All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa have started the 2023/24 campaign in style, as Unai Emery continues to bring the best out of his squad just over a year after taking over at Villa Park.

The Spaniard has introduced a new level of performance since taking the reins from Steven Gerrard last October, firing the Villans from 16th place to 7th in his first spell as manager.

Based on his successes in the 2022/23 campaign and his strong summer of business in the transfer market, Emery was well poised to continue where he left off at the start of this season, which he has done so far in the Premier League.

Villa currently sit just one point outside of the top four and have found their feet in the Europa Conference League, however, the former Arsenal boss may be hoping to seek further reinforcements to bolster his squad in January.

Aston Villa January transfer targets

Villa started the season agonisingly, losing both Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings to long-term injuries, and losing their opening game 5-1 to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

The injury woes immediately left the Villans short to a degree, however, Emery opted to use the summer market to paper over the cracks, welcoming centre-back Clement Lenglet and forward Nicolo Zaniolo late into the window.

While the defence has found sanctuary without Mings as he continues to recover, Zaniolo has not quite hit the pace required to make a significant impact in the side, suggesting that Villa could delve back into the window for further forwards.

Reports in Spain, relayed by BirminghamLive, have suggested that the Villans are one of the interested parties eyeing Real Madrid outsider Brahim Diaz.

The former Manchester City academy talent is said to be available in January for a fee of €20m (£17m), as he continues to struggle to find a way into Carlo Ancelotti’s squad after returning from his recurring loan spells at AC Milan.

Another player said to be eyed by the Midlands club is Sporting CP forward Pedro Goncalves, who is well known to those in the Midlands for his inconclusive time at Wolves.

A report from Portugal, relayed by Sport Witness, claims that Villa may be ready to pay the 25-year-old’s €80m (£70m) release clause in the January window in the bid to strengthen their front line.

Returning to news in Spain, also relayed by Sport Witness, an update on the future of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams has been provided, with Villa named as a club that could be handed the opportunity to finally sign him.

It’s said that the 21-year-old whiz has already turned the Midlands club down twice previously, however, due to his ongoing contract disputes over extending his current deal that runs to next summer, he could soon be on the move.

Sport Witness relayed that the Spaniard is insistent on a short-term contract and a clause that could allow him to leave in the future, with a €50m (£43.5m) release clause currently in place in his contract with his boyhood club.

Nico Williams has had a strong start to 2023/24

Following in the footsteps of his brother and teammate, Inaki, Williams has prevailed as one of Bilbao’s best-performing players so far in the 2023/24 campaign.

In La Liga, the winger’s efforts have seen him rise to the top of the in-squad charts for his performances, ranking as the squad’s best when it comes to his averages of two key passes and 2.4 dribbles per game, via WhoScored.

The 21-year-old gem is third in the squad rankings of overall match rating, in which he’s maintained an encouraging 7.03 rating, with his contribution in the final third noted by him sitting in joint-second for assists, with two on the board.

While it is one strength to be one of the best within the club, it is another to stand out and perform alongside those elsewhere in the league, with La Liga being home to some of the best talents in the world.

Nico Williams 2023/24 La Liga averages per 90

Statistic

Average

League Rank

Assists

0.37

Top 3%

Progressive carries

4.97

Top 3%

Successful take-ons

3.13

Top 3%

Key passes

2.58

Top 10%

Figures via FBref

As highlighted in the table above, Williams is a force to be reckoned with in the Spanish top-tier so far this season, ranking highly in the attributes required to be a winger performing at the highest level.

Once hailed as “dynamite” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the talented maestro has shown consistently explosive form when going forward, with his ball carrying and creative strengths the most valuable elements of his playing style, as shown by the aforementioned statistics.

Nico Williams could challenge Emiliano Buendia

In Williams, Emery could discover a player with a paralleled style to that of Buendia, with Mango describing the Spaniard as a player able to “play on both wings” while being a “highly creative thinker”.

As well as being the typical threat in the wide channels with his dribbling strengths and pace, Williams enjoys taking up the role of a playmaker, with traits identical to Buendia.

The Argentine was signed by Villa after recording a phenomenal season in the Championship with Norwich City, in which he netted 15 goals and recorded 17 assists in the Canaries’ promotion season.

Admittedly, things have not worked as swimmingly for the 26-year-old wizard at Villa Park, where in 78 appearances, he has scored just nine goals and registered only nine assists, representing a severe dip in performance.

Links to Williams come at an interesting time with reference to Buendia, with him set to return from injury in February, with little guarantee that he will immediately return to the fold amid additional competition being added to the squad.

Signing the Spanish sensation could be bad news for the Argentine magician, who already faces competition in the form of Moussa Diaby and the improved performances of Leon Bailey, who both epitomise the strengths the manager wants from his wide players.

Buendia vs Williams 2022/23 respective league campaigns

Emiliano Buendia

Nico Williams

Progressive passes

5.15

2.71

Progressive carries

2.24

5.90

Successful take-ons

1.01

2.81

Shots on target %

22.4%

32.8%

Key passes

1.53

1.56

Per 90 figures via FBref

As portrayed in the table above, prior to his injury, Buendia was performing at a lower rate than Williams during their respective 2022/23 campaigns, displaying that Villa could bolster their options by capturing his signature in January.

Relating to the strengths of Diaby and Bailey, the Bilbao whiz certainly fits the criteria wanted by Emery, showing an extremely direct style of play and being a player who can influence games in the final third.

Buendia is facing an ongoing battle to recover from his agonising injury, however at the point of his return, the challenges could become even more significant if Villa opt to explore the availability of Williams.

Liverpool have shrugged off the malaise of the 2022/23 campaign, but it's perhaps understandable that there are some residual problems despite the successful midfield rebuild.

Such issues were evidenced in bleak light at Kenilworth Road last weekend, where newly-promoted Luton Town stifled the Reds with a dogged, resilient display, with Luis Diaz's emotional late equaliser salvaging a point that was perhaps not quite deserved.

Nonetheless, Liverpool claimed a point on the road and advanced to third place in the Premier League following Arsenal's defeat against Newcastle United – should Tottenham Hotspur fail to beat Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp's side will be just three points off the peak.

The priority will be securing defensive reinforcements to the backline and midfield, strengthening the squad and establishing balance.

However, such needs have not stopped Florian Wirtz's name from entering transfer speculation, with the talented Germany international potentially unlocking a new level of the Reds' frontline.

Liverpool transfer news

According to the Star – via the Daily Mail – Liverpool have identified Wirtz as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah's role as the Anfield side's all-conquering forward force.

Valued at around £80m, European juggernauts such as Chelsea, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are also hoping to secure the Bayer Leverkusen prodigy's signature, but Klopp hopes to use his contacts in his homeland (and Liverpool's link to Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso) to seal the deal.

Manchester United, while keen admirers of the dynamic star, are reportedly out of the running given the circumstances surrounding the club, which could pave the way for Liverpool to enter formal negotiations in 2024.

Florian Wirtz's style of play

Described as an "elite talent" by informed scout Jacek Kulig, Wirtz is blooming into quite the player and has been at the heart of his German side's resounding start to the season, who top the Bundesliga table after ten matches, two points ahead of Bayern Munich.

The 12-cap star has scored 29 goals and supplied 39 assists from 118 senior appearances for his outfit, though his remarkable start to life on the senior stage took a big, bruising blow after an ACL injury two years ago.

The £42k-per-week ace rebounded from his injury with an impressive reintegration last season, however, clinching four goals and four assists from just 19 starts across all competitions.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Key passes

Aerial duels

Dribbling

Passing

Through balls

Ball retention

*Sourced via WhoScored

As per FBref, the 20-year-old ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and attempted passes, the top 3% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

These metrics encapsulate the scope of Wirtz's ability, really highlighting just how effective he is in attacking sequences, belying his age and the shocking injury that could have tainted his development.

While his supplementation has been noted, Wirtz is also growing into a clinical presence, and though his nine assists from 15 matches are breathtaking numbers for one so young, he has also scored six goals, having unleashed two shots per game in the Bundesliga.

Liverpool's interest might come as a surprise to some given the importance of signing a sturdy anchor for the midfield and adding to a backline that clearly needs buttressing, but Klopp is seemingly enamoured by his prodigious countryman, and will monitor his progress regardless.

His versatility is evidently a factor, basically capable of impressing across the park; deep-lying midfield, destructive wideman, dynamic centre-forward, Wirtz has the whole gamut and could prove to be Klopp's very own Heung-min Son, who he has drawn comparisons to.

How Florian Wirtz compares to Heung-min Son

It's hard to believe that one so talented and effective in their craft is still in the embryonic stage of their career, but Wirtz's rise speaks volumes of his skill set and ability to cement a spot at the very forefront of the game.

Son has recently been playing – very well – centrally, but has typically been utilised on the left wing since signing for Tottenham from, as it happens, Bayer Leverkusen in a £22m transfer in 2015, having now posted 153 goals and 81 assists across 383 outings for the London club.

#

Player

Club

1

Dejan Kuusevski

Tottenham

2

Heung-min Son

Tottenham

3

James Maddison

Tottenham

4

Bryan Mbeumo

Brentford

5

Marco Reus

Borussia Dortmund

*Sourced via Football Transfers

As the table delineates, Wirtz is both an incisive forward and a seamless, prolific creator, and seems to be something of a hybrid between Son and James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur, with Dejan Kulusevski also likened.

Spurs' deadly attacking duo, Maddison and Son play rather different roles in Postecoglou's system, with the former serving as the chief playmaker in the centre of the park, and doing so with aplomb, while the South Korean menace wreaks havoc in the final third.

Indeed, following Harry Kane's sale to Bayern Munich in the summer, there were perhaps a few arched eyebrows after Postecoglou opted not to replace the club's record scorer with an established, first-class finisher.

Why? Tottenham already wielded one of the finest strikers in the Premier League, and since Son's shift into the centre-forward role this term, he has plundered eight goals from seven matches, illustrating his prowess at the focal point.

Wirtz might thrive in a No. 10 kind of role, picking passes and dragging defenders around like a lion toying with fatigued prey, but he has often been deployed on the left flank and has more recently been utilised in a striking role, playing off the striker.

Described as an "extraordinary player" by sporting director Simon Rolfes, Wirtz is indisputably one of the most exciting offensive talents in Europe right now, and has indeed found success in his finishing ability, chance creation and silky motions through the half-spaces.

Should Liverpool get their hands on him, he could play a role on the left side of the attack and could even fill in as the central spearhead.

The first port of call for Klopp's transfer team might be to shore up the defensive side of the squad, but in the long-term, there are few attacking outlets of greater potential that could wreak havoc in the final third than Wirtz, and if an opportunity arises, he simply must be signed.

Glasgow Rangers have enjoyed a fantastic start to life under their next head coach Philippe Clement with four wins in his first five competitive matches.

The only time they have dropped points under the Belgian tactician so far came in a 0-0 draw away at Sparta Prague in the Europa League, with wins over Hibernian, Dundee, and Hearts twice alongside that.

They booked their place in the final of the Scottish League Cup with a comfortable 3-1 win over Hearts last weekend, thanks to a brace from James Tavernier and a strike from winger Scott Wright.

Clement has been able to hit the ground running at Ibrox despite only having the players he inherited available to him, due to his arrival being outside of a transfer window.

This means that January will be the ex-Club Brugge boss' first chance to bring in his own gems to shape his squad and ensure that he has all the options that he needs to implement his desired style of play.

Rangers transfer news – Nathaniel Adjei

One player who could be on his way to Ibrox in the upcoming transfer window, if the Gers are able to secure his signature, is Hammarby central defender Nathaniel Adjei.

The Sun have reported that the Light Blues are one of a number of clubs to have shown an interest in the 21-year-old colossus ahead of the turn of the year.

English Championship outfits Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and Preston North End are also said to be eyeing up the talented youngster to bolster their squads. It is said that they are all keen on a loan swoop for the talented ace in order to bolster their promotion chances during the second half of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Rangers and Celtic are both tracking Adjei and it is stated that Clement's side have sent scouts to watch the in-demand starlet in action this season.

Whilst The Sun claim that the English teams want a loan for the Ghanaian ace, Alan Nixon has reported, via his Patreon, that Hammarby are looking for a fee within the region of £3m.

It now remains to be seen whether or not any of the aforementioned clubs, including the Gers, are prepared to meet the Swedish outfit's valuation of the centre-back or if they will move on to other targets ahead of the January transfer window.

However, Rangers could add an exciting young defensive option to their ranks and a future monstrous partner for John Souttar at the back if they are able to win the race for his signature.

John Souttar's Rangers statistics

Since joining from Hearts at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, the 27-year-old titan has struggled with fitness and has only made 26 competitive appearances for the club to date.

13 of those outings have already come during the current season, after he missed a staggering 46 matches with an ankle injury last term, and Clement should now be hoping that the bulk of Souttar's woes are behind him.

There is little doubt that, when fit, the towering battler is an excellent option for the Light Blues boss and a player who could be a fantastic partner for Adjei if they are able to bring him in.

The Scotland international leads the way for the club with 3.4 clearances per game in the Scottish Premiership this season. This suggests that he has excellent positioning and reads the game well in order to clear danger and prevent the opposition from troubling Jack Butland from crossing situations and set-pieces.

He has also been an incredibly dominant centre-back who has been able to impose his physicality on the opposition throughout the league campaign with a duel success rate of 73%, which includes an 80% ground battle success rate.

This shows that forwards struggle badly in physical contests against Souttar as the Rangers star is able to use his strength and intelligence to get the better of them more often than not.

The statistics that show why Adjei could be a good signing for Rangers

Firstly, at the age of 21, Adjei could come in as a signing for the future for the Gers instead of arriving with the expectation of him being an immediate first-team star.

He has plenty of time on his hands to develop and grow as he gains more experience and could be the long-term successor to current senior ace Connor Goldson, who is a whopping nine years older than him.

However, playing next to a proven Premiership performer like Souttar could be the perfect development path for the Hammarby ace as the Scottish titan can guide him through matches.

The ex-Hearts enforcer can be the leading figure at the back with his dominant displays and take the pressure off Adjei, who could be more comfortable next to such an imposing and experienced defender at that level.

This season, the Hammarby gem has featured in 20 Allsvenskan matches and made 1.9 tackles and interceptions and 2.8 clearances per match for his side.

Souttar is the only Rangers player with at least five league appearances who has managed more than 2.8 clearances per game, which suggests that Adjei could be an impressive performer next to the Scotland international with their ability to clear danger.

The 21-year-old talent is not quite as dominant as the Light Blues man but his statistics in the Swedish top-flight this season show that opposition players do not get the better of him often.

Sofascore rating

7.7

Blocks

Two

Tackles

Four

Duels won

Five

Goals conceded

Zero

Adjei's most recent Hammarby performance (via Sofascore)

Adjei has won 64% of his duels in his 20 league matches in 2023, which includes a battle success rate of 66% on the ground, and this suggests that the Ghana international is also a strong defender who can frustrate opponents with his ability to consistently outmuscle them.

Therefore, the young colossus could be an excellent addition for Rangers if he is able to translate those performances over to Scottish football whilst improving and developing as he plays more games and gains more experience over the months and years to come.

Adjei could arrive as a player with the potential to make an immediate impact with his dominant defensive displays and as a signing who could be a future monstrous partner for Souttar at the back as Clement possibly looks at life beyond 30-year-old Goldson.

Manchester City have deployed chiefs to watch a new forward live in action as they consider bringing him to the Premier League, according to a reliable journalist.

Man City's season so far

The Sky Blues have made a fantastic start to the new campaign having won nine, drawn one and lost just two of their opening 12 games, meaning that they currently find themselves at the top of the table during the international break.

Whilst Pep Guardiola will be happy with his side’s form and confident that they can go on to achieve big things this term like last season, that may not stop him from assessing his options in the market to see if he could bolster his ranks with players who will improve the squad.

Ahead of January, Napoli’s left-winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been identified as a potential target having established himself as Walter Mazzarri’s overall best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.50 (WhoScored – Napoli statistics).

The Georgia international still has another four years remaining on his deal at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium (Napoli contracts), but regardless of his situation, the 22-year-old has been brought onto the radar of the hierarchy at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City send scouts to assess Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Taking to X, reporter Graeme Bailey confirmed that Man City deployed representatives to watch Kvaratskhelia during Georgia's 3-1 defeat to Spain on Sunday, with the forward scoring in a 3-1 defeat.

He wrote: "Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and Newcastle make Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scouting trip. Kvaratskhelia is one of Europe's most intriguing and in-demand talents. Napoli are hopeful of finalising new deal with the Georgian."

However, expanding in his column for 90min, the reporter revealed that the forward is in talks to extend his contract with his current club by a further 12 months which will include a significant pay rise, so any potential suitors may have to act fast should they want to tempt him into starting a new adventure elsewhere in January.

Kvaratskhelia is a real "magician" in the final third

Since putting pen to paper at Napoli, Kvaratskhelia has posted 39 contributions, 22 assists and 17 goals, in 58 appearances which shows just how extremely prolific he can be in the opposition’s penalty area (Transfermarkt – Kvaratskhelia stats).

Sponsored by Nike, the two-footed talent has also recorded 41 shots over the course of the current campaign which is more than any other of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Napoli stats), representing his constant desire to hit the back of the net.

Key passes

Likes to cut inside

Finishing

Likes to dribble

Dribbling

Likes to do layoffs

Through balls

Passing

The Serie A “magician”, as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, even has the versatility to operate in five different positions over the grass, including everywhere across the frontline alongside as an attacking midfielder, so it could be a deal to watch ahead of 2024.

Wolverhampton Wanderers failed to earn their second consecutive victory in the Premier League following a narrow 3-2 defeat to Fulham on Monday night.

Gary O'Neil's men got back into the game on two separate occasions, having fallen behind early to an Alex Iwobi strike before a Willian brace from the spot, in quite controversial circumstances, handed the hosts all three points.

Wolves have now conceded more penalties than any other team in England's top-flight but one player in particular, who conceded a foul inside the penalty area, was the worst player on the pitch and certainly contributed to the disappointing stoppage-time defeat.

Wolves' game vs Fulham in numbers

Matheus Cunha equalised for the visitors in the 22nd minute before Hwang Hee-chan levelled the game once more with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. However, a questionable foul on Harry Wilson in the dying embers of the game allowed Fulham to clinch the points. While Wolves certainly may feel aggrieved, Fulham were statistically better.

According to Understat, Wolves had just 0.82 non-penalty expected goals (npxG) on the night from a total of 10 shots compared to Fulham's 0.97 npxG from 12 opportunities at goal. Although each team had six shots on target, the hosts boasted three big chances during the game, while O'Neil's side had two as the game coincidentally finished 3-2.

Wolves' tactical game plan against the Cottagers was to sit back and soak up pressure from Fulham before hitting them on the break once possession was recovered.

O'Neil's men had just 40% of the ball and a Passes allowed Per Defensive Action (PPDA) rate of 34.64, as per Understat. This is incredibly high.

Essentially, Wolves were allowing Fulham to make almost 35 passes on average before intervening with a defensive action and winning the ball back. Dropping off so much invited pressure onto the backline and one Wolves player crumbled.

Nelson Semedo's stats vs Fulham

Nelson Semedo put in a disastrous display in London and played a hand in the first two goals that Wolves conceded. Firstly, the Portuguese fullback failed to block the passing lane into Antonee Robinson before the American drove the ball low and hard into the penalty area for Iwobi to tap in from a few yards out to bag his first goal for Fulham.

Then, just a few minutes after the interval, Semedo lunged into a tackle on Tom Cairney and gave away Wolves' first penalty of the game, although it's certainly debatable whether or not referee Michael Salisbury made the right call. Either way, it typified a night where the right-back didn't deliver.

Indeed, it wasn't just the helping hand in Fulham's goals that proved Semedo struggled over the course of the match. The wingback was handed a Sofascore rating of 5.9 during the game which was the lowest on the pitch across both teams. Semedo won merely one of his five total duels against the Cottagers up against Willian and Robinson on that side while committing two fouls and not completing or even attempting a single tackle.

Additionally, the ex-Barcelona defender lost possession 19 times which was more than any other Wolves player, according to Sofascore. This was made worse by the fact that Semedo failed to put a single cross into the box despite being one of O'Neil's only wide outlets.

This season, Semedo has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 and even boasted a 7.2 match rating in Wolves' outing versus Tottenham Hotspur prior to the international break. There shouldn't be calls to drop him from the team but Semedo will definitely want to forget his performance at Craven Cottage.

Wolverhampton Wanderers bounced back to form as they secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Burnley in the Premier League on Tuesday thanks to a solitary effort by Hwang Hee-chan.

The Old Gold had lost their previous two league matches and hadn’t won since defeating Tottenham Hotspur prior to the international break, therefore three points is a massive boost heading into the festive season.

The Molineux outfit face five more games before the end of the year and if Gary O’Neil is aiming for a top-half finish in the league this season, he will surely be targeting maximum points from the games against Nottingham Forest, Brentford, and Everton in the next few weeks.

Securing wins will be his main objective, but with the January transfer window just around the corner, O’Neil will also be keen on adding another one or two new faces to his squad.

With this in mind, it appears as though the 40-year-old is targeting another centre-back, with the Old Gold keen on a player who they may be able to sign in January for a knockdown price – Victor Nelsson.

Wolves transfer news – Victor Nelsson

According to Turkish newspaper Sabah, the Galatasaray defender looks like he could be set to leave the club as he is now currently fourth choice in the pecking order.

Wolves began to show interest in the defender last week, according to Aksam (via Sport Witness) and the report claimed that the Midlands side were keen on making a bid for the player in January, the Turkish outfit hoping someone would trigger his €25m (£21.4m) release clause in order to sign him.

The fresh update by Sabah however, states that Galatasaray would now be willing ‘to accept a €10m (£8.5m) transfer fee’ for the player as they seek to move him on at the earliest possible opportunity.

He moved to Turkey from Danish side FC Copenhagen ahead of the 2021/22 season and has made 98 appearances for the club, yet during the current campaign, Nelsson has started just 12 matches, and he no longer appears to be a vital member of the squad.

This is good news for O’Neil, especially with the fact he will be able to sign him for a much cheaper fee than first anticipated, and it would give the squad some much-needed depth in that area going into the second half of the season.

Since former captain Conor Coady departed, the club haven’t really replaced him, yet Nelsson could certainly fill that void.

Wolves have failed to replace Conor Coady

The centre-back joined Wolves in the summer of 2015, and he played a key role in their rise from Championship hopefuls to Premier League regulars.

During the 2017/18 season, Coady played all but one league game as the Old Gold secured promotion back to the top tier and, over the next four seasons, he remarkably played in 151 out of 152 available matches and was an integral part of Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad that saw the club secure a couple of top half finishes in the league.

Bruno Lage sent him on a season-long loan to Everton in the summer of 2022, and it coincided with some of their worst form since the club were promoted as they won just three of their opening 17 matches that term and looked certainties for relegation.

Julen Lopetegui managed to save them, yet during the summer transfer window, the Spaniard sold Coady to Championship side Leicester City for a fee in the region of £7.5m and the club haven’t really replaced him.

While the club are hovering around midtable, they have conceded 25 goals and it is clear some improvement in the defence is required.

Nelsson could arrive in the Midlands and finally be the heir to Coady that they have craved for the previous 18 months.

Victor Nelsson’s career statistics

His talent shone through during his spell with Copenhagen as he made nearly 100 appearances for the club, and he was heavily praised by football talent scout Jacek Kulig back in 2020, who said:

“Very good performance by 21-year-old Victor Nelsson against Man United yesterday despite the result. His development is exemplary so far.

“Superb centre-back. Another Danish talent that will sign with a strong European club rather sooner than later.”

It didn’t take long for other clubs to take notice, and he ended up in Turkey with Galatasaray, joining them ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

49.7

37.9

3.6

2.1

0.8

0.6

1

1

4.5

3.7

During his maiden season, Nelsson ranked third across the whole squad for accurate passes per game (51.3), along with ranking first for clearances per game (3.9) and second for accurate long passes per game (three), proving that he was effective at distributing the ball compared to his teammates.

Last season was even better as he topped the pile for accurate passes per game and ranked second for accurate long balls per game and his performances allowed the club to claim their first league title since 2019.

Despite these two promising seasons, the Dane isn’t getting as many opportunities during the current campaign and his statistics have suffered as a result.

He has dropped out of the top four across the squad in the two passing metrics, ranking sixth and fifth, while also failing to rank in the top five for tackles and interceptions per game.

This shouldn’t fool O’Neil, however, as it is clear his performances haven’t been as impressive due to the 25-year-old not starting as many games for the club as he did during his first two seasons.

It appears as though a fresh challenge is needed in order for him to improve his game and a move to Wolves could certainly provide just that.

Wolves could sign a "monster" £25m Dawson upgrade

This £25m “monster” could be the perfect replacement for Craig Dawson at Wolves.

ByAdam Scully Dec 3, 2023

While they have a few solid options at the back, the truth is, the Midlands side haven’t managed to replace the solidity and leadership abilities of Coady since he departed, with Nelsson perhaps a dream solution having previously been tipped to be a "future leader" of his country, in the words of Kulig.

The Dane has still to hit his peak years, arguably, and managing to secure his signature for a fee of just £8.5m could turn out to be O’Neil’s finest piece of transfer business yet, there is no doubt about it.

Tottenham could sign an "untouchable" international centre-back for very affordable money as a report shares "open discussions".

Spurs prioritising new defender in January

Head coach Ange Postecoglou has been forced to deal with a wave of injury and suspension problems lately, especially at the heart of his defence. Micky van de Ven, who was starring for Spurs after his arrival from Wolfsburg in the summer, won't be available to play again until 2024 as a serious hamstring injury keeps him sidelined.

Juventus plot "special" £22m player sale to Spurs, it's not Iling-Junior

Spurs are eyeing yet another player from the Old Lady.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 14, 2023

Postecoglou's lack of faith in Eric Dier has also resulted in the Australian turning to makeshift option Ben Davies, who is now partnering Cristian Romero at the heart of Tottenham's defence. The latter recently returned from a three-game suspension, but as evidenced by his needless lunge during Tottenham's 4-1 win over Newcastle last weekend, Romero can often be walking on a tightrope.

Lack of cover behind van de Ven and Romero is a big problem which chairman Daniel Levy and sporting director Johan Lange quite simply need to address. Tottenham are prioritising a new centre-back signing as a result, according to reliable media sources, and there have been many names linked.

Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite is being chased by Spurs as an option, but he isn't the only one, with his teammate Ben Godfrey, Genoa star Radu Dragusin, Benfica starlet Morato and Sporting Lisbon international Goncalo Inacio among the other centre-backs linked with moves to Spurs

Another very viable name to be mentioned in recent months is Club America defender Sebastian Caceres. The Uruguay international has really impressed under former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa at international level, which has apparently prompted major interest from clubs in Europe.

Tottenham hold "open" agent talks for Caceres

One of those sides is Tottenham, as per widespread reports previously, and an update has now come to light courtesy of Tuttsport (via Sport Witness).

When relaying Serie A side Torino's interest in the 24-year-old, the outlet claims Spurs have "open discussions" with the agent of Caceres over joining Postecoglou's side.

Little else is mentioned beyond that, but if Spurs are serious about making a move, they may have to act fairly quickly. The report claims Napoli and Sevilla are also chasing Caceres, who is available for a bargain fee of around £6 million including bonuses.

That valuation is unquestionably great value for money, as highlighted by his growing reputation. Caceres has become a star for Uruguay in the last few months, with journalist Rodrigo Romano calling the South American an "untouchable" under Bielsa – as translated from Spanish.

The reign of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur has been nothing short of a whirlwind ride to date, albeit that journey has included largely positives so far.

The Aussie has won the Manager of the Month award on three occasions already but a wealth of injuries have hit the squad hard of late.

Indeed, prior to their win over Nottingham Forest last Friday, the Lilywhites had only won one of their last five Premier League fixtures.

A large part of that has been down to an injury sustained by exciting summer signing James Maddison. The Englishman has been involved in seven goals in 11 outings prior to his injury but a lack of creativity has hurt Postecoglou's side since.

As such, the January transfer window will be welcomed warmly by those of a Spurs persuasion.

Tottenham's plans for January – attacking shortlist

This could be a rather exciting window for the north Londoners who are said to be targeting some new forward options.

Ivan Toney of Brentford has been linked, as has Lois Openda at RB Leipzig. However, an attacking midfielder is also on their radar.

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, reports in Spain over the weekend linked Tottenham with a swoop for Felipe Anderson.

The Brazilian's contract with Italian side Lazio expires next summer and as such it's stated that Spurs could take advantage of uncertainty surrounding his future.

Fellow Serie A sides Juventus and Milan are also thought to be hovering around with the view to a potential move.

How Felipe Anderson last performed in England

Anderson had an incredibly mixed spell during his first stint in the Premier League when he was contracted to West Ham United.

Supporters may well remember the 2018/19 campaign where the now 30-year-old was in imperious form in the final third, scoring ten times and registering five assists across 40 matches in all competitions.

Sadly that was about as good as it got for the 5 foot 9 maestro in English football who ended the following term with just a solitary goal to his name.

A move to Italy was forthcoming where for the most part he has been electric. Only last season, the "unplayable" asset – as dubbed by Juve correspondent Adam Digby several years ago – has proved exactly that at times. Indeed, Anderson scored 12 times and posted nine assists. Impressive work.

How does Felipe Anderson compare to Dele Alli?

Such numbers in the final third have unsurprisingly seen him compared to Dele Alli. The Englishman's career has sadly never lived up to the dizzy heights we were expecting when he won the PFA Young Player of the Year back in 2017.

Alli found life difficult, notably under Jose Mourinho, and a bid to get his career back on track at Everton and Besiktas hasn't worked.

A number of personal issues and mental health problems have unfortunately plagued the last few years of life but before that, the attacking midfielder was a marvel and one who was 'similar' to Anderson, as per FBref.

That was primarily during the aforementioned 2018/19 campaign, where the Brazilian was at his best on English shores.

#1 Andros Townsend

#2 Dele Alli

#3 Bernardo Silva

#4 Nathan Redmond

#5 Bernard

#6 Kevin De Bruyne

But how do the raw numbers compare? Well, during that season Alli was in relatively consistent form, scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists in all competitions.

Both capable of playing as attacking midfielders but also drifting into wide areas, their style of play was remarkably alike in that term.

Goals & assists

0.38

0.39

Progressive passes

5.65

5.47

Shots

1.72

1.92

Passes into final third

3.28

3.30

Pass completion rate

73%

79%

Shot-creating actions

4.11

3.15

Goal-creating actions

0.44

0.25

Touches

68.6

65

Carries

41.3

42.2

Passes received

48

46.7

As can be seen from the table, their work in carrying the ball and creating was incredibly similar. There isn't a great deal between the two when it comes to their progressive nature, even if Anderson was actually more prolific that campaign.

However, they boast boasted that instinct to glide past a player and create something magical in the final third. Of course, Spurs would be signing an individual now several years older but truth be told, he seems to be a more intelligent and better player since moving to Lazio.

Perhaps at the second time of asking, Anderson could become a true force in the Premier League, replicating Dele's impact on Tottenham along the way.

West Bromwich Albion's squad situation at this point in time is less than ideal, with injuries mounting up, a number of first-team players leaving for the African Cup of Nations soon and now the development of Jeremy Sarmiento being recalled hitting the Baggies square in the face.

The news of Sarmiento returning to Brighton would have stung even more knowing that the Seagulls were just preparing to offload their South American winger out again to Ipswich Town, the Tractor Boys benefiting from West Brom's dire predicament.

Carlos Corberan won't move away from utilising the loan market completely this January however, with the West Midlands side interested in securing another loan move according to reports to attempt to soften the blow of Sarmiento exiting.

West Brom transfer latest – another loan deal

TEAMtalk have recently reported that the promotion-chasing Baggies are going after Dexter Lembikisa in January, the current Rotherham United man excelling with the Millers away from parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan.

Yet, West Brom could come in this month and offer Lembikisa a better loan move where he could help Corberan's men clinch promotion to the Premier League instead of playing his part in Rotherham staving off relegation.

The Championship playoff hopefuls aren't the only interested party though, with TEAMTalk further elaborating that Middlesbrough and Ipswich are also keen whilst the Tractor Boys' arch nemesis Norwich City have joined the queue too for his services.

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West Brom will hope they can land Lembikisa to get a tetchy Baggies fanbase back on side, the masses at the Hawthorns growing increasingly worried at the threadbare nature of the squad before them.

Dexter Lembikisa's style of play

Lembikisa would push the likes of Darnell Furlong and Conor Townsend all the way on his arrival to the West Midlands to stake a claim for a first-team spot, equally adept at playing down both flanks as an adaptable full-back presence.

The current Millers man is also more than capable of venturing forward and playing further up the field if needed, scoring once so far this campaign for Rotherham under the previous tenure of Matt Taylor by confidently firing home on the volley against Norwich City.

Lembikisa's form has taken somewhat of a nosedive in recent weeks, as his Rotherham side continue to struggle to beat the drop, but Taylor showered the explosive 20-year-old with praise after that stunning strike – the ex-Millers boss describing Lembikisa as 'outstanding' when speaking to BirminghamLive.

Wolves pathways manager Steve Davis also described the Jamaican full-back as a 'confident boy' via the Premier League club's website when Lembikisa joined the Millers, the young defender hoping he can excel with a team higher up the Championship if rumours are correct and justify the confidence he possesses in his own ability too.

West Brom need all the bodies they can get into the building at this moment in time – and in Lembikisa – the Baggies would get a raw, exciting talent that could see the second-tier side go from being passive in games to suddenly upping the tempo and terrifying teams.

Losing Sarmiento will hurt those at the Hawthorns for the time being, but by signing this exciting 20-year-old defender this month, could get the ball rolling with many more purchases coming in after to breathe life back into a depleted West Brom group.

Leeds United lost valuable depth in the full-back position when they decided to send Djed Spence back to his parent club earlier this month.

The versatile defender had been deployed as a left-back and a right-back in the Championship for the Whites this season and has now returned to Tottenham Hotspur.

This has left Daniel Farke without an abundance of options in the number two and three positions heading into the second half of the campaign.

Journalist Graeme Bailey recently said that he has heard Burnley full-back Charlie Taylor's name mentioned in connection to a possible move back to Leeds this month and stated that he thinks a left-back will arrive at Elland Road.

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As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

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It was reported by Foot Mercato in November that Real Betis were interested in a deal for Junior Firpo, who they claimed wanted a move away from Yorkshire.

Farke could now ruthlessly ditch the Spanish defender, if that interest is still there, by securing a deal for Taylor to replace him before the end of the window. Whilst it would not solve the depth issue, it could improve the squad.

Firpo's last 18 months in numbers

The former Barcelona left-back has only made six appearances in the Championship so far this season and has been named in the starting XI once.

He has averaged 1.8 tackles and interceptions combined and 1.2 clearances per game for the Whites, to go along with a duel success rate of 55%.

Last season, Firpo made 19 appearances and started 14 of those games in the Premier League as Leeds were relegated from the top-flight.

The 27-year-old dud was dribbled past 1.2 times per game and only won 50% of his duels as opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of him week-in-week-out.

The statistics that show why Leeds should sign Taylor

Farke could allow Firpo to move on by signing Taylor as the Burnley left-back's form over the last 18 months suggests that he has more to offer than the current Leeds defender.

The £30k-per-week battler played 33 times in the Championship last term as his side romped their way to the title and he started 17 of those matches.

Appearances

16

Goals

One

Assists

One

Duel success rate

53%

Tackles per game

1.6

Vincent Kompany hailed the talented gem's versatility, as Taylor was deployed as a left-back and a centre-back, and described him as being "quick and strong".

This means that Farke would bring in a player who can offer him depth in multiple positions, as the Clarets ace could be used at full-back or as cover on the left side of the defence.

In the Championship last term, Taylor was only dribbled past 0.2 times per game and won an impressive 63% of his duels across the campaign.

This shows that the experienced defender was able to dominate opponents in physical contests and did not allow forwards to go past him with ease.

Firpo has struggled with both of those aspects of defending and that is why the Burnley battler could come in as an upgrade on the Leeds number three.

Therefore, if Leeds could convince Taylor to make the drop back down to the Championship to enjoy a second spell at Elland Road then Farke could ditch Firpo in the process.