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West Ham United could reportedly hijack Wolves’ move for Stoke City central defender Harry Souttar in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: World Cup star

Souttar enjoyed an impressive FIFA World Cup with Australia, where he ranked as their best-performing player as he helped them qualify from their group, before they were knocked out by eventual winners Argentina.

Hailed as ‘huge, quick’ and an ‘absolute monster’ of a defender by The Athletic journalist Jordan Campbell after his exploits in Qatar, and ‘like superman’ by pundit Danny Murphy after a stunning late tackle in a 1-0 win over Tunisia, Souttar is now concentrating in getting Stoke up the league table in the Championship, although he may have earned himself a move to the Premier League in January.

The Latest: West Ham interest

As per TEAMtalk, West Ham could ‘threaten’ to muscle in on a potential Wolves deal for Souttar, and he is on their ‘radar’ ahead of January.

David Moyes is thought to be ‘keen’ to add to his options in the heart of his defence, with favoured pairing Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd no strangers to the treatment room.

Both Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna see their deals expire in the summer as well, so there is too much uncertainty at centre-back for Moyes’ liking.

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The Verdict: Centre-back needed

Moyes could do with another centre-back option in January, especially given that they have the UEFA Europa Conference League campaign to contend with on top of the Premier League and FA Cup.

Souttar would surely relish the opportunity of the step up from the Championship, where he has excelled as Stoke’s best performer despite missing a large chunk of the season through injury.

The six-foot-six colossus would bring a fear factor to the London Stadium, and at 24 years of age, his best years are still ahead of him.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Lyon defender Malo Gusto in the New Year, although it could take a sizeable investment to prise the Frenchman from his current club.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth is seemingly showing an interest in the 19-year-old ahead of the January transfer window, with the northeast side having joined the growing list of suitors who are chasing his signature.

The report does suggest, however, that the Tynesiders – as well as Premier League rivals Manchester United – could be forced to wait until the summer to make a concrete approach, with the Ligue 1 outfit demanding £35m if they are to sell their prized asset next month.

It’s also thought that the St James’ Park outfit are already keen on securing a potential heir for Kieran Trippier, 32, at right-back with Gusto among the names being mentioned at present.

Repeat Bruno masterclass

Newcastle have already enjoyed notable success in securing the services of a Lyon player in recent times, with midfield talisman Bruno Guimaraes having joined from the French outfit on a £40m deal back in January.

The Brazilian international has since gone on to prove something of a revelation for Eddie Howe’s side in the calendar year thus far, having produced a string of “magnificent” displays for the club to date, as per Alan Shearer.

The “world-class” playmaker – as described by teammate Dan Burn – has scored eight goals and registered four assists in just 33 appearances for his new side in all competitions, including six goal contributions in just 13 league games so far this term.

With Howe and co already reaping the rewards of that winter addition, the Magpies could look to repeat that transfer masterclass by bringing in Guimaraes’ former teammate, Gusto, with the teenager currently shining for Laurent Blanc’s side.

The “special” talent – as lauded by one source – has been a truly impressive figure in his full-back berth, notably providing five assists in all competitions last term in what was a breakthrough campaign at senior level.

The £7k-per-week menace has provided a further assist from his 14 league outings in the current campaign, posing a notable threat down the right flank as he has created three big chances and averaged 1.3 key passes per game.

That quality in possession is further illustrated by the fact that the youngster ranks in the top 20% in Europe among those in his position for dribbles completed, as well as in the top 15% for pass completion.

The 5 foot 10 sensation has also showcased his defensive prowess of late after averaging 2.1 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game in Ligue 1, with that an almost identical record to the aforementioned Trippier, who has averaged 2.0 and 1.5 for the same two metrics, respectively.

That should illustrate that Gusto has what it takes to be a success at St James’ Park, with it set to prove another Guimaraes-esque masterclass if Ashworth can get a deal wrapped up in 2023.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe could put five current Toon players up for sale during the upcoming January transfer window. 

The Lowdown: Newcastle’s transfer record

The Magpies have shown during their previous transfer windows just how capable they are of bringing top quality players to the club, but have mostly kept their spending shrewd even with the new riches.

Now that the next January transfer window is on the horizon, Newcastle supporters will of course be hoping for more excitement, but Financial Fair Play regulations still loom large.

And it now appears that the club could be looking to move some of their current players out the door once the window opens, perhaps with FFP in mind.

The Latest: Five players could be up for sale

According to a recent report from 90 Min, Chris Wood, Jamaal Lascelles, Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie and Jamal Lewis could all be made available in January to try and raise funds for potential incoming deals during the winter window.

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The report also adds that Newcastle’s summer spending could make funds in January limited, which is why these sales are on the cards.

The Verdict: Surplus to requirements

Bearing in mind how the five Newcastle players mentioned in the report have only started seven league games combined this season, it’s easy to see why they could be put up for sale in January, especially if Howe sees no long-term future for them.

In fact, Ritchie and Lewis have only played eight minutes of league action between them this term, which highlights just how far down the pecking order they are.

Also, with the five mentioned players being listed among Newcastle’s eight lowest rated players this season according to WhoScored, this really feels like a no brainer if some decent bids arrive.

Journalist and Sunderland supporter Josh Bunting was left hailing the performance of Abdoullah Ba in their 1-0 win against Al-Shabab this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Good run-out

This afternoon’s friendly enabled Tony Mowbray to look closer at his squad as they prepare for the Championship season to return next weekend.

Amad Diallo gave the Stadium of Light outfit the lead midway through the first half with a cool finish, while Mowbray made nine changes for the second, and the team managed to see the game out.

The Latest: Ba impressive

Taking to Twitter, Bunting was extremely complimentary of Diallo after his finish, but also heaped praise on Ba, claiming that the central midfielder showed ‘a lot of class’:

“Abdoullah Ba technically has so much ability, just needs to toughen up a little in terms of his physical attributes. Just need to find the right balance with him, how he picks his passes is something I love about him. Showed a lot of class this afternoon, that game was a good fit.”

The Verdict: Needs more starts

Ba has received plenty of plaudits when he has played this term, but the Frenchman has simply not been on the pitch often enough.

He has only made eight appearances in the Championship so far, and has started just one match in the division, per Transfermarkt. It is easy to forget that he is only 19 years of age, as he seems to show so much maturity whenever he is on the pitch.

Nonetheless, given that Ba is a summer arrival, Black Cats supporters will no doubt want to see more of him after the World Cup break, and after this latest impressive outing, he is certainly giving Mowbray something to think about.

Everton have had several injuries to key players over the last 12 months which has led to their struggle in the Premier League, and now an update has been revealed that will serve as yet another blow for Frank Lampard.

What’s the latest?

The Toffees boss took to his post-match interview after crashing out of the Carabao Cup at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday night to reveal some good news, and also some bad news.

Regarding a boost for Lampard’s squad, he told the media: “Onana, we’re hoping will be fit to train tomorrow or Thursday. Gana we hope may be fit to train on Thursday.

However, there was yet another blow regarding the club’s main centre-forward, with the manager going on to say: “Dominic – we’re waiting on more news from a specialist. I’d be surprised if he’s fit for Saturday.”

It’s thought Calvert-Lewin has an issue with his hamstring, as per the club’s official website. Worrying news for Lampard

There is no doubt that the potential of Calvert-Lewin missing out will be worrying news for Lampard as Everton head into their last Premier League fixture ahead of the World Cup.

The Merseysiders will travel back down to the south coast after losing 4-1 to Bournemouth on Tuesday night facing the newly-promoted side again on Saturday, and the Everton boss will be hoping his team can take all three points from the clash before the break.

Calvert-Lewin, who is currently being assessed, has struggled for fitness on numerous occasions over the last 18 months which has had a huge effect on the attacking threat the Toffees have imposed on their opponents.

Indeed, the 25-year-old missed large chunks of last season following a quadriceps and toe injury which inevitably contributed to a difficult relegation scrap for Everton, with Calvert-Lewin only making 18 appearances in all competitions and this season it has been a similar story.

The centre-forward missed out on the start of the campaign after suffering a hamstring injury and has made just six appearances in the 14 Premier League outings Everton have had so far, and now it is looking like he will be subjected to another stint on the sidelines.

Only Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest have scored fewer goals than Everton so far this season, proving that Lampard’s side are in desperate need of more goal-scoring opportunities and more natural finishers in their team. When you consider that the England international once bagged as many as 21 in one campaign, dating back to 2020/21, he is a colossal miss to the side.

With that being said, depending on the longevity of Calvert-Lewin’s injury it will become even more imperative for the powers at Goodison Park to reinvest in their forward line during the January transfer window and Lampard will be hoping they can find a player who can improve the attacking threat in 2023.

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford has said fielding standards don’t change overnight after working with a coach, the solution needs to come from grassroots

Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Mar-2017Sri Lanka’s fielding woes are deep-rooted, and will only be fully solved through long-term emphasis on fielding in junior and emerging cricket, coach Graham Ford has said.Once considered the best fielding side in Asia, Sri Lanka’s fielding standards have declined substantially through the last few years, across all formats. A lack of catching ability behind the wicket has been repeatedly exposed on the most recent tours of South Africa, England and New Zealand, and while Sri Lanka won the T20 series in Australia in February, several catches had been spilt through that series as well. Ground fielding standards have also deteriorated.”I think fielding, for quite a long time, has been a problem for Sri Lanka,” Ford said. “They’ve tried various coaches at the national team level. The board’s realised that you’re not just going to solve the problem by having a coach at the top, because the players coming through to the top are way off the required standard. No coach is going to turn someone into a star fielder if he hasn’t been coached for quite some time. It’s the old story of you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”You can’t just get a group of players and put them together with Jonty Rhodes and think that tomorrow they’re going to go out and field well. It is going to take some time.”Though Sri Lanka’s domestic cricket structure is ill-resourced and ill-equipped to invest meaningfully into fielding training, Sri Lanka Cricket has begun to emphasise fielding to the teams the board directly manages, Ford said. The top fielding coach in SLC’s employ – Nick Pothas – was recently deployed with Sri Lanka’s Under-19 side, for example, and the A team has had more attention from top coaches in the past few months as well.”I think the board should be commended on really looking and they’re trying to get a fielding program working with the Under-19s, the emerging players, and the A team players, so that by the time they get to the national level, they’re ready and fully content to field there,” Ford said.”Hopefully that project is pursued with determination and patience, and in time, I think Sri Lanka can become the best fielding nation in the world. I believe the Under-19 team at the moment is fielding pretty well. It’s just about getting those basics right at a young age. For some time now, we’ve had high quality fielding coaches working with the national team, but it’s almost too late.”The board has also recently strengthened its cohort of trainers and fitness coaches, which Ford said would have a positive effect on fielding.”Athletic ability, speed and ability is also important, so it’s not just the fielding coach – the conditioning coaches also need to be involved. I think with that project put in place, there will in time be a result. Credit to the board that they’ve looked into this and decided they will have a proper fix and a long-term fix.”

Celtic’s great footballing corridors has introduced an influx of Japanese players over the last year with Hoops boss, Ange Postecoglou, using his niche knowledge of the transfer market in order to bring lesser-known talent to Parkhead.

With the Old Firm side winning the league last term and embarking on a 38-game unbeaten streak in the Premiership, it’s more than paid off.

The chief operator when it comes to the club’s Japanese quartet is none other than Kyogo Furuashi, a diminutive and wily goal-scoring sensation.

The forward has found the net on 27 occasions in the famous green and white hoops while registering six assists in the process.

One of those assists came in the Champions League on Wednesday night as he turned provider for Jota to score the equalising goal. A 3-1 defeat eventuality left Postecoglou and his players crestfallen but they were hardly helped by Kyogo’s compatriots against Leipzig.

Indeed, speaking of Reo Hatate’s performance yesterday night, journalist Josh Bunting said the opening 45 minutes was the “worst” he has seen from the Japanese midfielder.

Their fellow Japan international in Daizen Maeda hardly covered himself in glory either.

The 24-year-old has scored just once in 12 outings across all competitions this term, supporting Mark Hendry’s claim that the attacker leaves “a lot to be desired.”

Such a harsh suggestion was made before the club’s clash with RB Leipzig when the journalist said Sead Haksabanovic would have been a more suitable alternative.

Jota and Kyogo were always going to start in such an important clash but Maeda was preferred to both James Forrest and the aforementioned Swedish winger.

Unfortunately, Hendry’s words were no mere coincidence with Postecoglou perhaps ruing his decision to stick with the forward.

Celtic were never going to have too much of the ball in Germany and that was evidenced in the anonymous display that Maeda turned in with the £15.5k-per-week earner unable to truly have his say on proceedings.

It has been a disappointing campaign for the £3.1m-rated man so far and it didn’t get much better against Leipzig either.

Hauled off with 15 minutes left to play, the January addition’s lack of threat was clear to see. He had made just eight passes by that point and had managed only 31 touches, 27 fewer than goalkeeper Joe Hart.

From that, Maeda gave the ball away 13 times, once in every 2.3 touches, failed to have a shot and didn’t complete his one and only dribble attempt either.

He was also a lightweight physically, seemingly being bullied by the German side’s defence with the Celtic star losing 70% of his duels.

It might not have been a nightmare display in Germany but it’s one that should have sent alarm bells ringing in the manager’s ear with one of his most trusted assets failing him.

As the aforementioned Hendry alluded to, perhaps the Australian was better selecting Haksabanovic in the absence of Liel Abada – who was respecting the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

The Champions League is undoubtedly a tough gig, but Postecoglou is learning plenty about his players and indeed himself. For the rest of the competition, his team selection will need to improve, and so will the performances of those he ultimately picks.

West Ham United defender Craig Dawson is a target for Premier League rivals Aston Villa, according to a report from the Daily Mail. 

The lowdown: Mr Reliable

Signed from Watford for £2m in July 2021 following a successful loan spell with the Irons, Dawson has become a key figure in the heart of David Moyes’ defence during his time in east London.

The 32-year-old has already amassed 74 outings for the Hammers, taking his overall career tally to a staggering 440 senior appearances across spells at West Brom, Rochdale, Bolton and the Hornets.

However, following the signings of Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer this summer, an injury-hit Dawson has had to start the campaign on the periphery of matters and could be targeted by Premier League rivals as a result…

The latest: Dawson wanted

As per the Daily Mail, Villa are believed to be ‘keen on recruiting’ the 32-year-old before the transfer deadline passes on Thursday night.

It’s claimed that the Midlands outfit have ‘made a move’ for the man who was praised by Gary Neville for a ‘brilliant’ performance against Chelsea in April as Steven Gerrard attempts to bolster his own defensive department after a poor start to the new season.

The report states that Moyes ‘wants Dawson to stay’ at West Ham, but the veteran defender is seemingly ‘unhappy’ with a lack of opportunities in east London.

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The verdict: No chance

As the Irons deal with their own defensive crisis, allowing a player of Dawson’s proven ability to leave the club so close to the end of the transfer window is not a viable option for Moyes and GSB.

Instead, West Ham could be looking to bolster their own options at the back, having been linked with a move for Attila Szalai over the weekend.

Last season, the experienced Englishman scored four times and provided two assists whilst amassing a mammoth 50 appearances across all competitions, earning a 6.94 SofaScore rating whilst winning 4.1 duels, making 4.1 clearances and helping to keep five clean sheets in the league.

Valued at £2.7m and into the final 12 months of his contract at the London Stadium (Transfermarkt), the West Ham hierarchy could be looking to tie Dawson down to a new deal in the near future to avoid losing the defender for nothing down the line, rather than allowing him to join Villa now.

Southampton’s woes at full-back look set to continue on Saturday when they face Leicester City after Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed that Romain Perraud would miss the trip through injury.

The Frenchman, who joined from Brest last summer, missed the game against Leeds United last week, while he only came off the bench in the 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the opening fixture of the campaign.

Hasenhuttl has been forced to deploy Moussa Djenepo at left wing-back in the opening two matches, as Kyle Walker-Peters has reverted to right-back due to Tino Livramento being injured.

The Austrian spoke to the press ahead of Saturday’s clash at the King Power Stadium and revealed that Perraud would once again be unavailable, although he provided a timescale on the 24-year-old’s possible return.

Hasenhuttl said: “The groin problems were bigger than we thought. It’s not the injury he had in the summer, it’s a muscle injury. It’s always a little tricky when you don’t have pre-season and you start and immediately step in.

“Everything was going quite well but the fundamental, the basic was not there or is not there and then you can see sometimes other problems come up.

“The timeline [of recovery] is beginning of next week, he should be back in training. This weekend is too early but hopefully starting next week he is back. That doesn’t mean he can play in the Carabao Cup but we will see.”

While Djenepo has started the season in decent form, providing an assist in the defeat at Spurs and earning a 7.57 rating from WhoScored for his performance against Leeds, the five-at-the-back formation feels like a needs-must situation for Hasenhuttl at the moment, and the return of Perraud would give him the option to revert to a back four.

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While Hasenhuttl 20 appearances in the top flight, and the Austrian would have hoped to see the 24-year-old push on this season after a solid debut campaign at St Mary’s.

Therefore, it is a blow that the Frenchman won’t be available for the trip to Leicester, especially as the Saints have shipped six goals already this season, so Hasenhuttl clearly needs as many defensive options available as possible.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Joe Rodon.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist revealed that, following a number of reports linking the 24-year-old with a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, Stade Rennais have now agreed a season-long loan deal with Spurs for the Wales international – a deal which is said to include a €20m (£17m) option to buy the defender on a permanent basis.

In his tweet, the transfer insider said: “Joe Rodon, in France this weekend in order to undergo medical tests on Sunday as new Rennes player. Deal done with Tottenham – loan move until June 2023 and salary covered. Buy option confirmed as revealed on Thursday: €20m.”

Conte will be buzzing

While it is undeniable that Rodon is an extremely talented young defender, with it being reported Tottenham will now have to offload players in order to bring more signings into the club this summer, Romano’s latest update on the centre-back is sure to be one that will leave Antonio Conte buzzing.

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Indeed, since making an £11m move to Spurs back in September of 2020, the £7.2m-rated talent has started a total of just 14 games for the north London side – making a further 10 appearances from the bench.

The £24k-per-week defender’s game time became even more limited following Conte’s arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last November, with the 27-cap international starting just two games in all competitions under the Italian’s management – while only making an additional three appearances as a substitute.

As such, with it being clear that Rodon is not a part of the 52-year-old’s long-term plans at Spurs, in addition to the fact that his departure could lead to Fabio Paratici signing a more suitable centre-back for Conte’s style of football ahead of the club’s 2022/23 campaign, it would very much appear as if the Welshman’s impending departure is a move that will delight all involved.

AND in other news: Journo reveals Paratici talks are “ongoing” for Spurs signing, Conte will be buzzing