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Sunderland have created many cult heroes since the turn of the century, but arguably one of their greatest-ever players was signed just before in 1997.

Having just been relegated to the Championship after a miserable campaign under Peter Reid, he moved to the transfer market to try and bolster his squad in the hopes of making their stay in the second division as short as possible.

Although it did take a couple of years, in 1999 they absolutely demolished the league on their way back to the Premier League.

It was then when this aforementioned signing truly began to shine, as Kevin Phillips became a Black Cats hero.

In their first season back in the Premier League they managed to fly up to a seventh-placed finish, no doubt aided by the goalscoring exploits of the £325k marksman.

He became the first Sunderland player since Brian Clough in the early 1960s to score 30 goals in a season. This campaign saw him become still the only Englishman to ever win the European Golden Shoe.

They would maintain the same position the season following, where he would again notch 14 Premier League goals in another solid campaign.

Instantly he was lauded on Wearside as one of the greatest goal-scorer in their modern era, and despite his growing pedigree, stuck around at the Stadium of Light despite their diminishing finishes.

It only took until their relegation in 2003 that he finally left, revealing that he had twice attempted to depart already.

He exited renowned across the area as a “legend”, which is what his former club dubbed him on their Twitter account.

Despite having a strong start, Tony Mowbray will be wishing he had a player of his ilk up front for him now, especially given the ever-growing absence of Ellis Simms.

They have scored just 19 goals in their 15 Championship matches, but with Phillips up front, he would surely propel that number and their 13th-placed league position too.

He would be perfect for the current side, as he was arguably one of the greatest players the club has ever seen. Supporters would relish the opportunity to see him in action just one more time.

Rumours linking Tottenham manager Antonio Conte with a move away from the club are undoubtedly a concern, says journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Exit talk…

The 53-year-old has excelled in the job since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo last November, securing a top-four finish and building a formidable team.

Worryingly though, Conte has been linked with a switch to Juventus in recent days, should the Turin giants opt to sack under-pressure manager Massimiliano Allegri.

Harry Kane meanwhile has also been linked with a move to join Bayern Munich, with the striker potentially eyeing up a fresh challenge during his peak years and some reports even suggesting he is ‘considering’ the big switch to the Bundesliga giants.

The Latest: Journalist admits concern

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke admitted it is a concerning time for Spurs fans, but feels the club are ‘pretty confident’ they can keep him:

“It’ll be a concern that Conte has close ties with Juventus as a player and manager, so there’s obviously strong links there.

“But I still think Tottenham are pretty confident that they’ll be able to keep hold of Antonio Conte. The club are moving forward, they’ve had a really good start to the season and are up there at the top of the table right now with Arsenal and Manchester City.”

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The Verdict: Can’t afford to lose him

Conte is undoubtedly one of Europe’s elite managers alongside the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti, so keeping hold of him is absolutely vital for Spurs.

To see him return to Juve midway through the season would be a major blow, having a hugely negative impact on what threatens to be an excellent campaign and also potentially tipping the Kane scales in Bayern’s favour, with the talisman expecting ambition from the club in his prime years.

Conte does appear to be happy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however, and the hope is that he is loyal until at least next summer but hopefully well beyond and into a new contract after that.

Everton loanee Lewis Warrington helped inspire Fleetwood Town to a 1-0 win at promotion-chasing Peterborough United in League One on Tuesday night.

The Lowdown: Lampard praise

Frank Lampard praised Warrington shortly before his loan move to Fleetwood, calling him an ‘incredible young professional’.

Incidentally, he made his senior debut for the Goodison Park outfit in the 1-0 win away at the League One side in the Carabao Cup in August, and now he has joined Fleetwood in order to get more regular game time and further his development.

The Latest: Inspiring performance

Fleetwood recorded a victory away at Peterborough despite having less possession of the ball and fewer shots on goal (SofaScore), with Warrington the player who inspired his team to all three points.

The central midfielder won no fewer than seven of his duels in total, the joint-third most out of his teammates, while he also recorded a team-high five tackles and made one clearance (SofaScore).

His ability to keep hold of the ball was vital at times, recording the second-most touches of the away side with 56, while he also produced four accurate long balls, one key pass and an 82% overall passing accuracy (SofaScore).

Nonetheless, considering Warrington has only just gotten into the team, this was a very impressive display indeed.

The Verdict: Back to Goodison next season

After loan spells at Tranmere Rovers and now Fleetwood, it is important that the Merseyside club bleed Warrington into the first-team squad next season.

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The likes of Allan have been linked with a move away from the Toffees, which would open up a spot for the Englishman to learn off new signings Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and James Garner.

Nonetheless, it is easy to forget that Warrington is just 19 years of age considering that he is impressing this much at senior level already, and so once he has gained more experience from his loan at Fleetwood, he should be given his opportunity to impress with the Blues under Lampard.

Nottingham Forest could be set to add yet another summer signing to their list as they hope to raid a European giant…

What’s the word?

According to Spanish publication AS, the Tricky Trees are in advanced talks with Real Madrid over the signing of Alvaro Odriozola.

The Spanish right-back is keen on a move to the Premier League, and Los Blancos are hoping to offload him permanently rather than loan him out again.

He is unlikely to receive many minutes for Carlo Ancelotti’s side and could move to the City Ground to battle with Neco Williams for the right wing-back position. 

Shades of Carvajal

Many would have expected Odriozola to be the natural successor to Dani Carvajal at the Bernabeu, but that did not materialise.

Once labelled a “special player” with “great talent” by various members of the media, the 26-year-old has struggled to develop into the outstanding player that he was billed in his early footballing years.

Nonetheless, the Spaniard will leave the Bernabeu with a wealth of experience. He has featured 20 times across various European competitions including the Champions League, spent a season on loan at Bayern Munich and made 81 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid and Real Sociedad.

He would join an ever-changing Forest squad as one of the most experienced members in the dressing room and could help nurture Williams into one of the best young full-backs in Europe.

The £118k-per-week Spaniard made 25 Serie A appearances on loan at Fiorentina last season and impressed with his offensive desire. Ranking in the top 5% among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes received, combined with his 2.7 shot-creating actions per 90, Odriozola was certainly a constant attacking threat whenever he featured.

Carvajal boasts similar numbers, although his defensive capability shines through more clearly. Whilst featuring for a pragmatic manager in Ancelotti who favours defensive solidity, it is understandable to see why the Italian is seemingly keen to offload the 26-year-old in deference to the 29-cap Spain stalwart.

The 30-year-old averaged 2.08 tackles and 2.44 blocks per 90 last season, while both he and Odriozola boast impressive pass completion rates, outlining their shared efficiency with the ball at their feet. Odriozola’s 87.5% slightly outperforms the 86.4% of his elder positional rival.

The factors which differentiate the reported Forest transfer target from Carvajal is what will have Steve Cooper so desperate to sign him, whilst his time training alongside a five-time Champions League winner will surely have taught him plenty for the rest of his career.

West Ham United forward Said Benrahma needs to ‘prove’ himself in the Premier League or risk losing out on first-team action, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: Falling out of favour

The Algerian made the £30m move to the London Stadium two years ago from Brentford and had an impressive start to life under David Moyes, though this has since taken a turn.

The summer arrivals of Lucas Paqueta and Maxwel Cornet have pushed the 27-year-old down the pecking order and his game time has suffered as a result, having made just three league starts this season.

The Latest: Brown’s verdict

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Brown insisted that Benrahma must find a solid run of form to force his way back into the starting XI if he wants to be seen as more than a fringe player.

“I think that’s the big thing for him, he’s not really been able to find much consistency at West Ham over long spells.

“So, I think it’s down to him really to prove that he’s first-team regular material, otherwise, he’s going to find himself on the periphery like this a lot more this season.”

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The Verdict: Second chance required

Benrahma has been hailed ‘immense’ by sports journalist Josh Bunting, and despite recently dropping off, he more than has the ability to make an impact moving forward.

The winger has made 29 goal contributions in the final third and currently averages 1.6 shots, 1.2 dribbles and 1.2 key passes per league game (WhoScored).

His work rate is sometimes noticeably lower than his teammates, but if he adds this side to his game, he will provide Moyes with an all-round threat up top.

Leeds United have to offer Jack Harrison a significant new contract to reflect his role in the team, transfer reporter Dean Jones reports.

The Lowdown: Harrison rumours ongoing

The winger has been an influential performer for the Whites over a sustained period of time now, scoring 29 goals in 174 appearances to date.

Harrison’s current deal expires at the end of next season, however, and he has been linked with a move to other Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United.

There has been no great sign of Leeds extending the 25-year-old’s stay at Elland Road yet, making the current situation a concerning one.

The Latest: Insider says Leeds must up their offer

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones says that the 49ers group and Andrea Radrizzani must give Harrison a new deal with a significant improvement on his current salary:

“He has been pursued by a host of clubs this year and Leeds have remained adamant he would not be leaving.

“With that in mind, they have no choice but to reflect that sentiment by paying him more handsomely. He is seen as a really important player in the squad.”

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The Verdict: Get it sorted?

Whether or not Leeds are desperate to retain Harrison’s services beyond 2024 remains to be seen, but the ball is clearly in their court at this point.

There are other clubs ready to swoop, most likely next summer, and if the Englishman doesn’t feel wanted, he could end up being persuaded to enjoy a fresh challenge.

Harrison has done more than enough to suggest that he represents the future at Leeds, though – he has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Conor McGilligan – and at 25, his peak may still be around the corner.

Despite having only joined Leeds United from Feyenoord Rotterdam in what was a £21m deal this summer, Luis Sinisterra already appears to have been something of a bargain for the Whites.

Indeed, the 23-year-old was in sensational form over his 30 Eredivisie appearances last season, scoring 12 goals, registering seven assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.6 shots – 1.2 of which hit the target – making 2.0 key passes and completing a whopping 3.6 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the Colombia international average a simply breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.51, not only ranking him as Feyenoord’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint sixth-best player in the Dutch top flight as a whole – level with €40m (£35m) Leeds target Cody Gakpo and one place ahead of Manchester United’s £86m summer signing Antony.

As such, when taking into account Sinisterra’s metrics last season, coupled with the fact he cost the Whites £65m less than the Red Devils paid for Antony and £14m less than PSV Eindhoven were demanding for Gakpo, it would indeed appear as if Orta secured something of a bargain when landing the £35m-rated Colombian for the price he did.

Furthermore, while a hamstring injury has limited the 23-year-old’s game time so far this season, the attacker has nevertheless started to catch the eye at Elland Road, having already scored two goals in two Premier League starts, as well as bagging a goal and assist in one Carabao Cup fixture – averaging a direct goal contribution every 60.5 minutes so far in his Leeds United career.

Thus, it is not difficult to see why journalist Josh Bunting appeared extremely impressed with Orta’s signing of the winger, stating in a post on Twitter back in August: “Luis Sinisterra is a frightening player, Leeds have pulled off a real masterstroke in signing him. The scary thing with him is he’s so good but nowhere near full fitness just as yet.”

As such, with Sinisterra having already seen his valuation climb a massive 67% from the £21m the Whites paid for his services just 10 weeks ago, as per CIES Football Observatory, it is evident that Orta did indeed hit the jackpot when landing the 23-year-old this summer – as the Colombian sensation will not only prove to be one of Leeds’ main goal threats this season but he could also represent a huge payday for the club further down the line.

Celtic will be ‘slightly concerned’ but feel they will be able to retain the services of manager Ange Postecoglou, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Uncertain future

The Australian’s future in the Scottish Premiership has been up in the air lately after he was named as a strong contender to take over at Brighton following the departure of Graham Potter.

Recent reports suggested, however, that the 57-year-old currently has no plans to leave Parkhead and is happy with what he’s built in Glasgow, despite the Hoops’ hierarchy failing to agree an extended deal with the 57 year-old as of now.

The Latest: O’Rourke reacts

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke claimed that whilst Celtic will be ‘concerned’, Postecoglou is likely to stay and continue his project.

“I’m sure they’ll be slightly concerned but they are still pretty confident that they will be able to keep hold of Ange Postecoglou.

“It’s just a reward of what Postecoglou is doing right now at Celtic that other Premier League clubs are being linked with his services.

“He’s transformed the club, winning the league last year and getting off to a good start so far this season as well.”

The Verdict: Tie him down

Celtic won’t be surprised that Postecoglou is receiving attention, but it’s vital that they do everything they can to keep hold of him.

The boss has more than excelled during his debut season in charge, leading his side to both the Scottish Premiership and League Cup titles, and has just got his first point on the board in the Champions League following a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Being offered fresh terms would be nothing less than Ange deserves, and the Hoops must act fast to tie him down if they don’t want to risk losing him in the weeks ahead.

Everton are reportedly looking to secure a late summer move for Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Leandro Trossard.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Football Insider, the Merseyside club have set their sights on signing the Belgian, who Frank Lampard apparently sees as a potential replacement for Anthony Gordon, who has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park this summer.

Since joining the Seagulls from Genk three years ago, the 27-year-old has gone on to make 107 appearances for the south coast club across all competitions. In that time, Trossard – who is currently picking up a wage of £42.5k-per-week – has found the net 19 times and delivered 11 assists along the way.

This season has seen the attacker start all three of Brighton’s league games and currently has more shots at goal (nine) and more shot-creating actions (13) than any other player in Graham Potter’s squad.

He’d be a “magnificent” addition

To further highlight his attacking talent, he ended his previous league campaign with more goal contributions (11) than any other Brighton player, along with more shot-creating actions (91), goal-creating actions (10) and successful dribbles (59) than any of his team-mates.

This shows just how capable the Belgian is of offering a consistent attacking threat in the top flight and explains why he’d be a great addition to Lampard’s squad.

Praised by Alan Shearer for a “magnificent” goal that he scored against Brentford last September, Trossard would certainly help Everton in the final third, as they currently have the joint-lowest rate in the league for goals per shot (0.02) out of clubs to score at least one goal so far this season.

With the Toffees already bringing in a number of their summer recruits from fellow English clubs such as Conor Coady, James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil, adding the Brighton star to that list would surely see Lampard end the club’s transfer window with a bang, especially if the Belgian can hit the ground running and help Everton to become a deadlier team in front of goal.

With Gordon’s future still in doubt, securing a deal for the Seagulls attacker could be a very smart move for the Goodison Park outfit to make.

Every transfer window throws up the odd surprise rumour, with the latest of those having seen Arsenal tipped to make a surprise swoop for Chelsea striker Timo Werner, despite the 26-year-old’s struggles at Stamford Bridge in recent seasons.

Reports in Spain have suggested that the Gunners are one of a handful of clubs across Europe who are eyeing a move for the Germany international, with Thomas Tuchel and co believed to be willing to sanction a departure before the September deadline.

There is no doubt likely to be a sense of incredulity among the Emirates faithful if these links are revealed to be accurate, such has been the torrid time that the former RB Leipzig man has endured in English football since his £45m arrival back in the summer of 2020.

Having arrived with a huge reputation after firing in 93 goals and providing 40 assists in just 158 games at his former club, the £268k-per-week speedster was expected to hit the ground running in the Premier League, although has ultimately flattered to deceive in the two years since.

While his willingness to run in behind and do the dirty work have been admirable – as has been noted by Gunners legend Ian Wright – the one-time Stuttgart man has frequently been mocked for his failings in front of goal, notably missing 18 big chances during his debut top-flight campaign in the 2020/21 season.

While described as “one of the most unlucky strikers I’ve ever seen” by Wright, the general assessment has been that the £31.5m-rated is simply “wasteful” – as dubbed by Liam Twomey – having failed to really deliver for the Blues thus far.

On the surface, his record of 23 goals and 21 assists in 83 games for the west Londoners is respectable, yet a return of just ten league goals over the last two seasons combined is seemingly not up to scratch for a forward at an elite club.

To think Arteta and co are potentially considering making a move for the 53-cap dud appears somewhat foolish, with it looking as if the club could once again fall into the trap of feeding off the scraps of their London rivals.

Recent history has shown that not to be the wisest move, with the case of Willian, in particular, showcasing that Arsenal should broaden their horizons away from targetting those at Cobham.

The Brazilian may have largely been a success during his trophy-laden spell at Chelsea – scoring 61 goals and providing 62 assists in 337 games across all fronts – yet he was plucked by the Gunners while seemingly on the decline back in 2020, the club eventually forking out a hefty £220k-per-week wage to bring him to the Emirates.

Despite netting two assists on debut against Fulham, that move ultimately backfired spectacularly, with it quickly becoming clear as to why the Blues weren’t so keen on handing the ageing winger a new, longer-term deal.

Such was the disastrous nature of his time at the club – where he scored just one goal in 37 outings in all competitions – the 70-cap menace ripped up his contract after just a solitary season, with the north London outfit left ruing what proved to be an expensive mistake.

While Werner may be younger and with plenty of time to revive his career, there should be concerns in again targetting a player who their rivals are seemingly so keen to get rid of.