Tottenham Hotspur are a side that have fallen below the expectations set for them in the Premier League in recent years, as seen by their standings last campaign.
The Lilywhites ended the year in a measly 17th position, only one place above the relegation zone and becoming the first side to survive in the division after losing 22 matches.
As a result, Ange Postecoglou lost his job, with Thomas Frank the man tasked with building on their European triumph and transforming their league form.
The Dane has already wasted no time in the role in North London, targeting countless players who could help improve the current situation at the club.
Whilst no first team additions have yet been agreed, work has been conducted behind the scenes, in an attempt to catapult the side to added success in 2025/26.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
Mohammed Kudus has been a player firmly on their radar in recent days, even making a £50m offer for the West Ham United star, but the offer was swiftly rejected.
The Ghanaian was said to be wanting a move to join Frank’s men this window and The Athletic’s David Ornstein has since revealed that a £55m total agreement has now been struck for the 24-year-old.
However, despite the interest in the former Ajax star, moves have been made elsewhere, with Southampton star Tyler Dibling once again in their sights, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
He claims that the Lilywhites have made an approach for the 19-year-old star, despite suffering relegation back to the Championship with the Saints last season.
He also claims that Nottingham Forest and West Ham are other teams keeping tabs on the teenage star, who could be available for around £55m this summer.
Why Spurs’ £55m target could be a bigger talent than Kudus
Over the last couple of months, Spurs have showcased the attacking threat they possess, registering 64 goals in their 38 league outings last season.
Brennan Johnson ended the year as the club’s top scorer, notching 18 goals across all competitions, including in the Europa League final, subsequently ending the club’s 17-year drought.
Other players such as Dominic Solanke and James Maddison also managed to achieve double figures, highlighting the strength in depth currently at Frank’s disposal.
However, such depth clearly isn’t enough, especially considering the rumours around moves for Kudus and Dibling over the last couple of weeks.
Both would represent impressive options for the Dane, but given the nature of the fees touted for each player’s signature, it is crucial they land the right one during the off-season.
When comparing their respective stats from the Premier League last time out, the Saints’ youngster managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, despite the relegation – highlighting why he’d be a better addition.
Dibling, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Ivan Juric, managed to register a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate, whilst matching the Hammers star for goals per shot on target – showcasing the clinical edge he possesses.
Games played
33
32
Goals & assists
2
8
Shot on target accuracy
32%
28%
Goal per shot on target
0.2
0.2
Progressive passes
3.1
2.7
Passes into final third
1.9
1.6
Carries into final third
2.4
2
Fouls won
2.4
2.2
He also managed to register more progressive passes per 90, and more passes into the final third, subsequently having the tools to provide some of the aforementioned talents with added opportunities in front of goal.
The teenager’s dominance doesn’t end there, producing a higher tally of carries into the final third, whilst also drawing more fouls – showcasing the threat he poses to the opposition at any given time.
Whilst £55m may appear to be a huge risk for such a young talent, he’s already showcased he can thrive despite featuring for a side who fell well below the expectations set in 2024/25.
There’s no denying that Kudus would also represent an excellent pickup, but ultimately, Dibling has already outperformed him and has the tools to rapidly develop further, given his tender age.
Spurs eyeing "immense" £40m Kudus alternative who'd be their own Rodrygo
Premier League clubs have often been known to splash the cash like there’s no tomorrow – even during the mid-season transfer window. January deals have a reputation of their own for requiring inflated transfer fees, chiefly down to the short turnarounds required to bid, sell and replace players before the deadline arrives.
The money has gone bonkers in recent years, with the English top flight’s biggest January moves all taking place in the past decade.
Whether selling or buying, English clubs have been able to exchange funds freely despite the looming threats of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules, which both purport to limit the amount of spending by even the richest in the land.
But who have been the Premier League’s most expensive winter movers? Here are the top 12 January window deals…
#
Player
Date
Left
Joined
Fee
Philippe Coutinho
Jan 2018
Liverpool
Barcelona
Enzo Fernández
Feb 2023
Benfica
Chelsea
Mykhailo Mudryk
Jan 2023
Shakhtar Donetsk
Chelsea
Virgil van Dijk
Jan 2018
Southampton
Liverpool
Jhon Duran
Jan 2025
Aston Villa
Al-Nassr
Bruno Fernandes
Jan 2020
Sporting CP
Manchester United
Omar Marmoush
Jan 2025
Eintracht Frankfurt
Manchester City
Oscar
Jan 2017
Chelsea
Shanghai Port
Christian Pulisic
Jan 2019
Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea
Aymeric Laporte
Jan 2018
Athletic Bilbao
Manchester City
Diego Costa
Jan 2018
Chelsea
Atletico Madrid
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Jan 2018
Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal
12 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal £56m from Borussia Dortmund, 2018
Arsenal outlaid a whopping £56m to sign Borussia Dortmund’s prolific frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2018 January transfer window.
The north Londoners had only just signed Alexandre Lacazette the previous summer for a club-record £46.6m but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was clearly keen to add further firepower to his ranks.
Aubameyang enjoyed a fruitful four-year spell with Arsenal, netting just shy of a century of goals across 163 appearances, though his time did come to a sour ending.
Arsenal released a statement just weeks before he would eventually leave for Barcelona, which read: “Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday’s match against West Ham United.
“We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed.”
11 Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid £57m from Chelsea, 2018
Diego Costa completed a mega-money move away from Stamford Bridge in favour of a move back to former club Atletico Madrid in January 2018.
After netting 20 league goals during the 2016/17 campaign, helping Chelsea to win their sixth Premier League title, Costa was frozen out over the summer.
Atleti’s transfer ban meant they couldn’t sign the Spaniard until the new year, but he eventually made his long-awaited second debut for the Madrid-based club on 3rd January 2018, scoring in a Copa del Rey last-16 tie against Lleida Esportiu.
The forward endured a difficult second spell with Los Colchoneros, managing a league-best of five goals, before cancelling his contract six months early in January 2021 due to personal reasons.
10 Aymeric Laporte to Manchester City £57m from Athletic Bilbao, 2018
Manchester City broke their transfer record to sign the classy left-footed centre-half in January 2018, paying Athletic Bilbao £57m.
Aymeric Laporte quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League during his trophy-laden spell in England but ultimately lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s side towards the end, to the surprise of many.
Manuel Akanji’s arrival from Dortmund in 2022 appeared to be the turning point for Laporte’s City career, with the Switzerland international often the preferred defender in Guardiola’s system.
And that led to an exit in the summer just gone, signing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr – where Cristiano Ronaldo resides – in a deal worth £23.6m.
Nonetheless, City fans will remember his time at the Etihad fondly.
9 Christian Pulisic to Chelsea £58m from Borussia Dortmund, 2019
Chelsea forked out £58m to sign then-20-year-old Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund in January 2019.
The west Londoners loaned him back to the German outfit for the remainder of the season and he ended the campaign with seven goals and six assists across 30 appearances.
Whilst he did have his moments, his spell as a whole at Stamford Bridge was rather underwhelming, netting 26 times across 145 outings.
Having made just eight league starts last term, Pulisic’s Chelsea days looked numbered, and so it turned out to be, as he completed a permanent move to AC Milan in the summer.
#
Player
Left
Joined
Transfer fee
1
Christian Pulisic
Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea
£58m
2
Folarin Balogun
Arsenal
Monaco
£35m
3
Brendan Aaronson
Red Bull Salzburg
Leeds United
£24.8m
4
Tyler Adams
RB Leipzig
Leeds United
£20m
5
Sergino Dest
Ajax
Barcelona
£19m
8 Oscar to Shanghai Port £60m from Chelsea, 2017
Eyebrows were raised when Oscar departed Europe for the Chinese Super League in 2017, having just won the Premier League title earlier that year.
The Brazilian playmaker completed a colossal £60m move to Shanghai SIPG, now known as Shanghai Port, which at the time ranked as the seventh-highest transfer fee in history.
Oscar, speaking in 2017, gave his reasoning for leaving Chelsea: “When I made the decision to come here, I was thinking more of my family than of my career. I had other very good offers from big teams in Europe. But I thought a little more of my family, and after that – I am still young – I can return.”
It had been claimed he would earn £400,000 a week.
7 Omar Marmoush to Manchester City £63m from Eintracht Frankfurt, 2025
Manchester City went big on signing a challenger for Erling Haaland’s starting spot by bringing in Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.
After dazzling in the first half of the 2024/25 season in Germany, Marmoush made the move to the Premier League after the clubs agreed on a £63m package, with £4m of that fee in add-ons.
He became the biggest Premier League incoming that winter and was one of four mid-season City arrivals.
6 Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United £47m (potentially rising to £67.7m) from Sporting CP, 2020
Manchester United landed the signature of Bruno Fernandes in 2020 for an initial fee worth £47m that could rise to £67.7m with add-ons.
The Portugal international has been a revelation for the Red Devils and is widely regarded as their best player, having scored 69 goals whilst laying on 59 assists across 207 appearances.
Erik ten Hag appointed the 29-year-old club captain at the start of the season, evincing just how highly thought of he is around Carrington.
Fernandes penned a new deal in 2022, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2026, with the option of a further year.
5 Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr £71m from Aston Villa, 2025
Al Nassr's JhonDuranreacts
The biggest deal of the January 2025 winter window from a Premier League perspective was Jhon Duran’s exit from Aston Villa as he joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
The Colombian linked up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia after an eye-watering £71m move – not bad for an £18m move from two years prior.
4 Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool £75m from Southampton, 2018
Virgil van Dijk became the world’s most expensive defender when he completed a £75m move to Liverpool in January 2018.
The towering Dutch defender quickly established himself as one of the best players across the continent and even finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or rankings.
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He was a central figure in Liverpool’s first Premier League title triumph during the 2019/20 season and famously went a reported 50 games without being dribbled past.
Previous Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson departed the Merseysiders in the summer and Van Dijk assumed the armband, evidencing his glowing status around the changing room.
The 64-cap Netherlands international has already cemented himself in conversations regarding the best centre-back in Premier League history.
3 Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea £89m from Shakhtar Donetsk, 2023
Chelsea continued their heavy spending under new owner Todd Boehly when they shelled out £89m for Shakhtar Donetsk’s rising star Mykhailo Mudryk earlier this year.
The fleet-footed wide player is still in the early stages of his Premier League career, but many would admit, perhaps including himself, that it’s been a pretty disappointing start to life in west London.
Mudryk has found the net just twice in 31 outings and looks to be pretty bereft of confidence, though, he has looked a real threat at times.
The 2001-born Ukraine international is still a fledgling professional footballer and has plenty of time to develop under the experienced wings of Mauricio Pochettino, so only time will tell how successful of signing he’ll be.
Chelsea: Every signing Todd Boehly has made at Stamford Bridge
Sunderland will be eager to win away at Plymouth Argyle this Saturday in Championship action, a potentially pivotal three points for the Black Cats could be secured at the expense of Carlos Corberan's West Bromwich Albion if the Baggies slip up versus Ipswich Town in the evening.
West Brom are directly below Tony Mowbray's playoff chasers at the moment in seventh spot, only behind Sunderland on goal difference at this moment in time with the Black Cats' potency in front of goal giving them a slight edge in this early season butting of heads for the final playoff position.
6th – Sunderland: 26 points, GD: +10
7th – West Brom: 26 points, GD +9
8th – Hull City: 26 points, GD +3
Plymouth are an opponent Sunderland cannot take lightly this weekend, however, especially with the Pilgrims hosting the contest at Home Park – Steven Schumacher's men picking up four wins from eight home games in the Championship so far after lifting the League One title at the end of last campaign.
A selection conundrum that Mowbray will contend with prior to this game in Devon will be who starts in the centre-back positions, with young defender Jenson Seelt underwhelming in the 3-1 home win over Birmingham City despite the positive result.
Jenson Seelt's numbers vs Birmingham
The 20-year-old, who was a summer buy from PSV Eindhoven to add some more bodies defensively, has shown signs of nerves when fielded by Mowbray in the starting line-up this season.
This was particularly evident against Birmingham, but his poor showing didn't derail his side at all to the relief of the die-hard Stadium of Light faithful watching on.
Seelt was weak when it came to asserting himself up against the Blues attackers, only winning half of his overall duels, as per Sofascore.
Whereas, his defensive colleague Trai Hume won six of his nine ground duels on the day to make up for Seelt's below-par display.
It led to Roker Report journalist Andy Tomlinson giving Seelt a 5/10 rating in an article after the game, saying the pace of the game was 'too much' for the 20-year-old to cope with.
Bellingham rested in Sunderland's predicted lineup vs Plymouth
Jobe Bellingham could be rested for Sunderland’s next Championship match away in Devon against Plymouth Argyle.
ByKelan Sarson Nov 23, 2023
The former PSV youngster could well be dropped from Mowbray's first team for the trip down to Devon as a result, especially with the news that senior centre-back option Luke O'Nien will be back and ready for action after serving a suspension.
Luke O'Nien as Seelt's replacement
Predominantly playing as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder throughout his career, O'Nien has excelled under Mowbray this campaign featuring even further back in the heart of defence.
O'Nien's own hot-headedness can be his undoing – picking up his fifth yellow card of the season already against Swansea meant he was unavailable for the Birmingham win – but the commitment and determination shown by Sunderland's number 13 on a regular basis when picked is a trait the Black Cats masses can't help but love.
Winning four out of his five aerial duels in that Swansea 0-0 draw, O'Nien's ability on the ball – which has seen him play centrally under Mowbray – also shone even from the back.
Sunderland's captain was accurate with both of his crosses into the Swans area on the day, attempting to unlock a dogged defence all afternoon, even whilst carrying out his standard defensive duties.
For a tough test away at the Pilgrims, Mowbray could well opt to start the former Wycombe Wanderers man over his promising Dutch defender to give Seelt a breather and to ensure Sunderland are rock solid up against Schumacher's Argyle.
Leeds United could be set to sign a new defender in January, and a fresh report has revealed that it would cost the club nothing to bring him to Elland Road.
Where are Leeds in the Championship table?
In the Championship this season, Daniel Farke’s side have won five, drawn four and lost just two of their opening 11 games, meaning that they currently find themselves fifth in the league table. Here is how that first group of matches has played out so far:
Ipswich Town (4-3)
Cardiff City (2-2)
Birmingham City (1-0)
Millwall (3-0)
West Brom (1-1)
Southampton (3-1)
Watford (3-0)
Sheffield Wednesday (0-0)
QPR (1-0)
Hull City (0-0)
Bristol City (2-1)
The Whites have 17 squad members across all age levels away on international duty at this moment in time, including the likes of Liam Cooper with Scotland, Glen Kamara with Finland and the trio of Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Dan James with Wales (Yorkshire Evening Post), and the break from domestic action has allowed chiefs to start assessing their options ahead of the upcoming window.
In West Yorkshire, Philadelphia Union’s left-back Kai Wagner has been highlighted as a potential candidate, but it’s not the first time that he’s been linked with a move to the club, having attracted interest from the hierarchy at the start of the year, when a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline.
The German, however, will be out of contract at the end of December, meaning that he will become a free agent on the market (Philadelphia Union contracts), and having established himself as Jim Curtin’s best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.34 (as per WhoScored – Philadelphia Union statistics), the 26-year-old won’t be short of a potential suitor in England.
Kai Wagner transfer update
According to The Athletic (via CaughtOffside), which shared a transfer update on Kai Wagner, Philadelphia's defender “could be heading” to Leeds in January.
The Whites target is “set to leave” his side upon the expiration of his deal at the end of the calendar year, and Elland Road has been touted as a serious potential destination.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
How good is Kai Wagner?
According to his former teammate Aurelien Collin, Wagner is a “fighter” for his desire to get stuck in – something he’s shown by winning 39 out of his 60 tackles made so far this season, which is a higher rate than any of his teammates (FBref – Philadelphia Union statistics), but he’s also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch.
The Geislingen native, who is naturally left-footed, has racked up 50 goal involvements (42 assists and eight goals) since the start of his career, so he has a history of making runs down the wing and creating chances for himself and his teammates in the final third (Transfermarkt – Wagner statistics).
Finally, Wagner shares the same agent, Feel Soccer GMBH, as Ilia Gruev, so this existing connection that his representative has to the club could give the 49ers a small advantage should they indeed decide to make yet another attempt for their long-term target in January.
Everton secured a solid point against Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon
The Toffees took a surprise early lead through Vitaliy Mykolenko and just as it looked like the hosts had held on for an invaluable three points, an Ashley Young own goal saved the Seagulls blushes six minutes from time.
That equaliser rewarded their dominance throughout the contest having recorded a whopping 80% possession and 866 passes to Everton's 208, although Sean Dyche's side did restrict them to only seven shots on goal, providing evidence of the strong defence formed under his stewardship.
James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite were at the heart of their defensive solidity, winning a combined six aerials, successfully completing seven long balls and making three tackles, as per Sofascore.
Vitaliy Mykolenko
7.5
James Tarkowski
7.3
Jordan Pickford
7.2
James Garner
7.0
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
6.8
Not every player covered themselves in glory against Brighton, however, with Jack Harrison registering fewer touches than goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and unfortunately, let the contest pass him by.
The on-loan Leeds United winger must therefore be dropped ahead of Everton's trip to Crystal Palace next Saturday.
Harrison's performance vs Brighton
Harrison endured his most difficult afternoon at Goodison Park since arriving from Leeds in the summer.
Whilst he was left embarrassed having made fewer touches than Pickford (28 / 43), he was wasteful on the rare occasions he touched the ball, especially in the creative department, registering a simply dreadful pass completion rate of 21%.
The 26-year-old failed to record a single effort on goal but perhaps more alarmingly, the fleet-footed winger completed zero dribbles and offered his team very little on the counter-attack, as Everton were forced into soaking up pressure.
Touches
28
Pass Accuracy
3/14 (21%)
Key Passes
0
Cross Accuracy
0/1
Shots
0
Dribble Success
0/1
Duels Won
50%
Possession Lost
17x
Stats via Sofascore.
Harrison's inaccuracies in possession were also exemplified by his horrible end product in the final third, skewing all three of his attempted long balls and providing Dominic Calvert-Lewin with no ammunition into the box as he failed to plant a single cross into the corridor of uncertainty.
The £90k per-week wide man, who lost possession a whopping 17 times, somehow managed to last the full ninety minutes on the pitch, perhaps emphasising the need for Dyche to strengthen in January.
Unfortunately for Harrison, this isn't the only occasion that he's failed to provide a spark down the flank this term.
Harrison's numbers this season
In five Premier League appearances for Everton, Harrison has scored once and supplied two assists.
Whilst those are decent statistics on paper, two of those three contributions did come in a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth, who are struggling at the bottom of the table.
During his time at Leeds in the top flight, he was described by left-back Junior Firpo as "one of the best wingers" as he used to strike fear into defenders with his searing pace and quick changes of direction.
With Harrison perhaps being held by the shackles of Dyche's system, he's been unable to emulate a similar threat at Goodison Park, recording just 0.6 dribbles per game, 0.8 key passes and a 68% pass completion.
The 5 foot 9 ace has also seen his attacking metrics drop significantly in the past year, ranking in the bottom 38% against his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes, bottom 33% for successful take-ons and bottom 32% for non-penalty xG, as per FBref.
That said, the Englishman must start to see an improvement in those metrics, in particular, if he is to avoid being dropped by Dyche in the future.
Celtic are brilliant at signing and developing young players before selling them on for profit on the future, as evidenced by the stars they have sold over the years.
As recently as January, the Scottish Premiership champions raked in a reported fee of £10m for Japan international centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi from Rennes, yet he does not even place within the top sales in the club’s history.
Kieran Tierney
£25m
Matt O’Riley
£25m
Jota
£25m
Moussa Dembele
£20m
Odsonne Edouard
£18.5m
Kristoffer Ajer
£13.5m
Virgil van Dijk
£13m
As you can see in the table above, the likes of Jota, Matt O’Riley, and Kieran Tierney have all been sold for more than twice as much, the latest of which was O’Riley’s move to Brighton last summer.
Two of those players are also now back at Parkhead. Jota returned to Glasgow from Rennes on a permanent deal in January, whilst Tierney has joined on a free transfer from Arsenal, six years on from his move to the Premier League.
These are some of the top examples of players who have thrived in the Premiership for Celtic before making the club millions by moving elsewhere, and a great example of their brilliant recruitment work is central defender Kristoffer Ajer.
Celtic hit the jackpot with Kristoffer Ajer
In February 2016, the Scottish giants paid a reported fee of just £650k to sign the centre-back after a trial spell at Parkhead from Norwegian side Start.
The Hoops identified the young defender as a promising talent at the age of just 17, and were patient with him before they introduced the starlet to the first-team.
Former Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer.
Ajer spent time in the academy, playing youth league football, before being sent out on loan to Kilmarnock in the Premiership, before his emergence as a senior option for Celtic in the 2017/18 campaign.
The towering youngster then went on to score seven goals and provide seven assists in 176 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops before his exit in the summer of 2021.
February 2016
£650k reported fee
February 2017
£680k
August 2018
£1m
August 2019
£2.5m
January 2021
£3.4m
June 2021
£6m
July 2021
£13.5m reported fee
As you can see in the table above, Ajer’s market value soared way beyond the initial £650k that the Hoops reportedly paid Start to sign him as a 17-year-old.
In the summer of 2021, Premier League side Brentford reportedly paid a fee of £13.5m to sign the centre-back, breaking their own transfer record, which represented a huge profit for Celtic.
This shows that the Scottish giants hit the jackpot with the young defender as they identified his potential at an incredibly young age and went on to benefit from it with performances on the pitch and a huge fee when he left.
Celtic enquire about deal for teenage star
Celtic could find their next version of Kristoffer Ajer this summer amid reported interest in another 17-year-old centre-back prospect to bolster their squad.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Mozzart Sport, as relayed by B92, Celtic are interested in a deal to sign Red Star Belgrade central defender Veljko Milosavljević in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Hoops have already made an enquiry about the 17-year-old starlet, and made an offer of £5m that was turned down by the Serbian outfit.
It adds that two teams from England are also eyeing up the young centre-back, but they have yet to make any official bids for his services as of yet.
Red Star Belgrade are said to want more than £5m that Celtic put on the table for the teenage titan, although the report does not mention exactly how much they would want for him.
Why Celtic should sign Veljko Milosavljević
The Hoops should sign the Serbian youngster before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September because he has the potential to be Ajer 2.0 at Parkhead.
Whilst he would not arrive for a cheap fee of £650k, given that they have already had an offer of £5m turned down for him, the Red Star talent would arrive as another teenage centre-back with the potential to develop and improve, therefore growing in value in the future.
Former Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer.
Despite not turning 18 till this weekend, the Celtic target has already played 19 first-team matches for the Serbian giants, and established himself as a regular in the league in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.
Milosavljević initially caught the eye in the Serbian youth league, winning 11.8 duels per game across eight starts in the division, before being made a permanent member of Vladan Milojevic’s first-team squad.
Appearances
14
Starts
11
Pass accuracy
90%
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.2
Dribbled past per game
0.2x
Error led to shot
0
Error led to goal
0
Penalties committed
0
As you can see in the table above, the teenage talent started 11 of his 14 outings for the Superliga champions, as the centre-back showed that he could compete in a team that was chasing the league title.
Milosavljević, who scout Gianni Bellasi described as a “physically imposing” defender, proved himself to be a reliable option at the back, despite his inexperience, with zero errors that led to shots, goals, or penalties.
That is particularly impressive when you consider that Liam Scales made two such errors and Auston Trusty made five such errors in the Premiership for Celtic this season, in a title-winning side for Brendan Rodgers.
This shows that it is not easy to play a lot of games without making costly mistakes as a centre-back in a dominant team, given the nature of how much they look to play out from the back, but the Serbian star has shown promise in that respect.
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Therefore, Milosavljević could follow in Ajer’s footsteps at Parkhead if Celtic sign him this summer because he is a 17-year-old centre-back talent who has shown that he has the qualities to be a reliable figure at the back if he can adapt to Scottish football.
Of course, there are no guarantees in football and there is no telling exactly how he will develop, but his career to date suggests that the potential is there for him to be an exciting signing for the Hoops.
Glasgow Rangers have been dealt a blow after learning that they could be without one of their first-team stars through injury for Thursday's Europa League game vs Aris.
Rangers injury news
The Light Blues are set to host Akis Mantzios’ side this evening at Ibrox, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time, and whilst they will be hoping to gain a positive result, they will have to try and do so without several squad members for various reasons.
Philippe Clement currently has Nicolas Raskin, Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe on the sidelines with their own respective problems, while Connor Goldson is suspended and Leon Balogun and Ridvan Yilmaz won’t be available for selection either.
Davies starts & "wonderful" talent benched in predicted Rangers lineup v Aris
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ByRoss Kilvington Nov 29, 2023
Back in February 2021, Scott Wright first joined the club from Aberdeen and during his two years in the Scottish Premiership, he’s become a regular feature of the first-team squad, but this season, the right-winger has very much been in and out of the team.
Scotland’s former youth international has made one start and the same number of substitute appearances in the Europa League (WhoScored – Wright statistics), and if the following update is to be believed, the 26-year-old might be facing a wait to make his next outing too.
Scott Wright could be ruled out
Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Clement confirmed that Wright might not be available to face Aris for tonight’s important encounter on home soil.
As quoted by Rangers’ official account on X, he said: “We have a few players out as not selected in the European squad. Raskin and Jack will not be back yet. Scott Wright is a doubt for tomorrow with a muscular issue.”
Glasgow Rangers forward Scott Wright.
Rangers missing a real "driving force" in Wright
Whilst Wright has been missing from the matchday squad on eight occasions in the league since the start of this season, he’s still previously shown what he’s capable of having posted 16 goal contributions, nine goals and seven assists, during his time at Rangers (Transfermarkt – Wright statistics).
The Aberdeen-born talent is also a versatile operator having been deployed in seven different positions following his arrival on the professional scene, including three roles across the frontline and four roles in the midfield, so his ability to adapt makes him a great option to have in the squad.
Right Winger
40
Left Winger
32
Attacking Midfield
26
Centre-Forward
6
Central Midfield
2
Right Midfield
1
Left Midfield
1
Clement’s forward has even helped to contribute to silverware whilst wearing the blue shirt having been part of the group that was crowned Scottish Premiership winner and Scottish Cup champion, so he will possess a winning mentality that the manager could have done with having at his disposal.
With Wright being described as a “driving force” by journalist Josh Bunting, his possible absence would therefore be a real blow for the boss, who will want to have his strongest squad available to give them the best chance of securing a victory under the lights.
West Ham United's slump in form is alarming, they've lost four of their last five matches in all competitions, with the only anomaly in that run being a fantastic 3-1 victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup as the Hammers booked their place in the quarter-finals.
While that domineering display wasn't backed up with a similar performance against Brentford on Saturday as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat in the Premier League, David Moyes will be seeking revenge against Olympiacos tomorrow night after they ended their 17-match unbeaten run in Europe two weeks ago.
Moyes will want to field a strong starting side to ensure complacency doesn't slip into their performance as the talented triumvirate of Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus are all likely to start.
The Scotsman could pick this starting XI for the visit of the Greek giants in tomorrow's Europa League clash, with five changes from the weekend loss…
1 GK: Lukasz Fabianksi
Lukasz Fabianki for West Ham
A reliable cup keeper these days, Lukasz Fabianski could come in to replace Alphonse Areola after starring in their 3-1 victory over the Gunners. The giant Pole has only conceded three goals in four appearances this term.
2 RB: Thilo Kehrer
Thilo Kehrer
A serial starter in the Europa League, having played in all three matches so far, Thilo Kehrer is David Moyes' chosen right back in this competition and the reliable German should get the nod over Vladimir Coufal on Thursday night.
3 CB: Konstantinos Mavropanos
West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Arsenal's former centre-back Konstantinos Mavropanos has featured in every minute of their Europa League campaign so far. The towering Greek international, who was once hailed as "fearless" by Ian Wright, should continue that run here.
4 CB: Nayef Aguerd
West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd.
Once dubbed as "exceptional" by Gary Lineker for his performances in claret and blue, Nayef Aguerd is the rock at the back for the Irons. The 27-year-old has only started once in the Europa League this term, but after Angelo Ogbonna's horror show in Greece, Moyes can ill-afford to risk the Italian once more.
5 LB: Aaron Cresswell
regan-clayton-aaron-cresswell-west-ham-opinion
With his contract expiring in the summer, it looks as though West Ham are going to bid farewell to Aaron Cresswell, but the 33-year-old could get a rare chance to impress ahead of Emerson on Thursday.
6 CM: James Ward-Prowse
Wolves midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
West Ham's technically gifted midfielder, who is renowned for the ability to play high-quality final balls to attackers, has showcased that vision in the Europa League this term with three assists in as many matches. He'll be looking to add to that total.
7 CM: Tomas Soucek
West Ham United'sTomasSoucekwith Declan Rice.
Once hailed as "incredible" by former midfield partner Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek is an ever-present figure in West Ham's midfield and has featured in all three of their European matches this season and even scored against TSC Backa Topola.
8 CM: Edson Alvarez
Edson Alvarez.
The Mexican summer signing was forced to sit out the weekend defeat to the Bees through suspension, although it could be wise to reinstate the former Ajax maestro against the Greek outfit to provide some much-needed solidity – only Pablo Fornals has made more interceptions for the Hammers in the competition so far.
9 RW: Mohammed Kudus
thomas-soucek-kudus-west-ham-opinion
Kudus is in fine form for West Ham currently and the Ghanian has cemented his place on the right flank following a strike against Arsenal and a sensational scissor-kick against Brentford on Saturday.
10 LW: Lucas Paqueta
Lucas Paqueta
Lauded as a "maverick" by David Moyes for his exceptional performance against Freiburg last month, the Scotsman could return Paqueta to the side after the £150k-per-week Brazilian missed out through suspension at the weekend. The 26-year-old has two goals in three matches in the competition thus far.
Newcastle United are preparing to embark on their long-awaited European tour as they return to the illustrious Champions League for the first time in two decades.
The Magpies haven't opened up their Premier League account particularly well, losing three of their first five games, so they'll be hoping their European exploits bring more fortune.
Eddie Howe and his side will travel to Italy next week as they face AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday the 19th of September at 17:45 GMT.
Ahead of the clash in Milan, Football FanCast has decided to bring you predicted lineups and team news for each side.
Who will start for Newcastle vs AC Milan?
League position, 11th: Newcastle have suffered three successive defeats after their thumping 5-1 opening game victory against Aston Villa. But, got things back on track with a win against Brentford on Saturday.
Nick Pope is expected to start in goal as usual. The 10-cap England international has been a mainstay since signing in a £10m deal from Burnley in the summer of 2022.
Though, the 31-year-old's form has suffered a slight dip this term and he was left out of Gareth Southgate's recent England squad.
Captain Kieran Trippier will almost certainly start at the San Siro, barring an injury, and he'll bring a great deal of much-needed Champions League experience to the rest of the squad.
Trippier, during his time with Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid, has made 30 appearances in the competition – including a start in the final – and will be well-versed in the challenges teams on the continent can bring.
The centre-half pairing will likely be five-year servant Fabian Schär and £35m signing Sven Botman, who has impressed many since making the switch from Lille two summers ago. Ever present Dan Burn will start at left-back to complete the back four.
Moving into midfield brings some injury news. Sandro Tonali was a doubt just after the international break.
“He came back from Italy duty with a strain. He’s had a scan but we will see," Howe said.
But, he did make the bench for the Brentford game, though it remains to be seen as to whether he is still fit enough to start in Italy.
Sean Longstaff could come in to deputise for Tonali whilst fan-favourite Bruno Guimãraes will likely start. Though, don't rule out all three of the names above starting together, as Joelinton is expected to miss out.
The front three are slightly harder to predict than the rest of the team. Having bought Harvey Barnes for sizable money from Leicester City this summer, it's a toss-up between him and Anthony Gordon at left wing, but the latter has started all of the Magpies' opening four games, so we'll give the Merseysider the nod.
Up front brings a similar challenge with the competition between Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson but the Sweden international has been favoured more from the off despite Wilson's two goals as a substitute this season.
And on the right will likely be Miguel Almiron, who has little competition in that area of the pitch. The 29-year-old has started all four games this term.
Newcastle's predicted XI: Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schär, Sven Botman, Dan Burn; Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimãraes, Sandro Tonali; Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, Miguel Almiron.
Who will start for AC Milan vs Newcastle?
League position, 3rd: AC Milan had won their opening three games, but suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at the hands of Inter Milan this past weekend.
Highly-rated shot stopper Mike Maignan is expected to start in between the sticks. The 28-year-old is widely considered as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has a wealth of experience in the Champions League.
Milan captain Davide Calabria will likely start at right-back whilst Fikayo Tomori is expected to make his return to action after missing the Inter game through injury. 2001-born defender Malick Thiaw will pair up with Tomori at centre-back and the French World Cup-winner Theo Hernandez will complete the back four.
In midfield, Bosnia and Herzegovina international Rade Krunic will likely line up alongside summer signing Ruben Loftus-Cheek as a double pivot.
Another former Chelsea player in the form of Christian Pulisic is expected to start out wide whilst £17.2m signing Tijjani Reijnders could start in the 10 role.
Milan's danger man and borderline world-class winger Rafael Leão will line up on the left. The 24-year-old has started the season in marvellous form, registering three goal contributions in as many games. Trippier can expect a tough one-on-one battle throughout the match.
And up top should see veteran forward Olivier Giroud. He'll be a familiar name to Newcastle fans thanks to his spells at Arsenal and Chelsea. The towering 6 ft 4 centre-forward has netted four goals in three outings this term and could be a thorn in Howe's side come Tuesday evening.
AC Milan's predicted XI: Mike Maignan; Davide Calabria, Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Rade Krunic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek; Christian Pulisic, Tijjani Reijnders, Rafael Leão; Olivier Giroud.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could be dealt a cruel blow on the injury front as one of his star players is now awaiting assessment for an injury picked up on international duty, according to reports.
Recently, huge news has hit the headlines in regards to a Man Utd takeover after Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani withdrew from the bidding process to try and acquire 100% of the club. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now close to agreeing a deal to buy 25% of the club, in an agreement that would still see the Glazer family hold a verticle of control at Old Trafford; however, the exact terms of any potential deal upon ratification are yet to be fully established.
In other news, The Athletic have recently reported that Man Utd's injury latest is being investigated as their list of absentees continues to mount over the course of the season. Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez, Amad Diallo and Tyrell Malacia are all currently on the sidelines long-term due to various concerns; meanwhile, summer signing Mason Mount, Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon have missed chunks of action due to sustaining knocks. Director of Football John Murtough has shed some light on the next steps to try and combat the Premier League giants' injury crisis, stating:
"We’re also looking at why we’ve had so many injuries to see if there are any patterns to improve prevention in future. Some of them have been impact injuries, such as Kobbie’s and Amad’s, which are unpredictable. Others have been muscular and could reflect the sheer volume of games played over the past year, including last year’s World Cup."
Meanwhile, Barcelona are said to be keen on a cut-price move for Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho next summer; however, the England international would need to significantly lower his salary demands to push through any deal either on loan or permanently.
Jadon Sancho at Manchester United – statistics per season since arrival
Signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of £73 million in 2021
Statistics 2021/22: Appearances in all competitions – 38
Goals: 5
Assists: 3
Statistics 2022/23: Appearances in all competitions – 41
Goals: 7
Assists: 3
Statistics 2023/24: Appearances in all competitions – 3
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Man Utd injury update – Casemiro suffers concern on international duty
As per a fresh Man United injury update on Casemiro from the club, the midfielder suffered an ankle injury on international duty with Brazil against Venezuela and was substituted in the 79th minute after asking to be taken off.
Reports since have claimed he did not train on Saturday due to his ankle being 'badly swollen' and he will undergo further assessment to determine the severity of the injury, which could lead to a spell on the sidelines for the veteran midfielder, who has previously been hailed as "magnificent" by Ten Hag.
Casemiro has been a major contributor for United since completing his move from Real Madrid in 2022, registering 11 goals and seven assists in 62 appearances across all competitions (Casemiro statistics – Transfermarkt).
Nevertheless, it looks as if he could now be unavailable for some upcoming fixtures at Old Trafford, though United will need to wait and see on that front.