Chelsea: Moises Caicedo has ‘travelled to London’

Chelsea target Moises Caicedo has reportedly travelled to London on deadline day, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.

The Lowdown: Caicedo and Fernandez?

The Blues appear to be on the hunt for midfield reinforcements in the final hours of the January window, with a record move for Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez potentially on the cards.

Reports have suggested that Chelsea could also make a late push for Brighton’s Caicedo, with the 21-year-old also on Arsenal’s radar.

The Seagulls don’t want to lose the Ecuador international though, while the player himself could well be looking to force through a late move having already posted a goodbye message on social media.

The Latest: Talbot’s comments

Talking to GiveMeSport, journalist Talbot provided an update on Caicedo, admitting he’s heard that the player is on the way to London but stressing that a deal with any interested club is yet to be agreed.

“I’ve heard that he’s travelled to London on deadline day – he’s in London. Obviously it’s been briefed elsewhere, and especially to Brighton reporters, that there’s no deal in place. That’s not our information. We’re aware of that but it’s not what I’ve heard.”

The Verdict: One to watch…

It could be a frantic final few hours in the window for Stamford Bridge officials, with Fernandez and Caicedo potentially two deals to keep an eye on. Both could be huge deals financially, with a £115m fee mooted for Fernandez and Arsenal having a £70m offer for Caicedo turned down.

The Blues have shown under Todd Boehly that they are willing to splash the cash, though, and following this update, a double midfield swoop could be one to watch.

Jorginho is also on his way to the Emirates, which shows that there could be room for Caicedo and Fernandez, especially with Conor Gallagher’s future also up in the air.

Spurs likely to receive Kane interest from Bayern

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is still very much on the radar of Bayern Munich ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

What’s the latest?

The England captain is now playing into the final 18 months of his contract in north London following months of speculation in 2021 about a potential move away to Manchester City.

Some reports, including from reliable journalist David Ornstein, have suggested the Lilywhites will pick up transfer talks following the conclusion of the January window.

However, Spurs insider Paul O’Keefe has claimed on Twitter the striker is not engaging in talks over a potential new deal and Daniel levy would not stand in his way if he was to request a move this summer.

And now, speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast, insider Graeme Bailey has declared Bayern’s interest in the possibility of landing Kane in the summer:

“We’re reporting that Bayern Munich still hold interest. They haven’t found that Lewandowski replacement yet. You know, it’s less than 12 months until he can sign a pre-contract with Bayern Munich on a possible Bosman [free transfer] if he wished.

“It’s really interesting this situation but we can confirm Bayern still think in an ideal world they would sign Harry Kane this summer.”

Huge months ahead for Spurs

Tottenham’s form this season has been turbulent, to say the least, with the last few months not going in their favour and seeing them drop out of the top four.

However, the form of Kane has not dipped in the slightest with the 29-year-old remaining the Premier League’s second-highest goalscorer this season with an impressive return of 15 goals from 19 games.

And it does feel as if the coming months for Spurs could be huge for their future given their manager, Antonio Conte’s, time in north London is also not set in stone for the years to come.

Kane is now nearing the age of 30-years-old and it does feel as if this upcoming deal could potentially be the final big one of his career.

And despite nearly being 30, the England captain still finds himself chasing that allusive piece of silverware.

Considering Bayern have won the Bundesliga for the last 10 campaigns and are already sitting top of the table this season with a four-point cushion, it would be a fair presumption that a move to Munich would likely satisfy his trophy needs.

However, we do wonder if Spurs winning a trophy this season could possibly put that need to win his first trophy to bed and see him sign a new deal at Spurs.

Currently, Tottenham only remain in the Champions League and FA Cup – with the Premier League title seemingly out of reach – so we do wonder if winning either of those could play a big part in his future.

But it would certainly be interesting to see if – at the age of 30 – Kane would be willing to try a new country and potentially leave behind Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League goal record if Bayern were to come knocking.

Derby County injury news: Anang update

Derby County have been handed an injury boost after Joseph Anang returned to training ahead of the League One game vs Bolton Wanderers.

The Lowdown: Spell on the sidelines

The Rams secured an emphatic 4-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers last weekend and will be hoping to continue their positive run of form when they face Ian Evatt’s side on Tuesday evening.

The Ghanaian goalkeeper made the move to Pride Park on a season-long loan over the summer but is yet to feature after breaking his arm during his first week at the club, though a positive update on his fitness has now emerged.

The Latest: Anang in contention

According to DerbyshireLive, Anang is ‘back’ at Derby after ‘finally overcoming’ the injury that has kept him ruled out since the start of the season.

The 6 foot 2 shot-stopper is now ‘in training’ again and will hope that he can ‘be involved in the squad’ for the fixture at the University of Bolton Stadium next week.

The Verdict: Boost for Warne

Joe Wildsmith has been in strong form this term so Anang won’t immediately come in and take his place as the number one, but it’ll still be a huge boost for Paul Warne to have him available for selection for the first time.

St. Patrick’s Athletic’s former keeper made a real name for himself under Tim Clancy, keeping 12 clean sheets in just 30 games, which saw him hailed a ‘top level’ player by the boss himself.

Anang won’t have wanted to be out for such a long period of time when the aim of his move was to get minutes under his belt, but he’ll now have the chance to kickstart his loan and show the Rams manager what he’s capable of.

Everton plot January swoop for Ismaila Sarr

Everton have been linked with a move for Ismaila Sarr for some time now, and a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to The Mirror, the Toffees are exploring the opportunity to sign the Watford winger when the transfer window reopens next month.

As per the report, despite Watford’s intentions to keep Sarr at Vicarage Road for their promotion charge in the second half of the Championship season, Everton are plotting a £35m bid for the player.

It’d be a major coup

There is no doubt that the signing of Sarr would be a major coup for Frank Lampard in his pursuit to improve his team after another disappointing start to their Premier League campaign.

Everton are currently teetering on the edge of the relegation zone in 17th after a string of poor performances left them just one point above the bottom three ahead of the World Cup break.

One of the biggest issues that the Toffees are currently experiencing is their lack of attacking threat and prolific finishing in front of goal, scoring the joint-second fewest goals of any team in the top flight so far.

As a result, if the powers at Goodison Park can secure a deal for Sarr in January, the Watford winger could be a hugely valuable asset to Lampard over the remainder of the campaign.

In 109 appearances for Watford, the 24-year-old – who was once dubbed “outstanding” by BBC pundit Garth Crooks – has scored 30 goals and registered 21 assists with a goal contribution every 174 minutes, proving that he is a consistent and reliable threat in front of goal.

Furthermore, Sarr has been a standout performer for Senegal during the World Cup in Qatar, helping his nation to the round of 16 in the prestigious tournament.

Across four appearances at the finals, the talented forward scored one goal and successfully completed 69% of his dribbles, along with averaging 1.5 key passes, 2.8 shots per goal, one tackle and a whopping 9.5 successful duels per game.

Lampard is in desperate need of a player who can make an instant positive impact on the attacking threat in the team, and Sarr could be the perfect player to make the difference which might save Everton from another difficult relegation scrap at the bottom of the table over the second half of the season.

Wolves can ditch Hwang for Brereton Diaz

Wolves are one of several Premier League sides to be linked with Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz and the Chile international’s arrival could see Hwang Hee-chan leave Molineux.

According to 90min, the 23-year-old striker is on the shortlist of a number of top-flight sides including Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, West Ham, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Brighton ahead of the January window.

Brereton Diaz’s contract at Ewood Park is set to expire at the end of the current campaign which leaves the Lancashire outfit with a huge decision to make in the new year, as foreign clubs will be able to approach the striker on a pre-contract deal with the view to signing him on a free transfer.

Blackburn valued the former Nottingham Forest man at £20m during the summer after a hugely impressive campaign in the Championship which saw him hit 22 goals in just 35 appearances in the second tier, averaging a superb 7.06 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He has continued that strong form into the new season with Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side, with nine league goals to his name thus far, and it is easy to see why Blackburn might demand a significant fee for him in January despite his contract situation, as they will be hoping that he can fire them to promotion to the Premier League.

Rovers currently sit third in the Championship so will fancy their chances of swapping places with Wolves for the 2023/24 campaign, but Julen Lopetegui has been brought in to avoid relegation at all costs.

The Spaniard takes over a side bottom of the top flight with just eight goals to their name, so signing a consistent goalscorer has to be a priority for the former Sevilla boss in January.

In the absence of Raul Jimenez, Pedro Neto and Sasa Kalajdzic for much of the season, the Old Gold have struggled to trouble Premier League defences, and Hwang’s poor form since joining permanently has been a big factor behind that.

After hitting five goals on loan from RB Leipzig last season it was hoped that the South Korea international, once dubbed a “top player,” could have a big impact going forward again in the current campaign.

However, he has struggled for regular game time and has been woeful on his rare starts, with WhoScored awarding him a shocking 6.15 average rating for his performances in the Premier League.

This ranks him as the 21st-best player at Molineux so far this campaign, which suggests that he needs to leave in January and that the “phenomenal” Brereton Diaz would be a significant upgrade in Lopetegui’s squad.

Newcastle could ditch Burn for Borna Sosa

One of the key figures in the rise of Newcastle United in 2022 has been that of January arrival, Dan Burn, with the towering Englishman – and boyhood Magpies fan – having proven a real asset to Eddie Howe’s side of late.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion man may not have been a glamorous addition at the time of his capture, although the 6 foot 6 menace has swiftly endeared himself to the St James’ Park faithful, having also been tipped for a potential inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup.

The versatile ace has typically lined up as something of a makeshift left-back so far this term, helping to form part of what is the meanest defence in the Premier League, with the northeast side having conceded just 11 goals so far this term.

For all the £10.4m-rated man’s defensive quality – notably averaging 3.2 clearances and 1.2 tackles per game from his 14 top-flight outings this season – it remains to be seen if he is a long-term fit on the left of the defence, having offered little in an attacking sense of late.

The £35k-per-week colossus has failed to provide a single goal or assist in the league so far this term, with that lack of creativity also emphasised by the fact that he has averaged just 0.3 key passes per game.

That fact could well ensure that Howe and co are forced to look elsewhere for a more permanent, quality fit at full-back moving forward, with a new recruit having seemingly been a target in that role over the summer, despite securing the permanent addition of former loanee Matt Targett.

One such figure who was believed to be attracting the attention of those at Newcastle in the recent window was Stuttgart star, Borna Sosa, with reports in his native Croatia suggesting that the eight-cap gem was of interest to the Tynesiders and also West Ham United.

While no such move came to fruition, the Magpies could now have been given the green light to make another approach in the New Year, with Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg revealing earlier this week that the 24-year-old “is set to leave” his current side, with the Bundesliga outfit needing to sell in the winter window.

The exciting talent is likely to fetch around €25m (£22m) – depending on his potential displays in Qatar for his country – with that likely set to prove something of a snip for a player who has showcased his attacking quality in recent times.

A player who is “full of assists” – according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs – Sosa has already racked up a remarkable haul of eight assists in just 13 games in all competitions thus far this season, unsurprisingly ranking in the top 1% for that metric in Europe.

This current campaign has been the norm rather than an anomaly, however, with the £10.7k-per-week machine having also provided nine assists across all fronts last term, as well as a further haul of ten the year prior.

That stunning form has ensured that the Zagreb-born ace now boasts 31 assists in just 96 games for the German side, while 30-year-old Burn has just six assists to his name throughout his whole playing career, including just a solitary goal involvement for the Magpies.

While it may be something of a harsh decision to ditch the latter man from the side in January, the obvious quality of Sosa in the final third should ensure that landing the playmaking defender is something of a no-brainer.

Rangers must ditch Roofe

Glasgow Rangers delivered their most impressive performance of the domestic campaign on Saturday, thrashing Aberdeen 4-1, although the scoreline should have been more impressive for Giovanni van Brockhorst’s side.

Rangers had a total of 36 shots during the match, and with a bit more composure, they may have scored a lot more.

Kemar Roofe, the Light Blues perennially injured forward, would have had a field day with the chances the club squandered, however, he was ruled out by van Bronckhorst after just making his first appearance against Dundee on October 19.

This fresh injury concern will give the Dutchman a headache as to what he does with the player going forward, as he is no use on the treatment table while earning a luscious £26k-per-week.

Van Bronckhorst must ditch Roofe

The 29-year-old signed for the club under former manager Steven Gerrard and he even dubbed his wonder goal against Standard Liege, where he scored from his own half in monsoon conditions, as “unbelievable”.

That first season, Roofe was certainly unbelievable as he scored 18 goals while the Ibrox side claimed their first Premiership crown in a decade. He was arguably one of Gerrard’s most important signings that season, with the player adding an extra dimension to the club’s attack as the former boss compared him to a “Duracell bunny” for his relentless energy.

Another 16 goals followed last season, which ended with Rangers winning the Scottish Cup and reaching the Europa League final, however, his injury niggles began to take their toll.

Over the course of his stint in Glasgow, Roofe has missed a grand total of 56 matches and with the signs looking good for a comeback with his cameos in the last two matches, it was another blow that he is set to miss the next few weeks.

It was perhaps inevitable, especially with his record, but the club’s Dutch coach must be getting fed up with the constant issues that are threatening his spell at Rangers.

His contract doesn’t expire until 2024, but it’s looking increasingly likely that he will depart long before then.

There is no doubting his ability, and when he came off the bench against both Dundee and Livingston recently, he showed glimpses of just what he can offer. But these are too few and far between, unfortunately.

The Dutchman can free up some space on the wage bill by ruthlessly getting rid of Roofe, and while it might not be the most popular decision, it feels like the correct one.

Aston Villa: Jaime Arias set to join Unai Emery

Aston Villa have reportedly brought in young coach Jaime Arias to work alongside Unai Emery.

The Lowdown: Emery in

Villa and NSWE acted quickly when it came to replacing Steven Gerrard in the Midlands, with Emery announced on Monday evening.

The club confirmed that the Spaniard ‘will take over from November 1st after his work permit formalities are completed’, however, they didn’t state how long Emery’s contract with Villa will be after activating his release clause at Villarreal.

Villa will now be looking to possibly bolster Emery’s backroom staff ahead of his first game in charge, and it looks as if they have made a first move by bringing in Arias.

The Latest: Arias to follow?

Birmingham Live relayed an update from Spanish outlet La Voz de Asturias in the last 48 hours regarding Emery and Arias.

They claimed that Arias has signed for Villa after making a good impression under Emery at Villarreal in recent months and will be one of his assistant coaches.

The Verdict: More to come?

Arias only left Real Oviedo to join Villarreal in the summer, so he’s clearly made a positive impression in a short space of time for Emery to bring him to England as one of his first additions.

He appears to be the first of many to join Emery in the Midlands as Gary McAllister, Neil Critchley, Tom Culshaw, Jordan Milsom and Scott Mason also left alongside Gerrard.

It could be a busy few days before Emery’s first game against Manchester United, but it’s good to see that action has been taken with Arias.

Liverpool are "interested" in Jamal Musiala

Liverpool are already gearing up for a busy transfer window next summer as it is clear the team needs a refresh after a poor start in the Premier League, and a reliable source has revealed a new target that has caught Jurgen Klopp’s eye.

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are interested in Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala but it won’t be easy to sign him.

Plettenberg tweeted:

“News #Musiala: Based on reports from UK: Yes, #LFC is interested in Musiala. Like any other top club in the world. But a transfer is no topic at this stage. He doesn’t want to leave Bayern and he is not for sale as mentioned by Salihamidzic at Sky. @SkySportDE.”

Jude Bellingham alternative

It’s no secret that Liverpool and Klopp are huge admirers of Jude Bellingham and the club are reportedly the frontrunner to sign the Borussia Dortmund wonderkid next summer. However, they are joined in a race full of elite European clubs that all want a slice of the midfielder’s talent.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea are all named as interested parties in the chase to secure Bellingham’s next summer and with the price tag set around £131.6m, it would be the deepest FSG has ever reached into their pockets to sign a player.

Virgil van Dijk remains Liverpool’s record transfer at £75m which is a lot cheaper than the price reported for the England international, however, if Liverpool want to compete with giants like Man City in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League, large reinvestment is essential in today’s market.

Due to the nature of the competitors vying for Bellingham’s signature, signing Musiala as an alternative would not be the worst idea for Liverpool as he is another talented youngster who could offer Liverpool stability and star quality in the centre of the pitch for years to come. That said, he would not come cheap either with CIES valuing the youngster at a whopping £122m.

According to FBRef, the 19-year-old’s closest comparable player is indeed Bellingham and it’s not hard to see why when you consider his output for the Bundesliga champions.

In just seven league appearances this season, Musiala has scored five goals, delivered three assists and created three big chances. He has also made 1.9 tackles a match and is winning 5.9 duels per game, proving that he is a versatile midfielder who is a huge influence in the heart of his team.

Not only that but the £83k-per-week teen who was hailed “exceptional” by Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn, ranks in the top 1% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for dribbles completed, touches, shots on goal and progressive passes received, while ranking in the top 2% for shot creating actions and assists.

Comparatively, Bellingham ranks in the top 4% for dribbles completed, the best 7% for total shots and the top 14% for shot-creating actions.

It would be incredibly difficult to convince Bayern Munich to part with the biggest rising star at their club right now, however, it is proof that Liverpool aren’t willing to just put all their eggs in one basket on Bellingham, and are showing ambition to sign midfielders who can make an instant impact at Anfield.

Wolves dealt Diego Costa blow

Wolves’ hopes of signing Diego Costa on a free transfer have taken a real blow and it could leave Bruno Lage’s side in a real mess if they cannot sign him.

What’s the word?

Following the ACL injury suffered by new signing Sasa Kalajdzic on his Wolves debut last weekend, as well as Raul Jimenez not being fully fit, Lage seemingly identified a short-term solution in former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid man Diego Costa.

It was reported that Wolves were set to sign the 33-year-old striker on a free transfer and that he was already flying to England in order to finalise a deal with Lage’s side.

However, his work permit was rejected and it now seems unlikely that he will be able to be registered as a Wolves player, with Express and Star journalist Liam Keen suggesting that his move “hangs in the balance.”

Costa fails to qualify for enough points to earn a work permit, as he has not played for international side Spain since 2018, while he has been without a club since leaving Atletico Mineiro in January.

A huge blow for Lage?

Not only does the move for Costa ‘hang in the balance’ but the same could well be said of their entire season if they fail to sign an additional striker of quality in the coming days.

This blow is seemingly representative of Wolves’ season as a whole, as they have already shown last season and at the beginning of 2022/23 that goalscoring is a problem, with just 38 goals in the previous campaign.

The Old Gold have scored just three times in six games this term and without Kalajdzic and Costa, they would once again be forced to rely upon Jimenz, who managed just six goals in the top flight last time out.

Unless they address these goalscoring issues it is hard to see their difficult start to the new season improving, and Lage’s side could find themselves in real trouble if a striker isn’t brought in before January.

Costa, while a controversial figure, slammed in 59 goals in 120 appearances at Chelsea and was also prolific at Atletico Madrid, hitting 83 goals across two spells there. As a result, he could have offered a real goalscoring threat in Lage’s side, as well as being a nuisance to Premier League defenders with his aggressiveness and physicality.

Therefore, Lage will be very worried about his striker situation at Molineux if Costa doesn’t sign, and the Old Gold could be in for a season of struggle after this setback. The 2022/23 campaign certainly hangs in the balance for them right now.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus