Newcastle United are back in Premier League action this weekend, and Eddie Howe has hinted at a surprise selection in his starting lineup.

Sandro Tonali ban updates

The Magpies have gone almost two weeks since their last game, with the latest international break getting in the way of the domestic season in frustrating fashion.

Howe's side were in fine form prior to the break, and while a late equaliser for West Ham robbed them of all three points at the London Stadium in their last outing, things are still largely going in the right direction, as highlighted by a stunning 4-1 win at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

On Saturday afternoon, Newcastle welcome Crystal Palace to St James' Park, in the type of game that the Magpies must be looking to win if they want to secure back-to-back top-four finishes in the Premier League.

That being said, preparations for the match have been impacted negatively by the potential Sandro Tonali ban reports, with the 23-year-old looking likely to spend a lengthy spell out of the game after breaching betting rules during his time at AC Milan.

It is a massive blow for Howe and anyone associated with the club, considering what a high-profile summer signing the Italian was from Milan, and it would be a surprise if Newcastle didn't delve into the transfer market in the January window.

Newcastle vs Palace team news

Despite the rumours swirling around his summer signing, Howe could apparently surprise everyone and go ahead and start the Italian regardless on Saturday, as Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie shared the latest team news:

"Eddie Howe says Sandro Tonali has trained twice this week and is available for selection tomorrow. Howe admits he has a call to make on the midfielder though, admitting that it’s been an emotional couple of weeks for him."

This would certainly be a decision that splits opinion among the Newcastle fanbase, should Howe make the decision to name Tonali in his starting XI.

There have to be question marks over whether he is in the right frame of mind to be starting a big Premier League game, considering everything that has gone on this week, so the manager should only pick him if he has complete faith in him being fully focused on the job at hand.

On the flip side, Tonali is available for selection and his boss may feel that he wants to get every last ounce out of him while he can, before potentially losing him for the remainder of the season. This is a player who cost huge money and who has made an immediate impact at St James', being hailed as "magnificent" by Eddie Howe.

The decision will only be made to look correct or not depending on the eventual result against Palace, but it is a tough call for the manager, and one where it is easy to see both sides of the argument.

If this is to be Tonali's swansong before being banned for a significant amount of time, the hope is that he manages to bow out in style, inspiring Newcastle to a vital three points in their quest for more Champions League football.

Aston Villa have seen an abundance of talent take to the pitch at Villa Park over the years, however not all names have been as memorable as others.

Unai Emery’s current crop of stars are reviving the good times in the Midlands, from the expertise of Emi Martinez between the posts, to the reliability of Ollie Watkins leading the line, the Villans seem to be destined for new highs.

Having a reliable goalscorer hasn’t always been the case for Villa in the Premier League era, from Rudy Gestede to Danny Ings, some players have simply failed to live up to expectation of fulfilling the number nine role.

While some transfers have been worse than others when it came to acquiring strikers in the past, one name sticks out as having a woeful time at the club, however his form since leaving tells a different story.

Borja Baston’s statistics for Aston Villa

In January 2020, Dean Smith made the decision to sign striker Borja Baston from Swansea City on a free transfer, in the bid to boost his options going forward.

Smith had captured the signature of Brazilian forward Wesley in the summer prior, however following the new signing’s anterior cruciate ligament blow early into his debut season at Villa, Baston was introduced as an additional reinforcement.

The Spaniard had been in South Wales for three-and-a-half years prior to his move to Villa, signing for the Swans from Atletico Madrid in 2016, where he then endeavoured on several loan spells back to Spain before bidding farewell.

Earlier in the 2019/20 campaign, Baston had netted six goals in 20 Championship appearances for Swansea, making enough of an impact for Smith to deem him as the appropriate signing to make.

At the point of his arrival, Smith lauded the striker as being “hungry” to achieve, however by the summer, his time at Villa had ended with just two appearances, 16 minutes played and certainly no goals.

Borja Baston's Aston Villa career

Touches per game

4.5

Shots per game

0

Key passes per game

0

Dribbles per game

0

Error that led to shot

1

Goals

0

Figures via Sofascore

As highlighted in the table above, Baston’s time at Villa was a disaster and the hunger that he had displayed to Smith was nowhere to be seen, however since leaving, his form tells a different story.

What Borja Baston is doing now

After leaving Villa, Baston returned to Spain to sign for CD Leganes on a free transfer, where he took the time to rediscover his form slowly, scoring five goals in 35 appearances in the second-tier of Spanish football.

The 2021/22 campaign finally saw the forward come to life, as he signed for fellow La Liga 2 club Real Oviedo, and the goals began to fire in.

In that season, Baston netted 22 goals in 40 league appearances for Oviedo, coming joint-first in the league scoring charts to showcase his proficiency in the final third, after years of struggling to find his footing again.

Ollie Watkins

Borja Baston

2020/21

16

5

2021/22

11

22

2022/23

16

10

2023/24

9

3

Total

40

52

Figures via Transfermarkt

As portrayed in the table above, Baston actually outscored Villa frontman, Watkins, that campaign, and has managed to keep within reach of the Englishman since his exit from Villa Park back in 2020.

No one would have predicted that Baston would go on to hit 22 goals in a season after his time at Villa, however football is unpredictable and one right move can change the trajectory of a striker's form.

It's believed one "reliable" Tottenham player would happily leave Spurs, and a potential destination is even named.

Spurs vs Chelsea preview

Head coach Ange Postecoglou has the chance to make it nine league wins out of 11 on Monday as Chelsea, led by ex-Lilywhites favourite Mauricio Pochettino, travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It's been quite an impressive opening two months at Spurs for Postecoglou, who is growing more and more popular as the weeks go by.

The Australian, making the best start to a new season out of any new manager in Premier League history, is winning over supporters after a quite unprecedented early run of form. His side are yet to suffer defeat in the top flight and head into their battle with Chelsea in very good stead. Pochettino's side, meanwhile, most recently lost at home to Brentford in the league and are yet to really get going.

A lot of the headlines have revolved around Pochettino's return to north London, but in charge of a bitter rival. The Argentine lead Spurs to a Champions League final in 2019 and oversaw one of their most successful periods in recent memory. Postecoglou, though, doesn't expect any hostility towards Tottenham's former boss.

"It is undoubted that he had an unbelievable impact on this football club," said Postecoglou on Chelsea and Pochettino ahead of next week.

"Everyone I speak to around here, there are still people who worked with him, they can't speak highly enough of him as a person and as a manager. I doubt there will be anything but respect for Mauricio from anyone at this football club, supporters or people associated, but it doesn't mean he will get a guard of honour on Monday night because we want to win."

It's set up to be a very intriguing contest in the English capital. Chelsea's squad boasts a host of star players, but Spurs' less expensively assembled squad are flying right now. After joining from Leicester City for £40 million, James Maddison's Tottenham form has been praised, with winger Son Heung-min receiving applause also for his exceptional start.

Unfortunately, there have been a few casualties under Postecoglou's reign in terms of game time. Defender Eric Dier is chief among them, and he looks certain not to play a part against Chelsea after being outcasted this season.

Eric Dier would "gladly" leave Spurs

The Englishman is yet to feature in a single game for Tottenham over 2023/2024, with reports circulating over his uncertain future. Dier's contract runs out next summer, and clubs from abroad are said to be interested. According to RomaGialloRossa.it, Dier would "gladly" join Roma and link up with former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho in Italy.

This comes amid Chris Smalling's long-term injury at the Stadio Olimpico, with Mourinho's side targeting Dier as an alternative. They're ready to invest in a centre-back and see the 29-year-old as a great option for them. Despite his lack of opportunities under Postecoglou, ex-head coach Antonio Conte was actually a big fan of Dier during his time in charge.

"What I can tell you is that Eric has improved a lot since I arrived," said Conte on Dier in 2022.

Passing

Concentration

"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. He is providing great continuity in his role and playing every game."

Leeds United are set to be gifted the chance to sign a "superb" player who they wanted to snap up in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites were relegated from the Premier League to the Championship last season, in what was a hugely disappointing setback after three years in the top flight. Unsurprisingly, plenty of big earners left the club, including playmakers Rodrigo and Jack Harrison, albeit the latter is only on loan as things stand, and it was vital for new faces to come in.

Leeds made sure that that happened, with several good signings made, including Joel Piroe arriving from Swansea City and Ethan Ampadu joining from Chelsea, and they are sitting nicely in third place in the Championship currently.

There were a number of players who the Whites also ultimately missed out on during the summer, one of wich being Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Nadiem Amiri, who was all set to join Leeds but rejected the move at the last second.

Nadiem Amiri wants to leave Leverkusen

According to a new update from Kicker [via Sport Witness], Amiri now wants to leave Leverkusen and could join Leeds, with the 27-year-old pushing for a move away from his current club.

The report states that he is "aiming for a move" in the January transfer window, six months before his current Leverkusen deal expires, as he makes a "new attempt" to leave rather than let his deal run down. The Bundesliga side are happy to let him move on if a "reasonable offer" is made, with manager Xabi Alonso not seeing him as an important part of his plans.

Leeds were desperate to sign Amiri for a reason back in the summer, so the opportunity to get him in January is something the club should jump at. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described Amiri as "superb" in the past, at a time when his stock continued to rise, and he has contributed positively for Leverusen overall despite falling a little out of favour this season.

Amiri's stats for his the Bundesliga club outline this, with 32 goal contributions (12 goals and 20 assists) coming his way in 140 appearances in total, not to mention winning five caps for Germany, which is no mean feat when you consider some of the quality they have in their squad.

Passing

Aerial duels

Dribbling

Finishing

Through balls

Tackling

While this update doesn't specifically mention that Leeds have shown fresh interest in the attacking midfielder, it would be a surprise if they didn't come back in for him in January, considering the level of intrigue they have shown in him in the past.

Amiri could be a perfect man to come in and add an extra bit of attacking quality to Daniel Farke's squad, at which point the Whites will still hopefully be in the automatic promotion race, using his experience and class to help Leeds get over the finish line and make a swift return to the Premier League.

There is sure to be interest from others, but the Whites remain a big club who could offer him good wages, not to mention the chance of playing in the Premier League in 2024/25.

An update has emerged on Arsenal and their plans to make further additions to their playing squad during the upcoming January transfer window…

Arsenal transfer news – Ruben Neves

According to a report from Spanish outlet Sport, Mikel Arteta is eyeing up a deal to sign Al Hilal central midfielder Ruben Neves ahead of the second half of the campaign.

The outlet has claimed that the Gunners boss is pushing for the signing to improve his midfield options in 2024, and is making his case to the board.

It is stated that the Spanish tactician has identified Neves as a target due to the uncertainty over the future of Thomas Partey, with it being said that the Ghana international could be on his way out of The Emirates, although it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to seal an exit.

Arteta could now secure a dream heir to the former Atletico Madrid ace by landing his target in January…

Partey's Arsenal statistics

The 30-year-old enforcer has only played four times in the Premier League so far this season but was an integral part of their top-flight campaign last time out.

Partey played in 33 of the club's 38 league matches as they finished runners-up behind Manchester City in the title-race and he displayed his qualities in and out of possession.

Defensively, the veteran battler contributed with 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game and came out on top in 59% of his contests throughout the season.

In possession, Partey completed 88% of his attempted passes and made an impact at the top end of the pitch with three goals and two 'big chances' created in those 38 games.

The statistics that show why Neves could replace Partey

Neves, on the other hand, was lining up for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League last season and caught the eye with his impressive displays.

The 5 foot 11 dynamo, who was lauded as an "incredible" player by former teammate Hugo Bueno, made an excellent 3.7 tackles and interceptions per match to go along with a duel success rate of 53% across 35 league outings.

These statistics suggest that the Portugal international has the ability to provide a defensive presence in front of the back four in a similar fashion to Partey, as they are both midfielders who can break up opposition attacks on a regular basis to win the ball back for their respective teams.

He also made his presence felt at the other end of the field with six goals and one assist for the Old Gold, alongside a pass success rate of 84%.

Neves also ranked within the top 20% of his positional peers within the Premier League last season for progressive passes (6.5) per 90, which suggests that he has the ability to play forward passes between the lines to progress his team up the pitch.

The 26-year-old magician has also made 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game across 12 Saudi Pro League appearances for Al Hilal this season, to go along with five 'big chances' created for his teammates.

Arteta and Arsenal could, therefore, secure a dream heir to Partey's position, should he leave in January, if they are able to snap the former Wolves star away from his current club.

Tottenham Hotspur have been flying this season but have now fallen to successive defeats in the Premier League after going ten matches without losing in the opening phase under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Despite this, it's fair to say that there has been a resounding turnaround given the malaise that had crept in last season, with Antonio Conte's dismissal in March preceding a lumber to eighth place and the summer departure of Harry Kane, the club's record goalscorer.

Postecoglou has put a clear emphasis on bringing talented academy players to the fore – also a clear trend from his Celtic days -and given that Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are among the raft of absentees at present due to injury and suspension respectively, teen titan Alfie Dorrington might now be deserving of a chance, with Eric Dier not cutting the mustard.

Eric Dier's statistics this season

Since Postecoglou's Tottenham squad started competing in the Premier League this season, it's been perfectly clear that Dier is not in the 58-year-old's plans, having failed to earn a single minute before disaster struck against Chelsea.

The £85k-per-week defender's contract is also up for expiry at the end of the season, and while he has been called upon of late, it is unlikely that terms will be agreed for renewal.

That being said, he did perform admirably off the bench against Chelsea – who had a two-man advantage but failed to break down the compact Spurs defence until the later stage of the match-winning 100% of his duels, making three clearances and one interception, as per Sofascore.

The home loss against Chelsea was followed up by a defeat at Molineux against Wolverhampton Wanderers, having led for most of the match before a late double sank the visitors and piled on more misery.

While Dier wasn't objectively bad in that game, he didn't assert himself or slot into Postecoglou's system as neatly as Van de Ven or Romero.

Writing in his post-match ratings, the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick did note one excellent piece of defensive play, but lamented Dier's fault for the Old Gold goals, handing him a 5/10 match score and saying: 'Made a crucial tackle on Matheus Cunha as the midfielder prepared to shoot from close-range but both goals came from midfield runners not being tracked.'

As such, Dorrington, who is aged only 18, must now be provided with his senior debut in a golden opportunity to prove his worth among the seniors, continuing the transformation.

How Alfie Dorrington compares to Eric Dier

Dorrington has now completed 74 matches for the Lilywhites' respective youth sides and will have built much experience at the heart of a successful youth crop in preparation for a time such as this, when injuries might call for his involvement.

Dorrington might only be 18-years-old but he is considered one of the finest defensive prospects of his age group and has even been described as a "real talent" by football.london's Alasdair Gold.

Not only is Dier not the ball-playing presence at the back to fit Postecoglou's system, but he is also not the most robust and reliable in the backline, ranking among the bottom 14% of centre-halfs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the bottom 20% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

Given that Tottenham shipped 63 goals in the Premier League last season – a tally bettering only the relegated trio and newly-promoted teams Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest – Dier's output is hardly the stuff of solidity to have stemmed the flow.

And having started 31 matches in the Premier League last year, it's safe to say that he had ample opportunity to pump some resilience into the leaky backline.

He had even been branded a "liability" by writer Mitch Fretton, and while he has been something of a stalwart for the Lilywhites since signing from Sporting Lisbon for £4m in 2014, making 362 appearances, it certainly seems that his ship has now sailed.

Dorrington, in comparison, has been labelled a 'commanding' defender by Spurs' official website, having performed with composure and strength in age-belying style, and is now likely to make his senior debut in the coming months after earning a place on the bench against Wolves.

Last season, it was said that Dier was "nowhere near the required level", now, Postecoglou has instilled confidence and cohesion into the side, and Dier must now be ditched, opening the door for Dorrington to start earning his stripes.

Southampton reportedly have a bid on the table for an exciting young player, but strong competition is also being provided by two Premier League giants.

Southampton eyeing January transfers

The Saints could be in the market for new signings when the January transfer window opens in the New Year, as Russell Martin looks to bring in players who can aid his side's promotion push. A recent report has claimed that Southampton are eyeing St Patrick's Athletic midfielder Adam Murphy, with a pre-contract move potentially being sorted in January.

Murphy isn't the only youngster who has been seen as a January target, however, with West Brom's Tom Fellows another player who could move to St Mary's, as the south coast outfit look to seal promotion from the Championship to the Premier League at the first attempt.

It does appear as though Southampton are looking to bring in exciting young talent, given the nature of those two updates, and a new claim further suggests that that is the case.

Southampton want Romeo Akachukwu

According to an update from The Irish Independent, Southampton still have a bid "on the table" for Waterford midfielder Romeo Akachukwu, but Manchester City and Arsenal are also interested in making a move for him.

"Southampton made a bid which would be a new record for a player from a League of Ireland club, worth in excess of the €500,000 Sunderland paid Cork City for Roy O’Donovan in 2007 and also up on the €450,000 Shamrock Rovers got from Manchester City for Gavin Bazunu, though the Hoops later received more based on bonuses and international caps.

"It’s believed that the Southampton bid is still on the table and has not formally been rejected by Waterford but the Blues are keen to maximise the potential to earn from the sale of Akachukwu, while Waterford’s parent club, League One side Fleetwood Town, are also eager to land him.

"Manchester City and Arsenal are also on his case but they would be likely to bring him in initially at academy level while Southampton have promised Akachukwu a quick route to first-team football."

Akachukwu may still only be 17 years of age, but he has already made an impressive impact at League of Ireland First Division side Waterford, proving himself to be an important part of the first team. Southampton offering him more chance of minutes could work in their favour, rather than being put into an academy by a bigger club.

Waterford

26

4

0

Republic of Ireland Under-17s

14

3

0

That is outlined by Akachukwu's statistics at senior level to date, with four goals coming his way in 26 appearances, and he is also a 14-time capped Republic of Ireland Under-17 international, finding the net three times in the process. Granted, the teenage midfielder may not be coming in as an immediate starter for Southampton, considering how inexperienced he remains, but if the club see him as someone who can blossom into a formidable footballer over time, they could do all they can to snap him up over the likes of City and Arsenal, which would be a real statement of intent.

Tottenham Hotspur had enjoyed a tremendous start to life under Ange Postecoglou and had established themselves as Premier League table-toppers after ten matches.

It was an unforeseen rise; while the craggy-faced Australian's appointment was viewed as rational – his tactical vision and approach aligned with the club's DNA, and won chairman Daniel Levy over despite interest in coaches such as Julian Nagelsmann – few expected him to blitz into early title contention.

Spurs had fallen by the wayside last season and finished eighth, but Postecoglou instilled belief and implemented his playing style swiftly, and the results were there for all to see.

But a triad of recent league defeats has exposed the frailty and thinness of Spurs' squad, and the January transfer window must be used to land some impactful additions.

Tottenham transfer news – Jota

According to The Times, Tottenham are 'stepping up' their interest in signing Al-Ittihad's Jota in a loan deal in January, with the Portuguese winger's playing time in Saudi Arabia severely hindered by a league limit on the number of foreign players eligible for inclusion in the matchday squad.

While Postecoglou's priority is the defence, injuries to Manor Solomon and Richarlison have made the proposition of signing the loan-listed 24-year-old enticing.

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Jota starred under Postecoglou's wing at Celtic before completing a £25m transfer to the Saudi Pro League in July, though he was linked to Tottenham prior and could now make the move, replacing Bryan Gil on the flanks.

Bryan Gil's Tottenham statistics

Gil arrived with such promise. Leaving his Spanish homeland to join Tottenham in a £22m deal from Sevilla in 2021, this mercurial winger was touted for big things.

ESPN's David Cartlidge had dubbed him a "potential star in the making", and there was – is – so much to like; electric pace, deft dribbling and comparisons to Manchester City's Jack Grealish.

But he's failed to get going and yields just two assists and a grand total of zero goals from 34 Tottenham appearances, joining Valencia in a loan move in January 2022 and only returning to the pack this summer.

With Tottenham's mountainous pile of injuries calling for heavy rotation, Gil started during the recent loss against Aston Villa and did actually play well, completing 3/4 dribbles and making one key pass, as per Sofascore, but he boasts not the physicality nor the confidence to star for Postecoglou at present, and Jota should be brought in to take a starring role.

The statistics that show why Tottenham should sign Jota

Jota has not enjoyed the start to life in the Saudi Pro League that he would have hoped for, playing just five times, scoring one goal and not earning a single start – his last appearance came in September.

It's proved to be a waste of everyone's time, and given that Jota reportedly earns £200k-per-week it has not been a prudent business venture, especially after such a prolific 2022/23 campaign with Celtic, where he plundered 15 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, even scoring against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

The 5 foot 8 dynamo was absolutely incredible in the Scottish Premiership, clinching 11 goals and assists apiece, also creating 13 big chances and completing 80% of his passes, praised for his “perfect” technical skills by journalist Josh Bunting.

While the Premier League would be a step up, Postecoglou knows Jota's skill set well and could slot him right into the system, with his past exploits highlighting his cutting edge; he has even been described as a "genius" by pundit Ally McCoist.

If the Lilywhites can successfully manufacture a loan deal, a big upgrade on Gil could be secured while not precluding winter investment on the backline, which, all in all, makes for a fantastic window for Postecoglou as he looks to steer his side back on track after such a stellar start.

Liverpool’s return to form this season has been a huge relief for the Anfield faithful as it proves last season was merely a blip.

The club failed to make the Champions League for the first time since the 2016/17 season while they also finished trophyless as injuries and poor form meant they struggled throughout 2022/23.

Jurgen Klopp had to do something in the summer transfer window and a midfield rebuild looks like it is beginning to pay dividends, especially in the Premier League.

Before the international break, they had lost just once in the top flight while securing passage to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup and topping their Europa League group.

Everything looks rosy on Merseyside again and the German will be keen to win another trophy or two, especially with the way his side are playing.

Despite shipping out some deadwood during the summer and bringing some wonderful talents to the club, the January transfer window could potentially see another one or two new faces arrive at the club.

Liverpool transfer news – Leroy Sané

As per the Mirror, Leroy Sane has halted negotiations at Bayern Munich with regard to a new contract as he is focusing on the season ahead.

This could prompt Liverpool to swoop in and make a more concrete offer for the player – who has been valued at around €100m (£87m), according to CIES Football Observatory.

According to journalist Christian Falk, Liverpool’s interest is firm as he discussed their interest in the former Manchester City winger, saying:

“Liverpool’s interest in Leroy Sane is concrete. You can compare him to the man he might end up replacing at Anfield in Mo Salah; they both have speed and Sane is certainly younger.

“Bayern Munich are aware of the interest and after the international break they will meet the agents, LIAN Sports Group, to talk about an extension. They really want to keep him and Sane said that Bayern is the first club he will be talking to. His family has arrived in Munich after their new house was built and the player is feeling happy.”

This looks like a move which has more chance of occurring at the end of the season rather than midway through, but it looks as though the Anfield side are serious in their interest.

The player has plenty of knowledge of the Premier League, and he could be a huge asset for the club, while he is also similar to Real Madrid sensation Vinícius Jr.

How Leroy Sané compare to Vinicius Jr

Both players certainly pose a dangerous threat in the opposition penalty area and the Brazilian has emerged as a world-class player over the previous couple of years.

Since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, the Real Madrid star has scored 51 goals while chipping in with 45 assists, and he is clearly in the form of his life.

According to FBref, he is the sixth most comparable player to the current Bayern gem and considering how effective the 23-year-old has been in recent seasons, it is certainly not a bad comparison to have.

Indeed, the duo have registered similar statistics with regard to goals scored (nine vs six), shots per 90 (3.23 vs 3.07), shot-creating actions per 90 (6.39 vs 4.56) and progressive carries (82 vs 66), suggesting that are both performing at the top of their game and causing chaos for opposition defenders for their respective clubs.

Signing Sane would give Klopp’s attacking yet another bolt of energy and a move should seriously be considered during the summer transfer window.

Leroy Sane’s statistics at Bayern Munich

The £330k-per-week sensation was hailed as “unbelievable” by his former manager Julian Nagelsmann following their 5-2 victory over Benfica in the Champions League a few seasons ago and it is safe to his form for Bayern since joining in 2020 has been nothing short of incredible.

Across 152 matches for the European heavyweights, Sane already has 47 goals and 44 assists, and he has started the current season on fire.

Not only has he found the back of the net on nine occasions in all competitions, but he has racked up seven assists too, showcasing how much he enjoys creating chances for others.

Not only does he rank second behind summer signing Harry Kane for goals and assists in the top flight (14), but the winger also ranks first for big chances created (ten) and for successful dribbles per game (4.1) while also topping the pile for key passes per game (3.6), indicating that he has been Bayern’s key attacking outlet alongside Kane this term.

Sane also leads the Bundesliga standings for key passes and successful dribbles per game, as well as big chances created, and it shows how much he has improved since leaving City three years ago.

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The 27-year-old even ranks in the top 4% when compared to positional peers for successful take-ons per 90 (3.79), the top 9% for total shots per 90 (3.08) and the top 10% for shot-creating actions per 90 (5.2) over the previous 12 months.

These statistics are clear evidence that he would be a valuable asset for Liverpool ahead of next season and he would improve them massively.

As previously mentioned, his figures are similar to those of Vinícius Jr and this comparison would allow Klopp to yield one of the finest wingers in the world should he make the move back to England in the near future.

Much will obviously depend on how much funds Klopp has to work with, yet there will be a few players who he could sell off in order to raise some money for potential arrivals.

Much will also depend on whether the club qualify for the Champions League next term. Judging by their start to the league season, this shouldn’t pose too much of a problem, yet Klopp will be keen to avoid any complacency.

Playing in Europe’s premier club competition is key to luring the best talents, and in Sane, there is a player who is already world-class, and he could take the Reds to the next level.

Manchester United could be set to lose one of their first-team stars next year, with a fresh report revealing that they’d be keen to join one of their main admirers in January.

Man United's summer departures

The Red Devils sanctioned the sales of 11 players in total over the summer, with eight of those being on a permanent basis, while the remaining three were sent out on loan for the rest of the season in order to increase their game time.

Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)

Brandon Williams (Ipswich Town)

Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest)

Alvaro Carreras (Granada CF)

Fred (Fenerbahce)

Mason Greenwood (Getafe)

Matej Kovar (Bayer Leverkusen)

Alex Telles (Al-Nassr)

Zidane Iqbal (FC Utrecht)

Eric Bailly (Besiktas)

Teden Mengi (Luton Town)

The Old Trafford outfit have Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial, Hannibal Mejbri, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton who will have reached the expiration of their deals upon the conclusion of the current campaign (Manchester United contracts), so they could also be heading for the exit door in the coming weeks and months.

Another player who will have seen out his terms at the end of the season is Aaron Wan-Bissaka, so with just one more window available to cash in should he not want to lose his prized asset for free, Erik ten Hag will soon have to make a decision over the future of his right-back.

In the Premier League, England’s former international has made just five starts and one substitute appearance due to being out with a hamstring injury for a large period (WhoScored – Wan-Bissaka statistics). However, the 25-year-old is still attracting interest from two top-flight rivals.

West Ham plotting swoop for Aaron Wan-Bissaka

According to Football Transfers, Wan-Bissaka is of interest to West Ham and Crystal Palace, though it’s believed that he would prefer to make the switch to the London Stadium instead of his former club.

"West Ham are looking at Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka as a possible target amid Vladimir Coufal’s uncertain future at the club.

"A January move for Wan-Bissaka could be on the cards despite interest from his former club, Crystal Palace.

"It is thought that a move to West Ham is a more enticing prospect for Wan Bissaka than a return to the Eagles, where he spent three seasons."

Man United need to keep "monster" in Wan-Bissaka

Whilst Wan-Bissaka hasn’t been available for selection throughout the season, Man United will know that he’s still capable of performing at a high standard when he is fit. Therefore, the hierarchy need to do everything they can to retain his services beyond January.

The Croydon-born talent, who pockets £90k-per-week (Manchester United salaries), is currently averaging 2.8 clearances and 2.3 tackles per game in the Premier League, highlighting how solid he is at getting stuck into challenges and clearing the danger from the backline.

Ten Hag’s “monster”, as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, also likes to burst down the flank and create chances in the final third, where he’s posted 14 contributions – 12 assists and two goals – during his time at the club (Transfermarkt – Wan-Bissaka statistics), so even the thought of losing him will be of great concern.