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Leicester City striker Josh Eppiah would complement Charlie Wyke up front at Sunderland if the latter stays at The Stadium of Light, The Transfer Tavern has been told.

Eppiah has been on loan at Belgian top-flight side OH Leuven, where he has impressed, according to TT’s EFL spy.

The 22-year-old was mainly used off the bench but still managed to chip in with a goal and assist as Marc Brys’ side went on to finish 11th.

As for Wyke, he was in truly prolific form for Sunderland, hitting 26 goals in 45 appearances in League One.

In the end, though, it was not enough, with the Black Cats missing out on promotion. Manager Lee Johnson will now be keen to bolster his squad so they can go that one step further next year, and our EFL insider has since recommended Eppiah, suggesting he could be the perfect partner for someone like Wyke, who could still move onto pastures new with his contract due to expire in a week.

“Josh Eppiah would excite with his pace and power, working hard off Wyke,” TT’s EFL spy said. “His work rate this season got him regularly off the bench for a top side in Belgium, so he’s capable of playing higher. 

“But playing at Sunderland week in, week out will always impress players enough to want to drop down and play men’s football.”

Sunderland, however, face a real battle to keep Wyke as his contract, which expires at the end of the month, continues to run down.

Writing on Twitter, reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold has dropped a claim on former manager Mauricio Pochettino amid his links to a sensational north London return.

The Lowdown: Pochettino linked with Spurs reunion

In recent days, reports have emerged linking Pochettino with the Spurs managerial vacancy around a year and a half after he was sacked by chairman Daniel Levy. 

Indeed, the Sun recently claimed that Levy is considering the Argentine as a candidate with Pochettino himself seriously thinking about returning to the Spurs managerial helm.

Pochettino is currently struggling with Ligue 1 giants Paris-Saint Germain with a possible return to Spurs now being touted.

The Latest: Gold drops Pochettino claim

Writing on Twitter, football.london journalist Gold believes that while he isn’t currently a candidate, he would ‘come into the frame’ if his situation changes at PSG and he showed genuine interest in the role.

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“On Poch, understand Spurs are pushing on with recruitment process, hoping to appoint within 7-10 days,” Gold explained on his social media.

“Poch is not currently a candidate, but if his situation changes at PSG and he showed interest, he would come into the frame.

“Let’s be honest, the ideal candidate profile is him.”

The Verdict: Ideal candidate indeed…

It is reported that Spurs want a ‘young’ and ‘dynamic’ manager to succeed Jose Mourinho in north London (The Daily Mail), with the Athletic even stating Levy wants a coach ‘in the image’ Pochettino.

In this case, who better than the man himself?

However, as per Gold’s claim, he is not currently a candidate and unless something changes in the next few days, Spurs will indeed have to settle for a manager with similar traits but not quite the 49-year-old.

Lauded as a ‘football genius’ by former Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes in an interview with ESPN Brasil near the end of last year, as translated by Sport Witness, Lilywhites supporters may be hoping he does indeed ‘come into the frame’.

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

West Bromwich Albion look set to appoint David Wagner as Sam Allardyce’s successor at The Hawthorns.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by The Telegraph reported John Percy, who revealed in a post on Twitter that the majority of the Baggies board believe that the former Huddersfield Town manager is the best candidate for the role.

Percy continued by stating that Chris Wilder had previously been the club’s preferred choice as Allardyce’s replacement, however, the West Brom owner, Guochuan Lai, vetoed a move for the 53-year-old.

Finally, the journalist claimed that the Baggies’ remit was to appoint a manager for whom no compensation would be required, which subsequently ruled out a move for the likes of Swansea City’s Steve Cooper, Barnsley’s Valerien Ismael and Lincoln City’s Michael Appleton.

Big mistake

While it is indeed true that Wagner has guided a team out of the Championship before, doing so with Huddersfield in the club’s 2016/17 campaign, things have not exactly gone swimmingly for the manager in the time since.

After impressively guiding the Terriers to Premier League survival in 2017/18, things took a turn for the worse in the club’s second season in the top flight, with the 49-year-old seeing his side pick up just 11 points from 22 fixtures before leaving The John Smith’s Stadium by mutual consent in January of 2019.

A spell at FC Schalke 04 followed for the German head coach, with him taking over in July of 2019 and guiding the club to a 12th placed finish in the Bundesliga in his debut campaign at the club.

However, things went sour for the former Borussia Dortmund II manager in his second season at Die Konigsblauen, with Wagner eventually being sacked by the club in September 2020 after leading Schalke on a run of 18 league games without a win.

On the other hand, Wilder has a 100% history of leaving a club in a better position than when he first took the job, having taken a mid-table Oxford United side to the League Two play-offs places, guiding a relegation-threatened Northampton Town team to the League Two title and a Sheffield United side languishing in League One to a top-half Premier League finish over the course of just four years.

As such, exactly why Guochuan Lai vetoed a West Brom move for the 53-year-old this summer is something of a mystery, although it could quite easily turn out to be one of the Baggies owner’s biggest mistakes at the club to date, as well as being a decision that will more than likely leave a large section of the Albion fans furious.

In other news: West Brom given huge transfer boost over “magnificent” 28 y/o gem that’ll delight fans

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Sheffield Wednesday defender Jon Newsome has warned Dejphon Chansiri that he will not be able to sell the Owls for £160m.

Following Wednesday’s relegation from the Championship to League One, the topic of Chansiri potentially selling the club has come up.

However, according to The Sun on Sunday (via The 72), the businessman is not looking to give up his asset. And if such an idea is to be considered, then potential buyers are looking at £160m in order to complete a takeover.

For Newsome, Chansiri has no chance of receiving a fee like that given the situation the Yorkshire outfit currently finds itself in.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about Wednesday’s future, the retired Premier League footballer said:

“I’ve heard reports this week that he wants £160m for the football club. Now, he paid £37m for the club, he’s subsequently sold the stadium to himself that’s now on a 30-year lease at £2.5m a year, which is going to be a massive cost for a League One club to pay £2.5m a year to play football at your own stadium.

“And all of a sudden he wants £160m because he says that’s what he’s put in? Well, it doesn’t work like that. It doesn’t work like that.”

Indeed, it is a figure you cannot see anyone paying, while Chansiri’s public stance is that he takes full responsibility for Wednesday’s relegation and aims to continue at the club.

Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that Ross Barkley should snap up the chance to return to Everton should the opportunity present itself this summer.

The England midfielder, who’s currently on loan at Aston Villa, left Goodison Park for Chelsea back in 2017, but has never been seen as a key player during his time in the capital.

He was favoured by Maurizio Sarri, but then restricted to a bit-part role under Frank Lampard, with a move to Villa Park used as a chance to help the midfielder rediscover his best form.

But besides an impressive run, which included goals against Liverpool and Leicester during the early stages of his loan spell, Barkley has found himself out of Dean Smith’s team.

Barkley will return to Chelsea this summer in a bid to try and impress Thomas Tuchel, but his Stamford Bridge career would appear to be hanging in the balance.

And former Everton striker Bent told Football FanCast that the 27-year-old could make a huge difference to the Toffees squad:

“Ross Barkley, for me, when he came through, and still is, an absolute talent, the problem being is that he hasn’t stabilised a spot at any team.

“If he were to go back to Everton, and I’ve spoken to Everton and they’re lacking that in midfield. He’s got skill on the ball, he’s like a Stevie G.

“He went to Chelsea at a young age and hasn’t done it, so going back to Everton, this is a chance to go home and get at a club that he knows well. The fans love him.”

Morgan Schneiderlin’s career has unfortunately gone downhill since leaving Southampton in 2015 and his market value suggests that the Saints got a great deal when selling him.

The French midfielder originally joined from RC Strasbourg in 2008 for just over £1m and he helped Southampton to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League between 2010-2012.

In total, he would make 257 appearances for the Saints, contributing 15 goals and 11 assists before his performances convinced Manchester United to pay £25m for him in 2015.

Although his performances in the Premier League with Southampton were excellent, particularly in his final season with the club, he was never able to replicate that form at Old Trafford.

After just one and a half seasons with the Red Devils, where he made 47 appearances, he was allowed to join Everton, with the Merseyside club paying around £24m for his services.

Whilst he was more of a regular at Goodison Park, making 88 appearances in total, he once again struggled to impress, and he would eventually move back to France to join Nice last summer.

By this point, it seemed clear that Southampton got the best out of Schneiderlin both on and off the pitch, as they were able to sell him for a significant profit after he played the best football of his career at St Mary’s.

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The defensive midfielder’s market value has unsurprisingly declined in recent years, with Transfermarkt now valuing him at just £7.65m, which is the lowest it has been in seven years.

Unfortunately, Schneiderlin was something of a flop at both Manchester United and Everton, so you could definitely argue that Southampton did very well to sell him for the fee they did in 2015, despite his superb performances on the South Coast.

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When you consider some of Southampton’s less impressive transfer dealings in recent seasons, with Guido Carrillo, Sofiane Boufal and Jordy Clasie notable disasters, it seems as if the signing and subsequent departure of Schneiderlin is a rare transfer success that Southampton fans can celebrate.

And, in other news… Ralph blew it: Hasenhutt’s tactical blunder cost Southampton in Wembley defeat, they were woeful

Some Liverpool supporters want Harvey Elliott to be given a squad role at Anfield next season, with one journalist predicting that could well be the case.

The Reds could arguably do with an injection of young blood in 2021/22, with the current squad slowly getting older together.

While Jurgen Klopp’s group of players aren’t exactly on their last legs, there is now a nucleus of the squad that is in and around 30 years of age, highlighting the need for reinforcements.

Someone who could help in that respect is Elliott, who is currently thriving on loan at Blackburn Rovers, having joined the Championship club last October.

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The 18-year-old has scored six goals and registered a hugely impressive 11 assists in the league this season, standing out as one of the best young players in the division.

The Liverpool Echo‘s Matt Addison has tipped Elliott to be a Liverpool squad player next season, moving on to the next stage of his development.

Liverpool fans tip Elliott for squad role

These Reds supporters are fully behind the idea of the forward earning regular minutes in 2021/22, taking to Twitter to provide their thoughts.

“The way our forwards are playing he might end up being more than a squad player”

Credit: @hugo1574

“This would be music to FSG’s ears”

Credit: @Blossy1790

“Can’t wait to see Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones & Trent AA playing together”

Credit: @shannybasar

“Makes sense. He’ll get good game time in the cup games and give us some depth when we lose Salah/Mane to AFCON. Can’t rely on teenagers though”

Credit: @Lxcilfxr

“Good, could use him since our attack has been so bad lately”

Credit: @tonyylfc

“So he should”

Credit: @BludRunsRedYNWA

In other news, some Liverpool fans are desperate for the Reds to sign an exciting midfielder this summer. Find out who it is here.

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been giving their thoughts on social media to a weekend report regarding two Eagles youngsters.

As reported by The Sun (4 April, print edition, page 61), both Jesuran Rak-Sakyi and Tayo Adaramola are pushing to make their Premier League debuts before the end of the season.

Rak-Sakyi, 18, recently rejected a professional contract at Selhurst Park. The versatile attacking midfielder, who has been involved in 10 goals for the club’s youth teams this season, is reportedly set to make the move to Germany.

Adaramola, 17, has been a regular for the club’s Under-18 side this season. The Irishman has played mainly at left-back but also further forward on occasions.

Palace fans react

It seems as if the pair could receive their chance from Roy Hodgson over the coming weeks.

@cpfc_xtra shared the news regarding the pair on social media on Tuesday evening.

Their post received plenty of interaction, with one fan describing the possible inclusion of Rak-Sakyi over the coming weeks as ‘massive’, perhaps feeling some playing time could tempt him to stay at the club.

“Absolute scenes if true”

Credit: @BRL__18

“Would be amazed if it happens but PLEASE. Exactly what we need to persuade these players to stay and show what they’ve got. Roy impressed me yesterday with how he approached the game. Hopefully being safe and with his job on the line he’ll show us what we want to see as fans”

Credit: @Phillyconcarne

“rak-sakyi in particular would be massive given the talks of him potentially not signing a pro contract and going to germany”

Credit: @thisisntxav

“I have a feeling Mr Hodgson has other ideas”

Credit: @JJ_CPFC

“It would be good to see Rak-Sakyi make his debut but I highly doubt it”

Credit: @cmilesgillam

“If Roy is picking the team absolutely no chance. We’ve taken only 6 subs to games this season rather than giving youth some experience with the first team”

Credit: @MDJones82

In other news: Many Palace fans react as club contact Word Cup winner, find out more here. 

Rangers have been boosted by Steven Davis, Allan McGregor, James Tavernier and Leon Balogun signing new deals at Ibrox in recent weeks but Steven Gerrard and Ross Wilson shouldn’t stop there, and should now prioritise handing Connor Goldson a new contract.

As per This is Futbol, journalist Scott McDermott has claimed on a recent episode of the Record Rangers podcast that he believes the Light Blues will be offering the former Brighton man new terms in the near future.

McDonald said: “I expect him to sign it, I think he’ll be the next one. I’d be really surprised. Probably with him, there’s a wee bit of debate just because of his age – you know, would he want to go back to England, he’s only got a year left.

“He might feel as if he’s still got a bit of unfinished business in the Premier League, for instance, we don’t know, but from the outside looking in, the other three that you mentioned, I’d be amazed if Goldson wasn’t next on the list.”

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The 28-year-old centre-back has played every single minute of Rangers’ league campaign so far this season and has undoubtedly been one of Gerrard’s top performers, contributing four goals and two assists and averaging a superb 7.38 WhoScored rating. This is enough to rank Goldson as Rangers’ fourth-best performer so far this season, with only Tavernier, Ryan Kent and Borna Barisic currently ranked higher.

The Englishman’s current contract is set to expire at the end of next season, so it would not be a surprise to see some interest in the defender in the near future unless Rangers can tie him down to a longer deal.

Although he is already one of the top earners at Ibrox, reportedly receiving £25,000 per week, it is clear that Goldson is a leader in this Rangers side and is clearly rated highly by Gerrard.

Earlier in the season, the 40-year-old manager was full of praise for his centre-back, saying: “Connor has been an absolute mountain for this team, a true warrior. He’s had a lot of stick over the years, wrongly in my opinion. But he’s continued to improve and has been one of our most consistent players. I wasn’t too happy with the back line in Belgium on Thursday but if you look at the big picture, Goldson has been absolutely immense.”

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Therefore, following the claim from McDermott, Wilson should act quickly to make Goldson the next player to commit to a new deal with the club, as otherwise we may see an English Premier League side register an interest in him in the near future, which might prove enough to turn his head.

In other news… Sold for £1m, now in League One: Rangers sold one of their “top players” at perfect time

James Rodriguez claims he will be back fit for Everton’s next Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace, saying “I’ll play again for the next game” during a Twitch stream.

The £27million-rated (Transfermarkt) Colombian has missed the last four league games through injury and was also absent for Saturday’s FA Cup quarterfinal defeat against Manchester City.

Everton have suffered back-to-back league losses without the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich man, falling five points back from the top four.

Relief for Everton as Rodriguez says he’s ‘very well’

But Rodriguez, speaking on a Twitch stream, delivered a welcome update for Everton fans.

“I’ll play again for the next game,” he said, as quoted by native outlet Caracol. “I’m very well, thank God, and I want to play again.”

The 29-year-old had explained to viewers earlier this month that he had been feeling ‘discomfort for many months’ before he was withdrawn from the side.

Rodriguez has scored has been directly involved in 13 goals in all competitions since his arrival last summer (five goals, eight assists).

He tops the Everton rankings for key passes per game (1.7) and is in the top four for successful dribbles, crosses, long balls and through balls (via WhoScored).

Transfer Tavern verdict

Everton have taken short-term pain without Rodriguez, but they will hope for long-term gain in the form of a injury-free run to the end of the season after his recovery period.

They still won’t quite be at full-strength, though, with Abdoulaye Doucoure sidelined indefinitely by a foot injury. Doucoure had started all but one game before sustaining the fracture.

Nonetheless, having their most creative player back in the team will be a big boost for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

In other news, Everton have reportedly made this defender their top summer target.