 42 appearances and scoring just two goals in that time.

Harper spent last season on loan at Birmingham City, with the midfielder making 18 Championship appearances, having been deemed surplus by requirements by the Baggies.

The Latest: Youngster on the verge of exit

It now looks as though the midfielder’s time at West Brom is coming to an end, with the Express & Star reporting that he has completed a medical with Ipswich.

The deal for the seven-time capped former England Under-19s international could be as much as £1million.

The Verdict: Right time to move on

There is no denying Harper’s quality as a young player, but it feels like the right time for a fresh challenge, with regular starts likely to be difficult to come by next season.

Granted, the Baggies will now only have Jake Livermore and Romaine Sawyers as established central midfield options, but they will surely make additions in that area this summer.

It would be nice to see Harper thrive at Ipswich and go on to reach his potential, but it makes sense for all parties for him to head elsewhere.

In other news, one former West Brom player has provided an update on the Baggies’ search for a new manager. Read more here.  

Manchester United could be closing in on their first signing of the summer, as Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier seemingly nears a return to English football.

What’s the story?

According to a major update from Football Insider, the 30-year-old has told his international teammates that he is likely to sign for the Red Devils over the coming months and as such, he’s already begun house-hunting in the North West of England

Fans will be buzzing

United are believed to have made an opening bid of £10 million for the talented full-back, but Diego Simeone’s side value the former Tottenham Hotspur man closer to £30m.

Ole Gunnar Solkjaer has reportedly made Trippier one of his top targets ahead of the upcoming transfer window as he looks to provide cover and competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The current United No.29 has impressed since making a big-money move to United two years ago, although his struggles in the final third have been well documented.

While he excels at his defensive duties, making the most blocks in the top-flight last season and the joint-fifth most tackles, the attacking aspect of his game comes less naturally to the 23-year-old.

Compared to his compatriot, Wan-Bissaka lags behind Trippier when it comes to several statistics, highlighting their contrasting output in the opposition’s half.

In 2020/21, the Atleti full-back completed 78.3% of his dribbles, whereas the United man achieved a success rate of 60.6%.

Trippier also outperformed Wan-Bissaka in terms of shot-creating actions per 90, forging 2.73 shooting opportunities compared to 1.68.

These figures are evidence of the added qualities that the England international will bring to Solskjaer’s side should he arrive this summer, and news of his potential addition will surely have the club’s supporters buzzing.

His delivery was once described as “outstanding” by current Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, and it’s easy to understand why when delving into the stats.

Trippier put in 2.40 crosses per 90 last term, compared to Wan-Bissaka’s 1.68, and achieved an Expected Assists of 0.13 to the United right-back’s total of just 0.07.

While other positions should take preference for United this summer, if they can afford to bring in Trippier alongside the likes of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, then it’s certainly a deal worth making.

And, in other news…Man United handed huge transfer boost over “perfect” £77m beast, Ole will be buzzing 

Leeds face intense competition to sign Udinese star Rodrigo De Paul in this summer’s transfer window.

What’s the story?

Reports last summer suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side were interested in signing the Argentina international; and then last month, The Athletic’s Phil Hay admitted that De Paul still very much wants to come to Elland Road.

Italian publication Calciomercato have now claimed that, as well as both Leeds and fellow Premier League side Liverpool, Italian giants Inter have thrown their hat into the ring, as Antonio Conte has earmarked the midfielder as his number one transfer target for this summer.

Exactly what Bielsa needs

His dynamism and box-to-box style has brought him six goals and six assists in just 27 league games, and his all-action displays are something which would surely fit in seamlessly with Leeds’ intense running.

Speaking to Yorkshire Evening Post, Smarterscout’s Dan Altman said: “There aren’t any central midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues who can match Rodrigo de Paul’s style of play and his pitch coverage.

“He’s most active in the right channel, crossing midfield, but he can pop up almost anywhere. He’s an avid defender, and his attacking contribution is huge at a Premier League standard. He’s Argentine and has enormous output on both sides of the ball, so he seems like a great fit for Bielsa’s Leeds.”De Paul has been described as a player who “lacks absolutely nothing” by his former boss Julio Velazquez, and the £34.2m-rated dynamo has shown this season what he could bring to the table if he joins Leeds.

Given the midfielder’s desire to come to Elland Road, and the qualities he exhibits on the pitch, De Paul must surely be a priority for Victor Orta and Leeds this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds must reignite their interest in this star…

If you believe every newspaper cutting you see, then Wolves could be on the verge of selling a whole host of players this summer.

In recent weeks, Rui Patricio and Nelson Semedo have both been linked with Roma while Raul Jimenez is also attracting interest from elsewhere.

What’s the word?

Another player who has plenty of admirers is Adama Traore. Unfortunately, he might be a little more difficult to keep at Molineux.

The Spaniard’s contract expires in two years time and it doesn’t look as though he’s going to pen new terms.

Wolves were growing frustrated with his situation a few months ago but in recent talks, they haven’t got anywhere with negotiations. That’s according to Duncan Castles of the Transfer Window podcast.

Providing the latest on the situation, Castles revealed: “He’s currently under contract until 2023. I’m told they have made Traore an offer, but that it is way below the sums that Traore would be expecting to receive should he leave the club, and certainly what he’d expect to receive should he stay at the club.

“He wants to be on the same tier as the best-paid players are, he’s nowhere near that at present because he came from Middlesbrough, really kind of established his status at Wolverhampton. So, I think the sense from the people around Adama Traore is that they want to be told the price at which Wolves are prepared to sell.”

Huge blow

At present, the flying winger currently earns a salary of £43k-per-week at Molineux. For context, that makes him the club’s ninth-highest earner at the current time.

In order for him to receive parity with some of the best paid at Wolves, he’d need to receive an offer of around £100k-per-week in order to convince him to stay.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-wolves-transfer-rumours-and-news-soumare-dias-dembele-marques-nuno-santo” title=”Read the latest Wolves transfer rumours and news!”]

Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho currently earn that amount and at some stage, Jeff Shi may just have to bite the bullet and go all-in on negotiations.

After all, it would be a huge blow to lose a player as talented as Traore.

Described as “unplayable” by Jurgen Klopp, the Spaniard has quickly become one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League. On his day, he can clatter you to one side and throw on the afterburners in an unrelenting fashion.

Although he’s scored just twice this term, he had a hand in 13 league strikes throughout 2019/20.

We also saw what a devastating weapon he can be when Nuno Santo introduced him to the fray against Brighton last weekend.

When Traore was substituted on with just under half an hour to go, Wolves were losing 1-0 to the Seagulls.

Yet, he made a crushing impact by scoring the equaliser in thumping fashion and creating a clear cut opportunity for Morgan Gibbs-White as they eventually won 2-1.

The Spaniard’s ability to beat players was typical, completing all three of his dribbles in a ruthless and conquering display at Molineux.

To see contract negotiations stalling, therefore, will do plenty to anger Nuno.

After seeing Diogo Jota and Matt Doherty depart last summer – 25% of their goals in 2019/20 – he won’t be keen on seeing another star player leave. They have to keep Traore in Wolverhampton.

AND in other news, Forget Mir: Nuno must unleash never-seen 20 y/o at Wolves, he “loves getting goals”…

An update has emerged on Bristol City defender Taylor Moore, regarding Portsmouth’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Portsmouth are eyeing up a deal to sign Taylor Moore on loan from Championship side Bristol City.

The report claims that Pompey, Wigan and Hearts are all showing an interest in the 24-year-old defender, who the Robins are willing to loan out.

Fans would love him

Portsmouth head coach Danny Cowley must sanction a deal for Moore before the end of the window. He could be an excellent addition to the squad and one who fans would love as he would arrive with bags of experience at higher levels, whilst still having the potential to improve.

In terms of his playing career to date, he has already played competitive games in Ligue 1, Ligue 2 and the Championship, whilst also having played in League One and League Two. He began his career in France with RC Lens, playing four games in Ligue 1 as a teenager – an exceptional learning curve for a young defender playing top-flight football.

Moore played on loan for Southend, Blackpool and Bury in League One, making 61 appearances in the third tier of English football. This shows that he knows what it takes to perform at Portsmouth’s level, along with the experience he has in the division above them – the Championship.

Last season, the defender averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.60 in 22 appearances in the second tier. He won 52% of his duels and made 1.4 interceptions per game for the Robins. This suggests that he has the quality to put in competent performances in the Championship whilst not having the ability – at present – to be a standout, indicating that he could excel by dropping down to League One.

Former Bristol City head coach Dean Holden hailed him as a leader in 2020 after the defender put pen to paper on a new contract at Ashton Gate. He said:

“Taylor is really stepping forward to establish himself in the first team as a player and a leader. He’s had a great start to the season and I’m pleased that he has secured a contract that will keep him here for the next few years.”

This shows that the Championship side have faith that the £2.6k-per-week beast will develop into a viable option for them in the future, with him displaying plenty of positive signs already in his young career. At the age of 24, he still has plenty of years left to continue his progress, with his next step potentially being a short-term move to Fratton Park.

Pompey fans would love to have him at the club as he has the requisite experience and quality to thrive in League One. If he can come in and hit the ground running then he could become a fan favourite at centre-back, but Cowley needs to work hard to get this deal over the line first-and-foremost.

AND in other news, Cowley must sanction deal for 20y/o gem, Portsmouth fans would be delighted…