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According to reports from Turkey, West Bromwich Albion are tracking Fenerbahce midfielder, Ozan Tufan, ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report by Sabah (via Sport Witness) claims that a number of Premier League clubs, including West Brom, Everton and Crystal Palace, are keen on a move for Tufan this summer, with Sam Allardyce’s side specifically mentioned as being “closely interested” in the 26-year-old central midfielder.

However, Sabah go on to claim that West Brom’s likely relegation from the top flight could result in Tufan being put off of a potential switch to The Hawthorns, with the player already reported to not “look very warmly” on a move to the club.

Furthermore, with Fenerbahce said to be expecting any potential buyer to pay the Turkey international’s €20 million (£17 million) release clause if they are to part with the midfielder, should West Brom indeed drop down to the Championship come the end of the season, it is questionable whether the Baggies would be able to afford such a deal.

Transfer Tavern Take

Putting aside the potential complications of a West Brom move for Tufan, after looking at the 26-year-old’s statistics, it would certainly appear as if the midfielder would make a fine addition to Allardyce’s options in the middle of the park.

So far this season, the £8.55 million-rated Fenerbahce star has scored five goals and registered six assists over his 26 Super Lig appearances, while the player’s previous manager at the Turkish side, Vitor Pereira, drew comparisons between Tufan and Yaya Toure.

However, with the sizeable transfer fee, in addition to the player’s apparent lack of interest, it would very much seem as if West Brom have will face a real struggle to get a deal for Tufan over the line this summer.

In other news: loads of West Brom fans ripped into ‘yesterday’s man’ as this report emerged – find out more here!

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has talked up a potential Liverpool move for Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller this summer.

Jurgen Klopp may be on the lookout for reinforcements at the end of the season, ensuring that the Reds’ squad is even more formidable in 2021/22. While Liverpool have Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota to call upon in the final third, another attacking addition has not been ruled out.

In fact, Bayern legend Muller has hinted at a possible move to Anfield in the summer as he potentially looks for a fresh challenge at the age of 31.

Robinson discusses Liverpool’s potential move for Muller

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson claimed that the German could be a ‘top class’ signing by Liverpool, should Klopp be interested in snapping him up. He said:

“It (his comments) opens the door on a move to Liverpool or anywhere else in the Premier League.

“Bayern Munich are fantastic and dominate the German league but the majority of players hold aspirations of playing in the Premier League at some point in their career.

“Players know that it is the fastest, strongest, best league in the world. It is the toughest league in the world and every player would want to play in the Premier League at some point.

“Muller has had an unbelievable career and he is a top class player.

“He could not come here for his swan song though, if you do you will get found out very quickly. Muller would need to be at the peak of his powers.”

Transfer Tavern take

Muller would be an intriguing signing by Liverpool, but considering he turns 32 in September, it would be a surprise if he headed to Merseyside, given Klopp’s preference for acquiring the services of younger players and improving them.

The forward’s pedigree is undeniable, however, having scored 212 goals for Bayern during a trophy-laden career which includes nine Bundesliga titles and two Champions League crowns.

In other news, some Liverpool fans were critical of one player’s performance in the 3-0 win over Arsenal. Find out who it is here.

Giovani Lo Celso can count his lucky stars that Tottenham Hotspur ran out victorious on Wednesday evening as his appalling display almost cost them dearly.

Goals from Gareth Bale and Heung-min Son not only sealed a valuable win in their pursuit for a top-four finish but they also signalled the first three points of the Ryan Mason era in N17.

The 29-year-old was appointed as Spurs’ caretaker boss until the end of the season following Jose Mourinho’s shock sacking on Monday and he may well want to think again before trusting the Argentine playmaker, with the Carabao Cup soon on the horizon.

Mason opted for a 4-3-3, with Lo Celso playing alongside Tanguy Ndombele at the top of the engine room and if you were to read post-match reaction from the Spurs bubble, then you’d think it was the latter that had the poorer game.

For example, the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick claimed the French midfielder was still looking ‘sluggish’ having gone ‘off the boil’ under Mourinho in recent matches.

However, he played a crucial part in their opener, playing in a deft ball to Lucas Moura before it fell into the path of Bale, and that simply can not be understated.

By contrast, the list of words used to describe Lo Celso’s display could range from lightweight to wasteful, so it was really no surprise to see him hooked by Mason in the 79th minute, with the livewire Erik Lamela taking his place.

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The £27m-rated dynamo was heavily involved in most attacks, often showing for the ball and that was backed up by the fact that he had 59 touches, seeing the ball once every 1.3 minutes, as per SofaScore.

But in possession, he offered next to nothing, failing to register more than one key pass from his 38 successful passing attempts, whilst he fired one shot wide and another was blocked when an easier pass was open.

Furthermore, he failed to complete a successful dribble from two attempts, proving to be the weaker man when up against James Ward-Prowse and Stuart Armstrong in the middle.

It was also telling that he won just two of 11 duels (18%), both on the ground and in the air, only further suggesting that he struggled big time.

His nightmare display was emphasised even more by his inability to keep possession, as he lost the ball 14 times – five other starters managed better, including Ndombele.

All in all, Lo Celso can count himself a little fortunate that he was firstly, playing a poor side that couldn’t capitalise on his mistakes, and secondly that they won the game because he quite rightly deserves criticism after that showing.

The 25-year-old, on the above evidence, was certainly worse than Ndombele, and given it was only his eighth league start of the season, he may well be lucky to be given another crack from the off.

AND in other news, Levy could find Spurs’ next Pochettino in 45 y/o gem who WOWED Guardiola this season…

Gini Wijnaldum has reportedly agreed to become Barcelona’s first signing of Joan Laporta’s second stint as the club’s president this summer.

The 30-year-old has been a fantastic player for Liverpool, arriving during the summer of 2016 and being a key man almost from the moment he joined.

Wijnaldum’s understated performances in the Reds’ midfield have played a huge role in their success under Jurgen Klopp, with the Dutchman making 226 appearances to date.

The Netherlands international’s contract expires at the end of this season, however, and his failure to agree a new deal has seen him heavily linked with a move to Barca.

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Wijnaldum reportedly agrees Barcelona move

According to The Sunday Times, Wijnaldum has opted not sign a new contract and will instead join the Laporta revolution at the Nou Camp, becoming his first addition following his presidential win.

It is stated that the Liverpool superstar has agreed a pre-contract deal, having been a ‘priority target’ for Barca manager Ronald Koeman for some time.

Transfer Tavern take

Wijnaldum’s seemingly imminent exit is a huge blow for the Reds, considering what a consistently strong performer he has been over the past five seasons. Rio Ferdinand has been among those singing his praises, telling BT Sport [via TEAMtalk] back in December: “I got to be honest: I love this player. He’s very selfless, his intelligence, he’s underrated completely because he can play every single midfield position in that central area.”

That being said, Liverpool will move on from him eventually, and at 30, his peak years are unlikely to be around for too much longer.

In other news, some Reds supporters have been hailing one special talent at the club – read about who it is here.

According to a recent report, West Ham United could be presented the opportunity to sign Jesse Lingard permanently this summer, as the attacking midfielder may be used as a makeweight in a move for Declan Rice.

The report by Eurosport claims that West Ham originally attempted to include a £15m purchase clause in their loan deal for the Manchester United midfielder in January, but the Red Devils rejected the proposal.

The report added that, should Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side allow the sale of Lingard this summer, they would be looking for around £20m to part with the 28-year-old.

However, it is also claimed that Manchester United could attempt to use the £9m-rated man as a makeweight in their pursuit of Declan Rice, who would cost ‘at least £50 million’.

Transfer Tavern Take

While Lingard has certainly impressed in his short time at West Ham – scoring three goals and providing one assist over his five Premier League appearances for David Moyes’ side thus far, as well as being dubbed as “outstanding” by Paul Merson – whether the east London club would sign the midfielder permanently at the expense of parting with Rice is extremely debatable.

However, with Lingard believed to be enjoying his time at the London Stadium, perhaps the midfielder, along with West Ham, could convince Manchester United to allow a permanent move to the club without the caveat of Rice being involved in any potential deal.

In other West Ham United news, many fans wanted this Premier League ace after a contract claim – find out more here!

According to reports, Leeds United are interested in signing Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have been heavily reliant on Patrick Bamford to fire in the goals this season in the Premier League, and to the 27-year-old’s credit, he’s stepped up to the plate with 13 strikes in the competition.

Now, TEAMtalk claim that the Whites are one of three Premier League sides keen on signing Toney, with Brentford ready to put on a £30m price tag on him this summer.

The report adds that the Bees are hoping to hand the striker a new contract ahead of their own potential Premier League promotion, but they are already being faced with interest in their main man.

The new Mark Viduka

With his 6 foot 2 frame, Toney has got all the physical characteristics to become Leeds’ next Mark Viduka. But, just like the former Whites striker, he’s more than just a massive presence up top as he’s developed into a fine all-round striker.

Speaking earlier last year, Peterborough’s director of football, Barry Fry, said: “He’s turned into a tremendous all-round footballer. It’s important to remember Ivan is not just an exceptional goal-scoring forward, he’s also an outstanding defender.”

Toney himself has the confidence that he could be a top-flight striker, saying back in November: “I’ve always liked Zlatan. I just love his confidence. Some people see it as arrogance but you must be like that to succeed. I’m similar to Zlatan in both my confidence and the way I play. When he wants to do something, he just does it. I have some of that in my game and personality. And I believe I’ll be a Premier League striker.”

That unique blend of natural physical ability, technical quality, and just downright confidence is eerily similar to Viduka. In a piece for Leeds Live, Jon Howe wrote about the Australian: “Combining an arrogant superiority and sublime beauty with questionable attitude and a disgraced finale, Viduka’s Elland Road career succinctly mirrored the four year period where it felt Leeds United had it all but somehow ended up in the gutter.

“He was an ominous physical specimen, an old-fashioned centre forward in many respects, but mixed a formidable presence with a delicate technique that made him the purest example of a ‘good touch for a big fella’ player you are ever likely to see.”

The 25-goal Toney has got a lot of good things going for him in terms of a positive Viduka comparison, and that’s something Victor Orta should be all over in the summer.

Having proved himself in the Championship by leading the line with aplomb for Brentford this season, Toney seems exactly like the kind of all-round striker that would fit in perfectly with Bielsa. A goal-scorer, a defender from the front, and a real live-wire. What more could Leeds want?

Meanwhile, this Leeds man let Bielsa down against West Ham…

Former Leeds United hero Paul Robinson is desperate for the Whites to complete the permanent signing of Jack Harrison this summer.

The 24-year-old in now in his third season on loan at Elland Road, having initially joined from Manchester City back in the summer of 2018.

The winger has been an undoubted success story for Leeds, scoring 16 goals in 120 appearances, as well as registering 17 assists.

Harrison was a key part of Marcelo Bielsa’s team that made it back into the Premier League and only Patrick Bamford (14) has more than his tally of six goals in the division in 2020/21.

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Robinson urges Leeds to sign Harrison

Leeds have the option to sign Harrison permanently with Phil Hay reporting earlier this month an £11m deal is “as good as done”, something Robinson thinks is a no brainer.

Speaking to MOT Leeds News, the ex-Whites goalkeeper hailed the Englishman’s quality and said it makes perfect sense to retain his services:

“I think he’s a top player and he’s an absolute bargain at the price Leeds are going to pay for him. It’s been clever business by Leeds, kicking his option down the road for a year and keeping him on loan.

“They’re now in a position where they’ve got more Premier League money and more money from investors.

“It meant they could spend the money they spent last summer and sign Harrison this summer, and at £10m you’d be hard-pressed to find a better player than him.

“I think it’s a great signing, a really great buy for Leeds. He’s had ups and downs this season but he’s a top-quality winger who would cost a lot more on the open market.”

Transfer Tavern take

Harrison has shown over an extended period that he is more than suited to shine in this Leeds side, so they should seal a permanent move for him in the summer.

He clearly has no future at City, and at 24, he is at an age where he needs to settle at a club for a long period.

In other news, Noel Whelan believes one Leeds target could have to tweak his game if he moves to Elland Road this summer. Find out who it is here.

The Athletic’s Derby County correspondent Ryan Conway participated in a discussion thread with Derby fans ahead of the Rams’ Championship clash with Rotherham United on Wednesday evening.

In this thread, the journalist was asked about the latest news concerning Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan’s ongoing takeover attempt.

The Derby County takeover saga

This takeover received the EFL’s approval in November and two expected dates of completion for the deal have been muted, one in December and one in January, both of which have passed without the deal getting done.

Complications surrounding the takeover resulted in the Rams failing to pay some players’ wages for December on time, which in turn led to Derby being handed a transfer embargo for a portion of the January window.

Conway’s claim on the latest Rams takeover news

In response to this Rams fan who asked him for takeover news, Conway declared that: “It speaks volumes that nobody even bothered to ask about it in the last presser. I think even the journalists are starting to all believe it won’t happen now and think it’s a waste of time asking. The same answers get repeated.”

He went on to explain, with how long the deal has been dragging on for, that if there were a positive update, the club would make it known.

Transfer Tavern take

So, it may be fair to say that the journalist’s takeover comments certainly aren’t promising about the possibility that this deal will actually get over the line.

Perhaps that’s not a massive surprise, given that the takeover has failed to meet its expected date of completion twice and Sheikh Khaled has led failed takeover attempts of clubs like Liverpool and Newcastle United in the past.

The longer this deal drags on, as Conway indicated, the more likely it looks that Derby will join those two Premier League clubs as English sides who this Abu Dhabi royal family member has failed to take over.

In other news, many Derby fans were fuming over Duane Holmes’ departure.

Despite Celtic’s best efforts, Glasgow Rangers maintained their 16-point lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win at St. Mirren on Wednesday night.

Rangers have now won four in a row across all competitions as they seem to have shaken off any lingering effects from the chastening 3-2 defeat to the Saints in the Scottish League Cup earlier this month.

However, Jim Goodwin’s side threatened to derail their momentum, as they came close to toppling the league leaders on several occasions, only to be denied by the combined efforts of Connor Goldson and Allan McGregor.

Goldson was colossal at the back, but Filip Helander’s latest display left a lot to be desired, which will no doubt give Steven Gerrard genuine cause for concern ahead of the Old Firm clash with Celtic at the weekend.

The Swedish centre-back was unveiled as a marquee signing when he first arrived at Ibrox after signing from Bologna on a four-year deal for a reported £3.5m fee in 2019.

But Helander has looked shaky at the back at best when in possession and flaky when defending, and his latest showing against the Saints was a typical example of the performances Rangers fans have come to expect from the Sweden international, who spent three seasons with the Serie A outfit.

The Gers may have cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Saints but the centre-back was abysmal, as he lost possession 21 times throughout the entire game. It’s hard to point the finger directly at any player in particular after such a strong team performance overall, but Helander was a bit of a liability.

He was also caught out of position at the back on a regular basis, particularly in the first half, as Jonathan Obika came close to scoring twice in quick succession, committing one foul in the process, as per SofaScore.

Helander, who reportedly earns £9,300-a-week, sprayed long balls left and right but largely failed to find the target, as he produced just three accurate long balls from a whopping 19 attempts.

It sounds crazy to say after such a comfortable scoreline, but the Swede badly betrayed Gerrard last night.

Even though Helander took 96 touches of the ball, he struggled to make all of that possession count, as he failed to record a single cross or single key pass, despite playing the full 90′ minutes.

After being left on the bench against Hibernian, this was his chance to make a real statement with Leon Balogun waiting in the wings, but it’s fair to say that he did anything but after he let his manager down massively with his display last night. He can only be grateful Goldson put in a worldie of a performance beside him at the back.

In fact, it’s worth pointing out only Steven Davis received a worse rating than the struggling defender. We must admit it would be a bit of a surprise to see him start in a few days time after such a dismal showing.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers defender Connor Goldson stole the show against St. Mirren…

Newcastle United host Leicester City at St. James’ Park on Sunday looking to snap a five-game winless streak against one of the Premier League’s top-four sides.

Steve Bruce will be without influential midfielder Isaac Hayden for the Foxes’ trip to Tyneside after the Arsenal product was shown a fifth yellow card of the top-flight season last time out against Liverpool.

The Magpies were able to claim a point at home to Jurgen Klopp’s Reds with a supreme defensive showcase, but had lost two of their previous three league fixtures and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Championship side Brentford in a solemn festive run.

In Bruce’s search for a first win since a late Dwight Gayle effort beat West Bromwich Albion in December, the United boss will have to consider changes. So, with that in mind, here’s a potential line-up the Magpies could field at home to Leicester on Sunday…

Karl Darlow will expect to maintain his 100% record between the sticks against the Foxes having recorded a third clean sheet of the season at home to Liverpool, but he will be aware that Martin Dubravka is back breathing down his neck ahead of a potential return from injury in next week’s FA Cup clash with Arsenal.

Bruce is unlikely to favour changes to the five-strong defence which thwarted Klopp’s champions, either, with captain Jamaal Lascelles also eying the Emirates encounter for his return after testing positive for coronavirus.

Though Hayden’s absence will force alterations in the engine room, with Sean Longstaff likely to earn a recall to the starting line-up for the first time since drawing 1-1 with Fulham.

Longstaff has watched the Toon’s last two Premier League fixtures from the bench whilst his younger brother, Matty Longstaff, returned to the senior fold, yet should partner the 20-year-old and Jonjo Shelvey versus the Foxes.

Bruce had started Longstaff in Newcastle’s prior seven top-flight matches, but struggled to see the talent Jamie Redknapp once lauded as a “bright kid” and reminded the Sky Sports pundit of former Manchester United play-maker Michael Carrick.

A change to a three-man midfield line with Jacob Murphy falling out of favour would see Joelinton return to partner Callum Wilson upfront after playing the full 90 minutes against Liverpool at left-midfield.

Joelinton scored his sole Premier League goal of the season back in November against Crystal Palace, while summer signing Wilson has found the net on eight occasions but only once in his last four outings.

AND in other news, Newcastle United could move to sign a £14.5m-rated gem who can “make things happen” in January.