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Liverpool will be looking to strengthen the ranks in 2024 and could unearth an exciting new attacking talent to bolster the existing options at Jurgen Klopp's disposal.

After suffering a calamitous 2022/23 campaign that locked the door on a seventh successive Champions League campaign unde Klopp's stewardship, the Merseyside outfit wiped away the sapped midfield and brought in a wealth of new additions.

And despite a testing week at present that has resulted in a Premier League draw away to newly-promoted Luton Town and a chastening defeat against French side Toulouse in the Europa League, Klopp will be convinced that his side can return to winning ways soon.

That being said, more work is needed on the transfer front in 2024 to restore Anfield to its former vigour, and while the priority will likely be on signing a defensive midfielder and left-sided defender, the Reds boss will be eager to fortify his frontline and given the target's youthful years, could be the perfect option.

Liverpool transfer news – Assane Diao

According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are set to rival Chelsea for the signature of Real Betis winger Assane Diao, who has emerged as one of LaLiga's top talents this season.

The Reds have been impressive in the Premier League this season but still need to improve to sustain a title challenge against the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, with Tottenham Hotspur also in the mix under Ange Postecoglou's guidance.

In the 18-year-old Diao, Klopp could unearth a destructive new force still malleable enough to be sculpted to his own creation, though the German manager will have to meet the player's €30m (£26m) release clause, with Betis eager to agree to a new deal that raises that amount to €40m (£35m).

Assane Diao's style of play

Despite his youthful years, Diao has burst onto the major scene emphatically this season and has already scored four goals across all competitions for the Spanish side despite only playing ten times.

The two-cap Spain U21 international started his career as a midfielder but quickly proved his attacking skills were not to be sniffed at, and having joined Real Betis from fellow Spanish side Cadiz in 2021, has undergone a positional transformation to left wing, which is proving to propel him into first-team contention.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Aerial duels

Ball retention

Dribbling

Finishing

Long shots

*Sourced via WhoScored

While WhoScored has listed Diao's ability to hold onto the ball as a weakness, it is important to remember that he is literally at the start of the embryonic stage of his professional career, and given that he has impressed through his innate striking ability and elegance and effectiveness in dribbling the ball into the danger areas, this is hardly a cause for concern.

Remarked to be having an "incredible time" with his football right now by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Diao has scored twice from only six starting appearances in LaLiga, completing 80% of his passes, succeeding with 54% of his regular dribbling runs and winning 56% of his duels.

As per FBref, the Senegalese-born starlet ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 24% for successful take-ons, the top 19% for tackles, the top 11% for interceptions, the top 1% for blocks and the top 6% for aerial wins per 90.

Not only are his prodigious roots tantalising a career of prolific success, but he is also dazzling with his application and work rate, as is evidenced by his eye-catching defensive metrics.

Such qualities are similar to Merseyside-born Premier League star, Antony Gordon, who joined Newcastle United from Everton in a £45m transfer earlier this year.

How Assane Diao compares to Anthony Gordon

Gordon is listed as a similar player to Diao, as per FBref, and it's clear to see why, with the 22-year-old blessed with electric pace himself and a real ball of fire in his craft.

Unbeknownst to many, Gordon actually joined the Goodison Park side from their Anfield rivals as a youngster after being released from Liverpool's youth academy as a young teenager.

Speaking about his past affiliation with the Reds earlier this year, Gordon said: "It was another chance for me to grow. But that was hard. It affected me mentally and dented my confidence. I had to pick myself up and go again. When I got to Everton, I never looked back.”

Whether Liverpool rue the decision is questionable – under Klopp, they have revelled in an illustrious period steeped in offensive fluency – but nonetheless could have made good use of Gordon's ability had he remained on the books.

That can be rectified through the acquisition of Diao, who indeed offers skills to mirror Gordon's, with the Magpies menace ranking among the top 4% for tackles and the top 12% for blocks per 90.

The £60k-per-week wideman has been crucial for Eddie Howe's side this term and has posted four goals and two assists from ten matches in the Premier League, creating five big chances, completing 85% of his passes and succeeding with 58% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore.

Always considered a talented prospect but perhaps criticised for a lack of end product, Gordon is now starting to demonstrate his potential on Tyneside and is a perfect example of allowing players to nurture their core qualities and bloom into formidable forces at their own pace.

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

G/A rate

23/24

10

4

2

0.60

22/23

32

4

0

0.12

21/22

35

4

2

0.17

20/21

3

0

0

n/a

19/20

11

0

1

0.09

*Statistics sourced via Transfermarkt

Whether Klopp opts to spend the money on Diao with other areas of the pitch requiring work remains to be seen at this point, but it could be a good move to make given that Betis ace would be happy with playing second fiddle to the likes of Luis Diaz at this stage.

With his alacritous motions and innate faculty for finding the back of the net, Diao would be a player worth investing in, and he could grow into one of the Premier League's finest forwards in the future.

Crystal Palace have reportedly made some pre-January moves for one club's "valuable" forward as manager Roy Hodgson targets new attacking options.

Palace slump to defeat at Luton

The Eagles have now lost four of their last five Premier League games and look like real contenders to fall into the relegation battle as things stand, especially with the injury crisis worsening.

Despite Michael Olise's curling screamer from outside the area, which comes as an arguable goal of the season contender, Palace suffered a 2-1 defeat away to newly-promoted Luton Town and really put into question their credentials of remaining a top flight side past this season.

“I congratulate them [Luton]. I thought they worked very hard for their victory," said Hodgson after Palace's loss to Luton (via cpfc.co.uk). “I think we can feel ourselves a little bit unlucky. We could have had some good moments in the game and certainly we asked some very tough questions of their goalkeeper [Thomas Kaminski], who had an outstanding game on the day.

“In that last 10 or 15 minutes, when we were pushing for an equaliser, I thought we were going to get that equaliser on at least three occasions, but it didn’t come, and I congratulate Luton for their valiant effort. They really did put an awful lot of work and effort into getting that victory, so we have to accept that we weren’t good enough to get the points we thought we could get from this game.”

Hodgson's men are also among the division's lowest scoring sides, which will come as an alarming statistic and one which highlights their need for reinforcements in the January transfer window. Palace are reportedly targeting striker Karim Konate of Red Bull Salzburg as one option, while reports suggest Hodgson could land Borussia Dortmund starlet Youssoufa Moukoko.

Palace make approach for Murphy

Now, another option to have found his way on to Palace's transfer radar is Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy. The 28-year-old has been praised by Eddie Howe as the "ultimate professional", who publicly endorsed his quality when speaking to the press earlier this year.

"He's someone who is the ultimate professional. He's reliable, plays multiple positions and has never let me down," said Howe.

"For me, it's all about consistency. What you're looking for from the players' perspective is that they turn up every day and give their best. It's great to see someone who puts that work in rewarded with an opportunity, and then it's all about taking that opportunity."

According to Football Insider, Palace have made an approach for Murphy in the form of an enquiry and are lining up a potential January move for him. The report describes him as a "valuable squad player" for Howe and Newcastle, which has apparently done enough to attract serious interest from Hodgson and Nottingham Forest.

Likes to cross

Plays the ball off the ground often

Over his nine appearances this season, Murphy has actually scored once and racked up four assists – indicating that the Englishman can weigh in with crucial contributions on his day.

Tottenham are reportedly "ready" to make a bid for one club's key player, and he could be an alternative to star summer signing James Maddison.

Maddison injury exposes lack of Spurs depth

Spurs' 4-1 loss to Chelsea two weeks ago not only marked manager Ange Postecoglou's first league loss since taking charge, but also exposed his side's glaring lack of depth behind their traditional starting eleven. Both Maddison and star defender Micky van de Ven were taken off with serious injuries, later being ruled out until 2024 in what was a significant blow for the Lilywhites.

For the rest of this year, Postecoglou will have to cope without the creativity of Maddison and pace of van de Ven, with both seen as crucial to the way Spurs want to play on the foot.

In their last game before this international break, a 2-1 loss to Wolves at Molineux, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg slotted in Maddison's place with Eric Dier stepping into van de Ven's usual spot alongside Ben Davies in central defence.

It's fair to say all three of the aforementioned didn't have the same impact. While both van de Ven and Maddison will return in January, when the transfer window is open for business, it could be imperative for Spurs to bring in some better alternatives to their star men in case of unforeseen lengthy absences – whether in the winter or later next year.

In terms of who they've been linked with, Genoa star Albert Gudmundsson is a target for Tottenham, while in defence it has been reported that Spurs hold a serious interest in Lloyd Kelly of Bournemouth.

Tottenham "ready" to bid for Cristante

The north Londoners, according to a report by Italian newspaper Il Messaggero (via TUTTOmercatoWEB), have another versatile new target in their sights.

Indeed, it is believed Spurs are ready to bid for Bryan Cristante, who is actually "indispensable" for Roma. Managed by former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho, the Italy international can play in a variety of positions – including central defence, midfield and Maddison's role as a playmaker.

His Serie A performances have apparently attracted attention from sporting director Johan Lange and co at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs are even "willing to put" £26 million on the table in a bid to secure Cristante's signature, and this offer is seen as one which Roma couldn't say no to.

The 28-year-old has started 12 league games for Mourinho's side this season, bagging two goals and two assists, all while ranking as the second-best overall performer in Roma's squad according to WhoScored. The club's sporting director, Tiago Pinto, heaped praise on the "underrated" Cristante in an interview.

Aerial duels

Passing

Tackling

“Bryan is a great professional, and a great man,” said Pinto.

“He is one of the most important players in the squad not only for what he does on the pitch, but also for what he represents for the club and for the locker room. He is a player who is sometimes a little underrated but as you said he is always there and plays well and covers all positions at all times.”

Aston Villa have made an excellent start to the Premier League campaign and new information has now emerged about some potential transfer activity at Villa Park in January.

Aston Villa prepare for Manchester City…

Last weekend, Villa salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on the South Coast courtesy of a last-minute header from Ollie Watkins, leaving the Villans in the top four with 29 points from their 14 matches played so far.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Villans boss Emery complimented his side's resilience at the Vitality Stadium and urged them to go again against Manchester City on Wednesday, saying:

"In 90 minutes with the way we played and the demands they made of us, I think it’s a good point. We have to accept it and continue trying to build a team. We are in our process and now we have 29 points. We were losing 2-1 at the end and we drew.

"It’s important to feel it’s a good point. We’re thankful to our supporters for being here with us, and now we’re excited to play again on Wednesday at home with them (Manchester City), trying to continue being strong like we are."

Emery now eyeing "extraordinary" ace for Aston Villa after previous interest

Aston Villa look to have identified a key target heading into the January transfer window…

BySean Markus Clifford Dec 5, 2023

Heading into their midweek clash against the Citizens, Emery's men are in a positive vein of form, winning four of their last five matches in all competitions. In all likelihood, Manchester City will provide the toughest test that the Villans have faced on home soil this campaign; nevertheless, they will leapfrog their opponents by taking maximum points from the affair.

Aston Villa's next five Premier League fixtures

Opponent

Venue

Manchester City (H)

Villa Park

Arsenal (H)

Villa Park

Brentford (A)

Gtech Community Stadium

Sheffield United (H)

Villa Park

Manchester United (A)

Old Trafford

Looking ahead to January, fresh information has come to light involving the future of one of Aston Villa's key players, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa set enormous Douglas Luiz asking price

According to FootballTransfers reporter Steve Kay, Aston Villa have now set a whopping £110 million price tag for midfielder Douglas Luiz amid interest in his services from elsewhere, with NSWE seemingly pulling no punches when it comes to the future of their star midfielder.

Arsenal have been keen admirers of the Brazil international for a long time and will once again attempt to firm up their attraction towards Luiz come January; nevertheless, they will now need to shell out more than the £105 million they paid to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United in the summer window.

This term, the 25-year-old has been in brilliant form for the Villans, registering six goals and four assists from 22 appearances in all competitions (Luiz statistics – Transfermarkt).

Pundit Paul Merson has clearly been impressed by his exploits at the heart of Emery's midfield, labelling him an "underrated" player on social media platform X.

Averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.22/10 for his performances in the Premier League this campaign, Aston Villa are well within their rights to demand a colossal fee for Luiz due to his consistent form (Luiz statistics – WhoScored).

Back in August when the UEFA Champions League draw occurred, Manchester United fans were thrilled with their Group A placement, with a place in the knockout stages looking extremely achievable. However, fast forward to today, and Erik ten Hag’s side is out of European competition altogether after crashing out in last place last night.

The Red Devils had to win the game versus Bayern Munich yesterday, yet they suffered a 1-0 defeat and showed very little intent to win the game, highlighted by the five attempts at goal, one shot on target, and 0.25 xG.

Fingers should be pointed at the side as a unit rather than individuals, but it is difficult to look past players' who cannot provide any level of consistency – including Diogo Dalot.

Diogo Dalot’s game vs Bayern in numbers

The Portuguese full-back started the evening at right back before moving over to the opposite flank due to Luke Shaw picking up another injury, but he failed to have a positive impact on the game in either role.

Dalot is an interesting player, as he displays glimpses of quality, but that is often overridden by mistakes or underwhelming performances.

That was evident yesterday, with the full-back showing promise going forward via direct, powerful dribbling. He completed 100% of his five dribble attempts, but composure in the final third was missing, registering five failed crosses from five attempts.

Below is an overview of his stats from the game against Bayern.

Pass completion %

73%

Possession lost

19

Dribbled past

2

Ground duels (won)

9 (5)

Clearances

2

The stat above, which is particularly poor and frustrating, is that he gave the ball away 19 times, mainly due to complacency. Not only did this prevent United from sustaining pressure and control, but it also stopped attacking scenarios and allowed Bayern to regain possession or launch a quick transition.

The player who could replace Diogo Dalot

After the game, Manchester Evening News writer Samuel Luckhurst gave Dalot a match rating of five out of ten. However, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who played the second half at right back, received a seven, a rightfully higher score than the Portugal international.

The number 29 was strong in attack and defensively, with the ex-Crystal Palace player creating United’s best chance of the game by underlapping Antony and cutting the ball back to the edge of the box before Bruno Fernandes blasted it over the bar. Wan-Bissaka also made two tackles and interceptions, won all three of his duels, and had 100% pass accuracy.

The 26-year-old provides much more balance and defensive control than Dalot, but the latter does outperform him going forward, as shown below.

Tackles

2.10

2.91

Interceptions

0.98

1.54

Clearences

2.94

4.46

Key passes

1.26

0.69

Crosses into the penalty area

0.70

0.00

Shot-creating actions

2.66

1.20

In truth, the right back spot at Manchester United is up for grabs, with neither Wan-Bissaka or Dalot impressing Ten Hag or the United faithful this season.

A right-back may be on the manager’s wish list in January, but given that the ex-Porto defender has started over double the amount the Englishman has in the Premier League, it is fair to now give Wan-Bissaka a shot at nailing down the position.

Sunderland picked up a massive victory against Hull City at the MKM Stadium on Boxing Day to overtake the Tigers in the final playoff place, while putting the ghosts of last Saturday's humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to Coventry City behind them from Michael Beale's debut in the dugout.

Ever the hero this season, Jack Clarke scored the only goal of the game to clinch all three points for his side, putting him on 11 goals in the Championship this term.

The Black Cats' goalscoring burden has been placed heavily on the 23-year-old's shoulders this season but Beale could alleviate this pressure on Clarke by signing one former player in January.

Sunderland transfer news – Amad Diallo

Over Christmas, Football Insider reported that Manchester United are willing to let Amad Diallo head back out on loan in January, having not played a single minute all season for the Red Devils. Reports have also claimed that Sunderland are keen to acquire the Ivorian attacker once more after such a successful spell in England's second tier last season.

Diallo has spent the majority of the campaign sidelined through a serious knee injury which he sustained on pre-season with the English giants. As a result, the youngster is yet to feature under head coach Erik ten Hag in a competitive game this term, although the £9m-rated forward has recently returned to training.

It was recently revealed that the Atalanta youth product was keen to stay at Old Trafford to fight for his place but now it seems as though the decision may be taken out of his hands and a return to the Stadium of Light could be just what the doctor ordered for all parties.

Amad Diallo's stats – 2022/23

Diallo joined Sunderland at the beginning of the previous campaign on a season-long loan spell and quickly became a hero on Wearside. The Ivory Coast international ended the season as Sunderland's top goalscorer in all competitions with 14 goals as Tony Mowbray's side made an unprecedented finish inside the playoff places, unfortunately losing to Luton Town in the semi-finals. Mowbray even described Diallo as "magic" as the loanee finished joint-eight in the league's scoring charts.

Player

Goals

Expected Goals

Chuba Akpom

28

21.9

Viktor Gyokeres

21

19.5

Carlton Morris

20

15

Joel Piroe

19

18.5

Tom Bradshaw

17

13.9

Nathan Tella

17

10.3

Zian Flemming

15

9.6

Ben Brereton Diaz

14

11.9

Iliman Ndiaye

14

12.8

Jerry Yates

14

11.2

Amad Diallo

13

8.1

Stats via FBref

Nevertheless, the difference between Sunderland over the past two seasons is that the club are far more reliant on one player this term compared to the last campaign. The Black Cats have found the net 33 times this season in the Championship. However, this time around, only 11 teams have scored fewer goals. Additionally, Jack Clarke has bagged 33.3% of the side's league goals this season.

In the 2022/23 campaign, Sunderland had three players reach ten or more goals in all competitions: Diallo, Ross Stewart and Clarke, while Ellis Simms followed closely behind with seven. Now, the side's second-highest goalscorer spot is shared between Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham on four apiece.

The main issue Beale has to fix is the team's lack of potency up top. Nazariy Rusyn, Hemir Semedo, Mason Burstow, Jewison Bennette, and Eliezer Mayenda have all rotated the number '9' position at different times in the season but none have managed to convert a single opportunity, leaving the manager to get creative up top.

On Boxing Day, Beale threw Bradley Dack up top but the ex-Blackburn Rovers star failed to have any impact at all, recording just one shot which registered a measly xG of 0.07 before he was replaced in the 44th minute with an injury. Chronicle Live handed the 29-year-old a 6/10 match rating for his display.

Nevertheless, with a potential arrival of Diallo, Beale could try Clarke up front given how potent he has been for Sunderland this term. The former Tottenham Hotspur man has only started four times up front and has a decent record when leading the line.

Position

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Left Midfielder

40

13

6

Left-Winger

36

8

10

Centre-Forward

4

2

1

Right-Winger

1

0

0

Attacking Midfielder

1

0

0

Right Midfielder

1

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

In addition, the new manager could put Diallo out on the wing in Clarke's position to alleviate the loss of the Englishman on the flanks. While Sunderland may lose some aerial threat, the side will have a much better balance in the forward line and won't be as reliant on Clarke's goals with the addition of Diallo.

Glasgow Rangers don’t play again until 20 January and the winter break will allow Philippe Clement to properly assess his first few months in the Ibrox hotseat.

Securing a first trophy since May 2022 by defeating Aberdeen to win the League Cup last month is the obvious highlight, yet securing Europa League progression and actually giving Rangers confidence to mount a Premiership title challenge is commendable.

With the club still currently in with a chance of winning another three trophies this term, it is clear that the Belgian coach will require some more fresh faces this month for his squad to cope with the demands of fixture congestion, especially if they go far in Europe.

Fabio Silva has already arrived in Glasgow, joining on a sixth-month loan deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and another attack-minded option or two wouldn’t go amiss.

Rangers transfer news – Million Manhoef

With Abdallah Sima away to the Africa Cup of Nations representing Senegal and Danilo out injured for the next four months, adding to his attacking department will be a necessity for Clement this month.

According to the Scottish Sun last month, the Gers have shown interest in Vitesse Arnhem winger Million Manhoef recently, and he could be an ideal addition to the first-team squad.

Rangers can repeat Mols masterclass by signing "electrifying" star

Rangers are lining up a move for a Dutch winger this month

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 1, 2024

The Dutchman could cost the Light Blues a fee in the region of £2.5m, yet this could turn into a shrewd piece of business, especially judging by comments from journalist Dean Jones, who praised the player, saying:

"It would be a really exciting signing actually. He is a tricky player. He is one that's really difficult to track. He has very smart little movements and a result of those movements is actually that he picks up the ball in really nice positions in and around the box. It'd be a really savvy signing by Rangers, actually. And if they could pull it off, he's the sort of player that will get fans off their seats."

While the performances of late have been much better than what was on show during the Michael Beale reign, adding in another player who could thrill the supporters and generate excitement is clearly worth going for.

He could also get Cyriel Dessers finally clicking too, as the Nigerian striker may be supercharged if Manhoef makes a move to Glasgow.

Cyriel Dessers’ season in numbers

The 29-year-old arrived for a £4.5m fee in the summer as Beale sought to bolster his attacking options, but a return of just ten goals in all competitions during 2022/23 didn’t exactly excite the Ibrox faithful.

Fast-forward six months, and he has failed to really hit the ground running at the Light Blues, finding the back of the net on just nine occasions in 30 matches before the winter break.

While on the surface this might sound decent, his displays have often been lacking in any sort of substance, with the striker fading out of matches for long spells and failing to contribute anything meaningful.

Indeed, the former Cremonese frontman has missed 11 big chances in the Premiership this season so far, which ranks him first among the Ibrox squad for that metric. As a result, his finishing needs to improve vastly ahead of the second half of the season.

While Sima on the left wing has been in excellent form, Clement has more of an issue on the opposite flank.

Scott Wright is on the periphery of the first team, netting only once under the Belgian. Ross McCausland has been a breath of fresh air since becoming a regular in the senior side, yet he is still only 20 and hopes and expectations have to be lowered so that he doesn’t feel too pressured to make an impact in every single game.

This suggests making a move for Manhoef would be the best course of action this month as he seeks to gain improvement at all costs in the pursuit of more glory.

Million Manhoef’s season in numbers

The 22-year-old has been the standout in a struggling Vitesse side this season as they are fighting to retain their Eredivisie status.

The club have won just three matches all season and currently occupy bottom place in the league table. Manhoef has scored four goals in 15 matches in the Dutch top flight, which counts for 33% of their total goals scored so far this term, proving how important he is to the club.

The winger currently ranks third in the squad for shots per game (2.2), along with ranking third for key passes per game (1.3) and first for successful dribbles per game (2.7), certainly showcasing his frightening attacking talents on a regular basis.

Manhoef has also impressed when compared with positional peers across similar European leagues, ranking in the top 11% for progressive carries per 90 (4.88), the top 18% for successful take-ons per 90 (2.54) and in the top 15% for total shots per 90 (three), indicating that he could thrive under Clement and subsequently elevate Dessers' game to new heights.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig praised the winger for having a “breakthrough season” during 2022/23, as he scored nine goals and registered four assists across 32 league matches.

Goals

9

4

Assists

4

0

Key passes per game

1.2

1.3

Successful dribbles per game

1.5

2.7

Big chances created

10

1

Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson analysed the player amid rumours surrounding the club being interested in signing him, and he dubbed Manhoef as one of Vitesse’s “best attacking threats” while saying the Dutchman has “electrifying pace” along with having “confidence on the ball." Such words must be music to the ears of Dessers who must lust after having a player of such excitement next to him.

A fee of £2.5m won't break the bank either and while Clement may need to move a player or two on in order to boost his budget, signing a young Dutch talent for this price will pay dividends in the coming years.

If the Gers click into gear during the second half of the season, they could end the campaign with two or three trophies.

Adding in another couple of signings would give the 49-year-old coach a major boost, and they could be the catalyst for future success.

Despite some initial positivity stemming from an impressive pre-season campaign and the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea fans have had to endure another miserable season of false dawns and poor performances.

The Blues are on a three-game winning streak across all competitions but find themselves tenth in the Premier League and closer to the relegation zone than top spot.

One of the most significant problems at Stamford Bridge is the side's inability to finish chances, so fans should be excited about the latest player touted for a move to west London: Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 Chelsea transfer news – Victor Osimhen

According to reports in Italy, via Football Transfers, Chelsea have made the Nigerian superstar their number-one transfer target for 2024, and they are entirely unfazed by the new contract he signed at the end of 2023.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Blues view the €120m (£103m) release clause in Osimhen's latest contract as an invitation from the Serie A champions to launch a bid with Todd Boehly and Co readying a 'big summer assault'.

While it would be another outlandishly expensive transfer for the west Londoners, it might just be worth it to sign a goal-scoring "machine" and "Naploli's heart and soul", as dubbed by journalist Mina Rzouki.

Additionally, the prospect of seeing Osimhen and Cole Palmer in the same team should be all the convincing that Chelsea needs to once again dip into their seemingly endless piles of cash.

How Victor Osimhen and Cole Palmer could play together

In a season that has been generally quite miserable for the Chelsea faithful, there has been at least one undeniably positive development: the signing of former Manchester City youngster Palmer.

The 21-year-old has already scored eight goals and provided four assists in 12 Premier League starts, and if his teammates were more clinical, he'd have a lot more of the latter by now.

The Blues' primary striker this season has been Nicolas Jackson, and while the Senegalese international has looked good at times, and has racked up seven league goals already, he would have scored many more if his finishing was up to par.

The same problem exists with the Blues' backup striker, Armado Broja, as the Albanian has looked good at points, but hasn't delivered in front of goal, netting twice all term.

The poor finishing of the Chelsea pair is painfully apparent during games and even harder to ignore when comparing their underlying numbers to Osimhen's.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.39

0.66

0.48

Non-Penalty Goals

0.45

0.43

0.23

Shots

3.63

2.80

2.54

Goal-Creating Actions

0.45

0.37

0.23

Shot-Creating Actions

1.91

2.98

1.39

Dispossessed

1.36

2.30

1.86

Aerial Duels Won

1.91

0.93

0.47

For example, Jackson generates a higher non-penalty expected goals figure than Osimhen – almost double, in fact – and yet when it comes to the number of non-penalty goals they score per 90, the 6 foot 1 Napoli star comes out ahead.

Now imagine it was the "natural talent" of Osimhen, as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, getting on the end of Palmer's crosses, and not Jackson – the former City prospect could end the season with close to 20 assists.

Ultimately, it would be a massive investment from Chelsea to sign the Nigerian forward, but the partnership he could build with Palmer is surely reason enough for them to go for it.

Leeds United are working to complete the permanent signing of Joe Rodon, according to a new transfer update regarding his future.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites are sitting in fourth place in the Championship currently, but there is a seven-point gap between themselves and the automatic promotion places, showing that there is still work to be done. Daniel Farke may feel that new signings in the January transfer window will boost his side's chances of avoiding the dreaded playoffs this season, and plenty of players have been linked with moves to Elland Road this month.

For example, Liverpool right-back Calvin Ramsay has been backed to join Leeds in recent days, with the young Scot being recalled by the Reds after an injury-plagued loan spell at Preston North End. Tottenham defender Ben Davies is also seen as a target, with the Welshman at the opposite end of his career to Ramsay, possessing so much experience at the top level.

Luton Town wing-back Ryan Giles is another player who has been linked with the Whites, and it is encouraging to see the club looking at Premier League players as additions.

Leeds working on permanent Joe Rodon signing

Meanwhile, according to a fresh update from Football Insider, Leeds are "working on a deal" to make Rodon's loan move a permanent one, having impressed since arriving from Tottenham on a temporary basis.

"Leeds United are working on a deal to sign Joe Rodon permanently from Tottenham following his excellent first six months at the club, sources have told Football Insider. However, a well-placed insider has revealed that a deal is “unlikely” to be completed this month due to the cost of the transfer fee.

"It is believed that the Whites’ preference is to get an agreement in place over a full-time move as soon as possible amid fears the Welshman’s price could skyrocket if he continues to excel at Elland Road in the second half of the season. There is expected to be plenty of interest in the 26-year-old in the summer when clubs across the board will have more money to spend on permanent signings."

The report adds that Rodon's value 'could rise beyond the £15m mark, even towards £20m, if he continues to excel for Leeds' and they go on to achieve their promotion ambitions.

Appearances

24

Starts

23

Clearances per game

4.3

Aerial duel wins per game

2.7

Interceptions per game

1.4

Pass completion rate

91.5%

Leeds and the 49ers Enterprises signing Rodon permanently is a no-brainer and would be a statement of intent, considering how well he has done at the heart of the defence since arriving at the club last August. He has started 23 of his side's Championship matches, winning an average of 2.7 aerial duels per game, and former Whites defender Jon Newsome has lauded him, saying back in September:

"Outstanding. Absolutely outstanding. Joe Rodon was man of the match for me. He got his head on everything. He was a different class, he really, really was."

At 26, Rodon could be just about to come into his prime, and with Spurs seemingly not considering him a key part of their plans moving forward, he and Leeds could be a perfect match for years to come.

It's been a quiet transfer window for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City as they try to chase down Liverpool in the Premier League title race. The reigning champions have sealed a £12.5m deal for young River Plate midfielder Claudio Echeverri, but he'll be remaining in Argentina for the entirety of 2024 before he lands at the Etihad, so they won't feel the immediate impact of that move.

Now, it looks like City are about to do another deal, this time within the City Football Group (CFG), for a player who can slot straight into the upper echelons of their academy.

Tibidi making City move

According to French outlet RMC Sport, Man City are signing Alexis Tibidi on loan from French second-division Troyes, who are of course part of the CFG, and an announcement is imminent. The report acknowledges that the move is a "surprise", particularly after previous loan club NEC Nijmegen expressed concerns over the player's "investment".

However, City are hopeful the player will benefit from a temporary stint at the Etihad where he will have the opportunity to train with the first-team on occasion, under the tutelage of Guardiola himself, and play for the under-21s.

Tibidi can get back on track at City

It was only 12 months ago that Tibidi joined the CFG with Troyes, signing from Stuttgart in a €2.3m transfer. He'd played 13 games during his stint with the German club but found most success on loan in Austria with Altach, where he scored five goals in 16 matches.

In the second half of last season, the winger hardly featured for his new club, notching just 72 minutes over the course of three substitute appearances in Ligue 1. Tellingly, he played more than double that number for the B-team (153).

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That's where the loan to the Netherlands came in. The goal was to get him playing consistent first-team football in order to further his development, but partly because of the aforementioned dissatisfaction with his attitude, he didn't feature at all.

That prompted Troyes to recall him at the end of the year, and now City have intervened in the hope of getting his career back on track. This is a player who was regarded as a "top talent" when he joined Troyes and, at 20, he still has time on his side. The opportunity to work with Guardiola from time to time and take part in some of the highest-level training sessions in world football could be invaluable.

City could also use the help for their under-21 side. After romping to the Premier League 2 Division 1 title by 13 points last year, they've tumbled all the way down to the bottom of the 26-team table this term, having collected just six points from their 11 games. The hope will be that adding a player who already has decent experience of the senior game will be a lift to those struggling academy talents too.