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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Howey, who made 150 appearances for Newcastle United, has called on Steve Bruce to start Sean Longstaff on Sunday against Tottenham as Isaac Hayden’s replacement.

Hayden has been a mainstay in Bruce’s side having started 48 games in the Premier League, as well as constantly being a reliable and underrated part of Newcastle’s midfield receiving a 6.67 WhoScored rating.

When Hayden went off injured during Newcastle’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton before the international break, he was replaced by Jeff Hendrick who has been largely ineffective since he joined in the summer with fans not impressed with a number of his performances.

Asked who should replace Hayden in the Toon midfield, Howey told FFC:

“I’d probably say Sean Longstaff because I think he’s got a good range of passing, but I think both the Longstaffs will feel as though their noses have been well and truly pushed out.

“So they’re obviously not going to be happy with the current situation but if one of them does get a chance it’s a case of right, ‘I’ll show you’ and it’s up to them to prove to Bruce that he was wrong to leave them out.”

Longstaff has made just nine Premier League starts for the Magpies this term, with the last of those coming on January 12 against Sheffield United.

Hayden picked up an innocuous injury when Yves Bissouma fell into his leg while it was planted and as a result, he’ll miss the remainder of the season.

That injury news came just as Bruce was starting to see players such as Javier Manquillo, Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson start to return from their injuries.

Newcastle will likely have to shell out more than £20million to sign Joe Willock permanently this summer, according to a report from Chronicle Live, with the Magpies hoping for the cheaper option of another loan deal.

On-loan Arsenal midfielder Willock netted what could prove to be a vital late equaliser against Spurs on Sunday.

The Englishman had started the game on the bench, the first time he’s missed out on a start since making the temporary switch to the North East.

Willock is only 21 years old and has two years remaining on the long-term Arsenal deal he signed in 2019.

Even in a ‘depressed market’, the report says, he would command a very high fee.

The club’s technical director Edu said after the move was agreed in February that Willock remained an ‘important member’ of the Gunners’ squad.

Another option for Newcastle is to arrange another season-long loan. That’s understood to be the Magpies’ preference at this stage – that would, of course, be contingent upon them remaining in the Premier League.

Transfer Tavern verdict

This move made sense in January, and there’s no reason to believe the picture will be any different in the summer.

Willock is still going to be on the periphery if he stays at the Emirates, and he is certainly in with a shout of becoming the Magpies go-to man in the middle of the park.

From Arsenal’s point of view, there would be little sense in refusing to sanction another loan to Tyneside, or even a permanent move if Newcastle stump up the cash.

In other news, Lee Ryder slammed this player’s performance in the draw with Spurs.

When Aiden McGeady is on the ball, the Irishman usually comes up trumps. He scored one of his biggest goals in a Sunderland shirt yet as the Mackems drew with Peterborough last time out.

Their 1-1 draw was a massive point in the context of promotion. A place in the Championship is entirely in their destiny, with two games in hand over league leaders Hull City.

The Black Cats have another huge game on Saturday afternoon when they face Charlton Athletic, and they do so in excellent form. They sit in third place and haven’t lost since early February; that’s a run of 14 matches in all competitions.

Lee Johnson has inspired a remarkable revival at the Stadium of Light, with his side now better placed for promotion than they have been in the last few years.

With the Addicks to come this weekend, who will Johnson select for the Wearsiders’ latest outing?

The manager admitted in his pre-match press conference on Friday that he had plenty of dilemmas in terms of his starting XI. Denver Hume isn’t a million miles away from starting, while Bailey Wright returned to training this week.

That being said, we doubt the pair of them will start as they continue their respective recoveries from injury.

We’re tipping two changes to be made to the starting XI which picked up a point against Posh. The first is a return to the side for Lynden Gooch.

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Ross Stewart earned a rare start last Monday but such is his lack of match action that it seems unlikely he’ll feature from the off again.

A second change is in defence, where Conor McLaughlin replaces Grant Leadbitter in the starting XI. The £13,000-per-week midfielder’s performances have been sub-par since returning from a dislocated shoulder and, as a result, Max Power moves forward into the middle of the park.

Luke O’Nien and Dion Sanderson continue in defence despite Wright’s return to training.

AND in other news, SAFC flop sees his value fall by 90% after leaving, he’s spent 1,004 days out injured…

According to information by Czech sports website Ruik, as translated by allnigeriasoccer.com, West Ham United and manager David Moyes have yet another Slavia Prague gem on the radar alongside the usual suspects.

Links with the likes of Abdallah Sima, Ondrej Kolar and Jan Kuchta have emerged over the last few months as the Irons allegedly continue their strong transfer relationship with the Czech giants.

West Ham eyeing Olayinka

West Ham favourites Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek were both snapped up from Slavia last summer, arguably for bargain fees given their start to life in east London. 

Reports then touted West Ham interest in Sima, Kolar and Kuchta – with insider Claret & Hugh most recently claiming that Moyes had sent scouts to watch the trio in Europa League action.

Now, Ruik (via allnigeriasoccer.com) claim another Slavia gem has entered the fray in the form of striker Peter Olayinka.

The 25-year-old has apparently attracted attention for some of his performances this season as West Ham now take note.

The report mentions Moyes and co are still interested in the likes of Sima and Kolar, but Olayinka is also a new name being monitored.

Transfer Tavern take

Given Sima’s impressive 11 goals and five assists in just 18 Fortuna Liga appearances this season (Transfermarkt), we believe that the exciting 19-year-old should be the main target from Slavia despite this new interest in Olayinka.

The teenager has bagged four goals in the Europa League this season as well as impressing domestically, with Slavia Prague president Jaroslav Tvrdik calling him a ‘phenomenon’ on Twitter.

By comparison, Nigerian ace Olayinka is six years his senior and has scored 11 in all competitions – potentially highlighting that Sima should be the number one target from Slavia.

In other news: ExWHUemployee drops West Ham injury update, find out more here.

According to recent reports, Glasgow Rangers could miss out on the signing of Jonson Clarke-Harris this summer, as a Premier League side are lining up a move for the centre-forward.

The report by Football Insider claims that a recruitment source has revealed Sheffield United are targeting the Peterborough United centre-forward in the summer transfer window, as the relegated Premier League side look to add attacking reinforcements to their squad in a bid to return to the top flight on the first go.

Rangers have also been linked with a summer move for the 26-year-old – reportedly sending scouts to watch the striker in action for the League One side – with the club thought to be considering potential replacements for Alfredo Morelos, who could be set to leave Ibrox at the end of the season.

Transfer Tavern Take

Having only joined Peterborough from Bristol Rovers last summer, Clarke-Harris has certainly impressed in his short time at the club, scoring a quite remarkable 28 goals over his 42 League One appearances this season, as well as averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.30, which would rank him as the Gers’ sixth-best performer.

As such, should Rangers indeed miss out on landing the striker this summer, it would represent something of a blow for Steven Gerrard and his side, who, even if Morelos does not end up leaving the club this summer, will undoubtedly be looking to strengthen his squad ahead of their Champions League campaign next season.

In other news: ‘What did I just hear?’ – These Gers fans slam ‘dinosaur’ as ‘disgraceful’ Kamara claim emerges – find out more here!

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a new blow in their potential pursuit to appoint Julian Nagelsmann…

What’s the word?

Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy sensationally sacked Jose Mourinho on Monday after just 17 months in charge of the north London outfit, leaving the club in seventh place in the Premier League and with a Carabao Cup final on the horizon.

Former midfielder and academy coach Ryan Mason will now take control alongside Chris Powell until the end of the season.

The youthful RB Leipzig head coach has quickly emerged as a front-runner and Spurs’ mooted first-choice to succeed the Special One but latest claims suggest they will have a very tough task in securing his signature.

That’s according to The Athletic’s Bundesliga expert Raphael Honigstein, who told talkSPORT:

“Leipzig have no intention of releasing Julian Naglesmann and will fight tooth and nail not to let him go. He has no release clause, the slightly bigger issue is he would very much like to go to Bayern Munich next season.

“If it’s between Tottenham and Bayern, for him, it’s not a consideration. He is from a place very near Munich, his family are from Munich and he was a Bayern fan growing up.

“Even with a potential Super League club in Spurs, I still think Bayern are in a different category of club and he wants to go to that kind of club next. Whether Leipzig will let him or not, we don’t know but that’s his plan as far as I know and I think Spurs are going to find it very difficult to change that.”

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Bad news for Levy

This will come as a huge blow to Levy and his hopes of appointing the 33-year-old gem this summer, especially as Bayern’s current boss Hansi Flick revealed his intention to leave the Bundesliga giants, thus opening the door for an easy change of scenery over in Germany.

It’s easy to see why Nagelsmann will be in high demand as he’s taken RB Leipzig to a new level, even further than the progression attained under current Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.

They have run the defending champions as close to a title battle as possible, and have certainly put up a better fight than Borussia Dortmund, and the likes of Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Monchengladbach, too.

The young coach has been tipped to emulate the successes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, too. “Julian is the biggest German coaching talent. He’s very mature for his age and has already come very far,” claimed ex-Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick to SID (via Bulinews). “If he keeps developing like this, he can reach the level of Klopp and Guardiola.”

Such claims have been emphasised by Angelino, someone who has played for both the trophy-laden City boss as well as Nagelsmann. “In certain things they do resemble each other: in the way of preparing for games, training or knowing what they want. I would say they are 95 per cent the same in those aspects,” he told Spanish outlet AS (via beIN SPORTS).

On top of an impressive 59% win rate from his 88 matches in charge of the Bundesliga side, Spurs have tasted first-hand the damage his teams can do as they were the side to knock the north Londoners out of the Champions League last season.

If Spurs miss out on the emerging guru, then it will be truly gutting for Levy and many more at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Some of the other names linked to the vacant role, including England boss Gareth Southgate, former Wigan FA Cup winner Roberto Martinez, Swansea’s Steve Cooper and another manager sacked by Chelsea in Maurizio Sarri, are hugely uninspiring by comparison.

AND in other news, here’s how Spurs could look under Ryan Mason; Alli & Winks comeback?…

Many Aston Villa fans have flocked to the latest post from Ashley Preece on social media platform Twitter.

The journalist recently tweeted about the Aston Villa ownership, confirming that the club’s owners have now put in another £10m to help cover costs. Preece added that the Villa owners have pumped a total of £97m into the club since the season started. They invested £30m in September and added a further £57m later in 2020.

Preece wrote an article for the Birmingham Mail regarding the latest cash injection, providing more details about Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens helping the club financially. The article stated that both owners have been lauded by many the club’s supporters for keeping Aston Villa debt-free despite the financial impact of the pandemic.

The full financial accounts of Companies House have stated that Sawiris and Edens have put in £126.4m to Aston Villa between May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2020. In the current season, the club have spent £91.22m on transfers, following on from £143.55m in 2019/20..

It shows that the club’s owners have certainly contributed a lot to Villa financially and Preece’s tweet drew the attention of many Villa fans who were full of praise for the owners.

What did Villa fans make of Preece’s tweet?

“We should be naming one of our stands after Nassef and Wes. They have been absolutely incredible from day one. Just good people.”

Credit: @tonywright25

“Absolute legends at the moment.”Credit: @Longclaw9″Where’s the statue.”Credit: @RaiGurshaan”We are so lucky, we really are.”Credit: @TomeRa1der”Give them a knighthood.”Credit: @AVFCharvey04″Rename the North stand the NSWE stand when the rebuild it.”Credit: @_ElliotAVIn other news, ‘Smith needs replacing’, ‘Not good’ – Many AVFC fans erupt as update on ‘selfish’ ace emerges

Many Arsenal fans have been left to buzz as Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Kieran Tierney is in contention to play in the UEFA Europa League.

As per the official website of the Emirates Stadium faithful, the Spanish manager said that the former Celtic star did not need the surgery that they thought he needed, and so may be in contention to play again this season much earlier than originally anticipated.

Tierney is such an important player for the Gunners, as they clearly miss his athleticism and attacking threat down the left flank when he is not playing, having to fit central midfielder Granit Xhaka in there in recent games in the Premier League against Fulham and Everton respectively, in which they have dropped points in both.

Arteta admitted he isn’t sure if the Scot will be ready to face Villarreal, but he is at least in with a chance.

Arsenal fans on Tierney injury update

These AFC supporters buzzed upon reading the news that Tierney could be in contention to face Villarreal after it was shared on Twitter:

“Tears in my eyes #KT my guy! Hope to see you out there doing what you do best! @kierantierney1 let’s make our lives easier for once @Arsenal please tomorrow night.. #UEL”

Credit: @ahmedjush

“When I hear about Kieran I smell a win.”

Credit: @BNyamera

“TIERNEY BACKKKKKK #KroenkeOut”Credit: @minminminszn”Tierneyyyy”Credit: @acharlton9″Tierney being fit is all I needed to hear”Credit: @9nismo”I am actually on my knees to have KT back tomorrow”Credit: @ConnorNevillIn other news, find out what Daniel Ek update has left Gooners buzzing here!

Steven Gerrard has seemingly been dealt a big blow in his hopes of keeping Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara at Ibrox this summer after it was reported that his former club Arsenal are prepared to offer him a five-year contract.

According to Football Insider, the north London side are keen to bring the Finland international back to the Premier League this summer and have made it known that they are willing to offer him a five-year deal.

The 25-year-old spent time in Arsenal’s academy as a youngster but was released in 2017 and later signed for Dundee, from whom Rangers were able to sign him for just £50,000 two years ago.

After playing an integral part in their title success this season, making 28 appearances in the Premiership and averaging a solid 6.90 WhoScored rating, the midfielder has attracted a lot of interest from the Premier League ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Light Blues reportedly value Kamara at around £10m and are keen to offer him a new deal to convince him to extend his stay at Ibrox, although he could well have his head turned by the prospect of playing in the Premier League.

Neil McCann, Kamara’s former manager at Dundee, spoke highly of the Rangers ace earlier in the season in a piece for The Athletic, saying: “He isn’t a big, physical lad but he’s made of iron and really strong. I knew immediately that he could handle the ball under pressure and not give it away, so he was perfect.

“He’s a special talent. He makes things look easy and sometimes the easy thing is not as simple as it looks.”

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Considering that he has been a mainstay in Gerrard’s side throughout the season, it would be a huge blow to the 40-year-old if Kamara were to leave ahead of the 2021/22 campaign; and given the wages Arsenal would be able to offer him, it would not be a surprise to see him depart Ibrox this summer.

In other news… Shades of Tavernier: Wilson should seal Rangers swoop for gem with “enormous ability”

Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer has told The Transfer Tavern in an exclusive interview that Dejphon Chansiri has no choice but to take full responsibility following the Owls’ relegation from the Championship.

Despite giving it everything in their 3-3 draw with Derby County on the Championship’s final weekend, Wednesday were relegated to League One, finishing rock bottom in the table.

Since then, owner and chairman Chansiri has come out and told supporters that this disastrous season falls on him. And Palmer thinks it is only right, believing the buck stops with the businessman.

Speaking exclusively to TT about Wednesday’s relegation and Chansiri’s role in it, the retired midfielder said:

“People will say they were dealt a blow with the 12 points [deduction], but the 12 points got reduced to six points. I don’t think that’s an excuse.

“They just weren’t good enough, and the chairman has to take full responsibility. And I think he has done that, but it’s alright saying he takes full responsibility, you know, [but] what’s going to happen going forward?”

What Wednesday are going to do going forward is certainly an intriguing topic.

The Yorkshire club currently have a whole host of players who are set to become free agents this summer, which brings nothing but uncertainty at a very inconvenient time.