A number of Arsenal fans online have all praised the substitute cameo made by Takehiro Tomiyasu last night in the Europa League as he came on and impressed at left-back.
What’s the latest on Takehiro Tomiyasu at Arsenal? The Gunners faced Sporting CP away from home in the first leg of their last-16 European match this week and found things pretty awkward in Portugal.Indeed, even though they took the lead thanks to William Saliba, they were pulled back level just 12 minutes later when Goncalo Inacio headed in from a corner.Then Sporting actually took the lead through Paulinho in the second half and it took a huge slice of luck when Granit Xhaka’s pass deflected off Hidemasa Morita and into the back of the net to draw Arsenal level at 2-2.With Kieran Tierney absent through illness, Tomiyasu was asked to come on at left-back for the last 27 minutes and he really helped steady the ship for Mikel Arteta’s men.As per SofaScore, he finished the game with a 7.3 match rating (the best of any substitute from either team). What’s more, he also made one interception, won one tackle, won five out of five ground duels and two out of three aerial duels, and also pulled off one key pass and completed three out of three successful dribbles.Clearly, he had a pretty impressive cameo and it’s safe to say the Arsenal fans enjoyed seeing him fill in at left-back. Here are some of the best responses online…[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/_philcosta/status/1633908357756010499?s=46&t=hH2NiXoN5Q53lPpbpDhPRA[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/ltarsenal/status/1633930184188473348[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/Fragiie_Millz/status/1633930163372032003[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/Cgancgan/status/1633930005188165633[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/trickyreds14/status/1633937317458235393[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/goonernumber31/status/1633937505543176192[/EMBED_TWITTER][EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/lolgoil/status/1633939280396468224[/EMBED_TWITTER]
A key feature of Erik ten Hag's Manchester United tenure so far has been the Dutchman's ruthless streak, with the former Ajax boss having notably shown Cristiano Ronaldo the door last season following the striker's bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, while also calling time on David De Gea's 12-year stint at Old Trafford earlier this summer.
The 53-year-old also looks set to allow Harry Maguire to join West Ham United after stripping the Englishman of the captaincy, while Brazilian enigma, Fred, is another who appears to be up for grabs after spending the last five years in Manchester.
It looks as if no one is truly safe from the axe with Ten Hag in charge, with the experienced coach also seemingly set to allow Donny van de Beek to move on before the September deadline, despite the playmaker having thrived under his compatriot during their time together in Amsterdam.
Will Van de Beek leave Man United this summer?
According to recent reports, the 26-year-old has been the subject of interest from Real Sociedad as his nightmare stint in English football looks set to be coming to a close, with the £40m signing having scored just twice and provided only two assists in 60 games in all competitions for the Red Devils.
Read the latest Manchester United transfer news HERE…
Despite previously chipping in with 75 goals and assists in 175 games in all competitions during his time in the Eredivisie, Van de Beek has since been unable to enjoy a consistent run of games since being snapped up by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and co back in 2020, having notably missed the second half of last season after suffering an unfortunate injury blow in January.
In what has been a rather luckless three years for the midfielder, in truth, the one-time Everton loanee has hardly impressed when he has featured in a United shirt, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst suggesting last year that playing the Netherlands international simply "doesn't work".
Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek.
With Van de Beek likely to be on his way sooner rather than later, it may well provide a chance for Hannibal Mejbri to stake a claim for a more prominent role in the first-team squad, although the Tunisian isn't the only youngster who could be deserving of a promotion, with Isak Hansen-Aaroen also catching the eye of late.
Who is Isak Hansen-Aaroen?
The former Tromso starlet is yet to make a senior, competitive appearance since signing for United back in 2019, although at the age of just 18, the Norwegian maestro still has time on his side to force his way into Ten Hag's thinking over the coming years.
The teenage talent did take his chance to impress during the pre-season encounter with rivals Leeds United last month, with Manchester Evening News journalist Rich Fay writing that the £1.1k-per-week gem was 'direct and dangerous whenever he got on the ball in front of a noisy home crowd'.
That rare outing was followed up by another sparkling cameo against Lyon a week later in Edinburgh, with MEN's Steven Railston also writing glowing about the playmaker's performance, stating: 'His passing was progressive and he looked to initiate attacks whenever in possession.'
Erik ten Hag
Previously part of United's FA Youth Cup-winning side back in 2022, the Norway U19 international has been dubbed a "beautiful footballer" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with the respected insider also writing that the precocious prospect "has football in his veins".
That has come amid hefty praise from his former Tromso teammate Yttergard Jenssen, who has previously likened Hansen-Aaroen to his compatriot, Martin Odegaard:
"I realised that this was a talented boy already in the first training. He has some skills that are completely raw. He's so playful with the ball. And the way he moves on a football field… There's something artistic about it. He is a bit reminiscent of Martin Odegaard."
While yet to prove himself on the senior stage at the Theatre of Dreams, it would be no surprise if Hansen-Aaroen were to follow in Alejandro Garnacho's footsteps and cement his place in Ten Hag's squad moving forward, with the likely exit of Van de Beek set to leave a space up for grabs in those attacking midfield berths.
Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag has made tracks to try and bring in some competition for Andre Onana between the sticks and bolster numbers in the goalkeeping department at Old Trafford, according to reports.
Who is the goalkeeper target?
According to The Daily Mail, Manchester United have already made an approach to Benfica about goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as they look to secure a speedy replacement between the sticks amid news that Dean Henderson is in talks with Crystal Palace over a move to Selhurst Park.
Matej Kovar has been sold to Bayer Leverkusen and Nathan Bishop has moved on to Sunderland, creating a void to be filled in the goalkeeping department at the Premier League giants.
Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has issued a further update on the permutations surrounding Vlachodimos potentially heading to Manchester United, stating on X: "Manchester United are informed on the conditions of Odysseas Vlachodimos deal, as revealed yesterday. He wasn’t in Benfica squad last week as he’s expected to leave the club by the end of the window. Deal with Man Utd could only advance if Dean Henderson leaves the club."
Benfica youngster Samuel Soares has been given the nod ahead of Vlachodimos recently, and his boss, Roger Schmidt, has admitted that he is happy to introduce some 'new energy in the goalkeeper position' at the club.
Would Vlachodimos be a good signing for Manchester United?
Manchester United definitely need to get someone into the building at Old Trafford to help with available numbers in the goalkeeping position, which has been depleted further due to veteran Tom Heaton's calf injury, as per The Manchester Evening News.
Vlachodimos is an experienced stopper with a distinguished pedigree and would help provide some calm as an alternative to Onana at the club, and could actually be a better option to having behind the Cameroon star than Henderson.
Odysseas Vlachodimos in action against France for Greece in EURO 2024 qualifying.
In his time at Benfica, the 29-year-old has become a fan favourite as the last line of defence, keeping 94 clean sheets in 225 appearances across all competitions for the Primeira Liga holders, as per Transfermarkt, an impressive rate.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was quick to praise Vlachodimos in 2022 following the Reds' 3-1 victory in the Champions League over Benfica away from home at the quarter-final stage, as per BT Sport cited via Reuters, stating: "We should have scored much more. I think, mainly because of their goalkeeper, credit to him. Their goalkeeper was probably the game's best player. We played well, but he made a couple of really good saves."
Compared to his positional peers in Europe's next eight divisions below the top five leagues on the continent, Vlachodimos ranks highly with his clean sheet percentage, with 56.3% of his last 90 minutes across the previous 365 days resulting in a shut-out, as per FBRef, ranking him in the 99th percentile for that figure.
Now looking unfancied at Benfica, it looks like the chance has emerged for Manchester United to bring the Greece goalkeeper to Old Trafford before the end of the window, in what could be a shrewd if unspectacular move.
An update has emerged on Southampton and their plans to bolster their playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 Championship campaign…
What's the latest Southampton transfer news?
According to talkSPORT, the Saints are the favourites to secure a deal to sign Norwich City right-back Max Aarons before the end of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the club are 'lining' up a swoop for the England U21 international to potentially replace Tino Livramento at St. Mary's.
This comes amid The Northern Echo stating that Newcastle United are set to make a renewed effort to land the former Chelsea academy prodigy from Southampton. His exit would leave a vacant spot in the squad for Aarons to potentially come in and fill.
How good is Max Aarons?
The Canaries starlet is an experienced defender in spite of the fact that he is only 23.
Aarons has made 213 first-team appearances for Norwich throughout his career to date, which includes 70 Premier League matches, and has been capped a whopping 27 times by England at U21 level.
Bringing the full-back in would be a masterclass of a move by Russell Martin as the Saints head coach could use his connections with his former club to secure a fantastic signing.
Martin, who once played alongside Aarons in a U23 match for Norwich, spent nine years at Carrow Road and Southampton could now benefit from his relationship with the Yellows.
Signing the former Luton Town academy prospect could ease the possible blow of losing Livramento as he has proven himself to be capable of excelling in a promotion-winning team at this level.
Aarons has been promoted as a title-winner in the Championship twice in his career and caught the eye with his displays during their 2020/21 success.
Norwich right-back Max Aarons.
The £29k-per-week full-back averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.97 across 45 appearances as he created 1.4 chances per game, which would have placed him second within the Saints squad last term, as he helped his team to keep 17 clean sheets.
Livramento, who has never played at Championship level, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.85 across 28 top-flight matches during the 2021/22 campaign and created just 0.7 chances per match from right-back to illuminate just how creative Aarons was in comparison.
This suggests that the potential is there for the young right-back to come in as an upgrade on the 20-year-old talent.
Livramento has also missed 47 competitive matches through injury since January 2022 and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to steer clear of further issues with his knee after a cruciate ligament rupture.
Whereas, Aarons, who was once hailed as "outstanding" by former England U21 boss Aidy Boothroyd, has only been absent for two games throughout his entire professional career with Norwich to date, which came due to an ankle injury in 2019.
The Saints target is an ultra-reliable player who has played in the Premier League and knows how to get out of the Championship, whilst still having room to develop and grow.
Therefore, Martin could pull off a blinder by using his connections to seal a deal for the young defender, who has the ability and pedigree to be a phenomenal signing.
Manchester United are about to offload a first-team player to help clear their wage bill, and Erik ten Hag has given him permission to depart Old Trafford, according to reports.
What's the latest transfer news involving Manchester United?
According to Football Insider, Manchester United are keen to bring in a midfielder and a defender before the close of play in the market, but they need to shift players out of the door in order to sanction prospective incomings.
Previously, the Red Devils hoped that selling Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire would provide the 'requisite funds' to complete their business in the window; nevertheless, both moves broke down and have left Ten Hag in a tricky position and unable to facilitate arrivals.
Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat has been earmarked as a key target by Manchester United and has been given a deadline of this Friday to determine his next steps amid interest from the Red Devils, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, according to Corriere dello Sport via Football Italia.
Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch is also garnering attention from Manchester United and Liverpool, with the Netherlands international reportedly having a £22 million price tag on his head this summer, as per The Mirror.
Despite this, it remains to be seen whether Manchester United can afford moves for either target in light of their current situation. Dutch coach Ten Hag is looking to finalise a permanent exit for fringe player Donny van de Beek and any funds raised will be put towards further incomings, ESPN understand.
Now, in a report from Football Insider, Manchester United defender Brandon Williams has agreed a move to Sky Bet Championship side Ipswich Town after being left out of the squad for his employers' 2-0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
The outlet indicate that the £65k-a-week ace is set to swap Old Trafford for Portman Road on an initial loan agreement, which will likely include an option-to-buy to take him to Suffolk on a permanent basis.
Should Manchester United let go of Brandon Williams?
Despite showing promise in the infancy of his Manchester United career, it is clear that Williams' time is now up at Old Trafford and he is well down the pecking order at the club behind the likes of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Williams has made 51 appearances for the Red Devils since making his senior breakthrough, notching one goal and three assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.
Former Norwich loanee Brandon Williams.
Last campaign, the 22-year-old spent the majority of time out with various injury concerns and made just one appearance for Manchester United's senior side in a five-minute cameo against Burnley in the EFL Cup.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano had detailed that negotiations are 'advancing' over Williams' impending loan switch to Ipswich Town and has claimed that a buyout clause will be present in any agreement, which more or less confirms that his time at Manchester United is on the verge of coming to a permanent end.
Finding an environment where he can play regular football looking ahead will be important for Williams and the chance to work with former Manchester United first-team coach Kieran McKenna may be the ideal scenario to get his career back on track.
Glasgow Rangers will be without another of their first-team players for tonight’s Europa League group stage game vs Real Betis, following a fresh update.
Who is injured at Rangers?
At Ibrox, Michael Beale currently has both Todd Cantwell and Danilo on the sidelines with their own respective injuries, and whilst Kieran Dowell is also out of action, the boss recently provided a positive update on his fitness.
The Light Blues manager has confirmed that the summer signing is hoping to stage his comeback during the Scottish Premiership game against Aberdeen on September 30th having made positive progress in training.
However, Nicolas Raskin is also set to be unavailable for selection having missed training on Wednesday after sustaining a suspected calf injury, via Sky Sports, which is a real shame for the central midfielder who has been impressive following his arrival at the start of the new year.
Back in January, Belgium’s youth international put pen to paper north of the border from Standard Liege and he’s since gone on to make a total of 25 appearances, though taking into consideration the next update, he’ll have to wait a little bit longer to make his 26th.
How long is Nicolas Raskin out for?
Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Beale confirmed that Raskin is ruled out of this evening’s fixture vs Manuel Pellegrini’s side but failed to specify how long for in total, whilst also delivering an update on Cantwell and Danilo. He said:
“Nico Raskin is out with a calf problem – Raskin, Cantwell and Danilo will be missing. We still have options in midfield – we are losing a good player but we have good ones coming in. Danilo has had a successful surgery on the areas impacted. He will be back in non-contact training come the end of the international break.”
Glasgow Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin.
What type of player is Nicolas Raskin?
Raskin is naturally a central midfielder so he is capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch, and supporters will have seen that following his arrival at Rangers having been dubbed a “different class” in comparison to his fellow teammates by journalist Josh Bunting.
Sponsored by Adidas, the 22-year-old has been averaging 2.4 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per league game so far this season so loves to get stuck into challenges and win back possession for his team, via WhoScored, but he’s also provided two assists since joining so can get involved with the action in the final third.
Furthermore, Liege’s native is a versatile operator having been deployed in five different positions over the pitch since the start of his career, including four roles in the midfield and even out wide on the right-wing, and this is another attractive attribute that the gaffer will have to cope without.
The Teddy Bears having to enter tonight’s encounter without Raskin will definitely be a blow to Beale, but there’s no doubt that he will work hard on his recovery to ensure that he can get back on the pitch as soon as possible.
West Ham United could dip into the transfer market come January after a recent twist emerged surrounding one of their reported targets.
West Ham updates: Zouma contract, Paqueta exit, Soucek form
According to a contract update on Kurt Zouma from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano's Daily Briefing, talks are set to open between the club and the France international over a potential new deal at the London Stadium.
Romano wrote: "West Ham have contract talks scheduled with Kurt Zouma, so discussions will take place in the next weeks or months and we will see how it goes. He is the club captain and an important player for the Hammers, and guys at the moment honestly, there are no concrete negotiations with other clubs."
In other news, a transfer update on West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta claims that the Brazil international is keen to move to Manchester City amid rumours that he has a release clause worth £85 million that will activate in the summer of 2024, as per The Sun on Sunday (print edition October 15th, page 75), via Hammers News.
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek meanwhile managed to get himself on the scoresheet on international duty as the Czechs defeated the Faroe Islands 1-0 at the Doosan Arena in Plzen on Sunday evening.
Edson Álvarez and Mohammed Kudus faced off as Mexico defeated Ghana 2-0 in the United States, while Michail Antonio played 88 minutes for Jamaica as they saw off Haiti in the CONCACAF Nations League.
West Ham United's upcoming fixtures – all competitions
Competition
Opponent
Venue
Premier League
Aston Villa (A)
Villa Park
Europa League
Olympiacos (A)
Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium
Premier League
Everton (H)
London Stadium
EFL Cup
Arsenal (H)
London Stadium
Premier League
Brentford (A)
Gtech Community Stadium
West Ham transfer update – Kalvin Phillips
According to a West Ham transfer update on Kalvin Phillips, the England international would be open to joining the Hammers – or their Premier League rivals Newcastle United – due to the fact both sides are involved in European competition.
The outlet claim that Manchester City would seek to accumulate around £45 million for Phillips' services, which is around the fee that he was brought to the Etihad Stadium for from Leeds United in the summer of 2022.
Since his arrival, Phillips has failed to establish himself as a regular contributor for the Blues and is behind the likes of Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic, Rodri in Pep Guardiola's pecking order.
Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
Phillips, who was labelled "excellent" by Breaking The Lines in 2021, has featured just 26 times in all competitions for Manchester City over the course of his time at the Etihad Stadium and he is yet to register a single goal or assist (Phillips statistics – Transfermarkt).
Nevertheless, he is a regular pick in the England squad and featured as a substitute in their 1-0 victory over Australia last week, coming off the bench to replace Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher on 62 minutes.
Moyes isn't shy about giving homegrown players an opportunity to play their part for West Ham and Phillips would add further composure and solidity to their already talented engine room.
With speculation still swirling regarding Harry Kane's future at Tottenham Hotspur, chairman Daniel Levy could be eyeing a dream successor to the England skipper in the form of Paris Saint-Germain contract rebel, Kylian Mbappe.
What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?
As per various reports, Levy may be forced to cash in on Kane this summer rather than run the risk of letting the 29-year-old leave for nothing in a year's time, with Mbappe seemingly facing a similar situation at the Parc des Princes, as the Ligue 1 giants will also not entertain a free transfer exit for the Frenchman next summer, if he does not commit his future to the club.
According to French outlet, L'Equipe, Spurs could look to pounce on the uncertainty surrounding the 24-year-old's current situation, with the north Londoners said to be among the clubs who have 'taken information' from PSG chief, Nasser al-Khelaïfi in recent days.
The belief is that the likes of Tottenham – as well as their rival suitors – see a 'possibility' of taking the former Monaco man on loan for the upcoming campaign, with Ange Postecoglou's ready to lodge an 'important' bid in order convince his current side to agree to that temporary exit.
This comes amid claims that Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal have lodged a mammoth £260m bid for the forward, despite the 70-cap superstar being valued at closer to €126m (£108m), according to Football Transfers.
Could Mbappe replace Kane at Tottenham?
For many, attempting to replace Kane either this summer or the next appears something of an impossible task, with the Premier League side set to be forced to fill the void of a player who is their all-time record scorer, having also netted 30 league goals last season to finish second in the scoring charts behind Erling Haaland (36).
Tottenham's Harry Kane
If there was a man to plug the gap, however, it would seemingly be Mbappe, with the "crazy" talent – as described by Arsenal icon, Thierry Henry – having arguably been more clinical than the Englishman in recent times.
While the latter man has 280 goals in 453 games in all competitions for Spurs to date with a goal-to-game ratio of 0.61, his PSG counterpart has bagged 212 goals in just 260 games for his current side, resulting in a superior goal-to-game ratio of 0.81.
Equally, despite Kane's heroics last season – as he netted 32 goals and provided five assists in 49 games in all competitions – the Walthamstow native which still edged by Mbappe, with the World Cup-winning hotshot contributing 41 goals and ten assists in just 43 appearances across all fronts.
In the Champions League, for instance, Mbappe netted seven goals in only eight outings despite seeing his side crash out at the last 16 stage, while the Englishman only bagged one goal in eight appearances as his side were also dumped out in the first knockout round.
While it remains to be seen if the younger man could emulate his goalscoring feats in the Premier League, on the evidence of his career so far, the 5 foot 10 machine has certainly proven himself to be particularly lethal in front of goal, performing at a level that even Kane seemingly can't get close to.
Regard as arguably "the best" in the world at present – according to pundit Rio Ferdinand – Mbappe's arrival at N17 could provide Postecoglou with a new, devastating attacking figurehead.
A potentially major update has surfaced for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp and co work fervently to rectify the issues in the transfer market and secure a first-class new holding midfielder.
Who are Liverpool going to sign?
Chelsea have beat Liverpool to the signings of both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia recently in a remarkable show of strength and incisiveness, and the Reds now need to move with their own swiftness to reaffirm their own guile.
The Anfield side have compiled a shortlist of options, with Fulham's Joao Palhinha and Crystal Palace's Cheick Doucoure believed to be the most coveted names.
Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…
The latter, Doucoure, is likely the primary target, with the Independent confirming on Wednesday afternoon that the Malian midfielder could be available for less than £60m, and that while the Eagles are wary of losing too many players this summer, Liverpool are stepping up their efforts to secure his signature.
How good is Cheick Doucoure?
There is much to lament about Liverpool's transfer strategy this year, and it's unequivocally true that sporting director Jorg Schmadtke could have handled the recent events with more conscientiousness.
Saudi Arabian sides swooped for defensive midfielder Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson to compound the departures of midfield trio James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose contracts concluded in June.
This is not to say that such outgoings were not necessary, rather, an illustration of the smoother road that could have been taken; Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have both penned deals with the club, but the squad currently feels thin.
Crystal Palace midfielder Chieck Doucoure.
Resting on their laurels is not an option, and the powers that be must now throw the kitchen sink to secure Doucoure's services, with the 23-year-old impressing for Crystal Palace since completing an initial £18m transfer to Selhurst Park from French side RC Lens one year ago.
The £60k-per-week machine is a first-class ball-winner, ranking among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for interceptions per 90, as per FBref – for comparison, Fabinho ranks only among the top 34% after his "awful" season, as was said by Jamie Carragher.
This strengthening of the formidability of the midfield would only improve the performances of those around, and Doucoure, who has been described as "the complete holding midfielder" by former boss Patrick Vieira, could play to £60m man Szoboszlai's qualities.
The Hungarian midfielder has been lauded as a "magician" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his technicality and flair, and ranks among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 10% for shot-creating actions and the top 16% for progressive passes per 90.
He also ranks among the top 5% for blocks and the top 14% for clearances per 90, which could pay dividends for Doucoure's progress on Merseyside, with such a robust and industrious midfield partner easing his workload.
Liverpool have fallen by the wayside, but the new season signifies an apt opportunity for meaningful, impactful change, and now is the time to steal a swoop for Doucoure and enhance Liverpool's midfield.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are heading into the international break off the back of a defeat after their 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
How did Wolves lose to Palace?
The home side took the lead in the 56th minute after a relatively quiet first half as Tyrick Mitchell's low cross into the front post area was prodded into the back of the net by French centre-forward Odsonne Edouard.
Hwang Hee-chan soon levelled the scores less than ten minutes later as Pedro Neto's corner was diverted into the far corner by the South Korea international.
However, Gary O'Neil's side failed to push on to go and win the match as Palace took control and made it 3-1 by the 84th minute thanks to two superb goals from Eberechi Eze and Edouard, who both found room within the box to slot the ball past Jose Sa.
A 96th-minute consolation goal from Matheus Cunha had no bearing on the match as it came far too late for the away side to mount a comeback in the closing stages.
How did Fabio Silva perform against Palace?
One player who should be in danger of losing their place in the starting line-up is Fabio Silva after his disappointing performance at the top end of the pitch.
Wolves striker Fabio Silva.
The 21-year-old marksman struggled, once again, to prove that he is ready to lead the line and offer a goal threat for Wolves. As a result, he must be ditched from the starting team in favour of Hwang, who has proven he is able to chip in with goals at this level.
Silva played 74 minutes of the game and offered very little in and out of possession. His lack of presence through the middle was evident as he lost four of his six ground duels and his only aerial battles throughout the clash.
The youngster also failed to register a single effort on target and accumulated a woeful 0.04 xG and 0.07 xA, showing that the Portuguese striker did not get into strong goalscoring positions or provide his teammates with opportunities in front of goal.
The former Porto starlet has started three of Wolves' four Premier League matches so far this season and has so far contributed with zero goals and has also failed to create any big chances for teammates.
His lack of strength has been on display throughout the campaign so far as the former PSV loanee has lost 100% of his aerial duels and 55% of his battles in total, whilst he has been unable to make up for that with his play in possession having missed two 'big chances'.
This underwhelming start to the season comes after Silva managed four goals and one assist in 14 Eredivisie matches for PSV last term, in which time he lost 65% of his physical contests and spurned four 'big chances' for the Dutch outfit.
Consequently, O'Neil should drop the talent from the XI after the international break as they host Liverpool at the Molineux. Instead, Hwang should be unleashed from the start.
How good is Hwang Hee-chan?
The £30k-per-week hotshot is far from a prolific number nine but his form at the start of this season suggests that he has the quality to offer considerably more than Silva at the top end of the pitch.
Wolves striker Hee-chan Hwang.
Goals have been hard to come by for Wolves in recent times as they only hit the back of the net 31 times in 38 Premier League matches last term and they have only managed four in four so far during the 2023/24 campaign, with two of those coming from the South Korean.
Hwang has showcased his qualities off the bench with two goals and one 'big chance' created for a teammate in three substitute outings, alongside a start in the only league win so far against Everton.
He has averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.13 for the club with only two players – Jose Sa and Pedro Neto – having averaged higher ratings within the squad. It shows that the former RB Leipzig man has been one of the team's outstanding performers in spite of his limited time on the pitch.
The 27-year-old produced three goals and one assist in 12 top-flight starts during the 2022/23 campaign and five goals alongside one assist in 20 starts throughout the previous term. Again, hardly outstanding but there is untapped potential just waiting to be unleashed.
Over the last 365 days, Hwang ranks in the top 9% of his positional peers throughout Europe's top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.41), showing that the talented frontman has been an efficient scorer compared to the minutes he has played against other strikers in Europe.
His superb level of production off the bench in recent weeks suggests that the versatile star, who can play on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward, is able to offer far more than Silva, both as a scorer and a creator.
Hwang could also be a big upgrade on the young forward when it comes to putting in the hard yards for the team to do his defensive work against the ball.
During the 2022/23 campaign, the South Korean ranked within the top 11% or higher of his Premier League positional peers for tackles (1.59) and blocks (1.43) per 90, whilst he also made 0.40 interceptions per 90, as per FBref.
For context, Silva ranked within the bottom 38% or lower of his Eredivisie positional peers during his loan spell with PSV for tackles (0.44), blocks (0.59), and interceptions (0.15) per 90.
Evidently, the former RB Salzburg man offers far more than the 21-year-old striker out of possession to cut out opposition attacks at source. This is no doubt a valuable trait as it helps to prevent the other team from creating regular chances.
Therefore, O'Neil must unleash Hwang, who was once described as a "dangerous" forward by ex-Arsenal ace Kevin Campbell, from the start after the international break.
He'd certainly improve Wolves' attack to give them the best possible chance of scoring enough goals to pick up the points that they will ultimately need to beat the drop.