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It seems that Crystal Palace are on the lookout for a new right-back.

According to a report published by The Sun last month, the Eagles are eyeing West Bromwich Albion’s breakout youngster, Nathan Ferguson, but could face competition from AC Milan and Spurs.

The 19-year-old defender has been in excellent form for Slaven Bilic this season and has warranted the aforementioned interest with his performances, solidifying himself in West Brom’s lineup with 20 appearances, one goal and one assist prior to the weekend fixtures.

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And looking at Palace’s options in that position, Ferguson could slot right into the squad and serve as a quality understudy for Joel Ward.

Recently, with the 30-year-old’s injury leaving him sidelined, Martin Kelly has been used as the Eagles’ first-choice right-back.

But when we compare his figures to Ferguson’s, we can actually see that Palace are eyeing a potential upgrade.

Granted, so far, Ferguson has played a couple more games than his counterpart with 20 compared to 16 in total (prior to weekend action), but he’s still the more efficient of the two.

Still, the 19-year-old has averaged 2.4 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game while Kelly sits on just 1.1 tackles and 0.7 interceptions so far.

But it’s not only the defensive side of Ferguson’s game that makes him so impressive.

He is also a better passer of the ball with 76.5% accuracy as opposed to 73% and is much better at going forward with the ball at his feet, averaging 1.5 dribbles per game compared to Kelly’s 0.3.

The only area in which the Palace man boasts superior stats is in regard to key passes, with 0.4 compared to Ferguson’s 0.3 – a marginal victory at best.

Judging by the stats presented, it seems that West Brom’s young defender would make for a fine addition to Crystal Palace’s squad and could replace Kelly as Ward’s understudy in the process.

Now it’s just the matter of actually sealing the deal.

West Bromwich Albion were cost the opportunity of opening up a three-point lead at the top of the Championship table on Saturday afternoon as manager Slaven Bilic made two poor second-half substitutions against Charlton Athletic.

Snapshot

The Baggies returned to the Black Country with just a point having drawn 2-2 at The Valley, but they did come back in possession of first place once again as Leeds were defeated by Sheffield Wednesday.

Bilic’s side twice held the lead but ultimately faltered when Tom Lockyer’s header rebounded in off goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to salvage a draw.

It was the Croatian’s tactical decisions that could have cost them any chance of picking up a more favourable result.

Off the Bench

In the 70th minute, Kenneth Zohore was substituted for Grady Diangana, and just three minutes later, Hal Robson-Kanu was swapped for Charlie Austin.

Both players were looking like Albion’s most significant threats as they were playing off each other through the middle.

Per SofaScore, the pair recorded the two highest ratings of any player in the West Brom side with the £8m summer signing ranking highest with 7.5.

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Robson-Kanu recorded two successful dribbles, had a passing accuracy of 88% and scored while Zohore bagged their opener, registered two key passes and had two other attempts at goal.

Neither of the two players that came on for the final 15 to 20 minutes managed to even have an attempt at goal, which seems quite counterproductive when trying to win the match.

Within three minutes of the final change between the two mentioned above, Charlton had bagged their equaliser. It may have been a different story had certain players remained on the pitch.

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Zohore even contributed defensively by managing three clearances and one interception, via SofaScore.

Bilic could well live to regret this blunder as it keeps Leeds firmly within touching distance going into next weekend when Albion do not even play until Monday evening. Control could easily be back in their rivals’ hands.

Brentford are quickly creeping up too.

Meanwhile, West Brom can secure an alternative to Matheus Pereira this month in a £2m-rated lower league gem…

According to a recent report from Sky Sports, Southampton are in the market for a new full-back and Fulham’s Joe Bryan is one of their targets.

The Saints actually want to strengthen both of their defensive sides and for that reason, they want to dip their toes into the transfer market in January rather than waiting until the summer.

Bryan is having an excellent season in the Championship and has warranted interest from multiple clubs – Southampton could face some competition from Watford as well, as Sky Sports notes.

But who exactly is this left-back and what makes him so special?

To answer those questions, we sought the opinions of those who know him best…

David Pleat, former Tottenham Hotspur manager and pundit

Pleat was simply in awe of Bryan’s exceptional quality when he was still playing for Bristol City.

Back then, his team managed to do the impossible and knocked Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United out of the League Cup, with their left-backs immense display a key reason for the triumph.

Pleat compared Bryan to Luke Shaw and said that he had silenced his critics and showed real determination.

Here’s what he said on BBC Radio 5 Live, as quoted by Bristol Post:

“Joe Bryan showed all-round determination and ability.

“He’s really done well for himself tonight. People who have doubted him in the past will have look at him tonight and reconsider his abilities very closely.

“If you were comparing the two full-backs on the one night, you would say that Joe Bryan showed far more vitality, dynamism and ability than Luke Shaw who was brought for a lot of money.”

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John Sheridan, Bryan’s former manager at Plymouth Argyle

The now 26-year-old defender was playing for Plymouth Argyle back in 2013 as a loanee and even though he didn’t stay there for too long, he still managed to impress his temporary manager, John Sheridan.

After a comfortable 2-0 victory over then fourth-placed Cheltenham Town at Home Park, the gaffer was heaping praise on his player, highlighting some of his biggest strengths in the process.

Here’s what he said to the Plymouth Herald:

“He just does the basics. He knows what his strengths are.

“He has got a lot of energy and, I tell you what, he won’t back out of anything in the tackle. He’s good in the air as well for his size.”

Steve Cotterill, former Bristol City manager

Another former manager who was clearly impressed by Bryan is Cotterill, the former Bristol City gaffer who coached the now 26-year-old in 2015.

Back then, after the left-back had won the Football League’s Young Player of the Month award for February, his coach heaped praise on him, saying that he could be more brains than brawn.

Here’s what he said, as quoted by BBC:

“He’s one of the clever ones and wins all the quizzes.

“He brings a sensibility. He’s level-headed. He’s one of a kind.”

Verdict

It seems that Bryan is could well be a fantastic addition at Southampton and a long term replacement for Ryan Bertrand.

Those who know him rather well believe he has a lot of quality and, for that reason, the interest from the Saints doesn’t really come as a surprise.

Chris Wilder stated this week that Sheffield United were close to bringing another player through the doors before transfer deadline day next week.

The club have already brought in Jack Rodwell and Jack Robinson to bolster their defensive line but it remains to be seen who could be about to enter the building.

The high flying Blades have been a revelation since being promoted and heading into this weekend’s action, they sit in eighth place having conceded just 23 goals in the Premier League.

But one man who could help establish them further is Josh Brownhill.

The Bristol City midfielder has a release clause of £7m in his contract and it’s thought that Wilder’s men are interested in acquiring him.

It won’t be a straightforward chase, however, with Burnley and Leicester also keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old’s situation.

The Blades have turned to the Championship on a regular basis since coming up with Robinson’s signature the latest example of that. Oliver McBurnie and Luke Freeman were two further examples from last summer.

Bearing in mind their league position, it’s a strategy that’s worked well and they could be onto something with Brownhill, especially given the potential fee.

But if he did arrive, he has the potential to offer Sheffield United something completely different in the middle of the park – the ability to win aerial battles.

As can be seen from graphic above, the Robins midfielder is very strong when it comes to winning headers, an aspect that is not only lacking from John Fleck’s game on a regular basis but also Oliver Norwood’s.

Brownhill wins 1.9 aerial duels per match, which is a greater number than the aforementioned duo.

Fleck is victorious from just 0.5 per game while Norwood’s is slightly better at 1.3. In fact, United’s transfer target even betters John Lundstram who wins 0.8 on average each outing.

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In matches against Cardiff, Swansea and Hull – games Bristol City have taken points from in 2019/20 – Brownhill won as many as five aerial duels in each clash. A pillar of solidity in Lee Johnson’s midfield ranks, he has the ability to add a physical presence which isn’t always there at the Blades.

For more evidence, Fleck hasn’t won more than two aerial duels in a match all season. Norwood, on the other hand, has done so on just two occasions.

At £7m, Sheffield United could do far worse than bringing Brownhill to Bramall Lane.

In other Blades news, one man is attracting “considerable interest” ahead of a potential move away…

Newcastle United have confirmed that Ki Sung-yeung has left St James’ Park by mutual consent.

The South Korea international’s contract with the club was due to come to its culmination in the summer of 2020, but an agreement has been reached for it to be terminated early.

This news has split Magpies fans, as their opinions on the 31-year-old have become apparent on social media.

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The midfielder has represented Newcastle 23 times since joining them in 2018, providing one assist during that period.

One fan has claimed that he was a “good servant” for the club, while another felt that he should have been given more opportunities in the black and white shirt.

It was also hinted that he deserved a chance to stay and show what he can do ahead of Jack Colback, who is still at the club but made his last league appearance for Newcastle back in 2017 – when they were still in the Championship.

However, not all fans are feeling sympathy for him, as some are visibly glad to see the back of the former Swansea City and Sunderland man.

This season, he has made just one Premier League start and two substitute appearances, also coming off the bench in the FA Cup.

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His last ever league match for the side was in a 5-0 loss against Leicester City, which seems to match up with what some people think of the South Korea international.

Meanwhile, keep up to date with Deadline Day dealings by checking out the FFC live blog.

West Brom returned to the top of the Championship on Saturday afternoon as they ended a run of seven straight games without a win with a victory over basement boys Luton Town at the Hawthorns.

Slaven Bilic’s side almost looked back to their best, even in the absence of Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira, with them instead guided to all three points by a figure that has been faltering in recent weeks.

The Baggies opened the scoring in the 14th minute through an own goal by the visitors before Semi Ajayi wrapped things up with a bullet header 20 minutes from time.

On the Chalkboard

It was the performance from Matt Phillips that stood out most as he picked up a game-high rating of 7.8 by SofaScore.

According to their figures, the 28-year-old recorded two key passes, one successful dribble and had three attempts at goal. He also won four of his five ground duels and provided the crucial assist via a cross for Ajayi’s winner.

Phillips had been struggling in recent weeks, going six games with just one assist to his name and ten without a goal, per Transfermarkt, and fans had started to get on his back for such performances, as seen here.

His manager reacted on in the final week of the transfer window by bringing in a pair of attacking options – Sheffield United’s Callum Robinson on loan and Hull City’s Kamil Grosicki permanently.

It appears as if that has spurned a huge reaction from the Scot as in the very first game since they arrived, he has put in quite possibly one of his strongest performances of the season.

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With genuine competition behind him, Phillips has upped his game but it will now be a question over whether or not he can keep it up for the foreseeable future. He’ll have one eye over his shoulder now that Grosicki is available for selection against Millwall on Sunday.

And in other news, West Brom fans laud Filip Krovinovic after victory against Luton…

The Sun have reported that Juventus are plotting a £150m move for Virgil van Dijk in the summer.

What’s the story?

Liverpool are currently top of the Premier League by 22 points, making a league title inevitable, whilst they are the current European champions as well.

Call yourself a Liverpool expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?

That success, though, may go against the Reds in regards to the Netherlands international, the report says. He may be open to a summer move abroad if they lift the title this season, and the Old Lady are waiting to pounce.

Monumental

That is a truly astonishing bid for a centre-back – or indeed any player for that matter. The current record fee for a defender is the £80m Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire last year – this potential sum would almost double that.

However, even that huge offer would not come close to representing what van Dijk is worth to Jurgen Klopp and the Reds. Since joining in January of 2018, the 28-year-old has had an incomparable influence on the Anfield outfit. Since then, they have lost just four games in the Premier League, whilst they have made back-to-back Champions League finals as well.

In the 77 Premier League appearances he has made for Jurgen Klopp’s side, they have conceded just 47 goals. In comparison, they shipped 24 in 21 matches up until January in the 2017/18 season. That is a ratio of 0.61 goals per game compared to 1.14.

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Whilst he may be turning 29 this year, any talk of re-sale value should be irrelevant. Van Dijk is a player who, by the looks of it, has the ability to perform at the highest level right until the end of his career, and even if he can’t always start in a few years time, his experience and ability will be invaluable to any new centre-backs coming through.

£150m doesn’t even come close to what he is worth – quite frankly, he is priceless.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp solved a key dilemma against Southampton.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has delivered a glowing verdict on new signing Bruno Fernandes.

What did he say?

The Portugual international arrived in a £47m deal from Sporting CP in the January transfer window, and made his full debut side for the side at Old Trafford, when the Red Devils took on Wolves in the Premier League.

And Solskjaer has talked up what Fernandes can bring to the table in his time in Manchester, and insisted they could be a great fit for each other.

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He said: “Well, overall, he is a very, very good footballer and his brain is obviously quicker than many others. He has got loads of attributes that we are going to get used to. We will get used to him and he will get used to us. His passing range, his deliveries, his movements, I am just pleased to see him here enjoying himself.”

Making the difference

Solskjaer’s sentiment that Fernandes’ “brain is obviously quicker than many others” is quite the thing to say. But United fans effectively got a glimpse of that in the Portuguese midfielder’s display against Wolves last time out.

Towards the final few minutes of the game, Fernandes can be seen remonstrating with teammate Jesse Lingard, urging him to move into a more central area of the pitch, rather than moving out wide where there were already a couple of United players.

Quickfire Quiz: How much do you know about Man Utd’s history in the January transfer window?

Despite it being his debut, Fernandes showed that he was keen to embrace the responsibility of being a United midfielder, and wanting his teammates to be on the same wavelength as him. Solskjaer’s verdict only adds to the excitement of seeing him deliver over the course of his Old Trafford career.

Meanwhile, Man Utd should turn to this youngster as a potential long-term successor to Paul Pogba.

If Unai Emery had seemingly got his way last summer, then Arsenal may well already have Thomas Partey in their squad.

According to The Athletic, the Spaniard proposed several transfer targets to the Gunners hierarchy, with the likes of Partey, Harry Maguire and Wilfried Zaha on the list.

But the north London side didn’t any of them, and in Atletico Madrid’s clash against Liverpool on Tuesday night in the Champions League, Partey was exceptional.

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As per Sofascore, he won a quite remarkable ten of his 13 total duels, made five tackles, completed both of his attempted dribbles, and provided two key passes too.

After seeing his display, Arsenal fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the midfielder.

Some fans urged the club to sign Partey in the summer, with one supporter in particular saying they would “give a limb” to do so.

One fan of the north London side meanwhile suggested that Partey would be their “ideal replacement” if Granit Xhaka left.

As you can see from the reaction of these Arsenal fans, Partey really made an impression on them with his all-action display against Liverpool.

Having been a name reportedly proposed by Emery, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal and Mikel Arteta consider taking on board the recommendation made by their now former manager.

Can you name all of these obscure Arsenal signings? Give it a go now!

What is clear though, is that if the Gunners do manage to sign the £45m-rated man, then they would be getting one hell of a player judging by his Champions League performance.

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans discuss the Matteo Guendouzi saga.

Back in January, West Ham made a marquee signing in the shape of Jarrod Bowen.

The former Hereford attacker had consistently shone for Hull to make a name for himself as one of the deadliest forwards outside of the Premier League – he has been involved in more league goals than any other player in the Championship since the start of the 2017/18 campaign.

However, if he is to continue this form at the London Stadium, David Moyes has a huge hurdle to overcome.

What is it?

Seeing as Bowen has made 21 appearances on the right flank this season, whoever is playing at right-back behind him will obviously be of some significance.

In the Hammers’ current situation, both of their options in that department are weak.

With Ryan Fredericks out injured, Moyes has the ageing Pablo Zabaleta and also the contrastingly inexperienced Jeremy Ngakia to choose from, both of whom come with their deficiencies.

In Zabaleta’s case, the former Manchester City man is lacking pace – to say the least – which can make him vulnerable against rapid wingers.

On the other hand, while Ngakia is younger, fresher and quicker than the Argentine, he lacks experience at the top level which means he will surely need help from whoever is on the right flank in front of him – the 19-year-old has made only two senior appearances.

Bowen needs to focus on scoring

It seems ridiculous to splash over £20m on a prolific forward, only to make him have to focus on defending.

In West Ham’s current scenario – they are 18th in the Premier League – they need someone to score them goals to win precious points. Seeing as Sebastien Haller is the club’s top scorer with a mere six goals, someone really does need to step up and take the goalscoring responsibility into their own hands, with Bowen the obvious candidate.

Moyes must overcome the hurdle that is finding a dependable right-back option who can hold that position down almost single-handedly, so Bowen can solely focus on what he was signed to do – score goals.

What could’ve been… Can you name the clubs these football legends almost joined?

In other news, a journalist has revealed who he thinks cost West Ham at Anfield…