Rob Edwards picked up his first point in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers with a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Ladislav Krejčí’s equaliser just before the break was enough to secure just a third Premier League point of the campaign for the Old Gold, who have entered 2026 without a single win under their belt.

Wolves are 15 points away from safety, with half of the season left to play, and it looks increasingly likely that they will be playing Championship football next season.

Why Rob Edwards' future at Wolves is in doubt

The Premier League strugglers appointed Edwards to replace Vitor Pereira in November, and the English tactician lost his first seven games in charge before the draw with United this week.

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Reporter Graeme Bailey recently claimed that the board have considered parting ways with the former Middlesbrough boss already, and have had contact with potential replacements.

The journalist named Hearts boss Derek McInnes, Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy, and former Wolves tactician Gary O’Neill as three managers who are of interest to the club, as they weigh up what to do with Edwards.

No decision on his future appears to be imminent, though, particularly after Tuesday night’s result, and that means that the Englishman still has time to turn things around and prove that he is the right man for the job in the long haul.

One of the ways in which Edwards could look to save his job at the Molineux stadium could be to ruthlessly sell one of the team’s current high-profile assets.

The Wolves star who Edwards must sell in January

TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crooks claims that Crystal Palace and West Ham United are both interested in a deal to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves this month.

This comes just months after the Old Gold rejected a £50m offer from Newcastle United in the summer, as they were adamant that they wanted to keep hold of their star forward.

That offer and subsequent rejection, though, came after the Norway international plundered an eye-catching 14 goals from 10.27 xG in 37 Premier League matches during his debut season in the division, per Sofascore.

The 25-year-old star’s form has dropped off a cliff in the current campaign, with just one Premier League goal to his name so far, and it may be the right time for the Old Gold to cash in on him.

Pundit Darren Bent claimed last month that Strand Larsen is “doing absolutely nothing” up front and that he is getting bullied by defenders, and it is hard to argue with that assessment.

The Norwegian flop has lost a staggering 73% of his ground duels, scored no non-penalty goals, and is yet to create a ‘big chance’ or assist a goal for his teammates, per Sofascore, which shows that he has struggled in and out of possession for Wolves.

Strand Larsen (Premier League)

24/25

25/26

Appearances

35

17

xG

10.27

2.68

Goals

14

1

Minutes per goal

186

1,263

Big chances created

6

0

Assists

4

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Strand Larsen has not been anywhere near as effective as he was in his first season in England, which may leave the club regretting the fact that they did not cash in when £50m was offered by Newcastle.

Edwards now must convince the board to sell the striker this month, amid interest from Palace and Newcastle, because it could provide him with funds to bring in his own players.

Strand Larsen was reportedly booed by some of his own supporters when he came off the bench against Manchester United, which speaks to the relationship that he has with the fanbase at the moment.

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Therefore, selling a player who appears to have lost goodwill with a section of the fanbase could buy some time for Edwards, instead of allowing the toxicity to build and build.

On top of that, the English boss could urge the board to use any funds from a sale of Strand Larsen to invest in new players with the Championship in mind.

If Edwards, given the dire situation Wolves are in, can successfully build a narrative with the fanbase that he is making signings and building towards an instant return to the Premier League next season, it may take some of the pressure off short-term results in the top-flight, saving his job in the process.

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Selling Strand Larsen to Palace or West Ham is the first step towards building that narrative around building for the future, though, which is why that is the first move that should be made.

Everton’s current season has undoubtedly been nothing short of troublesome on and off the pitch at Goodison Park.

Behind the scenes, Farhad Moshiri has endured the wrath of faithful Toffees fans over his running of the club and his decision to not only hire former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez but also to keep him employed for as long he did before the Spaniard was eventually sacked last month.

In terms of what’s been happening on the pitch, the Merseyside club are in a relegation battle with just 22 points on the board with 23 games played having won five, drawn eight and lost 12.

Another worrying factor about Everton’s campaign is the number of goals they’ve managed to concede with 40 in total and Manchester City next up for their next league game who have found the back of the net 63 times this season.

One player, in particular, that hasn’t had a successful season in terms of his performances is defender Mason Holgate.

With 12 league appearances under his belt, the Englishman has earned himself an overall performance rating of 6.46/10, making him one of the lowest-rated players that have started more than one league game according to WhoScored.

In addition to his underwhelming overall performance rating, the 25-year-old’s defensive contributions haven’t been much to shout about either.

Having lost 21 aerial duels in total, the centre-back has also only managed to rack up an average of 1.2 tackles per game, lower than a significant number of other Everton players such as Fabian Delph, Donny van de Beek and Vitaliy Mykolenko who have all played fewer minutes than Holgate.

The former Barnsley youngster, who has been slammed for his “really bad” decision making in the past by Ron Walker, has been somewhat of a liability for the team as well by being the only player at Goodison Park to have received a red card this season.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that Holgate has been a real defensive weak link for the side this season.

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Moving forward, Frank Lampard will have to make sure the centre-back can fix his performances and start offering more in a defensive regard if they want to have a good chance of avoiding relegation.

The Toffees boss surely won’t be happy with how Holgate has performed this year.

In other news: Moshiri suffered an Everton howler over £27m-rated “monster”, Lampard will be gutted – opinion

Alan Myers has dropped a significant Everton update on Jean-Philippe Gbamin after some news emerged involving Alisher Usmanov and his ties with Russia.

The Lowdown: Sponsorships suspended

The Goodison Park faithful have recently released a statement confirming that they have suspended all commercial sponsorship arrangements with Russian companies – USM, Megafon and Yota – following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

These companies all have strong ties to Uzbek-born Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who holds commercial ties with the Merseyside club.

This comes after the news that both FIFA and UEFA suspended Russian clubs and national teams from all football competitions.

The Latest: Gbamin situation

Of course, some Toffees fans may now be questioning whether any of these events will affect the loan deal of Gbamin, who joined Russian side CSKA Moscow for the rest of the season.

Respected news editor and journalist Myers has now given an update on his situation:

“My understanding is that Gbamin’s loan to CSKA Moscow is not affected by the Uefa and Fifa bans.”

The Verdict: Relief

It will surely come as a relief to hear that Gbamin should be able to continue to play as normal, despite what is going on around him, which is completely out of his control.

Unfortunately for the Ivory Coast international, he has only played a mere eight matches for the Blues over the course of the last three campaigns, and has been plagued by injuries ever since he arrived from Bundesliga team Mainz back in 2019.

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Thus, sending him out on loan will hopefully give him some consistent game time, and this latest update is good news if he wishes to come back fitter and ready to play for Frank Lampard in the summer.

In other news, find out which ‘gorgeous passer’ EFC are now eyeing for the summer here!

Aston Villa saw a run of three consecutive Premier League victories come to an end in the capital as Steven Gerrard’s side lost 2-1 to West Ham on Sunday afternoon.

It took 70 minutes for the deadlock to be broken as winger Andriy Yarmolenko controlled teammate Said Benrahma’s pass nicely and executed an exquisite finish which was followed by emotional celebrations from the Ukrainian.

The hosts’ lead was doubled 12 minutes later by Pablo Fornals but Jacob Ramsey gave Villa hope late on, but it wasn’t to be for the West Midlands outfit.

It certainly wasn’t a woeful performance from the Villans, however, midfielder Douglas Luiz was particularly underwhelming given his usual high standards.

According to SofaScore, the Brazilian offered little at both ends of the pitch, producing zero shots whilst also failing to make a single block or tackle.

Moreover, the 23-year-old made zero dribble attempts whilst failing to complete a single long ball or cross at the London Stadium.

Also, 62 touches made during the 79 minutes in which he was on the pitch for is arguably a low tally for someone who is usually such a presence under Gerrard.

On a positive note, the midfielder did win most of his duels with a 60% success rate and also enjoyed an 89% passing accuracy with one key pass produced.

However, it was certainly an off day for the Brazilian, whose side are still targeting a top-half finish in the Premier League with the Villans sat in ninth.

To achieve that feat would certainly show signs of progress for the West Midlands club, who haven’t finished in the top ten of the Premier League since their ninth-place finish in 2010/11. Yet, they will need more from their Brazilian enforcer who may just have cost them in the race for top half this afternoon.

From a personal perspective, Luiz will certainly want to put Sunday’s performance and result behind him, with the 23-year-old once again a kingpin for Aston Villa alongside Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn in the midfield this season with the Brazilian accumulating 24 appearances in the top-flight so far this term.

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Since joining Aston Villa in July 2019 from Manchester City, the 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength, racking up 101 matches for the Villans.

Although, the aforementioned trio, as well as the injured Marvelous Nakamba, will have to be wary of seeing a drop in their performances with Gerrard very likely to push to sign a top midfielder in the summer, with Brighton’s Yves Bissouma a player regularly linked to Villa Park.

In other news: Gregg Evans drops behind-the-scenes Villa update which will have many Villa fans sweating

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has shown a willingness to put his faith in younger talent so far during his time with the club, giving the captain’s armband to 21-year-old Marc Guehi for three of the last four fixtures in all competitions, also handing significant game-time to the likes of Michael Olise and Tyrik Mitchell.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Conor Gallagher has shone on loan with the Eagles this season, becoming a key player in the team. He has started all 24 Premier League games for which he has been available, averaging a 7.27 match rating – higher than the likes of Harry Kane (7.26) and Sadio Mane (7.20) – scoring eight goals and setting up three more.

However, with Chelsea’s sanctions including a transfer ban looming over them, the current Champions League holders may choose to keep Gallagher. Palace could then be forced into a midfield rebuild, with James McArthur, Jeffrey Schlupp and Cheikhou Kouyate’s contracts all expiring at the end of the season.

What’s the news?

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Palace and Newcastle are keen on landing Barcelona under-19 captain Marc Casado. He has been likened to legendary defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets, who has been a fixed presence in the Catalan giants’ team for more than a decade now.

The report claimed that while the 18-year-old is keen on a potential extension to his current deal which runs out at the end of the season, nothing has been agreed yet, which could give the Premier League duo the chance to sign him on a free transfer this summer.

Vieira could shape the midfield around Casado

Much like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, Vieira prefers to play with a holding midfielder in his teams; and with neither Jairo Riedewald nor Luka Milivojevic fully convincing the Frenchman of their ability, Casado could come in and earn a spot in the Eagles’ first team a lot quicker than he might elsewhere.

The Spaniard is still just a teenager, so should he come to Selhurst Park and hit the ground running at Palace, Vieira could build his midfield around him for years to come, with the youngster having enough potential to become one of the top players in his position in the Premier League further down the line.

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An excellent tackler with an eye for a through ball, complimented by his fantastic attitude, maturity and leadership, it won’t be long before we see more of the La Masia graduate, whether it will be with Barca or elsewhere. Hopefully it might be with Palace, where he can become their next Yohan Cabaye.

In other news: Vieira can finally axe “worrying” Palace flop by unleashing “smart” 20 y/o sensation

While Leeds United are a completely different outfit to the side which finished 15th in the Championship back in 2014/15, with Victor Orta, Andrea Radrizzani and Marcelo Bielsa working wonders both on and off the Elland Road pitch over the past three and a half years, there were nevertheless a couple of decisions made during the darker days of the Whites’ history that will still be haunting the Premier League side.

One such call will undoubtedly be Massimo Cellino’s decision to pass up the chance to sign Harry Maguire back in the summer of 2015, with Leeds having been reported to hold an interest in the then-Sheffield United centre-back, only for the defender to ultimately secure a £2.5m move to Hull City.

Cellino had a nightmare on Maguire

Since then, the now-29-year-old has gone from strength to strength, playing a promotion to the Premier League with the Tigers back in 2015/16, as well as highly impressing for Hull over his 29 top-flight outings in the following campaign – earning a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.11 in 2016/17.

This form led to Leicester City splashing £17m on the signing of the England international in the summer of 2017, with Maguire further establishing his reputation as a top-level centre-back over the next two seasons with the Foxes, earning a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.03 in 2017/18 and 7.05 in 2018/19.

Maguire was once again on the move in the summer of 2019, with Manchester United breaking the world record transfer fee for a defender via their £80m signing of the centre-back – since which, despite widespread criticism, the £190k-per-week man has generally done an admirable job for the Red Devils, earning seasonal SofaScore match ratings of 7.13 in 2019/20 and 7.13 in 2020/21.

As such, regardless of the general opinion of the £60m-rated player who Jurgen Klinsmann dubbed a “mustang” – while, admittedly, hindsight is a wonderful thing – it is undeniable that the Cellino had a nightmare when failing to cough up a mere £2.5m for Maguire back in 2015, as this decision cost the Whites a massive payday.

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AND in other news: Huge boost: Double Leeds United injury update emerges, Jesse Marsch will be buzzing

According to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato (via Liverpool Echo), Liverpool remain interested in signing Stade Rennais winger Jeremy Doku. 

The lowdown: Long-standing admirers

The 19-year-old has been perennially linked with a move to the Reds ever since coming through the academy ranks as a ‘prodigy’ at RSC Anderlecht.

Following the switch from the Belgian Pro League side to Ligue 1 outfit Stade Rennais in October 2020, Doku has continued to impress for club and country.

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Having starred at Euro 2020 for Belgium, the talented teenager is seemingly on the radar once again at Anfield after a decent season in France. Despite struggling with injuries, he has managed a goal and two assists in 12 top flight showings.

The latest: Reignited interest

According to the Italian source, Liverpool are ‘evaluating’ the 10-cap starlet ahead of the summer transfer window.

Whilst also citing previous interest from Merseyside, it’s stated that the Reds remain attentive despite the forward’s current deal not expiring until 2025.

Albeit there is no mention of a fee in the latest report, Rennes president Nicolas Holveck has previously claimed it would take bids of €100million (£83million) to even consider a sale.

The verdict: Exciting prospect

Recently, Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe admitted in an interview with France Football (h/t GFFN) that he had ‘never seen someone from a standing start demonstrate so much power’ as Doku.

And if Doku’s quick burst past defenders sounds similar to a young Sadio Mane then that’s because it is, with Jurgen Klopp even reportedly once telling Doku’s father the young winger could succeed the Senegal superstar.

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Despite enduring an injury-hit season so far, the Belgian wonderkid has managed to dazzle when called upon, completing 2.8 successful dribbles per game (Sofascore).

As Liverpool manager Klopp continues to develop the next generation of the attacking ranks at Anfield, adding the skilful Belgian to the squad would be a superb acquisition, though perhaps not for the eye-watering mooted fee.

In other news, Liverpool have made ‘offer’ for EPL forward. Read more here.

Newcastle United saw many players come and go from the club during Mike Ashley’s tumultuous reign in charge of the Magpies.

However, one player who was mentioned with a move to St James’ Park but didn’t end up joining the Tyneside club that many fans may now be wishing had signed on the dotted line is Mohamed Salah.

Back in 2011, the then-19-year-old Egyptian apparently expected to see himself make the move to Newcastle on loan after impressing in the Under-20 World Cup.

On the potential move to Tyneside, Salah said: “Newcastle will soon make an official offer to sign me for one season. I don’t think Contractors will refuse to let me play in the English Premier League. It’s a dream for any player to play in one of the strongest league competitions in the world.”

As many Toon fans will be aware, the winger didn’t end up joining the club and instead made the move to Basel in the 2012 summer transfer window.

In 2017, after having spells with Chelsea, Fiorentina and Roma once his stint in Switzerland came to an end, the attacker joined his current club Liverpool in a deal worth a reported £34m.

Since joining the Merseyside club, the 29-year-old has gone on to become a certified superstar by racking up 153 goals and 57 assists in 239 appearances across all competitions, prior to the Reds’ Premier League match against Watford this afternoon.

Labelled a “ridiculous” player in terms of his attacking output by Rio Ferdinand, and a “physical monster” by Jurgen Klopp, the £90m-rated winger has won the Premier League, Champions League and an assortment of individual awards throughout his career.

To further highlight how much of a standout player the Egypt international has become in England, he is currently listed as the highest-rated player in the Premier League based on his performances this season according to WhoScored, with an overall rating of 7.71/10.

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Taking all this into account, as if the Newcastle fans needed any more excuses to dislike Ashley, not securing a deal which would have seen Salah join the Magpies has turned out to be a major howler from the club, and one over which they will now be having nightmares.

In other news: NUFC can finally replace Cabaye with “phenomenal” £34m gem, he has “magical powers”…

Chelsea have been given serious encouragement in the race for a very highly-rated midfielder as he rejects Real Madrid and makes his transfer stance crystal clear.

Chelsea tipped to sign new midfielder in 2026

As per a recent report from The Telegraph and Matt Law, a new midfielder is definitely on the agenda next year at Chelsea.

The Blues will definitely sign at least one new man for the engine room in 2026, according to Law, and potentially splash massive cash doing it.

Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández have been run into the ground this season, both clocking over 1,500 minutes in total already, while the likes of Roméo Lavia and Dario Essugo are currently enduring an injury nightmare.

Fernandez in particular has featured more than any other Chelsea player, and something’s got to give.

Enter two big-money Premier League targets who could transform the engine room. Kobbie Mainoo could be a target once again, with the Man United academy graduate likely to cost around £45 million if Chelsea get serious about their interest in the player.

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Then there’s Crystal Palace sensation Adam Wharton, who could now cost £100 million after the Eagles snapped him up from Blackburn before Chelsea could make their move.

That ship sailed, but The Telegraph suggests he’s still on BlueCo’s radar for next year.

Chelsea could go another route entirely by signing another emerging talent, with AZ Alkmaar starlet Kees Smit attracting their interest.

Reliable journalist Mark Douglas reported for inews last week that Chelsea have held recent talks with Smit’s camp and are among the frontrunners to sign the Dutchman.

The 19-year-old has marked himself out as one of the Eredivisie’s brightest talents, with Enzo Maresca’s side now given a major boost in their pursuit of Smit.

Chelsea given Kees Smit transfer boost as he rejects Real Madrid

According to reports from Spain, Smit has now rejected Real Madrid’s advances in favour of a Premier League move, with Chelsea now handed a clear advantage.

The Dutch sensation has become one of Europe’s hottest prospects this season after establishing himself as a key player for AZ, in both domestic and Conference League action.

His performances have drawn comparisons to Barcelona’s Pedri, with Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman praising the teenager’s tactical intelligence and game-reading ability.

Chelsea are among several Premier League clubs tracking Smit’s progress, with Newcastle also keen on him according to recent reports.

Maresca’s interest has now been strengthened by the player’s clear preference for English football over other European destinations, including Real.

Subscribe for deeper Chelsea transfer and midfield analysis Curious about Chelsea’s midfield plans? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused transfer coverage—scouting profiles, tactical context, verified reporting and expert takeaways on targets like Kees Smit and other emerging midfield talents. Subscribe Subscribe for deeper Chelsea transfer and midfield analysis Curious about Chelsea’s midfield plans? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused transfer coverage—scouting profiles, tactical context, verified reporting and expert takeaways on targets like Kees Smit and other emerging midfield talents.

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Smit’s decision to prioritise the Premier League stems from his desire to develop in what he considers the most competitive and physically demanding league in world football.

The youngster apparently believes the intensity and weekly exposure to world-class opposition will accelerate his growth at this crucial stage of his career.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has been effusive in his praise of Smit, calling him a ‘fantastic’ and ‘underrated’ midfielder who is the ‘future of AZ and Dutch football’.

Only two AZ teammates have played more Eredivisie minutes than Smit so far this season, with the talent now an ever-present in their starting eleven despite his tender age.

He’s also drawn comparisons to Man City legend Kevin De Bruyne, leaving little wonder many are getting excited by him.

Related Chelsea identify 'dream' candidate who 'tops the wishlist' to replace Maresca

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Tottenham have held talks with an in-form star over personal terms and outlined their project to him, with the ‘crazy’ race for his signature poised to take further shape.

Spurs are staring down the barrel of another wasted campaign unless they act decisively when the January transfer window opens.

Thomas Frank’s side sit miles off the pace in the Premier League with their European ambitions also looking increasingly fragile, having won just one of their last seven matches.

The numbers tell a damning story.

Spurs have dropped points in matches they should have controlled and looked painfully short of quality in key areas. Frank inherited a squad with glaring weaknesses, and those deficiencies have been brutally exposed throughout the first half of the season.

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Pressure has mounted on the Dane this week after their 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend, with the Lilywhites believed to be making contingency plans in the event they need to sack Frank.

The left wing remains a gaping hole in the starting eleven, and Frank has been forced into makeshift solutions week after week. It’s cost them goals, points and momentum at crucial moments.

Much has been made of their lack of creativity in the final third, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo being eyed up as a potential solution.

The Ghana international, similar to last season, has stood out as one of the Premier League’s most potent attacking threats, and his £65 million release clause has tempted elite clubs across the division.

Man City, Man United, Liverpool and Spurs are all believed to be contending for Semenyo before his clause expires on January 10, with reliable journalist Mark Douglas and his colleague Pete Hall sharing an update today.

Tottenham hold talks with Antoine Semenyo over personal terms

According to Douglas and Hall, in a piece for inews, all four clubs have ‘formally’ held talks with the 25-year-old about personal terms whilst sharing their overall first-team plans for Semenyo as well.

In what is described as a ‘crazy market’ race, the English quartet all have a chance, but some more than others.

According to this inews report, United are now seen as the frontrunners for Semenyo, and Spurs are seen as ‘outside’ contenders with Liverpool and City.

That being said, the north Londoners still aren’t ruled out completely, but their odds have just dropped for a reason that isn’t entirely disclosed.

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The winger has been called ‘world-class’ for his recent form in England, so much so that his £65m clause is clearly seen as an unmissable opportunity next month.

Semenyo’s clause was due to drop to around £55 million in the summer, though United, City, Liverpool and Spurs are now forced to contend for him now as they all vie for his signature.

If Tottenham miss out on the former Bristol City star, they do have alternatives for the left-wing.

According to some reports today, club scouts are urging Spurs to sign Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche, who’d cost just £40 million.

Related Tottenham hold loose talks to sign "strong" Man City player amid worry over mainstay

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