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Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly one of a host of clubs interested in signing Solihull Moors forward Kyle Hudlin in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Owl eye up new signings

The Owls are facing up to the reality of being in League One next season, looking of course to immediately bounce back to the Championship.

Darren Moore is expected to let a host of out-of-contract players leave this summer, bringing in his own choices from elsewhere instead.

The Latest: Hudlin linked with move

According to Football Insider, Wednesday are interested in acquiring the signature of Hudlin, who stands at an incredible 6 foot 9.

He scored 10 goals for Solihull in 2020/21 and his current deal expires next year, meaning the National League club may look to cash on him in the summer.

Championship pair Barnsley and Huddersfield Town are also believed to be tracking Hudlin, who at 20, would represent a long-term acquisition.

The Verdict: An intriguing option?

Hudlin’s unusual height certainly makes him a unique option for Wednesday, potentially proving to be a nightmare for League One defenders.

Whether or not be possesses the mobility to thrive in a higher division is questionable, however, given the step up in quality from the National League and the size of him physically.

It would be a gamble of a signing, but Moore needs to be trusted in the transfer market, and if Britain’s tallest player is his top target to shore up the forward line, fans may just have to trust the boss.

In other news, one Sheff Wed player is rumoured to be extending his stay at Hillsborough. Find out who it is here.

The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Vinod Phadke, wanted bypolice for his alleged involvement in the fake ticket scam during thefifth one-day international between India and Australia, on Thursdaysurrendered before the judicial magistrate

Staff and Agencies08-Jun-2001* GCA secretary surrenders before judicial magistrate, gets bailThe Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Vinod Phadke, wanted bypolice for his alleged involvement in the fake ticket scam during thefifth one-day international between India and Australia, on Thursdaysurrendered before the judicial magistrate of Margao and was grantedbail. Phadke was released on a bail of Rs one lakh and two sureties oflike amount on conditions includang that he make himself available tothe investigating officer as and when required, DIG Karnal Singh said.GCA president and former deputy chief minister Dayanand Narvekar,treasurer Ramnath Shankar Das and Phadke have been called forinterrogation at Margao tomorrow as the police santed someclarifications and more details of some events, Singh said adding eventhough the custodial enquiries were not possible, the police would getto the truth.Das was arrested immediately after the episode was reported and is nowon bail. Narvekar was granted bail yesterday. But both Narvekar andPhadke did not cooperate with the police and from time to time filedbail applications before different courts, and finally got the bailfrom the Goa bench of the Mumbai High Court for a month. The judicialmagistrate of Margao has now given bail to Narvekar and Phadke for twomonths or till the chargesheet is filed, whichever is earlier.* ACA conduct workshop cum seminerA workshop cum seminer was organised for coaches by the Assam CricketAcademy under the aegis of the Assam Cricket Association last week atthe office of the Assam Football Association at the Nehru stadium inGuwahati. The workshop was opened by Sudhendu Paul, vice-president,ACA and the welcome address was given by Nandan Bezbaruah, secretary,ACA.Totally, 54 coaches from different districts of Assam attended theworkshop, displaying keen interest. Apart from theoretical lectures,practical demonstrations, technical aspects of cricket coaching andaudio-vidio clippings on coaching were presented for the benefit ofthe coaches. Another interesting topic was that on sports injuries.Dr. Dipankar Bhattacherjee spoke in detail about how a player could beprevented from possible injuries.The workshop was conducted by head coach of the proposed Assam CricketAcademy, Kamal Das and associates Manoj Bhagawati and Mukut Das.

Rumoured Leeds United transfer target Adama Traore is reportedly in talks to sign a new deal with Wolves, acting as a blow to the Whites’ chances of landing the man Jurgen Klopp once called ‘unplayable’.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Traore move

The Whites have been linked with a host of players, as a potentially busy summer transfer window looms at Elland Road.

Marcelo Bielsa will no doubt feel happy with the squad he has built, but will also believe some new faces will make them an even stronger outfit verging on becoming a contender for the European places.

Someone who has been tipped to join Leeds in the past is Traore, whose incredible pace and unpredictability has made for entertaining viewing at Wolves, with Eurosport claiming earlier this year he is ‘firmly’ on Leeds’ radar and that Victor Orta and co are ‘likely’ to make a bid this summer.

The Latest: Spaniard could extend Wolves stay

According to The Athletic, talks are ‘ongoing’ between the Spaniard and Wolves over a new deal, with his current contract expiring in the summer of 2023.

That suggests Leeds could miss out the 25-year-old being available in the summer, meaning Bielsa has to look elsewhere for a new wide man.

This will certainly be a blow to Orta, who ‘loves’ Traore after once signing him for Middlesbrough.

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The Verdict: Bullet dodged or opportunity missed?

While the £31.5million-rated Traore is a player who can get you off your seat, he is a footballer who flatters to deceive when it comes to end product.

Despite his ability to get into good positions constantly, mainly because of his blistering speed, he has only managed two goals and assists apiece in 36 league appearances this season.

He has also been dispossessed an average of 1.8 times per game in the league in 2020/21, which suggests he could struggle in a Bielsa side – only Jack Harrison is on a par with him for Leeds, in that respect.

That said, the impossibly athletic Traore has created 1.5 chances per game this season, a number only bettered in Yorkshire by Harrison and Raphinha, so perhaps he has been the victim of Wolves’ striker problems.

In other news, one pundit admits he is 50/50 over the future of one huge Leeds figure. Find out who it is here.

Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that Everton might struggle to keep Tom Davies if he keeps performing at his current level.

Davies, who’s a product of the Toffees academy, burst on the scene as a teenager and made his debut as a 17-year-old against Southampton at the end of the 2015-2016 campaign under Roberto Martinez.

Less than 12 months down the line, the midfielder scored against Manchester City to enter the top-10 for Everton’s youngest Premier League goalscorers behind the likes of James Vaughan and Wayne Rooney.

Ever since that memorable strike against Pep Guardiola’s team, Davies has been something of a regular in the Everton side, and has occasionally worn the armband in the absence of both Seamus Coleman and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Despite being on the bench for the win at Arsenal and loss against Aston Villa, Davies has already racked up 149 Everton appearances before his 23rd birthday.

And Bent told Football FanCast that if the former England U21 star keeps improving, interest will no doubt come his way:

“Technically good for his age – very aware, very mature. I think he’s got a long career at Everton, but if he carries on the way he’s going there will be a lot of clubs that want to take him. I’m not saying Everton are a top-six club, but now they’re kind of pondering away from that.

“Davies will want to play in the top-six, so if he carries on doing what he’s doing he will want to be successful and start winning trophies.”

Hampshire are on course for victory at Derby whereDerbyshire collapsed to a combination of seam andspin

Nigel Gardner27-May-2001Hampshire are on course for victory at Derby whereDerbyshire collapsed to a combination of seam andspin.Alan Mullally, who had condemned the home side tofollowing on with three wickets in four balls, tooktwo more and Shaun Udal also struck twice to leaveDerbyshire facing defeat.When bad light ended play five overs early, they were69-4, still 98 runs behind and look certain to loseunless the weather intervenes on the final day.Nathan Dumelow, on his championship debut, did his bestto keep Derbyshire in the match with an accomplishedhalf century that came close to averting the threat ofthe follow on.With Karl Krikken, he added 72 for the eighth wicketand the target of 315 was only 18 runs away whenMullally roared in with the new ball to demolish thetail.He took three wickets in four balls, all to slipcatches by Neil Johnson who was also back in businesswhen Derbyshire went back in again.Luke Sutton edged low to second slip and Mathew Dowmanwas snared by the all-rounder as he pushed forward atUdal after resisting for 11 overs.The collapse gathered momentum when Steve Stubbings,who had fallen seven short of a century earlier in theday, edged Mullally and Adrian Aymes took a tumblingcatch.Udal then trapped Rob Bailey lbw for a duck in thenext over and only batting heroics from Michael DiVenuto are likely to deny Hampshire on the final day.

Steven Gerrard’s Rangers have been linked with Heerenveen ace Joey Veerman recently and should the Dutch midfielder make the move to Ibrox this summer, he could prove to be their next Mikel Arteta.

According to Dutch news outlet Voetbal, Rangers are keen on signing the 22-year-old this summer after another impressive campaign in the Eredivisie.

They suggest that Rangers, Stade Reims, PSV and Atalanta are all monitoring Veerman ahead of next season, whilst Southampton and Feyenoord and Club Brugge have also been linked with him in the past.

So far this season, the midfield orchestrator has contributed seven goals and nine assists in 28 Eredivisie appearances, resulting in a superb 7.47 average rating, whilst he also has two goals in the KNVB Cup, taking his overall goals and assists tally to 18, an excellent return from a midfielder.

WhoScored lists some of Veerman’s strengths as his passing, dribbling, long shots and set-piece ability, which immediately marks him out as someone who could play a role similar to the one Arteta did during his time at the club.

The current Arsenal boss joined Rangers from Barcelona in 2002 and spent two years at Ibrox before moving to Real Sociedad, before later spending time in the Premier League with Everton and Arsenal.

During his time at the club, Arteta would manage 50 league appearances, in which he scored 12 goals, including some spectacular free-kicks.

Unsurprisingly for a Spanish midfielder, he was extremely talented on the ball and kept possession well but also pushed forward and was dangerous in attack.

Other than Joe Aribo, who has regularly featured on the right-wing, Rangers have arguably been low on goals from midfield this season, with Glen Kamara, Steven Davis and Scott Arfield scoring just five league goals between them this season.

Veerman, who would likely cost around £8.5m, could offer that midfield threat, whilst he is also renowned for his ability in possession, with former Rangers man Michael Mols singing his praises recently, saying:

“He is perfect with the ball and in possession, he’s a really great player. His passing and movement with the ball is really relaxed in a good way.”

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Therefore, Ross Wilson should definitely look to bring Veerman to Ibrox this summer as if he is anywhere near the player Arteta turned out to be, he will be a very good signing indeed.

And, in other news… Rangers suffer huge blow to £2.2m ace with “terrific quality” Gerrard will be worried

Speaking to talkSPORT, host and pundit Adrian Durham has told Tottenham Hotspur and Daniel Levy to target Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte over other linked candidates such as Graham Potter and Scott Parker.

Conte, who has just clinched a Serie A title with the Nerazzurri, possesses no shortage of silverware over his managerial career – having won eight major honours as a coach overall (Transfermarkt).

Durham tells Levy to target Conte for Spurs

This includes a Premier League crown during the 2016/2017 season with Chelsea and the FA Cup one year later, and Durham believes Levy should be trying to lure him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the likes of Potter and Parker, who have little experience and silverware by comparison.

In response to Potter’s links to Spurs, Durham explained to talkSPORT:

“I call him Graham Plodder which is a little bit disrespectful. He is better than that, but there is a pedestrian way that Brighton play that some people seem to love.

“I look at the lack of goals and think it’s got to get better than that. Potter, Parker or Eddie Howe – and then I look at Antonio Conte, who’s just won the title at Inter Milan.

“That’s who Spurs should be trying to attract to their football club. If they go with any of the first three, with the greatest of respect to them, there’s no way Kane stays.”

Transfer Tavern take

It is clear that, if Tottenham were targeting Conte, he would stand out as a very illustrious candidate.

Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo waxed lyrical over the €20 million-per-year (£17.2m) boss just last year, heralding him as the ‘best coach’ he has ever worked with and a ‘demon’ who is ‘obsessed with victory (FourFourTwo).

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is another who has heaped praise on the 51-year-old, dubbing Conte a tactical ‘master’ after introducing another way to attack with five in defence (Arab News).

However, despite his plaudits, Conte being targeted is arguably very unrealistic given his reported salary, the fact he has just won a title with Inter and the rumours Tottenham are looking for a ‘young’ and ‘dynamic’ coach (Daily Mail).

In other news: Tottenham register interest in this midfield maestro, find out more here.

Fans of Southampton have been reacting to a post on Twitter, in which Saints relayed their statement regarding the now-collapsing proposal of a European Super League.

In a statement posted on the club website, Southampton confirmed that they are in “complete opposition” to any plans for a breakaway league, and that club shares the feeling of its supporters in that the proposals involving the so-called big six sides were “borne from a position of greed” as well as “fear of true competition.”

The club also claimed that it will do “everything in its power” to prevent the plans from becoming reality, alongside the Premier League, the British government and the governing bodies of European and world football.

However, after Southampton shared their statement on Twitter, fans of the club flocked to have their say on the matter, with many appearing furious at the timing of Saints’ tweet, as the statement came a number of hours after it was already rumoured that Chelsea had pulled out of the ESL, and not long before all six Premier League sides had completely withdrawn.

By contrast, the likes of Everton and West Ham had shared their disgust at the ESL idea much earlier on Tuesday, drawing massive praise.

So, what exactly did these Southampton fans have to say in reaction to the club’s statement?

“Shambolic that it took so long.”

@_supersaints

“Being the last club to issue a statement on this is not something to be proud of lads.”

@BristolSaints

“So, in the end, we published this *less than an hour* before the English clubs announced they were leaving anyway.”

@lucyhighnett

“Bit late lads.”

@europasaintsfc

“See we are as gutless off the pitch as we are on it at the moment. Basically wait for it to fall then strong condemnation. Shambles.”

@SFC_BazChez

“Issue a statement after the idea is in the bin already. Well done lads.”

@andrewhal20

In other news: Reports from Germany reveal interest in key Southampton man; claim 15% chance of summer exit – find out more here!

Liam Kennedy has dropped an inside claim from sources on James Pallotta and a potential takeover of Newcastle United, revealing that those inside the Toon are ‘surprised’ by the talk from the former Roma chief.

Writing in his latest piece for The Shields Gazette, the football journalist has claimed that Pallotta has ‘yet to contact’ the St. James’ Park faithful following an exclusive interview that he did with The Athletic, in which former chairman and co-owner of AS Roma expressed an interest in buying a club in the Premier League, namechecking Steve Bruce’s side in the midst of it.

However, Kennedy has since squashed down any potential chances of him taking over in the North East, adding that any approach made by the businessman currently would ‘not be welcomed’ by the Tyneside club.

Mike Ashley continues to ‘only have eyes’ for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group, and the news about Pallotta’s potential interest has ‘come as a surprise’ to the Magpies.

Sources believe that the links are nothing more than a ‘publicity stunt’ at this stage, as Ashley remains ‘100% committed’ to selling to the KSA consortium, per Kennedy’s report.

Only one chance for potential Newcastle takeover

With the rumours of Pallotta potentially actively looking to buy the Toon being firmly played down, it seems that there is only one chance of a takeover at NUFC, and that still lies with the KSA group.

However, the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will have to come back to the table to have any hope of the original deal with Ashley to be revived, and Newcastle likely need to ensure that they are playing football in the Premier League come the start of the 2021/22 term for that to happen.

Last week, pundit Danny Mills claimed the Magpies’ hopes of a takeover will ‘without a shadow of a doubt’ disappear if they are relegated.

In other news, find out what claim on the potential takeover has been dropped involving Steve Bruce here!

According to a report by club insider Claret & Hugh, West Ham United medics and backroom staff have ‘growing confidence’ behind the scenes that star defender Angelo Ogbonna could soon be available for the game against Leicester City or ‘certainly’ away to Newcastle United.

West Ham insider shares big Ogbonna injury boost

Ogbonna, who has been out of match action recently after suffering an ankle injury, is said to be making progress in his rehabilitation at Rush Green with his comeback potentially coming soon after the international break.

The Italian limped off just 16 minutes into West Ham’s FA Cup defeat away to Manchester United last month, but Irons insider Claret & Hugh has provided a positive update.

It is understood by the outlet that medics and backroom staff have ‘growing confidence’ Ogbonna will return shortly after the international interval and could be available again for the home game against Leicester.

Barring that, C&H relay that West Ham officials believe the 32-year-old will ‘certainly’ be back for the trip to St. James’ Park soon afterwards.

Transfer Tavern take

This is a big injury boost for manager David Moyes – Ogbonna was a mainstay under the Scotsman and one of the first names on his team sheet before an untimely absence – starting 23 Premier League games in total (WhoScored).

As well as this, out of all the first team regulars with 14 league starts or more over 2020/2021, Ogbonna has averaged the most league clearances per 90.

News that he could return very soon after the international break will delight Moyes, especially as the Hammers chase an unprecedented finish in the European qualifying spots.

In other news: West Ham fans flocked to this footage, find out more here.