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Toni Kroos' humour has once again won the internet as his hilarious tweet on Cristiano Ronaldo's 900th goal has gone viral.

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Ronaldo reached milestone against CroatiaMarked 900th goal with video collageKroos reacts with humorous replyWHAT HAPPENED?

Even at 39, the Portuguese talisman continues to set new milestones as he became the first player in football history to score 900 official goals. Ronaldo faced a massive backlash after a lacklustre showing at Euro 2024 when he failed to find the net, but the forward seems to have got back his mojo in front of goal back after rejuvenating himself during the post-season break- netting inthree straight games for club and country since the tournament.

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Many of his colleagues, both past and present, congratulated Ronaldo on his incredible achievement and Kroos, who has spent several years with him at Real Madrid, happened to be one of them. However, the German, known for his subtle humour, chose to evoke fun at his own expense which left the Twitter universe in stitches.

WHAT KROOS SAID

In a post on his official ‘X’ account, Kroos wrote: "Don’t even reach 900 if i combine games and training goals."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Kroos has scored 183 goals in his career with 17 of them coming on the international stage. While his record is nowhere close to Ronaldo's 900, he boasts of finding the net on more occasions than many other celebrated midfield greats including Xavi (124) and Andres Iniesta (107).

Everton might have endured another testing campaign in the Premier League but Sean Dyche has successfully preserved top-flight status with relative ease despite an eight-point deduction.

While things went pear-shaped back in December when an impressive start to the season was sliced following breaches of Premier League profit and Sustainability rules, a businesslike approach to recent fixtures has seen a steady run of form establish an 11-point gap from 18th-placed Luton Town with two matches to go.

The tortuous series of events this season may not have abated just yet, but the Toffees players can take much pride in their commitment and composure on the pitch, never letting the carnivorous chomp of the docked points consume them.

Pre-season, the need for a new talisman was glaring, and while Beto was signed from Udinese for £26m last August, the resurgence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin has proved to be one of the decisive factors over recent months.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's season in numbers

Beto had been hailed for his "quality" by journalist Josh Bunting before making the move to Merseyside and while he has made his physicality known, a rather uninspiring offensive impact has hardly left fans gushing, with just three Premier League goals all term.

Calvert-Lewin, conversely, has enjoyed a bright season at the front of Dyche's system, scoring seven league goals and matching the tally of the past two campaigns combined, where he started only 15 fixtures each time.

After spending such an interminably long period injured, or away from his best football given the persistent fitness problems, it's excellent to witness Calvert-Lewin approaching his best once again, having scored four goals from his past five matches.

Not just a goalscorer, though, Calvert-Lewin is averaging 0.6 key passes and 6.2 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore, with The Athletic's Patrick Boyland even remarking that he's been "like the DCL of old" in recent efforts.

If he can carry his form into the 2024/25 campaign, Beto might be facing a premature exit, failing to live up to the price tag. Calvert-Lewin will need an offensive partner, however, and academy talent Martin Sherif might just be the perfect homegrown option for Dyche.

Why Everton must unleash Martin Sherif

Hailed for his "composed" finishing by Boyland, Dutch striker Sherif made waves at youth level last season, with the Everton official website describing him as a 'powerful attacker with excellent finishing ability'.

Across 18 starting appearances in the U18 Premier League last season, the 17-year-old bagged 14 goals and added four assists, blending his brawny physicality with a sharp goalscoring instinct.

Moreover, he signed his first professional contract with the club last summer and so is clearly held in high regard by the Everton board, who view his skill set as one built for success at senior level.

This term, the teenager has been in and out of the squad but he has been promoted to the U21s and scored on his sole start, against West Bromwich Albion.

He might have been in and out of competitive action this season but Sherif has been noted for the 'fearsome impression' – according to Rheinische Post – that he made with the U18s at the U19s Champions Trophy – also known as the Easter Tournament – only last month.

He's still so young and looks to have the physical qualities for success at the highest level in the Premier League, and Everton might just hit the jackpot by unleashing this homegrown prodigy alongside Calvert-Lewin next season.

Sergino Dest hopes to be back on the pitch in early 2025, shares 'excitement' about the future of the USMNT

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• Dest shares target return date from ACL tear
• Defender "excited" for reported Pochettino hire
• 23-year-old out for calendar year

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  On April 20, Sergino Dest suffered an ACL tear while partaking in a training session with PSV. The injury ruled him out of Copa America 2024, and sidelined him for the remainder of the calendar year.

  The U.S. international is in recovery, and has now set a target date for a return to the Dutch club, while also delivering a unique and insightful perspective on the reported hire of ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino as manager of the USMNT.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Speaking to ESPN, the 23-year-old fullback shared that he's targeting a return to competition in January 2025.

  "I set in my mind end of January, but I have to see how it goes, step by step," Dest said. "So if it goes worse or whatever, for any reason, I have to wait. The thing that I have to make sure is that my knee is perfect and then I can play. So if I need a little bit longer, I will take it because this is a really big injury."

  He last featured on the international stage with the U.S. in their March camp, as the USMNT defeated Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final under then-manager Gregg Berhalter. After missing out on Copa America over the summer, Dest is hoping to still be present in camps come this fall as the new regime gets into motion.

  "I haven't been with the team in the last camp because obviously I'm injured so I have nothing to do there, but I will go probably in the near future, in October camp or November," he said. "I try to be with the team and will ask them to stay there with the chemistry and everything, to support them."

  Like fellow internationals Antonee Robinson and Yunus Musah, Dest is excited by the expected appointment of Pochettino.

• WHAT DEST SAID ABOUT POCHETTINO

  "Yeah, it is [exciting]," Dest said of the possibility of playing under Pochettino. "Obviously, he's been a coach for big clubs and he's a well-known coach. That will be a nice experience to train under him.

  "That's exciting. We'll see and hopefully it can help all of us … to have a really great result at the 2026 World Cup, you know? Because we are the home country. We need to take it step by step because he is not there yet."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The U.S. have a series of international friendlies to play in September, with matches against New Zealand and Canada. U20 manager Mikey Varas is reported to be the individual on the touchline for them both, even if Pochettino is officially hired.

David Moyes employed a three-man West Ham United defence against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday evening to negate the seemingly unstoppable German side as they chase down silverware across three fronts, undefeated all term.

West Ham succumbed to late pressure in their Europa League last-eight first leg but were organised and frustrating. However, they must return to a more conventional system when hosting Fulham in the Premier League this afternoon.

Seventh in the standings, the Irons must secure victory today with so many outfits fighting for a European qualifying spot, though are nursing several injuries to key players ahead of the all-London clash.

West Ham team news

Moyes has confirmed that top scorer Jarrod Bowen is not expected to return against Fulham today, with the dynamic forward missing the midweek loss after hurting his hip during last weekend's victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Moreover, Alphonse Areola and Kalvin Phillips are both doubts and Konstantinos Mavropanos will be assessed after the Greek defender was substituted in Germany late on with a knock.

Lucas Paqueta's yellow card also means he is suspended for the return fixture but the Brazilian playmaker will be sure to start against the Cottagers. While this is the case, Moyes might be inclined to hand Danny Ings a rare start in the top flight.

Why West Ham must unleash Danny Ings

Ings has endured a torrid time in east London since transferring from Aston Villa in a £15m package back in January 2023, despite winning the Conference League, scoring only four times across 47 appearances.

Danny Ings: Stats by Club

Club

Apps

Goals

Assists

Burnley

130

43

14

Southampton

100

46

10

Aston Villa

52

14

8

West Ham United

47

4

2

Bournemouth

30

8

3

Liverpool

25

4

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

Once hailed as a "goal machine" by journalist Joe Prince-Wright, the 5 foot 10 striker is a proven Premier League star but he's skidded awry since donning Irons colours.

This season, he's scored just one goal in all competitions and started on just two occasions in the Premier League, emphasising the lack of trust that Moyes has in his 31-year-old ace.

Ings doesn't have the same physicality and athletic movements that make Michail Antonio such an effective focal point up front, but with Bowen sidelined Moyes might find success fielding the respective forwards together.

As per FBref, Antonio, aged 34, ranks among the top 11% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90, showcasing his natural power and dribbling prowess that makes him a singular threat in the final third.

Luring defenders down mazy channels and creating space for his teammates is where he thrives, and Ings could find so much success given his innate striking ability, also honing his skill as a creator in recent times, notably creating a whopping four key passes, succeeding with three dribbles and making three tackles – as per Sofascore – against Sheffield United in a deeper role back in January.

His goalscoring quality is still there, latent, and he demonstrated against Burnley several fixtures ago that he still has the snap to bypass opposition goalkeepers.

This dynamic duo might just do the trick against a disciplined Fulham defence and compensate for Bowen's absence, providing Moyes with the tools to craft a boosting victory in the Premier League.

A "sublime" Premier League player has reportedly emerged as a top target to potentially replace Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle United this summer.

Newcastle could lose key players

The Magpies could have a busy summer in the transfer market, with numerous players continuing to be linked with moves to St James' Park.

Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone has been backed to head to Newcastle, for example, being seen as an impressive young option who could boost Eddie Howe's options in the middle of the park. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig right-back Mohamed Simikan has also emerged as a target, and he could be seen as a successor to Kieran Trippier in the role.

It could be that there is also much focus on potential outgoings at St James' Park, however, with a host of key men possibly departing once the 2023/24 campaign reaches its conclusion.

Trippier is one of those, with a January move mooted earlier in the year and his high wage making him expendable, in terms of Newcastle having to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Bruno Guimaraes is another whose time at the club could be coming to an end, with Paris Saint-Germain eyeing a move for him.

There are doubts over the future of Callum Wilson, too, considering the Englishman is now 31 years of age and out of contract in the summer of 2025. That means now could be the best time to move him on, seeing as it's their last chance of receiving a fee for the striker.

Newcastle want "sublime" Premier League star

According to The Sunday Mirror [via Sports View], Newcastle are interested in signing Morgan Gibbs-White this summer, with the Nottingham Forest ace considered a top target to come in for Bruno. He was linked with a switch back in January, being seen as an alternative to Miguel Almiron, but the transfer failed to come to fruition.

The Englishman is seen as someone who could help fill the void left by Bruno if he moves on at the end of the season, possessing similar box-to-box quality in the middle of the park.

Gibbs-White could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle ahead of next season, standing out as arguably Forest's best and most important player this term, providing great quality and work ethic.

The 24-year-old has scored five goals and registered seven assists in the Premier League in 2023/24, while Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith hailed him last year, saying:

"It comes courtesy of an exquisite Morgan Gibbs-White touch in there to set up Danilo. Have a look at that for subtlety. It’s a beautiful bit of awareness. Some of his touches have been sublime. He’s been at the heart of most things for Forest. This is one of the touches of the season I think. Great awareness."

Gibbs-White also has real pedigree, winning the Under-17s World Cup with England back in 2017, in a side also featuring the likes of Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, and the fact that he has proven himself in the Premier League means he could make an instant impact at Newcastle.

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Represented by the same agency as Nick Pope, is also still a relatively young player, meaning that his peak years could be spent with the Magpies, and there is no reason why he can't develop into one of the best midfielders in the country.

La Liga, the premier football league in Spain, is well-known for its players' lightning-fast reflexes, creative tactics, and technical prowess. Even in a league that has produced some of the best football players in history, speed is still a vital component that can decide a game in a matter of seconds.

Of course, we've seen the likes of Jude Bellingham get recognition for the fantastic goalscoring ability he has been displaying in his first season in Spain, but now it's time to give recognition to the players who possess high speeds, who perhaps don't get as much of the limelight.

With that being said, we have taken a look at the top 10 fastest players in La Liga this season, as of November 2023, courtesy of Samba Foot…

Disclaimer – top speed data isn't as available in La Liga compared to the Premier League, so the information below may not be 100% fact.

Rank

Player

Club

Top Speed (km/h)

1

Vinícius Júnior

Real Madrid

36

2

Andrei Ratiu

Rayo Vallecano

35.6

3

Inaki Williams

Athletic Bilbao

35.4

4

Assane Diao

Real Betis

35.4

5

Samu Omorodion

Alaves

35.4

6

Marvin Park

Las Palmas

35.2

7

Savio

Girona

35

8

Thierry Correia

Valencia

35

9

Dodi Lukebakio

Seville

34.9

10

Alberto Moreno

Villarreal

34.9

Top 15 Fastest Football Players in the World in 2024 (Ranked)

Who has recorded the fastest speeds this year?

ByStephan Georgiou Oct 18, 2024 10 Alberto Moreno Top speed – 34.9 km/h

Alberto Moreno is a name that many Premier League supporters will recognise, as he spent a part of his football career at Liverpool.

However, unlike his inconsistent performances at Anfield, he's actually been rather impressive at his current club, Villarreal. He's managed to start 45% of the club's games in La Liga this season, in which he's amassed one goal and one assist.

Regardless, there's no doubting that he's a livewire at left-back, having clocked in at 34.9 km/h.

9 Dodi Lukebakio Top speed – 34.9

Dodi Lukebakio secured a move to Spanish club Seville back in the summer transfer window after impressing in the Bundesliga. He hasn't exactly set the La Liga alight in what is his first season, with just three goals and one assist to his name, but he has excited fans and terrified defenders with his pace both on and off the ball.

His pace is evident having clocked in at an impressive 34.9 km/h already.

8 Thierry Correia Top speed – 35 km/h

Another full-back on the list now, is Valencia's Thierry Correia.

The Portuguese defender has made the right-back position his own this season when he's been fit and ready, as he has had his fair share of injury issues and time out of the squad.

He has two assists to show for his performances, as well as eighth on this list as he clocked in at a rapid 35 km/h.

7 Savio Top speed – 35 km/h

Savio is a name that Premier League fans will soon know, as he's already signed on the dotted line to join Manchester City.

The Brazilian teenager has really caught the eye at Spanish side Girona, and it doesn't take a genius to see why, as he's scored 10 goals and assisted seven in 33 appearances in all competitions.

Operating as a winger, the talented youngster looks to make use of his pace to beat defenders, which has seen him clock in at 35 km/h.

6 Marvin Park Top speed – 35.2 km/h

Marvin Park is currently on loan at Las Palmas from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

At 23 years of age, you would have thought he'd have broken into the Real Madrid side by now if he's to have any kind of future at the club. And, his performances so far this season certainly won't have caught the eye of his parent club as he's only assisted twice and is yet to open his goalscoring tally from the right wing.

Despite his struggles, he does feature in this list, having clocked in at an impressive 35.2 km/h

5 Samu Omorodion Top speed – 35.4 km/h

Samu Omorodion is a Nigerian-born striker who currently plays his football for Alaves.

Despite being just 19 years of age, Samu has already secured himself the main role leading the Spanish club's line, and he's rewarded the manager for his faith, having scored nine goals in La Liga.

With time still to grow and develop even more, it's scary to think that the teen is already reaching speeds of 35.4 km/h.

4 Assane Diao Top speed – 35.4 km/h

Assane Diao is a player who has attracted the attention of Real Madrid, with rumours circling earlier on in the season.

It's not hard to see why, as at just 18 years of age, he's already a regular in the Real Betis first-team, and has even scored four senior goals, which have come in the Europa League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.

However, he has a lot more to his game than just trickery and a knack for scoring goals, as he's already reached speeds of 35.4 km/h.

3 Inaki Williams Top speed – 35.4 km/h

Now, Inaki Williams is a name that FIFA and EA FC fans will be familiar with, as a constant nuisance to defend against in games over the years.

He's been a nightmare for La Liga defenders to defend against too in the current campaign, with his tally now sitting at 11 goals and five assists in 30 games in all competitions.

There aren't many players in world football who can keep up with the 29-year-old on his day, which is why he comes in at third position in the list after clocking in at a speed of 35.4 km/h.

2 Andrei Ratiu Top speed – 35.6 km/h

Coming in at number two is Andrei Ratiu. The Romanian full-back has been on the fringes at current club Rayo Vallecano so far this season, which probably suggests that his pace is his biggest asset. He's started just 15% of the Spanish club's domestic league matches and has no goal contributions to show for it.

Despite his inconsistencies and struggles for regular minutes, he did clock in at 35.6 km/h when given the opportunity.

1 Vinícius Júnior Top speed – 36 km/h

At number one, you could have guessed it. It's Vinícius Júnior.

The Real Madrid attacker has established himself as one of the best forwards in world football with his performances over the past few seasons, and the current campaign further backs it up. At the time of writing, he has 18 goals and eight assists to his name in just 28 appearances for Los Blancos, with plenty of time still to improve on that record.

As a constant nightmare for even some of the best defenders in world football, not just in La Liga, it comes as no surprise to see him sitting pretty at the top of the list, having clocked in at a scary pace of 36 km/h.

Brisbane Heat are hopeful of enticing AB de Villiers to play multiple seasons in the Big Bash League after signing him for the upcoming season, according to coach Darren Lehmann.The Heat pulled off a major coup on Tuesday signing de Villiers just months after it appeared as though de Villiers may not play in Australia’s T20 competition at all having withdrawn his interest in May following a flurry of media speculation.Lehmann said Heat management had stayed in contact with de Villiers, including flying to South Africa to meet with him, and felt fortunate to convince him to sign for this season but they are hopeful it won’t be a one-off.”We were just lucky enough that we had a good conversation with him and his management and Baz McCullum was fantastic as well, pushing the Brisbane Heat,” Lehmann said. “After it sort of fell over a bit we kept in contact with him and at the end of the day, we were really humbled that actually wanted to come back and play.”I just want him to come and enjoy it really, to be perfectly honest. And I think if he does that he’ll play well. I saw him playing in England this year in the Vitality Blast and he played really well.”We really want him to impart some of his knowledge on some of our younger kids more so than anything else and hopefully he stays on for years to come.”The Heat are still negotiating his exact arrival date to Australia after agreeing to allow him to stay in South Africa to celebrate Christmas and New Year with his family for one of the rare times in his career.De Villiers will definitely miss the Heat’s first five matches of the tournament. Their sixth match is on January 6 against Sydney Thunder and their seventh is against Hobart Hurricanes on January 9. Lehmann could not guarantee when he would arrive but did confirm he would play the rest of the home and away games and finals.”It’ll be roughly early January,” Lehmann said. “We’re just working through those finer details. But we’ve got him from then right through until the end, and then hopefully finals as well if we play well enough, and then hopefully from then on, he keeps coming back.”De Villiers’ presence gives Lehmann and captain Chris Lynn enormous flexibility with their top order as he joins the likes of Max Bryant, Sam Heazlett, Joe Burns, Matt Renshaw, and Ben Cutting.But Lehmann was just as excited about what he could add from a leadership perspective.”It’s a great experience for Chris Lynn,” Lehmann said. “I know they obviously played against each other in the IPL. I know Chris Lynn is over the moon and excited by it. But just for AB to impart his knowledge with the younger guys and leadership skills he’s had with South Africa. For us, it’s a win-win.”The Heat’s other overseas players are currently Afghanistan spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Zahir Khan.

Any transfer plan that Liverpool may have had ahead of this summer was likely thrown into doubt when Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. That said, the Reds are now starting to think about their next era and just who could come in to hand their new manager an instant boost.

Liverpool transfer news

The focus has naturally been on Liverpool's managerial candidates, with Xabi Alonso at the forefront of those rumours following how he's impressed in Germany. The Spaniard's Bayer Leverkusen side sit top of the Bundesliga and unbeaten in all competitions so far this season, making him the reported top target to replace Klopp.

Liverpool's Alonso rumours have come with links to the likes of Florian Wirtz and Piero Hincapie, who have both starred under the former Real Madrid midfielder this season. Alonso's 3-4-2-1 system would certainly shake things up at Anfield away from Klopp's classic 4-3-3 and potentially create the need for certain arrivals.

The Leverkusen manager's system uses two attacking midfielders, for example, and if he takes the Liverpool job, he may need to turn to the transfer market to implement that at Anfield. And that's where one star could come in.

According to CalcioMercato, Liverpool are in pole position to sign Georgiy Sudakov this summer, with the report suggesting that they're the only club to come "really close" to securing the Shakhtar Donetsk man, ahead of the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

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It remains to be seen whether the Reds will secure a deal for the attacking midfielder, however, with his reported €150m (£128m) release clause potentially proving to be a stumbling block, although his club are thought to be willing to accept a figure closer to €50m (£43m).

"Exquisite" Sudakov would suit Alonso's system

Although we are yet to see whether it is Alonso who replaces Klopp at Liverpool this summer, Sudakov is certainly someone who would suit the Spaniard's system at Anfield, especially if he's looking for his version of Wirtz in Merseyside. Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig is clearly a fan of Sudakov, previously posting on X:

Sudakov's stats in a full campaign last season show how good he can be, with 11 assists and five goals representing a player at the top of his game. With such a hefty release clause, however, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool pursue the deal for their first post-Klopp signing.

Ange Postecoglou is creating a team of manifest quality down at Tottenham Hotspur but the Australian will need more time to right the wrongs that have plagued the squad over recent years.

While the senior recruitment is filled with promise, the exemplary gains made at academy level must not be ignored, with Wayne Burnett's development squad top of the Premier League 2 and undefeated after 12 matches.

The youth level has come on leaps and bounds, it really has, and while Spurs have enjoyed some brilliant success with those cutting their teeth at the club in recent years, now the machine-like structure hints at sustained efficacy of production.

Some teenagers have risen to the fore but too many have been lost in the ether, with Josh Onomah one of the fairly recent prospects to have fallen flat.

Josh Onomah's Spurs career

Once considered a talented prospect, attacking midfielder Onomah made his Premier League debut at 18 under Mauricio Pochettino's wing, coming off the bench during a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in November 2015.

He had the trappings of a real star; he had – has – an innate ability to manipulate space in enclosed situations and a shrewd eye for openings, technically proficient.

But after making just 32 appearances for Tottenham, scoring once, Onomah was sold to Fulham in 2019 as part of a £25m deal that saw talented wideman Ryan Sessegnon head in the opposite direction.

While his Spurs career had ended before it got going, there was still ample time for success, having flourished on loan with Villa in the Championship during the 2017/18 campaign, posting four goals and three assists across 20 starts, completing 80% of his passes and 62% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.

Onomah had even self-styled his game to that of Dele Alli, revealing back in 2016 that he was modelling his game on the former prodigy's skill set, saying: "They’ve all been good to me and I’m learning bits and bobs from everyone really. Also Dele Alli – he’s doing amazingly.

"He’s only a year older than me and look at the stuff he’s achieved. I’m learning from him as well."

Alli was regarded as one of football's most exciting talents after joining Spurs from MK Dons for around £5m back in 2015, clinching 66 direct goal contributions across his first three Premier League campaigns.

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Jose Mourinho even touted the 27-year-old to become "one of the world's best", but he has sadly suffered an acute decline over recent years, a by-product of affecting personal issues and circumstances.

What Josh Onomah is doing now

Onomah spent three campaigns with Fulham as the London club fluctuated between the Premier League and the Championship, but he was always on the periphery and completed a short-term move to Preston North End on a free transfer in January 2023, released by the Cottagers as they finally found form and synergy in the top-flight.

His fleeting stint in Lancashire might well have proved to be his last hurrah within the professional game, making just four starts and earning one assist before his release. He has not found a club since.

Last month, League One side Bolton Wanderers were linked with a shock swoop for the 6 foot 1 ace on a free deal, but nothing materialised.

The door has not been shut irrevocably, but Onomah will need to find a platform soon if he is to find success in the professional game.

Yet to really make a splash in the January transfer window, it could be argued that Southampton don't need to actively recruit that many new faces to the group.

Russell Martin's confident Saints are on an amazing 19-game unbeaten run in the Championship, eyeing up the automatic promotion spots as a direct consequence of this staggering sequence of results.

But, to really push on and dethrone Ipswich Town from the coveted second position in the division, Martin could be tempted to bring in a new body here and there to strengthen his already strong side further without disrupting the obvious harmony already present at St Mary's.

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With that in mind, this is what a dream Southampton lineup could look like after January with three new signings coming into the XI…

1

Gavin Bazunu

Gavin Bazunu has taken some flak in his Southampton career to date, but the ex-Manchester City shot-stopper has improved in recent weeks significantly.

Picking up six clean sheets across Southampton's last ten Championship matches, the Saints must feel far more reassured with Bazunu in between the sticks to fully go gung-ho when venturing forward.

2

Kyle Walker-Peters

Linked with a move back up to the Premier League with West Ham United, Southampton will do everything in their power to keep Walker-Peters on the South Coast this month despite possible tempting offers from higher-up suitors.

With two goals and two assists next to his name this campaign for Martin's in-form Saints, Walker-Peters shone once more against Sheffield Wednesday last match – registering two key passes in the 4-0 demolition job, alongside notching up three successful dribbles to bamboozle a shell-shocked Owls defence on the day.

3

Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Taylor Harwood-Bellis is enjoying another stellar loan switch to the Championship this season from parent club Manchester City, helping Burnley to the second-tier title last season and now playing his part in the Saints going for promotion this campaign.

Amassing 98 touches in total against the Owls, Harwood-Bellis is key to Southampton's calm and measured approach playing out from the back before an attack eventually bursts into life.

4

Jan Bednarek

The more experienced of the two centre-backs at 27 years of age, Jan Bednarek has been a brick wall for the promotion-chasing Saints so far this season.

The towering Polish defender very rarely has an off-day in the stern yet stylish defence assembled by Martin, even helping himself to a single goal this season.

5

Ben Johnson

The first new face into the building at Southampton this January could well be Ben Johnson, the versatile West Ham defender itching for a move away from the London Stadium after finding himself stuck on the periphery.

A transfer target way back in the summer, the Saints have reignited their interest in the wantaway Hammers man this month according to football journalist Darren Witcoop.

The 23-year-old – who is only on £20k per week at the Premier League club – could well displace Ryan Manning on his potential arrival, the ex-Swansea City man prone to a blip this campaign for Martin's promotion chasers – the Saints number three losing possession 15 times on an off-day against Watford in early December.

6

Joe Rothwell

Joe Rothwell could follow Johnson in through the door at St Mary's this month, the current AFC Bournemouth man an experienced midfielder at Championship level previously with 152 second-tier appearances tallied up on his career CV.

It looks as if Southampton will win Rothwell's services on loan until the end of the season according to reports, with Will Smallbone a possible casualty in the starting side for the ex-Blackburn Rovers midfielder to feature regularly in the first-team fold.

Smallbone has been a solid addition to the central midfield trio, but with Rothwell's know-how at the level sticking out, the 23-year-old could fall victim to a personnel change.

7

Flynn Downes

Flynn Downes will however keep his spot in the team regardless of new faces coming in, the West Ham loanee spraying balls around for fun in the centre of a midfield trio this campaign for Martin's Saints.

Averaging 67.7 accurate passes per game this season, Downes' composure with the ball at his feet could prove to be key when the nerves are ramped up towards the conclusion of the Championship season and wins are a must.

8

Stuart Armstrong

Stuart Armstrong has also been pivotal to how Southampton have played this season from central midfield, constantly on the ball – much like Downes – as a calm orchestrator of attacking moves.

The Scottish midfielder set up Adam Armstrong for the second goal of the 4-0 Wednesday victory, accumulating 67 touches of the ball in the comprehensive win before being hauled off by Martin.

Yet, despite being substituted late into the game, the Saints number 17 will be retained in the starting eleven for the crucial months to follow in the promotion race.

9

David Brooks

The final new signing that Martin could bed into his high-flying team this January is tricky AFC Bournemouth attacker David Brooks, allowing for Adam Armstrong to be played in a more familiar and comfortable centre-forward position again.

Linked with a move for Brooks all transfer window, landing the Welshman – who has won promotion from this level in the not-so-distant past before with the Cherries – could aid Southampton in their own current pursuit of glory and make a statement to the rest of the division in the process.

10

Adam Armstrong

Having a part to play in 25 goals this season from just 27 second-tier appearances – scoring 14 times and assisting a further 11 strikes – Adam Armstrong can go back to just being a deadly finisher again instead of helping out with assists played in a makeshift right wing role on occasion with Brooks in.

Notching up 28 goals for Blackburn Rovers over his last full season at this level, Armstrong will hope he can match that number and perhaps even surpass that impressive total on the way to promotion being clinched.