Wolverhampton Wanderers have made contact to sign Espanyol defender Cesar Montes this summer, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Montes’ admission
The Mexican only made the move to the RCDE Stadium from Monterrey in January but has instantly helped Diego Martinez sure up his backline.
The Midlands outfit are long-term admirers of the 26-year-old, who has previously admitted that he thinks the Old Gold are a ‘great club’.
Now, Julen Lopetegui sounds keen to bring the centre-back to Molineux but is set to face competition from one of his Premier League rivals.
The Latest: Wolves make contact
According to Spanish outlet La Grada (via Sport Witness), Wolves and Nottingham Forest both ‘have asked’ about the availability of Montes ahead of the upcoming window.
Wanderers have ‘not increased’ their interest as of yet with there still being several months to go, but their target does have a €30m (£26m) release clause included in his terms.
The Verdict: Ideal reinforcement
Montes has been hailed a ‘powerful’ defender by Barcelona manager Xavi, and despite Wolves already having Craig Dawson, Nathan Collins, Max Kilman and Toti as centre-back options, he would be an ideal reinforcement, especially with Kilman linked to clubs like Liverpool.
The 6 foot 3 giant currently averages 5.5 clearances and 1.8 aerial wins per game in La Liga, highlighting his physical presence at the heart of the backline (WhoScored).
Montes also knows Raul Jimenez being his international teammate for Mexico, so this existing connection could help Fosun get a deal over the line ahead of their competitors should an offer be made in the months ahead.
Manchester United will face familiar foes in Leeds United this afternoon as they hope to exact revenge following their failure to secure all three points in midweek against the same opposition.
Erik ten Hag’s side failed to win for just the third time this year, and with Arsenal and Manchester City recently slipping up in their chase for the Premier League title, could United launch a surprise challenge?
The fixture congestion that is slowly building may disrupt any ambitions they have of a sustained challenge, although a victory this afternoon would offer a boost in confidence.
Ten Hag welcomed back Jadon Sancho in midweek for his first Premier League appearance since October, and the 22-year-old marked his introduction off the bench by scoring United’s equaliser in the 2-2 draw.
Will Sancho be unleashed against Leeds?
Since arriving in Manchester in the summer of 2021, his spell at the club hasn’t exactly lived up to the dizzying heights that some might have expected following his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund.
His first season at Old Trafford saw him score just five goals, which was some way down on his 16 in the previous campaign for Dortmund, which made him arguably one of the most highly-regarded youngsters on the continent.
The 22-year-old was expected to kick on this season under Ten Hag, but it hasn’t quite worked out that way, despite an encouraging start in August which saw him hit the winner against Liverpool in a 2-1 victory.
He trained away from the first team between November and January, with the manager wanting him to regain full mental and physical fitness, and it appears to have worked.
Substituted on for the final half-hour in midweek, Sancho not only managed to score but also made three key passes, had four dribble attempts and completed 92% of his passes in a rather successful cameo, and Ten Hag should duly unleash him from the start today.
He was once hailed as “robust” by Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc and “flamboyant” by ex-England youth coach Dan Micciche, and if he can get back to the form he displayed in Germany, he could become a formidable player for Ten Hag and United.
If given a start today, he could terrorise a Leeds defence which couldn’t stop his attacking prowess on Wednesday, and the Red Devils boss could use that to his advantage today to great effect.
Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici could be set to utilise his Serie A connections once again, amid reports that the north Londoners are eyeing a summer deal for Inter Milan maestro, Marcelo Brozovic.
What’s the word?
According to InterLive.it, the Lilywhites’ transfer chief – who previously snapped up the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski from Italy – appears to be intent on landing the Croatia international at the end of the season, with the 30-year-old having been deemed ‘expendable’ by those at San Siro.
The report suggests that Spurs are the club who have been ‘most interested’ in signing the 83-cap rock in recent times, albeit with La Liga giants Barcelona also said to be in the mix for his signature.
The piece goes on to add that those at N17 are considering two potential approaches for the Zagreb native, with a straight offer of around €25m (£22m) having been mooted, as well as a proposal of around €10m (£9m) plus academy graduate, Japhet Tanganga.
Imagine him and Hojbjerg
The addition of Brozovic – who still has just over three years left to run on his existing deal in Milan – would provide both quality and experience to Antonio Conte’s midfield ranks, with the 5 foot 11 maestro having been a standout figure for the Nerrazzurri over the years.
The former Dinamo Zagreb man has scored 30 goals and provided 37 assists in 303 games for the club to date from his defensive midfield berth, notably playing his part in the side that won the Scudetto under Conte back in 2021.
That glorious campaign saw the “irreplaceable” gem – as previously lauded by ex-Inter star Gianfranco Matteoli – average an impressive 1.6 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game from his 29 league appearances, as per WhoScored, with that an illustration of just what an effective screen he is in front of the backline.
Although he has gone on to feature just 13 times across all fronts this term – making only nine starts – the long-serving warrior still compares favourably to those in his position in Europe, as he ranks in the top 12% for non-penalty goals as a marker that he can also make a difference in the final third if required.
The hope would be that Brozovic would be able to form a menacing midfield partnership with current Tottenham regular, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, with the Danish machine also offering a perhaps unsung attacking quality with four goals and three assists from his 21 Premier League appearances this season.
Like the Inter star – who averaged 2.2 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game last season in the Italian top-flight – Hojbjerg is also truly effective due to his ball-winning prowess, as he averages 1.5 tackles and 1.5 interceptions in the league this term.
The two men’s progressive midfield approach is also illustrated by their willingness to make things happen for their respective sides, with the latter man ranking in the top 9% for attempted passes and the top 9% for pass completion, while Brozovic ranks in the top 4% and the top 9%, respectively, in those same two metrics.
That should indicate that the addition of the experienced asset would provide competition as well as also a potential partner for Hojbjerg in the centre of the park, with that a truly mouthwatering prospect for both Conte and Paratici.
Newcastle United are growing increasingly more attractive to players currently playing at some of the more established top sides having seen the project on Tyneside.
What’s the latest?
Eddie Howe’s men are yet to see any new faces come through doors at St. James’ Park this month but they have been linked with a number of potential targets.
And three players who have been linked with a potential move north to Tyneside include the Chelsea trio Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Hakim Ziyech.
It has since been reported the likes of Gallagher and Loftus-Cheek are expected to remain put at Stamford Bridge, but the desire to play at St. James’ Park now has been raised by insider Dean Jones.
Indeed, speaking to Football FanCast, Jones has claimed the recent success on Tyneside has caught the attention of players from afar who would be interested in potentially making the move to Newcastle:
“Yeah, but it wasn’t just Chelsea. There were a lot of clubs initially that weren’t willing to loan Newcastle players because they didn’t want to help them out.
“Unfortunately, those players are now seeing what Newcastle are capable of and that Newcastle were outperforming most of those other clubs.
“And there is more well need and want I guess from those players to actually get out of clubs like Chelsea and get over to Newcastle.”
Attractive project
It is no surprise to hear this from Jones with what Newcastle are currently doing taking a lot of clubs by total shock as they push for a spot in the top four.
The Toon were taken over in the latter stages of 2021 by the Saudi Arabia-based consortium and despite having just two full transfer windows at the helm, they are already developing immensely.
Now halfway through the 2022/23 campaign, the Magpies are just 180 minutes away from a place in the League Cup final at Wembley and have made a sensational start in the league.
Champions League football feels a real possibility for Eddie Howe’s side this season with a five-point gap on Tottenham Hotspur and a game in hand over the north London side who currently sit fifth.
However, it must be said, the likes of Gallagher and Ziyech are players who may feel their potential is not being met at Chelsea and could even be affected by the vast amount of new signings.
And one thing Howe has demonstrated incredibly well at Newcastle is his ability to extract everything out of his players’ potential.
This can be seen through the likes of Joelinton who has been a player reborn under Howe and Miguel Almiron who is currently the Premier League’s sixth-highest goalscorer this season.
Even the likes of Dan Burn have arrived since PIF’s takeover and has become an instant hero on Tyneside under the 45-year-old manager.
So not only is there a lot to look forward to on the pitch at St. James’ Park in the future, but Howe has also shown players who come to Tyneside will have a great opportunity to develop their careers.
Joe Nicholson believes Trai Hume could be in line to start again for Sunderland this Sunday.
The Lowdown: Fiesty encounter expected
Sunderland are set to welcome their local rivals Middlesbrough to the Stadium of Light this week with not only bragging rights up for grabs this weekend but also a huge three points that could catapult one of them right into play-off contention.
The Black Cats are coming into this game off the back of a home defeat at the hands of Swansea City, although they did play the majority of the game with just 10 men due to Luke O’Nien’s reckless tackle.
Despite having to bide his time since joining Sunderland last January, Hume now appears to be very comfortable at the Stadium of Light having been labelled ‘so composed’ and ‘athletic’ in recent times since he started to get a consistent run of starts under Tony Mowbray, so he should have a great chance of starting his first Tees-Wear derby.
The Latest: Hume to continue his run of starts
Hume has certainly had to wait patiently but he’s started the last three games now and Nicholson has claimed on The Roar podcast the youngster could be handed a vote of confidence by Mowbray and start once more in a high-pressure side.
He said: (16:50) “There’s quite a few interesting matchups that are going to be on the pitch on Sunday. You mentioned there, [Ryan] Giles on the left and he’ll probably come up against probably Patrick Roberts and then Trai Hume might start at right back for Sunderland.”
The Verdict: Must-win game for Sunderland
Boro are certainly going into the game as favourites given they sit fourth in the table and have lost once in their last 10 league games, however, with a likely sold-out Stadium of Light rocking and one of the league’s top strikers in Stewart within their ranks, Sunderland will fancy their chances.
The Black Cats know that a win would put them firmly in the hunt for a play-off berth, however defeat and it could show why they aren’t quite ready for those sorts of heights and targets.
Mowbray knows a win will be a huge statement of intent against a local rival and a team that’s been a mainstay in this division for a number of years, but with such a young squad consisting of players such as Hume, Roberts, Amad Diallo and Jack Clarke, it will be a test of not only their ability but also their character.
Chelsea have emerged as ‘favourites’ to sign Vasco da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos in 2023, according to The Times, via Jacque Talbot.
The Lowdown: Boehly’s scouting mission
The Premier League giants have recruited several young, promising talents since Todd Boehly joined, including the arrival of Carney Chukwuemeka, and the owner isn’t showing any signs of stopping there.
The Brazilian still has a staggering five years left on his contract with Mauricio Barbieri’s side, though recent reports have suggested that a winter exit is highly likely, with the 18-year-old valued at £20m.
The Latest: Chelsea leading the race
Taking to Twitter, Talbot relayed news from an article by The Times to reveal that Chelsea are in pole position to land Santos in the near future:
“Chelsea have emerged as favourites to sign Andrey Santos, the 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder who has also attracted interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle, reports The Times.”
The Verdict: After Nkunku?
The Blues have reportedly completed the transfer of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig, and Santos could follow in his footsteps to be the next new arrival walking through the doors at Stamford Bridge.
The teenager has scored eight goals this season and has the versatility to operate across all three midfield positions, making him a hugely useful signing (Transfermarkt).
The Rio de Janeiro native has already been labelled a ‘monster’ by Juninho despite his young age so it looks like he’s got an exciting future ahead of him, one that looks to be starting in the capital.
Newcastle United are enjoying a phenomenal Premier League campaign so far and Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the progress his squad has made since he joined the club when they were in the relegation zone in November 2021.
The Magpies are currently third in the top flight after losing just one game ahead of the World Cup break and the manager will be hoping that his side can continue to bask in their outstanding form when they return to action after Christmas.
Qualifying for Champions League football this season would not have been in the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic Newcastle supporter ahead of the current campaign, but could now become a very comfortable reality for the club especially if they take advantage of the January transfer window next month.
Adding depth to the wide forward role has been reported as a target for the North East giants when the market reopens and one player who has been linked with a move to St James’ Park is Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic, with reports suggesting the club are ready to make him their next statement signing.
Pulisic, who could cost £35m, hasn’t been able to get feature consistently in the starting line up at Stamford Bridge over his time there and now Howe could offer him the opportunity to help Newcastle secure their top-four spot over the second half of the season.
The talented 24-year-old – who was dubbed “world-class” by Frank Khalid – has averaged just 57 minutes per performance over 113 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 26 goals and registering 21 assists with a goal contribution every 162 minutes.
Not only that, Pulisic has more recently been representing the USMNT at the World Cup in Qatar, helping his team to progress to the round of 16 knock-out stages in the prestigious international tournament.
Over four appearances, the winger was in tremendous form, scoring one goal and delivering two assists.
He won the Man of the Match award when the American’s faced off against England, with the former Borussia Dortmund man making life rather difficult for the Toon’s Kieran Trippier, as he attempted three dribbles, hit the woodwork and made a key passes.
In total, Pulisic averaged 2.3 key passes, 2.3 shots on goal, one successful dribble and won 4.8 duels per game during his time in Qatar, proving that he has been a huge attacking threat for his nation.
With those statistics in mind, Howe could even land Newcastle their next version of Hatem Ben Arfa.
The American attacker is extremely versatile in his positioning on the pitch just like the former Magpies hero, who could play attacking midfield and both sides of the wide forward roles, something Pulisic is comfortable doing too.
It is with the ball at their feet where they are most comparable, with the Chelsea ace performing a career seasonal high of 2.4 dribbles per match in the 2017/18 Bundesliga campaign. By way of comparison, Ben Arfa’s highest tally was as many as 4.5 during a game in 2015/16 with Nice.
With that being said, it’s clear they are both beautiful technicians capable of producing a bit of magic in the final third.
Thus, the signing of Pulisic would be a great piece of business for Newcastle and if they could secure his signature in the new year it could be a great boost for the attacking threat at St James’ Park over the second half of the season.
Glasgow Rangers’ recent form has increased the pressure on Giovanni van Bronckhorst, especially with the Ibrox side nine points behind the current league leaders in the race for the Premiership title.
Truth be told, only one of the Dutchman’s seven summer signings has suitably impressed. Striker Antonio Colak has scored 14 goals in all competitions, however, the burden shouldn’t fall on just one player to be the focal point of the team.
Alfredo Morelos has been in woeful form this campaign, netting just three times. His contract is due to expire at the end of the season and the majority of the Ibrox faithful are now bracing themselves for him to either be sold or leave for free in the summer.
As such, with the January window fast approaching, Van Bronckhorst should be revisiting a move for Sunderland striker Ross Stewart.
The Scot was linked with the Light Blues back in the summer as a replacement for Morelos, however, nothing ever materialised. His contract is also set to expire at the end of the season and this should prompt Van Bronckhorst to revisit a potential move.
Although Gers usually play with just one up front, a duo of Colak and Stewart could be an excellent option ahead of the second half of the season.
The Sunderland hitman has scored 78 goals in his career to date and, despite not being an out-and-out centre forward like Colak, he would be a perfect foil for the Croatian, allowing him to benefit from his hard work and boundless energy.
A change in formation might do the Glasgow side the world of good, and two centre-forwards could certainly cause a host of problems for opposing defences, especially with a duo in the calibre of Stewart and Colak.
Having scored 24 goals in League One last season, with Sunderland gaining promotion through the playoffs, journalist James Copley hailed the player as “unbelievable” during his stunning season.
He might not be the big-name signing the supporters expect, but if the club can secure him either for free at the end of the season, or for a reduced fee in January, it might be shrewd business indeed.
Liverpool are reportedly eyeing up an ambitious double swoop for Napoli attackers Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia next summer.
The Lowdown: Exceptional talents
Both players are exceptional talents in a Napoli side who are unbeaten in their first 14 games in Serie A and sit comfortably at the top of the table.
They also topped Liverpool’s Champions League group, with Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia playing a part in their 4-1 win over the Reds in Naples two months ago.
The Nigeria striker won himself a penalty in the first half, although he missed it, and some Liverpool supporters would have been relieved to see him come off injured after Napoli raced into a 3-0 lead in the first half. Meanwhile, the Georgia winger grabbed an assist and was also a general menace in the Azzurri frontline (SofaScore).
The Latest: Liverpool interest
As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Liverpool have ‘observed’ both Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia, and Napoli would consider selling the pair for around €100m each in the summer, so €200m (£175m) in total.
However, they will face competition from big rivals Manchester United for their signatures, as well as the current Champions League holders and their next opponents in the competition Real Madrid.
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The Verdict: Highly unlikely
Signing even one of Osimhen or Kvaratskhelia, let alone both, seems highly unlikely for Jurgen Klopp’s side at the moment.
Napoli are flying in the Champions League and at the top of Serie A, while the Merseyside club are outside of the top four in the Premier League going into the break for the World Cup in Qatar.
Before today’s clash against Udinese, the Napoli pair had accumulated no fewer than 14 foals and seven assists between them in Serie A, while they also shared six goal contributions in the Champions League (WhoScored). They are only 21 and 23 years of age respectively as well, so their potential is scary.
Where Liverpool are at this moment in time compared to Napoli, they will likely find it very difficult to get any deal done for either Osimhen or Kvaratskhelia.
Liverpool could revitalise their midfield to full intensity should they succeed in their pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, according to The Redman TV's Paul Machin.
What's the latest on Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool?
Jurgen Klopp's Reds are leading the race for the Argentine World Cup winner, according to the likes of transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, with an agreement on personal terms believed to be all but complete.
The Seagulls, who will join Liverpool in the Europa League next season, have touted the 24-year-old at £70m and the Merseyside outfit appear set to meet the valuation, beating the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United to his signature.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Machin waxed lyrical over the dynamic midfielder and hinted that Mac Allister is the perfect heir to Gini Wijnaldum's position in the team, with the industrious midfielder departing on a free transfer in 2021.
Machin said: "The weird thing about Gini Wijnaldum is I think the role has changed. It was a very functional role for Liverpool that Wijnaldum played and not many footballers have got that kind of capability.
"I actually see Mac Allister as being a Gini Wijnaldum plus. He might have the ability to do those functions, but you're going to get more assists and you're going to get more goals out of him further up the pitch.
"I see him more in rotation with Curtis Jones potentially, and it's going to be their job to actually do more of the fun stuff on the pitch, whereas Gini Wijnaldum was very much doing the dirty work."
How good is Alexis Mac Allister?
Few would deny that a midfielder of Mac Allister's make would enhance Liverpool's prospects of success next season, bringing energy and intensity to the fore.
Wijnaldum was often the unsung hero for his Merseyside outfit, plying his trade with assiduous diligence and being heralded as "sensational" by his former German manager for his exploits, and there is likely a growing belief that Mac Allister could not only emulate the Dutchman but transcend his feats at the Liverpool centre.
Having broken into Brighton's first team last year, making 36 appearances and scoring five goals, the "sumptuous" dynamo – as dubbed by Gary Lineker – has taken a major stride in his development and plundered 12 strikes from 39 outings, with a central role in his nation's triumphant World Cup campaign wedged in the middle.
Alexis Mac Allister Brighton Argentina
The £50k-per-week phenom's rounded skill set is likely a major reason behind Liverpool's ostensible willingness to pay the big bucks, with FBref underscoring his dynamism by referencing his ranking among the top 17% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 19% for progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons.
A "magician" with the ball, as hailed by teammate Danny Welbeck, Mac Allister could cement his role as central focal point for Liverpool, perhaps even emerging as Klopp's own version of Barcelona's prodigious maestro Pedri.
Signing for La Blaugrana from Las Palmas for just €20m (£17m) in 2020, the 20-year-old Pedri has since made 109 appearances for his club and earned 18 caps for Spain, belying his age with the superlative calibre of his performances.
He ranks among the 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions and the top 7% for progressive passes, progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, praised as a "brutal player" by Barca legend Andres Iniesta.
Both Mac Allister and Pedri are progressive presences with bundles of energy, and Barcelona's resurgence under Xavi is indebted to Pedri's presence at the nucleus of the pitch.
Likewise, it's no coincidence that Mac Allister has starred in Albion's ascension to European football and Argentina's return to the pinnacle of international football, and Liverpool must tie up a deal for the remarkable talent.