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Many Everton fans have been left slamming a transfer update involving Harry Winks.

Speaking on the ‘Last Word on Spurs’ show (via The Toffee Blues), Italian football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Goodison Park faithful are interested in signing the Tottenham Hotspur midfield player before the summer window shuts.

However, he also claimed that Winks is happy at Spurs at the moment, although that does not stop the Merseyside club testing the waters.

While the Englishman is a tidy player, he does not really offer much of a threat in terms of goals and assists, scoring a mere two times and making a further two assists in 30 games in total over all competitions in the 2020/21 season (Transfermarkt).

Currently on £91,000-per-week as well, Rafa Benitez’s team should really be looking elsewhere for midfield targets.

Everton fans on Winks transfer update

These Blues supporters slammed the transfer update as it was shared on Twitter, with one fan even going as far as to claim that it is a ‘nightmare’:

“This nightmare has to stop. I want to wake up now.”

Credit: @GrungKjetil

“When does the pain end?….”

Credit: @andrew2003efc

“When will it end Robbie?”

Credit: @bowie_kieran

“I just plain despair.”

Credit: @Lee_Vousden

“Dear God”

Credit: @jacobenglander

“Our recruitment team need binning asap”

Credit: @ScottParker_efc

In other news, find out what transfer update has Evertonians talking here!

Ed Smith has ended months of speculation by announcing his retirement from first-class cricket

Cricinfo staff25-Nov-2008
Ed Smith in action during his brief England career © Getty Images
Ed Smith has ended months of speculation by announcing his retirement from first-class cricket.Smith, 31, who was appointed as Middlesex’s captain in 2007, missed most of last season with an ankle injury and as the summer progressed there were increasing rumours that all was not well within the dressing-room. In September, the county announced that Shaun Udal would lead the side in 2009, and thereafter it was accepted that Smith had played his last game for the county.”It’s been a real honour to captain Middlesex,” Smith said. “I’ve been very lucky to play first-class cricket for eight years at Kent and four years at Middlesex. I’d like to thank all the players, coaches and supporters who have helped me enjoy the game I love. I wish Shaun Udal and the team every success in the future.”A tall right-hander with a penchant for the drive, Smith won his three Test caps in 2003 on the strength of excellent form for Kent, hammering six hundreds and becoming the first player to pass 1000 runs. But despite a fifty in his maiden innings against South Africa, he managed only 23 in the next four innings and was dropped.In 2004 there were rumours that he had become alienated from the Kent dressing-room, and it was no surprise when he moved to Middlesex at the end of the summer. After two consistent seasons he made the natural progression to leadership when he was named captain for the 2007 season.A voracious reader and writer, he picked up a double-first in history despite devoting much of his time at Cambridge University to cricket, and opened for England Under-19s in three Tests against New Zealand in 1996.In 191 first-class matches he made 12,789 runs at 41.79, including 34 hundreds. He also made 3789 runs in one-day games at 31.31 and 573 at 22.92 in Twenty20.

Crystal Palace have been linked with a shock move for Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan as the Premier League outfit look to add further reinforcements to Patrick Vieira’s ranks.

What’s the story?

According to Football League World, the Eagles are one of three Premier League sides closely monitoring the Scotsman’s situation, with Burnley and Watford also credited with an interest.

The report claims that nothing is at a particularly advanced stage at this moment in time, but Palace are known to be in the market for extra players before the August 31 deadline, meaning a surprise transfer could be on the cards.

He’s not good enough

Palace have had a busy window so far, allowing several experienced campaigners to depart Selhurst Park on free transfers before replacing them with some exciting, young acquisitions.

However, new manager Vieira openly admitted that he wants the capital club to conclude some more business this summer as his squad is a little light in a couple of areas.

“When you look at the squad we are maybe a little bit more light on numbers, and we are working hard to improve the squad (with) the window are still open. We will try to bring players that can improve our squad.

“I think where we are maybe a little bit more short is upfront and in the midfield, I think it would be good to reinforce those positions,” revealed Vieira in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

Nevertheless, targeting a player who flopped during his time in the Premier League and has spent the last six-and-a-half years playing in the Championship as a result is surely not what the Frenchman had in mind.

The last top-flight team Bannan actually played for was Palace in the first half of the 2014/15 campaign, but after only making two starts all season, he moved to Bolton Wanderers in the second tier in January.

Since then, the diminutive box-to-box dynamo has carved out a good career for himself with Sheffield Wednesday, making 262 appearances for the south Yorkshire outfit.

Yet at 31, he’s not the ideal target for a club in the midst of a squad overhaul, who are expected to be involved in a relegation scrap to retain their status in the top-flight.

Therefore, Palace chairman Steve Parish must avoid a potential nightmare and focus his attention on other midfielder options such as Will Hughes if he’s to guide the capital club into their 10th consecutive Premier League campaign.

And, in other news…Crystal Palace suffer transfer blow in pursuit of £7m machine, Vieira will be gutted 

Kris Srikkanth, the chairman of India’s national selectors, has outlined two important targets for the team: to be the No 1 one-day team this year and the top Test team in the world by 2010. He believed India were currently the most balanced among the top

Cricinfo staff01-Jan-2009
Kris Srikkanth: “The development of a side is a process and cannot be done overnight” © Getty Images
Kris Srikkanth, the chairman of India’s national selectors, has outlined two important targets for the team – to be the No. 1 ODI team this year and top the Test rankings by 2010. He says India are currently the most balanced among the top three teams, including Australia and South Africa.”I believe India are the best-balanced side, in batting and bowling, among the top three teams,” Srikkanth told the . “But then, the development of a side is a process and cannot be done overnight. At the end of 2009, we should be the No. 1 team in the ODIs. By 2010, we should be the top team in Test cricket. This is the dream of the selection committee and the Board.”Srikkanth was optimistic about India’s chances on the upcoming tour of New Zealand in March-April, and cited the overseas record over the last three years to back his assessment. “We have been performing consistently well in all conditions. We have beaten the West Indies in the West Indies and England in England in Test cricket. But for the umpiring errors in Sydney, we could have won the series in Australia too.”We won a Test in South Africa and came close to winning the series. Our bowlers, I believe, have always done well outside India. Now our batting is complementing the bowling.”In the one-day arena in 2008, India won the CB tri-series in Australia early last year followed by bilateral series victories against Sri Lanka and England but, in between, fell in the finals of the Kitply Cup and the Asia Cup to Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively.Srikkanth said he also expected Rahul Dravid, who struggled for form last year, to play a crucial role at the No.3 slot in the Test team, especially during the away series in New Zealand.”He’s a batsman with over 10,000 runs in Test cricket,” Srikkanth said. “Dravid is also among the greatest batsmen the world has produced. If you don’t give Dravid the extra leeway, whom are you going to give it to?”We have specific plans. During the forthcoming series in New Zealand, a player like Dravid will be very crucial for us. There will be bounce and movement for the pacemen there. If India are to progress to the No. 1 ranking, it has to beat New Zealand in New Zealand. Dravid will be a key member of the line-up at the No. 3 slot.”

Fast bowler Shahadat Hossain and batsman Imrul Kayes have been left out of Bangladesh’s one-day squad for the forthcoming tri-series at home as well as the three ODIs against Zimbabwe

Cricinfo staff07-Jan-2009
Chittagong’s Rubel Hossain is the only new face in the 14-member squad © AFP
Fast bowler Shahadat Hossain and batsman Imrul Kayes have been left out of Bangladesh’s one-day squad for the forthcoming tri-series at home as well as the three ODIs against Zimbabwe. The only new face in the 14-member squad is Rubel Hossain, the right-arm fast bowler from Chittagong Division.”Rubel has performed well for the Under-19, Academy and Bangladesh A sides and been impressive in the domestic first-class level also,” Rafiqul Alam, the chief selector, said. “He has extra pace and a deceptive sling-shot action. He is an attacking bowler and comes in for Sajedul Islam who was in the Test squad and is more of a longer version bowler.”Alam explained that Shahadat was dropped due to his expensive economy rate of 6.63 in 16 ODIs in 2008 but was confident he as well as Kayes will return to the fold soon.”Shahadat is by no means out of our plans and we believe that returning to domestic cricket will be beneficial for him at this stage and I am sure he will be back in the national side soon,” Alam said.”Unfortunately Imrul Kayes had to give way as he has not managed to deliver despite getting opportunities. He will remain in frame though as he is someone we think will perform in the future.”Returning to the ODI side after a gap of three years is Enamul Haque jnr, the left-arm spinner. Enamul made a comeback to the Test squad in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka which concluded on Tuesday and picked up two wickets. Alam said the left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo – the leading wicket-taker in the National Cricket League first-class competition with 59 wickets – was also considered but the selection panel opted for Enamul’s experience.”We don’t have Abdur Razzak at the moment so we needed a specialist back up,” Alam said. “Besides Enamul’s record against Zimbabwe is very good indeed. We also thought about Suhrawadi Shuvo but couldn’t find a spot for him.”Also rewarded with a comeback is the middle-order batsman Mahmudullah, who was dropped for the South Africa tour late last year. He ended the first-class season as the second-highest run-scorer with 710 runs at 54.61.The tri-series, also featuring Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, starts on Saturday with Zimbabwe taking on the home side. Zimbabwe stay back for the three-match ODI series which begins on January 19 and ends on the 23rd.Squad: Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Raqibul Hassan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain jnr, Naeem Islam, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahbubul Alam, Nazmul Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Enamul Haque jnr

West Ham United are said to be close to signing Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma, with personal terms believed to be the ‘final details’ of the deal according to Fabrizio Romano on Twitter.

Enjoying a solid 2020/21 campaign, the 26-year-old registered five goals in 36 fixtures as he helped the Blues win the UEFA Champions League [Transfermarkt].

Now, he looks set to be on his way to East London following recent reports from Romano.

Speaking to his large Twitter audience, the Italian transfer guru reported that West Ham only have to agree the small details on personal terms with the Frenchman before a deal can be completed for Zouma to join the Hammers.

It has been suggested by Romano that a deal could even be completed on Wednesday, via Twitch.

In light of this news, no wonder loads of West Ham diehards took to Twitter to express their opinions on latest developments.

West Ham United FC fans react:

Replying to multiple different outlets, here is what some Irons supporters had to say about the situation:

“Happy days”

Credit: @_ghzst”Believe it it is fabrizio”Credit: @MythicalOli69″If fab says, then it’s a done deal. He doesn’t mess about”Credit: @AdamTuckTuck”Can’t wait to shout zoooooouma zoooooouma when he scores from the Trevor brooking stand”Credit: @Chef_Haswell”What a time to be a hammer”Credit: @JesseLarch”Please”Credit: @Reece_WHU_In other news, West Ham fans are loving a transfer update. Find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts insists Ryan Sessegnon must take his game to the next level if he is to stay at the club.

The former Fulham star has endured a mixed start to his Spurs career following a £25m move in 2019.

Sessegnon was sent on loan to German club Hoffenheim last season and has made a total of 13 first-team appearances for Spurs at first-team level.

He has played once under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, featuring in last week’s 1-0 Europa Conference League defeat to Pacos de Ferreira in Portugal.

Roberts believes that the 21-year-old too regularly takes the safe option when he is in possession of the ball but he thinks there is hope for him in the coming weeks and months.

Indeed, he sees similarities with Bale, who began his Spurs career as a left-back and was eventually moved forward into a left-wing position, where he became one of the best players in the world.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Roberts said: “He doesn’t take people on. Gareth Bale was like this when he first came.

“Sessegnon reminds me of Gareth Bale, just plays it simple, and then when Gareth Bale got moved forward like Sessegnon has, he started taking people on, scoring goals.

“Sessegnon has to go to that next level and if he doesn’t, then I can see him moving on.”

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, will find out in two weeks who he is up against in his bid for another spell in the position after nominations for the chairmanship opened on Monday

Cricinfo staff05-Jan-2009Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, will find out in two weeks who he is up against in his bid for another spell in the position after nominations for the chairmanship opened on Monday.Clarke, who took the role in 2007, is believed to be keen on standing for a second term but is likely to face opposition from those candidates who are unhappy with the ECB’s dealings with Allen Stanford. However, Clarke also has many supporters having secured the ECB’s finances with the £300 million TV deal with BSkyB for all live cricket.Candidates for the two-year position must be proposed by one and endorsed by two more from a group including the 18 first-class counties and MCC. Clarke’s current tenure ends on March 31.The ECB is facing a testing time with the current dispute between Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores top of the list. However, they also have to find a new team sponsor after Vodafone decided not to renew their deal at the end of 2009, while plans for the English Premier League (EPL) need to be finalised as the county game faces another restructuring.

Gayathri Kariyawasam, the right-arm fast bowler, has been included in Sri Lanka’s 15-member squad for the Women’s World Cup in Australia next month

Cricinfo staff11-Feb-2009Gayathri Kariyawasam, the right-arm fast bowler, has been included in Sri Lanka’s 15-member squad for the Women’s World Cup in Australia next month. Kariyawasam is the only change to the squad currently on tour in Bangladesh.The team will be led by the long-standing Shashikala Siriwardene. Sri Lanka are placed in Group A with England, Pakistan and India. Their first game is against England at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on February 7.Squad: Shashikala Siriwardene (capt), Chamari Polgampola, Dedunu Silva, Suwini de Alwis, Chamani Seneviratna (vice-capt), Eshani Kaushalya, Sripali Weerakkody, Dilani Manodara (wk), Hiruka Fernando, Rose Fernando, Chandi Wickremasinghe, Inoka Galagedara, Deepika Rasangika, Udeshika Prabodhani, Gayathri Kariyawasam

Daniel James’ summer move from Manchester United to Leeds United is done, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: James not needed at United

The Welshman may have started in the Red Devils’ 1-0 win away to Wolves two days ago, but he has now been deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.

The signings of Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo have put him further down the list of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s attacking options and Leeds have struck a deal to sign him.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]

The Latest: Leeds deal completed

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday morning, Romano confirmed that the deal was ‘done and confirmed’, with a £25m deal taking place.

He tweeted: “Daniel James deal has been completed between Leeds and Manchester United, done and confirmed. Permanent move, paperworks signed.”

James will head off on international duty for Wales but could make his debut at home to Liverpool on 12 September 12.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-15/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Can Bielsa work his magic?

Marcelo Bielsa has been a long-time admirer of James and it will be fascinating to see what he can do with the 23-year-old.

His end product could do with improving, with his electrifying pace sometimes not complemented by a clinical final ball – he set up just nine goals in 74 matches for United – but he remains a young player with a high ceiling.

Should Bielsa hand James his debut against Liverpool, he could have extra motivation as a former Manchester United player. Romano’s tweet declaring that the deal is done could be music to the ears of Leeds fans on this deadline day morning.

In other news, Leeds could reportedly make a late swoop for one player. Read more here.