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It would be fair to say that Sofiane Boufal never appeared to make the grade at Southampton during his time with the club.

A lot was expected of the Morocco international when Claude Puel splashed out a cool £16.83 million (as per Transfermarkt) on him in the summer of 2016.

He may have shown glimpses of the quality he could provide for the Saints, however, he failed to show anything more than that and Mark Hughes seemingly had enough and decided to let him leave on loan.

Now, Boufal seems to have found his feet for Celta de Vigo and had become a key player for the La Liga outfit in a year that has seen them struggle near the foot of the table.

Having spent the season on loan with them, the 23-year-old scored three goals and provided his team-mates with three assists in his 37 appearances, although that could have been a whole lot more if his end product had been better than what it was.

The Morocco international also had the most successful dribbles in LaLiga throughout the 2018/19 campaign, which is impressive going with the style of football played in Spain (Marca) and the quality of players in the league!

However, AS have revealed that he is likely to return to Southampton this summer and that could actually benefit the Premier League side hugely.

With Ralph Hasenhuttl now in charge, Boufal could have the perfect opportunity to show the club what he can bring to the pitch and could now have the type of manager to help him develop further and put him on the right path within English football.

Let’s be honest, Puel and Hughes are hardly the right types of manager that can get the best out of a naturally gifted and technical player.

The Austrian is famed for his ability to get the best out of the younger players within a squad; you only have to look at Yann Valery to prove that point this season.

Ralph Krueger revealed in the Daily Mail back in January that the manager would be prepared to take a look at Boufal (and Guido Carrillo) in the summer and could be handed the opportunity to revive his career at Southampton should he impress.

Should Hasenhuttl be able to work with him and get the best out of him, he will feel like a new signing at the St. Mary’s Stadium and one that could benefit the club immensely.

Southampton fans, do you think Hasnehuttl will be able to get the best out of Boufal? Let us know below!

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According to The Daily Mail, Aston Villa are expected to bid £10m for Joe Lolley this summer.

With the news coming just days after the Villans secured promotion back to the Premier League, it appears they aren’t wasting any time in looking to improve their squad.

The report claims that Villa boss Dean Smith has put the 26-year-old at the top of his list for a spot on the right wing, a position that clearly needs improving ahead of a return to the top-flight.

Lolley was in superb form for Nottingham Forest this term, finding the net on 11 occasions, so he certainly knows where the goal is.

Per The Daily Mail, Lolley is also a fan of the club, watching matches from the Holte end when he was younger. As a result, that could well hold an advantage in negotiations if the club follow up in their interest for the winger.

But with a potential move on the cards, Football FanCast writers have given their verdicts on whether he would be a good signing. Here’s what they’ve had to say.

Luke Glanville:

“It would be easy to suggest that Joe Lolley impressing so much for Nottingham Forest this season proves that he’s found his level in the Sky Bet Championship. However, the 26-year-old right winger was never really given enough of a chance with Huddersfield Town in the Premier League. So for me, the jury remains out, which means there’s no reason why Aston Villa shouldn’t go for the Englishman. And if it’s going to cost them a mere £10 million, it’s undoubtedly a risk worth taking.”

Jack Saville:

“It’s rarely easy to predict how a player will make the jump from Championship to Premier League football, and Lolley is certainly no exception to the rule. However, considering his versatility and the fact he managed to grab 22-goal contributions this season, it could prove to be a cunning piece of business from Villa if they can seal a £10 million deal. Smith clearly has to bolster his options in wide areas to have any chance of surviving next season and bringing Lolley in would be a great place to start.”

James Beavis:

“He probably would be a good signing, but Aston Villa simply don’t need him now. Anwar El Ghazi proved at Wembley on Monday that he is good enough to be Villa’s first-choice winger in the Premier League, and signing him on a permanent basis should now be Dean Smith’s priority. They would be throwing money down the drain if they sign Lolley as well as El Ghazi, so should stand by their promotion hero instead.”

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Ryan Sessegnon has set his heart on a move to Tottenham Hotspur, per The Guardian, much to the delight of supporters.

The Fulham youngster can play as a full-back or a winger and has reportedly informed the club that he does not intend to sign a new contract, with his current deal set to expire next summer.

He is said to be desperate to play under Mauricio Pochettino in north London, as he believes his talent would bloom under the Argentine’s tutelage.

It remains to be seen whether a fee can be agreed; Fulham are reported to want £45m for the 19-year-old but Spurs are keen to pay around £25m.

His declaration of intent, however, may force Fulham’s hand as they run the risk of losing a player who emerged from their relegation season with credit for nothing at the conclusion of the 2019/20 campaign.

And Spurs fans are thrilled at the prospect of securing one of the highest-rated young players in the country in this transfer window, with one even claiming he is a more important acquisition that Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele, who has long been linked with the club.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

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The summer transfer window is well and truly underway, and with Marcelo Bielsa sticking around for another season, it will be a vital few months for Leeds.

After missing out on promotion in gutting circumstances Leeds will be more eager than ever to return to the Premier League, and they will need to bolster their options in order to do so.

According to Express and Star, the Whites are interested in Wolves winger Helder Costa, who the club reportedly want on loan next season.

Having initially joined Wolves from Benfica on loan in 2016, he helped guide the club back into the Premier League after his deal was eventually made permanent, scoring five goals and providing six assists in 36 Championship appearances.

But the step up to top-flight football has seen the 25-year-old slip down the pecking order, though he still made 16 starts under Nuno Espirito Santo last season.

Costa has impressed in the Championship before, but what have those in the know said about the former Benfica man?

Paul Lambert – Former Wolves manager

“The third goal was just an absolutely world-class goal… Once Costa’s got the ball in the box then he can make you look silly and that’s what he did.”

Those were the words of former Wolves boss Paul Lambert, via the club’s official website, following a 3-1 win against Cardiff City. In his first season in England, Costa was a menace to deal with in the Championship, as the winger provided 10 goals and eight assists for the West Midlands side.

Costa was a favourite of Lambert’s during their year together at Molineux, and his praise for the attacker sums up how important the winger has been over the years at Wolves.

Ben Husband – Birmingham Live journalist

“He has breathtaking skill and has some of the best feet seen at Molineux in a long time. When full of confidence he runs fearlessly at defenders and is always looking to go forward. In the latter stages of his Wolves career, he has appeared bereft of belief and it has told on his game. When he is not on it, he stands out like a sore thumb and can be shrugged off the ball easily.”

It’s not just former managers that have been impressed with Costa. Journalists who cover the former Benfica man have raved about the attacker during his time in England as well, none so more than Birmingham Live reporter Ben Husband, who recently spoke about the Portuguese winger’s proposed move to the Whites.

Husband also pointed out that although Costa has his moments, the winger is currently lacking in confidence.

Noel Whelan – Former Leeds striker

“He is a fantastic player, loads of pace, can make things happen – the sort of player that can change games and win games for you. We need more players like that and if that is to materialise then what a fantastic first signing – second signing after Bielsa – that is if Leeds United can get hold of that kind of player.

“He’s got everything that you kind of need in a player to open up doors – we’ve only really got Pablo Hernandez who can actually do that consistently or who has that different level of quality. Helder Costa would just add another dimension.”

Although Costa’s playing time in the Premier League last season was limited, the winger’s previous accomplishments in the Championship have been enough to impress those with strong ties to Leeds, one of those being former star Noel Whelan.

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In an interview before the Netherlands’ UEFA Nations League final against Portugal, Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum made an admission that could well help solve some of the few gaps remaining in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

When asked if he feels more comfortable in Klopp’s system or Ronald Koeman’s, the former Newcastle man said: “Both, but, I like to attack.

“I think every player likes to attack if they can attack. I prefer to play as a No.10, but I’m also comfortable in the role where I play at Liverpool. So, it just depends where the team needs me, where the manager needs me.

“But, since I’m young I prefer to play higher on the pitch and I’m happy that I can do it for the national team.”

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

An ideal Philippe Coutinho replacement and Roberto Firmino backup

Before arriving at Liverpool and being turned into an out-and-out centre midfielder, Wijnaldum was more of a No. 10 at PSV Eindhoven and then Newcastle, where he netted 14 Eredivisie goals before notching 11 in 38 league games for the Magpies – he even hit four in one game against Norwich in October 2015 and two against the Reds in December 2015.

He has proven that he can be an effective source of creativity in the No.10 position behind the striker, a type that the Reds have definitely been missing since the departure of Philippe Coutinho back in 2018 – their midfield nowadays is filled with workmanlike types such as Fabinho, James Milner and Jordan Henderson. Xherdan Shaqiri is perhaps the only exception but has found himself used sparingly by Klopp.

Wijnaldum isn’t a certified starter in Klopp’s midfield three anyway, finding himself left on the bench in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, whilst the topic of whether he or Milner should start in the final was the only question mark over the German’s team selection.

By moving the 54-cap midfielder further up into a No.10 position, this would also make Klopp’s life simpler in terms of team selection and give the Dutchman his wish of playing in a more advanced role.

But the 28-year-old was also entrusted by Klopp to play in Roberto Firmino’s position as a false 9 against Barcelona in the first leg of the semi-finals and played extremely well, helping link the play in the first leg before notching a double in the second leg.

He would be a very capable like-for-like back-up for Firmino, something Liverpool also lack, due to the fact he is tenacious and somewhat defensively minded whilst possessing attacking traits. The fundamental job of Liverpool’s front-man is to play through Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah – albeit lacking a little physicality, Wijnaldum certainly has the technical ability and vision to do just that.

The Dutchman’s excellent versatility and tactical flexibility makes him a great player for Liverpool to have in their armoury and one that can solve two of the biggest problems Klopp’s squad currently faces in terms of personnel.

What do Southampton do with Jordy Clasie?

The 27-year-old has been a flop at St. Mary’s and they now seem to be having quite the dilemma with trying to offload him permanently.

De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness) reports that AZ, who are keen on signing Clasie this summer, want Southampton to pay part of his salary.

Having had him on their books since 2015, though, you would think that the south coast club would not want to pay any more money given his failure.

Bearing that in mind, a sell to another club may be the best option here. That, however, could prove problematic, with the same report stating Clasie is determined to continue in Dutch football and will not consider anything else.

Frustrating from Southampton’s point of view? Probably. It has severely limited the amount of potential suitors. The Premier League outfit, however, should not be surprised.

As well as the Netherlands being his native country, of course, the Eredivisie is where he has played his best football. You only have to look at his time in England to know that.

Last season, the defensive midfielder averaged 2.6 tackles per game for Feyenoord, which is vastly more than the 1.1 he was making at Southampton back in the 2016/17 campaign.

In Dutch football’s top flight, Clasie has also proven to be way more of a creative force. He made 0.9 key passes per game and averaged 67.6 passes overall. In contrast, at Southampton, his numbers for both those passing areas were 0.3 and 38.9 (as per WhoScored).

Quite clearly, the Eredivisie is where the Netherlands international has been able to express himself best; it is his comfort zone.

Based on that, Southampton should not be surprised that they have been left in a position where they can only send him to one place this summer.

Southampton fans, what are your thoughts on the latest Clasie development? Let us know in the comment section below!

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It seems that the holiday season for some of footballing superstars is coming to a close.

With the new Premier League campaign little over six weeks away, preparations for another gruelling season are now underway.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli is one of those players that is already on the grind to get himself as fit and strong as possible ahead of the 2019/20 season.

Indeed, the former MK Dons man shared an Instagram snap from Los Angeles that shows he’s already back in the gym.

Alli’s most recent season was a story of underachievement. For all his talent and seemingly extraordinary potential, he struggled to discover his majestic best form on a consistent basis last season.

Fleeting moments of quality manifested from time to time, but all too often games would pass him by.

The 23-year-old scored five times and assisted a further three in 25 Premier League games, a modest return for a player of whom so much is expected.

Still, he is a young player and very much developing his style, and he has vowed to return stronger next year. His Instagram picture would indicate that his actions are mirroring his words.

If he can stay injury free we might well see his promise come to fruition.

With Andy Carroll released on a free upon the end of his contract this summer and reports from ESPN claiming that the Hammers are keen on selling Javier Hernandez, a new striker is seemingly on the agenda for West Ham.

Indeed, plenty of names have already been thrown around as players the Hammers are interested in bringing to the London Stadium this summer, such as Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez (ExWHUemployee) and Bournemouth star Callum Wilson (The Sun).

And now, according to the Sun, West Ham are interested in Valencia striker Rodrigo, who is said to be keen on a return to England, having previously appeared for Bolton, after scoring 15 goals and assisting 10 in all competitions for the La Liga side last season, with the report claiming that Everton are also interested in the Spanish international.

With a Transfermarkt valuation of £45 million and a reported release clause of €120 million (£107 million) via Football Espana, Rodrigo is easily the most expensive striker to be linked with a move to West Ham this summer, with Gomez fetching a Transfermarkt valuation of £36 million whilst Wilson’s value sits at just £27 million.

Of course, with West Ham spending a reported £24 million on Pablo Fornals via BBC Sport, it gives off the impression that the club have money to spend this summer, but with Football Fan Cast reporting that Manuel Pellegrini’s side are failing to get business done due to the inability to ship off Hernandez, going big on a striker might not be the best course of action for the Hammers.

As per the Sun report, Valencia value Rodrigo at £70 million, though this number can decrease, and with West Ham in need of a striker this summer, the Spaniard could prove to be too expensive an option for the east London side.

West Ham fans, would Rodrigo be a realistic signing? Let us know!

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

There have been conflicting reports as to why Pontus Jansson was sold by Leeds United this week.

Journalists have reported that it was due to his poor attitude affecting the dressing room, while the man himself stated that it was due to financial reasons.

Former United man Danny Mills has now given his version of events as to what happened between the Yorkshire club and the Swedish defender.

What’s been said then?

The ex-England international has told Football Insider what he has heard about Jansson’s exit.

He said: “The reason he fell out with Leeds was because he wanted extra time off after the summer internationals.

“He kept asking Bielsa and Bielsa kept saying ‘no’.

“It came to the point where Bielsa said, ‘that’s enough’. Jansson wanted special treatment and Bielsa wasn’t willing to give it to him. He has a firm plan for the direction the team is going and was not willing to change that.

“All of the others players, including those who played end-of-season internationals, were happy to come back. Jansson felt he deserved more time off. That was the final straw for Bielsa.”

Bielsa’s stubbornness

For all of Bielsa’s good qualities as a manager, he has one glaring issue which can sometimes cost him. Both Phil Hay and Jonathan Wilson have described him as stubborn, and in this case it’s cost him a top centre-back.

Indeed, Jansson probably should have reported back to training on time, but the summer internationals are gruelling, and if the Swede was so desperate for some more time off then Bielsa surely could have found a compromise.

Instead, the Argentine was headstrong and took this as an act of defiance which in the end saw Jansson sold to Brentford.

The 28-year-old was incredible last season making it into the PFA Championship Team of the Year, but Bielsa was unwilling to allow him extra time off.

It could be argued that Jansson is in the wrong here, but when weighing up the pros and cons of this move, you have to say that Bielsa has made the wrong decision.

When having to choose between giving a player an extra week off or losing one of the best defenders in the division the choice should be simple, but the Argentine was unwilling to change his methods to suit Jansson, and that ultimately ended the Swede’s Elland Road career.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Tottenham Hotspur have been joined in the race to sign Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid by Arsenal, per Sky Sports.

What’s the word?

Football FanCast sources understand that Spurs are keen to secure the Spanish midfielder on loan from Los Blancos this summer.

The 22-year-old, the report states, would prefer to move on a short-term basis instead of sealing a permanent transfer away from Santiago Bernabeu.

And Sky Sports state that the Gunners have now rivalled Spurs as they look to bolster Unai Emery’s squad ahead of the 2019/20 season.

Hurry it up

Spurs need to stop dragging their feet over this deal.

FFC understands that Spurs are keen to include a clause in any loan agreement that would allow them to buy Ceballos for £45m next summer.

It may be that such a stance is slowing the progress of the mooted deal and the Gunners could well take advantage, provided they are given the time to do so.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has already acted swiftly and decisively this summer to secure the signatures of Tanguy Ndombele and Jack Clarke.

He has to do so again to ensure that Ceballos does not slip through his side’s fingers.