Leeds United have reportedly submitted a bid worth around £2.5m to sign a potential Crysencio Summerville replacement.
Leeds accept West Ham offer for Summerville
The Whites have been fairly busy in the summer transfer window, cashing with four new signings made for Daniel Farke’s side ahead of his second season in charge. However, alongside the incomings, there have also been a number of departures, including two players who featured heavily in the 2023/24 Championship campaign.
Teenage star Archie Gray had a release clause activated in his contract by Tottenham, whereas the club sold Glen Kamara to Rennes less than 12 months after signing him from Rangers.
Jayden Bogle and Joe Rothwell look to replace both Gray and Kamara, however, Leeds now have to live up to the prospect of replacing star attacker Crysencio Summerville. Leeds have accepted an offer from West Ham for the Dutch winger, who is set to sign a long-term deal at the London Stadium after speaking to Julen Lopetegui. The 49ers Enterprises and Leeds are set to bring in more than £25m with add-ons for Summerville.
The search to replace the 20 goals and nine Championship assists from Summerville last season could be a tricky task for Leeds, but it appears as if they have made an offer for one attacking target.
Leeds make Ryan Kent bid
According to reports in Turkey, relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds have made a bid to sign Fenerbahce winger Ryan Kent. The offer is thought to be worth €3m (£2.5m) for the 27-year-old, who was actually wanted at Elland Road during Marcelo Bielsa’s time in charge.
That was when Kent was impressing at Rangers, and by the looks of things, talks are on to bring the former Liverpool winger to Yorkshire.
Kent, once hailed as a “wizard” by former Ibrox teammate Leon Balogun, has been with Fenerbahce for just over 12 months and is under contract until 2027.
During his first season in Turkey, Kent only made 19 appearances, scoring once and providing two assists. It appears to have been a tough start to life abroad for the Englishman, but he may get the chance to return to the UK with Leeds.
In total, Kent has registered 64 senior career assists and has experience in the Championship following loan spells with Barnsley and Bristol City earlier in his career.
He was also praised by former boss Steven Gerrard during their time in Glasgow, who said in 2020: "He is so sharp and he has added a different dimension to his game. He is a pleasure to watch and coach and we just need to enjoy him. He has got the hunger and the desire and he is putting in the application to improve his numbers.”
Who knows, a deal may well be one to keep an eye on, but you could argue that Leeds need an in-form replacement for Summerville and not someone who scored just once last season.
The Football Association reportedly want Thomas Tuchel to include a coach who is black or minority ethnic (BME) in a new-look England backroom staff.
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Tuchel set to take charge in 2025Has chosen Anthony Barry as his assistantLikely to pick a BME coach as part of his staffFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
With Tuchel set to officially begin his role on January 1, the FA is conducting talks over the inclusion of a BME coach within his backroom team, aligning with its commitment to promoting diversity in English football, according to The FA’s intention to include a BME coach in Tuchel’s staff follows its commitment to the Elite Coaching Placement Programme (ECCP), an initiative launched in 2018 in collaboration with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA). This program is designed to increase opportunities for ethnic minorities in top-level football, reinforcing the FA's pledge to create a more inclusive coaching environment across all England teams.
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During Gareth Southgate's tenure, former England international Chris Powell was a part of his staff for a period and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink later joined the backroom team, a move that was well-received among players and fans alike. However, following Southgate’s decision to step down, Hasselbaink also left his role, leaving an absence of BME representation on the current senior coaching staff.
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Tuchel’s coaching staff so far includes just English assistant, Anthony Barry. Portuguese goalkeeping coach Henrique Hilario, of Chelsea, is a target. The FA has faced significant flak for appointing a German at the helm of the Three Lions and they believe that the addition of a BME coach to Tuchel’s team would demonstrate their ongoing commitment to equity and representation at the highest level. The selection process is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks as the former Chelsea manager will get down to work from January 1, 2025.
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Interim England manager Lee Carsley, who has been managing the team in Southgate’s absence, will conclude his tenure following upcoming matches against Greece and Ireland. He is being supported by Ashley Cole but the former defender will also get back to the Under-21 setup, along with Carsley, after the November international break.
Since Erik ten Hag became Manchester United manager in the summer of 2022, there has been a noticeable theme of the Red Devils’ transfers; they have signed ten players who have played in the Eredivisie at some stage of their career, whilst five of the squad, including two new signings, have played under him at Ajax and another, Sofyan Amrabat, at Utrecht.
Erik ten Hag
It has been ridiculed plenty of times by fans, neutrals and pundits alike, but it is not really something that can go unnoticed. Ten Hag prefers to sign players whom he knows or who have played in the top flight of the Netherlands at some stage.
The five players currently representing the Red Devils were also Ten Hag’s players at the legendary Dutch club. He signed Lisandro Martinez and Antony in his first season in charge, and Andre Onana last summer to be his long-term number-one goalkeeper. There are two more players set to join that list, as Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have been all but confirmed as new United players, set to link up with their old teammates and old boss.
Lisandro Martinez
Now, the Old Trafford club have been linked with a sixth player who could join that list before the transfer deadline on the 30th of August.
Man Utd target La Liga midfielder
The player in question here is Barcelona and Netherlands international midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The former Ajax player, who graduated from the Amsterdam club’s famous academy, has been linked with a move away from Barcelona for the past few summers.
According to reports from Spain, via TeamTalk, the Red Devils are set to restart their quest to sign De Jong this summer and are believed to have submitted a £42.6m bid. This comes after strong rumours the past two summers that Ten Hag desperately wanted to sign his former midfielder.
Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona
However, Barca are believed to have rejected the bid for the talented Dutchman and are holding out for more money in order to accept a deal. Instead, United could well place a new bid of £59.7m plus £12.8m in add-ons, in order to convince Blaugrana to part ways with the 27-year-old, whom they spent £65m on in 2019.
Why De Jong would be a good signing
Unfortunately, the 2023/24 season was one ravaged by injuries for De Jong. He missed a total of 28 games for club and country last term, with the final one of those injuries ruling him out of playing at Euro 2024 for the Netherlands.
The 27-year-old played 30 times in all competitions for Barcelona last term, grabbing two goals from midfield, both of which came in La Liga. Incredibly, he picked up ten yellow cards, with seven of those coming in just 20 top-flight games in Spain.
Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong
Should United add De Jong to the squad this summer, he could be the dream alternative to Manuel Ugarte and Sander Berge. The midfielders are two other targets for United in the centre of the park, although at this stage deals for either of them are not believed to be advanced.
It is perhaps surprising that the Red Devils are targeting the Dutchman as an alternative to the PSG and Burnley midfielders. Whilst the other two targets are primarily defensive midfielders whose best skill is their work off the ball, the Barca number 21 is very much a player who excels with the ball at his feet.
Sander Berge for Burnley
The Barca man is a superb ball carrier, so slick when in possession, and a sensible progressive passer, able to break opposition defensive lines with ease. In contrast, PSG midfielder Ugarte is an aggressive ball winner, similar in many ways to N'Golo Kante, with Burnley's Berge a defensive midfielder who acts like a destroyer, looking to break up play and win the ball back.
Manuel Ugarte for PSG
This is reflected in the stats on FBref too. Firstly, when looking at defensive numbers, Ugarte leads the way per 90 minutes for tackles and interceptions with 6.42. De Jong averages half that, with just 3.13 and Berge even less, averaging 2.96 each game.
The same can be said for ball recoveries, with the Uruguayan once again leading the way with 8.42. The former Ajax man once again comes in second, averaging 6.43 and the Norway international is third again, with 6.05.
florian-neuhaus-frenkie-de-jong-west-ham
However, De Jong’s on the ball skills are clear based on the stats, averaging 3.79 progressive carries compared to Ugarte’s 0.74 and Berge’s 1.92 per game. Likewise, the same can be said for his progressive passing, with the Dutchman averaging 9.32, the PSG man 4.05 and the former Sheffield United midfielder hovering at the 4.91 mark.
Stat (per 90)
De Jong
Ugarte
Berge
Progressive passes
9.32
4.05
4.91
Passes into final third
10.3
4.6
3.86
Passes into penalty box
1.87
0.28
0.48
Progressive carries
3.79
0.74
1.92
Carries into final third
2.86
1.63
1.71
With that in mind, it is curious that United might be targeting a “progressive monster”, as football analyst Ben Mattinson described De Jong. This is not to say he isn’t a capable defender, but the former Ajax midfielder’s strengths certainly lie in possession rather than out of it.
Having targeted a pure ball winner all summer, the reasons for United looking to add Ten Hag’s former midfielder to their squad remain a mystery, outside of the fact that the Dutch manager has wanted to reunite with De Jong since taking over at Old Trafford two summers ago.
It would be an expensive deal for United to get over the line, over £70m altogether, but there is no doubt De Jong would improve the Red Devils’ quality on the ball in midfield. Perhaps his profile does not meet their ideal target of a ball-winner in the middle of the park, but the quality he will provide the side when they have possession is undeniable, and it would be exciting to see him in full flow in that famous red shirt.
Man Utd make move for "exciting" £34m midfielder after De Ligt and Mazraoui
Contact has been made with the player’s representatives.
The panel includes justice Nimal Dissanayaka, a retired judge of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2021SLC has formed a five-member panel to probe the incident in which three Sri Lanka players – Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis – breached the team’s biosecure bubble in Durham on June 27.The trio flew back home early from the tour of England and has been suspended pending an inquiry into the incident.Related
Durham bubble breach: Gunathilaka, Mendis and Dickwella suspended from international cricket for one year
Durham bubble breach: Gunathilaka, Mendis, Dickwella likely to face long suspensions
Bio-bubble breach: Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella suspended
Dasun Shanaka set to replace Kusal Perera as Sri Lanka's white-ball captain
Disillusioned Angelo Mathews considers international retirement
The five-member panel comprises justice Nimal Dissanayaka, a retired judge of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, three attorneys-at-law in Panduka Keerthinanda, Asela Rekawa and Uchitha Wickremasinghe, and MRW De Zoysa, a retired major general.SLC’s medical staff are understood to have found out about the bubble breach via social media, when a video emerged showing Dickwella and Mendis out in a public place. Gunathilaka was not in the video but is believed to have stepped out along with the other two. According to SLC officials, all three admitted to visiting Durham’s City Centre, which the tour’s Covid-19 protocols had forbidden them from doing.The investigation of the bubble breach comes at a difficult time for Sri Lankan cricket, both on and off the field, with a standoff between the players and the board having just come to a temporary resolution with the signing of contracts covering the upcoming white-ball series against India.Senior batter Angelo Mathews, however, has declined to sign a contract, and is reportedly considering retirement. A leadership change also appears to be on the cards, with Kusal Perera – who is believed to have played a played a central role in the contracts standoff – potentially losing the white-ball captaincy to Dasun Shanaka.
Chelsea are not looking to sign a striker in January, ending their long-term interest in Victor Osimhen unless Christopher Nkunku is sold.
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Chelsea are notoriously big spenders in the transfer market but will take a more reserved approach ahead of the January window. Their long-standing interest in Osimhen has never materialised into anything, but it seems they may finally be ready to walk away from the Nigerian striker. According to reports, the only way they may dip into the market for a striker is if Christopher Nkunku is sold in the coming months, freeing up funds and space for a replacement.
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Additionally, injuries must always be accounted for. Chelsea have the money but are content to operate with what they have, including an in-form Nicolas Jackson. But should the former Villarreal man pick up a knock, Enzo Maresca may want to bring in a ready-made replacement as the Blues look to keep pace with Liverpool in the Premier League.
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Chelsea have only lost twice in the Premier League this season, marking an impressive start for Maresca. Should they win in the top flight this weekend and Manchester City taste defeat at Anfield, they will move into second, a position they have not occupied in a long time.
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Maresca's side host Aston Villa this weekend in the Premier League. However, chiefs will have one eye on the transfer market, in particular on players they can sell as they look to reduce their squad size.
Craig Overton claims three wickets for visitors, but Somerset go three down early in reply
ECB Reporters Network22-Apr-2021Somerset 53 for 3 (Abell 13*, Klein 2-24) trail Leicestershire 233 (Hill 68, Overton 3-39) by 180 runsLewis Hill posted his fourth half-century in as many innings but Leicestershire were made to struggle after opting to bat first in their LV=Insurance County Championship match against Somerset.Australian Test opener Marcus Harris could make only 19 on his debut in English domestic cricket as Leicestershire were bowled out for 233, below par even though they were at one stage 74 for 5.Yet what looked like being Somerset’s day was tempered by a poor start to their reply that saw them lose their first three wickets for 39 before closing on 53 for 3.Craig Overton took 3 for 39, England spinner Jack Leach 2 for 26 and Lewis Gregory 2 for 39 as Somerset’s strong attack returned to something much more akin to its regular potency following last week’s surprise defeat to West Country rivals Gloucestershire.But after a loose first over that conceded 17 runs, Chris Wright gave the home side a fillip as Tom Lammonby was lbw after failing to go through with his intended stroke, and then Dieter Klein, producing some good swing, had Tom Banton leg before and James Hildreth caught at second slip.Earlier, Harris and Hassan Azad made a confident start as they teamed up for the first time after Colin Ackermann won the toss, but four wickets in the second hour swung the opening session squarely in Somerset’s favour as Leicestershire slipped from 40 without loss to 68 for 4 at lunch.Harris caught the eye with a couple of nicely timed off drives but was caught behind off the bottom edge when Gregory tempted him with some width outside off stump.Gregory claimed his second success with an lbw verdict against Harry Dearden, who looked unlucky, before Marchant de Lange had Ackermann plumb in front .Azad, fresh from a fine unbeaten 144 at the Oval, looked in sound order in reaching 36 but then gave his wicket away in the last over of the session, chasing a short and wider ball from Somerset skipper Tom Abell that he could only help through to the ‘keeper.Leicestershire’s troubles continued after lunch as Harry Swindells was caught at first slip via second as he tried to get out of the way of a short ball from Overton, leaving them 74 for 5.But Hill, strong on the off side, hit 10 boundaries before Overton had him caught behind square on the leg side for 68, top-edging an attempt to clip the ball off his legs.He added 59 with Ben Mike before the latter was leg before to Leach’s first ball and 47 for the seventh wicket with Callum Parkinson, who finished unbeaten on 27 after surviving a chance on seven, and useful runs from the tail swelled Leicestershire’s total, the last three wickets adding 48.
Carlo Ancelotti has revealed the reason behind Jude Bellingham uptick in goalscoring output after not scoring in his first 12 games of the season.
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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has shed light on the recent surge in the goalscoring output of Jude Bellingham, who has come alive in front of goal after a quiet start to the season which saw him score zero goals in the first 12 games in all competitions. However, the Englishman has burst to form in the final third, scoring in five successive LaLiga games.
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Bellingham arrived at Real Madrid in 2023, the same summer that saw the departure of club legend and then Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema. The Englishman played like a veteran in his debut season and scored an astonishing 23 goals in 42 games in all competitions, 19 of those coming in the league. Madrid clinched the league and Champions League double with the 21-year-old playing protagonist.
This season, however, with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham has been relieved of his goalscoring burden. Due to tactical shifts to better integrate Mbappe into the team, Ancelotti has deployed Bellingham in a relatively deeper role. The result of that was a 12-game barren spell for the former Dortmund man at the start of the season. In recent weeks, Bellingham seems to have regained his goalscoring boots, scoring five goals in as many league games.
WHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID
"Not much has changed for him personally," Ancelotti told reporters when asked about the England international's recent run of form (h/t AS).
"What has changed is the dynamic of the team; now we have more mobility up top and he takes advantage of this.
"He has scored, of course, and that is important, but his attitude has remained the same."
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The England international was forced to come off against Girona, evoking fear in the Real Madrid staff as well as fans about losing arguably their best player to injury. However, Ancelotti later confirmed that he was feeling some fatigue, which is why he asked to be taken off. Bellingham is expected to start on Tuesday, December 10, at Atalanta and will be keen to continue his purple patch as Los Blancos aim to rekindle their continental campaign.
The Tottenham Hotspur squad between the years of 2007 and 2009 was filled to the brim with Premier League cult heroes and iconic players of the competition. It was a period for Spurs in which they won the League Cup in 2008, their most recent trophy.
One of the players in that Spurs squad who was just breaking through was Premier League legend Gareth Bale. Although he suffered a bad injury midway through the 2007/08 season, Bale’s quality was on show as he scored three goals and an assist from left-back. The following season, he began to play on the wing, a move which would transform his career.
Gareth Bale
In that same squad, Spurs had the likes of Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov as centre-forward options, a trio of iconic Premier League players, The League Cup final of 2008 was a game in which Berbatov scored for Spurs from the penalty spot to help them on their way to a famous victory over Chelsea.
Legendary midfielder Luka Modric was also in the Spurs squad around that time, although he signed in the summer of 2008 and missed the triumph of the League Cup. The Croatian played 160 times for the Lilywhites and had a superb impact on their squad before a move to Real Madrid in 2012.
Luka Modric for Tottenham.
Looking at the present day and ahead to the future, Spurs have been linked with another midfielder in recent days who could join the club and have a similar impact to that of Modric on their midfield.
Spurs target Serie A midfielder
The player in question here is Juventus and Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli. The 26-year-old had an important part to play for the Old Lady last season, but could well depart the club this summer.
According to a report from Football Insider, the Lilywhites are believed to be 'plotting a move' for the midfielder this summer. Locatelli is 'seen as a potential replacement' for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg by the hierarchy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Dane left Spurs this summer to join Marseille on a loan deal with an obligation to buy for a reported £17m in a year's time.
In terms of a price for Locatelli this summer, the Turin side would be willing to do business for the Italian at a fee of around £20m. However, he is under contract for another four years, meaning the Italian giants would hold a lot of power in any negotiations.
How Locatelli could replicate Modric
Last season, he played 40 times in all competitions, which included 36 appearances in Serie A. He scored once in the league and grabbed four assists, as well as two more in the Coppa Italia as Juve went on to lift the trophy, which was Massimiliano Allegri’s final one as manager of the Italian giants.
Locatelli, who has 28 caps for Gli Azzurri so far, is a midfield “maestro”, as football talent scout Jacek Kulig describes him. He sits in midfield and pulls the strings, dictating the tempo his side plays at. Much like Modric has done over the years for Spurs and then Real Madrid, Locatelli is a controller in the middle of the park.
Modric has received such high praise over his career, for all of his brilliance on the ball to control the game and create chances. Brazil legend and former Los Blancos midfielder Kaka praised the Croatian for the fact he makes football look "easy to play", before explaining how the beautiful game is "like a dance for him".
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric.
A midfielder who can control the game from deeper areas is perhaps not a profile Spurs have in their squad when considering their current midfielders' on-the-ball traits. The likes of James Maddison possess creativity in the final third while Pape Matar Sarr is more of a carry-first midfielder, but a dictator of play from a deeper role is something they don’t have.
Locatelli could also be a good replacement for Yves Bissouma, who has had a tough start to the season at Spurs, after his internal suspension for an off-field incident. Should Spurs sign Locatelli, he could be a good option to replace the former Brighton man in the starting XI, who is also a carry-first midfielder like Sarr. Again, it would add excellent versatility to the Spurs squad.
Locatelli could become that player for Ange Postecoglou and help add a new profile to the exciting project in north London. In many ways, he can replicate the impact Modric himself had at the club.
This is also reflected in his stats on analysis site FBref, which show the Italian’s quality when on the ball. Last season in Serie A, he averaged 6.94 progressive passes and 6.85 passes into the final third per 90 minutes. That ranked him in the top 4% and 3% of Serie A midfielders respectively.
Stat (per 90)
Total
Progressive passes
6.94
Passes into final third
6.85
Passes into penalty box
0.9
Passes completed
50.95
Pass completion rate
85.7%
It is also worth noting that the 26-year-old completes more switches each game than most in his position – 1.02 per 90 to be exact. That ranks him in the top 3% of midfielders in Italy’s top flight and shows just how much he keeps things ticking over in midfield by constantly looking to find teammates in space.
For all of the on-ball qualities the former Sassuolo midfielder would bring to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he is also more than competent out of possession. Last season, the Italian averaged 2.81 tackles and interceptions and 5.12 ball recoveries per 90 minutes.
Football analyst Ben Mattinson described Locatelli as an "artist in midfield", and it is hard to disagree with him given the stats. There are definitely similarities to Modric, who is one of the best midfield controllers of all time, and he could replicate what he did in a Spurs shirt.
For just £20m, this seems like a deal Spurs should not miss out on, and would be a brilliant acquisition to add quality and a unique profile to their squad to help reach the next level under Postecoglou.
Mason Mount was forced out of Manchester United's Premier League clash with City on 12 minutes after suffering yet another injury setback.
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Mount has been plagued by injury since signing for Manchester United from Chelsea in the summer of 2023. The midfielder has just returned to action with Amorim's side, and was named in the starting XI to face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, but was forced off on 12 minutes after suffering a fresh problem. Mount was able to walk off the pitch but now looks set for another spell on the sidelines. The midfielder's departure forced Amorim to tweak his game plan against City, with Kobbie Mainoo sent on to replace Mount.
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Mount appeared set for a fresh start at United following the arrival of Amorim. The Portuguese boss has been full of praise for Mount and the desire he has shown to get back in the team after a string of injury problems. The 25-year-old put in an impressive cameo in midweek against Viktoria Plzen, and would have hoped to have followed that up against City, but now looks to be facing more time on the treatment table instead.
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Mount has not managed to complete 90 minutes in a Premier League game since January 2023 for Chelsea against Crystal Palace.
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Manchester United fans will now have to wait and see the nature of Mount's latest injury and how much time the midfielder will miss. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are back in action on Thursday against Tottenham in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
After missing out on Marc Guehi, Newcastle United reportedly went all out to sign an attacking reinforcement on deadline day, offering a package worth as much as £50m.
Newcastle transfer news
The final day of the transfer window was one of desperation for Newcastle. Every time the Magpies' offer for Guehi increased, Crystal Palace's asking price seemingly did the same before any chance of the deal taking place collapsed. After an unsuccessful summer-long saga, the Magpies are back to square one and still need a central defender with the window closed.
"Incredible" Newcastle player set to travel for talks as shock move nears
The Magpies are set to lose the defender…
ByTom Cunningham Sep 1, 2024
As things stand, with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles injured, Eddie Howe has Lloyd Kelly and Fabian Schar to call on when it comes to natural central defenders to call on, with Dan Burn and Emil Krafth filling in. Those options are unlikely to improve anytime soon unless Newcastle turn towards the free agent market.
What's more, their failure to sign Guehi didn't see them go for an alternative option. Instead, those at St James' Park reportedly went all out in pursuit of an attacking reinforcement, ditching their need for a centre-back altogether.
According to The Athletic's Daniel Taylor, Newcastle included Miguel Almiron in a player-plus-cash offer worth £50m for Anthony Elanga, only for Nottingham Forest to stand firm and hand them their second rejection in quick succession.
In the end, Almiron remained a Newcastle player, despite being linked with a move away throughout the window, while Elanga stayed put at Forest. But things could yet change in January, with Sky Sports pundit Curtis Davies recently backing the Magpies to return for the winger.
"Brilliant" Elanga is better than Almiron
When the January window opens, signing an upgrade on Almiron alongside another central defender should be the two biggest priorities for Newcastle. Solving that first problem may well involve Elanga, who has come to life at Forest to earn such interest and become a player capable of offering Howe a much-needed upgrade on his current winger.
Goals
5
3
Assists
9
1
Key passes
32
24
Take-ons Completed
28
23
Outperforming Almiron in several key areas, Elanga's output was particularly impressive compared to the Newcastle man last time out, with 16 goal involvements to his name as Forest battled to survive.
The Swede has earned plenty of praise throughout his Premier League career, including from former Manchester United defender Wes Brown, who told the club's official website when Elanga was breaking through at Old Trafford: "Anthony Elanga has been absolutely brilliant. It's just the energy he brings – he starts it from the front, he tries to run in behind, he's a player we need at the moment.
"He puts pressure on defenders and he has scored some good goals for us as well. As a young player, you want him to do all the best because you know how hard it can be, and he has definitely been a spark for us. He is somebody that we need at the moment."