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While Wolves have endured a difficult start to the new campaign that has left some fans questioning the tactics of Bruno Lage, things could have been far worse for the Old Gold had they appointed Frank Lampard in 2021.

Following the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo in that very year, Lage was much the favourite to take over at Molineux but there were reports that Lampard was interested following his sacking by Chelsea.

Alex Crook revealed on talkSPORT that the former England midfielder was under consideration by Wolves despite them having already met with Lage.

The Midlands club would obviously go with Lage and the former Benfica man enjoyed a promising start to life in the Midlands, with a top eight finish looking well on the cards early last season, with defensive performances in particular impressive as they shipped only 43 times – the fifth-best record in the division.

However, they drastically fell away after a shocking end to the campaign that saw them earn just two points from the final seven games of the season, and that form has sadly continued into the new campaign.

Goals have been hard to come by for the Old Gold, with just three in the Premier League to their name, and that has seen them manage only six points from the opening seven games.

While this has put Lage under pressure, there is little to suggest that Lampard would have done a better job had he been appointed at Molineux.

The current Everton boss boasts a points-per-game average of just 1.24 from his time at Goodison Park, whereas Lage has averaged 1.34 points-per-game at Wolves, having taken charge of 21 more fixtures.

His 2.17 points-per-game average at Benfica is also far better than Lampard managed at either Derby County (1.63) or Chelsea (1.75), which suggests that he has far more pedigree working with top players, while he also has the advantage of being Portuguese, so can communicate effectively with Wolves’ Lusitanic contingent.

Lampard’s success at Derby County was largely built upon his connections at Chelsea, as both Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount starred at Pride Park on loan from the Blues, while he was quickly exposed for being out of his depth when handed the reins at Stamford Bridge.

The 44-year-old has already come under a lot of criticism for the way he called out Everton players last season as they came very close to relegation from the Premier League, with Chris Sutton labelling his approach “damaging”.

While they boast similar records in the Premier League this season, Wolves definitely dodged a bullet in not appointing Lampard in 2021.

Ex-BBC pundit Noel Whelan has suggested West Ham United manager David Moyes could be sacked if his side don’t pick up some points in their upcoming fixtures.

The Lowdown: West Ham’s rocky start

After seven games played, the Hammers sit 18th in the Premier League table.

The Irons have lost five times, meaning they have been left with just four points and a single win and a single draw to their name.

After the international break concludes, West Ham are set to play Wolves, Fulham and Southampton in their next three top-flight clashes.

The Latest: Moyes could face the sack

Whelan, former Leeds striker who worked regularly as a pundit for BBC Radio Leeds before moving to an ambassador role at Elland Road, claims West Ham must pick up six points from their next three fixtures if Moyes is to secure his future with the club.

Speaking with Football Insider, the pundit said:

“These are a massive three games coming up.

“Moyes was very honest in his interview after the Everton game, he said they didn’t do enough to win.

“They had opportunities, but they had to be more clinical. They haven’t found the right combination up front just yet either.

“He keeps chopping and changing. I don’t think he knows his best front line himself at the moment.

“Players like Jarrod Bowen aren’t hitting the mark at the moment – and all of these things are contributing to their struggles at the moment.

“Moyes will be looking at these games now, Wolves, Fulham, and Southampton – and thinking that he needs maximum points out of at least two of those games in order to be comfortable.”

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The Verdict: Are West Ham declining?

Having taken over the Hammers during the 2017/18 season after relegating Sunderland the year prior, Moyes led the east London outfit to a 13th place finish in his opening Premier League campaign with the club – two spots lower than where they finished the season before.

After leaving the club in May 2018, Moyes returned in December 2019 and led the Irons to the Europa League and Conference League with a sixth-place finish and a seventh place finish in two consecutive campaigns.

However, with the side now seemingly so far off their previous standards, there is currently little hope West Ham will make a European finish this year. If things don’t improve, there is a real possibility of Moyes getting the sack despite all the accomplishments of last season.

Liverpool have held a long-term interest in Jude Bellingham, and now there has been an update on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to The Daily Mail journalist Simon Jones, Liverpool are expecting to complete the signing of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham next year.

As per Jones’ report for the publication, the club are not willing to part ways with Naby Keita this summer despite speculation that he is unhappy at the club, and hope to retain the midfielder’s services ahead of their pursuit to secure the signing of Bellingham in the summer of 2023, when Keita will be out of contract.

Klopp’s missing puzzle piece

It is no secret that Liverpool have been interested in signing Bellingham for a long time, and Klopp has even addressed the speculation surrounding a move for the player, ruling out his move to Merseyside this summer.

Klopp told the press when asked about the signing of the Borussia Dortmund wonderkid:

“He’s not on the market, so that’s the first problem with that player. Well, the only problem with that player!

“Of course [I value the youngsters highly].”

The £103m-valued sensation whose technical ability was hailed as “scary” by Jack Grealish would be a great addition to the Liverpool squad and judging by their long-term admiration of the player, it could be Klopp’s dream signing, especially with many changes to the midfield likely to unfold over the next 12 months.

Indeed, the central areas at Anfield feel like the final missing piece of the jigsaw right now when it comes to challenging champions Man City.

Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all be out of contract in June 2023, and with Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson well into their 30s there is certainly an opportunity for Klopp and the powers at Anfield to start considering the future of the midfield three.

Bellingham has gone from strength to strength since joining his current Bundesliga club, and has even broken into the England team with 15 caps so far, meaning he will likely feature in this year’s World Cup when Gareth Southgate names his squad in a few months’ time.

Compared to his positional peers in the top five European leagues over the last 365 days, the 19-year-old sensation has ranked in the top 10% for shot creating actions, dribbles completed, overall touches, progressive passes received and assists, proving that he is capable of offering high quality in a high pressing system.

Very much a well-rounded midfielder who could slot into Liverpool’s squad for the next ten years, this would be a marvellous addition, one Klopp would be delighted to secure as he aims to add the last piece of the jigsaw to his team.

The signing of Bellingham won’t be easy for Liverpool with many other clubs also interested in acquiring the young talent’s services next summer including Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, but if they can get a deal done it could be quite the coup.

Aston Villa have been urged to sign Ivan Toney before the end of the summer transfer window…

What’s the word?

Former Villans striker Darren Bent believes that the Brentford talisman would be an ideal target for the Midlands outfit. When discussing potential options on talkSPORT, he namedropped the 26-year-old.

“Ivan Toney is the one that jumps out to me,” he said.

Toney has regularly been linked with an exit from the Bees in recent windows, with Leeds United and Newcastle United thought to be two interested teams.

Meanwhile, according to transfer insider Dean Jones on ‘The Football Terrace’ last month, he is likely to cost around £50m.

He’s what Gerrard needs

Perhaps sporting director Johan Lange ought to listen to the former Villa man as a player of Toney’s calibre is exactly what manager Steven Gerrard needs to get the side firing this campaign.

Last weekend, his team were defeated by newly-promoted AFC Bournemouth and they seriously faltered in front of goal, registering only two shots on target all game.

But that has been an all too familiar story for Villa ever since Gerrard arrived in the dugout. Last season, only Ollie Watkins hit double figures for goals in the Premier League, whilst nine other teams managed more attempts on target per game, via WhoScored.

Toney has already kickstarted the season with a goal, scoring in Brentford’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City, building on last term’s 14-goal effort. In total, he’s found the net 48 times across 90 appearances in west London.

Not only does he provide goals, though, but his attitude and work rate could elevate some of Gerrard’s other underperforming stars.

“If you want to be a top player you need to work hard, constantly reflect and want to learn and then of course you need to have that confidence that he’s got so naturally,” his manager Thomas Frank told reporters (via the Evening Standard).

“He’s coming across so fantastically: he’s humble, calm, but with a mindset of a lion.”

Also lauded as a “unplayable” by ESPN UK editor David Cartlidge and an “absolute machine” by talkSPORT journalist Phil Spencer, Toney could be the sort of striker that Gerrard badly needs heading into a hectic fixture list.

The former Rangers boss is now under pressure to deliver in the Midlands and a swoop of this calibre could certainly get a few people onside and help alleviate one of his lingering problems up top.

AND in other news, Villa’s £80k-p/w “titan” dealt further setback, Gerrard’s got another big problem…

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed an exciting West Ham United transfer update over their pursuit of Lille midfielder Amadou Onana.

What’s the word?

In a recent column for Caught Offside, the Italian journalist revealed that West Ham have “submitted” a €38m (£32m) bid for Onana but that there wasn’t yet a “definitive agreement”.

He explained how the Hammers are prioritising the signing of Gianluca Scamacca first before they then focus their attention on negotiating for Onana.

The news is an exciting development in what has already been a busy transfer window for the east London outfit. Manager David Moyes is looking to strengthen his side considerably in order to qualify for Europe again next season.

Supporters will be buzzing

Supporters of the club will be buzzing to hear the news that another new player could be on their way to the London Stadium.

They have already acquired one midfielder this summer after they completed the signing of Flynn Downes from Swansea City for £12m earlier this month.

Adding Onana would provide good competition and leave Moyes with an array of quality players to choose from. Despite only being 20 years old he has already been capped once by Belgium and featured heavily in Lille’s league campaign last season.

He made 32 appearances and in that time created three big chances as well as boasting a pass accuracy of 83%.

It’s likely that he would be competing with Downes and Tomas Soucek to start in a midfield pairing alongside club captain Declan Rice. He compares well to the Hammers skipper and won 59% of his total duels last season which is more than the Englishman.

There were recent doubts over West Ham’s ability to complete the deal after interest was shown from Liverpool, however, The Athletic’s James Pearce confirmed on Twitter that the Reds have no plans to further strengthen their midfield which is a boost for Moyes’ side.

He’s extremely talented for his age and will likely only improve as he gets older, West Ham have a great chance to secure him now and shouldn’t waste any time or they may lose out to another club.

AND in other news: David Moyes could form deadly duo with West Ham bid for “sensational” £15m target

Manchester United are reportedly getting closer to their second summer signing, as they remain in talks with Christian Eriksen over his move to Old Trafford.

What’s the word?

After his impressive performances in the second half of last season with Brentford, Eriksen has been a man-in-demand so far this summer, with the vast majority of the Premier League linked with signing him at one point or another.

The 30-year-old is available on a free transfer having only signed a six-month deal with the Bees in January and while they are understandably keen on keeping him, it seems as if United are in pole position to bring him in.

Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth recently revealed that:

“I’ve been told today that the signing of Christian Eriksen is progressing positively. Three-year deal we know has been agreed in principle, it will formally be signed off once Christian Eriksen completes that medical with Manchester United.”

The news comes amid United’s pursuit of Frenkie de Jong with talks ongoing in Barcelona between the respective parties.

Ten Hag will love him

Eriksen has proven himself to be a world-class player over the past decade, contributing 69 goals and 90 assists during his time at Tottenham Hotspur, and to sign him on a free transfer represents excellent business for United.

The Denmark international was in inspired form for Thomas Frank’s side last season, helping them comfortably avoid relegation, as he contributed one goal and four assists in 11 Premier League appearances, averaging a superb 7.37 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

No player in United’s side would average as many key passes (2.7) per game than Eriksen last season, which emphasises just what he will add to Erik ten Hag’s midfield.

Considering the Dane came through Ajax’s famous academy, he will already be aware of how Ten Hag will want to play at United next season, and his immense ability on the ball suggests that he could be a perfect midfield player for the new manager.

If he can carry on his form with Brentford at Old Trafford next season, he will surely prove to be a quality signing for the Red Devils.

AND, in other news: BBC journalist drops big Man United transfer update, supporters will be buzzing…

Manchester United and Chelsea are thought to be in pole position to sign Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt.

The Lowdown: Talks held

De Ligt, who Italian football expert Carlo Garganese described as an ‘absolute monster’ after ‘physically bullying (Andrea) Belotti’ in a match against city rivals Torino, has recently been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have reportedly taken ‘concrete steps with the defender’s entourage’ but are yet to make an official offer. Erik ten Hag knows all about De Ligt after working with him at Ajax before he signed for Juve in a deal worth £76.95m in 2019.

The Latest: Transfer update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Corriere dello Sport regarding De Ligt on Friday.

They claimed that De Ligt has asked to move on this summer, with United and Chelsea ‘ready to intervene’ and ‘in pole position’ to secure his services.

De Ligt reportedly has a €120m (£103m) release clause, something which Juventus would expect to be met.

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The Verdict: Would be brilliant

De Ligt is still just 22 years of age but already has plenty of experience at the highest level for club and country, with former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar even likening him to Cristiano Ronaldo for his mentality and application in the gym.

You’d expect that Ten Hag may want to strengthen his defensive ranks after a leaky 2021/22 season, so bringing in De Ligt would certainly be an eye-catching move and one that could transform United’s backline.

It looks as if it could be a costly one, though, and with Chelsea firmly in the race, any interested club may have to pay his £103m release clause.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of Tottenham Hotspur forward Steven Bergwijn.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist revealed that, following reports that suggest the 24-year-old could be set to leave Spurs this summer, there is indeed a serious chance that the Netherlands international moves onto pastures new in the coming weeks – particularly since Fabio Paratici’s capture of Ivan Perisic.

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In his tweet, the transfer insider said: “There is a serious chance for Steven Bergwijn to leave Tottenham in the summer, as Perisic is joining the club too. The plan is still the same. Ajax have his name on their list since January but there are many clubs interested in him, race still open.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While it is undeniable that Bergwijn is a player who boasts a great deal of talent and potential for future growth, when considering his current market valuation, hefty weekly wage and lack of game time under Antonio Conte, the news that the winger is set to depart north London this summer is sure to have left the Tottenham faithful buzzing.

Indeed, the £26m-rated forward has started just one Premier League fixture since the Italian’s appointment as Nuno Espirito Santo’s successor last November, playing a total of 275 league minutes over the past six months.

Furthermore, with the Dutchman reported to be earning around £75k-per-week at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – ranking him as the club’s seventh-highest paid player – it is clear that if the 24-year-old is set to remain a backup option for Conte in 2022/23, this is money that could easily be put to better use by the 52-year-old in the summer market.

As such, while Bergwijn has provided Spurs with some memorable moments during his two and a half year stay – including a stunning volley in a 2-0 win over Manchester City on his debut and a stoppage-time brace to seal an incredible 3-2 comeback victory over Leicester City earlier this season – the fact that the former PSV Eindhoven starlet looks set to move on to pastures new this summer is undoubtedly a good move by Paratici, Conte, Daniel Levy and the club.

AND in other news: Contact made: Paratici in talks for £99k-p/w Spurs target, he’s “similar to Laporte”

An interesting Southampton transfer claim has now come out of Italy involving former Saints favourite and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale.

The Lowdown: Bale set for move…

The Wales international is set to leave his current club this summer and is being tipped as one of the big-name free agents who could make a move to the Premier League.

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Bale’s contract at the Bernabeu expires in late June, with Tottenham, Cardiff City, Newcastle, Rangers and AC Milan all having been previously linked with a move (90min).

In a possible boost for interested clubs from the top flight, his agent Jonathan Barnett recently told Record (via Evening Standard) that Bale is likely to make a return to England. However, much will depend on Wales and whether they qualify for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

The Latest: Saints enter mix…

According to Calciomercato, Southampton have now been added to the list of interested clubs as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side join the race to sign Bale.

The Italian news outlet claimed that they are ‘on his trail’, alongside Championship club Cardiff City.

The Verdict: Seal reunion?

If his national team are to seal a place at Qatar, we believe that a return to St Mary’s for Bale cannot be ruled out.

While the 32-year-old has started just four La Liga matches all season, it’s clear that the former Spurs star still possesses the ability to threaten – averaging three shots at goal per 90 over those limited minutes (WhoScored).

Only big name striker Karim Benzema has averaged more in the Real Madrid squad with Bale also finishing 2020/21 as Tottenham’s third-best player in terms of goals and assists combined during his north London loan spell (WhoScored).

It’s little surprise that talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein claimed that Bale is still ‘world-class’ despite entering his twilight years and Southampton’s interest in the 183-goal star seems perfectly justified.

In other news: Hasenhuttl has now personally set his sights on signing ‘absolute beast’ for Southampton! Find out more here.

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse could stay at St Mary’s for the rest of his playing career, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Ward-Prowse committed to Saints

The 27-year-old committed his future to the club by signing a new five-year deal last summer and has been in scintillating form this season, having netted ten goals and registered eight assists in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

The Saints star was heavily linked with a move to Aston Villa at the end of last season, with Manchester United also believed to be interested in securing his services.

However, whilst plenty of speculation is expected during the upcoming transfer window, Jones can’t imagine Ward-Prowse ever leaving his boyhood club.

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The Latest: Jones makes big Ward-Prowse prediction

When asked about the ten-cap England international’s future under Ralph Hasenhuttl at Southampton, the transfer insider made a rather big claim.

He told GiveMeSport: “I don’t know if James Ward-Prowse is ever going to leave Southampton. It feels to me like he’s not.”

The Verdict: Repaying the faith

Even if the opportunity arose to join a fellow Premier League club in order to compete at European level, you couldn’t argue if the £28.8m-rated talisman decides that he wanted to finish his career with Southampton after everything that they have done for him.

The Saints made Ward-Prowse captain of the club, which gave him the platform to make the breakthrough into Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

The local maestro, who has been hailed by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as one of “the best” free-kick takers in the world, is clearly a fan favourite at St Mary’s, having recently picked up three trophies at the Saints’ end of season awards. Therefore, it sounds like it would take a lot for prospective suitors to try and prise him away from his beloved Southampton in the coming months.

In other news… Southampton are reportedly keen on signing a new shot-stopper this summer