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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are eyeing a move to sign Leeds United right-back Cody Drameh for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Promising talent

At 20 years of age, there is no doubt that Drameh is a promising talent, and he showcased his abilities while on loan at Cardiff City in the Championship last season.

Joining in the January transfer window, he played in like a Duracell Bunny’.

Hailed as ‘excellent’ last term by Morison, Drameh was Cardiff’s third-best performing player, prompting Leeds to keep him in the first-team squad for this season.

The Latest: Newcastle interest

As per The Daily Mail, the St. James’ Park outfit are ‘keeping tabs’ on Drameh ahead of January, as the Englishman has only made two senior appearances this term.

The report recalls their deadline day move for West Ham United’s Harrison Ashby, and Drameh fits a similar kind of profile.

Given his age, he would not take up one of the slots in the North East club’s 25-man squad, but they will face competition from Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund for his signature.

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The Verdict: Get it done

The report shares that there are ‘doubts’ over the long-term future of Javier Manquillo, while Emil Krafth is out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury.

Thus, the Tynesiders need a long-term understudy to Kieran Trippier, and 20-year-old Drameh would fit the bill.

His age and top-flight experience mean that he could be an ideal signing for the Magpies, should they be able to get a deal done in January.

Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on former Arsenal star and World Cup-bound goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Lloris era ending?

Hugo Lloris’ long reign as Spurs number one may soon be coming to an end if recent claims are to be believed. A report by TEAMtalk stated that the Lilywhites and their manager Antonio Conte are planning to replace the Frenchman as goalkeeping first choice next season and have already identified replacements.

It is believed that Spurs are eyeing Jordan Pickford, Robert Sanchez and Illan Meslier as possible candidates to succeed Lloris for 2023/24 after a ‘massive decision’ on the veteran’s future.

New goalkeeping targets appear to be cropping up quite regularly, with a rather surprising one now emerging from Italy.

The Latest: Szczęsny attracting serious Spurs interest…

Indeed, a new report from the continent explains that Conte and Fabio Paratici could now turn to a former rival of Spurs. Calciomercato say that the Premier League side are ‘very interested’ in signing Poland international Szczęsny, who will be representing his nation at the World Cup in Qatar.

It’s added that Spurs would ‘gladly take him to London’, with Szczęsny’s current deal expiring in 2024, potentially handing Conte’s side a chance to whittle down the player’s price tag.

Furthermore, his current club Juventus have apparently chosen his replacement already in Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

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The Verdict: Pinch of salt?

The odds of Szczesny agreeing a move to N17 appear slim at best, given his past ties to Arsenal, and it is quite unlikely that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy would be willing to match the Pole’s current £211,000-per-week wages, which exceed every player at Spurs.

We advise to take this report with a pinch of salt, but on the off-chance that this move is at all likely, the 32-year-old would prove a capable replacement for Lloris as an established international and multiple trophy-winner.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has reportedly told Jude Bellingham to make a move to the Etihad Stadium. 

The Lowdown: Big interest in Bellingham

The Manchester side have been linked with a transfer move for the Englishman, as have numerous other clubs across Europe.

Those clubs will have the chance to see the 19-year-old in international action as he features for England throughout the World Cup in Qatar.

With City taking Haaland away from Dortmund during the previous summer transfer window, it seems as though the Norwegian has had a word with his former teammate about making a move to Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Latest: Haaland tells Bellingham to join City

In a recent Twitter post from Ben Jacobs following England’s 6-2 win over Iran, where Bellingham opened the scoring for Gareth Southgate’s side, the journalist had this to say about the midfielder and the transfer interest in him.

He said:

“A standout performance from Jude Bellingham. Dortmund planning for a summer 2023 departure. Liverpool and Real Madrid are the frontrunners but it’s an open race. Erling Haaland has already told him to join Manchester City. Chelsea also in the race and they want Declan Rice, too.”

The Verdict: A star signing for City

In terms of what he’s done for Dortmund this season, the teenager has played every minute of Bundesliga action for the German club, scoring three goals and delivering two assists in the process.

With that, Bellingham has racked up more shots at goal (31), progressive passes (86), successful tackles (26), blocks (27) and interceptions (21) than any other Dortmund player.

Lauded as a “Rolls Royce” midfielder by journalist Mark Douglas for his performance against Iran, the Englishman certainly has what it takes to be a star signing for City and Guardiola.

Taking all of this into account, it’s easy to see why Dortmund have reportedly slapped a €150m (£129m) price tag on their star midfielder. Moving forward, if City are keen on signing the player, they’ll have to hope that Haaland’s plea to Bellingham to join him at the Etihad will work in their favour and make it easier for them to sign him.

One notable story surrounding Celtic at present is the uncertainty surrounding the future of striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, with the Greek international having been tipped for a possible exit in the January transfer window.

Recent reports have claimed that the 27-year-old could be in line for a departure from Parkhead in the New Year following a stall in negotiations regarding an improved deal, with a parting of ways potentially on the cards.

The suggestion is that the 6 foot 2 marksman is ‘unhappy’ at the failure to come to an agreement regarding a bumper new contract, with the club’s offer of a pay rise said to be ‘significantly’ below the player’s expectations.

The 11-cap gem had initially joined the Glasgow side back in the summer of 2021 for a reported fee of around £2.5m, having caught the eye after scoring 29 goals in what was a stunning campaign the year prior for Dutch outfit, VVV-Venlo.

Despite initial fitness issues and a lack of regular game time – having made just 22 starts for the Hoops to date – the imposing striker has still consistently delivered the goods when he has been afforded a chance to impress, with 25 goals in just 50 games for the Old Firm side.

That includes a haul of eight goals in 21 games so far this season, with the £12k-per-week menace now set to leave a notable void in Ange Postecoglou’s side if he is to depart in the near future.

While there has been talk of a new centre-forward addition coming through the door in the winter window, the Bhoys could also help to replace Giakoumakis’ impact by unleashing Ben Quinn on the first team, with the 18-year-old having been in sparkling form in the youth ranks of late.

While not typically deployed through the middle, the teenager could well provide an extra goalscoring threat from flanks were he be handed a chance by Postecoglou, with the young Irishman having scored five goals and laid on three assists in all competitions so far this season.

The Dublin-born sensation may well have caught the attention of the title-winning coach amid his impact in recent games, having recorded six goal contributions in just his last four Lowland League games for the club’s ‘B’ team.

That includes a brilliant brace in the recent comeback victory over Bo’ness United, the youngster scoring twice late on to seal all three points having been “very impressive once again”, according to journalist Sean Markus Clifford.

Such form must surely have caught the eye of Postecoglou, with the former Yokohama Marinos boss potentially able to strike gold by thrusting Quinn into the fray when club action resumes later this month.

While the loss of the free-scoring Giakoumakis would no doubt be a blow for the champions, that departure could well open the door for another attacking talent to shine.

Southampton right-back Tino Livramento is edging closer to a return from injury, as seen in a new Twitter post from the player himself.

The Lowdown: Livramento’s absence

Livramento is yet to feature for the Saints this season, suffering a cruciate ligament rupture back in April, which has caused him to miss 22 games.

Having made 28 Premier League appearances during the last campaign after arriving from Chelsea in a deal worth £5m, the Englishman established himself as an important player at St Mary’s, and a promising update has now emerged indicating that he might be back soon.

The Latest: Injury update

Taking to Twitter, the player posted a picture of himself in Southampton training at a winter camp in Andalusia, captioned: ‘Light at the end of the tunnel. Getting closer and closer…”

As such, depending on how he progresses, the 20-year-old could stake a claim for a starting place to his new manager Nathan Jones in the New Year, the earliest time he was initially expected to return.

The Verdict: Big boost

In the absence of the youngster, Kyle Walker-Peters has largely got the nod on the right of defence, but he has been somewhat up and down, receiving an average SofaScore rating of just 6.66 in the league, ranking him 14th in the Southampton squad.

The option of having Livramento, who has been hailed as “superb” by journalist Josh Bunting, available again in the New Year will therefore be a big boost in terms of defensive options for Jones, particularly considering his remarkable intercepting ability, registering an average 1.89 per 90 minutes over the past year, placing him in the 97th percentile.

With the Saints looking to steer themselves clear of the relegation zone, it will be a relief for the new boss to have the talented youngster available soon, and he will be looking to ease him back in so that he can pick up from where he left off before his ACL injury.

Arsenal have now made contact with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic ahead of a potential January transfer swoop.

The Lowdown: Arsenal target striker

In light of Gabriel Jesus needing to undergo surgery for a knee injury sustained in Brazil’s World Cup game with Cameroon, Mikel Arteta has identified the need for a new striker to keep them in the hunt for the Premier League title.

CBS Reporter Ben Jacobs recently announced that there is a ‘very real possibility’ that Vlahovic could make a January exit from Juventus, and the Gunners now appear to be potential suitors for the man that they were interested in last January.

The Latest: Contact made

According to Tuttosport, via Football London, Edu and the Gunners have contacted the forward’s representatives, targeting a move in January due to the nature of Jesus’ injury.

Amid Juventus’ financial uncertainty, talks have apparently been ongoing throughout the World Cup, with the Serie A side bracing to lose some of their star players.

The Verdict: Get it done

Journalist Siavoush Fallahi has previously hailed the Serbia international as a ‘beast’, and this is highlighted with a very good scoring record in what is only a short career so far, netting 68 goals in 171 senior club games, while also bagging 11 assists in the process.

The 22-year-old is a live-wire in the opposition box, always looking to test the opposition goalkeeper, registering 3.44 shots per 90 minutes over the past year, placing him in the 89th percentile compared to his positional peers.

While Arteta will obviously be frustrated to lose Jesus, the injury could prove to be a blessing in disguise on a more long-term basis, as he may not have opted to move for a new striker otherwise.

Now he could be blessed with healthy competition for the starting striker pot, by signing a fantastic player who still has his best years ahead of him.

Leeds United are reportedly keen on moving for a new full back this January…

What’s the latest?

According to Spanish publication AS, the Whites are among several European clubs interested in the exciting Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda.

Having withstood an onslaught last year, the La Liga side now seem set to lose their starlet.

With a host of Italian clubs, and Arsenal, Liverpool, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Everton, Brentford, Southampton and Fulham all noted from the Premier League, it seems that this January promises to be a transfer bloodbath to secure the teenage sensation.

The report does cite a current €30m (£25.7m) release clause, though, which could prove a stumbling block for many of these prospective suitors.

Ditch Kristensen

Should Jesse Marsch win this hotly-contested battle for Fresneda, it could perhaps mark a lack of faith in his summer signing Rasmus Kristensen.

Adding a young right-back could be seen as just putting a backup in place, but when it’s someone like Fresneda who has such pedigree and hype surrounding him, the 18-year-old would surely demand a starting spot.

That is all the more so if he can translate his fine form from Spain into the Premier League, as he is currently lighting up La Liga with his impressive all-round displays.

Despite only boasting nine senior appearances, the Madrid native plays with a maturity and skillset far beyond his years. Journalist Juan Arroita even claimed: “Iván Fresneda has a beastly ability to take measured crosses from the right-handed lane. How good does the boy look?”

In what has been his breakout season, this year he is averaging a rating of 7.02 in the league from Sofascore. This is supported by his match averages of 1.3 interceptions, 2.5 tackles and 2.8 clearances, which he partners expertly with 1.5 key passes per game (via Sofascore).

Clearly he is adept at breaking up attacks and also has the ability to then look up and find a killer pass to set his team on the break.

This is a far cry from what Kristensen has offered since his move to Leeds, with the Denmark international offering an unspectacular option for Marsch. With just one assist and no goals to his name at Elland Road, it seems that the 25-year-old’s offensive game has suffered since his move to England.

The Dane looks to mould his game around solidity, although his statistics suggest that he hardly blows Fresneda out of the water in that regard either. Kristensen has recorded 1.8 interceptions, 2.9 tackles and 2.4 clearances per game this season (via Sofascore) – only slightly up on the Spaniard for each metric.

There is no great gulf in class despite the seven-year age gap, and bringing in the Spanish stalwart could help to lock down the position at Elland Road for the next decade.

The future looks incredibly bright for Fresneda, and securing a deal for him would be a real statement of intent from the Yorkshire outfit.

Newcastle United secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with victory over Bournemouth at St James’ Park on Tuesday night, with the Magpies running out 1-0 winners courtesy of an own goal from Cherries defender Adam Smith.

It was the Tynesiders’ first competitive outing since before the World Cup break, although it was more of the same for the high-flying Geordies as they dominated proceedings against the south coast club, notably enjoying 63% possession over the 90 minutes.

Despite the expectancy that manager Eddie Howe would shuffle his pack for this game ahead of what will be a typically hectic festive schedule, he deployed an almost full-strength side for the visit of his former employers, notably welcoming midfield talisman Bruno Guimaraes back into the fold after his recent international exploits.

However, it was another of Newcastle’s returning players from Qatar who particularly caught the eye last night, with England international Kieran Trippier – who featured in the recent friendly clash against Rayo Vallecano – having been particularly impressive from his full-back berth.

The 32-year-old – who again took on the captain’s armband with Jamaal Lascelles restricted to the substitutes’ bench – was his typically industrious self down the right flank, having offered a constant threat with his attacking quality.

That was particularly evident in the lead-up to what proved to be the game’s only goal, with the former Tottenham Hotspur man whipping a wicked delivery into the box in search of team-mate Callum Wilson, only for the aforementioned Smith to inadvertently turn the ball into his own net.

As journalist Matty Hewitt suggested, the right-back’s “deliveries are incredible”, with the experienced defender routinely putting the ball into a “dangerous” area and causing havoc for the opposition.

That is also evidenced by the fact that the former Burnley ace attempted 11 crosses on the night – completing four – while also registering an impressive haul of three key passes from his 99 touches as a marker of his creative quality.

Although the 40-cap tank lost possession 27 times against Gary O’Neil’s side, that was simply a result of his desire to make things happen for his team going forward, having also been a solid presence defensively after recording four tackles in total.

That impactful performance ultimately saw Trippier record a match rating of 7.8 from Sofascore, the highest of any player for either team – further illustrating just how crucial the 32-year-old was in helping to guide Howe’s side into the next round.

If the 5 foot 10 defender can continue to prove equally as instrumental moving forward, then Newcastle will no doubt have a real shot at ending their long wait for major silverware over the coming months.

Manchester United return to Premier League action tomorrow night, with the Old Trafford giants taking on Nottingham Forest as Erik ten Hag aims to start off the second half of the top-flight campaign with a victory.

The Dutchman overcame an ominous start to life in charge of the Red Devils, losing his first two league matches before guiding the club to fifth in the table prior to the pause for the World Cup.

United will go into Tuesday’s match with something of a selection crisis in defence, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez absent due to their participation in the World Cup final, while Harry Maguire missed the Carabao Cup win against Burnley last week due to illness.

Aside from that, though, the Red Devils appear to be at full strength. With that in mind, Ten Hag should unleash Bruno Fernandes against Forest, as the 28-year-old has the ability to be a game-changer in a match where nothing but three points will suffice.

The £240k-per-week sensation has been in superb form this season for United, averaging an impressive Sofascore rating of 7.28/10 across his 13 league appearances.

The midfielder has scored twice and registered one assist, but it is his ability to create chances for others which has stood out so far this term, with Fernandes making 2.6 key passes per match while creating eight big chances for his team-mates.

Despite often playing just behind the lone striker, his defensive abilities are also excellent, with the 28-year-old making two tackles and 1.1 clearances per match, proving that he can be effective all over the pitch.

Fernandes carried his domestic form into the World Cup, with a ridiculously high Sofascore rating of 8.38 for his performances in Qatar ranking him as the best performer during the entire tournament, despite him played just four matches for Portugal as they exited in the quarter-finals.

Compatriot Matheus Nunes dubbed him “incredible” following his displays at the finals, and Ten Hag should arguably have him as the first name on the team sheet heading into tomorrow’s match.

There is no doubt he can add to his goal and assists tally against a Forest defence which has conceded 30 goals so far this season, and the Dutchman will be looking at the 28-year-old to inspire the team.

With United having not played in the league for just over six weeks, Fernandes will no doubt be chomping at the bit to pick up where he left off in November.

Mikel Arteta made arguably his finest signing for Arsenal back in January 2021 as the club announced they had signed Real Madrid player Martin Odegaard on loan for the rest of the season.

After a solid loan spell, the North London side made the deal permanent that summer and he hasn’t looked back since, becoming an integral part of the Arsenal midfield as they chase their first Premier League title in 19 years.

Are Arsenal about to sign their next Odegaard however?

Well, according to Jeunex Footex, the club are reportedly set to battle it out with Manchester United over Norwegian talent Sivert Mannsverk, who currently plays for Molde.

The report states that the young midfielder could be available for as little as £9m and with Arteta aiming to add more youth into the first-team squad, the 20-year-old Mannsverk could be a shrewd investment.

He started his career at Norweigan side Sogndal – managed by former Premier League striker Tore Andre Flo – making 54 appearances for them while registering 12 goal contributions, an excellent return for a young central midfielder making his way through the professional ranks.

These performances earned him the move to Molde, making 62 appearances so far while chipping in with five goals, with three coming in the Europa League Conference qualifiers earlier this season.

Over 25 league matches this season, Mannsverk has shown his class. He has an average rating of 7.02 and he clearly likes to control possession, taking 62.8 touches on average per match.

The 20-year-old has proved he can be a threat going forward, making 0.7 key passes, creating three big chances, and succeeding with an incredible 79% of his dribbles, offering an attacking threat from the heart of the midfield.

Although he plays slightly deeper than Odegaard, Mannsverk still has the capabilities that could allow him to create plenty of chances for teammates if he joined Arsenal. Arteta’s usual midfield of Odegaard, Thomas Partey, and Granit Xhaka has worked wonders this season, but there is a distinct lack of depth.

The Norwegian could certainly go on to have the same impact that Odegaard has had at the club over the previous 18 months and his influence may well be crucial in Arsenal completing a move for the Molde sensation next month.