Leeds United have finally claimed their first win of the Championship season at long last, and could be set to build upon that success with further acquisitions in the transfer window…
Who else could Leeds United sign this summer?
Having welcomed Joel Piroe last Thursday night, fans were thrilled to see that his arrival had come in time to throw him straight into the starting squad.
Daniel Farke had been crying out for a star striker, so it came as little surprise that he wasted no time in handing the former Swansea man his first start, with the Dutchman enjoying a dream debut as he hit the back of the net even before 20 minutes had gone.
His goals are set to spearhead a promotion charge that might finally now get underway, but he alone cannot be solely relied upon for firepower.
Therefore, perhaps their reported interest in Aberdeen striker Luis 'Duk' Lopes from earlier this month could add those supplementary goals needed to make them less reliant.
Football Transfers value the forward at €1.1m (£1m).
Who is Luis Duk Lopes?
Having kickstarted his career in his homeland, the 5 foot 11 finisher traded Benfica B for Aberdeen just last year.
Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…
It is fair to say that he has taken to life in Scotland with ease, finding the net with immense regularity for a side that finished as the best of the rest behind the Old Firm clubs. He would score 16 times in the Scottish Premiership, assisting a further six across those 33 games.
This marked the true breakout of the 23-year-old, who clearly blends creativity with proficiency in front of goal.
luis-duk-lopes
A former coach of his helped to outline this, alongside other starring attributes, as Joao Tralhao noted: “He is powerful, aggressive, strong and he works hard to press. He also has an amazing instinct to score goals and you could see that with every year he progressed.
“He has a real instinct for goal that is his top quality. He just scores goals, with his right foot, left foot, chest, head or every part of his body. He has scored a few acrobatic goals for Aberdeen and trust me that is not usual. That is just Duk.”
It seems that his acquisition, whilst it could provide ample competition for Piroe, would likely spell troublesome news for Georginio Rutter, who only now seems to be getting his career at Elland Road on track.
Having signed for a club-record fee back in January, many held their hopes on the Frenchman to lead them to safety. However, it quickly became clear that the 21-year-old was far from ready to undertake such a huge burden, and he would only make one start before their relegation.
Unsurprisingly, he would not score throughout that campaign, having found the net for the first time just last weekend.
To compare the former Hoffenheim forward with Duk in front of goal, there is little competition.
Farke has already made a few transfer masterstrokes this summer, with this potential move sure to add to that list by bringing in a big upgrade to push Rutter to reach his level.
Newcastle United have asked about the conditions of a loan deal for Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe, and a fresh report has revealed that they’ve already received a reply.
How old is Emile Smith Rowe?
Smith Rowe is 23 years of age and an academy graduate at the Emirates Stadium having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first team back in 2020, but last season, he fell significantly out of favour under Mikel Arteta.
In the Premier League, England’s youth international made zero starts and was forced to come off the bench as a substitute on 12 occasions, via WhoScored, so he knows that despite still having three years remaining on his contract, he’ll have to complete a move elsewhere should he want to get more regular minutes under his belt moving forward.
The Magpies, as it stands, have Elliot Anderson as their only natural option in attacking midfield, as per Transfermarkt, so Eddie Howe could do with entering the market to not only bolster his ranks but also provide healthy competition, and if the following update is to be believed, he’s already tried his luck with the talented prospect.
Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
Are Newcastle signing Emile Smith Rowe?
According to 90min, Newcastle and Aston Villa have “both made contact” with Arsenal to enquire about a loan for Smith Rowe, but they are currently “not entertaining” any kind of exit. Chelsea have also seen an approach rejected, with the Gunners not interested in selling their youth product, especially to a direct rival in the form of the outfit at Stamford Bridge.
However, the player himself is believed to be “open” to the idea of leaving before tomorrow’s deadline in order to increase his game time, though it sounds as if it will take a sizeable proposal to prise him away from N7.
Holding on to the ball
Aerial Duels
Finshing
Crossing (via WhoScored)
How many goals does Emile Smith Rowe have?
During his 97 senior appearances for Arsenal, Smith Rowe has racked up 29 contributions (18 goals and 11 assists) and has been dubbed a “difference-maker” by Emirates legend Mesut Ozil, so there’s no doubt that he could have a hugely positive impact in the final third should he put pen to paper at Newcastle.
Read The Latest Newcastle Transfer News HERE…
The Croydon-born dynamo, who pockets £40k-per-week, also recorded a 91.3% pass success rate in the top-flight last season which was higher than any of the regular features achieved in the northeast, so his calmness and composure on the ball would be an upgrade on the boss’ current options at St. James’ Park.
Sponsored by Nike, Smith Rowe is also a versatile operator having been deployed in six different positions since the start of his career, including four roles in the midfield, out wide on the left wing and even at centre-forward, so he could be a great option to have in the building should cover be needed if any unexpected injuries were to occur.
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper could now look to open talks with another of his star men at the City Ground over a new contract, according to reports.
What's the latest news involving Nottingham Forest?
Last week, Nottingham Forest club captain Joe Worrall put pen to paper on a contract extension with the Tricky Trees, which will now see him stay at the East Midlands-based outfit until the summer of 2026.
Delighted with his decision, Worrall told Nottingham Forest's official website: "I’m over the moon and just so pleased to extend my time with the club. You only have to look to the future and it looks very bright. Everybody knows how much we care to try and improve as a team and try and push on as a club."
Football Insider claim that Worrall has received a significant pay rise from his previous £15,000 per week terms at Nottingham Forest and also indicate that the former England Under-21 international had interest in his services from elsewhere in the summer.
Worrall had less than a year left on his deal at the City Ground and would've been able to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club in January had he not found an extended agreement with his boyhood club.
Meanwhile, as per reports in Sweden, Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga has been released from Sweden's international camp after sustaining an injury in training and played no part in their 5-0 victory over Estonia in EURO 2024 qualifying.
The former Manchester United star will now return to England to undergo treatment for his knock and it is unclear how long he will be out for upon further assessment.
Who else could be offered a new contract?
According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are considering offering full-back Serge Aurier a new contract, which would come off the back of a strong start to the 2023/34 campaign from the Ivory Coast international.
The £50k-a-week ace is out of contract next summer and could discuss a pre-contract with foreign sides in January; however, he has enjoyed a rise to prominence under Reds' boss Cooper despite competing with Ola Aina and Gonzalo Montiel for the right-back position.
Aurier has made four appearances in all competitions for Nottingham Forest this term and has managed to notch two assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.
WhoScored note that Aurier has managed to earn an average match rating in the Premier League this campaign of 7.01/10 and show that he has successfully completed 3.5 clearances per match, demonstrating his defensive reliability when called upon.
As per FBRef, the former Tottenham Hotspur defender has also excelled in comparison to his positional peers across the top five divisions in Europe in the art of aerial duels, winning an average of 2.21 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the 98th percentile for this metric.
Cooper won't want to lose someone like Aurier on a free transfer next year and offering him a new deal would be a sensible decision to retain some valuable experience at the City Ground.
Arsenal look to be on the journey to something special, as Mikel Arteta continues to grow as a manager alongside his budding squad full of exciting talent.
The Gunners underwent some difficult times at the start of the Spaniard’s reign, at a time when many doubted the limits of his capabilities as a coach as his first two seasons resulted in consecutive 8th-place Premier League finishes.
As time went by and the former Arsenal midfielder was able to fully sculpt the squad to his liking, improvement began to be noticeable, as he took the team to 5th place in the 2021/22 campaign, agonisingly shy of a top-four finish.
2018/19
Unai Emery
5th
2019/20
Mikel Arteta
8th
2020/21
Mikel Arteta
8th
2021/22
Mikel Arteta
5th
2022/23
Mikel Arteta
2nd
It seemed as though the squad took missing out on the top four to their north London rivals personally, as the 2022/23 season began the start of the club’s revolution, as they challenged for the title for the majority of the term.
Manchester City swept the prizes last year, winning the domestic treble, however, Arteta restored the hope at the Emirates for years to come.
During his reign, the former Everton whiz has recruited strongly, welcoming a host of talent through the doors in north London with each new arrival having a significant role to play in his master plan.
One area that needed attention was the defence, which was strengthened by the arrivals of Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko, paired with the return of William Saliba from his loan spells.
How much did Arsenal sign Gabriel Magalhaes for?
Signed from French outfit Lille in 2020 for £27m, Gabriel arrived in the bid for Arteta to rebuild the foundations of his back four.
The manager lauded his new arrival as a player who could strengthen his squad as a “defensive unit and as a team”, branding him an “outstanding” defender based on his form in France.
It was revealed at the time of the deal being complete that Manchester United were also eyeing a potential move for the Brazilian, with Everton and Napoli also named as clubs that held interest.
Around the time of his move from Ligue 1 to the Premier League, the centre-back had an expected transfer value (xTV) of €15.5m (£13.4m), which has significantly risen since his journey to fame in north London, via Football Transfers.
What is Gabriel Magalhaes’ market value now?
Currently, the Sao Paulo-born ace has a market value of €80m (£69m), as per CIES Football Observatory, showcasing just how much his game has developed, as well as how good of a deal Arsenal struck to acquire him.
In three years, the defender’s value has risen by almost €65m, with his good form and personal development rewarded with an improved contract from the club in 2022, where his deal was extended to 2027.
At the time of his renewed deal, Arteta dubbed his star defender as a “hugely important” part of the squad after establishing himself as one of the Emirates’ first-choice centre-backs.
How much does Gabriel Magalhaes earn?
Along with his stay being extended, the Brazilian saw his wages rise as a result of his revised contract.
The 25-year-old saw his hard work pay off as his salary doubled in value last year, taking his weekly wage from £50k to £100k by putting pen to paper.
From earning £291k-per-year at the point of signing for Lille, the defender’s rise at Arsenal has resulted in him earning £5.2m-per-year, suggesting just how highly he is regarded in north London.
Why is he worth that much?
Praised as being “solid as a rock” by talent scout Jacek Kulig in his debut season, Gabriel’s form has transformed over the years, with it seeming as though the Brazil international has found sanctuary in playing alongside Saliba.
In the 2020/21 campaign, the Brazilian averaged a pass completion rate of 85.4% per 90, as well as making 1.13 tackles and 2.57 aerial wins per 90, via FBref.
The most prominent improvement to his game has been his distribution, recording an average pass completion rate of 89.4% per 90, as well as making 1.27 tackles and 2.64 aerial wins per 90 in the 2022/23 season.
Working alongside Saliba seems to complement the former Lille star, with the Frenchman being an extremely competent ball player himself as highlighted by his average pass completion rate of 91.0% per 90 last term.
When reviewing Arsenal’s defence, the combination of Gabriel and Saliba has assisted in balancing the back four, with both showing their strengths in orchestrating the play ahead of them as well as the task at hand.
Twitter X figure Eduardo Hagn was full of praise for the partnership after the Gunners’ emphatic win against PSV on their Champions League return, calling them a “world-class” duo.
What does the future hold for Gabriel?
With 124 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions under his belt, the 25-year-old has all the tools to write himself into history as part of a squad that is destined for glory sooner rather than later.
The Gunners struggled for years to unearth the next capable defensive duo, with the combination of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny arguably the last pairing that consistently succeeded in red and white.
Last season was the first term that Saliba and Gabriel were combined in the heart of the back line, and with such performances marking their first experiences with each other, Arteta’s defence is in safe hands for years to come.
Arsenal are back in the Champions League and among the top side’s in the Premier League, with the Brazilian being an integral part of the journey in the capital.
Away from domestic football, the future looks bright for the former Ligue 1 gem’s international prognosis, as he earned his first cap for his country earlier this month after the disappointment of not being selected for the 2022 World Cup.
Gabriel-magalhaes-brazil
Emerging as a top talent in England with Arsenal, and a player recognised at international level for Fernando Diniz’s squad, the Gunners machine is in for an exciting new chapter of his career if his form can continue to flourish.
In signing Gabriel for just £27m, Arteta and Edu struck gold on another Brazilian talent whose value continues to soar in the capital.
Liverpool now look to be out of the dreadful patch of form that very nearly cost Arne Slot his job.
The Reds are deep in a five-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, and while Premier League draws to Leeds United and Sunderland will have stung somewhat, Slot and Co will still take a lot of confidence from back-to-back wins over Inter Milan and Brighton & Hove Albion in December so far.
Even Mo Salah is back in action under the Dutchman, after a public falling out, as he collected an assist late on against the Seagulls that helped his resurgent side to secure a 2-0 win over Fabian Hurzeler’s tricky visitors.
He will soon be off to the African Cup of Nations with Egypt, though, with the January transfer window also arriving on the Reds’ agenda very shortly, past the bumper Christmas fixture period to come.
Where Liverpool could strengthen in January
Despite the recent upturn in form at Anfield, Slot will surely still be keen on adding a few new signings to the mix in January.
Indeed, rumours continue to suggest that the reigning Premier League champions are hunting down reinforcements in the centre-back department, courtesy of Marc Guehi. On top of interest in the Crystal Palace titan, other reports are also coming to the surface that Liverpool is targeting Borussia Dortmund giant Nico Schlotterbeck to boost personnel at the back further.
Alongside their continued interest in Guehi, Liverpool also remain in the intense race to land his former teammate in Bayern Munich ace Michael Olise.
However, a new development from TEAMtalk suggests that it won’t be a straightforward tussle to win.
According to the site, Olise is not opposed to a move to Spain, with Real Madrid and Barcelona circling, as the former Palace winger opts to keep his options open.
Liverpool is also noted as being long-term admirers of the £123m-rated attacker, with Slot potentially winning himself another version of Hugo Ekitike if the Reds were to accelerate to the front of the queue for his services, as another talent who has ripped the Bundesliga to shreds potentially takes the Premier League by storm.
After all, Olise is already very much used to putting away goals for fun in England, like the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt marksman…
How Olise can be another Ekitike
While Alexander Isak continues to flop on Merseyside, Ekitike has risen the ranks to be the dependable goalscoring hero Slot needs to lead the line, with back-to-back braces in Premier League action this December.
He’s certainly living up to his “goal machine” label that was handed to him in the summer by Reds correspondent David Lynch, with the £69m signing entering the hectic English game off the back of a 26-goal spell for Frankfurt. With seven goals already next to his name in his new colours, that price tag has more than been justified.
Olise has a far weightier price tag to live up to, but he also boasts ridiculous numbers in Bavaria, with his frightening ability to bamboozle defenders for fun with his pace, alongside his coolness in front of goal to finish off chances, seeing Bayern teammate Serge Gnabry hail him as “one of the best players in the world” earlier this season.
The numbers don’t lie, with the 13-time France international already up to a staggering nine goals and 14 assists for the season, with Ekitike surely licking his lips at the prospect of lining up alongside the Bundesliga-based talent, if he makes a long-awaited return to the Premier League happen.
PL
84
14 + 22
Bundesliga
47
18 + 27
Total
131
32 + 49
There will be no worries in the air regarding Olise’s ability to come into the Premier League and instantly settle, like his fellow compatriot, with the 24-year-old “magician” – as another of his teammates in Dayot Upamecano labelled him – already 36 goal contributions down in the English top-flight, when previously calling Selhurst Park home.
With talk still centring on Salah leaving, too, Olise really does feel as if he could be the statement replacement Slot and Co are crying out for, as the big bucks are splashed on another entertaining forward from Germany.
There will be some apprehension on Liverpool’s end regarding the bumper price tag, with Isak costing a club-record £125m, only to now warm the substitutes bench.
But, with Olise in some red-hot form at the moment under Vincent Kompany’s wing, it does have all the makings of being a stunning purchase, as another Ekitike-like gem is unearthed that can push Liverpool even further up the table.
He'd revive Van Dijk: "World-class" talent wants to join Liverpool
Liverpool may need to make a winter signing or two as Arne Slot’s side struggle through the 2025/26 campaign.
Chelsea are now "100%" keen on signing a wonderkid who has been tipped to be a future icon, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?
The Blues have recently been linked with a move for a new left-back, as US Lecce's Patrick Dorgu has revealed that he dreams of signing for the club, despite the fact Barcelona are also keen, although it is unlikely Mauricio Pochettino targets a player in that area of the pitch.
Another youngster the west London club are interested in signing is Corinthians midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, who has attracted the attention of a number of Premier League sides, with Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Everton also interested.
At the end of the summer transfer window, it was revealed that Chelsea set their sights on Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa, going as far as to submit a £26m bid, but they were unable to get a deal over the line with limited time remaining. However, there has now been a suggestion the Blues could come back in for the winger, with the club clearly focussing on making young additions to the squad, as Jacobs has now credited them with an interest in an interview with GiveMeSport.
When asked whether Chelsea could be scouting the 18-year-old, the reporter said: "Yeah, 100%. Chelsea came in towards the end of the last window for Nusa, and it was made clear to them, with the player driving this narrative, that there wasn't anything possible this year. That's because he's young and currently quite settled at Club Brugge.
"From what I'm told, Nusa spoke to the manager there and very quickly decided that it was not the right time to move, especially not to Chelsea, because you look at their project full of other young stars, and, to an extent, uncertainty, and unless Chelsea could buy him and, for example, loan him back, his gametime could well have been limited. I think from this point of view, he believes there will be more suitors in 2024, whether in January or the summer and that Chelsea could well be back."
How good is Antonio Nusa?
The Club Brugge starlet has done enough to impress football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who branded him a "future icon of Norwegian football", while he has also likened him to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe. The Norwegian youngster is an exceptional dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 99th percentile for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.
Club Brugge'sAntonioNusacelebrates scoring their fourth goal with Casper Nielsen
Although he is still very young, the forward has already managed to break into the Brugge starting XI, and he has been very impressive at the beginning of the Belgian Pro League season, weighing in with two goals and two assists in five games.
Nusa may not immediately be able to challenge for a starting spot at Chelsea, given that they are blessed with attacking talent, but he clearly has a lot of potential, and he would be an exciting addition to Pochettino's squad.
Glasgow Rangers have been handed a boost after learning that two of their first-team stars are set to return for Thursday's game vs Aris in the Europa League.
Which Rangers players are injured?
The Ibrox outfit currently have Danilo, Todd Cantwell, Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo out on the sidelines with their own respective longer-term injuries, and whilst Kieran Dowell still isn’t ready to stage his comeback to competitive action, he has returned to light training.
The Light Blues also suffered a more recent scare when Kemar Roofe was forced off the pitch during the 4-0 Viaplay Cup victory over Livingston after just 46 minutes, which saw him sent for a scan to assess the extent of the damage he sustained, but luckily, he has been passed fit and is once again ready to be involved under the lights.
In the Scottish Premiership, Nicolas Raskin is another regular feature who has been missing from the action having spent the last two weeks away from the grass with a calf problem, and the central midfielder's absence has certainly been noticed considering the positive start he’s made to the season.
The Belgium youth international has firmly established himself as the club's top-performing defensive player since the beginning of the new campaign, and luckily for supporters, the 22-year-old will be hoping to pick up where he left off following an update that will be music to the ears of everyone on the blue side of town.
Is Nicolas Raskin set to return for Rangers?
Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Rangers interim manager Steven Davis confirmed that Raskin is up for selection for this evening’s fixture vs Aris. As quoted by the club’s official account on X, he said:
“There is a lot of character and leaders in this dressing room. Everyone knows it is time to step up. Everyone is hurting and our focus is on getting a positive result tomorrow night. Raskin and Roofe have travelled and will be available to play part of the game.”
Glasgow Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin.
What type of player is Nicolas Raskin?
Whilst Raskin is naturally a central midfielder, he has been much stronger in the defensive aspect of his game so far this season, where he ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles. It will come as a massive boost for Davis and indeed Rangers to have him back at their disposal, especially given the recent departure of Michael Beale, with some solidity needed through the spine of the team in the absence of a permanent boss.
The Teddy Bears’ £6.9k-per-week earner has also recorded two assists since joining the club from Standard Liege back in January, with the impression that he’s been able to make at both ends of the pitch having seen him hailed “class” by journalist Josh Bunting.
Finally, Raskin is a versatile operator having been deployed in five various positions across the pitch since first bursting onto the professional scene, including four roles in the midfield and even out wide on the right wing, so for all of the qualities that he possesses, his return to the field will be more than welcome under the lights.
West Ham United and manager David Moyes are "braced to lose" one player who's been called a "superstar" in January, according to reports.
Who could leave West Ham?
A plethora of Hammers squad members are currently out of contract at the end of this season, a long list which includes Tomas Soucek, Pablo Fornals, Ben Johnson, Vladimir Coufal, Michail Antonio, Conor Coventry, Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski and veteran defender Angelo Ogbonna. While the likes of Coufal, Antonio and Soucek have options to extend by one-year, it is believed talks with the latter have stalled over this last year, with Football Insider reporting the Czech Republic ace could well be sold in January as a result.
According to club insider Claret & Hugh recently, Fornals, Johnson and Coventry appear set to leave upon the end of their current deals in 2024. While West Ham did manage to tie down star winger Jarrod Bowen with a new deal till 2030, it appears that a mass London Stadium exodus could well occur next year. Indeed, there is also some doubt surrounding the futures of defensive duo Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma.
Nayef Aguerd transfer update
The former, who was reportedly targeted by Man City not so long ago, is attracting "big-money interest" from the Middle East as clubs from Saudi Arabia take interest. That is according to Football Insider, who shared the latest Aguerd transfer update this week. The outlet and journalist Pete O'Rourke say that Moyes and co are "braced to lose" the Morocco international. They're apparently prepared for offers to sign Aguerd, and his teammate Zouma, as Saudi clubs linger.
West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd.
It's added that, if Moyes were to lose either of the pair, that the Scotsman would be "desperate" to sign a replacement. One of the candidates could be Man United defender Harry Maguire, who West Ham are reportedly in pole position to sign if the Englishman does decide to leave Old Trafford mid-season (Football Insider).
Aguerd, called an international "superstar" by Moroccan journalist Mohamed A Salad, has also been called one of Europe's best defenders by former teammate Achraf Sidki.
"West Ham have signed one of the best defenders in Europe. I’m so proud that one of my former teammates will be playing in the Premier League. I’m surprised he didn’t move to England sooner. When we were younger we both had big dreams of becoming professional footballers. Nayef has done well and I’m confident he will be a great signing for West Ham.
“There were so many times he saved the team when we played together. That’s when I realised he was very good. I remember one occasion we played against a team called Tetouan.
“We needed to win and it was probably Nayef’s best game for the club. He was man of the match and after the game, I told him, ‘One day you will make it to the Premier League. You don’t know how good you are’."
Glasgow Rangers have started positively under Philippe Clement, recording two wins and a draw across his opening three games in charge of the Ibrox side.
The Premiership clash against Hearts last weekend gave Clement an indication of how much work he will have to do in order to bring the club back to the summit of Scottish football.
The Gers trailed 1-0 heading into injury time, but a James Tavernier penalty and a Danilo header secured a remarkable turnaround and gave the Belgian another three points, yet the performance was underwhelming for 90 minutes.
The Light Blues face a hectic run of fixtures heading into the festive season, which includes a League Cup semi-final clash (and a potential final), while there are three Europa League fixtures still to be played.
Philippe Clement
The 49-year-old will need to get the best out of his squad in order to achieve success and there have only been a few senior players who have impressed so far this term.
Summer arrival Danilo has shone when called upon, scoring four times, despite missing nine games through injury, while Jack Butland has been a calming presence between the posts and this has made a massive difference.
It has arguably been Abdallah Sima – a loan signing from Brighton and Hove Albion – who has impressed the most however, finding the back of the net on nine occasions for the club and while he isn’t the most consistent player, these sorts of numbers are certainly impressive.
Could the Gers perhaps make a permanent move for the winger once the January transfer window rolls around?
Rangers transfer news – Abdallah Sima
According to Football Insider, the Light Blues are currently exploring the possibility of securing his services on a permanent basis following his encouraging start to life at the Ibrox side.
The club don’t have an option to purchase him at the end of his single-season loan deal, yet that doesn’t mean they can't make an approach in January and potentially secure a deal.
Rangers winger Abdallah Sima.
According to the report, there are several unnamed European clubs who are also keen on the winger which means Rangers face stiff competition for the Senegalese star.
With Clement just a few matches into his new role, Sima will be keen on impressing the former Club Brugge boss and the next couple of months could see him continue to shine, both domestically and on the continent.
How Sima compares to Ryan Kent
At the end of last season, the Ibrox side lost players such as Alfredo Morelos, Scott Arfield and Ryan Kent due to them not signing extensions on their contracts.
With all three players playing a key role under Steven Gerrard and leading the club to their first Premiership title in a decade, along with reaching a major European final and winning the Scottish Cup, losing them was a big blow.
Kent in particular had not enjoyed the finest of individual seasons during 2022/23, scoring only three goals and registering ten assists, but under the right manager, he could have thrived.
Indeed, over the course of his spell in Glasgow, the Englishman registered 89 goal contributions – 33 goals and 56 assists – across 218 games and on his day, there was arguably no finer attacking threat in the whole of Scotland.
Unfortunately towards the latter end of his Rangers career, these days were few and far between, yet a marauding Kent was a great asset to the club.
During the early parts of the season, Rabbi Matondo looked like he could be the ideal heir to the former Liverpool gem, scoring his first two goals for the club along with registering a couple of assists, yet injury has stopped his momentum.
Sima has been the one to benefit, enjoying a regular run of games on the left wing and has clearly taken his chance, scoring in half of the games he has featured in so far this season, indicating that he would make a fine signing.
Abdallah Sima's Rangers career in numbers
The 22-year-old scored against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League qualifier back in August as the Gers dug out a solid 2-2 draw which gave them a wonderful chance of progression.
They had to settle for a Europa League place, but Sima has scored both of the club’s goals in the group stage so far, including the winner against Real Betis in the first match, and it is clear he is able to perform on the biggest stage.
Goals
0
5
Assists
0
0
Successful dribbles per game
1
1.8
Key Passes per game
0.8
1
Big chances created
2
0
Statistics via Sofascore.
His form has even been praised by Tavernier, who has said: “He has been a real attacking threat for us this season. He’s got electric pace and can finish in difficult areas.
“Generally with our forwards, we have to give them better service as a team. We need to get around them and give them opportunities to get on the scoresheet the same as Abdallah.”
This electric pace and being able to finish from tight areas were hallmarks of Kent during his first few seasons at Rangers as he terrorised defenders on a regular basis.
Sima certainly has all the qualities which could make him a standout this season and across the whole squad in the league, Sima ranks second for goals and assists (five) while also ranking second for shots on target per game (1.1) and second for successful dribbles per game (1.8), showcasing his impressive attacking skills which had made him a menace to defenders in Scotland.
It remains to be seen just how much of a budget Clement will have to work with in January, especially with some extravagant spending done by Michael Beale in the summer, but there will need to be some additions to bolster the squad.
Although signing Sima doesn’t appear to be a priority considering he is here until next summer, anyway, convincing him of the long-term project that is about to occur under Clement could be key in securing his signature.
Only time will tell, but the next few months could prove to be crucial with regard to how successful Rangers will be in the coming years. Signing Sima could be the catalyst for many more.
Tottenham will reportedly allow one player of theirs to move away in the January transfer window, and a big name club are at "work" to sign him.
Postecoglou shorter of options at Spurs
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is having to contend with a growing list of absentees at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both Micky van de Ven and James Maddison pulled up with injuries during Spurs' 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday, while Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie are currently suspended and ineligible for selection after their sending-offs against Mauricio Pochettino's side.
Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman and Ben Davies are also out through injury at the moment, while both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr will depart at the start of next year for their Africa Cup of Nations campaigns. Richarlison will also be out through surgery on a pubic bone issue.
After what's been a truly electric start to Postecoglou's tenure at Spurs, having won eight out of their opening eleven Premier League games, things could take a downward turn given Tottenham's glaring lack of squad depth. However, perhaps surprisingly, there are still reports this week that midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could depart north London in the winter window.
Spurs green-light Hojbjerg exit
The Dane has been linked with a move away regularly since Postecoglou's arrival. For the longest time, he barely caught a glimpse of first-team action with Juventus eyeing a move for Hojbjerg to bolster their midfield.
There has been an update on this from Italian news outlet TUTTOmercatoWEB, who claim that Spurs are willing to green-light a Hojbjerg exit despite their current issues. Tottenham "can let him leave" in January, according to TMW, but would prefer a permanent deal rather than a loan.
Regardless of Tottenham's stance over a temporary deal, it is believed that Juve continue to "work" on a loan with their club directors Cristiano Giuntoli and Giovanni Manna recently travelling to London. Indeed, they were in apparently the English capital to schedule transfer summits over the likes of Hojbjerg and fellow transfer target Kalvin Phillips.
Hojbjerg "very important" to Ange
The former Southampton star has been described as a "very important" player by Postecoglou, who was speaking last month about Hojbjerg to English media.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.
“It is obvious someone that has played regularly would have wanted to play more but ultimately our performances have been strong and he has had to bide his time," said Postecoglou on Hojbjerg.
“He has also been very important in a lot of the games that we’ve won late or had to shore up late. He has been one of the people who has helped us and it is not like he hasn’t contributed at all. He’s been a really important part for us. We wouldn’t be in this position if we were just reliant on our starting XI.
“It is something we impress on all of the guys that as disappointed as you are at not starting, it doesn’t mean you are not playing. You are still playing at some point and what you do with those minutes will help us be successful and push your own cause.
“With Pierre, he is a professional and very determined."