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This has been a season rife with injuries for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Unfortunately for the Old Gold, it’s showing no sign of slowing down. Pedro Neto and Jonny are currently long-term absentees, while Raul Jimenez remains out of action while he recovers from a fractured skull.

Fitness concerns have plagued their campaign and, as they prepared to face West Brom last weekend, Nuno Espirito Santo was left to worry about the condition of Nelson Semedo and Joao Moutinho. Although Semedo made the fixture, the latter was still missing through injury.

Moutinho looks ready to face Brighton on Sunday lunchtime but they do have one big concern heading into that clash. Rayan Ait-Nouri was taken off with eight minutes left against the Baggies and he appears to be a doubt to play this weekend.

The Angers loanee is still suffering from a knock and is currently a 50/50 chance to be fit and ready for the visit of the Seagulls.

This news should have Nuno fearful. After all, he is already missing Marcal in that position and is short of options. With Wolves’ defence in disarray during their recent 4-0 defeat to Burnley, the last thing he needs is playing someone out of position.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-wolves-news-and-views-lingard-leao-jimenez-mir” title= “Read the latest Wolves news and views!”]

Nonetheless, the 47-year-old has a lot of thinking to do. Romain Saiss has played at left-back and left-wing back this term, but his form has been questionable in recent weeks. Ki-Jana Hoever is another alternative, but he has only started three top-flight matches all campaign.

Nuno could also turn to Max Kilman. The issue with him, however, is that he has played just nine minutes of football since Valentine’s Day. The 23-year-old’s future at Wolves has been under threat but he was the man to replace Ait-Nouri last time out.

One player’s loss could be another one’s gain here. Should the Frenchman miss the match against Brighton, it may just give Kilman the opportunity to play himself back into Nuno’s thoughts.

Either way, this situation is not ideal for the manager. Wolves have been particularly shoddy from a defensive point of view this season, so they need everyone in that backline fit and healthy.

With Willy Boly suffering the lasting effects of the ongoing pandemic, the manager could have to patch things together again. Nuno has every right to be nervous right now.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Neto: Wolves must swoop for “exciting” 12-goal gem with “dazzling dribbling”…

Jesse Lingard is reportedly ‘open’ to the idea of returning to West Ham in the January transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Hammers hero last season

At beginning of last season, not many Hammers fans would have expected Lingard to be a club hero come the end of the campaign.

That’s precisely what happened, however, with the 28-year-old excelling on loan after joining in January, scoring nine goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

Unfortunately, Lingard returned to Manchester United in the summer but he has been a fringe player under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once again, starting zero top flight games and playing just an hour in total in the competition, despite the fact he has found the net twice in that time.

The Latest: Return on the cards?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones talked up the idea of Lingard making a popular return to the London Stadium, saying the Englishman is keen on it happening:

“He’s becoming open to the idea again. He was hoping things would work out for him at United but it hasn’t.

“He’s barely seen any football in the Premier League so it’s been a bit frustrating for him because he thought he’d get more of a look-in than he’s got. He probably feels he deserves that as well.”

The Verdict: Perfect potential signing

This is a wonderful time to be a West Ham fan, with David Moyes building a superb squad that looks capable of mounting a genuine top-four challenge – that momentous win over previously undefeated Liverpool speaks volumes.

Lingard could be the icing on the cake in January, though, bringing with him end product and experience that could further aid the Hammers – talkSPORT pundit Darren Gough even went so far as to compare one of the England international’s goals in East London to Diego Maradona.

It would also only improve the feel-good factor at the club currently, given how loved Lingard was during his short stint in east London, and is a win for the player too, granting him more opportunities to secure a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

In other news, a journalist has made another West Ham transfer claim. Read more here.

Celtic journalist Kieran Devlin has expressed uncertainty about the return date of centre-back Christopher Jullien. 

The lowdown

The Frenchman hasn’t played for the Hoops since their 3-0 win over Dundee United at the end of December 2020. He was forced off in that game after injuring his knee when colliding with the post (via BBC Sport).

Former Scotland boss Alex McLeish has said it will be a ‘massive’ boost for Celtic whenever Jullien, a treble winner in 2019/20, eventually makes his comeback.

Ange Postecoglou said in late October that the 28-year-old would be back after the November international break, but there’s no sign of him as yet.

The latest

In The Athletic’s matchday discussion surrounding Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Bayer Leverkusen, a supporter asked Devlin if there was ‘any indication when/if’ the defender would be back.

The fan ‘thought by now we would have seen something of Jullien in training’ or in a youth team game.

Devlin replied: “It just keeps being pushed back. Briefed multiple times this season that he’d be back within a few weeks and it just hasn’t happened. Not sure what the new estimated date is.”

The verdict

Celtic initially expected to be without Jullien for a period of four months, but we’re now approaching a full calendar year of him being sidelined.

Devlin’s latest claim is worrying because it suggests that there may have been a setback, with the 28-year-old not able to meet the club’s revised timeline.

They were knocked out of the Europa League this week after a 3-2 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen, with Chris Sutton acknowledging that ‘defensively, Celtic have come up well short in Europe’.

It’s tempting to wonder whether they would have had enough to progress from their group with a fully fit Jullien, who was included in their squad for the competition – a sure sign that the Hoops had banked on him returning to action by now.

In other news, this defender is open to signing for Celtic

Liverpool could find themselves without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita for their Premier League clash with Chelsea on 2 January.

That’s if Egyptian club Al Ahly get their wish for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be moved.

The Mirror’s David Lynch reported that Liverpool are ‘confident’ that the trio will be available for the trip to Stamford Bridge, but the African club’s intervention threatens to throw a ‘spanner in the works’.

Al Ahly are lobbying CAF to move the tournament’s start date from 9 January to 3 January. That would ensure they had their key players available for the start of the Club World Cup on 3 February.

However, from a Liverpool perspective, it would rule out Salah, Mane and Keita for the meeting with title rivals Chelsea, currently just one point behind The Reds in the table.

Just how big a blow would this be for Liverpool?

Salah is Liverpool’s runaway top scorer with 21 goals in all competitions, more than twice the tally of his nearest challenger. Mane is joint-second with nine goals, while Keita is a valuable rotation option, having played seven league games so far this season and netted three goals in all competitions.

Fan feed Anfield Edition relayed Lynch’s report on Al Ahly’s wishes, and here’s what some Reds supporters made of it.

Liverpool fans flock to AFCON update

“If AFCON allow this to happen, then this tournament is meaningless, less significant than Club World Cup. Even FA didn’t want to move their FA Cup preliminary rounds for us when we went to Club World Cup.”

Credit: @lfc_eddie

“Against Chelsea without Salah and Mane? We will be in trouble, that’s for sure. Hopefully before that there will be new players signed. Either Raphinha, Bowen or Antony to replace Salah’s position. For Mane’s position maybe Jota can play there.”

Credit: @Anggara16126514

“Jog on la”

Credit: @_DS_LFC

“Just cancel the AFCON altogether and move it to some other time”

Credit: @reeceoliver17

“Void the AFCON, lives are at stake for God’s sake, remember that saying well when LFC were 25 pts clear in 19-20 PL, just void the AFCON as it’s not even started……..”

Credit: @lfcmli4eva

“Wowwww”

Credit: @vadavandijk

In other news, plenty of LFC fans react to the club’s price tag for this player

According to a report by club insider Claret & Hugh, West Ham United will again send scouts to run the rule over potential Slavia Prague targets as the Czech side enter a Europa League second leg next week, with exciting young attacker Abdallah Sima still on the radar and ‘top of the list’ for GSB.

West Ham eyeing Sima

Sima, who has bagged an impressive 19 goals in all competitions this season, will be scouted by West Ham again as GSB continue to eye Slavia Prague stars.

The 19-year-old has been linked with the Irons before, but Claret & Hugh relayed that Sima is still on the radar and ‘top of the list’ for the Hammers, with his teammates Ondrej Kolar and Jan Kuchta also set to be scouted in their encounter with Rangers.

Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek, both among the team’s best statistical performers this term, have been success stories of previous business done between West Ham and Slavia, and it appears GSB still firmly have their eye on Sima as this news emerges.

Transfer Tavern take

Hugely impressing already at the age of just 19, vocal Slavia chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik has made it well known that the ‘phenomenon’ is being followed by ‘big European clubs’ (Twitter).

Time will tell whether he signs at the London Stadium this summer after David Moyes’ failed attempt to sign a striker in January, but he could be a very promising coup judging by his record this season and apparent potential.

In other news: Some West Ham fans were excited by this ExWHUemployee claim, find out more here.

Queens Park Rangers got back to winning ways with a victory over Millwall at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Mark Warburton’s side quickly found themselves down 2-0 inside the first 40 minutes before a second-half inspired comeback saw the home side clinch all three points to move into the top half of the table.

Plenty of the Hoops faithful were quick to laud the performance of Lyndon Dykes on his return to the starting XI even despite the striker failing to find the net. Many believed the Scotsman was the ‘Man of the Match,’ as seen here.

However, there was another player – also returning to Warburton’s lineup – that deserves just as many plaudits, if not more.

That being, match-winner Jordy de Wijs, who impressed yet again in only his third appearance since joining from Hull City on loan in January.

Indeed, the 26-year-old Dutchman rated out among the Rs’ best performers with a 7.4 rating from SofaScore – only Lee Wallace (7.5) and Stefan Johansen (7.6) managed better.

And aside from bagging the all-important goal four minutes from time, he was still a rock at the back, even despite the visitors finding the net twice.

De Wijs won three of his four aerial duels (75%) and it was that sort of presence that completely thwarted the Lions’ main threat in Mason Bennett, who won just 19% of his aerial duels, as per SofaScore.

The 6 foot 2 centre-back also put in one clearance and one block in the heart of Warburton’s three-man midfield.

His 92 touches were only bettered by one other player on the pitch, defensive partner Yohan Barbet (99) and that only goes to show just how involved he was in the match, pretty much starting most of QPR’s attacks.

A match-high 74 accurate passes would reinforce that too.

West London Sport waxed lyrical about the £1.08m-rated loanee in their post-match ratings column, grading him a seven out of ten – ‘Atoned for that [error] in a huge way by nodding home Ilias Chair’s corner to seal a remarkable comeback and made a crucial block to deny Wallace when the score was 2-0.’

De Wijs stole the show on the night and that’ll please Warburton immensely.

Leeds United are among the Premier League teams interested in signing Alex Scott this summer…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football League World, who claim that the Yorkshire giants are now facing competition from Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur for the 18-year-old’s signature following his impressive breakthrough at Championship outfit Bristol City.

Earlier this month, the Mirror reported that both the Whites and Spurs had scouts in attendance of the Robin’s Good Friday clash with Stoke City, where the promising teenager played the full game at right wing-back.

He is thought to be valued at around £10m.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-marsch-raphinha-dest-philhay” title=”Read the latest Leeds news!”]

The next Jack Grealish?

The versatile talent is capable of playing in a variety of roles, including out wide as a wing-back or winger, though his best position is thought to be as a creative midfielder or no.10.

Born and signed from Guernsey, Scott has emerged as a key player for former Leicester City and Watford boss Nigel Pearson, having made 36 appearances in the second tier.

He has provided four goals and two assists from those matches, with the bulk coming from an attacking midfield position.

Given his sparkling form and capability to play wide and centrally, it’s no wonder the Bristol City gem has already earned plenty of comparisons to Manchester City and England star Jack Grealish, to who he is thought to be very similar to.

‘The Guernsey Grealish’ could be an intriguing option for Whites boss Jesse Marsch and the squad heading into next season and for just £10m, it could be quite the steal indeed.

Scott has more than held his own at Ashton Gate this term, ranking as Pearson’s seventh-best player in the Championship – an average of 1.6 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game suggests he can do some defensive work, just as much as he likes to get forward, having also averaged 0.8 key passes and dribbles per outing too.

“Not only is he a very creative midfielder but he is incredibly hard-working, especially out of possession, and that’s one of his stand-out qualities,” claimed City’s player pathway manager Brian Tinnion to the BBC.

He also added in another interview: “His work rate and his desire to learn has been unbelievable.”

Whether Leeds will make their move for Scott this summer remains to be seen but the prospect of sealing the next Grealish-like talent for such a small figure should be too good to ignore.

AND in other news, Journo reveals where Leeds will look strengthen this summer…

It’s fair to say that since arriving from Real Sociedad in the summer, things haven’t quite gone to plan for Leeds United defender Diego Llorente.

The 27-year-old has been restricted to just one solitary appearance for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, and that came against Chelsea back in early December, with the Whites losing 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Injuries have plagued the Spain international since his arrival at Elland Road, but ahead of Leeds’ FA Cup third round clash against Crawley on Sunday afternoon, Bielsa delivered a hugely exciting update on his summer signing.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Whites boss confirmed that Llorente would be available for the game if necessary.

After such a long time out with injury, Bielsa may not want to take the chance of starting the Spaniard from the off, but he will surely be licking his lips at the prospect of finally being able to see what Llorente can really offer.

Following confirmation of his move from Sociedad, La Liga expert Guillem Balague hailed the centre-back as a “top player” and that he is “quality with his feet”.

He represents everything Bielsa would want in a central defender, quick off the mark and very composed on the ball too. Playing out from the back like the Leeds boss loves his side to do, will become that much easier with Llorente in the mix.

And with Pascal Struijk having to deputise at centre-back alongside Luke Ayling, just having an extra natural option in the middle of defence will be a welcome relief for Bielsa too.

Sunday afternoon might come too soon for Llorente to make the starting line-up, but this injury update could be a real game-changer for the side going forward.

This will be an interesting summer full of plenty of dilemmas for Nuno Santo.

On the one hand, he needs to make this Wolves squad bigger but on the other, they need to invest more smartly than they have done in recent years.

On the chalkboard

Much of Wolves’ business in the upcoming transfer window could be dictated by those already on the scene at Molineux.

Nuno has decisions to make over the likes of Willian Jose, Vitinha and Rayan Ait-Nouri. They are all currently on loan but there are options to lure them to Molineux on a permanent basis.

It feels like Jose will pack his bags and never return but the Portuguese duo are more interesting cases.

Judging by his recent performances, Wolves would be foolish not to welcome Ait-Nouri back.

The young Frenchman has played plenty of football with Marcal and Jonny on the sidelines and has made a big impression. One of his best performances in an Old Gold shirt came against Brighton last weekend.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-wolves-transfer-rumours-and-news-soumare-dias-dembele-marques-nuno-santo” title=”Read the latest Wolves transfer rumours and news!”]

He was a rampant source of energy and creativity down the left-hand side, providing the assist for Morgan Gibbs-White’s winning goal.

Ait-Nouri completed three dibbles and produced three key passes for his teammates. It was a complete performance that will have Nuno surely thinking of a permanent switch.

What about Vinagre?

Wolves currently have a plethora of left-backs on their books and if Wolves have been left impressed by their teenage loanee, they can wave goodbye to Ruben Vinagre.

The young wing-back has caught the eye on the odd occasion at Wolves without ever truly lifting off. His game time in recent seasons has been hampered by Jonny’s immense consistency and thus, Vinagre has still only ever started 14 Premier League outings.

Having been shipped out on loan this term, it was clear Nuno wasn’t overly impressed with his abilities.

Speaking about his move to Olympiacos last year, journalist Tim Spiers said: “I’d first heard six weeks ago, maybe not that long, that Vinagre was sort of on the ‘endangered species’ list and then I think Marcal’s injury put that on the back-burner.

“If he was going to be out for a few weeks, that might have changed things, but Vinagre came in and was uninspiring and West Ham was probably the final straw, really.”

With Ait-Nouri coming in too, it feels like there could be no way back for the 22-year-old.

He is currently on loan at Famalicao in Portugal but given his age, he should really be making a bigger impression now.

As a teenager, he looked like he had an incredibly high ceiling. Though, that appears to be caving in as the years tick by.

Ait-Nouri, however, has been a relentless ball of energy. To sum things up, the Frenchman has already started as many top-flight games in English football as Vinagre despite being two years his junior.

It would be harsh to axe him from their plans for good but with so many players now ahead of him in the pecking order, it feels like the promising Portuguese won’t ever make it Compton.

Wolves should do their best to sell the £30k-per-week defender and invest in Ait-Nouri instead.

AND in other news, Wolves dealt huge blow after big Molineux news emerges, Nuno surely fuming…

According to a report by reliable West Ham United insider ExWHUemployee, via West Ham Fan Zone, manager David Moyes will look to sign a centre-back, left-back and central midfielder after he has acquired a striker this summer – prompting these Irons to become ecstatic in response.

West Ham failed to sign a striker in the January transfer window as a replacement for the departed club record signing Sebastien Haller, with Moyes only having time to bring in Jesse Lingard on loan.

Therefore, one of the Hammers’ top priorities for this upcoming transfer window is a new forward to bolster Moyes’ frontline – but, according to ExWHUemployee, the Scotsman won’t stop there.

Indeed, Ex claims that the West Ham manager will look to strengthen at centre-half, the left-back position and central midfield as well as going forward – with these supporters ecstatic in response to this alleged transfer plan.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-rumours-and-gossip-two-electric-boogaloo-copy/” title=”West Ham updates” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Find a flavour of their best verdicts from social media down below.

West Ham fans ecstatic over Moyes transfer plan

“Ah this is just class. Love you Moyesy”

Credit: @TalkinWestHam

“Solid plan”

Credit: @Theaver78395742

“Love you Moyesy”

Credit: @TWHU77

“Said this last week to my mates, that’s exactly what we need, a centre back with some pace, a left back as cress isn’t getting any younger and Arthur isn’t the best defender, and a back up midfielder as this was proven, think we also need another keeper”

Credit: @JJ_Hannaway

“Yes to all”

Credit: @Johnath03607801

“Love that. We need a CB as I don’t think Dawson and Diop are good enough, Cresswell needs competition because Masuaku is always injured and we need a midfielder so Rice and Soucek won’t have to play early the early European and cup games”

Credit: @DanielLuker_

In other news: West Ham fans erupt over Lingard news, find out more here.