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Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing Swansea City midfielder Flynn Downes.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Wales Online, which includes Wolves in a list of four clubs who have shown an interest in the 23-year-old, with the other three potential destinations being Leeds United, Southampton and Crystal Palace.

It is said in the report that the Englishman’s metrics from last season have been a “key factor” in attracting Premier League interest. Downes made the sixth-most passes per game in the Championship last season, with his 92.6% pass success rate seeing him top the charts as the best passer in the division.

The report added that, whilst there has not been any contact from Leeds, the likes of Southampton, Palace and Wolves have all made “tentative enquiries” over the midfield asset.

With three years left to run on his current contract, it is said that Downes possesses a value of around £11m to £12m.

Lage could seal great deal for Downes

Hailed by Swansea manger as an “incredible” player “who does the dirty work”, Downes has been able to prove himself as a stabiliser in the 36-year-old’s possession-based team since his move from Ipswich Town last year.

The Swans topped the possession ranks in the Championship last term, averaging a mouth-watering 63.9% of the ball, and Downes plays a big part in how the team operates. Effectively, he pulls the strings in the engine room along with Matt Grimes, distributing the ball with ease and class.

Averaging just 49.5% possession in 2021/22, ranking them the ninth-worst in the Premier League at keeping the ball, Wolves could do with a true stabiliser in midfield. The 23-year-old would give them another dimension in progressing towards the opponent’s attacking third, rather than just looking for counter-press opportunities.

Their most reliagle distributor of the ball last season was Ruben Neves with just 54.8 passes per game. For comparison, Downes averages 71.5 passes per game and also clocked roughly the same rate of interceptions as Neves (1.4), with 1.3 per 90.

Lage could bag Wolves a real gem in the Swansea pass-master, and it’s a prospective deal which should most certainly be taken further by the Old Gold.

AND in other news – “I keep hearing..”: Fabrizio Romano drops huge Wolves update that will leave supporters buzzing 

Leeds United are working on a new deal for winger Crysencio Summerville, who is wanted by Nottingham Forest, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Summerville at Leeds

Summerville made the move to Elland Road from Dutch side Feyenoord back in 2020 following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

The 20-year-old has featured mainly for the U23s, contributing to 21 goals in 27 games. He has made nine senior Whites appearances and featured on the bench regularly in the Premier League last season.

Described as ‘superb’ by Noel Whelan, the winger is now entering the final 12 months of his deal in Yorkshire, but it looks as if Leeds want to keep him at the club.

The Latest: Romano’s update

Romano took to Twitter on Thursday to provide an update on Summerville.

He revealed that the Dutchman is attracting interest from both Forest and AZ Alkmaar, however, he added that ‘Leeds are busy’ trying to extend his contract with ‘negotiations ongoing’.

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed?

Summerville has proven at Thorp Arch with the U23s that he has bundles of attacking quality, so agreeing on a new contract would be a wise move.

Jesse Marsch may lose a star winger in Raphinha this summer, and although Summerville may not be viewed as a direct replacement at this moment in time, he could become a first-team regular over the coming years.

Securing a new contract and sending him out on loan for regular senior football could be the ideal scenario for Leeds chiefs, and it looks as if a decision will be made on the player’s future very soon.

Sunderland are reportedly now fighting a number of other clubs in the Championship to sign Jack Rudoni this summer.

The Lowdown: Player of the Year

The 21-year-old was AFC Wimbledon’s Player of the Year (POTY) last season, having scored 12 goals and provided a further seven assists from midfield across all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Dubbed an ‘excellent’ player by former Dons manager Mark Robinson after an impressive performance against Wycombe Wanderers last term, Rudoni has gone from strength to strength; and given their relegation to League Two, he could now be set for a move away from southwest London.

The Latest: Bid made

As per The Sun, Sunderland have now made a £1m bid to sign the youngster, which has since been rejected by AFC Wimbledon.

Fellow Championship clubs Huddersfield Town and Bristol City have also seen bids turned down for the 6 foot 1 ace, who could be sold for the right price.

The Verdict: Sign him

Alex Neil’s team have already seen first-hand what Rudoni is capable of, having come up against him in League One, so he is a player who could slot nicely into this Sunderland side.

While the Championship is another step up from the third tier, the youngster will surely want to prove that he can play at a higher level, having done so well for a relegated team.

Also, he is only 21 years of age, so he has the potential to get even better with the Black Cats over the coming years if he makes the move to Wearside.

In other news, find out who Sunderland have now held ‘talks’ with over signing

Wolves have been given fresh hope of signing Valencia winger Goncalo Guedes, with the La Liga club in need of generating money this summer.

The Lowdown: Guedes linked with Wolves move

The 25-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2021/22 season for Valencia, scoring 11 goals and registering six assists in La Liga and standing out as his side’s best player – none of his teammates registered a higher average match rating, managed more goals or provided more assists.

Wolves have been linked with a move for Guedes in the recent past, as Bruno Lage looks to make attacking reinforcements, but a move is yet to be sealed.

That could be about to change, however, following a new update from Spain.

The Latest: Wanderers given fresh hope

According to Plaza Deportiva [via Sport Witness], Wolves ‘have already sounded’ Guedes out as a summer target, with Valencia needing to generate €30million (£25.5m) in the coming months.

They need funds ‘as soon as possible’, potentially playing into Technical Director Scott Sellars’ hands.

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The Verdict: Snap him up Scott

Wolves were lacking attacking thrust throughout last season, scoring 38 goals in as many matches in the Premier League, and Guedes could be someone who improves that area of weakness.

The Portuguese gem has 66 goal involvements in 178 appearances for Valencia (36 goals and 30 assists), highlighting the end product he possesses, and he could provide great competition for the likes of Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence.

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With Adama Traore possibly moving on permanently this summer, the funds would likely be available for Wolves to snap up Guedes, with his peak years still likely to be ahead of him.

In other news, a key Wolves transfer update has emerged. Read more here.

Chelsea are interested in signing impressive Wolves full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh rumour.

The Lowdown: Ait-Nouri shines for Wolves

The 21-year-old has emerged as one of Wanderers’ best young players in recent years, producing a string of commanding performances last season.

Ait-Nouri started 20 matches in the Premier League in 2021/22, averaging a team-high 2.8 tackles per game and also providing attacking thrust from his left wing-back role, completing nearly two take-ons per match.

The Frenchman is now being linked with a move away from Molineux, however, which is a concern.

The Latest: Chelsea keen on move

According to The Daily Mail, Chelsea are eyeing up Ait-Nouri as a potential summer target, seeing him as someone who could replace the likely outgoing Marcos Alonso.

The youngster does still have four years remaining on his current Wolves deal, however, so the Blues would likely have to submit a huge bid to prise him away.

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The Verdict: Would be a big blow

Given Ait-Nouri’s potential, the thought of Wolves losing him now is grim. At a point where Bruno Lage is looking to build a formidable side for the long-term, selling a promising 21 year-old would be hugely damaging.

The defender has impressed so much for Wanderers, producing performances far more mature than his tender years and being hailed as ‘fantastic’ by his manager.

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It remains to be seen if Ait-Nouri’s head is turned by this potential interest from top four clubs – Manchester City are also mentioned in the report – but the hope is that he sees his future at Wolves, for the time being at least.

In other news, Wolves have been linked with a move for a defender. Find out who it is here.

According to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba has turned down the offer of a new contract and wishes to leave the club this summer.

The Lowdown: Forest secure promotion

Samba arrived at the City Ground from Caen back in 2019, where he has featured 133 times for the club during his three-year spell in the Championship.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful season with the Reds as they managed to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years following a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at Wembley.

However, now entering the final 12 months of his contract with Steve Cooper’s side, a decision regarding his future with the Midlands outfit will soon have to be made, and following a fresh update, it appears as though the shot-stopper knows exactly the next steps he wants to take.

The Latest: Samba’s decision revealed

In a post on his personal Twitter account, Ornstein confirmed that Samba doesn’t have any intentions of staying at Forest.

“EXCL: Nottingham Forest suffer major blow as goalkeeper Brice Samba informs club he won’t be signing new contract (deal ends 2023) and reluctantly intends to leave this summer. NFFC still hopeful but 28yo deemed recent offer unacceptable.”

Expanding further in his column for The Athletic, the journalist stated that the keeper’s decision to turn the new proposal down is said ‘not to be financially motivated’, but more based on respect for his ‘achievements, importance and popularity’ at the club.

The source claims that Forest have directly told them that ‘talks are taking place’ with the player, and that they ‘remain determined’ to retain his services beyond the upcoming window.

The Verdict: Samba’s penalty heroics

Samba has become a favourite amongst fans during his time in England and played such a key role in the jump up to the top-flight, most notably for his incredible penalty shootout heroics against Sheffield United.

The Linzolo-born talent made 45 outings across all competitions for Forest this season, keeping a total of 16 clean sheets, as per Transfermarkt, and effectively played the number one role having been chosen as first-choice keeper by the Welsh boss.

Cooper has a great relationship with Samba, but whether that will be enough to convince him to stay at the club for their first campaign back in the Premier League yet remains to be seen.

In other news… a club have reportedly made an offer in a bid to sign one of Forest’s 2021/22 standout performers.

Tottenham Hotspur could still sign Filip Kostic even after wrapping up a deal for Ivan Perisic, The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick reports. 

The lowdown

After Perisic passed a medical at Hotspur Way, the club confirmed the completion of the transfer this afternoon as the 33-year-old signs on a two-year deal.

Positional peer Kostic, meanwhile, is approaching the final 12 months of his agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt, who were crowned Europa League winners after beating Rangers.

Antonio Conte was able to call upon the likes of Ryan Sessegnon and Sergio Reguilon at left-wing back last season, but it seems they were a temporary solution.

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The latest

Kilpatrick points out that Perisic’s ‘versatility’ means that he may not be confined to a LWB berth in Conte’s system.

And that means Spurs could still sign another player in that position this summer, with Kostic one of the players ‘they also admire’.

The verdict

Kostic, a left midfielder by trade, is unsurprisingly very effective when it comes to the attacking side of the position.

Last season, he scored seven goals and topped Frankfurt’s assist rankings with 15 in all competitions, six clear of his nearest challenger Jesper Lindstrom.

Indeed, he set up more goals than anybody else in the Europa League (six), which helped win the competition’s Player of the Season award.

He recorded low volumes of defensive actions, ranking in the bottom 20 percentiles for tackles, interceptions, blocks, clearances and successful aerial duels, but Conte would look to mould that side of his game.

Significantly, Sky Sport Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg says he will be allowed to leave for just €15million (£12.8million), which journalist Brogan Clasper has dubbed ‘an absolute steal’.

In other news, read this Italian reporter’s big Bastoni claim.

According to BBC pundit Alan Hutton, it would be a ‘huge blow’ for Liverpool if they were to be without Thiago Alcantara for the Champions League final on Saturday night.

The Lowdown: Thiago injured

The Reds are set to take on Real Madrid in the Paris showdown this weekend after securing a 5-2 aggregate victory over Villarreal in the semi-finals to book their place at the Stade de France.

However, they might have to try and get their hands on the trophy without the 31-year-old maestro, who suffered an Achilles injury in the Premier League clash against Wolves which forced him off early on the final day of the domestic season.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Spain midfielder is facing an uphill battle to be fit in time for the match in Paris.

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The Latest: Hutton praises Thiago’s quality

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton admitted that Thiago would be a big loss in the middle of the park for Liverpool, but he thinks that the Spaniard will do everything within his power to make himself available for selection.

The former Scotland defender said of the midfielder: “He gives you that calming influence. He’s got that quality a lot of people could only dream of.

“So to not have him fit and available will be a huge blow, I think. You have to look at the other way and be positive. It’s an opportunity for somebody else to come in and shine.

“They’ll do everything they can to get Thiago fit. I think if there’s even a little chance of playing, you’re going to give it a try.

“I just see it as an opportunity, they’ve got a strong squad. It’s a chance for somebody else to come in and play in the Champions League final. It’s the biggest game you’ll ever play in your life.”

The Verdict: Big-game player

The 46-cap Spain international has been an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI this season, so if he isn’t declared fully fit in time to take on Carlo Ancelotti’s side on Saturday, the Reds will have a huge void to fill in midfield.

Thiago has made nine European appearances during this run to the final, scoring one goal (as per Transfermarkt), showing that his performances on the Champions League stage have played a vital role in helping the Reds make it all the way to their third such final in five years.

Having won the trophy twice before (with Barcelona in 2011 and Bayern Munich two years ago), he has shown that he can come to the fore on the big occasion, just as he did in the FA Cup showpiece at Wembley a couple of weeks ago. Therefore, Kopites everywhere will pray that he can feature against Real Madrid in Paris this weekend.

In other news… one Liverpool first-team star is expected to sign a new deal with the club

Andrea Radrizzani’s proposed sale of Leeds United may be put on hold if the Whites suffer relegation from the Premier League this season.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that, should Jesse Marsch’s side fail to secure survival on the final day of the Premier League campaign, Radrizzani will likely put his plans to sell to the club to the San Francisco 49ers enterprise on hold, as the Italian would not be able to command anywhere near the reported £475m figure that had previously been stated as Leeds’ price.

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In the article, Mike Keegan wrote: “Longer-term projects, such as the expansion of the stadium, may have to be put on the back burner. And plans to sell the club will also take a back seat. Having done the hard work in lifting them out of decades of Football League gloom, Andrea Radrizzani would not be able to command anywhere near the price he would be looking for with the club in the second tier.”

Supporters will be fuming

Considering the fact that the 49ers are expected to invest a significant amount of funds into the club upon their proposed takeover of the Whites, in addition to the fact that the Elland Road faithful made their feelings abundantly clear regarding Radrizzani’s position as the owner of the club during the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, the news that a takeover would be put on hold in the event of relegation is sure to have left supporters fuming.

Indeed, many of the Leeds faithful have been frustrated by the lack of investment from the Italian both last summer and in January, and, considering the club’s precarious position towards the bottom of the Premier League table, it is not difficult to understand why, in a recent poll ran on Football FanCast, the vast majority of the Whites’ fanbase revealed they would like for Radrizzani to sell up this summer.

As such, with Jesse Marsch’s side simply having to secure all three points against Brentford this Sunday if they are to have any hope of remaining in the Premier League come 2022/23, it would now appear that it is not only the club’s status on the line but also their long-term ownership – making the crucial trip to west London all the more important.

AND in other news: Huge setback: Leeds dealt further big blow in relegation fight, Marsch will be fuming

TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has now claimed a ‘beast’ of a player could now be open to joining David Moyes at West Ham United this summer.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye striker…

As per reliable reports, the Hammers are eyeing a new forward for manager Moyes after the club failed to seal the deal during what was a whirlwind January transfer window.

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Last minute moves for the likes of Darwin Nunez (Benfica) and Duvan Zapata (Atalanta) fell through, leaving West Ham with just Michail Antonio as their only natural senior striking option for the remainder of the Premier League campaign.

For next season, club owners GSB and head of recruitment Rob Newman will be looking to change this as they reportedly set their sights on attacking targets.

One of them is Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah with the Englishman set to leave north London as a free agent past 2021/2022.

The Irons are apparently in pole position for Mikel Arteta’s ace, according to The Mail, with Crook now also making an enticing claim.

The Latest: Crook makes claim…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the talkSPORT reporter says Nketiah could be open to joining West Ham and a move ‘would appeal’.

He explained, when asked if the 22-year-old could eye a London Stadium move:

“Yeah, I do, because obviously he’d still be in London, still a big club, could go there and be the main man, play European football. I think that would appeal to him.

“How do you find a role for him and [Michail] Antonio in that team? I think because Antonio is not a natural centre-forward and his goals have dried up a bit since the turn of the year, I think that [bringing in Nketiah] would still work.”

The Verdict: Finalise it?

The forward, called a ‘beast’ in training by Arteta, may well be a decent option for West Ham at zero cost.

He’s still young, a hungry player and has finished this season in fine form – scoring four goals in his last six league matches as Arsenal hope to somehow usurp Tottenham in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

It’s quite a risk free move and one that surely must be considered by Moyes.

In other news: West Ham now believe they can sign phenomenal international with agents set for imminent club talks…find out more here.