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Tottenham Hotspur are willing to pay one highly-rated forward’s release clause this month, as they seek to back manager Ange Postecoglou with at least one outfield signing before the transfer window shuts on February 3rd.

Tottenham attempting to seal first outfield January signing

The last few weeks in terms of recruitment simply haven’t been good enough from a Spurs perspective, especially factoring in their woeful on-field form and injury crisis which has swept through the club.

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Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has proved an adept purchase in a £12.5 million deal from Slavia Prague, making a fantastic debut against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, but the Czech surely cannot be Tottenham’s only buy of the January window.

Spurs held talks with PSG over signing Randal Kolo Muani, before the Frenchman opted to join Juventus on loan instead. However, apart from that, we’ve seen very little from the north Londoners in terms of reliably believed, concrete movement.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Brentford (away)

February 2nd

Man United (home)

February 16th

Ipswich Town (home)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Given Postecoglou’s severe squad shortage and glaring need for reinforcements, this is very worrying, as time is running out and the window closes right at the beginning of next week.

Tottenham have held talks with Tyler Dibling’s representatives recently, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, while it is also believed that Spurs are targeting a free transfer for Lille midfielder Angel Gomes ahead of the summer.

For January, all of their efforts are going into acquiring a forward, despite Postecoglou’s serious lack of left-sided centre-back options behind Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero (Lyall Thomas, Sky Sports).

Football.london’s Alasdair Gold claims that Spurs are working to seal “at least one” outfield addition before the clock runs out, and supporters appear desperate for them to do even more than that.

Nevertheless, reports continue to emerge regarding late targets, and one of them is apparently Athletic Bilbao sensation Nico Williams.

Tottenham prepared to pay £49 million release clause for Nico Williams

According to a Spanish media source, Tottenham are prepared to pay Williams’ £49 million release clause to sign him from Bilbao in January, but they face stiff competition from cross-town rivals Arsenal.

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The 22-year-old, who bagged 19 assists in all competitions last season, also dazzled at Euro 2024 for eventual champions Spain last summer – making him a hot commodity for elite clubs.

It is also believed that Postecoglou is personally attracted by Williams’ attacking ability, and Spurs are ready to undergo an “intense battle” with Arsenal for his services. Interestingly, ex-Lilywhites boss José Mourinho is also a huge admirer of the “unique” winger, but his reported £300,000-per-week-plus wage demands could potentially prove problematic.

Where would Chelsea be without Cole Palmer? Would it be bold to say that Stamford Bridge might still languish in the trenches of the Premier League, had, say, Christopher Nknunku not picked up the injury that promoted Mauricio Pochettino to sign a new number ten?

The England international, still only 22 years old, triumphed last year, defying the expectations of one so young, sitting in the shadows of the fringe at Manchester City, blooming like a flower on steroids as he rose toward the top.

Premier League 23/24: Most Goals + Assists

Rank

Player

Apps

G+A

1.

Cole Palmer

34

33

2.

Erling Haaland

31

32

2.

Ollie Watkins

37

32

4.

Mohamed Salah

32

28

5.

Phil Foden

35

27

5.

Heung-min Son

35

27

Sourced via Statmuse

£40m bargain. Bargain of the century. It feels that way. Palmer has been praised as “one of the best players in the world” by Blues captain Reece James and he continues to showcase his quality under Enzo Maresca this year, notching two goals and four assists across five top-flight fixtures so far.

Believe it or not, Chelsea had a superstar-to-be in their ranks once who might actually be even better than Palmer…

When Chelsea fumbled the bag on Jamal Musiala

In 2020 Chelsea rejected Bayern Munich’s £70m bid for Callum Hudson-Odoi. The winger is enjoying a resurgence with Nottingham Forest at present but in hindsight, this is an extraordinary sum that was missed out on for a player who hasn’t reached the heights once envisaged.

One year earlier, another dealing between the two outfits took place, one that attracted far less attention at the time. Jamal Musiala joined the Bavarians as a 16-year-old in July 2019, seemingly taking a leaf out of Jadon Sancho’s book in moving to Germany to make his name.

It’s been an undisputable success for a player now described as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by his Bayern teammate Alphonso Davies. Across 169 career senior club appearances, the 21-year-old has scored 46 goals and supplied 31 assists.

Chelsea demonstrated with their unwillingness to part with Hudson-Odoi that they were willing to keep an iron grip on their most talented academy prospects, but Musiala had not had a sniff of senior action at that stage and his future success was undetermined.

How Jamal Musiala compares to Cole Palmer

Now thriving as a superstar of the European game, Musiala is one of Bayern Munich’s most important cogs and is being pursued by Manchester City as the indomitable Premier League champions look to prudently land the heir to Kevin De Bruyne’s throne. Real Madrid are also rumoured to be interested.

There’s just cause for such a brewing battle, too. Musiala might not quite offer the same level of prolificness as Palmer, but he is endowed with the most elite athletic skillset and has a wonderful silkiness that few – if any – can match. not even the Chelsea star himself.

Musiala vs Palmer: Stats Comparison (past 365 days)

Stats (per 90)

Musiala

Palmer

Non-penalty goals

0.48

0.46

Assists

0.22

0.46

Shot-creating actions

5.25

5.43

Pass completion

82%

78%

Progressive passes

5.41

6.50

Progressive carries

5.12

3.82

Successful take-ons

3.88

1.64

Tackles + interceptions

2.69

1.46

Stats via FBref

Musiala’s ball-carrying is something that would have fit right in at Maresca’s Chelsea. Moreover, the Germany international is crisper with his technicals, instrumental in upholding the control-focused values of his new Die Roten manager Vincent Kompany.

Palmer was renowned for his goalscoring with Chelsea last term but when taking away penalty kicks, it can be seen that Musiala actually fires home at a more productive rate. This is not to tarnish Palmer’s wonderful ability, but rather to highlight just how good his positional peer really is.

He’s only played four Bundesliga matches this season but Musiala has scored three goals, completed 85% of his passes and averaged 2.8 dribbles, 1.8 key passes and 6.8 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore, with that lattermost metric underscoring his tenacious approach and willingness to get stuck in and help the defence.

This roundedness is something that further sets him apart from the likes of Palmer. Musiala is capable of affecting the game across a range of areas and scenarios.

The rangy 6-foot playmaker also claimed two assists in the Champions League as his outfit decimated Dinamo Zagreb in matchweek one, winning 9-2.

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The £81k-per-week talent is actually a bit younger than Palmer and as the years pass by it’s conceivable that they stand as the dominant hybrid attacking midfielders at the height of the game, Musiala with the balletic grace and Palmer with the robotic clinical touch that the very best players find comes innately.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

Expand Collapse Jamal Musiala's market value in 2024

It’s hardly going to come as a surprise that Musiala is considered among the highest-valued young players in the world. According to Transfermarkt’s player valuation model, Musiala currently boasts a market price of £109m.

This aligns with the tune that prospective suitors seem willing to play too. Back in the summer, Football Insider reported that Liverpool were keen on rivalling Pep Guardiola’s City for the player but would have to meet Bayern’s demands in excess of £100m for the prodigy’s sale.

For such first-class quality, such an outlay would be necessary and understandably so. There are indeed few that can rival such a financial standing and Palmer, at the moment, is not among them.

Transfermarkt records the Chelsea playmaker’s value at £68m at the moment, and though this will likely rise even higher over the coming months, he has a distance to traverse before he can outstrip the former Blues prospect.

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Mikel Arteta has been in the Arsenal hot seat for over four and a half years, and while the team today is practically unrecognisable from the one he inherited in December 2019, the changes over the last two seasons have been seismic.

At the beginning of the 2022/23 campaign, the Gunners were recovering from a failed top-four challenge that was decisively ended at the home of their biggest rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. This setback led to low expectations, with the BBC's Chief football writer Phil McNulty bluntly stating, "I do not see them as title contenders."

However, with additions such as Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko and the integration of William Saliba, challenge they did, and while they failed, they have challenged once again this term.

That said, while Saliba has maintained his place in the team, and Jesus has still racked up an admirable haul of eight goals and eight assists, Zinchenko has seen his stock plummet, and as a result, it might be time for the club to move on from him.

Oleksandr Zinchenko's Arsenal career

Zinchenko completed his £32m transfer to Arsenal from Manchester City in July 2022 and immediately replaced Kieran Tierney as the Gunners' first-choice left-back.

Zinchenko vs Tierney 22/23

Player

Zinchenko

Tierney

Appearances

33

36

Starts

28

15

Goals

1

1

Assists

2

2

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In his first season with the club, the Ukrainian made 33 appearances, of which 28 were starts, while the Scotsman made just 15 starts in his 36 appearances, and had the former City ace not been injured for 20 games, he likely would've started many more.

It was his ability to play as "one of the most central players", per Tierney, that saw the Radomyshl-born ace become the club's go-to left-back last season, which shouldn't have come as a surprise as it was Arteta who helped transform the 27-year-old from a central player into a full-back during their time together at City.

However, for all the attacking options he brought to the team, the left-footed ace was frequently exposed at the back.

Liverpool's equalising goal at Anfield last year came from his mistake when defending against Trent Alexander Arnold, and while the manager persevered with his signing at the start of this season, the writing was on the wall.

Yet again, Zinchenko made another big mistake away at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah's equalising goal resulting from his poor defending, so much so that Gary Neville labelled him a "liability."

Since the turn of the year, Arteta has favoured Jakub Kiwior over the former City man and with Takehiro Tomiyasu seemingly back to full fitness and Jurrien Timber likely to play a significant role next year, he'll fall even further down the pecking order.

Starts since the turn of the year

Player

Starts

Oleksandr Zinchenko

6

Jakub Kiwior

11

All Stats via Transfermarkt

So, with his valuation collapsing as well, it's probably time the club cashed in while they still can.

Oleksandr Zinchenko's valuation in 2024

According to CIES Football Observatory, Zinchenko is worth just €20m, which converts to around £17m, or £15m less than the club paid for his services less than two years ago.

Valuations of Arsenal's 2022/23 signings

Place

Player

Valuations

Original Fee

Position

1

Gabriel Jesus

€80m (£69m)

£45m

LW/ST

2

Leandro Trossard

€40m (£34m)

£27m

LW/ST

3

Jakub Kiwior

€30m (£26m)

£20m

LB/CB

4

Oleksandr Zinchenko

€20m (£17m)

£32m

LB

5

Fabio Vieira

€10m (£9m)

£34m

AM/RW/LW

6

Jorginho

€5m (£4m)

£12m

DM/CM

All Valuations via the CIES Football Observatory

This new valuation also means he is now only the fourth most valuable player that the club signed in the 2022/23 season who is still at the club, ahead of the 32-year-old Jorginho and Fabio Vieira.

As if that wasn't bad enough, he's now also worth substantially less than Saliba, who was integrated into the team simultaneously, with CIES valuing the Frenchman at €100m, which is around £86m.

That means the 23-year-old is worth a whopping £69m more than his defensive teammate, or in other words, the Ukraine international is now worth just 14% of the former Saint-Etienne star's current value.

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That might sound excessive, but Saliba has really established himself in the team this year, starting 100% of league and Champions League games while being named in both Jamie Carragher and Neville's team of the season on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football this week – stick that one on your mantlepiece, William.

Ultimately, while Zinchenko helped to propel Arsenal up the table and into a genuine title fight last year, his lacklustre performances this season and declining importance to the team have seen his valuation understandably tumble.

So, if the Gunners can find a buyer, they should cut their losses and let the former City ace leave this summer before his value drops further.

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Leeds United have the opportunity to improve their playing squad this month as the January transfer window officially opened for business on Monday.

The Whites could look to add more quality to their group of players in the hope that it propels them into the automatic promotion places over the next five months.

They were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season and are vying to secure an instant return to the top-flight this year.

However, Daniel Farke's side are currently fourth in the division and seven points adrift of Ipswich Town in second place, which shows that they have plenty to do to finish inside the top two.

This suggests that they are in need of an addition or two to boost their efforts and one player who could be an excellent signing for Leeds is Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.

Latest Leeds transfer news

Speaking on CaughtOffside's YouTube channel earlier this week, reporter Ben Jacobs named the Whites as one of the clubs who could be in the market to land the Blues prospect.

The journalist claimed that Premier League side Crystal Palace are interested in the Brazilian youngster but there is also interest from teams in the Championship.

Santos was recently recalled by Chelsea after a failed loan spell with Nottingham Forest in the top-flight during the first half of the campaign and this has opened the door for another club to swoop in for his services.

Jacobs named Ipswich Town as a team to watch out for in the race to sign the 19-year-old battler but also claimed that Leeds could be part of the race.

Archie Gray started the season as a defensive midfield option for Farke but has since established himself as the first-choice right-back option for the German head coach.

The 17-year-old talent has been a consistent performer, in spite of his young age and inexperience, at full-back for Leeds and this has meant that he has not been available to the manager in the middle of the park.

This has left Ethan Ampadu, Glen Kamara, and Ilia Gruev as his only natural central midfield players to call upon, which is why the Whites could be in the market to add another number eight to the group before the end of the window.

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Farke must now push the club to strike a deal with Chelsea to bring Santos to Elland Road on loan for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

The former Norwich City head coach enjoyed great success in the loan market in his last promotion success in the Championship with the signing of Ollie Skipp on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

He could now repeat that masterclass with another impressive loanee from a top-flight club in the middle of the park, as Santos could be his next version of the Spurs prodigy this year.

Skipp's Norwich career in numbers

The now-23-year-old spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Norwich in the second tier to gain valuable first-team football in Norfolk under Farke.

He went on to play an integral role in their title success as the Canaries were promoted up to the Premier League, partly thanks to Skipp's fantastic performances in midfield week-in-week-out.

The Spurs youngster played 45 of their 46 league matches throughout the season and caught the eye with his defensive solidity in front of the back four and his progressive passing in possession.

Skipp averaged 3.3 tackles and interceptions per match for the Yellows and came out on top in 56% of his duels in the middle of the park, which shows that he held his own in physical contests.

He ranked within the top 19% of Championship midfielders that season for tackles (2.33) and the top 22% for blocks (1.33) per 90, which illustrates how impressive he was at cutting out opposition attacks and putting his body on the line for the team.

The Norwich star also showcased his ability on the ball with a pass accuracy of 87.6%, which placed him within the top 1% of midfielders. Skipp was also within the top 28% of his positional peers for progressive passes (4.86) per 90.

These statistics show that the England U21 international made an impact in and out of possession for the Canaries with his defensive interventions and his progressive, and reliable, passing.

The statistics that show why Santos could be Skipp 2.0

Farke could now unearth his next Skipp in Santos as the teenage dynamo has the potential to offer similar qualities in midfield for the Leeds boss.

The 5 foot 11 starlet has not had an opportunity to showcase his ability in English football as of yet but his previous form for Brazil U20s and Vasco da Gama in his home country suggests that the talent is there.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig once described him as a "pressing machine" and that is backed up by his impressive defensive statistics for club and country.

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At the U20 World Cup in 2023, Santos started five matches for Brazil and caught the eye with an outstanding 5.2 tackles and interceptions per game.

2023 U20 World Cup

Andrey Santos (via Sofascore)

Appearances

Five

Sofascore rating

7.40

Goals

Two

Duels won per game

7.4

Key passes per game

1.8

No Leeds player, in any position, has managed more than 3.5 tackles and interceptions per match in the Championship this season, which illustrates how impressive the Brazilian gem's performances were at that tournament.

Santos also averaged 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game across 38 Serie B appearances for Vasco da Gama as an 18-year-old in 2022.

These statistics show that the Chelsea prospect has the defensive quality to come in as a Skipp-esque figure for Farke as a central midfielder who can provide an outstanding shield in front of the back four.

The 19-year-old whiz also has the potential to make an impact in possession. During the 2022 Serie B campaign, Santos plundered eight goals and created four 'big chances' in his 38 matches.

This suggests that he is a dynamic midfielder who can push forward to join in with the attack to be a difference-maker in the final third, to go along with his impressive defending.

Therefore, Farke could unearth his next Skipp by signing another fantastic defensive midfielder on loan from a Premier League club to bolster a Championship promotion push.

Arsenal have already dropped their first points of the 2023/24 Premier League season following last week’s 2-2 draw against Fulham, and it’s clear that Mikel Arteta still has plenty of work to do in order to turn his squad from also-rans into league champions.

The summer transfer window saw just four new arrivals make the journey to the capital and with Champions League football returning to the Emirates following a seven-year hiatus, it remains to be seen whether they are ready for the step-up in quality.

Who did Arsenal sign during the transfer window?

Goalkeeper David Raya arrived on a season long loan deal as experienced cover for Aaron Ramsdale, while defender Jurrien Timber joined from Ajax alongside Kai Havertz from Chelsea and Declan Rice from West Ham United in what was a saga which stretched for the majority of the summer window.

A grand total of £208m was spent and with the spine of his team significantly improved from last term, a lack of depth may prove to be Arteta’s undoing, especially if the club go on deep runs in Europe and the domestic cups.

Timber was injured in their opening Premier League match of the new season and faces the prospect of missing the entire season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Havertz has yet to sparkle, failing to score or grab an assist across four matches for the club.

Rice, on the other hand, has been a wonderful signing and although it’s early doors, he could become a mainstay in the Arsenal midfield for the next few years and cement himself as a legend.

How has Declan Rice performed this season?

Having led West Ham to their first trophy in over 40 years as they claimed the Europa Conference League last term, it was inevitable Rice was leaving the club.

The £240k-per-week gem has embraced the challenge of playing for a bigger team extraordinarily well, and he looks comfortable at this level.

The midfielder has an average Sofascore rating of 7.37 from his three league matches so far, good enough to rank him fifth in the squad, while he ranks third for accurate passes per game (69), tackles per game (three) and second for interceptions per game (1.3), already displaying his passing and defensive skills to the Emirates faithful.

It’s no wonder he has previously been described as a “Rolls Royce” by journalist Joshua Mbu, and he is exactly the type of player that Arsenal requires in the heart of their midfield if they wish to be challenging the likes of Manchester City for the league title.

Rice will only get better by playing with players such as Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka and this should elevate his game to the next level in the coming years.

Arteta was also keen on another midfielder during the summer transfer window and although a deal failed to materialise, it's evident Rice is the better player.

Could Arsenal have signed Moises Caicedo?

Along with Rice, the saga involving Moises Caicedo was also one of the longest-running transfer sagas of the entire summer, with a whole host of teams showing interest in the young Ecuadorian starlet.

The Gunners had two bids rejected by Brighton and Hove Albion for the player back in January and they reignited their interest once the transfer window opened in June.

Chelsea were also keeping tabs on the youngster and as soon as the Rice move accelerated, Arteta focussed on securing the Englishman, leaving a plethora of clubs to do battle over the in-demand gem.

It was those at Stamford Bridge who did eventually secure Caicedo's signature for what could turn into a British record fee of £115m, with that representing £10m more than what Rice cost Arsenal earlier in the window.

They have struck gold on the 24-year-old however, and he is arguably a better player than Caicedo. Indeed, last season, Rice registered more goals and assists (five v two), shots per 90 (0.96 v 0.8), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.75 v 2.52), a higher percentage of challenges (62% v 58.8) and completed a higher percentage of successful take-ons (55.6% v 51.9%), clearing proving that he outshone Caicedo over a variety of metrics last term.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues, Rice ranks in the top 5% for interceptions per 90 (1.78) and the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 (2.33), demonstrating that not only does he win the ball back often during matches, but he also drives forward with it on a regular basis in order to create chances.

In comparison, Caicedo ranks in the top 15% for interceptions per game (1.53) while ranking outwith the top 60% for progressive carries per 90 (1.12) when compared to peers, showing that he isn’t as forward-thinking compared to the Englishman.

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Although Caicedo made more tackles (2.7 v 2.1) and won more total duels per game (5.9 v 4.4) than Rice in the top flight last season, Rice’s statistics are still excellent, and his attacking output will be key to any future Arsenal success.

Despite the extravagant cost, Rice has shown the pedigree in the Premier League which will allow him to blossom into one of the finest midfielders in the country in what will hopefully be a trophy laden spell for the player at Arsenal.

Caicedo is already outshining the majority of players in the league and while he is still only 21-years-old, there is no doubt he will continue to get better in the coming years.

There was no way Arteta could have afforded both talents, especially with the current nature of the transfer market, but he has certainly struck gold by signing Rice.

Having won the first piece of silverware of his career last season, the midfielder will be eyeing more glory at the Gunners during the 2023/24 campaign as they look to claim their first league title in 20 years.

Although it will be difficult to repay the £105m they shelled out on him, it’s clear they have signed a generational talent who will give them years of service over the next decade if he stays fit and healthy.

Aston Villa are interested in completing the signing of Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte this summer, according to an update from journalist Dean Jones.

Is Laporte set to leave Man City?

City are still celebrating their impressive treble triumph in 2022/23, having beaten Inter Milan in last weekend's Champions League final. They also won both the Premier League and FA Cup during the season, cementing their place in the history of English football.

While many individuals have played enormous roles in City's success, whether it be Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne or Erling Haaland, one player who has had more of a bit-part job is Laporte.

The 29-year-old only started 11 of his side's league games throughout the campaign, and with the likes of Ruben Dias and John Stones playing so well, it could be difficult for him to win his place back moving forward.

For that reason, the £120,000-a-week-earning Laporte could potentially move away this summer in order to be a regular starter, which is where Villa come into play, having been linked with him in the recent past.

Do Villa want to sign Laporte this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones claimed that Unai Emery is keen on acquiring Laporte's signature in the near future, although his exit is far from a given:

"There's definitely interest. There are a few options that Villa are looking at. Laporte is obviously potentially leaving Manchester City this summer, so that makes sense. Whether he would be willing to step down to Aston Villa remains to be seen."

Laporte, who was hailed as the "best in the world" back in 2020, would be a superb addition by Villa if they could get a deal over the line, with the Spain international someone who has won five Premier League titles with City, not to mention the Champions League now, among various other trophies.

Pep Guardiola has hailed the centre-back as "incredible" before and he could prove to be a step up from any other current Villa defender, for all the good form of someone like Tyrone Mings.

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He would bring with him a winning mentality and so much quality in and out of possession, having enjoyed a 93.1% pass completion rate in the league in 2022/23, and averaged 2.5 clearances per game.

At 29, Laporte wouldn't represent the long-term future, which is a slight negative to the move, but the Villans should be able to get two or three years out of him at his top level, which could be ideal.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has said that ‘there are legs’ in speculation linking Leeds United with a move for Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Lowdown: Nuno rumours

Nuno appears to be on the Elland Road managerial radar despite the club confirming this week that Michael Skubala will remain in temporary charge.

Reports have suggested that an interview has been held between the Whites and the Al-Ittihad manager, who is a surprise contender to take over in Yorkshire. There has even been speculation claiming that Leeds plan to pay Nuno’s €5m release clause.

The Latest: Jacobs’ comments

Talking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs appeared to confirm that Leeds are eyeing the former Wolves and Tottenham manager. However, the journalist then said that moves for either Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard could be a worry.

“There are legs in the Nuno Espirito Santo links and he’s a manager that comes with Premier League experience.

“I think that there’s more of a worry around Lampard or Gerrard. Gerrard is probably, of those two, the one that has been more closely linked because Leeds need a manager with a proven capability of firefighting. It’s not easy to walk into that Leeds United dressing room mid-season.”

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The Verdict: Needed

As Jacobs mentions, Nuno has the Premier League experience that appears to be required at Leeds right now. Without a top flight victory since November, the Whites find themselves in another battle to avoid the drop, with Nuno impressing in Saudi Arabia, winning his last seven games.

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Even if the worst was to happen and Leeds were to be relegated back to the Championship, the 49-year-old has experience of guiding a club back to the Premier Legaue, winning the second-tier title at Molineux.

Overall, Nuno has 211 wins as a manager from 428 games, so he could be the ideal candidate at this moment in time after moves for Raul, Carlos Corberan, Andoni Iraola, Arne Slot and Marcelo Gallardo failed to go through.

Leeds United are set to hold an open training session to raise money for Mission Christmas, according to an update in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Preparing for action

The Premier League side return to domestic action when they face Manchester City on December 28, but are first preparing for their final two mid-season friendlies against Real Sociedad (December 16) and Monaco (December 21).

The Whites last put on a public event like this for supporters over a decade ago, but faithfuls are now being given another chance to watch their team in action like they’ve never seen them before.

The Latest: Leeds to host training session

According to The Daily Mail, Leeds have ‘invited fans’ to an ‘open training session’ taking place at Elland Road on Tuesday evening (December 20) to raise money for charity.

Crowds are expected to turn up in their ‘thousands’, with ‘donations’ made on the night to be given to children’s fund Mission Christmas.

Activities are set to include a 360-degree photo booth, face painters, a popular balloon modeller, club legends playing dizzy penalties and meeting fans, as well the club’s mascot Kop Cat making an appearance.

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The Verdict: Relationship builder

Leeds have had a difficult opening to the season, with just four wins from 14 leaving them two points above the relegation zone so they need to start picking up results to distance themselves from the bottom three.

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The atmosphere created at the stadium on matchdays is already magnificent though, and this session will give supporters the chance to build an even stronger relationship with the players moving forward.

Jesse Marsch’s side will need everyone behind them should they want to push on in the second half of the campaign, and this event is the perfect place to begin.

Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne has suffered a ‘possible stress fracture’ to his right ankle, according to L’Equipe.

The Lowdown: Injury issues

Steven Gerrard has had a number of injury problems to deal with this season, with many coming at the back.

Marquee summer signing Diego Carlos ruptured his achilles tendon in August while Matty Cash missed the win over Southampton with a hamstring issue.

Defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara suffered an injury of his own against the Saints that has ‘worried’ Gerrard, and fellow countryman Digne is also now set for a spell on the sidelines.

The Latest: Digne update

L’Equipe provided an update on the extent of Digne’s injury after it emerged he was ruled out of France’s UEFA Nations League clashes with Austria and Denmark.

They claimed that ‘initial examinations revealed a possible stress fracture’ of the right ankle, which would rule him out for several weeks.

The Verdict: Never ending

Villa can’t catch a break when it comes to injuries, and it looks as if Digne will spend a somewhat lengthy spell out, should this claim prove accurate.

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Many ankle stress fractures heal in a four to six-week time period, so Digne could miss all of October should it push towards a six-week absence.

That would rule the left-back out of a busy month with Villa set for six Premier League fixtures and may damage his chances of a spot in France’s World Cup squad.

West Ham are plotting a swoop for Burnley winger Dwight McNeil as David Moyes looks to add to his squad.

What’s the word?

That’s according to the Sun, who claim that West Ham are lining up a £10m bid for the winger, although Burnley are likely to want more than that for the player.

The Hammers face competition from Tottenham Hotspur for the 22-year-old this summer and Moyes will have to act fast to secure his signature.

Just imagine him and Bowen

West Ham will be looking at building on last season’s success by making some headway into the transfer market and bringing in some high-quality players.

Moyes has made a good start, with the Premier League side securing the signings of Nayef Aguerd and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, but surely more incomings will be required if the manager aims to replicate the side’s excellent European run last season.

With a serious lack of depth in the attacking department, a move for McNeil makes sense. His main position is on the left wing but is equally adept in both a left midfield and wingback role too, which is a big bonus for Moyes.

Former Burnley boss Sean Dyche dubbed the winger “dangerous” and a “real talent” which should be enough to convince Moyes of his talents.

McNeil didn’t have the greatest of seasons in terms of goal involvements (zero goals and one assist) as Burnley ended their six-season stay in the Premier League with relegation in May, but he did display other attributes.

The 22-year-old created six big chances, making 1.3 key passes and 1.4 shots per match while also winning 54% of his duels.

Moyes could unleash McNeil on the left and Jarrod Bowen on the right and form an excellent wide partnership next season as the club aims to take the next step up in their development under the Scot.

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Combine the former’s mesmeric crossing ability with Bowen’s finishing and it would surely be a match made in heaven.

A deal for the Burnley man might just be the catalyst for further attacking additions to the playing squad and another top six challenge.

AND in other news: Moyes plotting move for “special” £45m “baller”, he’d be a “superstar” for West Ham…