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Luis Suarez is bowing out in style at Gremio, with the Uruguayan – who is expected to head for Inter Miami – bagging a brace in his final appearance.

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Veteran frontman leaving Brazilian footballExpected to head for the United StatesSet to be reunited with former Barca team-matesWHAT HAPPENED?

The veteran striker is calling time on a productive spell in Brazilian football after scoring 29 goals in 54 appearances. The 36-year-old has hinted at long-standing knee problems forcing him to consider retirement, but he is being lined up for one last challenge in MLS alongside former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi.

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Prior to heading to the United States, Suarez brought the curtain down on his stint at Gremio by netting twice in a 3-2 victory over Fluminense. His first of the game was a typical Suarez strike, as he beat the offside trap and raced through on goal to round the goalkeeper and slide into an empty net.

DID YOU KNOW?

Gremio had found themselves trailing in the 34th minute but they turned the tie on its head and Suarez put them in complete control when netting their third of the game just past the hour mark. With confidence flowing, the South American superstar casually clipped home a Panenka penalty – allowing him to sign off in style.

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WHAT NEXT FOR SUAREZ?

As Suarez hits free agency, he is now clear to agree a deal with Inter Miami. If he does move to Florida, then he will link up with Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at DRV PNK Stadium.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Jack Butland is eyeing a return to the England national team ahead of Euro 2024.

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Butland eyeing England return ahead of the EurosLast played for England in 2018Kept 22 clean sheets for Rangers this seasonWHAT HAPPENED?

Butland, who last played for The Three Lions in 2018 before being dropped by manager Gareth Southgate, is eyeing a return to the national team ahead of Euro 2024. Earlier this month, Southgate admitted that he is facing a crisis in the goalkeeping position as Newcastle's Nick Pope is out with an injury while Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale and Crystal Palace's Sam Johnstone have not received enough game time this season. Only England's first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has regularly played for his club, Everton, and is available for selection.

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Speaking to the , the 30-year-old custodian said, "People have been selected for England from Scotland before. It's not out of the question but it's also not a given either. It's certainly closer now than it has been for the last three, four, maybe five years. It's as good as I've played in that period of time.

"I've been to major tournaments. I would love to go to another one. I still believe I can offer a lot. That comes with doing my job here, that puts me in the conversation. If that gets me in, great. If it doesn't, then we just carry on."

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The former Leeds United and Manchester United goalkeeper left Crystal Palace to join Rangers ahead of the 2023/24 season. In the ongoing campaign, he appeared in 42 matches across all competitions where he has managed to keep 22 clean sheets for the Scottish Premiership leaders. After consistently performing in Scotland the goalkeeper will now hope to return to the national team ahead of their upcoming friendly matches against Brazil and Belgium next month.

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Getty Images WHAT NEXT FOR JACK BUTLAND?

Butland will be next seen in action for The Light Blues on Wednesday as they take on Kilmarnock in a league clash. It remains to be seen if Southgate takes notice.

QPR winger Ilias Chair has been sentenced to two years in prison in Belgium for breaking a man's skull with a rock during a kayaking trip in 2020.

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Chair sentenced to prison in BelgiumCharge relates to 2020 incidentQPR in touch with player's legal teamWHAT HAPPENED?

As reported by , Chair was sentenced to two years in prison in Belgium by an Antwerp court, with one year suspended, and fined a sum of €15,000 (£12,800/$16,250) to be paid as compensation to the victim. The Morocco international, who was born in Belgium, has the right to appeal and is not currently being detained.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT QPR SAID

In a club statement, QPR said: "The club are, and have been, in regular contact with Ilias Chair’s legal team regarding a charge of assault which has been made against him. The legal proceeding is yet to reach its conclusion. As such, the club will be making no further comment at this stage."

WHAT PROSECUTORS SAID

reports that a lorry driver was left with a fractured skull after an altercation with Chair during the QPR player's kayaking trip across Belgium and France in 2020. According to the Belgian newspaper, the prosecutor said: "While queuing to board the bus, the victims were suddenly passed by a lady in a green bikini and her family. They passed the group and, as it were, demanded to be the first to get on the bus because they had just missed another bus. This led to a discussion with other people who were waiting, including the later victims: Niels T., his sister Eline T. and Dries D.

"The woman in the green bikini behaved very aggressively and things quickly escalated. The woman lashed out at the victims and their children. There was hitting, scratching and biting. According to several people involved, Ilias Chair lashed out with the stone at Niels T., who immediately lost consciousness. The consequences for Niels T. were dramatic. He suffered a serious skull fracture of two centimetres. He was admitted to Reims hospital in critical condition. He would then have to recover in a Belgian hospital for a long time. He was unable to work as a truck driver for a long time and to this day he still experiences the consequences of that blow, which almost killed him."

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also notes that Chair denies being the person who threw the stone and requested an acquittal. The newspaper adds that a request to reopen the hearing was rejected when the Morocco player attended court with his lawyer on Friday.

If Tottenham Hotspur finish in the top four at the end of the season they will have multiple people to thank.

Heung-min Son and Harry Kane have been as dangerous as they have ever been this term but ultimately the gratitude must go to Daniel Levy, a man whose cut-throat decision making allowed for Nuno Santo to depart after a matter of months before being replaced by a serial winner in Antonio Conte.

The Italian has made this Spurs team a more regimented and organised side, one who has both benefitted from his tactics but also his eye in the transfer market, with Dejan Kulusevksi and Rodrigo Bentancur improving the starting XI considerably.

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The former wasn’t required on Sunday until appearing as a late substitute but the latter was important and reliable once again.

Couple the Uruguayan’s aggressive but calming influence in the middle of the park with Kane’s composure from the spot and Tottenham had secured a 1-0 win.

The awarding of the penalty may have been fortunate but the performances don’t matter at this stage as all Spurs need are results.

In order to qualify for next season’s Champions League, they will need all of the resources and all of their squad to get there.

That has been seen over the last few days with Davinson Sanchez stepping in admirably for Christian Romero who will miss the rest of the season.

That injury blow was a blessing in disguise for not just the Colombian who has now registered clean sheets in successive games, but also Joe Rodon, who starred for a brief few moments as the clock wound down in the capital on Sunday.

Rodon has found game time hard to come by since signing for the Lilywhites and has played just 86 minutes in the Premier League throughout 2021/22. Yet, his most vital minutes were arguably this weekend.

It’s safe to say the Welshman hasn’t pulled up too many trees at Tottenham but his late header to stem a Burnley attack in the dying embers was crucial. He stood firm, planted himself underneath the ball and powered a header away from the danger zone.

It was a passage of play that Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold was quick to pick up on, taking to Twitter at full-time to say: “Might go unnoticed but a big late header there from Joe Rodon to clear the lines at a vital moment as Burnley probed in the final moments.”

Rodon didn’t have much to do when he was on the pitch but his contribution was vital, winning his one and only defensive duel with that aforementioned header and completing 100% of his passes too.

It was a backs to the wall finish from Conte’s army but he will be delighted to have got over the line thanks to Rodon’s late efforts.

Perhaps he ought to get more opportunities next season?

AND in other news, Sold at £21.2m, then became a “Rolls-Royce”: Levy made big error on Spurs’ next Modric…

Aston Villa and West Ham are reportedly readying big offers to sign Lille forward Jonathan David.

The Lowdown: David profiled

David, primarily a centre-forward who can also play as a second striker or as an attacking midfielder, has been with Lille since 2020. [Transfermarkt]

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Valued at £45m, the Canada international has scored 30 goals in 94 appearances for the Ligue 1 side and has an impressive record for his country, netting 20 times in 30 games.

Labelled as ‘fearless’ by Canada manager John Herdman, the two-footed forward is under contract in France until 2025, but it looks as if a summer exit could be on the cards.

The Latest: Villa ready to write ‘big cheque’

Sports Witness relayed a story from a French outlet regarding David on Thursday. They claim that both Villa and West Ham stand out in a long list of potential buyers, adding that they are ‘likely’ to write a ‘big cheque’ for his services.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and PSG are also name-checked in the report, with a €50m (£42.5m) fee mooted.

The Verdict: Watkins replacement?

It looks as if both Villa and West Ham are willing to spend big on a forward ahead of the 2022/23 season, with the Hammers actually keen on Ollie Watkins.

Reports in recent days have stated that David Moyes’ side are eyeing up a move for the forward this summer, with Villa looking to make a substantial profit on the 26-year-old.

So, should West Ham come in with a bid for Watkins, NSWE could then put those funds towards a move for David, who now has Champions League experience and has netted at least 13 league goals in each of the past three seasons, turning out in a variety of attacking roles.

In other news: NSWE now close to agreeing deal for another midfielder alongside Coutinho.  

Farad Moshiri is plotting an Everton bid for defender Levi Colwill as Frank Lampard looks ahead to next season.

What’s the word?

That’s according to reports via The Daily Mail who claims Lampard wants to raid former club Chelsea to sign centre-back Colwill in a loan deal for next season.

Crystal Palace are also keen on the player, but Everton looks more likely to give him first-team football as they secured their Premier League status.

Lampard needs to bolster his defence

Everton defeated Crystal Palace last week to remain in the top flight by the skin of their teeth and now the 43-year-old can relax and plan ahead for what will be an important season ahead.

Only four teams conceded more goals in the league than Everton and this is an area which needs urgently needs improvement during the summer transfer window.

Colwill has starred for Huddersfield Town this season having joined on loan, leading them to the play-off final against Nottingham Forest and they can secure another promotion to the top flight with a victory.

With an average WhoScored rating of 7.01, the 19-year-old is ranked fourth in the squad and despite his age, he could be a wise signing for Everton.

Fellow teammate Lewis O’Brien has dubbed him “fantastic”, with Nizaar Kinsella describing him as a “huge talent” and on the strength of his performances this season, it’s clear to see why.

The teenager is strong in the challenge, being dribbled past just 0.2 times per game this season, as well as making an impressive 1.8 tackles a match.

Thus, the next stage of his development will surely be playing in the Premier League on a regular basis and with Everton and Palace keen, there’s no shortage of admirers.

Lampard could utilise his Chelsea connections and work out a deal for the youngster and he could get vital experience as he strives toward succeeding at his parent club.

AND in other news, Lampard plotting Everton bid for £158k-p/w dynamo, he’d be a “joy to watch”…

West Ham United are plotting a move for “promising” Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin this summer.

What’s the story?

As reported in the Sunday Mirror (via Claret and Hugh), West Ham are expected to open talks with Real Madrid this week over a loan move for Andriy Lunin. Any deal could also include the option to buy the player.

The goalkeeping situation at The London Stadium is still undecided with Lukasz Fabianski the only one staying at the club at the moment. There is potential for Alphonse Areola to remain at the club following his loan spell.

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Moyes will be buzzing

Manager David Moyes will be buzzing at the opportunity to sign a goalkeeper as highly rated as Lunin, and if he can secure him permanently it will solve the position at the club once and for all.

The 23-year-old joined Madrid in 2018 for €14m (£12.3m) from Zorya Luhansk and signed a six-year deal with the Spanish giants. He has only made five appearances in total for the club, having spent a lot of time out on loan.

However, he was a part of the squad this season that lifted the La Liga trophy and most recently the Champions League after beating Premier League side Liverpool in the final.

He is currently contracted until 2024 and is paid £41k-per-week. The Mirror say he is valued at £13m, so Madrid could make their money back.

A recent loan spell with Real Oviedo saw him get a decent amount of game time, he made 20 appearances and kept 6 clean sheets. Moving to West Ham would see him tested at a completely different level and it would be good for his development.

It would be a surprise if the player didn’t want to leave, he might have dreams of succeeding Thibaut Courtois, but he needs to provide himself at a higher level first.

If West Ham are to keep up their exceptional form the in the league over the past couple of seasons then they can’t take too many risks. Would putting such an in-experienced goalkeeper between the sticks be a good idea?

Probably not, but he would likely come in as the second choice initially, and would likely get game time in the Europa Conference League and domestic competitions to prove himself capable.

AND in other news, Moyes eyes bargain West Ham swoop for £15m “cerebral” brute, he’s an upgrade on Dawson…

Former Glasgow Rangers manager Alex McLeish has delivered his assessment on the future of Nikola Katic at Ibrox. 

The lowdown: Out of favour

The 25-year-old initially flourished at the Light Blues but missed 57 games following a cruel cruciate ligament rupture midway through the 2019/20 season and was sent to Croatia in order to regain invaluable match fitness.

Having previously been an integral member of Steven Gerrard’s plans, the central defender spent the entirety of the recent campaign at Hajduk Split and played a part in a domestic cup success.

Now, as the one-cap senior international prepares to return to Glasgow, one interested observer has claimed there could be a pivotal role for the defender under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The latest: ‘Big headache’

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, has suggested Katic could solve a problem for the Gers.

The 63-year-old said: “There were times when I looked at Katic and I thought: ‘Yeah, he looks really promising’. I spoke to Richard Gough as well a while back when Katic was playing. Richard quite liked the cut of his jib. He thought he was a decent player.

“It went a wee bit topsy-turvy for him. You’d think, having played at Hadjuk Split’s level, he’s obviously playing with good technical players. Can he come back? Of course. He’s a big lad who can cope with the hurly-burly of Scottish football. If he’s had that experience and he’s over all his injuries, it seems like it’s back to normal. It’s one they’ve already got in the bank. There’s one already kind of ready-made. Is he of the level of Rangers and the levels they’ve reached with European football?

“You would think that there is something there already on the books that could perhaps save them a big headache.”

The verdict: Strength in numbers

After it was confirmed Conor Goldson would remain at the club this week, Katic’s return with regular action under his belt means that the central defensive department is almost completely taken care of entirely for next term.

The combative star, who was described as a ‘warrior’ by Gerrard, earned a stellar 7.01 Sofascore rating across 21 league outings in his homeland, winning a monstrous 6.5 duels and making 3.5 clearances on average per game whilst helping keep seven clean sheets.

Added to Goldson, Filip Helander, Calvin Bassey, James Sands and perhaps Leon Balogun, Van Bronckhorst has a wealth of centre-back options at his disposal with the return of Katic and as such the Teddy Bears can be confident of at least having an assured backline next season.

In other news: GvB rejects bid for Ianis Hagi!

West Ham United are close to securing the signature Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd, according to a report from Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Defender wanted

Following the cruciate ligament rupture sustained by defender Angelo Ogbonna early on in the Premier League season, manager David Moyes was left short of options across his backline.

With Kurt Zouma also suffering from a number of injuries, at times it was just Craig Dawson and Issa Diop left as the only senior options available for Moyes’ selection.

After a sensational run in the Europa League, the Irons became visibly fatigued as the season wore on, with the hectic schedule taking its toll on the squad.

With this in mind, it became imperative for the Hammers to dip into the transfer market for a central defender ahead of next season.

The Latest: Aguerd close

According to a recent report by Football Insider, West Ham are now in advanced talks with Rennes to sign Aguerd, with negotiations closing in on a deal worth around £25m.

It is understood that the Premier League outfit are increasingly confident of securing an agreement with the French side for the 26-year-old, who is said to have already begun house-hunting in London as he looks to make the switch early on in the window.

The Verdict: Great signing

With a number of top clubs having monitored the Morocco international over the last two seasons, this will be a great signing for Moyes’ squad, given their desperate need to bring in an experienced defender to the London Stadium.

According to The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke, Aguerd is “the best value left-sided centre back in Europe” and “every club should be after him.”

Averaging 4 clearances and 0.5 blocks per game in Ligue 1 (via WhoScored), it is easy to see why the Moroccan has been on the receiving end of such heavy praise, having been capped by his national team on 19 occasions.

This could be a brilliant signing for West Ham.

In other news: Irons will look into signing Emmanuel Dennis

Frank Lampard can land a big upgrade on Everton midfielder Allan by swooping for Austrian player Florian Grillitsch.

What’s the word?

Everton have been linked with Grillitsch since April, with the Hoffenheim midfielder leaving the German side on the expiration of his contract at the end of this month.

The interest looked like it had come to nothing following a verbal agreement between the player and Serie A side Fiorentina, however, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that there still hasn’t been an agreement on personal terms, giving the Toffees the green light to swoop in.

Lampard can get a big Allan upgrade

A move for the Austrian would be very shrewd and it appears to be very low risk. He earns £35k-per-week at Hoffenheim and whilst he will more than likely demand more at Everton, it won’t break the bank, plus signing him on a free is an added bonus.

Hoffenheim director of football Alexander Rosen has described him as “exceptionally gifted” and Everton needs a player like him to add some bite and stability into their midfield ahead of a crucial season next year.

He will be a major upgrade on Allan, who played 28 matches in the Premier League last season and only registered two assists. The Brazilian was ranked a lowly 18th in the Everton squad with a WhoScored rating of 6.50, completing only 80% of his passes.

Compare this to Grillitsch, who was ranked fourth in the Hoffenheim squad with a rating of 6.87 and that’s having played ten matches fewer than Allan.

The Austrian showcased his incredible passing ability with an 89.4% pass success rate, the best in the squad who have played over five matches.

Allan only won 0.4 aerials per match last season compared to the 1.3 for Grillitsch. These stats clearly show the influence that the Austrian can have on his team, both on the deck and in the air; two areas where Everton are crying out for in the centre of the park.

Lampard will need to make his move quickly, however, or the opportunity could be gone.

AND in other news, Everton “still interested” in signing £107.8m duo this summer, Lampard will love them…