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Aston Villa are eyeing a move for Stoke City star Harry Souttar in the January transfer window, and Alan Hutton has given his seal of approval behind a move.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that Dean Smith’s side have got their eye on a new year swoop for the centre-back, and former Villa man Hutton has insisted Souttar would be a great signing for them.

He said: “I think when you look at the boys who are there, they’re all good in the air. I’ve worked with them, I know they can be physical but they like playing with the ball at their feet as well.

“I think it’s very good to have those different styles of footballers within your armoury. It gives you the option if you want. If somebody’s injured, you want to play four at the back, three at the back or something may happen, you’ve got room to manoeuvre. I think that was Dean Smith’s plan moving forward. The starting XI was very good but they needed to bolster the squad.

“I think that’s the situation that they’re in at the moment. He obviously ticks all the boxes. He’s very physical, he’s there to win the ball and it’s good to have someone like that in your backline.”

Shades of Tyrone Mings

Once described as a “Rolls-Royce” by Stoke stalwart Ryan Shawcross, the defender has been compared to a number of different big-name players, including the likes of Harry Maguire and Virgil van Dijk.

His manager at Stoke, Michael O’Neill, is clearly a big fan of the kind of modern, ball-playing centre-back that Souttar is, saying: “He’s a player blessed with great natural attributes. Obviously his height but also he’s got good game intelligence and he’s a great user of the ball as well. That’s something which I think will set him apart from the other defenders in this league.”

And, when you compare his physical attributes (he’s an inch taller than Mings at a towering 6 foot 6), as well as his key defensive stats to the Villa man, they favour well.

As per Whoscored, he averages a whopping six times the amount of tackles per game as Mings, while he also boasts more interceptions per match in the Championship too. Not only that, but Souttar also makes close to eighty passes per game on average for Stoke (29 more than Mings), and at a far better accuracy too.

The Stoke beast could bring some added physicality to Villa’s back-line and give Smith some extra depth in that centre-back role. His height, reading of the game and ability to play out from the back has got real shades of Mings.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has confirmed an Aston Villa “blow”…

West Ham United make the short trip across London to face Arsenal in the Premier League this evening and manager David Moyes has plenty to think about in terms of team selection.

The Irons drew 0-0 to Burnley on Sunday and they struggled to create much in attack, managing just three shots on target all game.

It could mean that the Scotsman shakes things up in the attack but it remains to be seen just how much he can do after alluding to potential injury problems during his pre-game press conference.

He is also having to deal with a defensive injury crisis, too.

So what sort of line-up could we see at the Emirates Stadium this evening? Here’s what Football FanCast are predicting…

There could be just two changes from Sunday’s stalemate at Turf Moor as Moyes opts for a different formation.

His backline should remain largely unchanged due to the lack of options available, with the likes of Ben Johnson, Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna all injured.

However, we could finally see a return for Aaron Cresswell, who must be facing a late fitness test before kick-off after Moyes hinted that he was trying to get him back for this game. He has been missing since the defeat to Man City, where he picked up a back injury after colliding with the post.

The 31-year-old may then start in a back three alongside Craig Dawson and Issa Diop, in front of usual no.1 Lukasz Fabianski, which means Arthur Masuaku and Vladimir Coufal are deployed as wing-backs.

In midfield, the ever-present duo of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek should remain.

The final change comes in the attack as £18m-rated dynamo Pablo Fornals returns to the starting XI after being dropped from it two games ago. He is likely to replace an out-of-sorts Said Benrahma, with Manuel Lanzini also making way for the aforementioned switch in tactics.

He will join Jarrod Bowen just behind striker Michail Antonio.

AND in other news, Moyes must axe £22.5m-rated West Ham passenger vs Arsenal, he’s now holding them back…

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has shared news involving Manchester United chief scout Jim Lawlor on Twitter.

The Lowdown: Ten Hag announced

It looks set to be a summer of change at Old Trafford, with Erik ten Hag now confirmed as Ralf Rangnick’s replacement at the end of the season.

Romano revealed in the early hours of Thursday morning that ‘contracts and paperworks’ were ready for the Dutchman following a full agreement last week, with Ten Hag now penning terms until June 2025.

The 52-year-old previously demanded to be 100% involved in new signings, outgoings and fresh contracts, and he’ll be working with a new scouting team in England.

The Latest: Lawlor to leave

News emerged on Wednesday regarding Lawlor, who has been on the books at Old Trafford for 16 years. He is set to leave the club over the summer, while head of global scouting Marcel Bout is also departing.

Romano took to Twitter on Wednesday morning to drop the key exit news on social media, saying:

“Manchester United revolution begins as chief scout Jim Lawlor leaves the club.”

The Verdict: Revolution needed?

Lawlor and Bout worked together for seven years and made a number of high-profile signings, which you could say largely haven’t worked out.

They’ve spent over £1.1bn on 37 players since 2014/15, with Paul Pogba the most expensive of those, who now looks set to leave for nothing this summer.

Hopefully, Ten Hag will be heavily involved when it comes to incomings and outgoings with a new scouting setup, in what could be an extremely busy first summer on charge.

In other news: Big news: Man Utd now eyeing signing of ‘absolute beast’ for Ten Hag in potential £100m+ deal. 

Celtic must ruthlessly axe Ismaila Soro in the January transfer window amid a recent update on his future…

What’s the story?

According to The Scottish Sun, the midfielder has emerged as a transfer target for MLS outfit New York Red Bulls, with the Hoops prepared to let him leave on either a loan or a permanent deal.

The report added that they are one of several American clubs interested in landing the Ivorian, and that having fallen out of favour under Ange Postecoglou, he is inching towards an exit from Parkhead.

Time for Soro to go

Dubbed as a player with “explosive power” by his former coach Ori Guttman, comparisons with Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante were also made as some tipped him to become a real star.

Guttman added: “Now he reminds me of N’Golo Kante at Chelsea. Kante maybe doesn’t look like he’s strong, but he is. He wins most duels and tackles. Soro does the same and wins the battles too.

“Both are good at dribbling with the ball. Neither of them score a lot of goals. They need creative guys alongside them in midfield, so they are alike in that way.”

Quite frankly, though, Soro hasn’t lived up to that potential. If anything, he has become somewhat of a liability with his tendency to fly into dangerous and ill-timed tackles – in fact, as per WhoScored, in the Scottish Premiership this season, the midfielder is actually making more fouls per game than successful tackles.

Also, his average match rating of 6.34 is the worst of any Celtic player who has featured more than five times this campaign in the league – a real indication of just how much his performances have fallen, and why selling him could be the right call.

It’s a potential decision which has also previously been backed by Celtic podcaster Patrick McGilp, who said just last month: “I think he’s one that you can try and move on.

“I would move Soro on, try and get something permanent if you can. I’m not too sure about a loan, because I’m talking about how many options we have, but you just never know when an injury crisis is going to hit. So if we can’t sell him, I would just keep him around the place, but if you can get money for him, I’d move him on.”

While at 23 he still has the time to grow and develop, he hasn’t shown enough to suggest that he will do so at Celtic; and even though it may be a ruthless call to get rid of him, it’s perhaps best for both parties to part ways.

The £12.5k-a-week earner simply needs to be moved on.

Meanwhile, Celtic are plotting a January swoop for this forward…

Phil Hay has been reacting to Leeds United’s £15m bid for RB Salzburg attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson.

The Lowdown: Aaronson links

Victor Orta has been busy when it comes to possible additions at Elland Road this month, with a defensive and attacking midfielder on the radar.

Multiple players have been linked with a move to Yorkshire, including Aaronson, who has contributed to 22 goals in 51 Salzburg appearances.

Reports over the festive period claimed that a move to Marcelo Bielsa’s side was unlikely due to Salzburg’s qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League, but that hasn’t stopped Leeds from launching a formal offer.

The Latest: Official bid; Hay reacts

Hay shared news of Leeds’ £15m bid for Aaronson on Twitter on Tuesday evening.

Unfortunately, the Austrian side have turned down the Whites’ opening offer, however, Leeds are intent on signing the American before the end of the month.

He then added his own personal view regarding Aaronson, saying:

“Like the sound of this one if it happens. Good age, operating at a high level already, playing in an area where Leeds need more resources.”

The Verdict: Exciting times

Leeds are yet to make a permanent central midfield addition with Bielsa in charge, but it seems as if that may finally change over the coming weeks.

As Hay mentions, Aaronson is already playing at a high level and has Champions League and international experience under his belt at the age of 21.

You’d expect that a swoop for the Salzburg man could benefit the club in both the short and long term. Should he arrive, he’d provide Bielsa with a much-needed attacking midfield option for the second half of the season, something Leeds currently don’t have.

And, should he continue his impressive form in Yorkshire, Leeds would most likely be in line to make a huge profit further down the line.

In other news: ‘Leeds have also’ – Journalist shares more transfer news after Aaronson bid. 

According to The Evening Standard, Tottenham left-back Danny Rose has dismissed accusations that Tottenham are mentally weak, after they crashed out of the League Cup semi-final to Chelsea on penalties. 

Tottenham, ravaged by injuries, held a slender 1-0 lead going into the second leg at Stamford Bridge, but that was erased by half time, as Chelsea led 2-0 at the break. However, a goal from Fernando Llorente made the scores level on aggregate, forcing the game to penalties. A miss from Eric Dier and a saved penalty from Lucas Moura meant Chelsea progressed to face Man City in the final in February.

Inevitably, the rhetoric surrounding Tottenham being bottle-jobs will emerge, as, after all, that was their third semi-final they have lost in a row, and the fifth in their last six.

However, since their first leg fixture, Spurs have lost Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min, as well as losing Ben Davies and Mousa Sissoko during the match. They have been ravaged by injuries and faced a Herculean task to get through. Furthermore, after going 2-0 down and being resoundingly outplayed during the first half, their task looked even greater.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”367086″ player=”13308″ title=”Tottenham Hotspur”]

To come back from the position that they were in is an indication that Spurs may slowly be losing their reputation of being bottlers. Of course, they did lose, but given the position that they were in, to force the game to penalties was a very impressive effort. What’s more is that they actually had a number of chances to win through Llorente and Moura.

Mauricio Pochettino will still hope that his side get over the hurdle of the semi-final the next time it arises, but this performance, more than most in the past, actually offers Spurs some positives.

A number of Liverpool supporters are excited after the Reds were linked with a move for 18-year-old American sensation Ricardo Pepi.

Jurgen Klopp had a quiet summer in the transfer market, much to the frustration of some fans. Ibrahima Konate ended up being the only new face to arrive at the club, with the exciting young centre-back joining from RB Leipzig

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

The hope is that Liverpool will be busier in the transfer market moving forward, and an intriguing rumour has emerged.

According to The Mirror [via Anfield Watch on Twitter], the Reds and Manchester United are among the clubs eyeing up a move for Pepi.

The teenage striker has scored three goals in just four appearances for the USA, also netting 16 times in 55 matches for FC Dallas in the MLS.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-8/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans react to Pepi rumour

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to react to the rumour, with many excited over the Reds’ links with the American prodigy.

“It’s happening”

Credit: @BleedGreenHive

“PEPI MY BOY!!!!”

Credit:@Kloppista_LFC

“No idea who he is but he’s a striker, make it happen!”

Credit: @NegusSabali

“Please”

Credit: @EliteQB4

“As an American Liverpool fan I’d love to see this, one for the future for sure”

Credit: @Cfarnes89

“Lewandowski type of player. Not 100% if he can play center forward. But Klopp did say he wanted a goal scorer last summer”

Credit: @9Erwinv

In other news, Liverpool reportedly ‘never opened talks’ with one player. Find out who it is here.

West Ham ended their Europa League with their first defeat of the competition as Dinamo Zagreb recorded a 1-0 victory at the London Stadium on Thursday evening.

David Moyes’ much-rotated and youthful-looking Irons outfit were badly let down by some of the team’s senior stars, most notably Andriy Yarmolenko, who disappointed with yet another lacklustre diasterclass.

His time in the claret and blue is surely creeping towards an end, if it wasn’t already. The 32-year-old dud has no right to still be at the club, particularly with him raking in the second-highest amount of wages at £115k-per-week.

Furthermore, having picked up 106 caps for Ukraine, he would have been expected to be a leader as many of the club’s academy prospects featured, including Jamal Baptiste, Sonny Perkins and Harrison Ashby.

It was the former Borussia Dortmund star who was at fault for the Croatian’s only goal of the game. He did absolutely nothing to thwart Mislav Orsic as he cut inside to make the Hammers’ young backline pay with a sensational strike from range.

‘Still can’t kick with his right foot’ and ‘lazy’ is exactly how football.london reporter Tom Clark described Yarmolenko after the game, whilst it is a rather telling tale that it was Moyes’ 17-year-old striker shouting at the veteran to actually move whilst still on the pitch.

His lack of influence was reflected by the fact that he recorded fewer touches (24) than any starter for either team. Even West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola managed 27 touches, with substitute Said Benrahma (36) also eclipsing the Ukraine international with ease, too.

Similarly, the versatile 6 foot 2 attacker managed only nine successful passes, comfortably the worst of the Irons’ starting XI. Again, Benrahma doubled this tally in half the time, having come on after the break. He also failed with all three of his crossing attempts, echoing Clark’s comments on his poor delivery on the right flank.

As revealed by the Evening Standard’s Jack Rosser, who even dubbed him “shocking”, Yarmolenko was even booed off by sections of the London Stadium faithful.

On a night where the result did not matter, that reaction is damning.

Not only was the 32-year-old lazy and uninterested but he was also weak and rather lightweight, having lost four of his seven duels (57%), on top of losing possession 11 times from his 25 touches – once every 2.3 touches, as per SofaScore.

With January fast approaching, it could be time to finally offload the wretched £18m signing. He badly betrayed Moyes and the fanbase this week.

AND in other news, David Moyes dealt triple West Ham blow as injuries pile up…

Wolves are back in action this evening with a Premier League clash against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.

The Old Gold’s previous outing saw them secure a 2-1 victory over their Midlands rivals Aston Villa at Molineux thanks to an early strike from Jonny Otto and an own goal from Ashley Young.

On the chalkboard

One player that didn’t start against the Villans that should make a return to the starting XI on this occasion is Pedro Neto.

Since making his long-awaited recovery from injury back in February, the £39k-per-week winger has only started one league game for the Old Gold.

Unfortunately, that game saw Bruno Lage’s side fall to a 2-0 defeat at home against Crystal Palace.

Despite failing to score a goal or provide an assist since he’s returned to action, giving him the chance to start against the Toon could be a great opportunity for him to secure his first goal or assist for the season.

With Eddie Howe’s side conceding a total of 54 times in 30 league games this campaign, they could be susceptible to attacking pressure from the Old Gold, especially from a player such as Neto, who “plays as if the ball is attached to his boots with string,” according to journalist John Percy.

Labelled as a “superstar” by Jamie Carragher and a “wonderful talent” by Nathan Judah, the Portuguese international has scored ten goals and provided an equal number of assists in 85 appearances for the Midlands club since his arrival in 2019, showing how capable he can be in front of goal.

Francisco Trincao only managed to have one shot on target against Villa and complete 14 accurate passes in 74 minutes before making way for Neto which should make it a fairly straightforward decision for Lage as to who could make way for the 22-year-old to come back into the team.

Moving forward, if the former Lazio ace does get another chance to show what he can offer the team tonight and is able to find the back of the net, this could set him up for a very productive run of attacking form until the end of the season.

This would then surely be the difference in seeing Wolves secure European football for next season or not.

In other news: Lage handed huge boost as early NUFC team news emerges, it’s great news for Wolves

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has delivered an injury update ahead of his side’s clash against Newcastle United on Sunday.

What’s the story?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against the Magpies, the Spurs boss said (via Alasdair Gold): “Good news for Oliver Skippy, and Ryan Sessegnon, they are very very close to being back with the team. They are improving a lot. They are having important training sessions, not with the team but apart. I hope next week to have both players back with the team.”

Great news for Spurs

Having been sent off in the disappointing 2-1 defeat to NS Mura in the Europa Conference League earlier this season, Sessegnon has turned things around at Tottenham, leaving insider John Wenham delighted with his impact.

Speaking after a particularly impressive performance from the 21-year-old against Norwich, Wenham said: “Huge credit to Ryan Sessegnon. He produced one of the best performances I’ve seen from him after he came on. Sessegnon looked like a real option, he was really hugging that left-hand side.

“That was much, much better from Sessegnon, I was so pleased. He was rightly sent off against Mura, I have no complaints with that. But what an amazing response from him. Clearly he’s knuckled down at Hotspur Way and I really hope he can build on that now.”

With Spurs heading into the business end of the season in the Premier League, the need for Conte to have a fully fit squad available to him has never been greater.

The Lilywhites cannot afford to have any more injuries, and the news that both Sessegnon and also Skipp will return soon is a huge boost for Conte as he looks to push for that final Champions League spot.

At a time when Spurs need to keep picking up victories, they have been give a huge and timely lift. It’s news which will surely have Conte very much excited.

AND in other news – Spurs now “in the race” for “swashbuckling” 6 ft machine, Conte will be buzzing