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Manchester City may be forced to look for an heir to Fernandinho this summer should the Brazilian depart, but Oleksandr Zinchenko could step up as his replacement in Pep Guardiola’s side.

Whilst reports have suggested that Fernandinho will sign a new one-year contract at the Etihad, an official announcement is yet to have been made, and his contract is set to expire at the end of the month.

At 36, City will still have to look for a long-term replacement for the former Shakhtar Donetsk man even if he does extend his stay for another year, as Rodri cannot be expected to be City’s only defensive-minded midfielder across a whole season, so it seems clear that City will need another player who can feature there on a regular basis.

However, the Euro 2020 match between the Netherlands and Ukraine at the weekend emphasised that City may well be able to call upon Zinchenko to step up as Fernandinho’s replacement when he does eventually depart the club.

The 24-year-old, who has featured predominantly as a left-back during his time with City, produced a solid display in central midfield for his country, earning a 7.2/10 rating for his performance from SofaScore.

During the 90 minutes, Zinchenko would impressively win 12 duels and eight tackles, which was more than any other player on the pitch from both sides.

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After helping Ukraine to come back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2, he was caught out at the back post for the Netherlands’ winning goal, with Denzel Dumfries beating him to a header to make it 3-2, which also perhaps emphasised his vulnerability as a left-back.

Across his 20 appearances in the Premier League last season, the Ukrainian would average just 1.3 tackles per game, which suggests that he can be far more effective in a midfield role.

During his time at City, the “incredible” Zinchenko has been given very few opportunities to impress in midfield and has instead found himself competing with Joao Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy to be City’s first-choice left-back.

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If City were to bring in a left-back, such as Nuno Mendes, in the summer transfer window, then perhaps we could see Zinchenko feature further forward in Guardiola’s side next season, as his excellent battling performance against the Netherlands certainly suggests he could fill in as and when Fernandinho leaves.

And, in other news… Txiki signs Kane in £250m spending spree, no Laporte: How Man City could line up next term

According to a report by Italian news outlet Corriere Fiorentino, via Sport Witness, Tottenham Hotspur are ‘in the lead’ to appoint SS Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing Inzaghi

Previous reports from Italy have touted Spurs with a strong interest in Inzaghi’s appointment, with newspaper Il Tempo (via Sport Witness) most recently claiming that he is ‘listening’ to offers from a host of clubs amid the speculation surrounding his future in Rome.

This includes both Tottenham and Leicester City, who busted busted many a bet365 bonus by missing out on Champions League qualification this season, as the Premier League clubs allegedly interested and links to the Lilywhites can be traced back as far as the beginning of this month.

Closer to the home, a report by the Daily Star indicated that Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy ‘could turn’ to Inzaghi as an option to replace Jose Mourinho – coming two years after an alleged ‘desperate attempt’ to hire the 45-year-old before the arrival of the special one.

The Latest: Spurs now in pole position…

Bringing the latest claim, another regional Italian news outlet.

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Indeed, Corriere Fiorentino (via Sport Witness) believe that Spurs are now ‘in the lead’ to appoint Inzaghi with ‘various very important clubs’ also in the chase.

Levy leading the race for his signature is apparently repeated twice in this printed report as Corriere Fiorentino appear adamant that Tottenham are now favourites.

The Verdict: Fantastic candidate…

Even though you could argue he isn’t the ‘attack-minded’ manager Spurs have been most touted to hire, he certainly has his credentials with a number of players heaping praise on Inzaghi.

Lazio midfielder Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, in an interview with beIN SPORTS recently (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), lauded the Italian as an ‘excellent coach’ and ‘best’ manager he has ever worked under.

Meanwhile, striker Ciro Immobile even compared the former international to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – explaining how the pair are ‘very similar’ due to their ‘motivational skills’ (Er Faina on Instagram Live via Football Italia).

As well as this, Inzaghi’s numbers are solid, having acquired 191 career wins over his managerial career to date with 628 points on the board and an impressive average of 1.86 points per match (Transfermarkt).

It’s clear Spurs could do far worse as Levy aims to commence a brand new era in north London.

In other news: ‘I hear from a reliable source’…Journalist drops major Harry Kane claim, find out more here.

Aston Villa have been handed a major boost in their transfer pursuit of Norwich City star Emi Buendia this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks and months have suggested that the Argentine is a target for Dean Smith’s side, with Buendia helping to fire the Canaries back into the Premier League for next season.

Sky Sports recently claimed that both Villa and top-flight rivals Arsenal are ready to renew their interest in the diminutive playmaker, with both clubs making enquiries about potentially signing him this summer.

And despite the significant competition from the north Londoners, Football Insider claim that it’s Villa who have gone ahead in the race to land Buendia, and that they have made progress on his signing since the season ended.

Fans will be buzzing

The £20,000-a-week earner enjoyed a superb campaign for the Canaries, scoring 15 goals and providing an incredible 17 assists in the Championship.

His teammate Max Aarons has raved about Buendia’s abilities, saying: “He’s not really a player who will get on the ball and take you on as a full-back. His game is more about getting into pockets, playing neat passes and creating things.

“When you’ve got someone, who wants to run at you, then it’s easier to lock them down whereas someone like him is quite intricate so it’s hard to get near him. He’s tenacious and very strong. He’s got a lot of attributes.”

Dubbed as a “very special talent” by Norwich’s Ben Gibson, the early signing of Buendia would be absolutely huge news for the club’s fans who will be keen to see their team get off to a good start in the transfer market.

Villa had some fantastic success in last summer’s window with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez, and it helped Smith no end that Villa got those targets in early doors.

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What makes this potential deal for Buendia even sweeter is the fact they would be beating one of the Premier League’s heavyweights in landing him – a major sign of the progress that Villa have made under Smith.

The latest update on Buendia should have fans buzzing.

Meanwhile, Villa are facing a major transfer nightmare…

If you thought the ongoing manager saga at Celtic was providing enough drama, then think again.

The Bhoys hierarchy have been on the hunt for a new manager for nearly three months now but that might not be the only thing Dermot Desmond has on his mind anymore.

What’s the word?

As well as being locked in negotiations to bring Eddie Howe to Paradise, Celtic have been keen to bring in a figure to take on their newly created director of football role.

It’s thought that Fergal Harkin and Richard Hughes are among the contenders but the root of Celtic’s problems stem far deeper than their transfer history.

After all, it is Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell who call the vast majority of the shots.

Lawwell will retire at the end of the season with Dominic McKay arriving to replace him but could a reduced role be on the cards for Desmond as well?

Well, after an audacious claim from the Notorious himself, Mr Conor McGregor, there could be a further change on the cards at Celtic.

Taking to Twitter in the early hours of Monday morning, the MMA superstar revealed that he wanted to invest in the Hoops after being asked whether he could get involved with Manchester United.

The UFC fighter said: “A conversation came up regarding Celtic first to be honest. To acquire shares from Dermot Desmond. I am certainly interested in acquiring a sports team at some stage! Both Celtic and Man United are teams I like for sure. But I am open. I feel I could do big things for a club.”

Time to sell?

McGregor may not have a background in football but if Dermot Desmond’s influence on Celtic is waning, it can only be a good thing for the Bhoys.

The Irishman appears to care about the club, regularly being snapped in Celtic jerseys while he previously professed his love for Kieran Tierney during an interview.

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That said, if Desmond does indeed decide to sell some of his shares, it would be a pleasing sight for supporters regardless of who it was going to.

After all, the businessman has left Celtic in the lurch in recent years with mass protests occurring outside Parkhead against his ownership.

The club’s majority shareholder was questioned about his stake as recently as March but his response was defiant.

“I am as passionate about Celtic as any other supporter. My shares are not for sale,” he commented.

Desmond may have been in charge of the club during their haul of nine Premiership titles in a row but it’s hard to argue that things behind the scenes have been run very well.

It was he, alongside Ian Bankier and Lawwell, who sanctioned the arrival of Neil Lennon back in 2019.

Celtic had just been given £10m in compensation fees for Brendan Rodgers but they decided against being ambitious and investing that back into finding a renowned manager. The result of which has been a disastrous season where they now sit 23 points off top spot.

Whether it be transfer strategies or coaching appointments, the Glaswegian’s have been run poorly for a while now.

To have a new investor on board with fresh and ambitious ideas would be a bright sign of hope for the Hoops.

AND in other news, Celtic interview “outstanding” 63 y/o for manager role, Hoops fans should be buzzing…

Manchester City’s hopes of signing Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur this summer appear to have been handed a huge boost after he confirmed he wanted to leave the north London club this summer, with the Citizens reportedly now the favourites to sign him.

Pep Guardiola’s side had been heavily linked with the England captain ahead of the summer transfer window but it seemed that they would have to pay an enormous fee to prise him away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, especially considering Daniel Levy’s reputation as a difficult negotiator when it comes to transfer dealings.

However, the 27-year-old has now made it clear that he wants to leave Spurs after a disappointing season which has seen them fail to qualify for the Champions League, suffer an embarrassing exit to Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League, lose a Carabao Cup final and sack manager Jose Mourinho.

The striker spoke about potentially speaking to Levy regarding his potential departure recently, saying: “I think there is definitely a conversation to be had. It’s a moment where I have to reflect and have a conversation with the chairman.”

Therefore, it seems clear that he wants to depart the north London club this summer, and City could be the beneficiaries, with reports also suggesting that the Etihad Stadium is his preferred destination.

Despite Spurs’ disappointing season, Kane has arguably been the best player in the Premier League, scoring 22 goals and assisting 13 in 34 games. That has helped him average a superb 7.76 rating from WhoScored, the best of any player in the top flight, whilst he has 10 goals in other competitions, taking his club tally to the season to 32.

The “special” frontman, as hailed by Mourinho, certainly won’t come cheap regardless of his desire to leave, but it seems clear that Guardiola will want to add a striker to his squad this summer when Sergio Aguero departs, and who better than a player who has hit more than 15 goals in the Premier League in each of the past seven seasons.

Therefore, City sporting director Txiki Begiristain should ensure that Kane joins Guardiola’s side this summer, as he could be a phenomenal addition at the Etihad.

In other news… Pep handed huge boost with “exceptional” beast, City fans will be buzzing

According to journalist Christian Falk, speaking to Bild (via Sport Witness), RB Leipzig ‘might be willing to talk’ to Tottenham Hotspur over a swap for manager Julian Nagelsmann – with the Bundesliga side apparently determined to keep him away from Bayern Munich. 

Nagelsmann has been heavily linked with the possible Lilywhites vacancy for a while, depending on current boss Jose Mourinho’s situation in north London.

The Portuguese has been under mounting pressure recently following a string of matches without victory, the latest being a 2-2 draw away to Everton. 

Falk drops enticing Nagelsmann claim

Now, bringing an update on Nagelsmann’s situation, Falk has dropped an enticing claim that an agreement for him to potentially become Spurs’ next boss after Mourinho is very much ‘possible’ – especially considering how Leipzig seem desperate to keep him away from Bayern.

“It’s clear his (Mourinho’s) hours are counting down,” he told BILD (via Sport Witness).

“It is no secret that Brendan Rodgers was actually the dream solution, but he has a contract with Leicester until 2025, so he is not available.

“Therefore, they (Tottenham) sound out the market and Julian Nagelsmann is a name that comes up again and again.

“I heard in Leipzig that if Bayern call, they won’t give him away because they don’t want to let him leave for their direct rivals in Germany, but if they call from England, I heard they might be willing to talk.

“If they pay a transfer fee – and Tottenham have the money – it’s possible.”

Transfer Tavern take

The 33-year-old has garnered a reputation as one of the most exciting coaching talents in Europe, and for this reason among many others, we believe he should be the prime managerial candidate if Mourinho does leave.

He has also been described as ‘fearless’ by those who have worked under his management, and that mentality is arguably very much needed in north London right now, where Spurs too often look scared to attack under Mourinho.

Among the likes of Maurizio Sarri and Brendan Rodgers, who have also been linked, Nagelsmann certainly sticks out from the crowd as a fresh and exciting option.

In other news: Levy still in race to sign 6 foot 2 ‘phenomenon’, find out more here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Marlon Harewood, who made 511 appearances during his career, believes the loss of Aaron Cresswell to injury will be the one West Ham feel the most, with Claret & Hugh suggesting he will once again miss out against Chelsea.

Cresswell limped off during the Hammers’ 3-2 win against Leicester City earlier this month and for the third game in a row, West Ham were 3-0 up before conceding two goals to set up a nail-biting finish.

The £50,000 per week defender has operated as a full back, wing back and centre back this season but it’s his set pieces that West Ham may miss the most, as they have scored the most goals in the Premier League from dead-ball situations (15) this season.

Speaking on why West Ham will miss Cresswell more than any other player and how he has become so integral under David Moyes, Harewood told FFC:

“I think his distribution and how he’s been playing this year has been absolutely fantastic, and I think if we’re talking about players that’ll be a big miss for West Ham he will be one because he works hard, his deliveries are golden and he’s been a fantastic player this year.

“He’s proved himself to be a great asset and obviously he will be one big loss for West Ham and that’s no disrespect to whoever is going to fill in for him.”

This season has been a standout one for Cresswell having racked up seven assists as West Ham have found a secret weapon in scoring from set-pieces.

The former Ipswich Town missed the visit to Newcastle United last weekend, and remains a doubt for the clash against fellow top four challengers Chelsea on Saturday.

Frank McAvennie has exclusively told Football FanCast that he isn’t surprised that “luxury” Manuel Lanzini wants to quit West Ham this summer.

The Argentine is currently in his sixth season with the Hammers, but hasn’t been the same player since suffering an ACL injury in training ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Lanzini has been fit for the entire campaign, but has been restricted to just three Premier League starts, the latest of those coming against Sheffield United last month, and has been an unused substitute in seven of West Ham’s previous nine league fixtures.

He still has more than two years remaining on his deal with the Hammers, but recent reports suggest that Lanzini wants to leave the London Stadium in the summer, which came after French champions PSG, who are managed but his his fellow Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino, made a failed last-ditch attempt to sign him in January.

And McAvennie believes that part of Lanzini’s struggles have been down to the upturn in fortunes of Said Benrahma.

He told Football FanCast:

“The boy’s not getting a game, so if he’s not getting a game then he’s got to go. As a player, if you’re not getting a game then you’ve got to go. Sometimes you have just got to play. Lanzini has been out of the team for so long. He’s a luxury player.

“Benrahma when he came in, and David Moyes said ‘you’re losing the ball too much’. Lanzini is a little bit like that. He’s probably spoken to both of them, but Benrahma seems to have bought into what David Moyes is telling them. Great player, but Lanzini is a luxury.

“I’m not surprised he wants to quit. Benrahma has bought into West Ham, and that’s why Lanzini is not getting a game.”

Lanzini has been a great servant to West Ham over the years, but he’s some way down the pecking order under Moyes, which makes a summer exit extremely likely.

Newcastle sent scouts to watch Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir against Gaziantep on Monday, according to Turkish outlet Takvim.

Analysts from Ajax, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa were also said to be examining the 22-year-old firsthand.

Bayindir makes a rare mistake as Premier League suitors watch on

Fenerbache ran out 3-1 winners on the night to close the gap on league leaders Besiktas to four points.

However, Bayindir blundered under scrutiny, fumbling an Alexandru Maxim free-kick over the line on 65 minutes to gift Gaziantep an equaliser. Former West Ham striker Enner Valencia and Sinan Gumus ultimately bailed him out with subsequent goals.

It was a rare blip in a season which has seen Bayindir graduate from Turkey’s under-21s to the senior squad. He has kept 10 clean sheets in 32 Super Lig appearances, conceding 30 goals.

Bayindir has two years left on his contract with the Istanbul outfit and is valued at just over £12m by Transfermarkt. He was singled out for praise in a tweet from Fenerbahce team-mate Mesut Ozil back in February, with the World Cup winner giving ‘special thanks’ to the youngster for one particularly strong performance.

Transfer Tavern verdict

What do you do when a young talent you’re watching falters under pressure – cross out his name for the shortlist because you value composure, or give them another chance based on their otherwise strong form?

Bayindir has caught the eye for a reason, and clubs could miss out on a talented player with a high ceiling if they jump to conclusions.

After Steve Bruce restored a fit-again Martin Dubravka to the side, Karl Darlow could feasibly push for a move in the summer. He knows he’s good enough to be a number one keeper elsewhere, having actually posted more saves per match than his Slovakian colleague this season (3.4 to 3.3).

That could open the backup role at Newcastle, and perhaps Bayindir is being eyed as a long-term successor to the 32-year-old Dubravka, so he shouldn’t be dismissed solely on the basis of his recent error.

In other news, Newcastle have been told not to shell out more than £15m on another transfer target.

West Brom are slowly sleepwalking towards an instant return to the Championship as they sit ten points adrift of safety with only nine games left to play.

It would take a major, and surprise, turnaround for Sam Allardyce to save the Baggies from what seems like the inevitable and that leaves the hierarchy at the Hawthorns with some decisions to make.

Especially as a man they have coveted before is now freely available in Chris Wilder.

Indeed, according to The Athletic’s Steve Madeley, Albion are “known admirers” of the 53-year-old and in a recent column for the aforementioned site, Madley claims he is a clear contender to replace Sam Allardyce.

And that’s where the decision now lies for Luke Dowling and co.

For now, the 66-year-old remains in the hot seat as performances have vastly improved. Pre-January, the Baggies were leaking in three, four and sometimes five goals on a weekly basis but now they are picking up hard-earned draws – that, however, is not enough to keep them in the big time.

The Big Sam era looks to be following that of the fateful Alan Pardew reign. The former Newcastle United man was put on gardening leave around this time until his summer break clause could be activated.

There must now be a temptation to do the same with Allardyce as he’s far from the ideal candidate to get a side back up following relegation. The veteran is under contract until 2022, but like Pardew, has a relegation clause within his contract, as per The Athletic.

Failure to keep the Midlands outfit in the Premier League should be enough to see Dowling trigger said clause, though it’ll be done with far less toxicity than that of the Pardew era.

Yes, Allardyce has won promotion from the second division before, but not since 2012 with West Ham. Things are vastly different now and the experience and nous of Wilder, who took the Blades up in 2019 before finishing ninth in their maiden PL campaign could be huge for West Brom.

The recently-sacked manager would surely connect with the fanbase a lot better than a lot of previous contenders – Allardyce certainly sits in the Tony Pulis and Roy Hodgson camp, than one similar to a Slaven Bilic or Darren Moore, who both galvanised the Hawthorns faithful with their style of football.

Wilder is used to a big turnover of players, which is something also facing Albion come the end of the season, whilst his unique tactics have seen just one poor season in two decades.

Given his recent experience in the division, there cannot be many more equipped and readily available than the 53-year-old – Dowling must make him a top priority as soon as possible.

AND in other news, “Phenomenal” titan could save West Brom millions this summer…