Leeds United have been linked with a move for Noa Lang and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Dean Jones, Leeds have looked at the player and must now make a “concrete” move for the Club Brugge forward as a number of clubs are interested in securing his signature.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT:

“Noa Lang’s going to land in the Premier League before too long. I mean, he’s definitely been looked at various times by various clubs, and Leeds probably need to make their move more concrete soon if they’re going to be the team that actually land him.”

Pure class

Jesse Marsch will be wanting to continue to make his mark on the Leeds squad after taking on his first transfer window in the summer, and adding depth to his squad will surely be the main priority in the new year.

The Whites are currently 15th in the Premier League, just two points clear of the bottom three, and the manager will need to work hard over the coming weeks and months to ensure the side doesn’t fall into another relegation scrap over the second half of the campaign.

As a result, the opportunity to strengthen the forward line would not be the worst idea for Leeds as they lack depth all over the pitch and certainly in their forward line.

The signing of Lang will give Marsch a player who offers versatility in the final third, with the talented 23-year-old experienced in playing left wing, right wing, central midfield, as a second striker and in attacking midfield over his career so far, and this season has been giving glimpses of how he could be a huge asset to Leeds.

Over 12 league appearances, the €35m (£30m) sensation – who was hailed “pure class” by Filip Joos – has scored two goals and registered two assists from his offensive berth.

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Furthermore, he has been impressive in possession of the ball, completing 59% of his dribble attempts and winning 2.1 duels per game.

Lang has been a consistent and reliable contributor over his career so far – scoring 67 times and registering 53 assists with a goal contribution every 130 minutes, something that could benefit Leeds in their pursuit of comfortably competing in the Premier League.

With that being said, the signing of Lang would be a great piece of business for Leeds. His statistics indicate that he could be pure class at Elland Road, helping to loosen the burden on the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Rodrigo, the club’s top goalscorers this term.

Chelsea returned to winning ways in the Premier League in their first match back since the resumption of domestic action as the 2-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth marked a first league win since October.

The game was arguably won in the first half, as goals from Kai Havertz and Mason Mount gave Graham Potter’s side a two-goal advantage after just 24 minutes as Bournemouth struggled to get into the game.

Christian Pulisic then had a goal disallowed just before the break and the Stamford Bridge side went in at the interval in a healthy position.

Shortly after the restart, Reece James had to be substituted with an injury and Potter will hope it isn’t serious, especially since this was his first match since the middle of October.

Chelsea couldn’t extend their advantage despite dominating possession and having 15 shots in total during the tie. Havertz was excellent, scoring and assisting while making two key passes during the encounter, however, it was Raheem Sterling who got back to his best after a wonderful display on the right wing.

Sterling was superb

The winger hasn’t set the world alight since joining Chelsea in the summer, scoring five times across 19 matches, yet he returned to form last night and this will give Potter a massive boost going forward.

The Englishman received a Sofascore rating of 7.6/10 for his performance, which included an assist for Havertz to score the opener – with Ben Jacobs describing the cross as “delightful” – one shot on target and three key passes made during the tie.

He also succeeded with two out of his three dribble attempts while taking 52 touches and completing 33 out of his 36 passes at a success rate of 92% and creating one big chance.

Statman Dave claimed Sterling was “enjoying himself” following a first-half performance that lit up Stamford Bridge and will be a major confidence boost for him heading into 2023.

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It was a much-needed three points for Potter as he looks to stabilise his side and regain some momentum from the embryonic stages of his reign, and although many will be thinking a 2-0 win at home to Bournemouth shouldn’t be anything to be excited about, the result could well be the catalyst for the Blues to embark on a solid run of form.

Tottenham Hotspur may have been handed a blow in regard to their reported interest in Inter defender Denzel Dumfries.

What’s the latest?

There have been some reports in Italy suggesting the Lilywhites have identified the Dutchman as a potential option this month to provide an upgrade to Antonio Conte’s squad.

And there is the belief that Fabio Paratici has been set the task of finding Conte a new right wing-back over the January transfer window, with Sky Sports News claiming this is one of their two targets for the month.

Now, reporter Fabrizio Romano has been speaking about the future of the 26-year-old Inter star and has suggested that Conte’s former club would only sell their wing-back if a big bid was to arrive this month.

Discussing the reported interest coming from Manchester United on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Dumfries is not a realistic target for January because Inter want big money for him.”

Solution already at Spurs?

With suggestions that Spurs are keen to provide Conte with an upgrade at right wing-back this month, it does leave us puzzled as to what the plan is with summer signing Djed Spence.

The 22-year-old has been outcasted by Conte since the moment he arrived in north London, with Spence being afforded just a handful of minutes across all competitions.

And it is apparent that time spent during the World Cup break, where Spence impressed during the friendly against Motherwell, has counted for nothing, with the defender playing just two minutes in the games since league action resumed.

There have been some suggestions that Spurs have eyes on other wing-backs this month, with Sporting CP star Pedro Porro believed to be on Paratici’s radar.

However, it is also said that Tottenham’s interest in the Spaniard has come slightly off the boil already this week, after finding out his £40m price tag.

Since the return from the World Cup, Matt Doherty has started all three games under Conte and even got his name on the scoresheet against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

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But that is the Irishman’s first goal involvement of the season, which is synonymous with the lack of creativity the Italian has recently harked on about.

Having said that, Dumfries has hardly had a consistent output for Inter this season, with just one goal and three assists to his name in Serie A.

With this in mind, if Spurs are to spend big money on a wing-back this month, then it may be best spent on Porro, who has returned two goals and 10 assists across all competitions thus far.

Leeds United are closing in on a deal to bring Maximilian Wober to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by Austrian publication Salzburger Nachrichten (via Sport Witness), who claim that an ‘agreement will be reached’ between Red Bull Salzburg and Victor Orta in negotiations for the versatile defender with a move now seemingly reaching a conclusion.

The report does, however, suggest that the Austrian Bundesliga side will not sell 24-year-old for anything less than €20m (18m) this winter.

“Real leader”

Considering just how impressive Wober has been for Salzburg so far this season, coupled with the defender’s ability to operate at both centre and left-back, it is not difficult to understand why Orta would be keen on a deal to add the 24-year-old to Jesse Marsch’s current options at the back in January.

Indeed, over his 15 Austrian Bundesliga appearances in the current campaign, the £11m-rated talent – who has primarily been deployed at left-back – has been in sensational attacking form, having already scored one goal, registered two assists and created five big chances, as well as taking an average of 1.1 shots, making 0.7 key passes and completing 0.4 crosses per game.

The £20k-per-week defender has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, helping his side keep five clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.7 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 2.1 clearances and winning 4.3 duels – at a success rate of 62% – per match.

These returns have seen the player who RB Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund dubbed a “real leader” average a rather remarkable Sofascore match rating of 7.28.

That not only ranks him as Matthias Jaissle’s second-best performer in the league but also as the third-best player in the top flight of Austrian football as a whole so far this term, demonstrating his ability to very much lead from the front.

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As such, with left-back having been something of a problem position for Marsch since his arrival at the club last year – with Junior Firpo coming in for heavy criticism since his move from Barcelona back in the summer of 2021 – the addition of a player who can operate on the left flank as easily as he can in the middle will undoubtedly come in very useful for the American manager.

So, it is clear for all to see that the news that Orta is now closing in on an £18m deal for the reported former Liverpool target Wober is certainly fantastic news for all involved with the Whites, not least Marsch himself.

Crystal Palace are to set to discuss a potential return to Selhurst Park for right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, according to The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Wan-Bissaka linked with Palace return

The 25-year-old joined Manchester United in 2019 but he has lost his place in the team to Diogo Dalot over the past few months.

Wan-Bissaka has been limited to just four appearances in the Premier League all season, and most of those came as a consequence of Dalot being unavailable.

The £100,000-a-week defender has been linked with a Selhurst Park reunion recently, and it is a rumour which is refusing to go away.

The Latest: Talks could take place

According to The Athletic, Palace are interested in re-signing Wan-Bissaka, and United manager Erik ten Hag could be happy for him to leave this month.

It is thought that Steve Parish could enter talks over the potential move, following Jack Butland’s switch from Selhurst Park to Old Trafford.

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The Verdict: Would be great news for Palace

While Wan-Bissaka has struggled to make an impact at United, with only 13 goal contributions in 131 appearances, a return to Palace would be hugely positive.

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The Englishman became a hero in south London during his time with the Eagles – former England women’s international Lianne Sanderson has called him a ‘fantastic’ full-back, while he has also been lauded for his tackling abilities – and he could thrive with a return to his old stomping ground.

It could just be that Wan-Bissaka isn’t quite consistent enough to play for one of the country’s biggest clubs, with Palace perhaps being his level, and a return to Selhurst Park could benefit all parties involved.

La Parisien journalist Benjamin Quarez says that Everton left-back Niels Nkounkou is in ‘advanced discussions’ to join Saint-Etienne on loan.

The Lowdown: Cardiff loan

Nkounkou is currently on loan at Cardiff City, where he has made 18 appearances in the Championship so far, scoring no goals and making one assist (Transfermarkt).

He has perhaps not had the kind of impact that he would have liked, with his team sitting just two points and two places outside of the relegation zone.

The Latest: Saint-Etienne talks

Taking to Twitter, Quarez says that Nkounkou is now in ‘advanced discussions’ to join Saint-Etienne on loan, therefore ending his spell at Cardiff:

“Saint-Etienne in advanced discussions for the loan of left side Niels Nkounkou. The OM-trained defender has been on loan from Everton to Cardiff since the start of the season. He could join Forez in the coming days.”

The Verdict: Get rid

Unfortunately for Nkounkou, it does not look like his long-term future is at Goodison Park.

The 22-year-old has only made a mere seven first-team appearances, and has not played since 2021 (Transfermarkt).

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If he moves to Saint-Etienne, it would be his third loan spell away from the Merseyside club, and so his future would have to be seriously considered in the summer.

With Vitaliy Mykolenko already at the Toffees, they could look to make Ruben Vinagre’s loan deal permanent, providing them with enough cover in the left-back area, and therefore giving room to let Nkounkou move on to a club where he is going to get more game time.

Liverpool have been dealt a blow in their bid to land Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, who has reportedly informed the club that he wishes to pursue a move to Atletico Madrid, but that shouldn’t dissuade Julian Ward and FSG from at least pushing strongly for the player.

Having captivated with Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 26-year-old has been the subject of intense speculation over his future, with a departure from his current club potentially forthcoming.

The Athletic’s Liverpool correspondent James Pearce previously stated that Amrabat has been considered as a shrewder option for the Reds than some of the high-profile targets to have been linked with a move to Anfield, such as Jude Bellingham.

This week, French publication Foot Mercato claimed that the player’s representatives have met with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, with the German being told that the Reds target favours a move to the Spanish capital.

Last month, Amrabat added fuel to the fire regarding the likelihood of a move to the Wanda Metropolitano, telling Marca that he holds an admiration for Atletico manager Diego Simeone and his exploits at the club.

The Moroccan said: “What Simeone does, what he has achieved… he has coached Atletico Madrid for many years.

“I like his style of play. He has won a lot and I have a lot of respect for him. The players on his team are physically strong and aggressive. I like to play that way.”

Despite the odds swaying in Atletico’s favour, Liverpool must not abandon pursuit of the talented phenomenon, with a bid of £35m established as the fee needed to prise him away from Fiorentina, according to The Mirror (December 23, page 53).

He would instil a level of cohesion and control to the midfield which has largely been absent on Merseyside this season, with Liverpool – who languish in seventh place after 17 matches in the Premier League – in dire need of some new-found intensity.

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As per FBref, Amrabat could bring exactly that, ranking within the top 4% for progressive passes, the top 5% for pass completion and the top 12% for rate of blocks when compared to positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues this season. It is this transitional aptitude that is exactly what the Reds need if they are to ascend back up the table.

Having made 22 appearances for Fiorentina this term, Amrabat has been a regular presence in his team enjoying another solid campaign in Serie A.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Carlo Garganese, the Moroccan could inject an energy back into a team which looks devoid of that quality right now. Klopp, Ward and FSG must act with swift conviction to bring him to the Premier League, perhaps paving the way for brighter fortunes for Liverpool.

Everton are tallying up their potential successors to Frank Lampard, but it seems one continues to stand out…

What’s the latest?

That man is Marcelo Bielsa, who earned fame for his relentless all-action philosophy whilst at Leeds United.

Now, journalist Alan Myers has suggested he remains Farhad Moshiri’s top target, as he wrote on Twitter:

“Bielsa is No:1 target and is interested in taking the job”.

This mutual interest from both parties is a positive early sign that a deal could soon be struck, as opposed to last year when a saga rumbled on over who would succeed Rafa Benitez.

Resurrect the club

Whilst it may be a wholly risky appointment and could leave their place in the division hanging in the balance, it is a potential appointment that somehow should still draw plenty of excitement.

His free-flowing and aggressive play style is one which Goodison Park would adore, feeding off the energy on the pitch and hopefully translating into more nights to remember.

However, the issue remains as to whether the current crop of players could enforce it.

The Argentine is uncompromising in his views and will sacrifice whatever it takes to play beautiful football for fans to enjoy. If it clicks, safety will be assured. If it doesn’t then it could make for a tragic end to the season.

He succinctly outlined this in a quote he issued back in 2020:

“I take risks so the game can be beautiful. Taking another option would mean I don’t care and that I will only go whichever way makes it possible to win.”

However, the main problem troubling the Toffees is that those inhabiting the club have already failed every manager that has come before. Perhaps bringing in a true authoritarian with a strict set of rules could be the only way to ensure they regain some semblance of form.

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Still revered in Yorkshire, the 67-year-old gave the Whites a clear identity and a team they could buy into, restoring pride as well as their long-absent status in the Premier League. This god-like status was only bolstered through their first season back in the top flight, where he took his side to 18 victories at a rate of 1.55 points per game.

With the right squad, he could truly reignite this sleeping giant of a football establishment as he did with his previous club.

It does have huge potential to crash and burn, but even then many would still believe in him to turn things around and return them to the big time. Arguably, there are few other figures in European football who would relish a challenge as big as Everton.

Therefore, he might just be the only man for the job.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to bid farewell to a club hero…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Nizaar Kinsella, writing for The Telegraph, who notes the various targets that could replace Hugo Lloris.

The most notorious of those mentioned is Atletico Madrid shot-stopper Jan Oblak, who is seen as a potential successor to the Frenchman.

Although he will demand a larger fee than other options, the €30m (£27m) valuation reported still represents a modest sum for a player of his quality.

An ideal Lloris successor

Spurs have endured a barren January transfer window thus far, with Antonio Conte not getting his requested funds to bolster his squad.

As 2022 came to a close, the Italian manager admitted that this was a process that would take time and patience before it began to pay dividends.

He first claimed:

“A winning team, you can’t build in one year. Two years; you have to change mentality, you have to change also many situations, many aspects to become a winner”.

The 53-year-old would continue:

“We will try to do something, but we have to follow the club’s vision. Tottenham want to invest on young players, as we did with Kulusevski and Bentancur. Talents but with accessible salaries. This is what we’ll try to do.”

Clearly, they have not found any targets that align with this vision, as they are yet to make a single addition with a third of the window done.

Despite this, they may have been called into action due to the recent poor performances of Lloris.

The club captain and “legend” – as once dubbed by Lee McQueen – has been a capable stalwart for many years in north London, but has admittedly seen his powers wane of late.

This was showcased through his huge blunder against rivals Arsenal, which led Sami Mokbel to reveal that the Lilywhites were in fact preparing for life after the £100k-per-week 36-year-old. That mistake only served to compound his poor performances of late, where he has not achieved a Sofascore rating of above 6.6 in his last five matches.

Oblak would mark a sensational upgrade, with the Slovenia international having been one of the world’s best goalkeepers for many years now.

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He has been at the heart of many successful sides whilst in the Spanish capital, with his most impressive personal campaign being in the 2020/21 season.

During this, he would average a 7.17 rating whilst keeping 18 clean sheets in La Liga. Across this year, the 30-year-old made an immense 80% of his saves, with zero errors that led to a goal and zero penalties committed, as per via Sofascore.

There are few in the world who are as dependable in between the sticks as Oblak is, and as such would be a refreshing change-up from the mistake-prone Frenchman. There is a reason he was outlined as a “world-class keeper” by The Athletic journalist James Pearce.

He represents the natural successor to such an impressive cult hero for Spurs and would be an instant upgrade that allows Lloris to leave before his dignity and legacy is completely stripped from him.

Liverpool have a number of players coming to the end of their contracts this summer with Naby Keita set for an Anfield exit and now an update has emerged on a potential replacement.

What’s the latest?

According to The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney, Liverpool could reignite their interest in RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara this summer.

As per the report, it is claimed that Liverpool have taken an interest in the player before alongside Manchester United and could be tempted to revisit that at the end of the season as Haidara’s contract has a release clause.

It said that following a rejected bid from Brighton for the player, the German outfit are not willing to sell in the winter.

Dream Keita upgrade

There is no doubt that Jurgen Klopp and the powerbrokers at Anfield will be working hard to identify the right targets to recruit in their midfield rebuild expected to take place in the summer with Jude Bellingham already touted as the number one priority for the club.

Whilst the Borussia Dortmund wonderkid would be a fantastic piece of business for Liverpool, the club will need to add a few more midfielders to their squad with Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner – as it stands- lined up to leave for free this summer.

As a result, the signing of Haidara could be exactly what Klopp is looking for in a Keita successor as the player was brought into Leipzig to do the exact same thing for the Bundesliga club when the 27-year-old made the move to Merseyside back in 2018.

Haidara was hailed “exceptional” by former Leipzig sporting director Ralf Rangnick, who commented on his potential to fill Keita’s boots at the club:

“We’ve been following his progress in Salzburg as he’s developed into an absolutely exceptional player there. There aren’t many players his age with so much potential. He has all the requirements to follow in Naby Keita’s footsteps.”

The 24-year-old sensation – who has a release clause worth £33m – ranks in the top 25% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, assists, progressive passes, interceptions and tackles, displaying his potency in progressive play.

In fact, he could be the dream Keita upgrade as Haidara has outperformed his positional peer in a number of midfield attributes this season so far with a better pass completion rate (83.04% v 75.2%), more ball recoveries (42 v 18), duels won (17 v 6), clearances (7 v 1) and interceptions (5 v 1), according to Squawka.

The Mali international has also spoken out on his admiration of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and even compared himself to his role model:

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“He was an exemplary player who had it all and battled on the pitch.

“I’m a combative player who works hard in defence and I try to do my best going forward. I’ve also got a good shot.”

With that being said, if Liverpool do reignite their interest in Haidara they would surely be in a great position to compete for his signature in the summer as he clearly possesses midfield traits that Klopp admires and already has a vested interest in the Merseyside giants with his admiration for Gerrard.