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Noel Whelan has dropped a worrying Rangers transfer claim involving Borna Barisic.

The Lowdown: Premier League race for Barisic

As per Football Insider, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Wolves are in a Premier League race to sign Barisic in the summer window.

A recruitment source has told the news outlet that talent spotters from some clubs in the top flight are hoping to watch the Rangers ace play in Euro 2020 for Croatia, and if he performs well, bids are likely to come in for him.

The Latest: Whelan on Barisic

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan, who is now a pundit after playing as a striker for the likes of Leeds and Coventry City, has claimed that he is not surprised that so many teams from the Premier League are interested in signing Barisic, and warns that loads more will be, especially Marcelo Bielsa’s side:

“He’s an established player who has played very well for his club side.

“You look at successful teams like Rangers and about players being noticed. When you win titles as emphatically as Rangers did, you get looked at. 

“There will be loads of teams interested in him I’m sure. It doesn’t surprise me to hear Arsenal and Villa are looking at him.

“He’s just had a fantastic season, scoring goals, getting assists and keeping clean sheets.

“He ticks every single box. He gets up, he can defend, he’s a threat and he fits the style of play at Leeds United.”

The Verdict: Worrying for Rangers

It is certainly worrying for the Ibrox faithful that so many clubs from the English top flight are keeping tabs on Barisic, as a move to the perhaps the world’s most prestigious league may be simply too much to turn down.

The 28-year-old was a very important player for the Gers both in their SPFL title win and in general throughout the 2020/21 season, playing in no fewer than 50 matches in total in all competitions, scoring five goals and making a remarkable 14 assists from left-back (Transfermarkt).

Barisic would certainly not be easy to replace for Steven Gerrard’s team, as an exit would leave Gerrard without a quality defender and primary playmaker, and so they must look to try and keep him at all costs.

In other news, find out the latest Police Scotland have done amid the 55 celebrations saga here!

Queens Park Rangers are yet to receive any transfer offers for Seny Dieng.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by West London Sport, who claim that there have, so far, been no enquires made regarding the 26-year-old goalkeeper, despite the fact that West Ham United have recently been linked with a move for the QPR man.

Indeed, a report by The Sun claimed that David Moyes’ side are extremely keen on signing the £720k-rated shot-stopper this summer, for whom it is claimed Queens Park Rangers would demand a £6m fee.

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Dieng has been since earning his spot at Mark Warburton’s number one this season, the news that there have been no offers made for the ‘keeper is likely to leave Rs fans buzzing.

Over his 42 Championship appearances for QPR this term, the 26-year-old helped his side to keep 11 clean sheets and made a total of 121 saves, as well as making an average of 2.9 stops and 0.2 successful run outs per game.

These metrics culminated in the Senegal international earning a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.96, ranking him as Warburton’s seventh-best performer in the second tier this season.

As such, it would very much appear as if keeping hold of the shot-stopper – whom the Rs manager dubbed as “outstanding” – this summer will be something of a priority for the 58-year-old QPR boss, as Dieng will likely play a huge role in the Rs’ bid to push for a top six finish next season.

And, at present, it would seem that, contrary to reports of West Ham’s eagerness regarding a deal for the goalkeeper, QPR could be on course to retain the services of the £4k-per-week man beyond the summer, something that is undeniably good news for both fans fo the club and Warburton alike.

In other news: Warburton heading for QPR summer transfer disaster over “brilliant” £5k-p/w flop – opinion

Former Tottenham Hotspur star Graham Roberts insists that Mauricio Pochettino is closing in on a sensational return to the club.

Spurs have been heavily linked with an amazing move to bring the Argentine back to the club just 18 months after sacking him.

The two parties are said to be in talks, per The Athletic, with Pochettino keen on returning to Spurs as he looks to further the legacy he built in his initial five-year stay with the club.

Roberts is confident that Pochettino will end up moving back to north London, even though there has been precious little movement over the weekend in regards to his possible return.

Indeed, he believes that it is only the finer details that are needing to be worked out, as the Argentine will want to have full control of how the club operates in the transfer market.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “I think everything’s in place. It’s just, I suppose it’s contracts isn’t it and in the fine details.

“When Pochettino was there last time it looked as though he never had the final say on transfers and all that. So now I’m sure he’s going to make sure if they want him, that he gets all that in place.”

Pochettino guided the club to the Champions League final and two Premier League title challenges during his first spell.

Lots of Wolves fans have been flocked to a transfer update on Rui Patricio as Corrie dello Sport (via Sport Witness) report on AS Roma’s interest him.

As per the news outlet, the Portugal international, who is currently valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, is one of a number of goalkeepers named as a potential signing for the Serie A club in the summer transfer window.

This has caused a debate between several members of the Molineux faithful over whether they should cash on a 33-year-old whose price will surely only decrease, or keep him with no reported replacement lined up.

Nonetheless, it will no doubt be interesting to see where the future of Patricio lies when the market officially opens, and if he were to leave, who would the Midlands club have lined up as a potential replacement.

Wolves fans on Patricio transfer update

These WWFC supporters seems split on the transfer update after it was shared on Twitter:

“We need to keep he saves us so many points a season”

Credit: @harryvenner

“Financially speaking if we can get £10-15 million for someone his age it’s better than losing him for nothing in a year or two time. Not sure it’s the best thing for the team as money is needed for other areas such as CB’s first – Scott”

Credit: @SweetSourSoccer

“Take the money & move on. He’s far too suspect at being beaten low, poor with his distribution & doesn’t command his box well enough which could take so much pressure of our defence at times. This is what scouts are for. There’s better out there I’m sure.”

Credit: @TommyOliverWV

“Only a year left on his current deal maybe wise to cash in for anything above £10m. Could probably get Dieng off QPR for about £7m one of the best championship keepers.”

Credit: @FW90

“Good off you go!”

Credit: @xeno2480

“Unpopular opinion – cash in and buy Darlow”

Credit: @Wolvesjay90

In other news, find out what Tim Spiers update has left Wanderers raging here!

Leeds United star Patrick Bamford has suffered a major blow, with England manager Gareth Southgate omitting him from the provisional squad for Euro 2020.

What’s the story?

The striker has been an absolute sensation in the Premier League this season for the Whites, banging in 17 goals and providing another eight assists in the 38 games.

However, despite his form, Southgate has opted to leave him out from the expanded 33-man provisional squad that he named on Tuesday afternoon, instead choosing to go with the likes of Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins and Mason Greenwood as his strikers.

Leeds fans will be fuming

Given just how impressively Bamford has performed at the Premier League level this season, it’s no surprise that many Leeds fans are already up in arms over the striker’s omission from the England squad.

Only Kane has outscored the Whites forward in the Premier League in terms of the players Southgate has chosen, while only the England captain, Rashford and Jack Grealish have provided more assists than him.

When leaving Bamford out of the last squad, Southgate himself admitted: “(Bamford was) very close. There’s a number of positions in this squad that have been really close calls and we felt we wanted an extra striker.

“We like his (Watkins) pressing, the speed and the runs in behind. He’s got some improvement to make in linking the game, but in his first season in the Premier League at a big club, he’s done exceptionally well. That’s been a really close call because all the things I’ve said about Ollie I could have said for Patrick as well. So he’s very unfortunate.”

Meanwhile, there have been numerous of calls for Southgate to have taken Bamford as one of his forward options.

The Mirror’s Neil Moxley wrote: “I’d take Patrick Bamford instead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Leeds man provides more assists and his star is on an upwards curve.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/leeds-united-marcelo-bielsa-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-elland-road-rodrigo-de-paul” title=”Read the latest Leeds transfer rumours and news!”]

Speaking recently to the Yorkshire Evening Post, former Leeds midfielder David Prutton said: “Get him in there. He’s got no tournament baggage and he’s a great team player who is a hard worker and selfless.

“He’s performed under pressure at a big club and always rises to the challenge of the questions against him. He’s an all round good egg.”

While Kalvin Phillips’ inclusion will surely please Leeds fans, the fact that Bamford isn’t in the squad despite outperforming almost every striker Southgate has chosen will understandably have the Elland Road faithful fuming.

Meanwhile, Leeds United are plotting a new move for this star…

Some Liverpool fans have been bemoaning the news that Sepp van den Berg and Marko Grujic could be used as squad players next season.

The Reds have had an extremely difficult campaign, failing to defend their Premier League title and now desperately battling to finish in the top four.

Key players have under-performed, such as Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino – they have scored just 13 league goals between them – while Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all long-term injury absentees.

The hope from these fans is clearly that Jurgen Klopp delves into the transfer market this summer, freshening up his squad and adding quality in the process.

According to the Liverpool Echo [via The Anfield Buzz], however, Liverpool could show faith in Van den Berg and Grujic next season, with the pair currently on loan at Preston North End and Porto, respectively.

Liverpool fans bemoan Van den Berg and Grujic update

It isn’t exactly a piece of news that will get Reds supporters too excited and some took to Twitter to voice their disapproval at the update.

“Delete or get blocked this is offensive”

Credit: @lfc_tim

“If these start next season, we deserve everything we get”

Credit: @JackAndrewWeb1

“Another 30 plus years without a league”

Credit: @jaketay88907204

“Another 2-3 decades before we win anything again. A signing of natural winger and natural striker would be nice, add in a creative midfielder”

Credit: @guyjinsama

“This club is dusted”

Credit: @GL1240

“We won the CL and signed Van Den Berg and Adrian. This club man. The highest highs and the lowest lows”

Credit: @Welshlfcfan98

In other news, one popular Liverpool player has come in for criticism from some Reds supporters. Read more here.

Many fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a post on Twitter in which the Hammers relayed the news that Ademipo Odubeko scored a brace for the club’s under-23 side.

So far this season, Odubeko has impressed over his nine fixtures for West Ham’s youth teams, with the 18-year-old scoring eight goals and providing one assist over six appearances in the Premier League 2, as well as bagging two goals and one assist over two FA Youth Cup fixtures and netting two goals in one game in the EFL Trophy.

In a recent under-23 fixture against Everton, the Republic of Ireland under-21 international was once again in top form, scoring two second half goals to secure all three points for Dmitri Halajko’s side in the Premier League 2 clash.

After news of the striker’s brace was relayed on Twitter by West Ham, numerous fans of the club flocked to have their say on the matter, with many urging David Moyes – who currently has no fit centre-forwards in his first team squad – to field the “untouchable” teenager in the Hammers’ upcoming clash against Chelsea this Saturday.

So, what did these West Ham fans have to say in reaction to Ademipo Odubeko’s goals for the under-23s?

“He deserves to get a couple of substitutions atm. Having a blinder this year.”

@joelitt78828048

“Honestly put him in the squad this week against Chelsea (if it goes ahead). He’s been smashing at this level and it’s time for the step up.”

@whujoe18

“The man is elite.”

@gvomikez17

“FIRST TEAM NOW.”

@Kai_WHU

“What a player.”

@danwhu_

“Baller.”

@haydenrush91

“This guy is actually a joke.”

@IronsUnited2

“This geezer is untouchable at the moment.”

@GeorgeJoseph97

“Start Odubeko against London Blues.”

@BigBrexitGoat

“Give this guy a chance.”

@TWHU77

In other news: ‘What a day’, ‘My club is massive’ – Many WHU fans gush as club in line to seal £21.5m signing – find out more here!

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that attacker Roberto Firmino is in contention to face Arsenal this evening after missing three matches prior to the international break with a knock – prompting many Reds supporters to go wild for this news.

Firmino arguably hasn’t displayed the same brilliant form at times over 2020/2021 as supporters have seen him produce in the past, with talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara recently suggesting he should become a bit-part player for the Reds.

However, as Klopp’s side aim to finish a disappointing title defence as strongly as possible, with Liverpool still in contention for a Europa League spot, Firmino’s possible presence could come as a boost in the form of another option.

As the Reds boss confirms he is indeed in contention to face Arsenal, many Liverpool fans buzzed over this news – with one supporter wowed whilst calling the update ‘another boost’.

These fans, ahead of the clash tonight, will be hoping the Brazilian can add to his six goals and seven assists in all competitions if he is in fact selected by Klopp.

Find all of their reactions to this injury update down below.

Liverpool fans go wild for Firmino update

“Wow congratulations Liverpool family another boost”

Credit: @AuwalRAbdullah1

“YESSSSS”

Credit: @ayyaz_97

“SIUUUU”

Credit: @JAMESFF9

“Can’t wait to see you my man”

Credit: @EmamuAly

“Yessss Bobby”

Credit: @M_borlarjoko

“Finally football can be enjoyable again.”

Credit: @Romevoice

“glad to see him back”

Credit: @oetjoktheo12

“Can’t wait to see him teasing Arsenal like he usually do”

Credit: @nzemaxima

“Arsenal sweating rn”

Credit: @eric_kish

In other news: Liverpool fans also reacted as James Pearce relayed news, find out more here.

Leeds United defender Liam Cooper has received strong criticism from Gabriel Agbonlahor, following his red card tackle against Manchester City.

The Whites picked up a sensational 2-1 win at the Etihad last Saturday, in what was surely their best result of the season so far.

Stuart Dallas’ double sealed the victory, which was made all the more remarkable because they had to play with 10 men for more than half of the game.

Cooper was sent-off for a challenge on Gabriel Jesus just before half-time, with the decision overturned after the centre-back was initially shown a yellow card.

[freshpress-quiz id=“351040″]

Agbonlahor critical of Cooper tackle

Speaking to Football Insider, the former Aston Villa and England striker admitted he was not remotely impressed with what he saw:

“It’s definitely a red card. You can’t make tackles like that in the game these days. I think he’ll know that when he looks back at it. It was definitely a red card.

“It was very dangerous, another day and he breaks Gabriel Jesus’ leg so he has to be very careful with his challenges in the future.”

Transfer Tavern take

There is no denying that Cooper’s tackle was a little on the reckless side, but he did still win the ball first, prior to making contact with Jesus.

The subjective nature of football means there are guaranteed to be differing views on the incident, but there was no malice in the challenge, regardless of whether or not it was a red card offence.

So, while it was certainly the correct decision by the letter of the law, it feels harsh to damn the centre-back for what was seemingly an honest tackle that went wrong.

In other news, a pundit has tipped one Leeds player to be a regular by the start of next season. Find out who it is here.

According to a recent report, Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic ahead of a potential summer swoop.

The report by Italian publication La Nazione (via Sport Witness) claims that a number of clubs, including AS Roma from Serie A, Borussia Dortmund from the Bundesliga and Tottenham from the Premier League, are monitoring the situation of the Fiorentina striker ahead of the summer transfer window.

It is claimed that Jose Mourinho’s side have specifically turned their “spotlight” on the £14.4,-rated 21-year-old, for whom Fiorentina are said to be prepared for a barrage of offers this summer, with the Serie A side reportedly demanding between €50m (£43m) and €60m (£52m) to part with the forward.

Transfer Tavern Take

The reported interest in Vlahovic comes as no surprise, as so far this season, the 1.9m (6 foot 3) striker has impressed over his 26 Serie A appearances for Cesare Prandelli’s side, scoring 12 goals and providing one assist.

With Carlos Vinicius, Tottenham’s current backup centre-forward for Harry Kane, struggling to make any great impression on the Spurs side, having scored no goals over his seven Premier League appearances since joining on a season-long loan from Benfica last October, perhaps a move for a more prolific striker this summer would not be the worst of ideas for Tottenham.

In other news: Tottenham have been sent a warning over Harry Kane – find out more here!