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As relayed by The Mirror, an interesting update has come to light involving Tottenham Hotspur target and West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone.

The Lowdown: Spurs enter pole position…

As previously reported, it seems Spurs and manager Antonio Conte are in pole position to sign the Englishman this summer, who is set to leave upon the expiry of his contract.

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Lilywhites correspondent and in-the-know Alasdair Gold recently claimed that they are indeed leading the race for Johnstone as Man United also eye a move.

Meanwhile, Football League World and The Sun have both shared that those within the club feel they’re in pole position to seal the 29-year-old’s Bosman signing for Conte.

Amid these plethora of reports, an interesting update has emerged.

The Latest: Johnstone axed…

As relayed by The Mirror, Baggies boss Steve Bruce has now axed Johnstone from his squad for their remaining fixtures of the Championship campaign.

Indeed, it appears the Three Lions ace has now played his final game at The Hawthorns as Bruce confirms that his keeper has decided to run down his deal.

The Verdict: Certain to move…

As Johnstone is set to leave on a free, we believe he could be a snip for Tottenham as they look for an understudy and possible eventual heir to number one Hugo Lloris.

Lauded as a ‘world class’ shot stopper by Wolves legend Steve Bull, the English second tier star mightily impressed in the top flight last year and comes as a more-than adequate alternative to loanee Spurs number two Pierluigi Gollini.

The latter man looks set to return to parent club Atalanta with Johnstone coming as an arguable upgrade given his quality and homegrown status.

In other news: Tottenham official dispatched as Conte identifies ’emerging superstar’ signing, find out more here.

Watford host Wolves at Vicarage Road this weekend as they attempt to bounce back from two straight defeats in the Premier League.

Prior to the international break, Xisco Munoz’s side lost to Brighton and Tottenham without scoring a goal as they failed to build on their 3-2 win against Aston Villa on the opening day of the campaign.

They now face a Wolves side who have lost all three of their Premier League games without scoring a goal. Bruno Lage’s team were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham, Manchester United and Leicester, with Watford now looking to compound their misery.

Xisco could need to make alterations to his team in order to have the best chance of picking up a positive result against Wolves. One change he could make is in the right-back position, with Craig Cathcart having failed to impress in the opening three games.

The 32-year-old has created zero chances in the Premier League and made one error leading to a shot. He is a centre-back by trade and this has shone through in his performances, which means that it could be time for Jeremy Ngakia to be handed his chance to start.

The 21-year-old came off the bench in the second half to replace Cathcart against Tottenham and was given an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.1 for his display, as he made four tackles and two clearances. Last season, he created 10 chances in 18 starts in the Championship and averaged a score of 6.96 for the Hornets.

He also has prior Premier League experience and, in 2020, former West Ham player John Moncur heaped praise on the full-back and compared him to Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

He said: “There is a rawness about him obviously but he’s got a lot of natural talent if you look at you know, he eats the ground up, he looks good at times going forward. He reminds me a little bit of Wan-Bissaka a little bit, he’s leggy and he’s a good defender.”

As Moncur said, Ngakia covers ground and is capable of being a threat in the final third. Adding his qualities to the team at right-back ahead of Cathcart, who has struggled thus far, could be a game-changing decision from Xisco this weekend.

The 21-year-old’s energy and attacking drive down the right flank could change the game for Watford as Cathcart has been unable to offer that as of yet. The youngster could drive the Hornets up the pitch and increase their chances of scoring by creating overloads down the right and potentially setting up his teammates for chances with his crossing.

AND in other news, Xisco avoided Watford nightmare as detail emerges on £3k-pw dud’s transfer move…

Serie A expert Conor Clancy has called for West Ham United to solve their striker search by plumping for Italy international Andrea Belotti.

Hammers boss David Moyes is looking to add strength in depth after guiding the east Londoners into this season’s Europa League thanks to a club record Premier League points tally securing sixth place last term.

However, West Ham have been left frustrated in their efforts to welcome new signings as Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has been the only arrival on a season-long loan, which has the option of being made permanent.

That means the Hammers are going into the new campaign with just one senior striker in the form of Michail Antonio.

According to Italian media outlet Corriere Granata, West Ham are interested in Torino frontman Belotti. The report reveals Premier League rivals Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have also kept tabs on the 27-year-old this summer.

Belotti has scored 105 goals in 228 Torino appearances and Forza Italian Football editor Clancy feels the prolific striker is capable of replicating that form at the London Stadium.

He told Football FanCast: “He can score goals if he plays in a team where he gets service. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit between 15 and 20 goals a season again because he is very, very good across the board.”

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly interested in a swoop for Zulte Waregem forward Saido Berahino, as relayed by Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri on Twitter.

The Lowdown: Berahino profiled

Familiar to many fans of English football, 28-year-old Berahino originally burst on to the scene at West Bromwich Albion, being tipped for a bright future after notching 20 goals for the Baggies in the 2014/15 campaign [Offside Rule Podcast].

He was also once dubbed as ‘terrific’ by former boss Gareth Southgate when both worked together in the England Under-21 set up [Express].

Fast forward to 2021, he finds himself in the Belgium with Zulte Waregem, where he has notched 14 goal contributions in 34 appearances all in; ten goals and four assists [Transfermarkt].

He could now be set for a sensational return to the British game following recent reports.

The Latest: Berahino ‘is expected to leave’

As signified by Belgium-based journalist Tavolieri on Twitter: “Berahino is expected to leave the Essevee (Zulte Waregem) this day and return to England to join the League One and the English club of Sheffield Wednesday. To be continued”.

It is not yet apparent whether any prospective deal will be permanent or on a loan basis, however it is unlikely to break the bank due to the Sky Bet League One side not spending a penny this summer as of yet [Sport Witness].

The Verdict: Could be an inspired signing by Darren Moore

If he can find his shooting boots back on English soil, now-Burundi international Berahino could prove to be an inspired signing by Darren Moore should a deal materialise.

Renowned for his pace and finishing ability, he could offer a different avenue of breaking through opposition lines from bustling forwards Callum Paterson, Florian Kamberi and Lee Gregory.

His ability to link the play effectively with the midfield could also be an asset, illustrated by his impressive 83.3% average passing accuracy so far in 2021/22 [WhoScored].

In an important season for Sheffield Wednesday in the third tier of English football, the 5 foot 11 ace could help to provide inspiration in crucial moments as they seek promotion this campaign.

In other news, Sheffield Wednesday fans blast a poor performance. Find out more here.

Manchester City extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games as they beat Chelsea 1-0 away from home on Saturday.

The Cityzens have now kept five clean sheets in six Premier League matches this season, with the only goal they have conceded in the campaign coming on the opening day against Tottenham.

Gabriel Jesus’ deflected shot won Pep Guardiola’s side the match against Chelsea, with the Brazilian turning in the box and seeing his effort swerve off a Blues body and into the bottom corner past a helpless Edouard Mendy.

Forget Jesus, though, as another player ran the show for City at Stamford Bridge – Spanish international midfielder Rodri.

City ended the match with 59% possession of the ball away at one of their title challengers and Rodri’s sublime midfield performance played a large role in their dominance throughout the match.

Defensively, the midfield beast was immense. Per SofaScore, he won 71% of his duels, winning four of his six on the ground and his one aerial battle, whilst also making three tackles, two clearances and one interception to stop Chelsea attacks.

On the ball, his quality allowed City to dictate the flow of the match. Per SofaScore, he had 91 touches of the ball and completed a whopping 95% (75/79) of his passes. He also completed five of his six long pass attempts and only gave possession of the ball away five times throughout the 90 minutes, highlighting how secure he was with the ball at his feet.

The midfield beast was able to run the show for City against Chelsea. The likes of Jorginho, Kovacic and Kante were unable to get the better of him on a regular basis at either end of the pitch and that allowed City to control the game and win the midfield battle, which was the foundation for the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Jesus, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden to then work their magic in the final third.

Therefore, Guardiola will have been left delighted by Rodri’s performance, particularly after calling upon the Spaniard following his spell out on the sidelines. It is now down to him to maintain that level of display in the holding midfield role to ensure that he keeps his place in the side for the rest of the season.

Wolves haven’t exactly had the most exciting of transfer windows.

The biggest priority for Bruno Lage was holding onto the club’s best players and so far, the new Old Gold manager has done exactly that.

On the chalkboard

Heading into the final weeks of the transfer window, the Midlands club are still looking to raise some cash through player sales.

One of their most expendable assets appears to be Romain Saiss.

The Moroccan made a number of errors last season and gave away a penalty against Celta Vigo last weekend, starting the new campaign in a disastrous fashion.

Due to his versatility, however, he’d be a great loss. Saiss can play at centre-back, in defensive midfield or even at left-back as he proved last term.

Consequently, Wolves will need a player with similar qualities to replace him should he leave.

The solution

One player who has been on their radar since the days of Nuno Santo is Amadou Diawara.

The Roma midfielder has reportedly turned down Wolves before and this summer, they rejected the chance to sign the powerful holding player.

Diawara could have been included in the deal that took Rui Patricio to the Italian capital but Lage turned that proposal down.

However, we can’t help but feel as though that was a bit of a mistake. Valued at around £17m by CIES Football Observatory, Diawara possesses plenty of qualities that would improve the Wolves midfield.

Consequently, they should make moves to sign him.

Described as a “phenomenon” by his former coach, Fabrizio Tazzioli, he’s also been compared to the great Marcel Desailly for the way he plays.

It’s clear to see why too. He is calm in possession but a brute force when it comes to winning possession back from opponents.

The 24-year-old completed 89.7% of his passes last season according to WhoScored, a tally that would have placed him above Saiss and at the top of the tree for Wolves in terms of regular starters.

Furthermore, he won 1.6 tackles per 90 minutes throughout 2020/21 via FB Ref. The same source also proves he reads the game tremendously well, a facet of the game that Saiss lacks. For instance, he is in the 61st percentile for interceptions.

Diawara would be a bargain option this summer and would undoubtedly add extra muscle to Wolves’ midfield ranks.

They must reverse their initial decision and head back in for the Guinea international before the window closes.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Neto: Wolves can terrify PL defences by signing “special” 13-goal wizard…

Tottenham are interested in a deal to bring Lautaro Martinez to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), who claimed that, after failing with a move for the Inter Milan centre-forward last summer, Fabio Paratici could once again launch an offensive for the 24-year-old at the end of the current campaign.

The report added that the Argentina international could view Spurs as the ideal destination if he were to secure a move away from the San Siro this summer, having enjoyed an extremely successful spell under Antonio Conte during his own time in Milan.

Finally, it is claimed that Inter may be willing to discuss a deal for the striker due to their ongoing financial difficulties, with the Serie A club’s hierarchy reportedly willing to listen to offers starting at €70m (£59m).

He’s “perfect” for Conte

Considering the quite extraordinary metrics that Martinez returned when previously working with Conte, it is not difficult to see why both Paratici and the 52-year-old coach would be interested in a move for the Inter star this summer.

Indeed, over his 38 Serie A appearances in the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto-winning 2020/21 season, the £63m-rated forward was in breathtaking form, bagging 17 goals, registering 10 assists and creating nine big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 2.9 shots and making one key pass per game.

These returns saw the €125k-per-week (£105k-per-week) sensation, who Roberto Rojas dubbed an “absolute goal machine”, average an incredibly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.17, ranking him as Conte’s third-best player last term.

In total, the Argentine scored 40 goals and provided 19 assists in his 97 appearances under the 52-year-old, although it was not only his efforts in the final third which made him a key player for the head coach, but also his tireless work rate in a defensive capacity.

Indeed, speaking about Martinez last year, Siavoush Fallahi said of the 24-year-old: “Not many know that Lautaro Martinez was a defender back in the days. That’s why he’s so good in defence and winning the ball back. Huge resource for Inter and very appreciated by Conte for that work.”

Furthermore, it is clear that Partici is also a massive fan of the striker, with Gianluca Di Marzio stating in a recent interview with Wett Freunde: “I think Tottenham will go after Lautaro because they wanted him last summer. They want another forward to play with Kane or plan for the future without Kane. Lautaro Martinez is one of the players that Fabio Paratici loves. I think it could be Lautaro’s summer and Atletico Madrid or Tottenham could be the perfect destinations for him.”

Indeed, considering all of the above, it seems all but certain that Martinez would be something of a perfect signing to play alongside Harry Kane in the Tottenham attack, leading us to believe that Paratici simply must do all he can to get a deal over the line for the centre-forward this summer.

AND in other news: Conte can unearth his next 243-goal talent in Spurs prodigy who “runs over every blade”

Everton’s newfound wealth under owner Farhad Moshiri has failed to deliver the results that their eye-watering outlay should naturally command.

Multiple flops have undermined the progress that the Goodison Park outfit would have been hoping to make in recent years, and arguably no failed acquisition encapsulates that more than Morgan Schneiderlin.

The Frenchman first arrived on Merseyside in January 2017 for a £24m fee, and much was expected of the former Manchester United man.

“Everton is a big club in the history of English football. I have always loved the atmosphere in the stadium. I can’t wait to play and to represent this great club,” Schneiderlin said at his unveiling.

“There is a manager in place here that I know, and he can get the best out of me. I know his style and how he likes to play football. He was very good with me from the start, and I enjoyed playing football under him.”

However, his poor form from United carried into life at Everton. The holding midfielder caught the eye after playing a pivotal part in Southampton’s rise from League One to the Premier League, earning himself a move to the 20-time English champions in the summer of 2015.

But he struggled to live up to the raised expectations placed upon him in the red half of Manchester and failed to produce his best form in his maiden campaign with the Red Devils, despite making 39 appearances in all competitions.

After Jose Mourinho succeeded Louis van Gaal following Schneiderlin’s first 12 months at United, the 6 foot 1 beast made just eight appearances under the Portuguese tactician and only received 11 minutes of top-flight action before he was shown the exit door.

A move to Everton followed, yet Schneiderlin never got back to his best at Goodison Park despite playing under Ronald Koeman again, the manager who has extracted his best form during their time together at Southampton.

He made 88 largely underwhelming outings for the Blues, scoring just once and providing two assists. That was before returning to his homeland with Nice for just £2m despite the engine room operator still being in his prime years at 31.

Schneiderlin’s exit brought a close to another transfer nightmare for Marcel Brands and the Everton recruitment team and one they’ll be desperate not to repeat.

And, in other news…Everton can find their next Lukaku in “phenomenal” £25.2m-rated gem, Benitez needs him 

Crystal Palace were narrowly defeated 2-1 by a strong Leicester City side at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League today. Patrick Vieira’s side failed to repeat their great performance against Arsenal last week, and lacked the belief and effort needed to get anything from the game.

One player that Palace have looked to all season to provide that moment of magic is star midfielder, Conor Gallagher. However, today he was nowhere to be seen.

The on-loan Chelsea player registered only 29 touches which was far fewer than goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. He also lost a whopping 86% of his duels throughout his time on the pitch according to SofaScore.

He was finally substituted in the 58th minute making way for Eberechi Eze, and in the half an hour or so that Eze was on, he had impacted the game just as much as Gallagher.

The highly-rated Englishman let Vieira down but he’ll be hoping it’s a one-off, and if it isn’t Palace aren’t short of players who will be knocking on the door to start ahead of him.

It’s an unusual performance from Gallagher who has shone for the Eagles this season scoring eight goals and assisting five. He also has the highest amount of goal creating actions in the whole squad this season with 13.

Today was one to forget with the 22-year old also failing to register a single dribble as he lacked in an area he usually thrives in, driving forward with the ball.

The performance comes after his parent club Chelsea rejected Palace’s request to play him in the FA Cup semi-final where the two sides face each other.

With his run of form this season, there has been much speculation about whether he will return to West London and be involved in Thomas Tuchel’s plans, or whether he will move to Selhurst Park permanently.

Chelsea have already stated that if there are to be any talks over a transfer for Gallagher, then at least £50m would need to be offered.

All of this could be affecting the player’s game as his mind might be elsewhere.

Whatever might happen in the summer, at the moment the player needs to focus on his form on the pitch. Today’s performance doesn’t define how good he is overall, but he needs to make sure it isn’t a regular occurrence.

IN other news: Crystal Palace: Vieira lining up potential Tyrick Mitchell replacement…

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Dutch centre-back Sven Botman…

What’s the talk?

According to Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards, the defender is interested in a move to St. James’ Park in the January window. Lille, however, are keen to keep hold of their man after holding initial discussions with the Magpies over a potential £30m deal.

The reporter quote Tweeted his article with this claim: “Also contains some better news on Trippier, update on Wijnaldum and Tarkowski too. Based on conversations on the phone with people who know what’s going on. It’s going to be a very long month.”

Elation

Newcastle fans will surely be left elated by this news for multiple reasons. For starters, Edwards claims that people in the know have provided these updates, suggesting that Botman is genuinely interested in making the switch to Tyneside in the coming weeks.

This shows the pull that the takeover from PIF has given the club, as he is now prepared to leave the reigning Ligue 1 champions to fight relegation in England. It proves that the Magpies can attract quality players this month, which should give supporters hope that Nick Hammond and Eddie Howe will be able to complete key deals to strengthen the squad before the window ends.

Fans will also be buzzing as Botman could be a brilliant signing for the side. He has been in fine form for Lille in Ligue 1, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.02, and could come in and improve the defence. The centre-back has shown that he can perform consistently in the French top-flight and that suggests that he could be a strong performer for the Magpies, should he be able to adapt to English football.

Newcastle have conceded the most goals in the Premier League (42), joint with Norwich, this season and are in dire need of an improvement at the back. This is why the signing of Botman could be a major piece of business by the club and fans will be delighted to read that the Dutchman is interested in the potential switch.

Supporters will now need to cross their fingers and hope that Hammond can iron out a deal with the Ligue 1 giants to bring Botman to St. James’ Park. The window still has a few weeks left to run and Newcastle have time to convince Lille to part ways with him.

AND in other news, “Expecting” – Pete Graves drops Newcastle transfer claim that’ll leave fans delighted…