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Leeds United play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at Elland Road on Saturday in their last match before the international break.

Their clash with Spurs means that there will be a reunion for Daniel Farke and some of the players with former Leeds loanee Djed Spence, who has emerged as a regular starter at full-back for Thomas Frank.

The England international spent the first half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Elland Road from the Premier League side, but it did not quite work out for him in West Yorkshire.

Why it did not work out for Djed Spence at Leeds

After playing just seven matches in the Championship, Leeds opted to send him back to Spurs in the January transfer window and Farke suggested that his professionalism played a part in that decision.

When asked about why Spence’s loan was cut short, Farke said: “Listen, in the summer we came here in order to create and to bring new values and to create a new culture within the club and when we speak about a player if he’s on here on a permanent or a loan deal, we have expectations and these expectations are in several topics important.

“Obviously it’s important, the potential and the quality of the player but also it’s professionalism, it’s discipline, it’s workload on and off the pitch and also the soft skills, so also if he’s positive and committed, good for the group and engaged with these topics, paint then more or less a picture.”

Chalkboard

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

Whilst Spence’s professionalism may have been one of the reasons behind why the loan did not work out, the form of Archie Gray at right-back and Junior Firpo at left-back also played a major role because it meant that the loanee could not break into the XI.

Now, there is a player in the current Leeds squad who is in a similar situation and is in danger of becoming Farke’s next Spence at Elland Road.

The Leeds player who is in danger of becoming the next Djed Spence

The Championship champions agreed a deal worth up to £10m to sign James Justin from Leicester City in the summer transfer window to add quality to their full-back department.

Up to £10m on a 27-year-old back-up full-back may not have been the best allocation of funds, given that the Whites did not sign any right-wingers or number tens to bolster their attack in the window.

Speaking on talkSPORT, presenter Jeff Stelling said: “James Justin has been a very good player, good enough to win England caps, but he’s struggled for form in the last couple of seasons, I think it’s fair to say.”

He added: “I think they need to bring a Jack Grealish type figure in, someone who you know, the fans can really get excited about.

“And however well Justin does, the fans are not going to get excited about signing a full-back.”

The comment from Stelling about the defender’s struggles was interesting. Justin made two errors that led to goals as Leicester were relegated from the Premier League last season, per Sofascore, which shows that Leeds were not signing a player who was in great form or full of confidence.

Bournemouth

0

N/A

Wolves

12

0

Fulham

0

N/A

Newcastle

10

0

As you can see in the table above, the English full-back has only played 22 minutes of football since being signed for an initial fee of £8m from the Foxes.

Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jayden Bogle appear to have the full-back positions locked down, as Gray and Firpo did when Spence was at the club, and Justin is in real danger of struggling for minutes throughout the campaign unless injuries present him with an opportunity.

This is why the former Leicester man may follow the same path that Spence and Isaac Schmidt, who left to join Werder Bremen on loan this summer, followed as back-up full-back options under Farke.

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ByKelan Sarson Oct 2, 2025

Justin will be hoping that he can get a chance to impress and nail down a place in the starting XI by producing quality performances, to avoid getting to January and having to make a decision about his game time, as Spence and Leeds had to do in 2024.

Tottenham Hotspur sealed a loan deal to sign Kevin Danso from RC Lens in a last-gasp January window move, which includes a £21 million obligation to buy, but one pundit has shared a “concern” for Spurs in regard to their new arrival.

Kevin Danso set for Tottenham debut against Liverpool

With both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero ruled out of Tottenham’s Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Liverpool, and Radu Dragusin out for at least six months after sustaining ACL damage, manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Danso is set to play a role at Anfield tonight.

£165k-per-week Tottenham star set to miss Liverpool with Micky van de Ven

Spurs will be without the Dutchman and another key player tonight.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 6, 2025

You couldn’t ask for a tougher debut than a baptism of fire at Anfield, with Spurs holding on to a precious 1-0 lead from the first leg of their semi-final and Postecoglou desperately looking not to concede easy chances.

“He will play,” said Postecoglou on Danso’s inclusion against Liverpool. “Whether he starts or not we will take a look because we have another game three days later and that has been our existence for quite a while now.

“You are right, Ben (Davies), Archie, Pedro (Porro) has played every minute of football we have had for the last three months, but the boys are handling it okay, and the performances are still stacking up.

Man United (home)

February 16th

Ipswich Town (home)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

“It’s great to get Kevin in. He is ready to play. Whether he starts or he comes on, we will make a decision. It’s really important he is part of it now because losing Radu was a massive blow so having him available is good.”

When asked if Danso was a reactionary signing from Spurs, given just how late it was on in the window, not to mention how they hijacked Wolves’ deal for the Austrian, Postecoglou assured supporters he’s there for the long-term.

“I don’t think we’d be signing 21-year-olds and 19-year-olds reactively,” said Postecoglou in his pre-Liverpool press conference.

“If it was reactive we’d be signing 35-year-olds. So the nature of the players signed shows they’re not just about now, they’re about us continuing to build. I certainly see Toni, Mathys and Kevin very much part of a short, medium and long-term strategy here, for sure. They’re all really good fits for what we’re doing.”

Pundit shares Kevin Danso "concern" for Tottenham

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham shared a “concern” he holds with Danso signing for Tottenham.

“Danso isn’t actually someone that I know too much about,” Wenham said. “However, I do think to myself that he is 26, he’s been playing in the French league for a long time, and none of the other clubs have touched him.

“Some of these scouts have been on extensive missions in France scouting the likes of William Saliba, Wesley Fofana and Leny Yoro. However, nobody has picked up on Danso before. As a result, that is a bit of a concern for me.

“I hope I’m wrong, and he comes in and smashes it. However, that does ring some alarm bells for me.”

While the 26-year-old didn’t quite make it at Southampton, his Ligue 1 form for Lens shows exactly why Tottenham brought him to N17.

According to WhoScored, Danso stood out as Lens’ second-best performer before making the switch to Spurs, all while making more clearances and blocks per 90 than any other player in Lens’ squad. The defender also won more aerial duels per 90 than any of his former teammates in that time.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly entering the market for new centre-backs in January, and one target is now becoming more tempted to leave in 2025 as Spurs add him to their shortlist.

Spurs target new centre-back after triple injury blow

As things stand, Radu Dragusin is manager Ange Postecoglou’s only natural senior central defensive option right now – with trio Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies all sidelined through injury.

Tottenham make approach to sign "very fast" £25m centre-back in January

Spurs are after a stand-in for Micky van de Ven or Cristian Romero.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 20, 2024

Postecoglou has been forced to deploy versatile summer signing Archie Gray at centre-back to partner Dragusin in the last few games as a result, and while the teenager’s done well in a very unfamiliar role, Tottenham’s current injury crisis has exposed the lack of depth in their squad.

Speaking ahead of their blockbuster Premier League clash at home to Liverpool, Postecoglou dropped a transfer hint and suggested that Spurs could go into the market for more experienced players to complement the likes of Gray.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League games

Liverpool (Home)

Nottingham Forest (Away)

Wolves (Home)

Newcastle United (Home)

Arsenal (Away)

“Moving forward, we probably need to err on the side of getting a little bit more experience, just to help the group, because we’ve got very few at that kind of sweet spot in terms of ages,” said Postecoglou in his latest press conference.

“And we want to give the guys in their teens or early twenties the opportunity to keep growing. We need to make sure we put quality around them, so how we allocate the next resources may shift a little bit. But I’d hate to be sitting here now and saying we had an opportunity to sign Archie Gray at 18, and we passed it up because maybe we could have got a player who helps us for a couple of years.”

Postecoglou has held recruitment meetings with technical director Johan Lange ahead of January, by his own admission, and reports suggest that Spurs could go after a fresh centre-back option.

There are many potential options for Spurs in this regard, with French newspaper L’Equipe claiming that Tottenham have entered the race for RC Lens starlet Abdukodir Khusanov, who his club are attempting to sell in the winter as they attempt to raise funds.

Postecoglou has also asked Tottenham to consider a move for Getafe’s Omar Alderete, as per Spanish media sources, and they’re also believed to hold an interest in Feyenoord star David Hancko.

David Hancko open to leaving Feyenoord as Tottenham eye move

The Slovakia international was a key player for Arne Slot during his time at Feyenoord, and has continued to be a mainstay, but he’s now considering a fresh chapter away from the Eredivisie side.

That is according to TEAMtalk and journalist Rudy Galetti, who report that Hancko is open to leaving Feyenoord as Tottenham express an interest in signing him.

This transfer appears to be more likely for the summer as things stand, though, and despite contrary reports of a reduced price tag, TT write that Hancko will cost around £41 million to sign in 2025.

That being said, the 48-cap star has a glowing reputation and could be worth the investment, especially if Postecoglou is after proven reinforcements at the back.

“He is so stable and can basically do anything. I just think he is a top defender all-round,” said ex-Feyenoord ace Tim de Cler to SoccerNews.

“I think he can easily handle a club just below the top six in Europe. Then I’m talking about a club like Atlético Madrid or Liverpool. He can certainly handle that.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers' most recent 0-0 draw on the road to Brighton underlined the progress made by Gary O’Neil this season.

Pedro Neto received the TNT Sports Player of the Match award after tormenting the hosts all evening, but he was unable to inspire his side to a victory.

The winger has been Wolves’ biggest creator this season, providing seven Premier League assists in just 11 starts, but unfortunately for the Old Gold, their Portuguese star could be on the move soon.

According to a report this month from Football Transfers, Arsenal and Man City are both set to battle for the signature of the 23-year-old, with the latter set to guarantee him minutes as a starter.

Therefore, let’s take a look at three potential signings that could replace Neto in the Wolves starting XI if and when he takes his leave.

1 Option1: Jonathan Rowe – Norwich City

According to a report from The Sun last month, Wolves had an offer rejected in August for Jonathan Rowe.

However, the Molineux outfit could reignite their pursuit of the forward in January, who has been unbelievable this season.

Rowe has netted 12 goals in the Championship this season, which equates to 0.59 goals per ninety minutes and puts him in the top 2% compared to his positional peers in the second tier, as per FBref.

Sammie Szmodics

16

Morgan Whittaker

15

Adam Armstrong

14

Jack Clarke

13

Jonathan Rowe

12

Crysencio Summerville

12

As highlighted by his two assists, the 20-year-old has a slightly different profile from Neto, who is far more creative than prolific, with his one Premier League goal further cementing that point. Nevertheless, Rowe’s output in the final third would massively help O’Neil’s side win those games, like the 0-0 draw this week.

2 Option 2: Jack Clarke – Sunderland

The second potential Neto replacement is Jack Clarke of Sunderland, who has also starred in the Championship this season.

According to the Northern Echo, the 23-year-old is being monitored by many top-flight clubs, including Wolves, and he could become the perfect Neto successor.

He has become the focal point of the Black Cats this season, taking on almost all of the goal-scoring responsibility despite playing out wide, as shown by his 13 goals in the league.

Goals

0.47

Top 1%

Shots total

2.73

Top 4%

Key passes

2.40

Top 9%

Shot-creating actions

5.45

Top 4%

Successful take-ons (dribbles)

3.71

Top 1%

Carries into penalty area

4.76

Top 1%

However, Clarke is much more than just goals, as you can see from the table above. The fact that he ranks so highly compared to his positional peers, notably for dribbling, proves that he’s a level above and that he is ready to perform on the biggest stage.

3 Option 3: Armando Broja – Chelsea

Now, we know what you’re thinking: how can an out-and-out striker replace Neto, who is far from that? Well, O’Neil could have a plan up his sleeve to shift around his front line to fit in the Albanian, who has been labelled as "complete" by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.

This week, journalist Ben Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT that Wolves are working on a deal to bring Armando Broja to the club on a loan with an option to buy, who is valued at £50m by the Blues.

If the move was to be completed, he would slot right into the centre forward role, ultimately meaning that Hwang Hee-chan could move into a deeper supporting role, which is where Neto plays currently.

Having three goal scorers in attack, Matheus Cunha, Hwang, and Broja, would make Wolves far more deadly, and combined, they would become a terrifying trio.

Goals/shot on target

0.50

Top 17%

Shots total

2.58

Top 45%

Pass completion %

88.3%

Top 1%

Progressive passes received

7.33

Top 16%

Successful take-ons (dribbles)

2.58

Top 1%

Touches (Att pen)

6.94

Top 13%

The 22-year-old has had his share of injury troubles over the years, but with minutes under his belt, he could thrive in a new environment. The table above shows glimpses of what he could bring to the side, such as acting as a target man to receive the ball and retaining it, operating within the box, while also taking players on with his power and speed.

Rangers are closing in on the signings of Jefte and Oscar Cortes, and an update from journalist Derek Clark has now revealed what's next after the pair arrive in Glasgow.

Rangers transfer news

Things appear to be going well for Philippe Clement and his side at the moment, with Saturday's 1-0 win away to St Mirren ensuring they keep the pressure on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race. They are only five points behind their rivals with a game in hand, suggesting that things could go to the wire this season.

New signings in the coming days could only benefit Rangers in their title surge, and a host of different players have been linked with moves to Ibrox before the month reaches its conclusion.

One individual who is reportedly a big target is Fluminense left-back Jefte, with an agreement believed to be in place to seal the signing soon. The Brazilian is considered an upgrade on Borna Barisic, and left-backs could be needed if he and/or Ridvan Yilmaz move on to pastures new this month.

Meanwhile, Lens attacker Cortes looks set to arrive on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to make his move a permanent one in his contract. A report from The Daily Record claims that Clement "is on the brink of landing his third January signing", adding that he is "already said to be en route to Glasgow so he can formalise the relationship".

Another player who has been backed to join Rangers numerous times in recent months is Hearts attacker Lawrence Shankland, who has been one of the Scottish Premiership's best players this season, topping the scoring charts with 14 goals to date in the competition.

Rangers to make another signing

Taking to X, Clark claimed that Rangers expect to make another signing before deadline day ends on Thursday night, after bringing in Jefte and Cortes.

"Told Rangers hopeful of bringing in one more after Jefte and Cortes. Expect departures although hearing Cifuentes not too keen on move to Turkey."

It is encouraging to see Rangers looking to make so many signings at this stage of the transfer window, suggesting Clement is not content to wait around and build for the future, instead believing the title charge is well and truly on this time around.

Tore Andre Flo

£15.3m

Michael Ball

£8.3m

Mikel Arteta

£6.7m

Arthur Numan

£6.5m

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

£6.3m

It looks as though outgoings are also hugely likely, especially Jose Cifuentes, even though the above report suggests that a move to Turkey may not be at the top of his agenda. Whether either or both of Barsic and Yilmaz move on as well remains to be seen, but if that does happen, a second left-back may even need to be looked at on top of Jefte.

Fabrizio Romano says Rangers have “deal in place” to complete another signing

An agreement has been reached to sign the player in question.

ByHenry Jackson Jan 28, 2024

It does feel as though things could move quickly when it comes to both incoming and outgoing business this month, especially given how late it is in the window, and it is a period that will end up looking key come the end of the season.

An "unbelievable" Newcastle United player is wanted by a huge European club this month, according to an update from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies could do with new signings in the January transfer window, with injuries continuing to hurt them badly, as Joelinton becomes the latest big-name player to be out for a significant period of time.

On the plus side, Newcastle have been linked with signing lots of players before the end of the month, with reinforcements being eyed up all over the pitch. Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli is one individual who has been backed to head to St James' Park in recent days, with fellow centre-back Ousmane Diomande also a target.

The Magpies also still have a chance of signing Manchester City and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, although the 28-year-old is reportedly in talks with West Ham over a switch to east London. In attack, VfB Stuttgart ace Serhou Guirassy is a fairly long-time target as Eddie Howe looks for added firepower to aid his side's European push in the Premier League.

Now, a surprise rumour is doing the rounds – one that affects a current Newcastle player, rather than a potential incoming star.

Kieran Trippier could leave Newcastle

Writing on X on Friday, Plettenberg claimed that Bayern Munich want to sign Newcastle ace Kieran Trippier on loan this month, keeping him at the club until the end of the season.

"Yes, FC Bayern is interested in signing Kieran Trippier as there’s still no green light from @PSG_inside for a loan of Nordi Mukiele. Bayern bosses have discussed about the 33 y/o Trippier in the last 2 days. It’s hot as a straight loan of the right-back from Newcastle is possible."

There is no doubt that this update comes as a shock for Newcastle, with Trippier seemingly set to stay at the club for the foreseeable future, continuing to be a key man after proving to be such a fantastic signing.

Granted, the 33-year-old's form has been a huge concern during a chunk of the winter period, with a number of mistakes leading to goals against the Magpies, but it could simply be that some fatigue has set in, as well as a loss of confidence.

Selling Trippier makes very little sense in the second half of the season, and the hope is that talk of a move to Bayern blows over and the England right-back remains at St James' for the rest of his career. This is someone who Alan Shearer loves, with the Newcastle legend saying last year:

"Some of the balls he was putting into the box were just unbelievable. What a signing he has been for Newcastle, he’s in great form."

Versatile Newcastle player set to leave St James' Park with deal close

A permanent exit this month looks on the cards.

ByHenry Jackson Jan 19, 2024

Whether Trippier's head will be turned by a move to Bayern remains to be seen, but if he does go, losing him would represent a significant setback for Howe and the supporters.

Crystal Palace are now rivalling Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of a former Real Madrid player, who “never puts a foot wrong.”

Palace keen on new centre-back with Guehi set for exit

Marc Guehi was hardly short of suitors before the international break, with the centre-back’s move to Liverpool falling through on deadline day, but the Englishman has once again put himself in the shop window courtesy of his performance against Wales.

The Three Lions haven’t conceded a single goal in World Cup qualifying, with Guehi helping his side continue their fantastic defensive record against Wales last week, while also assisting England’s opening two goals.

The 25-year-old has remained a consummate professional, having not downed tools in order to force through a move, but it appears as though an exit is inevitable, given that the Palace captain was left very unhappy with his move to Anfield breaking down.

Consequently, Crystal Palace have now started looking at potential replacements for the defender, and they have now joined the race for Lazio defender Mario Gila, who is also being targeted by Tottenham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states all the aforementioned Premier League clubs are keeping close tabs on Gila, who could command a huge transfer fee.

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The Eagles are looking to sign a new central midfielder, amid widespread interest in Adam Wharton.

ByDominic Lund Oct 15, 2025

The Italian club are only willing to listen to offers in the region of €45m – €50m (£39m – £43m), which is regarded as an affordable fee for Spurs, but would be a club-record signing for Palace, eclipsing the £32m spent on Christian Benteke back in 2016.

Gila could be exciting replacement for Guehi

Of course, no Crystal Palace fan will want their FA Cup-winning captain to leave, but given that he has shown no interest in signing a new contract, it is wise to start thinking about potential replacements.

Moreover, the Lazio defender could be an exciting option, given that he is experienced in Europe, having featured in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League with Lazio.

The ex-Real Madrid man has also received plaudits from Lazio sporting director Igli Tare, who seemed to suggest he is destined for the top level, saying: “He is fast, intelligent and never puts a foot wrong. He can become one of the top 3-4 defenders in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if Real wanted him back.”

As such, it would be a real coup if Palace were able to sign Gila, but the capture of Yeremy Pino in the summer showed that Selhurst Park is now becoming an attractive destination for top players.

Phillipe Clement has made it clear that one of his Rangers players is no longer part of his plans as his side look to close the gap on Celtic and lift their first Scottish Premiership title since 2021.

Rangers transfer news

As Rangers look to catch their city rivals, Clement has enlisted significant reinforcements to aid their quest for silverware. Mohamed Diomande arrived on loan from FC Nordsjaelland to expand Rangers' midfield options, whilst the short-term move for RC Lens' Oscar Cortes offers a greater threat on the attacking front.

The most high-profile move was the loan signing of Fabio Silva from Wolves, though, which represents a major coup for the Ibrox side. The 21-year-old moves north desperate to recapture the form that merited a club record £35.6million move from Porto back in 2020. With two goals already to his name for his new side, Silva could be key to Rangers' push for the title.

However, as the Rangers' faithful celebrate their new signings, Clement has already looked to the summer and made the future of one man certain.

McLaughlin set to leave Rangers

Joining to deputise for Allan McGregor back in 2020, Jon McLaughlin arrived at Ibrox with over 400 appearances under his belt, including an impressive campaign as first choice between the sticks for Sunderland in League One.

However, after zero minutes this season, Clement has now decided it is time to deem McLaughlin surplus to requirements at Ibrox. Sources told Football Insider that the 36-year-old will not be offered a new contract when his current one expires in May and will leave Ibrox.

It was his impressive spell in the north east that led to the signing, with then Rangers manager Steven Gerrard telling the press:

“He is here to compete for the number one shirt and will add much needed competition for places… His experience in the SPFL will stand by him as he continues to fight for a place in the Scotland squad.”

Whilst Gerrard's optimism suggested that McLaughlin would feature prominently for his side, the veteran keeper has struggled for consistent minutes, making just 25 league appearances during his first three seasons at the club. The veteran has now fallen down the pecking order with the arrival of Jack Butland in 2023 seeing Robby McCrorie promoted to second choice at McLaughlin's expense.

His current manager, Clement had used the January window to express his dismay at Rangers' handling of expiring contracts, explaining to the press:

"To have five players out of contract, it's a crazy situation because you are throwing away money. They are no value any more if their contract is ended".

Clement can oust Dessers by unleashing Rangers' £11m-rated gem

Rangers face a clash against Ayr United at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup tomorrow

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 9, 2024

With McLaughlin collecting a rumored annual pay packet of £317,200 per Salary Sport, there is little question as to why Clement is frustrated at the lack of urgency to get these players off the books. Owing to a tight title race with their closest rivals and with the latter stages of the cup still to play, there will be little opportunity for McLaughlin to get on the pitch.

An esteemed veteran of the game and a capable deputy for a number of years, most Rangers fans will appreciate the job McLaughlin has done but may bemoan the financial cost of not moving him on whilst they could still get a fee for him.

In Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United are enjoying the rise of a truly special player. Walk around the city and ask fans for their opinion of the Italian maestro, and many would say he is the very best they have witnessed at St. James’ Park.

It’s just one masterclass after another. Tottenham Hotspur couldn’t cope on Wednesday evening, dumped out of the Carabao Cup following Tonali’s brilliant midfield performance.

Eddie Howe engineered a covert contractual renewal when the star was serving a suspension for betting breaches, and so the Magpies need not worry about their central talisman playing elsewhere any time soon.

But Tonali alone cannot uphold the midfield, and it looks like change is afoot in the engine room, with United gearing up to sign a new central midfielder.

Newcastle angling for new midfielder

Joelinton has been a stalwart at Newcastle for many years, but the 29-year-old has come under fire at times already this season, with his questionable performances leaving some, such as blogger Thomas Hammond, to question whether this is “the start of the end” for the powerful Brazilian, who seems the weak link in this evolving midfield.

The emergence of Lewis Miley certainly suggests Joelinton’s place in the starting line-up is not as secure as it once was, and the continued question marks over Joe Willock’s long-term future in the Newcastle midfield add fuel to the fire.

Well, given that Howe is determined to re-sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, it does seem the cabinet could be set for a reshuffle.

As per Spanish sources, Newcastle are rivalling the mighty Real Madrid for the Three Lions star, who has been valued as high as £120m by Evangelos Marinakis. Technical director Ross Wilson will know he needs to act swiftly.

Moreover, Football Insider have followed reports with the claim that Liverpool and Manchester United have both placed the 22-year-old at the top of their lists.

Why Howe wants Elliot Anderson back at SJP

In the summer of 2024, Newcastle were being pressured by the Premier League’s PSR parameters, and sold two top talents – Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – to divisional rivals, easing away from financial bother.

Anderson signed for Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £35m, and he’s only gone from strength to strength at the City Ground, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as a “powerhouse” of a “midfield warrior”.

Indeed, you need only look at the metrics to see how he has evolved in his short time in red, with the current campaign seeing him take so many touches of the ball, creating and defending and leading by example.

Matches (starts)

37 (33)

9 (9)

Goals

2

0

Assists

6

1

Touches*

54.2

98.2

Accurate passes*

28.7 (82%)

66.4 (88%)

Chances created*

1.0

1.3

Dribbles*

1.0

1.3

Ball recoveries*

5.6

7.9

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

3.7

Duels (won)*

6.5 (52%)

7.8 (56%)

He is the complete number eight, and in this, just like Tonali, who is now considered “the best midfielder in the Premier League” by English legend Paul Scholes.

Anderson isn’t there – yet. However, he is earlier in his development and surely on track to rival the likes of Tonali if he continues to add strings to his bow.

Now part of Thomas Tuchel’s England set-up, Anderson is finding a home alongside the more adventurous Declan Rice. Perhaps Bruno Guimaraes could serve as this type of partner, with Tonali elegantly keeping things moving from the side.

This is all to say that Anderson could be a stunning addition to Howe’s team, and maybe even come to surpass Tonali down the line.

Pulling him back over to Tyneside won’t be easy, but Howe has already shown his hand, speaking of his desire to bring the talent back home in a press conference last month, and must now hope that Anderson is swayed toward the nostalgia of returning to his boyhood club.

In any case, that aside, Newcastle might actually be able to canvass the most compelling proposal to the English talent.

New Tonali: Newcastle's 8/10 ace has been an "incredible piece of business"

Newcastle have proved their skill in the transfer market once again this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 30, 2025

Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek will be ‘excited’ about his chances of shining at Old Trafford following Erik ten Hag’s appointment at the club.

The Lowdown: Ten Hag comes in

Ten Hag has officially been named as United’s new manager, with the 52-year-old coming in at the end of the season after an impressive spell at Ajax.

The hope is that he is finally the right man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, with David Moyes, Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick all flattering to deceive in the Premier League.

One player who Ten Hag knows inside out is Van de Beek, with the pair working together when Ajax reached the Champions League semi-finals back in 2018/19.

The Latest: Journalist makes Van de Beek claim

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Paul Brown claimed that this could be Van de Beek’s time to seize his opportunity at United, saying:

“I think he’s quite excited probably about the prospect of finally getting a chance.

“If he doesn’t, there are probably other clubs in a better position than Everton to take him on loan, if possible.”

The Verdict: Make-or-break for Van de Beek

This certainly feels like a make-or-break moment in Van de Beek’s United career, with the Netherlands international on loan at Everton after a woeful spell at Old Trafford.

If Ten Hag can’t get a tune out of him, you’d start to wonder if anyone will be able to do so, with the midfielder such a key figure under the 52-year-old at Ajax, scoring 41 goals in 175 appearances in total.

It will be fascinating to see how Van de Beek fares next season, assuming he stays at Old Trafford, and if Ten Hag gets the best out of him, it could genuinely feel almost like a new signing for United, with the 25-year-old having once been hailed as ‘perfect’ by Owen Hargreaves.

In other news, United are reportedly keen on signing one Premier League star. Read more here.