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Aston Villa are looking at strengthening their attack before the transfer window closes, following the long-term absence of Emiliano Buendia.

Recent reports have now revealed who they could target as a result of his injury.

The Argentine was finding form in pre-season, before being ruled out for the foreseeable future due to sustaining a freak anterior cruciate ligament blow in training.

Acting fast in the transfer market, manager Unai Emery and president of football operations Monchi have landed Nicolo Zaniolo on loan, however, new reports are pointing to an even bigger fish that could be a new target.

Who could Aston Villa sign this summer?

With Buendia out for some time, Emery has been linked with another winger, despite Zaniolo only arriving on loan from Galatasaray last week.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

A report this week has suggested that the Villans are in the race to capture an exciting talent, in a move that could be one of the club’s biggest in recent years.

According to journalist Jose Alvarez on El Chiringuito TV, Villa are part of a heated race with Tottenham Hotspur to sign FC Barcelona sensation Ansu Fati, who could leave the club due to financial pressure and lack of game time.

"Tottenham and Aston Villa are interested in ANSU FATI," he said.

It’s said that the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, who is well-known in the Midlands, is pushing the 20-year-old for a €50m (£43m) move to the English top-flight.

"Mendes is offering the Premier for €50m," the reporter added.

How good is Ansu Fati?

From making his Barcelona debut at 16 years of age to being tipped to become the eventual heir to Lionel Messi, Fati has had a whirlwind career in the spotlight at such a young age.

Following the formidable Argentine’s departure, the Spaniard took the no.10 shirt at the Nou Camp after registering a phenomenal breakthrough season in which he netted seven goals in the 2019/20 campaign.

Born in 2002, it’s hard to believe that the product of La Masia has already accumulated 111 appearances for the Blaugrana, scoring 29 goals and registering 11 assists at senior level.

Injury woes and fluctuation of the pecking order has left the Spaniard’s future in doubt at his boyhood club, especially with reference to the financial pressures Barcelona are under.

Speaking of his future, Xavi admitted that “it will depend a lot on Financial Fair Play” whether the starlet will remain in Catalonia, as relayed by Fabrizio Romano.

For Villa, the prospect of signing Ansu Fati could be resounding, in a player who has the potential to be the club’s biggest talent with a calibre that matches that of Jack Grealish.

The Englishman made the £100m move from Villa Park to Manchester City in 2021, leaving with 213 senior appearances and 32 goals under his belt for his boyhood club.

Having been lauded as a sensation with “Messi-esque returns” by scout Jacek Kulig, the youngster was praised by the man himself back in 2019, where the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner admitted that the then-teenager caught his “attention from the first time” he trained with him.

Such compliments coming from arguably the greatest player the game has witnessed reinforces just how significant Fati arriving at Villa could be.

The Villans have a wave of talent in their arsenal, however, capturing the signing of the Barcelona gem could surpass the aura that Grealish left at Villa Park based on the work accomplished already in his budding career.

Last season, the 20-year-old whiz contributed to 11 goals for Barca, scoring seven and assisting four despite only making 12 starts and averaging just 39 minutes per game in LaLiga, via Sofascore.

If Emery and Monchi can see off competition from north London for the Spaniard’s signature, it would surely mark the beginning of a new wave of stardom in the Midlands.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to strengthen his forward line before the end of the window and has identified a striker with a notable connection to the Scottish giants as a potential arrival, according to recent reports.

What's the latest news involving Celtic?

The Hoops are expected to be embroiled in some late-window drama as Rodgers looks to integrate some further quality into his squad before the close of play in the market.

As per The Daily Record, Benfica youngster Paulo Bernardo has been told that he is free to leave the Portuguese giants on loan this campaign after being informed he is not part of Roger Schmidt's plans at the club and the Hoops have emerged as suitors to take him on a loan basis.

The report claims that Bernardo has a £90 million buy-out clause in his Benfica contract; however, club chiefs would be willing to negotiate a more reasonable option to buy in any prospective loan agreement, though clubs in Spain and Italy are also monitoring the 21-year-old.

Meanwhile, according to The Scottish Sun, Celtic have rebuffed an approach from Championship side Leeds United for Denmark Under-21 international Matt O'Riley.

Leeds United could return to the table with another offer before Friday's transfer deadline; nevertheless, Celtic are keen to keep hold of the midfielder, who has also attracted further interest from Serie A outfit Bologna.

Honduras international Luis Palma has also jetted into Glasgow to complete his move to Celtic from Aris Thessaloniki for a fee in the region of £3.5 million, as per Football Scotland.

Another attacker could join Palma, however, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has delivered an update claiming that Celtic are now not expected to pursue Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden, explaining on X:

"After making initial enquiries, it's looking unlikely that Celtic will pursue Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden further in this window. They’d like to strengthen CF options but it is not a position of priority at the moment. Luis Palma can also play in this position."

Who else could Celtic sign?

Celtic completed summer signings

Player

Fee

Previous club

Gustaf Lagerbielke

£3 million

Elfsborg

Kwon Hyeok-kyu

£1 million

Busan IPark

Marco Tilio

£1.5 million

Melbourne City

Odin Thiago Holm

Undisclosed

Valerenga

Maik Nawrocki

£4.3 million

Legia Warsaw

Yang Hyun-jun

£2 million

Gangwon FC

All fees courtesy of Sky Sports News

Sky Sports reporter Joseph has also issued another update involving Celtic's pursuit of a striker, stating on X that Sydney van Hooijdonk is on the Parkhead radar.

"Bologna striker Sydney van Hooijdonk is another player who has been on Celtic’s radar this summer. His future still remains uncertain. @SkySportDe are reporting that Wolfsburg have made initial contact for the 23-year-old, who is the son of Hoops icon Pierre van Hooijdonk."

In his senior career, Van Hooijdonk, once described as "prolific" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has netted 49 goals in 130 appearances across all competitions across spells at NAC Breda, SC Heerenveen and his current employers Bologna, as per Transfermarkt.

Of course, Pierre van Hooijdonk, who is Sydney's father, played for Celtic on 92 occasions, netting 56 goals in the process and was a fan favourite at Parkhead, with arguably his most notable strike coming in the 1995 Scottish Cup final against Airdrieonians, where the Hoops recorded a 1-0 victory to end a six-year trophy drought.

Whether a deal between Celtic and Van Hooijdonk can be thrashed out over the coming days will remain to be seen; however, the 23-year-old pitching up at the scene of his father's former glories could definitely be one of the more poetic stories of the window.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has personally set his sights on a £100 million striker with "moves being made" behind-the-scenes.

Who have Chelsea signed 2023?

The Blues displayed their real ambition yet again over the summer transfer window; sealing deals for Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Djordje Petrovic, Angelo and Deivid Washington – who all joined the club for around £397 million.

Pochettino's overhaul doesn't end there, though, as a plethora of players departed Stamford Bridge in wake of the new arrivals.

Indeed, Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi all left the club to bring in £230 million.

Pochettino's side have took time to get going so far this season, though; having won just one Premier League game, drawing another and recording two losses.

Chelsea succumbed to defeats at the hands of both West Ham and Nottingham Forest before the international break, but could put things right with a much-needed win at Bournemouth on Sunday.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

Despite their major outlay, one position Chelsea didn't bolster with a big name signing was at centre-forward.

The Blues are lacking an out-and-out number nine of real quality, leading to their links with both Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Brentford's Ivan Toney.

Chelsea's leading scorer from last season, Kai Havertz, bagged just seven top flight goals and these numbers suggest that the forward area is a major achilles heel in Pochettino's side.

That's why there have been suggestions that a new striker could be targeted in January, with reporter Rahman Osman of London World sharing what he knows on Toney.

According to the journalist, Thomas Frank's star forward, who is currently serving a ban for gambling breaches, is Pochettino's "ideal choice" to lead his Chelsea line.

As such, they're apparently leading the race for his signing, with Chelsea also laying the groundwork for his winter window capture.

"Chelsea are leading the race to sign Brentford’s suspended forward Ivan Toney with moves being made behind the scenes for a chance of getting him in January," wrote Osman.

"The Blues have spent close to a billion pounds under the new owner but there remains the need for a proven goal scorer at the highest level.

"LondonWorld sources say Toney is Pochettino’s ideal choice as he is English, at the right age and proven in the Premier League."

How good is Ivan Toney?

Scoring 20 goals in 33 starts for Brentford in the top flight last season, Toney is a truly prolific marksman when available and at his very best.

"Ivan is very intelligent, because he’s reflecting, and he deserves a lot of praise himself for also coming into a well-run club and listening to all the small bits and adding extra layers to his development and performance," Brentford manager Frank said in 2021.

"If you want to be a top player you need to work hard, constantly reflect and want to learn and then of course you need to have that confidence that he’s got so naturally.

"He’s coming across so fantastically: he’s humble, calm, but with a mindset of a lion."

The Bees boss has also said he's worth around £100 million.

Journalist Dean Jones has made a "very strange" Tanguy Ndombele claim after the midfielder completed his loan move to Galatasaray; sharing what he's been "told" in an update out of Tottenham.

Who has left Tottenham 2023?

Spurs and new manager Ange Postecoglou are absolutely loving life at the moment, having begun this new Premier League season in rip-roaring fashion.

The north London side, after impressive victories against the likes of Man United, Bournemouth and Burnley most recently, currently sit second in the top flight – just behind last season's imperious treble-winners Man City.

Postecoglou has steered the Tottenham ship superbly thus far; reshaping the squad in his own image whilst implementing an open, attack-minded and exciting brand of football.

Spurs have also managed to rid themselves of players deemed surplus, with Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, Harry Winks, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott and Dane Scarlett all leaving either on loan or permanently over the summer transfer window.

While star striker Harry Kane was the only real casualty after his blockbuster move to Bayern Munich, bar the England international, all of Spurs' other departures clear deadwood and free up space in Postecoglou's squad.

Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez and midfielder Ndombele also managed to complete transfers to Galatasaray outside of the British transfer window, as Turkey's doesn't shut until September 15.

The latter player is only there on loan and technically remains a Tottenham player, at least for now, but chairman Daniel Levy will be happy to shave Ndombele's reported £200,000-per-week wages off the club's accounts.

Shedding some light on the Frenchman, reporter Jones has been "told" some interesting information on the former Lyon star; lifting the lid on what has been a "very strange" situation.

Indeed, he says Tottenham were absolutely "desperate" to get him out the door in the end, as the player was given yet another chance to impress but ultimately failed.

"The Ndombele situation has been very strange," Jones told GiveMeSport this week.

"He should be one of the Premier League's top midfielders, but he's never managed to grasp the opportunities. In the end, I am told that Tottenham were desperate to get him out the door.

"He was given another fresh opportunity this summer by Ange Postecoglou to prove his worth and show he could have a future at the club but he didn’t impress and they just didn't have room for passengers, so he had to be moved on."

How good is Tanguy Ndombele?

The ex-Napoli loanee possesses an abundance of talent on his day; showcasing a low centre of gravity, close ball control and a silky style of play when at his very best.

Unfortunately, those flashes of brilliance have come very rarely, and it is best for all parties for Ndombele to grab an opportunity elsewhere – hopefully on a permanent move elsewhere in the future.

Arsenal star Declan Rice was effusive in his praise for the 26-year-old last year, calling Ndombele one of the toughest opponents he's ever faced.

“The perception of him, it shouldn’t be what it is because I tell you now, he is one of the toughest I have played against," said Rice.

“He is top. Just a street footballer on the pitch. He takes the ball anywhere, little flicks and tricks. Like he doesn’t care. He does everything so confidently."

Everton travel to London to face off against Brentford in the Premier League this weekend, and Sean Dyche's side will understand the importance of avoiding yet another defeat to compound their struggles.

How are Everton playing?

The Toffees survived relegation from the top-flight by the skin of their teeth last year, with Abdoulaye Doucoure's second-half strike against Bournemouth on the final day enough for three points to relegate Leicester City in their stead.

With a lack of formidable goal threat the ostensible crux of the club's woes last year, Dyche pulled his sleeves up and set to work reforming the offensive line over the summer, bringing in several fresh faces to provide Everton with enough firepower to leap away from the danger zone.

This has not happened yet, with four defeats and a draw from the opening five matches of the campaign; alarmingly, each defeat has yielded no goals for the Blues, with parity all to be taken from Bramall Lane against newly-promoted Sheffield United.

What's the Everton team news?

Everton's manager has revealed that Jack Harrison is “looking fit and sharp” but is still not match fit, with the winger joining on loan from Leeds United in the summer but injury thus far preventing him from making his debut.

Forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin and winger Dwight McNeil have both been building their fitness after respective issues this season and are in line for starting appearances.

However, club captain Seamus Coleman, Dele Alli and Andre Gomes all remain sidelined, which means that, in theory, Dyche could field an unchanged line-up from the side that fell to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Should James Garner start against Brentford?

While Dyche could keep the faith with the crop that battled and toiled against the high-flying Gunners to no avail, it would be wise to shake things up somewhat.

Reporter Joe Thomas claimed that the match was a "tough watch" and that the midfield was "poor", and, as such, the Toffees boss might now deploy James Garner into the centre of the pitch to restore the equilibrium that has melted like snow in the sun.

The £30k-per-week ace joined from Manchester United in a £15m deal last summer, having impressed on loan with Nottingham Forest as they forged a route out of the Championship, hailed for his “set-piece magic” by journalist George Smith.

Starting just seven times in the Premier League last season (though each one after Dyche's January appointment), the 22-year-old has made a fine start to the current campaign, starting four of the opening five games of the 2023/24 league term.

As per Sofascore, he has earned an average match score of 7.00 in an unfamiliar right-midfield role, completing 80% of his passes, winning 68% of his duels, making one key pass per game and making 3.8 ball recoveries per outing.

Pushed back into the centre, the 5 foot 11 ace would provide some steely resistance and could allow the more attack-minded Arnaut Danjuma to thrive in his stead, having also been hailed for his "engine" by Dyche.

While Garner's versatility and dynamism has allowed him to find success on the right flank, his composure and energy are exactly what is needed to ensure the Bees do not take control of the vital midfield battle this evening.

Everton cannot afford to fall to another defeat, and with the erstwhile Red Devils youngster shifted into his natural role, a galvanising result might just be achieved for Dyche's side.

Tottenham Hotspur are now discussing sacking Thomas Frank, with an “intelligent” manager emerging as a major target following the disappointing defeat at Nottingham Forest.

Frank under pressure after City Ground defeat

Tottenham fell to their third loss in their last five Premier League games on Sunday, with Forest emerging as 3-0 winners at the City Ground, but Frank called for patience in the wake of the defeat, which leaves them 11th in the table.

The Dane said: “I was also very honest, today was a very bad performance. No two ways about that, but also know that to change this, this will take some time.

“No one will want to hear about that. It’s just reality. I think the ones who have followed the club and the team, I think it’s fair to say there’s been a few not too consistent performances, and that’s the thing. We are working very hard.”

Losing so heavily against a relegation-threatened side will be very concerning, and things won’t get any easier in the coming weeks, with tricky fixtures against Liverpool and Crystal Palace coming up before the start of 2026.

As such, Frank is now under serious pressure, according to a report from Spain, which states Tottenham are now openly discussing sacking their manager if results don’t improve ‘immediately’, with ENIC particularly worried about the lack of a clear playing style.

Xavi Hernandez has now emerged as one of the main targets to replace the 52-year-old, with the board eager to start a new era by bringing in a manager with a distinct style of play.

There is concern that no real progress has been made since Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou in the dugout, and the Spaniard is currently available, having been out of work since leaving Barcelona back in 2024.

"Intelligent" Xavi lauded by Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez is a big fan of the ex-Barca manager, describing him as “intelligent”, and he did a good job at the Camp Nou, winning the La Liga title in the 2022-23 season, while also lifting the Spanish Super Cup.

The 4-3-3 attacking manager also won six trophies during his time as Al-Sadd SC manager, so he would arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a proven track record of winning silverware.

Tottenham now hold serious interest in signing £70m Premier League striker

Spurs are keen on signing a new forward, who has been in fantastic form this season.

ByDominic Lund 2 days ago

Frank, on the other hand, has never won a trophy in his managerial career, and the result at the City Ground is very alarming, with his side looking very poor from an attacking point of view, recording an xG of just 0.33.

With Spurs languishing in mid-table, and the manner of the recent loss particularly concerning, it is difficult to see how Frank survives much longer, and Xavi could be an exciting replacement.

Tottenham Hotspur once again boast a side that fans can be proud of, with Ange Postecoglou's impact on the squad rapid and revolutionary.

Few could possibly have expected the Australian to enjoy such instant success, but with each passing gameweek the Lilywhites continue to outdo themselves with battling displays wrapped in gorgeous free-flowing football, and the confidence and swagger to keep remaining unbeaten.

They are now one of just two Premier League sides to have avoided defeat in the league after seven games, alongside rivals Arsenal, and with their most recent results against Liverpool and the Gunners, they are overcoming obstacles that few gave them any chance of conquering.

A large boost received that has aided in the integration was the transfers, as the north London outfit would act incisively to tie up deals for James Maddison and Micky van de Ven. Both have taken little time to adapt, with the bulk of their creativity surging through the former Leicester City man, and a rock-solid backline built from the foundations of the Dutchman and Cristian Romero.

Unsurprisingly, fans cannot wait for the next window, should they keep improving with such accuracy to solidify their good form.

However, perhaps instead of rushing to blow their precious transfer funds, instead the former Celtic boss could seek to properly investigate his blooming academy, picking out the talents ready to step up when the opportunity beckons.

Although he shows no sign of slowing down with age, eventually a successor to Heung-min Son must be found. Fortunately, in Oliver Irow, they may already have the perfect heir set to cost them nothing.

Who is Oliver Irow?

Having moved to Spurs at the under-8s level, it has been a lengthy journey for the teenage attacker to grow into one of their brightest young stars pushing for a first-team birth.

However, his short career has been littered with goals and assists, wrapped in a dynamic little package capable of hurting any defences.

A tricky winger with an eye for goal, his versatility lends to the comparisons with the South Korean, who has enjoyed such early-season form whilst deputising as a central striker. Meanwhile, whilst the 17-year-old in question may have only featured three times in the U18s Premier League this term, he too has featured both up front and off the right wing.

Last campaign marked a standout for the trickster, who began to establish himself as a mainstay for the U18s despite being just 16 years old. His fine tally of nine goals in 17 appearances emphasises his importance, whilst further drawing comparisons to the former Bayer Leverkusen whiz, as a couple of goalscoring wingers.

Having already opened his account for the new term too, it promises to be yet another fine year for Irow, who will have aspirations of breaking into the U21 setup next.

1

Harry Kane

278

2

Jimmy Greaves

194

3

Heung-min Son

151

4

Jermaine Defoe

140

5

Robbie Keane

122

Stats via Transfermarkt

Such consistently threatening form was always bound to draw interest, with Spurs expert John Wenham keen to praise the teenager whilst speaking to Football Insider back in 2021. He would note: "Irow is an Essex-born forward who has been doing very well for the Under 16s. He should be one of the main forwards in that group along with a guy I have spoken about before, Samuel Amo-Ameyaw.

“It seems like we have another very good crop of players coming through at that age level.

“Irow seems a very bright talent and he’s one I think fans should keep a close eye on."

Should he grow to enjoy half as successful a career as Son, he would certainly be worth having around Hotspur Way.

However, the 31-year-old certainly is set to live a huge legacy in N17, which few will likely live up to.

How good is Heung-min Son?

Seemingly a rather unassuming 2015 acquisition, as Mauricio Pochettino began slowly crafting a squad worthy of pushing for elite honours, bringing a relatively unknown wide man from Germany left fans with little expectations for his future.

However, in a similar vein as Postecoglou, few could have expected him to perform as admirably as he has done.

Enduring a quiet first season, that would mark the last before exploding, having hit double figures in the Premier League every term since that debut one.

Featuring predominantly on the wing, Son has scored an astronomical 151 times whilst assisting a further 80, made even more special given those figures come across 380 appearances for Spurs.

However, as is the case with any player to have joined post-2008, he is without any silverware to show for his heroic efforts.

This is made even more ludicrous given the claims of pundit Gabby Agbonlahor from 2022, who suggested the wide man should have won the division's Player of the Season over Kevin De Bruyne: "He’s playing in a team that’s not as good as Manchester City and Liverpool, so it’s harder for him to get chances. So, I just think what Son has done this season, the goals he’s scored – left-foot screamers, right-foot screamers, he can score any sort of goal.

“I would’ve given it to Son myself, but Kevin De Bruyne has been outstanding as well."

The former Aston Villa striker continued: "I think Son maybe would have been on 25 or 30 goals this season because his finishing is one of the best in the Premier League. He walks into any Premier League team and any team in the world. Son he’s outstanding and Spurs are lucky to have him."

Having since been made captain by Postecoglou, and with a fine tally of six goals from just seven league matches, it is poised to be one of Son's best yet, made even more impressive given the summer exit of his partner in crime Harry Kane.

The 111-cap superstar has stepped up to the challenge and assumed the role of their leader both in terms of mentality and goalscoring. Again, few will ever live up to the legacy he is set to leave.

However, with that same versatility and an ever-growing skillset that already boasts plenty of goals, Irow has the foundation to one day emulate Son within Spurs' first team, thus easing the blow of his potential exit.

Glasgow Rangers decided to part ways with English head coach Michael Beale earlier this month after his dismal start to the 2023/24 campaign.

The 43-year-old tactician lost three of his four Scottish Premiership matches and failed to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League with a 7-2 defeat to PSV on aggregate in their play-off clash.

Beale failed to win a single trophy throughout the 2022/23 season after he was brought in to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst during the break for the 2022 World Cup.

Matches

30

Wins

23

Points

71

Titles

Zero

This led to an overhaul of the squad during the summer transfer window as the club allowed the ex-Gers assistant to revamp his options with a host of new additions.

Who did Rangers sign this summer?

Leon Balogun, Kieran Dowell, Jack Butland, Abdallah Sima, Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, Danilo, Dujon Sterling, and Jose Cifuentes all came through the door, and this opened the door for a number of departures.

Glen Kamara, Fashion Sakala, Antonio Colak, and Ianis Hagi were all either sold or loaned out to make way for the new signings ahead of this season. That came after the likes of Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield, and Alfredo Morelos, among others, moved on at the end of their respective contracts.

However, Beale's transfer business did not have the desired effect and one move, in particular, that looks to have been a blunder was the decision to move Hagi out on loan.

The Romania international returned to action earlier this year after 69 matches out with a knee injury, that was sustained at the start of 2022, and only started three Premiership matches last term before he was sent out to Alaves on a temporary basis.

Rangers, however, could have been better off if they had kept their faith in Hagi instead of swooping to sign Dowell from Norwich on a free transfer.

How has Dowell performed this season?

The former Everton youth prospect has produced one goal and zero chances created in six appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues since his move from the Canaries.

Dowell has been out injured since the 2-2 draw with PSV on the 22nd of August but failed to hit the ground running in Scotland prior to that knock.

The 26-year-old maestro has played two Premiership matches for the Scottish giants so far and produced one goal and zero key passes in those games, along with a pass completion rate of just 71%.

Beale opted against starting him in any of the three Champions League qualifiers that he was available for selection for, which suggests that the English gem did not do enough to convince the head coach that he was ready to make an impact at that level.

How many goals did Dowell score last season?

The left-footed whiz arrived at Ibrox off the back of a five-goal season in the Championship with Norwich under Dean Smith and David Wagner during the 2022/23 campaign.

Dowell contributed with five goals and three assists in 23 league outings for the Canaries to go along with one key pass per game on average, as per Sofascore.

In total, the English midfielder scored 12 goals and assisted six in 75 matches for his former club in all competitions across three seasons at Carrow Road.

This means that he averaged a goal or an assist every 4.17 games for Norwich during his time in East Anglia, which shows that Dowell struggled to deliver quality at the top end of the pitch on a consistent basis.

How many goals has Hagi scored for Rangers?

Hagi, who was hailed as "impressive" by journalist Joshua Barrie earlier this year, has scored 16 goals in 99 matches in all competitions for the Light Blues since his £3m move to the club from Genk.

The versatile gem can play as an attacking or central midfielder as well as off the right as a winger, just like Dowell, and has the quality to chip in with goals and assists.

His horrific knee injury, which kept him out for 12 months, left him short of match fitness when he returned last season but his previous form for the Light Blues suggests that the potential is there for him to make a huge impact on the pitch.

During the 2020/21 campaign under Steven Gerrard, the Romanian wizard produced an outstanding seven goals and 11 assists in 23 Premiership starts. He also created six 'big chances' for his teammates and completed 82% of his attempted passes throughout the league season.

In total, Hagi has scored 16 and assisted 21 goals in his 99 games for the club and this means that he has averaged a contribution every 2.68 matches on average, which is significantly better than the aforementioned return that Dowell managed for Norwich.

How has Hagi performed this season?

The talented whiz, who is also two years younger than the current Gers midfielder, has created two 'big chances' and provided eight key passes in four La Liga starts for Alaves.

He has showcased his creative quality in the top-flight of Spanish football since leaving Ibrox on loan over the summer, whilst Dowell is yet to create a single chance in his six appearances for the club to date.

Hagi also provided supporters with a reminder of his talent with a stunning display for Romania against Andorra during the international break.

Sofascore rating

8.9

Goals

One

Assists

One

Big chances created

One

Penalties won

One

Hagi's most recent performance (via Sofascore)

The 24-year-old magician is capable of producing magic moments with his ability to score and create goals from an attacking midfield position and has already proven himself at Premiership level for Rangers in the past.

Therefore, it was a big blunder by Beale to loan him out in favour of a deal to sign Dowell as the Gers could have been in a better position if they had stuck by the Romania international and helped him to rediscover his best form.

He is younger than the former Norwich man and boasted a better career record, in terms of goals and assists, than the left-footed gem prior to their respective moves over the summer.

New head coach Philippe Clement may want to reassess the situation in January and see if there is a possibility for Hagi to return to Ibrox in order to be given a chance to reignite his Rangers career under the Belgian boss.

An international team boss has hailed one Tottenham player's infectious personality, claiming he brings the "sunshine" whenever he's around.

How are Tottenham playing?

Spurs' best start to a league campaign since the 1960s has brought unrivalled joy to the Lilywhites fanbase, as manager Ange Postecoglou's appointment is arguably looking like one of the signings of the summer window. Since the Australian's arrival from Celtic in June, Tottenham have won six out of their opening eight Premier League matches, remaining unbeaten in that time.

They were forced to dig deep for their latest win, a 1-0 away to Luton Town, as Spurs played the entire second half with just 10 men following midfielder Yves Bissouma's first-half sending-off. Summer signing Micky van de Ven notched the only goal of the game in true smash-and-grab style, with Postecoglou later hailing the application of his players.

“Two different halves, I thought we played some great football in the first half. I thought it was as good as we’ve played and we probably should have been two or three up,” Postecoglou said.

“Obviously the red card changes the game but again I thought the lads handled it really well. They stayed calm and composed. In the end, just the sheer will and effort of them to make sure we won, not just the starters but the guys coming on, it was a great collective effort. Biss made a mistake. He has been brilliant for us this year. He made a mistake and the good thing is how he reacts to these things."

Tottenham – James Maddison praise

One player who has been utterly key to Spurs' early-season success is James Maddison, who signed from Leicester City in the summer for around £40 million. That fee is looking like the biggest bargain of the window right now, as Maddison has chipped in with two goals and five assists already.

Glenn Hoddle was effusive in his praise for the player earlier this week, saying he could be about to hit his "peak" years in a Spurs shirt.

"I think you would see the best and that’s coming out of him now," said Hoddle to Premier League productions.

"He has matured. He’s got three or four years where he is going to be at his peak.”

This sentiment has been echoed by England manager Gareth Southgate, who actually praised Maddison's personality as well in a pre-match press conference before their 1-0 win over Australia on Friday.

“He is in a really good vein of form," said Southgate.

"A really good character around the group. He connects people well. We have got the more steady, serious guys & we have a lot of guys who bring a lot of sunshine."

The former Norwich City star has dazzled alongside the likes of Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski in the forward areas, and if he continues like this, Maddison could well be a contender for one of the players of the season.

Newcastle United are believed to have found their No.1 target for when the January transfer window opens, according to a new update.

Newcastle linked with Phillips and Smith Rowe

The Magpies continued their impressive form with a blistering 4-0 win at home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, with things going superbly for them at the moment. Away from the on-pitch action, Newcastle also continue to be linked with a move for some top-quality players, as Eddie Howe potentially looks to improve his options in January.

English pair Kalvin Phillips and Emile Smith Rowe, of Manchester City and Arsenal respectively, are both seen as options, with the pair struggling for regular minutes at their clubs currently.

While Newcastle's squad is clearly as strong it has been in recent memory, with great options from back to front, having even more depth can only be a good thing come January, at a time when Howe will hope that his side are still fighting on all fronts, whether it be in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup or EFL Cup.

While Phillips and Smith Rowe both represent exciting midfield targets, a fresh update claims that a player in a different position is the priority option right now.

Newcastle transfer news: Joachim Andersen

A report in The Sunday People, via Geordie Boot Boys, delivered a transfer update on Joachim Andersen, with the Magpies apparently now viewing the Palace centre-back as their No.1 January target.

They attempted to snap up the Dane in the summer, but failed to prise him away from Selhurst Park, and won't be perturbed by that, looking set to return for him after Christmas – they will have to pay a lot more than the £17m Palace paid Lyon for his services, though.

Andersen could be just what Newcastle are looking for in January, especially with key man Sven Botman suffering from injury problems of late. It will add much-needed depth at the back, with the Denmark international such an imperious star for Palace.

A dominant aerial presence who is also classy in possession, Andersen's statistics speak volumes about his ability on and off the ball, with 2.9 aerial duel wins per game coming his way in the Premier League this season, as well as an 88.8% pass completion rate for Denmark in Euro 2024 qualifying.

Aerial duels

Discipline

Passing

Pace

Concentration

One v one tackling

The 27-year-old has been lauded by former City and England defender Micah Richards in the past, too, with the Sky Sports pundit saying of him after a win over Brentford:

"[Joachim] Andersen, he has been brilliant again this season. He always organises from the back. You have got [Ivan] Toney and [Yoane] Wissa, two physical guys, and he dealt with them really well."

The fact that Andersen now knows the Premier League inside out is an added bonus, meaning he shouldn't take time to settle, and he would add real competition for Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles, not to mention alleviating the issue of Botman potentially being unavailable at times.