Football League World

The FA Cup is a unique spectacle season upon season which delivers the sort of results not witnessed in other competitions, so this year's second round was hotly anticipated.

It did not disappoint either, as Saturday night saw League Two play-off chasers AFC Wimbledon fall to a defeat at the hands of National League mid-table outfit Dagenham & Redbridge.

Sunday also witnessed an upset as National League newcomers Tamworth disposed of League One Burton Albion via a penalty shoot-out victory.

Although the absence of replays has taken the shine off the cup in the eyes of many lower league and non-league supporters, there have still been shocks to cherish this term, and that's before we get into round three, where Premier League clubs are susceptible to stumble.

However, seventh tier Harborough Town's luck was out on Sunday, as they twice held the lead away from home at League One Reading, but eventually fell to a 5-3 defeat following extra time.

Sandro's FA Cup appearance will have surprised Tottenham Hotspur and Reading supporters

But while the Royals' clash with Southern Premier opposition did not produce a surprise result, it did include a player many supporters will have been surprised to see, in the form of ex-Brazil international and former Tottenham midfielder Sandro, who made his debut for Harborough.

His appearance will have shocked both Royals and Spurs fans alike, as the 35-year-old had previously retired, and his last competitive appearance prior to Sunday's FA Cup outing came during the 2021/22 season, when he was plying his trade for Portugese side B-SAD.

Sandro played for Spurs during five Premier League seasons, after signing from Brazilian Serie A side Internacional in 2010, before leaving in favour of QPR in 2014.

In fact, his most recent appearance in English football, prior to his Harborough debut on Sunday, came when he was playing for the R's in the 2016/17 Championship season.

He is also a familiar face to fellow second tier outfit West Brom, where he spent the latter half of the 2015/16 Premier League season, while on loan from the R's.

But it is Tottenham and Reading fans who will have been most surprised by the midfielder's return to the English game, as he made four Champions League appearances for Spurs back in 2010/11, while his most recent outing saw him playing for a seventh tier side against the Royals in the FA Cup.

Frankly, supporters of either club could not be blamed if they had not realised that Sandro had returned to his playing days, and would be making a cup appearance in Berkshire on Sunday.

Following his previous retirement from football, the Brazilian works as a hospitality host at Spurs, which is where he met season ticket holder and Harborough boss Mitch Austin.

Sandro told the Daily Mail: "It’s a funny story.

"I work for Tottenham at home games, talking to the fans in hospitality.

"Mitch was in the restaurant and was saying 'Sandro, you look good, you should play for my team.'

"I said yeah, why not, man, let’s go.

"It was just like that."

Perhaps fittingly for a competition which has sparked so many unique tales up and down the country, it was in the FA Cup that Sandro's debut for the seventh tier side would arrive.

While Royals supporters will be best pleased by the fact that their side has progressed to round three, seeing a Premier League veteran plying his trade for their semi-pro opponents on Sunday will also have brought a smile to their faces.

Spurs fans, meanwhile, will be intrigued to see how their former midfield regular performs in the Southern Premier, but may be disappointed that Harborough did not progress with the Brazilian among their ranks.

Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson ahead of a potential swoop.

This is according to The Sun, who have gone on to report that Spurs will keep an eye on the player for the rest of the year too, as they weigh up whether to make a move for the Englishman.

The 24-year-old has been one of the first names on the teamsheet for the Black Cats since the latter stages of the 2021/22 campaign.

They went on to be promoted back to the Championship at the end of that season, with the shot-stopper's contributions helping them to escape from the clutches of League One.

The Wearside outfit then went on to secure a top-six finish back in the second tier at the end of the 202/23 campaign, before falling well short last term.

Patterson has been fairly consistent throughout this period though, and along with Sheffield United's Michael Cooper, Patterson has been able to establish himself as one of the best keepers outside the Premier League.

Tottenham weighing up Anthony Patterson approach

Patterson has attracted plenty of interest in the past.

Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers were previously linked with a move for the shot-stopper, but clubs higher up the English top tier have also been linked with a move for him.

Manchester United and Liverpool are two teams that were believed to have taken an interest earlier this season, but another team have now entered the mix and could beat the duo to his signature.

Spurs will keep tabs on Patterson for the remainder of the year, before deciding whether he will become an "emergency signing", according to The Sun.

With Vicario currently out of action, the North London outfit need cover, and Patterson could potentially come in and become an important figure in the English capital.

He may need to sit on the bench at times though - and Tottenham also have a couple of other options in mind - including Burnley's James Trafford and Anger stopper Yahia Fofana.

Sunderland should look to retain Anthony Patterson

Having sold Jack Clarke during the summer window, the Black Cats should be looking to keep the remainder of their squad together.

Patterson is such an important player between the sticks, and even though Simon Moore came in for him when he was injured earlier this season, the 24-year-old's departure would be sorely felt.

His contract doesn't expire until 2028 either, so the Wearside outfit shouldn't be under too much pressure to sell him.

The Black Cats are also competing for promotion at this point, despite some disappointing recent results.

Whilst they are still in the mix for promotion, it would be a mistake to cash in on one or two of their best players, so retaining their squad should be a key January priority.

Carlton Palmer believes that James Trafford should remain at Burnley beyond the January transfer window amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

According to Talksport, the London club are eyeing the 22-year-old as a potential option following the injury to Guglielmo Vicario.

The shot-stopper is out with an ankle injury which has required surgery to already take place, and is set to be absent for months rather than weeks.

This has come as a huge blow to Ange Postecoglou’s side, who will have Fraser Forster to step into the team in his place.

The 36-year-old’s previous poor form for Spurs has led to speculation that a signing may be sought in the winter market to better cover for Vicario’s absence.

Carlton Palmer gives James Trafford transfer verdict

Palmer is not surprised by the renewed speculation over Trafford’s future at Turf Moor, but expects him to remain with the Championship side.

He has questioned why the youngster would make the switch to a team where he will ultimately end up out of the team once Vicario is back fit.

“Speculation surrounding Burnley’s outstanding goalkeeper James Trafford, with the latest team to be interested is Tottenham, as they have an injury to their first team goalkeeper,” Palmer told Football League World.

“I doubt very much whether Burnley are going to sell James in the January transfer window.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about the 22-year-old in recent times, he was supposed to leave in the summer, but that deal didn’t materialise.

“He was supposed to go to Newcastle on the final day with £20 million plus add-ons, the deal didn’t materialise, they rejected £15 million from Newcastle before it went to £20 million.

“So, at the end of the day, it’s not going to be a thing where Burnley are rushing into it.

“The situation is he’s playing regular first team football, he’s been outstanding, why would he go to a club where he’s noHe has predicted it will cost somewhere between £30m-£35m to convince Burnley to cash in midway through the campaign.t going to play? He’s playing regularly now, Burnley are going to be knocking on the door for promotion.

“They should be looking at one and two, but they’re certainly going to be in the race for the play-offs.”

Palmer gives James Trafford valuation prediction

Palmer has predicted it will cost somewhere between £30 to 35 million to convince Burnley to cash in midway through the campaign.

“Certainly they’ll want a lot of money for him, they signed him from Man City in a deal worth £19 million, so there’s no way he’s going to sell the 22-year-old without getting a serious profit on him, with him being such a young player and he’s only going to get better,” he added.

“So, I can’t see Burnley selling James in the January transfer window.

“I mean, Burnley are on 33 points, only two points off the leaders in the division, they’ve only conceded six goals, that’s all they’ve conceded all season, so they’ve got the best defensive record in the league.

“There’s no way they’re going to allow him to leave the football club unless they get huge amounts of money.

“I would be talking £30 to 35 million for them to let him go, so I still expect to see him at Burnley this season.

“And for a young player, who is number one at a football club, why would you want to go and sit on the bench? Makes no sense.”

James Trafford is best off staying at Burnley

A move to Spurs would net Trafford the short-term boost of regular Premier League game time at a big club for a few months.

But once Vicario is back fit, he will be dropped back to the bench because the Italian is one of the best in the division.

While Trafford may feel he can compete for game time with a fit Vicario, that is a big risk to take at this stage of his career, especially when he’s settled at Burnley.

Remaining there until the end of the campaign and reassessing his future in the summer is the best course of action, especially as the Clarets could be back in the top flight by then.

Tottenham Hotspur sent scouts to watch Sunderland's Tommy Watson on Saturday, while Crystal Palace and West Ham United are also interested, according to TBR Football.

The North London club pounced on the opportunity to witness one of the Black Cats' most promising talents in the capital as they drew 1-1 with Millwall at The Den.

TBR Football understands that Crystal Palace and West Ham are also believed to be tracking the 18-year-old winger.

Watson was not the only point of attraction at The Den, with Sunderland star Chris Rigg also being scouted by Spurs and Arsenal.

Tommy Watson benefiting from increased minutes for Sunderland

Brighton & Hove Albion made an audacious deadline day bid for Watson at the end of the summer transfer window.

Although not many outside of Sunderland would have known much about the up-and-coming talent, the Seagulls were clearly onto something.

The Wearsiders resisted Brighton's approach and while the 18-year-old had to remain patient for opportunities, he is now emerging as a regular under Regis Le Bris.

Having featured as a late substitute in his first four appearances for the club, Watson has started in each of his last two outings, against Preston North End and Millwall.

Watson is likely to feature more heavily in the coming weeks, with Romaine Mundle set to be out with a hamstring injury until the New Year.

Furthermore, Patrick Roberts will likely see his minutes managed. Although a regular starter, the winger rarely completes 90 minutes of football.

The right-winger is following in the footsteps of Rigg, who is now a regular starter for the club, having come through the academy.

Rigg made his debut at 15 years of age for the Black Cats and, although he was a squad player last season, he has proven too good to be rested this term.

Le Bris has shown that he is not afraid to give youth a chance and is a believer that if you are good enough, then you are old enough.

This belief will surely play into Watson's hands, who has been knocking on the door for quite some time. With Mundle out for a lengthy period, now is his chance to shine.

Comparisons to Jack Clarke have been thrown around regularly, with many claiming Watson is a re-gen of the departed Ipswich Town winger.

Those similarities are glaringly obvious, considering their position, direct style of play and ability to beat a man.

Reports of Premier League interest in Watson are not surprising as the teenager looks destined for a bright future in the game.

Given his age and the fact he has over a year and a half remaining on his current deal, it would take some offer for the Wearsiders to consider letting him leave.

With the 18-year-old in line to play his longest stretch of games in his budding career, he will be relishing the opportunity to make an impact for his boyhood club.

It is testament to Watson's ability as a young footballer that he is being pursued by some of the leading names in English football.

The teenager is benefiting from a more regular role in the Sunderland side but must keep his head down and focus on his development as a footballer.

The Black Cats are braced for January bids for their stars, but Watson is surely a player the club will look to hold on to for the foreseeable future.

Premier League teams are reportedly starting to look at Aston Villa and Stockport County prospect Louie Barry, with Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur being two of the main contenders to sign the youngster.

The report comes from Spanish outlet Fichajes, who claim the on-loan Villa prospect could be tempted by a top-flight move.

This weekend proved, once again, that it is ridiculous that Barry has spent the last two seasons in League Two and League One.

County took on fellow newly promoted side Wrexham. Despite their new status in the English third tier, both are threatening to make the play-offs at least this season, making the contest a potentially very important one, even at this stage of the term.

Stockport came away from the Edgeley Park encounter with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of the right boot of Barry. Not for the first time this season, he finished in ludicrous fashion, finding the far corner of the goal from the left edge of the penalty box, threading his attempt through the many bodies that stood before him.

The 21-year-old forward has been sent on loan to Stockport by Villa for the last two campaigns, and he is arguably doing better now, in a higher division, than he was last time out. That goal against Wrexham took his tally for the campaign, in the league, to 11 goals, plus one assist on top of that.

Louie Barry attracting Premier League attention

Barry's exploits aren't going unnoticed. The former Barcelona academy member may already be contracted to a Premier League side but there are other top flight teams who are reportedly considering a move for him.

According to Fichajes, Leicester and Tottenham are the leading candidates in England's first division to sign Barry, if he is sold by Villa. That would, of course, mean him leaving Stockport too.

Spurs have shown a great willingness to invest in younger players already this season. They spent £40 million and £8.5 million, respectively, on 18-year-old talents in the summer; Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray and Swedish creative Lucas Bergvall.

Ange Postecoglou's side see Barry as both a short and long-term option for their forward line, as per Fichajes. Just like their successful attempt to sign Gray in the summer, capturing this current EFL talent won't come without some competition.

Leicester may also look to Barry as an option to help them out right now, as well as down the road, given their current struggles.

The Spanish outlet added that the chance to play in the Premier League could be an enticing factor for Barry.

Losing Louie Barry would be a bigger blow for Stockport than for Aston Villa

Just how well Dave Challinor's side have adapted to League One football has been impressive. Even with the resources behind them, they weren't so dominant in the fourth tier that it felt like they were going to be one of the leading contenders once they'd been promoted, but here we are.

They have taken advantage of what feels like a generally weakened/underperforming League One, and they now have the chance to try and achieve back-to-back promotions.

It's a hard achievement for any team to pull off, but it will be even tougher without Barry there to help. He's been unquestionably their best player this season, and it's not like they'd get any cash compensation for losing him that they'd be able to use to replace him either.

For Villa, selling to a Premier League rival might not be the smartest thing in the world to do, given his potential. However, they have plenty of top young forwards and wingers in their ranks already. It feels like Barry is unlikely to get a shot in their first team in the near future, so why wouldn't they consider moving him on for a healthy profit.

If that is what happens in January - although there is no guarantee that anyone will make a move for him in the winter - it'll be a much more painful blow for the Hatters to absorb than for Barry's Premier League parent club.

It has been an excellent start to the season for Birmingham City in League One.

Blues are playing in the third tier of English football for the first time in almost 30 years after their relegation from the Championship last season, but they look to be in a strong position to bounce back at the first attempt.

The ambitious Midlands outfit reportedly spent a total of around £24 million during the course of the summer transfer window, including £15 million on Fulham striker Jay Stansfield, and after such heavy investment, many have tipped them to comfortably win the title this season.

It has been a frustrating few weeks for Birmingham, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Northampton Town at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park last Saturday, with Mitch Pinnock's stoppage time equaliser rescuing a point for the Cobblers after Jay Stansfield had given the hosts the lead earlier in the second half.

The Blues have lost their place at the top of the League One table to Wycombe Wanderers, but they are only two points behind the Chairboys with a game in hand, and they will be looking to return to winning ways when they make the trip to bottom side Shrewsbury Town next weekend.

It has been a turbulent year on and off the pitch for Birmingham since Tom Wagner's takeover last summer, and managerial instability was a big factor in their relegation last season, with six different managers, including caretakers, taking charge of the team in total during the campaign.

The Blues were forced into another change in the dugout this summer as Tony Mowbray stepped down due to health reasons, but the club's decision to appoint former Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Chris Davies has proven to be a masterstroke so far.

Chris Davies appointment was a gamble for Birmingham City

Davies has made an excellent start to life at Birmingham in what is his first managerial role, but it could all have turned out so differently.

The Blues reportedly considered over 1,000 coaches and held talks with 40 candidates during their manager search before appointing Davies, with experienced names such as Alex Neil and Paul Heckingbottom believed to have been in contention.

After being forced to retire from playing at a young age due to injury, Davies moved into coaching, and he had spells at Swansea City, Liverpool, Reading, Celtic and Leicester City, working with Brendan Rodgers for much of that time, before making the move to Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

Davies was named as an assistant coach to Ange Postecoglou at Spurs, and as his reputation continued to grow, he attracted Championship interest during his time in North London, with Swansea said to have been interested in the 39-year-old in December following the sacking of Michael Duff.

While Davies turned down the opportunity to take charge of the Swans, he decided to take his first steps into management with Birmingham, and given his strong coaching credentials, he certainly looked to be an exciting choice for the Midlands outfit.

However, the appointment of Davies also came with big risks for the Blues, and with the club making no secret of the fact that promotion was their target, opting for someone with no previous managerial experience could have backfired spectacularly.

Tom Wagner and Garry Cook deserve credit for Chris Davies appointment

It is fair to say that Birmingham owner Wagner and CEO Garry Cook have received plenty of criticism over the past year, and their decision to replace John Eustace with Wayne Rooney last October when the club were sitting in the Championship play-off places was particularly baffling.

Wagner and Cook were largely to blame for the Blues' relegation, but the pair deserve significant praise for the appointment of Davies, and their bravery in taking a gamble on an inexperienced coach is being rewarded.

Davies inherited a team with a losing mentality, and while there was a huge influx of new signings over the summer, the culture change he has implemented at the club in a short space of time has been impressive.

Of course, Birmingham do have a squad that is significantly more expensive and has much more quality than their League One rivals, but the third tier can be incredibly tough, as the likes of Sunderland and Ipswich Town have found over the years, and Davies should be given credit for the way his side have seamlessly adapted to the division.

After winning seven and drawing one of their first eight league games, it has been a slightly trickier period for the Blues of late, with a defeat to Charlton Athletic and draws against Mansfield Town and Northampton over the past month.

There is no reason for Birmingham to panic at this stage, and they are still in an excellent position, but Davies is now facing the biggest test of his time at the club so far as he looks to keep his side's promotion push on track.

Wagner claimed in September that his ambitions for the Blues will "blow people’s minds", and with the board likely to be targeting a return to the Premier League in the not-too-distant future, there will be constant pressure on Davies to deliver over the coming years, even if he achieves promotion this season.

Paul Robinson doesn't believe Leeds United will end up sending Manor Solomon back to Tottenham Hotspur in January.

Speaking to MOT Leeds News, these comments come after Solomon's fairly slow start to life at Elland Road.

He looked to be an excellent addition when he came in during the summer, with his arrival and the addition of Largie Ramazani being much-needed after the exits of Crysencio Summerville and former loanee Jaidon Anthony.

Current loanee Solomon has a fairly impressive CV, having played in the Premier League before, but injuries have disrupted his development and they have also limited his impact this season.

Not only has he spent time out injured, but he's also not started quite a few games for the Whites and those two factors may have contributed to the fact he hasn't been able to make a real difference in front of goal this term, with his only contribution coming in the form of an assist against Hull City.

With his impact limited, Farke may be weighing up his options ahead of the January window to see whether another addition may be needed out wide, even with Willy Gnonto, Dan James and Ramazani available as other options when fit.

James has impressed again this season, Gnonto has shone at points and Ramazani, who's currently on the sidelines, has also made a good impression during the 2024/25 campaign.

Solomon, meanwhile, will be hoping to get himself back on track and kickstart his career, during what looks set to be a very important loan spell for him at Elland Road.

Paul Robinson makes Manor Solomon prediction amid Leeds United struggles

For a player of his quality, to register no goals and just one assist in eight games will disappoint the Israel international.

And Leeds may have expected more from him, but pundit Robinson believes they won't send him back to Spurs when the January window opens.

The former goalkeeper said: "It’s been really tough for him with injuries. He started really well and he’s a top-class player. It was a really good deal for Leeds to get him on loan because I expect other teams also wanted him.

"It was a real coup signing for Leeds, started really well and then got injured. It’s a long season in the Championship so I don’t think there will be any call for him to be sent back. He’s someone the manager will utilise.

"Ramazani has been injured, as has James, so Solomon is another option for him. With two games per week coming before the end of the season, with the injuries they’ve got, I don’t see Leeds replacing Solomon with someone of a similar quality.

"It’s just a case of getting him back to his best between now and the end of the season."

Manor Solomon deserves the chance to kickstart his Leeds United loan spell

Solomon is clearly a talented player - and it's a shame he hasn't been able to prove his worth at Elland Road yet.

He showed plenty of promise against Hull and the wide player could have built on this showing.

But an injury hasn't helped him in his quest to get into a rhythm - and it will be interesting to see how much of a difference he can make in the coming weeks.

Ideally for him, he needs regular starts to get into his stride and build his confidence.

But he may not get regular starts in the coming months unless he can raise his performance levels in the short term.

Carlton Palmer believes that Leeds United could be in the race to sign Gent defender Archie Brown despite Premier League interest, as Daniel Farke's side would be able to offer him regular football.

It was recently reported by TEAMtalk that Leeds, along with Premier League sides Chelsea, Spurs, West Ham and Brentford have Brown on their radar ahead of the January transfer window, with the 22-year-old impressing in Belgium since signing for Gent last summer.

The left-back came through the ranks at Derby County before leaving in 2021, initially for Swiss side Lausanne-Sport, before sealing a move to Gent in the summer of 2023, where he has become a regular starter in both the Jupiler Pro League and the Europa Conference League, playing the full 90 minutes at his side lost 4-2 away to Chelsea last month.

With a host of Premier League clubs interested in signing him, some Leeds supporters could be forgiven for thinking that they're up against it when it comes to sealing his signature, but Palmer believes that their Championship status could actually be a blessing in disguise.

Carlton Palmer on Leeds United's chances of signing Archie Brown

Former Leeds United and England midfielder Palmer believes that Brown will have more of a chance of playing regular first-team football at Elland Road, and that the 22-year-old will want to be playing regularly wherever he goes.

Speaking to Football League World, Palmer said: "Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are among the clubs reportedly interested in Gent defender Archie Brown.

“This is not the first time Leeds United have been interested in Archie Brown. The 22-year-old left England in 2021 after coming through the ranks at Derby County.

“He sought pastures new, starting in Switzerland with Lausanne-Sport. He swapped Switzerland for Belgium last year, joining Gent, and he’s seen his career go from strength-to-strength.

“He’s played that well, he’s been rewarded with an England youth debut in the summer, and he’s attracting a lot of attention.

“The problem that Leeds United will have is that they’ll have to be in the Premier League to get him, so it’s unlikely that they’ll get him in the January transfer window, especially with the likes of Tottenham and West Ham credited with an interest, as well as Chelsea and Brentford.

“Leeds went after him in 2023 and were unable to get him, so they are big admirers of the defender, but it’s thought that they will have to be in the Premier League to get his signature.

“But, if the player is sensible, even if you want to go and play in a Premier League side, you look at the type of clubs interested in signing you, and you have to wonder whether you’ll go straight into the side and play, so Leeds could well be in the race.

"It would be a coup for them if they could pull it off and the fact that they could offer him first-team football now and the way they’re going now, they will hopefully see it over the line and get promotion. He’ll have more chance of playing in Leeds United’s first-team than he would with Tottenham, West Ham and Chelsea.

“As a young player he’s already had that where he’s not playing regularly and that’s why he went to Switzerland and Belgium, so it would be a massive coup for Leeds United, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Leeds United switch could make sense for Archie Brown

While TEAMtalk have reported that Leeds United would need to be in the Premier League to be the frontrunners to sign the left-back, an Elland Road switch could make more sense than moving to a top-flight side.

You'd have thought that Brown would be brought in to become a regular starter in Daniel Farke's side, and that could do him far more good than sitting on the bench in the Premier League, or even being signed just to go back on loan somewhere.

Brown's best bet of becoming a Premier League starter may be joining Leeds and winning promotion with them, rather than signing for a club already in the top-flight.

He looks like a top talent, and while Leeds may not be a Premier League club, they should use that to their advantage to bring the defender to Elland Road.

Leeds United are among the teams that have taken an interest in Gent left-back Archie Brown, having previously been linked with the player.

TEAMtalk also believes Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also in the mix for the full-back, along with other Premier League teams, with the left-sided player potentially set for a return to English football during the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old spent the early stages of his career at Derby County, before he was poached by Swiss side Lausanne-Sport.

He then moved on to Belgian top-tier outfit Gent in 2023 - and has been able to establish himself as a key player for his current team - also representing England at a youth international level recently after shining at a domestic level.

His contract with Wouter Vrancken's side doesn't expire until 2027 and with this in mind, any team who is keen to sign him during the January window will have to fork out a considerable amount for him.

The player is only 22, already has plenty of senior experience under his belt and has a long-term contract, putting the Belgian outfit in an ideal position to demand a considerable amount for the young defender when the January window opens in less than two months.

Leeds United face a huge amount of competition to sign Archie Brown

Leeds are one of the teams that are believed to be interested in the player - and that's no surprise considering they have been linked with a move for the 22-year-old before.

However, it has been reported by TEAMtalk that they won't be able to win the race for the player until they are promoted back to the Premier League.

The Whites raised plenty of money in the summer through player sales, but they must be wary of PSR rules and as a Championship side, they may not be able to lure the player to Elland Road.

There are some top-flight teams interested in the defender though, with TEAMtalk reporting that Enzo Maresca's Blues, Spurs, Brentford and West Ham are all interested.

The Blues are thought to be keeping tabs on him from a distance. The Irons, meanwhile, could be one of Brown's main suitors, as long-term admirers of the player.

Leeds United could benefit from Archie Brown in the future

Leeds have a couple of decent options at left-back.

Junior Firpo has been an important player both defensively and going forward since the Whites' relegation - and keeping hold of him for the long term could be ideal.

But his contract expires next year and it's unclear whether he will put pen to paper on a new deal, regardless of whether Leeds are promoted or not.

With this in mind, and the fact Sam Byram is unlikely to be a key player for the long term at Elland Road, Brown could be a shrewd addition.

With the top-tier experience he has, it would be a real boost for the West Yorkshire side if they were able to bring him in at some point.

Lewis Travis and Tyrhys Dolan have sent praise the way of former Blackburn Rovers teammate Sammie Szmodics after his stunning overhead kick against Tottenham Hotspur for Ipswich Town on Sunday.

The 29-year-old scored his third goal for the Tractor Boys in extremely impressive fashion to help his side to their first Premier League win since returning to the division after a 22-year-old hiatus.

It has not been the easiest of adjustments for the attacker, but the confidence gained from the wondergoal will only help him once the top flight returns following the third international break of the campaign.

Fellow summer signing, Liam Delap, added a second for Ipswich to secure the 2-1 victory for the Suffolk club, with Rodrgio Bentancur pulling one back for Spurs in the second-half.

Nevertheless, Szmodics' strike was an excellent one, and a couple of his ex-Blackburn teammates have paid tribute to the Republic of Ireland international.

Dolan and Travis react to Szmodics' overhead kick

It has been a difficult start to the season for Kieran McKenna's side, and not many anticipated Ipswich taking all three points from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, especially after their 4-1 win over Aston Villa the previous weekend.

However, fantastic determination and some superb football saw last season's Championship runners-up earn their first win of the season in North London, with Szmodics stealing all the headlines.

The Tractor Boys' number 23 took to his Instagram after the match to celebrate the victory, sharing an image of himself with Ed Sheeran. Szmodics wrote: "Overhead kick, Win & a smudge with big ed. GET IN THERE 💙 🚜"

Both Dolan and Travis praised their former Blackburn teammate for his role in the win, with Rovers' captain replying to the attacker with: "Get innnnn"

Meanwhile, Dolan, who has taken over the role left by Szmodics following his move to Portman Road, said: "My boy 💥"

Blackburn returned to form after recent struggles

Although Blackburn started the season extremely brightly, the last few weeks have been difficult for John Eustace, and it looked as though they were returning to the form that saw them struggle in 2023/24.

However, a 3-1 win over Cardiff City away from home has helped ease any worries that Rovers supporters may have had after their recent exploits, and has pushed them back towards the top six after slipping towards mid-table.

Not many expected the Lancashire club to be in the battle for the play-offs after losing Szmodics to Ipswich in the summer for a reported fee of £9m plus add-ons, but Eustace has got his team playing some excellent football and early results have put them into contention.

New signings such as Andreas Weimann have stepped up and took over from the 29-year-old following his departure, while Travis has impressed after coming back to Ewood Park following a loan spell at Portman Road at the end of last season.