Nottingham Forest are set to scout an exciting new player in January, but a reliable journalist has revealed that there are two other clubs who are also looking to bring him to the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest's season so far

Steve Cooper’s side have made an extremely mixed start to the new campaign having won three, drawn four and lost five of their opening 12 games, meaning that they currently find themselves 15th in the top-flight table. The Reds suffering relegation at the end of the season is highly unlikely given the poor start that the three newly-promoted teams, Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town have had, but nonetheless, it’s better to be safe than sorry by bringing in fresh faces.

Ahead of January, Evangelos Marinakis will be assessing his options in the market, and he’s set his sights on a potential move for Universitario’s attacking midfielder Piero Quispe, who has made a total of 88 senior appearances across all age levels in his homeland (Transfermarkt – Quispe statistics).

However, Peru’s international was already on the radar of Reds chiefs over the summer alongside Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion, but with a deal failing to come to fruition before the deadline, the 22-year-old is set to be the subject of a second approach from the Midlands.

Nottingham Forest set sights on Piero Quispe

According to Christian Martin (via Todo Sport and Sport Witness), Nottingham Forest are expected to send representatives to watch Quispe in January as they consider making a fresh move based on his performances, whilst the Bees and the Seagulls are also set to deploy their chiefs once again.

“We had already reported the polls and from our source we found out that he was on the books of Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Brentford. These last two share scouting reports.

"Wonder Kid, that’s what they call him and mention him as one of the most promising wonder boys. The good foot reminds us of Nolberto Solano. We understand that ‘Nobi’ Solano is sometimes consulted by him, especially Nottingham Forest is looking for a player in that position and we know that in January there will be a new survey from these three clubs.”

Cooper could land a real star in Quispe

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Quispe is naturally an “advanced playmaker”, and he loves to get involved with the action in the final third having posted 19 contributions (11 goals and eight assists) in 88 outings since the start of his career.

The Lima native is also a versatile operator having been deployed in four different positions over the pitch following his arrival on the professional scene, including two roles in the centre of the park and out wide on both the left and right flanks.

Furthermore, Quispie has already had a taste of what it's like to be successful having been crowned Peruvian Champion for 2022/23, so he will possess a much-needed winning mentality which is something that he could pass onto the rest of the squad should he sign a deal at The City Ground.

Since Farhad Moshiri bought into Everton in 2016, there have certainly been more misses than hits in the transfer market, with the club spending huge wads of cash on players who never really settled at the Premier League outfit.

The likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Yannick Bolasie, Morgan Schneiderlin and Jean-Phillippe Gbamin, just to name a few, have all been some of the Toffees' most expensive signings of all time, yet none of them still remain at the club.

However, there isn't a fine line between being a success and a failure. Some of Everton's acquisitions over the past seven years performed at a solid level during their stints in Merseyside and didn't set the world alight but weren't the root of the side's problems either.

One of the players who fits into this category left during the summer and has been having a torrid time at his new club.

Yerry Mina's stats at Everton

Yerry Mina became Everton's sixth most expensive player of all time and the fifth most expensive signing of the Moshiri era when he moved to Goodison Park for £28.5m back in 2018. The Toffees reportedly even fought off late interest from Manchester United to secure the centre-back from Barcelona on transfer deadline day.

The Colombia international went on to make 99 appearances in all competitions for Everton during his five years at the club and bagged nine goals in total which is quite an impressive number for a central defender despite the team's struggles on the pitch. Former Everton defender Michael Ball even claimed that Mina was a "monster" when on form for the Toffees.

Unfortunately, Mina came to the club during a difficult spell and throughout his time in Merseyside, the Colombian played under five different permanent managers. The coach he featured the most under was Carlo Ancelotti, playing 43 times during the Italian's stint in charge and his game-time massively diminished after the legendary coach left in 2021.

Marco Silva

31

Carlo Ancelotti

43

Rafa Benitez

8

Frank Lampard

9

Sean Dyche

4

Stats via Transfermarkt

Mina played less under Rafa Benitez, Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche combined than he did under Marco Silva or Ancelotti and eventually left in the recent summer transfer window on a free.

Yerry Mina's stats at Fiorentina

The former La Liga champion moved to Fiorentina once his contract with Everton expired. The Florence-based club had reached two finals last season and finished in eighth place, earning a spot in the Europa Conference League once more. However, Mina's time at the Artemio Franchi Stadium has been a disaster so far.

In all competitions, the 29-year-old has made just two appearances for La Viola, while having been on the pitch for merely two minutes in total. Mina came on for one minute in Fiorentina's recent games against Juventus and Bologna prior to the international break, having spent the rest of the season sidelined with a muscle injury.

Mina's campaign has been even worse since leaving Everton than his ex-teammate Mason Holgate. The latter joined relegated Championship outfit Southampton during the summer but has featured for only 290 minutes in a Saints shirt over the course of five different games. He hasn't been a regular but has been a key part of a squad currently fourth in the second tier as they bid to compete among England's elite once more.

During Mina's time at Goodison Park, Holgate played 107 games in all competitions for Everton, more than the Colombian, and was shoehorned all over the backline due to his versatility, even playing in the midfield at one point. However, like his former colleague, the 27-year-old made four appearances under Dyche and parted during the summer, albeit on loan.

While playing for Everton may have seemed like a nightmare at times, both men have suffered desperately for minutes since leaving the club and now could have to live with the regret of doing so.

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers could have a difficult situation to manage at the start of next year as a number of players look set to be unavailable due to international duty.

The 2024 Asian Cup takes place between the 12th of January and the 10th of February and this means that the Hoops could be without a number of their top players during that period, depending on selections and how far their respective countries go in the tournament.

Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Hyeon-gyu Oh, and Hyun-jun Yang are just a few of the Bhoys talents who could be on their way to the competition and miss games for the Scottish giants.

This could leave Celtic particularly light at the top end of the pitch as both of their recognised centre-forward options could be competing in the Asian Cup and, therefore, be unavailable for selection for Rodgers.

With this in mind, it could be beneficial for the Parkhead side to bring in another number nine during the January transfer window to lead the line in their absence.

They already appear to be on the case as the Hoops have been touted with an interest in striker Sydney van Hooijdonk, who is the son of former Bhoys star Pierre.

Celtic transfer news – Sydney van Hooijdonk

According to Italian outlet Corriere di Bologna (20/11/2023 printed edition, Sport page 3), via 67HailHail, Bologna are prepared to sanction a loan deal for the young ace in January.

The report has claimed that the Serie A outfit are willing to send him out on a temporary basis for the second half of the season in order to free up space for them to bring in their own additions in that area of the pitch.

It is stated that Celtic have already made opening enquiries about a possible swoop to secure his services, although it remains to be seen whether or not they would want a permanent or loan deal.

A temporary arrangement could be the perfect solution for Scottish giants as van Hooijdonk could come in to provide relief whilst Oh and Kyogo are possibly away with their respective countries and then the club are not tied down to three senior strikers beyond the end of the season.

Rodgers only lines up with one centre-forward in his favoured formation and it could be difficult to keep three first-team options happy, particularly when Celtic are bottom of their Champions League group and on course to be kicked out of Europe this season.

Van Hooijdonk is not a new target for the Hoops as Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph named him as a player who had been on the club's radar throughout the summer transfer window. Although, they either opted against a move at that point or were unable to strike a dela with Bologna.

Celtic could now find a lethal partner for Luis Palma during the second half of the season by signing the Serie A prospect to bolster their attacking options, as they could thrive alongside each other.

Luis Palma's season in numbers

The Honduras international has enjoyed a terrific 2023/24 campaign since his move from Aris FC over the summer and is proving himself to be a superb signing by Rodgers.

He has hit the ground running in Scottish football and has showcased his ability to provide consistent quality as a scorer and a creator of goals from out wide.

Palma arrived at Parkhead off the back of a return of 13 goals and eight assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for his previous club last season. The exciting ace then started the current campaign with two goals and three assists in five outings for the Greek side before his move to Scotland was completed.

Since his switch to Paradise, the 23-year-old whiz has racked up five goals and five assists in 12 matches for Rodgers – with nine of those goal contributions coming in the Scottish Premiership.

Minutes played

90

Sofascore rating

10

Goals

One

Assists

Three

Big chances created

Two

Key passes

Seven

Dribbles completed

Four

Palma's most recent Celtic performance (via Sofascore)

As you can see by his latest Hoops showing, Palma is capable of the spectacular and has plundered an outstanding four goals and five assists in five league starts for the club so far.

He has created four 'big chances' and produced 2.6 key passes per game for his teammates in the top-flight, which shows that the former Aris star is able to consistently open up the opposition's defence to create opportunities for his fellow attackers.

Sydney van Hooijdonk's goal record

Palma could, therefore, be a fantastic partner for van Hooijdonk in the final third as the Bologna youngster has the potential to be a reliable scoring option for Rodgers.

The 23-year-old marksman has only scored one goal in 11 first-team matches for his current club but proved himself to be a lethal scorer in Dutch football.

He started his career with NAC Breda and racked up 42 goals and two assists in 57 U17 and U19 appearances combined before a step up to the senior squad, where the young finisher produced 23 goals and four assists in 70 outings.

This form earned him a move to Bologna and the Italian side opted to send him out on loan to Heerenveen for 18 months to continue his development.

Van Hooijdonk, who was once hailed as "prolific" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored six goals and created two 'big chances' in 13 Eredivisie matches during the first five months of his loan spell.

He followed that up with a sublime return of 16 goals and one assist in 30 league starts for Heerenveen as the right-footed dynamo showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

His record of 22 goals in 43 league starts for the Dutch side on loan meant that van Hooijdonk averaged more than a goal every other match during that period.

Now, imagine how lethal the £9k-per-week gem could be in front of goal with the supreme talent that is Palma out wide providing him with a regular stream of chances, and 'big chances', to score from for Celtic.

They could thrive next to each other in attack whilst Oh and Kyogo are potentially unavailable, which is why this could be a fantastic piece of business by Rodgers.

Everton might well have to offload a fair few players this January to finance any possible incomings through the door, a hefty ten-point deduction handed to the Toffees off the back of alleged FFP breaches has left them languishing in the Premier League drop-zone.

Once aiming for a top-half finish, Sean Dyche's downtrodden side are now just aiming to keep their heads above water with a frantic relegation dog-fight looming.

The Merseysiders will just hope that clubs are equally as desperate in January as the Toffees will be when it comes to bringing in new talents, the Blues keen to gut elements of the squad in order to free up room for fresh blood to come in and help mount a recovery from their current lowly predicament.

Here are three dream potential sales Dyche could sanction to fund a January transfer spree…

1 Andre Gomes

Joining Everton from Barcelona back in 2018 initially on a loan before a permanent deal was secured, Gomes has failed to live up to the early promise he showed in a Toffees shirt over his lengthy current five-year stay.

Riddled with unfortunate injuries throughout his time at Goodison Park – the Portuguese midfielder memorably on the receiving end of a Heung-Min Son tackle which left him with a serious ankle injury in 2019 – Gomes hasn't made a single start for Everton this season even when injury-free.

Everton's number 21 has consistently underwhelmed at full sharpness for his side, Gomes going down as a notable recent Blues flop. Registering one goal and one assist in his first full season with the Toffees, the 30-year-old midfielder has only ever mustered up one more goal and a sub-par six assists since.

Gomes' time at Everton feels as if it should be put out of its misery now, and with the Blues dud earning £112k-per-week, according to Capology, Dyche will want to see the back of the ex-Barcelona midfielder in January to free up space in his squad and to put that money to better use – with Football Insider reporting that a winter exit could be on the cards.

2 Dele Alli

Another player earning a hefty wage at Goodison Park is Dele Alli, the former Tottenham man paid £100k-per-week currently, according to Capology.

This means he's Everton's fourth-highest earner at this point in time, despite not playing a Premier League game since August last year for the club – having spoken candidly and openly about his mental health struggles in recent years.

Alli hasn't contributed to a single goal when on the pitch for Everton during his turbulent stay with the Toffees, 13 forgettable matches for the ex-England international.

It would prove to be a hard sale to move on Alli from Merseyside, but there could be a possible club out there that wants to gamble on the 27-year-old purely for his past exploits at Spurs.

At the peak of his powers, Alli was a top talent in the Premier League from attacking midfield – breathtaking to witness, managing 18 goals during the 2016-17 season at White Hart Lane under Mauricio Pochettino.

Perhaps he can rediscover that undoubted talent with a fresh start elsewhere.

3 Ben Godfrey

Ben Godfrey's time at Everton also looks as if it'll come to an end soon, the ex-Norwich City centre-back falling down the pecking order at Goodison Park with the emergence of Jarrad Branthwaite in the first-team and the experienced James Tarkowski joining the club.

The 25-year-old – who was dubbed "disastrous" last season by talkSPORT's Stuart Pearce for his performance at Old Trafford – has only been afforded eight minutes of game time all season in the Premier League, substituted on in early September away at Sheffield United for a run-out.

He was given a full 90-minute test against Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup however, but failed to make an impression on the night – not been seen at all since in action, rooted to the bench in Everton's last ten games.

The Toffees will hope an EFL club comes in for Godfrey in this upcoming January transfer window – although there has also been shock interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United – with the £20m signing potentially sacrificed for a January spree.

Chelsea were keen to reach an agreement for a new striker last year, and a reliable journalist has revealed that chiefs held a meeting with his family to discuss a move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's summer arrivals

Todd Boehly and Mauricio Pochettino recruited 12 fresh faces over the summer all on a permanent basis, with some of the biggest names to walk through the doors being the likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson just to name a few.

The Blues may have had a complete squad transformation, but that hasn’t stopped them from making a disappointing start to the new season having won four, drawn four and lost four of their opening 12 games, meaning that they currently find themselves 10th in the Premier League table.

The Stamford Bridge outfit will no doubt have had targets who they failed to secure during previous transfer windows, and one of those appears to be Palmeiras striker Endrick who has established himself as Abel Ferreira’s best-performing offensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Palmeiras stats).

The Brazil international has already agreed to join Real Madrid next summer with Carlo Ancelott’s side acting fast to get a deal over the line, but if the following update is to be believed, the 17-year-old could well have been on his way to SW6 had things have turned out differently.

Chelsea held talks over deal for Endrick

Taking to X, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Chelsea held a meeting with Endrick's family regarding a move, but in the end, his heart was set on a switch to the Bernabeu Stadium.

He wrote: “Endrick deal background story… PSG had €93m [£81m] package bid rejected for both Estevao and Endrick. Chelsea invited Endrick’s family to London to present their project. Real Madrid’s Juni Calafat, key to make it happen.”

Boehly could have landed "phenomenon" in Endrick

Whilst Chelsea have missed out on Endrick, Pochettino will know that he could have had an extraordinary talent on his hands in the capital, with the centre-forward having posted 26 contributions, 24 goals and two assists, in 70 appearances since the start of his career (Transfermarkt – Endrick stats).

The Taguatinga native also currently ranks in the 97th percentile for successful take-ons (FBRef – Endrick statistics), highlighting his ability to use his pace, dribble past his marker and create as many chances as possible for himself and his teammates in the final third.

Indirect set-piece threat

Likes to dribble

Gets fouled often

Sponsored by Nike, the left-footed teenager is additionally a versatile operator having been utilised in four various positions over the pitch following his arrival on the professional scene, including three across the frontline and one in the midfield.

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Endrick is a “phenomenon” for his age and he has an extremely bright future ahead of him, so it may prove to be a real shame that the Blues failed to secure the signature of their target who is a real up-and-coming prospect.

Arsenal are once again seeking the ultimate silverware in the form of the Premier League title. The Gunners came ever so close throughout the last campaign, but were eventually denied by the winning machine of Manchester City on their way to picking up an historic treble. This time around, those in North London will hope that their victory over the champions at The Emirates will go a long way in their claim for top spot come May. Meanwhile, the January transfer window could also play a part.

If Arsenal can add some final reinforcements to Mikel Arteta's side, then they may well become a force strong enough to outperform Pep Guardiola's outfit. Arteta is seemingly well aware of that too, having reportedly requested one particular January signing.

Arsenal transfer news

After sealing their return to Champions League action last season, Arsenal could have easily sat back and settled for European qualification once more. Instead, however, they made a statement in the summer by beating City to the signature of Declan Rice, whilst also welcoming Kai Havertz from Chelsea. Rice has particularly slotted straight in and became a vital player under Arteta, who has reportedly requested a repeat of Arsenal's midfield recruitment for the January transfer window.

According to Sport in Spain, Arteta has asked Arsenal to sign Ruben Neves from Al-Hilal in January in a new wish. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder left the Midlands club in favour of a move to Saudi Arabia during the summer, but could now get an instant return to England's top flight. The Gunners could reportedly welcome Neves as a replacement for Thomas Partey, who has struggled with injuries and a lack of game time this season, with Arteta insisting on a move. Arsenal know all about his quality too, given that two of Neves' Premier League goals came against the Gunners.

They will reportedly have to fend off interest from Newcastle United in pursuit of the midfielder's signature, though the Premier League could vote to block players moving between associated clubs on loan, which could rule out a move to the Magpies for Neves in January.

Arteta wants to sign "complete" Neves

It's easy to forget just how talented Neves is after he swapped the Premier League for the Saudi Pro League during the summer, but this is still a player who appears to be able to compete at the highest level. For a side in Arsenal's position, adding the Portugal international to their side could make all the difference in their hunt for silverware. Neves' stats in the Premier League certainly show that he is ready to replace Partey.

Player

Goals

Assists

Tackles Won

Interceptions

Ruben Neves

6

1

43

50

Thomas Partey

3

0

40

28

Former manager Julen Lopetegui was also full of praise for the midfielder last season, saying:

"All of my decisions are difficult for me, but I prefer to always have all the players ready. It’s very good news for us that Ruben is coming. Of course, Ruben is a very important player for us and now he is ready to play. It is good news for us, for sure. He is a very good player, a very complete player and important for the dressing room and on the pitch.”

Glasgow Rangers return from the international break straight back into domestic proceedings with a clash against Aberdeen this afternoon.

Between now and January 2, the Light Blues face 12 vital matches which could arguably make or break their season.

Included in this run is a League Cup final against the Dons, two crucial European matches and a trip to Parkhead to face Celtic in the Premiership.

If Philippe Clement can emerge from this busy run with a trophy, a place in the Europa League knockout stages and having closed the gap on Celtic in the league, it will be a job well done.

The signs have been positive over the previous few weeks as the Gers have won six and drawn one of the last seven matches and the Belgian has brought some confidence back into a squad which had stagnated under Michael Beale.

The main thing now is to build on these performances while also managing the first team with regard to workload, as there have been far too many injuries this season.

Slowly but surely, certain players are returning and Tom Lawrence was one of the many who had missed large chunks of the season before making just his third start of 2023/24 and the first since Real Betis in the tie against Livingston a couple of weeks ago.

Tom Lawrence’s game in numbers vs Livingston

The Welshman had proven during his maiden season in Glasgow that, when fit, he could be a valuable asset to the club.

Before suffering a season-ending injury in August 2022, Lawrence had scored three goals and registered two assists, and it was clear that the Light Blues missed his creativity during a dismal campaign.

He had managed only one assist before starting against Livi, yet his performance on the plastic turf was excellent, and he could certainly throw a spanner in the works regarding Clement’s future plans.

The 29-year-old was deployed just behind Cyriel Dessers in an attacking midfield slot and ran the show, making five key passes while also grabbing an assist.

The midfielder also created a big chance, succeeded with his only dribble attempt, and won two of his three duels, demonstrating his strength in one-on-one battles.

It was a display which showcased Lawrence’s talents from the number ten role and one that surely pleased the manager.

With that in mind, however, Clement faces a selection headache ahead of the tie against Aberdeen, especially when Todd Cantwell is performing well in the same role.

With plenty of games to come in the next few weeks, keeping players fresh and healthy will be his main concern and this could see the Welshman return to the bench against the Dons today.

Todd Cantwell’s season in numbers

The Englishman endured a difficult start to the season under Beale as he was played out of position several times and while he grabbed an assist against Servette in the Champions League qualifiers back in August, that was his last goal contribution until Clement arrived.

Cantwell suffered a knee injury against Celtic at the start of September and this meant he missed the next seven matches, disrupting the progress he had built since joining the club in January.

Since returning to the first-team fold, however, he has been in solid form and even scored his first goal of the season against Sparta Prague last month.

The Belgian has deployed him on the right side of the attack, yet the playmaker is more effective from the attacking midfield slot.

During the second half of last season following his £1.5m move from Norwich City in January, he scored four goals and grabbed four assists from the number ten role in just 11 games in that position.

Following the end of last season, journalist Josh Bunting lavished praise on the former Norwich gem, saying:

“Really interested in seeing how Todd Cantwell goes next season. Has proved to be an excellent bit of business and I don’t think it’s unfair to say he’s probably a level above this league. With the momentum he has he’s going to be the catalyst in that Rangers side. Has that desire.”

Due to his injury, his performances have taken a while to get back to that sort of level, but with more game time under the Belgian plus some added confidence following his goal against Sparta, he should be raring to go now.

He was given a 12-minute cameo against Livi a couple of weeks ago and during his time on the pitch, he completed 100% of his passes (10/10) along with succeeding with his only dribble attempt, and he should be fresh to start against the Dons.

Todd Cantwell’s market value

Since joining the Glasgow side less than 12 months ago, the 25-year-old has shown a significant improvement on the pitch and this has led to his market value increasing slightly.

According to Football Transfers, Cantwell is now currently worth €3.6m (£3.1m) and this is a decent rise on the £1.5m that the club signed him for at the start of the year.

Jack benched & £26k-p/w machine unleashed in Rangers predicted lineup vs Aberdeen

The Gers return to league action against Aberdeen on Sunday

ByRoss Kilvington Nov 25, 2023

It means that the Ibrox side could potentially cash in on him if they received an offer too good to turn down, or if the player failed to adapt to Clement’s tactical system and style of play.

Hopefully this is not the case, however, as the Gers currently have a player who was valued at around £40m just a few short years ago, and he appears to be shining north of the border.

Although Lawrence made an impressive return to the starting XI against Livingston before the break, his game time should be managed in order to ensure he will be fit once the fixtures start rolling in thick and fast leading up to the festive season.

This should give Clement the licence to unleash Cantwell from the first whistle and if he performs like he has done since joining the Gers, he could certainly cause the Aberdeen defence plenty of problems, that’s for sure.

A win today would exact revenge for the 3-1 defeat suffered against the same opposition in what turned out to be Beale’s last game at the end of September.

It's fair to say, the Light Blues have come a long way since then.

A "dangerous" Sheffield Wednesday player could now be on the verge of signing a new deal at the club, according to an update from reliable journalist Joe Crann.

Sheff Wed's relegation fight

The Owls find themselves rock bottom of the Championship currently, but despite a real threat of relegation back to League One this season looming, there is positivity in the air at Hillsborough.

That's because of the impact that new manager Danny Rohl is having at the club, having replaced the disappointing Xisco Munoz as boss earlier in the season. Granted, defeats have continued to arrive at a fairly rapid rate under the 34-year-old, but there have been clear improvements in the playing style, and Wednesday have picked up four points from their last two matches.

Last Saturday, the Owls won 3-1 at home to play-off-chasing Blackburn Rovers, in what was the latest sign that a miraculous escape act this season may not be out of the question from Rohl's side. They are still 10 points adrift of safety at the moment, but there is still such a long way to go in the campaign.

For that to happen, key players are going to have to hit their best form, though, and the squad depth is going to have to shine through. Now, a key update has emerged over the future of one current Hillsborough gem.

Cadamarteri could sign Sheff Wed deal

Taking to X, Crann claimed that Bailey Cadamarteri could sign a new deal with Sheffield Wednesday, following his crucial goal against Blackburn on Saturday, with talks underway.

"Understand that SWFC have opened up talks with Bailey Cadamarteri about an improved contract at Hillsborough. Discussions are ongoing."

In his report for The Sheffield Star, Crann also adds that Wednesday are looking to nail down the youngster's future "in order to try and secure Cadamarteri’s future at S6, planning ahead with regards to a player that has already been on the radar of a number of Premier League outfits."

This is something that needs to be seen as a priority for the Owls in the coming weeks, with Cadamarteri looking like a big young talent who could have a huge future in the game. His aforementioned strike at home to Blackburn was his first-ever goal for Wednesday, but he has shone in the youth teams, including scoring twice in five appearances for the Under-18s.

Sheffield Wednesday sign exciting new youngster on trial at Hillsborough

The Owls are looking to add some fresh faces to their youth ranks over the coming weeks.

ByChloe Chadwick Nov 30, 2023

At just 18 years of age, Cadamarteri is still clearly a work in progress, so it would be unfair to expect consistent fireworks from him this season, but Rohl has heaped praise on his player recently, saying of him:

"He came in and showed good things and this is what we want – it’s what we demand from them. He showed that he can run and he has pace. Also, he was always dangerous in the box and I like this, I like players who are brave to come in and show."

A new contract would be a great moment in a season that is threatening to become more positive, with Cadamarteri representing the future of the club, assuming the Owls can fight off interest from other clubs.

Leeds United continue to make up ground in their hunt for automatic promotion and are now seven points behind second-place Ipswich Town following a 3-1 victory over Swansea City.

Whilst league leaders Leicester City dropped two points against Sheffield Wednesday, the Whites avoided a slip-up on Wednesday night, although they did initially fall behind.

A Jamie Patterson deft lob caught Daniel Farke's men cold inside the first minute, but once Joel Piroe instantly levelled against his former club, Leeds began to find their groove as goals from Georginio Rutter and Daniel James handed them the initiative in the contest.

The German tactician cooked up a storm at Elland Road as the Whites blew Swansea away with a 2.33 xG and eight shots on target, compared to the visitor's 0.34 xG and two shots on target.

Rutter played a pivotal role in that threat as the Frenchman wreaked havoc in the final third.

Georginio Rutter's performance against Swansea

Rutter has been in phenomenal form this term and he continued in that vain against the Swans by supplying a goal and an assist.

The goal he scored – Leeds' second on the night – personified his class, as he delightfully controlled a sumptuous Ethan Ampadu pass before racing through on goal and calmly slotting the ball past Carl Rushworth.

He then turned into a creator for the third to grab his seventh assist of the campaign. After the ball dropped his way following a crunching tackle from Sam Byram, he threaded an inch-perfect pass into James, who clinically fired a rocket into the roof of the net.

Although the chance creation machine caused real problems for the visitors, having completed five of his eight attempted dribbles, he also set the tempo through his ferocious pressing and aggression in the tackle by winning eight of his 13 ground duels; the most of any player on the pitch.

The 21-year-old arguably put in one of his best performances for the club since arriving in January, but that still wasn't enough to outshine the irrepressible Crysencio Summerville.

Crysencio Summerville's performance in numbers

Summerville has been tearing through defences at will all season long and the plaudits have continued to drop for the Dutch dynamo.

Dubbed a "real talent" by writer Beren Cross, the 22-year-old has become the fulcrum of the Whites's attack this term by cutting in from the left flank and wreaking havoc with his devastating dribbling and sublime end product.

With seven goals and six assists already this season, including the sublime assist for Piroe's opener, Summerville is the difference-maker that every promotion-chasing team needs.

And he certainly showcased his ability to make a difference against Swansea with the Dutchman described by journalist Phil Hay as "causing a fair amount of havoc", implying how much the Welsh side struggled to live with him.

Assists

1

Acc passes

20/23 (87%)

Key passes

4

Big chances created

1

Dribble attempts (succ.)

8 (5)

Ground duels (won)

13 (7)

All stats via Sofascore

The above table, in particular, demonstrates how much of a menace he was and Swansea – like several teams this season – struggled to cope with his searing pace, directness and agility.

In what was an excellent performance from Summerville, he was awarded an 8/10 match rating by Yorkshire Post's Graham Smyth, matching Rutter in that regard, while showing he was the real hero against the Swans.

Tottenham Hotspur can take much confidence from the hard-fought draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with Ange Postecoglou's injury-hit squad snapping a three-match losing streak.

Having stormed into early title contention in the Premier League this season, Spurs' exciting new era under fresh management was derailed after defeat against Chelsea kicked off a period of struggle, but for all the injuries and suspensions, there has been a pleasing new mindset attached to this squad.

Postecoglou has instilled belief and convinced his players that they can compete against the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and City – who have all failed to beat Spurs this season – and if the transfer strategy across coming windows can maintain its effectiveness then there is every possibility that a golden age could be nigh.

Tottenham's 15-year trophy drought has been a prominent talking point in English footballing discourse but there's a sense that this is not really important under Postecoglou's wing: the football is doing the talking and with time and effort entrusted in the Australian the illustrious benefits will surely follow.

But work is needed on the transfer front nonetheless, and while the backline appears to call for immediate attention, Rodrigo Bentancur's recent injury could accelerate the bolstering of the engine room.

Tottenham transfer news – Kalvin Phillips

According to a report from Football Insider over the weekend, Tottenham are firmly in contention to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips in January, with the England international finding minutes hard to come by with the treble winners.

The interest comes after Bentancur suffered an ankle ligament tear against Aston Villa one week ago, with the Uruguayan sidelined until February having only just returned from a long-term issue.

Phillips, who signed for City from Leeds United for £45m in 2022, will be concerned about his place in England's European Championship squad next year and may push for a move in January, with Pep Guardiola happy to grant his departure.

With Newcastle United, West Ham United and Juventus all eager to swoop, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will need to act swiftly to secure the 28-year-old's signature this winter.

Kalvin Phillips' style of play

Phillips has chalked up 29 appearances for City but has failed to inspire and was left hot under the collar after his manager branded him "overweight" after the seasonal pause for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar one year ago.

The £150k-per-week midfielder has played eight matches for Manchester City so far this season but has only started once, in a 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat against Newcastle United.

It just hasn't worked out, and there's little point in extending this protracted transfer when the January window presents an opportunity to start afresh, and given Tottenham's needs, a move makes sense.

Starring with Leeds United before his move to Manchester, the 31-cap star was the nucleus of Marcelo Bielsa's eye-catching side, blitzing into promotion from the Championship and securing a ninth-place finish on their return in 2020/21, scoring a noteworthy 62 goals.

Despite his peripheral role over the past year or so, Phillips has succeeded in showcasing his finest attributes and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and passes attempted, the top 4% for shots taken, the top 5% for clearances and the top 17% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

Further, with Leeds during the 2020/21 campaign, Phillips dazzled across 29 matches, completing 85% of his passes, averaging 1.2 key passes, 2.6 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game and winning 63% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore – proclaimed to be a "monster" of a player by former Crystal Palace maverick Yannick Bolasie.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Tackling

Aerial duels

Blocking

Discipline

Interceptions

Direct free-kicks

Hailed as an "expert deep-lying midfielder" by former Whites boss Neil Redfearn, it's understandable that Postecoglou is enticed by the proposition of welcoming him to the fold, and injuries notwithstanding, there is little to suggest that he would not prove a reliable and industrious figure.

His past experience on Premier League soil is indicative of his prospects of success at a team such as Tottenham, if provided with the platform to cement a prominent role and make an impact in the centre of the park, holding the team together and allowing his forward-thinking teammates to flourish.

Why Tottenham must sign Kalvin Phillips

Postecoglou has much to contend with, and Bentacur's absence will be compounded by the loss of Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr in January and possibly February due to the African Cup of Nations.

Luckily, Phillips is listed as a comparable player to Bissouma on FBref, with the tenacious midfielder perhaps slotting into Postecoglou's system without disrupting the harmony.

Last season, Bissouma struggled to blend into life at the London club after completing a £35m transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, with former Seagulls manager Graham Potter dubbing him an "incredible talent".

But the £55k-per-week ace really did struggle to make an impact as Tottenham toiled last term, only starting ten times in the league as injuries further inhibited his chance of thriving.

The Malian star ranks among the top 2% of midfielders for pass completion, the top 7% for passes attempted and successful take-ons, the top 20% for progressive passes, progressive carries and interceptions, and the top 12% for tackles and clearances per 90.

He has been a veritable machine in the middle this term but will be absent after the new year, and Phillips would be the perfect replacement given that he could emulate the passing prowess and sharpen his defensive efforts to protect the backline.

While Phillips is understandably rusty right now and would take a bit of time to return to his peak, there is little question of his quality and the consistency of Gareth Southgate's trust in him for England showcases this, whether supporters agree with the selection or not.

Tottenham must now complete the signing; the recent draw against Manchester City is evidence of the club's strength and commitment to completing a positive conclusion to the season, and Phillips could add the requisite depth in the centre.