Football League World

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Brennan Johnson has emerged as a potential surprise January transfer target for Championship promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town.

According to Football Insider, the Tractor Boys are keen on signing the Tottenham Hotspur forward on loan when the market opens in the new year.

The Suffolk outfit face competition from Brentford in the race for the 24-year-old’s signature though, and a Premier League move may be too big for the Wales international to resist.

Johnson has fallen down the pecking order of the north London outfit under Thomas Frank, starting just six of their opening 17 fixtures, playing a total of 15 times in the top flight so far in 2025-26.

The versatile attacker signed for Spurs in the 2023 summer transfer window from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £47.5 million, with Crystal Palace also now interested in potentially prying him away from the club.

Ipswich Town encouraged to complete Brennan Johnson deal

When asked about potentially signing Johnson in January, FLW’s Ipswich fan pundit Adam Wilkin claimed that he could be the exact kind of player that suits Kieran McKenna’s style of play on the right-wing, even if it’s unusual how far down the pecking order he’s fallen at Spurs.

He believes that as long as the forward can be convinced to join, then he could prove an excellent addition to the squad in their push for promotion.

“I think Brennan Johnson is a Premier League quality player, so if that came off then I would 100 per cent love that,” Wilkin told Football League World.

“I think he’d be a game-changing Championship forward in an area where we’ve struggled on the right-wing currently.

“I think his attributes fit exactly what Kieran McKenna would want in a right-wing system.

“I’m a little bit surprised that he’s not getting in at Tottenham because he’s historically done well for them and I think he would be looking for more of a Premier League [move] if possible.

“So I don’t know how feasible it is, but if he is happy to come down to the top level of the Championship.

“And what’s happened before with a lot of our loans recently, we’ve got loans with an option to buy, so if it was another loan with an option to buy if we got promoted I think that would be a very, very good move.”

Brennan Johnson would be an ambitious signing for Ipswich Town - perhaps too ambitious

Johnson has struggled for Spurs this season, but even so, it would be surprising if he took the step down to the Championship, even on a temporary basis.

The Welshman has clear top flight qualities, and whilst taking nothing away from Ipswich and where they want to be, both Crystal Palace and Brentford will both be more appealing options in January for the forward - especially as he is likely to get ample playing time at either club.

It would certainly be a sign of Ipswich’s ambition if they could get a deal over the line, and an option to buy that is triggered by promotion could have a certain appeal.

But the Championship side will firmly be behind in the race for his signature at this stage, if he leaves Spurs at all - Town clearly have some decent attacking options as it is, but with the likes of Kasey McAteer and Chuba Akpom underperforming at Portman Road, it could leave McKenna wanting more in the final third.

Ipswich Town are rivalling Premier League outfit Brentford for the signature of Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson this January.

After an electric campaign for the reigning Europa League champions last term, Johnson has fallen out of favour under new boss Thomas Frank, which has left Spurs open to a sale this January.

Crystal Palace were the first team to register interest in the Welsh international, but have now been joined in the race for his services by Brentford and Ipswich, according to reports from Football Insider.

The Bees and the Tractor Boys are reportedly chasing a loan deal for Johnson, who scored 18 goals in 51 outings under former boss Ange Postecoglou, but has only managed four in 20 under Frank.

This is certainly an ambitious move for Kieran McKenna's side, as getting the 24-year-old to drop into the Championship would represent a serious coup at that level.

Ipswich Town to rival Brentford and Crystal Palace for Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson in January

Johnson was a shining star in Tottenham's rollercoaster campaign last term, scoring 11 league goals and a further five in the Europa League, helping the North London side win their first piece of silverware since 2008.

However, things haven't been as good for the Welshman following Postecoglou's departure and the appointment of Frank. So far, he's only started six Premier League games this season, scoring twice.

The arrival of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United in the summer has limited Johnson's playing time, which has led to Spurs opening the door for his exit in the January transfer window.

This has seen reports emerge that Crystal Palace were keen on signing the attacker in January, but will now be rivalled to his signature by Brentford and Championship outfit Ipswich, according to Football Insider.

Both the Bees and the Tractor Boys are reportedly chasing a simple loan deal for the 24-year-old, with Spurs weighing up their options when it comes to what they want to do with Johnson.

Any move for the former Nottingham Forest star would depend heavily on his desire to have increased playing time in the second half of the campaign, with his manager admitting he would like to keep him at the club.

Brennan Johnson would be a stunning coup for Ipswich Town

Ipswich have found form in recent weeks, following an inconsistent start to the season, and are locked into a promotion battle with the likes of Middlesbrough and Hull City, as they look for an immediate return to the Premier League.

Adding the man who scored the winning goal in the Europa League final to their squad for the second half of the campaign would likely leave their competitors with their jaws firmly on the floor, should they win the race for his services.

Given his stunning form for Spurs last term, you'd have thought that Johnson would tear it up in the second tier, and help McKenna's side secure promotion with goal contributions in abundance coming from the flanks.

However, it seems rather unlikely that Johnson would want to drop into the Championship if Premier League options are available, but even being in the running shows that the Suffolk-based side aren't messing around this January.

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has clarified Minhyeok Yang’s transfer agreement from Tottenham Hotspur after reports linked the young winger to Real Madrid.

The speculation surrounding Yang stems from Defensa Central's report that the LaLiga giants are eyeing the South Korean international as a potential target.

According to the Spanish outlet, Real are considering an offer in the region of €7m for Yang's services, and apparently view him as a promising talent with lots of potential.

But that shock reported interest has now seemingly been put to bed by the Pompey head coach.

John Mousinho clarifies Minhyeok Yang's Portsmouth FC situation amid Real Madrid transfer talk

Mousinho was clear in his assessment of Yang's position when speaking to The News, completely downplaying the Real Madrid link that had emerged from Spain.

The Portsmouth boss revealed that while he had become aware of the story, there has been zero contact from any of the parties involved regarding a potential move away from the south coast.

"I've heard the story (about Real Madrid), but there's nothing I have heard from Tottenham or Real Madrid," Mousinho explained to The News.

"I think Minhyeok will be here for the rest of the season. Spurs have a recall, as most of these loan contracts do. Spurs have a recall if they want to recall him," he added.

The manager's comments are definitely a statement of intent regarding Yang's development on the south coast - and Mousinho went on to praise the impact the youngster has made since arriving at Fratton Park.

"I think he's been a really bright spark in a lot of the performances we've had, particularly in the early part of the season," Mousinho continued.

"At times you have probably seen what you can sometimes expect from young players, but, as a 19-year-old coming into a struggling side, he has done very well. He will be staying until the end of the season."

Spurs will not be recalling Minhyeok Yang from Portsmouth FC loan

It’s worth considering that Mousinho also confirmed that Spurs retain a recall option in Yang's loan agreement, giving them the option to bring the player back to North London should they wish to do so.

But his insistence that the Korean will remain in Hampshire for the full season suggests this won’t be the case - regardless of whether the Real Madrid links are true or not.

For Tottenham, the loan deal was obviously a calculated decision to give Yang more experience in English football - after he played 14 times for Queens Park Rangers in 24/25.

The likes of Luka Vuskovic and Manor Soloman, two other Spurs players out on loan, have both been sent to Germany and Villarreal respectively - so there was every chance for Yang's second loan he could've followed suit.

Leicester City have been handed a potential transfer blow involving the future of Jeremy Monga, with Tottenham Hotspur amplifying their efforts to land the winger amid Brennan Johnson's impending exit from North London.

Monga put pen to paper on a scholarship contract in June ahead of his first professional deal next summer, which he was unable to sign owing to his age.

That saw Leicester fend off immediate interest from the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, although the 16-year-old has continued to represent a hot property after remaining in the Foxes' first-team Championship squad this season.

Monga, who made seven Premier League appearances last time out as Leicester suffered relegation back to the second-tier and has featured on 13 occasions to date under Marti Cifuentes in 2025/26, is widely-regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the country, with the winger having opened his professional account during a 2-1 defeat at Preston North End back in August.

The England under-19 international has been in and out of Cifuentes' side at the King Power Stadium, but his services are continuing to be courted with real intent ahead of the January transfer window.

Spurs make 'big push' for Leicester City's Jeremy Monga amid likely Brennan Johnson exit

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Premier League giants Spurs have been making a 'big push' to land Monga's signature in recent weeks, with suitors such as Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United also showing significant interest.

Monga is reportedly aware of the interest and is poised to make a final decision in early 2026, although it would appear as though Spurs represent the most likely destination for the exciting wide-man if he decides to leave Leicester.

Further afield, Monga is also said to have interest from European heavyweights such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Spurs' admiration of Monga comes amid Brennan Johnson's likely exit from Thomas Frank's side, with the Welsh international having been linked to Crystal Palace as of late.

The report adds that the reigning UEFA Europa League champions intend on sanctioning an initial loan departure for Johnson in an effort to boost the speedy attacker's valuation ahead of a probable permanent switch elsewhere once the summer window rolls around.

While it's not yet clear, it could transpire that Monga, despite his age, is viewed as a long-term replacement for Johnson at Spurs.

Cardiff City are braced to receive a flurry of transfer interest in much-sought-after teenage duo Ronan Kpakio and Dylan Lawlor, with the pair attracting attention from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and more after establishing themselves as key performers under Brian Barry-Murphy.

According to a report published by TEAMtalk on Tuesday evening, a number of leading Premier League outfits have joined the ever-intensifying hunt for Kpakio and Lawlor, leaving the Bluebirds to sweat over their immediate futures within the Welsh capital.

Both products of Cardiff's now-glowing youth academy system, the defensive duo were on the periphery last season as Cardiff suffered relegation to League One but have flourished as a result of Barry-Murphy's inclination to entrust, and indeed promote, young talent since taking the job over the summer.

Kpakio and Lawlor are gaining recognition outside of South Wales now, however, and with their reputation as two of the EFL's most promising prodigies only continuing to grow, so too is their list of respective admirers ahead of the upcoming January transfer window and beyond.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool eyeing double Cardiff City transfer raid for Ronan Kpakio, Dylan Lawlor

Recent reports have fuelled speculation surrounding the futures of Kpakio and Lawlor, with journalist Graeme Bailey claiming via X that Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are the latest clubs to join the transfer race for the exciting pair.

Bailey describes that the Bluebirds are now facing a "huge battle" to retain their services, which City supporters may well have anticipated would be the case sooner rather than later.

As per Bailey's actual report, more than half of the Premier League - including the traditional top-six - are regularly watching Kpakio and Lawlor.

It's said that Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are all emerging as potential destinations for ball-playing central defender Lawlor, whose modern and mature style at a remarkably young age has left him hardly short of admirers.

The 19-year-old even has interest from overseas, with German trio Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig all reportedly monitoring his progression in League One, too.

Kpakio, who only celebrated his 18th birthday back in May, is also the subject of growing interest from elsewhere, with the dynamic full-back finding himself tracked by the majority of Premier League clubs in recent times.

Ronan Kpakio and Dylan Lawlor are vital - Cardiff City must resist top-flight transfer interest in January

Cardiff, the report adds, are "well aware" of mounting interest in the club's two prized assets, with the sanctioning of high-profile January exits firmly not on the agenda for the league leaders as they bid to return to English football's second-tier at the very first attempt.

It's worth noting that Cardiff have handed themselves security over the futures of Kpakio and Lawlor, too, with the latter having been set to see his contract expire next summer before the Bluebirds moved swiftly to tie him down to a new three-year deal.

Kpakio, meanwhile, put pen to paper on a fresh four-year contract, alongside fellow academy graduate Isaak Davies, back in September. Taking such contract action represented extremely shrewd business from the Bluebirds, who now have every right to hold out for significant sums when the phone rings for Kpakio and Lawlor.

For the meantime, Cardiff simply cannot afford to lose either in their pursuit of promotion.

Kpakio and Lawlor are, quite evidently, a few classes above League One - despite the occasional blip, which is only to be expected of two inexperienced campaigners in their first seasons of regular first-team football - and are establishing themselves as top-grade prospects for both club and country, having also entered Craig Bellamy's Wales squad together in recent months.

Kpakio has outmuscled experienced right-back Perry Ng to clamp down the spot as his own this term and has repaid Barry-Murphy's faith with a return of six assists, the joint-highest tally in League One alongside Bolton Wanderers' on-loan hotshot Amario Cozier-Duberry.

Electrifyingly quick with a menacing delivery and ever-sharpening defensive instincts at the other end, the attack-minded right-back has proved his worth as a vital cog in Cardiff's promotion push.

Lawlor, equally, is imperative to Barry-Murphy's possession-based brand of football, with his calm and assured ball-playing qualities as one of the Bluebirds' most integral assets.

Those qualities are now putting him on the radar of England and, indeed, European football's elite, and while it may only be a matter of time before Kpakio and Lawlor graduate onto bigger and better things elsewhere, such is their potential, the immediate focus will be on retaining their services for the season's full duration.

Midfielder Andy Reid was described as one of the "worst January signings since the transfer window was introduced in 2003" after his 2005 transfer to Spurs, but Charlton spent £3 million on him nevertheless.

A club that had flirted with extinction in the early 1980s and had spent seven years away from The Valley between 1985 and 1992, won promotion to the Premier League in 1998 - following relegation and promotion straight back - and had enjoyed six uninterrupted years in the top flight without too many fears of relegation.

But this was also a period of change for the club. The man who'd overseen all of this, Alan Curbishley, left the club after 15 years at the end of the 2005-06 season and replaced by Iain Dowie, and Dowie was given a hefty transfer budget that summer as the club sought to shore up their Premier League status in the absence of his long-time predecessor.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Djimi Traore, Scott Carson, Ben Thatcher and Souleymane Diawara respectively were amongst those to arrive at The Valley that summer, along with a midfielder who'd already been the subject of a protracted transfer which had led to a move which turned out to be disastrous.

Andy Reid had already been the subject of one of the "worst January transfers" by the time he arrived at Charlton from Spurs

Although born in Dublin, Andy Reid started his career in the youth system at Nottingham Forest.

Graduating to the senior squad with his first professional contract in 1999, he made his Forest debut in November 2000 and went on to make 158 appearances in all competitions for the club over the next five seasons.

But in the summer of 2004, Reid handed in a written transfer request, saying that: "I feel I have no other choice than to formally state my desire to leave the club."

Tottenham Hotspur had been interested in taking him to White Hart Lane, but Reid said: "You only have to look at the fees other clubs have paid this summer for experienced internationals who have only ever played in the Premier League to realise that I have been vastly priced out of a move."

Negotiations stretched out throughout the first half of the 2004-05 season before a deal was agreed for Reid and another Forest player, Michael Dawson, to move to Spurs for a combined fee of £8 million at the very end of the January 2005 transfer window.

To say that it didn't go well would be something of an understatement.

In a 2008 list of the 25 best and worst January transfers since the introduction of the January transfer window published by The Times, Reid's move to Spurs was in the number seven position.

Over the next season-and-a-half, he'd only make 26 appearances for Spurs, of which twenty would be starts.

Charlton Athletic had a chaotic 2006-07, but still turned a profit on Reid in 2008

Charlton Athletic paid £3 million to take Reid to The Valley in August 2006.

It was clearly a gamble. He'd failed to replicate the performances he'd made for Nottingham Forest at Spurs.

But it turned out that Charlton's problems throughout the 2006-07 season were greater than any one player. By the time Iain Dowie was sacked on the 13th November, they were rock bottom of the Premier League, having lost eight of their 12 matches to that point.

And the club's choice of his replacement was mystifying. Les Reed had previously been involved in the England team's coaching set-up, but he had no managerial experience and the club was clearly in a dangerous position.

Reed's brief spell in charge of the Addicks that season has gone down in infamy as one of the most disastrous in the history of the Premier League. He lasted just six weeks in charge, winning just one match and getting them knocked out of the League Cup by Wycombe Wanderers, 1-0 at home.

The press treatment of Reed was savage. He was sacked on Christmas Eve after just 41 days in the job, the shortest managerial spell in the history of the Premier League at that point, with the Daily Mirror describing him as "Santa Clueless." He was replaced by Alan Pardew.

As Charlton's season slid towards relegation, Reid's role at his new club was peripheral. He made just 16 appearances for the Addicks all season, scoring twice. They were eventually relegated in 19th place in the table, four points from safety.

But the following season, back in the Championship, his form did pick up again. The club had kept faith with Pardew despite the previous season's relegation, and by the latter stages of November 2007 they were second in the table behind West Bromwich Albion.

This upturn in form hadn't gone unnoticed. He scored six league goals in the first half of the season, including two penalties in two minutes to give Charlton a 2-0 win against Norwich in November 2007. By this time, Pardew had appointed him as Addicks captain.

He made his final League appearance for them on the 15th December 2007, in a 4-2 defeat to West Brom, and at the very end of the January 2008 transfer window he returned to the Premier League with a £5 million transfer to Sunderland, with Sunderland's Greg Halford going in the other direction on a six-month loan as part of the deal.

It represented a decent profit for a player who'd only cost them £3 million in the first place.

Reid's time at Sunderland wouldn't be especially successful, but in 2011 he returned to Nottingham Forest, the club at which he'd started his career, and would play for them for a further five years, making a further 130 appearances for them before retiring in 2016.

Speaking to The Coaches' Voice in 2023, Reid shone a light on his time at The Valley, and in particular the strong bond that he had with Alan Pardew. He even admits in the article that he didn't want to leave Charlton in January 2008, but that the club's financial position meant that they had to accept Sunderland's offer.

And it's unsurprising that Reid divides opinion among the club's supporters. On one hand, he was a supremely talented player, with an outstanding passing range, and he always played with his heart firmly on his sleeve.

On the other, he was also part of a chaotic season, one which marked the end of their most successful spell since the 1940s and the beginning of more than a decade of problems under more than one owner, with some fans also expecting more from the midfielder given the fee they paid for him.

With no international breaks until March, all 24 clubs across the Championship will aim to build as much momentum as possible ahead of the final weeks and months of the season.

At the beginning of the campaign, both West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City were the subject of intriguing predictions made by those willing to stick their heads above the parapet.

It was all change at The Hawthorns over the summer, with Ryan Mason installed as the latest man to take up the position of leading the Baggies on a permanent basis after a chaotic campaign in terms of permanent or interim bosses, which was one of many factors which led to a disappointing end to last season and a ninth-place finish overall.

Blues, meanwhile, continued to spark major discourse, as has become customary ever since Chris Davies walked through the door at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in June 2024 ahead of their record-breaking League One campaign, with Knighthead Capital Management continuing to heavily back the 40-year-old in the transfer market.

Three-and-a-half months of football have since been played, and it is Birmingham who hold a three-point advantage ahead of Wednesday's fixture in B71, which is set to generate another hostile and electric atmosphere between the two sets of supporters.

Aside from their own aims for the season and the local pride at stake, there is bound to be a showing of mutual respect between the duo on the touchline, which also means their former Tottenham Hotspur boss, Ange Postecoglou, could be keeping across developments with a high level of intrigue.

Ange Postecoglou has spoken highly of both Ryan Mason and Chris Davies amid Tottenham Hotspur stints

Despite being the subject of recent ridicule for how his two-year spell in North London drew to a close despite a UEFA Europa League triumph before a disastrous 38-day tenure with Nottingham Forest, Ange Postecoglou remains a very-much respected figure in the game.

The Australian was hugely successful with Celtic between 2021 and 2023, a club which Davies is also no stranger to, having worked at Parkhead under Brendan Rodgers beforehand.

Despite there being no prior crossover between the two, Postecoglou moved to appoint the former Liverpool and Leicester City assistant at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of the 2023/24 season, where he would also link up with Mason, whose association with Spurs needs very little introduction, having played for, coached and taken interim charge of Spurs throughout his career.

Spurs, of course, developed a reputation for playing an extremely notorious brand of football throughout Postecoglou's tenure, which resulted in a fifth-place finish in his first season, missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification, before returning to the competition for this season through beating Manchester United in the Europa League final despite a 17th-place finish.

In the midst of the most contrasting of seasons in North London, Davies was breaking all kinds of records at St. Andrew's in his first season as a manager with Blues, and he certainly caught the eye of his former boss after promotion was initially secured against Peterborough United on April 8th.

“I really enjoyed working with Chris. He was only with me for a short time last year, but I really enjoyed working with him. He was a big part of what we built last year. It was ground zero in terms of building a whole football programme in a different direction and he was a big part of that," Postecoglou said.

“Your first job is pretty important when you’re trying to embark on a career as a senior manager, and he’s done brilliantly well, which is not surprising."

Throughout Spurs' Europa League triumph, Mason emerged as a key reason behind their run to the final in Bilbao against the Red Devils, as well as a prime candidate for several vacancies, before eventually departing the club alongside Postecoglou in June, days before taking over West Brom.

The Athens-born man was also extremely complimentary towards the ex-England midfielder when links to the Anderlecht vacancy arose in November 2024, saying: “I have always worked on the premise that part of my role is also developing coaches and it is something I take great pride in.

“Ryan is obviously someone who sees himself as one day taking that opportunity. It’s a really important decision for the guys. It’s not like we want them to leave and certainly with Ryan, he is doing a great job for us here.”

Chris Davies and Ryan Mason enter West Brom vs Birmingham City clash in differing circumstances

With both Mason and Davies in their first full-time managerial roles, not exactly every aspect has gone smoothly, as evidenced across varying points of the season.

The Blues boss debunked theories of back-to-back promotions whilst facing pressure in a patchy run of form between August and mid-October after yet another high-profile recruitment drive at St. Andrew's.

However, a run of four victories in six games has since changed the mood completely, with the 40-year-old making some extremely smart tweaks that have resulted in 12 goals being scored in the past three home games, as he attempts to back up such developments with a third away success of the campaign.

After an intriguing summer of recruitment and departures at The Hawthorns, Albion were among the early-season pace-setters, with the likes of Isaac Price gaining plenty of attention for his performances.

However, in the past two months, Baggies supporters have continuously bemoaned a lack of identity and style, with many already calling for Mason's job despite continued backing from owner, Shilen Patel, for the 34-year-old to turn the club's fortunes around over time.

Just two clean sheets and as many victories since August haven't helped the aforementioned cause, which suffered yet another setback in a 3-2 defeat to Coventry City on Saturday after being 2-0 up, meaning an immediate response will be on the agenda.

Therefore, with plenty of context provided in the lead-up, Postecoglou will certainly have one eye on the performances of his ex-colleagues.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Jamie Donley tore apart League One with Leyton Orient last season, but since joining Stoke City on loan this summer in the Championship, things haven't exactly panned out the way anyone would have hoped.

Born in Northern Ireland but having grown up in Colchester, Donley joined the youth system of Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 and has progressed through the ranks with the Lilywhites, emerging as one of the club's hottest prospects.

The 20-year-old had scored prolifically for Spurs' youth side and earned a move to League One outfit Leyton Orient at the beginning of last season, in what was his first full taste of consistent senior football, and he did not disappoint.

Donley hit eight goals and ten assists in 39 third-tier games across the season, as Orient narrowly lost out in the play-off final to London rivals Charlton Athletic.

The highlight of his stay at Brisbane Road had to be his long-range effort against Manchester City in the FA Cup, which looped over Stefan Ortega in the Citizens' net, crashing off the crossbar on the way in.

Following his strike, City manager Pep Guardiola said, "When you concede this goal, it is just to congratulate the guy. I think it was Donley. He is an incredible left-foot player.

Expectations were set high for Donley, who drew interest from numerous Championship clubs this summer, but it would be Mark Robins' Stoke side that would get his signature. Though, since his move, it hasn't at all worked out.

Jamie Donley has barely featured on loan for Stoke City this season

Football League World's Stoke fan pundit, Pete, has shared their thoughts on whether they can see Donley heading back to Spurs this January, given his lack of game time, and how he has performed in the limited minutes that he has received.

Pete said, "I think it's widely expected by Stoke fans that he will be recalled by Spurs in January.

"He's found himself behind Lewis Baker, Bae Jun-Ho, and even Tomas Rigo, who can play in the number ten position, and I just don't see, barring any injuries, how he's going to get into the team, which obviously isn't going to suit Spurs; that's the reason why they sent him out.

"In terms of his actual performances, he's only played once, and that was at home to Bradford in the League Cup. We lost 3-0; it was easily our worst performance of the season, and other than the assist that he got on the opening day against Derby, he hasn't really shown anything in the very limited time that he has had.

"I think it would probably make sense for all concerned if he were to go back to Spurs and probably head out on loan to a different club for the rest of the season."

Jamie Donley will likely be recalled in January following an underwhelming spell with Stoke City

It is more likely than not that Donley will be recalled from his loan spell with Stoke this January.

The attacking-midfielder has made just four league appearances for the Potters this season, accumulating just 77 minutes of Championship football in that time.

His last appearance came in Stoke's 2-0 away defeat to Millwall in October, and since then, he has either been named on the bench or, more recently, not been named in the squad at all.

Donley has been left out of the matchday squad for the Potters' three most recent league fixtures, against Bristol City, Oxford United, and Coventry City. With no news surrounding any potential injuries, it merely appears as though he has fallen out of favour under Robins.

Each of Lewis Baker, Bae Jun-Ho, and Tomas Rigo have all appeared in the number ten role on occasion this season, leaving Donley's minutes severely limited.

Should this not change upon the return of the international break, it is difficult to see a scenario where the Northern Irishman remains in the Potteries for the rest of the campaign.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

After a slow start to the season, it has been an excellent few months for Notts County in League Two.

Notts County picked up just one point from their first three games of the season, and that led to many supporters expressing doubts about the appointment of head coach Martin Paterson, who was a controversial choice to replace Stuart Maynard in the summer given his poor previous managerial record at Burton Albion.

However, the Magpies have been one of the form teams in the division since then, and they picked up their fourth win in five games with a 2-1 victory at Cheltenham Town on Monday to move into the automatic promotion places, with goals from Alassana Jatta and Tyrese Hall securing all three points for Paterson's men.

While Jatta's recent form is no surprise, Hall's performances have been one of the biggest positives for Notts this season, and the on-loan Tottenham Hotspur midfielder netted his sixth goal in just 16 appearances for the club in the win over the Robins.

The 20-year-old has come up with a host of crucial contributions for the Magpies in recent months, including scoring a brace in the 4-0 win over Crawley Town in September and hitting a last-minute winner in the 1-0 victory at Barnet last month, but fears are increasing that he could be recalled by Spurs in January and sent out on loan to a higher division.

It is not the first time Notts have business with the Premier League outfit, with midfielder George Abbott scoring six goals and providing seven assists in 44 appearances during a temporary spell at Meadow Lane last season, and they will be hoping to convince Spurs to allow them to keep hold of Hall for the entire campaign.

Notts County concerns outlined over potential Tyrese Hall, Spurs recall in January

When asked if he is worried that Hall could be recalled in January, FLW's Notts County fan pundit Gareth Parr admitted he is concerned about the possibility of losing the midfielder, but he urged Spurs to consider the progress Abbott made during the second half of last season at Meadow Lane before making a decision on the England Under-19 international's future.

"Obviously there's always a chance," Gareth told FLW.

"He's still very young, and I don't think he'll ever feature in the Spurs first team, so there's no real risk in that regard.

"They could recall him, whether they will or not is the real question.

"Notts have a very good development relationship with Spurs, especially following on from what happened with George Abbott last season.

"In the first half of last season, George Abbott was actually quite quiet, it wasn't until the second half of the season where he truly blossomed and became the player that he ended the season.

"There's always hope that the same sort of thing could happen with Tyrese Hall.

"Yes, he's got half a dozen goals already this season, he seems to be linking up well with someone of the senior players, especially Alassana Jatta, but who's to say he can't go on and score 12 goals in the second half of the season and develop even more?

"Especially with Notts pushing for promotion, he could potentially be in a position to be playing the very best teams in the division for a properly competitive promotion spot.

"It could go either way.

"They could recall him because they feel he's developed enough already and move him on somewhere else or they could keep him in place and see just how much better he can get in the second half of the season like Abbott did."

Martin Paterson will be sweating about Tyrese Hall, Notts County situation

It has been an impressive few months for Notts County as Paterson continues to prove his doubters wrong, and Hall has been one of the standout performers during their current strong run of form.

When players perform well on loan in League Two, it is a common occurrence for their parent club to recall them midway through the season and send them to a higher level, but if Spurs were to take up that option with Hall, they could risk stalling his development if he does not receive the same level of game time elsewhere.

Hall has thrived working under Paterson at Meadow Lane so far, so Spurs should resist any temptation to recall him in January and allow him to remain with the Magpies for the rest of the season, particularly given the way Abbott improved last term as the campaign went on.

Former Bristol City attacker Antoine Semenyo is attracting interest from Premier League heavyweights Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City heading into the January transfer window, which will be of interest to the Robins as they hold a 20% sell-on clause.

As per Sky Sports journalists Lyall Thomas and Mark McAdam, the top-flight trio are all monitoring Semenyo’s situation at Bournemouth, as the Ghanian international continues to transform himself into one of the biggest talents in England’s elite division.

Semenyo emerged and broke through the youth ranks at Bristol City back in 2018, taking on loan spells at Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland for the first two years of his time with the Robins.

His breakthrough at Ashton Gate would arrive in the 2020-21 season, where he featured in 44 of their 46 Championship games, scoring two and assisting four under the stewardship of Nigel Pearson.

The following season would see a significant surge in his attacking contributions while playing fewer games, as he netted eight times and provided 12 assists from 31 matches, as a knee injury disrupted some of his campaign.

The 25-year-old’s final term with Bristol City would come in 2022-23, playing half of that campaign as he registered six goals and two assists from 23 appearances. He secured a move during the January transfer window to Bournemouth for a reported £10.5m fee.

Since his move to the South Coast, Semenyo has gone from strength-to-strength, most notably improving under current boss Andoni Iraola.

For the Cherries, Semenyo has provided 26 goals and 12 assists as he approaches a century of appearances for the club, and has already scored six times in 11 top-flight matches this season to raise the eyebrows of some Premier League giants.

In the near future, the winger could be making a big-money move to test himself at the very top of the game, with Bristol City set to be beneficiaries of this.

Antoine Semenyo linked with January move to Premier League heavyweights, as Bristol City hold commanding sell-on fee

As per a report by Sky Sports on their Transfer Centre page, journalists Lyall Thomas and Mark McAdam have outlined that Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring a move for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo ahead of the January transfer window.

Semenyo signed a new contract in the summer amid interest from a number of clubs, including Spurs and Manchester United.

Reports began to surface that Semenyo had asked to leave Bournemouth at the turn of the new year, but they are believed to be false and the attacker is annoyed by those claims.

This is particularly of interest from a Bristol City perspective, as a report by Bristol Live in 2023 revealed the club will receive 20% of his next transfer fee when he eventually departs the Vitality Stadium.

A report by TeamTalk has revealed that Liverpool are considering submitting a bid of £70m to secure Semenyo’s services, meaning the Robins could recieve upwards of £14m if a deal is struck – a sensational amount for a Championship club.

Bristol City will be excited about a future Antoine Semenyo sale

Bristol City chiefs obviously saw what a talent Antoine Semenyo was from his time in the Championship with the Robins.

At the time, a £10.5m fee was almost too good to turn down as the game continues to be dominated from a financial point of view, with Championship clubs needing to find a way to sustain themselves without the blessing of parachute payments.

The hierarchy were very savvy to include such a high sell-on clause, and this decision is turning out to be a very smart one later down the line, particularly if the club can land that eight-figure sum.

Receiving those funds could be such a bonus for Bristol City this season, as they would be able to bolster the squad in January by adding it to their budget, as well as having the potential to trump rivals to transfer targets by having those extra financial resources.

Currently, Gerhard Struber is doing a fabulous job keeping the club on an upwards trajectory after he succeeded Liam Manning, and this added influx of cash could be exactly what they need to help them break into the play-offs or even push for an automatic promotion spot.

The Robins are certainly in a good place on the pitch, and their former academy graduate could prove to be a massive helping hand for their promotion hopes, provided he can seal a move away from Bournemouth in January.