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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been dealt a major blow following the latest update on Alejandro Garnacho's injury setback, with the teenage sensation set to be out for 'several weeks' after sustaining a knock to the ankle in Sunday's draw with Southampton.

The 18-year-old – who only entered the fray as a substitute against the Saints – had attempted to play on after initially going down following a firm challenge from Kyle Walker-Peters, although was subsequently withdrawn late on having been unable to shake off the issue.

While the hope will be that the fleet-footed gem – who had been set to link up with Argentina's senior side – will be able to return following the upcoming international break, although in the short-term that absence will leave the United boss without his young "game-changer", as described by Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst, against both Real Betis and Fulham in the Europa League and FA Cup, respectively.

Although Garnacho has rarely been a starter for the Premier League giants this season, the former Atletico Madrid youth asset has certainly made his mark when he has featured, with four goals and five assists to his name in all competitions this season – hence the concern at losing the forward for an extended period of time.

With the Old Trafford outfit not particularly blessed with attacking depth – particularly with Anthony Martial having been out of action in recent times – Ten Hag may need to look to the youth ranks in order to find suitable cover for Garnacho on the flanks.

Who could replace Garnacho?

It does appear that the former Ajax boss is already considering whether to hand a chance to a promising academy starlet, with 18-year-old Omari Forson one of four youngsters who have been promoted to first-team training in recent days ahead of the trip to Seville.

The "impressive" gem – as described by MEN reporter Steven Railston – has enjoyed an "excellent" season at youth level to date, in the words of Railston, having scored nine goals and provided three assists in just 19 games in all competitions, including ten goal involvements in just 16 Premier League 2 appearances.

The versatile winger – who can feature on either side of the forward line – has been a regular goalscorer and provider throughout his time at the club, as he boasts nine goals and nine assists in 43 games for United's U18 side, as well as a further ten goals and five assists in only 24 games at U21 level.

That hot streak notably saw the London-born starlet – who previously caught the attention of rivals Arsenal – score once and provide one assist in the EFL Trophy earlier in the campaign, proving himself able to flourish against senior opposition.

While it would perhaps be foolish to expect the England U19 international to instantly make an impact from the start this week, there could well be a chance for Ten Hag to unleash the in-form asset from the bench, particularly with United already holding a handsome, first-leg advantage heading into Thursday's meeting with Betis.

Forson will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Garnacho and previous academy graduate Marcus Rashford by making his mark at first-team level.

West Ham came crashing back down to Earth on Saturday as they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat against Brighton, which serves to ramp the pressure back up on David Moyes.

The Hammers had distanced themselves from a relegation battle with their 4-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest last weekend but were dragged right back into the mire with a woeful display on the south coast.

Moyes’ side were well and truly second-best throughout the 90 minutes at the Amex Stadium, with Alexis MacAllister’s penalty giving the Seagulls a deserved half-time lead, before Joel Veltman, Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck added goals in the second 45 to seal an embarrassing away day for the Irons.

While there were a number of terrible performances from West Ham players at the weekend, it was arguably Danny Ings who let Moyes down the most, with an anonymous display just a week after he was the two-goal hero against Forest.

As per Sofascore, the former England striker would earn a woeful 6.1/10 rating for his performance against the Seagulls, as he failed to match his two-goal haul from Aston Villa’s win there earlier this season.

With Michail Antonio left out of the squad and Gianluca Scamacca left on the bench throughout, Ings was trusted to be the sole striker in West Ham’s side for the entire 90 minutes on Saturday, something which clearly didn’t work.

The 30-year-old would muster just 19 touches of the ball, which was significantly fewer than the 34 managed by Hammers goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, which emphasises just how anonymous he was at the Amex.

To make matters worse, on the rare occasions when he did touch the ball, he failed to do anything productive with it, completing just three of his nine attempted passes in the game, resulting in a woeful success rate of just 33%.

Although his average stats of 6.7 passes per game and a 57.5% success rate aren’t exactly much better, it shows just how below-par Ings was against Brighton, with the Hammers failing to get the striker involved at all.

While it was a thankless task for the Englishman to lead the line on his own, he also managed no shots on target, failed with all four of his dribble attempts and won just one of his 11 duels in the game, which shows just how comfortable a game it was for Brighton’s defenders.

The experienced striker will have to perform far better in West Ham’s upcoming games if Moyes is to keep his job and indeed keep the Hammers in the Premier League this season.

There is a ‘very real possibility’ of Leeds United’s proposed takeover by 49ers Enterprises happening this summer, journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed.

The Lowdown: 49ers rumours ongoing

For some time now, rumours have suggested that the 49ers will gain a majority share in the Whites, leading to them becoming the club’s new owners.

Back in January 2021, they increased their share to 30%, strengthening their grip in the process, and it has since grown to 44% as time has passed.

Now, a new update further suggests that it won’t be long until the 49ers are Leeds’ official new owners.

The Latest: Summer takeover on the cards

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs claimed that this summer could see the takeover go through, in what would be a major development:

“49ers Enterprises are fully committed to Leeds and to a full takeover. It’s really just a case of when.

“Sources have always indicated that staying up or going down won’t necessarily alter the timescale, so there is still a very real possibility that will get done over the summer.

“But there are just so many moving parts at the moment that we’re going to have to wait and see how the season plays out before the picture becomes clearer.”

The Verdict: Exciting period at Leeds

The hope is that this situation can go through as quickly and as seamlessly as possible, allowing Leeds to kick on as a club and ensure that it doesn’t act as a distraction on the pitch.

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Avoiding relegation from the Premier League is absolutely imperative – they hovered around the drop zone for some time now – and if the Whites manage that and get new owners in during the summer, the future could look extremely bright.

Perhaps the biggest positive regarding the takeover would be Leeds’ increased financial clout, allowing more funds to be available for signings, as well as potentially redeveloping Elland Road.

Glasgow Rangers continued their fine start under Michael Beale in midweek, securing a routine 3-0 victory with many claiming the performance to be the best under his leadership so far.

With nine wins from ten matches since replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst in November, Beale has rejuvenated Rangers and given them an injection of confidence. However, reeling in their Glasgow arch-rivals – who are nine points ahead at the summit of the Premiership table – could prove a bridge too far, but the two domestic cups will certainly be eyed.

With matches coming thick and fast over the next few months, squad rotation will be key, and Beale may well switch up his starting XI ahead of the match against Ross County this afternoon, as he must fully unleash one of his January signings…

Todd Cantwell was one of two additions to the squad during the January transfer window, alongside Nicolas Raskin, and the former Norwich midfielder has already made a solid impression at Rangers. The 24-year-old – who was dubbed “exciting to watch” by journalist David Freezer – started against St Johnstone at Ibrox last weekend in the Light Blue’s straightforward 2-0 victory.

As per Sofascore, he enjoyed a solid if unspectacular debut, taking 55 touches while achieving an 88% pass success rate during his 63 minutes on the pitch, and it was pleasing to see a new midfielder in the team.

Against Hearts in midweek, he came off the bench with just 14 minutes left and left a positive imprint on the team which should convince Beale to unleash him from the start against Ross County today.

The Englishman achieved a Sofascore rating of 7/10 for his cameo against the Jam Tarts while taking 25 touches, completing 90% of his passes, winning 100% of his duels and making one key pass, giving Rangers that add a bit of spark in the final quarter of the match.

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell was full of praise for Cantwell afterwards as he took to Twitter to discuss his performance, saying: “Cantwell has been superb since he came on. Nearly every time he has got on the ball he has dribble past someone or produced a lovely pass.”

Rangers are riding on a wave of confidence at the moment, and everyone seems to be buying into Beale’s philosophy.

Cantwell appears to have settled in at Ibrox with ease, and his impressive cameo against Hearts may just have earned him a start this afternoon.

Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith has been left disappointed with the Black Cats’ lack of urgency to sign a new striker in the winter transfer window.

The Lowdown: Risky strategy by the club

Sunderland were unable to hand Tony Mowbray another striker during the January transfer window despite losing Ellis Simms, who returned to his parent club, while Ross Stewart went down with a season-ending injury.

The Black Cats did manage to secure one new attacking signing in the form of Joe Gelhardt, but he’s very inexperienced, with just eight first-team league starts under his belt, so there are no guarantees that he will hit the ground running at the Stadium of Light.

Mowbray would have surely liked to have brought in another new striker before Tuesday’s deadline as they have a huge number of games between now and the end of the season.

The Latest: A disappointing transfer window

Smith was speaking on The Roar podcast about how Sunderland’s overall transfer window was baffling and disappointing after failing to land a new forward.

He said: “It’s not good enough for a club to be going into a big FA Cup tie without a striker, to be dependant on a player whose match fitness probably isn’t at the absolute top level at the moment, to go into a month where there’s about eight fixtures, I think.

“It’s disappointing and clearly, there’s aspects of the process, if you like, that need to be improved. Because for all the Stewart injury is rotten luck, and for all the Simms recall was pretty baffling on Everton’s part, we knew going into this window that Sunderland would have only one striker contracted for next season.

“So you would have thought it was an area they were looking at – and it was an area they were looking at. I know for a fact that they tried to strike permanent deals for young strikers.”

The Verdict: Sunderland very think upfront

Many fans will likely be fuming that their club were unable to bring in another striker alongside Gelhardt to help Sunderland navigate their way through the remainder of the Championship season while also taking some pressure off of the striker’s shoulders.

Considering Sunderland – after a tremendous first half of the season – find themselves just two points off the play-off spots, they could have had a real push for one of the spaces inside the top six during the second half of the campaign.

However, with Stewart – the club’s top scorer this season – now out injured, it’s a lot to be asking of young Gelhardt to take over from the Scotland international to replicate the red-hot form he was showing at the Stadium of Light, and we could well see the Black Cats slide down the table because of their inability to recruit another goalscorer.

Journalist Craig Hope thinks that Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe should drop Callum Wilson from the starting XI.

The Verdict: Wilson struggling for goals

The Magpies forward has six goals and three assists so far in the Premier League, but he’s hit a bit of a dry spell in recent times.

Wilson hasn’t scored in Newcastle’s last seven league matches, last netting against Aston Villa where he bagged a brace in a 4-0 victory at St James’ Park back in October.

The Magpies’ other option up front is Alexander Isak, who has played five league matches this season and hit the back of the net three times. While he netted the winner against Fulham earlier this month, he hasn’t started in the Premier League since September.

The Latest: Wilson is ‘struggling’

Following Newcastle’s 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Southampton, Hope spoke on his YouTube channel about Wilson and why he thinks the striker should be dropped.

He stated: “I think I’m prepared to commit to it now – I think he is struggling at the moment and I would take him out of the team.

“What do you do – do you leave him in the team to build fitness or do you take him out to give him a rest?

“I don’t quite know the answer, and that’s why Eddie Howe’s manager and it’s one he’s got to work out.”

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The Verdict: Isak’s time to shine

We believe that Wilson is likely exhausted due to a number of factors, including injuries and illnesses, constant game time and his call-up to the England squad this past winter.

He’s come under criticism for his recent performances, with pundit Tam McManus stating that he ‘looks a bit off it’ and that it’s ‘a matter of time’ before Isak is picked ahead of him when speaking to Football Insider.

Given Isak was brought in for a club-record fee in the summer, it is perhaps not a surprise that he would eventually usurp Wilson in the starting XI. While Wilson’s goal record still tops the Swede’s, Isak certainly has youth on his side, and you would imagine that Howe and PIF would rather see their heavy outlay on the striker pay off than Wilson flourish if given the choice, regardless of his form.

It’s Isak’s time to get the nod from Howe in our opinion as he can perhaps offer the kind of dynamism in the forward position that he displayed in creating the winning goal against the Saints on a consistent basis on Tyneside.

Tottenham Hotspur are targeting Alessandro Bastoni in an exciting double swoop during the January transfer window…

What’s the word?

That’s according to InterLive.it, who claims that Spurs manager Antonio Conte remains keen to sign his former Inter Milan centre-back along with Atalanta gem Giorgio Scalvini.

The central defensive pair are likely to cost a combined €95m (£83.5m) with Bastoni taking up €55m (£48m) of that.

It’s also suggested that the Lilywhites’ free-transfer raid for Ivan Perisic during the summer has left a sour taste in the mouth of most Nerazzurri supporters, so this would hand them yet another blow.

Conte’s dream winter signing

Bastoni would surely be something of a dream signing for Conte as he would not only fill the void for a left-footed centre-back but he’d be one for the long-term future, alongside Cristian Romero, at just 23 years of age.

The Lecce-born head coach tried to sign his former titan during the summer, to no avail, so it’s evident that he’s really keen to reunite with a player that he won the Serie A with only a few seasons ago.

That season, he started 33 league outings, where he looked to be the main outlet from the back, averaging a passing success rate of over 90%, via WhoScored.

Such form and quality have seen Bastoni likened to one of the country’s greats in Leonardo Bonucci.

“He controls the opponent, space and with a refinement that has rarely been seen, reminds me of a young Bonucci,” journalist Mario Sconcerti once claimed.

Also lauded as a “phenomenon” by Italian football expert Conor Clancy, the 6 foot 3 star is certainly a typical modern-day defender and one that is arguably one of the best around, ranking inside the top 1% of his positional peers across Europe for shot-creating actions and assists per 90, via FBref.

He also sits among the top 10% for progressive passes per 90 and would rank fourth in the current Spurs squad for passing attempts per 90, too.

Therefore, Bastoni – who was dubbed a “special CB talent” by analyst Statman Dave in the summer – would surely make for an ideal signing for sporting director Fabio Paratici to make.

The young sensation would need little time to adapt to Conte’s tactics and methods, and there is a clear need for a long-term option on the left side of the back three, with Clement Lenglet only on loan and Ben Davies – a natural full-back – not getting any younger.

As such, Paratici must seal this dream scenario for his manager at the turn of the year.

AND in other news, Spurs could seal Conte a dream Emerson upgrade in Jan swoop for £40m “special talent”…

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Weston McKennie as the January transfer window looms after the World Cup.

The Lowdown: Spurs target midfielder

Antonio Conte is apparently interested in bringing the American central-midfielder to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in a bid to strengthen his team’s bid to secure Champions League football.

Current midfield options include the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, but a new recruit may be in order for when fixtures begin to mount up upon the resumption of the season after the Qatar World Cup.

The Latest: McKennie transfer trouble?

As per a report from CalcioMercato, Spurs may table an offer in January, but this could be hampered by the fact that Fabio Paratici and Juventus’ sporting director Federico Cherubini have a strained personaly relationship.

The latter accused the Tottenham man of “drugging the market” by spending too much money on players during their time working together at Juventus, namely in a £38m deal for Dejan Kulusevski.

Owing to the personal disagreements between the two, Tottenham may now miss out on the 40-time USA international, as the report from CalcioMercato says it is difficult to see the pair at a negotiating table.

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The Verdict: Disappointing development

Despite the USA’s round of 16 exit from the World Cup, McKennie had time to impress potential suitors, and looked particularly good against England, with his performance being dubbed “excellent” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.

Over the past year with Juventus, the 24-year-old has displayed his attacking prowess with his current club, averaging 2.8 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 minutes, placing him in the 94th percentile compared to his positional peers.

The midfield maestro would be a great rotation option for Spurs if they were able to secure a deal for him in January, particularly with the busy schedule that will commence when the season resumes, with Premier League, FA cup and Champions League games to contend with.

As such, it is a disappointing development that a move is in jeopardy because of the personal relationship between Paratici and Cherubini.

Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings has a ‘big six months’ ahead of him in terms of his future at the club, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Poor season for Mings

The Englishman had a tough time of things during the summer, with former Villa manager Steven Gerrard deciding to strip him of the captaincy.

Since then, Mings’ form has been hit-and-miss this season, with some individual errors proving costly and doubts being raised over his long-term future.

With Unai Emery now in charge, this feels like a pivotal moment in the 29-year-old’s career, especially as reports have already suggested Villa will be in the market for a new left-sided defender.

The Latest: ‘Big six months’ ahead

That’s certainly the opinion of Jones, who told Give Me Sport that Mings needs to perform between now and the end of the season:

“Mings has probably got more to prove, I think he’s got a big six months ahead. He’ll still believe in himself, he’s got to at this point, it’s all going to be about strength of mind for him, I think, in how he comes through this.”

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The Verdict: Time to prove himself

It does feel that Mings is battling to save his Villa Park career – he has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Gabby Agbonlahor in the past – especially with Emery no doubt eyeing up future signings to improve his overall squad.

Once the 2022 World Cup is done and dusted, the centre-back needs to find a consistently high level to prove his worth, with his current deal expiring in 2024 and the club potentially looking to cash in next summer.

The fact that Mings was in the team before the World Cup break does suggest that Emery will stick with him for now, but continued patchy showings could be hugely problematic for him.

Arsenal have been dealt an injury blow ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via football.london), Mikel Arteta confirmed that, after picking up a knock in the Gunners’ 1-0 win over FC Zurich last week, Takehiro Tomiyasu will remain unavailable for selection for the visit of the Seagulls this evening.

However, the Spaniard went on to state that the right-back should return to full fitness in around seven days’ time, suggesting that the 24-year-old will be ready for Japan’s World Cup 2022 opener against Germany on November 23.

Reagrding the fitness of the defender, the 40-year-old said: “It’s a small injury for Tomi, he did well to stop during the match, so it’s not going to be a big issue. I think he will be back in a week or so, so hopefully he will be fine to start at the World Cup.”

Silver lining

While the loss of Tomiyasu will undoubtedly have come as a blow to Arteta ahead of both the Brighton and Wolverhampton Wanderers fixtures this week – as regular squad rotation will be key to Arsenal competing on as many fronts as possible this season – the Japan international’s unavailability could well bring with it a silver lining.

With reports revealing that 17-year-old Reuell Walters was training with Arsenal’s first team squad on Tuesday, Tomiyasu’s absence could well see the Gunners U21 right-back be handed at least a spot on the bench against Roberto De Zerbi’s side – or perhaps even a place in the starting XI.

And, considering just how exciting a prospect the England U18 international looks to be, his potential first-team debut on Wednesday night could well represent the emergence of one of Arteta’s next stars of the future.

Indeed, the £1.7k-per-week teenager caught the eye during the Gunners’ pre-season tour of America, playing out of position at left-back against fellow Premier League side Everton, an appearance which was reported to have excited the Arsenal fanbase.

The defender – who has made 14 appearances for the U18s and 27 appearances for the U21s since his move to London Colney – has also earned a considerable amount of praise, with Layth Yousif dubbing the youngster “calm and assured” and suggesting that he has “pace to burn”, while Kaya Kaynak claimed the right-back “really impressed” during pre-season.

As such, while Tomiyasu’s setback is undoubtedly a blow, it does present Arsenal supporters with the possibility of seeing one of their most promising talents in action at The Emirates tonight – something that is sure to excite everyone involved with the club.