Transfer expert Rudy Galetti has now revealed that ‘in the last hours’, there have been ‘positive feelings’ in talks from Arsenal to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk.

The Lowdown: Second bid

Galetti reported on Tuesday morning that the Gunners had submitted a second bid for Mudryk worth a total of around €70/72m (£61.5/63.3m), which included a €52m fixed fee and €18/€20m in add-ons.

He added that the offer is a ‘bit less’ than what Shakhtar Donetsk would want, but they are ‘evaluating’ whether to accept the bid.

The Latest: ‘Positive feelings’

Taking to Twitter this afternoon, Galetti gave a new update on the situation, now revealing that ‘in the last hours’ there have been ‘positive feelings’ in the talks between the two clubs, adding that they have ‘never been so close’ to reaching an agreement:

“Positive feelings in the last hours on the negotiation between #Arsenal and #Shakhtar for #Mudryk. The 2 clubs have never been so close to reach an agreement for the Ukrainian: the aim is to complete the deal within this week. All is agreed between the winger and #AFC.”

The Verdict: Exciting

The latest update on Mudryk should excite Arsenal supporters, given that a deal now looks like it is close.

Hailed as a player who would be ‘devastating’ in Mikel Arteta’s side by Gunners legend Kevin Campbell, the winger is enjoying an outstanding breakthrough season, scoring ten goals and making a further eight assists in just 18 games in all competitions so far this season, including five goal contributions in the UEFA Champions League (Transfermarkt).

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Given the injuries to Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson, the North London club are in need of more cover in attacking covers, and 21-year-old Mudryk would certainly offer fresh legs from the bench.

If they sign him, he could be the missing piece needed for them to secure their first Premier League title since moving to the Emirates Stadium.

Wolves picked up another valuable point in their fight against relegation on Wednesday night as they drew 1-1 with Aston Villa.

Daniel Podence handed Julen Lopetegui’s side the lead with a brilliantly taken strike, with the Old Gold excellent value for a half-time advantage, but they failed to hang on to what would have been a superb three points against a resurgent Villa side.

Danny Ings was the man to break Wolves’ hearts late on, as he collected Tyrone Mings’ ball over the top and easily beat Jose Sa for the leveller.

It could have been much worse for Lopetegui too, had Leon Bailey taken his golden late opportunity but the Jamaica international would inexplicably shoot wide after rounding Sa.

While Podence scored a brilliant goal, Lopetegui arguably has Max Kilman to thank for his side holding on to a point at Villa Park on Wednesday evening.

As per Sofascore, the centre-back would earn an impressive 7.5/10 rating for his performance, with only Podence and Mings (both 7.7) rated higher.

With Wolves leading, the former Futsal star produced a superb piece of defending to keep the scores level, as he turned Ludwig Augustinsson’s goal-bound volley wide on the line.

This certainly impressed Express and Star journalist Liam Keen, as he tweeted:

“Absolutely unbelievable from Kilman. Augustinsson shot beats Sa and is going in, but the defender makes an incredible header off the line.”

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Kilman would also contribute a mammoth 11 clearances, three tackles and two blocks, which is even more impressive when you consider he has averaged just 4.3 clearances, one tackle and 0.9 blocks per game in the Premier League so far this campaign.

The 25-year-old was also assured in his passing, completing 46/55 passes at Villa Park with an accuracy of 84%, which once more, is slightly better than his season average of 82.8%.

If Wolves are to remain in the Premier League this season they will need defenders to put their bodies on the line on a regular basis, as Kilman did against Emery’s side on Wednesday, so the English defender should be recognised as Lopetegui’s true star performer.

West Brom are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool youngster Leighton Clarkson on loan this month and the midfielder could be a big upgrade on Jake Livermore in Carlos Corberan’s side.

According to Football Insider, a number of Championship sides including the Baggies, Reading and QPR are all keen on taking the 21-year-old on loan until the end of the season after his impressive displays north of the border with Aberdeen.

The Dons are keen on keeping the England U20 international at Pittodrie until the end of the season but Liverpool could potentially terminate his loan in Scotland before sending him to any of the interested Championship sides.

The Liverpool academy graduate has already made three appearances for the senior side and spent the second half of last season on loan with Blackburn Rovers but failed to make much impression.

However, his displays at Aberdeen so far this campaign have been very impressive, as he boasts four goals and one assist in 17 Scottish Premiership appearances, with WhoScored awarding him a strong 6.84 average rating for his performances.

He is clearly highly thought of at Anfield too, with Jurgen Klopp singing his praises in 2021 after a friendly win over Osasuna.

He said: “Leighton is one of the biggest talents in our club, he’s been there for ages. He’s a midfielder, a number six type, can play eight as well.”

Should he arrive at the Hawthorns this month, it seems clear that he would be a significant upgrade on ageing captain Jake Livermore, who has struggled immensely on his appearances in the second tier so far this campaign.

The 33-year-old has lost his place under Corberan and it is no surprise that results have dramatically improved since, with it also noticeable that the Baggies shipped three goals against non-league Chesterfield when Livermore did return to the side last weekend.

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WhoScored have awarded him a woeful 6.33 rating for his performances in the Championship this season, while he has also averaged far fewer tackles (1.7 vs 0.8), key passes (1.1 vs 0.3) and shots per game (one vs 0.4) when compared to Clarkson, which suggests that the Liverpool man can be an upgrade from both a defensive and attacking perspective.

Although Corberan has preferred a midfield duo of Okay Yokuslu and Jayson Molumby for much of his time in charge, this has been perhaps due to a lack of other reliable options, and Clarkson could certainly give the Spanish manager even more to think about as he looks to continue the Baggies’ surge up the table.

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has urged Leeds United to sign Azzedine Ounahi amid the current January transfer rumours linking him with a move to Elland Road.

What’s the word?

According to reliable transfer source Fabrizio Romano, the Whites are keen on a move for the Angers midfielder and ‘conversations’ are ongoing regarding a possible deal.

The reporter also claims that Napoli are keen on a move, but only in the summer, and so this could leave the door open for Leeds to pounce if they can offer enough money.

With that in mind, McGilligan has urged the club to just get it done and not worry too much about how much it will cost. While speaking about it all on the One Leeds Fan Channel, he said: “It’s key really for Leeds to get this one done, for me.

“The overspending thing is interesting. Listen, I understand that people don’t want us to overspend, but that’s not our problem. We don’t need to be getting flashbacks from the Ridsdale era. I think this is a little bit different, to be honest with you.

“So yeah, I’m really excited by this one. I hope we can get it done.”

Time to live the dream…

McGilligan refers to former chairman Peter Ridsdale, who mismanaged the club’s finances in the early 2000s, leaving the club in turmoil. He later admitted: “Should we have spent so heavily in the past? Probably not, but we lived the dream, we enjoyed the dream.”

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However, now back in the Premier League, the Whites have shown a willingness to spend this winter already – paying notable fees for Maximilian Wober and Georginio Rutter.

As for Ounahi, he could boost in the region of €40m (£35.5m), if Angers’ reported demands are to be met this winter. It remains to be seen if Leeds feel the player is worth it but he could well be the difference between relegation and survival at the end of the season.

The shift in momentum at Manchester United since Erik ten Hag assumed the managerial position last summer has been extraordinary, and gilt-edged success is emerging as a genuine possibility.

Last week’s monumental derby day triumph over Manchester City, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford courtesy of strikes from Bruno Fernandes and the resurgent Marcus Rashford, the Red Devils have now closed the gap on their imperious neighbours to a single point in the Premier League.

With nine successive victories across and the club indeed firing across all cylinders, still active in every competition available, there is an embedded sense of optimism that overflows from the brim at the Theatre of Dreams.

But now with a pivotal away clash in the league against Crystal Palace, Ten Hag must ensure cohesion remains gelled and energy levels stay relentless, preventing a lackadaisical display that will hamper the monumental strides taken across recent months.  

With reports that Anthony Martial faces a race to find fitness following his withdrawal against City at the weekend, the talismanic door swings wide open to offer a platform for Wout Weghorst to make his debut for the club.

Signed from Burnley on a six-month loan deal – cutting his previous spell with Besiktas short – the 30-year-old Weghorst has been signed to provide the ambitious outfit with an imposing figure to lead the line following the mutual agreement to terminate Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with the club in November.

The £35k-per-week Weghorst offers a formidable 6 foot 6 presence to lead the line, and ranks within the top 16% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for aerials won over the past year.

And if he can continue his golden touch on the offensive front, United will flourish. This season, for Besiktas, the “pressing monster”, as lauded by Mark Goldbridge, has scored nine goals and registered four assists, with his hold-up play an enticing prospect for United’s pacy flankers as they look to use his stature to weave in behind backlines.

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Palace have lost all three matches since the new year, and might see a continuation of the current woes that plague manager Patrick Vieira’s January, with United’s high-octane and fluid system more than capable of bypassing a defence that only kept one clean sheet in the league since October.

Victory on home soil against the Eagles on Wednesday night would cement the club’s stature firmly within the title race, and with United indeed searching for a tenth successive win, Weghorst could be vital in adding the dimension the attack so craves, and with the wealth of creativity and attacking prowess surrounding his centre-forward position, his debut might just bear fruit.

Arsenal are interested in a Premier League winger as Mikel Arteta aims to complete another signing during the January transfer window…

What’s the news?

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are interested in signing AFC Bournemouth winger Jaidon Anthony as Arteta looks to add some more depth to his attacking options.

He could face competition for the 23-year-old however, with Leicester City, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Bayer Leverkusen also keen on Anthony.

His contract expires at the end of the season and Arsenal could be looking to secure a bargain move for him this month and with the club close to completing a move for Leandro Trossard, it could be a strong end to the window for Arteta.

He’s a dream signing

Anthony knows Arsenal well, having spent ten years at the Hale End academy during his formative years, playing alongside Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe, so settling in shouldn’t be a problem for the player.

At just 23 years old, he also fits Arteta’s vision for the future, with the Spaniard looking at bringing the average age of the side down significantly while signing young players who can develop and improve over time.

In the Championship last season, Anthony was excellent, featuring in all but one of Bournemouth’s matches as they gained promotion back to the Premier League. The winger averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.16/10 which ranked him as the club’s best performer during the campaign.

He underlined his attacking qualities by registering 15 goal contributions – eight goals and seven assists – while creating an astonishing 18 big chances across his 45 matches, demonstrating just how effective he was from a wide position.

Anthony didn’t shy away from the nitty-gritty work either, chipping in with 1.3 tackles and 0.5 clearances per game while winning 3.6 duels per match, proving that he can also provide solid defensive support when required.

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His former manager Scott Parker lauded his performances last season, saying: “What he does for this team is nothing short of incredible at times really.” And although he has struggled for game time this season, the Englishman has still scored three times in 18 appearances for the Cherries.

Following the disappointment of missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk, Arteta will be working twice as hard to secure attacking reinforcements and a move for Anthony could be a very shrewd investment indeed.

West Ham United have submitted an offer to sign AS Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo this month, according to journalist Ciro Venerato.

The Lowdown: Zaniolo wants to leave

The Italian international has now entered the final 18 months of his contract at the Stadio Olimpico and has been linked with an exit after his manager, Jose Mourinho, admitted that he has asked to leave the club before the end of the window.

Premier League clubs Tottenham and Newcastle have both been credited with an interest in the 23-year-old alongside the Irons, but Serie A giants AC Milan are also in a strong position in the race for his signature.

The Roma maestro has reportedly agreed personal terms to join Stefano Pioli’s side, but with money typically the most important factor when it comes to finalising a deal, a late swoop has been made.

The Latest: West Ham make bid

Speaking to 1 Station Radio (via Tutto Juve and Sport Witness), Venerato revealed that West Ham tabled an offer to sign Zaniolo on Tuesday morning.

“An offer from West Ham was also made this morning, a loan with an obligation to buy linked to avoiding relegation set at €25m (£22m).”

“If Roma accepted this formula, rejected for now, it would be the highest proposal.”

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The Verdict: Get it done…

Zaniolo has been hailed a ‘lethal playmaker’ by journalist Zach Lowy and the London Stadium outfit need to do everything they can to fend off their competitors and get this deal over the line.

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The Nike-sponsored star currently ranks in the 96th percentile for most shots per 90 minutes from players in his position and offers plenty of versatility with the ability to operate in three different attacking midfield roles.

Declan Rice is facing an uncertain future at the club so a midfield reinforcement will definitely be required should he depart, and Zaniolo would be a hugely exciting long-term addition, albeit in a more advanced role.

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing up a potential move for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Piero Hincapie – although it may come as a possible summer signing.

The Lowdown: Spurs struggling to recruit

The Lilywhites have only been able to bring in one new face in the January transfer window in the Dutch forward Arnaut Danjuma.

This comes amid the issues the north London side are having in trying to seal the signing of the Sporting CP right wing-back Pedro Porro.

But there is the belief that Fabio Paratici has an eye on potentially adding to his defence over the coming months with one centre-back, in particular, on his radar.

The Latest: Hincapie could be targeted

Speaking on his latest YouTube video, Alasdair Gold has mooted the prospect of Spurs bringing in the Ecuadorian defender.

He said: “Spurs definitely do have an interest in him. He’s slightly on the short side for a centre-back, I think he’s 6 foot – which obviously is not a short person, but for Premier League centre-back, normally they’re a little bit bigger than that.

“What’s happened with him is his value’s absolutely skyrocketed after the World Cup.

“From what it seems to be, I think a summer deal is more likely for anyone, really, trying to get him. I don’t think Leverkusen are keen to sell at all.

“So yeah, maybe one to keep an eye on, but I do wonder what the competition is going to be like for him in the summer. But certainly, a player Spurs really like.”

The Verdict: Spurs can secure Dier upgrade

With Leverkusen seemingly not looking to offload Hincapie this month, it does allow the Lilywhites to assess their options with their defence proving a big issue over recent months.

Despite being one of the sides who are pushing for a spot in the top four of the Premier League table, Antonio Conte’s men do not exactly have the defensive record to match.

The Lilywhites have conceded the sixth-most goals in the top flight this season, with the likes of Newcastle having allowed 20 fewer goals so far.

Eric Dier has been a key figure in the centre of Conte’s defence since the Italian took the reins in north London back in November 2021, with 56 appearances under the 53-year-old.

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And in comparison to the Englishman, Hincapie has provided Leverkusen with more tackles and blocks per 90 minutes this season (via FBref).

However, the 21-year-old is still clearly a raw talent, with his disciplinary record leaving a lot to be desired – he has six yellow cards and two red cards to his name after 21 appearances.

But there will be some concerns following recent reports suggesting the ‘impressive’ centre-back would cost the Lilywhites in the region of £66m.

That said, the same report suggests the 21-year-old would be keen to make the move to north London, so perhaps this is indeed one to keep an eye on as Gold suggests.

Newcastle United will hope to continue their remarkable season in this evening’s Premier League clash against West Ham United at St James’ Park, with victory cementing the Magpies’ position in the top four of the table.

Having lost just once across the opening 20 league matches of the season, Eddie Howe’s side have stormed into the Champions League positions, boasting 39 points – three more than fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have also played an extra match.

With Newcastle having most recently beaten Southampton in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, setting up a tantalising final against Manchester United in three weeks’ time, the overwhelming optimism emanating from Tyneside could hardly be any greater at present.

With the Tynesiders succumbing to defeat only against Liverpool in the league this term, agonisingly conceding the decisive goal deep into stoppage time at Anfield, there will be a belief that three more points will be accumulated today against the 16th-placed Irons, with the prospect of Champions League football next season further enhanced.

In order to ensure that the stellar work continues, Howe must stick with homegrown talent Sean Longstaff in the centre of the park, with the 25-year-old having scored twice against the Saints in midweek.

Having risen through the youth ranks at Newcastle, Longstaff has made 122 appearances, scoring eight goals and supplying seven assists.

Making 27 outings across all competitions this term, and starting 16 times in the league, Longstaff has indeed cemented his importance to a flourishing Magpies team.

According to Sofascore, the Englishman has completed 80% of his passes and averaged 0.8 shots and 0.8 key passes per game, scoring one goal and registering two assists in the top flight.

The recipient of criticism from some of the St James’ Park faithful last year, the 25-year-old clearly has the faith of his manager, having been ever-present in the Premier League since October.

It was only this week that Chronicle Live writer Charlie Bennett waxed lyrical about Longstaff’s fine form, tweeting: “The bloke is a man reborn. Absolute machine in that first half.”

A progressive midfielder, Longstaff ranks among the top 17% of positional peers in Europe’s five main leagues for touches in the attacking box and the top 20% for progressive passes received over the past year, as per FBref. His transitional, forward-thinking approach will be vital in suffocating the Irons and maintaining a vice-like grip on proceedings for Newcastle.

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As such, his inclusion in the starting line-up could prove to be a crucial cog to thread together the collective departments of the team, with his “superb” skill set – as lauded by Ross Gregory – keeping things ticking over and possibly compounding West Ham to further misery.

Howe might be tempted to give Longstaff a breather given the amount of football that he has played this season (he is their third most-used outfield player) and the busy schedule due to their Carabao Cup run, but the 25-year-old is simply playing too well to be left out today.

With Longstaff continuing to thrive in the midfield engine room, West Ham could well be vanquished at St James’ Park as Newcastle keep their excellent momentum going.

West Bromwich Albion enjoyed a relatively quiet January transfer window, but admittedly they were hardly in need of vast reinforcements.

Carlos Corberan had already inherited a relatively strong squad and managed to knit them together into a unit which will now have eyes on a return to the Premier League. Considering where the Baggies lay prior to Steve Bruce’s dismissal, this marks an outstanding turnaround.

There was no need for his Spanish successor to go wild in the transfer market, as it offers unpredictability alongside the potential to upset his finely-tuned machine, although he did supplement the squad with two new arrivals and nearly added a third on deadline day.

It was reported by the Evening Standard that Albion had agreed a deal with Chelsea starlet Omari Hutchinson to join until the end of the season, with the 19-year-old turning down offers from Europe and other Championship clubs in favour of a move to The Hawthorns.

However, according to The Athletic’s Elias Burke, it appeared that complications arose, which in turn led to Karlan Grant’s failed move to Swansea City. As such, both deals could not be completed in time, and the clubs missed out on their respective targets.

This arguably would have been the perfect move for West Brom to make given their current situation, bringing in a super-talented teenager to supplement the likes of John Swift, push them for a place in the team or even offer an instant upgrade to drive the team even closer to their objective of promotion.

The youngster has impressed this season for Chelsea’s youth setup and already boasts two senior appearances, having only moved from Arsenal last summer.

In 14 Premier League 2 appearances, he has notched five goals and a further seven assists. This is further supplemented by his three goal contributions in four EFL Trophy matches. 

His dynamism paired with a fine technical proficiency would have made him an ideal partner for Daryl Dike to play off of, with the American having only recently returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

He has notched two goals in his last three league games and will likely play a big role in their promotion push. His return adds pace and power, as well as the cutting edge that they had been lacking up front, and he would have surely thrived from the service of Hutchinson.

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Graham Potter’s line about the teenager’s performance during a mid-season friendly further outlined exactly what Dike and West Brom will miss out on, with the Chelsea manager saying: “[Hutchinson] was really good, dangerous and asked a question all the time.”

That prying offensive nature could have been the additional spark to add even more goals to a solid West Brom outfit with the Championship’s fourth-best defensive record.

They should still finish in the play-offs without him, but he could have been the vital difference towards going even further and daring to dream of an automatic promotion spot.