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Journalist Alasdair Gold has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur player Ryan Sessegnon is “absolutely devastated” after picking up a hamstring injury.

What’s the latest on Sessegnon’s injury at Spurs?

It was a pretty bad day for Spurs on Saturday as they were thumped 4-1 away from home against Leicester City. Things were going poorly before the game even kicked off, however.

Indeed, Sessegnon was said to be out of the match-day squad entirely with a supposed injury. Since then, it has become clear that the defender is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Gold revealed that the player would be out for “at least six weeks” and that this development has left the player extremely disappointed.

The journalist explained: “Ryan Sessegnon, somehow, in a training session – whether it was the next day, it was certainly pretty close to the game – another hamstring injury.

“Honestly… another hamstring injury, and from what I understand, it is going to keep him out for at least six weeks.”He added: “I’m just gutted for Ryan Sessegnon. I know he’s absolutely devastated by this. 22 years old, poor kid. It just seems to be his thing, hamstring problems.”What does the Sessegnon injury mean for Spurs?Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has trusted Sessegnon fairly regularly so far this season, with the 22-year-old playing 23 games across all competitions already.However, the Italian may have some concerns about the player’s long-term fitness. After all, despite his young age, he has already suffered multiple hamstring injuries and has spent periods on the sidelines before due to various other issues throughout his time in north London and at Fulham before then.In the meantime, it looks as though Ivan Perisic will have to play the bulk of the games on the left side of the Tottenham defence over the coming weeks. He had mostly been sharing minutes with Sessegnon in that role, but the 34-year-old likely won’t get much rest from now on – although Ben Davies also fill in at left-back if Conte opted to change to a back four.

Everton are reportedly now set to lose out on the signing of free agent Andre Ayew to Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.

The Lowdown: Ayew talks

The Toffees have reportedly been in talks to try and sign Ayew, who can move outside of the transfer window as a free agent.

The Goodison Park outfit failed to strengthen their squad in January, and also sold winger Anthony Gordon to Newcastle United, meaning that their squad is weaker going into the second part of the season as they face another relegation battle.

The Latest: Forest set to win race

As per The Daily Mail, Forest are now ‘set to win the race’ for Ayew, as he would prefer to move to the City Ground over the Toffees.

The Merseyside club could back come back into the equation if Forest decided against a move, but Ayew is currently keen to move to Forest and reunite with his former manager Steve Cooper, who he played under at Swansea City.

The Verdict: Big blow

If Sean Dyche’s side were to lose out on Ayew to Forest, then it would be another big blow in terms of trying to strengthen their squad for the second part of the campaign.

Once hailed as a ‘game changer’ by his manager Slaven Bilic during his time at West Ham United, Ayew is vastly experienced at Premier League level, having scored 21 times and made a further 12 assists in 89 games over three terms for both the Hammers and Swansea (Transfermarkt).

The 33-year-old would also bring leadership to the pitch, having captained Ghana at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, also scoring the first goal from an African team at the tournament.

With 177 strikes for both club and country combined over the course of his career, Ayew knows where the back of the net is, and the Blues are in desperate need of some help in the attacking third being the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League.

Nonetheless, it would be a real disappointment if Everton were to lose out on this deal.

Arsenal are reportedly on the ‘trail’ of Juventus central midfielder Weston McKennie ahead of a potential move.

The Lowdown: Kiwior signs

After Leandro Trossard walked through the doors at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal have confirmed the signing of central defender Jakub Kiwior from Serie A side Spezia.

With over a week of the transfer window still to go, the Gunners may not have finished there in terms of incomings, and will certainly want as strong of a squad as possible to help challenge for the Premier League title.

The Latest: McKennie interest

As per Italian news outlet Gazzetta, Mikel Arteta’s side are on the ‘trail’ of McKennie, and Juventus are willing to negotiate offers of between €20-25m (£17.5-22m) plus bonuses for him.

However, the likes of Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco have also been mentioned as possible destinations for the USA international.

The Verdict: Squad depth!

Although the North London club are building a healthy squad at the moment with the arrivals of Trossard and Kiwior, they could do with some more cover in the middle of the park.

Mohamed Elneny has picked up another injury, which has ruled him out of the last injury-prone in the past.

Lauded as a ‘monster‘ in the air by football writer Wes Tucker, and a ‘pressing machine‘ by journalist Chris Smith, McKennie is rated very highly, and at 24 years of age, has not reached his full potential.

The six-foot-one colossus ranks in the 84th percentile for non-penalty goals, 85th for touches, 88th for progressive passes received and 75th for blocks per match for all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year (FBRef), and would provide sufficient cover in case any more midfield injuries creep up for the Gunners.

Much of Newcastle United’s success so far this term has been built on their rock-solid defensive unit, with manager Eddie Howe having fashioned an almost impenetrable outfit in recent months.

Currently the best defence in the Premier League – having shipped just 11 goals in 18 top-flight games thus far – the Magpies have appeared much improved compared to recent seasons, having notably conceded 62 times in the league alone last term.

Despite that remarkable turnaround in fortunes, the Tynesiders may be looking to bolster their backline even further with the addition of another centre-back recruit, with recent reports in France claiming that RC Lens star, Kevin Danso, could be on the agenda.

The report claims that the 24-year-old is a player that Howe and co are ‘interested’ in at present, with a move potentially on the cards at the end of the season, should the Ligue 1 outfit receive an offer of around €40m (£35m).

Although Newcastle do already have a reliable centre-back pairing in Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, the fact that the latter man has just 18 months remaining on his current deal could ensure that he is not a long-term option for the top-four hopefuls.

As such, the St James’ Park outfit could potentially form a monstrous defensive duo involving summer signing Botman and reported target, Danso, with that youthful, left foot, right foot combination likely to blossom in the years to come.

In the case of the Austrian international, the 6 foot 3 rock has been particularly impressive in the current campaign in France, having averaged 1.1 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game from his 17 league starts, while also winning 77% of his aerial duels as a marker of his physical prowess.

The one-time Southampton loanee has also recorded eight clean sheets in that time, while also helping to blunt Kylian Mbappe and co in the recent 3-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

That shock triumph saw Danso win four of his five total duels on the night and record six clearances in what was a truly commanding performance, showcasing his ability to flourish against such elite opposition.

Bringing that “powerful” asset to England – as described by Saints journalist Adam Leitch – could well help Howe to find a perfect partner to Botman, with the Dutchman also offering a towering presence at the heart of the defence as a result of his 6 foot 4 frame.

The former Lille titan has made a “huge difference” to the Magpies since his £35m switch, as per journalist Josh Bunting, having been truly “colossal” at times in the early months of the campaign, according to Bunting.

The 22-year-old has kept seven clean sheets from his 16 league appearances so far this term, while also winning 66% of his aerial duels and 70% of his ground duels to illustrate just how effective he has been.

The pair can also provide a real threat at the other end of the pitch with Botman ranking in the top 7% in Europe among those in his position for touches in the attacking penalty area, while Danso ranks in the top 3% for assists made.

Having such an all-round partnership would no doubt be a real bonus for Howe, hence the need to get the Lens machine through the door.

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on a January transfer for Stade Rennais’ Martin Terrier, who is considered to be one of Ligue 1’s most prolific forwards. 

United are making progress under Erik ten Hag, albeit not the finished article, and there is an overarching feeling within the club that a continuation of newfound cohesion and a further calculated signing could lift the club to the upper echelon of European outfits.

There is still work to be done, and the rancorous exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, terminating his contract after an impassioned interview with Piers Morgan, has left a hole in the offensive third.

And now, according to Media Foot, Ten Hag has been in contact with the player’s representatives, with the club delving into the possibility of striking a reported £34m deal.

He’s “a-la Thierry Henry”

The Red Devils, after finishing sixth in the Premier League last term, have made a promising start to life under their Dutch manager and sit in fifth place after 15 matches, just one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and with a game in hand.

A talisman would certainly go a long way, and while the Theatre of Dreams is host to offensive prowess aplenty, there is something missing, something that could boost the ascension back to a place at the very front of the pack.

Terrier has been in fine form this season, scoring 11 goals and serving four assists from just 20 appearances, including three in six in the Europa League.

And last year in Ligue 1, the 25-year-old’s 21 strikes were bettered only by Wissam Ben Yedder and the imperious Kylian Mbappe. 

There is a clear indication that the gem would arrive at Old Trafford with an abundance of goals in tow, slotting into the fold without seam. 

With his dynamism allowing him to flourish both as a central striker and as an inside forward, cutting in from the left flank, Terrier bears eye-catching semblance to one Thierry Henry, whose 228 goals and 103 in 376 appearances for Arsenal sit in tandem with two Premier League trophies and three FA Cup’s – left his iconic status etched perpetually into English footballing lore.

Illustrating the similarity between the two players, European football writer Tim Williams once said this:  

“He’s a very quick, left-sided right-footed attacking player whose trademark is coming in off the left flank and whipping shots in, a-la Thierry Henry.

“Looking at his age and the phenomenal season he had last season, he will probably think that if he is ever going to make a big move to the Premier League, it’s probably going to be now or never.”

United’s prolonged intrigue in the player also bodes well for the prospect of an eventual bid, with 90min reporting in early November that the outfit had sent scouts to observe his match performance.

Time will tell whether a move comes to fruition, but with such sustained stellar showings, Terrier would certainly be a boost to an ambitious United side’s exploits.

Therefore, Old Trafford chief John Murtough must look to sign the Frenchman when the transfer window reopens for business on January 1st.

Tottenham Hotspur are waiting to find out the availability of one of their top targets…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Dean Jones, who gave his view on the rumours linking Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij to north London.

The Dutchman is entering the final six months of his £117k-per-week deal, with reports suggesting that he could leave for as little as €5m (£4m) in January.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones then claimed: “He’s a contender, we’d have to wait and see. Spurs are waiting really. Inter have offered him a new contract and at the same time, they’re being offered players of their own in case the player does leave.”

Romero masterclass

For Tottenham to dip back into Serie A and pull out another sensational defender could draw comparisons with Fabio Paratici’s transfer masterclass to unearth Cristian Romero.

The Argentine signed for Spurs in a £42m move in 2021 and has become a mainstay in the team, with his bravery and defensive work rate arguably unrivalled in the Premier League.

This is exemplified in his 6.94 average performance rating, which is propped up by his 1.4 interceptions, 2.4 tackles and 2.8 clearances per game (via Sofascore).

Italy is renowned for breeding some of football’s best defenders, and adding another could offer the defensive impetus that Conte needs in order to really enforce his title-winning philosophy on this group.

In De Vrij, the Dutchman has enjoyed a similarly impressive season for the Nerazzurri, boasting two interceptions, one tackle and three clearances per game (via Sofascore). He pairs this with an 88% pass accuracy which suggests that he could become the perfect modern-day defender in England.

The 6 foot 3 titan could probably more than cope with the physical demands placed upon him in the Premier League, with former Lazio teammate Mauricio leading the praise for the 31-year-old by saying: “Stefan is a great defender and deserves to be at a big club. He’s very tall, he’s strong and fast, he runs a lot – he’s a monster!

“He also has excellent technique and knows how to play the ball like few others, and that’s the difference between him and other players. He’s a calm defender who never gets agitated.”

Bringing in another top defender from Italy could see Conte and Paratici repeat Spurs’ earlier success with Romero, bolstering a backline which has conceded the most goals of any team in the Premier League’s top eight so far this term.

Leeds United have been dealt a potential setback to their hopes of securing a move for reported transfer target Raphael Guerreiro. 

The Lowdown: Leeds’ interest in Guerreiro

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Whites are planning to make an approach to sign the full-back from Borussia Dortmund during the upcoming January transfer window.

With the World Cup in Qatar around the corner, this will give the Yorkshire club the chance to potentially see Guerreiro in action for Portugal ahead of the winter market opening for business.

However, it appears that the Elland Road outfit have been dealt a potential blow to their chances of signing the defender.

The Latest: West Ham join Guerreiro transfer race

According to a recent report from Jeunes Footeux, West Ham United have joined the race to sign the 28-year-old from Dortmund in January.

The report adds that the German club have offered a new deal to Guerreiro, who is set to see his current contract expire at the end of June.

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The Verdict: Leeds must be ruthless

Across 206 appearances for Dortmund, Guerreiro has scored 37 goals and delivered 39 assists in the process.

Across his 12 Bundesliga outings this season, he has racked up the third-highest number of key passes (14) and third-highest number of shot-creating actions (32) at the club, highlighting how much of an attacking threat he can offer.

From a defensive point of view, Guerreiro – who has been described in the past by Michael Zorc as being in “exceptionally good shape” – has the fourth-highest combined total of tackles and interceptions (35) in the Dortmund squad.

This showcases just how effective the full-back can be up and down the pitch, which is presumably why Dortmund are keen to keep hold of him and why the likes of Leeds and West Ham want to sign him.

Taking all that into account, we feel that Guerreiro would be a very smart signing for Jesse Marsch’s side and that the club will need to be ruthless in their attempts to sign him in January if they are to prevent the Hammers from beating them to the punch.

Nottingham Forest should consider signing a ‘world beater’ forward like Alexander Isak in January, according to talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor.

The Lowdown: Marinakis’ spending spree

The Reds already splashed the cash on 23 new signings in the summer, but recent reports have suggested that Evangelos Marinakis is planning on spending over £100m in the New Year in a bid to avoid relegation.

The Premier League side still find themselves at rock bottom of the league table after suffering a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal last weekend, with the fresh faces mostly failing to make a proper impact.

The Latest: Go big or go home

Speaking to Football Insider about the alleged £100m kitty, Agbonlahor claimed that Forest should make two big-name signings rather than several low-budget ones, with Newcastle striker Isak name-checked as the ideal profile of player.

“The thing I would do if I was Nottingham Forest with £100million is go and buy a £60million player and a £40million player.

“Not loads of little ones, they’ve got so many players like that.

“Go and buy a world beater who can be that striker who gets you the goals to stay up, for instance. Or that winger who can guarantee goals and assists.

“Nottingham Forest have got a lot of nearly players, for me. A lot of £10million, £15million players. Go and buy players who are going to make a difference.

“Look at Isak, go and get players like that. Players who are going to guarantee you performances.

“Not nearly players, players that have been there and done that.”

The Verdict: Marquee signing needed

Steve Cooper is yet to discover his preferred or strongest starting XI, and given his side’s disappointing start to the season, the need for a marquee striker is obvious.

The Midlands outfit have only netted eight goals in 13 games, making them the second-lowest scoring team in the division, a significant reason as to why they are where they are in the table.

Isak, dubbed ‘The New Zlatan’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored two goals in three games for the Magpies before getting injured, which is the level of consistency required up top, but who Forest will make a swoop for yet remains to be seen.

Newcastle United are reportedly ‘still monitoring’ Armando Broja ahead of a potential loan move in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Broja on new contract

Speaking before Chelsea beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday night, the Albania international claimed that he loves to play for the Blues after signing a new bumper deal in the summer.

The striker has made 15 senior appearances across all competitions so far this season, but has only started in one of those games (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Newcastle ‘still monitoring’ Broja

Taking to Twitter, Ben Jacobs has revealed that Newcastle are ‘still monitoring’ Broja ahead of a potential loan move in January, having been linked with him in the summer.

The CBS Sports journalist said: “Broja getting minutes under Potter. Everton and Newcastle still monitoring in case a loan (with no option) does become available. But it’s not something Potter or Chelsea are planning for right now even if other attackers come in.”

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The Verdict: Sensible…

Signing Broja on loan in January could be a sensible move by the Magpies, considering that Alexander Isak has had injury problems and has been ruled out until after the World Cup in Qatar (Premier Injuries).

Hailed as a striker with ‘incredible pace and strength’ by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, the 6 foot 3 Albanian was a menace on loan at Southampton last season, where he managed nine goals and one assist in all competitions (Transfermarkt).

However, it appears that this may be a difficult deal to execute in January, so Eddie Howe and Newcastle should have other targets prepared in case a move for the Chelsea gem falls through.

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.