The Yorkshire Post

National League table-toppers York City have signed defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott from Cardiff City on a permanent basis.

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The 22-year-old joined the Minstermen on loan in September, mere months after he had his Cardiff contract extended.

He has made quite the impression in North Yorkshire, becoming a key figure in York’s push for a return to the EFL.

His move has now been made permanent, with an undisclosed fee being agreed between the Minstermen and the Bluebirds. The deal will be made official on January 2.

In a statement, York said: “Not only has the 22-year-old formed part of a solid defence, but he has contributed at the other end of the pitch as well, recording three assists, and a crucial goal away at FC Halifax Town which started the memorable injury-time fightback away at The Shay. Good to have you with us, Malachi.”

A centre-back by trade, Fagan-Walcott cut his teeth within Tottenham Hotspur’s youth system. He progressed into the senior set-up, making his debut in the Champions League against RB Leipzig in March 2020.

It proved to be his first and last appearance at first-team level for Spurs, who confirmed his release in 2023. Cardiff came calling but only afforded Fagan-Walcott three first-team appearances.

He also has international experience, having represented England at under-16 and under-17 level.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made an approach to sign former Leeds United and Sheffield United ‘target’ Ben Godfrey.

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The 26-year-old was linked with both the Whites and the Blades earlier this year, having slipped down the pecking order at Everton.

While a January switch did not materialise, Godfrey did go on to seal a move away from Merseyside in the summer window.

He completed a permanent move to Serie A side Atalanta, although it has not quite worked out for the England-capped defender in Italy.

Godfrey has been afforded just one substitute appearance in the league, with this outing coming in Atalanta’s season opener.

He has featured on five occasions across all competitions, totalling just over 90 minutes of action. It appears he could be given an exit opportunity, with Football Insider crediting Tottenham with interest.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have been slammed for their leaky defence in recent weeks, with Godfrey reportedly viewed as someone who could help to ease their crisis.

Contact is thought to have been made with Atalanta, with Spurs looking at a short-term loan deal.

With Spurs low on numbers at centre-back, they have deployed teenager Archie Gray in the heart of defence on more than one occasions.

While the Leeds United academy graduate is known for his versatility, he only played at right-back or in the centre of midfield at senior level for the Whites.

York City gave Godfrey his breakthrough in senior football before selling him to Norwich City in 2016.

He thrived under the tutelage of current Leeds boss Daniel Farke, who used Godfrey frequently during his Canaries tenure.

Everton came calling in 2020 and he left the Toffees having made 93 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Sheffield United have been linked with a sensational swoop for Manchester City star Kyle Walker.

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A product of the Blades academy, Walker has previously expressed an interest in returning to Bramall Lane and will turn 35 at the end of the season.

Reports have indicated he could be allowed to depart Manchester City at the end of the campaign, potentially paving the way for a homecoming.

According to talkSPORT, Sheffield United are interested in re-signing the defender they nurtured through their youth ranks before selling to Tottenham Hotspur.

However, they may face competition with lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and the United States anticipated.

Walker had only made a handful of appearances for his boyhood club when Tottenham forked out a reported £9m for his services in 2009.

He did manage to add to his Blades appearance tally though, as he was loaned back to South Yorkshire.

Manchester City prised him from London in 2017 and he has since amassed over 300 appearances for the club.

He has also collected 93 caps for England at senior level, establishing himself as one of the most revered right-backs in Europe.

Sheffield United are currently eyeing promotion to the Premier League and the viability of a swoop for Walker may depend on their fate in the second tier this term.

There would also most likely need to be a significant reduction in Walker’s wages, with Manchester City being among the world’s wealthiest clubs.

Speaking last year, Blades boss Chris Wilder hailed Walker as the Steel City’s greatest footballing export.

He said: "We talk as pals and I don't think I'm being controversial in saying he's by far the best player ever to have come out of this city now in what he's achieved.

There's been some good players represent United and Wednesday, and some other good players who have represented other clubs having been born in the city, but Kyle Walker for me is the best footballer that's come out of Sheffield. We can take a small part in his development early on."

Former Leeds United coach Gus Poyet has his sights set on a return to management in England.

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The 57-year-old has enjoyed a varied career since leaving Elland Road, where he served as assistant manager during the reign of Dennis Wise.

He led Brighton & Hove Albion and Sunderland before venturing abroad, having stints in charge of AEK Athens, Real Betis, Shanghai Shenhua, Bordeaux and Universidad Católica.

Prior to taking on his first management role, he also had a spell as assistant manager at Tottenham Hotspur.

Poyet was most recently in charge of the Greece national team but is now out of work and eyeing a fresh challenge.

When asked by the Sunderland Echo if he would like to make a return to management in England, he said: “My aim is that one, to come back. It's been difficult. It's not easy.

“There is a big group of young coaches now. So I'm trying to make sure that I get in a place where I'm going to have a chance to do well, not jump in any opportunity.

“But those ones, they are not easy, you know, they don't come quite quickly. So you need to wait sometimes. But during that time, I'm open to managing anywhere in the world.”

Earlier this year, reports suggested Poyet had turned down the opportunity to manage the Republic of Ireland national team.

In April, the Uruguayan admitted he had been in contact with Sunderland’s owners but a return to the Stadium of Light has not materialised.

The Black Cats turned to Regis le Bris in the summer and he has led the club to the Championship summit.

BARNSLEY head coach Darrell Clarke is confident that his side will handle the absence of captain Luca Connell in Saturday’s League One trip to Cambridge United - with the key midfielder serving a one-match ban.

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Connell was booked in last week’s derby victory over Rotherham United - in a game in which he was outstanding - and it took him to the five-game threshold.

Matty Craig is the favourite to replace him.

Clarke said: “We want our captain in the team and he’s been playing really well. But it’s a squad game and we rely on our squad and it is an opportunity for someone else to come into the team and stake a claim.

"He (Craig) is a great pro, model pro. The kid is going to have a really good future in the game. I can’t speak highly enough of him as a professional footballer and young lad. He’s fighting hard as all the players are to get into the mix.

"He’s put in some good performances through the course of the season. Some performances have not hit the highs he’d like as well, but that’s what you get with younger players coming in on loan and their first taste of the level.

"But Matty’s a model pro and training really hard to get back into the team."

The input of Barnsley’s forward line has been strong of late, with Clarke having a decision to make after substitute Stephen Humphrys struck a fine strike to seal the win over Rotherham.

Sam Cosgrove (back) remains sidelined.

He added: "If you have got hopes to finish in the top six like we have, you’ve got to have four top-six centre-forwards, simple as that.

"You look at most of the teams who finished in the top six in previous years and they’ve got four very, very good centre-forwards and we need that in our club and competition for places.

"At the minute, all three (fit) ones are playing really well. Max (Watters), DKD (Davis Keillor-Dunn) and Humphreys are all playing their part in that."

Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are among the clubs reportedly interested in Gent defender Archie Brown.

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The 22-year-old left England in 2021 after ascending the youth ranks of Derby County. He sought pastures new in Switzerland, starting his senior career with Lausanne-Sport.

He swapped Switzerland for Belgium last year, joining Gent, and has seen his career go from strength to strength.

His exploits in Belgium were rewarded with an England youth debut in the summer and appear to have attracted high-profile interest.

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are among those tracking Brown but face Premier League competition. Tottenham and West Ham have been credited with interest, as have Chelsea and Brentford.

Leeds were linked with Brown in December 2023, and Everton and Burnley were also named as interested parties.

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace joined the list of clubs reported to be interested in May, but a summer switch did not materialise.

While Leeds are believed to be admirers of the defender, it is thought they will need Premier League status to push to the front of the queue.

Brown is a left-back by trade and while the position has proven problematic at Elland Road in recent years, Junior Firpo has made it his own of late.

While his form has been impressive, the former Barcelona man is out of contract at the end of the 2024/25 season. Leeds have also been linked with Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin, who has been among the Championship’s most impressive performers this term.

Cirkin is a graduate of Tottenham’s academy but a deal may be difficult to do, with the Black Cats understood to be unwilling to sell in January.

Leeds United have been warned they would face “lots of competition” if they joined the race to sign Archie Gray on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

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Gray has found Premier League opportunities limited since making a high-profile move from his boyhood club Leeds in the summer.

Reports have suggested there will be interest in taking Gray on loan in January, with Spanish side Sevilla already linked.

There has been no talk of Leeds seeking a reunion, but the 18-year-old’s connection to the club has propelled the Whites into fan and pundit discussions about potential destinations.

Former Leeds midfielder Carlton Palmer has insisted Gray would be a shrewd addition for his old club, but has issued a warning regarding other suitors.

Speaking to Football League World, he said: "It would be a great bit of business if they could pull it off, but there will be lots of competition for the midfielder.

"I don't think he'd want to go to the likes of Southampton, who are struggling, maybe Leicester City, who are just outside the drop.

"I think it would be a great fit for him to return to Leeds. He's only 18, very versatile, as Leeds fans know, and he could play a major part from Christmas until the end of the season, by helping them get promoted back to the Premier League."

Gray enjoyed a breakthrough 2023/24 campaign, making a seamless transition to senior football after battling back from a lengthy injury lay-off.

He is widely considered among Europe’s most exciting prospects and represents England at under-21 level.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly expecting loan offers for Leeds United academy graduate Archie Gray in January.

Leeds parted with their most coveted asset in the summer, selling the homegrown prodigy to Tottenham for a fee reported to be in the region of £40m.

While he is still considered among the country’s most exciting prospects, Gray has not yet made a single Premier League start.

He has started for Spurs in the Europa League and Carabao Cup, but has been limited to 33 minutes of league action.

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According to GiveMeSport, clubs in the Premier League and Championship are contemplating testing the waters with a loan bid in January.

He would arguably be a shrewd addition for every single club in the second tier, while a number of Premier League clubs would most likely consider him a coup.

A central midfielder by trade, Gray has spent most of his senior career playing at right-back. He has also been deployed as a centre-back by Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, with his versatility among his many desirable traits.

Earlier this month, Spanish side Sevilla were reported to be interested in Gray. The La Liga outfit have their recruitment overseen by Victor Orta, who was the director of football at Leeds as Gray ascended the club’s youth ranks.

While Spurs are believed to be expecting offers, Gray is thought to be highly rated and there is reportedly no suggestion the club would be open to sanctioning an exit.

Leeds United and Sheffield United are among the clubs reported to have watched Hammarby winger Bazoumana Toure.

At just 18 years old, the left-sided winger is already enjoying regular football in the top tier of football in Sweden.

In the 2024 season, he has registered nine goals and four assists over the course of 21 appearances,

His exploits do not appear to be flying under the radar, with The Boot Room claiming Leeds and Sheffield United both had him watched over the weekend.

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However, the Yorkshire clubs are not the only ones seemingly taking an interest in the highly-rated wideman.

A vast array of clubs are believed to have had representatives in attendance to watch Toure, with Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Celtic among them.

Toure is also making waves at international level, having represented Ivory Coast’s under-20s side.

Gems can often be found outside Europe’s ‘big four’ leagues, with Leeds’ acquisition of Wilfried Gnonto an example.

He was plucked from FC Zurich in Switzerland for a modest fee in 2022 and would undoubtedly pocket Leeds a hefty profit if he was to be sold in January.

Sheffield United turned to Sweden last year to recruit Benie Traore from Hacken, although his underwhelming stint at Bramall Lane serves as a cautionary tale.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Archie Gray is reportedly being eyed for a reunion with former Leeds United director Victor Orta at Sevilla.

Orta was the director of football at Elland Road as Gray made his swift ascent through the youth ranks of his boyhood club.

Neither are on the books in West Yorkshire anymore, with Orta leaving before Gray’s first-team breakthrough in 2023.

Gray left a year later, securing a move to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur following Leeds’ failure to escape the Championship.

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According to Spanish outlet Mucho Deporte, Orta’s current club Sevilla have started work on a potential loan arrangement.

Tottenham are highly unlikely to sanction a permanent exit, but a loan switch could prove beneficial for Gray given his current status within the Spurs squad.

His is still waiting on his first Premier League start, having tallied 33 minutes of action over the course of four substitute appearances. In contrast, he made 40 starts for Leeds during the last regular Championship season.

Orta has previously waxed lyrical about Gray, who is still just only 18 years old. In 2021, he spoke glowingly about the prodigy in an interview with La Media Inglesa.

He said: "He’s one of those players you see every, I don’t know. I remember Kun Agüero and saying ‘what is this?’. It’s something that happens once in a long time, so I wanted to mention Archie Gray.

"[It] has actually happened only a few times, in the South America under-20s tournament, Kun scored 10 or 12 goals or something like that, you could see he was different. I saw Ángel Correa in under-15s in San Lorenzo and it impacted me.

“I saw Douglas Costa when he was 15 in a Copinha São Paolo and I said 'who’s this guy?'. It’s happened only a few times. But yeah, Archie gives me the same feeling. Archie, the other day against Tranmere Rovers, gave me that feeling."