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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou will continue to strengthen his restored squad in 2024, with sights not set on cementing this newfound position of power at the forefront of the Premier League.

After falling by the wayside last year, Postecoglou's summer appointment has proved to be a masterstroke, and optimism is now awash down the N17, and with eight victories and two draws from the opening ten matches of the league term, Spurs are perched in first place.

It is a startling revival that has shocked the lion's share of the club's rivals, with Tottenham lumbering to an eighth-placed finish last term and enduring a catastrophic defensive collapse – shipping 63 goals; only the relegated trio and newly-promoted Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth conceded more.

Micky van de Ven's £43m addition from German side Wolfsburg has been a large part behind the fresh vigour at the back, forming a sturdy partnership with Cristian Romero, with the dynamic duo now charging the team from the back.

Guglielmo Vicario's introduction between the stick has been equally impressive – the Italian ranks among the top 4% of goalkeepers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for save percentage, as per FBref.

More work is needed though, especially considering the current trajectory bespeaks of Spurs' prospects of European football next season, and, as such, Postecoglou must prioritise deepening the ranks.

Tottenham transfer news – Lloyd Kelly

According to 90min, Tottenham are indeed going to focus on fortifying the defensive ranks this winter, with Bournemouth central defender Lloyd Kelly still believed to be of interest.

This comes alongside revelations from transfer goliath Fabrizio Romano that Serie A outfits AC Milan and Juventus have asked for conditions for a transfer this January, with Kelly out of contract on the south coast at the end of the season.

Tottenham, however, will feel that they can entice the player with a role in London at an ambitious and burgeoning side, with Postecoglou's team certainly requiring from new defensive mettle.

Spurs failed with a £20m bid for the 25-year-old late in the summer transfer window, and that perseverance could persuade the player to join the project.

Lloyd Kelly's style of play

A ball-playing defender, Kelly's playing style aligns with the way that Postecoglou wants his team to play, with the Lilywhites ranking third in the Premier League for passes and first for shots taken this term.

Competent both in the centre and as a left-back, Kelly's protean ability would set him up for success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having been hailed for his "incredible" qualities by former manager Gary O'Neil.

Indeed, as per FBref, the £30k-per-week titan ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for clearances and the top 13% for aerial wins per 90.

This evidences the 5 foot 10 ace's robustness, mobility and superiority in aerial battles, which are traits that Postecoglou is evidently enamoured with.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Holding onto the ball

Crossing

Concentration

Pass accuracy

Interceptions

Blocking

*Sourced via WhoScored

Frankly, Spurs have done their homework on a player who has impressed at the Vitality Stadium over the past several years; since signing from Bristol City for £13m in 2019, he has completed 123 appearances for the Cherries, scoring twice and registering seven assists.

Whilst Kelly is not the most precise of passers in all instances, but that is not to negate his ball-playing skill, with his inclination to spray long passes up the pitch a testament to his creative spark and willingness to progress the play.

Left-footed and still developing, Tottenham could secure their belated, dream, heir to Jan Vertonghen's position in the squad with Kelly's signing, and the London side must now forge ahead to shrug off rival suitors and secure his signature.

Why Tottenham need Lloyd Kelly

Vertonghen proved to be a first-class defender at Tottenham after joining from Eredivisie giants Ajax in a £10m transfer in 2012, beating Newcastle United to his signature.

The 152-cap Belgium international, now aged 36, forged 313 displays with Spurs, posting 14 goals and seven assists, and while he did not glean silverware during his time on English shores, he is fondly remembered as a lynchpin of the success under Mauricio Pochettino.

Hailed as a "Tottenham legend" by journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke, Vertonghen was one of the Premier League's finest left-sided centre-halfs and married defensive ability with a crisp, natural ball-playing ease.

Across the duration of his career, as per WhoScored, Vertonghen has completed 86.5% of his passes and averaged four long balls per game, highlighting his skill in distribution as he was a reliable passer who could regularly switch the play to set off attacks.

His leadership and charisma at the back paid dividends, and while Van de Ven is the left-footed defender that the club have been yearning for, should injury beset him then there are a questionable lack of reliable replacements.

Kelly could emulate this, completing 81% of his passes in the Premier League last term while attempting 2.7 long balls and making 4.3 clearances per match, as per Sofascore.

The fact that the dynamo also won 60% of his contested duels is a further illustration of the rounded game that will bolster a Tottenham team targetting sustained success at the top of the game.

Much like Vertonghen, Kelly offers dynamism and versatility to provide depth for the crucial and touted return to European competition next season.

And with Eric Dier ostensibly headed for the exit in 2024 and defensive teammate Ben Davies, who has not been able to break into the team regularly, not really making his mark, Kelly could provide the upgrade that would allow Postecoglou to issue rotation with greater belief in his squad's ability.

Whether Kelly would cement a starting berth on every occasion remains to be seen, but undoubtedly, Tottenham are a little thin at the moment and Postecoglou will need to expand his squad to ensure his squad can compete across multiple fronts.

August's Carabao Cup defeat to Fulham on penalties underscored this weakness in numbers; while not the most esteemed of tournaments on offer, it presented a golden opportunity to end an interminable trophy drought.

Nonetheless, Spurs are thriving under their Australian boss, and strengthening with signings such as Kelly will only prove to solidify their chances at achieving prominence on the European stage.

Sheffield Wednesday could be set to lose one of their squad members in January, with a fresh report revealing that he is keen to start a new adventure elsewhere in 2024.

Who has left Sheffield Wednesday?

Over the summer, the Owls sanctioned the permanent sales of Dennis Adeniran, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Jack Hunt, Jaden Brown and David Stockdale, whilst also releasing Ben Heneghan, and even though the previous window has now closed, there could be another handful heading for the exit door at the start of next year.

New manager Danny Rohl has 16 players who will reach the conclusion of their deals at the end of the season, including five who are only on a season-long loan (Sheffield Wednesday contracts), and one of those in particular looks like he is keen to move onto new pastures when he's given the opportunity to do so.

In the Championship, Ciaran Brennan has made zero appearances since the start of the campaign because he wasn’t included in the club’s squad that was submitted to the EFL in September meaning that he’s not eligible to feature (Yorkshire Live).

The Republic of Ireland’s youth centre-back has previously been sent out on three loans to Gainsborough, Notts County and Swindon Town in order to increase his game time (Transfermarkt – Brennan statistics), and there’s a chance that the 23-year-old could be set to do the same once again, or even complete a departure for good.

Ciaran Brennan transfer update

According to Yorkshire Live who have offered a transfer update on Ciaran Brennan, Sheffield Wednesday are expected to allow the defender to leave in January, with the player understandably unhappy with his current situation at the Hillsborough Stadium.

"Sheffield Wednesday's forgotten man Ciaran Brennan will consider his future in the New Year and is open to a move elsewhere, Yorkshire Live understands. Brennan could potentially move out on loan in the meantime, but only to a National League side.

"Whilst such a move would give him much-needed senior game time, it is understood he would prefer to wait until the New Year when the transfer window re-opens. That would give him scope at moving elsewhere within the EFL or further afield if the opportunity arises."

How good is Ciaran Brennan?

Whilst Brennan is significantly out of favour at Sheffield Wednesday, he is still more than capable of delivering an “accomplished” performance, as hailed by the club’s former manager Darren Moore, so chiefs should have a change of heart regarding his future and actually give him a chance to prove what he’s capable of.

Standing at 6 foot 2, the colossus was averaging 2.5 clearances and 1.2 aerial wins per game in League Two whilst at Swindon last season (WhoScored – Brennan statistics), so he can be an absolute rock at the heart of a backline, but perhaps not with Wednesday going forward.

It is fair to say that astute transfer dealings and Leeds United are two things that have not gone hand in hand in recent times, with the Championship side having far too regularly been burned by their market business of late.

That has been particularly evident over the last year or so, with the Whites memorably splashing out £25m for the signing of Brenden Aaronson, only to see the American move out on loan over the summer after just a solitary season at Elland Road.

Equally, the Yorkshire outfit were also forced to watch last season's top scorer, Rodrigo, depart for just £3m following the club's return to the second tier, with the former Valencia man having initially been signed for a then club-record fee of £27m in 2020.

Those examples epitomise the club's woes of late – whether it be investing in the wrong player or selling key men on the cheap – although that's not to suggest that Leeds have always blundered badly in the transfer market in modern times, with there a few success stories to speak of.

One such deal that proved to be particularly fruitful for the Whites was the signing of Chris Wood back in 2015, with the New Zealand international going on to make the powers that be a sizeable profit during his brief spell at the club.

How much did Leeds pay for Chris Wood?

The 6 foot 3 marksman had begun his career for a variety of clubs back in his homeland, prior to joining West Bromwich Albion in 2009, although it was a subsequent stint at Leicester City that seemingly caught the eye of those at Elland Road.

After netting respectable hauls of nine goals for Brighton and Hove Albion and ten goals for Millwall during his numerous loan spells away from the Hawthorns, Wood's move to the Foxes saw his form truly explode, as he plundered 20 goals and registered ten assists in 62 games in all competitions.

Having proven himself as a reliable goalscoring presence in England's second tier, the Auckland-born powerhouse was snapped up by then Leeds boss Uwe Rosler ahead of the 2015/16 campaign, joining for a reported fee of just £3m.

The incoming asset was described as "another important piece of the jigsaw" by Rosler, who also went on to hail his new addition as "physical, strong and experienced in this league", with Wood tipped to be the new figurehead of the club's attacking unit.

How many goals did Chris Wood score for Leeds?

A solid, albeit far from prolific scorer during his early years in England, few could have quite expected the towering marksman to prove such a success in Yorkshire, as he took on the mantle of being the main man through the middle.

After netting 13 league goals during his debut campaign, Wood followed that up with a staggering haul of 27 Championship goals in the 2016/17 season, subsequently winning the club's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards.

The formidable forward appeared to have benefitted from the arrival of Garry Monk in the dugout, with the then-Leeds boss stating that he had helped the striker showcase a more "aggressive" side to his game, as he enjoyed "such a successful season".

That clinical form was not enough to steer Leeds to promotion, however, as the Whites finished just outside the play-offs in seventh, ensuring that a top-flight move swiftly followed for Wood after registering 44 goals in just 88 games across his two years at Elland Road – an impressive 1:2 ratio that any striker would be proud of.

How much did Leeds sell Chris Wood for?

It was perhaps no surprise that clubs in the Premier League came calling for the Kiwi sensation in the summer of 2017, with Burnley eventually forking out a then club-record fee of £15m to prise the player from the second tier.

Despite the blow of losing their star man, that sale ensured that Leeds had moved the striker on for five times more than what they had paid for him just two years earlier, representing a stunning profit in such a short space of time.

2015/16 (Championship)

Chris Wood (13)

2016/17 (Championship)

Chris Wood (27)

2017/18 (Championship)

Kemar Roofe (11)

2018/19 (Championship)

Kemar Roofe (14)

2019/20 (Championship)

Patrick Bamford (16)

2020/21(Premier League)

Patrick Bamford (17)

2021/22 (Premier League)

Raphinha (11)

2022/23 (Premier League)

Rodrigo (13)

Stats via Transfermarkt

As for Wood himself, that exit proved to be an astute move as he swiftly hit the ground running at Turf Moor, having more than made the most of his opportunity to thrive in the promised land that is the Premier League.

How much is Chris Wood worth now?

Impressively, the experienced hitman managed to reach double figures for league goals in each of his first four seasons for the Clarets in the top flight, including a standout haul of 14 league goals during the 2019/20 campaign.

A real "handful" for defenders in Sean Dyche's side – as hailed by former teammate Curtis Davies – Wood's consistent form earned him a surprise move to Newcastle United in January 2022, with the Magpies poaching him from their then-relegation rivals in the hope of avoiding the drop.

While given a real show of faith by the Tynesiders as Eddie Howe and co forked out £25m to acquire his services, the 70-cap international was something of a busted flush at St James' Park, scoring just five goals in 39 games in all competitions prior to leaving in January.

Now at Nottingham Forest – after his initial loan move was made permanent for £15m this summer – the 31-year-old has scored just twice in 13 games for his current side, having been forced to play second fiddle to Taiwo Awoniyi through the middle.

That recent decline has ensured that Wood is now said to be worth just €5m (£4m) – according to CIES Football Observatory – with that representing a drop of £11m since leaving Elland Road six years ago.

While the £80k-per-week asset did enjoy a solid spell at Burnley under Dyche, those at Leeds can still reflect on what an astute sale it was back in 2017.

A new scheme, fronted by David Gower, is offering members of the public a chance to buy shares in Lord’s

Andrew Miller25-Apr-2018David Gower, the former England captain, insists that his aim is to be a “good neighbour” to MCC, the owners of Lord’s, after being unveiled as the public face of a consortium that is offering members of the public an opportunity to own parcels of land at the Nursery End of the ground – the scene of numerous development battles in the ground’s recent history.Gower unveiled the New Commonwealth consortium alongside Keith Bradshaw, the former MCC chief executive, at a breakfast meeting in St John’s Wood on Wednesday. Allan Lamb, his former England team-mate, was also in attendance, while other grandees of the game, including Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd, are also believed to be supportive of the scheme.The radical venture comes as a direct consequence of the vote in September, by the 18,000 members of MCC, to reject ambitious plans for a complete overhaul of the ground and instead press on with their own GBP194 million “MCC Masterplan”, funded from the club’s own resources.The alternative “Morley Plan” would have involved collaboration with Charles Rifkind, the property developer whose purchase, in 1999, of a 999-year lease on the disused tunnels beneath the Nursery End of the ground, effectively denied MCC an outright say in the future of their ground.MCC does still own the leasehold on the top 18 inches of land at that end of Lord’s, but the club members baulked – by an overwhelming 90% majority – at Rifkind’s desire to fund a complete overhaul of the venue through the erection of two blocks of flats alongside the Wellington Road.That vote might have been assumed to be the end of the saga. However, Rifkind’s decision to now sell off GBP500 shares, through the use of Blockchain technology, means that the debate will rumble on.Furthermore, the return of Bradshaw to the fray will add an extra layer of intrigue, given that he stood down from the MCC in 2011 in frustration at his ambitious “Vision for Lord’s” being kiboshed by the then-chairman Oliver Stocken.As SACA chief executive, Bradshaw has since gone on to oversee an even more ambitious redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval, which this winter played host to the first day-night Ashes Test – another concept that he championed during his five-year tenure at MCC.”We love Lord’s, but it is generally accepted that the stands are becoming tired, the facilities are tired and need some redevelopment. That requires money, and the Vision for Lord’s was one of the plans that was looked at,” Bradshaw told ESPNcricinfo.”The MCC and members made a decision not to go down that path and I would say we accept the umpire’s decision – there’s no DRS – and we move on.”The lease is for 120 years and if there’s no development on that piece of land and no agreement between MCC and New Commonwealth, then that land will revert back to the people who today acquire a piece of that land.”Millions and millions of people around the world have an emotional attachment to Lord’s,” he added. “Well, now they can go beyond an emotional attachment and have a financial attachment.”Gower, who scored two Test centuries at Lord’s in 17 appearances, was an outspoken advocate of Rifkind’s plan prior to the September vote, and says that the need to reinvigorate the look and feel of his favourite Test venue is the overwhelming reason for his involvement.”Before the vote in September I was quite vocal about what I saw as an opportunity to make the place look better,” Gower told ESPNcricinfo.”I still say that perimeter wall on the Wellington Road and St John’s Wood Road looks like a prison wall. It doesn’t look like something outside the most iconic cricket ground in the world. If they had opted to do something with it at that stage, it could have been a fantastic frontispiece.”That strip of land at the end has had a million hours of conversation about it. We’ve seen what happened with the club in September when the vote was to leave it as it is. They don’t want to develop it and we respect that.”So what we are doing now is saying ‘shall we get some fun out of that land, get some good use out of that land, offer it to people to have a stake in that land?’ Why not?”It’s a glorious ground with a glorious history. I can honestly say I’ve got some very good memories of playing out there, and some downright appalling ones.”Lord’s is iconic in the world of sport. It’s a wonderful place but it needs some TLC to regain its status as the No.1 ground in the world, because there are grounds around the world – Adelaide for one, where they are doing wonderful things to improve facilities.”We want to be good neighbours to the MCC. This is not about confrontation in any shape or form, it’s about making good use of a valuable piece of real estate.”We’re not anti-Lord’s, we’re not anti MCC. I’m a proud member of MCC. This is done if anything for love.”

It is no real secret that Manchester United have been far from astute with regard to their transfer dealings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, having both invested unwisely in unsuited talents, while also proving unable to shift the 'deadwood' when needed.

With regard to that latter failure, it was only recently reported that the Red Devils top the charts among European clubs with regard to their net spend over the past decade, having spent £1.19bn more on new additions than they have recouped with player sales.

Those woes were particularly evident in the recent transfer window, with the Old Trafford outfit only raking in £15m for both Dean Henderson and Anthony Elanga, for instance, while rivals Manchester City moved on Cole Palmer for a mammoth £42.5m to Chelsea – despite the 20-year-old having started just three Premier League games.

Equally, the United hierarchy also failed to ditch those who appeared to be surplus to requirements, such as West Ham United target Harry Maguire – who had been stripped of the captaincy earlier this year.

The England international is not the only unwanted presence still on the books, however, with the window having come and gone without a new home having been found for forgotten man, Donny van de Beek – a player who has perhaps bled the club dry over the past three years or so.

Why did Man United sign Donny van de Beek?

Following what has been a truly dismal period in Manchester for the 26-year-old, it is hard to remember just why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to fork out £40m to sign the playmaker in the first place, yet the Dutchman had no doubt warranted that interest following his prior sparkling displays at Ajax.

Before departing the Amsterdam giants in the summer of 2020, the midfielder had been a key figure for the Eredivisie side after rising up through the youth ranks, scoring 41 goals and contributing 34 assists in 175 games in all competitions.

The promising talent had particularly impressed as part of a youthful side that reached the semi-final of the Champions League under Erik ten Hag during the 2018/19 campaign, with Ajax seeing off the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus prior to slipping up against Tottenham Hotspur.

That lengthy, surprise run in the competition saw Van de Beek score three goals and provide two assists – including netting in the first-leg 1-0 win over Spurs – having subsequently courted attention from those at the Bernabeu with a move to Spain looking likely.

It was United, however, who ultimately won the race for his signature – despite potential reservations from Solskjaer – although fast-forward three years and the club may be wishing they hadn't, following what has proven "one of the most disappointing transfers ever", according to ex-Old Trafford star, Dimitar Berbatov.

How much does Van de Beek earn at Man United?

While there are reports that Ten Hag and co are hoping to shift the struggling asset over the next week or so – with the transfer window still open in Turkey, for instance – at present the club are still having to fork out for the player's reported £120k-per-week wages.

That hefty salary has remained the same since Van de Beek walked in the door in 2020, ensuring that he has cost United roughly £18m in that time – a rather sizeable figure for a player who has just two goals and two assists to his name in 60 appearances in all competitions.

While only ranking as the 14th-highest earner at the Theatre of Dreams – according to Capology – when that salary is added to his £40m transfer fee, it does look as if the Premier League outfit have simply wasted £58m on a player who has made next to no impact in a red jersey.

Man United's Top earners (2023/24)
Casemiro – £350k-p/w
Raphael Varane – £340k-p/w
Marcus Rashford – £300k-p/w
Mason Mount – £250k-p/w
Jadon Sancho – £250k-p/w
Anthony Martial – £250k-p/w
Bruno Fernandes – £240k-p/w
Antony – £200k-p/w
Harry Maguire – £190k-p/w

With two years left to run on his existing deal, the club will be desperate to ensure that the 19-cap international – who has been left of Ten Hag's Champions League squad – can find a new home sooner rather than later, rather than continuing to prove a financial burden.

What's gone wrong for Van de Beek at Man United?

It's difficult to know where to begin with regard to Van de Beek's woes, with the player having always looked set to struggle for a regular role due to the signing of Bruno Fernandes earlier that same year, with the pair both operating in an advanced midfield berth.

With Fernandes – who now boasts a haul of 120 goal contributions for the club – the obvious favoured option in that role, Van de Beek has been forced to try his hand in more of a deep-lying berth, albeit with limited success.

Although he may count himself unlucky after being restricted to just 23 starts in total to date, the one-time Everton loanee has hardly impressed when he has been given the nod by the likes of Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick or Ten Hag – with journalist Samuel Luckhurst writing last season that playing the 6 foot dud simply "doesn't work".

That came after his limp showing away to Real Sociedad in the Europa League back in November – amid a rare run of three successive starts in all competitions – with Luckhurst also writing at the time that Van de Beek simply "couldn't hack the pace" against the La Liga side.

Luck and misfortune has also likely played its part in the midfielder's decline as he suffered a season-curtailing injury against Bournemouth in January, with that blow epitomising what has been a "really strange, disappointing and surprising situation", in the words of Berbatov.

In truth, it is best for all parties that the out-of-favour talent finds a new home as soon as possible, with the fact that he can't even get a game under his former Ajax boss, Ten Hag, indicative of just how far his stock has fallen.

The purchase of 19-year-old wonderkid Matheus Franca on a five-year deal from Flamengo for £26m is another clear step in the direction that Crystal Palace wants to go.

Upon the Brazilian’s arrival, Palace Chairman Steve Parish said: "Matheus is a young and exciting player whose impressive early progress we have followed with keen interest, and we are delighted to welcome him to the club.

“Palace have a long history of attacking players with skill, pace, and tenacity, and I am sure Matheus will be another popular addition to the nucleus of this young and entertaining squad, packed full of international talent and potential, that we are building here in south London.”

Parish’s comments are indicative of the club’s transfer strategy, which has been summed up by The Atheltic’s Matt Woosnam as ‘buy players young, develop, sell for a profit at their peak’, which the club intends to implement on a cyclical basis as their model of sustainability.

Following Franca, and on the pretence of this thought process, the Eagles are reportedly chasing Matheus Nascimento.

Who do Crystal Palace want to sign?

According to reports, Palace and Nottingham Forest are interested in signing the Botafogo striker in a £15m deal.

The forward previously stalled on a move and was spotted with Palace officials, but Forest are said to be ‘leading the race’ as their owner Evangelos Marinakis is planning to loan him straight to Olympiacos, as he also owns the Greek side.

What are Matheus Nascimento's strengths?

The 6-foot marksman has been at Botafogo since the age of 11, and he swiftly established himself as one of the most promising prospects within the club’s academy, having scored over 150 goals.

Tiano Gomes, general manager of Botafogo's academy labelled the player as a "high-potential athlete" and an "asset."

As a result, Nascimento signed his first professional contract in June 2020, and in September of that year, he made his professional senior debut aged just 16 years and 6 months.

In total, the South American, who has been described as “incredible” by scout Jacek Kulig, has accumulated 80 appearances for Botafogo, scoring 11 times.

His signing would be yet another exciting addition to Palace, whose attack is taking shape following Wilfried Zaha’s inevitable departure.

Due to a lack of options, Nascimento could find instantly involved in the first-team outlay, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odsonne Edouard not exactly the most prolific strikers.

Suspect depth and unproductive senior players, could see Franca awarded with a regular role in his first season in English football.

Kulig feels that the playmaker is “one of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil” and his potency could be hugely beneficial for Palace. In 59 appearances for Flamengo, he notched 19 goals and those in his homeland as he is destined for unadulterated greatness.

Fabio Matias, his former coach, is leading this change of thought and said: “He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game. That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well.”

With the confirmation of Olise’s commitment to the south London outfit on a four-year deal, the timeless brilliance of Eberechi Eze, and the glimmering potential of Franca, Nascimento could join this eye-catching wave of excitement to form an exciting new combination in attack.

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson this summer and more details regarding the potential transfer have now emerged.

What's going on with Dean Henderson?

The Eagles are looking to sign a new 'keeper between now and the end of August when the window slams shut, with Vicente Guaita expected to move on.

It is Henderson who has reportedly emerged as a target for Palace in recent days, with the 26-year-old's plans a little up in the air at the moment. It is clear that Andre Onana has come in as first-choice between the sticks at United, while a return to Nottingham Forest hasn't developed, having been on loan there last season.

The one-cap England international is at a point in his career where he wants to be playing regularly, especially as it would aid his chance if making the Three Lions' squad for Euro 2024 next summer.

Now, a fresh update regarding Palace's interest in Henderson this summer has emerged, with a move looking increasingly likely.

Will Crystal Palace sign Dean Henderson?

According to a key update from talkSPORT, Palace's plan is to sign the Englishman on loan this summer, potentially snapping him up on a permanent basis next year, and talks are now underway:

"Crystal Palace have held talks with Manchester United over a deal to sign Dean Henderson, talkSPORT understands. Palace boss Roy Hodgson has been desperate to sign a new goalkeeper after Vicente Guaita told the club he wanted to leave.

"And talkSPORT understands that discussions held are with regards to a loan move with the option to make the deal permanent.

"The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest and helped them stay in the Premier League. A permanent move to the City Ground had been expected but a deal could not be struck with United."

This could be the ideal scenario for all parties, allowing Henderson the move away that he needs, but giving Palace a season to assess whether he is worthy of being a permanent signing or not.

The United man has certainly proved his worth in the past, impressing at Forest last season before an injury ended his campaign prematurely, being hailed as "incredible" by Antonio Conte.

Henderson could be a really strong signing and an upgrade on Guaita, assuming the latter moves on, and at 26, he is still young for a goalkeeper and should only improve as the years pass, particularly if he can enjoy regular starts moving forward.

He is an extremely confident player who has total faith in his ability, and if were to come in and hit the ground running for Palace, he could help elevate them to another level moving forward, proving to be good with the ball at his feet and an expert shot-stopper.

To have played for both England and United speaks volumes, and while a move away from Old Trafford makes sense now, 13 clean sheets in 29 appearances for arguably the biggest club in the world is a good return, also winning an FA Cup along the way.

MatériaMais Notícias

Goiás e Corinthians se enfrentam pela sétima rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, nesta quarta-feira (2), às 19h15, no Estádio da Serrinha, em Goiânia. O duelo marca o encontro de duas equipes que estão na parte de baixo no classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro. O Verdão está na 18ª colocação, com quatro pontos, enquanto o Alvinegro é o 16º, com cinco pontos.

O Corinthians vem empolgado com o anúncio da venda dos naming rights da Arena Corinthians para a Neo Química, realizado nesta terça-feira (1), dia do aniversário de 110 anos do clube. Dentro de campo, porém, a situação é diferente. A equipe vem de derrota no clássico para o São Paulo e, se perder do Goiás, entra na zona da degola.

Para esta partida, o técnico Tiago Nunes pode mexer na equipe titular.Tiago Nunes pode fazer mudanças na equipe por conta da maratona de jogos. Sidcley, Araos e Jô podem sair da equipe titular por conta do desgaste físico. Lucas Piton, Luan e Boselli podem ganhar chance.

Já o Goiás folgou na última rodada, já que teve o jogo contra o Grêmio adiado. Os atacante Rafael Moura e Victor Andrade estão sendo avaliados pelo departamento médico e podem ficar fora do jogo.Se os dois desfalques foram confirmados, Mike e Vinícius Lopes devem entrar no time.

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Estádio: Serrinha, Goiânia (GO)
Data e horário:02 de setembro, 19h15 (de Brasília)
Árbitro: José Mendonça da Silva Junior (PR)
Assistentes: Ivan Carlos Bohn e Victor Hugo Imazu dos Santos(PR)
Árbitro de vídeo: Paulo Roberto Alves Junior (PR)
Onde ver:Premiere (todo o Brasil) e tempo real do L!

Goiás: Tadeu; Juan Pintado, Fábio Sanches, Rafael Vaz e Jefferson; Sandro, Gilberto (Ratinho) e Daniel Bessa; Keko, Vinícius Lopes (Rafael Moura) e Mike (Victor Andrade). Técnico: Thiago Larghi.
Desfalques:Rafael Moura e Victor Andrade (lesionados)
Pendurados:Victor Andrade, Sandro, Rafael Vaz, Luiz Gustavo e Daniel Bessa

Corinthians:Cássio, Fagner, Gil, Danilo Avelar e Sidcley (Lucas Piton); Éderson, Cantillo e Luan (Araos); Ramiro, Léo Natel (Gustavo Mosquito) e Jô (Boselli). Técnico: Tiago Nunes.
Desfalques: Ruan Oliveira (rompimento do ligamento do joelho esquerdo)
Pendurado: Gabriel

He is the man in the World XI squad with most-recent experience of having playing in Pakistan, and he’s happy to share his experience of and enthusiasm for the same with his team-mates

Osman Samiuddin09-Sep-2017Darren Sammy, St Lucian, allrounder, twice world-champion captain, the nicest man in cricket, one of its most popular and now – as the World XI ventures to Pakistan for a potentially pathbreaking tour – Pakistan expert.Sammy is one of five men in the World XI squad with experience of playing in Pakistan – Paul Collingwood, Tamim Iqbal and Hashim Amla have played international cricket there, while Imran Tahir’s first-class career began in the country.Sammy’s is the most current experience, however, having played in Lahore in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in March as Peshawar Zalmi’s title-winning – and extremely popular – captain.Sammy spoke to members of the squad as part of a security briefing on Saturday as they began arriving in Dubai, ahead of the flight out to Lahore on Monday. The first of three T20Is is scheduled for Tuesday, at Gaddafi Stadium, the scene of Sammy’s triumph earlier in the year.”I did brief them quickly about my experience in Lahore for the PSL final,” he said. “We’ve had the best security team, who have also briefed them. Like I said before, it’s important. I get to play in front of my fans in St Lucia and around the world and we see how passionate they are, and to get an opportunity after so long, they are all happy to be part of that process.”First thing I said to guys after the PSL final – apart from all the security and the protocol – once I stepped on the field, it felt like playing in St Lucia. That is my honest experience – the crowd were just hungry for cricket, to see their icons and role models play in the game. That is what it felt like. That is what I briefed the players when the coach [Andy Flower] asked me about my experience.”The enthusiasm is unlikely to have been feigned. Even in the uncertainty over which foreign players would attend the PSL final, Sammy was the most eager advocate, an eagerness that has translated into an endearing bond with Pakistani fans. And as soon as he heard about the possibility of this tour, he was in – he would’ve been “disappointed” he said, had he not been called.”We have a reason, a greater cause,” he said. “Everybody here has accepted that they are part of something more important than just their selves. To me, it’s a place where I have a great connection and going back there, like I said through the PSL final, to bring cricket back to Pakistan, if we can be part of history, a greater purpose, it’s a wonderful opportunity.”One of the players interested in Sammy’s experiences would no doubt have been Ben Cutting. The allrounder is one of three Australians in the squad and, alongside George Bailey and Tim Paine, stands a fair shot at becoming the first Australian cricketer to play an international match in Pakistan in nearly 20 years.Australia’s absence from Pakistan dates back to well before the 2009 attacks on the Sri Lanka team which forced international cricket out of the country. They had not toured since a series in 1998-99, choosing to play their away commitments against Pakistan in the UAE, Sri Lanka and England in that time, though an Australia A side did tour in 2007-08.Cutting wasn’t aware of the little bit of history he might create. And some time playing alongside Azhar Mahmood a few years ago is about the breadth of his experience of Pakistan and its cricket.But a passing encounter with a former Australian cricketer who was part of that ‘A’ team tour a decade ago confirmed that this will be an experience to remember.”I did run into Jason Gillespie about a week ago and he said well done,” Cutting said. “I asked him what he knew about Lahore and Pakistan, and he said you’re really going to enjoy it, particularly Lahore itself. He spent some time there. So that was refreshing and good to hear.”

West Bromwich Albion kick off their 2023/24 Championship campaign with a trip to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday but their business in the transfer window is far from over.

Who have West Brom signed this summer?

The Baggies faithful will only have one fresh face to look forward to seeing on the pitch for the opening day clash as Carlos Corberan has only been able to sign one player so far this summer.

Ecuador international Jeremy Sarmiento recently joined the club on a season-long loan from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion to bolster the manager's attacking options.

The second tier outfit still have a month left to make further additions to their playing squad and one area in which they could look to strengthen is the middle of the park.

It was reported last month that the Baggies are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Fortuna Dusseldorf central midfielder Ao Tanaka, alongside Fulham, West Ham United, and Leicester.

How good is Ao Tanaka?

Corberan could sign the Japan international at the perfect time as the talented maestro turns 25 in September and is heading into the prime years of his career.

The Fortuna ace is not an unproven youngster with little experience or a veteran with no development left to go through, which means that he is at the ideal point in his career to be a superb short and long-term option for West Brom.

Tanaka could come in as an upgrade on Ireland international Jayson Molumby in midfield after the former Brighton midfielder failed to catch the eye during the 2022/23 campaign.

The 23-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.81 across 43 Championship appearances for the club, which placed him 14th within the squad – far from being one of the top-performing players at The Hawthorns.

Molumby created 0.4 chances and won 3.1 duels per game for the side, whilst he came out on top of just 48% of his individual contests, as per Sofascore.

Tanaka, on the other hand, provided one key pass and won 4.7 battles per outing in the 2. Bundesliga last season, whilst the talented wizard boasted a duel success rate of 55%. He also made 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game – 0.8 more per clash than the current West Brom midfielder.

The Fortuna maestro, who journalist Josh Bunting once hailed as "effective", also caught the eye at the World Cup last year with one goal and a duel success rate of 70% across three appearances, including games against Germany and Spain.

These statistics suggest that the 5 foot 11 technician has the potential to offer more than Molumby in and out of possession, with his ability to create chances for the attackers on a regular basis whilst also winning more physical contests with greater efficiency.

This is all backed up by his average Sofascore rating as Tanaka recorded a score of 6.93. That would have placed him sixth within the Baggies squad last term and fifth out of every outfield player, which is significantly higher than the ex-Brighton man ranked.

Therefore, Corberan could improve his midfield by swooping for the competitive battler from the second division in Germany as his statistics indicate that he can add an injection of quality to the group.