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The Express & Star’s Lewis Cox highlighted an ‘interesting’ comment made by West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan about goalkeeper David Button following his side’s defeat on Friday night.

The Lowdown: Button errors

The Baggies shot-stopper was at fault for both of the goals they conceded during their Championship clash against Birmingham City.

Button was caught napping as he left his goal exposed at a free-kick, with Hannibal Mejbri capitalising as he whipped the ball into the corner and scored.

Birmingham’s second came from a corner where the Albion stopper ought to have claimed the ball, only for Krystian Bielik to head home.

The Latest: Corberan comments

Speaking on the Express & Star’s YouTube channel, Cox discussed the conversation he had with Corberan about Button following the conclusion of the match, stating that he was affected by the nature of the opening goal from Mejbri’s set piece.

He said: “We’ve had a chat with Carlos Corberan just there and he actually said an interesting thing in that that first goal really knocked Button and he was just unable to sort of recover, rediscover his composure – which says a lot.

“We know he’s had a tough season before he was dropped in October, and you would imagine his confidence and mentality took a real beating tonight after a high at The Hawthorns last week, a clean sheet, he’s right back down to Earth with a bump.”

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The Verdict: Weak area

With Alex Palmer ruled out with an injury at the moment, we believe that the goalkeeper position is an area of weakness for West Brom.

Palmer aside, they only have Button and 21-year-old Josh Griffiths available for selection for their upcoming fixtures.

Furthermore, the error against the Blues is not Button’s first mistake of the season, as he also produced a howler earlier in the campaign against Swansea City.

Meanwhile, Griffiths has recently returned from a loan with Portsmouth in League One and has no experience of playing in the Championship.

Our view is that it all comes down to whether Corberan has completely lost faith in Button for the time being – in which case, it could a good chance for Griffiths to get some game time and develop until Palmer returns.

However, you could argue that it’s a big ask, and with West Brom fighting for a spot in the play-offs, it could be too risky to play such an inexperienced ‘keeper, while further depleting Button’s confidence must surely be in Corberan’s thinking.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their plan to improve their goalkeeping department at Ibrox in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Angus Gunn to Rangers?

According to Football Insider, the Light Blues are ‘well placed’ to secure a deal to sign shot-stopper Angus Gunn from Norwich City at the end of the campaign.

The report claims that the son of former Scotland international Bryan Gunn has admirers within the Gers camp because of his performances in the Championship this season.

Ross Wilson, who signed him for Premier League side Southampton from Manchester City earlier in his career, is now eyeing a swoop for the colossus to bolster Michael Beale’s squad.

What is Jon McLaughlin’s future at Ibrox?

Bringing Gunn in from the Canaries could open the door for Beale to ditch experienced goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin from the club ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

His current contract is due to expire in the summer of 2024 but the upcoming transfer window could be the right time for the Light Blues to revamp their goalkeeping options after a difficult season, so far, for the current first choices in that position.

Journalist Mark McDougall recently claimed that the veteran, alongside Allan McGregor, is “struggling badly” and the Scotsman has been unable to claim the no.1 jersey on a regular basis.

McLaughlin has started ten of the club’s 25 Premiership matches this term and saved 58% of the shots against him, while also making two errors directly leading to a goal and failing to complete a single successful run-out – as per Sofascore.

Gunn, meanwhile, has saved 73% of the efforts on his goal in his 15 Championship outings for Norwich. He has made one error leading to a goal and has completed 11 successful run-outs.

These statistics indicate that the Englishman, 27, would be a major upgrade on the former Sunderland man in various areas, including likeliness to make a mistake, shot-stopping, and his sweeping ability.

The £5m titan, who was hailed as being “full of potential” and even claiming that he has “legs like Kate Moss” by his ex-boss Daniel Farke, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.90 in the English second tier, whereas McGregor (6.77) and McLaughlin (6.69) have struggled for form in the Scottish top-flight.

Therefore, Gunn could come in as an improvement on both of Beale’s current senior goalkeeping options and his arrival could allow the manager to finally ditch McLaughlin, 35, by selling him on, whilst his 41-year-old teammate is out of contract and due to leave at the end of the campaign already.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is of interest to Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Juventus, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Emery not impressed with Martinez

The Argentine has missed just two games in the Premier League this season and has remained first-choice under Unai Emery.

However, the Villa boss was left fuming with the World Cup winner at the weekend after he went up for a corner against Arsenal in injury time. The Gunners ended up breaking away to score their fourth goal, with Emery publicly voicing his frustration with the 30-year-old over that incident.

The Latest: Villa will listen to offers for Martinez

Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Martinez, claiming that Villa are ready to entertain offers in the region of £40m for the Argentine.

The goalkeeper is viewed as one of the club’s most saleable assets, with Atletico, Inter and Juventus all interested in his services.

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The Verdict: Good time to sell?

Villa paid Arsenal £20m for Martinez and, by the end of the current campaign, they will have had him on the books in the Midlands for nearly three years.

His current deal at Villa Park doesn’t expire until 2027, so this summer could be an ideal opportunity to maximise his value.

There have also been reports of a frosty relationship between Emery and Martinez, so with multiple European giants keen on the goalkeeper, it could be a good time for Villa to sell.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford won’t be signing a new deal for anything under £200,000 per week, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Rashford on fire

The 25-year-old has surely been the Red Devils’ standout player this season, scoring 24 goals in all competitions and also chipping in with six assists.

Rashford has overcome a real slump to find the best form of his career to date and the hope is that he remains a United player for many more years to come.

His current deal expires next year but the hope is that an extension is agreed in the near future.

The Latest: Contract update emerges

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones said that Rashford now won’t accept anything under £200,000 a week, given his form:

“I’ve been told all along that Rashford isn’t going to be signing for United for under £200,000-a-week; that’s not realistic right now.

“So, he’s going to be above and beyond that criteria, and I think that if your Man United right now, you’re just trying to move forward with it and get him to sign his future up to you.”

The Verdict: Understandable demand

Considering what a vital player Rashford has become for United, this is a fairly understandable demand, especially since he is already on £200,00o per week and would expect a pay rise.

The 51-time capped England international is someone who could mature into one of the best attacking players in the world, having been lauded as ‘unstoppable’ by Paul Scholes.

The hope is that this is just the start of Rashford’s peak years and that he can maintain this level – if he can, he could be the individual who spearheads the Erik ten Hag revolution and inspires United to trophy-winning success.

It would now be a huge shock if he didn’t sign a new contract at Old Trafford, with the forward looking so settled and clearly being adored by supporters.

Erik ten Hag managed to lure some serious talent to Manchester United last summer, with the likes of Antony, Casemiro, and Christian Eriksen all joining the revolution at Old Trafford.

It marks a change from the signings his predecessor made, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managing to secure deals for players who couldn’t quite cut it at United (Daniel James) or who were massively overpriced (Harry Maguire) yet it was a move for Donny van de Beek that has represented the worst value for money.

The Dutchman was signed for a fee of around £39m and with the 23-year-old enjoying a sparkling beginning to his career at Ajax, the outlay seemed like it could one day turn into a bargain for the club.

It hasn’t quite turned out like that, with van de Beek struggling to live up to the lofty expectations in Manchester while struggling for game time which has seen his value plummet in the process.

How much is Donny van de Beek worth now?

The £120k-per-week midfielder has played just 60 times during his spell at United, while his tally of two goals and two assists paints a picture of how poorly he has played in that time, failing to add the spark the club required when they signed him.

When Ten Hag took over last summer, the 25-year-old must have thought his appointment could rejuvenate him, especially considering the fact they worked together for two years at Ajax, yet he has featured just ten times in all competitions this term.

The midfielder has started just two matches in the Premier League this season, averaging a Sofascore rating of 6.49/10 across his seven appearances in total. He has failed to score or register an assist, averaged just 11.1 touches, and completed only 6.6 passes per game, hardly the quality that Ten Hag is demanding from his players.

Journalist Steven Railston was particularly vocal in his criticism of the player back in November following a loss to Aston Villa, saying:

“#mufc never recovered after conceding two early goals and they were second-best all over the pitch. A really disappointing performance. Donny van de Beek was anonymous again and he shouldn’t be anywhere near the starting XI. Bruno Fernandes couldn’t return quick enough.”

Having signed for £39m, the player is now worth just €20.5m (£18m) according to Football Transfers and this represents a decrease of 54%, with the likelihood that United won’t even recoup half of the fee they splashed out on the Dutchman should he leave in the summer.

It has been a woefully misjudged transfer and his performances on the pitch have failed to live up to expectations, hopefully, Ten Hag will be able to move him on sooner rather than later, at a significant cost to the club.

Barcelona have reignited their interest in Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Neves linked with Barca move

The Portuguese maestro has been arguably Wanderers’ star player over the past four or five years, racking up 241 appearances and shining in the midfield.

Neves has been constantly linked with a move to Barca in recent transfer windows, with manager Xavi eyeing up long-term replacements for Sergio Busquets.

It appears as though the La Liga giants’ interest isn’t going away, following the latest update from Spain.

The Latest: Interest still there

According to a report from Barca [via Sport Witness], the Catalans will ‘resume their interest’ in Neves ahead of a move this summer.

The 25-year-old has become one of their ‘big goals’ for the upcoming transfer window, with the move set to be ‘orchestrated by Jorge Mendes’.

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The Verdict: Summer exit feels likely

In many ways, Wolves were fortunate to keep hold of Neves last summer, considering how much speculation there was surrounding his future at Molineux.

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The 37-cap Portugal international has continued to be a key figure this season, averaging 2.5 tackles per game and an 84.2% pass completion rate, but it does feel as though a new challenge is likely to come his way.

Neves could find it extremely difficult to turn down yet more interest from Barca, given their reputation as one of the world’s great football clubs, and he will no doubt be keen on test himself in the Champions League.

Should the £50,000-a-week midfielder move on, it is essential that Wolves use the hefty sum of money wisely to bring in both a replacement and other signings.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have sent club officials to watch Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko in action, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Reinforcements required

The Midlands outfit are currently the joint lowest-scoring team in the Premier League alongside Everton with just 19 goals all season, so regardless of whether they stay up or get relegated, attacking reinforcements will be needed in the summer.

The Slovenia international is reportedly set to make the move to Salzburg’s sister club, RB Leipzig, at the end of the season, but Julen Lopetegui sounds keen to either hijack that and bring him to Molineux or wait from afar to snap him up a year from now.

The Latest: Wolves chiefs check out Sesko

According to 90min, Wolves, Manchester United, Tottenham, West Ham, Leicester, Leeds and Inter Milan all ‘sent scouts’ to watch Sesko during Salzburg’s 4-2 victory over Rapid Wien on Sunday.

It’s claimed that Leipzig could sell the 19-year-old and cash in without him even playing for them, should the right offer arrive.

The Verdict: Perfect for Lopetegui

Sesko has been dubbed a ‘machine’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and looking at his statistics, he would be the perfect striker for Wolves and Lopetegui.

The Radece native has made 12 goal contributions in 19 Bundesliga outings this term (nine goals and three assists), where he’s averaging a prolific 3.46 shots per game.

Included in that number is the hat-trick that he completed in just seven minutes last weekend, showing how lethal he can be in the final third.

Standing at 6 foot 5, Sesko would also be the ideal target man with his height and provide just as much of a threat in the air as he does on the ground with his pace, clocked at over 36 km/h last year.

Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race to sign Inter Milan central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic this summer, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: Tottenham eyeing midfielder

It is clear that Tottenham want to strengthen in the centre of midfield this summer, given the number of players they have been linked to in that area of the pitch, with Fulham’s Joao Palhinha recently emerging as a potential option for Antonio Conte.

Another player Spurs are considering a move for is Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, with journalist Pete O’Rourke recently claiming that he is a ‘top player’ who would be a ‘great fit’ for the north London club.

While proven Premier League players are on the shortlist for the Lilywhites, there is also a suggestion they could turn their attentions to options from abroad, with Brozovic being linked with a move during the January transfer window.

The Latest: Leading Brozovic race

According to a new report from Inter Live, the Inter Milan midfielder has plenty of admirers in the Premier League, but Tottenham are in pole position as the main team to keep an eye on.

However, the report states that Conte remaining at N17 could play a major part in whether a deal goes ahead, given that the 30-year-old is someone the manager has been interested in for a long time.

It is also detailed that Spurs could use Tanguy Ndombele as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Inter, as he is set to return from his loan with Napoli at the end of the season.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Lauded as ‘fantastic’ by former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho, who is a huge fan, the Croatian is very assured in possession, ranking in the 97th percentile for passes attempted and in the 94th for his completion percentage per 90 over the course of the past year.

In the Serie A this season, the maestro has been one of Inter’s most consistent performers, receiving an average Sofascore rating of 7.30, the highest of any midfielder and the fourth-best figure in the entire squad.

Despite predominantly featuring as a defensive midfielder throughout his career, the 83-time Croatia international also pitches in with the attacking output, recording 30 goals and 37 assists in a total of 309 games with his current club.

With Rodrigo Bentancur set to be sidelined until November at the earliest, Brozovic would be the perfect addition to Conte’s squad, although he should only be offered a short-term contract, as he is no longer in his peak years.

West Ham United are eyeing a new manager target to succeed David Moyes next season with news coming to light on Reims boss Will Still.

The Lowdown: Moyes under pressure…

The Scotsman has been under real pressure to maintain his position this season, especially after a summer of serious spending followed by lack-lustre performances on the field.

West Ham are currently in the relegation places after sliding into the Premier League’s bottom three, having won just six league games all season and losing 14.

Reports have suggested that the east Londoners have weighed up possible replacements with both Marcelo Bielsa and Rafael Benitez previously linked.

However, insiders close to the club have also shared that the likelihood of a Moyes replacement before the end of 2022/2023 is slim given the lack of standout candidates and possible expenses.

The Latest: West Ham eye Will Still…

The Hammers, according to a report, are now believed to be real admirers of Reims boss Still to potentially replace Moyes next season.

According to Foot Mercato, West Ham have apparently taken note of the 30-year-old’s exploits in France as his stock ‘continues to climb’, with the Irons currently ‘under the spell’ of Still.

It’s added that the coach himself is ‘thrilled’ by this, as per their ‘information’, as Still is knowingly a West Ham supporter.

The Verdict: Too soon?

The largely inexperienced coach has been centre of a brilliant story across the channel with Reims recently going on a 17-game unbeaten run.

Marseille sadly ended their hot streak with a 2-1 win over Still on Sunday but Reims’ tactician is in fact ‘becoming very popular’ in Ligue 1.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has even took note of the young tactician, claiming Still’s rise to the top level has been extremely impressive.

Howe stated to Chronicle Live:

“He [Still] has certainly done very well. It is very difficult to do at that age.

“I started at 31, I felt at that moment I knew what I was doing. I am talking about my own experiences here. I realised a few years later that I probably didn’t. I have learned as I have gone on, the whole of range of things you need to be successful as a manager.

“That’s just my journey. I’m not sure on Will’s background and how he’s built his career to this point but very impressive to be managing at his age.

“The success he’s had has been incredible. Are managers getting younger? I’m not sure if that’s a fact or not. But certainly it is a very demanding job.”

However, his lack of serious experience in a competitive division like the Premier League could count against him and this move could be seen as a real gamble.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be interested in replacing Antonio Conte with Julian Nagelsmann – but the German is not expected to make a decision until the summer.

Is Nagelsmann Tottenham's first choice?

Having been released by Bayern Munich last week, it is reported Nagelsmann has emerged as one of the front-runners on the north London club's radar.

But he is not the only one with the director of football, Fabio Paratici, believed to have drawn up a shortlist of potential options for Daniel Levy to choose from.

Following the Italian's departure, Cristian Stellini – along with Ryan Mason – is expected to see out the campaign in the dugout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And the notion of potentially bringing in Nagelsmann over the coming days has been shut down by journalist Valentina Maceri speaking on Sky Sports:

"As far as we know, Nagelsmann has no interest to join a club right now because he wants to take his time to reconsider everything that he experienced at Bayern Munich.

"He wants to reanalyse everything he did with Bayern Munich. So he wants to take his time to breathe, to take a break and to rethink about what he has achieved so far as a very, very young coach."

Should Spurs look beyond Nagelsmann?

A big decision awaits the north London side over the coming days, with the prospect of seeing out the remaining 10 games with Stellini and Mason when there is Champions League football to play for.

Whatever Spurs do, it does feel as if recent results have put them in a position where Champions League football is going to be a big challenge with their injury issues in mind.

The draw against Southampton saw Spurs miss the opportunity to go four points clear of Newcastle United with 10 games remaining.

And the issue now lies in the Magpies having two games in hand over the Lilywhites with the gap reduced down to two points.

This will put huge pressure on the shoulders of whoever is the manager for the remainder of the campaign.

If it is to be Stellini, then he certainly has some massive tests ahead of him with away trips to Liverpool and Newcastle as well as home games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United within the next month.

But there would remain some uncertainty as to whether a new face could provide a big enough boost at this stage in the season to get them over the lines.

And with Nagelsmann seemingly off the cards, it does reduce the number of realistic appointments, with only Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino currently out of a job.

There is a lot of uncertainty around Spurs with the futures of Harry Kane and Fabio Paratici remaining unresolved as yet, so perhaps it is best for a potential new manager to wait until the summer to assess his options.