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Leeds United have edged a ‘step closer’ to signing goalkeeper Senne Lammens in the January transfer market, according to reports.

What’s the word?

As per the Express, the Whites are keen on signing the 20-year-old so he could provide a backup option in the squad to current number one Illan Meslier.

The report adds that their hopes of bringing Lammens to the Premier League had been handed a boost as his current side Club Brugge have just signed Joe Bursik.

Indeed, the England under-21s shot-stopper has just signed a four-and-a-half-year contract in Belgium after agreeing to a winter switch. This should now open the door for Leeds to make a move for the club’s other young goalkeeper.

The story added: “Lammens is free to negotiate with foreign clubs this January as his contract expires at the end of the season. The 20-year-old is unlikely to sign a new deal with Brugge and has been linked with a Premier League switch.”

“Leeds are in talks with Lammens over a potential cut-price deal that could see him move this month rather than for free in the summer. A deal moved a step closer when Brugge signed the highly-rated Bursik on Saturday.”

Depth needed?

Right now, Leeds also have two other men as their alternative goalkeeping options in the form of Joel Robles and Kristoffer Klaesson. However, the former is 32 years of age and his contract expires in the summer, while the latter is just 22 and has only one senior appearance for the club so may not be trusted to make the step up in a regular basis if something was to happen to Meslier. 

While Lammens is pretty young himself at 20 years of age, he has made four senior appearances for Club Brugge already as well as being part of the squad which has won silverware over the past three consecutive seasons.

While Leeds have been busy adding the likes of Georginio Rutter and Maximilian Wober to the senior side for notable transfer fees, fans may well appreciate the club planning for the future with this sort of deal too. After all, Meslier has long been tipped to make a move to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and so his departure could be on the horizon. 

Aston Villa are closing in on a place in the top half of the Premier League table after they beat Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United 2-1 at Villa Park on Friday night.

The Villans remained 11th in the division but are now three points behind Chelsea on 28 points and six points behind Fulham in sixth, whilst they are 10 points clear of the bottom three.

Unai Emery is pushing the club up the table and the Spanish head coach may look to utilise the January transfer window to improve his team’s chances of competing for a place in Europe for the 2023/24 campaign.

He has already brought in Spanish defender Alex Moreno in from Real Betis and Football Insider recently claimed that the club are working to secure a deal for a winger this month, with Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze among their top targets.

Emery could now land his own version of Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne by working with Johan Lange to strike a deal for his former attacker.

The manager worked with the Nigerian forward during his time in charge at Villarreal and this means that the gem would arrive with a pre-existing relationship with the head coach. This could help him to settle in quickly and hit the ground running, as he already knows how the Spaniard wants his team to play, which is ideal for a signing coming in midway through the season.

Chukwueze, who has been hailed as”flamboyant” and a “game-changer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has shown plenty of promise and his statistics in Spain indicate that he could add a significant amount of creativity to the Villa squad.

De Bruyne currently leads the way for assists in the Premier League with 10 in 18 appearances so far – after managing 40 assists in the previous three top-flight campaigns combined.

The 31-year-old Belgian international has proven himself to be an elite playmaker and Chukwueze could be Villa’s own version of the dynamo as FBref lists De Bruyne as one of the most similar players to him.

Over the last 365 days, the Nigerian gem has created 0.29 xG – ranking in the top 2% of players in his position – and been provided with 0.25 non-penalty xG per 90 in Europe’s top five leagues and European competition.

This essentially means that the forward has been consistently creating high-quality shots for his teammates and has been getting into excellent positions to score for himself.

De Bruyne, meanwhile, has delivered 0.48 xG for his teammates – ranking in the top 1% – and racked up 0.24 xG from his own shots per 90, which leaves both players in the top 1% of players in their position for non-penalty xG and assisted xG per 90 over the last 365 days.

This indicates that they are elite players in the final third in terms of the threat that they provide in creating chances and their positioning to score for themselves, which is why Villa could land their own De Bruyne by signing Chukwueze, who is reportedly valued at €50m (£44m).

Manchester City have been credited with an interest in Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and the teenage centre-back could prove to be the next John Stones at the Etihad.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, the young defender is attracting admiring glances from both Manchester City and Bayern Munich as a result of his impressive performances on loan at Brighton.

Last season saw Colwill join Huddersfield Town on loan in the Championship and he proved to be a big hit with the Terriers, featuring 31 times in the Championship and earning an impressive 6.97 average rating from WhoScored, helping the Yorkshire side to reach the playoff final.

Last summer saw the 19-year-old join Brighton and after a slow start, he has established himself as a regular under Roberto de Zerbi, earning a strong 7.28 rating in the Seagulls’ recent 3-0 win over Liverpool.

The England U21 international earned a huge amount of praise from Carlos Corberan for his performances in Huddersfield’s side last season, with the Spaniard convinced that Colwill will go to the very top.

He said:

“He’s a very young player with a lot of things he is doing fantastically, and other things he needs to continue improving.

“I think he’s going to be one of the most important centre-backs for this country in the future.”
This is extremely high praise for such a young player but considering he is now starting at centre-back in one of the Premier League’s most in-form sides, it is hard to see how Colwill won’t be featuring for the Three Lions in the near future, with reports suggesting that he is already close to his first call-up to Gareth Southgate’s side.
Colwill is very much a modern centre-back in the mould of Stones, as FBref suggests that he excels at passing, aerial duels and creating chances for teammates, such is his ability on the ball.
Stones also established himself in the lower leagues with Barnsley before progressing to Everton and then Manchester City, so Colwill could easily follow in his footsteps should he make the move to the Etihad this year.
It will be difficult to prise the teenager away from Stamford Bridge but given the lack of opportunities for young players at Chelsea, as well as the money that has been spent on centre-backs such as Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile over the past 12 months, Colwill may feel that a move away could be best for his career.
If City do take a chance on another young English centre-back, there seems little evidence right now to suggest that he can’t become a top Premier League defender like Stones in the future.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Joao Gomes, as they are still short of Lyon’s bid for the midfielder.

The Lowdown: Battle for Gomes

Wolves are reportedly keen on bringing Gomes to the club, tabling a £15m offer for the Flamengo midfielder, however Lyon have since made an attempt to hijack the move, offering £2.5m more to the Brazilian club.

The Daily Mail report also states that the 21-year-old has already travelled to England, as he is personally keen on the switch, however there is now a chance that he does not get his wish…

The Latest: Stand-off

According to the Express & Star, the three clubs have been in a stand-off this week, with Flamengo adamant that they want to sell the youngster to Lyon, given that they are offering more money.

However, the player himself still remains determined to join Wolves. The Old Gold are hopeful of finding a solution to the saga in the next few days – which one would assume involves stumping up the additional difference between their bid and Lyon’s – with the report claiming they do not want to wait until the closing stages of the window.

The Verdict: Get it done

It appears as though the only thing preventing Julen Lopetegui from getting his man is that £2.5m, so if that is what it takes to bring a player of his quality to Molineux, then Wolves should stump up the additional amount.

Hailed as ‘unique’ by scout Jacek Kulig, while also being labelled a ‘midfield destroyer’, the Flamengo ace is a no-nonsense central midfielder who is tough in the tackle, as indicated by him ranking in the 99th percentile for tackles per 90 in the past year, averaging a whopping 4.26.

However, his game is not limited to simply defensive attributes, with the starlet also specialising in carrying the ball, placed in the 92nd percentile for dribbles per 90, with an average figure of 1.37.

Gomes is clearly a quality young player with tenacity off the ball and composure on it, and he is well worth spending some extra money on if it means winning the race for his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur ‘want to sign’ Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo on loan before January 31, according to broadcast giant Sky Sports.

The Lowdown: Spurs linked with Zaniolo…

Spurs have been repeatedly linked with a move for the 11-cap Italy international this month as Antonio Conte attempts to upgrade his squad for the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

The north Londoners are chasing Champions League qualification for the second successive season and stand a more than realistic chance of sealing a top-four Premier League finish.

After signing Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma on loan, Spurs are also believed to be attempting a deal for Sporting Lisbon wing-back Pedro Porro.

The Latest: Tottenham eye Zaniolo loan move…

According to Sky Sports, expanding on their recent report that Spurs are still interested in Zaniolo, they claim that the type of move Tottenham are seeking is a loan.

The broadcaster claims that the north Londoners ‘want to sign’ the 6 foot 3 attacker on a temporary deal but face competition from Serie A champions AC Milan, who are chasing a permanent move.

This comes after Zaniolo rejected attempts from Bournemouth to tempt him away from the Stadio Olimpico.

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 The Verdict: Get it done…

Having both Danjuma and Zaniolo in on loan deals would seriously strengthen Conte’s squad as they try to cement a place in Europe’s biggest club competition next season.

While Zaniolo isn’t exactly having the best season at Roma right now, he was a key player last term, averaging more successful take-ons and attracting more fouls per 90 than anyone in their squad in 2021/22 (WhoScored).

The 23-year-old has also been called a ‘Conte sort of player’ by members of the Sky Sports panel, and he is one who could potentially fill the creative void left by former Tottenham star Christian Eriksen in 2020.

Once likened to Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, the midfielder’s versatility is a real bonus, with Zaniolo able to play in attacking midfield and further forward as a striker (WhoScored).

Lauded as having ‘tremendous talent’ and ‘amazing ability’ by members of the press, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him come through the doors in N17.

Manchester United were denied a penalty in their Carabao Cup win, with Samuel Luckhurst dubbing it “utterly bonkers”.

The Lowdown: Cup victory

Erik ten Hag’s side booked their Wembley place for the Carabao Cup final at the end of the month following a comprehensive 5-0 aggregate victory over Nottingham Forest.

Goals from Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes put United 3-0 up heading into the second leg as Anthony Martial and Fred struck at Old Trafford to set up an enticing final against Newcastle United in a bid to end five trophyless seasons.

The Latest: Luckhurst’s comments

Despite their comfortable victory, the Red Devils could’ve put the tie to bed earlier when Weghorst was denied a penalty as he nipped in front of Forest defender Scott McKenna before being brought down in the area at the start of the second half.

Following play being waved on and referee Peter Bankes not being referred to the monitor by VAR, the Manchester Evening News journalist hit out at the decision on Twitter.

Luckhurst said: “Extraordinary how VAR haven’t advised the referee to give a penalty there. It’s as if they think ‘They’re already 3-0 up on aggregate, would be cruel on Forest’. Utterly bonkers.”

The Verdict: VAR mistake

Luckily for Ten Hag and United, the incident was academic, but had Forest managed to pull off an unlikely turn-around, the Dutchman would have had every right to be up in arms over the decision.

With McKenna dithering on the ball inside his own box, he eventually decided to attempt a clearance with Weghorst steaming in to win possession back, with the striker clearly getting to the ball first and poking it away from the Scotsman.

He’s then met with the follow-through from McKenna’s attempt to play the ball on his shin which sent the 6ft 6in striker crashing to the ground and led to Bruno Fernandes even giving up on the ball to protest given his adamance at the claim.

McKenna left the scene quickly and was caught looking sheepishly on the Sky cameras as he and Forest held their breath on a review that didn’t – but should have – followed.

Newcastle United could complete the signing of West Ham and England star Declan Rice this summer, according to former top flight goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: Rice linked with Newcastle move

The 24-year-old has blossomed into one of the most impressive midfielders in the Premier League in recent years, also becoming an undisputed key man for England.

It looks increasingly likely that Rice will exit West Ham at the end of this season, with a bigger challenge required for a footballer of his elite current standing.

Newcastle have been linked with a move for the Englishman in the past and they could return for him in the summer.

The Latest: Robinson backs signing

Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports pundit Robinson said he could see a scenario where Rice opts to move to St James’ Park:

“I could see Rice at Newcastle. I think it is an attractive project for any player right now.

“Rice looks like he is going to leave in the summer. He is not going to sign a new contract so West Ham will have to cash in at some point.

“There is a lot of talk surrounding him and Arsenal but Arsenal have just signed Jorginho. If Newcastle get European football, I think that would be enough of a pull.

“Everyone can see the way the club is going. The wages will not be a problem. They can offer Rice everything that he wants. I think Newcastle would be a very tempting proposition for Declan Rice come the summer.”

The Verdict: Game-changing addition

Rice could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle, proving to be a significant upgrade on someone like Sean Longstaff, even though the latter has been excellent this season.

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The West Ham captain has averaged 2.3 tackles per game in the league this season – Longstaff is averaging 1.2 – and he could be a player who takes the Magpies to that next level, ranking highly in a number of key metrics for midfielders, including interceptions, clearances and pass completion (FBRef).

Rice would cost huge money, without question – he has been described as a ‘top, top player’ by Joe Cole – but the funds are there for Newcastle to spend big and Champions League qualification would only further their chances of snapping him up.

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their plans to improve their squad in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Spurs are one of two Premier League clubs interested in signing Barcelona attacker Ansu Fati at the end of the season.

The report claims that Antonio Conte’s side, along with their rivals Arsenal and Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, are keen on the winger but no formal offers have been made as of yet.

It is stated that the £45m-rated Spain international is set to be one of the most sought-after players in the upcoming transfer window, with clubs circling around him.

Heung-min Son’s heir

Conte could now land the long-term heir to Heung-min Son’s position in the team by working with Fabio Paratici to secure a deal to sign Fati for the 2023/24 campaign.

The Barcelona dynamo, who was once hailed as a “generational” talent by head coach Xavi, is a promising young player with potential who would arrive as a signing for the immediate term as well as the future.

At the age of 20, Fati has the majority of his career ahead of him and could be Spurs’ first-choice left winger for the next decade if all goes well, whereas Son turns 31 in the summer and is heading into the latter stages of his career.

The South Korean star has scored 139 goals in 353 matches for Tottenham in all competitions – a goal every 2.5 games on average – but his form this season suggests that the experienced forward is on the decline.

Son has scored six times and provided three assists in 28 games – a goal every 4.7 outings – and his regression in front of goal could result in a changing of the guard, by signing Fati, in the summer.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once described the Spaniard as a “difference-maker” and the youngster’s form since making the breakthrough at Barcelona shows that he has the potential to be an excellent signing for Spurs.

The 20-year-old has scored 25 goals in 89 games in all competitions for the Catalonian side – a goal every 3.6 matches – and 34 of those appearances came as a substitute in LaLiga.

Now, imagine how good his goal record could be once he is starting week-in-week-out and has more than 100 games’ worth of experience in senior football. Fati could grow, given the early promise the gem has already shown, into being a consistent goalscoring winger as his career develops.

Therefore, bringing the young Spaniard in during the summer window could result in Conte landing the dream heir to Son’s throne out wide on the left flank in the years to come, if the Barcelona forward can adapt to playing in the Premier League.

Glasgow Rangers could be set to lose midfielder Glen Kamara in the summer transfer window after four and a half years at the Ibrox side.

What’s the latest on Glen Kamara’s future at Rangers?

Sources have told Football Insider that there are ‘question marks’ over the midfielder’s long-term future at the club and there is every likelihood that he will depart the Light Blues during the summer transfer window.

The arrival of Nicolas Raskin last month led Michael Beale to admit that the Belgian will be in direct competition for Kamara for a starting spot.

There was interest last summer for the 27-year-old, with Nice reportedly eyeing him up in a £10m deal, but nothing materialised.

Could Ross Wilson repeat his Joe Aribo disaster?

Unless Rangers receive an amount they simply can’t turn down, Wilson should be doing all he can to keep Kamara at the club, especially with his recent form and the disaster he had last year in losing Joe Aribo to Southampton for £10m.

The Nigerian international was excellent for the Gers last season, scoring nine goals and registering ten assists while becoming just the fourth Rangers player to score in a major European final after netting the opener against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final.

Losing him last summer was a major blow and the side struggled earlier this season, especially in the Champions League, missing his creativity and Beale must keep Kamara ahead of next season if he wishes to have the strongest possible squad to challenge Celtic for the Premiership title.

Despite an indifferent start to the season, the Finnish star has become a regular under Beale, playing a part in every match minus the tie against Dundee United, while he even scored against St Johnstone last month.

Last season saw Kamara in imperious form, achieving a 91% pass success rate across 31 league matches, while also taking 70.6 touches, making 1.3 key passes, and completing 70% of his attempted dribbles per match.

He looks rejuvenated under Beale and former Rangers winger Neil McCann lavished praise on him back in 2020 as the Ibrox side were racing away with the Premiership title, saying:

“He isn’t a big, physical lad but he’s made of iron and really strong. I knew immediately that he could handle the ball under pressure and not give it away, so he was perfect.”

Aribo’s struggles this season suggest that the grass isn’t always greener by moving from Scotland to the Premier League, or even continental Europe, and Kamara should bear this in mind ahead of the summer.

Raskin will provide intense competition, but there is no doubt he is still an integral part of this current Rangers side that are embarking on a new era under Beale.

Leeds United are still searching for their next manager after sacking Jesse Marsch earlier this month, and an update has emerged on a potential target for the role.

What’s the latest on the Leeds manager search?

According to Portuguese news outlet Zero Zero, the Whites have made an approach for Al-Gharafa SC manager Pedro Martins.

As per the report, talks are set to take place with the manager after the Yorkshire club made an informal approach for the 52-year-old, and negotiations are expected to go through his current employers should Leeds advance in their interest.

Would hiring Martins be a big risk for Radrizzani and Leeds?

The Whites have found themselves in a vulnerable position in the Premier League this season and could be facing a difficult relegation scrap if performances don’t improve quickly.

Leeds are currently teetering on the edge of the relegation zone in 17th place, with two crucial bottom-of-the-table clashes ahead of them. First up is a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday, followed by a visit from Southampton to Elland Road, fixtures which give Leeds two golden opportunities to distance themselves from the bottom three.

It has been confirmed that Michael Skubala will lead the team in their forthcoming fixtures whilst the powers at the club continue their search for a permanent manager, although the interest in Martins could carry a big risk for Andrea Radrizzani.

The 52-year-old – who was hailed as “special” by Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Daniel Podence – is renowned for his time with Olympiacos, where he took charge of 221 games with a points average of 2.13 before he was sacked and replaced with now-West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan last August.

Indeed, there is an element of risk which comes with appointing any manager at this stage of the season, especially considering the unstable situation in which Leeds find themselves. However, the club have been linked with managers who, unlike Martins, already have Premier League experience under their belt.

Both Nuno Espirito Santo and Steven Gerrard have been linked with the vacant role in West Yorkshire, and although the trio may not be long-term solutions when it comes to a top-flight relegation battle, surely hiring a short-term manager with experience in the league would be advantageous.

Notably, it was around this time last year that Marsch – who like Martins had no Premier League experience beforehand – was brought in to replace Marcelo Bielsa. While the American succeeded in staving off relegation in 2022, he failed to win over much of the Elland Road faithful or prevent the Whites from dipping into trouble again this time around.

With that in mind, hiring Martins could indeed carry a risk of a repeat scenario.

It will be interesting to see how Michael Skubala gets on against Everton this weekend, as victory could take the immediate pressure off the Leeds hierarchy to find an instant solution in the managerial market so that they can focus on appointing the right coach at the right time.