Molla Wagué has always wanted to play in the Premier League and has his chance after joining champions Leicester City on loan on transfer deadline day.

The Foxes have an option to buy the Mali international, who will provide cover for Wes Morgan and Robert Huth in the centre of Claudio Ranieri’s defence, at the end of the season.

A late Sam Vokes strike meant it was another miserable night for Leicester on Tuesday as they finished January without a league win or goal.

City now sit just two points off the relegation zone but Wagué is determined to make a positive impact at the King Power Stadium.

“I’m delighted to be at Leicester City and I can’t wait to get started,” he said.

“I’ve always wanted to play in England so I’m looking forward to the challenge and to getting to know my new team-mates over the coming weeks.

“I’ll work hard to get my chance and when it comes I hope to show that I will give everything to help the team.”

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Ranieri’s men have league, FA Cup and Champions League fixtures in a congested February schedule and Leicester’s manager knows he’ll need to rotate his defensive ranks.

He said: “He is strong, very good in the air and fast in the long distance. He is a good player on loan for six months from Granada and he can give some rest to my centre-backs.”

Manchester United’s showmen need to keep themselves in check for the time being, according to former Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand, 38, who made over 300 appearances for United in a trophy-laden 12-year stint at the club, believes the likes of Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard need to keep their heads down and focus on qualifying for the Champions League.

The pairing were videoed practising a new dancing celebration at United’s Carrington training ground, with French international Pogba then posting it on his Instagram.

And former England skipper Ferdinand is adamant that there is no room for that kind of behaviour with the club only sixth in the Premier League, revealing legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson would not have stood for it.

“I’m all for having a bit of fun on social media and stuff, but when you’re sixth in the league, not in the Champions League positions and fighting, then maybe not,” he said.

“You haven’t won anything yet. When you’re winning, that’s when you go out and do stuff like that.

“I’ve dug out Arsenal players for doing things like this before, so it would be wrong of me not to speak of the United players in the same way.

“I’m all for having fun, and part of Pogba’s appeal is that he’s a happy free-spirit, which I wouldn’t want to take away from him, but there’s a time for things like that and you have to get the balance right.

“If that comes out after you’ve just won a cup final or won the league or something like that, I would be pushing it out all over the place. I’d be the first one to be doing that.

“I’d just want to keep myself under the radar a little bit in the position they’re in. If Fergie’s there, no chance they’re doing that.”

It seems practise does not necessarily make perfect for David Luiz, after the Brazilian finally ended his Chelsea goal drought against Liverpool.

Often a contributor of several fine goals a season, despite plying his trade as a defender, Luiz had not scored a goal since his summer return to the Blues.

That was until Tuesday evening, when the 29-year-old rifled in a stunning free-kick at Anfield in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw, catching Liverpool stopper Simon Mignolet completely by surprise.

The Belgian goalkeeper ultimately had the last laugh, saving a Diego Costa penalty in the second half to deny Chelsea a win, after Georginio Wijnaldum’s header had levelled the scores.

But after the match Luiz admitted he has been unable to practise his free-kicks in training in recent days, instead nursing a knee injury and taking it easy.

“Sometimes you need to try the surprise,” he said.

“I’m not in the best position to take free-kicks because my knee is hurting and I can’t train every day, but in a game you need to see the opportunity. I’m pleased I scored.

“It is never easy to play here at Anfield and win points. We had an opportunity to win the game, and we’re unlucky we didn’t win it. But it was a good result.”

Jose Mourinho insists Ashley Young will remain at Manchester United for the foreseeable future, despite rumours the winger would be a transfer deadline day departure from Old Trafford.

On Sunday, Mourinho hinted that Young was on his way out of the door due to his lack of first-team opportunities this season.

The 31-year-old has made just five Premier League appearances for the Red Devils this term, but is expected to feature in Wednesday’s clash with Hull City.

United have seen Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin leave the club this month to Lyon and Everton respectively, but Mourinho insists there will be no more changes to his squad until the summer.

(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

“Young is definitely staying,” he said. “He stays with me until the end of the season.

“We don’t have players coming in or going out. We lost two players from the squad, we can’t do more.”

But with half the season yet to play, Mourinho’s attentions are already turning to the next transfer window.

“In our case, we are more focused on the summer period,” he said. “I like my players, so nothing for me. I know what I want.

“I always think every week, the more I know my players, the more I know my team, the more I know the competition, because it’s a competition I know really well, but it’s a competition that is in permanent evolution.”

Ashley Westwood is targeting a fresh start after securing a return to the Premier League with Burnley for an undisclosed fee.

The midfielder, 26, signed a three-and-a-half year deal for the Clarets having spent more than four years in the West Midlands.

Westwood was part of the Villa squad relegated to the Championship last season and the club have struggled with just eight league wins from 27 games.

And the 26-year-old was delighted to return to the Premier League and fit into a squad full of English talent.

“It’s happened fast but I’ve been made to feel very welcome and I can’t wait to get going,” he said.

“It feels like a proper football club and homely and that’s what I like. I like to be appreciated and I think I will definitely get that here.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

“The manager at Villa said I could speak to Burnley and for me that was perfect – a fresh start because things had got a bit stale at Villa.

“It’s a fresh start and I want to show people what I can really do.

“I have watched Burnley and they look a bunch of people who work hard and have definitely got enough talent and hopefully I can add to that.

“For any club to stay in the Premier League is a big achievement. Burnley are doing very well and hopefully that can keep improving.”

West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic has praised Dimitri Payet for his influence at the Hammers despite the French midfielder forcing a move to Marseille.

Payet refused to play for West Ham as he tried to negotiate a move away from the London Stadium, eventually succeeding on Sunday with the Ligue 1 outfit paying £25 million for his services.

Bilic has wasted no time in securing Robert Snodgrass from Premier League rivals Hull City to cover for the absence of Payet.

But he did take the time to praise the impact the Frenchman had on Bilic’s debut managerial season in the Premier League.

“I want to thank Payet for everything he did,” Bilic said. “He was brilliant last year and we were brilliant for him also.

“But that story has now finished. I want to wish him luck and all the best in Marseille.

(Photo by Clement Mahoudeau/IP3/Getty Images)

“I am not going to go deep into what happened. He went and that was his wish. I won’t forget how good he was for us and what he achieved with us.

“It was a great story, not only for West Ham but for the Premier League and for France also. I won’t forget it just because he moved. I really wish him well.”

Switching Milan for Humberside may not be everyone’s idea of career progression, but defender Andrea Ranocchia has done just that in the hope of boosting his chances of regular football and helping Hull up the Premier League table.

The 28-year-old has played more than 150 times for Internazionale, and has 20 international caps to boot, but has made just nine appearances for I Nerazzurri so far this term.

Having studied the Tigers’ recent games the central defender was keen to join new boss Marco Silva at the KCOM Stadium and help Hull maintain their Premier League status – with a tough trip to Old Trafford the first challenge on Wednesday night.

“I want to contribute to this team and this is a great opportunity for me to play in the Premier League,” said the former Arezzo man who has also been loaned to former club Genoa, and Sampdoria during his time at the San Siro.

Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images

“It is a famous league throughout the world and I have watched the last three games that this team has played. The coach here is very good and we have some very good players.

“I am a tall defender so I am good in the air, but I am also happy with the ball at my feet.

“We have a big match against Manchester United on Wednesday night and if I can play I will be very happy.

“But there are a lot of matches left in the season and the longer objective is for the team to be safe. This is what I want to help with.”

Liverpool’s season has hit the skids with only one win in January but Philippe Coutinho signing a new contract proves the club is destined for greatness – according to Jordan Henderson.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend by Championship side Wolves in a shock defeat at Anfield to compound a miserable month that also saw them exit the EFL Cup at the semi-final stage.

But club captain Henderson is confident there is plenty left for the Reds to fight for – and the re-signing of Brazilian playmaker Coutinho is a much-needed shot in the arm.

“I was reading some things Phil Coutinho had to say about committing his future to this club with a new long-term contract,” said Henderson.

“Phil is world-class in every sense: ability, attitude, character, he’s the full package. Last week he made a big statement by saying he belongs at Liverpool.

(Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)

“I’ve shared a dressing room with this player for a decent amount of time now and I can tell you he is as ambitious as any footballer I’ve ever met or worked with.

“Phil wants to win and win major titles. The fact he has committed to here is the biggest message you can get that we are in a positive situation.

“Phil is one of our ‘quiet’ leaders; someone who we, as players, admire for his actions rather than big chest-thumping speeches. But when he does speak it’s worth listening to.

“He spoke about it being a bad week, but that we have to look beyond it; that he believes we will win titles because our manager is a winner.

“When he said that he spoke for all of us in the dressing room. We know we’re in a good way and have made real progress this season. We can see it and feel it.”

Mark Hughes believes new signing Saido Berahino will have the best years of his career in the Potteries.

A series of off-field spats with manager Tony Pulis saw Berahino’s progress stagnate at former club West Bromwich Albion.

However, Berahino’s Baggies nightmare was ended last week when he completed his move to the bet365 Stadium, in a deal worth £12 million plus add-ons.

Hughes believes the talented 23-year-old will enjoy his prime years at Stoke, and said the Burundi-born frontman has been in excellent spirits in training.

“Saido hasn’t stopped smiling since he first walked into the building to be honest – he is just really excited to be here,” Hughes said.

“We have been really encouraged by what we have seen in training – his movement for one is absolutely tremendous.

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images

“I was speaking to him about his qualities after a session the other day because his quality of runs were outstanding to be perfectly honest, and if anything it was actually the rest of the team who needed to get used to what he was producing.

“We haven’t had anybody at the club who is capable of making runs in behind like he can for a very long time now, so we are going to have to work on that to really get the best out of him.

“When he gets right up to speed then he is going to be a hugely important player for us, and somebody who our supporters are going to have the benefit of watching throughout his prime years.”

Young Bournemouth star Lewis Cook will get his chance in the first team, according to manager Eddie Howe.

Cook has not played since the opening day of the season, after joining from Championship side Leeds United for £7 million in the summer.

He started in the opening day defeat to Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium, but has not featured in a matchday squad since.

Cook then suffered an ankle injury in October, picked up on England under-20s duty, keeping him out of action for three months.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

But Cherries boss Howe is impressed with the attitude and work-rate of the young midfielder, and believes the 19-year-old will take his chance in the side when it is given to him.

“Lewis’s state of mind has been very good,” Howe said. “He has focused on getting himself fit and has worked incredibly hard.

“He has a great attitude and really loves his football and you can see that on the training ground every day.

“He is one we are really pleased to see back and we want to continue to develop him and, hopefully, when his chance comes he will be ready to take it.”