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Chelsea are languishing down in tenth place in the Premier League after wayward form and detrimental injuries have hampered their season, and reinforcements are needed…

What’s the word?

Arsenal have been the favourites to sign Shakhtar Donetsk flanker Mykhaylo Mudryk this season, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently confirming news that the Ukrainian giants’ director Darijo Srna was in England to discuss avenues with both the Gunners and Chelsea.

And now, according to The Guardian, Blues boss Graham Potter is ‘hopeful’ that a deal can be forged in the coming weeks, with Stamford Bridge in dire need of a saving grace to steer them away from mid-table obscurity and back towards the peak of the Premier League mountain. 

Mudryk is one of the hottest talents on the pitch right now, but with Shakhtar rejecting Arsenal’s first two transfer bids for their phenom’s services, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that a mammoth move is needed to pull him away from his outfit this January.

He’s a “special talent”

Since emerging into prominence last season, the 22-year-old Mudryk has since been burgeoning into his own, now a wily winger capable of devastating any defence erected in front of him.

His ten goals and eight assists from just 18 appearances this season certainly take the highlight reel, but his marvellous blend of breezing runs and direct take-ons against his opponents have raised eyebrows in adulation, with his style deemed perfect to flourish on English soil with a title-challenging club. 

And with five direct contributions in this year’s Champions League edition – including two strikes against Celtic – his influence is expanding by the match. 

Complementing his dazzling goal record, FBref ranks the “baller”, as lauded by Sacha Pisani, within the top 3% for attacking midfielders and wingers for dribbles completed, the top 7% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 8% for progressive passes received. 

This indicates that his prolific displays are no fluke; with onus on laughing up the pitch and getting into dangerous positions with regularity, Mudryk is a consistent threat in and around the box, a thorn piercing his enemy’s sides with his multi-faceted blend of striking and creativity. 

His blossoming abilities on the pitch would be bolstered further if the Blues’ technical director Christopher Vivell succeeds in the pursuit of fellow January target Enzo Fernandez, who has been at the centre of intense transfer speculation regarding a move to west London.

Crowned the Best Young Player at the 2022 World Cup, Fernandez recorded an average Sofascore rating of 7.10 in Qatar, completing 89% of his passes and making 0.9 key chances per match as he clinched world glory with Argentina.

His assurance as the engine in the middle, and eye for instigating a promising forward transition, would serve Mudryk well indeed, and with both players tending to occupy the left side of the pitch, the partnership could thread together without seam.

While Donetsk are reportedly holding out for £85m, persistence in negotiations might persuade the club to cash in on their player for a lucrative fee, and Chelsea boast the affluence to complete such a deal. 

 Last year, presenter Joe Flemons hailed the ace as a “very special talent”, and it’s abundantly clear that he is indeed a prodigy capable of ascending to the very top of the game, and Chelsea would be an excellent stomping ground to nurture his skill-set.

An update has emerged on Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey and his fitness ahead of the club’s clash with Wolves in the Premier League…

What’s the latest?

Birmingham Live journalist Ashley Preece has all but ruled the academy graduate out of being in contention to feature in the clash at Villa Park tonight.

Responding to a fan’s question about the dynamo’s injury situation on Tuesday, the reporter replied:

“Jacob Ramsey a big doubt for tomorrow [Wednesday]. Can’t see him making it.”

Unai Emery was unable to confirm whether or not the youngster would be fit enough to play in the match during his pre-match press conference, saying:

“He is so close. He’s starting to try and be with us this week. I don’t know exactly if he can take some minutes against Wolverhampton or next week in the FA Cup. I don’t know.”

Bad news for Emery?

This update should spell bad news for the Villa head coach as the midfielder has not been available for selection since the friendly against Cardiff during the break for the 2022 World Cup.

Emery has only managed the young gem for two Premier League matches, which resulted in wins against Manchester United and Brighton, and it appears as though he will need to wait even longer for the third.

Ramsey scored once and assisted two goals in his three games with the Spaniard in charge, including the EFL Cup defeat to United, and his continued absence is a blow to Villa in spite of their win over Tottenham last time out.

The 21-year-old, who scored six goals in the top-flight last term, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.88 across 15 outings in the Premier League this season.

He has been a reliable performer in the middle of the park and has proven, with his aforementioned contributions in attack, that he can be a match-winner by providing a goal or an assist.

Ramsey is also a combative midfielder who can win the ball back for his side and this is evidenced by his 3.0 tackles and interceptions per match, whilst he has also won 51% of his individual duels.

These statistics show that he is a box-to-box engine who has the potential to be the difference for Villa in tight matches and that is why his injury issue should be a frustrating one for Emery.

The Spaniard should want to have the England U21 international available for action because of the quality he can provide when he is fit to play.

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.

Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Brighton and Hove Albion sensation Leandro Trossard of late, following the Belgian’s sparkling start to the new season.

What’s the word?

Recent reports have claimed that the 28-year-old is on the Magpies’ list of targets ahead of the January transfer window, with the forward facing something of an uncertain future at the Amex with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

While the Seagulls do have the option of extending that contract by a further 12 months, rumours are swirling that the 24-cap marksman could be set for pastures new sooner rather than later, with a reunion with former boss Graham Potter at Chelsea having also been mooted.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – has now provided his thoughts regarding a potential move to bring the winger to St James’ Park, with the journalist suggesting that it could well be an attractive addition as far as manager Eddie Howe is concerned.

He stated: “I think Trossard would be a really good fit. I can see why he’s being mentioned, and I could see that being the sort of player that Eddie Howe would welcome to the club.

“He’s young, he’s already an international player, he’s played in the Premier League before and he ticks a lot of boxes.”

Newcastle’s own Foden

The former Genk ace – who arrived in England on a £15m deal in 2019 – is a player no doubt familiar to the northeast side’s sporting director Dan Ashworth due to the latter man’s Brighton connections.

The Englishman could well utilise that relationship to try and get the 5 foot 7 menace through the door in the New Year, with Trossard having warranted such interest amid his “unreal” displays of late, as described by pundit Rio Ferdinand.

Amid what has been a fine start to the season for Roberto De Zerbi’s side – with the south coast outfit currently seventh in the table – the £42.5k-per-week maestro has arguably been the standout presence, scoring seven times and laying on three assists in just 14 top-flight outings to take his total tally at the club to 25 goals and 14 assists in 118 games.

That record has seen him mirror Manchester City starlet Phil Foden’s start to the campaign, as the Englishman also has seven goals and three assists to his name in the league, with the pair also said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

Not only do the two men typically operate off the left flank, but they are also alike as a result of their willingness to make things happen in the final third, with Trossard ranking in the top 15% for touches in the attacking penalty area among those in his position in Europe, while Foden also ranks in the top 15% for the same metric.

The pair are also clinical figures in attack from their wide berth, as the Brighton ace averages 0.41 non-penalty goals per 90, while his City counterpart averages slightly ahead at 0.46 per 90 in that regard.

To be compared to the Three Lions ace is some praise indeed, with the Etihad starlet having notably been dubbed a “generational talent” by pundit Gary Neville, after scoring 53 goals and 36 assists in 189 games and winning a plethora of major honours for the champions to date.

Should Newcastle be able to land their own Foden-esque talent in the form of Trossard it would certainly be a huge coup for the club, with Ashworth needing to do all he can to win the race for the player’s signature.

West Ham United could be set to reignite their interest in a long-standing forward target…

What’s the latest?

According to reports in Spain (via Sport Witness), David Moyes made several unsuccessful attempts to acquire the services of Youssef En-Nesyri back in 2021.

Despite knocking them all back, Sevilla are now willing to sell, with the Morocco international reportedly willing to accept a move in January.

Should he excel in the coming World Cup, he would extend his number of suitors that currently sits at just a ‘good lineup’ at the moment. The Irons will surely be included given their emergence throughout the report.

Scamacca alternative

Although En-Nesyri has endured a poor start to the season, the 25-year-old still boasts two goals in just four Champions League games this term.

He has shown his goalscoring prowess in the past, however, and despite having yet to recapture it, his 24-goal campaign during the 2020/21 season still clearly remains fresh in the memory.

It must be the driving factor towards Moyes’ continued pursuit, with his thinking likely being that with the presence of Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio, there would be far less pressure on the Sevilla striker who has faltered for form ever since.

Also, with the six-foot-three marksman poised to spearhead his country at Qatar, there is hope that he can build upon his 14 international goals in 49 caps.

Former Arsenal hitman Kevin Campbell has been vocal in his praise for En-Nesyri in the past, as he lauded him with the following praise: “Good player, really good. For me, he would definitely come in and carry a threat.

“I will tell you that much. He will carry a threat top end of the pitch. He has good size, speed, knows where the goal is, he is skilful.”

Boasting the varied skillset mentioned by Campbell, the left-footed wizard ranks in the top 8% for interceptions and the top 14% for total shots of forwards in Europe’s big five leagues over the last 365 days.

He clearly boasts the tactical proficiency and physical assets to lead an effective press too, and could likely help enhance West Ham’s underperforming Italian alongside Antonio.

With vast Champions League experience too and soon to have even more World Cup appearances under his belt, he would move to east London full of experience and with a devilish potential just waiting to be unleashed.

Son Heung-Min watched LAFC's Leagues Cup victory over Tigres UANL at the team's BMO Stadium ahead of his record-breaking move to the club.

• Spurs star leaving for MLS
• Watches new club LAFC beat Tigres UNAL
• Will join in record MLS transfer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Son confirmed he would be leaving Tottenham after a decade at the club during the team's tour of Asia and played his final game for the club in front of his adoring fans in South Korea against Newcastle. The 33-year-old is now expected to complete a record-breaking transfer to MLS and was in attendance to watch new side LAFC beat Tigres UNAL on Tuesday. 

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Son is expected to be announced as a new LAFC player at a news conference on Wednesday. LAFC will reportedly splash out around $26 million (£19.5m) to land Son, beating the previous MLS transfer record paid by Atalanta for Emmanuel Latte Lath. Son will also link up with a familiar face at LAFC as he will join former Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at the club.

• TELL ME MORE…

  LAFC forward David Martinez has been quick to welcome Son to the club. He told reporter Rodrigo A. Serrano: “It is amazing because we know he’s a legend. For me it’s a dream. Being so young, it makes me happy that I get to share a locker room with him. I’m going to learn the most I can. Most of all, happy he’s here with us.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SON?

  Son is guaranteed a warm welcome at LAFC after starring for Spurs and with the city boasting a large Korean population. The 33-year-old will be officially unveiled this week ahead of LAFC's next fixture on Saturday against Chicago in MLS.

Southampton face a stern test this weekend, as they host the league-toppers Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta brings his side in blistering form, having won nine this season and lost just once. Meanwhile, the Saints are coming off the back of a fine victory, but only their first in seven Premier League games.

Against Leeds United, the Gunners suffered as they were strangled in the midfield as they scraped through with a 1-0 win. 

It is arguably the toughest test they have faced this season, as Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka were restricted to 6.8 and 6.9 SofaScore ratings respectively.

Therefore, Ralph Hasenhuttl must focus on this as the area with which to hopefully snatch something from the game.

To do this, he must return the relentless presence of Ibrahima Diallo to the starting line-up alongside James Ward-Prowse.

The 23-year-old is a bundle of energy every time he plays, and when sat beside the captain the burden of creativity will be relieved.

Whilst Ainsley Maitland-Niles will have to be dropped due to the game being against his parent club, regardless his performance in midweek was one which warranted a return to the bench anyway.

He must be replaced by the young Frenchman who has had limited chances this season, with an average of 46 minutes per game under the Austrian.

When handed opportunities, however, he has averaged 2.15 tackles, 1.51 interceptions and 18.24 pressures per 90. If he is on top of his defensive game, he can be the midfield powerhouse to cause Arteta untold problems.

It is clear that Hasenhuttl thinks highly of him, and with this enforced change, he might now have to rely on him to prove his praises correct.

Back in January of last year, he said about the midfielder:

“I must say also Ibra was amazing. He is a fantastic signing from the summer. He knows what he has to do. He knows what it’s about to play in our six position”

Diallo will now face one of the toughest tests of his career against the most in-form side in the league but if he can be at the top of his game, he will be key to any chances Hasenhuttl has of a result.

The £12m brute could be the man to ask questions of the Gunners’ head coach, Mikel Arteta, on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester City have a more ‘important’ prodigy than on-fire summer signing Erling Haaland, according to reporter Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Haaland from heaven…

Since putting pen to paper on his summer move from Borussia Dortmund, the Norway superstar has been an absolute revelation – already breaking countless Premier League records at Eastlands.

Alan Shearer, the division’s best ever goalscorer, has already had one of his snatched away by Haaland.

The Match of the Day pundit did hold the record for most hat-tricks in as many top flight games, bagging three in ten league matches, but City’s new superstar has managed to half that number.

Indeed, Haaland has already managed three hat-tricks in five so far, smashing Shearer’s previous record.

The scintillating 22-year-old could have many more in his sights, but according to Jones, City starlet Phil Foden may actually be seen as a more significant prospect in Manchester than the former Salzburg powerhouse.

The Latest: Journalist makes Foden and Haaland comparison…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the reporter says Foden could be seen as ‘more important’ than Haaland given his cultural significance and what he represents as a boyhood fan.

“Foden is the local hero. To some, he is even more important than Haaland because of what he represents to the area. Foden’s going to be around for a long time; Haaland probably won’t. City won’t have Haaland forever.

“To be honest, they’re privileged to have him for this period of his career and they’re aware of that. They don’t know if he’s going to be there for two years, three years or five years.”

The Verdict: Exciting times…

Regardless of whom will be remembered more ten years from now, City supporters will feel very lucky to watch both men play under one of the best managers of all time, Pep Guardiola.

So far, the pair have struck a devastating understanding – scoring a combined 19 goals and five assists in the English top flight alone (WhoScored).

As highlighted by City’s 6-3 drubbing of arch rivals Man United in the latest derby, Foden and Haaland are truly unplayable when at their imperious best.

Considering both are just 22-years-old, their form is truly frightening.

Tottenham Hotspur are in advanced talks to sign recruitment expert Jeff Vetere, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Vetere’s career

Vetere has not held a senior recruitment position since being sacked as Birmingham City’s director of football in March 2018, which came at the same time as manager Steve Cotterill losing his job in a major club reshuffle.

The 56-year-old has extensive experience in Premier League recruitment, having worked for the likes of Charlton Athletic, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Fulham whilst they were all in the English top-flight.

He also has experience working as a scout for Real Madrid, aided by the fact he speaks five languages.

The Latest: Close to joining Spurs

According to a report by Football Insider, Tottenham are now in advanced talks with Vetere with the view for him to come in and oversee their Under-21s recruitment.

It is claimed he is a close ally of Spurs managing director Fabio Paratici, who has given the green-light on the appointment.

Negotiations are said to be close to completion, with Vetere ready to join the north London club immediately.

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The Verdict: Academy needs a reshuffle

The Lilywhites have faced criticism in recent times having failed to bring through a number of top talents from the academy all the way to Antonio Conte’s first-team.

This criticism became all the more prominent last week when Tottenham academy graduate Marcus Edwards stunned his boyhood team whilst playing for Sporting CP as they beat Spurs 2-0 in the Champions League.

Edwards was even awarded the player of the match for his dazzling display, throwing in the question as to why the north London club allowed his departure in the first place.

Therefore, Paratici will have high hopes in Vetere’s reshuffling of the academy’s operations, because, at the moment, it is failing in its production.

Manchester City have been handed an injury boost as Pep Guardiola confirmed that Kalvin Phillips is set to return for Sunday’s Premier League clash vs Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Phillips’ injury concern

The Sky Blues maintained their perfect start to the 2022/23 campaign after securing an emphatic 4-0 victory over newly-promoted Bournemouth at the Etihad last weekend.

The 26-year-old was deemed unfit to be involved in the match-day squad for the game against the Cherries after picking up a minor injury in training earlier that week, but the boss has now shared some positive news on the midfielder’s situation.

The Latest: Guardiola’s fitness update

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Guardiola confirmed that Phillips has returned to action and will be available for selection to face Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.

As quoted by City’s official website, the Spaniard said:

“Cole [Palmer] is back. Kalvin [Phillips] is back. Some niggles for some players but the rest are okay.”

The Verdict: Boost for City

Having Phillips back at his disposal will come as a massive boost for Guardiola and City as a whole.

The England international, labelled a ‘Rolls Royce’ by sports journalist Josh Bunting, has only made one brief appearance for the reigning champions having come off the bench in the opening day fixture vs West Ham, but offers the manager more flexibility with fellow defensive midfield specialist Rodri.

Pep will be keen to get all of his new summer signings involved and into his plans as soon as possible to ensure that they gel with the rest of the team, and Phillips is a player who’s likely to have proved impactful come the end of the season.