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After falling at the final hurdle in their pursuit of the top four of the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur now look set for a major rebuild this summer with a number of players set to be shown the door in N17.

Spurs braced for big changes this summer

Ange Postecoglou's first season in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw his side come agonisingly close to a return to Champions League football, ultimately finishing two points short of fourth placed Aston Villa. By no means a failure of a season, Daniel Levy now looks set to use the transfer window to bring new faces into North London and allow some of those deemed surplus to requirements a route out of the club.

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As far as incomings are concerned, a striker remains at the top of Levy's wishlist. Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez has been linked with a move to England with Spurs eager to secure a deal for the 26 goal centre forward. Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy has also been on the radar of the North London outfit with the Guinean scoring 28 times in his side's impressive second placed finish in the Bundesliga.

In regard to those departing this summer, it seems almost inevitable that Joe Rodon will make a permanent move to Leeds United despite their Championship status. It has also been reported that Giovani Lo Celso will push for a move away from Spurs this summer despite talks over a new deal taking place.

Emerson Royal set to be next Spurs star out of the door

Reports out of Turkey via Sports Witness have suggested that Emerson Royal is a target for Galatasaray this summer. The outlet has stated that manager Okan Buruk has requested a new right-back and the Brazilian is a "surprise name" for the club's attempts to fill this void.

The 25-year-old has long been linked with a move away from North London with both Bayern Munich and AC Milan appearing interested in securing his services. Whilst the price tag cited for the defender is around £25.5million, the expected offer from the current Turkish Champions is in the region of just £8.5million.

This £17million difference in price will test Levy's negotiating skills, especially if he is keen to get the outgoings sorted quickly so they can move on with other plans. With Emerson commanding a wage of £40,000 per week, getting this figure off the books early into the window could be a wise move from the higher ups at Spurs.

During his time in England, he has struggled for consistent minutes with the traditional right-back often deployed in both the centre and left side of defence. Pedro Porro's excellent displays in Emerson's natural position saw the Brazilian benched for much of last season, only making 22 appearances in the league.

With the former Barcelona man's departure a near certainty this summer, agreeing a deal early would allow Levy to turn his attention to more important targets even if it means accepting a cut-price deal.

Celtic have tabled their best offers yet as they look to keep two potential future stars at the club this summer, it has emerged.

Celtic eyeing up double

After clinching the Scottish Premiership title a week ago, Celtic are now eyeing up a league and cup double as they once again face rivals Rangers in the final of the Scottish Cup.

The two sides could not be separated for much of the season, but a late rally from Brendan Rodgers' side combined with their rivals hitting a run of poor form which saw them take just five points from a possible 15 ensured that Celtic ran out comfortable winners of the SPL, clinching the trophy in their penultimate game of the season.

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Though far from a vintage campaign for Rodgers and co, they could yet crown it with a domestic double, with the Scottish Cup final against Rangers due to take place this weekend.

It would represent the 42nd time Celtic have lifted the cup if they do manage to defeat their Glasgow rivals, and would be their 13th domestic double, though it would pale in comparison to their recent treble successes of 2016/17 and 2019/20.

Rangers, meanwhile, are looking to restore some pride in what has ultimately been a disappointing season, and would manage their 35th Scottish Cup win were they to turn the tables on their old Firm foe.

Most Scottish Cup wins

Celtic

41

Rangers

34

Queens Park

10

Heart of Midlothian

8

Aberdeen

7

In the background, the Hoops continue to plan for next season, and now it has emerged that they have offered out their best terms yet to two young stars.

Celtic keen to tie down young pair

That news comes courtesy of The Daily Record, who claim that the club have offered both Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly new contracts as they look to tie the young pair down at Celtic Park.

Vata is highly regarded across Europe and has already scored for the Hoops this season, with the 19-year-old finding the back of the net as a substitute in the Scottish Cup in a 5-0 thrashing of Buckie Thistle.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old midfielder Kelly has made six appearances for the senior team this season and also found the net in a 7-1 thrashing of Dundee.

But the pair face uncertain futures, with Vata out of contract as it stands this summer and Kelly's expiring at the beginning of 2025, leaving Celtic facing the possibility of losing the pair for free (though there would be some compensation paid due to their age).

Indeed, it is claimed that "a number of Italian and English clubs" have made an approach for Vata, a situation which has led to Celtic tabling "new and improved four-year contracts" for the pair of teenage talents.

These represent "their best offers" to date, in what appears a strong show of faith in the duo. It remains to be seen whether these deals are enough to keep either player at Parkhead, but no one can say Rodgers and co didn't try, even if it may come as too little, too late.

After a disappointing season, Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have reportedly turned towards the summer transfer window and lead the race to sign a key target for Erik ten Hag.

Man Utd transfer news

Change is needed at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have gone from a Premier League top four place and Carabao Cup win under Ten Hag to failing to qualify for the Champions League in a season full of moments to forget. And whilst they've still got the chance to salvage the campaign in the FA Cup final against Machester City, it's clear that reinforcements are needed in abundance this summer.

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With that said, the Red Devils have already been linked with both Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo in a summer raid of Barcelona that would undoubtedly improve Ten Hag's current side. Araujo, in particular, would add some much-needed control next to Harry Maguire in United's backline, whilst De Jong could help to unleash Bruno Fernandes' best form.

If reports are to be believed, then Ratcliffe is certainly not messing around this summer and could even weaken a fellow Premier League side in the middle of his spending spree. According to ESPN, Manchester United are in pole position to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace this summer in a deal that would see them trigger the winger's reported release clause of between £50m and £60m, after initial reports indicated their interest.

Chelsea, of course, came close to signing the former Reading star last summer, before Palace sealed a new contract with Olise to pour cold water on any potential deal. Upping his release clause in the process, it is now United who are the frontrunners ahead of the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, despite not qualifying for the Champions League this season.

A player who has more than proven his quality in the Premier League, Olise could finally add some much-needed creativity to United's attack, where the onus has nearly entirely fallen on Fernandes this term.

"Wonderful" Olise can thrive where Sancho failed

Whilst there will be a lot of finger pointing as to why Jadon Sancho failed to find his best form at Manchester United, before heading out on loan to Borussia Dortmund, the conclusion is that a big-money arrival ultimately struggled to make the impact needed by such an expensive signing. Where he failed, however, Olise can shine at Old Trafford.

The winger has earned plenty of praise in the past, including from former Palace manager Roy Hodgson, who told the Palace club website after a match last season: “In the second-half he was spot on with everything. In the first-half we didn’t get enough out of him, and we couldn’t bring him into the game as much as we wanted. In the first-half he was a figure on the right but he wasn’t creating chances or showing aggression in his play. In the second-half he got it all right in both defence and attack and he showed what a wonderful player he is."

To sum up his form throughout the current campaign, Olise has managed seven goals and four assists in just 16 appearances. With 11 goal involvements in such little time, United fans may be left wondering just how impressive the winger would be in a season without injuries.

Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered yet another Premier League defeat in midweek, this time to AFC Bournemouth, as the Old Gold’s chances of finishing in the top half took another major hit.

While Gary O’Neil’s debut campaign in charge of the Molineux side has largely been positive, the previous few weeks have seen an injury crisis derail their progress.

Players such as Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-Chan, Matheus Cunha, and Craig Dawson have been in superb form throughout the 2023/24 season, yet they have all suffered injuries just when Wolves were banging on the door of a top-half finish.

It proves that O’Neil has a real lack of squad depth at his disposal and he will certainly be hoping to bring in a few players during the summer transfer window.

Much will depend on how big his budget will be, however, as the Old Gold seek to comply with financial fair play rules, which suggest the manager might need to sell a few players in order to balance the books.

With regard to future incomings, it appears he is showing interest in a current South Korean international who knows Hwang fairly well…

Wolves transfer news

According to reports in Serbia earlier this week (via Birmingham World), Wolves are reportedly showing interest in Red Star Belgrade midfielder Hwang In-beom as they look to strengthen their squad this summer.

Indeed, both Wolves and fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace sent scouts to watch over the player during Red Star’s Serbia Cup semifinal win over Partizan Belgrade, with the South Korean star playing the entire match during their victory.

The centre of midfield is certainly an area which could do with some reinforcements ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The 27-year-old has only been in Serbia for a year, moving to Red Star from Olympiacos last summer, but it appears his performances have caught the eye in recent months, especially as Wolves sent representatives to watch his display.

With Hwang enjoying his finest season in terms of goals scored at Wolves this season, could signing his compatriot take his game to a new level next season?

Hwang Hee-Chan’s statistics for Wolves this season

The centre-forward initially joined the club on loan in the summer of 2021, before signing permanently just six months later.

Across his first two full seasons, Hwang scored five and four goals respectively, struggling to make an impact in the team as the club failed to build on Nuno Espírito Santo's success under new manager Bruno Lage.

This season has been a different story for the South Korean, finally emerging as a main goal-scoring threat under the leadership of O’Neil.

Not only has he scored ten Premier League goals in 25 games, but the 28-year-old currently ranks highly among the rest of his teammates with regard to various performance metrics.

In terms of goals and assists in the top flight, Hwang ranks second in the squad with 13, while he also ranks fourth for shots on target per game (0.6), big chances created (four) and fifth for successful dribbles per game (1.4) which demonstrates how important he has been to their cause this term.

O’Neil has deployed the former RB Leipzig gem across the front three this season, while he has even dropped deep into an attacking midfield role at times, depending on the formation the manager uses.

This could see him link up well with his compatriot should he make a move to the Midlands in the summer, as their chemistry will already be established heading into the new season.

Hwang In-beom’s statistics this season

The 27-year-old has shown his positional versatility this term, either playing as a defensive, central, or attacking midfielder for the Serbia side, contributing five goals and five assists across 30 appearances.

This suggests he has plenty of attacking traits which could prove useful for Wolves as he tends to burst forward from the heart of the midfield on a regular basis.

Goals

4

Assists

4

Accurate passes per game

42.3

Big chances created

8

Key passes per game

2.2

The former Olympiacos dynamo currently ranks second among his teammates for overall Sofascore rating (7.64) in the Serbia top flight, along with ranking fourth for big chances created (eight), fifth for accurate passes per game (42.3), second for key passes per game (2.2) and fifth for tackles each match (1.5), showing a real desire to help out either when his side has the ball and are attacking, or if they are defending.

Slotting just behind Hwang, the current Red Star midfield general could create plenty of chances for him while offering support in the final third. Across the whole Wolves’ midfield this season, only Mario Lemina has scored more than twice, indicating a need for a player who can assist the front three when the Old Gold are attacking.

The Red Star player isn’t just shining in his current squad either. When compared to his positional peers in the men’s next 14 competitions, Hwang currently ranks in the top 3% for shot-creating actions (4.75), the top 4% for total shots (2.21), the top 13% for non-penalty goals (0.17) and in the top 7% for tackles (3.23) per 90, proving he is among the best in his position for these metrics.

The midfielder has plenty of experience starring at the highest level, representing South Korea at the 2022 World Cup, where journalist Konstantinos Lianos dubbed him a “top, top player” as the Asian nation made the knockout stages for only the third time in their history.

He started all four games in Qatar and showed plenty of willingness to get on the ball and make things happen, evidenced by the fact he averaged 70 touches per game while succeeding with 80% of his passes each match.

There is no doubt the South Korean midfielder would improve the current Wolves' midfield setup. The main question is, will they be able to afford him?

He has a contract at Red Star until 2026, which suggests they will have to pay a sizeable fee – especially considering his performances this season – to secure his signature.

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An in-form member of Ange Postecoglou's squad could be tempted to leave Tottenham this summer, despite his importance to the side.

Spurs players who could leave before the end of 2024

Many Spurs players are currently facing uncertain futures under Postecoglou heading into the next transfer window.

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One of the big talking points will be midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who is now slowly entering the final 12 months of his contract at N17 and has been tipped to potentially leave this summer by reliable journalists like Fabrizio Romano.

Tottenham have been repeatedly linked with a move for Conor Gallagher, alongside Atalanta star Ederson, which certainly won't help Hojbjerg's push for starting places.

The Denmark international has been given the nod by Postecoglou on just six occasions in the league this season, with the vast majority of his appearances coming from the substitute's bench.

Meanwhile, a lack of chances for Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil have pushed them further towards the exit door, and that isn't even factoring in the plethora of senior players out on loan spells.

Luton Town (home)

March 30th

West Ham (away)

April 2nd

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 8th

Newcastle United (away)

April 13th

Arsenal (home)

April 28th

Joe Rodon, Tanguy Ndombele, Djed Spence, Japhet Tanganga and Sergio Reguilon all look pretty likely to part company with Spurs later this year, and some reports suggest that Leeds are very likely to sign Rodon in particular after his excellent season in the Championship on loan at Elland Road.

There have been some claims that Saudi sides still hold a firm interest in Richarlison as well, and Tottenham could be tempted by a big bid despite his excellent form. The Brazilian boasts nine goals from his last 11 top flight matches, but it is now believed he could also opt to bid farewell.

Richarlison could be tempted to leave Tottenham

According to La Gazetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, he is rated highly by clubs in the Middle East, and it is believed Richarlison could be tempted by a move to Saudi in the summer window.

While the 26-year-old has impressed lately, there is a case to be made that his sale could generate sufficient funds for Spurs to go out and sign a 20-plus goal-per-season forward to finally replace Harry Kane.

However, Postecoglou has stressed the player's importance this season.

“Obviously for Richy, getting a couple of goals as a striker that was positive for him," said Postecoglou on Richarlison after his brace against Newcastle. “Richy was important to us at the start of the year too, but he wasn’t fully fit. I think you could tell he was kind of restricted with his movements.

“At times we had to play him out wide just to get him through games. Since he’s come back, it’s fair to say he feels a lot better physically and I think that’s helped him mentally as well."

Makes himself available for selection with T20 World Cup less than a year away

Deivarayan Muthu in Chennai13-Dec-2019

Dwayne Bravo at an event in Mumbai•Getty Images

Former West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo has officially come out of international retirement, making himself available for selection in the West Indies T20I side in the lead-up to their men’s T20 World Cup defence in Australia next year. Bravo, however, confirmed that he didn’t want to play any other format.”I would like to announce my return to international T20s for West Indies,” Bravo told ESPNcricinfo in Chennai. “Once selected I’ll be fully committed to represent the region again in T20 cricket, which I think is exciting for West Indies cricket and fans, with the young talents around.”Bravo had called time on his international career in October 2018, and turned his focus to playing franchise T20 cricket around the world. The 36-year old allrounder has now made a u-turn following drastic changes in the West Indies management. Ricky Skerritt has replaced Dave Cameron as the board president and former T20 World Cup-winning coach Phil Simmons is back in the mix. As part of the revamp, Kieron Pollard had been appointed captain of both the limited-overs teams ahead of the trip to India.ALSO READ: Bravo lives up to ‘champion’ status as Maratha Arabians win T10 titleBravo said that he was impressed by the clarity of thought and transparency in selection from the new management.”They understand and listen, they will have dialogues going back and forth, that’s the difference,” he said. “And that’s why it was so easy for me to make a decision to come back and represent West Indies again. I speak to the captain, coach, the president, director of cricket and chairman of selectors, and I’ve confirmed that I’ll be available for T20I selection.”Board president Skerritt and director of cricket Jimmy Adams both expressed their pleasure at Bravo’s decision.*”Bravo has the performance track record that should never have been lost from the West Indies cricket talent pool,” Skerritt said. “Bravo’s return reminds us what a negative impact politics and pettiness has had on our cricket. The possibility that Bravo, a former West Indies captain, can again be a fierce and formidable allrounder in his maroon colors, is a welcomed possibility.”Adams said: “I am pleased that Dwayne is making himself available for selection for T20 cricket. His considerable experience and proven ability will strengthen the pool of players from which Cricket West Indies will be able to choose their squads whilst also providing increased competition for places.”Bravo’s return to T20I cricket is another step from West Indies towards getting the band back together for their T20I World Cup defence in 2020. More recently, Pollard captained West Indies to their first ODI series victory in five years, against Afghanistan, and then his side challenged a full-strength India side in a three-match T20I series. Batsman Lendl Simmons came out of nowhere and made a match-winning half-century in Thiruvananthapuram to force the series into a decider in Mumbai. It is understood that both allrounder Andre Russell and offspinner Sunil Narine could have been in contention for selection for the India tour had they been fit enough.”If Russell is back, myself, and Narine is back… We don’t know what the Universe Boss is doing but you never know,” Bravo said. “He can also be available. We will love to have him around as he’s a father figure for all of us and we respect him. Having a Chris Gayle in the team is always special, but it’s up to him to make his decision. But, like I said, we’re looking forward to put the squad together. Whenever we put an XI on the field, it will be an XI that people will come to watch.”Dwayne Bravo dances in celebration•CPL T20/Getty Images

As one of the seniors in the West Indies set-up, along with captain Pollard, Bravo said his role would be to help ease the pressure on young talents who are finding their feet at the international level. Bravo echoed Pollard’s comments made on the eve of the series opener against India, hoping to create a nurturing environment.”We [seniors] just have to talk to them [the youngsters] and allow them to make their mistakes and allow them to figure out their game,” Bravo said. “Give them the opportunity and let them know that they belong to the system. What used to be the problem in the past is if a player played two-three games and they didn’t perform, he gets dropped.”In these format, you expect players to fail, especially when you’re a top-order player because your role and responsibility is to get the team off to a flier and that takes a lot of risks. You just have to give players opportunities and back them – whether they’re performing or not.”Pollard’s proactive captaincy had been one of the major talking points during the three-match T20I series against India. In Hyderabad, he had deployed twin midwickets against Virat Kohli and when he was leading Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL in the absence of Bravo, his in-your-face captaincy and aggressive approach worked for the franchise.”Yeah, he [Pollard] is definitely one who loves to win,” Bravo said. “The guys respect him a lot because of what he has achieved in cricket. Him and Phil [Simmons] have a very good captain-and-coach relationship and they’re going to lead the team in the direction where it should be. Just happy to do what I can to contribute to building something special.”I’m very close to everyone on this team and I know if I walk in, everyone will be happy. But for me, it’s not about me going back to try to be the person. It’s just me going back thankful for another opportunity to represent the team again and also help nurture these young talented players and give them my experience and knowledge. I will try to assist them in whatever way I can.”Bravo has been troubled by injuries in 2019, having been sidelined from part of the IPL (hamstring) and the entire CPL (broken finger). He, however, returned to action in the T10 league in the UAE and led Maratha Arabians to the title.”Champion is always a champion, know? It was good to win the T10 league with Maratha Arabians – it was my third season and second time as captain,” he said. “To win the trophy for the first time was a great achievement. It’s the end of the year now, so we look forward to 2020.”West Indies’ next T20I assignment is a three-match series against Ireland at home in January next year.

Sir Alex Ferguson believes the rise of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho embodies the core spirit of Manchester United.

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Ferguson lauds Man Utd's young starsMainoo & Garnacho represent key valueCourageous enough to be first-team playersWHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking at a golf event, Ferguson was asked by TikToker Jamal Niaz about the impact of Mainoo, 19, and Garnacho, 20, in recent months. The legendary former manager pointed to one of the most ingrained Manchester United values.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Having become increasingly involved in the United first-team in 2022-23, Garnacho made 50 appearances across all competitions last season and scored 10 goals. He was also part of Argentina's Copa America-winning squad this summer. Mainoo followed suit, becoming an undroppable starter eight months ago, scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final and making himself indispensable for England at Euro 2024. Both were FA Youth Cup winners as recently as 2022, a competition that has been held in high esteem at Old Trafford since its 1952 inception.

WHAT SIR ALEX FERGUSON SAID

"It's the foundation isn’t it?" Ferguson said. "It's the heart and soul of what Manchester United has been since the days of Sir Matt Busby, who started the whole process of trusting young players playing. They're young. What they’re showing at the moment, the composure and confidence to play in the first-team, and not be daunted by it. In a way, it shows you the kind of courage they have."

@jnmediauk

Brilliant time interviewing Sir Alex Ferguson for the fifth time at his annual Golf Classic and he gave me his thoughts on the rise of Mainoo & Garnacho at Manchester United and the fearlessness in which they play with 🔥 Look out for the full interview on Morson and JNMEDIAUK’s socials 🎤 JNMEDIA is proudly sponsored by Morson Group: Morson is a community of expert recruiters, matching talented candidates with purposeful organisations and game changing projects across the STEM landscape. This isn’t ‘bums on seats’, transactional recruitment. We support corporate strategies through impactful hiring and workforce solutions. We nurture careers, from first hire to retire and everything in between. We invest, paving the way for the next generation of STEM talent. Come for the job, stay for the career. Find your next role at www.morson.com #SirAlexFerguson #ManchesterUnited #MUFC #Football #PremierLeague #Euros #WorldCup #Mainoo #Garnacho #ManUnited #Footballfans #Soccer #Fifa #England #Ronaldo #Messi #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #reel #reels #footballtiktok #footballedit #footballtogether

♬ original sound – Jamal Niaz

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DID YOU KNOW?

Manchester United founded a youth team back in 1938 amid an ambition to create side composed entirely of local players. And while times have changed drastically, the club has continued to include at least one home-grown player from the academy for every single first-team game in the 80-plus years since. The idea of utilising young talent became an unshakeable philosophy under Busby from the late 1940s onwards and was revived in spectacular fashion by Ferguson in the late 1980s. Ethan Wheatley became the 250th academy graduate to debut for the senior side when he came off the bench in a Premier League game against Sheffield United in April.

Everton's business in the transfer market in recent times has come under fire, with the club wasting a lot of money on players who haven't reached their potential.

The club spent over £20m on players such as Yerry Mina, Jean-Phillipe Gbamin and Yannick Bolasie, with all three players leaving the club on free transfers at the end of their contracts.

Such dealings in the transfer market contributed to the club breaching FFP rules, before being deducted six points earlier in the campaign, putting the club's Premier League status at risk.

The Toffees have since had to operate on a shoestring budget, with boss Sean Dyche doing a great job at Goodison Park given the circumstances he's found himself in.

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However, the club conducted sensational business in selling a former fan-favourite with his career taking a turn after his departure back in 2017.

Romelu Luakaku's stats at Everton

Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku originally joined the Toffees on loan in 2013, before joining the club permanently in the summer of 2014 for a then club-record fee of £28m.

No Everton supporter could've envisaged the impact the forward would have had at the club, with Lukaku being the club's star for multiple years.

During his first permanent campaign with the Toffees, the former Chelsea man scored 20 times in 48 appearances, with the striker catching the eye for his goalscoring ability.

His next couple of campaigns for the Toffees would go from strength to strength, with the Belgian finding the net 51 times in his 85 games for the Merseyside outfit – a record that caught the eye of multiple clubs in the Premier League and all over Europe.

2013/14 (loan)

33

16

2014/15

48

20

2015/16

46

25

2016/17

39

36

He decided to leave Goodison Park, swapping it for Old Trafford in a deal worth £75m – a transfer that saw the Toffees make £47m profit in just three years. Brilliant business given his career after departing Everton.

Romelu Lukaku's stats since leaving Everton

The "beast", as dubbed by former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore, failed to recapture his Everton form at Manchester United, lasting just two seasons at the club.

Although he produced a decent goalscoring record, with the Belgian scoring 42 in 96 games for the Red Devils, he came under fire resulting in the club shipping him to Serie A, joining Inter Milan for £73m – just £2m less than the club paid for him two years prior.

His move to Italy reignited his career, with the striker moving back to England's top flight to rejoin Chelsea – the club Everton bought Lukaku from way back in 2014.

The Blues forked out a whopping £97.5m to re-sign the Belgian, with the forward flopping at Stamford Bridge and failing to prove any sort of value for the fee paid for him.

He only managed one full campaign at the club, scoring 15 times before an explosive interview that would ruin his Chelsea career.

Lukaku blasted then-boss Thomas Tuchel for his tactics, claiming he was "not happy" with the role he was playing, with the striker shipped back to Inter Milan on loan – with the forward unlikely to feature for the Blues again.

He's since moved on loan to Roma, reaching double figures once again this campaign, but looking a shadow of his former Everton self.

The forward's market value has since plummeted to just £25m as per Transfermarkt, with the current Roma loanee now worth less than international teammate Amadou Onana, with the ever-improving midfielder now worth £42m according to the same source – £17m more than Lukaku.

After everything that has transpired since he departed from Goodison, the club made the right decision by selling him in the summer of 2017 with the Belgian unable to reach the heights he hit under Roberto Martinez.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

West Ham United manager David Moyes is out of contract at the end of the season and while talks had been slated, the club's dramatic slump in form has halted discussions.

Still eighth-placed in the Premier League, the Hammers aren't doing too badly, but victory in any competition has not been achieved since December and concerns over the Scotsman's reserved style of play have caused certain segments of the support to voice their dissent.

On Monday night, the Irons host Brentford in the league and anything other than victory might be detrimental. A list of successors already appear to have been mapped up by chairman David Sullivan and co.

West Ham's manager shortlist

West Ham offer an enticing project for aspiring gaffers looking to make their mark on the continent, and should Moyes be in his final stage as boss in east London, the Inews newspaper has compiled a list of candidates.

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He’s a surprise contender.

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While former Premier League bosses Julen Lopetegui and Steve Cooper are on the radar and would appeal, the standout is undoubtedly Graham Potter, who has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea last April.

Graham Potter's style of play

Potter rose to prominence for his work with Brighton & Hove Albion, taking the reins following the Seagulls' success in establishing themself as a Premier League contender and stamping in some elite possession-based play.

Described as an "unbelievable" fit for the job by pundit Darren Bent – who did also urge caution against a premature dismissal of the man who gleaned the Europa Conference League last year – Potter would rewrite the script at West Ham, his stylistic set-up diametrically opposed to Moyes' counter-attacking team.

Typically implementing a 3-4-2-1 formation, the 47-year-old makes good use of the pitch's width to control the flow, with fluidity in attacking transition and overlapping wingers crucial for the squad's success.

“I want a tactically flexible, possession-based team,” he once said to The Athletic. “Players who are brave, who aren’t afraid to make mistakes, who can get on the ball and show courage and really try to enjoy their football.”

West Ham are rooted in their ways right now and that would require something of an overhaul, but if Moyes were to go then changing track might be the more prudent move, rather than just seeking to hollowly emulate his style.

Perhaps that would instigate a bedding-in period; possibly it would take some time to work, resulting in a supposed regression, but that is only natural and Potter proved with Brighton that time and resources will enable his project to succeed.

Matches

Stat

Won

2

Drawn

5

Lost

0

PPG

1.57

Moreover, Potter is undefeated across seven contests with Moyes, signifying that his style might be the key to succeeding the one-time Everton and Manchester United boss.

So who would benefit from Potter's prospective appointment? Lucas Paqueta would find his creativity magnified, channelled into something more offensively cohesive, while Mohammed Kudus' pace and potency down the flanks would thrive, unshackled in a sense.

But perhaps the biggest beneficiary would be Jarrod Bowen, whose blend of goalscoring ability and dynamism would elevate an already impressive skill set and success in the Premier League.

Perfect for Jarrod Bowen

Bowen signed for West Ham from Hull City in a £20m plus deal in January 2020 (one month after the start of Moyes' tenure), having caught the eye in the Championship and posted 16 goals and nine assists before transferring to the capital.

Integral for the Hammers throughout the years, the England international has scored 54 goals and supplied 36 assists across 189 fixtures, leading Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to praise him for his "unbelievable" efforts.

Scoring the winning goal as Moyes' men defeated Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League last June, Bowen will likely go down as a modern legend at London Stadium.

Principally a right winger, Bowen has been fielded at centre-forward across multiple outings this season as West Ham struggle against a lack of options up front, and given that he has clinched 14 goals across all competitions – with 11 coming in the Premier League – he might just find his effectiveness in attacking sequences taken to a new level under Potter's stewardship.

Left-footed, he is perfect to slot into that overlapping style that Potter would strive to braid into the club's ideology, while also combative and inventive enough to succeed.

The many-faceted ace is also one of the most hard-working and committed players in the business, ranking among the top 14% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 1% for interceptions and the top 2% for blocks per 90, as per FBref, to highlight this point.

Such traits will hardly work against him, should Potter arrive this year, and given Bowen's performances over the past several years, there's no reason to believe that he wouldn't flourish, despite having to stylistically transform after spending the entirety of his time at West Ham under Moyes.

Potter's pedigree as a manager has been blotched by his stint at Chelsea, and while he did flatter to deceive, the conditions were tough at Stamford Bridge and it might not have been the most auspicious path to have taken, all things considered.

Nonetheless, West Ham might be the perfect project for him to resume his managerial career with, and while the Irons would require a major tactical reshift, he could make it work, bringing out the best qualities in stars such as Bowen.

Glamorgan dismissed for 138 on third day as their own promotion hopes take a hit

ECB Reporters Network20-Aug-2019

Richard Gleeson is mobbed by his team-mates•Getty Images

Lancashire increased their lead at the top of Division Two with a comprehensive win in under three days against a Glamorgan team who were outclassed in every department, with the margin of victory – an innings and 150 runs – a clear indication of the difference between the two teams.While Lancashire, on their performances this season, will provide formidable opposition in Division One next year, Glamorgan, who were second before this game but are likely to move a few places lower after the current round of fixtures, will need to improve significantly if they are to gain promotion.Apart from Dane Vilas’ brilliant innings that enabled Lancashire take a lead of 288 on first innings, their seam attack probed incessantly in both innings, with the impressive Danny Lamb, in only his fifth first-class game claiming 6 for 89 in the match.Lancashire resumed on 544 for 8, but their innings lasted only four balls before Saqib Mahmood edged Samit Patel to slip after a single had been added. When Glamorgan began their second innings, Nick Selman was almost dismissed from the first ball of the innings when Tom Bailey failed to hold on to a return catch.Instead, the Glamorgan openers made it into the 15th over before being parted, Lamb removing Selman lbw to make it 28 for 1.Five runs later Charlie Hemphrey departed, also leg before to Lamb, who was quickly followed by Shaun Marsh, and when David Lloyd and Billy Root were dismissed by Richard Gleeson in successive deliveries, the home team had subsided to 40 for 4. Patel and Chris Cooke then shared an useful partnership of 42, before both were out leg before – Cooke the fifth lbw victim of the innings and the team’s top scorer with 41.The last four wickets fell for 15 runs, and at 3.30pm Lancashire were on their way home, with Glamorgan left to reflect on their two recent heavy Championship defeats – to Middlesex by 256 runs and here by an innings.