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With the future of West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone looking increasingly uncertain as the season progresses, Valerien Ismael may already be turning his attention away from attempting to convince the 28-year-old to remain at The Hawthorns beyond the end of the campaign and towards sourcing a replacement for the England international.

However, before dipping into the transfer market, it would appear highly advisable for the Frenchman to take a closer look at one of the Baggies’ home-grown talents – in the shape of Josh Griffiths.

Indeed, having been sent out on loan to Cheltenham Town last season, the £450k-rated man highly impressed over his 44 League Two appearances, keeping a whopping 21 clean sheets and making an average of two saves per game.

These returns saw the 20-year-old earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.87, ranking him as the club’s ninth-best performer in the fourth tier of English football.

Upon returning to West Brom this summer, the England U21 international was once again sent on out loan for the 2021/22 campaign, this time to Michael Appleton’s Lincoln City.

And, despite the Imps having something of a bumpy start to the season – winning four, drawing four and losing six of their opening 14 league fixtures – Griffiths has nevertheless turned in a number of impressive performances over his 14 League One appearances, making an average of 2.6 saves per game and averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.72.

Indeed, Appleton has been impressed with what he’s seen from the 20-year-old, stating: “It’s been a difficult start to his campaign, but to come through that type of match [against Rotherham] with crosses and set-pieces raining in on him, shows the type of character he’s got and what sort of goalkeeper he is going to be.”

As such, with yet another season of first-team football behind him, the player Andy Wilcox claimed has a “big future” and believes “one day he could go and play in the Premier League” would appear to be getting ever closer to staking a claim in Ismael’s first-team squad.

And, with Johnstone’s future still appearing to be very much up in the air at present, should the England international indeed leave The Hawthorns at the end of the season, giving the highly-rated Griffiths a shot between the sticks could end up saving the Baggies millions in the transfer market.

In other news: Ismael drops “behind the scenes” January transfer claim that’ll have WBA fans buzzing

West Bromwich Albion are one of several Championship clubs interested in securing the services of Newcastle United youngster Elliot Anderson on a loan deal next season.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to the latest reports from TEAMtalk, who claim that the 19-year-old’s performances on loan at Bristol Rovers have attracted interest from several Championship sides.

West Brom are among the quintet of second-tier clubs keen on the youngster, although, it will not be easy for the Baggies to tie this deal up – with the likes of Middlesborough, Coventry City, Reading and Stoke City all interested in signing the starlet.

Earlier reports also claim that Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End are keeping tabs on the midfielder – making things even tougher from Albion’s perspective.

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton understandably would like to keep Anderson if he can aid the club in securing promotion to League One, though it is understood that Eddie Howe wants the England U19 international to be playing Championship football next season.

Bruce’s goal-scoring solution

The £180k-rated talent has been a key player in the Pirates’ pursuit of promotion, with the 19-year-old establishing himself as a Rovers regular – finding himself in the starting XI 94% of the time.

Anderson, who has had manager Joey Barton waxing lyrical over his performances, has also notched up an impressive total of nine goal contributions in 18 appearances in League Two this season.

The attacking midfielder has since been described as a “superb” player who “gets you off your seat” by the Bristol Rovers boss:

“I think our fans have taken to him because he gets you off your seat. You would be really pleased for him to have the ball for ninety minutes because he’s got such quality.”

Steve Bruce would be right to move for Anderson who looks to be a supreme talent with his ability to score and create goals – something which could well solve the Baggies’ own scoring problems next season.

AND in other news: £10.7m wasted: WBA had howler over “absolute nightmare” who rinsed Peace for 147 weeks

With West Ham United winning just one of their previous six Premier League games and losing centre-backs Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma to serious injuries, this could lead the east London club to splash the cash in the upcoming January transfer window to try and get their season back on track.

Given the injuries to those two, it could be worth the Hammers’ while bringing in a new centre-back to ease the strain on the likes of Craig Dawson and Issa Diop, who are currently the only two natural options for that position in David Moyes’ senior squad.

Get Phillips deal done

Having been linked with a January move for Liverpool centre-back Nathaniel Phillips, who would apparently be available to sign for a fee of £10m, this could be exactly what West Ham need to get their season back on track and push for a top-four place.

Despite not making even one appearance in the league so far this season for the Reds, Phillips ended up as Liverpool’s second-highest rated player last term with an overall performance rating of 7.29/10 according to WhoScored from his 17 league appearances.

The 24-year-old also averaged 4.8 clearances, 1.3 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game, highlighting his defensive talents and capabilities of playing in the Premier League.

To put those numbers into perspective, Ogbonna averaged 4.1 clearances, 0.9 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per league game in 2020/21, showing that the Liverpool colossus has what it takes to rival West Ham’s stalwart defender.

Labelled a “monster” by Jurgen Klopp for his performances last season, Phillips could be just what GSB need to help Moyes solve his central defensive problem at the club as he hopefully is brought in to fill the void left by Ogbonna and Zouma’s long-term absences.

As well as receiving heavy praise for his performances last season from his manager, the 24-year-old – who is currently taking home £19k-per-week according to Salary Sport – also caught the attention of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, who called him “unbelievable.”

Looking ahead to January, signing Phillips should be at the top of West Ham’s and GSB’s priority list for the transfer window to see if he can replicate for the Irons the same standard of defensively strong performances that he delivered for Liverpool last season.

In other news: Moyes should also aim to seal a deal for this Premier League target

A major transfer update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s efforts to bolster their squad this month… 

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Magpies could have a fresh body in the door at some point this week.

The Toon are on the hunt for addition to their squad in the January transfer window and the reporter has offered a ray of hope to supporters hoping to see the club’s third piece of business done in the coming days.

He told Newcastle Fans TV YouTube channel, via This Is Futbol: “At the moment, the focus is on new signings because they need to have new faces, new players and in particular in the defence.

“So I’m told [that the] board, they’re working to have the new centre-back in maybe Wednesday or Thursday, but they want to have him as soon as possible. So I’m sure that Monday/Tuesday will be really busy with the new signings and then outgoings maybe in the final week of the window, they will have some sort of opportunity on this point.”

Fans will love it

Newcastle fans will surely love this update from Romano for several reasons. Firstly, the player coming in by Wednesday or Thursday means that the Toom Army have exciting news to anticipate imminently, whilst it also means that they could see an improved team for their clash with Leeds at the weekend.

The Magpies are in desperate need of further additions to their squad as they attempt to battle their way out of the relegation zone. They are currently 19th in the table and have only won one game in the Premier League all season, indicating that their current team is not good enough for where they want to be.

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This is why fans will love the prospect of the club’s third signing coming in this week, following deals for Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood earlier in the month. It is impossible to say whether or not this prospective signing will be an upgrade on what they already have, but given that Romano has not name-dropped anyone, fans will still be able to look forward to seeing someone who has the potential to come in and improve the team.

Supporters will also be buzzing to see the club strengthen the centre-back position in particular. Only Norwich have conceded more goals than Newcastle in the top flight this season, so the fans will surely be excited to see an attempt to improve their team’s dreadful defensive record.

AND in other news, NUFC could land big Clark upgrade in “incredible” £7.2m-rated beast, he’s a “monster”…

Everton could be set to bring as many as four players to Goodison Park on transfer deadline day.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by David Maddock, with The Mirror journalist revealing on Twitter that, following Frank Lampard’s appointment as the new Everton manager, Farhad Moshiri could be set to sanction last-minute moves for as many as four of the 43-year-old’s transfer targets on Monday.

In his post, Maddock said: “Some complicated negotiations [are] at [an] advanced stage, [Lampard] will have [the] final decision on at least two, possibly three-four new signings on Monday.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how poor Everton have been this season, with the Toffees sitting a mere four points above the relegation zone at present, it is clear that the current playing squad at Goodison Park is in need of much improvement.

One position that undoubtedly looks as if it could do with improving on is that of centre-back, as although Lampard can call upon the likes of Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, Yerry Mina, Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite in the heart of his defence, there is no real standout star amongst this quintet – something that will be required if the former Chelsea boss is to improve a Toffees backline that has already shipped 35 goals this season.

Another position in which Lampard is lacking any real strength in depth is attacking midfield, something which has led to the club being linked with late moves for Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek, Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli and Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Should the three or four players who Maddock suggests could be on their way to Goodison be in either of these two positions, they will undoubtedly be signings that will have Everton fans buzzing – as, not only would strengthening in the aforementioned areas help to steer the Toffees clear of the drop, they could well be enough to fire the club back to the top half of the Premier League table come May.

In other news – Forget Iwobi: Lamps may save Everton’s season by signing “intelligent” £18m-rated ace

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Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to react after Calciomercato exclusively revealed that the club is keen to agree a €25m deal for Sampdoria centre-back Joachim Andersen.

The Dane is currently one of the best performing defenders in Serie A and has attracted the north London club’s interest as a result of his fine showings.

One would assume that the Lilywhites are searching for Toby Alderweireld’s replacement, due to serious doubts over his future beyond this season.

Despite tying the Belgian international down to a new contract recently until 2020, the fresh terms have seen a £25m release clause implemented into the former Ajax man’s deal, which could be seen as somewhat of a compromise after the 29-year-old rejected the offer of a long-term contract and was expected to leave in the summer.

Consequently, the interest in Andersen comes at a time when Alderweireld will be free to leave if any club meets his fairly achievable release clause, and Spurs fans have taken to Twitter to react to the transfer news…

Tottenham are thought to be leading the likes of Leeds and West Ham in the race to sign Fulham teenager Fabio Carvalho, according to TEAMtalk.

The Lowdown: Carvalho profiled

Described as having immense on-ball running speed, Carvalho is 19 years of age and is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play on either wing.

He’s made 13 senior appearances for Fulham, seven of which have come this season. Carvalho netted once in the Premier League last season and has scored three times during the current campaign – he has recently rejected a new contract at Craven Cottage.

The Englishman’s deal expires next summer and he is set to change agent in the New Year, and it seems as if Spurs and Fabio Paratici are looking to add him to Antonio Conte’s squad.

The Latest: Spurs leading the way

TEAMtalk shared an update regarding Carvalho on Thursday, claiming that Spurs, along with Liverpool and Southampton, are leading the Premier League chase for the teenager following initial interest from Leeds and West Ham.

European clubs Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, Monaco, Porto and Real Madrid are also keen on Carvalho, who was labelled as ‘lively’ by former boss Scott Parker.

The Verdict: Exciting move?

With ten clubs – including Champions League giants like Liverpool and Real Madrid – seemingly interested in Carvalho’s services, a switch to north London would surely be seen as a major coup for Paratici and Spurs in the long run.

Although he may not be ready for top-flight action under Conte straight away given his age, you’d expect he could develop into a first-team player under the leadership of the Italian.

He was involved in 52 goals for Fulham’s Under-18’s and 23’s before breaking into the first team and has progressed through England’s youth system through to the Under-18’s, so winning the race in a cut-price deal could be a great move.

In other news: Ball lost 38 times, 0 crosses, just 3 tackles: 3 Spurs players struggled in Conte’s first game. 

According to a report from Calciomercato, Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte was watching Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku in UEFA Champions League action this week. 

The lowdown: Lukaku’s struggles

Signed from Inter Milan for £97.5million (Sky Sports), Lukaku has struggled to recapture the form shown in Italy since arriving back in the Premier League.

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The 28-year-old ended the 2020/21 Serie A title-winning season as the second top goalscorer under Spurs’ boss Conte with 24 strikes to his name.

However, following just five league goals on a return to Stamford Bridge, a quick exit could already be on the cards and Tottenham could be in the mix…

The latest: Friends reunited?

As per the report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, Conte was in attendance as Chelsea went down 3-1 to Real Madrid on Wednesday night (April 6).

It’s claimed that as the summer transfer window approaches a return to the Nerazzurri is a possibility for the Belgian star, as is ‘finding his former coach’ in Conte at Tottenham.

Whilst the reasons for the Italian’s visit could be unrelated, the report states that the presence of the Lilywhites boss didn’t go ‘unnoticed’ as Lukaku squandered two big chances in a disappointing 26-minute cameo (Sofascore).

The verdict: An unlikely move

Despite the perceived woes of this season, the 101-cap ace has still managed 12 goals and two assists from 36 appearances across all competitions – earning the tag of ‘world class’ from Thomas Tuchel following a match-winner against Zenit St. Petersburg.

Should speculation surrounding the future of Harry Kane ramp up once again, Spurs may enter the market for a high-profile frontman in order to replace their talismanic striker.

Conte would undoubtedly welcome the 6 foot 3 powerhouse to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium squad with open arms were that the case, although signing an elite player from London rivals is difficult to envisage despite the off-field issues at Chelsea.

In other news: Italian newspaper makes Tottenham transfer claim…find out more here.

Keith Downie has revealed that talks are now at an ‘advanced’ stage between Newcastle United and Reims for the potential signing of Hugo Ekitike.

The Lowdown: Howe ‘pushing’

As per 90 min journalist Graeme Bailey, Eddie Howe is now ‘pushing’ the Magpies to sign Ekitike, and ideally wanted him to be signed before they play Watford at home in the Premier League this weekend, but of course he would not have been registered in time.

Nonetheless, they can still get a deal done in time for when they face Leeds United away from home next week, which is another huge match at the bottom of the division.

The Latest: Talks ‘advanced’

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, Sky Sports journalist Downie has revealed that talks are now ‘advanced’ to sign Ekitike in the January transfer window, and there is not too much of a gap between valuations for the player:

“From what I’m hearing, the talks are quite advanced with him.

“There’s maybe not too much of a gap between what Newcastle are offering and what his club are asking for.”

The Verdict: Sign now

With Chris Wood already arriving at St. James’ Park, he offers the immediate injection of top-flight experience needed up top in the absence of Callum Wilson.

Thus, the club can sign a young player for the future in Ekitike with a bit less pressure, and the 19-year-old is a very exciting prospect indeed.

Bailey has claimed himself that the starlet is an ‘outstanding talent‘, and cited that a lot of people in French football believe that he could even turn out to be the ‘next Mbappe‘.

Nonetheless, with eight goals and three assists in Ligue 1 already this season (Transfermarkt), he is already performing at a level beyond his years, and so would surely relish the challenge to play in the Premier League.

In other news, find out which alternative centre-back targets NUFC have now lined up here!

Leeds United pair Junior Firpo and Jamie Shackleton are unlikely to be available to face Tottenham, coming after Patrick Bamford and Luke Ayling were already ruled out.

The Lowdown: Leeds take on Spurs

The Whites return to Premier League action after the international break this weekend, making the trip to Spurs on Sunday afternoon.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side drew 1-1 at home to Leicester City in their last outing and now haven’t lost in their last three league games.

Avoiding defeat against Spurs would be another positive step in the right direction, but their injury woes have not exactly eased, with Ayling and Bamford both certain to miss out, and now more worrying news emerging before the big clash.

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The Latest: Hay makes injury claim

Two more players who look likely to miss out on Sunday are Firpo and Shackleton, with Hay taking to Twitter to confirm that the pair are not ready fitness-wise:

“Firpo is doing well, just needs minutes, Bielsa says. Shackleton is in the same situation (doesn’t sound like either will be involved on Sunday).”

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The Verdict: Full-back dilemma

Should Firpo and Shackleton miss out, it leaves Leeds horribly light in the full-back department, with the latter impressing at right-back of late and making five league starts this season.

Stuart Dallas will almost certainly fill one of the full-back spots – presumably right-back – while Pascal Stuijk could fill in at left-back, as was the case against Leicester.

It’s far from ideal however, with neither player really a natural on the flanks, while Firpo’s left-foot offers proper width on that side when he is available – the Spaniard’s possible return was labelled as ‘crucial’ by Danny Mills this week, so his absence is a major concern.

In other news, one key Leeds figure is delighted with a Whites injury update. Read more here.