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Wolverhampton Wanderers have established themselves as a regular fixture in the Premier League since their promotion from the Championship in 2017/18.

They have steered clear of any serious danger of relegation back down to the second division and have even enjoyed European nights at Molineux.

Former manager Nuno Espirito Santo deserves plenty of credit for his role in the club’s progression as he led the team to the Championship title before managing back-to-back seventh-place finishes in the Premier League and then a 13th-place finish in his final campaign before a move to Tottenham.

The Portuguese head coach’s excellent work in the transfer market played a significant part in his success at Wolves and one signing he had a masterclass with was forward Diogo Jota.

How did Diogo Jota perform at Wolves?

Nuno snapped the attacker up on loan in the Championship and the gem was an instant success as he enjoyed a terrific season in the second tier of English football, racking up 17 goals and six assists in 44 appearances.

His impressive form led to the club signing the striker from Atletico Madrid on a permanent basis for a fee in the region of £12.8m, which turned out to be a huge bargain.

Jota took to the Premier League like a duck to water by scoring nine goals and providing five assists in 33 outings during his debut campaign at that level, before plundering seven goals and one assist in 34 games the following year. He also managed nine goals and five assists in 14 European appearances for the club, in Europa League qualifying and group stage matches.

His excellent form for Wolves did not go unnoticed as Premier League giants Liverpool swooped in to sign the Portugal international, who reporter Alex Batt dubbed a “serious baller”, for a whopping £45m package in the summer of 2020.

The dynamo’s huge move to Anfield meant that Wolves made an impressive 252% profit on the 29-cap marksman, with that a sign of just how much Nuno struck gold by bringing him to the club on a permanent basis.

Jota, who journalist Callum Vurley once hailed as “clinical”, has scored 34 times in 99 first-team appearances for Liverpool since moving to Merseyside and Football Transfers now expect his transfer value (xTV) to be around £51m (€57.5m).

This suggests that the deal worked for all parties involved with Jurgen Klopp’s side gaining a reliable goalscorer and Wolves receiving a gigantic transfer fee for a player whose value has not soared much further beyond the £45m they received for his services in the subsequent three years.

Therefore, Nuno undeniably played a masterclass in signing, developing, and selling Jota during his time at Wolves and he may look back on his success with the forward as one of his finest pieces of work.

Newcastle United have made contact to sign Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: In pole position?

The Robins starlet has worked his way up through the academy ranks at Ashton Gate to become a regular feature of Nigel Pearson’s first-team squad where his performances have caught the eye of Eddie Howe in the Premier League.

The Daily Mirror reported in February that Magpies scouts are running background checks on the 19-year-old as they weigh up whether to make an offer in the upcoming window.

Football Insider have since claimed that the northeast outfit are currently in pole position to secure his services, though it sounds like they are set to face stiff competition from several other potential suitors.

The Latest: Newcastle make contact

According to GiveMeSport, Newcastle, Tottenham, West Ham, Wolves, Brighton, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton and Leicester have all ‘enquired’ about Scott’s availability.

Championship high-flyers Burnley, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough are also ‘considering’ him.

Inside sources believe that some of the interested clubs would be ‘willing’ to let him return to Bristol on a one-year loan to continue his development.

The Robins value their midfielder at £25m, but there’s ‘hope’ that a deal could be struck at closer to £30m given the number and calibre of teams chasing him.

The Verdict: One for the future

Scott has been nicknamed the ‘Guernsey Grealish’ and he would be an extremely promising signing for the future of Newcastle should he put pen to paper at St. James’ Park.

The Bristol ace has recorded five assists and two goals across all competitions so far this season and loves to help his side when it comes to making the magic happen in the final third (Transfermarkt).

Pearson’s maestro currently ranks in the 89th percentile for most progressive carries and the 84th percentile for most successful take-ons per 90 minutes (FBRef).

Scott would also bring versatility to the squad having operated in five various positions throughout his career, including as a second striker alongside in the centre.

Speaking in a recent interview, however, his boss sent a warning to suitors that he won’t come cheap so it sounds like PIF will need to dig deep should they want to prise him away. He said:

“It wouldn’t surprise me that clubs are interested in him but there have been no bids. Whoever makes a proper bid at some point, will have to be a really big bid to get him.”

TalkSport pundit Darren Bent has mooted Thomas Frank as a suitable replacement for Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur if the Italian leaves in the near future.

Will Antonio Conte leave Spurs?

After defeat in the Champions League this week, Spurs are set to end yet another season without lifting a major trophy.

Seeing as Conte was brought in as a proven winner to try to help the club end what is now a 15-year wait for silverware, it’s safe to say things have not gone to plan.

Consequently, there is already talk that Tottenham could begin the hunt for a new manager very soon, with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel being referenced recently by The Guardian.

While speaking about this on TalkSport, Bent suggested that Brentford boss Frank could possibly be a risk worth taking for the Lilywhites.

He said: “I like Thomas Frank. Maybe a slight risk because it’s a step up from Brentford, but he’s got all the credentials.

“And when I say credentials, look what he’s doing with this Brentford side in the Premier League.”

Why would Spurs hire Frank over Pochettino?

Seeing as Frank has been a Premier League manager for less than two seasons, his relative experience at the top level would understandably make him a bit of a risk.

Still, he’s done brilliantly with Brentford to get them promoted and then lead them to a 13th-placed finish as well as having them push for European football this season as they are currently ninth in the league

What’s more, they are currently on a run of 12 league matches without defeat – the longest in the division, despite taking on Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and even Tottenham during their past 10 outings

With that in mind, it’s clear to see how he could have the quality to go and impress at a club like Spurs, who could offer more financial backing than the Bees. What’s more, he would also likely cost less in wages than Pochettino or Tuchel due to his lack of big-club experience.

It will no doubt be interesting to see if Frank is considered when Conte does depart.

Arsenal fans have been left slamming some comments made by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on their supposed lack of injuries this season.

The Lowdown: Ten Hag comments

Speaking the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of United’s UEFA Europa League last-16 clash with Real Betis, Ten Hag has claimed that Arsenal’s squad is always available, and that they have been lucky with injuries this season:

“Man City home [2-1 victory in January], it was the only time this season [that United had a fully fit squad], in other times, every time, every game is a player suspended, injured, illness. So we have to deal with it well, of course, you hope.

“I see Arsenal, they almost have all the time a squad that is totally available.”

This is despite six other teams in the Premier League having fewer combined games missed through injury then their 79, and the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Mohamed Elneny being out injured at the moment, with star striker Gabriel Jesus only just returning from a three-month absence with a knee problem.

The Latest: Arsenal fans fume

Taking to Twitter after the comments were shared, these Gunners supporters voiced their fume over them:

“This is kind of condescending. It comes off like he’s saying look at Arsenal, same team every week, that’s why they’re where they are. The reality is Arsenal have had plenty of injury issues and they’ve found ways to overcome them for the most part.” – @Arsenal_HP

“We literally had our 3 strikers Jesus, Eddie & Trossard all out at the same time. What an absolute clown” – @UPYOURARSENAL04

“Embarrassing.” – @gooner_247

“Wow, he needs to open his eyes” – @HunterMartyn

“Deluded. #TenHag” – @TheAFC_

“Grow up Erik.” – @TeamDorling

The Verdict: Everyone has them!

Some teams have had more injury problems than others this season, but that is not to say that Mikel Arteta’s side have not had their fair share.

As well as Jesus’ lengthy absence, the likes of Thomas Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Emile Smith Rowe have all also missed a sizeable chunk of top-flight matches through injury, and so it has not always been as plain sailing as Ten Hag has made out.

Nonetheless, the North Londoners have used their squad well, with the likes of Jorginho and Kieran Tierney among others able to come in when injuries have hit the squad, and they should be given more credit for that sitting on top of the league.

Journalist Sid Lowe has revealed that Barcelona's current financial situation means that as things stand, they would not be able to re-sign Lionel Messi this summer.

What's going on with Messi and Barcelona?

The 35-year-old is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, and recent reports have indicated that he is keen to re-join Barcelona, with whom he had many successful years.

Messi originally departed Camp Nou in 2021 following financial issues which meant his contract could not be renewed, and he subsequently moved to PSG.

He could move on a free transfer this summer, but with reported wages of just under £1.1m-per-week, it would be a tall order for Barcelona to reduce their already large wage budget to accommodate him.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Lowe claimed that Barcelona would either have to activate more economic levers – which saw them spend heavily last summer – or reduce their wage bill massively to have any chance of bringing their greatest-ever player back.

He said: "You'd be in a position where you wouldn't be paying a transfer fee for him, but it would depend on the size of the salary.

"But right now, no, they don't have the margin for it. So that asks all sorts of questions: where's the money coming from – sales of players, or maybe we go back and we discover a few more levers that can be pulled?"

Should Barcelona move on from Messi?

Barcelona are in a tough situation, as there could be a strong temptation to bring back arguably the greatest player of all time, who is still capable of performing at a high level as shown in Ligue 1, but the deal as a whole does not make a lot of sense in the long run.

Sales appear to be necessary to accomodate an ageing player, and after a number of transfer windows in which younger players such as Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde arrived – while Pedri, Gavi and Alejandro Balde were given more prominent roles – disrupting the squad to shoehorn Messi into the team may not suit Xavi's project.

Xavi's former boss Pep Guardiola once described Messi as "unstoppable", and whilst he may still have a lot to offer in front of goal, his supposed diminished impact on games may yet hinder Barcelona.

Indeed, he was blamed for PSG's Champions League exit against Bayern Munich, perhaps signalling that his impact on games at the most elite level is not what it used to be having scored goals and won trophies for fun at Barcelona, and given the financial gymnastics the club will have to go through to bring him back, there is a fair argument to suggest that they should move on without him.

Fulham could be set to lose Aleksandar Mitrovic in the summer transfer window, with several of the Premier League's top clubs eyeing moves for the striker, according to a report from the Daily Star.

Will Aleksandar Mitrovic leave Fulham?

Mitrovic has been linked with a move away from Craven Cottage for a little while now, with reports from Spain (via CaughtOffside) recently claiming Chelsea are considering a summer transfer swoop, should they miss out on Victor Osimhen.

Speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast back in January, journalist Graeme Bailey claimed the striker is "going to get a lot of attention" in the upcoming transfer window, adding that Fulham are "desperate to keep him" despite the level of interest.

If the Serbian does choose to seek pastures new this summer, the Cottagers could look at bringing in AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud as a replacement, if he is unable to agree terms with the Serie A club.

As per a report from the Daily Star, the £80k-per-week earner is a target for a plethora of Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur all considering swoops, as a result of his excellent campaign up to this point. There is also interest in the 28-year-old from abroad, as Barcelona are also named as potential suitors, so there is likely to be no shortage of interest in his signature.

However, the report also claims that Man United may no longer be interested in the 80-time Serbia international, as a result of his FA charge for violent conduct in the 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford earlier this month.

Would losing Mitrovic be a big blow for Fulham?

The "brilliant" marksman has proven himself as an absolutely vital player for the Cottagers over several years, most notably scoring a remarkable 43 goals in 44 Championship games en-route to promotion from the second tier last season.

During the current campaign, the forward has also managed to prove himself in the top flight, already hitting double figures for goals in the Premier League, having scored 11 in 21 outings. In all competitions, the former Newcastle United man has recorded more than double the amount of goals produced by any other player in the squad, so losing him could be hugely detrimental in Fulham's bid to rebuild themselves as a Premier League club.

Marco Silva's side may get an early taste of what life will be like without Mitrovic in the coming weeks, with reports claiming that he could receive a ten-game ban for pushing Chris Kavanagh, during which time the manager will be given the chance to assess his back-up options.

Newcastle United are interested in a deal to sign Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer, according to reports.

What’s the latest on Oxlade-Chamberlain?

The Reds midfielder’s contract at Anfield is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning that he will become a free agent should he not put pen to paper on fresh terms and can join any interested suitor with no transfer fee.

Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that the 29-year-old is expected to part ways with the Merseyside outfit and will listen to offers during the upcoming window after falling out of favour under Jurgen Klopp.

The Times’ Paul Joyce confirmed that England’s former international turned down the opportunity to move to the northeast having received an approach from Eddie Howe in January, but that doesn’t sound like it’s stopped the boss from taking a second bite of the cherry.

According to The Daily Mail, Premier League clubs Newcastle, Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion have all shown an “early interest” in signing Oxlade-Chamberlain ahead of the 2023/24 term. Several unnamed teams in the Serie A have also “expressed” their admiration for the out of favour midfielder.

Arsenal’s former ace has held “no talks” with the Reds over extending his stay so has therefore emerged as a “target” for the trio of potential suitors in the top-flight. It’s reported that he remains “focused” on helping his side finish the season strongly and secure a place in the top four but will be taking the “next step” in his career upon its conclusion.

Should Newcastle take a chance on Oxlade-Chamberlain?

Oxlade-Chamberlain has only made four league starts for Liverpool this season so it’s difficult to judge him based on those performances, but looking at his career as a whole, Newcastle should definitely take the risk with this bargain of a deal. The Portsmouth-born talent has posted 104 goal contributions and has operated in ten different positions, including all across the midfield and the final third, since emerging onto the scene, highlighting his creativity and adaptability to fit into his boss’ desired formation.

The £120k-p/w star also knows what it takes to be successful at the highest level having got his hands on 12 trophies during his time at both Anfield and the Emirates Stadium, with the hunt for silverware an ever-present dream at St. James’ Park.

Finally, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been dubbed “unreal” for his penalties under pressure by journalist Joel Rabinowitz and he would be a hugely experienced acquisition for the Magpies as they look to take the next step up to become a team consistently fighting on multiple fronts.

Aston Villa are now ready to sign AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham, who could cost as much as €55m (£48m) this summer, according to reports from Italy.

Will Tammy Abraham leave this summer?

Abraham has been attracting the attention of a number of Premier League clubs, though it has recently been reported that Villa are in pole position for his signature. However, they would be forced to shell out a club-record fee.

Manchester United are also said to be monitoring the striker, with scouts having been in regular attendance at Roma games so far this season, but journalist James Horncastle has also pointed out Chelsea have first refusal on their former player.

Recent reports from Sky Italy have also claimed the forward is likely to return to the Premier League at the end of the season, as he is struggling with Roma (via Football Italia).

In a recent report from Il Messaggero (via Sport Witness), the Englishman's poor recent form is highlighted, and it is suggested he is now becoming a problem for Jose Mourinho, meaning a return to his home country is potentially on the cards.

Villa are said to be one of two English sides "ready to sign" the 25-year-old, although he will not come cheap, with Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto setting an asking price of up to €55m (£48m).

However, that fee is on the high end of the spectrum, and the report also speculates the Serie A club could sanction his departure for €40m (£35m), as they would still be making a healthy profit.

Should Aston Villa sign Tammy Abraham?

Villa fans will know all about the 11-time England international's qualities following his very successful loan spell at Villa Park in the 2018/19 season, in which he scored 25 goals in 37 Championship games during the regular season.

Hailed as "sensational" by members of the media, the London-born marksman has come on leaps and bounds since that loan spell, scoring 27 goals for Roma in all competitions last term, including nine en route to their Europa Conference League triumph.

With Danny Ings leaving to join West Ham United back in January, Unai Emery is short on options in attack, with Ollie Watkins proving to be his only consistent goal threat, scoring 11 goals so far this season.

As such, a new striker will almost definitely be required this summer, and we feel Abraham would be an excellent addition for the Villans given that he has a proven track record of scoring goals.

The 49ers Enterprises’ proposed takeover of Leeds United “is essentially done” but is “contingent” on the club remaining in the Premier League, David Ornstein reports.

What’s the latest Leeds takeover news on the 49ers?

The 49ers have the option to take full control in Yorkshire from Andrea Radrizzani until January 2024. Phil Hay stated last month that a takeover was looking likely this summer, although recent reports have suggested that there are genuine fears relegation could see the American investors walk away from a proposed deal.

Reliable reporter Ornstein was talking to NBC Sports Soccer prior to on Monday evening regarding Leeds’ future and a potential 49ers takeover.

Relayed by MOT Leeds News, Ornstein said that a takeover “is essentially done”, however, it is “contingent on Leeds being in the Premier League”, stating that financially, relegation would be “massive”.

“The cost of relegation would be massive for them and that’s why we’re on tenterhooks here: ‘If we’re interested in Leeds United not only from a financial perspective but from a football one as well.’

“I understand that the deal is essentially done but it’s contingent on Leeds being in the Premier League, retaining their status in the Premier League and that’s why it makes their survival so important.”

Huge few months both on and off the pitch

Leeds find themselves in a similar position to last season on the pitch with seven games remaining, and relegation could impact the club hugely going forward.

It appears as if there could well be a rethink from the 49ers if Leeds go down, but if Javi Gracia guides the Whites to a fourth season in the top flight, it would be all change at the top.

Therefore, it looks set to be an eventful few months both on and off the pitch no matter what, and Radrizzani may well be desperate for the club to stay up so he can sell and move on, possibly to a share in Inter Milan after recent speculation.

Victor Orta's time as director of football at Leeds United has been very hit-and-miss, with every positive signing seemingly paired with a dreadful one.

Unfortunately for Diego Llorente, it seems as if the Spanish defender will be placed in the dreadful category, as his poor form at Elland Road and subsequent lack of game time on loan at Roma has seen his market value plummet in recent years.

How has Llorente performed in his time at Leeds?

Leeds would shell out a fee of £18m to bring the Real Sociedad defender to Elland Road following their promotion to the Premier League in 2020.

However, there was little to suggest that he would be a big hit in the top flight for the Whites, given that he had averaged a disappointing 6.51 rating from WhoScored for his performances in La Liga the season prior.

Llorente's first campaign at Leeds was an injury-hit one, but he generally looked solid across his 15 appearances in the Premier League, earning a strong 6.90 rating courtesy of WhoScored.

However, this would be as good as it would get for the defender, as the Spaniard struggled for consistent form, with the Yorkshire outfit shipping a whopping 79 goals in the top-flight last term, with Llorente a regular in the heart of their defence.

He would lose his spot in the first half of this campaign, making just eight top-flight appearances under Jesse Marsch, with a shocking 6.46 average rating, including a "really poor" display in the 5-2 thrashing at Brentford, as per Sky Sports pundit Sue Smith.

It was perhaps no surprise that he was shipped to Roma on loan in January, considering that his woeful average rating was even worse than Robin Koch's, with the German also leading the Spaniard when it comes to clearances and blocks per game.

How much is Llorente worth now?

While Jose Mourinho's side have the option to purchase the 29-year-old for £18m, it seems unlikely at this point that they will do so, which suggests that he could find himself back at Elland Road this summer.

So far, the centre-back has made just five appearances in Serie A for I Giallorossi and is continuing to struggle in Italy, which has unsurprisingly seen his market value drop well below the initial fee Leeds paid.

According to Football Transfers, Llorente is now valued at just €5.8m (£5.1m), which represents a significant 72% drop on what Leeds signed him for less than three years ago.

Therefore, it seems as if Orta made a big mistake in signing Llorente, as Leeds would be very fortunate to recoup the fee they paid should the centre-back be sold this summer.