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A Sky Sports pundit says one player in particular will be leaving Tottenham this summer, and it's "100%" from what he knows on the situation.

Postecoglou pleads for change with Tottenham set for long-term rebuild

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has grown more and more animated on the touchline over these last few weeks, and for good reason, as his side have been far below par and seem a shadow of their former selves who started the campaign so brightly.

Ange told to sell Bissouma and build Tottenham team around £90 million star

The player in question would set Tottenham back a hefty sum.

ByJosh Barker May 5, 2024

Some were even backing a potential Spurs title challenge at one point after Postecoglou made the best start of any new manager in Premier League history, but a combination of injuries and inconsistent form have set the Lilywhites back.

Now, barring a last-gasp collapse from Aston Villa, Tottenham appear set to miss out on fourth and Champions League football next term, with Postecoglou admitting that the north Londoners require a long-term rebuild and real change.

Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham

Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal

Newcastle United 4-0 Tottenham

Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest

"We need change. Change has to happen," said Postecoglou on Tottenham needing to overhaul the squad.

"You can’t want to alter your course and expect the same people are going to be on that. It’s just not going to happen.

"We’ve had two windows and we’ve had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we’ve still got a long way to go, that’s what I’m talking about. It’s impossible to say you’re going to have drastic change and yet expect everyone to be on that journey. It’s not for the want of trying. It’s just that we’re going to play a certain way, we’re going to train a certain way and we’re going to have a certain mindset.

"And that’s not for everyone. Whether it’s Liverpool or Arsenal, if you look at the beginning of their journeys, by the time they win the competition or have success, the team’s almost unrecognisable. That’s the reality if you change [and we’ve] done a major pivot here, so that definitely is the case [for us], yeah."

To make room for key new additions, with Spurs plotting to upgrade a few key areas this summer, players will need to go the other way. One of them could well be defender Joe Rodon, who's enjoyed a fantastic loan spell at Leeds United this season.

Rodon will "100%" leave Tottenham this summer

Leeds are very keen to strike a permanent deal for Rodon. However, whether or not he signs on at Elland Road indefinitely, Sky pundit Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that Rodon will "100%" be leaving Tottenham this summer based on what he knows.

“Joe Rodon… regardless of whether he stays at Leeds or goes elsewhere, he won’t be integrated back into the Spurs side, and will move this summer on a permanent deal, it’s 100% from what I know,” said Robinson.

The 26-year-old was signed by Jose Mourinho at Spurs in 2020 from Swansea City, and Ben Davies has called him a "terrific" player, but there appears to be little room for him in Postecoglou's rebuild.

Even though Sunderland would play all of the second half with a 1-0 lead away at West Bromwich Albion with an extra man advantage, the Black Cats defence still needed to battle bravely at the Hawthorns to get the slim Championship win over the line.

Trai Hume notably stood out in the West Midlands playing in a centre-back role for the day, amassing 75 touches when moving the ball confidently out from defence on top of winning four duels.

The 22-year-old has been a crucial player for Sunderland this season under various different managers, stepping up to the mark and excelling after signing from his native Northern Ireland in 2022 as a raw and untested gem.

Yet, Hume still finds himself earning a measly pay packet compared to this injury-prone Black Cats man somehow, even whilst the unlucky player in question hasn't featured in a single first-team game this season.

Corry Evans' wage at Sunderland

Corry Evans' time at Sunderland was going swimmingly until a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury stopped him in his tracks mid-way through the 2022/23 campaign, having amassed 64 appearances for the Wearside outfit in total with the captain's armband even being worn by the 33-year-old on occasion.

Now, however, Evans has only made four appearances in the last two years for Sunderland since, with two of those being comeback games in the U21 ranks recently to try and then ease him back into the men's game soon.

Yet, with the missing Sunderland man now reaching the end of his career age-wise anyway away from his injury issues, it looks unlikely that Evans will ever have the same impact he once had in the first-team with Pierre Ekwah taking his holding midfield role off him alongside an equally fitter and younger Dan Neil.

It could well even be this summer when Sunderland have to address Evans' overall cost to the Black Cats bank account, with the absent figure earning £8k-per-week.

Hume comes in as earning a lesser £3k-per-week in contrast, with the Black Cats potentially prepared to cut ties with Evans at the end of this campaign to try and balance out the wage bill accordingly.

Evans' wage compared to the Sunderland squad

It's not just Hume who will feel aggrieved about his salary compared to Evans', with the aforementioned Ekwah also earning just £3k-per-week despite scoring the crucial winner against the Baggies last match.

Moreover, Hume's reliable defensive partner in Luke O'Nien earns £7.5k-per-week in contrast even whilst the former Wycombe Wanderers man continues to valiantly take on captain duties with Evans still not fit enough for a first-team comeback.

Sunderland's top earners – 2023/24

1. Jack Clarke

£16.9k per week

2. Daniel Ballard

£15k per week

3. Bradley Dack

£15k per week

4. Patrick Roberts

£12.5k per week

5. Anthony Patterson

£10k per week

Sourced by Capology

Evans is only £2k-per-week off entering into the top five earners at the Stadium of Light this season despite being a permanent fixture in the treatment room, something that will need to be addressed soon by the underperforming Championship side.

The 33-year-old's contract is up this coming June which could bring his stop-start time in Wearside to a sombre end, a disappointing conclusion for Evans who was a key first-teamer when the Black Cats won promotion from League One during the 2021/22 season before all these injury troubles piled up.

Yet, with Sunderland moving in the direction of filling their squad with exciting talents for the future, an injury-prone figure like Evans at 33 years of age just doesn't fit in anymore.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

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Sunderland will be looking forward to this Championship season being over and done with based on recent results, the Wearside outfit humbled 5-1 by Blackburn Rovers last time out to pile up the misery even higher.

The disastrous loss at the Stadium of Light also saw Anthony Patterson have a notable off-day in between the sticks, the usually reliable Black Cats goalkeeper making just two saves with the ball having to be fished out of his busy net an embarrassing five times.

This poor day at the office shouldn't detract suitors coming back in for the 23-year-old in the summer however, Patterson gaining notable admirers from higher-up places than Sunderland, with Liverpool once sniffing about for the Black Cats number one.

If Sunderland were tempted into parting ways, they'd demand the suitor in question pay a hefty fee to win Patterson's services with the promising shot-stopper seeing his value soar after coming through the youth ranks on Wearside.

Anthony Patterson's time at Sunderland

All whilst still only 23 years of age, Patterson has managed to amass 118 first-team appearances for the Black Cats after bursting onto the senior scene during the 2021/22 season.

A loan spell with Notts County the campaign prior would allow for the young shot-stopper to spread his wings, making 11 appearances and gaining his first real experience of the men's game in the formative switch.

The 6 foot 2 homegrown product wouldn't look back when gifted chances to impress in the senior mix back at the Stadium of Light, becoming a key cog the last two full seasons on the trot with 86 Championship appearances accumulated, having also been praised for his "amazing temperament" by Tony Mowbray.

His continued heroics in goal for Sunderland this season even when results haven't been going the team's way – with Patterson picking up two clean sheets on the bounce before the collapse to the Riversiders – means the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest who have been in the queue for his services alongside Klopp's Reds could reignite their interest again soon.

The struggling second-tier outfit will hope if one of these Premier League clubs does bid for Patterson, they make a handsome profit on their former Academy product who cost the Black Cats nothing to nurture and grow but could be sold on for a high amount.

Anthony Patterson's transfer value in 2024

Patterson's £11m worth in 2024 means he boasts the title of being Sunderland's most valued asset, according to Football Transfers, worth even more than standout Black Cats man Jack Clarke who comes in with a price tag of €9m (£7.7m) comparatively.

The Sunderland keeper's bumped-up valuation means he also comes in as the 16th most valuable player in the division currently, finding himself above Leeds United's Daniel James just at €12.8m (£10.9m) who is more focused on winning promotion than Patterson's standing of being in mid-table.

1. Anthony Patterson

€12.9m (£11m)

2. Jack Clarke

€9m (£7.7m)

3. Abdoullah Ba

€7.2m (£6.1m)

4. Adil Aouchiche

€6.5m (£5.5m)

5. Pierre Ekwah

€6m (£5.1m)

Glancing at the table above, Sunderland are putting a lot of trust in expensive youngsters such as Abdoullah Ba and Adil Aouchiche to come good and get them out of their current dreadful predicament.

That philosophy won't change if Patterson does end up moving on from Wearside for more luxurious pastures with a flow of cash then coming in, with Dodds' men linked with highly regarded Wigan Athletic shot-stopper Sam Tickle as the 23-year-old's immediate replacement.

Sunderland will just aim to get the best out of Patterson and Co between now and the end of the season away from transfer gossip, attempting to end the season with some positivity before talk turns to who is sticking around at the Stadium of Light past the summer.

Dodds could stumble across his next Rigg in 9/10 Sunderland "diamond"

Mike Dodds will hope Sunderland can strike gold again with this youngster coming through.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 3, 2024

Going into the International break off the back of two defeats to high-flying Leeds United and Ipswich Town – with the 6-0 loss at Portman Road obviously stinging more – Danny Rohl will now hope his Sheffield Wednesday players are re-energised and refocused for the task of attempting to stay up in the Championship once more.

There'll be some obvious pride from an Owls perspective at the number of players who played for their countries over the time off too, including hot prospect Bailey Cadamarteri who scored for the England U19s.

Rohl and Co will be delighted at the constant progression they're seeing from the teenage striker, who has four goals in the senior fold this season for the relegation-threatened Owls also.

The success story of Cadamarteri could well impact Wednesday's transfer business therefore, with the South Yorkshire giants taking a shining to his young trialist who could be signed permanently down the line.

Sheffield Wednesday transfer news

According to a report from Sheffield Star journalist Joe Crann late last week, the Owls are very much keen on 19-year-old trialist James Collins who had been making a splash in the youth circles at Watford before being taken on at Hillsborough.

Only joining the youth set-up at the Hornets last year from non-league Hertford Town, a move for the highly regarded striker could see Wednesday sign yet another young and fresh centre-forward in the mould of Cadamarteri.

Scoring goals regularly for Watford at both U18 and U21 level – with his last flurry of goals coming against Ipswich Town just this month – Collins was even gifted a spot on the Hertfordshire side's bench against Stoke City earlier this campaign when Valerien Ismael was still present in the Vicarage Road hot-seat.

With Lee Gregory's contract expiring this summer, and the Owls man being 35 years of age, it could well be a case of out with the old and in with the new if Collins impresses enough to be rewarded with a permanent deal at Hillsborough.

James Collins could be Lee Gregory's replacement

Gregory has barely featured under Rohl since the German manager took over the reins last October, making just one brief appearance to date under the current Wednesday boss against Cardiff City in December.

Therefore, with this development emerging that a new kid could soon be on the block in a permanent deal, this could give Rohl grounds to get rid of the former Millwall man for good after failing to ever really utilise him since coming into the Owls.

1. Will Vaulks

30

June 2024

2. Josh Windass

30

June 2024

3. Barry Bannan

34

June 2024

4. Liam Palmer

32

June 2024

5. Lee Gregory

35

June 2024

Gregory won't be the only ageing member of the Wednesday squad who will be fearing for their future in South Yorkshire, with the likes of Will Vaulks and Liam Palmer's contracts also up for discussion at the conclusion of the campaign.

Wednesday could well view the breakout success of Cadamarteri as the starting point that leads to a new direction at the club, helped further by young trialist Collins potentially going on to have a far more important role in the Owls team soon if he is kept around past his trial period at the expense of Watford.

MatériaMais Notícias

A Diretoria de Competições da Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) definiu, nesta quarta-feira (12), a tabela detalhada das dez primeiras rodadas da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro 2021. O campeonato terá início em uma sexta, dia 28 de maio, com quatro jogos. No dia seguinte, às 11h, o Vasco entrará em campo pela primeira vez no torneio, em São Januário, diante do Operário-PR.

> Confira a Tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro – Série B

RelacionadasVascoJogadores do Vasco recebem a folha salarial do mês de abrilVasco12/05/2021Futebol NacionalCovid-19: sem desejo de público por parte de Botafogo e Vasco, finais da Taça Rio serão com portões fechadosFutebol Nacional12/05/2021VascoDe olho no Botafogo, Vasco adapta programação de treinos para o turno da manhã na sexta e no sábadoVasco12/05/2021

De acordo com a tabela divulgada, o Gigante da Colina terá duas das dez primeiras partidas transmitida pela Rede Globo de Televisão. Na 2ª rodada, o duelo com a Ponte Preta e na 6ª rodada, quando visitará o Cruzeiro, no Mineirão. Confira a tabela com os dez primeiros jogos da Série B ao clicar aqui.

Além deles,Ponte Preta x Cruzeiro (4ª rodada), Náutico x Botafogo (5ª rodada), Botafogo x Vitória (8ª rodada) e Cruzeiro x Coritiba (10ª rodada), também serão transmitidos pela emissora carioca.

> Confira mais notícias sobre o Vasco da Gama

Antes da estreia, o Gigante da Colina terá pela frente a final da Taça Rio, torneio mata-mata disputado do 5º ao 8º colocado do Campeonato Carioca. Mais que um prêmio de consolação, a competição premiará em um R$ 1 milhão o vencedor, e terá o clássico entre Vasco e Botafogo na final, duas equipes que estarão presentes na Série B.

A primeira partida, no Estádio Nilton Santos, será às 11h05 deste domingo (16/5). O jogo de volta (22/5), em São Januário, será às 15h.Há vantagem de saldo de gols, mas não de pontos para o melhor classificado na Taça Guanabara.

>Garçons da Colina! Veja os jogadores que mais deram assistência aos gols de Cano pelo Vasco

Por fim, vale destacar que esta será uma Série B diferente, já que terá pela primeira vez cinco campeões nacionais. Além do Vasco (1974,1989,1997 e 2000), Botafogo (1968 e 1995), Cruzeiro (1966,2003, 2013 e 2014), Guarani (1978) e Coritiba (1985) também estarão na disputa.

Confira o calendário do Vasco

​1ª rodada (29/05)
11h – Vasco da Gama x Operário – São Januário, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

2ª rodada (06/06)
16h – Ponte Preta x Vasco da Gama – Moisés Lucarelli, Campinas (SP)

3ª rodada (12/06)
19h – Brasil de Pelotas x Vasco da Gama – Bento Freitas, Pelotas (RS)

4ª rodada (16/06)
19h – Vasco da Gama x Avaí – São Januário, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

5ª rodada (19/06)
16h30 – Vasco da Gama x CRB – São Januário, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

6ª rodada (23/06)
21h30 – Cruzeiro x Vasco da Gama – Mineirão, Belo Horizonte (MG)

7ª rodada (26/06)
19h – Vasco da Gama x Brusque – São Januário, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

8ª rodada (29/06)
21h30 – Goiás x Vasco da Gama – Hailé Pinheiro, Goiânia (GO)

9ª rodada (02/07)
21h30 – Vasco da Gama x Confiança – São Januário, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

10ª rodada (10/07)
16h30 – Vasco da Gama x Sampaio Corrêa – São Januário, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

Arsenal are in pole position to sign a star with Edu taking concrete pre-summer steps over a move, coming as they also seemingly give the green light for a player to leave north London later this year.

Arsenal back in form as Arteta chases Premier League title

The Gunners have rediscovered their very best after a damp mid-season run of form, having won five league games on the trot since their 2-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage before the beginning of 2024.

Arsenal hold talks with World Cup star reps as club work to stop him going

The Gunners have made contact over a summer move.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 20, 2024

Victories over Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, West Ham and Burnley maintain Arsenal's real chance to seal a first Premier League crown in 20 years with Mikel Arteta's side also scoring a brilliant 21 goals in that time.

Newcastle United

Feb 24th

Sheffield United

March 4th

Brentford

March 9th

Chelsea

March 16th

Man City

March 31st

"Yes, obviously we want to dominate the game and play in the opponents’ half as much as possible," said Arteta on Arsenal's excellent form.

"I think the threat, the purpose, the activity and the connections of the players at the moment is flowing and they really want it. We have momentum now and we have to maintain it. Now we leave the Premier League and go to Porto, we know it’s going to be a really tough environment and game to play again, and we just need to prepare well to go again and be ourselves.

"We are showing a high efficiency at the moment in front of goal, and you see especially the purpose, the way we’re playing at. We always want to play forward and be a threat, and the players up front, they feel really connected at the moment. That’s a different story because it gives us much more tranquillity, especially to finish the games off."

In the background, though, Emirates Stadium chiefs are still plotting how best to strengthen Arteta's squad for next campaign. Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with a new striker, and one name who refuses to go away is Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Arsenal "best positioned" to sign Toney as they green-light Nketiah exit

Since last summer, both Toney and Wolves star Pedro Neto have been regularly mentioned as Arsenal targets.

Now, journalist Rudy Galetti has written for Tribal Football that Arsenal are "best positioned" to sign Toney with the club taking "concrete steps" pre-summer.

This is "in light of their will" to sell Eddie Nkeitah as well, with the north Londoners green-lighting his potential sale.

"Arsenal is taking concrete steps for Ivan and the Gunners are confident they will be able to convince the attacker in the summer," said Galetti.

"Despite some links with Chelsea, without a doubt, at the moment, Arsenal are the best positioned club for the Brentford striker, also and especially in the light of their will to sell Eddie Nketiah in the next months."

A candid Mitchell Marsh has revealed the extent of his spiral out of the Australian set-up last summer and also his path back to playing the fifth and final Ashes Test, despite what he readily acknowledges is a fractious relationship with many of those who follow the game Down Under.”Yeah, most of Australia hate me,” he said with amusing resignation. “Australians are very passionate, they love their cricket, they want people to do well. There’s no doubt I’ve had a lot of opportunity at Test level and I haven’t quite nailed it, but hopefully they can respect me for the fact I keep coming back and I love playing for Australia, I love the baggy green cap and I’ll keep trying and hopefully I’ll win them over one day.”Named one of two Test team vice-captains ahead of the 2018-19 season, Marsh was initially a central part of plans being drawn up by the Australian coach Justin Langer, but a poor tour of the UAE against Pakistan and then a brief and unproductive stint at home against India left him not only out of the Test side but removed from World Cup calculations and also losing his Cricket Australia contract.Marsh said that personal issues, including the suicide of a close friend late last year, combined with underperformance and fitness issues to leave him a long way from enjoying the game. It took extensive work on his fitness, technical elements of his game and also his mentality with the Western Australia sports psychologist Matt Burgin to put him into the place where he was able to squeeze onto the Ashes tour. At The Oval he was given permission by Langer to attack with the ball, resulting in arguably his finest Test bowling display so far.”I wasn’t making runs – if you bat No. 4 for Australia you need to make runs,” Marsh said. “Last year was a range of stuff, a few things in my personal life. I lost a close friend to suicide at the start of the summer and when things like that happen, I didn’t handle it as well as I could have and that transitioned into my cricket at times as well. I understand everyone goes through tough periods in their life but I certainly didn’t handle it as best I could.”But to have gone through that and got through the summer the way I did and finished with WA, I knew I still had love for the game. It was a tough summer last year. I tried to put it behind me as quickly as possible and here I am. It took me until probably March, the last three Shield games of the year for WA. When you play cricket or you do anything and you want to do well badly and it doesn’t work out, it’s very easy to get down on yourself.”I was certainly at that stage, so I did a lot of work with our sports psych Matt Burgin at WA just about detaching myself from the outcome, working as hard as I can, getting as fit as I can, preparing well and it sort of started from there. I’ve hardly played any cricket since then but that’s what I’ve been doing.”At the same time, Marsh’s physical fitness had measured up poorly against the likes of Ben Stokes, forcing him to make numerous lifestyle and diet changes in order to do better. “As a professional athlete when you have setbacks you always think the worst, you think you might not play again after a summer I had last year,” he said. “There’s been no secret recipe, I’ve just worked my arse off for the last five months hoping to get another opportunity.”I wanted to come here and have a positive influence on this group, i think I’ve done that running the drinks and I just waited for my opportunity. I don’t necessarily eat that bad, I’m just a big eater, so I probably cut down my portion sizes a fair bit. There’s no secret JL’s certainly challenged me from a fitness perspective, he wanted me to get fitter and stronger and over the last six months I’ve put everything I’ve had into it.”I’ve certainly changed my lifestyle a little bit, I’m waking up every day trying to be the best cricketer I can be, and today was good reward for that but it’s one day of a Test match. It wasn’t terrible [but] my body likes to put on weight easily and my mum loves to feed me, so I haven’t had as many roasts at home the last six months, but it hasn’t been that hard. I love playing for Australia, I just love it, and I want to keep doing it, so I’ll keep working my arse off.”Marsh’s contribution at The Oval was very welcome for the Test team at the end of a draining series, and he hoped it would be the start of a far more productive run in the team. “I think in the past my role as a bowler has been to hold an end,” he said. “JL came up to me before the start of play and at lunch time and he just said ‘go for it, attack, bowl the way you want to bowl’, and I was a little bit, not shocked, but it gave me the confidence to go out there and give it everything I had.”Maybe a change of mentality allowed me to bowl a bit more attackingly as a player and it was fun. I want to be the best I can be at both batting and bowling, I don’t really want to pigeonhole one of them. No doubt as an allrounder at times you certainly hit them better than you’re bowling or vice versa but that’s just something that happens in cricket I guess as an allrounder. I want to be the best allrounder I can be in both facets of the game.”

Eagle-eaged football fans have spotted a host of star names, including Christian Pulisic and Bukayo Saka, featured on TV show The Boys.

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Article continues below

• The Boys back for Season Four
• Fans spot host of football references
• Star names in abundance in episode three

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Superhero television show The Boys has returned to screens with a new fourth series that has fans talking football on social media. Eagle-eyed supporters have managed to spot a host of star names from all over the world in the set design, suggesting that some staff on The Boys are serious football fans. Superstar names such as USMNT forward Pulisic, Spain legend Sergio Busquets and England talisman Saka appear along with apparent references to lesser lights including Ireland's Sammie Szmodics, Wales stars Chris Mepham and Will Vaulks and even Sheffield United's Oli McBurnie.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  USMNT stars such as Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah appear to be referenced along with England players Ivan Toney, Ben Chilwell and Jordan Pickford. Close inspection also reveals a fondness for Italy legends Marco Verratti and Ciro Immobile, Spain stars Sergi Roberto, Dani Olmo and Marco Asensio as well as NY Red Bulls attacker Emil Forsberg. There's also a mention for Ireland's Jayson Molumby and Festy Ebosele as well as Mexico legend Jared Borgetti.

• DID YOU KNOW

  The Boys star Jack Quaid has declared himself a lifelong fan of Brazilian side Palmeiras after the cast took a trip to the club to watch the team in Copa Libertadoes action. He wrote on Instagram: "Last night was a blast! Thank you Palmeiras for a wonderful time and an AMAZING game. I’m a fan for life now."

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  WHAT NEXT

  The world's top footballers are currently starring on screens around the world during a busy summer of sport. England stars are at Euro 2024 and preparing for a group game against Denmark on Thursday, while the USMNT are set to start their Copa America campaign on Sunday against Bolivia.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are closing in on making their first January signing under Gary O'Neil and are in the advanced stages of tying up a deal for a talented gem, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

Wolves eyeing January deals

Wolves have enjoyed an encouraging Premier League campaign despite initial doubts from som over their capabilities at the beginning of this term and will now break off from English top-flight duty to face Brentford in the FA Cup third round on Friday evening.

Nevertheless, incomings and outgoings will be on the mind of O'Neil and his counterparts at Molineux as the 40-year-old looks to trim some areas of his squad in order to add quality reinforcements.

Of course, Portuguese outcast Fabio Silva has already left the building this month and will spend the rest of the season on loan at Scottish Premiership side Rangers, and could be joined in his departure by fellow striker Sasa Kalajdzic, who is being courted by Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Most fans will be concerned more with where shiny new arrivals may arrive from over the course of January and West Ham United star Said Benrahma is said to be a target for the Old Gold; however, Fulham and Olympique Lyon are also keen to sign the Algeria international, as provided by Foot Mercato.

Arnaut Danjuma is also believed to be of interest to the latter and it remains to be seen whether their move for the Everton loanee would rule them out of a move for Benrahma. Nevertheless, the Old Gold now look to be close to making their first signing of the January window, according to new developments detailed by Romano.

Noha Lemina update

Taking to social media platform X, transfer guru Romano has shared that Wolves are now close to signing Paris Saint-Germain youngster Noha Lemina, brother of current player Mario, on loan for the rest of the campaign, with a deal now in the advanced stages.

The 18-year-old is currently on loan at Sampdoria and his spell there will be terminated in order to facilitate a move to Molineux, while the Old Gold are also likely to have an option to buy him outright, potentially prolonging his stay in the West Midlands if things go well.

Gabon-born former France Under-17 international Lemina didn't make a single first-team appearance during his time at Sampdoria; nevertheless, featured ten times in total across various underage competitions, scoring twice in the process (Lemina statistics – Transfermarkt).

Noha Lemina's versatility (Transfermarkt)

Positions played in

Right winger

Left winger

Attacking midfielder

Despite his youthful complexion, the prodigious talent could now have an opportunity to stake his claim for regular minutes at Molineux and potentially win himself a permanent move to England.

It's been reported that Chelsea and Todd Boehly will "look to reach an agreement" for one club's rising star "immediately" as they green-light his sale.

Pochettino requests Chelsea signings in January

Both publicly and behind-the-scenes, manager Mauricio Pochettino has requested the Chelsea board move to make new signings in January.

Chelsea plotting move for £60m+ "fast" star ahead of Premier League rivals

The Blues could splash the cash once again…

By
Tom Cunningham

Dec 18, 2023

According to some reports in the English media, Pochettino wants players of height to solve Chelsea's vulnerability in the penalty area, leading to reported interest in the likes of Wolves defender Max Kilman.

Meanwhile, it's been widely reported that the Blues are keen on signing a proven goalscorer. Chelsea are contenders for Brentford star Ivan Toney as a result, with Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic of interest to Pochettino as well.

Speaking to press around 10 days ago, Pochettino was adamant that Chelsea's directors should look to January, coming after his side fell to a 2-0 defeat away at Everton.

"After the first half of the season, we need to check. That is the reality. If we are not receiving enough, maybe we need to do some movement," said Pochettino (via Sky Sports).

"That is the thing to analyse with the sporting directors, to see if we can change this dynamic and improve in the second half of the season. We need to be more aggressive. Then it's a massive assessment and when the transfer window opens, we will see what we can do.

"I don't say if I am going to ask for more or less players. It's to see if the perception matches the reality. We are missing something. We need to improve our reality."

Chelsea also have a policy of buying Europe's most in-form, exciting talents. Boehly has moved to sign talent from all over Europe and South America since Clearlake Capital's takeover, with FC Copenhagen wonderkid Roony Bardghji now being targeted.

Chelsea will look to seal Bardghji agreement "immediately"

The winger, who scored Copenhagen's winner in a sensational 4-3 win over Man United in the Champions League earlier this season, is wanted across England. As well as Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Manchester United and Newcastle United have held talks with Bardghji's agents ahead of a possible move.

However, Boehly and co are very eager to win the race. This is according to 90min, who also claim Chelsea "will look to reach an agreement" for Bardghji "immediately".

This comes after the development that Copenhagen are prepared to green-light his exit, giving Chelsea a push to go and attempt his transfer soon. However, any proposed deal would mean Bardghji joins at the end of the season and not now.

The 18-year-old is viewed as one of Sweden's most exciting talents, and has even been called his country's answer to Lionel Messi.

“He has an understanding of the game, as well as good balance and coordination," said Roger Franzen.

Chelsea's teenage summer signings	Price (via Transfermarkt)
Deivid Washington	£14 million
Diego Moreira	Free transfer
Angelo	£13 million
Romeo Lavia	£54 million
Lesley Ugochukwu	£23 million

"He has exceptional technique with the ball at his feet. It's incredibly difficult to take the ball off him. He is good one-on-one and has a good shot. He can shoot with both feet, even if he is basically left-footed, he can finish with the right as well.

“That makes him very difficult to read for the defenders. Will he go right or left? It makes him difficult to handle.”