Category Uncategorized

Sunderland will be eager to win away at Plymouth Argyle this Saturday in Championship action, a potentially pivotal three points for the Black Cats could be secured at the expense of Carlos Corberan's West Bromwich Albion if the Baggies slip up versus Ipswich Town in the evening.

West Brom are directly below Tony Mowbray's playoff chasers at the moment in seventh spot, only behind Sunderland on goal difference at this moment in time with the Black Cats' potency in front of goal giving them a slight edge in this early season butting of heads for the final playoff position.

Championship playoff race

6th – Sunderland: 26 points, GD: +10

7th – West Brom: 26 points, GD +9

8th – Hull City: 26 points, GD +3

Plymouth are an opponent Sunderland cannot take lightly this weekend, however, especially with the Pilgrims hosting the contest at Home Park – Steven Schumacher's men picking up four wins from eight home games in the Championship so far after lifting the League One title at the end of last campaign.

A selection conundrum that Mowbray will contend with prior to this game in Devon will be who starts in the centre-back positions, with young defender Jenson Seelt underwhelming in the 3-1 home win over Birmingham City despite the positive result.

Jenson Seelt's numbers vs Birmingham

The 20-year-old, who was a summer buy from PSV Eindhoven to add some more bodies defensively, has shown signs of nerves when fielded by Mowbray in the starting line-up this season.

This was particularly evident against Birmingham, but his poor showing didn't derail his side at all to the relief of the die-hard Stadium of Light faithful watching on.

Seelt was weak when it came to asserting himself up against the Blues attackers, only winning half of his overall duels, as per Sofascore.

Whereas, his defensive colleague Trai Hume won six of his nine ground duels on the day to make up for Seelt's below-par display.

It led to Roker Report journalist Andy Tomlinson giving Seelt a 5/10 rating in an article after the game, saying the pace of the game was 'too much' for the 20-year-old to cope with.

Related Bellingham rested in Sunderland's predicted lineup vs Plymouth

Jobe Bellingham could be rested for Sunderland’s next Championship match away in Devon against Plymouth Argyle.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Nov 23, 2023

The former PSV youngster could well be dropped from Mowbray's first team for the trip down to Devon as a result, especially with the news that senior centre-back option Luke O'Nien will be back and ready for action after serving a suspension.

Luke O'Nien as Seelt's replacement

Predominantly playing as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder throughout his career, O'Nien has excelled under Mowbray this campaign featuring even further back in the heart of defence.

O'Nien's own hot-headedness can be his undoing – picking up his fifth yellow card of the season already against Swansea meant he was unavailable for the Birmingham win – but the commitment and determination shown by Sunderland's number 13 on a regular basis when picked is a trait the Black Cats masses can't help but love.

Winning four out of his five aerial duels in that Swansea 0-0 draw, O'Nien's ability on the ball – which has seen him play centrally under Mowbray – also shone even from the back.

Sunderland's captain was accurate with both of his crosses into the Swans area on the day, attempting to unlock a dogged defence all afternoon, even whilst carrying out his standard defensive duties.

For a tough test away at the Pilgrims, Mowbray could well opt to start the former Wycombe Wanderers man over his promising Dutch defender to give Seelt a breather and to ensure Sunderland are rock solid up against Schumacher's Argyle.

Chelsea reportedly face the threat of a “more severe” points deduction than Everton and Nottingham Forest as a result of their elaborate spending.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Toffees & Reds have been punished
• Blues facing threat of similar action
• Have to sell in order to balance books

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Since the Todd Boehly-led ownership team took charge at Stamford Bridge in May 2022, the Blues have splashed out more than £1 billion ($1.3bn) in the transfer market. Premier League teams are only allowed to post losses of up to £105m ($134m) across a three-year period, leaving Chelsea at serious risk of incurring the same kind of penalties as Everton and Forest – who have had six and four points taken off them respectively in the 2023-24 campaign.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  WHAT FOOTBALL FINANCE EXPERT SAID

  Football Finance expert, Stefan Borson, has told of where Chelsea stand at present: “There was an assumption with Mason Mount, because he was announced on Manchester United’s website on July 1 that [his sale] had been put into this current season. So the £55m ($70m) of profit was in this season. It now transpires that Mason Mount appears to have been transacted in 2022-23 and that is how they got through [FFP rules]. We also know from the BlueCo accounts that they are currently, from the post-balance sheet events, that they are something like £48m ($61m) in profit for this year. But of course, this year from an operating perspective, is going to be even worse than last year because they've got no Champions League and no Europe at all.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  He added on what Chelsea need from the next window: “Really, they have to find buyers for Trevoh Chalobah for £20m ($26m), Armando Broja for £40m ($51m), and Conor Gallagher for £50m ($64m). It's those sort of deals that need to be done. And by the way, they all need to be done by June 30. That, as we know, is articulated within the Forest decision. There's a whole conversation about how hard it is to sell players in the period before June. The Premier League actually suggested that more or less that it was impossible.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  With that in mind, and with the Blues struggling to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), Borson went on to say when asked if the west London heavyweights could be stung with harsher punishments than those that have already been handed out: “Yeah. Well, possibly more severe. I think the scale of the losses they're currently forecasting, to me, appear to be vastly in excess of both Everton and Nottingham Forest.”

Aston Villa are contemplating a swoop for a new central player in January, but a fresh report has revealed that there are three other clubs who are also hoping to bring him to the Premier League.

Aston Villa's Premier League form

Unai Emery’s side have made an impressive start to the new top-flight campaign having won seven, drawn one and lost just three of their opening 11 games, meaning that they currently find themselves fifth in the table.

Everton (4-0)

Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-1)

Newcastle United (5-1)

Burnley (3-1)

Liverpool (3-0)

Crystal Palace (3-1)

Nottingham Forest (2-0)

Chelsea (1-0)

Brighton and Hove Albion (6-1)

West Ham United (4-1)

Luton Town (3-1)

The Midlands outfit will be disappointed to have suffered their most recent defeat to Nottingham Forest at The City Ground last weekend, but the winter transfer window will give the hierarchy an opportunity to strengthen their squad even further to avoid such slip-ups again in the future, with one target in particular having already been identified.

Leicester City’s defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has made 252 appearances since putting pen to paper from Genk back in 2017 (Transfermarkt – Ndidi statistics), but there’s a strong possibility that he could be heading for the exit door early next year.

The Nigeria international’s deal is set to expire upon the conclusion of the current campaign (Leicester contracts), meaning that Enzo Maresca’s side are likely to cash in so that they don’t lose the 26-year-old for free, and should that be the case, he has a potential suitor waiting for him at Villa Park.

Aston Villa eyeing move for Wilfred Ndidi

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are interested in Wilfred Ndidi, but they are far from alone in their pursuit.

“TEAMtalk sources suggest that Leicester have been working hard to tie both Ndidi and Iheanacho down to new contracts but as yet, there has been no breakthrough. TEAMtalk understands that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have enquired about the midfielder, while Lyon and Monaco are also keen.

"However, there is also interest from within the Premier League with Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Brentford amongst those who are considering a January approach for Ndidi.”

Whilst Ndidi’s natural role is to protect his defensive backline, Leicester’s talisman has been stronger in the offensive aspect of his game this season having clocked up seven involvements (four assists and three goals) in 15 appearances across all competitions.

Sponsored by Nike, Maresca’s £75k-per-week earner (Leicester salaries), also ranks in the 99th percentile for attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area by a midfielder (FBRef – Ndidi statistics), displaying his desire to get involved with the action in the final third, which has seen him dubbed a “beast” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Ndidi has actually recorded three victories when playing against Villa, so if he’s capable of performing at a high standard with the visitors, imagine what he’d be capable of under the guidance of Emery at Villa Park.

Wayne Madsen scored his 27th first-class hundred for Derbyshire but Northants made a good start to their pursuit of 314 to win

ECB Reporters Network24-Jul-2018
ScorecardNorthamptonshire skipper Alex Wakely revived his team’s chances of pulling off a record-breaking run chase after another Wayne Madsen century set up the prospect of a thrilling finish to the Division Two match against Derbyshire at Chesterfield.Madsen made 116 and allrounder Matt Critchley 51 as Derbyshire posted 342 to set Northants 314, which would be the highest fourth innings total at Queen’s Park. Dan Wheeldon dismissed England batsman Ben Duckett to claim his maiden first-class wicket but 68 from Luke Proctor and an unbeaten 48 from Wakely took the visitors to 174 for 3, 140 short of their target.The first session was always likely to be pivotal and Derbyshire were the team who went into lunch in a position of strength thanks to Madsen and Harvey Hosein. Both played patiently to deny Northants early wickets and although the bowlers maintained discipline on another stiflingly hot morning, there were few alarms for the batsmen.By the time Hosein was bowled sweeping at Seekkuge Prasanna for 38, Derbyshire’s lead was 180 and Critchley helped Madsen add another 40 to that by lunch. Madsen completed his 27th first-class hundred for Derbyshire from 170 balls and although he fell to a smart slip catch soon after, he had given his side the initiative.Critchley acknowledged his fourth Championship fifty of the season before he was unluckily run out but Hardus Viljoen hit Prassana for two big sixes to take Derbyshire’s lead past 300.Northants knew they would have to bat exceptionally well on a pitch taking increasing turn and the odds against them appeared to lengthen when they lost Duckett and Ricardo Vasconcelos in the first 14 overs.Duckett was hit on the back leg by a good ball from Wheeldon and when Vasconcelos edged offspinner Hamidullah Qadri to slip, the target looked a long way off. But Proctor and Wakely showed good judgement and Northants’s hopes were starting to climb when Critchley got one to pop to have Proctor caught at leg slip.Another wicket would have made Derbyshire favourites but Wakely and Richard Levi batted through the last 10 overs to tilt the match towards Northants although the outcome remains in the balance.

One Manchester United player isn’t happy with his current role at Old Trafford and could look to leave in 2024 as a result, according to one new report.

Man Utd exit news…

The Red Devils were busy in the summer in regards to both incomings and outgoings ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge, with big money spent on the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Mason Mount. However, despite splashing the cash, there hasn’t been an instant impact on the pitch, with the club already losing a number of games in both the Premier League and Champions League.

A takeover involving the Glazers potentially selling up is still yet to materialise, but attention already seems to be possible player movement in 2024. That’s where one Ten Hag favourite comes in, with news emerging regarding his current statues.

Football Insider shared a Man Utd transfer update on Anthony Martial in the last 48 hours, claiming he isn’t happy with his current backup role at Old Trafford and could look to leave when his deal expires next year. The club do have the option to extend the Frenchman’s contract by a further 12 months, but with Martial ‘keen to become the main man again at this stage of his career’, his days with the Red Devils could now be numbered.

Anthony Martial injury history

Martial has had a number of injury issues in recent years which has affected his playing time at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old has been available during the current campaign, though, featuring in every squad so far. However, the striker has started just three games under Ten Hag but has taken his Red Devils appearance tally to more than 300. (Transfermarkt Anthony Martial stats)

Anthony Martial injury history

Date

Games missed

Hip injury

February 2023

9

Unknown injury

January 2023

5

Back injury

October 2022

6

Achilles injury

August 2022

5

Hamstring injury

July 2022

2

Ten Hag has hailed Martial on multiple occasions this year, saying earlier in 2023: “We have (a number nine), Anthony Martial, I’m really happy with his performances across many games. He has had a really good impact. If you see his minutes and the impact he has had it’s been huge.”

He then praised the forward again, adding: "We need a good squad and Anthony Martial is a brilliant football player, so he will help us score goals. And also in other areas like pressing and possession in combinations, he's a great player. So we hope he's fit and he stays fit."

Therefore, Ten Hag may want to keep Martial around to rival the likes of Hojlund and Marcus Rashford going forward, but with the player wanting to be the star man, he may need to seek an exit in 2024, bringing to an end his nine-year association with the club in the process.

Tottenham Hotspur remain firmly in the mix at the top of the table following a remarkable start to life under new boss Ange Postecoglou, with the Greek-Aussie still yet to taste defeat in his opening six Premier League games in charge.

The former Celtic coach notably oversaw a positive 2-2 draw away to bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday, with a typically clinical brace from long-serving legend, Heung-min Son, having secured a deserved point for the visitors at the Emirates.

No longer aided by his former partner-in-crime, Harry Kane, Son showed he has the ability and the quality to be Spurs' new talisman moving forward, having taken his tally to five league goals for the season already – half of what he achieved in the whole of last season.

That's not to suggest that the north Londoners are simply a one-man show, however, with summer signing James Maddison also helping to shoulder the attacking burden in the absence of Kane, the former Leicester City man laying on both assists for the South Korean sensation at the weekend.

The division's Player of the Month for August has made a stunning start to life at N17 and has arguably been the "signing of the summer" – according to TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole – with two goals and four assists to his name already this season.

78 minutes played

43 touches

Two assists

Three key passes

7/12 ground duels won

Three fouls won

86% pass accuracy rate

7.7 match rating

Stats via Sofascore

Such an instrumental performance from the 26-year-old was somewhat tainted as he was forced off with injury late on, with both Postecoglou and supporters facing a nervous wait to see if the playmaker will be fit to feature at home to Liverpool this weekend.

What is the latest on Maddison's injury?

The England international was withdrawn in the closing stages – alongside Son – against Mikel Arteta's men, with reports suggesting that he is set to undergo scans to ascertain the extent of the damage, after jarring his knee in the second half on Sunday.

Although the Coventry-born maestro was able to play on following that nasty-looking incident after receiving treatment, it remains to be seen if it is merely a minor issue, or something that could rule him out for an extended period.

According to football.london, the player himself is said to have been feeling 'positive' regarding his knee after the game and was seen moving normally following his post-match media duties, thus raising hopes that he will not be enduring a spell on the treatment table.

Even so, that momentary concern over Maddison exposed a major 'short-term issue' for Postecoglou – as per the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick – with regard to the lack of 'squad depth', with there seemingly a dearth of options to replace the former Norwich City man if he is to be sidelined, be it now or at another occasion.

Who could replace James Maddison at Tottenham?

With the likes of Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg all more likely to operate in a deep-lying berth, the only obvious candidate to step into Maddison's shoes is Giovani Lo Celso, albeit with the Argentine having endured his own injury woes of late.

Even if the Argentine was available for selection there are likely to be doubts over whether he can perform on a consistent basis in the Premier League, having spent the last 18 months out on loan at La Liga side, Villarreal.

The 27-year-old – who signed for Spurs back in 2019 following prior stints at Real Betis and Paris Saint-Germain – has hardly set the world alight when he has been seen in Lilywhite in recent times, scoring just eight goals and contributing only six assists in 86 games in all competitions to date.

With Maddison already almost eclipsing that tally of assists from just seven appearances, Lo Celso doesn't appear to be the man who can provide quality service to the likes of Son and Dejan Kulusevski, hence the need to potentially look elsewhere to find a solution.

A possible dream, "creative force" – as hailed by journalist Alasdair Gold – could have presented itself in the form of teen superstar, Jamie Donley, with the 18-year-old currently shining in the academy ranks.

How good is Jamie Donley?

The Northern Ireland-born, England youth international had previously been touted as the 'new Harry Kane' after rising up through the age groups at Hotspur Way, proving himself to be "a natural finisher", according to journalist Josh Bunting.

Despite potentially having the goalscoring credentials to succeed the 30-year-old in the first-team ranks – having previously netted 26 goals in just 40 games at U18 level – the youngster has thrived in a number ten berth of late, ensuring he could be the perfect understudy to Maddison when required.

Lauded as a "fantastic young talent" who is "comfortable driving with the ball", in the words of Bunting, the Antrim native is a real master at providing that creative link between midfield and attack, showcased by the delightful assist that he provided for Alfie Devine against Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Youth League last term.

As for the current campaign, the exciting diamond – who has 17 goals and assists to his name in just 31 games for the U21s – has already contributed seven assists in just six games so far this term.

That includes a record of six assists in just five Premier League 2 appearances, while Donley also starred in the recent EFL Trophy triumph over Colchester United, scoring twice and contributing one assist in that 5-0 thrashing.

Such an "outstanding" showing – as hailed by youth coach Wayne Burnett – has indicated that the elegant left-footer can thrive against senior opposition, having also put himself about defensively after winning 11 ground duels, including making seven tackles.

Evidently something of an all-rounder, it would be no surprise if young Donley is handed his first-team bow before too long, having been described by podcaster Chris Miller as the "closest thing to Maddison" in the Spurs ranks at present.

With Postecoglou already putting his faith in the youthful pairing of Destiny Udogie and Sarr this season, the next step is to promote one of the club's emerging academy talents as the campaign progresses.

رد نادي سينت ترودين المنافس في بطولة الدوري البلجيكي على أنباء اقتراب مدافع اتحاد العاصمة، زين الدين بلعيد، للانتقال إليهم في الميركاتو الصيفي.

وكان اسم بلعيد مرتبطًا في الفترة الماضية بإمكانية الانضمام إلى الأهلي لتدعيم خط الدفاع، ولكن الصفقة تحولت بالكامل إلى سينت ترودين رغم أن عرضهم المادي أقل من الأهلي.

هناك من تحدث أن هذه لعبة من وكلاء اللاعب في الفترة الماضية للحصول على أكبر استفادة مادية من الأهلي إذا انتقل اللاعب في النهاية إلى صفوفه.

اقرأ أيضًا | وسط اهتمام الأهلي.. حفيظ دراجي يعلن الوجهة الأقرب لضم زين الدين بلعيد

ولكن تواصل “btolat.com” لإيضاح الأمر حول صفقة الأهلي المحتملة مع المدير الرياضي لنادي سينت ترودين البلجيكي، وقال: “بالنسبة لصفقة بلعيد، اهتمامنا باللاعب حقيقي وليس لعبة وكلاء”.

وتابع: “لدينا فريق كشافة كبير للغاية، لقد تابعنا اللاعب لفترة طويلة مع اتحاد العاصمة، لكن المشكلة أنه كان هناك تغيير في المدرب”.

واستمر: “أعلنا بالأمس عن مدربنا الجديد، كريستيان لاتانزيو، سنعقد جلسة معه خلال الأيام القليلة المقبلة حتى نحسم أمر الصفقة وهذا ما نتبعه بالفعل”.

وواصل تصريحاته: “لا نحتاج إلى وكيل يعرض علينا اللاعب أو ينصحنا بالتعاقد معه، فهو لاعب جيد ولكن القرار في يد المدرب الجديد الذي سيتسلم تقريرًا فنيًا عن بلعيد وفيديوهات لحسم الأمر”.

Coach Chandrakant Pandit has taken Vidarbha to the final of the Ranji Trophy for the very first time, in his first season in charge

Akshay Gopalakrishnan in Kolkata21-Dec-20170:53

Quickinfo: Vidarbha’s Ranji season 2017/18

“You’re asking him in front of me? Obviously he’s going to say good. No choice.”Ever the hard taskmaster, Chandrakant Pandit butting in on Faiz Fazal was the source of no little mirth for the horde of reporters gathered at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. In his first season with them, Pandit has taken Vidarbha to the final of the Ranji Trophy for the very first time.It was the latest achievement in a hugely successful coaching career that has seen him thrive with several different teams. Pandit coached Mumbai to successive Ranji Trophy wins in 2002-03 and 2003-04. In his second stint with them, Mumbai under Pandit lifted the Ranji Trophy for the 41st time in 2015-16 and made the final the following year. Pandit has likewise had success as player-cum-coach with Madhya Pradesh, and more recently as director of the Kerala Cricket Academy, where he was responsible for bringing up new players such as Sanju Samson and Basil Thampi.Coming from a team known for its players, Pandit inculcated the values of a good hard fight into this Vidarbha side. The lessons came through in a nail-biting finish to their semi-final against Karnataka. “I belong to a culture and a state that has a different mindset, which I wanted to inculcate in this team. And they have accepted it well,” he said. “More than anything, I think I always strived to lift the team and made sure that we enjoyed each other’s performances and stayed together for every activity the team does. I was probably instigating them to win matches. To bring in that self-belief was very important.”From day one, we were dreaming of this, and thanks to God and the players’ efforts, we are there. Cricket is not played from inside, from the boundary lines. Whatever we spoke and planned, they were keen to execute it. The courage they showed to fight, I think that was very important. Every individual has understood that. We are not celebrating; we are just expressing our joy at the way the team is playing. My team has played the toughest cricket in the entire season.”Vidarbha had taken out seven Karnataka wickets on the fourth evening. But Karnataka bat deep. Vinay Kumar has over 2500 runs and two first-class centuries. Shreyas Gopal averages 36 and struck his career-best score of 150 not out in the quarter-final against Mumbai. Even S Aravind, Karnataka’s least proficient batsman, has two half-centuries in first-class cricket.”It was a 50-50 game,” Pandit said. “In such a game, whoever shows desperation is going to lose and whoever shows patience is going to win. Making each individual understand his role is very important in such a situation. The kind of spirit they showed was tremendous. Making history at this ground, of course, will always be remembered.”When Aravind played into the hands of gully to finally settle a topsy-turvy clash – by a margin of five runs – there was to an outpouring of unadulterated joy from the Vidarbha camp.Just moments earlier, they had been bracing themselves for the eventuality of a semi-final exit. This could so easily have been a story of so close yet so far. “When the ball left (Aravind’s) the bat, it took me back to the shot Mahi [MS Dhoni] played in the 2011 World Cup and the silence that ensued until it crossed the boundary,” Fazal, their captain, said. “I felt that silence when the edge was drawn. In such high-pressure situations, performing simple tasks becomes very difficult.”Fazal has been an inspirational leader through this remarkable journey. A cursory glance at his first-class career will show you an average of 41.58 after 97 games. But what it doesn’t tell you is the quality of his runs; he scores them in tough, sometimes unplayable conditions. It is this ability that made the selectors turn to him to take over from S Badrinath as Vidarbha captain in 2016-17. Now, with 843 runs, Fazal is three short of making this his most productive Ranji season ever.Trailing him, and quite closely at that, is Sanjay Ramaswamy, his younger and very promising opening partner. The 22-year old had a solid season in 2016-17, but this year, he has racked up 735 runs at close to 67. He and Fazal are responsible for eight of Vidarbha’s 12 centuries and have been the most prolific opening combination in 2017-18.Both batsmen are excellent in defence, and pride themselves on being technically correct. But the similarities end there. “We’re absolute opposites, to be honest,” Fazal said with a laugh. “Like they say, opposites attract, and that’s going on in the middle. I’m enjoying his company and he is enjoying mine. Our minds have changed and our thinking has become very clear this season.”This clarity of thought has been one of the biggest takeaways from Pandit’s stint. Understanding why each player is in the side has given them a greater sense of purpose. Vidarbha opened with an innings-and-117-run win over Punjab. In all, they have won six out of eight matches this season, and barring the semi-final, each of the victories has been by a hefty margin. It is the sort of ruthlessness that hasn’t been associated with this team before.”It’s not just about being mentally tough, but also mentally clear,” Fazal said. “People were mentally tough earlier also, but it’s made a difference now because we’re clear in our heads. Sometimes, you need someone to run behind you with a stick, but the results are there for you to see now.”

West Ham United have deployed chiefs to assess Peterborough defender Ronnie Edwards, but a fresh report has revealed that there are also two other clubs looking to bring him to the Premier League.

Who is Ronnie Edwards?

Edwards is naturally a centre-back who has plied his trade at the Weston Homes Stadium since 2020 having joined from Barnet’s academy setup, and during his three years at the club, he’s become an integral member and regular feature of Darren Ferguson’s squad having started 42 out of 46 League One games last season.

Even though the 20-year-old still has another two years remaining on his contract in the third tier, The Posh’s boss has admitted that his prized asset is likely to depart before the end of the window, recently stating during a public interview: “We fully expect Ronnie Edwards to go, so we’ll have to replace him”.

Football Scotland previously reported that the Irons have expressed an interest in the England youth international alongside Scottish Premiership giants Glasgow Rangers, so with competition for his signature fierce, David Moyes has already made chiefs take their admiration one step further.

Are West Ham signing Ronnie Edwards?

According to The Daily Mail's Transfer Confidential, West Ham scouts "checked on" Edwards during Peterborough's 3-1 victory over Barnsley last week. Fellow Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Bournemouth have also "watched him closely", whilst Rangers are once again name-checked in the report.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has additionally delivered an update on the future of his star, as quoted by the same outlet:

"It’s an absolute joke Ronnie is still here. We are all amazed, and it’s not because we are being greedy or silly. I know three Premier League clubs will make bids for Ronnie before the transfer deadline. But they will sign other players first as they don’t want their first signing to be a 20-year-old from League One."

How tall is Ronnie Edwards?

Standing at 5 foot 10, Edwards is relatively small for a centre-back, but that hasn’t stopped him from being an absolute rock at the heart of Ferguson’s backline since joining Peterborough, so should he sign on the dotted line, he could be a fantastic recruit for both the immediate and long-term future of West Ham.

The CMG Sports client, who pockets £2.7k-per-week, currently averages 4.8 clearances and 1.3 interceptions per league game, alongside recording a 93.1% pass success rate, via WhoScored, highlighting his excellent calmness and composure on the ball.

Read The Latest West Ham Transfer News HERE…

The Harlow-born talent, who has also provided two assists since the start of his career, is even beginning to make a name for himself on the international stage having represented the Three Lions at the Euro’s U19s tournament, so he is truly a star in the making.

The Posh’s “one man defensive wall”, as dubbed by reporter Ben Jones, is clearly a man in demand, so the hierarchy may have to act quickly should they want to beat their fellow competitors in the race for his services, and it could be well worth cashing out considering the positive impact he could have at the London Stadium.

Manchester United will kick off their Premier League campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, however, there is a new update on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Man United transfer news?

According to Daily Mail journalist Simon Jones, Manchester United have been keeping tabs on OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

Writing for the publication, Jones revealed that the Red Devils' scouts were sent over to France to watch the centre-back in action against Lille on Saturday evening, as the club continue their search for new additions that can improve the defensive presence at Old Trafford.

Read the latest Manchester United transfer news HERE…

It is clear that Erik ten Hag is keen to add another defender to his squad before the transfer window closes on September 1st, with Benjamin Pavard also named as a top target for the club by Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed on Saturday afternoon: Is Todibo better than Pavard?

If Bayern Munich are not willing to part ways with their Frenchman this summer it could present the perfect opportunity to snap up the services of his compatriot Todibo instead, who could, in fact, be a better fit for the Red Devils.

When comparing the Nice talent's output with Pavard's last season, Todibo came close to his positional competitor in a number of key attributes including pass completion (88.5% v 88.3% in favour of Todibo), percentage of dribblers tackled (73.2% v 75%) and aerial duels won (57.4% v 66%), as well as comfortably outperforming him in successful take-ons (71.4% v 0%), as per FBref.

Journalist Josh Bunting helped provide an insight as to why Todibo could be a better option for Man United, claiming that the 23-year-old is more prolific in progressing the ball:

"The way Ten Hag plays I think Jean-Clair Todibo or Edmond Tapsoba would be the better fit just in how they progress with the ball. I rate Pavard but I think he can be too open and that allows teams to drop the ball over the top and get in behind."

Indeed, Todibo is undoubtedly one of the hottest defensive prospects in Ligue 1 – ranking in the top 15% of his positional peers for passes completed, progressive passing distance, tackles won, dribblers tackled, touches and successful take-ons, demonstrating his diverse skillset which could be a major asset to Ten Hag.

Former Nice team-mate Aaron Ramsey is another to have sang his praises, predicting big things for the Frenchman – who has a reported price tag of €30m (£26m) – last season, waxing lyrical about Todibo's qualities:

"Jean-Clair is a very interesting character; he’s very confident and he’s a great guy around the dressing room and he’s a very, very talented player, who can go all the way to the top."

With that being said, the signing of Todibo could be a great piece of business for Man United and could provide Ten Hag with a player who can be a huge influence in the back line for the season ahead and beyond.