All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Everton secured a solid point against Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon

The Toffees took a surprise early lead through Vitaliy Mykolenko and just as it looked like the hosts had held on for an invaluable three points, an Ashley Young own goal saved the Seagulls blushes six minutes from time.

That equaliser rewarded their dominance throughout the contest having recorded a whopping 80% possession and 866 passes to Everton's 208, although Sean Dyche's side did restrict them to only seven shots on goal, providing evidence of the strong defence formed under his stewardship.

James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite were at the heart of their defensive solidity, winning a combined six aerials, successfully completing seven long balls and making three tackles, as per Sofascore.

Vitaliy Mykolenko

7.5

James Tarkowski

7.3

Jordan Pickford

7.2

James Garner

7.0

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

6.8

Not every player covered themselves in glory against Brighton, however, with Jack Harrison registering fewer touches than goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and unfortunately, let the contest pass him by.

The on-loan Leeds United winger must therefore be dropped ahead of Everton's trip to Crystal Palace next Saturday.

Harrison's performance vs Brighton

Harrison endured his most difficult afternoon at Goodison Park since arriving from Leeds in the summer.

Whilst he was left embarrassed having made fewer touches than Pickford (28 / 43), he was wasteful on the rare occasions he touched the ball, especially in the creative department, registering a simply dreadful pass completion rate of 21%.

The 26-year-old failed to record a single effort on goal but perhaps more alarmingly, the fleet-footed winger completed zero dribbles and offered his team very little on the counter-attack, as Everton were forced into soaking up pressure.

Touches

28

Pass Accuracy

3/14 (21%)

Key Passes

0

Cross Accuracy

0/1

Shots

0

Dribble Success

0/1

Duels Won

50%

Possession Lost

17x

Stats via Sofascore.

Harrison's inaccuracies in possession were also exemplified by his horrible end product in the final third, skewing all three of his attempted long balls and providing Dominic Calvert-Lewin with no ammunition into the box as he failed to plant a single cross into the corridor of uncertainty.

The £90k per-week wide man, who lost possession a whopping 17 times, somehow managed to last the full ninety minutes on the pitch, perhaps emphasising the need for Dyche to strengthen in January.

Unfortunately for Harrison, this isn't the only occasion that he's failed to provide a spark down the flank this term.

Harrison's numbers this season

In five Premier League appearances for Everton, Harrison has scored once and supplied two assists.

Whilst those are decent statistics on paper, two of those three contributions did come in a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth, who are struggling at the bottom of the table.

During his time at Leeds in the top flight, he was described by left-back Junior Firpo as "one of the best wingers" as he used to strike fear into defenders with his searing pace and quick changes of direction.

With Harrison perhaps being held by the shackles of Dyche's system, he's been unable to emulate a similar threat at Goodison Park, recording just 0.6 dribbles per game, 0.8 key passes and a 68% pass completion.

The 5 foot 9 ace has also seen his attacking metrics drop significantly in the past year, ranking in the bottom 38% against his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes, bottom 33% for successful take-ons and bottom 32% for non-penalty xG, as per FBref.

That said, the Englishman must start to see an improvement in those metrics, in particular, if he is to avoid being dropped by Dyche in the future.

Liverpool's summer transformation has been the bedrock from which the 2023/24 campaign's squad has planted its roots, with the industrial-scale midfield reconstruction wiping away the struggles of last season.

For the first time in a full season under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League in a campaign that brutally exposed the deficiencies that had been bubbling under the surface for a few years.

While the summer additions have proved exciting and impactful, it did drape the curtain on illustrious Anfield careers for multiple staples of the success under the German manager's wing.

Indeed, captain Jordan Henderson completed a £12m transfer to Al Ettifaq, with No. 6 Fabinho and forward Roberto Firmino also heading to Saudi Arabia, while midfield trio Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner also exited upon the conclusion of their contracts.

Another departure perhaps went under the radar somewhat, with Fabio Carvalho making the season-long loan move to Germany to continue his development with RB Leipzig, having earned little opportunity at Anfield.

Touted for a big season, the Portuguese talent's stay in the Bundesliga is proving to be anything but promising…

Fabio Carvalho's career so far

Liverpool signed Carvalho from Fulham at the end of his contract with Fulham in 2022, though the Cottagers received £5m plus add-ons by a tribunal.

Enjoying an excellent 2021/22 campaign in London as his outfit forged a pathway back to the Premier League, the 21-year-old Carvalho (a teenager at the time) posted ten goals and eight assists in the second tier, starting 33 times.

This prompted Liverpool to return for his signature after running out of time to conclude negotiations the previous January, and while he made a big impact early into his Reds career, his influence flickered out as the campaign went on.

He did have his moments, bagging his first goal for the club in an early-season 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth in the Premier League before enjoying the pinnacle moment of his fledgling career thus far when salvaging three points against Newcastle United in the dying embers the following match, bundling in from close range.

It was a mammoth moment and one that had the feel of a turning point in Liverpool's slow-starting campaign (spoiler alert, it wasn't), but it got the Reds fanbase waxing lyrical over a new budding star.

While the diminutive whiz scored three times from 21 appearances across his first campaign at the club, including two strikes from just four starting roles in the Premier League, he would only earn six minutes in the top flight after matchweek 16, which emphasises the loss of trust from his manager as Liverpool struggled.

Nonetheless, there were promising aspects, with FBref recording that the player scored a goal every 0.51 matches in the Premier League, also making 2.31 progressive carries, 3.08 progressive passes and 2.33 shot-creating actions per game, highlighting the robustness that he exhibited despite his fleeting moments actually on the grass.

Speaking to Football FanCast earlier this year, The RedMen TV's Ste Hoare claimed that he "doesn't fit the system", and considering the additions that have been welcomed over the summer, he might find an onerous task in wedging his way into a prominent standing at the outfit.

It seemed certain that he would need to continue his development elsewhere during the 2023/24 term, honing his craft and nurturing his creative flair before returning to the fold a more refined man.

Fabio Carvalho's season in numbers

RB Leipzig offered a platform for the four-cap Portugal U21 international, concluding the loan signing after losing their star attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to the Reds, who joined after his £60m release clause was met several weeks earlier in a separate transfer.

While it was not considered a like-for-like change, Carvalho would have been emboldened by the void the Hungary captain left in the German side's underbelly, with full belief that he would rise to the fore and demonstrate the full scale of his ability.

Thus far, the optimism that he would succeed has startingly dissipated, with German outlet Kicker claiming that Carvalho has lacked rhythm, commitment and assertiveness in his craft so far, three elements that are seemingly intrinsically braided into Klopp's Liverpool team at its full throttle.

The report also highlighted the exploits of Xavi Simons, a fellow loanee from Paris Saint-Germain, as having had a detrimental effect on his development, with the Dutchman, aged 20, far more advanced and scoring six goals and recording eight assists to boot.

And given that Carvalho has scored zero goals and zero assists from ten matches across all competitions to date, he is hardly evoking the confidence to fill Klopp with optimism back in England.

Statistic

#

Appearances

6

Starts

1

Goals

0

Assists

0

Minutes per game

25

Shots per game

0.3

Pass completion

87%

Key passes per game

0.2

Dribbles per game

0.3 (67%)

Ball recoveries per game

1.2

*Sourced via Sofascore

As the table portrays, it's not really going very well, and considering that he has been left as an unused substitute on five occasions, Carvalho will be utterly dismayed with the lack of opportunity that he is finding under Marco Rose's wing.

Once hailed as a "special" player by Klopp, there is clearly an abundance of potential in there, just waiting to be harnessed, but he is not quite making the moves to cement a starting spot at the moment and a return from his loan stint in January will be a topic of internal discussion in the Anfield boardroom.

Indeed, the £42k-per-week talent will need to reignite his best performances away from Anfield in order to turn Klopp's head, and should he return in a few months, there is every possibility that a more apt loan venture could be found for him, but should this occur, he will need to produce some scintillating displays.

While Liverpool will not want to close the door on an exciting and dynamic midfielder who could yet enjoy a successful career at top level, he will need to start improving soon, and it doesn't look like this will occur at Leipzig.

Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a terrific start to the 2023/24 campaign and the arrival of James Maddison played a huge role in that as he hit the ground running in London.

The England international was signed from recently relegated Leicester City for a reported fee of £40m as Ange Postecoglou took advantage of their demotion to the Championship.

Maddison did not need any time to settle into life at Spurs as the terrific attacking midfielder registered two assists on his Premier League debut for the club against Brentford on the opening day.

He has started 11 top-flight matches for Tottenham so far this season and contributed with three goals, five assists, and six 'big chances' created, along with 2.9 key passes per game.

However, the former Foxes star suffered an injury to his ankle against Chelsea earlier this month and is now set to be out of action until January.

Whilst Postecoglou is set to be boosted by his return at the start of 2024, the Australian head coach could also look to bring in a player who could have a similar impact at the top end of the pitch by signing reported transfer target Raphinha.

Spurs transfer news – Raphinha

According to a report from FootballTransfers earlier this month, Tottenham have a 'concrete' interest in the Barcelona attacker ahead of the January transfer window.

The outlet also claimed that the Spanish side are prepared to cash in on him for a fee within the region of €70m (£61m) and that they are looking for cash to ease their financial problems.

Barcelona are said to hold an interest in Cristian Romero but a swap deal may not be on the cards due to their need for money to come in, rather than a player-plus-cash arrangement.

The report also stated that Spurs have been put off by Brentford's valuation of England international Ivan Toney in the club's search for a natural number nine to lead the line following Harry Kane's move to Bayern Munich over the summer.

However, FootballTransfer claimed that Postecoglou believes that Heung-min Son has the ability to continue in the centre-forward position until the end of the season, at least, and this means that there is no rush for them to bring in a striker during the January transfer window.

Instead, they could swoop to sign Raphinha from Barcelona to improve their wide options and land a player who could play alongside the South Korea international in attack.

The Brazilian ace is a superb creator from a right wing position and he could be a lethal partner for Son at the top end of the pitch during the second half of the campaign, which is why Spurs should push to seal his signature at the start of next year.

Son's season in numbers

Tottenham's captain has enjoyed a sublime start to the 2023/24 campaign and has been given the freedom of the middle of the field since Kane's departure.

Instead of playing out wide or alongside the England skipper, the £190k-per-week sensation has thrived as the main man in the final third for Spurs.

Son has racked up eight goals and one assist in 12 Premier League matches since Postecoglou's arrival, which shows that the experienced forward has been a reliable scorer for the head coach so far.

In fact, the 31-year-old ace has only missed one 'big chance' and scored eight times from an xG (Expected Goals) of 4.61. This shows that he has been incredibly clinical in front of goal and has made the most of the opportunities that have come his way.

He ranks within the top 18% of Premier League forwards for non-penalty goals (0.74) per 90 this season, despite only ranking within the top 46% for non-penalty xG (0.42) per 90.

Whereas, Son managed ten goals from 10.08 xG and missed nine 'big chances' in 36 top-flight appearances for Tottenham throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

These statistics suggest that the South Korean dynamo has improved his form in front of goal this term as he is on course to smash last season's goal tally and is currently outperforming his xG considerably, whereas he was on par with it before Postecoglou's arrival.

His impressive finishing suggests that the former Bayer Leverkusen star could thrive alongside another player who can create big chances for him on a regular basis, which is what Raphinha could do based on his performances for both Barcelona and Leeds in recent years.

The statistics that show why Raphinha could thrive with Son

The left-footed wizard, who predominantly plays on the right side of the attack, joined the Catalan giants from Leeds at the start of last season.

Since his move to Spain, Raphinha has racked up nine goals, eight assists, and 19 'big chances' created in 28 starts in LaLiga for Xavi's side.

He has been rewarded with eight assists from 10.49 xA (Expected Assists) and this suggests that his teammates have let him down at times by not making the most of his creativity.

His fellow attackers at Leeds also failed to make the most of the chances that he was able to create at Premier League level. The 26-year-old sensation has already proven himself in English football, as his statistics with the Whites showcase what he can do in this country.

Raphinha produced 22 'big chances' for his teammates in 60 Premier League starts and was only rewarded with 12 assists to his name, to go along with 17 goals of his own.

The former Rennes prospect, who was once hailed as "unplayable" by AllLeedsTV presenter Oscar Marrio, has displayed his ability to create 'big chances' at an impressive rate over the course of the last three-and-a-half-seasons, as shown by the aforementioned statistics, and has proven himself in England and in Spain.

In fact, Raphinha ranks within the top 3% of his positional peers across the Men's Big Five League and European competitions over the last 365 days for xAG (Expected Assisted Goals) per 90 with 0.40.

This suggests that the 26-year-old maestro is one of the most creative players in his position in the major European leagues, which is why he could thrive alongside Son.

The Spurs skipper, who has shown off his finishing skills this season, could benefit from Raphinha's ability to provide his teammates with 'big chances' and high xG opportunities on a regular basis, and they could combine to make a lethal pairing for Spurs in the final third.

Leeds United could be set to lose one of their first-team stars next year, with a fresh report revealing that he’s emerged as a target for a club ahead of January.

Leeds' summer departures

The Whites sanctioned the sales of 15 players in total over the summer, five of those being on a permanent basis, while the remaining ten were sent out on loan for the remainder of the season in order to increase their game time and experience.

Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Tyler Adams (Bournemouth)

Max Wober (Borussia Monchengladbach)

Rodrigo (Al-Rayyan SC)

Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin)

Tyler Roberts (Birmingham City)

Jack Harrison (Everton)

Adam Forshaw (Norwich City)

Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth)

Joel Robles (Al-Qadsiah)

Rasmus Kristensen (AS Roma)

Marc Roca (Real Betis)

Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough)

Cody Drameh (Birmingham City)

Sonny Perkins (Oxford United)

Daniel Farke has Jamie Shackleton, Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Lewis Bate, Sam Byram and Ian Poveda who will have all reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the season (Leeds contracts), so they could be heading for the exit door in January.

Back in 2018, Pascal Struijk first joined the club’s academy and he’s since worked his way up through the youth ranks to become a regular feature of the first team where he’s so far made 113 senior appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Struijk stats).

The Dutch centre-back still has another four years remaining on his terms as it stands so new owners the 49ers Enterprises aren’t under any pressure to get him off the books, but if the following update is to be believed, the 24-year-old may be tempted to start a new adventure elsewhere, more specifically over in Belgium.

Club Brugge eyeing move for Pascal Struijk

According to Voetbal Nieuws (via Sport Witness), Struijk is of interest to Club Brugge ahead of January. The Belgian Pro League side are looking to recruit “added value players” to their squad in the coming weeks and months, and they believe that the defender “falls into” that category perfectly.

The Leeds star meets “all the criteria” that his admirer’s chiefs are searching for because they want a “leader” at the heart of the backline which is something that he can “certainly provide” given that is what his role is now.

The West Yorkshire outfit have seemingly set a price tag of €15m (£13m), but should the overseas club want to sign him, they will “also have to free up a significant salary budget”.

Leeds need to keep "solid" Struijk

Standing at 6 foot 2, Struijk is a rock at centre-back for Leeds which he’s proven so far this season where he’s currently averaging 2.9 clearances and 2.4 aerial wins per game in the Championship, with Farke hailing him for his "crucial" role so far in 2023/24. (WhoScored – Struijk stats).

The Deurne native, who is naturally left-footed, is also capable of having a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch because he’s already scored three goals in 17 appearances across all competitions since the start of the term, showing how well-rounded he is.

During the 2019/20 campaign, Struijk helped the club to achieve promotion so he knows what it takes to get out of the second tier, therefore, keeping the “solid” titan in the building, as hailed by journalist Josh Bunting, appears to be hugely important should they want to do the same again.

Manchester United clearly have the need to strengthen their ranks in the winter transfer market.

The Red Devils have endured a puzzling season to say the least in 2023/24, with obstacles seemingly permanently standing in the way of Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman has had to deal with behind-the-scenes matters concerning Antony and Jadon Sancho while his summer recruits are yet to pull up many trees.

Andre Onana hasn't looked the part since replacing David De Gea, proving to be notably poor in the Champions League during the 3-3 draw with Galatasaray. As for Rasmus Hojlund, he is yet to find the net in the Premier League, even if a handful of European goals have been forthcoming.

The real issues, however, perhaps lie at the back. With Lisandro Martinez unfit and Raphael Varane not trusted, Ten Hag has had to turn to the likes of Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire. Yeah, not great.

Man United's January transfer plans

It won't come as a surprise to see that many of the rumours heading into the January transfer window revolve around defenders.

One target for the club, as per Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenburg is Jean-Clair Todibo. However, their top target is Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva.

It's thought the Portuguese youngster possesses an £88m release clause in his contract which could make any deal an easy, but costly one to wrap up.

Antonio Silva's best qualities

After a Champions League game last season, Jamie Carragher only had praise for a central defender who looks as though he's going right to the very top.

“I mentioned his defensive prowess. But goalscoring there as well. He is going to be a superstar," the former Liverpool star stated.

It's hard to disagree with that viewpoint, particularly when analysing the qualities that make the 23-year-old standout.

According to FBref, Silva ranks in the top 5% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues and continental competitions for short-range pass success with 95.5%. To put that into context, Ruben Dias is the best on the continent in this department over the last year with a 97% accuracy.

Silva is no slouch when it comes to longer passing either, ranking in the very best 1% for medium passes between 15-30 yards. That modern approach will clearly appeal to Ten Hag but the defender is also up for the battle at the back.

He is in the top 3% for percentage of dribblers tackled in Europe and notably, hasn't made a single error leading to an opposition shot on goal.

Antonio Silva's most comparable players

As per FBRef, one of the most similar players to the Benfica star is Arsenal sensation WIlliam Saliba.

The Frenchman has been one of the stars of recent times for Mikel Arteta's men and is a huge reason behind their title-challenging form over the last year.

Short pass accuracy

95.5%

93.3%

Medium pass accuracy

96.8%

94.1%

Passes into final 3rd

3.27

4.70

% of dribblers tackled

80%

75%

Touches

68.14

81.75

Successful take-ons

0.57

0.21

Carries

47.56

54.84

Progressive carries

0.43

0.42

Ball recoveries

6.10

5.96

Evidently, they both boast brilliant progressive attributes, whether it be through passing or carrying the ball, but they very rarely get beaten by their marker when it comes to a one-versus-one duel either.

With the United defence proving to be too much of a pushover without Martinez in the side, adding someone of Silva's calibre to their ranks will no doubt do wonders to help Ten Hag's project at Old Trafford grow.

Manchester United have made contact to express their interest in a move to sign a central talisman in January, according to a fresh report that has emerged.

The Red Devils have made an extremely mixed start to the new campaign having won nine and lost seven of their opening 16 games in thePremier League, although they are still firmly in contention to secure a place in the top four should they start picking up results on a more consistent basis.

Ahead of the upcoming window opening, Erik ten Hag will know that he needs to strengthen his squad should he want to try and qualify for the Champions League, and with Sofyan Amrabat having been nothing short of underwhelming following his summer arrival on loan, defensive midfield is a position that needs addressing.

Fulham’s Joao Palhinha has been identified as a potential candidate by the manager, with the 28-year-old having firmly established himself as Marco Silva’s overall best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.18 (Fulham statistics).

July 4, 2022

Sporting CP

Fulham

Jul 31, 2020

SC Braga

Sporting CP (end of loan)

Aug 7, 2018

Sporting CP

SC Braga (loan)

The Portugal international came extremely close to joining Bayern Munich over the summer, but with a deal collapsing on deadline day despite him travelling for a medical, he ended up remaining at Craven Cottage, and his impressive performances have brought him onto the radar of other clubs in the top-flight.

Man United hoping to land Palhinha

According to Football Transfers, Man United are interested in Palhinha and have made Fulham aware that they would be keen to secure his services in January.

“Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have all expressed their desire to sign Palhinha in recent weeks, with FootballTransfers exclusively reporting that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are set to turn their attention to the Fulham man after learning Aston Villa’s asking price for Douglas Luiz. Sources have informed us that Palhinha may cost €58 million (£50m) in 2024, with a January move on the cards if a suitable bid is tabled.”

Palhinha could be a "monster" for Ten Hag

As it stands, Palhinha ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles so he loves to get stuck into challenges to try and win back possession for his team, but he’s also more than capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch (FBRef – Palhinha statistics).

Standing at 6 foot 2, Lisbon’s native has already posted three contributions (two goals and one assist), in 14 Premier League appearances this season, so considering how effective he can be both defensively and offensively, he’s such a well-rounded player.

Sponsored by Adidas, Ten Hag’s target even knows what it takes to compete and be successful at a high level because he has secured five pieces of silverware since the start of his career, so he will possess the winning mentality required to achieve what is expected of him at Old Trafford.

As dubbed by Video and Data Analyst Marcus Bring, Palhinha is a “defensive monster”, and when you look at all of the positive qualities that he could bring to the side, Man United have a no-brainer of a decision to make should the opportunity present itself in the coming weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur, having welcomed the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario in the summer transfer window, have found themselves competing for a place in the top four once again following a Premier League campaign to forget under Antonio Conte last time out. Ange Postecoglou has been a breath of fresh air, almost instantly making his mark on the Lilywhites.

After a solid start, however, the North London club could now turn their attention to the January transfer window, when they could finally land a replacement for Harry Kane to hand Postecoglou a major boost in pursuit of a Champions League place.

Spurs transfer news

Whilst Spurs have coped well without Kane so far, turning to the ever-reliable Heung-min Son for goals following the departure of their record goalscorer, signing an out-and-out forward could be the open secret to further success for the Lilywhites. The arrival of a forward may allow Son to turn provider out wide rather than being shoehorned in to lead the line at times. And as we've seen in previous years, the January transfer window can help or hinder any side, especially those battling for a top-four place.

With that said, according to The Sun, Serhou Guirassy 'wants' a transfer to Spurs instead of Manchester United in the January transfer window. The Stuttgart striker, who has recently been offered to Spurs, has been in fine form this season, attracting plenty of interest as a result. Given Guirassy's release clause sits at just £15m, a deal next month wouldn't exactly cost Spurs a hefty fee.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Lilywhites pursue the forward with the transfer window fast approaching and Postecoglou's side vying for a Champions League place. If they do step up their interest in Guirassy, though, they'll have the advantage of the forward preferring a move to North London over Old Trafford.

"Strong" Guirassy could complete Spurs

It's easy to spot Spurs' weak points so far this season, with the hole left behind by Kane one that is undeniably playing a part in any struggles that they have endured at times. Guirassy would solve that issue, however. The Bundesliga star has enjoyed a rapid rise in the current campaign and could be a bargain for just £15m. Guirassy's stats, meanwhile, show just how much of an upgrade he'd be on current Spurs forwards Richarlison and Son when it comes to goals.

Player

Goals

Assists

Progressive Carries

Progressive Passes

Serhou Guirassy

17

1

16

22

Heung-min Son

11

4

44

67

Richarlison

5

3

15

20

Given just how many times he's already found the back of the net so far this season, it's no wonder that Guirassy has earned plenty of praise. And that includes from Florian Plettenberg saying via Sky Sports:

"Absolutely. He is very strong physically. He knows how to score and he is known as a leading figure in the dressing room. However, what you do have to say is that it is a very good first season. So, there is a chance it is a one-season wonder but I'm not sure that will be the case. He's a good age, very experienced and very focused. He also has good and tough management in the background."

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly in talks to sign a versatile player, although he may not join until the summer.

Wolves transfer news

In the Premier League, the Old Gold are in a strong position following a positive festive period with wins over Chelsea, Brentford and Everton. After 20 games, Wolves are now in 11th place and appear to be on course for a stress free second half to the campaign.

Gary O'Neil now has the chance to add to the squad during the January transfer window after not having too much time to bolster his squad when taking the job in the summer, and there have been multiple rumours in recent weeks.

A new forward at Molineux has been mooted, with Wolves reportedly making another offer for Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia. A €12m "right of redemption" to buy the 27-year-old was made, however, the Serie A side have turned down that bid and are holding out for €20m.

Wolves could sign "electric" Cunha partner in January

Wolverhampton Wanderers could upgrade their attack with this signing, the new arrival slotting in nicely alongside Matheus Cunha.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 2, 2024

Elsewhere, Union SG striker Mohamed Amoura has also been linked with a move to Wolves, with the club also making an approach for Fenerbache right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel. Another new target has now emerged with the window officially open, and it looks as if Wolves are looking to get their first deal of 2024 completed relatively soon.

Wolves in talks to sign Rodrigo Gomes

Sport Witness relayed two reports on Tuesday regarding Wolves and SC Braga’s Rodrigo Gomes. It has been claimed that the two clubs are in talks over a transfer that could cost an initial €12m and then possibly rise to €15m if bonuses are included. However, Gomes is currently on loan at Estoril for the season, so he may not arrive at Molineux until the end of the campaign.

Gomes is just 20 years of age and appears to be an extremely versatile player who can play as a right-winger, left-winger or even as a right-back. Valued at €5m by Transfermarkt, his loan spell with Estoril appears to be going well, with the player scoring four goals and providing six assists in 14 Liga Portugal games. (Rodrigo Gomes stats – Transfermarkt)

Wolves signings from Portugal

Year

Goncalo Guedes

2022

Matheus Nunes

2022

Chiquinho

2022

Jose Sa

2021

Trincao

2021

Toti

2020

Nelson Semedo

2020

Fabio Silva

2020

Vitinha

2020

Daniel Podence

2020

Pedro Neto

2019

Bruno Jordao

2019

Rui Patricio

2018

Joao Moutinho

2018

Diogo Jota

2017

Ruben Neves

2017

Roderick Miranda

2017

Ruben Vinagre

2017

Joao Teixeira

2016

Silvio

2016

Target scouting reporter Joe Pearce has also been impressed with Gomes this season, saying:

“Gomes is a smaller profile standing at 1.75m and has rapid acceleration and the stamina to make real lung bursting runs from deeper positions, when he spots space ahead, he attacks it and shows real intensity in wanting to break forward and anticipate second balls, attacking the back post and following up on shots looking for rebounds and has scored and assisted from this type of situation.

“His lower centre of gravity and quick feet accompanied with his acceleration allow him to shift effectively away from defenders and surge with the ball. Even from a standing start he can create separation to attack the byline before getting his head up quickly to spot and execute some impressive cutbacks or cut inside and shoot on his left.”

Speed appears to be one of his main attributes, and by the looks of things, he could be the next Portuguese player to make the move to Molineux, providing talks go well.

Southampton are one of a number of clubs who are interested in signing a highly-rated young player, according to a fresh transfer update regarding Saints' January business.

Southampton transfer news

Russell Martin's side are really putting the pressure on Ipswich Town in the Championship promotion race, now sitting just three points behind them in third place in the table. New signings would be a big shot in the arm for Southampton this month, and there have been a lot of players who have been linked with moves to St Mary's.

Liverpool attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho had emerged as a reported target for Saints, though he is set to join Hull, while Aston Villa starlet Lamare Bogarde is also believed to be a loan option. Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland is also a man in demand at the moment, outscoring anyone in the Scottish Premiership so far this season, and he is another player who has been linked with Southampton, in what threatens to be a busy month.

Now, another rumour has emerged regarding Saints' transfer business, with a highly-rated player believed to be on the south coast club's radar.

Southampton want Ussumane Djalo

According to a new transfer update from The Daily Mail, Southampton are keen on signing Porto midfielder Ussumane Djalo, having sent scouts to watch him in action. They aren't the only club interested, though, with an £8m move in the offing, due to a relatively low release clause that exists in his current contract.

"A number of English sides are monitoring Porto's teenage midfielder Ussumane Djalo. The 19-year-old has impressed in the UEFA Youth League and drawn attention from watching scouts. Manchester United, Brighton, Everton and Southampton have all had representatives spotted at Porto youth games in the last few months.

"The Portuguese have inserted a release clause around £8m for the skilful youngster who is considered a strong all-rounder. However, Confidential understands he could be prised away this month for considerably less."

Djalo is still a player who is learning his craft, not yet making an appearance for Porto's first team, but he has shone at youth team level for Portugal, as his statistics below outline.

Portugal Under-19s

6

0

Portugal Under-18s

11

0

Portugal Under-17s

13

1

Portugal Under-16s

4

1

Portugal Under-15s

3

1

The teenager is someone who is capable of playing in central midfield or more of an attacking midfield role, and he is a player who could add an extra sprinkling of creative magic in the middle of the park for Southampton, potentially helping change games from the substitutes' bench at times.

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Granted, Djalo's lack of football at senior level could make his signing a risky one, but it is encouraging to see Southampton considering taking a gamble on an upcoming star.

The striker role at Manchester United has been a hot topic of conversation this season, and that is only set to increase during the transfer window.

The reason for that is the fact that Erik ten Hag’s side have scored just 1.14 goals per game this season in the Premier League.

With that in mind, the Red Devils will look to sign a new striker this month to provide competition for those in attack.

Man United want a new goal-scorer

According to journalist Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Man Utd are seriously interested in signing Joshua Zirkzee.

He states that initial talks have already taken place, but the Red Devils will face fierce competition from other clubs, notably German giants Bayern Munich.

However, Plettenberg further mentioned that a move is being lined up for the summer rather than in January.

How Zirkzee compares to Ruud van Nistelrooy

In the summer of 2001, Ruud van Nistelrooy joined United from PSV for a huge fee back then of £19m.

The striker went on to become a Red Devils icon during his five-year spell at the club, where he won the Premier League and the FA Cup. Over 219 appearances, the forward scored an incredible 150 goals, and his influence on the United side was immense.

The former Real Madrid star hit the ground running at Old Trafford, winning the club's Player of the Year award in his first season, and Ten Hag will be hoping that another Dutch striker, the earlier-mentioned Zirkzee, could follow a similar path to success and become their next Van Nistelrooy.

The 22-year-old has been unstoppable for Bologna in the Serie A this season, acting as the focal point for the Italian club. Zirkzee is their top scorer in the league, netting seven times while also registering two assists in 19 league matches.

He has also taken on the captain’s armband in the absence of Lewis Ferguson, highlighting that talismanic Van Nistelrooy-esque nature,

Goals

0.40

Top 40%

xG

0.29

Bottom 65%

Touches

42.59

Top 17%

Passes completed

20.96

Top 22%

Key passes

1.42

Top 24%

Successful take-ons

1.42

Top 19%

Zirkzee has developed into a true number nine this season who can score more goals than expected per game, having been forced to play as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1. According to football writer Ben Mattinson, the Dutch forward is extremely "intelligent," which allows him to identify space in the box to get a strike at goal. His understanding of the game also allows him to drop deep and get involved in the play, as shown by his high touches and passing stats.

Just like Van Nistelrooy, who stands at 6 foot 2, Zirkzee is a striker who can move with elegance and speed despite being 6 foot 4 himself. His successful take-ons statistics support that, but he also has the ability to perform in any game state, which would benefit United massively.

49

36

8

52

44

8

44

30

4

27

16

6

47

24

4

219

150

30

Notably described as having the "fundamentals to compete with the very best strikers" in the world by the aforementioned Mattinson, the signing of Zirkzee would improve United’s attack massively, just like Van Nistelrooy did around 20 years ago. It is a move that the Dutch boss must look to complete either in January, if possible, or in the summer.