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Tottenham Hotspur winger Son Heung-min has been hailed by his teammate Harry Kane after he scored his 100th Premier League goal on the weekend.

How did Son reach his 100th Premier League goal?

It was an afternoon filled with controversy in north London on Saturday as Brighton & Hove Albion tasted defeat at the hands of Spurs.

But many will argue the Seagulls' defeat also came at the hands of the officials with a number of VAR decisions going against Roberto De Zerbi's side.

Indeed, the PGMOL issued an apology to the Italian and his side the following morning after admitting Brighton should have been awarded a penalty in the second half.

And the controversy has perhaps overshadowed Son's achievement of becoming the first-ever Asian player to have netted 100 league goals in the Premier League.

The 30-year-old hit the achievement in style with a stunning curling effort from outside the box which left Sam Steele with no chance in the Brighton goal.

On the back of becoming both Tottenham and England's all-time record goalscorer, Kane spoke highly of his South Korean colleague on hitting the landmark:

“He's an unbelievable player, and what a goal to do it,” Kane told the club website.

“I’m extremely proud of him, we’ve known each other for a long time now and I’ve been there to see all of his goals."

“He just brings a good energy around the training ground, even when things aren’t going so well, you can count on him to get everyone going. On the pitch, the way he presses, the way he runs with the ball, he’s such an exciting player."

Is Son still good enough for Spurs?

It has been a hugely underwhelming campaign for last season's Golden Boot winner, Son, who has only been able to return seven goals in the league thus far (via Transfermarkt).

Kane endured his own struggles in front of goal for a large part of the 2021/22 campaign and Spurs were helped by the South Korean taking on a lot of the responsibility and ending the campaign with 23 in the league.

However, this season has seen Kane carry Spurs for large parts of the season with the likes of Son and Dejan Kulusevski not exactly pulling their weight in front of goal.

But the goal on the weekend from the South Korean was vintage Son and could provide fans with some optimism that he can get back to his usual self over the coming weeks.

It is not just the South Korean's goals which are down on last season, he has also provided fewer take-ons and progressive carries per 90 minutes (via FBref).

Perhaps there is something to be considered in the fact Kulusevski has also struggled this season and a new permanent manager could resolve the issues over the summer.

He certainly has the backing of the club's highest-ever goalscorer and there are some huge games ahead of Spurs where he could potentially turn his season around.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is unlikely to make a decision on his future in north London before the end of the current campaign.

How long does Harry Kane have left on his contract?

The 29-year-old is now nearing the final year of his contract in north London which could leave Spurs vulnerable this summer if there are teams interested in the striker.

There is a belief Manchester United are eyeing the England captain as their number one target for the summer with Erik ten Hag leading that pursuit.

Reports earlier in the year had suggested the striker was open to the idea of putting pen to paper on a new deal to extend his stay at his boyhood club.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Alasdair Gold has now claimed no decision is likely to be made before the summer on Kane's end of the deal:

(45:10) "Everything I kind of was hearing from people around him a couple of weeks back was more kind of just focus on the now, let's get this done. And then we'll kind of have a look and obviously see what Spurs offer and all that sort of stuff as well."

Could Harry Kane leave Spurs this summer?

Tottenham's recent disappointment in the FA Cup and Champions League did feel like a potential setback in their bid to keep their starman at the club for next season.

Spurs' trophy drought has meant the England captain is still yet to get his hands on a piece of silverware with the north London side.

But there may be serious question marks as to who would be in the market for Kane in the summer given his age and his expected price tag.

Manchester United have been mentioned as a seriously interested party with Bayern Munich also believed to be in the market for the 29-year-old.

However, whether Kane would be willing to move to another country is a massive question and whether he would be keen to uproot and move up north two years on from his proposed move to Manchester City is also up for debate.

And it seems as if Spurs fans could be in for a summer of speculation if Kane does not surprise them by signing a new deal before the end of the summer.

From the player's side of things, waiting until the summer is probably his best option with Spurs by no means a guarantee to qualify for the Champions League next season.

It has to be said this could also be the case of United who only sit two points ahead of Tottenham in the table – albeit with a game in hand – but the clubs are set to play each other next month.

A lot could still unfold in the remaining games of this Premier League campaign and it will be interesting to see how it could affect Kane's future in north London.

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is ‘expected to leave’ the club in the summer transfer window, according to The Athletic journalist Andy Jones.

The Lowdown: Keita awful at Palace

The 28-year-old was handed a start away to Crystal Palace last weekend, as he looked to show Jurgen Klopp that he is worth persevering with beyond this summer.

Instead, Keita produced an awful first-half showing, losing the ball seven times, losing ten out of 12 total duels, picking up a yellow card and committing four fouls (Sofascore).

It led to Klopp substituting the Guinean at half-time, presumably because a sending-off seemed so likely, in what was the latest disappointing showing from him.

The Latest: Summer exit expected

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic‘s Jones focused on Keita’s woeful display at Selhurst Park, adding that he is likely to move on at the end of the season:

“Not for the first time, a night & performance to forget for Naby Keita. Klopp had no option but to take the midfielder off at HT.

“Unlikely to be his last #LFC performance, but expected to leave in the summer, it’s tough to see how he starts many more.”

The Verdict: More disappointment

There is no denying that Keita has ultimately underwhelmed in a Liverpool shirt, having arrived with such great expectations back in the summer of 2018.

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A constant stream of injuries have clearly played a big role in the midfielder’s struggles, affording him only 129 appearances in nearly five seasons, but his overall performances have also lacked consistency and influence.

That’s not to say that Keita hasn’t contributed to Liverpool’s great success in recent years, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup, among other trophies, but he should indeed go when his contract expires this summer.

Virgil van Dijk once hailed his teammate as a ‘world-class’ player but he hasn’t performed like that for some time now and he has been a rare flop in the Klopp era.

Everton play host to Leeds United at Goodison Park in their must-win Premier League clash this afternoon, and Sean Dyche will be hoping that his team can show some resilience to get back on track in their fight against relegation after another disappointing defeat at Anfield earlier this week.

The Toffees are currently 18th in the table, just one point and one place behind today’s opponents, so taking all three points in front of their home support could be absolutely crucial to their chances of top-flight survival at the end of the season.

In terms of injuries, the newly-appointed manager will go into his third fixture without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who continues his struggle with a hamstring injury, whilst Nathan Patterson and James Garner are set for late fitness tests.

Dyche confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Thursday that the two returnees would feature for the U21s this week, and while they potentially could be available, they are unlikely to feature.

The Everton boss stated: “A couple of the lads will play tomorrow, which I am going to watch. Jimmy will play tomorrow, and Pato (Nathan Patterson) will play as well. So I will get over and watch them for the first time.”

“They are not there yet, but they have been on the grass with us. Next is to put it into game practice.”

As a result, this is how Football FanCast expects Everton to line up against Leeds this afternoon…

Jordan Pickford (GK); Seamus Coleman (RB), James Tarkowski (CB), Conor Coady (CB), Ben Godfrey (LB); Alex Iwobi (RM), Idrissa Gueye (CM), Amadou Onana (CM), Dwight McNeil (LM); Neal Maupay (ST), Ellis Simms (ST)

We expect Dyche to make two changes to the team which lost in the Merseyside derby last Monday, opting for a 4-4-2 formation to deal with Leeds’ attacking threat.

The first change we predict is in the back line, with Ben Godfrey replacing Vitaliy Mykolenko on the left flank alongside an otherwise unchanged defensive setup with James Tarkowski, Conor Coady and Seamus Coleman.

As was discussed on Football FanCast recently, dropping the £58k-per-week Ukrainian could be a wise tweak for Dyche, as the 23-year-old has struggled to be an effective presence over the last two games. He was dribbled past four times against Arsenal and another three times against Liverpool, proving all too easy for opponents to beat.

The second and final change we expect to see is the bold decision from the Everton boss to play two strikers, as he often did at Burnley, with Neal Maupay – hailed as “unique” by his former Brighton boss Graham Potter – joining academy graduate Ellis Simms up front to give the Merseysiders their best chance at converting chances in front of goal. That duly sees Abdoulaye Doucoure sacrificed from the midfield.

Today’s clash against managerless Leeds represents a huge opportunity for Everton to climb out of the relegation zone and try to put some distance between themselves and danger territory, and it is set to be Dyche’s most crucial challenge yet in his short time at Goodison Park.

Aston Villa are approaching kitchen sink time when considering the best-placed move to make on the transfer front, with the winter market’s deadline day but a day away.

Unai Emery has thus far been a revelation since his arrival in October, winning five of his first seven Premier League outings, but there is still plenty of work to be done to ensure that Villa’s recent good fortunes are sustained with regularity.

And with Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran already secured on the transfer front, the Claret & Blue are swiftly moulding into a team of the Spaniard’s creation, with the likes of talisman Danny Ings also sold on this month to Premier League rivals West Ham United for a reported £15m.

While Duran is an exciting young forward option, the 19-year-old can hardly be expected to lead the line with devastating consistency just yet, having been signed from MLS outfit Chicago Fire, and his skill set would be more prudently utilised with soft, careful integration.

As such, forging ahead with a deal for the likes of Watford’s Ismaila Sarr, who has recently been linked with a move to the Midlands outfit, would be an excellent option for a side looking to add a number of dimensions to their attack.

Writing in his latest column for GIVEMESPORT, Dean Jones remarked: “Watford’s Ismaila Sarr is the latest wide forward to be linked while Luiz Henrique is a raw talent that has been scouted.”

Sarr was subject to a £25m move to Villa in 2021, with former boss Steven Gerrard pulling out of negotiations at the 11th hour following concerns relating to Sarr’s medical results, but with emphatic showings for the Hornets and the Senegalese national team ensuring, it is evident that he boasts every bit the acumen and prowess to dazzle under the ambitious Emery’s tutelage at Villa Park.

Since arriving in Watford, the 52-cap star has scored 31 goals and provided 22 assists from 115 appearances, a centrepiece to the club’s endeavour in pursuing an instant return to the top-flight following relegation to the EFL Championship last season.

And with seven goals and four assists this league term, the 24-year-old Sarr would bring that dynamic cutting edge that could prove the difference in Villa’s pursuit of prominence.

If Villa technical director Johan Lange can prove to be successful in the plot to land the Championship sensation, he could link up wonderfully with another prospective acquisition in Olympique Lyonnais’ Moussa Dembele.

He is another touted for a move to the club by Jones who suggested over the week that he has been “sought out” by the Villans ahead of the expiry of his contract at the end of the campaign.

The £52k-per-week Dembele has been his Ligue 1 outfit’s focal point in attack since arriving from Scottish giants Celtic in 2018 for £19.7m, scoring 69 goals from 160 appearances, but he has fallen out of favour this season and plundered just the two goals from 16 outings.

Despite this, he retains a clinical prowess that would allow him to flourish within any environment, and with the attacker still ranking among the top 6% of positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for rate of non-penalty goals, he is clearly a resounding marksman, retaining a consistency in front of the net despite the peripheral role he has played this term.

And Sarr, who former Watford shot-stopper Ben Foster once hailed a “freak of a talent”, could provide the blistering pace and enigmatic aura from the flank, cutting inside at will and offering auxiliary support when deemed appropriate.

With the link-up between the respective aces, Emery could finally piece the puzzle together and unleash a refined and formidable frontal edge to his oiled system, reaping the rewards of their labour and adding a dynamic sheen that could indeed pave a course for fortunes scarcely seen at Villa Park for some time.

Manchester United take on Premier League table toppers Arsenal at the Emirates this afternoon in what promises to be a cracker of a tie.

The Old Trafford side have enjoyed a resurgence of late, winning seven of their previous eight matches, with the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace in midweek their only blemish and Arsenal will be in for a tough match.

Despite the extraordinary victory against Manchester City last weekend, the last-minute Palace equaliser brought Erik ten Hag’s men back down to the ground and he will likely make a few changes.

Wout Weghorst was uninspiring on his debut, taking just one shot during his time on the pitch, while Marcus Rashford had his quietest game in a while, failing to score and Ten Hag should switch it up slightly against Arsenal by unleashing Alejandro Garnacho.

On the chalkboard

The 18-year-old has broken through into the United first-team squad this season, making eight league appearances and generally impressing, scoring once and registering two assists while also creating two big chances and it appears he isn’t fazed by the big occasion.

His arrival with just 18 minutes left of the Manchester derby last weekend was the catalyst for the Red Devils to secure what looked like an unlikely victory midway through the second half.

The Argentinian provided the assist for Rashford’s winner and added a bit more fluidity to United’s attack after he replaced Christian Eriksen.

Mark Goldbridge dubbed Garnacho as “fantastic” while Liam Canning had this to say about the young winger following the match: “Garnacho was so direct and aggressive when he came on. Exactly what the team needed. Changed the game. What a talent.”

A slightly different approach will be needed against Arsenal, but Ten Hag should drop Weghorst to the bench, move Rashford to a more central role, and unleash Garnacho on the left wing in order to replicate the last 20 minutes of the City match.

If United play to their best, three points are certainly achievable, however, the manager will know not to get too carried away with results like last weekend, especially when a poor draw follows a few days later.

Whatever happens, it’s set to be a mouth-watering tie and could be a crucial one in deciding which way the Premier League title is heading.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano says that Everton are going to have ‘more conversations’ over the potential signing of Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata.

The Lowdown: Talks underway

It was reported earlier this week that ‘negotiations’ are believed to be ‘underway’ with regards to Zapata potentially moving to Goodison Park.

It was also claimed that Frank Lampard would personally ‘ask’ for his signing, and that Zapata may even have already played his last game for Atalanta.

The Latest: More talks to be held

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano says that the Merseyside club are set to hold ‘more conversations’ over Zapata’s potential signing, as they are ‘offering’ a loan deal with an option to buy, whereas Atalanta want to sell him permanently:

“Zapata is not easy too because they’re offering a loan with an option to buy, and Atalanta want a permanent move for Zapata.

“So, there will be more conversations between Everton and Atalanta about this Colombian striker.”

The Verdict: Get it done

The Toffees are currently the joint-second lowest scorers in the Premier League on just 15 goals, and are in desperate need of some more ammunition up top.

Zapata is a player who has been prolific in a major league in the Serie A, reaching double figures for goals in each of his last six seasons.

He has only managed to score once so far this term, but did miss six matches with a hamstring injury, and has not always been a regular starter (Transfermarkt).

Hailed as a ‘beast’ who is ‘so big his shorts look like underwear’ by his former Atalanta team-mate Papu Gomez, the six-foot-two colossus would also offer the Blues a physical presence similar to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as he ranks in the 86th percentile for aerials won per game of all forwards in Europe’s top leagues over the past year (DCL ranks 96th).

Nonetheless, Everton are desperate for more firepower, and so need to take a chance on Zapata.

Tottenham Hotspur still really like Everton winger Anthony Gordon, according to Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports News.

The Lowdown: Tottenham’s Gordon interest

It was reported back in November that Tottenham were weighing up a move for Gordon in the January transfer window, making early enquires about a transfer, after missing out on the player in the summer.

The report states that Everton wanted a fee of around £60m for the 21-year-old, with Spurs at the front of the queue, given that Chelsea are not thought to be keen to revive their interest after they had a £40m bid rejected.

The Latest: Thomas’ update

Speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast, Thomas claimed that the Englishman is a player that Spurs still really like, going as far to say that Fabio Paratici loves him, and he is one of his favourite Premier League players that he doesn’t have. (via Last Word on Spurs)

However, the problem for Tottenham is that the youngster’s valuation hasn’t dropped, so it is seemingly doubtful that they will go back in for him until Everton are willing to lower their asking price.

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The Verdict: Worth it?

Lauded as an ‘absolute beast’ by journalist Jeff Wallner, it is hard to judge the starlet too harshly, given that he is currently playing in a team that is struggling, with the Toffees sitting 16th in the Premier League table, having picked up just one point in their last five games.

However, the winger has not really managed to display the form of a player worth £60m, scoring a lower average match rating than the likes of Dwight McNeil and Demarai Gray so far this term, ranked only 14th in the Everton squad.

Gordon has scored three goals and registered zero assists in 16 games in all competitions this season, and while there is a very good chance that he could improve this record in a better team, his current valuation is still way over the odds, as he would not immediately improve Antonio Conte’s squad significantly.

Leeds United could reignite their interest in a target that seems set to leave this January…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to German publication Sport Bild, who notes that Josip Brekalo could be set to leave VfL Wolfsburg due to a lack of game time.

Although not explicitly mentioned in the report, the Whites’ interest in the summer of 2021 was well-documented. Battling with Everton, ex-manager Marcelo Bielsa was clearly keen on signing the Croatian to no avail.

Now, director of football Victor Orta could reignite his interest to benefit the new manager.

Could be Leeds’ own Perisic

By signing this tricky winger, it could draw comparisons with Tottenham Hotspur’s summer move for Ivan Perisic.

The 33-year-old joined as a serial winner, boasting a wealth of ability even if he was a declining commodity due to his age. He still ranks in the top 2% for assists and the top 4% for shot-creating actions despite this.

Enjoying finding himself in attacking positions and boasting the quality to find the man, he has been a relative success thus far for Antonio Conte as he boasts a 6.91 average rating in the Premier League.

Whilst nine years his younger, there is a similarity between the robust nature of Brekalo and his legendary compatriot.

During his best season since moving to Germany, in the 2019/20 campaign, he recorded 14 goal contributions in what was his true breakout year.

The season following would then see him record a 6.97 average rating, as he would record 1.3 key passes per game alongside a 64% dribble success rate, via Sofascore.

His admirable defensive work rate to match is what further could draw comparisons with Perisic, as his 0.8 tackles per game suggest his willingness to work back despite his obvious talents.

Dubbed a “frightening” prospect for defenders by journalist Josh Bunting earlier in the year, this would be supplemented by Ronan Murphy’s claim that he is “able to unlock defences” and “torment defenders everywhere”. As a youngster, this could have been describing the former Inter Milan man.

The £31k-per-week dynamo has struggled for form and minutes of late, so a move to England could come at the perfect time for the 24-year-old who still has an illustrious career ahead of him should he just reach out and grab it. 

West Bromwich Albion could be set to land Carlos Corberan his dream first signing…

What’s the latest?

As per journalist Alan Nixon, speaking on his Patreon, the Baggies are keen on reuniting their Spanish boss with Jon Russell.

The Huddersfield Town midfielder has a contract that expires in the coming summer, lending to Lai Guochuan’s interest in landing a “bargain deal”.

Nixon continues in his report that there is hope that a “sensible fee will land the Jamaican next month”.

Dream deal

With Corberan having masterminded a turnaround in form before the World Cup-enforced break, it seems he is set to be rewarded with some purchases of his own this January.

Steve Bruce was somewhat hamstrung by the financial issues that plagued the Midlands outfit, affording him just £1.1m for summer deals.

Although he did secure some admirable transfers, the performances of his team were deemed unforgivable.

In Russell however, they could finally gain the perfect player to knit the squad together, adding a hulking presence to the engine room.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the 22-year-old joined the Terriers on a free contract in the summer of 2021 after a 13-year stint at Chelsea where he would play just 51 times across various youth teams.

What seemed to be a career somewhat stagnating, he was held in high regard by his former assistant coach Danny Schofield, who dubbed him a “special talent” who boasts a “real ability with the ball”, whilst also being “very composed in central areas”.

Adding stability that nearly led his side to promotion last season could be exactly what Corberan needs to mastermind a similar push with his new club, who will demand a return to the Premier League as soon as possible.

During that campaign, Russell averaged a 7.03 rating in what was only his second full season in senior football.

Boasting an 87% pass accuracy, he would prove an all-around star in the midfield as he would pair 1.0 shots per game with 1.3 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.0 clearances, via Sofascore.

Although he and his 39-year-old boss fell short in the Championship playoffs, they could exorcise these demons should they reunite at the Hawthorns in a dream deal.