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Newcastle fan favourite Allan Saint-Maximin has revealed that everyone at St. James’ Park felt ‘disappointed’ when the owners visited to share the news that Steve Bruce had been sacked.

The Lowdown: Bye bye Bruce

Bruce’s departure was confirmed on Wednesday, after taking charge of his 1,000th game in management last weekend, falling to another defeat against Tottenham.

The 60 year-old certainly can’t argue this wasn’t coming, winning just 28 of 97 games with the Magpies, a measly 29 per cent winning rate.

Of course, that worrying record doesn’t mean the manager didn’t have some positive influence on Tyneside, and perhaps the biggest silver lining of his tenure was the emergence of Saint-Maximin.

The Latest: Saint-Maximin reveals all

The 24 year-old shared a heartfelt thank you message to his gaffer on Twitter this week, before speaking to Sky Sports (via Football Daily) about the mood in the dressing room.

“It was a bad day, so they didn’t come in like ‘we enjoy, Steve Bruce is sacked’, that’s not what happened.

“Everyone feels disappointed and even the owner, to be honest, about what’s happened.

“So they just talked about the situation at the moment, they said if we need anything to make everything better, we just have to talk, because at the moment we need to feel comfortable.”

The Verdict: Fonseca time?

There is no question Saint-Maximin has thrived under the tutelage of Bruce, regardless of the manager’s poor record on Tyneside. The dazzling winger had never been able to add consistency to his game in France, but has bagged two goals and three assists in eight top flight appearances this season.

That said, the only way the club can feel ‘comfortable’ again is if they start putting points on the board, something they will look to kick-start at Crystal Palace this weekend when Graeme Jones leads them to Selhurst Park.

The rumour mill is heating up with new manager links too, with Paulo Fonseca seemingly the front runner at the moment.

And, given that the Portuguese tactician was hailed as ‘one of the greatest coaches I’ve had in football’ by Euro 2020 winner Alessandro Florenzi, perhaps he will have the perfect man-management style to continue to bring the best out of Saint-Maximin.

In other news, the KSA consortium are already eyeing up a ‘fantastic striker’ who Shearer loves! Find out more here…

Everton manager Frank Lampard has revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be missing for the club’s FA Cup clash against Brentford.

What’s the story?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against the Bees in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, the new Toffees boss revealed: “DCL picked up a small knock so he won’t be available. We hope he can be back for the games coming up.”

Lampard will be gutted

The striker has only managed just six appearances in the Premier League all season, scoring three goals, with all three of those strikes coming in his opening three matches back in August.

In fact, even despite those injury troubles seeing him miss such a large chunk of the season, Calvert-Lewin actually somehow remains fourth-top scorer, and only three behind the men in first, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend.

Back in May, former Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti waxed lyrical about the striker after watching him score the winner away against West Ham, saying: “The goal he scored today is a goal of a top striker.

“It’s a goal where the striker prepares his movement and moves at the right time with a lot of speed and then he was cold in front of the goalkeeper. He hasn’t scored a lot of goals like this. He’s scored most of his goals from crosses or with one touch in the box. This is a goal of a top striker.”

Lampard no doubt would have been desperate to see Everton’s most potent goal-scorer and leader up front to be available for his first game in charge, not least for a cup match that could eventually see the new Toffees boss lift his first trophy.

It’s exactly why the update on Calvert-Lewin is likely to leave him absolutely gutted.

Meanwhile, Everton facing a Rafa Benitez-esque howler…

Ange Postecoglou has no intention of using Celtic left-back Boli Bolingoli, according to The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin.

The Lowdown: Bolingoli’s summer

Bolingoli returned to Parkhead over the summer following a loan spell in Turkey with Istanbul Basaksehir.

The Belgian was linked with a return to Turkey with Altay SK back in June, however, he remained a Parkhead player beyond Tuesday’s deadline.

He posted a picture on Instagram prior to the 2021/22 campaign in Celtic colours ready for the new season with the caption ‘let’s go’. However, he hasn’t been used in a competitive match under Postecoglou, and it seems as if he isn’t in the Parkhead boss’ plans.

The Latest: Devlin’s claim

The Athletic shared a story on Wednesday about some players who have been left high and dry after failing to secure a summer transfer.

Devlin contributed with a section on Bolingoli, claiming there is no intention in Glasgow to use him in the first team.

Bolingoli, on £780,000-a-year at Celtic, still has two years remaining on his deal.

The Verdict: January exit?

With Postecoglou preferring Adam Montgomery and new right-back Josip Juranvoic on the left-hand side in Greg Taylor’s absence, it looks like a New Year exit for Bolingoli could be on the cards.

The Hoops may well be open to a loan or permanent deal for the 26-year-old, and should it be the latter, they could struggle to recoup the £3m fee they forked out for his services back in 2019, especially with his Transfermarkt valuation dropping to £1.98m.

In other news: Ange’s first January target emerges; Celtic will watch ‘really important’ ace tomorrow. 

If Dean Smith spent Monday night dreaming of the perfect Aston Villa performance, then he certainly got it when his side thrashed Barrow 6-0 in the Carabao Cup second round.

The Midlands club were superb from minute one, carving open the League Two side with relative ease time and time again, with a number of players really staking their claim for future involvement in the first-team.

Smith was keen to give a bunch of his side’s brightest young academy talents the chance to impress, and while Cameron Archer no doubt stole the post-match headlines thanks to his fine hat-trick, it was arguably Jaden Philogene-Bidace who was the real sensation.

Here on FFC, we called on Smith to unleash the 19-year-old flier last night, and in a follow-up poll, 99% of the people who voted wanted him to start too (127 to 1). And boy, did he not disappoint those who wanted him in the team!

As per Sofascore, he completed three of his four dribbles, including one that saw him drive into the penalty area with real purpose before being brought down.

And while he actually made just a mind-boggling seven passes over the course of the 90 minutes he was on the pitch, he made most of them count.

Two of them were key passes, including arguably the assist of the night when he checked back on the by-line before delivering a cute pass back into the path of Archer to fire home for his hat-trick.

He also won a team-high 11 duels which was a real indication of the kind of effort he put into both sides of the game, not just going forward.

And, writing in his post-match player ratings for The Birmingham Mail, Joseph Chapman gave him a nine, saying: “Very lively, extremely quick and so dangerous with his feet.

“Operated on both wings, and while on the right he won the penalty in the first half. Had more than one sight of goal, but he didn’t pull the trigger quickly enough. JPB dragged a shot wide of the post and blazed over with another, but he wonderfully teed up Archer’s treble.”

While of course Archer will be the talk of the town, it was Philogene-Bidace’s willingness to take players on, but equally show the fine composure to pick out his teammates in better positions, that would have left Smith absolutely raving on the side-lines.

The teenager was Villa’s unsung hero on the night.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are plotting a late swoop for this star…

West Ham remain interested in Sam Johnstone, according to reports…

What’s the word?

The Irons were originally linked with a move for the West Brom goalkeeper during the summer transfer window, when Football Insider claimed that the 28-year-old was a firm target for David Moyes and he was “very keen” to join the east Londoners.

With his contract set to expire in the summer, the Scotsman could well plot to sign him once again.

“WBA and England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is targeted by Tottenham. Southampton and West Ham are the other interested teams with the young keeper,” claimed verified Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur.

He added: “Johnstone will be free to negotiate with those clubs in January. His West Bromwich contract will expire at the end of this season.”

Bye-bye Fabianski?

The Hammers brought in Alphonse Areola on loan from Paris Saint-Germain instead of signing the England international, so this renewed interest could mean one of two things.

Either Moyes is not convinced by the 6 foot 5 loanee or he wants to replace the likes of Lukasz Fabianski, Darren Randolph and Dave Martin, all of whom are the wrong side of 30.

The latter scenario seems more likely and a goalkeeping department of Areola and Johnstone would be very competitive and something you’d expect from a Premier League side vying for a European spot.

West Ham’s new head of recruitment Rob Newman could seal a bargain in the Baggies shot-stopper, especially if he secures him for nothing.

Despite being relegated last season, Johnstone made Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2020, though that should come as little surprise as he was one of the more impressive options between the sticks. No goalkeeper made more saves (161) than the 6 foot 4 glovesman in the 2020/21 Premier League, as per FBRef.

Former Villa boss Steve Bruce lauded him as a “diamond” for his work ethic on the training pitch. “He’s a diamond – first in, last out. He’s a typical goalkeeper who wants to learn,” the 60-year-old said, via BirminghamLive.

The £7.2m-rated star is only thought to be earning around £32.5k-per-week at The Hawthorns, which further suggests that it would be an absolute steal to secure him, especially ahead of Spurs and the Saints.

Newman and co must look to replace Fabianski with Johnstone in 2022.

AND in other news, Signed for £18m, now worth 81% less: GSB endured nightmare with “special” West Ham dud…

Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore ‘remains of interest’ to Liverpool as the Reds seek to recruit another attacker, according to 90Min. 

The lowdown

The Spain international didn’t register a Premier League goal or assist until April last season, eventually finishing the campaign with four direct goal contributions (via Transfermarkt). However, he led the division for successful dribbles per 90 minutes with 4.1, edging Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin (via WhoScored).

Traore played all 90 minutes as Bruno Lage’s Wolves tenure began with a 1-0 defeat at Leicester City on Saturday. He was guilty of missing what BBC Sport’s Phil Dawkes called a ‘golden chance’ at 0-0 after racing through on goal.

The latest

According to 90Min, Liverpool hope to ‘add at least one forward’ to their ranks before the end of the window, and Jurgen Klopp is a fan of Traore.

The Reds are ‘ready’ to facilitate the signing by offloading Xherdan Shaqiri, who’s ‘close’ to joining Lyon, and Divock Origi. Wolves’ stance is that the 25-year-old can leave for the right price, and that price happens to be £40m, but Liverpool are hopeful of negotiating a lower fee.

The Spaniard wants to leave Molineux this summer, having expressed a clear reluctance to sign a new deal.

The verdict

If Traore isn’t entertaining the idea of a contract extension, Wolves will soon come under pressure to sell. He still has two years left on his current deal, but they need to be mindful of the situation as his contract winds down.

£40m may seem an optimistic valuation for a player who struggled to make an impact for most of last season, but Traore showed in 2019/20 what he’s capable of producing when at his best.

He scored six goals and set up another 12 in all competitions that year, striking up a devastating partnership with Raul Jimenez. If he does stay at Molineux, the returning Mexican striker should bring the best out of him once again.

In other news, some Wolves fans slammed this man’s performance at the King Power Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur could bring Philippe Coutinho back to the Premier League this January…

What’s the word?

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), the north London outfit have been offered the chance to sign the Barcelona flop next month and he is open to joining them, especially over top-flight rivals Newcastle United.

The former Liverpool sensation is not in Xavi’s plans at the Nou Camp and is expected to leave the Catalan giants in the upcoming transfer window.

For exactly how much remains to be seen, if even permanent, though Transfermarkt value the 63-time Brazil international at just £18m.

Playmaker needed

If there’s one area of the pitch that Spurs have struggled in, then it’s in the final third.

Harry Kane has floundered in front of goal in the Premier League this term, finding the net just twice in 14 appearances, whilst there are only two teams that have attempted fewer shots on goal per game than Spurs (10.8), rock-bottom Norwich City (10.5) being one.

You could argue that the Lilywhites aren’t creating enough clear-cut chances. Indeed, just two of Antonio Conte’s first-team stars are averaging more than one key pass per match – Heung-min Son (1.8) and Lucas Moura (1.2).

It’s clear that Spurs have missed a player like Christian Eriksen in attacking midfield all season.

Coutinho was an absolute star for Liverpool in the Premier League, so if Conte can get that back out of him, then he could well be a valuable asset for the rest of the season.

During a loan spell away from Spain, the Brazilian maestro excelled for Bayern Munich, where he averaged 2.2 key passes per 90 across the Bundesliga and Champions League. He also delivered 11 goals and nine assists in just 20 starts across both competitions, too.

That was only two seasons ago, so he may well be worth a risk as he would be given an actual chance to impress at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Once dubbed a “magician” with “magical powers” by ex-teammate Roberto Firmino, Coutinho could be the Eriksen heir that Spurs have been looking to find for quite some time.

His experience in England and track record makes this gamble 100% worth it. Fabio Paratici must look to take on Barca’s offer.

AND in other news, Conte can finally axe Spurs’ “liability” by signing £36m-rated “absolute beast”…

According to Irons insider Claret & Hugh, there has been a promising West Ham United transfer update involving long-time David Moyes target Jesse Lingard.

The Lowdown: Moyes attempts move…

Over the past two windows, a reoccurring theme of West Ham’s transfer activity has been their determination to sign Man United playmaker Lingard on a permanent deal.

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West Ham attempted to seal an agreement both last summer and in the most recent winter window but those attempts at a breakthrough eventually failed to come to fruition.

As Lingard runs down his contract, which is set to expire in June this year, the 29-year-old could now join the Hammers on a Bosman – with Red Devils boss Ralf Rangnick green-lighting the player’s exit.

It is believed that the attacker has had it ‘made clear’ that an Old Trafford extension is unlikely due to a ‘plan set in place’ by Rangnick.

The Latest: Lingard has preference…

According to C&H, as Lingard weighs his next move, it is believed the Englishman is ‘set to turn his back on Newcastle for West Ham’ due to his belief that Moyes is more likely to play him regularly than Magpies boss Eddie Howe.

The forward is apparently still a serious option for West Ham and their manager ahead of this summer window with their interest very much maintained.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Valued at around £18 million by Transfermarkt, West Ham could bypass this fee completely and seal an established Premier League creative force for nothing.

Taking this into account, a move for Lingard on the eve of his contract expiry should at the very least be considered, especially going by the player’s personal stance.

The Three Lions ace will be looking to work his way back into Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the World Cup in Qatar later this year and a move to West Ham could well be his best option.

One of Lingard’s best seasons in the English top flight came on loan at the London Stadium last year and it isn’t inconceivable to believe he could re-discover that form for 2022/2023.

In other news: West Ham surprise on the cards with GSB in mix to sign ‘big name’ once valued at £100m, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur could land themselves a new Jan Vertonghen-like colossus this January after Antonio Conte’s transfer demands emerged this week…

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the 52-year-old boss has requested defensive reinforcements, with two key targets in mind in Juventus star Matthijs de Ligt and his former Inter Milan centre-back Alessandro Bastoni.

Conte managed the latter during his Serie A title-winning campaign last season but it remains to be seen how much it would command to bring him to north London.

Transfermarkt currently value him at £54m.

Shades of Vertonghen

Bastoni played 33 times for the Italian in the league last season, featuring alongside Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij in his famed three-at-the-back system.

The trio contributed towards Inter recording the best defensive record in the division, so it’s no surprise that Conte would be keen to have him in his squad once again.

Unlike much of his current options at Spurs, Bastoni is a natural left-footer, so he would be of huge use in 2022, especially as the manager has had to turn to left-back Ben Davies to fill that left-sided role due to the lack of options.

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Interestingly, the 22-year-old defender started life out as a full-back but as his career has gone on, he has developed into a solid central option, with his ball-playing ability and control two major strengths to his game.

This could, therefore, draw some similarities to Vertonghen, who was a crucial and influential defender in N17 for many, many years. He too was a ball-playing left-footer that could be deployed in the middle or out wide.

“He controls the opponent, space and with a refinement that has rarely been seen, reminds me of a young [Leonardo] Bonucci,” once claimed Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti.

The praise for Bastoni doesn’t just stop there, though.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once lauded him as a “complete, dominant and elegant” centre-back, as well as being “Conte’s talisman” at the San Siro, whilst tactical analysts Top Bins Talk dubbed him a “Rolls-Royce defender”.

In Bastoni, Paratici could well discover Spurs’ new Vertonghen and he’s the sort of player that Conte could really do with right now on the left side of defence.

AND in other news, Spurs reportedly make “the biggest offer” to sign £31.5m-rated “animal”…

Speaking to Max Statman, Italian journalist and Juventus correspondent Romeo Agresti of Goal.com has shared a Tottenham Hotspur transfer update involving striker Paulo Dybala.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Nunez move?

In recent weeks, there has been plenty of noise surrounding Tottenham and their hunt for a new forward, with links to some pretty big names having come out of the woodwork.

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Perhaps most notably, in-demand Benfica striker Darwin Nunez has been repeatedly and heavily tipped with Spurs interest.

90min claimed recently that Tottenham made contact with the 22-year-old’s representatives to find out the conditions of a potential transfer.

The Daily Express, meanwhile, revealed earlier this week that Lilywhites officials were sent on a scouting mission over Nunez – with club staff running the rule during Benfica’s loss to Liverpool in the Champions League.

Now, amid these claims, it appears Spurs have also made contact for another forward.

The Latest: Agresti shares Dybala update…

Speaking to Max Statman, Juve correspondent Agresti claims Tottenham are one of the clubs who have had ‘some contacts’ over signing soon-to-be free agent Dybala – though he claims nothing is advanced.

As well as the Lilywhites, it is believed both Inter and Atletico Madrid have also been in touch with the Serie A giants.

He explained: “Regarding Paulo Dybalaʼs next destination, to be fair I don’t know. But I think he hasn’t find a club yet. There were some contacts with Inter, something with Atletico Madrid and Tottenham, but I think he’s taking his time to decide his next club. There are nothing advanced yet.”

The Verdict: Take it further?

Valued at an estimated £36 million by Transfermarkt, Spurs transfer chief Fabio Paratici could bypass that fee entirely and sign him on a free deal given his dwindling contract situation.

Set to leave on a Bosman transfer as things stand, Tottenham could back manager Antonio Conte with a proven attacking threat at zero cost.

Scoring 13 goals and assisting six others in all competitions this season, Dybala has also been lavished by members of the English press, with ex-Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell calling the Argentine ‘clinical’ and ‘quick-thinking’ between the lines (Football Insider).

Dybala may well be one to watch more and more as we approach the summer.

In other news: In recent weeks: Tottenham step up chase to sign ‘incredible’ player as club brace for their bid! Find out more here.