Glasgow Rangers continued their excellent start under Philippe Clement as they delivered a five-star show against Dundee at Dens Park last night.
The kick-off was delayed until 8.30pm due to traffic issues in the area and after only eight minutes of the match, the players trudged off the pitch due to a fire alarm being set off following a stunning pyrotechnic display by the away support.
The Gers soon started to cause plenty of problems to the home side, taking a single-goal lead into the halftime break in what was a controlled performance.
Four more goals followed in a wonderful second-half display and Clement will be buoyed by how well his starting XI performed, especially Danilo, who made his first start since September.
Danilo’s statistics vs Dundee
The Brazilian hitman netted a last-minute winner against Hearts last weekend and despite still recovering from his fractured cheekbone suffered a couple of months ago, he was given a start by the Belgian last night.
It proved to be an inspired move as the striker took nine shots in total during the tie, looking like a real livewire leading the line.
He did miss four chances, yet the former Feyenoord forward got on the scoresheet in the second half, and he also set up Sam Lammers for his goal.
He lost possession just three times and managed to make four key passes during his time on the pitch and his display proves that he should be Clement’s number one option to lead the line going forward.
It was Lammers who looked like a man reborn however, and he put in arguably his finest performance last night for the Light Blues.
Sam Lammers stats vs Dundee
Starting the match just behind Danilo, the Dutchman did link up rather well during a first half which promised much but delivered just one goal.
He came to life in the second half and like Danilo, he grabbed a goal and an assist, while taking 57 touches during his spell on the pitch.
His goal was wonderfully taken and was praised by Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie, who said: “What a finish from Sam Lammers – stunning finish from range.
“He’s had a tough time as of late but that was a great moment. Turns his man, moves onto his left and finds the net spectacularly.”
Lammers also succeeded with two out of three attempted dribbles along with creating one big chance and playing one key pass, a decent return for a player who has struggled immensely this season.
His display was promising, and hopefully it allows him to click into gear and start producing the goods on a regular basis for Clement during this new era at Ibrox.
While one good performance won't completely eradicate the scrutiny that has come his way since he joined in the summer, it may well be the catalyst to salvaging his career in Scotland.
It was a solid away result by the Gers and game by game they are showing big improvements. With a tie against Hearts on Sunday for a place in the League Cup final, Clement will need his players to play exactly like they did last night.
Liverpool have recently been linked with a move for an exciting midfield prospect from verdant Brazil, but it's not Andre, with certain reports suggesting that the Fluminense star may not be headed for Anfield in January after all.
Instead, Jurgen Klopp's side might be homing in on another exciting prospect in Corinthian's Gabriel Moscardo, who has been causing quite the stir with his impressive showings in the Brasileiro Serie A.
Liverpool transfer news – Gabriel Moscardo
According to the Evening Standard, Liverpool are set to battle Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea for Moscardo's signature, with Barcelona also attentive to the situation.
naby-keita-liverpool-jurgen-klopp-premier-league
Valued at £26m, the 18-year-old is considered one of the brightest starlets in South America and is expected to search for pastures new when the Brazilian league season concludes in December, opening the door to a January acquisition for European outfits.
A compelling youngster, Liverpool would love to beat the Blues to his signing, strengthening their centre but also getting one over on Todd Boehly and co having been left hot under the collar when Romeo Lavia opted for Stamford Bridge this summer.
How Liverpool lost Romeo Lavia
Chelsea completed the signing of Lavia from Southampton in a deal totalling £58m in August after a high-profile transfer battle with the Reds, compounding Klopp's misery after Moises Caicedo completed a British-record £115m move to west London just days before after rejecting Liverpool's advances.
Lavia had been destined for a move to Merseyside after multiple attempted offers and months of groundwork from Liverpool, but after attempting to steal Caicedo from under Chelsea's nose and coming up fruitless, the young Belgian was dissuaded.
In the end, Liverpool decided to make a surprise £16m swoop for Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo, aged 30, providing a swift solution without launching a panic buy for an expensive alternative.
A few eyebrows were raised, and while Endo is very much a squad option, he is a valuable member as the Anfield side compete across multiple fronts.
Now, Moscardo could indeed be the perfect precocious signing to forge a career at Liverpool, improving his skills and blooming into a first-class phenom in years to come, getting one over on Chelsea.
They do say that revenge is a dish best-served cold…
Gabriel Moscardo's season in numbers
Very much in the embryonic stage of his career, Moscardo has broken into Corinthian's first team in 2023 and has now chalked up 23 senior appearances, earning the attention of some of Europe's biggest outfits.
Described as an "animal" by journalist Adria Jimenez Munoz, Moscardo has played 16 times in the league this season, as per Sofascore, completing 83% of his passes, making 2.1 tackles and 3.1 ball recoveries per game, succeeding with 61% of his dribbles and winning 54% of his duels.
As per FBref, Moscardo ranks among the top 7% of midfielders across divisions similar to the Brasileiro Serie A for successful take-ons, the top 1% for blocks, the top 8% for tackles, the top 14% for interceptions, the top 13% for clearances and the top 15% for aerial wins per 90.
He's a rock, not yet refined but powerful and prodigious in his craft, and Klopp could nurture him toward his zenith at Liverpool, honing his defensive skills and absorbing the ball-playing wisdom from senior peers such as Alexis Mac Allister and Thiago Alcantara.
If Liverpool need any more convincing, Moscardo has been likened to compatriot Fabinho by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who dubbed him a "modern holding midfielder", and given the incredible success that the 30-year-old found over multiple years on Merseyside, Klopp might be wise to swoop for the dream heir.
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.
Fabinho signed for Liverpool from Monaco for £44m in 2018 and made 219 appearances – winning all the silverware under Klopp's wing to date – before declining last season and being sold to Al Ittihad for a reported £40m in the summer.
Once considered "the best" in his position by pundit Gary Neville, Fabinho was a slick and assured passer and a tenacious mountain in the middle for Liverpool at their best, soaking up pressure and recycling play superlatively, allowing his frontal peers to wreak havoc up ahead.
Moscardo might be young, but if he is indeed of the same ilk then it might be a prudent move to bring him to Anfield, finding a centrepiece to glue the Liverpool squad together for years to come.
Everton recently felt the full force of the Premier League when they were handed a 10-point deduction for breaching Financial Fair Play rules. The deduction put them back in the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety, and undid all of Sean Dyche's excellent work in the last month or so. Ready to go again after the international break, the former Burnley boss must simply pick up where he left off and guide the Toffees back on course for safety.
The off-field news hasn't stopped there, though, with Everton playing their part in even more Premier League controversy which has left many frustrated, including talkSPORT host Mark Goldbridge, who shared his thoughts.
The Premier League really never stops delivering drama, particularly after Everton's point deduction amid the ongoing investigation into Manchester City. On top of that, however, clubs have voted for and against transfers between related-party clubs. A ban on such transfers would leave the likes of Chelsea unable to deal with Strasbourg and Newcastle United unable to sign players from PIF-owned clubs. Meanwhile, if 777 Partners complete their takeover of Everton, they would have been unable to deal with the likes of Genoa and Hertha Berlin.
In the end, those aforementioned clubs needn't have worried, as the Premier League did not get enough votes in favour of a transfer block, with Everton, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley voting against a ban on loans, according to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail.
Goldbridge reacted to the news of the vote, posting on X: "Ridiculous 7 Prem clubs voted against that loan between owned clubs deal."
Everton's potential advantage after the vote
The vote once again brings forth the question as to whether the Premier League needs an independent regulator rather than relying on the clubs to come to a decision. In the end, clubs in favour of the transfer block were just two votes away from it taking place, yet it is the eight clubs who voted against the block that will now benefit. It came as little surprise that Everton were among those, too.
The Toffees are currently the subject of an ongoing attempted takeover by 777 Partners. 777 Partners' portfolio includes seven other clubs and the advantage that Everton could now have is the ability to negotiate with those other clubs with far more ease, given their clear link. This could result in loan deals to and from sides such as Standard Liege and Hertha Berlin, as Dyche looks to strengthen his side.
777 Partners at Everton's Goodison Park.
If 777 Partners do complete their takeover of the club and it is all wrapped up by January, then Everton will certainly be an interesting side to keep an eye on when it comes to transfer activity. Those at Goodison Park could have the chance to welcome a number of reinforcements.
Crystal Palace are reportedly keeping tabs on an "intelligent" former Premier League player, with numerous other clubs also keen on snapping him up at the end of the season.
Crystal Palace transfer news
The Eagles could well be looking to make new signings when the January transfer window opens, having suffered a stuttering start to the season, with pressure increasingly growing on manager Roy Hodgson.
It remains to be seen how much funds will be made available for fresh faces to arrive at Selhurst Park, but it would be a surprise and a disappointment if Palace didn't do any business ahead of the second half of the season.
While January rumours have been swirling of late, with Newcastle United attacker Jacob Murphy seen as a target for Palace, a new claim focuses on a possible signing next summer.
Crystal Palace want Sam Greenwood
According to a fresh claim from TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace are one of a number of clubs who are interested in signing Leeds Uniteds Sam Greenwood, who joined Middlesbrough on loan in the summer transfer window.
Leeds' Sam Greenwood
"We understand that West Ham, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Fulham, Leicester and Southampton have all been keeping tabs on Greenwood’s progress in the North-East. Should Boro earn promotion, however, then a permanent stay at the Riverside could well become a very serious option for the 21-year-old."
It does look as though a January move is unlikely to come to fruition, however, considering Greenwood is contracted to Boro until the end of the season, so a switch to south London could materialise once the campaign has ended instead.
Greenwood could be an astute signing by Palace, considering he is still a maturing player who should only get better with age, already making 25 appearances in the Premier League for Leeds, scoring once and assisting four times in the competition.
The 21-year-old has been hailed for his various qualities as a footballer by former Whites manager Jesse Marsch, who said of him last year:
"First of all, he has a lot of flexibility to his game. He's played six, eight, 10, he can play striker. In some ways, it's not fair to him to try different positions, but he's an intelligent player. He fits within what we're trying to build within our team. He's a hard worker, he's an intelligent guy, he's able and that's the reason why we use him in a lot of positions, because he's very adaptable. He understands tactics and his role and he has big talent."
Odsonne Edouard
6
Jean-Philippe Mateta
3
Eberechi Eze
2
Joachim Andersen
2
Jordan Ayew
1
Jeffrey Schlupp
1
Tyrick Mitchell
1
Michael Olise
1
Greenwood could add some firepower in the final third that has been lacking at Palace this season, with just 13 goals scored in as many Premier League matches before Sunday's trip to West Ham, and only Odsonne Edouard has netted more than three times in the competition.
Granted, the Englishman is still a fairly inexperienced player who hasn't yet fully proven himself at the highest level, but he is someone with lots of potential, and he could thrive under the right manager at Selhurst Park.
Leeds United have missed on the opportunity to close the gap between themselves and the current top two over the last two gameweeks.
Daniel Farke's side have picked up just one point from games against Sunderland and Coventry over the past week, as they lost 1-0 to the former and were held to a 1-1 draw by the latter.
This has left them ten points behind Ipswich Town, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Norwich on Saturday, when the gap could have been closed to five points.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
Regular starters Dan James and Joel Piroe failed to step up with any goal involvements in those two games and this meant that Leeds needed a lift off the bench from their substitutes.
Unfortunately, Farke's depth has left a lot to be desired as Patrick Bamford, Wilfried Gnonto, and Jaidon Anthony have combined for one goal and one assist in 37 substitute appearances between them in the Championship this season.
The German boss could improve his depth by finally ditching Wilfried Gnonto in order to reignite his interest in Genk star Joseph Paintsil.
Leeds transfer news – Gnonto and Paintsil
Football Insider have claimed that the Whites are now open to allowing the Italy international to depart from Elland Road during the upcoming January transfer window.
The report stated that he could be sold next month to bolster Farke's budget as it would allow him to dip into the market to bring in fresh reinforcements ahead of the second half of the campaign.
It was also reported that Gnonto is 'desperate' to play regular first-team football again as he has found himself on the bench more often than not so far this season.
Football Insider claimed that teams from both the Premier League and the Serie A are monitoring his situation ahead of a possible January swoop.
Leeds United vs Coventry City in the Championship.
Leeds would, however, need to replace Gnonto with another versatile forward and Farke could finally ditch the Italian prospect by reigniting his interest in Genk star Joseph Paintsil.
The Athletic reported during the summer transfer window that the club made a €10m (£8.6m) offer to sign the right-footed whiz to improve their attack.
They did not get a deal over the line for him, though, as the Ghana international later revealed that he turned down Leeds and Southampton as his dream is to play Premier League football.
The exciting gem decided that staying at Genk was the best option for him at the time to earn himself a direct move to a top five European league further down the line.
Ghana international Joseph Paintsil.
However, Leeds – and Southampton – are competing at the top end of the Championship table and are eyeing an instant return back to the top-flight.
They could use their current position, in third place, to convince the Pro League star to ditch his current club to complete a move to Elland Road, with the prospect of playing Premier League football next season being the big selling point.
Wilfried Gnonto's Leeds statistics
The 20-year-old whiz joined Leeds from Swiss side FC Zurich in the summer of 2022 and has shown flashes of brilliance during his time in England.
Gnonto has showcased his potential with rare moments of quality but is yet to prove that he has the consistency to be a reliable option for Farke in the short term.
Last season, the young ace produced two goals, four assists, and three 'big chances' created in 24 Premier League appearances for the Whites as they were relegated to the second tier.
Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.
This was a promising start to life at Elland Road for the talented ace as he ranked within the top 19% of top-flight attacking midfielders and wingers for assists (0.27) per 90.
However, the right-footed winger has not been able to kick on and take his play to new heights with the drop down to the Championship this term.
Gnonto has managed one goal, one assist, and zero 'big chances' created in 16 league appearances – six of which have come as a starter – for Leeds this season.
Leeds forward Wilfried Gnonto.
He handed in a transfer request in an attempt to secure a move to Everton over the summer and is yet to prove that the Whites were right to keep hold of him instead of cashing in when they had the chance.
Farke could finally ditch the Italy international, who wanted out earlier this year, by signing Paintsil to replace him in January if the club can convince the Genk star this time around.
The statistics that show why Leeds should sign Paintsil
The 25-year-old dynamo, who was once lauded as an "ice-cold baller" by journalist Owuraku Ampofo, has been in impressive form since the start of last season and could be a big upgrade on Gnonto.
Last term, Paintsil caught the eye with his outstanding ability to contribute with both goals and assists on a regular basis from a wide position.
Ghana international Joseph Paintsil.
The Leeds target produced 17 goals and 11 assists in 36 Pro League outings and ranked within the top 3% or higher among his positional peers for assists (0.46) and non-penalty goals (0.54) per 90.
He has followed that up with a strong start to the current campaign. The 5 foot 6 wizard has racked up six goals, four assists, and eight 'big chances' created in 18 league matches.
Paintsil currently ranks within the top 9% of Pro League attacking midfielders and wingers for Expected Assisted Goals (0.37) per 90.
These statistics show that the impressive forward is a consistent ace who has the quality to chip in as a scorer and a creator of goals on a regular basis, given that he has proven himself over the last 18 months.
Appearances
16
18
Goals
One
Six
Assists
One
Four
Big chances created
Zero
Eight
Sofascore rating
6.84
7.26
As you can see in the table above, Paintsil has the potential to come in as a significant upgrade on Gnonto for Farke during the second half of the season.
The Ghana international could provide real competition for James and Piroe in the attacking positions and provide the manager with a potent option off the bench, which is something that is currently missing from the squad.
Newcastle United are eyeing a move to bring an overseas forward to the Premier League in January, according to a fresh report.
Newcastle out of Europe
On Wednesday evening, Eddie Howe’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League, and with Paris Saint-Germain having secured a draw against Borussia Dortmund, the black and white stripes crashed out of all European competitions.
PIF will know that having also failed to qualify for the Europa League, it’s possible that some of their transfer targets may view them as a less attractive project in the New Year, but regardless, that may not stop the hierarchy from wanting to try and bring some big talents to St. James’ Park.
Over the summer, Juventus' left-winger Samuel Iling-Junior was a player who chiefs were monitoring, alongside Manchester City and Chelsea, but a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline, with the forward staying put at the Allianz Stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur are reported to be in pole position to secure the services of the 20-year-old, but before Ange Postecoglou’s side get too comfortable knowing that they are leading the race, Magpies owners PIF are looking to hijack a switch in the new year.
Newcastle interested in Iling-Junior
According to Italian outlet Corriere Dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are keen on Iling-Junior ahead of January. Juventus have already “mandated some agents” in the hope that they will receive offers for their starlet, and due to the fact that he is “certainly liked” by his several admirers in the top-flight, a bid may end up being tabled.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side are reportedly looking to receive between €20-25m (£17-21m) for the attacker, so this could be one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Juventus forwardSamuel Iling-Junior.
Iling-Junior is a "machine" in the final third
Since the start of his career, Iling-Junior has posted 44 contributions, 23 assists and 21 goals, from 114 appearances, showing how much of a positive impact he can make in the opposition’s area, but he’s also comfortable playing in a few other areas of the pitch (Transfermarkt – Iling-Junior statistics).
England’s youth international has been deployed in four different positions over the grass following his arrival on the professional scene, including out wide on both the left and right flanks alongside two roles in the midfield, making him a useful option to have in the building should any unexpected injuries occur.
Left Winger
59
Left Midfield
23
Right Winger
7
Central Midfield
1
Eurosport’s Michele Neri has dubbed the left-footed forward a “machine” for what he’s capable of achieving when at such a young age, and there’s a chance that the club could hold a small advantage in this particular race over their fellow competitors in Spurs.
Iling-Junior shares the same representative, CAA Base Ltd, as Kieran Trippier (Newcastle agents), so this existing connection that his management have to Howe’s side could hand the board an edge should they go all out to try and get this deal across the line in January.
Newcastle United are believed to be in pole position to complete the signing of a "brilliant" Premier League player, according to a new transfer rumour.
Newcastle eyeing new defender
The Magpies have had injury problems throughout this season, and defensively, they have been hurt by absences to a number of players. The influential Sven Botman has arguably been the biggest loss for a chunk of the campaign, but Dan Burn has also been a key injury victim, as has Nick Pope in goal.
For that reason, it could be that Newcastle decide to target a new defender in the January transfer window, in order to find a long-term partner for Botman at the heart of the back-line, considering Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles are both now in their 30s.
Two potential targets to have emerged are Goncalo Inacio and Piero Hincapie, who are exciting young talents at Sporting CP and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, while Crystal Palace ace Joachim Andersen is another player who has been linked with a move to St James' Park.
Newcastle in pole position to sign Joachim Andersen
According to an update from The Sunday Mirror [via The Boot Room], Newcastle are now the front-runners to sign Andersen, in what represents a positive update.
The Eagles are demanding as much as £60m for the Dane's signature, however, so the Magpies will have to be willing to spend a huge amount on him. It isn't specified whether a January or summer move could come to fruition, although Eddie Howe could potentially hope that it is the former, in terms of bringing in a solid option ahead of the second half of the season.
Andersen could be a wonderful signing by Newcastle if they do strike a deal in one of the next two transfer windows, with the 27-year-old a dominant aerial colossus who has been so consistent for Palace over an extended period.
Appearances
20
Goals
2
Assists
1
Clearances per game
4.9
Aerial duel wins per game
2.4
Tackles per game
1.5
BBC and Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards has lauded the Denmark international in the past, too, lauding the impact he made last season:
"[Joachim] Andersen, he has been brilliant again this season. He always organises from the back. You have got [Ivan] Toney and [Yoane] Wissa, two physical guys, and he dealt with them really well."
As mentioned, finding a long-term centre-back partner for Botman may need to take precedence soon, given the age of both Schar and Lascelles, and Andersen could come straight in and make an impression for a number of years, having already racked up 117 appearances in the Premier League.
Journalist says “brilliant” Newcastle player is expected to join English club in January
Is this the right decision by the Magpies?
ByHenry Jackson Dec 31, 2023
A January move would be perfect, but Palace could be desperate to keep hold of one of their most important players until the end of the season, so it may be that a summer switch becomes more likely.
Chelsea have seemingly been given a transfer boost in their pursuit of signing Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, days after holding “positive” talks with the striker’s entourage.
Chelsea eyeing Victor Osimhen move
A new forward appears to be at the top of Mauricio Pochettino’s wishlist in 2024, with the club currently having Nicolas Jackson as their senior striker after a summer move last year.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024
With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.
ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024
The Senegal international has netted eight times in all competitions and is the club’s joint top scorer and Pochettino recently gave his thoughts on Jackson’s form this season, saying after the defeat to Wolves:
“It is always about expectation, how you manage expectation and set the expectation. If we compare Jackson to different strikers that arrive at his age to a new league, he is scoring goals when you look at his performances.
“It is not about blaming him. I think you can accept the frustration from the fans: when we don’t score, it is about the offensive players. But, my advice is to blame them all together because football is a team sport, a collective sport, we cannot blame only one. But in this case, he is young, in the Premier League, the expectation is massive and we are Chelsea. At Chelsea, there is pressure to play and deliver the best job possible.”
Osimhen has been heavily linked as the man who could come in and rival Jackson at Stamford Bridge, although both players are currently at the Africa Cup of Nations. Journalist Simon Phillips recently admitted that co-owner Behdad Eghbali held “positive” talks with the striker’s entourage, adding that they are looking at a way to make a move possible this month.
“I understand Chelsea have had contact with Osimhen’s entourage in recent weeks/days to discuss the possibility of the Napoli striker joining Chelsea. The feedback they have had is positive, with there being an understanding that Osimhen would be open to joining Chelsea.
“Behdad Eghbali has initiated this contact and now has good relations with Osimhen’s agent. Now, that doesn’t mean Chelsea are 100% signing Osimhen, and it doesn’t mean that he would also not be open to joining other clubs if they come in.
“But right now, Chelsea’s ownership are very keen to try and do something to get Osimhen in the door at Chelsea and one source has even said they are still looking for a way to try and make that happen this month.”
Osimhen open to Chelsea transfer
In a new update shared by sources close to The Daily Mail, Osimhen, who has a £103m release clause, is now ‘open to joining Chelsea’ in what comes as a boost for Pochettino and co. However, the report adds that a transfer is ‘more likely to gather pace in the summer’.
Napoli strikerVictor Osimhen.
Hailed as a "world-class" striker by Folarin Balogun, Osimhen could well be on his way to London at some point in 2024, and it may not come as a major shock, especially considering former Blues boss Jose Mourinho has even spoken to the striker about a proposed Chelsea transfer.
The club may well look to make something happen for the Nigeria international this month following Phillips’ recent claim and the Mail saying ‘Chelsea’s need for a striker is immediate’, but if it isn’t in January, things are looking good for a summer switch instead.
West Bromwich Albion will look to further solidify their playoff spot with a win on their travels to Norwich City today, with Carlos Corberan's Baggies confident going into the trip to Norfolk after a 4-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers last match.
Still, the Spanish boss in the Hawthorns dug-out won't want his players to rest on their laurels and be content with what they have already – the West Midlands outfit in danger of slipping out of the top six if any complacency sets in.
With that in mind, Corberan could field this lineup for the game at Carrow Road today with two potential changes on the cards…
1 GK – Alex Palmer
West Brom goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
Leading the way with 12 clean sheets in the Championship this season, Illan Meslier just behind with ten to his name, Alex Palmer is a shoo-in for a start away at Norwich today.
In the reverse fixture versus the Canaries on Boxing Day, Palmer made three crucial saves to shut out Norwich to help the hosts win 1-0.
2 RB – Darnell Furlong
Darnell Furlong
Darnell Furlong was solid throughout the comprehensive 4-1 win over Blackburn last weekend, winning six of his eight duels in the emphatic victory.
The dependable West Brom number two registered four key passes from the back against the Riversiders, not content with just sitting back and fulfilling his typical defensive duties with a forward-thinking approach preferred.
3 CB – Kyle Bartley
Kyle Bartley was also strong against the Riversiders in the confident win, even notching up an assist for Tom Fellows to open the scoring at the Hawthorns.
The former Arsenal man was also aerially dominant in the victory, bullying the Blackburn attackers all game in an imposing display with 100% of his aerial duels successfully won.
4 CB – Caleb Taylor
Looking at how well Tom Fellows has done since coming into the team as an exuberant 20-year-old talent, Corberan could switch things up at the back with young centre-back Caleb Taylor potentially preferred over Cedric Kipre.
Kipre was poor during the Blackburn win – winning just one duel – with Taylor bettering that total with two won despite only being on the pitch for 13 minutes.
5 LB – Conor Townsend
Conor Townsend
Conor Townsend was way off the pace against Blackburn without being detrimental to his team, failing to win any of his ground duels which allowed attackers such as Jack Garrett for the visitors to shine in patches.
Yet, with Corberan faithful to the 30-year-old at left-back this season so far, the number three should be retained regardless of this off-day.
Playing versus Norwich last month, the defender was far more bright and lively with Corberan hoping this version of Townsend reappears for the trip to the Canaries – amassing two key passes in the 1-0 win from the back.
6 RM – Tom Fellows
With Grady Diangana still present at the African Cup of Nations and out of action for the Baggies as a result, Fellows has really stepped up to the mark in the Congolese winger's absence with some sterling displays from down the right-hand channel.
The 20-year-old homegrown West Brom product excelled against a leaky Blackburn defence, firing four shots on the Riversiders net with one of those efforts trickling in to open the scoring in the 4-1 win.
A livewire throughout for Corberan's promotion-chasers, the Baggies boss will want Fellows to be similarly electric against Norwich to catch a similarly susceptible Canaries defence off-guard.
7 CM – Okay Yokuşlu
Okay Yokuslu
Okay Yokuşlu will also be retained for the clash today against David Wagner's hosts, despite the 29-year-old central midfielder not exactly setting the world alight against Blackburn.
Yet, the Turkish number 35 has shone in other games this season away from this lacklustre individual display.
The 29-year-old notably impressed when West Brom got the better of Leeds United at the end of December 1-0, launching himself into duels and tackles aplenty with four tackles and six duels won.
Corberan will hope Yokuşlu just experienced a blip against Blackburn – passively winning just 50% of his duels – and can return back to his best at Carrow Road.
8 CM – Alex Mowatt
Whilst Yokuşlu is prone to sitting back and doing the dirty work in the central midfield duo, Alex Mowatt is far more comfortable venturing forward and setting up his teammates with countless chances to score.
Managing two key passes in the Blackburn win, the former Leeds United man was unplayable at points when the Baggies previously faced off against Norwich in December.
The number 27 dominated proceedings centrally with a staggering 127 touches managed, successfully completing 100 passes. Could the 5 foot 10 midfielder pick up an assist this swagger deserves today?
9 LM – Adam Reach
Starting three games in a row recently after being plagued with a horrific streak of injuries, Adam Reach has proven his worth to the West Brom cause playing at left wing in the absence of injury-stricken Matt Phillips.
The 30-year-old's most impactful display to date since coming into the first-team fold was against Blackburn, managing one key pass from the hour he featured on the Hawthorns turf.
Not quite ready for a full 90 minutes just yet, Reach's steady presence down the left flank could still help the Baggies when Norwich attack at will today – the ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder completing three interceptions last match when Blackburn infrequently forayed forward.
10 CAM – Jed Wallace
The second potential change to the West Brom starting lineup could see John Swift axed for Jed Wallace to come in at the number ten spot, the ex-Reading midfielder poor even despite the convincing three points his confident teammates managed to pick up.
Amassing just 34 touches in the contest before being hauled off the pitch by Corberan on the hour mark, with one off-target effort also notched up, the time could be right to reintroduce Jed Wallace to the first-team fold after an injury layover had limited his recent minutes.
Able to play anywhere across the forward positions behind Brandon Thomas-Asante, Wallace's three goals and three assists this season when played mean he could slot into this spot effortlessly and help the Baggies secure another big win in the process with his creative powers.
Labelled as having an "unbelievable" delivery by Sheffield United defender Jack O'Connell last season, Thomas-Asante will be chomping at the bit if Wallace is preferred over Swift knowing the former Millwall's man expertise on the ball can help him become even more prolific.
Glasgow Rangers appear to be close to securing a deal for Ivorian midfielder Mohamed Diomande if the latest reports are to be believed.
According to Danish outlet BT, the Gers have reached an agreement to sign the midfielder from FC Nordsjaelland as Philippe Clement looks to bolster his squad during the dying embers of the January transfer window.
Glasgow Rangers managerPhilippe Clement.
The 22-year-old could be an exciting arrival at Ibrox, but hopefully that won't be the only piece of business conducted by the club over the next week or so, especially with certain areas of the squad needing major overhaul.
One such position is the left-back area, as the Gers have two players who could potentially depart in the coming months.
Rangers’ search for a left-back
Borna Barisic is into the final few months of his contract and there has yet to be any discussion over an extension as of yet, indicating that it is likely he leaves Glasgow.
Ridvan Yilmaz could also be ending his stint in Scotland, as the Turkish defender is looking to leave Rangers amid interest from Galatasaray in his homeland.
Rangers defender Borna Barisic.
This suggests Clement may be left with few options on the left side of defence unless he moves to bring in some reinforcements this month, and the club have been linked with a few names of late.
One player who has emerged as a potential signing is Cameron Pring, who is currently playing for Bristol City in the Championship.
According to journalist Alan Nixon last week, the Gers are chasing a move for Pring – who is out of contract in 2026.
This suggests that the club are under no pressure to move him on this window, but if a suitable offer arrives from the Premiership club, then it could perhaps tempt them to move him on.
The Light Blues have enjoyed previous success in signing players from the English second tier during the winter window, as Todd Cantwell proved last January when he arrived for just £1.5m and dazzled during his opening months north of the border.
Todd Cantwell's numbers at Rangers
Cantwell arrived with fellow signing Nico Raskin last January and the duo made a positive start to their careers in Scotland, most notably the Englishman.
Indeed, having failed to register a single goal contribution during the first half of the season for Norwich City, Cantwell went on to score six times and grab six assists as he endeared himself to the Ibrox faithful.
Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell.
Despite arriving mid-season, Cantwell ranked fourth in the squad for successful dribbles per game (1.5) along with ranking sixth for big chances created (five) and sixth for goals scored (six) in the top flight, proving that he was a big influence on the team and it gave him a solid base ahead of the current campaign.
The attacking midfielder has yet to hit the heights displayed between January and May last year so far during 2023/24, but he does have seven goal contributions across 26 matches as he has appeared in a few different positions under Clement.
If the Belgian can get the 25-year-old clicking into gear during the second half of the season however, Cantwell could be a vital component of a team who is eyeing up a remarkable treble.
Pring may not be an attacking midfielder, yet he can follow in Cantwell’s footsteps and enjoy a positive transition from the Championship to the Scottish top flight and become a key player for the 49-year-old coach.
The stats that show why Pring would be a good signing
As stated, the left-back area desperately needs a refresh and Pring could be the ideal candidate to become the new first-choice player in that area under Clement.
At 26, he is just entering his prime years and the defender has made 159 senior appearances across a host of clubs in England and the spell at Bristol City has been the longest of his career so far.
Although not the most attacking left-back, Pring still managed six assists and one goal last season, while during the current campaign, he has three goal contributions.
It is his defensive skills which are his strong suit and this could be a change of direction for Clement as Barisic and James Tavernier are attacking-minded full-backs who tend to bomb up and down their respective flanks on a regular basis.
Rangers could sign dream Barisic replacement in 6 ft 1 "unit"
Rangers are currently searching for a new left-back this January
ByRoss Kilvington Jan 15, 2024
Pring does currently rank second among his teammates for successful dribbles per game (one) in the Championship however, indicating that he can push forward when required, and he also ranks second for tackles per game (2.2) and third for interceptions per game (1.4) as his defensive abilities have been on show.
Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson analysed Pring’s strengths and weaknesses amid the recent links with the 26-year-old, saying: “The first thing to note about Pring is that he’s an absolute unit. 6’1, very strong and powerful. The unusual thing about this link, compared to the other left-backs, is that he excels in the defensive areas of the game.
“He’s not the chance creator the likes of Barisic and Tavernier are as the usual full-back options.”
Touches
62
Accurate long balls
2/2
Dribble attempts
2/2
Tackles
3
Total duels won
9/11
Indeed, when compared to positional peers in leagues similar to the English Championship, Prings currently ranks in the top 1% for aerial duels per 90 (2.75) and in the top 6% for clearances per 90 (3.24), further evidence that the defensive side of his game is up to scratch.
There is no doubt he could be a useful signing during the current window and it would ease the burden of potentially just having one left-back in the first-team squad come the end of the transfer window.
Pring has demonstrated his talents in the second tier and has shone for City over the previous few seasons. He is certainly ready to take the next step in his career and a move to Scotland could provide him with the chance to win trophies along with playing in European competition.
The next few days of the winter window could see Diomande checking in at Rangers ahead of his proposed move, but hopefully Pring arrives before the deadline next week.