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West Ham United manager David Moyes has been praised for one tweak he's made to the starting eleven, coming amid calls for the sack.

Moyes under pressure

In the past fortnight, there have been some calls for Moyes to call an end to his near four-year stay at West Ham. Their league form has left a lot to be desired since the beginning of 2022/2023, with the Irons finishing 14th last season and battling relegation for much of the Premier League campaign.

While Moyes did guide West Ham to an historic Europa Conference League title in May, and are continuing to impress in cup competitions, the coach's contract expires next summer and reports suggest he's "unlikely" to stay beyond then.

Journalist Paul Brown, speaking to GiveMeSport this week, suggested the east Londoners will have their eye on a young and upcoming manager if Moyes does depart.

"Before Moyes, they were big admirers of people like Marcelo Bielsa and Rafa Benitez, but I suspect that with Tim Steidten coming in, those kind of managers would not be high on his wish list if the club was to make a change. So you'd be more likely to see West Ham trying to go for more of a younger, up-and-coming manager I think if a change is coming."

West Ham's 1-0 win over Olympiacos somewhat eased the pressure on Moyes heading into Nottingham Forest. However, nothing but a victory over Steve Cooper's side is likely to satisfy critics or the fanbase.

Moyes praised for West Ham tweak

Amid these reports of Moyes potentially leaving next year, Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has actually moved to praise the 60-year-old for one change he's made to his eleven.

Indeed, star winger Jarrod Bowen, who recently committed to his future to the club, is starting to be used in a more central role as an alternative to traditional striker Michail Antonio.

The Jamaica international started this season brightly but has since tailed off on the goalscoring front, and with Gianluca Scamacca's departure to Atalanta in the summer, Moyes has had to improvise in an attempt to hand West Ham more potency going forward.

Robinson, speaking to Football Insider, hailed Moyes for utilising Bowen and says summer signing Mohammed Kudus is another option to play with.

“I think Moyes has that cover with Mohammed Kudus, he’s been a great signing. He’s the option. He can play down the centre as well, but also in recent weeks, we’ve seen Jarrod Bowen fill in that role and he’s been excellent. I’ve seen him a few times this season.

“With Kudus and Bowen, maybe not direct competitors but David Moyes certainly has options and he is not afraid to use them.

“I really like what he’s done there. They’ve progressed again whether or not he looks for a direct competitor for Antonio to strengthen his squad. It’s a squad that’s used to the rigours of European football and they’re in a much better place. In regards to Antonio, if the manager can afford that luxury, maybe it’s something he looks at.”

Steph Houghton might want to consider a scouting career after it emerged that she recommended Man City sign one of England's brightest young stars.

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• Houghton set to retire at end of season
• But influence on England & Man City not over yet
• Revealed that she spotted current Lionesses star

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Houghton will hang up her boots at the end of the current season, bringing an incredible career to a close that has seen her win 16 major honours and captain the Lionesses at the very highest level. Upon the announcement of her retirement, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said that the iconic defender would be an excellent coach. But perhaps there is another path Houghton would be well-suited to.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 35-year-old has spent the last 10 years of her career with Man City and her influence there has not just been in winning titles and being an excellent captain. It appears her impact could well go on well after she leaves, with it revealed that she actually spotted one of City's brightest young players and recommended that then-manager Nick Cushing signed her.

• WHAT CUSHING SAID

  Speaking to , Cushing explained: “It was actually Steph who scouted Jess Park. She went to a school tournament with her agent from the PFA. Steph was giving out the trophy for the winners of the tournament. When she came back, she actually said to me, ‘There’s a player there that we need to sign. There is a player who is good enough to play in our first team now. She’d absolutely dominated the tournament. She was the best player by a mile’. I wouldn’t have known who Jess Park was."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  City invited Park to visit the club and she signed a contract with them in 2017, aged 16. Now 22 years old, she is a senior England international who is knocking on the door of Sarina Wiegman's starting XI thanks to some excellent form in the Women's Super League this season.

Brighton are "plotting a move" to sign one club's "exceptional" attacking star, and they're confident they can beat many top sides to his signature.

Seagulls fly lower under De Zerbi

The Seagulls enjoyed an absolutely rip-roaring start to the 2023/2024 Premier League season, winning game after game over a series of excellent attacking displays.

However, manager Roberto De Zerbi has been forced to watch his side fly slightly lower in the last few weeks. Indeed, Brighton haven't recorded a single victory in their last five league outings. De Zerbi's last win came against Bournemouth in late September, and it's safe to say they were expected to pick up three points in a fair few of their latest encounters.

Brighton failed to get past struggling Sheffield United, Everton and Fulham in their last three, which will come as bitterly disappointing for De Zerbi when you consider just how incredible they looked two months ago. Perhaps dropping points at home to Sheffield United most recently, with midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud shown a red card, was a price worth paying for what was a historic Europa League win over Ajax a few days earlier.

Nevertheless, there have been questions as to whether Brighton have been found out lately, so perhaps the transfer window could provide a solution.

Brighton now "plotting" Roony Bardghji move

Indeed, according to Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, Brighton are "plotting a move" to sign FC Copenhagen star Roony Bardghji.

The 17-year-old is fast gaining a reputation as one of his country's most exciting rising stars, even being dubbed the "Swedish Messi" (ESPN). Bardghji most recently put Erik ten Hag's Man United side to the sword in a Champions League group stage encounter.

The teenager scored Copenhagen's winning goal in a historic 4-3 win over the Red Devils on November 8, which may have helped put a host of clubs on red alert.

Bardghji is apparently being watched by a "host of top European and Premier League clubs", alongside Brighton, but it's De Zerbi's men who are apparently planning a swoop for the Swede. Brighton believe they can offer the winger a faster route to first-team football, which could potentially hand them an advantage over other top sides in the race for his services.

Bardghji possesses "exceptional" technique

Speaking to Sportexpressen, as shared by The Daily Mail, Bardghji's Sweden Under-17 coach was in no doubt over the player's brilliant potential.

“He has an understanding of the game, as well as good balance and coordination," said Roger Franzen.

"He has exceptional technique with the ball at his feet. It's incredibly difficult to take the ball off him. He is good one-on-one and has a good shot. He can shoot with both feet, even if he is basically left-footed, he can finish with the right as well.

“That makes him very difficult to read for the defenders. Will he go right or left? It makes him difficult to handle.”

The teenage talent is certainly one to watch, and given Brighton's past record of developing youth, they could be a match made in heaven.

The league’s leading scorer will not play again this season due to a foot injury. Could that stop the Cityzens from winning the WSL?

As the Women's Super League title run-in intensifies, Manchester City can boast a squad packed with match-winners and world-class talents who can make a difference at both ends, experienced international footballers who know how to cope with moments of high pressure. But can any of them fill the void that has been left by Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw's season-ending injury?

Shaw has been immaculate for City this season, scoring 21 goals in just 18 league outings, shaking off that 'doesn't score in the big games' nonsense with one in each Manchester derby and a decisive effort in the win at fellow contenders Chelsea in February. She appeared to be hitting top gear just at the right time, too, her unstoppable header against West Ham on Sunday making it six goals in four games.

But after bagging a brace in the eventual 5-0 win, she pulled up. Lauren Hemp had started a promising counter-attack and picked out Jess Park, whose shot was well-saved by Mackenzie Arnold. Shaw was following it up, in case Arnold parried it into her path, but then she felt something and limped to the side of the goal. There was no challenge, no contact, but the WSL's leading goal-scorer sustained a foot injury that has ruled her out of the last three games of the season.

Man City head coach Gareth Taylor was defiant after the game. "We'll deal with it," he said. "If it's more serious than we anticipate, then we'll deal with it." But that is certainly easier said than done. The Cityzens have three games left in their bid for a first WSL title in eight years; how do they get over the line without their star striker?

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  One of a kind

  There are two big reasons why Shaw’s injury is such a blow to City. The first, of course, is that she is one of the best centre-forwards in the game, and that is not just because she scores goals. The 27-year-old holds the ball up well, she creates for others and she is an asset defensively, too, whether it is by protecting her own goal at set-pieces with her aerial prowess or leading the press from the front.

  Shaw’s multi-dimensional game makes her a nightmare to defend. She is a towering, strong striker who can dominate in physical battles and be a real threat from crosses, which is great in a team that has so many fantastic wingers. Her profile often attracts the attention of more than one defender as well, creating spaces for others to exploit. But Shaw is also fantastic at running in behind to finish one-v-one and, in the often overlooked part of her game, she is incredibly technical, meaning it’s not uncommon to see her create opportunities for herself out of nothing or be a threat from range.

  “The most impressive thing for me with Bunny is, you accept she’ll score goals, but it’s the other parts of her game,” Taylor said earlier this season, later picking her out as “a unique player”. “She has good games, she has her poorer games, but she gives everything for the team. She's honest, she helps the team and her goals are so important for us.”

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  No natural replacement

  Replacing a player with such a rare profile would always be tricky, then, but the other main reason why Shaw’s absence is so significant is because there is not really another senior centre-forward in the City squad. Taylor has a lot of attackers at his disposal, sure, though most of them are wingers and attacking midfielders. Some have experience as a central striker, however it is either not recent or in a small amount.

  In fact, the only natural centre-forward City have, aside from Shaw, is Poppy Pritchard, the talented 18-year-old they snapped up on deadline day in January. The England youth international certainly has a lot of quality, but she is very much one for the future and has yet to represent her new club at senior level.

  Whoever Taylor counts on to fill Shaw’s shoes, then, it’ll require a bit of adjustment. He might be able to find someone to replace some of her qualities, but not all of them. City are a team who put a lot of emphasis on wing play and crosses because of the great wide players they have and the focal point Shaw is. That’ll have to change a bit as it will not be as effective without the Jamaica international.

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  The contenders

  So, who are Taylor’s options to lead the line for these last three games? Hemp has played as a centre-forward for England and City in recent times, though there’s no doubt that her best position is out wide. Mary Fowler, the 21-year-old from Australia, is another who has played there in the past, but she is in excellent form since usurping Chloe Kelly for the role on the right of the front three. It doesn’t make much sense to move either of them from positions they are thriving in at the moment. The same goes for Park, who can be a striker but has been performing brilliantly in the attacking midfield role.

  With it unlikely that Pritchard is thrown in for her first taste of the WSL right now, there is one other option that is probably the most obvious solution for Taylor. That is a return to the starting XI for Kelly.

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  Kelly's time

  The England winger has been among the substitutes for all of City’s last five games, since Fowler was picked ahead of her for the FA Cup clash with Tottenham. The Australia star has grabbed her opportunity with both hands and shown great form, keeping Kelly on the bench as a result.

  However, when Shaw limped off on Sunday, it was Kelly who Taylor turned to to lead the line. It’s a position she is familiar with, especially from her time with Everton, and the coach was happy with how she did in her 45 minutes against West Ham. “[She] came onto the pitch and did really well in that position, put them under a lot of pressure, created some good opportunities,” he said.

  To put Kelly in Shaw’s place would not mess with the chemistry and make-up of the team dramatically from recent weeks, leaving Hemp, Fowler and Park in their current roles, while also adding a player to the central role who has pedigree and can be a real threat.

Leeds United appear to have received some interest in one of their first-team players at Elland Road ahead of the January transfer window, according to a report.

Leeds United's festive period

Daniel Farke's side have made a positive start to life in the Championship and look set to be among the main contenders for promotion this season, having taken 31 points from their first 16 games, which has placed them third in the league standings and eight points behind Ipswich Town in second position.

Nevertheless, the German coach will be under no illusion that his side will find it tough to replicate the consistency they have shown in recent weeks, something that has yielded six wins from their last seven encounters in the English second-tier. Looking ahead to their next batch of tussles, Leeds United travel to face Rotherham United on Friday evening at the AESSEAL New York Stadium before a double bill of action against Swansea City and Middlesbrough at Elland Road in the week following.

Leeds interested in signing “unbelievable” full-back for Farke

The Whites are on the hunt for new players as they continue their hunt for promotion.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Nov 23, 2023

Speaking in his pre-match press conference before the trip to South Yorkshire on Friday, Farke has urged his players to show no complacency despite facing a lowly Rotherham United, saying:

"So it’s in many ways important to start on the front foot and a goal is also important but sometimes you can’t choose, also your opponent wants to start on the front foot."

"We have to make sure our awareness and sharpness is on the top level. When you face a side like Rotherham who are, especially in their home games, who I would say is playing brave and with intensity, they can go with a long ball and fight for the second balls."

On a different note, a new topic of conversation has come to light regarding one Leeds United man who could now be on his way out of Elland Road come the New Year, as per a report.

Real Betis want Junior Firpo

According to reports in Spain via Sport Witness, Real Betis have approached Leeds United about Junior Firpo, who could be involved against Rotherham United on Friday evening after making his first appearance of the season against Plymouth Argyle prior to the international break.

Real Betis have been in negotiations with the Whites regarding loanee Marc Roca; however, Firpo has come into the conversation as a potential option to replace Juan Miranda if he were to move on from the Sevillians in January.

Atletico Madrid defender Javi Galan has been identified as another target for the La Liga outfit; nevertheless, Firpo is being now being weighed up as a potential pursuit by Manuel Pellegrini.

Labelled "immense" by Youtuber Conor McGilligan earlier this year, Firpo, on £30,000-a-week, is believed to be open to a return to his former club, though he does have attributes that would be missed at Elland Road,

As per FBRef, the Dominican Republic cap has fared well in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues in the art of tackling over the past 365 days, making around 3.01 successful challenges per 90 minutes, putting him in the 93rd percentile for this metric.

Despite this, Leeds have fared well at the back with Firpo absent for much of the campaign, which could tempt them to look to recoup a decent fee for his services, making this one to watch.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the clubs in the race to sign an overseas forward in January, according to a fresh report that has emerged.

Tottenham transfer news

The Lilywhites have made a generally positive start to the new campaign having won eight, drawn three and lost just three of their opening 14 games, meaning that as it stands, they currently find themselves fifth in the table in the Premier League.

Whilst Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou could be looking to recruit players in the market who can be thrown straight into the starting line-up given the club’s extensive injury list, they will also no doubt be keeping an eye on any available up-and-coming talents who could be purchased for the long-term.

Tottenham exploring move to sign "clinical finisher" who has no weak foot

The Lilywhites are looking to bolster their attacking ranks in January.

By
Chloe Chadwick

Dec 4, 2023

Juventus’ right-winger Matias Soule appears to have been identified as a possible target, with the 20-year-old having worked his way up through their various youth ranks to get promoted to their first team where he’s so far made a total of 21 senior appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Soule statistics).

Argentina’s youth international is currently out on a season-long loan at Frosinone to increase his experience and game time, but having established himself as Eusebio Di Francesco’s overall best-performing player with a match rating of 7.80 (WhoScored – Frosinone statistics), he’s caught the eye at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs eyeing move for Matias Soule

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), Tottenham are interested in Soule ahead of January. The Lilywhites have reportedly been keeping tabs on their target since last summer, but with several other unnamed top-flight clubs also tracking him, it won’t be easy to get a deal over the line.

Juventus’ technical director, Cristiano Giuntoli, has already flown over to London to explore options for the youngster, and it’s stated that he is looking for a fee in the region of approximately €20m (£17m) in order to part ways.

Soule has been likened to Messi

During his time so far at Frosinone, Soule already has seven contributions (six goals and one assist), to his name in 13 appearances, and whilst he’s prolific in the final third, he’s able to pose a constant threat even if the end product isn’t always there.

The Mar Del Plata native currently ranks in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons, highlighting his desire to use his pace, dribble past his marker and create as many chances as possible for both himself and his fellow teammates (FBRef – Soule statistics).

Sponsored by Adidas, the left-footed talent has also recorded 28 shots over the course of the current campaign which is more than any other of his peers (FBRef – Frosinone statistics), representing what a standout performer he is in the attacking areas.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described a goal Soule scored as “Messi-esque” back in 2021 and labelled him as a player who can produce "magic", so he may have the potential to go on and be like one of the world’s best footballers, meaning it could be a huge coup for Postecoglou if he was able to convince him to join Spurs in January.

The American winger-turned-fullback has had an up-and-down campaign, but it seems like he's in position to end the 2023-24 on a high

It didn't take long for the rumors to start, but they rarely do around a club as big as Juventus. Just a few short months into his time in Turin, Tim Weah was already linked with an exit. Having lost his starting spot, the questions were already coming just a few months into a five-year deal.

Where those rumors originated from? Impossible to say. What we do know, though, is that Weah's recent performances have put them to bed. Weah is a player that can be key for Juve, and these last few weeks have been a good reminder of what he can offer to the Bianconeri.

Over the space of four days, Weah showed what he can do on both sides of the ball. A key assist against Lazio moved Juve one step closer to ending the season with a trophy, before a defensive masterclass against AC Milan eased many doubts about how Weah can fare against the world's best wingers.

And now, with the U.S. men's national team watching on with a keen eye, Weah is in position to add more evidence to his case as he fights for a bigger Juve role in 2024-25.

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  Falling out of favor

  Weah started the season well enough. He was signed to play as a wingback, a position he'd grown into at Lille after initially playing there as an emergency option. Juve didn't sign him to be an emergency player, though; they signed him to contribute.

  He did just that early on. He was a regular starter at right-wingback, beating out USMNT teammate Weston McKennie for the role. He started five matches there before the end of October, prompting McKennie to admit in September that he was resigned to his role as Weah's backup.

  It all went wrong, though, when Weah suffered a thigh injury in late October. That injury ruled him out through mid-December and, by the time he came back, his starting spot was gone. Massimiliano Allegri preferred Andrea Cambiaso on the right with Filip Kostic on the left.

  Weah had been crowded out, and as a result, he has started just five matches since October, just two of which came between the start of the New Year and mid-April.

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  Transfer rumors

  Reports of a potential Weah exit from Juve started as early as January. At the time, Weah was very much a backup, but there were other clubs that were interested in what he could bring.

  According to , Everton made an approach to sign Weah in on loan in January to help with their Premier League survival push. Weah, though, said no, despite the fact that the Toffees may have provided him with minutes on the wing. He was seemingly determined to prove himself at in Turin.

  In recent weeks, those rumors popped up once again. Stuck behind Cambiaso at Juve, would Weah be better suited elsewhere? The American star's response was emphatic, as he proved that he can make a difference at both ends of the pitch.

• Huge Coppa contribution

  Late in the second leg of Juventus' Coppa Italia semifinal against Lazio, the two sides were level at two apiece on aggregate. The Old Lady had thrown away a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, as Valentin Castellanos, a name familiar to American soccer fans due to his time at NYCFC, had netted a brace for Lazio. He could have had more, too, as Juventus were on the ropes.

  On, then, came Weah in the 70th minute as Juve's first substitute. It was that change that made all the difference, as Juve booked their place in the Coppa final.

  Weah provided the game-winning assist and, to his credit, he did the hard work. His pass across goal left Arkadiusz Milik with little more than a tap-in, giving Juve a lead late on that they wouldn't relinquish.

  Fresh off that assist, Weah was then given a starting role against AC Milan, and he certainly wouldn't disappoint…

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  Locking down Leao

  It's not much of a reward, is it? 'Hey Tim, you're doing great… now go face Rafael Leao.' The Portuguese star has terrorized plenty of fullbacks; he wouldn't terrorize Weah, though.

  Instead, it was the other way around. The former Paris Saint-Germain trainee and Juve totally shutdown Milan's high-powered attack, with Weah, in particular, earning praise for how he handled Leao.

  In a clash that saw all four of the USMNT's Serie A stars take the field in Weah, McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, it was Weah who was the standout. On the offensive side, he actually had a relatively-quiet game, creating only one real look at goal. But defensively, he was fantastic, winning five duels, three tackles and committing just one foul despite staring down Leao.

  Milan's star winger was held to just two shots, one from super long-range. Only one of his seven dribble attempts were successful, while he had just seven total touches in the box.

  The gameplan from Juve was simple: don't let Leao or Pulisic beat you, and they didn't. Weah and co. were unlucky not to get a winning goal, they will feel they deserved. But while his team may have been a bit disappointed by the draw, one that leaves them behind Milan in the battle for second place in Serie A, Weah had every reason to be proud of a massive effort.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson says he will get a Tottenham tattoo if Spurs beat Manchester City to help the Gunners win the Premier League.

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• Arsenal top of Premier League after Man Utd win
• Manchester City face Tottenham in midweek
• Merson to get Spurs tattoo if City drop points

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  City went top of the Premier League on Saturday after thrashing Fulham 4-0, only for Arsenal to leapfrog them again after beating Manchester United 1-0 on Sunday. The Gunners have one match left but Pep Guardiola's men have a game in hand, a trip to Tottenham in midweek. Ahead of that clash, Merson made a wild bet, insisting that Spurs have little chance of getting a result that would essentially hand the title to their bitter rivals.

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• WHAT PAUL MERSON SAID

  He said on Sky Sports: "Arsenal are probably going to finish second. If you're relying on Tottenham to win or draw a football match… yeah… no. If they win that, I will have a Tottenham tattoo. I will. I'll put it where you can't see it!"

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal are looking to win their first Premier League title since 2004 whereas City are aiming to win a fourth straight crown. For the former to come out on top, they will need Guardiola's side to slip up but whether that happens remains to be seen.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  City finish off their league season away to Tottenham on Tuesday, before hosting West Ham next Sunday. Arsenal, on the other hand, host Everton on the same day – looking to pip their rivals to the trophy.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were brought back down to earth last weekend as they endured a dismal 3-0 defeat to a club who were in European action just 72 hours prior.

Following a win against Burnley and a draw versus Nottingham Forest, Gary O’Neil would have been looking for his team to take advantage of West Ham’s second game in just three days, yet it looked like the Old Gold were the ones coming off the back of a continental clash.

While there has been some decent progress under the former Bournemouth manager, consistency problems have plagued so far during the 2023/24 season and this will need to be remedied heading into 2024.

With the transfer window just around the corner, could a few signings give the Molineux outfit a boost?

Wolves transfer news – Defensive hunt

According to reports, Wolves have made contact with the agent of current Flamengo defender Wesley Franca as O’Neil aims to add some players to his current squad.

Barcelona were close to signing the youngster, yet due to financial fair play rules, the move didn’t materialise and this could open up the door for the Old Gold to make their move.

More good news has come from journalist Vitor Beloti, who provided an update on his situation, saying: “Wesley has received inquiries from Brighton, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton and has a chance of leaving Flamengo in 2024.

“The English are waiting for the transfer window to open to move forward with negotiations. The full-back has even told Flamengo his desire to play in Europe.”

With Brighton and Palace sure to provide some competition for the player, the next few weeks will be massive with regard to who makes the first move.

The Brazilian has just 18 months left on his current contract and this could further entice Wolves to make an offer for the 20-year-old, especially considering they may not need to pay over the odds.

O'Neil could be forced to bench 5/10 Wolves man after West Ham

Wolves endured a heavy defeat against West Ham United over the weekend

By
Ross Kilvington

Dec 18, 2023

The right-back area is a position in which the club really need to strengthen, especially considering how inconsistent Nelson Semedo has been this season.

A move for Wesley would give O’Neil the licence to finally jettison the former Barcelona defender before his contract expires in 2025.

Nelson Semedo’s statistics at Wolves

The 30-year-old joined the Midlands side back in 2020 for a staggering transfer fee of £36.8m and it prompted their executive chairman Jeff Shi to laud to defender, saying: "It's isn't often that we have the opportunity to sign a world-class player from a world-class club. Nelson's signing shows we will never stop progressing and we are still hungry and humble in our heart."

Having won two La Liga titles and a Copa Del Rey during his time in Spain, Semedo arrived with a winning mentality and across his first two seasons he made 64 appearances across all competitions while scoring twice, and it was a decent start.

Last season under Bruno Lage and Julen Lopetegui, however, Semedo failed to impress. He ranked in a lowly 21st position in the squad for overall Sofascore rating in the top flight, while also ranking seventh for accurate passes (27.4), 16th for key passes (0.3) and seventh for successful dribbles (0.7) per game, indicating just how inconsistent he was.

He recorded just one assist across his 36 Premier League matches and for a fullback who loves to bomb down the wing as often as he does, this was a dismal return.

Under O’Neil this term, the Portuguese defender has started every single league match and it proves that the 40-year-old has a lack of options in the right-back role.

With this in mind, a move for Wesley could well be high on his priority list and the youngster has enjoyed a standout season for the Brazilian side in 2023.

Wesley Franca’s season in numbers

During the summer, Wesley was praised by U23 scout Antonio Mango after he burst into the Flamengo senior side. He said: “I’ve been so so impressed with Flemengo’s right-back Wesley França …. He’s been immense since coming into the senior team.”

He ended up making 51 appearances across all competitions for the club during the 2023 season, and he was given a wonderful platform in which to showcase his abilities.

Despite his relatively young age and inexperience at the highest level, the defender has impressed across a wide range of metrics, especially when compared to players occupying the same position as him.

Indeed, when compared to positional peers in competitions similar to the Brazilian top-flight, the 20-year-old ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes received per 90 (10.03), the top 2% for pass completion rate per 90 (85.7%) and the top 13% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (2.07) as he demonstrated his attacking qualities over the previous 12 months.

Semedo, when compared to his positional peers in the top five leagues, could only rank in the top 38% for progressive passes received per 90 (4.67), the top 35% for pass completion rate per 90 (79.9%) and the lowest 31% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (0.99), indicating that he hasn’t enjoyed a particularly fruitful last 12 months.

These statistics clearly show that Wesley would be an upgrade on Semedo going forward and, despite playing just 57 senior matches during his career, O’Neil would be able to thrust him into the starting XI and watch him shine.

There is no doubt that several areas of Wolves' first-team squad is in need of an overhaul and the right back area is one notable position.

The 30-year-old has often shown flashes of his talent during his three-year spell in the Midlands, but considering the fee they paid to sign him, it hasn’t been quite good enough.

Moving him on in the near future and bringing in a talented Brazilian starlet who has already shown better statistics across various performance metrics could prove to be a shrewd move by O’Neil.

Of course, it would be a big gamble to take, but no one ever did anything of note by sticking to their comfort zone and this means a move must come sooner rather than later.

Celtic will be keen to build on their Scottish Premiership campaign and have now made an approach to try and bring a defender into the building in January, according to a report.

Celtic derby day delight sets up January window…

In what was billed by some as a must-win clash in the context of their title hopes, Celtic saw off Rangers at Parkhead in front of a raucous home crowd as goals from Paulo Bernardo and Kyogo Furuhashi cancelled out James Tavernier's late reply from a free-kick for the visitors.

Speaking to media post-match, Brendan Rodgers responded to recent suggestions from some within Scottish footballing circles that had doubted the Hoops' title credentials, stating:

"Over my two spells here I’ve worked against five Rangers managers and every time Rangers 'were coming'. Every time at some point. So for me, it’s it’s normal."

Celtic "advance" in talks with "prospect" after summer scouting missions

Celtic are in the market for quality in the January window…

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Dec 27, 2023

Nonetheless, the Northern Irishman will know that Phillipe Clement's side will throw everything at trying to sway the destination of the Scottish top-flight crown, making January an important month for everyone concerned with Celtic.

Citing his need for new reinforcements, Rodgers said in an interview last month: "We want to bring in quality, especially at the top end of the field. That’s hopefully something that we can hope to resolve in the next couple of windows. We need to add quality. That’s the glaring thing that stands out within the squad. If we can have players available and add to that then we can go again and push forward."

Now, it appears that the Hoops have made a move for an experienced defender who could help to offer some valuable squad depth, according to a report.

Celtic make Scott McKenna approach

According to PLZ Soccer, Celtic have approached Nottingham Forest regarding defender Scott McKenna by making a tentative enquiry, therefore initiating contact with the Premier League outfit and the Scotland international's entourage over his possible availability.

In their Glasgow Derby victory over Rangers, Stephen Welsh was withdrawn and replaced by Maik Nawrocki and Cameron Carter-Vickers was ruled out until after the winter break in the build-up to the fixture, stretching Rodgers' options at centre-back to the limit.

Dubbed a "good athlete" by former teammate Barry Robson, McKenna is no stranger to Rodgers, who is a known admirer of his qualities after persistently trying to sign him during his first spell at Parkhead.

Now said to be frozen out at Nottingham Forest alongside teammate Joe Worrall, the 27-year-old could be a financially advantageous arrival for Celtic if he is to return to the Scottish Premiership in January, given that he is out of contract at the East Midlands-based side this summer, making this one to watch.