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Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that Everton are going to listen to offers for Mason Holgate this summer.

This comes despite the defender being a regular in Carlo Ancelotti’s side this term.

Holgate has shown a great deal of versatility by turning out at both centre-back and right-back this season and even played in a defensive midfield role during the draw at Brighton last month.

But Bent fears that his days at Goodison Park could be numbered, just 15 months after he signed a new long-term contract with the club.

Everton’s central defensive department has been highly competitive this season, but Holgate has still made 31 appearances in all competitions, with Ancelotti opting to chop and change his back four on a regular basis.

Michael Keane and Yerry Mina have been his preferred centre-back pairing, but with Seamus Coleman and Ben Godfrey sharing the right-back role, former Toffees striker Bent believes that the club are looking to cash-in on Holgate.

He told Football FanCast:

“Well, he’s not really played too much. There’s been a lot of swapping in and out of the team, and he’s had a lot of defensive partners.

“Is that because the manager doesn’t fancy him? I spoke to someone and I think they’re going to listen to offers, and if the right offer comes then maybe they’ll push him off.”

This summer will witness the most change Wolves have had since Fosun bought the club.

Nuno Santo has left in search of pastures new with a fresh manager, potentially Bruno Lage, arriving at Molineux.

With that in mind, a number of their best players could also depart.

What’s the word?

A plethora of names have been linked with a move away from the Old Gold this summer with the likes of Rui Patricio and Nelson Semedo catching the eye of Roma.

Adama Traore’s future is also in doubt despite contract talks ongoing but one player who looks more certain to leave is Ruben Neves.

In a crushing reveal by The Athletic’s Tim Spiers, he revealed that in order to buy big this summer, Wolves will have to sell some of their prized assets.

Consequently, Neves could be one of the players to make way. It’s thought Wolves would be willing to let him depart if they receive an offer in the region of £35m.

Huge blow

When you look at the players that Nuno took to the next level at Molineux, Neves would be right at the top of the pile.

The Portuguese midfielder was brought in from Porto as the most expensive signing in Championship history, giving up Porto’s captaincy and a place in the Champions League for the chance of reaching the top-flight in England.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-wolves-transfer-rumours-and-news-soumare-dias-dembele-marques-nuno-santo” title=”Read the latest Wolves transfer rumours and news!”]

Neves hasn’t disappointed and has lived up to all of the hype in the Midlands, seeing his transfer value rise by an astronomical 200%.

He ended the campaign as the joint top goalscorer at Wolves on five, a number that signified his best attacking return since the club were promoted.

Thus, he could leave just as he’s beginning to add even more to his game. During 2020/21, the Portugal international has made more passes per game in the final third than he’s done over the last four seasons.

A player capable of producing golden moments, few in the British game have a better sight of the goal from outside the box. In August 2019, the midfielder racked up a 13th goal for Wolves. That happened to be a tenth from outside the box in Old Gold.

At that moment in time, only Harry Wilson (12) and Christian Eriksen (11) had scored more often from that range since Neves came to England.

He has been Wolves’ quarterback for a number of years now. Neves dictates play, can score goals and lays the foundations to transition from defence to attack quickly.

With Joao Moutinho in the later stages of his career, keeping the 24-year-old at this moment in time is absolutely imperative.

Wolves fans may want to see the club spend this summer but they will have every right to be seething if they do so by selling their best players.

Neves is one of the first names on the team sheet. He’s only missed two Premier League games in the last 24 months. Therefore, to lose him would be a devastating blow.

AND in other news, Shades of Nuno: Shi will condemn Wolves to more mediocrity by hiring stubborn 49 y/o…

For the business end of the season, Liverpool relied on Ozan Kabak, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams at the heart of their defence to help them qualify for the Champions League. However, Jurgen Klopp must sign a new centre back to be competitive next season, according to former Wigan Athletic manager Paul Jewell.

Phillips, who has been a rock at the back since being handed a regular run of games since February, has been linked with a move away this summer with Liverpool unable to guarantee him the game time he requires.

There have been reports suggesting that Liverpool are set to sign Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig this summer, with the young Frenchman either able to play as a right-back or centre back after helping guide the Bundesliga side to a second-place finish.

This season was a freak one for Liverpool with all the injuries and centre backs pairings they had to use but Klopp can’t take the risk of it happening again so he must sign a new centre back in the summer, according to Jewell, who spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern:

“Van Dijk is arguably the best centre back in the world so any team would miss him and Gomez complements him well. It’s quite interesting because Liverpool lost their two centre-backs, but have struggled to score goals.

“It’s been quite a bizarre season really but even when they get those two back fit, I still think they need another centre back if they’re going to challenge next year.”

Liverpool’s main man at the back, Virgil van Dijk, has decided to not participate in the European Championships this summer, as he wants to focus on being ready for the start of next season with Klopp’s side eager to regain their Premier League crown.

It took a final day victory against Crystal Palace in front of 10,000 fans at Anfield to secure Liverpool’s spot in the Champions League next year and despite their struggles, they ended up finishing third.

This is set to be one of the busiest summers in the history of Celtic Football Club.

Not only will they welcome a new manager to Parkhead, there will also be the arrival of a new director of football to coincide with Peter Lawwell’s retirement. Once everything is in place, the Bhoys will need to go about discovering who wants out and who wants to stay.

It could be a summer of mass departures, with Odsonne Edouard close to moving south of the border and Kristoffer Ajer also watched by clubs in England. With that in mind, it would not be the most ideal of starts to Ange Postecoglou’s reign in Glasgow.

The 55-year-old is now the favourite to take over in Paradise after a bid to lure Eddie Howe to Celtic collapsed unexpectedly. The Australian will have a lot on his plate if and when he does take up his seat in the dugout.

With that in mind, how could Postecoglou’s starting XI look next season once the summer transfer window has concluded? Here’s our fun and quirky prediction…

We’re tipping Celtic to remain with a standard 4-2-3-1 formation, but there are a number of changes.

Let’s start in goal, where Dundee United stopper Benjamin Siegrist has been linked on numerous occasions with a move to the Bhoys.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-ajer-howe-lampard-wilshere-gauld” title=”Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

The 29-year-old made a remarkable 12 saves during a 0-0 draw between the two teams earlier this season and has a wonderful knack of keeping everything at bay. It’s thought that the Swiss stopper may set Celtic back around £1m.

At left-back, we’re tipping Celtic to strengthen their ranks by landing Aaron Hickey. Once of the Bhoys’ academy, he could be tempted to return to Parkhead in a deal which would be worth £4m. With Diego Laxalt heading back to Milan, they will need to find greater depth in that part of the pitch.

Ajer is expected to leave, so it would be surprising if Celtic didn’t sign a centre-back. With Christopher Jullien out for a prolonged period of time, Stephen Welsh resumes his place at centre-back alongside Ciaron Brown.

The Northern Irishman has been touted with a move on a free transfer this summer after his contract with Cardiff expires.

One of the club’s landmark additions could be in midfield, where the talented Ali McCann is snapped up. The 21-year-old has been targeted by Celtic and was among the nominees for Scottish Player of the Season.

St Johnstone will settle for nothing less than their record fee for a departure of £1.75m. Perhaps a bid in or around the £2m mark would be suitable.

Another exciting addition is on the left flank, where Karamoko Dembele’s brother Siriki joins from Peterborough. Barry Fry exclusively told Football FanCast recently that the 24-year-old will be allowed to leave if they can’t agree on a new contract, and a fee of £3m has been touted for the winger’s services with Celtic among his admirers.

The final arrival could be up front in a bid to replace Edouard. That sees Kevin Nisbet sign from Hibernian in a deal which could see the Glaswegian outfit part with £3m.

All in all, that would ensure a spend of £13m from Dominic McKay, funds which could be provided from selling Edouard and Ajer.

AND in other news, “Unbelievable” 49 y/o wants to rival Postecoglou for Celtic job, fans must be buzzing…

Aston Villa are still being linked with a move for Burnley striker Chris Wood, as reported by Birmingham Mail.

Enjoying a productive 2020/21 campaign, the New Zealand international contributed with 16 goal involvements as he helped Burnley stave off relegation; namely 12 goals and four assists [Transfermarkt].

Dean Smith allegedly wants another forward signed, in order to take the sole goal-scoring burden away from Villains hero Ollie Watkins moving into 2021/22. Wood is seen as someone who is proven in the Premier League, as well as being an alternative mould of player who could make an impact at Villa Park [Birmingham Mail].

Wood would reportedly cost Aston Villa over £25 million if they were to successfully negotiate a deal for the 29-year-old.

Paying huge money for someone who will soon be in his thirties has not pleased the Aston Villa support, despite Wood’s impressive form this term. In light of this news, loads of fans took to Twitter to fume  at these latest developments.

Villa fans react:

Here is what some Aston Villa supporters had to say regarding the update:

“Doesn’t fit the Villa player profile, this is never going to happen if you ask me and I won’t lose any sleep over it either sorry to say.”

Credit: @FabledSage

“He will be 30 soon so a defo no!!!!!”

Credit: @bils85

“We definitely need a striker, but not him”Credit: @Liam_856

“This is getting boring now why would we need a Burnley striker who is very average for them, give it a rest now lads it ain’t gonna happen.”
Credit: @tw1708

“No too old doesn’t fit into our recruitment policy defo not a step forward in my opinion”

Credit: @scott38245738

“Isn’t it time to call up

@LouieBarry6
? I belive we have a strong starting 11, it would be great to develop our young lions!”

Credit: @villaboy147

In other news, Aston Villa fans react to their interest in a midfield beast.

Former Everton star Michael Ball says that the next manager has to get along with Marcel Brands if he is to be a success at Goodison Park.

The Toffees are on the hunt for a new boss since the departure of Carlo Ancelotti, who shockingly left his job to join Real Madrid after Zinedine Zidane left his role at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It is unclear who will be chosen to come in and replace the Italian but ex-Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo appeared to be the frontrunner prior to developments seeing him touted as the top target for Crystal Palace, though there is also said to be interest in David Moyes, who is under contract at West Ham United.

Brands is staying at Goodison Park as the club’s Director of Football, and he is leading the chase for Ancelotti’s successor.

As a result, Ball believes that whoever comes into the club must agree to work alongside the Dutchman, and give him the power to strengthen the squad, instead of disagreeing over pursuits of players et al.

He also believes that owner Farhad Moshiri cannot be at the forefront of the chase for a new boss, given his track record of mistakes in the market.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Ball said: “It’s a huge decision for Moshiri and he’s got it wrong quite a few times. He’s spent a lot of money so I understand why he wants his input but you’re paying a guy there, Marcel Brands, to have a relationship with the manager, you want them to be on the same page.

“You don’t want them to be hammer and tongs, you know, ‘this is my player, this is my player’ and have two or three people on recruitment, which we have in the past, and it hasn’t worked.”

With West Bromwich Albion’s search to appoint Sam Allardyce’s successor at The Hawthorns having drawn on for an excruciatingly prolonged period, a door may have just opened that would allow the club to move for the perfect candidate.

Having been rejected by a number of their first-choice targets already this summer, a list that includes the likes of Roy Hodgson, Frank Lampard, David Wagner and Michael Appleton, as well as the club’s owner, Guochuan Lai, personally vetoing a move for Chris Wilder, it very much appears as if West Brom are running out of options in their managerial search.

However, with The Telegraph reporting on Tuesday that Scott Parker looks set to leave Craven Cottage by mutual consent in the coming days, the Baggies’ fortunes could have just made a dramatic u-turn.

Parker could be transformational

Despite having overseen a second relegation from the Premier League in the space of just three seasons, Parker’s record in the Championship should provide Lai with more than enough incentive to make an approach for the 40-year-old manager.

Indeed, over the former England international’s 46 games in charge of Fulham during the regular Championship season, the young coach guided his side to a highly impressive 23 wins, 12 draws and 11 losses, results which saw Fulham secure a fourth-place finish in the second tier standings, just two points behind Slaven Bilic’s West Brom side in the automatic promotion places.

Parker then overcame Cardiff City with a 3-2 aggregate win in the play-off semi-finals, before defeating a heavily fancied Brentford side 2-1 AET in the final – meaning the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder had achieved the feat of leading his team back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

As such, with an immediate return to the top flight very much being the primary objective for West Brom next season, Parker’s appointment would appear to dramatically boost the Baggies chances of being successful in their quest to once again be playing Premier League football at the earliest opportunity.

Furthermore, with managers such as Pep Guardiola, Marcelo Bielsa and Jurgen Klopp all singling the 40-year-old out for his impressive brand of football at Fulham, with the latter of the three stating his belief that Parker is an “exceptional” manager, not only would his appointment increase the club’s chances of promotion, it would also bring a fresh, exciting and attacking style of play to The Hawthorns – something that fans must be longing for after half a season of watching Allardyce’s West Brom.

So, it would seem Parker ticks a great deal, if not all, of the boxes that Lai is likely demanding from the Baggies’ next manager, leading us to believe that the owner should be doing all he can to lure the Fulham boss to West Bromwich this summer.

Parker is reportedly a target for potential play-off rivals Bournemouth and that is said to be his most likely destination but with nothing seemingly signed with The Cherries yet, West Brom, having also decided not to sign Wilder, should make big push to convince the former England midfielder that Albion would be the best place for him to manage.

In other news: Lai could have just made his biggest West Brom mistake to date, fans are rightly livid

Leicester City are set to complete the signing of RB Salzburg striker Patson Daka in the coming days.

What’s the story?

According to well-respected journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Foxes have had an official proposal accepted for the 22-year-old and will announce his arrival next week.

Daka had been linked to several top European teams after an impressive 2020/21 campaign with the Austrian champions, but it seems as though Leicester have won the race to secure his signature.

Fans will be buzzing

The Zambia international bagged an incredible 34 goals in 42 appearances for Salzburg last season, adding a further 12 assists as Jesse Marsch’s men secured a domestic double.

His arrival will add significant strength in depth to Brendan Rodgers’ first-team squad as the former Celtic and Liverpool boss aims to build a side capable of fighting on multiple fronts.

While Jamie Vardy has been crucial to Leicester’s past success, the 34-year-old is starting to look his age and suffered a significant drop-off in form towards the backend of the recently concluded campaign – he scored just four goals in his last 16 Premier League games after coming back from a groin injury.

Therefore, the arrival of Daka will surely have the club’s supporters buzzing. He’s a forward known for his electric pace, willingness to make clever runs in behind the opposition, and smart finishing, making him the perfect heir to Vardy.

The Midlands outfit have continually punched above their weight in recent years, largely thanks to smart work in the transfer market.

Young stars have been bought for relatively low prices, before being sold for astronomical profits, and then the proceeds are reinvested to start the process all over again.

Daka could well turn out to be the most exciting purchase of them all, though. He has the potential to play for football’s biggest clubs and compete for the sports major prizes, so securing his services will be seen as a significant coup by Leicester.

Rodgers will be aiming to bring Champions League football back to the King Power Stadium next term, and the addition of Daka may just be enough to earn the current FA Cup holders a place at Europe’s top table.

And, in other news…Rodgers can save millions by unleashing “incredible” rarely-seen Leicester colossus 

An update has emerged on Viv Solomon-Otabor, regarding Sunderland’s interest in the Wigan forward.

What’s the talk?

According to Nigerian Soccer, as relayed by the Sunderland Echo, Wigan winger Viv Solomon-Otabor is attracting interest from a number of sides. Sunderland, Charlton, Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn are all said to be monitoring his situation ahead of a potential swoop.

The report claims Solomon-Otabor is stalling on an extended contract with Wigan as he is hoping for improved terms from the League One outfit. He is currently set to become a free agent at the end of the month unless Wigan are able to pin him down to a new deal.

Fans would be fuming

Kristjaan Speakman must avoid an error with Solomon-Otabor as Sunderland fans should be fuming if the club signed him this summer. The winger flattered to deceive in League One for Wigan and would not be a great addition to Sunderland’s ranks heading into next season.

He would not be an upgrade on their existing options in attack and this is why Speakman must retract the club’s interest in him.

Solomon-Otabor averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.55 for Wigan in League One. That score would have placed him 21st in the Sunderland squad for the 2020/21 campaign, behind ten other midfield/forward players for the Black Cats.

This suggests that the 25-year-old would be one of the worst players in the Sunderland squad in terms of overall performances at League One level, which does not hint that he could improve Lee Johnson’s side with a transfer to the club.

The £1.5k-per-week dud provided Wigan with two goals and four assists in 28 League One appearances in the season just gone. 11 Sunderland players matched or bettered his goal return and four players were able to produce four or more assists for the club, with Aiden McGeady’s return of 16 assists from the wing a standout in Johnson’s team last season.

McGeady is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract for Sunderland and that could alleviate any need for a player like Solomon-Otabor, as he could be the starting left winger for another year.

This shows that Solomon-Otabor does not have the quality in his end product or his overall performances to be a good signing for Sunderland and that is why Speakman must pull out of the race for his signature.

Fans will be livid if the club wastes resources on a player who is not, on paper at least, an upgrade on their existing first-team options given his displays for Wigan. Consequently, the Mackems must look elsewhere in the market for new additions.

AND in other news, Speakman must avoid Sunderland blunder over £7k-p/w flop, Johnson won’t want him…

Paul Stewart believes Oliver Skipp has the ability to make an impact for Tottenham Hotspur next season, although he has concerns over the injury he sustained at the end of his loan spell with Norwich City.

Skipp enjoyed a fabulous spell on loan with the Canaries, as they earned promotion back to the Premier League by winning the Championship.

Skipp made 45 Championship appearances in defensive midfield, and becoming a key figure under manager Daniel Farke.

Spurs confirmed in May, though, that he had undergone surgery to repair a metatarsal fracture, although he is expected to return in time for pre-season training.

It is not clear if the new manager at the club – whomever they may be – will decide to keep Skipp at the club and give him a chance following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, but Stewart thinks the 20-year-old can be a key player in north London despite his injury.

He has had chances in the first-team, making a total of 23 appearances for the first-team, having made his debut under the management of Mauricio Pochettino.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Stewart said: “It’s not done him any harm being loaned out. It’s just a shame that he broke his foot at Norwich.

“Skipp looks like he could come back into that midfield and do really well but he got a bad injury towards the end of the season.”