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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is now looking to bring in several reinforcements before the transfer window closes, according to latest reports.

What's the latest news involving Celtic?

The Hoops are in the midst of an injury crisis in central defense and may need to enter the market to add another body to their rearguard following injuries to Maik Nawrocki, Stephen Welsh and Cameron Carter-Vickers, who will all be out for up to two months with various concerns, as per BBC Sport.

Cited by the outlet, Celtic boss Rodgers has confirmed that he may enter the market to bring another centre-back into the fold at Parkhead, stating: "It's an area we're light in. We have to look at it, no doubt. Obviously [it's] disappointing for us. Stephen Welsh had an operation just the other day so he's come through that well. The other two, we hoped they'd be back sooner."

Speaking to The Herald, Rodgers has also confirmed that Canada international right-back Alistair Johnston is now available to play after escaping the shackles of an injury complaint, saying: “He will be available for the squad Ally, he’s looked good over the last 11 or 12 days. We didn’t involve him on the Astro [at Kilmarnock], but he’s had another good week this week so he will be available, which is really good news for us."

Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos has indicated that Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma will miss his side's clash on Sunday against Lamia amid speculation surrounding his future at the club. Celtic are favourites to land the Honduras international and he also has two offers on the table from outside of Europe.

Celtic winger Sead Haksabanovic has grown frustrated by his lack of involvement at the club and may seek an exit between now and the transfer deadline, with clubs around Europe believed to be willing to offer him a Parkhead escape route, as per Football Insider.

Who else could Celtic sign?

According to a separate report from Football Insider, Celtic want to wrap up a whopping five more signings in an end of window 'blizzard' of incomings at Parkhead.

Bringing in a goalkeeper, left-back, central defender and striker are believed to be areas of priority for Celtic as they seek to bolster the ranks to help maintain their Scottish Premiership crown.

Cited by The Daily Record, Celtic boss Rodgers issued a plea for signings following the Hoops' 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock in the Viaplay Cup last weekend, stating in an interview: "You can see we need that quality and we have had quality go out the building. So we definitely need that quality in but we will work very hard to get the players in that can improve us and make us better and that is something we will do over the period of time now between now and the close of the window."

Given the injury list at Parkhead, the Hoops look to have no intention of letting their star players go this window and have rejected a bid for Denmark Under-21 international Matt O'Riley from Serie A outfit Bologna, according to The Scottish Sun.

Looking ahead, Celtic fans will be expecting an exciting end to the transfer window and plenty of incomings could be afoot in the east end of Glasgow.

Newcastle United are among the leading contenders to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier, but they are set to face stiff competition for his services from a huge club overseas.

How old is Eric Dier?

Dier is now 29 years of age and is the third longest-serving player in the capital since joining from Sporting CP back in 2014. He’s made a total of 361 appearances for Spurs, but despite his loyal service, he’s fallen majorly down the pecking order following the arrival of Ange Postecoglou in the dugout.

The Lilywhites centre-back is yet to make a single appearance in any competition this season, so with his contract expiring in less than a year, this window is the perfect opportunity for his club to cash in should they not want to risk losing an asset for free.

The Athletic have reported that Burnley have already had a loan offer turned down for the England international, with the Premier League giants not willing to sanction a temporary exit due to the situation surrounding his deal, though it sounds like he has two potential suitors hoping to recruit him on a permanent basis.

Are Newcastle signing Eric Dier?

According to Spanish reports (via Football 365), Newcastle are firmly "in the race" for Dier, but he is also being seriously pursued by Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich.

The St. James' Park side "like" the veteran, and it's claimed that Spurs are "open to negotiating" a late deal, with the player having been put "in the spotlight" by PIF and Eddie Howe in the northeast.

Postecoglou's star "would have the opportunity" to get the regular game time he requires if he was to join, therefore making the club one of the "big favourites" to accquire his services.

How much does Eric Dier earn?

At Spurs, Dier currently pockets £85k-per-week which, as it stands, he isn’t really earning having yet to feature at all this season, but that could all change should he put pen to paper at Newcastle.

Hailed as a “terrific” footballer by journalist Josh Bunting, the 6 foot 2 colossus was a real rock at the heart of his backline last season, averaging 3.3 clearances and 2.4 aerial wins per top-flight game, via WhoScored, displaying the physical presence that he possesses both on and off the ground.

Read The Latest Newcastle Transfer News HERE…

The Cheltenham-born talent, who is sponsored by Nike, is also capable of getting involved with the action in the final third having posted 33 contributions (17 assists and 16 goals) since the start of his career, showing the positive impact he has at each end of the pitch.

When facing the Magpies, Dier has recorded six victories in 12 head to head clashes that he’s been involved in, even scoring once and providing two assists, as per Transfermarkt, so if he can perform that well in the cauldron that is St James' Park as a visitor, one has to think he could thrive as an experienced head in Howe's backline.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag could ensure there is no way back at Old Trafford for one of his mega-money stars, according to sources at Old Trafford.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

Former Manchester United icon Andy Cole has criticised Red Devils' striker Anthony Martial for his goal record at the Premier League giants, stating: "Martial has been at Manchester United for 8 years now and he hasn't even scored 100 goals. It's incredible. He is a centre-forward at Manchester United and he has played in some fantastic teams. His best performance in the league was 17 goals. He’s had more than enough time and opportunity to show United just how good he is and he unfortunately hasn't been able to do so."

Meanwhile, according to Football Insider, both Galatasaray and Fenerbache are monitoring the situation of out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek, with the Turkish transfer window open for business until September 15th.

Lorient and Real Sociedad were also keen on bringing in the Netherlands international; however, neither move materialised in the end and the Super Lig could now represent a potential destination for Van de Beek to get his career back on track. Manchester United believe it would be best to get him off the wage bill to 'free up squad space and wages' at Old Trafford.

Dialogue has been opened between Manchester United and full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka over the 25-year-old potentially signing a new contract at Old Trafford, according to The Daily Mail.

The Croydon-born defender has less than a year left to run on his current deal in the North West, though Manchester United have the option to extend the agreement by a further 12 months.

Which player is Ten Hag unhappy with?

According to Telegraph Sport's James Ducker, Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho is set for showdown talks with Ten Hag over his future at Old Trafford, though he looks to be in a position of real uncertainty at the club following his public outburst at the Dutch coach, which was in rebuttal to his performances in training being criticised.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, who are managed by former Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard, tried to sign Sancho late on in the transfer window; however, Manchester United blocked any notion of letting the international leave on loan.

Ducker says sources at Old Trafford believe that any chance of the 23-year-old making a comeback at the Red Devils are 'doubtful' following recent events, so his time as a Ten Hag player may effectively be finished despite staying put in the window.

Sancho has failed to set the worth alight at Manchester United since joining from Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of £73 million back in 2021, recording 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The Sun claim that Borussia Dortmund would be keen on a dramatic reunion with Sancho and are monitoring his situation – the Bundesliga giants also failed with a loan swoop for the ex-Manchester City youth player earlier this year.

Manchester City are on the verge of announcing a double deal at the Etihad Stadium involving two exciting youngsters.

What's the latest news involving Manchester City?

The Cityzens take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium; however, they will be without the services of Bernardo Silva, who was substituted off against Crvena zvezda with an unspecified injury, as per BBC Sport. Manchester City are yet to lose a single home match in 2023 and have registered 63 goals in the process, now looking to keep their perfect domestic start to the campaign alive too, conceding just three goals.

Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson has spoken to Sky Sports regarding several aspects of life at Manchester City and has taken delight in the Sky Blues success of last campaign, stating: "Honestly, last season is difficult to describe. To be able to win so many titles, only one team in England had ever done that before and that was Manchester United many years ago.

He then added: "So, for us to do it again and be able to repeat that feat was sensational. It was a fantastic year for all of us, but it's really hard to pick out specific moments that stand out. "For sure, what does stand out is being with our families, with my children. For all of us, they are moments that really stick in the memory."

In other news, The Athletic report that Crystal Palace are set to open contract talks with playmaker Eberechi Eze, who Manchester City considered in the summer as a target following Kevin De Bruyne's lengthy injury lay-off.

Who are Manchester City signing?

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has issued an update on social media platform X regarding Manchester City's impending double deal to sign two young talents outside of the transfer window, stating: "Manchester City will formally complete both Divine Mukasa and Harrison Parker deals today — documents being signed, then time to announce. Parker joins from Man United, exclusive news confirmed — Mukasa joins from West Ham. Two more for their ambitious Academy."

Of course, this follows the trend of Manchester City recruiting top talent not just at first-team level but at the academy stage to develop youngsters in the hope they will one day represent the senior side.

The Sun add that Harrison Parker was offered a contract by Manchester United; nevertheless, the Red Devils were unwilling to break their wage structure and meet his demands for a higher pay packet. Parker joined Manchester United from Arsenal in 2021 and will be joined by Divine Mukasa – the pair will link up with the Cityzens Elite Development Squad, who have secured three consecutive Premier League 2 titles.

Despite this, they have actually started this campaign in an inconsistent patch of form, recording one win, one draw and two losses in their opening four matches. Both players would meet homegrown requirements, which in turn could aid Manchester City's Financial Fair Play obligations as they could sell them on for pure profit in the future.

Glasgow Rangers had bounced back from an underwhelming start to the season to embark on a solid winning run which had seen the Gers open up their Europa League campaign with a victory while securing passage to the semi-finals of the League Cup.

Michael Beale has come under some criticism due to his side's style of play this term though, with the Light Blues even being booed off the pitch following the 1-0 win against Motherwell last weekend, and it all came crashing down again on Saturday against Aberdeen.

This perhaps sums up the mood around the club at the moment, and he will need to maintain the momentum gathered over the previous few weeks in order to regain the supporters' faith.

Signing nine players in the summer was part of a much-needed overhaul, yet it is clear that only a couple have really settled into life in Glasgow well and contributed effectively. Jack Butland has been the standout, establishing himself as the number one goalkeeper, and It's something that the club needed having endured their fair share of struggles in the goalkeeping department last season.

Beale also moved on numerous players during the transfer window in a bid to trim the wage bill and raise funds for future incomings. Were all of these departures the correct move however? Well, one player has seen his value rise significantly since leaving Glasgow at the end of last season – Ryan Kent.

How much did Rangers pay for Ryan Kent?

The winger had spent the previous five seasons at the Ibrox side having initially signed on loan for the 2018/19 season, before joining on a permanent basis for a fee in the region of £7.5m from Liverpool.

The youngster was clearly happy to be returning to Glasgow, saying: "I am delighted to be back here. It has been a quite a long summer, a lot of things could have potentially happened but I am delighted to be here.

"I won't lie it has been incredibly tough over the summer but I am a mentally strong person as it is anyway. I knew if I kept myself correct something good would happen soon and I have been ticking over, keeping myself to myself and this has happened now and I'm over the moon.”

Steven Gerrard was building a side which he hoped would be able to topple Celtic and return the Gers to the top of the Scottish game and Kent was going to be an integral part of this.

What happened to Ryan Kent?

The Englishman scored six and seven Premiership goals respectively during his first two seasons at the club, and although they finished without any trophies during these campaigns, Gerrard was building something special.

Indeed, Kent stepped up during the 2020/21 season, registering 27 goal contributions across all competitions – 13 goals and 14 assists – and this included ten goals and ten assists in the league as the Light Blues went on to win their first title in a decade.

He ranked second across the squad for goals and assists during that title winning season while also ranking third for big chances created and second for successful dribbles per game, which indicated how impressive he was as an attacking threat.

His goal tally dipped over the course of the subsequent two campaigns however as the 26-year-old went on to score just three goals in both 2021/22 and 2022/23, as his form dipped in front of goal. It was evident that his performances last season weren’t quite up to the required standard and with his contract expiring its conclusion, Beale had a decision to make.

Kent eventually left the club for nothing as a decision between him and the club couldn’t be worked out, but this is now looking like a bad call by the manager.

How much is Ryan Kent worth now?

The former Rangers gem was hailed as a “wizard” by Leon Balogun, and it didn’t take him long to find another club after leaving Scotland, joining Turkish side Fenerbahce during the summer.

According to Football Transfers, Kent was valued at €6.9m (£6m) when he left Rangers in May and considering he cost the club £7.5m just four years previously, it represented a massive loss.

Since joining the Turkish side however, his valuation has risen sharply in just a few months as he is now worth €12.2m (£10.5m) and should he rediscover the form which pleased supporters in Glasgow during their title winning season, then this will only increase in the coming months.

The former Liverpool gem has managed to make seven appearances for his new club, scoring once and grabbing an assist and he looks to settle into a different culture and a different way of playing football.

It may just bring the best out in him and perhaps a change of scenery was what was needed for the 26-year-old to return to his best. Indeed, across three league matches so far, Kent has already created one big chance while averaging 24.7 touches per game, succeeding with 1.3 successful dribbles per game – a success rate of 67% – and winning 64% of his total duels, and he is impressing over a wide range of metrics.

It is still early doors for the left-winger, yet they seem positive and if he manages to continue this decent form, he may fancy his chances of securing a move back to England at some point in the future and finally play in the Premier League.

Although Beale went and signed forwards Abdallah Sima, Danilo, Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers, only Sima is an out-and-out winger and Beale has failed to improve his wide options during the summer.

Kent didn’t enjoy the most productive of seasons for the club during 2022/23, but there is no doubt losing him has diminished their quality in the final third. On his day, he was arguably one of the finest attacking players in the country and losing him without gaining at least a transfer fee is surely one of Beale’s worst decisions so far as Rangers manager.

Considering he is now worth £10.5m, he would have netted the club a solid profit had he been sold before the expiry of his deal.

Southampton have seen a whole host of talent grace St Mary's over the years as demonstrated in their summer fire sale, reluctantly letting go of James Ward-Prowse, Romeo Lavia, Tino Livramento and Nathan Tella.

While those were just a few of the stars they were forced into selling following their relegation, the talent sold this summer doesn't touch the surface of the profile of players they've sold previously.

The Saints have nurtured and developed some of the game's biggest stars who have gone on to become world-beaters since departing the club, including Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Gareth Bale.

In 2013, Mauricio Pochettino came close to adding to that impressive roster – but as seen by the players he brought to St Mary's – the Argentine fell short in the transfer market.

During his 18 months in charge, Pochettino brought in Vegard Forren, Daniel Osvaldo, Victor Wanyama and Dejan Lovren, although the quality of that list would have dramatically improved if he had managed to sign Heung-Min Son at the time.

Did Southampton almost sign Heung-Min Son?

Southampton came close to signing Heung-Min Son in 2013, as revealed by Pochettino before he signed for Bayer Leverkusen.

The Argentine was on the lookout for a goalscorer to keep them afloat in the Premier League and landed on the South Korean as their target after scoring 12 goals for Hamburg in the season prior.

Pochettino knew of his talents from an early age and was desperate to bring him to England that summer, however, his attempts to sign him were thwarted and Son stayed put in Germany.

Speaking in 2019, the 51-year-old revealed they were close to landing the forward, who was 21-years-old at the time, but were unable to agree personal terms.

He commented: "We tried to sign him in Southampton. He preferred to move to Leverkusen. Then we tried again here and we got him.

"Everyone can see his performance. He is doing a fantastic job for Tottenham. We know his quality and potential.

"We were very close but in the end he was so young and his family preferred, rather than leaving Germany and the Bundesliga, to keep him there and he preferred to move to Bayer Leverkusen rather than Southampton. But we were so close."

Pochettino may have failed in his attempts to bring Son to Southampton, but he did succeed two years later when he was manager of Tottenham – and the rest is history.

How many Premier League goals has Son scored?

Becoming the most expensive Asian player in history after Tottenham signed him from Bayer Leverkusen for £22m in 2015, Son's boundless amounts of talent have propelled him into the elite bracket of Premier League players across the past decade, and of all-time.

The South Korean – who has been lavished as "world-class" on numerous occasions, notably by Jose Mourinho – is simply a joy to watch when in full flow, striking the most successful partnership in the competitions history with former teammate Harry Kane – as the pair dominated at the top end of the scoring charts for almost a decade.

In the 2021/22 season, the pair were on fire as Son finished as the league's joint-top scorer on 23, but this wasn't the only record he contributed towards that year, surpassing Frank Lampard's and Didier Drogba's record of most goal combinations as a pair (36).

Lauded by Kane as "unbelievable", the 31-year-old's unrelenting scoring power, exceptional footballing brain and explosive physical attributes have been exercised with regularity in his eight-year spell at the Lilywhites, showcasing his ability to produce all types of goals.

From mouth-watering solo goals – like his Puskas award-winning goal against Burnley – to the superbly placed curling efforts and composed finishes inside the box, Son has almost every finish in the locker with his goal-scoring record speaking volumes about the quality he possesses.

In 379 appearances for Spurs, he has chalked up an eye-watering 150 goals and a further 80 assists, demonstrating an unrelenting capacity to produce moments of brilliance in big matches, haunting Arsenal on several occasions in the north London Derby.

While he's worshipped at Tottenham, he's idolised by supporters in the Premier League after becoming the first Asian player to reach 100 goals in the competition last season.

In recent times, however, things haven't always been rosy for Son. His form took a turn for the worse last season, scoring just three times in the opening 14 league matches, but so did Spurs as they struggled under Antonio Conte.

But since the arrival of Ange Postecoglu, the 190k per-week phenom has been revolutionized, filling the void left by Kane superbly with a hat-trick against Burnley and a brace against Arsenal.

Despite managing their rivals Chelsea, Pochettino will always be remembered at Tottenham for the role he played in bringing the South Korean sensation to White Hart Lane.

Manchester City are in pole position to sign a new defensive midfielder in January, but a reliable journalist has confirmed that they aren’t the only club looking to bring him to the Premier League.

Who have Man City bought in 2023?

Over the summer, Pep Guardiola’s side secured the services of Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes, Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic, whilst sanctioning the permanent exits of Cole Palmer, Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan, Benjamin Mendy, Nahuel Bustos and Yangel Herrera.

The Sky Blues also gave the green light for Joao Cancelo, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, James McAtee, Maximo Perrone, Issa Kabore, Tommy Doyle, Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Slobodan Tedic to go out on loan for the remainder of the season in order to increase their game time.

Therefore, having made space in the squad for even more new signings in January, Guardiola is already assessing his options in the market and appears to have identified Benfica’s Joao Neves as a player he’d like to bring to the Etihad Stadium.

The Portugal international still has another five years remaining on his deal with Roger Schmidt’s side (Benfica contracts), but with the 19-year-old having majorly impressed since getting promoted from the academy to his club’s first team, he’s caught the eye.

Joao Neves transfer update…

Taking to X, Graeme Bailey revealed in a Joao Neves transfer update that Man City are the current frontrunners to sign the central talisman at Benfica, but admitted that they aren't alone in their pursuit. He wrote:

“Man City lead chase for Benfica's Joao Neves. Man United, PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus have both also been watching the midfielder.”

Expanding in his column for 90min, the reporter claimed that the teenager has impressed scouts when they have been in attendance to watch their target and City chiefs believe that he "would be ready" to complete a switch to England.

How good is Joao Neves?

According to talent scout Jacek Kulig, Neves is a “warrior” for the way he dictates play in the centre of the park, where he currently ranks in the 98th percentile for blocks by midfielders (FBRef – Neves statistics), and is extremely calm and composed on the ball, recording a 91.6% pass success rate.

Aerial duels

Player has no significant weaknesses

Passing

(Data via WhoScored)

Tackling

Blocking the ball

The Tavira native, who pockets £3k-per-week (Benfica salaries), is a versatile operator having been deployed in seven different positions over the pitch since the start of his career, including everywhere across the midfield, one role in defence and the other in the final third (Transfermarkt – Neves positions), so he would be a wonderful option to have in the building.

In addition, Neves shares the same representative, Gestifute, as Ederson, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes (Man City agents), so this existing connection that his management already has to the club could give the board a small advantage should they try to get a deal over the line in January.

Manchester United are in talks with one player over a brand-new Old Trafford deal, according to a fresh report.

Man Utd contract news…

The Red Devils were extremely productive over the summer when it came to player arrivals and departures, but with the window now shut until the New Year, attention appears to have turned to contract renewals.

Man United contracts

Contract expiry

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

2024 (Option for a further year)

Hannibal

2024 (Option for a further year)

Antony Martial

2024 (Option for a further year)

Victor Lindelof

2024 (Option for a further year)

Jonny Evans

2024

Tom Heaton

2024

As can be seen, a number of players are out of contract in 2024, and one specifically, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, looked like he was surplus to requirements at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag. Reports earlier this year said that Ten Hag told Wan-Bissaka was free to leave Man Utd, but as we know, an exit failed to materialise.

The 25-year-old began the current campaign as first choice at right-back but has been sidelined with a hamstring injury recently, with the Red Devils hit with an injury crisis at the back. However, when it comes to Wan-Bissaka, it appears as if a new deal is in the pipeline.

Football Insider provided an update on Wan-Bissaka’s Man Utd future in the last 48 hours, revealing that the club are in discussions with the player over a new long-term deal as he is now seen as integral to Ten Hag’s plans going forward. The report adds it is a significant U-turn by the manager, who was won over by the full-back during the second half of the previous campaign.

Wan-Bissaka's Man Utd career…

The 25-year-old made the move to Manchester from Crystal Palace back in 2019 and has gone on to make 165 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils, scoring two goals and registering 12 assists. (Wan-Bissaka stats)

He has made five appearances during the current campaign and hailed as “fantastic” by pundit Micky Gray last season, Wan-Bissaka recently opened up about his future at Old Trafford, admitting he did feel his time at the club could have been up. (ESPN)

"You have that feeling, but for me, I always have that faith in myself to get myself out of situations like that. I had my head screwed on and I was ready to do what it takes.

"It was a hard time and the only thing you can do during a hard time is keep working. I got my head down and then got the chance and was able to help the team. You can just sit there and complain about it and not care, or you can actually try and I thought the best way was for me to try."

It looks as if he may still have plenty of years left ahead of him at Old Trafford now, though, following the recent update, so his contract situation will be one to watch over the coming months.

Aston Villa are in sensational form right now and Unai Emery shows no signs of slowing down as the sky appears to be the limit for this talented squad.

Following their 4-1 victory against West Ham United on the weekend, Villa are currently occupying fifth place in the Premier League table having won six of their nine matches so far and their 5-1 opening-day defeat to Newcastle United has been all but forgotten about.

While his energy and experience boosted the side once he took over from Steven Gerrard last October, Emery has utilised all his experience to bring quality players to the club across his first two transfer windows.

The likes of Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, Nicolo Zaniolo and Jhon Duran have all joined the project in the Midlands and despite vast sums of money being spent, they appear to fit perfectly into his system.

With the new arrivals significantly bolstering the squad and giving Emery plenty of depth as his team fight on both domestic and European fronts this season, his ability to move players on who don’t fit into his ideology has also been crucial for progress.

Moving on deadwood such as Marvelous Nakamba, Keinan Davis and Jadon Philogene has enabled the former Arsenal boss to free up room in his ever-growing squad while clearing up some of the wage bill.

It was the sale of Danny Ings back in January, however, which proved to be a key move in Emery strengthening his team and judging by his form since departing, Villa have struck gold on the striker.

How much did Danny Ings cost Aston Villa?

The former Liverpool and Burnley forward moved to Villa Park in the summer of 2021 for a fee in the region of £25m and while this seemed like a large fee on the surface, the Englishman had scored 46 goals across just 100 matches for Southampton and was in the form of his life.

Dean Smith was aiming to build on Villa’s 11th-place finish the season prior and luring another experienced Premier League forward seemed to be the most logical solution.

Leon Bailey and Emiliano Buendia also arrived that summer and everything appeared to be in place for a top-half finish for the club, yet Ings failed to replicate the form he displayed on the south coast.

What happened to Danny Ings?

During his maiden season in the Midlands, Ings performed rather well. Across the squad in the Premier League, he ranked second for goals and assists (13) along with ranking third for shots per game (1.6) and scoring frequency (a goal every 273 minutes) yet Villa slumped to a 14th-place finish as Smith was sacked in November and Gerrard was appointed.

Although he wasn’t outstanding, his performances during 2021/22 looked like they could give him a decent base to build upon heading into his second season and hopes were high, especially with Gerrard having a full pre-season with the team.

Early optimism under the former Rangers manager soon turned into a false dawn and Ings managed to score just twice under Gerrard before he was sent packing.

8

0

2

0

0.5

0

2

0

6

0

Emery’s arrival revived a sinking ship, and it looked as though Ings could become a key part of the side under him as he scored four goals across eight matches heading into the January transfer window.

The Spaniard was looking to build a youthful side and although the striker had shown flashes of his talents, it wasn’t long before he found himself on the move again, this time to London.

Where is Danny Ings now?

An offer of £15m from West Ham United was evidently too good to turn down for Emery during the first few months of his Villa stint and considering he was approaching 31 years of age, the club have struck gold with his sale.

He did manage to find the back of the net three times in 22 matches for the Hammers, even securing a Europa Conference League winners medal in the process, and it looked as though the future could be bright.

West Ham correspondent Roshane Thomas held a different view however, saying: “I don't think this system works for Danny Ings. He's often too isolated up front. Hasn't quite clicked barring his two goals against Nottingham Forest. Antonio has great work rate so he has no issues playing as a lone striker. But Ings has struggled in that role.”

It appears he has a crystal ball as this season, Ings has been far from his best and receiving £15m for a player who looked to be in the initial stages of decline was excellent business by Emery.

The 2023/24 campaign has seen Ings go scoreless through nine matches and he has only started twice, with none coming in the Premier League.

The £125k-per-week liability might not be at West Ham much longer if this uninspired form continues while his statistics when compared to his positional peers in Europe's top five leagues are far from the required standard to compete in the English top flight.

Indeed, Ings fails to rank in the top 60% across the big five leagues with regard to non-penalty goals per 90 (0.31) and shot-creating actions per 90 (1.76) while the 31-year-old even fails to rank in the top 50% for touches in the attacking penalty box per 90 (4.59) and successful take-ons per 90 (0.77), indicating that he no longer belongs amongst the elite.

The Englishman still has a year and half left on his current contract and Moyes may begin to think of moving him on sooner rather than later in order to recoup the majority of the £15m that was spent on him just nine months ago.

Emery certainly got the better end of the deal and his is team flying, especially with Ollie Watkins stepping up to the plate and looking like a man reborn under the 51-year-old, with eight goals and five assists in just 14 games this season.

The key will now be for Emery to move on players for decent transfer fees while using this to bring in fresh talent. The model is working so far and with their recent form, the Villa Park side could finally win their first major trophy since 1996.

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has become embroiled in gambling controversy this month. After a string of betting breaches during his time at former club, AC Milan, the Italian was banned for up to ten months – leaving his fledgling Magpies career in free fall.

However, while the 23-year-old – who joined in the summer on a five-year contract until 2028 for a whopping £55 million – looks ahead to time on the sidelines, one academy youngster may have the chance to embark on further progress since his own arrival at the club on Deadline Day.

Travis Hernes – the latest name amidst Newcastle's youth influx

Within an era of new Saudi ownership, it'd be easy for Newcastle to simply cherry-pick the best Europe has to offer and try to fast-track their space with football's elite. However, although a slither of that could be said for Tonali's high-profile move (which saw him become the most expensive Italian transfer ever), a lot of Eddie Howe's dealings have been made with the long-term future firmly in mind.

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Take the loan of Chelsea's Lewis Hall – his is a move that reflects a young peripheral Blues player moving with an option to buy to the club he's actually supported since childhood. There's a slick planning there.

Factor in Australian wonderkid Garang Kuol and Gambian high-flyer Yankuba Minteh – two players that are bearing fruit on loans at Volendam and Feyenoord, respectively – and there's some serious talent in the pipeline.

Another name perhaps lost in the cluster of youngsters flying through the St James' Park doors, is Travis Hernes.

At just 17 years old, this midfielder of mixed Norwegian-English origins could have national teams fighting for his allegiance after making the impressive jump from League One Shrewsbury Town to Premier League Newcastle's youth side this September.

Hernes ready to build off Football League foundations

For Norwegian-born Hernes, this recent ascent has been emphatic, yet the youngster looks to constantly improve rather than be a mere flash in the pan.

At Shrewsbury, Hernes only featured in six senior games before attracting higher-level suitors. Three of those came in the EFL Trophy where the youngster even got on the scoresheet. These efforts, as well as an EFL Cup appearance, found him entrusted with two brief League One opportunities at the start of 2023/24 – against Stevenage and Cheltenham.

Although there isn't much in the way of recorded statistics for the young man who arrived in England at age 13, Chronicle Live's report provides a great qualitative profile on the midfielder. Football writer Chris Knight spoke to Shrewsbury's academy manager Charlie Musselwhite:

"He's a very polite, grounded boy. He's someone who I'd say is very relaxed, at times reserved, but I wouldn't say shy. He's just a fairly laidback character. That being said, when it comes to work and football, he is very serious. Throughout his time last year when he turned full-time scholar, he was very hard-working whether that was in training sessions or doing extras."

Since moving to Tyneside, Hernes has also attracted praise from his new manager, U19 coach Ben Dawson. The future could be bright for the Norwegian if he keeps progressing in the same vein as he has done in tricky fixtures against AC Milan's youth for example:

“He’s been terrific. It’s all very new for him still. He’s still quite green after making that jump. He played in the Premier League Cup against Huddersfield and did really well. Totally different experience today. He’s going to take some time to settle in, but he's a player we really like, and we think he’s got plenty of potential."

With one goal under his belt in just two U18 Premier League appearances so far for the Tynesiders, a chance to impress at senior level may not be too far down the line, with the impending absence of Tonali potentially set to be the perfect opportunity for Howe to raid the academy set-up.