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Leeds United are plotting a January bid for Club Brugge winger Noa Lang but are set to face competition from Arsenal for his signature.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent months had suggested that the 22-year-old was a major target for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, with The Athletic’s Phil Hay revealing that the Whites really like him as a player.

Once the Premier League season had started, it was claimed by Football Insider that Leeds remain interested in Lang and have had scouts keeping tabs on his performances over the course of this campaign ahead of a potential move.

Dutch publication Voetbal24 have now suggested (via Sport Witness) that the likes of Leeds, Arsenal and AC Milan want to sign Lang, with a very good chance an offer will come in during the January transfer window.

Dribbles more than Raphinha

After a stellar 2020/21 season with Brugge – the 22-year-old netted an impressive 17 times across all competitions – it’s no surprise that Leeds are keen on finally getting their man in January.

Dubbed a “phenomenon” by Belgian sports journalist Peter Vandenbempt, Lang made history when he became the first player in 60 years to mark his debut with a hat-trick for Ajax, prompting Erik ten Hag to wax lyrical about him.

The Amsterdam club’s manager said: “He showed (his talent) today and I am very happy with that. Noa shows (his ability) it during training and during the reserve matches. And today he has also clearly shown it at the highest level too.”

Leeds fans have already seen the impact that an exciting new winger can have on the club after Raphinha’s signing last year, but when you compare the Brazilian’s stats to Lang’s this season, it’s the latter who fares better.

The Brugge star has seven goal contributions compared to Raphinha’s two, while he has also averaged three times as many dribbles as the Leeds man – a real indication of the directness with which he plays and the end product he already seems to have.

Leeds fans will surely be excited at potentially signing him in January.

Meanwhile, Phil Hay has delivered an update on this former key figure at Elland Road…

West Ham United star Declan Rice has been linked with a move to Manchester United next summer, via ESPN.

The Lowdown: Rice shines for Hammers

Rice, valued at £63 million, has gotten better and better since breaking onto the scene in the 2017/18 season. Originally a centre-back and a defensive midfielder, the 22-year-old has drastically improved on his game and is now one of David Moyes’ most well-rounded players.

After a strong Euro 2020 with England, Rice returns to the London Stadium this season with European football to dig his teeth in and continues to attract the interest of the top six.

Being close friends with Chelsea’s Mason Mount has previously seen him linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, but with no official offer over the summer, Rice remains a Hammer.

The Latest: United keen next summer

As per ESPN sources, Manchester United ‘remain keen’ on securing the signature of Rice, after opting not to sign a midfielder in the previous transfer window.

The report also states that sources have said a striker and a midfielder are on the list for next summer and Rice is among a number of options that will be looked at come the end of the season.

Rice is under contract until 2024  and it is likely that the Hammers would have to lower their valuation of the midfielder if he is to move on in the future.

The Verdict: New contract or move on

There have been previous reports linking Rice to sign a new contract at the London Stadium, but with no new deal on the horizon just yet, it may be a case of cashing in for a massive fee if he does not agree to extend his stay.

Rice was called an ‘excellent player’ by Alan Shearer for his impressive performances last season and United’s pulling power would be hard to turn down if they came in with a bid in the region of the Hammers’ enormous £100m asking price.

Yes, his departure would hurt the fans, but playing in the Champions League and playing with the best is something Rice wants so if the right offer is made, it could be the best move for all parties to make it happen.

In other news, Stuart Pearce has been full of praise for current Hammers ace. Find out more here.

Wolves earned some much-needed points and some gladly received confidence in front of goal last weekend.

Before the Old Gold’s clash with Watford, Bruno Lage’s side weren’t only pointless but had also failed to find the back of the net. An own goal ended their barren run before Hwang Hee-chan sealed all three points with a debut strike.

Lage’s men have played some eye-catching football this term without really reaping the rewards. However, with a swagger in their step and another promoted team to face, they could be in the goals again on Saturday.

They face Brentford in the lunchtime kickoff, and in an extremely rare set of events at Molineux, they will have a near fully-fit squad to choose from this weekend.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, their Portuguese coach said: “Nothing new, everything is OK. 18 players training hard every day to become better.”

Wolves have had to contend with some pretty difficult injuries over the last 12 months and indeed during the early parts of this season.

As the Premier League campaign kicked off, the Molineux outfit were without the services of Willy Boly and Yerson Mosquera, which made their options in the centre of defence extremely limited.

Boly also spent large parts of 2020/21 out injured but he wasn’t the only one. Raul Jimenez was out from November onwards while he recovered from a fractured skull, while Daniel Podence and Marcal also had multiple fitness issues.

However, all of those players are now back in what is a huge boost to Wolves’ chances this season, one which will no doubt delight their new manager.

Of course, they are still missing long-term absentees in Pedro Neto and Jonny, but considering the slim pickings available to the manager in the Midlands, it will be a welcome relief to have others back.

After all, Lage has already hinted at his squad being too small. The fact that he labelled how many players he had available to him on Friday afternoon said a lot, but this isn’t the first time he’s done so this term.

Speaking a few weeks ago, he revealed that just 15 senior players were in first-team training.

Wolves sent 20 players on loan over the summer so they can only have themselves to blame, especially after missing out on several targets late in the transfer window as well.

That said, a sense of positivity is beginning to engulf the club again now; they must capitalise on that this weekend.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Raul: Wolves have a future gem in 21y/o whose “delivery is unbelievable”…

Hampshire Live have suggested Southampton could make a move for Konstantinos Tsimikas this summer after they missed out on a move for Brandon Williams.

The Lowdown: Saints miss out on Williams

Southampton were heavily linked with a move for Williams, who currently plays for Manchester United.

However, they have been put off by the £3.75m in fees the Red Devils are asking for to loan the 21-year-old left-back (The Telegraph).

The Latest: Report suggests Tsimikas

As such, Hampshire Live has written up a list of potential targets for the Saints.

One of the names mentioned is Liverpool’s Tsimikas, with the Reds said to be entertaining offers for the Greece international, who they rate at £7m.

The Verdict: Worth a punt

Tsimikas was signed last year by the Anfield outfit as they looked to capture back-up for Andrew Robertson. That was exactly the role the 25-year-old provided – he made just seven appearances in all competitions despite Liverpool competing on four fronts, although four did come in the Champions League (Transfermarkt).

Having previously featured 86 times for Olympiacos, providing 12 assists, he surely has more to provide than spending the term on the bench. The fact Liverpool signed him in the first place suggests he is talented, and £7m for such a player is hardly over the top.

It remains to be seen whether Ralph Hasenhuttl and co do make a move for the defender, but they could do a lot worse than a full international with league-winning experience in his homeland.

In other news, Southampton fans want to sell this man this summer.

Andrew McGlashan presents the plays of the third day in Barbados

Andrew McGlashan in Barbados28-Feb-2009
James Anderson celebrates Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s demise © Getty Images
No short leg, no second slip
This isn’t the sort of pitch where you want half chances to go begging, especially when a bowling attack is already struggling to take 20 wickets. Andrew Strauss certainly had plenty of runs to play with after the previous day’s carnage, but time is also of the essence. The bowlers were soon trying a variety of tricks to remove Ramnaresh Sarwan with Stuart Broad going into bouncer-mode from round the wicket. One delivery bounced a little and was fended into the vacant short-leg area, and next ball a short leg went in. A short while later Devon Smith edged between first and third slip (where was second?). Smith didn’t last much longer but Sarwan was more of a problem.Jimmy’s frustration
The quick bowlers won’t be rushing over to thank the groundsman after this match. The promise of pace and carry hasn’t materialised and the ball bounced twice through to the keeper. Coupled with that, the Kookaburra ball doesn’t swing for very long which makes life tough for the likes of James Anderson. He tried to find some swing, both conventional and reverse, but little went off straight. It didn’t take long for Anderson to look a little fed up and as Ryan Hinds defended one solidly back down the pitch, Anderson collected and threw down the stumps. It was the closest England came to bowling anyone all day.Wrong referral?
Graeme Swann has made a habit of striking the West Indies’ left handers on the pads and getting favourable decisions. At the ARG it was all down to the on-field umpires, but here referrals are back. When Swann trapped Devon Smith on the front foot the batsman asked for a second look but there wasn’t enough evidence for Daryl Harper to reverse Aleem Dar’s decision. Then shortly before lunch Swann did exactly the same to Hinds and this time the batsman walked off without asking for TV. Replays showed that the Hinds lbw was less out (if there is such a thing) than Smith’s but nobody will know what Harper would have said.I’m not interested
Shivnarine Chanderpaul was in supreme touch during his 70 and England didn’t look like getting him out. At one point, they were happy just to stop the scoring and Swann bowled six deliveries well wide of the stumps. Chanderpaul resorted to just standing there and watching them go past, barely even bothering with his back lift. He would then sit on his bat handle and wait for the next ball before doing the same again. It was a little like saying “is that all you’ve got?”A mini milestone
Ramnaresh Sarwan has a good collection of Test hundreds, but apart from his 261 against Bangladesh had failed to convert them into more imposing scores. He knew this was his chance and after reaching three figures settled down to do it all over again. With an easy single off Anderson he moved to 140, his new second-highest score in Tests and a mark he hadn’t past since July 2004. This time he made it count.Now it’s getting silly
Talking about referrals is starting to sound a little like a broken record, but they keep provoking heated debate. When Anderson swung the new ball back into Chanderpaul’s pads as he shouldered arms Russell Tiffen’s finger went up. In the same instance, Chanderpaul made the ‘T’ sign and the fun started. There was extra bounce with the new ball and it was already level with the bails (and rising) when it struck the pad. It looked like a certain reversal, but then Tiffen walked back to the stumps and confirmed his decision. Cricinfo’s inboxes got a bashing as did the reputation of this trial. And let’s not even start on Brendan Nash’s dismissal.

Former Nottingham Forest star Nigel Jemson believes that Gaetan Bong would not be playing for the club if they had managed to sign a left-back in the summer transfer window.

Chris Hughton’s side have not managed to bring in a left-sided full-back, instead signing the right-back Jordi Osei-Tutu from Arsenal on loan.

He has been deployed as a left-back in his first once during his time with the Gunners’ U23s.

Bong, of course, has been suspended, although he started the first game of the season against Coventry City, and was returned to the line-up against Stoke City.

Jemson, though, thinks that the club will remain on the lookout for a new left-back before next week’s transfer deadline.

Indeed, Forest have been roundly awful in the first four league games of the season and have yet to pick up a point this term.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “Without being disrespectful, Bong probably wouldn’t have started the season if we had another left back. He’s there and he’s tried to take his chance.

“We are looking for left backs, that is a position for definite that we need to look at.”

Newcastle United correspondent Mark Douglas expects more business at the club after a fee was agreed for Joe Willock. 

The lowdown

Arsenal have accepted a sum in excess of £20m for the midfielder, who spent the latter half of 2020/21 on loan at St James’ Park.

Provided he agrees to join, the 21-year-old is set to travel to the northeast in the next 24 hours and undergo a medical in the early part of this week. Assuming there are no late hitches, Willock would become the Magpies’ first signing of the summer.

According to Transfermarkt, Newcastle have yet to generate any funds from player exits in this transfer window, as the likes of Christian Atsu, Yoshinori Muto and Andy Carroll have all left on free transfers.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has labelled the club’s budget for this transfer window ‘meagre’ amid Mike Ashley’s efforts to sell up.

The latest

Douglas tweeted that he still believes there will be transfers in and out of Newcastle before the deadline at the end of this month. It won’t necessarily have to be permanent incomings either, with some loan slots available.

He added that Willock was their primary target heading into the transfer window, and that they ‘passed up other options to get him’.

Douglas outlined: “Still think #nufc will do more business – in & out – before deadline. Loan slots available & could be some trading to do.

“Willock was the one they wanted though; and have passed up other options to get him. Hopefully gamble will be shown to have paid off.”

The verdict

In light of the bleak assessment issued by Waugh, it’s somewhat surprising to see Newcastle splash out such a hefty fee for Willock, who could feasibly become the second-most expensive signing in their history given the fee which has reportedly been agreed for him.

What we don’t know at this stage, and what we’re keen to find out, is how the deal is structured, along with the extent to which a balancing of the books will now be required.

It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if loans made up the rest of their arrivals, though, if most of the summer budget goes on a permanent deal for Willock.

In other news, a Newcastle journalist issued this claim on Steve Bruce’s future.

West Ham United have joined the race for Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard as Irons manager David Moyes looks to bolster his depleted forward line.

What’s the story?

According to Eurosport, the Hammers are interested in signing the highly-rated 23-year-old this summer, although they’re set to face fierce competition for his signature.

Fellow Premier League clubs Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace have also been credited with an interest in Edouard in recent weeks, so Moyes may have to move quickly to secure his transfer target.

West Ham fans will be buzzing

Since arriving at Celtic Park back in August 2017, the £15.3m-rated gem has established himself as one of Europe’s most promising young forwards, bagging 85 goals and providing 39 assists in 176 appearances for the Hoops.

The former France under-21 international’s standout displays have earned numerous plaudits, with former Celtic manager Neil Lennon labelling him “magnificent” after a match-winning performance.

However, with just under a year remaining on his current contract with the Glasgow giants, Edouard is desperate for a new challenge, and Eurosport claimed that he is ‘keen to prove’ he can score regularly in the Premier League.

They added that, due to his contract situation, Celtic will sell the striker ‘if an acceptable formal offer arrives’, so a move to the London Stadium could be on the cards.

News of Edouard’s potential arrival in east London will surely have West Ham supporters buzzing with excitement.

The arrival of Europa League football is set to be a serious strain on Moyes’ already stretched squad, and the addition of a supremely talented marksman who has fired Celtic to nine major trophies throughout his time at the Glasgow club would be warmly welcomed.

Michail Antonio is the only recognised striker in the Irons’ squad following Sebastien Haller’s move to Ajax back in January, so a belated alternative is high up on Moyes’ wish list for the current window.

It’s been a quiet summer so far for West Ham, but snatching Edouard away from under the noses of their domestic rivals would certainly make it a far more successful transfer window.

In other news… GSB must sanction West Ham swoop for £9m-rated beast, he’s an “eternal hero” 

Ange Postecoglou led his Celtic side to a fifth consecutive win on Wednesday night as the Hoops beat AZ Alkmaar 2-0 in the Europa League.

Celtic have won their past five competitive matches, scoring 18 goals in the process, and are now in a strong position to qualify for the group stages of the European competition.

Kyogo Furuhashi and James Forrest scored the goals for the Australian’s side, with Tom Rogic and Furuhashi providing the assists. Joe Hart was also able to claim a clean sheet, with his defence helping him to stop Alkmaar from finding the back of the net.

However, it was not all sunshine and rainbows for the Hoops as one player, in particular, struggled to show his quality on the pitch.

Liel Abada was reintroduced to the side after two games on the sidelines due to injury and his lack of sharpness was evident in his performance. The summer signing was the only player in the starting XI to record a FotMob rating lower than 7.1, as he scored 6.6 for his display on the wing.

Delving deeper into his statistics from the game, it is easy to see why he was given such a low score in comparison to his teammates. Per FotMob, Abada lost 100% of his duels on the pitch and only completed three passes in 58 minutes before being taken off, having attempted five overall.

In total, he only had eight touches of the ball and had one shot on goal whilst creating zero chances for his teammates and attempted one cross – unsuccessfully – into the box. This shows that he failed to get himself into the game and was left watching on as his teammates did the business.

Ahead of the game, we published an article urging Postecoglou to throw Abada a bone by unleashing him against Alkmaar following his fitness issues. We pointed to his form in matches earlier this season as a reason behind starting him, with the Australian ultimately agreeing with our suggestion as he picked him against the Dutch side.

However, he let his head coach down with a disastrous display and embarrassed him. As shown by the aforementioned statistic, he was unable to make any positive impact on the game before being hauled off in the second-half. This will have been a disappointment to Postecoglou as the winger did not prove that he was right to put his faith in him for this game, leaving him embarrassed at making the decision to start h

AND in other news, Forget Furuhashi: Celtic beast who had 63 touches was Ange’s real hero vs AZ Alkmaar…

Graeme Hick’s county career appears to be over after he was ruled out of his final Championship game against Middlesex, at Kidderminster, with his long-standing elbow injury

Cricinfo staff16-Sep-2008
Injury means Graeme Hick has probably played his final innings for Worcestershire © Getty Images
Graeme Hick’s county career appears to be over after he was ruled out of his final Championship game against Middlesex, at Kidderminster, with his long-standing elbow injury.The injury has also put him in doubt for the Pro40 play-off clash against Glamorgan at Cardiff on Sunday, the county’s last match of the season.”He has had such a wonderful career and for him not to make it because of the elbow injury which has plagued him all season would be disappointing for him and the supporters,” Worcestershire’s director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, said.Hick, 42, announced his retirement earlier this month, ending a 25-year career with Worcestershire.Worcestershire need a eight points against Middlesex to guarantee promotion to the first division, although they could still get there if their rivals drop points. A win over Glamorgan in the play-offs could ensure first division status in both league competitions.”We might not have been in this position had we had any play in Cardiff last week,” Rhodes said. “But that has gone and we must focus on getting those eight points. We need to get ourselves in the position of winning the game that means getting the bonus points first and going from there.”