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West Ham United journalist Roshane Thomas of The Athletic has shared a ‘dressing room’ belief involving defender Aaron Creswell after his sending off against Frankfurt.

The Lowdown: Irons bow out…

The Premier League side have been knocked out of Europe following their sensational run to the Europa League semi-finals, putting an end to their dream of clinching an unprecedented Europa League title.

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David Moyes’ side made West Ham supporters believe they could do the previously unthought of after impressively knocking out the likes of Sevilla and Lyon before facing off against Frankfurt over two legs.

The Bundesliga side eventually beat Moyes’ men 3-1 on aggregate with Rafael Borre sealing their place against Rangers in the final on Thursday – scoring the only goal of West Ham’s second leg tie away in Germany.

Cresswell’s early red card for a professional foul, his second in less than a month, played a major role in the complexion of the game with Thomas sharing his ‘dressing room’ belief.

The Latest: Thomas makes Cresswell claim…

The reporter, taking to Twitter, says West Ham’s left-back will have been ‘hurting in the dressing room’ and it is ‘concerning’ that Cresswell has been dismissed twice in a ‘matter of weeks’.

He explained:

“Cresswell will be hurting in the dressing room, but you can’t defend like that when you’re the last man. All the more concerning it’s happened twice in a matter of weeks.”

The Verdict: Big error…

The 32-year-old certainly didn’t cover himself in glory against Frankfurt and West Ham will be hurting, just like the player, after just missing out on a blockbuster final bout against Scottish giants Rangers.

However, Moyes and his squad can take pride in the fact they got that far and allowed Irons supporters to imagine the previously unthinkable.

Just two years ago, the east Londoners were in real danger of relegation from the English top flight and it is quite simply astonishing what West Ham have achieved since then with minimal investment off the field.

In other news: ‘Something special’ – Journalist says ‘massive player’ could be open to joining West Ham, find out more here.

Frank Lampard has endured a horrific start to his Everton tenure so far, losing nine out of his 16 matches and winning only six times as his side have slipped further down the table, even occupying a place in the bottom three.

Relegation is a genuine possibility and, unless there are some heroic performances over the next couple of weeks, then the Toffees could well drop out of the Premier League for the first time.

A 1-0 victory over Chelsea last weekend could well be the start of a daring escape from the drop, and with a trip to Leicester to come on Sunday, there may be a glimmer of hope for Everton.

Lampard also confirmed some good news during his pre-match press conference.

Speaking about the availability of players for the visit to the King Power Stadium, the 43-year-old said: “No changes for us.

“We had a pretty good week with recovery for the lads, a couple of little niggles but hopefully we will be the same as we were (for Chelsea).”

Lampard & Everton fans will be happy

This will be music to Everton supporters’ ears, as they need all the positives they can get at the moment, and any further injuries could derail the much-needed momentum from triumphing against Chelsea.

The Toffees have been hit with a string of injuries throughout the campaign, with the likes of Tom Davies, Yerry Mina and Andros Townsend all hit with various spells out of the team and continuing to be sidelined.

This hasn’t helped matters but it cannot be used as an excuse for for a season which started off with so much hope but has sunk into a chaotic mess, and mere Premier League survival will not satisfy the fan base, who surely deserve better than a last-ditch scrap for their top-flight lives.

Everton face five cup finals between tomorrow and 22 May and they simply need to focus on one match at a time, starting with the trip to the King Power Stadium. At least Lampard’s revelation of no further injuries will offer a boost for him and the supporters ahead of the Leicester clash.

AND in other news, Everton given green light to sign “undefendable” £50m gem, it’s bye-bye Richarlison

Wolves transfer target Joao Palhinha is reportedly at the top of the list of players that current employers Sporting Lisbon are happy to sell this summer.

What’s the story?

That’s according to Correio da Manha, via Sport Witness, who claim that the Portuguese giants will need to raise funds by selling assets this summer.

Moreover, the report states that it ‘seems impossible’ that Sporting could now demand €40m (£33.5m) for the midfielder’s signature after a dip in form, meaning that Wolves could sign the 26-year-old for a cut-price fee.

Their next Neves?

After seeing a major downturn in his side’s form of late that could well cost Wolves a place in Europe next season, Bruno Lage will undoubtedly be keen to add high-quality recruits this summer with Palhinha certainly high up on that list.

Furthermore, it does appear as though midfielder Ruben Neves will be allowed to depart Molineux this summer after five years of loyal service if a suitable offer was to be received, with Arsenal and Manchester United reportedly interested.

Therefore hiring new recruits in the middle of the park is absolutely vital, particularly if Joao Moutinho is also to seek a new challenge upon the expiry of his contract next month.

With 24 league appearances this term as well as six in the Champions League, Palhinha is a vital cog in the Sporting midfield and certainly fits the requirements of what Wolves will seek.

Labelled as “special” by Sporting manager Ruben Amorim, the 26-year-old has averaged a 7.13/10 rating in the Portuguese top-flight this term, better than Moutinho’s 7.03 in the Premier League and slightly below Neves’ 7.17, certainly making him a worthy replacement if either are to depart.

Like his 35-year-old countryman, the Sporting midfielder averages an 87% passing accuracy with Neves’ slightly lower at 84%.

However, as expected with the intensity of the Premier League, both Moutinho and Neves average a higher amount of touches per match with 69.6 and 72.5 respectively compared to Palhinha’s 53.9.

With the high amount of Portuguese talent Wolves have signed over the past five years, making a move for Palhinha makes perfect sense, especially when replacing a fellow countryman of the 26-year-old.

Therefore, to receive a golden chance to sign the midfielder is a major boost for Wolves and it must be taken if they are to replace Neves sufficiently if the 25-year-old leaves Molineux this summer.

AND in other news: Lost the ball every 2.6 touches: “Inconsistent” Wolves passenger failed Lage yesterday

Aston Villa correspondent Ashley Preece has dropped a major update on Philippe Coutinho’s Villa Park future.

The Lowdown: Coutinho’s loan spell

Coutinho was Steven Gerrard’s first signing as Villa boss back in January, with the playmaker penning a loan deal until the end of the season from Barcelona.

Villa managed to negotiate an option to make a move permanent in the summer, which is thought to be in the region of £33.4m.

The 29-year-old has made 13 appearances in a Villa shirt, contributing to seven goals while playing on both wings and as an attacking midfielder.

The Latest: Preece’s reveal

Preece dropped a Birmingham Live Q&A in a story on Thursday morning, discussing a variety of Villa topics.

One of those was on Coutinho, with a fan asking Preece how likely a permanent deal was. This is what he had to say in reply, sharing a positive update.

“Coutinho deal is, I’m told, likely to go through. Just a case of dotting Is and crossing Ts.”

The Verdict: A relief

Coutinho has impressed since making the move to the Midlands, which has resulted in interest from the likes of Newcastle United, Tottenham Arsenal and West Ham.

Villa may have been slightly worried over a permanent move despite having an option to buy at the end of the season due to the growing interest.

Therefore, Preece’s update is a relief heading into Gerrard’s first full season, and the Villa boss will more than likely be delighted, as he confirmed he wanted to make a move permanent last month.

In other news: Gerrard now happy for ace to leave Villa Park; he’s ‘central to a lot of the problems’. 

Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United has finally shown glimpses of lift off over the last couple of weeks, with the first-team squad now adapting to the demands of his 3-4-2-1 system.

Ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, his future at Old Trafford was massively up in the air, especially after only being able to register a 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

However, he maintained the backing of the board, with such a decision now proving to be the right one, especially if their recent run of form is anything to go by.

The Red Devils remain unbeaten in each of their last five outings, winning three in a row in the process, leading to the 40-year-old claiming the division’s Manager of the Month award.

However, one player who joined the club during the off-season has somewhat struggled to make the desired impact in recent weeks, leading to question marks around his future.

What former Man Utd players have made of Sesko’s start at the club

Benjamin Sesko joined United in a £74m transfer from RB Leipzig, with the fanbase having real expectations on the centre-forward to change their fortunes in the final third.

The Slovenian has already featured in 11 league outings to date, but has only managed to find the net twice, failing to score in any of the last four matches in the Premier League.

Given his lack of goals, questions have been asked about the 22-year-old’s role at Old Trafford, with many former players voicing their concern over his struggles in England.

Former right-back and now pundit, Gary Neville, spoke about Sesko early this month and gave an honest review on the youngster’s start to life at the club.

The 50-year-old stated: “The jury is out. He’s well off it compared to the other summer signings Manchester United made up front, like Cunha and Mbeumo.

“He looks awkward. He had a couple of good opportunities against Forest, but his touch wasn’t quite right. For £80 million, you can say he’s young and settling in, but you still want to see a bit more.”

He wasn’t the only former Red Devils first-team member to speak out on the striker’s lack of form at present, with Peter Schmeichel also questioning the big-money transfer.

The former goalkeeper said: “You spend £70 million-plus on Sesko, when we don’t have the number six we should have, and there’s the goalkeeping position as well.

“Why did we bring someone in that we didn’t need? Because the head of recruitment [Christopher Vivell] comes from Leipzig and he’s got to make a mark.”

However, Wes Brown has jumped to Sesko’s defence in the last couple of weeks, with the Englishman offering a more open-minded view on his early months in Manchester.

He claimed that: “The quality in wide areas is very good now, so this season can be a positive one for Manchester United. I think Sesko has all the attributes to score plenty of goals for Manchester United. He is mobile, good in the air and with his feet, so it all bodes really well for the club.”

If he is to reach the heights many anticipated earlier this summer, he will definitely need time to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, with Amorim needing to show patience in the talisman.

The United star who’s becoming INEOS’ worst signing

Despite Sesko needing time to prove his worth at United, the same can’t be said about numerous other talents who were brought to the club by INEOS in recent years.

Manuel Ugarte was signed for a reported £50m from PSG last summer, but his move to Old Trafford has fallen way below the expectations many had upon his arrival.

The Uruguayan was seen as the perfect ball-winning option at the heart of the side, but he’s struggled to cement his place in the starting eleven under Amorim.

It’s evident that the manager currently doesn’t trust the 24-year-old at present, with the boss currently selecting 33-year-old Casemiro ahead of him in the pecking order.

Given his tally of just two starts in the league throughout 2025/26, it would be a surprise to no one if he was sold in January, with the club needing to recoup as much of their investment as possible.

However, he might not be alone in that aspect, with forward Joshua Zirkzee another player who has struggled with the expectations after his own move 18 months ago.

INEOS forked out a reported £36m for his signature last summer, but the Dutchman has massively struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old featured in 49 matches across all competitions last season, but was only able to register a measly tally of seven goals – an average of one goal every seven games.

This season has been a new low for the Dutchman, with the attacker only making four appearances in the league under Amorim – none of which have been from a starting position.

During those outings, he’s only featured for a combined total of 82 minutes, with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha ahead of him in the pecking order.

His struggles may be down to his own confusion, with Zirkzee even stating that he sees himself as a 9.5, often liking to drop deeper and affect the player – with the manager’s system just not suiting his playstyle.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

72%

Shots taken

1.8

Chances created

0.8

Dribble success

38%

Aerials won

29%

Times dispossessed

2.8

His performances have unfortunately fallen way below what many expected last summer, leading to one analyst dubbing him as “terrible” after being hooked before half time against Newcastle United.

Given his lack of impact, there’s no denying that his move to Old Trafford has been a failure, with the board desperately needing to offload him in the upcoming window.

Whilst Sesko has had his own doubters in recent months, Zirkzee is on another level in terms of failures at the club – potentially going down as one of their worst dealings in the last couple of years.

Their own Anderson: Man Utd to make £53m bid to sign "world-class" CM

Manchester United are set to make a January move for another top-level central midfielder.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 13, 2025

In a fresh battle between Premier League clubs, Arsenal have now reportedly intensified their interest in signing a teenage sensation ahead of the likes of Liverpool.

Arteta: Arsenal need to "respect" Saka's recovery

Arsenal couldn’t have entered the international break in more frustrating fashion, but they’ve come out the other side in fine fettle. Having suffered late defeat at Anfield and lost both Bukayo Saka and William Saliba to injury, the Gunners bounced back after the break with a convincing and near flawless win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Losing Saka was a particular blow however, and one that the Gunners will still need to deal with moving forwards, relying on the likes of Noni Madueke to continue to shine. Mikel Arteta provided an update on the fitness of his star man before Forest, stating that Arsenal must “respect” the recovery process and not rush Saka back before he is ready.

The Spaniard also provided an update on Kai Havertz, who suffered an injury blow in the early stages of the season: “He’s looking really good, he’s walking freely.

“He’s starting to load the knee and to do some bits. As I said before, I think we’re taking it from weeks to months. But knowing Kai, I cannot give you any time scale because I know what he’s going to try to do, same with Gabi Jesus. So I think he’s in a good moment.”

It’s these types of injury concerns that Arsenal have been building for, however, and the transfer market remains the key to a lot of their success. Get things right in that department and they may yet end their wait for another league title.

To that end, those in North London are already thinking about the future. According to reports, they’ve even gone as far as intensifying their interest in signing a teenage sensation.

Arsenal intensify interest in Mokio

As reported by TeamTalk, Arsenal have now intensified their interest in signing Jorthy Mokio from Ajax. The Gunners are joined in the race to sign the 17-year-old talent by Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, but will be looking to deal their rivals a transfer blow by securing his signature at the first opportunity.

The third-youngest goalscorer in Ajax history, there’s no denying that Mokio is one to watch. The teenage midfielder, who can also play centre-back, was dubbed “special” by scout Jacek Kulig in February and it’s hard to argue with that statement.

Not Gyokeres: £60m Arsenal man could be a better signing than Wirtz & Isak

After Liverpool spent big on Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, an “Intelligent” Arsenal signing could prove to be the Premier League’s best recruit.

ByBen Gray Sep 12, 2025

It would be a major coup if Arsenal managed to lure the Belgian to The Emirates in the near future.

It is fair to say that Celtic need to improve their options at the top end of the pitch before the summer transfer window officially comes to a close this evening.

The Hoops have failed to score a goal in three of their last four matches in all competitions, including in both legs of their Champions League play-off loss to Kairat on penalties.

TEAMtalk reports that Celtic are closing in on a deal to sign Anderlecht centre-forward Kasper Dolberg in an attempt to improve the options at Brendan Rodgers’ disposal in the final third.

Celtic confident of deal for winger

The Denmark international may not be the only attacking addition to come through the door before the end of the summer transfer window tonight, though.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to TEAMtalk’s report, Celtic are confident that they will win the race to seal a deadline day deal for Crystal Palace forward Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

The outlet claims that the Scottish Premiership giants are in a battle with Rangers and Leicester City to sign the left-footed star on loan for the season.

It adds that Celtic feel they are well-positioned to win the race because of the regular first-team football and European matches that they can offer the 22-year-old starlet, who has been described as “devastating” by U23 scout Antonio Mango.

What Rak-Sakyi would bring to Celtic

The English winger would provide a real goal threat from the right flank to finally replace what they lost when Nicolas Kuhn completed a move to Como earlier this summer.

Celtic have struggled for goals in the early parts of the season and the signings of Dolberg and Rak-Sakyi, if they can get them over the line, would go a long way to solving their issues in that department.

Rak-Sakyi spent last season on loan at Sheffield United in the Championship, and previously impressed on loan at Charlton in League One in England.

Appearances

43

34

Starts

40

22

Goals

15

7

Minutes per goal

233

248

Big chances created

5

3

Key passes per game

1.3

0.9

Assists

8

2

As you can see in the table above, the Palace youngster has scored 22 goals in his last 62 league starts in the Championship and League One combined, which shows that he can provide a regular source of goals when picked week-in-week-out.

Dolberg, meanwhile, has scored three goals in six matches this season and plundered 19 goals in 40 games in the 2024/25 campaign for Anderlecht, per Sofascore, as the main number nine for the Belgian side, showing that he is in-form and could hit the ground running in Glasgow.

This means that, in Dolberg and Rak-Sakyi, Celtic appear to be closing in on two new signings who could add a spark to what has been a dull attacking set-up at Parkhead so far this season.

Of course, it is now down to the club to ensure that they can get these deals done before the deadline to avoid missing out on the huge boost to their attack that this duo could provide them with.

Worse than Nygren: Rodgers must drop Celtic flop who "offered little"

Celtic must drop their flop who was even worse than Benjamin Nygren against Rangers.

ByDan Emery Aug 31, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers managed to enjoy a comfortable end to the campaign and have now made an approach to bring a talented youngster to Molineux this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Wolves transfer rumours with Cunha set to join Man Utd

The Old Gold spent a portion of the campaign flirting with relegation from the Premier League. However, Vitor Pereira made sure that no such thoughts managed to enter their psyche in the West Midlands and secured safety with plenty of time to spare.

Thanking supporters for their crucial role in backing the team, the Portuguese boss has promised to add to his Wolves squad this summer to ensure a repeat scenario doesn’t unfold next term.

He stated: “Our supporters, they are fantastic. I’m very proud of them, very proud of my team, proud of our work, proud of our club, all the staff, all the efforts that everybody did to finish the league in the situation that we know we can build on in the future.”

Matheus Cunha may be on his way to Manchester United, though Pereira has already profiled Leicester City midfielder Bilal El Khannouss as an ideal Wolves replacement for the Brazil international.

A bid of around £22 million should be enough to entice him away from the King Power Stadium, and he is far from the only star lined up at Molineux now the window is around the corner.

Offer made: Wolves submit bid for £42m star who "never puts a foot wrong"

The Old Gold have now made a move for a defender.

ByDominic Lund May 29, 2025

Lazio defender Mario Gila could also pitch up at Wolves if they can see off competition from Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion for his signature.

Plenty of movement is underway as the Old Gold build for next season, and they have now reportedly made an approach for a highly-rated talent.

Romano: Wolves make approach for Liverpool's Kieran Morrison

Taking to social media platform X, renowned transfer specialist Romano has reported that Wolves have made an approach for “highly rated” Liverpool winger Kieran Morrison.

Said to be on their shortlist, there is also competition from around Europe for his signature as the summer window kicks off in earnest.

Capable of operating out wide or in a central role, the Northern Ireland Under-19 international has registered five goals and six assists in 27 appearances for Liverpool’s youth development squad this season.

It feels unlikely that Morrison would immediately become a first-team figure at Molineux, though his versatility and scope to develop would be an attracting commodity looking towards the future.

Under contract at Anfield until 2027, it remains to be seen what type of fee he could command if he were to leave the Merseyside giants. However, it may be worth noting that a sale would likely count as pure profit for Liverpool, indicating that a move could go through before the PSR deadline.

In a move that would instantly boost their attacking options, Aston Villa now reportedly want to sign a Premier League rival who put on an impressive performance in front of Unai Emery earlier this season.

Aston Villa's summer plans taking shape amid PSR concerns

It’s a big summer for the Villans. Even if they don’t have Champions League football to offer, those in the Midlands must maintain the level of Unai Emery’s side and they must do so whilst complying with PSR rules. That’s what may hold them back, however. According to recent reports, Aston Villa will likely have to sell before buying this summer if they want to avoid breaking any profit and sustainability rules.

To that end, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast over just who Aston Villa could sell this summer to avoid any potential sanctions. Among those mentioned is Morgan Rogers. The talented midfielder has enjoyed an excellent season in the Midlands, attracting plenty of interest as a result, and his sale would certainly ease Villa’s concerns.

Given just how impressive he’s been this season, though, it seems unlikely that Villa will be desperate to part ways with Rogers to a Champions League rival such as Chelsea this summer.

Deam Watkins replacement: Aston Villa pushing to sign "legendary" star

Aston Villa may have to sell Ollie Watkins this summer.

ByRoss Kilvington May 16, 2025

However, such a sale would at least allow sporting director Monchi to welcome a number of fresh faces and potentially get permanent deals over the line for Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford.

Those in the Midlands club are seemingly in for a busy summer on all fronts, with new targets beginning to emerge and star players finding themselves on the radar of several rival clubs.

Aston Villa eyeing "unbelievable" Joao Pedro

According to Caught Offside, Aston Villa now want to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion, who are set to demand as much as €60m (£51m) to sell the Brazilian this summer. The forward hasn’t quite been as consistent as last season, but that hasn’t stopped him from leaving his mark in the Premier League, with 10 goals and six assists to his name.

Emery should already be more than familiar with the 23-year-old’s quality too, after getting a first-hand glimpse when Pedro created both of Brighton’s goals in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Villa Park earlier this season.

Brighton’s asking price should come as little surprise, either. Pedro is clearly rated highly at The Amex and Fabian Hurzeler’s praise has reflected that this season. The Seagulls boss told reporters back in November when asked about his forward after a 2-1 win over Bournemouth: “In possession he is unbelievable. He makes the difference for us today.

“It’s also very important to see how he works against the ball. He invests a lot out of possession. He does a lot of work in the shadow and the work that is unseen. That’s why it is very good to have him as a leader on the pitch.”

Manchester City are reportedly in pole position to pip Liverpool to the signing of an “excellent” player in the summer transfer window.

Busy summer of transfers expected at Man City

By City’s high standards, this season has been a huge disappointment, even though there is an FA Cup final against Crystal Palace to look forward to later this month. Pep Guardiola’s side’s defence of their Premier League had faded by Christmas, and they also failed to reach the Champions League knockout rounds.

For that reason, a big summer is needed when it comes to new signings, as City look to bring in fresh faces who can take them back to the top of the league, with older heroes such as Kevin De Bruyne moving on.

Monaco youngster Eliesse Ben Seghir has been linked with a move to the Etihad ahead of next season, with the 20-year-old winger already scoring 15 times in 80 appearances for the Ligue 1 side.

Meanwhile, Hugo Larsson has been mentioned as an option to bolster City’s midfield, with younger legs required after a tough campaign for the likes of De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic. The Eintracht Frankfurt ace has been a key man this season, averaging 1.4 tackles per game across 30 Bundesliga outings as well as providing goals from midfield.

Man City leading race to sign "excellent" defender

According to a new report from Football Insider, Manchester City are leading the race to sign Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso this summer, sitting in pole position ahead of Liverpool, who attempted to hijack the deal in recent days.

The update states that Guardiola’s men are “in the driving seat over the deal as things stand and have been working on the deal behind the scenes since January”.

The £73,000-a-week Cambiaso could be a fantastic signing for City, given his ability to play in either full-back position, as well as being able to drift into midfield and affect games.

The 25-year-old Italy international has a 91.8% pass completion rate in 30 Serie A appearances this season, with his quality on the ball ideal for Guardiola, and journalist Zach Lowy has described him as “world-class”.

Full-back is a position that must be targeted by City in the summer window, with Kyle Walker’s best days behind him on the right and Josko Gvardiol not necessarily a natural left-back despite his brilliance, and Cambiaso fits the bill to perfection.

Pep must axe Grealish by unleashing Man City's "explosive" star

Pep Guardiola must drop Jack Grealish and start Manchester City’s “explosive” winger.

ByBen Gray May 2, 2025

He is technically superb, versatile and at a good point in his career, and if Guardiola can sign him over Liverpool, it would be a statement of intent ahead of next season.