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Wolves came within inches of signing Lille midfielder Renato Sanches in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Sanches constantly linked with move

Bruno Lage was linked with bringing in a host of players during the summer, but few were tipped to move to Molineux more often than Sanches.

The 32-time capped Portugal international ended up staying put at Lille for the time being, but he has only started five Ligue 1 games so far this season.

It appears as though Wolves came closer to snapping up Sanches than some may have realised, however.

The Latest: Spiers makes big claim

During a Q&A for The Athletic on Thursday [via Molineux.news], Spiers claimed that the 24-year-old could easily be a Wanderers player but his injury record held him back, also not ruling out a deal happening in the future:

“(I) was told a couple of weeks ago that with Sanches they were as close as you could be to signing a player without it actually happening.

“And that if they’d known how quickly he would have returned to action (early October) they probably would have gone through with signing him.

“Ultimately it came down to his injury and a fear that he could have been out until late October/early November, plus the games he’d then have taken to get up to speed, meaning you might not have him properly match sharp until, what, now kind of time? And then you’re paying his wages in full, plus a hefty loan fee.

“So it was considered too big a risk. And this is a player who’s never completed more than 60 per cent of a season before. Very injury prone. We’ll see what happens going forward but he’s not going to be short of offers. I hope they can resurrect it because a fit Renato Sanches would bring such a different dynamic to this team.”

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The Verdict: Still a chance?

It is a shame to lose out on a player as gifted as Sanches – he won the prestigious European Golden Boy award in 2016 and has been hailed as ‘incredible’ by Kevin Campbell – but all hope may not be lost.

The midfielder’s lack of playing time for Lille could suggest he may move on in January or next summer, at which point Wolves may choose to swoop.

Granted, Sanches has had an injury-plagued career but he could bring something different in the middle of the park, having averaged two dribbles per game and a 91.6% pass completion rate at Euro 2020 with Portugal.

In comparison, Ruben Neves (0.5) and Joao Moutinho (0.3) have averaged far fewer dribbles in the league this season, suggesting that Sanches could complement their more measured style nicely.

In other news, some Wolves fans have flocked to a Wanderers transfer claim. Read more here.

A fresh twist has emerged in the future of Chuks Aneke, regarding his current contract situation at Charlton.

What’s the talk?

Charlton boss Nigel Adkins has revealed that Chuks Aneke wants to sign a contract extension to remain at The Valley next season. Aneke is out of contract at the end of the month and Charlton are currently locked in discussions with the forward over a new deal.

TEAMtalk reported earlier this month that Aneke was gunning for a move to a Championship club on a free transfer, with Middlesbrough, QPR and Reading among those said to be interested in signing him.

Adkins has now confirmed that Aneke and the other players in talks with the club have told him that they would like to stay at Charlton beyond the end of the month. He told London News Online:

“We released three [players] and the others I wanted to stay at the football club.

“They have all said to me they want to stay, which is a big thing.”

“They and their agents are in negotiation with Steve Gallen, who is representing our football club in those negotiations and our budget.”

After a win over Wigan in March, former Charlton boss Lee Bowyer hailed the forward. He told London News Online:

“He was immense up there again today. He’s unplayable, on his day he’s unplayable. The only disappointing thing, if I’m him, is that he didn’t score more.

“To have that hunger and that aggression in the box, that hunger to score every time you get a chance. He could have had four today if he really wanted it but he got one and it’s won us the game. I’m really pleased for him, I thought he’s done really well.”

Fans will be relieved

Charlton fans will be relieved by this news as it was previously looking likely that Aneke would be departing the club this summer.

The aforementioned report made it sound as though Aneke was certain to leave Charlton and was pushing for a move to the second tier but Adkins’ comments appear to provide a twist to the tale with the forward keen to remain at the League One outfit.

Therefore, fans should be buzzing by this news and may be able to stop worrying about him leaving on a free transfer next month.

Aneke is a crucial player for Charlton after playing a key role in their 2020/21 League One campaign, albeit as the club just missed out on a play-off place. The former Arsenal man was Charlton’s top goalscorer with 15 League One strikes to his name, showing that he was their main source for goals, highlighting that his exit would be a massive blow.

The £5.4k-per-week star provided more than just his goalscoring. He averaged 3.4 aerial battles won per game, despite coming off the bench 27 times, which shows that he was a useful outlet for Charlton if they wanted to hit the ball long to alleviate pressure.

Aneke could hold the ball up and allow his teammates to come up the pitch and push higher up on the opposition to prevent themselves from getting boxed in. Therefore, Aneke staying at Charlton could be a gigantic boost for the club and fans will be delighted by this update from Adkins.

AND in other news, Get it done: Charlton must seal deal for “talented” £3k-p/w ace, Adkins would love it…

Reports by Marca over the weekend claimed that Real Madrid plan to offer Luka Jovic out to potential suitors for a summer sale, and David Moyes should see that West Ham United are in the mix for the Serbian’s signature.

The Irons had shown an interest in Jovic’s availability for the winter market as they lined up possible replacements for Sebastien Haller, with Defensa Central noting in November that he could increase the quality available.

The London Stadium natives were again linked the day after Haller sealed a £20m move to AFC Ajax, with Caught Offside reporting that West Ham had approached Real Madrid to sound out their chances of acquiring Jovic.

West Ham ultimately failed to seal a deal for the 23-year-old Los Blancos spent £52.5m to sign in 2019, and he would instead secure a return to Eintracht Frankfurt to see out the rest of the season under the coach in Adi Hutter he scored 27 goals in 48 games in 2018/19.

Jovic had failed to make the grade in the Spanish capital during his 19-months under Zinedine Zidane with just two goals in 32 games, but has already achieved double that tally in 14 appearances back with Die Adler.

He is now expected to be made available for a permanent move away from the Santiago Bernabeu once the £18m-rated forward returns to Madrid, as Los Blancos make efforts to raise funds for necessary summer reinforcements.

The La Liga giants are refusing to rest on their laurels despite a 35th Spanish top-flight title and 14th Champions League crown still being achievable, and will need to make room for players like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland to arrive.

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Real Madrid are expected to clear space both physically and financially by parting with a number of options in Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Isco, Alvaro Odriozola, Mariano Diaz and Jovic, while Sergio Ramos and Lucas Vazquez are out of contract at the end of the season.

If Jovic does prove to be available for a move away from Spain this summer, Moyes should urge West Ham to revive their interest given his continued need for attacking depth after opting against replacing Haller in the winter market.

Jovic is a widely lauded forward despite his struggles in Madrid and is considered to be “just unbelievable” by Eintracht Frankfurt teammate Filip Kostic, with whom he combined for five of his 17 Bundesliga goals in 2018/19 for the joint-best partnership in the division.

He may not have yet rediscovered the same prolific touch in front of the net that saw him become a Galactico, but Jovic’s instant impact back in Germany with a brace on his second debut against FC Schalke 04 offered the foundations for him to help Frankfurt claim 30 of a possible 42 points – only Bayern Munich (35) have taken more since January 16.

Eintracht Sporting Director Fredi Bobic also acknowledges that Jovic was re-signed when not 100 per cent match fit, but Hutter still believes “he is on the right track” and is satisfied with his overall contributions to the team.

Moyes now playing on Jovic’s uncertain future at Real Madrid to add depth to West Ham’s attack could see the Irons boss add a player who is still young and on the way back to his best, then, and one even likened to Sergio Aguero by AS Monaco boss Niko Kovac for “his technique and instinct”.

AND in other news, a £4.5m-rated West Ham enforcer is being lined up for a summer move out of east London…

Manchester City currently have the best defensive record in the Premier League with 21 goals conceded in 33 league games.

One figure, in particular, that has contributed a lot to that impressive feat is defender, Aymeric Laporte.

Signed from Athletic Bilbao back in the 2018 January transfer window, the centre-back has made 148 appearances in total for the Manchester club.

With 28 league appearances to his name in this campaign, only three other outfield players have racked up more minutes than the Spaniard.

In terms of what he’s delivered for the team, only Joao Cancelo (2363) has completed more passes in the entire league than Laporte (2355), showing just how much of the ball gets passed around through the centre-back.

From a defensive point of view, the 27-year-old has racked up 14 tackles, 125 pressures, 19 blocks, 29 interceptions and 64 clearances, highlighting how involved and capable he is when required to defend.

Even though Pep Guardiola’s side have some massive games left to play in the Premier League and Champions League before the summer transfer window opens, it seems the club could be in the mix to replicate the same sort of masterclass they made with Laporte.

According to reports in Spain, City have joined their rivals Manchester United in the race to sign Villarreal defender Pau Torres.

Labelled as having an “extraordinary talent to construct the play” by former Villarreal player and coach Javi Calleja, Torres has the second-highest number of passes at the club during this current La Liga campaign.

This shows the similarities between him and his fellow countryman Laporte in terms of being particularly useful when it comes to passing the ball out from the back.

Also, with 11 tackles, 168 pressures, 39 interceptions and 103 clearances under his belt in La Liga this season, the £45m-rated 25-year-old can also hold his own in terms of defending his goal.

Moving forward, should Guardiola feel the need to strengthen what is already a strong defence, adding Torres to their ranks could be the best option as someone that can fit the bill of how the game is played at the Etihad Stadium.

In other news: Contact made: Man City in talks for “sensational” £150m signing, Pep would love him

Former Premier League striker Dean Windass has told Football FanCast that there is only one thing standing in Manchester City’s way in the Champions League: Bayern Munich.

Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side remain in with a real chance of doing the quadruple this season, currently lying 14 points clear at the summit of the Premier League, in the final of the Carabao Cup, the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and in a good position in Europe’s prestigious club cup competition.

In the latter, they are well set to progress to the quarter-finals, having beaten Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 in the first leg in Germany ahead of the second leg on Tuesday.

And Windass, who enjoyed a storied playing career with the likes of Hull City, Bradford City, and Aberdeen, insists that Bayern are the only possible team who can stop their old manager from tasting European glory again with City.

Bayern, of course, are the reigning champions in the competition, and beat Lazio 4-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, Windass said: “The only way they won’t win the Champions League, the only way they won’t get to the final of the Champions League, is if they play Bayern.

“If Bayern Munich and Man City get to the final and avoid each other, that is the only way that City won’t win it. Or if they draw them in the next round!”

Windass believes that City are nailed on to win the Premier League and has been in disbelief at the fact they have been on this run whilst not always playing an out-and-out number nine.

He added: “Will they win the Premier League? Obviously.

“They can win at any time. They can step up at any time. We’ve been talking about number nines, they haven’t even got one!  Just embarrassing, isn’t it?

“You know, you watch them and I was listening to Tim Sherwood, he was watching the game against Gladbach and it’s like, when do we want to win the game? We’ll decide when we want to win the game.

“That is how good they are.”

With the squad fighting on four fronts, Windass is in no doubt that Guardiola will prioritise the Champions League, which remains the only competition City are yet to win under his management.

He said: “It’s just about getting the right squad and the right team to play in the Champions League.”

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is set to depart the club after seven and a half years at Selhurst Park.

What’s the story?

According to The Athletic, the 34-year-old shot-stopper will become a free agent this summer after falling down the pecking order in south London.

Hennessey made just a single senior appearance for Palace last season, with Jack Butland and Vicente Guaita keeping him out of the squad.

Fans will be buzzing

It’s set to be a turbulent few months for the Eagles as chairman Steve Parrish plans a mass overhaul of the first-team squad.

Over a dozen players will find themselves out of contract at the end of the month unless something drastic happens, and Hennessey will be one of them.

Following four years of stable, mid-table finishes under the tutelage of Roy Hodgson, Palace are about to enter a new phase of their history.

A large air of uncertainty is gathering over the capital club, but one guarantee is that their long-serving keeper will be representing a different side next season.

Hennessey made 132 appearances for Palace throughout his time with the club, conceding 189 goals and keeping 37 clean sheets.

Despite his longevity at Selhurst Park, the Wales international has rarely satisfied the supporters with his performances on the pitch.

His unathletic 6 ft 6 frame often appeared to hinder his agility and reaction time, making him look awkward and laboured on many occasions.

After Guaita replaced him between the sticks halfway through the 2018/19 campaign, Hennessey could find no way back into the starting XI, and his Spanish teammate soon established himself as a firm fan’s favourite.

While Hennessey undoubtedly deserves credit for his loyalty and professionalism at Palace, he had become a liability in the final few months of his time with the Eagles and the club’s supporters will be buzzing to see him and his £40,000-per-week wage packet depart the club this summer as that money can surely be better invested elsewhere.

The club needs all the resources and finances they can get in order to bring in the next generation of talent in the current transfer market, and Hennessey’s departure could free up wages to give to a new star.

And, in other news…Imagine him and Lampard: Palace could form a dream duo with “different class” £15m gem 

It’s not often a player comes into a national side and captains them instantly. However, for Wolves defender Conor Coady he’s had that incredibly rare honour.

The centre-back has captained the side in two of his first five caps for England and is now with the Three Lions during the ongoing European Championships.

Described as “phenomenal” by Old Gold reporter Tim Spiers for that very accomplishment, an impressive tournament could earn him a big move.

That being said, Coady may well struggle for opportunities with Harry Maguire to return from injury and Tyrone Mings ahead of him in the pecking order.

If he does earn a chance and catches the eye, it could provoke Everton to move for him.

After all, with the club strongly considering Nuno Santo as their new manager, Coady has naturally been linked with a move to Goodison Park.

Hailing from Merseyside, the centre-half epitomises what it means to be a leader. He is often seen shouting words of encouragement to his teammates and barking orders at those in the defensive line.

Notoriously, he struggles in a four-man defence but in a three, he is the complete sweeper.

Coady’s numbers don’t particularly do him much justice. He wins just 0.9 tackles and 1.1 aerial battles per game but that’s dictated by his role in the side.

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Often playing in the middle of a three-man defence, it’s the 28-year-old’s role to mop up any loose balls and play the ball forward with his feet.

That’s an area he excels in, completing 88% of his passes this term, a tally only bettered by Yerry Mina of the club’s regular starters.

If Everton do complete a managerial move for Nuno, then it could see the duo reunited in a feared combination.

Speaking about the Portuguese manager last year, Coady commented: “He brought in a vision & he talked about a project [at Wolves]. The way he wants to play he makes it so easy for everybody to listen to him and pick up his ideas. That’s the biggest thing I can say. As a manager he’s amazing and what he has done for this club has been absolutely incredible.”

That’s a ringing endorsement for Everton supporters and with Coady clearly a player that Nuno trusts, this could be quite the duo for the Toffees heading into next season.

The England international isn’t the most terrifying of players but his leadership qualities are second to none in the Premier League. He’d be a superb addition for that reason alone.

AND in other news, Brands must seal Everton swoop for 56-goal “nightmare”, he’s a “very dangerous weapon”…

Mike Ashley should dig a little deeper into his pockets to fund a successful move for Newcastle United to sign Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer this summer.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the Toon are readying an £8m offer for Ajer as they look to play on Celtic’s weakened bargaining position.

Ajer will enter the final 12 months of his £14,000-a-week contract this summer and will be able to begin negotiating free transfers with foreign and cross-border clubs from January.

Ajer, who Noel Whelan describes as a “big personality”, has set his sights on a move to the Premier League if he is to leave Parkhead, but also has interest from clubs in Serie A, per Daily Mail.

AC Milan were heavily linked with the Norway international last summer after technical director Paolo Maldini confirmed the San Siro natives’ interest, but Ajer was denied a move as Celtic considered him to be a key player.

The Hoops value Ajer highly yet are aware that his current deal leaves the Scottish giants at risk of losing the 22-year-old for a fraction of their asking price, which is thought to be close to £35m.

Newcastle have held a long-standing interest in the 6 ft 6 enforcer, although the St James’ Park natives are aware of the need to secure their Premier League status in order to present an attractive destination in the off-season.

Steve Bruce’s position at the helm is not thought to affect United’s interest in Ajer, who the Toon believe will have a wealth of suitors in the next transfer window.

Should Newcastle sign Celtic’s Ajer?

This summer looks set to be the end of Ajer’s time at Celtic as the defender has relentlessly been urged to quit Parkhead and join a more competitive division by the Norway setup.

Head coach Stale Solbakken told Norwegian newspaper VG earlier this month: “He has to change league now. He does not have enough challenges in everyday life there.

“Therefore, I think he has got some habits, which you do not notice until he meets better opposition in international matches or Europe. So, I think that is a smart move by him.”

Former Fulham defender Brede Hangeland, now an assist coach for the Norwegian national side, has allegedly told Ajer several times that he needs to change clubs to find a bigger challenge, too.

However, it would be expected that Celtic would reject Newcastle’s approach for Ajer if the Toon only present an £8m bid to offer the defender a taste of Premier League football this summer, should they stay up.

Celtic held firm against interest from AC Milan last year when they were only said to value Ajer at £25m, while rumours also surfaced of interest from Arsenal and Leicester City – who would be expected to present the promise of another year of European football.

Newcastle will not have the allure of Champions League or Europa League action to impress the centre-back, so Ashley may have to dig a little deeper into his pockets and present not only the funds Celtic are demanding but also a contract which carries a significant pay rise.

Doing so would see the United owner, who is not thought to be planning on bankrolling deals, land the Magpies a promising young centre-back who already has an amazing skill set, as noted by interim Celtic boss John Kennedy, who said last month [via quotes shared by The Scotsman]:

“I’ve no doubt that there will be interest in him. He’s still very young and he’s an international player. With his profile of speed, size, technique and ability – there’s going to be interest in him.

“He’s a great character and a leader, in terms of how he works and conducts himself. We know he’s a good footballer, but we’ve always tried to work on his aggression the box. That didn’t come naturally to him as a kid, but he’s got it in his game now.”

AND in other news, Newcastle are closely monitoring a £13.5k-p/w dud who’s “been caught out” this season…

Norwich City have been handed a major boost regarding Daniel Farke ahead of the club’s upcoming Premier League campaign.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to the Canaries’ sporting director Stuart Webber, who, in a recent interview with The Sun, claimed that Norwich fans do not need to concern themselves with the future of Farke, as the 44-year-old is set to sign a new deal ahead of next season.

Webber said: “The supporters do not need to worry. I would be very surprised if he has not signed an extended contract by the time we kick a ball again in August.

“I spoke to Daniel during the international break in March. We agreed to speak at the end of the season, which we have done. We are in a position where we would like him to stay and he would like to stay. He believes in the club and what we are trying to do.”

Fans will be buzzing

Having taken over at Norwich back in May of 2017, Farke has already enjoyed a great deal of success in his time at Carrow Road.

After finishing in 14th place in the second tier during his first season in charge, Norwich then shocked the Championship by winning the league title with a whopping 94 points in the manager’s second season at the club.

A disappointing Premier League campaign followed, with the Canaries being immediately relegated after finishing bottom of the league – although both Farke and his side earned praise for their ambitious and attacking style of football as well as their faith in youth prospects – with players such as Ben Godfrey, Max Aarons, Todd Cantwell and Jamal Lewis all featuring regularly in the top flight.

However, this disappointment regarding relegation did not last long, as, in the season just past, the Canaries bounced straight back up as league champions, securing Farke’s second league title over just four years in Norfolk.

Away from the pitch, Norwich have also made dramatic improvements under Farke’s leadership, with the German manager, alongside Stuart Webber and chief operating officer Ben Kensell, transforming the club into one that is self-sustaining financially – with Farke being a key component in the Canaries’ Moneyball-style transfer strategy.

As touched upon earlier, the club also now have a number of highly valuable assets due to Farke’s faith in youth prospects, with the likes of Aarons, Cantwell and Emi Buendia being valued by the club as worth approximately £100m in the current market, three players whom the club spent a total of £1.35m in transfer fees on.

As such, Farke’s influence on the fortunes of Norwich City simply cannot be understated, and that the news the 44-year-old looks set to remain at Carrow Road for the foreseeable future is undoubtedly an update that will leave fans of the club buzzing.

In other news: Concerning claim on “tenacious” Norwich star emerges that’ll surely leave Farke gutted – opinion

Celtic have received an official bid for talisman Odsonne Edouard from Rubin Kazan, whilst Everton have also registered an interest in his services [Sky Sports].

The Lowdown: Celtic wary of potential outgoings as window nears an end

With only a few days until the transfer window slams to a close, Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou will be under no illusions that he could still lose star players between now and next week as his summer rebuild enters its final stages.

Of course, speculation around key men has dominated much of the narrative at Parkhead, with nervousness over the futures of influential figures such as Ryan Christie [Scotsman].

Celtic could now be braced for a potential bidding war, with Edouard once again in the headlines.

The Latest: Rubin Kazan submit £15.4 million offer

Rubin Kazan are said to have formalised an offer of £15.4 million for 6 foot 2 ace, whose contract at Parkhead is due to expire next summer [Sky Sports].

The Russian giants are looking to pay the fee in instalments, starting with an initial £8.5 million payment followed by two blocks of £3.4 million.

Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux are willing to match the sum, whilst Everton have are also keeping a keen eye on his situation.

The Verdict: Conflicting emotions for the Celtic support

Currently at risk of losing the Frenchman for nothing next year, securing some sort of fee for Edouard may make business sense for Celtic.

Despite this, the 23-year-old has started 2021/22 in commendable style, fashioning five goal contributions in ten appearances; three goals and two assists [Transfermarkt].

His impact in the new term has been larger than the sum of three goals would suggest, as Edouard has turned in an average match rating of 7.71/10 in this timeframe [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘magnificent’ by former Celtic boss Neil Lennon, letting go of Edouard would be a financially prosperous move, but would no doubt weaken the Hoops’ Scottish Premiership title charge [Glasgow Live].

In other news, Celtic could be about to land an Edouard replacement. Find out more here.