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Matt Targett emerged a surprise hero for Dean Smith as Aston Villa beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in the West Midlands derby on Saturday.

The ex-Southampton full-back had his work cut out keeping Nuno Espirito Santo’s talismanic forward Adama Traore quiet, but excelled at the task to force the Spaniard into switching flanks with Pedro Neto after the hour mark.

Wolves had a clear gameplan of working the ball to Traore in the opening stages yet rarely enjoyed much success, with his only true break resulting in a tame effort on Emiliano Martinez’s goal early in the second half.

Martinez was inspired between the sticks to produce an array of pivotal saves as the game edged toward a draw, but a late mistake from Nelson Semedo gifted the Villans a penalty which substitute Anwar El Ghazi buried.

The win moved Aston Villa up to eighth and above their West Midlands rivals, while holding two games in hand, despite claiming just one win in five Premier League fixtures before travelling to Molineux.

Targett upstaged Traore magnificently to ensure his performance could not go unnoticed, as the £17million signing from 2019 earned his 10th-straight start of the top-flight season.

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The 25-year-old’s performance was not perfect, having recorded just a 56% pass success rate and was cautioned in the closing stages, yet excelled with a joint-team high 61 touches and the third-most total passes by a Villans player, per WhoScored.

Targett completed just 19 of his 34 total pass, one of which being deemed a key ball, while delivering four attempted but unsuccessful crosses and attempting nine long passes, of which only three found teammates.

He also lost possession 20 times – only John McGinn (21) turned the ball over more often, per SofaScore – but stood out with his back to Martinez’s goal with five clearances, three interceptions, three successful tackles and blocked one shot.

Smith never saw Targett try his luck on Wolves’ goal or attempt a dribble, but would have left Molineux mightily impressed by the former England U19 international’s efforts in behind youngster Jacob Ramsey, who was making his first-ever Premier League start.

Meanwhile, this Aston Villa ace badly let Dean Smith down against Wolves.

Tottenham Hotspur retained the top spot in the Premier League with an impressive victory over their arch-rivals, Arsenal, on Sunday evening.

Jose Mourinho once again has his red-hot goalscoring duo, Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, to thank as the pair combined for both goals in the 2-0 victory.

The South Korean needed just 13 minutes to get on the scoresheet as he fired home a scorcher from well outside the penalty area before the 27-year-old marksman rifled one in from close range right on half-time.

In the end, Spurs hung onto a deserved victory despite the Gunners’ second-half dominance but largely, it was all bark and no bite.

Mikel Arteta’s men managed seven attempts at goal to Spurs’ one in the final 45 minutes, and struggled to find a way past a defence that has now kept four successive clean sheets in the division.

However but for all the positivity, Mourinho will surely be unhappy with what he saw from Giovani Lo Celso, a play who has been on the receiving end of some flak in recent weeks.

The ‘Special One’ criticised the Argentinian playmaker last month:

“I feel that when he plays he’s not the Gio that we know, not the Gio that we know that he can be an amazing player. But with the ball of course great criteria and he knows what he’s doing of course, and understands the way we want to play. But we need more intensity to be fitter, to be more intense and to be stronger in the transitions.”

It was only his second start in the Premier League this season on Sunday, which only goes to show the lack of faith Mourinho currently has in him, and that’s also reflected in the fact that Lo Celso is only averaging 44.8 minutes per appearance at the moment.

That certainly feels a bit like Tanguy Ndombele from last season, and the £31.5m-rated star did himself no favours.

Per SofaScore, he won just two of eight duels (25%) and failed to register a single shot, tackle, successful dribble, accurate cross or key pass in his 72 minutes on the pitch.

Lo Celso was also wasteful in possession as he lost the ball 13 times – more than any other Spurs player bar Son – and made just 18 of 29 passes.

Given Mourinho’s comments and the lack of reaction since, it would be a surprise to see the former Betis man start again in the upcoming games, unless of course, Ndombele hasn’t returned from illness.

AND in other news, Spurs can land Mourinho his next John Terry with swoop for £50m monster…

According to CalcioMercato, Glasgow Rangers are still interested in signing long-term target Lovro Majer from Dinamo Zagreb.

What’s the word?

Reports at the start of the year revealed that the Light Blues were tracking the Croatia U21 international back in January. But Steven Gerrard’s side ended up signing Ianis Hagi initially on loan instead, before he impressed in his short spell at Ibrox before the Scottish Premiership was suspended in March.

And Rangers signed the Romania international on a permanent deal from Genk in the summer as he was described by Gerrard as a “pleasure to coach.”

It’s claimed that the Gers remain in the race to sign Majer in the winter transfer window but will face stiff competition from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, Fiorentina, Sevilla and Valencia, whilst Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are also closely monitoring the situation. But Ross Wilson must sanction a swoop for the £2m-rated ace, otherwise he may never get another opportunity.

Better than Kranjcar?

Croatia has become a scouting ground for the Gers in recent years, having signed both Borna Barisic and Nikola Katic since Steven Gerrard first took charge at the Ibrox outfit.

For every Nikica Jelavic or Dado Prso, there has been a Niko Kranjcar, so Ross Wilson may want to tread very carefully indeed.

This season, Majer has made one appearance in the Europa League, whilst he has averaged one shot, three key passes and three dribbles per game, via WhoScored. In comparison, Hagi has only managed one key pass per game, as per WhoScored.

The 22-year-old has scored three goals and supplied two assists in six games in the Croatian top flight, otherwise known as the 1.HNL, after bagging a brace against NK Lokomotiva at the start of the season, via Transfermarkt.

On the other hand, Kranjcar could only manage to score one goal and supply one assist in sixteen appearances in the Scottish Premiership, via Transfermarkt. The veteran was 31 at the time of his arrival and was plagued by constant injury setbacks over the course of his career, so he was undoubtedly past his peak, whereas Majer, who plays in a similar position, has stayed unscathed so far.

Despite his young age, Majer has already been compared to Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric. Hagi has also been tipped for greatness, with his father Gheorghe Hagi recently insisting that his son has a similar playing style to current Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. Even so, he has copped a fair amount of criticism so far, as well.

Whilst it’s too early to tell whether or not Majer will be better than Kranjcar, it’s fair to say that, unlike his countryman, the youngster remains a relatively risk-free signing. One thing’s for sure, he’s certainly on the right track if his record is anything to go by.

Gerrard has shown he can get the best out of young players, as he has worked wonders with both Hagi and Calvin Bassey. So, he could take his game to the next level if he moves to Ibrox, as he’d almost certainly be guaranteed games. Get it done, Gers, before it’s too late!

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers striker Kemar Roofe steals the show against Standard Liege…

Leeds United could be about to break their club-record fee for a second time this transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to Onda Cero radio, Marcelo Bielsa is considering a move for Levante midfielder Jose Campana who was once on the books at Crystal Palace.

The La Liga outfit won’t let the 27-year-old leave for less than €30m (£27.5m), though the player would love another crack in the Premier League.

Leeds have already failed in their attempts to sign Udinese star Rodrigo De Paul so it remains to be seen if Victor Orta will crack at this sort of fee.

Midfield reinforcement

Campana only played six times in the top-flight last time he was here, costing Palace just £1.75m back in 2013 but evidently his career has come on leaps and bounds since.

Last season, the former Spain U21 international was a key cog in Paco Lopez’s system – in 37 appearances, Campana provided two goals and seven assists whilst averaging two key passes, 1.7 dribbles and 1.2 shots per game, via WhoScored.

With Bielsa still lacking a Samuel Saiz type player to provide an alternative option to Pablo Hernandez, perhaps the 27-year-old maestro can fill that void at long last.

Spanish football expert Graham Hunter has described Campana as an “immense talent” in the past whilst BleacherReport claim he’s a “creative, flamboyant and incisive passer.”

Ex-Eagles boss Ian Holloway has also waxed lyrical about his credentials, upon signing him he said: “I think he’s a fantastic player, his maturity is unbelievable, and the way he plays the game is the way I believe it should be played. He’s going to be a great star of the future and the present.”

Campana is certainly more attacking than defensive and he could be the missing link to unlock fellow Spaniard Rodrigo at Elland Road.

AND in other news, Leeds handed boost over £13.5m colossus who Bielsa has wanted for TWO years…

Everton and Carlo Ancelotti can look to exploit one key weakness of Jack Butland should Liverpool sign the Stoke City goalkeeper ahead of this month’s Merseyside Derby.

Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League champions have been linked with a late move to sign the former England international during the final week of the EFL transfer window by the Mirror, having lost first-choice Alisson Becker for six weeks through injury and harbouring concerns of Adrian’s talents after shipping seven goals to Aston Villa.

Liverpool have held talks with the Potters over the potential of a deal to sign Butland before travelling to Goodison Park on October 17, and could call on the £35,000-per-week shot-stopper against Everton should a move occur.

Butland has fallen further from his glory days of being an England international Stoke valued at £30million following their relegation, with the ‘keeper no longer first-choice and said to be desperate to leave the bet365 Stadium to rekindle his career having not featured since a 5-0 thrashing at Leeds United in July.

The 27-year-old is also in the final year of his contract and is noted to be one of Stoke’s top-earners, making a late deal for Butland to join Liverpool one that suits all parties involved.

Stoke have previously been claimed to now value Butland between £8m and £10m per Sky Sports, having received enquires but no firm offers earlier this summer.

Should Liverpool land the ‘keeper, Everton should not fear Butland’s involvement in the Merseyside Derby in place of Adrian as Ancelotti can look to exploit one key weakness in his game.

Over Butland’s 35 appearances in last season’s Championship campaign, the nine-cap ‘keeper managed to keep nine clean sheets to the generous 56 goals he conceded.

Of those goals fired past Butland, SofaScore data shows 45 were netted from strikes taken inside the Stoke penalty area compared to 11 hit home from outside the box.

Butland also only managed to record 43 saves from shots taken inside the Potters’ penalty area, showing he allowed more goals against him than he managed to prevent when opponents were able to get within the box.

That was not the same occurrence with shots taken outside of the penalty area, as Butland was able to turn away 31 of the 42 efforts struck from range in the second-tier last term.

Ancelotti and Everton, therefore, should not fret Butland’s potential involvement in the Merseyside Derby as they can look to work the ball into the box knowing their chance of scoring will drastically improve even if Klopp sees the 27-year-old as a better option to Adrian.

Everton have been able to fashion plenty of efforts on goal in the Premier League this season, with Ancelotti’s men boasting all but one of their joint-division-high 12 goals from efforts recorded inside the penalty area to date.

AND in other news, Everton were shown what they missed this summer as a £10m former target thrived on the international stage.

Crystal Palace have entered the race to sign Tiemoue Bakayoko in this transfer window.

That’s according to Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, who claim that the Eagles have made an offer to the Chelsea midfielder.

Bakayoko spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Monaco and appears destined to leave the club in the coming weeks.

He made 23 appearances in all competitions and is also wanted by AC Milan, with the Blues looking to receive as much of the £36m they paid for him as possible.

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The once-capped France international has made just 43 appearances for Chelsea since his arrival in 2017 and Palace are now ready to go head-to-head with the Italian club to nab him in this window.

Roy Hodgson’s side are said to have approached the player directly and, while there is no hint as to whether a transfer fee has been offered, it is said that Bakayoko will make a decision in the coming days over his next club.

Palace have already signed Ebere Eze from QPR in this window and strengthening the midfield behind the playmaker could be a clever move as the 2020/21 season gets underway.

Bakayoko has a hint of Premier League experience and remains a relatively young player – he turned 26 in August – with a high ceiling.

If Palace are able to bring him in, this would be a coup for the Eagles.

West Bromwich Albion boss Slaven Bilic could be reunited with one player he once signed for a club-record £18m if reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to Ghana SoccerNet, the Baggies are keen on bringing Swansea City winger Andre Ayew to the Hawthorns before the transfer deadline this summer.

They claim that the Championship outfit could be interested in offloading the 30-year-old due to the £80k-per-week wages he’s reportedly on at the Liberty Stadium whilst Ayew himself would like to play in the Premier League.

He has started both of the Swans’ opening two matches this term and is valued at just £4.32m by Transfermarkt.

Another winger?

It would be an interesting prospect to see Ayew swap the second tier for another venture into the top-flight but do West Brom even need another winger?

The veteran was largely ineffective in the two matches against the Baggies last season, failing to contribute during a 5-1 thrashing or the 0-0 draw.

Although he is a player that Bilic knows really well, speaking back in 2017 following a shock win over Spurs, the Croatian boss said: “It’s me who wanted Andre to join us from Swansea. I rate Andre very highly. He’s a great player. He was the game-changer.”

Whilst summer arrival Conor Gallagher enjoyed a loan spell alongside him at Swansea during the second half of last season and the Ghanian believes the young Chelsea prospect is fit for the Premier League.

During that campaign, Ayew provided 16 goals and seven assists whilst averaging 2.6 shots, 2.1 dribbles and 0.9 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

That’s six more goals than what Charlie Austin and Hal Robson-Kanu could manage and only Grady Diangana managed more dribbles per appearance.

The Baggies could probably do with a new goal threat after appearing rather lacklustre in front of the sticks so far this campaign, so perhaps a move for the Swansea veteran would be a shrewd addition this close to deadline day.

AND in other news, Albion must win race to sign “skilled” starlet who “causes defenders nightmares”…

Leeds United transfer chief Angus Kinnear has spoken out amid recent transfer rumours circulating the club and Brighton defender Ben White.

The 22-year-old was on loan at Elland Road last season and the newly-promoted club recently lodged a £22m bid for the centre-back, which the Seagulls rejected.

As per Leeds Live, Kinnear indicated that the Yorkshire outfit remain interested in White but are exploring other options if Brighton don’t budge. He said: “The reality is, he did a wonderful job for us, but he’s a Brighton player. They rate him very highly, I’m sure they see us as a rival.

“The conversations are continuing but we have to be respectful of Brighton’s position, that he is their player.

“We have two or three other names in that group in terms of that position, who supporters should be really excited about. I know emotionally it won’t have the same appeal as getting Ben back. But if it doesn’t work with Ben we’ve got some good cover lined up.”

White had only played twice for Brighton prior to being loaned out to Leeds a year ago but he had an excellent 2019/20 season at Elland Road, being ever-present in helping Marcelo Bielsa’s team to end their 16-year exile from the Premier League.

The Yorkshire club are far from alone in terms of transfer interest in the defender. According to The Sun, all of last term’s Premier League top six are keen on the 22-year-old, who is valued at more than £50m by the Seagulls.

Further to Kinnear’s comments about Leeds casting a wider net in their hunt for a centre-back, The Telegraph reported at the weekend that the Whites are interested in Freiburg’s Robin Koch, who according to O Jogo could be available for just £10.8m – a fraction of what Brighton are demanding for White.

With Leeds not putting all their eggs in the White basket, Brighton may feel that one contender in the race for the 22-year-old’s signature could soon drop out.

The Seagulls are sending a clear message that they won’t be intimidated into selling the defender on the cheap by slapping a £50m price tag on him, even though he has never played a Premier League game.

With transfer speculation surrounding the futures of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy at the Amex Stadium, it is only right that Brighton take a no-nonsense stance with White, and that may be enough to convince Leeds to look elsewhere for centre-back reinforcements instead.

Brighton fans, are you proud of the club’s hardline stance on White’s future amid such widespread transfer interest? Comment below with your views!

Manchester United currently look like one of the most potent attacking forces in England, having become the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive games by three goals or more after their 3-0 demolition of Aston Villa.

Bruno Fernandes has been arguably the Premier League’s best player during this time, winning back to back Player of the Month awards, while Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood have banged in eight goals between them in their last four league matches.

It’s hard to imagine the Red Devils’ attack getting even better, but that could soon be the case if one reported transfer comes to fruition.

Of course, one of the biggest transfer rumours of the past few months has been Jadon Sancho’s potential move to Old Trafford, but with United looking to pay no more than £50m for the Dortmund winger, that one reportedly may not get over the line.

The Athletic are now reporting that their attention may shift away from Sancho towards Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele, and if they land the Frenchman their attack may become nigh on unstoppable.

It’s not often you find a player who can use both feet with equal effectiveness, but if United sign the 23-year-old they will have two players who are truly two-footed.

Indeed, the Barcelona winger has previously made headlines for saying that he’s left-footed, but shoots better with his right, while Greenwood is a natural lefty who is so comfortable with his supposed weaker foot that he actually takes penalties with his right.

If those two lined up in the same team on opposite wings, defenders across Europe would have a serious headache in trying to defend against them, as they would be able to attack from all angles, shooting, crossing and passing with either foot with equal effectiveness.

It’s not as if the dynamism of being two-footed is all Greenwood and Dembele have to offer either.

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Greenwood has netting nine Premier League goals despite only being 18 years old, while the former Rennes winger was deemed to be worth £135.5m by Barcelona just three years ago.

Dembele and Greenwood lining up alongside either Martial or Marcus Rashford is truly a frightening prospect, and it’s hard to imagine how any defence would go about stopping them, especially when you consider the talents of Fernandes and Paul Pogba working in the midfield behind them.

One of the hallmarks of Jose Mourinho’s long managerial career has been signing high-profile players for big money. It was the case at the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, but with the current climate affecting how Premier League teams will spend money, the Portuguese man may have to look at different ways of strengthening his current Tottenham squad.

And according to Italian publication CalcioNapoli24 (via Sport Witness), the Lilywhites are after Ajax’s 21-year-old starlet Danilo Pereira.

The report claims that Spurs have joined the likes of Napoli and Benfica in the race to sign the Brazilian, despite him only making three appearances for the first-team at Ajax.

Capable of playing through the middle up top, or on either flank, Danilo has been in prolific form for the youth sides, netting 24 times in just 42 total games for Ajax’s U21s.

Danilo is said to be inspired by Manchester City’s £50.4m-rated star Gabriel Jesus, who like him, also grew up in the favelas back in Brazil, and that as well as his background, is also hopeful of mirroring his style of play too.

If Mourinho is keen on rebuilding Spurs with far less costlier young talents, then he could do a lot worse than Danilo, who appears to be on the verge of making a real breakthrough at Ajax judging by his performances at academy level.