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West Bromwich Albion are still in the midst of financial difficulty at the Hawthorns, though some big comments which aren't under the restriction of NDAs have emerged regarding their future as a club.

West Brom news: Sarmiento injury, John Swift comments, Plymouth Argyle fixture

Cited by Birmingham Live, West Brom boss Carlos Corberan has been talking about loanee Jeremy Sarmiento's latest injury as he looks to keep the exciting winger fit upon his return to first-team action.

Corberan stated: "When I brought him to the club I knew he was a player we needed to control what we do with him. The positive thing was he was adapting very well to the training demands, because if you don't train the player he's not ready to compete and cannot perform. If you are training a lot with the player – then he cannot compete either. So we were managing with a lot of detail every single thing with him. I knew after Millwall the risk to have what's happened right now would be there."

In a transfer report from the same outlet regarding West Brom midfielder John Swift, it has been revealed that the 28-year-old instructed his agents to block any late summer transfer window exit from the Hawthorns despite late interest from the likes of Sky Bet Championship side Coventry City.

Swift explained: "To be honest it was so late in the window, I had no idea of it and when it did come about I knew it was two days left and nothing was going to get done – and even if it did I didn't really want to leave. As soon as I found out I rung my agent and told him I didn't really want to go, I wasn't interested in leaving.

"I wanted to stay and had my head on staying whenever we finished the game against Swansea last season. That's how it is in football, some things come right at the end [of the window], but for me it was a no-brainer to stay."

Next up for the Baggies is a home test against Plymouth Argyle next Saturday in the English second tier as Corberan's men aim to move into playoff contention despite continuous problems off the field at the West Midlands-based club.

West Brom takeover news – Managing director Mark Miles

As per The Express & Star, Baggies managing director Mark Miles has issued some huge comments in regard to West Brom's proposed takeover that could provide some much-needed clarity at the Hawthorns over the future of the club. Speaking at The Albion Assembly, Miles indicated that processes concerning new partial investment from elsewhere or a 100% sale of the club to succeed Guochuan Lai are on track to be signed off on before next summer.

Miles shared an expected timeline, which unlike much of the chatter around the deal is not under an NDA: "MM (Mark Miles) confirmed there were currently NDAs in place, which limited what he could say regarding investment/sale. However, he also confirmed he is speaking to a number of parties interested in investing in the club and expects this process to have concluded no later than the end of the season."

Speaking to West Brom News, columnist Dr Dan Plumley has given his own thoughts on when the Baggies could be taken over, as he said: "We know that these things take time in terms of a takeover, it’s never quick or easy, it will be one thing agreeing on a deal, but another thing getting it over the line.

"I think there is a time-pressing need for this given the state of the club, for sure, but I think it’s unlikely given everything we’ve seen that you would get a deal over the line by the end of the year. I think you’re looking into 2024 for that one."

West Brom continue to perform admirably on the field despite uncertainty reigning elsewhere at the club and supporters will hope a resolution can be found as soon as possible.

Chelsea have yet to click into gear under Mauricio Pochettino, yet the previous few weeks could perhaps be a turning point in their season.

Having secured just one win across their opening six Premier League matches of the season, the Argentinian failed to push the panic button and regrouped following the 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in September.

Since then, the Blues have won three of their last four matches and only a late Arsenal comeback prevented that from being four out of four, indicating that there is progress being made.

In order to challenge for the European spots however, this improvement will need to be consistent heading into the festive season and perhaps missing out on continental qualification this season is proving to be a blessing in disguise for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Chelsea have struggled in front of goal this season

Since the start of the season, only Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer than Chelsea’s nine goals in the league and this vast defensive improvement could be key as the campaign progresses.

Indeed, the Blues shipped 47 goals last term as they limped home to a dreadful 12th-place finish and Pochettino has seemingly seen this as an area that needs strengthening.

What is more concerning however is their lack of goals. Across nine games, Chelsea have scored just 13 league goals, with nine teams netting more, and in order to be pushing into the top six, Pochettino must be demanding more from his attacking options.

Both Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling have scored three goals each and the duo currently lead the scoring charts so far this season, hardly the numbers that Pochettino would have been expecting upon his arrival, especially given the vast amount of talent he has at his disposal.

The club need someone who is going to score on a regular basis, and they could well do with someone like former player Alvaro Morata, who is enjoying a wonderful season so far for Atletico Madrid.

Alvaro Morata spent just one full season at Chelsea

Having secured the Premier League title during the 2016/17 season, Antonio Conte looked to further improve his squad and signed Morata from Real Madrid for a fee that could have reached £70m.

The Spaniard had just come off the back of his most profitable season yet for the La Liga side, scoring 20 goals during the whole term, including 15 league efforts, as he won both the Champions League and top-flight titles.

On paper, it looked like a solid signing, especially as he was still relatively young and had not quite reached his peak years, but it did not work out.

While the Blues failed to retain their Premier League title, Conte led them to victory in the FA Cup final and Morata ended the season with 15 goals across all competitions, a decent return for his maiden foray into English football.

He then netted nine goals up until January, yet it was clear he fell out of favour with Maurizio Sarri and the Italian bringing Gonzalo Higuain to the club gave the former Real Madrid starlet a licence to leave.

A loan move to Atletico Madrid was confirmed and during the summer of 2019, it was revealed that the striker was set to join Atletico on a £58m deal when his loan move was completed as Frank Lampard was looking to build his team around other players.

Alvaro Morata has enjoyed success recently

He did not spend long in the Spanish capital, returning to Juventus on a single-season loan deal in 2020 and he ended up spending two years in Turin, scoring 31 times across the two years, yet the Serie A side did not take him up on a permanent deal.

Since returning to Spain however, he has enjoyed some of the best football of his career. During the 2022/23 season, Morata scored 15 goals and this was a solid platform to build on ahead of the current campaign, where he has started off magnificently.

117

45

185

59

72

24

95

32

Indeed, after only 11 matches, the 31-year-old has already found the back of the net on eight occasions and that includes three in three Champions League matches.

In Europe’s elite competition, Morata ranks first across the Atletico squad for goals and assists (three) while also ranking first for shots on target per game (1.7) and second for scoring frequency (a goal every 84 minutes) and these statistics demonstrate he is proving to be a positive influence on the squad.

It is not just on the European stage that he is impressing, with the striker ranking behind only Antonie Griezmann for La Liga goals while topping the pile for shots on target per game (1.1) and winning one penalty, and it appears as though the forward is in the form of his life.

His eight goals combined this season mean he has outscored every single Chelsea player under Pochettino and there is no doubt they could use a player in this type of form as they chase some momentum.

The season is still young and all the signs are pointing in the right direction with regard to progress being made on the pitch, especially over the last few weeks, but more will be expected from Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja heading into the next few months.

Morata failed to really showcase his true talents at Chelsea, scoring only 24 goals in 72 appearances, and was perhaps not given much of a chance following the departure of Conte in the summer of 2018.

He is not the most prolific of players, yet this season, Morata has begun brilliantly and if he keeps this sort of form up, he may start to attract attention from elsewhere.

Lampard seemingly was not a big fan of the Spaniard, based on his decision to sanction a sale, yet Chelsea are crying out for a player who is extremely clinical in the penalty area and can score all types of goals.

The January transfer market is not that far away, and only time will tell whether or not Pochettino be tempted to dive back in and spend even more money to further bolster his team.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is no stranger to spending big money in the transfer market and his next quest in the market has now been identified, according to reports.

Chelsea's transfer activity…

In the summer window, the Blues made a major splash in the market by bringing in exciting young faces such as Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Christopher Nkunku.

Chelsea summer signings

Axel Disasi (Monaco)

£38.5m

Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal)

£30.1m

Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

£52m

Kendry Paez (Independiente del Valle)

£17.27m

Robert Sanchez (Brighton)

£25m

Moises Caicedo (Brighton)

£115m

Lesley Ugochukwu (Rennes)

£23.5m

Angelo Gabriel (Santos)

Undisclosed

Alex Matos (Norwich)

Undisclosed

Diego Moreira (Benfica)

Undisclosed

Ishe Samuels-Smith (Everton)

Undisclosed

Dujuan Richards (Phoenix All Stars Academy)

Undisclosed

Romeo Lavia (Southampton)

£58m

Deivid Washington (Santos)

£17.1m

Djordje Petrovic (New England Revolution)

£14m

Cole Palmer (Manchester City)

£42.5m

All fees courtesy of Sky Sports

With any bedding in process regarding new players, some fare better than others, which is reflected in the fact that Chelsea sit tenth in the Premier League table, having taken 16 points from their opening 12 fixtures.

Nevertheless, Argentinian coach Pochettino is keen to strengthen his side even further over the next window or two. Recent reports have suggested that Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen is on the radar at Stamford Bridge and the Nigeria international has indicated that he is open to a move to west London.

CaughtOffside report that Chelsea have also met with Brentford striker Ivan Toney's entourage as bringing a number nine into the building continues to be a pressing priority for Pochettino. Arsenal are also strong contenders to acquire the England international. Despite initial claims that Toney could leave Brentford for £80-100 million, the outlet signify that the 27-year-old could be available for as little as £55 million.

One Spanish publication has speculated that Barcelona winger Raphinha is another name in Chelsea's sights as the Blues aim to add more variety in the final third to help break down opposition backlines. Despite this, midfield is another area where Chelsea are plotting potential signings, and one report has now revealed that the Premier League giants have a significant advantage in the chase for a young star.

Chelsea lead Gabriel Moscardo race

Taking to social media platform X, Evening Standard football correspondent Nizaar Kinsella has issued an update regarding Chelsea's pursuit of Corinthians midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, claiming that the Blues are now "leading the race" for the 18-year-old, who is "one for the future".

In the attached report from the Evening Standard, it is claimed that it could cost interested suitors a fee in the region of £26 million to tempt Moscardo to seek a new challenge. Barcelona, Arsenal and Liverpool are also keen on the Brazil Under-23 international; however, Corinthians will not discuss his potential sale until after their presidential elections have concluded on November 25th.

Moscardo, who has been labelled "unique" by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig, primarily operates as a defensive midfielder and has won 2.1 tackles per fixture alongside making 1.3 clearances and 1.1 interceptions per appearance in the Brazilian top-flight (Moscardo statistics – WhoScored).

In an already crowded midfield environment, Moscardo would be likely to fall under the umbrella of being another long-term project for Pochettino to develop at Stamford Bridge if he were to move to the English capital.

The last international break for around four months is finally behind us as Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action this weekend.

During the last break, the Gers were in crisis, having just sacked Michael Beale and the Ibrox hierarchy went on a mad dash to find an appropriate successor.

They announced Philippe Clement just a few weeks later, and it's safe to say, the move has gone swimmingly so far.

The Ibrox faithful shouldn’t get carried away, however, as there have been managers in the past who have enjoyed decent starts before their reigns turned into a disaster (looking at you Giovanni van Bronckhorst) and their feet should remain firmly on the ground.

The performances under the Belgian have been much better than what was served up under Beale and with a League Cup final to contest next month, the Light Blues could secure their first piece of silverware in 18 months.

A tie against Aberdeen in the league is first up, however, and following on from their 2-0 victory over Livingston last time out, Clement could make a few changes ahead of the trip to the north-east.

With that mind, here's how the Gers could lineup this weekend

1 GK – Jack Butland

The ever-present Rangers player has featured in every single match this season and his performances between the sticks have been excellent.

While Beale failed to really improve sections of the squad during the summer, luring Butland from England has proven to be a stroke of genius, and he will start once again versus the Dons.

The 30-year-old has kept eight clean sheets in 12 league ties and another one against Barry Robson’s men could be crucial.

2 RB – James Tavernier

The captain will be leading the side out on Sunday as he aims to maintain their recent excellent form by securing another three points.

Tavernier has scored 11 goals and grabbed three assists – no other Rangers player has more goal contributions – and he would love to add to this tally.

If he leads the Gers to a win, it will give them a major boost heading into the League Cup final against the same opposition in just three weeks.

3 CB – Connor Goldson

Connor Goldson has been solid under Clement so far, starting every match during his tenure, and the club have conceded only three goals in that period.

The defender has been a colossus at the heart of the defence, winning 72% of his total duels so far this season, and if he is in this type of mood, the Aberdeen forwards stand no chance.

4 CB – Leon Balogun

The question is, who will partner Goldson on Sunday? Balogun certainly deserves another start following his impressive display against Livingston a few weeks ago.

The Nigerian won a staggering 13 out of 15 total duels during the tie while also making four clearances and three interceptions to keep Livi at bay.

He may be approaching the end of his career, yet the 35-year-old is still a class act on the pitch when given a chance.

5 LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

Three of his four league starts have come under Clement and the Turkish gem should be given the opportunity to show his worth from the start against Aberdeen.

With the future of Borna Barisic still unclear, Yilmaz is the heir to his throne at left back and the more he plays, the better he will become.

6 CM – John Lundstram

The midfielder has returned to some solid form this campaign, and he will be unleashed in the starting XI for the ninth league game on the trot.

The Englishman has created two big chances and averages 1.1 key passes per game, linking the defence to the attack quite nicely, and he will be looking to prove to Clement that he deserves a contract extension.

7 CM – Jose Cifuentes

The former Los Angeles FC midfielder hasn’t started a match since the 3-0 win over St Mirren at the beginning of October, but three sub appearances in the last four matches indicate that he is ready to start.

This means Ryan Jack is dropped to the bench for the tie against his former team. The Scot has entered into the final year of his deal at the club, but he has been impressive this term.

The Ecuadorian needs game time, however, and once he returns to full fitness, he will be a key asset for Clement.

8 RW – Ross McCausland

The young winger has enjoyed a wonderful few weeks. Firstly, he made his first start for the Light Blues in their win over Livingston, winning a penalty and even scored, but the goal was disallowed.

Then, he made his debut for Northern Ireland during their recent Euro 2024 qualifier against Finland and it could be the beginning of a fine career for the starlet.

9 AM – Todd Cantwell

Often deployed out on the right-hand side this season, Todd Cantwell’s best position is just behind the striker.

Indeed, he scored four goals and grabbed four assists from that position during the second half of the 2022/23 season after he joined the club from Norwich City in January.

He should be unleashed by Clement as, when in top form, Cantwell is able to cause opposition defences plenty of trouble.

10 LW – Abdallah Sima

The on-loan winger has been wonderful this season since arriving in the summer from Brighton and Hove Albion.

He has been a solid attacking threat from the left-hand side, scoring nine goals already and his pace has been a valuable asset.

Expect him to start against the Dons.

Leeds United are keen to to strengthen their promotion credentials and have now initiated contact over a potential incoming this month, according to a report.

Leeds' January transfer plans

Following a commendable showing in the first half of the Championship campaign, Leeds will now turn their attention towards the transfer window as Daniel Farke looks to add further quality to his squad at Elland Road following a little blip in form prior to the win over Birmingham.

Incomings and outgoings will be expected over the course of this month and there will be a palpable sense of excitement from supporters, who will be keen to see the German coach add strength in depth to a roster that has been stretched by injury concerns this campaign.

Leeds could sign a dream Rutter partner in January who Bielsa once wanted

Leeds United could strike gold in the upcoming transfer window signing this excellent star.

ByKelan Sarson Dec 31, 2023

Bournemouth winger David Brooks has been linked with a loan move to the Whites and Cherries manager Andoni Iraola refused to rule out a departure for the Wales international in a recent interview, cited by The Bournemouth Daily Echo, stating: "It is not about one individual situation. It’s a matter sometimes of what they think. David the other day came on and played very good minutes. Some players probably are not getting the minutes they want.They have to discuss with the club and take the best possible option for everyone."

Departures will also pave the way for new arrivals and duo Wilfried Gnonto and Charlie Cresswell could seek a new challenge elsewhere after reports indicated that interest in their services from elsewhere is growing, with both said to be open to leaving Elland Road.

A left-back is on the radar for Farke as he begins to get his ducks in a row in the market, with that position one the club are desperate to strengthen in having been linked to a whole host of players.

Leeds United make contact for Josh Doig

According to reports in Italy, via MOT Leeds News, Leeds have held talks with Hellas Verona defender Josh Doig's intermediaries as the Scot looks to move elsewhere in the January transfer window.

Five similar players to Josh Doig (FBRef)

Player

Club

Pasquale Mazzocchi

Salernitana

Pablo Maffeo

Mallorca

Raoul Bellanova

Torino

Rico Henry

Brentford

Jerome Roussillon

Union Berlin

The outlet claim that Serie A pair Torino and Monza are looking at securing the 21-year-old this month; meanwhile, Rangers are also keen on offering him a return to Scotland after nearly two years in mainland Europe.

Heralded as a player with "incredible potential" by Gabriele Cioffi back in 2022, the Scotland Under-21 international has joined a growing cluster of countrymen who have moved to Italy to continue their development, and he has made 34 appearances in total for his current employers, registering two goals and four assists (Doig statistics – Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, he could now be on the move and could address Leeds' need for reinforcements on the left-hand side of their backline, which has been compromised at times this campaign due to injury concerns involving Junior Firpo, Sam Byram and Stuart Dallas.

One normal weekend of Barclays, that’s all Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal team were left asking for on Saturday evening.

This season has seen an unparalleled amount of attention on the PGMOL and Howard Webb’s merry band of referees.

The standard of officiating in this country has seemingly plummeted to an all time low. Apologies have made, statements have been shared left, right and centre, and yet still decisions are being made incorrectly.

Arteta may well need to look closer to home for why they lost 1-0 to Newcastle at a raucous St James’ Park this weekend, but the officiating for both sides left a lot to be desired.

A ridiculous and untimely challenge from Kai Havertz in the first half could have warranted a red card on another day while Bruno Guimaraes could have been sent for an early bath too after deliberately using his forearm to hit Jorginho in the back of the head.

The biggest moment of controversy, however, came when Newcastle took the lead.

How Arsenal lost to Newcastle

Truth be told, the Gunners didn’t play too badly in the north east on Saturday night.

A rigid and organised defence that had kept a clean sheet against Manchester City was on display again while Declan Rice’s powerhouse nature ensured Arteta’s men won the midfield battle.

However, it was in attack where they were lacking. A 0-0 draw would have been a fair result until a moment of chaos ensued just after the hour mark.

A stray shot from Jacob Murphy almost went out for a goal kick down by the corner flag but Joe WIllock, once of Arsenal himself, didn’t give it up. On the angle we were given during the TV coverage, it looked as though the ball was out. Alas, that was one of three VAR decisions that was seen as fine after Anthony Gordon had scored from close range.

A flighted ball in was missed by David Raya and couldn’t be dealt with by Gabriel who was seemingly shoved to the ground by Joelinton. No foul was adjudged to have been made. The next decision was assessing whether Gordon was onside.

The VAR claimed he was, although Arteta wasn’t happy, launching an aggressive series of vocal attacks towards the officials in his post-match press conference.

Indeed, he could blame the officiating all he likes, but the fact of the matter is that a number of players in red and white let him down.

Arsenal’s worst player vs Newcastle

After a £65m move from Chelsea in the summer much has been expected of Havertz but it was his ludicrous tackle in the first half that nearly put Arsenal down a man.

It was a big evening for the German who was given more of a creative role with Martin Odegaard missing through injury. Create he did not. In fact, he only served to frustrate more as the Gunners failed to score.

A large part of their failings in offensive areas was also down to the average performance of Eddie Nketiah.

A week ago the club’s number 14 was in inspired from against Sheffield United, netting his first Premier League hat-trick.

It was a display that saw him become the club’s joint top goal scorer this season alongside Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. That fact doesn’t tell the full story though.

At home, Nketiah offers the ability to hold the ball up and run the channels. He doesn’t set the world alight but his performance levels are generally sufficient.

Away from home, however, the English striker has been the definition of mediocre. In 52 league outings on the road, he’s only found the net five times. For a team chasing a Premier League title that simply isn’t good enough.

It was feels harsh to criticise someone who’s scored three only a week ago but barring that, Arsenal need to see a lot more from Nketiah while Gabriel Jesus is out injured.

On Saturday, he struggled for any real service and was starved of the ball. That said, he very rarely made himself available.

As per FotMob, Nketiah only registered 33 touches of the ball, just one more than Raya and completed 16 passes, the worst of any starter for Arsenal, including the enigmatic Havertz. Even substitute Oleksandr Zinchenko made more with 30. Only two of those passes, meanwhile, were in the final third. Worrying for your focal point in attack.

Shots

1

Pass Accuracy

14/16

Expected Goals (xG)

0.15

Touches

33

Touches in opposition box

5

Successful Dribbles

0/2

Duels Won

5

Duels Lost

9

Fouls Committed

2

Stats via FotMob.

To make matters worse, the forward managed one shot, which was off target, and failed to complete either of his two attempted dribbles.

On top of that, the 24-year-old won 33% of his ground duels and 40% of his aerial duels as the Newcastle defenders well and truly bullied him. It was hardly a surprise to see his display get labelled as "anonymous" by some, including Arseblog's Andrew Allen.

This was not a night to savour for Nketiah who offered very little in attack. With the academy graduate largely underwhelming and Jesus’ fitness record inconsistent, the purchase of a new striker could well be looming in January. Such an eventuality may well determine whether Arteta’s men have what it takes to win the title.

Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table back to seven points as they beat Hearts 4-1 away from home on Sunday.

The Hoops took the lead through Matt O'Riley and goals from Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi made it three, before a consolation goal from Lawrence Shankland, and Tomoki Iwati added the fourth.

Reo Hatate also had the opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet as he missed from the penalty spot just seconds into the second half after Kyogo was brought down in the box.

O'Riley was one of a number of impressive performers for Brendan Rodgers' side as he caught the eye with a stunning midfield display.

Alongside the Denmark U21 international, Cameron Carter-Vickers was an unsung hero at the back for the Hoops with his fantastic contributions towards the three points.

How did Matt O'Riley perform against Hearts?

The former Fulham midfielder was exceptional in the middle of the park and at the heart of most of Celtic's good play to carve open the Hearts defence.

His sublime left-footed finish on the volley from Luis Palma's pass inside the opening four minutes set the tone for the match as his side went on to win fairly comfortably.

As per Sofascore, O'Riley created three chances and completed 84% of his passes, along with two dribbles out of five attempted. This shows that the talented youngster was reliable in possession whilst also being creative and able to take risks without giving the ball away regularly.

The ex-MK Dons man played a clever pass to Hatate in the build-up to Maeda's goal and was constantly looking to stretch and make the defence work with his movement and passes.

He played a crucial role in Celtic's victory but Rodgers' central defender – Carter-Vickers – also deserves plenty of credit for his performance in defence.

How did Cameron Carter-Vickers perform against Hearts?

The USA international, who donned the captain's armband after Callum McGregor was substituted, produced a dominant display at the back for the Bhoys.

Carter-Vickers was a rock in defence for the Hoops and did not allow Kenneth Vargas or Shankland to get the better of him during the early exchanges when the home side tried to press and probe to find an equaliser after O'Riley's strike.

He brilliantly dealt with any balls in behind, including one fantastic last-ditch challenge on Vargas, and did not allow any opposition player to get the better of him in the air.

As per Sofascore, the former Tottenham Hotspur prospect won 93% (13/14) of his duels throughout the game, which included a 100% aerial battle success rate (8/8).

The 25-year-old titan made three clearances, one block, two tackles, and two interceptions. This shows that it was far from a quiet game for the defender and his interventions were important to allow the attackers to push on and win the match comfortably.

Carter-Vickers, who completed 84% of his 69 attempted passes, provided the solid base from which the rest of the team were able to build an impressive performance in possession.

Therefore, he was the unsung hero as an excellent defender in what turned out to be a fantastic goal-filled showing from the Scottish giants.

Tottenham Hotspur recruitment chiefs think one club's mainstay midfielder is a potential star in the making, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy now seemingly readying a move.

Spurs closing in on early January deals

Following the widely reported capture of RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner on a six-month loan deal, it is now believed that Tottenham are close to signing Genoa star Radu Dragusin as well.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The north Londoners are currently chasing Champions League qualification after a stellar first season overall for manager Ange Postecoglou, who has quickly endeared himself to the hearts of Spurs supporters.

The Australian's brand of intense, attack-minded football is easy on the eye, with Tottenham sealing some impressive results this season despite a plethora of injury and suspension problems.

Postecoglou has been left very short defensively in particular. First-choice centre-back pairing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been unavailable for long periods since early November, exposing Spurs' real lack of depth in defence and prompting them to open talks for Dragusin this month.

Spurs' head coach will be eager to get the Romanian to N17 as soon as possible, but it's also believed that Levy and sporting director Johan Lange would like to bring in a centre-midfielder as well.

Tottenham have been linked with a move for Chelsea star Conor Gallagher if they can offload Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg before January 31, alongside the likes of Royal Antwerp ace Arthur Vermeeren. Now, it is believed the north Londoners have their eyes on Blackburn Rovers star Adam Wharton as well.

Tottenham "readying a move" for Wharton

The 19-year-old, who has been a mainstay in Blackburn's midfield this season, starting 20 games and playing 24 overall, is seen as a potential "star in the making" by Spurs.

That is according to Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, who also claim Tottenham are "readying a move" to sign Wharton after scouting him extensively this season.

While it is believed a transfer is unlikely to happen in January, the Lilywhites are apparently stepping up their interest in the Englishman ahead of a possible 2024 swoop.

The teenage sensation, who can play across the midfield, currently ranks as one of Rovers' best-performing players by average match rating according to WhoScored.

Blackburn 1-2 Watford

7.82

Watford 1-0 Blackburn

7.52

Blackburn 4-2 Birmingham City

7.51

Blackburn 1-2 Preston

7.50

Coventry City 1-0 Blackburn

7.40

“I saw Adam’s quality on the ball immediately when I arrived here," said Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson to Rovers TV.

“I’ve been pushing him every day, he’s a young boy who wants to learn and he has a big future. I’m on him every day, he has to demand more from himself as well.

“He’s a great player but there’s still a lot to learn off the ball. The important thing with Adam is that he’s willing to learn. He’s done a great job, he’s a positive boy and he’s already developed a lot and he has the mentality to become better every day."

West Bromwich Albion's promotion credentials will be under the microscope this coming Saturday when Carlos Corberan's playoff-chasing Baggies face off against Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town, the Tractor Boys loving life back in the Championship with the Suffolk club in second spot currently.

Corberan's men are way off Ipswich in terms of points in the division, but West Brom's focus will be fixed on trying to make it into the playoff positions this season – outside of the playoff picture at the time of writing owing to goal difference, Sunderland above the Baggies in sixth nervously looking over their shoulder to see what the West Midlands club does next.

West Brom's manager will have a number of selection calls to ponder over for the upcoming game at the Hawthorns, selecting the very best lineup he thinks can go toe-to-toe with the confident visitors in what is an exciting match-up on paper.

With that in mind, here is how Corberan could set his side up this weekend – with two possible alterations from the latest defeat to Southampton.

1 GK – Alex Palmer

Everpresent in all of West Brom's 16 Championship games so far, Palmer starting against Ipswich Town will be one of the simpler decisions when it comes to team selection from Corberan's perspective.

Keeping seven clean sheets this season, only conceding 17 goals when he has been unfortunately beaten, the 27-year-old's position in the starting lineup is surely set in stone for Saturday.

2 RB – Darnell Furlong

Darnell Furlong will also be retained in Corberan's first-team plans for the clash against Ipswich, very rarely missing a game for the Baggies whether that be at the back or played slightly more forward in a right midfield spot.

He's featured in all 16 second-tier games for West Brom much like his teammate Palmer, a shoo-in for a starting position against the Tractor Boys.

3 CB – Kyle Bartley

Scoring against the Saints last time out – Bartley bundling the ball into the back of the net after a Brandon Thomas-Asante effort clattered the crossbar – the 32-year-old could be key at the back up against Ipswich's high-energy attacking line of Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst by successfully marshalling them out of the contest.

Averaging 3.8 ball recoveries per 90 minutes this season, according to Sofascore, Bartley will hope he can act as a Baggies brick wall when swarms of Ipswich attackers do come his way.

4 CB – Cedric Kipre

Missing from the West Brom starting eleven only once this campaign so far – benched when the Baggies played Millwall at the Hawthorns – Kipre should start this Saturday to take his season tally to 16 appearances.

Kipre has been a colossus in many of his performances, the Ivory Coast defender standing out in West Brom's 2-0 win over Coventry recently – blocking three shots to foil the Sky Blues and clearing the ball away seven times to consolidate a clean sheet, as per Sofascore.

5 LB – Conor Townsend

Corberan shouldn't have to make any changes in his defence, with Conor Townsend another trusted member of the backline at the Baggies.

Performing below his usual high standards in a West Brom strip away at St Mary's – the 30-year-old losing all six of his attempted ground duels – West Brom's Spanish manager will still stick by his full-back for the visit of Ipswich in the hope that he raises his performance level in such a high-octane contest.

6 RM – Grady Diangana

Once on West Ham United's books as a youngster developing at the Hammers, Grady Diangana has since become a key player at West Brom with the 25-year-old entering his fifth successive season with the club this campaign.

Often blowing hot and cold as many exciting maverick-style players tend to do, West Brom's number 11 has two goals and three assists from 11 games played this season.

Two of those assists were notched up in just one game, Diangana a nuisance for the Hull City defenders all night in a 3-1 win at the Hawthorns over the Tigers.

7 CM – Okay Yokuşlu

West Brom's defensively sound Turkish midfielder should start again for the West Midlanders for the evening kick-off, Okay Yokuşlu solid in recent contests for Corberan's playoff-aspiring team.

In a 2-0 home win over QPR back in mid-October, the 29-year-old was no-nonsense in approach.

Tough into the tackle by winning three of his four ground duels, West Brom's number 35 excels at doing the dirty work in the centre of the park allowing other midfield options the freedom to get forward subsequently.

8 CM – Alex Mowatt

The first change Corberan could look to make for the game at the weekend could be starting Alex Mowatt over Nathaniel Chalobah, the former Leeds United man standing out when substituted on against Southampton.

Mowatt was a far more effective attacking presence than Chalobah when introduced, pushing his team further forward to attempt an unlikely comeback.

As per Sofascore, the 28-year-old had 44 touches from just 34 minutes on the pitch in a bid to leave his mark on the contest. Unfortunately for Mowatt and the rest of the team, he couldn't quite be the difference-maker but this individual display could see him start against Ipswich.

9 LM – Matt Phillips

Playing for Blackpool, Sheffield United and QPR before finding a settled home in the West Midlands with West Brom in 2016, Phillips continues to be a talented winger despite the twilight of his career fast approaching him now at 32 years of age.

Starting all 16 games for Corberan's Baggies this season – even with youngster Tom Fellows pushing Phillips and Diangana all the way for a starting spot – Phillips has registered three goals and two assists to show he's still a reliable creator going forward and why his manager keeps picking him.

10 ST – Josh Maja

Once on loan with Fulham in the Premier League from then parent club FC Girondins de Bordeaux, West Brom snapped up Maja on a free transfer deal this summer after the Ligue 1 outfit released their former EFL hot-shot.

Bursting onto the scene in English football with Sunderland as a teenage sensation up top, the "rare" talent – as hailed by former Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe – hasn't really got going yet for the Baggies, but he could be pushing for a starting spot this weekend if fit.

With Thomas-Asante having not been in rich goalscoring form recently – failing to find the net in his last two displays – it could open the door for a surprise Maja start.

With Manchester United currently enduring what has been a rather dismal first few months of the campaign, supporters will likely already be looking ahead to the upcoming January transfer window in the hope of some fresh blood being brought in to bolster the ranks.

The Red Devils were notably particularly active during the winter window earlier this year after snapping up the likes of Marcel Sabitzer, Jack Butland and Wout Weghorst on short-term deals, albeit with the latter man, in particular, failing to fire amid a limp six-month stay at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman – who scored just twice for the club in total in 31 outings – had been brought in to plug the gap following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, with a striking addition seemingly again required this time around, as Anthony Martial has just six months left to run on his existing contract.

Player

Goals

Scott McTominay

6

Bruno Fernandes

5

Rasmus Hojlund

5

Casemiro

4

Alejandro Garnacho

3

Marcus Rashford

2

Anthony Martial

2

Stats via BBC Sport

Amid that need for a genuine rival to young Rasmus Hojlund, recent reports have indicated that Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy is of interest to United, even though the 27-year-old could well represent just another Weghorst as far as Erik ten Hag is concerned.

Man Utd transfer news – Serhou Guirassy

As reported by The Guardian's Ed Aarons last week, Ten Hag and co are believed to be interested in signing the Guinea striker and have even made contact with agents regarding a possible swoop in the New Year.

As per the piece, the former Ajax boss is chasing a suitable alternative to Hojlund with the Dane failing to score in the Premier League so far this season, while there is a potential for the club to try and 'find a buyer' for the floundering Martial.

Any deal for Guirassy is likely to be an attractive prospect due to his minimal release clause of just €17m (£15m), albeit with the Red Devils set to face competition from top-flight rivals Newcastle United, who also have the in-form marksman on their winter shortlist.

The stats to show why Man Utd shouldn't sign Serhou Guirassy

On the face of it, the 6 foot 2 brute looks like the perfect, bargain option to help ease United's attacking woes.

Available for as little as £15m, the former Stade Rennais man is among the top forwards in Europe at present with regard to his goalscoring form in 2023/24, having already netted 16 Bundesliga goals this season.

To put that into perspective, that figure is only bettered by former United target Harry Kane (18) in the German top-flight, while in the Premier League, Erling Haaland leads the way with 'just' 14 league goals.

Ruling out signing Guirassy may look rather foolish when the player is currently in such esteemed company, although as data analyst Ben Griffis has suggested, such a hot streak is a result of "xG over-performance" in front of goal.

According to Griffis, the forward's 'over-performance' is seemingly "very unsustainable", while he is also usually "wildly inconsistent" – hardly the words those at the Theatre of Dreams would like to hear.

While the one-time Lille man did net 11 goals in just 22 league games last season for Stuttgart, prior to that he had very much been a middling striker, never scoring more than ten league goals across his entire career in a single campaign.

Equally, as Ten Hag learned with Weghorst, success in the Bundesliga is not always a good judge of a player's talents, with the towering Dutchman, for instance, previously scoring 70 goals in just 144 games for Wolfsburg, prior to his woes at both United and Burnley – for whom he also scored just twice.

Having been stung by the frankly desperate signing of the current Hoffenheim man, the Red Devils must think again before repeating that mistake with regard to Guirassy, with it likely better to wait until the summer in order to land a target with a proven track record over a sustained period.