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Wolverhampton Wanderers are still in talks to sign Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic, reports reliable journalist Liam Keen.

The Lowdown: Striker search

It has been widely reported the Wanderers are looking to bring in a forward addition ahead of the September 1 deadline.

In a recent press conference, manager Bruno Lage admitted his team are still on the hunt for an attacker, having claimed: “We want more solutions. We are in the market and we’ll try to find a different striker, a different profile to Raul.”

With Molineux chiefs also thought to be working on a deal for promising midfielder Boubacar Traore, a goalscorer is surely next up on the agenda.

The Latest: Keen’s news

Keen has shared an update on Wolves’ striker search, confirming the name that the club are working hard to secure.

In his article for the Express and Star, the reliable journalist revealed that Lage has refused to discuss Wolves’ interest in Sasa Kalajdzic, despite the fact that the Midlands outfit have continued to negotiate with Stuttgart over a potential move for the Austria international.

Speaking about their striker search, Lage added:

“Raul is very good in the dynamic and arrives in the box, and we want a different profile. That’s the only thing I can say now, we are looking for that.”

The Verdict: Get it done

With 6 foot 7 Kalajdzic towering over Jimenez, the Bundesliga forward certainly adds an alternative option and play-style to Wolves’ limited squad.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the Austrian ranks in the 94thpercentile for aerials won, whereas the Mexico international comes in at the 65th percentile.

Praised by German pundit Marcel Reif for being able to do “crazy things in the air”, Kalajdzic would add an aerial threat to the Wanderers’ frontline for years to come.

Leeds United may end up making no further additions in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Phil Hay, with The Athletic journalist revealing on a recent episode of The Phil Hay Show that, despite Victor Orta still being linked with a number of targets in the transfer market, supporters could well see Thursday’s transfer deadline come and go without the club making any more signings

Regarding Leeds’ remaining transfer business, Hay said: “From the noises over the weekend, my gut feeling is that we might well go past the window and the deadline without anything else happening, but you never can tell at this stage.”

Marsch won’t like it

While it is true that Leeds have been incredibly active in the summer transfer window thus far, when taking into account that Orta is known to have been looking to add both a new left-back and centre-forward to Jesse Marsch’s squad prior to Thursday’s transfer deadline, Hay’s latest update is sure to be something that the 48-year-old manager won’t like.

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Indeed, with Partick Bamford once again struggling with injury this season – with knocks having seen the Whites’ first choice number nine start just seven Premier League fixtures last season – coupled with Joe Gelhardt also having suffered with niggling injuries so far in 2022/23, the argument that the Whites are in need of much greater depth up top is a very easy one to make.

Furthermore, with both Junior Firpo and Stuart Dallas also being ruled out due to knocks at present, in addition to the former having struggled with the pace of the Premier League last season – averaging an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.60 last time out, ranking him as Leeds’ seventh-worst performer in the league – it is also evident that the left of Marsch’s backline is an area of the American’s squad that requires strengthening.

As such, while it is true that Leeds have started their 2022/23 campaign in impressive form – with the Whites currently sitting in fifth place after four games played – should Orta wish to give Marsch the best possible chance of avoiding a repeat of last season’s fight for survival, it would appear as if the Spaniard simply must do all he can to sign both a left-back and a striker in the coming days.

However, following Hay’s latest update, this does not appear overly likely – something that is sure to come as a gutting blow to both supporters and Marsch alike.

There is no doubt that Nottingham Forest supporters will still be reeling following the embarrassing defeat at The City Ground last weekend, with Steve Cooper’s side going from 2-0 up at half-time to 3-2 down against Bournemouth.

Now the Welsh manager will be working hard to determine the next steps moving forward to lift the spirits at the club and looking for ways to improve the inconsistencies in the team to make sure they deliver when they play Leeds United next Monday night.

Forest have now fallen into the relegation zone after their defeat at the weekend, and strengthening their defence could be one of the solutions to improving upon their current form in the Premier League, with the side conceding 11 goals in their last three league games.

One player who could be given the opportunity to earn his spot in Cooper’s starting XI is former Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-back Willy Boly who signed late in the transfer window for the bargain price of £2.25m.

The 31-year-old fell out of favour at Molineux after Bruno Lage decided to shake his defensive set-up, changing to four at the back leaving 6 foot 5 Boly without a place in the starting set-up, but now he can reprise his powerful presence in the Forest backline instead.

Despite suffering with injury issues last season, over ten league appearances Boly was solid in his position making 1.4 interceptions, 2.5 tackles and 3.5 clearances per game, as well as tallying up a 91% pass completion rate in his own half and winning 56% of his duels combined proving that he is a reliable force.

To compare those numbers to those at Forest this term, the Ivorian would rank second in the squad for tackles, fourth in the side for interceptions and joint-second for clearances. Thus, he would evidently add an extra layer of solidity to Cooper’s defence.

The centre-back who was hailed as “monster” and as “scary” by Conor Coady, can use his experience in a back three in the Premier League to offer Forest a game-changing perspective in their defence, which could spark an improvement in the team going forward in their fixtures ahead.

Luckily, Cooper has plenty of time to pull the club out of their 19th position in the league table and establishing the best players out of his 21 new signings that can deliver when needed will be the key to retaining their top-flight status when the campaign finishes.

The Athletic’s West Bromwich Albion correspondent Elias Burke has provided an update on Steve Bruce’s future at The Hawthorns following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City.

The Lowdown: West Brom struggling

The Baggies have gone into the international break with just one win from their opening 10 Championship games.

It looked as if Bruce’s side were on course for a second victory at the weekend, but a controversial late equaliser for Norwich summed up how things are going for West Brom at this moment in time.

That draw left Albion in 21st, level on points with Middlesbrough, who occupy the final relegation spot.

The Latest: Safe for now

Burke, who previously stated that Bruce is under genuine pressure, took to Twitter on Sunday morning to share the latest on the Baggies boss in an article for The Athletic.

He said that, ‘barring a change of heart’, Bruce ‘will remain’ West Brom manager beyond the international break and into the run of fixtures heading into the World Cup.

The Verdict: Big call

The international break could have been the perfect time for a change in the dugout, but it looks as if Baggies chiefs will stick with Bruce for now.

Only time will tell if that is an inspired or poor decision, duly making fixtures against Swansea, Preston and Luton following the international break crucial for the 61-year-old and the Midlands club.

Three successive wins would give everyone at The Hawthorns a huge boost, especially Bruce, who so far has struggled to get the best out of his players, especially in the final third.

Newcastle United were busy throughout the summer transfer window as Dan Ashworth attempted to improve Eddie Howe’s squad for the 2022/23 campaign.

The former Brighton chief was able to bring in Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Matt Targett, and Nick Pope as he heavily invested in the backline and added to the manager’s options in the number nine position.

However, the club were unable to bring in a central midfielder or a wide player. The latter was particularly surprising as it was reported in July that signing an attacker in that area of the pitch was a priority, with Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby being a target at the time.

They failed to snap up a winger in the final days of the window and another player they were reportedly keen on was Chelsea attacker Christian Pulisic, who has only started one game in the Premier League this season.

Jacque Talbot recently quoted Fabrizio Romano as saying: “Newcastle were obsessed with Christian Pulisic. They wanted him, but they wanted him on loan and not on a permanent deal. And this is why Chelsea decided to say no.”

Ashworth had a mare with the £150k-per-week USA international, who Frank Khalid once dubbed a national “hero”, as he could have been an excellent signing for the club if they acquired him permanently.

Over the last 365 days, Pulisic ranks in the 83rd percentile among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues and European competition for non-penalty goals per 90 at 0.36. Miguel Almiron, meanwhile, ranks in the 12th percentile with 0.10 and Ryan Fraser sits in the 17th with 0.11 per 90.

In 13 Premier League starts last season, the former Borussia Dortmund man scored six goals and provided two assists whilst playing out wide. He also plundered an impressive nine goals and four assists in 19 starts in his debut campaign in the English top-flight back in 2019/20.

Almiron and Fraser, meanwhile, produced three goals and three assists in 37 starts combined for the Magpies in the 2021/22 campaign.

These statistics suggest that Pulisic would have been a huge upgrade on the pair and improved Howe’s options in that position, whilst also having more potential to grow and develop as he is four years younger than both of them.

The Chelsea man would also suit Eddie Howe’s pressing style of play. Former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel previously claimed that he would thrive at Liverpool playing that way because he is effective in counter-attacking situations with his pace in behind.

Therefore, Ashworth made a mistake by refusing to sign Pulisic on a permanent deal as his age, style of play, and statistics suggest that he would have been a superb addition to the squad and a much-needed upgrade on Fraser and Almiron out wide.

Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham fears Lucas Moura’s most recent injury setback is a ‘massive’ blow for Antonio Conte and Spurs.

The Lowdown: Moura’s injury

The Brazilian is currently suffering from a calf injury which he sustained in mid-August, having last played for the Lilywhites against Chelsea in the Premier League nearly two months ago.

Prior to the injury, the 30-year-old had played just 12 minutes of football for Tottenham this season, having fallen down the pecking order at Hotspur Way following the January arrival of Dejan Kulusevski and the summer arrival of Richarlison.

However, as quoted by Spurs Play after the Lilywhites’ disappointing 3-1 loss to Arsenal on Saturday, Conte admitted: “Moura, I’m really worried because he’s really far to recover”.

The Latest: Another setback

With Spurs’ schedule set to become all-the-more hectic in the coming months, Wenham, an insider who breaks news on his Lilywhite Rose social channels, worries Conte’s squad options will be too thin with Moura’s injury absence.

Speaking with Football Insider, the N17 pundit said:

“Conte seemed very, very worried about Moura’s latest knock.

“I was surprised he wasn’t in the squad yesterday because he has been back in training for the last weekend and a half.

“It seems like he has picked up a knock in the final session before the Arsenal game. People might say to me that Lucas Moura doesn’t start anyway.

“We have so many games coming up until the World Cup, we need all of our options. The fact is that against Arsenal the only attacking option we could have brought on was Bryan Gil.

“Conte has made it abundantly clear that he is not fit for Premier League football. It shows we need Lucas back desperately, it’s a massive blow that he is unavailable.

“I hope it’s weeks rather than months.”

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The Verdict: Major blow

When looking at Moura’s underlying stats, it is easy to see where Wenham is coming from, with numerous figures illustrating his ability to perform at the top level.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the winger ranks in the 95th percentile for assists and aerials won per 90, in the 92nd percentile for expected goals assisted and in the 85th percentile for clearances made, offering a good mixture of creativity and defensive work rate.

With current injuries/suspensions to Kulusevski and Emerson Royal, Moura would have been an incredibly useful option for Conte to have at his disposal, as he could be utilised in either position due to his varied skill set.

Spurs will be hoping the rest of their wide players can stay fit; otherwise, they could be in serious trouble.

Arsenal have opened contract talks with William Saliba in a bid to extend the centre-back’s stay at The Emirates.

What’s the talk?

In recent comments cited by GOAL, the defender revealed – shortly after the 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon – that the club have held preliminary talks regarding the extension of his current deal in north London.

When asked whether there would be news on a new contract soon, the 21-year-old said: “We will see. They talk a little bit. We will see.”

Saliba then added: “I waited a long time for my first north London derby. I enjoyed it since the first minute to the end, and I am so happy. It’s a derby, a big game, where all the fans and the players want to win. I like to play big games like this.”

Edu hit the jackpot

Considering the revelation Saliba has been in the Arsenal backline so far this season, Edu’s decision to splash £27m on the defender back in the summer of 2019 very much looks to have been something of a masterstroke by the Gunners’ technical director.

After being sent on three separate loans over the last three seasons – to Saint-Etienne, OGC Nice and Marseille respectively – the 21-year-old finally managed to secure a regular spot in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI in pre-season, and his impact on the Spaniard’s side so far this term has been remarkable.

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Indeed, starting all eight of Arsenal’s Premier League fixtures this season, the £52.5m-rated talent has been in astonishing form, helping his side keep three clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.6 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 3.1 clearances and winning 3.4 duels – at a success rate of 56% – per game.

The France international has also impressed going forwards, having scored two goals, registered one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as completing an average of 61.5 passes – at a success rate of 94% – and 2.8 long balls per game.

These returns have seen the £40k-per-week sensation who Fabrizio Romano dubbed “untouchable” average an exceptional SofaScore match rating of 7.13, currently ranking him as Arteta’s sixth-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Furthermore, as a result of his remarkable returns on the pitch, the 21-year-old starlet now boasts a market valuation that is already £25.5m greater than the £27m Arsenal paid for his services just three years ago – an astonishing 94% increase.

As such, it is clear to see that Edu well and truly hit the jackpot when bringing Salbia to the club back in the summer of 2019, as not only has the defender become a key part of Arteta’s starting XI but he is also an extremely valuable financial asset for the Gunners – with a new deal for the Frenchman now appearing to be an absolute must for the club in the coming weeks.

All the signs were pointing towards Andre Green having a good career at Aston Villa when he broke into the first team at Villa Park but the exciting winger now finds himself in Slovakia after failing to live up to his potential.

Green, who was a product of Villa’s academy, first started to catch the eye of Villa fans when Tim Sherwood promised to make him a part of his Premier League plans in 2015 before a pre-season injury derailed his progress into the first team.

Sherwood was a huge fan of the young winger and even likened him to legendary forward Ronaldo because of his ability to beat a man.

He said: “I love Andre. He’s got ridiculous pace and goes past people like Ronaldo used to. It’s as if they’re not there. He’s got great ability but has been unfortunate with a few injuries.”

A 17-year-old Green would make two substitute appearances in the Premier League for Villa in the 2015/16 campaign before playing a much more significant role in the Championship the following season.

However, in 17 appearances that season, he failed to contribute a single goal or assist, while he would manage his first Villa goal the following season, but made just seven appearances in all competitions.

He was subsequently sent on loan to Portsmouth for the first half of the 2017/18 campaign and found his feet on the south coast, hitting five goals in 12 appearances before returning to Villa Park.

Unfortunately, he was unable to replicate that form in the Championship and finished his Villa career with just two goals and one assist in 48 appearances, before his release in 2020 following disappointing loan spells with Preston North End and Charlton Athletic.

Green would sign for Sheffield Wednesday for the 2020/21 campaign but failed to score in any of his 15 appearances for the Owls as they were relegated to League One.

It was then when the former Villa man made the brave decision to join Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia, and while the standard of football there is a far cry from the Premier League, he certainly seems to be enjoying himself in central Europe.

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The now 24-year-old has 19 goals and seven assists in 55 appearances, which includes six goals in European competitions, something he would never have played in had he remained in England.

While it is disappointing that Green didn’t live up to his potential with Villa and the club were right to release him, it is good to see the Englishman finding his feet abroad.

Journalist and Sunderland supporter Josh Bunting was left praising the performance of Patrick Roberts as the Black Cats won 2-1 at home to Wigan Athletic.

The Lowdown: Back on track

Tony Mowbray’s side got themselves back on track in the thrilling race for promotion at the Stadium of Light with their first win in five games in the Championship.

There were a few standout performances for the home side, including the returning Dennis Cirkin, who bagged himself a goal and an assist, but Roberts was singled out for special praise by Bunting for his performance.

The Latest: Roberts praise

Taking to Twitter, Bunting was full of praise for the ex-Manchester City winger, claiming that the 25-year-old was ‘unplayable’ and that Latics wing-back James McClean had a ‘nightmare’ up against him.

The journalist also praised Amad Diallo’s display, stating: “Patrick Roberts man of the match by a mile today, he ran the show and James McClean defensively had a total nightmare up against him, he was unplayable, but Amad Diallo made a huge difference, injected a spark and had Wigan worried every time he picked up possession.”

The Verdict: Standout performer

Even though Roberts may not have grabbed as many headlines as Cirkin, seeing as as he did not score or get an assist, he was certainly one of Sunderland’s standout performers on the day.

The winger won a mammoth 12 duels, more than any other player on the pitch, while he also recorded a game-high seven successful dribbles, one key pass and an 83% pass accuracy (SofaScore).

Nonetheless, if Roberts can maintain this level of performances, then it will certainly help the Black Cats’ chances of back-to-back promotions and a return to the Premier League.

Newcastle United are currently sitting in the top four in the Premier League table after a fantastic start to the 2022/23 campaign under Eddie Howe.

The Magpies have accrued 21 points from 12 games and are above Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea as it stands, although they have played one game more than all three of those.

Howe’s men have won four of their last five matches in the top flight and are on a terrific run of form which currently has them in contention to finish in a European place.

However, the club’s superb results in the league this season may not stop Dan Ashworth from dipping into the transfer market to improve the squad further in January.

It was recently reported that the Magpies are keen on a deal to sign Christian Pulisic from Chelsea for €45m (£39m), as the 24-year-old is unhappy with his lack of game-time at Stamford Bridge under Graham Potter.

Signing the USA international from the Blues could allow Ashworth to finally ditch one of Newcastle’s biggest underperformers in recent years, namely Jacob Murphy.

The £35k-per-week dud has produced one goal and zero assists in 12 appearances in the Premier League this season, after managing one goal and two assists in 33 outings last term playing as a winger and a full-back at times.

Pulisic has only started twice in the top flight in 2022/23 but he caught the eye last season with six goals and two assists in 13 starts for Chelsea.

Previously speaking about the competition for his place in the Chelsea team, Hakim Ziyech hailed the former Borussia Dortmund man by saying: “Kai (Havertz) and Timo (Werner) are two big talents, they have proved it at their clubs before. Christian is one of the biggest talents. They have a lot of quality.

“Christian has been here a season longer, and you can see what he is capable of doing on the pitch. He is a crazy winger. It is really exciting to work with them and I can’t wait to be on the pitch, fully fit and doing our thing.”

The American forward’s best season for Chelsea came in the 2019/20 campaign as he scored nine goals and provided four assists in 25 Premier League games.

At the age of 24, he is also three years younger than Murphy and could have more years in him as a player, whilst holding greater potential to develop and improve.

Coupled with the pair’s respective statistics in the top flight, this suggests that Pulisic could be an upgrade on the Englishman, which would allow Ashworth to finally ditch the former Norwich man after joining the Tyneside club in 2017.