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Liverpool have once again been encouraged to make a move for Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish.

Speaking exclusively to Football Fan Cast, Dean Windass urged the Reds to make a move for the “exciting” £54m-rated midfielder.

It’s certainly advice that Liverpool should heed as they aim to recover from their disastrous 2020/21 title defence.

Although he is currently injured, Grealish is in the midst of a fantastic Premier League campaign. He currently has 18 goal involvements in the Premier League – six goals and 12 assists – form that has seen him be praised as a “God” at Villa by Windass.

It’s certainly an accurate assessment of the five-cap midfielder’s stature in the West Midlands considering that in the eight Premier League games that he has missed recently, Dean Smith’s men have won just two and scored just seven goals.

Interestingly, Grealish’s amount of goal involvements would put him third in the Liverpool squad behind just Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news%2c-transfer-rumours-and-more-gravenberch-keita-mane-williams-kabak” title=”Read the latest Liverpool news, transfer rumours and more…”]

After all, Liverpool have seen first-hand just how effective he can be in a match, with the England star having scored twice and notched three assists in Villa’s 7-2 thumping of the Reds back in October.

That is certainly the kind of creativity that Liverpool have been missing this season with Jurgen Klopp’s men having netted 17 fewer goals at this stage of the campaign than at the same point last season.

Should Grealish arrive at Anfield, his signing could go a long way in seeing the Reds get back on track from an attacking standpoint and would see them provide the likes of Mane and Diogo Jota with considerable competition on the left-flank.

Now at 25 years of age, Grealish has certainly morphed into a highly accomplished player in the top-flight of English football.

Jurgen Klopp and Michael Edwards really should consider Windass’ advice and bring him to Anfield in a summer swoop.

AND in more news, the Reds could make a costly error in swooping for this Barcelona star…

According to Daily Star journalist Paul Brown, writing on Twitter, Tottenham Hotspur have ‘already begun’ approaching managerial alternatives to Julian Nagelsmann and Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers.

Indeed, Nagelsmann was recently announced as the new Bayern Munich boss in a big blow to Spurs whilst Sky Sports report that Rodgers is more than likely to stay at Leicester.

Journalist says Spurs have ‘already begun’ approaches

The Star journalist says that chairman Daniel Levy has already begun scouring managerial alternatives and always considered Nagelsmann a tough ask.

These names include Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag and Ralph Rangnick, with the former having a glowing reputation when it comes to developing young stars.

Tottenham will need to quickly move in their hunt for a new boss as the club seek to put a forgettable 2020/2021 season behind them.

Spurs are facing a fight to qualify for Europe this season and are out of all cup competitions having recently lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City at Wembley.

Transfer Tavern take

Interim boss Ryan Mason, in the meantime, is set to stay in charge until the end of the season but Spurs apparently want a more experienced manager in place for next term.

The priority is allegedly an attack-minded coach who can re-install an exciting brand of football, and the Lilywhites should go no further than Ten Hag.

He has been compared to Pep Guardiola in the past for his Johan Cruyff-ian philosophy (AS) and so could be the perfect alternative to both Nagelsmann and Rodgers.

In other news: Alasdair Gold drops stadium naming rights update, find out more here.

When it comes to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ summer transfer plans, they are focused solely on improving their attack.

You can hardly blame Jeff Shi’s thought process. With Raul Jimenez missing since November, the Old Gold have looked a shadow of their former selves.

The Mexican has been out with a fractured skull, which has left Wolves to fall into the bottom half of the Premier League.

New signing Willian Jose is yet to score since penning terms in January while Fabio Silva’s £35.6m price tag has not been worth it; he has netted only twice since arriving.

The likes of Goncalo Guedes and Trincao have been linked but it’s Lucas Ocampos who stands proud as one of their most attractive targets.

Boasting a release clause of £62m, he presumably won’t come cheap, but judging by his previous accomplishments, he’d be an excellent pickup for Wolves.

The Argentine has scored seven times in 2020/21, providing four assists in the process. It’s hardly a surprise that Shi and Nuno Santo are interested in prising him away from Sevilla, however.

That’s because Ocampos demonstrated firsthand what he can do when the Spanish outfit defeated Wolves in Europe last season. Sevilla ultimately knocked the Old Gold out of the Europa League and it was largely thanks to the flying Argentine.

Playing on the left-hand side at the MSV-Arena in Duisburg, Ocampos tore Wolves to shreds and gave Matt Doherty a particularly tough evening.

The 26-year-old scored the goal which separated the two sides, while he was a constant menace with the ball at his feet.

Ocampos completed an eye-catching five dribbles during the contest, a number which happened to usurp Adama Traore’s tally on the night. That is certainly no easy achievement.

On top of that, Ocampos provided two crosses and managed four shots during his time on the field. Doherty had a night to forget as he was constantly pressured by the Wolves target.

The Irishman completed only 55% of his passes and failed to block a single shot from the boot of Ocampos. He did manage four successful tackles but that was indicative of what the Sevilla winger was doing to him.

Based on that night back in August, the 26-year-old would be a wonderful acquisition for Wolves.

AND in other news, Wolves could find big Adama upgrade in “unpredictable” gem with a £427m release clause…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer discussed Danny Ings’ dip in form and the uncertainty surrounding his future at St. Mary’s, suggesting there could be a correlation between the two.

Ings started the season strongly, netting four times in the Saints’ first five fixtures of the Premier League campaign. The England striker, however, has gone off the boil in recent weeks, scoring just once in his last eight league appearances.

His contract expires next summer and, according to The Telegraph, he is holding off putting pen to paper on a new deal, as he aims to secure a move to a Champions League club.

On Ings’ form and contract situation, Palmer told FFC:

“I think it’s obviously playing a part. There’s no question about that. I always believe that once a player is under that kind of scrutiny, he’s got maybe the chance of a big move, you don’t know whether his agent’s getting into his ear or whatever. You don’t know what’s going on.

“It’s been well documented that he’s been offered new contracts by Southampton and he’s not signed them. And so it’s clear to me that he sees his future away from Southampton.”

For the time being, manager Ralph Hasenhuttl must put all of that to one side and get Ings firing again, as Southampton continue to sink down the table.

The Saints have taken just one point from their previous nine fixtures, losing eight out of those nine to leave the club in 14th and seven points above the relegation zone.

Last term, Ings was able to score 25 goals in all competitions, and it is that level of goalscoring efficiency Hasenhuttl will be desperate to see again.

According to an exclusive report by TEAMtalk, West Ham United are taking a ‘keen interest’ in Burnley star Josh Brownhill ahead of the summer window and have scouted him in recent months – prompting many Hammers to buzz as their club allegedly eye the midfield maestro.

Brownhill, who has been a regular under Sean Dyche this term, starting 22 league games for the Clarets (WhoScored), has adapted ‘very well’ to the top flight since signing from Bristol City in January 2020 for £9 million (BBC).

As a result, the Hammers are reportedly taking a ‘keen interest’ in the Englishman alongside a plethora of Premier League sides ahead of the summer transfer market – with West Ham joining Wolves, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa among the outfits keeping tabs.

Indeed, TEAMtalk claim that the Irons have scouted him in recent months – with Burnley ‘facing a battle’ to keep hold of Brownhill after a noteworthy campaign.

Flocking to this news, many West Ham fans buzzed at the thought of signing Brownhill and dropped their takes on social media – with one supporter even saying he would be ‘perfect’ for David Moyes.

Find all of their best verdicts down below.

West Ham fans buzz over Brownhill claim

“10m for him unreal”

Credit: @pablofornals

“This brownhill is a class act we went for him before but missed out on him.

He would be perfect to come in and play on the right side of midfield get him in moyesy.

Plus he would be a good player to come in if rice or soucek needs a rest”

Credit: @smudgerdc

“Yes big fan of him”

Credit: @ejr_00

“yes please 100%”

Credit: @Jxkxc

“Take him all day. Moyes type”

Credit: @LiamCaseyX

“I’d take him happy”

Credit: @Kappanitreal

“I’ll have him!”

Credit: @ChrisNBish1984

“Kids a baller btw”

Credit: @WestHam_Central

In other news: West Ham have been touted to move for this striker by a pundit, find out more here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Bull, who scored 306 goals for Wolves during his career, believes Rayan Ait-Nouri is out of his depth in the Premier League and has bemoaned his lack of strength.

Ait-Nouri has made 13 Premier League appearances for Wolves this season, and managed to score his first senior goal of his career on his Premier League debut in a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace.

The 19-year old has started just eight league games this term though despite regular left-back Jonny being injured for a lot of this season, which has seen him average a 6.43 WhoScored rating as Wolves continue to think about signing him permanently.

Speaking on if the 19-year-old has been a good addition for Wolves and what he is lacking to succeed in the Premier League, Bull told FFC:

“In my eyes, he just looks a bit out of his depth.

“I’ve watched him a few times and he does get up and down the wing a bit, but he just looks a bit lightweight to me and I don’t think he’s getting a lot of chances so his confidence is low.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/exclusive-andreas-sondergaard-wolves-premier-league” title=”Exclusive! Andreas Sondergaard talks all things Wolves”]

“Whether they keep him or not beyond the end of the season I don’t know because he just looks young and a bit immature.

“In a team, you need someone who is a like-for-like replacement when somebody else drops out the side like and he just looks a bit lightweight to me.”

Ait-Nouri had only played 23 senior games of footballer before his loan to move to Wolves this season and they may think there are better options than the £36k-p/w full-back.

In total, the French defender has made 16 appearances this season but has failed to offer a consistent attacking threat as he’s returned to just one goal and assist.

Steve Bruce may rue Newcastle United’s failed January transfer swoop for Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes.

What’s the word?

According to Record, the Magpies lodged a €13m (£11.5m) bid for Nunes in the winter market but they saw the approach immediately turned down.

The Leoes were reluctant to weaken head coach Ruben Amorim’s squad during a Liga NOS title challenge, with the Jose Alvalade Stadium natives presently top of the table and four points clear of rivals FC Porto and a further five clear of SC Braga.

Sporting also believe Nunes, who they signed from Portuguese second-tier outfit GD Estoril Praia in January 2019, will only continue to increase his market value and edge closer to the €60m (£53m) release clause inserted in his new contract penned in October.

Sporting President, Frederico Varandas, additionally believes Nunes’ performances will soon justify the Lisbon outfit’s €10m (£9m) investment in Amorim, after the Leoes head coach successfully promoted the 22-year-old into the first-team fold during the second half of last season.

Nunes has now made 33 senior outings for the Leoes across all competitions, and scored his second goal for the club by heading home a stoppage-time winner over rivals Benfica on Monday night.

Record’s report is the latest to emerge from Portugal citing Newcastle’s interest in the 6ft Brazilian, after claims emerged in the January transfer window of a loan approach that carried a £10m obligation to turn the deal permanent at the end of the season.

Will Newcastle rue missing out on Nunes?

Reports of an improved bid from Newcastle would suggest United carry significant interest in Nunes’ potential, but failing to submit a tempting enough offer to Sporting in the mid-season market may leave Bruce ruing the Toon’s inability to get a deal done.

Sporting appear to have a lot of confidence in the midfielders’ talents and seemingly firmly believe he is worth more than close to a sixth of his release clause, so will be expected to demand even more in the summer should the Magpies revive their pursuit.

Nunes is consistently improving the more he features under Amorim, having gone from a player drifting between being one of the first names on a teamsheet and a substitute for much of the campaign, to scoring his first goal in senior football against Braga last month and regaining a starting role.

He is also recording a higher volume of total passes per 90 (37.2) in the Liga NOS this term than Bruce is seeing from Almiron (36.5) in the Premier League, along with more key passes (0.7) than Sean Longstaff (0.6), Matty Longstaff (0.5) and Jeff Hendrick (0.4), per WhoScored.

Nunes further matches his creative eye with an energetic presence to dart from box-to-box with three successful dribbles per 90, more than any central midfielder to have featured for the Toon in the top-flight this term. But also with close to as many successful tackles (1.2) as Jonjo Shelvey (1.3).

Newcastle returning in the summer with an even bigger offer for Nunes will be a clear admission that the club made a blunder in January by not pursuing a deal any further, and their inactivity could likely lead to a heavy hit to the pocket as well.

AND in other news, Newcastle United faced late enquiries over a £15m deal to sell a Steve Bruce outcast…

Wolves’ bizarre month or so continued in enthralling fashion on Sunday evening.

Only last week they lost to Burnley but they were back with a bang when they drew with Tottenham. The sky is the limit for Nuno Santo’s team but with Raul Jimenez injured, January is approaching at just the right time.

What’s the word?

Jimenez is currently recovering from a fractured skull and his return date is unclear. Thus, the Midlands side want to sign a short-term replacement in January.

Divock Origi at Liverpool had been lined up but they have an alternative in mind now – Luka Jovic.

The Real Madrid forward could be available on a loan deal next month and The Athletic suggests Wolves are a likely destination.

They claim that Nuno’s men have already made an enquiry for the 23-year-old but it’s not known how positively Madrid responded.

He currently earns £166k-per-week in Spain.

Ideal for Wolves

Jovic hasn’t had a great time of it at Madrid and has become an outcast in rather unfair circumstances. The forward, who coincidentally has played alongside Jimenez on two occasions for Benfica, has scored just twice for them after a £52.4m move from Frankfurt.

Although he’s failed to deliver in La Liga, he was in remarkable touch in Germany. In 2018/19, the Serbian scored 27 goals in 48 outings, producing a fabulous season in front of goal. That provoked former teammate Filip Kostic to hail him as “unbelievable.”

It feels as though Jovic likes being a big fish in a small pond and he has the technical qualities that would allow him to thrive in the Wolves set-up. You only need to look at the way Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto have performed this season to understand how a dynamic forward player works in Nuno’s team.

If goals weren’t enough, you only need to hear the words of a certain Lionel Messi to understand how good Jovic is. Speaking earlier this year, the Argentine said: “A magical player who makes the impossible possible.”

Although the striker hasn’t particularly flourished in the last 18 months, Wolves would be a superb short-term home for him. They need to forget about teenage sensation Fabio Silva and focus their efforts on Jovic.

AND in other news, Wolves ace who’s made “incredible progress” was Nuno’s hero on Sunday…

Sheffield Wednesday are among the teams chasing a loan move for Jarrad Branthwaite this month, according to reports…

What’s the word?

The Owls are said to be one of several Championship sides lining up a temporary spell for the promising Everton centre-back, as per the ECHO.

The 18-year-old is thought to be open to the idea of a short stint away from his parent club to gain some valuable first-team minutes under his belt after a frustrating campaign.

League rivals Blackburn Rovers are the only other side mentioned in the report.

Shades of Michael Hector

With the Toffees teen down the pecking order, behind the likes of Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate and Ben Godfrey, a move to Hillsborough Stadium would certainly prove beneficial.

In recent weeks, Wednesday have suffered injuries to their backline, notably Chey Dunkley and Julian Borner, whilst last season’s Player of the Year, Dominic Iorfa, has been ruled out for the entire season.

The Owls have even lost central defensive loanee Aden Flint back to parent club Cardiff City, so there is a need for additions at the back.

Since his debut last season, Branthwaite has been restricted to a total of only five senior appearances and requires game time, and Wednesday know all too well how loans like this can turn out as Michael Hector was a massive hit in south Yorkshire only two seasons ago.

Many fans wanted his return after a successful loan spell from Chelsea, though he went on to sign for Fulham for £8m.

And the two bear some similarities – both are at least 6 foot 4 inches in height and have pacey attributes despite their towering presence.

Indeed, Branthwaite has been dubbed one of the fastest players at Goodison Park (Sky Sports, via the News and Star) whilst Hector was lauded for his speed by the Premier League’s official website after transforming Fulham’s backline.

The teenager’s former manager at Carlisle has previously waxed lyrical over his potential, claiming: “The truth is, I think he has got everything. He can pass the ball almost equally as good with both feet. He’s a terrific footballer.”

Considering he’s only on a reported £15k-per-week, he could fit into the Owls’ wage bill nicely as Flint was thought to be on the same amount and he’s no longer at the club.

Dejphon Chansiri must swoop for Branthwaite before one of their rivals get to him this month.

AND in other news, How Sheffield Wednesday could look under managerial front-runner Paul Cook…

Celtic look ahead to tonight’s Scottish Premiership clash with Ross County as they prepare to travel to Victoria Park. The Hoops are on a five-match unbeaten streak in the league right now, thanks to a new found positive run of form.

Neil Lennon’s status as Celtic boss continues to hang in the balance amid their disappointing 2020/21 season. They will ultimately lose out on their Premiership title as Rangers wait to be crowned and rewarded for their blistering runaway campaign.

But despite their struggles, the Bhoys are looking to limit the damage taken and end the season with a positive. Recent decisions regarding lineups have worked wonders for Lennon and his team, with risks involving the integration of Ismaila Soro and David Turnbull paying off in dividends.

The duo will more than likely start against Ross County off the back of their impressive displays recently. Another man who should be named on the team-sheet is Ryan Christie. The Scotland international has come under a lot of criticism recently from Celtic fans and his somewhat inconsistent performances have divided the fanbase.

Christie was dropped from the squad earlier this month when the Hoops took on Motherwell in a 2-1 win. He returned to make a cameo appearance in the following match against St Mirren, in which he contributed a goal and an assist.

The £8,000 per week midfielder earned his way back into the team and has started both matches since then. Last time out he put in a solid shift in the middle of the park and proved to be a handful for the opposition. He was fouled four times, which was more than any other Celtic player on the pitch, according to Sofascore.

He is a driving force for the Hoops in the engine room and he could play a big part in carving open the Ross County defence tonight. Lennon must let him silence his harshest critics.

In other news, Celtic should move for free agent Johnny Russell…