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According to a recent report, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in the signing of VfB Stuttgart centre-forward, Sasa Kalajdzic, as a replacement for Spurs’ loanee striker, Carlos Vinicius, this summer.

The report by the Daily Mail claims that, upon the expiry of his season-long loan at Tottenham, Vinicius is set to make a return to Benfica, as Daniel Levy is unwilling to pay the £36 million option to buy clause in the 26-year-old’s contract.

As a result of Vinicius’ impending departure from north London, it is then claimed that Jose Mourinho is searching for replacements for the Brazilian, with Kalajdzic believed to be one of the 58-year-old’s targets.

Last month, a report by Kicker (via Sport Witness) claimed that West Ham United are also interested in the 6 foot 5 Stuttgart forward, for whom the Bundesliga side are thought to be demanding a fee of between €20-25 million (£17.4-21.75 million) to part with this summer.

Transfer Tavern Take

With Vinicius starting just three Premier League fixtures during his loan spell at Spurs so far, with the striker only managing one goal over his total of nine top-flight appearances, it is hardly surprising that the club are unwilling to pay a substantial amount of money for the Brazilian this summer.

And, with Kalajdzic having scored 14 goals and provided four assists over his 27 Bundesliga appearances for Stuttgart this season, as well as the fact the 23-year-old is reportedly available for much less than it would cost to sign Vinicius, it is easy to see why Tottenham may feel that the Austria international would be much better value for money.

In other news: ‘It may be’ – Spurs target drops huge hint on transfer; Mourinho fascinated by ‘remarkable’ star – find out more here!

Marcel Brands can secure Carlo Ancelotti his new Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a summer swoop for Everton target Sasa Kalajdzic of VfB Stuttgart.

What’s the word?

While speaking with Give Me Sport, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Toffees are one of several Premier League sides with eyes on Kalajdzic.

The Goodison Park outfit were recently linked with the 24-year-old target man by reports in Italy, which cited Everton and Newcastle United as potential competition for Juventus in the race for the man dubbed the next Erling Haaland.

Kalajdzic has been in sensational form during his first year of German top-flight football, with the Austria international striking 13 goals in 25 Bundesliga games including eight in his last eight outings.

Stuttgart are understood to value Kalajdzic at between €20m and €25m (£17m-£21.5m) and Romano fully expects a Premier League side will present a move in the summer, although it remains to be seen if that is Everton.

“I think yes, he has chances to join Premier League,” Romano said. “To be honest with you, I don’t know about the club because all the clubs you mentioned (Everton, Newcastle and West Ham) are scouting this player, he’s an amazing player.

“At the moment, there is still nothing advanced, but I think yes, he has chances to join the Premier League. A lot of clubs are looking at him.

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“So, he’s the typical opportunity and this kind of summer we have after the pandemic, we are obviously in a difficult situation from an economic and financial point of view. Having this kind of opportunity is interesting for English clubs.

“So, I would say yes, I see him as a good opportunity in Premier League, but let’s see if they will pay what the club are asking. So, it’s still so far away, but I think it’s an opportunity.”

Should Everton sign Stuttgart’s Kalajdzic?

Kalajdzic burst out of the gates with three goals in his first three career Bundesliga games back in September before a difficult winter followed, but his form has been incredible since the end of January to now rank sixth in the German top-flight’s scoring charts.

The 24-year-old would have been forgiven for struggling to score prolifically in his first season of Bundesliga action, having missed much of last term due to a cruciate ligament rupture, though that has not been the case.

Kalajdzic’s goals have been a huge factor behind Stuttgart sitting ninth in the table heading into of the international break, with his strikes against Bayer Leverkusen, Union Berlin, Hertha BSC, 1.FC Koln and Eintracht Frankfurt directly returning seven points and avoiding defeat on four occasions.

Stuttgart would be looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone without those points, yet Kalajdzic can have an impact higher up the table in the Premier League next season if Brands were to strike a deal.

Doing so would see Everton’s Director of Football hand Ancelotti his new Ibrahimovic, having taken the Sweden icon – who Kalajdzic has been compared with – to Paris Saint-Germain for £15.5m back in 2012.

Ibrahimovic went on to strike 156 goals in 180 games for PSG across all competitions over four years in the French capital, including 35 in 46 games under Ancelotti during their sole season together.

Kalajdzic, who stands at 6 ft 6 to Ibrahimovic at 6 ft 4, is yet to boast the same record that the 39-year-old already claimed in 2012, but is on course to follow in his footsteps on a path that Brands should strive to see includes a spell at Goodison Park.

Click here to see the full interview with Fabrizio Romano.

AND in other news, Everton can potentially save £13m by turning to this Max Aarons alternative…

Frank McAvennie has exclusively told Football FanCast that he isn’t surprised that “luxury” Manuel Lanzini wants to quit West Ham this summer.

The Argentine is currently in his sixth season with the Hammers, but hasn’t been the same player since suffering an ACL injury in training ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Lanzini has been fit for the entire campaign, but has been restricted to just three Premier League starts, the latest of those coming against Sheffield United last month, and has been an unused substitute in seven of West Ham’s previous nine league fixtures.

He still has more than two years remaining on his deal with the Hammers, but recent reports suggest that Lanzini wants to leave the London Stadium in the summer, which came after French champions PSG, who are managed but his his fellow Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino, made a failed last-ditch attempt to sign him in January.

And McAvennie believes that part of Lanzini’s struggles have been down to the upturn in fortunes of Said Benrahma.

He told Football FanCast:

“The boy’s not getting a game, so if he’s not getting a game then he’s got to go. As a player, if you’re not getting a game then you’ve got to go. Sometimes you have just got to play. Lanzini has been out of the team for so long. He’s a luxury player.

“Benrahma when he came in, and David Moyes said ‘you’re losing the ball too much’. Lanzini is a little bit like that. He’s probably spoken to both of them, but Benrahma seems to have bought into what David Moyes is telling them. Great player, but Lanzini is a luxury.

“I’m not surprised he wants to quit. Benrahma has bought into West Ham, and that’s why Lanzini is not getting a game.”

Lanzini has been a great servant to West Ham over the years, but he’s some way down the pecking order under Moyes, which makes a summer exit extremely likely.

Aston Villa were recently labelled as the ‘early favourites’ to sign Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge this summer.

The 23-year-old looks likely to seal a move away from Chris Wilder’s side, with relegation to the Championship looking inevitable for the Yorkshire outfit.

Arsenal and Tottenham keen

According to website Jeunes Footeux, via Sport Witness, Arsenal and Tottenham are both now interested in the Blades ace and are on alert over a potential transfer.

The report claims that Berge, who has been out of action since December through injury, will be allowed to leave Bramall Lane for €26m (£22.3m).

Transfer Tavern take

Securing Berge’s services could turn out to be a shrewd piece of business by Villa, but it looks as if they’ll need to make him the club’s third biggest-signing in their history at £22.3m.

The Norwegian is capable of playing as a holding or central midfielder, so could provide Dean Smith with another strong option in the middle of the park.

On the other hand, Smith already has the likes of Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Marvelous Nakamba, Jacob Ramsey and January arrival Morgan Sanson as central options, so Smith may feel he is well-stocked in that department.

In other news: Gregg Evans believes £27k-a-week Villa ace could leave this summer, find out more here.

Lee Johnson has guided this Sunderland side to fourth in League One and the good times should carry on this weekend.

The Mackems are getting ready to face a Rochdale side who occupy a relegation place in the division. They have only won one of their last 15 outings, so it should be an uphill struggle for The Dale at the Stadium of Light.

That being said, the Black Cats did need a rescue act last weekend against Crewe in order to salvage a point.

It’s also hard to look past a number of injuries with which Johnson is having to contend. With a succession of players still on the sidelines, how could their XI look on Saturday afternoon?

The Mackems are likely to be without Grant Leadbitter this weekend as he recovers from a dislocated shoulder.

Tom Flanagan is looking stronger in his bid to return to fitness but will miss out this weekend. The same goes for Ross Stewart and Denver Hume. Bailey Wright will unfortunately also be absent on Saturday afternoon.

As a result, the makeshift pairing of Dion Sanderon and Luke O’Nien occupy the central roles in the defence.

With Sunderland taking on weaker opposition, it could give the manager a chance to go more attacking, something he did in the second half of their clashes with Crewe and Swindon.

That sees two changes made from Tuesday night, with Chris Maguire and Aiden O’Brien coming into the side. Maguire replaces Lynden Gooch in the number 10 role.

Gooch starred against Swindon but went off with a minor calf problem. Johnson wasn’t too worried at full-time but, given the number of injury problems they have, they can’t afford to take risks. That means the £5,000-per-week winger is dropped from the XI.

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The other change is on the left, where Jordan Jones comes out of the team for O’Brien, someone who has been an influential member of the team since Johnson was given the job.

The winger started on the bench in midweek but scored 11 days ago against Fleetwood. With his importance in mind, it’s not beyond the realms of fantasy to suggest he could start again.

After all, Jones still appears to be struggling for match fitness; he was hooked after just an hour on Tuesday night.

AND in other news, Sunderland must unleash “top player” who Johnson once dubbed “Championship-class”…

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, former Rangers youngster and reported target Billy Gilmour is staying at Stamford Bridge rather than leaving the club on loan before tonight’s deadline.

Gilmour has long had to grapple with the pressure and hype that comes with being dubbed the “Scottish Iniesta.” However, he has passed each test with flying colours.

Despite his age, the 19-year-old midfielder, who joined Chelsea from Rangers after rejecting an offer to stay at Ibrox, has already made eight top-flight appearances in the Premier League and played two games in the Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Yet if you cast your mind back to the start of the January transfer window, you will remember he was considering leaving on loan in a bid to get more game time amid interest from Steven Gerrard’s Gers.

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The Ibrox boss is a longstanding admirer of the club’s former starlet, who earns around £43,000-per-week at Stamford Bridge, although he publicly insisted that no talks had taken place at the time over a possible move.

Gerrard said: “I think he’s pretty settled at Chelsea. Fabulous little player but there’s been no contact”.

However, The Sun had previously reported that Rangers had indeed made an approach for the teenager midfield dynamo in December last year.

And The Athletic’s David Ornstein claimed it is unlikely he will leave on loan before the transfer window closes tonight despite struggling for game time under Thomas Tuchel with Southampton believed to be among the interested parties. Ornstein has subsequently confirmed that he will stay at Chelsea until the end of the season.

There’s no doubting the fact that this could turn out to be one of Ross Wilson’s biggest regrets in the winter transfer market. Gers boss Gerrard wanted to sign a midfielder during the extended summer transfer window and ultimately got what he wanted in the form of Bafana-Bafana midfielder Bongani Zungu on an initial loan deal with the option to buy.

Unfortunately, the move hasn’t quite worked out as he planned, as the South Africa international has struggled to break into Gerrard’s side after a string of poor performances. He has made just one start in 14 appearances across all competitions this season thus far.

Gilmour himself is currently averaging more tackles and more interceptions per match than the South African, as per WhoScored, which suggests that his defensive contributions are greater. In two appearances in the Champions League, he has averaged one shot, one dribble and 1.5 key passes per game, via WhoScored, implying that he could’ve offered an alternative threat in attack as well.

It’s fair to say that the Scotland U21 international could’ve been a game-changer for the Gers as he has shown he can tackle, unlock the sternest of defences with the deftest of touches and bring the ball forward to set his side on the front foot. He could’ve been one of the best loan signings that money can buy in the market this season, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, George Edmundson must use temporary loan move to resurrect Rangers career…

Glasgow Rangers fans have been reacting to the news that Michael Gardyne has finally been hit with a notice of complaint from the SFA after alleged comments made to Alfredo Morelos.

On December 6th last year, the Gers defeated Ross County 4-0. During the match, Gardyne allegedly made some insulting comments to Morelos, which manager Steven Gerrard bemoaned after the match. However, it took the SFA over three weeks to make a decision, with them sending the notice of complaint on December 31st.

This has attracted plenty of attention from the Gers supporters, and it seems they are a little unhappy. The time delay did not go down well, but they have also questioned why Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard has not received a similar punishment following his poor tackle against Dundee United during a 3-0 victory.

The supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the SFA decision below

“Hold on , Morelos gets suspended straight away and this comes to weeks later !!! Aye nae bother”

Credit: @d4nny_80

“Corruption at its worst.”

Credit: @billyni99933742

“FINALLY”

Credit: @_andrew_tait_

“Sporting integrity eh Peter ??”

Credit: @Blabber08756401

“Wait hold on!! If that’s the case then we’re Ross county lying!?!! Or did the manager try cover it up and that’s why he’s away?? This stinks”

Credit: @Gazzacusgxo

“Joke of an organisation”

Credit: @Tour8sbyproxy

In other news, Rangers have been tipped to move for this Premier League man.

With Paul Pogba heavily linked with the Old Trafford exit, Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward could land the perfect replacement in the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to veteran journalist Jonathan Shrager, the Red Devils are interested in Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma.

Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool are also said to be keen on landing the diminutive 5 ft 9 in midfielder, amid interest from a whole host of clubs from across Europe.

However, Brighton boss Graham Potter has dismissed these claims as sheer baloney. “There have been no approaches,” he said, as quoted by The Daily Mail. “As I’ve said before, just because it’s in the newspaper, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true.”

Whatever the case may be, Woodward simply must sanction a swoop for the former Mali international at all costs by any means necessary.

Solskjaer’s plan B

Bissouma has been in such fine form for the Seagulls since the start of the season, having provided one goal in 13 appearances in the Premier League, via Transfermarkt, while he is averaging 1.5 shots, 1.5 dribbles, 3.3 tackles and 1.6 clearances per game, via WhoScored. By comparison, even Pogba has only managed 1.2 tackles and 1.1 clearances on average per game in the Premier League so far, as per WhoScored.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been delighted with the Frenchman’s attitude in training and in matches amid intense speculation over his future at Old Trafford and insists .

If all else fails, if he cannot convince Pogba to stay at the club, a move for the Malian makes perfect sense in the meantime.

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Peter Crouch was effusive in his praise for the 24-year-old after the 2-1 defeat to Spurs in November. He told Match of the Day 2, as quoted by the Brighton & Hove Independent: “There is so much to admire from Brighton today apart from the cutting edge. “So often they had just one player in the box. Bissouma was fantastic throughout. Bissouma drove forward all afternoon but there were no runners, I don’t know where Neal Maupay was?â€

Even in the event that Pogba does end up leaving Old Trafford, this sort of forward-thinking midfielder would be most welcome in Manchester and signing a player who is capable of covering and replacing Pogba would be a shrewd bit of business, especially when you consider the fact that he is currently valued at a mere £11m via Transfermarkt, which is a fraction of the price Woodward paid Ajax for Donny van de Beek in the summer.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Former Hull City striker Dean Windass says Jadon Sancho shouldn’t join Manchester United…

Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing draw against West Brom at Anfield last time out by picking up three points when they travel to St James Park to face Newcastle on Wednesday evening.

The Reds were nowhere near their best against the Baggies, and with rivals Manchester United now just two points behind Jurgen Klopp’s side, three points are a must against the Toon.

Joel Matip’s injury on Sunday means he is certain to miss out, whilst it looks as if the game will come too soon for both Naby Keita and Thiago. It has also been suggested that Andrew Robertson could be rested in the near future, with James Milner perhaps likely to come in as his replacement.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Klopp to line his side up against Newcastle, with three changes from the team that started against West Brom…

There are two changes in the Liverpool defence with Rhys Williams coming in for Matip, as he did when the Cameroonian was injured against West Brom.

Meanwhile, Milner gets the start at left-back in place of Robertson, with the Scottish international rested ahead of the Reds’ tough away game against Southampton next week.

The former Hull City man was heavily praised by former Reds man Fabio Aurelio recently, with the Brazilian stating:

“He’s kind of the complete player because physically he’s well capable of going forward and going back he defends very well.”

Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum keep their place in midfield, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replacing Curtis Jones, with the former Arsenal man having looked dangerous in his brief cameo on Sunday, so he may earn his first start of the season.

Considering the gravity of the game, Klopp should select his strongest attack in Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in the hope that they can do the damage against Steve Bruce’s side but it would not be a surprise to see the likes of Takumi Minamino or Xherdan Shaqiri appear from the bench if the Reds are comfortable at St James’ Park.

And, in other news… Jurgen Klopp must unleash “outstanding” £120k p/w beast against Newcastle…

When Arsenal signed Pablo Mari back in January earlier this year, there may have been some eyebrows raised as to why Raul Sanllehi and co had decided to loan in a 27-year-old defender who had failed to make the grade in European football.Things were then made even more questionable when despite going down with injury, the Gunners signed the Spaniard on a permanent basis, seemingly convinced by the few times that he actually took to the pitch.

Cameo Clubs: Which obscure teams did these football legends play for?

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Having made his return to fitness a few weeks ago, Arsenal have tried to slowly ease Mari back into first-team action, and he delivered arguably his most assured performance against Dundalk on Thursday night in the Europa League.

As per Sofascore, he won 100% of his duels on the night, and made two interceptions and tackles a piece too. And aside from being defensively disciplined, he also looked extremely assured on the ball too, boasting an impressive 95% pass accuracy and even providing one key pass too.

With Arsenal already boasting an impressive left-footed central defender in Gabriel, they don’t need Mari to be a regular starter for them. But they do know that if they have to call on him, they can completely rely on him to hold his own.

He may not be one of the more glamorous signings Arsenal have made in recent years, but he is one of the more shrewd ones.