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Tottenham Hotspur arrival Djed Spence will not be handed playing time by Antonio Conte in Emerson Royal’s absence, claims N17 insider John Wenham.

The Lowdown: Spence’s minutes

Since arriving at Hotspur Way, the 22-year-old has only played a single minute of Premier League football in a Lilywhites shirt.

Instead, Emerson has emerged as the Italian’s favoured option at right wing-back, having started seven out of eight top-flight games this season.

However, in Spurs’ 3-1 defeat in the north London derby, the Brazilian full-back was sent off for a high challenge on Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli.

The Latest: Wenham’s claim

Despite the opportunity to offer Spence first-team game time in the Brazilian’s absence, Wenham, an N17 ‘insider’ for FI, believes Conte will still opt for other options ahead of the £20m arrival.

When questioned over potential minutes for the 22-year-old, he told Football Insider:

“No, I have to think like Conte now.

“It’s insane. If it was up to me, I would be starting Spence now. Royal can play on Tuesday [v Frankfurt], he isn’t suspended in that competition, that’s confirmed.

“Despite the red card, I think it would be wise if he did start that game because there are so many games coming in October that if he is going to miss three then we may as well use him one more time.

“In those three games, whoever steps up, whether it be Doherty, Sessegnon, Spence or Perisic, I expect them to establish themselves.

“I don’t see Royal now coming back into the Premier League side for a long time barring suspension or injury. I really don’t.

“I think [red card] that will have angered Conte no end.”

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The Verdict: Loan move needed?

Having exploded onto the scene last season whilst on loan with Nottingham Forest in the Championship, it begs the question as to what Spence has to do to impress Conte in training.

As per WhoScored, the full-back averaged an impressive 1.6 interceptions, 1.5 tackles and 1.4 clearances in the English second division last year, also adding 1.8 dribbles and 1 key pass per game to his attacking resume.

Therefore, if Conte continues to remain angry at Emerson and ends up benching him for another squad player other than Spence, it may just be time for the 22-year-old to go out on loan in search of regular first-team football – in an ideal scenario, in the Premier League.

According to The Telegraph journalist John Percy, Julen Lopetegui has decided he will not take up the vacant manager role at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Lowdown: Lopetegui’s managerial career

After a three-year period in charge at Sevilla, the 56-year-old was sacked by the Spanish club just last week.

Across 170 fixtures under Lopetegui, the La Liga outfit averaged 1.85 points per match, having finished third in the 2019/20 campaign and fourth in the back-to-back subsequent seasons.

However, due to Sevilla’s disappointing start to the new season, which saw them sat 17th in the league table, Lopetegui was dismissed after his side lost 4-1 to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last week.

The Latest: Percy’s news

Having held talks with Wolves over their vacant manager role, Percy has now shared a significant update on the Old Gold’s search for a new head coach.

Taking to Twitter, The Telegraph journalist revealed they will talk to other candidates imminently:

“As per Guillem Balague, Julen Lopetegui has reluctantly decided that he will not be taking over at Wolves, following talks over the last 24 hours. Wolves were informed this afternoon and are respectful of the decision. Club will now approach other candidates later this week.”

According to BBC Sport, the 56-year-old’s elderly father is unwell and that played an important part in his decision.

The Verdict: Blow for Wolves

Following Bruno Lage’s dismissal, Lopetegui was Wolves’ first choice option to take on the job.

Represented by agent Jorge Mendes, the appointment would have made sense due to his association with the Midlands club, which has seen a vast number of his clients make the move to the Wanderers.

Having to respect the former Sevilla coach’s decision, Wolves must now act quickly as they look to bring in a replacement to Molineux.

The club sit inside the relegation zone of the Premier League table, having recently just lost 3-0 to Chelsea under interim bosses Steve Davis and James Collins.

West Brom are still looking for their Steve Bruce replacement and one man touted with a potential switch to the Hawthorns is Russell Martin.

The Athletic claimed that the young manager, who is currently in charge of Swansea City, is one man on Ron Gourlay’s shortlist as the Baggies look for a new leader to push them up the table.

After an impressive spell at MK Dons, which chairman Pete Winkleman described as “amazing”, Martin has earned plaudits for his style of play with the Swans and currently has them eighth in the league after some strong recent form.

However, that form came to an end with a bang on Saturday, as they were trounced 4-0 at Burnley in a game that highlighted the limitations of Martin’s style of play.

There was some non-existent defending for Burnley’s first goal as Vitinho was left unmarked at the back post to head in, while Martin’s philosophy of playing out the back played a big part in the third, as Ben Cabango’s slack pass was capitalised on by the hosts.

If he were to arrive at the Hawthorns he would undoubtedly stick to those principles, as he reinforced in a viral video.

He said: “If it doesn’t work and I get sacked, at least I get sacked doing something I believe in. I don’t get sacked regretting that I have bowed on my principles.”

Implementing that sort of style takes time and results in a lot of mistakes at the back at first, which was emphasised last season when the Swans shipped 68 goals in the Championship as they finished 15th.

Even with a more impressive standing so far this season, there are still only three teams that have conceded more than Swansea’s 20 goals, which suggests that they are far from defensively solid.

Sir Alex Ferguson famously said that attack wins you games but defence wins you titles and if West Brom have any aspirations of returning to the Premier League in the next few years, they must appoint a more defensively sound manager.

The Baggies will be hoping that this season can still be salvaged, so perhaps a manager as inexperienced as Martin is not the saviour right now.

Aston Villa would need to make a ‘huge offer’ to tempt Mauricio Pochettino to Villa Park but are still backing Steven Gerrard, according to reporter Sean Walsh.

The Lowdown: Pochettino rumours

Villa fell to a 2-0 home defeat on Sunday against Chelsea to pile the pressure on Gerrard’s future in the Midlands.

Reports from The Telegraph on Monday revealed that Villa will make an ‘ambitious attempt to convince Pochettino to step back into management’, with Gerrard facing a pivotal week in charge.

They added that a positive result against Fulham or Brentford may not be enough for Gerrard, with rumours late on Monday even claiming he’s been sacked.

The Latest: Walsh’s update

Walsh, who writes for 90min, took to Twitter on Monday evening to share what he knows on Villa’s managerial situation.

He understands that ‘it would have to take a huge offer from Villa’ for Pochettino to consider a move to the Midlands, with the ‘club saying they’re behind Gerrard anyway’.

The Verdict: Moving at pace

Gerrard’s future appears to be hanging by the balance and it looks as if the walls may be closing in on his time as Villa manager after just 11 months, where he has overseen 39 games in charge.

The club have over 48 hours until their trip to Fulham, so NSWE may well look at making a switch before that game. There are plenty of different reports emerging from Villa Park, though, so the coming 24 hours could prove pivotal in regards to Gerrard possibly receiving a final lifeline as Villa boss.

Leeds United ‘have scouted’ Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: McKennie rumours

Leeds were linked with a move for McKennie almost 12 months ago during Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure at Elland Road.

Andrea Radrizzani and 49ers Enterprises have since grown their USA association with Jesse Marsch as manager and American pair Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams arriving as two marquee summer signings.

McKennie is still being rumoured with a move to Yorkshire, though, and Jacobs has shared what he knows about the in-demand midfielder.

The Latest: Jacobs’ post

Jacobs took to Twitter on Monday afternoon to provide an update on McKennie. He stated that ‘several Premier League clubs have scouted’ the 24-year-old, including Leeds.

The journalist added that the USA international ‘could well move to England in January, but right now there is nothing advanced’.

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The Verdict: Unlikely?

McKennie has been playing Champions League football with Schalke and Juventus over the last five years, so it would come as a surprise if he’d be open to moving to Leeds in the new year.

The Whites have people who McKennie will know in Aaronson and Adams, however, Leeds look set for another battle at the bottom after failing to kick on under Marsch.

Therefore, other name-checked sides such as Arsenal and Newcastle may be more attractive proposals for the midfielder, which possibly makes a move to Leeds extremely unlikely.

Bruno Lage’s decision to bring Hwang Hee-Chan to Wolves on a permanent basis has massively backfired, as the South Korean is one of several attackers to woefully underperform in the Old Gold’s side so far this season.

After a promising loan spell from RB Leipzig last term, which saw the striker contribute five goals in the top flight, Wolves decided to exercise their option to make his move permanent in a deal worth £14m, with that move becoming official on the 1st July after his loan spell ended.

Since he officially became a Wolves player in the summer, his form has fallen off a cliff, as he has been limited to just two starts and eight substitute appearances in the top flight, which have returned no goals and no assists.

Even with the Old Gold’s dreadful form in front of goal, which has seen them notch just six goals in the Premier League so far this season, the South Korea international has still rarely been trusted to play, which is perhaps a damning indictment of what his future looks like at the club.

Sadly, he has failed to perform on his rare opportunities, registering just three shots on target in the Premier League this season, which suggests that the club have paid close to £5m for each shot on target in the top flight so far this campaign.

Hwang’s 6.12 average rating in the Premier League also ranks him as the second-worst player in Steve Davis’ squad of those to make at least one start this season, which emphasises just how poor he has been.

With Wolves’ injury and suspension issues, which sees Raul Jimenez, Sasa Kalajdzic, Pedro Neto and now Diego Costa all likely to miss the next three games, perhaps Hwang will get more of an opportunity to show what he can from the start but in truth, he looks unlikely to be the man to solve the Old Gold’s problems going forward.

Sadly, it seems as if the decision to sign him permanently will have to go down as another big mistake by Lage.

Sunderland midfielder Lynden Gooch has provided a big update on his injury situation heading into the World Cup 2022 break…

What’s the latest?

The Black Cats utility man has confirmed that he is set to be available for selection when the team returns to Championship action in December, having been out since the 15th of October.

Speaking to the club, he said: “In another couple of weeks, hopefully I will be back training in Dubai with the squad.

“It’s frustrating, I want to play every game. Hopefully in another couple of weeks.

“I am looking to get back out onto the grass some time this week. If it all goes to plan then I should be fit for after the break.

“It gives us the chance to get a lot of lads fit. Myself, Ross (Stewart), Dan Ballard, Aji (Alese), and Edouard (Michut) as well so there is quite a few of us. Hopefully we can all be fit after the break and make the squad really strong.”

Delight for Tony Mowbray

Whilst the return of top goalscorer Ross Stewart may catch the eye, Gooch being available after the break should delight the Sunderland manager just as much as he was a crucial player prior to his injury blow.

The American gem may not be a standout performer but he was a consistent presence in the team and never let the side down in the opening months of the campaign.

He started all 14 of Sunderland’s first 14 matches in the Championship and averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.77. Gooch chipped in with one goal and one assist, whilst making 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game in that time and did not make a single direct error leading to an opposition shot or goal – as per SofaScore.

This came after he averaged the same SofaScore rating across 41 appearances in League One last term, with these statistics showing that he has been dependable for Mowbray, and Alex Neil before him, as he has put in consistent displays without being a liability at wing-back.

The Black Cats boss picked him in every starting XI prior to the American’s injury blow and this suggests that he was impressed by the academy graduate’s consistency and quality in the team. As a result, he will undoubtedly be delighted to have the 26-year-old back and available for selection after the break.

Gooch may not grab the headlines but you need consistent performers to keep the team ticking around the star performers who can go and win matches on their own, which is why his return will be a welcome one for the manager.

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their interest in signing Pape Gueye ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Jeunes Footeux, the Whites are one of the clubs eyeing a swoop to sign the Marseille gem as Victor Orta plots potential moves to improve the squad at the start of 2023.

The report claims that several, unnamed, European teams and fellow Premier League side Southampton are also interested in a deal for the 23-year-old.

It is stated that Leeds and the Saints are keen on signing him on loan for the second half of the 2022/23 campaign with an option to sign him permanently next summer.

Imagine him and Tyler Adams

Marc Roca and Tyler Adams have been superb additions to Leeds’ midfield as they have formed an instant partnership in the Premier League, with both players currently sitting in the top four performers for the club on average SofaScore ratings.

However, they do not have much competition for their places as Adam Forshaw and Mateusz Klich rank 19th and 18th in the squad respectively when it comes to average ratings. This suggests that they are not piling the pressure on the current first-choice options and that there would be a big drop off in quality if Adams or Roca picked up an injury or suspension.

Therefore, Leeds should bring in Gueye as he could provide excellent competition. Klich and Forshaw have averaged ratings of 5.55 and 5.53 respectively in the Premier League, whilst the Marseille enforcer has averaged a score of 6.75 or higher in each of the last three Ligue 1 seasons.

Migouel Alfarela, a former teammate of the midfielder’s, previously hailed the gem by saying:

“We both exchange regularly. When I left HAC, he hardly played in the first team but it showed that he had something extra and that he was going to succeed.”

Meanwhile, journalist Josh Bunting has previously described him as being “fantastic” at breaking up play and his statistics in Ligue 1 last season back that up.

He made 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game whilst winning 56% of his individual duels, including 62% in the air, and this shows that he was consistently winning the ball back for his side and won the majority of his battles in the middle of the park.

Adams, meanwhile, has won 55% of his duels and made 5.4 tackles and interceptions per match in the Premier League for Leeds.

This shows that both players have a similar level of efficiency but the Whites machine is more active in engaging in duels, which is something Jesse Marsch could push Gueye to match in his system.

Now, imagine the Senegal international coming in to replace Roca, due to injury or suspension, and being a rock in midfield next to Adams instead of the underperforming Klich and Forshaw struggling in the middle of the park.

With a host of talented youth prospects, over the years there has been a steady stream of academy graduates who have gone on to make their mark in the Sunderland first team.

Whilst the likes of Jordan Pickford and Jordan Henderson might be the more notorious examples, even players such as Dan Neil and Lynden Gooch are currently making their impact for Tony Mowbray’s side.

The 58-year-old could now add another name to that list, with Caden Kelly an exciting versatile youngster who seems to have ability and maturity far beyond his age.

Having already featured at attacking midfield and on the wing, he draws similarities with Patrick Roberts for his technical proficiency rather than blistering speed.

Perhaps with the Englishman enduring an inconsistent season, outlined in his 6.85 average SofaScore rating, the 18-year-old could be slowly integrated with a view to one day replace the former Manchester City trickster.

Having set the U18s Premier League alight during the 2020/21 season, where he recorded eight goal contributions, he more than earned his promotion to the U23 side.

That step up again did not faze the teenager, as he would score twice and assist a further three before solidifying his place in that age group.

His progression has been so meteoric that this season he even made a cameo in the Black Cats’ 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Cup, his first senior appearance for the club and a huge statement of intent from Mowbray.

It is clear that Kelly is well thought of on Wearside, with journalist Josh Bunting taking to Twitter to further praise the youngster.

He claimed: “Caden Kelly is a very nice footballer for Sunderland, really technical, has excellent vision and that relates to good pass selection, plays through the lines with relative ease.”

It seems like he could possess the creative spark needed to unlock the tricky Championship defences they often face, and with Ellis Simms and Ross Stewart hopefully both to return soon, it could be a devastating combination should he be given a chance.

He could rival and even one day surpass Roberts, with a clear technical proficiency and a physicality that will come with time.

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly eyeing a move for Standard Liege midfielder Nicolas Raskin, having been linked with the playmaker during the summer.

What’s the word?

According to Voetbul Nieuws, via the Daily Record, the Old Firm side are seemingly set to revive their interest in the 21-year-old in the winter window, having been named alongside Club Brugge and Spezia as a possible suitor in January.

The Belgian’s current side – managed by former Celtic boss Ronny Deila – are said to be keen to tie down the youngster to a new deal, with the player having just a matter of months left on his existing contract with the Pro League side.

This follows reports in the recent window that claimed Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were eyeing a move for the youngster, with the Belgium U21 international said to be worth around £4.7m at the time.

Kamara replacement

A new midfield addition could well be something of a necessity for the Scottish giants in the New Year, amid the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of Glen Kamara in Glasgow.

The Finland international – who joined the club for a fee of just £50k back in January 2019 – could well be set for pastures new in the near future, with recent speculation suggesting that the Scottish Premiership outfit are open to a sale in the winter window.

This has been exacerbated by recent reports of a furious bust-up between the 27-year-old and his manager, with the 48-cap gem having been withdrawn at half-time during Saturday’s draw away to St Mirren.

The former Dundee man has been reduced to a bit-part role under Van Bronckhorst so far this term – making just seven starts in all competitions – having come close to a late switch to Ligue 1 side Nice over the summer.

With an exit now seemingly inevitable for the one-time Arsenal man, the Gers could well be in need of further depth in the midfield ranks, hence the revival of this interest in the aforementioned Raskin.

Like Kamara – who had been tipped to be a “monster” by former boss Steven Gerrard – the Liege-born sensation also offers a relentless and aggressive midfield presence, having been described as something of a “pitbull” by journalist Bob Faesen after bursting onto the scene a few years ago.

The exciting prospect – who can feature in a central midfield role or in a slightly deeper, defensive berth – has enjoyed a fine season thus far after registering one goal and four assists in 17 games in all competitions, having recorded the same tally during the 2021/22 campaign.

Adding such a tenacious asset – who notably picked up ten yellow cards last term – into the centre of the park could be the fresh injection that Van Bronckhorst’s men are in need of, with the club craving a revival amid the current doom and gloom.

Not only would bringing Raskin into the fold provide that much-needed sprinkling of quality to Ibrox, but his addition would also allow the aforementioned Kamara to secure a timely departure.