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Manchester United are seemingly set to be targetting a new centre-forward addition this summer, with Erik ten Hag seeking a long-term fit in that role following Cristiano Ronaldo’s sour exit back in November.

The Red Devils could well have missed the opportunity to sign a potential solution to that problem in the past, with reports back in February 2021 having claimed that the club were keeping tabs on Arsenal starlet, Folarin Balogun, with the youngster having been facing an uncertain future in north London due to his expiring contract.

The Old Trafford outfit seemingly never acted on that interest, however, as the then-teenager opted to commit to a new four-year deal just a matter of months later, ensuring that United had missed the boat with regard to tempting the USA-born starlet into a move to Manchester.

As it has proved, the England U21 international has made “incredible” progress since then, according to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, having enjoyed a particularly fruitful spell on loan at Ligue 1 side, Stade de Reims, so far this season.

The explosive 21-year-old is currently the leading scorer in the French top flight with 14 goals in just 20 appearances to date, ensuring that he is outperforming the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar in the division.

The one-time Middlesbrough loanee only recently thwarted that stellar Paris Saint-Germain trio, having scored a remarkable stoppage-time equaliser against Christopher Galtier’s side, showing great composure to round the advancing Gianluigi Donnarumma, before lashing home from the angle.

Those late heroics were then followed by another standout showing in Reims’ most recent league outing at home to Lorient, with Balogun – who has a solid average match rating of 7.07 this season, as per Sofascore – having netted a scintillating hat-trick to help clinch a thrilling, 4-2 victory.

Clearly a ruthless presence in front of goal, the 5 foot 10 marksman has also caught the eye as a result of his creativity when leading the line as he has recorded one assist and created five big chances in Ligue 1 this season, while he also ranks in the top 5% among his European peers for progressive passes received.

Back at the Theatre of Dreams, Ten Hag and co have been without a regular presence in attack due to Anthony Martial’s injury woes, while loan arrival Wout Weghorst does appear a mere short-term fix until the end of the season.

As such, United may well be ruing that they didn’t secure Balogun’s signature two years ago, even if he was a mere prospect at the time, with the exciting talent now evidently flourishing in France.

Former Sheffield Wednesday centre-back Michael Hector could potentially seal a return to the club this month, according to reliable journalist Joe Crann.

The Lowdown: Hector’s previous with Sheffield Wednesday

The 30-year-old spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Hillsborough, having struggled to break through at Chelsea over a number of years, despite previously being hailed as ‘absolutely top class’ by journalist Dom Howson.

Hector made 39 appearances in total for the Owls, scoring twice along the way and proving to be a ‘fan favourite’ at the heart of their defence.

The former Jamaica international is currently without a club, having left Fulham last year, and it could be that a return to Wednesday materialises this month.

The Latest: Sheffield Wednesday considering Hector move

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article for The Star, Crann claimed that Hector is being considered as an option for Sheffield Wednesday to come in and add defensive depth in January.

The journalist tweeted:

“Darren Moore has previously suggested that #SWFC weren’t really looking at free agents, but – as per @AlexMiller91 – we understand that former Owl, Michael Hector, is now being considered as an option at centre back after all.”

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The Verdict: Good centre-back option

This could be a shrewd piece of business by Wednesday, bringing in Hector on a free transfer and helping to ease their current shortage in centre-back areas following injuries to Ben Heneghan and Michael Ihiekwe.

Mark McGuinness’ return to Cardiff City is a big blow, following an impressive stint for the Owls (he is their second-highest rated player this season as per WhoScored), but Hector could help to fill that void, having won 3.4 aerial duels per game in the Championship during his previous spell with the club four years ago.

There would be an element of risk behind the move in terms of his lack of playing time – he has made just 15 appearances in all competitions since August 2020, and only two since the start of 2022 – but the free agent element of the transfer alleviates that issue.

Either way, bringing in another centre-back this month could be a wise move should any approach for Hector not work out.

Manchester United’s nine-game winning run came to an end in frustrating fashion on Wednesday evening, with a late Michael Olise stunner seeing Erik ten Hag’s side held to a 1-1 draw away to Crystal Palace.

After the highs of Saturday’s derby day triumph over Manchester City, the Red Devils struggled to truly get going in what was a limp display at Selhurst Park, having been left thankful for some David De Gea heroics to help deny Patrick Viera’s men.

The long-serving Spaniard had expertly tipped Odsonne Edouard’s dipping effort onto the crossbar just before the break, with United then subsequently taking the lead through Bruno Fernandes on the stroke of half-time.

With the visitors’ focus seemingly appearing to shift to Sunday’s upcoming encounter with league leaders Arsenal, the Old Trafford outfit then suffered the double blow of seeing Casemiro pick up a yellow card – ruling the Brazilian out of the trip to the Emirates – before that man Olise curled home a delightful free-kick at the death.

That performance and the eventual result has reinforced the notion that any talk of a title charge for the away side was undoubtedly premature, with United’s primary concern likely to be fending off the chasing pack in the battle for a top-four berth.

If Ten Hag’s men are to achieve that latter goal, they will no doubt need more from their leading figures in attack, with recent addition Wout Weghorst having endured an “indifferent” outing on what was his first appearance for the club, as per journalist Steven Railston.

The 6 foot 6 colossus had appeared something of a left-field signing for those at the Theatre of Dreams after joining on-loan from Burnley, having since failed to silence any doubters after making a limited impact against the Eagles.

Although the towering Dutchman – who had spent the first half of the campaign with Turkish giants Besiktas – did show flashes of his impressive hold-up play, the 30-year-old ultimately proved rather anonymous as he made just 28 touches in total – fewer than the aforementioned De Gea in the sticks (33).

That 69-minute showing also saw the one-time Wolfsburg brute complete just 14 of his 20 passes and lose possession on eight occasions, with his solitary attempt on goal having been a tame header that looped over the crossbar.

While it is far too early to write the 19-cap marksman off, there will have been concern at his failure to truly dominate in attack, having only won two of his eight total duels up against the youthful centre-back pairing of Marc Guehi and Chris Richards.

Such a tepid showing seemingly left the Mirror’s Dan Marsh feeling “underwhelmed”, with Weghorst no doubt needing to show much more if he is to truly challenge the absent Anthony Martial for a starting berth in the coming weeks.

With this hectic fixture list set to continue against the Gunners at the weekend there will be ample opportunity for the Netherlands international truly show what he can do, although there will no doubt be frustration that he was unable to make a bigger contribution on debut.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has shared an injury update regarding Whites winger Luis Sinisterra. 

The Lowdown: Sinisterra’s season so far

Leeds signed the Colombian from Feyenoord in July on a five-year deal, making him one of several incoming players at Elland Road during the summer transfer window.

Since then, the 23-year-old has made 10 appearances for Leeds across the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, scoring three goals and providing one assist along the way.

With Sinisterra having been out of action since October with a foot injury, Marsch has shared an update on the player ahead of his team’s domestic campaign resuming in the next few days.

The Latest: Sinisterra injury update

Speaking in his latest press conference (via Leeds Live) ahead of their upcoming Premier League match against Manchester City, Marsch gave a promising update on the 23-year-old, who could be ‘on track’ to return in January.

The American said: “Luis Sinisterra is making great progress and we feel like he’s on track. We have to be a little bit cautious with this injury, but we’re hopeful that in a couple weeks he can be back in training.”

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The Verdict: Good news for Leeds

To highlight how useful an attacking figure the former Feyenoord player has been for Leeds in the top flight this season, only two players in Marsch’s squad have a higher rate of shot-creating actions per 90 minutes than the Colombian (4.17).

In addition, only two Whites players have completed more dribbles than Sinisterra (11), which highlights just how tricky a player he can be for opponents to face.

This shows just how much of a boost it will be for the team to have the winger, who has been praised for his “excellent” performances for Leeds by journalist Leon Wobschall on Twitter, back fit again in the coming weeks.

While it looks like Sinisterra will be set to miss the upcoming match against Pep Guardiola’s side, this update from Marsch about the winger’s recovery is definitely a positive one for the Elland Road faithful.

Nottingham Forest have had their fair share of injury problems over the Premier League season and now a new update has emerged on another setback ahead of their return to action later this month.

What’s the latest?

Forest boss Steve Cooper has revealed a concerning update on Cheikhou Kouyate’s recovery timeline after suffering a hamstring injury at the World Cup, which led to the midfielder needing surgery.

Unfortunately it doesn’t look good for Cooper, who revealed to NottinghamshireLive:

“That’s going to rule him out now for 10 to 12 weeks. It’s a challenge for him that he’s got to embrace and give his best to.

“We’ll miss him, for sure – on the pitch and, equally, off the pitch, because of the character and the personality that he is. It’s slightly unfortunate about how it all evolved with the injury, but we don’t really want to get into that. It’s happened now, so we all have to commit – including Cheik – to get him back as quickly as possible.”

It’s bad news for Cooper

There is no doubt that it is bad news for the manager that Kouyate will be unavailable for the next few months as the Welshman has a huge challenge ahead of him to secure safety in the Premier League over the second half of the campaign.

Forest are currently 18th in the top flight, spending the majority of their promotion season inside the relegation zone so far, however, the run of form displayed ahead of the World Cup break will have given Cooper hope that his team can finally start competing.

Over their last five league outings, Forest collected points from four of their fixtures, leaving them just one point shy of climbing out of the bottom three ahead of their clash with Manchester United on Boxing Day.

Losing the experience and consistency Kouyate has been offering the Tricky Trees in the centre of the pitch will be a big blow for Forest, especially when you consider his output so far.

With a Sofascore match rating of 6.78, he is the seventh-best player in the squad so far and indeed their joint-best midfielder alongside Ryan Yates when compared to that metric.

That comes courtesy of some productive displays over 12 appearances, with the 32-year-old having scored one goal, created one big chance and completed a whopping 84% of his dribbles.

Furthermore, he has averaged 1.8 tackles – the best of any midfielder in the squad – 1.6 clearances and 3.9 duels won per game.

With that being said, the absence of Kouyate will be a big loss for Cooper but he will now need to rely on his other midfielders to deliver crucial points in the Premier League over the upcoming fixtures.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the multitude of teams interested in signing Josko Gvardiol, who was one of the standout players of the World Cup group stages.

Tuttomercatoweb reported last month that current Lilywhites star Ivan Perisic had been tasked with convincing the 20-year-old that his future should lie in north London.

During the summer window, RB Leipzig’s asking price was thought to be in the region of £70m and that would have only increased after announcing himself on the world’s biggest stage, with the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid also keen on his signature.

Whilst he would cost sporting director Fabio Paratici a club-record fee, it should not put the Italian off from sealing a real piece of the future. Gvardiol could be one of, if not the, best centre-back in the world considering he’s already delivering at just 20.

And by winning the race to land him, Spurs could well eclipse the signing of Heung-min Son, who has undoubtedly been one of the Lilywhites’ best-ever deals. His returns of 136 goals and 76 assists for just £22m have been unmatched.

Croatia kept two clean sheets across their three matches, despite being in Group F with Belgium, one of the favourites for the tournament, though they didn’t qualify for the knockout stages.

Gvardiol played an integral role for the Vatreni, combining his frightening physicality with his deft touch on the ball – form that led transfer guru Fabrizio Romano to laud him as a “monster”.

Across those three matches, the Croat colossus has averaged a 90% passing accuracy, despite managing near 70 attempts per game, via Sofascore. A feat that outranks every one of Spurs’ current starters, including Eric Dier, who averages an 87.6% accuracy rate from 66.7 passes per game.

Gvardiol has also managed a whopping 5.7 clearances, 1.7 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per game at the World Cup too. By comparison, not even Cristian Romero has averaged more interceptions, whilst the Leipzig titan would also lead the way for clearances.

Meanwhile, his performances have also seen him dubbed as the Erling “Haaland of defenders” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, only further emphasising just how much of an instant impact he has made.

Journalist Zach Lowry even praised him as a “Rolls-Royce” and as a “sensational centre-back,” having been the best player on the pitch despite sharing it with Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modric.

With Romero now a permanent presence at Hotspur Way, Paratici and co could really land their best-ever signing by luring the Leipzig superstar to north London in 2023. They may need to wait until the summer and fork out in excess of £70m but he’d be worth every penny and more.

AND in other news, Conte could land dream Maddison alternative in Spurs move 22 y/o World Cup “superstar”…

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of their crucial Champions League meeting with Olympique de Marseille this evening.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to SPURSPLAY ahead of the match, Antonio Conte’s assistant, Cristian Stellini, confirmed that Cristian Romero – who was left out of Spurs’ squad to face AFC Bournemouth on Saturday as a precaution – will be unavailable for the trip to the Orange Vélodrome on Tuesday evening, as the centre-back is reportedly suffering from muscle fatigue.

Regarding the 24-year-old, Stellini said: “The only news is that Cuti Romero is not available for the match tomorrow. We are sorry, but it is what it is. We have other players available, we have a good squad and we are well prepared to play a tough game, a knockout game like tomorrow.”

Huge blow

Considering just how influential a part of the Spurs side Romero has become since his move to north London last summer, the news that the Argentina international will not be available for such a crucial Champions League fixture will undoubtedly have come as a huge blow to Conte.

Indeed, over his eight Premier League appearances so far this season, the £69m-rated talent has been a rock at the back for Spurs, helping his side keep one clean sheet, as well as making an average of 2.4 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 2.8 clearances and winning 5.4 duels – at a success rate of 59% – per game.

These returns have seen the 23-year-old average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.94, currently ranking him as Conte’s eighth-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Furthermore, the £165k-per-week defender has also caught the eye over his five Champions League fixtures this term, helping the Lilywhites keep one clean sheet, in addition to making an average of 2.6 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, 1.4 clearances and winning 4.8 duels – at a success rate of 63% – per match.

These metrics have seen the 12-cap international average an even more impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.02, again ranking him as Tottenham’s eighth-best player in the European competition.

As such, it is clear to see that Romero’s loss ahead of a game in which Spurs must take at least a point in order to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition is a huge blow for Conte – who will be hoping that Davinson Sanchez can improve on his disappointing performance against Bournemouth on Saturday when filling in for the Argentine this evening.

Manchester United are interested in making a move for Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams, according to a new transfer rumour that has emerged.

The Lowdown: Adams impressing at Leeds

The American made the move to Elland Road during the summer transfer window, joining from RB Leipzig after three years in Germany.

Adams has made an impressive start to life at Leeds, standing out as one of their best players and starting a total of 10 Premier League matches to date.

It could be that Leeds have to battle to keep hold of Adams no sooner after he has arrived, however, following a new update.

The Latest: United keen on signing

According to Football Insider, United are ‘keeping close tabs’ on the 23-year-old currently, as they weight up whether or not to make a move for him.

It is stated that they have a ‘long-time interest’ in Adams and he is considered a player who could come in and bolster their midfield options.

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The Verdict: Could be a strong option

Adams has the potential to be an excellent signing by United, possessing the kind of technical quality and energy that Erik ten Hag wants in his midfielders.

The 19-time capped USA international has averaged a hugely impressive 4.1 tackles per game in the league this season – no Leeds player to have started one game or more has a better average – and his ability to break up play can be priceless. Journalist Tim Thornton thinks he has ‘done brilliantly’ in 2022/23 to date.

Adams would arguably prove to be an upgrade and more of a long-term prospect than the likes of Fred and Scott McTominay, both of whom are seen their limitations exposed this season.

New York City forward Talles Magno has hinted he would be open to joining Manchester City in a recent interview.

The Lowdown: City flying high…

The Premier League champions have been flying high under manager Pep Guardiola as they seek to retain their domestic crown for a third successive season.

City are the only remaining side unbeaten in the top flight thus far with no side scoring more goals or conceding less than the Sky Blues (premierleague.com).

Guardiola’s side boast the unplayable Erling Haaland as part of their imperious frontline and it appears they are set for an entertaining title race with Mikel Arteta’s in-form Arsenal side.

As such, their pulling power keeps growing and growing, with New York forward Magno now hinting he would be open to making a move to Manchester.

The Latest: Magno drops City transfer hint…

Speaking to Super Vasco, as also shared by Sport Witness, the Brazilian has given an enthusiastic reply when asked if he dreams of a switch to Man City from their MLS sister club.

He stated:

“For sure, all of us who have plans and dreams to be achieved, when we lie on our pillows, we dream of it.

“I’m focused on my team, wanting to grow, focused, to win titles, but I have my dream of playing in Europe. It certainly crosses my mind, yes.”

The Verdict: One to watch?

Bagging eight assists and seven goals over the 2022 MLS season, the 20-year-old has been making waves across the Atlantic and he could be one to watch.

The former Brazil Under-17 international, valued at £9 million by Transfermarkt, is still very young and has been praised by MLS experts for his displays at NYC.

Forbes writer James Nalton, for instance, described Magno as ‘one of the best forwards in the league’ and ‘one of the best’ Under-23s players in the American division (Twitter).

If Guardiola sees a real player in the South American, it appears the door is open to make a potential move going by Magno’s latest hint to the press.

Liverpool haven’t enjoyed the best start to their Premier League campaign this season, dropping nine points over their first six outings, and this poor form hasn’t been exclusive to league performances.

Indeed, Jurgen Klopp’s side also endured a disastrous start to their Champions League campaign, with a humiliating 4-1 defeat in Naples matching their joint-heaviest loss in the competition.

As such, it is safe to say that the German manager will be hoping that the extended break, alongside a number of his players returning from injury, will make a difference when they return to action against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend.

Liverpool will host their first game at Anfield since September 13 when they welcome Roberto De Zerbi’s side on Saturday afternoon, and three points are non-negotiable for the Reds if they are to have any hope of competing for the title – as they currently sit eighth in the league.

As a result, it could be the perfect opportunity for Klopp to freshen up the team by deploying a different perspective in the back-line, with Ibrahima Konate finally available for selection following a pre-season injury that has seen him unavailable so far this term.

The talented 23-year-old Frenchman who was hailed an “absolute dream” by Phil Thompson proved his worth to Liverpool last season when he played a vital role in the team, stepping up when it mattered most – especially in the Champions League.

Konate found the back of the net twice in the prestigious competition, as well as offering a solid defensive presence, making 1.6 interceptions, two tackles and 2.9 clearances per game, in addition to winning 59% of his duels – with these returns earning a spot in the starting line-up against Real Madrid in the final.

It would be hard for Klopp to ignore the young centre-back’s record with Liverpool in the Premier League too, as Konate has not lost a single league game he has started since he joined the club in the summer of 2021.

With that being said, it could be a great chance for the 6-foot-3 defender to make his first appearance of the season, as he would undoubtedly terrify Brighton and could help Liverpool take a much-needed three points from the occasion.