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Liverpool secured a 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday lunchtime, but if the hosts took their chances in the first half, the narrative would have been a completely different one at full-time.

The Reds were sluggish and lethargic to begin with and Wolves capitalized by launching a barrage of attacks – led by the irrepressible Pedro Neto – who provided a superb cross for Hwang Hee-chan's opener inside seven minutes.

The Portuguese should have had a second assist to his name, however, Matheus Cunha failed to convert his wicked delivery.

With the Brazilian spurning a golden opportunity to double their lead, Liverpool gained encouragement as Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp's substitutions Luis Diaz, Harvey Elliott and Darwin Núñez made a huge impact and helped inspire a second-half comeback.

While that trio reined in the plaudits for their impact off the bench, youngster Jarell Quansah quietly went under the radar, performing admirably on his full debut.

How did Jarell Quansah perform against Wolves?

Quansah was the latest gem to be unearthed from the Liverpool academy on Saturday, following in the footsteps of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic in recent times.

In the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, the 20-year-old was drafted into a makeshift back line and although some youngsters would have crumbled under the pressure, Quansah shined like a diamond in the rough, especially in the first half, as Liverpool's disorganised defence were made to deal with an onslaught of Wolves attacks.

Considering the situation he was thrown into, this was the baptism of fire that the youngster needed, impressing particularly after Wolves took the lead.

Reflecting on the Englishman's performance, Klopp said: "I have to say he did really well. He was good,

"In possession as well he was calm. It was like we had just met in the car park before the game with the organisation in the first half. But he played really well."

With the German waxing lyrical about his ability in possession, Quansah made 91 touches, recorded a 96% pass completion and accurately placed all three of his attempted long balls, as per Sofascore.

Quansah's defensive capabilities were also outstanding. He won three out of his four ground duels, made three tackles, two interceptions and was only dribbled past once.

Following this performance, the young defender drew high praise for how he conducted himself considering his tender age with Joe Cole saying: "He looked like he'd played for decades in Liverpool's first team."

Lauded as "absolutely phenomenal" by fellow academy graduate Alexander-Arnold, Quansah is the latest star to come off the conveyor belt at Melwood, but he isn't the only talent to have made the step-up into the Reds senior setup in recent times.

When he was thrust into the spotlight last season, 18-year-old Bajcetic made an even bigger impact than Quansah.

How good is Stefan Bajcetic?

A destructive and combative defensive midfielder, described by journalist Zubin Daver as "special", Bajcetic stepped up to the plate last season and did a remarkable job of screening the Reds backline.

Prior to his season-ending injury in March, the 6 foot 1 titan impressed with his aggressive nature, ability to reclaim possession and get his side quickly on the front, placing in the top 7% for dribblers tackled, top 12% for interceptions, top 13% for aerials won and top 28% for ball recoveries when compared to players positionally similar to him in the Premier League last term, as per FBref.

Throughout this campaign so far, Liverpool have missed having a destructive player in the middle of the park, someone capable of shielding their defence, breaking up play effectively and driving them up the field with purpose.

Although Wataru Endo was brought into the club to do that job, the Japan international is still acclimatising to English football and has rarely featured since their 2-1 win over Newcastle.

Instead of utilising Endo, Klopp has chosen to use Alexis Mac Allister in the deep-lying playmaker role, but this has left the Reds exposed on the counter-attack with the Argentine prone to being caught upfield.

With that said, as evidenced by his 15 appearances for the club last season, Bajcetic is the ferocious, tough-tackling and aggressive midfielder that Liverpool have missed in their engine room.

Following his excellent performance in the Merseyside derby in February, teammate Salah backed up this point by directing high praise towards the teenager, saying: “Since he started playing for us, he has been our best player maybe so hopefully he keeps that confidence and keeps going.”

The fact that Salah labelled him as their best player during that period suggests how highly regarded he is at the club, as was his consistent place in the team prior to his injury.

Bajcetic made a huge impact for Liverpool prior to his injury and if Klopp unleashes him again, he could solve their current midfield conundrum and show why he is a bigger talent than Quansah.

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery made some difficult decisions over the summer transfer window as he opted to cash in on a number of talented young prospects.

Who did Aston Villa sell this summer?

The Spanish boss, who led the club to qualification for the group stages of the Europa Conference League last month, decided to sell three U21 prospects who enjoyed impressive loan spells in the Championship last term.

Aaron Ramsey and Cameron Archer both spent the second half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Middlesbrough and Philogene spent the season with Cardiff City.

However, they did not do enough to convince Emery that they would be part of his long-term plans and that could open the door for other young players in the academy to make their way through the ranks.

One talented ace who could have the potential to be a future star for the former Villarreal boss is Scottish centre-forward Rory Wilson.

The teenage marksman has been a prolific scorer at youth level and could be a lethal partner for current first-team attacker Moussa Diaby further down the line.

How old is Rory Wilson?

He is a 17-year-old striker who does not turn 18 until January of next year. This means that the Villans prospect still has plenty of time left on his hands to develop and there is no rush for him to emerge as a first-team option in the immediate term.

The Villans signed him from Scottish giants Rangers in the summer of 2022 for a reported development fee of £300k after the prolific teen enjoyed a phenomenal 2021/22 season.

Journalist Barry Anderson claimed that the former Gers academy prodigy racked up a mind-boggling 49 goals for the Light Blues and Scotland's youth teams combined.

However, there was no guarantee that Wilson would be able to carry over his form to English football with Villa or to a higher age group.

How many goals has Rory Wilson scored for Aston Villa?

The Scotland U21 international has slapped away any concerns over how he would adapt to life in England as the sublime forward has produced an eye-catching 20 goals in 25 games for the club's academy sides to date.

Wilson started the 2022/23 campaign with the U18 team and quickly became a reliable source for goals through the middle of the pitch as he found the back of the net 11 times across 11 outings in the U18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup.

His sensational form in front of goal earned the Scottish talent progression to the U21 squad and he scored four goals and provided one assist in seven Premier League 2 clashes.

Although, the youngster has started the 2023/24 campaign with the U18s and has fired in an exceptional five goals in three league matches so far.

This means that Wilson, who was once described as a "goal machine" by journalist Jonty Colman, has scored 16 goals in 14 U18 games for Villa since making the move from Rangers ahead of the 2022/23 season.

The Villans appear to have a terrific goalscoring talent on their hands and he could be a future star for Emery's team alongside Diaby in attack.

Villa's current first-choice striker Ollie Watkins, 27, is ten years older than Wilson so the potential is there for the Scottish ace to eventually take over from the England international if he is able to develop into a first-team option.

Diaby, however, only turned 24 in July and could be heading into his prime years as Wilson enters his 20s. They could, therefore, form a dream partnership at the top end of the pitch.

How many career goals has Diaby scored?

The France international has produced 64 club career goals to date and has bagged twice in four Premier League outings since his move to Villa Park from Bayer Leverkusen over the summer.

Diaby, who scored 22 Bundesliga goals in his final two seasons in Germany combined, is able to provide a big goal threat from out wide and could be a lethal player to play alongside Wilson as they could both pose questions to the opposition goalkeeper with their respective finishing ability.

However, the summer signings' creative ability is why they could work so well together. The French wizard has created three 'big chances' and assisted one goal in four top-flight games for the club this season, as per Sofascore.

He also showcased his ingenuity in Germany with 14 'big chances' created and 1.8 key passes per game in the Bundesliga last term. That came after Diaby conjured 15 'big chances' and 1.9 key passes per match for his teammates during the 2021/22 campaign.

Meanwhile, no Aston Villa player managed more than 1.2 key passes per Premier League clash throughout the 2022/23 season, suggesting that Diaby can be Emery's outstanding creator in the final third.

This could make him the perfect partner for Wilson as the former Paris Saint-Germain academy starlet has the quality to consistently put chances on a plate for the striker.

The teen, who has scored 16 goals in 19 appearances for Scotland at U17 level, could thrive off the winger's superb service into the box as he has proven himself to be a prolific scorer for club and country, albeit he is yet to showcase his skills in a senior environment.

The next step for Wilson is now to establish himself as a regular goalscorer for Villa's U21 team and to then catch Emery's eye, whether that is in pre-season or by securing a loan move to gain consistent first-team exposure.

There is no rush for the Scotland youth international to make that next step as he still has plenty of time to develop, but his superb statistics suggest that the potential is there for him to make an impact at first-team level in the future if he can adapt his game to senior football.

Liverpool could look to delve into the transfer market for more attackers soon, and they are battling Real Madrid for one superstar, according to a new report.

Will Liverpool sign more attackers?

The Reds spent their summer rebuilding their midfield, bringing in the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, as well as disposing of dead wood in the middle of the park. While some supporters were also keen to see a new centre-back added to the squad, in order to enhance the depth at Jurgen Klopp's disposal, it was clear that there was enough quality and options in attacking areas.

In Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo, Liverpool arguably have their most impressive group of attackers in recently memory, giving Klopp a plethora of top-quality options and allowing him to rotate effectively during a busy season.

There are doubts over Salah's long-term future at Anfield, however, following strong interest from Saudi Arabia during the summer transfer window, and there is the chance that he decides to move on to pastures new at the end of this season.

Should that happen, Liverpool will clearly need to sign a high-calibre replacement almost immediately, and it is important that they continue to look at long-term options, regardless of the Egyptian's future.

Will Liverpool sign Rafael Leao?

According to a report from Spain [via Sempre Milan], the Reds are locking horns with Real Madrid for the signing of AC Milan rising superstar Rafael Leao, who has arguably become their most important player currently, especially after Sandro Tonali left to join Newcastle United in the summer.

The report states that Liverpool and Madrid are "leading the competition" for the Portuguese's services, and a new challenge away from his current club "does not seem to be something Leao would reject". Milan are clearly extremely hesitant to sell possibly their most prized asset, however, and have slapped a €150m (£130.4m) price tag on his shoulders, outlining just how highly he is thought of.

Leao look like a special player currently, arguably looking like one of Europe's most devastating wide players, combining pace, directness and most importantly of all reliable end product. He has scored 45 goals and registered 38 assists in 168 appearances for the Serie A giants, not to mention netting three times for Portugal at international level.

The 24-year-old is admittedly predominantly a left-sided player, and a right-sided option would be needed if Salah did leave, but there is no reason why he couldn't thrive there, or why Diaz or Jota couldn't potentially switch flanks.

Leao has been described as a "top player" by Graham Potter in the past, as well as his quality being hailed as "beautiful" by Ian Wright, and he has the ability to be a long-term superstar at Anfield, with his best years still lying ahead of him and his peak not likely to disappear for another six or seven years.

The amount of money being mooted is clearly a huge amount – he is contracted until the summer of 2028, which puts Milan in a strong bargaining position – but if Liverpool did receive a massive fee for Salah next summer, the funds would be available to pay it.

USMNT U23 star Gianluca Busio has revealed his ambitions for 2024, which include promotion with Venezia and a role in the Paris Olympics.

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• Busio reveals 2024 Olympics ambitions
• Focused on promotion campaign with Venezia
• Prepared to fight for midfield role with USA

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Speaking to , the midfielder revealed that he believes his current form with Venezia – and his partnership with fellow U.S. international Tanner Tessman – could put them both in a position to be on the roster for the Paris Olympics.

  The Venice-based club are second place in Serie B, and the American duo have anchored the midfield the entire campaign. However, Busio himself is primarily focused on promotion before he turns his attention to the Summer, a time where he believes there will be 'no offseason' as he shoots for a roster spot.

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  WHAT BUSIO SAID

  “The team is a good group,” Busio said of the U-23 USMNT roster, led by Marko Mitrovic. “We have good young players in MLS, and in Europe. It's pretty cool because we have guys in very different situations. Some guys who are pushing to get to Europe, some guys who are just starting in MLS, stuff like that. And it's just cool to see the different experiences [and] the different aspirations. Everybody has the fire. You can tell it's a really talented group. Everybody is showing it at some level. This is going to be really special group together.”

  The 21-year-old added that the Olympics, he believes, are a dream for any young athlete, and with them slowly closing in, it's hard to keep them out of the back of his mind.

  “A lot of Americans, especially athletes, grew up watching Olympics, not just soccer,” Busio said. “I was watching every sport there. Once I heard we qualified to through the U-20s, I was already locked in. I wanted to try to push for a spot on the team. Now that it's coming closer and closer – it's in the back of my head. My main priority now is in Venice right now. But as soon as the season is done, it's not really offseason. It's preparing for the Olympics because that is a goal of mine and something that I really want to play in. It’s a huge priority.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With only 18 players available on the entire roster, there will be some tough cuts in the center of the pitch for many of the young players in the pool. With the likes of Aidan Morris, Joshua Atencio, Tessman, Yunus Musah, Rokas Pukstas and Benja Cremaschi all competing for what will likely be narrowed down to four spots, the competition will be fierce. That's not to mention the possibility of players like Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams competing as one of the select over-age players, or an age-eligible Gio Reyna as well.

  Teams will be allotted three players over the age of 23 for a sense of veteran leadership on the pitch, while the 15 players will have to be compromised of players under that set age.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BUSIO AND THE U23 USMNT?

  Busio, who was called in for both October and November U23 USMNT windows, will look to report back this March with Mitrovic's squad when they take on a Thierry Henry-managed France side in an international friendly on March 25. It will be good experience for the U.S. squad, with the French seemingly having a heavily stacked side of young talent who play for top European squads across Europe.

With football's ever-growing popularity and commercial reach, football kits have increasingly become seen as fashion pieces as well as representations of the teams that wear them.

It's not just clubs, though; international teams will regularly release one or two new kits every year, especially when there is a tournament on the horizon, and with Euro 2024 fast approaching, expect to see a raft of shirts released in the coming months.

With that in mind, Football FanCast has created a list of the 12 best shirts ever worn at the European Championships.

12

Poland 2012

Kicking off the list is an inclusion that may surprise some: Poland's home shirt from their European Championships on home soil in 2012.

While the tournament was excellent, with Poland and Ukraine being fantastic hosts, the men in white and red didn't do much on the pitch.

They took two points from their first two games courtesy of two 1-1 draws. However, the draw against Russia on matchday two was almost seen as a win given that the visitors scored first and the fierce rivalry between the two teams. Unfortunately, a loss to the Czech Republic in their third game meant they finished rock bottom of their group, but they looked good doing it.

Poland tend to make great shirts most years, but this simple design with the rectangle across the chest, an eagle in the middle and a badge off to the side all come together to make an excellent, modern kit that wouldn't look out of place today, 11 years on.

11

West Germany 1988

Okay, we're going a little further back in time for this one.

Germany have a history of producing quality designs for international tournaments. Something about that white and black base just looks brilliant regardless of what else they do to it. That said, for our money, their 1988-1990 effort is their best to date.

The 1988 competition was staged in West Germany, and while the team made it out of their group – beating Spain and Denmark in the process – they were beaten in the semi-finals at the hands of eventual winners, the Netherlands.

The top itself is undeniably iconic. The plain white base with the German flag printed across the front in Adidas' best template is instantly recognisable, and Germany even modelled their 2018 kit on the design.

10

England 2021

The first England entry on the list, and like every other shirt here, it's a corker.

If we are being honest, England shirts can often be quite dull. You can't do much with an almost entirely white top, but for Euro 2020, Nike found a way to make it far more interesting.

The thick navy collar combined with the jagged stripes up the side gives some much-needed intricacy to the shirt, and we just love the badge's central placement – why can't all badges be central?

The tournament itself was a memorable one for the Three Lions as the cross-continent nature of the competition meant that they played most of their games at home, including a memorable round-of-16 win over Germany.

Alas, it was still England, and so it inevitably ended in penalty shootout heartbreak as Italy clinched the title in a tightly contested final at Wembley Stadium.

9

England 2022

Back-to-back England, but the Lionesses' shirt for the 2022 European Championship deserves to be on this list.

Where the men came agonisingly close to lifting what would've been the country's first European title, the women went one better. The final was once again held at Wembley Stadium, only this time, the opposition was Germany. It was a fantastic spectacle, with England clinching it in extra time, much to the delight of a sold-out crowd.

The shirt itself was also a stunner. It didn't have the navy detailing of the men's, instead featuring a faint diamond pattern base with an iridescent Three Lions and Nike tick.

8

Sweden 1992

Much like in the domestic game, in international football, some teams are instantly recognisable from the colour of their shirts alone, and Sweden are a great example of that.

The rich yellow and royal blue colour combo is unmistakably Swedish, and it just so happens to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing combinations as well.

With so many iconic kits to choose from for the Swedes, we have opted for their 1992 home shirt. It has everything you'd want from a Sweden top: a rich yellow base, royal blue stripes that pop from a mile away, and a chunky retro collar with a perfectly placed Adidas logo at its base.

The competition itself took place in Sweden and was a relative success for the Swedes, as they made it out of their group and to the semi-finals, where they would be beaten by Germany.

7

Italy 2021

Few international football teams look as stylish as Italy, and their effort for the 2020 European Championship is no different.

When picking the best Italian shirts, you are spoilt for choice, but we reckon this is their best effort to date. The two-tone blue base looks brilliant on the pitch, and the Renaissance-inspired print just gives it that edge over some of their plainer designs, as do the collar and gold detailing.

It was also a tournament to remember for Gli Azzurri as they went in as dark horses and ended up winning it all after breaking English hearts in the final at Wembley Stadium.

6

England 1996

Okay, this is the last England shirt, we promise – but it is a beaut.

1996 is one of those years that has become mythologised in English football. It was a tournament that made people genuinely believe the team would finally lift some silverware again, and in front of a home crowd as well.

The game against Scotland and Paul Gascoigne's goal live on and are instantly recognisable for England fans – even for those who weren't around to see it – but as it always does, the tournament ended in penalty disappointment for the Three Lions, once again at the hands of the Germans.

That said, at least the team looked good, thanks to this brilliant shirt from Umbro. The incorporation of electric blue around the number and along the chunky collar really helped the shirt to pop, and a central badge always helps make a shirt look better.

5

Denmark 1992

Scandinavia's second representative on the list, Denmark, have produced some stunning kits over the years, but we reckon their home shirt for the 1992 European Championship takes the cake.

The 1986 top might get more attention, but the design and history attached to this one give it the edge. The plain red base paired with the striped red and white sleeves really makes this top stand out amongst other red and white shirts – and we just love a retro collar.

1992 is probably the greatest year in Danish football due to the fact that they – somewhat surprisingly – won the European Championship that year. It was surprising for a couple of reasons: one, for as good as they were, they were underdogs compared to teams like Germany and the Netherlands; and two, they didn't even qualify for the tournament.

The Danes only entered the competition after Yugoslavia were disqualified following the breakup of the country and the ensuing violence.

4

USSR 1988

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the USSR, might not exist anymore. Still, when they did, they had an excellent track record in international tournaments – and an even greater record of beautiful kits.

The 1988 European Championship was the last Euros they appeared in, as they played as the Commonwealth of International States (CIS) for the 1992 edition of the tournament following the dissolution of the state.

1988 was a massively successful tournament for the team, though, as they beat England and the Netherlands in the group stage before beating Italy in the semi-final. Unfortunately, they couldn't do the double over the Dutch in the final, and they would have to settle for second at their last-ever Euros.

The shirt itself was a stunner. The base was red and white and used one of Adidas' best-ever templates, while the collar and detailing made it stand out from the others that used the same base design.

3

Croatia 1996

Now, this one might be a bit marmite in that some will love it – like us – and some will probably hate it, but you just cannot make a list like this and not include Croatia's iconic shirt, specifically the 1996 edition.

The checkerboard pattern is certainly garish; there's no getting away from that, but it's unique, eye-catching and instantly recognisable. The tricolour detailing around the collar and sleeves takes it up another level and comfortably makes it one of the three best kits ever worn at a European Championship.

The team themselves had a reasonably impressive tournament that year, with group-stage wins over Turkey and Denmark – who were then the reigning champions. However, they were ultimately knocked out in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Germany.

Wrexham's League Two promotion aspirations got a significant boost on Monday when second-placed Stockport dropped points late on at Crawley.

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• Wrexham lost again on weekend
• But Stockport drop points on Monday
• League Two promotion to go to the wire

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons had a weekend to forget at home against 14th-placed Tranmere as an early Luke Norris goal sealed a narrow 1-0 victory for the visitors. That looked to put a huge dent in Wrexham's automatic promotion hopes, who remained in third before Monday's matchup with Stockport in second on goal difference. However, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's club were handed a boost by an unlikely source on Monday night, with mid-table Crawley rescuing a point late on.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Antoni Sarcevic's header for Stockport in the 61st minute looked set to be the decider going into the final stages, which would have extended the gap from Wrexham to three points. In the end, though, Klaidi Lolos popped up with a goal seven minutes from time to make it 1-1, meaning Stockport now only boast a slender one-point advantage over the Red Dragons with one game in hand. Only the league's top two go up to League One automatically, meaning the season is set for a thrilling promotion finale.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Stockport are in awful league form of late, with Dave Challinor's side boasting a miserable run of just one win from their last seven matches. Of their nine league away matches this term, Stockport have won just two.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  After Stockport and Wrexham drop more points it could be anybody's League Two to win, with Mansfield holding the obvious advantage as it stands. Wrexham are four points off top spot and play 21st-placed Grimsby away from home on Saturday.

Liverpool have set their sights on signing an exciting young centre-back in January, but they aren't the only club who are looking to secure his services in the Premier League.

Who are Liverpool's defenders?

At Anfield, Jurgen Klopp has Virgil Van Dijk, who is the new captain of the club, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah as his current options at centre-back, but it’s obvious that the boss needs to dip into the market for further reinforcements.

The Reds skipper and Matip are both 32 years of age so aren’t getting any younger and will soon have to be replaced, whilst Gomez hasn’t recently lived up to the standards required of him, leaving the latter two as the only long-term choices with Gomez seemingly now preferred as a right-back.

Therefore, FSG will be assessing their options in the market having failed to secure a defender over the summer and it appears that they have highlighted Sporting CP’s Goncalo Inacio as an ideal target to pursue in the transfer window at the start of next year.

Premier League rivals Manchester United have also added the Portugal international to their shortlist of centre-back options so it won’t come easy to secure his services, but the following update confirms that FSG chiefs have held an interest in the 22-year-old for a long time.

Goncalo Inacio transfer update

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano revealed in a Goncalo Inacio transfer update that Liverpool and Newcastle United are the two clubs that also admire the colossus alongside the hierarchy at Old Trafford. He said:

“Inacio has also been on the list at Liverpool and Newcastle in recent years, while Sporting also extended his contract during the summer. He’s a very talented player, so let’s see how his situation evolves in the months ahead.”

How tall is Goncalo Inacio?

Standing at 6 foot 1, Inacio is a real rock at the heart of the backline at Sporting CP, where he’s been averaging 2.4 clearances and 1.6 aerial wins per league game so far this season (WhoScored – Inacio statistics), but he’s also capable of making an impact in the final third.

The Almada native, who is naturally left-footed, has posted 19 contributions, 11 goals and eight assists, in 132 appearances during his time with Ruben Amorim’s side (Transfermarkt – Inacio statistics), with his ability to pose a threat when it comes to set pieces seeing him labelled a “complete” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Inacio, who pockets £28k-per-week (Sporting CP salaries), knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured four trophies since joining his homeland outfit, so he would therefore be able to match the winning mentality of the squad already on Merseyside and be able to easily adapt to the manager's required demands at Liverpool.

Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman says Millie Bright is "doing responsible things" to avoid anymore setbacks in her ongoing recovery from a knee injury.

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• Bright sidelined since November with knee injury
• Suffered setback in recovery recently
• Wiegman explains care England star is taking

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bright hasn't played since November because of the problem and Chelsea boss Emma Hayes revealed last week that she had suffered "a little setback" on her road to recovery, adding that she was not expected to be back before the international break, which starts next week.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bright's absence has been a blow for club and country, as she is a key player and one of the captains for England and Chelsea. With the Lionesses, her time on the sidelines has also coincided with Leah Williamson's rehab from an ACL rupture, meaning Wiegman has been without her captain and vice-captain, and two first-choice centre-backs.

• WHAT WIEGMAN SAID

  Asked on Tuesday if she is concerned with how long Bright's recovery is taking, Wiegman dismissed the word 'concerned' and responded: "A little disappointed, of course. We all hoped that it would go a little bit quicker but she's taking her time and wants to do the right things to get back and not have the setbacks again. So she needs a little more time, she needs to do a little more work in the gym to get everything stronger and that takes a little more time. Hopefully, and that's what Emma Hayes said too, hopefully she will be back after the international break. But she's doing responsible things."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bright struggled with a knee injury before the World Cup last summer, too, but managed to recover in time to be fit for England's first game against Haiti and then captained her team all the way to the final.

Tottenham Hotspur have now made an approach for an exciting Barcelona target who former Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld is a big fan of.

Spurs January transfer links

Ange Postecoglou has quickly cemented himself as one of Spurs' most popular managers of recent years, so soon after joining from Scottish champions Celtic in June. The Australian's undoubted charisma in press conferences is bettered only by Tottenham's form on the field.

Under Postecoglou, they've won six out of their opening eight Premier League games, remaining unbeaten over one of Spurs' best-ever starts to a domestic campaign. The last time they begun a season this brightly, Tottenham went on to win a domestic double in 1961.

That being said, there are some potential holes in Postecoglou's sturdy Spurs ship. They arguably lack sufficient depth behind star centre-back pairing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, as the out-of-favour Eric Dier is Tottenham's only defensive alternative. A host of central defenders have been linked with moves to N17 as a result, a list which includes Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, Juventus star Gleison Bremer, Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly and Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba.

Further up the field, it is believed that Spurs could sign a new midfielder if Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg leaves, with Chelsea star Conor Gallagher one of the contenders. The likes of Al-Ittihad star Jota and Turkey international winger Kerem Akturkoglu are but two candidates to shore up the left-side of Spurs' midfield, too, as Son Heung-min has been thriving in a more central attacking role.

Spurs transfer news – Arthur Vermeeren

According to a new report this week, it is now believed that Spurs have a new transfer target to add to their growing list. Indeed, Royal Antwerp sensation Arthur Vermeeren has found his way into the club's thinking. Tottenham, alongside some Premier League rivals, have been in contact to sign the midfielder who is being recognised for his excellent form by Belgium international boss Domenico Tedesco. The 18-year-old has been called up for the Red Devils as a replacement for Leandro Trossard, and could well make his senior debut for them against Sweden or Austria.

This is according to 90min – sharing the latest transfer update on Vemeeren, saying Spurs have made an approach to sign the "revelation", as they call him, in the form of an enquiry. Interestingly. former Lilywhites fan favourite Alderweireld is a massive admirer of the teenager, who is also an apparent target for La Liga champions Barcelona.

"Do I sometimes watch with my mouth open? Certainly," said Alderweireld to Extra Time (via Sporza). "Everyone knows perfectly what to do when in possession of the ball and when losing the ball. Then the qualities of such a boy come to the fore. What he shows at his age is fantastic. I have rarely seen that."

High praise for Vermereen, the young midfield ace boasts some impressive stats for Antwerp. This season, the dazzling talent has stood out as their best-performing player by average match rating according to WhoScored.

Romelu Lukaku shone for Belgium in a 2-2 draw against England at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday and then faced some awkward questions about his future.

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• Lukaku back in England with Belgium
• Currently on loan at Roma
• Sends message to Chelsea about his future

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lukaku was back in England on Tuesday as Belgium drew 2-2 with the Three Lions in an international friendly. The striker caught the eye with a superb outside-of-the-boot cross for Youri Tielemans to make it 2-1 to offer a reminder of his talents. Lukaku then faced the media after the game and had an uncomfortable moment when asked if he had really wanted to impress on his return to England.

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• WHAT LUKAKU SAID ABOUT CHELSEA

  Lukaku went on to say: "I don't know. You’ll have to ask Chelsea."

  The striker also admitted he'd been disappointed to see his team held after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to Jude Bellingham.

  "‘Yeah, this is football at the end of the day," he said. "It’s not over until the referee blows his whistle. You have to continue, this is a team in progress. We did an okay performance today."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lukaku is currently on loan at Roma and has scored 18 goals in all competitions for the Serie A side. There is no purchase option in his deal which means Lukaku is due to return to Chelsea in the summer. The Blues do appear in need of a striker but it seems highly unlikely Lukaku will remain with the Premier League side and there has been speculation he could head to Saudi Arabia.