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Tottenham Hotspur are in the race to sign Borussia Monchengladbach star Marcus Thuram, who will be at the 2022 World Cup with France.

The Lowdown: Thuram excelling in Germany…

The international forward has been dazzling at club level for Gladbach so far this season, with Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps taking note of his scintillating form.

Thuram has been rewarded for his Bundesliga exploits with a seat on the plane to Qatar, with the tournament set to begin this Sunday.

After being absent through injury for most of last season, the 25-year-old is now turning heads both abroad and in the Premier League.

The Latest: Spurs in Thuram transfer race…

The Lilywhites and their manager Antonio Conte are reportedly in the race to sign Thuram, whose contract is due to expire in 2023 as things stand.

Gladbach face either selling him for a cheaper fee mid-season or risk losing him for nothing next summer, potentially making a winter deal quite viable for Tottenham.

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Bild have claimed that the north Londoners are in contention to sign the 6 foot 3 centre-forward alongside European big-hitters Juventus, Inter Milan and Marseille.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Thuram has certainly lived up to his tag as a ‘world class’ striker of the ‘highest international class’, as dubbed by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer (via GFNG).

As per WhoScored, he stands out as Gladbach’s best-performing player by average match rating, chipping in with 10 goals and three assists in the Bundesliga already.

Over his 15 league starts, Thuram has also attempted more shots at goal per 90 (3.7) than any of his team-mates, showing his real threat in the forward areas.

Indeed, he could be a viable asset to Conte if Spurs can fend off some fierce competition for his signature.

Leeds United could be keen on reigniting their interest in Torino defender Ola Aina, according to a fresh update.

The Lowdown: Aina links

The Whites were first linked with a move for Aina at the beginning of the year, with speculation continuing into the summer. Leeds reportedly initiated contact over a potential move in June, but as we know, a transfer failed to materialise.

Aina, born in London, has surpassed 100 appearances for Torino but is out of contract at the end of the season, and it looks as if a move to Elland Road could still be a possibility.

The Latest: Transfer update

Sports Witness relayed an update regarding Aina in the last 48 hours, claiming a January exit could be on the cards due to his contract situation.

The report says that Torino could cash in on the full-back for a small sum, hinting that Leeds could be keen on a bargain transfer.

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The Verdict: Shrewd move?

The Whites seem to be fans of Aina following plenty of speculation in 2022, so January could be the ideal time for Victor Orta to make his move.

Aina can pay in multiple positions and has been hailed as “Mr Versatile” by Fulham podcaster Sammy James, so you could make an argument for him being Stuart Dallas’ long-term replacement.

The Nigeria international can play as a right-back, left-back or further forward, similar to Dallas, so this may well be one to watch heading into 2023.

Wolves are reportedly interested in signing Villarreal defender Pau Torres and the Spaniard could be Julen Lopetegui’s own version of Antonio Rudiger at Molineux.

According to 90min, the Old Gold, along with Aston Villa, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are all keen on the Spain international, who looks set to star for Luis Enrique’s side in Qatar at the World Cup.

The 25-year-old has been a mainstay in Villarreal’s impressive sides in recent seasons, helping the Spanish side to the Champions League semi-final last season, after winning the Europa League in the 2020/21 campaign.

This term has seen the centre-back make 13 appearances in La Liga, in which he has averaged a solid 6.64 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which ranks him ahead of both Max Kilman and Nathan Collins in Wolves’ squad, while his experience of playing in Europe’s elite competition suggests that he could be an upgrade to the Old Gold’s backline.

Football content creator Ryan Haber suggested that Torres could be part of a “dream” transfer window for Manchester United in the summer transfer window and indeed he could be exactly that at Wolves should he sign.

Owen Hargreaves was also full of praise for the defender on BT Sport last season.

He said: “He’s a fantastic player. I’m quite surprised he’s still at Villarreal. English teams were looking at him.

“I think everyone was talking about Man United and even Real Madrid, I think his potential is literally that high.

“He’s got a fabulous left foot, he’s great in possession. A fantastic player so I don’t think he’ll be at Villarreal very long.”

Therefore, Torres is clearly a highly-rated defender and it is easy to see why Lopetegui might want to bring him to Molineux, but when you compare him with Real Madrid stalwart Antonio Rudiger, there is little to suggest that the Spaniard – who is set to feature for Spain at the World Cup – wouldn’t improve Wolves’ ailing backline.

FBRef suggests that the former Chelsea defender is the tenth-most similar player to Torres when compared to other centre-backs in Europe’s top leagues.

Last season saw the two defenders register similar statistics with regard to expected assists (both 1.5), blocked passes (both nine) and aerial duels won (58 vs 56).

WhoScored also suggests that both Rudiger and Torres’ main strengths are passing and concentration, so they are clearly similar defenders.

Given Rudiger’s impressive form at Chelsea before his move to Los Blancos, Lopetegui would surely be foolish to turn down a player similar to the German at Molineux.

Liverpool appear to have been boosted in their efforts to sign Declan Rice, with journalist Fabrizio Romano claiming the midfielder will leave West Ham next summer following recent comments from the player.

The Lowdown: Rice impressing at World Cup

The 23-year-old has developed into a top-class footballer already, becoming one of the first names on the team sheet for both West Ham and England.

Rice has started all three of his country’s matches at the World Cup so far, impressing in front of the defence and averaging a 94.1% pass completion rate.

The midfielder has been linked with a move Liverpool of late, as Jurgen Klopp eyes reinforcements in that area, and a fresh update regarding the player’s future seems promising for the Reds and other prospective suitors.

The Latest: Romano makes Rice exit claim

Taking to Twitter, Romano shared quotes from Rice hinting that he will leave West Ham at the end of the season, with the reporter adding that he believes that will be the case.

The Italian tweeted a clip from Football Daily and stated:

“Declan Rice: ‘I see my friends who play in the Champions League, winning the big trophies. You only get one career and at the end of your career you want to look at what you’ve won’. 

“Expectation is for Rice to leave West Ham in 2023.”

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The Verdict: Would he cost too much?

There can be few question marks over Rice’s worth as a player now, with the England international still so young but such a formidable presence in the middle of the park.

He doesn’t turn 24 until next month, but he has already won 37 international caps, started in the Euro 2020 final and lined out 215 times for West Ham.

Stuart Pearce has described him as a ‘dynamic’ player, and that attribute is something which has been sorely lacking in Liverpool’s midfield so far this season.

Whether or not Rice’s price tag ends up being too high for the Reds is a potential stumbling block, though – a fee of £100m has been mooted – and it could be that a similarly talented player is available for less than the English premium which can often come into play.

Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Leeds United right-back Cody Drameh in January and the youngster could prove to be the next Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Selhurst Park.

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle United, West Ham United and the Eagles are all keen on signing the 20-year-old, although the report suggests that they all see him as an option for the future rather than a first-team-ready signing.

Jesse Marsch’s side are reportedly keen to tie him down to a new contract at Elland Road but he could depart in search of more regular minutes in the first team, as he is currently behind both Rasmus Kristensen and Luke Ayling in the pecking order at Elland Road.

The defender has managed just seven appearances for the Whites’ senior side in his time with the Yorkshire club, but he did impress in a loan spell with Cardiff City in the Championship last season, contributing three assists in 22 appearances for the Welsh side.

Former manager Steve Morison was full of praise for Drameh’s performance and energy levels during his time with the club last season. He said:

“He has been excellent. He was excellent in his first game, he was excellent at Barnsley, it was a right scrap but there were a few things when he was running back and making last-ditch tackles.

“He had a little bit of a down game, the Bristol City game, but outside of that he has been excellent. Having that break in the Liverpool game when he couldn’t play, letting his body catch up on where it needs to be, now he is like a Duracell Bunny, isn’t he? He just keeps going and going.”

Should he arrive at Selhurst Park in January, he would likely compete with Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne for a starting spot in Patrick Vieira’s side, both of whom have shown themselves to be past their best with their performances this season.

The Eagles duo are ranked as the 10th and 16th-best performers at Palace so far this season, while they are 33 and 31 respectively, so it is easy to see why the Frenchman might be keen on a young, long-term heir such as Drameh.

In that respect, the Eagles have never really replaced Wan-Bissaka, since he completed a move to £50m move to Manchester United in 2019 after producing some superb performances at Selhurst Park.

The Englishman only became a regular for Palace in the 2018/19 season when he was 20, so Drameh could definitely follow a similar path should he arrive at Selhurst Park and impress with his performances.

There would certainly be first-team opportunities for the Leeds youngster in Vieira’s side and if he can take his chance and make himself a regular with the south London side, there seems no reason why he can’t be another big sale for the Eagles in the future.

Tottenham Hotspur will unlikely be able to sign Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie in January, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target Kessie

Spurs recently emerged as the most likely party to sign Kessie if his current club decide to sell him this winter, although there are several offers on the table, as per Spanish sources.

However, a fresh claim has come to light which indicates that the 25-year-old could be set to remain with the La Liga club, at least for the remainder of this campaign.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones played down the rumours linking the Ivorian with a Premier League move.

The journalist said in relation to Spurs’ recent transfer links with the player: “I think a cheeky bid for Kessie in January would probably be a waste of time to be honest.

“He’s basically chasing a dream here. And I think he’ll give it the rest of the season before he even contemplates going anywhere else.”

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The Verdict: Blow for Tottenham

Once lauded as ‘fantastic’ by Serie A analyst Matteo Bonetti, the £69k-per-week earner would provide depth for Antonio Conte in Tottenham’s midfield engine room, providing a more defensive option to compete for a starting berth with the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

His acumen in cutting out opposition attacks is highlighted by an average of 1.62 blocks per game over the past year, placing him in the 86th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

He is not limited to defensive contributions either, as indicated by his match average of 2.85 touches in the attacking penalty area (95th percentile), so he appears to offer a well-rounded package.

While it seems that the Ivorian enforcer currently wants to make a name for himself at Barcelona, Spurs should continue to monitor him over the winter, as his multi-faceted attributes would surely be of great use to the north London club in their push for Champions League football.

Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot in 2023, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Midfield rumours

Jurgen Klopp seems to be desperate to bolster his midfield ranks at Anfield, with Jude Bellingham seemingly a top target.

Argentina star Enzo Fernandez also appears to be a player of interest to Reds officials, with reports in recent days even suggesting that a pre-agreement had been reached.

The Latest: Rabiot update

90min reporters Graeme Bailey and Jack Gallagher provided an update regarding Rabiot on Thursday.

They claimed that Rabiot has been keen on a move to England and has been offered to Liverpool along with a number of their top-flight rivals. The Reds have also been in regular contact with the player’s representatives.

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The Verdict: Smart idea?

Even though the Reds are pursuing a marquee midfield addition like Bellingham, a cut-price transfer for Rabiot could still be a wise move by FSG, especially with his Juventus contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The France international has been hailed as a ‘quality player’ by national boss Didier Deschamps and has helped his country to the World Cup Final in Qatar.

Still just 27 years of age, he can play as a holding, central or left midfielder, so could provide Klopp with another high-quality versatile option on Merseyside for years to come.

Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Christian Pulisic in the January transfer window, and a new update has emerged regarding the player’s future.

What’s the latest?

The Chelsea and USA forward has spoken out about his future at Stamford Bridge, and his comments may have given the Magpies a boost in their pursuit of the player.

The 24-year-old told the Indirect Podcast on Friday: “I mean, right now I’m absolutely back at Chelsea and focused and ready to finish the season, but you know how things work in football. Things change quickly and anything can happen.

“At the moment I am just pushing myself in training and working at Chelsea because that’s where I am right now.”

It would be a major coup

There is no doubt that Eddie Howe must be thrilled with his current squad at St James Park after an outstanding start to their Premier League campaign.

Newcastle are currently third in the table after tasting defeat just once in their first 15 outings, and the Magpies boss will surely be hoping that his team can continue their phenomenal form over the second half of the season and retain their Champions League qualification place inside the top four.

Despite boasting an incredibly in-form squad at St James’ Park, PIF could definitely capitalise on the opportunity to strengthen even further by making new additions in the transfer window next month.

It was reported last week by 90min that the club are still looking at adding a wide attacker to their prolific forward line in January, so the signing of Pulisic would be a major coup for the Tyneside club.

In 133 appearances for Chelsea, the talented winger has scored 26 goals and delivered 21 assists so far, with a goal contribution every 162 minutes despite only averaging 57 minutes per game for the west London club.

Pulisic was also a standout performer for the USA during their World Cup campaign in Qatar, inspiring his team to the round of 16 in the prestigious tournament.

In four World Cup appearances, the £35m-valued ace – who was dubbed “skilful” by Joao Cancelo – scored one goal, registered two assists and created one big chance. He also averaged 2.3 shots, 2.3 key passes, one successful dribble and 4.8 successful duels per game, proving to be a huge presence for his national team.

If Newcastle are keen to add another forward to their squad ahead of the second half of the season, Pulisic could be a great option to provide them with a player who has ample Premier League and Champions League experience and who can make an instant impact at St James’ Park.

Journalist Josh Bunting criticised the performance of Rabbi Matondo after he came on for Glasgow Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Friday night.

The Lowdown: Another win

Michael Beale picked up another win as Gers manager as his side were narrow 1-0 victors at Ross County, thanks to a first-half strike from John Lundstram.

It was not an entirely convincing performance from the visitors in terms of the attacking third, and Bunting was disappointed with one Light Blues attacker’s performance in particular…

The Latest: Matondo criticised

Taking to Twitter, Bunting criticised Matondo after his disappointing cameo at the end of the second half, which saw him miss a clear one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper after failing to take the ball around him:

“Rabbi Matondo with probably the worst 23 minutes I’ve seen this season, just hasn’t worked out and I said when he signed I wasn’t convinced. Has the pace but the intelligence and the awareness just really lack. His crossing really poor, no quality in it at all it was more hopeful.”

The Verdict: Not working out

Since his arrival at Ibrox in the summer, it has simply not worked out for Matondo.

He has still failed to score for the club, and with the way he missed a gilt-edged chance at the end of the game against Ross County, it is easy to see why.

Aside from his miss, the winger lost out on four of his seven duels, and failed to put in a single successful cross, all while losing possession of the ball six times (SofaScore).

If he is to break into the starting eleven anytime soon, Matondo simply has to make more of the chances given to him from the bench.

Liverpool have not opened talks to sign Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo despite reports suggesting as much, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. 

The Lowdown: Liverpool linked with Caicedo

Earlier this week, it was claimed that the Reds had made an enquiry to Brighton over a potential transfer move for the Ecuadorian and are looking to speed things up to sign him.

The 21-year-old has also been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United as he continues to impress on the south coast.

Reports in the player’s homeland (via DaveOCKOP) then alleged that Julian Ward and FSG had actually begun talks over a deal for Caicedo, but Jacobs thinks otherwise…

The Latest: Not so fast

In a recent Twitter post, Jacobs had this to say on the situation surrounding Caicedo.

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“Not a lot has changed in terms of how ‘messy’ a deal might prove. Historical interest doesn’t mean anything active right now. Told, contrary to some reports, LFC have not opened any talks whatsoever with Brighton.”

The Verdict: Liverpool should sign Caicedo

Caicedo’s performances for Brighton in the league this season have proved why he is so highly sought after and why he reportedly has a price tag of £85m.

For example, having appeared in all 15 of the Seagulls’ league games, the midfielder has made more progressive passes (68) than any other player at the club as well as having the highest combined total of tackles and interceptions (65) at Brighton.

The Ecuador international’s overall performances for Brighton this season have earned him a season rating of 6.9/10 from WhoScored, making him the fourth-highest rated player at the club.

Hailed as an “outstanding” player by Curtis Woodhouse, Caicedo would certainly be a strong addition to Liverpool’s midfield, as he has shown how useful he is in possession in terms of moving the ball forward as well as how impressive he is when trying to win the ball back for his side.

Moving forward, we feel that, despite Jacobs’ recent update, the Reds should be working on a potential January deal for the midfield star.