Tottenham Hotspur have won four of their past five matches in the Premier League to put November's injury-inflicted collapse firmly behind them, with Ange Postecoglou's side just one point behind fourth-placed neighbours Arsenal after the season's midpoint.

While an away fixture against Manchester United on January 14th is the only league outing for the club until the end of the month, the FA Cup campaign takes off in just one week and Spurs will lose influential captain Heung-min Son to the Asia Cup, with the situation compounded by further absences for the African Cup of Nations.

Signings were always going to be paramount this winter to aid the side's pursuit of continental qualification – having languished to an eighth-placed finish last year – but with players dropping like flies on the injury front, it's understandable that Postecoglou has demanded reinforcements across every angle of the pitch.

The Australian manager has admitted that the backline is his "priority" this month, with reliable reports suggesting that an exciting centre-back could be lined up for a transfer.

Spurs transfer news – Ko Itakura

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are "monitoring" Borussia Monchengladbach defender Ko Itakura, with Postecoglou an admirer since his Celtic days.

While the 26-year-old Japan international has a release clause inserted in his contract, this will not activate until the summer and thus make January negotiations difficult, though not impossible, especially with the Lilywhites so desperate for fresh support.

Joining for €5m (£4m) from Manchester City in 2022, Itakura has established himself as one of German football's most impressive defenders, and with Liverpool also regularly sending scouts to observe him in action, it would be wise to act fast and snap him up.

Ko Itakura's style of play

Described as "outstanding" and a "leading figure" shortly into his career at Gladbach by former manager Daniel Farke, Itakura was immense last season, completing 91% of his passes in the Bundesliga, averaging 3.8 clearances per game and winning 62% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

He had demonstrated his worth as a top-class defender capable of succeeding on the major stage, having spent multiple campaigns out on loan while on Manchester City's books, never making a senior appearance for the Premier League giants.

That said, having spent 2019/20 – 2020/21 on loan in the Netherlands with Groningen, Itakura sowed the seeds for a successful career and was even noted to be "one of the very best central defenders in the Eredivisie" by pundit Hans Kraay.

While the current campaign has been unkind to the 6 foot 2 titan, who has been sidelined since October with an ankle injury, he has still popped up with two goals from just seven league matches.

As per FBref, the £31k-per-week ace ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 12% for pass completion and the top 7% for blocks per 90, with his playing style likened to that of Real Madrid's Eder Militao, who has been pronounced as "the best centre-back in the world" by his manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Speaking of the player's skills, Gladach sporting director Roland Virkus said: "Ko covers an unbelievable amount of ground and is a tactically disciplined player who can operate in different positions in defence, including as a No.6."

With a wide range of abilities, Spurs would secure the signing of a dynamic defender capable of slotting right into Postecoglou's fluid system, and given that he had desperately fought for his services in Scotland, he clearly knows all about his qualities and how they would flourish under his wing.

Itakura is an adept operator on the left side of the central defence, with an impressive ball-playing ability married with a two-footedness that suggests, arriving from Germany, Spurs could replicate the brilliant summer signing of Micky van de Ven.

How Ko Itakura compares to Micky van de Ven

Completing a £43m transfer from Wolfsburg in August, Van de Ven has been a revelation in patching up a backline that shipped 63 goals in the English top-flight last season.

1

Leeds United

19th

78

2

Southampton

20th

73

3

Bournemouth

15th

71

4

Leicester City

18th

68

4

Nottingham Forest

16th

68

6

Tottenham Hotspur

8th

63

*Sourced via Sky Sports

Across his first 11 outings in the division, the Netherlands international had completed 95% of his passes, averaged 5.4 recoveries per game and won a whopping 74% of his ground duels, earning merit for his high-energy performances, with unseen athleticism that was instrumental in Postecoglou's early-season success.

He is among the most remarkably quick central defenders in Europe, with his top speed of 22.3 mph (35.97 km/h) the fastest of any centre-half in Germany last season – for reference, this surpasses Heung-min Son's pace of 21.31 mp/h (34.30 km/h).

It's a remarkable tool to wield for one situated in the rearguard, with Van de Ven ranking among the top 8% of positional peers for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90 to punctuate this point.

Well, with Van de Ven still sidelined after sustaining a hamstring injury in November – nearly two months ago – surely Spurs can't repeat the feat? Well, Lilywhites fears could be allayed should Itakura join the fold, with the Bundesliga player hailed as "incredibly fast" by the earlier-mentioned Kraay.

Spurs' track record of swooping for Bundesliga players, though infrequent, is certainly not poor, and the Die Fohlen would be the perfect counterweight to Van de Ven in the Tottenham team, at ease on the left side of central defence and boasting pace and passing prowess to match.

West Bromwich Albion are struggling for consistency during this gruelling winter period. The side's narrow 1-0 win at home to Norwich City on Boxing Day was just their second in five Championship matches, having also lost twice and drawn once.

Additionally, the only goal of the game came through Brandon Thomas-Asante, who found the net for the eighth time this campaign and is leading the Baggies' goalscoring charts.

West Brom could sign £1m-rated "huge talent" to improve Thomas-Asante's fortunes

West Brom could get the best out of Thomas-Asante this winter by signing this £1m-rated “huge talent”.

ByAdam Scully Dec 20, 2023

The Midlands club have been quite reliant on the former Salford City man's goals this season but with the January transfer window quickly approaching, head coach Carlos Corberan could look to sign one player that West Brom have been previously linked with to bolster his side's attacking department.

West Bromwich Albion transfer news – Ben Brereton Diaz

One player that West Brom have been linked to in recent months is Ben Brereton Diaz, with TEAMtalk reporting that the Baggies are keeping tabs on his situation at Villarreal. The outlet are claiming that both Leicester City and Southampton are also eyeing up the Chile international ahead of the January transfer window.

Brereton Diaz spent the last few seasons at Ewood Park with Blackburn Rovers, scoring 47 goals and registering 16 assists in all competitions for the Lancashire club. However, 38 of these goals came in his final two campaigns with the Riversiders, with journalist Alan Nixon describing him as a "goal machine".

During the summer, the attacker moved to La Liga side Villarreal on a free transfer but has struggled for game-time since joining The Yellow Submarine on a £29k-per-week deal.

The Chilean has seen just 544 minutes of action for the Spanish outfit since the beginning of the campaign which has been spread across 19 appearances in total and he has failed to bag a single goal or assist in his time at the club. Now, a move back to England looks to be on the cards and West Brom should try to shove themselves to the front of the queue for his signature.

How Ben Brereton Diaz compares to Romelu Lukaku

West Brom have been starved of a consistent goalscorer for some time now. In fact, last season, Thomas Asante finished level with Daryl Dike on seven goals in the Championship as the duo shared the club's top goalscorer award.

This term, Thomas Asante is leading West Brom's charts once more for the club and has already beaten his tally from his debut season. However, Corberan's second-most prolific player has been midfielder John Swift.

West Brom's last prolific goalscorer, in truth, was Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian titan found the net 17 times in 35 appearances on a season-long loan at the Hawthorns during the 2012/13 campaign before eventually returning to Chelsea, having had a great career since. Nonetheless, Brereton Diaz's most potent season in English football was even better than Lukaku's record with West Brom, having converted 22 times from 37 league appearances throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

Additionally, that season, the ex-Nottingham Forest attacker massively outperformed Thomas Asante's numbers from this current term.

Goals

0.61

0.38

Expected Goals

0.36

0.59

Assists

0.11

0.08

Expected Assists

0.07

0.04

Shots

2.91

2.30

Shots On Target

1.25

1.04

Goals Per Shot

0.14

0.17

Progressive Passes Received

5.81

4.30

Key Passes

0.67

0.45

Stats via FBref

Corberan could also play the pair together. In his career, Brereton Diaz has been deployed all along the frontline, including from the flanks. In a wide position, he has bagged 27 goals and registered 13 assists in 122 appearances. The Spanish coach can potentially use Brereton Diaz off the left in the absence of Matt Phillips, who is out until near the end of the season, while keeping Thomas Asante up top.

This is a move that could revolutionise West Brom's forward line ahead of what will be a gruelling second half of the campaign and should certainly be considered by the coaching and recruitment staff.

Having been without a reliable presence through the middle over an extended period – stretching back to the days of Lukaku – snapping up the former Rovers man could prove a real statement signing for those at the Hawthorns.

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.

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.

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.

As exciting as Nygren: All parties are keen for Celtic to sign £5m star

Celtic are keen to sign a £5m winger who would be as exciting as Benjamin Nygren.

2 ByDan Emery Jun 25, 2025

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.

Chelsea will be disappointed as to how their season is unfolding again, staring at a mid-table spot in the Premier League on Christmas Day to the dismay of everyone connected with the Blues.

An inconsistent December to date has seen wins usually followed up by losses, unable to string together a positive sequence of results in order to propel them up the division and compete with the likes of fellow London clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the top-end of the table.

Chelsea have given a number of their young talents a go this campaign in one positive, out with the old and in with the new very much the overriding mantra at Stamford Bridge now with the likes of Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer benefitting from this change of approach.

Chelsea could look to sign a promising young left-back to further delve into the market of promising gems if rumours are correct, the player in question a major upgrade on an ageing Ben Chilwell.

Chelsea transfers latest – Chilwell upgrade

Past rumours have suggested that Chelsea are keen on signing Barcelona hot-shot Alejandro Balde this January, with a report in one Spanish publication last month stating that the Blues and Manchester United are both actively pursuing the 19-year-old talent to persuade him to come to England.

This has further been backed up by FootballTransfers, who state that the rich west London outfit could play on Barcelona's current financial instability to land the Spanish prospect next month.

It's a position Chelsea do need to strengthen in soon, lacking numbers in the left-back spot with both Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella sidelined with injury.

Even if both options were available, Balde would walk into the side on his arrival to west London as a fresh and exciting defender more in-keeping with the forward-thinking Blues side still being constructed.

Alejandro Balde's style of play

Balde is the definition of a modern-day full-back, adept at venturing forward with blistering pace to burn and weaving runs as much as he is competent in tracking back and showing defensive grit.

The statistics are overwhelmingly in his favour on FBRef, which showcases his prowess in attack, receiving a staggering 9.56 progressive passes per 90 minutes over the last year at the Camp Nou.

In stark contrast, when Chilwell has been fit and selected by Chelsea over the same time period, the 27-year-old falls short of Balde's ridiculous total with 7.41.

In other comparisons, Balde continues to blow the ex-Leicester City man out of the water.

The teenage Barca sensation has averaged 4.69 progressive carries to Chilwell's inferior 2.74, further adding insult to injury by trumping him again with 2.09 successful take-ons to his Chelsea counterpart's weak 0.70.

Balde's exuberant performances this year have seen his current La Liga club slap an extortionate £865m (€1bn) release clause above his head, in an attempt to detract a suitor coming in and stealing a player that could be a future icon at the club.

Referred to as a "gem" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – who has further showered the 19-year-old with outlandish labels such as Balde being "one of the best left backs in Europe" in the past – Chelsea should go all in on signing the hot property in January.

Not quite the finished article by any means – falling short of Chilwell in tackles just with 1.43 compared to 1.46 – Balde will hope he can learn and grow at Stamford Bridge alongside his rough around-the-edges team to then go on and achieve greatness together.

As Southampton eye instant promotion back to the Premier League, reinforcements to ensure that they both secure their place in the top flight and then keep it will be more important than ever. The last thing that the Saints will want is to drop back straight back down to the Championship if all of their hard work takes them to Wembley glory under Russell Martin in the current campaign.

With that said, reports suggest that Southampton are set to rival Premier League sides and play-off rivals in a race to sign a 17-year-old gem who looks destined to become a future star, wherever he ends up.

Southampton transfer news

More often than not, Southampton have been a club blessed with young talent, either through their own academy or the transfer market. Just last season, they had Anderlecht and Manchester City academy graduate Romeo Lavia at their disposal, before selling him on for big money to Chelsea.

Meanwhile, one of their most famous academy graduates and captain, James Ward-Prowse, also moved back into the Premier League and has starred ever since at West Ham United. Their departures have paved the way for new arrivals, however, and now the Saints could use January to welcome fresh talent.

Southampton readying offer to sign "superb" gem from European giants

The Saints could get a major boost in pursuit of promotion…

ByTom Cunningham Dec 20, 2023

According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Southampton are eyeing a move to sign Larne youngster Jack Hastings. The Championship side have reportedly already sent scouts to watch the Northern Irishman and have joined the race to secure the forward's signature alongside play-off rivals Leeds United.

The two second-tier sides may well struggle to compete for Hastings' signature, however, amid reported interest from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers in a busy race for his potential arrival. Given the amount of interest that Hastings is reportedly receiving, Southampton will have to act fast if they want to land the youngster, making January all the more interesting.

20-goal Hastings is one for the future

Still just 17-years-old, Hastings has already made significant strides to attract such high interest within English football. The forward has impressed at youth level, finding the back of the net an incredible 20 times already this season, and now looks on the brink of earning a permanent place in the Larne first team after making his first appearance in the Irish Cup in the last campaign.

Only likely to get better, Southampton may need to act soon if they want to secure the best deal possible for the future star. When it comes to the Saints' current attacking options, the main man for Hastings to eventually take over is Che Adams. The 27-year-old could be the perfect tutor for the young forward if he decides to make the move to St Mary's over other options.

When the winter window swings open, Hastings looks likely to have the biggest decision of his career and one that could see him reach his ever-growing potential. Having seen talents like Ward-Prowse, Kevin Phillips and Theo Walcott all emerge and turn into stars from their academy over the years, Southampton may well find their next academy star in the form of Hastings.

West Bromwich Albion have had a solid season so far under head coach Carlos Corberan but a run of three winless games has put the Baggies at risk of falling out of the top six with another poor result.

A number of players have picked up significant injuries, including star winger Matt Phillips who has been ruled out until mid-April, having recently undergone surgery on his hamstring.

As such, West Brom aren’t fully clicking up top at the moment, but there could be a perfect solution in January to get the Baggies firing once more.

West Brom transfer news – Kwame Poku

West Brom are one of several clubs who have been left impressed by Peterborough United playmaker Kwame Poku and could look to make a move for the Ghana international once the January transfer window opens in less than two weeks. TEAMtalk are claiming that promotion rivals Sunderland and Ipswich Town are also interested in signing the 22-year-old.

In West Brom’s recent 1-1 draw with Stoke City, Corberan admitted that he wanted more from his wingers, having failed to create many chances from the wide areas with Jeremy Sarmiento and Grady Diangana in the lineup from the beginning.

The managed admitted: “It was enough times we received the ball to our wingers and we could’ve created something else and it’s true that it was [substitute] Tom Fellows and [Jed] Wallace the two players making more crosses than Grady and Sarmiento, who were playing on the sides. So for me, we should have created more from every single winger that was playing on the pitch.”

No player has recorded more assists for the Baggies this season than Phillips and it’s clear that Corberan is missing the 32-year-old's quality on the flanks. However, Poku would potentially fill the Englishman’s void at the Hawthorns.

Kwame Poku’s stats this season

Poku has had an excellent season on the wing for the Posh in League One as Darren Ferguson’s side make a push for a return to the Championship and currently sit second in the third tier, with Poku being a key player for the side, having started in 18 of Peterborough’s 21 league games this season.

His superb form hasn’t exactly come out of nowhere. During his stint with Colchester United, former manager John McGreal admitted that the then-teenager was a “huge talent”.

Now, Poku is one of the most productive players in League One. Only Jordan Rhodes, Alfie May, Devante Cole and Sam Hoskins have recorded more goal contributions in the league this term. Meanwhile, the Ghanaian has the joint-highest number of assists in the third division with six.

Alfie May

19

15

0

Jordan Rhodes

18

14

3

Devante Cole

20

12

2

Sam Hoskins

21

12

2

Kwame Poku

20

7

6

Jamie Reid

21

13

0

Corey Blackett-Taylor

20

7

6

Colby Bishop

19

11

2

Stats via BBC

In all competitions, Poku’s numbers sit at eight goals and eight assists in 27 matches so he is currently contributing to 0.59 goals per game which is an impressive return for a winger.

Additionally, Poku can play anywhere across the front three, including both flanks and as a number ten. This would allow Corberan to be flexible with his team selections, but Poku will most likely be deployed out wide given his knack of creating chances for teammates.

West Brom need a player like the Posh forward this winter to get the best out of first-choice striker Brandon Thomas-Asante. The 24-year-old is the Baggies’ top scorer this season with seven goals in 21 matches.

Regardless, the ex-Salford City striker has underperformed his xG of 6.5 by scoring six league goals in the 2023/24 campaign, according to FotMob. One of the reasons for this is the lack of service up top. West Brom have created 17.9 expected assists, which is the eighth-lowest in the league and the lowest in the top six by quite some margin.

Given his ability to score and create chances, compounded by the fact that Football Transfers have valued him at just over £1m, signing Poku could be an astute bargain by the Baggies to improve their form at the top end of the pitch.

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

Spurs are looking at a £40m alternative to Kudus.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 9, 2025

Liverpool may have gone three points clear at the top of the Premier League table by beating Newcastle 4-2 on Monday night, but the Reds are still looking a little light at the back as they head into the remainder of January.

Last month, they lost Joel Matip to a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, and Joe Gomez, another of Jurgen Klopp's centre-back options, has been required at left-back after injuries to Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas. Robertson is expected to be back available next month, but until then Liverpool will be looking stretched.

To add to Klopp's concerns, Ibrahima Konate has already had two spells on the sidelines this season, raising questions about his ability to stay fit. 20-year-old Jarell Quansah has logged 15 appearances this year, but Klopp may be wary of relying too heavily on him in his first season of top-flight football.

Liverpool submit Inacio bid – Portuguese media

With that in mind, Liverpool have reportedly made a £25.8m (€30m) offer for Sporting centre-back Goncalo Inacio, as per Jorge das Transferencias. As it stands, they're the club "most interested" in signing him, and they've now tested the resolve of the Primeira Liga side with an offical offer according to the outlet.

Inacio, 22, is a product of Sporting's academy and now an established member of their first team. This season, he's started 13 of the 14 league games for which he's been available, as well as five out of six Europa League fixtures.

During the summer transfer window, Inacio penned a new contract in Lisbon that included a £51.8m/€60m release clause (Fabrizio Romano), but Liverpool have made a bold attempt to sign him for just half of that figure. It remains to be seen whether Sporting are willing to negotiate a lower fee, or whether they insist that the clause is paid in full.

Arsenal battle may be looming

When you look at Inacio's numbers, you can quickly see why he holds an appeal for Klopp – he places at or near the top for a whole host of ball-playing metrics (FBRef). He's 10th in the division for progressive passing distance (6,754 yards), fifth for progressive passes (96) and first outright for passes into the final third (104), touches (1,206) and progressive carrying distance (2,737 yards).

This emphasises just how heavily involved he is in his team's build-up play, and paints him as a priceless offensive instigator. He can launch attacks with either ambitious passing through the opposition defensive lines or driving runs upfield, the kind that can unsettle the other team's structure.

One particularly intriguing aspect of the pursuit of Inacio is the reported interest from Premier League competitor Arsenal. Last month, A Bola claimed that it is in fact the Gunners who are at the front of the queue to sign Inacio, potentially setting up a transfer battle between two of the sides in the title race.

Arsenal have of course fallen five points behind Liverpool with their consecutive defeats against West Ham and Fulham between Christmas and New Year, but they certainly be can't counted out just yet, with just under half the season still to go. Indeed, the right January addition could help to give Mikel Arteta's side the momentum they sorely need, and close up the gap to Liverpool.

Sunderland are plugging along in the Championship and new manager Michael Beale has managed to guide the side back into the playoff spots. However, the Black Cats are clinging on by just a point.

The same issue continues to crop up under Beale as it did during Tony Mowbray's tenure concerning the Wearside club's struggles in front of goal. Sunderland are inside the bottom half of the table regarding goals scored in the league this season.

Nevertheless, with the January transfer window open, Beale could dip into the market to add much-needed quality to his attacking department.

Sunderland transfer news – Jay Stansfield

Over the past few days, Sunderland have been linked with a move for Bournemouth centre-forward Kieffer Moore, with The Sun revealing that the Black Cats currently lead a race with several other Championship clubs for the Wales international.

A couple of days before the winter window commenced, it was reported that Sunderland were keen to bring Fulham centre-forward Jay Stansfield to the Stadium of Light to be Beale's first-choice striker for the remainder of the campaign, ending his loan spell with Birmingham City.

However, it had been widely claimed that Ipswich Town were set to come out on top in the pursuit of the 21-year-old's signature. Nevertheless, no move has come to fruition yet with the Tractor Boys, meaning Sunderland still have a chance of capturing the young striker.

Said to be on just £10k-per-week on his current deal, Stansfield could be a very affordable option on loan until the end of the season.

Jay Stansfield's stats this season

Right now, Sunderland need a centre-forward with experience in the Championship and one who can score goals at this level. Stansfield ticks both of these boxes. Amid Birmingham's woes on the pitch, particularly during Wayne Rooney's tenure at St. Andrew's, the former Exeter City loanee has found the net seven times and recorded two assists in 23 appearances in England's second-tier.

The number nine position has been the weakest part of Sunderland's team this season. The ex-Premier League outfit currently have five different frontmen on the books this campaign; Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow, Eliezer Mayenda, Hemir Semedo and Jewison Bennette. Between them, they have scored one goal which came from Rusyn in a 2-0 win over Preston North End on New Year's Day.

Jack Clarke has been the club's talisman this season, having bagged 12 goals in 26 matches and is directly responsible for 33.3% of Sunderland's league goals. Beale needs to add quality up top to ease the goalscoring burden off Clarke.

While Moore has been a prolific goalscorer in the Championship in the past, having found the net 47 times in 155 matches in the second tier, he is now on the wrong side of 30 and boasts worse stats than Stansfield this season.

Goals

7

2

Expected Goals

4.9

1.1

Assists

2

0

Progressive Carries Per 90

2.67

0.91

Shots

54

10

Shots On Target

17

4

Goals Per Shot

0.13

0.2

Key Passes

24

1

Stats via FBref

Stansfield is younger, hungrier and looks like a natural finisher already, with Fulham boss Marco Silva even claiming that the forward "can score easily" which has been backed up by his seven goals already this term.

To keep in line with the club's recruitment strategy in recent years of signing young players, the Black Cats should throw the kitchen sink at Fulham to take Stansfield on loan for the rest of the campaign.

Philippe Clement will head into his first summer transfer window as Glasgow Rangers manager with the aim of moving out some deadwood while bringing his own targets to the club.

Several players look to be departing upon the expiration of their contracts at the end of the season, which will free up some of the wage bill for Clement to utilise, but he will also need to sell players for transfer fees in order to improve his budget.

There should be no shortage of offers for a few of his first team regulars, although it appears a former Rangers manager has his eyes on not one, but two current players…

Rangers transfer news

According to the Daily Record, Steven Gerrard is eyeing a shock double swoop for James Tavernier and Connor Goldson this summer as he looks to bring the duo to the Middle East.

Both players, of course, worked under the former Liverpool captain during his three and a half year spell as Ibrox boss, helping the club win their first league title in a decade during the 2020/21 season.

Both players are on the wrong side of 30 and have two years left on their current deals, which suggests it could be a tempting proposition for Clement to move them on if he receives a sizeable transfer fee.

Goldson hasn’t quite been in the best of form in recent weeks, whereas Tavernier’s goal contributions have been vital for the Light Blues this season.

James Tavernier’s stats for Rangers this season

Once again, the defender is currently the top scorer in the squad, scoring 24 goals along with registering ten assists in what has been a career-best total for the former Newcastle United gem.

Tavernier notched his 131st goal of his career against Hibs in March, coming via one of his customary penalties which have formed the bulk of his goals. In the process, he became the highest-scoring defender in British football history, a stunning achievement for a right-back.

His goal involvements have been crucial to the club regaining their footing after a poor start under Michael Beale, and it appears as though Clement has placed his full trust in the 32-year-old to lead his team.

Among his teammates this term, Tavernier currently ranks first for overall Sofascore rating (8.08) in the top flight, while also ranking first for goals and assists (25), fifth for shots per game (2.1), first for big chances created (17) and for key passes per game (3.2), showing just how much of a positive influence he has in the current side.

Without his goal contributions, there is no telling where Rangers would be. One day, however, the club will need to find a replacement for him, which could prove to be extremely tough considering how much he offers, especially from an attacking perspective.

Metric

Europa League

Premiership

Goals

0

17

Assists

0

8

Big chances created

0

17

Key passes per game

1.1

3.2

Successful dribbles per game

0.3

1.1

There will be players Clement has his eyes on in terms of potential long-term Tavernier successor, yet there could be someone who is currently out on loan who could forge his way back into the first-team picture next season – Adam Devine.

Adam Devine’s Rangers career so far

The right-back made his first team debut for Rangers during a clash against Dundee United towards the end of the 2021/22 season as Giovanni van Bronckhorst was looking to rest senior players due to their involvement in the run to the Europa League final.

His first start came a week later in the final match of the season against Hearts, and he impressed during a 3-1 win, succeeding with 100% of his dribbles while taking 79 touches, showing his willingness to get on the ball.

The youngster had to wait until December to feature for the first team again, as injuries meant Beale called him into the starting XI for three successive games, playing particularly well against Ross County a few days before Christmas.

Not only did he make four key passes during the tie, but Devine also succeeded with both of his dribbles, won four of his seven ground duels contested along with making two tackles, and it looked as though he had a bright future ahead of him.

In total, Devine played eight times for the senior side throughout the whole of last season, gaining vital experience, and it looked as though he could push on this term. After playing just nine minutes in the League Cup for the Light Blues, Clement sent the defender on loan to Motherwell in order to give him some much-needed game time.

Adam Devine’s statistics for Motherwell

The 21-year-old was hailed by former Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall after the Jags signed him on loan in 2021, describing him as “a highly rated young player” and his current spell at the Steelmen may have given Clement plenty to think about.

So far, he has played nine games for the club since his arrival in January, scoring once and grabbing an assist. Of the eight league matches, Devine has started in six of them, averaging 0.4 key passes per game, succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts, recovering three balls per game and winning 0.9 ground duels per game – an impressive success rate of 70% – which has proven his ability to perform on a consistent basis in the top flight.

While he may not offer the same sort of attacking qualities as Tavernier, Devine could be a solid option for Clement to call upon next season.

He still has plenty of time to develop as a player, while being homegrown will be advantageous with regard to European games, as the squad has to have a certain number of homegrown players present.

Hopefully, Tavernier still has a year or two left at Ibrox before he moves on to pastures new, but that’s not to say Devine should be intimidated by his presence.

Gaining minutes in certain matches next season could allow him to continue his rapid development while demonstrating his talents to Clement in the process, as the manager could save millions in the transfer market by trusting the youngster.

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ByRoss Kilvington Apr 26, 2024