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Leeds United have instigated discussions to sign highly-rated West Hm United youngster Sonny Perkins, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

The lowdown: Rising talent

Signed by West Ham from the Leyton Orient academy system in 2019, Perkins has shone for the youth sides in London, scoring 19 goals and providing five assists in 53 outings.

That impressive form earned the young centre-forward first-team recognition under David Moyes last term, initially featuring in two Europa League contests before being handed a Premier League bow in Leeds’ 3-2 victory at The London Stadium in January.

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Now, having failed to reach an agreement over a new deal in East London, the Whites could be about to swoop in…

The latest: Romano makes claim

Taking to Twitter, renowned transfer specialist Romano has claimed Leeds and Aston Villa have opened up a dialogue with the ‘promising’ 18-year-old.

He said: “Leeds and Aston Villa have opened talks to sign promising forward Sonny Perkins. Perkins has made 3 appearances for West Ham. Both clubs want to sign him.”

Elsewhere, a report from The Guardian has said that Tottenham are also interested in the England youth international.

The verdict: Budding prospects

Although the senior development of the likes of Sam Greenwood, Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Cresswell was somewhat fast-tracked last season due to an overwhelming amount of injuries decimating the Elland Road ranks, all three prodigious young talents shone in their own right.

Two years older than Perkins, Gelhardt and the Hammers starlet have enjoyed similar paths until now with the Liverpool-born Leeds ace scoring three times in six England Under 18 outings, whilst the current West Ham man has two strikes in six appearances at the same level.

Last season, the teenager scored 12 times and provided one assist in 21 Premier League 2 displays, highlighting a readiness to take a potentially seamless next step in a promising career.

Seemingly not afraid to give youth a chance, adding Perkins – who was described as an ‘exciting player’ by Premier League stalwart Mark Noble – to Jesse Marsch’s options would make an abundance of sense, especially for what is likely to be a relatively low financial outlay.

In other news: Leeds now want to sign ‘outstanding’ La Liga gem, read more here

A big update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Kristjan Asllani heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

TV Dello Sport reporter Alfredo Pedulla has claimed that the Magpies have made an enquiry to Empoli in an attempt to snap the midfielder up.

The player would prefer to remain in the Serie A and Milan are said to be waiting in the wings and this leaves the Toon with plenty of work to do to get a deal over the line.

Pedulla Tweeted: “Asllani would like to stay in Italia, but Newcastle asked for a meeting. Milanese waiting.”

Eddie Howe will be excited

The Newcastle head coach will be excited by this update as Asllani would be an excellent prospect to add to the group next season.

He is not a big-name player who will come in and be expected to perform week-in-week-out, but he can be a useful squad member in the short term to develop into a key performer.

Asllani is a promising young player who has shown that he has the potential to be a big player in the future. At the age of 20, he has already racked up 23 Serie A appearances for Empoli and averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.76, starting 14 games.

The Albanian midfielder ended the campaign with one goal and one assist to his name, creating two ‘big chances’ as he showed flashes of creativity. He also proved that he is reliable in possession as he completed 93% of his passes in his own half and 84% overall.

Off the ball, he held his own as he won 53% of his individual duels and made 1.6 tackles and interceptions per game in the Serie A. Whilst these are not outstanding statistics, Asllani has given himself a solid base to work on moving forward after his first professional season.

Given his age, he enjoyed an impressive debut campaign and that is why he can be an exciting addition to Newcastle’s squad as he is a player with the potential to get better.

He can be a rotation option initially and learn from the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton whilst adapting to the Premier League.

Howe will surely be excited to work with him on the training pitch to help him fulfil his potential and that is why he will be buzzing with the club’s efforts to bring the youngster to Tyneside.

AND in other news, Howe can axe £25m NUFC flop by signing “frightening” £94m predator who’s “the future”…

Everton are set to have a busy summer transfer window following a disappointing season in the Premier League, and now a new transfer target has emerged that could be the first signing to improve the squad.

What’s the latest?

According to Spanish news outlet SPORT, Everton are eyeing a move for Barcelona outcast Clement Lenglet this summer.

As per the report, the La Liga defender was not keen on an exit but has now accepted he is not in the current future plans of the club and is looking for a loan deal with an option to buy.

It is reported that Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Arsenal join Everton in keeping an eye on the player’s situation but no official moves have been made by any of the Premier League clubs as of yet.

Lampard needs him

There is no doubt that improvements are needed at Goodison Park and when you consider their defensive record in the Premier League last season, it is clear that Frank Lampard needs to acquire a player like Lenglet.

Everton faced a challenging relegation battle this season and only secured safety in their penultimate fixture in the league, which is a situation the Toffees won’t want to repeat again, so improving the defensive line is a huge must for the club when they’re identifying players to improve the squad.

Lampard’s side conceded the fifth-highest number of goals in the Premier League, and Jamie Carragher even branded the defence a “Championship back four” following their humiliating defeat to Spurs.

Lenglet who was hailed “world-class” by Didier Deschamps has been struggling for minutes at Barcelona but when he has played he has been efficient in his role as centre-back.

The £97k-per-week star has contributed one assist, created two big chances, made one tackle, completed two duels and offered up a 91% pass accuracy on average per game in his 21 La Liga appearances this season.

With that being said, making signings to improve the defence should be a huge priority for Farhad Moshiri this summer and if they can secure a deal for Lenglet it would be a major coup for the club over their competitors.

AND in other news: Everton can finally axe “waste of space” by signing £50m ace who is “Kante with goals”

West Ham United could be preparing for life without midfielder Tomas Soucek, according to reports.

What’s the word?

As per ExWHUemployee, the Hammers are said to be willing to part ways with the Czech international should the right offer emerge, with talks regarding a new contract for the 27-year-old said to have hit a roadblock.

Writing on Twitter, the club insider quashed suggestion of a ‘falling out’ with manager David Moyes, although admitted the 6 foot 4 giant could be allowed to leave: “Contract talks have not progressed. Not a falling out as such but apparently prepared to listen to offers.”

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This corroborates with a report from Claret and Hugh which also suggests that the former Slavia Prague man could be allowed to leave if a suitable offer comes in, with Moyes said to believe that Soucek has been a ‘shadow’ of the player he was a year ago.

Supporters livid

That shock revelation will likely not go down well with the club’s supporters, with the £40.5m-rated gem having proven a hugely popular figure since his arrival at the club on an initial loan deal in January 2020.

After signing permanently on a £15m deal a few months later, the 48-cap colossus went on to enjoy a stellar first full campaign in the Premier League, netting ten times as the Irons secured Europa League qualification.

While he netted half that amount in the most recent season, it would seem his performances have not drastically reduced, having averaged 1.5 interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 2.8 clearances per game in his 35 outings, compared with 1.6 interceptions, 2.1 tackles and 2.7 clearances from the year prior.

In comparison to fellow midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, the £47k-per-week powerhouse also continues to impress, ranking in the top 1% for clearances and in the top 2% for blocks, while also showcasing his threat in the final third as he ranks in the top 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area.

A player capable of impacting the game in both boxes, it would seemingly be a total error were Moyes and GSB to cash in this summer, particularly with club captain Mark Noble calling time on his playing career.

That would simply leave a shortage of central midfield options to partner talisman Declan Rice – who himself has been linked with a departure – potentially threatening the club’s ability to compete in and around the top-six.

Moyes may well have proved himself an astute market operator in his second spell at the helm, although he’d be making a colossal blunder were he to let Soucek depart, while also risking the wrath of the club’s fanbase.

IN other news, “Another target…”: Ex drops big WHU summer transfer claim that supporters will love

Liverpool will listen to offers for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during the summer transfer window, reliable journalist Paul Joyce has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Ox’s disappointing season

The Reds may have had a season to remember, with a treble still possible, but one player who has struggled to make any kind of impact is Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The 28-year-old hasn’t played a single minute of action since the FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest back in March, also making just nine Premier League starts all season.

Oxlade-Chamberlain appears to be surplus to requirements under Jurgen Klopp, with a summer exit in the offing.

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The Latest: Joyce makes key claim

Writing for The Times, Joyce claimed that Liverpool are happy for the midfielder to move on at the end of the season, having fallen completely out of favour:

“Liverpool will listen to offers for the 28-year-old, who has one year remaining on his contract.”

The Verdict: Perfect time to move on

It makes complete sense for everyone concerned for Oxlade-Chamberlain to depart Liverpool this summer, allowing the Reds to receive a fee and the player to become a regular elsewhere.

His current deal expires in 2023, so this is their last chance to get significant money for the former Arsenal man before losing him on a free next year.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s Liverpool career has certainly fizzled out in recent times but he should still be remembered as a solid signing who has played a part in the Reds’ great success under Klopp, with the manager himself describing his player as ‘spectacular’.

In other news, one Liverpool player is expected to sign a new deal. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe will already have one eye on the summer transfer window with one Premier League game left in the campaign.

PIF have shown that they are willing to dip into their pockets to strengthen his squad as they brought in Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett, Dan Burn, Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier.

They may now look to invest again to take the club to the next level and they already have targets in mind if reports are to be believed.

One player the Magpies have been linked with a swoop for is Bologna left-back Aaron Hickey, with Brentford, Napoli, and Arsenal also eyeing up the gem – who Fabrizio Romano claimed is valued at up to £20m.

The club are reportedly wanting to sign Targett on a permanent deal and already have Trippier at right-back and this may cause fans to wonder why there is an interest in the Serie A gem.

Imagine him & Bruno

Well… that is because his future may not be at left-back. Scottish coach Austin MacPhee once compared the defender to a Barcelona defensive midfielder, saying: “He’s so young he could play a lot of positions. He could end up being like Busquets.

“Right now he reminds me of Jonny Evans, who I’ve seen in training with Northern Ireland. It’s the way he defends, moves and always wants the ball as a defender.”

Former Hearts boss Daniel Stendel dubbed him an “extraordinary talent” and backed up MacPhee’s claim as he said:

“Aaron as a player is like Philipp Lahm. For me at Hearts, he played as a full-back. He not only runs up and down the line, but looks for attacking moves like Lahm once did. And Aaron can also play in the central midfield.”

These quotes suggest that he is a player Howe can develop into being a dream midfield partner for Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle.

The Scot’s statistics for Bologna in the Serie A at the age of 19 indicate that he has the potential to make it at the top level and two of his coaches have backed him to transition into midfield. In the Italian top-flight this term, he has averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.85 – making 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game.

He can provide a defensive, assured, presence at the base of the midfield and provide Guimaraes with a platform to break forward and work his magic in the final third. The Brazilian has registered five goals and one assist in ten starts for the Magpies in the Premier League and this shows that he has the quality to have a big impact in attack.

Therefore, they can work well as a pairing as Hickey sits deeper and protects the back four whilst the ex-Lyon man joins in with attacks and attempts to be a match-winner. This is why PIF must now seal this deal in the coming weeks or months.

AND in other news, Howe can get SJP rocking with NUFC swoop for £21m predator with the “scoring nose”…

Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah will miss the Reds’ Premier League clash against Southampton tonight, reliable journalist Paul Joyce has claimed.

The Lowdown: Must-win game for Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s side make the trip to St Mary’s in the knowledge that defeat will officially spell the end of their title hopes.

Liverpool are four points behind Manchester City with a game in hand, so victory against Saints will take the title race to the final day of an incredible season. A draw would mathematically keep the race alive, but the Reds would then need to beat Wolves and hope City lose to Aston Villa with a seven-goal swing, which seems massively unlikely.

Both Van Dijk and Salah went off injured in Saturday’s FA Cup final triumph over Chelsea, and they have been big doubts leading up to tonight’s match.

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The Latest: Van Dijk and Salah to miss out

According to Joyce, who was reporting for The Times, the two Liverpool superstars will both miss out at St Mary’s, coming as an undoubted blow to the Reds’ hopes of getting a positive result.

The report states that Liverpool are looking to ‘protect their fitness’ ahead of the Champions League final clash with Real Madrid on May 28th, which at least suggests that the injuries to Salah and Van Dijk aren’t serious.

The Verdict: Huge task for Klopp’s men

It makes perfect sense for Klopp not to risk Van Dijk and Salah tonight, even though there must be a part of him tempted to throw them back in, given that there is still slight yet plausible hope of regaining the Premier League title.

It simply isn’t worth potentially losing them for Champions League final in Paris, though. If Liverpool drop points away to the Saints, it will just have to be one of those that the Reds accept and then move on.

The Premier League has always felt like the free hit out of the four competitions in recent weeks, given City’s lead, and it is now a case of battling through one more away game by any means necessary.

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a move for a Premier League attacker. Find out who it is here.

Celtic have the chance to end to their season with one last victory this afternoon as they welcome Motherwell to Parkhead for their last Premiership match of the campaign.

The Hoops clinched the league title after their 1-1 draw against Dundee United in midweek but will still want to bow out with a win in front of their home crowd this time around.

With that in mind, here’s how we feel Ange Postecoglou could line his side up for their final game of the campaign.

In goal, having kept 19 clean sheets in 34 league appearances this term, it seems likely that Joe Hart will start once again to see if he can add another shutout to his tally.

For the back four, we predict that Postecoglou will stick with the same quadruple which started in midweek, with Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers as the two centre-backs, leaving Greg Taylor on the left and Anthony Ralston on the right.

Moving on to midfield, it seems a certainty that club captain Callum McGregor will lead his side out one more time this season.

Elsewhere throughout the tam, we think that the 56-year-old Hoops boss will make five changes in total from Wednesday night.

For the two remaining midfield places, we predict that David Turnbull will replace Matt O’Riley to see if the Scotsman can add to the five goals and five assists that he has delivered this season in the league.

Praised in the past by Alan Hutton for his “phenomenal” performances, Turnbull certainly has what it takes to secure a win for his side with his knack for scoring and creating goals.

For the final midfield position, after the club recently announced that Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton will be leaving Glasgow after today’s match, we can see Postecoglou giving the Australian his final start for the club.

This would lead to Reo Hatate coming out of the side. Having been slammed in the past for a “nasty” tackle that he committed earlier in the season by former referee Steve Conroy, the Japanese midfielder could be used as a substitute on this occasion or just given an early rest.

In attack, we think that the Celtic boss will make even more changes and completely swap out the three who started on Wednesday.

Therefore, we predict that Jota and Daizen Maeda will start on the wings on either side of Kyogo Furuhashi through the middle.

In other news: Postecoglou must axe wasteful £14.5k-p/w Celtic ace, he’s holding the team back

Journalist James Hunter has shared an update on the fitness of Sunderland striker Nathan Broadhead ahead of their upcoming League One play-off tie against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday.

The Lowdown: Injury concerns

The 24-year-old limped out of the Black Cats’ final game of the season against Morecambe last weekend after scoring the only goal of the game, which helped his side secure a top-six finish.

The forward has already missed a significant chunk of the campaign after suffering from a long-term hamstring issue, and his latest problem immediately sparked fears that he could miss out on the two vital legs versus the Owls.

The Latest: Neil’s comments

As quoted by Hunter via a post on Twitter, Alex Neil was ‘cagey’ in his pre-match press conference when asked if Broadhead would be involved in the tie against Darren Moore’s outfit.

He said: “We’ll make a late call on him.”

The Verdict: Star in the making

Sunderland fans will be hoping that their star loanee is declared fit for the Owls contest after being in some seriously impressive form this season, having scored 13 goals in just 25 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The £450k-rated ace, who is currently on loan at the Stadium of Light from Premier League side Everton, was described as a “fantastic” player by his former manager Lee Johnson during his time at the club.

Broadhead clearly has plenty of his prime years ahead of him and you would imagine that the League One club will want to retain his services beyond this season, but for now, their main priority and focus will be doing everything they can to take that one step closer to clinching promotion to the Championship next term.

Tottenham Hotspur correspondent and reliable source Alasdair Gold has shared a promising update on the club’s links to former hero Christian Eriksen.

The Lowdown: Lilywhites eye reunion?

Spurs are believed to be one of many clubs considering a Bosman move for the Denmark international, who has been shining across London with Brentford.

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The 30-year-old, after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch during last year’s Euro 2020, throwing his playing career into doubt, has since took to the grass again under Thomas Frank and made a real contribution.

Eriksen has been one of the Premier League fairy-tale stories of 2022 with Gold now sharing an update on Tottenham’s links to re-signing their ex-playmaker star.

The Latest: Gold drops promising update…

Speaking in a football.london Q&A, the journalist claims that Eriksen could now be open to joining Spurs this summer.

He explained: “As a free agent he’ll have plenty of interest this summer. I’m told that while he didn’t depart Spurs on the best of terms with the Tottenham hierarchy, he still loves the club and his preference is believed to be to remain in London.

“It’s whether the Dane feels that he should show some loyalty to Brentford for bringing him back into the game or whether the pull of playing for Conte again and Tottenham, where he would be a good fit back in the Italian’s 3-5-2, is more enticing.”

The Verdict: Ideal for Conte?

Lilywhites manager Antonio Conte allegedly has eye on as many as six major summer signings, including two midfielders (The Telegraph), so transfer chief Fabio Paratici may well need to turn to the Bosman market.

Signing Eriksen on a free deal would be an astute move, not just for the romantic aspect of his return, but also because he is a proven Premier League creator.

Having shined at Spurs for years before leaving for Inter Milan in 2020, he has picked up right where he left off in England with Brentford, with teammate Pontus Jansson even calling him a ‘superstar’.

He could well be the ideal signing for Conte and some supporters may be hoping that Eriksen is indeed tempted to return.

In other news: Tottenham ready to make major bid for ‘world-beater’ who told friends he was keen to join! Find out more here.