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The wait goes on at Tottenham Hotspur to see just what the resolution will be in the future of Harry Kane, with the England captain still yet to move on with the new Premier League season now fast approaching.

With just a year left on his existing deal, the 30-year-old looks increasingly likely to seal a move to German giants, Bayern Munich, with the Daily Mail reporting at the weekend that the talismanic striker is 'close' to agreeing a deal with the Bundesliga outfit.

The loss of their greatest-ever goalscorer would be a sizeable blow for both Spurs and for chairman Daniel Levy, with the latter man set to be forced to try and fill the void of a player who scored 30 league goals last season.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

That frustration and disappointment at losing Kane could well be eased somewhat, however, if young Mathys Tel is to move in the other direction, with the Bayern starlet having reportedly caught the eye of Ange Postecoglou's side.

Who is Mathys Tel?

As The Telegraph's Matt Law revealed last week, the north Londoners are said to be showing an "interest" in the teenage forward, with those at N17 having seemingly already made enquiries into a possible summer move for the 18-year-old.

While the former Stade Rennais sensation only made the switch to Bavaria last summer, Levy may be hoping that he can tempt the Frenchman into moving to pastures new, having been restricted to just a solitary league start last season.

If Tottenham can snap up the precocious talent over the coming weeks, it could well prove to be a repeat of their successful signing of Gareth Bale back in the summer of 2007.

How good is Mathys Tel?

Amid his limited involvement at the Allianz Arena last season, it would be something of a gamble for Levy to splash the cash on Tel this summer, albeit with the teen ace having undoubtedly shown glimpses of his talent after scoring six goals in 28 outings in all competitions.

A player of "pure quality" who has "so much Thierry Henry in him" – according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – the £13m-rated speedster has been earning rave reviews in his embryonic senior career so far, hence why it could be worth the risk if Spurs are to make a move.

Even if it does take a few seasons for Tel to truly catch fire it could still prove worth the wait, with the Lilywhites having previously reaped the rewards with regard to their patient faith in the aforementioned Bale.

Signed by Levy at the age of just 17 on a £10m deal from Southampton, the now-retired Welshman endured a dismal start to life at White Hart Lane, having gone 25 league games without tasting victory in his new surroundings.

Following that initial, luckless start, the Cardiff native memorably announced his talents to the wider world after netting that Champions League hat-trick against Inter Milan in October 2010, before chipping in with 24 goals and assists in 36 Premier Leagues games in the following season.

Five years on from his move to the capital, Bale cemented his status as one of the best in the business after scoring 21 goals and registering eight assists in 33 top-flight appearances during the 2012/13 campaign, before sealing a deserved £85m move to Real Madrid.

While it took time for their initial investment to bear fruit, Tottenham were handsomely rewarded for their persistence with Bale, having benefitted from snapping him up at such a young age before helping to nurture his talents.

With Tel evidently a player of real promise – having been likened to World Cup-winning compatriot, Kylian Mbappe – the Bayern gem could follow a similar path to that of Bale by truly exploding later down the line.

Celtic have backed head coach Brendan Rodgers in the summer transfer window as they have brought in five new signings so far.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

The Hoops most recently bolstered their options at the back with the signing of central defender Maik Nawrocki from Legia Warsaw on a permanent deal.

They have also added to their midfield ranks with the additions of South Korean ace Hyeok-kyu Kwon and Norwegian maestro Odin Thiago Holm, whilst wingers Hyun-jun Yang and Australia international Marco Tilio have come in to provide an attacking threat.

There appears to be more business on the horizon for the Bhoys, though, as they have recently been linked with a swoop to sign Manchester City midfielder Tommy Doyle, who is also a reported target for Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

How good is Tommy Doyle?

The England U21 international is a talented young player who could be an excellent signing for the Hoops if he is able to continue his development and translate his form from youth level over to the professional game.

Doyle has the potential to be Matt O'Riley 2.0 for Rodgers as the central midfielder is a creative dynamo who can open up the opposition's defence on a regular basis for his teammates.

The 21-year-old magician produced an outstanding four goals and ten assists in 18 outings in his last Premier League 2 season for City during the 2020/21 campaign, which earned him loan spells with Hamburg and Cardiff City prior to a spell in Sheffield last term.

He has taken steps towards replicating that at senior level as the exciting youngster provided seven assists in 38 matches on loan at Sheffield United last season, which included three assists in four FA Cup clashes.

Doyle, who has been capped by England at seven different age groups, still has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and playing for Celtic in matches where they dominate the ball in the Scottish Premiership could allow him to showcase his creative talent.

O'Riley was the club's outstanding creator from the middle of the park last term. The Denmark international racked up 12 assists in 38 league appearances, which was one more than any other player managed for the Hoops.

He displayed his ability to consistently unlock the opposition as the former MK Dons ace made 2.2 key passes per match for the Bhoys, which was 0.2 more than any of his fellow attackers.

This shows that the central midfielder is an exceptional passer of the ball who can make things happen by threading passes or whipping crosses into the box for the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada to attack.

Therefore, Doyle, who was once described as a "fantastic" talent by scout Jacek Kulig, could offer similar qualities in midfield with his ability to regularly assist his teammates at the top end of the pitch.

Celtic must now work hard to secure the Cityzens prospect as it would provide Rodgers with another O'Riley-esque number eight who could either play alongside the Danish wizard or rotate with him to deal with the workload across four competitions this season.

Tottenham Hotspur have started talks for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku as La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Davide Chinellato shares a transfer update.

Who will Spurs replace Kane with?

Ange Postecoglou could be set for a busy final few weeks of the summer after star striker Harry Kane completed his potential £103 million move to Bayern Munich.

The north Londoners must now find a replacement for Kane heading into the last fortnight of this transfer window, and there have been many linked, including the likes of Montpellier striker Elye Wahi, Gent's Gift Orban, Chelsea forward Lukaku and Juventus ace Dusan Vlahovic.

Postecoglou has admitted that Spurs must focus on outgoings for now, as the squad is currently too bloated, but the 57-year-old did express that he knew Kane would leave before deadline day.

“I had a conversation with Harry the first day he arrived and he was up front and honest, and I was the same,” the 57-year-old said ahead of their opener against Brentford on Sunday.

“You get an indication there that he kind of made up his mind: that if the clubs agreed he would go, particularly if it was before the first game. That was my preference as well.

“There's nothing along the way that's sort of made me feel there's anything other than this outcome. None of these things happen in isolation, everyone is pretty clued into to what's going on, so from my perspective I hadn't received anything from Harry, the club or anyone else to suggest to me anything had changed about his stance."

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Kane's haul of 30 league goals in 38 appearances last term will be very hard to replicate for any incoming striker, but one man who has reached similar figures in England before is Lukaku.

The 30-year-old's best Premier League campaign came during his time at Everton, where he managed 25 in 36 league starts over 16/17. Lukaku, most recently, also managed an impressive 24 goals and 11 assists during Inter Milan's 2020/2021 title-winning campaign.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Chinellato, sharing an update for the Italian newspaper on Spurs' links to Lukaku (via Sport Witness), says club-to-club talks have started.

Indeed, it is believed Tottenham "contacts have started and an agreement is possible" for Lukaku, who is said to prefer them over a potential move to Saudi Arabia.

If chairman Daniel Levy wishes to sign the forward, a €45 million (£38.6m) fee is needed, while Juventus remain in contention for a swap deal involving Vlahovic.

How good is Romelu Lukaku?

The Belgian is an international star for his country, having bagged 75 goals for the Red Devils in total since his making his debut against Croatia in 2010.

Former Spurs boss Antonio Conte has also previously praised the player for his contribution during Inter's impressive Scudetto win in 2021.

“Right now, he is one of the best strikers in the world,” said Conte that year (L'Equipe via Sport Mob).

"He already had important physical and technical skills, but in these two years we have made him progress even more. His presence in the match, his teamwork and clarity in front of goal [has improved]."

Following the departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal, West Ham United reinforced their midfield with the additions of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse.

Having solidified their midfield, the Hammers are now looking to bolster their forward line and for good reason. In the Premier League last season, the Hammers only managed 42 goals, ranking as the seventh-worst attack in the division.

Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma had to shoulder the goal-scoring responsibility from wide, finishing as the club's joint-top scorers in the league with six each.

For a club aiming to fire from all cylinders this season after returning to the Europa League, those previous totals won't suffice, meaning West Ham's need for world-class quality is greater than ever and a fresh update has emerged regarding their search for someone of that ilk.

West Ham transfer news – What's the latest?

According to the Athletic's David Ornstein, West Ham have seen a bid rejected for Ajax winger Mohammed Kudus.

The report states the bid fell well below the Dutch giant's valuation of the Ghanian, who is currently contracted to the club till 2025.

That said, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth expects them to go back in with another bid in the not-too-distant future.

Earlier this month, Brighton & Hove Albion had reached an agreement in principle thought to be worth €40m (£34.5m), however, that move didn't come to fruition with the player reportedly requesting a release clause in his contract.

As a result, the Seagulls walked away from the deal with West Ham now leading the race to land Kudus.

How good is Mohammed Kudus?

With a whole host of Premier League clubs circling for Kudus, the 23-year-old has garnered interest for displaying his admirable and sought-after quality on a regular basis.

After producing an eye-watering 25 goal contributions in 42 games for Ajax, the "unbelievable" young prospect, as lauded by journalist Jack Collins during the 2022 World Cup, reached new heights for his productivity last season.

The Ghanian possesses a unique ability to be able to glide past defenders using his low centre of gravity and upper body strength, which is backed up by his incredible attacking metrics. During the Eredivisie last season, when compared to his positional peers, Kudus dominated in almost every department.

He ranked in the top 5% for an array of his per 90 stats, including non-penalty goals, xG, pass completion and successful take-ons while his shots and touches in the attacking box were within the top 10%, as per FBref.

While displaying an unequivocal efficiency in the final third aligns with West Ham's current needs, the 5 foot 9 ace can bring exceptional versatility to the London stadium having played 17 times as a right-winger, 16 as a centre forward and nine as an attacking midfielder last season.

To possess a player of this quality and versatility would rival the impact of the Hammer's current star man, Jarrod Bowen.

The Englishman is no stranger to being shoehorned into a variety of different positions, predominantly playing as a left-footed right winger but also an attacking midfielder and centre forward, just like Kudus.

Despite showcasing similar versatility, the statistics suggest that signing Kudus would be an upgrade on David Moyes' most productive player when comparing their respective 22/23 seasons.

According to FBref, the Ajax star betters Bowen's progressive carries (3.31/2.84), progressive passes (3.26/2.00), non-penalty goals (0.55/0.14), successful take-ons (4.57) and shots on target (1.36/0.58).

Despite the difference in quality between the two leagues, Kudus hasn't only shone in the Eredivisie, his performances on the international stage for Ghana caused people to stand up and take notice.

At the 2022 World Cup, Kudus showcased his ability to carry the weight of expectation on his shoulders, scoring two goals from an xG of 0.80, registering four shots on target, averaging 28 passes per match and a pass completion rate of 77%, as per InfoGol.

West Ham are crying out for a new star to help them compete across all fronts next season and in Kudus, the east London faithful would have a player worth worshipping.

Leeds United have reportedly opened talks over a move to sign a new left-footed player late in the transfer window, according to The Daily Mail.

What’s the latest Leeds transfer news?

It has been a busy summer for the Whites under new owners the 49ers Enterprises and new manager Daniel Farke, with plenty of change at Elland Road.

A number of players have left the club following relegation to the Championship, whereas there have also been numerous incomings.

Ethan Ampadu, Sam Byram, Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon all arrived earlier in the window, whereas four more faces have arrived recently. Firstly, star striker Joel Piroe made a big-money move from Swansea City, and he was followed by right-back Djed Spence, who like Rodon, signed on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Those at Elland Road then sealed two transfers on Thursday, with midfielders Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara outing pen to paper on respective Leeds deals from Werder Bremen and Rangers respectively.

Now, on deadline day, it looks as if there could be another potential arrival, especially if one of the club’s star attackers such as Wilfried Gnonto or Luis Sinisterra leaves, with the wide forwards attracting interest elsewhere.

According to The Daily Mail, Leeds have opened talks with AS Roma over a move for Ola Solbakken. The report states that the Whites are making contingency plans in the final third and have identified the Norwegian as a target.

Another foreign club are also interested in Solbakken, who is thought to be valued at £4m heading into the last few hours of the window.

Who is Ola Solbakken?

Solbakken is 24 years of age and is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle if needed, so would offer Farke a versatile attacking option, should a late move go through.

The Norway international is left-footed and is valued at €3.5m by Transfermarkt, the highest figure of his career which appears to show that he is at the peak of his powers.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Solbakken has spent most of his club career in his native country with Ranheim Bodo/Glimt, making 43 and 91 senior appearances respectively for each side.

It was with Bodo/Glimt where he starred, though, contributing to 44 goals which resulted in interest from Roma and a free transfer to Italy at the beginning of the year.

Since then, Solbakken has turned out on 15 occasions under Jose Mourinho, and by the looks of things, a late move to England could be one to keep an eye on, especially if there is movement with either Gnonto or Sinisterra.

Brentford vs Bournemouth is one of the newest fixtures in the Premier League – in fact, it's only happened twice. But these two teams actually go back quite a way.

Of course, the vast majority of their meetings have come away from the Premier League. Six different competitions have hosted this one, though, as Brentford and Bournemouth have consistently found ways to come up against one another over the years.

This is actually the most-played fixture in Bournemouth's history, while Brentford have only faced four teams more often than they have the Cherries. We're going all the way back to 1925 for the first meeting, meaning we're coming up on a century of football between the two.

So what does that tell us about the upcoming fixtures? We at Football FanCast have taken a look at what's come before to find out.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's the head-to-head record?

In total, there have been 37 meetings between the two (38 if we count a friendly), dating back to 1925. That initial game came in the FA Cup, with Bournemouth winning 2-1 away at Brentford.

Incredibly, they then wouldn't meet again for nearly 40 years. A 1963 League Cup tie went to a replay, leading to two games that again saw Bournemouth come out on top. Their next string of meetings wouldn't happen until the '90s, where they met three times in the FA Cup within six years.

Their first league meeting wasn't until 1999 but Brentford and Bournemouth have since been almost ever-present for one another. They've faced off in all four professional divisions, building up 37 professional contests.

And funnily enough, they're dead even. Each side has won 14 games, with nine draws. Bournemouth do move onto 15 if you count a 2019 friendly, but we're not going to do that.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's the record at Brentford?

18 of the 37 meetings have been at Brentford over the years and as with most home records, the Bees boast the superior record there. Quite comfortably, too.

They've won 10 of them, so just over half, while losing only three times. That leaves five draws, of course.

In fact, their home record is strong against Bournemouth in every competition – and there are a lot of them here. Though, given their overall record is dead even, you won't be surprised to hear similar things about the Cherries at home.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's the record at Bournemouth?

There has been one more game at Bournemouth than at Brentford, with 19 taking place on the south coast. The numbers are still remarkably similar to the Bees' home record, though.

In all, Bournemouth have won 11, so one more home win than Brentford have managed. However, the visitors have also managed one more away win than the Cherries, with four. That leaves four draws, so you're marginally less likely to see a draw when this one takes place at Bournemouth.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's their league record?

Usually for these, we'd cover the two sides' Premier League record against one another. These two only met in the top flight for the first time last season, though, making it a bit of a stretch to call that a 'record'.

But they have met plenty in league competition, from League Two all the way to the Premier League. All four professional divisions have hosted this fixture, with the majority coming in League One.

They first found themselves in the same league back in 1999/00. They'd spent the next three seasons facing one another in League One, splitting the wins evenly three apiece. After a one-year break in 2002/03, they'd then compete in League One again from 2003 through 2007.

However, both were relegated by 2008 and there would be a pair of games in 2008/09 in League Two. Brentford won both.

The clubs were then back in League One against one another from 2010 through 2013, and were then each in the Championship for the 2014/15 campaign – one that saw the Cherries promoted. Thus their league meetings were on pause until 2020, by which point Bournemouth had been relegated again.

We'd only get a pair of meetings, though, as the Bees would get their turn at promotion to the top flight in 2021. Bournemouth followed soon afterward and now we're back in the modern day – two Premier League sides who just can't seem to avoid one another.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's their record in the cups?

These two met exclusively in the cups up until 1999. Since then, quite strangely, they've only been drawn with one another once, and that was all the way back in 2002.

But as we mentioned, there was a span of 70+ years where this fixture had only taken place in the cup competitions, primarily the FA Cup. There have been seven total meetings across the FA and League Cups – and it's led to a relatively balanced record (isn't it always?).

Bournemouth won the first-ever fixture, while the second was a draw that led to a replay – which the Cherries also won. The next meeting was also a Bournemouth win and that was back in 1991 – Brentford have won every cup game since.

They'd beat the Cherries in the FA Cup in both 1995 and 1996, then beat them on penalties in a League Cup tie in 2002.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: Which team has the most goals?

As you've likely guessed already, things are incredibly close. Though perhaps that genuinely surprising thing here is just how low the goal tally is for each side – they barely average a goal per game each in this one.

Across 37 games, Bournemouth have scored 42 goals. Brentford are right behind them with 41. As you'd expect things are also reflected pretty well when you look at it in home and away terms.

At Bournemouth, the Cherries have 28 goals in 19 games. Brentford have responded with 17. In 18 games at Brentford, the home side have 24 goals – the visitors have just 14.

So this one is particularly low-scoring at Brentford, with the average score at both grounds being 1-0.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: How did they do last season?

These are two of the smallest sides in the Premier League but both managed to succeed in their goals last season. In fact, both arguably exceeded them.

Brentford were by far the better of the two, though. They finished 9th overall, just two points away from the European spots. But perhaps that doesn't sell it enough. Brighton, for instance, were heralded for their efforts last season, with several of their stars moving for incredible fees. The Bees finished only three points behind them, however – and just eight behind Liverpool.

Bournemouth enjoyed their first season after promotion, even if it started incredibly badly. Manager Scott Parker stepped down shortly after a 9-0 defeat at Anfield and people were understandably worried for them. But things turned around and the Cherries didn't spend very long under threat of relegation. In fact, they managed to finish five points clear of the drop despite a very poor run of form to end the season. It wasn't the most comfortable first season back but certainly one to build on.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: How have they started this season?

Brentford have started things reasonably well, with draws against Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace sandwiching a 3-0 win at Fulham. Though, they haven't managed to win one at home yet – this meeting with the Cherries will be a very good opportunity to do just that.

But after three games, they sit ninth, one point behind Manchester United and one above Chelsea. You can't really ask for much more so early in the campaign.

Bournemouth haven't made quite the same start. They're down in 16th and without a win. The silver lining is that of the five teams without a win, they have the most points – one.

Perhaps a greater silver lining, though, is the quality of their three opponents. They started at home to UEFA Conference League winners West Ham, picking up a draw. Then they went to Anfield and were unfortunate not to get at least a point, before losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham. All three are very tough games against sides they won't necessarily expect to finish around this season.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: When is it?

Brentford host Bournemouth on Saturday, September 2nd at 15:00 UK time. It'll be the 38th competitive meeting between the two teams and only their third in the Premier League or top flight.

A win for either side would be a bit of a statement, even if it's not necessarily season-altering. Brentford, for instance, would continue their unbeaten start and almost certainly climb into the European places after four games.

Bournemouth, though, are looking to get off the mark and create an early buffer between themselves and the relegation zone. Given the early-season form of the sides down there, winning at Brentford almost certainly gives them that four-point cushion.

Celtic have now been provided with an update regarding when Oh Hyeon-gyu is set to return from his recent injury setback by manager Brendan Rodgers.

When is Oh Hyeon-gyu back from injury?

Oh is yet to make an appearance for Celtic in any competition so far this season as a result of the calf injury he sustained in pre-season, with Rodgers confirming he was set to miss up to six weeks of football, after initially playing through the injury:

"Oh will probably be out for a few weeks, he hurt his calf against Athletic Bilbao but he trained on. No one knew and he trained on.

“He was involved in the game at the weekend and then he trained on the Sunday. Afterwards, he spoke to the medical team to say that he'd felt his calf and it's ended up that he's got a calf problem which might put him out for four to six weeks."

However, despite initial fears about the forward potentially spending a considerable amount of time on the sidelines, there has now been a promising recent update, with the Hoops boss confirming he will be available for selection against Rangers tomorrow.

As relayed by The Glasgow Times, Rodgers said: "Oh is back in training so he will be available. The guys who were out slightly longer term will be back after the international break."

Speaking more broadly about how he is feeling at this early stage of the season, the 50-year-old said: "I'm just excited by the games. The players worked very hard last year to win the title and earned the right to be in there.

"I have absolutely no doubt, I know how to win and I know what it takes to win and I'll show the players how to win."

How good is Oh Hyeon-gyu?

Last season, the South Korean made a decent impact after arriving from Suwon Samsung Bluewings, scoring four goals in five games after the Scottish Premiership's top-six split, indicating he was just starting to find his form in a Celtic shirt.

As such, it is frustrating the 22-year-old was injured when he was, but it is positive news that he is now set to return from injury a little ahead of schedule, particularly heading into such an important match this weekend.

Kyogo Furuhashi has started the season very well, scoring two goals in his first three league games, but the Hoops were held to a 0-0 draw against St Johnstone at home last time out, so Rodgers will be pleased to have another attacking option back.

Oh is unlikely to start against Rangers tomorrow, but his form at the end of last season indicates he could make an impact if brought on as a substitute.

Sheffield United may not be the biggest club in Yorkshire but they certainly boast a notable number of celebrity supporters. It’s a club that generates local passion, after all – and that’s seen in those who grew up there.

Athletes, actors, musicians, and one Argentinian footballer all feature on a list of those struck by the Blades. Here is our pick of the bunch for Sheffield United’s most famous supporters.

8

Juan Sebastián Verón

Let’s get the strangest one out of the way first. Former Argentina international Juan Sebastián Verón was a Sheffield United fan in childhood and openly admitted wanting to play for them.

There’s a good reason for it, too. Verón’s uncle, Pedro Verde, spent time there at the tail-end of his career and it sparked interest in the young footballer-to-be.

“I was a fan of Sheffield United but I sadly never had the chance to play for them, but I would have wanted to!” Verón went on to say. Oh what could have been…

7

Jessica Ennis-Hill

An Olympic champion and a three-time World champion – Jessica Ennis-Hill is one of the most successful individual athletes to come out of Britain in recent years. She’s also born and raised in Sheffield.

Ennis-Hill is a Blades fan, too, and even had a stand named after her post-Olympic gold. However, that did change in 2015 when it was instead named after a sponsor.

6

Kell Brook

Sticking on the wildly successful athlete theme, Kell Brook is a Sheffield native who went on to hold the IBF Welterweight title for nearly three years between 2014 and 2017.

Brook is a lifelong fan of the Blades, as with just about everyone on this list, and even fought at Bramall Lane back in 2017.

“I’ve imagined this for weeks and I’ve dreamt about this since being a young kid,” he said ahead of that fight.

“I never thought I’d see a boxing ring on the pitch at Bramall Lane, but I’m ready and I’m determined and I’m excited. I’ve got a lot of memories of watching the Blades, my uncle used to throw me up in the air when we scored and at the weekend I want to be throwing my belt above my head once again.”

5

Joe Elliott

Joe Elliott, as the lead singer of Def Leppard, is in the discussion for the most successful person on this list. The band was formed in Sheffield back in 1976. Elliott is from the city and has called United his team all his life.

Sheffield has had more than their fair share of world-renowned music acts and Def Leppard are arguably the biggest. That other group that has an argument are all Wednesday fans, if you’re wondering.

4

Paul Heaton

Paul Heaton was born on the Wirral but moved to Sheffield when he was very young. He and his brothers all struck up an interest in football but while they all went with Wednesday, Paul followed United.

Heaton would go on to form the Housemartins and The Beautiful South, with massive success in the ’80s and early ’90s. And in terms of Blades fans, he might be one of the biggest on this list.

3

Joe Root

Former England Test Cricket captain Joe Root is another from Sheffield and has made no secret of his love for United. In fact, Root has appeared on the club’s social media channels several times, while one of the first interviews he gave after receiving the captaincy was at Bramall Lane.

His support runs through the family, too, it seems. “I’ve always been a Blade,” Root told the Athletic in 2020. “There were three generations of Roots there when I watched my first game. Myself and my brother, dad and grandad.”

Root, of course, will go down as an all-time great Test batsman – yet one more wildly successful name on this list, then.

2

Michael Palin

Michael Palin might be a bit of a controversial one on this list as he’s very openly talked about also wanting Wednesday to do well. The comedy legend is from Sheffield and grew up supporting the Blades – but he’s a little bit more about the city doing well than his club.

Here’s what he told When Saturday Comes back in 2000:

“United were the club I supported when I was growing up, mainly because their ground was the nearest to our house. I used to see Wednesday supp­orters as a different type of person, just… deeply dis­turbed. But then I was always excited when either club was involved in a big game and Wednesday tended to be involved in bigger games. When I first came to London, it was 1966 and Wednesday were in the Cup final, so I couldn’t say I wasn’t interested because they were from my city. Eric Idle was a big Chelsea fan and I used to go there to see either Sheffield team play. I found myself being sucked in as a sort of associate Wednesday fan, though I would have been disem­boweled in Sheffield if they’d known that.”

Fans can make their own minds up whether they’re accepting that one or not.

1

Sean Bean

We thought we’d save the most famous Sheffield United fan until last. Sean Bean isn’t just the most famous person on this list, after all, but he’s also incredibly public with his love for them.

Bean has tattooed his support on his shoulder, while he’s also competed in charity matches and above all, served on the club’s board in the 2000s. He als, chewed-out manager Neil Warnock after the club were relegated from the Premier League back in 2007 – though, Bean claims this wasn’t as aggressive as the manager claimed in his book.

“Yes, I was looking for him after we were relegated – and I wasn’t the only one,” he said, per the Mirror. “We were all devastated. But I didn’t storm into Warnock’s office and confront his wife as he claims in his book. I was outside in the corridor when I told her what I thought of him.

“What I didn’t know was that his kid was behind the door and when someone pointed that out to me, I immediately apologised.”

Liverpool are having more luck with injuries in comparison to last season, but one individual has suffered a setback in his fitness battle.

Who is injured for Liverpool currently?

Injuries are a huge part of football, and the Reds' 2022/23 season was hampered badly by having numerous players out of action for lengthy periods.

The likes of Luis Diaz, Ibrahima Konate and Naby Keita were high-profile absentees too often, while in 2020/21 it was even worse, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all missing many months of action.

Thankfully, those injury woes have eased in general at the moment, with Thiago continuing to be out since the summer, but the majority of the squad fit and firing.

One player has now picked up another issue, however, during what is a tough time for him.

Which Liverpool player has had a fitness setback?

According to the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle, youngster Kaide Gordon is now out for another two weeks, as his nightmare with injuries continues:

"Liverpool teenage winger Kaide Gordon has suffered another injury setback having made his long-awaited return to action earlier this month. But his latest issue is not related to the pelvic problem linked to his physical growth that sidelined the youngster for more than 18 months.

"While the issue is not regarded as serious, it is particularly untimely with Gordon having just finally started to regain match sharpness after his lengthy time out."

This is a cruel setback for Gordon, even if his absence should only be short-term, with the 18-year-old going through a dreadful period through injury in the past 18 months or so.

Having burst onto the scene as a prodigiously gifted 16-year-old, becoming the second-youngest goalscorer in Liverpool's history after scoring in the FA Cup in January 2022, the attacker has seen his progress stunted significantly through some awful luck.

While others such as Harvey Elliott and Ben Doak have been able to kick on, he has had to sit and watch his chances of becoming a genuine part of Jurgen Klopp's squad slowly evaporate, having been hailed as "great" by Van Dijk in the past.

Time is still clearly on Gordon's side given his age, but he needs to hit the ground running when he does make his return, with the squad depth in attack arguably at an all-time high at Anfield, with some world-class faces to choose between.

The hope is that the teenage Englishman is back on the pitch as soon as possible, though, potentially getting some minutes at youth level and then making the step up over time. A loan move in January could even be beneficial, allowing him more regular time on the pitch.

Aaron Ramsdale had an absolute howler after being handed a rare start against Brentford, as he gifted Yoane Wissa the equaliser on Saturday.

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• Rice had put Arsenal in front
• Brentford were chasing shadows
• Ramsdale clanger helped them get back into match

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Emirates stood stunned and Ramsdale clutched his face in disbelief after the goalkeeper offered a lifeline to the Bees, who were second-best in every department in the opening 45 minutes. The English 'keeper took too much time on the ball inside his own penalty area after receiving a backpass from Gabriel Magalhaes and was made to pay dearly!

  An alert Wissa closed him down immediately, threw himself in front of the goalkeeper and tackled in the nick of time to get the ball into the back of the net just before half-time. Nightmare for Arsenal fans and Ramsdale, who was handed a rare start due to David Raya's ineligibility against his parent club.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Magalhaes and William Saliba rushed towards Ramsdale as he headed down towards the tunnel with his head down and a distraught look on his face. The Gunners' support also applauded him off to lift his spirits ahead of a crucial second half where the two teams started on level terms. Declan Rice had put the hosts in front with a brilliantly taken headed goal in the 19th minute.

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  WHAT NEXT

  The spotlight will be firmly on Ramsdale in the remaining 45 minutes and it remains to be seen if the Arsenal No.2 manages to redeem himself after a massive blunder that could have greater ramifications in a closely fought title race.