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Newcastle United have reportedly made a ‘big verbal approach’ to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko.

The Lowdown: Contract expiring

The 18-year-old’s contract expires in the summer, meaning that he can sign a pre-contract agreement with a non-German club in January, or leave as a free agent.

Hailed as ‘the biggest talent in the world’ by Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland when he was with him at Dortmund, the teenager has already amassed 59 appearances across all competitions for the Bundesliga giants, scoring 11 goals and supplying a further eight assists (featured for Germany at the World Cup in Qatar.

To sign him on a free transfer would be a great pickup for any club considering his potential sell-on value, and it looks like the St James’ Park outfit have joined the race for his signature.

The Latest: Approach made

Taking to Twitter, Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella has revealed that Newcastle have made a ‘big verbal approach’ to try and sign Moukoko under the noses of their Premier League rivals Chelsea.

He tweeted: “Newcastle have made a big verbal approach to sign Moukoko from Dortmund in a bid to beat Chelsea to his signature.”

The journalist adds in his corresponding article that Barcelona are also thought to be interested in the 18-year-old’s signature, but the Tynesiders are ‘well-placed’ to beat both rivals to his signing.

They have reportedly discussed a deal worth more than £150,000 per week for Moukoko to join on a free transfer once his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

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The Verdict: No-brainer

To sign a player of Moukoko’s age and quality on a free transfer is a no-brainer for Eddie Howe’s side.

Lauded as an ‘incredible prospect’ by The Guardian journalist Ed Aarons, he ranks in the 94th percentile for non-penalty xG, 93rd for assists, 91st for non-penalty goals and 88th for npxG + xAG per game for all strikers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year (FBref), showing the high level output that he possesses in front of goal which goes beyond his tender years.

Also, Moukoko shares the same agent as Howe, which might just help to push through a move to the Magpies ahead of their fellow suitors.

Manchester City have been credited with an interest in Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and the teenage centre-back could prove to be the next John Stones at the Etihad.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, the young defender is attracting admiring glances from both Manchester City and Bayern Munich as a result of his impressive performances on loan at Brighton.

Last season saw Colwill join Huddersfield Town on loan in the Championship and he proved to be a big hit with the Terriers, featuring 31 times in the Championship and earning an impressive 6.97 average rating from WhoScored, helping the Yorkshire side to reach the playoff final.

Last summer saw the 19-year-old join Brighton and after a slow start, he has established himself as a regular under Roberto de Zerbi, earning a strong 7.28 rating in the Seagulls’ recent 3-0 win over Liverpool.

The England U21 international earned a huge amount of praise from Carlos Corberan for his performances in Huddersfield’s side last season, with the Spaniard convinced that Colwill will go to the very top.

He said:

“He’s a very young player with a lot of things he is doing fantastically, and other things he needs to continue improving.

“I think he’s going to be one of the most important centre-backs for this country in the future.”This is extremely high praise for such a young player but considering he is now starting at centre-back in one of the Premier League’s most in-form sides, it is hard to see how Colwill won’t be featuring for the Three Lions in the near future, with reports suggesting that he is already close to his first call-up to Gareth Southgate’s side.Colwill is very much a modern centre-back in the mould of Stones, as FBref suggests that he excels at passing, aerial duels and creating chances for teammates, such is his ability on the ball.Stones also established himself in the lower leagues with Barnsley before progressing to Everton and then Manchester City, so Colwill could easily follow in his footsteps should he make the move to the Etihad this year.It will be difficult to prise the teenager away from Stamford Bridge but given the lack of opportunities for young players at Chelsea, as well as the money that has been spent on centre-backs such as Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile over the past 12 months, Colwill may feel that a move away could be best for his career.If City do take a chance on another young English centre-back, there seems little evidence right now to suggest that he can’t become a top Premier League defender like Stones in the future.

Everton have been linked with a move for Arnaut Danjuma over the last week and now a new update has emerged on the player’s future that could put the Toffees in a great position to secure his signature before the winter transfer window closes.

What’s the latest?

According to news outlet Cadena SER, the Villarreal dynamo’s agent Michael Moses has confirmed that negotiations are underway for his player to make an exit from his current club this month.

As per the report, Danjuma is claimed to be speaking with a number of English sides with his intention to leave Villarreal by the end of the window and the Spanish club would like to recover at least the majority of the €20m (£18m) plus bonuses they paid for the player.

Gordon upgrade

There is no doubt that Everton are in desperate need of reinforcements after falling into another difficult relegation scrap in the Premier League this season and the transfer business done this month could be season-defining for the club.

The Toffees are currently 19th in the league table with only 15 points collected from their first 19 outings so far and the side haven’t won a single game since the last week of October when they beat Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.

Indeed, Lampard’s team are only half way through their 38 league fixtures and everything could change in the second half of the season, however, they cannot continue as they are and new additions could be the linchpin in saving them from their first ever relegation from the top tier since the Premier League was established back in 1992.

As a result, the signing of Danjuma could be a great piece of business for Everton this month as their attacking threat has been one of the biggest concerns in the performances so far with the joint-second worst goal tally in the entire league.

Over 217 career appearances, the Villarreal forward – who was dubbed a “nightmare for defenders” by Kevin Phillips – has scored 73 goals and registered 36 assists with a goal contribution every 128 minutes so far – an output that could be highly valuable to Everton over the remainder of their campaign.

Danjuma also offers a wide range of versatility in his positioning as he is capable and experienced in playing on both the left and right wing, as well as featuring 34 times as a centre-forward scoring 17 goals in the role which would offer the squad a player who can provide ample cover across the front-line.

In fact, Lampard could land a huge Anthony Gordon upgrade by signing the talented winger as Danjuma has outperformed the Everton youngster in many attacking attributes this season including pass completion rate (73.7% v 68.9%), shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (2.25 v 1.89), dribbles completed (28.6% v 22.7%) and double his goals scored (six) in all competitions, via FBref.

With that being said, if the powerbrokers at Goodison Park can secure the signature of Danjuma in the second half of the transfer window it would give Everton their best chance at improving the goal contributions in the team and picking up crucial points for Premier League survival by the summer.

Aston Villa are continuing to ‘court’ Marseille and France midfielder Matteo Guendouzi ahead of a potential move, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Villa keen on signing Guendouzi

Unai Emery continues to eye up new signings to bolster his improving Villa squad, with plenty of time for more January additions after the captures of Alex Moreno and Jhon Durán.

In recent days, few players have been linked with a move to Villa Park more regularly than Guendouzi, who has been backed to return to the Premier League to reunite with his former manager.

The 23-year-old made 82 appearances for Arsenal between 2018 and 2022 prior to moving to Marseille permanently after an initial loan spell, with 66 of those Gunners games coming under Emery.

The Latest: Fresh update emerges

According to L’Equipe [via Sport Witness], Villa haven’t given up on signing Guendouzi yet and are still continuing to ‘court’ him.

It is stated that the player himself feels he can play for a better team, however, which could potentially work against the move coming to fruition.

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The Verdict: Long-term signing for Villans

Should Villa manage to get a deal for Guendouzi over the line, he could be a significant addition to the midfield, having been described as ‘fantastic’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

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He is a more mature footballer than the individual who left Arsenal, now winning seven caps for France, including one appearance at the 2022 World Cup.

A tally of 49 Ligue 1 starts in the past one-and-a-half seasons is a further testament to his growing pedigree. He has also only been booked twice in the league this year, a vast improvement on the discipline issues he showed in north London, picking up 15 yellow cards across two Premier League campaigns.

With John McGinn turning 29 this year and Douglas Luiz possibly leaving in the summer, fresh legs are required in the middle of the park and Guendouzi could be ideal, starting five Champions League games this season and averaging one interception per game in the competition.

Glasgow Rangers have had a second bid for Standard Liege midfielder Nicolas Raskin rejected as Michael Beale looks to try and sign the player during the transfer window.

What’s the news?

After failing with their opening bid to sign Raskin, Rangers have had their second bid for the Belgian rejected.

An initial bid for £500k was submitted by the Ibrox side, however, this was swiftly knocked back, alongside a follow-up approach and despite reports in Belgium (via the Scottish Sun) stating that the club have secured a pre-contract agreement for the player, Beale will need to stump up €2m (£1.8m) in order to sign him this month.

With Todd Cantwell already arriving in Glasgow, Beale will now be looking to further boost his midfield options ahead of a crucial few months ahead.

“Pitbull”

Rangers have been after the 21-year-old for a few months now, with initial links dating back to last summer under former manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Beale looks set to face a midfield conundrum during the summer, with the likes of Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, and Ryan Jack out of contract, while the future of on-loan players such as Malik Tillman and James Sands is yet unknown.

This could leave the 42-year-old with a major void to fill in the centre of the pitch and it is imperative that reinforcements are signed this month, with Cantwell making the jump from the Championship to Scotland, Raskin is surely next on the priority list.

He has impressed for Liege this term in the Belgian Pro League, achieving a Sofascore rating of 7.01/10 across 16 appearances and his tenacity could add an extra dynamic to the Light Blues midfield.

Indeed, Raskin is extremely comfortable on the ball, averaging 61.6 touches per game, while his attacking output has been excellent, registering four assists, creating four big chances, and making 1.1 key passes per game.

Not content with simply impressing going forward, the midfielder certainly knows how to succeed at the defensive side of the game, making 3.3 tackles per match, showing that he isn’t afraid to get stuck in while the 21-year-old has won 58% of his duels – at a rate of 5.8 per match.

It’s no wonder then that journalist Bob Faesen described the player as a “pitbull” when he burst onto the scene back in 2020 and if Beale has any ambitions of catching Celtic at the top of the Premiership table this season, signing Raskin in January is a must.

Journalist Alasdair Gold claimed that Tottenham Hotspur wing-back Matt Doherty may have a future at the club due to his versatility.

What’s the word?

It’s no secret that Antonio Conte has been on the hunt for a new option on the right side of his defence for the entirety of the January transfer window.

Indeed, Sporting Lisbon’s Pedro Porro has been on top of the list and while that deal looked to be close, it now might not quite get completed before the month comes to an end.

Regardless of whether or not a new wingback arrives this winter or not, it doesn’t bode well long term for the likes of Doherty or Emerson Royal. However, Gold has claimed that the Irishman may have more of a chance at staying with the club as he can play on the left flank, too.

Indeed, in an article for football.london, Gold explained: “Right wing-back is the other overloaded area of the squad and both Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty are considered non-locally trained in the Champions League squad.

“If Porro does arrive as expected then offers will be looked at for both players, although Doherty brings left-sided cover as well which Conte appreciates.”

Best option?

As per David Ornstein, a move for Porro is now off with Sporting reneging on terms. However, the 23-year-is said to be “left distraught” after the collapsed move and so perhaps he will be able to force his way to north London yet.

Doherty has started just seven league games for Spurs, while Emerson has been asked to play more in the English top-flight this term with 13 starts under his belt.

While this suggests that the Brazilian is marginally viewed as the better option, it doesn’t change the fact that Conte really doesn’t trust either of the options at right wing-back. So, even if a deal for Porro doesn’t happen this winter, a new player will surely arrive in the summer.

However, as Gold points out, Doherty is able to play on the left and this versatility may make him the better option to keep around as squad depth when Spurs do finally upgrade their defensive options.

Arsenal are now monitoring Barcelona forward Ansu Fati ahead of a potential move this summer, according to reports from Spain.

The Lowdown: Xavi’s public statement

The Spaniard’s contract at Camp Nou isn’t set to expire until 2027, but after falling out of favour under Xavi, he has been experiencing a lack of game-time. The youngster has made just seven league starts this season and could therefore be looking to secure an exit at the end of the campaign.

The Blaugrana boss has publicly claimed that the 20-year-old won’t be going anywhere, stating that Fati will develop more over time. However, should that change for any reason, it sounds like the attacker already has potential suitors queueing up to bring him to the Premier League.

The Latest: Arsenal eyeing Fati

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), Arsenal and Tottenham are both ‘keeping an eye’ on Fati and are two of ‘four English clubs’ monitoring his situation.

Bayern Munich have already ‘asked’ about the winger’s availability, but it’s stated that there is ‘no offer yet’ from any of the interested parties.

Fati’s agent Jorge Mendes is ‘ready to move’ his client should the opportunities available to him at Barcelona not increase over the coming months.

The Verdict: One for the future

Fati is still at such a young age, but having previously been described as ‘Messi-esque’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he would be a massively promising signing for Arsenal’s future.

The Nike-sponsored attacker already has 34 senior goal contributions for Barcelona and ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty expected goals, shots taken and touches in the penalty area, figures which highlight his abundant attacking talents.

Mikel Arteta would also be getting a player with great versatility, with Fati having the ability to operate on both flanks and as a centre-forward. Therefore, should the opportunity arise, this appears to be a no-brainer of a deal for Edu to try and complete.

Tottenham Hotspur did well to sign Pedro Porro during January, but Antonio Conte would likely still not consider the transfer window a huge success.

His side currently sit three points off the pace for top four, having played one more game than most teams around them, and they are battling with two of the Premier League’s most in-form teams in Newcastle United and Manchester United for a Champions League place.

The Italian has always been vocal in his demand for additional support. Indeed, it was as recently as November that he challenged his hierarchy to match the spending of both the Magpies and Arsenal.

However, even with the acquisition of the Spaniard, they have pushed payment of the £39m transfer fee until the summer by taking him on loan until then.

It therefore begs the question as to why they could not have secured Conte his “main priority” last month, which was reportedly a centre-back according to Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge. There were few credible reports which suggested that they might actually move for one, and in the end, such a deal never materialised.

Whilst it might frustrate the 53-year-old Spurs boss, he could now look to his youth ranks to plug this all-important gap, and the outstanding candidate for such a promotion has to be Maksim Paskotsi.

The Estonian defender boasts just one senior appearance for the Lilywhites but remains a highly-rated asset who is seen as the future of the club. Indeed, such is his talent that, in 2020, football talent scout Jacek Kulig labelled him “one of the most talented players in Estonia”.

Having only featured sporadically even at under-21 level, the 20-year-old does not post a great deal of data with which to analyse. However, having been hailed by Kulig as one of the best players for his country, his impressive displays in the UEFA Nations League stand as the best way to gauge his quality.

Averaging a 7.10 Sofascore rating in that competition, his averages of 1.5 interceptions and three clearances per game outline him as a stalwart at the back. He pairs this with an average of one key pass per 90, which further paints him in the image of the quintessential modern-day centre back who is comfortable on the ball.

With a sparkling future seemingly ahead of him, now is as good a time as any for Conte to promote the young titan to the first-team ranks and fill the gap which really needed sorting last month.

The sooner that Paskotsi is exposed to a higher level of football, the sooner that he can set about remedying his club’s biggest failing in the January transfer window.

Fabrizio Romano has shared some Chelsea contract news for supporters involving bright young midfielder Lewis Hall.

The Lowdown: Blues sorting new deals…

Stamford Bridge chiefs appear to have turned their attention to extending some important deals for key players as well as planning for the summer transfer window.

Reports have suggested that owner Todd Boehly is already plotting a move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen but Graham Potter’s side are also working on fresh terms for the likes of N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva.

Over the past 12 months, it’s certainly been a busy time at Chelsea, with reliable reporter Romano now sharing an update on Hall’s future.

The Latest: Chelsea ‘in talks’ over new Hall deal…

Speaking to CaughtOffside, the transfer journalist says Chelsea are ‘in talks’ with the 18-year-old’s reps over fresh terms and are currently ‘speaking’ with them.

He explained:

“Chelsea are speaking to Hall representatives, new contract has been discussed. It’s not completed yet but it’s one of the new deal in talks alongside Kante and especially Thiago Silva, main priority.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

The teenager has attracted praise since putting in a Man of the Match performance on his full Chelsea debut around this time last year.

Callum Hudson-Odoi waxed lyrical over Hall in January 2022 after he became the youngest Chelsea player to ever start an FA Cup game.

The winger called his young teammate at the time ‘amazing’ for a very assured display against Chesterfield and that appears to just be the beginning.

Potter has since weighed in with his own praise for Hall and it’s clear the former Brighton boss is a fan – having started the player in four Premier League games (WhoScored).

Chelsea opening new deal talks is yet another indicator of the Englishman’s potential and we believe the club are doing the right thing by attempting to tie him down.

An update has emerged regarding Aston Villa’s attempts to sign Ibrahima Bamba from Vitoria Guimaraes in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Ibrahima Bamba to Aston Villa?

According to Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness), NSWE have already opened talks over a deal to bring the versatile talent to Villa Park at the end of the season.

The report claims that they are attempting to sign the defender amid the news this week that the club have reached a pre-agreement to buy a 46% share in the Portuguese outfit, with Record stating that a move for the gem could cost around €12m (£11m) including the shares.

Journalist Duncan Castles has since added to the story by tweeting that Villa “aim to use [the] multi-club model to sign young Italian centre back Ibrahima Bamba” and are now looking to add an MLS club to their portfolio.

Could Bamba be Ezri Konsa’s heir at Villa?

NSWE could land Unai Emery the eventual heir to Ezri Konsa’s position in the team by securing a deal to sign the 20-year-old enforcer as part of this deal to buy shares in Vitoria.

The former Brentford defender has been a regular for Villa in the Premier League this season, starting 21 matches to date and averaging a Sofascore rating of 6.83.

The 25-year-old has completed 87% of his attempted passes and made 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game whilst winning an eye-catching 74% of his individual duels.

Bamba, who was once hailed by writer Zach Lowy as one of his team’s “intriguing” pieces, has forced himself into the first-team at Vitoria this season and has been in superb form for the Portuguese side.

In Liga Portugal, the 20-year-old has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 across 18 starts and made 3.4 tackles and interceptions per match whilst winning 63% of his individual battles and completing 84% of his attempted passes.

For context, only Douglas Luiz (7.02) has averaged a higher rating in the Premier League for Villa this season, which indicates that Bamba has the potential to be a terrific addition to Emery’s squad if he can translate that form over to English football.

The defender has delivered consistently impressive displays for Vitoria despite his young age, and he is showing maturity beyond his years against senior professionals on a weekly basis as a dominant, composed defender.

With this in mind, Bamba – a right-footed centre-back – could be the long-term heir to Konsa’s position at Villa Park if Emery can unearth the gem’s potential and help him to thrive in England as he has done in Portugal.