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Jack Rosser, from the Evening Standard, thinks that West Ham will be looking at alterative targets after confirming that James Tarkowski is likely to stay at Burnley.

The Hammers pushed hard to sign the Clarets defender last summer, and bid £30m for his services, but missed out on signing him due to Burnley’s persistence.

Tarkowski has now entered the final 12 months of his deal at Turf Moor, which means West Ham could sign him for considerably less than that amount.

However, Rosser thinks that the 28-year-old, who’s made 159 Premier League appearances since joining from Brentford, will see out the final year of his contract and become a free agent in 2022.

He told The Transfer Tavern:

“Tarkowski is someone he [David Moyes] likes and pushed hard for last year, but I think that ship has sailed.

“He has got a year left on his contract at Burnley, and his plan is to see out that final year at Turf Moor and then move on a free and really open his options, so he’s the one in control.

“So, I would be surprised to see Tarkowski make the move down now.”

This really is a blow for Moyes. Signing a proven Premier League centre-back on the cheap really would have been shrewd business.

And with European football to come and one less centre-back following Fabian Balbuena’s departure, the Hammers boss has his work cut out to improve defence.

Leeds United are interested in a move to bring Nahitan Nandez to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by La Nuova Sardegna (via Sport Witness), who claim that Marcelo Bielsa is insisting that his side make a move for the Cagliari Calcio central midfielder in the summer transfer window.

It is then reported that the 65-year-old is willing to spend a substantial amount of his transfer budget on the Uruguay international, who has a release clause of €36m (£31m) in his current contract with the Serie A side.

Orta must move

Considering just how impressive Nandez was for Cagliari last season, it is unsurprising that Bielsa is interested in a move for the 25-year-old this summer, even if it would seem unlikely that Victor Orta would sanction a move for the player at the price reported.

Indeed, over his 32 league appearances for Leonardo Semplici’s side last term, the £19.8m-rated defensive midfielder scored two goals, registered two assists and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of one shot and making one key pass per game.

The former Boca Juniors star also made an average of 0.7 interceptions, 1.8 tackles, 1.5 clearances and won a whopping 6.1 duels per fixture, with these returns seeing him earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.80, ranking him as Cagliari’s 11th-best performer in the top flight of Italian football.

As such, with Leeds somewhat in need of back up to and competition for Kalvin Phillips this summer, the man dubbed a “tireless” midfielder would appear to be an extremely astute signing for Victor Orta to get over the line for the Whites.

However, this is on the caveat that the director of football can negotiate a lower price than the reported £31m fee the Serie A side are believed to be demanding for the 25-year-old, although, considering how much it seems Nandez would suit Bielsa’s style of play, perhaps he is worth the cost.

In other news: Leeds dealt potential transfer blow over £27m “destroyer”, it’ll surely devastate fans

Wayne Rooney has been handed a huge blow to his chances of bringing Reece Burke to Derby County this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that Luton Town look set to land the Hull City centre-back, who is also being targeted by Derby County, Bristol City, Cardiff City and Millwall, on a free transfer in the coming weeks.

The £2.16m-rated defender had been offered a new deal to remain at the KCOM Stadium this summer, with his current contract set to expire next month, however, it is understood that Hull and Burke failed to agree on amicable terms.

Rooney will be gutted

Considering just how impressive Burke has been for Hull this season, the news that the former West Ham United defender looks set to reject a move to Pride Park in favour of a switch to Luton is likely to come as a gutting blow for Rooney.

Over his 34 League One appearances for the Tigers this term, the 24-year-old helped his side to keep 15 clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 4.4 clearances per game.

The £7.7k-per-week centre-back also impressed in an attacking capacity, scoring four goals, registering one assist and creating one big chance, in addition to winning an average of 4.5 duels per fixture.

These metrics saw Burke earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.09, ranking him as Grant McCann’s fifth-best performer in the third tier and playing a key role for Hull in their title-winning campaign.

As such, the addition of the defender Sam Allardyce dubbed a “magnificent” talent would certainly appear to have significantly boosted Derby’s chances of a much more respectable finish in the Championship next season, particularly as both Curtis Davies and Andre Wisdom look set to depart the club in the coming weeks – as well as one that would have been very kind on the Rams’ finances.

However, with it being reported that Burke would rather make a move to Kenilworth Road than to link up with Rooney’s side this summer, the 35-year-old Derby boss will now have to turn his focus in the transfer market elsewhere.

In other news: Worrying Derby County EFL development emerges that will surely leave Mel Morris livid – opinion

Former Leeds United star Jon Newsome insists that Pablo Hernandez has earned the right to be called a legend at the club.

Hernandez has played his last game for the club, and will leave Elland Road on the expiry of his contract at the end of this month.

That comes after a four-year stint with the Whites, in which he has played a key role in guiding the club from the Championship into the Premier League.

Hernandez has made a total of 175 appearances for Leeds, scoring 36 goals and registering 41 assists, although he only played a bit-part role in the Premier League in 2020/21.

In total, the 36-year-old made 16 league appearances, though just three of those were starts, including the final game of the season, as he gave the fans an emotional farewell.

And Newsome believes he should be regarded as one of the best players to play for the club in their long and storied history.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “There’s a word that gets bandied about, ‘legends’, quite a lot, when we’re up at the game and they say ‘the Leeds legends’, there’s not, there’s a bunch of ex-players, but there’s only a few I would class as legends at that club.

“And I would put Pablo in that category. I think he’s come into the football club and his commitment, his work, his desire has been there for everybody to see.”

Carlton Palmer believes there could be interest in Kalvin Phillips this summer, but said Leeds would demand big money for the midfielder.

Phillips, who’s currently impressing for England at the Euros and was named man of the match against Croatia, has proved a vital cog in Marcelo Bielsa’s machine in recent seasons.

And the 25-year-old has quickly proved himself as one of the most complete defensive midfielders in the Premier League, despite the 2020-2021 campaign Phillips’ first in the top-flight.

Phillips featured in 29 of Leeds’ 38 league matches last season, scoring once and assisting twice, as Bielsa’s team finished ninth on their return to the Premier League.

Not only is Phillips a fan of the Yorkshire club, but he’s been with them since he was a teenager, a factor which the Leeds faithful will hope to ensure he stays at Elland Road for many years to come.

Phillips still has three more years on his current deal, which means Leeds would demand a huge fee for the midfielder should interest come their way this window, according to Palmer who spoke exclusively to Football FanCast:

“Kalvin had a tremendous game against Croatia in the first game of the Euros and had a fantastic season for Leeds, so there are going to be teams that covet him.

“But Leeds United are not going to want to sell him and if they do sell him, they’ll want big money for him.”

Watford have been handed a blow in their bid to bring Josh Doig to Vicarage Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Ekrem Konur, with the journalist posting on Twitter that Arsenal are now keeping a close eye on the Hibernian left-back ahead of a potential summer move.

Watford were recently reported to be in talks regarding the transfer of the 19-year-old, for whom it is thought that a deal would cost around £4m.

Giaretta will be gutted

With it previously appearing as if Watford had something of a free shot at a deal for Doig, if recent reports are to be believed, the news that Arsenal are now very firmly in the race for the highly-rated youngster is likely to come as gutting news for Watford’s sporting director Cristiano Giaretta.

The Hornets are in particular need of reinforcements at left-back following the confirmation that Achraf Lazaar has departed the club just three months after joining, and the SWFA Young Player of the Year very much appears to be an exciting prospect in the position.

Over his 28 Scottish Premiership appearances this term, the defender scored one goal, registered three assists and created two big chances for his teammates, in addition to helping his side keep four clean sheets and making an average of 0.8 interceptions, 1.5 tackles and 1.1 clearances per game – culminating in a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.65.

While these metrics would be impressive for an established left-back, the fact that the £450k-rated man is turning in these numbers at just 19 years of age would appear to indicate that he has an extremely bright future in the game, something that Jack Ross clearly agrees with, as he has dubbed the youngster an “excellent” talent.

As such, if Arsenal’s apparent interest does turn the head of the Scotland U19 international away from a move to Vicarage Road, Giaretta will have to begin his search for an addition in the position all over again – something that would undoubtedly come as a huge blow for the sporting director and his side.

In other news: Massive Watford contract development emerges which will surely have fans buzzing – opinion

Many Wolves fans have been left to slam a transfer update involving Owen Otasowie.

As per the Daily Telegraph, the defensive midfield player is wanted by Anderlecht, Nice and Wolfsburg on loan for the 2021/22 campaign, if he is allowed to leave Molineux on a short-term deal.

Otasowie has been a handy player to have for Nuno Espirito Santo, especially when the depth of his squad has been tested with injuries to the likes of Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto this season.

The United States international has played in six games in the Premier League so far this term, grabbing himself one assist (Transfermarkt), and some WWFC supporters feel that the 20-year-old should stay at the Midlands club in order to continue his development.

Wolves fans on Otasowie transfer update

These Wanderers slammed the transfer update as it was shared on Twitter, with one fan even going as far as to claim that it was ‘pointless’:

“But no, this would be dreadful news”

Credit: @TonyWilde99

“Pointless unless he signs a new deal”

Credit: @FW90

“Just say NO!”

Credit: @MichaelPoulter3

“No, it’s easy, you simply play him”

Credit: @ConallJH_

“NOOOOOO he deserves to start for us sorry not sorry”Credit: @CBeier3″Nah play him”Credit: @YasWWFCIn other news, find out what transfer update has left Wanderers fuming here!

Ralph Hasenhuttl has suggested Ryan Bertrand’s Southampton career may soon be over.

The Lowdown: Bertrand’s contract is running out

Bertrand has been at St. Mary’s Stadium since 2014, but his contract is set to run out at the end of this current campaign (Transfermarkt).

As of yet, it remains unclear whether the 31-year-old will put pen to paper on a new deal, even though he did say in December that he would like to stay on the south coast for the foreseeable future (via The Daily Echo).

The Latest: Hasenhuttl shares thoughts

Ahead of Southampton’s clash with Liverpool this weekend, Hasenhuttl was discussing the future of the left-back. He said (via Hampshire Live):

“We are looking at other targets because the offer we have made has not been accepted from his side.

“When this happens, when there is no solution for the future in this position, we will have to look at other options.”

The Verdict: On the way out

These latest comments do not indicate that Bertrand has a long-term future at the club, and it appears to be of his own doing. If the £9m-valued former Chelsea defender (Transfermarkt) will not sign a new contract, there is very little Hasenhuttl can do – as such, he must look for alternatives.

The reasons behind Bertrand’s desire to leave are uncertain. At 31, he is approaching the end of his career, and a move to a top club may have already sailed. Unfortunately, if he does leave this summer, it will mean Southampton will not receive a transfer fee, but after 240 matches for the Saints, they may have already had their money’s worth.

In other news, Southampton are interested in this 21-year-old.

Queens Park Rangers defender Rob Dickie is attracting significant interest ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Shields Gazette, who claim that the QPR centre-back is on Newcastle United’s list of potential summer targets, with a number of the Magpies’ current options in the heart of defence looking likely to depart St. James’ Park in the coming weeks.

Warburton will be gutted

Considering just how impressive Dickie has been in the QPR backline this season, the news of interest from a Premier League side is likely to come as gutting news for Mark Warburton, as losing the defender this summer would seriously damage his side’s chances of a promotion push next term.

Over his 43 Championship appearances for the Rs this year, the £2.25m-rated centre-back scored three goals and provided one assist, as well as making an average of 1.3 tackles, 1.8 interceptions and four clearances per game.

These returns saw the 25-year-old earn a seasonal WhoScored match rating of 7.17, ranking him as QPR’s second-best performer in the league, as well as the joint seventh-best player in the Championship as a whole.

And, with Warburton having already confirmed the signing of Jordy de Wijs this summer – Dickie’s centre-back partner in the second half of the season, with the 26-year-old being the only Rs player to better the Englishman’s average WhoScored match rating – losing half of this fantastic partnership in the upcoming transfer would undoubtedly come as a gutting blow for the 58-year-old.

However, with the man Karl Robinson dubbed a “magnificent” defender under contract until 2024 at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, QPR are certainly under no pressure to sell this summer – unless, that is, Dickie himself begins to push for a move.

In other news: Fresh transfer update emerges on “outstanding” £6m beast that’ll have QPR fans buzzing – opinion

Tottenham Hotspur are thought to be losing ground in their pursuit of Lille powerhouse Boubakary Soumare…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Star, Spurs have been leapfrogged by Premier League rivals Leicester City in a battle to land the 22-year-old midfielder this summer.

It’s claimed that the Foxes are becoming increasingly confident in securing the 6 foot 2 dynamo in a £30m deal, having tracked his meteoric rise for the past year.

The France U21 international is currently in the final 15 months of his contract at the Ligue 1 outfit, so they may well have to sell in order to maximise their profits.

Scary Spurs midfield

This is not good news for Jose Mourinho and Spurs, and as a result, Daniel Levy must ramp up their bid to secure Soumare as his arrival could see a frightening midfield formed in north London.

The Lille sensation has drawn major comparisons to Paul Pogba for his powerful and dominating box-to-box displays but unlike the Man Utd superstar, Soumare is more deployed right in front of the backline – similar to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

But if you were to pair the two together, then it would certainly alleviate the pressure on the likes of Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez, who have both come under pressure for their defensive mistakes throughout the campaign.

Averaging 1.3 tackles and one interception per league outing this term, Soumare has the physical attributes and evident ability to read the opposition’s game to thrive in England.

[snack-amp-story url=https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-and-recent-gossip” title=”Read this week’s Spurs news, latest transfer rumours and more!]

It’s no surprise to see Lille president Gerard Lopez heap praise on his emerging starlet, he told France Football (via Goal):

“He’s one of the very best at his job. He’s technical, with incredible physical power and wins a great deal of possession. He’s a modern No.6 or 8. We’ll see him in the France team very soon. He’s a clear vision of where he wants to go and he’s working very hard to get there.”

The 22-year-old, like many that have gone through the system at Lille or Monaco, was unearthed by impressive talent-spotter Luis Campos, and that alone should give Spurs confidence in the midfielder’s ability to hit the ground running.

Fabinho, Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy, Anthony Martial and Gabriel have all gone onto prove their worth in the Premier League after being coveted by the Portuguese director of football.

Soumare is certainly next up to repeat this feat. He’s versatile, intelligent and grounded – “He’s a great player. He’s so young and a great talent. A happy and humble guy,” explained team-mate, Renato Sanches, to Sky Sports. “He’s athletic. He’s fast. He’s strong. He has technique. He’s prepared for the Premier League.”

All in all, Levy cannot afford to see this future star go to any of Spurs’ Premier League rivals, and especially not ones challenging for the top four above them in Leicester and Man Utd.

For just £30m, the north London outfit could form a scary midfield to be reckoned with. On the above evidence, Soumare would be a fantastic addition to Mourinho’s XI.

AND in other news, Levy could solve Mourinho’s biggest Spurs nightmare with swoop for 32 y/o “quarterback”…