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Cardiff City are interested in a deal to bring Matty James to the Cardiff City Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that Mick McCarthy’s side are considering a move for the Leicester City midfielder at the end of his current contract at the King Power Stadium, which is due to expire this month.

It is also reported that a number of other Championship sides are keen on a move for the 29-year-old, including Bristol City, with the former Foxes manager Nigel Pearson believed to be eager to link up with one of his old players.

McCarthy must move

With McCarthy undoubtedly looking to improve on the Bluebirds’ impressive eighth-place finish in the Championship in their upcoming campaign, the 62-year-old will be looking to bring in a number of improvements to his current squad this summer.

And, considering James’ form while on loan at Coventry City in the second half of last season, as well as the £900k-rated man’s experience of playing in the Premier League with Leicester, he would very much appear to be an addition who could help Cardiff take their game to the next level in 2021/22.

Indeed, out of the £32k-per-week midfielder’s 117 appearances for the Foxes, over which he has scored five goals and provided 13 assists, 42 of those outings have come in the top flight of English football, with James notably playing a crucial role in the club’s great escape from relegation back in 2014/15.

And, while a number of injuries have prevented the 29-year-old from featuring on a more regular basis for Brendan Rodgers’ side, the former England U20 international highly impressed during a loan spell at Coventry last season, scoring three goals and providing three assists over his 23 Championship appearances for the Sky Blues.

That’s in addition to making an average of 1.6 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 1.3 key passes per game, culminating in a seasonal WhoScored match rating of 6.88.

As such, the man whom Leicestershire Live writer Jordan Blackwell dubbed a “grafter” would very much be a fantastic addition to the Cardiff City midfield next season. Mick McCarthy should do all he can to get a deal over the line for the 29-year-old this summer, particularly as he won’t cost Vincent Tan a penny in transfer fees.

In other news: Forget Bennett: McCarthy must sanction Cardiff swoop for “excellent” 9-assist dynamo

Following their recent promotion, Norwich are going to need Premier League proven players to survive, but ex-Canary Jon Newsome isn’t convinced by some of the available free agents touted for the club by Pink Un.

Daniel Farke’s side secured an instant return last month, losing just seven times in the Championship season having kept most of their squad that were relegated the previous season.

But whilst only Bournemouth scored more than Norwich in the 2020-2021 campaign, Farke’s team were the lowest scorers in their last Premier League season, and should therefore be looking to improve their front line.

Teemu Pukki has come up with the goods once again in each of his three years at the club to continue his ever-growing popularity with the Carrow Road faithful.

But if Norwich are to avoid suffering an immediate relegation like this time 12 months ago, the Finnish striker will need some support up front.

Swansea’s Andre Ayew, Josh King, Andy Carroll, who’s set to become a free agent, and Stoke City’s Nick Powell were all suggested by Pink Un, but Newsome told Football FanCast that he’s not convinced by any of those on that list:

“Andre Ayew, 31 years of age, I’m sure he’s on big money, Josh King is going to be on massive money at Everton, do Norwich want to break their wage structure? When you do things like that, bringing a player in that’s on massive money, sometimes it has a negative effect.

“Andy Carroll, does he fit in with Norwich’s style of play? And Nick Powell at Stoke, untried at Premier League level, is he going to be a player that’s going to come in and make a difference on the team? There will be question marks.”

Both Tottenham and Everton are keen on landing Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha this summer, according to Goal.

And, as to be expected, a number of Eagles supporters have been having their say on the transfer news on social media.

Goal claim that both Spurs and the Toffees will look to pursue a deal in the summer window, with a feeling that a transfer could be agreed at £40m.

Palace will reportedly look to keep hold of Zaha, who has just over two years left on his Selhurst Park deal.

The Ivory Coast international recently admitted that he would be open to a move away from the Eagles, as he wants to win trophies. He’s made just under 400 appearances for Palace, and it seems as if he’ll be a man in demand once again this summer.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared the news on Zaha on Twitter on Tuesday lunchtime.

These Palace fans were quick to poke fun at both Tottenham and Everton in regards to Zaha’s willingness to win trophies.

“Lol”Credit: @cpfc_sean”Obviously decided he doesn’t want to win anything”Credit: @Ukhilal1957″Also, £40 million…Am I missing something!?”Credit: @ststove”But I thought he wanted to go somewhere where he can win things”Credit: @NoContextHumour”Thought he wanted to win trophies?”Credit: @cpfcjadey”He wants trophies why would he go to any of these clubs”Credit: @CPFCH10

In other news: Many CPFC fans unimpressed with specific Matt Woosnam post, find out more here. 

A number of Liverpool fans have been criticising Gini Wijnaldum’s performance against Southampton in what was a low-key showing from the Dutchman.

The Reds picked up a much-needed victory in the top four battle on Saturday night, seeing off the Saints with a hard-earned 2-0 win at Anfield. It wasn’t exactly a perfect performance from the Premier League champions, but goals from Sadio Mane and Thiago were enough to get them over the line.

[freshpress-quiz id=“355458″]

A few individuals stood out on the night, with Alisson excelling in goal and Thiago catching the eye in midfield, but Wijnaldum was a largely unnoticed figure in the middle of the park.

The Dutchman didn’t necessarily do anything wrong, but he performed like someone with a lot of minutes in his legs this season, with the 30-year-old featuring in all 34 league games to date. He was unlucky with one effort which struck the crossbar, but that was his only shot all night, while he lost possession nine times.

It may have been Wijnaldum’s penultimate appearance at Anfield if he is to leave this summer amid widespread transfer speculation, but it won’t be one to go down in legend just after the two-year anniversary of his iconic double against Barcelona.

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Liverpool fans critical of Wijnaldum’s performance

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to voice their frustration at Wijnaldum’s performance, some of whom responded to his post-match tweet.

“Gini Wijnaldum made 8 passes in the 1st half. Thiago & Fabinho over 20 each. Ghosting yet again.”

Credit: @AnfieldEffect

“Wait you played?”

Credit: @NickJon88020842

“I have watched you progress with the ball easily for years. What has happened to you? Are you scared?”

Credit: @Fin_Disu

“Gini 7.6? 4 at best”

Credit: @AC_LFC19

“Fabinho playing for 2 people… Gini a literal ghost”

Credit: @_tahmiddd

“Gini off, been awful again”

Credit: @westyten

In other news, one Liverpool player is reportedly likely to leave the club this summer. Find out who it is here.

Gareth Bale continues to thrive at Tottenham Hotspur following the departure of Jose Mourinho nearly a month ago.

The £18m-rated Real Madrid superstar struggled for game time under the Portuguese, playing just 477 minutes in the Premier League but under interim head coach Ryan Mason, he has started all four top-flight matches, as per Transfermarkt.

That run includes a goal against Southampton and a hat-trick against Sheffield United last time out, but his display on Sunday afternoon may well go a little unnoticed given he failed to add to his 14 goals and three assists.

For what he was lacking in terms of goal contributions, he more than made up for in work rate and creativity, only showing that he was suffering under Mourinho – or that the Special One got it so wrong with the Welshman.

Bale rated amongst Spurs’ best performers, with SofaScore grading him a 7.6, which was only bettered by the two goalscorers, Harry Kane (7.9) and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (8.7).

It was the fourth straight league game that he’s managed a 7.0 or better, which is better than his final two appearances in the Premier League under Mourinho.

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That is rather telling.

The 31-year-old, who Spurs have an option to keep hold of for next season, was a constant nuisance down the right flank, exposing an out-of-position Nelson Semedo throughout the 89 minutes he was on the pitch.

No player on either side did better in terms of playmaking, as he notched four key passes, which is way above his average of 0.8 per game. This was aided by three shots at goal and a 100% success rate with his dribbling whilst he also won six of eight duels (75%), as per SofaScore.

That only further shows how he consistently got the better of Semedo.

As Spurs journalist Alasdair Gold stated in his post-game column for football.london, Bale was “always involved,” “looked sharp,” and had “some bright moments.”

Bale’s recent form has certainly sent a telling and revealing statement to Mourinho – perhaps he would still be in the job if he unshackled his summer signing more often.

It has been a decision questioned by BBC pundits Jermaine Jenas and Alan Shearer only two weeks ago to Match of the Day, via football.london.

The former Spurs midfielder said: “Yeah, he lacked fitness initially, but I’ve always felt Gareth is the type of player who just plays until he gets himself fit. He has been a world-class player and he is ruthless in that situation, as we saw today.”

Whilst the ex-Premier League winner added: “It was a magnificent performance. It was the very best of Gareth Bale, it had everything, the running off the ball, work rate and his finishing was lethal.”

Mason has certainly trusted him and it has paid serious dividends as Spurs’ qualification into Europe is now firmly in their hands. His display against Wolves merely highlights where Mourinho potentially got it all so wrong at the club.

AND in other news, Levy could seal Spurs’ best signing since Son in £36m beast who’s “similar to Eriksen”…

Manchester United could be set to complete a shock reunion this summer with interest in West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

According to The Sun, the Red Devils have been keeping tabs on the 28-year-old throughout the campaign and could be set to make a move should either Dean Henderson or David De Gea leave Old Trafford.

Whilst Johnstone has impressed in a poor Baggies’ side this season, United would be making a mistake in bringing him back to the club and should instead just keep both of their current keepers.

Rated at £5.4m, Johnstone has claimed just five clean sheets so far and conceded a huge 57 goals at a rate of two goals per game in the league.

The majority of those are of course not his fault, with the Baggies’ leaky defence instead shouldering the majority of the blame.

Nevertheless, he has not covered himself in glory. So far throughout the season, Johnstone has already made two errors leading to shots according to SofaScore.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-man-united-transfer-rumours-and-news-old-trafford-macheda-solskjaer-lingard-ousmane-dembele-anthony-martial-injury-rabiot-van-de-beek” title=” The latest Man United transfer rumours and news from Old Trafford…”]

Meanwhile, Johnstone simply seems no better than Henderson, who is currently United’s first-choice keeper in the league.

He has saved just 68% of the shots he has faced, with the former Sheffield United loanee hugely improved at 82%. Even De Gea, who is enduring a difficult personal season compared to his usually high standards, is only marginally lower than Johnstone at a save percentage of 65%.

The one benefit however of Johnstone returning to Old Trafford would be the immense affordability of any potential deal.

At the current time, the Baggies goalkeeper has just one year remaining on his £32k per-week so it could be thought that a deal would not be the most expensive in the world. Considering he would be acting as just a back-up to either Henderson or De Gea, an affordable deal would certainly be welcome.

Nevertheless, it seems more logical for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to keep his current options at the club instead of swooping for Johnstone.

AND in more news, take a closer look at Victor Lindelof’s tricky afternoon against Tottenham Hotspur…

Barry Fry has told Football FanCast that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer firmly deserves his potential new contract at Manchester United.

A report has claimed that the Norwegian is set to earn a new deal whether he wins a trophy this season or not.

United’s only chance of silverware, realistically, comes in the Europa League, where they will play Roma in the semi-finals after dispatching Granada over two legs.

There is the potential of another semi-final defeat – United lost in the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League semis last season – but Fry insists that Solskjaer’s future should not hinge on whether he wins silverware this term.

Indeed, he believes that Solskjaer has done an excellent job in making United an exciting team once again, after the “very dull” football served up by Jose Mourinho prior to the former striker’s appointment.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “I think the rot started with Mourinho really, United for the last two years under Mourinho were very poor, very dull, very boring, it wasn’t a typical United side.

“They brought Ole in, obviously with his connection with Manchester United as a player, I think they felt that it was a real big, big job for Solskjaer to get it sorted out and they’re happy with the way he’s gone about it and the way he’s changed things, with playing some of the younger players, coming on strong, United are traditionally good at that, in the long distant past anyway.

“I think they like that about him. He’s made a couple of great signings and obviously, they’re going to back him now.”

Fry also thinks that Solskjaer has overperformed this season, with a number of supporters believing that the club would only be fighting to finish in the top four, though they are almost certain to finish second.

He added: “The Man United supporters are up in arms really in one way but in another way, they’re saying they didn’t expect this year to be anywhere near the top, they thought they would be out for the top four. And it looks as though United will finish second.

“Second to Man City who are arguably the best side in the world at the minute so they don’t see that as failure. I don’t think the Manchester United hierarchy feel it’s failure, they feel it’s progress. And they obviously felt that what Ole had to do was far, far bigger than everybody outside the club felt it was. I think that’s why United are going to reward him with a new contract.”

Sheffield Wednesday have a lot to play for before they know which division they’ll be competing in next season but that shouldn’t stop them from making a decision over the future of one of their key players.

As of now, the Owls seem destined for relegation to League One – with nine games left to play, Darren Moore’s side find themselves six points adrift of safety, although they do hold a game in hand on most teams around them.

A run of one win in nine games is hardly encouraging for their chances of remaining in the Championship, either.

Long-serving veteran Keiren Westwood is one of at least 12 first team players who are out of contract in the summer. The 36-year-old has been at Hillsborough since 2014, when signing from Sunderland on a free transfer.

To say that his time in south Yorkshire was a little ropey would be an understatement. He was the first choice between the sticks for the Owls’ back-to-back playoff runs under Carlos Carvalhal, but was exiled during the Garry Monk era.

It is only recently that he’s resurfaced as Wednesday’s main man between the sticks. It is his sort of influence on which Moore will need to lean, not just in the coming weeks but also into next season – especially if they go down to League One.

In addition to that, Westwood is clearly a fan of the new Owls boss and hasn’t ruled out remaining at Wednesday for an eighth straight season. Speaking to reporters, via Yorkshire Post, he said:

“I think the gaffer is the man for the job. From what I have seen and what he has spoken to me about and said to the lads and the way he wants to do things, 100 per cent,” before adding: “Listen, I have loved it here, I really have and I am not saying it is something I wouldn’t consider (it) because I really would, 100 per cent. Of course I would. I have been here ages.”

Westwood has made the League One ‘Team of the Year’ before, so clearly knows a thing or two about the division. Also, as noted by Yorkshire Live’s Dom Howson, he offers an ‘authoritative presence’ between the sticks.

Writing after an unlucky defeat to league-leading Norwich, the Owls reporter said: ‘Westwood more than justified his selection. The experienced shot-stopper constantly organised his defence and bellowed out instructions to his team-mates.’

According to Carvalhal, Westwood is a “fantastic goalkeeper”, and even Tony Pulis said he “calms everything down,” which echoes the above claim.

Having that sort of presence right at the back will be needed, so forget Tom Lees, Adam Reach and many more for now – Westwood should be Wednesday’s top priority this summer.

In other news, Sheffield Wednesday paying price for Aden Flint blunder…

David Moyes has refused to rule out the idea of West Ham selling Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek this summer, admitting that the club could listen to offers for the duo.

The Hammers have enjoyed a season to remember in the Premier League, finding themselves right in the Champions League battle. Victory away to Wolves on Monday evening would see Moyes’ side go fourth in the table, leapfrogging Chelsea after their shock 5-2 defeat at home to West Brom on Saturday.

Rice and Soucek have undoubtedly been two of West Ham’s key men this season, with the £90m-rated pair (per Transfermarkt) excelling in the middle of the park.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, their form has led to concerns over other clubs tabling bids for them at the end of the campaign.

Moyes provides update on Rice and Soucek

Speaking to reporters [via The Mirror], Moyes admitted that West Ham may be willing to hear offers for the duo, should they arrive, but stressed that they wouldn’t be leaving on the cheap:

“Yes, any club can make offers for players but we’ve not had any big offers. I hope we don’t get any but if we do, like any other club, we would consider them.

“I don’t know where the Bank of England is for Tomas Soucek but I’ve said with Declan, it would take the Bank of England and the Royal Bank of Scotland to get him.

“It will have to be the Bank of Czech as well for Tomas!”

Transfer Tavern take

Rice and Soucek have both been integral to West Ham’s success, so they should do all they can to keep hold of them this summer.

The Czech international is their top Premier League scorer this term despite playing in a defensive midfield role, while the Englishman’s tackling and interception averages are among the highest in the Irons’ squad (WhoScored).

Both of their contracts run until 2024, which should at least the Hammers in a strong negotiating position with only huge bids likely to be accepted, as Moyes has hinted.

In other news, David Moyes has dropped another big transfer hint ahead of this summer. Read more about it here.

Lots of Arsenal fans have been discussing the club’s links with a move for Inter Milan wing-back Achraf Hakimi.

The Telegraph have reported about Hakimi, claiming that Arsenal have now been alerted to the Moroccan’s situation at Inter, with the club’s owners Suning Holdings Group possibly under pressure to sell a few Nerazzurri players to alleviate some financial burden.

The report added that Hector Bellerin has caught the attention of Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, and Arsenal see Hakimi as a chance to replace the Spaniard.

Not just Arsenal, but Chelsea are also looking at Hakimi; and they believe that the former Real Madrid man can thrive in a more advanced role since Reece James is currently their long-term option for right wing-back under Thomas Tuchel.

Hakimi has impressed for Antonio Conte’s men this season, making 33 appearances in all competitions and scoring six goals as well as picking up six assists, proving to be a potent and creative presence in the final third.

As per WhoScored, he has been one of Inter’s standout performers all-round in 2020/21, with an average match rating of 7.0 from the website.

The news linking Arsenal with a move for Hakimi drew the attention of many Gunners fans, who made their opinion clear about potentially signing the 22-year-old:

What did Arsenal fans make of the news about Hakimi? “Arsenal showing interest in Achraf Hakimi. YES PLEASE!”Credit: @unclenabz”Going from Bellerin to Hakimi would be the biggest 180 and system shock you’d ever see. Need him at Arsenal.”Credit: @Naif63062887″Would be a perfect signing imo. We’re managing our defense fairly well with Bellerin even. So with Hakimi in there who has actual ability in the attack we would look like a different breed. That being said, getting his signature seems like a farfetched dream.”Credit: @zinowor”I would take him any day.”Credit: @ezrandez”I’m in the minority of Arsenal fans who would be keen on Bellerin remaining first-choice RB next season, but if we’re showing interest in Hakimi, we would be crazy to not try and sign him, one of the few players that would justify replacing a fan favourite like Bellerin.”Credit: @dylanwalsh_”I’d love him.”Credit: @journalismbondIn other news, Arsenal have been linked with a move for a former PL defender – read more here.