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Manchester United face a hectic run of fixtures before Christmas that could make or break their season depending on their success or failure in those matches.

The Old Trafford side have two vital Champions League ties against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray to come, while they also have to face Newcastle United, Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League.

If Erik ten Hag can get through this tough run, and it is a big if, it might just be the catalyst the club need to improve during the second half of the campaign and challenge for a top four spot in the table.

Having won just nine of the first 18 matches in the current season, Ten Hag may look to strengthen his faltering side during the January transfer window, especially as some of his players are attracting attention from elsewhere.

Casemiro is reportedly being targeted by clubs in Saudi Arabia according to 90min and this could leave a big void in the centre of United’s midfield.

The riches offered by the Middle East could tempt the Brazilian into making the move to Asia and this may mean Ten Hag delves into the transfer market.

Man Utd transfer news

While their midfield options could be lighter with Casemiro potentially departing, Ten Hag will also be keen on strengthening his defensive options ahead of the second half of the season.

The Red Devils have conceded 30 goals in just 18 matches this season already and something needs to be done to fix this leaky defence.

According to German outlet Bild (via TEAMtalk), United are keeping tabs on young French defender Castello Lukeba ahead of the January window with hopes of luring him to England.

The 20-year-old secured a move to RB Leipzig from Lyon in the summer, despite United showing interest in the youngster earlier this year.

Scouts from Old Trafford, according to the report, have been monitoring the centre-back this season, although a move might be deemed slightly unrealistic in the next few months given that he has only been in the Bundesliga since the summer.

He could emerge as a dream heir to Raphael Varane should he make the move to Manchester, especially as the former Real Madrid defender has been linked with a move away.

Raphael Varane’s future at Man Utd

At the beginning of November, TEAMtalk revealed that Varane was attracting attention from clubs in Saudi Arabia, and they were looking to make a move for the defender in January.

With just 18 months left on his current contract, the next transfer window could be the ideal time for Ten Hag to cash in on the 30-year-old and recoup a fee similar to the one they shelled out for him just over two years ago.

Having established himself as one of the finest centre-backs on the continent during his spell with Madrid, Varane has become more and more injury-prone since arriving in Manchester.

Indeed, since the beginning of the 2021/22 season, the Frenchman has missed 38 matches due a variety of injury issues and he as not quite been at his brilliant best, with his absences not allowing him to find his rhythm on the pitch.

This season, the 30-year-old has started just four Premier League matches while he fails to rank in the top ten in the squad for accurate passes per game in the league (30.4) along with ranking in the 15th spot for tackles per game (0.6) and 19th for interceptions per game, clearly proving that he has not been an outstanding contributor offensively or defensively.

Injury problems could be catching up with the French titan as, even when he is fit enough to feature, Varane has not been quite at the same level which saw him win four Champions League crowns with Madrid along with securing a World Cup winners medal for France in 2018.

By signing Lukeba, Ten Hag could unearth a natural heir to the United defender at the turn of the year.

Castello Lukeba’s career statistics

The young gem made his debut for Lyon during the 2021/22 season, eventually featuring 30 times in what was a breakthrough season, and his performances were widely praised.

Journalist Josh Bunting waxed lyrical about the defender in December 2021 following a match against Metz, saying: “Castello Lukeba again impressive for Lyon at Metz , really sharp young player not just getting the goal but he’s slotting into that back 3 very well, he’s a very accurate passer of the ball,gets on it and can move it quickly. Also has a good pass selection about him. Big prospect.”

30.4

57.5

0.6

0.7

0.1

0.3

2.5

2.5

1.8

3

As you can see within the table above, Lukeba has outperformed Varane at league level this term due to the defensive impact he has had on the pitch.

Another 38 appearances followed last term before he secured his big move to Leipzig in the summer and with his recent performances in Germany, Lukeba is beginning to look like the real deal.

The 20-year-old ace has already made 16 appearances, including four in the Champions League, and is looking settled at his new club this term.

Not only does he rank second among his teammates for accurate passes per game in the Bundesliga (57.5), but the defender also ranks in the top ten for tackles (0.7) and interceptions (0.3) per game, demonstrating how impressive he has been in defence.

Not only is he adept at passing and dictating the play from the heart of the defence, but he has impressive physicality for someone so young. Lukeba has won 63% of his total duels – three per game – in the German top flight this term and his ability to get the better of opposition players in one one-on-one battles is excellent.

The Leipzig sensation featured for the France U21 side on 14 occasions before finally making his debut against Scotland last month in a 4-1 victory, coming on with just three minutes left.

With his impressive performances this term, however, he could potentially sneak into the Euro 2024 squad next summer, and this would be the catalyst for him to really show his worth on the big stage.

Lukeba is certainly following in the footsteps of Varane and, if given continued exposure at the highest level, he may eventually reach his level.

United need another centre-back desperately and Lukeba is a fascinating prospect. While a move in the next few weeks might be out of the question, the Dutchman should be doing everything he can to lure the youngster to Manchester sooner rather than later.

Leicester City supporters have been through all levels of emotions in recent years, from the highs of winning the Premier League title in 2016 to the lows of being relegated to the Championship in 2023.

The Foxes defied all odds in that 2015/16 campaign and were written off from the get-go having survived relegation by the skin of their teeth in the season prior.

Despite being tipped for the drop, the industrious and energetic performances of midfield duo N'Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater as well as the formidable attacking partnership of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy dragged Leicester to England's top prize.

Throughout that campaign, that unplayable attacking pairing were involved in a whopping 59 of Leicester's 68 Premier League goals, etching their name into Foxes folklore in the process.

While Vardy is still plying his trade in the Championship at the age of 36, Mahrez has achieved world domination since departing the East Midlands.

How much did Leicester City sign Riyad Mahrez for

In January 2014, Leicester captured a 22-year-old Riyad Mahrez for around £400k from Ligue 2 side Le Havre, a fee which turned out to be one of, if not, the biggest bargains in the club's history, aside from Vardy's £1m move from Fleetwood Town in 2012.

A skilful right winger, who possessed incredible attacking attributes, including his precise ball control, ability to manipulate the ball in tight areas and his wand of a left foot – all combined together to produce countless match-winning moments.

In his first 18 months at the club, he helped Leicester win the Championship title in 2014 and then consolidate in the Premier League in 2015, but in 43 appearances across those campaigns, he only managed to post seven goals and eight assists.

While he showed glimpses of his world-beating class during the early stages, the true potential of his talents were showcased in the following campaign as Leicester scooped the Premier League and the Algerian startled defences with his fleet-footed dribbling and ruthless finishing.

As previously mentioned, his indispensable partnership and telepathic understanding with Vardy was instrumental in their success and Mahrez had the season of his life, plundering 17 goals and supplying ten assists in the top flight.

Those tremendous returns saw him get shortlisted for the 2016 Ballon d'Or alongside world-class players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

In the 2016/17 season, Mahrez tailed off in the top flight, only recording six goals and four assists, but did play a vital role in Leicester's run to the Champions League quarter-finals with six contributions in nine appearances.

The 5 foot 10 whiz used the allure of Champions League football as fuel to earn a move to an elite European club and on the back of his 12 goals and 11 assists in 2017/18, Manchester City came calling.

How much did Leicester sell Riyad Mahrez for

Man City smashed their transfer record at the time to capture Mahrez for £60m from Leicester and the rest is history.

Across his five-year spell at the Etihad, which came to an end in the summer as he completed £30m move to Al-Ahli, the 83-cap Algerian was instrumental to City's trophy-laden period, winning the Premier League title in all but one of his seasons at the club.

Dubbed by Pep Guardiola as "exceptional", Mahrez had to contend with a whole host of star-studded competition in Manchester, battling it out with Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva among others for a spot on the right flank.

Despite falling victim to the Spaniard's rotation policy, he was still adored by his former teammates and centre-back Aymeric Laporte was one of many who showered him with praise, labelling him as "unbelievable" for his performances in a City shirt.

He may have bid farewell to Manchester this year, but he capped his time at the club in the best way possible by playing a crucial role in their treble-winning campaign, scoring three times in the Champions League, five times in the FA Cup – including a hat-trick in the semi-final against Sheffield United – and posting 15 goal contributions in the Premier League.

15 goals / 13 assists

24 goals / 9 assists

14 goals / 9 assists

13 goals / 16 assists

12 goals / 12 assists

In 236 appearances for the Citizens, he plundered 78 goals and supplied 59 assists – not bad for someone who was originally discovered by Leicester in the French second division and cost them a measly £400k.

Now currently ripping it up for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli with four goals and six assists in 11 matches, Mahrez will always be remembered by the Foxes faithful for dragging them to an unthinkable title win, yet what could have been had he remained at the King Power instead…

Cristiano Ronaldo missed Anthony Joshua's heavyweight boxing match with Francis Ngannou despite having a ringside seat.

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• Ronaldo invited to Joshua vs Ngannou
• Portuguese absent despite 'CR7' seat
• Prioritised sleep and training over spectacle

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The likes of Jose Mourinho, Brazilian Ronaldo, and AS Roma legend Francesco Totti were among the stars to see Joshua knock Ngannou out in the second round in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday night. And while the Al Nassr star had an exclusive 'CR7' seat designated for him, there was no sign of the five-time Ballon d'Or Winner at the Kingdom Arena.

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• Getty
  

  THE EXPLANATION

  It appears the 39-year-old missed the bout as he had an Al-Nassr training session on Saturday morning ahead of a vital AFC Champions League clash against Al Ain on Monday night. With the fight not taking place until 3.30am on Saturday, it seems Ronaldo prioritised rest over the spectacle – something the Saudi Pro League side emphasised when they posted training pictures on social media, and captioned it "No days off".

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Ronaldo, who is a big boxing fan, visited Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh's house earlier this week to pose with Joshua, Ngannou, and Tyson Fury. The veteran also went to Joshua's fight against Otto Wallin in Saudi last December.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Al-Nassr host Al-Ain looking to overturn their 1-0 first leg deficit and advance to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League. After that, Ronaldo's side, who sit second in the division behind runaway leaders Al-Hilal, return to league action away to Al-Ahli Saudi.

Third century of series takes batter to record-breaking territory despite series scoreline

Matt Roller24-Jun-2022Daryl Mitchell likened New Zealand’s series in England to a “heavyweight boxing fight” but finds himself on the ropes despite completing a hundred for the third successive Test on the second day at Headingley.Mitchell’s 109 followed scores of 13 and 108 at Lord’s, then 190 and 62 not out at Trent Bridge in the first two Tests of the tour, giving him the highest run-tally for a New Zealander against England in a single series, even with one innings to spare.He had two lives in the third Test, one on each of the first two days. On 8, he was trapped in front by Matthew Potts, but Marais Erasmus was unmoved and Ben Stokes opted against a review which would have overturned the decision. And after adding two runs to his overnight 78, he edged Potts towards Joe Root at slip, only for Ben Foakes to dive in front of him and spill the chance.”It’s an honour and a privilege to represent the Black Caps,” Mitchell said. “I know that it sounds pretty boring, but I love playing Test cricket for my country. Any chance to wear the silver fern is a pretty special moment and for me, it’s just a case of enjoying it.”It took me a few years to get into this position and to get into this Test team, so it’s about making the most of each opportunity, playing with a smile on my face and enjoying being in that changing room because it’s a great bunch of boys. When individual achievements come about it’s up to the work you do, but I’m just really honoured to be a part of this group.”Mitchell arrived in England a week before the first Test, leaving the IPL a few days ahead of schedule after dropping out of Rajasthan Royals’ playing XI, but had not played a red-ball match for four months and would not have played at Lord’s but for Henry Nicholls’ positive Covid-19 test delaying his rehabilitation from a calf injury.”That’s the nature of international cricket now,” he said. “You need to be able to adapt very quickly and be constantly working on different formats while you’re in other ones. It’s just part and parcel of playing all three formats in international cricket these days and it’s a challenge that you’ve got to keep trying to master.”Related

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He added that New Zealand had “probably fully expected” England to play in the ultra-positive, all-guns-blazing manner they have adopted in this series following Brendon McCullum’s appointment as coach, and said that they still felt as though the game was in the balance with three days to go despite Jonny Bairstow’s extraordinary partnership with Jamie Overton.”It’s been a hell of a Test series,” he said. “For us, there were obviously a couple of small moments in those other Tests that we lost which eventually ended up with us losing those matches. Both teams are evenly poised and it will come down to small moments over the next three days as to who is going to win this one.”It’s been the same themes throughout this whole series. As an onlooker on the sides, I reckon it would have been a hell of a game of cricket to be watching today, obviously the ebbs and flows. We linked it [sic] to a heavyweight boxing fight, the way both teams are throwing punches.”That’s the gameplan that they’ve come about with and we probably fully expected it with Baz taking over. I thought our bowlers did a great job there [and] it took a great knock by Jonny to put the pressure back on us.”It was a great partnership but at the same time we’ve still got a lead and we know there’s a lot of cricket still to be played over the next three days. If we can chip out a couple early tomorrow morning, it’s game on again. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Liverpool have reportedly joined the race to sign an "exceptional" player in the January transfer window, with a move away looking extremely likely for him.

Liverpool January rumours

The Reds have been stuttering in the Premier League of late, and while the 0-0 draw at home to Manchester United on Sunday were the first dropped points in a while, the performances against the likes of Fulham, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace have not been wholly convincing.

All of a sudden, the dreaded injuries are starting to creep in, with Joel Matip out for the rest of the season, and the likes of Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota all absent of late. Ryan Gravenberch also picked up a hamstring issue against United, and Jurgen Klopp's squad depth is being tested.

There is always the chance for Liverpool and FSG to bring in January reinforcements, and the Reds have been linked with plenty of players in recent weeks, with additions backed to come in across various areas of the pitch.

Goncalo Inacio and Piero Hincapie are two highly-rated centre-backs who are seen as possible targets for Liverpool, with the pair currently plying their trade at Sporting CP and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, while rumours of a move for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha have also been rife. Now, an intriguing new report has emerged, as Klopp potentially looks to address some issues in the middle of the park.

Liverpool want Kalvin Phillips

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who continues to endure such a tough time at the Etihad.

The Reds are believed to have "‘inserted themselves in the last few hours" when it comes to snapping up the 28-year-old, with Juventus also mentioned as potential suitors. Newcastle United have also felt like strong contenders to sign him, too, as they look to fill the void left by the suspended Sandro Tonali.

City are reluctant to allow Phillips to join a fellow Premier League team, which is why Juve look likely to be their preferred club of choice for him.

This could actually be a signing that makes some sense for Liverpool, even if the former Leeds United man was simply coming in as a short-term solution midway through the season. He has the same agent and Ibrahima Konate, which may aid negotiations.

Phillips will be desperate to rebuild his career after struggling so badly to be a regular under Pep Guardiola at City, and he could give the Reds that extra body in midfield, especially with Mac Allister and Gravenberch possibly absent for the foreseeable future, although that remains to be seen.

Guardiola has actually hailed the England international as "exceptional" in the past, so does seemingly rate him, but it has become clear that a new challenge is needed. He can operate as a No.6 or in a more box-to-box role, which could appeal to Klopp, and his experience and know-how of the Premier League could be a handy weapon in the title race.

Klopp could land his new Coutinho in Liverpool move for £117k-p/w magician

The Reds have a long-standing interest in the “magical” Bundesliga midfielder.

ByDan Emery Dec 18, 2023

That being said, for all of Phillips' positives as a player, a move feels unlikely, with Liverpool challenging City in the race for the title.

Weston McKennie could be lined up for a reunion with Gio Reyna, as Borussia Dortmund have reportedly joined the race for the Juventus midfielder.

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• Midfielder working on deal until 2025
• No extension agreed in Turin as yet
• Attracting interest from across Europe

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international, who has enjoyed a remarkable reversal of fortune in Turin this season, is only tied to a contract in Italy through to the summer of 2025. With no extension agreed as yet, Juve may be left with little choice but to cash in during the next transfer window.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  McKennie’s return to form in 2023-24 is said to be attracting admiring glances from afar, with Manchester United, Fulham and Arsenal credited with interest by – with the 25-year-old having previously spent time on loan in England at Leeds.

• Getty/GOAL
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  It is also claimed that McKennie has suitors in Germany, with RB Leipzig and Dortmund monitoring his situation. Any move to the latter could see the versatile American link up with fellow countryman Reyna – who is due back at Signal Iduna Park at the end of the season following a loan spell at Nottingham Forest.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MCKENNIE?

  Juventus are still hoping that McKennie can be talked into signing fresh terms, with his value to the cause being highlighted in the current campaign as he fills a number of different roles for Massimiliano Allegri and showcases his talent at both ends of the field.

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South Africa continued their 16-day domination at home by whitewashing Bangladesh 3-0 with a 23-run win in a rain-curtailed T20I in Bloemfontein. After the match was reduced to nine overs a side (three overs of Powerplay), South Africa defended their total of 64 with key contributions from fast bowlers Marizanne Kapp (2 for 8) and Ayabonga Khaka (3-10).Put in to bat, Tazmin Brits, South Africa’s new 27-year-old opener, top-scored with a 22-ball 29. Only one other player – Dane van Niekerk – scored in double digits as Brits took them to the eighth over, in which South Africa lost two wickets. Captain and offspinner Salma Khatun picked up 2 for 18 from her two overs.In the chase, Bangladesh were strangled from the start. Shabnim Ismail began proceedings with a maiden, which was followed by Kapp and Khaka striking in consecutive overs. Khaka struck again, twice actually, in three balls in the sixth over, and reduced the visitors to 26 for 4. The result was a formality thereafter. Only opener Shamima Sultana (12) and No. 6 Fahima Khatun (10) faced more than 10 balls each.South Africa had also beaten Bangladesh 5-0 in the ODI series.

Mikel Arteta will be thrilled with the way his side has played this season, with the dream of lifting the Premier League title looking very achievable.

Arsenal currently sit first in the table with 39 points, one point ahead of Liverpool, having won 12 of their 17 games so far.

The Gunners have conceded the joint fewest number of goals this season, 15, yet they want to strengthen their defence even further by signing an incredible Portuguese centre-back.

Arsenal transfers latest – Goncalo Inacio

According to A Bola via SportsWitness, Arsenal are looking to secure a deal for Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio in 2024 to improve their defensive options.

The 22-year-old is a key player at his club, and he has a current market value of £26m, as per Transfermarkt, but sporting director Edu will have to pay more than that to land his signature.

Sporting, as per the aforementioned report, are demanding a fee in the region of €60m (£52m), his release clause, which is understandable considering the Portuguese club is in the middle of a title charge.

How Goncalo Inacio compares to William Saliba

Goncalo Inacio is a Portugal international who became a starting player for his club Sporting at the age of 19. The defender is now 22 and is one of the key players in Ruben Amorim’s side, featuring 21 times this season already.

The number 25 is a left-footed centre back who thrives as the wide left defender in a back three, and he could be Arteta's left-footed version of a current Gunners superstar if Edu is able to secure a deal for his services in January.

Inacio offers an incredible amount of control to the Sporting side, both in possession and out of possession, which instantly draws comparisons to William Saliba, who brings that to the Arsenal side.

Below is a table that highlights the similarities between the two players, using stats from the last 365 days across the top five men's European leagues.

Passes completed

72.44

69.30

Progressive passes

6.59

3.59

Progressive carries

1.05

0.45

Touches

91.43

82.48

Dribblers tackled

1.05

0.5

As you can see above, the duo is dominant when entering duels and tackling dribblers. With them both at centre back, Arsenal would be able to commit more men forward and gain even more control, with the pairing almost single-handedly able to stop counterattacks. This would benefit the Gunners massively, due to Oleksandr Zinchenko taking on an inverted role and leaving the left-back position vacant at times during overturns of possession.

However, Inacio excels when on the ball and even completely outperforms Saliba, who is regarded as one of the best in the Premier League. It is important to take league context into account, but his statistics are on another level.

Both centre-backs are excellent progressors of the ball, particularly from a passing perspective, but Inacio also offers the ability to carry the ball forward and evade the opposition press. The number of attacking situations Inacio creates is astounding, as reflected by his 1.91 shot-creating actions per 90, which is in the top 1% when compared to other centre-backs in Europe.

Overall, Inacio would have a Saliba-esque impact to the left of Arsenal’s backline, and it is no wonder why Arteta and Edu are so keen on bringing the Portuguese "sensation," as dubbed by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, who could rival Gabriel for his position in the side.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have enjoyed an impressive run of form in the Premier League and are already nine points clear of the relegation zone after 12 matches.

The Old Gold have only lost one of their last seven top-flight matches under Gary O'Neil and have secured impressive wins against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, both by a scoreline of 2-1, during that period.

It has been a solid start to the campaign for the club, with four wins in 12 league outings, as they have scored 16 times – more than nine other sides.

This has come after Wolves ended the 2022/23 campaign with a measly 31 goals in their 38 Premier League games, which was the lowest tally in the entire division.

Luton

1-1 draw

Man City

2-1 win

Aston Villa

1-1 draw

Bournemouth

2-1 win

Newcastle

2-2 draw

Sheffield United

2-1 loss

Tottenham

2-1 win

However, their current form and goalscoring success does not seem to have put O'Neil off looking at possible recruits to bolster his attack in the January transfer window, as the English tactician has been linked with Norwich City winger Jonathan Rowe.

Wolves transfer news – Jonathan Rowe

A recent report from TEAMtalk revealed that Wolves are one of a number of clubs showing an interest in signing the talented Championship starlet in 2024.

The outlet has claimed that the Old Gold are prepared to join the race to secure his signature alongside a host of other Premier League teams.

Brentford, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Aston Villa, and Burnley are all also said to be keeping tabs on the 20-year-old forward ahead of a possible swoop for his services.

It is stated that Norwich want to keep hold of the winger ahead of the second half of the season as he is a crucial player for David Wagner, but they will need to bat away approaches from top-flight clubs in order to do.

His current contract is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, however, the Canaries have an option to extend it by a further 12 months. The Yellows are also said to be hoping to tie him down to a further extension in order to secure his long-term future at Carrow Road.

However, TEAMtalk did not mention how open to putting pen to paper on a new deal Rowe is or whether or not the forward would be keen to jump ship to sign for Wolves, or another Premier League side, in January.

If the club can secure a deal for the exciting young dynamo, though, then they could land their next version of Diogo Jota for O'Neil by snapping up a goalscoring left-sided attacker.

Diogo Jota's Wolves career in numbers

The terrific ace initially joined on loan from Atletico Madrid for the 2017/18 Championship campaign and hit the ground running in English football.

He played a key role in promotion to the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo with a return of 17 goals and five assists in 44 appearances that term.

Diogo ended the season with at least five more goals than any of his teammates and was unfortunate not to have registered more than five assists. The impressive gem created a whopping 13 'big chances' but his fellow attackers were not able to make the most of those opportunities.

This led to a permanent transfer to Molineux for a reported fee of €14m (£12m) and the Portugal international went on to prove his worth at Premier League level.

Across two top-flight seasons with the club, Diogo racked up 16 goals and six assists in 67 matches as he showcased his ability to find the back of the net at the top table of English football.

The ex-Atletico Madrid dynamo also made his mark in Europe with an excellent return of nine goals and five assists in 14 matches – across qualifying matches and regular Europa League appearances.

In total, Diogo scored 44 goals and provided 19 assists in 131 outings for the club in all competitions – an average of one goal every 2.98 games throughout his time with Wolves.

Rowe's form for Norwich suggests that the potential is there for him to come in and make a similar impact, as another player who predominantly plays on the left flank but can also be deployed centrally or on the right.

Rowe's season in numbers

The 20-year-old whiz has enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Canaries at Championship level and has showcased his potential as a goalscoring from a wide position.

He has established himself as a regular starter for the Norfolk-based side and contributed with seven goals and one assist in 16 league appearances, along with one goal and one assist in two EFL Cup matches.

In fact, Rowe currently ranks within the top 9% of his positional peers in the Championship for non-penalty goals (0.53) per 90, which illustrates how impressive his contributions have been.

The 5 foot 8 magician has also scored one goal in two England U21 outings this term, having been called up by his country after a phenomenal start to the campaign.

His goalscoring form for Norwich at first-team level, which has been described as "scintillating" by pundit Carlton Palmer, should not be a huge surprise as his performances in the academy showcased his knack for finding the back of the net on a regular basis.

Rowe scored 12 goals in 31 U18 appearances for the Canaries before being promoted to their U21 set-up, where the talented ace smashed in 11 goals – alongside seven assists – in 31 matches.

The Norwich star has scored eight goals in 18 first-team matches for his club this season, which is an impressive return of one strike every 2.25 outings on average.

These statistics show that, like Diogo Jota was for Wolves, Rowe is a goalscoring left winger whom Norwich can rely upon to find the back of the net with relative consistency.

He is yet to prove himself at Premier League level, with one assist in 13 appearances earlier in his career, but his form this term suggests that the potential is there for him to make the step up, which is why O'Neil could secure Wolves' next huge goal threat on the left flank by swooping to sign the gem.

Southampton are pushing for promotion from the Championship this season, and they are believed to be eyeing a move for a young defender with plenty of potential, according to a new update.

Southampton results and fixtures

Saints suffered are misery of being relegated from the Premier League last season, eventually finishing bottom of the table after a desperately disappointing run of results. Russell Martin's side went into the new campaign as one of the favourites to go straight back up, however, and a win away to Sheffield Wednesday on the opening night further suggested that that would be the case.

Things haven't quite gone as well since then, with inconsistent results leaving Southampton sitting 10th in the table, but they are still clearly in the mix for at least the playoffs, although new signings may be required to take them up a further gear.

Next up is a trip to Hull City, who are level on points with Martin's side, before a difficult mid-week trip to high-flying Preston.

Having quality and depth in the squad can be priceless in the Championship, considering how relentless the fixtures are the more the season goes on, and Saints are seemingly keen on signing a Premier League player to boost their defensive depth in January.

Southampton transfer update – Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson to Southampton is reportedly a deal that could come to fruition in 2024, according to West Ham insiders Claret and Hugh, who report the player is likely to be sold to one of the interested parties:

"Everton are understood to be interested along with Southampton, whilst Luton Town could show interest in the player given his versatility as a right and left back."

This could be a really strong piece of business by Southampton, with Johnson someone who has racked up plenty of experience, and who could be looking to move away from West Ham at this point in his career.

The 23-year-old has found himself out of favour at the London Stadium in recent times, with Johnson's statistics showing that he hasn't yet played at all in the league this season, instead making just one solitary appearance in the EFL Cup.

He will see his current West Ham deal expire at the end of this season, meaning they could be tempted to cash in come January. The fact that he has the same agent as Kyle Walker-Peters could be aid discussions over a move too, and the positives outweigh the negatives.

Even if Johnson's move to St Mary's Stadium doesn't work out, the cheap element of the signing would make it less of a risk, and his ability to play in several positions kills mutliple birds with one stone.

West Ham appearances

88

Premier League appearances

55

England Under-21 caps

10

The Englishman is a versatile defender who can play on either flank and in a central role, and former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has described him as "brilliant" in the past.

For any Championship club to snap up a Premier League players feels like a coup, and Johnson has the ability to make Southampton a more fearsome proposition at the back for years to come, with West Ham also seemingly happy to see him move on, given the lack of minutes they are affording him at the moment.