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With a wholly winnable game in the EFL Cup on the horizon, and the horrors of the weekend now pushed from their mind, Southampton will likely be going into their fixture tonight against Sheffield Wednesday with plenty of hope.

Having sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl and almost tied up his replacement in Nathan Jones, it seems increasingly likely that the Luton Town boss could be in charge by the weekend.

Before then, however, first team lead coach, Ruben Selles, has a game to prepare for.

With this clash against lower-league opposition and a tough trip to face Liverpool this weekend, perhaps the interim boss will want to rest some of key players in the hope his side can grind out a result at Anfield.

For Selles to give himself the best possible chance of winning what might be his only game in charge, he must unleash youngster Sam Edozie, who has starred from the bench at times this season but is yet to start a single game.

Blessed with blistering speed and dancing feet, he could be the man to dazzle the League One side and blast the Saints into the next round of the cup.

It was his debut where he truly shined, as in just 17 minutes of action he was successful in all three of his dribbles and also made one key pass.

Surely over a full 90 minutes, especially against supposed easier opposition, he can give an insight into the young starlet they brought in from Manchester City in the summer.

Should he go on to perform too, it hands Jones an excuse to finally ditch any of the current crop of underwhelming wide men.

Of Mohamed Elyounoussi, Stuart Armstrong and Moussa Djenepo, the three have a combined goal tally of just one in the Premier League.

They are taking up the space where this exciting 19-year-old could be playing and starring.

Even journalist Ryan Taylor acknowledged his ability, lauding him as a “talented” youngster after confirming his move to the south coast.

It could be the start of a very special career, but until he is handed some meaningful game time it will never truly get underway.

Selles and then potentially Jones, could be the men to change all that, unleashing the rarely-seen talent firstly tonight and then should he perform to his standards, onto the top-flight.

Crystal Palace face West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon and it represents a chance for Patrick Vieira’s men to pick up their fifth win of the league campaign.

Last weekend, the Eagles edged out Southampton, winning 1-0 and the Frenchman will be hoping to continue building momentum against a West Ham side who played on Thursday evening.

There could well be a few changes in the side, however, Vieira should definitely unleash Eberechi Eze, especially considering just how well the 24-year-old is playing at the moment.

On the chalkboard

Eze has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.15 for his performances in the league this season, which ranks him first in the Palace squad.

The Englishman also ranks joint first for assists (two), first for big chances created (four), and second for successful dribbles per match (2.2), demonstrating that despite his relatively young age, he is already an integral part of Vieira’s side.

The midfielder can also contribute well defensively, averaging 1.1 tackles per match, winning 55% of his total duels, and being dribbled past only 0.3 times each game.

The £30k-per-week dynamo could dominate the West Ham midfield if he plays to the best of his ability and David Moyes’ men will have to properly contain him to avoid the 24-year-old causing major problems.

The Athletic writer Dominic Fifield chose Eze in his England squad for the upcoming World Cup, despite him not winning a cap as of yet, however, with this season’s performances and the fact he has an added mystery surrounding him, this could only stand in his favour.

Former teammate Christian Benteke even dubbed the attacking midfield dynamo as “magic” when the two played together at Palace and his abilities have been on show this season.

Another solid display tomorrow could further boost his chances of a surprise inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup, although once let loose in Qatar (if he is picked) the 24-year-old would soon prove it was no shock.

The next ten days will be absolutely crucial.

West Ham United have been dealt a potential blow as Emerson Palmieri has dropped out of the Italy squad through injury. 

The Lowdown: Premier League break

Following the Hammers’ 2-0 defeat against Leicester City, the Premier League has taken a break to accommodate the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

Even though Italy will not be involved in the tournament, Roberto Mancini’s side have two international matches coming up over the next few days.

However, it appears that they have been forced to send one of their squad members back to his club due to injury, which could be a worry for West Ham.

The Latest: Blow for Emerson

According to a recent announcement from the Italian FA, both Emerson and Atalanta’s Rafael Toloi have had to withdraw from the squad to face Albania and Australia due to individual injury issues.

The West Ham defender was initially included in the squad last Friday, but will now not be involved in the upcoming games.

The Verdict: Potential worry for West Ham

Even though the Hammers will not be back in action until the end of next month, this injury concern with Emerson could still be a worry for the club and David Moyes.

Since arriving at the London Stadium from Chelsea in August, the £95k-per-week defender has made 13 appearances for the Irons across all competitions, chipping in with one goal and one assist.

Having appeared in all but one of West Ham’s Europa Conference League games this season, it’s safe to say that the 28-year-old is a useful figure for Moyes.

To highlight what he has offered the team on the European stage, only two other West Ham players have made more progressive passes (20) than the full-back.

Everyone at the London Stadium will undoubtedly be hoping that this injury issue is nothing serious and that Emerson will be able to use this period with no club football to recover and get ready for when the season resumes after the World Cup.

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Matheus Cunha to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, who claim that, due to Atletico Madrid’s perilous financial situation after failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, the LaLiga side must now raise funds via player sales this winter – with the 23-year-old centre-forward one of the likely departees.

The report goes on to state that, after spending €26m (£22.7m) to bring the Brazil international to the Metropolitano Stadium last summer, Diego Simeone’s outfit would now be willing to part with the striker for a figure in the region of €35m (£30.5m) – with both Leeds and Manchester United reported to be interested in the attacker.

He’s got something special

While it is true that, in recent weeks, Rodrigo has stepped up in terms of goalscoring in the Leeds attack, with Patrick Bamford looking increasingly unlikely to ever return to his 2020/21 form due to a series of injuries, it would appear an extremely wise move for Orta to bring a new number nine to Elland Road in January.

And, despite the fact that Cunha has struggled in front of goal during his time at Atleti – scoring seven and assisting eight over his 54 appearances for the club – the 23-year-old’s form for his previous outfit, Hertha BSC, would seem to suggest that the Brazilian is a risk worth taking for the Whites this winter.

Indeed, after sealing an €18m (£15.7m) move to the Olympiastadion in January 2020, the £30.5m-rated talent highly impressed over his 11 Bundesliga appearances for Die Alte Dame in his debut campaign, scoring five goals and registering two assists – helping his new side to a respectable tenth place finish in the German top flight.

The £50k-per-week hitman once again caught the eye over his 27 league outings in 2020/21, bagging seven goals, providing five assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.3 shots – 1.3 of which hit the target – making 1.8 key passes and completing 3.0 dribbles – the joint second-most in the division – per game.

These returns saw the player who Bruno Labbadia claimed has “something special” and Michael Preetz suggested has “massive potential” average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.15, not only ranking him as Hertha’s best performer in the league but also as the joint 26th-best player in the Bundesliga as a whole that season.

As such, with Cunha appearing to be better suited being a big fish in a slightly smaller pond, being versatile enough to play in any position across a front three and still having a great deal of time to develop at just 23 years of age, it would indeed appear as if the Brazilian is worth a punt for Orta this winter – as the Atleti reject could just be a special long-term answer to Leeds’ attacking prayers.

Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen is continuing to impress at the World Cup with Denmark, with the centre-back solid once again on Saturday despite defeat against France.

The former Lyon man has been a mainstay in Patrick Vieira’s side since joining in 2021, making 52 appearances, in which he has contributed one goal and three assists.

His strong performances in the Premier League this season, which have seen him average a solid 6.91 rating from WhoScored, meant that it was perhaps always likely that he would start in Kasper Hjulmand’s defence in Qatar.

Although Denmark now face a battle to get out of their group, after drawing to Tunisia and suffering a narrow defeat against the holders, Andersen’s displays will only encourage Vieira ahead of his Premier League return next month.

Saturday saw him up against the frightening Kylian Mbappe for France and while the PSG star would hit a match-winning double, the Palace defender can be proud of his performance.

As per Sofascore, Andersen would earn a superb 7.3/10 rating for his display, with only Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Andreas Christensen rated higher from those in Hjulmand’s side.

The 26-year-old defender earned plaudits from his manager last season for his ability on the ball and he emphasised that quality against the holders on Saturday afternoon.

Vieira said:

“He is massively important. Joachim played in France, he played in Italy, he was in the Premier League last year. He has this experience of moving around and going to a new club.

“When you want to have possession and you have a centre-back who is really comfortable having the ball at his feet it’s quite important.”

During the 90 minutes against France, Andersen would lose possession just four times, which was the second-fewest of any player on the pitch, while he completed 92% of his passes and even popped up with an assist for Christensen’s equaliser.

He also completed six long balls and six clearances during the game, which was more than any other player bar Christian Eriksen, who also contributed six long balls in the game.

It was another impressive display from Andersen against the world champions and if he performs well again against Australia in their next fixture, the Danes still have a good chance of progressing to the knockout stage, should they earn three points and France beat Tunisia.

If the centre-back continues to catch the eye on the world stage, then the Eagles could be in line to make a big profit on their centre-back in the near future, given they paid just £17m to sign him last year.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag might have a conundrum on his hands in the near future, with one of football’s giants reportedly homing sights on their offensive focal point. 

What’s the word?

Portugal newspaper Record claims that United’s starring creative midfielder Bruno Fernandes is back on the radar of Spanish champions Real Madrid, with Los Blancos set to swoop in the near future.

With United winning the race to sign the Portuguese maestro back in January 2020, signing him from Sporting Lisbon for a total of £68m, Madrid have seemingly returned for the player, with scouts observing his progress at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

And with two goals and two assists in two fixtures thus far, Fernandes is only going to return rave reports and likely heightened interest, with Madrid known to delve into the market for starring figures at the esteemed competition.

Avoid past mistakes 

Fernandes’ presence has somewhat waned recently for the Red Devils, with the usually prolific playmaker only clinching three goals and assists across 20 fixtures for his club this term. 

However his stunning displays on the international stage have been a timely reminder that his calibre is still at the very top of the game, and United must rebuff advances for his services and keep him in England’s North West.

And if the hierarchy was not already convinced, a glance back at their past travails should certainly be enough to remind United of the chasm they would leave in their midst should they grant Fernandes an exit. 

Ander Herrera, for example, was sorely missed after departing the club for Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, having won the Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his five-year stay, earning the club’s 2016/17 Player of the Season.

His stability and robust presence in midfield could not be remedied for some time, with the club still searching for the first piece of silverware since his departure. 

United might be creeping towards an ostensibly better standing, with murky waters starting to clear under Ten Hag, but the void that Fernandes would leave could unravel the progress like a loose ball of thread.

Having scored 53 goals and served 42 assists across 146 appearances for United, he has been a devastating weapon at times for his club, and despite his recent dip in goals and assists, will surely find another purple patch soon, if his World Cup displays are anything to go by.

The £240k-per-week magician is finding his feet once again, and United would certainly rue the day they accepted any bids for their “magnifico”, with his talismanic presence invaluable for a side looking to return to the upper echelon of European football.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is determined to sign Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram.

The Lowdown: ‘Huge’ January budget

The 51-year-old has enjoyed a perfect start to life back in the Premier League with two wins from two in charge of Villa prior to the break for the World Cup.

The Spaniard looks set to be handed a ‘huge’ January transfer budget from NSWE and will have a major say on any incomings.

Hailed as ‘world class’ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, Thuram appears to be a real target in the Midlands, with his Monchengladbach contract expiring in the summer.

The Latest: Emery’s stance

Sport Witness relayed an update from L’Equipe regarding Thuram, in which Villa were once again mentioned.

They claimed that Emery is ‘determined’ to sign the Frenchman as he looks to take Villa into Europe, with the club possibly only needing €10m (£8.6m) to land the 25-year-old in the New Year.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Thuram, who is with France at the World Cup, currently holds a €30m (£25.9m) Transfermarkt valuation.

The 25-year-old is sponsored by Nike and has been in unbelievable form for Monchengladbach this season, contributing to 17 goals in as many games.

He can also play anywhere across the front three, so you could so that a potential £8.6m transfer should be a no-brainer for Villa, especially with a new A-list forward wanted and Emery being so keen on the player.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be in the market for a new right wing-back option, with several names linked with a move to north London in recent weeks.

And journalist Pete O’Rourke believes that Wolverhampton Wanderers star Adama Traore is a realistic target as he’s out of contract at the end of the season.

90min claim that Spurs have recently enquired about Netherlands “terror” Denzel Dumfries, who will face Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday evening, but transfer insider Dean Jones poured cold water on such rumours, despite some reports suggesting that Inter Milan would sell him for around €60m (£51.7m).

Speaking to Football FanCast this week, the reliable reporter delivered his verdict on the two mooted players, and said:

“You probably see Adama Traore as a more attainable target [compared to Denzel Dumfries]. He still hasn’t that contract at Wolves, so he’s a free-agent in the summer.”

The Spain international has long been linked with a switch to Tottenham over the last few years and now, new claims suggest that sporting director Fabio Paratici remains interested but he faces stiff competition from England and abroad, via 90min.

He nearly joined the club last January for around £20m before opting for a return to LaLiga giants Barcelona.

Given the fact that Traore is out of contract in the summer, the 26-year-old powerhouse would be a rather cheap alternative to Dumfries, who’ll cost in excess of £50m.

Whilst the Wolves’ winger’s track record in the final third isn’t great, with only nine goals and 16 assists in 172 top-flight appearances, he is still an undoubtedly dangerous threat to any opposition defender.

It’s why he has been lauded as an “animal”, a “beast” and a “monster” by his peers, ranging from Southampton striker Che Adams to Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez.

Traore also has experience in the right wing-back role, having been deployed there at Molineux by former Lilywhites boss Nuno Santo, and this would likely be his role under Antonio Conte as he’s not getting in the starting XI above Dejan Kulusevski or Richarlison but he could prove to be a bigger threat than both Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty.

As per WhoScored, the Wolves dynamo is averaging more key passes and dribbles per game than the ineffective Spurs duo, so that would certainly suggest that he’d be a greater threat going forward from the attacking role.

With Spurs likely to be priced out of a move for Dumfries this winter, Traore could indeed be a bargain solution to the Italian’s woes.

Manchester United are believed to be keen on a move for Leeds United starlet, Illan Meslier, having previously been linked with the Frenchman during the summer window.

What’s the word?

According to Media Foot, the Red Devils – as well as Premier League rivals Chelsea – are believed to be eyeing a deal for the 22-year-old in 2023, with it looking as if the youngster will move on from Elland Road in the near future.

This follows previous reports in the recent window that suggested the Old Trafford outfit were interested in the former Lorient sensation, albeit with journalist Fabrizio Romano having suggested at the time that the player was viewed as “untouchable” by the Whites.

Despite the 6 foot 6 menace still having three-and-a-half years left to run on his existing deal in Yorkshire, this latest report from France suggests that a departure may well be a possibility next year, with Jesse Marsch and co said to be eyeing Croatian star Dominik Livakovic as a replacement.

Repeat Ferdinand masterclass

A new goalkeeping addition remains a notable priority as far as Erik ten Hag is concerned, with current number one David De Gea facing something of an uncertain future at the club with just six months remaining on his contract, albeit with United having the option of triggering a 12-month extension.

Should the club be looking for a possible replacement for the Spaniard – who is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to remain at the Theatre of Dreams – turning to Meslier could well be a strong solution, with the towering stopper having sparkled in English football in recent years.

The “ridiculous” talent – as described by The Athletic’s Phil Hay – notably made the most saves in the division last term (143) to help steer his current side to safety, after previously finishing fourth in that metric the year prior with 140 saves to his name.

Signed for just £5m back in the summer of 2020, the £22k-per-week ace – who has started 14 league games this season – is now said to be worth around £50m, according to Phil Hay of The Athletic, with such an exciting asset unlikely to come cheap for Ten Hag and co.

Although it may well prove controversial to land the France U21 international from their bitter rivals, United could well repeat the success that they had after signing club legend Rio Ferdinand from Leeds back in 2002.

That £30m swoop ultimately proved a real masterstroke for the Red Devils as the Englishman went on to enjoy a glittering 12-year stay in Manchester, racking 455 appearances in all competitions in that time.

The 81-cap titan would help the club to clinch six league titles and the Champions League, among other major honours, during his more than decade-long spell at Old Trafford, having even been named as the Premier League’s best-ever defender by Liverpool star, Virgil van Dijk.

Ten Hag could now look to repeat that transfer masterclass and prise Meslier from Elland Road in the near future, with the young stopper also potentially set to prove a long-term option for the club, much like Ferdinand.

Tottenham Hotspur are targeting Alessandro Bastoni in an exciting double swoop during the January transfer window…

What’s the word?

That’s according to InterLive.it, who claims that Spurs manager Antonio Conte remains keen to sign his former Inter Milan centre-back along with Atalanta gem Giorgio Scalvini.

The central defensive pair are likely to cost a combined €95m (£83.5m) with Bastoni taking up €55m (£48m) of that.

It’s also suggested that the Lilywhites’ free-transfer raid for Ivan Perisic during the summer has left a sour taste in the mouth of most Nerazzurri supporters, so this would hand them yet another blow.

Conte’s dream winter signing

Bastoni would surely be something of a dream signing for Conte as he would not only fill the void for a left-footed centre-back but he’d be one for the long-term future, alongside Cristian Romero, at just 23 years of age.

The Lecce-born head coach tried to sign his former titan during the summer, to no avail, so it’s evident that he’s really keen to reunite with a player that he won the Serie A with only a few seasons ago.

That season, he started 33 league outings, where he looked to be the main outlet from the back, averaging a passing success rate of over 90%, via WhoScored.

Such form and quality have seen Bastoni likened to one of the country’s greats in Leonardo Bonucci.

“He controls the opponent, space and with a refinement that has rarely been seen, reminds me of a young Bonucci,” journalist Mario Sconcerti once claimed.

Also lauded as a “phenomenon” by Italian football expert Conor Clancy, the 6 foot 3 star is certainly a typical modern-day defender and one that is arguably one of the best around, ranking inside the top 1% of his positional peers across Europe for shot-creating actions and assists per 90, via FBref.

He also sits among the top 10% for progressive passes per 90 and would rank fourth in the current Spurs squad for passing attempts per 90, too.

Therefore, Bastoni – who was dubbed a “special CB talent” by analyst Statman Dave in the summer – would surely make for an ideal signing for sporting director Fabio Paratici to make.

The young sensation would need little time to adapt to Conte’s tactics and methods, and there is a clear need for a long-term option on the left side of the back three, with Clement Lenglet only on loan and Ben Davies – a natural full-back – not getting any younger.

As such, Paratici must seal this dream scenario for his manager at the turn of the year.

AND in other news, Spurs could seal Conte a dream Emerson upgrade in Jan swoop for £40m “special talent”…