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Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Lee Hendrie revealed his disappointment over the lack of youth players that have come through at Aston Villa in recent years.

While the former Villa midfielder feels differently now, quickly praising the emergence of Jacob Ramsey, 19, and the potential of his brother Aaron, 18, he was critical of the goings-on at Villa Park prior.

At present, Ramsey finds himself as a part of Dean Smith’s first team, making his full Premier League debut against Wolves last December.

Since then, the English midfielder has gone on to make a host of cameo appearances, including against the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, firmly completing that transition from the youth set-up to the senior squad.

And it is that kind of youth progression Hendrie believes Villa had been lacking prior. The retired Premier League footballer told FFC:

“I feel that’s been a bit of a downfall, that they haven’t brought enough youngsters in who’ve made a big impact over the past four or five years. [You] probably [have to] stretch back to the likes of Jack Grealish. So that’s where they’ve got to be better, in that department.

“Seeing the likes of the young boys coming through at this moment of time, it’s a great fit for Dean [Smith]. Now it’s a matter of whether they can actually step up.”

Ramsey could next be in action when Villa host Fulham in the Premier League after the international break.

Fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a post on Twitter, in which the Hammers’ relayed footage of Jesse Lingard in action for the club.

Since making his loan move to West Ham from Manchester United back in January, Lingard has proven something of a revelation for David Moyes’ side, with the 28-year-old scoring five goals and providing two assists over his seven Premier League appearances for the Hammers, as well as averaging a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.34 – ranking him as the club’s best performer in the top flight.

In recognition of his fine form for the side, West Ham posted footage of the England international’s highlights for the club thus far on Twitter, accompanied by the attacking midfielder’s impressive statistics.

And, in reaction to the footage, fans of West Ham flocked to have their say on the matter, with many begging the club’s board to make Lingard’s loan deal a permanent move in the upcoming summer transfer window.

So, what exactly did these West Ham United fans have to say in reaction to the footage of Jesse Lingard?

“Been involved in 8 goals in 7 games! Mad!”

@Josephsimon007

“Sign him permanently lads.”

@WestHamViews_

“Class, class and more class as a player and as a man in how he treats others.”

@IronessWest

“Sign him permanently.”

@whulucas_

“Jesse please please please pleeease sign da ting.”

@WHUBanter

“Incredible.”

@_ghzst

In other news: This pundit dropped a claim on GSB’s £82k-p/w West Ham summer target – find out more here!

West Ham dodged a £32m bullet thanks to Kevin Wimmer rejecting a move to the London Stadium in favour of leaving Tottenham Hotspur for Stoke City.

The 28-year-old revealed in an interview with football.london recently that he was offered the chance to switch life in the north of the capital for east London back in 2017, but elected to join the Potters after a chat with Mark Hughes.

The Austrian’s time at White Hart Lane had reached its end after only two seasons following the arrival of Davinson Sanchez from AFC Ajax, having struggled for game-time under Mauricio Pochettino.

Wimmer made 21 appearances across all competitions during his first season at Tottenham after a £4.3m move from 1.FC Koln in 2015, but would only feature 10 times the following term as Spurs ended the season second in the Premier League table.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy breaking the bank to sign Sanchez for a then club-record £42m ensured that the Austrian was shown the door, and he would go on to seal an £18m move to Stoke – but not until he had held talks with West Ham.

“I was talking to West Ham and West Brom. For me, it was just like Mark Hughes at this time at Stoke, he gave me a very good feeling, we had good contact and he always told me that if you come, you will play and that’s also what happened,” Wimmer said.

“For me, Mark Hughes was a very good guy but unfortunately he got sacked a little bit before the January transfer window. In the first half of the season, I played like 19 games, so I nearly played everything. Of course, we had a difficult time at Stoke, but we weren’t in the relegation zone or anything.

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“Then when Paul Lambert came to the club after Mark Hughes, everything changed. He was there like two days and after two days in the first game, I wasn’t even listed on the bench. I really thought ‘what happened’ and after the first game, he maybe wants to try something new but then he was in charge for 15 games or something and he won the first game, and after 14 games he won only the last game of the season when everything was already done and we were relegated.

“When you see the games that are going so wrong and you get dropped and every game you lose and then sometimes draw but most of the games we lost and always conceded goals and you still don’t get a chance, for me I couldn’t explain it. I spoke like every week with him but he always said so many reasons just to try and keep me motivated or something. I just thought ‘why don’t I get a chance anymore?’”

Hughes described signing Wimmer in 2017 as a “real coup” for Stoke as the defender was “a hugely talented young player who will undoubtedly add further quality to the group.”

However, almost four years on from arriving in Staffordshire and signing a £70,000-per-week contract, the nine-cap Austria international has only played 19 games for Stoke across all competitions – and 18 of those came under Hughes.

Loan deals to German side Hannover 96 and Belgian outfit Royal Excel Mouscron followed before joining 2. Bundesliga club Karlsruher SC for the final stretch of the current season on deadline day in February, where he has played just four of a possible eight games and started three times so far.

His decline, struggles for minutes at a host of clubs and being passed on by three full-time Stoke managers following Lambert’s resignation in 2018 has seen Wimmer’s TransferMarkt valuation plummet by 88% from its high of £10.8m in October 2017.

Wimmer is now touted at just £900,000 and will continue to steal a living on his lucrative Stoke contract for another year if they again fail to sell him this summer. He will have already cost the Potters £14m in wages over his 200 weeks at the club by June 30, on top of the £18m they must regret paying Tottenham.

Wimmer was one that got away from West Ham in 2017, but certainly proved to be a bullet dodged in the long run. David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady will no doubt be glad that the 28-year-old has been stealing that living at Stoke rather than in claret and blue.

AND in other news, West Ham trail a Premier League rival for a five-goal, seven-assist star once labelled an “exciting prospect”…

Sunderland are enjoying life towards the summit of League One at the moment.

Promotion is well and truly in their destiny, and if they win both of their games in hand, they will go top and be within touching distance of a place in the Championship.

What’s the word?

Earning promotion would come with a necessity to spend money in the transfer market and improve the playing squad. However, their first arrival could well be a free transfer as, according to Football Insider, Sunderland are targeting Gwion Edwards.

The Ipswich winger has had an excellent campaign at Portman Road but is out of contract at the end of the season and no discussions have taken place over his future.

As a result, the Mackems are now monitoring his situation with a view to making a move if and when he becomes a free agent.

The Black Cats are set to face competition from Preston in a bid to lure the 28-year-old away from the Tractor Boys.

Imagine him and Jones

With Rangers loanee Jordan Jones keen on a return to the Stadium of Light on a permanent basis in the summer, Lee Johnson could create a fearsome duo here.

Of course, they still have Aiden McGeady but, at the age of 35, a step to a higher division could be above his station. The Irishman has been captivating this term, registering 12 assists since being brought back into the side by Johnson in December.

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He and Jones have been major reasons behind Sunderland’s incredible run in recent months but the addition of Edwards this summer has the potential to add even more pizzazz to a flourishing forward line.

The Ipswich forward has the ability to play on either flank and also through the middle as an attacking midfielder.

He has been creative this term but he’s also beaten the goalkeeper regularly, registering nine goal involvements in 28 League One outings. Edwards’ goal tally for Ipswich is just 13 in 101 but he is improving all the time and is now in the peak of his career.

Speaking about the attacker last year, his team-mate Emyr Huws commented: “He’s showing everyone what he can do so all credit to Gwi. He’s been great. He’s been clinical in front of goal and is looking sharp.”

With 1.3 shots per match to his name this season, Edwards is certainly getting in the right areas to score, but one of the most promising aspects of his game is the ability to beat a man, something which also sets both him and Jones apart from other wide players in League One.

The latter has been breathtaking himself on occasion this term, scoring two goals and providing four assists in six starts.

Speaking a few years ago, former Ipswich manager Paul Hurst waxed lyrical about Edwards, providing words which ring true with Jones as well: “The first time he picks up the ball he goes past his man. The fans had a little gasp,” he said.

Some supporters have been left dazzled by his abilities down the years, even comparing him to a certain Lionel Messi.

That is a far-fetched comparison but he has been exhilarating at times this season. Just imagine him and Jones on the wings; it’s a mouth-watering prospect for Sunderland.

AND in other news, SAFC flop sees his value fall by 90% after leaving, he’s spent 1004 days out injured…

With Mamadou Sakho being linked with a summer exit from Crystal Palace, it is fair to say that signing of the Frenchman has not gone as envisaged for the Eagles.

Recruited from Liverpool for a reported fee of £26m in 2017 after initially impressing on loan, the 2013 Ligue 1 champion looked a clever buy. However, the south London club have certainly not received value for money, with the defender now apparently interesting Lazio.

In the four years since his permanent arrival at Selhurst Park, Sakho has made just 67 appearances as a full-time Eagles player due to a series of fitness issues. For context, Sakho has missed the same number of games through various injuries, indicating how often he has been ruled out.

Whilst his huge transfer fee, the second-highest in the history of Crystal Palace, looks extortionate considering the 31-year-old’s lack of action, the huge outlay on Palace’s part is worsened when taking into account the former Paris Saint-Germain defender’s wages.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-crystal-palace-news%2c-transfer-rumours-and-more-townsend-bayindir-butland-van-aanholt-parish” title=”Latest Crystal Palace news, transfer rumours and more…”]

Having earned £5.2m on an annual basis, this means that Sakho has scooped approximately £20.8m in pay in his time with the Eagles.

When added to the eye-watering fee that it took to bring him to Selhurst Park in 2017, it means that he has cost the club approximately £46.8m over his time at Palace – an amount certainly not befitting a player who has not readily been available for selection on regular occasions.

With the 31-year-old out of contract at the end of the season, it’s next to impossible for Steve Parish to recoup any of that considerable outlay.

If Sakho does indeed move to Lazio come the end of his Palace deal this summer, the club will be left to reflect on what has been a hugely costly and frankly disastrous transfer.

AND in more news, read why Palace should move on from a current Championship hotshot…

Many Arsenal fans have been left to bemoan some early team news ahead of their game versus Everton at home in the Premier League on Friday night.

As per the official website of the Emirates Stadium faithful, Alex Lacazette has joined a list of key confirmed absentees for the match that includes David Luiz, Kieran Tierney and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang already.

Martin Odegaard is set to be assessed with regards to his availability, but Mikel Arteta could potentially be without five of his regular starters for the clash against the Merseyside club if the Real Madrid loanee also misses out.

In the battle to secure a European spot for next season – something Carlo Ancelotti’s men are also chasing – this is the last thing that the Spaniard would have wanted, especially after the whole fiasco with the European Super League (ESL) serving as one big distraction for his players.

Arsenal fans on early team news

These Gunners supporters bemoaned the early team news after it was shared by the North London club on their official Twitter page:

“We are finished”

Credit: @afcpaddyy

“NOOOOOO hopefully Martinelli or Balogun start up top against Everton and #KroenkeOut”

Credit: @Ricks_14

“Pain”

Credit: @elton_yorke

“5 of our best 11 injured, nobody is unluckier”

Credit: @JenksLive

“We are in deep trouble with just Eddie up front especially next week”

Credit: @MattHarris84

“Hospital FC.”

Credit: @xomyseries

In other news, find out what Stan Kroenke news has left Gooners buzzing here!

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are interested in signing Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.

Liverpool eye Watkins

Watkins, who signed for the Villans from Brentford last summer, has been in impressive form during 2020/21, scoring 14 goals in 33 games in all competitions for the Midlands outfit (Transfermarkt).

The Reds, who among others recently attracted the dismay and anger of the footballing world by signing up to become one of the founding members of the European Super League (ESPN), are now reportedly interested in signing the 25-year-old.

One to avoid at the moment

Many were shocked at the money Villa spent to sign Watkins last year (Birmingham Mail), but he has proven to be an astute purchase. A tally of 12 Premier League goals and counting in your first full campaign in the top flight is not to be dismissed, and at the age of 25, he still has plenty of time to improve even further.

Of course, those displays will attract plenty of interest from bigger clubs, one of which is Liverpool. However, events of the past few days may make players think twice about whether they want to join one of the Premier League’s big hitters. Do they want to risk a big transfer at such an unstable time? It remains to be what the future holds for Watkins, who is valued at £28.8m by Transfermarkt.

In other news, many Villa fans react to this pundit’s comments on Ross Barkley.

A recruitment source has dropped a big transfer update involving Newcastle United and Danilho Doekhi.

As per Football Insider, the source has claimed that both the Magpies and Fulham are keeping tabs on the Vitesse Arnhem ace ahead of a potential move in the summer transfer window.

Rangers are also reportedly in the race to sign him, but the Tyneside club will be looking to fend off the competition for his signature should they make a move for him.

Newcastle should sign Doekhi

Newcastle should be looking to sign Doekhi as he could give them another solid option at the heart of the defence. At 1.9m (6 foot 3), the big central defender should have no problems at all in adapting to the physical and aerial demands of the Premier League.

This has shown in his stats in the Eredivisie so far this season, as he wins a mammoth 5.4 of his duels per game in the Dutch top flight, as well as averaging 3.1 clearances, two tackles and 1.7 interceptions per match (Sofascore). His manager Thomas Letsch has had high praise for the 22-year-old all throughout the season, branding him as a ‘class’ player back in January.

Doekhi certainly seems somebody who could be of use to Steve Bruce and the Magpies come next season if they can beat Fulham and Rangers in the chase to sign him.

In other news, find out what Allan Saint-Maximin injury update has been dropped by Steve Bruce!

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, David Norris, who made 36 appearances for Leeds United, has claimed that their on-loan winger, Jack Harrison, would be a good squad player at his parent club Manchester City, but that he could be a “force” if he moved to Elland Road permanently.

Harrison signed for City from New York City in January 2018 and was immediately shipped out on loan to Championship side Middlesbrough where he only made four appearances during the second half of the season.

After signing an initial two-year loan deal at Leeds in the summer of 2018, Harrison then signed another one-year loan deal last summer and it’s expected that the move will become permanent at the end of the season.

Speaking on why Harrison would be a good squad player at Man City but why it would be better for him to stay at Leeds, Norris told FFC exclusively:

“He would be a good squad player for them but I just don’t think he would get the game time, but I think he would suit City and he could be a capable squad player.

“At Leeds though I think he could be a big force and name so I would like to see him stick it out and see what happens over the next year or two.”

Since 2018, Harrison has made 124 appearances for Leeds, becoming a crucial player in Marcelo Bielsa’s incredibly attacking side.

It has been reported that Leeds will be able to sign Harrison for a bargain price of just £11 million this summer as Man City have no plans to include him into their side.

Many Arsenal fans have been left to buzz after Chris Wheatley dropped a big update before their UEFA Europa League second leg tie at home to Villarreal.

As per a tweet from the football.london journalist, Kieran Tierney, Alex Lacazette and David Luiz were all in full training ahead of the game, with the former two not being able to play against Newcastle United because of injury while the latter was forced off at St. James’ Park.

They are three key players that Mikel Arteta may need to call upon at the Emirates Stadium, with Tierney offering a more natural threat at left-back than Granit Xhaka, who is a central midfield player by trade, while David Luiz has the ability to pick out his teammates with long balls from the back, as he showed against the Magpies.

Lacazette would offer another goal threat up front, and is the Gunners’ top scorer in all competitions so far in the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt).

Arsenal fans on pre-Villarreal update

These Gooners buzzed as the update was shared on Twitter, with one AFC supporter even going as far as to say that they were ‘so happy’:

“SIIIIIIIIIIIIUUUUUU”

Credit: @aIex_afc

“Nahhhhhhhhhh let’s gooo”

Credit: @MarouaneFeysal

“I’m so happy David Luiz is training. Such a strong fellow. #UEL”

Credit: @Gydion_Linus

“Big positive before the semis.”

Credit: @NirbanAdhikary

“LUIZ WOW”

Credit: @AfcNas

“Tierney and Luiz being fit would be such a massive boost”Credit: @AlexCullen17In other news, find out whose first half display versus NUFC was slammed here!