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Southampton have been linked with Peter Olayinka and Daryl Dike ahead of the summer window but who would be the better addition to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side?

Peter Olayinka

According to Premier League.cz, Southampton, Brighton and Aston Villa are all interested in signing the Slavia Prague forward this summer, with the Czech side expected to demand between £6m-£7m for his services.

The Nigerian forward, who features in a wide target man role for Slavia Prague but can also play through the middle, was one of the top performers for Slavia in their impressive run to the Europa League quarter-finals last season, as he contributed three goals and two assists in 11 appearances, averaging a solid 6.92 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He also managed six goals and three assists in 24 appearances in the Fortuna Liga, which suggests that he could be a threat for Hasenhuttl’s side next season, especially from an aerial point of view, which is something that the Saints arguably lack in their attack.

Daryl Dike

According to TEAMtalk, Southampton are one of a number of Premier League sides monitoring the Orlando City striker after his superb performance on loan at Barnsley in the Championship last season.

The 21-year-old would contribute a superb nine goals in 21 appearances to help Valerian Ismael’s side secure a playoff finish, so it is no surprise that plenty of Premier League clubs were quick to take notice.

His performances with the Yorkshire side earned him the praise of experienced manager Neil Warnock, who said:

“I think they’ve probably got the best striker in the division in Dike. It’s said they’ve got a £17m buyout, so I would imagine if they go up, they’ll be buying him because he’s been unbelievable when I look at his clips. He scores goals, he’s big, strong and young. He’s got every attribute really.”

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Who would be better?

Although Dike’s buyout clause means that he would probably be the more expensive option, he is more of a natural striker than Olayinka and has age on his side.

The USA international looks to have a huge amount of potential, whilst Olayinka may have already hit his peak in the Czech league, so Dike could prove to be a great investment for the future by Southampton.

Therefore, Saints vice-chairman Martin Semmens should forget about Olayinka this summer and instead focus on signing Dike for Hasenhuttl’s side. He scored more this term, has a higher ceiling and is already acclimatised to English football.

This is a no brainer for the Saints hierarchy.

And, in other news… Southampton could repeat Armstrong masterclass with swoop for “outstanding” beast

Liverpool are among the leading candidates to sign Jude Bellingham.

What’s the word?

That’s according to German outlet BILD, who report that Real Madrid and Liverpool are “already closely monitoring” Bellingham’s development.

The newspaper stated that the England star is the most expensive 18-year-old footballer in the world, whilst being priceless for Dortmund.

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BILD state that Bellingham’s status in the Dortmund hierarchy is expected to rise next season, with the leadership issues at BVB serving as a problem for the Signal Iduna Park side.

The fee may set Liverpool back though, with the German outlet stating this. “One thing is clear: if the ‘BellingBOOM’ continues at this breathtaking pace, the Dortmund diamond will soon become the next ‘over 100 million deal’ for Borussia.”

Worth every penny

From what we have seen of Bellingham so far, along with the metrics that he has produced during his developmental and prosperous time at Dortmund, he is worth every penny of the estimated €100m price tag.

The exchange rate would actually see Bellingham valued at around £83m, bringing the fee closer to his current market value which currently sits at £67.5m according to Transfermarkt.

Though, for an 18-year-old who has been described as a “leader” by teammate Mats Hummels and a “sensation” as per BT Sport, a £100m price tag would still seem worth it – given his identity as a current player, whilst bearing in mind his almost limitless potential.

The England wonderkid who stands at 5 foot 11 has asserted himself as a Dortmund regular ever since his move from Birmingham City in 2020.

This season has seen a big improvement in his goal contributions, with the £49k-per-week talent netting six goals and producing 13 assists in 40 appearances in all competitions.

Even more impressive though, is his record in the Champions League this season. With four goal contributions in six appearances, in the form of one goal and three assists, Bellingham has demonstrated his prowess as a big-game player.

A key attribute that Klopp and the Reds faithful will appreciate though is his ability to lead.

After the 4-1 defeat to RB Leipzig, Bellingham was the only player to stand in front of the fans and applaud them, an act that has made him the new “darling” of the BVB fanbase.

In other news: Liverpool targeting £13.5m-rated “world class” beast, supporters will be buzzing…

Southampton target Arnaut Danjuma has responded to reported interest from the south-coast outfit.

Danjuma discusses future

The Saints have previously been linked with a move for Danjuma (The Sun), who has enjoyed a good season in the Championship with the Cherries.

Speaking to Voetbalzone.nl, Danjuma said when asked about interest from Southampton:

“That is always an option. As long as we get promoted to the Premier League, it will be beneficial for the club and for me. I’m not working on that yet. It is important that we go to the Premier League because I have not set my sights on an extra year in the Championship. When we get a PhD, we then see what will happen.”

Exciting player

Danjuma has enjoyed a fantastic term in the second tier. He has managed 15 goals and eight assists in 34 matches in all competitions (Transfermarkt), and was even recently named in the Championship Team of the Season (via The Bournemouth Echo). He now seems to be settling in at Dean Court and indeed English football.

Bournemouth’s place in the play-offs is already confirmed, so they are in with a chance of returning to the Premier League. Should they achieve that goal, it appears unlikely that Danjuma will leave. Fail to earn promotion, though, and the Saints could be in with a chance of signing him. Ralph Hasenhuttl and co will therefore have a close eye on the £10.8m-valued Netherlands international (Transfermarkt) between now and the end of the season.

In other news, Southampton fans are gutted at this “terrible” news.

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira is reportedly interested in bringing OGC Nice defender Youcef Atal to South East London [Foot Afrique].

In 2020/21, the Algerian right-back impressed for his current employers, registering three goal contributions in 22 appearances in all competitions; one goal and two assists [Transfermarkt].

Now, he could be set to have a decision to make on his future owing to recent reports.

Atal is said to be the one of Vieira’s main priority targets as Palace manager, and he could potentially make his move for the 25-year-old in the near future [Foot Afrique].

The former Arsenal captain signed the Nice man back in 2018 when he was manager of the Ligue 1 outfit.

Now on his radar once again, no wonder loads of Crystal Palace fans took to Twitter to share their opinions on the news.

Crystal Palace FC fans react:

Replying to popular Crystal Palace fan outlet PALACE XTRA, here is what some Eagles fans had to say about recent events:

“What a signing he would be. Very versatile”

Credit: @Tyler34036371″Yes please”Credit: @TheEagleDC”We can dream..”Credit: @WilfzSZN”On my knees for this”Credit: @FiachraFurlong”Class but afcon”Credit: @saucysakho12″OMG”Credit: @CPFCH10In other news, Crystal Palace fans react to a coaching update.

Former Leeds United star David Norris is disappointed that the club missed out on the signing of Rodrigo De Paul in the summer transfer window.

The midfielder was long touted as a target for the Whites, with the club even tabling a bid for the star when he was at Udinese last summer.

The Serie A club rejected that offer and instead sold him to La Liga champions Atletico Madrid this summer.

De Paul moved for a fee of €35m (£29.6m), with Atletico looking to strengthen as they bid to retain the title this term.

The Argentine has been in fine form for Udinese in recent seasons and scored nine goals in 36 games in Serie A last term, while also laying on 11 assists, and he can play in a variety of positions, including attacking midfield, on either wing, or in central midfield.

And Norris has expressed his disappointment that Leeds did not manage to do a deal for the 27-year-old in this transfer window.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “Obviously, it’s not ideal because it sometimes doesn’t look great. I think De Paul would have been a statement signing.”

Frank McAvennie has dropped an encouraging transfer claim on Tyler Roberts and whether he would fit in at Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Newcastle eyeing Roberts

As per Football Insider, the Magpies are closely monitoring the 22-year-old ahead of a potential move from Leeds United once the summer transfer window opens.

He is out of contract at Elland Road in 2022 and is yet to agree an extension, so the Whites may view a deal this summer as a good opportunity to cash in on him in order to gain some value from a transfer fee rather than risk losing him for nothing next year.

The Latest: McAvennie claims Roberts would start at Newcastle

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie – who is now a pundit after playing for the likes of West Ham United and Celtic – has claimed that Roberts would be a starter under Steve Bruce at St James’ Park, believing that the Toon Army would instantly warm up to him. The 61-year-old said:

“If he’s not getting a game, I think so.

“If you’re not playing you have to ask to leave. If he goes to Newcastle he’ll be a starter straight away. 

“They have great fans and they will love him up there if he hits the ground running. 

“Roberts can ask for guarantees but the manager can’t give them. He can only give them if he’s playing well. 

“You can’t tell a player he will always start because what if he starts playing badly? It’s a stupid statement.

“At his age, he’s got to be playing.”

The Verdict: Roberts would add to Newcastle squad

Roberts is certainly a player who could add something to the Magpies squad, and with the added experience of playing at Premier League level under Marcelo Bielsa, he would not have to adapt to the demands of the division were he to join Newcastle.

McAvennie’s point about his game-time is also pertinent – while the forward has played in 26 league games this season, only 14 of those have been as a starter.

Also, at just 22 years of age, Roberts should get even better over the next few years, while his added versatility is also a quality which could be very useful to have on Tyneside next season, especially with the amount of injuries the Magpies have incurred to key players such as Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson.

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The Welshman would certainly seem to be a smart buy should Newcastle look to sign him in the summer.

In other news, Lee Ryder has shared some insight from sources close to the potential takeover of NUFC on a possible timescale for arbitration.

Alan Hutton believes that Barcelona defender Junior Firpo would be an ‘excellent signing’ for Leeds United, following news that he is scheduled for a medical at Elland Road later this week [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: Leeds United gear up for 2021/22

As the Whites get their ducks in a row ahead of 2021/22, many onlookers will be fascinated to see how Marcelo Bielsa goes about improving his side’s impressive ninth placed finish last time out.

Already active in the transfer market, the Yorkshiremen have completed a deal for ex-Birmingham City starlet Amari Miller, whilst they have also been linked heavily with a move for Hertha Berlin forward Matheus Cunha [Leeds Live].

However, they now look set to acquire Dominican Republic left-back Firpo, something that the BBC pundit has greeted with extreme positivity.

The Latest: Hutton lavishes praise on ‘excellent’ Firpo as he gets set for medical

Speaking in an interview with Football Insider, the former Tottenham Hotspur man claimed:

“He was at Betis before he joined Barcelona. He’s an outstanding player.

“I was reading quotes by Abidal, who signed him, some of the stuff he was saying about him. How he could be one of the best left-backs in the world, he just has to be patient and learn.

“I think this move just shows you what type of player Leeds are trying to attract. Reading about the style of player that he is, I think he’d definitely fit into a Bielsa side.

“It’s a position where they need someone in. It’s as simple as that and I think they’re aiming high. It obviously shows you where they’re trying to go with this squad.

“It’s only going to be exciting for the league if they come back even stronger because I thought they were excellent last year.

“I think that’d be an excellent signing.” [Football Insider].

The Verdict: Leeds United should look to get the Firpo deal over the line ahead of pre-season

Correctly, the 36-year-old points out that the qualities the 6ft ace possesses are in sync with the high-octane style of football Bielsa likes his sides to operate in – pace and versatility.

In 2020/21, Firpo made 18 appearances for Blaugrana, notching one goal alongside a solitary assist [Transfermarkt].

Advantageously for the Elland Road club, he is also adept at moving the ball quickly and effectively. Throughout last season, he averaged a commendable 89.7% pass accuracy, which would suit Leeds and Bielsa.

Moving towards pre-season, the Whites should look to finalise a deal for the 24-year-old full-back ahead of time so he can get bedded in to Bielsa’s high-intensity style as quickly as possible.

In other news, Leeds United are set to miss out on a reported signing target.

West Ham have been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of their Europa League clash this evening…

What’s the latest?

The Hammers are expected to be without the services of right-back Vladimir Coufal for the next three matches due to an ongoing problem, according to club insiders Claret and Hugh.

He missed the weekend’s 1-0 win over Everton, having pulled out of his Czech Republic duties over the international break, and now it appears he will miss both the Genk game and the London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

It is hoped that he could resume training next week but a clash with defending champions Manchester City may prove to be too soon for a return.

Speaking about the 29-year-old after the game on Sunday, the Irons boss said, via football.london.

“Vladimir has taken an injection he had a bit of discomfort in his pubis. He has had an injection in there, he got the injury in the Man United cup game and he has been carrying it for a few weeks.”

Huge blow

This will come as a massive setback to Moyes and West Ham.

Coufal missed their last Europa League game with what seemed like a knock but was able to return in the defeat to Brentford right before the break, though you could tell that he was far from 100% as he put in a disappointing display.

He was then not named in the squad to face the Toffees and according to the reliable insiders, he’s set to be out for the next three matches, which is certainly devastating as he is the clear first-choice option in the role.

The Irons have some important and tricky fixtures coming up, so to not have the £18m-rated right-back available is certainly gutting news.

His value to the side and their chances of success cannot be understated. He finished last season with the second-highest number of assists (seven), only behind fellow full-back Aaron Cresswell (eight).

That goes to show that Moyes’ wide department is a crucial creative cog in this system.

Furthermore, Coufal has been an absolute animal defensively, too – as per WhoScored, he averaged a squad-high 2.1 tackles per game and wasn’t far behind for interceptions (1.2 per game) either.

That form had continued into the current campaign, where he is averaging 2.1 tackles each outing once again.

Perhaps Jamie Carragher’s endorsement of him on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football last season truly hints at his influence, he said [4th May, 22:24pm]:

“We talk about [Tomas] Soucek, but Coufal whether it’s right wing-back or right full-back at different times, he’s just one of those players that’s 7/10 minimum every time you watch him play.

“He’s the type of player you’d love to play with him. A manager’s dream, never injured, he’s there week in week out.”

On the above evidence, this will be a frustrating development that is sure to leave Moyes hugely worried heading into some very important fixtures.

A win over Genk would keep up their 100% record in the Europa League, whilst matches against Spurs have always offered up goals and drama, and then there’s the small matter of Pep Guardiola’s City.

In an ideal world, Moyes would have loved to have Coufal available, so it’s a major blow to the Hammers.

AND in other news, Big call: Moyes must ruthlessly axe West Ham’s £10.8m-rated “complete beast” vs Genk…

Leeds scored a last-gasp equaliser against Wolves on Saturday as they rescued a point in the Premier League at Elland Road against Bruno Lage’s team.

Hee-Chan Hwang’s goal appeared destined to win the three points for the travelling side, only for a last-minute penalty from Rodrigo to ensure that the points were shared between the two teams.

The result means that Leeds remain 17th in the table and they are now three points ahead of the drop zone, with Burnley and Newcastle on four points and Norwich, in 20th, on two points.

Whilst Rodrigo may take the applause for scoring the spot-kick late on to seal a point, another player was Marcelo Bielsa’s real hero during the match – Brazil international Raphinha.

Despite being withdrawn early in the second-half with an injury concern, Raphinha was Leeds’ most impressive performer as he produced a sublime display on the pitch. The Brazilian was a constant threat down the right wing for the Whites and was unfortunate not to come off with an assist for his troubles.

On the ball, the wing wizard was spell-binding. Per SofaScore, he had three shots on goal, created two chances and completed an incredible nine dribbles, with a 100% success rate, as he helped Leeds up the pitch in transition.

His dribbling ability opened up space in the final third and allowed him to drive down the flank, which ultimately led to him creating two opportunities. This piled on the pressure for Leeds and began to wear Wolves down, playing a part in the eventual equaliser after he left the field.

Defensively, he was just as good. Per SofaScore, he won a whopping 12 duels, losing four, and made three interceptions and two tackles. He also managed to avoid being dribbled past in the game, with these statistics showing that he was able to put in a sturdy defensive display to go along with his exceptional attacking talents – making it the perfect all-around showing from the ex-Rennes flyer.

Therefore, he was the real star of the show for the Yorkshire side. Rodrigo may have scored the all-important goal, but Raphinha’s stunning display laid the groundwork for Leeds to go on and fight hard for the equaliser as he led by example until his injury forced him out of the game. Hopefully, he will be back fit and raring to go with a similar performance against Norwich next weekend.

AND in other news, Phil Hay makes big Leeds transfer claim that’ll surely leave fans buzzing…

Many Everton fans have been left slamming a transfer update involving Harry Winks.

Speaking on his Twitch channel (via The Everton End), transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that it is a ‘possibility’ that the Tottenham Hotspur man could end up at Goodison Park in the summer window.

With a mere four goals and just four assists in 173 games for Spurs over all competitions across the last seven consecutive seasons (Transfermarkt), the signing of Winks would not really be an inspiring one for the Merseyside club, and it is also arguably a position which they do not need to prioritise.

Rafa Benitez already has the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan, Andre Gomes and Tom Davies who he can call upon in the centre of midfield, and so the Toffees should perhaps be focusing on other areas of the pitch.

Everton fans on Winks transfer update

These Blues supporters slammed the transfer update by Romano on Winks as it was shared on Twitter:

“Not what we need at all. We need someone who can carry the ball forward not move it side to side.”

Credit: @bluetom_tom

“Maybe I was too hard on Mike Ashley… Rafa already losing the plot if this is true”

Credit: @1878_Shirts

“After a tough month I honestly think this may tip me over the Everton edge”

Credit: @GJS41991

“No absolutely not we don’t need him”

Credit: @mxrganhulme7

“Another Tom Cleverley for me. No thanks.”

Credit: @scepticrealist

“Was accepting the other ones but this is a disgrace he is shocking”

Credit: @LiamAnderson66

In other news, find out what recent exit Evertonians are celebrating here!