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Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the market to add some quality additions this month and have now opened talks with an experienced Premier League operator who could arrive before the end of the window, according to a report.

Wolves scour the market…

The month of January can sometimes prove to be a complex time for clubs looking to seal deals; however, the Old Gold have already completed one developmental signing in the form of Fletcher Holman, who joins from National League South outfit Eastbourne Borough and will link up with Wolves' Under-21 set-up.

Academy chief Jon Hunter-Barrett has shared his delight at being able to bring Holman to the West Midlands, stating via the club's official website: "Once again our recruitment team have done a fantastic job in unearthing a talent playing in non-league football who is capable to come into our building.

"The big thing with Wolves is we’re a football club and academy that provides opportunities for players who have been here a long time and also players who have come from a different environment into ours."

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

Nonetheless, Gary O'Neil will be keen to acquire players equipped to join his first-team squad and contribute for the remainder of the campaign. Financial prudence is a central feature of the Old Gold's approach to the mid-season market and Paris Saint-Germain outcast Hugo Ekitike is reportedly a target to add some offensive impetus in the final third.

Conversely, new information has come to light claiming that a striker with significantly more experience could instead be brought in to spearhead O'Neils's attack.

Wolves open Danny Ings talks…

According to Football Insider, Wolves have opened talks with West Ham United over a loan deal for striker Danny Ings, who has fallen out of favour at the London Stadium. The Old Gold are believed to be in the market for a poacher after letting Sasa Kalajdzic move to Eintracht Frankfurt this month.

Danny Ings' career goals – club level (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

390

Goals

123

Assists

39

Danny Ings' international record

England – 3 appearances, 1 goal

England Under-21 – 14 appearances, 3 goals

Hwang-hee Chan has departed for the Asian Cup and left a void to be filled at the top end of the field; nevertheless, Wolves don't have the financial muscle available to bring in a permanent reinforcement and have turned to Ings as a known operator with goalscoring ability. If he arrives at Molineux, they will need to cover his wages and pay a loan fee for his services.

Labelled "brilliant" by former teammate Matty Cash, the 31-year-old has made 18 appearances across all competitions this season, though he is yet to put himself on the goal trail.

Despite this, his record over the course of his career speaks for itself and Ings would be an ideal short-term solution for Wolves as they look to maintain their impressive exploits in the Premier League.

If Aston Villa do end up finishing in the Champions League places this season, some of the credit will have to go to former manager Dean Smith, who helped to build the squad with which Unai Emery is achieving so much success.

Villa's top three scorers this season – Ollie Watkins (14), Leon Bailey (9) and Douglas Luiz (7) – were all recruited by Smith, while defender Ezri Konsa and goalkeeper Emi Martinez have started every single game for which they've been available. Right-back Matty Cash has also been heavily involved, with 15 starts from 20 games (Transfermarkt).

It's tempting to wonder how big a role another of Smith's targets could have played if Villa had been successful in their pursuit. In the summer of 2021, Villa made two bids for Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe, the second of which was worth £30m, but the Gunners simply refused to entertain any offers. Now, though, one journalist has talked up Villa's chances of bringing him to the Midlands should they choose to revive their interest.

Smith Rowe opening emerges

Smith Rowe missed five weeks of action between late October and early December through injury, but he's been fit and available for the rest of the season. Despite that, he's hardly been used by manager Mikel Arteta, only making six Premier League appearances (one from the start and five from the bench). Already, he's remained an unused substitute on eight occasions.

The cup competitions haven't offered much respite, either. Arsenal exited the League Cup at the second hurdle and Smith Rowe didn't make the XI for any of their Champions League group games.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist and transfer insider Dean Jones urged Villa to make an opportunistic return for Smith Rowe if indeed their interest is "still bubbling away". He thinks Arsenal will now be much more inclined to consider a sale, and wonders if Villa are already aware of his frustrating situation.

"Villa made a couple of bids for Smith Rowe last year, and if that interest is still bubbling away, then this would be an ideal moment to go and have another go," he said.

"I feel like Arsenal will be tempted to cash in on someone who isn't an essential first-team player. Smith Rowe is a very good player with a really good attitude and good application. I think it'd be a very good signing for Aston Villa. Part of me does wonder if they've been keeping an eye on the fact he's only started one Premier League game this season."

Smith Rowe has already shown huge promise

It's easy to forget how much excitement Smith Rowe was generating when he first broke into the Arsenal side. Jamie Carragher raved about him in the autumn of 2021, declaring that he was the "best player in the Premier League running with the ball" and describing him as a "special talent".

Meanwhile, former Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish used the nickname "the Croydon De Bruyne" during an England training session. Midway through the 2021/22 season, Smith Rowe was actually bettering the Manchester City star for assists, and minutes per goal contribution.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The Londoner would end the campaign with ten Premier League goals, earning a nomination for PFA Young Player of the Year and the Premier League's Young Player of the Season award.

90min has previously reported that Smith Rowe would consider his future in the winter if there aren't any signs of improvement in his Arsenal situation, and that moment of truth has now arrived, with Villa potentially watching on.

Every transfer window, Manchester United are linked to masses of players, and that has only enhanced this January with Erik ten Hag’s side struggling to live up to the high standards of a Red Devils team.

Nevertheless, the focus for this window will be on outgoings rather than arrivals, but the boss is still keen to make at least one addition to help his side recover from their disappointing first half of the season, which sees them sit in seventh in the Premier League.

In fairness to the boss, injuries have played a role in preventing him from fielding his best side this season. That said, things are beginning to look more positive behind the scenes with Omar Berrada, previously of rivals Manchester City set to replace Richard Arnold as the club's new CEO.

Having previously helped broker deals for Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish, it's safe to say he knows a thing or two when it comes to the transfer window. Thus, what could United’s dream starting XI look like once Berrada's had a chance to get his feet under the table when he arrives later in the year?

1 GK – Andre Onana

United’s number one shot-stopper, Andre Onana, will continue to start in between the sticks.

The former Ajax star has kept the joint second-most clean sheets in the Premier League, despite dealing with plenty of critics.

2 RB – Diogo Dalot

Diogo Dalot will face stiff competition from Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the right-back spot, but the Portuguese should start over the English full-back.

Ten Hag has favoured Dalot this season, and he has started all but three Premier League games this season while averaging the most tackles per game in the United team, 2.3.

3 CB – Jean-Claire Todibo

Jean-Claire Todibo is the first new name to feature in the United starting XI, with the centre-back replacing fellow French star Raphael Varane in the team.

According to reports in France earlier this month, the Red Devils are favourites to land the Nice defender, however, due to the hefty fee of around £52m, a move is likely to occur in the summer instead.

The 24-year-old has been a rock at the heart of the Nice backline, helping his side pick up eight clean sheets this season, which is why scout Jacek Kulig described him as a "French wall." Todibo would elevate United in possession and when playing out from the back, as he ranks in the top 8% for passes completed in Ligue 1.

4 CB – Lisandro Martinez

Lisandro Martinez returned from injury against Spurs last time out, which caused an almighty cheer from the Stretford End.

The Argentine is the first choice left centre-back and has been since his arrival in the summer of 2022. The World Cup winner will not be displaced in the defence.

5 LB – Luke Shaw

Luke Shaw is another player who is nursing an injury currently, but he should be back fit for Wolves away on the 1st of February.

When in the side, he offers a staggering amount of progression from deep, and last season he ranked in the top 8% among positionally similar players in the Premier League for passes into the final third, as per FBref. The 28-year-old walks into the United team when he is available.

6 DM – Kobbie Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo won Ten Hag over during pre-season, and due to injuries to Casemiro, and Sofyan Amrabat failing to impress, the 18-year-old has cemented himself as a guaranteed starter in the midfield.

Despite being inexperienced, the academy prospect shows maturity in and out of possession, and given his lack of competitors, the boss should continue to show faith in the star boy.

7 DM – Youssouf Fofana

The second potential new signing for Man United is Youssouf Fofana of Monaco. Towards the end of December, reports suggested that Ten Hag's team were monitoring the French midfielder and could make a move before the end of January.

Fofana – previously compared to none other than Paul Pogba on Football FanCast – is a midfielder who can operate in multiple roles within the centre of the pitch, but he is at his best in a double pivot where he can act as a box-to-box player, much like Pogba.

His shots total of 1.8 per game and his key passes of 1.3 per match highlight the 25-year-old's ability to affect the game in the final third, while his athleticism and power let him cover ground quickly.

Christian Eriksen or Scott Mctominay have been used alongside Mainoo as of late, but Fofana would walk into the team ahead of the underperforming duo.

8 RW – Alejandro Garnacho

With Antony failing to score or assist this season, Ten Hag has been forced to move Alejandro Garnacho over to an unfamiliar right-hand side role. However, since operating on the right, he has thrived and shown the United faithful what they have been missing.

The 19-year-old has the joint-second-most goal contributions with five, averages 2.3 shots per game, and 1.4 successful dribbles, for the Red Devils this season. The Argentine is most definitely nailed down in the right-wing role for the time being, but Amad Diallo could provide competition soon.

9 AM – Bruno Fernandes

Portuguese Magnifico and United captain Bruno Fernandes is arguably the only irremovable player in the starting XI. The 28-year-old started every single Premier League game he was available for last season, and he created the most big chances in the league, 32.

The number eight hasn't quite been at his best this season, but he still leads the way for shots, key passes, and assists.

10 LW – Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford is having a troubled campaign so far, but his performances have improved recently, and he has contributed to a goal in each of his last four.

The number ten netted 17 goals in the Premier League last season, and when he is confident, there are not many better forwards in the Premier League, never mind United. With Garnacho swapping flanks, Rashford will make the left wing his home again.

January has been a busy month behind the scenes for Crystal Palace, with the recruitment team working hard to bring at least one new face to Selhurst Park.

However, on the field, the Palace faithful are becoming increasingly frustrated by Roy Hodgson's style of play and approach.

Nevertheless, the boss is keen to sign a new defender who will help bolster the attack and bring excitement back to the Eagles.

Crystal Palace want a new right back

Journalist Ed Aarons of The Guardian reported earlier in the week, via CPFCtransfersHQ on X, Palace have submitted a bid for Daniel Munoz, which sadly has been rejected by his side, Genk.

However, it is reported that the Eagles' are set to increase their offer for the £9m right back.

A move this window is realistic, and recent reports from Colombia have suggested that personal terms have been agreed.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 How Munoz would fit into the Palace team

Michael Olise has been Palace's most dangerous player this campaign, despite rarely playing due to a couple of injuries that have impacted his season.

Even though the French winger has started just seven Premier League games, he has netted five goals and provided one assist, with his performances often determining the result for his side.

Unfortunately for the 22-year-old, he is often isolated on the right wing due to Palace's tactics and the lack of attacking support provided by Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne, who rank in the bottom 13 and 22 percentile, respectively, for touches in the attacking third, as per FBref.

The star who could fix that issue and elevate Olise to an entirely new level is Munoz, who has "plenty of goals in him," according to South American expert Tim Vickery via Sky Sports.

Nonetheless, let's take a closer look at the flying Colombian full-back via statistics from the last year across the leagues most similar to the Belgian Pro League.

Goals

0.23

Top 1%

Shots total

1.31

Top 6%

Shot-creating actions

3.08

Top 10%

Progressive passes

7.73

Top 1%

Passes into final third

4.94

Top 6%

Carries into final third

2.46

Top 6%

Touches (Att third)

24.69

Top 4%

As you can see, Munoz is a total attack-minded full-back who pretty much does everything on the field. The 27-year-old is a huge goal threat, as displayed by his shots and goals statistics, which would allow Olise's creativity to flourish, as the duo would inevitably combine to cause chaos down the right.

The Colombian also ranks in the top 1% of positionally similar players for progressive passes and the top 6% for passes into the final third, which means his first instinct is to look up and progress play, ultimately giving Olise much more of the ball to work his magic with.

The Genk star also loves to carry the ball forward, and his high touches in the attacking third prove that he loves to support the winger.

This means that Olise will be able to find much more space where he can either find a deft pass or have a strike at goal. Munoz's overlapping runs would help with the latter in particular, providing the France gem with the opportunity to cut inside onto his stronger left foot much more often.

In short, Palace must do all they can to acquire Munoz's signature as his impact on the side could be monumental.

Of course, everyone looks forward to watching stars like Jude Bellingham grace the field at Euro 2024, but some fans enjoy the finer things in life, like picking up dirt-cheap beer and soaking in the atmosphere of fanzones.

However, drinking does have its negatives, as the emotion of football and the intoxication can often lead to scraps and needless arguments between fanbases, which has put a downer on events in previous tournaments gone by.

Regardless of this, heading down the pub before the game is a necessity in most football fans' pre-match ritual, so Football FanCast has tried to gather all the best information on potential prices and the best locations for fans heading to Germany this summer…

England locations at Euro 2024

England's three group stage games will all be played in different locations and cities in Germany, so fans will have a bit of exploring and travelling to do in between fixtures.

Sunday, June 16 – Group C: Serbia vs England (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen – kick-off 8pm UK time)

Thursday, June 20 – Group C: Denmark vs England (Waldstadion, Frankfurt – kick-off 5pm UK time)

Tuesday, June 25 – Group C: England vs Slovenia (RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne – kick-off 8pm UK time)

Euro 2024: The ultimate England guide for fans

FFC has created the ultimate hub to track all of England’s fixtures, tickets, kits, tables, locations and how to watch ahead of Euro 2024.

ByLuke Randall Feb 5, 2024 Gelsenkirchen

Of course, there's no pinpointing the exact price of beers, wines and cigarettes as everywhere may differ in pricing in Gelsenkirchen, but typically these prices on average are what you'll find, as per Hikers Bay and various other sources.

One thing you'll notice when looking at other areas in this guide, is that Gelsenkirchen appears to be pretty good for food, so be sure to make the most of that if your trip brings you here.

Disclaimer – these are the prices you will find at pubs/restaurants. They may be cheaper in supermarkets.

Water (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.13

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.31

Imported beer at a restaurant (0.3 litre bottle)

£3.24

Domestic beer at a restaurant (0.5 litre draught)

£3.24

Domestic beer at a bar/pub (1 pint draught)

£3.63

Table wine

£5.89

1 pack of Marlboro cigarettes

£6.45

Fast food combo

£6.83

Meal in a budget restaurant

£8.54

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

£38.43

Frankfurt

England fans can potentially enjoy a slightly cheaper pint in Frankfurt, but nothing too crazy in terms of discounts. Sadly, meals generally are more expensive if you like to wine and dine with your mates, but fast food is always a good cheap alternative, as per Hikers Bay and various other sources.

Disclaimer – these are the prices you will typically find at pubs/restaurants. They may be cheaper in supermarkets.

Water (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.13

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.31

Imported beer at a restaurant (0.3 litre bottle)

£3.42

Domestic beer at a restaurant (0.5 litre draught)

£3.42

Domestic beer at a bar/pub (1 pint draught)

£3.55

Table wine

£5.12

1 pack of Marlboro cigarettes

£5.98

Fast food combo

£7.51

Meal in a budget restaurant

£11.96

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

£51.24

Cologne

If you're headed to Cologne, you can expect to pay a little bit less on average for your drinks, so this might be the destination for you to loosen up just a little bit and hopefully celebrate England's qualification from the group. In terms of food, this is kind of the midpoint when it comes to price in comparison to the previous two destinations, as per Hikers Bay and various other sources.

Disclaimer – these are the prices you will typically find at pubs/restaurants. They may be cheaper in supermarkets.

Water (0.33 litre bottle)

£1.62

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.05

Imported beer at a restaurant (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.48

Domestic beer at a restaurant (0.5 litre draught)

£2.90

Domestic beer at a bar/pub (1 pint draught)

£3.46

Table wine

£5.98

1 pack of Marlboro cigarettes

£5.98

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

£7.69

Meal in a budget restaurant

£11.10

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

£46.97

Scotland locations at Euro 2024

Scotland have the pleasure of playing the opening game of the tournament against Germany at Bayern Munich's home ground, the Allianz Arena. After the opening game, fans will need to travel to Cologne and then on to Stuttgart to catch their side's final two games.

Friday, June 14, 2024 – Group A: Germany vs Scotland (Allianz Arena, Munich)

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 – Group A: Scotland vs Switzerland (RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne)

Sunday, June 23, 2024: Group A: Scotland vs Hungary (MHPArena, Stuttgart)

Euro 2024 stadium profiles

Football FanCast provides a guide for every Euro 2024 stadium.

ByAlex Roberts Dec 3, 2023 Munich

Scotland fans have the pleasure of seeing their side kick off the tournament against hosts Germany at the Allianz Arena in Germany.

But, it isn't all good news for fans, as this is the most expensive place on average on the list, apart from the pint of beer, as per Hikers Bay and various other sources.

Disclaimer – these are the prices you will typically find at pubs/restaurants. They may be cheaper in supermarkets.

Water (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.48

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.65

Domestic beer at a bar/pub (1 pint draught)

£3.40

Imported beer at a restaurant (0.33 litre bottle)

£3.59

Domestic beer at a restaurant (0.5 litre draught)

£3.84

Table wine

£6

1 pack of Marlboro cigarettes

£6.83

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

£7.69

Meal in a budget restaurant

£12.81

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

£51.24

Cologne

After the slightly higher prices of Munich, fans can enjoy a much more relaxed average price across the board, with smaller draughts and bottles of beers typically selling for under £3. And, you can even venture out to restaurants for cheaper to escape the McDonald's you might have opted for before and after the opening game, with a very respectable price of around £11 for a meal.

As per Hikers Bay and various other sources.

Disclaimer – these are the prices you will typically find at pubs/restaurants. They may be cheaper in supermarkets.

Water (0.33 litre bottle)

£1.62

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.05

Imported beer at a restaurant (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.48

Domestic beer at a restaurant (0.5 litre draught)

£2.90

Domestic beer at a bar/pub (1 pint draught)

£3.46

Table wine

£5.98

1 pack of Marlboro cigarettes

£5.98

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

£7.69

Meal in a budget restaurant

£11.10

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

£46.97

Stuttgart

The moment Scottish fans have all been waiting for, as the average price of a pint slips below £3 in Stuttgart. However, there is a bit of a catch, as the price of food and cigarettes sees a slight rise from the previous location.

As per Hikers Bay and various other sources.

Disclaimer – these are the prices you will typically find at pubs/restaurants. They may be cheaper in supermarkets.

Water (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.13

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre bottle)

£2.54

Domestic beer at a bar/pub (1 pint draught)

£2.99

Imported beer at a restaurant (0.33 litre bottle)

£3.42

Domestic beer at a restaurant (0.5 litre draught)

£3.42

Table wine

£5.98

1 pack of Marlboro cigarettes

£6.83

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

£7.86

Meal in a budget restaurant

£10.24

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

£51.23

Manchester United are "very interested" in securing the signing of a highly-rated attacking "weapon" this summer, according to an update from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Man Utd transfer & ownership news

The Red Devils do feel like a club on the mend at the moment, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment finally confirmed and results improving on the pitch. His 25% ownership has been approved, which is fantastic news for anyone of a United persuasion, as they look to kick on after such a disappointing period in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

There seems to be a real focus on bringing in a sporting director, with Newcastle United ace Dan Ashworth a strong target, and new players are also being linked with moves.

United are believed to have been in contact with Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini over a summer switch to Old Trafford, as Erik ten Hag looks to improve an ageing back-line that includes Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire. He isn't the only centre-back being looked at, however, and move for Bayern Munich ace Matthijs de Ligt doesn't appear to be out of the question.

In terms of attacking players who could come in, Lille star Jonathan David is reportedly as an option for the Red Devils, having scored 26 goals in just 45 caps for Canada, with a replacement for Anthony Martial required this summer.

Man Utd make contact for Bayern starlet Mathys Tel

Taking to X, Plettenberg claimed that Manchester United have opened talks with young Bayern Munich winger Mathys Tel over a move to Old Trafford, but it may not be easy for them to get their man.

"Excl. News Tel: Manchester United have made contact for the first time and are very interested to sign him in summer! Two more clubs from England have also inquired about him in the last weeks.

"Been told: Even though it's not easy for him right now, he still doesn’t want to give up as he wants to become a legend for Bayern. But: If he don’t receive the feeling, that Bayern believe in him in the future, he will consider his options – but a loan is not one of them."

Tel, who can also play through the middle up front, is a player with so much potential, and for that reason it is encouraging to see United looking to snap him up, with a clear emphasis on signing big young talent.

Bayern Munich

55

12

France Under-21s

4

2

France Under-19s

10

5

France Under-18s

11

8

France Under-17s

9

5

The 18-year-old has scored twice and assisted once in seven Bundesliga games this season – he has only started once in the competition – and Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel has lauded his influence from the substitutes' bench, saying: "Mathys has a high impact off the bench. He is a weapon for us at the moment, we know what he can give us. He will also start games this season. He is currently showing that he can assist and score goals. We’re taking it step by step with him. He’s on the right track. We’re happy that he’s here and he’s happy about it too."

Ashworth has already made up his mind on Ten Hag as he seeks Man Utd move

Ashworth is the would-be sporting director at Old Trafford.

ByDavid Comerford Feb 17, 2024

United could admittedly find it hard to persuade Tel to leave Bayern, given his ties with the club, but if they could entice him to come to Manchester, it could be a special piece of business as the years pass, bolstering their wide attacking options in the process.

West Bromwich Albion made it three games on the spin without defeat in the Championship by beating Cardiff City 2-0 on Tuesday night, with young homegrown product Tom Fellows starring again.

Fellows would assist the opening goal for the Baggies within the first minute, the breakout 20-year-old star bombing down the wing from the get-go before playing it into the path of new recruit Mikey Johnston to fire home.

Endearing himself to the West Brom faithful with two goals and one assist since making the leap from the youth set-up this campaign, Carlos Corberan will long for more top talents to emerge from the U21s in the same vein as Fellows.

The Spanish boss could well stumble across another exciting winger similar to the Baggies number 31 in one teenage whizz, who could well be knocking on the door for first-team opportunities here and there soon.

Akeel Higgins' numbers at youth level

Predominantly playing down the right wing for the U21s this season – the same position which Fellows now excels from in the senior fold at the Hawthorns – 18-year-old Akeel Higgins is exciting those at West Brom with what he could go on and do for the first team down the line.

Scoring one goal and picking up a solitary assist this campaign from 12 appearances in the Premier League 2, Higgins' overall total for the Baggies at U21 level stands at ten goals and three assists from three seasons.

This impressive form in the youth side resulted in Higgins being given a 45-minute run-out for West Brom in the FA Cup versus Aldershot Town, playing up top in place of Daryl Dike on a proud day for the teenage starlet.

Described as being a "bright" attacker by U21s head coach Richard Beale when first breaking onto the scene with the U18s – which saw Higgins net three goals in just eight games during the 2022-23 season – the next obstacle for the right winger to overcome will be cutting his teeth in the first-team fold.

Higgins will look towards Fellows and how effortless he has made that transition look this campaign as a comfort, aiming to follow in the 20-year-old's footsteps when the right time comes.

Fellows' youth record

Fellows was also a wide-eyed teenager attempting to make it at the Hawthorns not too long ago, despite now being a regular first-teamer under Corberan.

The West Brom number 31 boasts similar numbers to that of Higgins when you compare the two at youth level, Fellows bagging just one more goal than the 18-year-old has next to his name currently during his final full campaign at Premier League 2 level.

Games played

Goals

Assists

3

0

1

19

2

4

15

5

6

12

2

3

3

1

0

Higgins will hope the similarities continue when he attempts to make the tricky jump up to the senior side in the near future, aiming to seamlessly fit in amongst the likes of Alex Mowatt and Darnell Furlong like Fellows has pulled off smoothly.

Onto 18 appearances this season now, Fellows will just keep plugging along and impressing Corberan to ensure he remains in the Spaniard's starting eleven plans.

Higgins will have major aspirations in his mind of being the next young star to make the grade at the Hawthorns, but he will know that he needs to remain patient as the Baggies focus on winning promotion up to the Premier League with the stars already present in the senior side.

Sunderland will go into tomorrow night's fixture with Leicester City desperate to pick up a victory against the Foxes, with the Black Cats in a dire situation currently in the Championship.

Ditching Michael Beale as Sunderland boss hasn't really fixed any of the issues on Wearside to the dismay of the Stadium of Light masses, as Mike Dodds finds himself winless from his opening two games back as interim boss in the hot seat.

Sunderland have since sunk to tenth in the second-tier rankings under Dodds as a result, with any forthcoming win, no matter the scoreline, sufficing as long as more points are back on the board for the faltering Black Cats.

Table-topping Leicester won't be a walk in the park obviously, but with three defeats from their last four, Sunderland could look to capitalise on Enzo Maresca's men wobbling.

With that in mind, here is what Dodds' predicted lineup could look like as a result, with two possible changes from the 1-0 Norwich City defeat last match…

1 GK – Anthony Patterson

Anthony Patterson is more than secure with his starting spot in between the sticks at Sunderland, having played every minute of action in the Championship this season.

Picking up eight clean sheets along the way, Patterson will want to shut out Leicester on the way to a big win tomorrow night.

2 RB – Trai Hume

Trai Hume is also one of the first names on the teamsheet at the moment, regularly picked in defence by Mowbray and Beale before Dodds was thrust into the spotlight once more as a short-term boss.

Dodds has stuck by Hume as his starting right-back for good reason, with the Northern Irish star winning two duels as a lively presence against the Canaries last match even as his team fell to another defeat.

3 CB – Daniel Ballard

The first change to the eleven that lost narrowly to Norwich 1-0 last game could see Daniel Ballard return to the XI, the former Arsenal youngster out of Sunderland's last two games owing to a two-match suspension for accumulating ten yellow cards.

Jenson Seelt has competently filled in as a result of Ballard's absence – the Dutchman making four tackles in total at Carrow Road – but the 24-year-old centre-back should come back into the side regardless to add more steel to a leaky defence.

Described as "stunning" by football journalist Josh Bunting towards the start of the season, Ballard will be raring to go if selected tonight.

4 CB – Luke O'Nien

Luke O'Nien will partner Ballard at the heart of defence in this potential XI, the former Wycombe Wanderers man strong for large portions of this campaign so far battling bravely from centre-back.

The Sunderland captain won all but one of his duels in the 1-0 defeat to Norwich, alongside coming away from the loss with a respectable 89% passing accuracy playing out from the back.

With Ballard back by his side, O'Nien could well keep Maresca's men at bay to help his side pick up their first win since overcoming Plymouth Argyle 3-1 in mid-February.

5 LB – Leo Hjelde

January recruit Leo Hjelde has allowed Sunderland to rest easy about who should be picked at left-back, with Niall Huggins and Dennis Cirkin still stricken by injury.

Hjelde shone in the 1-0 loss to the Canaries to further justify being the starting left-back, winning 100% of his aerial duels when asserting himself into the tight contest alongside notching up one key pass for his troubles when venturing forward at Carrow Road.

6 CDM – Dan Neil

Dodds could well look to switch up the formation for his side's home tussle with Leicester tomorrow, reverting back to a 4-1-4-1 look potentially with Dan Neil well suited to take up the holding midfield role subsequently.

Neil was poor last time out at the Stadium of Light – with zero successful dribbles from the centre of the park against Swansea City – and so will look to put in a far more polished display when the Foxes come to town.

7 RM – Callum Styles

Callum Styles' versatility should see him start again versus Leicester, another of Sunderland's January buys given the nod to play again alongside former Leeds man Hjelde.

Able to play centrally and at full-back if required alongside filling in down the wing, Styles will stick it out down the right-hand side in this potential XI.

Successful with 100% of his dribble attempts against Norwich, the adaptable Hungary international also proved to be useful when tracking back with two clearances and a blocked shot next to his name from a positive 74 minutes in Norfolk.

8 CM – Jobe Bellingham

Starting as a striker at Carrow Road, Jobe Bellingham will feel far more at home playing in midfield again versus Leicester if the formation is tweaked tomorrow night.

Bellingham failed to muster up a single shot on Angus Gunn's goal last match when played up top, with Dodds now hoping that his teenage hotshot excels in a more familiar role against the Foxes.

9 CM – Pierre Ekwah

Pierre Ekwah will remain in a midfield spot to partner Bellingham against Leicester, with the former West Ham United youth player doing enough against Norwich to stay in Dodd's starting eleven plans.

Only misplacing four of his 59 passes at Carrow Road, Ekwah will just hope he remembers to pack his shooting boots against the Foxes after firing three off-target efforts at Gunn's goal last match.

10 LM – Romaine Mundle

Romaine Mundle has shown flashes of his quality since joining from Standard Liege in the January transfer window, with Dodds wanting the new Sunderland 14 to somehow fill the hole left behind by Jack Clarke being injured to unlock Leicester.

Winning five ground duels against David Wagner's hosts last game, on top of testing Gunn with two shots, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur youth product will hope to play a key role in his new employers picking up a much-needed win tomorrow.

The progress that Aston Villa has made since the arrival of Unai Emery has been nothing short of remarkable.

Even with their recent mini-injury crisis, the results have shown no signs of taking a turn for the worse, with Villa winning all of their last three.

From now until the end of the season, the squad will face the challenge of balancing European action with their Premier League duties, with a top-four finish arguably being the priority.

However, Villa have a player in the pipeline who’s already played in the Champions League this season and could end up replacing Matty Cash in the near future.

Matty Cash’s 23/24 season

Polish right-back Cash has featured heavily this season for Villa, operating in his usual right-back role as well as a further forward right midfielder at times.

The 26-year-old has played in 24 Premier League matches this campaign, playing 36 times across all competitions. In fairness to Cash, he’s already shown a significant attacking improvement in the last year, picking up six goal contributions already while only registering one all last season.

However, FBref’s 23/24 Premier League scouting report suggests that Cash is actually performing at an extremely average level when compared to his positional peers in the league.

Passes into final third

2.65

Bottom 60%

Key passes

0.56

Bottom 63%

Shot-creating actions

1.74

Bottom 56%

Tackles won

1.23

Bottom 60%

Interceptions

0.87

Bottom 60%

With that in mind, Emery has shown a desire to improve and strengthen the position, even dipping into the transfer market in January to sign a potential long-term replacement.

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ByRoss Kilvington Mar 5, 2024 Kosta Nedeljkovic's 23/24 stats

Kosta Nedeljkovic is an 18-year-old right-back whom Villa purchased this winter for an undisclosed fee from Serbian side FK Crvena Zvezda.

The Serbian full-back only made his debut for his side in August, but by the time he had been signed by Villa, Nedeljkovic had already made four appearances in the Champions League.

The “brilliant” prospect, as described by analyst StatmanDave, returned to Crvena Zvezda on loan until the end of the season, where he will continue to gain valuable experience.

Nonetheless, the table below showing his average statistics in the Serbian top flight highlights what sort of profile Nedeljkovic has.

Starts

10

Assists

1

Key passes (P90)

1

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles (P90)

1.5

Duels won (P90)

3.7

As you can see, it’s no surprise that Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig described the youngster as a “complete” full-back, adding that some of his strengths include: “Pace, physicality, tackling and, crossing.”

That description, along with his statistics, indicates that he’s an extremely well-rounded prospect who has the potential to thrive in the Premier League given his attributes.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

In truth, it’s a very small sample size, and of course, like any developing player, they’re far from the finished product, but he can certainly become Cash’s replacement in the not-so-distant future if he continues to improve and impress.

An esteemed member of Mikel Arteta's squad has been playing on with an injury all season, and it is believed he's still the hardest trainer at Arsenal.

Arsenal chasing first Premier League title in 20 years

The Gunners are in hot pursuit of their first league title in 20 years and have picked up scintillating form at just the right time with 33 goals scored in their last eight Premier League games alone.

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Arsenal currently sit top of the table, level on points with fellow contenders Liverpool whilst boasting the superior goal difference. Jurgen Klopp's side and Man City come as their biggest obstacles, with the two teams having dominated English football for over half a decade.

If Arteta can upset the applecart and usurp the pair, it would go down as a historic season and one which would cement the manager's status in Arsenal folklore.

Bukayo Saka

7.69

Declan Rice

7.40

Martin Odegaard

7.33

Gabriel Martinelli

7.10

Gabriel Magalhaes

7.04

Key players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and others will have a major part to play in the race, but so will versatile defensive ace Ben White. The Englishman, who recently caused a stir by refusing a call-up to Gareth Southgate's England squad, has been pivotal over his 27 league appearances this season.

According to Arsenal journalist Charles Watts, speaking to Caught Offside, the 26-year-old shows his dedication week in, and week out at Hale End.

Ben White playing through injury as hardest trainer in Arsenal squad

Watts claims that White has been playing with an injury throughout the entirety of Arsenal's season, and nobody can question his work ethic as he stands out as the hardest trainer in Arteta'a squad.

“Ben White is as focused about football as any other elite player. You talk to anyone at Arsenal and they will say the same thing. No-one trains harder or works harder than Ben White," said the reporter.

“Just because he doesn’t go home and watch match after match on the TV doesn’t mean he isn’t fully committed to the game and his club. Mikel Arteta demands absolute professionalism from his players. If they don’t show that, they are swiftly shown the door. But White has been rewarded with a new contract that Arteta and Edu were desperate for him to sign and that tells you all you need to know about his character and how he is behind the scenes.

“White has been carrying an injury throughout the season, but he consistently plays through the pain barrier. He is absolutely committed to everything he does.

“So instead of people pointing the finger at White following his decision to opt out of playing for England, they should probably be asking why a player at the peak of his powers does not feel comfortable working with the current England coaching set-up.”

Given White's sheer importance, supporters will perhaps be breathing a huge sigh of relief that the £150,000-per-week defender won't be risking further injury in meaningless England friendlies.