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Tottenham Hotspur are now looking at signing Brentford striker Ivan Toney, coming after David Pleat wanted him in 2020.

The Lowdown: Pleat eyes move…

As revealed by Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony, former Spurs manager turned scouting consultant Pleat had his eye on the England international two years ago.

Speaking to the Hard Truth Podcast, via football.london, the Posh club chief claimed Pleat was eyeing Toney as a ‘cheap option’ back then to reinforce Jose Mourinho’s squad amid Harry Kane’s injury problems at the time.

However, MacAnthony revealed that the pandemic ruined any chance of a move to north London going ahead with Football Insider now claiming that the Lilywhites are seemingly back in for Toney.

The Latest: Paratici eyes Toney move…

Spurs, and by extension sporting director Fabio Paratici, are now apparently ‘keeping close tabs’ on the Bees star, who has started this Premier League campaign in fine form.

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The north Londoners, according to FI, are ‘monitoring’ the 26-year-old and assessing possible striker targets ahead of the January transfer window – with Toney fitting the bill.

It is also understood that a Lilywhites official has been sent to run the rule over Thomas Frank’s star man very recently in Brentford’s 5-1 defeat to Newcastle.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Called ‘sensational’ by football pundit and presenter Stephen Howson, Toney has been nothing short of a revelation so far this campaign.

The forward has bagged six goals and two assists for Brentford and has featured in every top flight game, proving an indispensable asset to the west Londoners.

Given his run of brilliant form, it’s hardly a surprise his side could demand as much as £50 million for his services, as they reportedly valued him in the summer window.

However, given he is homegrown and a proven top flight goal scorer, you could make the argument it’s a worthy investment.

Arsenal are interested in a deal to bring Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to The Emirates in the January transfer window.

That’s according to recent reports from Spain, which claim that, with injuries to both Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny highlighting Mikel Arteta’s lack of depth in central midfield, the Spaniard could well be tempted to bring in a new player in the position this winter, with there said to be signs that the 40-year-old is targeting the SS Lazio sensation.

And, with Fabrizio Romano recently relaying the comments of the 27-year-old’s agent, Mateja Kezman, who claimed that the midfielder will discuss his future with the Serie A side after the World Cup this winter, there would appear to be a possibility of the Serbia international moving onto pastures new – especially with just 18 months remaining on his current deal.

Having said that, with Romano also going on to reveal that Claudio Lotito has now placed a €120m (£105m) asking price on the playmaker, any move by Arteta and Edu to bring the midfielder to north London would not appear to come cheap.

De Bruyne 2.0

Considering just how impressive Milinkovic-Savic has been for Lazio in recent seasons, it is easy to see why Arteta would be interested in a deal to bring the 27-year-old to The Emirates this winter, as well as why Lotito looks to have placed an extremely hefty asking price on the midfielder’s head.

Indeed, according to FBref, the £43.5m-rated playmaker ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, in addition to the top 3% for non-penalty xG, the top 6% for shots, the top 1% for assists and the top 19% for shot-creating actions over the last 365 days – proving just how effective the Serbian is in the final third.

The £99k-per-week talent also impresses in possession of the ball, with FBref ranking Milinkovic-Savic in the top 15% for passes attempted per 90, as well as the top 14% for dribbles completed, the top 3% for touches in the opposition penalty area, the top 4% for progressive passes received and the top 33% for progressive passes over the past 12 months.

From these metrics, it is easy to see why Ciro Immobile – the 27-year-old’s teammate at the Stadio Olimpico – went as far as to compare the midfielder to Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, stating: “Trust me, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is magic. He’s on the same level as Kevin De Bruyne.”

As such, with it being clear to see that Milinkovic-Savic is very much one of the most talented midfielders currently playing the game, should Arteta manage to get a deal over the line for the 35-cap international this winter, the Spaniard could well have unearthed Arsenal’s very own De Bruyne-esque talent.

As a player with a mind-boggling 96 Premier League assists to his name, that’s a prospect that is sure to be incredibly tantalising for the Gunners faithful.

Leeds United could be set to move for a new midfielder in January, with Jesse Marsch & Victor Orta already drawing up their plans…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who spoke about Weston McKennie’s future to GIVEMESPORT: “I’m sure Leeds will try and use that American connection to try and help any deal to get over the line if they do pursue a move for McKennie.”

The Italian giants were reportedly willing to sell the 24-year-old over the summer but had slapped a €30m (£26m) price tag on him.

With January soon to come around, perhaps Victor Orta will be able to tempt him to Elland Road for a far smaller fee, provided he does not star in the upcoming World Cup.

He can bring energy

Although Marsch completed a midfield rebuild over the summer following the sale of Kalvin Phillips, perhaps he sees his addition as the extra quality that can steer them away from the relegation zone.

The Whites currently sit two points adrift from safety, having won just once in their last nine Premier League games.

Marc Roca and Tyler Adams are both fine players in their own right but lack the creativity and classiness to carve a team open.

Although the American ace is not a wholly creative force himself, he can be a success at Elland Road due to his work rate and ability to push forward too.

In his debut season for Juventus, he scored six and assisted a further three across various competitions, and he would bring incredible experience to the Yorkshire outfit.

Clint Dempsey’s comments further support this, as he dubbed him as someone who can “bring that energy” as well as being “dangerous on the set pieces or crosses. And the way he elevates and gets over people and scores goals.”

He has featured 23 times in the Champions League already, and if he were to make the drop-down it would mark a huge coup for Marsch.

This season has not been a standout for McKennie, but then again, the fall of the Old Lady is one which will have affected all involved.

Perhaps a move to Leeds could reignite his talents in a far less pressured environment, and he could be the added impetus to spark the midfield into life.

Newcastle United are reportedly still eyeing up a potential move for FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

The Lowdown: Scouts sent

It was reported in September that the St. James’ Park outfit sent scouts to watch Costa in action for the Portugal national team back in June, ahead of a potential move.

He has a €60m (£51.9m) release clause, and even though the North East club signed Nick Pope from Burnley in the summer, a move for Costa in the January transfer window has not been ruled out.

The Latest: Still interest

As per Portuguese news outlet Record (via Sport Witness), Costa is ‘well referenced’ on Tyneside, and Eddie Howe’s team remain attentive to the player.

However, he is completely focused on Porto at the moment, having just played in the UEFA Champions League group stages away at Club Brugge, while both Manchester United and FC Barcelona have also sent scouts to watch him.

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The Verdict: Have faith in Pope

Having just signed Pope, there should not be a real urgency for the Magpies to go out and buy another goalkeeper.

They already have Loris Karius and Karl Darlow that they can also call upon, while Martin Dubravka is on loan at United.

Hailed as ‘superb’ by journalist Zach Lowy, there is no doubt that Costa is a quality goalkeeper, as the six-foot-two colossus helped Porto win their domestic league title last term, with an impressive 15 clean sheets in 33 games and just 22 goals conceded in the Portuguese top flight (Transfermarkt).

He has started off this season in similar fashion, averaging a clean sheet every other game, and at just 23 years of age, there will be plenty more opportunities for the Toon to buy him in the future.

Right now, their faith should be in Pope, who has conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League so far this campaign.

West Bromwich Albion made plenty of big blunders that led to their current position, with Steve Bruce heading up most of them.

Having led his side to the relegation zone before his sacking, they have currently shipped 22 goals in just 16 Championship matches.

One of his less notorious but most costly mistakes from this campaign was loaning out youngster Caleb Taylor, as his performances for Cheltenham Town are proving.

It may go unnoticed, but with their current defensive frailties and the continued absence of Semi Ajayi, they could use some added impetus in the form of a young, quick defender who could supplement the likes of Dara O’Shea and Martin Kelly.

There is no greater example of why they should have kept Taylor than the fact that Erik Pieters has started the last four games at centre-back, despite being a left-back by trade.

With Carlos Corberan likely keen on maintaining a 3-4-3 formation, it will further reinforce the mistake Bruce made to loan out the 19-year-old.

Having already made 15 appearances for the League One side, he has played in all but one of their current league matches this campaign.

Despite Cheltenham sitting in 18th, just four points above the relegation zone, without the Baggies youngster their record of 20 goals conceded in 15 games would look far worse.

Jon Palmer, who frequently writes about the Robins, was full of praise for the defender. He said: “He’s been excellent. Overall the games they have played he has been Cheltenham’s most consistent player so far this season.”

His defensive stability is outlined through his clearances, of which he has made 106. No player has more in his division.

Palmer continued: “He just looks like he’s cruising through games. He’s so good in the air and he never looks rushed.

“He sees everything a split second before anybody else so you never see him panicking or out of position or sprinting to recover. He always seems in control.”

These words mark startling praise for someone so young, who appears to be a complete mature defender already.

With performances such as the ones detailed, it’s a wonder why he is not competing for a spot in West Brom’s defence given how they have leaked goals this term.

It was clearly another Bruce blunder to oversee his departure as he should arguably be starting now, but one which Corberan can likely rectify with a chance in the coming seasons.

كشف مصدر مسؤول داخل منتخب مصر للشباب تحت 20 عاماً، خطة الفراعنة قبل خوض منافسات بطولة كأس العالم، المقرر إقامته في تشيلي، في الفترة ما بين 27 سبتمبر إلى 19 أكتوبر 2025. ونجح منتخب مصر للشباب في حجز مقعده في بطولة كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا، بعد أن احتل المركز الرابع في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب، التي استضافتها مصر مؤخرًا.

وقال المصدر في تصريحات لـ بطولات: “منتخب مصر للشباب مواليد 2005 يدخل معسكرا مفتوحا يوم 3 يوليو في ضمن خطة استعداده لـ كأس العالم.

طالع أيضاً.. مواعيد مباريات منتخب مصر للشباب في بطولة كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا

وتابع: “منتخب الشباب سيلعب وديتين أمام الكويت في القاهرة 17 و20 يوليو قبل خوض كأس العالم”.

ويتولى قيادة منتخب مصر للشباب جهاز فني بقيادة أسامة نبيه مديرًا فنيًا، ويعاونه كل من علاء عبده مدربًا عامًا، ومحمد عمر النور مدربًا مساعدًا، إلى جانب أيمن طاهر مدربًا لحراس المرمى.

Leeds United have been linked with a January move for Senegal World Cup hopeful Boulaye Dia.

The Lowdown: Dia profiled

Dia, who is set to feature for Senegal at the World Cup later this month, is 25 years of age and is currently on loan with Serie A side US Salernitana from Villarreal.

The Italian side has the option to make a transfer permanent next year, with the centre-forward scoring five times in 11 games this season, taking his senior tally for club and country to 53 goals.

Dia has been hailed as “impressive” by Serie A journalist Siavoush Fallahi, and it looks as if his displays have caught the eye at Elland Road.

The Latest: Leeds links

Sports Witness relayed an update from Gazzetta dello Sport regarding Dia on Wednesday. They claim that Andrea Radrizzani and co are in the picture for Dia’s services alongside Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

The report adds that the Whites are the latest side to show an interest, with Salernitana keen on exercising their option to make a transfer permanent.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

Radrizzani and the 49ers could do with freeing up some funds to bolster their centre-forward ranks in the New Year, with another potential relegation battle looming.

Patrick Bamford has missed nine big chances in the Premier League in just 427 minutes, so bringing in someone like Dia who has been finding the net over in Italy could be a wise idea.

A move for the Senegalese forward may also be more realistic than landing summer target Cody Gakpo, so this could be one to keep an eye on and potentially worth watching how Dia gets on in Qatar.

Leeds United U21 centre-forward Sonny Perkins could be set to link up with Jesse Marsch’s senior side ahead of their Carabao Cup meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Joe Donnohue, with the journalist revealing in a recent article for the Yorkshire Evening Post that, after being limited to a ten-minute substitute appearance in the young Whites’ 4-2 victory over Newcastle United U21s on Monday, the centre-forward now appears to be in with a chance of travelling to Molineux with the senior squad this evening.

Regarding the potential inclusion of a number of the club’s promising talents, Donnohue said: “[Leo] Hjelde and [Wilfried] Gnonto have both made first-team appearances this season, while [Darko] Gyabi and [Mateo] Joseph have been named on the substitutes’ bench by Marsch but are yet to earn their senior debuts.

“Perkins, on the other hand, has not made a matchday squad yet, but may travel with the group on Wednesday.”

Bamford heir

With Phil Hay recently revealing that Patrick Bamford looks set to be ruled out of first-team action until the return of club football after the World Cup, Marsch could well unearth the injury-prone centre-forward’s long-term heir at Leeds by unleashing Perkins against Wolves this evening.

Indeed, since making a move to Thorp Arch on a free transfer this summer, the 18-year-old sensation has been in astonishing goalscoring form over his nine Premier League 2 outings for the U21s, hitting the back of the net on seven different occasions, in addition to bagging one in three Papa John’s Trophy fixtures.

The teenage hitman has also been in fine form for England’s U19s in the current campaign, scoring five goals and providing one assist in three outings for Ian Foster’s side – meaning the youngster has averaged a direct goal contribution every 82 minutes of football played in 2022/23.

As such, with the goalless Bamford now looking to be out of action for a considerable amount of time, it would very much appear as if the £1m-rated Perkins has more than earned his chance to fill the boots of the England international until his likely return to first-team football in December.

Having said that, should the “dangerous” striker impress against Wolves this evening, perhaps the 18-year-old could even end up taking Bamford’s starting spot away from him on a much more regular basis, especially considering just how much of a struggle the Leeds’ number nine is finding it to get up to full fitness this season.

Glasgow Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst is reportedly closing in on the end of his time as manager of the Scottish giants.

Football Insider recently reported that it is ‘increasingly likely’ that the Gers boss will be dismissed during the break for the 2022 World Cup after a disappointing first half of the campaign.

The Light Blues board have already held crisis talks and could now wield their axe and task Ross Wilson with finding a replacement for the Dutchman.

Charlie Nicholas claimed that former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl could be one of the “serious contenders”, alongside Sean Dyche, to replace van Bronckhorst in the dugout.

Rangers’ current manager recently came under fire from Brian Laudrup as the retired midfielder criticised the head coach’s body language on the touchline.

Speaking in the Daily Mail, via Football Scotland, former Gers man said: “With the World Cup break looming next week, it’s time for the Rangers board to think seriously about the direction of the club and the manager’s part within it.”

He added: “Van Bronckhorst has tried a lot of different things with his team and is still trying to find answers. I also look at his body language at times. Hands folded. Looking down. He doesn’t look like a manager who is certain he can turn things around. It looks almost like he has given up a little bit.

“I’m not sure if he always knows his best line-up or the best approach to games. A dressing-room can feel that. Players become insecure.”

Hasenhuttl, meanwhile, has been compared to Jurgen Klopp in the way that he behaves on the touchline as he is prone to a wild celebration, seemingly not afraid of showing his emotions in front of the crowd.

Current Southampton boss Nathan Jones praised the Austrian’s “aggressive” style and that translated into his antics on the side of the pitch, which could endear him to the Ibrox faithful in a way that they have not been able to feel towards van Bronckhorst’s downbeat demeanour.

Klopp claimed that the 55-year-old did an “exceptional” job with the Saints, as he kept them in the Premier League in each of his four seasons at the club prior to the current campaign.

The head coach had enjoyed a successful spell in Germany before moving to England. Hasenhuttl led Ingolstadt to the second division title before finishing 11th in their first season in the Bundesliga, before earning himself a move to RB Leipzig where he finished second and sixth in the table.

This shows that he is adaptable as a manager as he has proven that he can manage in two major European leagues and that he can achieve relative success at the top and the bottom of the table, which is why he could be able to adapt to managing the expectations at Rangers.

Therefore, his managerial ability and the engagement he could get from supporters who have been seeing a reserved van Bronckhorst could make him an excellent alternative to the Dutchman, which is why Wilson must look at a reunion with the tactician he worked with at St. Mary’s.

Leicester City have joined the race to sign Middlesbrough full-back Isaiah Jones, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Attracting interest

Following Michael Carrick’s arrival at the Riverside Stadium, the 23-year-old has been playing in more of a midfield role rather than his natural wing-back position, but he has still managed to flourish under his new manager’s guidance.

The Wearsider’s contract in the northeast isn’t set to expire until June 2025, but his impressive performances in the Championship appear to have caught the eye of several clubs in the Premier League.

The Latest: Leicester keen on Jones

Speaking to TEAMtalk, Graeme Bailey revealed that Jones is now being monitored by a number of top-flight suitors, with Leicester recently joining in the fray, although Boro are set to stop any move from happening until at least next summer.

He said: “No Middlesbrough player has benefited more from Michael Carrick’s appointment than Isaiah Jones. Carrick has switched him to right midfield from right back. And I am told that he is impressing a lot of clubs.

“He was already on the radar of the likes of Crystal Palace and West Ham. But now others are keen too including the likes of Wolves, Leicester and Southampton. But they can forget about a January raid.

“Boro’s play-off hopes have been reignited and Carrick is going to be backed. Which means they won’t be selling one of their prized assets.”

The Verdict: Justin alternative?

James Justin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery, and whilst it will be difficult to prise him away from Middlesbrough, Jones would be an ideal alternative to have on the right flank.

The Lambeth-born talent has been dubbed a ‘real threat’ going forward by Joe Nicholson, and it’s not surprising given that he has 12 assists and four goals to his name since becoming part of the senior squad at the Riverside (Transfermarkt).

Boro are considered play-off contenders right now after a resurgent autumn, but if their form drops for any reason, Jones could well be tempted to look in the direction of the King Power Stadium to further his development.