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Charlton Athletic are on the verge of making a massive mistake over out-of-contract midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey.

The Addicks are starting a new era at The Valley after long-serving midfielder-turned-manager Lee Bowyer swapped south east London for another old home in Birmingham City.

In has come Nigel Adkins, with the side sitting ninth in League One, firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot come to the end of the season. But his job will be made harder if Charlton chief Steve Gallen doesn’t start planning for the future.

And the best place to start would be tying down their most influential player…

On the Chalkboard

The 26-year-old dynamo has now been at the club for five years but is arguably enjoying his best season in an Addicks shirt.

Indeed, Forster-Caskey current ranks as Charlton’s second-best player as per WhoScored ratings, grading at 7.18. Only Preston loanee Jayden Stockley is managing better (7.18).

In 26 league appearances, the £6k-per-week gem has delivered five goals and two assists, which puts him as their third-highest goalscorer, too.

Forster-Caskey offers an industrious box-to-box presence and that’ll be something Adkins will want to keep hold of, if he’s to persist with a 4-4-2 formation. You need someone that can contribute up and down the pitch.

As per WhoScored, the midfielder is averaging two tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game, showing an ability to not only read the game defensively but actually put that intelligence into action, as well as managing to average 1.4 shots and 1.3 key passes per game on top of his direct goal contributions.

Just before his departure, Bowyer emphasised how crucial he is to the team.

“We’ve missed him,” said the 44-year-old to LondonNewsOnline. “Jake will [drive his teammates on]. If you do see your teammate running and fighting and pressing then it has a natural reaction. You have to go with him because if not you stand out like a sore thumb. He does have that impact. He’s been here since day one when I was here. He does have that aura in the dressing room. He has that respect.”

Whilst ex-Addicks boss Karl Robinson has previously lauded him as “unbelievable.”

Letting his contract run down until the end of the season is a dangerous game to play, given his influence on the squad. Gallen is running the risk of seeing one of Adkins’ star players leave for nothing.

That would be catastrophic.

The Charlton director of football must tie the 26-year-old down as soon as possible.

AND in other news, Nigel Adkins could unearth his next Adam Lallana in “improving” 20 y/o gem

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer stated that he could imagine seeing either Thierry Henry or Roberto Martinez at Celtic.

After falling well off the pace in the title race this season, former manager Neil Lennon opted to resign from his post, making way for John Kennedy to step in on an interim basis.

As far as permanent appointments go, though, Palmer believes Henry or Martinez could be the way to go for the Glasgow club. Henry, who has managed at AS Monaco and coached in the Belgium national team set-up, recently stepped down as CF Montreal manager. Martinez, meanwhile, remains the head coach of Belgium, previously working alongside the Arsenal legend.

When asked if he could see the two as contenders for the job at Celtic Park, Palmer exclusively told FFC:

“Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, I’ve heard Thierry’s name mentioned, I’ve heard Roberto Martinez’s name mentioned. I mean, all the agents will be linking all their clients to the job because it’s a big, big job. But, you know, we will have to wait and see what their criteria is of the guy they want to bring in.”

One name, however, that Palmer cannot see heading to Celtic Park is Brendan Rodgers, who, of course, recently managed the club before heading to Leicester City.

“I don’t see Brendan Rodgers going back there because I don’t think you go back to something that you’ve left, especially when he’s doing so well at Leicester,” the ex-England international later added.

Whoever does end up as Celtic manager, undoubtedly, will have a lot of work to do next season. The Bhoys have fallen miles behind rivals Rangers in the SPFL while much improvement is also needed in Europe.

After being knocked out of the Champions League qualifying phase, Celtic endured a very disappointing Europa League campaign, finishing bottom in Group H.

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit and BBC Radio regular Noel Whelan has shared a ‘worry’ for Tottenham Hotspur surrounding Harry Kane, with the former Premier League striker claiming that Spurs don’t have the strength in depth to give the Englishman adequate rest. 

Kane, who has been a pivotal figure for Tottenham this season as manager Jose Mourinho seeks to guide them back into the top four, has bagged an impressive 16 goals and 13 assists over 25 Premier League starts (WhoScored).

The north London derby looms today but the 27-year-old will have to play a key role throughout the latter stage of this campaign, with Tottenham also aiming to potentially clinch silverware for the first time since 2008 as they await the Carabao Cup final in April.

Whelan drops Kane claim as he shares ‘worry’ for Tottenham

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan has shared a possible ‘worry’ for Tottenham over players like Kane, claiming that his ‘demands’ are intense and that Spurs arguably don’t have the strength in depth to rest him properly.

“It’s a lot of games in a short turnaround from last season,” explained the pundit.

“It’s not the same as every other season with everything that’s going on. You do worry.

“I guess that’s where you’ve got the likes of Man City, the size of their squad. They can probably give some of their stars the time off.

“Tottenham can’t. They’ve only got Harry Kane and [Carlos] Vinicius, who’s on loan. The demands on Harry are probably far greater than the demands on Raheem Sterling at Manchester City.”

Transfer Tavern take

Daniel Levy snapped up Vinicius on a loan-to-buy deal last summer as a solution to this Kane conundrum, but the Brazilian hasn’t featured as much in the Premier League as he has in Europe.

Time will tell whether this becomes a major issue for Spurs as the season draws to a conclusion, but it’s not hard to see why Whelan believes there is a ‘worry’ regarding Mourinho’s centre-forward depth.

In other news: Alasdair Gold says Tottenham could be set for a ‘huge’ transfer decision this summer, find out more here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer told us that he thinks The Owls’ current interim manager, Neil Thompson, will stay in charge at the club until the end of the season.

The South Yorkshire outfit are looking for their fifth permanent manager in three years and their third of the season after owner Dejphon Chansiri sacked Tony Pulis after only 45 days in charge at the end of last month.

Thompson has been at the Owls for several years, leading the U23 squad to glory in 2016/17 and was also an assistant to Dave Jones.

Under his temporary leadership so far, they are yet to lose in the Championship whilst Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round exit to Premier League giants Everton was their first defeat in five outings.

However, the 57-year-old – if appointed permanently – would still have a lot of work to do to turn Wednesday’s fortunes around as they remain six points adrift of safety in the Championship.

The Owls have been linked with several managers in the past month, ranging from former Wigan man Paul Cook to two-time promotion winner Slavisa Jokanovic, whilst other linked names include sacked Watford boss Vladimir Ivic, current Doncaster manager Darren Moore and former Bayern Munich midfielder Thorsten Fink.

Palmer believes the most likely outcome is that current caretaker Thompson will get the job until the end of the current campaign, at least…

He told FFC:

“I think that is the likely outcome, that he will get it until the end of the season. That’s what I think.

“As big a job as Sheffield Wednesday is – and it is a big club and a fantastic club – I think because of the history now that Chansiri has shown, and managers speak [to each other], which top manager is going to take that job?”

Thompson’s only other managerial experience has come in lower-league and non-league football, managing the likes of York City, Scarborough and Boston United, all over 15 years ago.

It could certainly be seen as a risk to appoint him for the long-term, even if the results have been hugely positive under his tenure, given his lack of experience, but Palmer thinks that is what is going to happen.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Palmer questions Chansiri’s latest Sheffield Wednesday decision…

According to Radio Solent’s Sports Editor Adam Blackmore, Southampton have ended their deadline day transfer hunt for Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

What’s the story?

Recent reports have suggested the 23-year-old was seriously being considered by Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, with the Gunners open to letting him leave on loan.

But now, Blackmore has claimed that the Saints have ended their interest in the Premier League ace, “after becoming increasingly frustrated in negotiations with his reps”.

The journalist added however that Southampton will continue to pursue other targets.

Hasenhuttl will be fuming

Given the injury crisis that Southampton are in at the moment, both in central midfield and in the full-back areas, Maitland-Niles’ addition on deadline would have been a real coup for Hasenhuttl.

The Arsenal man is as versatile as they come, and would have offered the Saints boss a real stop-gap for a number of positions. The fact Maitland-Niles now won’t be coming to St Mary’s seemingly, will come as a bitter blow.

The 23-year-old would have covered a lot of bases for Hasenhuttl and ensured Martin Semmens wouldn’t have to pursue multiple deals on deadline day to try and address the number of glaring holes and issues in the Southampton squad at the moment.

It now puts massive pressure on Semmens’ shoulders to try and figure out a last-minute solution that can help ease Hasenhuttl’s concerns. At the moment, the Saints boss would be forgiven for being incredibly frustrated and angry at how things have developed.

From looking like they were going to complete a move – Football.London’s Arsenal correspondent Chris Wheatley even suggested late morning today that Southampton were “growing in confidence” over his signing – to now pulling out, it’s been a rollercoaster for Hasenhuttl. And one that won’t be leaving him happy whatsoever.

Meanwhile, David Ornstein has revealed Southampton are in for this Championship star…

David Sullivan must sanction a January swoop for Burnley defender James Tarkowski amid renewed links to West Ham United.

What’s the word?

According to Eurosport, Premier League interest in Tarkowski is beginning to grow ahead of the mid-season window as the 28-year-old continues to overlook a new contract at Turf Moor.

Tarkowski has entered into the final 18-months of his current £50,000-per-week deal, but he is yet to put pen to paper, saying that the terms presented thus far have been “nowhere near what I was going to sign”.

Recent discussions between Tarkowski and the Clarets have moved the two parties closer to reaching an agreement as they strive to secure continuity to protect the club’s Premier League stability amid a potential takeover of the Lancashire outfit.

But West Ham, who saw a £30m offer turned down in the summer, and Leicester City, who also bid £30m, are now said to be joined by growing top-flight interest in the star centre-back who Burnley valued at £50m ahead of the current season.

Manchester United were understood to have also assessed the merits of a move for Tarkowski, who Irons legend Frank McAvennie believed would have been “perfect” for his former side in the summer.

Tarkowski ultimately remained at Turf Moor and has started all 11 of his Premier League outings, helping Sean Dyche’s side to keep five clean sheets as they battle to avoid relegation.

Winter rescue

West Ham will head into Christmas sat middle of the pack having held one of the top-flight’s better defensive records thus far, with Moyes’ men allowing the same number of goals (19) over 14 games as title-holders Liverpool and European chasers Everton.

Moyes has rarely sought to make changes to his backline with Angelo Ogbonna starting all of the Hammers’ Premier League fixtures to date, while Fabian Balbuena has missed just one of his side’s last 12 through a groin injury.

Issa Diop returned to the XI to replace Balbuena, yet he has seemingly lost Moyes’ full support with the 23-year-old returning to the bench at Chelsea, where he had watched the action for all bar 27 minutes since testing positive for coronavirus in September before facing Crystal Palace.

Moyes seemingly has a lack of belief in Craig Dawson too, who is yet to make his West Ham debut, but any concerns over a lack of depth can be removed entirely with a winter raid on Burnley for Tarkowski, who the former Man United boss would adore.

The 6ft brute is registering 2.1 successful tackles per Premier League appearance this term – only Vladimir Coufal (3.0) is winning more at the London Stadium – while penning 1.2 interceptions, 4.4 clearances and winning a mammoth 7.2 duels, with success in 70% of his aerial contests, per SofaScore.

Tarkowski is only dribbled past 0.4 times a game, too, while offering a threat in the opponent’s box with 1.8 shots and 0.4 key balls, allowing for West Ham to improve their already-stellar record for scoring from set-pieces with only Chelsea, Southampton and Everton netting more often.

AND in other news, West Ham are monitoring a £20k-p/w talent to resolve David Moyes’ “big” blow.

Steve Bruce may live to rue Mike Ashley failing to forge a successful swoop for Newcastle United to sign Fikayo Tomori on loan as the Chelsea defender nears a move to AC Milan.

What’s the word?

According to Nicolo Schira, Tomori is expected to be unveiled as a Rossoneri recruit on Wednesday after the Serie A side reached an agreement with Chelsea over a half-season deal.

Tomori has given his backing to the move, which will see Milan pay a €1m (£890k) loan fee and take hold of an option to buy the England defender in the summer for €29m (£26m).

Newcastle had been linked with interest in a potential deal to sign Tomori this month, with Bruce said to have requested further information on the Canadian-born centre-half’s situation as he sought to improve the ranks at St. James’ Park.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has now confirmed Tomori has likely played his final game in the Premier League this season, having overlooked the £15.5m-rated titan for Saturday’s 1-0 win over Fulham due to his imminent departure.

Tomori has been an outcast of Lampard’s plans this term and has featured in only one of the Stamford Bridge natives’ top-flight matchday squads since October, while his omission from the starting line-up of their FA Cup third round tie with League Two Morecombe showed just how far the 23-year-old has fallen out of favour.

He had emerged as a first-choice option in south west London last term, making 22 appearances across all competitions, but featured only once in the Premier League following the turn of the year.

Milan’s gain is Bruce’s loss

Tomori nearing a deal to join Serie A leaders Milan will likely have frustrated Bruce, who would have stood to benefit greatly from welcoming the £75,000-per-week enforcer Lampard believes is a “fantastic” talent to Newcastle this month.

Despite falling out of favour under Lampard last season, Tomori still ranked second only to Cesar Azpilicueta (2.39) for successful tackles per Premier League game (1.93) among the defenders to have featured in 10 or more matches for Chelsea, per SofaScore.

He also ranked first at the Bridge for total passes per game (76.73), second for clearances (2.8), third for interceptions (1.47), accurate long balls (2.8) and least times dribbled past (0.33), while winning 2.93 ground duels and 2.27 aerial contests.

Those aspects would have certainly come in handy against Arsenal on Monday as the Magpies lost 3-0 to suffer their ninth defeat of the league season – only basement boys Sheffield United (16) and West Bromwich Albion (11) have lost more.

Jamaal Lascelles was far too quick to stand off the Gunners frontline and appeared to lose his mind once the game was gone, as he made his first Premier League appearance since November after recovering from coronavirus.

No player for either side committed more fouls than Lascelles (2), who – like partner Ciaran Clark – also failed to make a single successful tackle or interception and won just one of his two aerial duels at the Emirates, per WhoScored.

Newcastle also do not have a ball-playing centre-back at present, with Clark averaging the most per top-flight game to date at 35.9, making it even more of a blunder by Ashley to not do all he could to wrap up a deal for Tomori this month.

AND in other news, Newcastle United are being targeted to solve another PL side’s transfer crisis.

Jose Mourinho delivered a rather interesting take on Japhet Tanganga’s current situation within the club. Speaking in his press conference ahead of Tottenham’s clash with Ludogorets, the boss admitted that he doesn’t view the 21-year-old as a typical centre-back option.

“For me he’s a full-back,” Mourinho said. “Can he play centre-back? Yes he can, of course he can, and he will if we need and we will need.”

The Spurs manager touches on the idea that he will call upon Tanganga if and when the team require him to play centrally. However, if there was ever a time they might need him, it would be now. But despite Toby Alderweireld’s injury, Mourinho appears happy with the options he has in Eric Dier, Joe Rodon and Davinson Sanchez.

Tanganga is an incredibly versatile defender and can play anywhere across the back four. Being able to play at both left and right-back is a valuable asset for Spurs, but could now put a lot of pressure on Serge Aurier.

The Ivorian continued to be linked with a move away to AC Milan following the closure of the summer transfer window following the arrival of summer signing Matt Doherty. However, between Aurier and a player in the same position who is six years his junior, it’s all but clear where Mourinho will place his focus.

Tanganga has a lot of potential to become a key player for Spurs and with the former first choice right-back already linked to an exit, the cards don’t look good for him. Indeed, Aurier is contracted with the club until 2022, but if he loses his value in the team, Daniel Levy will start weighing up his options.

The defender is currently valued at £14.4million and could bring in a handsome amount if he is to leave in either January or the summer. But if his current deal is left to tick down after this, panic will set in. Spurs will then be scrambling to land a sale before he is eligible to negotiate pre-contract terms. But however they choose to do their business, it looks highly unlikely that there will be much room for Aurier at Spurs once Doherty returns from injury and Tanganga continues to impress.

In other news, Ryan Sessegnon on-loan form could spell trouble for Ben Davies…

During pre-season, Jack Diamond looked in fabulous form, albeit in a new position.

The Sunderland youngster was afforded an opportunity at left wing-back and looked convincing, quickly sparking claims that the Black Cats had solved a problem area.

Of course, Denver Hume has been capable in that third this season but supporters were right to be worried. Moves for both Declan John and Laurens De Bock failed to work out last season.

Yet, Phil Parkinson neglected Diamond and handed the young attacker very few opportunities.

He did score in the Papa John’s trophy but it has taken a change of management for the 20-year-old from Gateshead to finally thrive at the Stadium of Light.

Since Lee Johnson walked through the door he has been exceptional, proving a livewire in attack and offering Sunderland something they didn’t previously have – pace and direct running.

“We have to be careful with Jack and make sure he doesn’t get ahead of himself, but what he gives us an attribute that we haven’t otherwise got and that is the ability to stretch the play,” Johnson said at the weekend.

Indeed, he frightened the life out of the Lincoln defence and scored in the process. Diamond completed two dribbles and was also fouled on two occasions, building on a display where he played two key passes and managed four dribbles against Oldham.

In his last two matches, the prodigy has been a breath of fresh air to a Sunderland side who needed reinvigorating in attack.

Johnson commented last week: “He’s got mega-bucks of work to do, and he’s got to sleep with a futsal ball under his pillow because he needs to learn how to master the ball, but wow, he’s so powerful, direct and dynamic, and we need that in our team.”

Leaving the head coach wowed after just a week in charge is quite special and it speaks volumes about the player they have on their hands. Sunderland have seen a number of academy players break through in recent years and in terms of his direct nature and confidence, Diamond has similarities to a certain Josh Maja.

Another forward who scared defenders and scored goals, he eventually left, but the academy product very quickly became the centre of everything good the Black Cats did.

It looks as though Sunderland may well have another case here. After all, he’s starting ahead of last season’s top scorer Chris Maguire, someone who has only scored three times this season.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Diamond surpassed that over the festive period.

In other news, Forget Wyke: “League One cheat code” with 97 touches was Johnson’s real hero last weekend…

The Athletic journalist David Ornstein has revealed that Aston Villa expressed an interest in Celtic star Odsonne Edouard during the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

Dean Smith’s side enjoyed an impressive time in the transfer market over the summer, bringing in a number of high-profile players who have helped the club record a perfect start to the new Premier League season.

Now, Ornstein has revealed that Celtic striker Edouard was the subject of numerous enquiries from clubs in England and abroad, but they were informed that the Bhoys were reluctant to sell.

Ornstein adds that Villa were one of the teams who expressed an interest in signing the Frenchman, and that with him being in the final two years of his contract, next summer will be Celtic’s last chance to get a big fee for him unless they can agree a new contract.

Must be Johan Lange’s priority

Despite some reports claiming that Villa were ready to test the water with a £30m move for Edouard, a deal failed to materialise. However, the striker surely has to be Sporting Director Johan Lange’s priority in the upcoming transfer windows.

The Frenchman has been in blistering form for more than a year now, with last season seeing him bag 21 goals and provide a further 12 assists in just 27 Scottish Premiership games. His start to the new campaign has been equally prolific, netting six times in only ten matches across all competitions.

Whilst Villa seem to be on to a real winner with Ollie Watkins – his perfect hat-trick against Liverpool has already etched his name into folklore at Villa Park – they could get themselves a top goal-scoring partner for the Englishman in Edouard.

Described as a “special talent” by Celtic boss Neil Lennon, he could add yet more cutting edge to Villa’s attack, and whether he partners Watkins or plays as a lone striker, could be a real difference-maker for the club.