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Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has again been linked with a move to Liverpool, with the Reds reportedly making ‘calls’ regarding a switch.

The Lowdown: Milinkovic-Savic impresses for Lazio

The 26-year-old enjoyed another impressive season for Lazio in 2020/21, scoring eight goals and registering nine assists in Serie A.

Milinkovic-Savic continues to stand out as arguably one of the best midfielders in the league and he may not be without suitors this summer.

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The Latest: Liverpool update emerges

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], ‘there have been some calls’ from Liverpool about a potential move for the Serbia international.

That being said, the Reds are only thought to be willing to pay less than the rumoured €70-80m (£59.9-68.4m) that Lazio want for his services.

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The Verdict: Great player, but unlikely

In truth, a move looks unlikely, given the amount that is required to pay for the £63m-rated midfielder.

However, Milinkovic-Savic is a wonderful footballer who could be a great addition in the middle of the park, with his aforementioned end product standing out. He could resolve one problem area for Liverpool, with goals from midfield proving rather scarce in Jurgen Klopp’s squad last season – Curtis Jones was the most prolific player in that position with just four in all competitions.

The Serbian also averaged 1.8 tackles and 1.3 clearances per game in the league last season, showing what a formidable all-round player he is and how he could help fill the Gini Wijnaldum-shaped void in the Reds’ midfield.

In other news, some Liverpool fans are keen on the Reds signing a Euro 2020 finalist – find out who it is here.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith could build a formidable strike duo by unleashing Ollie Watkins alongside Chris Wood amid a major transfer claim on the Burnley striker.

What’s the story?

Football Insider have recently claimed that the Clarets marksman is being targeted as someone who could add more firepower to Villa, adding that the Midlands club are “one of three top-12 Premier League clubs keeping close tabs on Wood”.

Imagine him and Watkins

While Smith has been predominantly using Watkins as his lone striker up front, the former Brentford man does have the ability to play out wide on the left, while the Villa boss could even go with both him and Wood up top as a duo.

The £50,000-a-week striker has been described as a “natural goalscorer” by former Leeds boss Garry Monk, while Scott Malone, his former teammate at Millwall, called him “frightening” to play against.

Villa fans must love seeing the way Watkins presses from the front, and in Wood they would have someone who is equally a nightmare to defend against, with his physicality and ability to bring others into the game a real strength.

Indeed, Premier League legend Alan Shearer said: “I like him, I like what he does for the team and he is the focal point for them. He is very good at occupying two centre halves. He is a get out for Burnley if they want because they are not afraid to knock it long.

“He can keep hold of it and bring other players into the game. He is horrible to play against and he won’t give defenders a moment’s peace.”

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Having the two of Watkins and Wood chasing down opposition defenders, and harrying them on the ground and in the air, would give Villa a two-man strike force which teams would find incredibly menacing and real hard work to stop.

Meanwhile, a journo has dropped a major update on Villa’s pursuit of Emi Buendia…

Barnsley’s Valerien Ismael is an “effective” manager, former Premier League boss Paul Jewell has told Football FanCast.

Ismael is one name Crystal Palace are thought to be considering as they look to replace Roy Hodgson, with Football Insider reporting last month that director of football Dougie Freedman is keen on bringing him to the club.

Since then, Palace have had a good look at Nuno Espirito Santo, even coming close to appointing the ex-Wolves manager.

However, with talks breaking down, the south London outfit will now be forced to turn elsewhere, potentially bringing Ismael back into the equation.

On Ismael, who had a brief spell at Palace during his playing days, Jewell said:

“I wouldn’t want to play against him every week – it’s difficult. I mean, the different style of playing, that’s the beauty of football.

“Everyone says he plays the game the right way, never quite understood what that means, the right way. I think what you have to do is try and play the game that suits the players that you have.

“He’s different. Not silky, classy football, but he’s effective and I’ve got no problem with that.”

Failing to bring Nuno to Selhurst Park would have come as a disappointment to chairman Steve Parish. The 47-year-old has really proven himself in the Premier League with Wolves over the last few years.

But that ship has obviously sailed now, so it is worth giving serious consideration to a manager like Ismael as this search for Hodgson’s successor drags on.

A reliable journalist has dropped a fresh claim as Tottenham Hotspur continue to search for their next manager this week…

What’s the word?

According to football.london’s Alasdair Gold, current Belgium boss Roberto Martinez is not thought to be in the running for the vacant Spurs job despite emerging reports.

Writing to supporters on Twitter, he revealed:

“As plenty of people are asking about Roberto Martinez, as I’ve said before he is someone Spurs like but he’s not believed to be a contender right now for the current vacant managerial post.”

Sky Sports (via The Sun) had claimed that the 47-year-old was in talks with the North London outfit over potentially taking charge after this summer’s European Championships, whilst the former Everton and Wigan man has been linked previously as one of four likely appointments, as per The Athletic.

Great news

This exciting development should come as fantastic news for much of the Lilywhites faithful as Martinez is just not the man for Spurs.

In recent weeks, the fans have been seen protesting against chairman Daniel Levy and their ownership group ENIC following failed proposals to form a breakaway European Super League but truth be told, that was merely the catalyst to make their point heard as they are also disappointed with years of underachievement and failure.

Indeed, Spurs lost yet another final this season, being defeated by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup at Wembley. It means their 13-year wait for silverware rumbles on.

It also means that Levy must get his next appointment spot on, not just to appease the fanbase but to get Spurs back on the right track, and Martinez would only deal them another blow.

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He may be in charge of the world’s best-ranked national side right now but he’s rarely with them, meeting up just a few times a year, so he cannot take much credit for the individual development of those players in recent times, whilst Belgium still haven’t been able to harness all that talent into winning a tournament.

The former Toffees disaster also has an appalling record in the Premier League, where he has won just 30.5% of matches across seven seasons. By comparison, Jose Mourinho was sacked in mid-April with a win rate of 52%.

Everton certainly seemed to regress under the Spaniard, with Jonathan Wilson claiming in Eurosport that it was down to “systemic” problems that he couldn’t fix.

Furthermore, in The Athletic’s report on Martinez, they claim that whilst he would be the ‘safer bet’ from the four options, he is one that is ‘not a universally popular candidate with the fans,’ so this news should certainly come as a major source of encouragement.

In response to Gold’s claims, you get the feeling that this is certainly the case, too.

One member of the Spurs faithful joked that he would call his firstborn ‘Alasdair’ whilst another described it as “beautiful,” with a further supporter deeming the reporter “the people’s champion.”

As evident above, many in North London will surely be absolutely buzzing by this latest update and they should be excited if Spurs’ list boils down to the other candidates, on which Ajax’s Erik Ten Hag and Brighton’s Graham Potter likely feature.

AND in other news, Levy can boost his chances of keeping Harry Kane by hiring 49 y/o who’s the “ideal candidate”…

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth has dropped an exciting update on Leeds United and the club’s plans for the academy setup next season.

What’s the story?

He wrote: “Just like the summer of 2020 the Whites are planning to add three or four new faces to the squad that will take its place in the Premier League 2 top flight.

“Promotion will pit the Thorp Arch youngsters against elite Category 1 academies including this season’s runaway Under-23s champions Manchester City, Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester United.

“Although their place in the top division will represent a step up in the level of competition and the quality of opposition, some of Jackson’s title winners could spend the 2021/22 season getting first-team experience at senior level in the English Football League.”

Fans must be buzzing

After seeing the under-23s clinch the Premier League 2 Division 2 title, everyone in the academy setup will surely be looking forward to testing themselves against the best youth teams in the country next season.

Crucially, the recruitment of the likes of Joe Gelhardt from Wigan, Sam Greenwood from Arsenal and Cody Drameh from Fulham were all absolutely spot-on, and the trio were key parts of the side which achieved so much success in the 2020/21 season.

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The news that Leeds are intent on strengthening the academy department once again. with a few new faces to supplement Mark Jackson’s squad, should be music to the ears of the club’s supporters and everyone associated at Thorp Arch.

After all, it is these players who represent the future of Leeds United, and given what they achieved over the last few months, that future seems to be a very bright one indeed.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa has taken the first steps towards signing this star…

Bundesliga expert Daniel Pinder has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that he cannot see Wout Weghorst leaving Wolfsburg for Tottenham this summer.

The 6 ft 6 Dutch striker has been linked with a move to the north London club amid a stunning campaign.

Weghorst has managed to reach the 20-goal mark in the Bundesliga this season, showing that he could perhaps be a reliable alternative to Harry Kane if the England captain remains at Spurs.

Pinder, however, believes Kane’s presence at Tottenham is actually likely to detract the 28-year-old from wanting to join the club.

On Weghorst, who is currently valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, the editor-in-chief at Get German Football News told FFC:

“I think he’d only consider it if Kane leaves. Wolfsburg are third in the Bundesliga, so the chance of them getting Champions League football next season is extremely high. So unless the offer’s right, the team’s right, I don’t really think he has that desire to leave Wolfsburg.”

Loanee Carlos Vinicius is the other striker currently in Tottenham’s squad, but recent reports suggest that the Premier League outfit do not want to activate the £36m option-to-buy fee they have in place with Benfica.

It means Spurs will likely need to sign a new No.9 whether Kane stays or not.

Former Rangers defender Michael Ball has exclusively told Football FanCast that teenager Nathan Patterson could eventually take the mantle from captain James Tavernier in the coming years.

With the Scottish Premiership title already in the bag, the 19-year-old has been given the chance to impress in the first team by Steven Gerrard in recent matches.

Patterson only made his league debut as a late substitute against Kilmarnock back in August but has since been rewarded with eight starts in all competitions for the Glasgow giants.

The right-back has also been trusted in two Old Firm outings, including 90 minutes in the Scottish Cup victory at Ibrox last month, having netted his first domestic goal against Cove Rangers in the previous round.

Patterson’s only other professional goal came against Royal Antwerp in the Europa League, and having gained some valuable experience throughout Rangers’ European campaign, Ball has predicted the youngster for a big future, especially learning off the skipper.

He told Football FanCast:“Tavernier has been a massive captain for the club. He’s been fantastic and if he can learn as much as he can off Tavernier and take the mantle then it’s going to be a great club to play for is Rangers.”

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray admits that the Championship club might find themselves powerless to prevent a Premier League move for reported Newcastle United target Adam Armstrong.

Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph that ‘if, in his stomach, he wants to go play in the Premier League… we’re not really in a position, financially, to stop that’.

TEAMtalk reported in March that Newcastle were intent on bringing Armstrong back to St James’ Park.

Armstrong found Newcastle opportunities limited the first time around

The Magpies academy product left Tyneside for Ewood Park in the summer of 2018 with only 21 appearances under his belt at St James’ Park.

Armstrong was sent out on loan four times before making a permanent exit, but it seems Newcastle are regretting their decision in light of Armstrong’s subsequent exploits in the Championship.

Only Toney and Pukki leading Armstrong

The 24-year-old has netted an excellent 24 goals in 38 appearances in the second tier this season. Having bagged a hat-trick in the 5-2 win over Huddersfield last weekend, after which Mowbray hailed him as “brilliant”, he sits third in the division’s scoring charts, one behind Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki and five back from Brentford’s Ivan Toney.

However, while the Canaries are promoted and the Bees are set for the play-offs, Blackburn are languishing in 15th, making Armstrong’s exploits all the more impressive – and potentially making it harder for them to keep him at Ewood Park.

Newcastle negotiated a 40% sell-on clause with Rovers in 2018, which could be written off as part of the deal.

Transfer Tavern verdict

The £14million-rated Armstrong is more than deserving of a crack at the top flight based on his exploits this season, but he would likely need assurances of consistent first team as otherwise he may fear that his career could stall.

Callum Wilson’s spot is guaranteed whenever he is fit given his impressive goal return, so it may all depend on the manager’s willingness to commit to playing two up front should Armstrong retrace his steps to Newcastle.

In other news, Steve Bruce addressed another forward’s fresh injury scare.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Howey, who made 278 appearances during his career, has claimed that he would not be surprised to see Marcelo Bielsa leave Leeds United to join Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

Spurs and Daniel Levy are currently on the hunt for their next manager after parting ways with Jose Mourinho just days before their eventual Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City.

Ryan Mason, who came through Tottenham’s academy, has been placed in temporary charge until the end of the season with the 29-year old winning his first and only game in the Premier League thanks to a 90th-minute penalty from Son Heung-min.

Speaking on why he would not be surprised to see Bielsa at Spurs next season and how he comes across as a manager, Howey exclusively told FFC:

“Bielsa seems like a strange man to be honest and very intense. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him there next season because nothing does surprise me in football.

“Nothing surprises me in football when you’re talking about players being sold and bought and also with managers coming and going. So it wouldn’t surprise me.”

Bielsa is still yet to sign a contract extension past this summer and the Leeds hierarchy have started to plan for potentialy life without the Argentine.

Leeds find themselves comfortably mid-table with just four games left to play in the Premier League this season.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer has blamed Owls owner Dejphon Chansiri for the managerial merry-go-round at Hillsborough.

In recent seasons, Chansiri has shown that he is not afraid to pull the trigger when things are not looking good for Wednesday.

He dismissed Tony Pulis earlier this season despite the Welshman having only overseen 10 games in charge. As for his predecessor Garry Monk, he was dismissed after 14 month at the helm – longer than Pulis but still a short spell.

Evidently, Chansiri is an owner who has no problem with wielding the axe, something that Palmer is not too pleased about.

Discussing the matter in an exclusive interview with FFC, the ex-Wednesday player said:

“Chansiri is to blame without a shadow of a doubt, because the buck stops with him. Why has there been such a turnaround in managers? And decent managers that they’ve had gone in there, so why has there [been so many changes]? There has to be a reason for that. And I think it’s because of the control he has in terms of players going in and players going out of the club.”

Darren Moore now finds himself in the dugout at Hillsborough, leaving Doncaster Rovers at the start of March to join Wednesday. However, with the Yorkshire club on course to get relegated this season, if history is anything to go by, it would not be a surprise to see the 46-year-old depart before the 2021/22 campaign.