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Former Molineux boss Nuno Espirito Santo is no longer Wolverhampton Wanderers’ first-choice candidate in their search for a new manager, according to journalist Nathan Judah.

The Lowdown: Nuno linked with Wolves return

Earlier this week, it emerged that Wolves’ preferred Bruno Lage replacement, Julen Lopetegui, had rejected the chance to take over at Molineux due to personal reasons.

As a result, the Midlands club had to dip back into the market for an alternative, citing surprise links with their former manager Nuno.

With Lopetegui now out of the picture, the former Tottenham manager has been tipped as a strong contender in the race to be appointed at the Molineux.

The Latest: Nuno update

Judah has shared fresh news on Wolves’ managerial hunt, revealing an update on Nuno’s position with the club.

Taking to Twitter on Friday evening, the journalist claimed: “The managerial saga continues: Nuno Espírito Santo is NOT Wolves’ first choice.

“Could still take over if others not interested/available. Rob Edwards to rejoin coaching staff?”

The Verdict: Wolves’ best manager in years

Having restored the club’s Premier League status and having led them to a Europa League quarter-final in 2020, Nuno left Wolves as one of their best managers of recent times.

Across 199 games in charge of the club, the Old Gold impressively averaged 1.68 points per match, for which Tottenham striker Harry Kane dubbed the 48-year-old a ‘great manager’.

However, towards the end of Nuno’s tenure in north London, ideas appeared to be running out with the Portuguese boss.

Whilst his familiarity with the club is an obvious bonus, it could also be argued the Old Gold need a fresh appointment at Molineux to get them back to winning ways, with a change of direction and tactics an exciting prospect for the club’s fans.

Newcastle United ended the summer window having brought in four new faces – plus the recent addition of free agent Loris Karius – although one man who failed to arrive at St James’ Park was Leicester City playmaker, James Maddison.

The Englishman had seemingly emerged as a leading target for the Magpies in their quest to bolster manager Eddie Howe’s midfield ranks, with the club believed to have submitted two bids in an attempt to strike a deal, the second of which totalled a reported £50m.

Despite that sizeable offer for a player who has just under two years left to run on his existing deal at the King Power Stadium, the Foxes appeared in no mood to sell their prize possession, with reports suggesting that Brendan Rodgers and co were demanding more than £60m were he to depart.

That failure to strike an agreement would no doubt have been a huge source of frustration for those on Tyneside, as well as potentially the player himself, with pundit Ian Wright suggesting that the one-cap, England international would have “wanted” to make the move.

The 25-year-old had warranted such interest after recording an impressive haul of 20 goal contributions in the Premier League last term, with Allan Saint-Maximin, for example, having led the way for Newcastle with just ten goal involvements across all competitions in the 2021/22 campaign.

Unsurprisingly, recent speculation has suggested that PIF could make another move for Maddison in the New Year, having previously enjoyed success in the winter window last season, following the arrivals of the likes of Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes.

With any move likely to come at a rather hefty cost, however, the northeast side could well find an ideal, potentially cheaper alternative in the form of Celtic midfielder, Matt O’Riley, with the 21-year-old having sparkled at Parkhead this calendar year.

The former MK Dons man – who arrived in Glasgow on £1.5m deal back in January – is believed to be attracting interest from top club’s across Europe, with the Magpies said to have been one of those who were considering a late bid over the summer.

The belief is that the Denmark U21 international could well cost in the region of £15m-£20m were he to depart in the near future, with the player himself having recently admitted that there was interest in his services, notably namedropping Newcastle as a potential suitor.

Like Maddison, the London-born star operates as a dynamic link between midfield and attack in Ange Postecoglou’s side, with his devastating creative threat showcased by his haul of four goals and seven assists in just 27 games for the Hoops to date.

That tally includes five assists in just six league games thus far this term, having laid on two goals in brilliant fashion in the 4-0 thrashing of Old Firm foes Rangers, teeing up teammate Jota with a defence-splitting pass in that clash.

Lauded as “immense” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the one-time Fulham youth product also caught the eye in the recent Champions League encounter with Real Madrid, with journalist Guillem Balague suggesting that the youngster will go on to enjoy “bigger highs” such is his undoubted talent.

A hugely exciting prospect who is beginning to deliver on the wider European stage, the 6 foot 2 “magician” – as also dubbed by Kulig – should well be a target to consider as the market re-opens in January, particularly should the aforementioned Leicester man prove too difficult or too expensive to prise from the Midlands.

West Ham United are closing in on a deal to bring Jan Bednarek to the London Stadium as the club’s first signing on transfer deadline day.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Dharmesh Sheth, with the Sky Sports reporter revealing in a recent post on Twitter that David Moyes is now closing in on a deal to bring the Southampton centre-back to east London on a season-long loan, while Craig Dawson looks to be heading out of the club – with Wolves in advanced talks over a deal for the 32-year-old.

In his tweet, Sheth said: “Wolves in advanced talks to sign West Ham United defender Craig Dawson. West Ham close to agreeing a loan deal for Southampton defender Jan Bednarek.”

Moyes will love him

With Bednarek being a solid, dangerous and Premier League-proven centre-back, it is not difficult to understand why Moyes has identified the 26-year-old as a replacement for the outbound Dawson, as the Poland international very much appears to be the type of defender that the 59-year-old manager loves.

Indeed, over Bednarek’s 31 Premier League outings in 2021/22, the £25.5m-rated talent was in imperious form, helping Southampton keep seven clean sheets, in addition to making 2.3 interceptions, one tackle and 4.5 clearances and winning 4.5 duels – at a success rate of 62% – per game.

The £20k-per-week defender also impressed in an attacking capacity, bagging four goals and creating one big chance for his team-mates, as well as completing 38.1 passes – at a success rate of 82% – playing 2.8 long balls and taking 0.6 shots per game.

These metrics saw the 26-year-old average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.94 – the same as Dawson earned – ranking him as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s third-best performer in the top flight of English football last season.

Losing the experience of Dawson will undoubtedly come as a blow to Moyes, but should the Scot manage to get a deal over the line for Bednarek in the 32-year-old’s place, it would very much appear as if the 59-year-old has replaced the former Watford man exceptionally well – and perhaps even secured a slight upgrade on the Englishman.

West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Feyenoord defender Marcos Senesi, according to Dutch outlet 1908.nl (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Career so far

Signed from Argentinian outfit San Lorenzo in 2019 for £6.3million (Transfermarkt), Senesi has made 116 outings for the Dutch Eredivisie giants since arriving in Holland.

The 25-year-old centre-back reportedly recently attracted the attention of mega-rich Newcastle United, whilst Italian superpowers Inter Milan, AS Roma and Napoli have all previously been linked with the Argentina international.

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Now it appears as though the Hammers are also keen on Senesi as David Moyes attempts to further bolster the defensive department after signing Nayef Aguerd…

The latest: ‘Battle erupts’

As per 1908.nl, translated by SW, West Ham and newly promoted Bournemouth are both keen on signing the one-cap star.

It’s claimed that ‘battle erupts’ between the two Premier League clubs in order to land Senesi, with Feyenoord demanding €15million (£12.6million) for the Argentine.

The report also states that ‘well-established English sources’ have told the outlet that West Ham are in the market for a central defender following the injury suffered to Aguerd that left the ace requiring surgery.

The verdict: Affordable optin

Having already shelled out £30million to bring Aguerd to the London Stadium (Sky Sports), it’s unlikely that GSB would sanction another big money outlay on a player who ultimately could prove to be little more than a backup option.

That said, the Moroccan’s injury has left Moyes with only Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson and a wantaway Issa Diop at his disposal in the defensive department, and £12.6m would hardly be an unachievable outlay.

Last season, Senesi scored three times and provided three assists in 50 appearances across all competitions, earning an impressive 6.97 Sofascore rating whilst making 4.2 clearances and winning 4.0 duels on average per game – outperforming Ogbonna when it comes to duels as the Italian only won 3.5 per 90 minutes in the Premier League.

Holding an estimated market value of £15.3million and in the final 12 months of a contract in Holland (Transfermarkt), signing the man known as ‘The Gladiator’ by supporters would be a superb piece of business and would see Moyes furnish the ranks with another battling character in the mould of the defenders already in situ.

Newcastle United have been given the green light to bolster their attack by signing a new striker in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, the Magpies have been offered the chance – alongside West Ham and Everton – to sign Andrea Belotti ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that his representatives are attempting to land him a transfer to the Premier League and the Toon are one of the teams that he is willing to sign for.

He left Italian side Torino at the end of last season and is now available on a free transfer, although his wage demands are unclear at this stage.

Eddie Howe’s own Victor Osimhen

Another striker Newcastle have been linked with this summer has been Napoli talisman Victor Osimhen but his reported price tag of £80m+ has not drawn a serious attempt from the Magpies to land him.

In Belotti, PIF can bring in a player who has the quality to be Howe’s own version of the Nigerian international centre-forward. Both players are proven goalscorers in the Serie A who could arrive at St. James’ Park and have a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

FBRef names Osimhen as a similar player to the former Torino man and they certainly have one thing in common – they like to score goals.

The Napoli number nine has scored 28 goals in 68 matches for the club and found the back of the net 15 times in 23 outings for his country. He has shown that he knows how to score goals at the top level and would be a sublime addition to Howe’s squad.

Belotti, on the other hand, has proven himself over the course of a number of years. The 28-year-old ended his Torino career with 113 goals in 251 matches in all competitions and has scored over 100 goals in the Serie A, which proves that he is a reliable goalscorer.

In 12 seasons as a professional, the attacker – who Siavoush Fallahi once dubbed a “machine”, has reached double figures for goals in nine league campaigns. He has been consistent throughout his career and this suggests that he would be an excellent option at the top end of the pitch for Newcastle.

Therefore, he can be Howe’s own – older – version of Osimhen and join the club for the 2022/23 campaign to ease the goalscoring burden on Callum Wilson in the Premier League.

AND in other news, Romano: Newcastle given green light for “sensational” £21m signing, it’d be a big coup…

Everton transfer target Levi Colwill is looking ‘increasingly likely’ to leave Chelsea, according to The Athletic’s Simon Johnson.

The lowdown

The 19-year-old spent the 2021/22 season on loan in the Championship with Huddersfield Town, helping them to reach the play-off final.

He has now returned to the Stamford Bridge fold, but even after the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, there may not be a first-team vacancy for him in Thomas Tuchel’s side.

That’s because Chelsea have moved to add Kalidou Koulibaly to their ranks and want two more centre-backs in the form of Jules Kounde and Presnel Kimpembe.

The latest

Johnson wrote on Twitter: “Injury ruled Levi Colwill out of #CFC’s first pre-season game but a bigger concern right now is his future. The club’s ambitions in the transfer market means there is a danger he will never play for the senior side.”

In the corresponding article for The Athletic, Johnson wrote that if the Blues were to sign another defender, then the expectation is that ‘he will look to leave’, foregoing potential Champions League football. In turn, ‘there is a danger he will never play for the senior side’, with a permanent move potentially in the offing.

Chelsea don’t see the merits of sanctioning another loan, when suitors are already willing to spend big money on Colwill, and they would simply be left with a similar dilemma in 12 months’ time.

Everton are one of the teams ‘in the hunt’, along with Crystal Palace, Fulham, Southampton, Leicester City and Brighton. Right now, the Eagles are said to be ‘confident’ of winning the transfer race, but no agreement has been reached as of yet.

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The verdict

Palace appear to have the advantage right now, but Everton could throw a spanner in the works if they were to outbid the Eagles.

Lampard has already strengthened his defensive ranks by signing James Tarkowski following his departure from Burnley, so signing Colwill could offer the 44-year-old a whole new partnership at centre-back.

There’s a great deal of excitement around the 19-year-old, who would potentially be an excellent long-term addition.

Johnson wrote that Colwill could be in the frame for an England call-up ‘soon enough’ if he features regularly for a Premier League side, and his former Terriers boss Carlos Corberan has backed the teenager to become one of his country’s ‘most important’ centre-backs.

Fittingly, he has been billed by some as the ‘new John Terry’ – a glowing comparison considering the Stamford Bridge legend’s accomplishments during his playing career.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has dropped a claim regarding the current summer transfer window.

What’s the latest?

Speaking after seeing his side beat Wiener Viktoria 7-0 in their first pre-season game of the summer, the Hoops boss had this to say about what transfer business he’d like to see take place before the window shuts.

He said: “I still think there are one or two areas where we need some more robustness in terms of the squad, just some quality in depth. I wouldn’t expect too many but there are still one or two areas I’m looking to strengthen knowing what’s ahead for us.

“We are definitely looking to bring in one or two more before the window closes. Again it is about identifying what we want and making sure they fit all aspects and we are working towards that.”

Celtic fans will be buzzing

Celtic have secured permanent deals for Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer, as well as seeing Daizen Maeda make his stay at the club permanent following his loan spell last season. The Parkhead club have also brought in Benjamin Siegrist and Alexandro Bernabei so it’s been a rather active window.

If supporters weren’t already delighted with the business done, the idea that Postecoglou is still looking to bring at least one or two more players in will be very exciting for everyone involved.

In terms of the areas that Postecoglou could be referring to in his latest comments, a new midfielder should be at the top of the priority list. The club have seen Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton leave Glasgow following the end of the previous SPFL campaign so more cover should arrive in Glasgow before the window slams shut.

The Hoops have already been diligent with their business but supporters would no doubt be delighted if they saw their central areas strengthened in the coming weeks.

With their preseason period kicking off with a rather hefty victory, it shows the Bhoys are already in an extremely promising position ahead of the new campaign, one where they’ll certainly be hoping to have another successful season.

AND in other news: “Soon..”: Journalist drops big Celtic transfer claim that’ll have supporters gutted

Leeds United supporters may not be too thrilled to see a familiar name linked with a switch to Elland Road this week…

What’s the word?

According to TEAMtalk editor James Marshment, relaying news from his website, the Yorkshire giants are keen on signing Adama Traore from Wolves in a cut-price deal.

“@TEAMtalk understands Victor Orta remains keen on a deal for Adama Traore this summer amid claims Wolves will now accept a cut-price £20m fee. Winger was brought to Boro by Orta back in August 2016,” he tweeted alongside an accompanying article written by his colleague Graeme Bailey.

Spurs have also shown strong interest in the Spaniard and there is currently no plan for Barcelona to sign him permanently following a mixed loan spell in LaLiga last season.

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Poor Raphinha replacement

With the future of Raphinha so uncertain in west Yorkshire, there won’t be many supporters happy to see Traore’s name mentioned with a move to Leeds this off-season.

The Brazil international finished the 2021/22 campaign as their top scorer in all competitions and proved to be their major creative outlet on the wing, having averaged 0.7 more key passes per game than any other player, as per WhoScored.

It remains to be seen where or if he will go, though he’s going to rake in at least £45m, according to Fabrizio Romano (via Metro).

Simply put, Traore isn’t fit to lace Raphinha’s boots and would be something of a dire replacement, with his end-product a big, big issue.

“Last season his numbers were poor. Go back two or three seasons it was all about his end product not being good enough and it probably wasn’t,” claimed Danny Mills to Football Insider.

Indeed, at the Nou Camp, he could only muster up two assists across 11 appearances, taking his total combined for both Barcelona and Wolves in 2021/22 to one goal and four assists in 40 games, via Transfermarkt.

On that evidence, the current Leeds star is leagues apart from Traore, and Orta would be making a bad decision in signing him this summer, with some fans already left fuming on social media.

AND in other news, Leeds United can land their own Declan Rice by signing “unbelievable” £38k-p/w gem…

Leeds United have reportedly reignited their interest in Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder Luka Ivanusec.

The Lowdown: Ivanusec profiled

Ivanusec, a Croatia international, is 23 years of age and has been with Dinamo since 2019.

Primarily an attacking midfielder, Ivanusec can also play on the wing and has contributed to 32 goals in 119 games for his current employers.

He scored five times and provided eight assists in 42 games last season, penning a contract extension through to 2026 last August.

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Brenden Aaronson became Leeds’ first summer signing after he penned a five-year deal at Elland Road on Thursday, and it looks as if Ivanusec could follow suit over the coming months.

The Latest: Whites interest

According to Croatian news outlet Germanijak, relayed by MOT Leeds News, the Whites have reignited their interest in Ivanusec.

They claim that Leeds were willing to pay up to £12.7m in January and are now ready to go back in for the attacking midfielder after securing their Premier League status.

The report adds that Ivanusec would leave Dinamo for a multi-million figure.

The Verdict: Like London buses…

Aaronson was Leeds’ first permanent midfield signing since Adam Forshaw back in January 2018. It now looks as if Ivanusec could follow Aaronson to Yorkshire, and it would make sense for more central midfielders to come in ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge.

Marsch had just four central midfielders available and a number of injury issues to deal with after he replaced Marcelo Bielsa at the end of February. He mainly used a 4-2-3-1 system as a result and went with more width in the final few games of the campaign, however, he could now look to implement a more narrow formation with a number of central signings.

In other news: Leeds and Orta also working to sign £59m-rated star; he’s been offered to Man Utd

Keith Downie has now revealed some exciting Newcastle United transfer news regarding Renan Lodi.

The Lowdown: Left-back conundrum

The St James’ Park club have a conundrum over the left-back position in the summer as to whether they should sign Matt Targett on a permanent deal from Aston Villa or look for other targets.

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The 26-year-old has impressed during in his loan spell on Tyneside, so much that 97.5% of Toon supporters have expressed their desire for him to stay, but it will now be up to the board over whether they try and keep him on or perhaps aim higher up in the market.

The Latest: Lodi transfer latest

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports journalist and northeast reporter Downie has shared the news that Newcastle have now ‘looked at’ Lodi as a potential signing this summer, noting that they already completed business with Atletico Madrid when they signed Kieran Trippier in January.

The reporter tweeted: “Understand Renan Lodi is a player Newcastle have looked at & could potentially form part of their summer plans. 15-times capped Brazilian international left-back. Newcastle have already done business of late with Atletico for fellow full-back Kieran Trippier.”

The Verdict: Exciting

It certainly is exciting for the Toon Army to be linked with a defender in Lodi who has title last season ahead of the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

As Downie points out, the Brazilian has also been capped 15 times for his country, and at 24 years of age, he has not hit his prime yet.

Nonetheless, the Magpies’ board will now have to weigh up whether to sign Targett permanently or go for a player like Lodi in the summer.

In other news, find out who else NUFC are now ‘chasing’ this summer