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Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Raphael Guerreiro to Elland Road.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by TEAMtalk, who claim that Victor Orta is planning on making an offer to the 28-year-old this January, when the Borussia Dortmund left-back will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a new side.

Indeed, should the Portugal international fail to sign a new deal at Signal Iduna Park prior to the turn of the year, he will be able to discuss terms with a new suitor, as his current contract with the Bundesliga outfit is set to expire at the end of the season.

However, the report goes on to state that Leeds are not alone in their interest, with Juventus also believed to be in the running, although the Italian side are said to also be keen on Benfica’s Alex Grimaldo – meaning Orta could have a free run at Guerreiro.

Unreal signing

Considering just how impressive Guerreiro has consistently been for Dortmund in recent years, coupled with Jesse Marsch being short for choice at left-back currently, the argument that signing the Portuguese full-back on a free transfer would be an unreal deal for Orta to pull off is an extremely easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 204 appearances for the German side, the £17.5m-rated talent has been a near-continuous creative and attacking threat for BvB, scoring 37 goals and providing his teammates with 39 assists – averaging a direct goal contribution every 196 minutes of football played for the Bundesliga outfit, a remarkable return for a left-back.

Furthermore, the £58k-per-week defender’s attacking inclination is clear to see in his FBref rankings, with the database listing the 28-year-old in the top 2% of full-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the top 4% for non-penalty xG, the top 4% for shots, the top 17% for assists and the top 24% for shot-creating actions over the last 365 days.

The 56-cap international also impresses in possession of the ball, with FBref also ranking Guerreiro in the top 11% of full-backs for passes attempted per 90, in addition to the top 19% for pass completion, the top 7% for progressive passes, the top 14% for dribbles completed and the top 28% for touches in the opposition penalty area over the past 12 months.

These metrics see FBref compare the former FC Lorient starlet to some of the leading full-backs currently playing the game, such as Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez.

As such, with the player who Jude Bellingham claimed “rings around everyone” very much appearing to be an elite-level full-back, coupled with Junior Firpo’s well-documented struggles both on and off the pitch since his £13m move from Barcelona last summer, the “unreal” Guerreiro would indeed look to be an excellent signing for Orta to get over the line in January.

A claim has emerged on Aston Villa boss Unai Emery and his interest in signing Pau Torres from his former club Villarreal…

What’s the talk?

During a Q&A (14/11/22) for the Birmingham Mail, journalist Ashley Preece has revealed that the Spanish head coach wants to sign the central defender but that he may not be able to until next summer.

When asked about whether or not there are “legs” to the club’s reported interest in the £40m-rated defender, he replied:

“Pau Torres, of course there is, Villarreal’s standout player and one Emery rates highly.

“He’d love to bring him to Villa Park but, should Villa firm up their interest, it won’t be, I feel, until the summer. Emery will continue to work with what he’s got defensively at the moment. Konsa and Mings have been great value these past weeks. Chambers struggled at OT… Diego Carlos will return early 2023 (Emery likes him).

“But you’re right, Emery likes his defenders to start attacks, Torres can do that and he would be seen as an upgrade on what we’ve got. One to watch, that one.”

It would be a masterstroke

Emery using his contacts at Villarreal to secure a deal to sign Torres, whether it happens in the January transfer window or next summer, would be a masterstroke by the Spaniard.

One of the benefits of bringing in a manager of his reputation, with the career that he has had, is that he could have the pull to convince signings to potentially take a step down, if they are playing in Europe elsewhere, to join the project at Villa Park if he has worked with them before.

Torres coming in as a result of his pre-existing relationship with the defensive titan would, therefore, be a masterstroke by Emery, and by the club for bringing the manager in to replace Steven Gerrard.

The Villarreal centre-back ranks in the 87th and 95th percentile among players in his position over the last 365 days in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes made and dribbles completed respectively per 90.

Meanwhile, current central defenders Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings both rank in the 57th percentile or lower in these statistics in the Premier League.

This suggests that Torres would be a major upgrade on Villa’s current options in that area of the pitch and would be a better fit for what Emery wants from his defenders, as he is more adept at bringing the ball out from the back and passing into forward areas.

The Spain international averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.09 in La Liga last season and won 66% of his individual duels, which shows that he can deliver consistently brilliant defensive displays, dominating opposition attackers, whilst also offering quality in possession.

Therefore, bringing him in would be a masterstroke by Villa and Emery and the club must simply ensure that they can get a deal over the line for the centre-back in one of the next two windows.

Arsenal are looking to bolster Mikel Arteta’s playing squad in January in a bid to keep their early season form ticking into the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

The north London giants head into Christmas atop the Premier League standings after an electric few months that has seen them put the heartache of missing out on Champions League football last term well and truly behind them.

However, everything is at risk of crashing down if the Spaniard were to suffer a couple of injuries in key areas of the squad – someone like Granit Xhaka or Gabriel Jesus being sidelined for a long period of time could have devastating consequences due to the lack of strength in depth.

That’s largely because the Gunners are still on their journey of rebuilding, though adding a couple of strong options at the turn of the year could really turn them into title contenders.

One name that has emerged on newly-appointed sporting director Edu Gaspar’s shortlist appears to be Marcus Thuram of Borussia Monchengladbach.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano earlier in the week, Arsenal now have a “big opportunity” to sign the 25-year-old – who is representing France at the World Cup currently – because he isn’t going to extend his contract with the Bundesliga outfit, thus making him a bargain signing in January.

90min have also suggested that the north Londoners are keen admirers of Thuram but face stiff competition from arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, as well as other top-flight clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool.

The Italy-born Frenchman will be available for absolutely nothing next summer, thanks to his expiring deal, and is currently valued at €30m (£26m) by Transfermarkt.

Some reports have suggested that he would cost as little as €10m (£8.7m) in January, so it would be foolish for Edu and co not to make a move.

Adding a versatile and exciting talent for nearly a third of his true worth would be something of a transfer masterclass, and one that would benefit Arteta hugely.

Indeed, Thuram can play on the flank and through the middle, where he has notched 13 goals and four assists across 17 appearances this campaign, as per Transfermarkt.

The 6 foot 4 dynamo has previously caught the eye of Arsenal’s legendary stalwart Arsene Wenger, who compared him to another club great in Thierry Henry, which should come as little surprise given the similarities in stature, position and nationality.

“Thierry Henry had the timing of the smartest footballers. He was also very strong physically, and technically he could do everything,” the veteran told Der Spiegel back in 2020. “In fact, there’s a player in the Bundesliga who reminds me of him – Marcus Thuram from Borussia Monchengladbach.”

The prospect of signing another Henry should be too good to ignore, particularly for a paltry fee of just £8.7m.

Not just that, though, as Arteta cannot expect the likes of Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli to play every game, with the Gunners still in the knockout stages of the Europa League too.

As such, Thuram could become the perfect foil for someone like Jesus heading into 2023.

His average of 3.03 shot-creating actions and 1.72 successful dribbles per 90, which sees him rank within the top 22% and the top 8% of his positional peers across Europe’s elite divisions (via FBref), would suggest that he could add way more than just goals to this Arsenal side.

The dynamic Gladbach gem – once described as a “physical monster” by Herve Renard – could be an ideal signing in January and one that could bring shades of Henry back to the red side of north London.

AND in other news, Edu must ruthlessly bin “shocking” £75k-p/w Arsenal dud, he’s “just not good enough”…

Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu has been praised for his latest World Cup performance after Ghana secured a 3-2 win over South Korea. 

The Lowdown: Ghana beat South Korea

Ghana picked up their first win of the tournament this afternoon after losing 3-2 to Portugal in their opening game last week.

Otto Addo’s side went in 2-0 up at the interval, only for a brace from Cho Gue-sung to draw the scores level just after the hour mark.

With Mohammed Kudus grabbing his second goal of the game to secure the three points for his country, it was another Ghanaian that also found himself on the end of some heavy praise after the game.

The Latest: Praise for Salisu

Following the dramatic win for Ghana, journalist Ben Jacobs had this to say in a Twitter post on the match and Salisu’s efforts, describing the Saints man as ‘immense’.

“A pulsating game and a stunning win for Ghana. Mohammed Kudus with a brace and a goal from Mohammed Salisu, who was immense in his own box, too. The lowest-ranked side at the World Cup making waves.”

The Verdict: A big performance from Salisu

In addition to opening the scoring for his side, Salisu also found himself doing plenty of important work at the back as Jacobs mentioned.

Having made nine clearances in the game and one off his own goal line, the Saints star also blocked two shots and won five of the nine duels he was involved in.

This performance ultimately earned the £23k-per-week centre-back a strong overall match rating of 7.7/10 from SofaScore, leaving Kudus (8.1/10) as the only Ghana player with a higher rating.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that the defender played a massive part in seeing his nation pick up their first victory of the tournament.

Moving forward, with Ghana taking on Uruguay for their final group game of the tournament, Salisu will undoubtedly be hoping that he can help his side out again and pick up another potential victory.

Arsenal want to ‘join the race’ to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

The Lowdown: Selected by Santos

The Premier League veteran had his contract at Manchester United terminated by mutual consent following a series of off-field incidents last month, making him a free agent for any potential suitors interested.

The Portuguese striker is currently in Qatar having been named in Fernando Santos’ 26-man squad for the World Cup, and the Gunners are already considering making an approach if a fresh update is to be believed.

The Latest: Arsenal eyeing Ronaldo

Taking to Twitter, Galetti claimed that Arsenal are interested in bringing Ronaldo to the Emirates Stadium and are plotting to ‘convince’ the superstar to join.

“Arsenal would like to join the race for CR7. The club will try to convince the player, who already have on the table many options.

“As told, Cristiano Ronaldo will decide his future only after the WorldCup in Qatar.”

The Verdict: Jesus alternative?

Gabriel Jesus has recently been ruled out of action until the New Year through injury, so Ronaldo could be the perfect alternative to take his place.

United’s former talisman has racked up an astonishing 924 goal contributions in 949 appearances throughout his career and can operate on both flanks as well as at centre-forward (Transfermarkt).

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently top of the table after a blistering start to the season, and with the opportunity to secure silverware real, there’s no reason why Ronaldo wouldn’t want to join.

Newcastle United’s untold riches are no secret to the rest of the world, with their takeover arguably one of the news stories of last year.

However, as is often the way with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City, when the world knows how rich you are, you are forced to pay a premium price.

This seemed to be the case in the summer, where the Magpies had two bids for Leeds United winger Jack Harrison knocked back before the Whites slapped a £35m price tag on him.

They have now been backed to finalise this move using the promise this project brings, with Alan Hutton speaking to Football Insider just last week: “I think if Newcastle come calling, somewhere that you can see what they are doing they are trying to build something, you would definitely want to be a part of that”.

Should this move become a reality, the Toon Army could be treated to two industrious and electric wingers by placing the 26-year-old on the opposite flank to Miguel Almiron.

A man reborn this season, the Paraguayan has already surpassed any of his previous three-goal tallies in the Premier League, and has nearly scored more league goals in one season than in his whole career at St James’ Park.

Having always been workmanlike, as noted by Noel Whelan, it seems the added proficiency has taken his game to new heights.

He claimed: “We always knew he was a hard-working player, but it was just the end product which always let him down.

“But looking at the goals he’s scored this season – and the goal he scored on Saturday, latching on and taking advantage of poor defending – it seems he’s finally added that.”

His sum of eight goals has equalled Harrison’s tally from last season’s relegation dogfight, who too has been praised for his relentlessness in the tackle.

Former footballer David Prutton claimed back in September that “he is good going forward but he works his socks off going back too.”

This is further outlined in his four goal contributions this season, whilst also ranking in the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers for tackles per 90 over the last 365 days.

Eddie Howe could craft himself a perfect scenario of wide men, blending proficiency with a tireless attitude that truly could see Newcastle maintain their sensational form this season.

England and penalties. Two words that will spark fear in the eyes of many across the country.Throw in two more words – major tournament – and that fear gets even larger. There is a reason the Three Lions haven’t won anything since 1966 and on a night inside the Al Bayt Stadium, Qatar, that wait would grow even longer.This may have been a crushing defeat, but at the same time, it left many feeling proud of England. There hasn’t been mass hysteria in the press, pundits were also glowing of Gareth Southgate’s men at full-time.That might not be a trophy but it’s an achievement in itself.Of years gone by, this national team has been vilified, thrown under the bus and told not to even come back to England.There was a night in France six years ago when they tasted their worst defeat at a major tournament yet, as Roy Hodgson’s side were disgraced by minnows Iceland.There was no embarrassment this time. England had been the better team against none other than the World Champions. However, sport isn’t fair.You’d have put your mortgage on Tottenham striker Harry Kane scoring a penalty if required. You’d have gleefully turned your car in, given your savings away. Perhaps even your firstborn. And indeed after the striker found the net from one spot kick against clubmate Hugo Lloris, you’d have done that all over again after Mason Mount had been bundled over late on.Up stepped the Spurs star again, but this time the ball flew into the Qatar sky never to be seen again.Yes, the man you’d just given away your house for had missed a penalty. It was the biggest of his career, it was a spot kick that would have earned him England immortality. He had already equalled Wayne Rooney’s Three Lions record on the night and had this found the back of the net, he’d be the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer.That day will inevitably come for the Tottenham man, just on a less grand stage than a World Cup quarter-final.Kane hadn’t struggled in the opening rounds of the tournament as England’s star man, but he will leave the Middle East behind with just two goals to his name. It’s unlikely many will remember them in two years’ time at the Euros, but this team must bounce back and quickly. They will learn from the experience and surely in 18 months’ time, they will be in an even stronger place to win a tournament.The striker will primarily hold most of the responsibility for their exit last night but he cannot shoulder it all. It feels harsh to play the blame game. Kyle Walker did a good job against Kylian Mbappe. Jordan Henderson ran himself into the ground. Bukayo Saka gave Theo Hernandez a rough night and Jude Bellingham was constantly on the front foot.Yet, when it mattered, Harry Maguire became a cause for concern again. His selection for this competition had always been controversial and until last night he had arguably been England’s best defender in Qatar.As ever, he was a set-piece threat in the final third and defensively, looked largely untroubled in what was a revival period for the Manchester United man.Sadly, he was the man who lost Olivier Giroud who scored what would be the decisive goal in Al Khor on Saturday evening.

The AC Milan man, who enjoyed spells in England with Arsenal and Chelsea, had become France’s record scorer over the last few weeks, defeating none other than Thierry Henry and his strike this weekend was perhaps typical given his own history in the United Kingdom.

He was left open by Maguire behind inside the box as the French forward evaded his marker before guiding the ball beyond Jordan Pickford.

This moment perhaps summed up Maguire’s form throughout 2022. Indeed, one pundit even said it was a “huge mistake” to take him this autumn. Cast aside at his club, it is for errors such as these that he hasn’t been trusted by Erik ten Hag. The mistake was perhaps not as high profile as it could have been but the way he left Giroud free was inexcusable.

He left Pickford with no chance and penalty miss or not, must shoulder some of the blame for last night after his 101 touches on the night.

That said, Maguire deserves another chance, whether it be at Old Trafford or in Southgate’s ranks. He is still one of the nation’s best centre-backs and often does not deserve such harsh criticism.

For most of the tournament, he was a pillar at the back while his bullish nature at the opposite end of the pitch meant he put fear into the eyes of many. Sadly for the defender, there was no such fear in Giroud’s eyes on Saturday night. Rather, there was glee and happiness.

As England fly home, few would bet against France becoming just the third team after Brazil and Italy to retain the famous trophy.

Despite West Ham United splashing out £35.5m in the summer to sign Gianluca Scamacca, the east London club have scored just 12 goals in the Premier League so far this season.

The Italian striker hasn’t exactly settled at the London Stadium, scoring just two league goals before the World Cup break, and with this in mind, David Moyes might turn to the January transfer market for other solutions.

Indeed, the Irons have been linked with a move for Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres, and with the Championship club in a precarious financial situation, Moyes may be able to land the 24-year-old for a bargain price.

Gyokeres has already scored nine times in the league this season, which is more than any other West Ham player has managed in the top flight, and Hammers urgently need someone who can provide an attacking spark.

The Sweden international could be the ideal option for Moyes, especially with his physical attributes – according to FBRef’s similar player model, Gyokeres is the first-most comparable player to Brazilian powerhouse Hulk.

This season, the two strikers have registered similar statistics when it comes to shots on target (both 24), goal-creating actions (8 to 6), shot-creating actions per match (4.22 to 3.48), and goals scored (12 to 9).

Being compared to a player such as Hulk – who has scored an impressive 369 goals throughout his career – shows that Gyokeres is firmly heading in the right direction, and the Premier League is the next logical move for him.

Coventry manager Mark Robins has lavished praise on the player, saying: “He has some unbelievable ability – power, technique. He has got everything in his locker and that desire and hunger to score goals, and he’s also got a really angry side as well…”.

Judging by these comments, Moyes could land himself a striker in Gyokeres who can succeed at the highest level; and with his current attacking options not exactly setting the world on fire, a January move for the Swedish striker would be most welcome for West Ham.

Arsenal have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Brazilian winger Tete in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Winger wanted

The Gunners have been linked with moves for the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk and FC Barcelona’s Ferran Torres in January, suggesting that they want to bring in a new winger to add to their forward options.

Adding to the injury to Gabriel Jesus, it has also been reported that Emile Smith Rowe will not be ready to face West Ham United on Boxing Day, so Mikel Arteta could do with strengthening his attacking options in January to help cover for injuries.

The Latest: Tete offered

Co-writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that the North Londoners, like a number of other Premier League clubs, have been offered the chance to sign Tete on loan in January, with a view to a permanent move.

The winger is technically contracted to Shakhtar Donetsk, like Mudryk, but has spent the last six months at Lyon after FIFA suspended the contracts of all foreign players in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s invasion.

The system was extended into the 2022/23 campaign, allowing Tete to continue his career in France.

West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have also been offered his signature, although it is unclear whether they would be willing to meet the 22-year-old’s demands.

The Verdict: Cheaper alternative

Tete would certainly be a cheaper alternative to the likes of Mudryk and Torres, given that the Emirates Stadium outfit would only have to sign him on loan.

Nicknamed ‘Hurricane’ in his homeland, he has been backed to be a ‘big star’ by Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin, having recorded 46 goal contributions in 108 games for Shakhtar, as well as 15 in 24 matches while on loan at Lyon (Transfermarkt).

Tete also shares a similar playing style to Arsenal and England star boy Bukayo Saka, so could prove to be an exciting new addition to Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal are currently leading the race to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that Arsenal’s ‘interest is confirmed’ in the SS Lazio central midfielder, with Edu said to have already held ‘talks with the agent’ of the 27-year-old.

The report goes on to suggest that the Gunners are ‘considered in pole position in the race’ to sign the Serbia international this winter, before adding that, if a deal cannot be struck with the Serie A side in January, Edu is likely to return in the summer.

Finally, it is claimed that, while Milinkovic-Savic did reject Arsenal in the past, Mikel Arteta’s side have now been ‘reconsidered’ by the playmaker, with Lazio said to be looking for a figure in the region of €50m (£44m) in order to part with the midfielder.

He’s the “same level as Kevin De Bruyne”

Considering the quite incredible returns Milinkovic-Savic has achieved during his time with Lazio, coupled with central midfield undoubtedly being one area of the pitch in which Arsenal are lacking any real strength in depth, the argument that the 27-year-old would make a fantastic addition to Arteta’s table-topping side this winter is an extremely easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 14 Serie A appearances so far this season, the £53m-rated talent has been in astonishing attacking form, having already scored three goals, registered seven assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.5 shots, making 1.4 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

The £101k-per-week midfielder has also caught the eye in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.8 tackles, one interception, 1.6 clearances and winning 7.1 duels – at a success rate of 55% – per match, in addition to playing an average of 2.7 long balls and completing 39.9 passes – at a success rate of 79% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the Spain-born playmaker average a quite breathtaking Sofascore match rating of 7.40, not only ranking him as Maurizio Sarri’s best performer in the league but also as the second-best player in the top flight of Italian football as a whole – playing a key role in fourth-placed Lazio get off to an exceptional start to the 2022/23 campaign.

Furthermore, according to FBref, Milinkovic-Savic currently ranks in the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the top 5% for shots, the top 2% for assists, the top 3% for touches in the opposition penalty area and the top 6% for aerials won – demonstrating just how deadly the 27-year-old is going forwards.

So impressive has the Serbian star been this year that Ciro Immobile – the midfielder’s teammate at Lazio – went as far as to compare Milinkovic-Savic to Manchester City maestro Kevin De Bruyne, with the Italy international stating earlier this season:

“Trust me, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is magic. He’s on the same level as Kevin de Bruyne.”

And, considering the extraordinary returns the Lazio talisman has achieved in 2022/23, this comparison will not come as a surprise to anyone with a half-decent knowledge of the game, while the prospect of Arsenal landing their own version of De Bruyne for just £44m this winter will undoubtedly be an extremely exciting prospect for everyone involved with the club.