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Last season saw Wolves hit by several big injuries to crucial players such as Raul Jimenez, Pedro Neto and Jonny Otto, with all missing periods of the campaign.

With Nuno Espirito Santo opting to work with a smaller squad to get the best out of his players they got found out when fringe players were thrown in, and Bruno Lage doesn’t want that to be the case this season, according to Steve Bull.

A lot of the time last campaign, the Wolves side often picked itself with fans and the opposition knowing who Nuno was going to pick as it had been a very similar team for the past three seasons, but Lage will be arriving with fresh ideas and a new approach to Premier League games.

Lage likes to implement a high energy and pressing style of football and with that comes a higher risk of injuries especially on players that rely on short bursts of pace, such as Adama Traore, and this could be why the new manager wants to increase his squad size.

Only 15 players started more than 10 league games for Wolves last season which highlights how Nuno only put his trust in particular players that he knew well, but Lage will look to increase the options he can choose from, according to Bull as he spoke exclusively to Transfer Tavern:

“I think Lage wants to have as many players as he can so hopefully in two weeks’ time we’ve got a few more on the books and have got a bit more of an insight into the squad.”

There have been a lot of links with Wolves’ top players leaving Molineux this summer and when Nuno is appointed as Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager, he could look to raid his former club with Conor Coady the latest tipped to follow his former manager.

According to Kicker (via Glasgow Live), Glasgow Rangers transfer target Salih Ozcan has agreed a new contract in principle with current club FC Koln.

The Lowdown: Rangers eye Ozcan

The Gers have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old midfielder this summer.

As it stands, the Germany under-21 international’s contract is set to run out at the end of this month (Transfermarkt), but it seems that there has been an update in that regard.

The Latest: Ozcan set to sign new contract at Koln

As per Kicker (via Glasgow Live), Ozcan is closing in on a new contract at the German club.

He has agreed a deal in principle, with the influence of new Koln manager Steffen Baumgart said to be an important factor in the midfielder’s decision to stay put.

The Verdict: Disappointment

You can certainly see why the Gers were in pursuit of Ozcan this summer. A 23-year-old with 64 Bundesliga appearances to his name, he started both the semi-final and the final of the European Under-21 Championships this summer as Germany won the trophy.

Valued at £3.15m by Transfermarkt, the Gers would have been able to secure a bargain if they could have captured his services on a free transfer. It appears that he is set to remain in his home nation, though, which means that Ross Wilson and co will have to go back to the drawing board in the search for midfield reinforcements.

In other news, Rangers are set to ramp up their interest in this 27-year-old.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Rangers defender Michael Ball believes Andros Townsend may have held talks with his old side over a move to Scotland this summer.

Townsend is currently a free agent after his Crystal Palace contract expired last month, with the 29-year-old currently doing some work for talkSPORT.

On the radio station (via the Daily Record), Townsend recently revealed he would be open to joining Rangers or their city rivals as he considers his options.

And Ball has since suggested that something could already be in the works. In an exclusive interview with FFC, the ex-Rangers star said:

“He’s 29, so he’s in his prime. He’s a free agent and could be a gamble worth paying for Steven Gerrard and Rangers Football Club.

“He’s got the experience to pass down to the players around him, but he’s also still got the ability to push Rangers to the next level as well. 

“I’m sure a conversation’s probably taken place and if it can happen, it’d be great for both parties.”

With his Premier League experience, Townsend would surely be a coup for Rangers. Across spells with Palace, Tottenham, Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers, the winger has amassed 243 appearances (per Transfermarkt).

And, as already mentioned, he is still in his prime at 29. Ultimately, if Townsend is willing to join the club, this looks like a no-brainer for the Scottish Premiership champions.

Rafa Benitez has been in the Everton job for just over two days but he already has some big decisions to make.

He is faced with the potential departure of James Rodriguez, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also attracting interest from elsewhere.

What’s the word?

One of the most important decisions for the club this summer will be determining what happens with Moise Kean. The Italian striker spent last term on loan at PSG and he could head back to Ligue 1 for the upcoming season.

That’s the word of transfer guru Fabrizio Romano who took to Twitter on Thursday evening to report: “Paris Saint-Germain want Moise Kean back and it’s only loan negotiation with buy option included, as reported one month ago. NO permanent deal bid. Kean wants to join PSG. Leonardo is now waiting for Everton answer – it’s up to Rafa Benitez.”

Huge blunder

If Benitez sanctions a loan move for the young forward, it would be a mighty clanger within his first few days of being in the job.

If Everton are going to shift Kean on, they should be looking for a permanent move. Otherwise, they may as well give him another chance in the first team squad next season.

The Toffees were initially looking for a fee of £40m in order to relinquish him this summer, so to let him leave with only an option to buy feels like a rather peculiar decision. After all, this is the mighty PSG with which they’re dealing; they are not cash-strapped by any means.

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It’s a decision which has left plenty of supporters baffled and bewildered by the thought process at Goodison Park.

Reacting to the news on social media, one Everton fan said the club had dealt with Kean’s situation “absolutely terribly.” Another supporter claimed that the Toffees were becoming “easy to manipulate” in the transfer market, while a further individual fumed that it was an “absolute joke.”

You can certainly understand such anger. Kean had a breathtaking season in 2020/21, reviving his career after a disappointing first campaign in Merseyside.

After signing for Everton for £29m, he scored just four goals in 37 appearances before moving to France on a temporary basis. Since joining the Parisians, he lit up Ligue 1 and starred in Europe – he found the net on 17 occasions in PSG colours, even scoring against Barcelona.

At the age of 21, the Italy international has a very high ceiling. If Everton aren’t going to give him another opportunity, they may as well cash in on him now in order to fund a summer rebuild.

It would be a blunder from Benitez to agree to another loan move for the striker.

AND in other news, Everton eye swoop for “superb” 69-goal colossus, it could mean the end for DCL…

According to The Sunday Post (via The Scotsman), Southampton are interested in signing Ryan Christie from Celtic this summer.

The Lowdown: Saints prepare for new campaign

The Saints experienced a mixed 2020/21 season – they reached an F.A Cup semi-final but also finished a lowly 15th in the Premier League table.

As such, Ralph Hasenhuttl and co have plenty of work to do this summer, and that is likely to include a number of new arrivals.

The Latest: Saints eye Christie

It has now been suggested the Saints have an interest in Christie, along with Burnley.

They could sign him for a fee of little more than £1m, but potential interest from other clubs could drive that price up. (The Sunday Post via The Scotsman)

The Verdict: Bargain deal

This would no doubt be a bargain deal for the Saints. Christie may have spent all his career in Scotland, but he has been an important player for Celtic down the years, with 40 goals and 41 assists in 142 matches (Transfermarkt). Last season alone, he picked up 15 assists in all competitions during what was a disappointing campaign for the Bhoys.

The fee is the most eye-catching part of any potential deal, though. Valued at £6.3m by Transfermarkt, signing for a sum of around £1m would be an absolute steal, especially considering he is still only 26 years of age and has played at Euro 2020 this summer. Hasenhuttl will be hoping that Southampton can get a deal over the line for Christie.

In other news, many Southampton fans are desperate for this man to return to the club.

Fulham could be set to allow Stefan Johansen to leave Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by West London Sport, who claim that Queens Park Rangers are in talks with the central midfielder regarding a permanent move to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this summer, with the 30-year-old having just one year remaining on his current deal with Fulham.

Big mistake

After allowing the £1.8m-rated midfielder to join QPR on a temporary deal in the second half of last season, Johansen went on to prove himself as a rather inspired piece of business for the Rs in his short time with Mark Warburton’s side.

Over his 21 Championship appearances at the club, the 30-year-old scored four goals, registered two assists and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 1.6 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the £8k-per-week Norway international earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.00, ranking him as Warburton’s sixth-best performer in the second tier – hugely contributing to QPR’s dramatic upturn in form since the turn of the year, a period in which the Rs ranked third in the Championship table.

As such, it is no surprise to learn that Fulham’s west London rivals are interested in a deal to bring the midfielder to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on a permanent basis in the upcoming transfer window, however, it is rather more surprising that Scott Parker’s side do not appear to be standing in their way.

With the man whom Ronny Deila dubbed an “unbelievable” player clearly demonstrating last season that he is capable of being the star of a team who were very much in title-chasing form, Johansen would appear to be a perfect fit for Parker’s side ahead of their upcoming Championship campaign, in which the Cottagers will be aiming to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

So, exactly why the 40-year-old appears to be allowing the 30-year-old to move to one of their potential promotion rivals this summer is somewhat baffling, and is a decision that could easily come back to haunt Fulham next season.

In other news: Worrying update emerges on key Fulham figure that is sure to leave fans gutted

When Odsonne Edouard finally packs his bags and departs Celtic, a huge void will be left behind by the Frenchman.

The striker is one of the most lethal forwards we’ve seen at Parkhead but his future is in enormous doubt.

Edouard has been consistently linked with a move to English shores and it would appear that a deal is on the verge of going through.

A switch has been agreed with Leicester for the 23-year-old to leave in a reported £15m deal.

It’s not huge money, particularly when you consider his importance to the club. He scored 22 goals last term and has racked up 83 strikes in 168 games for the Bhoys.

Therefore, trying to replace him this summer will be incredibly hard for Ange Postecoglou.

He could do so temporarily by luring Liam Delap to the club on loan.

Manchester Evening News claimed this week that Postecoglou’s appointment in Glasgow could open up an avenue for Manchester City’s most vibrant young players to head to Celtic for match experience.

Jason Denayer and Patrick Roberts’ loan moves a number of years ago have led to an existing relationship between the two clubs, one that could be extended given Guardiola’s words for the Australian previously.

Speaking after a pre-season friendly between City and Yokohama Marinos, the Spaniard said: “Yokohama played some incredible football and they were an incredible test for us. I knew how good they were and it was tough for us.”

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MEN suggests that Delap is one of the players that could be made available to Celtic and judging by his record this term, he’d be a marvellous capture.

In simple terms, the 18-year-old is a goal-scoring sensation. Described as a “phenomenal” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the teenager is a “machine” in the box according to the same football figure.

Delap only made three appearances for City’s senior side this term but he was in devastating form during youth football, scoring 24 times in 20 Premier League 2 outings.

His overall tally for the campaign ended at a whopping haul of 30 goals.

Possessing pace and athleticism, Delap has the ability to burst beyond the defence in a scintillating fashion. His physical attributes are incredible for a player of his age, also housing the ability to hold the ball up and head.

The youngster is the definition of a complete forward and should definitely be considered by Postecoglou this summer.

Replacing Edouard will be an arduous task but Delap’s track record to date is incredible; he could well revive the Hoops’ fortunes next term.

AND in other news, McKay must seal Celtic swoop for 58-cap “beast” who’s “always loved” Ange Postecoglou…

An inspired five wicket haul by the Punjab left arm spinner BablooKumar helped the hosts crush Rajasthan by an innings and 12 runs onthe third day of the five day Ranji Trophy pre quarterfinal match atthe Punjab Cricket Association ground in Mohali on Monday. They nowplay reigning champions Mumbai in the quarterfinal at the Wankhedestadium from March 20.Resuming at the overnight score of four for no loss in their secondinnings, Rajasthan, 318 runs in arrears on the first innings, were allout for 306. Openers VA Saxena (11) and skipper Gagan Khoda (40) tookthe score to 25 but Punjab seamer Gagandeep Singh made the firstinroads by trapping Saxena leg before in the 19th over of the innings.Then Rahul Kanwat (88) joined his skipper and took the score along to97. Khoda after a patient 110-ball innings was bowled by Babloo Kumarto give the latter his first wicket of the innings.Nikhil Doru (14) then partnered Kanwat for a third wicket stand worth54 useful runs. Doru was trapped in front of the stumps by BablooKumar and he was soon followed to the pavilion by Kanwat. During his166-minute stay at the crease, Kanwat faced 116 balls and hit 14boundaries and two sixes.All this while, Rajasthan nurtured hopes of making Punjab bat againand Saket Bhatia lead them from the front with a valiant innings of53. He shared a 55-run sixth wicket stand with Rohit Jhalani (27) whichtook them closer to their objective. But the fall of Jhalani and alittle later, Bhatia left them stranded. Bhatia, who was the seventhbatsman to be dismissed, faced just 86 balls and found the boundaryropes on ten occasions.Babloo Kumar came back and struck twice to pick up the wickets ofSanjeev Sharma and Mohd Aslam. The last three wickets yielded just 36runs, which saw them falling short of their target by 12 runs. BablooKumar ended with figures of 5 for 48 from 17.5 overs.

It’s no secret that once Celtic announce their new manager, they will have a huge job on their hands in order to repair the damage done at Parkhead.

The Bhoys will need to prepare a squad good enough to challenge their biggest rivals again which will be made all the more difficult by a potential mass exodus.

Scott Brown is set to leave for Aberdeen while Ryan Christie could fetch a seven-figure sum after being linked with the exit door.

There is also the threat that Odsonne Edouard departs. So regularly attracting the attention of the Premier League, it feels like now is the time he’ll finally walk away from Glasgow.

Unfortunately, Celtic could also lose Kristoffer Ajer this summer.

The Norwegian has caught the eye of Tottenham in recent years while AC Milan were also interested earlier this season.

Though, in the last few weeks, speculation has ramped up. Newcastle and Norwich are now both chasing the Norwegian with the Magpies sending scouts to watch him in the Old Firm derby last weekend.

Last summer, it looked as though the player would be worth around £15m but his value has rocketed now to around the £25m mark.

A fresh claim from Paddy Davitt of the Eastern Daily Press claims that because of this, Norwich could well be priced out of a move by Newcastle.

The good news here is that Celtic have seemingly found a potential buyer willing to pay such a considerable sum.

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The worrying aspect, though, is that within just a matter of months at being a club, Dominic McKay could lose one of Celtic’s prized possessions.

Ajer has often been the glue holding the Hoops together this term and while everyone around him in the backline has faltered, he’s remained a constant form of solidity.

The centre-back sets a wonderful example for others, something John Harton picked up earlier in the campaign; “He’s grabbing the bull by the horns and he’s almost dragging the team through, even to these draws,” he began.

“He’s a credit to the rest of the players. They should all look at him and if they’d all adopted the same attitude as Ajer then might have made a better fist of it in terms of holding on to the title,” Hartson concluded.

To surrender such an influential player, therefore, will be a disaster and despite an iflux of cash, it will be tough to find another defender or Ajer’s quality.

Celtic have lost so many players to the Premier League in the last decade and it now looks set to bite them in the heels again.

It’s a horrible trend but even with a new figure in McKay at Paradise, it seemingly can’t be stopped. He will have every right to feel gutted if a move goes through.

The team on the pitch will almost certainly be weaker without Ajer and regardless of what goes on in terms of the bank account, supporters will judge McKay, and the new manager, based on what happens on the pitch.

AND in other news, Dominic McKay is already on the verge of his first major Celtic mistake…

According to a report from The Sun, coming as West Ham stars Declan Rice, Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell remain out through injury, the club are ‘concerned’ over the fitness of star midfielder Jesse Lingard who is being ‘hampered’ by aching legs.

Indeed, as per this report, the Englishman underwent intensive treatment to solve the issue throughout last week and West Ham are praying he doesn’t become the latest player to be ruled out of action.

West Ham dealt Lingard concern

As David Moyes’ men chase an unprecedented Champions League qualifying place, Lingard is apparently still struggling with the leg problem as a concern emerges he won’t be able to play against Burnley on Monday.

The 28-year-old has been a revelation since joining the Hammers on loan in January and Moyes reportedly would have ideally rested him against Chelsea if the likes of Rice, Antonio and Cresswell weren’t already ruled out.

In another injury concern, West Ham now appear to be slightly sweating over Lingard’s fitness.

Transfer Tavern take

If the Englishman is unable to play at Turf Moor it would be a major blow, without question.

He has been Moyes’ most crucial asset since his signing, having scored nine Premier League goals in 11 appearances for the Hammers this season.

Lingard is also the most threatening West Ham man in terms of shots per game, averaging an impressive three attempts on goal every 90 minutes (WhoScored).

It’s little wonder Vladimir Coufal called him ‘unbelievable’ in an interview with Sky Sports, Hammers supporters will be hoping that the concerns over Lingard don’t become any more serious.

In other news: West Ham fans react as club confirm ‘great news’, find out more here.