Tottenham Hotspur could make a "concrete" move to sign an "unreal" midfielder to replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
What's the latest Spurs transfer news?
Spurs have enjoyed an absolutely brilliant start to this 2023/2024 Premier League season, but potential injuries to star players could well hamper their form given Ange Postecoglou's lack of squad depth. The likes of Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic and Brennan Johnson are already on the treatment table at Tottenham, but if the likes of James Maddison, Son Heung-min son or Micky van de Ven were to join them, it would spell disaster.
As a result, it has been reported that the north Londoners are targeting a second central defensive signing in the January transfer window as cover for both van de Ven and Cristian Romero. An array of names have been linked, including the likes of Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, Juventus star Gleison Bremer and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba most recently.
Tottenham sealed seven major signings in the summer window, but they've been tipped to be busy again this winter. The Lilywhites may also sign a new midfield ace, and one who can provide more attacking flair, if the sporadically-used Hojbjerg leaves in 2024.
Who could Tottenham sign in January?
Once a mainstay under Conte, the Denmark international now finds himself on the periphery of Postecoglou's first team, with the majority of his appearances this season coming from the substitute's bench. Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are favoured as Tottenham's dual midfield pivot; limiting Hojbjerg's involvement.
Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz in action with Tottenham Hotspur'sPierre-EmileHojbjerg
There have been rumours that the former Southampton star even feels "betrayed" by Spurs over his sparse game time, prompting interest from Serie A giants Juventus, who are apparently eager to take advantage and swoop for the 28-year-old. Journalist Rudy Galetti, sharing an update for Tribal Football, has an update on the situation and who Spurs could replace Hojbjerg with.
According to the transfer reporter, Tottenham could make a "concrete move" for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, and he says to "keep an eye" on that potential development.
£40m
£17.2m
Free
£47.5m
£13m
£2m
£43m
"Conor – as is well known – attracted the attention of many Premier League teams and continues to do so," wrote Galletti. "For this reason, let's keep an eye on Tottenham, already in January: Spurs could make a concrete move following the possible farewell of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg."
How good is Conor Gallagher?
Conor Gallagher for Chelsea
The 23-year-old has become a mainstay under Mauricio Pochettino this season; starting all seven of Chelsea's league games while ranking as their best-performing regular per 90 (with more than one start), according to WhoScored. Gallagher, it would seem, is justifying Lee Bowyer's past praise.
"He's a good player," Bowyer told talkSPORT. "Whatever you tell him he does and I just keep encouraging him to get in the box, and things are falling for him at the moment. His willingness and work rate are unreal."
Leeds United ran riot today in their Championship win over Millwall, defying all expectations to truly kickstart Daniel Farke's reign at Elland Road.
Described by journalist Joe Donnohue as the "most complete performance of the season", many thought that today's clash would mark the first true test of this new regime, travelling to the feared Den.
How did Joel Piroe play vs Millwall?
Having weathered an early storm from the hosts, it clearly gave the Whites the confidence needed to grow into the game and go ahead after a nice run of play saw Joel Piroe score his first.
Although his second was slightly more fortuitous, his brace spearheaded an emphatic victory for the visitors to propel them up the table.
Unsurprisingly, the Dutchman's 8.2 Sofascore rating for the game was merited, although it was hugely buoyed by those two goals which proved so important.
Other than that, the striker largely struggled to make an impact despite once again being deployed deeper.
In fact, it was arguably his strike partner who truly stole the show for Farke, as Georginio Rutter continues to mastermind his comeback after last season's thorough disappointment.
How did Georginio Rutter play vs Millwall?
Having signed for a club record £35m, expectations were understandably but perhaps unfairly high for the 21-year-old who was expected to spearhead their survival push.
Given today's clash was played in the Championship, it is clear that this was a failed venture, although that was far from Rutter's burden to hold.
Should he prove to be as instrumental as this early-season form suggests, that could end up being one of Jesse Marsch's unwise investments that actually come to fruition.
After all, the £70k-per-week forward's 8.6 rating was the highest of anyone on the pitch, as he managed to not only score but assist too, via Sofascore.
However, it was his creativity that truly stood out in a match that was crying out for a magical moment, which Rutter gladly provided on numerous occasions.
The former Hoffenheim ace provided a startling five key passes despite starting the match up front, with his positional fluidity proving tough for the hosts to compete with.
Some stellar defensive work buoyed the aforementioned figure further, as he would also win four duels whilst making two interceptions and one tackle, as per Sofascore.
It was a performance bound to draw praise, with the away support handing him "his flowers" in the words of Donnohue.
Then, another writer in Graham Smyth would wax lyrical after handing the forward an admirable 8/10 in his post-match ratings: "Fought to try and hold the ball up, provided an assist, played a part in the second goal and scored the third. Not everything he tried came off but he deserved his ovation."
Such a persistent effort to create something special helped him to stand out in a game that could have easily devolved into a scrappy affair. Fortunately for Farke, he was in possession of a magician with true quality which shone through on the day.
Although Piroe will steal the headlines for his brace, Rutter's continued performances at a level befitting a side hoping for promotion will be of far more importance to the German tactician after today.
Liverpool will inevitably target new additions in 2024, having impressed thus far during the 2023/24 season after an industrial midfield rebuild in the summer, though still not quite at full throttle.
Jurgen Klopp's side's midfield issues were exposed against Luton Town last weekend, with a lack of specialist defensive options inhibiting a possible title charge, while Andy Robertson's injury several weeks ago has underscored the need for left-sided reinforcements on the backline.
The frontline is in better shape, but could still welcome some exciting young talent to enrich the ranks and maintain Liverpool's attacking fluency across multiple fronts, and a rising star appears to have been earmarked.
Liverpool transfer news – Assane Diao
According to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, Real Betis winger Assane Diao is on Liverpool's radar after an impressive start to the season in LaLiga, though the Reds will face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Newcastle United.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The report mentions that the listed suitors have all made separate approaches over the past weeks, with Diao having 'dazzled' the Betis supporters with his electric displays.
Aged just 18, the Spain U21 international is reported to have a €30m (£26m) release clause embedded into his contract, with manager Manuel Pellegrini actively seeking to tie up fresh terms that will elevate that amount to €40m (£35m).
Assane Diao's style of play
Joining the Real Betis academy from Cadiz in 2021, Diao was originally slated for a central midfield role but maintained a level of attacking prowess that simply couldn't go unnoticed, prompting a move toward the left channel.
Having now scored four goals across his first ten professional appearances with his Spanish side, Diao is proving that decision right, possessing a natural eye for goal that has alerted the prestigious English clubs. Indeed, in total this term he has already found the net six times.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 23% for successful take-ons, the top 18% for tackles, the top 11% for interceptions, the top 1% for blocks and the top 6% for aerial wins per 90.
So what does this mean? Diao's natural predatory instinct is highlighted, striking at an age-belying rate so far, and while his goalscoring steals the headlines, he is progressive and tenacious in his application across the park.
Such skills could be a welcome addition to Liverpool's attacking options, with Luis Diaz certainly of a similar mould in his barrelling, breakneck motions toward the byline, having scored four goals from nine starts this term to emphasise his effectiveness.
With his shooting skills, Diao could benefit immensely from a dynamic centre-forward such as Darwin Nunez beside him in the frontline, with the Uruguayan striker hailed as an “agent of chaos” by journalist Theo Squires for the kaleidoscope of offensive tools he brings to the table.
Having posted seven goals and four assists already this season, Nunez ranks among the top 11% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 18% for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90, emphasising his surging skills.
The £140k-per-week star is a dream for a rising talent of Diao's ilk to play alongside, and would only serve to enhance his skills on Merseyside.
Diao has been described as "sharp" and "intelligent" by journalist Josh Bunting and certainly looks to be a prospect worth investing in; given the riches Klopp possesses in an attacking regard already, he would find the perfect platform to continue his development at Anfield.
When it rains, it pours, and Tottenham Hotspur are sure to be feeling the effects of the storm right now after Wolverhampton Wanderers' two late goals snatched victory from Ange Postecoglou to conclude a miserable week.
Just one week ago, Spurs were flying in the Premier League and revelling in an extraordinary start to the season under the Australian manager's wing, but an anarchic match against Chelsea resulted in a 4-1 loss after injuries to key players James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, as well as dismissals to Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero.
This exacerbation of problems resulted in a much-changed backline at Molineux today, with the notable absence of Maddison's creative ingenuity in the centre also felt.
And despite taking the lead through Brennan Johnson's early strike – his first for Tottenham – a lack of control in the centre allowed Wolves to gain a foothold, with poor finishing from the hosts the only thing stopped parity from being restored earlier on.
And with two stoppage-time goals from Pablo Sarabia and Mario Lemina turning the game on its head in the dying embers, questions must be asked of the attacking options on the pitch, with captain Heung-min Son at the epicentre.
Heung-min Son's performance vs Wolves
Son extended an unwanted individual record against the Old Gold today, extending his record of 11 matches against the club without scoring, with such a statistic emblematic of the South Korean's performance at Molineux today.
Ineffective in his centre-forward position, the 31-year-old took just 36 touches and completed 83% of his passes, with his only shot of the game blocked in the late stages, right before the turnaround, as per Sofascore.
The dynamic attacker did make one key pass, but he was definitely out of sorts in comparison to his fantastic feats this season, scoring eight goals across his past eight games as the focal frontman in the Premier League before today.
Handing him a 5/10 score in his post-match player ratings, the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick wrote: 'Missing the service for long periods but struggled to get into the game or hold up the ball effectively.'
Son did drop deeper and out wide on multiple occasions to get the ball rolling, so to speak, and did feel the void left in Maddison's wake, but it was one of his arguably worst displays under Postecoglou and he will now hope to return to blistering form after the forthcoming international break.
He was not the only offensive outlet to have flattered to deceive, with winger Dejan Kulusevski not really building on a strong start and ultimately leaving much to be desired.
Dejan Kulusevski's stats vs Wolves
To be fair, many of Kulusevski's best attributes were on display in the Midlands, with the Swede's relentless running and high energy charging the right channel; it is for this reason that Postecoglou has given him a starting berth across all 12 league encounters this season, having scored three goals.
Kulusevski started with a brilliant contribution, latching onto Pape Sarr's cross-field pass to weave it into the path of Pedro Porro, whose incisive whipped delivery was turned in by Johnson for his maiden Spurs goal.
But that proved to be the end of Tottenham's attacking intent, with the host taking control and launching a fusillade of efforts on Guglielmo Vicario's goal over the duration of the contest – it was only poor finishing that ensured the lead was preserved for as long as it was.
Kulusevski was indeed as energetic as ever but he failed to contribute defensively – making no tackles, clearances, or interceptions – and was actually dribbled past on five occasions, having failed with both of his own attempted carries with the ball at his feet.
Moreover, the 23-year-old only won two duels all game despite contesting in 16; having also lost the ball 13 times, the 45-touch wideman endured an afternoon to forget and will hope to rekindle his better form when his side return to action in a few weeks.
It's important to remain calm, with Spurs still thriving after Postecoglou's summer arrival and still in a promising position. With a fully-fit squad, it's plausible that the London club would still be undefeated in the Premier League this season.
But alas, calamity struck, and now is the time to rally together and ensure that the early-season exploits do not turn out to be a false dawn.
Interim Sunderland manager Mike Dodds spearheaded the Black Cats to a 2-1 win over West Brom in his first match in charge at the weekend, an ingenious substitution by the stand-in Sunderland boss completely changing the game.
Alex Pritchard being introduced into the contest was the catalyst the Championship hopefuls needed to overcome the Baggies, a short but sweet cameo off the bench saw the former Huddersfield Town man assist both Black Cats goals in the slim victory.
Sunderland star with fewer touches than Patterson stole the show vs WBA
Sunderland had an unlikely hero in their ranks drag them over the line to a 2-1 victory against West Brom.
ByKelan Sarson Dec 10, 2023
In the short term, it looks likely that Dodds will continue as manager of Sunderland, especially for Tuesday night's game versus Leeds United.
But, the ongoing rumour mill at the Stadium of Light is circulating that the Tyne and Wear giants might go for this shock Tony Mowbray replacement soon.
Paul Heckingbottom could be offered an immediate return to management at Sunderland according to rumours, even after a bruising experience managing Sheffield United in the Premier League.
Managers in the frame to replace Mowbray
Left-field faces such as Julien Sable, Kim Hellberg and Will Still are still the prominent names being reported to replace Mowbray in the Sunderland hot seat, but Heckingbottom's recent departure from the Blades means he's now a notable outsider for the vacant position.
The Yorkshire Post in the last few days has reported on the very real possibility of the 46-year-old being the next Black Cats manager. Heckingbottom has allegedly been installed as the favourite for the role after securing promotion to the top-flight as Sheffield United boss during his up-and-down tenure a striking achievement on his CV that Sunderland could well admire.
Despite that noteworthy promotion, Sunderland should steer clear of the dismissed manager with Heckingbottom falling short elsewhere of what ambitious chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus wants in a new managerial recruit after axing Mowbray controversially.
Paul Heckingbottom's managerial record
Heckingbottom's failures as a manager far outweigh any of his recent successes, failing to endear himself to the hardened Leeds United masses in a doomed spell in charge at Elland Road in 2018 whilst a short stint at Hibernian directly after also didn't go to plan.
The former Blades man would only win four of his 16 games in charge of the Whites before being put out of his misery, unable to handle the intense pressure of managing an EFL giant on that occasion.
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom.
That wouldn't bode well for Heckingbottom if he took over the reins at Sunderland, an expectant fanbase keen for their fallen club to return to the Premier League soon with a chairman at the Stadium of Light who is also impatient to get back to the promised land of the top-flight.
Heckingbottom's style at Sheffield United also wouldn't be an apt fit for the Black Cats, the 46-year-old boss favouring an organised and well-drilled approach over allowing the attacking players in his system room to breathe.
It was telling this season too that when Heckingbottom lost the likes of Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye, the well-oiled system that had won the Blades promotion to the Premier League completely fell apart – the one-time Leeds boss overly reliant on his stars to bail him out.
If he was appointed as Mowbray's successor, the concern would be that if stars Jack Clarke and Dan Neil were misfiring, Heckingbottom wouldn't be able to get a tune out of the other inexperienced players in the Black Cats camp.
22/23 season record
53
32
8
13
23/24 season record
15
1
2
12
Overall record
68
33
10
25
This campaign – which saw Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp refer to the out-of-sorts manager as being in a 'very dark place' before his expected sacking – Heckingbottom's weaknesses as a boss were majorly exposed for all to see with Sheffield United way off the pace in the Premier League.
Losing 8-0 to Newcastle United at Bramall Lane was an all-time low for Heckingbottom, whilst a 5-0 loss to fellow promoted team Burnley was deemed the final straw for the scarred manager before being dismissed.
Appointing the 46-year-old would be a poor managerial decision right after Mowbray. Sunderland should instead wait it out for a manager more suited to their club than going after a boss still raw from his recent failures.
Tottenham Hotspur are flying at the moment, but it seems the international break could have done more than just damage momentum. After all, a long-term injury to Cristian Romero could prove devastating…
How long is Cristian Romero injured for?
Having cultivated a reputation for rash recklessness since making his £42m move, with Darren Bent having branded him a "liability" back in May, it is outstanding the speed with which the Argentina international has shifted such a narrative, rebranding himself as one of the squad's leaders and a reliable asset once again.
He has been a true rock at the back this campaign alongside Micky van de Ven, and played a huge role in their unbeaten Premier League status, of which only one other side boasts.
Whilst his two goals have aided positive results massively, it is the defensive control he exerts at the back that has allowed them to dominate, boasting a 92% pass accuracy in the league supported by his 2.5 tackles, 4.4 clearances and 5.6 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.
The former Atalanta ace would be a hard man to replace, but one that could need a successor now given his substitution whilst out playing with his national team.
When quizzed about his half-time removal against Peru, the World Cup winner suggested that his right ankle had swollen too much, and that he had to look ahead to "an important home game with Tottenham Hotspur on Monday against Fulham".
Whilst his forethought is both flattering and refreshing for a South American often renowned for favouring country over club, it could still prove a step too far for him to be fit for that clash.
Who could replace Cristian Romero?
Given that Ange Postecoglou's revolution is still in the early stages, the Australian has hardly had plenty of time to bolster his squad sufficiently to add the necessary depth to mitigate such potential disasters.
As such, he will be forced to simply survive with what he inherited, with Davinson Sanchez and Joe Rodon's departures now seemingly like a potential blunder.
Especially because that only leaves one outstanding name to step into the vacancy, with Eric Dier the only real senior option for a right-sided centre-back.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier.
Having been the target of much scrutiny across his nine years in England, the 29-year-old is actually a loyal servant to Spurs, having featured 360 times for them despite never claiming any silverware.
Although his powers have waned more recently, there have been fine campaigns to boast of, the likes of which Postecoglou will seek to usher out. After all, if he can turn Romero from a liability into a superstar, then he may be able to perform a similar trick with the 49-cap ace, who too was branded a "liability" by writer Mitch Fretton.
After all, as recently as the 2021/22 season saw the £85k-per-week titan impress, even if he can remain somewhat shaky in possession. Despite that, he remained more than impressive enough to deputise now in Romero's absence, posting an 86% pass accuracy alongside 1.1 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore.
The former Sporting CP man has the defensive credentials to shine, and alongside Van de Ven and under Postecoglou, it could mark the perfect environment for this confidence-shy star to reignite his career in what could be one of his last chances to impress.
Arsenal have had the pleasure of seeing an abundance of attacking talent sport the cannon over the years, with Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta all having a scorer of some potency throughout their tenures.
The most notable of the Premier League era is of course the Gunners’ all-time leading goalscorer Thierry Henry, who scored 228 goals in 377 appearances during his time in north London, seeing him now cast in bronze at the Emirates.
While the Frenchman remains at the benchmark for others to attempt to reach, Arteta’s young and hungry talents of today are proving that they could be in good stead to hand Arsenal some well overdue major silverware.
The likes of talent of Bukayo Saka was unearthed in house at Hale End, however star forwards such as Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard were collected in the transfer market, all prevailing to be effective captures.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka.
Emery and Arteta struck gold with their signings, who have contributed to a mass of goals so far in their careers at the Emirates, however not every signing has experienced such success at Arsenal.
Ironically it was one of Wenger’s attacking captures that failed to live up to expectation, as in 2016, all the hope was there for the legendary Frenchman to have discovered his next prolific source in the transfer window.
Lucas Perez's arrival at Arsenal in 2016
During the summer of 2016, it was announced that Arsenal had signed La Liga talisman Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna for a fee of £17.1m.
The striker, who was 27 years old at the point of his arrival, admitted he was “flattered” when he heard of Arsenal’s interest, as the Gunners looked for a new face to bolster their attack after relying solely on Olivier Giroud the season prior.
Wenger’s side had finished second in the 2015/16 campaign to Leicester City, giving the north Londoners fuel to improve their squad in the summer in order to continue the upward trajectory, however, this was far from the case.
The reasons why Arsenal signed Lucas Perez
Perez was signed after Arsenal had been unable to grasp their primary targets Jamie Vardy and Alexandre Lacazette, making critics gather quickly around the assumption that the Spaniard was the result of a ‘panic buy’.
Spanish football expert and journalist Guillem Balague was quick to defend the Gunners’ acquisition, explaining that the Premier League side had been “following Perez for a year”, branding the move a “top signing” for Arsenal.
In La Liga the season prior to his transfer, the 27-year-old had directly contributed to 27 goals in 26 appearances for La Coruna, scoring 17 and assisting ten in the league to showcase just what he could offer to Wenger’s front line.
The scene was set for the Spaniard to offer Arsenal a refreshed source for goals, after fans had become frustrated by the inconsistency of Giroud, and with an impressive scoring tally in Spain’s top-flight in 2015/16, the Gunners were poised to welcome the striker with open arms.
The impact of Lucas Perez at Arsenal
After all of the excitement of Perez’s arrival in what was a fairly inconclusive transfer window for Wenger’s side, things were quickly seen differently as the reality of the situation was realised.
The Spaniard made his Premier League debut in September against Southampton, however that start was just one of three starts that he secured for the Gunners during his year-long stay at the Emirates.
From lack of performance, to injury, to slipping down the pecking order, Perez failed to live up to expectation at Arsenal, and admittedly was given little chance to show his true potential in Wenger’s side.
The striker scored seven goals and registered five assists during his 21 appearances for the club, making the best out of what was a situation that starved him of game time due to competitions within the squad.
A hat-trick in the Champions League group stages against FC Basel was the highest point of the Spaniard’s time with the Gunners, however, he made it clear that he wasn’t at the Emirates to assume a sporadic role, despite being branded as "poor" by journalist Mattias Karen for his end product.
The reasons why Lucas Perez left Arsenal
A year after his arrival, Perez was sent back to La Coruna on a season-long loan, to grant his wishes of more game time after the north Londoners sealed the signing of long-term target, Alexandre Lacazette.
The forward made it clear that he was unhappy at Arsenal, telling Spanish media that the club had treated him badly, with the final straw being an “ugly gesture” in which Lacazette was handed Perez’s number nine shirt without asking, as relayed by Sky Sports.
Lucas-perez-west-ham
On his return from his loan, the forward was prepped and ready to leave the Gunners, which he did, only by relocating to the other side of London, where he signed for West Ham United in a £4m deal.
History seemed to repeat itself, as Perez was handed only a slim chance to shine, leaving the London Stadium after just one year, having secured four Premier League starts that season, netting a total of six goals in 19 appearances in all competitions for the Hammers.
Lucas Perez's form since leaving Arsenal
After leaving England, Perez returned to his homeland, where he has remained since his exit from east London in 2018.
West Ham handed the out-of-favour striker to Deportivo Alaves, where he has since represented Elche and Cadiz, before this summer returning to his home club Deportivo La Coruna.
England
Spain
Goals
13
73
Assists
5
45
Via Transfermarkt
Currently playing the third tier of Spanish football at the age of 35, Perez has found sanctuary in his home country, as highlighted by his form at the point of his La Coruna return as he found himself among the goals with Cadiz in La Liga.
While things didn’t work for Perez at Arsenal, they certainly work for the striker in Spain, with him actually outscoring the Gunners’ current hitman Gabriel Jesus during the 2022/23 campaign.
Last term, the forward played half of the season with Cadiz, before joining La Coruna in January, where over the course of the football calendar he scored 13 goals and provided eight assists.
Jesus scored 11 goals and replicated Perez’s record of eight assists in 2022/23, finding the net two times less than the former Arsenal outsider to put into perspective just how difficult it is for some players to adapt to the demands of the Premier League.
Jesus is far better suited to Arsenal, just as Perez is far better suited to the game in Spain, however one thing that’s for sure is that the Gunners learned from their mistake of recruiting the Spaniard, with their striker signings since his arrival proving to have improved significantly.
From Jesus, to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, gone are the days of lacklustre acquisitions in the strike department at the Emirates, and unfortunately for Perez, he had to be the final dud to change the trajectory in the transfer window for Arsenal.
Tottenham Hotspur have placed the recent five-match slide in the Premier League firmly behind them by responding with two convincing victories in succession.
Despite a raft of injuries and suspensions, Ange Postecoglou's side will still be confident that they can defeat an in-form Everton team at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium this afternoon, with three points certain to move them ahead of Manchester City in fourth place, temporarily at least.
Should a positive result be achieved then it will be crucial that Dejan Kulusevski is performing at the standard that has captured the awe of the Spurs support across recent weeks.
Dejan Kulusevski's stats this season
Kulusevski ebbed and flowed from form last season but has made some remarkable progress this term, currently boasting five goals and two assists in the Premier League.
Not a bad return, but direct contributions do not tell the full story for Kulusevski, who is a non-stop running machine and an absolute menace for opposition defenders, averaging 2.3 key passes and 4.3 ball recoveries per game and completing 83% of his passes.
Sky Sports' Jamie Weir has been particularly impressed by his recent performances, saying: "Dejan Kulusevski really is a special special player. Works so hard, covers every blade of grass. Hell of an engine on him, and just so much heart."
While James Maddison's ongoing injury absence has been a big setback for Postecoglou's Spurs revolution, Kulusevski is producing increasingly influential efforts, and he will be sure to have his say against Everton.
While the 23-year-old might be the creative engine, it could be Richarlison who plays the most important part this afternoon, with the Brazilian firing himself into form across recent weeks.
Richarlison could dismantle Everton
It's fair to say that Richarlison hasn't been great since signing for Tottenham from Everton for £60m in 2022, only scoring one goal across the duration of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.
But he clearly welcomed Postecoglou's summer appointment and demonstrated discernible improvements, with a return of five goals and three assists from 15 appearances across all competitions this season.
As per FBref, the 26-year-old ranks among the top 7% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for tackles, the top 7% for interceptions and the top 1% for blocks per 90, highlighting his creative threat and the defensive contribution that has prompted Spurs reporter Alasdair Gold to dub him a "nuisance" for rival players.
Returning from groin surgery at the end of November, Richarlison has been shifted back to a centre-forward role and has responded with a couple of excellent displays, scoring three times from two matches.
This rekindled Midas touch in front of goal will be important against a resilient Everton backline, and the menacing Richarlison will only be too happy to score at his former club's expense.
With Kulusevski and Heung-min Son pulling the strings behind him, the 5 foot 10 Richarlison could produce another sublime goalscoring display to continue a budding resurgence that could pay dividends for the Lilywhites down the line.
West Ham United fans will be eagerly anticipating an injury update on Jarrod Bowen's status and have now got their wish from a specialist in the subject.
West Ham's striker situation…
On the face of it, West Ham United have some decent striking options to choose from at the London Stadium, with Michail Antonio, Danny Ings and Divin Mubama being naturally predicated centre forwards. Mohammed Kudus and Bowen are both capable of featuring as a number nine and have both occupied a central slot at times this campaign.
Nevertheless, injury issues have started to take their toll on David Moyes' ability to pick a strong offensive lineup over the last few weeks, leaving the Scotsman with no choice but to make alterations to his side.
Jamaica international Antonio returned from the recent international break injured; however, he avoided a serious concern as scans proved that he only strained his medial ligament, which will render him unavailable for around a month, according to The Evening Standard.
Three Lions winger Bowen also sustained a problem on international duty, which is something Moyes touched on in his post-match press conference after the Irons' 2-1 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor, as he stated: "Jarrod is, I hope, not too bad. But he just wasn’t ready to play and we couldn’t get him ready for the game."
Giving nothing away with regards to the extent of Bowen's injury, West Ham United fans will hope that their star man isn't out on the sidelines for too long as they enter a congester run of festive fixtures. Now, an update on his situation has emerged from an expert in physical therapy and sports science explaining the permutations and potential length of Bowen's absence.
Jarrod Bowen injury verdict…
Speaking to West Ham Zone, injury expert Dr Rajpal Brar has allayed fears that Bowen could be set for a considerable spell on the sidelines and expects him to be back in contention sooner than other reports have suggested.
Jarrod Bowen in-game statistics 2023/24 – Premier League (WhoScored)
Shots per game
2.8
Dribbles per game
1.6
Average match rating
7.34/10
Brar stated: "The only reason for those reports to be true, we’re talking over six months out – would be an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
"However, that is certainly not the case. It’s hard to give specifics on what it might be because not much information has been given out by the national team or the club. But, he should be fine for the coming games."
This campaign, Bowen has once again been in imperious form for the Irons, registering nine goals and three assists in 16 appearances across all competitions (Bowen statistics – Transfermarkt).
Carrying the torch in attack for West Ham United, Bowen has also successfully performed 45 shot-creating actions in 2023/24, with nine directly leading to goals (Bowen statistics – FBRef).
Moving into a busy period of matches, Moyes will be keen for Bowen to return to action as soon as possible at the London Stadium due to the constant threat he provides no matter the opposition.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers returned to action on Saturday afternoon, as the Old Gold hosted Liverpool in their fifth Premier League fixture of the 2023/24 campaign.
Gary O’Neil’s side were hoping to build on their last result against Merseyside opposition, as the Midlands club secured their first win of the season against Everton late on in their third clash.
Last time out, Wolves had been defeated 3-2 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, with goals from Hwang Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha not enough to take a result back to Molineux.
Hwang once again found the net against Liverpool, although they were undone by some late goals, eventually succumbing 3-1.
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Against Palace, O’Neil’s side dominated the possession with 57% of the ball, however once again fell short in the final third, with the hosts taking centre stage in providing the goal threat.
As per Sofascore, the Eagles registered 2.11 expected goals (xG) to Wolves’ 1.18, registering a mammoth 11 shots on targets to the visitors four during the 90 minutes played.
Cunha opened his scoring tally for the 2023/24 campaign, joined by super-sub Hwang, who has been a reliable source of threat for the Midlands side, meaning his start on Saturday against Liverpool was well deserved.
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Deadline day arrival Tommy Doyle was forced to wait for his first start against the Anfield side after a minor knee injury, although did make his debut from the bench in that encounter.
It surely won't be too long before we see him earning regular minutes, but one player who must be kept on the bench at the expense of that is Pablo Sarabia.
Should Pablo Sarabia be starting?
Sarabia went from hero to zero in the week of the showdown at Selhurst, as he put in a stellar performance in the Carabao Cup where he was dubbed the “architect” by journalist Nathan Judah, only to then go missing against the Eagles.
The winger received an 8.2 Sofascore match rating against Blackpool in the cup, followed by a below-par 6.6 rating against Palace, where he was branded as “anonymous” by journalist Alex Richards for his display.
Despite Wolves’ control in possession, Sarabia made 33 touches in the 60 minutes he played, losing possession ten times and failing to provide the danger sufficient enough to wound Roy Hodgson’s side.
On the hour mark, O’Neil pulled the £90k-per-week Spaniard off to be replaced by Hwang, who displayed exactly what the 31-year-old was missing to his game on the day by scoring and completing 100% of his attempted dribbles.
The manager was clearly keen to replicate that when they took on Liverpool, as Sarabia was benched with Hwang coming into the starting XI.
That was hardly a surprise after the loss at Selhurst, with the aforementioned Richards also commenting on Sarabia’s “problems” in adapting to the “speed and physicality” of the Premier League, providing another weak element of his game.
With four losses in their opening five games, Wolves will be hoping to finally kick on. The likes of Hwang and Co will certainly help them do that. Including Sarabia, however, will not. After a vibrant display from the South Korean, it is time the Spaniard stays among the subs.