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Tottenham Hotspur are ready to attack the January transfer window, and if Thomas Frank gets it right, he might just land a new forward who could turn his debut season at the helm into a successful one.

However, while incomings are anticipated down N17, Spurs are also expected to push one or two of Frank’s first-team players to the exit, with Yves Bissouma, who has not played at all this season after being dropped in August, expected to leave after being filmed inhaling nitrous oxide, again.

However, for less transgressive reasons, Brennan Johnson could also be on his way out, having fallen down the pecking order after poor form.

Spurs consider swapping Brennan Johnson out

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo is the talk of the town, but ENIC Group are also keeping an eye on another high-performing winger in Europe.

The versatile Cherries forward has been in fine fettle in the Premier League this season, scoring six goals and supplying three assists for Andoni Iraola’s side.

He is far more consistent than Johnson, who bagged 17 in all competitions last season – including the winner against Manchester United in the Europa League final – but has regressed under Frank’s wing.

Crystal Palace are interested in signing the Wales international on loan this winter, and that could free up room for a Semenyo alternative who is turning the heads of some of the Premier League’s top clubs.

Indeed, according to Sky Germany, RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande is on Tottenham’s shortlist ahead of the New Year, albeit with top-flight rivals Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City also in the mix.

The 19-year-old joined the Bundesliga club this year and has quickly established prolific form, combining that sharpness with frightening physical faculties.

Leipzig know they have a gem on their hands and have priced him at a jaw-dropping €100m (about £87m). This would make him the most expensive player in the Londoners’ history.

Why Spurs should sign Yan Diomande

Diomande moved to Germany after cutting his teeth with Leganes in Spain, and he has wasted no time in establishing himself as one of the brightest young wide forwards in the game, having scored seven goals and four assists across 16 outings this season.

That includes a recent hat-trick over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, and it’s his natural sharpness in the danger area that has led journalist Bence Bocsak to hail him as a “generational talent”.

Diomande is not just more talented than Johnson: he ruthlessly outstrips him across a vast range of metrics, and his developing goalscoring may soon see him overtake the 24-year-old’s standout quality.

When you look at how Diomande ranks up against someone like Johnson, it perhaps becomes clear why there is such a vested interest being focused, with the Welshman simply not offering enough in the build-up and when against the run of play, that and the desertion of his potency in front of goal.

Matches (starts)

13 (6)

14 (10)

Goals

2

6

Assists

0

2

Touches

17.8

44.0

Shots (on target)*

0.4 (0.2)

1.6 (0.9)

Accurate passes*

6.7 (70%)

21.6 (83%)

Chances created*

0.4

1.0

Dribbles*

0.2

3.0

Ball recoveries*

0.9

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

1.4

Duels won*

1.8

4.8

There’s no question that Johnson has a natural ability to work his way into promising positions and chalk his name onto the scoresheet, but his overall play has hardly been good enough this season. For example, he’s not dribbling enough – look at his efforts in comparison to Diomande’s – and he’s only succeeding with 33% of his infrequent efforts.

Diomande, for sure, is one of the most exciting dribblers in Europe. He is fleet-footed and instinctive with his output when carrying the ball forward. He has been hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig for “having a sensational debut season” in Germany.

Tottenham need to get this one done. If they are serious about becoming major, consistent players both domestically and abroad, this is the kind of statement signing needed, not just boosting output but reshaping the general threat of the team.

ENIC could fund the Semenyo move by selling Spurs' £55k-p/w "liability"

Tottenham are planning to get rid of some of the deadwood this January.

ByAngus Sinclair 2 days ago

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.

Manchester City are tussling with a number of Premier League clubs for the signing of a "superb" midfielder, a fresh transfer rumour has claimed.

Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola's side were in imperious form on Sunday afternoon, heading to Manchester United and comprehensively outplaying their rivals in the derby. In the end, City cruised to a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and Phil Foden also finding the net, further suggesting that they are again very much the team to beat in the Premier League title race.

Guardiola did plenty of transfer business during the summer window, bringing in the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Jeremy Doku, among others, while players such as Ilkay Gundogan and Aymeric Laporte left the club for pastures new. City always look willing to do some interesting transfer business at any opportunity, and January isn't too far away, giving them another chance to bolster their squad.

With Kevin De Bruyne still absent through injury, and Kalvin Phillips potentially leaving the club at that point, it looks as though they are eyeing up one impressive midfielder to come in.

Man City want Exequiel Palacios

According to an update from TNT Sports [via Sport Witness], Manchester City are keen on signing Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacio in January, but they face competition for his signature. Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also in the conversation to snap up the Argentine, in what is described as a "tantalising opportunity" for the player to head to the Premier League. It is also stated that all three English sides are "seriously considering the possibility" of signing Palacios.

While some may feel that City already have an embarrassment of riches at their disposal in midfield, Palacios could be an outstanding signing if their interest proves to be genuine. The 25-year-old is now a World Cup winner, having tasted glory with Argentina last year, and Palacios' stats show that he featured three times in the tournament, doing his bit for his country. He appears to be a key man for a Leverkusen side currently who are top of the Bundesliga ahead of German giants Bayern Munich, featuring in all nine league games this season and starting eight of them.

Journalist Zach Lowy once heaped praise on Palacios back in 2019, at a point when he was a big young talent, saying of him:

"Hard to believe Exequiel Palacios is only 20. Kid's got it all – a superb weight on his final ball, pausa, nonstop running from box to box, great decision-making – and he's learning from one of the best managers in the world in Marcelo Gallardo. Florentino missed out on a gem."

At 25, Palacios is seemingly at a great point in his career, having enough experience under his belt was also still being a relatively young player, and he is someone who could be a great understudy for Rodri, also earning plenty of playing time because Guardiola likes to shuffle his lack so often. As mentioned, Phillips could head out somewhere else on loan, having struggled to make the grade at the Etihad, and the Leverkusen ace could even prove to be an upgrade on the England international.

Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo has been added to the latest England squad after his stellar display in the FA Cup against Liverpool.

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• Midfielder brought in to Gareth Southgate's setup
• Initially part of Three Lions' U21 squad
• Made 14 Premier League appearances for Man Utd this season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Gareth Southgate has responded to the widespread clamour for the teenager to be brought into the England setup, with the Three Lions announcing that he will be part of the squad for their friendlies against Brazil and Belgium. Mainoo turned in a star performance as Erik ten Hag's United beat Liverpool 4-3 in an instant classic FA Cup quarter-final encounter on Sunday.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mainoo's call-up comes as an apparent U-turn from Southgate, who preached patience around the teenager as recently as last week, when announcing his initial squad for the March camp. The manager had previously called up Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher and Jordan Henderson, who all play in the same position, with Mainoo initially named in the U21s squad.

• WHAT GARETH SOUTHGATE SAID

  Southgate highlighted Mainoo's quality last week: "He's doing really well for a young player. He's a good footballer – you can see that. And he's getting some fabulous experience with Manchester United at the moment. And he looks a really good character."

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  WHAT'S NEXT FOR MAINOO?

  The midfielder will join the England setup ahead of Saturday's meeting with Brazil and will hope to make his senior international debut before attention turns to the game against Belgium three days later. After that, he will return to club duty for the Red Devils, when they take on Brentford in the Premier League on March 30.

Marco Silva says Erik ten Hag was correct to stand behind Bruno Fernandes after Fulham mocked the Manchester United star on a TikTok video.

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• Fulham mocked Fernandes on social media
• Outraged Ten Hag demanded apology
• Silva understands counterpart's fury

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Fulham's social media account posted a video that mocked Fernandes for going down following a tackle from Sasa Lukic, pleading for a free-kick and then getting up to continue the match during last week's Premier League clash between the two teams at Old Trafford. United issued a statement in response to the video and Ten Hag subsequently demanded an apology from the Cottagers.

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  WHAT MARCO SILVA SAID

  Fulham boss Silva was asked on Friday about his United counterpart's reaction to the post and he is sympathetic to the Dutchman's stance. He said: "Ten Hag defends his player, I can understand that. When a manager defends one football player, I think it's a normal situation, I think if it's one of our players I am going to defend him until the last."

  The Portuguese coach was also full of praise for Fernandes, saying: "He is the captain of Man United, he is a player I know really well and he is a top player, he is a top professional. You are not a Man United captain if you don't have all the package to be in the same box to be a Man United captain and to be so important."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fulham went on to claim the three points away at United last week, taking the lead through Calvin Bassey midway through the second half. Harry Maguire popped up with an equaliser for the Red Devils after 89 minutes but Alex Iwobi fired in a stoppage time winner for the visiting team.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FULHAM AND UNITED?

  Fulham sit 12th in the Premier League and will hope to build on last week's win when they host Brighton on Saturday. United face a much more daunting task a day later when they visit reigning champions Manchester City.

You cannot curse Wahab Riaz. Especially when the man has a five-for on debut.

Nagraj Gollapudi at The Oval18-Aug-2010You cannot curse Wahab Riaz. Especially when the man has a five-for on debut. Not on the day when he proved to be an able replacement for the injured Umar Gul and bowled long and testing spells on a pitch he described as ‘batsman’s paradise’. Not when he kept constant pressure on England, sharing duties with Mohammad Asif after Mohammad Amir seemed out of sorts. Still, back in Pakistan, his achievement will be viewed with a sceptical eye. Some even might hold a grudge against him.According to the critics, what lies behind the unfair criticism is the fact that Riaz lacked the necessary credentials to deserve a national contract ahead of other aspirants like the erratic but experienced Mohammad Sami, who destroyed Australia with a fearsome spell of bowling at the SCG in the first week of 2010. Other competitors included the towering Mohammad Irfan, another left-armer, nearly seven feet in socks, who caught the eye not only for his height but also his bowling skills. Then there was Tanvir Ahmed, the best bowler in the 2010 Quaid-e-Azam competition with 86 wickets for Karachi Blues. The 30-year-old Ahmed was up against Riaz for the spot left vacant by Gul.On Tuesday afternoon, just before the final training session, Pakistan coach Waqar Younis told both men that he would make his choice based on which of the two bowlers would display more confidence. It helped Riaz that he has a permanent smile on his face. That and a penchant to engage with the batsman did not go unnoticed. In the end Riaz was preferred.Ijaz Ahmed, the assistant coach, and one of the few Pakistan batsmen to succeed in England, gave Riaz the cap with the simple words “make sure you do your best”. He proudly wore it and was embraced and backslapped by his team-mates. Half an hour into the morning he would take the cap off to measure his run-up as Amir, probably exhausted after a long summer, for the first time on the tour failed to dominate with the new ball.Riaz’s excitement lasted just a few deliveries as Andrew Strauss stroked two sumptuous boundaries at the end of his first over in Test cricket. Next over Riaz made use of the true bounce on the Oval pitch to seam it slightly away and pocket the England captain as his maiden Test wicket. It wasn’t long before he’d added Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen, before returning to successfully gain an edge off Eoin Morgan’s bat just after the lunch break. 10-5-19-4 were not bad figures after barely a couple of hours on the field.While England were left scratching their heads as to what had hit them, Riaz must have been wondering ‘is Test cricket always so easy?’ To give due credit, he had been performing overseas in the last two years. On the ‘A’ tours of Australia and Sri Lanka, he topped the bowling charts with 11 wickets in each of the twin Test series in 2009. Against England Lions this year he was the second highest wicket-taker.But if his initiation was made easy it was because of the help he received from the A-pair – Asif and Amir. Like a conveyor belt Asif returned to harass the batsmen with his never-ending probe. In the morning Trott was on the hop almost every delivery he faced from Asif, Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker so far in the series. So when Riaz offered him width on his very first ball Trott plunged excitedly to drive the fuller, angling-away delivery, but could only succeed in edging to second slip. Amir, before he left the field with dehydration, was constantly egging Riaz to remain persistent with his lines while offering valuable tips to work out the batsmen. “Amir and Asif’s contribution was big and they have been supporting me and they were boosting me, giving me the confidence that I could do it,” Riaz said.Riaz’s stock ball is the one that is angled away from the right-hander. But what also caused discomfort was his ability to move the ball at speeds consistently hovering around the 90mph mark . Allied with the bounce and a slinging action, the batsmen needed to pay attention and even that could not save them at times – as Pietersen and Morgan found out.”The main thing he had today was the element of surprise,” is how Matt Prior, England’s best batsman on the day, described Riaz. “We hadn’t seen a great deal of him, so that played into his hands. He bowled well but having seen his action and how he bowls and tries to get people out, that will stand us in good stead in the second innings.”But Riaz today showed that uncanny ability to constantly frustrate the opponent with his consistency. In the second session Prior and Stuart Broad had put up a record stand for the eighth wicket and threatened to spoil Riaz’s debut until he bounced back to deceive Broad with a clever slower ball. In the preceding over leading up to the dismissal Riaz had pitched fuller and was varying his pace smartly, forcing Broad to wait for the ball. It was a good contest between two youngsters not shy to exchange a few words.Though Riaz was warned by the umpire to not waste time talking to the opponent he enthusiastically chased the batsmen and irked them with his antics. Even after the day’s play, he crossed paths with Prior after the media scrum and could not resist saying: “Now, I’ve to get your wicket.””Next time I want to get 10 wickets,” he said with a big smile. He is clearly hungry for success and for now the critics can rest easy.

Watching the second Test wend its way towards a draw, it occurred to Vaneisa Baksh that the most exciting cricket really comes from evenly matched teams

Vaneisa Baksh03-Jun-2008

Watching the second Test wend its way towards a draw, it occurred to me that the most exciting cricket really comes from evenly-matched teams, even if they are not strong ones. The cricket is at its most competitive, twisting us into the knots we need to be in to keep watching for five days.By the final day in Antigua, with Australia having declared twice, and West Indies never really sparkling, it had become onerous. Even when the captain Ramnaresh Sarwan made his 11th Test century it had a tired air, as if we had waited too long for him to convert another fifty to a hundred. Ian Bishop mentioned that Sarwan had experienced a good season on account of his three fifties and a century in the Sri Lanka series. That is true, but Sarwan has been playing for eight years, and is an exceptionally good batsman who should have been able to turn more of his 30 half-centuries into hundreds. As it was, he lasted until 128 – a necessary innings if only for pride and to keep the series alive with a draw – and alongside him was the rock, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.Chanderpaul made another century in the first innings, and when the match ended with Ricky Ponting deciding it was not worth his while to plod on, he was 77 not out, having partnered Sarwan to guide West Indies to their first draw with Australia since 1995, and earning the Man-of-the-Match award. “Play it safe,” he said, just try to last it out – an ethic that seems terribly at odds with the flamboyance associated with West Indies cricketers.He held ground the way only Chanderpaul can in these times. In the first innings, his heroics had been simply another day’s work to him, that stoic, workman’s approach to the game that has empowered him above all in this team given to view their wickets as castaways. In truth, it was every man playing according to his nature during the series thus far. Nothing really new has emerged.In the first Test, the bowlers did what had been longed for and reaped wickets, and by doing so went into the second match with a larger measure of hope. Yet the batting was indifferent, and cost a game that should have been the reward for four good days. This has been the nature of the West Indies team; when the bowling and/or fielding is true, the batting tells lies, and vice versa. Rarely do all the elements join the chorus, and this is not just reflective of the squad members.At the barely scuffed grounds of the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua, what greeted them? They found a pitch that the journalist Garth Wattley described as “a lifeless, brown stretch of earth,” adding vividly that “there was more discernible movement in molasses than off it [on the first day]”.To compete on this corpse, there were no recognised spinners, and five pacers with little difference among them. In a grand sweep, the selectors managed to deflate the momentum gained by the quicks in the previous match because they were asking them to ply their trade on a surface that absorbed their wiles without giving anything back. They also managed to suppress further what little hope there might be for spinners having a chance on the West Indies team, as they again communicated their vision that spin is part-time work for some batsmen.One imagines pitch preparation aligned to the strengths of the home team, and one imagines selections based on maximising conditions that exist – desirable or not. Home advantage did not seem to be a worthy consideration for the administrators.The result was a first day’s play that was excruciatingly lifeless, as if the pitch had sucked away all the energy in its precincts. Spectators could not be bothered to come. There was no West Indian energy to come from off the field, as it did at Sabina Park. Even the fielders couldn’t keep their focus, and under the circumstances, the fumbles were costly and painful to the hard-working bowlers.To make matters worse, the drainage on the outfield was bad enough to lose two sessions on the third day, causing much lamentation over the enormous cost incurred to try to fix this problem repeatedly after it had become evident at the World Cup last year. It was embarrassing, and one wonders whether this had been factored into the decision to hold one of the matches on the ground. Poor umpiring decisions contributed to reducing the scores, a continuing source of debate over technology use.For Ricky Ponting’s men, it would be gratifying to hold on to the Sir Frank Worrell trophy even before they set foot on Barbados soil for the final match. The retirement of Stuart MacGill leaves Australia with yet another hole to fill, but they are a resilient bunch, with a cricket ethic that leaves them formidable even under pressure. The third Test may yet be the most revealing of what might be a turning point for both sides. If only the series was longer.

Wolves are believed to be plotting the surprise signing of a “top-class” Premier League player this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Big summer for Wolves after tough season ends on a high

It hasn’t been a season to treasure for Wanderers supporters, who have been threatened with relegation to the Championship throughout the 2024/25 campaign. Vitor Pereira has come in and done a hugely impressive job as manager however, picking up the pieces after the doomed final weeks of Gary O’Neil’s reign. It’s now a case of kicking on next season and making sure this incredible six-game winning streak brings momentum into the new term.

New signings are vital in that respect, helping Wanderers climb the table, with internal talks reportedly held regarding the signing of West Brom’s Grady Diangana this summer. The fact that he plays for the Baggies could make it a controversial piece of business.

Evertton Araujo has also been linked with a move to Wolves when the summer transfer window arrives, with Pereira working with the 22-year-old midfielder during their time together at Flamengo. The youngster is still with the Brazilian club, but a move to Europe would appeal.

Wolves eye surprise move for Premier League champion

Now, a fresh report from Football Insider has claimed that Wolves want to sign Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy this summer, in what is described as a possible “surprise” move to Molineux.

The £140,000-a-week striker has just been relegated to the Championship with the Foxes and will leave the King Power Stadium this summer, and although he is now 38 years of age, his aim may still be to play in the Premier League for the time being.

Vardy could be an intriguing signing for Wolves, with some arguably put off because of his age, but others still feeling he has something to offer at the highest level, not yet losing all of his blistering pace.

The Englishman, who famously won the Premier League with Leicester back in 2015/16, has still scored seven goals in the top flight for a struggling Foxes team this season, while Ruud van Nistelrooy hailed an assist he provided for Bobby De Cordova-Reid earlier this season.

“To have the awareness to play the path to Bobby, pretty good skill, that was a brilliant moment, because so late in the game, 90th minute, on the top of my head. And when you have the calmness and the composure to decide on these things, then that’s absolute top class. We’re happy that we have that.”

If Wolves do sign Vardy ahead of next season, it is important that he doesn’t come in as a regular starter, though, instead arriving as a handy squad player who could be an effective substitute.

Wolves hold internal talks over move for "special" 27 y/o on free transfer

The Old Gold could land a summer bargain…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Apr 27, 2025

Wanderers also need to target a younger striker who can lead the line and be a talismanic figure in attack, especially if Mathues Cunha leaves when the current campaign comes to an end.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make an approach for a defender who they have admired for a while in January, according to a fresh report.

Micky Van De Ven's injury a blow for Ange

During the Premier League 4-1 defeat to Chelsea last week, Micky Van De Ven was forced off the pitch just before half-time after sustaining a hamstring injury, with James Maddison also being removed with an ankle problem that has since seen him withdraw from international duty for England.

Ange Postecoglou soon confirmed that the centre-back’s problem was significant and that he would be out for a couple of months, so the manager will have to enter the market to find a suitable replacement at the start of next year until his existing player stages his return.

The Lilywhites boss appears to have set his sights on Torino’s Perr Schuurs, who has firmly established himself as Ivan Juric’s second best-performing defensive player so far this season (WhoScored – Torino statistics), but it’s not the first time he’s been highlighted as a potential target in N17.

The Dutchman was internally discussed by chiefs in the capital as a possible candidate over the summer, but with a deal having failed to come to fruition before the previous transfer deadline, the hierarchy are preparing to take a second bite of the cherry to secure the services of the 23-year-old in the near future.

Spurs plotting swoop for Perr Schuurs

According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), Tottenham are likely to swoop for Schuurs in January. Spurs are “expected to make a move” for the 6 foot 3 colossus and have been “closely monitoring” him for a long period of time.

However, Atletico Madrid have also been credited with an interest due to Diego Simeone’s personal admiration for the player, so it’s likely that the club are set to face stiff competition for their target.

Schuurs could be a "mountain" for Postecoglou

Due to his height, Schuurs provides a real physical presence at the heart of a backline which he’s proven so far this season, currently averaging 2.3 clearances, 2.2 tackles and 1.7 aerial wins per game in the Serie A (WhoScored – Schuurs statistics).

Sponsored by Nike, the defender is also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch having posted 38 contributions, 22 goals and 16 assists, since the start of his career (Transfermarkt – Schuurs statistics), highlighting the aerial threat he can pose to an opposition's defence in the final third.

Furthermore, Juric’s £29k-per-week earner (Torino salaries), already knows what it takes to compete and be successful at a high level having secured six trophies during his previous spell at Ajax, so he will possess the same winning mentality as the current squad under Postecoglou.

Finally, Schuurs, who has been dubbed a “mountain” by journalist Josh Bunting, has the versatility to operate higher up as a defensive midfielder, so his ability to easily adapt to demands is another attribute that could make him a fantastic recruit for the long-term future of Tottenham, meaning he will have a role in the squad even once van de Ven is back.

Leeds United are eyeing up four wins in succession when they travel to Stoke City this evening in the Championship.

The Whites secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Norwich City last time after returning from 2-0 down as a Shane Duffy own goal and a Crysencio Summerville brace sent the away end into pandemonium.

Ahead of this fixture against the Potters, Daniel Farke is anticipating an intense performance from the opposition, which could mean making some alterations to his side to freshen up proceedings.

What is the latest Leeds United team news?

Farke confirmed that there were no fresh injury concerns to his squad following their win over Norwich, however, Junior Firpo, Djed Spence and Stuart Dallas remain the only absentees.

Theoretically, the German head coach could name the same starting XI as last time out but given the Championship's hectic schedule, it would be wise for him to utilise the full breadth of his squad.

With that being said, he could drop Dan James, who was wasteful against Norwich and replace him with Wilfried Gnonto.

How did Dan James perform against Norwich?

The fleet-footed winger terrorised the Canaries' back line with his searing pace but once he got himself in a position to produce the final pass or cross, he showed a lack of composure.

Throughout his career, James has been criticised for his wastefulness in the final third – having been dubbed "headless" by pundit Darren Bent – and despite Leeds dropping down to the Championship, that continues to be a theme that plagues the rest of his game.

In his 84 minutes on the pitch at Carrow Road, the 26-year-old was threatening in the build-up phase but he was seriously lacking any substance to go with his approach play, aside from supplying the cross that was inadvertently turned into his own goal by Duffy.

According to SofaScore, James only made one successful dribble, misfired two of his eight attempted crosses, lost possession on 17 occasions and missed one big chance.

That is an indication, if it was ever needed, that the former Manchester United man lets the ground swallow him up when he enters a dangerous position, instead of remaining composed and producing a piece of quality to go with it.

Gnonto's performances, however, paint a picture of someone who can provide the X Factor in the final third having burst onto the scene in the Premier League last season.

How has Wilfried Gnonto performed for Leeds this season?

When Wilfried Gnonto handed in a written transfer request in the summer, few would have expected him to still be plying his trade in the Championship.

However, a move never materialised and the Italian now looks set to play a huge part in the Whites charge for promotion.

The "special" forward – as lauded by former Leeds assistant coach Michael Skubala – made an instant impact on his return from injury by providing the assist off the bench for Crysencio Summerville's curled effort.

In his six appearances under Farke this term, Gnonto has averaged more successful dribbles than James per game (2.2/0.6), a better pass completion (82%/77%) and fewer big chances missed, as per SofaScore.

Whilst James has supplied four assists compared to Gnonto's one, the 20-year-old can prove against Stoke, if given a start, that he has the capacity to punish teams emphatically, unlike the Welshman.

If the diminutive teenager is unleashed from the off, the Potters won't know what's hit them.