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Former Leeds United midfielder David Norris believes that the Tottenham camp will be split should Mauricio Pochettino return to the club.

There have been whispers about the Argentine making a sensational return to Spurs in recent days, with a report from The Athletic suggesting that the two parties are currently in talks.

Pochettino was only sacked and then replaced by Jose Mourinho 18 months ago but has struggled to make an impact during his short spell with PSG, despite winning two domestic French trophies, and would be open to coming back to north London.

The Argentine did reach the Champions League semi finals and only lost out on winning the Ligue 1 title on the final day of the campaign, but is reportedly unhappy in Paris.

Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen have both departed, but the current Tottenham squad remains almost identical to the one that Pochettino left, albeit with a few additions in the shape of Sergio Reguilon, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joe Rodon and Matt Doherty.

Pochettino returning would be a major boost to the likes of Harry Winks and Dele Alli, who lost their way under Jose Mourinho.

But Norris exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that not everyone in the squad would be left happy should he get reappointed:

“I think he’s going to have a relationship with certain players he’s closer to – Alli did well for periods under him.

“Certain players will be happy with that and probably disappointed he left. There will be others that he might not be close to that won’t be looking forward to him coming back.

“It’s an interesting one with him having not been gone that long, so it will be interesting how that one plays out.”

Rumours have been flying around about why Nuno Espirito Santo decided to leave Wolves, and a lack of funding this summer appears to be the main reason, something Wolves legend Steve Bull can’t rule out.

Wolves spent heavily last summer on a few additions instead of spreading the money across improving the whole squad and both Nelson Semedo and Fabio Silva have not delivered this season despite costing a combined total of £63 million.

After Nuno’s squad was rocked by injuries throughout the campaign he was eager to add some much-needed reinforcements, something the Fosun group were not as happy about, throwing in the expected sale of Ruben Neves for £35 million and the picture becomes a lot clearer as to why he left.

The Wolves faithful will be disappointed if a lack of funding was what forced Nuno to leave and think he couldn’t take the club forward with the squad he has, and that’s something Bull believes can’t be ruled out as he spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“We’ve done a lot of loan deals over the last two seasons and some of them have paid off but others haven’t. I’d like to see a lot more permanent signings coming into the club.

“The supporters just want success and the only way you achieve that is through spending money, and whether Fosun refused to give Nuno money, who knows?”

The Fosun’s apparent lack of willingness to give Nuno the financial backing he required may have something to down with them attempting to buy Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.

If money isn’t going to be widely available at Molineux this summer then they may have to rely on Jorge Mendes’ contacts and ability to get young Portuguese players into the Premier League on loan deals.

Many Wolves fans have been left to slam a transfer update on Adrian Embarba that has since been shared by @TalkingWolves on their Twitter page.

As per AS, the Midlands club, as well as West Ham United, Norwich City and Watford, are on his trail and are interested in the player’s situation.

They would be willing to pay the required transfer fee and also bump up his current wages, as both Levante and Real Betis are also on his radar.

Embarba has come off of the back of a great 2020/21 season with Espanyol, having scored no fewer than nine goals and made a further 14 assists in 37 games in total in the Spanish second division (Transfermarkt).

However, the jump from that league up to the Premier League is big, and at 29 years of age, his best years could already be past him now.

Thus, it is no surprise to see several members of the Molineux faithful slam the thought of signing the winger in the summer window.

Wolves fans on Embarba transfer update

These WWFC supporters slammed the transfer update on Twitter, with one fan claiming that it is an ‘underwhelming’ link:

“Underwhelming”

Credit: @paulfield_

“Scored 9 goals in the Spanish second division? No thanks.”

Credit: @J0hnBarleyc0rn

“Nah, too old and plays in a division which is equivalent to second half of a the EFL Championship in England.”

Credit: @EvansUk70

“”29-year-old”, “in La Liga 2″. Stop joking. No thanks”

Credit: @Maxx_Mateo

“Oh come on we won’t sign a 29yr old who got 9 goals in the Spanish 2nd division!! Dear oh dear get a grip!!”

Credit: @SteveWiles20

“La Liga 2 is the equivalent to the Conference League”

Credit: @lewis__wwfc7

In other news, find out what manager update has left Wanderers buzzing here!

Former England striker Kevin Phillips believes Javi Galan could be a perfect signing for Leeds United, eventually tripling his value.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Galan move

The 26-year-old impressed for La Liga side Huesca last season, with only Lionel Messi (4.5) averaging more than his 3.3 dribbles per game in the league.

Leeds are believed to be eyeing up a move for the £5.4m-rated left-back, with Ezgjan Alioski’s likely exit heightening the need for reinforcements in that area. Reports over the weekend even claimed that Galan is ready to join the Whites, suggesting he is keen on linking up with Marcelo Bielsa.

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The Latest: Phillips talks up transfer

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips insisted that the move is a no-brainer, with little risk involved and the potential for the Spaniard to be worth a lot more one day. He said:

“I think anyone that you can get without breaking the bank is like getting a player in for free.

“Of course, wages might be a little bit higher. But you’ve not got much to lose. If he comes in and doesn’t do well, he’s cost you hardly anything.

“If he does well, you have someone who’s worth triple what you paid for him. Then you’ve got an asset on your hands.

“It is a low-risk signing and it might just turn out to be a good one for Leeds.”

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The Verdict: Ideal left-back addition

Phillips makes a good point in that Leeds won’t have to spend a huge amount if they want to sign Galan, meaning it would be no disaster if he doesn’t succeed at Elland Road. However, the hope is that the Huesca defender would come straight in and be a success story, putting his aforementioned dribbling ability to good use.

It is worth stressing that Galan is more than just a marauding attacking full-back as well, averaging 2.4 tackles per game last season and showing he can also excel in the gritty aspects of his game.

In other news, a former Leeds player is keen on the Whites signing one individual this summer. Find out who it is here.

Ryan Kent asking for a new contract has been coming, says former Rangers defender Michael Ball.

The 24-year-old winger still has two years to run on his current contract. However, according to GiveMeSport, he is keen on a new deal amid interest from Leeds United.

Kent was excellent during the 2020/21 season as he helped Rangers to win their first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years and end Celtic’s stranglehold.

The Englishman finished the campaign with 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, while he also averaged more dribbles per league game (1.9) than any other Rangers player bar Joe Aribo (also 1.9, stats via WhoScored).

Indeed, Kent truly showed his worth, and Ball believes the former Liverpool man should be rewarded for it.

“I think we’ve probably seen this coming for a long time,” the ex-Rangers full-back told FFC when asked if Kent deserves a new contract with improved terms.

“It was a big outlay for Rangers at the time to bring to the football club, quite surprising that they had those funds to bring him there, and he’s been a massive hit.

“He’s improved himself, he’s been one of the key players for Rangers and they’ve had a successful, fantastic year.”

Ultimately, considering his contribution to the team this year, Steven Gerrard will surely not want to lose him to Leeds. So handing Kent a new contract may be the best course of action.

Rangers have been linked with both Abdou Harroui and Joey Veerman ahead of the summer window but who would be the better addition to Steven Gerrard’s squad at Ibrox.

Abdou Harroui

According to Football Insider, Rangers have set their sights on signing the Sparta Rotterdam midfielder after scouting him at the Euro U’21 Championships recently.

The 23-year-old has been a regular with the Eredivisie side since breaking into their first team in the 2018/19 season and has gone on to make 102 appearances for the senior side, contributing 18 goals and 13 assists in that time.

Last season saw the young midfielder contribute an impressive six goals and two goals in 33 appearances in the Dutch top-flight, which helped him average an impressive 7.20 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Transfermarkt currently values Harroui at £3.15m and with his contract set to expire at the end of next season, he could well be a cheap option for Gerrard and sporting director Ross Wilson this summer.

Joey Veerman

Rangers have been heavily linked with the SC Heerenveen midfielder in recent months after his superb performances in the Eredivisie over the past two seasons.

Last season saw the 22-year-old contribute a superb seven goals and 10 assists in 31 appearances in the Eredivisie, in which he earned a 7.40 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Reports have suggested that the youngster would set back Rangers as much as £8.5m this summer which could potentially price the Gers out of a move, as it would make him Gerrard’s record signing at Ibrox.

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Who would be the better signing?

Whilst Veerman had the edge in terms of goals and assists in the Eredivise last season, it seems clear that he would be a far more expensive option for Rangers this summer.

Harroui also outperformed Veerman in terms of shots per game, pass success rate and tackles per game last season and there was very little to split the two in terms of their performances in the Dutch top-flight, which suggests that Rangers would be better off signing the cheaper option this summer.

Whilst Veerman can only really feature as a defensive and central midfielder, Harroui has played across the midfield during his time with Rotterdam, and his versatility marks him out as the sort of player Gerrard would love to have in his squad next season.

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Therefore, Wilson should forget about signing Veerman for now and instead focus on bringing Harroui to Ibrox ahead of next season.

And, in other news… Rangers may already have their Davis heir in never-before-seen “mountain”

Sheffield United stopper Aaron Ramsdale has received a late call into the England EURO 2020 squad, as initially selected goalkeeper Dean Henderson has withdrawn after sustaining an injury [Sky Sports].

Unfortunately for the Manchester United stopper, he is now no longer able to take part in England’s quest for major glory, following news he missed training for the second time this week [Sky Sports].

Revealed to be a hip issue that has caused Henderson serious discomfort, there is now a spot for Ramsdale to fill in the 26-man pack as the Three Lions prepare for the visit of Scotland on Friday [BBC].

The former Bournemouth man will have to undergo strict COVID-19 protocols, before being allowed to enter the English camp [BBC].

Serving as a fine reward for another strong season, no wonder loads of Sheffield United diehards took to Twitter to rejoice at these latest developments.

SUFC fans react:

Replying to Sheffield United’s official Twitter page, here is what some Blades fans had to say upon hearing what one supporter called ‘huge’ news:

“What a guy, what a keeper, gu on Rambo!”

Credit: @DemBladesDavid

“Love it what a boy Rammers Is”

Credit: @PSimpson83

“This is huge! Congrats @AaronRamsdale98″
Credit: @chloedovinson

“Goooo on rammers”

Credit: @Joe29498132

“England’s number 1”

Credit: @Sufc_Jam3s

“Well deserved  @AaronRamsdale98 Get in!!!”
Credit: @Champagneblade

In other news, a pundit exclusively makes a claim about Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie.

Interest is intensifying in Leeds United defender Ezgjan Alioski this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Turkish outlet Fanatik (via Sport Witness), who claim that CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Trabzonspor are all keeping an extremely close eye on the situation of the 29-year-old left-back ahead of a potential move upon the expiry of his contract at Elland Road at the end of the month.

This news comes following a recent report by The Mirror, who revealed that Victor Orta is still attempting to convince the North Macedonia international to sign a new deal with the Whites, as Marcelo Bielsa is desperate to keep the £4.5m-rated defender ahead of next season.

Orta will be gutted

With it being clear that both Orta and Bielsa want Alisoki to remain in England beyond the summer, despite the fact it is reported Leeds will not be improving the terms of their proposed new deal for the 29-year-old, the news that a number of clubs are stepping up their interest in the left-back is sure to leave the director of football gutted.

Indeed, it is not difficult to understand why Leeds wish to retain the services of the £24k-per-week man, as Alisoki enjoyed what was arguably his best season for the club last time out.

Over his 36 Premier League appearances for Bielsa’s side, the defender scored two goals, registered three assists and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.8 key passes and taking 0.7 shots per game.

Alioski also made an average of 0.6 interceptions, 2.1 tackles and won 4.7 duels per fixture, with these metrics seeing the 29-year-old earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.75.

As such, considering these impressive returns, as well as just how much he featured for Leeds last season, it would very much appear as if the player Kevin Phillips dubbed “magic” is a key part of Bielsa’s first-team plans at Elland Road, with the defender’s versatility undoubtedly being a huge plus for the Argentine.

However, with CSKA Moscow reportedly willing to offer Alioksi a whopping €2.5m-per-year (£42k-per-week), whether or not the former FC Lugano star will go on to agree a new deal with Leeds appears far from certain at present.

In other news: Leeds dealt potential transfer blow over £27m “destroyer”, it’ll surely devastate fans

Lee Ryder has dropped some promising insight from inside Mike Ashley’s camp on the potential takeover of Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Ashley’s claims

Ashley has launched two separate claims against the Premier League over the failed takeover deal between him and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

One is the arbitration case, which is set to start in July, and there is also the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) lawsuit over the English top flight’s decision-making process with regards to the failed takeover bid.

The Latest: Takeover insight

Replying to a Magpies fan in a Q&A session for The Chronicle, Ryder – who has been following the whole takeover saga closely – has shared that Ashley’s camp are confident that they can get a positive result in both cases.

However, the journalist warned that it really boils down to whether the Premier League had a point from their Owners’ and Directors’ Test (ODT) and that the Tyneside club would have been state-led had the consortium gained approval.

The Verdict: Promising

It is certainly promising to hear that Ashley’s camp feel confident that they can win both of their cases against the Premier League, especially with the arbitration hearing drawing nearer.

If they can show that the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is a separate entity from the Saudi state, then they will surely feel they have a strong case.

A positive result in the arbitration proceedings could certainly speed up the takeover process for Newcastle, and although the timing is not ideal given that the summer transfer window has officially opened and that the new season is set to start in August, they will want things moving as quickly as possible.

In other news, find out what the potential timeframes are for both cases

Ange Postecoglou wants Celtic to put their move for Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy on hold, according to Give Me Sport.

The Lowdown: Celtic’s long-standing interest

The Hoops have been keeping tabs on the central midfielder for some time after first being credited with an interest way back in November ahead of a possible pre-contract agreement.

However, as we know, a New Year deal never materialised, although reports in May suggested that Celtic were set to sign McCarthy this summer.

Postecoglou was announced as Neil Lennon’s successor earlier this month, but it seems as if he isn’t so keen on a deal for the Republic of Ireland international who Roy Hodgson labelled ‘class’ last year.

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The Latest: McCarthy latest

Give Me Sport shared a transfer story on Tuesday, claiming Postecoglou wants the Hoops to move for Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy ahead of McCarthy.

A deal for McCarthy was at an advanced stage, but Postecoglou wants to prioritise a move for Mooy over the Palace man.

The report adds that a deal for McCarthy remains tentatively in place.

The Verdict: Mooy or McCarthy?

Should Postecoglou prefer Mooy over McCarthy, then Celtic should listen to their new manager’s demands and pursue a deal for the former Brighton midfielder.

Both players have experience in the Premier League and are 30 years of age, but if Postecoglou wants Mooy, then the Hoops should certainly explore a deal after talk over a Hoops approach for the player emerged recently.

One stumbling block could be Mooy’s salary, as he is on £3m-a-year in China, but Celtic can at least give it a go and could then seal a deal for McCarthy if a move for Mooy isn’t financially possible.

In other news: Hoops considering move for Manchester City man, find out more here.