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It's been a busy summer for Tottenham Hotspur so far this year, both on and off the pitch.

The North Londoners have already secured the services of Archie Gray, Yang Min-Hyeok, and, most importantly, Dominic Solanke.

However, they've also been working on selling players, with Emerson Royal completing his move to AC Milan on Monday for an undisclosed fee.

This exit means the club is short at right-back, although interestingly, recent reports have linked them to a star who's earned comparisons to Pedro Porro.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

Daniel Levy and Co may have only just completed the impressive £65m capture of Solanke over the weekend, but a recent report from journalist Bruno Andrade has revealed that the club are now interested in signing AS Monaco's Vanderson.

In fact, Andrade has actually revealed that the Lilywhites have already "opened talks with Monaco" and that the French side are "expecting an offer in the region of 40 million euros."

That fee converts to around £34m, and while that's a lot of money, the sale of Emerson means that a new option at right-back is probably needed this summer.

Moreover, Vanderson has impressed for Les Monégasques and the fact he's been compared to Porro should encourage fans that this is a deal worth pursuing.

Vanderson's comparison to Porro

So, Vanderson and Porro share one fundamental similarity: they are both very attacking full-backs.

For example, when talking about the Monaco ace, respected data analyst Ben Mattinson described him as "very good going forward", while U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed he is blessed with "obscene pace and acceleration."

Likewise, Mango described the Spaniard as an "aggressive" full-back with "a wonderful low centre of gravity" who is "extremely dangerous" in attack, which is hard to deny when you watch him play.

However, while the praise and analysis help us understand how they operate, you can also see their forward-thinking tendencies in their raw output.

For example, in 37 appearances for the Lilywhites last season, the former Sporting CP gem scored four goals and provided seven assists, equating to a seriously impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.36 games.

Appearances

23

37

Goals

3

4

Assists

1

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.17

0.29

Likewise, while he could only make 23 appearances for Monaco last season partly due to injury, the Brazilian defender still scored three goals and provided four assists, meaning that he maintained an average of a goal involvement every 5.75 games, which is still impressive for a player in his position.

Finally, if people are still unsure of how similar the two right-backs are, they only need to look at Football Transfers, which has ranked Porro as the fifth most comparable player to Vanderson across football.

Ultimately, while he could cost the club a pretty penny, bringing the Monaco man in to replace Emerson this summer and fight for a place in the team seems like the perfect way to maximise Postecoglou's attacking philosophy in every aspect of the team.

Therefore, Levy and Co should do what they can to get this deal done, and who knows, another attack-minded full-back in the team could even help Solanke hit the ground running.

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Reece James has been subjected to cruel insults by fans after Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirmed his latest injury setback.

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• James sidelined with hamstring injury
• Has played just four times this season
• Fans urge James to hang boots up

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Maresca has revealed that James will miss this weekend's clash against Leicester after sustaining a hamstring issue in training. As a result, the ex-Foxes boss says that he is unwilling to risk the right-back, who has only made four appearances this season. He was initially suspended for the first three fixtures of the campaign but was also battling a hamstring injury, and only returned in October. Last season, he made just 11 appearances as he again struggled with hamstring issues, and was forced to undergo surgery.

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  WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  @EiiScanty said: "It's sad. Great talent gone."

  @Iamhbozz added: "He needs to retire."

  @LullabyWeb3 said: "At this point, he should just retire, he won't be able to walk."

  @TheMahleek added: "Nah, he's so done. This is sad."

  @WillReyner joked: "He'll be back in April 2025 then. Seen this a million times."

  @Half_cast01 concluded: "Bro might be made of glass."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Since the 2019-20 season, James has spent a remarkable amount of time in the treatment room, missing 129 games across the last six seasons. Now, that tally is set to reach at least 130.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After facing Leicester, Chelsea play Heidenheim in the Europa Conference League and then meet Aston Villa in the Premier League. It remains to be seen if James will be able to play in either of those fixtures.

Despite a quiet start to the summer transfer window, Celtic are now reportedly closing in on their third arrival following deals to welcome both Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel.

Celtic transfer news

The Bhoys were never in a position to panic this summer, having just won their third consecutive Scottish Premiership, but Brendan Rodgers' side still needed improvements. The retirement of Joe Hart forced Celtic's hand in pursuit of a new first-choice goalkeeper, which saw them land Schmeichel in a free deal to follow the arrival of backup Sinisalo.

The two shot-stoppers had plenty of action in Celtic's latest pre-season test too, helping their new side defeat Premier League champions Manchester City in a 4-3 thriller in the United States.

The good news looks set to keep coming after that impressive pre-season victory. Those in Scotland are reportedly on course to finally land their first outfield signing of the transfer window and one that has undoubtedly been a long time coming.

According to TEAMtalk, Celtic are closing in on signing Paulo Bernardo on a permanent deal with the paperwork signed, medical booked, and the central midfielder buzzing at the prospect of the summer switch to Parkhead. Arriving from Benfica for a reported £3.5m, Bernardo will hope to pick up where he left off in Scotland, which saw the Bhoys secure a league and Scottish Cup double.

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Still just 22 years old, Bernardo will be looking to stake a claim for a permanent starting spot under Rodgers in the coming season, having started just 11 times in the Scottish Premiership last time out. It speaks volumes that Celtic have seemingly splashed out to secure his signature on a permanent basis, however, and suggests that he is set to play an integral part in Scotland.

"Great" Bernardo could step in for O'Riley

Whilst Matt O'Riley's Celtic future remains in doubt amid interest from all around Europe, Bernardo is set to arrive on a permanent deal to potentially hand Rodgers a ready-made replacement. Of course, it will be no easy task to replace O'Riley if he does head for the exit door this summer, but the 22-year-old Benfica man showed signs of promise last season, scoring four goals and assisting a further three in all competitions.

What's more, it's worth noting that in the season prior to O'Riley's 19-goal heroics last time out, he too managed to find the back of the net four times in all competitions. With the ability to play in a more advanced role, it's not absurd to suggest that Bernardo could yet help to replace the Dane's impressive output.

Rodgers will certainly back his pending arrival, having said via Celts Are Here after Bernardo's first goal for the club last season: “For Paulo it was good. He’s such a mature player for a young player. He’s always had a great attitude at training. He’s played in a lot of big games. But he had a wee bit of everything today – he had a wee bit of dig, put his foot in, passed the ball and made runs into the box.”

A European club have made contact with Sunderland over a player dubbed a "freak of nature" regarding a summer move, according to a new transfer claim.

Sunderland transfer news

There have been plenty of Black Cats-related transfer news to emerge in recent days and weeks, with the future of Jobe Bellingham one key talking point. He is reportedly wanted by Serie A giants Lazio, but a move hasn't felt too close to coming to fruition. Tottenham have also been mentioned as potential suitors, as the teenager looks to emulate his world-famous older brother, Jude Bellingham.

Meanwhile, Caen striker Alexandre Mendy has been strongly linked with a move to Sunderland, having outscored Jack Clarke last season. A bid has even been lodged for his services, as Regis Le Bris looks to strengthen his attack before the 2024/25 Championship season gets underway.

Meanwhile, former Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Norwood has also emerged as a target for Sunderland in the current transfer window, having left Bramall Lane when his contract expired this summer. It means he is now a free agent, making him less of a gamble if the move doesn't work out, and he could add real nous in the middle of the park.

He is capable of taking up both defensive and attacking midfield roles, and he has racked up a total of 381 appearances in the Championship, highlighting how vastly experienced he is at this point in his career.

However, back to departure, and a new update ha emerged regarding Bellingham's Stadium of Light future.

Club make contact with Sunderland over Bellingham

According to TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness], Lazio have made contact with Sunderland over the signing of Bellingham this summer. They've asked for information over a potential deal and could now make a push.

It is claimed that the Black Cats want €15m (£12.7m) for the 18-year-old's services, but it is believed that he is holding out for a move to the Premier League next summer, and is happy to remain at the Stadium of Light for another season.

There is an inevitability about Bellingham eventually leaving Sunderland in the near future, in truth, with the £6,500-a-week attacking midfield ace such an ambitious young footballer who will already be mapping out his future.

He is a special talent, which can sometimes go under the radar because of the worldwide attention that his brother receives, and teammate Dan Neil has said of him: "He makes me look like a 17-year-old. He's an absolute freak of nature, physically. I have never seen a 17-year-old that size. Technically, he is a top, top, player as well."

Sunderland will hope that Lazio's latest interest goes away, though, allowing them to retain Bellingham's services for one more season before he potentially heads off to the Premier League.

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The one chance that the Black Cats could have of keeping their most prized asset is if they earn promotion to the top flight next season, which should act as a major incentive to Le Bris and the rest of his squad.

With last season's financial struggles hopefully behind them, Nottingham Forest now look set to return for a teenage talent that they have been interested in for some time.

Nuno wants to bring young stars to City Ground

The latest rumours out of the City Ground suggest that Forest want to sign Archie Stevens from Rangers. The 18-year-old winger also has interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester United and West Ham United, meaning that there could be a bidding war for his services.

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Joining Stevens on Nuno Espírito Santo's wishlist is Stade Brestois left-back Bradley Locko. The £17 million-rated 22-year-old also has suitors from across the Premier League meaning that Forest could once again face a battle to get their man.

Rounding off the most recent names linked with a move to Forest is 17-year-old striker Riquelme Fillipi. Forest have reportedly tabled an official proposal of just over £4million for the player. With young players clearly the priority this summer, Forest have now returned for a talent that they have previously moved for.

Forest submit fresh offer for Celtic gem

As first reported by Football Insider's Wayne Veysey, Forest are readying a new offer for Celtic forward Rocco Vata. Sources have told the outlet that the Glasgow outfit have already rejected bids for the 19-year-old from Forest, who appear eager to secure the services of the young winger.

Football Insider also reports that Watford and Bolgona are eyeing up a move for the Ireland youth international, perhaps suggesting the reason why Forest seem desperate to get a deal done quickly.

Vata is highly rated at Parkhead, however has struggled for opportunities to break into the first team. The 19-year-old played just three league minutes for the Celtic first team last season as his side lifted the Scottish Premiership. Whilst opportunities with the senior team have been at a premium, Vata has shone in the Celtic B team, scoring 12 goals in just 15 league games.

Despite struggling for game time in the league, Vata did manage to get his first senior goal during Celtic's 5-0 cup win over Buckie Thistle back in January.

Speaking after the game, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers spoke on Vata's limited opportunities as well as speculation about his future telling the press: “He is a talent and it depends what the mentality is with him and his representatives.

“He is 18 and I don’t need players ready at 18 unless they are real, real special talents. At 20 or 21 they need to be ready. But you can see he has tools, and this can be a really good place for him to develop.

“It was nice for him to get his goal because that’s a good feeling and he has been here a long time as a young player and he has strengths we could develop."

Whilst Rodgers was quick to sing the praises of the 19-year-old he stopped just short of suggesting that Vata would be in for any more game time at Parkhead. It is perhaps this desire for first team football that will push Vata away from Celtic and towards Forest this summer.

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson believes the FA should have hired an English manager, calling Thomas Tuchel’s appointment a “sad indictment”.

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Tuchel hired to replace SouthgateHowe & Potter were linked with roleGerman eyeing World Cup gloryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Tuchel’s appointment as the new England head coach has been labelled a “sad indictment” by Parkinson, who believes English managers aren’t getting opportunities at the highest level of the game. Eddie Howe and Graham Potter were linked with the post vacated by Gareth Southgate, but the FA turned to former Chelsea boss Tuchel.

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The German has signed an 18-month deal to lead England through the 2026 World Cup. Parkinson isn’t the only person to question the decision, with Jamie Carragher saying “it doesn’t feel right” that the role went to a foreign coach. Ultimately, the FA chose the manager they believe gives them the best opportunity to end England’s lengthy wait for World Cup glory.

WHAT PARKINSON SAID

“Ideally, I would like an Englishman to manage England; I don’t think anyone would steer away from that," Parkinson told William Hill. "However, there wasn’t an obvious English candidate and I can understand why the FA made the decision to go with Thomas Tuchel. He’s managed in the Champions League, he’s got silverware to his name, and he’s been on the touchline in those top-end games, making key decisions when it matters most. I think he’ll be a good appointment, but everyone is a bit 50/50 between respecting that he’s a good manager and also being disappointed for the English managers.”

The 56-year-old added: “Our coaching courses and St. George’s Park are revered around Europe and around the world. It’s a little bit of a sad indictment that we haven’t got enough English managers at the top end of the game. Eddie Howe is a good example, he’s got a really big job now with Newcastle. But there’s still not enough opportunities for English managers at the top level. Nothing is given to you in football, though, you’ve got to earn those jobs.”

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

Tuchel won’t take up his new position until January 1, with interim coach Lee Carsley overseeing England’s November fixtures. The first time that the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach will lead his new side in a match will be in March.

Trio are asymptomatic but medical staff will continue to monitor their health, CSA says

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2020A South African player has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the upcoming limited-overs series against England.The player and two others considered to be close contacts by South African team medical staff have all been placed in isolation in Cape Town. All are asymptomatic but doctors will continue to monitor them, Cricket South Africa said in a statement on Wednesday.CSA said about 50 tests were carried out on players and support staff before entering their biosecure base in Cape Town ahead of back-to-back series against England, due to start on November 27 with the first of three T20Is, followed by three ODIs. All matches will be played between Newlands and Paarl.”One player has returned a positive test result and two players were considered close contacts based on the risk assessment undertaken by the medical team,” the statement said. “All three players have been placed in immediate isolation in Cape Town as part of the COVID-19 protocols. While all players are asymptomatic, CSA’s medical team will monitor them to ensure their health and well-being.”At this stage, none of these players will be replaced for the tour, but two replacement players will be included into the squad for the purposes of the inter-squad practice matches that will be played on Saturday, 21 November.”England’s squad have arrived in South Africa to begin their preparations and will play a 50-over warm-up on Saturday in Cape Town. An ECB spokesman confirmed on Wednesday that all Covid-19 tests carried out on the England squad members had returned negative results.

With goals against Arsenal and Paris FC, the 22-year-old has made a fast start to the season. Can she maintain it ahead of the European Championship?

There is only so much you can learn from pre-season, but one of the biggest takeaways from Manchester City's summer tour of Australia was that no matter how head coach Gareth Taylor envisaged fitting Vivianne Miedema into his starting line-up, it could not come at the expense of Jess Park, the 22-year-old playmaker who has marked herself out as someone capable of playing a crucial role for both the Cityzens and England for many years to come.

On Sunday, as City opened their new Women's Super League season away to an Arsenal side expected to be a title rival, Park underlined just why so many felt that way. With the scores level at 1-1, she snatched a loose ball out of the air and, from 20 yards, showcased remarkable technique to fire it into the top corner to give City the lead.

While Miedema, the WSL's all-time top goal-scorer, came to the fore in the women's game as a No.9, in recent times she has been more prominent in a No.10 position she seemingly prefers. That is where she has been slotting into this City XI, but that is also where Park has made her own mark for the club.

Taylor took a risk on Sunday by playing them both, something which contributed to Arsenal carving out a number of chances on the counter and eventually taking a point from the game, which ended in a 2-2 draw. But goals from Park and Miedema also showed the reward such team selection brings. The young England star has a big future for club and country – and the City boss has no small role to play in ensuring she can thrive alongside his marquee summer signing.

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  Attack-minded approach

  In a way, it wasn't a surprise to see both Park and Miedema in City's line up on Sunday. After all, they briefly played in the same midfield in pre-season and both started, and scored, in the 5-0 thrashing of Paris FC just a few days earlier. Plus, they are two of City's best players, so it made sense for both to be involved from the get-go in such a big game.

  However, the defensive risk that a midfield featuring two very attack-minded players presents was evident throughout the match. The gap from City's centre-backs and Yui Hasegawa, in holding midfield, to Miedema and Park in their more advanced positions was often huge and there for Arsenal to exploit when they recovered the ball. That's not to say City's playmakers don't work hard and commit to their defensive work, more that they have a lot of ground to make up because of the structure of the midfield and the demands of the team's pressing.

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  'Have to be on the front foot'

  No one will have had a better view of that than Taylor, who took a seat right up in the top tier of the Emirates Stadium for the first hour of the match. "It's tough," he said of the space. "We understand that we give up some territory when we press the way we do. We press a lot with our wingers, that's no secret, and then obviously you can be kind of disjointed with the back four and Yui, but the players have to do it. We have to be on the front foot.

  "I think our pressing wasn't on it today, whereas in Paris on Wednesday, it was phenomenal and it just allowed us to dictate the pace of the game and play almost like a half-pitch practice, and that was our intention today. At times we did that. When we got it right, we forced them into mistakes that allowed us to maintain possession then around the edge of their box. We were close to it today and it's always like half a metre here or there that we're not quite in the right positions. But there's plenty to build on, for sure."

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  High risk, high reward

  What is a concern is that, because City are one of the best teams in England, most opponents will attempt to play on the counter when they come up against them, and they will be further encouraged by the gaps they saw appear in the Arsenal game on Sunday, particularly when the Gunners beat the press.

  What are Taylor's alternatives? He could beef up the midfield with a player not as attack-minded as Miedema or Park and drop one of them to the bench. He could push Miedema into the No.9 role at the expense of Khadija Shaw, who won the WSL Golden Boot last season. He could move Park into a wide role, where there is already ample competition in Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp, Mary Fowler and Aoba Fujino. Essentially, if he wants Park and Miedema in the same team, in roles that they excel in, without sacrificing something significant elsewhere, it is only with some risk.

  Many thought it would be a case of one or the other and that, given her world-class talent, Miedema would win that battle for inclusion in a first-choice XI. However, that Taylor is choosing to play both underlines just how important Park is to his team. That is a real testament to the work she has put in throughout 2024.

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  Patience is a virtue

  After all, 12 months ago, Park wasn't starting for City. Through the first 13 weeks of the 2023-24 WSL season, she had made just nine appearances, all from the bench. Her total game time stood at just 151 minutes.

  She kept working hard though, approaching those opportunities with a determined attitude while taking her chances to shine in the League Cup, in which she made five starts, scored two goals and registered one assist before City were eventually defeated by Chelsea in the semi-finals.

Mikel Arteta is now personally "working hard" to try and convince a £58,000-per-week player to join Arsenal.

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Indeed, it is believed Arsenal are open to summer offers for Thomas Partey, with the Ghanaian's contract set to expire next year. Fitness issues, combined with the good form of some teammates, have unfortunately reduced Partey's role in comparison to previous seasons.

Uncertainty surrounds his future at the Emirates Stadium as a result, with fellow midfielder Mohamed Elneny also looking set to leave when his deal runs out this summer. Arsenal have been doing some legwork on signing a possible replacement for Partey already, despite the summer window not opening until June 14.

Reports claim sporting director Edu and Arsenal chiefs have initiated contact with Bruno Guimaraes and his reps about joining for 24/25, but sealing a deal for the Brazil international would be both expensive and complicated, with Manchester City also lurking for a deal.

His Magpies contract will include a £100 million release clause, but only temporarily. As first revealed by Fabrizio Romano, Guimaraes' exit clause will be valid from the last week of May to the beginning of the final week of June, making it a race between the two title chasers.

A much more astute alternative for a cheaper price could be Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi. The Spaniard's contract includes a £52 million release clause, which would be half the price of Guimaraes, and he's even been called the "perfect midfielder" for them.

“My personal feeling is that Zubimendi would be fantastic," said Romano on which midfielder Arsenal should sign. "Even if [Amadou] Onana and Douglas [Luiz] have the advantage of both already knowing the Premier League. Zubimendi is fantastic player, he can help with his vision, quality and intelligence on the ball – he’s the perfect midfielder."

Arteta "working hard" to convince Zubimendi to join Arsenal

According to a report by The Boot Room this week, Arsenal's manager is now taking things into his own hands when it comes to bringing in the 25-year-old.

They claim Arteta is personally "working hard" to tempt Zubimendi into joining Arsenal, and the Sociedad stalwart is said to be the club's top choice to reinforce their midfield.

Other reports claim Arsenal have already bid for Zubimendi pre-summer, so it would appear they're attempting to grant the 42-year-old's wish for Zubimendi's arrival.

He's on around £58,000-per-week according to Football Transfers, so it wouldn't take much to improve his salary, as double that amount wouldn't even put him in touching distance of Arsenal's highest earners.

Derby County managed to win promotion back up to the Championship by being wheeler-dealers to a degree, in the market for cheap gems who would then go on to show their immense worth.

The likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, James Collins, Sonny Bradley and Curtis Nelson were all purchased for £0, with Paul Warne's side having the last laugh over these deals with their final position in the automatic promotion spots in League One.

That named quartet will now long to be etched into Pride Park folklore even further by starring in the division above and taking Derby to the next level, joining this cult hero in the history books potentially who was a diamond found in the rough all the way back in Derby's Premier League hay-day of the nineties.

Paulo Wanchope's time at Derby

Wanchope would arrive onto the scene at Derby in 1997 as an unknown entity from his native Costa Rica, a bold signing from the then Premier League Rams for a fee in the region of £600k.

The exciting gem would never look back, however, after arriving in England as a flashy new import with 25 goals mustered up from 77 games which included 13 in just one top-flight season during the 1997/98 campaign.

Player

Games played

Goals scored

1. Dean Sturridge

127

35

2. Paulo Wanchope

72

23

3. Malcolm Christie

92

22

4. Deon Burton

118

22

5. Franceso Baiano

64

16

Wanchope's debut goal for the Rams, even if he didn't go on to become the club's second-highest goalscorer in Premier League history, would have been enough for him to become a cult figure alone with a silky solo run going unchallenged by multiple Manchester United shirts before the Costa Rican maverick simply stroked the ball home at Old Trafford.

Going on to play for both West Ham United and Manchester City after the Rams, where the goals didn't dry up with a combined 44 strikes registered for those clubs, Derby reaped the rewards for risking it all by giving Wanchope a chance relocating over from South America.

If this same golden move went through in today's inflated market, Derby would still be thanking their lucky stars that a deal went through when looking at what Wanchope's value would now be via TotallyMoney's Transfer Index.

Going up to the second tier now, Derby will aim to replicate this absolute steal by recruiting even more impressive cheap gems.

Wanchope's value in 2024

According to TotallyMoney, Wanchope's deal would still stand at a reasonable £5.5m with the bank not depleted too much at Pride Park in the process.

That would still be viewed as an unbelievable piece of business on the end of the Rams, who have splashed far more expensive amounts on the likes of Matej Vydra up top, who was signed for £8m in 2016 and only managed to net two more goals than the cheaper and more beloved Wanchope.

The now 47-year-old former Rams great still keeps tabs on how Derby are doing under Warne, stating that he believes the ex-Rotherham United manager can steer the team back to playing Premier League football over time in a recent interview.

Before any talk becomes too over-the-top, Derby will be more than happy with just surviving in the Championship for the time being after nearly going bust not too long ago.

Still, if they do return to the top flight eventually, they would love to have someone as daring as Wanchope in their ranks enthralling supporters with mazey runs and crucial goals.