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Celtic are in the midst of defending their Scottish Premiership crown under Brendan Rodgers and one of his reported January targets has admitted he is aware of speculation linking him with a move to Parkhead.

Celtic latest transfer news…

Building up ahead of steam, the Hoops have made an excellent start to proceedings in the Scottish Premiership, taking 25 points from an available 27 so far, placing them seven points clear of rivals Rangers at the top of the league standings. Nevertheless, there is a desire among some supporters and Celtic boss Rodgers himself to seek further reinforcements to his squad as he aims to make the Scottish champions competitive on both domestic and European fronts.

Speaking in an interview cited via Sky Sports in late September, the boss indicated that Celtic's transfer business during the summer didn't satisfy him to the point of ruling out further activity in January. Rodgers said: "No. No [happiness with summer transfer activity]; I think if you ask any manager they will always be wanting more, of course."

He then added: "But we work with the players that are here. I'm not saying that in any disrespectful way; I think every manager will tell you they maybe wished they could have done one or two more signings."

One Celtic transfer update from Football Insider has recently revealed that bringing in a goalkeeper is high on the agenda at Parkhead as the Hoops look to bring in competition to compete with veteran stopper Joe Hart between the sticks. Real Madrid ace Andriy Lunin has been mentioned as a potential Celtic goalkeeper option; however, the same outlet claim that the Ukraine international would prefer to move to the Premier League if he were to leave Santiago Bernabeu.

Reports earlier in the month suggest that Rodgers is also keen on adding another midfielder to his ranks. Gwangju FC star Jeong Ho-Yeon is also believed to be a transfer target for Celtic and is believed to be open to a move to Europe after winning Korean military exemption due to collecting a gold medal in the Asian Games.

Celtic's signings from Asia since 2021

Previous Club

Kyogo Furuhashi

Vissel Kobe

Yang Hyun-jun

Gangwon FC

Daizen Maeda

Yokohama F. Marinos

Kwon Hyeok-kyu

Busan IPark

Yosuke Ideguchi

Gamba Osaka

Yuki Kobayashi

Vissel Kobe

Oh Hyeon-gyu

Suwon Bluewings

Tomoki Iwata

Yokohama F. Marinos

Reo Hatate

Kawasaki Frontale

Celtic transfer update – Jeong Ho-Yeon

Now, an update on Jeong's future has emerged courtesy of the player himself, who has confirmed in an interview with Sports G cited by Football Scotland that he has heard speculation mentioning him in connection with a move to Celtic. He told the outlet:

"I know that such stories are coming out around me. In fact, there has never been a specific or direct contact so far. I heard the same story from my team and agent. I just want to be faithful to my team in every moment."

Plying his trade in K League 1, the versatile midfielder can play in holding or central roles and has gone on to make 29 appearances over the course of 2023 for Gwangju FC, registering two goals and three assists (Jeong Ho-Yeon stats – Transfermarkt).

Celtic have found some brilliant success stories from exploring the globe for talent in recent years, and it remains to be seen whether Jeong will be the next in line to make a name for himself at Parkhead if a move to Glasgow does materialise for the 23-year-old.

Leeds United are showing some promising form in the Championship and now look ready to open their transfer chequebook in January after identifying a talented young target, according to a new report.

Leeds United cast eye to festive period…

Much goes on during the festive period in football, with a congested fixture period usually on the cards for those concerned, alongside the reality of the January transfer window drawing ever closer to opening for business. Leeds are no different in this sense and will have to factor both of these upcoming events into consideration in the next few weeks as Daniel Farke continues to do a sterling job at Elland Road.

So far, the Whites have given a good account of themselves all told, claiming 31 points from their opening 16 fixtures in the English second-tier ahead of their trip to face Rotherham United on Friday evening. Nevertheless, Farke doesn't believe that his side will feel added pressure to cut the gap on Ipswich Town to five points at the AESSEAL Stadium, as journalist Phil Hay described his response to the notion, stating on social media platform X:

"Farke doesn't think the chance to put pressure on Leicester/Ipswich with an early game is significant. Says that in his view, the last five or six games of the season are where you get scenarios where you have to hold your nerve. #lufc."

Casting an eye to the January transfer window, Leeds are keen on Cape Town Spurs striker Luke Baartman; however, they will face competition from other English clubs and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic to sign the 17-year-old. Now, a fresh report has emerged detailing that Farke has a promising young defender on his radar as the Yorkshire outfit start to make inroads concerning their New Year transfer plans.

Leeds United want Sam Curtis

According to 90min, Leeds, and by extension the 49ers Enterprises, appear to be in the market for a new full-back and have identified St Patrick's Athletic youngster Sam Curtis as a target.

Sam Curtis stats at St Patrick's Athletic in 2023 – (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

39

Goals

3

Assists

3

Nevertheless, competition to sign the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international is vast and Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough, Hull City and Celtic are all keen to swoop for the right-back, who is expected to leave his homeland in the Irish off-season.

Tom Grivosti, who is a teammate of Curtis in Dublin, afforded the 17-year-old high praise earlier this year in an interview, as he stated when asked about his abilities:

"For a young kid I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s unbelievable. Even in his general play he is getting better all the time."

In years gone by, Leeds have had a number of Irish players who have gone on to feature for the club, including the likes of Gary Kelly, Robbie Keane, Ian Harte and Aidy White, among others. Now, the Whites could be set to once again tap into the Emerald Isle's talent pool in a move that could potentially secure a star of the future at Elland Road, with the club not afraid to hand youngsters first-team opportunities, as seen with Archie Gray this season.

Raheem Sterling and Liverpool. It was a brilliant marriage of talent and institution that ended on such jarring terms. With a difficult relationship with Brendan Rodgers, the club missing out on the Premier League title in 2014, and rival clubs circling – the Reds had to loosen their grasp on Sterling in July 2015.

The star winger had turned down a lucrative contract. Following that, he had an unsanctioned BBC interview. Then, he withdrew from preseason which drew criticism from legends Steven Gerrard and Graeme Souness. It was truly time to go.

The £44m five-year-deal, with £5m worth of add-ons, was one of few positives in selling a great player to a rival in Manchester City. Yet despite the then-British transfer record being smashed; Liverpool seemed to hold out hope for one youngster that could relight the metaphorical torch that Sterling had thrown (rather than passed) down on his semi-disgraced departure.

Step forward a certain Jordon Ibe…

Where did Jordon Ibe start his career?

Ibe had been at Liverpool at the same time as Sterling. Arriving at the same time too, Ibe showed his EFL credentials like Sterling had with QPR. Ibe turned out for Wycombe Wanderers in the 2011/12 season – and a goal on his debut made himself the then-youngest Football League scorer ever just ten days shy of his 16th birthday.

This sole goal in 11 games placed a big 'buy me' sticker on his back too and amidst interest from Manchester United, Liverpool eventually signed Ibe for just over £500k (€600k).

How good was Jordon Ibe at Liverpool?

Fast forward from 2012 to 2015. Sterling of course left for the Etihad, and whilst much was demanded of Rodgers to get a replacement – many at the club believed the natural successor was Ibe. Liverpool icon John Aldridge once even went as far as saying:

"Raheem is obviously a hugely talented player but Liverpool have a top replacement in Jordan Ibe. I’ve been watching Jordan play since he was 15. He’s a terrific player and has bags of potential. In fact, I think he’s got as much if not more potential than Raheem and will go on to be a better player." (John Aldridge via Kicca and BT Sport, 2015)

Unfortunately for Aldridge, the Anfield faithful, and Ibe himself – the 19-year-old couldn't quite live up to Sterling's standards.

He started with loans after youth involvement, effectively breaking into Brendan Rodgers' first team plan after a successful 2014-15 loan to Derby County. A MOTM performance in February 2015's Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park looked like the start of something brilliant.

However, Ibe's Anfield move was perhaps premature. Competing with top-class players in attack like Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suárez, and Philippe Coutinho saw limited runs of consistency. When he was given a chance, there seemed no real improvement in terms of goal contributions.

After 58 all competition appearances, four goals, and seven assists – Jordon Ibe moved on to Bournemouth for £15m. There he found a solid spell from 2016-20 – scoring five times and assisting nine in 92 outings – before moving to Derby County but at the latter, personal struggles would find the winger reevaluating his path.

Where is Jordon Ibe now?

Ibe played just one league game for County before he found his contract terminated with mutual consent.

After this, a Turkish move to Adanaspor failed to really take flight and with the pandemic – mental health issues that he'd tried to combat at Bournemouth with rehabilitation, resurfaced. In 2021, the brave 25-year-old offered a statement on his Instagram:

After some time away, where Ibe admitted he "lost passion" for the game he loves, Ibe – now 27 years old – looks to restart his career in the fifth tier of English Football with National League Ebbsfleet United.

Upon signing, he said: “I feel like the time out was to humble myself and get my mind right. I was speaking to my missus on the way to the game on Saturday and I said I feel like a kid again, going to football, because it’s been a while since I’ve put on club attire and gone to a matchday.

"It feels new but it’s not new because I’ve done it in the Premier League, so it’s refreshing. Not everyone gets a second chance but I’m lucky and grateful. This could have never happened and I’d be waiting for another club.”

The hope is that he finds that raw love for the game again at Ebbsfleet. Everyone's behind him.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will be desperate to ensure that his decision to sack Ange Postecoglou won’t come back to bite him, and he’s apparently prepared to back new manager Thomas Frank so he can give the Australian’s replacement the best-possible chance of success.

Frank holds Tottenham talks over signing £300k-p/w ace who's open to joining

The Spurs boss has been discussing him with Lilywhites hierarchy.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 18, 2025

Postecoglou ended the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy by guiding them to an historic Europa League final victory over Man United last month, a result which also gifted them a spot in the Champions League next season, but Spurs’ torrid 2024/2025 domestic form meant that Levy was forced into the tough call of letting him go.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Frank is now tasked with re-settling the dressing room whilst helping Spurs to kick on from their memorable night in Bilbao, and the Dane has already paid homage to his predecessor’s work at N17.

“I think Ange has done something special. He’ll forever be a legend in Tottenham,” Frank said in his first interview as Tottenham boss.

“It’s important to understand we all stand on the shoulders of others. I’m going in on the foundation Ange built, and his coaching staff, and I’m very humble about that. I’ll do my very best to continue the great work he put in.

“The feeling, the excitement, the joy and the happiness in the fans’ faces, the pictures were ‘wow’. Hopefully, we can create more of those moments. That will be the ultimate dream: to do that and build on that.”

The 51-year-old is reportedly keen to upgrade his new ranks by signing a proven wide-attacking player, especially considering Son Heung-min may have already played his last competitive game for Tottenham amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

Many high-profile Premier League names have been linked already, but chief among them is Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

The England international guided Palace to their first ever major trophy last season, bagging the winner in a 1-0 victory over Man City in the FA Cup final, adding to his impressive tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Eze has been a star player at Selhurst Park ever since his move there from QPR, and Eagles chairman Steve Parish was left “astounded” by the lack of interest in him last summer.

Tottenham ready to pay £68 million for Eberechi Eze

The £100,000-per-week forward, who can play both as a CAM and out wide, has certainly got admirers this time round, and Spurs are one of the chief contenders for his signature.

Reports have suggested that Frank has personally recommended Eze as a target for Tottenham, with TEAMtalk now sharing an update on the situation amid rumours that the player would also be keen on a north London move.

The outlet states that Tottenham are ready to meet the price required to sign Eze, his £68 million release clause, and the ex-Arsenal academy man is “enthusiastic” about swapping south London for a place in Frank’s side.

Frank also apparently believes that Eze would be a stellar addition for the Lilywhites, and one capable of thriving both on the wing and as a complement to James Maddison in the centre of attacking midfield.

Palace are also open to receiving Eze’s final fee in installments, even if they’d want an upfront payment of £45 million, something which Tottenham are prepared to offer as well.

This could be one to watch in the coming days/weeks, as Spurs want to act “swiftly” and provide Frank with fresh additions ahead of a crucial campaign.

Everton, over the years, have garnered a reputation as a club that produces high-quality youngsters spanning all the way back to when a wide-eyed Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene as a Toffees teenager before stardom at Manchester United materialised.

In the current Everton set-up, Jarrad Branthwaite is benefiting from the Toffees' insistence on giving youngsters time to develop and grow before being given a first-team berth – the 21-year-old a regular first-teamer under Sean Dyche this season at the back, learning the ropes of the Premier League quickly and excelling alongside experienced centre-back partner James Tarkowski.

Everton will be hoping that a current teenage phenomenon in their ranks can become a key player in the senior side further down the line, striker George Morgan appearing in the Guardian's Next Generation 2023 recently – the newspaper in question compiling the very best young talents emerging from all twenty Premier League clubs currently, 17-year-old Morgan tipped for greatness on this list.

The Blues will hope the 17-year-old follows a similar trajectory to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, a young striker able to stamp his authority onto proceedings from the get-go and become a seasoned regular to rely on at Goodison Park.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's numbers for Everton this season

Joining in 2016 from hometown club Sheffield United for £1.5m, the then-teenage Blades sensation has developed into a mature 26-year-old and become a goalscoring hero.

Calvert-Lewin's biggest obstacle always standing in his way has been question marks around his fitness and his injury record, sidelined frequently to leave the Toffees without a dangerous striker up top – only making 17 top-flight appearances last campaign, as Everton struggled against the drop.

Still, the 6 foot 2 striker has managed to make 220 appearances in total for the Merseyside club now – scoring 64 goals along the way, with four of those strikes coming this campaign.

His last goal for the Blues came in their recent slender 1-0 win away at West Ham, turning his Hammers marker effortlessly after being found by Jack Harrison before firing into the net.

Morgan will aspire to replicate what Calvert-Lewin has managed to achieve, another teenage talent expected to make waves in the first team for Everton in the not-so-distant future.

George Morgan's numbers for Everton

Playing in the Everton U18 ranks at this moment in time, managed by ex-Toffees great Leighton Baines, Morgan is being tipped to have a big future at Goodison Park.

Labelled as a "powerful, fast centre-forward" by the Guardian, Morgan has two goals from seven appearances in the U18 Premier League to date.

Both of those strikes came versus Sunderland at the end of September, Morgan's youthful Toffees team beating the Black Cats U18s 3-0.

This has led to Morgan winning International recognition for Wales, winning four U18 caps in total and even assisting versus Scotland when pulling on the red jersey in a convincing 4-2 win over the Scots.

The 17-year-old, who models his game on Polish sharp shooter Robert Lewandowski according to the Guardian article, will continue working hard and hoping he can add to his current two goals soon for the U18s in a bid to push further on to a different age bracket.

If he can become a potent goalscorer on a regular basis in the youth ranks at Everton, Dyche could have an exciting homegrown talent on his hands ready to compete with Calvert-Lewin for a starting spot in the first team very soon.

Manchester United have been impressed with an exciting young gem and could look to bring him to Old Trafford despite competition for his services from elsewhere.

Man Utd's transfer reality…

Undoubtedly, the Red Devils are in need of some squad surgery in January after enduring a frustrating time of things with injuries and form over the course of the season.

Erik ten Hag has spoken bluntly regarding the limitations both his side and others in the Premier League have to take into consideration regarding their recruitment approach as a consequence Financial Fair Play regulations, as he stated last month:

"Every time you tell me 'bring this player in', you have to match the FFP regulations. You have to do it. It gives you limitations and within those rules you have to construct the best squad possible. When you set such rules, everyone has to match the rules because otherwise it's not fair anymore."

Of course, the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have been able to spend vast sums of money on improving their squad over the last couple of transfer windows, which is who the Dutchman could be alluding to in this interview in light of investigations into alleged financial rule breaches concerning the first two sides named.

Nevertheless, United shelled out over £170 million in the summer on the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana among others, who arguably haven't delivered on their promise as of yet at Old Trafford, indicating that the Red Devils have a way to go in the transfer market themselves.

Securing young talent that could one day make the grade at Old Trafford is a potential solution to their erratic recent transfer history and the Red Devils are now believed to be eyeing a prodigious forward, according to a report.

Man Utd impressed by Max Moerstedt

According to 90min, Manchester United are eyeing Hoffenheim's young striker Max Moerstedt after previously scouting the 17-year-old at the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia with his native Germany, where he scored four times throughout the tournament, with those in Manchester impressed with what they've seen.

Max Moerstedt statistics in 2023/24 (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

11

Goals

14

Assists

4

The outlet claim that the likes of Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Serie A sides Juventus and Atalanta are also on the case and are admirers of the forward, who is close to making his first-team breakthrough at the PreZero Arena. Moerstedt is described as a typical 'number nine' in the copy and carries a physical presence at 6 foot 4 inches tall.

Of course, Moerstedt would be highly unlikely to come in straight away as a first-team player and may develop in the Red Devils' academy system or be farmed out on loan to gain further experience, should a transfer materialise. Nevertheless, his long-term value could be an appealing prospect for United, who may hope to unearth a future star if Moerstedt does indeed complete a move to Old Trafford.

It's almost like Brendan Rodgers never left off at Celtic, such is the way that the former Leicester City manager has simply picked up where he left off at the Hoops.

So far this season, the Scottish Premiership champions have remained unbeaten, having won four of their first five games, and drawn the other. Most impressively, they have already gained an edge over Rangers, after defeating the Gers in the first Old Firm derby of the campaign to put themselves four points clear of their rivals.

Not every player has benefited from the return of Rodgers, though, with the FA Cup winner's Champions League squad excluding some noticeable players, including Alexandro Bernabei, who club legend John Hartson has spoken about.

What has John Hartson said?

Bernabei joined Celtic under Ange Postecoglou for a reported £3.75m last summer, but failed to make his mark in the nine starts that he was handed by the Australian. The hope would have been that, under Rodgers, the left-back would be handed a fresh start to impress, but that hasn't been the case so far.

Five games into the season, the Argentine has made just two appearances, with both of those coming from the bench. To make matters worse, Bernabei was then left out of Celtic's Champions League squad.

Having his say on the fullback's future, Hartson told The Go Radio Football Show, via TBR Football: “Yeah, I think he’s as good as Greg Taylor. I really do. But at this moment in time, Brendan probably feels there’s other areas that he needs to strengthen in terms of going into the Champions League, in terms of cover.

“I think he likes to get forward. I think his defending sometimes can improve but so does Taylor’s. I think Taylor’s better going forward than what he is defensively.

“I think he’s improved on his ball into the box, as has Taylor in the last couple of seasons. He’s been very constant in the team in terms of Celtic’s success.

“And listen, it’s only my opinion, but I think Bernabei has got a future. I think he’s a decent left-back. He likes a tackle. He can be aggressive. So you know, I think the fact that he’s got Taylor there with that bit a bit more experience in the last couple of seasons played in Europe, so he’s gone with Taylor. But we also know as well that Liam Scales can play left centre-back and obviously left back. But I do think Bernabei has got a future.”

Should Celtic keep Alexandro Bernabei?

It's worth remembering throughout all of this that Bernabei is still only 22-years-old, and has plenty of time to improve in years to come. It would arguably be foolish for Celtic to sanction the departure of a player who is not only still so young, but only in his second season at the club.

If he is given time, then the left-back could become an important member of Rodgers' side. Of course, Bernebei will undoubtedly feel frustrated after being left out of the Champions League squad, but opportunities in the Scottish Premiership could see him bounce back.

A journalist has shared news on West Ham United manager David Moyes' and his personal transfer plans for January.

Who have West Ham signed 2023?

The Hammers, over a productive summer transfer window, sealed deals for Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus.for a total fee of around £134 million.

Going the other way, Declan Rice moved across London to Arsenal for around £105 million; eventually being joined by Gianluca Scamacca, Nikola Vlasic and Arthur Masuaku out the door.

West Ham have won three out of their opening five Premier League matches with some impressive performances against the likes of Brighton, Chelsea and Luton Town.

However, Moyes' men tasted their first defeat of the season on Saturday; succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of fellow European trophy winners Man City in east London.

Indeed, Goals from Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland cancelled out Ward-Prowse's diving header to end West Ham's early-season unbeaten streak.

Will West Ham sign a striker?

Despite digging deep for the majority of that match, their lack of punch against Pep Guardiola's imperious City side perhaps exposed the need for a world-class centre-forward.

Michail Antonio has performed exceptionally so far this campaign, but the Jamaica international has been susceptible to injuries in past seasons.

Scamacca's departure in the summer means West Ham only have Danny Ings to turn to as a natural option if Antonio were sidelined, and Moyes is apparently keen to rectify that.

According to journalist Pete O'Rourke, sharing news from a "well-placed source", the Irons head coach is personally keen to add a new striker to his ranks in January.

This comes after failed summer deals for PSG striker Hugo Ekitike and Corinthians goalscorer Yuri Alberto.

Indeed, West Ham "could yet move" for a new forward in the winter window, according to O'Rourke.

"West Ham could yet move for a new striker in January despite their successful start to the new campaign," wrote the reporter for Football Insider.

"Football Insider revealed on Sunday (17 September) that West Ham and Crystal Palace could reignite their interest in Ekitike in January.

"It is believed that all parties have accepted it is best for the 21-year-old to depart Parc des Princes in the mid-season window.

"A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Moyes is keen to add another striker in the January window.

|An injury could leave them light going forward – with West Ham playing in the Europa League from this week."

Which striker could West Ham sign?

We believe Ekitike could be an excellent option, as reports over the summer window suggested he is open to joining West Ham and making a move to England.

The young forward has been praised by former coaches in past seasons, like ex-Reims manager Oscar Garcia, who once explained to BeIN Sports' Ligue 1 show, via Chronicle Live, that he is "quality".

"There is something very special about him," said Garcia.

"He’s young, and he has the quality to become a very good player. He’s a young man with a lot of quality but also a lot to improve on, but he works hard in training."

Manchester United have won their previous two matches, scoring four goals and conceding none, as they look to kickstart their season following a run of three successive defeats.

Erik ten Hag hasn’t had it all his own way this season as he aims to challenge domestically and in the Champions League, yet much will depend on how quickly some of his new signings settle in and get up to speed with the high expectations at United.

The jury is certainly out on a few of his summer arrivals as Andre Onana and Mason Mount haven’t exactly exploded into life at the Red Devils, while Rasmus Hojlund has only played five times due to missing the first few matches of the season due to injury, scoring once.

Overall, Ten Hag spent €196.7m (£170m) during the transfer window, and he perhaps would’ve been able to spend more had he moved on some deadwood towards the end of the summer, as Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire were touted with moves away from the club.

Does Harry Maguire have a long-term future at Manchester United?

Maguire looked like he was close to securing a £30m move to league rivals West Ham United during the final few weeks of the transfer window, yet he eventually decided to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place in the starting XI.

The Englishman has just under two years left on his current contract, indicating that Ten Hag doesn’t have long to move him on for a reasonable fee as it appears he isn’t part of the long term plans under the Dutchman.

This is evidenced by the fact he has played only twice so far this term, despite the Manchester giants suffering various injuries to key defenders.

Maguire may have already departed Manchester had the club secured the signature of a defender who lit up Serie A last season – Kim Min-jae.

Did Manchester United nearly sign Kim Min-jae?

Securing Champions League football and winning United’s first trophy in six years signified an impressive start to life at the helm of the Red Devils.

The former Ajax boss entered the transfer window with the aim of bolstering his first-team squad in preparation for the rigours of challenging on two fronts and this saw the club linked with numerous big names, with the Napoli defender included.

Back in June, The Mirror even claimed that the club were set to complete the signing of the player when his release clause became active at the start of July and this was set at just £43m.

This clause was only available for two weeks at the start of July however, and it meant United had only a short time period to conclude the deal.

Although it looked close to happening, the South Korean didn’t end up in the Premier League and it represented another case of missed opportunity by the Old Trafford side.

Why didn’t Manchester United sign Kim Min-jae?

Bayern Munich swooped in and announced the signing of the centre-back as the English side missed out on him, securing his services for around €50m (£43m).

With the likes of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as the key defensive duo at the club, perhaps Kim may have not started as many games as his vast talent deserved and this could well have been why he chose to move to Bayern, with a spot in the starting XI guaranteed.

Given how poor defensively United have been at times this season, conceding 14 goals, while a series of injury issues also hasn’t helped their cause, missing out on Kim is looking like a bigger mistake with every passing game.

What is Kim Min-jae doing now?

The former Napoli titan enjoyed his lone campaign in Naples, helping his team win their first league title since Diego Maradona was captain.

His performances domestically ensured he ranked third across the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.22), while also ranking first for accurate passes per game (72.8), fourth for tackles per game (1.6) and third for interceptions per game (1.2) as he demonstrated his attributes over a range of metrics.

Is it any wonder then that he was dubbed an “iron barrel” by his teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia due to his defensive nature, and he was an integral part in their wonderful title triumph as the club conceded just 28 goals in 28 matches.

Comparing his statistics to that of Maguire from last term, it’s evident who is the best of the defenders.

The 30-year-old ranked seventh in the squad for Sofascore rating (6.95), while ranking only tenth for accurate passes per game (30.6), 18th for tackles per game (0.5) and eighth for interceptions per game (0.6), which clearly showcases that Kim is by far the superior centre-back than the Englishman, judging by these statistics.

Indeed, the former Napoli gem even has a forward-thinking mentality which would’ve benefitted Ten Hag as when compared to positional peers, he ranks in the top 9% for progressive passes per 90 (5.22) and the top 12% for progressive carries per 90 (1.19), demonstrating that he likes to bring the ball out from the back as often as possible.

In comparison, Maguire ranks only in the top 46% for progressive passes per 90 (3.38) and the top 18% for progressive carries per 90 (1.03), proving that he doesn’t quite display his attacking qualities as often as Kim.

The South Korean defender has already played seven times for his new club as he looks to win more silverware with the German side.

He already looks like a bargain at just £43m and this is certainly a transfer fee which United could have afforded, regardless if they had moved on Maguire or not.

Ten Hag has missed a trick with the former Fenerbahce defender as he fitted the Dutchman’s tactical philosophy while also being able to stand his ground and display his physical presence at the heart of the defence.

Maguire surely doesn’t have much time left at United, but failing to upgrade their options at centre-back by signing Kim during the summer is looking like a major transfer howler that Ten Hag will struggle to get over anytime soon.

West Ham United's rise under David Moyes' management will forever be heralded in east London for the stunning ascent to sustained European exploits – leading to victory in the Europa Conference League last season.

Such success has meant that truly excellent players have been welcomed to the fold, with the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen coveted commodities on the European scene.

The climb to prominence even led to the attempts to sign Manchester United's Harry Maguire in the summer, but a deal wasn't agreed. Now, the Irons are believed to be back in for the titan and could move this winter.

What's the latest on Harry Maguire to West Ham?

The fact that Maguire's name remains in circulation suggests that Moyes is still optimistic that a deal could be struck in the future, and should the 30-year-old's playing time continue to cause concern such a transfer grows increasingly likely.

According to ESPN, West Ham are indeed considering a new bid for Maguire and may even lodge a formal offer in January.

It's understood that the Hammers grew weary of Maguire's unwillingness to commit to a transfer from the Theatre of Dreams and withdrew their £30m bid this summer, though with Manchester United's stance relatively unchanged a deal might be salvaged next year.

However, Maguire recently claimed that there was no agreement between the respective outfits and that he did not actually turn down a transfer to the London Stadium.

How good is Harry Maguire?

Manchester United signed Maguire from Leicester City for £80m in 2019, surpassing the world-record £75m fee Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk 18 months earlier.

Maguire had impressed in the Premier League but he has become a figure of debate for his poor performances and has received many vitriolic comments, branded as a "liability" by figures such as talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan.

Despite all of the criticism, he remains a powerful and commanding centre-half and a "leader" of men, as he has been called by international teammate Kieran Trippier.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 16% for passes attempted, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 9% for aerial wins per 90 – highlighting his ball-playing skills and imposing presence, attributes that would suit West Ham very well.

Not just an imposing unit defensively, the England international has also been known to pop up with a goal, scoring 28 goals at club level, 11 of which have come in the Premier League. Of course, he has played a great deal more games but for context, that tally was more than even Sebastien Haller managed in the top-flight of English football, netting ten times in 48 outings.

Such a glistening array of qualities could well mean the £190k-per-week star is the perfect replacement for defender Kurt Zouma, who is the West Ham captain and has been integral in Moyes' side's endeavours over the past several years.

However, as ESPN covered in their report on Maguire's transfer situation, Zouma is contracted until 2025, and while the east London side are hoping to extend his current deal, Saudi Arabian suitors are eager to exploit any hiccups in negotiations.

Zouma joined the club from Chelsea in a £30m transfer two years ago, and has been praised for his "incredible" qualities by his Scottish manager.

Clearly important to the squad's progress, Zouma's leadership could be emulated by a player of Maguire's standing, and while the Frenchman ranks among the top 4% of defenders for goals scored and the top 2% for clearances per 90, he is not known for his passing ability and ranks among the bottom 3% for passes attempted per 90.

Maguire would be an excellent replacement and one whose time in Manchester appears to be drawing to a close, earning his first Premier League start of the season last time out against Brentford but only as a by-product of injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

West Ham offer a starring role and a clean slate, and it's surely a transfer that would benefit all parties and is certainly one to keep an eye on over the coming months.