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Leeds United are planning contract talks with young midfielder Stuart McKinstry.

The Lowdown: Motherwell loan

McKinstry moved to Elland Road in 2019 from Motherwell and has made two senior appearances for the Whites. The 20-year-old returned to Fir Park over the summer on a season-long loan and has lined out 11 times, contributing to three goals.

His contract in Yorkshire is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, and it looks as if Leeds chiefs want to extend his stay at the Premier League club.

The Latest: Contract talks planned

The Scottish Sun’s Gareth Law shared a story regarding McKinstry on Monday night. He claimed that Leeds are looking to extend the midfielder’s contract and have planned talks over fresh terms.

Law adds that Championship duo Sheffield United and Stoke City have been keeping tabs on the youngster.

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The Verdict: Good move?

It did seem that McKinstry’s Leeds career could be coming to an end after he was sent out on loan without a contract extension being agreed upon beforehand.

However, his promising displays back in Scotland appear to have caught Leeds’ eye, so it is only right that they are considering a new deal for the 20-year-old.

His versatility of being able to play in the middle or out wide can only be a positive, with Motherwell mainly using McKinstry on the left-hand side.

The Scottish youngster nailed down a starting spot at Fir Park last month and has played three goals, so hopefully he can continue to impress while out on loan.

With club action now set for an extended break due to the World Cup, it could allow Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou with the perfect opportunity to plot his potential moves in the upcoming transfer window, with the 57-year-old likely to want to strengthen his options at Parkhead even further.

The title-winning coach has recently admitted that much of the work has already been done regarding targetting possible new recruits, with the Old Firm outfit likely hoping for a repeat of their success in January earlier this year, having brought in the likes of Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley.

While there has been much talk regarding a deal for Vissel Kobe defender Yuki Kobayashi, the Scottish champions also seemingly have their eyes set on a new midfield addition, having reportedly set aside ‘significant’ funds to bolster that area of the pitch.

One such talent who could well fit the bill is highly-rated youngster, Oscar Gloukh, with reports back in September having suggested that the 18-year-old playmaker is on the Hoops’ list of targets after thriving at current side Maccabi Tel Aviv in recent times.

The suggestion is that the teenager could command a fee of around £8m were he to be allowed to depart any time soon, with the Israeli gem having also been courting attention from Celtic’s Glasgow rivals Rangers over the summer.

The attacking midfielder has warranted such clamour as a result of his sparkling form of late, having scored four goals and provided five assists in just 16 appearances in all competitions so far this season.

That hot streak has come following what was a breakout tournament for the exciting prospect at the U19 European Championship, with Gloukh registering five goal involvements in just five games in the competition, notably scoring in the final in the eventual defeat to England.

Dubbed a “clever player” by journalist Sam Tighe, the Hoops target could potentially fill the creative void that has been left behind by Tom Rogic at Paradise, with the Australia international having opted to leave the club at the end of a glittering spell in the summer.

The 29-year-old – who recorded 46 goals and 49 assists in 272 games during his time in Scotland – had been somewhat rejuvenated following Postecoglou’s arrival at the club, eventually going on to play a key part in last season’s title success with 16 goal involvements in all competitions.

The 53-cap menace had proven hugely influential in something of a free, attacking role in midfield, with Gloukh seemingly possessing the quality to be able to fill the current West Bromwich Albion man’s shoes in the centre of the park.

Of course, Matt O’Riley has been earmarked as a successor to Rogic in recent times, although the 21-year-old could well have found a new home in a deeper role at the base of the midfield, ensuring that another creative asset could well be needed ahead of him.

Whether a move is to happen in January or in the summer, getting Gloukh through the door could well prove to be a real masterstroke.

Liverpool haven’t had the best start to their Premier League season, however, Jurgen Klopp may have the opportunity to invest in his squad over the next few transfer windows, and now a new potential target has been revealed.

What’s the latest?

According to The Guardian, the Reds are tracking Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount ahead of his contract talks being put on hold at Stamford Bridge.

As per the report, the West London club have struggled to reach terms to keep hold of their talented player and now the club have put contract talks on hold until after the World Cup in a situation in which Liverpool and Juventus are keeping a close eye on.

Huge Naby Keita upgrade

There is no doubt that Liverpool’s main area of concern in terms of personnel in the squad is in the centre of the pitch, with many key players out of contract alongside several midfielders reaching the latter stages of their careers.

Naby Keita, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and James Milner will all be out of contract in June 2023, whilst Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and former Bayern Munich star Thiago Alcantara are both well into their 30s at this point, proving that reinvestment into the midfield is becoming a very pressing issue at Anfield.

As a result, a move for Mount could be a fantastic solution to replace Keita not just in regards to his quality shown at Chelsea but also his availability and consistency to show up for his team when it matters the most, something the Guinea international has struggled to deliver over his four-year stint on Merseyside.

Keita has had 18 instances of injury that have seen him sidelined for over a year of his contract with the club and has not been seen for the entirety of the season so far due to ongoing injury problems yet again with the most recent coming from training where he picked up a muscle problem.

Mount, on the other hand, has missed just four fixtures with minor injury issues at Chelsea since November 2019, but it’s not just his availability that would make the young talent the perfect fit for Liverpool.

Over last season the £70m-valued gem – who was hailed a “generational talent” by journalist Daniel Childs – outperformed Keita in many attributes including goals scored (11 v 3), assists (10 v 1), shot-creating actions per 90 (4.57 v 3.53) and progressive passes received (212 v 30), proving that he will offer an attacking upgrade on the Liverpool midfielder, via FBref.

With that being said, the powers at Anfield will surely be watching the player closely when he competes with England at the World Cup in Qatar over the next few weeks and will be monitoring his future at Chelsea closely ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Glasgow Rangers are ready to trigger Michael Beale’s release clause to bring him back to Ibrox and the Scottish Premiership, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Approach made

Ross Wilson has been on the hunt to find Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s successor following his sacking earlier this month and has identified the 42-year-old as his primary target.

They made an official approach to hold talks with Beale over the weekend, and it now sounds like they are prepared to take a huge step in a bid to secure his services at the Ibrox.

The Latest: Rangers to trigger release clause

According to Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey on Sunday evening, Rangers are ‘set to trigger’ Beale’s seven-figure release clause as they ‘close in’ on making him their new manager.

The Light Blues are ‘poised to activate’ the buyout which is ‘one of the final hurdles’ to the two parties reaching a full agreement. The report states that the camps are in the process of ‘finalising a deal’, with the Londoner expected to be appointed ‘within the next few days’.

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The Verdict: Perfect candidate?

Rangers and Beale will already have a good relationship considering he served as a first-team coach for three years, so his existing understanding and knowledge of the club seem to make him the ideal man for the job.

The Hoops boss has won nine and drawn four of his level on playoff points with three other teams in the second tier.

Beale’s preferred formation is also an attacking 4-3-3 system, so his coaching style could excite plenty of Rangers supporters.

Manchester United are interested in signing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to an update from Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Caicedo on World Cup duty

The Seagulls star is one of many players currently on World Cup duty in Qatar, standing out as a key figure for Ecuador in their group matches.

Caicedo has averaged 2.5 tackles per game in the tournament to date, along with enjoying an 84% pass completion rate, showing his capabilities both in and out of possession.

Numerous elite clubs are believed to be interested in signing the 21-year-old from Brighton, and it now looks as though United are very much in the mix.

The Latest: Man United keen on Caicedo

Taking to Twitter, the reliable Plettenberg stated that the Red Devils are in the race to sign Caicedo, with the Old Trafford hierarchy quite keen on the youngster.

He tweeted:

“News #Caicedo: #MUFC is planning to enter the race! Bosses highly interested. Also on the list of #LFC – next to Bellingham – & spotted by many other top clubs. Team mates say he is an ‘exceptional player & character’. Brighton hopes that he will stay beyond 2023.”

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The Verdict: Could be a superb addition

Caicedo looks like a hugely promising young player who could already be a regular starter for United, should a move come to fruition in January or next summer – only four players at Old Trafford can better his WhoScored rating of 6.91 in the current Premier League campaign.

While Erik ten Hag did strengthen in that area during the summer transfer window, both Casemiro and Christian Eriksen feel more like quick fixes than long-term solutions, considering that they are both 30 years of age.

On the other hand, the 21-year-old Caicedo is a dominant figure who could become a mainstay of United’s midfield for many years, potentially maturing into one of the best players in Europe at what he does, providing energy and quality in equal measure.

Arsenal have been dealt a devastating injury blow concerning Gabriel Jesus.

What’s the latest?

In a statement posted on the club website, Arsenal confirmed that, despite earlier reports suggesting that the injury the centre-forward picked up in action for Brazil on Friday would only keep the 25-year-old sidelined for three weeks, the striker has now undergone surgery on his knee – meaning he will now be ruled out of action for around three months.

In their statement, the club wrote: “Gabriel Jesus has successfully undergone surgery to his right knee after suffering an injury during the Brazil vs Cameroon World Cup group stage match on Friday. Gabby will now begin his rehabilitation programme. Everyone at the club is supporting Gabby and will be working hard to get him back on the pitch as soon as possible.”

Arteta will be devastated

Considering just how crucial Jesus has been in Arsenal’s title charge so far this season, the confirmation that the Brazilian is now set for an extended spell on the treatment table will have undoubtedly come as a devastating blow to Mikel Arteta and his side.

Indeed, over his 14 Premier League fixtures in the current campaign, the £103m-rated hitman has been in breathtaking form, having bagged five goals, provided five assists and created five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.6 shots – 1.1 of which have been on target – making 1.6 key passes and completing 1.9 dribbles per game.

These metrics have seen the £265k-per-week talent average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.11, not only ranking him as Arteta’s seventh-best performer in the league but also as the joint 49th-best player in the top flight as a whole.

Furthermore, with the Gunners’ third-choice centre-forward, Khayon Edwards, also revealing that he too has undergone surgery as a result of injury in the last week, Arteta has now been left with only Eddie Nketiah as an out-and-out option at centre-forward in his first-team squad.

And, with Nketiah having scored no goals over his 12 Premier League appearances so far this season, in addition to the 23-year-old averaging a disappointing Sofascore match rating of just 6.57 – ranking him as Arsenal’s second-worst performer in the league – it is evident that step down from Jesus to the former England U21 international is a very steep one indeed.

As such, the confirmation that Jesus is set to spend three months on the sidelines is undeniably a colossal blow to the Gunners’ title chances this season, with it now appearing an absolute must for Arteta to strengthen his centre-forward options in the January transfer window if Arsenal are to have any chance of beating Manchester City to the top flight crown come next May.

Tottenham Hotspur could reignite their long-standing interest in Franck Kessie during the January transfer window, if Barcelona make him available for a move, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The former AC Milan powerhouse was hotly linked with a switch to north London upon the expiry of his contract at the San Siro but in the end, it was the LaLiga giants who won the race for his signature.

However, things have not gone to plan for the Ivory Coast international since the summer, having been restricted to just five starts behind La Masia duo Gavi and Pedri, as well as Sergio Busquets, who are also Spain’s engine room trio.

Spurs have once again been mooted with interest in the 25-year-old, with Sport claiming that the Premier League side are the front-runners to sign him, and O’Rourke believes he’s very much someone that sporting director Fabio Paratici would look to sign if possible.

He told Football FanCast:

“Kessie’s been on Spurs’ radar for a while now, prior to his move to Barcelona.

“The move to Barcelona hasn’t worked out for Kessie and it does look like Barcelona could cut their losses on him.

“I think Tottenham, if they were alerted to him being available for maybe a cut-price fee, then it’s definitely something that they would look into.”

A new midfield enforcer isn’t going to be high on the priority list for Antonio Conte this winter but it would still be foolish to ignore a player of Kessie’s calibre.

Similar to players such as Adrien Rabiot, Conor Gallagher and Federico Valverde, according to FBref, the monstrous midfielder also ranks inside the top 10% of his positional peers across Europe for non-penalty goals per 90 – despite being a renowned penalty taker – as well as the top 5% for touches in the opposition box.

Clearly capable of delivering attacking contributions in a box-to-box role, Kessie has been lauded for his ability to make a devastating impact in the final third.

“I want Kessie in my team, he scores, he assists, he has personality, he has quality, he doesn’t lose the ball, he’s intelligent. I’m watching him carefully, with Roma it was devastating,” ex-Milan striker Antonio Cassano told Bobo TV (via MilanLive).

“It reminds me of the Yaya Toure of the best times. He is a different player but in terms of impact. He is holding Milan’s midfield alone.”

It’s also why writer Sacha Pisani describe him as a “beast”.

On that evidence, if the £105k-per-week star does become available, then Paratici and Spurs must look to finally bring him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this winter.

To say that Lionel Messi was not the star of the show, perhaps on any occasion, would be met with a certain sense of incredulity from any peering bystanders, but Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez is one player who can arguably perch alongside the coveted magician when discussing the importance to Argentina’s recent endeavours. 

The 30-year-old goalkeeper has played a role of paramount importance for his country across the past two years, really breaking from his cocoon and soaring to new heights since his move to Aston Villa from Arsenal for £17m in 2020.

Having been a vital cog in the machine during the 2020 Copa America, recording an average rating of 7.33 and saving 86% of his shots faced, he proved his might as an iron wall for his nation as they won their first major honour since the 1992/93 Copa America, with a narrow 1-0 victory over Brazil.

He even earned stellar praise from Messi himself, with the 35-year-old seven-time Ballon d’Or winner saying he is “one of the best goalkeepers in the world” and was “fundamental” to the success of the team.

La Albiceleste have continued that excellent form into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, rebounding from a shattering 2-1 upset at the hands of Saudi Arabia in the group opener to advance to the latter stage.

And now with a tantalising World Cup finale against current holders France awaiting, Argentina and Martinez will need to continue the sturdy defence and slick collective understanding that has taken them to this point, sprinkled – of course – with Messi magic. 

Keeping three clean sheets across the six fixtures, conceding just five goals on the world’s biggest stage, Martinez has once again starred, and the country may not be in the position they are in without their “unbelievable” wall at the very bedrock of their side. 

And now, Villa boss Unai Emery must look to unleash the titan as the Premier League season approaches the restart, with the club currently sitting in 12th place after a lacklustre start to the campaign that saw the dismissal of Steven Gerrard as head coach. 

Recording a rating of 6.91 in the Premier League, Martinez has saved 69% of the shots faced this term, winning 100% of his duels and keeping three clean sheets, as per Sofascore.

If the side are indeed to clamber their way up the table and return to a spot in the upper half of the division, then the utilisation of Martinez between the sticks will be imperative, and with reports of turmoil between the No. 1 shot-stopper and the Villa boss, rips in the seam will need to be threaded in order to establish fluidity and cohesion at the base of an ambitious side.

Aston Villa, having won three of their past four matches in the division, will now look to continue the recent upward trend, and welcoming back the £22m-rated Martinez and providing him with the platform to flourish once again will prove the key to prosperous fortunes.

Celtic fans! 2023 is just around the corner and with the New Year comes yet another exciting transfer window, but how well do you know your club’s dealings in recent years?

Hoops fans will hope to be active in the winter market after their incredible start to the domestic season, with Ange Postecoglou perhaps in need of some reinforcements in case the likes of Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis leave.

The runaway Premiership leaders will no doubt want to push on as they aim to put Rangers firmly in the rear view mirror, perhaps with the view to really splashing out in the summer and stepping up to the challenge of Champions League football next time around.

That being said, sit back, enjoy the festivities and take on this transfer quiz from players past and present who have come through the doors at Parkhead. 

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2023 from all of us here at The Transfer Tavern – good luck! 

Merry Christmas, Wolves fans!

2023 is almost upon us, and with January just around the corner, that means it’s nearly time for the transfer window to swing open again.

Julen Lopetegui only took charge in November, with the Boxing Day trip to Everton being his first Premier League match as a manager, but he won’t have to wait too long for the opportunity to put his own stamp on the squad at Molineux.

A host of players have been linked with moves to the Black Country since the 56-year-old’s appointment, with a deal already done for Matheus Cunha and the likes of Isco, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Felipe being targeted.

That’s all for the future, but what about Wolves’ transfers of the past? At this time of year, we often look back on what’s gone before, and this quiz about various incomings and outgoings at Molineux over the years is no exception.

Why not put your knowledge to the test and see if you can get 100%? Good luck!