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Burnley chiefs have allegedly set their sights on a trophy-winning boss as news from a Football Insider source emerges on the club’s manager hunt.

The Lowdown: Dyche era ends…

After nearly ten years with the Lancashire side, club legend and long-serving boss Sean Dyche was unceremoniously sacked by Burnley – much to the bemusement of outsiders.

Dyche previously lead the Clarets to a plethora of successive seasons in England’s top flight, avoiding the Championship drop on an arguable shoe-string budget when compared to some of the Premier League’s elite.

The 50-year-old departs Burnley amid their fierce battle with fellow relegation-strugglers Everton as they tussle with the Toffees and aim to maintain their first tier status.

Frank Lampard’s men currently stand a point above in 17th with one game in hand as Burnley hierarchy also work on appointing Dyche’s heir behind-the-scenes.

The Latest: ‘Burnley source’ shares Carvalhal news…

According to a ‘Burnley source’, speaking to Football Insider, former Swansea City boss and current SC Braga coach Carlos Carvalhal is a contender to become their new manager.

The 56-year-old is apparently being eyed ‘within the corridors of power’ at Turf Moor as club chiefs begin to hold a real interest in his possible appointment.

The Verdict: Ideal candidate?

While it is difficult to truly replace Dyche given his iconic status and marvellous job with the club before leaving, we believe Burnley officials could do far worse than Carvalhal.

As shared by journalist Miguel Delaney of The Independent, his ‘stunning’ tactics have taken Portugal by storm in recent seasons.

Carvalhal has received glowing endorsements from big name boss Jose Mourinho in past years, who called his compatriot ‘the manager of the season’ back in 2018.

He has also won trophies – clinching the Taça de Portugal trophy with Braga last season.

The Europa League quarter-finalist has also been called an ‘excellent manager’ by journalist Alex Goncalves, who is the founder of Portuguese football news website TugaScout.

Carvalhal, going by all of these facts, certainly stands out as a credible candidate.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch could be about to reshuffle the backroom staff at Elland Road, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. 

The lowdown: Settling in

The 48-year-old was appointed as the Whites’ boss following the departure of fan favourite Marcelo Bielsa in February and has set about attempting to retain the Yorkshire club’s Premier League status.

Currently just two points clear of the drop zone having played one game more than Everton, things remain precarious for Leeds heading into the final weeks of the 2021/22 campaign.

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Despite the troubling situation, Marsch could already be looking toward summer changes at Thorp Arch…

The latest: Friends reunited…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that the American could have one eye on a reunion with current Manchester United assistant manager Chris Armas.

The journalist outlined: “It would be a much better fit for him because, at the moment, it sounds like there’s almost zero respect at Manchester United.

“He needs to work with people that understand what he’s good at and give him the respect that he clearly deserves in his field of work.

“Jesse Marsch is somebody that knows him well, he’s definitely contemplating how his backroom team shapes up for next season and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he turned up at Elland Road.”

The verdict: Smart move

Should Marsch stay in situ as expected, regardless of Leeds’ top-flight status, bringing his former assistant from their work together in Major League Soccer for Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls would make plenty of sense.

As Old Trafford prepares for the arrival of Erik ten Hag, Armas appears almost certain to move on, and the Elland Road hierarchy should be primed to bring the 49-year-old New York-born coach to Yorkshire.

Regardless of the Whites’ fate this term, the board backed Marsch with a deal until June 2025 and therefore should be prepared to do so once again over the summer with coaching and player additions.

In other news, Phil Hay makes exciting triple transfer claim. Find out more here!

Sunderland have received a notable injury setback ahead of Saturday’s pivotal League One final day clash with Morecambe…

What’s the word?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Black Cats manager Alex Neil revealed that the injury to defender Carl Winchester may be worse than first feared, with the 29-year-old set for a longer stint on the treatment table.

Asked about the fitness of the Northern Irishman – who was forced off early in the 5-1 win over Cambridge last week – the former Preston North End boss said: “It’s not particularly good news on that one, it’s certainly looking like weeks rather than days”.

The 40-year-old did reveal that young Denis Cirkin is “not far away” from a return to action, although it remains to be seen if the youngster will be fit in time for this weekend’s trip to Lancashire.

Huge blow for Sunderland

This latest news will surely come as a real blow to all concerned, with the versatile Winchester having been a huge asset for the Black Cats so far this season, with the ex-Forest Green man having made 45 appearances in all competitions thus far.

His absence comes at precisely the wrong time for the promotion-chasing outfit, with it all still to play for heading into the final day of the League One campaign. The Stadium of Light club are still not certain of a place in the top six, despite being fifth in the table at present.

Even if they can secure their place in those much-coveted spots by the close of play on Saturday – with a win guaranteeing them a play-off berth – not having the Belfast-born ace in tow for those post-season games could also prove costly, with the Sunderland fanbase desperate to avoid a fifth successive campaign in the third tier.

Prior to his recent injury, the former Cheltenham Town man had been a reliable presence for the club, averaging a solid 6.80 Sofascore average match rating in the league, while also registering 1.4 clearances, two tackles and one interception per game.

Typically lining up in a right-back role, the £3.4k-per-week Winchester may have only chipped in with three goals and one assist so far this term, although has already become something of a “cult hero” due to his committed approach, according to journalist James Copley.

Former Sunderland boss Lee Johnson – who signed him on a free transfer in January 2021 – also dubbed him a “really good piece of business”, with his successor surely praying that the 29-year-old can be involved again in the coming weeks, should all go to plan against the relegation-threatened Shrimps.

AND in other news, Speakman howler: Sunderland may now be on the verge of repeating brutal Hugill disasterclass…

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa are among a number of clubs interested in signing Inter Milan centre-back Stefan de Vrij. 

The lowdown: Elite performer

Signed as a free agent from Serie A outfit Lazio in 2018 (Sky Sports), the Dutchman has been a mainstay for Inter ever since arriving at the San Siro.

The 30-year-old has amassed 161 appearances for the Nerazzurri and has taken his career total to 433 senior domestic outings in the process.

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In that time, the former Feyenoord defender has lifted the Serie A title in 2020/21 and the Italian Super Cup twice.

The latest: Villa interested in De Vrij

As per a Football Insider recruitment source, the trio of Aston Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle are all keen on bringing De Vrij to the Premier League.

The report claims that the future of the 55-cap Netherlands ace is ‘up in the air’, with his Inter contract expiring in 2023 (Transfermarkt).

It is also stated that the man who is ‘like Bonucci’, in the words of Antonio Conte, could be available for just £15m – a significant drop from his previous £40m asking price.

The verdict: No brainer

At the mooted price, this is a deal that Villa chief executive Christian Purslow simply must pursue in order to furnish Steven Gerrard with the reinforcements he needs in the Midlands.

Villa currently have Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Calum Chambers and Kortney Hause making up the centre-back options, and none of those have covered themselves in glory this season, posting WhoScored ratings of 6.76 or lower.

De Vrij has helped Inter to keep five clean sheets this term, winning 61% of his duels, making one interception and completing 92% of his passes per game in Serie A (Sofascore), earning an overall performance rating of 6.87.

Coupled with his vast experience for both club and country, these figures make the Dutchman a genuine contender to shore up what has been at times a leaky Aston Villa defence if Gerrard can get him on board.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano drops big transfer news regarding ‘outstanding’ Aston Villa starlet. Find out more here!

Sunderland ace Jack Clarke will reportedly sign a new contract with parent club Tottenham Hotspur this summer before heading back out on another loan ahead of the start of next season, according to Lilywhites insider John Wenham.

The Lowdown: An instant impact

The 21-year-old first made the move to the Black Cats on loan from the Premier League outfit back in the January transfer window, where he has made 19 appearances since arriving at the Stadium of Light, scoring one goal and providing three assists during that time, as per Transfermarkt.

The winger played the full two sets of 90 minutes in Sunderland’s League One play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday where they secured a 2-1 aggregate victory, providing the winning assist to Patrick Roberts.

The Latest: Another loan move on the cards

When speaking during an interview about Clarke’s future at Spurs, Wenham admitted that he doubts any club looking to take him on a permanent basis will meet Tottenham’s asking price, making another loan spell the most sensible available option.

He told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild: “So Clarke is actually out of contract in the summer of 2023.

“So I think what will happen is he will return to us and sign a new one-year extension and he will go out on loan again.

“Maybe this time it will be a Championship club, it would be good to see him move a step higher.

“At this point, no one is going to pay anywhere near what we paid for him so another loan could also boost his value.

“I think that’s the aim at this point. I also don’t think Sunderland will be able to afford him outright but he could rejoin them next season if they go up.”

The Verdict: Make it happen

There’s absolutely no doubt that the Black Cats hierarchy will want to do everything within their power to try and retain the services of the youngster next season and beyond if they are able to afford going back in for another move.

The £25k-per-week starlet has proven to be a real threat in the final third for the Wearsiders this term, where he has averaged 1.6 dribbles, 1.6 key passes, and 1.5 shots per game, via WhoScored, displaying just how much of a huge part he played in getting Alex Neil’s squad into the top-six.

The Scotsman is clearly a huge fan of Clarke too, having dubbed him a “quality” player, and if Sunderland do manage to secure promotion to the Championship, this could be a huge factor when it comes down to the player deciding whether he wants to return to the club again next year.

In other news… a Sky Sports pundit has sent Sunderland a warning ahead of their upcoming play-off final.

Everton could reportedly now sell Dele Alli alongside both Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the summer.

The Lowdown: Mass exodus?

Following the Merseyside club’s disappointing season, in which they are still battling relegation from the Premier League after Sunday’s disappointing result, there could well be a mass exodus at Goodison Park this summer.

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Both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison have been recently linked with moves away, and others could follow them out of the door if offers came in.

The Latest: Alli update

As per The Sun, the Toffees could look to sell Alli as well, if they are offered anything up to £20m for the former Tottenham Hotspur ace.

However, they would have to pay 25% of any fee received back to Spurs, and they would also receive a small bonus if he plays ten times, and a further £10m for 20 appearances.

The Verdict: Sell

It just has not worked out for Alli with the Blues, where he has managed no goals or assists in his nine appearances in the top flight, and has been limited to cameos off of the bench (Transfermarkt).

Described as a ‘fantastic talent’ by former Lilywhites manager Harry Redknapp back in March, the 26-year-old seems to have fallen out of love for football in truth, as he has even been accused of ‘clubbing too much’ instead.

Nonetheless, Frank Lampard does not seem to fancy him, and so the summer would present an ideal opportunity to part ways early, before the situation gets any worse.

In other news, find out what ‘nonsensical’ EFC claim has now been made here!

SportBILD journalist Christian Falk has dropped a significant claim involving Liverpool forward Sadio Mane. 

The lowdown: Interest forthcoming

Recently, the 30-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich as the German giants potentially begin to prepare for life after Robert Lewandowski.

In the final 14 months of a contract at Anfield (Transfermarkt), Mane could be about to move on at the end of yet another stellar season for the Senegalese superstar.

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The prospects of a departure appear to have been enhanced by the latest from one reputable source…

The latest: ‘Strong interest’

Taking to Twitter, Falk, the Head of Football at German outlet SportBILD, delivered an update on the 86-cap ace’s current situation, proclaiming ‘strong interest’ from France.

He said: “TRUE – If Sadio Mané will leave LFC the big favourite for a Transfer is PSG.

“The strong interest and high salary at Paris are the reason why he hesitates to sign a new contract at Liverpool.”

The verdict: No deal

Despite suffering an apparent dip in form during the 2020/21 campaign, Mane has proven any doubters wrong once more this term with 27 direct goal contributions in 49 appearances across all competitions.

Unsurprisingly, those exploits led Jurgen Klopp to hail his swashbuckling attacker as ‘absolutely insane’ following a 6-0 win over Leeds United in February.

Albeit the £72million valued star isn’t getting any younger, this season’s goal return is proof that the Senegalese sensation is more than worthy of an extended stay at Anfield and therefore interest from Paris Saint-Germain or indeed Bayern Munich should be rebuffed.

In other news: BBC man reacts to ‘obscene’ news emerging from Liverpool, read more here

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has provided a fresh update regarding Everton midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin. 

The lowdown: Injury woes

Signed for £25million from Bundesliga side Mainz in 2019 (BBC), Gbamin missed 32 matches with a hamstring issue and 45 games following a ruptured Achilles tendon in his first season on Merseyside.

Having returned to fitness, the injury-plagued 26-year-old then suffered knee ligament damage in 2020/21 and has only managed eight total appearances for the Blues.

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In January ,the Ivory Coast international joined CSKA Moscow on loan until the end of the season, and his next step has now become apparent.

The latest: Romano provides an update

Taking to Twitter, Italian journalist Romano confirmed that the 12-cap ace is set to return to Goodison Park.

He explained: “Official. Jean-Philippe Gbamin will leave CSKA Moscow in the coming days and he’s now gonna return to Everton. EFC Loan deal has now expired and so Gbamin will be back at the end of current month.”

It is not yet clear if he will part of Frank Lampard’s plans next season, but we now know CSKA will not be turning the temporary move into a permanent one.

The verdict: Time to sell

Unfortunately, the defensive midfielder who was described as possessing ‘fantastic quality’ by Carlo Ancelotti has endured a torrid time since becoming a Toffee and it may be the best move for all parties to sanction a sale this summer.

Whilst on loan, Gbamin scored once and provided two assists in ten appearances before the abrupt end to the Russian Premier Liga, earning an impressive 6.99 Sofascore rating whilst winning 5.7 duels, making 1.6 tackles and taking 2.0 shots per game on average.

Now seemingly back up and running, it should be possible to find permanent suitors for the man valued at £9million and under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt).

Furthermore, Everton Director of Football Kevin Thelwell should aim to recoup as much of the expenditure as possible as Lampard aims to rebuild a side now confirmed as a Premier League outfit for next term after beating the drop.

In other news, Everton could be set to lose ‘unbelievable’ ace this summer, find out who here

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Luka Ivanusec to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Croatian media outlet Germanijak, who claim that Victor Orta has now restarted his pursuit of the GNK Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder ahead of Leeds’ 2022/23 campaign.

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The report goes on to state that the Whites were believed to have agreed a €15m (£12.5m) deal for in the January window, only for the 23-year-old and his representatives to back out as a result of the Whites’ precarious position in the Premier League table at the time.

Imagine him & Aaronson

With Victor Orta having recently sealed the £25m signing of Red Bull Salzburg starlet Brenden Aaronson, the prospect of the Spaniard adding yet another extremely impressive addition to Jesse Marsch’s attacking options in the shape of Ivanusec is sure to be one that will excite the Elland Road faithful.

Indeed, despite his season being hampered by a groin injury, the £11.25m-rated talent still managed to catch the eye over his 27 1.HNL appearances, scoring three goals, registering five assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots, making 1.4 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £6k-per-week attacker – who can also comfortably operate in central midfield and on either flank – average a SofaScore match rating of 7.09, with the 23-year-old playing a key role in Dinamo’s title-winning campaign.

The player who Sacha Pisani dubbed “exquisite” also impressed in European competition, scoring one goal and providing two assists over seven appearances in Champions League qualification, as well as bagging one goal and one assist over six Europa League outings.

As such, it is clear to see that the signing of Ivanusec – especially for a fee of around £12.5m – would be a fantastic piece of business for Orta to get over the line this summer, with the Croatia international undoubtedly possessing the potential to form a deadly partnership with Aaronson in Marsch’s new-look Leeds midfield.

AND in other news: Orta can unearth next Raphinha as Leeds now eye “spectacular” £12.5m-rated “marvel”

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Romelu Lukaku to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Calciomercato journalist Fabio Bergomi, who revealed in a recent interview that Antonio Conte submitted an offer to Chelsea regarding a move the centre-forward, however, the 29-year-old rejected the offer of a switch to Tottenham in favour of attempting to secure a return to Inter Milan.

The journalist went on to state that the Serie A side are looking to pay around €80m-€90m (£68m-£77m) for the Belgium international, a figure that it is likely Fabio Paratici would have also submitted to Thomas Tuchel’s side in Conte’s pursuit of the striker.

Regarding Lukaku’s future, Bergomi said: “I won’t be able to say everything because I can’t, but there is total convergence on Lukaku. The news has been silenced, he only wants Inter, he doesn’t want any other solution. I give you a total gem: he also rejected Conte’s Tottenham.

“He wants the Nerazzurri because he would be the leader. The formula that I learned today is that of a very high onerous loan, Chelsea want at least a €20m [loan with an option to buy]. Inter want to take him around €80m-€90m, paying €20m and postponing the rest over the years.”

“Huge impact”

While it would appear as if Lukaku is very firmly in favour of a switch to the San Siro ahead of one to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, considering Inter’s well documented financial difficulties, it would appear as if there is still a chance of Conte being able to convince his former pupil of a reunion in north London.

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And, while it is true that, following his £97.5m move to Chelsea last year, the Belgian forward has not exactly set the world alight since his return to the Premier League, when taking into account the “huge impact” – in the words of Tuchel – he had upon linking up with Conte at Inter, if there is any coach who knows how to get the best out of Lukaku it is undoubtedly the 52-year-old.

Indeed, over his 95 appearances for the Italian manager, the £350k-per-week hitman scored a whopping 64 goals and registered an impressive 17 assists – averaging a direct goal involvement every 96 minutes of football played during his two-year stint in Italy.

These returns saw the player who Andy Brassell dubbed “unreal” and Siavoush Fallah labelled a “monster” play a crucial role in Inter winning the Scudetto in 2020/21, with Lukaku’s 24 goals, 11 assists and 10 big chances created over 36 Serie A outings seeing him average a SofaScore match rating of 7.32 – ranking him as the Nerazzurri’s best player in their title-winning campaign.

As such, should his proposed move back to Inter fall through this summer, it would seem extremely advisable for Conte to do everything he can to convince the 29-year-old of a switch to Tottenham, as the prospect of Lukaku refining this level of form alongside the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski in the Spurs attack is certainly an extremely mouthwatering one.

AND in other news: Paratici now closing in on the “heir to Jan Vertonghen”, it’d be a huge coup for Spurs