All posts by z3u9t.icu

While Everton have endured a turbulent few months with off-the-field issues resulting in a 10-point deduction, manager Sean Dyche has worked miracles this season with the Toffees still in a good position to maintain their Premier League status.

The club currently occupy 18th place, just a single point behind Luton Town. However, if they hadn't received their punishment for their FFP breach, the Toffees would be sitting in 12th and comfortably clear of the drop zone.

With the current financial problems going on behind the scenes at Goodison Park, it's allowed Dyche to work closely with his players and give more frequent first-team opportunities to some of the younger members of the Everton squad.

Lewis Dobbin, Youssef Chermiti and Nathan Patterson have all been beneficiaries this season, with the trio gaining valuable Premier League minutes so far this campaign.

However, Jarrad Branthwaite has been the star for Everton so far this season, starting in 20 out of the 23 Premier League outings for Dyche's side, with his tally of appearances so far this campaign already surpassing that of the 2021/22 season.

The fee Everton paid for Jarrad Branthwaite

Remarakbly, Branthwaite joined Everton for a fee in the region of £1m back in 2020 from Carlisle United. However, he joined the club aged 17 – spending time out on loan and in the U23s before making an impact at Goodison.

The central defender joined Blackburn Rovers on loan for the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, making ten appearances at Ewood Park before a European loan spell that fast-tracked his first-team career.

The 6 foot 4 central defender joined PSV Eindhoven on loan for the entire 2022/23 campaign – a loan move that would allow the English youngster to flourish. Branthwaite made 36 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch giants, scoring four times in a season that would catapult him straight into Everton's first-team setup.

During his stint in the Netherlands, then PSV boss Ruud van Nistelrooy claimed that Branthwaite was "a very complete defender" and "great talent", with the youngster continuing his great form in the North-West of England throughout this campaign.

Jarrad Branthwaite's current market value

Since his first Premier League start of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers back in August, the 21-year-old has started 20 league games in a row – highlighting his importance to the Toffees so far this season.

The defender, who earns £35k-per-week as per FBref, has been brilliant defensively this season, averaging two tackles per game and 1.6 interceptions per 90 – with the latter being the highest of anyone within the Everton squad.

His recent good form has sparked interest in the England U21 international, with clubs such as Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid admirers of the centre-back. However, any deal for the former Carlisle man would reportedly cost any of the interested parties at least £50m.

Not only does the £50m market value reflect a brilliant deal orchestrated by the Everton board in a period of poor dealings in the transfer market, but also a testament to the faith that Dyche has put in the "absolute monster" – as hailed by football scout Jacek Kulig. This is a move they truly struck gold with.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou made it clear that he required fresh faces across the park this month after an excellent start to life in north London was inhibited by a lack of depth.

Still, Tottenham are currently fifth-placed in the Premier League and are only three points behind Arsenal and Aston Villa in the top four, but injuries to numerous key players had laid waste to a stunning start to the season that placed the club in pole position after ten fixtures.

Signing a central defender was Postecoglou's priority heading into the winter market and the £27m capture of Genoa's Radu Dragusin has provided the perfect addition to a formidable starting axis of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

Versatile forward Timo Werner has also been brought in on a loan deal (with a buy option for around £15m at the end of the season), but with Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr both competing at the Africa Cup of Nations right now, a centre-midfielder is still coveted – and don't bet against a last-gasp swoop.

Spurs eyeing late swoop for midfielder

Back in August, Tottenham were rejected on deadline day after presenting Chelsea with a £40m offer for Conor Gallagher, with Postecoglou looking to bulk out his outfit with high-class talent.

Gallagher indeed stayed put and has since bloomed into one of the Blues' most important players, but he's out of contract in 2025 and Spurs have been fighting for his signature all month, with Football Insider now revealing that a stunning last-gasp bid is being mounted.

That said, the report stresses that Chelsea have sought to dissuade any efforts from their London rivals by placing a staggering £80m price tag on the player.

Why Tottenham are interested in Conor Gallagher

Tottenham have held an interest in Kalvin Phillips this month but were unwilling to pay Manchester City's £6m loan fee, and the England international has now completed a short-term move to West Ham United.

With this in mind, the path is now clear for Tottenham to move for Gallagher with their alternative target headed elsewhere, and Postecoglou will be desperate to secure his services.

This season, as per Sofascore, Gallagher has completed 20 appearances in the Premier League and supplied four assists, completing 91% of his passes, succeeding with 77% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 1.4 key passes and interceptions, 2.7 tackles and 6.9 ball recoveries per fixture, leading to being praised as a “monster” midfielder by one analyst.

A rounded, robust and technically sublime player, the 23-year-old ranks among the top 20% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 21% for progressive carries, the top 11% for touches in the attacking box, the top 18% for tackles and the top 4% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

And such performances throughout his Premier League career have not gone unnoticed, with The Athletic's Mike Stavrou detailing the tenacious approach that makes him a manager's dream – ever impactful, always seeking to make an impression.

The journalist said: "Conor Gallagher was absolutely relentless with his pressing and energy tonight. Some player Chelsea have got."

#

Player

Club

1.

Rodrigo Bentancur

Tottenham Hotspur

2.

Lucas Paqueta

West Ham United

3.

Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa

4.

Tomas Soucek

West Ham United

5.

Joao Palhinha

Fulham

Source: Football Transfers

The table above might appear somewhat confusing at a glance, with Lucas Paqueta and Joao Palhinha almost diametrically opposed as central midfielders.

But what it does is illuminate Gallagher's multi-functionality and ability to perform various roles to great effect in the Chelsea engine room. The England international has been crisp and creative with his passing this season, sure, but he's also resilient and commanding in his defensive duties.

It's little wonder that Tottenham hold a vested interest in his signature, especially considering that Rodrigo Bentancur is considered his most comparable player on English shores.

Imagine Conor Gallagher & Rodrigo Bentancur

Heralded as a "Rolls-Royce" in the centre of the park by football writer Tom Robinson, Bentancur was excellent last season and scored five goals and supplied two assists from 18 Premier League starts during the 2022/23 term before picking up an ACL injury against Leicester City last February.

That issue was the beginning of an interminable spell on the sidelines, and while the £75k-per-week star returned to action with three cameos earlier in the current campaign, a brutish challenge from Matty Cash back in November cast him back toward the medical room once again.

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The Uruguayan ace mirrors Gallagher in that he blends a wealth of responsibilities without seam, having been proclaimed to be "technically immense" by broadcaster Adam Smith.

Now recovered from injuries, Bentancur has started 2024 on the front foot, and, albeit with some rustiness, is starting to acclimatise to life under Postecoglou's wing, playing an instrumental role in the impressive 2-2 draw at Old Trafford last time out in the Premier League.

If the 26-year-old can rekindle his fitness and best form over the next few months, Tottenham will be in a far better position to realise their goals and secure Champions League qualification.

And with Gallagher beside him, a tremendous level of fluency could be found in the centre of the park, with both players interchanging and providing balanced skill sets to enhance Tottenham's team and take it to the next stage in its development.

Last season, Bentancur complemented his direct return with an average of 2.5 tackles per game and success with 66% of his dribbles.

The similarities between the players are certainly there and given that Bentancur has displayed signs of thriving in Posteocoglou's side, there is no reason why Gallagher couldn't bolster the fold and enhance it into something capable of securing silver-laden success.

Championship promotion-chasers Leeds United are said to be keen on signing Liverpool youngsters Calvin Ramsay and Mateusz Musialowski. They've been in touch with the Reds to express their interest in a potential deal for the latter, and the Reds have confirmed the former is available.

Leeds are one of "several" clubs pursuing the signature of the young Pole in particular, who's out of contract at the end of the season and could therefore be available for a reduced price. The Whites, though, are "firmly in the race" and could give Daniel Farke the "attacking reinforcements" he's seeking before the end of the transfer window.

Musialowski could make "fantastic" Leeds move

Speaking to Football Insider, BBC pundit Alan Hutton has offered his verdict on the latest Leeds transfer news surrounding Musialowski. He reckons that the forward could truly launch his career at Elland Road after failing to make a breakthrough on Merseyside, with Farke enjoying the full extent of his potential.

"He’s playing for Liverpool, so he’s obviously got something about him. He’s not playing first-team football, but he’s really versatile, he can play across the front and his numbers for the youth ranks are exceptional.

"There’s an opportunity for him to take if he goes to Leeds.You’re giving him a platform to show us what he’s capable of. He has bags of potential, so a team like Leeds that are flying high and have lots of young talent playing there, it gives you that freedom. That’s the opportunity he needs and that he’ll be looking for. This could be a fantastic move for him and I think he’d do well at Leeds."

Musialowski starring against under-21s and senior sides

As Hutton points out, Musialowski is capable of playing in a variety of roles, whether that's as a central striker, a winger or even an attacking midfielder. In the short-term, that will improve his chances of getting into the team at Leeds, but it remains to be seen whether he can find his true specialism in the years ahead.

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And it's also true that he's putting up some "exceptional" numbers at the under-21 level this season. He's only played 11 games, but he's notched eight direct goal contributions with six goals and two assists. His Premier League 2 form even earned him a nomination for the Player of the Month award in October.

Crucially for Leeds, he's also shown he can deliver against senior opposition too. In the EFL Trophy, which pits Premier League academy sides against teams in League One and League Two, he's found the net three times, ranking him joint-sixth in the competition and joint-first among academy players.

Jurgen Klopp has given minutes to the likes of Ben Doak (18), Kaide Gordon (19) and Bobby Clark (18) in Musialowski's positions, but the 2020 signing hasn't even made a matchday squad yet. The time is right, then, for him to pursue pastures new.

Aston Villa failed to win their third game on the bounce at Goodison Park this weekend, as they were held to a drab 0-0 draw by Everton.

This was Unai Emery’s 11th away match of the season, yet they’ve only won four, which is extremely poor compared to their home form this campaign.

20

13

6

1

45

25

20

13

4

3

43

25

21

13

4

4

43

16

20

12

4

4

40

17

How Everton v Aston Villa played out

Villa thought they had taken the lead in the first half through a powerful strike from Alex Moreno, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The game was even in the first half, however, Emi Martinez will be thanked for his vital stop against Dominic Calvert-Lewin in a 1v1 scenario when the English attacker simply had to score.

In the second half, the Villans dominated the tie and racked up 0.81 xG, but they failed to really test Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal. The best chance of the half fell to Matty Cash, who had his low effort blocked inside the box.

The Spaniard will be disappointed that his side were unable to pick up three points and further distance themselves from those fighting for a top-four spot. Some individuals were particularly frustrating in Merseyside, but in truth, it was a bad day at the office for all involved.

Leon Bailey had a relatively quiet afternoon and failed to impress, but John McGinn was the player who was far from his best and struggled against the physical Toffees midfield.

Leon Bailey’s game vs Everton by numbers

Bailey was fielded in his usual right midfield role in the 4-4-2 variant, but the Jamaican was marked out of the game by the relentless Vitaily Mykolenko, who didn’t give the forward an inch.

The winger wasn’t particularly wasteful in possession, as he had 79% pass accuracy, but other than one key pass, he failed to cause Sean Dyche’s backline any issues. This is highlighted by his xG of 0.07 and his expected assists (xA) of 0.05.

Bailey failed to make a single successful dribble in the game, and he also lost all three of his duels. The 26-year-old was ultimately subbed just after the hour mark, which sums up his level of threat throughout the game.

John McGinn’s stats vs Everton

McGinn is usually the energetic midfielder who demands high standards of himself and those around him, which is why he wears the captain’s armband. However, his performance against Everton was one of his worst this season.

Indeed, John Townley of Birmingham Mail offered the following summation at full-time: "McGinn is always dangerous on the half turn, but he was sloppy in possession today."

The Scotland international received a 6.8 rating via Sofascore, with the dynamic and hard-working Everton midfield trio running all over him. The table below highlights his performances using a handful of stats.

Possession lost

16x

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Duels Won

5/11

Key passes

0

The biggest concern in the game was how wasteful the midfielder was in possession, especially when attempting to force the issue down the left-hand side. This led to him giving the ball away 16 times, the second most for a Villa player behind Moreno.

Furthermore, McGinn is usually tenacious out of possession, but today he failed to make a single defensive action bar one clearance. The 29-year-old also failed to win half of his individual battles on the field, as shown by the five out of ten ground duels won.

Nothing will come from this performance in terms of McGinn’s place in the side, but it was certainly an afternoon to forget for the Scottish midfielder.

Gary O’Neil will be pleased with the progress his Wolves side has made this season.

The Old Gold have shown a togetherness that allows them to play as a team rather than individuals, and that was on show against Brentford in the 1-1 FA Cup draw last weekend.

Despite being 11th in the Premier League, the Wanderers will look to strengthen their squad in January.

Wolves transfers latest – striker hunt at Molineux

According to The Athletic, Wolves are interested in signing Danny Ings on loan from West Ham.

The Wanderers have been keeping an eye on Ings’ situation, but talks are yet to begin between the clubs. As a result, we may have to wait until later in the winter window to see if things develop into a formal offer for the player.

The deal is allegedly dependent on Michael Antonio’s recovery from injury, with the Irons forward reportedly out for the best part of six weeks.

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 How Danny Ings compares to Raul Jimenez

Sasa Kalajdzic was the latest player signed in an attempt to replace the goals that Raul Jimenez brought in the 2019/20 Premier League season (17). However, the 6 foot 6 striker has just joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan after failing to secure a place in the starting XI. He joins a pretty wretched list of forward players who have simply failed to make the grade in the Midlands.

Raul Jimenez

67

13

Patrick Cutrone

4

0

Fabio Silva

72

5

Willian Jose

18

1

Hwang-hee Chan

84

20

Sasa Kalajdzic

14

3

Matheus Cunha

41

8

Diego Costa

25

1

Therefore, Ings could be drafted in as a short-term fix to a long-term issue, who coincidentally is a similar player to Wolves icon Jimenez according to FBref’s similar players model.

The former Liverpool player has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but he has only missed one game since the start of 2021.

Despite being available, the 31-year-old has failed to nail down a spot in the starting XI at West Ham, with either Antonio or Jarrod Bowen being preferred in the number nine role, which has led to Ings playing just 108 minutes in the Premier League this season. Wolves, therefore, could offer him a valuable short-term exit.

The West Ham striker would bring experience and goals to the Wolves attack, as according to one football writer Ings is a “clinical finisher," and in fairness, the table below does prove that he knows how to put the ball in the back of the net, notably in the Premier League.

2022/23

35

8

2

2021/22

30

7

6

2020/21

29

12

4

2019/20

38

22

2

2018/19

24

7

3

Ings is the definition of a goal-scorer, but his technique and ball-striking ability are what make him so dangerous.

Indeed, if the striker gets half a chance, he will most likely bury it, which is needed when playing for a side like Wolves, who have created the 12th most big chances in the Premier League this season. This makes him like Jimenez, who has overperformed his xG this season for Fulham.

But just how do they compare specifically? Well, when it comes to how involved they are in the play, where they take their shots from, passing and carrying, there's not much to separate the pair.

Expected Goals (xG)

0.06

0.32

Average shot distance

14.1 yards

13.8 yards

Pass Success rate

63%

66%

Passes into penalty box

0.63

0.57

Touches

32

35

Successful take-ons

0.63

0.65

Carries

17.5

19.8

Overall, the potential signing of Ings is by far from one that the Wolves faithful will be extremely excited about, but given the fact that Hwang Hee-chan will be their only available striker for the rest of the season (when he returns from the AFC Asian Cup), the move does seem smart.

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ByLuke Randall Jan 2, 2024

Even if he doesn’t feature heavily. This transfer has absolutely no risk attached, and therefore, there can only be an upside to the loan.

After convincingly beating automatic promotion rivals Ipswich Town 4-0 just before Christmas, Leeds United crashed back down to reality away at Preston North End in their next Championship encounter, with the Whites succumbing to a 2-1 defeat late on at Deepdale.

Daniel Farke's men weren't helped by Illan Meslier in goal, the Leeds shot-stopper lashing out at a Preston man meaning the second-tier giants played the majority of the second 45 minutes with ten men.

Leeds weren't at their potent best going forward either in the contest, way off the standards set in the demolition job of the Tractor Boys previously – only mustering up two shots on target on an off-day for the likes of Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter.

Farke could, therefore, attempt to sign this tricky winger in January to further help out the forwards at Elland Road and share the goal-load away from heavily relying on Crysencio Summerville to conjure up moments of magic to get his team out of many sticky situations.

Leeds lightweight who lost nine duels let Farke down badly alongside Meslier

The young defender endured a difficult afternoon at Deepdale on Boxing Day.

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This signing could also soften the blow of Wilfried Gnonto's expected departure from West Yorkshire when the transfer window reopens, this transfer into the building an upgrade on the diminutive Italian attacker.

Leeds transfer latest – Ryan Kent

Last month, TEAMTalk reported on the possibility that Ryan Kent's current club Fenerbahce would be open to loaning the ex-Rangers man out in January – the 27-year-old winger failing to acclimatise to his new surroundings in Turkey after joining on a free transfer.

Frenzied interest in Kent's services from a number of suitors could be forthcoming therefore, being able to land the English attacker on a short-term basis to positively enhance your team a no-brainer move to attempt to pull off.

Leeds and AFC Bournemouth were named as interested parties, according to the report, the Whites hopeful of jumping to the front of the queue owing to Gnonto potentially leaving.

Football Insider have recently reported that Farke's men are open to selling Gnonto now, after batting away interest in their number 29 from Everton in the summer.

Signing Kent would appease any Leeds masses disappointed by Gnonto leaving immediately, Leeds hopeful of getting the best out of the left winger again even after a torrid time in Turkey to date.

Ryan Kent's style of play

Kent's relentless focus on venturing forward with pace and trickery would fit Farke's side down to a tee, Leeds routinely blitzing opponents with their gung-ho approach when on song.

Gnonto's effectiveness has taken a back-seat this season, however ,when it comes to helping his teammates score goals for fun, only helping himself to one goal and one assist from 18 appearances.

Kent has also been going through a difficult spell in his career in terms of goal output – the 27-year-old only managing one goal and two assists from 15 appearances for Fenerbahce this campaign – but the attacker would be a different beast altogether in the Championship if Farke puts an arm around the misfiring winger on his arrival to West Yorkshire and believes in him.

At the peak of his powers playing in Scotland, the slick £33k-per-week forward – as per Capology – was a creative machine who had a killer knack of finding the back of the net also – assisting ten goals in his final full season at Ibrox, amassing 33 goals scored and 56 assists during a long-standing affinity with Rangers which was then severed.

His time with Rangers even saw talkSPORT pundit and ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O'Hara claim that Kent should be playing in the Premier League instead of the Scottish Premiership, labelling the dynamic attacker as a "top player".

With Gnonto – who only boasts 17 goals and 15 assists in his senior career to date during his time at Elland Road and for FC Zurich – snapping up a far more experienced and proven asset like Kent could well see Farke secure an upgrade on the young Italian.

Leeds could well be the destination that re-energises the ex-Liverpool man's stuttering career this January, bolstering the squad with another impactful presence who would go toe-to-toe with Dan James on his arrival and enable Gnonto's exit to be simply shrugged off and forgotten about.

With Leeds United heading into the final day of the Premier League season knowing that, whatever happens elsewhere, they simply must pick up all three points against Brentford if they are to have any hope of securing survival, Jesse Marsch will undoubtedly already be plotting out his potential starting XI for the trip to west London.

And, with all of Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, Tyler Robers and Crysencio Summerville being ruled out of Sunday’s fixture due to injury, while both Luke Ayling and Daniel James will also be sidelined as a result of suspension, it is true that some of the 48-year-old manager’s team selections pick themselves.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-2″ title=”Read the latest Leeds news, transfer rumours and more!”]

This is not the case in attacking midfield – a position which the £58k-per-week Rodrigo usually fills. However, following the 31-year-old’s disastrous performance in the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion last time out – not to mention a number of further disappointing displays in the weeks prior – whether or not Marsch will stick with the Spaniard this weekend is very much up in the air.

And, with Sam Greenwood sitting on the bench – a player who it is well known that Marsch is a huge fan of – it would seem as if the American coach not only possesses the answer to his attacking midfield conundrum for the Brentford game, but also following Rodrigo’s touted departure from Elland Road this summer.

Indeed, while it is true that the 20-year-old is naturally a centre-forward, he has often been deployed in the number 10 role for the U23s this season, striking up a deadly partnership with fellow Whites prodigy Joe Gelhardt in attack, with the duo having racked up a combined 16 goals and eight assists over 29 appearances for the Premier League 2 side.

And, regarding the positioning of Greenwood and Gelhardt, Marcelo Bielsa commented on the former’s ability to play a slightly deeper role, stating back in December: “His main position is as a centre forward. Normally he plays in conjunction with Gelhardt in the team.

“Gelhardt is a player that when he is close to the box is very dangerous and Greenwood is a player who has a lot of capacity to arrive into the free spaces. They can play either with Gelhardt in front and Greenwood behind or the other way round.”

As such, with it looking likely that Gelhardt will once again be deployed at centre-forward in the potential absence of Patrick Bamford this weekend, Marsch could well take advantage of the chemistry developed between the youngsters by deploying the “phenomenal” 49-goal Greenwood behind his U23 striking partner.

Indeed, with Rodrigo having been “non-existent” – in the words of Michael Dawson – in recent weeks, Greenwood would very much appear to be the man to take Leeds forward in attacking midfield – not only on Sunday but for the foreseeable future.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Leeds dealt fresh setback in relegation fight, supporters will be gutted

Tottenham Hotspur will look to solve Antonio Conte’s wing-back woes with Joakim Maehle this summer…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the north London outfit are lining up a move for Atalanta star, who is viewed as a perfect fit for the Italian head coach and after striking success with Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, sporting director Fabio Paratici could return to the Serie A for another signing.

It remains to be seen how much the 24-year-old would command, though CIES Football Observatory value him at €50m (£45m).

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

Dream Conte wing-back

Conte has endured a torrid time with his wide options this campaign.

On the left, injuries have seen both Sergio Reguilon and Ryan Sessegnon struggle to sustain a consistent run in the side, both also lacking in form, whilst on the right, Emerson’s maiden campaign in the Premier League has largely been woeful with Matt Doherty’s season ended by an MCL injury.

The Denmark international first caught the eye of many during Euro 2020 as he impressed at left wing-back on their way to the semi-final, where they were defeated by Harry Kane’s England.

He has delivered nine goals from 25 caps at international level.

Meanwhile, a career average of 0.9 key passes, 0.9 shots and 1.1 dribbles per game, via WhoScored, further highlights his attacking credentials as a marauding wing-back.

Maehle is capable of getting into the final third often but that doesn’t come at any defensive expense, having also averaged 1.4 tackles and 1.1 interceptions throughout his career.

Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been impressed by his De Rod-Hvide counterpart, once describing him as a “machine” after their 4-1 win over Russia at last summer’s major tournament.

If Conte wants to land an upgrade on the left or right side of the pitch, then they should look no further than the Danish dynamo, who ranks inside the top 10% of all players in his position for progressive passes received (3.67 per 90), thus making him something of a dream option for the Tottenham head coach.

Paratici and co must look to seal Maehle this off-season.

AND in other news, Forget Son: “Sensational” Spurs titan who had 11 clearances stole the show at Anfield…

Amid all the excitement over Benjamin Sesko’s potential arrival, Real Madrid have now reportedly sent their scouts to watch one of Manchester United’s best players as they plot a blockbuster move.

Sesko chooses Man Utd over Newcastle

It’s been a successful summer for Manchester United so far, all things considered. The Red Devils have welcomed both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to hand their frontline a major boost, whilst also enjoying an impressive pre-season.

In their latest friendly, the Red Devils eased past Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series in a 4-1 victory which featured a much-needed goal from Rasmus Hojlund.

After getting his name on the scoresheet, the Dane also took the chance to add some clarity to his future, telling reporters: “I think the most important (thing) for me is just to keep working hard and stay focused and then obviously we’ll see what happens. I think my plan is very clear and that is for me to stay and fight for my spot, whatever happens.”

That said, fighting for that spot could be about to become far more difficult amid reports that Sesko has now set his sights on moving to Manchester United this summer.

The RB Leipzig forward has been the subject of a £65m transfer battle between Manchester United and Newcastle, but now reportedly prefers a move to Old Trafford.

If INEOS complete their third big-money move of the summer, Ruben Amorim’s frontline will suddenly be transformed. From blunter than ever, United will have three impressive goalscorers to choose from next season. And that would make all the difference.

As one big-money signing potentially arrives, however, one big-money exit could deal Amorim an almighty blow.

Real Madrid set sights on blockbuster Mainoo move

According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid are now plotting a move to sign Kobbie Mainoo in a blockbuster deal worth as much as £70m. Scouts have already reportedly been sent to watch the England international at Old Trafford and new manager Xabi Alonso has earmarked both Adam Wharton and the Carrington graduate as midfield targets.

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It’s bad news for Amorim, who will be aware like most that Madrid often get what they desire in the transfer market. The Manchester United boss knows exactly how talented Mainoo is, too. It was only last week that the former Sporting Club manager spoke about how his midfielder could help captain Bruno Fernandes.

At 20 years old, Mainoo is not a talent that Manchester United will want to lose anytime soon, which should spark plenty of concern about Real Madrid’s presence.

Fulham are interested in a loan swoop for a “sensational” £80,000 star, according to a new report. The Cottagers will be looking to get back to winning ways on Thursday, as they host Brighton at Craven Cottage. Marco Silva’s side have been brushed aside by Wolves and drawn with Tottenham Hotspur in their last two league games.

Fulham now pushing to sign £30k-p/w "complete package" for Silva in January

He could be a sensational signing at Craven Cottage.

1 ByBen Browning Nov 25, 2024 Fulham transfer news

It has been an impressive campaign for Silva’s side so far, and January represents an opportunity for them to further strengthen their side as they try to fight for a place in the top half at the very minimum.

January is fast approaching, and Fulham are already being linked with potential new additions. One player the Cottagers are interested in signing is Evan Ferguson from Brighton, as the striker looks set to be available on a loan in the New Year. The Irish international has struggled for regular football so far, and several Premier League teams are keen on signing him on a temporary basis.

As well as Ferguson, Fulham are also interested in signing Wataru Endo from Liverpool. He is another player who has struggled to get regular minutes this season, and he seems unwanted under Arne Slot. Liverpool would be looking to get around £12-14 million for the player, as other Premier League teams also keep an eye on his situation.

But Endo is not the only midfielder on Fulham’s radar, as they have an interest in a player who could be available for a loan.

Fulham considering January swoop for Chelsea outcast

According to TBR Football, Fulham are interested in signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on loan from Chelsea in January. The 26-year-old joined the Blues in the summer transfer window, following Enzo Maresca in making the move to Stamford Bridge from the King Power Stadium.

The midfielder, who was dubbed “sensational” by Brendan Rodgers, was excellent for the Foxes last season, scoring 12 goals and recording 14 assists in 44 Championship games, as he helped Leicester City seal promotion to the Premier League. But in this 2024/25 campaign, it hasn’t been as successful for the midfielder, as he’s played just 12 games in all competitions, four of which have come in the league.

Now this report states that Fulham are among the teams interested in signing Dewsbury-Hall on loan in January. Maresca remains a big fan of the player, but his limited game time means a temporary move away could be on the cards.

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Brighton and Brentford, as well as Fulham, are interested in taking Dewsbury-Hall, who earns £80,000 a week at Chelsea, on loan. However, the deal may not be straightforward to do, as Chelsea would rather keep hold of the midfielder and let other players leave the club in the New Year.

Dewsbury-Hall has yet to start a game in the league, which will be rather difficult to swallow for a player who was so vital at Leicester, but a move to Fulham could be easier to complete, as Dewsbury-Hall’s agents, Wasserman, also represent Fulham defender Antonee Robinson, potentially paving a path for smooth negotiations.