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The Athletic’s Wolves journalist Tim Spiers believes that young defender Owen Otasowie should play in the second leg of the club’s Europa League clash with Espanyol, per the Molineux View podcast (February 25, 27:46).

What’s he said?

The United States youngster is just 18 but has already made his first-team debut for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

He featured against Besiktas in the group stage of this season’s Europa League, playing 17 minutes in the 4-0 win at Molineux.

He has been on the bench three times in the Premier League, against Sheffield United, Liverpool, and Watford.

He has made 15 appearances for the U18s and has already stepped into the U23s, playing 10 times, and Spiers thinks he should play in the second leg against the Spanish side, with Wolves 4-0 up from the first leg, alongside Belgium international Leander Dendoncker and 22-year-old Max Kilman.

He said: “I would keep Dendoncker in the back three in a 3-4-3 and I’ve get Dendoncker, Kilman and Otasowie in the back three, the young American lad who’s done well and is sort of the backup to (Conor) Coady at the moment.”

Time for experimentation

There would have to be a genuinely astonishing comeback for the Liga side to progress to the Round of 16.

Wolves were totally dominant in the first leg, with Diogo Jota hitting a hat-trick and Ruben Neves also on the scoresheet.

This is a fine time, then, for Nuno Espirito Santo to rotate his starting XI and leave a number of first-team stars on the bench.

Call yourself a Wolves expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Wolves are continuing to fight for the top four – they are just five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea – and face the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Sheffield United and Chelsea before the end of the season.

If they can rest the likes of Conor Coady, their captain, in this tie, they should do it.

That surely means an opportunity for Otasowie.

Meanwhile, Wolves may have missed out on the next big thing!

Plenty of Liverpool fans have been congratulating youngster Curtis Jones after he scored a hat-trick during the under-23s’ 6-0 victory against Sunderland, leading one supporter to say he is already a ‘legend in the making’.

The 19-year-old was on fire as he managed to score three goals in eight minutes as Neil Critchley’s side steamrolled past the young Black Cats at the Reds’ Academy. The victory meant that they qualified for the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup after securing the win in their final match of the group phase.

Jones was previously showered with praise as his stunning curled effort during the first team’s 1-0 win against Everton in the FA Cup as they knocked their city neighbours out of the competition for the second time in three seasons. Manager Jurgen Klopp described him as “100% a Liverpool player” and is confident in his ability. One fan said that he “looks like Salah” as he continues to get among the goals, while another stated that he has a bright future at Anfield.

Check out some of the best Twitter responses down below…

Liverpool fans! What are your thoughts on Curtis Jones? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Tottenham Hotspur only have pride to play for now following their exit from the Champions League earlier this week, and they have it all to do if they are to qualify for the competition again next season.

Jose Mourinho’s side sit some seven points behind the top four and are out of all cup competitions.

The Portuguese boss has denied the potential of a squad overhaul this summer, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from operating in full swing recently.

According to Calcio Napoli 24, Spurs are interested in signing striker Arkadiusz Milik at the end of the season, which has resulted in fans discussing the potential move.

It’s claimed that Dries Mertens is likely to stay at the Serie A outfit, meaning the Polish frontman will be pushed closer towards the exit door.

Here’s what has been said…

It’s clear from the above reaction that plenty of supporters would be thrilled to see the 26-year-old make the switch from Italy to England.

“Class,” “solid” and “great” were just three words used to describe the possible move while one fan claimed he would take him as a back up for Harry Kane next season.

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Milik’s career has been blighted by injuries in recent years, but he has still managed to find the net 12 times from 22 appearances this season, per Transfermarkt.

If they can keep him fit – a tough ask given Kane’s own troubles – then he would certainly be viable second-string option to the Spurs skipper.

He’s drawn a couple of comparisons from sections of the Tottenham faithful, too…

One likened him to former striker Fernando Llorente, because the 6 foot 1 forward is able to hold the ball up like a proper target man while another labelled him “[Krzysztof] Piatek 2.0” – the striker the club were heavily linked to during the January transfer window.

Although, a further fan believed he was better than his fellow countryman, who went on to join Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin instead.

And, of course, with every piece of transfer news, there are a few supporters taking fire at chairman Daniel Levy as clearly the trust in him has long gone…

Milik is rated at £36m by Transfermarkt and many believe the club will only offer a tenth of the price that Napoli will demand whilst a few joked about the matter.

Premier League Inflation: You won’t believe how much these famous transfers would cost today…

And in other news, Spurs image perfectly epitomises Mourinho’s biggest flaw

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso has tweeted his extreme disappointment at the club crashing out of the Champions League earlier this week, and it has got lots of fans in north London talking.

Jose Mourinho’s side were well-beaten across two legs by Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig with it all culminating in a 4-0 aggregate loss on Tuesday night.

It means Spurs are out of all cup competitions and only have the Premier League to compete for and having lost five of their last six matches, fortunes will need to turn quickly in order to stake a claim of competing on Europe’s elite stage again as they sit some seven points behind the top four.

Lo Celso’s rallying call on social media has clearly left plenty of supporters gushing for him with many giving high praise to their “shining light”.

Here’s what has been said…

There were plenty of superlatives used to describe the Argentinian playmaker including “incredible” and “different class” while one supporter wants Lo Celso to be named captain of the side.

This sort of reaction is probably justified given the predicament the club find themselves in and in spite of this, the 23-year-old has still managed to average 1.4 key passes, 2.8 dribbles and 1.6 shots per game in the UCL this term, per WhoScored.

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Which is why some have talked him up to receive the Player of the Season award with a further member of the Spurs faithful claiming the midfielder leads by example with “talent, desire [and] effort”.

Some were even apologetic that they had signed him permanently from Real Betis in a move that cost a reported £27.2m in January.

One fan believed they didn’t deserve his exploits, labelling him as the “king” while another claimed it was “brutal” to trigger his option.

Lo Celso’s performances have been that key this campaign that Mourinho is planning to build the side around him next year, according to Football Insider.

Premier League Inflation: You won’t believe how much these famous transfers would cost today…

And in other news, Spurs fans react to Alasdair Gold tweet…

According to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato, Saints have been scouting striker Gianluca Scamacca, who is currently on loan at Serie B Ascoli from Sassuolo.

Southampton have been reliant on Danny Ings to produce the goods in front of goal throughout the season, so it is little surprise that Ralph Hasehuttl is keen to improve that area of his squad.

It is interesting that the club is scouring the Italian lower divisions, but given Milan are also rumoured to be interested there could be more to the player than meets the eye.

At 6 foot 5 he certainly offers a completely different alternative to the other strikers at the club, and could perhaps be more akin to former successful strikers like Rickie Lambert and Graziano Pelle, who also boasted strong physicality.

Nevertheless, he is still an unknown and making the jump up to the Premier League would promise to be a big challenge for the 21-year-old.

With that in mind, we asked our Football FanCast writers for their verdicts on the forward and whether or not he’d be a good capture for Southampton.

Danny Lewis

“A 6 foot 5 targetman sounds like the perfect partner for Ings. 11 goals in all competitions isn’t a breathtaking return considering he plays in Serie B, but that won’t matter if he is able to help bring the best out of the Englishman.

“Ings is currently the Premier League’s fifth-highest scorer, so if Scamacca can help get even more out of him, then it has to be a worthwhile buy. He would also provide an effective out ball if Southampton need to go long, meaning that they can switch up their play a bit more.”

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James Beavis

“It is only a few years since Southampton became famous for their success at buying impressive young players from abroad, developing them and then selling them on large fees – think Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane.

“However, it is a strategy that has deserted them in more recent years where they have instead often picked up players that had failed to make the grade at bigger clubs, such as the additions of Mario Lemina from Juventus and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Bayern Munich.

“Signing a promising talent in Gianluca Scamacca would take them back to what they know, and owner Gao wouldn’t need to break the bank for him either.

“While they do have Shane Long as a centre-forward who can win a header, a 6 foot 5 striker like the young Italian would certainly be beneficial – especially when Alex McCarthy or the defenders have no option but to hit the ball up the pitch.

“Signing him would be an ideal move for Saints.”

Are you a true Saints expert? Test your knowledge on these famous academy graduates…

Lewis Blain

“A move for Sassuolo forward Gianluca Scamacca would certainly be a left-field shot from Southampton but maybe it is a sign of the legacy Matt Crocker is wanting to leave behind in his role.

“The Saints’ recruitment hasn’t been the best, not at least since the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Victor Wanyama and co all arrived on the Solent years ago. It would certainly be a statement from the transfer end if they were to clinch the 21-year-old, who measures at a monstrous 6 foot 5 inches, but I have my doubts over his suitability to Ralph Hasenhuttl and his system.

“He hardly plays long-ball at St Mary’s, which is what you’d imagine fits this big colossus to a tee. Behind Long and Ings, he does have Adams at his disposal – a more than suitable backup – will the Italy U21 international be any better? Probably not.

“So, it’s one that the Saints should look to swerve considering he’s no better than Adams and doesn’t seem to be an ideal match either.”

Kealan Hughes

“This is certainly a strange one given the Saints boss should perhaps be looking for a reliable source of goals to add to his squad, given his problems with two-goal Shane Long and zero-goal Che Adams this season.

“Hasenhuttl has preferred a 4-4-2 formation in recent weeks though and a targetman could be useful for Danny Ings to play off, and if he can also prove effective from set-pieces in both boxes then he may be worth signing.

“Scamacca is still young too and a manager like Hasenhuttl could get the best out of him, as he has done with Ings, so it may be a gamble worth taking.

“However, it may be best to continue scouting him and waiting for him to develop further before making a move. The last thing Southampton need is another goalless striker whose development is being hindered by sitting on the bench.”

Meanwhile, one Saints player has been keeping busy during isolation and posted a fun video online sharing what he’s been up to…

When you think of the best buys in Premier League history you may think of the likes of Eric Cantona moving to Manchester United for just a touch over £1m, or something such as Chelsea landing Frank Lampard for just £11m.

One that may not immediately spring to mind though is a signing West Brom made back in 2011, but a deeper look into things shows that the Baggies pulled off one of the most brilliant coups in Premier League history in the early 2010s.

Signing a 31-year-old player who had never stepped foot in the Premier League sounds like a ridiculous idea for any team battling in the bottom half, but Gareth McAuley subverted all expectations when he joined West Brom.

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The Northern Irishman was the epitome of a late bloomer, making his top-flight bow in his 30s, but he still managed to have a more than respectable career at the highest level of English football.

The centre-back managed 203 league appearances for West Brom after signing in 2011, and he actually managed to pick up not one, but two Player of the Year awards, winning both the Players and Supporters Player of the year for his exploits in the 2012/13 season, beating Romelu Lukaku despite the Belgian having an incredibly lucrative loan spell at The Hawthorns.

It was certainly a gamble for the Baggies to bring McAuley in nine years ago, you would have been forgiven for thinking that his career would have been winding down at that age, but things were just getting started for him.

Getting 203 top-flight games out of a man you signed on a free transfer in his 30s is incredible, and McAuley deserves to be in the conversation, not only for West Brom’s best signing ever but as one of the best Premier League signings ever, certainly financially.

In other news, one man is being underutilised by Slaven Bilic.

Leeds United forward Tyler Roberts has been tipped to do big things in the Premier League next season by LeedsLive correspondent Beren Cross, although that will depend on two conditions.

What’s he said?

The west Yorkshire outfit are nine games from securing promotion as they hold a healthy seven-point cushion from the playoff positions at the Championship summit.

But the current campaign is currently on hold for the time being and may not be back until the end of April at the very earliest – getting the season back underway and ending that 16-year wait for top-flight football is the first factor to overcome.

While Cross believes the Welshman needs to stay fit if he’s to stand a chance, especially as Roberts has been deemed “more than good enough” to compete against the big boys.

Writing in his recent column, the reliable United scribe said:

“Keep.

“The forward’s trajectory is only going one way if he can just stay fit. One of the finds of the Orta era if he can keep out of Rob Price’s way.

“More than good enough for the big boys if he finds some consistent match time.”

Beren Cross, LeedsLive.

Rarely-seen star?

The 21-year-old has endured a stop-start season due to the number of injuries he’s managed to pick up – per Transfermarkt’s recorded matches, Roberts has managed to only feature for 492 minutes across 14 matches.

He has managed to find the net three times, which suggests that Marcelo Bielsa does indeed have some sort of talent in his hands.

Cross goes as far as suggesting that the forward is “one of the finds of the Orta era” but that’s hard to gauge given he is yet to hit the 50 mark for Leeds yet.

Missing football!? There’s still plenty of Leeds discussion going on in the Vital Leeds Forum! Click here to get involved!

Can a player who has barely been seen on the pitch become a threat in the Premier League overnight? Well, if he can keep fit and get a good pre-season under his belt, then there’s no reason why he can’t.

His versatility and ability to play anywhere across the front three makes him very worthwhile of the opportunity, irrespective of the division the Whites find themselves in next term.

Quickfire Questions – Early title winners: Can you get all 13 right in 2 minutes?

AND in other news, Phil Hay names the ONLY Leeds player Marcelo Bielsa grew tired of…

Although Premier League clubs have entered a grey area when it comes to summer finances, Newcastle are arguably a club with the least amount of worries. The Magpies will undergo a huge takeover as ownership changes hands for a staggering £300million deal.

As Newcastle look to enter this new era, it’s likely other changes will be made as well. Graeme Souness has commented that Amanda Staveley may want to replace Steve Bruce as manager, but it will not guarantee success.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Souness said: “I imagine they’ll want someone who is deemed to be a bigger name, someone who’s maybe done a bit more in the game, but that doesn’t guarantee them success. As always, it’ll come down to what players they can attract there.”

According to ESPN, the club have named Mauricio Pochettino amongst the list of potential managerial candidates to replace Bruce. Another name Newcastle are interested in is Massimiliano Allegri who, on paper, looks the better with six Serie A titles and 11 overall honours with Juventus on his CV.

However, after six years in the Premier League already under his belt, Pochettino could be the smarter option to drive Newcastle into this exciting new era.

Despite not winning any silverware with Tottenham, the 48-year-old made club history by reaching the Champions League final for the first time. His knowledge of beating the bigger English clubs could also help Newcastle establish themselves as a real threat amongst some of the league’s best.

With a much higher transfer budget at his disposal, Pochettino’s keen eye for business could really help spruce up the first team’s ranks. It will be a welcome thought for the Argentine to target and buy the names on his shopping list, after experiencing some very slim transfer windows under Daniel Levy.

Quiz: How much did Mike Ashley pay for these Newcastle players?

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During Pochettino’s era, Spurs went two whole transfer windows without making a single signing, something a Premier League club had never done before. Similarly, Jose Mourinho has reportedly been informed that the club’s spending budget will be a mere £50million unless Spurs qualify for the Champions League this season (via The Telegraph).

At a club with more freedom to spend and fresh strategies on the table, Pochettino could really flourish in a new managerial role. His name alone could be enough to entice players to take the leap and join the work-in-progress that is Newcastle.

The Magpies are currently 13th in the league table after doing well to pull away from the relegation scrap. With eight points between them and the drop-zone, they have enough breathing space to survive this season before the real transformation takes place this summer.

A number of West Brom fans have called for changes to be made to the West Stand, often known as Halfords Lane, at The Hawthorns.

Twitter channel @BaggiesHQ asked followers to identify one thing they would like to change about the stadium, with many focusing on the 3,773-capacity stand, the smallest at The Hawthorns.

As per wba.co.uk, Halfords Lane is the oldest surviving squad at Albion’s home ground and has been redeveloped on multiple occasions since it first opened in 1981. It is from underneath this stand that the players emerge from the dressing rooms prior to kick-off and it also houses the club’s board room and media facilities.

Although West Brom are currently second in the Championship table, their 26,850-capacity venue is only the 12th largest in the division for the number of spectators it can hold, with Sheffield Wednesday able to accommodate 13,000 more fans at Hillsborough. [via TransferMarkt]

These Baggies fans on Twitter all cited Halfords Lane as one part of The Hawthorns that they would like to see being changed:

West Brom fans, do you think Halfords Lane needs to be modernised or expanded? Is it your least favourite thing about The Hawthorns? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s initial success as interim boss at Manchester United has brought about a strange and unprecedented situation.

On the one hand a vast majority of United supporters are fervidly rooting for the Norwegian to continue racking up the league wins, knowing that by doing so he will greatly increase his chances of attaining the job permanently in the summer.

On the other hand the vast majority of rival supporters who hold a lifelong hatred for the club are fervidly rooting for the Norwegian to continue racking up the league wins, knowing that by doing so he will greatly increase his chances of attaining the job permanently in the summer.

This unique, communal desire only gets weirder still when it’s acknowledged that the reason behind each identical wish is also the same. What differs – substantially – is the perception of that reason.

Solskjaer’s impact at Old Trafford since his festive arrival in the immediate aftermath of Jose Mourinho’s sacking has been substantial and transformative. From a floundering position beyond the top four the Reds are now firmly in contention to secure Champions League football after hitting upon a rich vein of form and results.

More so, a toxic atmosphere in the dressing room has given way to unity with the players visibly enjoying their weekends again, reassured and instilled with belief. They are released hostages shaking their heads clear of the Stockholm Syndrome fostered under Mourinho’s reign. They are good players again with a license to express their talent.

It is a dissipation of hostility and pessimism that has also been witnessed on the terraces with warring factions divided in their feelings towards the once Special One now coming together for the greater good. All told then, given the magnitude of change that has taken place it is little wonder that United are now a completely different proposition to what they were prior to Christmas.

Furthermore, it should not be under-estimated how impressive an achievement it is for one man to be responsible for such revitalisation. How impressive Solskjaer has been is not up for dispute and neither are the methods he has employed to bring about such a metamorphosis.

There has been no radical overhauls; no vanguard thinking. What Solskjaer has done is purposely put himself forward as an antidote to his embittered predecessor, espousing positivity where once there was none; turning a great big frown upside down.

Much more than this the likeable 45-year-old is a living embodiment of Manchester United’s glory years and he has clearly used this to his advantage at every opportunity, littering his press conferences with talk of ‘DNA’ and ‘the Manchester United way’. ‘That’s not how we do things at Manchester United’. ‘For a club the size of Manchester United.’ It is endless and clever, achieving a twin aim of mythicizing the brand and re-strengthening its stature while evoking a time when the red half of the city was a feared, dominant force.

Understandably the supporters have lapped this up and why not after enduring six years of David Moyes and Jose Mourinho talking down their greatness with Louis van Gaal sandwiched between them talking anything but sense.

And this primarily is why they want Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to remain at the wheel. Because he is an umbilical cord to those heady days. Because he is the perfectly apt and sentimental candidate to usher in a repeat performance. Because he ‘gets’ the club and by getting the club those trophy-laden times will surely return.

This evoking of the past is also why fans of the other 91 league clubs – including myself, a Manchester City supporter – want the Scandinavian cheerleader to stay. Because they know it’s ultimately utter tosh.

Nostalgia certainly has a place in football but that place is nowhere near a title race. Sure it can revive, acting as a temporary balm. It’s a pick-me-up in times of trouble. Beyond that though – as we have seen countless times before when clubs become too attached to their own past – it is a phantom limb. You scratch at it but there’s nothing there.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Theo Ogden was at the Emirates Stadium to see Alexis Sanchez come back to haunt Arsenal. Check out Gunners’ fans reactions in the video below…

Because those days are gone and this is especially true of Manchester United, a club that has deteriorated in many significant ways since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, not least in the fact that three underwhelming managers have created a woefully ill-balanced squad.

Telling the players they are special won’t cut in when reality bites. Evoking the glory days similarly won’t mean a thing without the proper implementation of long-term growth under a coach with far more nous than Solskjaer possesses.

Right now every one of my United supporting friends want ‘Ole’ in the job and as a City fan I do too. Our reasons are the same – retaining a direct lineage to their recent past. Our perception of that reasoning however could not be more different.