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Tottenham Hotspur will be desperate to return to winning ways in their next Premier League match against Chelsea, with the opportunity to cement a place in the top four. 

The Lilywhites looked less than convincing at Turf Moore as they conceded a late Ashley Barnes goal, but they’ll be pleased to have Harry Kane back in their ranks.

Interestingly, it appears as if the North London club are eyeing a possible summer raid, as according to Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), Tottenham Hotspur are in the race to sign Tanguy Ndombele.

Indeed, it’s understood that Tottenham, Arsenal and Barcelona are all in the race to sign the midfielder, while Paris Saint-Germain have been following him but most of the attention goes to Juventus.

Spurs still haven’t found a replacement for Mousa Dembele, so perhaps the Lyon midfielder could be the man to fill the current void in the middle of midfield.

There have been no suggestions of a potential price that Spurs may have to pay for him, but he will no doubt attract a big fee with a number of clubs in for him and the potential to become a star.

The 22-year-old has even been compared to Manchester United’s Paul Pogba by Lyon boss Bruno Genesio, according to Tuttosport (via Daily Star), as he stated this:

“I do not like comparisons, but indeed, Ndombele can be a new Pogba,

“He is strong physically and above all technically.

“Tanguy with the first touch manages to jump even three players and when he starts dribbling he is difficult to stop.

“He can play in any position in the midfield.”

THE VERDICT:

Tanguy Ndombele, who is valued at £40.5 million (by Transfermarkt), has established himself as one of the most promising midfielders in Europe this season, so it comes as no surprise that Spurs are taking an interest.

The Frenchman could easily fill the void left by Dembele and he has the potential to become a star in the Premier League, having produced two goals and five assists this season, as well as making great strides on the international stage.

It won’t be easy to land him, though, so Spurs will have to produce some summer magic if they’re to get their man.

Thoughts?

The Daily Record’s Mark Pirie believes that Celtic will look to use Reo Hatate in the attacking third, with a January move looking likely.

The Lowdown: Agreement reached

The 24-year-old, who currently plays for Kawasaki Frontale, could well be Celtic’s first signing of 2022, with the Hoops reportedly reaching an agreement with the J1 League outfit for the versatile ace.

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His current contract expires at the end of January, but it seems as if Celtic will fork out a fee in order to bring him to Scotland as soon as possible.

Hatate can play in a number of positions all over the pitch, although Pirie has made a claim on what he thinks Ange Postecoglou may have in store for the 24-year-old.

The Latest: Pirie’s claim

Pirie shared a story on Sunday morning, looking at Celtic’s January state of play. One player of discussion was Hatate, with the reporter believing that it looks ‘increasingly likely’ that he will be deployed in the attacking third of the pitch with left-back Greg Taylor now back from injury.

He added that out of all of Celtic’s targets, a move for Hatate could be the one which is finalised before the Glasgow derby with Rangers on January 2.

The Verdict: Mr Versatile

Hatate can play as a left-back, central midfielder, attacking midfielder or as a winger, so his versatility could prove to be a big hit with both Postecoglou and the Hoops faithful.

At this moment in time, he may well be required in an attacking role, as Pirie mentions, especially with the number of injuries to Celtic’s attacking stars. When they return, he could provide cover for the likes of Callum McGregor, David Turnbull and Tom Rogic in midfield, while also being on standby to replace Taylor at left-back if needed.

Overall, Hatate could turn out to be an extremely shrewd signing by Postecoglou, and he’ll be looking to continue his trophy-winning habit over in Scotland, should the transfer officially go through.

In other news: Nicholson makes Celtic move on the day of Hampden Park final to sign speedster with ‘great feet’

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle’s plans to sign Arsenal loanee Konstantinos Mavropanos.

What’s the talk?

According to German outlet Sport Bild, via West Ham Zone, the Magpies are eyeing up a deal to sign the centre-back, currently on loan at Stuttgart, to bolster their squad.

The report claims that the Hammers are also keen on him, with the Bundesliga side expected to sign him permanently before demanding £21.3m from interested parties.

Get it done

PIF must splash out the £21.3m that Stuttgart want in order to bring him to Newcastle, whether that happens in January or in the summer. The form he is producing in the Bundesliga suggests that he could be a terrific signing for Eddie Howe’s team and strengthen an area of the side which is in dire need of additional help.

Defending has been a significant weak point for the Magpies this season and the signing of a new centre-back could help to alleviate that issue, which Howe would surely love. Newcastle have conceded the most goals in the Premier League (34) and are currently 19th in the table, with goal difference the only statistic preventing them from being below Norwich.

Mavropanos has been outstanding at centre-back for Stuttgart. He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.41 in the Bundesliga, starting 13 games in the league. The 24-year-old is averaging 4.1 tackles and interceptions, along with an impressive six clearances, per game, showing that he has the quality to make consistent and crucial interventions at the back.

Borussia Monchengladbach chief Pellegrino Matarazzo previously hailed him as a gladiator and called him a ‘tough dog’. He said: “He’s our gladiator! He’s a monster in terms of physique. And when he makes a mistake, he hums around some Greek swear words. I like that. He’s just a tough dog.”

Howe will surely love for Newcastle to sign Mavropanos, as his statistics in Germany and these quotes from Matarazzo suggest that he is a strong centre-back who could come in and improve the club’s defensive record. The Magpies are conceding too many goals and the Greek beast has shown that he is capable of performing consistently at a top level this season.

Therefore, PIF must ensure that they are able to seal a deal to sign the Arsenal man to give the ex-Bournemouth coach the best possible chance of keeping the Geordies in the Premier League.

AND in other news, NUFC could find new Ben Arfa in “incredible talent” who plays like “it’s a kick-about”…

Tottenham Hotspur are among the potential suitors for Paulo Dybala this summer as he looks to depart Juventus following the expiry of his contract.

According to Italian journalist Niccolo Ceccarini, Spurs are waiting ‘at the window’ for the Argentinian attacker to make a decision on where his future lies away from the Allianz Stadium.

The Lilywhites’ chances are bolstered by the fact that current sporting director Fabio Paratici was the man to bring Dybala to the Old Lady from Palermo back in 2015.

Atletico Madrid have also been mooted with interest but the 28-year-old will wait until the end of the season to decide.

If Paratici manages to seal the 5 foot 10 forward on a free transfer, then he could well replicate one of his greatest decisions from his time at Juventus.

The Italian supremo has a knack for sealing superstars for absolute bargains – a year into his tenure in Turin, he sealed a ‘deal of the century’ in Andrea Pirlo, signing the 32-year-old for nothing from AC Milan in 2011.

Kingsley Coman was another astute signing who didn’t cost a penny in terms of a transfer fee but perhaps the most renowned is that of Paul Pogba, who Paratici snatched from Manchester United aged just 19.

It was a move which upset Sir Alex Ferguson, though the then-young Frenchman went on to put up outstanding numbers as he provided 34 goals and 40 assists across 178 appearances before returning to Old Trafford.

Dybala could be held in similar regard, should he make the move to N17 this off-season.

Not only would it be a steal, considering that he’s valued in the region of £36m by Transfermarkt, but he would fill a lot of needs for current Spurs manager Antonio Conte.

The Italian lacks depth behind Harry Kane up top, a role that Dybala could easily fulfil, but his versatility also opens up the prospect of him being a no.10 in behind the England talisman.

Once described as “unbelievable” and “breathtaking” by former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey to The Athletic, the Argentina international has delivered 13 goals and six assists in 29 appearances this term, taking his Juventus career total to 161 direct contributions in 283 games.

His playing style has drawn some comparisons to late compatriot Diego Maradona, too.

An average of 1.6 key passes and registered 1.9 dribbles per game across the course of his recorded career on WhoScored suggests he has the ability to play in the hole, just as much as up top, given his goalscoring record.

Therefore, if Paratici can win the race for the wizard’s signature, then he may well stumble upon another Pogba-like transfer masterclass, and that has to be an exciting prospect to those around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

AND in other news, Talks underway: Spurs eye dream Conte signing in £18m prodigy dubbed “the next Mbappe”…

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have erupted over a fresh transfer claim involving their club and Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria.

Jurgen Klopp has already been linked to a host of new midfield additions so far this month with the Reds and FSG seemingly setting their sights on a fair few central options.

The likes of Toni Kroos and Jude Bellingham have been mentioned recently given Liverpool’s arguable lack of depth in that area.

Now, sharing some news on who Liverpool are also eyeing, Sport 1 and their reporter Patrik Berger say that the the Anfield side are one of the clubs interested in signing Zakaria from Monchengladbach.

The Swiss ace’s deal is currently set to expire this year as things stand, meaning he can negotiate a pre-contract this month or opt to leave as a free agent in the summer.

Alternatively, Monchengladbach could even sell for a cheap fee, with Sport 1 claiming they could offload for as little as €6-7 million (£5.07m-£5.8m).

Liverpool fans erupt…

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have erupted with their takes, with some believing he could be an ‘absolute bargain’ for Klopp.

The powerhouse 6 foot 3 midfielder can play both as a defensive midfield player and a centre-back whilst still being only 25-years-old, leaving little wonder why some supporters feel this way.

Zakaria averages 1.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.9 dribbles per game, showing his quality on both sides of the ball.

Find all of their best reactions down below:

“Seems like a no brainer for Liverpool and Klopp….”

Credit: @TheKop_

“€6m-€7m??? This sounds like an absolute bargain?”

Credit: @TomBrownrigg200

“We are crying out for a midfielder. €8m would be a rob. Buy him”

Credit: @JamzLFC786

“Plz”

Credit: @jj___lfc

“Sign him up a beg and let minamino go for 7m”

Credit: @lfanCai

“This is the classic no brainer. Best bang for buck.

sign him already”

Credit: @muootarek

“SIIIUUUUUUU”

Credit: @RitsonLFC

The January transfer window is well underway and Newcastle United are being linked with players left, right and centre at the moment.

Eddie Howe’s squad is in desperate need of strengthening, and deals done this month could go a long way to helping them to remain in the Premier League for at least another season.

They are currently 19th in the table and have only won one league game with half of the campaign gone, highlighting the need for reinforcements.

Time to brutally axe Gayle

CBS Sports recently reported that Leicester, Newcastle and Everton are all interested in signing Morelos from Rangers this month.

By bringing the Colombian to St James’ Park, Howe could brutally axe Dwight Gayle from the club and sell him in the coming weeks. The former Crystal Palace man is reportedly one of the players the Magpies are willing to offload, and the prospective arrival of Morelos could allow them to cash in.

He is under contract until 2024 but has only played 27 minutes of Premier League football this season. This suggests that the £40k-per-week dud is not in Howe’s plans, so signing a replacement in the form of Morelos would mean that they can sell him without worrying about their attacking squad depth.

The Rangers marksman could come in and add plenty of goals to the Magpies. He has proven his quality for the Scottish champions over the years, with 107 goals in 211 games north of the border.

Speaking anonymously to The Athletic previously, an ex-Scottish Premiership defender lauded the striker’s strength, saying: “When he goes to shield the ball it’s so difficult. His body strength and ball control are very good, so he makes it very difficult for you. He is deceptive with his physical attributes, but what I’d say he’s best at is when the ball is played up to him. He lets you think that you can nip in front of him and then his timing to put his body in and spin you is excellent.”

Another player added: “He’s kind of dropping deep now and going out wide. That’s a nightmare for defenders because he’s your player that you’re meant to be man-marking but then you’re dragged out of position and you’ve got midfield runners taking his space.”

These testimonies highlight what Morelos could bring to Newcastle aside from his goalscoring. He has the physical strength and positional intelligence to cause constant problems for opposition defenders, which means that he could open up space for his teammates even when he is not scoring himself. Coupled with his scoring record, that is why he could be an excellent signing.

The Colombian could therefore be the perfect replacement for Gayle and improve the Magpies’ options at the top end of the pitch. It would then be down to the club to find a new employer for the 32-year-old, whether that comes this month or in the summer.

AND in other news, Craig Hope issues 10-word NUFC transfer update which will leave fans buzzing…

After convincingly seeing off their struggling Merseyside rivals in the recent 4-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park in midweek, Liverpool’s next Premier League challenge sees them travel to Molineux to take on Wolves on Saturday afternoon.

Ahead of the match against Bruno Lage’s side, it seems as though the Reds have been handed a welcome double injury boost which will surely have Jurgen Klopp buzzing.

What’s the news?

Liverpool duo Joe Gomez and Naby Keita were both spotted in Liverpool’s recent training session on Thursday in preparation for their clash at Wolves after being out for the past few weeks through injury.

Keita, who has three goals and one assist under his belt from 10 appearances this season, has been out of action since October after picking up a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Brighton in the Premier League.

Gomez has also been out for a similar amount of time with a calf injury.

While the duo may not necessarily be fit enough to play a significant role in the Wolves match, Klopp and everyone else at the Merseyside club will be thrilled to have them back and hopefully available for the duration of their busy winter schedule and the rest of the season.

Keita has averaged 1.1 shots and 2.3 tackles per game in the league so far this season and racked up an overall performance rating of 7.19/10, making him Liverpool’s sixth-highest rated player of the campaign according to WhoScored, so his return to training will surely be a big positive for the Reds.

Although Gomez has found Premier League minutes hard to come by this term with just 13 under his belt from two substitute appearances, it’s good to see him back in training and overcoming his latest injury so that he can add some depth and cover at the back in case any of the Reds’ other centre-backs pick up an injury during this busy upcoming period.

Looking ahead to the Wolves match, while it may well be too early for Gomez and Keita to get back into action, the starting XI which ran riot at Goodison in midweek showed that they are more than capable of potentially dispatching the Old Gold, who have only won two of their six previous league games, scoring just four goals in the process.

In other news: Klopp could unearth Liverpool’s next star in this academy gem

Backing big transfer news out of Tottenham Hotspur, Alasdair Gold has shared some news on Twitter involving Juventus forward Dejan Kulusevski.

The Lowdown: Spurs ‘hit the panic button’…

After missing out on two targets in less than a week with both winger Adama Traore and forward Luis Diaz now looking off the table, Spurs and transfer chief Fabio Paratici are set for a pivotal last few days of the winter window.

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There has even been talk from sources of Spurs hitting the ‘panic button’ in north London with a ‘massive’ last hurdle approaching and ‘fears’ that manager Antonio Conte could walk (Telegraph reporter Matt Law).

Tottenham look set to be busy behind-the-scenes as they attempt to orchestrate both incomings an outgoings before Monday’s deadline, with midfielders Tanguy Ndombele and Dele Alli also still unable to seal moves away despite a willingness to let them leave.

Sharing more news out of N17, backing a claim from The Athletic and journalist David Ornstein, football.london correspondent Gold has dropped his own update on Twitter.

The Latest: Gold shares Kulusevski news…

As relayed by the reliable reporter, Tottenham and Paratici have now entered last minute talks for Sweden international Kulusevski.

Spurs’ managing director apparently has ‘high hopes’ for the 21-year-old personally as he turns to potentially signing the former Parma star as a Diaz alternative.

“Fabio Paratici is in talks for another name on his list in Dejan Kulusevski after the Diaz disappointment,” Gold explained on Twitter.

“He has high hopes for the versatile 21-year-old Swede even if he’s not the statement signing the Colombian was.”

The Verdict: Boom or bust?

The Scandinavian rising star will be a name familiar to most Spurs supporters given their club have long been linked with a move.

TUTTOmercatoWEB even claimed before the new year that both Paratici and Conte see Juve’s attacker as a ‘gem’ who possesses huge potential – thereby prompting the Italian duo to add Kulusevski to their list of transfer targets.

Gold reiterates that Spurs are looking to secure a loan deal with the option to make his move permanent, and if Juve green-light those conditions, Kulusevski could actually come as a shrewd purchase.

Over his best Serie A season for ex-club Parma in 2019/2020, the winger averaged a brilliant 2.2 key passes per 90 – a number exceeding that of any Spurs player in the Premier League this campaign (WhoScored).

He’s also highly versatile, able to play on the wing, further forward or even as an advanced playmaker – plugging many holes in Conte’s side.

Lauded as an ‘athletic phenomenon’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kulusevski comes with bags of potential and it could be very interesting to see how he fares in England if Tottenham can seal an agreement.

In other news: Spurs now also preparing marquee eleventh hour bid to sign ‘special’ forward for Conte, find out more here.

Having sacked manager Lee Johnson this week after a humiliating 6-0 defeat at Bolton, Sunderland fans were looking for a reaction as their side hosted bottom club Doncaster Rovers in today’s League One clash.

The Black Cats are still in the hunt for automatic promotion and would’ve fancied their chances against lowly Rovers, despite being under the interim charge of Mike Dodds and going into the match off the back of a thrashing in Lancashire.

However, the Wearside club’s predicament worsened as they lost 2-1 to the Yorkshire outfit, thus loosening their grip on the automatic promotion places.

It was a poor performance from all involved for Sunderland, but midfielder Elliot Embleton was particularly disappointing.

According to SofaScore, the 22-year-old failed to produce a single key pass or complete either a cross or a long ball, whilst losing 86% of his duels. Moreover, the attacking midfielder made 44 touches whilst losing possession on 19 occasions, an average of losing the ball once every 2.3 touches.

There was little attacking output from any of Sunderland’s forwards, with veteran striker Jermain Defoe making his second Black Cats debut as he came on in the 72nd minute in place of Embleton.

The £5.3k-per week 22-year-old managed just one shot (which hit the woodwork) whilst failing to contribute in helping to defend against Doncaster’s goals, offering no tackles, interceptions, blocks or clearances.

Embleton, a former youth player at the Stadium of Light, has been a regular for the Black Cats this season after returning from his loan spell at Blackpool last term.

The 22-year-old has made 30 appearances in all competitions in the current campaign, scoring four goals and contributing five assists, and he is an integral part of the Sunderland setup.

However, with a new manager set to be appointed in the coming days (at least fans will hope that’s the case), the Englishman’s efforts over the course of the season so far could count for little, and the midfielder will have to prove himself to his new boss, whoever that may be. Performances like his one today won’t support his case of being in the starting XI going forward, and he may well have put a significant dent in Sunderland’s promotion hopes with this insipid display.

In other news: Journalist drops “crucial” Sunderland manager claim which will leave fans elated 

Arsenal are believed to be leading the race to sign Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans this summer with the Belgian potentially available for a cut-price fee.

What’s the latest?

According to the Telegraph, via Football London, Tielemans could leave this summer for just £25m, having been bought for £40m from Monaco in 2019.

The 24-year-old’s contract at the King Power Stadium expires in 2023 which could give clubs swooping for the midfielder’s signature this summer an edge as the Foxes look to cash in on the Belgian.

It has been suggested that, alongside Arsenal, Manchester United are interested in securing the 24-year-old’s signature this summer, however, with the Gunners looking more likely by the week to be able to offer Champions League football next season, Mikel Arteta’s side are the more favourable option.

Tielemans has become a cult hero at the East Midlands club over the past three and a half years, particularly for last season’s stunning goal in the FA Cup final that secured Leicester their first ever FA Cup success.

However, given his contract situation, it seems likely that the 24-year-old will depart this summer.

Arsenal must swoop for Tielemans

With one of the Premier League’s best midfielders outside of the so-called top-six available for just £25m, it’s a no-brainer for Arsenal to swoop.

Described as a “top-class” player by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola last season, Tielemans’ stock has certainly risen since joining Leicester, initially on loan, in January 2019.

Whilst playing for Brendan Rodgers’ side, the Belgian has been involved in Champions League pushes, competed in Europe and won silverware. However, the 24-year-old will undoubtedly be looking to make the next step up in the very near future.

With the north London club fourth in the Premier League whilst also having a three-point advantage over and game in hand on fifth-place Tottenham, Champions League qualification is looking more likely each week.

Arteta will undoubtedly need recruits in the summer to manage both a European campaign and another top-four push next season, and Tielemans could prove to be exactly what Arsenal need.

In terms of midfielders, the Gunners are quite heavily stacked with the likes Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Emile Smith-Rowe, Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny all senior midfielders at the Emirates, something that will certainly have to change to accommodate Tielemans.

It appears as though Elneny is set to leave with the Egyptian’s contract expiring in the summer whilst others may have to be moved on in order to ensure the Belgian will have regular playing time north London.

However, there is no doubt that swooping for the 24-year-old would be worthwhile, with the midfielder averaging a 7.18 rating in the league this season, according to SofaScore.

Moreover, the Belgian currently averages 68.3 touches per game as well as creating four big chances and providing 1.3 key passes with a 83% passing accuracy.

With Tielemans suiting a box-to-box role, his efforts at both ends of the pitch this season have been impressive, scoring six goals and averaging two shots per game whilst also making 2.1 tackles, 1.4 clearances and 0.7 interceptions.

Therefore, there is no doubt that the Belgian could recreate the role of Gunners legend Patrick Vieira in the famous red and white, although replicating the Frenchman’s legacy in Islington would be a very tall ask.

Players of Tieleman’s quality will certainly be keen to make the move to Arsenal if Champions League football is secured which will also make qualifying for Europe’s elite competition more likely in seasons to come given the improved personnel available.

AND in other news: Arteta can finally axe £27m-rated “practice dummy” as AFC bid for “sneaky” £13m dynamo