All posts by h716a5.icu

Sunderland are among a number of clubs interested in making a move for Aston Villa youngster Cameron Archer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Archer struggling for playing time

The 20-year-old is a hot young prospect at Villa Park, but having been loaned out to Championship side Preston last season, the 2022/23 campaign has been tougher for him.

Archer remained at Villa beyond the summer but he has only managed six appearances in the Premier League, all of which have come as a substitute and amounting to just 44 minutes.

For that reason, a move away could make sense, and a fresh update suggests that he could depart the Midlands temporarily.

The Latest: Sunderland keen on Archer

According to Football Insider, Sunderland are among a ‘number of Championship clubs’ to have enquired about a move for Archer in the January transfer window.

A loan move for the second half of the season appeals to the team in question, with the Villa youngster netting seven times in 20 outings for Preston.

The Verdict: Good for his development

A loan move between January and May makes complete sense for all parties, allowing Archer to enjoy the regular first-team action which proved so beneficial last season.

It is difficult to see him getting many opportunities at Villa in the coming months as Unai Emery looks to make his mark at the club, so giving him game-time elsewhere would be a better option.

That’s not to say that Archer can’t have a long-term future with the Villans, though – he has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Preston manager Ryan Lowe – and another impressive loan spell should only enhance his reputation.

Aston Villa may have to wait until the summer transfer window before making a move for Ismaila Sarr.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Ed Aarons, with The Guardian journalist revealing in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that, despite Birmingham Live’s Ashley Preece recently stating that the Watford forward remains a target for Johan Lange in the January transfer window, Villa may now have to wait until the end of the current campaign to make a move for the 24-year-old.

Regarding the Premier League side’s interest in the Senegal international, Aarons said: “The premium of World Cup performances and scoring is going to result in Watford wanting a bit more money, I think. He may be one that they have to wait until the summer for – when he’s got just a year left on his contract.”

“Absolutely unreal”

While Aarons’ claim does not appear to be wide of the mark – with it being reported that Watford are demanding a figure in the region of £45m to part with Sarr this winter, £15m more than the £30m asking price quoted last summer – considering just how impressive the winger has been this season, it would still appear wise for Lange to make a move in January.

Indeed, over his 17 Championship appearances in the current campaign, the £19m-rated talent has been in fine form for the Hornets, having already bagged six goals, registered four assists and created two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.1 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 1.2 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £63k-per-week flanker average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 6.95, currently ranking him as Watford’s eighth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

However, it was undoubtedly the 24-year-old’s performances at the World Cup that have captured the most attention in the current campaign, with the player who ex-teammate, goalkeeper Ben Foster, dubbed a “freak” having been one of Senegal’s star players in the Lions of Teranga’s run to the round of 16 in Qatar.

Indeed, over his four appearances in the competition, the trickster bagged one goal, as well as took an average of 2.8 shots, made 1.5 key passes and completed 2.3 dribbles – the same number as Argentina’s Lionel Messi – per game, in addition to making an average of one tackle, 0.5 interceptions and winning 9.5 duels – at a success rate of 66% – per match.

These returns saw the player who Luke Thrower labelled “absolutely unreal” average a remarkable Sofascore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Senegal’s joint-best performer in the biggest competition in world football.

As such, with Unai Emery reported to be eager to sign a new wide forward in the January transfer window, it would very much appear as if Sarr would be worth paying a premium for in order to secure his services ahead of the second half of the Premier League season, as the World Cup star would represent an unreal addition to Villa’s current attacking arsenal.

West Ham have been credited with an interest in Marseille midfielder Gerson recently and the Brazilian could be David Moyes’ own version of Newcastle United sensation Miguel Almiron.

The Hammers have been linked with the 25-year-old recently and considering he has played just 541 minutes of football so far this season for Marseille, he could be available in January for a fee of around €20m (£17m).

It is something of a surprise that the Brazilian has featured so little recently, as he has an impressive return of 13 goals and ten assists in just 61 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, meaning he has contributed a goal or an assist every three games he has played.

However, he provides far more than just goals and assists and admitted himself that he feels able to influence the game in other ways.

He said: “I only played to score goals or provide assists, but I realised I could influence the game even without the ball and I’m glad: I feel much more complete now.”

Should Gerson arrive at the London Stadium in January, he could emulate Newcastle’s Almiron, who has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League so far this campaign, contributing eight goals and one assist in 15 top-flight appearances for Eddie Howe’s side.

According to FBRef, the Paraguayan is the second most similar player to Gerson when compared to other attacking midfielders across Europe’s top leagues.

The duo have registered extremely similar numbers with regard to goals per shot (both 0.22), aerial duels won (both 57.1%) and fouls drawn (16 vs 13). That final statistic in particular is extremely useful with the pair clearly canny operators capable of drawing opponents close to them.

WhoScored also suggests that both Gerson and Almiron excel at holding onto the ball – a fact evidenced by the number of fouls drawn. They’re also both good at finishing and long shots, while they both like to play short passes rather than going long.

Therefore, considering how impressive Almiron has been in the Premier League so far this season, Moyes would surely be foolish to turn down a player so similar, especially with West Ham’s current attackers toiling in front of goal.

The Scottish manager should definitely be looking to bring Gerson, who earns £66k-per-week at Marseille, to the London Stadium next month.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been an admirer of Chelsea and USA winger Christian Pulisic for some time, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: A huge blow

After adapting to Anfield life in swift fashion, Luis Diaz asserted himself as a reliable starter for Klopp and was on track to register a season of prosperous attacking returns, having grabbed three goals and two assists from his first eight Premier League showings of this season.

Having already missed 13 games for the Reds however, his knee injury struggles are ongoing, with a further injury setback described by Klopp as a “proper smash in the face.”

The 25-year-old’s absence actually coincided with Liverpool’s downwards spiral before the international break, with Diaz vital in acting as a trigger for the forward line to press. 

The Colombian is key to Klopp’s system and is sorely missed, and it sounds like the manager may have his eye on a replacement.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-35/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Pulisic an option

Amidst this latest setback, Pulisic has been mentioned as a potential option to fill the Diaz-shaped hole at Liverpool. 

And whilst transfer expert Jones feels that the USA captain will be difficult to get through the door, he does confirm that Klopp is personally a huge fan of the player.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: “The ideal candidate in this situation would probably be Pulisic, someone Klopp has admired for a long time, but I just can’t see that opening up in a way that suits them.”

The Verdict: A great option

Trust in a player is a non-negotiable for a manager, yet few in London have seemed to trust 24-year-old Pulisic with a starting role in the side. 

The £58million star’s best spell at Stamford Bridge came under the tutelage of Frank Lampard, with his haul of nine goals and four assists from 25 games in his debut Premier League season providing an abundance of hope in regards to his potential. 

Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo said last year that the American is the hardest opposition he has faced, but fast forward to this season and things have continued their decline to the point where game time is almost impossible to come by. The number-10-wearing star has made just three starts under Graham Potter and is surely desperate for a change of scenery. 

He could achieve just that at Liverpool under Klopp, where he would no doubt shine, given his identity as a versatile forward, the exact type of player Klopp has a reputation for getting the best out of.

This is a move that would suit both parties down to a tee, so Liverpool should be monitoring this one closely amidst their latest setback with Diaz.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been dealt a huge blow in their bid to bring Matheus Cunha to Molineux in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Evening Standard, who claim that, despite Wolves having been heavily linked with a move for the Atletico Madrid centre-forward in recent weeks, the LaLiga side have now offered Chelsea the opportunity to sign the 23-year-old this winter following the loss of Armando Broja to a serious knee injury.

This is sure to have come as a huge blow to Julen Lopetegui, with The Athletic reporting earlier this month that the Old Gold were initially leading the race to sign the 23-year-old this winter – something that would now appear to be in considerable doubt following the potential interest of the Blues.

Bad news for Wolves

Considering just how talented a forward Cunha undoubtedly is, coupled with the fact that Wolves are currently the Premier League side who have scored the least goals this season, the news that Chelsea now look to have entered the race for the striker’s signature this winter is certainly bad news for Lopetegui and his side.

Indeed, despite an underwhelming spell at Atleti – scoring seven goals and providing eight assists over his 54 fixtures for the LaLiga side – the £26m-rated talent proved in his first campaign with Hertha BSC back in 2019/20 just how deadly he can be in the final third, scoring five goals and registering a further two assists over his 11 Bundesliga appearances that season.

The £49k-per-week forward once again caught the eye over his 27 league outings the following season, bagging seven goals, providing five assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.3 shots – 1.3 of which hit the target – making 1.8 key passes and completing 3.0 dribbles – the joint second-most in the division – per game.

These returns saw the player who Bruno Labbadia dubbed “special” average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.15, not only ranking him as Hertha’s best performer in the league but also as the joint 26th-best player in the Bundesliga as a whole in 2020/21.

As such, should Lopetegui believe that he can be the manager to help Cunha rediscover his Hertha form, it is undeniable that the Brazilian would make an exceptional addition to Wolves’ current options up top ahead of the second half of the Premier League campaign.

However, following the news that Chelsea – who can offer the Brazilian Champions League football, as well as a considerably bigger salary – could now be interested in the centre-forward, it would appear as if Wolves’ chances of landing the 23-year-old have been dealt a significant blow, which is indeed terrible news for the Spanish manager.

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on a January transfer for Stade Rennais’ Martin Terrier, who is considered to be one of Ligue 1’s most prolific forwards. 

United are making progress under Erik ten Hag, albeit not the finished article, and there is an overarching feeling within the club that a continuation of newfound cohesion and a further calculated signing could lift the club to the upper echelon of European outfits.

There is still work to be done, and the rancorous exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, terminating his contract after an impassioned interview with Piers Morgan, has left a hole in the offensive third.

And now, according to Media Foot, Ten Hag has been in contact with the player’s representatives, with the club delving into the possibility of striking a reported £34m deal.

He’s “a-la Thierry Henry”

The Red Devils, after finishing sixth in the Premier League last term, have made a promising start to life under their Dutch manager and sit in fifth place after 15 matches, just one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and with a game in hand.

A talisman would certainly go a long way, and while the Theatre of Dreams is host to offensive prowess aplenty, there is something missing, something that could boost the ascension back to a place at the very front of the pack.

Terrier has been in fine form this season, scoring 11 goals and serving four assists from just 20 appearances, including three in six in the Europa League.

And last year in Ligue 1, the 25-year-old’s 21 strikes were bettered only by Wissam Ben Yedder and the imperious Kylian Mbappe. 

There is a clear indication that the gem would arrive at Old Trafford with an abundance of goals in tow, slotting into the fold without seam. 

With his dynamism allowing him to flourish both as a central striker and as an inside forward, cutting in from the left flank, Terrier bears eye-catching semblance to one Thierry Henry, whose 228 goals and 103 in 376 appearances for Arsenal sit in tandem with two Premier League trophies and three FA Cup’s – left his iconic status etched perpetually into English footballing lore.

Illustrating the similarity between the two players, European football writer Tim Williams once said this:  

“He’s a very quick, left-sided right-footed attacking player whose trademark is coming in off the left flank and whipping shots in, a-la Thierry Henry.

“Looking at his age and the phenomenal season he had last season, he will probably think that if he is ever going to make a big move to the Premier League, it’s probably going to be now or never.”

United’s prolonged intrigue in the player also bodes well for the prospect of an eventual bid, with 90min reporting in early November that the outfit had sent scouts to observe his match performance.

Time will tell whether a move comes to fruition, but with such sustained stellar showings, Terrier would certainly be a boost to an ambitious United side’s exploits.

Therefore, Old Trafford chief John Murtough must look to sign the Frenchman when the transfer window reopens for business on January 1st.

Arsenal’s resurgence this season could see them secure their first Premier League title in 19 years and if they keep up their excellent domestic form, it could be a reality in the coming months.

Mikel Arteta has totally transformed the ethos of the club, and this season has seen them combine free-flowing football to produce dominant victories, to winning even if they are slightly below par and this is the mark of champions.

With the chance for glory in their grasp, Arteta will leave no stone unturned and this means he should be doing everything he can to lure Joao Felix to the North London side next month.

Felix can be Arteta’s dream signing

LaLiga side Atletico Madrid have valued the forward at northwards of €100m (£86m) according to Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness) and even though this is a massive sum to pay, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed that Arsenal have the edge when it comes to signing Felix, as he spoke to Football FanCast recently:

“There’s a lot of interest in Joao Felix, who does seem like he will be leaving Atletico Madrid in this window and I’m sure the chance to move to Arsenal and the chance to possibly win the Premier League title and also an opportunity to move to London is very attractive to a lot of foreign players as well.

“So yes, if Arsenal do follow up on their interest in Felix, they probably have an advantage over some of their other rivals.”

With the news that Gabriel Jesus is out of action for around three months following an injury sustained at the World Cup, Arteta needs a forward, and Felix is more than capable of leading the line due to his versatile nature.

During his time with Atletico, he has scored nine goals and registered six assists playing as a centre-forward, proving that he has the qualities to thrive in the role for Arteta, even for a brief time period until Jesus was back fit.

Renato Paiva, Felix’s former youth coach at Benfica, sang his praises, saying: “He has enormous football intelligence. He reads situations really quickly. Obviously, a player has to have the quality to be at Benfica in the first place but he had something extra – creativity, a little bit of magic.

“He read the game with great lucidity and matched that with the speed and quality of his execution. His understanding of the game was miles ahead of that of his teammates.”

The 23-year-old has limitless talent, however, for whatever reason, it hasn’t quite worked out for him under Diego Simeone.

Arteta could unshackle the player and give him more freedom to exploit his creative abilities, and with the chance to win the league title, a move is certainly an attractive option that he may not be able to turn down.

West Ham United are now the ‘favourites’ to sign Everton defender Michael Keane, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: West Ham’s Keane interest

Writing for the Athletic, journalist Roshane Thomas detailed that Keane could be an option on loan for West Ham in January, in light of Craig Dawson’s potential departure, as he aims to move further north to be near his family in Cheshire.

That came after the Hammers registered their interest in bringing the centre-back to the London Stadium back in November, with journalist Dean Jones later claiming that they had ‘considered’ a move for him.

Now, it has transpired that the Hammers are leading the race for his signature…

The Latest: Brown’s update

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Brown claimed that Keane has made his mind up about leaving Everton, with West Ham currently the most likely destination:

“I just think everyone knows that because he’s not getting a game really for Everton, that he could be on the market.

“I think Michael Keane’s decided that he’s going to have to move to get more football, so I think he’s going to go somewhere and West Ham, I would say, are favourites at the moment.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-uodates/” title=”West Ham latest updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-david-moyes-premier-league-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Get it done?

While the Englishman would admittedly not be the most exciting signing for West Ham fans, he is a proven defender in the top tier, who would be a useful option for David Moyes to have for the remainder of the season.

Last season, journalist David Prentice described the former Burnley man as being ‘immense’, a campaign in which he made more than 30 Premier League appearances for the sixth consecutive season, while he was also ranked by SofaScore as the Toffees’ best defender.

The colossus is dominant in the air, averaging 3.01 aerials won per 90, in the 91st percentile compared to his positional peers, and it would be a shrewd bit of business if Moyes managed to bring him to the club in January.

Rumoured Manchester United transfer target Marcus Thuram wants a move to the Premier League, according to an update from Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Thuram linked with Man Utd

Erik ten Hag is looking to secure attacking reinforcements during the January transfer window, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s abrupt departure leaving something of a void at centre-forward.

Thuram has been linked with a move to United this month, having scored 10 goals in just 15 Bundesliga appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach in the current campaign.

The 25-year-old also registered two assists for France at the 2022 World Cup, including one in the penalty shoot-out defeat to Argentina in the final.

The Latest: Romano drops Thuram update

Writing in his Substack column [via Caught Offside], Romano provided an update on the situation, suggesting that Thuram prefers the idea of moving to England.

The Italian stated:

“The Premier League is a priority for Marcus Thuram, for sure. Inter Milan are interested. I’m told it’s too early to decide.

“Thuram will take his time because being a free agent in June means it’s a big opportunity for him and it can change at any time.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news-9/” title=”Latest Man Utd news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Strong central option

United are crying out for a central attacking option this month, with Anthony Martial their only senior striker, and Thuram could be just the man to sort that issue, potentially thriving as the number nine in between Antony and Marcus Rashford.

The Frenchman has shown that he can excel in a top European league – only Christopher Nkunku has scored more in the Bundesliga this season – and his former team-mate Denis Zakaria has hailed him as a ‘phenomenal’ player.

Granted, Thuram may not yet be a world-class player who is guaranteed to excel at United, but he possesses the goal threat, pace and power to add a huge injection of quality to Ten Hag’s attack.

Newcastle United remain interested in a deal to bring Goncalo Inacio to the Premier League in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Portuguese publication O Jogo (via Sport Witness), who claim that, after reportedly seeing a €33m (£29.5m) offer turned down by Sporting Lisbon in the summer transfer window, Eddie Howe has retained his interest in the 21-year-old centre-back – and could launch a fresh move for the Portugal U21 international next summer.

However, the report goes on to suggest that the Magpies are not alone in their pursuit of the defender, with Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Paris Saint-Germain keeping an eye on the situation of Inacio – who Sporting are now ‘prepared to lose’ at the end of the current campaign, with the club hoping to receive the player’s €45m (£40m) release clause.

Dias 2.0

Considering just how impressive Inacio has been for Sporting in recent seasons, coupled with the exponential scope the 21-year-old has for future development, it is easy to see why Howe would once again be interested in a deal to bring the centre-back to St. James’ Park at the end of the current campaign.

Indeed, over his 14 Liga Portugal fixtures so far this season, the £20.5m-rated talent has been a rock at the heart of Ruben Amorim’s backline, helping his side keep three clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.4 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, 2.1 clearances and winning 4.1 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per game.

The £17k-per-week defender has also impressed going forwards, providing one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.6 shots, making 0.5 key passes, playing 4.2 long balls and completing 74.1 passes – at a success rate of 90% – per match.

These returns have seen the Sporting starlet who journalist Zach Lowy once dubbed “underrated” average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 6.92, currently ranking him as the Leoes’ 11th-best performer in the top flight of Portuguese football.

Furthermore, with Inacio quite clearly being a defender who is extremely solid at the back, a threat in the final third and incredibly comfortable with the ball at his feet, it is not difficult to see why Portuguese football expert Daniel Oliviera compared the 21-year-old to Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias, with Oliviera stating in an interview with Playmaker last year:

“Dias was always a natural leader and Inacio’s communication may be one area in which he can improve. Physically speaking, I believe the young Sporting defender would be able to handle the Premier League, as he is very strong in the tackle and in the air.

“He’s also smart in his defending, as just two bookings all season will tell you. In terms of his quality on the ball, I would probably rate Inacio higher than Dias – he’s very good on the deck and has a 91% pass completion rate in the Primeira Liga this term.

“Like I say, it’s hard to make comparisons. I’m 100% sure about one thing: the 20-year-old Inacio is a better player than Ruben Dias was at the same age.”

As such, should Howe go on to get a deal over the line for Inacio next summer, not only would the 45-year-old manager have landed an extremely talented young defender, but he could also have unearthed Newcastle’s very own version of the £98m-rated City star – something that is sure to be an extremely tantalising prospect for everyone involved with the Magpies.