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Southampton have been linked again with a move for Manchester United left-back Brandon Williams recently, and the 20-year-old could be an excellent addition to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad.

The youngsters was linked with a move to the Saints during the summer but they were unable to finalise a deal, however, according to Sky Sports the South Coast club are set to reignite their interest in the Englishman in the upcoming January transfer window.

Following Manchester United’s summer signing of Alex Telles, the academy graduate has struggled for game time at Old Trafford so far this season, having made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League so far this season.

Southampton are low on left-back options in their squad, with Jack Stephens having filled in there when Ryan Bertrand was out injured earlier in the season.

Therefore, a move for Williams makes sense for Hasenhuttl, especially if the club don’t plan on renewing the contract of Bertrand, which is set to expire at the end of the current season.

Perhaps we could see a deal similar to the one which brought Kyle Walker-Peters to the South Coast club during the summer, as after an impressive loan spell last season he was keen to make his stay permanent.

During his time with the Red Devils, Williams has featured 41 times for the senior side, contributing one goal and three assists.

Therefore, despite being just 20, the £9.9 million rated defender would bring a fair amount of experience with him to Southampton, having also featured in the Champions League for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in recent seasons.

After Williams made his full United debut in a game against Partizan Belgrade last year, Solskjaer was full of praise for the youngster, saying:

“Brandon was, for me, man of the match.

“He’s been fantastic in the few games he’s played, the boy has no fear, he’s as brave as a lion and he got us the win.”

In 17 Premier League appearances last season, the 20-year-old averaged a very solid 6.71 rating for United, so it could definitely be argued that he would be a solid addition to the Saints squad and could provide good competition for Bertrand at left-back.

And, in other news… Lost possession 20x: Hasenhuttl surely left fuming by anonymous £45k per week dynamo

Speaking exclusively to Transfer Tavern, former Premier League referee Mark Halsey discussed Harry Kane’s penalty claim in Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

In the fixture, Tottenham took the lead early in the first half through Tanguy Ndombele’s first-minute strike, only for Wolves defender Romain Saiss to score a late equaliser for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, with the game finishing 1-1.

However, in the dying moments of the clash, Harry Kane latched onto a Harry Winks through ball, and subsequently hit the deck in the Wolves penalty area after a challenge from Saiss, although there appeared to be very little, if any, contact made by the defender, leading to claims that the forward was lucky to escape a booking for simulation.

“I think Harry is getting a reputation now, isn’t he?” Halsey told Transfer Tavern. “I think he’s initiated that contact going down and I don’t think anybody would’ve complained had he been cautioned for simulation in that situation.”

Kane has come under fire in recent months for the manner in which the forward won a penalty against Brighton & Hove Albion, when it appeared the 27-year-old knowingly backed into Adam Lallana mid-jump, with the midfielder landing incredibly awkwardly, and, somehow, the referee awarding Kane a penalty.

The England captain also drew a similar challenge from Aaron Cresswell in a fixture against West Ham United back in October, and it would appear that Halsey is of the belief that the forward is now getting a bit of a reputation for being a cheat.

Indeed, as previously stated, there did not appear to be foul-worthy contact made by Saiss in the incident with Kane on Sunday, and, as a goalscorer with the ability of the England man, it is questionable as to whether he needs to be acting in such a manner.

Crystal Palace cruised to a comfortable victory over Sheffield United thanks to a sensational goal from Eberechi Eze as the Premier League strugglers’ resolve crumbled in a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.

Jeffrey Schlupp’s early goal and a stunning solo run from Eze inflicted a decisive blow on Chris Wilder’s hopes of his side avoiding relegation.

Roy Hodgson’s side dominated proceedings for large parts of the game, and now find themselves 12th in the table, although they have played one match more than Arsenal and Wolves.

Inconsistency has plagued Palace under Hodgson’s reign and, as he approaches his 74th birthday, his side still remain very much a work in progress.

Hodgson has arguably transformed the Eagles into a solid defensive unit, although this has come under increasing strain since the start of this season.

However, we have to give credit where credit is due: Eberechi Eze delivered one of the finest performances we’ve seen in a Palace shirt for some time.

Eze brought a youthful exuberance and energy after he replaced Schlupp in the first half during his 16th appearance of the season thus far.

After arriving at Selhurst Park from Queens Park Rangers in the summer, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has barely skipped a beat, and has hardly looked out of place at all alongside the likes of Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha.

In what can only be described as one of the most iconic moments of the season so far, Eze doubled the lead shortly before the half-time whistle blew, picking up the ball inside his own half and scoring from outside the box after dodging a few half-hearted tackles from Blades players.

But that’s not all – SofaScore graded the left-winger with a statistical score of 7.2 out of ten – which was higher than Schlupp himself – as he made one key pass, took one shot on target and completed one of his two dribble attempts successfully.

Eze, who earns £30,000-per-week at SE25, also helped Palace retain possession, as he only lost control of the ball on just six occasions, provided 17 out of his 21 passes (81%), and made one clearance as well.

This is the kind of performance Palace fans have come to expect from the England U21 international, but that shouldn’t take the shine from his heroic individual display.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace can sign their next Wilfried Zaha in Rabbi Matondo…

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action this lunchtime as they look to bounce back from midweek heartache with a trip to rock-bottom Sheffield United.

And Jose Mourinho heads to Bramall Lane with an encouraging and timely injury boost…

What’s the latest?

Speaking ahead of the encounter in his pre-match press conference, the 57-year-old revealed that he has Steven Bergwijn available for selection, having missed their last two outings in all competitions.

When asked if the Dutch winger was good to go against the Blades, he told reporters, via football.london:

“Yeah, he was ill. He was ill the week before, the week of Marine, and then he trained with the team only one day, which was the day before we played Fulham.”

Selection nightmare

Whilst this serves as hugely positive news, it does, however, hand Mourinho a fresh selection headache for that right-wing spot in his starting XI.

Against Marine, he turned to Lucas Moura, who had a pretty good game by all accounts, which was topped off by a sublime free-kick goal, but in the Fulham draw this week, Mourinho elected for a surprise pick in Moussa Sissoko on the flank.

That decision didn’t work out, as we’ve explained here, so it’ll give the Spurs boss a huge question – Moura? Erik Lamela? Gareth Bale? or Bergwijn?

Indeed, he could turn back to the Brazilian as he did not feature at all against the Cottagers, though Lamela’s return in midweek also poses an interesting option as he looked bright in a short 15-minute cameo.

Whilst Bale can’t be too far away from finally making an impact in the top-flight having started just one Premier League match since his sensational return to north London.

Meanwhile, Bergwijn is by no means guaranteed an instant return despite seemingly being the first-choice in the role.

Yes, he has started seven of his 11 appearances in the competition, but Mourinho revealed earlier in the month that he had “physical problems,” so he may not be risked from the off.

The 23-year-old has failed to score this term but has provided four assists, and as we outlined in this article, the wide man does so much more than what his statistics show.

After the win over arch-rivals Arsenal, Mourinho dubbed Bergwijn “incredible” despite failing to contribute to either of their two goals, which tells you all you need to know about the manager’s faith in him and whether or not he’s doing what’s asked of him.

It speaks volumes that Sissoko was played in the role just a few days ago even though both Lamela and Moura were available for selection, which is why Bergwijn’s return is a big boost for Mourinho and Spurs alike.

As you can see, the ‘Special One’ has plenty to mull over ahead of kick-off this afternoon.

We think the £25m Dutch winger will end up getting the nod, but don’t be surprised to see either Moura or the Argentinian start given Bergwijn’s fitness concerns.

AND in other news, £30m “disgrace” must be axed from starting XI vs Sheffield United…

When Kemar Roofe was forced off at half-time in the 1-0 Old Firm derby victory at Ibrox, Rangers fans could have been forgiven for feeling rather anxious.

After all, Roofe has been in prolific form for Steven Gerrard’s side so far this season – since his arrival last year, the 28-year-old has bagged 12 goals and two assists in 21 appearances across all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

And Rangers’ worst fears appeared to be confirmed after Gerrard suggested the Jamaican striker will miss most of January as he works his way back to fitness.

The Light Blues boss has subsequently revealed that Roofe is back in first-team training having shaken off the lingering effects of the thigh strain he picked up in the second Old Firm derby of the season at the start of the month.

Whilst this weekend’s Scottish Premiership clash with Ross County will most likely come too soon for him, Gerrard indicated that he should be back in full training next week, so perhaps fans could see him feature off the bench against Hibernian instead.

Either way there’s no doubting the fact that this will be a “massive” boost for Gerrard, with former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor insisting the news will give the Rangers manager a welcome headache as he mulls over his options upfront.

Roofe has made 15 Premiership appearances so far this season and has ten goals and two assists to show for his 12 starts, with Rangers currently in title contention at the top of the table just over halfway through the campaign.

After early criticism, he has quickly established himself as a fan favourite with the 54-time Scottish champions, having scored two times in four appearances in the Europa League, including a wonder goal against Standard Liege last year.

With Alfredo Morelos experiencing some patchy form, meaning Gerrard has been forced to rely on Cedric Itten instead, there’s no doubt the Liverpool legend will be delighted to welcome Roofe back into the squad, providing he can stay fit and healthy, as he could provide the cutting edge to propel the Gers towards the title for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

AND in other news, Rangers should unleash Cedric Itten against Ross County…

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has shared what he has been told regarding the future of Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic.

Grujic to leave?

The 24-year-old has been pretty much ostracised by manager Jurgen Klopp for some time, even though he was the German tactician’s first signing for the Reds after he was appointed back in 2015.

Grujic has just 16 first-team appearances during that timeframe, scoring just once and providing one assist. He’s also had various loan spells with the likes of Cardiff City, Red Star Belgrade and Hertha Berlin (TransferMarkt).

His fortunes looked to be changing earlier this season after putting in impressive performances against the likes of Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup and Arsenal at Anfield, but he was quickly shipped off to FC Porto for the campaign.

Speaking to Anfield Watch, Romano said that Grujic’s days on Merseyside are pretty much numbered.

“For sure, [Liverpool] are looking to sell some players in the summer, ones that aren’t always in the team at the moment,” Romano told Anfield Watch.

“Marko Grujic, I’m told, could be involved in some possible swap deals next summer if Liverpool have some good opportunities to add in midfield or in defence.

“He could be an interesting player to offer so they will try to do something smart again, as they have (done) previously with the Diogo Jota deal, for example.”

Transfer Tavern Verdict

Only Klopp will know why Grujic has not featured for Liverpool – as there does not appear to be any clear explanation regarding his lack of inclusion.

If Grujic is not going to get the opportunity to play, then it is probably best for both parties if he is allowed to leave in the summer.

In other news, Paul Robinson slams Liverpool following David Ornstein’s transfer development.

Scott Brown’s Celtic tale is a weird one. He has captained the club to unparalleled success but much like his team, has been disastrous in 2020/21.

The skipper’s performances have been drab, lacking energy and full of mistakes. He was sent off after just five minutes on the field against Livingston just last month – a moment of madness that defined his season.

He has been poor and nothing says as much than Neil Lennon’s decision to axe him from the side in recent months. Since the club’s victory over Lille in the Europa League before Christmas, the manager has preferred Ismaila Soro.

Though, with the Ivorian missing on Tuesday night against Kilmarnock, it was the ideal time for Brown to respond to the critics. He’s had his fair share this season – no less so than on FFC – but he answered them emphatically during Celtic’s 4-0 win.

The 35-year-old was a rock and demonstrated the qualities that have made him such an imposing figure at Parkhead down the years.

Celtic were eyeing a move for Giannelli Imbula throughout January but this showed why they didn’t invest. Brown was imperious, not only doing his defensive duties to near perfection but also popping up emphatically in the final third.

The captain opened the scoring after 29 minutes, getting his head to a David Turnbull corner from the right. Brown showed great desire to get on the end of the delivery and his header was excellent after making a clever run.

If that wasn’t enough, the veteran secured the assist for Albian Ajeti’s late strike. Brown played a delightful ball over the top into the forward’s feet before he turned and then buried the opportunity.

This was as complete a performance as they come from the experienced head. He laid a solid platform for Celtic and in total, won a mighty 11 duels throughout the contest, showcasing his oft-seen desire and intensity in the engine room. Brown also produced five interceptions, a tally that happened to be more than any Hoops player on the night.

He also managed three tackles – the second-highest of any Celtic player. For such a robust individual, Brown only gave away one foul, but was brought down five times himself by Killie players.

The midfield brute has always had a habit of frustrating the opposition and that has never been clearer this season than on Tuesday. He was brought down continuously in what was a wonderful performance both defensively and offensively.

Chris Doyle of Glasgow Live typified his display at full-time: “Eyebrows were raised as Ismaila Soro was dropped, but the captain put in a vintage performance, probably the best of his season. Capped it off with a brilliant header.”

This type of showing will have Lennon pondering his midfield options again. If Brown can finish the season with this type of consistency the Bhoys will have quite the pairing if Soro plays too.

Odsonne Edouard may have scored twice on Tuesday but without Brown, he would not have had the platform to do so. He was calm, composed, and ultimately, Lennon’s true hero.

AND in other news, Duffy handed huge lifeline as Celtic miss out on signing £5.5k-p/w “Rolls Royce” titan…

Former Premier League defender Steve Howey believes that Frank Lampard will not take the Celtic manager’s position if offered.

Howey not convinced

The 42-year-old was recently sacked by Chelsea in their typical and brutal fashion, with the former Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel taking over the reins.

Lampard has been heavily linked with a move to Parkhead, on the back of the intense scrutiny that Neil Lennon has received after a woeful 2020/21 campaign.

Before Saturday’s Scottish Premiership games, the Hoops were 18 points behind arch-rivals Rangers, who look likely to stop Celtic’s pursuit of 10-in-a-row.

Speaking exclusively to Football Transfer Tavern, Howey responded when asked if he could see Lampard making the jump north of the border.

“I don’t know. I mean, I think he’d probably want to try and keep himself in the Premier League. It was such a high profile job, Chelsea.

“You’ve heard that his name being bandied about for the Bournemouth job. For me, without being disrespectful to Bournemouth, that is a huge come down.

“Steven Gerrard has done brilliantly. I’ve always thought I wouldn’t mind Rangers actually doing something purely because it was just becoming so boring. It’s just Celtic, Celtic, Celtic. I’m so pleased now there’s that turn.

“It’s actually gone too far the other way if you want, it hasn’t even been a challenge this year. But I can’t see him (Lampard) going for that one. I think he’d try and keep himself at a Premier League team.”

Transfer Tavern Verdict

It is a huge challenge for whoever takes over from Lennon if the board decide to relieve him of his duties at the end of the current campaign.

Even if the Northern Irish tactician keeps his job, the supporters will be on his back almost immediately and will demand nothing else other than winning the title.

We agree with Howey here. The pressure may put Lampard off at this time and may require a manager with more experience.

In other news, Frank McAvennie reveals ‘biggest’ Celtic ‘mistake’ made by Peter Lawwell.

Southampton have now picked up just one point from their last nine games in the Premier League after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Everton on Monday evening.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side struggled to create chances at Goodison Park and only managed one shot on target in the 90 minutes, which came in the final few minutes when Jordan Pickford blocked Jannik Vestergaard’s goal-bound shot.

The Austrian tactician was forced into a tactical change in midfield ahead of the game, following the news that the defensive-minded Oriol Romeu will now miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury, meaning Stuart Armstrong was dropped into a central-midfield role against Everton, rather than his usual position as a ‘wide 10’.

Unfortunately, with Ibrahima Diallo having only just returned to individual training, Southampton were left with just James Ward-Prowse as a natural, senior option in central midfield, with Hasenhuttl preferring Armstrong there instead of academy talents Alexandre Jankewitz and Kgaogelo Chauke.

Whilst the Scottish international featured in that position regularly for Celtic, his best performances in a Southampton shirt have come out wide, and Hasenhuttl’s side really missed his influence on the wing – with wingers Moussa Djenepo and Nathan Redmond rated as the worst players on the pitch at Goodison Park by SofaScore.

Having two attack-minded players in the middle for Hasenhuttl left Southampton far too exposed, which was clear to see when the Toffees opened the scoring, as Gylfi Sigurdsson was afforded far too much time and space to slip a ball through to Richarlison to round Fraser Forster and slam in from a tight angle.

The Icelandic midfielder was able to find a lot of space on a number of occasions, perhaps due to Armstrong and Ward-Prowse pushing too far up the pitch, and he caused Southampton a lot of problems, with SofaScore awarding him an 8.0 rating for his display – the best of any player on the evening.

Earlier this year, after Armstrong signed a new contract with the South Coast club, which now sees him earn £50k per week, Hasenhuttl dubbed him as a “very smart” player and praised his effectiveness as a number 10.

However, it could be argued that the 28-year-old doesn’t possess the positional awareness to play as a central midfielder in a 4-4-2, as his attacking runs left the Saints vulnerable to the counter-attack on a number of occasions.

Therefore, it seems that Hasenhuttl’s decision to play Armstrong in that position was a fatal mistake in the end, as it both limited Southampton going forward and left them exposed defensively.

And, in other news… 82% duels lost: £60k-p/w Saints beast was nowhere near his usual level vs Everton

Whilst the news that Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his ankle is an obvious big blow for Ralph Hasenhuttl, one silver lining could be that it will give Ibrahima Diallo the opportunity to become an important part of this Saints team.

The French midfielder is set to make his own return from injury shortly, having returned to individual training recently, and you suspect that he will partner James Ward-Prowse in midfield for the rest of the season once he is back to full fitness.

The 21-year-old joined Southampton during the summer transfer window and was limited to substitute appearances under Hasenhuttl until Romeu’s injury earlier in the season.

He was superb on his full debut in the 0-0 draw with Fulham and followed that up with another excellent display in the 1-0 win against Liverpool in January, which was Southampton’s last win in the top-flight.

However, he picked up an injury in the 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa at the end of January and was sidelined for the entirety of February.

Considering how impressive Romeu has been for Southampton this season, with the Spanish midfielder having averaged a solid 6.97 rating for his performances in the top-flight, you imagine that had he stayed fit, then Diallo would’ve found himself on the bench for the majority of the remaining games.

However, he can now take advantage of his teammate’s injury woes and establish himself as a key member of this Southampton team, with the view to him challenging Romeu for a starting spot next season, or potentially convincing Hasenhuttl to field them both in his starting eleven.

Therefore, with Southampton having struggled immensely in recent weeks, this is the perfect opportunity for Diallo to step up and showcase his talents in the Premier League, as he briefly did earlier in the season before his injury.

And, in other news… Hasenhuttl handed big boost with £13.5m-rated gem who can put relegation fears to bed