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Manchester United may have already uncovered their next homegrown star before the last batch have even had the chance to make a real mark on the club.

Joe Hugill arrived from Sunderland in a £300,000 deal last year and has gone from strength to strength since joining the 20-time English champions.

The 6 foot 2 striker bagged an impressive 16 goals and provided a further three assists in 27 outings for United’s youth sides during his maiden campaign, but one performance in particular really caught the eye.

Despite being just 17-years old, Hugill grabbed the headlines back in February after scoring four goals as United’s U23s thumped bitter rivals Liverpool 6-3 on their own patch.

His quadruple didn’t go unnoticed by Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who lauded the youngster when asked about whether Amad Diallo, who had recently joined in a £37m transfer from Atalanta last month, would get some first-team action soon.

The Norwegian replied: “We’re gonna give him the time to settle in. If we go from that game (vs Liverpool), I’d pick Joe Hugill.

“Four goals by Hugill, he’s a top striker as well, we’re looking forward to seeing his development. Amad gets a good start, and why Joe didn’t take the penalty himself to get five goals, I’m going to ask him.”

Hugill has the chance to follow in the footstep of previous academy graduates such as Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, but it’s another United fans favourite who the teenager resembles more closely.

His devastating finishing, wand of a left foot, tall, lean frame and technical ability all closely resemble that of Robin van Persie, and he’ll be hoping to have a similar impact upon the Old Trafford outfit as the legendary Dutch striker did.

Although he’s not blessed with pace, Hugill has no problem finding the back of the net having done so on four occasions already this season.

Only time will tell if the youngster can succeed the aforementioned stars, but if he continues to progress at his current rate, then it’s surely a matter of when and not if he makes it into Solskjaer’s first-team squad.

And, in other news…Ole could solve big MUFC problem by signing “sensational” 19 y/o who fans would love 

West Ham United still remain in four competitions and David Moyes will certainly be looking to add depth to his squad in the upcoming January window, especially in the defence with numerous players currently injured.

According to 90min, the Hammers have made an enquiry for Lille defender Sven Botman, having been linked with the centre-back in the summer.

What’s the story?

West Ham are one of many clubs interested in acquiring the services of the 21-year-old centre-back, who currently plays for French champions Lille.

However, it is also being suggested that the Dutchman is unsure about departing France and is weighing up his options after winning Ligue 1 last season, a feat he described as “incredible”. Moreover, his side has progressed in the Champions League and he is eyeing a push into the Netherlands senior setup.

Despite last season’s success, regaining their league title is already looking a forlorn task, with Lille currently 11th in Ligue 1 and already 20 points off the summit.

The Dutchman, who has been hailed as “stoic and physical defensively”, only joined Lille from Ajax last summer but has rapidly attracted interest from across Europe, with Chelsea, AC Milan, Newcastle, West Ham and Leicester amongst the clubs reportedly interested in him.

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City are also in the hunt for the defender, with a fee of £43m being suggested as the French club’s asking price.

West Ham must sign Botman

After an exceptional start to the campaign, West Ham have suffered a slight dip in form, winning just one of their last six league games. Injuries and suspensions haven’t helped, particularly at the back, with six defenders currently unavailable for the Hammers.

David Moyes will need to add depth to his squad in January if they are to successfully juggle the demands of playing in Europe alongside pushing for another top-six finish in the Premier League.

Botman did miss a month of the season with a groin issue but has still managed 11 Ligue 1 and three Champions League appearances this term.

Although a fee of £43m could put the West Ham hierarchy off signing the Dutchman, at just 21 years of age he could prove to be a very shrewd purchase for GSB and the east London club if they can fend off the competition for his signature.

In other news – “I am hoping…”: Moyes drops injury update which will leave West Ham fans buzzing

Celtic still have the small matter of potentially securing the SPFL title this season before they can be once again let loose in the upcoming summer transfer market.

However, it seems as though an early clue has emerged over one potential deal that could take place at Parkhead that will surely delight a lot of Celtic supporters.

What’s the word?

Speaking in one of his latest YouTube videos, Tottenham Hotspur journalist Alasdair Gold had this to say about the possibility of Cameron Carter-Vickers signing a permanent deal with the Hoops in the summer.

He said: “Perhaps the forgotten man in Tottenham’s defence, he’s gone to Celtic and he’s smashed it, honestly. He’s likely to go there, £6m deal, rising to £10m if all other objectives are met.”

Fans will be delighted

Since arriving at the Parkhead club during the previous summer transfer window on loan from the north London club, the defender has been a key figure for Ange Postecoglou this season.

Described as “immense” by pundit Chris Sutton and “huge” by Greg Taylor, he’d certainly be an exciting acquisition given his displays so far this term.

With 41 appearances across all competitions for the Hoops under his belt, the centre-back has chipped in with four goals and one assist, all of which have come in the league.

As well as his usefulness in front of goal, the 24-year-old has been a rock at the back for the Hoops.

Having played in 28 league games, the American has racked up 19 tackles as well as the joint-highest number of interceptions (37) as well as a higher average of clearances per game (4.2) than any other Celtic player.

In addition to keeping a clean sheet in his latest appearance for the Hoops in their 2-0 win over Ross County at the weekend, Carter-Vickers managed to once again show what a pivotal figure he is for the team.

Throughout the 90 minutes, the defender made five clearances and won six of the seven duels he was involved in, ultimately earning himself a solid match rating of 7.3/10 from SofaScore.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that the on-loan defender has played a big part in Celtic’s season and their impressive defensive record.

With Gold’s claim that a permanent deal is likely to take place in the summer, this will undoubtedly be great news for Postecoglou. To put things simply, this signing would certainly raise the roof at Parkhead; he is that vital to their cause.

In other news: Sold for £2m, now worth £540k: Celtic struck gold on £17k-p/w dud who “had issues”

According to club insider ExWHUemployee, West Ham are hopeful that Jarrod Bowen will be available for the upcoming clash against Everton next Sunday.

The Lowdown: Bowen’s injury

During the Irons’ 1-0 loss to Liverpool earlier this month, the 25-year-old was forced into a premature exit after sustaining an injury to his foot, cutting his game short in the 53rd minute. The winger has been sidelined ever since, having missed the Hammers’ last four games as a result.

Whilst the club had previously announced that Bowen had not sustained significant damage from the foot injury, varying reports have since arisen to the contrary.

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The Latest: Ex’s news on Bowen

When interviewed for his website The West Ham Way, ExWHUemployee was questioned by the site’s editor Mark Carlaw about Bowen’s eagerly-awaited return.

Shared on Twitter, he responded with: “Well as of now the club are hopeful that Bowen will be back for the Everton game. There is an element of confusion surrounding the injury, but from what I am told, the match against Everton is seen as his potential return. This also goes the same for Coufal.”

The Verdict: Huge boost

This news will come as a huge boost to David Moyes as his West Ham side set to prepare for a congested period over the next few weeks. It begins with a Premier League fixture against a struggling Everton side before one of the club’s most important clashes of the modern era as they host Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

As the Hammers’ top scorer, Bowen’s return could prove to be massive for Moyes, as the Irons have struggled for goals without their star winger. To supplement his value in front of goal, the former Hull City man also adds a creative dynamic in the final third, illustrated by ranking in the 89th percentile for assists made among positional peers in Europe’s five top-ranked leagues (via FBRef).

Therefore, if the 25-year-old can make his return in time for the upcoming bouts against Everton and Lyon, it would provide the east Londoners with a tremendous boost ahead of the season’s run-in.

In other news: West Ham target has ‘gentleman’s agreement’ to leave his current club

Many Everton fans have been left buzzing over some transfer news on Ronald Araujo.

As per The Athletic, the Goodison Park faithful would be ‘very happy’ to offer the central defender better terms next summer than he is currently getting at FC Barcelona.

Given their financial problems, having just sent Philippe Coutinho out on loan to Aston Villa, there could be a deal to be done for Araujo, who has been described as ‘spectacular’ player by manager Xavi, and ‘has everything’ that a centre-back needs according to teammate Gerard Pique, despite being just 22 years of age.

Nonetheless, he would certainly elevate the quality in the Merseyside club’s backline, and so it is no surprise to see so many Toffees excited by the potential move, especially considering many fans are urging one defender to leave in Mason Holgate, perhaps making space for a new addition.

Everton fans on Araujo transfer news

These Blues were left buzzing as the transfer news on Araujo was shared on Twitter, with one EFC supporter even going as far as to claim that it is ‘massive’:

“Would be a great signing, could do with him this month. Is this another Brands pick we want in future….”

Credit: @AidyDews

“A man can dream”

Credit: @YerayMachin

“Now we’re talking”

Credit: @hmcglash

“Omg imagine”

Credit: @BobbyW1878

“Massive if it happens”

Credit: @Georgie_Redman

“Yessss please”

Credit: @timmy__leyin

In other news, find out what club update has Evertonians fuming here!

It’s been a difficult few weeks for Tottenham. Not only have they had some very tough games to contend with, but the Lilywhites have also been the sufferers of a few major injury issues. 

Indeed, ahead of their game with Crystal Palace on Sunday, Spurs have confirmed a big set of concerns, with Ben Davies and Mousa Sissoko joining Dele Alli and Harry Kane on the injury table.

Fortunately, there is some good news for the club – and it couldn’t be coming at a better time. Unfortunately for South Korea and Son Heung-min, they were knocked out of the Asian Cup on Friday, but that means that the attacker will shortly be returning to London and the Tottenham squad.

This is vital for the club, as they’ve really missed him. He’s been one of Spurs’ best attackers so far this season, and he always seems to pop up with big moments and big goals. From offering exciting pace and energy to regularly scoring for the club, it’s no surprise that he’s such a popular player in north London.

Significantly, too, with Dele Alli and Harry Kane out, there’s a lack of attacking flair, and that was evident against Chelsea on Thursday. Despite his goal, Fernando Llorente looked lost at points for the Lilywhites, and a few of the chances that he had would have been easily put away by Son.

So, for Spurs, this is huge news. Losing players is never nice, but the prospect of Son returning gives them fresh hope that they can get through the mini injury crisis that is currently ongoing.

Thoughts?

Liverpool have had a very good start to their 2021/22 season so far having remained unbeaten across all competitions.

Their latest match saw them humiliate Manchester United 5-0 at Old Trafford in the Premier League ahead of their Carabao Cup match against Championship club Preston North End later this evening.

However, the Merseyside club have been dealt a rather significant injury blow ahead of the match at Deepdale after Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders revealed that midfielder Fabinho will not be available after missing the game at the weekend, which should be worrying for Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.

Although, Lijnders did say that the club are monitoring the Brazilian day by day and are hopeful that he will be fit enough to play in their next Premier League match at the weekend against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield, so there may not be too much to worry about if he fully recovers for the weekend.

On the other hand, with the Preston match in mind, it’s safe to say Fabinho would be a big miss for the Reds from a defensive point of view considering he has managed to rack up an average of 1.5 interceptions per game, 1.2 tackles per game and one clearance per game so far in the Premier League this season according to SofaScore.

In addition to this, Fabinho will be a big miss for the Reds this evening because he is not the only senior midfielder set for a role on the sidelines for the time being with James Milner, Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara and Harvey Elliott all out with injury issues.

Taking this into account, it seems as though the only fit senior midfield options that Klopp could go with against Preston are Jordan Henderson, who played the full 90 minutes against Manchester United at the weekend, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who replaced Keita at the weekend when he went off injured and Curtis Jones, who replaced Milner when he also had to go off with an injury.

Moving forward, given how important Fabinho is for the team given Klopp has selected him on nine occasions across all competitions so far this season, everyone at the Merseyside club will undoubtedly be hoping that the team can cope without him against Preston and that he can recover as soon as possible and back in the team.

The Liverpool boss will still be gutted at missing the Brazilian for tonight’s game.

In other news: Klopp could save LFC millions by unleashing 21 y/o “leader”, he’s VVD’s heir apparent – opinion

As per L’Equipe, via Sport Witness, Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension managing director Fabio Paratici, have been gifted a transfer boost involving Paris-Saint Germain striker Mauro Icardi.

The Lowdown: Spurs offered chance…

Last week, news had emerged concerning the Argentina international and both Spurs and manager Antonio Conte had been presented with a chance to sign Icardi in January.

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According to Foot Mercato, the player’s representatives have been working on trying to find him a new club with his chances at PSG limited, with Icardi’s agents offering him out to Tottenham among others.

This comes as Spurs search for a striking alternative to Harry Kane up front, with the most linked forward so far coming in the form of Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic.

The Latest: Paratici boost emerges…

As Spurs’ transfer chief Paratici sets his sights on January, he may well have been gifted a boost if he wishes to bring Icardi to north London after the offer from representatives.

L’Equipe (via SW) explain that PSG, while wishing to make back their €50 million (£42.6m) transfer costs for the striker, may well accept less for his services.

As such, they state that it would be a ‘surprise’ if the Ligue 1 giants don’t now accept a more reasonable offer.

The Verdict: Take advantage…

The 28-year-old would undoubtedly strengthen Conte’s forward line so this bit of news comes as a real potential transfer boost.

Icardi’s 121 goals and 31 assists in 219 Serie A appearance before his move to France is a real indicator of the player’s quality in front of goal and there is little doubting he could challenge Kane for a place going forward.

The £157,000-per-week star has even been lavished with praise by legendary Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, who called him ‘world class’ and extremely tough to play against.

For a potential discounted price as PSG seek to offload, how can Paratici say no?

In other news: Conte wants player gone in January with final decision made, Spurs chiefs already told to sell…find out more here.

Crystal Palace failed to break into the top half of the table on Friday night after conceding a late goal at the Amex Stadium against Brighton, and it seems that there’s some frustration off the pitch for the Selhurst Park faithful as well.

What’s the word?

Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth has revealed an update on the mounting speculation surrounding a potential move to Palace for Eddie Nketiah this month, outlining one scenario which must materialise before the Arsenal striker moves to the other side of London.

Speaking on the Sky Sports News Transfer Show, Sheth claimed: “Discussions ongoing about a proposed move for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace. Any move this month could depend on the future of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who’s on loan from Mainz.”

Jean-Philippe Mateta has been linked with a moves elsewhere ever since the transfer window opened, with a move to Saint-Etienne one of the strongest links for the on-loan Mainz striker, but nothing has materialised as of yet.

Vieira will be fuming

Vieira gave a frustrated response when asked in his pre-match press conference about the potential signing of Nketiah, saying: ‘He is an Arsenal player and his manager makes it clear he will stay at Arsenal.”

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta spoke earlier this week about the young forward, insisting that “he’s going to stay here with us” during his press conference prior to Thursday’s Carabao Cup clash at Liverpool, in which Nketiah featured in the starting line-up.

Vieira will be disappointed with the developments, as it was revealed that the £9m-rated striker has been a long-term target for the south London club. The 22-year-old also fits the profile of the type of player that the Eagles manager is looking to add – when you look at the signings the Frenchman has already made at Palace, young players with experience at the top of their game is a common theme.

Conor Gallagher (21) was already proving himself as a promising young player in the England under-21s, earning plenty of Premier League experience on loan at West Brom from Chelsea, where he had become a standout player through their academy.

Odsonne Edouard (23) was the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership for two years in a row whilst playing for title-challenging Celtic and Marc Guehi (21) was snapped up from Champions League holders Chelsea, excelling on loan when he helped Swansea to secure a spot in the Championship play-off final last year.

Nketiah has made 73 appearances for Arsenal, scoring a goal every 163 minutes for the first team during that time. He also has 17 caps for England under-21s, scoring 16 goals so far and becoming captain of the team last year, so it’s little wonder that Vieira was so interested in him.

However, with Mateta’s future seemingly needed to be sorted first before Palace can entertain any hope of landing Nketiah, the Eagles manager may well be raging over the current state of affairs and could have to wait until the summer, when the Arsenal striker is out of contract.

In other news: Vieira could sign this forward as an alternative to Nketiah

Everton’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham leaves them in a precarious position ahead of a must-win crunch tie against Burnley on Wednesday.

The Toffees disappointed again, with this most recent loss meaning that they have taken just three points from their last five Premier League games. If they are to continue in this manner, their status in England’s top flight will surely expire.

Lampard may now be realising the true extent of the job at hand, with Everton sat slumped in 17th place at the most important stage of the season. The loss against West Ham will no doubt fire up Burnley, who will see Wednesday’s game as an opportunity to seal their own fate in a bid to play Premier League football, come next season.

It goes without saying that Wednesday’s clash between the Toffees and the Clarets will be a real crunch match.

Iwobi’s disaster-class

Unfortunately, since the former Chelsea boss has come in, nothing has seemed to have gone to plan. He yet again made tactical mistakes that ended up costing his team dearly.

One of those mistakes was the deployment of Alex Iwobi as a left-sided central midfielder.

When you’re in the position that Everton find themselves in, you need every player to pull their weight and be willing to do everything they can to ensure a win for their team.

In the case of Alex Iwobi, he did not seem as though he wanted to get stuck in, and cost Everton at times with his reluctance to win back possession. Even though Michael Keane received a red card, it was the ex-Arsenal attacker that cost his team the most in offensive phases of play.

Whilst he was positive in possession, providing four key passes, he had a disaster-class in the out of possession phase and committed zero tackles whilst also losing 100% of his defensive duels. On that evidence, it’s hardly a surprise that the Echo’s David Prentice once labelled him “embarrassing.”

Sadly, he also failed to provide a single accurate cross from the three that he attempted during his time on the field.

At this stage of the season, given Everton’s desperate need of points, he should be doing much better in this aspect of his play.

Lampard should also share some of the blame for putting an attack-orientated player in a position that requires defensive discipline.

Iwobi will need to show more going forward.

In other news – Fewer touches than Pickford: £72k-p/w Everton gem who made just 11 passes failed Lamps.