Having endured a season to forget on the pitch, which has so far seen Eddie Howe's side fail to replicate the form that saw them qualify for the Champions League last time out, Newcastle United now face problems away from St James' Park. The Magpies could soon have no choice but to bid farewell to some key players, perhaps even in the January transfer window.
Newcastle's FFP situation explained
The Premier League's profit and sustainability rules have left Newcastle walking a fine line when it comes to Financial Fair Play sanctions. According to The Guardian, the rules state that over the course of three seasons, a club is only allowed to record a loss of £105m. Newcastle's in that time period stands at a reported £155m, but the Magpies are safe from any punishment for now due to investment into the women's team, academy or charity foundation.
PIF will likely have to sell before they can think about spending big once more though, with chief executive Darren Eales saying earlier this month: "If we’re going to get to where we want to get to, at times, it’s necessary to trade your players. It’s a counterintuitive part of the PSR system that there is an incentive to trade players if you want to reinvest.”
callum-wilson-newcastle-united
That said, reports suggest that the Magpies could be set to lose a key player before the end of the month. According to Football Transfers, Chelsea are considering matching Newcastle's £18m asking price for Callum Wilson, who has also been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid in the winter window.
The forward has been at the club since 2020, but could now leave amid Newcastle's FFP fears in a deadline beating move, with the Blues themselves in desperate need of a truly clinical number nine who won't break the bank.
Newcastle must keep "excellent" Wilson
Given that Chelsea sit ninth, two points and one place above Newcastle in the Premier League, it wouldn't exactly be wise for those at St James' Park to sanction Wilson's exit to the London club this month, or to wherever else for that matter. The former Bournemouth man holds the experience that Alexander Isak lacks and is still going stride for stride with the Swede, who is not ready to take up the goalscoring mantel on his own just yet. Here's how Wilson's stats compare to Isak's in the Premier League this season…
Callum Wilson
7
7
1
7.2
Alexander Isak
13
10
0
10.1
After working with Howe at Bournemouth and now Newcastle, Wilson is certainly one of Howe's favourites, with the manager full of praise for the forward back in their days on the South Coast, telling Sky Sports: "Callum was excellent today, as was Josh King – they caused lots of problems today. It is testament to Callum's professionalism that he is able to play 90 minutes, he has worked hard on his comeback. It was great to see him score and the team were boosted by his return."
Leeds United could be busy before the transfer deadline, but Fabrizio Romano has shared the Whites’ current off-field "priority".
Leeds transfer rumours
The 49ers Enterprises and Daniel Farke are yet to make their mark in the January transfer window, with just over 24 hours to go until the deadline. The current focus has been open players leaving Elland Road, with the latest being Leo Hjelde leaving for Sunderland. Luke Ayling and Darko Gyabi have also sealed loan exits to Middlesbrough and Plymouth, whereas Djed Spence’s season-long loan from Spurs was cut short.
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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024
As a result, Leeds are left fairly light in defence, especially at full-back, with a whole host of rumoured targets being linked with a move to Yorkshire, such as Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies, West Ham’s Ben Johnson, Burnley’s Connor Roberts, Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham and Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall. Everton’s Ben Godfrey is another in contention, with Leeds thought to be planning a new bid for the defender’s services. Alongside a potential late signing, Leeds have also been working on new contracts. Archie Gray and Mateo Joseph have already extended their stay, with attention now turning to Wilfried Gnonto.
Wilfried Gnonto contract update
Phil Hay claimed last week that a new deal at Elland Road for Gnonto was in the pipeline.
Now, talking to GiveMeSport, Romano said that Leeds’ “priority” is on sealing a new deal for Gnonto, which would be “fantastic news”. The transfer expert said it’s close and even claimed paperwork could be completed “in the next hours or days”. “Leeds’ priority will be to extend Gnonto's contract. This is getting closer and would be fantastic news for Leeds. They're pushing for the final details to be resolved as soon as possible and for the contract to be signed in the next hours or days. So, this is their priority.”
Wilfried Gnonto celebrates a goal for Leeds United in the Championship.
Gnonto has struggled to make his mark in the Championship, scoring just once in 21 second-tier games. However, he did make his mark during his first 12 months at the club in the Premier League, which resulted in rumours over a move to Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Therefore, those at Elland Road will know the qualities Gnonto has, so securing a new long-term deal could be a wise move alongside protecting the player’s valuation. Of course, there was the transfer request saga involving the Italy international over the summer, which saw him missing from a number of games, where at the time, there was no release clause in his deal. That could be something that changes in his new contract, making this one to watch.
Glasgow Rangers find themselves in territory which looked unimaginable following the sacking of Michael Beale at the start of October.
The Ibrox side were trailing Celtic by a considerable margin in the Premiership and lacked any real identity, with the supporters seemingly writing off another season.
Philippe Clement arrived to save the day, however, and just five months on, the Gers are through to the last 16 of the Europa League, have claimed the League Cup trophy and, most importantly, are within touching distance of Celtic.
The Belgian has done a spectacular job considering he has had to utilise some of Beale’s summer signings, with the likes of Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers featuring prominently.
Lammers has since departed on loan to FC Utrecht for the remainder of the campaign, yet Dessers is still in Glasgow, despite having failed to live up to his lavish transfer fee.
Cyriel Dessers’ Rangers statistics
Having lost attacking talents such as Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos, Beale’s first priority during the summer transfer window was to replace them as soon as possible.
Dessers soon arrived from Serie A side Cremonese for a fee in the region of £4.5m, which was a significant sum to be paying for a striker who had scored just six league goals in Italy the season prior.
Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers.
The Nigerian forward has found the back of the net on just 12 occasions since making the summer move and his performances have not been great, as he often goes missing during big games.
A key example was the recent Old Firm clash against Celtic at Parkhead. The 29-year-old started the tie, yet he missed a big chance when it looked easier to score, while completing just 12 passes and taking 25 touches during the match.
The former Feyenoord hitman looks far too one dimensional and his lack of tactical nous means he does not drop deep often enough to link up with the midfield, going large patches of games without taking a touch of the ball.
Rangers required a player who could do more than just be an out-and-out goalscorer following the departure of Morelos, but Dessers simply isn’t the answer.
There was another attacker who departed Ibrox in 2023 that could have been a much better option than Dessers and surely would have thrived under Clement – Fashion Sakala.
What happened to Fashion Sakala
Following their first league title win in a decade, Steven Gerrard looked to significantly bolster his team in order to cement their dominance.
Sakala joined during the summer of 2021 for free, with the Gers securing his services on a pre-contract agreement and it looked like a wise investment.
The Zambian forward took a while to settle in at Rangers following his move from Belgium, eventually scoring 12 goals, and registering seven assists in 50 matches during his debut season.
He ended up winning the Scottish Cup while featuring heavily during the club’s run to the final of the Europa League in 2022, although they lost to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Former Rangers forward Fashion Sakala.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst didn’t give him many opportunities throughout the early stages of the 2022/23 season and it wasn’t until Beale arrived that Sakala started to perform well.
Indeed, having scored just once prior to the enforced hiatus due to the World Cup, Sakala netted 11 times during the second half of the season and proved that he could make a difference to the team going forward.
Former Ibrox defender Alan Hutton previously dubbed the forward as a “firework” and his unpredictable nature often caught defences out on a regular basis.
During the summer transfer window last year, however, Beale decided to cash in on the 26-year-old, reportedly securing a transfer fee of around £4m for the player, which, on the surface, represented solid business.
With Dessers not quite living up to his big-money fee and Sakala settling in quite nicely in Saudi Arabia for Al-Fayha, there is no doubt that the former Rangers forward is currently outperforming the Nigerian this season.
Fashion Sakala is outperforming Cyriel Dessers
While Sakala may have scored ten goals to Dessers’ 12, the Zambian has netted his in just 27 matches, while it has taken the 29-year-old 35 games to score his.
In their respective leagues, Sakala has missed fewer big chances (nine to 13), than Dessers, while he has taken more shots per game (3.2 vs 2.7), succeeded with more successful dribbles per game (2.7 vs 0.4) and won more total duels per game (5.5 vs 2.4), clearly showcasing his superior statistics across a range of performance metrics this term.
It isn’t just domestically that Sakala is shining either, proving to be a hit in the AFC Champions League, scoring three goals from just six matches, chipping in with two assists too.
Clement can oust Dessers by unleashing Rangers' £11m-rated gem
Rangers face a clash against Ayr United at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup tomorrow
ByRoss Kilvington Feb 9, 2024
Sakala is certainly enjoying his spell in Asia since moving from Rangers last summer, and it looks as though he has finally joined a team where he can get consistent first-team football and this has only improved his performances.
Securing £4m for a player who didn’t look like he was going to be in Beale’s future plans was a shrewd move, especially since he joined for free. It soon transpired that perhaps keeping him at Ibrox may have been the most logical thing to do.
8
7
2
3
13
9
0.4
2.7
2.4
5.5
Dessers has failed to shine during his short stint at Rangers so far and unless he improves his performances drastically, he may be looking for a new club in the summer.
Sakala, on the other hand, seems to be enjoying life in Saudi Arabia, and he is swiftly emerging as a key player for his new team, finally showcasing his true potential.
Hopefully, Clement spends his future funds on players who are going to hit the ground running at Ibrox and thus avoid wasting money on players such as Dessers.
Sakala may not have been a world-beater, but he always gave 100% and that is exactly what the Ibrox faithful expect from the players during every game.
A "tireless" Everton player will leave Goodison Park this summer, claims a report in his homeland, with a huge club apparently already starting the bidding for his services.
Everton set for summer sales amid FFP crisis
The Blues' struggles this season have been well-documented, with a 10-point deduction in the Premier League proving costly and leaving them languishing in the relegation zone.
There is now a genuine threat of Everton heading to the Championship for the first time, having survived late in the day in the past two seasons, and that would likely lead to an exodus at Goodison, due to their need to align with the league's Profit and Sustainability guidelines.
Jarrad Branthwaite has been a hugely impressive performer throughout the 2023/24 campaign, and he is being eyed up by Manchester United, who reportedly see him as a strong option to bolster their back-line for years to come.
Midfielder Amadou Onana is also a player Everton would find it extremely difficult to keep hold of, and a recent report has claimed that Newcastle United are in pole position to seal a big-money move for him.
There are others who could depart in the summer, too, with England's No.1 Jordan Pickford not wanting to be in the second tier, and the same applying to the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Chelsea in talks to sign Amadou Onana
According to Voetbalkrant, Chelsea have entered negotiations for Everton star Onana ahead of a summer move to the club, with Kevin Thelwell and Co already receiving the first bid, which is thought to be below the asking price.
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.
The Merseysiders will demand a fee of €60m (£51m) for the 22-year-old's signature, and the report also states that one bid has already been rejected, Onana "will" leave Merseyside this year. Even if Everton do retain their place in the Premier League then, there does seem to be an inevitability about Onana moving on for a new challenge in the summer transfer window.
1. Romelu Lukaku
£72m
2. Richarlison
£49.3m
3. John Stones
£47.2m
4. Anthony Gordon
£38.7m
5. Wayne Rooney
£31.4m
6. Marouane Fellaini
£27.5m
=7. Lucas Digne
£25.5m
=7. Idrissa Gueye
£25.5m
=7. Moise Kean
£25.5m
10. Joleon Lescott
£23.3m
The Belgian has impressed this season, doing his best to keep the Blues away from danger and winning an average of 2.5 tackles and 2.1 aerial duels per game in the league, with his presence in the middle of the park often standing out.
In truth, it would be hard to begrudge Onana a move to one of the world's biggest clubs, should they meet Everton's price tag – their financial situation means it could benefit them in the long run – and given his age, it is easy to envisage him growing into an even more formidable player over time.
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Two stars have been linked with a move away from Goodison Park.
ByHenry Jackson Feb 13, 2024
Of course, the idea of him staying at Goodison is an exciting one – Alan Shearer has hailed him as "tireless" – but it feels far more likely that the Blues will cash in on him, at which point they must nail a replacement or two.
Tottenham Hotspur are pushing toward a successful end to their first season under Ange Postecoglou's management, having overcome many obstacles to restore confidence in their ability to qualify for Europe.
There have been highs and lows throughout a tumultuous campaign, but having overcome injury problems and a pre-festive period slump in form, Spurs have improved to sit in fifth place in the Premier League after 25 matches, five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa but with a game in hand.
The dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino back in 2019 was the end of an era that has yet to find a successful next chapter, though Postecoglou could take his tenure to exciting heights and this starts with the return to continental competition, preferably the Champions League.
The current campaign has been punctuated with inconsistency but this is only natural after so much change stemming from the back of the dismal 2022/23 season, and while Tottenham have strengthened across multiple positions, Postecoglou would be wise to remember that he boasts one of Europe's finest academies around.
Spurs' best academy players
Tottenham's first-team is filled with talented players and the youth group is just as capacious, with Wayne Burnett's development outfit boasting some of the finest and widest-spreading talents in the Premier League 2.
Tottenham's teenage system has undergone something of a revolution across recent years and there is now a palpable sense that erstwhile graduates such as Harry Kane might now be followed by a cascade of thrilling talent.
Former Tottenham striker Harry Kane.
Convinced? If not, Spurs' U21s actually perch in first place in the Premier League 2, undefeated after 12 matches with a four-point advantage over second-placed West Ham United despite holding two fixtures in hand.
There are many reasons behind the club's rise, but shrewd, focused recruitment has been the basis of the progress; that and a nicely shaped structure braided from top to bottom.
In defence, Alfie Dorrington has caught the eye with his promising performances, spending ten Premier League matches on the bench this season amid an injury crisis throughout November and December.
Spurs already have the dream Harry Kane replacement in teen "superstar"
The north London side is chock-full of prodigious youth talent right now.
ByAngus Sinclair Feb 18, 2024
In midfield, Rio Kyerematen and George Abbott carry much potential, while Jamie Donley will fancy himself the cream of the crop after taking the plaudits with his creative quality.
Donely, aged 19, has posted six goals and 12 assists across 14 appearances at youth level this term while also featuring on four occasions for the first-team, with podcaster Chris Miller remarking that he is the "closest thing to Maddison" that Spurs possess.
The clip above shows Donley in all his creative brilliance, progressing the play into the danger area before sinking the opposing backline with a delightful threaded pass.
But who was it that latched onto that ball, weaving through the defence and sending a defence spiralling onto the canvas with a deft switch of feet? That's quality. That's talent.
It was Will Lankshear, only 18 years old but blessed with an innate striking ability that has been married into his workrate and unbridled ambition to hand Postecoglou the makings of an elite centre-forward.
Will Lankshear's season in numbers
Tottenham signed a young Lankshear from Sheffield United for a reported compensation fee of £2m in 2022, with Spurs expert Jon Wenham describing him as "an absolute unit for his age, massive, powerful."
He certainly hit the ground running, scoring four goals and supplying two assists from just five matches in the U18 Premier League, however, he was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign last February with a knee injury in what came as a big blow following his promising beginnings.
Tottenham U21
20
13
2
Tottenham UEFA U19
2
1
0
Tottenham U18
5
4
2
Stats via Transfermarkt
This term, Lankshear has come back with a vengeance and obliterated concerns that his development had taken a detrimental hit, clinching 11 goals from as many matches in the Premier League 2, very much the clinical talisman needed to charge his side's title-chasing ambitions.
How Will Lankshear compares to Jayden Danns
Lankshear is undoubtedly one of English football's standout teenage strikers, though he's not the one stealing the headlines at present after Liverpool's Jayden Danns' stunning start to life on the major stage.
The 18-year-old Scouser made his professional debut off the bench just over one week ago as a beleaguered-looking Liverpool overcame adversity to defeat Luton Town, Danns involved in Harvey Elliott's late strike.
Harvey Elliott scores for Liverpool.
He would then enjoy an important cameo against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, rising highest in extra time to force Djordje Petrovic into a save.
Lifting silverware seemingly fuelled him with the fire to ascend to the next level, coming off the bench at Anfield in the FA Cup fifth round to bag an emphatic brace and hand Jurgen Klopp's injury-hit team another remarkable victory.
The rangy, imposing centre-forward very much looks the part and while Klopp was forced into promoting him to a regular matchday role over recent fixtures, he is there on merit after bagging 11 goals and four assists across the U18 Premier League and Premier League 2 respectively this season.
It's true that Danns is one of the most exciting young forwards around but it might just be that Tottenham have something even better in Lankshear, who has scored a goal per game in the Premier League 2 – a competition that Danns has only featured in four times this year – and showcased an athleticism and natural strength that will serve him well against the hulking centre-halfs at senior level.
Given that so much is on the line for Tottenham in the Premier League and early exits from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup have consigned the club to the sole pathway of divisional football, European competition off the cards, it's unlikely that Lankshear will get much game time this season.
But, this young buck is proving himself to be one of the youth scene's finest finishers and given Danns' recent success with Liverpool, Postecoglou might be wise to take a leaf from Klopp's book.
Make no mistake, the Anfield side's academy might have the limelight right now but Tottenham have the best crop in the business, with Lankshear the formidable focal point in attack.
As Ange Postecoglou looks to enter his second summer in charge of Tottenham Hotspur as a Champions League manager again, the Lilywhites have reportedly been handed a boost in pursuit of one of their targets.
Tottenham transfer news
Daniel Levy hasn't been afraid to back Postecoglou so far, that's for sure. The Australian enjoyed a busy first summer in charge last year, in which James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and Brennan Johnson all arrived as Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich. Then, he was backed again in the January transfer window, as this time Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin came through the North London doors.
Tottenham forward Timo Werner.
That said, the former Celtic boss recently admitted that Spurs are not likely to be in a position to be spending the same type of money as their rivals, telling Football.London:
"To a certain extent but I don’t think we are in a position to spend £100million on a player, if that is what you are suggesting. That is not the case and I don’t think it will ever be the case for the club. Our competitors are, irrespective of their positions."
One deal that the Lilywhites could be in a position to get over the line, however, is for current target Roony Bardghji, with the club pushing for a deal. According to Tottenham News, Bardghji is now ready to leave Copenhagen amid links with a move to Spurs this summer in a boost for those in north London.
Spurs already have a Van de Ven & Romero clone out on loan
Ange’s side might have more than a few top-class talents on their hands in the years to come.
ByAngus Sinclair Mar 9, 2024
The right-winger, himself, failed to rule the move out when asked about the potential of following fellow Swede Lucas Bergvall to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, telling Sports Bladet:
"It's fun to think about. You never know, it could happen. Hard to say now."
With Spurs pushing for his signature and Bardghji now reportedly ready to leave Copenhagen, the forward is set to be one to watch this summer.
"Superb" Bardghji will be better than Kulusevski
At just 18 years of age, Bardghji is already one of the standouts at Copenhagen and even stole the headlines for his winning goal against Manchester United in the Champions League earlier this season. Given the inconsistencies of Dejan Kulusevski too, Spurs would be wise to make their move as early as this summer for the youngster. Here's how Bardghji's stats have compared his compatriot's this season:
Starts
14
23
Goals
7
6
Assists
0
2
As things stand, Kulusevski has been involved in just one more goal than the teenager this season, highlighting just how talented Bardghji already is. If Spurs can strike a deal as soon as possible, then they may get in before his price is out of reach, as Postecoglou claimed would likely prove to be the case at the £100m mark.
Wherever the young winger ends up this summer, Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig will no doubt be keeping an eye out for his performances, having sung his praises earlier this season. Kulig posted on X:
When the summer arrives though, Spurs may well be hoping that Kulig will be watching on as Bardghji stars in North London.
The 2023/24 season hasn't been kind to Newcastle United, but while the past few months have been tough, the club are undeniably on the up.
Eddie Howe has taken a team that looked destined for the drop and taken them to the Champions League while disrupting the 'big six' along the way. Even now, they have a chance of reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
The squad will only improve over the coming transfer windows, although transfers might not be necessary if the academy can produce more players like Lewis Miley.
He's been a revelation for the first team this year and looks destined for big things in the northeast, although one of his teammates who has been underwhelming for years still earns nine times more than him.
Lewis Miley's salary at Newcastle United
Miley joined the Toon as a youngster and worked his way up through the various youth sides before making his first-team debut against Chelsea on the final day of last season – making him the club's youngest-ever Premier League debutant.
However, that was just a short cameo for the youngster, and he made his full debut in the club's League Cup clash against Manchester City, a game the Magpies won 1-0.
Appearances
26
Goals
1
Assists
3
Goal Involvements per Match
0.15
In all, the Stanley-born star has made 25 appearances for his boyhood club this season, in which he has scored one goal and provided three assists, primarily from a central midfield area.
The "technical" and "elegant" gem, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has been so impressive for Newcastle that he was awarded the Player of the Month award in December before signing a new deal with the club a month later.
According to Capology, Miley is now earning around £5k-per-week, and while that's a lot of money for a 17-year-old, it feels justified given his potential. However, considering one of his teammates earns considerably more for doing markedly less, maybe it's not a fair wage.
Matt Ritchie's salary at Newcastle United
Newcastle signed former Scotland international Matt Ritchie from Bournemouth in July 2016 for around £12m.
It was a move that, in fairness to the Gosport-born star, worked out well in his first season at St James' Park, as his 16 goals and ten assists in 48 appearances played a crucial role in getting the club out of the Championship at the first time of asking.
However, that was as good as it got for the 5 foot 8 winger. Over the following seven seasons, he would add just nine more goals and 23 more assists in another 162 appearances to take his grand total to 25 goals and 33 assists.
Now, he has had his fair share of injuries along the way, missing a seismic sum of 38 games for the Magpies, but that only averages out to just under five games missed per season, which isn't much of an excuse for his poor return.
Transfer Fee
£12m
Total Wages
£15.7m
Total Cost (so far)
£27.7m
Appearances
210
Cost per Appearance
£131k
Minutes
15,257'
Cost per Minute
£1.8k
Goals
25
Cost per Goal
£1.1m
Assists
33
Cost per Assist
£839k
Goal Involvements
58
Cost per Goal Involvement
£477k
Moreover, for the first three seasons he was at the club, he was earning £30k-per-week, and since then, he has been taking home £45k-per-week, which, when added together, means Ritchie has cost Newcastle a whopping £15.7m in wages alone, or £27.7m including his transfer fee.
Therefore, the 34-year-old has cost the Magpies £131k-per-appearance, £1.1m-per-goal, or £477k-per-goal-involvement.
Wage Burners
Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.
Ultimately, while Ritchie was instrumental in getting Newcastle promoted back in 2016/17, the fact that he now earns nine times more than Miley seems crazy, and if the club want to keep progressing, they should look to sell the Scotsman this summer.
West Ham United chiefs think an "outstanding" tactician is "gettable", and he's now seen as the favourite to replace David Moyes if he leaves.
Moyes' future still uncertain as West Ham contract winds down
The Scotsman has been one of their most successful managers in history, guiding the club to successive campaigns in Europe and helping them to win their first piece of major silverware since the 1980s last campaign.
West Ham working on forward with 15 goals and 14 assists this season
The Hammers failed to sign a new forward in January.
ByEmilio Galantini Mar 12, 2024
West Ham's Europa Conference League triumph in Prague will go down in the memory of every supporter as a Moyes era-defining night, and it was the perfect end to a topsy-turvy campaign where the Hammers were flirting with relegation domestically.
On paper, Moyes' achievements since he's come in have been extremely noteworthy, but there are those who believe the 60-year-old has taken West Ham as far as he possibly can.
14th
22/23
6th
21/22
7th
20/21
16th
19/20
While their European record has been sublime under the former Man United boss, West Ham's league form since the summer of 2022 has shed doubt over the suitability of Moyes long-term.
They finished 14th last season and were stuck in a battle to avoid the drop for a large portion of 2022/2023, so much so that Moyes was close to being sacked by West Ham last season as well.
The Irons boss' contract expires this summer, and it is believed that technical director Tim Steidten has been looking at potential Moyes replacements in the background at West Ham.
According to reliable club insider ExWHUemployee, while provisional talks have taken place over a new contract for Moyes, the club will wait to assess the situation before putting it on the table.
"He quite confidentially spoke to the press and said he has a contract offer and that it is him that is deliberating for now and not the club," wrote Ex.
"This story isn’t entirely what my sources had led me to believe. I think the terms and conditions of the have been discussed and are probably close to agreement. I do, however, believe that the deal has effectively been put off being completed until the end of the season when we are able to properly assess the achievements this year. I feel that this is the best decision for all parties."
Graham Potter favourite to replace David Moyes at West Ham
Football Insider, sharing an in-depth report on the managers who could succeed Moyes if he departs, have an interesting line on Graham Potter.
Indeed, according to the website, West Ham's board see Potter as "gettable" and he's currently the favourite to replace Moyes as things stand.
Out of work since being sacked by Chelsea, the 48-year-old is apparently still held in high regard, with Man City boss Pep Guardiola previously calling him "outstanding" for the job he did at Brighton.
Now a side on course to qualify for the Champions League, to say that Aston Villa have come a long way since Steven Gerrard had them worrying about relegation troubles would be an understatement. And nothing represents their rise more than their business away from the pitch.
Aston Villa seal "amazing" off-field deal
Whilst it's easy to focus on the likes of Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey arriving in recent years and Unai Emery also arriving in between those two transfers, Villa have also developed as a club off the pitch. Their rise under Emery has been carefully crafted up to the present day when they find themselves inside the Premier League's top four.
Gone are the days when top-flight safety was Villa's greatest concern and safety that didn't always arrive too. Arrived, instead, are arguably the Villans' best days in the Premier League if they manage to make their involvement in the race for the top four less of a unique underdog moment and more of a consistent norm in English football.
17 year-old joins Aston Villa on trial during international break
He’s one for the future.
ByTom Cunningham Mar 22, 2024
To do that, keeping up with the Premier League's big six on a financial basis will be important, which their latest shirt sponsorship highlights they're capable of doing. According to Football Insider, Aston Villa's latest sponsorship agreement with Betano is worth £40m, and Sky Sports' Kieran Maguire has claimed that deal beats Everton's previous record of the biggest deal outside the Premier League's classic top six. Maguire told Football Insider:
Record sponsorship highlights Aston Villa's progress
Smashing Everton's record out of the park, Villa and NSWE are now doing their best to keep up with the Premier League's top six both on and off the pitch. The financial boost of such a sponsorship could only help Emery's side on the pitch too, with the backing for summer arrivals now arguably more in place than ever.
Add the potential attraction of Champions League football and Villa could be in for an exciting summer. Already, they've been linked with the likes of Nico Williams and Paulo Dybala in what may prove to be two major coups.
Roma's Paulo Dybala
Signing Dybala could be particularly impressive. The AS Roma star is an experienced attacking midfielder these days, who can also play as a forward. If Villa managed to land the Argentine international, then he would form an unstoppable partnership with Ollie Watkins.
As things stand, the only way seems up for Villa, who are better placed than ever to establish themselves not only in the Premier League's top six but also on a European level. Led by Emery, those in the Midlands are only in for more days to remember at this rate.
Chelsea could be forced into green-lighting the sale of a "sensational" player this summer at 50 per cent less than their desired asking price.
PSR concerns motivate Chelsea sales before June 30
According to a report by reliable journalist Matt Law in The Telegraph last month, rival clubs believe the west Londoners need to raise around £100 million from player sales before June 30 – or risk being in breach of Profit and Sustainability rules.
Meeting in next few days as Chelsea set for talks to sign £210,000-p/w star
He’s firmly on their agenda this summer.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 9, 2024
Chelsea recently posted losses of around £90 million in the 12-month period leading up to June 30, 2023 – which follows on from the £121.4 million loss for their previous financial year.
This comes amid heavy spending from Mauricio Pochettino's side on transfers, with Chelsea spending over £400 million on new signings last summer. Reports suggest chairman Todd Boehly could splash the cash further on a marquee new striker like Victor Osimhen, but it would appear they're sailing pretty close to the wind.
Moises Caicedo
£115 million
Enzo Fernandez
£107 million
Mykhalo Mudryk
£88 million
Wesley Fofana
£72 million
Marc Cucurella
£58 million
As per PSR regulations, clubs are allowed to make a £105 million loss over a three-year period, though Chelsea's financial statements indicate that they're actually above the limit from these past two years alone.
As a result, a fire-sale of players is expected at Stamford Bridge in an effort to balance the books. Chelsea could even sell star men like Conor Gallagher, with the Englishman's future uncertain as he slowly enters the final year of his contract.
Another regular who's up for an exit nomination is Raheem Sterling. According to recent reports, Chelsea will look to sell Sterling and potentially sign a replacement in RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo.
There are a plethora of other players facing uncertain futures as well, a lot of whom are currently out on loan elsewhere. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall, Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech, David Datro Fofana and Armando Broja are all away from west London serving temporary stints, and it is very likely they will all be put up for sale this summer.
Chelsea forced into Broja discount as they look to sell striker
Broja is a curious case, as it is believed Chelsea were demanding as much as £50 million for his services at one point.
As relayed by journalist Dean Jones, writing for Sportslens, Chelsea could now be forced to sell Broja for £25 million instead – given that his loan spell at Fulham hasn't exactly gone to plan.
Armando Broja celebrating a goal for Chelsea.
The Albanian has found himself playing second fiddle to Rodrigo Muniz at Craven Cottage, which is surely a waste of his potential to come good. Broja enjoyed a terrific season on loan at Southampton not too long ago, which prompted Saints legend Francis Benali to brand him a "sensational" player.