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Aston Villa are preparing a £15m bid for Burnley winger Dwight McNeil, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: McNeil’s previous interest

Villa aren’t the first club to be linked with a move for the 21-year-old. McNeil has attracted interest from the likes of AC Milan, Juventus, Leicester City and Wolves in recent years, but he’s remained at Turf Moor.

The Englishman has been labelled as one of Villa’s top targets this summer, with McNeil still having over three years remaining on his Clarets contract.

McNeil is valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt, and it seems as if Villa will attempt to seal a cut-price move going off latest reports.

The Latest: Villa source shares bid plans

A Villa source informed Football Insider that the club plan to test the water with a £15m offer early in the upcoming transfer window.

The report claims that Burnley are likely to hold out for a higher offer, which doesn’t exactly come as a surprise going off his Transfermarkt valuation and length of contract.

McNeil, described as ‘adaptable’ by Sean Dyche last year, was the 15th-most creative player in the entire league last season after creating 55 big chances.

The Verdict: In line with John Percy’s recent claim

Reliable reporter John Percy revealed in April that Villa will look to sign a winger this summer, and it seems as if McNeil could well be their man.

He’s mainly plied his trade out on the left-hand side during his career, so his potential arrival could allow Jack Grealish to move to a central role, should he remain at Villa Park.

Dean Smith should know all about McNeil following his starring display against Villa earlier this season, with the wide man scoring and providing an assist in a 3-2 win back in December.

Who knows, that performance may have caught Smith’s eye, and it seems as if the club are ready to firm up their interest.

In other news: Grealish to Man City transfer update emerges, find out more here.

Former Scotland right-back Alan Hutton believes Stuart Dallas is fully deserving of a new-and-improved contract at Leeds United.

It has been a season to remember for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, excelling back in the Premier League and currently sitting ninth in the table.

There have been numerous individuals who have caught the eye throughout the campaign, but Dallas has arguably been the pick of the bunch, with Football Insider claiming this week he is in line for a bumper new contract.

The 30-year-old has not only been a selfless performer, starting all 33 league games, but he also famously scored both goals in the 2-1 win away to Manchester City earlier this month.

[freshpress-quiz id=“351040″]

Hutton calls for Dallas to be given new deal

In an interview with Football Insider, Hutton said it is a no-brainer for Dallas to be awarded a new deal at Leeds despite his age, with recent reports suggesting that could be the case:

“He’ll give his all, no matter where he’s asked to play.

“That’s just within him. He looks like the type of guy that doesn’t even question it, he just wants to play football anywhere. If there are talks of him getting a new deal, he’s earned it. You can’t say that he’s not.

“He’s been a standout performer for them this season.

“I love to see it, players who just give their all, always, no matter what. Don’t question anything: ‘Yep, no problem gaffer. I’ll go play at left-back for you,’ even though it’s not his position.

“He’s definitely earned it this season.”

Transfer Tavern take

No Leeds player is more deserving of a fresh contract than Dallas, with the Northern Irishman such an understated player, in many ways, but someone who is integral to the team’s success.

He will often do the dirty work and not make the headlines, but in order to have success as a team, you need footballers of his ilk around.

When the Player of the Year award comes around, Dallas will surely be one of the favourites for the prize – he is currently just the ninth best rated Leeds player on Whoscored however, perhaps showing just how undervalued he is.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly eyeing up a move for an exciting attacking player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing up a move for Jonathan Bamba this summer, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas claims that the €40m-rated (£35m) Lille winger is among the forwards Spurs are taking an interest in ahead of the transfer window re-opening at the end of the season.

Bamba is another player that scouts from the north London club have been tracking. The 24-year-old joined Lille on a free transfer from league rivals Saint-Etienne in 2018.

Bye-bye Lamela

This news would almost surely spell the end for Erik Lamela’s time at the club, as this week, the long-serving Argentine has been linked with a return to the Serie A.

Bologna sporting director Walter Sabatini, who oversaw the 29-year-old’s sale from Roma to Spurs in 2013, has confirmed that his former star is indeed a target, he said (via the Evening Standard): “Lamela is one of the names we are looking into,” said Sabatini. “We are trying to understand if there are possibilities to get there and there is no guarantee.”

Given Lamela’s injury issues (133 games missed) and inconsistencies (one goal contribution every three matches), it is probably time to move on, so swooping for the Lille sensation is certainly a good place to start in trying to fill that void.

Over in Ligue 1, the exploits of Jonathan David, Renato Sanches and formerly, Nicolas Pepe have often taken the bulk of the plaudits for Les Dogues but the former France U21 international has remained a key asset.

Take this season, for example, Bamba has contributed seven goals and nine assists from 38 appearances across the French top-flight and the Europa League, via Transfermarkt.

That’s him providing a goal every two games, one fewer than what Lamela has delivered in eight seasons at Spurs. Bamba also ranks second for average WhoScored rating (7.17) this season, ahead of both David and Sanches.

Speaking in November about the winger’s form, Lille boss Christophe Galtier said: “Jonathan’s been in fantastic form at the start of this season. Full credit to him. Jo’s on the pitch more often than not, and if that’s the case, it’s because he’s an important player for the team.”

Between The Lines analyst, Zach Lowry, dubbed Bamba their “creative leader” because “everything runs through him in attack.” Indeed, the majority of their forward play has come from that left side, where the 5 foot 9 dynamo likes to operate in the pocket of space behind David.

Bamba has also been dubbed a ‘hidden gem’ in the past, too, with his ‘ lightning quick’ speed a key attribute, something that Lamela may no longer have given his age and injury history.

As evident above, replacing the Andre Villas-Boas signing with Bamba could be quite a shrewd move from Daniel Levy. He can strike gold by moving the Argentine on, and bringing in the Lille talisman as his replacement.

AND in other news, Levy must wave goodbye to 23 y/o Spurs flop, Pochettino once dubbed him “a big talent”…

Mary Earps has showed off her "international break camera roll" on Instagram following England's thumping friendly wins over Austria and Italy.

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• England win international double header
• Earps features against Italy and Austria
• Posts international break camera roll

• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following the Lionesses 7-2 win over Austria a week ago and the 5-1 victory against Italy a few days later, Manchester United stopper Earps took to social media to show some photos of her in England training and enjoying her surroundings in Spain – where both their matches have taken place.

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• WHAT MARY EARPS SAID

  The 30-year-old wrote on Instagram: "…international break camera roll."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With no major tournament for the Lionesses in 2024, England's biggest stars will now focus on domestic football as the Women's Super League returns this weekend after the completion of the international break.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Earps' United side – who sit fourth in the WSL, 10 points behind joint leaders Chelsea and Manchester City – travel to lowly West Ham on Sunday. They cannot afford any slip ups if they are to complete an unlikely recovery and finish in the top three this season.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti does little on-field management and defers to his assistant coaches in training, a La Liger insider has claimed.

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• Davide, Ancelotti's son, mostly runs training
• Italian boss picks starting XI every week
• Real Madrid are top of La Liga after 25 games

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Madrid's flowing attacking football doesn't actually come from their boss, it has been revealed. Ancelotti, often criticised for being little more than a talented man-manager, tends to defer training to Davide, his son, journalist Guillem Balague revealed.

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• WHAT BALAGUE SAID

  Speaking on the podcast, Balague offered insight into Ancelotti's management process: "I know for a fact that he doesn’t really get involved that much [with tactics]. Davide [Ancelotti, his assistant manager] is doing a lot of work during the week. And what Ancelotti says to Davide is ‘Saturday, Rodrygo, Bellingham and Vinicius up front’. Or ‘Kroos, Valverde, two in the middle’, so then Davide goes ‘OK’, and puts it all together. And every decision he’s made, and the XI is Carlo, has been outstanding.”

• (C)Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ancelotti may not take care of much of Madrid's day-to-day work, but his tactical decisions have Los Blancos well-positioned for another year of success. They are top of La Liga and up 1-0 in their Champions League round of 16 tie.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ANCELOTTI AND MADRID?

  The Italian will be at the helm when Los Blancos continue La Liga play against Sevilla on Sunday. After that they travel to Valencia, before hosting RB Leipzig for the second leg of their last 16 Champions League tie.

West Brom’s survival bid was dealt a bitter blow on Saturday afternoon as they slumped to a disappointing defeat at the hands of former Baggies boss Roy Hodgson, but it was an all too familiar story.

Albion just cannot find the back of the net.

Their defensive fortunes have drastically changed for the better in recent weeks, going from the Premier League’s leakiest backline to conceding just three goals in their last six outings.

But in that run, they have scored just twice – Big Sam will not pick up many points if his team cannot stick it in the goal. Only one side – rock-bottom Sheffield United – have found the net fewer times.

And with the Baggies now eight points adrift, something has to change otherwise it’s an instant return to the second flight.

On the Chalkboard

In simple terms, Allardyce must provide new target man striker Mbaye Diagne sufficient service, something that has been lacking big time.

During that aforementioned run of matches, Albion have delivered over six accurate crosses on one occasion, whilst no player is managing more than one attempt per game (Matheus Pereira), as per WhoScored.

At 6 foot 4, Diagne has the capability to mix it with any top-flight central defender, especially as he’s averaging 4.3 aerial duels won per outing, which is more than any other Albion player.

Considering Big Sam deploys two wingers, his service should be far better, though it’s a simple fix and one that could see the creative Pereira (1.7 key passes per game) move back into the middle, where he is most effective.

It would mean that one of Ainsley Maitland-Niles or Conor Gallagher is sacrificed as all these central options cannot fit into the same side, but it’s a risk worth taking given the desperate need to score goals.

Allardyce’s best crosser of the ball is arguably Robert Snodgrass, who joined from West Ham in January yet finds himself out of the starting XI. Putting him back in out wide, with Pereira in the middle, could be exactly what is required to unlock Diagne’s true potential.

You’ve got the Brazilian playmaker feeding balls and dictating play in the no.10 role, and a proven veteran out wide to deliver the service the big target man needs.

Indeed, the 33-year-old has averaged 1.8 crosses per game throughout his long career, including two successive seasons in the top-flight managing 1.6 attempts or better, which is evidently an instant upgrade on the one per game that sits top of West Brom’s charts right now.

The £20k-per-week “whole package” was, at one point, the heartbeat of David Moyes’ Hammers side, according to The Athletic, with Roshane Thomas describing his crossing ability as ‘excellent.’

Similarly, Colin Calderwood told The Athletic: “He’s got crossing ability and is good at either creating or scoring goals,” before dubbing him a “team player.”

Just imagine how good Diagne could be with Pereira and Snodgrass pinging in balls left, right and centre – the Scotsman must start going forward.

AND in other news, West Brom’s Conor Gallagher let Sam Allardyce down vs Crystal Palace

Christian Pulisic scored a stunning solo goal against Frosinone to put AC Milan 2-0 up in their Serie A clash at San Siro on Saturday.

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• Jovic scores first Milan goal
• Pulisic makes it 2-0 in style
• American in form against Frosinone

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After Luka Jovic scored his first goal for Milan shortly before half-time, United States international Pulisic turned on the style with a moment of magic under the lights. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan launched a goal kick up field, the 25-year-old was quickest to react, read the flight of the ball, and then set to work. With such ease, the winger took the ball in his stride with a delicious touch, held off the backpedalling defence with a 30-yard run, and then dinked a sumptuous chip past keeper Stefano Turati to make it 2-0 in the 50th minute.

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  THE BIG PICTURE

  Milan need to get back to winning ways after their disappointing 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek. That result leaves their chances of reaching the knockout stages hanging by a thread but some positive results in Serie A may ease that European blow, somewhat.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After this match, AC Milan travel to Atalanta next weekend. Following that, they travel to Newcastle United on December 13 in the hope of keeping their slim Champions League hopes alive.

Leicester City continue to be linked with Olympique Marseille winger Florian Thauvin.

The former Newcastle United flop is out of contract at the end of the season and has admitted that he is unsure of what his future holds with a new deal not yet agreed at the Stade Velodrome.

With Cengiz Under departing the King Power Stadium come the end of the season with the expiry of his loan deal, Leicester and Brendan Rodgers must swoop for the Frenchman in the summer.

Since returning back to his native France, the 28-year-old World Cup winner has displayed his true form after previously underwhelming in the Premier League.

In 272 appearances for OM, he has scored a brilliant 85 goals and provided 60 assists. This count includes stunning individual seasons where he hit 15, 22 and 16 goals respectively in Ligue 1.

The Foxes have not had a wideman hit double figures in the league since Riyad Mahrez’s final season at the King Power Stadium before he departed for Manchester City.

Having scored in the 3-1 victory against Brest on Saturday, Marseille boss Jorge Sampaoli was left waxing lyrical about Thauvin, labelling him as “very important”.

He also continues to outperform most of Leicester’s current wide options.

According to WhoScored, Thauvin is taking 1.6 shots, providing 1.4 key passes and producing 1.7 dribbles per game in all competitions.

The only statistics in which the Foxes’ current wingers come out on top is with Harvey Barnes marginally attempting more shots per 90 at 2.2.

Should he arrive in the East-Midlands then, Thauvin, who earns £84k-per-week, would instantly improve upon the likes of Marc Albrighton and Ayoze Perez.

Having also accumulated 29 appearances in European competition, the former Magpie would give the Foxes considerable know-how should they again secure a place in either the UEFA Europa League or even better, UEFA Champions League.

Leicester then need to turn the constant links to Thauvin into a solid offer and bring the World Cup winner to the club.

AND in more news, the Foxes also have to secure another reported target by swooping for a Porto star…

Dele Alli has forced himself back into contention at Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks and, if his impressive form under Jose Mourinho continues, then Giovani Lo Celso could well struggle to get back into the side when he returns from injury.

The England international made just his second league start of the season in Thursday’s 1-0 win against Fulham and played a key part in the only goal of the game, as his effort was diverted into the net by Tosin Adarabioyo.

The former MK Dons man was also superb in the recent 4-0 win against Wolfsberger and looked back to his best as he was involved throughout the game, whilst he also scored a superb overhead kick to open the scoring.

It had looked as if the 24-year-old’s time with Spurs could be coming to an end in the winter transfer window as PSG were heavily linked with a loan move for the attacking midfielder after he was regularly omitted from Mourinho’s matchday squads earlier in the season.

However, Spurs captain Hugo Lloris has suggested recently that Alli has “switched on” following his failed loan move away during the winter transfer window, and he has clearly impressed Mourinho with his performances in training and in the Europa League, slowly but surely starting to feature more regularly in the Premier League.

If his form continues, then it could prove to be bad news for Lo Celso, who is edging closer to a return after missing the last two months with a hamstring injury.

Injury problems have meant that the Argentine international has never really enjoyed a run of games in this Spurs side; and having joined in January last season after an initial loan spell, you could argue that he has become something of an outsider in his time with the club.

Whilst squad depth is no bad thing for Mourinho, he already has the likes of Alli, Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Tanguy Ndombele as options in the attacking midfield position, so it is difficult to see where the former Real Betis man fits in.

The 24-year-old has been limited to just four starts and seven substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, in which he has contributed one goal and one assist, averaging a less than impressive 6.56 WhoScored average match rating.

Last season saw the £31.5m-rated midfielder establish himself as a regular under Mourinho but he struggled to contribute in an attacking sense, managing no goals and just two assists in 28 appearances in the top flight.

Therefore, if Alli can rediscover his goalscoring touch, then you wonder where Lo Celso will fit in, especially with both Ndombele and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg having become mainstays with the Lilywhites this season.

Considering that Atletico Madrid have been linked with a move for him recently, if he cannot force his way into Mourinho’s plans when he returns, then perhaps we will see him depart the north London club in the near future.

And, in other news…  8 passes all game: £18m-rated Spurs gem was anonymous; Jose will be worried

Andros Townsend has revealed the bizarre steps he's taking to prolong his career at Luton Town, including the consumption of chicken feet.

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• Townsend reveals steps to prolong Luton career
• Joined the Hatters in the summer
• Had been out of action for nearly two years with knee injury

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Tottenham Hotspur and England winger revealed that he has switched to natural solutions instead of taking too many supplements in order to ensure longevity in the game. Townsend joined newly promoted Premier League side Luton in the summer on a three-month deal.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 32-year-old had been out of action for close to two years after he suffered a knee injury towards the end of the 2021-22 season. He missed the entire 2022-23 campaign and was released by Everton before being snapped up as a free agent by Luton.

• WHAT DID ANDROS TOWNSEND SAY?

  Now speaking to , Townsend revealed how he is managing with his ageing body at 32 and what steps he is taking to extend his football career at Luton.

  The former England international said: "I've only got a three-month contract. Luton need to use me straight away and I need to make sure I'm fit. One of the best natural sources of collagen is chicken feet. It is simple. It tastes exactly like a chicken wing. It is low on meat, it has a lot of cartilage close to the bone. It's got skin around it. It's very nice. In China, South Africa and in Portugal, it is eaten quite commonly. It's 20 minutes in the steam oven and get it down you. Mouth taping, I am doing that. All I know is that I am 32 years of age, I've been out of the game for two years and I feel absolutely amazing.

  He added: "In my prime at 27, 28, it would take me so long to recover after games – I'd be struggling for the rest of the week and sort of managing myself. Now I am feeling so much fresher and ready to go on Monday. I don't know what it is specifically but I think all these little 1%s are adding up. Nutrition and recovery, the hyperbaric chamber, red-light therapy, flow therapy… all these things I am doing seem to be working."

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• DID YOU KNOW

  Since joining the Hatters, the former Everton player has appeared in four games for the club thus far, including two starts against Manchester United and Liverpool.