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Marcus Bent believes Everton should sign Danny Ings to provide competition and back-up to Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer.

Calvert-Lewin often ploughed a lone furrow up front for the Toffees in the 2020/21 season.

The England international scored 16 goals in 33 league outings and has subsequently been rewarded with a place in Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad for the European Championships this summer.

But there is not much depth when it comes to out-and-out strikers at the club and Bent believes that a deal to sign Ings would improve the options available to boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Ings was first touted as an option by pundit Chris Sutton, when speaking to Radio 5 Live via the Liverpool Echo, and Bent believes he would be a superb, if expensive, acquisition.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a fine season at Southampton this term, scoring 13 goals in 33 outings in all competitions, and he would undoubtedly lighten the load on Calvert-Lewin next season.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “They definitely need to bring someone in, they’re talking about Ings. He’s 28.

“He’s not going to be a replacement for years, he’s not going to be at the club for years. He’s doing well at the minute.

“But talking to a couple of people at the club, he’d be a good buy, I wouldn’t say a cheap buy, but he’d be someone who would come in and probably play around DCL and he’d get his number of goals too, I think.”

Former Southampton vice-chairman Les Reed believes that Mario Lemina could still become world class, amid links with Newcastle United and West Ham United.

The Gabonese midfielder is still contracted to Southampton, although he hasn’t appeared for the St Mary’s outfit in the previous two seasons having spent time out on loan.

Lemina was in Turkey with Galatasaray 12 months ago, before spending this season at Fulham.

His only Fulham goal came at Anfield back in March, although that 1-0 victory was unable to save the Cottagers from relegation.

Lemina is unlikely to return to west London next season, but the midfielder could yet stay in the Premier League, with both Newcastle and West Ham interested in signing the former Juventus man who could be available for £7m.

That’s because he’s reportedly not part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans for next season, which shouldn’t come as a great surprise considering Lemina only played a handful of times under the Austrian two years ago before the Saints boss opted to loan him out.

Despite his testing period with Southampton, Reed, who was involved in the deal which saw Lemina move to the Premier League, has exclusively told Football FanCast that he could still become a top player in the right circumstances:

The former England technical director said: “Mario Lemina could be world class, he’s a superb athlete. When he first got in the team at Southampton, everyone thought we got the best deal out of Lemina and Pogba from that Juventus midfield.”

Following a season of struggles in front of goal for most at Liverpool except for Mohamed Salah, there has been talk of Jurgen Klopp looking to bulk up his front line and former Wigan Athletic manager Paul Jewell does not believe that you can say Patrick Bamford isn’t good enough.

After an outstanding season with Leeds United, Bamford has seen his name linked with a summer switch to Liverpool but with Marcelo Bielsa expected to remain at Elland Road, Bamford leaving appears unlikely.

The 27-year old finished the Premier League season with 17 goals in 37 starts and that was enough to see him finish as the second-highest English scoring player, only behind golden boot winner Harry Kane.

The former Chelsea striker was doubted by pundits before the start of the season which means that you can’t say he wouldn’t be good enough for Liverpool – that’s according to Jewell who spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern:

“Every time people have questioned Bamford he’s answered them this season and the manager has shown great faith in him because I know lots of Leeds fans questioned Bamford before the start of the season.

“He’s been terrific but whether or not he’s good enough to play for Liverpool, who knows? I’m not going to sit here and say that he isn’t good enough for Liverpool, but what I will say is that he’s had a terrific season for Leeds United and hats off to him.”

Despite finishing the season with 17 goals, it is still just the first time that Bamford has proved his worth in the Premier League as he has had several unsuccessful loan spells at Norwich City, Crystal Palace and Burnley.

Klopp may feel like he needs to add some more firepower to his ranks in case someone picks up an injury or hits a bad patch of form, which is exactly what happened this season as Diogo Jota was injured for large spells and Firmino managed nine goals in 48 games.

The outlook at Molineux will look incredibly different next season as Wolves prepare for life without Nuno Santo.

Their manager of four successful years has departed but he may not be the last familiar face to walk through the exit door.

What’s the word?

Nuno left the Midlands as a result of the club’s transfer plans this summer. He endured a feud with Jeff Shi after the former Wolves boss was told that he wouldn’t have much to spend in the window.

The Portuguese was informed that in order to spend big they’d have to sell some of their prized assets.

One such player is Ruben Neves, a man Wolves are searching for £35m in order to sell during the coming months.

Fresh news has ramped up the midfielder’s exit from Molineux after various sources declared that Arsenal were interested.

The Times claim that work has begun on a deal to sign him while The Athletic understands that contact has been made between the two clubs.

Devastating blow

Neves has been the beating heart of everything good associated with Wolves since he became the club’s then-record signing in 2017.

Nuno had brought the captain of Porto and one of the most exciting young players in Europe to a Championship side.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-wolves-transfer-news-guedes-toney-shaqiri-neves” title=”Read the latest Wolves transfer news!”]

The move raised eyebrows and he’s continued to do so with some captivating and memorable goals from distance throughout his time in England.

The 24-year-old may have taken a step down from being linked with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool but to lose him to a club that finished below them in the 2019/20 Premier League campaign won’t go down well.

Indeed, supporters have already taken to Twitter in the wake of his potential departure to voice their displeasure. One fan claimed Wolves would be looking at a relegation battle if they sold their best players while another stated that the dream would be over.

It’s easy to see why the fan base holds this point of view. Neves has long been the quarterback of this Wolves side, a player who can dictate the tempo of the game and dominate the midfield.

Even more frustrating to the Old Gold will be his current form. This was the Portugal international’s best season at Wolves for attacking numbers since they were promoted to the Premier League.

The midfielder scored five goals and had more shots on target per 90 minutes (0.47) than he’s managed since the Midlands outfit were in the second tier.

Neves also produced more shot-creating actions per 90 this season – a pass, dribble or foul that led to a shooting opportunity – than he ever has in the Premier League with 2.09.

That not only demonstrates that he’s getting better but it also shows he’s adding a further layer to his game.

Wolves supporters should be absolutely gutted if Neves packs his bags and heads for the departure lounge this term. He is vitally important to their play.

AND in other news, Better than Vitinha: Wolves must sign £13.5m-rated gem who was nicknamed Maradona…

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been sharing their delight after the club confirmed a club-record transfer for Emiliano Buendia has been completed.

Villa revealed earlier in the week that an agreement had been reached with Norwich City, and the Argentine has now completed a medical and finalised personal terms while on international duty.

The 24-year-old has signed a five-year deal at Villa Park, which is thought to be worth £80,000-a-week.

Buendia has cost Villa an initial £33m with another £5m in add-ons included, while Norwich have also included a 10% sell-on clause.

The right-winger contributed to 32 Championship goals last season, scoring 15 and providing 17 assists.

Villa have got one wide forward officially through the door and seemingly want another this summer.

Villa fans react

Villa confirmed the move on their official Twitter page on Thursday evening.

As to be expected, their post got a number of Villa supporters excited, with one describing the deal as ‘brilliant’.

“I’VE COLLAPSED”Credit: @catrinedwards18″FINALLYYYY”Credit: @tom_avfc1″OMG HE’S OFFICIALLY OURS”Credit: @LukeKing_”Brilliant, now can we have the pictures please?”Credit: @HarryBatters”Pretty wild that the Euros haven’t even started yet and already Villa are picking up Ws for the new season.”Credit: @fshires”Exciting times ahead”Credit: @bnkboi”I’m late but ITS OFFICIAL EUROPE IS COMING”Credit: @Cameron_Avfc

In other news: Many AVFC fans react as club close in on second summer signing, find out more here. 

Wolves are still said to be favourites to land Olympiakos goalkeeper Jose Sa, following an intriguing update by Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos.

The Lowdown: A busy start to Wolves life for new manager Bruno Lage

As Wolves prepare for life under Bruno Lage in 2021/22, there has been no shortage of discussion regarding the reshaping of their first-team roster.

On the one hand, star men Adama Traore and Ruben Neves have been linked with high-profile moves away from Molineux [Sportsmole].

Conversely, the West Midlands club are known to have been plotting advances for Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale alongside Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha.

However, a new target has seemingly emerged in the form of the Olympiakos stopper.

The Latest: Wolves remain front-runners on one condition

As it stands, Wolves are set to be frontrunners despite competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid for Sa’s signature [Sport Witness], if Rui Patricio leaves.

That information has been shared by Sportime.gr reporter Chorianopoulos on Twitter, as he dropped the latest on the current situation, stating:

“According to @diarioas Jose Sa is in Atletico Madrid ‘s list (among 5 candidates). According to our sources at @sportimegreece Wolves are the favorites atm to sign Olympiacos GK if/when Rui Patricio leaves for Roma” [Sport Witness].

The Verdict: Sa would be a good replacement for Patricio

Losing current goalkeeping number one Patricio would be a huge blow to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nevertheless, his prospective replacement Sa could be another excellent asset between the sticks, should he make the move.

Ever-present for Olympiakos this term, he made 44 appearances for the Greek outfit, achieving 19 clean sheets in the process [Transfermarkt].

Never afraid of the big occasion, his shot-stopping heroics earned him the Greek Super League goalkeeper of the year title in 2020 [90Min].

He boasts an impressive resume, having won two Greek top-flight titles and a domestic cup, alongside winning the 2017-18 Liga NOS with former club Porto [Transfermarkt].

At 28-years-old, there is every chance that Sa could be a dependable figure between the sticks for Wolves for years to come. As the club step up their summer recruitment drive, the Portugal international could be a quality replacement if Patricio is lured away.

In other news, Wolves fans react to a potential signing update.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Championship midfielder David Norris believes Manchester City could easily have lost Phil Foden.

Foden was a revelation for Manchester City last season, scoring nine goals in 28 appearances as Pep Guardiola’s side went on to win the Premier League title.

The PFA Young Player of the Year, however, has not always been a regular at the Etihad, and Norris thinks a lack of starts in the past could have forced him out of the club.

Discussing City’s track record with youngsters, such as Jadon Sancho and Eric Garcia, the ex-Leeds United star said:

“It’s hard to keep everyone happy and when you’ve got the younger players coming through, they’re potentially still seen as a little bit of a risk.

“Man City, they need big names, players who are going to come in and do it straight away.

“It could easily have happened with Foden. They obviously wanted to really keep him. A couple of years ago when he was a bit part and everyone was saying he should go out and get games, they stuck with it and it’s paid off.”

Indeed, in the end, staying at Manchester City instead of going out on loan or leaving the club was the best decision.

Foden has developed into a fine player under Guardiola, and quite quickly one might add given that he is still just 21 years of age, evident from the individual awards he was won this year.

Aston Villa should make a move for Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard this summer amid Gabby Agbonlahor’s transfer claim.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks and months have suggested that the Hoops star is someone Dean Smith’s side are looking at, but they now appear to face increasing competition in the race to sign him, with claims that Leicester are keen on tying up a deal.

And now, Agbonlahor has urged his former club to make a move for Edouard, and insisted that a deal for the striker would really ease the pressure on Ollie Watkins.

He said: “1,000 per cent. If I was Aston Villa I’d go for him. He’d just add more physicality when Aston Villa are playing against teams with three centre-backs, they could play two strikers in Edouard and Watkins.

“It would just help the load that’s on Watkins. And for a cut-price, which it will be, it’s a no-brainer. I rate him really highly.”

Dean Smith needs him

The £13.5m-rated marksman has bagged an impressive 83 goals in just 168 games for Celtic and has even managed a very decent total of 37 assists too.

His former Celtic boss, Neil Lennon, has previously raved about the qualities that Edouard brings to the table, and it’s a ringing endorsement of why Villa should be going after him.

He said: “He’s hugely important (to us), he’s an outstanding footballer, talismanic almost, he’s so talented, so cool and he had two great finishes. He’s up there with some of the best we’ve had over the last 20 odd years.”

And, as Agbonlahor says, there’s also the prospect of Edouard actually partnering Watkins up front and giving them a different dimension and set-up going into games.

Given the real lack of cover for Watkins last season in the Premier League, the arrival of the Frenchman this summer is something Smith absolutely needs to ensure that he’s got enough firepower going forward.

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

Paul Robinson has dropped a Newcastle United transfer claim involving Joe Willock, tipping a ‘huge’ coup for the Magpies.

The Lowdown: Bruce wants Willock

As cited by the Evening Standard, Steve Bruce has said that he would ‘love’ to sign Willock on a permanent deal from Arsenal, given how successful his loan spell was in the North East.

The midfield ace scored no fewer than eight goals in 14 games in the Premier League at St. James’ Park (Transfermarkt), and so it is not a surprise at all to see that Bruce wants him back.

The Latest: Willock claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson, who is now a pundit after playing as a goalkeeper for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United, has claimed that the Tyneside club should be looking to sign Willock on another loan deal, with an option to buy at the end of the 2021/22 season:

“The ideal deal for Newcastle would be a second loan deal.

“I’m not sure if they have the money to sign him on a permanent basis right now.

“He was absolutely brilliant for them last season. He went up there, played week in, week out and looked like a different player.

“A big part of the success Newcastle enjoyed towards the end of the season was down to him so it would be huge if Newcastle can sign him.

“If they could negotiate another loan deal with an option to buy at the end of next season, a little bit like how Leeds structured Jack Harrison’s deal. That would be perfect.

“It would be great if they can get it done because he looked like he was enjoying his football at Newcastle.”

The Verdict: Sign

However the Magpies can get it done, they need to sign Willock at all costs, given how much of an impact he has on the team when he arrived.

Another loan deal with an option to buy would be the ideal option for them as Robinson suggests, as it means that they would not have to pay what could be a substantial transfer fee straight away, and instead just loan him in again before they can gather the necessary funds to buy him permanently.

Nonetheless, Willock should certainly be one of the first names on the list for the Toon to bring in in the summer window.

In other news, find out which Premier League international NUFC are eyeing here!

Just as things were appearing to rumble on in the background quietly in Mike Ashley’s legal battle against the Premier League, he released another statement on behalf of the club, and Liam Kennedy, journalist at the Shields Gazette, would not be surprised to see more problems arise.

The open letter that Newcastle released on Thursday evening was received with mixed reactions as many agreed with Ashley in saying that if the Premier League have nothing to hide then the court case should be played out in public, but others called it hypocritical considering the owner has done two interviews in 14 years.

Newcastle fans have had to put up with plenty of obstacles, hurdles and red flags over the last year and this is just yet another way of making things drag on even further for fans who are likely sick of all the talk now.

Ashley has confirmed through his sources that he’s confident of getting the takeover passed through and beating the Premier League in court, but when asked if there could be more problems around the corner, Kennedy had this to say to Football FanCast:

“Could there be another spanner thrown in the works from the Premier League side? That wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.”

From the statement that Newcastle released on Thursday evening, it appeared that it could be a final throw of the dice to try and get the Premier League to cave in before arbitration begins later this month.

That would appear to be a sign of weakness from Ashley’s party and that they may not be as confident as first thought that they can win the respective legal battles.