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West Ham United correspondent Roshane Thomas of The Athletic has backed a potential start for rarely-seen summer singing Maxwel Cornet.

The Lowdown: Cornet signs…

David Moyes completed Cornet’s signing from Burnley in the summer transfer window with Lyon’s former star becoming part of a real contingent to make the move to West Ham.

The winger joins Alphonse Areola, Nayef Aguerd, Flynn Downes, Gianluca Scamacca, Thilo Kehrer, Emerson and club record signing Lucas Paqueta, who have all put pen to paper at Rush Green.

As the Hammers prepare to take on Romanian side FCSB in the Conference League tonight, it could be the chance to gift rarely seen players much-needed minutes, with Cornet in particular having only played 25 minutes in the Premier League so far.

The Latest: Thomas backs possible Cornet start…

Taking to social media, reporter Thomas has backed a potential start for the 25-year-old – citing Cornet’s dramatic late cameo against Chelsea last weekend as a glimpse of what he can provide Moyes.

Referencing an article on the subject, he explained (via Twitter):

“Jarrod Bowen has only attempted one shot on target in the league this season and is yet to score, Maxwel Cornet’s late cameo against Chelsea was a glimpse of what he can offer…

“Is it time for Cornet to start over Bowen?”

The Verdict: Give him a chance…

FCSB is an opportunity to not only start Cornet, but also the likes of Flynn Downes and Harrison Ashby.

The trio arguably need minutes to keep developing their game and grow accustomed to Moyes’ way of playing at West Ham, and especially Cornet given just how brilliant he was for Burnley last year.

As per WhoScored, no Clarets ace scored more league goals or attempted more shots at goal per 90 than the forward over 2021/2022, leaving little wonder pundits like Noel Whelan have called him ‘exciting’.

Indeed, there’s no reason he can’t replicate this form at the London Stadium if given an opportunity.

Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy agreed to a new deal last year on the condition he would be the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, according to The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Bazunu’s arrival

Towards the beginning of the summer transfer window, the south-coast outfit announced the signing of Gavin Bazunu from Manchester City – a highly rated 20-year-old shot-stopper who has already amassed ten caps for the Republic of Ireland national team.

Having spent last season on loan with in League One with Portsmouth, with whom he made 46 appearances, the keeper must have made an instant impression upon his arrival at Southampton, with manager Ralph Hasenhuttl having played him in every Premier League game so far this season.

The Latest: McCarthy’s contract

According to a report by The Athletic, McCarthy agreed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with Saints in August of last year on the condition that he would be the first-choice goalkeeper going forward.

However, it appears Hasenhuttl has already gone back on his word with the 32-year-old, whom he has previously labelled as ‘fantastic’, as he has made just one appearance all season, which came in the EFL Cup.

It is reported that McCarthy’s new salary at Southampton, thought to be £50,000-a-week, reflects his supposed position at the club.

The Verdict: Could he leave?

According to The Athletic, the 32-year-old has been ‘amazing’ in his support of the 20-year-old Bazunu at St Mary’s.

But with McCarthy’s obvious desire to play as much first-team football as possible, it could be suggested that if another Premier League team or a similar-sized club from abroad came in for him, he would leap at the chance to become a no.1 elsewhere.

Southampton have a fine record of signing players for a cut price and selling on for astronomical profits in the future.

It therefore is unsurprising to see only five teams (who have been in the Premier League for longer than two seasons) with a lower net spend than them.

Virgil van Dijk was signed for £13m and later bought for £75m by Liverpool. Luke Shaw was brought through the academy, and Manchester United were forced to unload £27m for his services.

Another example, also purchased by the Red Devils, is Morgan Schneiderlin.

Having signed for the Saints whilst in the Championship for just £1.5m, to mould him into a fine Premier League midfielder before again selling for £24m marks incredible business from a club run sensationally well.

He featured 261 times for the south coast outfit and was widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league. A 7.00 average SofaScore rating supported this. However, upon his move to Old Trafford, his career seemingly faltered.

This average quickly dropped to a career-low (at the time) of 6.68. Manchester had not suited him, so a trip down the M6 brought him to Everton, where he would once again struggle to recapture the form he had at Southampton.

It seemed like they had offloaded the Frenchman at the perfect time, as they never had to suffer from their sale to someone within the league.

Journalist Tom McDermott wondered whether he might have thrived under a new manager but claimed that he had been “terrible” regardless.

The 32-year-old now plays his football back in Ligue 1, for OGC Nice. This season has once again started poorly, however, as his current SofaScore rating of 6.64 suggests he is still floundering to recapture any semblance of his old self.

Southampton played a blinder to sell him when they did, as his dramatic career nosedive following suggests.

At the time it seemed like a huge blow, but as always happens with this efficient machine, his output was quickly replaced by another figure in Victor Wanyama.

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish can’t believe that Leeds United could land the signature of reported transfer target Calvin Ramsay this summer, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Leeds links with Ramsay

Officials from Elland Road, along with fellow prospective suitors Liverpool, are keen on signing the Aberdeen full-back this summer, but it is Leeds who were given the green light to talk to the player late last month.

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The Whites, and by proxy their director of football Victor Orta, are now working on a summer move for Ramsay, who recently picked up the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Young Player of the Year award.

The 18-year-old right-back has contributed to 10 goals in 33 appearances this season and looks set to leave Pittodrie this summer to raise some much-needed funds for the Dons.

The Latest: McLeish’s comments on Ramsay transfer saga

McLeish, who contributes as a pundit for Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding Ramsay and a prospective move to either Leeds or Liverpool in the summer.

The ex-Birmingham boss thinks that the teenager would want to head to Merseyside over Yorkshire, especially as Jesse Marsch’s side are flirting with relegation back to the Championship.

The 63-year-old said:

“I would imagine, if I was in that position right now, I want to go to Liverpool.

“Because of the magnitude of the club, because of the lack of any chance of relegation. Even though I’d be an understudy to Trent Alexander-Arnold for a couple of years, I’ll get in and out.

“You’ve got a timeframe to develop yourself. Then if you end up cutting it at Liverpool, you’ve almost won the World Cup, haven’t you?

“I would expect a young player to be thinking that. Not thinking: ‘Well, Leeds are on the verge of relegation in the Championship. Maybe I’ll play more games in there.’

“That is a blooming hard league, the Championship. Any team can win on any given day. Even the bottom teams can beat the top teams.

“If Liverpool and Leeds are in for him, I would think he’d, all day long, choose Liverpool.”

The Verdict: Leeds could be ideal for Ramsay

Leeds became the first team in Premier League history to hand eight teenagers their debuts in a single season, suggesting that there could be a clear pathway for Ramsay at Elland Road.

The Whites are willing to offer the Scot a major pay rise and the promise of regular first team football. You’d expect that more senior game-time would be on offer under Marsch than for Liverpool, given the glittering presence of Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield, so it will be interesting to see where the 18-year-old ends up ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Should a move to Elland Road fail to materialise for Ramsay, at least Marsch will still be able to call upon Cody Drameh, who has starred while on loan at Cardiff City since the turn of the year. He picked up awards of his own for his performances in the Championship, so Leeds’ right-back ranks appear to be in good stead even if Ramsay chooses Liverpool over the Whites.

In other news: Leeds and Orta now make first move to sign ‘undefendable’ star in blow to Everton

Sky Sports man Ben Dinnery has now given his reaction to some news involving Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Darsley Park plans

As per The Chronicle, the North East club have now drawn up and submitted extensive plans to improve the Darsley Park training ground in Benton.

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They have admitted that it is currently not up to scratch for a team in the Premier League, especially with the ambitions that the new owners hold, and so they want to upgrade it with new state-of-the-art facilities.

The Latest: Dinnery reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery, who is also an injury expert who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis, has claimed that their current facilities are ‘shocking’, and that the improvements could give the players a ‘massive’ lift:

“There are two facets to this.

“Away from injury rates, you need to upgrade the facilities to take recruitment to the next level.

“The time you spend at the stadium is a very small fraction of how you spend your time. It’s what happens on a day-to-day basis that will really impact your well-being and state of mind.

“These things all help on the training ground. Psychologically, it can give your players a massive lift.

“If Newcastle want to be among the elite, they need to provide an elite level of rehab and recovery facilities that match the standard of players they want to bring in.

“We have seen players dunked in wheelie bins full of ice as part of their post-match recovery at Newcastle. It’s shocking, and they recognise that. Some of these players are on six-figure per week salaries.

“Sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got, and a cryotherapy chamber isn’t 100 per cent essential. But it’s about creating a level of elitism.”

The Verdict: Needed

The training complex needed to be upgraded anyway, but it does even more so now if the Magpies have the ambition of becoming one of the top clubs in the Premier League, and indeed in Europe.

It will boost their chances of attracting big names to St. James’ Park in future transfer windows if they can show off the kind of facilities that they have on offer, and also improve the current squad in terms of fitness and recovery, something which was a major issue earlier this season.

Nonetheless, this is a smart move by the new ownership, and one that will surely be welcomed by the Toon Army.

In other news, find out who is now ‘set to leave’ NUFC this summer here!

Injury expert Ben Dinnery believes Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford will have a ‘special role from the bench’ in the club’s final two Premier League fixtures, Football Insider report. 

The Lowdown: Back in team training?

Bamford has had a season to forget, as have the Whites, and have just two games remaining against Brighton and Brentford to avoid relegation.

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The 28-year-old has been out since March with a foot problem but appears to be on track for a possible return on Sunday.

Jesse Marsch revealed earlier in the week that he expects Bamford to be involved in team training ahead of the weekend, which could put him in the picture for a place in the match-day squad at Elland Road.

The Latest: Bamford return is ‘huge’

Dinnery, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI about that news of a possible Bamford return.

He labelled the forward as a ‘huge’ part of the Whites squad and feels the striker will play a key role from the bench.

“With a fully fit Patrick Bamford, Leeds would be nowhere near where they are currently.

“They don’t really have a natural goalscorer at the moment. They have tried a few up there but no one has got anywhere near his goal return.

“It depends on results elsewhere. I certainly think there is a special role from the bench to be had for Bamford.

“He isn’t going to be where they want him in terms of fitness and sharpness but he knows how to score. He will make opportunities for himself and he is huge for that Leeds team.”

The Verdict: Needed

Leeds are down to the bare bones due to injury and suspension as they look to avoid the drop, so having Bamford involved again would be a timely boost.

Marsch’s side haven’t scored from open play in four games and don’t look a threat in attack, managing over 1.0 expected goals (xG) just once in their last five games.

Therefore, Bamford’s possible return to the bench would be a much-needed one, especially as he has scored 19 Premier League goals and registered 10 assists in the last two seasons.

In other news: Leeds and Orta now planning for the Championship as contact made to sign £5k-p/w flop – opinion. 

Newcastle United remain interested in signing Lille defender Sven Botman, despite growing talk over an AC Milan move, reports Chronicle Live.

The Lowdown: January’s failed pursuit

The 22-year-old was at the centre of a heavy transfer saga involving the Magpies in January. After extensive negotiations, the North East club failed to secure the Dutchman as he became increasingly wary of the move, with Newcastle at the time facing a serious risk of Premier League relegation.

As a result, the Tyneside outfit moved their attention elsewhere, and ended up signing Dan Burn from Brighton on deadline day, who has since started 15 top flight games.

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The Latest: Magpies still keen

According to a report by the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, Botman has been included on a list of centre-backs that Newcastle will push for in the summer.

The Lille defender is strongly linked with a move to Milan, whilst other rumours have recently emerged linking the Netherlands U21 international with a switch to Manchester United, following the announcement of Erik ten Hag as manager.

However, the Magpies believe they will get another opportunity to hold talks with Botman’s agent.

As a result, Eddie Howe will wait to make a decision on signing James Tarkowski, with the belief that signing the 6 foot 4 Dutchman remains a possibility.

The Verdict: Tough competition

The report claims that Milan have been informing Italian journalists that they are set to win the battle for Botman at €30million.

However, with Newcastle’s insistence to re-open talks with the player’s agent, this suggests otherwise.

Described as a ‘golden boy’ by Francesco Miniero, it is clear to see why the Magpies are so intent on signing Botman, who already has a Ligue 1 winners medal at such a young age.

With such high praise from across Europe, this won’t be an easy signing to make in the summer, but it could be one that propels the Magpies into the European fight next season.

In other news: Newcastle United: Italian source makes Thomas Strakosha claim

Having come to the end of the Premier League season, Manchester United found themselves languishing in sixth position in the table, the joint second lowest they had finished a campaign since Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013.

The demise has been terrible, but hopefully, new manager Erik ten Hag can use the winning experience he gained at Ajax to great effect. Although the same was said for Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal.

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The squad requires a major summer overhaul, with too much deadwood needing replaced in the transfer window and certain positions urgently needing to be improved. The club is in desperate need of a centre forward this summer, with Edinson Cavani departing at the end of the season and the team over-reliant on the 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who has netted 24 times during the campaign.

United have been linked with a host of names, but ten Hag may have found his very own “Ibrahimovic” in Austrian striker Sasa Kalajdzic, with the Red Devils’ target thought to be available for just £21m.

They will face a tough battle, however, as European heavyweights, PSG and Borussia Dortmund have shown a keen interest in the player, who has been compared to the aforementioned Ibrahimovic and Peter Crouch, due to his “lanky” 6 foot 7 frame, and these could stand him in good stead if he moved to England.

It’s not just his tall frame that has earned these comparisons however, the 24-year-old has netted six goals in just 15 matches as his season has been disrupted by injury and he scored in his side’s last two matches to secure Stuttgart’s Bundesliga status.

Heading is a strong part of his game, another reason to draw the Ibrahimovic and Crouch comparisons and there is no doubt he could succeed in England and be the talisman that ten Hag needs.

Stuttgart chief Sven Mislintat has stated that the player is “likely” to leave the German club in the summer and this should put United on red alert ahead of a potential swoop.

AND in other news, Man United are now the “frontrunners” to sign £35m “great leader”, ten Hag needs him

Everton appear to be leading the race for James Tarkowski as Frank Lampard aims to bolster his defensive options ahead of next season.

What’s the news?

According to The Telegraph, the Toffees now lead the chase for the Burnley defender, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and West Ham.

The England international is a free agent this summer following the expiry of his contract at the end of June, and with the Clarets’ relegation to the Championship confirmed on the final day of the Premier League season, it seems unlikely that he will remain at Turf Moor.

Tarkowski could be Everton’s “rock”

Lampard has endured a difficult start to life at Everton, with the club narrowly avoiding relegation to the Championship as they finished 16th in the top flight, and that won’t be enough to satiate the supporters.

The Toffees conceded 66 league goals last season – only four teams let in more – and the defence is in urgent need of improvement.

Tarkowski has been earning £70k-p/w at Burnley and would likely want that matched or improved if he comes to Goodison Park.

His former manager Sean Dyche dubbed him “outstanding”, with journalist Alex James previously describing the defender as a “rock”, and there seems little doubt that he would instantly improve Lampard’s leaky defence.

The 29-year-old has an average rating of 6.97 on WhoScored this season, the best of anyone in the Burnley squad, which shows that he was a vital presence at the back despite their relegation. Also, Tarkowski ranked in the top 1% out of positional peers in the big five leagues in both blocks (2.67 per 90) and aerials won (4.95) during 2021/22.

The Everton defence could look a lot different next season if Lampard can secure the signature of the Burnley colossus. It could prove to be the most important signing that the club make during the summer, if indeed it comes off.

AND in other news, Lampard could unearth the new Richarlison with Everton bid for “dangerous” £58m talent

Leeds United may look to hijack Everton’s move for defender James Tarkowski, according to The Daily Mail’s Dominic King.

The Lowdown: Tarkowski in demand

Tarkowski, who Sean Dyche described as ‘outstanding’, appears to be a man in demand with his Burnley contract set to expire at the end of June.

The 29-year-old has held talks with Aston Villa and has also been linked with Fulham and Newcastle.

However, it looks as if Everton are winning the race for the centre-back’s services, and Leeds could now look to make a late move for the player ahead of their recent relegation rivals.

The Latest: Leeds interest

King shared a story for The Daily Mail late on Thursday evening regarding Tarkowski, claiming that Everton are confident of signing the Burnley star on a free transfer.

However, the reporter added that the Whites are one of a few clubs keeping tabs on Tarkowski’s situation as ‘they plot a potential transfer swoop’.

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The Verdict: Unlikely?

Leeds are already well-stocked at centre-back with five senior options, and it looks as if their priorities currently lie elsewhere.

Reports have suggested that after the club wrap up a move for second summer signing Rasmus Kristensen, Leeds will look to sign a central midfielder, striker and an experienced goalkeeper.

Therefore, you’d expect that a move to Elland Road for Tarkowski is unlikely, however, it could be one to monitor following King’s claim.

In other news: Victor Orta now spotted 5.6 miles from stadium of ‘quality’ Leeds target dubbed the ‘new Drogba’.