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Ashley Preece has dropped a major update on Aston Villa’s plans for Jacob Ramsey.

What’s the story?

With 22 appearances to his name in the Premier League last season, the 20-year-old certainly established himself as an emerging part of Dean Smith’s first-team squad at Villa Park.

And now, responding to a question about what the plans are for the 5 foot 9 Ramsey next season and whether a loan move could be possible, The Birmingham Mail’s Preece said: “Villa will look at both options. Smith rates him highly. It was his first year playing PL football last season, let’s not forget that and he’ll be much better now for 21/22. I think he’ll stay and will look to improve considerably once again.”

Villa fans will be elated

While Ramsey may not have gotten himself on the score-sheet or even provided an assist in his game-time in the top-flight last season, the fact he’s come through the academy and is “one of their own” automatically makes him someone who Villa fans will be desperately rooting for.

With his ability to play as a number ten, more deeper as a central midfielder, and even out wide on the right like he did against Manchester City, the 20-year-old’s versatility is a real useful tool for Smith.

It was quite telling that the Villa boss was more than happy to throw Ramsey on in difficult circumstances against the Premier League’s big teams, and even start him on occasion too.

Villa fans have already voiced their delight about Ramsey when he signed his new contract earlier this year, and tipped him to do even greater things.

And so, news that he’s likely to stay at Villa Park next season will surely have them buzzing.

Meanwhile, Villa could sign a dream Buendia teammate in this star…

Watford are interested in signing Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah this summer as the Hornets plan for their return to the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Watford back in the big time

Xisco Munoz’s side sealed promotion back to the top flight after a year away following an excellent season in the Championship. The aim now is to avoid an immediate return to the second tier, aiming to emulate Leeds United and steer well clear of relegation.

New signings will likely be needed if that is to happen, and a fresh story has now emerged regarding possible summer business.

The Latest: Hornets linked with Nketiah

According to The Mirror, Watford are keen on snapping up Arsenal youngster Nketiah, who three-time Premier League-winning manager Arsene Wenger once described as ‘exceptional’.

The striker has scored 13 goals in 65 appearances for the Gunners, but first team opportunities could be hard to come by at the Emirates Stadium moving forward. He started just four Premier League games in 2020/21, compared to 30 for 19-year-old team-mate Bukayo Saka.

Nketiah’s current Arsenal deal expires next year, so the north Londoners may be willing to sell him this summer in order to receive a fee for him.

The Verdict: Potential great signing

The 22-year-old is a player with evident pedigree and he has shown that he can score goals at the highest level, albeit in a bit-part role.

He could be a regular starter for a team of Watford’s ilk, maturing all the time as a player and hopefully proving to be a regular source of goals.

Nketiah is the England under-21s’ top goalscorer of all time, further highlighting his quality, and having just turned 22 today, his best years should still be ahead of him.

In other news, Watford are reportedly planning a third bid for one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham is edging closer to a move to Greek side AEK Athens, according to The Scottish Sun.

The Lowdown: Hoops to terminate Ntcham’s deal?

Reports last month suggested that the Hoops have exploited a loophole in the Frenchman’s contract.

His deal at Parkhead still has 12 months left to run, however, Celtic were ready to terminate the last year and absolve themselves of the requirement to pay his wages.

It appears as if Ntcham has now taken his future into his own hands and is awaiting a response from Celtic to seal a Glasgow exit.

The Latest: Ntcham agrees personal terms

The Scottish Sun claim that Ntcham has agreed on a deal with AEK Athens worth around £1million a year, just over £19,000-a-week.

Ntcham, who Neil Lennon described as ‘class’, is currently on £15,000-a-week at Parkhead and is now waiting to see if he can seal a free transfer away from the club.

AEK are hoping to land him for nothing, with the report on Tuesday evening claiming a deal may go through over the coming days.

The Verdict: McKay’s first piece of transfer activity at Celtic?

New Celtic CEO Dominic McKay will have to be at the heart of any potential Ntcham exit, considering there is currently no manager or director of football in place.

Should a transfer materialise over the coming days, it could also be the club’s first real piece of summer transfer business since McKay’s arrival – the window opened on Wednesday.

In an ideal world Celtic would receive a transfer fee for the 25-year-old, valued at £2.7m by Transfermarkt, but at least they’ll be getting a high earner off the books, which could allow for incomings over the coming months.

In other news: Liam Shaw transfer details emerge, find out more here. 

Liverpool have struggled without their leader at the back Virgil van Dijk this season, and Paul Stewart, who was signed by Liverpool for £2.3 million in 1992, spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern about how much of a difference the Dutchman will make next season.

After appearing to be complete outsiders to qualify for the Champions League Liverpool are now favourites to finish in the top four as they just have to win their final two league games against Burnley and Crystal Palace.

In recent weeks  Van Dijk has confirmed that he will not be going to the European Championships with the Netherlands this summer as he looks to continue his recovery from an ACL injury which saw him ruled out for the season back in October.

When the Dutch international returns next season he could be just like a new signing and an expensive one, that is according to Stewart who spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern:

“I’m assuming Van Dijk will be fit for the start of next season, which will be like buying a new £100 million centre back for them.

“He has been missing for so long though and Liverpool have sorely missed him this season.”

Liverpool kept their Champions League hopes alive last weekend when Alisson scored a 94th-minute header to send fans, players and Jurgen Klopp into delirium over what they had just witnessed.

When Van Dijk plays for Liverpool the whole side becomes better as he can bring the ball out of defence into midfield and his ability to cover any of the other three defenders is something that allows Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to stay further forward.

Daniel Pinder, the editor-in-chief of Get German Football News, has told Football FanCast that he has been impressed with on-loan Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

The Nigerian striker joined the Reds six years ago but is yet to make his first-team debut for Liverpool and has spent the previous seven seasons out on loan.

The most recent of those loan spells was in Germany with Union Berlin, where he scored five goals and laid on three assists in just 21 Bundesliga appearances.

A muscle problem saw Awoniyi restricted to just two substitute outings in the final three months of Union Berlin’s season, but the 23-year-old has emerged as a target for West Brom, who’ve recently got rid of both Charlie Austin and Hal Robson-Kanu and are looking to bolster their strike department.

Awoniyi has gained valuable experienece in Belgium and Holland over recent seasons but is yet to make a competitive appearance in English football, but is expected to be allowed to leave Liverpool, even with more than two years running on his Anfield contract.

Pinder told Football FanCast:

“He was on loan at Mainz last season, went back to Liverpool and how he is Union Berlin. He’s a player that has really impressed me.

“Five goals and three assists, and that run of five goals came across seven games, but then he picked up an injury and hasn’t been the same since.

“But he’s a player that puts himself around the box – he’s tall, strong, wins those aerial battles and holds onto the ball well and brings in his teammates.”

Former Premier League midfielder Lee Hendrie has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that Chris Wilder would be a great fit for Celtic.

The Glasgow club are searching for a new permanent manager following Neil Lennon’s resignation back in February and have been strongly linked with Eddie Howe.

However, with the ex-Bournemouth boss seemingly stalling as he considers all of his options, Hendrie believes Wilder would be a brilliant alternative.

Like Howe, Wilder is also currently out of work following his departure from the recently-relegated Sheffield United last month.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about Celtic’s search for a new manager, Hendrie said:

“I think Chris Wilder would be brilliant up there; I really do. I think he’d be a great fit for Celtic. I just feel he’s got that little bit of hunger, desire and he’s got that little bit of aura about him.”

If Celtic fail to convince Howe to join the club, then Wilder is definitely an option worth exploring.

While Sheffield United really struggled under him this season, the 53-year-old did an excellent job at Bramall Lane overall.

He took the Blades all the way from League One to the Premier League, guiding them to an impressive ninth-placed finish in English football’s top flight last term.

Former Newcastle United star Keith Gillespie believes that Mike Ashley will be satisfied with a 17th-placed finish for the club next season, in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

The club looked to be in serious danger of dropping out of the Premier League just a few weeks ago, but eight points from their previous four matches has seen them move eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Nevertheless, Gillespie believes that Newcastle’s owner is fine with the club repeatedly surviving by the skin of their teeth.

In a way it’s lucky that Steve Bruce’s men got those points on the board as they now face Arsenal, Leicester City and Manchester City, before bringing the curtain down on their campaign with clashes against Fulham and Sheffield United.

And Gillespie thinks that Ashley is currently reaping what he has sown, with their current struggles a result of a general lack of investment in the squad at St James’ Park, and he insists the owner has absolutely no ambition, but he remains hopeful the club will progress, potentially under a new manager.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, the former Magpies winger said: “Absolutely. That is an owner of a club with no ambition, happy to finish 17th every year. That’s not what fans need.

“Newcastle are a club that have experienced Champions League football in the past. They’re a million miles away now. You just want an owner to come in and push the club forward because the club is stood still, going backwards at times.

“They haven’t invested in the squad as well, like other clubs have. If you don’t do that, you’re going to fall behind and you’re going to be in relegation battles.”

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been reacting to transfer comments from former midfielder Lee Hendrie, who tipped the club to move for Watford winger Ismaila Sarr this summer.

The 23-year-old has starred for the Hornets this season in the Championship, scoring 10 goals and registering 10 assists in the second-tier.

Sarr, valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, has played all across the front line this season, with his main position at Vicarage Road out on the right-hand side.

Hendrie, talking to This is Futbol, cited by Birmingham Live, staked his claim for Dean Smith and sporting director Johan Lange to look at the Senegal international over the coming months.

“I think he’s a fabulous player, I really do. He’s a young man still learning his trade, very raw. I was a bit disappointed with him this season, at the start of the season.

“I felt that maybe he had possibly sulked at the situation that he wasn’t able to go to Liverpool or actually be back playing in the Premier League and he had to stay at Watford. And it took some time for the penny to drop and he is now in great form, scoring goals, creating.

“Yes, he’s a player that certainly brings that element of attack and forward threat. He’d certainly fit the bill for Dean Smith’s side because that’s the sort of formation he plays with, a sort of three with two wide men. So, yeah, he’d be a great addition to the football club.”

Villa fans react

@AVFC_News shared the story to Hendrie’s comments on social media on Tuesday morning, asking fans if they would like to see Sarr at Villa Park.

This is what they had to say in reply, with many for a potential summer swoop for the winger who Sadio Mane labelled ‘rapid’.

“Yes would be a great signing for us.”

Credit: @FidoeStuart

“YES! YES! YES!”

Credit: @avfcfan11

“I wanted him at the start of this season”

Credit: @Hellyer7

“Yes. Good player. Will be hard to get particularly if they come back up.”

Credit: @stevesanderstax

“Yes if he is available for a reasonable price and he wants to come to AV.”

Credit: @Toronto_Bob

“Ismaila Sarr, Michael Olise and Rico Henry are three players I would be happy with for starters. Desperately need a strong midfield enforcer too.”

Credit: @37K37

In other news: Many AVFC fans slam Smith’s transfer comments, find out more here. 

Some Wolves fans have been critical of an update from Jornal de Noticias (via Sport Witness) on a potential replacement for Nuno Espirito Santo.

As per the news outlet, former Benfica manager Bruno Lage is on the list of options to replace the Portuguese coach should he leave Molineux to manage Tottenham Hotspur.

Lage would reportedly welcome a return to English football after spells with both Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City. He is leading the list of candidates for the Molineux faithful given his connections with Jorge Mendes, and is apparently the type of profile that they are looking for should Nuno join Spurs. [Jornal de Noticias, via Sport Witness]

Nonetheless, this has caused a stir among some Wolves supporters given that, despite the relatively poor season they are having by their standards, Nuno took them up to the Premier League and two consecutive seventh-placed finishes, as well as a Europa League quarter-final.

Wolves fans on potential Nuno replacement

These Wolves fans slammed the update on Lage after it was shared on Twitter:

“No”

Credit: @Willfredinho8

“No thanks NUNO is stopping”

Credit: @RobertH48660018

“IF Wolves were to replace Nuno, probably because he wants to move on (pre-match interview wasn’t very assuring), the club would go for a manager with pedigree and gravitas to attract top players. Can’t see Lage being the answer. #wwfc”

Credit: @gjp12775

“If Nuno goes I don’t want another Portuguese manager”

Credit: @fvilz

“This is a like-for-like manager replacement, it’s a no”

Credit: @MichaelBibbWWFC

“Would be funny if we got rid of Nuno and got the Porto manager in, Lage is two steps back surely”

Credit: @__wa1877

In other news, find out what transfer update has been lauded by some Wolves fans!

According to a report by journalist Mike McGrath, writing for the Telegraph, Ligue 1 side Nice are ‘ready to offer’ Tottenham Hotspur mainstay Hugo Lloris a way out of north London this summer – with the World Cup winner having just one full season left on his current deal.

Nice want Hugo Lloris signing

After giving a forthright and honest interview in wake of the Dinamo Zagreb humiliation, revealing he was part of a broken dressing room, Nice’s hopes of bringing their former shot stopper back to France have been raised.

Indeed, McGrath reports that Lloris’ admission after Spurs’ Europa League defeat has encouraged Nice that they could tempt the 34-year-old into a summer move – and they see him as a potential marquee signing from Tottenham.

As a result, they are reportedly ready to offer the international a way out of north London this summer as he is yet to pen an extension on his current Lilywhites deal – which expires in 2022.

Transfer Tavern take

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho could potentially lose Lloris as Nice attempt to lure him back to France, and it’s safe to stay he won’t want that to happen despite his recently poor run.

Indeed, speaking candidly to the media, Mourinho backed the under-fire goalkeeper just last month amid his bad spell – calling him an ‘amazing, amazing’ number one (Evening Standard).

In other news: Robinson was thrilled by this ‘great news for Spurs’, find out more here.