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West Brom crashed out of the FA Cup in midweek but that hasn’t stopped one player from receiving rave reviews.

Slaven Bilic’s side were defeated 3-2 by Newcastle United at the Hawthorns leaving the Baggies with only the league title left to fight for.

The Croatian rung the changes but young midfielder Rekeem Harper was one of the lucky two to keep his place and following the match, he posted some words of encouragement to Instagram, saying: “We go again.”

The young starlet’s teammate and fellow academy graduate Nathan Ferguson responded with a one-word verdict suggesting that he’s the “future”.

Ferguson, who hasn’t been seen since January’s defeat to Cardiff City, isn’t expected to be at the club much past the summer after a move to Crystal Palace fell through at the final hour.

He is likely to depart the Hawthorns at the end of the season with Eagles chairman Steve Parish reiterating his interest in the defender.

Life after football: Do you know what all of these former players did next?

But clearly Ferguson feels that Harper can have a big impact for his boyhood club going forward.

And in other news, West Brom assistant dedicates an Instagram post to “underrated” star…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has some decisions to make in the centre of his midfield.

Manchester United have Fred, Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic, Andreas Pereira and Paul Pogba in the middle of the park, and in his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, someone is likely to miss out on a regular basis. With the summer transfer window coming up, a potential new arrival would make that area even more congested.

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It seems that the Red Devils have already made a decision in regards to one of those players, though. It has been confirmed that Nemanja Matic has agreed a contract extension at Old Trafford, as per the Norwegian boss himself.

This has got the club’s supporters reacting in their droves, and it appears that that they are divided on whether they want him to stay.

Some are happy to see the Serbia international to carry on with the 20-time English champions.

The former Chelsea man has missed much of the campaign due to injury, but featured in eight of United’s nine Premier League matches prior to this weekend, stepping up in the absence of Scott McTominay. Clearly, one of those fans would rather see him stay than Jesse Lingard and Phil Jones, two players who have received their fair share of criticism.

Others, though, are not happy with the update.

indeed, some supporters would rather him be allowed to move on. After all, he is now 32 – he is not exactly one for the future.

This news has not yet been officially confirmed by the club, so keep your eyes open!

Meanwhile, this 20-year-old would be a massive upgrade on Jesse Lingard.

And so, on a Wednesday night in March, Liverpool’s Champions League defence is over.

The Reds were, for much of the match, the better team against Atletico Madrid at Anfield. They bossed possession – they had 71% of the ball – as you would expect against a Diego Simeone side, and they put real pressure on Los Rojiblancos’ goal, managing a colossal 31 shots (11 of them were on target).

However, despite the visiting side managing just ten themselves, they still progressed to the quarter-finals, even winning the match 3-2 on the night.

It was a fine example of defensive efficiency, but they would not have made it through had it not been for Jan Oblak between the sticks. The Slovenia international was in stunning form, making nine saves. That didn’t include the mesmerising stop from Virgil van Dijk, which came after the ball had gone out of play.

There is arguably no shot-stopper more consistently stupendous than the 27-year-old. In each of the last three full seasons, he has a save-percentage ratio of at least 80% in La Liga – even this term, his 73.3% is still more than respectable. Alisson may have managed 80.4% this term, but that is the only campaign he has amassed such a number.

Oblak is almost synonymous with the number 13 jersey at the Wanda Metropolitano, but it could have all been so much different. In October 2018, a report from AS (via Sport Witness) said that Liverpool had made an “important offer” for the goalkeeper that previous summer, but he turned it down. At the time, he had a €100m (£88.5m) release clause.

Alisson, of course, is a fantastic keeper in his own right, but Klopp’s failure to convince Oblak to make the move to Merseyside has come back to haunt him in spectacular fashion. A treble seemed a possibility just a few weeks ago – now, only the Premier League is left, and Atleti’s star man has had a big say in that.

Meanwhile, this famed youth academy could provide Liverpool with their Sadio Mane replacement.

In the summer of 2016, Southampton looked like they had made an extremely exciting addition to their squad.

Les Reed had managed to negotiate the club-record arrival of Sofiane Boufal from Lille in a deal worth £16m, which has since been overtaken as the club’s record move by Danny Ings’ £20m arrival from Liverpool.

The Moroccan was added to Claude Puel’s squad in the same summer that stellar names such as Sadio Mane, Victor Wanyama and Graziano Pelle had departed, so there was plenty of pressure on Boufal to deliver.

As we type this article almost four years on from his arrival at St Mary’s, it’s safe to say that the £16m man has failed to deliver the goods.

For a start, his on-pitch efforts have been nowhere near good enough. Barring a wonder-goal against West Brom in which he ran from inside his own half, Boufal has netted just five strikes in 83 appearances for the Saints, which, when you consider his transfer fee, works out at £3.2m for every goal he has scored – he also has just five assists to his name.

However, his off-field behaviour seems to have been just as poor.

Boufal was involved in an altercation with Mark Hughes, which led to the forward being banished from first-team activities by the Welshman – the ex-Saints boss then said that the skilful attacker needed to rebuild a bit of trust.

Hughes also shipped the 26-year-old out on loan to Celta Vigo. Although he has since returned to St Mary’s and worked his way back in under Ralph Hasenhuttl, the former Lille man only has one goal and two assists this season in 24 appearances.

Are you a true Saints expert? Test your knowledge on these famous academy graduates…

He has been nowhere near good enough on a consistent basis for Southampton since he was signed for a significant chunk of cash, and has well and truly been a miserable addition to the squad.

In other news, Gao must be in disbelief over this man who has squandered £23.28m of his cash…

According to notable transfer expert Duncan Castles, this summer’s transfer window is likely to be a ‘depressed’ one compared to previous years amid the current suspension to football, largely around the world. With that in mind and the fact there’s nothing to give us a footballing fix, the Transfer Tavern are doing their best to remind their readers how some of their club’s fans reacted to the biggest signings of this season in order to focus on what’s been before us, rather than the uncertainty ahead. 

Make no mistake, Patrick Cutrone was a big transfer for Wolverhampton Wanderers when he joined the club from AC Milan in 2019. 27 goals in 90 appearances for one of the biggest clubs in Italian football as well as being an under-21 international, all by the tender age of 21, shows you he possessed a good amount of quality. So, you can understand the excitement that some Wolves fans displayed when he moved to the Midlands.

Well, five months on from him joining the club, the Italian made a swift exit and returned to Serie A, telling you everything you need to know about his time at Molineux. Indeed, he managed to score three goals and assist just four more in 24 appearances under Nuno Espirito Santo, an underwhelming return (via Transfermarkt).

However, it wasn’t his attacking contribution which saw him leave so soon. Compared to Raul Jimenez, the Italian was proving to be incredibly feeble especially in his attempts to defend from the front. While the Mexican averages the joint-third most fouls per Premier League game (1.1), Cutrone managed just 0.4, as per WhoScored. It really highlights how hard the former Benfica man has worked in order to stop opposition teams build attacks compared to the 22-year-old.

His comments following his move away seem to suggest a breakdown in relationship with the Wolves manager. The centre-forward claimed Santo was favouring players ‘who had been loyal to him’ when he commented on his lack of starts (via TEAMtalk). The ace’s time with the team showed he wasn’t quite a match for Jimenez and that fans jumped the gun in getting excited when he joined the club.

Wolves fans, where do you think it went wrong for Cutrone? Let us know your thoughts below!

Many Tottenham Hotspur fans have been left drooling after Ricky Sacks relayed a Football London report saying Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson could be an option for Spurs this summer.

The Football London story was talking about the Hugo Lloris dilemma manager Jose Mourinho has ahead of the summer transfer window, given he is beginning to make more and more errors.

The report brought up Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana who has already been linked with a move to north London, before it went on to say that Henderson and Burnley stopper Nick Pope could be potential options nearer to home.

The Greatest Bargains in Premier League history – How much did they cost?

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Indeed, the former’s future at Old Trafford may well be up in the air at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old is currently enjoying a second successful loan spell with Sheffield United in the Premier League, but the Blades have no option to buy with the goalkeeper signing a new contract with the Red Devils before moving to Bramall Lane on a temporary basis last summer.

The potential issue is whether the 6 foot 2 goalkeeper would be willing to sit on the bench for his parent club, with David De Gea surely unlikely to relinquish his number one spot anytime soon.

Should he be promised first-team football by Spurs and Mourinho for example, he and United may well be left with a decision to make.

Spurs supporters on Twitter certainly seem thrilled by the link to the 6 foot 2 star, although some aren’t sure whether they could actually sign him.

Here is a selection of the reaction…

In other Tottenham news, Tanguy Ndombele has responded when asked if he prefers PSG or Barcelona amid recent exit rumours…

According to Calcio Mercato, Serie A giants Milan have earmarked Kristoffer Ajer as a potential transfer target for the summer.

What’s the word?

The Norway international has been an ever-present for Celtic this season, making an impressive 49 appearances across all competitions – in fact, he has only failed to complete the full 90 minutes in the top-flight on four occasions.

And as per Italian publication Calcio Mercato, Milan are targeting defenders who are physically strong and with a sense of leadership, and feel Ajer “embodies these characteristics”.

Best of the Decade: Top scorers & creators – Can you name them?

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The report further adds that the 21-year-old is “highly appreciated by the Rossoneri scouts, but Celtic has specified that he will not make any discounts”.

Think twice

The Hoops have lost some crucial players from their back-line in recent years, not least players like Virgil van Dijk and even Kieran Tierney last summer.

At 21, Ajer still has plenty of time to really grow into his role at Celtic Park, and the fact he has been a mainstay of their team this season shows just how highly Lennon values him.

Back in February, the Celtic boss even lauded him for being a “model of consistency” all season, whilst just last summer he waxed lyrical about Ajer’s abilities.

He said: “Kris is a fantastic player and has pretty much played every minute for me. He has been outstanding, and we have high hopes for him. Kris wants to improve, he is a regular international now, and you have to remember how young he is. He is athletic, good on the ball, good in the air and is an intelligent boy. Kris has all the strings to his bow, he is a real specimen at 21.”

It’s fair to say that Celtic still haven’t yet seen the best of the 6 foot 5 Ajer, and if they have hopes of doing matching their domestic success in Europe, then keeping a hold of highly-rated players will be important. It’s exactly why Peter Lawwell should be very wary of cashing in on a player who still has a lot more to give.

Meanwhile, Celtic fans blast this tweet from Alex Rae.

This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how bad a deal the club got.

Tottenham have not always had the best of luck in the transfer market.

The spending after the sale of Gareth Bale is likely to be a period that many Spurs fans would rather forget. With the money from the Wales international’s departure to Real Madrid, the likes of Paulinho, Roberto Soldado and Vlad Chiriches made the switch to White Hart Lane – only Christian Eriksen has proven to be worth every single penny.

There have been other mistakes since then as well, such as the signing of Vincent Janssen. It is fair to say the Netherlands international had a torrid time in north London.

The Lilywhites paid £18.6m to AZ Alkmaar for him in 2016, and at the time it was a move that made perfect sense. He had just come off the back of a season in which he scored 32 goals in all competitions, including 27 in 34 league matches, and at the age of just 22, he was one for the future.

However, it is fair to say his time at the club was nothing short of a disaster. In his first campaign, he managed just six goals in 38 matches in all competitions, with four of those coming in the domestic cups. He would make just one appearance for the side in the 2017/18 campaign, joining Fenerbahce on loan in September of that term.

After five goals in 17 appearances in Turkey, he returned to England, but would play just three more matches for Spurs. Last summer, he joined Mexican side Monterrey for £6.3m, meaning Tottenham made a loss of £12.3m in three years and just 42 matches as Janssen completely flopped.

Daniel Levy has a reputation for being a sturdy negotiator, but this is one transfer he got terribly wrong.

Let us know what you think below!

Amid consistent transfer links to Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, with the most recent claim coming from reliable source ExWHUemployee – who claimed he is someone West Ham ‘will look at’ in the summer – plenty of Irons fans still want to see the Englishman come through the doors at the London Stadium. 

As he is reportedly at the centre of a contract dispute in west London, the Hammers have very recently been linked with Abraham by numerous outlets, with Ex, Eurosport’s Dean Jones and the Daily Star all saying that West Ham hold an interest in the 23-year-old.

The forward looks like a potentially serious transfer target for West Ham – and it’s safe to say that many supporters want to see him come through the door.

Flocking to Twitter in full debate over Abraham, one supporter claimed he would be a ‘fantastic signing’, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment given he bagged 15 goals in 25 Premier League starts last season (WhoScored).

Find some of the best verdicts below.

West Ham fans want Abraham amid transfer links

“I’d take him in a heartbeat”

Credit: @jackjooker

“Take him in a heartbeat, he would be a fantastic signing”

Credit: @Customhouseham1

“Take him all day long”

Credit: @MarkPer74361199

“Would be a good fit for our system…”

Credit: @mark9726

“Top player”

Credit: @miktol52

“Bonkers. One decent season and suddenly were too good for Abraham? He’d be class for us.”

Credit: @Hayds_

“If he’s a 100k a week player how much is Yarmolenko because he’s our highest earner with more than that. I’d say try to get him. Solid addition for me”

Credit: @bradley_eadon

“Would suit us perfect, can’t even believe the comparison to Haller. Chelsea’s main man last season and there’s a reason for that. I’d snap him up straight away”

Credit: @SamGaler1

In other news: West Ham fans loved this club announcement, find out more here.

Pep Guardiola’s return to Germany certainly wasn’t as routine as he had hoped following an incredible 3-2 victory over former rivals Schalke.

Indeed, it took City until the dying minutes of the game to rescue all three points and save face against a far weaker (on paper at least) Schalke side.

Manchester City started the game in typically explosive style.

A well worked free-kick routine saw Aguero’s first effort of the game saved in theatrical style by the flying hands of German stopper Ralf Fahrmann, before the latter’s dangerous pass was dispossessed on the outside of the area and placed easily into the open net by the awaiting Argentine.

VAR had its first decision of the game when the ball was ruled to have struck the arm of Otamendi in the box. Penalty to Schalke duly despatched by Nabil Bentaleb.

The hosts continued to pressure and saw their efforts pay off when a freekick floated into the area saw one of their players pulled to the ground. Second penalty of the half, second goal for Bentaleb.

Nicolas Otamendi was shown his first red of his Manchester City career in the 68th minute after an unnecessary foul from behind making his side’s task all the more difficult.

Despite their best efforts, it would take until the dying minutes of the game before Guardiola’s men restored normality. Substitute and former Schalke player Leroy Sane unleashed an absolute peach of a free-kick to level things up before Ederson’s Hail Mary found the feet of Sterling who duly dispatched.

You’ve got to say that Nicolas Otamendi really let his team down.

The penalty wasn’t really his fault, but the second yellow card was avoidable, and he’s given his manager a bit of a headache going into the next fixture because of it.

A special mention should also go out to Fernandinho, as well, who really looked off the boil compared to his usual self.

His tug on Sane in the box to give away the second penalty was silly and, as an experienced player, the Brazilian should have known better not to make needless contact in the box. Especially with VAR on the prowl.