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Leicester City, six points clear of second-placed Ipswich Town and 11 points clear of Southampton in third, are cruising towards an instant return to the Premier League in an excellent Championship campaign. Enzo Maresca instantly made his mark on the Foxes, despite losing James Maddison and Harvey Barnes in the summer transfer window, and is on course to seal the title in England's second tier.

When the January transfer window arrives in a matter of days, the former Manchester City assistant has the opportunity to improve his champions-elect even further, but that could also see some players depart. Among those who could exit is one particular forgotten man who very nearly got his move in the summer window.

Leicester City transfer news

Maresca recently spoke about the January transfer window, saying:

“In this moment, I don’t want them to think about January, even if they are probably thinking already about January, some of them, because it’s normal. We’ll see in January if some of them are coming to ask to leave, we’ll see how we can find solutions for them and also for us. The only thing I can say is that, for us, the situation is quite clear in terms of the January market. We know as a club what we need. We’ll see."

One player who could look to leave is Dennis Praet. According to to reports from Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Torino have initiated contact to sign Praet, who has struggled for minutes under Maresca at Leicester. Torino manager Ivan Juric's love for the midfielder has reportedly never faded and he could finally get his man. With the Belgian's deal coming to an end next summer, it remains to be seen whether Torino aim for a permanent deal or a loan deal come the start of the transfer window next month.

"Oustanding" Praet has stagnated at Leicester

Once a player primed to improve Leicester, Praet's career has since stalled at The King Power, struggling to even break into Maresca's potential Championship winners. Praet's stats highlight his struggles. The midfielder has started just one league game and has only made the squad in six games, coming off the bench in five of those. His one start in the current campaign came in the EFL Cup in a comfortable 2-0 win over Burton Albion. If anyone needs a move, it is Praet.

It's some fall from grace, given the praise that former boss Brendan Rodgers sent his way when he first signed.

"He is an outstanding player who fits the profile of the player we want. I felt we have a lot of defensive midfielder players, very good players but defensive in their mindset and we actually, in terms of an offensive midfield player, probably only had one of those in Youri Tielemans, so I felt we need another one. I always felt at the end of last season that we needed two attacking midfield players.

"Youri, we were able to sign, which is good for everyone, and obviously Dennis is a player we tracked and looked at, and we are delighted to sign him. He's the right age, right profile and hopefully he can continue to develop. And everyone we spoke to, held him in real high regard, so we are delighted to get him in and he will really add to our squad."

You may be forgiven for not having watched too much Asian football aside from the odd glimpse of a nation appearing at a World Cup or two. However, considering the names and stories within, new eyes will hopefully be drawn to the continent's major tournament in the coming weeks.

After their first-ever victory in 2019, the next AFC Asian Cup takes place in Qatar and has subsequently been moved due to the desert nation's temperatures. So who will stand out in 2023's Asian Cup? Football FanCast has picked a crop of talents new and old, that could do great things for their respective nations (and even careers) at Asia's next footballing showpiece.

AFC Asian Cup 2023: Fixtures, location, dates, times, watch on TV

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup is right around the corner, so Football FanCast has everything you need to know before the first ball is kicked.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jan 3, 2024

10

Hokky Caraka – Indonesia

Forward, PSS Sleman

Starting with the first of a handful of gifted young Indonesians, and with the superbly named Hokky Caraka Bintang Brilliant. Only using his first two names, 19-year-old Hokky Caraka plays for PSS Sleman in Indonesia's top flight.

Life in senior football has seen a gradual and steady rise since his formative inclusion in the first team set up in 2021. It's also been said that Hokky has risen through adversity to chase his footballing dream – even travelling 60 kilometres just to get to training. Three senior outings came before 2022-23's 11-game glimpses, but it's been this term where the forward's found his feet. While 20 club appearances have reaped three goals and one assist, it's fair to say that Caraka has boosted his 'hidden gem' status with exploits for the national team.

Since 2022's first run out in Merah Putih colours, Caraka's ascent has been rapid. In July 2022, there were four goals for Indonesia's U19s against Brunei. Then, September saw an U23 debut. His form for them continued with 5 goals in 12. The U23s outings that same month saw a goal in two before the senior team called the revelation up. Here he has two in three – and with the Asian Cup almost upon us, the 5 foot 10 right-footed striker's likely involvement will no doubt have neutrals considering if Indonesia can take some vital chances. There could be huge upsets against group D opponents Japan, Iraq, and Vietnam.

9

Ramadhan Sananta – Indonesia

Forward, PERSIS Solo

The second player to watch is 20-year-old Ramadhan Sananta. Sananta plays for PERSIS Solo in the top tier and has already moved about a fair bit – he is a title winner to boot. This is perhaps already due to his scoring exploits as his record is already an impressive sight.

At his first club, PS Harjuna Putra, he scored 9 goals in 12 games. Clearly, this got him snapped up by top-tier Persikabo 1973 – yet here his form faltered with limited chances. Four games brought zero goals, yet he got a move to PSM Makassar and was widely credited for the South Sulawesi club's domestic success. In a historic term where PSM won Liga I for just the second time, a 19-year-old Sananta scored a more-than-helpful 11 goals in 24 games.

To make matters even better for the ever-improving finisher's resume, his international career has also brought the goals. In just seven appearances for the national team – Sananta has notched four goals. Before that for the U22s, Ramadhan scored five superb goals as he powered his side to victory at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia as the tournament's top scorer.

8

Elkan Baggott – Indonesia

Defender, Ipswich Town

Ending what's become a miniature Indonesia hype-fest is centre-back Elkan Baggott. The only one of our three Indonesian internationals who doesn't ply his trade in the country, Baggott plays for Ipswich Town in the EFL Championship. Born in Thailand, 21-year-old Elkan has an English father and an Indonesian mother. He learned to play football at school in Indonesia, and that's who he represents at international level.

Part of an intriguing Indonesian generation of footballers, Baggott debatably has the highest pedigree of the bunch. Currently plying his trade in his father's country, Ekan continues to learn under a very progressive young manager Kieran McKenna at Ipswich Town in the English second tier.

Before this, the 6 foot 4 defender cut his teeth in prior seasons with loan moves to King's Lynn Town in the National League, Gillingham and briefly Cheltenham Town in League One. While Caraka and Sananta might do the scoring, Baggott forms the base of a key Indonesian spine. He could play a big part in Qatar and already, he has a steady 19 caps with 2 goals.

7

Firas Al-Buraikan – Saudi Arabia

Forward, Al-Ahli

In a league where youth is sometimes neglected for the overpriced near-fictional sums for Europe's scrapheap and wantaway stars, Firas Al-Buraikan sticks out like a sore thumb. A home-grown talent? Why bother with Firmino, Saint-Maximin and Mahrez? Yes, that's a slightly bitter take on Saudi Arabia's recent spending exploits, but within an environment of buy-to-win, Al-Buraikan's talent has been slowly blossoming, and the Asian Cup could be another photosynthetic moment for the 22-year-old.

Since breaking through, a trip to Europe hasn't been on the cards (yet) – but he's grown excellently in the Roshn Saudi League. Although his Al-Nassr career didn't take off with four goals in 28, a move to Al-Fateh was much-needed. At the Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, Al-Buraikan became a reputable hitman and notched 33 goals in 65 games, adding 9 assists.

This prompted a switch to Al-Ahli, where he's smashed 13 goal involvements in 14 games already. For the national team, he's got six in 36 and as he's hit fine domestic form, he could evolve into the Green Falcons' beacon up top.

6

Ali Al-Hamadi – Iraq

Forward, AFC Wimbledon

While Iraq don't immediately spring to mind in football terms, a crop of players look to disprove that. AFC Wimbledon's Ali Al-Hamadi is one of them. The 21-year-old striker, born in Iraq before moving to the UK at an early age, has seen excellent growth since his time with Tranmere Rovers' and Swansea City's youth setups. Eventually moving into the senior ranks of Wycombe Wanderers and showing formative glimpses on loan at National League outfit Bromley, Al-Hamadi has found a serious groove with League Two Wimbledon since January 2023.

As the above video shows, Al-Hamadi has stormed into the Wombles' hearts with his hat-trick against Tranmere. In a wider scoring tally, an exceptional 2022/23 saw ten goals in 19 games. This season, he has 17 in 29 with 7 assists – and with League Two seasons being 46 games long, it's a frightening prospect what the Iraqi youngster could eventually end up with.

The national team have involved the Maysan-born finisher since 2021. Although he's only scored 3 times in 11 outings – fortunes could change if he brings his domestic form into the upcoming AFC competition.

5

Hwang Hee-chan – South Korea

Forward, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Hwang Hee-chan is the first South Korean gem to be included in this feature. Perhaps at times a little hit or miss at Wolves since his move from Salzburg initially on loan in 2021/22 – 'Hwangso' (or 'The Bull', as Korean fans affectionately call him) has certainly been pulling his weight this season.

The 27-year-old looks to be reaching his prime and has steadily adapted to Premier League life. Before joining Wolves, Salzburg saw 45 goals in 126 games, with the 2019/20 season alone trailblazing Hwang onto the radars of multiple teams. Here, alongside the likes of Erling Haaland, Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu to name just three – Hwang contributed goals and assists galore.

Across all competitions, he registered 16 goals and 22 assists across 40 games. 11 goals and 12 assists came in the league's 27 outings alone as Salzburg claimed their 14th title – their seventh on the bounce.

Moves to Hamburg and RB Leipzig were unsuccessful. However, after formative adaptation, his comfort at Wolves has grown admirably. Like Al-Hamadi, it's really a case of carrying recent domestic form and energy over to international tournament football as Hwang has enjoyed his best Premier League season yet, as the poaching forward has ten goals and three assists heading into the new year.

If this confidence continues, he could easily add to his 22 direct goal involvements in 59 South Korea matches and become a main focal point alongside Son Heung-min.

4

Lee Kang-in – South Korea

Midfielder, Paris Saint-Germain

Following Hwang to the Asian Cup is midfielder Lee Kang-in. Similarly to his compatriot, Lee has had to bide his time when it comes to finding his true form in Europe. Alternatively, Lee had to negotiate wonderkid status and the weight that bears – yet after graduating through Valencia's youth and senior ranks, it was his time at RCD Mallorca that was more than productive.

With an eagle eye for a pass, Lee is also an adept dribbler – and in the 2022/23 season, he became one of the best dribblers in the 'big five' European leagues by making the highest success rate of dribbles and the sixth-highest number of successful dribbles.

Of course, with PSG ruler Kylian Mbappe deserving of only the finest service – Lee was bought by the Parisians in July 2023 to become the first South Korean to play for the club.

An excellent member of a core contingent of skill in South Korea's ranks, it's no wonder the Taegeuk Warriors will be among the favourites to do well.

3

Wataru Endo – Japan

Midfielder, Liverpool

Wataru Endo may seem like a bit of a gimme or a sort of replacement inclusion. However, unlike the midfielder's somewhat emergency Liverpool cover-move – the 30-year-old is more than qualified to be seen as a major aid for Japan's clinching of that record fifth Asian Cup title, particularly as the side's skipper.

Part of the squad that lost out to Qatar in 2019's Asian Cup final, Endo has all the tools as a midfield battler and captain to spur Japan on to historic greatness. At Endo's former club, VFB Stuttgart, sporting director Sven Mislintat summed up the consummate pro's sheer influence in 2021.

"As a player and as a person, he’s simply incredibly valuable. He’s one of these anchors, a focal point in our system. Whether he plays as a centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, it’s good that he’s there and performs.”

2

Kim Min-jae – South Korea

Defender, Bayern Munich

Rapid ascents have been commonplace in this piece thus far with brilliant youngsters aplenty. However, the theme can continue with senior pros. 26-year-old Kim Min-jae has gone from the depths of the South Korean third division to Europe in just six years, and continues to push his boundaries at Bayern Munich.

Kim's quality is demonstrated by perhaps just how brief his stints at (especially European) clubs have been so far as managers wrestle for the 6 foot 3 unit's signature. Now settled at Bayern after Fenerbahce and league-winning Napoli, Kim can no doubt bring South Korea back to the top of the pile. South Korea haven't won the Asian Cup since way back in 1960. Napoli hadn't won a Serie A title for 33 years before prime Kim's impact…

In that title-winning term, Napoli conceded just 28 goals with Kim largely responsible. Given the aforementioned talent in midfield and his teammate below, the 'monster' (as nicknamed early in his career) could yet inspire his nation from defence.

1

Son Heung-min – South Korea

Forward, Tottenham Hotspur

Completing this feature, as well as our core of South Koreans, comes Spurs' Son Heung-min. For 31-year-old Son, the importance of a solid Asian Cup run and just how long it's been since victory won't likely be lost on him.

Now undertaking the role of captain, the predominantly positive attacker has evolved into a new figure at club level and for his country – particularly with the former's departure of Harry Kane. Son's stat sheet is quite something while trying to demonstrate his box-office quality. With amazing goals (such as the one featured below), the Korean's consistency has been debatably wasted by trophy-shy Tottenham.

In the white half of north London, Son has netted a jaw-dropping 157 goals in 393 all-competition games, with 85 assists to boot. For his country, Son has a little way to go if he's to beat the legendary Cha Bum-kun's scoring record of 58 goals. Son needs 18 more goals, and although not at all likely he could do it in this one tournament alone – goals, creation and success could be an extra motivation for Tottenham's star.

Widely considered to be his nation's finest modern export, Son's quality has been matched by those around him and now South Korea could grab a first AFC trophy since 1960's win on home soil.

The Dutchman produced a tactical masterclass in the face of growing speculation that he will be sacked, and embarrassed his bosses in the process

Erik ten Hag was in a fighting mood all week, raging against journalists for repeatedly asking him about his future and hitting out at pundits for expecting Manchester United to win every game. And when he got into Wembley on Saturday, he took the gloves off and delivered a knockout blow to Manchester City.

Despite being shown no respect by his INEOS bosses, who have been speaking to other coaches about the prospect of replacing the Dutchman, Ten Hag produced a perfect game-plan and did something that no other coach has managed since Unai Emery in December, to beat City in 90 minutes.

Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho were the stars of this cup shock, which was made in United's academy. But Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane also played crucial rules in shutting out City for most of the game until Jeremy Doku caused the Red Devils a late scare.

Doku was the only City attacker who can be pleased with his performance as Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Julian Alvarez all struggled to turn up or take their chances. Pep Guardiola's side were overwhelming favourites, with some bookmakers offering odds of 7/1 for a United triumph, but they couldn't handle the Red Devils, who wrecked their hopes of becoming the first team in English football history to win back-to-back doubles.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Wembley…

• Getty Images
  

  WINNER: Erik ten Hag

  Ten Hag faced the ignominy of hearing second-hand that he was going to be sacked when he should have been focusing on one of the best occasions of his career. But he used an awful situation to his advantage and masterminded City's first defeat in any competition in six months.

  And, bar a few nervy moments towards the end after Doku had reduced the deficit, his United side fully deserved the win. The Dutchman got his tactics spot-on while making some tough calls, above all dropping Casemiro. Benching Rasmus Hojlund was also a big move, but it got the best out of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.

  It was fitting that Garnacho and Mainoo, the two teenagers whom he had brought into the team from last year, proved the difference. Their goals gave United a second trophy in two years under Ten Hag, having been on a six-year silverware drought before he arrived.

  It won't be enough to keep him in the job and nor should it after a truly terrible campaign in the Premier League and in Europe. But being remembered for winning the club's first FA Cup in eight years while dethroning their arch rivals is a pretty good legacy to leave.

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  LOSER: Sir Jim Ratcliffe & INEOS

  United's minority shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, took his seat at Wembley next to Joel and Avram Glazer, having made the same mistake the Americans had made at the 2016 FA Cup final. They had agreed to sack Louis van Gaal and replace him with Jose Mourinho, news of which leaked out during United's win over Crystal Palace, leaving a sour taste after what should have been a glorious occasion.

  Ratcliffe and his self-described "best-in-class" colleagues at INEOS were supposed to restore clarity to United, but instead they have created another image of a club that doesn't know what its doing, allowing news that Ten Hag was getting the boot to get out on the eve of the final.

  As it turned out, those reports had no impact on United's fortunes. Indeed, it might have galvanised the team. But it created another ugly situation.

  Given how badly United have done this season, no one could really argue with the decision to part ways with Ten Hag. But the decision should have been communicated earlier. Negotiating with candidates such as Thomas Tuchel and Kieran McKenna behind Ten Hag's back showed a lack of respect to the manager and increased the likelihood of intermediaries spreading the news.

  Announcing that Ten Hag was leaving would have given the boss the chance to have a dignified ending to his reign. Instead, there was a backdrop of distrust and betrayal on what should have been a day of celebration for the club.

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  WINNER: Man Utd's academy

  As the players did their lap of honour on the Wembley pitch with the trophy in hand, the legendary 'Manchester United Calypso' song blared out on the speakers. Written and sung by Edric Connor in 1957, it was an ode to the young, homegrown United side built by Matt Busby, containing the lyrics: 'A bunch of bouncing Busby Babes, they deserve to be knighted'.

  It was an apt song with which to celebrate a game that had been won by two players who came through the club's academy. Mainoo and Garnacho grabbed the headlines, but a total of five academy players contributed to this triumph. Rashford and Scott McTominay also started while Jonny Evans, who graduated from the academy all the way back in 2007, came off the bench.

  The fact that Garnacho and Mainoo were the architects of the triumph was the perfect storyline, as Ten Hag had nurtured their rise from the youth academy and into the first team. Ten Hag invited Garnacho to the pre-season tour in 2022 and had to discipline him for turning up late for breakfast. With a lot of patience, he has helped the Argentine become one of the most exciting young forwards in England, starting him in practically every game since November.

  The Dutchman, meanwhile, gave Mainoo his first-team debut when he was 17 and showed repeated faith in the midfielder after he injured his ankle in pre-season. Sometimes it seemed unfair for him to put so much responsibility on such young shoulders, but Ten Hag knew he had two remarkably talented players on his hands, and on Saturday he was rewarded for his faith in them.

  The manager said this week that the way he has developed certain individuals has been forgotten, but now Garnacho and Mainoo look to be his legacy.

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  LOSER: City's misfiring forwards

  Guardiola's side also looked nothing like the team that had stormed to a fourth consecutive league title. The manager refused to blame the result on his players' wild celebrations from last weekend, but his stars certainly looked like something was not right.

  Erling Haaland had just 12 touches in the first half, although he was inches away from pulling a goal back when he hammered the crossbar shortly after the break. The Norwegian has now played in nine semi-finals and finals for City, and failed to score in any of them.

  Phil Foden, meanwhile, barely produced any of the magic which made him the Premier League's Player of the Year, and Kevin De Bruyne was sluggish and sloppy. Substitute Julian Alvarez wasted his share of chances, too.

  Doku was the only City attacker who could be proud of his contribution as his twisting runs threatened to change the game, and it was his goal which gave City a fighting chance in the end. His team-mates will reflect on a bad day off the office, although they can drown their sorrows on Sunday during the team's parade to celebrate their league crown.

Neymar has earned the nickname “magician” at Al-Hilal despite his injury nightmare, with the Brazilian following Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia.

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• Brazilian moved to Middle East in 2023
• One of several household names in Pro League
• Standard considered to be on the rise

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The South American superstar opted to head for the Middle East when severing ties with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023. He agreed a lucrative contract with new employers, but suffered knee ligament damage after taking in just five appearances.

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• WHAT KOULIBALY SAID

  Neymar has sat out league and cup triumphs for Al-Hilal, but club colleague Kalidou Koulibaly has told of why the 32-year-old forward is still held in the highest regard: “Neymar is a really important player for us. I call him the ‘Magia’ – magician – because he has so much magic in his feet. When he touches the ball, he is incredible.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ex-Napoli and Chelsea defender Koulibaly has enjoyed better fortune at Al-Hilal, with the Senegalese centre-half adding on why more household names are heading to Saudi Arabia: “At the start, nobody really knew much about this league. It was a big decision for me. But when I saw players like Ronaldo, [Karim] Benzema, [N’Golo] Kante – who I was playing with at Chelsea then – make those moves, I also made my choice. I had a difficult year at Chelsea, and I wanted to see something else. When they called me, I studied up about the club, and I’m really happy to be here today.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Koulibaly added: “When I came, I was thinking this league would be easier than others, but I was surprised about the standard of my team-mates, and surprised at the level of the league. Even clubs that don’t have big, big-name players are very good – it’s difficult to play against them all. The level is not quite the same as Europe, but over time it will get there because the players will want to come and improve the league.”

Tottenham Hotspur entered the January transfer window with the knowledge that failing to effectively bolster the squad with several high-impact additions could be detrimental ahead of the business end of the campaign.

Fifth-placed in the Premier League after 21 matches – level with Arsenal (fourth) who, albeit, have a game in hand – Ange Postecoglou deserves all the plaudits for the job that he has done in north London since arriving in the summer.

And with Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin boosting the depth in the frontline and central defence respectively, there is optimism that a sustained run of form can be achieved, ensuring that Spurs claim a spot in the top four and wade deep into the FA Cup, having defeated Burnley earlier this month to advance to the fourth round.

With Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma both absent for the next month or so on international duty at the African Cup of Nations, efforts have been made to identify a new midfielder this month, and while this search goes on, Postecoglou appears to be readying a bid for another centre-back.

Spurs January targets – defenders

At the start of the month, Tottenham were reportedly prioritising a deal for OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo but that soon fell apart with negotiations ahead looking protracted, and the focus shifted to Dragusin.

With a deal swiftly agreed, Spurs announced the signing of the Romanian ace, aged 21, for around £27m last week, and despite Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both returning to fitness last time out, another player has been lined up for transfer.

Indeed, according to Italian outlet Il Resto Del Carlino – via Sport Witness – Tottenham have made contact with Bologna concerning defender Riccardo Calafiori, who only signed for his Serie A side from FC Basel for €4m (£3m) in the summer, with Juventus, AC Milan, and Napoli also named as suitors.

A deal would not be easy and a summer transfer might be more likely if a breakthrough cannot be found shortly, but there is genuine interest there from the Lilywhites.

Riccardo Calafiori profiled

Italian Calfiori, aged 21, was a member of AS Roma's youth ranks but failed to make his mark, playing 18 times before being sold to Switzerland to hone his skills with Basel.

After just one full campaign with the club, Calafiori returned to his homeland last year and has gone on to cement himself as a crucial member of Thiago Motta's squad, starting the past 15 Serie A matches in succession.

As per Sofascore, he has showcased his impressive skill set across said fixtures, completing 90% of his passes, making 1.9 interceptions, 1.5 tackles and a whopping 6.9 ball recoveries per game, also winning 71% of his aerial duels, the 6 foot titan has returned with a vengeance after failing to secure a spot in his boyhood club.

Described as a "brilliant little player" by journalist and U23 scout Antonio Mango, Calafiori might be in the fledgeling phase of his senior career but he is already demonstrating his ability to battle adversity, overcome setbacks and perform at a level that attracts some of Europe's standout outfits.

And there's a reason for this; away from his inner belief, Calafiori has the trappings of a complete, modern centre-back in the future, ranking among the top 4% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for pass completion, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 3% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

Such metrics bespeak the array of tools in his professional armoury and it's clear that Postecoglou is targeting defenders of such a style, hence the swift conclusion of the Dragusin saga.

Why Tottenham should sign Calafiori

Hailed for his "complete & dominant" style by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Dragusin brings both aggression and adroitness to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Having chalked up 62 appearances for Genoa since leaving Juventus with just four senior showings to his name, the 13-cap Romania international has undergone a similar trend to Calafiori thus far in his career, assuming the Lilywhites do secure the latter's signature this year.

Both failing to secure prominent roles in their prestigious Italian outfits after rising from the youth ranks, Postecoglou's talent radar is highlighted for its astuteness and accuracy once again.

Dragusin, across 19 Serie A appearances this term, only completed 83% of his passes but did win 67% of his total duels, showcasing his robustness and confidence defensively both aerially and on the ground.

He also ranks among the top 10% of positional peers for goals scored and the top 9% for shots taken per 90, highlighting an attacking ability that will add a dimension to the Tottenham team.

Spurs could sign their new Maddison after Alasdair Gold reveal

Ange Postecoglou might still be in business on the transfer front this month.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jan 16, 2024

Calafiori would bring this too, but in a very different way, with his creativity and invention from the defensive third enhancing the fluency at the north London club, capable of digging in to rebuff danger or surge forward to influence attacking sequences at his manager's behest.

With Eric Dier signing for Bayern Munich this month too, augmenting the rearguard with one more acquisition seems far more clear, and at a youthful age, Calafiori would be content with playing a peripheral role and working his way toward the forefront.

Dragusin might have only just arrived in Tottenham white but there's no doubt he's a high-class talent, brought in to provide Postecoglou's backline with the depth it needs to flourish.

Making a move for Calafiori makes sense, completing the defence and continuing the trend of plucking players from Serie A, and in recent memory, few have gone on to flop down the N17.

New Liverpool boss Arne Slot has given his reaction to Jurgen Klopp chanting his name during his emotional Anfield exit.

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• Slot taking over from Klopp
• German manager revealed his replacement
• Dutchman now cannot escape new chant

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Klopp's parting message to the Anfield crowd was that Feyenoord boss Slot would be taking over as head coach. The charismatic German sang his name into the microphone and it has now stuck with the Liverpool fans.

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  WHAT SLOT SAID

  Speaking in his first interview with the club, Slot said: "Just after it happened I got a lot of text messages from people who saw this and who were sending it to me. I don’t think it has ever happened before that the fans, let alone the former manager, are singing your name before you have even arrived.

  “So, I think this says the most about him and I am hoping, hoping, that then fans will sing in the upcoming season again – maybe not my name but a little bit more for the players. But sometimes when I am in Zwolle now, where I live, people pass my house and are singing this song!"

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Slot may be feeling relaxed and welcome at Liverpool, but the mood will quickly swing if he does not hit the ground running on Merseyside. The Reds are a club who are always expected to challenge for major honours and patience in the modern game is as short as ever.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SLOT?

  Slot's pre-season preparations will already be well underway as he looks to reshape his squad over the summer. Liverpool will travel to the U.S. for their tour ahead of the Premier League campaign where people will get their first glimpse of the new head coach.

West Ham United have not enjoyed an auspicious start to 2024 having crashed out of the FA Cup against Championship side Bristol City and drawn against Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield United in the Premier League.

That said, there is plenty for David Moyes' side to be optimistic about heading into the business end of the 2023/24 campaign, with the club having advanced to the knockout stage of the Europa League and currently perching in sixth place in the Premier League, above the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

Moreover, Kalvin Phillips has recently been welcomed to the fold from Manchester City, joining on a six-month loan deal, to add some depth and mettle to the centre of the park.

That said though, offensive phenoms Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta are both currently nursing injuries and Moyes appears eager to secure an exciting finish to the transfer window.

West Ham eyeing late January swoop

With Phillips now in the bag, it's clear that the Irons' interest lies in landing a new attacking outlet, with Argentine playmaker Pablo Fornals a late target for Spanish side Real Betis.

As such, West Ham could use the funds from Fornal's sale to complete a swoop for teenage winger Ibrahim Osman, with the Guardian reporting that West Ham are considering returning for the Nordsjælland starlet before the end of the month. A bid has already been rejected but the Hammers may well return to the table with another ofer.

The Danish outfit are understood to be holding out for a €20m (£17m) package and the London club will now need to ensure they recuperate funds from player sales before sealing the deal.

Why West Ham want Ibrahim Osman

Osman, aged 19, has posted four goals and five assists across 29 appearances in all competitions this season and has caught the eye with his blistering pace and influence in attacking sequences.

Indeed, as per Sofascore, Osman has scored one goal and provided four assists from 16 games (14 starts) in the Danish Superliga this term and has averaged 1.2 key passes, 3.1 ball recoveries, 5.6 successful duels and 2.6 successful dribbles per game.

Osman does lack a certain incisiveness in his finishing ability but is of a lean, athletic build with pace and an innate weaving quality that could be shaped and harnessed in east London.

The likes of Arsenal and Brighton have reportedly been monitoring Osman and there's possibly a sense of urgency in wrapping up a deal from Moyes, with manager Johannes Thorup candid in admitting that the rising star will be hard to keep a hold of after such promising early endeavours on the major stage.

He said of the 5 foot 9 whiz: “He is a fast winger and striker, and I have huge expectations for him to be skilled. He has the pace which is important for us to have on at least one of our strikers. I don’t want to say that he has to take over for someone, but people can probably figure out that there is a player who is really good for us in the Super League, who might be really hard to keep.”

Given that West Ham star Mohammed Kudus bloomed from the same academy, it might be wise for Moyes to secure the next version of the Ghanaian machine, with the summer signing very much riding the crest of a wave since arriving at the London Stadium.

Ibrahim Osman could be Mohammed Kudus 2.0

The Hammers welcomed Kudus to the club from Ajax in a £38m deal in August to bolster the offensive fold after winning the Europa Conference League last season.

As per FBref, Kudus ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 13% for successful take-ons, the top 3% for tackles and the top 14% for blocks per 90.

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The 23-year-old was featured sporadically across the opening weeks of his Claret and Blue career but has excelled in plundering nine goals from 24 appearances in all competitions, starting just 17 times.

He's even been described as a "generational talent" by African journalist Gary Al-Smith and brings dynamism and deadliness in abundance, and if West Ham can secure the services of a similar player it would only improve the offensive efforts.

Given that Kudus (right wing) and Osman (who prefers the left) operate on alternate flanks, this could be a signing that would birth a fear-inducing partnership for opponents, with Osman absorbing the fruits of his fellow Nordsjælland academy graduate's labours.

While Osman is far less clinical than Kudus – though it would seen he has more of a natural creative flair – the Hammers star does share some exciting similarities, averaging 5.8 ball recoveries, 7.1 successful duels and 2.6 successful dribbles per fixture in the Premier League.

This blistering, breakneck pace is something that West Ham could certainly make good use of down the left flank, especially with Fornals ostensibly departing and Said Benrahma also touted with a move away after starting just five matches in the English top-flight this year, with French clubs lurking.

West Ham might have started the year off slow but there is much to look forward to over the coming months and the addition of a precocious talent in Osman would be the perfect finish to the window.

The January transfer window has seen very little activity from Manchester United, but that could change during the final week before the deadline.

Erik ten Hag is keen to reinforce his squad, which has been far from consistent this season. However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe may want to start his Man United adventure with a statement next summer.

Man United's search for a new attacker

According to a report this week from Spanish news outlet Sport, Real Madrid are willing to sacrifice Vinicius Junior in order to fund a move for PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe.

This has led to reports via Football365 suggesting that United could look to offer a whopping £172m for the Brazilian in the summer.

Although the move occurring is more than unlikely, Ineos could look for a world-class player to rebuild their Red Devils project around.

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The stats that show Vinicus would boost Hojlund

Rasmus Hojlund has struggled to adapt to the Premier League and the pressures of leading the line for Man United since joining from Atalanta for £72m in the summer, with the 20-year-old scoring two goals and providing one assist in 16 Premier League appearances.

However, the Dane has shown plenty of promise, with his finishing letting him down at times, as shown by his nine big chances missed this season.

On the other hand, the striker has been excellent in the Champions League, scoring five goals, and he has now bagged in his last two Premier League games against Aston Villa and Spurs.

The potential signing of Vinicius Jr would boost Hojlund's output massively, and the table below shows a handful of the Real Madrid star's stats from the past year that serve as evidence of that.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has previously described Vinicius as "unstoppable" and based on the stats above, it is extremely difficult to disagree with that statement.

The number seven is a dribbling demon whose creativity is infinite, as he is untouchable when weaving through the opponent with his direct approach and insane agility, as highlighted by his carrying and dribbling statistics.

The sheer amount of creation coming from Vinicius would provide Hojlund with more opportunities in front of goal, as he is currently living off scraps, underlined via his xG ranking in the bottom 13% for Premier League strikers.

Furthermore, opponents would have to change their game plan to deal with Vinicius, doubling up on him at times, and his ability to drag players out of position would give the Dane much more space to work with in the box.

Vinicus is also among the best goalscorers in the world, as per his rank in the top 10% for goals scored. Although indirectly, the 23-year-old would become the main focal point of Ten Hag's side, ultimately taking the pressure off Hojlund to score all the goals in a similar way to how Mohamed Salah took the responsibility off Roberto Firmino at Liverpool.

Overall, United wouldn't only be signing a star who would improve them instantly, but they would also be acquiring a future "legend in the making," as per the aforementioned Kulig, which could make the £172m a superb investment.

Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly getting ready to enter a battle with Bayern Munich to sign Paris Saint-Germain's Xavi Simons this summer.

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• Man Utd and Arsenal enter Simons race
• Bayern Munich already interested in midfielder
• PSG still unsure what to do with the Dutchman

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Simons impressed last season during his loan spell with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga as they finished fourth and attained Champions League football for the upcoming season. Marco Rose reportedly wanted Simons back, however, Leipzig will not be able to afford the Dutchman this summer. With PSG not looking to keep him at Parc des Princes, multiple clubs have shown interest in Simons' services.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As per Diario Sport, Manchester United and Arsenal are piquing their interest in Simons for a transfer this summer. Bayern Munich have already shown their interest in a move for the 21-year-old Netherlands international and are currently the favourites to sign him following Barcelona's departure from the race.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  PSG are still unsure as to what they want to do with the Dutchman as Luis Enrique is a known admirer of Simons but he will not be able to guarantee playing time to the 21-year-old this season. PSG may be leaning towards letting him leave on loan as any transfer fee they receive this summer will be transferred to PSV Eindhoven as part of the sale-on clause.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR SIMONS?

  Simons started for Ronald Koeman's Netherlands side in their Euro 2024 opener against Poland as they won 2-1. Simons will decide upon his future only after the conclusion of the tournament as he doesn't want any hindrances to the ongoing competition.

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has rubbished claims that he might rest Cristiano Ronaldo for their Euro 2024 clash with Turkiye.

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• Ronaldo plays vs Czech
• Martinez praises Ronaldo
• Set to start vs Turkiye?

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Martinez has highlighted how important Ronaldo is to the Portugal squad, despite being 39 years of age. The Al-Nassr forward played the full 90-minutes against Czechia on Tuesday as his side went on to score a late goal to win 2-1. Ronaldo did not get on the scoresheet.

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  WHAT MARTINEZ SAID

  Speaking at a press conference ahead of the upcoming clash with Turkiye, Martinez said: "Do you know how many minutes Cristiano played last season? He has experience, there was no other player in the history of football with six European Championships played.

  "It is important to understand what a player brings. Cristiano brings experience, brings goal opportunities, a way of opening up spaces.

  "Cristiano is in the national team because he deserves to be here, just look at what he has done and what he has done in the last competitions."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo's role in the national team was called into question at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, after being dropped from the starting line-up with one goal in three group-stage games. His replacement, Goncalo Ramos, scored a hat-trick when given the nod ahead of the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  Whether or not Ronaldo will start against Turkey, remains to be seen. The two sides will meet at the Signal Induna Arena on Saturday after both winning their opening game of Group F.