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An update has emerged on Newcastle United target Ousmane Dembele regarding interest from elsewhere in the Premier League…

What’s the talk?

According to Mundo Deportivo, Manchester United and Tottenham have both joined the Magpies in the race to land the French international.

The report claims that Barcelona want to keep hold of the 24-year-old and will offer him a contract extension to avoid losing him for nothing.

ASM 2.0

Eddie Howe could find Newcastle’s new Allan Saint-Maximin by sealing a deal for Dembele either in January or at the end of the season. He is out of contract in 2022 and the Magpies could land him on a pre-contract in the winter window to sign him on a free next summer or they could look to strike a cut-price deal to have him for the second-half of the campaign.

Like Saint-Maximin, Dembele is a tricky winger who can use both feet and likes to dribble with the ball to create openings for himself and his teammates. He has a career average of 2.5 dribbles completed per game, whilst the Magpies forward has a career average of 3.6 per game.

The Frenchman has also shown that he has the quality to provide end product at the top level, with 51 goals and assists in 121 games for the Spanish giants.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta claimed last year that the forward is a better player than PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, saying: “I like Ousmane Dembélé, for me it’s clear: he’s better than Kylian Mbappé. He wants to stay and we want him to stay here”

This is high praise from Laporta and highlights the natural talent of the £45m-rated beast. Mbappe has 141 goals and 74 assists in 192 games for PSG, showing his immense quality in the final third, with more than a goal contribution per match.

If the Barcelona president feels that Dembele has the ability to be better than the 22-year-old, then Newcastle could be landing a sensational player. However, at his current level he could still be a fantastic addition and excite supporters with his dribbling skills.

He has shown that he can pop up with goals and assists for Barcelona whilst regularly taking players on with the ball at his feet, much like Saint-Maximin does for Newcastle, and Dembele could get fans off their seats by committing defenders and opening up space to drive forward at the top end of the pitch. It is now over to Howe to ensure that he can get a deal over the line…

AND in other news, “Among leading NUFC targets”: David Ornstein drops transfer update which will excite fans…

Writing for The Evening Standard, reliable reporter Jack Rosser has made a West Ham United transfer claim involving Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips.

The Lowdown: West Ham in defensive crisis…

As the Irons suffer a blow in their race for a top four finish, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Wednesday evening, manager David Moyes’ task to keep West Ham fighting at the top could only get harder.

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Amid a hectic schedule with his side continuing to battle on all fronts, injuries to Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma have left Moyes short in central defence.

Only Issa Diop and Craig Dawson remain as senior options for the Scotsman, prompting the club to look at targets in the January window to reinforce West Ham’s options.

The Latest: Reliable reporter makes Phillips claim…

As explained by Rosser, writing for The Evening Standard, West Ham are ‘prepared to push ahead’ with a move to sign Phillips from Liverpool despite his fractured cheekbone.

Moyes is personally keen to add another central defender to his ranks with the 24-year-old a target and his recent injury apparently will not be a factor to West Ham swooping next month.

The Verdict: Right move?

As Liverpool slash his asking price from the summer, we believe the Hammers and recruitment chief Rob Newman could be striking a bargain if they move for Phillips.

The Athletic reported in the summer that FSG valued the player at £15m, with The Standard now claiming they will let him go for £10m, and West Ham should take full advantage of the discount.

Lauded as a ‘monster’ by manager Jurgen Klopp, Phillips contributed well during their injury crisis in defence last season – starting 15 Premier League matches and making more clearances on average than any Liverpool player (WhoScored).

Still at a fairly young age, the defender has many years to develop and mature into an even better option and the fact he is homegrown could come as an even greater incentive.

In other news: ‘Pleeease’, ‘I would cry’…West Ham fans erupt as Moyes now offered ‘quality signing’, find out more here.

A major claim has emerged on Lille centre-back Sven Botman, regarding Newcastle United’s interest in his services…

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Magpies are ‘seriously interested’ in the defender and that he is at the top of their wishlist heading into January. Italian giants AC Milan are also said to be keen on the Dutchman, who had three other sides in talks to sign him in the summer.

He Tweeted: “Newcastle are seriously interested in signing Sven Botman in January. He’s top of the list – but still waiting to know Lille position/price tag. AC Milan are keeping tabs on Botman situation too #NUFC #Lille Sevilla, Wolves & Atalanta were in talks to sign Botman last summer.”

Delight

This major claim from Romano, that Botman is top of the club’s wishlist, will surely leave Newcastle fans feeling delighted. It shows that the ex-Ajax man is a serious target for the Magpies and indicates that he could be a player they are willing to actively pursue upon the opening of the transfer window next month.

Eddie Howe’s team are currently 19th in the Premier League table and staring down the barrel of relegation as it stands. They have only kept one clean sheet all season and lost 4-0 to Leicester at the weekend, highlighting the defensive frailties that have been causing them issues all year and showing why fans will be buzzing that PIF are working hard to bolster the ex-Bournemouth man’s options in that department.

The 21-year-old colossus has been in fine form for Lille and could be a top addition to Newcastle’s squad. He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.96 this season, impressing on Sunday with a score of 7.3 against Lyon in Ligue 1 for his side. He made five clearances, one block, two tackles and two interceptions to help his team keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.

Last term, he averaged a score of 7.08 as Lille kept 20 clean sheets in his 37 appearances. This, along with his form this season, shows that he has the ability to perform to a high standard in a defence capable of keeping clean sheets at the top level, which is another reason why Newcastle fans will be delighted with the news of the club’s interest in signing him.

AND in other news, NUFC heading for disaster on “embarrassing” 30 y/o dud, Howe once locked him in a room…

Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur side head into Sunday afternoon’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace in an excellent run of league form, with Spurs remaining undefeated under the 52-year-old Italian in the top flight – winning three and drawing two of their five fixtures in the competition.

The north London side also secured their place in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, defeating West Ham United 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – with Steven Bergwijn, despite being heavily linked with a move away from the club this winter, highly impressing in the quarter-final.

Indeed, over his 61 minutes on the pitch against the Hammers, Bergwijn turned in a performance of the highest quality, bagging his side’s opener after a smart one-two with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, before playing a key role in the restoration of Spurs’ lead by bursting into the West Ham box and squaring the ball for Lucas Moura to tap home – shortly after Jarrod Bowen had drawn the visitors level.

However, it was not only the £16.2m-rated winger’s contributions in the final third that made him stand out on Wednesday evening, but also his efforts in helping his side out defensively, as the Netherlands international made two tackles, one interception and won four of his seven attempted duels against David Moyes side.

Indeed, these returns would appear to back up Alasdair Gold’s suggestion that the 24-year-old is not afraid to do the “dirty work” for his team – something that is an extremely important trait for Conte’s attackers to possess – as well as the journalist’s claim that Bergwijn still puts in an “incredible” amount of effort for his side.

Furthermore, the £73k-per-week forward’s returns against West Ham saw him earn an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.5 – with only Hojbjerg receiving a higher score – while 90min awarded the Dutchman an eight in their own player ratings, as well as describing his display as “one of the brighter performances of his Tottenham career.”

As such, while Conte may well decide to start Heung-Min Son ahead of Bergwijn on Sunday afternoon, it would appear to be a wise move for the Italian to instead stick with the 24-year-old, as, with it looking as if he is very much playing for his future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the forward could once again inspire his side to victory against Crystal Palace.

In other news: Tottenham handed huge injury boost ahead of Palace clash that’ll have Conte buzzing

With the January transfer window now just around the corner, Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will no doubt be keen to strengthen his squad for the second half of the Premier League campaign.

The club have faced a number of issues with injuries and illnesses in recent weeks, with games being postponed left, right and centre, and it’s unsurprisingly stretched the squad to its limit. However, one man who could finally make his mark given the situation around him is Morgan Sanson.

The £12.6m-rated Frenchman has played just four times in the Premier League this season, totalling only 135 minutes of football, but appears to really be putting the work in behind the scenes at Bodymoor Heath.

According to the Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece, the former Marseille man has already caught the eye of his new manager. He wrote: “Gerrard’s been really impressed with Sanson during the first few weeks – so it’ll be fascinating to see if the Frenchman can chalk up five or six starts on the bounce to see what he’s really made of.”

The self-proclaimed “warrior” could offer Villa some vital midfield depth, especially with Marvelous Nakamba’s injury; and if he can realise the kind of form and potential that people initially expected of him, he could become a big player for the club.

Speaking after his signing back in January, former Villa manager Dean Smith raved about the kind of qualities that the midfielder could bring to the club, saying: “He has got a big game mentality, he has played at the top of the French league for the last five years, played in the Champions League.

“He is a great technician and has great tactical awareness. He can play in a number of positions, can set up goals and can score goals. He has a bit of everything in his game so we’re really pleased with the acquisition.”The rarely-seen Sanson could well be the kind of game-changer to add a bit extra to Villa’s midfield over the coming weeks and months.Meanwhile, Villa are now eyeing this Brazilian striker…

Aston Villa fan feed Villa Report has shared an image of new signing Philippe Coutinho seemingly on his way to Birmingham. 

The screenshot, taken from the Instagram story of the 29-year-old’s wife Ainee, shows the player on the flight to England.

Villa announced on Friday that they had agreed a deal with Barcelona to take the Brazil international on loan until the end of the season. In the summer, they will then have an option, rather than an obligation, to buy him for a fee of £33m.

The excitement around Coutinho

This will be Coutinho’s second spell in English football after his earlier stint at Liverpool. The Brazilian scored 54 goals and provided 45 assists in 201 appearances across five years at Anfield.

His last loan move, which took him to Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich in 2019/20, saw him win the Champions League.

Furthermore, Coutinho has previously been named in the PFA Team of the Year, the World Cup Fan Dream Team and the Europa League Squad of the Season, while Barcelona spent a cool £142m to bring him to La Liga four years ago, so that illustrates the stature of player that Villa are getting.

Here’s how some fans reacted to the image of the 29-year-old making his way back to England.

These Villa fans erupt as Coutinho jets in

“Yes boy!!”

Credit: @jim_cushe

“Omg he’s nearly here”

Credit: @mikedrover

“BIG CLUB / INCOMING”

Credit: @thevillan57

“I’m at the airport mate”

Credit: @myles_morris

“cannot comprehend this is really happening”

Credit: @abihttps

“#UTV Such an exciting player, can’t wait to see him wear claret and blue”

Credit: @vitalvilla

In other news, Villa are in advanced talks over this potential deal

A number of Everton fans have flocked to reports that the club are interested in appointing Tim Cahill to a senior executive role at Goodison Park.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, the Toffees legend could return to Merseyside in a senior executive role, as following Rafael Benitez’s sacking on Sunday, the board are keen on re-integrating former players who know the club well.

Cahill is currently chief sports officer at the Aspire Academy in the United Arab Emirates and is on the board at Belgian club KAS Eupen. The 42-year-old has also completed his coaching badges in a bid to return to the highest echelons of European football in a new role.

The Australian had an illustrious career with Everton; in 278 appearances for the club, the attacking midfielder scored 68 goals and produced 29 assists over an eight-year spell on Merseyside, firmly establishing himself as a hero among the Goodison Park faithful.

Everton fans gleeful over possible Cahill return

After Twitter fan feed Everton Blue Army shared the Daily Mail’s report, many supporters flocked to the comments to voice their delight at the prospective return of Cahill to the club.

Here’s what these fans said about this “great” news:

“Would love to see Everton playing football in the style this guy played the game. If he came in and stamped it on the club I’d be very happy.”

Credit: @nismoneil

“That would be great”

Credit: @LizaDurkin

“Does he still play”

Credit: @dave_rylett

“I’d have no problem with this.”

Credit: @seanrostron

“top professional in everything he has ever done.”

Credit: @_Bluran_

“Speaks a lot of sense about what the club need so it’s not as bad as what everyone makes it out to be.”

Credit: @Jay____177

In other news: These reports of another ex-Everton employee coming back to Goodison Park were not so warmly received

Leeds United duo Adam Forshaw and Junior Firpo picked up muscular injuries in the Whites’ victory over West Ham, according to journalist Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Leeds win, but more injuries

Leeds sealed a memorable 3-2 win against the Hammers on Sunday afternoon, producing one of their most spirited performances of the season.

While Marcelo Bielsa will be delighted with his team’s efforts and the result, injuries once again proved to be a negative at the London Stadium.

Both Forshaw and Firpo limped off in the first half of the game, adding to Leeds’ problems but thankfully not robbing them of a priceless victory.

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The Latest: Hay provides Leeds injury update

Taking to Twitter after the game, Hay gave an important 12-word update on the pair, admitting that it is too early to know how long they will be missing.

He outlined: “Forshaw and Firpo have muscular strains. Too early to give timescales etc.”

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The Verdict: Scarcely believable situation

Any team can expect a few injuries during the course of a season, but what Leeds are experiencing at the moment is bordering on ridiculous.

They are having to make do without a host of key figures and these injuries to Forshaw and Firpo have made the situation even worse, especially with Kalvin Phillips already sidelined in the middle of the park and not expected back until March.

It means Stuart Dallas may have to play at left-back for a while, which would deprive Bielsa of another midfield option, and surely making at least one January signing absolutely essential in that area.

In other news, Leeds are keen on signing this player who’s been compared to Wayne Rooney. Find out who it is here.

Long-term Wolverhampton Wanderers target Donny van de Beek looks set to leave Manchester United this transfer window with the Dutch midfielder seeing very little game time at Old Trafford under new manager Ralf Rangnick.

That’s according to Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad, via Sport Witness, who claim it “seems inevitable” that van de Beek will leave the Red Devils this month.

The midfielder, who has in the past been described to have had a “close to perfect” game by former United player Owen Hargreaves, has somehow seen his situation at United worsen.

Van de Beek has played just seven minutes of Premier League football since Ralf Rangnick took charge at Old Trafford after featuring in only five league games prior to the German’s arrival.

Since swapping Ajax for Manchester United in September 2020, the 24-year-old has made 50 appearances for the Premier League giants, however, averages just 36.72 minutes per appearance.

It seems like now is the time for the midfielder to seek a move elsewhere, at least on loan, to get what was looking to be a very promising career back on track.

Numerous Premier League clubs, including Wolves, have been linked with a move for the Dutchman, but he could prove particularly helpful to Bruno Lage’s side.

With the West Midlands outfit looking to secure European football this season, Lage could do with some extra reinforcements to provide depth to his squad.

Wolves currently sit eighth in the Premier League and are two points off the top-six, although various amounts of games in hand provide complication.

From a midfield perspective, the Old Gold don’t have too many options other than the regular Portuguese pair of Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves.

Leander Dendoncker is occasionally deployed in the middle but can also play centre-back whilst 23-year-old Bruno Jordao has played once this season in the FA Cup.

Moreover, with Moutinho 35 years old and the possibility of Neves moving on for a greater challenge not out of the question, Wolves could certainly do with some quality long-term options in the midfield.

Prior to his move to England, van de Beek was playing regularly in the Eredivisie as well as the Champions League and was a key contributor to the Dutch giants’ run to the semi-final in 2018/19.

In 175 appearances for the Amsterdam outfit, the 24-year-old scored 41 goals and registered 34 assists as he won the Eredivisie and Dutch Cup in 2018/19 as well as the Dutch Super Cup in 2020 and the famous Champions League run.

With such experience, it’s hard to remember that the £22.5m-rated midfielder is still only 24, and still has plenty of potential.

Wolves could certainly do with this sort of experience and, should a permanent deal materialise, there would be a clear pathway for the Dutchman to make a midfield spot his own whilst progressing at the rate that had been expected of him upon signing for United.

In other news: Lage offers update on the future of 25-y/o gem, Wolves fans will be delighted

A big Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged regarding  the club’s pursuit of Brighton’s 6 foot 5 giant Dan Burn…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has revealed whether or not the centre-back is open to the move to Tyneside this month.

He tweeted: “Newcastle are expected to go back in for Brighton defender Dan Burn.  The St James’ Park club have had an initial offer in the region of £8m rejected for the 29-year-old. Burn is a Newcastle fan and we’re told he’d be interested in a potential move back north.”

Buzzing

This news will surely leave Newcastle fans buzzing for several reasons.

Firstly, the defender could help to solve a major problem for Eddie Howe. There is no hiding away from the fact that Newcastle have been poor this season. They have not won enough games and have conceded far too many goals, with Norwich the only team to concede more in the top flight, having played a game more than the Toon, who have let in 43 goals as it stands.

Meanwhile, Burn has been part of a Brighton team which has conceded just 23 times in the Premier League. The defender has averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.96 for the Seagulls this season, showing that he has been consistently delivering good performances to help his team avoid conceding goals.

This suggests that the 29-year-old could come in and improve the Magpies’ backline, as he has proven that he can function as part of an impressive defence on the south coast. Therefore, he could play a part in solving Howe’s defensive issues during the second half of the campaign.

The Toon Army will also be delighted to read that he is one of their own and interested in making the move happen. The fact that he is a Newcastle fan suggests that he would give his all for the club on the pitch and would not just be making the transfer happen to increase his pay packet at the end of the month.

Supporters would surely appreciate a player who is a genuine fan of the club, as they will know that the player will give 100% and care about the city and the people. That is why Burn, in particular, could be a signing that Newcastle fans are buzzing to see happen.

AND in other news, “Newcastle hoping”: Craig Hope issues 8-word update that’ll leave Howe salivating…