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The summer departure of Wolves captain Conor Coady would come as a huge surprise according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The 29-year-old centre-back has been at Wolves since July 2015 and has clocked up 311 appearances for the Old Gold during that time.

Though to the shock of supporters around the world, Coady has been linked with a move away from Molineux.

What’s the word?

£22.5m-rated skipper Coady has been placed in contention to leave the club this summer, having been one of their key-men for the past seven seasons.

Tottenham Hotspur’s appointment of former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo last summer saw Spurs hold talks with the England defender but the move didn’t materialise and he stayed put.

This summer however, it is reported that Everton are plotting a surprise move for the former Liverpool youth player, which has raised doubts over the England international’s future.

Though it seems positive for Wolves fans, with football insider Jones admitting that he would be shocked if Coady left the Old Gold for the Toffees.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said:

“He’s the guy that has held them up and got them through tough moments on and off the pitch, he’s so valuable to them, so I would be absolutely amazed if they even consider selling him in the summer.”

Supporters worried

If the centre-back stays in the Midlands this summer it’s safe to say it would leave their adoring fans buzzing. However, given that he is a pillar of solidity, reliability and strength at the heart of Wolves’ backline, supporters will have to be worried that he could leave the club this summer.

You can understand why Everton are casting their eyes on Coady, with the Toffees enduring a torrid season at the back, having averaged a total of 1.7 goals conceded per match.

Though it would not make much sense from the Wolves captain’s perspective, with Bruno Lage believing that the West Midlands side are in a position to compete with bigger clubs due to the ongoing project at the club:

“Every time I talk with Mathew Hobbs (Chief Scout), there is a feeling now that the good players who comes to use come because of the way we have been performing.” said Lage.

Having started all 32 Premier League games for Wolves this season, it would be a real shock if Coady decided to seek pastures new, but that appearance count only demonstrates his importance, especially to a defence that has conceded only 28 times this term, the fourth-fewest in the top-flight.

Should that be broken up, it would leave the Molineux faithful rather aghast.

In other news: Wolves eyeing £25m-rated Brazilian gem, Lage surely buzzing – opinion.

Even though Liverpool are currently second in the Premier League table with 15 points from their opening seven games, they have conceded more goals than the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Despite having the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate and Nat Phillips as centre-back options, it seems as though the Merseysiders have their eye on acquiring a new defensive star.

What’s the news?

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool – alongside fellow Premier League clubs Everton and Arsenal – are reportedly eyeing up a move for Olympiacos centre-back Pape Abou Cisse.

The Senegal defender signed for the Greek club back in the 2017 January transfer window from French side AC Ajaccio. Since then, the 26-year-old, who is currently valued at £5.4m by Transfermarkt, has made 105 appearances for Olympiacos across all competitions, racking up an impressive haul of 12 goals for the club.

In his team’s previous Europa League fixture against Fenerbahce, which saw the Greek side secure a 3-0 victory, Cisse made three tackles, won five out of his six duels and made one block and one clearance, ultimately earning himself a decent overall match rating of 7.1/10 according to SofaScore.

Next Van Dijk?

Regarding a potential move to Liverpool, we feel that Cisse, who stands at 1.97m which equates to 6 foot 5, could well be a good addition to Jurgen Klopp’s squad for some extra defensive depth.

With current Liverpool centre-backs Van Dijk and Matip both 30, perhaps the Reds are apparently eyeing a move for the Senegal defender as a replacement for one of their older centre-back options.

In our view, we feel that Liverpool should try and sign Cisse either in the upcoming January transfer window or next summer to add an extra centre-back who could then go on to be a regular figure for the team alongside Konate, Gomez and Phillips once Van Dijk and Matip eventually leave Anfield.

In other news: Klopp disaster: £200k-p/w LFC star’s value down by more than £20m since Anfield move

According to Jordan Campbell, Nikola Katic is on the verge of sealing a loan move to Hajduk Split from Glasgow Rangers.

The Lowdown: Katic needs game time

As the Gers won the Premiership for the first time in 10 years last term, Katic unfortunately did not play a single minute (Transfermarkt) – a bad injury in pre-season kept him out of the whole campaign (BBC).

He now needs game-time, and a solution appears to have been found.

The Latest: Katic to make loan move

As per The Athletic reporter Campbell on Twitter, £1.44m-valued Katic (Transfermarkt) is set to move out on loan.

He tweeted: “Understand that Nikola Katic is heading on loan to a Croatian club. Rangers have built up his fitness this summer but he needs to play football after such a long time out. Expect that there will be a recall clause in the deal, as is common when a player is being monitored.”

The Verdict: Perfect

It is quite obvious that Katic needs to play. After not featuring at all last season, he has not been picked by Steven Gerrard so far this term either. With Connor Goldson, Filip Helander, Jack Simpson and Leon Balogun to choose from in terms of centre-backs, Gerrard has plenty of options in that role.

This loan deal for Katic is not yet complete, but all involved should hope it gets completed before the window slams shut later today so that the Croatian can enjoy a fresh start elsewhere and make up for lost time.

With the clever decision to add in a recall clause, this feels like a win-win for all parties involved.

In other news, this former Gers ace could complete a shock move across the city.

Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Warburton has dropped an injury update following the Rs’ Championship defeat on Friday evening.

What’s the latest?

In comments cited by West London Sport, the 59-year-old revealed that central midfielder Stefan Johansen and centre-back Jordy de Wijs were both withdrawn in the 2-1 defeat to West Brom due to knocks, with Johansen in particular appearing to have injured his hamstring.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Warburton said: “Stef we’ll have to assess in the morning and the same with Jordy. We’re placing such a demand on players and they will break. You’re asking athletes to deal with demands their bodies can’t take.

“We played two away games in a few days and lost Lee Wallace. Sam McCallum – as fit as you like, played 41 games for Coventry last season – out with a hamstring injury.

“You look at all the injuries in the league. It’s walking wounded all the time. There has to be at least a debate about what we’re going to do here.”

Fans will be gutted

Considering how important both Johansen and De Wijs are to Warburton’s side, the respective injuries to the duo are sure to have left QPR fans gutted.

Indeed, over his nine Championship appearances so far this season, Johansen has scored one goal and provided his teammates with two assists, as well as making 1.9 key passes and 1.6 tackles and winning 3.4 duels per game.

These returns have seen the 30-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 6.88, ranking him as the Rs’ ninth-best performer in the second tier this term.

Meanwhile, over De Wijs’ nine league appearances, the 26-year-old has helped his side to keep two clean sheets and registered two assists, as well as averaging 2.2 tackles, 2.2 interceptions and six clearances and winning 6.4 duels per fixture.

These metrics have seen the centre-back average an impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.20, ranking him as Warburton’s joint second-best player in the Championship.

As such, should either of the stricken duo be ruled out for any length of time, it will undoubtedly come as a huge blow to QPR, who are now on a run of four games without a victory in the league.

In other news: “Quality” £3.15m-rated QPR dynamo drops promising injury update, fans will be buzzing

It’s not about talent, or natural ability. Becoming a professional footballer is all about how hard you work and the choices that you make during your career. It’s also about who you know! If there are people in your life with connections – like coaches, scouts, agents- then use them to get ahead of the competition. Because it takes more than just skill to become a professional football player these days; it takes drive and determination too!

What qualifications do you need to be a professional footballer?

To play professionally, the most important qualification is that you’re good enough. All players who want to earn money from football can’t be considered for playing in any league or team without meeting all the requirements set out by the individual teams. That means an ability to read and write English well, as well as being able to speak comfortably on behalf of yourself and your teammates. 

The rules vary among countries but they usually involve having no criminal record either in England or abroad, no history of drug or casino abuse (such as no deposit free spins) and medical certificates confirming that there are no conditions preventing you from working.

What are the chances of becoming a professional football player?

Your chances of becoming a professional footballer depend on many different factors. Where you live, the team that you play for, and if you have any sort of connection to a coach or scout all have an effect on your chances. At the end of the day, it is up to you to put in the hard work and dedication necessary to become a professional footballer.

Top tips for becoming a professional footballer Be willing to relocate for the right opportunity: Moving to a new town or country can be difficult, but it is sometimes necessary to give yourself the best possible chance of success. Get as much experience as you can: The more matches and training sessions you play in then the better your chance of being noticed by scouts and coaches. Play well with others: Competition for places is tough at professional clubs so if you want to get noticed than demonstrating your ability and willingness to work hard for your teammates is important too. Learn English: With so many foreign players in the Premier League, it’s crucial that young players understand English so they can speak confidently with their coaches and teammates. Have a back-up plan: All footballers get injured sometimes; if you’re lucky, it will be a minor injury and you’ll only miss a few games. But what about times when injuries can end your career? If that happens then having a solid education could save you from financial hardship in the future. Take up an active hobby: Given how much time football players spend on the field practicing, clubs prefer to sign those who have healthy interests such as horse riding or outdoor sports to help them recover from injury and maintain good mental health. Be coachable: When young players reach professional level, they often find themselves working under managers and coaches with decades of experience playing the game at the highest level. Sometimes younger players don’t feel confident in challenging a coach or manager’s decisions during a match. However, if you demonstrate faith in your colleagues and authority figures then they’ll be more likely to take you seriously on the pitch too. Develop good personal habits: Eating well, getting enough sleep each night and keeping healthy are all important factors in ensuring that players stay motivated and achieve their best performance levels on the football pitch. If you’re not taking care of yourself properly then it will be harder for coaches to trust you with a place in the team. Watch matches closely: Sometimes when watching a football match it can be easy to get caught up in what is happening elsewhere on the field rather than concentrating on your own role within the game. Keeping an eye on what other players are doing lets you learn from their good and bad play. Don’t give up: If you truly want to become a professional footballer then make sure that nothing gets in the way of achieving your dreams. Bad luck, injuries and lack of opportunities can all put talented players off going for their dream, but if that’s what you really want then persistence is key! Moving to a new town or country can be difficult, but it is sometimes necessary to give yourself the best possible chance of success.

The more matches and training sessions you play in then the better your chance of being noticed by scouts and coaches.

Having faith in your colleagues and authority figures then they’ll be more likely to take you seriously on the pitch too.

If you truly want to become a professional footballer then make sure that nothing gets in the way of achieving your dreams.

Conclusion

It’s not impossible to become a professional football player, but it is difficult. You need to be willing and able to relocate in order for your skillset to reach its full potential. It will also take time, effort, and dedication on your part.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly offered midfielder Moussa Sissoko in part exchange in an attempt to sign Juventus ace Weston McKennie [Tuttosport via Sportlens].

The Lowdown: Spurs continue squad re-structure as window nears an end

As 2021/22 starts to take shape, recently appointed Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be keen to continue re-structuring his squad as he eyes a push towards Champions League qualification this campaign.

Thus far, the Portuguese coach has managed to complete three additions in the form of Pierluigi Gollini, Cristian Romero and Bryan Gil [Transfermarkt].

Now, could it be a case of one in and one out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following recent developments.

The Latest: Spurs offer Sissoko in attempt to sign McKennie; Ndombele was initially offered

Tottenham were originally said to have offered former Lyon anchor man Tanguy Ndombele as a carrot in their pursuit to sign USA international McKennie this window [Sportslens].

However, his Italian employers refused the proposal, leading Spurs to present 32-year-old Sissoko as an alternative swap-plus-cash in order to acquire McKennie.

The Frenchman is one of the biggest earners at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on around £79,000-p/w [Salary Sport], but isn’t considered to hold precedence within their plans this season.

The Verdict: McKennie would be an inspired addition for Spurs this summer

Needing fresh blood in the middle of the park, McKennie would be an inspired signing by the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy due to his tenacious nature and abundance of energy.

In 2020/21, the American showed his quality in attack, registering nine goal contributions in 46 appearances; six goals and three assists [Transfermarkt].

Furthermore, his ability and composure within the midfield came to the surface last term, with McKennie managing to record a passing accuracy of 85.4% in Serie A across the piece [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘outstanding’ by former Schalke executive manager Christian Heidel, Spurs should look to close a deal before the window concludes [Schalke 04 Official].

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur eye a La Liga star. Find out who here

Taking to Twitter, reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has backed a development in West Ham United’s pursuit of Manchester United star and top target Jesse Lingard.

The Lowdown: West Ham ready to pay fee…

It is no secret that the 29-year-old is on manager David Moyes’ radar as he seeks to bolster his side’s options and give them a fighting chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

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After his sensational spell on loan in east London over the second half of 2020/2021, West Ham, Moyes and recruitment chief Rob Newman have been targeting Lingard as his current deal at Old Trafford looks set to expire at the end of this season.

The England international, as a result, can either wait until the summer and leave for free or opt to join a new club in January if any suitors table a bid before deadline day.

Recent reports say West Ham are indeed willing to do just that with the Irons now apparently ready to pay a £3million fee to seal Lingard’s signing.

The Latest: ExWHUemployee backs Lingard development…

Taking to social media, reliable Hammers source Ex backed this development in the Lingard transfer saga.

Whilst stating ‘yes’ in reply to a supporter who asked if there is any truth to the £3m bid rumours, the insider did also provide a degree of caution – going on to claim West Ham’s willingness to pay doesn’t necessarily mean the player wants to make the move.

The Verdict: Get it done…

While the £75,000-per-week ace’s current stance on a move to West Ham remains the last major hurdle, if his mind is swayed, signing him would be a big boost for Moyes.

Scoring nine goals and assisting four others in 16 Premier League starts last season on a temporary spell, Lingard is a proven player under the Irons boss and could gift the club a different dimension going forward.

Taking into account his 2021 numbers at West Ham, with talkSPORT pundit Adrian Durham calling him ‘absolutely phenomenal’, £3m seems like a real bargain.

Hammers supporters may be hoping that there is a development on Lingard’s side that favours him joining West Ham permanently before January 31.

In other news: ‘Please please please’, ‘Baller’, ‘Perfect’ – Many West Ham fans rave as GSB eye ‘fantastic signing’…find out more here.

Newcastle United have reportedly now ‘made’ a club-record ‘offer’ to sign Darwin Nunez in the summer.

The Lowdown: ‘Marquee’ signing

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) reportedly want to make a ‘marquee’ signing this summer, and Nunez tops that list.

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Described as an ‘absolute beast’ by Liverpool podcaster Hari Sethi after an impressive performance in the UEFA Champions League against the Reds, the six-foot-two starlet has notched up no fewer than 32 goals in just 37 games in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt), and will no doubt be on a lot of club’s radars come the transfer window.

The Latest: Offer made

As per transfer insider Santi Aouna, the St. James’ Park faithful have now ‘made an offer’ for Nunez ‘in recent weeks’, but ‘several’ clubs in Europe are ‘trying’ to sign him from Benfica.

He expanded in his article for Foot Mercato that the North East club have offered ‘more than’ €60m (£49.6m) for his signature, but face competition from PSG, FC Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.

The Verdict: Unlikely

Given the calibre of clubs interested, and off of the back of the season that he is having, it seems highly unlikely that the Magpies would be able to persuade Nunez to move to Tyneside.

They would not be able to offer him any European football, and so it is too early in their project to be going for names currently being chased by what seems like half of the big teams in Europe.

However, he is only 22 years of age, and so the Uruguay international could be one that they look to target in the future, once the PIF project is fully firing.

In other news, find out which Van Dijk-like colossus NUFC have now sent scouts to watch here!

After completing his loan spell in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers last season, where he managed to score seven goals and provide 11 assists in 42 appearances, Liverpool winger Harvey Elliott broke into Jurgen Klopp’s side at the start of this season, starting three out of their first four league games of the campaign.

Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he suffered a serious ankle injury during the 3-0 win over Leeds United back in September which has kept him out of action ever since.

Despite this setback, though, it now seems as though there is light at the end of the tunnel for the youngster.

What’s the latest?

On Monday, Elliott completed some exercises on Liverpool’s outside training pitches for the first time since undergoing surgery on his ankle, which will surely leave a lot of Reds fans buzzing.

Given how the Merseysiders have had some other injury issues in recent weeks with the likes of Naby Keita, James Milner and Roberto Firmino, it’s safe to say that this update on the teenager will be a welcome slice of good news for Kopites.

While there may still be a way to go before he recovers fully and is able to get back in matchday action with the rest of his Liverpool teammates, this is still a big step forward for Elliott and his overall recovery given the severity of his injury.

In the four league games he played for Liverpool before sustaining his injury, the teenager – who is currently valued at £13.5m according to Transfermarkt – racked up an average of 1.8 shots and 1.3 key passes per game, proving to be as a real attacking threat for Klopp’s side even though he hadn’t scored or set up a goal.

Moving forward, if Elliott can proceed with the rest of his recovery with success, he has shown that he definitely has what it takes to get himself back in the team and continue being a useful attacking midfield option for the Reds. That could ultimately make him an important part of Liverpool’s push for the Premier League title by the end of the campaign, especially if he can add some goals and assists to his locker.

In other news: Liverpool gem who’s “out of this world” has just shown in 122 touches why he’s Klopp’s hero

A huge Rangers transfer claim has emerged over Ibrox central midfielder Joe Aribo…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, a recruitment source has revealed that an English team sent a scout to watch the Gers machine last week.

The report claims that the insider has told them that Crystal Palace are stepping up their interest in the midfielder ahead of the summer, with other – unnamed – Premier League teams also keen on him.

He is out of contract in the summer of 2023 but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be willing to put pen to paper on an extension in Glasgow.

Supporters will be fuming

This update will surely leave the fans fuming as it suggests that Rangers are going to be under fierce pressure to sell the midfielder this summer.

Palace are pressing ahead with plans to snap him up and the Gers may be left with no choice but to cash in on him if they cannot negotiate a new contract. It is not worth the risk of losing him for nothing if they can recoup a sizeable fee for him ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, as the money the English side pay for him can then be used to source a replacement.

Whilst this means that a deal would make sense from a financial standpoint, that does not mean that the fans will be happy to see the back of him.

The midfielder has popped up with some big moments for the Gers throughout the campaign as he has chipped in with vital goals and assists – including two against Braga last week.

Earlier this season, van Bronckhorst lavished Aribo with praise as he said: “He’s played his role really well and I’m really happy with his performances.

“When you have a midfield player who is dangerous with his runs, with his off-ball movement, you create more danger from different areas. I think Joe is playing really well at this time. I’m happy with his performances.”

These comments highlight how much the head coach rates the gem and suggest that he would be gutted to lose him to Palace in the summer.

It is easy to see why the supporters and head coach will want him to stay when you look at his statistics this season so far. In the Premiership, he has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 31 matches – averaging a superb SofaScore rating of 7.11.

He has been for the Gers in the league as he has been able to deliver quality end product in the final third and it will now be a nervous few months as the fans await a verdict on his future at Ibrox…

AND in other news, Huge blow: Rangers hit with fresh injury concern that’ll infuriate Gvb…