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Bruno Lage’s decision to bring Hwang Hee-Chan to Wolves on a permanent basis has massively backfired, as the South Korean is one of several attackers to woefully underperform in the Old Gold’s side so far this season.

After a promising loan spell from RB Leipzig last term, which saw the striker contribute five goals in the top flight, Wolves decided to exercise their option to make his move permanent in a deal worth £14m, with that move becoming official on the 1st July after his loan spell ended.

Since he officially became a Wolves player in the summer, his form has fallen off a cliff, as he has been limited to just two starts and eight substitute appearances in the top flight, which have returned no goals and no assists.

Even with the Old Gold’s dreadful form in front of goal, which has seen them notch just six goals in the Premier League so far this season, the South Korea international has still rarely been trusted to play, which is perhaps a damning indictment of what his future looks like at the club.

Sadly, he has failed to perform on his rare opportunities, registering just three shots on target in the Premier League this season, which suggests that the club have paid close to £5m for each shot on target in the top flight so far this campaign.

Hwang’s 6.12 average rating in the Premier League also ranks him as the second-worst player in Steve Davis’ squad of those to make at least one start this season, which emphasises just how poor he has been.

With Wolves’ injury and suspension issues, which sees Raul Jimenez, Sasa Kalajdzic, Pedro Neto and now Diego Costa all likely to miss the next three games, perhaps Hwang will get more of an opportunity to show what he can from the start but in truth, he looks unlikely to be the man to solve the Old Gold’s problems going forward.

Sadly, it seems as if the decision to sign him permanently will have to go down as another big mistake by Lage.

Sheffield Wednesday correspondent Dom Howson has made a claim on Darren Moore’s position in charge at Hillsborough.

The Lowdown: Plymouth defeat

The Owls were involved in an entertaining clash with league leaders Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday but left the South West empty-handed following Sam Cosgrove’s injury-time winner.

Moore’s decision to bring off Barry Bannan and Josh Windass with 20 minutes remaining puzzled some, with Wednesday looking the most likely winners at Home Park prior to those changes.

The loss leaves Wednesday four points off the automatic places, and Howson has now given his thoughts on Moore’s future due to the expectation at the club this season.

The Latest: Howson’s comments

Howson was asked by one Owls supporter in a Q&A for Yorkshire Live if he thinks there is any pressure regarding Moore’s position at the club.

The Wednesday correspondent replied, believing there should be ‘no pressure on Moore right now’.

“As far as I’m concerned, there should be no pressure on Moore right now. Wednesday are only a couple of wins off first position. The fixture list has been pretty brutal but Wednesday remain in touching distance of Ipswich and Plymouth.

“I liked a lot of what I saw at Plymouth. Some of their attacking play was of the highest order. It is about being more clinical in both boxes. They have got to cut out the defensive errors that keep costing them against the top teams.”

The Verdict: Spot on

As Howson mentions, the Owls are just five points off the top spot and have enjoyed a relatively strong start to the season. They are averaging just shy of two points per game, and should that form continue after 46 fixtures, you’d like to think they will be in the top two.

Howson added that Moore needs to learn from his tactical mistake at Plymouth, and a positive performance against Cheltenham on Saturday may cool talk from a small percentage of fans calling for a change.

Huddersfield Town are now looking at a potential move for Northampton Town manager Jon Brady.

The Lowdown: Brady profiled

Brady has been with Northampton since 2016 where he initially worked with the club’s youth side. The 47-year-old progressed to manager of the U18s in 2017 and held that role for just under four years.

The 4-2-3-1 style boss was appointed as first-team manager in February 2021 and has won 36 of his 86 games in charge since, with The Cobblers currently third in League Two.

The Latest: Huddersfield interest

According to Football League World, Brady is now being considered by Huddersfield officials.

The Aussie’s impressive start to the season appears to have caught the eye of the Terriers, who are still on the search for Danny Schofield’s permanent successor.

The Verdict: Time is ticking…

Parting ways with Schofield days before the international break appeared to be good timing by Huddersfield.

However, with time ticking and Brady the latest name on a seemingly long list of options, it appears as if there is every chance the club will need to rely on Narcis Pelach and Paul Harsley to remain in temporary charge for the trip to Reading next weekend.

Hopefully, the search for a new manager can gather pace over the coming days, with a surprise move for Brady potentially on the cards.

West Ham United are interested in signing Sao Paolo defender Luizao, according to IG Esporte (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rising star

A product of the academy at his hometown club, Luizao has spent his entire fledgling career at Sao Paolo until this point.

The 20-year-old central defender has made 12 first-team outings for the Brazilian outfit, however, has been allowed to enter the final 12 months of a contract.

Now, following reported interest from Premier League rivals Fulham, West Ham are seemingly paying close attention to Luizao…

The latest: Hammers interested

As per IG Esporte, translated by SW, the east Londoners are keen on bringing the starlet to England.

It’s claimed that the Brazilian – who has’t reached an agreement over a new deal – has ‘been in the crosshairs’ of the Irons and Fulham in recent days, with Porto and Benfica also named as potential suitors.

The report states that despite being able to sign a pre-contract agreement now, Luizao does ‘not think about performing such a move’ and instead will wait for January to complete a switch if a fee cannot be agreed upon.

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The verdict: One to watch

While it’s nigh-on impossible to obtain a judgement based on such a small sample size, similar to the deal that brought Frederik Alves to the London Stadium, this is simply another case of GSB looking to get the next generation of stars in situ early.

Standing at 6 foot 1, Luizao certainly has the physical attributes to succeed at the top level as a central defender and an impressive 6.68 SofaScore rating whilst winning 2.5 duels, making 3.8 clearances and completing 94 per cent of all passes inside his own half would suggest strong defensive acumen.

In fact, the Irons’ own academy graduate, Ben Johnson, has only managed to win 2.0 duels on average per league outing so far this term.

Valued at £450,000 (Transfermarkt), snapping up the towering Brazilian for next to nothing would represent a no-risk option for West Ham that could prove to be a masterstroke in the long run.

Newcastle United are eyeing up a big-money move for Everton attacker Anthony Gordon this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour that has emerged.

The Lowdown: Solid start to the season

The Magpies picked up a respectable 0-0 draw away to Brighton on Saturday afternoon, backing up their opening-day victory at home to Nottingham Forest.

It has been a perfectly reasonable start to the campaign for Eddie Howe’s men, but that’s not to say that more transfer business won’t be conducted in the coming weeks.

A new update suggests that their attack could be bolstered by the signing of a Premier League forward.

The Latest: Newcastle keen on Gordon

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are ‘lining up a new move’ for Gordon this summer, although only an offer of ‘£40million-plus’ would make Everton consider selling.

Nonetheless, they have ‘opened talks’ on a new deal with the winger.

It is stated that a £35million bid was turned down last month, with Howe clearly seeing the Englishman as a key summer target.

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The Verdict: Exciting target

Everton may have flirted with relegation last season, but Gordon was a rare bright spark, with the 21-year-old scoring four league goals and registering two assists.

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Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has described the youngster as a ‘fearless’ player and he possesses the ability to add an extra dimension to the Magpies’ attack.

With Allan Saint-Maximin potentially moving on, Gordon would be a strong replacement, coming in a long-term acquisition with a high ceiling.

Wolves have a strong Portuguese presence in their ranks at the moment, including numerous players and current coaching staff.

This is partly down to super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has had a significant connection to the Midlands club for a number of years.

Mendes has found himself rather preoccupied at the moment in having to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo’s current situation, as the 37-year-old is reportedly trying to find a way out of his current contract with Manchester United.

Focusing back on Wolves, while the agent tries to work out a solution for Ronaldo, the remaining weeks of the current transfer window could give the Old Gold and Bruno Lage the chance to bring in someone who could be their own version of the legendary Portuguese striker.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Wolves are one of the clubs interested in signing Inter Milan and former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.

With 681 club appearances to his name for numerous clubs across Europe, the 36-year-old has racked up a total of 308 goals and 141 assists, in addition to winning several trophies, including two Premier League titles.

This similarly mirrors the longevity and clear goalscoring talent that Ronaldo has shown throughout his long and illustrious career. It also backs up why the United star is currently included on a list of similar players to Dzeko according to Football Transfers.

With both players finding success in England, and in Manchester specifically, this further highlights the similarities between the two attackers.

It also suggests that, if Dzeko were to make a return to the Premier League with Wolves this summer, it may not take him too long to get back to the rhythm and feel of the English top flight once again.

Hailed as a “world-class” player by Steve McClaren, who managed him at Wolfsburg, the former City star could be just what Lage needs. Not only did Wolves score just 38 league goals last season, they’ll also be without Fabio Silva for the 2022/23 season while he’s on loan with Anderlecht, while also having Raul Jimenez ruled out for eight weeks through injury.

If the opportunity to strike a deal with Inter to sign the Bosnian arises before the summer transfer window closes, the Molineux club should be at the front of the queue to get it done.

AND in other news: Steve Madeley drops behind-scenes transfer claim that’ll have Wolves supporters fuming

According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa are now open to selling Carney Chukwuemeka for £20m this summer.

The Lowdown: Chukwuemeka in demand

Having been given his senior debut by Dean Smith towards the end of the 2020/21 campaign, the 18-year-old went on to make 12 first-team appearances last term, all in the Premier League.

Although his exposure to senior football remains minimal, the midfielder has very much been a man in demand recently, according to a litany of transfer reports. In recent days, Barcelona, Manchester United and Newcastle have all been linked with the teenager.

Chukwuemeka has made an impression on the pitch during the summer, scoring in the final as England triumphed in the European Under-19 Championship recently and being named in the team of the tournament.

The Latest: Villa open to Chukwuemeka sale

Romano took to Twitter on Saturday night to make a significant claim about Villa’s stance on Chukwuemeka.

Steven Gerrard’s side could be open to parting ways with the young midfielder, putting a £20m price tag on his head with less than 12 months remaining on his current contract at Villa Park.

He notified his followers: “Aston Villa are now open to selling Carney Chukwuemeka – they have set an asking price around £20m for the player who’s in the last year of his contract. Barcelona lead the chase ahead of a host of European elite clubs, as revealed earlier this week.”

The Verdict: Think carefully

On surface level, it could make perfect sense for Villa to accept offers of £20m or more for Chukwuemeka, given how little senior football he has played and his comparatively meagre Transfermarkt valuation of just £5.4m.

However, Johan Lange and co must also consider the sheer potential that they could jettison if they sanction the 18-year-old’s sale. His aforementioned underage exploits hint at a player who is in flying form, while Gerrard himself has backed him to become “a big player for Aston Villa”.

Also, with doubts over the futures of Morgan Sanson and Douglas Luiz at Villa Park, the club must be careful not to leave themselves threadbare in the middle of the pitch by also allowing Chukwuemeka to depart. For now, he is player very much worth keeping around, and there is still ample time to get his contract situation sorted.

Daily Mail North-East football correspondent Craig Hope has provided an update on the future of three Newcastle United outcasts. 

The lowdown: Fresh faces

Following the appointment of Eddie Howe in November 2021, the new era at St James’ Park truly got underway under ownership group PIF in the winter transfer window as a new-look squad began to take shape.

Howe replaced Steve Bruce in the North East hot seat and the Magpies immediately saw an upturn in performances, underpinned by a tighter backline that was further bolstered by January arrivals Dan Burn, Matt Targett and Kieran Trippier.

Albeit the cornerstone of Newcastle’s resurgence was their improved defensive record, mid-season recruits Bruno Guimaraes and Chris Wood also added much-needed potency to the Toon attack and subsequently led to fewer opportunities for many squad players already in situ…

The latest: ‘Strong interest’

Taking to Twitter, Hope has shed some light on the situation surrounding three of those players who could potentially be considering their long-term futures this summer.

He stated: “Newcastle talking to Championship clubs re outgoings. Dwight Gayle has strong interest from Watford & Birmingham. Ciaran Clark Birmingham & Sheffield United. Jeff Hendrick Reading. #nufc”

Only signed as a free agent on a four-year deal in 2020, 74-cap Republic of Ireland international Hendrick – who was branded ‘tenacious’ by journalist Ciaran Kelly upon arriving at the club – has only made 27 appearances for the club since arriving from Burnley.

The verdict: Go, go, go

Having only made a combined 27 outings last season, none of the aforementioned trio would be a significant loss to the Newcastle ranks at this time and there is little chance of anyone standing in the way of these suggested departures.

Instead, saving £129,000 worth of outgoing wages per week (Salary Sport) and perhaps recouping funds from sales of the surplus to requirements three, would free up room on the books and add to the coffers for Howe and Dan Ashworth to make further signings.

Still valued at £4.5million and under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), the club will be particularly keen to receive a healthy sum for Hendrick whether it be from the mooted Reading interest or elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Gayle and Clark especially should leave with the blessings of all having served the club with distinction at various spells during their respective six-year stints in the North East.

Liverpool were involved in one of football’s biggest deals some years ago when they sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in a mega-money deal worth £142m.

After joining from Inter Milan back in 2013 for £8.5m, the Brazilian went on to make 201 appearances for the Reds across all competitions.

In those appearances, the playmaker scored 54 goals and delivered 45 assists before making his move to Spain.

Now that Liverpool have successfully moved on from their former hero by winning the Premier League and Champions League after his exit, it seems as though Jurgen Klopp could have the chance to secure what could be the Merseyside club’s next Coutinho.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Reds could look to make a move for Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio.

With 235 appearances for the Spanish club, the 26-year-old has scored 49 goals and delivered 24 assists in the process.

Despite making 42 appearances for Carlo Ancelotti’s side across all competitions this season, the Spaniard only started 23 of them, suggesting that he’s more of a rotation player than anything else.

In those appearances, he still managed to find the back of the net 12 times, highlighting his attacking talent.

Labelled as a “magical” player by Casemiro, Asensio is currently picking up a weekly wage of £117k-per-week and is also as one of the players of a similar vein to Coutinho according to FB Ref.

To highlight the similarities between the two players, they both ended their recent domestic seasons with an average of over two shots per game and at least one key pass per game. With that in mind, it would appear that the attacking midfielders are both capable of creating and scoring goals in pretty equal measure.

In terms of a potential move to Anfield this summer, the prospect of potentially getting more regular minutes whilst playing in the Premier League under a manager like Klopp could be a very tempting one for the Spain international.

Combine that with current Liverpool winger Sadio Mane looking to leave the club this summer, his potential exit could pave the way for a player like Asensio to work his way into the first team.

Should an opportunity to strike a deal with the Spanish club to sign the 26-year-old arise, Liverpool should definitely explore the option to see if he can be an extra goal threat for them at Anfield.

In other news: Klopp could finally axe £125k-p/w Liverpool flop by signing “unbelievable” £60m star

Sunderland are reportedly now keen on signing Nathan Broadhead again for next season.

The Lowdown: ‘Sensational’ season

Broadhead enjoyed a ‘sensational’ season at the Stadium of Light, according to journalist and Black Cats supporter Josh Bunting.

The striker, who was on loan from Everton, scored 13 goals in 27 matches in total over all competitions for Alex Neil’s side, helping them win promotion to the Championship and subsequently earning him a call-up to the Wales national team.

The Latest: Sunderland return for Broadhead?

As per Liverpool World, Sunderland are now ‘keen’ on bringing Broadhead back next term, but they will face competition from Wigan Athletic, who were also promoted to the Championship this year.

However, the Latics are thought to be concerned about his injury record, which saw him miss 18 matches for the Wearside club in the most recent campaign.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Taking Broadhead back to the Stadium of Light, even if it is only on loan again, is surely a no-brainer for Sunderland given his performances and goal record in 2021/22.

Ross Stewart is currently the only recognised senior striker in Neil’s squad at the moment, and given the step up from League One, he will need some extra support up top.

Everton manager Frank Lampard already has a plethora of forward options at his disposal, so Broadhead may be allowed to go out on loan again in order to further his development.

In other news, find out what latest transfer link has left this Sunderland journalist buzzing!