Category Uncategorized

Journalist Beren Cross has revealed that Leeds United were keen on handing Jack Harrison a new contract but a recent bid has thrown “cat amongst the pigeons”.

What’s the word?

Earlier this week, The Athletic reported that Leicester City made a £20m offer for the player and it remains to be seen if he will be allowed to leave in January.

As things stand, Harrison has 18 months left on his contract which expires in the summer of 2024 and he has been a regular member of Jesse Marsch’s team this season.

According to Cross, the player’s agent was set to hold talks over a new deal with Leeds in February with all parties keen to extend his current terms. However, Leicester’s bid may have now changed things.

Talking on a LeedsLive Facebook stream, the journalist explained (17:34): “He’s only got 18 months left on his deal. Now, we’ve had nothing to suggest Leeds don’t want to give him a new contract.

“We spoke to Harrison in December in Spain, and he made it clear then that his agent would be coming over. And there was every intention of signing a new deal.

“You know, I’ve spoken to Harrison’s camp, we’ve spoken to Leeds. All parties were very, very clear they wanted to sign a new deal.

“Leeds were keen for it to go into February, get the January window out of the way. So that was the plan. But Leicester, of course, put a cat amongst the pigeons.

“And in my opinion, it’s very hard to turn it down if they can maybe squeeze out another £5m or £10m. I think £20m seems a bit short in the current market.”

Keep or sell?

Interestingly enough, while the news broke recently it didn’t stop Harrison from starting and scoring in his club’s FA Cup win away at Accrington Stanley.

And with 20 appearances, two goals and seven assists in all competitions so far this season, it’s fair to say Marsch trusts the 26-year-old as a key part of his team.

Still, now could be the perfect time to sell with just 18 months left on his contract and this new bid potentially changing Harrison’s willingness to sign a new deal.

What’s more, with the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra,  Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto, and Georginio Rutter in the squad, it’s not as if the Whites don’t have depth in that part of the field.

Still, seeing as Anthony Gordon is joining Newcastle United for around £45m – and he has just seven Premier League goals to his name in his career – Leeds may well feel as though Harrison (who has 17) may be worth a bit more than the £20m offered.

Everton are having a week to forget at Goodison Park with the sacking of Frank Lampard being followed by Tottenham Hotspur’s hijacking of the Arnaut Danjuma deal. Sadly, another disaster could be about to unfold.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Jacque Talbot, Everton are “ready” to agree a deal with Newcastle United to allow winger Anthony Gordon to make a move to St James’ Park.

Talbot tweeted: “Understand Everton look ready to accept Newcastle’s opening bid for 21-year-old Anthony Gordon and that personal terms are not expected to be a problem ahead of a move to the northeast.

“The two clubs have been locked in negotiations over a possible switch, and as we exclusively revealed yesterday, Newcastle made an offer of £35m rising to £50m with add-ons for the winger.”

Moshiri heading for disaster

There is no doubt that Farhad Moshiri is heading for yet another Goodison disaster by letting go of boyhood Evertonian Gordon this month, as the vulnerable position the squad has found themselves in this season could only further worsen with his departure.

The Toffees are two points deep into the Premier League relegation zone after 20 outings with the second-worst goal tally in the entire league – registering just 15 goals so far which has heavily contributed to their downfall.

Following Richarlison’s move to Spurs in the summer alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury issues, the attacking threat has been unable to recover even with the signings of Dwight McNeil and Neal Maupay, however, Gordon has been one of the most consistent performers in the forward line.

The 21-year-old winger rose through the ranks of the Everton youth academy from U18s to U21s, polishing his skills until he was finally called up to the senior team by Carlo Ancelotti when he earned his top flight debut in January 2020.

Over 78 appearances so far, Gordon has scored seven goals and delivered eight assists for the Toffees, however, the youngster offers much more than goal contributions to his game.

The winger is renowned for his aggressive presence on the right flank, ranking in the top 16% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for tackles, interceptions and clearances – proving that he is prolific in winning possession of the ball and is capable of working hard defensively.

This season the situation at Everton has become increasingly worse and Gordon has fallen out of favour on many occasions due to the lack of goal contributions across the front line, with former manager Lampard desperately trying to find a way to unlock an attacking formula that results in goals scored.

Nevertheless, losing Gordon this week will only further reduce the attacking depth for the new manager who is set to be appointed imminently, so Everton will need to have transfer targets lined up to either replace or upgrade on the winger in the next few days, depending on the budget that will be generated from his potential move away.

Leeds United could be set to complete another signing, as they close in on one for the future…

What’s the latest?

At least that is the assumption of the Yorkshire Evening Post, who yesterday all but confirmed that a deal was in place for the Whites to sign Diogo Monteiro.

The suggestion is that the youngster should get his big move to Elland Road once he turns 18, and as such is expected to complete the transfer around the 28th of January.

This would mark their third signing of the month, with one eye on replacing the current crop of defenders should they begin to decline.

He’s an ideal Koch heir

Already boasting a distinctly youthful team, it seems Jesse Marsch is still not content with having the second-lowest average age of a starting XI in the league.

He aims to further secure the future of his club with incredible talent, and as such has clearly instructed Victor Orta to complete this mission.

Having returned with Monteiro as the answer, and with the relative ease they seem to have acquired him, it marks a huge coup for the Yorkshire outfit who are admittedly a little thin when it comes to defensive reinforcements.

Even those that do feature are guilty of being one of the worst teams in the league at the back, having conceded 33 goals in just 19 games. Only four teams boast a worse record than this.

At the heart of that contingent is Robin Koch, who seems to be growing into his role despite a shaky start to life at the club.

Initially brought in under former manager Marcelo Bielsa, he featured heavily in the squad that nearly succumbed to relegation last season.

Featuring 20 times in the Premier League, he was handed a 6.51 average rating, indicative that the 26-year-old certainly can struggle in the league at times.

Having now bumped that up to a 6.71 this year, things are looking up for his future at the club, and he could bestow that wisdom of overcoming such adversity onto Monteiro. This would hopefully allow the 17-year-old to avoid a potential teething period like the one Koch endured, and see that when he is called upon he is ready to instantly shine for Leeds.

The Portugal youth international is already starring in the top league in Switzerland for FC Servette, where he has showcased his classy demeanour on the ball that outlines him as a fine modern defender.

Earning a 6.70 rating from his three games, he is averaging an 83% pass accuracy, spreading 2.3 completed long balls per 90 as well as 10.3 accurate balls in the opposition’s half, via Sofascore.

His creativity often gives way to his defending, which Koch could again look to teach him ways to excel at both.

Despite this, he remains the “beast in the making” that football scout Ron Dor once dubbed him, one that could grow into a sensational defender. He may, therefore, be the perfect foil to Koch should his performances ever dwindle like last campaign.

Arsenal could well be considering making a move for Crystal Palace starlet Michael Olise this summer, with the high-flying Gunners having been named as a potential suitor for the promising youngster.

What’s the word?

That’s according to the Daily Mail, with journalist Sami Mokbel reporting that the north Londoners are one of the clubs currently ‘monitoring’ the 21-year-old, ahead of a potential swoop at the end of the season.

The report suggests, however, that the Eagles will ‘not entertain’ the notion of losing both the French youth international and teammate Wilfried Zaha this summer, with the latter man yet to commit his future to the club with just six months remaining on his existing deal.

The piece also adds that Palace removed a £35m buy-out clause from Olise’s contract last year, ensuring that prising the playmaker from Selhurst Park could prove far tougher for Gunners sporting director, Edu.

Fabio Vieira upgrade

The former Reading ace has made a rather smooth transition to life in the Premier League since his £8m switch back in the summer of 2021, having already chipped in with 18 goals and assists in 52 games across all fronts for his current side to date.

That includes a haul of two goals and four assists in the top flight in the 2022/23 campaign thus far, with the highly-rated “baller” – as described by journalist Muhammad Butt – having notably produced a moment of magic in the draw at home to Manchester United earlier this week.

The £45k-per-week maestro stepped up in stoppage time to equalise for Patrick Vieira’s men, doing so in stunning fashion with a sensational, dipping free-kick that evaded the sprawling David De Gea.

Not only did that masterful set piece catch the eye, but so too did Olise’s nonchalant celebration in the aftermath, having arguably showcased just why he could well be destined to “play at the very highest levels of the game”, according to Butt.

Should Edu and co opt to bring the London-born dynamo to the Emirates any time soon, he could well prove a notable upgrade on summer arrival, Fabio Vieira, with the Portuguese midfielder currently struggling to make his mark in English football.

The 23-year-old has thus far failed to warrant his rather hefty £34m price tag after scoring just once and laying on only one assist in the league this term, having notably endured an “absolute howler” of a performance in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, in the words of GOAL’s Charles Watts.

The former Porto man’s woes are also laid bare by his struggles in possession of late as he ranks in just the bottom 27% in Europe among those in his position for dribbles completed, while that man Olise ranks in the top 19% in that regard.

Equally, the Palace sensation also appears to offer far more defensively as he ranks in the top 3% for blocks made and the top 14% for tackles made, while Vieira only ranks in the bottom 1% and the bottom 11% for the same two metrics respectively.

That should indicate that even though the new addition has only been in the door for a matter of months, Mikel Arteta’s side could secure a playmaking upgrade by winning the race for Olise this summer.

Antonio Conte has reportedly ‘asked’ Tottenham Hotspur to sign Bayer Leverkusen central defender Piero Hincapie in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Emerging talent

Hincapie is certainly an emerging talent in the game, and has even been dubbed ‘South America’s best young defender’ in the past.

At just 20 years of age, he has already played 51 games for Leverkusen, including five times in the UEFA Champions League this season (every minute of Ecuador’s FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar.

The Latest: Conte request

Taking to Twitter, TuttoMercatoWeb journalist Marco Conterio has revealed that Conte has personally ‘asked’ the Spurs hierarchy to sign Hincapie in January, as he ‘wants’ the central defender to reinforce his defence:

“Antonio Conte asked for Piero Hincapie of #Bayer04 to the management of #Tottenham. The Italian coach wants the Ecuador central defender to reinforce the #THFC defence.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-updates-2/” title=”Tottenham latest updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-tottenham-fans.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Get it done

Hailed as ‘colossal’ by journalist Victor Hernandez Molina, Hincapie would certainly be an ideal signing for the North London club to improve sort their shaky defence.

After Boxing Day’s 2-2 draw away at Brentford, they have now conceded 23 goals in the Premier League, with only nine other sides conceding more despite sitting in fourth place.

Hincapie is already one of the best centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 4% for dribbles completed, 7% for xAG and progressive passes received, and 8% for blocks per game over the past year, while he shares a similar playing style to the Lilywhites’ own Cristian Romero (FBRef).

Lauded as being ‘excellent’ in a back three by South American football expert Tim Vickery, Hincapie could slot in perfectly under Conte.

Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Inter Milan defender Stefan De Vrij.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target defender

In light of Tottenham’s very poor defensive record in the Premier League, with 21 goals conceded, the most of any side in the top eight and more than relegation-threatened West Ham, there have been numerous reports linking them to centre-backs in January.

Inter Live have previously indicated that Antonio Conte was plotting a £43m bid for Alessandro Bastoni, while his Inter teammate De Vrij has also been linked for some time, with his contract due to expire with the Serie A side at the end of the season.

The Latest: De Vrij update

While stating that Conte is a huge admirer of the 6 foot 2 titan, Football Insider now report that Tottenham are in pole position for his signature, with a January deal a possibility.

Atletico Madrid are also in the mix, but Conte is “close” with the player from their time at Inter and has “already spoken” to him about a winter move.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-3/” title=”Tottenham latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

In the past, a deal for the Dutchman would have set a potential suitor back £40m, but he could be available at a “knockdown price”, given his aforementioned contract situation.

The Verdict: Get it done

The 30-year-old, labelled a “world beater” by Noel Whelan when linked to Spurs last year, would be a fantastic signing who the Spurs boss knows he can trust, having won the league at Inter during their spell there.

It is no secret that the Lilywhites are struggling defensively this season, failing to keep a clean sheet since a 2-0 victory against Everton in mid October, so a new option at the back is definitely required.

Former Lazio defender Mauricio has hailed the enforcer as a ‘monster’, while also describing him as having ‘excellent technique’, which could account for his 89.9% pass completion average per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 90th percentile compared to his positional peers.

This season, the £117k-per-week earner has featured 16 times in all competitions for Inter, who have operated using a back three in every match, meaning he would also take no time at all to adjust to Conte’s chosen style.

Crystal Palace are interested in a potential move for Leeds United right-back Cody Drameh, according to Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Drameh profiled

The 20-year-old has been on the books with Leeds since 2020. During that time, the full-back has made seven senior appearances at Elland Road, while also enjoying a successful loan spell in the Championship with Cardiff City.

He won the Young Player of the Season award as well as the Player of the Season in south Wales, despite only joining on loan for the second half of the season.

Drameh was hailed as ‘excellent’ by former Cardiff manager Steve Morison, and it looks as if Dougie Freedman and Patrick Vieira are looking at a possible swoop for the Leeds youngster.

The Latest: Palace interested in Drameh

Bailey was speaking to TEAMtalk regarding Drameh, claiming that a new contract with Leeds is looking unlikely. He then added what heh as been ‘told’ regarding multiple interested clubs, which include Palace.

The reporter started: “Drameh has just over 18 months left on his deal, and he knows of the interest in him which is widespread. There are clubs all over who seen Drameh as an option.

“Newcastle, West Ham and Crystal Palace see him as one for the future, whilst there are the likes of Middlesbrough and Norwich in the Championship who I am told also like him.

“However, the 20-year-old does have options abroad – I am told that the options are plentiful and not just Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig but from clubs in France and Italy too.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Palace’s current right-back options are Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne, both of whom are over the age of 30 and out of contract at the end of the season.

Therefore, Freedman and Vieira need to look at the long-term picture when it comes to their right-back ranks, with Drameh potentially the answer.

However, you’d expect that the Eagles may need to guarantee the youngster first-team football relatively quickly, especially with a number of clubs across Europe showing an interest.

Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley has claimed that Newcastle United ace Matt Ritchie will finish his career at the League One club.

The Lowdown: Exit-bound?

It was reported last week that Eddie Howe has personally given the green light for the Scotland international to leave St James’ Park in the January transfer window, and that the Premier League club will listen to offers for him.

The 33-year-old will be available to leave for a cut-price figure, given that his contract on Tyneside expires in the summer.

The Latest: Portsmouth move?

As quoted by Portsmouth-based media outlet The News, Pompey manager Cowley has claimed that he thinks Ritchie will end his career with the Fratton Park club, with talks reportedly underway over a ‘homecoming’ for the Gosport native.

Cowley said: “I’d like him, is that possible? Well, we’d love to have Matt Ritchie. I’m not sure we’d be able to cover his wages coming to Portsmouth, though!

“That said, he loves the club and he’s been to a couple of games with his boys. We’d like him – I think our xG would go up then and there will be no moaning about set-pieces!“I do think he will finish his career at Portsmouth, though.”[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-7/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]The Verdict: Time is upA move to League One club Portsmouth may not be realistic at this moment in time, given Ritchie’s £45,000-per-week salary, but that should not stop Newcastle from trying to get him off the wage bill.Hailed as “incredible” by Howe after there were whispers that the 33-year-old could leave in the summer, the Scotsman has been a faithful servant for the Magpies.He has played 190 games for the club, including 42 in the Championship in the 2016/17 campaign, in which he scored 12 goals and supplied a further eight assists on the way to helping them win promotion back to the Premier League (Transfermarkt).However, Ritchie has only played one minute of top-flight football so far this term and made just two appearances in total (Transfermarkt), suggesting that he has fallen down the pecking order under Howe.Therefore, Newcastle must consider selling him in January, or perhaps to Portsmouth later on in his career.

Celtic’s European dream, or lack of, is finally over as Ange Postecoglou’s men bailed out of the Champions League in torturous fashion.

This has not been a good campaign on the continent for either Scottish club, but the Hoops can at least take comfort that it’s their rivals and not they, who will go down as the worst team in group stage history.

That said, their defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday evening was a battering and one that summed up how Celtic and Rangers have fared in Europe this term; a leaky backline and a lack of goals.

A 5-1 score line was fully merited for the hosts in midweek, with three penalties awarded during the course of the game. One of those was missed by Josip Juranovic but he was among a host of Bhoys who failed to perform in the Spanish capital.

One of the chief among them was Kyogo Furuhashi, who badly let his manager down on the night. The Japanese striker has endured a rough week, perhaps surprisingly being left out of Japan’s World Cup squad and it got no better for him inside the Bernabeu.

He was given a bizarre yellow card for an incident with Real defender Eder Militao while his finishing deserted him again.

So often ruthless in the Premiership, his form in Europe has been decidedly toothless.

He failed to score in the Champions League this term and his only goals in continental action came in the Europa League again with Ferencvaros at the beginning of last term.

For a man with 29 goals in his Hoops career, it is puzzling that he can’t find the extra quality against sterner opposition.

Jota has previously described the Japanese forward’s movement as “world-class” and that it may. His finishing at the elite level, however, is anything but.

As Kyogo toiled and ultimately failed to have an impact in Spain, he managed fewer touches (12) and passes (7) than goalkeeper Joe Hart (31 & 14).

Typically for the competition, he missed a gilt-edged chance he should have scored too.

It was an all-round poor evening for the forward who also lost 100% of his physical duels throughout his 62 minutes of the contest.

Kyogo has largely been excellent in Celtic colours but there is now a feeling that if they are to ever go deeper in Europe’s elite competition, they will need someone better, someone with a meaner streak inside the opposition’s half.

Giorgos Giakoumakis has already achieved something his Japanese colleague hasn’t, a goal in the aforementioned competition, so perhaps he is where they need to turn to in the future.

Derby County could consider making a loan move to sign Norwich City striker Adam Idah, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Idah profiled

The Irishman has worked his way up through the ranks at Carrow Road but has recently found game-time hard to come by after sustaining a knee injury which brought his 2021/22 season to a premature end.

The 21-year-old has since had surgery to rectify his problem, but after only making one substitute appearance for the Canaries in the Championship this term, he could now be set for a temporary switch to League One.

The Latest: Derby eyeing Idah

According to The Sun late on Saturday night, Norwich ‘may send’ Idah out on loan in January, with his progress under Dean Smith having been ‘stalled’ as a result of his injury.

The Rams have been name-checked as a potential suitor, with manager Paul Warne a ‘fan’ of the forward having previously tried to sign him at Rotherham, meaning that the 49-year-old could ‘go in again’.

The Verdict: Match made in heaven

Whilst Idah has endured a serious lack of minutes at Carrow Road, his finishing has been dubbed ‘sublime’ by journalist Josh Bunting, so this would appear to be a match made in heaven.

The 6 foot 3 marksman has scored eight goals and provided two assists during his time at Norwich, and with the League One outfit in dire need of extra attacking reinforcements – scoring fewer goals than bottom club Burton Albion – he would seem to be a perfect fit for Warne’s team.

Derby would likely be able to offer Idah the game-time that he requires, so this is a move which should suit both parties.