Wolverhampton Wanderers are in a dire state of affairs and could now be set to replace Rob Edwards with a manager who has found a winning formula this campaign.

Wolves look to reverse dismal Premier League form

There is no secret about Wolves’ dire state of affairs on and off the pitch, though there were some small slivers of encouragement within the Old Gold’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield last time out.

Ultimately, yet another defeat in a campaign that has offered up two draws in the Premier League isn’t a cause for celebration. Either way, there seemed to be at least a bit more togetherness on the field than in some recent results and performances.

Eventually, some points will fall Wolves’ way if they continue to run teams close, as they did against Liverpool. It won’t be likely near enough to keep them up, but at least there is hope of some pride being restored in the West Midlands.

Barring a miracle, Edwards will be preparing his side for the Sky Bet Championship next season. Wherever they end up, the Old Gold have started planning for the future and want to bring Nashville striker Sam Surridge to Molineux in January.

Union Berlin’s Diogo Leite is also on Wolves’ radar, signifying that they are being proactive in search of new reinforcements to offer fresh ideas and energy to a side that has fallen on hard times.

Edwards has a tough remit, and nobody is saying otherwise, albeit he may not be entirely safe himself and could now be set to be replaced by a manager who has achieved great heights this season.

Derek McInnes in frame to take over at Wolves

According to TEAMtalk, Heart of Midlothian manager Derek McInnes has been earmarked to succeed Edwards at Wolves after leading his side to the top of the Scottish Premiership table this term.

Brian Barry-Murphy of Cardiff City and former Old Gold boss Gary O’Neil are also candidates if Wolves part company with their current boss.

Related Wolves now enter race to sign "superb" defender who could join on free transfer

The Old Gold need some inspiration from somewhere if they are to avoid the drop…

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Unrest among supporters towards the Molineux hierarchy is unlikely to be quelled if another manager is shown the door, leaving Nathan Shi in a tough situation as the club weighs up whether to sack Edwards, who has a 0% win percentage.

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In the case of McInnes, he has led Hearts to an average of 2.16 points per match this campaign and has earned plaudits for his recruitment and style of play, keeping things simplistic with a robust 4-4-2.

With his Jambos side earning plaudits for their attempts to split Glasgow’s big two, he may find it difficult to relinquish a shot at lifting the Scottish Premiership title.

Nevertheless, Wolves are a big draw and could offer the biggest project of his managerial career to date after spells at St Johnstone, Bristol City, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Tynecastle.

Following Jarrod Bowen’s £20m move to West Ham United back in January of 2020, the right-winger got off to an extremely impressive start to life at the London Stadium – scoring one goal, registering four assists and creating four big chances over his 13 Premier League appearances during his debut campaign for the Hammers, with these returns seeing the forward earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.92.

However, while Bowen’s upward trend of both goals and assists continued over his 38 league outings last term – with the 25-year-old bagging eight goals, providing four assists and creating 11 big chances in the top flight – the former Hull City winger was also the recipient of an accolade he would have been rather less proud of – his 24 withdrawals saw him ranked as the joint-most substituted player in the division.

Despite this statistic, the Englishman now appears to have proven that is a player worth keeping on the pitch for as long as possible, as, over his 26 Premier League appearances in the current campaign – in which he has scored eight goals, registered eight assists and created eight big chances – the £58m-rated forward has only been brought off ten times, playing the full 90 in each of the club’s last 13 fixtures.

Indeed, so impressive has the £96k-per-week winger’s form been this season that Liverpool are reported to be extremely interested in a £60m move for Bowen this summer, while the 25-year-old – who Daniel Gabbidon dubbed a “genius” – would also appear to be very much in contention for Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup this winter.

As such, considering Bowen’s transformation from something of a bit-part player under David Moyes to becoming one of the most exciting forwards in the country, it would appear that the same could happen to another of West Ham’s wide attacking talents – that of Said Benrahma.

Moyes can repeat Bowen trick with Benrahma

After being brought off in the 73rd minute of West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United last weekend, the Algeria international was very visibly frustrated with his manager’s decision, with the pair having a frank exchange of words as the 26-year-old made his way back to the bench.

And, when taking into account the fact that Benrahma currently finds himself in an extremely similar situation to that of Bowen last season – having been withdrawn in 17 of his 20 Premier League starts this term, the most of any player in the division – the winger’s frustrations are perhaps understandable.

Indeed, over his 23 league outings in the current campaign, the £42m-rated forward has actually been one of the Hammers’ most impressive options in attack, having scored five goals and provided his teammates with four assists – ranking him as the club’s third-most efficient attacking outlet, behind only Bowen and Michail Antonio.

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However, while the £58k-per-week forward – who Joe Cole dubbed “unplayable” – may well be frustrated with his game time so far this season, Moyes has already proven with Bowen that, with a bit of patience, Benrahma could well go on to become a star player for the Irons in the not too distant future.

In other news: DM could land WHU’s next £58m-rated sensation in “special” 21 y/o with “all the tools”

Despite Tottenham’s demolition of Everton, Antonio Conte has admitted some issues in translating his style to the players at Hotspur Way without a full pre-season.

The Lowdown: Conte’s start to life at Spurs

The Italian has experienced mixed results since arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In Conte’s first six league games in charge, Spurs won four times and drew the other two – embarking on a strong start to life in north London.

More recently, the Lilywhites have suffered some major inconsistencies in form. Spurs have lashed out in bizarre fashion following a defeat at Burnley.

However, Tottenham have now scored nine goals in their last two games, potentially illustrating the initial stages of the Italian’s transformation of the team.

The Latest: Conte’s claim

In his press conference following his side’s 5-0 thrashing of Everton, Conte made a claim about his management style at Tottenham, admitting it is difficult to implement without a pre-season period as games come thick and fast.

As quoted by football.london, he said:

“The problem when we have to prepare to play in two or three days is not simple. Don’t forget that with this team I didn’t start the season. I haven’t had the possibility to have one month to work with the team in pre-season and try to work and instil my idea of football. We did this playing games, important games for three points.

 “I think that I am seeing my work. I am seeing what we are working on every day, what we are trying in this situation where I’m trying to improve them.” 

The Verdict: Slow burner?

Whilst the Italian is renowned for instant results which are often shortly lived, demonstrated by his stints with Inter Milan and Chelsea, Conte may be more of a slow burner at Tottenham.

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For example, Spurs have averaged 1.75 points per match with the 52-year-old in charge. Whereas, during his previous two-year tenures with Inter and Chelsea, they averaged 2.11 and 2.12 points per game respectively.

Indeed, Daniel Levy will need to give the gaffer time and resources to make fundamental changes at the club, allowing them to eventually get to the level of those former Conte squads.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Conte shares Sessegnon injury ‘problem’

The January transfer window was a very busy one for Everton, as not only was Frank Lampard appointed manager, but five players walked through the door as the club looked to ensure their Premier League membership would be reinstated for next season.

However, after more difficult defeats and poor performances, the Toffees are currently hovering dangerously above the relegation zone in 17th, and to make matters worse, one of their key transfer targets Matheus Nunes, is now being linked with some of the top clubs in Europe.

What’s the news?

Earlier in the month, Pep Guardiola described Nunes after Manchester City’s Champions League clash with his club Sporting Lisbon, as: “one of the best in the world right now.”

Correio da Manhã (via Sport Witness) are just one publication that have suggested the Portuguese midfielder could be heading to the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season – much to the frustration of Everton fans who believed that the player was close to signing for their club earlier in the year, as well as last summer.

But now, even the likes of Spurs are ahead of the Merseyside club in the race for the 23-year-old’s signature, and should Everton still be as interested as they were in recent months to acquire him, they will face stiff competition not just to out-bid teams, but to convince the player to sign on at Goodison Park.

Everton waited too late

Unfortunately for the supporters, it seems that the club waited just too long to make a move, and didn’t cough up enough money in the last two transfer windows to entice Sporting into selling.

Now, the transfer looks more improbable than ever, with Nunes having a price tag of at least €40m (£33m), but should performances continue to get better and better, you can expect that valuation to go up.

The midfielder is a technically gifted player with skill and flair, completing 73% of his dribbles as well as winning on average 6.8 duels per game and making 0.7 key passes per game. That means he’d add plenty to a stuttering Everton attack.

Having made just two assists and scored two goals in the Liga NOS this season, there is definitely room for improvement in terms of his offensive output, but that will come with time wherever he will play his football next season.

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Sadly, it looks as though it won’t be at Goodison Park, an eventuality Farhad Moshiri and co may end up living to regret.

In other news: Brands clanger: Released Everton prospect in a “rich vein of form” is now PL quality

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Everton are amongst a number of clubs keen on signing Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz. 

The lowdown: Rise to prominence

The 22-year-old has emerged as a star performer in the Championship this season and has been attracting plenty of attention as a result.

Called up to represent Chile after the discovery of his eligibility due to having a mother from the South American nation, Brereton Diaz has already earned 11 caps as a senior international.

Now it would appear the next step in a promising career is on the horizon as a host of Premier League clubs take an interest.

The latest: Everton keen

According to the report, the Toffees, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Leeds United are all in the mix, but it’s Brighton who lead the chase at present.

The Seagulls are believed to be willing to offer players as part of the deal in order to sign the Stoke-born ace.

Currently set to become a free agent at the end of the season, it’s also claimed that play-off chasers Blackburn ‘will be taking’ the option to extend Brereton Diaz’s deal by a further year this summer.

The verdict: A no brainer

Valued at £9million (Transfermarkt) and perhaps soon to be with one year remaining on a contract at Ewood Park, signing the Chile international would be an affordable venture for most top-flight clubs in normal circumstances.

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Showing a marked improvement year on year, Brereton Diaz was described as a player who has ‘come on leaps and bounds’ by Colin Hendry and has taken his output up a level this season, currently sitting on 20 goals in just 30 league outings.

Praised for an ‘extraordinary’ work rate by manager Tony Mowbray and capable of playing across the frontline, the former Nottingham Forest youngster would seemingly have no problems pairing up with or even succeeding Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Goodison Park.

Aston Villa may have done all they can to try and persuade Carney Chukwuemeka to stay at the club, Gabriel Agbonlahor has said. 

The lowdown

The 18-year-old midfielder is under contract at Villa Park until the end of next season, and Villa are trying to tie him down to new terms.

However, The Athletic’s Gregg Evans reported earlier this month that the teenager would wait until the end of the current campaign before making a decision on his future. The journalist also revealed that other clubs were interested in the youngster and had indicated that they could give him more playing time.

The latest

Agbonlahor is concerned that Villa’s ‘best’ efforts may not be enough to persuade Chukwuemeka to commit his future to the club.

The talkSPORT pundit and former Villa striker told Football Insider: “Aston Villa are probably in a position where they have offered the best contract they feel they can offer.

“Sometimes it comes down to the player, if the player and his agent don’t want to sign that contract there is not much more than the club can do.

“I’m sure Villa will have done their best. They want to keep him hungry as well. They don’t want to give him too much too soon.”

The verdict

Come the summer, Chukwuemeka will apparently reflect on the number of minutes he was given in 2021/22 as he mulls over the contract offer from his club.

So far, that number stands at just 188 in the Premier League, comprising one start and eight substitute appearances. Has he shown enough to deserve more playing time?

When Gerrard gave him half an hour to impress in the 3-3 draw against Leeds last month, the 18-year-old did win five of his eight duels, but he also made an error directly leading to an opportunity for the visitors (via SofaScore).

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Still, it’s worth stressing that he is the third-youngest player to feature in this season’s Premier League, and it would be a bitter blow for Villa to lose someone who could go on to be ‘an absolute star’, in the words of Sky Sports’ Paul Merson, who also marvelled at the way in which the ‘outstanding’ Chukwuemeka ‘glides across the pitch’.

The 18-year-old’s talent is there for all to see, but the burning question is whether or not he sees his future at Villa Park.

In other news, Ashley Preece reacts as further contract news emerges at Villa Park

Sunderland are currently battling for a place in the play-offs in their attempt to get out of League One and back up to the Championship.

Alex Neil’s side are sixth in the table as it stands and have seven games left to make sure that they are in with a shot of returning to the second tier.

It is a grim reality for Black Cats fans as their team scrap for a play-off place in the third tier after many years of competing in the Premier League in recent history.

Some supporters may look back on decisions that the club made over the years and pick out moments which led to where they are now, and one of those could be the departure of John Egan.

The current Sheffield United defender came up through the youth ranks at the Stadium of Light and went out on loan to a number of Football League clubs before being released in 2014, duly signing for Gillingham on a free transfer.

This decision ended up being a huge howler by the Wearside, club as he has since gone on to forge an impressive career, joining the Blades in 2018 after spending two years with Brentford after leaving Gillingham.

He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.98 or higher in all four of his Championship campaigns for the Bees and United combined to date. The Republic of Ireland international is an outstanding player in the second tier and his market value represents that, as shown in the graphic below.

Transfermarkt currently value him at £6.3m and he has proven that he can play in the top two divisions in England, whilst Sunderland remain in the third tier for now.

In his debut season in the Premier League for the Blades in 2019/20, he averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 6.96 across 36 matches. He made 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game and won 61% of his overall duels in the top flight as he flexed his defensive strength.

Although his side ended up being relegated in the following campaign, he still averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.75 as he played 31 times. This shows that he is capable of producing quality at the top level and being a reliable defender.

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Earlier this season, Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny claimed that Egan could “play in the Champions League” after helping his team to keep a clean sheet against Portugal. His strong statistics in his first top-flight campaign suggest that he has the potential to do so, with his international boss – who sees him in the flesh in matches and in training – believing that the 29-year-old is Champions League quality.

Therefore, the Black Cats had a howler with Egan, as they were unable to tap into his potential and gained nothing from his success as they lost him on a free transfer, and they have had to watch on as he caught the eye in the Premier League and at international level.

AND in other news, Huge boost as Neil handed big Sunderland injury lift which will leave supporters delighted…

Journalist Pete O’Rourke is excited by the ‘welcome’ boost Callum Wilson will bring for Eddie Howe when he returns from injury. 

The lowdown

Wilson hasn’t featured for The Magpies since the 1-1 draw with Manchester United on 27 December.

The striker has missed their last ten Premier League matches since with a calf injury, but is now edging closer to a return.

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards reported last week that the Englishman has an ‘outside chance’ of returning against Wolves on Friday 8 April if he comes through training unscathed.

The latest

O’Rourke is excited to hear of Wilson’s impending return, picking out the home match against Leicester on the 17th.

“Get him back in by mid April,” he told The Transfer Tavern. “I think he’s going to be another welcome addition to Eddie Howe’s plans for the rest of the season.”

The verdict

Even though he’s only played 15 games this season, Wilson is still Newcastle’s top scorer with six goals, and the team deserve credit for lifting themselves out of relegation trouble even without the 30-year-old’s firepower.

Indeed, when Wilson picked up his injury, Howe’s side were 19th on 11 points, but they’ve picked up 20 points since to climb to 14th, nine points clear of the drop zone.

That said, January signing Chris Wood has struggled to make his mark as the team’s no. 9, playing all 900 minutes in Wilson’s absence, managing only one goal.

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He could find himself relegated to the substitutes’ bench in a couple of weeks’ time, then, unless Howe hatches a plan to play two up front.

In other news, read this worrying ‘isolation’ update on a Newcastle star.

Tottenham are interested in a deal to bring Lautaro Martinez to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), who claimed that, after failing with a move for the Inter Milan centre-forward last summer, Fabio Paratici could once again launch an offensive for the 24-year-old at the end of the current campaign.

The report added that the Argentina international could view Spurs as the ideal destination if he were to secure a move away from the San Siro this summer, having enjoyed an extremely successful spell under Antonio Conte during his own time in Milan.

Finally, it is claimed that Inter may be willing to discuss a deal for the striker due to their ongoing financial difficulties, with the Serie A club’s hierarchy reportedly willing to listen to offers starting at €70m (£59m).

He’s “perfect” for Conte

Considering the quite extraordinary metrics that Martinez returned when previously working with Conte, it is not difficult to see why both Paratici and the 52-year-old coach would be interested in a move for the Inter star this summer.

Indeed, over his 38 Serie A appearances in the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto-winning 2020/21 season, the £63m-rated forward was in breathtaking form, bagging 17 goals, registering 10 assists and creating nine big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 2.9 shots and making one key pass per game.

These returns saw the €125k-per-week (£105k-per-week) sensation, who Roberto Rojas dubbed an “absolute goal machine”, average an incredibly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.17, ranking him as Conte’s third-best player last term.

In total, the Argentine scored 40 goals and provided 19 assists in his 97 appearances under the 52-year-old, although it was not only his efforts in the final third which made him a key player for the head coach, but also his tireless work rate in a defensive capacity.

Indeed, speaking about Martinez last year, Siavoush Fallahi said of the 24-year-old: “Not many know that Lautaro Martinez was a defender back in the days. That’s why he’s so good in defence and winning the ball back. Huge resource for Inter and very appreciated by Conte for that work.”

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Furthermore, it is clear that Partici is also a massive fan of the striker, with Gianluca Di Marzio stating in a recent interview with Wett Freunde: “I think Tottenham will go after Lautaro because they wanted him last summer. They want another forward to play with Kane or plan for the future without Kane. Lautaro Martinez is one of the players that Fabio Paratici loves. I think it could be Lautaro’s summer and Atletico Madrid or Tottenham could be the perfect destinations for him.”

Indeed, considering all of the above, it seems all but certain that Martinez would be something of a perfect signing to play alongside Harry Kane in the Tottenham attack, leading us to believe that Paratici simply must do all he can to get a deal over the line for the centre-forward this summer.

AND in other news: Conte can unearth his next 243-goal talent in Spurs prodigy who “runs over every blade”

Everton might have suffered their annual Stamford Bridge stumble in the Premier League, but that does not detract from the fine work David Moyes and his team have been plying in recent weeks.

And so the Toffees have come crashing down – but only to ninth place. Not bad, especially when considering Everton had been chalked off as relegation candidates before the start of the term.

However, Everton don’t exactly have the largest squad in the division, and this is something Moyes will want to fix in January, with new additions lined up after injury scares to Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at Chelsea.

Everton's January transfer plans

Moyes has rekindled on the blue half of Merseyside and enthusiasm and culture that have lifted Everton away from relegation danger. That was where they struggled over the past few years.

But Everton have a small squad; Moyes has unleashed 19 players in the Premier League this season, the lowest tally in the division.

There remains a need for full-backs, and while Thierno Barry is beginning to click into gear at number nine, Everton could do with another striker.

But they need a midfielder too, and according to Italian sources, via Sport Witness, Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo could be the man for the job, having been earmarked as a potential candidate to bring to the club on a six-month loan deal.

Mainoo, 20, has struggled for game time in Ruben Amorim’s team, and he’s looking to leave the club on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Napoli are believed to be frontrunners for the £25k-per-week talent, but Moyes’s connection to Old Trafford and the allure of staying close to home and in the Premier League could sway the odds in the Blues’ favour.

Why Everton want Kobbie Mainoo

Moyes showed at West Ham his eye for a mid-season loan spell when he welcomed Jesse Lingard to West Ham United. The Man United outcast played, arguably, the best sustained spell of football in London, and Mainoo could repeat the trick.

A young and robust talent, Mainoo, a ten-cap England international, has already featured 84 times for Man United’s senior side, even on the fringe as he is under Amorim’s stewardship.

He scored as Erik ten Hag’s side beat their noisy neighbours in the FA Cup final in 2023/24, and he has shown physicality and technical grace that run beyond his years. He has been hailed as a “future £100m footballer” by journalist Alex Turk.

A dynamic and versatile midfielder, Mainoo clearly needs love and care from a manager who understands him, and Moyes has already shown his ability to take such wandering stars and rehouse them, rekindle them.

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Look at Dewsbury-Hall, who is playing so well for Everton. The 27-year-old has tweaked his hamstring, and there is a nervous wait to see whether he will now be sidelined for the Christmas period.

Premier League – Mainoo (23/24) vs Dewsbury-Hall (25/26)

Stats (* per game)

Mainoo

KDH

Matches (starts)

24 (24)

15 (15)

Goals

3

4

Assists

1

2

Touches*

49.0

49.3

Pass completion

87%

84%

Key passes*

0.6

1.3

Dribbles*

1.3

0.8

Ball recoveries*

4.0

3.7

Tackles + interceptions*

2.9

2.2

Duels won*

5.0 (52%)

5.1 (56%)

Stats via Sofascore

Having a player like Mainoo in the mix would make a world of difference. Dewsbury-Hall’s young compatriot, after all, is a progressive and athletic player. He might not be quite as creative when on the ball, but he certainly has the right toolkit to succeed under Moyes’ wing.

As per FBref, in fact, Mainoo ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons and the top 18% for goal-creating actions per 90.

Even after playing such a bit-part role at the Theatre of Dreams this season, he has shown himself to be a difference-maker. In this, he can emulate and replace Dewsbury-Hall at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the second half of the season, a perfect foil for an outfit on the rise.

Related Richarlison repeat: Everton set sights on signing "impeccable" Brazilian

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Posts ByKelan Sarson