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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Marcus Edwards back to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Portuguese publication A Bola (via Sport Witness), who claim that, after turning in two highly impressive performances against Spurs in the Champions League earlier this season, Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte are now ‘taking the first steps’ in a move to bring the Sporting Lisbon forward back to north London this winter.

The report goes on to state that, while the Liga Portugal side are unwilling to sanction the sale of the 24-year-old for anything less than his €60m (£53m) release clause this January, with Tottenham possessing a 50% sell-on clause for the former England U20 international, Edwards would only cost the club a much more affordable €30m (£26.5m).

“Unreal”

Considering the astronomical rise to stardom Edwards has been on since leaving Spurs on a free transfer back in 2019, it is not difficult to understand why both Paratici and Conte would be interested in a deal to bring the forward back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this winter – especially for a figure in the region of just £26.5m.

Indeed, over his 14 Liga Portugal appearances so far this season, the £22m-rated talent has been in sensational attacking form, having already scored five goals, registered four assists and created four big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.6 shots – 0.7 of which have been on target – making 1.7 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the player who Andy Lapthorne dubbed “unreal” average a quite breathtaking Sofascore match rating of 7.20, not only ranking him as Ruben Amorim’s fifth-best performer in the league but also as the joint 20th-best player in the top flight of Portuguese football as a whole thus far in 2022/23.

The £23k-per-week attacker was in similarly fine form over his six outings in the Champions League, scoring two goals – one of which came against Spurs – providing two assists and creating two big chances, as well as taking an average of 1.2 shots – 0.8 of which hit the target – making one key pass and completing 1.7 dribbles per match.

These metrics saw the player who journalist Brian Fonseca labelled “immense” average an astonishing Sofascore match rating of 7.02, ranking him as Sporting’s second-best performer in European football’s most prestigious club competition.

Furthermore, with Edwards boasting extremely impressive positional versatility – being able to operate on either wing, as an attacking midfielder and even as an out-and-out number nine – the 24-year-old would have no trouble fitting into either of Conte’s preferred 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 tactical set-ups in north London.

As such, considering just how exciting a talent the Spurs academy graduate very much looks to be, it is indeed easy to see why Paratici and Conte would be keen on a deal to bring the forward back to the club in January, as Edwards would undoubtedly represent an unreal addition to the 53-year-old manager’s current attacking arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray is facing the prospect of a busy month of business at the Stadium of Light during the January transfer window.

The Black Cats boss was hit with an early blow to his squad as Premier League side Everton decided to activate their recall option on striker Ellis Simms and the forward has now returned to Goodison Park, having initially been on a season-long loan.

He had averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.07 across 17 appearances in the Championship for the club – scoring seven goals and assisting two whilst creating five ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

The Englishman was consistent and reliable at the top end of the pitch for Sunderland and Mowbray and Kristjaan Speakman must dip into the market to source a replacement.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie recently claimed that the Black Cats could pursue a deal to sign Blackpool centre-forward Jerry Yates to replace Ross Stewart if the Scotland international were to depart this month.

However, this was before Simms’ recall and the club must now swoop for the Tangerines marksman to take the Everton striker’s place in the squad, to compete with Stewart instead of replacing him.

Yates, who has been hailed as “immense” and “on fire” by Blackpool journalist Sean McGinlay, has been in terrific form in the second tier this term and could provide the goalscoring threat that Sunderland have lost at the start of this month.

The 26-year-old has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.96 and found the back of the net nine times in 25 appearances in the league this season. This suggests that he could have a similar impact to the one that Simms had in front of goal for the Black Cats, as both players have proven that they can score on a semi-regular basis at this level.

Yates has also shown that he can link-up play and provide for others by creating six ‘big chances’ for his teammates and registering two assists in the Championship, which means that he could replace Simms’ quality in both scoring and setting up goals.

Bringing him in on a permanent deal would also secure the long-term future of Sunderland’s striker department instead of having a player on loan until the end of the season, which would mean that there would be less cause for concern heading into the summer.

Therefore, Mowbray must push Speakman to strike a deal for Yates in the coming weeks as he could be a dream replacement for Simms.

Former Glasgow Rangers defender Alan Hutton has claimed that Dion Sanderson ‘looks like a Rangers signing’ and has backed a potential move to Ibrox for the 23-year-old.

The Lowdown: Sanderson targeted by Rangers

According to Football Scotland, Sanderson does not have a January recall option at Wolves, meaning that Birmingham City would have to allow any potential sale to Rangers in this transfer window.

He is a target for the Premiership giants in January, with Ibrox scout John Park having been sent to watch him recently.

Wolves are looking for a transfer fee in the region of £3m to sell Sanderson, with Michael Beale on the lookout for defensive cover as Filip Helander is expected to leave the club following a long-term injury.

The Latest: Hutton backs Rangers move for Sanderson

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton claims that Sanderson ‘looks like a Rangers signing’, adding that the 23-year-old ‘suits’ the mould of Beale’s teams.

The former Scotland right-back said: “I think if you look at the centre-half position at this moment in time, [Filip] Helander will probably leave, [John] Souttar can’t stay fit, [Ben] Davies is coming on to a game but he has got his injury problems. So it is Goldson plus one.

“I have seen a fair bit of him, he is a big aggressive centre-back, he likes to play with the ball, he can drive out and make things happen. So he suits that Michael Beale mould.

“He looks like a Rangers signing to me.”

The Verdict: Defensive cover needed

As Hutton points out, both John Souttar and summer, and at the moment there are no signs of him signing a new deal.

Therefore, Rangers need more cover in the centre of defence, and Sanderson would provide that.

Lauded as a “Rolls Royce” of a defender by current Hibernian boss Lee Johnson when he and the player were together at Sunderland, the 23-year-old boasts plenty of experience in English football, and he is someone Beale will know well having previously managed in the Championship with QPR.

Sanderson is enjoying a “magnificent” season on loan at Birmingham so far, according to his manager John Eustace, and would be a shrewd addition by the Light Blues at potentially just £3m.

Southampton could make a move for FC Lorient striker Terem Moffi in the January transfer window, Alex Crook has claimed.

What’s the word?

Southampton are in desperate need of goals, with Nathan Jones’ side rock bottom of the Premier League, and with Mislav Orsic joining from Dinamo Zagreb, more January additions can be expected.

Moffi is a 23-year-old forward who plays for Lorient in Ligue 1, and has scored 10 goals in 16 games this season, and 33 for the club overall.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Crook named Moffi as a player Southampton could move for within the next few weeks as they aim to dig themselves out of the bottom three.

“I’m told they are close to making at least one signing, and they want to get two or three in within the next week or so,” he stated.

“Terem Moffi is a young striker from Lorient in the French League.”

A game-changer?

Moffi would arrive as an in-form goalscorer, something which Southampton currently lack, with the Saints only managing to score 15 times in 18 games, and the 23-year-old could help spark their team into life.

Although he lacks experience, he will be arriving into a young side, and he could develop quickly with regular game time.

At 1.88m, he would provide a physical presence in the box, and if he is able to translate his good goalscoring record over, he could potentially be the difference between survival and relegation.

Alongside Orsic, Southampton need reinforcements, and picking up a young talent in good form could be a smart under-the-radar signing, but with their relegation rivals strengthening, they may need more recruits beyond Moffi.

Leeds United could be set to push for another striker, just days after reaching agreement for a deal to sign Georginio Rutter…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to 90min, who claim that the Whites are one of three Premier League clubs interested in South Korean sensation Cho Gue-Sung.

The 24-year-old currently features in his homeland for Jeonbuk Hyundai, but his goalscoring exploits have not gone unnoticed across Europe despite his recent military service.

With Mainz having failed in a recent bid for the forward, it at least revealed the valuation placed upon him. His current club are holding out for a fee of around €3m (£2.6m).

Bamford upgrade

Although Cho’s statistics are somewhat clouded due to his aforementioned military service, during the 2021/22 season he was in lethal form.

Across 35 games, he scored 21 goals and set up a further five. This showed a marked increase in his mere 11 goal contributions from the campaign prior.

However, it was at the World Cup where he has truly risen to prominence, both for his performances and – as The Athletic’s Danny Taylor put it – ‘being handsome’.

He more than earned his 7.03 Sofascore rating at the tournament as his country emerged from their group alongside Portugal and ahead of Uruguay and Ghana.

It was his two-goal haul against the latter which made for one of the most striking games in Qatar, and it showed that he could convert his form from the domestic competition onto a bigger stage.

As such, Tottenham Hotspur star and compatriot Heung-min Son was full of praise for him but issued some advice: “For him to move to a European club must mean he is the best player in South Korea just now and that is quite an achievement. Once he adapts, he will enjoy the experience. But he has to keep working hard every day.”

Therefore, Leeds could even see him as a potential upgrade on the perennially injured Patrick Bamford, who will likely be forced into a supplementary role for Rutter once the French youngster’s impending move is completed.

Cho might be a better fit for this role, given his youth, fitness, and immediate form.

In the last season-and-a-half, Bamford has only managed 20 league appearances, scoring his first goal of the current campaign on Friday night against Aston Villa.

It may be tough to admit, but as the club have done recently with Mateusz Klich, it could be essential for Leeds to move on from the past in order to retain their status in the top flight.

Therefore, a move for Cho could not only skyrocket their brand in South Korea but also provide a fine goalscoring foil for the team-mates that he would be joining.

Mark Goldbridge believes that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will not be the only interested party bidding for a takeover of Manchester United.

What’s the word?

News recently broke of Ratcliffe’s formal interest in buying the club as the Glazers put United up for sale, but as time goes on, the Manchester-born billionaire may not be the only one competing for a takeover.

Whilst United fans may be delighted that a fan of the club could succeed the Glazers, Goldbridge has claimed that as the current owners will choose who to sell to, and it is far from guaranteed that they would pick the most desirable owner.

Speaking on The United Stand, he said: “There is going to be a lot of interest in buying Manchester United, as we know. It means that INEOS, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are the first people to declare their interest in buying Manchester United, as we know. And it also means that there will be other people who are going to bid.

“Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not going to be the only bidder, and I’m sure there’s plenty of fans out there who wish that was the case, ‘just give it to Sir Jim’; ‘give it to him for £2bn and then he’s got loads of money to spend’.

“I think that’d be very interesting, but that’s not going to happen. The Glazers want a bidding war, and I personally don’t think the Glazers care who buys the club.”

What should an owner provide?

United’s problems under the Glazers, which have seen the club go nearly 10 years without winning a Premier League title, amongst other off-pitch issues, have caused United fans to protest heavily against the ownership.

Should Ratcliffe come in, many may see it as a positive step given his allegiance to the club and may hope that he takes a more active role in helping improve the club’s fortunes, as well as engaging with fans more.

Some may argue that owners with similar spending power to the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain may be necessary, but given that United have spent a lot on player recruitment in recent years, this is arguably not the main problem at the club.

We feel United’s new owners need to take a more hands-on approach in making smart appointments and transfers, and even if they do not invest much more into the playing squad than the club currently do with self-generated funds, if they develop a better long-term strategy with qualified people in charge, they will likely see more success than the Glazers have in recent years.

An update has emerged on Chelsea and their attempts to improve their options at right-back during the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Blues are in talks with Ligue 1 side Lyon over a possible deal to bring Malo Gusto to Stamford Bridge.

The club have already convinced the French gem to make the move to England but they must now persuade Lyon to cash in on their star defender.

Romano Tweeted: “Chelsea are in direct contact with OL for Malo Gusto. Understand personal terms are already agreed on long term deal, player open to the move. #CFC OL have turned down Chelsea opening verbal bid, as @sebnonda reported — they want Malo Gusto to stay at least until June.”

Cesar Azpilicueta heir

Graham Potter and Todd Boehly could land the dream heir to current Chelsea right-back Cesar Azpilicueta by securing a deal to sign Gusto before the window slams shut.

The 33-year-old Spaniard’s current contract expires at the end of next season and the club may now be starting to think about what life will look like after he departs from Stamford Bridge.

Since arriving from Marseille in 2012, the veteran has racked up a stunning 500 appearances for the Blues in all competitions – including 341 in the Premier League.

Chelsea could land their next gem from Ligue 1, as well as their heir to Azpilicueta’s place in the squad, by bringing Gusto in as his form for Lyon this season indicates that he could be an excellent addition to the squad.

The 19-year-old full-back, who was once hailed as a “fantastic” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has averaged an eye-catching Sofascore rating of 7.10 across 15 appearances in the French top-flight, whilst the Chelsea icon has averaged a score of 6.91 in the Premier League.

Gusto has created 1.4 chances and made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per match for Lyon, compared to Azpilicueta’s 0.6 and 2.3 per outing in the English division.

These statistics indicate that the French dynamo could be an immediate upgrade on the Blues warrior in terms of what he offers going forward and in defence, which is reflected in their respective average rating for the campaign so far.

However, at the age of 19, Gusto would also come in as a long-term option for Potter in that position and could be the future of the club in that area of the pitch, alongside Reece James, as Azpilicueta heads towards the end of his career.

Liverpool’s once imperious ship now represents but a shadow of its former presence, with the Premier League giants struggling for form and fluidity this season; now signings must be made in order to secure future success.

Pre-season preparation flew out of the window after competitive proceedings kicked into place, with the Reds quickly fallen behind the pace-setters at the forefront of the division, and boss Jurgen Klopp does indeed now have work on his hands.

According to Dean Jones – writing for GIVEMESPORT earlier in January – assiduous Fulham centre midfielder Joao Palhinha had been distinguished as a transfer option for the Merseyside club this winter, and while he only joined the Cottagers in the summer for £20m, an enticing bid from Liverpool could prise him away from the clutches of his west London outfit.

The report continues to state that the impressive machine has been nothing short of a revelation for his newly-promoted side this season, and given the consistency of his prowess, he would enhance any outfit he played for.

Arriving in the Premier League for what is increasingly emerging as a bargain, the 27-year-old Palhinha has thus far scored three goals from his deeper position on the pitch.

But the most profoundly splendid elements to his skill set do not lie in his offensive strengths; with Sofascore recording his average league rating at 7.12 this term.

The 18-cap gem’s incredible 4.7 tackles per game have seen him dubbed “Casemiro-esque” by writer Zach Lowy, while his 1.9 clearances and 1.1 interceptions have proved invaluable for Marco Silva’s outfit, who perch proudly in seventh place after clinching promotion from the EFL Championship last year.

Also winning 64% of his duels and completing 82% of his passes, he is indeed the robust phenom Liverpool so dearly need to charge the batteries once again.

Should he arrive, he would be the perfect replacement for the likely-outgoing Naby Keita, who has been stricken with incessant injury issues since arriving at the club for £48m in 2018, only making one starting league appearance this season.

Keita has recorded a lowly 6.50 rating in the English top-flight from his bit-part role this term, and has only completed 75% of his passes and made 0.2 tackles per match, a sizable decline on the numbers registered by Palhinha.

As such, Julian Ward and co must do everything they can to land the Portuguese powerhouse, he has swiftly proven his mettle as a standout component in a thriving team, and among Liverpool’s crop of talent, one could only imagine the impact he would have from the middle, pulling the strings and serving as the “engine” – as dubbed by Statman Dave – to roar Anfield into formidable and unrelenting life. 

Liverpool are desperately seeking for clarity over their immediate future as a competitive outfit at the forefront of domestic and continental competition after a woeful 22/23 campaign thus far.

One name who has been linked with a move to Merseyside across recent months is Chelsea favourite Mason Mount, with the 24-year-old English playmaker hitting a snag in negotiations with the Blues regarding a lucrative new contract.

And according to The Guardian, Liverpool are keeping one eye on the developing situation with hopes of swooping should an apt opportunity arise, and could make their move this summer by presenting the player with an enticing package to serve as a centrepiece for Klopp’s plans to return to prominence.

Liverpool have signed forward Cody Gakpo for £35m this winter, and are unlikely to make another high-profile signing before issuing heavy investment in the summer.

Imagine Mount & Bellingham

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have fallen heavily below expectations and are consequently facing a steep battle to achieve Champions League football next year after losing their once indomitable spirit and relentless cohesion.

The centre-midfield has clearly been discerned as the epicentre of the strife, with the inability to take control of matches and failure to effectively protect the backline leaving little doubt that something needs to change, and life needs planting at Anfield once again.

And by landing Blues maestro Mount, that seed of promise would only soar towards the sun, with Klopp nurturing his already spectacular skills and refining him into one of Europe’s leading creative phenoms.

In the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore, the 36-cap England international has recorded an average rating of 7.23 – higher than any Liverpool midfielders – despite his west London outfit languishing in tenth place after their own seasonal perils.

Having scored three goals and served two assists, Mount has averaged 1.5 shots and 1.5 key passes per game, completing 81% of his total passes and making 1.5 tackles, also completing 60% of his dribbles – illustrating his commendable dynamism and robust attitude to his work on the pitch.

Should Klopp succeed in a bid, he could link up with fellow Reds target Jude Bellingham, who has been subject to intense speculation regarding his future with German Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund, renowned for developing talented prospects into prodigious, world-class athletes.

The assiduous Bellingham ranks among the top 4% of midfielders for completed dribbles and the top 14% for progressive passes, also in the top 13% for interceptions and the top 17% for blocks – as per FBref – which both illustrates his all-embracing stance on midfield work and creates a platform for teammates to flourish, which could indeed fall into Mount’s favour.

The £70m-rated Chelsea gem has often found a home from a more offensive role this term, and while Klopp would likely look to refine his skills and place him somewhat deeper within the midfield, having the assurance of Bellingham beside him would give him the freedom to dazzle both as a direct force and a creative outlet.

Once hailed as a “terrific talent” by former Premier League player Danny Murphy, Mount would indeed bring a bundle of energy and tenacity to a Liverpool side devoid of its former vigour, and if a deal truly can be struck – almost certainly against Chelsea’s wishes – it could be a major coup for Klopp and co.

And with Bellingham’s name also peppering Liverpool transfer conversation over recent months, the tantalising thought of the dynamic England duo entwining on Merseyside is a prospect that could indeed come into fruition, with both players already well acquainted and possessing respective skill sets that would fit Klopp’s footballing philosophy like a tailor-made glove.

It would be an “incredible” partnership – as Joe Cole once hailed Mount – and one that must be clinched by Liverpool’s boss.

The deadline for the January transfer window passed on Tuesday night and Aston Villa allowed it to slam shut without getting involved in any last-minute mayhem.

Unai Emery and Johan Lange opted against any moves on the final day of the window after bringing in left-back Alex Moreno and striker Jhon Duran earlier in the month, but the two signings they did make were not the only acquisitions on their wishlist.

One player the club failed to get a deal over the line for was Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams. Villa were reportedly ready to pay the gem’s £45m release clause but the 20-year-old opted to remain in Spain for the time being, instead of making a mid-season switch away from his home country.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that the attacker could be on the move at the end of the season, telling GIVEMESPORT: “The expectation of those close to Nico Williams is for the player to leave, possibly in the summer. So at the moment, the situation is still complicated.”

This claim from Romano indicates that Villa could get a second chance with the Spain international heading into the 2023/24 campaign. He may not have wanted to depart from Bilbao midway through the season and Emery could have more luck in convincing the dynamo to make the switch to Villa Park in the next transfer window.

The Spanish head coach could strike gold by securing a swoop for Williams in the summer as the talented youngster has immense potential and could be a fantastic long-term signing for the Villans.

Despite not turning 21 until July, the winger has already played 66 times for Bilbao’s first team and has been capped seven times by Spain at international level – notching once for his country.

The 20-year-old talent has caught the eye in LaLiga this season with three goals and four assists in 18 starts for Bilbao – creating 1.2 chances per game for his teammates – with scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as being “on fire”.

He has also produced three goals and one assist in five Copa Del Rey appearances this term and these statistics show that the youngster already has the maturity and quality to make a big impact in the final third at senior level.

His form this season comes after just two goals and one assist in 38 outings in LaLiga and the Copa Del Rey in 2021/22 which shows the Spaniard has developed and improved his game as he has gained more experience at the top level.

Now, imagine how good the forward could be with a number of Premier League seasons and Emery’s coaching under his belt.

Signing Williams could be a terrific long-term investment by the club with the youngster having showcased quality and scope to develop in his short career to date and that is why the Villans boss could strike gold by bringing him in during the summer window.