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A further update on the status of Nottingham Forest target Dean Henderson has been issued.

What’s the word?

As per Fabrizio Romano, the deal is fast developing, with the Italian taking to his personal Twitter page to reveal further details.

Romano said: “Dean Henderson deal update. Talks in progress also today between Man United and Nottingham Forest, no agreement yet on buy option clause value so it could be removed. Deal could be completed on simple loan. Work in progress.”

Cooper surely elated

Having made no appearances in the Premier League this season for Manchester United, it is time for 25-year-old Henderson to find pastures new.

Under the tutelage of Steve Cooper, Henderson could well rejuvenate his career and take influence from James Garner, who has enjoyed an emphatic couple of seasons at the City Ground.

Whilst there is a slight twist in the buy-out fee, a simple loan, as Romano puts it, may be the Englishman’s best option.

That is, of course, when you consider the competition for the number one spot at Forest, given Samba’s emphatic efforts between the sticks throughout their Championship promotion campaign.

Rather appallingly, Henderson made just 1-1 draw against BSC Young Boys, and even then – having acquired a save percentage of 75% – was only given 68 minutes on the pitch before third choice Tom Heaton replaced him.

Forest may well be in for a real scrap in their bid to renew their Premier League status this season, and a goalkeeper who understands what it takes to avoid relegation, as well as one that will be hungry to prove a point, may well help to get the Tricky Trees over the line.

This is a fantastic deal and Romano’s latest update points in all the right directions for Cooper and co who will no doubt love to sign the stopper.

In other news: Nottingham Forest eye move for “big” 92-goal “predator”, just imagine him & Johnson 

According to a report from West Ham insiders Claret and Hugh in the last 48 hours, Jarrod Bowen will not be leaving the club this summer.

The Lowdown: Interest in Bowen

The 25-year-old first made the switch to the Premier League in a £20m move from Hull City back in 2020, where he’s since gone on to become a fan favourite, making 104 appearances in just two years.

Even though his current contract with the Irons isn’t set to expire until 2025, the forward’s impressive performances this season appear to have caught the eye. It was reported last weekend that Arsenal are interested, while Liverpool have also been linked.

The Latest: Bowen staying at West Ham

In a new article published by Claret and Hugh, it’s claimed that Bowen will ‘absolutely not’ be joining Arsenal, with a West Ham source confirming to the website that the Leominster-born talent ‘won’t be leaving’ in the coming weeks.

It’s further stated that the winger was indeed attracting additional attention from the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool, but the insider yet again reiterated that there is ‘no chance’ and he would cost £100m to shift this summer.

The Verdict: Huge boost for Moyes

The news that Bowen won’t be departing will come as a huge boost to David Moyes, who will know just how much of an influence the starlet has in his starting XI, especially given his scintillating form this campaign.

The £80k-per-week gem found the back of the net 18 times and registered 11 assists across all competitions, making him the club’s top goalscorer and ranking joint-first with Michail Antonio for the latter, via BBC Sport.

Bowen’s achievements on the pitch have also been recognised by Gareth Southgate of late, having recently made his England debut, and if he continues to progress, he will become just as important of a player for the Three Lions as he is for the Hammers in years to come.

In other news… a reliable journalist has backed West Ham to make a summer move for a Premier League midfielder.

Aston Villa are said to be close to signing Hearts’ Ewan Simpson as well as Rangers’ Rory Wilson. 

The lowdown

Gerrard is about to take an exciting prospect from the club he managed from May 2018 until last November, with a move for Wilson nearing completion.

Rangers are entitled to a £300,000 development fee for 16-year-old striker Wilson, who bagged a whopping 49 goals in the junior ranks last season.

Simpson is a year younger than his fellow Scotsman Wilson and plays in midfield.

Villa have already been extremely busy this summer, making four additions to their first-team.

The latest

Barry Anderson, a football journalist at The Scotsman/Edinburgh News, relayed the double update on Monday morning.

In addition to Wilson, he reported that ‘Villa [are] also close to signing’ Simpson in a transfer that will cost them £250,000.

The verdict

Based on his remarkable goal record, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the arrival of Wilson generated more excitement amongst the Villa fans.

But they should be very pleased with the capture of Simpson too, because he looks a superb talent.

According to The Daily Mail, he’s been delivering ‘outstanding performances’ despite the fact that he’s playing at Under-18 level as a 15-year-old.

Indeed, Villa have prevailed in a hotly-contested race, with Hearts allegedly fielding ‘a number of enquiries’ for Simpson.

It will of course be a while before he’s ready to compete for a first-team place at Villa Park, but it’s certainly a name worth remembering.

In other news, Aston Villa are eyeing a Champions League star Gerrard saw up close on a scouting trip. 

After a disappointing Champions League final for Liverpool the supporters were hit with more bad news as it was reported that Sadio Mane plans to leave the club this summer, and now a reliable source has given an update from the club’s perspective.

What’s the latest?

Liverpool reporter for The Athletic James Pearce has given a deeper insight into the potential departure of Sadio Mane this summer and how the club are set to approach the situation.

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As per Pearce’s report for The Athletic, senior sources at Anfield have revealed that the club will not accept the reported €30m (£25.5m) and the club believes that it would be more beneficial to keep the player for another 12 months and let him go on a free transfer in 2023.

However, Liverpool value Mane at around €50m (£42.5m) and would only be interested in sanctioning a deal for the winger if they can find a suitable replacement this summer.

Supporters will be gutted

Mane has been a consistent and outstanding performer for Liverpool over the last six years since he joined the club in 2016, and has played a key part in winning huge honours including the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Not only that, the Senegalese attacker has won the Premier League golden boot and finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or in 2019, proving that he has been considered one of the best players in the world during his time on Merseyside, so supporters will surely be gutted at the prospect of him leaving this summer.

The rumoured decision on Mane’s part to leave the club comes as he has one year left on his contract alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, and it was believed earlier this month that FSG would work to open contract negotiations with the two wingers in particular to secure their future at Anfield.

With that being said, Pearce’s update does offer an element of positivity for supporters as Liverpool are clearly not ready to let the player go easily and will work to either find a like for like replacement to make sure the club does not suffer from Mane’s exit in the upcoming season should they reach an agreement that is mutually beneficial.

Either way, the news that a player who has scored 120 times for them is set to depart is not ideal at all. It’s certainly a huge blow to Klopp’s Anfield empire.

AND in other news: Forget Mane: Klopp can land new LFC hero in deal for “tenacious” £100m “predator”

Everton will be relieved that they avoided Premier League relegation this season, but they may feel that their squad needs to be improved so that they don’t suffer a similar brush with danger next time around; and it seems that they are already reportedly lining up their summer transfer targets as a new update emerges.

What’s the latest?

According to The Telegraph’s football reporter Mike McGrath, Everton have joined the race to sign Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet.

As per McGrath’s latest article for The Telegraph, the Toffees are now looking closely at the £17.5m relegation clause attached to Cornet’s contract which has been triggered in the past week.

The reporter also revealed that West Ham United will rival Everton for the Ivory Coast international’s signature this summer.

Lampard will love him

With doubts surrounding the futures of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Goodison Park, it appears that Frank Lampard is looking to add attacking reinforcements to his squad this summer. Cornet would duly be a major coup for Everton, especially for such a low fee.

Despite being relegated with Burnley, the Ivorian winger – who was dubbed a “fabulous finisher” by Owen Hargreaves – has been drawing attention to himself since he joined the Clarets last summer, with the BT Sport pundit also labelling him “one of the signings of the season”.

As per SofaScore, Cornet has scored nine goals and contributed one assist, creating two big chances and taking 1.8 shots per game for Burnley. This shows that the 25-year-old is hungry for goals and could be a great addition to boost Everton’s productivity next season.

It has been reported that Salomon Rondon will be one of the Toffees players set to be offered out to other clubs this summer after a disappointing and ineffective season from the striker.

The prospective sale of the 32-year-old could give Cornet the perfect opportunity to come into the side and positively impact matches, while also being a promising prospect for the future at Everton. He has already proven his worth in his first season of Premier League football, and he could develop very well under an attack-minded coach like Lampard, who would surely love to have a player of such prowess at Everton.

Ultimately, if the powerbrokers at Goodison Park can secure a deal for Cornet ahead of West Ham, it would be a significant step forward for Everton in their pursuit to improve the squad, especially if they can sign him for his £17.5m relegation clause this summer.

AND in other news – “Sources tell me..”: Journalist drops big Everton transfer claim, it’ll delight supporters

Leeds United secured Premier League safety with a dramatic final day victory over ten-man Brentford on Sunday afternoon, thanks to goals from both Raphinha and Jack Harrison.

After having a goal chalked off in the first half for offside, the Whites could be forgiven for thinking that things wouldn’t be going their way down in Hounslow but a spot-kick from the Brazilian sensation got them on their way.

Sergi Canos equalised before being sent off before the former Manchester City winger fired home in the 94th minute to seal a famous victory for the Yorkshire giants, on the same day his old club won the title for a second successive year.

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Both Harrison and Raphinha will take plenty of plaudits, especially the latter, who proved to be a constant nuisance and Leeds’ main threat all game. However, Kalvin Phillips put in an absolute Rolls-Royce of a display in the engine room to help steer his boyhood club over the line.

Despite going up against the more creative exploits of Christian Eriksen (65), it was the England international who led the match for touches, registering a whopping 92 in total across the 90 minutes, effectively making one touch every minute played.

With his dominant possession, Phillips made 58 passes, in which one was a key chance created, whilst he also did his usual defensive duties as that anchor-like rock in front of the backline.

As per SofaScore, the £45m-rated powerhouse recorded a team-high three clearances, a match-best of three interceptions, and he also made two tackles and won six duels in midfield.

LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross was equally impressed by the long-serving star, claiming that he ‘Roamed across the field making the tackles the team needed him to. Brought steel to the middle of the park and read a lot of danger’ in his post-match ratings column.

The 26-year-old, who has been lauded as a “destroyer” in the past by Steve McClaren, was certainly all over the Bees’ pitch and as such, he absolutely ran the show for manager Jesse Marsch.

If that was indeed his final game in a Leeds shirt, then supporters can be delighted to have seen him at his very best one last time.

AND in other news, Beren Cross issues fresh Marcelo Bielsa claim at Leeds…

Tottenham Hotspur winger Dejan Kulusevski put on an attacking masterclass as he terrorised Norwich City to secure Champions League football in N17 next season.

The Sweden international bagged two of Spurs’ five goals before he was substituted in the 68th minute but by then, he had long made his mark, allowing Heung-min Son to swoop in and capitalise on a broken Canaries backline.

Indeed, the South Korean sensation also bagged himself a brace, which was enough to see him share the Premier League’s Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah but it was the Juventus loanee who was arguably the clear-cut standout at Carrow Road.

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Earning an 8.9 rating on SofaScore, the 22-year-old dynamo was a constant threat in the final third, not only registering a total of three shots but also managing a whopping five successful dribbles from six attempts, easily bypassing Dimitrios Giannoulis on the right flank.

Kulusevski also provided two key passes, meaning he created a pair of chances for his attacking counterparts, Son and Harry Kane. Furthermore, he amazingly won eight of his nine duels (88%), only further emphasising how he had his way with Dean Smith’s defence.

Elsewhere, the £31.5m-rated marksman also put in one tackle and one interception as he capped off his fine half-season at the club in style.

His contribution took his total tally for Spurs to five goals and eight assists from 20 appearances, averaging a direct contribution once every 97.5 minutes – almost one every game.

It’s no wonder manager Antonio Conte was able to turn things around to guide the north Londoners back into Europe’s top competition.

As The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick wrote in his post-match ratings column, Kulusevski was “decisive again” before going onto praise his selfless nature.

Once lauded as a “monster” by Italian Football expert Nima Tavallaey Roodsari, Juventus’ loss has certainly been Tottenham’s gain and we got to witness yet another fine display from the young winger.

Kulusevski absolutely terrorised the Canaries with his attacking exploits as he helped secure a lucrative top-four finish in the Premier League.

AND in other news, Spurs dealt Cristian Romero injury setback…

Leeds United’s time under Andrea Radrizzani has been plagued by mistakes in the transfer market, largely through a lack of spending or rueing that one that got away.

Of course, there have been numerous examples of success stories, namely the likes of Raphinha, Illan Meslier and Patrick Bamford.

But with every Raphinha, there’s a Laurens de Bock, Vurnon Anita or Jay-Rot Grot – a trio of weird signings that made only a total of 51 appearances combined.

Back in 2017, though, the Yorkshire giants missed out on one of Europe’s most frightening strikers and in a time where Leeds have missed last season’s top goalscorer Patrick Bamford and are staring down the barrel of relegation, they must be reeling.

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That man is Erling Haaland, who this week was announced as a Manchester City player.

The defending Premier League champions have signed the Borussia Dortmund forward in a €60m (£51m) deal, activating the 21-year-old’s release clause ahead of the summer transfer window, as per the BBC.

For a little over £50m, that has to be considered an absolute steal considering he’s valued at a whopping £135m by Transfermarkt.

But it could have been a different story for both Leeds and the Norway international.

Speaking on The Athletic’s ‘The Phil Hay Show’, football agent Hayden Evans revealed:

“He was at Molde, around about 17 [years old], and he was ripping it up but also fervently following Leeds United.

“We spoke to Victor [Orta, Leeds’ sporting director] and said, ‘Look, I can bring Erling to Leeds and the rest will be over to you,” before later adding:

“It went quite well, we went back, but the bottom line was that [Molde] wanted around four million pounds. Leeds were not in the stable [financial] position they are in now and he was not going to play, even the talent he was, he was not going to play first-team football at that age.”

After that move fell through, a young Haaland would go on to sign for RB Salzburg for around £7m in August 2018, where he quickly made a name for himself before completing a move to Borussia Dortmund, where he has consistently banged them in.

The Norwegian sensation netted a whopping 29 goals in 27 games in Austria and over the last two-and-a-half seasons for Der BVB, he’s bagged 85 goals in 88 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

Such form and consistency has seen the 6 foot 4 talisman lauded as “a goal scoring cyborg” by journalist Alex Truica and a “one-man wrecking ball” by Gregor Robertson in The Times.

There’s no doubt that the 21-year-old is one of the most promising and lethal marksmen across the continent and Andrea Radrizzani’s failure to sign him for just £4m will be forever remembered as a catastrophic mistake.

AND in other news, Jesse Marsch drops Raphinha injury update ahead of Brighton…

Manchester City have been rather proactive when it comes to signing new players during recent summer and winter transfer windows.

As the Manchester club are looking to secure their fourth Premier League title in five years, it seems as though they have been dealt a blow in regards to one potential transfer deal for the upcoming window.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post, journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano relayed comments from RB Leipzig director, Oliver Mintzlaff, regarding the future of Christopher Nkunku, who has been linked with a move to City.

He said: “We have clearly discussed it internally: we won’t let Nkunku leave this summer, we told him and his agent.”

Romano then added that Leipzig “will also try to extend his contract but talks are still at [the] early stages.”

Guardiola will be fuming

Now that it has been revealed that Leipzig will not be allowing their star figure to leave in the summer, this will surely be bad news for City, thus leaving Pep Guardiola fuming.

Since joining the German club back in 2019 from Paris Saint-Germain, the Frenchman has gone on to make 134 appearances for Leipzig across all competitions.

In those appearances, the 24-year-old has found the net 46 times and delivered 47 assists along the way with a whopping 54 of those involvements coming this term alone. That shows precisely why a team like City would have their eye on adding him to their ranks.

To further highlight how much of an impressive attacking and creative figure he is, no other player in the Bundesliga has racked up more shot-creating actions than Nkunku (129) this season.

He also ranks fourth for shots on target (36) and successful dribbles throughout the current Bundesliga campaign, making him a real handful for defenders and goalkeepers to deal with.

However, with it recently being reported that a deal for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is close to being completed, this could take some of the sting away from City fans and Guardiola over potentially missing out on signing Nkunku.

Although should the Manchester club fancy their chances of swaying the hierarchy at Leipzig into selling their French talent, he would certainly be an exciting addition to what is already a rather deadly attacking side if he doesn’t sign a new deal at his current club.

In other news: “Man City will..”: Romano drops behind scenes transfer claim, it’s bad news for Pep

It’s D-Day for Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening, as the Championship outfit take on Scott Parker’s Bournemouth side in what could prove to be a pivotal encounter as to who secures that much craved automatic promotion spot.

With Fulham having already wrapped up the title – and with the bottom three already confirmed – all that is left now is to determine who will make the four play-off spots and who will be joining the Cottagers in the Premier League.

In what is the penultimate game of the campaign for both sides, Forest will be looking to close the three-point gap on their promotion rivals with victory at the Vitality Stadium, as they look to extend their current four-game winning run in the league.

Ahead of that mouthwatering meeting, here’s how the Football FanCast predicts manager Steve Cooper will line his side up…

Barring any late injury concerns, it is likely that the Forest boss will refrain from any significant alterations from the side that thrashed his former club Swansea City at the weekend, although we have predicted there will be one change from that crushing 5-1 victory.

The defensive unit – which has the best record in the division with regards to goals conceded (38) – is set to remain the same, with the back three of Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and former Cherries’ skipper Steve Cook lining up ahead of ‘keeper Brice Samba.

In midfield, reported Premier League target Djed Spence and former Newcastle United man Jack Colback will retain their places on the right and left flank, respectively, while the solid midfield pairing of Ryan Yates and James Garner are unlikely to be dislodged, with the Manchester United loanee having chipped in with 12 goal contributions this season.

The only tactical tweak then could well come in attack, with 20-year-old prospect Alex Mighten – who has been dubbed “elite” by Gary Brazil – lining up alongside Brennan Johnson and Saturday’s hat-trick hero, Sam Surridge, in place of Philip Zinckernagel.

The Danish playmaker has been labelled “unbelievable” by former teammate Lyle Taylor for his form this term, although after a quiet showing last time out – for which he received just a 6.4 match rating – he should be replaced by the hungry Mighten, who bagged his first league goal of the season against Russell Martin’s men.

IN other news, Forget Zinckernagel: Cooper must unleash Forest “livewire” who’d terrify Bournemouth …