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Arsenal have been linked with a surprise move this weekend…

What’s the word?

According to Simon Collings of the Evening Standard, the Gunners are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga on loan, having already secured a permanent deal for Leandro Trossard from Brighton and Hove Albion and are closing in on Spezia defender Jakub Kiwior.

It’s thought that bolstering the midfield is a key long-term priority for the north Londoners, with Declan Rice a target for the summer window. It also remains to be seen if the LaLiga giants would accept a deal, though the France international has struggled for regular minutes this term.

Arsenal were reportedly keen to sign the 20-year-old before he made the €40m (£35m) switch from Stade Rennes to the Spanish capital, so clearly they have continued to monitor his progress.

Odegaard repeat

Once lauded as a “huge talent” by Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps and an “extremely complete midfielder” by scout Jacek Kulig, it’s perhaps little surprise to have seen him earn comparisons to Invincibles legend Patrick Vieira.

Truth be told, manager Mikel Arteta could probably do with that sort of presence in his engine room today as his side looks to clinch the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.

That’s not to say that Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey aren’t good enough – because they are – but it’s largely down to the lack of depth and having a variety of different options available at the Spaniard’s disposal.

The classy Frenchman has been capped six times at international level, featuring in the recent World Cup in Qatar, and has earned further likeness to another two powerhouses in N’Golo Kante and Claude Makelele.

Indeed, there’s no denying that he’s an unreal talent at just 20 as when compared to other midfielders across Europe’s elite divisions, he ranks inside the top 4% for tackles (3.42), the top 6% for passing accuracy (89.8%) and the top 8% for shot-creating actions (3.86) per 90, via FBref.

Despite being primarily a more defensive-minded option, it’s evident that Camavinga is an absolute animal, one capable of contributing at both ends of the pitch.

Furthermore, if Gunners chief Edu Gaspar were to make the shock deal, then he could be repeating his masterstroke with Martin Odegaard – another young, promising wonderkid that struggled for game time at the Bernabeu.

We’ve seen how that initial loan swoop did the chances of signing him full-time the world of good, so perhaps that can be replicated here, if the Brazilian supremo pulls off the unimaginable.

Camavinga, who has also been dubbed as a “monster” by journalist Kiyan Sobhani, would be one almighty addition this January transfer window, so KSE must pull out all the stops to get it done before deadline day.

AND in other news, Edu could unearth Bellingham 2.0 in Arsenal swoop for “ridiculous” teen record-breaker…

West Bromwich Albion have been dealt a blow with the news that Matt Phillips is set to be out injured for around six weeks, according to journalist Joe Chapman.

The Lowdown: Phillips’ importance to West Brom

The 31-year-old has continued to be an important figure for the Baggies this season, appearing 25 times in the Championship and starting 14 matches.

Phillips has chipped in with two goals and two assists in the league, with Chapman saluting the Scotland international’s ‘outstanding’ crossing ability just last week.

Carlos Corberan’s side were beaten 2-1 at Burnley on Friday night, and while the result was disappointing, it wasn’t the only negative to emerge from the match for Albion.

The Latest: Phillips hit by injury blow

Taking to Twitter last night in sharing a corresponding article for Birmingham Live, Chapman confirmed that Phillips is expected to be absent for at least six weeks, with the injury blow possibly sparking the West Brom hierarchy into action in the transfer market.

The article mentioned that the 31-year-old has been struck by a quad injury, having limped out of the midweek FA Cup win over Chesterfield despite only coming on as a substitute.

The reporter tweeted:

“Bad news re Phillips, who is expected to be out for at least six weeks. You have to imagine that’ll impact on Albion’s transfer thinking.”

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The Verdict: Big blow to Baggies’ promotion hopes

This is an undoubted blow for West Brom, considering Phillips’ vast experience of 229 appearances for the club.

He may not be a nailed-on starter every singly week – indeed, he has only completed the full 90 minutes four times this season – but his experience could still be crucial to the Baggies’ promotion push, having helped QPR into the top flight nine years ago.

Not having Phillips available until March could leave Corberan with a headache in terms of squad depth, and the hope is that the Scotland winger will be available for the business end of the campaign.

As Chapman referenced, it could force West Brom into making a new signing during the January transfer window in order to make up for the loss of Phillips.

Everton have had a tumultuous week with the sacking of Frank Lampard, the transfer hijacking of Arnaut Danjuma and Anthony Gordon refusing to turn up to training until Friday morning.

However, the Toffees are now on the brink of appointing former Burnley boss Sean Dyche to steady the ship at Goodison Park when they return to action in the Premier League against leaders Arsenal next Saturday and the Everton hierarchy will surely be desperately hoping they have made the right choice.

With just 18 league fixtures left, Everton find themselves 19th in the top-flight table and two points deep into the relegation zone, so an instant positive impact on the squad from Dyche will be desperately needed to ensure they can pick up enough points to retain their Premier League status by the end of the season.

Indeed, there is little time left for the new manager to make his own mark on the squad by adding new additions with the January transfer window set to slam shut on Tuesday, however, it hasn’t stopped Everton from being linked with potential moves for players who could strength to the attacking threat.

One player who has been recently linked to the club is Bologna striker Marko Arnautovic and although the player is Premier League proven with a consistent goal-scoring record, it could be another major transfer howler for Farhad Moshiri.

Over 464 career appearances, the Austrian goal machine – once dubbed “aggressive” by Josh Bunting – has scored 127 goals and registered 73 assists with a goal contribution every 162 minutes.

However, his antics on and off the pitch have made it difficult in the past for previous managers to work with him and could ultimately be detrimental to Everton’s desperate need for togetherness over the remainder of the season.

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho claimed that Arnautovic had the “attitude of a kid” when managing the centre-forward at Inter Milan:

“Marko is a fantastic guy, but he has the attitude of a kid.

“Mario Balotelli is his best friend and they just happen to have the same traits. It’s not easy.”

The former West Ham forward – who will reportedly cost €20m (£18m) to sign this month – has also been caught up in more than one racism scandal too, with the first incident occurring in a clash with Willem II defender Ibrahim Kargbo back in 2009 whilst he was playing in the Eredivisie, and second coming more recently at Euro 2020 in an outburst against North Macedonia, which almost cost him his spot in the competition but UEFA settled for a one-match ban, just a couple of many controversial incidents listed by the Daily Mail.

With the drama surrounding Anthony Gordon’s future and an extremely fractured relationship with the Goodison Park faithful already, Moshiri could hammer the final nail into the coffin by bringing in a player with a poor attitude that could ultimately shatter their hopes of survival by unsettling the squad.

An update has emerged on Aston Villa and their plans to improve their squad before the deadline for the January transfer window passes…

What’s the talk?

Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the Villans are attempting to complete a “last-gasp” swoop to sign French talent Houssem Aouar from Ligue 1 side Lyon.

The accompanying article claims that the club are keen on adding a central midfielder to their squad before the end of play today to bolster Unai Emery’s side.

It is stated that they are trying to sign Aouar on loan until the end of the season and that they need to fight off interest from a number of other clubs to land his signature.

Morgan Sanson successor

One French midfielder leaves and another arrives? Villa sanctioned an exit for Morgan Sanson earlier this month as the 28-year-old dynamo joined Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan.

The former Marseille man struggled to push on and really compete for a place in the side at Villa Park as he only made ten Premier League appearances in 2021/22 and appeared in two matches this term.

Aouar, however, could come as a successor to his fellow countryman and offer competition for the likes of John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, and Boubacar Kamara, instead of rarely playing and just picking up a pay packet.

The Frenchman, who journalist Matt Spiro once dubbed a “maestro”, has only played eight times in Ligue 1 for Lyon this term but caught the eye with some strong performances in 2021/22 as the midfielder averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.90 across 36 outings – a score that would place him joint-sixth with Emi Buendia in the current Villa side.

Aouar produced six goals and four assists from the middle of the park, whilst also making 1.9 tackles and interceptions per game, and could offer an attacking threat from a midfield position.

Meanwhile, no Villa midfielder managed more than six goals and only one created more than four goals in the Premier League last season, which suggests that Aouar could be a much-needed addition to bolster the side’s attacking potential in that position.

If Emery can get the Lyon man playing at his best then he could be a dream Sanson replacement as the possible impact the gem could make in the final third could make him a match-winner at times in the second half of the campaign.

Wolverhampton Wanderers face an out-of-sorts Liverpool side who have been underperforming of late in this afternoon’s Premier League clash, and Julen Lopetegui may certainly smell blood as he looks to secure what could be a vital three points in the Old Gold’s relegation battle.

Indeed, Jurgen Klopp’s men haven’t won a match since their 1-0 victory at Wolves midway through January in an FA Cup replay, and there arguably isn’t a better time to face the Merseysiders than now.

Aside from long-term injury absentees Pedro Neto, Boubacar Traore, Chiquinho and Sasa Kalajdzic, Lopetegui has everyone else available for selection today.

However, a debut for new signing Joao Gomes may have to wait. With the Brazilian not having played since the end of last year, he could still be lacking that all-important match sharpness, something at which the manager himself hinted in recent days.

Lopetegui will likely rotate his team following their recent defeat to Manchester City, and we at Football FanCast predict the starting XI which will take to the Molineux pitch for the home side this afternoon…

Wolves predicted XI – Sa; Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno; Nunes, Neves, Lemina; Podence, Cunha, Sarabia

Jose Sa retains his place in goal despite a poor performance against City, receiving a rating of just 5.8/10 from Sofascore, and he will be hoping to redeem himself against Liverpool.

The back four will likely be unchanged this afternoon, with new signing Craig Dawson having to wait to make his first start for the club. Nelson Semedo and Hugo Bueno will start on the right and left of defence respectively, while Nathan Collins and Max Kilman forming the centre-back pairing at the heart of the Wolves defence.

Mario Lemina will start his second Premier League game in a row, adding some defensive steel to the Wolves side, having averaged one tackle and 1.5 clearances per match while winning 100% of his aerial duels so far. The 29-year-old will again be joined by Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes in the engine room, and Lopetegui will hope that they can grab a foothold on the game from the very start.

We anticipate that the 56-year-old will make three changes from the City defeat, replacing the entire front three which started at the Etihad Stadium. Daniel Podence will start on the left wing, with another January signing Pablo Sarabia making his first Wolves start on the right flank as Adama Traore drops to the bench, having been hauled off at half-time against Pep Guardiola’s side.

Matheus Cunha replaces Raul Jimenez, with the £43m striker aiming to score his first goal for the Old Gold today. He was dubbed “special” by his former Hertha Berlin boss Bruno Labbadia, and a decisive goal today would certainly endear him to the Molineux faithful.

Newcastle United are currently flying high amid what has been a remarkable campaign thus far under manager Eddie Howe, although it does appear that the Magpies are looking beyond just short-term success, with a long-term project in mind.

A key emphasis for the Tynesiders appears to be nurturing and developing the club’s academy talent, with sporting director Dan Ashworth having revealed back in December that he is keen to ensure that there is a clear “pathway” into the first-team, while also stressing that he is “passionate” about giving an opportunity to up-and-coming stars.

One such youngster who is seemingly “highly rated” by the St James’ Park hierarchy – according to the Chronicle’s Ciaran Kelly – is 19-year-old ace, Michael Ndiweni, with the teenage striker having showcased his class in the youth ranks of late.

The “lethal” marksman, as described by Kelly, seemingly caught the eye of Howe and co as a result of his standout form last season, having scored 13 goals in just 18 games in all competitions, including three goals in only three FA Youth Cup appearances.

That sparkling run of form ensured that the “impressive” starlet – as lauded by journalist Matty Hewitt – has an overall tally of 18 goals in just 31 games at U18 level, having been unsurprisingly rewarded for that hot streak with his first professional deal during the summer.

Although by his own admission it has been a “disappointing” start to the current campaign, as he just two goals to his name in eight Premier League 2 appearances, Ndiweni’s previous brilliance should ensure that the northeast side won’t lose faith in him just yet.

The hope will be that the young Englishman can go on to emulate another striker to have risen through the club’s academy in the recent past in the form of Shola Ameobi, with the now-retired striker illustrating that there is a ‘pathway’ into the senior set-up.

The Nigerian-born ace progressed up the youth ranks at Newcastle before earning his first team debut in 2000, making the first of 398 appearances for the club across all fronts in a goalless draw with Chelsea.

While never a truly prolific figure, the 6 foot 3 powerhouse still managed to rack up 79 goals and 45 assists in all competitions over the next 14 years, memorably impressing on the European stage with Champions League goals against the likes of Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen.

The eight-cap maestro was also a reliable goalscoring presence in the Premier League in that time, notably notching nine top-flight goals during the 2005/06 season, having been lauded as “magnificent” by former boss Alan Pardew.

Although there may be scope for young Ndiweni to go on to enjoy a more fruitful spell at first-team level than Ameobi, the latter man’s longevity is a testament to his quality, with it no doubt a rarity for a youth product to be able to remain a firm fixture of the side for so long.

Local heroes have been few and far between for the Magpies in recent times, although the hope will be that Ndiweni can become the next breakout star

Journalist James Copley has questioned whether Sunderland ace Amad Diallo will be handed a rare rest in the FA Cup this week.

The Lowdown: Mowbray must manage his squad effectively

Sunderland have an intriguing FA Cup replay against Premier League opposition Fulham this Wednesday as it will be welcome to test themselves against a side from the division above, but it also allows fewer days to rest and recover for the weekend.

The Black Cats will likely be excited about welcoming top-flight opposition to the Stadium of Light – something that’s been very rare in recent years following their slide down the divisions – and with a young and exciting squad, they may well fancy their chances.

Tony Mowbray already has one big selection headache to make with Joe Gelhardt cup-tied, and with him being their only striker, someone is likely going to have to play as a false 9. While it’s something Diallo has done this season, he’s been very impressive out wide, showing how ‘gifted’ he is in those wider roles, so it could be a waste to move him centrally.

The Latest: Diallo could miss out

While speaking on The Roar podcast, Copley raised the question as to whether Diallo may be rested against Fulham to ensure he’s fit for Sunderland’s Championship clash against Reading this weekend.

He said: “It’s a big question for Tony Mowbray.

“There’s no real natural fix. Max Thompson, it’s a bit of a big game to even have him on the bench, really.

“Do you think Sunderland just go with a false 9, Amad floating around, or would you maybe give him a break as well? It’s such a tough one.”

The Verdict: Sunderland should be looking to claim a scalp

While it’s fair enough for Copley to be thinking about the league as that’s the most important thing for Sunderland this season as they look to secure back-to-back promotions and end up in the Premier League, given that Ross Stewart is out for the rest of the season and Mowbray has just one striker in the form of Gelhardt to call upon, it may be unlikely the Black Cats are able to mount a serious play-off push.

Therefore, Mowbray should set his side out this midweek to take the game to Fulham and try to pick up a memorable victory which would certainly show they could perhaps hold their own in the top flight in the near future.

Manchester City are keeping tabs on Eintracht Frankfurt attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada on a potential free transfer this summer, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Kamada set to leave

The 26-year-old contract with Frankfurt is set to expire in the summer, meaning that he can leave on a free transfer, and several Premier League clubs have already made their interest clear.

According to a report from early in the January transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur offered to double the midfielder’s salary in a bid to secure his services next summer, while Everton and Leeds United have previously been linked with moves for the Japan international.

The Latest: Kamada transfer battle

As per Bailey for 90min, a number of top clubs from across Europe are now in the race for the 26-year-old’s signature, with Manchester City, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham all said to be keeping tabs on Kamada.

Huge European outfits such as Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are also named as potential suitors, so the Sky Blues are set to face stiff competition for the Frankfurt ace.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Man City have been presented with a fantastic opportunity to sign a quality player without having to shell out a transfer fee, and they will be hoping that the recent charges brought forward by the Premier League do not hinder their chances of winning this transfer race.

The 26-cap Japan international is in very good form, with football scout Jacek Kulig claiming last month that Kamada was ‘on fire’, and he has also been lauded as an ‘incredible talent’ by journalist Josh Bunting.

Given the 26-year-old’s attacking output this season, it is hard to disagree with that description, recording 13 goals and five assists in 27 games in all competitions and displaying that he would be a real asset to Pep Guardiola if Man City can tempt him into a summer move to the Etihad Stadium.

Presenter of the HLTCO podcast, Dan Cook, believes manager Patrick Vieira will be “angry” after Crystal Palace dropped two points and teams below them won key games on the weekend.

What’s the latest on Patrick Vieira and Crystal Palace?

On Saturday afternoon, the Eagles were just moments away from picking up an impressive Premier League win away from home thanks to a 69th-minute goal from Eberechi Eze.

However, Brentford managed to claw back a point when Vitaly Janelt netted an equaliser in the 96th minute of the game. Conceding such a late will have come as a bitter blow to the club but results around them will only have rubbed salt in the wounds.

Indeed, relegation candidates below Palace such as Everton, Southampton, and Bournemouth all picked three points, which may be concerning for the club.

While talking on the HLTCO podcast, Cook explained: “It wasn’t a particularly good weekend for us in terms of teams below us in the table and their results. So it just makes that two points dropped feel like an extra kick in the stomach really.

“And I’m sure Patrick Vieira is genuinely angry. I’ve seen plenty of people on social media suggesting it’s Vieira, it’s the mentality, it’s the mindset. You know, we’ve got to change it’s been this way for our Vieira’s time in charge.

“And I understand all of those grumbles because it’s very easy to look at it from a microscopic perspective and say that the trend under Vieira’s management has been for us to drop late points. We’ve also gained a lot of points from behind as well, by the way. But I don’t think you can legislate for the events that led to that equalising goal going in.”

What does the draw mean for Patrick Vieira and Palace?

It feels as though Palace have a pretty nice buffer between themselves and the bottom three as they sit 12th in the table six points above West Ham United in 18th.

However, things can change quickly in football and with things being so tight in and around the relegation zone, the Eagles aren’t out of the wood just yet.

Form certainly hasn’t been that impressive of late for Vieira’s men who have failed to win any of their last five Premier League matches, drawing four of those games.

With that in mind, it certainly would have been a big blow to drop points on the cusp of victory against the Bees and perhaps the club’s French manner is only a few defeats away from coming under serious pressure.

You never know it football, things really can change so suddenly.

Liverpool could reportedly need to spend as much as €80m (£70.7m) if they want to sign Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella this summer, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Barella linked with Liverpool

The 26-year-old has continued to be one of the standout midfielders in Serie A this season, registering five goals and five assists in the division.

Barella has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the past year as the Reds look to address their serious midfield shortcomings during the summer transfer window.

A fresh update has emerged from the continent regarding their potential pursuit of the Italian maestro.

The Latest: Barella could cost £70m

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Liverpool could have to pay as much as £70.7m for Barella’s services this summer.

The report states that Jurgen Klopp has had the midfielder ‘followed by’ scouts for a while as the Reds manager looks to ‘revolutionise’ his midfield moving forward.

However, Barella is currently happy at Inter and is in no rush to leave, with his current deal not expiring until 2026.

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The Verdict: Would be a superb signing

Barella is someone who could be the perfect addition for Liverpool this summer – Klopp has called him a ‘really good player’ in the past – possessing both the natural talent and the dynamism to transform the Reds.

His aforementioned goal and assist tally highlights his ability in possession, while he has also averaged 1.3 tackles per game in Serie A this season, showing an aptitude for working hard out of possession.

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Barella is also a born winner, having tasted Euro 2020 glory with Italy and won four trophies with Inter; and at 26, he is in that prime mid-20s age bracket that Liverpool’s current midfielders have either passed or are far away from reaching.

It does seem as though it will be difficult for the Reds to get the Italian, especially if big money is spent on Jude Bellingham, but the Azzurri midfielder should be viewed as a primary candidate to come in at Anfield.