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Arsenal are reportedly keen on making a move for West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen, as manager Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options.

What’s the word?

As per the Beautiful Game Podcast, the Gunners have “opened contact” with the 25-year-old’s representatives in the hope of striking a deal, with the player having also previously been linked with a move to Premier League rivals, Liverpool.

Writing on Twitter about the north Londoners’ interest, the source stated that: “Arsenal have opened contact with the representatives of Jarrod Bowen over a possible transfer. He is amongst their list of potential transfer targets which includes Leeds United’s Raphinha”.

The Emirates outfit will no doubt face a battle to secure a deal, with the Hammers said to be demanding as much as £75m to let the Englishman depart, while David Moyes and co are also readying a bumper new deal to try and tempt the forward into committing his long-term future to the club.

Pepe replacement

Having only recently earned a long overdue England call-up, Bowen is currently riding high at the end of what proved to be another fine campaign in a claret and blue jersey, as he proved himself one of the most influential players in the division, netting 12 goals and providing a further ten assists in 36 games.

That haul of assists was only bettered by two players in the top-flight last term – Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold (12) and Mohamed Salah (13) – showcasing just how impressive his form has been, with the £80k-per-week gem continuing to go from strength under Moyes’ watch.

Plucked from Hull City in a £20m deal in January 2020, the one-time Hereford man has gone on to provide 50 goal contributions for the Irons thus far, proving integral to the club’s run to the Europa League semi-finals last term.

In truth, his stellar impact has been hard to ignore with it no surprise that the Gunners are tracking his progress, with a new wide option seemingly on the agenda for Arteta and co, amid links to Leeds United’s Raphinha.

Both the Brazilian and Bowen appear most comfortable on the right flank where they can then cut in onto their stronger left foot, with it becoming clear as to the profile of player that the Arsenal boss is chasing.

Although that may cast doubt over Bukayo Saka’s long-term future – with the academy graduate currently the preferred option on the right wing – the most obvious casualty of a new arrival is likely to be Nicolas Pepe, with the Ivorian having failed to ever truly justify his £72m transfer fee.

Signed from Lille in the summer of 2019, the 27-year-old has since struggled to nail down a regular starting berth, notably making just five starts in the top-flight in total during the 2021/2 campaign – scoring just once.

The year prior had proved quite profitable for the £140k-per-week speedster as he bagged ten league goals and a further six in the Europa League, although even then his role remained somewhat reduced, with the rise of the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and the aforementioned Saka hampering his game time.

Dubbed “lacklustre” by pundit Joe Cole last year, Pepe has at times appeared disinterested in a Gunners shirt, drifting through games without managing to make his mark, even though there is undoubted quality in there somewhere.

In Bowen then, Arteta has seemingly identified a “unique” talent – as he has been labelled by Ian Holloway – who can displace Pepe from the current squad, with it finally time that the £27m-rated wide man is moved on this summer.

The belief is that the player himself also wishes to part ways, with Arsenal set to secure an instant upgrade if they can usher the West Ham man through the door.

In other news, Arsenal eye bid for £76.5m-rated “fighter” who “always creates”, he’s better than Saka

West Bromwich Albion currently have a handful of players in their ranks that have hit the age of 30 such as David Button, Kyle Bartley and Matt Phillips.

One other player that is currently one of the oldest figures in Steve Bruce’s squad is Jake Livermore.

Back in the 2017 January transfer window, the Baggies signed the midfielder from Hull City in a deal worth a reported fee of around £10m after he brought an end to his time as a Tottenham Hotspur player in 2014.

During his time at the Hawthorns, the Englishman has gone on to make 195 appearances for the Midlands club across all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists along the way.

As things stand, Livermore will be entering the final year of his current contract at West Brom at the end of the month.

With that in mind, it could be worth the club looking to bring in what could be a new and improved version of their long-serving veteran.

In fact, one player that the Baggies have been linked with recently that could fit that particular bill is Hamza Choudhury.

As a product of Leicester City’s youth system, the midfielder has made a total of 142 appearances across their senior and youth sides.

However, with just six starts under his belt from 12 appearances across all competitions this season, he doesn’t seem to have been able to make himself a regular first-team starter for Brendan Rodgers.

With that in mind, the prospect of playing regularly for the Baggies and potentially being their long-term replacement for Livermore could be rather tempting for the 24-year-old.

Praised for his “sensational” performances for Leicester by Rodgers, Choudhury is currently valued at £4.5m according to Transfermarkt.

Having played in 79 domestic games throughout his career, the Foxes midfielder has racked up 69 interceptions and won 34 tackles, highlighting the defensive talent he has.

In comparison with the current West Brom midfielder, he was able to make 40 interceptions and win 44 tackles in his latest season alone.

This suggests that with a regular run of games under his belt and suitable coaching from Bruce, Choudhury could become a solid addition to the squad and grow into an ideal long-term version of Livermore.

Should an opportunity to take the Englishman away from the King Power Stadium arise this summer, then this is something that West Brom should definitely explore.

In other news: West Brom eyeing move for £5.1k-p/w “thing of beauty”, he can be Bruce’s new “weapon”

Everton boss Frank Lampard could ‘use his contacts’ to send a ‘big message’ and bring Armando Broja to Goodison Park.

The Lowdown: Interest in Broja

According to a report by GOAL, Premier League sides West Ham and Newcastle, along with Serie A clubs AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli, are all in the race to secure the Albania international’s signature.

The 20-year-old made 32 top-flight appearances whilst on loan at Southampton this season, and Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl made it clear that he wanted to keep hold of the talented striker.

However, a recent farewell message on Instagram suggests that Broja will not be heading back to St Mary’s next season.

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The Latest: ‘Big message’

Whilst there has been other Premier League interest in Broja, transfer insider Dean Jones thinks Everton should be the club to go all out for the youngster, believing Lampard could send a ‘big message’.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, he claimed:

“I’m not sure West Ham have got the interest that they had at one point, so I don’t think there’s the competition level there for Broja anymore.

“Lampard obviously can use his contacts to get into Broja early, speak to him himself, and just try and convince him that Everton is a club that’s going to be in transition but in a good way. That’s going to be the big message that they send out.”

The Verdict: Strong signing

With the ongoing financial fair play situation at Goodison, Lampard may be forced into selling one of Richarlison or Dominic Calvert-Lewin (via 90min).

If the England international were to go, Broja could be a strong replacement due to his similar profile. Coming in at 6 foot 3, the Albanian ranks in the 86th percentile for aerials won when compared with positional peers across Europe (via FB Ref).

Therefore, if Lampard can use his contacts at Chelsea to get a deal over the line, the man dubbed ‘athletic and powerful’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig could be a very good signing for Everton.

In other news: Everton: Oleksandr Zinchenko touted for Toffees move

West Ham United are reportedly looking to capitalise on Burnley’s recent relegation and economic woes with a move for England stopper, Nick Pope.

What’s the word?

As per talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, in his transfer notebook, the Hammers are keen to exploit the financial uncertainty at Turf Moor by making a bid for the 30-year-old this summer, with the eight-cap international one few ‘saleable assets’ that the Lancashire club can cash in on.

Mike Jackson’s side are facing a perilous period due to their failure to stave off the drop, with the report outlining that the club now need to pay off a significant loan due to a relegation clause, hence the potential need to part ways with their first-choice ‘keeper.

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Previous reports have suggested that they will still hold firm on their asking price, however, with the east Londoners set to have to fork out around £40m to secure his services.

One of the best

That figure may appear sizeable to those at the London Stadium, although it could prove a relative bargain for a player who has been a colossal figure since establishing himself as the Clarets’ undisputed number one back in 2017.

In 141 Premier League outings, the former Charlton Athletic man has registered an impressive 46 clean sheets, while the most recent campaign saw him finish joint-fourth in the division for saves made (121).

An imposing presence at 6 foot 3, the £13.5m-rated monster has already caught the eye of a notable West Ham figure, with Three Lions colleague Declan Rice dubbing him “one of the best in the world” when it comes to making saves near the top of the goal.

The praise doesn’t end there, however, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp having described him as “sensational” following a 1-1 draw at Anfield back in July 2020, as the £59k-per-week giant kept the then champions at bay.

Such displays have seeming become the norm for the dynamic shot-stopper, with it no surprise that GSB are eyeing a deal, particularly with current goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski having only recently turned 37 – heightening the need for a younger, long-term option.

Pope has also already proven his quality to David Moyes and co after producing a heroic display when the two sides met back in December to ensure a hard-fought point for Sean Dyche’s side, with that performance rubberstamping Rice’s claim that he is one of the very best in his position.

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

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster is set to become a Tottenham Hotspur player ‘very soon’.

The Lowdown: Forster set to become a free agent

The now 34-year-old first arrived at St Mary’s eight years ago in a £10m move from Celtic, and he has since gone on to make 161 senior appearances for the south coast club.

The shot-stopper’s current contract with the Saints is set to expire at the end of June, making him a free agent for any potential suitors interested.

In the past he has been linked with a move away from Southampton after Premier League duo Chelsea and Arsenal registered interest in him, but it seems as though the Gunners’ north London rivals are now the club who look set to secure his signature over the summer.

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The Latest: Spurs move almost complete

Romano took to Twitter to state that the deal is almost complete and that the Lilywhites are set to make an official announcement imminently.

He stated: “Fraser Forster will be announced as new Tottenham player very soon. Paperworks ready as he’s gonna join Spurs on a free transfer, he was considered the best option on the market for a backup GK. First called by @mcgrathmike – deal almost completed.”

The Verdict: Perfect cover for Lloris

With second-choice goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini set to depart N17 and return to parent club Atalanta, Forster could be the perfect backup to Hugo Lloris and would provide some valuable cover for Spurs’ number one.

The 6 foot 7 netminder, who was once hailed an “unbelievable” player by his manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, already has plenty of experience in the Premier League, and in the Scottish Premiership with Celtic, with a total of 199 clean sheets throughout his career.

Antonio Conte is believed to have a new goalkeeper high up on his transfer wish list as he looks to rebuild his squad ahead of the start of next season, and it now looks likely that Forster will be the one to walk through the door at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the coming days.

In other news… a club insider has made a promising transfer claim involving one of Spurs’ summer targets

Newcastle United have been handed a big injury lift ahead of their clash with Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday…

What’s the latest?

New Zealand international Chris Wood may be in contention to return to the squad, as he has made his injury comeback at Darsley Park this week.

The striker missed out on the matchday squad as the Magpies beat Arsenal 2-0 at St. James’ Park earlier this week, but he could now be fit to face his former side.

Newcastle World reporter Jordan Cronin tweeted on Friday: “#NUFC INJURY NEWS Chris Wood will train today ahead of Burnley. United are following concussion protocols re Fabian Schar, so a late decision will be made. Ryan Fraser felt his hamstring again versus Arsenal and is unlikely to feature.”

Eddie Howe will be delighted

This update will surely leave the Toon head coach delighted, as Wood is a strong option for him to be able to use off the bench, particularly given Callum Wilson’s condition.

The ex-Bournemouth attacker has only played two matches since December and may not be able to handle another full 90 minutes in this game. Howe will not want to overwork the 30-year-old and send him into the summer with a fresh injury setback, which is why having another decent player to call upon in that position will be a big boost.

Dwight Gayle came off the bench against Arsenal but he has endured a horrific time on Tyneside in the last two years. He has zero goals or assists in eight Premier League appearances this term and managed only one goal and one assist in 18 outings in 2020/21.

The ex-Crystal Palace forward is just not good enough to lead the line for Newcastle, and that is why having Wood available is a big boost. Whilst he has only scored five goals in 33 games for the Toon and Burnley combined this season, he has won a whopping 6.2 aerial battles and created 0.6 chances per game while showcasing his strength in the air.

Meanwhile, Gayle won 0.6 aerial battles per game last term and 0.1 per match in the current campaign. This shows that, whilst neither of them has been prolific, Wood offers more at the top end of the pitch as he can be a focal point for the team. He has the quality and strength to be an outlet for his team-mates to use when they are under pressure.

This is why Howe will be buzzing to have him available this afternoon, as the New Zealander has the potential to play an important role, whether that is from the start or off the bench.

AND in other news, PIF eyeing NUFC swoop for “highly-rated” £30m phenomenon, he can be Howe’s “Benzema”…

Liverpool have not been shy when it comes to signing teenage talents in recent years with the likes of Harvey Elliott joining and Fabio Carvalho set to arrive.

Now that the next summer transfer window is around the corner, it seems as though the Reds have another young prospect in their sights to potentially add to their ranks.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Mirror, Liverpool are the early frontrunners to make a potential summer swoop for Birmingham City’s 16-year-old midfielder Jobe Bellingham.

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Following in the footsteps of his brother Jude, the teenager is a product of Birmingham’s youth academy and made his senior debut for the Championship club back in January this year.

With 26 appearances to his name across the club’s senior, U23 and U18 sides, the midfielder has scored five goals and delivered one assist along the way.

A scary talent inbound?

If Liverpool can secure a move for the 16-year-old this summer then they could well unearth the next version of his older brother.

After making his senior debut for Birmingham, Lee Bowyer reserved fine praise for Jobe, words that sum up why he’d be such an exciting signing at Anfield.

“Young Jobe coming on looked so comfortable. He’s earned that, he’s been training with us for two, three, four weeks now, you can just see him growing and improving every day.

“He played with a confidence and that’s because he’s improving every day and I thought it was the right time and I’d like to think that I was right.”

Should the teenage sensation find himself on the same trajectory as his brother, whose talent has been described as “scary” by Jack Grealish, then securing a move for the Blues starlet this summer should definitely be near the top of Liverpool’s priority list.

Currently valued at a massive £127m according to CIES, the Borussia Dortmund star has scored ten goals and provided 18 assists in 90 appearances for the German club across all competitions since he left Birmingham in the 2020 summer transfer window.

Having also been linked with the 18-year-old, Liverpool could possibly sign the next best thing by acquiring the younger Bellingham brother this summer, someone dubbed a “wonderkid” by TEAMtalk.

Talented footballers clearly run in the family and they could also save plenty of cash by opting for Jobe instead of Jude this summer. Should he progress at a similar rate then his transfer value, stock and potential will only increase as it has done for his elder sibling.

Therefore, if Liverpool are able to bring the Birmingham youth talent to Anfield this summer, they could find themselves with a long-term midfield option for their team and one of England’s top prospects.

In other news: “He’s gonna leave”: Romano drops Liverpool update that’ll have supporters gutted

Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on Antonio Conte’s future and transfer plans at Tottenham Hotspur.

What’s the word?

The Italian journalist revealed that the 52-year-old’s priority is to remain in charge of the north London outfit but he must be given reassurances over Harry Kane’s future and be backed to sign three to four new players in the summer window.

Writing in a column for Caught Offside, he said:

‘Conte wants at least three or four high-level signings in the summer and then definitive clarity on the Spurs project, including keeping Harry Kane at the club. This is his priority to remain Tottenham manager, but the decision will be made in a meeting at the end of the current season.’

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Huge news

This latest claim should leave many around N17 absolutely buzzing about what the future may entail because, despite many inconsistencies on the pitch, the Italian – who won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017 – wants to stay at the club.

He has got Nuno Santo’s struggling outfit contending for a place in next season’s Champions League, which is no mean feat, so you can only imagine what sort of magic he could do with a full pre-season and backing in the transfer window.

Conte and his coaching team could really make up the ground on some of the division’s current heavyweights, namely defending champions Manchester City, their nearest challengers Liverpool and Champions League holders Chelsea.

Whilst chairman Daniel Levy has never been one to completely splash the cash, he will surely understand that it’s a must this off-season. He’s finally got a world-class manager in the dugout, one capable of bringing that elusive silverware to their 62,850-seater stadium.

Arguably, the Italian is in need of solid backups to both Kane upfront and skipper Hugo Lloris between the sticks, whilst a left-footed central defender will surely be among the priorities with full-back Ben Davies the current first-choice alongside Eric Dier and Cristian Romero.

Making the Argentine’s loan move from Atalanta permanent will be another key deal to keep an eye on, with Conte also on the lookout for a right wing-back, having failed to secure one during the winter.

There may be some doubt over whether or not he will be backed, but the signings of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kuluseveski on deadline day in January certainly show that the club is prepared to back him.

As such, Levy and co must be absolutely thrilled by Conte’s desire to stay at the helm heading into 2022/23.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Pau Torres-Spurs transfer update…

Sunderland now face a big dilemma as a consortium fronted by William Storey has reportedly now submitted a £42m offer to buy the Wearside club.

The Lowdown: Storey tries again

Storey tried to buy the Stadium of Light faithful back in 2020, but failed in his bid, which leaves Kyril Louis-Dreyfus as the majority shareholder with a 41% stake.

Stewart Donald retains a 34% share, while Juan Sartori holds 20% and Charlie Methven the remaining 5% (The Daily Mail).Nonetheless, it now looks as if Storey is going to try his luck once more, and you’d have to say his timing is impeccably inconvenient given the importance of Friday’s play-off first leg against Sheffield Wednesday.The Latest: Offer madeAs per The Daily Mail, Storey and his consortium are now proposing to take up 100% of the shares, and are ‘keen’ to push through the deal if Alex Neil’s team do not win promotion up to the Championship.They welcome the Owls to Wearside in the first leg of the semi-final tonight, and sources close to the bid insist that there is ‘interest’ from some of the current owners to accept the offer, although there is none from majority shareholder Louis-Dreyfus.The Verdict: Accept it?After the confusion over the details of the ownership structure that came to light back in February, which left supporters feeling misled, now is the time to allow Storey and his consortium to own 100% of the shares, so long as they are committed to the club.It seems as if some of the owners are not at the moment, given the hectic nature of the shares split, and so their takes need to be sold to help the Black Cats move forward in unison.Nonetheless, it looks like Louis-Dreyfus is the one that needs persuading to hand over to Storey, in what is a big dilemma for both him and the club.In other news, find out which injured SAFC star could now make the Wednesday game here!

Alan Hutton has been left buzzing over what he has now heard from a Glasgow Rangers source.

The Lowdown: Lowry deal close

As per Football Insider’s RFC sources, the Ibrox faithful are now close to tying Alex Lowry down to a new deal, amid strong interest from a number of clubs in the Premier League.

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The youngster had rejected an initial contract offer back in February, but now it looks as if the club have persuaded him to stay at Ibrox.

The Latest: Hutton reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, former Teddy Bears defender now Rangers TV pundit Hutton has now given his reaction to the news, claiming that it is ‘brilliant’ both for Lowry and his old team:

“I think it’s brilliant for both sides. We know what he’s all about. He’s definitely one for the future.

“He needs to know there’s a pathway into the first team. I think that’s the biggest thing to come out of this. The flip side is that the grass isn’t always greener.

“Yes, there’s an opportunity to go down south but he’s very young. You can also get lost down there. It’s difficult to break into a Liverpool team or a Man City team. That’s got its own challenges.

“So to stay where you are, you know what it’s all about to play with Rangers. There are opportunities that are going to arise. If you work hard, he has seen that the pathway is there.

“He can find the first team, he has done it in the past. I think it’s good for him moving forward to be where he is. Be comfortable and see how he develops from there.”

The Verdict: Right call

It is easy to forget that Lowry is still just 18 years of age, and so he has his whole career ahead of him.

The pathway has been there for him, as he has already managed a total of four senior appearances in a Light Blues shirt this season, and more opportunities are sure to come for him next term under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Nonetheless, he is highly thought of at the club, as former manager Graeme Murty even went as far as to call him ‘remarkable‘, and so staying at the Gers seems like the right thing to do for now, until he makes more of a name for himself outside Scottish football.

In other news, find out which ‘really exciting’ attacker RFC could now lose this summer here!