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Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth says West Ham are also looking at a January move to sign a full-back for manager David Moyes, amid widespread reports they're chasing a forward after Kalvin Phillips.

West Ham confirm Phillips signing and praised for transfer

In some very good news for the Hammers, a deal was concluded fairly swiftly for Phillips, who is now confirmed as the club's first major arrival this January.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The 28-year-old, who was finding game time very hard to come by under Pep Guardiola at Eastlands, comes in to partner the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez in midfield.

An established England international, Phillips will provide both dynamism and experience as West Ham chase yet another European qualification finish under Moyes.

Armando Broja

January 23

Steven Bergwijn

January 25

Ibrahim Osman

January 24

Jota

January 25

Valentin Carboni

January 26

The east Londoners have often struggled without Alvarez when the Mexican is either injured or unavailable, so Phillips' arrival will also provide Moyes with a brilliant alternative.

“We are really pleased to bring a player of Kalvin’s quality to West Ham United,” Moyes said.

“We’ve been big admirers of him for a long time and we believe that he will add strength and competition to our squad. Kalvin is an England international midfielder, with proven Premier League experience. We’re excited to welcome him into the group and look forward to working with him.”

Meanwhile, Match of the Day pundit Gary Lineker has called Phillips' signing at West Ham the most "standout" move of this window so far.

“I think the most standout signing probably so far in the window, and I know it’s only a loan, but is Kalvin Phillips to West Ham," said Lineker on The Rest is Football podcast (via Man City News).

“Gareth [Southgate] really likes him, he has stuck by him through thick and thin even when he has not been playing, he has been fiercely loyal to Kalvin Phillips so this is an opportunity for him and I think a great addition to West Ham."

After Phillips, it is believed West Ham are now chasing a forward for Moyes, with the likes of Steven Bergwijn, Jota and Ibrahim Osman rumoured to be on the agenda.

ExWHUemployee, a reliable club insider, has suggested that West Ham could sign multiple new attackers if the likes of Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals are sold.

However, an area the club are also looking to upgrade is at full-back.

West Ham looking at signing new full-back

That is according to Sky reporter Sheth, who shared a small line for GiveMeSport this week.

Indeed, he claims full-back is an area West Ham are exploring before 1st February, but no mention as to who the club could be targeting. He said: "I think that full-back is an area that they are looking at."

Vladimir Coufal is out of contract next year and currently 31 years old, while both Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson are set to leave at the end of this season as things stand.

The need for new options in that position is clear, so it will be interesting to see which names emerge as targets in the final days of January.

Aston Villa go into their game against Sheffield United later today off the back of their first home defeat of the season.

Newcastle United are the first team to win at Villa Park in the Premier League since February last year, after they picked up a comfortable 3-1 victory in midweek.

Unai Emery will not be pleased with the way his team conceded their goals so softly, and the Spaniard will look to change the starting XI this weekend.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the side the boss could field to claim three points on the road against the Blades, with three potential alterations from the midweek loss.

1 GK – Emi Martinez

Emi Martinez is one of the first names on the team sheet, and he will start in between the sticks for the 22nd time this season in the league.

2 RB – Ezri Konsa

Polish right-back Matty Cash is the player to make way for Ezri Konsa, who will shift to full-back.

He's been used in this role 12 times already this season, and he will provide more defensive cover.

3 CB – Diego Carlos

Brazilian defender Diego Carlos has featured in 15 league games this season for Villa, and he could come into the side this weekend to solidify the backline.

4 CB – Clement Lenglet

Clement Lenglet will continue to play as the left centre-back in the absence of Pau Torres.

The French 28-year-old has started all of Villa's last seven matches.

5 LB – Alex Moreno

Spaniard Alex Moreno has started every game since Lucas Digne's injury in December, and he will feature from the off once again.

Emery will hope his left-back can provide attacking support all game to help unlock the Blades.

6 RM – Leon Bailey

The second player to return to the team is Leon Bailey, who should replace Youri Tielemans.

The Jamaican impressed off the bench versus the Magpies, picking up an assist and making five key passes, which should earn him a start.

7 CM – Boubacar Kamara

Despite struggling against Newcastle, Boubacar Kamara will keep his place in the side.

The 24-year-old has started 18 league games this season in the league, and he has made the most tackles in the squad.

8 CM – Douglas Luiz

Douglas Luiz has been immense this season, and he is untouchable in the side.

The Brazilian helps the team tick while also adding six goals and three assists this campaign in the top-flight.

9 LM – John McGinn

Villa captain John McGinn is another player who is undroppable.

The Scotland star has played every game this season in the league, and his relentless approach inspires those around him.

10 SS – Morgan Rogers

Villa fans will be buzzing with the signing of Morgan Rogers, and the 21-year-old could walk straight into the side.

Against a physical Sheffield United, his height, technical ability, and the fact he's "dangerous" in attack, as per Michael Carrick, would be better suited compared to Moussa Diaby, who he would be replacing.

West Ham United have reportedly made a decision on the future of under-pressure boss David Moyes following a string of poor results.

Hammers bubble bursting

Just a matter of months ago, David Moyes was being serenaded as the first man to win a European trophy with West Ham. Now, he is an unpopular figure. After beating Fiorentina to lift the UEFA Conference League trophy and earn a spot in this season's Europa League, there were suggestions that the east London outfit were heading in the right direction.

The summer arrivals of Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse and Konstantinos Mavropanos along with keeping hold of Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta only added to that feel-good factor around the London Stadium, but after a good start to the campaign they have begun to struggle.

They added Kalvin Phillips in January, though they did miss out on Jota. However, the new arrival is yet to have the desired effect in east London, gifting a goal to the opposition on his debut before being sent off for two quick yellow cards in the defeat at Forest on Saturday.

With no wins in eight games now, the Hammers remain in the top half of the Premier League table but are sprialling out of control, leading many to believe Moyes is not the man for the job.

Club

Wins in 2024

Points in 2024

West Ham United

0

3

Burnley

0

2

Everton

0

-7 (Including 10 point deduction)

Things really came to a head when the Hammers hosted Arsenal, with the Premier League title challengers racking up four before half time and West Ham fans leaving in their thousands before the start of the second half. They would eventually go on to lose 6-0 and follow that up with a drab performance again this weekend in the Midlands.

"I'm not used to my team conceding the goals like we have been," Moyes told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We have no real reason to say why that should be happening. For some reason we didn't look like we could defend today."

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ByMark Marston Oct 4, 2023 Hammers U-turn but won't sack Moyes

Now, an update on the future of the under-fire boss has emerged, and it is one that West Ham fans may not like. It had been claimed that a new deal for Moyes was in the works, but according to Football Insider recent results have changed that view and the board now no longer plan on extending that offer to the Scot.

But they won't be parting ways with him in the immediate future either.

As per the report: "It is believed that they will allow Moyes…to run down his contract rather than sack him", with his current deal due to run out at the end of the season.

This uncertainty has rocked senior players in the West Ham side, it is added, with the lack of clarity on the manager's future thought to be correlated with the run of poor results, though the players remain committed to the club despite speculation surrounding all of Bowen, Paqueta and summer signing Kudus.

However, it now seems as though Moyes will be given the remainder of the season to try to turn things around, before ultimately the east London side look to move on from the former Manchester United and Everton boss.

While Everton have suffered a turbulent few months with off-the-field issues resulting in a ten-point deduction, manager Sean Dyche has impressed this season with the Toffees' Premier League status in their own hands with 13 games remaining.

Dyche's side currently sit in 17th place, outside the relegation zone on goal difference ahead of Rob Edwards' Luton Town. However, had the Merseysiders not received that points deduction for the FFP breach, the club would be sitting in 12th and comfortably clear of any potential relegation to England's second tier.

The financial problems behind the scenes at Goodison Park have prevented Dyche from bringing in any new signings, with the former Burnley boss only able to work on a shoestring budget.

The Englishman has often put trust in some of his younger first-team members, such as Jarrad Branthwaite and James Garner – with the pair both cementing their places in Everton's starting eleven.

However, the manager has been let down by some of his senior first-team members this season, with one player, in particular, struggling with the demands of the Premier League.

The fee Everton paid for Michael Keane

Everton forked out a huge £30m for defender Michael Keane from Burnley during the summer of 2017, with Keane impressing for the Clarets in a season where they survived by six points.

Keane impressed in his first season at Goodison, starting 30 times over the course of the campaign and helping the Toffees secure an 8th-place finish in the Premier League, with his former side Burnley finishing five points ahead – reaching the Europa League qualifiers.

The defender remained a crucial part of the Toffees' backline for the 2018/2019 campaign, with Keane making 33 appearances in the top flight and looking good value for his hefty price tag.

His place as a starting centre-back would remain until the 2022/23 season, with the defender starting to allow mistakes to creep into his game. His mistakes, coupled with the signing of James Tarkowski, saw his game time drop, with Keane only featuring 12 times in the Premier League last season.

Michael Keane's market value in 2024

Now aged 31, Keane finds himself as Everton's third-choice centre-back behind Tarkowski and emerging talent Branthwaite, who has been subject to £50m interest from multiple other Premier League outfits.

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Keane, who is "always struggling" according to talkSPORT's Perry Groves, is now only worth £4m, as per CIES Football Observatory – a drop of £26m from the fee the club paid for him six years ago.

The defender has only featured seven times in the league this season, with the one-time Manchester United man having 18 months left on his current contract at Goodison.

The defender, who earns £80k-per-week, only averages 0.9 tackles per 90 in the last year – ranking in just the bottom 10% among his peers across Europe's top five leagues. Keane also has a pass completion rate of 72%, with his figure in the lowest 2% of other centre-backs in Europe's top five divisions.

With Keane – who was reportedly told he could leave last month – on such a high wage, the club may look to move him on in the summer, with the United academy graduate now looking like a shadow of his former self.

Leeds United remain in the race to secure automatic promotion from the Championship after their 1-0 win against Stoke City at Elland Road on Tuesday night.

The Whites battled hard to grind out all three points thanks to a first-half deflected strike from Dan James, who also missed two big chances to extend the lead.

Daniel Farke's side remain two points adrift of Ipswich Town in second but being in contention for the top two at this stage is an impressive achievement given the huge squad turnover last summer.

Of the eleven players who started against Stoke, four played for Leeds in the Premier League last season, and one – James – had been out on loan, whilst the rest are new signings.

The Whites allowed several first-team players to move on ahead of the 2023/24 campaign after former sporting director Victor Orta had left the club with a host of flops who had to be shifted after relegation.

One dud signed by the Spanish chief who rinsed the club was Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra, who has since moved on permanently.

How much Leeds paid to sign Sinisterra

According to BBC Sport West Yorkshire, Leeds agreed a deal worth £21m to sign the forward from Dutch giants Feyenoord in the summer of 2022.

The then-23-year-old attacker arrived off the back of an impressive campaign with the Eredivisie outfit as a scorer and creator of goals from a wide position.

His form with Feyenoord during the 2021/22 campaign suggested that he could have become a top player for Jesse Marsch had his attacking contributions translated over to the Premier League.

Sinisterra made 30 appearances in the Dutch top-flight that season. In that time, he racked up an eye-catching 12 goals and seven assists for his side.

The exciting gem ranked within the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Eredivisie for non-penalty goals (0.45) per 90, and the top 19% for assists (0.26) per 90, which shows that he was an outstanding offensive force for Feyenoord.

He created nine 'big chances' in total and made 2.0 key passes for his teammates in the division that term. This suggests that he was slightly unfortunate to only register seven assists, as his fellow attackers did not make the most of the opportunities he created for them.

His superb statistics in the Netherlands convinced Orta and Leeds to splash out a hefty fee of £21m to secure his services, to go along with £70k-per-week in wages – far more than Crysencio Summerville has earned during his time at Elland Road.

Luis Sinisterra's Premier League stats for Leeds

Including his £3.6m annual wages for the season he spent in Yorkshire, Leeds wasted £24.6m down the drain by the signing of the Feyenoord star in 2022.

His performances on the pitch in the Premier League were not good enough to justify the money spent on his services, as he struggled for form and fitness throughout the campaign.

Sinisterra, who was hailed as "frightening" by journalist Josh Bunting, suffered from muscle, foot, and ankle injuries last season, which kept him out for 16 competitive matches in total and disrupted his year.

He did, however, rack up 19 appearances and 13 starts in the top-flight for Leeds as they were ultimately relegated from the division under Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce.

Appearances

19

Goals

Five

Big chances created

Zero

Assists

Zero

Key passes per game

0.5

Duel success rate

47%

In that time, as you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old forward scored a respectable five goals but offered very little creatively, with zero 'big chances' created and zero assists.

Sinisterra ranked within the bottom 1% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers for Expected Assisted Goals (0.04) per 90, which shows that he was one of the worst forwards in the league at creating high-quality opportunities.

Leeds were rinsed by the Colombian attacker as they splashed out a whopping £24.6m on him to help keep them in the division but he rarely contributed at the top end of the pitch.

The startling lack of value for money from this deal is highlighted by Summerville outperforming him, despite earning far less during the 2022/23 campaign.

How much Summerville earned last season

The Dutch whiz reportedly earned £27k-per-week last season for Leeds, which is a staggering £46k-per-week less than Sinisterra earned during the same period.

Summerville, who was signed – also from Feyenoord – for £1.3m in 2020, only started 12 matches in the Premier League but contributed with four goals and two assists.

This means that the 22-year-old gem was directly involved in one more goal than the Colombia international, despite starting one less game, whilst costing Leeds significantly less money.

The young whiz cost the Whites £1.4m in wages – on top of his £1.3m two years prior – and offered more – with 0.10 Expected Assisted Goals per 90 in the top-flight – than Sinisterra.

Summerville's wage has since dropped to £16k-per-week in the Championship this term, and he has produced a stunning 15 goals and eight assists in 33 matches so far.

The money recouped for Sinisterra

Leeds did, however, manage to recoup £20m of the money spent on Sinisterra by selling him to Bournemouth, who signed him on loan for the first half of the season, in February.

The right-footed forward has produced two goals and two assists in 17 Premier League games for the Cherries during the 2023/24 campaign, which means that he has already outperformed his Leeds career as a creative threat.

The Whites should be delighted that they managed to get £20m of the £24.6m they wasted on the attacker back but that does not take away from how poor the signing was, as they could have spent that money better in the summer of 2022.

Orta, who left the club last year, could have splashed that cash on other players who could have made a greater impact in the final third to keep Leeds in the Premier League, which would have earned them far more than £20m.

Therefore, Leeds were still rinsed by Sinisterra and the signing is certainly not one that should be looked back on as a success.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have enjoyed a solid debut season under the management of Gary O’Neil as the former Bournemouth boss has the Old Gold in a wonderful position to claim a top half finish in the Premier League.

Add to that a first FA Cup quarter-final since 2019, and it is evident whatever he is doing is working wonders this term.

The team spirit has been excellent and O’Neil has a core group of players he can work with in order to secure the club their highest league finish since they achieved a seventh-placed finish in the 2019/20 season under Nuno Espírito Santo.

Their attacking options have been key to this revival, as in previous seasons, certain players failed to pull their weight, including the likes of Diego Costa, Fabio Silva, and Raul Jimenez.

This term, however, Hwang Hee-Chan, Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto have been exceptional.

Record of Wolves' forwards in 23/24

Between them this season, the aforementioned attacking trio have contributed 25 goals across all competitions, while in the Premier League, they have registered 18 assists, and it is clear that when fit, all three need to be starting for Wolves.

Since the start of the 2020/21 season, the club have struggled in the final third. Indeed, over the previous three campaigns, the Old Gold have scored just 36, 38 and 31 goals, ranking them in the bottom five teams in the table in each of those seasons.

Throughout 2023/24, O’Neil’s men have already netted 42 goals and with ten matches still to come, this will no doubt increase rapidly before the end of the term.

What a difference it makes to have reliable forwards who are effective in front of goal, and it makes up for the dismal players the club have signed since they were promoted to the top flight in 2018.

One name is arguably worse than the rest, especially considering how much was paid to sign him – Patrick Cutrone.

How much Patrick Cutrone cost Wolves

Santo led Wolves to a stunning seventh-place finish in their first season back in the Premier League during 2018/19, and he was looking to consolidate this with some quality signings that summer.

Jimenez, Neto and Leander Dendoncker were all new signings during the transfer window, but it was the capture of Cutrone which looked like the most exciting of the lot.

The Italian had been a regular for AC Milan during the previous two years and had scored 27 goals for the Serie A club in 90 appearances, hardly prolific by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a decent strike rate.

Clubs

Games

Goals

AC Milan

90

27

Como

59

19

Fiorentina

34

5

Empoli

31

3

Wolves

28

3

Valencia

7

0

Nuno decided to splash out £23m in order to secure his services ahead of their second season back in the top division and while it was an expensive deal, judging by his record in Italy, it looked like a shrewd one.

"Patrick is an exciting signing at a very exciting period for this football club,” said sporting director Kevin Thelwell, while he added that the club felt Cutrone “perfectly fits into our philosophy” as they looked ahead to a new season.

It soon became apparent that the lavish sum spent on the striker was going to be a waste of money, as he failed to settle in the Midlands.

Patrick Cutrone’s statistics at Wolves

Cutrone registered three assists during Wolves’ Europa League qualifiers, but it took him until mid-September to notch his first goal for the club, scoring against Chelsea in the Premier League.

The striker would only go on to score another two goals for the Old Gold during the first half of the season, before spending the rest of the term out on loan back in his homeland with Fiorentina.

Cutrone made only another four goalless appearances for Wolves during 2020/21, before sealing another temporary switch, this time joining Valencia in January 2021.

He finally departed for good in the summer of 2022, moving to Como 1907, and he later blamed Santo for his struggles in the Midlands, claiming that the former manager was “fixated” on playing his favourites, indicating that is why he played so little, and he also claimed that he “had to leave” the club after barely playing.

During his three-year spell at the Old Gold, Cutrone cost them a pretty penny and it would be yet another waste of money by the club on a player who promised so much upon his arrival in England.

How much Patrick Cutrone cost Wolves

Not only did Cutrone cost Wolves a staggering £23m back in 2019, but he was also earning £63k-per-week in wages at the club, which placed him as their fourth-highest earner during the 2019/20 season.

The striker only spent around 29 weeks at the club due to his various loan spells, which meant he took home £1.8m in wages across his three years from the Molineux side.

Add this to his transfer fee and Cutrone cost the Midlands side a grand total of £24.8m during his spell in the Premier League, an eye-watering sum, especially considering how poor his record was in front of goal.

Cutrone only managed to find the back of the net on three occasions during his stint in England and this meant he cost the club roughly £8.2m per goal.

What a waste of money for a player who could have shone in the top flight had he been given more opportunities to demonstrate his talents in front of goal.

Various managers after Santo have made their own mistakes in the transfer window, but O’Neil looks as though he will be avoiding splashing lavish sums such as this in order to improve his squad.

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There are plenty of sellable assets at the club which he could move on in the summer to register major profits and this in turn could see him strengthen in the summer.

The signing of Cutrone proves that splashing big on players from the continent can often backfire and end up costing the buying club millions for a woeful return in front of goal.

Losing James Maddison to injury for the final stretch of the campaign could be detrimental to Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of returning to the Champions League – the England international is that influential.

Look at the bleak period throughout November and December, when injuries to Maddison and fellow summer signing Micky van de Ven sent Spurs' season into a spin, with last season's struggles fixed through Ange Postecoglou's appointment and the shrewd recruitment since.

Suffering another issue against Aston Villa earlier in March, Van de Ven missed out last weekend as Tottenham got thumped 3-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage, underscoring the Dutchman's significance within Postecoglou's entertaining system.

Maddison is just as important, if not more so, and he is indeed the lynchpin for success, vital in bringing Spurs back to that coveted spot in Europe's elite club competition.

James Maddison's season in numbers

When the screech of the final whistle solemnly sounded throughout the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in November, with Chelsea 4-1 victors after Spurs suffered two red cards and saw Maddison and Van de Ven trudge off injured, it did seem to be a portent of issues to come.

And it was. Maddison had won the Premier League's Player of the Month award back in August and had been described as one of "the buys of the summer" by The Times' Henry Winter, so sublime was the 27-year-old in his playmaking, commitment, command.

Matches played

18

Goals

4

Assists

7

Pass completion

87%

Key passes per game

2.5

Dribbles per game

1.3

Tackles per game

1.3

Duels won per game

5.5

He returned to action in January after a couple of months on the sidelines and while he's not quite returned to those pre-injury levels, the £170k-per-week ace remains the chief creator in Postecoglou's system, also the joint-most valuable centre-midfielder in the squad at £43m (with Pape Sarr), according to CIES Football Observatory's player valuation model.

Remarkably, there's a former Spurs star who was worth just short of double this amount way back when, and that man's Michael Carrick.

How much Spurs could've sold Michael Carrick for in 2024

According to Totally Money, a site specialising in working out how past transfer fees would look in the modern market, Carrick would have been sold for quite the sum if he played today.

The 42-year-old, now manager of Middlesbrough in the Championship, completed 75 appearances for the Lilywhites before completing a £19m move to Manchester United back in July 2006, where he would go on to win a wealth of major honours and retire as one of England's most decorated players.

This was a sizeable sum back in the day, sure, but Totally Money have arrived at the conclusion that the Red Devils legend would have commanded an incredible £84m fee if United had pounced in the same circumstances, just some 18 years in the future.

Quirkily described as a "piano" by his former teammate Gary Neville for his elegance and deftness alongside some heavy-metal peers, Carrick at his peak would walk into Postecoglou's side and would surely rival Maddison in his effectiveness and influence, albeit in a different regard.

Ultimately, Carrick's transfer value is probably a fair reflection, if seeming somewhat exorbitant at a glance. He was an incredible player and underrated inside the Manchester United system, endowed with a brilliant ball-playing ability.

£15m Spurs hero would be worth more than Maddison if he was sold in 2024

A top talent at Tottenham way back when, this world-class midfielder would eclipse Maddison’s value.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 21, 2024

Maddison's £43m market value as claimed by CIES is probably not a wholly fair figure, should Spurs be inclined to sell in the future, but he would be unlikely to arrive at Carrick's projected value.

It’s fair to say that Manchester United’s season has been filled with disruption, with injuries in particular giving Erik ten Hag a headache.

The Red Devils started the campaign with four left-backs in the squad, but as of right now, the boss doesn’t have an available left-back to choose from.

Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are injured and set to miss most of the season, if not all of it, while Sergio Reguilon returned to Tottenham Hotspur on loan and Alvaro Fernandez left for Benfica in January.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise to see that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are looking to sign a new left-back ahead of the summer.

Man Utd’s search for a new left-back

According to a report from FootballTransfers, the Red Devils are tracking Samuel Iling-Junior prior to a potential summer move.

The 20-year-old Englishman currently plays in Italy for Juventus; however, his game time has been limited, starting just twice in Serie A.

Not only will the lack of minutes play into United’s hands, but also the fact that his contract will expire in 2025.

Iling-Junior’s profile and potential fit the bill of what Ratcliffe will look for in his new signings, and he could be the perfect option to secure the left-back role for the future.

How Iling-Junior can supercharge Marcus Rashford

Last season, Marcus Rashford enjoyed his most productive Premier League campaign to date, netting an impressive 17 goals and registering five assists in 32 starts.

Although Rashford’s 2023/24 campaign hasn’t exactly been anywhere near as productive as last term, he’s still been a huge threat, scoring eight goals and providing six assists across all competitions.

Nevertheless, the potential signing of Iling-Junior could see the United number ten’s numbers skyrocket once again, with his profile and skillset being complimentary.

As already mentioned, the youngster hasn’t been trusted with a role in the starting lineup yet, as shown by his average of 28 minutes per game this season, but he’s certainly impressed when given a chance.

As you can see by the table below showcasing Iling-Junior’s stats from his most recent game against Genoa, the number 17 has the perfect profile for a modern-day full-back, which is having the ability to be strong both going forward and defensively.

Minutes

31

Tackles

2

Duels won

3/3

xA

0.22

Hit woodwork

1

Pass accuracy

88%

Key passes

2

The England U-21 international is the definition of an attacking full-back, which is exactly how he could help get the best out of Rashford.

It certainly seems that Iling-Junior’s first thought is to attack, using his incredible ball-carrying ability to get the team up the pitch quickly while also providing an overlapping run to give the winger room to cut inside.

This suits Rashford’s strengths perfectly, with the England international at his best when given room to either create or strike the ball from range after drifting inwards from out wide.

What will also aid the 26-year-old, is the former Chelsea academy star’s ability to find the back of the net himself and create, as shown by his two goals for the England U21’s in the week, which will without doubt help take the pressure of Rashford to be the only attacking threat from the left.

In fact, the left-footed ace’s attacking ability is so impressive that football analyst Ben Mattinson believes he could become a “[Bukayo] Saka rival” for England – albeit while operating in a more advanced role – while journalist Michele Neri has even noted that he has "shades of Rafael Leao" – the Portuguese ace currently shining at AC Milan.

Such praise indicates just what a coup it could be if Ratcliffe – who is still in the early phase of his United ownership – is able to snap up the young Englishman, with Rashford among those who could certainly benefit from such a capture.

Man Utd eyeing £17m wildcard as the perfect Branthwaite alternative

Erik ten Hag is keen to bolster his defensive options in the summer.

ByTom Lever Mar 29, 2024

After a successful transfer window last summer, Tottenham Hotspur are already making waves in the market, despite the season still ongoing.

In February, the club signed extremely talented midfielder Lucas Bergvall for a fee of around £8.5m on a five-year deal, which secured their first piece of business.

The Swedish gem will only join the club at the start of July, but he continued to thrive on home turf, scoring on the Allsvenskan opening weekend.

The 18-year-old is destined to become a superstar, but what if Spurs signed another teen who’s potentially an even bigger prospect than Bergvall?

Spurs are keen to buy for the future

A recent report from Football Transfers has revealed that Tottenham will look to sign Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson this summer.

The 19-year-old is expected to be at the centre of an English club transfer battle, with both Liverpool and Newcastle United interested, but it’s Ange Postecoglou’s side that are “intensifying their efforts.”

The Swedish talent is reportedly open to a move to the Premier League this summer, with his agent also keen on that outcome.

However, the Bundesliga side won’t allow him to leave for a cheap fee, especially given that he’s contracted to the club until 2028.

Spurs can sign even bigger prospect than Johnson in “dazzling” £43m ace

The Spurs target is also being watched by Chelsea.

ByTom Lever Apr 10, 2024 Why Hugo Larsson is so exciting

Despite still being a teenager, Larsson has become an extremely important player for the German club, cementing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

The number 16 only moved from Malmo in the summer, but he instantly impressed enough to earn a spot in the starting lineup, and throughout the league campaign, he’s made 20 starts.

The player who was formally on Chelsea’s books is a central midfielder who can comfortably play as a box-to-box or in a more defensive-minded role, hence why he’s only scored two goals and provided one assist this season.

However, it was during a game against RB Leipzig that he really proved to be an outstanding prospect, playing a key role in his side picking up a 1-0 away victory.

Touches

52

Pass accuracy

86%

Possession lost

5

Tackles

4

Interceptions

3

Shots blocked

3

Duels won

4

As you can see, Larsson is the definition of a complete midfielder who can be extremely versatile due to his well-rounded skillset. Therefore it’s no surprise to see that football analyst Ben Mattinson stated that he’s “very similar to Jude Bellingham.”

This was in regard to their style of play being alike, but their mentality, maturity, and professionalism are also similar, and at a young age, that could prove to be even more important than just talent.

Luckily, the midfielder has that in abundance, particularly defensively, due to his ability to contest duels, read the game with ease, and regain possession for this team, as shown by his defensive statistics.

However, the 6 foot 1 engine is also incredibly composed on the ball while having the technical ability to help his side control matches, with his pass accuracy and the lack of times he lost possession providing evidence for that.

Overall, the fact that Larsson has been tearing up the Bundesliga – a higher level than Swedish football – combined with his Bellingham-like profile, may just suggest that he's on course to become a bigger talent than Bergvall.

Liverpool will be bidding to keep their Premier League title hopes alive with victory away at Goodison this evening, although there may be a sense of distraction among the travelling party amid the continued hunt to find Jurgen Klopp's successor in the dugout.

Leading target Xabi Alonso has already outlined his commitment to Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen, while talk has also gone cold regarding Sporting CP sensation, Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese coach also earning admiring glances from West Ham United.

With the end of the season fast approaching, it looks as if the Reds have identified a new frontrunner in the form of Feyenoord boss, Arne Slot, although the Dutchman is seemingly not the only high-profile name under consideration…

Liverpool's search to replace Jurgen Klopp

As per various sources – including The Athletic – the Merseyside outfit have already made contact regarding the potential appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur target, Slot, with the 45-year-old having come to prominence after leading the Rotterdam side to the Eredivisie title in 2022/23.

Despite the interest in the one-time AZ Alkmaar head coach, journalist Robin Bairner of Football Transfers has also revealed that Liverpool are keeping their options open, having "held talks" with Lille's Paulo Fonseca.

The report suggests that those discussions took place earlier in the season, with the Portuguese said to be 'admired' by those at Anfield for the work he has done both in France and in prior stints at the likes of AS Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk.

How Fonseca compares to Arne Slot

There is much intrigue surrounding the aforementioned Slot due to his recent success in his native Holland, with the in-demand coach even lauded as "similar to Pep Guardiola" by journalist Marcel van der Kraan, due to his "ultra-attacking" approach.

Fonseca, it must be said, is also intent on implementing a style of play that is pleasing on the eye, having previously told The Athletic that for him, "it's never just about the result", as he seeks for his sides to "dominate and create more chances than the opposition".

In pursuit of trying to "create something spectacular", in his own words, the 51-year-old has utilised that approach to good effect in recent years, notably winning a host of domestic honours during his time in Ukraine – including winning three successive league titles.

As for the current campaign, Fonseca has steered his Lille side to fourth in the Ligue 1 table, having also reached the last eight of the Europa Conference League, where his side were narrowly defeated by Aston Villa on penalties.

Much like Slot, any move for the Mozambique-born coach may represent something of a gamble as he never worked at a truly elite club – perhaps Roma aside – yet according to Fabrizio Romano, he does have the credentials to flourish in the Premier League.

Discussing Spurs' interest in him back in 2021, Romano said that Fonseca "is perfect in the dressing room and perfect in his relationship with the players", perhaps making him an ideal candidate to try and fill the hefty void left behind by the departing Klopp.

Club

Matches

Points per game

Lille

85

1.81

Roma

102

1.76

Shakhtar

139

2.47

Braga

57

1.82

Pacos Ferreira

39

1.38

Porto

37

1.95

Pacos Ferreira

41

1.93

Desportivo Aves

37

1.70

Pinhalnovense

4

2.25

As Romano stated, the Liverpool target was also "always appreciated by the fans" during his two-year stint in Rome between 2019 and 2021, ensuring a connection could well be made between himself and the Anfield crowd, if a deal is to be agreed.

As such, while it may be Slot who is taking the limelight at present, Fonseca is certainly not someone to be overlooked as the race to replace Klopp heats up.

Liverpool eye new manager known for unleashing youngsters – it's not Slot

A third target has been identified alongside the rumours surrounding Amorim and Slot.

ByBen Browning Apr 23, 2024