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The January transfer window is right around the corner and Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte could be keen to dip into the market to improve his squad.

Spurs are only one point ahead of Manchester United, who have a game in hand over them, in the Premier League table and are currently 10 points off first place.

This could tempt Fabio Paratici and Conte into making moves in January to bolster the side, in order to give themselves the best chance of finishing in the top four at the end of the campaign.

However, they may also look to make signings for the future alongside ones that can make an immediate impact on the first team. One player who would fall into the former category is Borussia Dortmund forward Youssoufa Moukoko.

Tottenham are reportedly keen on a deal to sign the German international who is out of contract at the end of the season and could be signed on a pre-contract in January.

Journalist Ben Jacobs recently tweeted: “Multiple Premier League clubs are prepared to sign Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko in January even though, if he doesn’t agree a new deal, he’s available on a free this summer. Chelsea leading the race. Prior to Armando Broja’s injury, they were making progress on a summer deal.”

He added: “Manchester United are also considering moving earlier and could be promoted by what other suitors do. They have tracked Moukoko for quite some time but are not advanced in talks. Liverpool and Spurs big admirers of Moukoko as well.”

Conte could land the heir to Harry Kane’s throne at Tottenham by beating off the stiff competition from fellow English clubs to land the promising attacker, as he has shown incredible potential during his time in Germany.

Moukoko, who has been described as “raw” by journalist Josh Bunting, scored a whopping 90 goals in 56 U17 matches and 51 goals in 32 U19 outings for Dortmund at youth level before breaking into the first-team set-up.

He made his debut for the German side at the age of 15, becoming the youngest professional player to play a senior match in the country’s history, and has found the back of the net 11 times in 59 outings for the Bundesliga outfit to date.

The 18-year-old has plundered six goals and three assists in eight starts in the German top-flight this season and is beginning to show that he can translate some of his ridiculous form at youth level into a first-team setting.

Moukoko, who was dubbed the “hero” of a clash with Bayern Munich by scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 153 goals and provided 35 assists in 149 matches for Dortmund, in the academy and senior side combined, and these phenomenal statistics suggest that he has the potential to be the dream heir to Kane’s throne at Spurs.

The England captain is 11 years older than the German international and has smashed 262 goals and assisted 62 in 409 games for Tottenham to date.

He has been consistently finding the back of the net over the course of a number of years for the club and Moukoko’s impressive goalscoring record indicates that he could replicate that in the future if Spurs are able to secure his signature.

Glasgow Rangers are heading in the right direction under manager Michael Beale, recording four straight victories since the resumption of the Premiership season two weeks ago.

The big test will come on Monday, with Celtic the visitors to Ibrox for the second Old Firm derby of the season and the supporters will get a greater look at exactly where the team is at following the match.

The January transfer window is just around the corner and it’s clear that Beale will be adding in a couple of new signings to almost reinvigorate the squad after a poor opening half of the season.

With the Ibrox side seemingly interested in Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous according to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, the 42-year-old might be ready to add some homegrown talent to the squad.

Ideal Connor Goldson heir

With Connor Goldson’s contract coming to an end near the end of last season, the Ibrox faithful were resigned to losing their rock for nothing, especially since there had been no mention of any extension.

However, the Englishman eventually signed an extended four-year deal and has continued to form a key part of the Light Blues defence.

Overall, he has played 243 matches for the club in four and a half years and although he still has a few years left, sooner rather than later, thoughts will need to turn to who can become his heir.

Porteous is only 23 and despite being sent off four times already in his senior career, the defender has plenty of potential which means he could star for a team like Rangers in the near future.

The Hibs star has an average rating of 7.26 via Sofascore for his Premiership performances this season, making 1.5 tackles, 3.4 clearances, and 0.9 interceptions per match while winning 6.7 duels per match – at a success rate of 66%.

His forward-thinking qualities would also be a bonus for Beale, as the 23-year-old has scored three times this season (more than all the Rangers centre-backs combined), taken 1.7 shots per match, created two big chances, and makes 1.2 key passes on average each game.

These statistics are highly impressive for a defender. Porteous has clearly impressed his manager Lee Johnson, as he claimed his player performs with “fire in his belly” and this is the sort of attitude that Rangers have been missing recently.

The defender won’t be signing an extension to his contract at the Edinburgh side and this leaves Beale free to make an approach in January and he could eventually become the ideal heir to Goldson.

Celtic striker Georgios Giakoumakis’ mindset over a potential move away has left Andy Walker stumped.

The Lowdown: Giakoumakis on the move?

Giakoumakis has been heavily touted with a move away from Parkhead just 18 months after arriving in the SPFL.

The Greek striker joined from VVV-Venlo for £2.5m, penning a five-year contract in the process but GlasgowLive reported that he took a pay cut to make the deal happen on the promise that he would receive improved terms after a successful first season.

However, the Daily Record have since claimed that the 28-year-old has been left unhappy with no new terms agreed.

The Latest: What’s going on?

According to The Scottish Sun, Giakoumakis is now a target for Danish side Midtjylland who are lining up a move for the £6m rated man.

The news prompted former Celtic man Walker to question whether there is more than just a contract dispute going on behind the scenes with the Greece international, saying on The Go Radio Football Show Podcast:

(45:51) “I’m just surprised, I don’t know what’s happened, he seemed to be settled in and I don’t know whether he’s got family issues or whether he just doesn’t fancy Scottish football, I have no idea but it seemed to turn quite quickly for Giakoumakis.

“I know he’s maybe frustrated at the lack of game time, but I’ve always enjoyed his attitude when he’s come on, he’s been really switched on and he’s always made an impact so yes, a strange one, but if he goes absolutely Celtic will cash in and look to get someone else.”

The Verdict: Future looks ominous

Giakoumakis is a popular figure at Parkhead, scoring 25 times in 55 games since making a belated debut due to injury, netting on his first start at home to St Johnstone.

He ended last season with 17 goals in just 29 games as the Bhoys won the Scottish Premiership, a successful season if ever there was one from the Greek’s point of view.

But now his future hangs completely in the balance with there seemingly being several factors to a wanted exit from Scotland.

With the likeliest source of his unhappiness stemming from the contract dispute, Ange Postecoglou’s side holds the key on whether to cash in for potentially three times what they paid for him or to offer him a new deal that his place and importance to the squad should merit.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United are not likely to make a move for Roberto Firmino despite his name recently being discussed in the media as a possible target.

What’s the word?

With the January transfer market now open, it seems as though every Premier League club is being linked with a host of exciting new names nearly every day.

Of course, though, that doesn’t mean every story should be believed. Recently, talk has been growing regarding a possible West Ham move for Liverpool forward Firmino.

It seemed to stem from journalist Alex Crooks who mooted a possible move. Indeed, speaking to talkSPORT, (via CaughtOffside), he said he ‘could see’ the Brazilian leaving this winter and tipped West Ham as a possible destination.

However, while talking on The West Ham Way podcast, Ex revealed that any talk of a move was just a matter of opinion – as opposed to anything based on any inside knowledge.

He explained (10:00): “There was talk of Firmino, the Liverpool forward, potentially coming to West Ham.

“But I spoke to the journalist who broke that story, and as often happens to me, it was just an opinion rather than a fact. And so people took his opinion and turned it into fact and therefore the story got much more traction than it should have.”

Don’t get your hopes up

Seeing as Liverpool have just spent big to bring in new forward Cody Gakpo – who arrived from PSV for a fee between £35m and £45m – the Reds could potentially be looking to offload Firmino in the near future.

After all, as per Transfermarkt, his contract does expire in the summer and so this could be the last chance to cash in on him if he doesn’t sign a new deal.

Despite all that, it sounds as though there is nothing concrete to these rumours at this stage. However, if that was to change, he could be an attractive proposition for the Hammers. Indeed, with nine goals to his name in all competitions, Firmino has a better scoring rate than the likes of Michail Antonio (five) and Gianluca Scamacca (seven).

Perhaps this could be something to explore at the end of the season but for now it seems as though any talk of genuine interest is a little premature.

A claim has emerged on Aston Villa and their pursuit of Villarreal attacker Arnaut Danjuma during the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Villans are one of the clubs who have ‘discussed’ a potential deal to sign the Netherlands international before the end of the month.

The report claims that Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, AFC Bournemouth, West Ham United, and Nottingham Forest, all teams Fun88 have had major sponsorship deals with, are also interested in signing the La Liga dynamo.

It is stated that the player has already made his way to England in preparation to hold talks with potential suitors after Villarreal decided that they are willing to loan him out for the second half of the campaign.

Jack Grealish replacement

Johan Lange could finally find Villa’s replacement for Jack Grealish by beating off competition from their Premier League rivals to sign Danjuma this month.

The England international, who joined Manchester City in 2021, produced an impressive six goals and 10 assists from out wide in the 2020/21 top-flight campaign before leaving the club.

Last season, no Villa midfielder or wide player managed more than Emi Buendia’s 10 direct goal contributions, which suggests that the club are yet to find another forward who can impact games as Grealish did for Dean Smith.

Danjuma could be that player as his form for Villarreal last season showcased his ability to make a huge difference in the final third. In the 2021/22 campaign, the Dutch international delivered 10 goals and three assists in 23 La Liga outings, whilst also scoring six and assisting one in 11 Champions League matches.

The winger, who the Spanish side signed for £22m at the start of last season, was previously lauded for his ability in attack by former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips, as the ex-forward said: “On his day he is a nightmare for defenders. He can create and score goals. He can hurt any defence with his pace and directness.

“He is a player who can hurt any defence on his day. He’s shown that countless times. Players like him are a rarity in this day and age.”

His aforementioned statistics for Villarreal back up these comments and journalist Dean Jones summed it up best by once claiming that Danjuma could be a “game-changer” for Villa.

Grealish was a ‘game-changer’ for the Villans on a regular basis and the ex-Bournemouth man has proven, under Emery’s management last term, that he can have a similar impact with his ability to produce goals and assists week-in-week-out at the top level.

The 25-year-old’s pre-existing relationship with the Villa boss could also allow him to hit the ground running and have an immediate impact in the second half of the campaign, which potentially gives him an edge over other targets who may not have worked with the manager before.

Photo by Unsplash

Anything other than victory against Fulham on Thursday night is a grave cause for concern for Chelsea manager Graham Potter as the tactician sets his sights on reclaiming a place among the European competitors of the Premier League.

Indeed, the Blues have run off course this term, and now occupy the tenth-placed role in the league following a detrimental run of form that has left the west London giants ten points adrift of Manchester United in fourth place.

Succeeding at London rivals Fulham’s home ground of Craven Cottage would be a stellar step in the right direction, with the newly-promoted outfit exceeding expectations this season and currently perching in seventh place in the division.

Should Potter taste defeat, the Cottagers would soar six points above the weathered Blues, albeit having played a game extra, whereas victory would restore parity and open the door for a return to European contention.

Despite signing from Napoli for £33m in the summer, colossus Kalidou Koulibaly has failed to hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, his performance in the FA Cup thrashing against City typified that, with the Senegalese titan being outshone by his less experienced teammates.

He is a minnow in terms of influence when compared to one other senior centre-back, who is defying expectations. That player, still unquestionably imperative in the fight against further issues, is the veteran centre-back Thiago Silva, who is still a beacon of strength and leadership despite sitting firmly in the twilight phase of his professional career at 37 years old.

Having made 102 outings since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2020, Silva has often provided the defensive resilience required to secure victory, notably playing a central role in his club’s 2020/21 Champions League triumph, recording a solid average rating of 6.97 en-route to glory.

This season, making 20 appearances across all competitions, the 113-cap Brazilian veteran has maintained his impressive level of performance despite his club’s troubles, averaging an exceptional rating of 7.31 in the Premier League.

His robust presence, making 1.6 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 4.2 clearances per fixture, have been imperative in stopping the backline from crumbling – and with 0.5 shots per match, his direct offensive presence adds another dimension.

And ranking within the top 2% of defenders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 4% for passes completed and the top 17% for progressive passes, as per FBref, Silva can serve as the creative force from the back to pump life into the offensive third of the pitch, starting transitions from the back in a bid to bypass the cohesive Fulham outfit.

It’s also worth noting that the £110k-per-week earner’s towering presence will be important in quelling the threat of the prolific Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has scored 11 goals in 15 games after seismically netting 43 times in the EFL Championship last season.

As per Whoscored, Silva has won a career average of 2.0 aerials per match, while the Serbian striker has displayed his towering presence up front with a ratio of 3.7 – nullifying this element of the game, both as a direct threat and for his hold-up play, is paramount.

Lauded as a “Rolls-Royce” by Chelsea icon Joe Cole, Silva truly is one of the great defenders of his generation, and despite his numbered years at top level, he can continue to play a definitive role in Chelsea’s resurgence over the latter period of the 22/23 campaign, and that starts with returning to winning ways against Fulham.

Leeds United could be set to make a miraculous turnaround in their pursuit of a top target…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who offered an update on the Whites’ interest in Azzedine Ounahi.

Whilst it had seemed like Napoli might run away with the transfer, of which Angers are demanding £26m, Victor Orta seems to have pulled something of a turnaround as detailed in O’Rourke’s interview for GIVEMESPORT.

He claimed: “I think it’ll have to be a big deal. They’ve been in talks over a possible move but have been unable to agree any fee with Angers right now.

“Obviously, Angers are going to be looking for a big-money offer considering how well the player performed for Morocco at the World Cup, so that will raise his price tag and also other clubs interested in his services, with Napoli keen to do a deal.”

Ditch Forshaw

It seems like this has been a saga that has dragged on for months, but now it seems like it could come to a close with either the Yorkshire or the Italian outfit set to swoop on the Moroccan superstar.

Should Jesse Marsch secure his man, it could spell the end of Adam Forshaw’s time at Elland Road, who has seen his play time dwindle since returning to the Premier League.

The 31-year-old has featured 84 times for Leeds, yet has only managed five short appearances this campaign amidst his imminent contract expiry in the summer.

What will further encourage his potential departure is his displays across the 33 minutes per game he is averaging, as he has been handed a 6.48 rating for those performances too.

To replace him with the fresh talents of Ounahi would be a masterstroke, as his injection of energy and skill is sure to offer a big upgrade on the midfield stalwart.

Having already starred in Qatar, where he proved his ability to shine on the biggest stage, he could now join Marsch’s revolution in an attempt to secure a much safer finish than last season, with an eye to continually improving with each year.

Earning a 6.97 average rating at the World Cup, he would outline his tough nature but show glimpses of the classy playmaker he might transition into. Even Jose Mourinho lauded him as “incredible” for his country.

As such, he recorded 1.3 tackles and one interception alongside 0.9 key passes per 90, statistics which he upholds in the domestic game as outlined by the fact he records the same number of tackles and interceptions, but improves his key passes to 1.1 per game (via Sofascore).

This is married with an ability with the ball at his feet unmatched across Europe, with the maestro ranking in the top 1% for dribbles completed when compared with other midfielders across the continent.

To replace Forshaw with Ounahi is a no-brainer, with the 22-year-old already offering far more than the ageing stopper could.

However, Orta will have to continue fighting hard to secure his signature.

Leeds United are still looking at making more signings this month, according to Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Leeds’ January

The Whites have had a mixed bag throughout January, with them picking up just two points from a possible nine in the Premier League, while eventually pushing Cardiff City aside in the FA Cup, winning the replay 5-2 after a late comeback had saved their blushes in Wales.

Meanwhile, their transfer business has so far been positive, with the signings of Max Wober and club-record transfer Georginio Rutter bolstering Leeds’ squad.

However, results are yet to suggest they will steer clear of trouble come May, with the Whites just a point above the relegation zone – albeit with a game in hand on their rivals at the bottom.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport about Jesse Marsch’s new record signing, Jones also revealed that more incomings at Elland Road aren’t off the table, saying:

“That’s a really, really big transfer to get done. And again, it just shows that the club are committed to try and keep this side in the Premier League and are pushing everything into doing that.

“So, we can’t rule out the possibility of other players coming in at the moment.”

The Verdict: Who could arrive?

With the Whites looking nervously over their shoulder at the drop zone amid a winless run of six league games dating back to before the World Cup, incomings have to be expected given their current position.

One obvious player who’s been hotly linked with a move to Elland Road is Morocco World Cup star Azzedine Ounahi, who has been rumoured to make a £26m switch to West Yorkshire by 90min.

However, Sport Witness has previously reported that Aston Villa have also entered the race to sign him, leaving presenter Conor McGilligan worried they will be financially outmuscled by a side ten points ahead of them at present.

Another target attracting huge interest from Europe is Roma’s attacking midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, who has been linked with a move to Leeds by Calciomercato, but with touted clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea ahead of the Whites, that could also be considered unlikely.

We think both signings would be massive coups if they can be pulled off given the relative interest and the player’s reputations, and it could well be an interesting end to the month at Elland Road if Jones’ comments are anything to go by.

Wales Online journalist Ian Mitchelmore has given his verdict on the attitude of Swansea City’s Michael Obafemi, who’s set to join Championship side Burnley.

The Lowdown: Obafemi set to join Clarets

BBC Sport recently reported that the forward is set to join Vincent Kompany’s side on loan and a deal will be made permanent in the summer, the fee is claimed to be £3 million for Obafemi’s services.

The Irish striker has played 19 times in the league so far this season, netting on three occasions and producing one assist.

Swansea signed the 22-year-old from Southampton in the summer of 2021 on a three-year deal.

The Latest: Attitude concerns

Mitchelmore spoke to Lancs Live about the player and suggested there could be potential attitude concerns from his time with Swansea and Southampton.

He stated, “Given the concerns from his time at both Southampton and Swansea, there are clearly issues to be wary of.

“But, with Vincent Kompany and Craig Bellamy on the coaching staff, you’d certainly think any nonsense would not be tolerated at Turf Moor.

“It’s a move Obafemi desperately wanted, and the chance to play at a top Championship club who are destined for a Premier League return could be what truly helps the striker to ignite his career.

“You’d both hope and expect the 22-year-old to knuckle down again and do all in his power to prove his doubters wrong.”

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The Verdict: A new chapter

We believe that Obafemi deserves a chance at a clean slate when he joins the Clarets. Afterall, he’s still young in his development.

Current Swans boss Russell Martin has spoken of him highly in the past, stating the Obafemi will be ‘incredible’ as quoted by Wales Online.

The arrival of the Irish forward will give Kompany a boost to his options upfront, as he knows the Championship very well and has a decent amount of experience in the Premier League.

This season the Clarets have brought in a number of young players throughout the course of the 2022/23 campaign and it’s certainly paid off for them.

A move to Turf Moor is probably the best option for Obafemi, as we believe that if anyone is to get the best out of him, it’ll be Kompany, a manager who isn’t afraid to play young talent.

Tottenham transfer chief Fabio Paratici has raved over ‘explosive’ right-wing-back talent and new signing Pedro Porro.

The Lowdown: Spurs sign Spaniard…

Spurs finally completed the 23-year-old’s signing from Sporting CP on a £5 million loan which will become a £39m obligation to buy in summer.

This came after long and drawn out negotiations between the Premier League top four chasers and Sporting with reports suggesting that talks were happening over weeks leading up to deadline day.

The defender’s arrival signals an end to manager Antonio Conte’s search for an Emerson Royal alternative on the right side and one much more attack-minded.

The Latest: Paratici raves over ‘explosive’ Porro…

Porro has been subject to praise from Paratici, who admitted to Tottenham’s official website that the club now had an ‘explosive’ talent in their ranks.

The Italian claimed:

“He has a lot of quality, he is explosive so we are very, very happy and excited to sign him. We were following him even in the last summer but we couldn’t buy him so we followed and then were lucky that he played against us so we could see him.”

The Verdict: Huge for Spurs…

The signing of Porro comes as a major move by Spurs and one even described as a ‘big statement’ both on and off the pitch by esteemed journalists.

Man City’s ex-starlet couldn’t get a look-in under Pep Guardiola with the presence of Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo at the time but his time at Sporting showcases a very exciting option.

As per WhoScored, he ranked in the Portuguese side’s top two for attempts at goal and key passes made per 90 in the final third – highlighting his real attacking prowess.

Porro also racked up a very impressive six assists over the first half of Sporting’s league campaign – more than anyone in their squad, and that would undoubtedly have been a big pull for Conte.

Now, Spurs can utilise that real threat in their push for a second-successive top four finish.