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Tottenham Hotspur have now submitted an offer for Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, according to reports from Spain.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target Torres

It was reported earlier this month that Torres was a transfer target for Antonio Conte, with Barcelona looking to cash-in on their £46.7m signing due to him not being able to force his way into the team so far this season.

At the time, Arsenal were deemed to be the favourites due to Mikel Arteta’s previous relationship with the player, but Tottenham now appear to be at a more advanced stage, having lodged an official bid…

The Latest: Offer submitted

According to Spanish sources, Spurs have already made an offer of no more than £31m for the forward, though they are someway off Barcelona’s valuation, which is said to be around £44m.

As such, a deal does not appear to be close at present, and Conte will seemingly need to decide whether to increase the offer or turn his attentions elsewhere.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

As noted by Alasdair Gold after the injury to Dejan Kulusevski, Conte desperately needs more options in his forward ranks, with the bench looking bare during the 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Lauded as ‘clinical’ by former manager Pep Guardiola, Torres would be a versatile option to have in attack, as he is capable of playing across the front three and contributing goals from wherever he is picked.

Given that any new addition in the frontline is unlikely to start very often over Harry Kane, being able to play elsewhere is of the utmost importance, and the 22-year-old has weighed in with a solid 37 goals in 185 professional appearances, including 16 in 43 during his time with Manchester City.

In truth, Tottenham’s defensive issues are their real problem this season, and so a new centre-back should be the main target, but a bit more depth up front is also starting to look like a necessity.

Nottingham Forest made the trip to Bloomfield Road this afternoon in their FA Cup third round clash against Blackpool, but Steve Cooper’s decision to make 11 changes to the starting line-up which beat Southampton earlier this week didn’t pay off at all.

The Tricky Trees were thrashed 4-1 today in an embarrassing performance which has seen them crash out of the competition, but it would at least have given the manager an insight into the quality of depth in his squad as he heads into the second half of the season.

Despite having 62% possession of the ball, more shots on goal (20 v 13), more big chances created (4 v 2) and more passes completed (351 v 154), Forest proved that having more opportunities and better statistics is not always reflective of overall performance on the pitch.

In the first half, it was relatively uneventful initially for both teams as they warmed into the clash, until the 17th minute when Blackpool’s Marvin Ekpiteta found the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Indeed, Forest had four shots on target in the first half but were unable to nab an equaliser before the half-time whistle.

The visitors’ struggles continued in the second half as Ian Carlo Poveda doubled Blackpool’s lead in the 64th minute, with CJ Hamilton and Jerry Yates completing the quartet of goals scored by the Tangerines.

Forest midfielder Ryan Yates – who was introduced in the 65th minute – provided a consolation goal in the second minute of injury time after the starting forward line failed to threaten throughout.

One player who had an absolute nightmare this afternoon was Neco Williams, who not only put on an awful display at right-back but also picked up an injury towards the end of his performance.

In 79 minutes on the pitch, the Welshman lost the ball once every 3.4 touches (20/69), lost six out of his nine duels, was unsuccessful in 100% of his dribble attempts and was dribbled past once, along with having an error which led to a goal to top off a terrible outing for the 21-year-old (Sofascore).

Forest fans will now have to wait for an assessment on Williams’ injury which led to his enforced exit from the action, but after his performance today it would seem unlikely that he has stolen a starting berth from Serge Aurier in the right full-back position in upcoming fixtures.

There is no doubt that the City Ground faithful will be disappointed with this result, but the focus is now on their Premier League survival challenge, and ensuring that top-flight football is secured for next season will be Cooper’s top priority going forward.

Chelsea are believed to still be plotting to sign Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram, despite having only recently sealed the loan capture of Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the west London outfit are still set to continue talks with regard to the signing of the towering Frenchman, with the Blues seemingly plotting further moves following Felix’s arrival.

Writing on Twitter about that developing situation, the transfer insider stated: “João Félix deal will not change Chelsea plans as negotiations will continue for Marcus Thuram as revealed last week and also other targets — in different positions.”

This follows reports in recent weeks that have named the 25-year-old as a target for Graham Potter’s side, with the former Guingamp ace potentially set to be available for a cut-price fee with just six months remaining on his current deal in Germany.

Imagine him and Felix

A new striker is seemingly a priority position for the Stamford Bridge outfit this month, with academy graduate Armando Broja out for the season due to injury, while summer signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with a return to Barcelona after scoring just three goals in all competitions this season.

The addition of Thuram – who has been dubbed “crazy” by former teammate Denis Zakaria – would seemingly be an ideal solution with the 6 foot 4 colossus having been in stellar form so far this term, having scored 13 goals and provided four assists in 17 games across all fronts for the Bundesliga outfit.

Having that clinical and imposing focal point in attack could well help to get the best out of the aforementioned Felix, with the latter man having previously outlined his preference to play in a free role behind the striker, stating:

“My best position is as the second forward. Playing like a no.10, with a guy in front of me.”

The 23-year-old could well be allowed the freedom to make things happen in a creative berth behind Thuram, with his dynamic brilliance and ability to provide quality service to the frontman showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 12% in Europe for progressive passes among those in his position.

That potential partnership could also flourish due to the pair’s dribbling prowess with the Gladbach man ranking in the top 7% in that metric, while the former Benfica starlet ranks in the top 17% in that regard.

Equally, Potter could also have the makings of a hard-working and relentless forward line if he is to partner the two men together, with Thuram ranking in the top 16% for interceptions made, while Felix – who has seven goal involvements to his name in La Liga this season – ranks in the top 2%.

With Chelsea in need of a greater injection of attacking quality having scored just 20 goals this season in 17 league games, those two signings could well prove the perfect solution.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is making moves in the transfer market to get his side firing across all cylinders, and could bolster the forward ranks with a move for Olympique Lyonnais’ Moussa Dembele…

What’s the word?

Having already clinched the signatures of left-back Alex Moreno and budding striking sensation Jhon Duran, Lyon’s out-of-sorts talisman could be the answer to the club’s calling for a fresh presence to lead the line.

French publication Media Foot have previously claimed that the French ace is subject to speculation from a number of suitors ahead of the expiry of his contract in June, with the Villans among those that could make a move on a cut-price £8.8m deal this month.

And now, talkSPORT have confirmed that Dembele has been targeted to replace Danny Ings, the Midlands outfit’s centre-forward, who is subject to a prospective transfer to divisional rivals West Ham United, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirming on Thursday that the Hammers had succeeded with a £15m bid. 

Benteke 2.0

With Ings out of contract at the end of next season, Emery has clearly decided on parting ways and utilising the incoming sum to freshen up the ranks and bring in a new focal point up front. 

And in Dembele, the outfit would yield a gem with a wealth of experience across multiple fronts on the European scene; indeed, the former Celtic, Fulham and Atletico Madrid phenom has flourished for several years, staking his best claim for a leading forward with his current outfit, where he has scored 69 goals from 159 showings. 

This season, the 26-year-old has somewhat slipped from form and has only scored twice for his outfit, starting just seven times.

However, a change of scenery could bear fruit for the 25-cap star, with his calibre as a clinical frontal presence unquestionable following several prolific seasons.

Indeed, the £52k-per-week talisman has netted more than 15 league goals across three of the past four league campaigns alone for Lyon, with ostensibly his best term, the 21/22 campaign, leaving him with an average Sofascore rating of 7.11 – an indication of the performance he could bring.  

And as per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of forwards for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 21% for aerials won, highlighting the innate goal-scoring prowess and magnetising presence despite his recent struggle for form.

Once hailed as “unplayable” by former Celtic teammate Leigh Griffiths, Dembele could emulate the success of Cristian Benteke at Villa Park, with the former Claret & Blue sensation an endeared figure with the Villa faithful following his exploits several years ago.

The Belgian behemoth was a notably imposing and physical aura at the tip of the Villa sword, scoring an impressive 49 goals from 101 appearances at the club, and with his stunning 6.5 aerials won over the course of his career, partnered with his seasonal 7.45, 7.25 and 7.08 average ratings over his three terms in claret colours, the similarities between the pair allude to a prosperous spell, should Dembele indeed rekindle his cutting edge in the Premier League.

With these factors in mind, it seems to be a no-brainer for Emery as he ponders over his options on the transfer front, the 51-year-old Spaniard possesses a clear, enticing vision when moulding the team to his own making, and with a foundation of four wins from his first six league matches, the cogs might just be falling into place.

Arsenal have made a breakthrough in their attempts to seal a third signing this January transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Gunners are in ‘pole position’ to sign Real Valladolid CF defender Ivan Fresneda in a £13m deal that would see the 18-year-old return to the LaLiga side on loan after holding positive talks.

Emirates chief Edu Gaspar has already secured two moves this month, signing Leandro Trossard from Brighton and Hove Albion for £27m, as well as landing Jakub Kiwior in a £21m switch from Serie A outfit Spezia.

Another Edu masterclass

Whilst the north London giants will not reap the rewards of winning the race for the coveted teen’s signature this season, the long-term benefits will shine through one day, making it another likely masterstroke from the Brazilian sporting director.

Fresneda is a hugely promising talent, having initially come through the Real Madrid academy system before making his bow in LaLiga for the Blanquivioletas this campaign.

The Spain U19 international has gone onto play 12 times across the league and Copa del Rey, leading to Arsenal’s interest as the 6-foot dynamo’s average of 3.39 tackles (top 2%), 3.16 clearances (top 4%) and 1.52 interceptions (top 10%) per 90, which ranks among the elite in his role across Europe, via FBref.

Not to mention his “beastly ability” to deliver crosses from the flank, as once suggested by journalist Juan Arroita.

Indeed, Spanish football expert Matt Clark handed ChronicleLive a glowing endorsement of the 18-year-old gem earlier this month, claiming:

“Iván Fresneda has been one of the revelations of the season so far in LaLiga, standing out for newly-promoted Real Valladolid. He is a remarkably complete right-back despite his young age, balancing his defensive duties with the odd attack too.

“He has that coveted combination of physicality and technical ability. Tall but agile, quick and athletic, he is also strong in the tackle and reads the game very well for someone so green when it comes to first-team football.”

You could argue that the right-back position is still something of a problem, with central defender Benjamin White, 25, often finding himself deployed there over Takehiro Tomiyasu, 24, and neither may emerge as the true long-term candidate for the Gunners.

Fresneda – a “very special talent” in the eyes of ESPN UK editor David Cartlidge – could well be that man, so if Edu is to secure his signature after this major update, then he’s going to be onto a winner once again.

Few of his signings over the past 12 to 18 months have failed to pay off, so he ought to be trusted in his quest to sign the teenage sensation.

AND in other news, Edu could land dream Saka alternative by signing “magic” £55m gem who Arsenal admire…

Aston Villa are believed to have ‘enquired’ about the potential signing of Udinese forward Gerard Deulofeu, according to a new transfer update.

The Lowdown: Deulofeu flying at Udinese

The 28-year-old arguably hasn’t reached the heights that many predicted earlier in his career, but that’s not to say that he isn’t enjoying an excellent season currently.

Deulofeu has registered six assists in 15 Serie A starts for Udinese in 2022/23 to date, as well as scoring twice and averaging an impressive three key passes per game. In fact, that figure ranks him as the third most creative player in the Italian top flight, in terms of creating shooting opportunities.

Villa have been linked with a move for the Spaniard recently and their interest doesn’t appear to have gone away.

The Latest: Villa enquire about move

According to BirminghamLive, the Villans have ‘enquired’ about the possibility of bringing Deulofeu to the club:

“BirminghamLive understands Villa have enquired about Deulofeu’s availability ahead of making a move for the 28-year-old. Emery worked with the former Everton star while at Sevilla, when he was on loan from Barcelona in 2014/15 and made 17 La Liga appearances that season.

“Deulofeu is in the best form of his career at Udinese and has so far this term chipped in with nine goal contributions in 15 matches, after he netted 13 goals for the Italian club last season. His move to the Serie A came after Watford were relegated from the Premier League in 2020; the year which Villa staved off a swift return to the Championship.”

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The Verdict: Great attacking option

Deulofeu could potentially be a risky signing, considering he has flattered to deceive throughout his career – he was once considered the next big thing at Barcelona – but he is worth taking a punt on, with Will Hughes once claiming he can produce moments of ‘magic’.

[freshpress-quiz id=“418895″]

At 28, the £20,000-a-week attacker appears to have matured as a player, delivering consistent end product for Udinese, and he could thrive working alongside Unai Emery.

Deulofeu has also proven himself in the Premier League in the past, appearing 127 times in the competition and enjoying 44 goal contributions (20 goals and 24 assists) in that time.

He could even be considered a direct replacement for Philippe Coutinho if the latter leaves in January, likely coming in on smaller wages and hopefully being a greater influence on Emery’s team.

Leeds United correspondent Adam Pope has been giving his thoughts on the club’s possible move for Weston McKennie.

The Lowdown: Deal agreed

The Whites appear to be closing in on securing McKennie’s services, with the player now set to travel to England to undergo a medical and sign the relative paperwork.

Leeds look set to pay Juventus a €1.2m (£1m) loan fee and will have the option to make a move permanent in the summer for €33m (£29m) plus add-ons for the player who Football Talent scout Jacek Kulig has branded as ‘incredibly underrated’.

The Latest: Pope wowed by McKennie deal

Pope took to Twitter on Sunday to share his thoughts on the news regarding a loan-to-buy move for McKennie.

He said “it would be some window” if a deal is finalised, adding that he “can’t recall a more significant January in the club’s recent transfer history if that is the case”.

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The Verdict: Spot on…

We have seen first-hand this month in the Premier League that there is always time for a move to fall through, with Mykhailo Mudryk joining Chelsea instead of Arsenal and Arnaut Danjuma choosing Tottenham over Everton.

However, should a move go through for McKennie, it would cap off a successful month for Victor Orta and co, who would have strengthened all areas of the pitch after signing defender Max Wober and forward Georginio Rutter.

It’s not as if McKennie has fallen out of favour in Italy either, as he has made 96 appearances over the last two and a half years, so a transfer could turn out to be a major coup. Leeds fans haven’t been used to busy January windows either, completing the majority of their business under Marcelo Bielsa in the summer, so Pope’s comments are spot on.

Leeds United have made an approach for Manchester City midfielder and former Whites star Kalvin Phillips, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Zero Premier League starts

Phillips left his boyhood club for the Etihad Stadium last summer in a £45m deal, but things haven’t gone to plan for the 27-year-old in Manchester.

The England international, who shares the same agency as Leeds striker Patrick Bamford, is yet to start a Premier League game under Pep Guardiola, missing large parts of the season with a shoulder injury.

The Man City manager said that the midfielder returned from the World Cup ‘overweight’, and it looks as if a number of clubs are keen on his services.

The Latest: Leeds enquire about Phillips

The Sun’s Phil Thomas shared an update regarding Phillips just after midday on Tuesday, with Leeds being one of three Premier League clubs named with an interest in the midfielder.

The report claimed that Victor Orta has asked about taking the 27-year-old back on loan, although City are refusing to do business with the Whites, Everton or West Ham.

The Verdict: Not a surprise

Although Phillips is yet to make a real impact in Manchester, it doesn’t come as a shock that City have turned down an approach from Leeds.

He is one of just two senior holding midfielders at the Etihad alongside Rodri, and you’d expect that he will receive more minutes as the season goes on, with City still involved in three competitions.

Leeds have also added to their own midfield ranks with a loan swoop for Weston McKennie from Juventus, and it looks as if a return to Elland Road for Phillips won’t materialise today.

McKennie has also outperformed Phillips overall this season, as per WhoScored metrics, so you’d expect that Orta and co are delighted with a move for the USA international.

Newcastle United slipped to their tenth draw of the season at home to West Ham United on Saturday evening, with Lucas Paqueta’s second-half effort cancelling out Callum Wilson’s early strike to secure a hard-earned point for the visitors.

Amid the euphoria of sealing a place at Wembley earlier this week in the Carabao Cup, Magpies boss Eddie Howe may well be concerned that his side have now been held to a stalemate in four of their last five Premier League games, albeit with their place in the top-four still somewhat secure.

The Tynesiders had initially appeared on course for victory amid what was a frantic start to proceedings at St James’ Park, with the aforementioned Wilson netting inside three minutes with a clinical left-footed finish, after Joe Willock had seen an earlier effort ruled out by VAR.

That composed strike was the Englishman’s tenth goal against the Hammers in his career to date – and his first goal in the league since returning from World Cup duty – although the 30-year-old was unable to add to that tally as the game progressed, having seen his involvement limited from then.

The former Bournemouth hotshot made just 20 touches in total on the night – fewer than teammate Nick Pope (22) in the sticks – while he was also rather ineffective physically up against the away side’s backline, having failed to win any of his eight duels.

In truth, it was teammate Dan Burn who arguably proved superior for Howe’s side against the Hammers, with the 6 foot 7 colossus having been a typically rock-solid presence at left-back up against Jarrod Bowen.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion man hardly put a foot wrong, albeit while having lost possession on 21 occasions, after notably racking up seven clearances in total against David Moyes’ men,

Unlike Wilson, the 30-year-old also proved himself something of a physical monster after remarkably winning ten of his 13 duels, including eight of his 11 aerial duels to help keep the east London outfit at bay, while also laying on one key pass from his 90 touches as a marker of his attacking quality.

That dominant display ensured that the Blyth-born sensation recorded a solid 7.3 match rating, as per Sofascore, with that having been far higher than that man Wilson, who received just a 6.7 match rating despite getting himself on the scoresheet.

As such, just over a year on from his return to the northeast, Burn once again proved himself something of a hero for the high-flying outfit.

Liverpool should start Curtis Jones in the Merseyside Derby if Thiago is injured, according to Ian Doyle.

The Lowdown: Merseyside Derby

Jurgen Klopp could be set for one of the biggest Merseyside Derbies of his Liverpool tenure with the Reds sat in tenth following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against West Ham United, offering the chance to leapfrog them.

Whilst at the other end of the table Sean Dyche will be looking to turn up the heat on the German with a win seeing Everton climb out of the relegation zone after the new boss beat Premier League leaders Arsenal in his first game in charge.

A livewire atmosphere is expected on Monday night with this derby proving key in both sides’ seasons as they both struggle to reach the expectations this campaign that the fans demand.

The Latest: Doyle’s comments

Speaking on Blood Red, Doyle suggested that the Reds could deploy a wildcard option in midfield who has proved in the past he can handle the fixture, should Thiago be absent after Klopp admitted he’d been unable to train, Doyle said:

(33:24) “You’ve got someone like Curtis Jones, who loves playing in this game, he’s got a winner in the past.”

“I think the time has come given how the midfield has not been functioning properly, if Thiago’s not fit, I said it the other week that he should be playing, he’s left footed, he has to be on the left hand side.”

“Anything’s going to be better than what’s been going on recently, so the legs and a bit of you know, with Curtis Jones, he’s obviously a local lad, he’ll be quite keen to make an impression.”

The Verdict: Jones to start?

Liverpool’s midfield has been a troubling position this season for Klopp and Thiago’s absence as their brightest spark in the engine room, with him averaging the third highest rating at the club (via WhoScored), is a real worry.

Jones’ lack of minutes throughout the entirety of the campaign is a huge concern for the 22-year-old who has found his career at Anfield stagnating, with him appearing just eight times in the league and Champions League so far, only two of them starts.

It could prove a risk bringing a player who’s featured just 15 minutes in the league since the World Cup into the engine room after Everton’s incredible showing against Arsenal, which saw all five midfielders break into the top seven for distance covered in a single match (via Sky Sports), showing how energetic Dyche is making his Toffees side.

This could be a worry on the unlikely fully fit Jones despite having positive memories over the fixture after scoring a show-stopping FA Cup winner against Everton back in 2020.