Football League World

The Championship has become the home of many high-profile stars and upcoming talents in recent seasons, and such a trend is continuing once again in 2025/26.

In what has been dubbed as one of the most exciting second-tier campaigns for many years, the division's transfer record for an incoming was broken by Ipswich Town, with the Tractor Boys acquiring Sindre Walle Egeli for £17.5m, whilst the likes of Sverre Nypan, Jens Cajuste, Kyogo Furuhashi, David Strelec and Malick Yalcouye all made eye-catching transfer switches of their own

Despite the summer transfer window drawing to a close, there is still scope for the aforementioned trend to continue, with as many as four sides in the division linked with moves for former PFA Young Player of the Year and 37-time international attacking midfielder, Dele Alli, on a free transfer.

One of those clubs comes in the form of West Bromwich Albion, who remain unbeaten under the newly-appointed Ryan Mason in what is the 34-year-old's first managerial role after previously working as an assistant at Tottenham Hotspur.

However, as much as a move for Alli would cast further eyes on developments at The Hawthorns, it would present Mason with a major dilemma involving the Baggies' star performer so far this season.

Dele Alli linked with potential West Bromwich Albion transfer amid Birmingham City, Wrexham competition

Alli's career trajectory has been well-documented at length, with the 29-year-old playmaker bursting onto the Premier League stage with Tottenham after lighting up the League One stage with hometown club, MK Dons.

Despite racking up 269 appearances for the North London club under Mauricio Pochettino, José Mourinho and Mason - during his brief spell as interim boss - Alli has only played 29 times since the summer of 2022 for Everton, Besiktas and most recently, Como.

After signing an 18-month contract with the Italian side in January, which saw him play for just nine minutes against AC Milan, the former England international's contract was terminated by mutual consent last week, leading to speculation of a potential Championship move.

Unsurprisingly, the equally ambitious and big-spending duo of Birmingham City and Wrexham have been mooted as potential destinations as well as Swansea City - with investor Luka Modrić reportedly involved in transfer discussions - and Albion, with Alli and Mason previously having the connection of being teammates and colleagues at White Hart Lane and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Indeed, after starring for Spurs in a 2-0 success over West Brom's local rivals, Wolves, in May 2021, the current Baggies boss sung the praises of a rejuvenated Alli, stating: "But for me, Dele was excellent. I don't really like singling out players but it's hard not to.

"I'm sure everyone felt it. He ran, he pressed, he created opportunities. I'm sure he's disappointed he didn't get a goal himself but it was an excellent No 10 performance, so I'm really pleased."

Alli skipped the Championship during his rapid rise to young stardom 10 years ago, with Spurs acquiring his services as an 18-year-old for just £5m back in January 2015, just months before MK Dons were promoted to the second-tier for the first time ever.

There is no doubt that the capture of such a talented performer - who is eager to resurrect his career after a stagnant three-year period in which personal issues have come to light - ahead of potential promotion rivals, would be a major coup for Albion on a free transfer.

However, it begs the question as to how it would impact Isaac Price, who is currently flourishing for club and country in an advanced midfield role.

Potential West Brom, Dele Alli agreement would present Ryan Mason with Isaac Price dilemma

Similarly to the potential signing of Alli, Albion have been praised at length for the signing of Isaac Price back in January, with the Northern Ireland international becoming a standout performer in B71.

The Everton academy graduate was signed from Standard Liege under Tony Mowbray, yet it is Mason who is truly reaping the rewards of such a shrewd transfer agreement.

Following his move to the West Midlands in the winter, Price was utilised in an array of positions, predominantly featuring on the right side of midfield or at right-back, as well as showcasing his strong technical ability with a fine volley against Hull City in March.

However, with Mason now at the helm, the 21-year-old has found himself in an advanced role in the centre of the park with Jed Wallace and Mikey Johnston, most notably, either side of him, and the new boss couldn't have asked for a better start to the season, with Price scoring three times and posting an assist in the opening four games.

He has also featured in said role for Northern Ireland in World Cup Qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany most recently, becoming the country's youngest player to hit double figures in terms of goals during Sunday's 3-1 defeat in Cologne.

The Pontefract-born man exudes confidence at present, which is only a further boost to West Brom's promotion bid, which continues on Saturday against Derby County.

Therefore, whilst reuniting with Alli would be an ideal scenario for Mason, who clearly knows the character in question more than most, it doesn't necessarily guarantee immediate minutes from the off, unless Price's versatility was to be used once again, albeit it could make Albion's prized asset less effective.

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…

West Bromwich Albion have been warned against pursuing a swoop for former Tottenham Hotspur and England international sensation Dele Alli, who has recently become a free agent following his release from Italian outfit Como.

The Baggies have enjoyed an impressive start to the 2025/26 Championship campaign under head coach Ryan Mason, winning three of their opening four games to propel to second in the league standings behind Rob Edwards' Middlesbrough.

It comes following a busy summer transfer window at the Hawthorns, which saw West Brom sanction high-profile sales for Tom Fellows and Torbjorn Heggem while strengthening Mason's squad by acquiring the likes of George Campbell, Krystian Bielik, Alfie Gilchrist, Aune Heggebo, Samuel Iling-Junior and Chris Mepham.

However, it would appear that, despite the closure of the window last Monday, West Brom remain interested in adding to their squad by bringing in free agents. And one just could be Dele, who has recently been linked to the Baggies, alongside free-spending Championship rivals to Wrexham, by a report from the Daily Mail.

A return to England could be a possibility for Dele, having recently seen his contract terminated by Cesc Fabregas' Como.

The attacking midfielder, now aged 29, has endured a troubling few years both on and off-the-pitch, and he only ever managed 8 minutes of action for Como before being sent off in his first and only appearance following difficult spells with Everton and Besiktas after leaving Spurs in January 2022.

Once billed as English football's premiere prodigy, Dele famously broke onto the scene with Spurs following his arrival from MK Dons and scored 67 goals from nearly 300 appearances during his time in North London, having also racked up 37 England caps. However, his career has been on the decline for a number of years now, with Dele once again left to assess his options as a free agent.

West Brom urged against beating Wrexham to potential Dele Alli transfer

Football League World asked our West Brom fan pundit, Callum Burgess, whether he believes Mason - who both played alongside and coached Dele at Spurs - should consider taking a punt on the former wonderkid, or if there are too many red flags to make it a worthwhile signing for the promotion hopefuls.

Fitness and match readiness represent perhaps the most pertinent concerns, of course, with Dele having played very little football since his exit from Spurs.

And, in Callum's view, there are simply "too many red flags" attached to a deal for Dele, citing the midfielder's struggles for both form and fitness as clear warning signs.

"Everyone knows about the talent that Dele Alli possesses and it's certainly a shame the way his career has panned out," Callum told FLW.

"It didn't seem that he was able to get things going at Como, he got sent off in his first appearance and I think he'll be looking to join a club where he can have a fresh start in a new environment and kick on in his career.

"But certainly, I think with the risks that are attached — his form over the last few years and his fitness as well as his struggles towards the end of his time at Everton after his loan with Besiktas — it's highly, highly unlikely that we'll see the Dele Alli of old return ever again.

"There are too many risks that are attached to a potential signing, his wage demands would have to drop down because he'll be running out of options. I just think there are too many red flags attached to a deal, unfortunately."

Dele Alli, West Brom transfer could be a punt worth taking on one key condition

Callum is right to identify and explain the visible red flags which would accompany any potential deal for Dele, who is some years away from even playing consistent first-team football — never mind exhibiting his best form — and the possibility of a resurgence on that front is only decreasing as the weeks, months and years toil on.

It's a sobering fall from grace, particularly in consideration of Dele's well-documented struggles all the way from childhood away from the pitch, and he needs to ensure that his next destination, should he wish to continue his footballing career, is somewhere that he will receive time, patience, and love-in as he pushes for a return to playing regularly.

Whether West Brom, who have designs on competing for promotion in a unforgiving and unrelenting 46-game slog of a season in the Championship, can realistically offer that is open for debate, but Dele's natural gifts most certainly aren't and they will still leave clubs, to this very day, wondering if they can crack the code and get him back firing on all cylinders once again.

The unfortunate reality is that Dele's days of footballing stardom are now long behind him, but talent doesn't simply vanish and he still has the ability — if both his body and his mind are in the right place, of course — to light up the Championship. And that's why the Baggies perhaps should not rubbish the possibility of making a move to bring him back to English shores, although offering a pay-as-you-play deal may be the only way to navigate it while minimising the unavoidable risks.

It's not clear just how ready Dele is, and how much football his body is capable of playing these days, but such a deal would prevent West Brom from forking out presumably high wages to a player with lingering question marks and one who has featured scarcely in recent times.

Of course, the conditional basis of a pay-as-you-play contract may not be quite so appealing to Dele, but he's going to have to make some sacrifices if he intends on a return to playing and, with his fresh Como struggles firmly in mind, this could turn out to be his best option at this stage of his career.

Birmingham City, West Brom and Wrexham have all been linked with a shock move for out-of-contract midfielder Dele Ali.

This is according to the Daily Mail, who believe the ex-England international could be making a return to his homeland after a brief and unsuccessful stint in Italy with Como.

The 29-year-old has failed to hit the promising heights he once had after breaking through at Spurs.

After leaving the North London outfit in 2022, he made 13 appearances for Everton before making a switch overseas to Turkey with Besiktas, playing just 13 league games too.

He continued his stay abroad by moving to Italy with Como, but he only made one appearance in Serie A, which resulted in a red card 10 minutes into his debut.

This led to manager Cesc Fàbregas banishing him from their training camp this summer and his contract was terminated.

In fact, it’s approaching three years since Ali last played 90 minutes in a game, with personal struggles getting in the way of him kicking on and establishing himself as one of the world’s top players.

This would be a gamble for any football club to take on, but the likes of Birmingham, West Brom and Wrexham see it as a risk worth pursuing given his previous credentials and a need to play regular first-team football as he hits the reset button on his career.

Birmingham City, West Brom and Wrexham eye Dele Ali swoop

As per a report by the Daily Mail, Championship trio Birmingham City, West Brom and Wrexham are all interested in a shock move for midfielder Dele Ali, who remains a free agent following his release from Italian side Como.

The report has detailed that Ali has been going through a lot of personal battles recently, dealing with the death of long-term friend George Baldock, while his relationship with partner Cindy Kimberly recently came to an end.

But it now appears the former England international is ready to put football back to the forefront of his mind and ply his trade in the second-tier, despite reports earlier in this summer revealing that he was considering retirement.

It is believed Ali would be in favour of making a move to any of the clubs, with Birmingham City and Wrexham appealing options given their well-documented rises through significant American investment, while Albion are also American-owned with Shilen Patel and are battling at the top end of the division.

And Albion boss Ryan Mason could have the pulling power to force Ali’s hand over a move.

Mason has had previous experience of managing Ali during his interim stints as Spurs boss, bringing him into his plans after he had previously been frozen out by José Mourinho.

The writer of the report, Luke Power, believes the best fit for Ali would be at The Hawthorns, where there would be less scrutiny, but for now, it is all talk, and no concrete offers have been made.

Signing Dele Ali could be a gamble worth taking on one condition

There’s no doubt that signing someone like Dele Ali would be a huge gamble.

The former England wonderkid has failed to play any regular football over the last three years, struggling with injuries as well as his personal battles off the field.

But there’s no doubt he’s still an immensely talented footballer. He just needs the right environment and support system to help him get his life back on track and to do his talking on the pitch consistently.

And if any of the Championship clubs were to lure him into a move, then it must be on a pay-as-you-play contract.

That would ensure a club would be getting the maximum effort out of him to stay fit and play regularly, as well as benefiting the team by allowing him to showcase his qualities and help a club fight towards promotion to the Premier League.

If Ali arrives in the Championship, it would be one of the biggest signings the second-tier has ever witnessed, and it could be the perfect place to reinvigorate himself and allow the 29-year-old to get on an upwards trajectory after so many lows.

Leicester City and Sheffield United may be set to miss out on the potential signing of Manor Solomon, as Crystal Palace have registered their interest in the Tottenham Hotspur winger.

The Daily Mail have reported that Palace are interested in a loan with a buy option for the 26-year-old, who played a big role in Leeds United's 100-point Championship-winning campaign last season.

Solomon returned to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, but is yet to make an impact on the current Spurs squad after he began the season with a calf injury. Now fit again, he was an unused substitute in their recent defeat against Bournemouth.

The Israeli international will want to make an impact in the Premier League, after showing his class in the second tier last season, and with Palace seemingly interested, it may spell the end of Sheffield United or Leicester's pursuit of the dynamic winger.

Crystal Palace's interest in Manor Solomon will detrimentally affect Sheffield United and Leicester City's transfer plans

Matt Barlow from the Daily Mail has revealed that, whilst now match fit again, Solomon is available for a departure, either permanently or on loan, this deadline day.

He stated on X that Premier League outfit Crystal Palace have shown interest in the 44-capped Israeli international, and a loan-to-buy deal may be discussed.

The Sheffield Star reported last week that the Blades were interested in Solomon, as well recently relegated Leicester being named as a potential Championship destination for the 26-year-old.

It would have been a statement signing for any second-tier side if they were able to bring Solomon in, as the wideman was instrumental in the promotion-winning Leeds side, especially towards the back end of last season, where he scored three and assisted five in the last six games en route to winning the Championship title.

So, if the likes of Sheffield United or Leicester were able to make a deal, it would have significantly bolstered their frontline.

But both the Foxes and the Blades may now have to look elsewhere, especially if the current FA Cup holders' interest becomes concrete between now and the window's closure at 7pm.

Creative outlets are needed at Sheffield United on deadline day

Whilst Leicester still hold plenty of attacking prowess, especially out wide, Sheffield United may be affected a little more by this transfer miss.

It's been a disastrous first month in the Bramall Lane dugout for Ruben Selles, losing all five of his games in both the league and cup, with his side scoring just one Championship goal all season.

The Blades have struggled to create, and adding someone like Solomon, who contributed 12 assists and created a league-best 21 big chances last season in the Championship, would have been a big signing for the current basement side in the second tier.

Time is running out for Sheffield United to make one last big splash in the transfer window, as they aim to bring in some quality to help Ruben Selles turn this poor start around.

Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle have emerged as two clubs keen on securing the services of Tottenham striker Dane Scarlett.

The Valiants lost their leading scorer, Lorent Tolaj, to Argyle earlier in the window, after the striker's £1.2m release clause was met by their League One rivals.

Tolaj had certainly been instrumental in Vale's promotion back to League One, finishing with 15 goals and nine assists across 42 games in 24/25.

Darren Moore has already signed Derby County's Dajaune Brown on loan for the season, with the 19-year-old Jamaican under-23 international making his debut on Saturday against Reading as a substitute - he clearly wants more reinforcements however at the top end of the pitch, and a youngster who has had a high reputation for years is on his radar.

Tottenham striker Dane Scarlett wanted by Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle

Tottenham have reportedly ignited a transfer race by making young striker Dane Scarlett available for a loan move, according to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon.

Port Vale are named by Nixon as one of the many clubs understood to be in the running for Scarlett, who says even some Championship sides are monitoring the situation closely.

And as per another journalist in Darren Witcoop, Plymouth Argyle are another who are keeping close tabs on Scarlett's situation - which comes after FLW exclusively revealed that the Pilgrims have made a late move to make another loan signing - Derby County midfielder Ben Osborn.

Plymouth have a good relationship in recent times with Spurs, having taken Ashley Phillips and Alfie Devine from the north London outfit in recent times.

Scarlett's availability comes after a pretty mediocre loan spell at Oxford United last season. The striker joined the then-newly-promoted side but managed just four goals in 20 appearances before being recalled by Spurs in January.

Derby's Brown was Vale's tenth summer signing, and they've already signed Wrexham's Mo Faal - another out-and-out striker - on loan.

This means if Scarlett was to sign for the Valiants, he'd be the third loanee striker at the club.

But after six league games, the only striker to score a goal in the league is Tolaj - who isn't even at the club anymore.

Dane Scarlett's loan record surely raises questions for Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle

Now 21 years of age, Scarlett's loan history paints a pretty underwhelming picture that potential suitors will perhaps need to consider carefully.

His most successful temporary spell - in terms of goals scored - came at Portsmouth during the 2022/23 season, where he netted six goals in 40 appearances across all competitons.

Six isn't exactly a high number either, and his subsequent moves have proven more challenging - a loan to Ipswich Town for the 2023/24 season was cut short after just 12 substitute appearances.

Then, similarly, Scarlett was obviously sent back to Spurs last season after spending time with The U's - apparently due to the Championship side signing Millwall's Tom Bradshaw as a more experienced option.

The striker has made 17 first-team appearances for Tottenham to date, and upon his return to the club in January he did bag a goal and assist in their UEFA Europa League win over Elfsborg.

Newcastle United have joined the race for Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss.

The Foxes kicked off their Championship campaign with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, coming from behind to defeat the Owls.

However, Marti Cifuentes may have to fend off yet another side in pursuit of one of his star players.

Newcastle United eyeing up move for Bilal El Khannouss

El Khannouss has been the subject of extensive transfer interest this summer, following an impressive debut campaign with the Foxes last term.

Sunderland, AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have all previously been linked with the 21-year-old, who provided two assists in Leicester City’s Championship opener against Wednesday.

The Mackems now reportedly face competition from their arch-rivals, Newcastle United, with John Percy stating via X that Eddie Howe’s side have a strong interest in the attacking midfielder.

Percy also mentioned that Leeds United were keen on El Khannouss earlier in the summer, alongside other Premier League clubs.

It has been previously reported that the player has a release clause worth €26 (£22.5) million in his deal, which is just higher than the £21 million Leicester forked out for his services last summer.

El Khannouss has a contract with the Foxes until the summer of 2028 after joining from Genk last summer.

The young talent featured 32 times in the Premier League last term, contributing two goals and three assists. This couldn’t prevent Leicester’s relegation however, but impressed a whole host of top-flight teams.

Leicester City have an uphill fight to keep Bilal El Khannouss

With Newcastle United now joining the hunt for El Khannouss, it seems an even harder task for Leicester City to retain his services this summer.

Champions League outfits such as Tottenham and the Magpies will present an extremely attractive opportunity for the 21-year-old, which may prove too tempting to turn down.

The attacking midfielder showed how crucial he could be for the Foxes during their Championship opener against Sheffield Wednesday, providing two assists and claiming the Player of the Match award.

His skillset and ability are clearly above the second-tier level but keeping an asset such as El Khannouss would boost Leicester’s chances of promotion tenfold.

However, the prospect of that seems increasingly unlikely with the calibre of names that have been credited with an interest in the Foxes’ man.

Leicester may hope that the fact some top-flight teams wouldn’t be able to guarantee El Khannouss playing time might work in their favour, but that seems to be the only slight bit of hope Cifuentes and Co. can cling on to right now.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs eyeing a potential move for Swansea City duo Harlan Perry and Brogan Popham.

According to Teamtalk, the pair of 17-year-old’s have an uncertain future with the Swans, with multiple sides keeping tabs on their availability.

Neither player has made their first team debut for the Welsh outfit, but they have earned a lot of attention for their performances at underage level.

They have already featured for the Wales U19 side, and have reputations as promising up-and-coming stars.

Swansea starlets targeted by Spurs and Watford

Spurs are reportedly keen on the Swansea pair as they look to bolster their options at underage level in a bid to improve their pool of homegrown players under Thomas Frank.

It has been claimed that the Championship club are vulnerable to losing both players, with rivals Watford also scouting their situation.

Manchester City and Manchester United have also been credited with doing their due diligence on the duo’s potential.

However, despite their interest in the players, it’s believed that Spurs and the Hornets are currently leading the race to their signatures, in the event they move from Swansea.

It remains to be seen what kind of fee either club would be willing to pay, but it’s believed the Swans are facing a battle to hold onto the highly-rated prospects this summer.

Perry is a midfielder that will turn 18 in November, while Popham plays as a centre-back.

Swansea City’s summer business

This summer has seen Alan Sheehan add a number of names to his first team squad, having been appointed permanent manager at the end of the previous campaign.

The Swans have signed the likes of Zeidan Inoussa, Ethan Galbraith, Bobby Wales, Cameron Burgess, Ricardo Santos, Paul Parman and Kaelan Casey.

Sheehan’s side lost their opening game of the campaign 1-0 to Middlesbrough.

Next up in the league they will face Sheffield United at home on 16 August.

Swansea should be demanding big fees for their underage talent

Popham and Perry certainly both have a lot of potential if they’ve already got this calibre of club eyeing their signatures.

Spurs are in desperate need of adding younger talent to their ranks in order to consistently meet the homegrown quotas in European competitions, which has been a big factor in their business over the last 12 months.

So Swansea should be holding out for significant fees, and certainly notable sell-on clauses in any potential deals for this pair.

They could both break into Sheehan’s side this summer, and that immediate pathway to senior minutes could help convince them to stay, so the Championship side should not be letting them go so easily.

Two more Premier League outfits have joined the race for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

The Saints are preparing to embark on their 2025/26 Championship campaign with a home clash against Wrexham.

Will Still and Co. have pressing matters to attend to off the pitch too, with Dibling’s future destination now seemingly undecided.

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United join Tyler Dibling hunt

It looked like the 19-year-old’s future lay in Merseyside, with Ben Jacobs revealing that there was an optimism between Everton and Southampton that a deal could be completed.

The Toffees saw a bid of £27 million for Dibling rejected, with Still’s side reportedly holding out for an offer in the region of £40 million, as per Alex Crook.

Now, Everton are rumoured to face serious competition for the teenager’s signature.

According to Teamtalk, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are now showing interest in a deal for Dibling, with David Moyes’ outfit in danger of missing out on the transfer.

Spurs are believed to be following the situation closely whilst monitoring developments, whereas Newcastle are rumoured to have made early contact with the player, with talks still in a very preliminary stage.

This isn’t the first time the North London side have been linked with a move for Dibling, as it was reported by Football Insider that they saw a bid rejected for the winger in January.

Despite Southampton’s struggles last term, the 19-year-old’s quality was clear to see throughout the campaign, quickly emerging as one of the top-flight’s leading young talents.

Dibling has a contract with the Saints until 2027, but it seems inevitable that he will exit St. Mary’s this summer in pursuit of Premier League football.

New interest will suit Southampton in Tyler Dibling transfer saga

Everton seemed by far the most likely club to acquire the teenager’s signature this summer, but now they face strong competition from two Champions League outfits.

The financial muscle this duo possesses far outweighs that of Everton, which means that the Toffees probably wouldn’t fare to well if things come down to a bidding war.

Therefore, Southampton now hold all the cards during negotiations.

They can now comfortably stick to their asking price of £40 million, knowing that if Everton refuse to pay, there are two more teams interested in Dibling.

This also pressures Everton into making a decision quickly, which would further benefit the Saints.

Huddersfield Town are in search of a new attacking midfielder, as Lee Grant continues to shape his squad that he hopes will be capable of winning promotion from League One this season.

After a disappointing campaign which saw a late collapse leaving the Terriers outside the play-off places, there's certainly been no messing around in the transfer window to try and achieve promotion this time around.

Grant has already been very busy this window, bringing in some hugely impressive and smart signings for the Yorkshire-based club, which helped them kick off the new season with a 3-0 victory over last season's play-off finalists Leyton Orient.

However, the rookie boss isn't done yet, with reports from Alan Nixon via his X account revealing that Huddersfield want to add a new attacking midfielder to their ranks before the transfer window shuts in just under a month, despite adding Chelsea loanee Leo Castledine in recently.

With that in mind, Football League World opted to look at two options for a new attacking midfielder Huddersfield could explore this summer.

One player who is somewhat of an unknown for the season ahead is Cameron Humphreys at Ipswich Town.

The 21-year-old had an excellent loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers last season, but it's unclear where he fits in at Portman Road this term.

Having come so close to gaining promotion with the Chairboys last season, the midfielder could be an excellent option for Huddersfield, providing a proven League One player who is only going to get better and better.

Whilst it would likely only be a loan deal for Town, getting one of the best midfielders in the division from last season would be yet another huge statement from the Terriers, and he would bring some excellent qualities to the side.

Comfortable in Grant's preferred 4-2-3-1 system as the middle attacking midfielder, Humphreys brings energy, great ball retention, and the ability to unlock defences with his quick link-up play. He's also proven to be capable of moments of individual brilliance to win games.

Tottenham Hotspur have made young attacking midfielder Alfie Devine available for loan once again this season, after a strong campaign with Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League last season.

The 21-year-old is a highly-rated prospect with the Premier League giants, and could well be a huge addition for Huddersfield, having already gained valuable experience in the EFL with Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle respectively.

Similarly to Humphreys, the system that Grant uses for his Terriers side will bring the best out of Devine, with two wingers besides him and the sole striker in front. The Spurs prospect would have creative freedom to link the defence to the attack, which is a role he would absolutely thrive in.

Dominant with the ball at his feet, Devine has the ability to evade the press and create moments of magic by using his mobility and technical ability, whilst also being able to chip in with a goal every so often thanks to his intelligent forward runs.

Tottenham may prefer a Championship move for Devine at this moment in time, given he's already experienced the division, but sending him to an expected League One promotion contender in the form of Huddersfield could be just as beneficial to get him on the ball and develop as much as possible.

Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson played a key role in getting Tottenham Hotspur loanee Ashley Phillips to return to the club.

It came as a surprise to many when the young Spurs centre-back chose to return to the bet365 Stadium for a second stint with the club, especially following a campaign that almost led to Stoke's relegation to League One.

The 20-year-old was one of the few strong performers in the City camp in the 2024/25 campaign, helping the Potters to keep 10 clean sheets in his 35 starts in the Championship.

Another big reason behind Stoke's survival was their Swedish international goalkeeper. In his first season with the red and white-striped side, Johansson continued to show why many people felt that he was one of the best shot-stoppers in the division, even in his relegation season with Rotherham United.

He recorded the second-highest goals prevented in the division, only behind James Trafford, and, unsurprisingly, he won the supporters' Player of the Season award.

Viktor Johansson's part in securing the signing of Ashley Phillips

There were reports that West Ham United and other Premier League clubs were interested in the 26-year-old on Monday, however they have decided to pursue another target between the sticks in the form of Botafogo's John.

Stoke Sentinel reporter Pete Smith said, amid the keeper's links with the top flight, that the Potters weren't expecting any approaches for their number one and that Johansson was happy at the bet365 Stadium.

In the same post on X, Smith also revealed the part that the former Rotherham captain played in Stoke's move for Phillips. According to the journalist, Johansson led a group of the club's players who urged the 20-year-old to return to the Trent-side city.

The Championship side clearly have a good relationship with Phillips' parent club as they have also managed to beat some of their second-tier competitors to the signing of Jamie Donley, Spurs' young Northern Irish international who had a breakout season with Leyton Orient last term.

Stoke's incredibly impressive loan summer signings

Donley's arrival makes it three impressive Premier League loanees that have come aboard the ship captained by Mark Robins this summer - Manchester City's Divin Mubama being the third of them, alongside the two north London-based prospects.

Championship clubs are limited to how many temporary acquisitions they can use - up to five in the matchday squad - so Stoke are nearing their max on that front.

They have received some criticism this summer for some of their transfer activity, particularly the sale of Wouter Burger to Hoffenheim. What you can't doubt is that they definitely know how to convince top-flight clubs to send their brightest talents their way.