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West Ham United could be set to dip into the market for another forward this January…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to the Italian publication TuttoMercatoWeb, which states that Atalanta will listen to offers for Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel in an effort to revolutionise their attack.

This news will be of particular interest to David Sullivan, as the Hammers failed in a late bid to sign the former Colombian back in January.

Having agreed to terms and submitted a deal sheet, they simply ran out of time as the window slammed shut. Now, a year on, they could reignite their interest in the man who was reportedly valued at €55m (£48m) in the summer.

He’s the perfect Antonio heir

Standing at 6 foot 1 and boasting a huge physical frame, it is easy to draw comparisons between Zapata and Michail Antonio.

The Jamaican international has excelled in east London since his 2015 move, having played everywhere on the pitch before settling up front.

There, he has managed to score 66 times and assist a further 41, wreaking havoc against Premier League defences with his continued pressing and unrelenting physicality.

With Gianluca Scamacca somewhat faltering since his summer transfer, perhaps adding a more experienced forward who can provide a steady stream of goals might be a smart move for David Moyes.

Although he has underperformed somewhat this season, Zapata too has been a consistent goalscorer during his time in Italy.

Just last season he scored 13 times and assisted seven, and during his career for the Bergamo-based club has scored 80 times.

Any reservations regarding his ability to translate his proficiency to the Premier League are somewhat alleviated through his Champions League display against Manchester United at the start of last campaign, where he bullied their defence on his way to scoring and assisting in a 2-2 draw.

The notion from his old teammate Papu Gomez only acts to further liken him to Antonio, as the Argentine had the following to say about the 31-year-old: “Zapata’s shorts look like underwear, he is so big. Sometimes I don’t even want to get close to him in a match because he’s a beast and it hurts. 

“When he is feeling good he’s like a train – you throw the ball forward and ‘ciao!’”

With one physical animal seemingly coming to the end of his career at the London Stadium, perhaps Moyes could look to bring in another who can take his place whilst Scamacca continues to acclimatise.

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly set to firm up their interest in a former Ibrox assistant manager with an outstanding candidate having emerged to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst at the Old Firm outfit.

What’s the word?

That’s according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, who revealed that the Scottish Premiership side are set to step up their bid to land Mick Beale, having sacked van Bronckhorst earlier this week.

Writing on Twitter about that developing situation, the insider stated that “Rangers look set to make a formal approach” for the coach. Crook continued: “Interesting to see if he stays loyal to the project this time. Big job to say no to.”

Reports this morning from talkSPORT then went on to suggest that his current club expect him to now make the move north of the border.

‘Genius’ appointment

The Englishman is of course a name familiar to the Light Blues, with the Bromley-born coach having previously worked under Steve Gerrard during the latter man’s time in charge at Ibrox, the pair helping to guide the club to a historic 55th league title back in 2021 to end Celtic’s lengthy domestic dominance.

While it may have been the former England international receiving much of the plaudits for that glorious triumph due to his role in the top job, the suggestion is that Beale was also just as vital to that success, having been dubbed the “brains” behind the operation by former Gers striker, Kyle Lafferty.

Also lauded as a “genius” by Jermain Defoe, the former Sao Paulo assistant coach arguably did much of the training ground work during his time in Scotland, having been praised for his quality behind the scenes by Gerrard, with the latter man stating:

“It would take me 15/20 years to become as good as Michael Beale as an on-pitch coach, delivering sessions on a daily basis – so I let Mick be Mick Beale, because he’s the expert.”

The up-and-coming asset has taken that talent into his first managerial post at Loftus Road, having guided the west London outfit into playoff contention after an impressive start to the season, with that impact having even seen him come close to joining Premier League side, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

While the 42-year-old ultimately snubbed that approach to stay put in his current surroundings, it remains to be seen if he is able to resist the temptation of returning to Scotland to re-join his former employers, although as far as Rangers are concerned it could well be something of a masterstroke to bring back a familiar face who has previously enjoyed success at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Josko Gvardiol to the Premier League.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato.it, who claim both Antonio Conte’s side and top-flight rivals Chelsea are big admirers of the RB Leipzig centre-back, while Serie A duo Inter Milan and Juventus are also believed to be keen on a move for the 20-year-old defender.

However, the Croatia international’s agent, Marjan Sisic, revealed in an interview with the same outlet that Gvardiol is in no rush to leave the Bundesliga side, despite his claim that interested parties are calling him regarding a potential move for the £80m-valued starlet almost constantly.

Regarding the defender’s future, Sisic said:

“At the moment, we are very happy with Leipzig – it was the ideal choice for him after his years at Dinamo Zagreb.

“After the World Cup, I know that Josko will be completely concentrated on the Bundesliga, the national Cup and the Champions League. We are taking one step at a time and carefully building his career, always talking and deciding the next step together.

“My phone rings all the time, it’s not a secret. But that’s how it is ever since he stepped onto an important stage, playing for the Dinamo Zagreb first team. But I repeat, we are in no hurry.”

The next Ramos

Considering the remarkable rise to stardom Gvardiol has enjoyed over the last few years, it is not hard to comprehend why the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea, Inter and Juventus are reported to be interested in the 20-year-old – as the defender very much looks to be something of a generational talent.

Indeed, despite his tender age, the £103m-rated stopper has already proven himself to be one of the world’s best defenders, with FBref ranking the youngster in the top 25% of centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for interceptions per 90, as well as the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 1% for dribbles completed over the last 365 days.

These metrics highlight not only Gvardiol’s exceptional reading of the game, but also the Leipzig sensation’s remarkable ability to both carry and play the ball out from the back – something that makes it easy to see that the Croatian bases his game on Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Sergio Ramos, a player who shares all three of the aforementioned characteristics.

Again, similar to the Spaniard, the £19k-per-week gem also poses a significant threat in the opposition third, with FBref ranking Gvardiol in the top 18% of European centre-backs for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the top 10% for non-penalty xG, the top 23% for shots and the top 12% for shot-creating actions over the past 12 months.

Rather unsurprisingly, these metrics see the analytical database list Ramos as one of the 20-year-old’s most comparable players, something that would suggest the 14-cap international could well go on to make a similar impact on the game to that of the legend who made 671 appearances and won almost every club trophy possible during his time at Real Madrid.

As such, it is plain to see why Conte would be keen on a move to bring the left-footed star to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as the player who Ryan Taylor dubbed both a “man mountain” and “exceptional” would not only represent an excellent addition to the Italian’s current options at the back, but he could also become Spurs’ own Ramos-esque leader in north London.

New Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale will be a respected figure because of his ‘forthright’ approach, according to The Athletic journalist Jordan Campbell.

The Lowdown: Beale named as new Rangers boss

The Premiership giants may not be playing at the moment because of the ongoing World Cup in Qatar, but that certainly doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been a busy period at Ibrox.

Beale was named as Rangers’ new manager at the beginning of the week as he looks to pick up the pieces left by the departure of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The 42-year-old may not be a huge name in management as of yet but he impressed as Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Ibrox previously and did well enough at QPR to convince the Gers’ hierarchy that he is now ready for the managerial gig.

The Latest: Campbell talks up Beale

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article for The Athletic, Campbell talked up Beale as a manager, praising his approach in the process.

The journalist tweeted:

“Does he have the presence of a Gerrard? Who does? But the question of leadership and aura is relevant at Rangers. Players and colleagues I’ve spoken to say he wasn’t shy in voicing his opinion as a coach and neither was he afraid to be forthright.”

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The Verdict: Very exciting

Beale feels like an exciting appointment – someone who could give Rangers the push in the right direction that they need and bring a youthful managerial approach.

It would have been easy for the club to appoint someone more renowned or experienced, but the job he did alongside Gerrard has clearly been a key factor, with the Liverpool legend saying that ‘would take me 15 to 20 years’ to reach his level as a coach.

It seems apparent that Beale has the respect of the players and coaching staff wherever he has been, and if he can turn things around at Ibrox and get the Gers playing eye-catching football while winning in the process, he could become a hero to the Light Blues faithful in next to no time.

Liverpool have been continuously linked with a move for Jude Bellingham and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has dropped a teasing update on the transfer race to sign the Borussia Dortmund midfielder over the coming months ahead and dismissed any chance of Jurgen Klopp parting ways with the club.

Romano wrote in his exclusive Caught Offside column:

“Jurgen Klopp was never keen on the Germany job. He’s 100% focused on Liverpool now, already discussing new signings with the board and insisting for Jude Bellingham. Klopp and Liverpool board will also decide together on player contract situations.”

Bellingham is “one to watch”

The prospect of signing Bellingham will be exciting for the supporters, the manager and the squad at Anfield as there has been a lot of upheaval, concern and uncertainty for the Merseyside giants over the last few months.

Liverpool have been struggling to build a run of consistent form in the Premier League which has led to them potentially falling out of contention in the title race for the first time in years as they are currently sixth and 15 points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.

Not only that, it has been revealed that FSG are interested in selling the club and newly-appointed sporting director Julian Ward has resigned from his position just six months after taking over from Michael Edwards, so there is due some good news at Anfield.

As a result, securing Bellingham’s services would be a positive step forward in the manager’s pursuit to build the next successful generation of the squad.

The £129m midfielder – who was hailed “one to watch” and “special” by Romano – ranks in the top 6% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, dribbles completed, touches and progressive passes received.

Klopp will surely be watching Bellingham perform for England alongside teammate and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson at the World Cup over the last few weeks and the pair captured the headlines together when they delivered an important goal in the round of 16 clash with Senegal.

With that being said, it won’t be easy to secure the player’s signature as he continues to thrive in front of the world in Qatar and many clubs are interested in signing Bellingham, so Liverpool must do everything they can to beat their competitors.

Recent reports have claimed that Celtic are eyeing a move for Ferencvaros midfielder, Aissa Laidouni, as manager Ange Postecoglou looks to strengthen his options in the centre of the park in the January transfer window.

According to Foot Mercato, the Old Firm giants are one of the clubs who are interested in signing the 26-year-old next month, with the Tunisia international set to be available for a fee of around £3.5m as a result of his expiring contract.

The one-time Angers man has only recently come to wider attention as a result of his standout displays for his country at the World Cup in Qatar, having enjoyed a “tremendous tournament”, in the words of journalist Sam Tighe.

The imposing gem notably recorded 2.3 clearances, 1.3 interceptions and one tackle per game from his three outings in the competition, while also registering an assist and averaging 1.3 key passes per game as a sign of ball-playing quality.

The 6-foot powerhouse was particularly impressive in the win over holders France in the final group game, having registered three key passes in that 1-0 triumph, while also recording two clearances and two interceptions.

That showing was ultimately lauded by the aforementioned Tighe, who stated: “He was absolutely everywhere. Clean feet, lung-busting runs, brilliant work rate, even grabbed an assist for Khazri’s goal. “

Laidouni also caught the eye as a result of another key moment earlier in the group stage, having produced a ferocious celebration after putting in a crunching challenge on Denmark’s Christian Eriksen in the early stages of that meeting.

The manner in which the France-born ace beat his chest and bellowed to the crowd was no doubt entertaining, but also showcased his dedication and commitment to the cause, having celebrated every challenge as if it was “a last minute winner”, according to pundit Danny Higginbotham.

From a Hoops perspective, such a character may well have evoked memories of a certain Scott Brown, with the now-retired Scotsman having been a truly fierce competitor in the centre of the park during his 14-year stay at Paradise.

The former Bhoys skipper – who left the club in 2021 to join fellow Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen – was notably at one stage dubbed the ‘hardest man in football’, as per GOAL, as a marker of his ruthlessness and fearsome reputation.

Not only a brutal midfield presence, the 37-year-old was also a reliable figure in the heart of the side for well over a decade, scoring 46 goals and providing 63 assists in 611 games for the Glasgow side in total.

While Postecoglou’s side have continued to thrive in Brown’s absence over the last year or so, there is potentially still a place in the side for a more no-nonsense and aggressive individual who can offer something of an alternative to the more attack-minded and creative figures such as Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate.

As such, turning to the aforementioned Laidouni could well be the more defensive-minded midfield destroyer that the Scottish champions are craving, with the 28-cap menace hoping to follow in the footsteps of club icon, Brown.

Aston Villa have always been an ambitious club, but now with the deployment of Unai Emery in the dugout, the club’s gaze is cast beyond a return to the top half of the Premier League table and towards European nights under the lights.

What’s the word?

An illustration of these aspirations comes in the shape of Joao Felix, with the Atletico Madrid offensive maestro subject to intense focus on his future across recent weeks, with tensions with Atletico boss Diego Simeone reportedly at boiling point.

Signed for the Spanish giants for an eye-watering £113m back in 2019 from boyhood club SL Benfica, Felix has been touted for a move to Villa Park with recent reports, via Sport Witness, suggesting the club are making a ‘huge effort’ to sign the Portuguese sensation next year.

A dream first signing

Felix emerged onto the scene in Portugal and swiftly established himself as the country’s glittering young jewel; he scored a commendable 20 goals and served 11 assists from just 43 senior appearances with the prominent outfit.

It was this fiery entrance that left him touted across Europe, with Simeone’s Atletico indeed winning the race, however with just 33 goals from 129 outings for the Colchoneros, a departure might suit all parties.

The efforts that the ace made in Qatar, at the 2022 World Cup, were evidence that slotted into a more forward-minded, free-flowing side, and Felix, who was hailed as a “starlet” by Semra Hunter, might just flourish.

As per Sofascore, the 28-cap star recorded an average rating of 7.03, scoring a goal and registering two assists across his four outings for his nation, dazzling with slick passing and fluid transitional play.

At Villa, Felix could forge his path under Emery’s tutelage, adopting the talismanic role and becoming the focal point, the main channel of attack.

It is this level of responsibility that could bounce off both club and player, with the £43.9m-rated gem appearing something of a dream signing given his reputation and room for potential.

Despite his wayward success in front of goal, FBref highlights some excellent metrics that will bode well for him ahead of a prospective transfer; he ranks within the top 11% for progressive passes and 13% for dribbles completed when compared to forwards across Europe’s major leagues this past year.

Now worth a reported €100m (£88m), the signing for Villa Park would be immense, eclipsing anything the club has seen in a long time, and the success on the pitch would surely be soon to follow, with former coach Renato Paiva telling The Athletic that the ace would leave people “open-mouthed” with his effortless talent. 

Despite only scoring four goals and three assists across 18 appearances this season, Felix has only started nine times, and given a platform to assume central standing, he will finally hit the ceiling that stands high above the ground.

Liverpool finally made their return to Premier League action following the seasonal pause for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, defeating Aston Villa 3-1 at Villa Park in an enthralling encounter.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds blitzed into a two-goal lead, courtesy of efforts from Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, before the break, before a lapse in focus lifted the pedal off the gas and allowed the home side to surge forwards like a high-tide on a blustery day, with Ollie Watkins scoring a deft header after scoring a narrowly offside strike moments into the second-half.

Despite a tumultuous spell that drew into the closing stages, Liverpool’s cutting edge shone through, and the 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic burst into the box moments after entering the field to latch onto a Darwin Nunez cutback and squirm into space, unleashing a rolling strike to seal a priceless victory.

Nunez was certainly not at his clinical best, and despite a lively performance failed to grasp any of the six direct goalscoring opportunities that he fired at the opposing net, but his influence was still paramount for his side’s success, stretching the backline and weaving his way into openings.

Some will lament his failure to add to his nine strikes this term, but it was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who truly failed to make use of a valuable opportunity to flourish.

As per Sofascore, Oxlade-Chamberlain produced a meagre rating of 6.1, deputising down the offensive left flank in the absence of the likes of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Bobby Firmino – the three most likely candidates to occupy the role in a fully-fit Liverpool squad.

Indeed, Oxlade-Chamberlain has only found inclusion from the starting fold on one occasion – in the Carabao Cup against Derby County – and desperately needed to impress at Villa Park, especially with Firmino’s injury considered to be a fleeting concern.

It was not to be, and while the 29-year-old exhibited a level of tenacity and drive that will have pleased Klopp, his inability to make a positive impact of any substance does not bode well for his future opportunities, with his contract set for expiry at the end of the current campaign.

The “woeful” – as lamented by Atul Kasbekar – £120k-per-week ace failed with all four of his attempted dribbles, while only completing 11 of his 18 passes and winning one of his eight ground duels.

He did offer one key pass, playing a ball in a swift transition that the aforementioned Nunez failed to convert, but one moment of quality does not detract from the failure to succeed across the other avenues of the pitch.

And his extensive injury record hardly bolsters his claims for a contractual renewal; candidly, he will need to produce a sustained string of dazzling displays if he is to sway the winds in his favour and continue to ply his trade at Liverpool after moving to Merseyside from Arsenal in a £35m deal in 2017.

Where he does indeed manage to stake his claim remains up in the air, but based on a Boxing Day performance that leaves little to be admired, he will need to swing a few more punches, with a bit more conviction, next time out.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui has already begun his revolution at the Molineux outfit, securing his first signing with Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha, initially on loan from Atletico Madrid.

This is just the beginning for the Spaniard, with January expected to be filled with plenty of new faces as well as a few players exiting the club who have no future in the Midlands.

One player who has been recently linked with the Old Gold is Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres according to a report from The Telegraph and he could be an excellent addition to Lopetegui’s side, especially considering his form this season.

The 24-year-old is joint-top of the Championship goalscoring charts having netted 12 goals already this season and with Wolves urgently requiring someone who can actually put the ball in the back of the net with ease, having scored just ten goals in the Premier League this season, signing Gyokeres could be a wise investment.

Imagine him and Cunha

Lopetegui could even form a dream duo by landing the Swede and playing him alongside Cunha and this is surely a partnership that would guarantee goals in the second half of the season.

After all, the Sky Blues striker has been dubbed a player “with a hunger to score goals” by his manager Mark Robins and with Diego Costa and Hee-chan Hwang failing to score between them this season, new attacking options remain a priority.

Despite failing to score this season, Cunha has scored 39 goals in his club career so far along with 19 for several underage Brazil sides, however, by grabbing four assists last season and creating five big chances, he could be the ideal foil for Gyokeres.

The 11-cap Swedish international appears to be the more out-and-out goal scorer of the two, netting 64 goals in his club career and if Lopetegui could find a way to incorporate both of them then it could prove to be a masterstroke by the manager.

January could be an exciting month for the Molineux faithful and if Lopetegui manages to sign the players he thinks will improve the starting XI, then there could be life in the club yet.

Newcastle United have not, as of yet, submitted a bid for the Boca Juniors midfielder Alan Varela despite some reports which have begun to circulate.

What’s the latest?

Eddie Howe’s Magpies made another step closer in their bid for Champions League football on Tuesday night after securing a valuable point away to the Premier League leaders, Arsenal.

And the reliable journalist, Craig Hope, took to his YouTube channel after the game at the Emirates Stadium to provide a quick round-up of the latest news coming from Tyneside. Reports from Argentina suggest the Toon have already submitted a bid in the region of €18m (£16m).

However, having heard the reports coming out of Argentina, Hope has done some digging into the claims and has now suggested what is being said in South America is not actually true:

“What I have been told is that a bid as of then hadn’t gone in. I was told that that wasn’t true – the reports from Argentina.

“Now whether one is subsequently gone in and whether one is going in tonight [Tuesday] or there’s even interest. I don’t know. I was just told that those reports that a bid had gone in weren’t true.”

Options for Howe

Although Hope has claimed Newcastle have not yet submitted a bid for the 21-year-old just yet, their display on Tuesday night may suggest another midfielder is something which they desperately need.

An injury to Jonjo Shelvey has seen Howe’s options in midfield severely restricted with Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff making up the three in the middle of the park.

Brazilian midfielder Joelinton was forced to play further up the pitch but their lack of options was telling from the bench with no central midfielder to come on for Howe.

It does feel as if their options are just one further injury away from really testing Howe’s man management which could make a new central midfielder a priority in this month’s window.

The Argentine midfielder, Varela, played a huge role for Boca Juniors in their recent campaign which saw him feature 42 times – predominantly from the defensive midfield position (via Transfermarkt).

What is potentially a big draw for Howe and the scouting team at Newcastle is the 21-year-old injury record which has not actually seen him missing through any footballing issues.

And for a club like Newcastle who have been hit hard by injuries in recent times, having a dependable midfielder at the heart of the three would be a huge boost for Howe as they look to claim a spot in the top four.

However, it seems as if they may face some competition for Varela with some reports in Spain suggesting Barcelona are also interested in the Argentine who has been likened to Sergio Busquets.