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Wolverhampton Wanderers will need to find their goalscoring form in the second half of the season in order to preserve their Premier League status.

The Old Gold have scored just eight league goals this season, the lowest in the top flight and Julen Lopetegui faces a challenge in order to find a tune from his side’s goal-shy attacking department.

With the January transfer market looming on the horizon, Wolves might be able to ditch one of these players, as according to BILD, Borussia Monchengladbach are interested in signing Hee-chan Hwang to replace the inevitable departure of Marcus Thuram.

The South Korea international joined the Molineux side initially on loan from RB Leipzig back in the summer of 2021, before signing permanently for a £14m fee in January this year.

Since then, he has scored just one goal, against Arsenal in February this year, before going 13 matches in the current campaign without scoring.

It’s an extremely disappointing return, especially considering the outlay Bruno Lage spent to keep him at the club, and Lopetegui will surely be looking at considering whatever offer comes in for the 26-year-old.

A WhoScored rating of just 6.15/10 ranks the forward a lowly 21st in the Wolves squad, while he has only started three times in the Premier League.

Even when he did make an appearance, the player failed to jump on his opportunity and convince either Lage or Steve Davis that he deserved more game time. Hwang managed just three shots on target in the league while chipping in with a solitary assist.

He doesn’t appear to be the saviour that the club urgently requires in order to solve their current problems in front of goal and a move back to the Bundesliga in January might be the best move for both parties going forward.

The decision to sign him permanently will surely go down as a major Lage mistake and the club has been paying for it ever since.

Tottenham Hotspur are well aware of Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

The north Londoners have long been linked with a move for the South Korean colossus, who is currently competing alongside Heung-min Son at the World Cup in Qatar, ever since his days at Beijing Guoan.

Despite moving to Super Lig giants Fenerbahce and more recently to Napoli, the 26-year-old appears to very much still be on the Lilywhites’ radar.

Earlier this month, Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb suggested that Spurs had ‘concrete interest’ in Min-jae but Gli Azzurri president Aurelio De Laurentiis was prepared to do everything to keep him in Naples, although he is thought to be valued in excess of €50m (£42.8m).

Now, speaking to Football FanCast, the reliable journalist has given his thoughts.

“Spurs wanted him two or three years ago,” he said.

“He’s very well known at Tottenham and wrongly, I think people looked at him as just bringing in a friend of Sonny’s.

“He’s really impressed for Napoli, whether they’re going to renew that interest [in January], I don’t know but the club are more than aware of him and have tried to pursue him in the past.”

Indeed, the 6 foot 3 colossus has been in fine form for the Serie A leaders, resulting in his presence at the World Cup.

As per WhoScored, Min-jae is Luciano Spalletti’s highest-rated centre-back for the season so far (seven or more starts) and he also leads the way for clearances per game and only one midfielder in the whole squad has a better passing success rate, meaning he’s not just defensively sound as he is evidently adept with the ball at his feet, too.

The South Korean sensation has been nicknamed as the “monster” and even lauded as “one of the best in the world” by his teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, so it’s clear that Spurs may have missed out massively in the past.

That said, they should still look to pursue the centre-back in 2023 as he could be a very valuable addition to Antonio Conte’s squad – you only have to imagine him alongside someone like Cristian Romero to realise the potential that could have.

Therefore, sporting director Fabio Paratici must launch a move for Min-jae at the turn of the year. He may have to pay more than what Spurs could’ve three years ago but given his form and the glowing endorsements from those around him, the 26-year-old would be a wise investment.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has confirmed that Kemar Roofe has picked up another injury for Glasgow Rangers which will rule him out for a couple of weeks.

The Lowdown: Injury problems

Roofe has been suffering from a knee injury carried over from last season, but did make his return in the 1-0 win at home to Dundee in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals earlier this month.

He then made another substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw at home to Livingston in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, but has seemingly picked up a fresh injury as he looked to build up his fitness.

The Latest: Couple of weeks out

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match against Aberdeen at Ibrox this afternoon, Van Bronckhorst has confirmed that Roofe has picked up another injury, which will rule him out for the next couple of weeks:

“Kemar (Roofe) has picked up an injury so will be missing for a couple weeks.”

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The Verdict: Time to go…

Given that his injury problems are not new, and that he is 29 years of age, the Gers need to consider letting Roofe go over the next couple of transfer windows.

The striker can still offer something to the team, after all he finished as the club’s third-top scorer with 16 goals in all competitions last term, but if he cannot get a run of games together, then it is simply not worth it for the number of injuries that he picks up.

New signing Antonio Colak has settled in very quickly at the Light Blues, with 13 goals in his first 20 games, and so Roofe is almost just a squad player now even when fit.

Nonetheless, his current contract runs out in 2024, so the Teddy Bears have a decision to make over whether to keep a seemingly injury-prone player at the club for longer.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will be under huge pressure if his team were to lose to Nottingham Forest tonight, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Huge game for Villa

The Villans make the trip to the City Ground, with both teams near the bottom of the Premier League table and badly in need of points.

For Gerrard, it is a vital game – less so than for Steve Cooper, who he has just signed a new deal – and the ex-Liverpool captain will surely be aware of reports that the club are already looking at possible successors.

Many Villa fans have been losing patience with the results and football on show, and another defeat against out-of-sorts Forest could spell real trouble for him.

The Latest: Gerrard under pressure

That’s certainly the opinion of Jones, who told GiveMeSport that a defeat on Monday night would really crank up the pressure on Gerrard.

The journalist said:

“The only way he’s going to win over these sections of fans is with results and certainly with wins over teams like Forest, who they would expect to be beating in this division. If they did lose to Forest, I think that Gerrard would be under pressure.”

The Verdict: Must not lose

This certainly feels like a must-not-lose game for Villa, considering that they are up against another struggling team who have shipped five consecutive defeats to slump to the foot of the table.

After failing to get the better of 10-man Leeds in their last outing, more dropped points here would likely lead to even more Villa supporters calling for Gerrard’s head.

A win would be just what the doctor ordered, giving the 42-year-old a little more breathing space and suggesting that he might still be the right man to take the team forward this season.

Newcastle United remain interested in making a move for Leeds United winger Jack Harrison in the near future, according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Newcastle eyeing up Harrison

The Magpies acquired newfound wealth after their big-money takeover just under a year ago, allowing more funds to be available for new signings moving forward.

Harrison is a player who has been linked with a move to Newcastle throughout the summer transfer window and beyond, with the Englishman ultimately remaining at Leeds beyond deadline day.

It’s a rumour which is refusing to go away, though, which suggests that the Magpies’ interest is genuine.

The Latest: Jacobs shares Harrison claim

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs claimed that Newcastle “really like” the idea of acquiring Harrison’s signature.

He stated:

“Another player Newcastle have in mind for that sort of creative position is Jack Harrison and he’s another one they really like. Let’s see what happens there.

“Leeds have always been very determined that they won’t sell because they got the money for Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.”

The Verdict: Great squad option

Harrison has been an excellent player for Leeds during a great period in their recent history, providing pace and energy out wide and helping himself to 17 goals and 12 assists in the Premier League.

At 25, he is at a prime age in terms of his peak being ahead of him while also having a decent volume of top-level experience, and he would provide Eddie Howe with another strong wide option, giving the 44-year-old the squad depth that he craves.

YouTuber David Brown has described Harrison as a ‘joke’, given his quality, and if a move to Newcastle appeals to him in January or next summer, it makes perfect sense for PIF to try and get it done.

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Leicester City midfielder Boubakary Soumare recently, and the Frenchman could be a superb addition to Patrick Vieira’s midfield.

What’s the word?

Recent reports have claimed that both the Eagles and Nottingham Forest could offer the 23-year-old an exit route from the King Power Stadium after a difficult first season at the club.

In a recent interview with Football FanCast, journalist Pete O’Rourke shared his thoughts on Palace’s potential move for Soumare.

He said: “The French connection is there as well, so I think this could deal could work out for everybody. It would work out for Crystal Palace as they would get a top player in while Leicester could bring in some funds to strengthen the squad. It could be a good fit.”

Should Palace sign Soumare?

While Soumare’s first season in England didn’t exactly go to plan, he was highly regarded during his time at Lille, having been considered one of Ligue 1’s ‘breakout talents’ of 2019/20, and he could perhaps rediscover his mojo with regular game-time at Selhurst Park.

Last season saw the 23-year-old make just 19 appearances in the Premier League, scoring no goals and contributing one assist, for which he averaged a disappointing 6.41 rating from WhoScored.

However, the 2020/21 campaign saw him make 32 appearances in Ligue 1 as he helped Lille to win the title, earning an impressive 6.76 rating for his performances.

This would indicate that he can be an influential player when he is trusted by his manager to start regularly, and at just 23, he still has plenty of time to adapt to the Premier League and reach the potential which earned him the aforementioned ‘breakout talent’ billing.

While Palace have already brought in Cheick Doucoure for £21m this summer, the likes of Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur are into the twilight of their careers, so Vieira could do with younger options in the middle of the park.

As O’Rourke suggests, the French connection between Soumare and Vieira could be crucial in any potential deal for the Leicester man. If the Eagles manager can get the young midfielder playing anything like he did at Lille, it would surely be worth Palace spending the £17m reportedly required to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Scottish champions Celtic could be set to receive a welcome financial bonus, according to the latest reports.

What’s the word?

As per the Daily Record, the Premiership giants are in line to benefit from any potential move for former Parkhead star Moussa Dembele, having included a sell-on clause as part of the Frenchman’s move to Lyon four years ago.

The 26-year-old – who originally joined the Glasgow club for a £500k compensation fee from Fulham in 2016 – is currently facing an uncertain future at the Ligue 1 outfit, with just one year remaining on his existing deal.

With reports suggesting that Manchester United – among others – are interested in landing the striker, the suggestion is that the Hoops could be in line for a sizeable windfall from any potential sale, due to their sell-on fee.

With the forward’s current club looking for a figure above or around the £20m that they paid to land him in 2018, as per the report, Ange Postecoglou and co could be set to recoup around £3m.

Can fund ‘hectic’ end to transfer window

That potential windfall rests on whether or not the former France under-21 international leaves his current club, but should he do so, it could provide valuable extra funds to help with Celtic’s transfer dealings in the remainder of the window.

Title-winning coach Postecoglou has already hinted that it could be a “hectic” period before the September deadline, with the 56-year-old suggesting that there are still “one or two areas” that he would like to address.

The former Yokohama F Marinos boss has already overseen seven major deals so far this summer, although three of those – Cameron Carter-Vickers, Daizen Maeda and Jota – ensured a permanent stay of players who had already been at the club on loan last season.

As such, it is no real surprise that further deals could potentially be in the works, with Postecoglou likely to be keen on bolstering his squad ahead of the start of their Champions League group stage campaign next month.

One name who has dominated discussion of late is Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley, with reports suggesting that Celtic have made an offer to secure the 28-year-old’s services.

Although there are concerns over their ability to meet the Englishman’s potentially sizeable wage demands, the addition of extra funds from a possible Dembele transfer could well prove invaluable, with the Hoops no doubt hoping that their former talisman can demand a hefty fee before the window closes.

West Ham United have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Dan-Axel Zagadou to the London Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet CalcioMercatoWeb, who claim that, following the centre-back’s release from Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season, and with the likes of West Ham, AS Roma and Inter Milan reported to be interested in the 23-year-old’s signing, the former France U21 international has now decided he would like a move to the Premier League.

Real boost for Moyes

While it is true that, following his 2017 move to Dortmund, Zagadou struggled with a number of different injuries, should the centre-back manage to keep himself fit after a potential switch to east London this summer, it is undeniable that the Frenchman would make a fantastic addition to David Moyes’ current options at the back.

Indeed, the £8.1m-rated centre-back proved just how talented a defender he truly is over his 15 Bundesliga appearances back in Dortmund’s 2019/20 campaign, helping his side keep five clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.1 tackles, one interception, 2.3 clearances and winning 3.2 duels – at a success rate of 72% – per game.

The 23-year-old also impressed going forwards that season, scoring one goal, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 50.3 passes – at a success rate of 91% – 4.1 accurate long balls and 0.4 dribbles per fixture.

These returns saw the £35k-per-week Frenchman who Lucien Favre dubbed “outstanding” and Julian Brandt labelled “unbelievable” average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.25, ranking him as Dortmund’s sixth-best performer in the top flight of German football that year.

As such, with Zagadou quite clearly being a defender who is excellent in his reading of the game, confident in playing the ball out from the back and capable of launching counter-attacks with long balls, it is not difficult to see why Moyes would be interested in bringing the defender to the London Stadium on a free this summer.

And, following the latest developments, it would appear as if the 23-year-old has his heart set on a move to England prior to September’s transfer deadline – something that is sure to come as a huge boost to the 59-year-old Scot and his Hammers transfer team.

The agent of Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga is set to be in Milan for talks in the ‘next few hours’, claims Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

The Lowdown: Tanganga’s place at Spurs

The 23-year-old has struggled to nail down a place in the Lilywhites’ starting XI, having been in-and-out of the team after breaking through under Jose Mourinho.

In the opening 23 game-weeks of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, the centre-back made 11 appearances, often in various positions. However, he then suffered from a serious knee injury, keeping him out of action until the end of the season.

As a result, his future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium remains up in the air, with a number of exit rumours doing the rounds this ummer.

The Latest: Di Marzio’s news

Tanganga has recently been linked with loan moves to Serie A giants AC Milan and also to newly promoted Premier League outfit Bournemouth.

Building on this, Di Marzio has now shared the latest news regarding the Spurs player’s future. Taking to Twitter, the journalist claimed: “Tanganga agent in Milan in the next few hours.”

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The Verdict: Good move for him

Following the loan arrival of Clement Lenglet from Barcelona, the 23-year-old has fallen even further down Antonio Conte’s pecking order.

Therefore, if the defender is keen to receive regular first-team minutes in hope of an England call-up, a move away from N17 would be the best move for his career.

He could then follow in the steps of Fikayo Tomori, who has seriously impressed in Italy since his Milan switch in 2021.

Previously described as a ‘really special’ player by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, it would be a waste to see Tanganga sit on Spurs’ bench week in, week-out, making this a good move for the youngster.

Tottenham Hotspur may have taken a step closer to signing Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet as they have presented a loan offer, according to reports in Spain.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye new defender deal…

Lilywhites head coach Antonio Conte, guiding his side to a top four Premier League finish last season, has apparently earmarked the signing of a new central defender for his back three.

Indeed, after sealing a trio of deals for Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma, the Italian is allegedly targeting a right-wing-back, forward and centre-half as he gears up for his first full season in charge.

Lenglet, as per recent reports, is a target for transfer chief Fabio Paratici with another claim out of Spain now sharing the latest news on his potential capture.

The Latest: Lenglet ‘close to agreeing’ Tottenham transfer…

Indeed, an outlet from the Iberian peninsula have come out with an interesting update.

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They state that Lenglet ‘would be close to agreeing to go on loan to Tottenham’ after the north Londoners presented an ‘offer’ to the player days go.

Spurs have allegedly given the 27-year-old an ultimatum to give a definitive answer this week, and the report adds he knows that his ‘best destination’ could be England.

 The Verdict: Last resort…

Given the club’s links to other highly sought-after central defensive stars, like Torino mainstay Gleison Bremer and before that Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, we believe Lenglet should come as a last resort.

The £97,000-per-week defender has struggled to assert himself in the Barcelona first team with a lack of starts over the last campaign and Conte could arguably do better with world class alternatives like Bremer.