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West Bromwich Albion continued their promotion push at the top of the Championship table with a resilient display over Hull City on Saturday afternoon.

The Baggies remain two points clear of both Preston North End and Leeds United as the international break takes centre stage for the third time this season.

When they return in a couple of weeks, manager Slaven Bilic will be without his integral midfield pairing of Romaine Sawyers and Jake Livermore as they both picked up their fifth bookings of the season, meaning they now face a one-game suspension.

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Meanwhile, Filip Krovinovic has emerged as a potential candidate to fill in for them in their absence after his cameo performance against Hull, at least according to some sections of the Hawthorns faithful.

One supporter said that the Croatian playmaker reminded him of Robert Koren, who played for the west Midlands club for just over three years a decade ago, while another compared him to Lionel Messi.

‘Different gravy’ and ‘class’ were two other words used to describe the 24-year-old while one more said that Krovinovic is an obvious replacement for the Sheffield Wednesday game as he is the best ‘possession cycler’ along with Sawyers.

Here’s the best of the reaction:

Liverpool fans are once again heaping praise on their midfield magician Fabinho. The love for the Brazilian this time comes after it was revealed he has been given a few nicknames at the club following his incredible performances so far.It has been told that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp refers to the midfielder as ‘Dyson’. When asked about this tag Fabinho told Liverpool.com: “A few people call me this! Between us players, I’m more known as Flaco but they’re cool nicknames.”Now, many Liverpool supporters have expressed their love for the 26-year-old and added a bunch of nicknames to his repertoire. One fan called him “The General”, as another follower called him “Fab the fabulous”. One of the other supporters referred to him as “Fabby long legs” because of his incredible ability to get around the Anfield pitch.This season, the £43.7m man has truly established himself as one of the best around. His average of 1.2 key passes and 2.4 tackles per game have shown his fantastic ability in putting a shift in across the pitch.The former Monaco man did, of course, also score that magnificent opening goal in the vital clash with Manchester City.

Here’s what some Liverpool fans have had to say about their midfield maestro…

Heading into 2025, Manchester City’s top concern is whether to replace injured superstar Rodri internally or with a fresh face in the transfer market, and the latest reports have revealed their opinion about Newcastle star Bruno Guimarães.

Man City plotting swoop for £51m-rated star as possible Rodri replacement

Man City are considering their options as they decide whether to replace Rodri or not.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 2, 2024 Rodri replacements wanted at the Etihad

The Blues have had to deal with missing Kevin de Bruyne for large parts of the seasons in years gone by, but they have never had to deal with the long-term absence of Rodri. His injury is a big blow to Pep Guardiola, as he is seen as the key man in what the team does from back to front.

Therefore, given what they are going to miss, City may look to try and find a replacement, and they have already been linked with a few options. Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella emerged as a potential transfer target for City earlier this week. As well as Barella, Atalanta’s Ederson is the latest name to be linked with a move to the Etihad.

But City may also find that a replacement for Rodri is already at the club, as they have Mateo Kovacic, who Guardiola is said to be a “big fan of” and has already played an important role this season. Meanwhile, there is also Rico Lewis, who can operate at full-back as well as in midfield, and the young man came in for huge praise from his manager after his performance in the Champions League on Tuesday night – and for helping to fill the void left by Rodri.

Guardiola said of Lewis: “The way he’s playing, no words. He does everything. Making an assist and defending, he’s strong. Of course he has to improve with things, but he’s playing at the highest level.”

It appears that Guardiola and City are keeping their options open when it comes to replacing Rodri, as they are now being linked with a new player.

Man City plotting transfer swoop on £71m-rated Newcastle United star

According to reports from Spain relayed by The Hard Tackle, Manchester City are interested in signing Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United. The Brazilian is seen as a potential replacement for Rodri, and his recent performances against the Blues have caught their attention.

The Blues played out a 1-1 draw with the Magpies last weekend, and Guimarães is said to have impressed City’s scouts and coaches, with his quality and leadership skills being on show. Meanwhile, his ability to “balance the midfield,” together with his endurance, makes him an “attractive” asset for City, as they look for a player with similar ability to Rodri.

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However, if Bruno is going to leave Newcastle, it will not be for cheap, as the Magpies paid around 42 million euros, which is roughly £35 million, to bring him to England, and any offer will likely need to exceed that by a huge margin.

He is currently valued at 85 million euros, which is roughly £71 million, a significant rise from what Newcastle paid, and his £100m release clause expired in the summer. The 26-year-old is eight games away from 100 appearances in the Premier League and Newcastle will be hoping the games to come are all in a black and white shirt, as he is contracted to St. James’ Park until the summer of 2028.

Turning their attention towards a midfielder once again, Liverpool now reportedly believe they can force one club to sell a player who Arne Slot loves and could even strike a deal in January.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds very publicly missed out on Martin Zubimendi in the summer, with the Real Sociedad star remaining loyal to his boyhood club in an unexpected twist for those at Anfield. At the time, it almost seemed enough to leave Slot with an instant problem, but the rise of Ryan Gravenberch from an unused player under Jurgen Klopp to Liverpool’s player of the season so far has quickly made Zubimendi a forgotten man.

The Dutchman cannot hold the fort on his own forever though, especially if Liverpool want to set course for Premier League and Champions League glory in a new era once again. And that could see them turn towards the January transfer window to complete Arne Slot’s midfield once and for all. Of course, as shown in last night’s 5-1 thrashing of West Ham United in the Carabao Cup, squad depth is key.

According to The Boot Room, Liverpool now believe now can force Feyenoord to sell Quinten Timber and may even make their move in the January transfer window due to the midfielder’s contract situation.

Timber, of course, played under Slot at Feyenoord and the Dutchman is reportedly a huge fan of the midfielder that Liverpool initially had on their shortlist in the summer, only for his side to remain firm on their transfer stance. Now, however, with the club captain approaching the final 18 months of his deal, which runs out in 2026, the Dutch club need to make a decision on whether to cash in while they still have the chance to make a hefty sum.

Slot must axe Liverpool ace who earns more than Diaz & Konate

It’s time for this wider member to move on…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 25, 2024

Liverpool believe Feyenoord’s stance has softened and could hand the 23 year-old the chance to square off against twin brother Jurrien Timber against Arsenal in the Premier League.

"Superb" Timber would complete Liverpool midfield

There’s arguably no better way to reward Slot for such an excellent start at Liverpool than by reuniting him with a player who previously starred when working under him. Timber, still just 23 years old, has already enjoyed a strong start to the campaign at Feyenoord, netting two goals in six games from midfield even as his side have struggled to bounce back from Slot’s departure with two wins in five Eredivisie outings.

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Whilst the numbers highlight just how well Gravenberch has done since slotting in just in front of Liverpool’s back four, they also show the more attacking strengths of Timber in what would be quite the partnership in the middle of the park.

The 23-year-old has earned plenty of praise during his time at Feyenoord, with Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig dubbing Timber a “superb signing” last season. Now, just two seasons into his time at the Dutch giants, Liverpool could swoop in as early as January and reunite Slot with a midfielder who knows all about his system.

Manchester City are among the Premier League teams interested in a rising talent in Portugal, according to a new report. The Blues had a very quiet summer transfer window, but they could be in store for a busy 2025.

Worse than Savinho: 5/10 Man City star who lost 100% duels let Pep down

The Cityzens ace had a night to forget against Inter in the Champions League.

2 ByDan Emery Sep 19, 2024 Man City transfer news

At the beginning of the week, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola were being linked with a move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. He is a player that the club’s scouting department are said to be huge admirers of and have completed a well-detailed dossier on him.

But Gibbs-White isn’t the only player who could be making a switch to the Etihad in the near future. Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo could be offered to the Blues in a swap deal that would see Erling Haaland go the opposite way.

Joan Laporta sees the Norway superstar as his dream signing and the Barca president is willing to offer Araujo plus £40 million to sign the striker, a bid that is likely to be rejected. But Araujo is someone the Blues have a “huge interest” in, and with Guardiola keen to add to his centre-back options, he may be someone that City look to go for in a separate deal without their star striker.

Man City plotting surprise transfer swoop for an £80m+ talent

HITC reports that Manchester City, along with other Premier League teams, are closely monitoring Sporting Lison player Geovany Quenda. The report states that, as well as City, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur are also keeping track of the player’s progress.

Quenda, who only turned 17 in April, has been with Sporting since an early age but has only just broken through into the first team. The 17-year-old has really impressed in recent weeks, and with the Portuguese side believing they have another top talent coming through just like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo, they have upped his release clause to 100 million euros, which is more than £80 million.

Sporting have done this in an attempt to put teams like City off, but with him getting a call-up to the Portugal national team earlier this month, that might not stop them. Man City’s Bernando Silva is already a fan of Quenda’s, as he believes he will take his spot in the Portugal side soon.

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Silva said: “Quenda will probably steal my place. He is playing in a position that I can occupy on the pitch. At 17, I wasn’t even playing for Benfica’s youth team!”

Quenda, who made his Champions League debut on Tuesday night as Sporting beat Lille 2-0, is contracted to the Portuguese side until the summer of 2027.

An update has emerged on interest in one of Glasgow Rangers' fringe players ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

Is Scott Wright leaving Rangers?

According to Football Insider, Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq are keen on a deal to sign Scott Wright from the Light Blues before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that they have made a 'concrete' move to land the former Aberdeen winger, although there is no mention of an official offer or how much the Scottish side would demand for his services.

Former Gers head coach Steven Gerrard was confirmed as Al Ettifaq's new manager earlier this month and the Englishman is now looking to reunite with his former player heading into next season.

This comes after the Daily Mail recently reported that the Scottish forward is one of a number of players who could be allowed to move on from Ibrox this summer if the right bid comes in.

Who could replace Scott Wright at Rangers?

Michael Beale could land a superb replacement for the current Light Blues attacker by securing a deal to sign Sunderland ace Jack Clarke, who would be a dream upgrade for the club.

The Glasgow giants are one of a number of clubs reportedly interested in signing the Championship hotshot and the 42-year-old head coach must push to win the race for his signature over the coming weeks.

Clarke enjoyed a terrific campaign in the second tier of English football as the exciting winger produced nine goals and 11 assists in 44 league outings for the Black Cats, while he also completed two dribbles per match.

To put those numbers into context, no Rangers player managed more than nine Scottish Premiership assists or 1.9 dribbles per game. This suggests that the £15k-per-week star would provide Beale with an added level of creativity and drive on the wing, particularly when you compare his statistics directly to Wright's.

The current Gers dud made 19 league appearances for the club last season and was directly involved in one goal, as he failed to find the back of the net on any occasion while the ex-Dons man also only completed 0.5 dribbles per match.

Wright averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63, which placed him 30th out of 31 players within the squad, and did not prove himself to be a valuable option for Beale moving forward, as the vast majority of the side managed to outperform him.

Clarke, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 for Sunderland and that would have placed him 12th in the Gers team – above the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Nicolas Raskin, and Glen Kamara.

The 22-year-old, whose talent was described as "effortless" by ex-Premier League forward Noel Whelan, has proven himself to be a productive player in the final third while being able to deliver consistent performances. Whereas, Wright has struggled badly on both fronts

That is why Beale must now sanction an exit for the Scottish dud before landing an upgrade in Clarke, who would offer far more quality at the top end of the pitch.

Burnley have been given some good news in their pursuit of Jack Clarke, with reliable journalist Alan Nixon reporting that only the Clarets are bidding for the player despite interest from elsewhere.

How many goals has Jack Clarke scored for Sunderland?

The winger finally managed to get regular first-team football after his move to Sunderland, and played in nearly every single Championship game over the course of last season.

Having struggled to start games with Leeds and then had to make do with loan spells after being snatched up by Tottenham, his permanent switch to the Stadium of Light has led to a lot more minutes. That, in turn, has led to an increased output. Playing 45 times for them in the second tier – the first time he has ever managed more than 25 games in a season – he bagged nine goals and a further eleven assists.

It meant that Clarke led the entire league for assists and he also ranked eighth for his goal contribution tally – and when you consider who else plays in that league and the fact it is his first real season in the first-team, it makes for impressive reading.

Are Burnley signing Jack Clarke?

Those performances have now led to interest from elsewhere, with Burnley keen to take him into the Premier League with them ahead of the next campaign. Everton are amongst the other clubs that have also been linked with a deal for the player but it appears that the Clarets are firmly in pole position – and have a great chance to land the winger.

That's because according to a report from reliable journalist Alan Nixon, Burnley are the only team that are making actual bids to bring Clarke to Turf Moor.

No other interested side – such Crystal Palace, Brentford or the Toffees – have launched a concrete offer and that means Burnley are currently clear to bid as they please for him. They've already seen two bids rejected though – the latest being for £10m – and it appears as though the Black Cats won't budge until there is more on the table for the player.

The forward may only have really bagged regular first-team action for the first time in 2022/23, but he is already drawing high praise from those who have watched him. Football journalist and SAFC supporter Josh Bunting for example stated that Clarke was "excellent" for Sunderland this season because of his goals and consistency.

Burnley then would be a good next step for the player – but as yet, they are yet to convince the Black Cats to part ways with the youngster.

Mauricio Pochettino officially begins work as Chelsea head coach on Saturday, but the Argentinian will no doubt already be busy giving his input with regards to transfer activity.

The Blues have already released and sold numerous players, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly among them after joining Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a £17m deal.

Many more are set to follow, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano suggesting long-serving defender Cesar Azpilicueta could join Inter Milan before the start of the new Premier League season.

That will leave Chelsea potentially on the lookout for cover at both centre-back and right-back, though one of their targets can tick both boxes should the smart transfer be pulled off.

Who is Chelsea target Axel Disasi?

Disasi only turned 25 in March, meaning his best years are still ahead of him, yet he already boasts 99 appearances in Ligue 1 with Reims and more recently Monaco, with whom he has spent the past three seasons.

The four-cap France international played in all 38 of Monaco's league games last season, starting all but one of those, while also starting a further eight games in the Europa League.

Most comfortable playing in the heart of defence, Disasi is also capable of shifting out to the right, where he occasionally provided cover last season.

However, while Chelsea are interested in snapping up Disasi, RMC Sport reporter Fabrice Hawkins claims Arsenal and Manchester United are also in for the €40m (£34m) defender, with the latter supposedly leading the way for his signature.

Would Axel Disasi be a good option for Chelsea?

Disasi has shown he can fill in at right-back, which is a massive bonus should Azpilicueta indeed depart, but Pochettino will no doubt consider him a replacement for Koulibaly – albeit at exactly double the price.

The Frenchman has an eye for goal, as reflected by his five goals in all competitions last season, on top of four assists. As per The Analyst, that ranks Disasi in the top 16% of all defenders for goals scored across Europe's top five leagues last season.

Similarly, he is in the top 16% for touches in the opposition box and top 21% for shots. To put those figures in some perspective, Koulibaly was in the top 35% for touches in the opposition box and 39% for shots. Azpilicueta, incidentally, was in the top 13% and 42% respectively.

A defender's first job is to defend, of course, but having the ability to cause danger when going forward is always welcome. Besides, Disasi is also more than capable of keeping the opposition out, averaging 1.86 interceptions per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref, compared to 1.41 for Koulibaly.

Disasi also put his 6 foot 3 frame to good use, winning 2.56 aerial duels per 90 minutes, whereas Koulibaly – not exactly small at 6 foot 1 – won 1.83.

Just as importantly for any defender these days, Disasi (83.3%) was also similar to Koulibaly (87%) in terms of pass completion rate, meaning he can help play the ball out from the back.

As pointed out by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Disasi also has pace, athleticism, tenacity and timing, making him out as a "hidden gem" prior to his move to Monaco, one who "was born to play in England".

It may well be that he has the chance to show exactly that this coming season. Chelsea will just hope it is them, rather than Arsenal or Man United, who get there first.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with a Ligue 1 ace that could end Julen Lopetegui’s side's woes in front of goal.

The Spaniard is presented with the task of improving his squad on a tight budget this summer, following the reveal of the club's Financial Fair Play (FFP) worries.

With the latest player linked to Molineux, Wolves could strike a deal that would be kind to their finances and pose a significant improvement to their squad.

What’s the latest on Moussa Dembele to Wolves?

As reported by Express and Star yesterday, Wolves are interested in signing Olympique Lyonnais striker Moussa Dembele.

The report claims that the Midlands club are ‘monitoring’ the 26-year-old, who is set to become a free agent this summer.

It’s mentioned that the Old Gold will face ‘considerable competition’ for the Frenchman’s signature, with unnamed clubs across Europe also interested.

What could Moussa Dembele offer to Wolves?

In 129 Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon, Dembele has registered an impressive 67 goal contributions in scoring 56 times and contributing to 11 assists in five seasons for the club.

Lauded as “clinical” by scout Antonio Mango, the Frenchman could be an integral signing for Wolves, who ended the campaign as the Premier League’s lowest-scoring side with just 31 goals in 38 games.

The Pontoise-born talisman was snatched by the Ligue 1 side after a formidable spell in Scotland in which he led the line at Celtic, quickly cementing himself as a fan favourite.

In three seasons with the Glasgow giants, Dembele found the net 51 times in 94 appearances, showing his clinical nature in the final third and innate ability to lead the line.

Wolves aren’t short of creators with the likes of Pedro Neto and Matheus Nunes in the squad, so in having a striker as competent as the Lyon ace, Lopetegui could get the best out of his attack to turn fortunes around at Molineux after a dreary season.

In a campaign that lacked sufficient game time for the 26-year-old, the forward lost his place to former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, who scored 27 goals this term which subsequently forced Dembele out of favour.

The former Celtic man’s misfortune could be Wolves’ treasure, with him displaying signs that he could rejuvenate Lopetegui’s side in the final third, as highlighted by his statistics in the season prior in Ligue 1.

As per FBref, the 2021/22 campaign proved to be a strong one for the 26-year-old, who ranked in the top 4% of forwards in the league in terms of non-penalty goals, recording an average of 0.65 per 90.

Another impressive area that the forward excelled in was his activity in the box, averaging 6.08 touches in the penalty box per 90, significantly more than Wolves’ current strike option Raul Jimenez who registered 4.68 per 90 in the Premier League this term.

Wolves could land themselves an established talisman on a free transfer here, which may well prove to be a deal that could turn the club around.

Leeds United defender Robin Koch could make a shock move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to an update from reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Is Robin Koch leaving Leeds?

The Whites were relegated from the Premier League last month, following a dismal campaign that eventually saw three different managers leave the club. It was a massive blow after three years back in the top flight, but the key now is for the Whites to rebuild under new owners 49ers Enterprises, making a swift return to the division in the process.

There is no question that relegation is going to make it difficult for Leeds to keep hold of a number of their key players, however, with many understandably not wanting to be plying their trade in the Championship in 2023/24, and choosing to remain at a higher level instead.

One of those who could move on is Koch, with the £38,000-a-week utility man's current Whites deal expiring at the end of next season. That means that this summer could begrudgingly be the best time to sell him, with some claims even emerging that he actually has a relegation clause which allows him to leave for free immediately.

Are Man United signing Koch?

Taking to Twitter, Sky reporter Plettenberg claimed that United are eyeing a summer move for the Leeds star, as they look to boost their squad options moving forward:

"News #Koch: He‘s on the shortlist of Man Utd! Loose talks took place. Confirmed."

While Koch is likely to move on – something that many Leeds fans would likely understand, given their current situation out of the Premier League – the idea of him moving to United could go down very badly with some.

There is a bitter rivalry that exists between the two clubs, so the fans seeing a Whites player move to one of their biggest adversaries could sour his legacy, which would be a shame after three good years at the club that have seen Koch make 77 appearances overall.

Ideally, the 26-year-old would stay put and sign a new deal – he is an eight-cap Germany international who has been hailed as a "machine" by teammate Max Wober – but that seems highly unlikely at this point.

The hope is that he opts not to join United, however, where he could not only struggle to be a regular starter, given the quality they have, but also affect his relationship with Leeds supporters at the same time.