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Pakistan have named at least four allrounders, including the 14-year-old Mohammad Shahzad, in their 15-man squad for the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa early next year. The in-form Rohail Nazir will continue to led the side, while 16-year-old quick Naseem Shah, who recently made his Test debut in Australia, also featured in the squad.

The squad

Rohail Nazir (capt), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Haider Ali, Mohammad Shahzad, Mohammad Harris, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Fahad Munir, Qasim Akram, Amir Ali, Arish Ali Khan, Amir Khan, Naseem Shah, and Tahir Hussain

“We have planned extensively and tried our best to form a fine team,” Saleem Jaffar, the Pakistan junior team head coach, said at a press conference in Lahore. “Probables selected for the World Cup will give both coach and captain full options to form a balanced side. I hope this team will go good. But whoever is left out shouldn’t be disheartened because they are on a path that will take them to the professional cricket and this isn’t the end of world.”Shahzad, a batting allrounder from Southern Punjab, caught the selectors’ eye at the ongoing Under-16 domestic tournament, where he scored 175 runs in two games and picked up six wickets.”Shahzad is a good package; [he can] bat in the opening slot and bowl at medium pace, so we are also eyeing to tap someone who can be a good prospect in future like [Abdul] Razzaq,” Jaffar said. “This is the cricket that actually take players forward. He is young on the Under-16 circuit and has done really well recently. For us, winning is equally important but at the same time we are also giving them an international feel. This Under-19 circuit is an exciting cricket and such players are the future.”

Team management

Ijaz Ahmed (head coach and manager), Rao Iftikhar Anjum (bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (assistant coach), Saboor Ahmad (trainer), Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rasul (physiotherapist), Usman Hashmi (analyst), Emmad Ahmed Hameed (media manager) and Col (retd) Usman Riffat Ansari (security manager)

Aside from Shahzad, the allrounders’ contingent comprises Abbas Afridi, Fahad Munir and Qasim Akram, who made it to the squad on the back of his impressive returns of 296 runs and three wickets and 260 runs and 15 wickets in the PCB Under-19 one-day and three-day tournaments respectively. Akram also made a mark at the recent Emerging Under-19 Asia Cup, and the tours of South Africa and Sri Lanka, where he scored 77 and 124 runs respectively.Three out of the 28 probables – Ammad Butt Jr, Akhtar Shah and Saim Ayub – were not considered for selection because of injuries.The 2020 Under-19 World Cup will be held from January 17, in South Africa. Pakistan, the 2004 and 2006 champions and three-time runners-up, are slotted in Group C along with Bangladesh, Scotland and Zimbabwe in the 16-team competition. They will kick off their campaign against Scotland on January 19 in Potchefstroom.

Leeds United powered onto their 24th Championship win of the season – and their 11th victory of 2024 already in the league – when Daniel Farke's men swept aside Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at Hillsborough on Friday night.

Patrick Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto were the heroes in South Yorkshire sharing the goals between them, with Bamford collecting his seventh strike of the campaign after exploding into life this year back in the first-team mix.

Crysencio Summerville was somewhat quiet down the left channel against Danny Rohl's men in contrast, the electric Dutch winger now goalless in his last five second-tier matches off the back of another unmemorable display.

With Jaidon Anthony not being available for selection on Friday to come on in Summerville's place, Farke could look towards the future soon for replacements that can come in and fill a gap.

Although not available due to being out on loan, in due course the manager could well look towards a Whites youngster, who is starring away from Elland Road in an unfamiliar left-wing spot.

Darko Gyabi's time at Leeds

Darko Gyabi joined Leeds tipped for big things back in 2022, relocating from Manchester City for a fee of £5m which saw Whites icon Kalvin Phillips swap his boyhood club for Pep Guardiola's giants as part of the deal.

Despite the large fee to get the deal over the line pointing in the direction that Gyabi would instantly be dropped into the senior fold in West Yorkshire, the current Plymouth Argyle loanee has only really excelled for Leeds in the youth set-ups since his major move.

The ex-Man City midfielder has bagged two goals and picked up four assists for the U21s from 28 appearances, which resulted in the 20-year-old talent being given first-team opportunities here and there last campaign.

1. GK – Joel Robles

2. RB – Luke Ayling

3. CB – Diego Llorente

4. CB – Leo Hjelde

5. LB – Junior Firpo

6. RW – Jack Harrison

7. CM – Darko Gyabi

8. CM – Mateusz Klich

9. LW – Mateo Joseph

10. ST – Joe Gelhardt

11. ST – Sonny Perkins

Gyabi would go on to amass just five first-team appearances though and would become a fringe figure as a result, leading to the exciting youngster heading out the door from Leeds this season on loan to Plymouth lower down the Championship standings.

It's already proving to be a beneficial loan spell for the towering 6 foot 5 midfielder in Devon, who is surprisingly excelling down the left channel for Ian Foster's relegation-threatened side in recent weeks to the amazement of Farke and Co back at his parent club.

Darko Gyabi's time at Plymouth

Gyabi didn't instantly hit the ground running in his new surroundings, the 20-year-old taking time to acclimatise to Home Park and the expectations on his shoulders to be a bright spark in the midst of a relegation battle.

Weirdly enough, the hot prospect would struggle in his standard central midfield spot for the Pilgrims towards the beginning of his stint away from Leeds – the current Plymouth number 18 only completing ten accurate passes in total from the middle of the park against Swansea City at the start of February.

He has since come into his own being pushed forward into a left-wing spot by Ian Foster, a masterstroke decision by the under-pressure Argyle boss.

The 20-year-old's first game in this once unusual position in the Plymouth XI would see him pick up an assist away at Middlesbrough, teeing up Ryan Hardie for the game-clinching second goal at the Riverside Stadium in the 2-0 away day win.

Amassing four key passes versus Boro, alongside firing three shots on the opposition goal himself to try and make the victory even more smooth sailing, Gyabi's lively display didn't go unnoticed by former Argyle defender turned pundit Hasney Aljofree at full-time.

Aljofree, when talking to Plymouth Live post-match, would describe Gyabi's individual showing as "fearless" and praised Foster for playing him in a role that means he could attack with more freedom as opposed to being shackled by playing deeper.

Gyabi's continued excellence pulling on an Argyle strip in this role has even led to him collecting the February Player of the Month accolade for his new Devon-based outfit, with Farke keeping a very close eye on his youngster's progression now and his fantastic adaptability to play in a forward role being unearthed.

Anthony's loan being up in the summer could present Gyabi with more first-team opportunities next season, the 20-year-old transforming into an exciting left winger now as opposed to just being useful in the middle of the pitch.

When Anthony does return back to the Cherries when the season is over and done, Leeds will only really be left with Summerville as a confident left winger with Gnonto far more adept at playing down the opposite channel now.

As a cost-effective measure, giving Gyabi time to impress down the left wing as a potential Summerville understudy could well work next campaign.

No doubt, on top of Gyabi offering another body in this sparse position, the former Man City midfielder will also still be able to fill in playing in a holding role if required alongside offering competition to the likes of Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter in that number ten slot.

It would feel like a massive waste of money and time if the 6 foot 5 starlet is just chucked to the scrap heap after his loan with Plymouth is up, especially considering how highly rated he was when joining the Elland Road ranks just two years ago.

Farke won't be afraid to launch Gyabi into the first team fold despite his relative inexperience either, knowing that Archie Gray has come into the senior side and succeeded with flying colours at 17 years of age alongside U21 hotshot Mateo Joseph showing flashes of brilliance in his XI.

Could the popular German manager do the same with Gyabi next campaign?

“It’s one I’ll never forget” says Stokes after stunning innings seals improbable England victory

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Aug-2019Ben Stokes said that the winning boundary in his remarkable, unbeaten innings of 135 to seal a dramatic third Ashes Test at Headingley was one of the “top two feelings I’ve ever had on a cricket field”, alongside the Super Over finale in the World Cup final last month.England needed 73 to win when Stokes was joined by last man Jack Leach, but the pair put on a stand of 76 in 10.2 overs – of which Leach contributed an unbeaten 1 off 17 balls – to seal the unlikeliest of victories.”It probably matches the World Cup, to be honest,” Stokes told Sky. “Unbelievable, it’s one I’ll never forget. I’m not sure that’ll ever happen again. I just had to try to take it all in. It’s never over until it’s over.”When Leachy came in it was pretty clear what had to be done,” he said. “[I was] just saying ‘five and one’ – I’ll take five [balls] and you take one. There were a couple of times I thought we were getting two but it was only one, but Leachy’s done it before. He’s a super nightwatchman, he’s got a 92, and I backed him knowing what he had to do. I couldn’t watch at the end, I was just waiting to see what happened.”When it got down to 20 [runs required], I started thinking I could rein it in a little bit, but when it was 70s, 60s, 50s I thought I had to really try and go. I was so in the zone as to what I had to do.”Ben Stokes takes the applause after sealing England’s win•Getty ImagesStokes’ innings came despite a minor injury in his back leg. “I twanged my glute a little bit,” he said. “I was a little bit heavy-legged, but when you’re out there in the middle and you know what’s on the line, adrenaline keeps you going.””We had to win this game to stay in the Ashes. We’ve managed to do it, we’ve got to move on to the next game, we’ve managed to keep our hopes alive of doing the double, and we’re going to take a lot of momentum in. It’s nice that we’ve got a bit of a break to recharge our batteries and hopefully hit the ground running again in Manchester.”Leach planted a kiss on his batting partner’s cheek, and Stokes paid tribute to his innings. “Credit to Jack to be out there and able to do that in such a high-profile situation. That was the best kiss I’ve ever had.”Tim Paine, Australia’s captain, said the defeat was “hard to take” but admitted “you’ve got to tip your hat sometimes. Ben Stokes played an unbelievable innings. It’s probably the best Test innings I’ve seen, and the rest of the team thought the same thing.”Stokes’ captain Joe Root described the innings as “outrageous”.”We had to call upon all of that in the World Cup,” Root said. “To stay as calm and composed as he did showed great skill, courage, and belief in his own ability. He deserves all the plaudits and adulation that he gets given.”

Leeds United are thought to be close to selling a loanee on a permanent deal despite the transfer window shutting, with Paul Robinson giving his thoughts on the update.

Players to leave Leeds in 2023/24

The Whites had a busy summer following relegation to the Championship last year, with the 49ers Enterprises taking over, Daniel Farke coming in as manager and multiple player incomings and outgoings.

Two Leeds United defender deals collapse on deadline day

Not the news Daniel Farke will have been hoping for.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024

In fact, 15 players departed Yorkshire over the summer, either on permanent or loan exit, and there were more to go in January. Leo Hjelde joined Sunderland on a permanent transfer, whereas Luke Ayling left to join Middlesbrough on loan. Darko Gyabi and Ian Poveda also headed out to Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.

However, despite the window closing, there have been claims that Luis Sinisterra, currently on loan at Bournemouth, could seal a permanent transfer to the Cherries due to the way his loan was agreed. Recent reports have suggested that a £20m deal will now be sealed in the next 24 hours.

Robinson reacts to Sinisterra transfer update

Talking to MOT Leeds News, former Whites goalkeeper Robinson, who also contributes for Sky Sports, said that Sinisterra has “done really well” with Bournemouth but admitted that Leeds haven’t exactly missed him.

“I think he’s done well at Bournemouth when he’s been given an opportunity, him and [Justin] Kluivert in behind the main striker, I think he’s done really well. It’s a move that he’s adapted to, and the biggest thing from a Leeds point of view is they haven’t missed him.

“You look at the Leeds side, at Gnonto, at Summerville, the way Gnonto’s playing at the minute with two goals in his last two games.

“The way they are playing this year means the biggest thing from a Leeds point of view is, yes they’ve allowed [Sinisterra] to go out on loan with a view to a permanent, should they be in the Premier League like most of us Leeds people hope that they are [next season], not non-Leeds fans obviously, then there might be a conversation about, ‘Is there room in the squad for him?’

“When you look at the players Leeds have got in those areas, in Summerville, James and Gnonto then do Leeds actually need him? They’ve proved this season that they haven’t really missed him, truth be known.”

Robinson is spot on with his claim, especially with Leeds’ current wide options. Wilfried Gnonto is starting to find his feet under Farke, whereas Crysencio Summerville and Dan James have starred all season.

Therefore, if Leeds can bring in £20m+ for Sinisterra soon, you could argue that it’s a good deal for all parties.

Axar Patel struck an unbeaten 81 off 63 balls to follow an economical spell, but India A fell short of the target by six runs

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jul-2019

Roston Chase cuts one away•AFP

After losing the first three games and conceding the series to India A, West Indies A pulled one back, overcoming a late assault from Axar Patel to edge the visitors in the fourth one-dayer in Coolidge.India A were 160 for 6 in pursuit of 299, when Axar joined fellow fingerspin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar. After putting on a 60-run partnership with Washington, Axar marshalled the tail, pushing his case for selection in India’s senior side. However, Khaleel Ahmed and Navdeep Saini fell in a space of three balls towards the close as West Indies snuck in a five-run victory. Axar remained unbeaten on 81 off 63 balls, including eight fours and a six.It was Roston Chase who had made the highest score of the game, 84 off 100 balls, setting the platform for West Indies’ tall total after they had been asked to bat. Wicketkeeper-batsman Devon Thomas and No.5 Jonathan Carter supported him with half-centuries of their own. Sunil Ambris, who was a late addition to West Indies’ World Cup squad, got another start, but fell four short of a fifty. At 254 for 3, West Indies were eyeing a taller total, but they lost 6 for 44 to be restricted to 298 for 9. Left-arm quick Khaleel continued his fine form, returning 4 for 67 while Avesh Khan took 3 for 62.India A then lost their openers Anmolpreet Singh and Ruturaj Gaikwad within seven overs in the chase, and the slide seeped into the middle order as well. Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre and offspinner Chase claimed combined figures of 10-0-83-2 to shackle India A’s middle order. Axar and Washington then launched a late fightback with the lower order, but they fell just short. Seam-bowling allrounders Keemo Paul and Rovman Powell claimed two wickets each for the hosts.The fifth and final one-dayer will be played at the same venue on July 21.

West Ham United are yet to make a senior addition to their first-team squad during the January transfer window but look set for a busy nine days before the deadline.

Hammers closing in on England international Kalvin Phillips

According to journalist Alan Nixon, the Hammers are closing in on a deal to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips to bolster their options in the middle of the park. Writing on his Patreon account (22/01/2024), the reporter states that the club are 'shortly' set to complete a loan move for the England international ahead of the second half of the season.

West Ham will cover his wages over the next five months and will also pay a bonus fee but there is no option to make the transfer permanent in the summer. Phillips is not the only Premier League player who could be on their way to the London Stadium before the deadline, though, as they are also in the race to sign a young forward from Chelsea.

West Ham's pursuit of a new forward

Nixon added, in response to a question from a supporter, that West Ham are also in the market to add multiple forwards to the squad after the signing of the City outcast.

One attacker who the Hammers are said to be eyeing up a deal for is Chelsea marksman Armando Broja, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The reporter claims that the Blues are now willing to listen to offers for the Albania international as they look to cash in on their academy graduate. Jacobs states that Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham would both prefer to sign the young striker on loan, whilst West Ham and Aston Villa remain in the race as possible destinations for the England-born attacker.

The journalist adds that Chelsea would consider offers of £35m+ for the former Southampton loanee and that it is a difficult deal for clubs to complete this month.

Broja's Premier League goal record

Broja has struggled for goals since the start of last season and his progress has been stunted by a long-term knee injury that was sustained in December of 2022. The 22-year-old whiz missed 45 matches across two spells due to issues with his knee and has only scored two goals in 25 Premier League games either side of that blow.

However, the talented young striker, who U23 scout Antonio Mango has claimed is "magnificently unique", did plunder nine goals in 38 appearances for Southampton on loan during the 2021/22 campaign, which included six goals in 32 top-flight outings.

2021/22 Premier League

Broja for Southampton (via Sofascore)

Appearances

32

Starts

21

Goals

6

Big chances missed

5

Big chances created

2

This shows that the young marksman is capable of scoring goals in the Premier League but he is yet to prove himself on a consistent basis as that horrendous knee injury disrupted his development.

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It would, therefore, be a gamble for the Hammers to bring him in, particularly for a fee in excess of £35m, but he has plenty of time left to develop and improve at the age of 22 and could arrive as a long-term project for David Moyes.

The January transfer window is due to slam shut in just over a week and Scottish giants Celtic appear set to enjoy, or endure, a busy end to the month.

Brendan Rodgers has already made one signing so far this month as 24-year-old winger Nicolas Kuhn has joined from Austrian side Rapid Wien on a five-and-a-half-year deal.

That is expected to be the first of many before the end of the window as the Northern Irish head coach also has his eye on a left-back, a goalkeeper, and a striker, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

This means that Hoops supporters could have an exciting 12 days or so to look forward to if the club are able to land their top targets to bolster the squad ahead of the second half of the season.

Alongside Kuhn, a left-back, a goalkeeper, and a centre-forward, Celtic are also reportedly attempting to land a new defensive midfielder for Rodgers.

Celtic have held talks to land South Korean talent

According to the Daily Record, the Bhoys have held talks with FC Gwangju over a deal to sign their talented enforcer Ho-yeon Jung before the end of the window.

The Scottish giants are eyeing up a swoop for the impressive midfielder to bolster their options in the middle of the park, which comes after Hyeok-kyu Kwon was allowed to join St. Mirren on loan until the end of the season earlier this month.

It states that there is a 'good' chance that a move will progress between the two sides over a transfer for the South Korean battler before the deadline at the start of February.

However, there is no mention of how much Gwangju would demand for his services, how much Celtic are prepared to pay for him in January, or how the talks between the two clubs went.

The Daily Record do add, though, that the South Korean side would prefer Jung to depart at the end of the year. This suggests that they could put a deal off until the end of the season or ask the Hoops to loan him back to them until the 2023/24 campaign.

If Celtic are able to tempt Gwangju into a deal for the midfielder before the deadline, Rodgers could land a dream partner for Matt O'Riley in the middle of the park.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has reported that Spanish side Girona are interested in a deal to sign the Denmark international ahead of the second half of the campaign.

However, the reporter stated that the club are in a strong position after the central midfielder put pen to paper on a 'bumper' contract, which means that they are in control of the situation.

O'Riley's Premiership dominance this season

The 23-year-old magician has been in magnificent form so far this season for the Hoops and has proven himself to be one of the manager's top performers in the division.

He has made the Scottish Premiership his playground with his ability to influence matches at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis for the Bhoys.

O'Riley has contributed with ten goals and seven assists in 21 top-flight matches as a central midfielder, which is more than one goal contribution every other game on average.

No Celtic player has scored more league goals than the Danish ace. He is the only ace who has made it into the double figures for Rodgers, with Kyogo Furuhashi (eight) and David Turnbull (seven) the closest to him.

Meanwhile, Luis Palma (nine) is the only Hoops star with more assists than O'Riley and the only player in the squad with more key passes per game (3.4) than the ex-Fulham prospect (2.6).

Appearances

38

Goals

Three

Assists

12

Big chances created

16

Key passes per game

2.2

As you can see in the table above, the impressive Celtic star has significantly improved his goalscoring output from the middle of the park in comparison to last season.

He has developed the ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis whilst remaining a constant creative presence for his teammates.

Why Jung could be a dream partner for O'Riley

Rodgers could now land a dream partner for O'Riley in midfield with a deal for Jung as he is an impressive defensive midfielder who is also super reliable in possession.

The 23-year-old caught the eye with his impressive displays in the top-flight of South Korean football throughout 2023 and could be an excellent signing for Celtic if the talented ace can translate those showings over to the Premiership.

Minutes played

90

Sofascore rating

7.6

Duels won

Three

Pass accuracy

86%

Chances created

Five

As you can see in the table above, Jung is capable of having highly creative performances in midfield whilst also being a strong presence off the ball.

Jung made 34 K League 1 appearances throughout 2023 and provided his manager with a tough-tackling option, with 2.9 tackles and interceptions combined and 5.4 ball recoveries per match.

Meanwhile, no Celtic midfielder has managed more than 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premiership this season, which suggests that the Hoops target could add a bit more steel to Rodgers' options in that position.

The 5 foot 11 gem, who was once described as a "good prospect" by Asian football expert Dario Focardi, is also impressive with his work in possession.

Jung completed 90% of his attempted passes in the K League 1 last year and only Callum McGregor (93%) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (92.1%) have averaged a higher success rate in the Premiership out of every Celtic player with at least one start.

This suggests that the Gwangju star could retain the ball at an exceptional rate for Rodgers whilst also being a fantastic defender who can win possession back multiple times per game by cutting out opposition attacks.

Therefore, Jung could be a dream partner for O'Riley as he could sit at the base of the midfield and recover the ball before using his efficient passing to find the Danish magician in dangerous positions, where he can then work his magic in the final third.

Tottenham see themselves as the "perfect" move for an "underappreciated" player, and they could be ready to pay £40-50 million for him.

Spurs identify next signing after Werner and Dragusin

Following the official signings of both Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and Radu Dragusin from Genoa, attention turns to how Ange Postecoglou can further improve his squad before deadline day on January 31.

The departures of Eric Dier, Ashley Phillips and Djed Spence, with all three leaving on loan, free up squad space for Tottenham to make another addition.

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It is widely believed that Spurs want a new midfield number eight after sealing Dragusin's arrival, with there being serious links to Chelsea star Conor Gallagher.

The England international is someone who Tottenham were seriously interested in last summer, with reliable transfer source Fabrizio Romano backing their "concrete" talks to sign him in 2023.

“I think it is difficult," said Romano on Spurs potentially signing Gallagher to GiveMeSport.

"The reality is that they like Gallagher and have done since last summer, this is not new. We know that last summer including on deadline day Tottenham tried to make it happen with Chelsea for Gallagher. They had a concrete conversation, but then Chelsea said no. Now I'm not aware of any direct negotiation between Chelsea and Tottenham for Gallagher so far, but we have to see what happens in the next weeks."

The 23-year-old has been a star player under Mauricio Pochettino this season, making 19 league appearances as their best performer by average match rating according to WhoScored.

He's also Chelsea's joint-top assist maker with Cole Palmer, highlighting his importance as both a creative presence and a real source of energy in the midfield. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's future remains uncertain, and Gallagher could well be a top replacement for the Dane if he were to depart.

Tottenham see themselves as "perfect" for Gallagher

Journalist Dean Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport this week, shared an update on Tottenham's chances of signing the player this winter.

It is believed Spurs would pursue a £40-£50m deal for Gallagher if he were to become available, and the Lilywhites see themselves as the "perfect" destination for him.

"Conor Gallagher is a player they have an interest in," reported Jones.

"They find it hard to believe that he will actually become available for transfer but, if he genuinely is, they think they are the perfect club for him to end up at.

"If they could get Conor Gallagher for £40million to £50million, I think they would probably see that as a good deal and one that they would actually try to pursue.

"But at the moment, obviously, they have still got the problem – on an emotional level on Conor Gallagher's side of things."

The former Crystal Palace loanee has proved himself a worthy top-flight asset, and one Tottenham could really strengthen their ranks with by signing for Postecoglou.

"Conor Gallagher is the new Mason Mount – a hard-working, homegrown midfielder who is underappreciated by many," said Sky Sports Analyst Joe Shread.

"Despite Chelsea's sporting directors appearing extremely open to selling him in the summer, Gallagher has quickly won the trust of Pochettino with his industry, attitude and quality."

Manchester United are in the market for high-profile additions in January and could now look to strengthen their forward line under Erik ten Hag, according to a report.

Manchester United prepare for January…

All things considered, the last few days haven't been too bad for Manchester United after Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreed to buy his 25% stake in the club, with football operations now set to come under the banner of INEOS, alongside £236 million becoming available to redevelop Old Trafford.

On the pitch, the Red Devils picked up a much-needed 3-2 victory over Aston Villa to move up to sixth in the Premier League table following a dramatic late strike from Denmark international Rasmus Hojlund; however, Ten Hag will be keen to ensure his side inherit adequate cover in the January window to equip them for the second half of the campaign.

Plenty of rumours are starting to do the rounds regarding potential targets at Old Trafford and the acquisition of a striker has been floated as a major area of priority.

Serhou Guirassy

19th December

Nico Williams

19th December

Donyell Malen

8th December

Max Moerstedt

7th December

Timo Werner

1st December

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed that Galatasaray striker Mauro Icardi moving to Manchester United would be "box office" amid recent links connecting the player and club, as he stated to the outlet: "I’ll be honest, while the signing would be box office I can’t see someone like Icardi arriving as we head towards January but across the course of next month a lot can change."

Now, a separate report has emerged claiming that the Red Devils have an alternative target in mind as Ten Hag looks to give support to Hojlund.

Manchester United want Viktor Gyokeres

According to reports in Portugal cited via Sport Witness, Manchester United are keen on Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres and could look to trigger his €100 million (£86.6 million) release clause in the January transfer window, which would leave Sporting powerless.

Labelled "brilliant" by former boss Mark Robins, the 25-year-old has been in some excellent form this term, registering 17 goals and eight assists in 20 appearances for his new club (Gyokeres statistics – Transfermarkt).

Viktor Gyokeres key statistics in 2023/24 – Liga Portugal (Sofascore)

Expected goals

5.82

Shots per game

2.9

Shots on target per game

1.3

Expected assists

2.25

Big chances missed

3

Average match rating

7.85/10

The outlet claim that the Sweden international has promised to see out the season at the Portuguese giants, something which will mean that the Red Devils will need to put a good argument across as to why he should swap the sunnier climbs of Lisbon for Old Trafford; nonetheless, hype continues to build over his next destination.

Scandinavian have a long, proud history at Manchester United and Ten Hag could now once again turn to an individual from the region to help add some extra firepower to his forward line in January.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement has enjoyed a solid start to life at Ibrox as they are just one game away from securing their first trophy in 18 months.

The League Cup final against Hearts at Hampden next month gives the Belgian the perfect chance to endear himself to the supporters even more.

The next few weeks could be crucial for the club and the 49-year-old will require all of his senior players to step up and make themselves counted, especially if they have any ambitions of success this term.

While the results on the pitch recently have improved, the January transfer window is fast approaching and the former Club Brugge boss will be keeping an eye on several targets.

Maybe not in the next window, but he will also be looking to land long-term replacements for players who are approaching the end of their careers, such as Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic and especially James Tavernier.

The captain recently turned 32 and while his attacking contributions are still at a wonderful level, he won't be like this forever and another top class right back should be the priority.

Michael Beale signed Dujon Sterling during the summer transfer window, and he was looked upon as a player who could have the long-term capability to succeed Tavernier on the right side of the defence, but it hasn’t quite worked out that way for the former Chelsea gem.

Dujon Sterling’s Rangers statistics

The 23-year-old came through the ranks at Chelsea, making two appearances for the senior side, before a succession of moves in the lower leagues.

His latest spell was with Stoke City, where he featured 28 times last season and, while not known for his attacking abilities, the defender looked like a reliable backup option to the Gers captain upon signing.

His progress at Rangers hasn’t quite gone to plan, however, as he has played only eight times so far this term, starting just twice and yet to feature for Clement in either the league or Europe.

In the Premiership, Sterling ranks in a lowly 17th spot for accurate passes per game (13.5) along with ranking 12th for tackles per game (one) and 25th for overall Sofascore rating (6.4), proving he hasn’t enjoyed the best of success on the field of play domestically.

It is still early in his Rangers career, though, and he can turn the corner if given the chance, but it doesn’t look like Clement has full trust in his ability.

The Light Blues will be hard-pressed to find a player who can contribute as effectively in the final third as Tavernier, as the Englishman already has 14 goal contributions – 11 goals and three assists – across 22 matches this term already.

James Tavernier’s season in numbers

The right back is outshining pretty much every single Gers player currently in the league as he currently ranks first in the squad for goals and assists (eight) while also topping the pile for big chances created (six) and key passes per game (three), clearly indicating that he is a key player for the club.

While Clement will still get another couple of years out of the captain, Tavernier will eventually need to be replaced and while Sterling was brought in as a backup option, it’s evident he isn’t up to the required ability to be a long-term heir.

James Tavernier's league stats	2023/24
Goals	6
Assists	2
Successful dribbles per game	1
Key passes per game	3
Big chances created	6
Stats via Sofascore

At one point, it looked as though former player Nathan Patterson was the ideal heir to his throne, yet the youngster was sold to Everton last January and the Gers are back to square one.

Could Clement turn to another young talent who has had experience in the first team and, with a little bit more confidence, could succeed Tavernier in the right back slot? As in Adam Devine, they have a talent who has been under used this season.

Adam Devine’s career statistics

The 20-year-old was given his senior debut by Giovanni van Bronckhorst towards the tail end of the 2021/22 campaign.

He came on as a sub against Dundee United, while starting against Hearts just a few days later as the manager was resting some first team players for the impending Europa League final in Seville.

He impressed sufficiently during those ties, succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts while being dribbled past just once per game and averaging 53 touches each match, showing that he was keen to impress and grasp the opportunities given with both hands.

It gave the defender a solid platform to work with as Beale had to call on him during the festive season last term due to injuries to Barisic and Ridvan Yilmaz.

Once hailed as “highly rated” by former Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall in 2021 after he joined the club on a short loan deal, Devine certainly displayed this talent when required for the Gers last season.

Across six Premiership matches, the Scot not only created two big chances and averaged one key pass per game, showcasing his attacking ability, but he also succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts and was dribbled past only 0.2 times per game.

The defender even won 1.8 total duels per game – a success rate of 55% – and it was clear that he stepped up to the plate when it really mattered, as the club didn’t lose a single game where he was involved.

Although not quite at the same level to Tavernier at this current moment in time, given more chances in the first team, he could develop into a first class right back.

His versatility at being able to play on either side of the defence will also be a big advantage for him when trying to impress Clement, although he has yet to make an appearance under the Belgian yet.

His time will come, however, and in the long term, he could certainly be a better option than Sterling in order to replace Tavernier on the right side of the defence.

The captain still has plenty to offer, but it won't be long before his excellent spell at Rangers has to come to an end.