Greg O’Keeffe has questioned how Demarai Gray may have responded to Sean Dyche’s methods at Everton’s training ground.
The Lowdown: Dyche not taking it easy at Everton
When Dyche was appointed as the Everton manager, a lot was made of how he was putting his foot down at Finch Farm as he banned snoods and hats from training sessions.
While this was said to be so the players trained as they played on the weekend, which would make sense, it remains to be seen what benefit that has had on the squad.
Since taking over from Frank Lampard at the end of January, Dyche has overseen two wins against Leeds United and Arsenal, while managing to get a misfiring Everton side to score twice in one game last weekend after putting installing top scorer Gray into the starting lineup.
The Latest: Gray may not be a Dyche favourite
However, O’Keeffe has been left less than convinced on the All Together Now podcast about whether or not Gray will have responded well to Dyche’s more straight-talking ways at Finch Farm, having started just once under the new boss.
He said: “It’s a very old-school attitude what Dyche has done there. It’s just a tactic to try and deploy some discipline and get some grit and strength about the group.
“It’ll work for some and it won’t work for others, and I think Gray’s the type who just wouldn’t have it, or certainly, if he had to have it, he would be unhappy and sulky about it.”
The Verdict: Dyche must find a spot for Gray
It’s rather strange that it took Dyche until his sixth game in charge to start Gray given that he was the club’s top scorer and looks to be the only person capable of finding the back of the net on a consistent basis.
The English winger has netted six times this season across all competitions, and even when deployed in an unnatural striker spot as he was last weekend, he still managed to impose himself on the game by netting a penalty.
Even if it was true that Gray wasn’t having Dyche’s methods behind the scenes, the Everton boss may well have to swallow his pride until at least the summer and get Gray into his team, or the goals may continue to be sparse within his team.
West Ham United finally said goodbye to homegrown hero Declan Rice during the transfer window, as he joined Arsenal for an incredible £105m fee, a record between two British clubs.
The move was perhaps inevitable, with the midfielder impressing via his performances for the club in the Premier League and in Europe, where he became the first West Ham captain to lift a European trophy since the great Bobby Moore back in 1965, further endearing himself to the supporters.
David Moyes has yet to make a signing this summer, despite having money to spend following the Rice sale.
Could the Scot perhaps avenge his departure by signing a young talent from Arsenal in the coming weeks?
What are the latest West Ham transfer rumours?
According to a prior from talkSPORT, the Irons are interested in making a move for promising striker, Folarin Balogun, this summer as Moyes aims to bolster his attacking options.
Mikel Arteta appears to be keen on letting the 22-year-old depart the Emirates before the transfer window shuts in the next few weeks, valuing the striker at £45m.
Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…
Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca is close to securing an exit from West Ham after just one season in London, with Fabrizio Romano stating Atalanta will be his next destination and this leaves Moyes rather short in the attacking department.
How many goals has Folarin Balogun scored?
The American international has made ten appearances for Arsenal, scoring twice, yet it was his season long loan spell at Stade Reims which brought him widespread acclaim.
The 22-year-old was a sensation in Ligue 1, netting 21 goals across 37 games, finishing the 2022/23 season as the fourth highest scorer in the division, behind just Kylian Mbappe, Alexandre Lacazette and Jonathan David. Not bad company to keep.
Although relatively inexperienced, Balogun ranked first across the Reims squad for goals and assists (23), shots on target per game (1.6) and third for big chances created (eight), showcasing just how important he was to the French side.
Comparing these figures to the West Ham side demonstrates that the Arsenal striker could slot into Moyes’s starting XI with ease. His 23 goals and assists was 12 clear of Jarrod Bowen at the Hammers, while Said Benrahma registered 0.8 shots on target per game and Bowen created nine big chances, indicating just how effective he was compared to the West Ham players last term.
folarin-balogun-premier-league-west-ham-transfers
Will Still, the Reims manager, lauded his striker last term, saying: “He's unbelievable, he has real talent but he is also just a top person.” And his recent form even led to a debut for the United States.
He scored on his second appearance for his country, taking his club form that took Ligue 1 by storm onto the international stage, and it’s clear he is ready to make an impression in the Premier League.
His spell in France was a big learning curve and compared to the rest of the West Ham squad, Balogun could provide a key attacking threat, and this could benefit Moyes during 2023/24.
The young menace might not have a long term future under Arteta, but Moyes could give him an ideal platform to shine.
With West Ham having suffered the disastrous blow of losing Rice to the Gunners, the Europa Conference League winners could exact some revenge by poaching Balogun before the September deadline.
Crystal Palace admire Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier, and a new report has made it clear whether they will stand a chance of signing him before the end of the transfer window…
What's the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?
Palace have had a very quiet summer transfer window up to this point, only signing Jefferson Lerma and Matheus Franca, but there have been plenty of outgoings, with star player Wilfried Zaha joining Galatasaray, and Michael Olise could also be off.
Chelsea have activated Olise's £35m release clause, and he is now poised to move to Stamford Bridge, meaning Roy Hodgson may have to strengthen his squad considerably before the transfer window closes in just over two weeks time.
The Eagles have started to identify some new attacking targets, with Sporting CP's Issakau Fatawu recently emerging as an option, and Hodgson is also keen on signing Southampton striker Che Adams, in what could be a £10m deal.
Although the main outgoings this summer have been in attack, Hodgson could also look at bolstering their backline this summer, and his side have now been named as potential suitors for Dier.
According to a report from 90min, Palace are one of several clubs that admire the Tottenham defender alongside Celtic, AS Monaco, a number of unnamed Bundesliga teams and Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
Sporting CP would also contemplate a reunion with their former player, if they were to sell Goncalo Inacio in the next few weeks, with Benfica also monitoring him, so the 29-year-old is unlikely to have a shortage of offers on the table.
The report makes it clear that Spurs would be open to selling their £85k-per-week defender, given that he has fallen down the pecking order under Ange Postecoglou, indicating that Palace, and all the other potential suitors could stand a good chance of signing him.
Why is Eric Dier not playing for Spurs?
The England international underwent surgery at the end of the season, meaning he was not central to Postecoglou's plans, and he has since been snubbed by the new Tottenham manager, having been overlooked for captaincy duties.
Having been omitted from the squad for Spurs' Premier League opener against Brentford, in what was purely a tactical decision, it appears as though the former Sporting man's time in north London is coming to an end.
A move across the capital may be exactly what he needs to reignite his career, and the centre-back could be a solid addition to Hodgson's squad, having been hailed as a "fantastic player" by former teammate Harry Kane.
Spurs defender Eric Dier.
Gareth Southgate has also hailed the Englishman for the influence he has both on and off the pitch, saying:
"We know what a good character he is. He fits in with the culture and has great international experience and leadership qualities."
Dier has a huge amount of Premier League experience, making 270 top-flight appearances, and he could help shore up the Palace backline. However, Hodgson's main aim currently should be to bring in some new attacking options, given that Zaha has already left, and Olise is set to sign for Chelsea, but a move for Dier looks like one to watch.
An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their pursuit of a deal to further bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…
What's the latest Rangers transfer news?
According to The Athletic's Jordan Campbell, the Light Blues are "edging closer" to an agreement with Feyenoord to sign Brazilian centre-forward Danilo during the transfer window.
The reporter has stated that the Gers have upped their offer from €3.5m (£3m) to €6m (£5.2m) including realistic add-ons as Michael Beale closes in on his eighth signing of the summer.
Sam Lammers, Leon Balogun, Cyriel Dessers, Abdallah Sima, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland have all joined the club to date.
Campbell claims that the two clubs are not far apart in their valuations and that there is a belief on both sides of the deal that this transfer will go through eventually.
How many goals did Danilo score last season?
The 24-year-old marksman scored an eye-catching ten Eredivisie goals in 14 starts for Feyenoord throughout the 2022/23 campaign and has the potential to be an excellent partner for Dessers.
Campbell has claimed that the possible signing would be used as a "hybrid" forward alongside the former Cremonese number nine in attack next season for the Light Blues.
This suggests that Danilo could play in a role that would allow him to join Dessers in a front two to spearhead the attack whilst also being given the freedom to drop deeper and move out wide in order to link up play with the midfield and wingers, which would allow the Nigerian international to remain through the middle as the focal point for Beale.
Former Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers.
The ex-Brazil U23 international has been a prolific scorer throughout his youth and senior career to date and could form a lethal partnership with the 28-year-old dynamo.
Danilo's impressive Eredivisie return last term came after he managed 15 goals in 26 matches for Ajax's first-team and reserves combined, which included six goals in three cup games. He also caught the eye during the 2020/21 campaign on loan at FC Twente with 17 strikes in 33 league outings.
The £5.2m-rated ace, who scored 31 goals in 51 U21 clashes for Ajax, has proven himself to be a reliable scorer, which could strike fear into opposition defenders if they see him lining up alongside Dessers, whose form for Feyenoord – prior to Danilo's move there – suggests that he can also be a monster in front of goal.
Throughout the 2021/22 season, the Nigerian goal machine plundered an outstanding 19 goals in 16 starts across the Europa Conference League and Eredivisie, which included nine goals in nine Dutch top-flight starts.
No Rangers striker found the back of the net more than 14 times in the Scottish Premiership for Beale last term. Both Dessers, who scored 22 goals and provided 13 assists in 36 games for NAC Breda in 2016/17, and Danilo have the potential to score 15 or more league goals in a season.
Therefore, the possible strike partnership for the Light Blues could be one that causes panic among opposition defences over the coming months as centre-backs could have two prolific and consistent number nines to deal with throughout matches, which could cause havoc in the box.
Aston Villa were thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle on the opening weekend but the most disappointing news to come out of that game was a long-term injury to Tyrone Mings.
The 30-year-old centre-back suffered a serious injury which has sidelined him for the remainder of the season and left him requiring surgery.
Mings featured in all but three Premier League games last season, becoming a key player under Unai Emery.
With Villa facing the exciting but daunting prospect of juggling domestic and European football, defensive reinforcements are a must and a significant update has emerged regarding their chase of a World Cup-winning left back.
Aston Villa transfer news – What's the latest?
According to Diario de Sevilla (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa have 'made their move' for Sevilla's Marcos Acuna over the last week having seen two bids rejected, with the first being deemed 'far too low'.
A third bid is reportedly in the pipeline, however, the Spanish giants are only open to a potential deal if they can secure the right price for the 31-year-old. It's said a deal is now 'getting closer'.
Acuna is open to a move to Villa, so if the correct price can be negotiated, the Argentinian will be Emery's latest recruit.
How good is Marcos Acuna?
The "quality" Acuna – as dubbed by journalist Zach Lowy – has played for Sevilla since 2020, making 125 appearances and recording 18 goal involvements with the most joyous moments of his career coming in recent times.
From featuring in all but one of Argentina's matches on their way to a World Cup triumph in Qatar to lifting the Europa League trophy in June, it's fair to say that it's been a whirlwind 12 months for Acuna.
With transfer links drawn towards the 5 foot 8 ace, Villa supporters would have kept a close eye on his performance in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night.
Despite losing on penalties to Manchester City, the World Cup winner played a full 90 minutes and provided the assist for Youssef En-Nesyri's goal, which was later cancelled out by Cole Palmer's equaliser.
Sevilla defender Marcos Acuna.
While Sevilla would have been disappointed by this defeat, Acuna was subject to high praise from Pep Guardiola when discussing Palmer's future.
He said: "it’s not easy to play against defenders like [Marcos] Acuna, for example, who is a top defender."
When one of the best managers in the world directs high praise towards a player, it's difficult not to take notice, especially after a phenomenal 2022/23 season.
Acuna stands-out out in La Liga when comparing his attacking stats to his positional peers, ranking in the top 10% for non-penalty goals (0.14), expected assists (0.27), shot-creating actions (4.80), crosses (6.92) and key passes 1.79), via FBref.
With Alex Moreno and Lucas Digne to compete against in his position, those attacking stats, in particular, prove that he has the quality to challenge or perhaps even make that spot his own.
Having already signed a Europa League-winning defender in Pau Torres, adding Acuna to the ranks is a mouth-watering proposition with the pair looking tailor-made to form a strong partnership.
Torres happened to replace the aforementioned Mings in light of his horrendous injury against Newcastle and then made his first start against Everton on Sunday, keeping a clean sheet.
He won 100% of his aerial duels and completed 90% of his passes from a left centre-back berth, as per Sofascore.
Such a role could see him thrive alongside Acuna, with a solid and dependable left-sided combination set to emerge for Emery.
Having beaten Chelsea in their last outing, Nottingham Forest will be desperate to get back amongst it in the Premier League following an international break.
Anthony Elanga, who joined Forest from Manchester United in the summer, scored the only goal of the game at Stamford Bridge.
Burnley meanwhile fell at home to Tottenham Hotspur despite taking an early lead. The Clarets were ahead thanks to South African international Lyle Foster after just 4 minutes but a Heung-min Son hat-trick made all the difference in a 5-2 win for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
That win for Nottingham Forest takes them into the top half whilst Burnley remain at the foot of the table as one of only two teams, along with Luton Town, yet to pick up a point this term.
Next time out, the pair will face off at the City Ground and we at Football FanCast have peeled the curtain back on the history of this fixture, so you don’t have to.
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley: Who has the better head-to-head record (competitive games only)?
This year’s form doesn’t in any way reflect how these two teams have fared against each other in the past with Burnley having the slight edge. These games have been fairly well spread out between top-tier football and life in the second division too.
Nottingham Forest wins 37 Draws 28 Burnley wins 43 Nottingham Forest vs Burnley: Who has more wins at the City Ground?
Home form prevails for Nottingham Forest with their 55% win rate in this fixture at the City Ground being very respectable indeed.
Forest bounced around a few different stadiums in the area before arriving at The City Ground in 1898, where they’ve been ever since.
Nottingham Forest wins 29 Draws 13 Burnley wins 11 Nottingham Forest vs Burnley: Who has more wins at Turf Moor?
Unlike Nottingham Forest, Burnley have never known anything different than Turf Moor. Similarly though, they have won more often than not on their own patch, at a rate of 58%, slightly higher than that of their upcoming opponents.
The club became one of the first professional teams in all the land in 1883 and they have that one ground since then.
Nottingham Forest wins 08 Draws 15 Burnley wins 32 Nottingham Forest vs Burnley: Who has the better cup record?
Cup meetings between Nottingham Forest and Burnley have been few and far between with the two crossing paths just eight times since their first ever meeting in 1906.
Twice in the FA Cup these two teams have played but both of these outings came in the 1934/1935 season with the first attempt being drawn 0-0, before Burnley won the replayed game 3-0.
Nottingham Forest wins 02 Draws 01 Burnley wins 05 Nottingham Forest vs Burnley: How have the last 5 meetings played out?
Burnley’s recent stints in the Premier League have not coincided with that of Nottingham Forest until now, meaning that this will be the first meeting of the pair since the competition was created three decades ago.
30th August 2023- Nottingham Forest 0-1 Burnley:
Whilst it isn't a league meeting, these two teams will be familiar with each other after they were drawn together in the second round of the League Cup, which was played just a couple of weeks ago.
Some key players were rested but others remained in the XIs for the respective managers and so Steve Cooper wouldn’t have been particularly impressed to be eliminated so early. It was a stalemate for the majority of the game until Swiss substitute Zeki Amdouni sent the away fans into raptures at the City Ground in the 90th minute.
23rd February 2016- Burnley 1-0 Nottingham Forest:
We now travel back several years to the last league matchup between Nottingham Forest and Burnley.
The latter won the title that year in emphatic fashion but this dominance wasn’t necessarily reflected when crossing paths with Forest. Once again, it was decided by a single goal and the scorer this time was Sam Vokes.
20th October 2015- Nottingham Forest 1-1 Burnley:
In the reverse fixture, with Nottingham Forest’s season not yet having been derailed, they were able to hold Sean Dyche’s side to draw in a dreaded EFL midweek game.
The drama came in the last fifteen minutes with Forest shooting themselves in the foot just moments after taking the lead. Eric Lichaj found the back of the net only for Henri Lansbury to be sent off a couple of minutes later. An experienced and versatile Matthew Taylor was on hand to equalize in the dying embers.
22nd February 2014- Burnley 3-1 Nottingham Forest:
We’re again talking about a season that saw Burnley promoted to the Premier League and again, they came out on top against Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor.
Burnley stormed into a 3-0 lead before half-time thanks to a Scott Arfield strike and a Vokes brace. Djamel Abdoun missed from the penalty spot and then proceeded to convert the rebound but it was nothing more than a consolation.
23rd November 2013- Nottingham Forest 1-1 Burnley:
Sam Vokes continued his streak of bothering the Forest backline with his goal in their 1-1 draw in Nottingham coming from twelve yards out.
Who has played for both Nottingham Forest and Burnley?
Chris Wood (Burnley 2017-2022; Nottingham Forest 2023-current)
The first of three players to have played for both Nottingham Forest and Burnley is still currently active for the former.
Chris Wood performed well for Leicester City and Leeds United but he truly made his name as a Burnley player. He enjoyed both Premier League and Championship football with the Clarets before moving on to Newcastle United last summer. That transfer didn’t really work and after being loaned to Forest for the second-half of last season, he has now joined Cooper’s ranks on a permanent basis.
George Boyd (Nottingham Forest 2010; Burnley 2014-2017)
George Boyd is another player who enjoyed the highs of promotion and lows of relegation with Burnley and played some of his best football for them.
His spell with Nottingham Forest was a brief one, joining on loan from Peterborough United before he eventually established himself as a key player with the Posh. The Scottish international most recently played for Salford City before announcing his retirement in late 2021.
All three of these players incidentally played for Burnley in 2017 but Tendayi Darikwa is more closely associated with Nottingham Forest and may even be a sort of cult hero in and around the Trent.
The Zimbabwe international was actually born in Nottingham and yet it was Chesterfield where he played as a youngster. He eventually gravitated towards the City Ground where he played under the likes of Aitor Karanka and Sabri Lamouchi. Darikwa is currently plying his trade in Cyprus having left Wigan Athletic earlier this year.
What is Nottingham Forest’s biggest victory over Burnley?
18th September 1957: Nottingham Forest 7-0 Burnley
Nottingham Forest’s biggest win over Burnley saw them score seven unanswered goals nearly 70 years ago. Stewart Imlach and Tommy Wilson were amongst the scorers as they got two-a-piece.
They finished second in the second division the year prior and so were promoted to the top flight where this 7-0 pasting took place. At the end of the 1957/58 season, Forest ended up, very respectably, in tenth.
What is Burnley’s biggest victory over Nottingham Forest?
Destiny Udogie
21st November 1959: Burnley 8-0 Nottingham Forest
It didn’t take long for Burnley to get their own back and they went one step further in fact.
Their 8-0 drubbing of Forest took place in the 1959/60 season and saw Jimmy Robson notch five goals. Also on the score sheet were Brian Pilkington and Ray Pointer (2).
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley: Key stats This will be the 1st ever league meeting between the two clubs in the Premier League era Burnley haven’t lost to Nottingham Forest in their last 8 meetings Neither team have drawn a single game so far this season Nottingham Forest vs Burnley: Famous fixtures
22nd February 2014- Burnley 3-1 Nottingham Forest:
The first of two famous meetings between these clubs has already been talked about with Burnley’s eventual promotion being the headline.
Sean Dyche’s side enjoyed automatic promotion alongside champions Leicester City whilst Nottingham Forest only ended up six points away from the playoff spots. Had this game gone differently then maybe we would be discussing a very different story.
23rd October 1976- Nottingham Forest 5-2 Burnley:
Our other famous fixture instead favours Nottingham Forest and it took place nearly 50 years ago. They beat Burnley 5-2 at the City Ground on their way to a promotion of their own. It was just the third game of the season and so this victory propelled Brian Clough’s team onto greatness.
The game becomes all the more significant when you consider that after this season, the pair wouldn’t cross paths in a league fixture for another 23 years or so as promotions and relegations continued to keep them apart. All the leagues game that followed were in the Championship because, as previously mentioned, these two teams haven’t clashed in the Premier League (until this weekend).
Aston Villa aren’t giving up their pursuit of Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson, as Unai Emery bids to bolster his side ahead of the 2023/34 campaign.
Following his arrival in October, the Spaniard has transformed the outlook at Villa Park, taking the Midlands club to the next level alongside president of football operations, Monchi.
The former Sevilla business marvel could be on course to complete another coup in securing the signing of Johnson.
Who wants to buy Brennan Johnson?
The 22-year-old frontman has been rumoured to have been of interest to a number of Premier League clubs, with Villa and Brentford credited most recently, via the Daily Mail.
This week, an update from the Telegraph mentioned Forest’s ongoing battle regarding the Welshman’s future, who is ‘likely’ to be sold if a club can offer a fee in the region of £50m.
Whilst the Reds are reluctant to allow their star player to depart, the potential sale of the forward would relieve the financial pressures lingering over the City Ground at present.
How good is Brennan Johnson?
Following a season-long loan at Lincoln City in League One, the versatile forward has become at the forefront of everything threatening in the final third for Forest.
That year, the Nottingham-born gem scored 10 goals and registered 12 assists for the Imps, adding to his Football League tally the year after on his return to his birthplace.
During the 2021/22 Championship, the tenacious Wales international scored 16 goals along with nine assists to fire the Reds to promotion to the Premier League, where he has continued to rise in the top-flight.
Last season, the 22-year-old netted eight goals and provided three assists in his debut in the first division, attracting interest from elsewhere in the league this transfer window.
brennan-johnson-nottingham-forest-villa
For Villa, the youngster could provide Emery’s side with an updated version of a former hero in the Midlands, with the Forest man posing similarities to academy graduate Jack Grealish.
The treble-winner, like Johnson, is deployable across the front line behind the striker, with the versatility to play on the flank as well as in central attacking midfield.
Having once been lauded as a “real handful” by scout Antonio Mango, the Welshman could replicate the threat of the treble winner at Villa Park.
As per analyst VisualGame on Twitter, the 22-year-old gem ranked higher than the 27-year-old in terms of take-ons completed at the beginning of last season, showcasing the way that he could give the Midlands a refreshed aura of their former star.
Identifiable as two strong carriers of the ball, Grealish averaged 1.97 successful take-ons per 90 in the Premier League last season, with Johnson following behind with 1.01 successful take-ons per 90 at Forest, via FBref.
The City Ground sensation averaged a higher percentage of shots on target per 90 compared to the Englishman, averaging 46.2% shots on target to the former Villa man’s 36.6% per 90, highlighting the level of threat he could provide in the Midlands.
If equipped in a much stronger side, the Welsh sensation could elevate his game in a way similar to Grealish, given Villa’s rise up the table and change in direction with reference to the Reds pottering on the relegation line.
An update has emerged on Leeds United and their attempts to strengthen the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…
What's the latest Leeds transfer news?
According to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath, the Whites are set to land Tottenham Hotspur central defender Joe Rodon on a season-long loan.
The reporter has stated that the west Yorkshire outfit have agreed on a deal with the Premier League side to secure the Wales international's services on a temporary basis.
Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…
"Tottenham have agreed a deal for Wales centre-back Joe Rodon to join Leeds on a season-long loan. Formalities of deal to follow in coming days," he tweeted.
If the deal gets complete this week, it could see him available for the trip to face Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.
How good is Joe Rodon?
The 25-year-old titan is a proven Championship performer who also has top-level experience and would come in as a far better option than Robin Koch, who has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the season, for Daniel Farke.
Rodon spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Rennes in France and averaged a solid Sofascore rating of 6.88 across 16 Ligue 1 outings as he won 61% of his duels and completed 90% of his attempted passes.
Koch, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63 over 36 Premier League matches for Leeds, which placed him 17th within the squad. The Germany international came out on top in 57% of his duels and finished the season with a pass completion rate of just 77%.
Leeds defender Robin Koch.
Both players were plying their trade in major European leagues and Rodon stood out above the former Freiburg man with his average performance level, quality in possession, and his strength in physical contests.
The Tottenham outcast's score for Rennes was also higher than any Whites defender managed last term as Max Wober led the way with a rating of 6.84, which means that the possible new signing could be the best central defensive option for the head coach this season.
This suggests that the 6 foot 4 colossus would be better for Leeds than Koch was for the club last term due to his ability on and off the ball at the heart of the defence.
Rodon would also come in with Championship experience from his time with Swansea earlier in his career.
During the 2019/20 campaign, the £24k-per-week gem averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99 across 21 appearances.
No Leeds player with at least five appearances averaged a Sofascore rating higher than 6.98 for the club last term and this suggests that the Spurs talent has the potential to be an outstanding performer for Farke.
Rodon, who was once hailed as "perfect" by ex-manager Jose Mourinho, would come in as a defender who can hit the ground running as he already knows the country and league, rather than coming in from a foreign club with no experience of English football.
This could allow him to make an immediate impact on the pitch as a way better option than Koch, and potentially the rest of Farke's centre-backs, which is why this signing could improve the squad and, therefore, the club's chances of earning promotion straight back to the Premier League over the next nine months.
Wolverhampton Wanderers could eventually be stumped in their bid to land Bristol City playmaker Alex Scott as they struggle to scramble funds together to acquire the England youth international, according to journalist Dean Jones.
Is Alex Scott moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers?
As per The Express & Star, Wolves are in a precarious position with regard to their pursuit of Scott after seeing separate bids of £18 million and £20 million turned down for his services by Bristol City.
The report states that the money needed to sign the 19-year-old is 'unavailable' due to a risk of breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, potentially putting their efforts to buy Scott in doubt.
Football Insider have revealed that Bristol City chairman John Lansdown is holding out for a fee of £25 million before he will agree to sanction the Guernsey-born playmaker's exit from Ashton Gate.
Last term, the youngster established himself as a key player for Bristol City, registering two goals and five assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.
Over the course of the window, Bournemouth, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan have all been linked with Scott, which is a testament to his potential despite his relative inexperience in the game.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Wolves could eventually be upended in their efforts to land Scott as his other suitors may spot an opportunity to take advantage of their financial irregularities.
Jones stated: “This has become very frustrating. One week ago, Wolves looked like they might be able to start moving forward, but these FFP fears continue to hold them back.
“So… While they have intentions over a third bid for Scott, they must be careful. I still think they can get him, but that is as long as no one else makes a massive bid while they are trying to clear more players from the squad, but it’s a bit at risk as we get to August and a key time for recruitment.
“At some point, someone will meet Bristol City’s valuation, and sources close to the selling club say there is not much optimism of Wolves stepping forward with £25m in the coming days.
“But, at the same time, others touted, like Spurs, aren’t moving either. If anyone is a threat, it might be Bournemouth. They have gone a little quiet and may be working on something.”
What now for Wolverhampton Wanderers?
In all honesty, Wolves have endured a torrid transfer window and only Republic of Ireland international Matt Doherty and experienced stopper Tom King have been added to Julen Lopetegui's thin squad as new additions this summer, as per Transfermarkt.
Big-name departures such as Ruben Neves and Nathan Collins haven't helped their cause, while dressing room presences such as Diego Costa and Joao Moutinho have also left the building, which is hardly cause for optimism around Molineux as the new Premier League campaign draws closer.
West Ham'sAaron Cresswell
Wolves had been in negotiations with West Ham in an attempt to acquire veteran full-back Aaron Cresswell ahead of the new campaign; however, the Hammers pulled the plug on any notion of a deal as a fee couldn't be agreed between both parties, as per The Daily Mail.
Old Gold boss Lopetegui has admitted he is "worried" about the size of the squad he has to work with at Wolves this term and the collective anxiety around the club is likely to continue the longer the window drags on if further reinforcements don't appear between now and the close of play in the market.
Liverpool put in a statement performance on Sunday afternoon by comfortably dispatching Aston Villa 3-0 at Anfield.
The Reds were dominant throughout, registering 17 shots on goal, creating five big chances and garnering an xG of 2.09 as Villa were unable to live with Jurgen Klopp's rampant front line.
Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a beautifully controlled left-footed half-volley before Matty Cash was powerless to prevent a Darwin Núñez strike from hitting the post, deflecting off him and rolling into the back of the net.
Despite speculation linking him with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia before the transfer window slammed shut, Mohamed Salah put any speculation to bed by closing the scoring and rounding off a fantastic performance.
While Liverpool's attack drew most of the praise, and rightly so, there were reasons to be optimistic about their defensive shape in the absence of Virgil Van Dijk.
Prior to this match, the Reds were significantly scrutinized for how open they were defensively and without the Dutchman marshalling the back line, many thought Liverpool would struggle to live with Villa's attacking prowess.
But Joe Gomez stepped up to the plate in place of Van Dijk and inspired his side to a clean sheet, restricting Villa to only three shots on target, zero big chances and an xG of 0.69.
How did Joe Gomez play against Aston Villa?
Since joining the club from Charlton Athletic in 2015, Joe Gomez's Liverpool career has been maligned by injury setbacks, defensive mistakes and difficulties in sustaining a regular place in the Reds starting XI.
Although he joined the club eight years ago, the 27-year-old has only gone on to make 111 appearances in the Premier League as the ever-present partnership of Joel Matip and Van Dijk forced Gomez into biding his time for opportunities.
Following Liverpool's 3-0 defeat against Wolves in February, the performance of Gomez was shined under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as ESPN pundit Steve Nicol branded his display as "horrendous".
He said: "Liverpool started this game just backing off and asking to be ran at. Two-down after 15 minutes. [Joe] Gomez and [Joel] Matip were as a centre-back partnership were absolutely horrendous".
While this was a particularly low point in his career, he was praised highly by Gary Neville earlier on in the season for his imperious display against Manchester City which saw Liverpool beat the reigning champions 1-0 at Anfield.
"That’s my man of the match, Joe Gomez," Neville said on commentary on Sky Sports.
"It could’ve went to James Milner but it’s going to him. He’s been outstanding at right centre-back."
During his time on Merseyside, man-of-the-match performances have been few and far between but having starred in Liverpool's victory on Sunday, Gomez reined in the plaudits from many with journalist Neil Jones labelling his performance as his "best game for Liverpool in a long time."
The £85k per-week titan was near faultless in every aspect of his game, impressing with his defensive capabilities, winning three of his five ground duels, 100% of his aerial duels and making two interceptions, as per Sofascore.
Not only that, but he also showcased his ball-playing ability, completing 95% of his passes while three of his four attempted long balls were accurate.
That aspect in possession was truly outstanding during the game as the Englishman made a mammoth 103 passes and had 121 touches during the encounter.
Having been written off throughout his Liverpool career, imperious performances like these will give supporters hope that the best is still yet to come from Gomez.