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Wolverhampton Wanderers signing Racing Club midfielder Carlos Alcaraz would be a ‘real coup’, according to transfers reporter Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Wolves targeting Alcaraz

At the start of the window, journalist Ed Aarons claimed that Wolves were interested in signing Alcaraz in a deal that could amount to £17m.

However, it is now clear that Julen Lopetegui is going to have to fend off interest from other Premier League clubs if he wants to land the 20-year-old, with Southampton having an £8.8m bid turned down in recent days.

Not only that, but Corriere dello Sport have previously reported that both Inter Milan and FC Porto are in the mix for the youngster’s signature. (via Sport Witness)

The Latest: Jones’ update

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, O’Rourke gave a positive verdict on the impact that the Argentinian could have at Molineux for the rest of the season:

“Like all those other teams down near the bottom of the table, goals have been a big issue for Wolves this season.

“If they could sign someone like Alcaraz ahead of some of Europe’s top clubs, it’d be a real coup for the club and give them a big boost for the second half of the season.”

The Verdict: Talented youngster

Wolves are the league’s lowest scorers, so they desperately need to bolster their ranks with some more attacking firepower, and while signing a young player unproven outside of Argentina is a risk, there are some signs that he would be able to make an instant impact at Molineux.

The starlet has been hailed as ‘gold’ by journalist Alex de Llana for his performances with Racing, and he would be a versatile option for Lopetegui to have going forward, given that he is capable of playing in central-midfield and at right-wing.

Having scored nine goals in 42 appearances for Racing last season, it is clear that Alcaraz likes to get involved in the attacking phase of play, and he could be a fantastic replacement for Matheus Nunes, who has recently been linked with a move to Liverpool.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou does not appear keen to rest on his laurels despite the Parkhead outfit’s handsome, nine-point advantage at the summit, with the 57-year-old having already strengthened his charges with three new arrivals in recent weeks.

With a fourth potentially on the way in the form of South Korean striker Cho Gue-sung – following reports that a £3m bid has been lodged by the Old Firm giants – it looks as if the Scottish champions are not done just yet in the winter window.

Another possible target that has emerged in recent times is FC Luzern midfielder, Ardon Jashari, with Sky Germany having claimed that the Switzerland international is of interest to the Glasgow side, as well as a handful of clubs across Europe.

The suggestion is that the 20-year-old – whose existing deal is set to run until the summer of 2026 – could command a fee of close to €6.5m (£6m) if he is to depart any time soon, with previous reports claiming that the Hoops have set aside ‘significant’ funds in order to strengthen their midfield ranks.

The youngster is clearly a player of “big potential” – according to journalist Pete O’Rourke – having enjoyed a promising start to the current campaign after chipping in with four assists in 15 league games from his defensive midfield berth.

The two-cap machine can clearly provide a creative spark in his role as a “deep-lying orchestrator” – as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – with that showcased by the fact that he has averaged 1.0 key passes per game in Switzerland this season.

Should Postecoglou secure Jashari’s signature in the coming weeks he could form a stellar partnership alongside Matt O’Riley, with the “special” talent, as lauded by journalist Kieran Devlin, having been in sparkling form in the centre of the park of late.

The 22-year-old – who signed on a £1.5m deal from MK Dons a year ago – has gone on to rack up 14 goal involvements in 48 games in all competitions in that time, including a haul of eight assists in 21 Scottish Premiership outings so far this term.

Like Jashari, O’Riley can also help to spark attacks with his incisive forward passing as he has created 11 big chances this term and averages 2.1 key passes per game, having been described as something of a “magician” by the aforementioned Kulig.

To able to have such a youthful duo thriving alongside each other could well be a real blessing for the Bhoys, with both Jashari and O’Riley also offering real quality in a defensive sense, as they average 1.0 and 1.5 tackles per game, respectively, this season.

That is simply a duo that Postecoglou could build his side around for the years to come.

Leeds United have already bolstered both their attack and defence this January, but it is clear with the persistent links to the likes of Azzedine Ounahi that they are not finished.

Whites director of football Victor Orta remains on the lookout for another midfielder to add to the side, adding depth and quality across all areas of the pitch as they look to distance themselves from the relegation battle.

Whilst they are two points from bottom, they are also only two wins away from 12th in the table too, such is the tightness and unpredictability of the Premier League this season.

It is a league that will be decided upon fine margins, and therefore they must not hesitate if a viable option comes available on the market.

Therefore, the suggestion they could move for Lens’ Seko Fofana is one they should welcome and actively explore.

Boasting a reported €40m (£35m) price tag, the Whites have already shown that they are willing to spend big this window as they smashed their record transfer with a move for Georginio Rutter.

Whilst striker was a position of utmost importance, a physical machine such as the Ivory Coast international could be the final piece to complete their midfield.

The 27-year-old could form a remarkable partnership in the engine room alongside the workmanlike Tyler Adams, who would offer Fofana the creative license to flex his offensive muscles.

This season has seen the Ivory Coast enforcer record eight goal contributions, as he has dominated games with his all-around exceptional ability.

Whilst ranking in the top 3% for total shots when compared with other midfielders around Europe, he also ranks in the top 3% for dribbles completed. When he is in full flow with the ball at his feet, Fofana becomes near unstoppable, via FBref.

This is supplemented by the claims of journalist Said Amdaa, who once labelled him:

“Unplayable in midfield with monster activity. Recoverer/scorer. Very reliable, the captain”.

To pair this with the defensive exploits of Adams, who this season has averaged 4.2 tackles per 90 alongside an 83% pass accuracy, would be a stroke of genius, would outlining the USA international as a calming presence beside the all-action Fofana.

It could be a match made in heaven for manager Jesse Marsch, who is surely seeking that final addition to cap off a wonderful transfer window.

West Ham have entered talks with the agent of Lorient striker Terem Moffi, according to journalist Alan Nixon.

The Lowdown: Hammers make bid…

The Hammers, in this last week, are reliably believed to have made an offer to sign the 23-year-old with Sky Sports claiming a bid of £25 million has been lodged.

Moffi has been a target for West Ham as manager David Moyes attempts to bolster his options and potentially save his job.

The east Londoners are currently level on points with fellow Premier League strugglers Everton and Southampton in the bottom three whilst being among the division’s lowest goalscorers.

A possible injury lay-off for striker Gianluca Scamacca has heightened the need for attacking additions as they eye a deal for Aston Villa striker Danny Ings, but reports suggest they are also trying to sign Moffi alongside the Englishman.

The Latest: West Ham enter agent talks for Moffi…

According to journalist Nixon, writing on his Patreon, West Ham are ‘in contract talks’ for the forward as they attempt to beat Nice to his signature.

The Irons are ‘confident’ their £25m offer will be accepted by Lorient and are now ‘thrashing out wages’ with the English representative of Moffi.

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While Nice are still in the hunt, it is believed West Ham should be able to offer much better money for the 23-year-old.

The Verdict: Ideal man…

Moffi has been in scintillating form for Lorient over the 2022/2023 season. bagging a very impressive 12 goals in 17 league starts for the French top flight side.

The African would come to West Ham with real longevity given his age alongside immediate quality to potentially help Moyes to avoid the drop.

His versatility is another real bonus with Moffi able to play as both an attacking midfielder and further forward according to WhoScored.

Called a ‘big talent’ and ‘explosive’ by members of the media in recent seasons, there is little doubt he could inject a serious attacking threat under Moyes.

Aston Villa have been making waves in the January transfer market under the tutelage of Unai Emery, and could now place the icing on the cake by tying up a deal for Udinese’s Gerard Deulofeu.

What’s the word?

According to a report from the Daily Mail at the end of December, Emery has been urging his technical director Johan Lange to make a move for Deulofeu, who has undergone something of a resurgence since joining his current Serie A outfit in 2020.

And now, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, prominent transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has shed some further light on the potential movement, stating that the Villans are indeed pushing for a move, but have been met with resistance from the Little Zebras.

Romano said: “They really appreciate Deulofeu, another player appreciated by the coach Unai Emery, but at the moment Udinese really want to keep Deulofeu until the end of the season. So not an easy one, but I’m sure that Villa also will be busy with two or three more signings.”

Ashley Young reborn

Emery has won five of his seven matches in the Premier League since arriving at Villa Park in October, and while his side have indeed fallen from both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, there has been a swift and discernible difference to both form and results since the 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Fulham that instigated the dismissal of Steven Gerrard.

On the transfer front, Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran have been acquired to provide a boost to the defensive and offensive departments, but a winger of top-class quality would go a long way towards providing the sheen to ensure the Midlands outfit push for a top-half finish this season, perhaps even reaching as far as the upper third of the table, clinching European football next term.

And with the creative ingenuity of Deulofeu, this could certainly be established; having recently sold Danny Ings to West Ham United for £15m, Villa will likely move for a centre-forward, with the likes of Moussa Dembele touted, and the wily winger’s inclusion would stamp success firmly into proceedings.

Having made 68 appearances for Udinese, the former Everton and Watford “genius” – as once hailed by BBC Sport writer Phil McNulty – has scored 18 goals and 14 assists, including a return of ten direct contributions from 16 starts this season.

And as per FBref, he ranks within the top 5% of his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for rate of assists and the top 15% for progressive passes and shot-creating actions, illustrating his superlative technique and efficacy in the final third, which would only enhance Villa’s prospects.

He could emulate Ashley Young, with the 37-year-old veteran currently enjoying his second spell with the Claret & Blue, having previously played for the outfit between 2007 and 2012.

With Young’s career defined by his wand of a delivery and selfless service for his teammates, the £22k-per-week Deulofeu would be wise to copy the blueprint and shower success on the team as they look to continue the ascension back towards prominence.

Indeed, the Spaniard appears just as creative as Young several years ago, with the former England international ranking in the top 10% of full-backs in the 2017/18 Premier League campaign for goal-creating actions, the top 3% for expected assists and the same percentage for crosses into the penalty area.

As such, Villa technical director Johan Lange would do well to ensure Emery clinches his reunion with his former Sevilla ace, offering a layer of creativity and flair that could play a part in clinching European qualification at Villa Park once again, much like it did during Young’s first successful spell in the famous claret shirt.

Newcastle United, via intermediaries, are ‘continuing talks’ to sign Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca – according to reports.

The Lowdown: Magpies keep busy..

The Magpies are reportedly keeping busy this January transfer window as they attempt to back manager Eddie Howe with mid-season signings.

Newcastle are well in the hunt for a top four finish and subsequent Champions League qualifying place and new additions could give them a real boost.

The St. James’ Park side haven’t finished in the top four since 2003 and reports claim they see Everton winger Anthony Gordon as a top target.

According to reliable journalists like Craig Hope, Newcastle have commenced ‘formal talks’ over signing the 21-year-old.

The Latest: Newcastle ‘continuing talks’ for Franca…

As per 90min, Gordon isn’t the only sensation Newcastle want to sign, with the club ‘continuing talks’ through intermediaries over his possible signing.

It’s claimed that the 18-year-old top talent is also ‘keen’ on joining, but the problem lies with Flamengo, who are very reluctant to sell.

In a bad twist for Newcastle, the Brazilian side have adopted a stern stance and insist they are not looking to do a deal.

However, as claimed in the report, the Magpies are still holding discussions.

The Verdict: Move on?

The teenager has been on Man City and Real Madrid’s radar in the last 12 months, all while earning rave reviews for his ability at such a young age.

Flamengo U20s coach Fabio Matias raved over Franca’s technical ability and understanding of the game – not to mention his ability to be ‘decisive’ in front of goal (Goal).

One past report in South America, via Goal, even credited City with real interest whilst claiming their director of football Txiki Begiristain was willing to splash a ‘truckload’ of money on him.

Franca’s deal at Flamengo contains an £88 million release clause, perhaps suggesting how highly his club rate him and just how much ability the player has in his locker.

The bad news for Newcastle is Flamengo’s hard stance over selling this month, but perhaps it is one they could revisit in the summer window?

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has been hailed for securing the deadline day signing of Pedro Porro by TalkSport’s Simon Jordan.

What’s the latest?

In the final hour of Monday’s deadline, the north London club finally announced the signing of the Spanish right wing-back from Sporting CP.

It is believed the Lilywhites had marked Porro as their priority going into the January transfer window and certainly endured some bumps along the way in securing his services.

And the deal has been revealed to be an initial loan until the end of the campaign with Spurs holding an obligation to purchase Porro over the summer.

Speaking on TalkSport, Jordan hailed Levy for securing the player who he will not have to pay for until the summer:

(0:20) “Clever from Daniel [Levy] as well because he’s getting a player that he doesn’t have to pay for until the summer. If you watch what Liverpool did last year, they had to bring forward the signing of [Luis] Diaz because they were going to get them in the summer. Spurs were sniffing around and it triggered the transfer deal being brought forward for the selling club.

“It’s just clever from Daniel. He’s got £42m player for six months for no transfer fee beside his wages.”

Clever business?

This is the type of deal which has become pretty common at Spurs over recent years with Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski both brought in on similarly structured deals.

And there is certainly some sense behind this type of deal with the Lilywhites and Sporting hitting an impasse across Sunday and Monday with the deal seemingly hitting the rocks.

It had been suggested throughout the window that if Spurs were to buy the player then they would have to pay his release clause which would give the Portuguese side no other option but to sell.

However, there have since been reports claiming this release clause had become ineffective in the final days of the window meaning Spurs had to find a way around it.

And they did find a deal which suited both parties with the Portuguese outfit giving the player the green light to make the move on Monday night.

The deal will reportedly see Spurs pay an initial £5m loan fee and then £39m across a number of instalments which may not have been the case if they were to simply pay his release clause.

Although there is seemingly a lot of admiration for the way in which Levy has orchestrated the eventual deal for Porro, we do wonder what Jordan thinks about the Matt Doherty debacle.

The Irishman has seen his contract at the club terminated after a mutual agreement to move to Atletico Madrid with the Lilywhites hitting their loan limit of eight players.

Doherty departs Spurs with 18 months remaining on his deal with the club.

Chelsea spent £323m in the January transfer window and since Todd Boehly’s ownership takeover in May 2022 have spent £553.95m in total which has prompted concern about their Financial Fair Play obligations.

It is reported that the Blues could find themselves in hot water as early as next season due to their frivolous spending, especially if they don’t qualify for the Champions League next season.

Graham Potter’s side are currently ninth in the Premier League table and ten points adrift of a Champions League qualifying spot inside the top four due to a string of poor performances that has seen them struggle to compete at the highest level.

Indeed, there is no doubt that the new additions should make a valuable impact on the club with the likes of World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez joining the ambitious project at Stamford Bridge, however, despite the excessive spending and signing of high-quality players, the club are yet to address one of their most obvious issues.

Chelsea have struggled to find a striker who can be a consistent and reliable threat in front of goal with Romelu Lukaku shipped off on a season-long loan to Inter Milan after re-signing in 2021, whilst three-goal outcast, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has failed to hit the ground running since arriving at the club in the summer and Armando Broja is out with a long term injury.

As a result, Potter could save Boehly a massive financial fair paly headache and millions of pounds by unleashing a rising star from the famous Cobham academy with young centre-forward Mason Burstow making a name for himself already.

The 19-year-old earned a nomination for Premier League 2’s Player of the Month this week after an impressive run of form – scoring three goals and registering two assists over the first calendar month.

Since arriving from Charlton Athletic in January 2022, Burstow has established himself as a regular in the U21s with 20 appearances, seven goals and four assists so far and has already been rewarded with a first-team opportunity when he came on against Aston Villa in a friendly.

Judging by a lack of goals from Chelsea’s centre-forwards this term then the “remarkable” Burstow – as dubbed by Liam Twomey – certainly deserves more opportunities to shine judging by his ruthless record to date.

Should the 6 foot 2 ace get that chance, then he would well prove himself as the rightful Lukaku heir in the seasons to club, thus potentially saving Boehly and co millions when considering their options and targets in the summer.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for Burstow at Chelsea and with a deep concern mounting on the club’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season, Potter has nothing to lose in giving the young talent an opportunity to shine in the first team. After all, he is already a goal-scorer in the Football League at his tender age.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has already showcased his willingness to put his trust in the club’s academy talent during his tenure at St James’ Park so far, with the 45-year-old seemingly hoping to target on-field success both in the short-term and in the years to come.

Highly-rated playmaker Elliot Anderson – who spent last season on loan at Bristol Rovers – has already racked up 13 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies this term after being given the faith of his manager, while Howe was also keen to take a closer look at his young stars during the recent World Cup break.

One such asset who was thrust into the fray during those mid-season friendlies was 18-year-old starlet Alex Murphy, with the promising Irishman having featured off the bench during the 5-0 win over Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.

While that was a brief cameo appearance for the teenager, that early involvement in the first-team has illustrated the great strides that he has already made on Tyneside since arriving from Galway United last summer.

The commanding defender – who has typically featured at left-back or centre-back to date – has already had a taste of senior action at his former club, scoring twice and laying on four assists in 32 games across all fronts.

Lauded as “elegant” by former Galway academy coach Martin Devlin, the youngster’s ‘calmness on the ball’ – as described by The Chronicle’s Luke Duden – has seemingly caught the eye of Howe and co, with a prominent role in the first-team potentially on the horizon.

Should Murphy be promoted to the senior ranks over the coming weeks and months, it could well allow Newcastle the chance to part ways with peripheral figure Matt Targett on the left-hand side of defence, with the Englishman having been something of a spare part so far this season.

The former Aston Villa man was snapped up by the Magpies on a £15m deal last summer, having previously spent the second half of last season on loan at St James’ Park, although he has since gone on to start just six games in all competitions.

The 27-year-old – who has been blighted by injury of late – simply “hasn’t set the world alight” according to pundit Noel Whelan, with the club seemingly in need of an “upgrade” (as per Whelan) if they are to truly kick on moving forward.

Those struggles have come amid reports that Newcastle are looking for a new left-back recruit – with Croatian ace Borna Sosa having been linked in recent months – although PIF could well save themselves millions by turning to young Murphy instead of scouring the market.

With the teenage gem also perhaps a more suited successor to usual starter Dan Burn due to his ability to feature at full-back but also at the heart of defence, it could well make sense for him to secure a promotion to the first-team, thus pushing Targett further down the pecking order.

West Ham United defender Nayef Aguerd would be the prime candidate to replace Declan Rice as captain if he leaves, according to ExWHUemployee.

The Lowdown: West Ham captaincy

Following Mark Noble’s retirement after 18 years at West Ham, academy graduate Rice – Noble’s heir in east London – was named club captain at the beginning of this season after continuously impressing since his Premier League debut in 2017.

But given the rise of the Englishman, The Guardian reported that Rice sees his future away from the London Stadium amid his contract running out in the summer of 2024, pushing the Irons into making a big decision on their star man in the summer and seeing another change of the armband for next term.

The Latest: Ex’s comments

Speaking on The West Ham Way podcast, Ex revealed that he’d back £30m summer signing Aguerd to take the armband should Rice leave.

He said: “If Declan does go in the summer, which I’m pretty sure he is, then I think he [Aguerd] would be a great shout to be captain as well, and apparently, he’s a real, real great lad as well, which is really good to hear.

“From what I’ve heard from all the staff, from all the other players, he’s very well-liked, a bit of a joker, a bit of a bubbly character, so for me, he’s got the whole package.”

“[Moyes] lost him from before we even kicked a [ball] in the Premier League, and that was a massive loss for us. There’s no coincidence that things are turning with him in the side.”

The Verdict: Aguerd a shout?

With Rice completing the 90 minutes in every league game so far, there’s yet to be much of a hint about who may take over from the 24-year-old as skipper next season should he get his touted move.

After missing virtually all of West Ham’s games in the run-up to the World Cup, during which he starred for Morocco as they reached the semi-finals, playing the opening four games before missing the last three through injury, Aguerd has shown what the Irons have missed.

He’s played the 90 minutes in all of the last four Premier League outings, with the Hammers picking up five points and conceding just four times.

With his position in the backline cemented when fit, Aguerd proves a solid choice for David Moyes, and with experienced heads Aaron Cresswell and Angelo Ogbonna both being out of contract in the summer (Transfermarkt), he is quickly becoming a reliable option.

Therefore, taking all into account, Ex’s comments do suggest Aguerd could yet be captain material.