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West Bromwich Albion are eyeing a move for Newcastle United youngster Elliot Anderson this summer.

What’s the story?

That’s according to i News journalist Mark Douglas, who tweeted: “WBA one of clubs who want him [Anderson] for next season.”

Labelled a “League Two cheat code” by Douglas after his loan spell at Bristol Rovers, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder is the subject of interest from a plethora of clubs in the Championship.

Bruce needs Anderson

Although the teenager is expected to be involved in pre-season training with the Magpies, another loan move seems very possible given the serious interest from a variety of suitors.

Anderson joined Joey Barton’s side on transfer deadline day in January and has since scored eight goals and registered five assists in 21 appearances for the Gas in the fourth tier, who secured an unlikely promotion back to League One yesterday after a 7-0 battering of Scunthorpe United.

In fact, the former Newcastle player has directed plenty of praise in the 19-year-old’s direction during his loan spell, claiming that the attacking midfielder “has been brilliant for us from the first day we brought him in.”

Prior to his move to the West Country, Anderson was on fire for Newcastle’s under-23s, scoring five goals in seven appearances in Premier League 2.

It’s that goal threat and creativity from the middle of the park which the Baggies have been lacking this season, with Steve Bruce’s men scoring just 52 goals in 46 matches this term, with only six other teams scoring less often in the Championship in 2021/22.

Alex Mowatt ended the season as the Baggies’ top-scoring midfielder with just four goals, whilst only one positional colleague found the net for Albion in loanee Jason Molumby, who scored once.

Granted, with no experience in the second tier, signing Anderson would a risk for the West Midlands outfit., although it would certainly seem like one worth taking.

Bruce will be tasked with orchestrating a promotion push next term, especially after this season’s thoroughly disappointing 10th-place finish, West Brom’s worst in more than 20 years.

Therefore, the 61-year-old needs to add some creativity and firepower to his squad, something that Anderson has certainly provided in abundance in League Two.

AND in other news: Forget Grant: West Brom’s 74-touch ace who “works so hard” stole the show vs Barnsley

Paddy Kenny has now been lamenting some Glasgow Rangers injury news on Aaron Ramsey ahead of tonight’s epic clash in the UEFA Europa League.

The Lowdown: Ruled out

Speaking in his pre-game press conference before they played Motherwell away from home in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, Giovanni van Bronckhorst revealed that Ramsey would be ruled out until the home leg of their semi-final tie against RB Leipzig, meaning that he will miss tonight’s match.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/rangers-news-3/” title=”Rangers news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

He joins both Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe on the sidelines, in an injury list that is starting to grow for the Ibrox faithful.

The Latest: Kenny reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United and Sheffield United goalkeeper Kenny has now given his reaction to the news of Ramsey’s injury, as the 43-year-old claimed it is another ‘monumental blow’ after the issues with Morelos and Roofe:

“Wow, I mean, that is a big blow.

“Roofe, yes he’s been in good form but Rangers do have other attackers who can contribute.

“Ramsey, you can’t replicate what he has in terms of experience. He has played at the very top level and he is someone who the less experienced players will look towards.

“I think losing Ramsey in that midfield is a monumental blow to that team it just got harder for them.

“They can still get something but they have to hope Ramsey comes back for the second leg.”

The Verdict: Huge loss

Ramsey will no doubt be a huge loss to the Gers, given his experience of playing European football with Arsenal and Juventus and on the big international stage with Wales.

He has ranked highly among his teammates in terms of average shots and key passes per game in the competition so far, and has already demonstrated his credentials with two goals in the league during his loan spell (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, with Morelos and Roofe out, they could have done with Ramsey’s knack for goals from midfield, but van Bronckhorst will now have to find a way to get a result without some of his key players.

In other news, find out what big behind-the-scenes twist has now emerged at RFC here!

Manchester United have been in contact over the 2026 signing of a “supertalent” ahead of Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Man Utd’s midfield search after update on Casemiro contract

The Red Devils and Ruben Amorim look set to be on the hunt for a midfield refresh in the New Year, with Casemiro’s contract set to expire in 2026.

The Red Devils hold an option to extend the Brazilian’s stay by an additional year, but that may not happen, with Amorim and INEOS seemingly clashing behind the scenes in regards to Casemiro.

Amorim thinks he is still needed at Old Trafford, whereas executives are asking for a wage cut instead of triggering the extension option until 2027, something which Casemiro, the top earner at Man Utd, is unlikely to accept.

1

Casemiro

£350,000

£18,200,000

2

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

£15,600,000

3

Matthijs de Ligt

£195,000

£10,140,000

4

Harry Maguire

£190,000

£9,880,000

5

Matheus Cunha

£180,000

£9,360,000

United arguably need midfield additions even if Casemiro remains in Manchester, especially with Kobbie Mainoo down the pecking order and Manuel Ugarte likewise falling out of favour under Amorim.

Man Utd chief makes contact for Smit

According to CaughtOffside, Man Utd have made their first move to sign AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit.

Christopher Vivell, United’s director of recruitment, is the one who has reached out over an Old Trafford move, with the Red Devils looking to get ahead of Liverpool in the race for the £25m midfielder.

“Everyone at AZ is aware that Smit is likely to attract offers, and they’re open now to letting him go for the right price next summer.

“£25m is the figure I’m hearing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a deal ends up initially being agreed in January to then go through in the summer.

“Christopher Vivell has been internally discussing Smit for some time now, and he’s also contacted the player to sound him out about a move.”

Hailed as a “supertalent” in the past by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Smit has already reached 50 senior appearances for AZ Alkmaar and is catching the eye in the Netherlands.

Former Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has even compared the 19-year-old to Pedri, who is arguably the best midfielder in the world right now.

“I almost regret mentioning his name again [Pedri], but he’s a guy who plays in the same position. The way he turns away from his opponent, the way he scans the area, his two-footedness… I saw that in Pedri too. If he gets half his career, we’ll be very happy in the Netherlands.”

Forget Anderson: Man Utd in talks to sign "world's most underrated footballer"

Manchester United appear to making huge moves in their pursuit for a new midfielder in January.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 20, 2025

Capable of playing in defensive or advanced midfield alongside his regular box-to-box role, Smit looks like he’ll be one to watch in 2026.

Man Utd now very keen on signing "amazing" midfielder likened to N'Golo Kante

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda could be on the move in the January transfer window after it was claimed that he is open to leaving the Scottish giants.

Journalist Graeme Bailey reported earlier this week that the Japan international is “ready to leave” the club, which comes after the Hoops blocked a potential transfer away from Parkhead in the summer.

It remains to be seen how much money the Scottish Premiership champions could rake in for him in January, but he is currently the most valuable member of the squad.

The most valuable players in the Celtic squad

Per Transfermarkt, Maeda is valued at £13m at this moment in time. That is at least £1m more than any other member of the squad, which speaks to how valuable he is to the team.

The Japanese forward scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists in 51 matches in all competitions (Transfermarkt) last term, hence why he is so highly valued and why losing him in January would be a big blow.

Daizen Maeda

£13m

Cameron Carter-Vickers

£12m

Reo Hatate

£11m

Arne Engels

£8.5m

Alistair Johnston

£8m

As you can see in the table above, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, and Alistair Johnston make up the rest of the top five most valuable players at the club.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Celtic’s top goalscorer in all competitions, Benjamin Nygren, does not feature within the top five most valuable players, but he could break into that list if he keeps up his current form, as the Hoops already appear to have hit the jackpot with him.

Celtic have hit the jackpot with Benjamin Nygren

The Scottish giants signed the central midfielder from Nordsjaelland for a reported fee of £1.3m in the summer transfer window to bolster Brendan Rodgers’ options out wide and in midfield.

Celtic were able to agree a cut-price deal for the Sweden international because his contract with the Danish club was due to expire at the end of 2025, which means that they were able to take advantage of the situation to land a bargain.

The left-footed star, who was described as “fearless” by international teammate Alexander Isak, has produced quality performances on the pitch in the Premiership that prove that the Hoops hit the jackpot with this signing.

xG

2.82

Top 1%

xG on target

4.37

Top 1%

Goals

4

Top 1%

Shots on target

9

Top 1%

xA

2.36

Top 4%

Chances created

18

Top 1%

Assists

1

Top 33%

As you can see in the table above, Nygren has been one of the best midfielders in the division, if not the best, at scoring and creating goals this season.

The 24-year-old star, who is the club’s top scorer in all competitions with four goals (Transfermarkt), has scored four goals and created 2.6 chances per game across seven outings in the Premiership, per Sofascore.

Whilst these statistics show that Celtic have hit the jackpot on Nygren because of his outstanding performances on the pitch, the club have also struck gold with his market valuation.

Transfermarkt currently values the Sweden international at £5.2m. This is 300% more than the £1.3m fee that the Hoops reportedly paid for him in the summer, which suggests that they could make a significant profit on him if they decided to cash in.

Forget Tounekti: Celtic's "exciting" star could become their new Kuhn

Celtic may be brewing their next version of Nicolas Kuhn in this winger, and it is not Sebastian Tounekti.

ByDan Emery Oct 7, 2025

Therefore, Celtic have hit the jackpot with this signing because it has already worked out on the pitch, and the finances behind it make it all the more impressive.

Over the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur haven’t been afraid to splash the cash in their attempts to catapult themselves closer towards Premier League glory.

However, they’ve found out first hand that spending big money doesn’t equal immediate success, with numerous players unable to have the desired impact in North London.

In the summer of 2019, the Lilywhites hierarchy forked out a then club-record £62m for the signature of French midfielder Tanguy Ndombele – but it would be a deal that proved to be a disaster.

He racked up 91 appearances during his five-year spell in England, but he was massively questioned over his lack of fitness and constant attitude problems under various managers.

As a result, the club let him leave for nothing last summer, subsequently joining Nice on a free transfer and departing as one of the club’s worst signings in history.

However, one other huge addition will be hoping he doesn’t endure the same fate after his own transfer to join Thomas Frank’s side during the recent transfer window.

Mohammed Kudus' immediate impact at Spurs

In one of his first moves as Spurs manager, Frank decided to fork out a reported £55m for the signature of winger Mohammed Kudus from London rivals West Ham United.

The Ghanaian featured for the Hammers over a two-year period before moving across the capital, with real hope he could provide a new dimension to the Lilywhites’ attack.

He may have only featured in nine games to date, but the 25-year-old has already made an immediate impact in North London throughout 2024/25.

The attacker has registered four assists to date – the most of any player in the squad – highlighting his ability to create endless opportunities for those around him.

However, he also recently netted his first goal for the club in the last outing against Leeds United, with such a strike securing all three points for Frank’s men.

It may only be early days in his career with Spurs, but Kudus has already demonstrated his quality and is arguably making himself one of the first names on the teamsheet.

However, despite his impressive form in North London, he’s now valued lower than one player who joined the club for a fee lower than his in recent times.

The Spurs star who’s valued more than Kudus

Spurs’ Europa League triumph last campaign is evidence that their work in the transfer market has been hugely effective, despite also wasting huge amounts of money on players not at the level required.

Bargain additions such as Lucas Bergvall had huge parts to play in their recent European triumph, with the Swedish international exceeding everyone’s expectations throughout 2024/25.

He only joined last summer for a reported £8.5m from homeland club Djurgarden, with very few supporters expecting the 19-year-old to have an immediate impact in the first-team.

However, the injury crisis allowed the youngster to stake his claim for a regular starting role, racking up 45 appearances across all competitions in his debut year.

His talents catapulted the club to the Europa League title, which has seen them qualify for the Champions League – allowing them to attract world-class talents to Frank’s side.

As a result, the hierarchy completed the £52m signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig in the closing stages of the summer window – finally ending their hunt for a new number ten.

The Dutchman arrived with huge expectations after his form in the Bundesliga last campaign, subsequently ending the year with 17 combined goals and assists in just 25 outings.

However, his time in England is yet to take off, only registering one assist in his first seven outings – but he will certainly need time to settle, given he’s just 22 years of age.

It’s not stopped Simons from receiving heaps of praise from numerous high-profile names, with one analyst even labelling the youngster as a “phenomenal” talent.

Games played

7

Minutes played

420

Assists

1

Shots taken

1.4

Pass accuracy

88%

Successful passes

30

Chances created

1.8

Dribble success

55%

Dribbles completed

1.8

Fouls won

1.4

He’s also seen his market value soar in recent months after his transfer, with CIES Football Observatory now valuing the sensation at a staggering £97.3m.

Such a figure is nearly two times higher than the fee paid for Kudus this window, further highlighting how highly rated the Dutchman is despite his early struggles in the Premier League.

Whilst Kudus has hit the ground running, he does have prior experience in England’s top-flight, with Simons likely to have the same impact in the near future once he’s settled.

However, there’s no denying the Lilywhites have a potential world beater on their hands, with the prospect of the aforementioned starring together for years to come a hugely exciting one for the fanbase.

The "Irish Isak" is heading to Spurs and he could become their new Kane

Tottenham have continued their trend of signing elite youth prospects to underlay the first team.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 9, 2025

Aston Villa have a busy couple of weeks ahead amid their need to ensure they don’t overstep the FFP mark and one of their star men is now being lined up for a move ato Manchester United.

Aston Villa's balancing act in light of PSR

Profit and Sustainability Rules have become a contentious topic for fans who don’t support one of the traditional ‘Big Six’ clubs. However, they have become a frustrating reality that everyone now has to abide by.

Unfortunately, Aston Villa are now at risk of breaching regulations after recording £202.6 million in pre-tax losses over the past two years, which is the most out of anyone in the Premier League.

Losing a maximum of £105 million over three consecutive years is the limit for top-flight clubs, which has created plenty of speculation regarding potential sales to bridge the gap.

BBC Sport columnist Fara Williams has named Jacob Ramsey as a player Aston Villa could sell to make ends meet, as she said: “It does feel like Aston Villa will have to sell some key players this summer if they are to bring others in and keep within PSR regulations.

“There has been a lot of rumours around it and I believe Jacob Ramsey was a name being mentioned who, as a homegrown player, they would make more money from.”

Aston Villa make offer to sign Serie A champion who’s now tempted by move

The Villans could tempt the defender into a move.

2 ByTom Cunningham Jun 11, 2025

The Villans have also passed on signing Marcus Rashford permanently, prioritising Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho as a more affordable alternative.

Nevertheless, the feeling around the West Midlands is one that Aston Villa must sell before they can buy, and Unai Emery could now have a dilemma on his hands following recent developments.

Emiliano Martinez in talks with Man Utd

Now, according to reports via CaughtOffside, Emiliano Martinez is in talks over a move to Manchester United and may be a sacrificial lamb for Aston Villa amid their current PSR state of limbo, and he is thought to be open to the idea of moving to Old Trafford.

Due to the Red Devils’ status as a domestic rival, the Villans are reportedly demanding a fee north of £40 million to sell the World Cup-winning stopper this summer, who has been identified as a successor to Andre Onana under Ruben Amorim.

Emiliano Martinez in 2024/25 – Premier League (Fotmob)

Appearances

37

Goals conceded

45

Clean sheets

8

Penalties saved from penalties faced

1/2

Labelled “magnificent” by Alan Shearer, Martinez now appears primed for a move elsewhere, begging the question of who could replace the Argentina international between the sticks.

Going off recent times, OGC Nice stopper Marcin Bulka is a prominent target for Aston Villa, illustrating that Emery may have his eyes on a younger alternative in the event he is left searching for new blood.

Either way, Martinez has been a brilliant servant in the West Midlands and would be sorely missed, even if his departure feels like the best source of action for all parties involved.