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Tottenham winger Jack Clarke is attracting interest from a number of Championship sides ahead of the January window, according to TEAMtalk.

The Lowdown: Clarke impressed Mourinho…

Clarke, described as a player with ‘huge talent’, made the move to north London from Leeds United back in 2019 for £9.9m when Mauricio Pochettino was still in charge.

He’s spent time out on loan at three Championship clubs since signing, most recently Stoke City, and has made just four senior Spurs appearances.

Clarke, who will turn 21 later this month, ‘really’ impressed Jose Mourinho during his time in charge, but it appears as if he could be heading out in the New Year following Antonio Conte’s arrival.

The Latest: Four clubs interested

TEAMtalk shared a story regarding Clarke on Thursday morning, claiming four second-tier sides are interested in his services.

They suggest that Barnsley, Derby County, Luton Town and Millwall are keen on a winter window swoop.

The Verdict: Time running out?

The same site has recently suggested that Spurs are leading the way for Fulham youngster Fabio Carvalho, who can also play out wide, so time may well be running out for Clarke in north London with a possible replacement already on the shopping list.

Labelled as a player with very deceptive speed, Clarke has struggled to break into a Spurs side under multiple managers and now has just 18 months remaining on his contract.

On that basis, you’d think Spurs may well make a firm call one way or the other in the summer when Clarke enters the final 12 months of his deal, and at this moment in time, you’d say it’s not looking good for him.

In other news: Ball lost 38 times, 0 crosses, just 3 tackles: 3 Spurs players struggled in Conte’s first game. 

Celtic are interested in a deal to bring Albert Gudmundsson to Parkhead.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Telegraph, who claim that Ange Postecoglou’s side are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the AZ Alkmaar winger, who is out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

However, the report goes on to state that Celtic are not the only Premiership side keeping tabs on the 24-year-old forward, with the club’s Old Firm rivals also believed to be interested in a move for the Iceland international, while a number of other top sides across Europe are also thought to be monitoring the situation of Gudmundsson.

Bye-bye Ajeti

Considering just how impressive Gudmundsson has been for AZ Alkmaar in recent seasons, should Celtic be able to secure a deal for the versatile winger, it would undoubtedly be a massive coup for Postecoglou and his side – particularly if he were to arrive at Parkhead on a free transfer.

Indeed, over his 26 Eredivisie appearances in the club’s 2020/21 campaign, the £3.6m-rated man scored seven goals, registered four assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.2 shots and making 1.2 key passes per game.

These returns saw the 24-year-old – who can play anywhere across the front three, in addition to central and attacking midfield – earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.99, ranking him as AZ’s eighth-best performer in the top flight of Dutch football.

Meanwhile, over the £1.9k-per-week forward’s 16 league outings this season, Gudmundsson has already bagged four goals, provided one assist and created three big chances, as well as making an average of 0.9 key passes and taking 1.2 shots per fixture.

These returns have seen the 29-time capped international average a SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as his side’s ninth-best player in the Eredivisie.

As such, it is clear that a player who carries both the goalscoring threat and creativity of the winger would make a fantastic addition to Postecoglou’s current options in attack, while his potential arrival would very much appear to spell the end for the £18k-per-week Albian Ajeti.

Indeed, the player who Neil Lennon signed for £5m back in the summer of 2020 has been labelled a “problem” by Packie Bonner, and looks to be heading for an exit from Glasgow in the not too distant future – something which the arrival of Gudmundsson would all but confirm.

In other news: Forget Forrest: Ange must unleash 19 y/o Celtic gem who’s been “bright” at Lennoxtown

Barcelona full-back Sergino Dest would be an ‘ambitious’ signing which could happen for Leeds United this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Dest linked with Leeds move

Jesse Marsch will be looking to make his mark in the summer transfer window with some top players potentially coming in, assuming that Premier League safety is secured for the Whites.

Dest is one player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road, with the 21-year-old likely to be allowed to leave Barceloa at the end of the current campaign.

The USA international has made 17 La Liga starts so far this season, providing three assists along the way.

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The Latest: Journalist talks up possible Dest swoop

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke talked up the idea of Dest heading to Leeds in the summer, saying that it would be a good fit for him given Marsch’s presence at Elland Road. The reporter said:

“He is definitely an ambitious target, but he is one that you can see makes a bit of sense, obviously, when you’ve got an American coach like Jesse Marsch, who will know all about Sergino Dest.

“Dest hasn’t had the best of times at Barcelona since his arrival from Ajax and he has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp.”

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The Verdict: Perfect Ayling replacement

There is no denying that Luke Ayling has had far from his best season for the Whites, even though he chipped in with some key contributions along the way. The right-back turns 31 later this year, so Dest could be seen as an ideal long-term replacement for him, possibly even coming in as first-choice immediately.

Barcelona manager Xavi has hailed the American defender as ‘great’ and ‘spectacularly good’, which says a lot about his ability, and his attacking qualities would suit Marsch’s high-octane style of play.

The fact that Dest and Marsch are compatriots may help, too, as the manager looks to fully make his mark at Leeds moving forward.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly stepping up their interest in one player. Read more here.

It is not difficult to understand why Leeds United were heavily linked with a move for 19-year-old sensation Fabio Carvalho in the January transfer window.

Indeed, the £3.15m-rated attacking midfielder has been in breathtaking form over his 27 Championship appearances for Fulham this season, scoring seven goals, registering six assists and creating ten big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of two shots and making 1.9 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the teenager who Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright dubbed an “extraordinary talent” average an incredibly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as Marco Silva’s ninth-best performer in the second tier of English football – playing a key role in the Cottagers’ all but confirmed return to the Premier League.

And, although Victor Orta did spend £26m on support striker Rodrigo back in August 2020, in truth, between Tyler Roberts and the Spain international, Leeds have lacked a truly creative attacking midfielder ever since the departure of Pablo Hernandez.

While it is true that the 36-year-old was probably past his best in 2020/21, being used sparingly by Marcelo Bielsa, the playmaker was influential for the Whites over his 36 appearances in the club’s Championship-winning campaign back in 2019/20.

Indeed, this season, the £270k-rated Spaniard scored nine goals, provided nine assists and created 13 big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.1 shots and making 2.3 passes per fixture.

These metrics saw the £19k-per-week midfielder who Phil Hay dubbed both a “demon” and “unreal” earn a quite remarkable seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.35, not only ranking him as Leeds’ best performer in the second tier but also as the third-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, while a deal for Carvalho – who looks set to become available on a free transfer this summer – may be a difficult move for Orta to pull off, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund all being linked with the 19-year-old, it would nevertheless appear essential for the sporting director to do all he can to land the Fulham sensation at the end of the season – as the Portugal U21 international could well prove to become the next Hernandez at Elland Road.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Phil Hay drops 7-word behind the scenes Leeds update, Marsch will be gutted

Everton have already signed two players in the first week of the January transfer window, and could be set to make their third signing, but not on manager Rafa Benitez’s terms, if rumours are to believed.

What’s the story?

According to ESPN, Everton are in talks to sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona with Premier League clubs interested in the Brazilian attacking midfielder.

However, the report suggests that there is an internal debate at the club as whilst Farhad Moshiri is keen to do a deal for the player, Rafa Benitez is not on board with the signing.

Coutinho has failed to impress at Barcelona and has been heavily linked to many clubs across the Premier League and Europe, however according to Sky Sports, just two clubs remain in the race to secure the signature of the £380k-per-week player.

Disasterclass

If Moshiri wasn’t able to convince Benitez about a move for Coutinho but signed him anyway, the owner could fracture his relationship with the Spanish manager, and it never ends well when Rafa is involved.

Mike Ashley allegedly felt the wrath of the former Newcastle United head coach when the ex-Magpies owner refused to back him in the January transfer window of 2017, with The Express reporting that the Spaniard demanded answers from Ashley.

The relationship between the pair never repaired, and the problems only escalated behind the scenes until Benitez’s contract expired in 2019.

Sadly, Moshiri could be set for a similar situation if he was to blow the budget on the £16.2m-rated star hailed a “magician” by former Liverpool team mate and Aston Villa manager, Steven Gerrard.

There are many key areas of concern that Everton need to focus on, as well as finding a solution for the ongoing issues with Lucas Digne during the four-week window, and Benitez will want to avoid adding to the reckless spending habits of the past that the club has become famous for since Moshiri landed at Goodison Park.

The owner has signed 43 players and spent over £500 million over the last five years, not including the two additions this week, with little return of investment considering the club have not won a single trophy in that time and sit 15th in the Premier League currently.

Benitez has clearly attempted to adopt a different direction when it comes to signing transfer targets, just judging by his signings of Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend in the summer, with Gray costing just £1.7m and Townsend joining on a free transfer.

It will be interesting to see if Everton continue their pursuit of Coutinho if the owner and manager cannot agree on the signing, and if he does go to Everton, it will only add to speculation that Benitez’s time at the club is slowly but surely coming to an end.

In other news: Benitez can axe Holgate with Araujo signing

Newcastle United are now reportedly targeting a move for Mauro Icardi after the takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium went through.

The Lowdown: Game time limited

The 28-year-old is currently enduring a tough time at Paris Saint-Germain, where he has seen his game-time becoming limited following the arrival of Lionel Messi from Barcelona.

Icardi has only managed to play the full 90 minutes on two separate occasions so far this season, with many of his appearances coming as a substitute.

The Latest: Icardi targeted

As per Calciomercato, Newcastle are now targeting a move for Icardi ahead of the January transfer window coming up.

However, they will reportedly face competition from both Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus for his signature.

The Verdict: Sign

As money is no object to the new owners, the Tyneside club should be looking to sign the £31.5m-rated Icardi. He should be relatively easy to acquire given his lack of game-time at PSG, and he may be a player who they would consider selling for the right price.

At 28 years of age, the Argentina international is a goalscorer in his prime, and with no fewer than 172 senior goals to his name for club and country combined, he certainly knows how to find the back of the net.

The striker would certainly be a statement signing which should hopefully persuade other global stars to follow him to St James’ Park.

In other news, find out which ‘phenomenal’ ace Newcastle are also eyeing

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West Ham received a huge reality check at Molineux on Tuesday evening, and fans are absolutely furious with the performance of Angelo Ogbonna.

West Ham were quite simply swept aside by Wolves on Tuesday night, as the Premier League newcomers ran out 3-0 winners courtesy of a Romain Saiss opener and a brace from Raul Jimenez.

The opener didn’t come until Saiss met Joao Moutinho’s corner 66 minutes into the match, but if truth be told it could have come long before that.

Look away Arsenal fans! American Soccer Fan is back to troll more fans at the London Stadium in the video below…

Wolves racked up 20 shots in the match while West Ham managed just four, and the home side also got nine of those 20 shots on target.

Manuel Pellegrini will be livid with his side’s reaction, or lack thereof, to the FA Cup defeat against Wimbledon, and it has now become crystal clear that he has a massive problem in the heart of defence.

With Fabian Balbuena still out with a knee injury, the boss has been forced to deploy the erratic and inconsistent Ogbonna alongside a young and inexperienced Issa Diop.

The 13-cap Italian was at fault for at least one of the goals at Wimbledon, and he was horrific at Molineux on Tuesday, mustering a measly 5.91 rating on Whoscored.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions to the 30 year-old’s display down below…

Aston Villa have been one of the clubs linked with a January loan move for PSG midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, with the Dutchman struggling for game time in Paris.

What’s the story?

After a transfer to Spanish giants Barcelona fell through during the summer, Wijnaldum opted to go to France and join PSG after his contract at Liverpool expired.

However, the 31-year-old has only managed to accumulate 949 minutes of football this season under Mauricio Pochetinno, who once labelled the £27m-rated midfielder as “aggressive”.

According to 90min, the former Liverpool star has been linked with an array of Premier League clubs, including Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa with the Parisians reportedly willing to allow the Netherlands international to go on loan in January in a quest for minutes.

The major implication to any deal going through is the fact that Wijnaldum is reportedly earning over £300k-per-week, meaning that the French giants would have to cover a significant proportion of his salary if he was to play elsewhere for the remainder of the season.

Imagine him & McGinn

It has already been reported that the Villans plan to invest heavily and Steven Gerrard will be assessing his squad over the coming weeks to identify areas for improvement.

The 41-year-old appears to have found his preferred midfield trio for the time being, with John McGinn, Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba all starting together in the last three games.

McGinn in particular has been a stand out performer under the Englishman scoring in the 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace and has averaged a 7.62 match rating under Gerrard, according to SofaScore.

The Scotsman has been linked with a £50m move to Manchester United with new manager Ralf Rangnick looking to “inject energy” into his team. It’s easy to see why he’d be a good addition for anyone, let alone Villa after he was described as “unbeatable” by Ryan Babel.

The Dutchman has amassed a pass success rate of 89.5% proving his ability to keep things ticking over with a measured approach in the middle of the park which combined with McGinn’s dynamic and bullish approach would be quite the sight.

Should McGinn stay and Wijnaldum join, the Villans would certainly mean business with a mouth-watering midfield with one of either Luiz or Nakamba likely to fill the third place in the middle.

Furthermore, if Villa were able to land such a deal, it would prove a major statement of intent from the West Midlands club, with Villa seven points off of the top six.

Leeds United continue to be interested in Brenden Aaronson ahead of January 31st…

What’s the word?

That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim that the Yorkshire giants are preparing another bid for the RB Salzburg midfielder after having a £15m bid knocked back by the Austrian champions.

The 21-year-old has only been at the club for a year but his impressive performances have caught the eye of many across Europe, though it is the Premier League that he dreams of playing in one day.

Aaronson’s running stats are amongst the highest around the continent, so it’s no wonder Marcelo Bielsa is hugely keen on securing him.

Shades of Gallagher

Leeds have long been looking for a central midfielder capable of driving the team forward in the final third, especially as it has now been four years since they signed someone in the role, that being Adam Forshaw from Middlesbrough in January 2018.

The Whites failed with their attempts to sign promising Chelsea starlet Conor Gallagher during the summer after his impressive loan stint at West Brom, with the England U21 dynamo opting for top-flight rivals Crystal Palace instead.

However, there are shades of the 21-year-old Eagles loanee in the 15-cap American sensation.

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“Typically an attacking midfielder, Aaronson is best described as a half-winger, capable of playing out wide or centrally in the third line of Salzburg’s 4-2-2-2 formation. During games, Aaronson is expected to cover ground in central spaces, as well as supporting attacks via the channels,” claimed journalist Joe Donnohue to LeedsLive recently.

Indeed, the bustling Salzburg gem ranks amongst the top 1% of midfielders in Europe for pressures, having averaged 27.84 pressures per 90 and he also forces the opposition into losing the ball 8.55 times per 90, with those figures coming in the Champions League, via FBRef.

This is right up Bielsa’s street as he loves a player who can press high up the pitch, just as Gallagher has proven to do during his time at the Hawthorns and Selhurst Park.

Nicknamed the ‘Medford Messi’, Aaronson has been dubbed “highly talented” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and “silky” by ex-USMNT international DeMarcus Beasley.

His returns of ten goals and 12 assists from only 51 appearances in Austria make him a very exciting young talent indeed. As such, Victor Orta and co must push ahead with plans to sign him as soon as possible.

Bielsa could finally be getting his Gallagher-like midfield presence.

AND in other news, Journalist drops huge Leeds United transfer claim ahead of deadline day…

Wolves are interested in signing Atletico Mineiro left-back Guilherme Arana in the January transfer window, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

The Lowdown: Wolves still without Jonny

Bruno Lages’s men have recovered impressively from a disappointing start to the season and now sit 11th in the Premier League, picking up three wins from their last four matches.

While Wolves’ squad looks relatively strong, signing a new left-back could be a priority in January, with Jonny still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury and no certainty he will return the same player.

The Latest: Arana linked with move

According to Konur on Twitter on Monday, Wolves have added Arana ‘to their transfer list’ and ‘plan to talk’ to his club about a move in January.

The 24-year-old has one cap to his name for Brazil, also scoring nine goals and registering 15 assists in 81 appearances for Mineiro.

The Verdict: Exciting acquisition?

Arana is a relative unknown to European fans, even though he played 25 times for Sevilla earlier in his career, but he could be an exciting signing for Wolves.

His aforementioned statistics suggest he provides a goal threat from left-back, whether it be through creating or scoring himself, and he is at a good age, in terms of his peak hopefully still being yet to come.

Arana could thrive at wing-back if Lage continues to play a three-man defence, too, with his versatility an added bonus.

In other news, one player has been linked with a return to Wolves. Find out who it is here.