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Southampton could sign a ‘surprise name’ before tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Southampton busy…

Throughout deadline day, the south coast club have been linked with the likes of Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana and Genk striker Paul Onuachu.

It has been a very busy morning and afternoon at St Mary’s, with Nathan Jones attempting to add more attackers to his ranks before the deadline.

The Premier League strugglers are among the division’s lowest goalscorers, and it could be necessary for them to add more options in attack.

The Lowdown: Southampton ‘surprise name’ can’t be ruled out…

According to talkSPORT reporter Crook, amid Southampton’s links to both Onuachu and Sulemana, a ‘surprise name’ cannot be ruled out either.

It’s claimed that there are ‘lots of balls in the air’, and Saints supporters may be in for a promising final few hours of the window.

He explained (via Twitter): “#SaintsFC still engaged in talks for Sulemana. Didn’t seem like Onuachu was moving forward last night but lots of balls in the air. Could yet be a surprise name. Pressure on Sport Republic to come up with something in the next 11 hours.”

The Verdict: Exciting…

After the links to Portuguese top-flight star Vitinha, as well, it appears that Southampton supporters may well see more names come out of the woodwork in the final few hours of the transfer window.

Marseille appear to have hijacked the Saints’ bid for Vitinha earlier today, leaving the discussions for Sulemana and Onuachu potentially crucial if Jones wishes to strengthen the Saints’ top-flight survival bid.

Signing an attacker is particularly important, with Southampton currently at the foot of the table and only Everton winning fewer matches than Jones’ side.

The Saints have scored four in their last five matches, with two of those goals coming against the Toffees on January 14 in a 2-1 win at Goodison Park.

Depending on who the ‘surprise name’ may be, supporters may well be hoping it is someone who can make a significant contribution in the final third.

Tottenham Hotspur will pick up talks with Harry Kane in the coming weeks over a potential new deal for the 29-year-old striker.

What’s the latest?

The England captain’s future in north London is coming under serious questioning currently with just over one year remaining on his current deal with the club.

This will mean if he is not to put pen to paper on a new deal, this summer will provide Spurs with their final opportunity to cash in on a considerable fee for the striker.

And there have been reports linking him to believed interest coming from the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich ahead of the summer transfer window.

However, speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the 29-year-old still wishes to win trophies with Tottenham and will pick up talks over the next few weeks:

“I’m told that he still wants to win Tottenham. He still wants to win [at] Tottenham. He’s still fighting for Tottenham and there will be conversations in the next weeks between his brother the agent of Harry Kane, Charlie, and Tottenham to discuss about the new contract.”

Contract talks soon

It will be interesting to see what Kane decides to do ahead of the summer as it would be difficult to imagine Spurs would allow him to leave for free next summer if he isn’t to sign a deal.

Kane has now broken Jimmy Greaves’ record as Tottenham’s all-time record goalscorer which leaves Alan Shearer’s Premier League record to go for.

However, there will naturally be the hunger for trophies which has so far eluded Kane so far in his career.

And that is something which he may feel, come the end of the season, is more achievable through a potential departure to a club like United.

But there is still a lot for Spurs to play for this season with a spot in the quarter-final of the FA Cup at stake when they face either Sheffield United or Wrexham in the next round.

Although Kane will surely back himself to score in any team, it would be interesting to see whether he feels the best place to do so would be at Spurs.

He has shown throughout the years he can score consistently in this environment and there could be the notion that a move could potentially disrupt his pursuit of the record.

Arsenal are plotting a move to bring Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Standout performer

Since Gabriel Jesus has been sidelined with injury, Eddie Nketiah has been the primary attacking force for Mikel Arteta and he has exceeded expectations, but the boss is still in need of a more senior reinforcement to compete with the Brazilian upon his return.

The Argentinian has been a standout star for the Serie A giants this season, where he’s currently their top-performing player with a match rating of 7.28, and this high standard of performance appears to have grabbed the attention of Edu at the Emirates Stadium.

The Latest: Arsenal eyeing Martinez

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are all set to ‘battle it out’ to secure the signature of Martinez this summer.

The Inter forward is believed to figure ‘highly’ on the sporting director’s wish-list, but it’s reported that his side could demand a fee ‘far higher’ than the £40-50m valuation of Denzel Dumfries as a result of their financial problems.

The Gunners have held a ‘long-term interest’ in the 25-year-old with Arteta a ‘big admirer’, and it’s claimed that he would be ‘keen’ on a move to the top-flight.

The Verdict: Splash the cash

Martinez has been dubbed an ‘unstoppable’ striker by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and looking at his statistics, Arsenal must splash the cash to complete a deal for him ahead of their rivals.

The Nike-sponsored talisman has racked up an outstanding 22 goal contributions in 31 appearances across all competitions this season and ranks in the 96th percentile for most shots per 90 minutes, when compared to other forwards in Europe’s top leagues.

The World Cup winner has also bagged a whopping six man-of-the-match awards this term, highlighting the significant impact he can have, so this is a no-brainer of a move to go through with should the opportunity arise.

Arsenal have been gifted a big injury boost before they play Aston Villa as Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Emile Smith Rowe ‘will be in the squad’.

The Lowdown: Injury problems

Smith Rowe has been out of action for Arsenal for a month now, and has been limited to just 62 minutes of football all season.

He has been struggling with a close to making the squad for their 3-1 loss at home to Manchester City on Wednesday night.

The Latest: In the squad

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference on Friday morning, Arteta confirmed, among giving updates on the fitness of Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus, that Smith Rowe ‘will be in the squad’ providing that he is fine after training (via Football Daily):

“We have to assess him (Partey) today again, he had a little muscle discomfort. Emile will be training today, so if he’s fine he will be in the squad and Gabi is still not there.”

The Verdict: Big boost

Having Smith Rowe in the squad will give the team and supporters a big boost ahead of what looks to be a crucial clash now against Villa.

The Gunners have failed to win in their last three Premier League games, having lost to Everton and drawn to Brentford as well as losing to City most recently.

Against City, Arteta did not have too many forward-thinking options on his bench, with Leandro Trossard the standout ahead of youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry and Reiss Nelson, who has only just returned from injury himself.

Smith Rowe was a star player for the North Londoners last season, scoring ten goals and making a further two assists in the Premier League, and still has so much potential at just 22 years of age.

Nonetheless, Arteta would surely relish the chance to bring the Englishman on at Villa Park, should his side need fresh legs and an extra attacking impetus.

Tottenham Hotspur have now reignited their interest in signing Torino defender Perr Schuurs, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Tottenham eyeing defender

Tottenham were linked with several defenders in the January transfer window, with Antonio Conte’s current options in defence underperforming in the first half of the season.

Eric Dier and Clement Lenglet both received criticism for their displays, leading to the likes of Milan Skriniar and Piero Hincapie being touted for moves, but in the end Spurs chose to hold off on bringing in a new centre-back.

The Latest: Schuurs interest reignited

According to a report from TuttoSport (via Sport Witness), Conte wanted to sign Schuurs from Ajax last summer, but he turned them down in favour of a move to Torino.

However, the north London club are said to have carried out new polls for their old target, who could cost around €50m (£44m) in a deal this summer.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as a ‘leader’ by former Manchester City goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus (via Tribal Football), there is some indication that the 23-year-old would be an upgrade on the current options in the Tottenham defence.

The Dutchman has averaged more tackles and aerials won per 90 than both Lenglet and Dier over the past year, while he has also shown that he can be a threat in the opposition penalty area, ranking in the 99th percentile for assists compared to other centre-backs in Europe’s top leagues.

Spurs will no doubt be in need of a new centre-back in the summer, given Lenglet’s performances make it unlikely that Conte will have any intention to make his loan stay permanent, and Schuurs, who has been likened to Virgil van Dijk, would be a very good acquisition.

Southampton are enduring the nadir of their tenure in the Premier League since last clinching promotion from the EFL Championship, and have churned through two permanent managers this season amid the turmoil that has left the once impressive squad facing relegation in the depths of the second tier.

What’s the latest in Southampton’s managerial pursuit?

Only last week, recently dismissed Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch was expected to take the reins at St. Mary’s, with the finalities over a deal being ironed over, but an irrevocable snag was hit concerning contract length, and the appointment unravelled.

Preceding that, Nathan Jones lasted only eight league matches in charge of the club, losing a miserable seven times and exacerbating the woes that have plummeted the club into the pit of relegation worry.

But with Ruben Selles, who has been second-in-command at the outfit since arriving in the summer, winning his first league outing as caretaker manager against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend, the pursuit of a new boss might sever the external search, opting for the internal option instead.

Is Selles the right man for the job?

There are some affiliated with the Premier League that might cast a rueful shake of the head at the notion of offering the platform to the inexperienced Selles in the midst of arguably the most crucial period of Saints’ tenure in the Premier League since landing promotion in 2011.

But such a brazen stand from Sport Republic, who acquired an 80% stake in the south coast club only last year, could well bear fruit for the squad, who are in need of solidity and cohesion to ensure that the new era at the club does not take a detrimental tumble.

According to The Athletic, the players and backroom staff are unanimous in their desire to keep Selles in the dugout over the imperative looming period of football.

Indeed, Southampton are in 20th place in the Premier League, but after the recent victory over Chelsea, are just one point adrift from Leeds United.

The aforementioned report from The Athletic reveals that the 24 fouls committed by Saints at Stamford Bridge was the most of any top-flight English outfit this term, which embodies the desire to get stuck in and perform for their energetic manager with a relentless attitude.

While some might frown upon the excessive physicality, it is this level of might that is required if a flagging team is to steer away from relegation; a dogfight will not be won by the meek.

And with the Whites awaiting in the forthcoming divisional encounter, Selles, who was described as a “ball of energy” by Charlie Gordon, has a golden opportunity to continue to dazzle and elevate the outfit from bottom spot, perhaps even out of the drop-zone in its entirety.

Not only did Saints look more fluid against Chelsea, but they looked galvanised into action, spurred like a storming steed in a joust, finally unearthing some semblance of the former vigour and vitality that had left them so sustained in their endeavours under Ralph Hasenhuttl, who was dismissed after five years earlier this term.

Considering Selles, who has built a concrete rapport with his peers both on the pitch and behind the lines at Southampton, declared that he does indeed desire the full-time role of manager in Hampshire, and after the tumultuous, fleeting, tenure of Jones, a different stratagem could prove successful.

With this in mind, Selles’ stay in Southampton could stretch to a more expansive field, and if Leeds are beaten in Yorkshire on Saturday, there is no question that disrupting the tenuous harmony, which is already showing signs of strengthening, would only occur with another managerial shift.

For now, however, the initial signs indicate that he could well keep them in the division; wouldn’t that be a story?

Tottenham Hotspur ‘have opened talks’ with star striker Harry Kane over a new contract alongside their attempts to tie down Eric Dier, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Kane’s future uncertain…

The England forward’s contract expires in 2024, leaving chairman Daniel Levy with three choices – reach an agreement over fresh terms, decide to sell in the next two transfer windows or let him leave as a free agent.

Kane departing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would come as an almighty blow to Antonio Conte or any other manager who succeeds the Italian.

The 29-year-old is arguably Spurs’ most crucial Premier League player and stands out as their best-performing asset, making his future a hot topic in north London.

The Latest: Tottenham open Kane contract talks…

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Spurs ‘have opened talks’ with Kane over a new deal in N17, although the negotiations are believed to be at an ‘early’ stage.

This comes amid the club’s attempts to also agree fresh terms with Dier, with the report adding that Tottenham (and Levy by extension) are ‘desperate’ to tie down Kane in particular.

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The Verdict: Crucial…

Kane signing on the dotted line to extend his Tottenham stay would be a major boost for the club. The attacker’s importance cannot be overstated, not just as an all-round striker, but also a creator who can drop further deep and link up the play.

Kane’s class in this regard saw him take home the English top flight’s Playmaker of the Year award in 2021, alongside his Golden Boot exploits in that campaign.

The Spurs academy graduate has since gone on to become a figurehead under Conte, currently standing out as Tottenham’s best player by average match rating and top goal scorer with 18 in 25 league starts (WhoScored), also becoming the club’s all-time top scorer earlier this month.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reported to be watching developments closely, and these next few months could be pivotal in determining Kane’s future.

Chelsea’s prestigious Cobham academy has produced its fair share of top-class talent over the years, with European football littered with stars rising through the ranks in west London.

Indeed, in the current Chelsea squad, Mason Mount and Reece James are both graduates now playing starring roles for the Blues, instrumental in winning the 2020/21 Champions League; West Ham United’s Declan Rice is another to have played his formative years for the outfit.

While the club’s current fortunes are less than desirable, Chelsea languish in tenth, 11 points off Tottenham Hotspur in fourth, the knowledge that one of European football’s most prolific and revered youth systems allows a steady flow of talent assures concerned supporters that the future is set to be fruitful, especially given the affluence of owner Todd Boehly.

And with starlets such as Richard Olise rising through the ranks, there is indeed plenty to be optimistic about.

Who is Richard Olise?

The brother of rising Crystal Palace midfielder Michael Olise, the Chelsea youth player has been making waves beneath the senior surface, having agreed a scholarship deal in 2021.

The 18-year-old has made 15 appearances in the U18 Premier League, supplying one assist, and has been a reliable presence in his dynamic role at right-back, hailed as one of the Blues’ top “talents” by football journalist Antonio Mango.

His robustness was highlighted by his club, who described him on the official website as ‘a very calm and composed right-sided defender who has the ability to both defend and attack, he has all the attributes of a modern-day full-back.’

The aforementioned vignette certainly bears shades of established phenom James, who has made 139 appearances for the Blues since graduating from the academy, now valued at £61m by Football Transfers and being prepared for the captaincy role at the outfit.

With the 23-year-old encapsulating the dynamic attributes needed to flourish as that quintessential ‘modern’ right-back, Olise certainly has the perfect senior peer to serve as an understudy to, with James ranking among the top 12% of full-backs in Europe’s best divisions for assists, the top 8% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive passes and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90.

Chelsea’s defensive right flank certainly looks secure for the coming age, with James among the very best in the position worldwide and Lyon’s Malo Gusto signing for £26m in January, loaned back to the Ligue 1 outfit until summer.

But with Olise pushing for a role among the seniors, Blues technical director Christopher Vivell and the club’s manager would be prudent to meticulously assess the player’s development, and ensure that his departure in the future does not come back to bite.

Manchester United need to find a new striker in the summer if they are to reach the next level under Erik ten Hag.

Do Manchester United need a striker?

The Red Devils have undoubtedly improved their squad unity since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in the season but have arguably failed to replace the goals that the legendary Portuguese forward would provide at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford has stepped up significantly since the World Cup but he is best when cutting in from the left wing, and Ten Hag will surely be looking to ease the pressure on the England international next season with another option through the middle.

Wout Weghorst has done an admirable job at times since signing on loan from Burnley but he cannot be considered a long-term option, while Anthony Martial’s injury issues have once again precluded him from living up to his potential.

Therefore, the Dutch manager should consider getting rid of the Frenchman for good in the summer, and replacing him with academy starlet Charlie McNeill.

Who is Charlie McNeill?

McNeill has caught the eye in United’s academy sides since swapping the blue of Manchester City for the red of United back in 2020, having scored more than 600 goals at youth level during his time with the Citizens.

His first season with the Red Devils saw him register a phenomenal 24 goals and six assists in just 21 appearances in the U18 Premier League, which saw him swiftly promoted to the Premier League 2 despite his age.

The teenage forward played a big part in United’s success in the FA Youth Cup last season, as he scored five goals and contributed two assists in just six appearances en route to glory.

McNeill, 19, started to emphasise what he could do against senior opposition this season as he hit three goals and one assist in five Papa Johns’ Trophy games, while he was also handed his debut for the first-team in the Europa League, so he is clearly a player on Ten Hag’s radar.

While a loan at Newport County in League Two has been less successful, with no goals in nine appearances, the experience of senior football will do him the world of good ahead of returning to United in pre-season.

He will certainly have chances to impress Ten Hag and could potentially step up to replace Martial, who looks certain to leave given he has managed just nine appearances in the top flight so far this campaign.

Former United right-back Paul Parker criticised Martial recently, saying: “He doesn’t deserve to play again for Man Utd. He hasn’t taken his chances and he is showing no consistency at all.”

McNeill has certainly shown enough in the academy to suggest he could be a hit in United’s first team and Ten Hag should make the bold decision to favour the young Englishman over the disappointing Martial next season.

Liverpool have suffered a humiliating defeat away from home in their Premier League clash with Bournemouth this afternoon and Jurgen Klopp will be scratching his head following the poor performance from his side after beating Manchester United 7-0 just six days ago.

The Reds have missed out on another opportunity to close the gap between themselves and the Champions League qualifying spots inside the top four and could drop into sixth depending on Newcastle United’s result against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

The 1-0 defeat will be even more frustrating for the manager, team, and supporters when considering the fact that Liverpool dominated possession (69%), had more shots on target (6 v 2), more big chances created (4 v 2) and a higher rate of dribbles completed (67% v 48%).

In the first half, Liverpool got off to a seemingly good start and looked confident in the final third and had plenty of opportunities to hit the back of the net to no avail which ultimately led to key players quickly switching off in the back-line and cost the visitors dearly when Philip Billing found the back of the net to give Bournemouth the lead in the 28th minute.

When the second half resumed so did the Merseysiders’ failure to wake up from their lethargic slump but despite their poor efforts were gifted a golden opportunity to equalise when Adam Smith committed a handball foul inside the box.

Liverpool’s 22-goal top scorer this season, Mohammed Salah, stepped up to take on Neto from the penalty spot and completely misfired which was the final nail in the coffin of a massively disappointing display from Liverpool.

Indeed, there will be fingers pointed at a number of different players with the quality of individual performances from many on the floor, however, it was Harvey Elliott who found himself completely out of his depth after being selected by his manager to complete the midfield three in the starting line-up at the Vitality Stadium.

How did Harvey Elliott get on vs Bournemouth?

The 19-year-old midfielder has become a regular feature and a trusted component in Klopp’s system over the season so far and has been fearless coming up against some of the more difficult opponents over the past few months, however, the youngster struggled massively to hold back the pressure Bournemouth applied.

Over his 45-minute performance, the Liverpool ace – dubbed too “lightweight” by Liam Corcoran – was dribbled past four times, lost 100% of his duels combined, and failed in 100% of his cross attempts, as well as making no tackles, dribble attempts and key passes which led to the player being hooked at half-time by his German coach.

The Anfield Wrap writer Leanne Prescott took to Twitter to question Elliott’s selection alongside Stefan Bajcetic with the young pair being relied upon to make the impact needed to take all three points from the clash:

“Bajcetic & Elliott together felt like a risk of being outmuscled and that’s what we saw.”

Her comment was backed up by the statistics, as the Englishman did lose all of his physical contests, and the manager may be wondering – with the benefit of hindsight – whether or not it was the right call to select him.

With that being said, Klopp was let down badly by the central midfielder and the German head coach may now decide to leave the youngster out when it comes to naming his next XI.