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Paul Pogba is not expected to sign a new contract at Manchester United before the new season gets underway in a month’s time.

What’s the story?

According to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, the 28-year-old will wait and assess United’s terms over the coming months while weighing it up against any offer he receives from other clubs.

Pogba has been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks, although the Old Trafford outfit remain hopeful of tying him down to a fresh deal.

Solskjaer will be fuming

The France international’s time on English shores has been far from plain sailing, with criticism often being aimed his way since arriving from Juventus back in 2016.

However, the £54 million rated star started to showcase his world-class ability on a regular basis last season, playing a pivotal part as United finished second in the Premier League.

Pogba’s impressive performances sparked speculation of an imminent exit, though, with several top sides rumoured to be keen on snapping up the World Cup-winning midfielder for a discount price.

With just 12 months remaining on his current deal with United, the club’s hierarchy face the prospect of losing him for free next summer.

Therefore, the current window will be Ole Gunnar Solsjaer’s last opportunity to receive a substantial transfer fee for Pogba, should he decide to leave, and news that he isn’t willing to make a decision on his future immediately will leave the Norwegian tactician fuming.

United made solid progress under Solskjaer last season, recording consecutive top-four finishes for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

Despite that, the 20-time English champions extended their longest trophy drought in over 30 years and finished a massive 12 points behind champions Manchester City in the top-flight table, highlighting the work that still needs to be done.

Losing Pogba, either this summer or next, would be a significant blow to the club’s hopes and aspirations as they attempt to return to the summit of English football, and Solskjaer will be desperate for his prized asset to put pen to paper on a new contract.

It seems as though the United boss will be waiting a while yet before that happens though – if at all – ensuring a nervous few months await everyone associated with the club.

And, in other news…Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Man Utd transfer update that’ll leave fans buzzing 

Paul Stewart is hoping that Dele Alli’s lack of competitive minutes last season will be a wake-up call for the Tottenham man.

The 25-year-old was a guaranteed starter during his first five seasons at Spurs, but the arrival of Jose Mourinho saw Alli hit a bump in the road.

£100,000-a-week man Alli had been a regular under Mourinho pre-lockdown, but hardly featured following the Premier League restarting, although that was nothing compared to his fortunes last season.

He was picked to start against Everton on the opening-day but would be handed just one more league start before Mourinho departed in late-April, with most of his opportunities coming in Europe and the domestic cups.

Alli’s lack of game-time has also resulted in him losing his place in the England squad, with his last Three Lions appearance coming more than two years ago in the Nations League.

And with a new manager coming in this summer, Stewart exclusively told Football FanCast that he hopes Alli can get back to playing his best football again:

“I just hope he gets his head together and does what he did when he first burst on the scene playing in that false 10, and he could put his foot in, tackle. I don’t think his ability was questioned.

“I feel Dele needs to concentrate on football more, I know there was talk of him having personal or family problems, and I feel for him, but prior to that he was concentrating on advertisement and clothes, so hopefully it’s a wake-up call for him.”

Graham Roberts insists that Jermain Defoe can become a manager after signing a new contract at Rangers.

The striker has penned a new one-year deal at Ibrox, giving him the chance to move into a player and coach role with the Scottish champions.

Defoe has been with the club since 2019, having initially moved to the club on loan from AFC Bournemouth.

That deal was made permanent in 2020 and he has made a total of 72 appearances for the club, scoring 32 goals and laying on 10 assists.

He will now take his first steps into coaching as a member of Steven Gerrard’s backroom team, while also hoping to score goals on the pitch.

And Roberts, who played for both Rangers and Defoe’s former club Tottenham Hotspur, responded when asked if he could go on to see the striker become a full-time manager.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “I suppose you can, I think everybody goes in with a chance of being a manager.

“He’d have to get a good backroom staff in with him, it’s not about mates, it’s about people that know their job, so he has to get rid of those mates that think he’s going to look after them and get people you can trust in there.”

Defoe made 362 appearances for Spurs, scoring 143 goals and laying on 31 assists.

As confirmed by Rangers, striker Jermain Defoe has agreed a one-year contract extension at Ibrox and now moves into a player/coaching role under manager Steven Gerrard.

Defoe, who moved to Glasgow permanently in the summer of 2020 after initially joining on loan Bournemouth, has since gone on to rack up 72 appearances in all competitions for the club.

In that time, the Englishman has netted a brilliant 32 goals whilst also becoming a fan favourite.

Now, as a result, the Gers have announced he will stay for another year but move into a player/coaching role – something which may benefit Rangers given his experience on the biggest stages in football.

As Defoe and the Gers announce his first steps into coaching as well as his continued stay, it’s little wonder many supporters have raved over the development on social media.

Find all of their best verdicts on the big announcement down below.

Gers fans rave over Defoe announcement

“YEEEESSSSS”

Credit: @Pena_Cartel

“Could not be happier. What an amazing role model to have at our club.”

Credit: @ColinEk11

“Tremendous news. A great member of the squad and now coaching team.”

Credit: @55kapow

“Best news today!! @IAmJermainDefoe is exactly what a Ranger is, on and off the field. So glad our club get to help him progress to his next chapter. Good luck champ! #55”

Credit: @RichyTeaBiscuit

“This is exciting stuff! What a fantastic role model for the younger boys!”

Credit: @LauraMurchie1

“Great news”

Credit: @AlanC_44

“Brilliant news. The guy is an absolute credit to Rangers FC.”

Credit: @CraigMacDonald3

“Buzzing for this! Glad he’s moving into a coaching role as well

An amazing guy to have in and around the club.”

Credit: @Geeb1872

In other news: Paddy Kenny tips this colossal forward to join Rangers this summer, find out more here.

West Ham United continue to be linked to Aaron Ramsey this summer…

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, the Irons are among the front-runners to land the 64-cap Welsh international as his time at Juventus seems to be coming to an end.

They are facing competition from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace but a lot will have to be done to get him out of his reported €7m-per-year (£6m) contract at the Allianz Stadium.

It’s thought that West Ham have already tested the waters with an approach, so it now lies in the hands of David Moyes and the club’s hierarchy.

Biggest name since Payet

You get the feeling that this sort of signing would split opinion at the London Stadium.

On the one hand, it’s hard to make a case for a fairly injury-prone 30-year-old who is entering the twilight of his career but adding Ramsey would give the Hammers a player with vast experience of playing in Europe as they embark on a Europa League campaign.

Just this week, the former Arsenal man proved he still had that goalscoring touch from midfield, when latching onto a sublime ball from Gareth Bale to put Wales up against Turkey at Euro 2020.

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It was in North London that Ramsey quickly emerged as one of the Premier League’s best advanced playmakers, earning comparisons to the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

He bagged 65 goals and provided another 65 assists in over 370 matches, in which he recorded a career-best of 13 goals and ten assists during the 2013/14 campaign, via Transfermarkt.

His 76 appearances across both European competitions could provide Moyes with something he’s lacking in abundance, too.

This is the sort of presence that the Irons once had in midfield when Dimitri Payet was at the club and Ramsey is, in our opinion, a much bigger name now than Payet was when he first arrived at the club in 2015.

West Ham have signed a lot of players in the last few seasons but none of those were, in the view of FFC, as high profile a player as Ramsey is now.

Once dubbed “complete” by ex-Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, and a “real leader” and “an outstanding technician” by BT Sport pundit Martin Keown, the Hammers must consider landing the Welsh international this summer.

Him playing alongside the likes of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek would be a mouthwatering prospect in the Europa League.

AND in other news, Forget Kral: GSB must sanction West Ham bargain in £8.5m workhorse who “upset” Ronaldo…

Jermain Defoe’s future at Rangers is seemingly yet to be decided but if Steven Gerrard wants to keep him at Ibrox next season, he is running out of time, as English League One side Ipswich Town are said to be interested in signing him this summer.

According to Football Insider, the Tractor Boys are plotting an ambitious swoop for the veteran striker, as they look to back Paul Cook ahead of next season’s campaign, where they will surely be hoping for a return to the Championship after two disappointing seasons in the third tier.

Defoe’s contract at Ibrox is set to expire at the end of this month, meaning he is free to open discussions with other clubs ahead of a potential summer exit, although recent reports have suggested that Gerrard is keen to keep his former England teammate for one more season.

The 38-year-old has been a fringe player for much of the season but has emphasised his class from the bench in recent fixtures, with impressive goals against Celtic and Aberdeen, so he certainly played his part in the title win.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-rangers-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read the latest Rangers transfer rumours and news!”]

Since joining from Bournemouth, the former Tottenham Hotspur man has been superb at times, contributing an impressive 32 goals and 10 assists in just 72 appearances for the Teddy Bears.

Although the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe, Cedric Itten and perhaps even new signing Fashion Sakala are likely to be ahead of Defoe in the pecking order next season, he can still offer Gerrard a wealth of experience both on and off the pitch, and is always likely to pop up with a goal from the bench.

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However, this news is a bit of a blow to Gerrard in terms of keeping his veteran striker as Defoe may well be tempted by a move to Ipswich where he is more likely to have a starring role and get more regular football, so if Gerrard is indeed keen to keep the “very dangerous” striker at Ibrox, he will have to act quickly and tie him down to a new contract as soon as possible.

And, in other news… Gerrard heading for Rangers disaster with “outstanding” beast who may leave Ibrox

Sunderland have received a massive injury boost ahead of the Black Cats’ upcoming play-off semi-final.

What’s the latest?

According to a statement posted on the club’s official website, both Charlie Wyke and Aiden McGeady – who each missed the fixture against Plymouth Argyle last weekend – look ready to return to action ahead of the Northampton Town clash this Sunday, while the longer-term absentees of Tom Flanagan and Conor McLaughlin are also in contention for the weekend.

When discussing the current state of the Sunderland squad, Johnson said: “Aiden and Charlie could possibly get minutes on Sunday. Conor is under consideration. Flanno has that week to 10 days’ training behind him, so I would say he’s 50/50 for Sunday.”

Huge boost

While the upcoming fixture against Northampton is important in determining exactly where Sunderland finish in the top six of the league – and subsequently deciding who they will be facing in the play-off semi-final – the news of a number of players returning to the side in time for the play-offs is likely to leave Johnson very encouraged.

While Wyke and McGeady had only missed one game, their return to full fitness is likely to be vital to any success the Black Cats may have in the play-offs, as the duo rank as the club’s first and second-best performers respectively in the league this season according to Sofascore.

Meanwhile, the return of centre-back Flanagan and right-back McLaughlin is likely to be just as welcome for the Sunderland boss, as the availability of the two returning players will free up both Luke O’Nien – who has been operating from the centre of defence – and Max Power – who has been deployed at right-back – to take up their more natural positions in midfield.

As such, all of the returnees are likely to delight Johnson and Sunderland fans alike, as they could all play a significant part in helping the club to achieve promotion this season.

In other news: Forget Wyke: Lee Johnson may have found Sunderland ace’s heir in gem who could be worth £10m – opinion

Mark Douglas has dropped a big claim on Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United takeover power play.

The Lowdown: Ashley seeks control

Last week, the club confirmed that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) were discontinuing their investigation into their taxes, which in turn prompted Ashley to refer to ‘dark forces’ which were preventing them from becoming the ‘powerhouse that the fans deserve’.

The chief executive of Sports Direct also launched an anti-competition lawsuit against the Premier League with regards to their decision-making process in the failed deal between him and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.

With damages to be claimed, Ashley is trying to get as much out of the failed bid as he can, as he aims to be fully prepared for the ensuing legal battle against the Premier League.

The Latest: Douglas drops PIF claim

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, Douglas has claimed that Ashley’s takeover power play is part of a continued attempt to keep the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) from being tempted by the possibility of investing in other clubs.

PIF have reportedly been interested in investing in Inter Milan, and Douglas believes that Ashley’s latest power play is a way to keep them fully focused on the Tyneside club.

The Verdict: PIF vital to takeover

PIF are vital to getting the original deal back on track, and a pathway must be cleared for them to come back onto the table.

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If this is not done, then PIF know there are other opportunities elsewhere, namely Inter, to which they can turn instead if all else fails.

Nonetheless, a crucial period in Newcastle’s history is coming up as the legal battle could be set to commence after the season finishes, with the Magpies hoping for a positive result against the Premier League.

In other news, find out what other big claim on the potential takeover has been dropped.

Former England striker Brian Deane believes that Crystal Palace’s next appointment is crucial and thinks that Nuno Espirito Santo could be the right man for the job.

Having guided the Eagles to Premier League safety for the fourth campaign on the bounce, Roy Hodgson stepped down from his role at Selhurst Park last month.

The new season doesn’t get underway for more than two months, but with 16 players out of contract this summer, the Palace hierarchy are pushing hard to name an appointment for Hodgson.

Eddie Howe, whose move to Celtic recently collapsed, is the favourite, whilst Steve Cooper, Sean Dyche and Frank Lampard are all in the running to become the new Palace manager.

But following his shock departure from Wolves last month Santo is now being considered for the role in what would be an immediate return to management, less than two weeks after he resigned at Molineux following a four-year spell, with The Sun reporting he has the edge over other candidates such as Cooper and Valerian Ismael.

And whilst Deane told Football FanCast that Palace must pick carefully, he thinks they need someone with Premier League experience – another box Santo ticks:

“If they don’t get the next managerial appointment right, they’ve got problems. I don’t think it’s a time where they can take chances.

“They need someone who has pedigree and understands the league and has a good record of recruiting players. I think he could be the right fit for them, but I don’t know what they’re looking for.”

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan believes Patrick Bamford will be hurting after his substitution against Manchester City last week.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side picked up a magnificent victory in their last Premier League outing, winning 2-1 away to the soon-to-be champions. Leeds did it all with 10 men, too, with Liam Cooper’s first half red card making the Whites’ task all the more difficult.

Bamford was the player sacrificed after the sending off, with Bielsa needing to bring on a more defence-minded player in Pascal Struijk in what was a frustrating moment for the striker.

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Whelan discusses Bamford frustration

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan admitted that it will be stinging the 27-year-old, but the ex-Whites ace reckons Bamford will bounce back at home to Liverpool on Monday night, saying:

“There’s always a sacrifice and generally, usually, it’s going to be a forward-thinking player.

“It was Patrick Bamford on that occasion. He will be disappointed. He’ll have let it go more to the point that we got the win. It’ll have made that pill easier to swallow.

“Look, it’s another game where people look at strikers like Patrick Bamford and they look at stats compared to Salah. It’s another one for him to go out there and prove a point.

“To go out there and impress against, I would say, a very, very weakened and inconsistent Liverpool defence.”

Transfer Tavern take

Bamford has shown great consistency and character throughout this season, so it would be no surprise to see him find the net against the Reds. Deep down, he will know why he was substituted away to Man City, but any striker missing out on the chance to score more goals will be disappointed.

Jurgen Klopp has hailed Bamford as ‘exceptional’ before the Liverpool game and the striker will be fired up to prove his worth to Bielsa once again up against a relatively unproven centre-back partnership of Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly keen on signing an established international defender. Find out who it is here.