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Newcastle United are in the market to add depth to their impressive squad this month and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on a potential transfer target.

What’s the latest?

According to talkSPORT transfer insider Alex Crook, Newcastle have had an approach rejected for Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.

As per the report, the Red Devils are not interested in parting ways with their player in the January transfer window with advances rebuffed by not only Newcastle but fellow Premier League club Southampton too.

Obertan repeat

There is no doubt that Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the position his squad have got themselves in over the campaign so far and it will be hard for new additions to compete for a spot in the first team due to the phenomenal form.

The Magpies are currently third in the Premier League table after going unbeaten in all bar one of their 20 outings, whilst last night they edged closer to their first domestic cup final at Wembley Stadium since their clash with Manchester United in the FA Cup back in 1999 – beating Southampton 1-0 at St Mary’s.

Indeed, Howe will want to continue to strengthen and add depth to his talented squad at St James’ Park to ensure Newcastle can retain their dominance at the top of the table and ultimately compete healthily in Europe should they earn a spot in either the Champions League or Europa League at the end of the season.

The North East club have already made hugely impactful signings with Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn, Alexander Isak and Sven Botman quickly becoming key players in the rapid success of the team since Howe took over in November 2021, however, the approach for McTominay could be Dan Ashworth’s first mistake.

Whilst adding depth to the centre of the pitch will be a huge priority for Newcastle due to a general lack of personnel in the positions, it will be important to not drop off in quality when rotating the midfield.

Sean Longstaff has recently become a really important player for the Magpies since returning to the team following Shelvey’s injury issues this season and has outperformed McTominay with ease over his performances so far.

Indeed, Longstaff betters the 26-year-old Man United ace in many attributes including goal contributions (3 v 0), progressive passes (51 v 12), ball recoveries (88 v 50), shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (2.45 v 1.43), tackles and interceptions (36 v 28) and blocks (27 v 7).

As such, Ashworth could well be heading for a repeat of the disastrous Gabriel Obertan signing with a move for McTominay – who was dubbed “clumsy” by Gary Neville – as his inconsistencies could see him quickly become an outcast at the club.

Just like Obertan, he’d be arriving from Man United and it feels unlikely that he’d hit the high level of performance that Howe expects from his side.

The former Magpies winger failed to make a positive impact during his time at St James’ Park which ultimately led to the player only making 77 appearances over his four-and-a-half-year stint, in which he scored just three times; a goal every 1,444 minutes.

With that being said, Ashworth should be focusing on identifying players who can now take the squad to the next level in their pursuit to compete in European football next season and McTominay is not a player who will add the high quality needed compared to what they already have in their midfield.

Chelsea return to Premier League action for a London clash against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, in a fixture that desperately calls for a home victory.

Having assumed the managerial role in the maiden period of the campaign, Graham Potter has been plagued by a barrage of issues, with the injury department at its brim and confidence depleted.

Against Palace, the Blues must bounce back from the 2-1 defeat away to rivals Fulham – their seventh defeat from ten outings across all competitions – and look to mount a charge back towards Champions League contention.

This season, Potter’s top Premier League goal-scorers are £50m summer signing Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz, both with four; for comparison, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has 21 strikes in the league alone.

With that in mind, three points are certainly paramount in order to combat the ailing fortunes.

Here is how Football FanCast expects Potter to field his starting 11 today against Crystal Palace, with as many as three changes…

Kepa Arrizabalaga will deputise between the sticks once again, having started the past four league matches, while Potter might maintain the back-three in defence – which worked well against Fulham despite defeat, so Trevoh Chaloba, Kalidou Koulibaly and Thiago Silva remain.

Marc Cucurella, however, will move back into a left wing-back role, replacing the blossoming 18-year-old gem Lewis Hall, while stalwart Cesar Azpilicueta will retain his deployment down the right flank.

The £50m “class act” that is Jorginho – as once lauded by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher – will partner Mateo Kovacic in the centre of the park, dictating the play, with Denis Zakaria – on a loan deal from Juventus – withdrawn in the previous outing with a suspected injury.

With recent signing Joao Felix suspended, Kai Havertz might be shifted out wide to accommodate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has found the back of the net just three times since his summer move from FC Barcelona, while Mason Mount will look to drift out to the left in search of a sliver of creative ingenuity to steer his club to success.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; Chalobah, Koulibaly, Silva; Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kovacic, Cucurella; Havertz, Aubameyang, Mount.

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.

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.

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.

Liverpool are close to appointing a new club doctor in a significant backroom addition at Anfield, according to a positive new claim.

The Lowdown: No doctor at Anfield

The Reds have endured a difficult start to the season, and while performances have been lacking in quality, injuries certainly haven’t helped matters.

Jurgen Klopp’s men have had to make do without a host of key players for long periods, from Ibrahima Konate to Luis Diaz, and question marks have been raised over the club’s fitness methods.

A lack of a club doctor certainly can’t be helping matters, in terms of having an expert around, but an exciting update that emerged regarding the situation.

The Latest: New appointment close

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are ‘close’ to appointing a new doctor after an ‘extensive recruitment process’.

They are believed to be in ‘advanced talks’ with someone over the position, with an ‘experienced operator’ coming in to aid Klopp and the rest of his team.

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The Verdict: Excellent news for Reds

This is great news for Liverpool, with the situation so far this season far from acceptable for a club who are clearly among Europe’s elite currently.

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Whether or not the lack of a doctor has had a negative impact on injuries is up for debate, but it certainly seems like a big coincidence if that isn’t the case.

The hope is that this new appointment will ease those issues during the second half of the campaign, allowing Liverpool to return to top form and push for a top-four finish.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has described Celtic duo Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley as ‘below par’ in the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Lowdown: Celtic held by Shakhtar

The Hoops knew that only victory would do in the Champions League on Tuesday night, in terms of having a chance to qualify for the Europa League.

Unfortunately, Ange Postecoglou’s men fell short of that objective, taking the lead but being pegged back in the second half, ensuring they will finish bottom of their group.

Too many individuals failed to show up at Parkhead, with Celtic left to rue some poor finishing and a disappointing group stage overall.

The Latest: Joseph critical of Hoops duo

Taking to Twitter, Joseph singled out Hatate and O’Riley for criticism:

“O’Riley & Hatate were below par tonight – neither seemed to have the same drive about them.”

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The Verdict: Harsh on O’Riley?

Admittedly, Hatate failed to stamp his authority on proceedings against Shakhar, losing possession 12 times, but the assessment of O’Riley’s performance feels harsh.

The 21-year-old always looked like making things happen with his creativity, completing all three of his attempted dribbles and winning seven out of 11 ground duels (SofaScore).

Granted, O’Riley’s finishing left a lot to be desired, with chances coming his way and being wasted, but he was arguably the player who seemed to be the biggest attacking threat for Celtic.

Everton defender Nathan Patterson faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines after sustaining an injury blow whilst on international duty with Scotland, according to The Times’ Paul Joyce.

The Lowdown: Patterson’s injury

The 20-year-old has risen to prominence at Goodison Park this season after becoming Frank Lampard’s first-choice option at right-back. As a result, the youngster continues to play a big part for his national team, having made his Scotland debut last summer.

However, during the Tartan Army’s 3-0 victory over Ukraine last Wednesday, Patterson was forced off the pitch with an injury after just 26 minutes of play.

The Latest: Patterson injury timeline

According to Joyce’s report for The Times, Patterson is set to be sidelined for six weeks as a result of his knee injury.

That length of time would see the full-back ruled out of action until the first week of November, returning just days before Everton’s final fixture of the first half of the Premier League season.

Consequently, it would see Patterson missing seven games in total.

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The Verdict: Big loss

Having earned statistical comparisons to legendary Everton right-back Seamus Coleman, it is easy to see why Lampard has placed such trust in the 20-year-old.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the Scotland gem ranks in the 96th percentile for tackles, the 93rd percentile for pressures and the 81st percentile for dribbles completed.

As a result, Patterson has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by journalist Josh Bunting for the start that he has made to his first full season with the Toffees, with WhoScored citing him as the squad’s second highest-rated outfield player so far in 2022/23.

Therefore, his absence is sure to come as a blow to Lampard and Everton, at time when they had already been dealing with several other defensive injuries.

Liverpool managed to get some Deadline Day business done with the season-long loan signing of Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo, and a new update has since emerged on a potential permanent deal.

What’s the latest?

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has given a more detailed insight to the deal between the two clubs concerning the Brazil international, which includes a £32.3m purchase option.

The Italian journalist tweeted: “Liverpool will have €37.5m buy option clause for Arthur in June, not mandatory – LFC have negotiated with Juve the possibility of paying the clause in two years.”

“Arthur has already agreed the potential, future contract in case LFC will trigger the clause.”

It’s another Liverpool masterclass

Melo was brought in during the final hours of the transfer window after Jordan Henderson sustained a hamstring injury against Newcastle United last Wednesday, but the panic signing could turn out to be another Liverpool masterclass if the 26-year-old makes a positive impact in the team.

The Reds are currently experiencing a midfield injury crisis, with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones and now the club captain all sustaining fitness problems over the season so far, and the acquisition of Melo couldn’t have come at a better time.

Liverpool will start their Champions League campaign after falling short in the final to Real Madrid last season and will be hoping that their poor Premier League form doesn’t leak into their European challenge against Napoli on Wednesday night.

Melo will surely be in contention to make his debut in the famous red shirt on the European stage this week after he was spotted on the bench and warming up in the Merseyside derby; and after a disappointing 0-0 draw at Everton, the 26-year-old could be exactly what Jurgen Klopp needs in the middle of the park against Napoli.

Although Thiago has reportedly returned to full training this week, it would be surprising to see him go straight back in the squad after just two days on the grass, so Melo could be the perfect player to replace the Spaniard’s incredible passing range in the midfield three.

The Brazilian ranks in the top 10% of positional peers across the top five European leagues for passes attempted and pass completion, whilst ranking in the top 20% for progressive passes and carries over the last 12 months, proving that he is somewhat of a pass master himself who can cover Thiago’s role in the team.

The signing of Melo could really pay off for Klopp, for if he can quickly integrate into the team, make a positive impact in midfield and thrive in the German’s system at Anfield, Liverpool could be onto a winner with their potential permanent agreement in place for next summer.

Crystal Palace have reportedly made a late move to sign Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, as they look to hijack Leeds United’s bid to sign the Senegal international.

What’s the word?

According to French news outlet Foot Mercato, Palace are keen to sign the 24-year-old, despite him being in advanced discussions with Leeds.

Sarr is keen to return to the Premier League after suffering relegation with Watford last season, and Palace could have the edge on Jesse Marsch’s side, as the report claims that they need to part ways with an attacker before signing the Hornets man.

Those claims were backed up by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who said yesterday: “Crystal Palace working on deal to sign Ismaila Sarr from Watford. No formal bid yet but interest firm & discussions ongoing. CPFC SD Dougie Freedman at Birmingham tonight but 24yo left out, injury precaution.”

Vieira would love him

As was evidenced on Monday night in the draw against Liverpool, when Ebere Eze and Wilfried Zaha combined for the goal, Vieira loves to set his side up to be dangerous on the counter-attack, and Sarr’s incredible pace makes him an ideal candidate for Palace’s front three.

The 24-year-old was recorded as one of the fastest players in the Premier League last season at 21.67mph, while WhoScored suggests that he excels at dribbling and finishing, which suggests that he would complement the likes of Zaha, Eze and Michael Olise well.

Former teammate Ben Foster was in awe of Sarr’s speed and ability last season, saying:

“He is a bit of a freak, honestly he is.

“I still don’t think people understand quite how quick Ismaila Sarr is. His acceleration off from a standing start is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. And genuinely, I’m being genuine there, I’ve never seen anybody accelerate from a standing start as quick as he does.”

With that in mind, the former Stade Rennais winger is capable of changing a game in an instant, as was evidenced by his staggering goal from the halfway line in Watford’s recent draw against West Brom. That moment of magic is something which Vieira’s current winger options of Zaha, Eze and Olise all possess too.

Last season saw the speedy wide man contribute five goals and two assists in a poor Watford side, so there is no reason why he couldn’t excel in a team that shouldn’t be worried about relegation this season.

Sarr, who is reportedly valued at £25m, could fit seamlessly into Vieira’s system and style of play at Selhurst Park, and would definitely cause problems for defenders with his speed. Thus, the French manager would surely love to see him join the Eagles this summer.