All posts by z3u9t.icu

Starting the Championship campaign at breakneck pace, there was always going to be a time in the season when Ipswich Town would suffer a slump in form.

Playing out of your skin week in week out isn't sustainable, with Kieran McKenna's crop of talented players winless now in their last five second-tier matches after remarkably picking up seven victories from their first eight contests in the division.

With Southampton breathing down their necks in third spot now, only three points off McKenna's men currently, the well-backed Tractor Boys have already recruited Jeremy Sarmiento and Lewis Travis to Portman Road on loan in an effort to bolster the squad without breaking the bank.

How Ipswich's dream starting XI may look after signing 3 new players in Jan

Ipswich Town are showing no signs of slipping up in the Championship so far, but new recruits in January could strengthen them even more.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 13, 2023

More incomings could well be in through the door at Ipswich in a chaotic few weeks to come, with these potential faces being lined up for a move to the Championship automatic promotion candidates to seriously strengthen the side…

1 Kieffer Moore

It's no secret at this point that Kieffer Moore reportedly has a number of Championship admirers this January, with Ipswich Town wanting to win his services amidst frenzied interest and make a statement in the process.

Ipswich do need more numbers arguably up top owing to star-man George Hirst requiring surgery for a hamstring injury picked up recently, leaving reserve figures Freddie Ladapo and Kayden Jackson as the only other real fit strikers.

Moore would suit Ipswich's style of play also. The fast-paced forays forward kickstarted by the likes of Leif Davis could be finished off by the current AFC Bournemouth striker popping up with an effort or sticking a leg out to hit the back of the net.

Bagging 47 goals in the Championship over a varied career to date, it should be a no-brainer move by Ipswich to go all in for the 31-year-old.

Scoring in the FA Cup this weekend just gone for the Cherries too, the ex-Cardiff City hero is subject to interest from the Bluebirds amongst many other second-tier suitors. Could Ipswich beat them all and win the coveted signature of the in-demand Welshman?

2 Kwame Poku

This tricky Peterborough United winger could add even more firepower to Ipswich going forward with pivotal months to come in the promotion race, Kwame Poku dazzling defenders for fun in League One.

The Ghanaian attacker has nine goals and nine assists in all competitions for Darren Ferguson's Posh this season, ready for a step-up arguably to strut this stuff with McKenna's gung-ho side.

It would be hard to prize Poku away from Cambridgeshire – Peterborough gunning for promotion in the division below with the 22-year-old key to those aims – but the slick forward would slot straight into the Ipswich team effortlessly if and when selected.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

Going toe-to-toe with Ipswich stalwart Wes Burns on his potential arrival, Poku could comfortably get more game time ahead of the likes of Marcus Harness and Sone Aluko showing signs of their age at Portman Road to catch teams off-guard in big games.

3 Charlie Hughes

Ipswich could further delve into the League One market by signing up-and-coming Wigan Athletic centre-back Charlie Hughes this month, the Tractor Boys needing more numbers at the back with first-teamer Cameron Burgess heading out to the Asia Cup with Australia imminently.

Starring for Shaun Maloney's Latics at only 20 years of age, with highly regarded Sam Tickle also in goal behind him, Hughes has reportedly been noted as being on the Ipswich radar recently and that interest could heat up.

The Latics number six oozed confidence in a recent 2-0 win at the DW Stadium over Carlisle United for Wigan, accurate with six long balls with one key pass managed as a defender more than comfortable playing it out from the back.

Likewise, he's not afraid to be dogged – winning 100% of his aerial duels when Wigan lost narrowly to Paul Warne's Derby County last month on their own patch.

He has even played second-tier football for the Latics so the step up might well not be so daunting, performing admirably up against it during Wigan's relegation season last campaign.

It could well be a change of scenery that comes too soon for the 20-year-old, but under McKenna's guidance, Hughes could flourish even more and go on leaps and bounds away from home comforts in Lancashire.

Glasgow Rangers finally return to competitive action this evening as they face Dumbarton in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, and they will be hoping it will be the start of a journey which sees them win the cup for the 35th time come May.

Philippe Clement has already won the League Cup since arriving at Ibrox in mid-October, and it won’t just be the Scottish Cup he has his eyes on, especially as the Light Blues are in with a shot at winning the Premiership crown.

While the matches are set to come thick and fast, Clement will also be looking to bring in another signing or two following the arrival of Fabio Silva from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The injury crisis that engulfed the squad prior to Christmas showcased that the club need more depth in certain positions, and this should give the Belgian a licence to delve into the market.

Rangers’ search for new signings

According to the Daily Mail, the Light Blues are showing interest in West Ham United defender Ben Johnson.

They face competition from Leeds United and Premier League side Sheffield United in their chase for the 23-year-old as he has made it clear he is not signing a new contract at the Hammers.

David Moyes will now be keen to move him on during the January transfer window to rake in a fee for the right-back, otherwise he will lose him for nothing in the summer.

It remains to be seen how much of a budget Clement has to work with before committing to bringing him in this month, as tying him down on a pre-contract agreement may be the smarter move this month.

This could allow the 49-year-old coach to not only bring in a reliable defender for nothing, but also allow him to use whatever funds he has available to strengthen his midfield and attack in January.

Rangers have had plenty of success with signing players on pre-contract agreements from England, with Scott Arfield being one of the most notable examples, and Johnson could certainly follow in his footsteps.

Clement could land his next Sterling as Rangers eye £33k-p/w dynamo

The Light Blues are reportedly interested in a swoop for the young defender.

ByDan Emery Jan 16, 2024 Scott Arfield spent five seasons at Rangers

The former Canadian international spent five years at Burnley, featuring 86 times in the Premier League, before joining the Steven Gerrard revolution at Ibrox in the summer of 2018 on a free transfer.

He played a key role for the Gers during his first three seasons, culminating in the midfielder making 28 Premiership appearances as he helped end a decade-long drought without a league title in stunning fashion.

Arfield showcased his attacking abilities under Gerrard, registering 46 goal contributions during those first three seasons – 28 goals and 18 assists – but the last two years of his stint in Glasgow saw these tallies decrease.

Indeed, across both 2021/22 and 2022/23, the 35-year-old notched 15 goals and grabbed just one assist as the club only won the Scottish Cup.

He ended his five-year stay in Scotland at the end of last season, and he could perhaps feel aggrieved at not securing at least another year on his deal as the midfielder would still have offered something from the bench.

43

9

50

6

45

7

49

9

46

12

There is no doubt he was one of Gerrard’s finest signings, especially as it cost the club nothing, and they could replicate this move by luring Johnson north of the border.

How Ben Johnson could fit into the Rangers side

The £33k-per-week defender made his debut for West Ham during the 2018/19 campaign, yet it took until the 2020/21 season for him to make more than ten Premier League appearances as he firmly established himself as part of the senior squad.

A right-back by trade, Johnson is equally adept at playing on the left side of the defence or even in the centre of the midfield, and this positional versatility could be a huge advantage for Clement.

This adaptability could allow him to slot into a few different positions as and when required by the manager, and he could even become a potential long-term heir to James Tavernier, who turns 33 this year.

Indeed, WhoScored state that Johnson excels at crossing and ball interception, while he likes to play long balls and crosses often, indicating that he could be a decent option at right-back for the club.

Ben Johnson has been underused by West Ham this season

The youngster enjoyed a relatively decent campaign during 2022/23, particularly in the Europa Conference League.

Not only did the right-back rank fourth among the whole squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.15) in the competition, but he also ranked second for accurate passes per game (48.8), third for accurate long balls (2.7) and second for interceptions per game (1.7), clearly showcasing his talents on the big European stage as West Ham eventually won the trophy.

This season, however, Johnson has played in just seven matches for the senior side, including only two Premier League games, and it looks as though his time at the club is approaching an end.

During his only league start against Brighton and Hove Albion a few weeks ago, the 23-year-old made two tackles, two interceptions, two clearances and won three of his five ground duels, along with taking 61 touches, and it indicated that he still has plenty to offer.

He was praised by West Ham View on X, who said: “It would definitely be a mistake to let Ben Johnson leave the club this month or on a free in the summer.

“He looks quick, sharp, and hungry atm. Has been better than Coufal in the few games he played last few weeks for me as well.”

Johnson – who has been described as a "wonderful professional" by ex-Hammers coach Stuart Pearce – is still at an age when he is continuing to develop and making a move to a club that could give him more regular minutes would help him as a player and allow him to showcase his true potential.

If Rangers can convince him a move to Ibrox is the best thing for his career, he will have the chance to challenge for trophies alongside playing continental football for one of the biggest clubs in Britain.

Clement must act swiftly in order to tie him down to a pre-contract agreement, that’s for sure.

Liverpool are believed to be keeping tabs on a key backroom appointment after Jorg Schmadtke's exit, with the individual in question knowing Xabi Alonso well.

Jorg Schmadtke leaving Liverpool

The news of Klopp's imminent departure has left everyone of a Reds persuasion stunned, considering he is one of the most influential and popular figures in the history of the club. It is going to be all change at Liverpool at the end of the season, with the German not the only person leaving. His entire backroom team also moving on, too, including highly-rated assistant manager Pep Lijnders.

Sporting director Schmadtke is another individual whose time at Anfield is also reaching its conclusion – in fact, he will leave at the end of this month, having only signed a short-term deal on Merseyside last summer. This means the search is on to find a replacement for the 59-year-old, and it looks as though Liverpool have already identified a strong option to come in.

Liverpool identify new sporting director

According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Liverpool's leading candidate is West Ham technical director Tim Steidten. He knows Alonso well from his time at Bayer Leverkusen, where he had a key role in building the Spaniard's title chasing side as they worked together for six months before his move to London.

"The German, 44, is highly regarded in recruitment circles after his impressive work at Bayer Leverkusen, helping the club sign the likes of Florian Wirtz, Edmond Tapsoba and Jeremie Frimpong," the report states, revealing he is in pole position to take over at Anfield.

Steidten could be just what Liverpool are looking for, and the fact that he and Alonso are already familiar with each other could suggest that the Spaniard is being lined up to be Klopp's replacement as manager.

Mohamed Salah

2017-present

Virgil van Dijk

2018-present

Alisson

2018-present

Andy Robertson

2017-present

Fabinho

2018-2023

Diogo Jota

2020-present

Ibrahima Konate

2021-present

Luis Diaz

2022-present

Thiago

2020-present

Harvey Elliott

2019-present

Should that be the case, there would certainly be lots of sense in the two decisions, giving the Reds the best possible chance of making a seamless transition at managerial; and sporting director level.

Having a great relationship between the two roles is such a huge part of the modern game, as Klopp and Michael Edwards showed during their hugely successful period together at Liverpool, during which time they masterminded the signings of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, among others, turning elite players into truly world-class footballers.

Liverpool eye up "special" Xabi Alonso alternative to supercharge Nunez

Jurgen Klopp is approaching the dying embers of his Anfield tenure and FSG are working on a replacement.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 29, 2024

It remains to be seen if Alonso and Steidten are the people to fill the approaching vacancies, but there is plenty of sense behind it, which bodes well for life after Klopp.

Chelsea have been on a relatively good run of form over the last month or so, as following their meek display against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve, Mauricio Pochettino has overseen five wins, one draw and just a single defeat in all competitions.

The Argentine has guided his side into the final of the League Cup, the Fifth Round of the FA Cup and up to ninth in the Premier League, so it would be fair to say that morale around the team is much higher than it was just a month ago.

So, with the transfer window winding down, adding a talented attacker to the mix can only improve the situation, right?

Well, with the latest striker touted for a move to Stamford Bridge winning comparisons to one of the club's biggest-ever transfer flops, Romelu Lukaku, perhaps this is a move that Todd Boehly and Co should not be pursuing.

Chelsea could sign Lukaku 2.0 to solve goalscoring woes

According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Chelsea have 'held dialogue' over making a potential deal for Aston Villa's young Colombian striker, Jhon Duran.

The transfer expert has revealed that while Unai Emery isn't the 'biggest fan' of the 20-year-old, the Blues consider him to possess 'vast potential' and would be willing to sign him were the Villans to agree to a price they 'deem fair.'

There has not been a reliable report regarding how much a deal might cost the Pensioners, but Football Transfers' Expected Value model prices the youngster at around £7m, although considering the Claret and Blue paid £18m to land the forward only a year ago, this seems unlikely.

However, as he has made little to no impact at Villa Park in that time and is still out injured, the Champions League chasers might be looking to cut their losses, which begs the question, why on earth would Chelsea want to sign him?

The stats that show why Chelsea shouldn't sign Jhon Duran

While the Blues are currently on a good run of form, the fact that said run of form has still only seen them climb to ninth in the table suggests that they have been woeful for most of the season so far. While there are a plethora of reasons as to why they have struggled so much, the most significant is their inability to score.

According to Understat, Pochettino's side are the second-biggest underachievers when it comes to their expected goals this season, scoring just 35 from a figure of 44, which means that with a competent strike force, the club would have an additional nine goals to their tally, which could well be the difference between midtable mediocrity and European football come May.

So, with that in mind, it would make sense to sign a striker the manager can rely on to score the chances he is given, rather than a player in Duran who has struggled to score since moving to England.

The Colombian international has scored just four goals in his 35 appearances for the Villans, and while his minutes have been limited, only two of his goals have come in the league, with one coming in Conference League qualifiers and one in the competition proper.

Appearances

Goals

26

2

1

0

1

0

2

1

5

1

27

8

The "complete forward", as he was once dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, wasn't even particularly prolific in the MLS either, scoring eight goals in 1364 minutes of action, meaning he scored a goal every 170 minutes in a far weaker league.

If his disappointing goal record wasn't convincing enough, then perhaps the comparisons to the club's £97.5m flop, Lukaku, will be.

The former Chicago Fire ace has often been compared to the Belgian in his short career thanks to his size, physicality and movement with the ball at his feet, with GOAL's Ryan Tolmich writing –

'Like Lukaku, Duran has the size to bully defenders, but also the pace to beat them off too. And, like Lukaku, Duran is deceptively smooth on the ball, with many watching on so occupied by the physical gifts that they don't notice his technical ability.'

While those comparisons are likely meant to be taken positively, it should leave Chelsea fans concerned, such were Lukaku's woes during his second spell at Stamford Bridge after returning in 2021.

The one-time Anderlecht man went on to score just eight league goals that season, prior to being shipped out on loan to Inter Milan and current club, Roma, with that marquee move having failed to work out for the Blues or the player to date.

Three midfielders Chelsea could sign to finally move on from Gallagher

The Blues could sell their homegrown talent this month.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 30, 2024

Ultimately, the west London club need a new striker, of that there is no doubt, but adding another young, inexperienced and profligate striker to the squad isn't the answer, especially if he has shades of Lukaku about him.

Aston Villa are keeping tabs on a Serie A sensation after having a January bid knocked back, according to reports coming out of Italy, as Unai Emery looks to strengthen his squad further after an electric campaign so far.

Impressive Emery eyeing European success

It appeared a major coup when Aston Villa announced the capture of veteran trophy winner Unai Emery last season, and so it has proved. The former Arsenal, Paris Saint Germain and Villareal boss has overseen a massive upturn in the fortunes of the Villa Park outfit since his arrival, with the club currently sitting fourth in the Premier League and just five points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Though they have won just one of their last five games and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea, the Villans remain in a fantastic position to make the campaign a memorable one, and end it with a European trophy in the form of the Europa Conference League.

Games

48

Wins

29

Losses

11

Goals Scored

87

Points per game

1.98

To improve their chances of doing just that, the Midlands outfit were one of just nine Premier League clubs to make a permanent transfer in the January window, with the impressive Middlesbrough youngster Morgan Rodgers joining the club in a deal worth around £8m, rising to £15m. They also snapped up Arsenal youngster Lino Sousa, though the Brazilian fullback is not expected to feature heavily in the first team this season amid the impressive performances from Alex Moreno and the continued support of Lucas Digne.

Aston Villa now reach “agreement” over new deal for “scintillating” star

Villa are rewarding the player for the best form of his career in the Midlands.

ByDavid Comerford Feb 6, 2024 Villa approach for Serie A star rejected

Now, reports coming out of Italy suggest that Emery would have spent further had he got his way, with the Spanish coach keen on signing Torino's Raoul Bellanova in January. NSWE's approach was knocked back thanks to the €20m (£17m) asking price.

That has not ended the interest in the Italian though, with Tutto Mercato reporting that the Villans remain keen on a potential summer move for one of the Italian top flight's breakout stars. However, they will face plenty of competition for the 23-year-old, with several clubs thought to be keen on bolstering their ranks with the full-back.

Used as a wing-back for Torino, it is easy to see where he would fit into Unai Emery's system. After an excellent start to the season, Matty Cash appears to have fallen down the Spaniard's pecking order, which has forced him to use Ezri Konsa at full-back with John McGinn ahead of him.

Bellanova could operate in either of those positions, and would give Villa another option on the right hand side of the pitch. With three assists to his name this season, he is clearly capable of providing a killer ball when required.

Though the 23-year-old only made the switch to Turin in the summer, the Italians could already cash in on him should an offer come in, with a deal at the reported asking price turning quite a profit from the €7m (£6m) they spent last year.

Crystal Palace’s poor run of form continued on Monday evening.

Chelsea beat the Eagles 3-1 at Selhurst Park, with pressure increasing on manager Roy Hodgson – amid recent reports that the club are considering potential alternatives in the dugout.

The former England boss needs to change something, and he could start by bringing in a young gem who deserves a chance.

David Ozoh’s time at Palace

David Ozoh moved to Palace at just eight years old, and he has progressed through the academy to become a frequent member of Hodgson’s matchday squad.

The right-footed engine began his career as an attacker, but he has slowly developed into a midfielder who can either play as a number eight or a defensive midfielder.

The 18-year-old starred in the U18s and U21s, playing a combined 67 games for the two youth teams. Over these matches, he netted four goals and provided two assists.

Just over a year ago, Ozoh made his Premier League debut and Palace history, coming on with minutes to go to become the club's youngest-ever player in the competition.

Since then, the club's number 52 has played six matches this league campaign, coming on as a sub each time, with the boss saying that Ozoh has been “excellent.”

Ozoh could be Wharton’s dream partner

Adam Wharton only joined the Eagles in January from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee, but he has already become a fan favourite at the heart of the midfield.

The 20-year-old’s performance against Chelsea showed the Palace faithful what he’s about, making two key passes, winning eight of his 11 ground duels, and making a match-high seven tackles.

Nonetheless, according to Palace’s official website, Ozoh’s profile can be described as 'tall, strong, and skilful' while also recognising his 'eye for a pass' and how he is great at 'winning back possession in the middle of the park'.

The table below shows his statistics from this season, proving he would be a great partner for Wharton.

Average minutes

23

Pass accuracy %

93%

Possession lost

1.8

Tackles

1.5

Duels won

2.2

Although the sample size is extremely small, it is still easy to get an idea of how the duo could work alongside each other.

As can be seen above, Ozoh is secure defensively and will look to provide support to the backline constantly. His tackles per game being at 1.5 despite his average minutes per match being 23 is rather impressive, and his cameo against Sheffield United, where he made three tackles in 13 minutes, proved he’s tenacious off the ball.

In The Pipeline

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

This added support next to Wharton would allow the new signing's creativity to flourish, which would improve Palace going forward. In the Championship, the former Rovers star ranked in the top 18% for expected assists (xA) and passes into the final third, while ranking in the top 13% for passes into the penalty area, as per FBref.

Ozoh is also composed on the ball – as shown by his pass accuracy rate and possession lost record – and alongside Wharton, the side would have much more control in possession.

Overall, the 2005-born ace has the potential to become the perfect partner for Wharton, with Hodgson potentially needing to take a gamble on this youthful duo.

Everton have received an offer from a big Premier League club for a "unique" Goodison Park hero, according to a fresh transfer update.

Everton transfer & point deduction news

The Blues have been given a huge boost with the news that their 10-point deduction in the league has been reduced to six, immediately increasing their chances of avoiding relegation to the Championship.

It is a welcome shot in the arm, during a campaign in which the club have had to deal with so many different issues, including the ongoing saga surrounding 777 Partners and a takeover at Goodison Park.

Everton have continued to be linked with new signings, however, with Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar seen as an option to come in during the summer transfer window, having been hailed as a "superhero" in the past. Jack Harrison also reportedly wants to make his loan move at Goodison a permanent one at the end of the season, rather than return to Leeds United.

Sunderland centre-back Daniel Ballard has also emerged as a target for the Blues, being seen as a possible replacement for Jarrad Branthwaite, should their influential defender move on to pastures news this summer.

The Englishman isn't the only player who could potentially depart Everton once the current campaign is done and dusted, however, and a big update has dropped regarding one of his teammates.

Everton receive Arsenal offer for Amadou Onana

According to Spanish publication Sport [via Arsenal Station], Arsenal have already made a proposal for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana this summer, with the Blues willing to cash in, although they don't say how much the Gunners have bid.

The Merseysiders are believed to be demanding a fee of approximately £51m for his services, so those at the Emirates have been made aware that they won't be signing him on the cheap.

At this point, it is beginning to feel as though Everton would be better to cash in on Onana in the summer, especially if his head is turned by a move away. The money they could receive for him may help Sean Dyche rebuild his squad in various areas of the pitch.

That being said, the Belgian is arguably one of the best players at the club currently, with his former international Roberto Martinez lauding his abilities during their time together, calling him "unique" and also saying of him:

"Someone with such physical presence and dynamism is needed, just think of [Marouane] Fellaini in 2018. He is also a leader on the pitch who has made strides in his career. From Germany, to France and now the Premier League… He deserves this."

Everton more than likely have no chance of keeping Onana if they are relegated this season, but even if they stay up, it is easy to envisage the midfielder wanting a new challenge, with Arsenal possibly representing one of the most exciting options in the country at the moment.

Everton boosted as "phenomenal” player wants to sign this summer

It’s more good news after the club’s points deduction was reduced from ten to six.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 26, 2024

As long as the Blues don't allow him to leave on the cheap, getting as much money as possible for him instead, it could make sense for all parties to bring an end to his time at Goodison.

Derby County go into Tuesday night's home clash with Reading positive that a third win on the bounce will be forthcoming at the final whistle, having put Port Vale and Bristol Rovers to the sword prior to facing off against the Royals.

The 3-0 win away in Bristol at the weekend just gone saw the likes of Dwight Gayle come good in attack for the League One side, the veteran striker bundling in an effort to get in on the goalscoring act to take his Rams goal tally to two since joining on a free transfer.

Away from Gayle sticking out as a key performer, there were some notable underperformers for the automatic promotion candidates despite the emphatic final scoreline.

Ebou Adams, in central midfield, didn't have his liveliest or most impactful game versus the Gas – the Cardiff City loanee in danger of dropping out of Warne's XI for the clash on Tuesday consequently.

Ebou Adams' performance vs Bristol Rovers in numbers

Adams has become a fan's favourite at Pride Park since joining in January, praised for his no-nonsense approach in the middle of the park which saw him win 12 duels against Stevenage last month.

Yet, the ex-Forest Green man had a quiet day at the office against Bristol Rovers on Saturday from his 73 minutes on the pitch.

The Rams number 32 would only manage to notch up 29 touches from central midfield alongside experienced partner Conor Hourihane, registering fewer passes than Joe Wildsmith in the process too with only ten accurate passes tallied up compared to the Derby goalkeeper's 15.

Minutes played

73

Touches

29

Accurate passes

10/16 (63%)

Accurate long balls

2/5

Successful dribbles

0/1

Duels won

5/8

Only completing one accurate long ball in the game also, alongside falling way short of his usual standards coming up for duels with five won out of eight attempted, Adams might find himself out of Warne's lineup to give fresh blood a go from the start against Ruben Selles' men in his place.

The players who could replace Ebou Adams

The Gambia international could well drop out for Korey Smith to start instead, the ex-Norwich City man competently putting in a shift late on in Bristol when replacing Adams to ensure the three points were secure.

Smith would manage to accumulate five accurate passes – not far off Adams' total of ten from 56 minutes less – whilst also managing to throw himself about effectively with one aerial duel won.

Warne might shake things up differently by moving Louis Sibley into Adams' central spot away from playing the homegrown Rams product down the wing, who struggled against the Gas going forward after bagging two goals against Port Vale from this position.

The 22-year-old midfielder would fail to register a single accurate cross from six attempts at the Memorial Stadium playing on the left channel, with the Rams boss wondering whether or not he could get more out of his adaptable number 17 in Adams' vacant spot.

Warne will know it's crucial that his confident Derby side pick up a third consecutive win when facing off against Reading, knowing that the League One giants have an almighty showdown with fellow automatic promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers to contend with directly after.

As they look to seal promotion back to the Championship, Derby County have been handed a fresh injury blow, with a key player not expected to return for the rest of the season.

Derby injury news

With Bolton Wanderers up next, Derby sit just one point above their upcoming opponents and in the final automatic promotion place. Putting it simply, the stakes couldn't get much higher this weekend, which makes the Rams' latest injury news all the more frustrating. Paul Warne will be hoping that his squad can do enough to at least avoid defeat and maintain control in the push for promotion.

As things stand, there are just eight games left of the League One season with everything to play for. In that run, the best-case scenario is a full squad to choose from, but Warne will be without eight players for at least some of, if not all of the run-in, as per The Derby Telegraph.

Max Bird

Early April

Tyrese Fornah

Doubt for Bolton

James Collins

Late March

Tyrese John-Jules

Season over

Ryan Nyambe

Season over

Conor Washington

End of the season

Jake Rooney

End of the season

Josh Vickers

Doubt for Bolton

Warne revealed the latest twist prior to his side's all-important clash this weekend when speaking to the media. He told BBC Sport that Ryan Nyambe's injury required surgery, which has ended his season.

Now in the final stretch of games, Derby will have to cope without their right-back and seek replacements elsewhere in the squad.

"Fantastic" Nyambe's injury is a frustrating blow

Signed on a free deal following his release from Wigan Athletic in September, Nyambe has quickly proved to be a bargain addition to Warne's squad at Pride Park, starting 17 games and even earning a place at the African Cup of Nations with Namibia in the process. His season is now over, however, following the need for an operation.

Before that surgery, there may have been some hope that the 26-year-old would make an injury comeback at a vital stage of the season, but Derby will ultimately never know.

Birmingham manager Tony Mowbray will know exactly what Derby will miss in the absence of Nyambe, having showered the right-back with praise during his Blackburn Rovers days, via the Lancashire Telegraph.

West Ham United signing Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah is a possibility this summer as the Gunners make a behind-the-scenes decision.

West Ham need to bring in new centre-forward

One of the glaring holes in manager David Moyes' squad is arguably a real lack of star striking options.

Sky Sports – West Ham chasing £17m forward likened to Marco Reus

The east Londoners need more attacking options.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 14, 2024

The Hammers failed to bring in a new striker in January, despite their numerous failed attempts (Graeme Bailey), and that has left them with just Michail Antonio and Danny Ings to choose from after Gianluca Scamacca's move back to Italy last year.

If Moyes does indeed remain in east London past this summer, with his contract expiring soon as things stand, then it's quite simply a necessity that West Ham back him with a prolific new forward.

Antonio suffers from reoccurring injury problems and isn't getting any younger, while Ings' stay in east London hasn't exactly pulled up trees despite his more regular spot in Moyes' squad in recent months.

West Ham are being tipped to sign a new striker in the next transfer window, leading to their reported interest in Nketiah. The Gunners forward, who has made the vast majority of his appearances off the bench this season, hasn't quite managed to become a fixture of Mikel Arteta's starting eleven.

West Ham are among the suitors for Nketiah, who's scored five league goals this season, and it would appear his future in north London is looking pretty far away.

Arsenal make Nketiah decision as West Ham given transfer hope

Writing on X, journalist Graeme Bailey claims that Arsenal are ready to sell Nketiah as West Ham eye a summer move for him.

The Englishman could apparently cost around £43 million to prise away from Arsenal, which is a pretty steep price considering his lack of both game time and output over 2023/2024.

“One of the best athletes we’ve got on our books in terms of his attitude and commitment,” said Athletic Development Club director Chris Varnavas to ESPN via talkSPORT.

“He’s just on another level. His goal was to build a bit of muscle, build some strength, improving his overall athleticism so his strength, his speed, his power

“We sat down with the family, with himself, we put a plan together.

Arsenal 5-0 Sheffield United

9.86

Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal

7.92

Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest

7.66

Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal

7.00

Arsenal 2-2 Fulham

6.96

“What we do in the gym, can we transfer it to the pitch? That’s the most important thing. As you saw the other day he had a good amount of strength to hold off the defender but also be agile enough to turn efficiently and score an amazing goal as well.

“I’m really happy for his progress so far and the opportunity he’s been given at the moment too and I definitely can see him staying at the highest level."