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Newcastle United will have to pay a ‘great deal more than £50million’ if they want to sign Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, according to transfersdotcom correspondent Jacque Talbot.

The Lowdown: Newcastle eye Kvaratskhelia

Magpies fans were gifted an exciting new transfer rumour over the weekend, as a report from The Times on Friday detailed interest in Napoli’s 21 year-old breakout star.

According to the paper’s Martin Hardy, the Tyneside outfit have been scouting the winger regularly and have made him one of their ‘main priorities’ for the next two transfer windows.

The report valued Kvaratskhelia at £50m, but the latest update suggests Eddie Howe and PIF will really have to break the bank if they want to make this happen.

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The Latest: Time to pay up

Fabrizio Romano shared an update from Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli on Monday, who said ‘there’s no chance’ they will let their star man go.

Adding to the Italian transfer guru’s tweet, Talbot said: “Newcastle will have to do a great deal more than £50million if they truly want Kvaratskhelia.”

The Verdict: Go for it?

Newcastle are unlikely to shell out more £50m during the winter window as they look to act reasonably in the market and abide by Financial Fair Play regulations. However, the report from The Times specified that Kvaratskhelia is a target for 2023, not just January, and we see no reason PIF shouldn’t at least attempt to get this done in the summer.

By then, the Magpies may have Champions League football to offer the player – something they are unlikely to win the race for his services without – and he is the exact type of marquee signing required to take the squad up a level if they are to compete with Europe’s elite next season.

According to FBRef, the ‘Georgian Messi’, who has also been likened to Diego Maradona, ranks in the 86th percentile or higher for every single attacking metric when compared with other players in his position across Europe, and his numbers line up with the likes of Son-Heung min, Vinicius Junior, Bukayo Saka and Mohamed Salah.

With Allan Saint-Maximin consistently struggling with injuries, the 19-cap Georgia international, praised by Brazil legend Kaka and dubbed a ‘future Ballon d’Or winner’ by football content creator Boras Legend, could be the perfect signing to come in and make that left-wing spot his own for the next decade.

Chelsea are ‘seriously’ targeting Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, with contact already made over the player, according to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Boehly busy…

Backed by American business tycoon Todd Boehly, the Blues have been seriously busy in terms of transfer activity recently.

The Premier League giants are thought to be closing in on deals for both Vasco de Gama wonderkid Andrey Santos and Molde’s rising star David Datro Fofana.

Graham Potter’s side are also being repeatedly linked with marquee players like Josko Gvardiol of RB Leipzig, and amid their search for a star striker, it appears that Serie A sensation Vlahovic is very much on their radar.

The Latest: Chelsea make Vlahovic contact…

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs has claimed that Boehly and co have made ‘inquiries’ over signing the Serbia international for Chelsea and are ‘seriously’ targeting him.

He explained: “It’s actually Chelsea, from a Premier League point of view, making the inquiries at this point, and we know that they need a striker as well.

“But I think everybody chasing Vlahovic needs to understand, is January possible, first and foremost, and then if it isn’t, what do they need to do to persuade him to move to the Premier League in January? And what can clubs learn from the Arsenal situation?

“And also, what is his injury situation? Because right now, if you get him in January, he’s got a groin problem that is still under investigation. But Chelsea are looking a bit more seriously at him and obviously a number of other strikers because of the Armando Broja situation.”

The Verdict: Pursue further?

When fit and available, the £215,000-per-week forward has continued his fine form at Juventus since his marquee move from Fiorentina earlier this year.

As per WhoScored, he averages more attempts at goal per 90 than any of his team-mates and ranks in the Turin club’s top five players for overall performance. He is also their highest Serie A goalscorer with six in 10 league starts, backing media claims that he is a ‘sensational’ striker.

However, having only signed for Juventus earlier this year, it may be a difficult move for Chelsea to pull off, and Vlahovic’s current groin injury could also come as a bit of a roadblock.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has urged Newcastle United to sign Benfica and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez after an admission from Eddie Howe that the player may be too expensive.

The Lowdown: Howe ‘aware’ of Fernandez

Speaking to Sky Sports, Howe admitted that he is ‘aware’ of Fernandez after impressing with winners Argentina at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but fears that the transfer fee required to sign him in the January transfer window may be ‘quite lumpy’.

He added that a player should not be signed just off the back of performances at a World Cup, after Magpies legend Alan Shearer joked that he would like to see Fernandez at St. James’ Park.

The Latest: Would be a ‘real coup’

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League shot-stopper Robinson has urged the North East club to sign Fernandez if they can, claiming that he would be a ‘real coup’:

“Everyone knows Newcastle have a lot of money to play with.

“When Newcastle come knocking, clubs will charge a premium.

“I agree with Howe about signing a player off the back of one tournament. But, Fernandez does not fall into that category. He has been brilliant over a period of time. He has been very good for Benfica by all accounts.

“He is a player they should absolutely be looking at. Imagine him alongside Bruno Guimaraes.

“Fernandez is a brilliant player at the right age. Whoever gets him will be getting one of the best young midfielders in the world. It would be a real coup for Newcastle if they can get him in.”

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The Verdict: Statement signing

Fernandez would certainly be a statement signing if the Tynesiders can get a deal done in January.

The 21-year-old was a star player at the World Cup, winning the Young Player Award, and was his country’s fourth-best performer overall, scoring one goal and supplying one assist in his seven appearances (WhoScored).

However, he is also performing at club level with Benfica, having ranked in the 99th percentile of all midfielders in Europe’s top leagues over the last year for expected goals and expected assists combined, as well as for passes attempted and progressive passes per game (FBRef).

Fernandez has been a mainstay in the team currently sitting comfortably top of the Portuguese top flight, and in the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League after qualifying from their group.

Nonetheless, a midfield partnership of him and Bruno would really excite the Toon Army.

Crystal Palace are monitoring Middlesborough forward Chuba Akpom ahead of a potential move, according to The Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: Fine form

Akpom, sponsored by Nike, has been on the books at the Riverside Stadium since 2020 and has made 60 appearances for the Championship side.

He has been enjoying one of his best seasons in front of goal in the second tier, netting 13 times in 19 appearances – more than any other player in the league.

The former Arsenal forward now has 59 senior career goals to his name and is out of contract in the summer, and it looks as if Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman could be interested in a move.

The Latest: Palace interest

The Daily Mail shared a story on Monday regarding Akpom and a possible January transfer, with the player now in-demand.

They said that Palace, along with Premier League rivals Everton and Southampton, are monitoring the 27-year-old following his impressive displays under Michael Carrick.

The Verdict: New forward needed?

Palace are currently the lowest scorers in the top 15 sides in the Premier League, scoring just 17 times in 16 games. Wilfried Zaha is the only player to score more than five goals, however, his future is up in the air with his Selhurst Park contract set to expire in the summer.

Therefore, bringing in a new forward for Patrick Vieira this month could be a wise idea, and someone like Akpom could be a name to watch.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Moises Caicedo this month and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the player’s future.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder has changed his agent ahead of his decision on his future.

Romano tweeted:

“Moises Caicedo has already made his decision regarding his new agents — been told will be Manuel Sierra (Futbol Division) and Ali Barat, who already represent Hincapie from Bayer.  #BHAFC Caicedo, preparing for his future move.”

Klopp needs him badly

Jurgen Klopp and the powers at Anfield will surely be considering their options over the January transfer window as they attempt to improve their performances on the pitch over the second half of the season.

The Reds have already acquired the services of talented forward Cody Gakpo to strengthen the attacking threat after both Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota suffered long-term injury issues, however, the spotlight has been on the need for a refresh in the centre of the pitch.

Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all out of contract in the summer of 2023, whilst Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are reaching the latter stages of their career and won’t be part of the long-term future, so the signing of Caicedo could be a great opportunity to bring some fresh perspectives to Merseyside.

The talented 21-year-old – who was once dubbed as a “machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has been impressing with his performances in the centre of the pitch for the Seagulls and this season has continued to shine.

Over 16 Premier League appearances, the “strong, quick, intelligent, and cool” ace – in the words of South American expert Tim Vickery – has scored one goal, registered one assist and created two big chances, as well as averaging 1.1 key passes, 72 touches, 1.4 interceptions, 2.9 tackles and 5.8 duels won per game, proving that he is both an attacking threat and solid in his defensive attributes too.

The Merseyside giants are currently sixth in the Premier League table and will need to considerably improve upon their point tally if they are going to compete for a spot inside the top four and secure certain qualification in the Champions League.

With that being said, the £60m signing of Caicedo could be a fantastic opportunity for Liverpool to improve their quality and bolster their midfield over the second half of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur will not look to bring in a new goalkeeper this month and will instead prioritise the position in the summer, according to Michael Bridge.

What’s the latest?

There have been reports suggesting that Spurs could look to bring in a new goalkeeper with the plan of replacing their veteran Frenchman, Hugo Lloris.

Everton’s Jordan Pickford has been named as a potential option in recent weeks with the England shot-stopper currently playing into the final 18 months of his contract at Goodison Park.

And another name to emerge as a potential option for Fabio Paratici is the Brentford goalkeeper David Raya who recently kept David de Gea out of the Spain squad for the Qatar World Cup.

But speaking on Sky Sports News on Monday night (09/01/23; 7.20pm), Bridge suggested this is an area which Spurs fans will have to wait until the summer to see addressed:

“Now, I’m told that’s one to look at in the summer. Hugo Lloris’ contract runs till 2024. They’ve got Fraser Forster as a No 2.”

Time catching up on Lloris

Now at the age of 36, there have been some instances this season where Lloris has cost the Lilywhites with the recent game against Aston Villa being a key example.

And when you consider no other player in the Premier League has made more errors leading to goals this season, it does seem as if the time for Lloris to move on is approaching.

On Monday evening, Lloris announced his retirement from international football after finishing second in the World Cup having lost the final to Argentina just last month.

But it seems as if Lloris is at least poised to keep his spot between the sticks at Spurs for the remainder of the campaign with Paratici set to tackle the goalkeeper spot in the summer.

Last year, Lloris put pen to paper on a new deal for a further two years in north London which will see his stay up until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

However, what will be interesting to see is if Spurs bring in a new goalkeeper in the summer, whether Lloris sees out his contract or whether he is offloaded in the summer.

With the likes of Pickford and Raya already playing first-team football for their respective clubs, it would be difficult to imagine either of those wanting to come to Spurs to sit on the bench behind Lloris for the 2023/24 campaign.

Leeds United reportedly remain interested in a Premier League star and could look to move for him soon…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who claims that although he could remain at Wolverhampton Wanderers till the summer, the Whites will retain an interest nevertheless.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “In terms of Adama Traore, it’s looking to me that he’ll probably see out the rest of the season at Wolves and take things from there. But I think both Leeds and Tottenham will keep an eye on his situation just in case Wolves do make signings this month that impacts him.

“The feeling at the moment is that he’ll stay but again, that can change.”

This statement comes after TEAMtalk noted Victor Orta’s desire to reunite with the wide man at the start of the window. 

Ditch James

Whilst on the surface this could come across as an uninspiring move, if it meant finally ridding Elland Road of Daniel James then it would be worth its weight in gold.

In one of Marcelo Bielsa’s biggest financial blunders during his reign, he unloaded £25m to sign the Welsh winger from Manchester United after an indifferent start to life at Old Trafford.

In his last season at the club, he had only mustered three league goals and unsurprisingly would hardly offer a stellar return in his debut campaign in Yorkshire to align with his new value. Scoring four and assisting five, his return was not wholly dreadful, but his 6.64 average rating was indicative of a poor performer despite this.

Such was the lack of faith in the 25-year-old, he was sent out on loan to Fulham this season despite only having Jack Harrison, Crysencio Summerville and Luis Sinisterra as viable wide options.

Therefore, to pad out this crop and finally send James packing, adding another dynamic could be imperative in securing survival despite their poor run.

Jesse Marsch’s side are yet to win a game since domestic football restarted after the World Cup and have slipped back to within two points of the relegation zone.

The acquisition of someone with pure pace and power like Traore’s is sure to frighten any defender, which would provide added room for the likes of Rodrigo to further shine.

Jetro Willems even detailed this fear, as he claimed: “I have played against some very good players in my career, but no one as fast as Adama Traore. He’s unbelievable, a beast. Not only is he incredibly fast, he is so, so strong as well.”

This claim was supplemented by BBC pundit Garth Crooks, who was enamoured with the “lightning-fast” Spaniard.

Such is his proficiency in a one-on-one setting, he ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed. He has also paired this with 0.7 key passes per 90, which is particularly commendable given he is only averaging 47 minutes a game.

A completely different option for Marsch to boast, the £55k-per-week speedster’s arrival could finally spell the end of James’ disappointing tenure at the club.

Crystal Palace have submitted an offer to sign Fenerbahce star Bright Osayi-Samuel, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Osayi-Samuel profiled

The Nigerian international has previously played in England having spent three-and-a-half years with Queens Park Rangers, before moving to the Turkish Super Lig in January 2021.

Despite his contract with Jorge Jesus’ side not expiring until 2025, the 25-year-old appears to have caught the eye of the Eagles, who are claimed to have made an approach to try and bring him to the Premier League.

The Latest: Crystal Palace table bid

According to Turkish outlet Feneralayi, Palace have made a £10m offer for Osayi-Samuel in the hope of completing a deal before the end of the winter window.

Fenerbahce haven’t responded yet, but having paid just £450k to sign him two years ago, would be set to make a hefty profit should they accept the proposal from Selhurst Park.

The Verdict: Potential advantage?

Osayi-Samuel is already friends with Eberechi Eze from their time together at QPR, as per reports, so this existing connection could give Palace a potential advantage in their pursuit of his signature.

The England-born talent has made nine goal contributions since arriving at Fenerbahce and is a versatile individual having spent this season equally playing at both right-back and in midfield (Transfermarkt).

Osayi-Samuel’s former manager Mark Warburton dubbed him a player who ‘terrifies defenders’ which is exactly the kind of attacking threat that the Eagles have been missing down the right flank.

After Patrick Vieira ruled out a move for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, Crystal Palace should reignite their interest in Eintracht Frankfurt star Djibril Sow.

The Eagles had been linked with re-signing Gallagher but when asked about the possibility of bringing the England international back to Selhurst Park this month, Vieira simply replied: “No.”

The French manager is clearly in need of another midfielder to support Cheick Doucoure in the middle of the park, with Will Hughes and Luka Milivojevic having both struggled for regular game time so far this campaign, making just three Premier League starts between them.

Vieira has often preferred Jeffrey Schlupp in the middle as an unorthodox midfielder, while Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have both dropped into a deeper position on occasion.

Therefore another natural in midfield should be a priority for CEO Steve Parish in this month’s transfer window and it would perhaps not be a surprise to see the Eagles reignite their interest in Sow, after failing with a late move for the Switzerland international in the summer.

The Athletic claimed at the time that Palace could return for the 25-year-old this month when there was more chance of completing a deal with a fee of around €25m (£22m) likely to be enough to get the deal done.

This season has seen Sow make 15 appearances in the Bundesliga, in which he has contributed two goals and no assists, averaging a solid 6.71 rating from WhoScored for his performances, with the website also suggesting that he excels at interceptions, long shots and passing, which suggests that he can be an all-round midfielder in Vieira’s squad.

He also played every game Oliver Glasner’s side as they progressed through to the Champions League knockout stages, which emphasises the top-level experience he could add at Selhurst Park.

Express sports reporter Sam Smith was full of praise for the Swiss midfielder in late 2022, writing:

“First time properly watching Djibril Sow in this first half & been impressed. Progressive on the ball and combative.”

Therefore, while Palace fans will be disappointed that a move for Gallagher seemingly isn’t on the cards this month, the Eagles must put that behind them and bring in a midfielder such as Sow to help boost Vieira’s chances of a positive finish in the Premier League this season.

Leeds United appear to be closer to agreeing a deal to bring Weston McKennie to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Sky Sports Italia, who claim that, despite Victor Orta’s opening offer of €28m (£25m) plus bonuses being turned down by Juventus – with the Serie A side said to be looking for a total figure of €35m in order to part with the midfielder – the Premier League club are not increasing their bid for the 24-year-old just yet.

The report goes on to suggest that this is down to the Whites believing that they are the club who hold the strongest interest in the USMNT international, with there said to be a feeling at Elland Road that negotiations between the two clubs could reach a turning point in the coming days, with Sky claiming that January 30 could be the day in which a deal is done.

“Absolute steal”

Considering just how talented a midfielder McKennie has undoubtedly proven himself to be at Juventus, coupled with the 24-year-old already boasting an extremely impressive relationship with Leeds’ own Tyler Adams from the USA side, should Orta manage to get a £25m deal over the line for the midfielder this winter, it would undoubtedly represent a steal for the Whites.

Indeed, over his 34 Serie A appearances in his debut campaign with the Bianconeri back in 2020/21, the £26.5m-rated talent highly impressed going forwards, scoring five goals, providing two assists and creating five big chances, as well as taking an average of 0.9 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.6 dribbles – at a success rate of 83% – per game.

The £54k-per-week midfielder also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of one tackle, 0.8 interceptions, 0.7 clearances and winning 2.6 duels – at a success rate of 43% – per match, in addition to playing an average of 0.7 long balls, 0.9 chipped passes and completing 18.9 total passes – at a success rate of 85% – per fixture.

These returns saw the 24-year-old – who TEAMtalk journalist James Marshment claimed would be a “superb addition” to Jesse Marsch’s squad and Evan Cooper suggested would be an “absolute steal” for his asking price – average an eye-catching Sofascore statistical rating of 6.86 – a rating that would currently rank him as Leeds’ eighth-best performer in the Premier League.

As such, with Marsch needing to replace the recently departed central midfielder Mateusz Klich this winter, coupled with McKennie looking to make an exceptional fit for the Whites and potentially being available for less than his current market valuation, landing the 24-year-old for just £25m would indeed appear to be something of an absolute steal for Orta.