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Sheffield Wednesday have taken Hassan Ayari on trial from rivals Sheffield United, Joe Crann reports.

The Lowdown: Ayari profiled

The 19-year-old is primarily an attacking midfielder who can play on either wing.

A Tunisia youth international, Ayari has been on loan at sixth-tier club Scarborough Athletic, making four appearances during the current campaign. However, it looks as if a move across Sheffield could well be on the cards after news emereged in the last 48 hours.

The Latest: Crann’s news

Crann took to Twitter on Monday to share a story for The Star on Wednesday’s under-21s, who lost 3-1 to Peterborough United.

He said that there are a couple of trialists at the club currently, one of which is a ‘surprising’ one in Blades-owned Ayari.

The Verdict: One to watch

It looks as if Wednesday could well be open to a potential move for Ayari, so his trial could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

The Owls’ under-21s manager Neil Thompson has labelled the Tunisian ‘lively’, and still just a teenager, he could prove to be an intelligent prospective addition in the long run.

He’ll have to impress Wednesday officials first, though, with central midfielder Charlie Greenwood another who is on trial looking to catch the eye.

Chelsea will ‘certainly try’ to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo should he become available next year, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Four-horse race

The Mirror have recently claimed that the Seagulls would be willing to part with the 21-year-old should the right offer arrive, with an £85m valuation placed on his head.

Premier League trio Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle have all been credited with an interest in the Ecuadorian alongside the Blues, with Graham Potter hoping that the Ecuadorian will follow in his footsteps to swap the Amex Stadium for Stamford Bridge.

The Latest: Phillips’ comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Phillips suggested that Potter’s connection to Brighton could help to get a deal for Caicedo, who has been identified as a primary midfield target, over the line.

The journalist said: He’s clearly been an important player during his time at Brighton. So, he’s a player that, if he becomes available, or Chelsea feel that they can do a deal for him in January, or in the summer, then they’ll certainly try for him.

“He’s clearly rated highly by Potter, and he’s quite high up on the list of potential midfield targets with Chelsea.”

The Verdict: No-brainer

Whilst Caicedo might not get the recognition that he deserves due to his shortage of goals and assists, he has been dubbed a ‘machine man’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and specialises his game in the more defensive areas of a footballer’s repertoire.

The Ecuador international averages 2.8 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 1.2 key passes per game and has an outstanding 87.3% pass success rate (WhoScored).

His tackling average exceeds every player currently at Chelsea, while only four players at Stamford Bridge play more key passes per game than the 21-year-old (WhoScored).

Todd Boehly isn’t shy of spending big to land his targets, with the Blues having the highest outlay of any Premier League club last summer, and Caicedo is a player well worth splashing the cash on should the opportunity arise in 2023.

West Ham United winger Maxwel Cornet could be at risk of not making a return to action before the upcoming World Cup according to medical expert and Sky Sports contributor Ben Dinnery. 

The Lowdown: Cornet’s injury

The winger has been out of action for over a month after picking up a calf issue during the Hammers’ 2-0 win over Wolves in the Premier League.

Prior to the upcoming World Cup, David Moyes’ side take on Crystal Palace this afternoon, which is then followed by a midweek clash against Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup, before next weekend’s league match against Leicester City.

In regards to Cornet and the possibility of seeing him back on the pitch in either of those games before the break, it appears that Dinnery has shed some light on the situation.

The Latest: A worry for West Ham

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Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Dinnery had this to say on the matter.

He said: “Ideally, he won’t be too far away, but decisions will come on a daily basis in terms of that recovery. It’s one you’d be hopeful of saying, ‘He’ll play before that break.’ But there are no guarantees with this one.”

The Verdict: Concern for Cornet

Despite only starting one of the five Premier League games he’s appeared in for West Ham this season, the 26-year-old currently has the highest rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes (3.96) at the east London club.

In addition to that, across the four games he’s played in the Europa Conference League and the two qualifying games, Cornet has delivered five assists, further highlighting how much of a useful attacking figure he can be for Moyes.

Given how he has played in numerous positions when he has been available this season, his versatility and attacking talent will surely have made him a useful option for the Hammers during this period that he’s been out of action.

Now that Dinnery has thrown some doubt over when or if the Ivorian will be able to make an appearance for his team over the next week before the World Cup break, this will surely be a concern for Cornet and everyone at West Ham.

Manchester Evening News journalist Alex Brotherton has reacted to VAR’s decision not to award a penalty during Manchester City’s clash against Brentford in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Honours even

The Sky Blues hosted the Bees at the Etihad Stadium but suffered a shock 2-1 defeat, with two first-half goals coming from Ivan Toney and Phil Foden, before Thomas Frank’s number 17 netted the winner in stoppage time as he doubled his tally for the day.

One of the most notable moments other than the goals was when Rico Henry stuck out an arm on the edge of the penalty area to try and prevent Bernardo Silva’s cross coming in from the byline, but despite a VAR check, no spot kick was given.

The Latest: Brotherton’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Brotherton was shocked by the decision and insisted that City should have been handed the chance to score from the 12-yards spot.

He fumed: “Peter Walton saying on BT Sport that there was no conclusive evidence that the handball took place inside the box – looked pretty clear to me that the ball was on the line. Should have been a penalty.”

The Verdict: No need to panic

With the incident taking right on the edge of the penalty box, it did seem difficult to conclusively deduce if it was in or outside the white line, but Brotherton’s stance is understandable when such a marginal call could easily have gone for the home side on a different occasion.

Whilst City would have wanted to secure victory against lower-placed opposition, there’s definitely no cause for concern when it comes to the Sky Blues’ form this season.

The Manchester outfit have won 10, drawn two and lost just two of their opening 14 league games, leaving them two points behind current leaders Arsenal ahead of their trip to Molineux tonight.

The title race will rage on for some time given how tight it is at the top, and Guardiola will be given the perfect chance to regroup his team during the international break and get them ready for the return of domestic action after Christmas.

Leeds United have been backed to avoid relegation from the Premier League at the end of the season by Football Insider pundit John Wenham. 

The Lowdown: Leeds’ season so far

The Yorkshire club currently sit 15th in the table, having taken only 15 points from their 14 games so far.

This puts Jesse Marsch’s side just two points away the relegation zone, which currently houses Wolves, Southampton and Nottingham Forest.

Having been involved in a nail-biting relegation battle at the end of last season, one pundit has backed the Whites to prevent history from repeating itself this time around.

The Latest: Leeds backed for Premier League safety

Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur podcaster John Wenham gave a confident prediction for Leeds, having been particularly impressed by two of their players after seeing them in action against Antonio Conte’s side last week.

He said: “[Crysencio] Summerville, another goal for the boy. He is looking incredible. He might have been thinking about sneaking into the Dutch squad for the World Cup after his late run of form.

“Obviously that hasn’t happened but he will be working with Leeds and looking to continue to improve and nail down that starting spot.

“I thought some of the other Leeds players looked good too. Rodrigo looks a player now. He has come alive finally and he is now looking worth the large fee they paid to Valencia.

“That was good to see. I was impressed with Leeds, as bad as we were in that first half. I think they have enough to avoid going down, it’s just about picking up the results when they deserve it.”

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The Verdict: Work to be done

Despite Wenham’s admiration for Leeds and the duo of Rodrigo and Summerville in particular, it’s safe to say that the club’s results so far this season suggest that work needs to be done if they want to avoid another potential relegation battle in 2022/23.

With the Elland Road club having the highest combined total of tackles and interceptions in the league (475), this highlights how capable the Leeds players are of making important defensive contributions but also how overworked they have been.

Also, with only three clubs in the division conceding more goals than the Whites, it’s clear that this is an area which is letting the team down and preventing them from picking up valuable points.

Taking all that into account, if the likes of Rodrigo and Summerville can continue doing the business in front of goal and the club can add some defensive reinforcements to Marsch’s squad in January, this should help them from getting dragged into another nervy relegation battle.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be tempted to make a move back to Southampton, believes transfer journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: A tale of misfortune

Oxlade-Chamberlain possesses an arguable astute service in midfield, and when fit, he operates as a perfect utility tool for Jurgen Klopp.

But, that is the issue – his fitness.

It was this that kept him out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad, with the 29-year-old making just three appearances in the league this term, potentially for the same reason.

The Latest: #Oxback

Southampton could bag their another reunion akin to Theo Walcott with a return swoop for “the Ox.”

According to transfer reporter Dean Jones, the £120,000-per-week midfielder could be tempted to make a move back to St. Mary’s.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said: “It’s always tempting to turn back to a player that you felt produced. Obviously, Theo Walcott they’ve done it with, so maybe it’s deja vu in that sense.

“Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needs to revive his career at this stage. He needs to make the right move. I can definitely see it being a temptation and a consideration.”

The Verdict: Get it done!

As a well-rounded and versatile midfielder, former England international Oxlade-Chamberlain would serve as an emphatic option for the Saints, who could majorly benefit from an element of dynamism in the engine room.

Despite their ability to create chances, there is an argument to be made for Southampton not being direct enough – averaging a fourth-lowest shots on target total per match with 3.8 per 90.

When fit, there is almost a guarantee that Oxlade-Chamberlain will cause problems for the opposition, averaging 3.32 shot-creating actions per game, not to mention his individualism in registering 2.49 shots per 90 from midfield

This could be a rejuvenating signing that can inspire the Saints to push on.

Get it done, it’s worth the gamble, if the former Arsenal man can stay regularly fit and available.

Manchester United are now confident of signing Netherlands star Cody Gakpo in January, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: ‘Agreement in principle’

Gakpo is currently starring for his country at the World Cup, scoring in every group game to help the Netherlands book their place in the last 16.

The 23-year-old’s future has been a hot topic of conversation during his performances in Qatar, with recent reports suggesting that the Red Devils have reached an ‘agreement in principle’ with the forward.

A further update has now emerged on Gakpo’s immediate future, which could be further good news for Old Trafford officials.

The Latest: Gakpo transfer update

Football Insider’s Wayne Veysey provided an update regarding United and Gakpo on Thursday morning.

He revealed that the Red Devils are increasingly confident of signing the player in January instead of next summer and are in regular contact with the 23-year-old’s camp.

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The Verdict: Exciting

Hailed as a ‘sensational player’ by Football Oranje editor and Dutch football expert Michael Bell, Gakpo has been in exceptional form for PSV this season, contributing to 30 goals in just 24 games.

He has continued to excel on the world stage for his country, so knowing that he could be on the move to Manchester in the coming weeks is hugely exciting for the Old Trafford faithful.

Erik ten Hag would be handed another versatile attacking option if a winter move for Gakpo is finalised, something which could be crucial in the second half of the season following Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent exit.

Tottenham Hotspur have told attacking gem Thomas Bloxham that he is free to find a new club and his departure ‘could be accelerated’, according to reports.

The Lowdown: N17 academy talent…

N17 has paved the way to a plethora of homegrown talent in recent years, with a handful of them either being tipped for greatness or going on to shine in the first team.

The likes of Oliver Skipp and Dane Scarlett have most recently emerged from Spurs’ academy ranks with great potential, the latter having even been likened to Manchester United star Marcus Rashford.

However, some promising names like Jayden Meghoma have left in favour of better pathways to first-team football, so not all of Spurs’ homegrown crop are making the cut in north London.

The Latest: Bloxham ‘told to quit’…

As per Football Insider, another talent in Bloxham has been ‘told to quit’ by Spurs as he heads out on trial to other clubs.

The forward has been informed that he will not be offered a professional contract at the end of his two-year scholarship deal, and the 17-year-old’s departure ‘could be accelerated’ as he begins the search for a new club.

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The Verdict: Another one…

Following the exits of Meghoma and Sam Amo-Ameyaw recently, it appears that Bloxham will soon follow them out the Spurs door.

The Republic of Ireland under-18 international has appeared 29 times for Tottenham’s under-18s, scoring six goals, but that hasn’t been enough to secure his future in north London.

It will be interesting to see if his name either fades away or grabs headlines over the next few seasons.

Rangers have reportedly made a move to sign Hearts youngster James Wilson. 

The Lowdown: Wilson’s current situation

Still just 15, the striker can only sign a professional contract when he turns 16, which will be next month.

With that in mind, it seems that the youngster could have a big decision on his hands in the coming weeks in regards to his future.

Despite his minimal experience, it appears that the centre-forward has already attracted some heavy interest.

The Latest: Rangers eyeing Wilson move

The Gers are heavily linked with moves for Josh Onomah and Ryan Porteous, and it looks like a third signing could follow the pair through the door in January.

According to a recent report from The Daily Record, Rangers are set to open talks with the player, who is also attracting interest from the English Premier League.

The report also adds that Ross Wilson and co have “written a letter to Hearts instructing them of their intent to talk to the highly-rated striker over an Ibrox move”.

Compensation rules mean that Hearts are powerless to stop Rangers if the player green lights talks, although they have also given permission for the deal

The Verdict: Long-term investment