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Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham drew 1-1 with Bournemouth, with late drama between the sides leading to a thrilling end on Monday evening.

The Spanish coach clearly tweaked his game plan against the Cherries in order to avoid their pressing traps, playing slightly more direct, looking to miss out the midfield pivot and win second balls closer to the box.

A late penalty call for a controversial handball saw the Hammers take a 1-0 lead in the 87th minute through Lucas Paqueta. But just three minutes later, Enes Unal smashed the equaliser home with a wonderful freekick.

West Ham remain 14th in the Premier League despite picking up four points in their last two games, and whilst results have picked up in their last few fixtures, the performances have still left a lot to be desired.

West Ham's best performers vs Bournemouth

Having said that, against Bournemouth, there were a few good performances, one of which was the performance of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, making eight saves, six of them coming from inside the box.

Another top performer was the goalscorer, Paqueta, who not only slotted away the penalty, but also made three key passes, took three shots (one on target), and had 51 touches.

Defender Max Kilman was another performance worth mentioning, making five blocks, three tackles, winning three of his five ground duels, winning five of his seven aerial duels, and making six of his 13 long balls attempted.

But alongside these good performances, there was a poor one that needs to be addressed, as Lopetegui now has a decision to make on whether to drop this man or not.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Edson Alvarez's performance v Bournemouth

Edson Alvarez has made 14 appearances this season, receiving four yellow cards and two red cards in 843 minutes played. The Mexican midfielder was given a 5/10 match rating for his performance by The Standard, with a few poor mistakes bringing his score down on Monday evening.

The 27-year-old played 75 minutes against the Cherries, losing possession 11 times, failing both of his long ball attempts and completing just 76% of his passes (32/42).

Minutes

75

Touches

49

Accurate Passes

32/42

Long Balls

0/2

Shots

1

Successful Dribble Attempts

2/2

Ground Duels Won

2/3

Aerial Duels Won

2/3

Possession Lost

11

Alvarez was tasked with dropping between the two central defenders on the ball for West Ham, as they looked to bypass the middle of the pitch, playing long balls into the front line, and winning second balls. However, the Mexico international put his side under pressure at times, losing the ball 11 times, and missing both of those long ball attempts.

In terms of winning his duels, he did win four out of six both ground and aerial, but when he was the main source of protection in front of the defensive line, the fact he only competed in six duels in his 75 minutes, is a different problem of its own, which can again begin to highlight some slight mobility issues in the West Ham midfield.

Since joining the club last summer, with the aim of replacing Declan Rice, the 27-year-old defensive midfielder has struggled to provide consistency in the middle of the park for the Hammers, and now Lopetegui has a big decision on his hands regarding his place in the team, especially as his job is far from secure.

West Ham must regret selling Moyes flop who's now like Harry Kane

West Ham sold this £35m man too soon.

ByConnor Holden Dec 13, 2024

Arsenal star Declan Rice has had his say on summer signing Cristhian Mosquera as Mikel Arteta waits to discover the extent of his injury problem.

Arsenal defeat Brentford 2-0 to maintain 18-game unbeaten run

The Gunners restored their five-point advantage at the Premier League summit with a straightforward victory over Brentford on Wednesday evening.

Mikel Merino’s early header and Bukayo Saka’s stoppage-time finish secured all three points to extend the Gunners’ unbeaten streak to 18 matches, but Arteta faces mounting injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa.

The manager watched Mosquera hobble off just before halftime after landing awkwardly during an aerial challenge with Kevin Schade.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

The defender immediately signalled discomfort and was unable to continue, with Jurrien Timber entering as his replacement to partner Piero Hincapie in central defence.

Arsenal’s defensive problems have now intensified with both regular starters William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes already sidelined through injury, leaving Arteta with severely limited options at the back during a congested festive fixture schedule.

That being said, the good news is that Saliba is expected to be back in a ‘matter of days’, according to Arteta in his pre-Brentford press conference.

If the Frenchman is fit and available for Villa, Arsenal will have little choice but to thrust Saliba right back into the starting eleven to partner Hincapie, with Gabriel still weeks away from returning.

Mikel Arteta says "very powerful" Arsenal star has took him completely by surprise

He wasn’t expecting it.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 3, 2025

The situation worsened against Brentford when Rice gestured toward his right calf before receiving treatment and departing in the 83rd minute. Viktor Gyokeres replaced the influential midfielder as concerns grew about the England international’s availability for crucial upcoming fixtures.

Luckily for Arteta, Rice has managed to avoid a serious injury and is expected to be fit for their upcoming Premier League clash against Unai Emery’s men in-form Villa side.

Supporters can breathe a massive sigh of relief after this news, but they’re still waiting to find out about Mosquera’s condition.

Declan Rice praises Cristhian Mosquera amid Arsenal injury scare

Speaking to Sky Sports before Arsenal’s win over Brentford, Rice explained exactly why the Spaniard could end up being a sore miss — especially with Saliba currently absent and a doubt for this weekend.

The England international, who has been their arguable player of the season so far, told Sky that Mosquera is an “incredible” player with “immense” qualities alongside Hincapie.

This high praise comes as further evidence of what many already know — Mosquera has proved to be one of the bargains of the summer.

Signed for just £13 million from Valencia, the 21-year-old has done exactly what has been required of him whilst barely ever faltering.

Mosquera was handed his Premier League debut in a testing 1-0 defeat at Anfield in August, the club’s last defeat in all competitions, and he performed admirably at a very difficult ground after replacing the injured Saliba.

The youngster has attracted major praise whenever he’s been asked to fill in for one of Arsenal’s first choice pairing, with Martin Keown claiming that Mosquera has ‘the same DNA’ as both Saliba and Gabriel.

Arsenal will now be praying that his development isn’t stifled by a serious long-term injury, and the club are reportedly convinced that Mosquera could become one of the best centre-backs in world football.

Back in the summer of 2024, very few Tottenham Hotspur supporters would have predicted the rise Djed Spence would endure in North London over the last 12 months.

He was signed by Antonio Conte in the summer of 2022, but it was a deal the Italian didn’t want – subsequently excluding him from his plans, restricting the right-back to just six first-team outings.

He was sent on three separate loans between 2022 and 2024, joining the likes of Stade Rennais, Leeds United and Genoa respectively – but he failed to deliver, leading to a permanent move away from the Lilywhites being mooted.

However, last season’s injury crisis handed him valuable minutes in the Premier League – subsequently ending up making a total of 35 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25.

At present, he’s a regular starter under Thomas Frank and is now a full England international – potentially taking the RB role from one other member in the squad.

Pedro Porro's lack of form for Spurs in 2025/26

After registering nine assists across all competitions last season, many Spurs fans will have been expecting Pedro Porro to kick on and reach the next level under Frank’s guidance.

However, the opening months of the season have been tricky for the Spaniard, with the full-back unable to match the expectations of the Lilywhites faithful in North London.

The 26-year-old may have started all but one league outing to date, but his underlying stats show how disappointing he’s been since the Dane took the reins in the off-season.

Porro currently ranks in just the 12th percentile for passes completed in the Premier League for 2025/26, highlighting his wasteful nature, which has seen him register just one assist.

The main asset of his game in recent times has been his ability to travel with the ball into dangerous areas and provide those in the box with the ammunition to find the back of the net.

However, the full-back has only completed 18% of his crosses in the Premier League to date, which ranks him in just the 40th percentile for full-backs at present.

Defensively, Porro has been just as lacklustre, winning just 4.2 duels per 90 and 1.2 tackles, with both figures putting him in the lower end of the table compared to other defenders.

His form will likely be a concern to Frank, with the Dane desperately needing to find an immediate solution to the problems facing him in the right-back area.

How Spurs can solve their Porro problem

Given the huge spending from the Spurs hierarchy in recent years, they will no doubt have huge expectations in Frank to guide the club up the league table in 2025/26.

After the first eight outings, the Lilywhites currently occupy eighth place, losing on just two occasions, but there’s no disputing the side could be in a much healthier position.

His men threw away a one-goal lead against Aston Villa in North London on Sunday, with such a result taking them just a couple of points off the summit had they held on.

The sheer volume of games that face the club this campaign will result in a serious rotation of players – with Archie Gray taking full advantage of his own opportunity on Tuesday.

Eyebrows were raised last summer when the board paid £40m for the 19-year-old’s signature – especially after he had just ended his only previous year as a professional with Leeds United the season prior.

Despite his tender age, he mirrored Spence in taking advantage of the injury crisis, subsequently making 46 appearances across all competitions – many of which were in an unfamiliar centre-back role.

However, despite his lack of action in his regular midfield role, he’s been hugely praised for his immediate impact in North London, with analyst Ben Mattinson dubbing him a “future £100m” talent.

Gray was handed his first Champions League start against Monaco earlier this week, operating in a left-back role, but once again showcasing his unbelievable quality.

The teenager won 100% of the tackles he entered, whilst also making four clearances and two interceptions – highlighting his incredible ability out of possession.

He was just as impressive with the ball at his feet, completing 90% of the passes he attempted, with three of which going into the final third, leading to him creating two chances in the process.

At just 19, there’s no denying Gray is a world-class talent with the world at his feet – but his versatility is one asset that could allow him to go one step further than most youngsters in the modern game.

He often featured at right-back during his time at boyhood club Leeds, with Frank desperately needing to utilise him in such a role going forward and drop Porro out of his immediate plans.

The Spaniard has been an excellent addition for the club, but it may be time for fresh blood to stake their claim for a regular starting role to help take the Lilywhites to the next level.

Spurs star was as big a problem as Richarlison, now he looks undroppable

Tottenham Hotspur have found a new top-level talent despite drawing 0-0 with Monaco in the Champions League.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 23, 2025

Manchester United’s spell under Ruben Amorim has been largely unsuccessful, with the 40-year-old’s job even coming into question before his one-year anniversary in the role.

From 15th-placed Premier League finishes to Carabao Cup exits against League Two opposition, his tenure at Old Trafford has been far from what many supporters expected.

However, over the last couple of weeks, the 40-year-old has finally started to show glimpses of being a success in the role in the immediate and long-term future.

His men have now won three league games in a row, with Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest presenting the manager with the chance to extend such a run.

Some of the recent success has been down to the impact of the new summer additions, but also the transformation of numerous players already on the books prior to his appointment.

Man Utd players who have had a resurgence under Amorim

Amad Diallo was a player with a huge future at United after they forked out a reported £36m for his signature back in January 2021, but the early days of his stint in England were limited to say the least.

He was often utilised as a bench player under the guidance of former manager Erik ten Hag, but Amorim’s arrival sparked a newfound sense of belief in the Ivorian.

Since the manager’s arrival, the 23-year-old has operated in an unnatural wing-back role, but it’s allowed for consistent first-team minutes and a total of 20 combined goals and assists in his last 52 outings.

He’s not alone in turning his career at Old Trafford around, with centre-back Matthijs de Ligt often struggling to make the immediate impact many hoped for after his switch from Bayern Munich last summer.

The Dutch international was often called into question for his lack of defensive dominance, but he’s been a key component of Amorim’s side this campaign – subsequently playing every minute in the Premier League to date.

He’s made 1.7 tackles per 90 so far this campaign, along with 3.1 aerial duels won, tallies which have provided the side with the steel they were missing at the back last campaign.

Other players such as Luke Shaw and Mason Mount have also been regular starters throughout the early days of the season – potentially a surprise after being hounded by fans in 2024/25.

Such situations highlight the manager’s individual management with the players at his disposal, which has allowed for the Red Devils to endure a somewhat unfamiliar winning feeling as of late.

The United player who’s becoming one of their best in 2025/26

When you think of some of United’s best players in the current campaign, the imagination no doubt goes directly towards the £200m attacking trio who arrived this summer.

Bryan Mbeumo is just one of the attacking stars who has made an immediate impact at Old Trafford, as seen by his tally of five goals in his first ten outings for the club.

Bruno Fernandes is no doubt another that springs to mind, and understandably so, especially after the club captain registered 37 combined goals and assists last season.

However, the Portuguese international has since dropped into a deeper role, subsequently allowing the likes of Mbeumo to operate in the number ten role in the 3-4-2-1 system.

As a result, Amorim has had to find a dominant ball-winner to operate alongside Bruno, with the 40-year-old decided to utilise the experienced Casemiro in such a role.

The 33-year-old joined in a £60m deal from Real Madrid back in the summer of 2022, with real hope of handing the Red Devils the top-level star they craved in the middle of the park.

However, his stint in England has been largely topsy-turvy, with his disciplinary record of four red cards often holding him back from being a reliable option.

Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher even called the Brazilian “terrible” back in September 2023 – before his infamous ‘leave the football’ quotes in May 2024 – with many expecting the player to depart the Theatre of Dreams during the recent window.

Despite such criticism, Casemiro has managed to transform his career in the Premier League, now appearing in all but one league outing of the 2025/26 campaign.

Games played

8

Goals & assists

3

Pass accuracy

83%

Tackles made

3.1

Ball recoveries

5.3

Duels won

60%

Aerials won

1.6

Fouls won

1.2

Whilst working out of possession is largely his responsibility, he’s managed to star with the ball at his feet – scoring twice and notching one assist in his eight appearances.

He’s also managed to make 3.1 tackles and 5.3 ball recoveries per 90 – highlighting his defensive talent, which has so often been called into question in recent years.

Other tallies, such as 60% duels won and 1.6 aerials won per 9,0 further showcase his dominant ability – making him the perfect partner alongside Bruno at present.

Casemiro deserves huge credit for his recent revival under Amorim, subsequently going from a certain exit to now being one of the club’s most important players.

The duo’s partnership at the heart of the side could allow for a successful 2025/26 campaign and kickstart the manager’s tenure at Old Trafford.

Not Cunha or Mbeumo: Man Utd gem is becoming one of the "best in the world"

Manchester United have yet another world-class star on their hands under Ruben Amorim.

2 ByEthan Lamb Oct 30, 2025

Former Tottenham defender Erik Edman has lavished praise on a "magical" youngster who is yet to make his senior debut for Spurs.

Lange transfer policy of signing Europe's top talent

The N17 academy has blossomed in recent years, with top talents like Jamie Donley, Dane Scarlett and Oliver Skipp coming as just three examples of young players who eventually broke into the first team.

Journalist says Spurs could re-sign "beautiful" player ahead of Pochettino

Chelsea are believed to have looked at signing him as well.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 23, 2024

Youth is a very important subject at Spurs and manager Ange Postecoglou, who recently stated that he wants Tottenham to become one of Europe's premier destinations for promising talent.

“It’s what people are seeing,” Postecoglou said on Tottenham's appeal to rising stars (via The Athletic).

“You can try to sell a vision to someone, but if there’s tangible physical evidence of it… Anyone who has watched us since I’ve joined will have seen the aspirations we have to be the kind of team we want to be.

“That’s not just me saying it, we’re actually doing it. OK, we’re not the finished product by any stretch. But we’re giving young players an opportunity. Destiny, Pape and Micky, all guys in their early 20s who have already played significant roles.

“We’re building a team. From our perspective, it’s pleasing and hopefully we become a club which is a preferred destination for talented young players. There aren’t too many hidden gems around — everyone knows who the talents are. Hopefully our point of difference, I’ve always felt your football is your biggest selling point, beyond anything else. Hopefully we’re showing evidence of that which is helping us.”

Tottenham continue to be linked with a host of young players heading into January, including Udinese right-back Festy Ebosele and Everton starlet Jarrad Branthwaite among others.

Perhaps the biggest statement of intent by Spurs in recent months was hijacking Barcelona's deal to sign Swedish sensation Lucas Bergvall on a buy-to-loan back deal from Djurgardens IF. The 18-year-old ultimately chose north London over the Camp Nou in a huge signal that Tottenham's appeal is growing and growing.

"It felt better in the stomach," said Bergvall on why he chose Spurs over Barcelona.

"They are both incredible clubs. It was a very difficult choice, it was 50-50 for a very long time, but it felt like the next step for me was Tottenham. It was not very easy to say no to Barcelona, it took a very long time to decide. It was a tough decision."

Edman praises "magical" Bergvall

Currently back out on loan at Djurgardens, where he is impressing, former Spurs defender Edman has heaped praise on Bergvall and perhaps explains exactly what supporters can expect from the teenager.

Date of Birth: February 2nd

Nationality: Sweden

Height: 1.87m

Position: Central midfield

“What an incredible player this can be," said Edman to SVT, relayed by Sport Witness, coming after the midfield prodigy bagged two goals and an assist as Djurgarden's battered Nordic United 5-0 this week.

"The build-up to Hummet’s 3-0 was also magical. Tottenham probably feel they are pretty happy with this deal right now”.

It was yet another dismal display from the floundering Tottenham Hotspur last night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side took on an inform Bournemouth team at the Vitality Stadium, and despite dismantling Manchester City less than two weeks ago, were played off the park.

It was the North Londoners’ sixth Premier League defeat of the season and the third game in a row in which they’ve dropped points, following shambolic showings against AS Roma and Fulham last week.

Premier League

Bournemouth (A)

1-0 (L)

Premier League

Fulham (H)

1-1 (D)

Europa League

AS Roma (H)

2-2 (D)

Premier League

Man City (A)

4-0 (W)

Premier League

Ipswich (H)

2-1 (L)

It’s impossible to pinpoint the worst performer of the lot for Spurs, but last night showed that Postecoglou must drop one of the club’s biggest stars.

Spurs poor performers

So, before we get to the player in question, let’s examine a few of the other players who stood out for all the wrong reasons, starting with someone who’s becoming a bit of a scapegoat this season, Radu Draguisn.

Now, it should be said that the Romanian wasn’t solely responsible for the defeat, but he did lose Dean Huijsen on the corner he scored from, which was more than enough to justify the paltry 5/10 match rating he received from Spurs writer Alasdair Gold.

Out on the wings, it was a night to forget for both Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson, as the former’s only notable contribution to the game was a tame shot straight at the keeper in the first half, while the latter made no meaningful contribution at all.

Unsurprisingly, neither one impressed Gold very much, who gave the Swedish international a 4/10 and the Welshman an even more damning 3/10 on the night.

Lastly, it was not the return Dominic Solanke would have been dreaming of, as the former Cherries ace was practically anonymous for the vast majority of the game, and on the rare occasion he did find himself in a dangerous area with the ball at his feet, he made the wrong decision or simply blasted the ball miles over, as he did in the first half.

However, there was another of the team’s stars who put in a dreadful display last night, a star who must be dropped for some time.

The Spurs star who must be dropped

So, with most of his teammates already covered, we come to James Maddison, who looked a million miles away from the superstar player who tore City asunder last month.

Instead of spearheading attacks, putting the ball in the back of the net and striking fear into the opposition defenders, the £40m man looked lost at sea, desperately trying to make something happen in one moment and then fading out of the game in another, and his statistics from the game do not help his cause at all.

For example, in his 80 minutes of action, if you can even call them that, the former Leicester City ace amassed an expected assists figure of just 0.22, failed to take a single shot on target, misplaced four of five crosses, made just 39 accurate passes, failed in 100% of his dribbles, missed one big chance, lost the ball a staggering 17 times and committed one foul.

Minutes

80′

Expected Assists

0.22

Assists

0

Shots on Target

0

Crosses (Accurate)

5 (1)

Passing Accuracy

39/47 (83%)

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (0)

Big Chances Missed

1

Lost Possession

17

Fouls

1

Unsurprisingly, Gold was suitably unimpressed with what he saw and gave Englishman a 4/10 at full-time, writing that it was ‘another game lacking in impact’ from the 28-year-old and that he simply ‘didn’t contribute much,’ which is a pretty damming appraisal.

Nobody can doubt the “incredible” midfielder’s ability, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, but his consistency remains a problem, as following the masterclass at the Etihad he has failed to score or assist a goal in his last three games and considering the level of opposition, that’s just not good enough.

Therefore, while Maddison will likely have a significant role to play for Spurs this season, he should be dropped from the starting lineup for some time, as he has not been good enough lately.

Worse than Solanke: Tottenham star who lost the ball 13x dropped a 3/10

It was a night to forget for the talented international.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 6, 2024

Chelsea’s academy has consistently been one of the very best in England over the years, producing endless stars who have gone on and made themselves a living playing the beautiful game.

Despite the huge investment from owner Todd Boehly, centre-back Levi Colwill has been able to force himself into the plans of boss Enzo Maresca, starting every single Premier League outing as of yet.

As a result of his impressive form at Stamford Bridge, he’s been called up to Lee Carsley’s England squad for two of the last three squads; showcasing his continued development with his boyhood side.

Given his tender age of just 21, he has the time to develop into one of the best defenders in Europe, potentially spending his entire career in West London.

However, if he were to depart the Bridge, it would take an enormous amount of money, potentially surpassing the highest fee they’ve received for an academy graduate.

Chelsea’s most expensive academy graduate departures

Attacking midfielder Mason Mount has certainly made a few enemies after departing the Blues back in the summer of 2023, joining fellow English side Manchester United.

The 25-year-old came through the academy, enjoying various loans with Vitesse and Derby County before making his mark on the club’s first-team squad.

He would accumulate nearly 200 appearances, scoring 33 times, before opting for a new challenge, leaving for United in a £60m deal – the highest fee received for a Chelsea academy star.

Left-back Ian Maatsen only managed 16 games for Chelsea, spending the majority of his time at the club out on loan.

The Dutchman has enjoyed various spells with the likes of Coventry City, Burnley and Borussia Dortmund, before bringing his Blues career to an end over the summer, leaving for Aston Villa in a whopping £37.5m deal – slotting into second for their biggest academy graduate departure fee.

However, boss Maresca has the opportunity to add to that list in the coming months, desperately needing to cash in on an ace who’s simply been unable to demonstrate his undeniable ability.

The Chelsea player who Maresca needs to offload

Full-back Reece James has developed into one of Europe’s best talents in recent years, making over 150 appearances for the Blues since his debut at the end of 2018/19.

However, over the last couple of years, injuries have massively prevented the former England international from kicking on and achieving his full potential with his boyhood side.

James, who was previously dubbed “phenomenal” by former boss Frank Lampard, has been restricted to less than 25 appearances per season over the last two years, only making three starts to date in 2024/25 after an injury during the opening weeks.

The 24-year-old featured in his first game of the campaign in the 2-1 defeat against Liverpool at the end of October but is set for yet another spell on the sideline.

2022/23

Knee

60

9

2022/23

Knee

35

7

2022/23

Hamstring

4

1

2022/23

Illness

6

1

2022/23

Hamstring

36

7

2023/24

Hamstring

54

9

2023/24

Surgery

151

29

2024/25

Hamstring

66

11

2024/25

Hamstring

11

2

Total:

9

423

76

He sustained a hamstring issue ahead of the last Premier League clash with Leicester City, thus missing the fixture, with the right-back set to be out until January 2025, which could see him miss another nine matches in all competitions.

His talent is unquestionable, but given his huge £250k-per-week wages, the highest of any player in the side, along with his injury record, he needs to be sold at the next opportunity, with journalist Graeme Bailey claiming an exit could be on the cards.

It’s a real shame to see such a star-studded graduate hampered through no fault of his own, but given his £13m yearly incoming, they cannot afford to carry passengers who could put their financial situation at risk.

Many fans may disagree, but ultimately, he’s spent more time out of the side than in it because of his fitness issues, needing to cash in on him before his value plummets any further than it will have in recent times.

Not just Jorgensen: 9/10 Chelsea star has caused a big selection headache

Filip Jorgensen was in top form as Chelsea made it four from four in the Conference League.

ByConnor Holden Nov 29, 2024

It has been a poor start to the season for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Gary O’Neil’s job has come under fire in recent weeks, with the Old Gold sitting second-bottom in the Premier League with just one victory on the board.

That win came against Southampton last Saturday, with the Midlands club getting a 2-0 win against their relegation rivals.

Indeed, that was their only clean sheet of the season so far. Wolves have been shaky defensively this term, conceding 27 times, which is five goals more than any other side in the top flight. However, they have performed far better from an attacking point of view and possess plenty of firepower in forward areas.

Wolves attacking stats 2024/25

It may well come as a surprise to many that the Old Gold have scored 16 times this term. Whilst that is not incredible, there are ten sides with fewer than them, including fifth in the table Nottingham Forest, and Fulham with the same amount.

Whilst their season has, on the whole, been a disaster so far, the Midlands outfit can surely only be happy to have been outscored by just eight sides, all of whom are 11th or above in the table. There are a couple of individuals, in particular, who are a big reason why their form in front of goal has been so good.

Of course, one of those players is Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian forward has been sensational this term, scoring five times and registering seven assists in the 11 Premier League games played so far. That included a match-winning contribution against Southampton, where he scored one goal and assisted the other to ensure the Old Gold picked up their first win of the season.

Another Wolves star who is having an exceptional campaign is Rayan Ait-Nouri. The left-wing back has taken his game to a new level this season, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists flying up and down the left flank. Impressively, this is already his best season from a goal-involvement perspective.

Summer addition Jorgen Strand Larsen is also having a good impact for the Old Gold. The Norweigan striker has scored four times so far, grabbing an assist along the way too. He joined on a loan deal from Celta Vigo, a move that will become permanent if certain clauses are triggered.

If that is the case, it might leave one Wolves striker, currently on loan elsewhere, out in the cold at Molineux. That player is Fabio Silva.

Fabio Silva’s Wolves salary

Portuguese striker Silva has had a strange career at Molineux, to say the least. He was just 18 years old when he joined the club in 2020. He signed from Porto for £35.6m, which was the Old Gold’s record signing at the time.

Now 22, the former teen prodigy has seen his career stagnate. His Wolves record is disappointing, with just five goals and six assists in 72 appearances. Of course, he is young, but it is certainly disappointing to see him struggling at Molineux.

Stat

2020/21

2021/22

2023/24

Games

36

26

10

Minutes

1678

856

373

Goals

4

0

1

Assists

3

3

0

Silva has had various loan spells over the years, playing for Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers and, this season, Las Palmas. His best return came for the Belgian giants Anderlecht, where he scored seven league goals and he has three in nine La Liga games this campaign.

However, Wolves’ patience seems to be running thing. According to reports, the Old Gold are believed to ‘want him off the wage bill’. It might not be viewed as a big loss to the club given he told SPORTbible in June that he “didn’t want to join Wolves” in the first place.

The centre-forward is a big earner too, pocketing £79k-per-week as per Capology. Incredibly, that is more than their biggest two stars combined. Cunha earns £60k-per-week, and Ait-Nouri just £10k-per-week.

It seems like it would be good for both club and player to part ways in January or the summer. Strand Larsen will potentially join permanently, blocking Silva’s pathway into the starting XI, and given he is on such a high wage, earning more than their best two players, it certainly makes sense to sell him as soon as possible.

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Tottenham are said to be eyeing a 26-year-old defender, coming after reliable reports he'd be willing to make the move to north London.

Spurs set sights on another centre-back signing after Dragusin

While the Lilywhites sealed a much-needed deal for centre-back Radu Dragusin from Genoa in the January transfer window, it is believed Spurs are aiming to sign another central defender later this year.

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Indeed, manager Ange Postecoglou is said to be plotting a further restructure of his backline, with the likes of Napoli defender Leo Ostigard, Bologna's Riccardo Calafiori and Everton starlet Jarrad Branthwaite all sporadically linked in the last month.

Eric Dier left north London for Bayern Munich on loan in the January window, and with his contract set to expire in June, the Englishman won't be returning to play a role under Postecoglou next campaign.

Radu Dragusin

Arrival (permanent)

Lucas Bergvall

Arrival (buy-to-loan-back)

Timo Werner

Arrival (loan)

Alejo Veliz

Exit (loan)

Djed Spence

Exit (loan)

Ashley Phillips

Exit (loan)

Sergio Reguilon

Exit (loan)

Japhet Tanganga

Exit (loan)

Eric Dier

Exit (loan)

Ivan Perisic

Exit (loan)

Tottenham may need to source a long-term replacement for Dier, as even with the addition of Dragusin, Postecoglou has gone from potentially having four natural senior centre-back options to just three.

As we've seen from van de Ven and Romero's injuries this term, just a couple of blows can leave Spurs desperately short in certain areas. Signing another defender could therefore be the right idea for technical director Johan Lange and the wider recruitment team.

Fulham star Tosin Adarabioyo is another option who's regularly mentioned in regards to a potential switch. Tottenham have been repeatedly linked with a move for Tosin since last summer's transfer window, and the colossal 6 foot 5 defender could now also join as a free agent given his contract expires in June.

Tottenham eyeing summer Tosin move

According to Calciomercato, Spurs remain in the hunt to sign Tosin but face stiff competition from both AC Milan and London rivals West Ham. The Englishman, who's been called "magnificent" by members of the media (Muhammad Butt), has made 11 appearances under Marco Silva this season but spent the vast majority of early 2023/2024 out with a groin injury.

Perhaps most interestingly, a very reliable transfer source in football.london journalist Alasdair Gold said late last year that Tosin would be up for joining Tottenham if Postecoglou's side came calling.

“We’ve spoken about Tosin Adarabioyo at Fulham, Spurs have certainly retained an interest there," he explained on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham podcast.

"He’s an interesting one, like Eric Dier, he’s available in the summer, I understand that if all parties were able to agree a deal he would be up for the move to Spurs, but financially it probably wouldn’t benefit him as much."

Formerly of Man City and Blackburn Rovers, signing a player of his proven Premier League ability for free would arguably be a prudent move by Lange and co.

The future of a "vital" Sheffield Wednesday player has been decided ahead of the summer transfer window, according to an update from reliable journalist Alex Miller.

Sheffield Wednesday contract news

The Owls picked up a massive 2-0 victory away to Millwall on Saturday afternoon, keeping their hopes of survival alive in the Championship with one of their most important victories of the season to date.

Danny Rohl continues to do an admirable job since replacing Darren Moore earlier in the campaign, even if results are far from perfect, and the hope is that he can inspire his side to safety between now and May.

Once the end of the season arrives, there could be something of an exodus at Hillsborough, considering how many established players are out of contract with the Owls in 2024.

That includes last season's League One playoff final hero Josh Windass, who could potentially leave on a free transfer, should an extension not come his way, or he decides he wants a new challenge. The same applies to midfielder Will Vaulks, who is a key figure in the middle of the park when he is fit.

Legendary fan favourite Barry Bannan also falls into that category, as does centre-back Dominic Iorfa, so it could be a summer of real change, and a lot could depend on whether Wednesday have avoided relegation from the Championship or not.

Barry Bannan to stay at Sheff Wed

Writing on X, Miller claimed that Bannan will stay put at Sheffield Wednesday this summer, still being considered an important figure by Rohl.

"Barry Bannan is approaching the end of his Wednesday contract. Asked in December, he seemed uncertain over his future. Danny Rohl was unequivocal answering where Bannan will play his football next season. It doesn't get much clearer than this."

Bannan has been a genuinely superb player for Wednesday over so many years, and he is now arguably one of the best in the club's history given his technical ability and longevity, making a whopping 389 appearances for the Owls in total.

Bannan was described as an "intelligent" and "vital" player for Wednesday by Moore during his time as manager, and Rohl clearly thinks the same.

At 34 years of age, the Scot arguably isn't quite the force he used to be, which is only natural, but he is a footballer who relies more on talent than pace, so there is no reason why he can't still be an important figure at Hillsborough for a few more years, dictating matches just like he did at Millwall this weekend.

A short-term extension is a no-brainer and the hope is that Bannan is still playing Championship football next season, being rewarded after showing so much loyalty during the League One days.

Appearances

389

Goals

30

Assists

65