Waching daily Feb 4 2019

Son Heung-min is having the season of his life. He has scored 10 Premier League goals from just 14 starts — including crucial strikes in each of Tottenham's last two games — and has helped take the burden off Harry Kane

 His workrate cannot be questioned. Son made more sprints than any player on the pitch in both of Spurs' games last week despite having recently flown back from the Asian Cup with South Korea

 He has stepped up and become a key player for Mauricio Pochettino. It is to his immense credit that he is being talked about as a player of the year contender

While Son is making a convincing case, he doesn't quite get into my six-man shortlist

  No one comes close to Virgil van Dijk. He has transformed Liverpool into a rock-solid team who are favourites to win their first league title for 29 years

His team-mate and reigning player of the year Mo Salah must fancy his chances of defending the crown

He has followed up a record-breaking first season at Anfield by topping the scoring charts with 16 goals

 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kane — Salah's golden boot rivals — also have to be included

Aubameyang has been prolific in an Arsenal team who have struggled for creativity while Kane remains Spurs' most important player

His goals have been worth six points to Spurs — more than any player — and his late strikes against PSV salvaged their Champions League campaign

 At Manchester City, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva have all enjoyed excellent seasons but I would argue that David Silva should be on the shortlist

Now 33 and without Kevin De Bruyne alongside him for most of the campaign, he has been the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola's side

  Chelsea may have blown hot and cold, but you cannot discount Eden Hazard. He is our league's most naturally talented player and is in double figures for goals and assists

With this award, timing is everything. This time last year De Bruyne was the clear favourite, only for Salah to storm into the running

But looking at the season so far, these six are the outstanding candidates. PS My frontrunners for young player of the year? West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, Bournemouth's David Brooks and Arsenal's Matteo Guendouzi

   After such a tragic, emotional fortnight following the disappearance of Emiliano Sala, Cardiff's battling victory over Bournemouth was the performance of the season

It underlined the incredible job that Neil Warnock has done at this club. I'm sure every neutral will be willing Cardiff to stay up

   It is great to see my old Southampton team-mate and Sportsmail colleague Peter Crouch back in the Premier League

 He still has plenty to offer — as he demonstrated when he won Burnley's first penalty in 67 Premier League games

Sean Dyche will use him wisely and I expect him to keep making a big impact.   Why Sarri's vision hinges on HiguainChelsea five title-winning teams have one thing in common

Jose Mourinho brought Didier Drogba to the club in his first season and the striker was a key component in Chelsea's triumphs in 2005 and 2006

He then struck 29 goals in 32 games to fire Carlo Ancelotti's side to the Double in 2010

The arrival of Diego Costa inspired Chelsea to a third title under Mourinho in 2015 and another under Antonio Conte

Since Conte fell out with Costa, Chelsea have lacked a snarling, physical presence at the top of their team

Until now.Maurizio Sarri has not had an A-list centre-forward to work with. Gonzalo Higuain may be a quick fix but you cannot doubt his quality

He can be the missing piece in Sarri's tactical plan. Let's see how Chelsea fare with a proper focal point before jumping to conclusions about their manager

   Sean Longstaff did not deserve to be on the losing side as Newcastle were beaten by Tottenham

He is elegant on the ball, comfortable with both feet and, at just 21, did not seem overwhelmed playing against Spurs and in midweek against Manchester City

 He has excellent sporting pedigree, too. His uncle is former Bolton and Celtic midfielder Alan Thompson and his dad David played ice hockey for Great Britain

No wonder he looked so cool at Wembley!  I was seriously impressed by Norwich as they took Leeds apart on Saturday

It was the best performance I have seen in the Championship this season. Daniel Farke's side were well-organised, classy in possession and lethal in front of goal

Both sides are pushing for promotion but, of the two, it is Norwich who look the team made to play in the Premier League

   MY TEAM OF THE WEEKEND 

For more infomation >> Man City News - Son Heung-min is class... but these six are my players of the year - Duration: 6:49.

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Man United caretaker Solskjaer told by Molde | News today - Duration: 2:28.

Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that Molde told him

they hope he does so well at Old Trafford that he won't return to the Norwegian club.

Solskjaer, a fans' favourite at United from his playing days, was drafted in to fill the

void left by Jose Mourinho when the Special One was sacked in December. His spell has

since proved a runaway success, with a string of impressive victories propelling the club

back into contention for Champions League qualification. Molde agreed to loan out their

manager for the second half of the 2018-19 season, but Solskjaer joked that the club

would like to see him stay longer in Manchester. "When I rang the owner and said that United

had called and that he always knew that this had been my dream, he said: 'Go over, enjoy

yourself – and please don't come back!' "Both owners wished me all the best because

they knew this is something I dreamed about," he explained to reporters. "To get the backing

from them was fantastic. If I go back to Molde, I will do my best for them – but it depends

when I go back. "It's been fantastic so far. Hopefully I will get to see my family

soon, because that has been the only downside to the job." Solskjaer saw a club-record

run of eight consecutive wins after taking over curtailed midweek by a 2-2 draw to Burnley,

although he remains unbeaten in the United hot seat. And having declined to pursue any

transfer targets in the January window, the Reds are back in action on Sunday when they

visit Leicester City. On being consulted by the club on potential transfer activity Solskjaer

opined: "I think it's quite natural that whoever is in charge and whoever is involved

with the players already here has a voice in that. "I have got to know the players,

what potential they have, how far away they are from reaching that potential, and who

we can build a team on. So of course I put my views into the club. "It was just about

coming in to work with the players and I knew that if the club had targets for the transfer

window, they would have discussed them with me."

For more infomation >> Man United caretaker Solskjaer told by Molde | News today - Duration: 2:28.

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Man Utd transfer news: What deals could Manchester United do on deadline day? - Duration: 1:52.

 The Red Devils have yet to make any incoming signings despite being linked with a number of big-name players

 United were thought to be looking for a new centre-back with the defence leaking goals throughout the season

 But Solskjaer is now unlikely to make any signings with the transfer window shutting this evening

 Manchester United could see a few players leaving either on loan or in permanent deals though

Possible incoming deals It is highly unlikely anyone will sign for Manchester United today

 There have been reports Kalidou Koulibaly has been made the top target for the Red Devils in the summer though

 With uncertainty over who will be the next permanent manager, Ed Woodward has chosen not to splash the cash

 That's despite United sitting down in sixth place in the Premier League. Possible outgoing deals Marouane Fellaini is expected to complete a switch to the Chinese Super League

 The Belgian has agreed a loan deal with Shandong Lueng. Italian full-back Matteo Darmian could also leave Old Trafford for a return to his homeland

 Eric Bailly and Juan Mata have been linked with exits but it appears unlikely they will materialise

Deals done so far IN N/A OUT Ethan Hamilton - Rochdale - Loan Regan Poole - Newport County - Loan