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David Moyes has been dealt a blow in West Ham United’s rumoured pursuit of Moussa Marega, with Fenerbahce SK keen to sign the FC Porto striker.

What’s the word?

According to A Bola, Marega’s services have never left the thoughts of the Fenerbahce leadership as the Super Lig giants line up a wealth of changes to Emre Belozoglu’s side.

The Yellow Canaries intend to complete a vast overhaul of the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium squad in the summer in order to attack the Super Lig and Europe at full strength next term.

West Ham had been linked with a potential move to sign Marega in the next transfer window, as Moyes weighs up his options to add depth behind Michail Antonio following Sebastien Haller’s January exit.

Marega is now said to be a high priority for Fenerbahce as the Mali international is set to leave Porto as a free agent at the end of the season, and discussions with Porto over new terms are yet to return a satisfactory offer.

It had been expected that the Dragoes would soon announce Marega’s renewal as the striker is a key weapon in Sergio Conceicao’s arsenal, with the only hold up being the wait for the arrival of his agent.

But no progress has been made following the offer of a two-year deal that would have seen Marega remain one of the highest earners at the Estadio do Dragao. The 29-year-old currently earns £34,000-per-week.

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Reports in Turkey last month had suggested that Fenerbahce offered Marega a €1.5m-a-season (£24.5k-p/w) contract to move to Istanbul as a free agent, which Portuguese publication O Jogo later dismissed.

Should West Ham sign Porto’s Marega?

Moyes will be well aware of his need to sign a striker in the summer after opting against reinvesting the £20m made from Haller joining AFC Ajax, and leaving Antonio as West Ham’s only out-and-out senior centre-forward.

Marega would represent a solid option for the Irons to target and acquire proven depth, but will seemingly have to go toe-to-toe with Fenerbahce and Porto in order to sign the 24-cap Mali international.

The Yellow Canaries and Dragoes seem increasingly keen on having the £12.5m-rated machine in their attack next season, although Marega’s long-held desires to one day play in the Premier League may yet work in the Hammers’ advantage.

A salary in the region of the alleged £24.5k-p/w offer from Fenerbahce and his current £34k-p/w Porto deal would also not be expected to hinder West Ham’s position, with Spotrac figures showing that only Vladimir Coufal (£30k-p/w), Said Benrahma (£23k-p/w) and Ben Johnson (£19k-p/w) currently earn less among Moyes’ first-team regulars.

Adding Marega into that mix would see the Irons land a striker who has scored 71 goals and offered 33 assists in 182 games for Porto across all competitions, including eight in 22 Champions League fixtures and helping to eliminate Juventus in the Round of 16 last month – in fact, his career goal total stands at an impressive 114.

That seems like very good depth to bring in behind Antonio without David Sullivan having to get his cheque book out to pay Porto for their striker, who has been protected by a €40m (£34m) release clause since 2018 and is nicknamed the ‘Terminator’.

AND in other news, West Ham are in a three-way Premier League battle for a 6 ft 6 titan with “all the attributes”…

Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips has said that Mike Ashley will not give up ownership of Newcastle United unless he receives the right offer.

Phillips makes Ashley claim

After a takeover approach failed last year (The Guardian), Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium have returned to try once more to buy the St James’ Park outfit.

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips believes Ashley may well move on soon, but only for the right price. He said:

“It’s got to the point where you don’t even want to talk about it.

“It’s been on it’s been off it’s been on it’s been off. A club being taken over, as a supporter you just want it to happen. 

“No more so than with Newcastle. Ashley has spent a lot of money at that football club but now they want him out. 

“But he’s a businessman and he won’t go unless he gets the right amount of money and let’s hope this time if it gets back on, it gets done and the club can start to move on.”

Hope remains

Newcastle fans will now be reaching a point of desperation. Ashley is deeply unpopular among the majority of supporters at St James’ Park, and many are eager to see him depart. That looked close to happening last year, so they may not be too willing to get their hopes up just yet.

The takeover fee last summer was £300m, and you get the feeling that Ashley was happy to leave with that sum before the Premier League rejected the bid from Staveley’s consortium. Of course, with the reputation Ashley has as a hard-nosed businessman, he will only leave on his terms, but a repeat offer in that ballpark should hopefully do the trick.

In other news, Lee Ryder slammed this man during the win against Burnley.

A number of Liverpool supporters have got behind the idea of the Reds selling both Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi this summer.

There could be incomings and outgoings at Anfield at the end of the season, with Jurgen Klopp’s squad in need of being freshened.

The Premier League champions have suffered a horrible season, with everything seemingly going wrong, from injuries to key players losing form.

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Two individuals who have contributed very little are Shaqiri and Origi, with the pair drifting further into exile as the campaign has progressed.

Shaqiri has started just five games in the league, while Origi has been limited to only 182 minutes of action in the competition.

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool still ‘expect to sell’ the pair in the summer transfer window, with Klopp deeming them surplus to requirements.

Liverpool fans call for Shaqiri and Origi to leave

These Reds fans took to Twitter to call for Shaqiri and Origi to move on.

“About 4 windows late”

Credit: @NovCooper

“Very important, even though I love Shaq”

Credit: @hideesoul

“Origi finally going thank god”

Credit: @ricciardoszn

“Please do ASAP”

Credit: @TeeBillions

“Well they need to replace the pair of them simple as that”

Credit: @lathamphil1

“While on the way out, don’t forget the injury prone players that can’t play 6 straight games”

Credit: @DozieLfc

“Replace them with Raphinha and Malen”

Credit: @Anggara16126514

“That alone funds Malen/Vlahovic/Daka and then we can buy Bissouma , Kabak, Konate and Raphinha”

Credit: @tobym4353

In other news, some Liverpool fans want to keep hold of one Reds loanee this summer. Find out who it is here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee, who is a Newcastle United Hall of Famer, asked for the Magpies’ Head of recruitment, Steve Nickson, to come out and admit he got it wrong over bringing Joelinton to the club and paying £40 million for him.

Newcastle smashed their record transfer fee before the 2019/20 season as they splashed out £40 million for Joelinton who was playing for Hoffenheim at the time and finished the season with seven goals and seven assists, his best-ever return.

Joelinton is now into his second season on Tyneside and it is still unclear what his best position is having been played as a striker and a winger on both flanks with little effect, which has raised multiple questions over who brought him to the club, with reports suggesting the deal was agreed five months prior to the Brazillian signing.

Speaking on who he wants to come out and take the blame for the Joelinton signing and how the club doomed him from the beginning, Lee told FFC:

“First of all, I want to know who spent £40 million on Joelinton. If it was Steve Nickson, then come out and hold your hands up and say ‘yeah, I sanctioned and put forward that deal’, but I’m sure he won’t.

“Secondly, the club should have made it clear from the beginning that he’s not a centre forward and they could’ve done that by not giving him the number nine shirt.

“The minute he was given the number nine shirt he’s a centre forward. He’s the club’s most expensive signing and with him being a forward player as well as the number nine, people instantly expect him to score 20-25 goals a season.”

Joelinton has been an ever-present under Steve Bruce, despite his poor form and decision making in the final third.

Since arriving at Newcastle, he has managed just seven goals and seven assists in 72 games – that output was the same as what he got in his final season with Hoffenheim.

With Neil Lennon finally departing his role as Celtic manager after resigning from his post, Peter Lawwell will now be as busy as ever.

He has a massive job before he formally retires from his role as the club’s Chief Executive; finding a new manager for the Hoops.

Of course, they could give John Kennedy until the end of the season, in which case, the decision may fall on the shoulders of Dominic McKay instead.

Considering how far behind Rangers they are, this is a massive decision for the Hoops to take. Get the appointment wrong and they could consign themselves to a number of years at the mercy of their biggest rivals.

A number of names have been linked with the vacant hot seat but one of the most eye-catching is undoubtedly Roberto Martinez. Jim White revealed this week that he was on the club’s shortlist before Dean Windass exclusively told Football FanCast that he believes the role would appeal to the Spaniard.

He is currently managing the number one ranked team in the world in Belgium, but how could the former Everton boss line-up if he comes to Parkhead?

We’ve had a go at piecing together how the Celtic side may look if Martinez enters Glasgow in the summer.

The first thing to notice is the change of formation. Lennon flirted with the idea of a three-back throughout this season but it’s a system that Martinez has religiously stuck to with Belgium.

The Red Devils have a wealth of attacking riches, all of which are nigh on impossible to fit into one squad. However, with the 47-year-old accommodated to this style of football, we’d back him to implement it with the Bhoys too.

With Diego Laxalt and Jonjoe Kenny set to depart Glasgow following the conclusion of their loan spells, it means there aren’t too many options in a wide area. With that in mind, we think that Martinez could go with Greg Taylor and Ryan Christie as his wide midfielders or wing-backs.

The Belgium manager prefers attacking wing-backs and has even picked rampaging winger Thorgan Hazard in that role at international level. Thus, he could do the same with Christie.

The defence comprises of the ball-playing Kristoffer Ajer who should suit Martinez’s ideology of possession-based football perfectly. He’s partnered next to Stephen Welsh and Liam Shaw who has reportedly agreed a pre-contract with the Hoops.

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There is no room for club stalwart Scott Brown with his contract expiring at Celtic in the summer. That means Ismaila Soro and Callum McGregor make up the midfield.

In forward areas, Odsonne Edouard starts up top with James Forrest and David Turnbull in behind. We’ve already looked at the way Martinez could prove to be key in the development of Turnbull after the way he brought Ross Barkley into the limelight at Goodison Park.

This XI does, of course, depend on any further new signings.

AND in other news, Dembele could be convinced to stay if Celtic appoint “special” 42 y/o Lennon successor…

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been reacting on social media after the club released some training ground footage ahead of the clash with Newcastle United on Friday evening.

One player fans didn’t see in the two-and-a-half-minute video was star man Jack Grealish, who has missed the last four games with a leg injury.

The 25-year-old has been influential under Dean Smith this season, scoring seven times and registering 12 assists in 23 appearances.

Villa have scored just twice in the 360 league minutes without Grealish on the pitch, picking up four points from a possible 12.

And it seems as if the playmaker could well miss out again, as based on the footage he was absent from the session shared on Villa’s official Twitter page.

Other noticeable absentees from the video were striker Ollie Watkins, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and right-back Matty Cash.

This is what these Villa fans had to say in regards to the Wednesday post, with some worrying about his absence, others praising ‘mind games from the club’ and one even describing the post as ‘trolling’.

Villa fans react to behind the scenes footage

“Hoping the lack of footage of Grealish and Cash is just mind games from the club.”

Credit: @grang3hill

“Good work admin, managed to not get Grealish in any of the shots”

Credit: @Daleeee

“Admin trolling us with no Grealish training content”

Credit: @ThassosF

“Grealish out again”

Credit: @MShauib1

“I just want Grealish back”

Credit: @hazedartwork

“Looks like Jack isn’t back on grass. Also couldn’t see Watkins/El Ghazi.”

Credit: @AVFCFaithful_

In other news: £25,000-a-week Villa man looks set for a summer exit, find out more here.

Leeds could land a potentially perfect centre-back partner for Diego Llorente in Manchester City youngster Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Reports in recent days have suggested that both Marcelo Bielsa’s side, and Premier League rivals Brighton have been closely tracking his progress ahead of a potential move for him in the summer transfer window.

Standing at an imposing 6 foot 2, Harwood-Bellis has earned rave reviews for his performances whilst on loan at Ewood Park, with Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, saying: “What I see is a lad who needs some buttons pushing because when you challenge him he generally stands up to the challenge.

“You can feel the fire in his belly and the bigger the name that plays in front of him the higher he’s going to rise in his career. The big games are what are going to get his juices flowing and I like his character, he’s one I would call an old school central defender who wants to go to war, but he can play football if that’s the game in front of him.”

Dubbed as a “powerful central defender also blessed with excellent skills on the ball”, Harwood-Bellis looks like the archetypal player for Bielsa, both being strong in the tackle and composed in possession too.

In fact, a profile piece by The Athletic, hailed the teenager’s commanding presence, noting: “Kompany’s are big shoes to fill, but Guardiola may see similarities in Harwood-Bellis’ leadership qualities. The precocious youngster was the U-15 captain when Pep arrived in Manchester, and he wore the armband for England at the U-17 European Championship. Harwood-Bellis has confidence, superior technique, aggression, physicality and the ability to command from the back.”

And, given how Harwood-Bellis has predominantly played as the left-sided centre-back at Ewood Park this season, and Diego Llorente has played more on the right, the ingredients are already there for the former to just slot in alongside the Spaniard.

Having that balance of the two centre-backs playing on their preferred side can have a huge impact on how well they perform, and ensure they aren’t taken out of their comfort zone.

Harwood-Bellis would be the perfect compliment for Llorente, and with his own ability to play out from the back, would ease the pressure on the Spaniard when it comes to starting moves from deep.

Leeds could well build a formidable centre-back partnership by signing the City starlet this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds must reignite their interest in this star…

Wolverhampton Wanderers star Willian Jose revealed an intriguing detail regarding his move from Real Sociedad in January.

Willian Jose confesses

The 29-year-old completed his loan move from the La Liga club until the end of the season in light of Raul Jimenez’s absence, something which manager Nuno Espirito Santo told reporters (via Sky Sports) was a “real disruption” in their season.

Willian Jose was due to move to Tottenham 12 months ago but the deal fell through at the 11th hour. After a potential move to Barcelona broke down similarly, journalist Guillem Balague told the Pure Football Podcast (31:20) that Wolves’ January arrival “really didn’t recover” from that phase of his career.

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Now, during an interview with Sky Sports, the Brazilian admitted that Real Sociedad were keen to keep hold of him but confirmed that he still doesn’t know why the chance to join Tottenham didn’t materialise.

He added that he saw Wolves as a “good opportunity” for himself to showcase his skills in the Premier League, while Jimenez remains absent from the first-team.

Transfer Tavern Verdict

It has been a frustrating 12 months for the player, which has resulted in Wolves ultimately benefitting by acquiring his services.

From his first three outings, the Brazilian has provided one assist and has impressed segments of the Molineux faithful.

With Wolves currently down in 14th and lacking firepower, his ability will be desperately needed from now until the end of the season.

In other news, Wolves supporters delighted with transfer links regarding £176k-per-week star.

Sheffield Wednesday are once again on the hunt for a new manager after Tony Pulis’ shock sacking earlier this week and a number of interesting names have been linked with the newly-vacant Owls role…

What’s the word?

One of which is former Bayern Munich midfielder Thorsten Fink, who won a Champions League title during his time at the Bundesliga giants.

The 53-year-old is currently out-of-work after leaving Japanese Super Cup winners Vissel Kobe in September, citing a desire to return to Europe.

According to the Sheffield Star, Fink is thought to be on chairman Dejphon Chansiri’s radar, whilst they also claim that the German would welcome a chance to manage in England.

Another Carvalhal?

Speaking to reporters this morning, the Thai businessman revealed that he wouldn’t shirk away from a foreign appointment, and it’s easy to see why as the only manager to bring success to Hillsborough under his tenure has been Carlos Carvalhal.

Yes, there was the abomination under Jos Luhukay, but the Portuguese boss is a good blueprint to replicate this time after failures from Steve Bruce, Garry Monk and Tony Pulis.

Prior to his appointment in south Yorkshire, Carvalhal had never managed in England but had taken control of Sporting Lisbon and Besiktas, who are both top-flight teams.

Fink has won titles at Basel, also nearly guiding them to an impressive win over Man Utd in the UCL but for Ashley Young’s 90th-minute equaliser back in 2011.

He’s also fresh off a stint managing the likes of Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Lukas Podolski, leading Vissel Kobe to their first-ever trophies.

Former Bayern star Bastian Schweinsteiger once claimed Fink could one day return to manage the Bundesliga champions, he added:

“[Even as a player] he taught us a lot about discipline, positioning and tactics. It was clear to all of us that he would one day become a coach.

“I am convinced that Thorsten would make a very good coach of Bayern. He has the necessary mentality and self-confidence. At Basel, he has proven he can handle the pressure of managing a title favourite.”

It may well be a rather left-field appointment, but desperate measures are needed with the Owls staring down the barrel at relegation to League One.

No manager has even gotten close to the fourth-place finish under Carvalhal, in fact, their best final position since was 12th under Bruce.

It’s certainly a roll of the dice, but Chansiri has had success doing it this way before.

AND in other news, Sheffield Wednesday must avoid hiring “desperate” unemployed man as their next manager…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former West Ham striker Marlon Harewood backed his old club’s pursuit of Reims striker Boulaye Dia.

The Hammers are in the market to sign a centre-forward this month after Sebastien Haller’s exit and a number of attackers have been targeted.

However, one of the latest rumours surrounds Dia. According to Sport.fr, the Irons have submitted an offer to sign the 24-year-old in January.

That bid is supposedly around the €10m (£8.9m) mark, so it won’t set David’s Gold and Sullivan back too much.

The Frenchman has scored 12 goals in just 18 appearances in Ligue 1 this term which bodes well for any potential move to London.

It’s a swoop that’s been urged to happen by former West Ham striker Harewood. Speaking exclusively to FFC this week, he revealed that getting Dia would be a good piece of business.

“It seems like he’s got goals, and he’s got a good ratio at the moment. It’s just one of those things like when it comes to the Premier League, how quickly settled and how quickly he gets to grips of playing with West Ham and the way they play,” he began.

Harewood continued: “So hopefully he’s another Antonio because he’s been absolutely fantastic. And that’s the sort of player that West Ham need upfront, to help him out by playing both of them or when Antonio’s not playing, he’s the same type of player that West Ham need running the frontline.”

Dia’s form has rather come out of nowhere this season. Last term, the forward netted only eight times, so he’s already surpassed that tally in 2020/21 by some margin.

Whether West Ham’s initial bid proves successful is doubtful at this stage, with Reims looking for an increased fee of €15m (£13.3m) in order to let him go.

As Harewood alludes to, Dia is a willing runner and has completed as many as 1.3 dribbles per game this season. For context, Antonio has registered 1.6 a match.

This would certainly be an interesting acquisition if West Ham can get a deal done.

AND in other news, Dream Noble heir: Sullivan must seal WHU swoop for £25m box-to-box beast…