An error in ball-tracking projection came into the spotlight as Aaron Finch was given out lbw off Kuldeep Yadav during the third ODI between India and Australia in Ranchi.When the left-arm wristspinner got his stock ball to straighten and catch Finch on the back foot in the 32nd over, C Shamshuddin, the on-field umpire, ruled the batsman out lbw. Finch called for a review, which suggested that the ball had pitched on leg stump, when it had actually bounced on middle stump.While the ball might have still gone onto hit the stumps even if it had pitched on leg stump, it was a glaring error on the part of the ball-tracking technology being used.Finch struck 93 off 99 balls – his first fifty-plus score in 22 innings in white-ball cricket since his record-breaking 172 in the Harare T20I – before he was given out lbw to end a 193-run opening-wicket stand.

With the World Cup less than two month’s away, Pakistan’s head coach has cast doubts over the fast bowler’s inclusion in the side “going forward”

Umar Farooq26-Mar-2019

Mohammad Amir and Hussain Talat celebrate Heinrich Klaasen’s dismissal•AFP

Mohammad Amir’s ODI numbers since the 2017 Champions Trophy make for worrying reading if you’re a Pakistan fan. With just five wickets from his last 14 ODIs and the World Cup less than two months away, Pakistan’s head coach Mickey Arthur has cast doubts over the fast bowler’s inclusion in the side “going forward”.In the 21 months since that Champions Trophy final against India in June 2017, Amir has gone for an average of 92.60, failing to complete his quota of 10 overs even once. The spotlight on him only increased after he was named in the Pakistan squad for the ongoing series against Australia, only to be dropped immediately after another wicketless, expensive outing in the first ODI in Sharjah.While both Arthur and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq have previously backed Amir as a bowler for the big occasion, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to see him seal a spot in the squad for the World Cup, which begins on England on May 30.”Yes, Amir’s form is a worry and nobody is more worried than Amir,” Arthur said. “I still think he is an incredibly skilled bowler and has all the attributes to be successful. He has got a big match temperament and we will see how we use him going forward.”Amir has potentially three more chances to make an impression in Dubai, with three ODIs left in the series against Australia. Things haven’t gone according to plan so far for Pakistan, who lost the first two matches convincingly after resting six key players (as well as a seventh later in Faheem Ashraf). The team faced further ire when makeshift captain Shoaib Malik suggested after the second ODI in Sharjah that Pakistan were using the series merely to test their bench strength, and that winning or losing did not matter.Arthur, however, put those suggestions to bed, claiming that Pakistan were always out to win, and that the environment in the dressing room was positive.”Every time we play for Pakistan, we are playing to win,” he said. “You ask the guys in the dressing room, I am a very bad loser. We hate losing. We are representing a very proud cricket nation and we never want to lose. We are testing our bench strength, but we will never sacrifice our intensity and the will to win.”The attitude of the guys that we have around here has been incredible. These guys will become very, very good cricketers. The other guys [who have been rested for this series] have been in a tough system for two years. These guys are only now making their way like Mohammad Hasnain, Abid Ali, Saad Ali. Shan [Masood] and Rizi [Mohammad Rizwan] have been in and out of our ODI side. Umar Akmal is back. We are trying to increase the depth of Pakistan cricket.”We get castigated for not giving opportunities to the younger guys. Now we are giving them the opportunities are we are being castigated again. There seems to be no winning. What people need to understand is that we are a very passionate cricket team and whenever we go on the field, it is to win. We represent 210 million people and it is so important. Myself, Inzi [Inzamam ul Haq and the selection panel have a plan in place which is to have our core group of 15 ready and firing to go by April 23, when we go to England, to win the World Cup for Pakistan.”

Mauricio Pochettino's side have hit a purple patch without their big-money midfielder, but it's unfair to suggest he had been holding the Blues back

It was telling that the official confirmation of Enzo Fernandez's season-ending surgery was greeted with such a muted reaction by the Chelsea fanbase. You would think that the loss of their £106 million ($133m) midfield maestro – in the thick of a European chase – would be considered catastrophic. However, the vast majority responded with well wishes amid an unspoken acceptance that this was the correct course of action.

The Argentine has gone under the knife having played for months with a hernia in his groin, with the injury noticeably affecting his performances since the turn of the year while this summer's Copa America is fast approaching.

In his quest for a contingency plan in Fernandez's absence, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has almost inadvertently turned Chelsea's form around; the Blues have won three of their last five league games without Fernandez and in emphatic fashion, resulting in claims that the 23-year-old is surplus to requirements. But are they better off without their £106m man?

Instagram (@enzojfernandez)Through the pain barrier

It's a damning indictment of Chelsea's injury woes this season that Fernandez has been forced to play through the pain barrier for such a prolonged period. Having finally undergone season-ending surgery in late April in the hope of being fit for Copa America in the summer, he revealed that he had been "dragging the pain" for around six months – which means he had been struggling since the early part of the campaign.

Posting on social media, Fernandez wrote: "I needed to get this surgery since I [have] been dragging the pain for about six months. It was something I could avoid while constantly treating myself with injections and medications. But a few weeks ago, the pain started to get more and more intense, without any of this taking effect, and it was worse as I trained and played annoyingly, but I didn't want to stop being in the games I had.

"Whenever I got to play with Chelsea jersey, like the national team, I always try to do my best despite all this, but I can't stand it anymore."

AdvertisementGetty'Trying to get there'

Fernandez had previously admitted that his performances were falling short of his own expectations as he searched for the form that convinced Chelsea to spend nine figures on him.

"I’m trying to get there," he said in an in-house interview shortly before having his operation last month, "to the version of me that you saw at the World Cup. I want to feel like that Enzo, that was playing at the World Cup. I want to get back there.

"I feel good, getting better each day, but I still don’t feel like I’m at 100 percent. I’m still adapting and still don’t feel entirely myself, but I’m trying to get there as quickly as possible and working hard every day in order to do so."

GettyOverreliance

Fernandez is correct in his implication that his level has dropped off in recent weeks and, arguably, months. Though he was one of Chelsea's most consistent performers in another testing campaign, he has not maintained the standards that he set early in the season – or indeed those that persuaded the Blues to part with such an eye-watering sum in his time at Benfica and for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

That is almost certainly a result of overuse, as he started and played the full 90 minutes more often than not despite having a hernia for six months.

On the opening day of 2023-24 he looked every bit a potential £106m player in a dominant midfield display against Liverpool; he was fit, lean and sharp in a performance that was a true reflection of his obvious ability. By mid-September, he was the player with the most successful passes into the final third in Europe's top five leagues.

But before his season was curtailed by surgery, Fernandez predictably looked short of fitness, sluggish in possession and laboured in his movements – all of which can be brutally exposed by the cut and thrust of the Premier League. In the 2-2 draw against Sheffield United in early April, it was pointed out that Fernandez lost the ball 23 times against the Premier League's worst team, finished with less than 80% passing accuracy, and won just a single duel out of the 10 he engaged in.

But Pochettino clearly felt he had nowhere else to turn having been shorn of options in midfield; summer-signing Romeo Lavia has missed all-but 30 minutes of the season, and he has been regularly joined on the sidelines by inexperienced Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka. Cesare Casadei was recalled from his loan at Leicester City in January, but he is too young to be relied upon.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesRecency bias

A glance at Chelsea's recent results without Fernandez in their engine room has prompted some reactionary takes – not least from pundit Stephen Warnock, who told : "He's (Pochettino) got a big decision to make in the summer with one player and he's cost a lot of money: Enzo Fernandez. I think they are better without him. I think it's very easy to run off the back of Enzo Fernandez. He doesn't take responsibility for tracking runners and is quite sloppy on the ball. He's struggled.

"I know he's picked up a groin injury and he's had surgery, so maybe I'm being harsh on him. Chelsea look a better balanced team when he doesn't play in it. That relationship between [Moises] Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez isn't great. You put Cucurella in there and he (Caicedo) looks more comfortable."

Warnock may be right in his assertion that Fernandez has struggled, and Pochettino's side have found some form in his absence, but you would be hard pressed to find a Chelsea follower who believes the team is better without him – a player who has shone in some of the Blues' best performances this season despite having a hernia in his groin for the vast majority of it.

Enzo's understanding with fellow South American Caicedo has been evolving before our eyes, too, with the Ecuadorian finally settling at Stamford Bridge and beginning to look like the player Chelsea thought their £115m ($144m) was buying, thanks in no small part to having fellow Spanish speaker Fernandez alongside him.

Aside from the League Cup, Arsenal are currently fighting on all fronts this year, and while they might not be quite as free-flowing and easy on the eye as they were last season, Mikel Arteta's men have looked more defensively astute, mature and intentional in their matches this campaign.

However, a defeat to Aston Villa last time out in the Premier League has slowed them down somewhat following their last-gasp winner against Luton Town last week.

The Gunners didn't deserve to win at Villa Park on Saturday, but they might've claimed at least a point with a clinical finisher in the team, as they had registered an expected goal value of 1.47 to their hosts' 0.66 – but they just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net.

So fans should be delighted with the latest player linked to the Emirates, a striker who could turn Bukayo Saka into an assist machine, and someone who has already expressed his desire to join the club, Ivan Toney.

Arsenal transfer news – Ivan Toney

According to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Brentford's star striker is keen to move to a top club in 2024 and has expressed his excitement and desire to join Arsenal specifically.

Talking on Kick, the Italian journalist said: “From what I’m hearing, this is one more detail on Ivan Toney, this is a rumour I’m hearing that his preference in terms of a top club move in January or the summer would be to go to Arsenal.

"From what I’m hearing Ivan Toney could be really excited by the possibility of joining Arsenal.”

The former Newcastle United forward has been linked to the club in the past, but this development is a massive boost for the Gunners should they choose to pursue Toney.

However, the most significant barrier to signing the 27-year-old "monster", as described by his manager Thomas Frank, will be the price, as Sky Sports report that it will take at least £100m to secure his signature – although, for a player who scored 20 league goals last season, he might just be worth it.

Ivan Toney could supercharge Bukayo Saka

Now, the addition of Toney into this Arsenal team would instantly make them a far more worrying proposition for opposing teams, as the one-cap Englishman would likely craft his own chances with the sheer level of talent around him.

However, his clinical finishing and poacher sensibilities would help turn his teammates into assist machines, especially someone like Saka.

Arsenal could sign a £53m "special talent" instead of Douglas Luiz

The young Spaniard could be a better fit for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 11, 2023

The Hale End graduate racked up 11 league assists last season – despite Gabriel Jesus missing chunks of the campaign through injury – and he has already registered six in the league this season, so just imagine the numbers he could produce with a number nine solely focused on finding space and finishing chances.

Furthermore, the underlying numbers of the "future icon", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, all point towards a player calling out for more efficient players around him.

Expected Assists

0.30

Progressive Passes

3.45

Progressive Carries

4.41

Shot-Creating Actions

5.32

Successful Take-Ons

1.66

Crosses

5.93

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Season

Ultimately, if Arsenal want to reach that next level and win the Premier League and Champions League, they will need an out-and-out goalscorer in the team, and Toney would be precisely that.

It also helps that his presence would likely unlock another level to Saka's game and truly set him on the path to becoming one of the best players in the world.

The allrounder battled a form slump and injury which almost led him to walking away from the game but has now completed a notable comeback

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Apr-20192:03

Blundell picked because of his superior keeping – Stead

New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham came to the brink of retiring 18 months ago amid a battle with form and injury that had seen him fall out of love with cricket.Neesham spoke about his challenging time as he soaked up the “surreal” experience of securing a spot in the 15-man World Cup squad as his career came full circle in a four-year period. He narrowly missed the cut for the home World Cup in 2015, an experience he described as “gut-wrenching”, when Grant Elliott was preferred at the last minute. Neesham found himself in the stands at Eden Park as Elliott struck that iconic six against South Africa to secure a spot in the final.Neesham was part of the one-day side over the next two seasons but was dropped after the 2017 Champions Trophy. He was determined to get his place back but it became overwhelming, and coupled with injury his form faded, so he called Heath Mills, the CEO of the New Zealand Players Association, to tell him he wanted to quit having reached the point where he would open his curtains and hope it was raining.”It came as close as it could get,” Neesham said. “I actually called Heath Mills and told him I was going to retire so I owe a lot to him to convince me to take a little break and come back three or four weeks later. From there, being able to make progress steadily, come back with Wellington and make this team it’s all been a pretty surreal ride.ALSO READ: Bowling teams out at World Cup will be ‘critical’ – Gary Stead”Waking up in the morning, opening the shades and hoping it was raining is not the ideal way to start a day of cricket and I’d basically got to the point where I needed to have a full overhaul in the way I was approaching the game.””I put way too much pressure on myself. When I got dropped the start of last season I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed and wanted to dominate domestic cricket, once that starts going in a downward spiral and you aren’t scoring runs, taking wickets you put more pressure on yourself and it got to the point where it had to break. Luckily I took the advance, took a short break rather than a long break, and since then it’s been on the up and up.”Mills told Neesham not to pick up a bat for a few weeks then see how he felt and he also sought the help of a psychologist. He made a comeback for Otago at the end of the 2017-18 season although wasn’t sure his heart was in it, results were promising and then an off-season move to Wellington helped rekindle his passion for the game. It was in the Ford Trophy one-day tournament where he really shone, scoring 503 runs at an average of 62.87 with a strike rate of 110.79, which earned him an international recall to face Sri Lanka.”I saw a psychologist who was really helpful, starting at the bottom and working up to where all these frustrations were coming from,” he said. “I’m not much of communicator at the best of time, just being able to talk through some of the struggles I was having off the field – it only took four or five sessions to really see some progress.”I’d given it a good crack trying to get enjoyment from succeeding but once I paid less attention to the runs and wickets, less attention to hitting balls for two hours the day before a game, and just going out and enjoying it that was when the results started to come. It couldn’t have gone better, to be honest.”It’s a long road back from 18 months or so ago but once I got back into the fold with Wellington and was back scoring runs, taking wickets I always knew that in New Zealand you are never too far away if you put in a good couple of months but still to get the call was pretty surreal.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered a chance to sign one club's "big name" player for manager Ange Postecoglou, with the Lilywhites giving a response.

Spurs moving to make early January signings

Postecoglou has long made public his desire for the north Londoners to make early January signings, with the Lilywhites already agreeing personal terms with defender Radu Dragusin of Genoa.

Tottenham are believed to be in talks to sign Dragusin and are attempting to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, a surprise development occurred today when Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg broke news of RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner being on the verge of joining Spurs.

The German is apparently ready to make the move as Postecoglou's side move quickly in attempts to bolster both their attacking and defensive options.

Sky says Tottenham are weighing up offer for "role model" Dragusin alternative

Negotiations appear to be dragging on.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 6, 2024

Other reports suggest that Spurs are keen to make three January signings in the form of a defender, midfielder and forward, so if moves for both Dragusin and Werner come to fruition, Tottenham will have ticked both off their to-do list just days after the window's opening.

According to journalist Dean Jones, writing for GiveMeSport this week, Spurs have also been handed an opportunity to sign a "big name" player in the form of Raphinha.

Tottenham offered Raphinha chance from Barcelona

Indeed, as per his information, Raphinha has been pushed towards Tottenham, but Jones says it is a player offer which Spurs haven't chosen to take.

This isn't surprising given the recent revelations surrounding Werner's imminent reported move to N17, but it's believed a "similar situation" could crop up in regard to Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen.

For the sake of argument, if Raphinha is edged towards Spurs again in the summer, we believe he could still be a fairly interesting option given Werner's move is a six-month loan.

In the event Tottenham choose not to sign the former Chelsea star, Barca's £100,000-per-week alternative could be an excellent choice to take Werner's place given his proven Premier League experience.

The Brazilian was once a star for Leeds, with ex-Spurs boss Tim Sherwood calling him "phenomenal".

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan, speaking to Football Insider in 2021, also branded him a "relentless" player.

“He is a player now who continuously has an effect on a game, in a positive way. Even if he is not on the scoresheet, he will have played a hand in the goal. He is relentless," said Whelan.

“He gets on the ball, has great balance, is very dynamic and he takes the game to the opposition. What impresses me is that he is not afraid to do the horrible side. I get more and more impressed by his worth ethic.”

خاض فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي تدريباته مساء اليوم على ملعب مختار التتش بالجزيرة، استعدادًا لانطلاق منافسات الموسم الجديد.‏

ويجري الأهلي استعداداته لمواجهة فريق جورماهيا الكيني في ذهاب دور الـ32 ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

الأهلي يُعلن تطورات إصابة كريم فؤاد

وأدى اللاعبون فقرة بدنية قصيرة تحت إشراف أندرياس إندويا مخطط الأحمال، قبل الانتقال إلى تنفيذ العديد من التدريبات الخططية ‏التي أشرف عليها مارسيل كولر المدير الفني.‏

وأعلن سامي قمصان، المدرب العام للفريق، القائم بأعمال مدير الكرة، عن خوض مباراة ودية مساء غد الجمعة أمام فريق وادي دجلة.‏

وأدى إمام عاشور، لاعب الفريق جلسة علاج طبيعي على هامش مران الفريق الذي أقيم مساء اليوم.

وحرص أحمد جاب الله، طبيب الفريق، على الاجتماع باللاعب قبل البدء في تنفيذ برنامج العلاج الطبيعي والتأهيل، للتخلص من ‏الإصابة التي لحقت به وتسببت في شعوره بآلام في الركبة.‏

وكان إمام عاشور قد غادر معسكر منتخب مصر المقام الآن استعدادًا لخوض غمار منافسات تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا المغرب 2025، بعد شكواه من إصابة في الركبة.

Glasgow Rangers will head into Christmas in second and two points behind the league leaders after their 2-0 win over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Philippe Clement's side secured all three points thanks to early goals from midfielders Kieran Dowell and Todd Cantwell in the first half.

The two strikes allowed the Light Blues to control the remainder of the match but they were unable to find a third to completely settle the nerves of supporters before full-time.

Cantwell was outstanding in the middle of the park with a terrific display but central defender Leon Balogun was also superb and the unsung hero of the afternoon.

Todd Cantwell's performance against Motherwell in numbers

The former Norwich City star registered his first Premiership goal of the season in what was a sublime individual performance on Christmas Eve.

He lined up in the number ten position and used his energy, positioning, and quality to consistently make things happen in possession for Clement's side.

The English wizard found the back of the net to make it 2-0 in the first half as Abdallah Sima set him up to find the bottom left corner with a crisp finish from around 18 yards out, and came close to a second with a rasping half-volley that was tipped onto the bar.

Along with his goal, Cantwell, who had 50 touches of the ball, also showcased his creativity with four key passes to set up his teammates for shots.

He produced one fantastic cross to the back post for Cyriel Dessers during the first half that the Nigeria international miscued, when the forward could have had a huge opportunity to head the ball in.

Leon Balogun's performance against Motherwell in numbers

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old veteran – Balogun – put in a colossal performance at the heart of the defence to keep Motherwell at bay throughout the game and provide the attack with a platform to build from.

Jack Butland was rarely troubled in between the sticks for the Gers as the central defender, alongside Connor Goldson, came out on top in the majority of his battles.

The former Wigan titan was imperious on the deck as he won an outstanding seven of his eight ground duels, which helped him to win four tackles in total.

Balogun also won seven of his 11 aerial battles, which meant that the ace won 14 duels overall, as Motherwell tested the Gers backline with a barrage of crosses and long balls, particularly towards the end of the match.

23/24 Premiership	Balogun (via Sofascore)
Appearances	Eight
Sofascore rating	7.39
Duel success rate	73%
Clean sheets	Six
Tackles per game	1.8

The Nigeria international, as you can see from the table above, has been an impressive performer since his return to Ibrox over the summer, with his dominant displays at the back.

Balogun, who also had more touches (62) than Cantwell (50), also made three clearances and one block against Motherwell on Sunday to keep a sixth clean sheet of the campaign in his eight outings.

It was a powerful showing from the experienced defender and one that may have gone under the radar in what was a comfortable 2-0 win on paper, which is why he was the unsung hero for Clement.

Manchester United are keeping close tabs on a new central talisman to replace Donny van de Beek in January, according to a reliable journalist.

Van De Beek replacement needed

The Red Devils have Christian Eriksen, Kobbie Mainoo and Van de Beek as their three natural options in central midfield as it stands, but there’s a strong possibility that the latter will be heading for the exit door in the coming weeks.

The Athletic has reported that Erik ten Hag’s star is set to join German Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan until the end of the current campaign having already completed his medical, so should his move indeed be confirmed, the manager may have to enter the market to find a suitable replacement in that particular position.

Fabrizio Romano shares agreement to axe Man Utd player unhappy with Ten Hag

A January deal has already been rubber stamped.

ByDavid Comerford Dec 21, 2023

Back in 2020, AS Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana put pen to paper from RC Strasbourg and he’s since gone on to become a regular feature of their first-team squad, making a total of 155 senior appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Fofana statistics).

The France international still has just under two years remaining on his deal with Adi Hutter’s side (AS Monaco contracts), but with his performances since the start of the term seemingly having impressed, the 24-year-old has been brought onto the radar at Old Trafford.

Man United interested in Fofana

Taking to X, journalist Rudy Galetti revealed that Man United are keen on Fofana, with Monaco having decided on the price that needs to be met in order to let their prized asset move to the Premier League.

He wrote: “Man Utd are still monitoring with interest Youssouf Fofana and are ready to take concrete steps for him soon. AS Monaco ask for €30m to evaluate proposals for the CM, whose contract expires in 2025.”

Fofana is a "magnificent" player

Being a central midfielder, Fofana is naturally strong in both the defensive and offensive aspects of his game, with the former being proven this season by currently averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game in Ligue 1 (WhoScored – Fofana statistics).

The Paris native is also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch, having posted 23 contributions (15 assists and eight goals) since the start of his career, showing how much of a well-rounded player he is.

Sponsored by Adidas, Ten Hag’s target even knows what it takes to compete and be successful at a high level having been crowned a French League Cup winner during his time at Strasbourg, so he will possess a winning mentality that will be another attractive attribute to the boss, as that is what would be required of him.

As described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Fofana is a “magnificent” maestro considering how he can dictate the game from the centre of the park, so should the opportunity present itself, this is surely a no-brainer of a deal for the board to pursue in January.

Southampton are showing an interest in signing an "absolutely brilliant" Premier League player in the January transfer window, according to a new report.

Southampton transfer news

The Saints are flying on the pitch at the moment, thumping Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 on Saturday afternoon, and they also continue to be linked with new signings who could aid their Championship promotion push between now and the end of the season, with Bournemouth midfielder Joe Rothwell looking likely to be the first loan arrival of the month.

Ussumane Djalo is one player who has emerged as a potential target for Southampton, with the 19-year-old midfielder currently playing for Porto, and Aston Villa youngster Lamare Bogarde has also been backed to move to St Mary's Stadium. On the flip side, there are certain players who could move from Saints this month, including striker Che Adams, who has recently been linked with a move to Premier League side Wolves.

It looks as though the south coast club are looking to England's top tier for a possible new addition to Russell Martin's side, however, after a new transfer claim emerged.

Southampton want Ben Johnson

According to Football Insider, Southampton are one of many clubs interested in signing Ben Johnson, alongside promotion rivals Leeds, with a move away from West Ham potentially happening for the defender this month.

"Rangers, Leeds United and Sheffield United are among the sides keen on landing West Ham star Ben Johnson this month, sources have told Football Insider. It is believed Southampton are also in the mix for the 23-year-old – who could leave the London Stadium on loan before the 1 February deadline.

"Johnson is entering the final six months of his West Ham contract and is keen to play regular first-team football after struggling for game time with David Moyes’ side."

Johnson is someone with proven experience at Premier League level, making 57 appearances in the competition for West Ham, not to mention chipping in with two goals for good measure, so he could be an excellent signing by Southampton.

The 23-year-old would bring experience and potential quality to the defence, not to mention putting his versatility to good use, with the Hammers ace capable of turning out as a centre-back, right-back, left-back or even a midfielder.

Former England and Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has hailed him as "absolutely brilliant" in the past, and he will surely be open to bringing an end to his time at the London Stadium.

Related Southampton eyeing cut-price transfer to sign highly-rated midfielder

Scouts have been sent to watch him in action.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Jan 10, 2024

At 23, there could still be so much more to come from Johnson, who has won 10 caps for England's Under-21s, showing what a highly-rated prospect he has been in the past, and he may really stand out in the Championship, helping Southampton seal a return to the Premier League in the process.

The Englishman, who also shares the same agent as Kyle Walker-Peters, is also a UEFA Europa Conference League winner with West Ham, and this winning mentality could do no harm at the Saints, should they pip others to his signature before the month comes to an end, making this one to keep an eye on.