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A claim has emerged on Aston Villa and their chances of landing Nicolas Jackson during the upcoming January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Dean Jones has suggested that the Villans have an advantage over fellow Premier League side Newcastle United, as the Magpies are not prioritising a swoop for the forward.

Whereas, according to Mundo Deportivo, via Sport Witness, Unai Emery has urged Villa to snap up the winger from his former team Villarreal during the January window.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said: “I’m not convinced that this is one that Newcastle are actively pursuing right now.

“In that sense, you’d probably edge that if he was to go anywhere, it would be Villa and Emery.”

Leon Bailey upgrade

Aston Villa’s new head coach could land an upgrade on the inconsistent Leon Bailey by securing a deal to sign Jackson in the next transfer window.

The winger endured a rough debut season with the Villans as he averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.75 across 18 appearances in the Premier League in 2021/22. He scored one goal and provided two assists from out wide as he struggled to consistently deliver good performances and end product in the final third.

This season, he has scored three times and provided two assists in 14 outings but his average rating has dropped to 6.73. This suggests that the general standard of his displays has dropped slightly, but he is offsetting that by contributing more at the top end of the pitch.

Jackson, meanwhile, has scored twice and provided two assists in 13 La Liga matches for Villarreal, averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.74.

This comes after the gem, who Josh Bunting once dubbed “exciting”, plundered five goals and seven assists in 25 games in the third tier of Spanish football for his club’s B team during the 2021/22 campaign.

His statistics do not suggest that he would be an immediate or significant upgrade on Bailey but he is a young player with the potential to improve.

The Senegalese forward, who has a £27m release clause, is four years younger than the Aston Villa winger and this means that he has far more time to develop and improve as an attacker.

Jackson almost matching the ex-Bundesliga forward’s statistics at the top level, despite his age, shows that he has the potential to be an upgrade on him in the future, whether that is this season or in one of the upcoming campaigns.

Signing the 21-year-old would be an investment, as well as a signing that could improve the team in the short term if he hits the ground running, and Villa must now swoop ahead of Newcastle to land the magician’s signature.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in signing Enzo Le Fee ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to 90min, the Magpies are one of a number of clubs eyeing up the central midfielder as they consider potential options to bolster their squad at the start of 2023.

The report claims that fellow Premier League side Leicester City are looking at a possible swoop for the gem to replace outbound Youri Tielemans, who is set to leave on a free transfer next summer.

It is stated that Lorient want to tie Le Fee down to a new contract as his current deal is due to expire in the summer of 2024, but West Ham, the Foxes, and Newcastle are all hoping to convince him to make the switch to England instead.

Joe Willock upgrade

Dan Ashworth could land Eddie Howe an upgrade on the former Arsenal central midfielder by securing a deal to sign the French maestro in January.

Willock has enjoyed a solid season in the Premier League so far. He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.82 across 13 appearances in the top-flight but Le Fee has been more than solid as he has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.31 in 13 Ligue 1 outings.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig previously named him as one of Lorient’s “golden” midfielders and once likened him to Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho, while listing his strengths as; pace, passing, vision, technique, ball control, work rate.

He has been more impressive than the Newcastle man from a defensive perspective. Le Fee has made 4.6 tackles and interceptions, whilst winning 51% of his duels, per game this season, whilst Willock has made 1.5 tackles and interceptions and won 42% of his battles.

On the ball, the 22-year-old French machine has created six ‘big chances’ for his teammates and provided 2.9 key passes per game for Lorient – chipping in with two goals along the way.

Willock, meanwhile, has averaged 1.0 key passes and created four ‘big chances’ for Newcastle, whilst failing to score a single goal in 13 appearances.

These statistics suggest that Le Fee, who is one year younger than the Englishman, would be a big upgrade on the 23-year-old for the Magpies. He could offer far more than the ex-Gunner both in terms of the quality he can provide at the top end of the pitch and out of possession, creating opportunities for his teammates and winning the ball back consistently.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ‘back in talks’ with Julen Lopetegui regarding their Premier League managerial vacancy, according to journalist Liam Keen.

The Lowdown: A saga for the ages

Fosun had identified the 56-year-old as their number one target to replace Bruno Lage following his sacking last month, but the former Sevilla boss turned down the opportunity to join due to personal reasons.

Chairman Jeff Shi later released a statement revealing that Steve Davis would remain in charge until 2023 whilst the hunt for a new coach was put on hold, though a remarkable development has now emerged in the last 48 hours.

The Latest: Wolves deal close

Taking to Twitter, Keen confirms that Wolves have now re-entered negotiations to appoint Lopetegui, with an agreement potentially set to be reached prior to the international break.

“Incredible how football works out…Wolves are back in talks with Julen Lopetegui. It’s progressing well and Wolves are hopeful of appointing him before the World Cup break.”

The Verdict: Massive coup?

Should Lopetegui agree to make the move to Molineux, it would be a massive coup for the Old Gold, not only because they tried to land him before but also given his impressive track record.

The Spaniard won 90 and drew 44 of his trophy in 2019/20.

This is exactly the level of consistency and pedigree that Wolves need to bring to the club, and the sooner he’s hired, the more chance he’ll have of being able to turn the side’s form around.

Everton will be looking to continue their current unbeaten run against Manchester United this evening at Goodison Park, with the Toffees having now gone six games without defeat in the Premier League amid what’s been a real uplift in form so far this term.

Aided by a rock-solid defensive unit – which has shipped a league-best record of just seven goals to date – Frank Lampard’s side have appeared much improved in comparison to last season’s overall disappointment, with there now a newfound belief that the club can avoid another relegation scrap this time around.

The upcoming meeting with the Red Devils will no doubt pose a stern test for the Merseysiders – despite United having shipped six goals away to Manchester City last weekend – with the home side likely to need to be at their best in order to get a positive result.

One man who will certainly be hoping to make an impact in that intriguing encounter is summer signing James Garner, with the 21-year-old having arrived from Old Trafford on a £15m deal in the recent window.

Despite having been highly-regarded at his former club – notably earning praise from a certain Jose Mourinho –  the England U21 international was unable to secure a regular, first-team role at the Theatre of Dreams, making just seven senior appearances in all competitions before his recent exit.

The playmaker had spent the past two seasons out on loan at Watford and Nottingham Forest in the second tier, with the youngster’s impressive form last term, in particular, seeing him earn notable plaudits, with ex-Forest teammate Ryan Yates dubbing him an “unbelievable” asset as a result of his stunning set-piece prowess.

The talented starlet scored four goals and provided ten assists in all competitions during the 2021/22 campaign at the City Ground, helping to fire Steve Cooper’s side to promotion as well as enjoy an eye-catching FA Cup run.

Such form unsurprisingly alerted Lampard and co, with the Toffees swiftly pouncing once the £9.9m-rated ace was made available for transfer, with there having been notable surprise – including from the player himself – that United were willing to sanction a permanent exit, such is his undoubted talent.

The 6 foot 1 menace has since been unable to make an appearance for his new club thus far, although tonight’s clash could well be the perfect opportunity for him to be unleashed, with the Englishman likely having a point to prove against his former employers.

Lampard revealed earlier this week that while the player had arrived at Goodison not quite at full fitness, the emerging talent is now “ready to go” moving forward, with the Chelsea icon stating he is “excited” to see Garner in action sooner rather than later.

Against an opposition whom he knows all about, the Birkenhead-born sensation could well prove to be the difference-maker this evening.

Tottenham Hotspur and Fabio Paratici enjoyed a busy transfer window this summer, with the Italian sporting director adding no less than eight fresh faces to Antonio Conte’s first team squad, while also moving 14 of Spurs’ own players on to pastures new – either on a temporary or permanent basis.

One such outgoing player was Joe Rodon, the 24-year-old centre-back who joined Tottenham in a £15m deal in October of 2020, with the Wales international joining Stade Rennais on a season-long loan – with the Ligue 1 side holding a €20m (£17.5m) option to make the defender’s move permanent next summer.

And, while it is true that Rodon failed to ever really make his mark at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – something that is more likely down to the fact the centre-back was awarded just 14 starts over his two-year spell in north London rather than his ability – Paratici’s decision to allow the Welshman to leave the club could already be one the Italian is regretting.

Indeed, despite getting off to something of a slow start in France, the £8.7m-rated talent is now beginning to catch the eye for Rennes – having particularly impressed in the club’s recent victories over Stade Brestois 29 and AJ Auxerre, as well as in the 1-1 draw with Olympique de Marseille on Sunday.

Furthermore, the £24k-per-week defender also appears to be excelling in metrics that would look to make him a perfect fit for Conte’s three-man backline at Spurs, having completed an average of 63.6 passes – at a success rate of 90% – playing an average of 1.3 long balls – at a success rate of 44% – and winning an average of 4.0 duels – at a success rate of 62% – per game.

From these numbers, we can see that the 24-year-old is comfortable when playing out from the back, boasts an eye for a long ball to kickstart a counter-attack and is extremely strong in one vs one defensive situations – with all three of these traits known to be what the 52-year-old Tottenham manager looks for in his centre-backs.

And, seemingly as a direct result of these attributes, Wales manager Rob Page clearly believes that Rodon deserved much more than his reserve role at Spurs, with the 48-year-old stating in comments cited by The Independent earlier this month:

“I hated seeing Joe on the bench every week because he’s such a wonderful talent. I’ve worked with him for years with the U21s and seen his potential. There’s better to come from Joe, believe me, and going out to play games now will help him achieve that.

“He’s obviously done his homework on Rennes and the league. I think it will suit him as he’s got all the attributes of a top-class centre-half. He’s massive for us and he’s never let me down, but you can’t continue to not play because, eventually, it will catch up with you.

“When he’s playing week in and week out and coming into the camp full of confidence he is the complete player. I love to see Joe on the ball and driving forward. Playing out there in that league will give him the opportunity to do that repetitively every week.”

As such, while allowing Rodon to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a temporary basis would have been a move that little would have batted an eyelid at, Paratici’s decision to include a £17.5m option to buy the defender looks to have been a big mistake by the Spurs sporting director.

Indeed, not only does the 24-year-old seem a player who would suit Conte’s style of play down to the ground, but, should he continue his remarkable form in Ligue 1, he will undoubtedly be worth a great deal more than Rennes’ clause at the end of the season – meaning Tottenham have not only let a huge talent slip through their fingers but also a potentially substantial payday.

Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici is a big admirer of Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin, according to football.london’s Alasdair Gold.

The Lowdown: Strong window

Spurs have enjoyed a strong summer transfer window having welcomed seven fresh faces to Hotspur Way.

Unlike previous years when the club have been accused of selling-to-buy, it seems like a major change has taken place in the Lilywhites’ transfer strategy.

Therefore, even when fringe players have been on the cusp of leaving, it has been made imperative that an adequate addition comes in to take their place in the squad.

The Latest: ASM links

With Bryan Gil now expected to join Valencia on loan, Conte has reportedly demanded a direct replacement for the 21-year-old.

As such, reports have emerged linking various wide players with N17 moves in recent weeks.

Gold has weighed in on Tottenham’s possible transfer targets, revealing interest in a number of Premier League players.

And according to his report for football.london, Paratici is a big admirer of Newcastle forward Saint-Maximin.

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The Verdict: Great addition

Recently praised by Magpies boss Eddie Howe for his ‘electric’ performance against Manchester City on Sunday after he contributed two assists in the 3-3 draw, it is easy to see why Conte would want a Premier League proven speedster in his Lilywhites squad.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the Frenchman ranks in the 99th percentile for dribbles completed and in the 87th percentile for progressive carries – illustrating his ability to terrorise defences at ease.

With Spurs now looking to build upon the strong foundations of their current squad, the addition of Saint-Maximin at Hotspur Way would provide fantastic depth and quality, sparking fierce competition amongst the attacking ranks at N17.

West Ham United manager David Moyes faces something of a selection headache ahead of his team’s Premier League curtain-raiser on Sunday afternoon.

The Hammers host reigning champions Manchester City at the London Stadium and the Scottish manager will be hoping to cause an upset against the title holders.

After what can only be described as a successful 2021/22 season, Moyes has a tough task on his hands replicating a Europa League semi-final and a seventh-placed finish.

His summer additions have certainly bolstered his squad, with the arrival of Gianluca Scamacca answering the prayers of those who had begged for some much-needed competition for Michail Antonio at centre-forward.

However, one man who must be unleashed on Sunday is £30m signing Said Benrahma, who offered glimpses of his talents throughout the most recent campaign.

Making the step up from the Championship for such a large fee may have provided something of a burden for the player, but entering his third season at the London Stadium off the back of scoring eight Premier League goals last term suggests that he could be a crucial presence for the Irons in 2022/23.

Moyes is inundated with tricky attacking talent, with Pablo Fornals, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini all vying for starting berths

With more league goals than Lanzini (five) and Fornals (six) in 2021/22, the Algerian has certainly earned an opportunity to cement his place in Moyes’ side.

Capable of operating on either flank, he offers an unpredictability and a silkiness on the ball which marks him out from his team-mates. Averaging 6.21 progressive carries combined with 3.07 shot-creating actions per 90 last season outlines him as a constant threat for opposition full-backs.

Labelled an “outstanding player” by Nathan Judah, the £58k-per-week winger can finally start to establish himself as a high-quality Premier League player after two years at this level and a steady increase on his one goal in his debut top-flight season.

Having recently secured the signing of Maxwel Cornet, although the Ivorian is unlikely to have been registered in time, Benrahma also needs a stage to prove why he should be guaranteed one of the wide attacking berths in West Ham’s strongest XI along with Bowen, who seems a certain starter after he top-scored for the club in 2021/22.

The 26-year-old simply must be unleashed on Sunday to offer a silkiness which could dumbfound City’s defence and give the Hammers a chance of hitting them on the counter and snatching a result in this fixture for the second time in four months.

As West Ham’s third-highest scorer from last season, Benrahma can certainly be a game-changer for Moyes.

Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed that an Arsenal exit for Bernd Leno is now ‘looking good’.

The Lowdown: Sell to buy?

Mikel Arteta admitted in a press conference last week that his squad is ‘large’, and hinted that the North London club has to start moving players on ‘very soon’ before thinking about bringing in any more signings (Metro).

The likes of Alex Runarsson, Pablo Mari, Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Reiss Nelson make up a sizeable 32-man squad having each had loan spells away from the Emirates Stadium last season, and with a 25-man squad limit in the Premier League, the feeling is that these players need to be moved on, alongside one or two others, in order to free up space for more arrivals.

The Latest: Leno exit?

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg has revealed that an exit for Leno is now ‘looking good’, with ‘positive movements’ in talks between the club and Fulham for his signature:

“News #Leno: Been told that its looking good now. Positive movements in the negotiations between Fulham and Arsenal. But it’s not a done deal yet. But an agreement is expected. Verbal agreement since weeks and as reported excl.”

The Verdict: Right call

Having signed goalkeeper Matt Turner to provide cover for Aaron Ramsdale, Leno’s game time would likely be very limited this season, and so it is now time to move him on.

The Germany international remains one of AFC’s highest earners on £100,000-per-week, and it would be sensible for them to get his wages off of their books on top of a sizeable transfer fee.

Nonetheless, his departure could pave way for another new signing, with Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko having already joined Turner at the Emirates.

Nottingham Forest are willing to battle Everton for the signing of Wolfsburg youngster Aster Vranckx this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

The Lowdown: Vranckx impresses for Wolfsburg

The 19-year-old burst onto the scene in Germany last season, making an impressive 24 appearances in the Bundesliga, scoring twice in the competition.

Vranckx has been watched by both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola in the past, which highlights the reputation he has as an exciting young prospect.

The midfielder still isn’t without suitors and it could be that a move to the Premier League is on the cards this summer.

The Latest: Forest ready to battle Everton

According to journalist Loic Tanzi on Twitter [via Sport Witness], both Forest and Everton ‘advance’ in regards to their interest in snapping up Vranckx.

The pair both ‘hope to sign’ the talented Belgian before the start of the new season.

The Verdict: One for the present and future

Vranckx looks like a huge prospect – he has three caps to his name for Belgium’s Under-21s – and it would be exciting to see Forest acquire his services this summer.

He possesses the technical quality to thrive in a Steve Cooper side – he also averaged 1.4 tackles per game in the league last season – and his playing time in the Bundesliga last season proves that he can cut it in a top European league.

Granted, Vranckx would necessarily come in as an immediate starter, but he could be a strong squad player who matures into a key man as the years pass.

Tottenham Hotspur want to sign Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet as quickly as possible, according to a report from Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Career so far

Signed for £31.7million from La Liga rivals Sevilla in 2018 (Sky Sports), Lenglet has largely been a regular feature during his time at the Camp Nou.

The 27-year-old senior France international has made 159 outings for the Catalan giants, lifting the top-flight title, Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup in his four years at the club.

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However, as cash-strapped Barca attempt to resolve their financial issues, Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma have been linked with a move for Lenglet as he fell down the pecking order last season, playing just over 800 minutes of league action.

Tottenham have also been linked, and the Catalan press believe they are now pressing ahead into pole position.

The latest: Spurs in pole

As per Barca-based outlet Sport, translated by SW, Tottenham are believed to be the ‘firm candidate’ to sign the 15-cap ace on loan this summer.

It’s claimed that Spurs ‘hope to be able to formalise an agreement in the coming days’ as Antonio Conte opens dialogue with Lenglet over making the switch to north London.

Valued at £10.8million and under contract until 2026 (Transfermarkt), the man hailed as ‘world class’ by France national team manager Didier Deschamps will need to take a pay cut to make a deal happen.

The verdict: Quality

Despite an upturn in performances from Eric Dier and Ben Davies in particular under Conte, the central defensive department remains in need of reinforcements to solidify the position alongside Cristian Romero.

Last term, Lenglet – who shares a close stylistic likeness to star names such as Niklas Sule, Dayot Upamecano and Alessandro Bastoni (Fbref) – made just 27 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona, so he may even be happy to come in and fight for a place alongside Davies and Dier.

Already boasting the experience of 42 UEFA Champions League outings, the Frenchman would be the ideal candidate to improve Tottenham’s play out from the back, ranking 99th percentile for progressive passes and carries amongst centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues.