West Ham United look set to make an offer for a £17m left-back after contacting his agents, according to a new report.
West Ham transfer rumours after Guilherme
The Hammers and technical director Tim Steidten have sealed the first signing of the Julen Lopetegui era, with Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme signing in a big-money move from Palmeiras.
Steidten and co have already moved on to the next possible arrivals at the London Stadium, with a number of players being heavily linked with moves to the capital.
In attack, an offer has reportedly been made for Colombian striker, Jhon Arias, whereas an approach to Celta Vigo attacker Jorgen Strand Larsen has also been made. Meanwhile, there have also been rumours to Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling and links to Juventus’ Matias Soule.
West Ham leading race to sign £30m player compared to Angel Di Maria
There have been talks in London.
By
Charlie Smith
Jun 18, 2024
In defence, contacts have started over a move for Wolves centre-back Max Kilman. Luton Town goalkeeper Tim Krul, who is on course to become a free agent in the coming weeks, has also emerged as a surprise target, similar to German defender Mats Hummels following his exit from Borussia Dortmund, with talks held with his agents.
A left-back to provide competition for Emerson Palmieri is also wanted by Lopetegui, and reports have stated that initial contact has been made with Ryan Sessegnon after his departure from Tottenham. Sessegnon isn’t the only left-back target, though, with a Dutch full-back also of interest to those at the London Stadium.
West Ham to make Jayden Oosterwolde offer
The Hammers now look to be keen on signing left-back Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahce. According to Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, West Ham have made contact with Oosterwolde’s representatives, asking for footage of the player’s performances against Galatasaray last season.
"West Ham United requested 90-minute recordings of Fenerbahce-Galatasaray and Galatasaray-Fenerbahce matches from Jayden Oosterwolde's representative."
Fenerbahce kept clean sheets in both of those games and reports in Turkey, relayed by Sport Witness, say that West Ham will make an ‘official offer’ to sign Oosterwolde next week, with the Turkish giants wanting at least €20m (£17m) for the defender's signature.
Should Lopetegui add Oosterwolde to his backline, then he would be getting a versatile defender. Primarily a left-back who can also play as a centre-back or as a left midfielder, the 23-year-old is at the top of his game with a career-high €13m Transfermarkt valuation.
Oosterwolde, who began his career at FC Twente before joining Parma, has made 48 appearances for Fenerbahce after signing for the club back in January 2023. Fast forward 18 months, and it looks as if a move to England with West Ham could be on the cards, with an offer expected to be made next week.
Teenage wonderkid Endrick has reportedly made a big call on his Real Madrid future ahead of the January transfer window.
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Completed switch to Spain in 2024
Yet to start a La Liga fixture
Happy with his role and game time
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Brazil international forward completed a high-profile switch to Spain in the summer of 2024 when celebrating his 18th birthday. He is considered to be the hottest of prospects, having made a senior debut in his homeland at 16 years of age.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Endrick knew that he would be facing fierce competition for places at Santiago Bernabeu from the likes of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, while Kylian Mbappe has become another ‘Galactico’ for the Blancos. Carlo Ancelotti is yet to hand the youngster a start in La Liga.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Endrick has, however, made nine appearances across all competitions and scored two goals. According to , he is happy with his game time at present. With that in mind, no efforts will be made to find a loan move elsewhere at the start of 2025.
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It is claimed that Endrick has exceeded his own expectations in Spain, as he adjusts to life in European football. His representatives are also happy with how things are going, with any exit talk being played down for now.
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola may look back on the 2023/24 campaign as a failure after his side only collected one major trophy.
The Sky Blues lifted the Premier League title for a fourth consecutive season but that was their only piece of silverware, as they fell short in the domestic cups and the Champions League.
They were beaten by Manchester United in the final of the FA Cup and lost to Real Madrid, the eventual champions at Wembley, on penalties in Europe.
Guardiola, therefore, may look to utilise the summer transfer window, which officially opened for business earlier this month, to bolster his playing squad before the end of August.
The Cityzens have already been linked with moves for Barcelona's Frenkie De Jong, Bologna centre-back Riccardo Calafiori, and Bayern Munich sensation Jamal Musiala, who was formerly on the books at Chelsea.
City are also reportedly in the market to land Musiala's teammate at international and club level ahead of a possible exit from the Bavarian giants this summer…
Man City in contention to sign Germany star
According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, the Premier League champions are one of a number of clubs in contention to sign Joshua Kimmich.
The journalist names Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Liverpool as the five 'top' sides who are viable suitors for the Germany international.
Interestingly, he adds that the versatile midfielder does not currently have an active agent representing him, which means that any team who wants to sign him this summer will need to contact him directly to negotiate terms ahead of any potential transfer.
That claim came after Plettenberg had reported that it is 'increasingly likely' that Kimmich will secure a move away from Bayern Munich ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich.
His current contract with the Bundesliga side is due to expire in the summer of 2025 and the 29-year-old star is 'unlikely' to put pen to paper on an extension.
This has left Bayern in a difficult position, as they would not want to lose him on a free transfer next year, and they are now prepared to listen to offers for him this summer.
The reporter adds that 'concrete' talks will take place after the 2024 European Championship, in which Germany have made it to the round of 16, to sort out his future ahead of next season.
If City do end up winning the race for the midfielder, who appears set to leave Bayern, then they could land a phenomenal partner for Rodri in the middle of the park.
Rodri's midfield excellence for City
Once again, Rodri was a colossus in midfield for the Cityzens during their 2023/24 Premier League title success as he bossed teams week-in-week-out.
The Spain international, who was off the back of being named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2022/23 campaign, was a dominant force for Guardiola to help his side to yet another league title.
His ability in possession of the ball allowed him, and City, to dictate and control matches, which then allowed the attackers to weave their magic in the final third to secure the points needed to finish top of the division.
Rodri vs midfielders
23/24 Premier League (per 90)
Percentile rank
Passes attempted (112.26)
Top 1%
Pass accuracy (92%)
Top 3%
Progressive passes (11.55)
Top 1%
Shot-creating actions (4.82)
Top 5%
Non-penalty goals (0.25)
Top 7%
Assists (0.28)
Top 9%
Stats via FBRef
As you can see in the table above, Rodri ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of key passing metrics, with his progressive passing being a particular standout.
The average midfielder in the Premier League completed 4.84 progressive passes per 90, less than half as many as the Spaniard managed, and this illustrates just how forward-thinking and incisive the star was with his passes.
His work out of possession was also impressive as the 28-year-old metronome won 71% of his aerial duels and 56% of his ground duels in the Premier League, which shows that he was dominant in physical battles to win possession back and stop opposition attacks.
City could now land a dream partner for Rodri, who won 2.9 tackles and interceptions in the top-flight last term, by securing a deal to sign Kimmich this summer.
Why Man City should sign Joshua Kimmich
The 29-year-old defensive midfielder, who can also play at right-back, is a phenomenal talent who could form an extraordinary partnership with the Spanish star in the middle of the park.
Like Rodri, Kimmich is perfectly suited to playing in a ball-dominant team and has the quality in possession to be a creative and progressive passer.
He ranked within the top 3% of Bundesliga midfielders for passes attempted per 90 (93.76) and the top 3% for progressive passes per 90 (9.47), which speaks to his desire to get on the ball and play forward to find his teammates in dangerous areas.
The £316k-per-week star also ranked within the top 7% for shot-creating actions per 90 (5.29), the top 6% for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.29), and the top 13% for assists per 90 (0.25).
This shows that Kimmich, who was dubbed a "mentality monster" by ex-boss Hansi Flick, also has the ability to create chances at an impressive rate from a midfield berth.
23/24 season
Rodri (Premier League)
Joshua Kimmich (Bundesliga)
Appearances
34
28
xA
6.10
9.27
Big chances created
8
11
Ball recoveries per game
6.9
5.0
Ground duel success rate
56%
60%
Pass accuracy
92%
91%
As you can see in the table above, both players were fairly evenly matched in their respective divisions last season when it came to their work in and out of possession.
Kimmich, however, created more 'big chances' and ended the campaign with a higher xA, despite playing six fewer games, and this suggests that he could offer more creativity than Rodri for City.
The German ace did lose a whopping 70% of his aerial duels but these constrasting statistics perfectly illustrate why they could form a terrific pairing.
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Rodri can be the strong defensive force, who can dominate opponents in the air, and Kimmich can take the creative reins to consistently break down opposition defences next season.
Vinicius Jr. has been told it would be the "biggest crime in history of the sport" if he wins the Ballon d'Or after another poor display for Brazil.
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Vinicius' dismal Brazil form continues
Went missing in Brazil's 1-0 loss to Paraguay
Received immense backlash from frustrated fans
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Real Madrid winger was an anonymous figure on the pitch as Brazil slumped to a 1-0 loss to Paraguay in their latest CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifier. Although he did find some spark in the second half, his efforts were not enough to secure at least a point for the Selecao away from home.
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WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING
Furious Brazil fans hit out at Vinicus after the match for failing to lead his country to victory and even expressed their desire for the Ballon d'Or favourite to miss out on the coveted individual prize.
An X user, @ney2maa, wrote: "We cannot let someone like Vinicius who ghosts for his national team every single game to win the Ballon d'Or man. It would be the biggest crime in the history of the sport."
Whereas, @EifSoccer stated: "Not even an exaggeration – Vinicius has to be one of the worst international performers in football history relative to his club performances. We are talking about a Ballon d’Or future winner. He has never performed for Brazil. At this point, how can Brazil play him?"
Meanwhile, @Ollican wrote: "There’s a reason Zidane always benched him. Vinicius has been atrocious under every manager in his career except Ancelotti. This isn’t even him being a system player, which is disastrous in itself but an issue of skillset. Once he flukes that Ballon d’Or, it’s toast tbh. Smh 🤦🏾♀️"
@SelecaoTalk argued: "Vinicius Jr touching the ball just 37 times in a game where Brazil have 70%+ possession is extremely worrying. It’s not like he’s trying things and they aren’t working. He’s just not involved at all."
Manchester City fan @Siphe_Sihle1 chipped in: "Yet people say he should win the Ballon d'Or. Absolutely pathetic. Rodri does it for club and country."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Brazil have slipped to the fifth spot in the CONMBEOL standings after losing their fourth match in eight games. However, they are still within direct qualification bounds as the top six teams will head to the 2026 global event in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
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WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?
After a dismal outing with the national team, Vinicius will be desperate to head back to the comforts of Valdebebas in Madrid where Carlo Ancelotti is waiting for him in the tactical room. He remains one of the key players for Los Blancos and will look to shrug off his poor international form when the reigning La Liga champions face Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Newcastle United have enjoyed another brilliant season in the Premier League under boss Eddie Howe, with the Magpies sitting in seventh place ahead of the final day.
Whilst they were unable to match the levels of last campaign where the club reached the Champions League, they’ve still excelled with multiple players leading the charge towards another European tour.
Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon have undoubtedly been Howe’s most important players, with the duo maintaining fitness despite the club’s constant struggles with injuries during 2023/24.
armando-broja-alexander-isak-west-ham
It’s also been a season that has allowed for numerous players to break through and stake their claim for a regular first-team spot at St James’ Park – taking advantage of the troubles within the squad.
One player, in particular, has burst onto the scene, emerging as a key player to Howe despite his relative youth.
Lewis Miley’s stats at Newcastle in 2023/24
Youngster Lewis Miley came through Newcastle's academy, with the boyhood Magpies fan costing the club nothing – which could result in a hefty profit in the years ahead.
ben-parkinson-lewis-miley-newcastle-opinion
He's often featured in a three-man midfield for Howe's side, with the midfielder fitting straight into the side – showing no evidence of his tender age of just 18.
Since his first start against Bournemouth in November, Miley has made 17 Premier League appearances for Howe's side, with the 18-year-old impressing at St James' Park, despite missing the last nine matches with a back problem.
The emerging talent scored his first goal for his boyhood club during the 3-0 victory over Fulham, with Miley rapidly adapting to the physical demands of the Premier League.
The goal against Fulham made him the club's youngest-ever goalscorer in the Premier League, with the playmaker cementing himself in Magpies history. He truly is a “remarkable” talent, as described by beloved pundit Ally McCoist.
Newcastle United's youngest Premier League goalscorers
1. Lewis Miley
17y 229d
2. James Milner
18y 265d
3. Rolando Aarons
18y 288d
4. Gael Bigirimana
19y 42d
5. Shola Ameobi
19y 84d
Stats via Statbunker
Lewis Miley's market value in 2024
Six months on from his maiden first-team start, his market value has skyrocketed £18.3m, as per Football Transfers, an indication of his excellent start to his professional career on Tyneside.
His valuation is hugely impressive, given his tender age, and one that, according to Football Transfers, surpasses that of Joelinton, who's now only valued at £16.2m – just a handful of years after his £40m move to Tyneside.
It’s no surprise to see his huge increase in such a short space of time, given his output in the Premier League, with the England youth international producing some impressive numbers despite only becoming a permanent first-team member this season.
Newcastle midfielder's stats in the PL 23/24
Statistics
Miley
Joelinton
Guimaraes
Longstaff
Games
17
19
36
34
Goals
1
2
6
6
Assists
3
1
6
2
G+A per 90
0.24
0.16
0.33
0.24
Stats via Transfermarkt
Although it's still very early days for the teenager in terms of his professional career, it certainly does bode well for Miley and the Magpies, with the 18-year-old undoubtedly a huge asset for the Magpies in the years to come.
However, the club need to keep developing him, with Howe needing to give him consistent game time over the coming years in order for him to reach his potential.
Newcastle were rinsed by Ashley signing who's not played a game since 2021
He was one of a number of terrible signings under Mike Ashley’s ownership.
Kyle Coetzer has expressed concern that with no cricket in Scotland until at least August, the sport could well “start to be forgotten in some ways”, and cricketers who are not getting a chance to do what they do best might just move away from the game.”Any sport that isn’t getting any headlines will slowly but surely start to be forgotten in some ways,” the Scotland captain told the BBC. “People who are playing at the grassroots may well just decide ‘well, we are not playing this year’ and some might just decide ‘well, actually I am not going to bother coming back’. You just hope that isn’t the case.”Scotland last played competitive cricket in December 2019, when they were in the UAE to take part in a chunk of World Cup League 2 fixtures. The next round of matches in the competition – slotted for early April in Lauderhill, Florida – was cancelled along with all other major cricket following the Covid-19 outbreak. As things stand, their limited-overs matches against New Zealand and Australia in Edinburgh in June are likely to be scrapped as well, even though Scotland has expressed a willingness to host the games behind closed doors if needed.ALSO READ: Downtime Diaries with Kyle Coetzer“These opportunities don’t come round every year and playing those games gives the whole cricketing public in Scotland real hope,” Coetzer said. “I don’t think cricket in Scotland will fall behind – I think everyone is pretty much in the same place give or take a bit of finance. We will be as eager as any other team to keep pushing forward.”The good thing from Scotland’s point of view is that they have already made the cut for the group stage of the T20 World Cup, scheduled for October-November in Australia. The tournament hasn’t been cancelled yet, but there is a great sense of uncertainty around it, and even if it does take place, there is a good chance of the matches being played to empty stands.Despite the possibility of the tournament moving to a later date, 36-year-old Coetzer has big plans when it comes to Scotland cricket. “We have Full-Member status on the horizon, which is something that is massively on my agenda. And I would love to play in a couple more World Cups.”I keep proving myself wrong by doing things that I didn’t think I was capable of and that is a very special thing. I can see myself managing another few years yet anyway.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers could be set for a busy summer as they will be keen to improve their playing squad.
Gary O’Neil may have to move on a few players in order to raise funds for new signings, but according to recent reports, several clubs are showing interest in one of their first-team regulars.
Wolves transfer news
According to the Sun, clubs in Saudi Arabia are keeping tabs on goalkeeper Jose Sa with regard to signing him during the summer transfer window.
O’Neil will certainly be looking for a sizeable fee for his number one ‘keeper, especially as he could use this to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Jose Sa
Indeed, if Sa does make the move to the Middle East, it already appears that the Old Gold have a player lined up to replace him.
Arsenal shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale is currently going through a tough period at the club, slipping to second choice behind David Raya and this could see Wolves make their move in the summer.
Regular game time at the Midlands side could be just the tonic he needs to revive his career, but it all depends on whether Sa moves on.
How Aaron Ramsdale compares to Jose Sa
The Portuguese ‘keeper has made over 100 appearances for the Old Gold since arriving in the summer of 2021 as a replacement for Rui Patricio.
This season, however, he has kept just six clean sheets in 36 matches across all competitions. In the top flight, he averages 3.8 saves per game – a 68% success rate – while succeeding with 0.4 runouts per game – which is a 100% success rate – while winning 100% of his aerial duels contested.
These are solid stats, yet if a big-money bid comes in, he will surely depart the club this summer as O’Neil seeks much-needed funds.
Ramsdale joined the Gunners in 2021 and has made 89 appearances for the north Londoners yet has featured just ten times during the current campaign.
The Englishman played every single league match last term, averaging 2.5 saves per game – a 68% success rate, while also succeeding with 100% of his run-outs.
His distribution was also excellent, finishing the campaign with a pass success rate of 92% inside his own half, allowing Arsenal to build up attacks from the back.
While his form and minutes have dipped this term, he was previously described as a "phenomenal" gloveman by David Seaman, a man who certainly knows a thing or two about keeping the ball about.
Much will depend on how much Arsenal will be looking for him and whether Sa goes, but if O’Neil wishes to sign a long-term heir to the Portuguese, luring the Gunners' player to the Midlands could be a wise move indeed.
Journalist Pete O'Rourke has dropped a significant transfer update after hearing news from Celtic, with Brendan Rodgers making his presence felt.
Celtic transfer news
The Hoops drew 3-3 away to Rangers in a Scottish Premiership epic on Sunday, with Rodgers' men throwing away a lead in the stoppage time that could be so key come the end of the campaign. The result itself was no disaster, but it does still mean that their rivals have a narrow advantage in the title race.
Regardless of who ends up going all the way this season, Celtic supporters will be expecting another positive time of things in the transfer market, allowing the manager to bolster his squad, adding both depth and quality to it.
Fotis Ioannidis has been linked with a summer switch to Parkhead, with the Greek impressing for Panathanaikos in 2023/24 to date, scoring five goals in as many Europa League starts. He is seen as an alternative to Adam Idah, should the Hoops loanee not seal a permanent move to the club from Norwich City.
Adam Idah
Joe Hart is hanging up his boots once the campaign reaches its conclusion, and Celtic have been backed to sign Trabzonspor captain Ugurcan Cakir as a replacement. Former Leicester City head of recruitment Lee Congerton once called him "one of the best goalkeepers I have seen in my life", showing what an exciting addition the 28-year-old could be at Parkhead.
Eduard Spertsyan, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder currently plying his trade at Krasnodar, is another reported Hoops target, not only being lined up as someone who could replace Matt O'Riley if he leaves, but even being compared to Manchester City icon Kevin De Bruyne.
Celtic focusing on key signing
According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Celtic will focus on signing a new goalkeeper in the summer window ahead of Hart's retirement at the end of the season, and could even brutally let all three current shot-stoppers leave and/or be replaced.
Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart.
The report states that there are "no plans to upgrade with fellow Celtic Park shot-stoppers Scott Bain and Benjamin Siegrist", with the Hoops instead "ready to listen to offers" for Siegrist in particular.
Hart has been a tremendous servant for Celtic, making 145 appearances and keeping 60 clean sheets in that time, and his ability and experience mean he could leave a big void between the sticks.
Appearances
31
29
Starts
31
29
Long balls per game
2.5
9.8
Man of the Match awards
0
1
Yellow cards
0
3
Red cards
1
0
Pass completion rate
86.8%
63%
The importance of having a top-quality 'keeper is essential for any team with title aspirations, so it is encouraging to see that Celtic see the importance of nailing their current No.1's successor.
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Cakir stands out as a brilliant option, given the aforementioned praise he has received, not to mention the fact that he is a 27-time capped Turkey international.
Unlike Hart, he is still relatively young for a 'keeper, so would be a long-term signing, and him being captain of his current side suggests that he possesses strong leadership skills.
Southampton will aim to make it three Championship wins on the bounce when they face off against Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough, but will be well aware that the opposition they're coming up against won't just give in for the Saints to dominate.
Carrick's Boro have also turned their fortunes around, much like Russell Martin's men, to string together a positive sequence of results which now sees the Teesside outfit dreaming of the playoff picture again by being just five points off that coveted sixth spot.
Martin might well pick the most high-octane eleven possible therefore to overwhelm the buoyed-on visitors, with Flynn Downes at risk of dropping out of his manager's XI as a result after a quiet showing in the 4-2 Sunderland win.
Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes
Flynn Downes' performance vs Sunderland in numbers
The West Ham United loanee being axed for his side's tough test on Good Friday would be a shock exclusion, considering Downes has been a key cog in the centre of midfield for the Saints this season as a calm and measured head.
Yet, with Southampton needing to blow teams away to really show to the likes of Leeds United and Ipswich Town that they're still breathing down their necks for the top two positions, he could find his fixed spot in the lineup up for grabs.
The Saints number four would win just four of the nine duels that came his way last weekend, on top of completing just one key pass despite Southampton attackers queuing up for chances at points to pile on the Sunderland misery in the emphatic 4-2 victory.
Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes.
In stark contrast, his midfield sidekick, Stuart Armstrong, would muster up three key passes alongside firing in a goal of his own in the win.
Moreover, Will Smallbone would also better Downes' numbers with two key passes next to his name from just 57 minutes on the St. Mary's turf.
Yet, it was second-half substitute Joe Rothwell who ultimately stole the show from the middle of the park by scoring a decisive brace.
Consequently, this could result in the AFC Bournemouth loanee taking Downes' spot in the XI for the home game with Boro on Good Friday.
Joe Rothwell's performance vs Sunderland in numbers
Rothwell again played the role of impact sub perfectly, having netted a brace against Huddersfield Town in the middle of last month to steer the Saints to an enthralling 5-3 victory that day.
Yet again, the Cherries loanee was the spark Southampton needed by firing home two crucial goals from just 17 minutes on the pitch alongside picking up three more key passes than Downes with four.
Rothwell's numbers vs Sunderland
Minutes played
17
Goals
2
Touches
16
Accurate passes
9/10 (90%)
Key passes
4
Big chances created
1
Stats by Sofascore
Labelled as putting in an "amazing" performance by his own manager after the game – which saw Rothwell even create a big chance of his own alongside being a goalscoring hero for his promotion-chasing side – Downes will be worried that Martin could really shake things up by dropping him for the visit of Carrick's men.
Martin will want his Southampton side to cut out their leakiness, which has seen them concede five goals in their last two matches, but maintain their ruthlessness in front of goal with Rothwell exemplifying that cutting edge by hammering home both of his shots against Mike Dodds' Black Cats.
The experienced £8k-per-week midfielder could well come up trumps once more against Southampton's Teesside opponents if selected from the start, whilst Downes could find himself simply watching on.