Harry Kane has broken the record for the most goals scored in a debut Bundesliga season with his 31st strike of the campaign for Bayern Munich.
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At the same time, having given so much to England, it is understandable he has chosen to sacrifice himself in less painful ways
Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Aug-2022Ben Stokes isn’t one for soundbites. But on the eve of his sixth Test as the full-time men’s captain, one which England need to win to square the series with South Africa, he leant on what is becoming a familiar crutch.”I would never ask my team to do something I wouldn’t”.It is an admirable stance for a skipper to take, and perhaps Stokes is in the unique position as an allrounder where he can act it out. The short-ball tactic England employ – with mixed results – is basically all on him, as it was in the previous regime under Joe Root.With age, the effects of these bumper spells, the extra effort, and the multiplying force put through that front leg wear a little heavier, particularly on his left knee. However, such is his belligerence that even concern from good friend and former England cricketer Steve Harmison was dismissed as unnecessary. “It is something I can manage.”Related
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Interestingly, discussions on how he bowls himself and the associated risks did not elicit the familiar nugget. It was his batting: particularly the almost cavalier approach to the craft he has adopted under Brendon McCullum. There are shades of the Kiwi’s familiar two-step down the ground routine in among some outrageous shots that, so far, have reaped 259 runs at an average of 37 in this summer’s home Tests.It is not bad, but certainly short of his capabilities. There was a period from the start of 2019 to the end of 2020 when it seemed we were entering a new era of Stokes, the batter: he averaged 50 across 18 Tests, with four hundreds among them. At times, he looked the most technically accomplished in the line-up, which is saying something, given he sits next to Root.And yet at the same time, to focus on numbers and aesthetics is to miss the point. Stokes’ method, however madcap, is his way of embodying the extreme of how he wants the batting line-up to operate.Ben Stokes’ belligerence has had mixed results, but created a noteworthy turnaround and comeback wins•Stu Forster/Getty Images”I know when I play well it’s very good for the team,” he answered when asked if, perhaps, there is a regression to the norm. “Me being the leader, I would never ask my team to do something I wouldn’t, but there’s a bigger picture to that if that makes sense.”I’m sure there will come a time when it does have to mellow down a little bit but at this time right now, I feel I’ve got a big responsibility to be that person hitting the message home and almost people watching going like ‘he’s able to go out and do that in a difficult situation’.”If you will allow for some extrapolation with wildly different sample sizes, Stokes’ mantra is clear to see. Overall, he attacks deliveries twice as often as he did across the three home summers between 2019 and 2021. The biggest expansion is the approach to full deliveries, going after them 42.42% of the time compared to 11.54% in the above period.Similarly, he is striking length balls more than twice as often. It is no surprise his strike rate of 78.72 is comfortably his highest in an English season.After a trio of scores – 54, 46 and 75 not out – in his first four knocks of the summer, there have been plenty of starts that in the old days of a few months ago would have been filed under “thrown away”. Their purposes, however, were not for nothing, either shocking bowlers and the field for the benefit of the guy at the other end, or coming in next.Even the twin 20s in the innings defeat at Lord’s had a little more to them: the first innings a necessary counter, the second a hit-out as the last viable option for victory before being caught at midwicket trying to strike Kagiso Rabada for a six, thus becoming the ninth wicket to fall.”It’s about the language we speak as well in the group to set the tone of what we’re about,” Stokes on England’s approach•Getty ImagesMaybe because cricket is like this, but it is hard not to wince at the thought of Stokes wanting to be the canary down the mine, given he strikes gold so often. At the same time, having given so much of himself to England over the years and still only coming away with sub-par results – one win in 17, anyone? – perhaps it is understandable that he has chosen to sacrifice himself in other, slightly less painful ways.And it is certainly working to a point, with four wins and an overall run rate of 4.50 which is the highest of any team to play five or more games in a season.Ahead of the second Test against South Africa, nursing a 0-1 scoreline, Stokes took the opportunity to talk the talk once more, fully aware he will walk it from 11am on Thursday, and hopefully get others to follow as resolutely as they had before.”It’s about the language we speak as well in the group to set the tone of what we’re about, because when you are up against the wall – as we were in the first innings – it’s a lot easier to take a step back and go into your shell a bit more,” he said.”That’s something we don’t want to creep into this team at the moment. That game in particular we all hold our hands up and know we didn’t perform to where we wanted to, and there will be occasions when similar situations happen. But if they go out there with the confidence of having the backing of the dressing room is very powerful I feel.”Indeed, this match feels like more of an acid test than last week. Then it was about seeing how much of the ethos sustained after a long break. Now it will be about how much those players still believe after a first defeat.As for Stokes? Well, he might find himself in an interesting conundrum. Because as much as he still wants to lead the way, doing so here, with the series on the line, might require a more selfish approach.
And that was all she wrote. Another transfer window done and dusted, and despite some late-stage drama, Liverpool must be rather pleased with their market activity over the past couple of months.
With the clock winding down on deadline day, Liverpool felt they were honing in on a statement signing for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, but Oliver Glasner had other ideas, refusing to subscribe to the sale of his star defender without an adequate replacement welcomed to Selhurst Park.
Guehi, 25, had completed his medical in FSG’s London complex, and the submission of a dealsheet was all that stood in the way of his move to Merseyside.
It’s a blow, for Guehi is one of the finest centre-halves in the Premier League, but Arne Slot still has top-class options in the position, with sporting director Richard Hughes having warded off interest in Joe Gomez and signed Giovanni Leoni, 18, from Parma for £30m.
And though Liverpool missed out with that one, their lob certainly didn’t fall wide of the mark in regard to Alexander Isak, who is very much a member of the Premier League pace-setters.
Liverpool did it. After receiving the fondest of farewells at St. James’ Park, Liverpool welcomed Isak from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee.
It’s certainly been one of the most unsavoury transfer sagas in recent memory, but Liverpool and FSG and the supporters won’t care a jot, not now that they have welcomed a player who pundit Jamie Carragher hailed as “the best striker in the Premier League” last season.
The 25-year-old scored 27 goals across all competitions and landed the winning strike as Newcastle beat Liverpool to lift the Carabao Cup in March, instrumental in guiding Eddie Howe’s side back into the Champions League.
Liverpool might have already signed Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a £79m deal this summer, but Isak gives Slot the complete set in the final third, a clinical striker and skilled in linking up with his teammates.
Exciting times ahead for the Anfield side, not least because Isak will find an almighty bunch of players to combine with, the likes of Mohamed Salah and co.
And, of course, German playmaker Florian Wirtz, whose record-breaking £116m transfer fee lasted all of two months.
In May, transfer rumours concerning Wirtz began to intensify. Manchester City and Bayern Munich joined Liverpool in a race for the 22-year-old, and it was Slot’s side who secured the prized signature, underscoring a shift in the European power rankings.
Wirtz hasn’t had the most electrifying start to life in England, playing a neat assist for Ekitike in the Community Shield but yet to register a goal contribution across three Premier League fixtures. Still, his world-class potential is undeniable, hailed by sports media professional Cristian Nyari as a “truly generational talent”.
Former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has even called him “the best midfielder in the world” for his efforts in his homeland, winning the 2023/24 Bundesliga Player of the Season after playing a talismanic part in winning the top flight undefeated in Xabi Alonso’s system.
|
Wirtz at Leverkusen (all comps) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Apps |
Goals (Assists) |
|
24/25 |
45 |
16 (15) |
|
23/24 |
49 |
18 (20) |
|
22/23 |
25 |
4 (8) |
|
21/22 |
31 |
10 (14) |
|
20/21 |
38 |
8 (8) |
|
19/20 |
9 |
1 (0) |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
||
Wirtz has much still to give, but there’s little question that he has what it takes to become the defining player of the era ahead at Liverpool, perhaps even more so than a superstar striker such as Isak.
FBref’s data delineates Wirtz’s wide range of quality, as he ranks among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and progressive passes, the top 4% for through ball and successful take-ons, and the top 11% for assists per 90.
Slot has proven himself over the past 12 months at Liverpool to be one of the most tactically astute coaches in the business, and there’s every faith that he will fashion Wirtz into one of the biggest hitters the Reds have seen.
His market value certainly attests to that.
Wirtz was Liverpool’s record signing until Isak came along, but CIES Football Observatory values actually demonstrate that the German is regarded as having a higher ceiling, boasting a market figure of as high as £152m.
Isak, while still regarded as one of the most lucrative players in the game, amid his £125m move, comes in at a peak value of £100m. Given that the Sweden forward has already enjoyed three years on Premier League pitches, scoring at a clinical rate throughout, it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that Wirtz might prove to be the cream of the crop after settling into life in a new sphere.
Even without lighting up the Premier League over these first few weeks, Wirtz has showcased an underlying tenacity and robustness, with Sofascore recording that he has won 55% of his ground duels and averaged 1.7 tackles per game.
The goals will come, and the assists too. Of course, when working behind a focal outlet such as Isak, there’s sure to be plenty of optimism around Wirtz’s capacity to dazzle, his creative skill feeding through to the world-class goalscorer.
Market Movers
In any case, what really matters is Liverpool have landed two of the finest footballers in the game, and Slot now has all that he needs to make it a season for the ages on Merseyside.
Now worth more than Isak: Liverpool wanted to sign "one of the best in the world"
With Alexander Isak joining Liverpool for £125m on deadline day, do the Reds rue missing out on “one of the best players in the world” worth more?
By
Ben Gray
Sep 2, 2025
It's been reported that an "important" member of Ange Postecoglou's squad is being tempted by a big club in January, with his agent in Tottenham exit talks.
Bissouma, Sarr and Son set to miss Tottenham's January fixtures
One major topic at N17 over this last month has been Postecoglou's severe lack of depth, an issue discussed more and more as we approach the January transfer window.
Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr and Son Heung-min will be travelling to represent their nations at AFCON and the Asia Cup next month, with both tournaments commencing soon after the new year.
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He’s been given a “new lease of life” at Tottenham.
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A plethora of Tottenham injuries and suspensions since early November have also really highlighted Postecoglou's shortage of options behind his traditional starting eleven.
Both James Maddison and Micky van de Ven are sore misses in particular, with Spurs also now having to cope without Rodrigo Bentancur yet again after the midfielder's ankle ligament damage.
However, despite these issues, it's rumoured that Tottenham departures are still possible in the winter window. Eric Dier, Richarlison and Giovani Lo Celso are some players linked with Spurs exits in the past week alone, while some reports suggest Bologna are chasing a deal for summer signing Alejo Veliz.
Another player to be repeatedly linked with a move away is midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The Dane has actually featured in nearly every Premier League game with 15 appearances under his belt this season, but the vast majority have come from the bench.
Hojbjerg tempted by Juventus with agent in Spurs talks
According to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, Tottenham consider Hojbjerg an "important player" and don't want him to go unless it's for a suitable bid. Regardless, Juventus and their director Cristiano Giuntoli won't give up on signing him, and he's in ongoing talks with the 28-year-old's agent.
Hojbjerg has an "appreciation" for Juventus as a Spurs exit option, according to Calciomercato. This factor, combined with his representative's willingness to negotiate, are said to be "two cards" playing in favour of Guintoli who appears determined to strike a deal.
Juve, though, wish to sign Hojbjerg on loan with the north Londoners showing no willingness to green-light such a deal thus far. As well as the report, Postecoglou himself as previously described the former Southampton star as a crucial member of his squad.
Accurate passes per game – 36.2 (91% success rate)
Accurate passes in own half – 17.1 (94% success rate)
Accurate passes in opposition half – 19.1 (86% success rate)
Balls recovered per game – 2.9
“It is obvious someone that has played regularly would have wanted to play more but ultimately our performances have been strong and he has had to bide his time," said Postecoglou on Hojbjerg earlier this season.
“He has also been very important in a lot of the games that we’ve won late or had to shore up late. He has been one of the people who has helped us and it is not like he hasn’t contributed at all. He’s been a really important part for us. We wouldn’t be in this position if we were just reliant on our starting XI.
“With Pierre, he is a professional and very determined."
BBC pundit and former Tottenham defender Alan Hutton believes one of manager Ange Postecoglou's "reliable" players could actually join a top European side soon.
Hojbjerg and Dier expected to leave Spurs
Despite being mainstays under former Spurs boss Antonio Conte, both Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are now facing very uncertain futures.
Dier's contract is set to expire in 2024 and there are no signs that the Englishman will be offered a renewal any time soon. The centre-back has only just come back into Postecoglou's starting eleven, playing their last two matches after Micky van de Ven's serious hamstring injury and Cristian Romero's suspension.
Dier's lack of pace isn't suited to Postecoglou's high defensive line, and when Tottenham's favoured centre-back pairing return, it is likely he will be relegated to the bench again.
Hojbjerg, meanwhile, has been repeatedly linked with a move to Europe following his lack of starting opportunities under Postecoglou this season. The Denmark star has recently come back into the fold amid Spurs' current injury crisis, but is still reportedly keen to leave Tottenham for pastures new in January.
Dier is a particularly curious case, as reports in the last week have suggested that European giants Bayern Munich, the new home of Spurs legend Harry Kane, are eyeing a "shock" move for the 29-year-old.
Hutton thinks Dier could join Bayern
Other claims state that the former Sporting Lisbon star would be interested in making that move (Football Insider), with Hutton thinking Dier to Bayern is a real possibility.
The former Scotland international cites Dier's ability as an astute, ball-playing centre-back for the transfer to be realistic – with Hutton suggesting his playing style would suit manager Thomas Tuchel down to the ground.
“If I’m totally honest, I think Tottenham will want to bring someone else in,” said Hutton on Dier to Football Insider.
“With van de Ven and Romero there, who have you got there that’s going to come in? There’s a lot of players that have been there for a number of years now and it’s not quite worked out. Dier’s been there for nine years now and you would think his Tottenham career is now over considering the last few weeks.
“Would he fancy it? Probably. You’re going to a team there where you’re probably going to win more often than not. He’d have a lot of the ball, he’s good with his feet and he can play out from the back so it’s probably something that he’ll think about.
“Ultimately I think it’s time for him to move on to something different. Obviously, Ange Postecoglou will want to bring in his own signings.”
Depsite his current form, Dier has been a faithful servant for Spurs since signing from Sporting all those years ago, with Conte calling him a "reliable" player.
"What I can tell you is that Eric has improved a lot since I arrived. We are talking about a reliable player, 100 per cent focused in every game. He is not a player who alternates with a big performance then a drop."
Compared to other transfer windows of recent years at Goodison Park, Everton reined in their overspending this summer with Sean Dyche utilising loans and free transfers effectively whilst splashing the cash only on a select few talents into the building.
Jack Harrison and Ashley Young would both join the Toffees without unnecessarily burning money – Harrison leaving Leeds for Merseyside on a season-long loan deal, whilst Young would join on a free transfer deal after a year out in Italy with Inter Milan.
The Blues would, however, have room to make statement signings in attack. Both Beto and Youssef Chermiti would join the Toffees for a combined £37.75m, young and exciting strikers ready to take the Premier League by storm.
Yet, it hasn't really worked out for either of them yet in the infancy of their careers on Merseyside with only one goal scoring between the two of them – Beto netting versus Doncaster Rovers in the first round of the Carabao Cup, with fellow summer signing Arnaut Danjuma scoring too to secure a nervy 2-1 win.
The 25-year-old will hope he can start tonight in another round of the Carabao Cup, with the Portuguese forward missing from Everton's starting XI completely over the last six weeks.
Everton team news vs Burnley
As much as Dyche is regimented in the team he fields – Jordan Pickford yet to miss a game under the former Burnley head coach this season in both league and Cup – the Blues boss could ring the changes for this clash at Goodison Park after a recent upturn in Everton's results – winning 1-0 away at West Ham last time out a back-to-the-walls display from his rejuvenated Toffees.
Lewis Dobbin could be knocking on the door for a potential start in this mid-week contest tonight, the young Toffees academy graduate keen to break into the senior side sooner rather than later.
Beto is equally chomping at the bit for a starting spot versus the Clarets, could Dyche rest the likes of injury-prone Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the former Udinese sharpshooter to get a run-out.
Beto's numbers this season
Scoring 22 goals in total over two seasons with The White and Blacks, Beto has found the transition to Premier League life at the moment challenging with fleeting opportunities given to him to impress.
Only on the pitch for 286 minutes in the Premier League so far in a Toffees strip per FBRef, the towering 6 foot 5 attacker hasn't been afforded a start under Dyche in the last six matches.
Tonight's Carabao Cup tie versus a leaky Burnley team on Everton's own patch could be a confidence booster for Beto if he was to start and score only his second goal for the Blues to date, Vincent Kompany's Clarets shipping a woeful 25 goals from ten top-flight matches.
The Toffees will have to play to Beto's obvious strengths if he does start, the lofty attacker is an imposing presence – winning nine of his 13 aerial duels versus Brentford in September via Sofascore – but he is also a deceptively quick and agile striker too, which was showcased in his goal versus Doncaster – latching onto a ball over the top with pace, before poking it past the hapless goalkeeper in the opposing net.
There's still time for Everton's £50k per week – per Capology – man Beto to adapt to English football and come into his own in his new surroundings, but there's no doubting that a second goal wearing the Toffees strip versus Burnley tonight would do him the world of good and boost his confidence after becoming a bystander at Goodison Park recently.
Northants are bottom, without a win in four games, but Alex Wakely’s unbeaten half-century has given them a decent chance of improved fortunes
ECB Reporters Network10-Jun-2018
ScorecardAlex Wakely’s first half-century of the season in the Specsavers County Championship put bottom-of-the-table Northamptonshire on top against Leicestershire at Wantage Road, as they took a lead of 152.
by the close of the second day with seven second-innings wickets remaining.Winless after four games, unable to deliver what many predicted would be a promotion-chasing campaign, Northants are reasonably well placed to set up a victory platform on the third day.With batting not easy on a pitch that yielded 20 wickets in four-and-a-half sessions, Wakely settled well and struck seven fours and a six in reaching the first fifty of the game in 81 balls.He skipped down the wicket to swing Callum Parkinson’s left-arm spin into the Wilson Stand for six before slapping four more through midwicket and twice cutting the same bowler for boundaries.Wakely shared stands of 51 with Ricardo Vasconcelos for the third wicket and an unbroken alliance of 44 with Adam Rossington that took Northants to the close in a strong position.Until the evening session, the game had been a nip-and-tuck affair with Leicestershire nudging into a 13-run first-innings lead after making 217.They resumed 64 for 3 and lost four wickets in the morning session to slip to 146 for 7. Nightwatchman Gavin Griffiths went to the 11th ball of the morning, chipping Rory Kleinveldt to midwicket without adding to his overnight 1. Colin Ackermann and Neil Dexter then settled into a stand of 45 for the fifth wicket before Ben Cotton struck at midday with a ball that moved away from Ackermann’s drive to take out middle and off stumps.Lewis Hill only made 7 before being caught at short-leg pushing forward to Rob Keogh’s offspin and when Dexter feathered an edge behind off Ben Sanderson, Leicestershire were behind in the game.But a response was provided by Zak Chappell who followed up his first-innings 6 for 44 with 40 with the bat to raise a batting point for the visitors and bring Leicestershire on terms.A limping Rob Newton saw Northants make a solid start to their second-innings. Newton picked up what looked like an injury to his right knee taking a single. He needed a runner but battled through to 30 before being bowled by Mohammad Abbas after Ben Duckett had dragged Ben Raine into his leg stump for 17.When Vasconcelos fell for 37, hooking at Raine and getting a top-edge into his helmet that looped to short-square leg, Leicestershire hoped for a strong end to the day but Wakely and Rossington ensured Northants took the initiative into the third day.
The defending champions have to win each of their remaining six matches to stay in contention for the IPL playoff race
Sidharth Monga03-May-20184:19
Tait: Pollard is a big asset on a small ground
Form guide (most recent match first)
Kings XI Punjab: lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 13 runs, beat Delhi Daredevils by four runs, beat Kolkata Knight Riders by nine wickets
Mumbai Indians: lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore by 14 runs, beat Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets, lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 31 runs
Big PicturePeople of Indore – with the Marathi influence on the city – like to believe they live in “Little Mumbai”. It is way closer to Mumbai than it is to any city in Punjab. Yet Mumbai Indians come to Indore as the away team looking to survive in the tournament, playing form team, Kings XI Punjab.With five wins in seven matches, Kings XI are not too far from the playoffs, but they are coming off a week-long break. Mumbai, meanwhile, will want to get off the treadmill of defeat; they need to win every match from now.It is well reported that the last few balls of an innings, or game, have cost Mumbai. Three times they have lost in the last over of the match, in another they bowled a bad last ball for 13 runs, which proved to be a bridge too far when they chased. There is no room for any allowances now.This will be a contest between a side looking to make use of every small resource available to it and a side so rich with resources it can afford to have a surplus player in its XI in the hope that when he comes good, he wins them a match off his own bat. Kings XI have been a revelation, Mumbai are looking to rediscover themselves.In the newsWith a one-week break behind them, Kings XI should have a fit and hungry Chris Gayle at the top of the order.Kieron Pollard is precariously placed in Mumbai’s XI. A match after he was finally dropped, the West Indian made an unsuccessful return to the side, scoring a run-a-ball 13. There is uncertainty around Evin Lewis as well considering his wrist injury.Previous meetingRemarkably these sides are meeting for the first time this season.Rohit Sharma clobbers one off the middle of the bat•BCCI
Likely XIsKings XI Punjab: 1 Chris Gayle, 2 KL Rahul (wk), 3 Mayank Agarwal, 4 Karun Nair, 5 Aaron Finch, 6 Manoj Tiwary, 7 R Ashwin (capt.), 8 Andrew Tye, 9 Barinder Sran, 10 Ankit Rajpoot, 11 Mujeeb Ur RahmanMumbai Indians: 1 Suryakumar Yadav, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Rohit Sharma (capt.), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Ben Cutting, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Mayank Markande, 11 Jasprit BumrahStrategy puntIf Mumbai open with Rohit Sharma, they could force Mujeeb ur Rahman – legspin v Rohit is always a bowler-friendly match-up – to bowl sooner than Kings XI would want him to bowl.Stats that matter Over 10 seasons, these two sides have an even record of 10 wins and losses against each other. The head-to-head between them over the last three seasons has been 1-1. Pollard has faced only 70 balls in six innings this season; Aaron Finch has faced only 16 over five innings. In 25 balls faced from Mitchell McClenaghan, KL Rahul has scored a healthy 42 runs, but has also been dismissed twice. Chris Gayle has struck at 169.4 per 100 balls of spin this IPL without being dismissed; he still has a solid strike-rate of 154.8 against pace but has got out twice to the quicks.Fantasy pickKrunal Pandya is a floater. He could bat high up in the order, and he will be bowling his left-arm spin against a line-up full of right-hand batsmen, except Chris Gayle.Quotes”We have six games left, and we have to win them all. That is what we have to do. I still believe when you look at our squad, we have key players who can win us six games in a row. We have done it in the past, and I believe we can do it again.”
В сервисе Uplay началась бесплатная раздача стратегии в режиме реального времени World in Conflict: Complete Edition. Чтобы получить бесплатно игру, вам нужно зайти в сервис Uplay, войти в свой аккаунт и добавить World in Conflict Complete Edition в свою библиотеку.
World in Conflict Complete Edition представляет собой стратегию в режиме реального времени, повествующую о Третьей мировой войне, ключевыми участниками которой стали Советский Союз и США. Игра включает в себя одиночный режим и мультиплеер.
Напомним, что в прошлом месяце в Uplay проходила бесплатная раздача Watch Dogs.
😳 Когда скачал не ту версию Half-Life 2…
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West Brom manager Carlos Corberan has provided a key claim regarding the future of an "unbelievable" Baggies ace – one that could leave supporters pleased.
West Brom promotion hopes & transfer news
Corberan's men are enjoying a good season to date, sitting fifth in the Championship table and looking primed to finish in the play-off positions. Admittedly, there is still plenty of ground to make up on second-place Ipswich Town, who are 13 points ahead of them, but there is a long way to go.
In order for West Brom to have the best chance of returning to the Premier League this term, it could be that some new faces need to arrive during the January transfer window.
No business has been done yet, but Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore has been linked with a move to The Hawthorns, and the Cherries are thought to be willing to let him leave this month. Meanwhile, Wolves defender Dexter Lembikisa is another player who has emerged as a potential target for the Baggies.
There are also players who the club are likely to want to keep hold of and see as an important part of the club's future – and a key update has emerged regarding one such figure.
Carlos Corberan's key Tom Fellows update
Speaking in his press conference on Friday [via The Express & Star], Corberan admitted that West Brom want to tie Tom Fellows down to a new deal at the club.
"I know that the club is working in this aspect – with some of the players, especially now individually I can tell you with Tom Fellows, because the club is of course focused on this. We are going to make our best to extend our possibilities with the player and to keep working with players like him."
Keeping hold of Fellows for years to come is something that West Brom need to ensure happens, with the 20-year-old an exciting young player who should only improve. In fact, Darren Byfield, who coached the midfielder during his spell at Crawley Town, once had this to say about him:
"Let’s talk about his game…unbelievable. He is a get-off-your-seat kind of guy. When he got the ball I was like ‘Go on, Tom’. He dribbles and drives, with a great attitude to develop, a great attitude to work, just a wonderful boy. Off the pitch, his mannerisms, his attitude, I really, really liked Tom Fellows and think he will go on to be a very good footballer."
Fellows may be having to bide his time for regular football at West Brom currently, starting just once in the Championship this season. He has come on as a substitute 13 times in the competition, but given his age, he is someone who should mature all the time and become a key man in the future.
West Brom eyeing January move for "throwback" striker
His club are open to a move away.
ByCharlie Smith Jan 4, 2024
Losing him now would be a big blow, before he has realised his potential, so a new deal is something that surely makes sense for all parties.