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Wolves have been dealt a blow in their quest to sign Lille centre-back Sven Botman in January, with the Dutchman expected to stay put until the summer.

The Lowdown: Wolves keen on Botman

The 21-year-old is a key figure for the reigning Ligue 1 champions, standing out as a dominant performer despite his tender years. As per WhoScored, he is among their top five players in terms of overall ranking so far this season.

Wolves have been linked with a move for Botman a number of times in recent weeks, as Bruno Lage looks to bring in another defender in the January transfer window.

Newcastle are also thought to be eyeing up a move for the Lille centre-back, but a fresh update suggests that both clubs could have to wait to get their man.

The Latest: Milan director makes Botman reveal

As shared by journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, AC Milan director Frederic Massara has claimed that Lille won’t sell Botman this month, with the Italian giants also seen as potential suitors.

The San Siro chief revealed to Sky Italy: “Sven Botman’s an amazing centre back but I think Lille have no intention to sell him in January.”

The Verdict: Move on instead?

Judging by Massara’s comments, it looks as though Wolves will have to wait for the time being if they want to sign Botman, giving Lage the dilemma of either moving on to another transfer target or being patient.

That revelation comes as blow to the Old Gold’s chances of landing the 21-year-old, but in truth, it could be hard for Wanderers to sign the centre-back at all, given Newcastle’s vast wealth and Milan’s stature as a European powerhouse.

For that reason, looking at an alternative target could make perfect sense in the coming weeks if Lage wants to add further competition for the likes of Max Kilman, Conor Coady and Romain Saiss.

In other news, some Wolves fans have reacted to a key fitness update. Read more here.

Valerien Ismael is under pressure to bring West Brom back from a run of poor form which has seen them fall further from the automatic promotion spots in the Championship, and he could be in with a golden chance to improve their fortunes in the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

The Albion manager has spoken out ahead of the imminent transfer window claiming that “it’s a process”, with mounting pressure on the former Barnsley manager to revive West Brom from a slump in performances and lack of goals in the Championship as they challenge to get back into the Premier League in the second half of the season.

Speaking to Birmingham Live, the 46-year-old said: “Generally (with the squad) I am not where I want to be – it’s clear, but it can’t be from the start you have everything you want. It’s a process, you need two or three transfer windows.

“Now we come to the second window and we will see what we can do, how many players we can pick. The important thing is getting the right player. If it’s one, it’s one. If it’s two, it’s two. If it’s three, it’s three.”

Injuries and suspensions have all had their part to play in the declining form, with midfielders Jayson Molumby and Jake Livermore both getting sent off in the space of a week recently and the likes of Kenneth Zohore and Dara O’Shea sustaining injuries during the season so far.

Jordan Hugill is also expected to return to Norwich in January, meaning that Ismael will have a number of key positions to fill during the January transfer window going into the second half of the season.

Fans should be pleased

There have been rumours circulating that Ismael could be sacked by Christmas if performances don’t improve in the short term to keep the Baggies in contention for an automatic promotion spot.

Understandably, he and the club have work to do in January, but football can be unforgiving to managers who are underachieving when expectations are not being met.

These words of reassurance from the manager that he is open to adding more players in January could well leave fans buzzing not only for the transfer window ahead, but for the rest of the season. Ismael clearly isn’t content with what he’s got at the moment and has a vision in mind of the direction in which he wants to take the team and the club to go in, while also being considerate of fans’ expectations amid calls for key positions to be strengthened.

It would seem unfair for him to be sacked before he can revive the squad with a decent transfer window, but it would be essential for any new signings to make an instant impact and improve the team rapidly to ensure that West Brom can keep their involvement in the promotion race for as long as possible. Still, at least the manager’s proclamation that he wants to strengthen with “the right player” next month should please The Hawthorns faithful.

In other news: Ismael delivered a masterstroke by unleashing this Baggies gem

Everton have been dealt a big blow to their festive plans as winger Andros Townsend has suffered an injury to his foot.

According to The Athletic, the ex-Tottenham man sustained the knock whilst playing against his former team Crystal Palace on Sunday and he is now set to be out for a number of weeks – missing the Christmas schedule.

Major issue

This causes a major issue for Blues boss Rafa Benitez as Townsend has been one of his standout players in the Premier League this season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (7.53) is the only player in the squad with a higher average SofaScore rating than the winger (7.09) and he will need to be replaced in the starting XI over the coming weeks.

The Spaniard could potentially solve this problem by unleashing academy beast Anthony Gordon and giving him a further run of games from the start to prove his worth at senior level.

He has had a smattering of starts in the top-flight this season but it has been difficult for him to find consistency as he has not had a prolonged spell in the XI to build some momentum. Gordon has started six games and made a further seven appearances off the bench, having played three times in the league last season.

The 20-year-old has shown potential whilst playing in the youth sides at Goodison. He scored 24 goals and provided ten assists in 59 games for the U23 and U18 outfits combined, showing that he has the quality to score and assist goals from a wide position – albeit he is yet to prove that he can do it at senior level.

David Unsworth previously backed the youngster to fulfill his potential, saying:

“If chances come along, you want them to come to Anthony Gordon because he is in such a rich vein of form.

“He’s grown in stature as a player. He can still be better physically, in terms of being able to go for 95 minutes – and he will do that. His desire and application is there.

“He is such an explosive player. He’s progressing really well and when he reaches his full potential, he’ll be some player. It’s not a question of if, he will do. He’s got that star quality.”

With Townsend now set to miss a number of matches, Benitez must unleash Gordon from the start over a prolonged period now to allow him to build up his confidence to see if he is able to make a significant impact at first-team level for Everton.

If he is able to do that then he could kick on and become an important player for the club moving forward, which is why the Spanish boss could benefit from selecting him – starting with the clash with Chelsea.

AND in other news, Rafa can kickstart Everton revival by unleashing 65-goal prodigy who “rarely misses”…

As Rangers headed into the international break they will have done so with glee as the Gers sat top of the league with everything appearing to be rather rosy at Ibrox.

There was a Scottish League Cup semi-final to prepare for and Steven Gerrard will have been confident about Rangers making the final.

However, he is no longer in Glasgow. The Gers have lost their title-winning head coach to south of the border and instead of a straightforward break, they had to work harder than ever to replace him.

The new boss is well known at Ibrox and brings with him a CV that eclipses that of Gerrard.

On Thursday afternoon, it was confirmed that Dutch coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst would become the 17th permanent manager of the club.

He has won the Eredivisie with Feyenoord in what stands out as his proudest achievement to date as a manager. However, his expertise guided the Netherlands-based side to two cup triumphs too.

The 46-year-old will also bring with him an experience of managing some of the finest players to grace European football. That list includes Liverpool hero Dirk Kuyt and Premier League winner Robin van Persie.

The former Arsenal star was a revelation under van Bronckhorst’s watchful eyes, bagging 25 times in 45 matches under the new Rangers manager’s tutelage.

Of course, it is hard to compare van Persie to anybody in the Gers squad but their head coach will undoubtedly require somebody who can fire in the goals on a regular basis.

Ryan Kent will, of course, be vital to retaining their Premiership crown but Alfredo Morelos will also need to start firing.

El Bufalo has been out of form this term with just four league strikes but it surely won’t be long before he becomes his ruthless self again.

The £33k-per-week earner may see a new manager as the perfect opportunity and if he starts scoring regularly again, he will become van Bronckhorst’s next van Persie in Scotland.

Morelos has been consistently linked with a move away from Glasgow but ahead of the January window, Ross Wilson and co must ensure he stays put.

He is a man capable of carrying them to the title and if we consider his goal record, it becomes clear why he’s being mentioned in the same breath as one of the Netherland’s great modern centre-forwards.

The dominant Colombian forward has beaten the goalkeeper on 101 occasions since arriving at Rangers and his iconic playstyle has earned some eye-catching appraisals.

“He was like a jungle cat who hadn’t been trained,” former coach Carlos Restrepo said of his youth days.

“He has a body type like an ox,” Restrepo added in an interview with The Athletic.

Van Persie was more technical than physical, something Morelos typifies, but their goalscoring records certainly match up.

Van Bronckhorst will surely relish the opportunity to coach him each day.

AND in other news, Rangers sealed dream deal over “physically powerful” £230k gem, GVB will love him…

Giovanni van Bronckhorst continued his 100% record as Glasgow Rangers manager on Wednesday evening, as Gers defeated Hibernian 1-0 at Easter Road.

However, the Light Blues did not have things all their own way against Jack Ross’ side, with Hibs looking very good value for a draw until the 85th minute of the match, when Kemar Roofe slotted home from the spot to seal an important three points for the Dutchman.

Despite the win – which saw Rangers extend their lead at the top of the Premiership table to seven points – there were nevertheless a couple of underwhelming performances turned in by Gers players on the night, none more so than from central midfielder Steven Davis, who was ineffective in the middle of the park.

Lost possession 14x

After being left out of Rangers’ last two Premiership fixtures, Davis did very little over his 66 minutes on the pitch against Hibs to convince van Bronckhorst he is worthy of retaining his starting spot in the middle of the park going forwards.

Indeed, the £900k-rated man failed to make a single tackle or interception, won just one of his three duels, failed with his one attempted cross and one attempted long ball, completed a mere 33 of his 43 attempted passes – a completion rate of 77% – and lost possession for his side on 14 separate occasions.

These metrics not only saw the £20k-per-week midfielder brought off midway through the second half, but they also saw him earn an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.5, with no other Rangers player who started the clash receiving a lower rating than the Northern Ireland international.

As such, with a hectic Christmas period coming up for Gers, one which could ultimately end up deciding the Premiership title race, Davis will undoubtedly have to up his game in the coming weeks if van Bronckhorst is to go on and secure the club’s second successive league title come the end of the season, as the midfielder failed the 46-year-old on Wednesday.

In other news: Gio could unearth Goldson 2.0 in “superb” Rangers teen who is “going to be massive”

West Brom’s correspondent for The Athletic, Steve Madeley, shared a story on Valerien Ismael’s midfield options on Monday.

And a number of West Brom fans were quick to react to his Twitter post as a result.

The Baggies ran out 3-0 winners against Bristol City on Saturday but were without central midfield regulars Jake Livermore and Alex Mowatt.

Livermore was suspended and Mowatt injured, which meant Ismael used Robert Snodgrass and Jayson Molumby. The pair impressed against The Robins, with Ismael labelling Snodgrass as man of the match.

Madeley looked into the possibility of Snodgrass and Molumby starting alongside each other again when West Brom travel to promotion rivals Fulham this weekend.

He labelled the idea of Albion going into a game without Livermore and Mowatt as ‘unthinkable’ prior to the weekend.

However, it now feels as if that might happen after the positive displays from Snodgrass and Molumby.

Baggies fans react

This is what these West Brom supporters had to say in reply to Madeley, with many hoping Livermore doesn’t return to the side.

“Livermore’s suspension was the best thing that could have happened. He doesn’t offer anything and can’t pass. Mowatt would relish playing with Molumby/Snoddy next to him.”

Credit: @Jackk_Ross

“Was only unthinkable if you hadn’t got eyes. The fact that this pairing only happened by chance and not by choice is somewhat baffling and maybe even scary.”

Credit: @wezzaboing74

“About time Livermore is phased out of the starting XI. All he does is fall to his knees when other players score. How got like 10 games for England is completely beyond me”

Credit: @JoelDMendez

“Only unthinkable to fans who don’t understand football. Its been obvious all season Livermore doesn’t offer anywhere near enough in a 2 man midfield. The fact he is constantly diving in is enough to demonstrate that.”

Credit: @AdKido44

“Always look better without Livermore”

Credit: @Jaywba1982

“I don’t know what Livermore brings to the side and can’t tell you what sort of player he is, about time he was dislodged from the side”

Credit: @RyanPGlasgow

A number of West Ham supporters have hailed Said Benrahma’s superb solo effort in his side’s 2-2 draw with Genk in the Europa League.

David Moyes had a milestone evening to enjoy on Thursday night, taking charge of the 1000th game of his managerial career.

The Hammers failed to give their manager a win in Belgium, however, with Tomas Soucek’s last-gasp own goal giving the hosts a point.

It was still a positive night, however, as West Ham reached the knockout stages of the Europa League, continuing to go from strength to strength.

Benrahma was a star performer for the Hammers, scoring both of his side’s goals, with the club’s official Twitter account sharing a video of his brilliant solo strike that put the visitors 2-1 late on.

West Ham fans laud Benrahma footage

These West Ham fans took to Twitter to laud the attacker’s moment of magic in response to the club’s post.

“Oh Said you baller”

Credit: @CBearne17

“Said has really come into form this season! Expect even more of this as he’s only getting better”

Credit: @TheWestHamYank

“He was unbelievable tonight”

Credit: @1bbyWHU

“The confidence of this team just rises when we have both Soucek and Rice in the midfield. What an unreal goal that was Benrahma”

Credit: @RockyWhu

“Benrahma oh my god”

Credit: @WHUFCallum_

“Said Benrahma is incredible”

Credit: @eligrphx

In other news, some West Ham fans have lambasted one player’s performance against Genk. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp ‘really wants’ Karim Adeyemi to join his squad as negotiations with RB Salzburg are ongoing, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

The Lowdown: Sizzling Salzburg Striker

Adeyemi, 19, has caught the eye of some of the best clubs in Europe with his terrific record at Red Bull Salzburg, with the Germany international scoring 21 goals in 66 appearances, assisting 17 also.

The striker has come on leaps and bounds since making his debut and is now the Austrian club’s main man up-front following the departure of Patson Daka to Leicester City last summer.

With the striker showing his worth in the Champions League this season, the chances of a move elsewhere next summer will increase as his performances continue to stand out.

The Latest: Klopp keen on Adeyemi

According to Konur on Twitter, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp really wants to sign Adeyemi and talks between the two clubs are continuing on financial issues.

Konur also stated that Adeyemi wants to play in the top-level leagues and prove himself, following in the footsteps of Erling Haaland, who now plays for Borussia Dortmund.

Germany head coach Hansi Flick labelled Adeyemi ‘ice-cold’ after the teenager scored on his national debut.

The Verdict: Future move

The signing of Adeyemi would fill the hole that Liverpool have missing in the middle of their front three. With Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota alternating in that role, they lack an out-and-out striker, offering Klopp the chance to rest and rotate his key forwards.

Only 19, the German striker has years to grow and adapt to English football, but his track record in front of goal demonstrates his ability.

Whilst Daka has struggled to adapt to the Premier League, Haaland’s record at Dortmund since joining has placed him as one of the best strikers around and Adeyemi will be hoping to replicate the Norway international’s rise.

In other news, this Liverpool target would prefer a move to this league. Find out more here.

An update has emerged on Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, regarding Newcastle’s interest in acquiring his services.

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies are ready to make a major offer to the head coach, with a gross wage of £11m-per-year on the table for him.

The report claims that Newcastle’s contract would make him the third-highest paid manager in the Premier League, behind Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. Ten Hag, however, is undecided on a move to Tyneside after rejecting the chance to manage Tottenham in the summer.

Forget Fonseca

Newcastle fans will surely be buzzing with this update as it shows ambition from PIF to attract a highly thought of, top-class, head coach to lead the club forward.

Evidently, they are prepared to splash the cash on the Dutchman to prize him away from Ajax, with an £11m gross wage per year proving they have intent to make big moves in the top-flight in the coming years.

This also comes after The Telegraph reported that the club were willing to offer Paulo Fonseca just £6m-per-season after holding talks with the Portuguese coach.

So, forget about Fonseca, PIF’s major £11m contract for ten Hag suggests that he is the main target for the Magpies as they are willing to offer him more money to arrive on Tyneside.

The supporters will be delighted with this news due to ten Hag’s reputation for playing fast, exciting, football with Ajax. He has taken the Dutch giants to a Champions League quarter-final and semi-final during his time at the club, whilst also winning five domestic trophies.

Fonseca’s best performance in the Champions League has been leading Shakhtar Donetsk to the last 16 in the 2016/17 campaign. He has also reached the semi-finals of the Europa League once and the quarter-finals twice but has not been able to match ten Hag’s achievements in Europe’s premier competition.

Domestically, ten Hag also comes out on top. Fonseca won 1.75 points per game in charge of Roma in the Serie A across 75 games, whilst his rival for the Newcastle job has won 2.14 points per game across 204 Eredivise matches for Utrecht and Ajax.

This shows why fans will be excited to read that PIF are plotting an ambitious assault on ten Hag ahead of Fonseca, following Steve Bruce’s dismissal earlier this month.

It is now down to the Dutchman as to whether or not he wants to take on the exciting project at St James’ Park.

AND in other news, Bruce’s legacy: “Immense” NUFC dynamo has seen his value plummet £9.9m in two years…

Former Premier League star Carlton Palmer insists that Tottenham Hotspur will eventually reappoint Mauricio Pochettino as their manager amid Nuno Espirito Santo’s struggles.

The club enjoyed a strong start to the season, as they beat Manchester City, Wolves, and Watford in succession, all by a goal to nil.

However, Spurs have since lost 3-0 to both Crystal Palace and Chelsea, and were thumped 3-1 by Arsenal in a one-sided north London derby at the weekend.

Those performances have served to heighten the pressure on Santo, with an Independent article explaining that there are already doubts from players over his man-management style.

Spurs, of course, were heavily linked with a potential move to bring Pochettino back to the club from PSG in the summer, and reports suggested that the Argentine was open to a reunion with the club he helped to rebuild.

Indeed, Pochettino took the club to the Champions League final while he was in charge, as well as to two successive Premier League title challenges.

And Palmer thinks that Nuno may well be a dead man walking in the role, because he was so clearly not the first-choice during a chaotic managerial search, and believes that Pochettino will eventually be back in north London.

He said: “I don’t know if it’s doubts or a lack of faith from the get go, he just wasn’t their first choice of manager. Don’t get me wrong, I think he did a really good job at Wolves and he’s a good manager. Is he an elite level, top level manager to be at somewhere like Spurs?

“They identified numerous managers before him and didn’t give it to other managers or other managers turned the job down so he was way down the pecking order for that job. Do I see him in charge of Spurs long term? No, I don’t.

“I think they’ll want a high profile manager and it wouldn’t surprise me in any way, shape, or form in some time in the future if Pochettino returns to Spurs. That was a perfect fit for them.”