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Telegraph journalist Jim White has claimed that Nottingham Forest could be making a clever move if they can sign Keylor Navas amid recent transfer links.

What’s the word?

As per a report in the Daily Mail, the Premier League side are hoping to bring in PSG goalkeeper before the winter window shuts next week.

The club’s need for a new number one has come as a result of an injury to Dean Henderson who had suffered a grade two tear in his thigh earlier this month and so he now faces a spell on the sidelines expected to be between four to six weeks.

While speaking about it all on BBC Transfer Gossip Daily, White said that this could be a good move for the club in both the long and short term.

He explained: “I think this is a really, really intriguing idea for Forest. Dean Henderson their first-choice goalkeeper is injured, he’s likely to be out for a month is the understanding.

“And anyway, he’s on loan for Manchester United – they could do with a really experienced ‘keeper to come in. Wayne Hennessey is the reserve. But no, actually, I think that would work for them.”

Right move?

As White explains, Henderson is only on loan from Manchester United and that deal does not include an option to buy and so they will potentially need a new number one at the end of the season anyway.

While that initial report linking the club with Navas also says it would just be a loan, Forest could try and include an option to buy from PSG.

Regardless of if they could do that or not, they certainly would be bringing in a top goalkeeper for the time being. After all, the 36-year-old has won the Champions League, La Liga, Ligue 1, and numerous other trophies during spells in France and also with Real Madrid in Spain.

However, he has played just twice in France this season and so Navas may well be up for a move to England if Forest can promise him regular game time.

Wolves have been linked with Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott recently and Matt Hobbs should look to bring him to Molineux after his superb performance in the FA Cup at the weekend.

John Percy of The Telegraph claimed in the early stages of January that Wolves had “been in talks” with Bristol City over a move for the midfielder, although may have to pay £25m in order to secure a deal.

Julen Lopetegui’s side have already brought in Matheus Cunha, Pablo Sarabia, Craig Dawson, Mario Lemina and Daniel Bentley this month, and could potentially return to Ashton Gate ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

If Wolves do retain an interest in signing the 19-year-old this month, there is no doubt that scouts will have been in attendance at Bristol City’s impressive 3-0 win over West Brom on Saturday and if they were, they will have been very impressed with Scott’s performance.

As per Sofascore, the talented midfielder would earn a superb 8/10 rating for his display, which ranked him as the best outfield player on the pitch from both sides.

The teenager would make it 2-0 in the first half after Mark Sykes’ assist, while he also contributed two key passes, one big chance created and an impressive 91% pass accuracy during the FA Cup tie.

Following the game, Nigel Pearson made a bold claim about the youngster, suggesting that he believes that it won’t be long before we see him in a Three Lions shirt.

He said: “Such is my faith in Alex that I believe he could go on to play for England.”

Suddenly, the Robins’ £25m asking price does not seem so excessive and it could prove a shrewd investment by the Old Gold, especially given the lack of homegrown talents currently in Lopetegui’s squad.

Scott has long been tipped for the top, with pathway manager Brian Tinnion singing his praises when he broke into Bristol City’s senior squad as a 17-year-old.

He commented: “His work rate and his desire to learn has been unbelievable. To start every single Championship game so far as a 17-year-old is excellent.

“He has every single attribute you would want in a professional footballer. He can tackle, he’s great with both feet, he can head the ball, his delivery is good and his overall quality is great.”He lets his football do the talking and he’s getting better all the time. We are really excited about his future.”Saturday’s strong performance was not a one-off for Scott, as he boasts four assists in the second tier so far this campaign, averaging a strong 6.81 rating from WhoScored in his 27 appearances thus far.Therefore, with time running out before the deadline and Scott’s reputation only expected to grow, Wolves should definitely consider a move for the teenager this month.

Tottenham Hotspur are still looking to find a resolution to bring Pedro Porro through the doors this month and his potential arrival could see a number of players depart.

What’s the latest?

Over Sunday night and Monday morning it has emerged there have been fresh issues surrounding the deal to bring the Spanish right wing-back over to N17 after a deal was believed to be agreed upon.

It was suggested Spurs and Sporting CP had found an agreement on Saturday night during the Lilywhites’ FA Cup clash away to Preston North End.

Now it appears this deal is hanging in the balance, but prior to the development it had been suggested his possible arrival could see two out of Spurs’ current three right wing-backs depart in the final hours.

Indeed, writing in his latest transfer round-up column for GiveMeSport, insider Dean Jones has claimed two of Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Djed Spence could leave if Porro is to arrive:

“Patience has been key in negotiations for Pedro Porro but it is as good as done – and may prove to be the last of the major signings. Their next job will be to figure out how to deal with a right-back pile-up of Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Djed Spence. Two of the three could go,” said Jones.

One in, two out?

It now appears to be a big if, but if Porro is to land in north London ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, then it will leave Antonio Conte with a surplus of options in that position.

And one player who has already proven to be surplus to requirements this season is the youngster, Spence, who has been handed minimal opportunities by Conte.

There have been strong suggestions that Spence could be headed for the exit doors in N17 this month with a number of Premier League clubs believed to be interested in a potential deal for the 22-year-old, and it has since emerged he is close to moving to French outfit Rennes.

As for Emerson, there have also been reports claiming the Lilywhites could be prepared to allow him to leave this month with the likes of Juventus credited with an interest in the Brazilian.

And even Doherty’s future has been questioned recently with Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas suggesting the Lilywhites could be open to listening to offers for the Irishman.

However, the main focus will surely now be on securing the services of Porro with just over 24 hours remaining in the January transfer window.

With Spence having played minimal game time, between Emerson and Doherty, the pair have provided an incredibly underwhelming return of just two goals and one assist across a combined 2463 minutes of football in all competitions.

And with this in mind, you could be forgiven for thinking Conte could see either player depart this month and not really feel any big loss to his squad depth.

James Maw of The Athletic claims that Djed Spence could have some form of future with Tottenham Hotspur despite a loan move to Stade Rennes last month.

The Lowdown: Spence makes loan move

Spence left Antonio Conte’s side this month and will be on loan with the Ligue 1 outfit until the end of the season.

The deal contains no obligation or option to buy for Rennes, meaning he will definitely head back to north London at the end of the season.

Tottenham only bought the player last summer, but he’s struggled for game time this season. Spence has only featured four times for Spurs in the Premier League.

The Latest: Maw makes Spence claim

Speaking to The View From The Lane podcast, Maw claimed that the straight loan is not something you see often in football nowadays and claims the player will be at Spurs next season.

He stated (22:24), “It’s quite rare that you’ll see a loan deal like this with no option or obligation these days. Normally, it will come with one or the other.

“So maybe that’s quite telling the fact that there this is an expectation that he’ll be back at Tottenham next season, and that things will suddenly be different.”

The Verdict: An uncertain future

We believe that if Spence is to have some sort of future with Tottenham, then he’ll have to really impress on loan at Rennes between now and the end of the season.

A straight loan certainly indicates that Spurs have no intention of letting him go immediately, but in our view, there’s one factor around his Spurs move that is a concern.

Conte claimed that signing the 22-year-old was not his decision, it was the club who saw him as an ‘investment’ and not the Italian.

This could mean that the full-back will have to make a massive statement if he’s to impress Conte, he could be harder to impress if he wasn’t signed by him specifically.

What could work in his favour is if Conte leaves at the end of the season when his contract runs out, a new manager may give Spence more opportunities in the first-team next season.

Ex-footballer Trevor Sinclair labelled Spence as ‘the real deal’ when he joined the club after his loan spell with Nottingham Forest.

He told TalkSport that he ran Arsenal players Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli ‘ragged’ in an FA Cup match last season.

Spence has bags of potential and shown what talent he has last season, but he needs to grasp this loan opportunity with both hands if he is to have a long-term future at Spurs under Conte or another manager.

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy will ‘push to leave’ the club this summer if he is not given more minutes on the pitch, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Mendy’s game-time

The 30-year-old was the Blues’ first-choice goalkeeper last season, making 34 appearances in the Premier League, but he has not consistently been in the starting XI this term, already being benched four times and starting just eight top-flight matches.

The Senegal international has been dealing with a shoulder injury which has caused him to miss six games, but his performances have not been of his usual standard when he has been fit.

He was accused of “dreadful” errors by journalist James Pearce during his country’s 2-0 defeat against the Netherlands at the World Cup and was also culpable of what then-Blues manager termed a “huge mistake” in Chelsea’s 3-0 hammering at Leeds in the early weeks of the current campaign.

The Latest: Mendy leaving this summer?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Phillips shared his views on the 30-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge, with Mendy having rejected a contract offer from Chelsea just before Christmas.

The journalist said: “Chelsea bringing in a goalkeeper depends on what happens with Mendy because Kepa is liked by the club and he’s liked by Potter, so I can actually see him sticking around.

“But I think Mendy is not going to stay if he’s going to be a back-up goalkeeper. He wants to be a number one, so he will push to leave in the summer if the situation stays the same.”

The Verdict: Let him go?

Kepa Arrizabalaga has put in some much-improved displays of late, keeping clean sheets in his last three matches, and he is now ranked by SofaScore as Chelsea’s third-best performing player in the Premier League this season with an average rating of 7.43.

As such, it would probably be a wise decision to let Mendy depart, as there is no point in keeping the £55k-per-week earner on the wage bill when he is unlikely to get much game-time, particularly considering Phillips’ assertion that Graham Potter is said to rate Arrizabalaga highly.

The Senegal goalkeeper will be remembered fondly by Chelsea fans as one of the key figures in their 2021 Champions League triumph, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Manchester City in the final, but unless things drastically change in the near future, it is probably best for all parties if he leaves this summer.

TalkSPORT’s Danny Murphy has hailed the work Andoni Iraola has done this season, but believes it would be a risk for Leeds United to appoint him as manager.

The Lowdown: Orta may go for a risky appointment

After the first blow in Leeds’ search for a Jesse Marsch replacement in the form of Carlos Corberan signing a new deal at West Bromwich Albion, the Whites appear to have turned their attention towards to a riskier appointment.

It is being reported that Iraola is now seen as the frontrunner to become the new Leeds manager, despite being just 40 years old and having only ever managed in Spain and Cyprus.

That would certainly be seen as a risky move from Orta and Andrea Radrizzani, as given their position in the table, Leeds arguably need someone that can come in and hit the ground running rather than a manager who is unproven in the Premier League.

The Latest: Iraola the man Leeds are targeting

Murphy believes what Iraola has done in Spanish football in getting Rayo Vallecano from the second tier to their current spot in fifth place is very impressive and compared him to Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, but does acknowledge it would be risky to bring him to Elland Road.

He said: “He has done a remarkable job when you look at what he’s done, coming up and now they’re fifth and been in the semi-final of the cup.

“It’s a risk, but so was De Zerbi, so there’s no exact science to this – Simon [Jordan] will tell you that himself, you think you’ve got someone who’s been there and done it and fail.”

The Verdict: Leeds must do their due diligence

If it’s true that Leeds are starting to swing towards appointing Iraola sometime soon, Orta must be 100% sure that he’s the right man and not get it wrong as he did with Marsch.

If Orta does get it wrong again – Marsch won just 11 games as Leeds boss – the Whites could well be making a lot more midweek trips next season in the Championship.

While many fans may not have had an opinion on Marcelo Bielsa prior to him rocking up at Elland Road back in 2018, now he is a fan favourite, and there’s nothing to suggest that Iraola – who’s threatening to disrupt the Spanish elite this season – couldn’t achieve similar status in a few years’ time.

Tottenham Hotspur are doing everything they can to keep Harry Kane in north London beyond his current deal and have not received any interest from Manchester United.

How long is left on Harry Kane’s contract?

The England captain is now playing into the final 18 months of his deal with the north London club meaning this summer may be the last opportunity for Spurs to bring in serious money for him.

However, there is the belief that the 29-year-old could be open to extending his stay with the Lilywhites if the club are able to match his ambition.

Indeed speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the north London club are doing what they can to tie their 29-year-old down to an extended stay:

(2:50) “What I can say is that Man United never had any kind of direct contact with people close to Harry Kane, with his family, his brother they’re taking care of the player’s future.”

“The feeling of people into Tottenham is that they will do their best to keep Harry Kane at the club, to negotiate a new contract very soon to discuss with Kane and keep Kane at the club.”

Who is interested in signing Harry Kane?

There have been reports suggesting the likes of Bayern Munich have shown an interest recently in potentially signing Kane having lost Robert Lewandowski last summer.

However, the Bundesliga side may find it a difficult task to prise the England captain away from the Premier League with Alan Shearer’s all-time goalscoring record in sight.

This has naturally led to links to the Red Devils who will likely be on the lookout for a striker in the summer having lost Cristiano Ronaldo in recent months.

But there is still a lot riding on the final months of the campaign for Tottenham who could still get their hands on some silverware.

This will be a tough ask given the club are currently in the middle of a serious injury storm which has seen some of their important players struck by long-term issues.

And Kane’s sensational form in the Premier League this season may not help Tottenham’s chances of tying him down to a new deal with the likes of United in need of a prolific striker.

What will be interesting to see is whether the future of Antonio Conte has a big influence on Kane’s decision making given the Italian’s spell in north London could well be heading to an end.

Kane has played some of his best football under the proven winner, so if Conte is to move on in the summer, it will be interesting to see whether Kane feels the club is heading in a positive direction.

It is believed Mauricio Pochettino could be the man to come in and replace Conte, however, that may not be enough to keep Kane in north London.

Racism has been a long-standing issue in football teams. It occurs when people discriminate against someone based on the colour of their skin, ethnicity or nationality. Racism can take many forms from verbal abuse to physical violence and it is not limited to any particular team or country – it happens all around the world.

There are many reasons why racism is still present in football teams, including ignorance and lack of education about diversity. Unfortunately, it is often seen as acceptable behaviour by some people and can be perpetuated by the media, which contributes to an environment where racism is tolerated or even encouraged.

Read about racism examples

Racism in football is an issue that has been around for a long time, and unfortunately it still exists today. Football can be an incredibly powerful platform to speak out against racism and its damaging effects. Essays on this topic can help us better understand why racism exists in football and how we can try to prevent it from occurring. For those interested in learning more about racism in football, reading a racism essay on this subject can provide valuable insight. These essays can help us understand the history of racism in football, how it is manifested today, and what we can do to put an end to it.

Effects of racism on footballers

Racism in football can have far-reaching negative effects on players. It can create a hostile environment in the stadium, leading to decreased performance levels and a lack of concentration. Players may feel isolated and unwelcome, which can lead to anxiety and depression.

The psychological impact of racism is significant and long lasting. Being  the victim of racism can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, anger, fear and anxiety. These feelings can impact a player’s performance on the field and their overall mental health. Racism can also cause players to withdraw from the sport altogether.

Furthermore, racism can be a barrier to entry for certain players who might otherwise have been able to participate in the sport. Racism can also lead to poor decisions on and off the field, as players may be influenced negatively by racist comments or language used to describe them.

Finally, racism can have a lasting impact on players’ careers, as they may not receive the same opportunities for growth or recognition because of their race. It is important  to be aware of the impact racism can have on football players, and to take action to combat it.

Dealing with racism on the football field

Let’s discuss the most effective ways to overcome racism in football teams.

1. Promote Diversity and Inclusion in Team Recruitment

Recruiting a diverse team of players helps create an atmosphere that celebrates differences and prevents racism from taking root. Teams should look to recruit talent from all backgrounds, including those with different ethnicities, genders, religions, economic backgrounds, and more. Coaches should also be mindful of any internal biases they may have when selecting players for their team. It’s important to ensure everyone has the same opportunity to compete for a spot regardless of race or background.

2. Train Players on Racial Sensitivity

Teams should have training sessions where they teach players how to be sensitive to people of different races and how to stop racism on their teams. This can include things like:

understanding privilege learning about different cultural practices encouraging respectful communication recognizing biases.

By giving players ways to learn more about each other, teams can make a place where people from all backgrounds feel more welcome.

3. Create a Zero-Tolerance Policy

Teams should also have clear policies in place that outline the consequences for any racist remarks or behaviour. This should ensure everyone feels safe and respected within the team environment without fear of racial discrimination. It’s important that coaches and staff are held accountable as well to ensure they are not tolerating any form of racism on their team or in their organization.

4. Promote Open Dialogue

Creating an open dialogue between players can help them understand each other better and foster a greater sense of unity. Players should be encouraged to discuss their backgrounds and experiences, as well as any racism they have witnessed or experienced in the past. This will help to create a more empathetic atmosphere and make it easier for players to identify any instances of racial discrimination on their team.

5. Support Anti-Racism Organizations

Teams can show how much they want to stop racism by giving money or other resources to anti-racism groups that work to raise awareness and fight systemic racism. Being involved in the fight against racism not only sends a strong message, but it can also start conversations within the team about why this is important and how everyone can help make football more welcoming for everyone.

6. Hold Team Meetings

Regular team meetings should be held to discuss any incidents of racism that may have occurred, as well as strategies for preventing such behaviour in the future. This can help players become more aware of how their words and actions can affect others and ensure everyone feels heard and respected on the team. Additionally, coaches and staff members should be held accountable during these meetings if they are not actively working to prevent racism.

7. Encourage Positive Role Models

Having positive role models within the team can help inspire other players to stand up against discrimination and promote acceptance of differences among all members. Teams should look for players who embody qualities of respect, inclusivity, understanding, and empathy to be seen as leaders in the sport. These players can help set an example for others and show that all racial backgrounds are welcome and celebrated.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, racism in football teams is a deeply complex issue. With the right education and measures put in place by coaches and team leaders, it is possible to overcome racism in football teams. Creating a safe and respectful team environment is key to eradicating racism in football teams.

Photos by Unsplash

Arsenal’s famous Hale End academy has produced an extraordinary volume of young talent who have gone on to break into the Gunners’ first team.

Alumni such as Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshere and now Bukayo Saka have all played their part in differing generations at the North London side, with the academy more than living up to its reputation.

Wilshere was heralded as one of the brightest talents to emerge from Hale End and became Arsenal’s youngest-ever player to represent the club in the Premier League in 2008, aged just 16 years and 256 days before Ethan Nwaneri broke that record last year.

The Englishman went on to play nearly 200 matches for the club – although it would have been more had he not suffered from a variety of injuries – scoring 14 goals and it remains a career very much unfilled once he moved past the bright start.

Indeed, the club may have another talent in the academy who could go on to have a similar impact as Wilshere by breaking into the first team at a young age, 16-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Is Lewis-Skelly the next Hale End gem to break into the Arsenal side?

The young midfielder has reached an agreement with the club to sign a scholar contract that will commit him to Arsenal until 2025 and he is eligible to sign a professional contract when he turns 17 in September.

The youngster has played 14 matches across the U18 and the U21 sides in the academy, proving he is more than able to match players a few years older than him and has registered six goal contributions, impressive from a midfielder.

Like Wilshere, he operates in a central midfield role, although usually deployed slightly deeper, judging by his attacking contributions, he enjoys roaming forward wherever possible.

His average Sofascore rating over two matches in the Football League trophy was 6.55/10, but this experience would have been absolutely vital for Lewis-Skelly.

Averaging 20 minutes per game, he took 9.5 touches, held an 87% pass success rate, and won 100% of his aerial duels, showcasing his abilities across a range of metrics.

Having travelled to Dubai to train with the first team during the World Cup, manager Mikel Arteta is clearly aware of the talent Lewis-Skelly possesses and he played a crucial role in Arsenal’s win over Watford in the FA Youth Cup at the start of February.

A comeback victory from 2-0 down to prevail 4-2 showed the resilience of the young Gunners and Lewis-Skelly’s performance was praised by journalist Daniel Cutts:

“Just seen the highlights of the Arsenal youth cup win last night. My word, what a player Myles Lewis-Skelly looks. He could be absolutely anything in the future.”

The 16-year-old gem has all the talent in the world and could become Arsenal’s next Wilshere that’s for sure. He will be eyeing a chance to make his first team debut soon, although with what’s at stake this term, he might just have to wait a little bit longer.

The major talking point surrounding Newcastle United this week ahead of tomorrow’s League Cup final has been centred on the goalkeeping situation, with Magpies boss Eddie Howe having been dealt an unwanted headache following Nick Pope’s red card in the recent defeat to Liverpool.

While that suspension has somewhat soured the mood heading into Sunday’s clash with Manchester United, one notable positive for the Tynesiders will be the return of influential midfielder, Bruno Guimaraes, with the Brazil international having served his three-game domestic ban in recent weeks.

The former Lyon man – who arrived at St James’ Park on a £40m deal in January 2022 – was dismissed late on the semi-final, second-leg victory over Southampton, subsequently ruling him out of the last three Premier League games.

Thankfully, the 25-year-old will be able to feature against the Red Devils at Wembley, with the northeast side having notably failed to win any of the six games that the ten-cap gem has been absent for this season, with Guimaraes having been ruled out through injury earlier on in the campaign.

That fact has laid bare just how integral the £120k-per-week maestro is to Howe’s side, hence the notable lift that it could give to the club to be able to have the playmaker back in action.

Should Guimaraes play against Man United?

As teammate Kieran Trippier only recently stated, the Rio-born superstar is a truly “massive” asset for Newcastle, with the latter man having shone over the last 12 months or so in the centre of the park.

Despite largely operating in a deep-lying role in front of the back four, Guimaraes has already managed to chip in with nine goals and four assists in 41 games in all competitions for the club to date, while he also ranks in the top 5% among his European peers for successful take-ons.

It is the 6-foot sensation’s defensive prowess that has particularly caught the eye, however, with the “world-class” ace – as described by club colleague Dan Burn – also ranking in the top 10% for tackles made.

That quality was evident when Howe’s men came up against the Old Trafford outfit back in October, with that goalless draw in Manchester seeing the midfield menace win five ground duels and register one key pass, having produced an ‘excellent display’, in the words of The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder.

Guimaraes will no doubt be looking to dominate Erik ten Hag’s side once again this time around, with the one-time Athletico Paranaense man likely to fancy his chances up against a midfield that has chopped and changed in recent weeks, following the loss of Christian Eriksen to injury.

The Red Devils will likely be fearful of coming up against such a “magnificent” talent – as lauded by club legend Alan Shearer – with the Brazilian potentially set to prove vital to Newcastle’s hopes of glory.