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Manchester United have reportedly made Tottenham striker Harry Kane their main attacking target to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Lowdown: Ronaldo gone

The Red Devils officially confirmed Ronaldo’s exit on Tuesday evening following his uncensored interview with Piers Morgan.

The 37-year-old and United reached a mutual agreement to go their separate ways, with Fabrizio Romano claiming it will save the club £17m in wages.

Romano also added that United chiefs ‘are now already exploring the market to find a solution in January’, however, it looks as if Kane could be their top target.

The Latest: Kane update

One Spanish outlet shared a story regarding United’s attacking targets after Ronaldo’s departure. They claimed that Kane, currently at the World Cup with England, ‘is the main desire’ at Old Trafford and would fit into Erik ten Hag’s system.

The report adds that everything will depend on his contract situation in the summer, where he could be entering the final 12 months of his Spurs deal and may open up the chance for United to make their move.

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The Verdict: Tricky…

United could do with adding to their centre-forward ranks in the New Year as a result of Ronaldo’s departure, however, you’d say that a move for Kane in January is unlikely.

Therefore, the club may find themselves in a tricky situation ahead of the second half of the season, where they will still be playing in four competitions.

Kane, labelled as ‘unplayable’ by verified writer Luke Thrower has scored 328 senior goals for club and country and could be the perfect signing at Old Trafford, but they may have to roll the dice and hope they can get a deal over the line in the summer.

Leeds United have scouted Ecuador attacker Gonzalo Plata ahead of a potential future move, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Summer links

Now at Real Valladolid, Plata – who shares the same agency as Leeds ace Luis Sinisterra – has been on the Elland Road radar for some time.

The Whites were thought to be readying an offer for the left-footed winger during the summer. As we know, a transfer failed to materialise, although Leeds have maintained their interest.

Plata played every minute of action for Ecuador at the World Cup in Qatar but will now be on the way home after his country exited at the group stage.

The Latest: Jacobs’ comments

Jacobs was speaking to GiveMeSport regarding Plata and Leeds, declaring that the Yorkshire outfit have scouted the attacker and their interest has not gone away.

He outlined: “Leeds are one club that have scouted him and have kept him on a longer-term radar. They have done that since last season, when he was still a loanee, but chose not to move.

“Part of the reason for that is because he wasn’t playing in La Liga at that point and the goalscoring form hasn’t translated into the top division in Spain as far as he’s concerned.

“That’s going to be one to watch because it’s one thing, last season, having that goalscoring run, which is very valuable as a winger. Anybody that can add assists, goals and has his pace is obviously going to be on the radar, but Real Valladolid are in La Liga this season and it’s been a step up.

“I think, therefore, it’s a wait and see mentality as far as a club like Leeds are concerned and they’re not the only one as well.”

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The Verdict: Needed?

Plata is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left, so you could argue that Leeds need additions in other areas.

A new left-back and centre-forward appear to be positions that the Whites need to bolster, with both Junior Firpo and Patrick Bamford struggling for form and fitness during 2022.

The emergence of Crysencio Summerville has handed Jesse Marsch another solid option out wide, so a move for Plata may not be required at this moment in time.

Sunderland return to Championship action a week ahead of schedule on Saturday afternoon as they take on Millwall at the Stadium of Light.

Tony Mowbray’s side agreed to rearrange the game against Millwall for a week before the rest of the second tier returns to action after it was initially suspended due to the Queen’s death.

The Black Cats looked good in their 2-1 win against Birmingham City ahead of the World Cup break and have welcomed back some key players during the break, so will be confident of three points against Gary Rowett’s side.

However, the Lions also enjoyed some good form in the build-up to the break and currently occupy a playoff spot in the Championship, so it won’t be an easy game for Mowbray’s side.

Here is how Football FanCast expects Sunderland to line up on Saturday, with three changes from the team that started in the win over Birmingham.

Anthony Patterson has been very impressive for the Black Cats so far this season and looks unlikely to lose his place in between the sticks.

Luke O’Nien missed the game at St Andrew’s through suspension so he looks likely to return in place of the inexperienced Trai Hume at right-back.

Bailey Wright is still at the World Cup with Australia after they earned a surprising spot in the knockout stages, so the 21-year-old “monster” Ajibola Alese replaces him at centre-back.

The former West Ham man starts alongside Danny Batth, while Dennis Cirkin keeps his place at left-back to complete the back four.

Jack Clarke and Amad Diallo have both impressed in recent fixtures, so they keep their places on the wing, while Corry Evans and Dan Neil continue their partnership in the middle.

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The final change comes in attack, as Ross Stewart earns a start after recovering from injury, and he replaces Alex Pritchard in the hope that he and Ellis Simms can rediscover the form they showed together earlier in the season.

West Ham have also mapped out a further transfer plan for January as manager David Moyes ‘closes in’ on Sao Paulo defender Luizao.

The Lowdown: Moyes in trouble…

Despite a summer of heavy spending, the Hammers find themselves in real Premier League danger with only Everton, Nottingham Forest and Southampton scoring fewer goals.

West Ham linger just one point above the drop zone as we approach the second half of 2022/2023 – something which certainly will not please the east London board after their significant investment in the squad.

As a result, Moyes is under real pressure to turn things around and January presents an opportunity to strengthen his options.

The Latest: West Ham map out attacking transfer plan…

According to reliable reporter Jack Rosser, formerly of The Evening Standard, West Ham have mapped out a further transfer plan for January as Moyes also ‘closes in’ and looks to ‘secure a deal’ for Luizao.

Writing for The Sun, Rosser claims both Moyes and the Irons are now looking at adding ‘one or two forwards’ after Luizao as they seek to reinforce West Ham’s attacking options.

The London Stadium side apparently want to seal an agreement for an out and out striker mid-season amid their goalscoring woes.

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The Verdict: Much needed…

As highlighted by their concerning numbers in front of goal, a further injection of final third quality is badly needed by Moyes before he edges closer to the chopping block.

Sacking the Scotsman would be a real shame considering just how much he has arguably overachieved with this side, having sealed back-t0-back European campaigns for West Ham since the beginning of 2020/2021.

Perhaps the board needs to give Moyes more time, and more backing, to truly realise the potential of this squad under the former Everton manager.

Arsenal are reportedly poised to make a final surging assault on Leicester City’s transfer department with the aspiration of ensnaring Youri Tielemans and bringing him to the Emirates Stadium.

What’s the word?

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has held an interest in Tielemans for a considerable amount of time, with previous reports from Spain (via Sport Witness) claiming Arsenal have always been leading the chase, despite involvement from FC Barcelona. 

And now, The Mirror are reporting that Arsenal technical director Edu is targeting a final push this winter to emerge with their man, who will be free to negotiate with other clubs in January, with his contract with Leicester expiring in June. 

With CaughtOffside also exclusively claiming that the Gunners are cautiously optimistic that a deal can be struck before the final hour having agreed personal terms with the player, all the signs seem to be pointing in one direction and one direction only; the Emirates Stadium. 

Forget Danilo

With the also club eyeing the likes of Palmeiras’ young prospect Danilo, it seems ludicrous to fork out a similar sum on an untested talent of the same ilk when a world-class star, who can flourish at the club for years to come, can be placed into the team and contribute towards the fight across the domestic and continental front instantly.

Given the Foxes’ struggles this term, and the fact that Tielemans will know he fights for a team he will likely not be playing for in a matter of time, it is remarkable that his level of performance has remained so high.

As per Transfermarkt, the 25-year-old Belgian ace has played 15 Premier League games this season, scoring three times and assisting once, playing a vital role in the lift from their languishing spot and climbing the table with a string of great performances before the season paused for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

As per Sofascore, the 58-cap ace holds a rating of 7.21 in the Premier League this season, completing 86% of his passes and creating five big chances for his teammates, while also making 2.3 tackles per match and recording 0.8 interceptions. 

And having won the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield during his time with City, indeed scoring a resounding goal in the final of the FA Cup against Chelsea, the “phenomenon” – as dubbed by former Swedish player Par Zetterberg – is well worth the interest being taken in his name. 

FBref highlights further metrics to increase the hype in his name, notably from a defensive standpoint, ranking him within the top 17% for tackles and 16% for blocks when compared to midfielders across Europe’s big five leagues this past year. 

With Gunners boss Mikel Arteta observing the player with great interest, it feels that a deal will swiftly be struck, and at just £25m – due to the little time left on his contract – Arsenal must cut their losses and plunge headfirst for a player who can lift them from the ground. Indeed, in that regard, he is a far better option for Edu than his compatriot, Danilo.

Mikel Arteta will surely be looking at strengthening Arsenal’s attacking options when the January transfer window opens next month.

This is a main priority for the Spaniard, especially considering that summer arrival Gabriel Jesus looks set to face three months out after suffering an injury while representing Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar.

The need for another striker is paramount, especially if the Gunners want to claim their first Premier League title since 2004, and journalist Pete O’Rourke believes that Arteta can find the “answer” by signing Atletico Madrid striker Matheus Cunha.

Speaking to Football FanCast, O’Rourke said: “As I said, he’s a proven player. It just hasn’t worked out for him at Atletico Madrid. So I think if Mikel Arteta does need a stopgap replacement for Gabriel Jesus, then Matheus Cunha can be the right answer.”

Arsenal have been recently linked with the £22m Brazilian striker, and with the 23-year-old finding game-time hard to come by this season in the Spanish capital, a January move could very much be possible.

Cunha has played just 17 times across all competitions this term, starting only twice and accruing a total of 510 minutes on the pitch without scoring, and this form arguably cost the player his place in the Brazil squad for the World Cup.

However, the £50k-per-week hitman does rank in the top 25% for a variety of metrics compared to positional peers throughout Europe’s top five leagues, and these include total shots, shot-creating actions, assists, and dribbles completed. This suggests that, despite not being successful in front of goal, he can still contribute effectively.

Defensively, Cunha ranks in the top 5% of positional peers for tackles, blocks and interceptions. This could be another major benefit for Arteta in having someone who can lead the line but also get stuck in with some dirty work when required.

With Jesus ruled out for the foreseeable, that leaves Eddie Nketiah as the only natural senior striker at the Emirates Stadium. The academy graduate ranks a lowly 18th in the Gunners’ squad by WhoScored with just 6.20, which suggests that he would not be an adequate alternative to his stricken team-mate.

Dubbed “extraordinary” by his former coach Paolo Tramezzani, Cunha appears to have the full package, and with Arteta urgently needing a replacement for Jesus, a January move would potentially work out well for all parties.

Wolves are worrying Serie A giants Inter Milan as they target Racing Club midfielder Carlos Alcaraz, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Lopetegui set for backing…

The Old Gold, in their fight for Premier League survival, have made an exciting appointment in former Sevilla boss and Europa League winner Julen Lopetegui.

As they close in on a deal for Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha, reports have also suggested that Wolves owners Fosun International are set to back Lopetegui further.

The Times have even claimed that discussions have been held with up to 15 players ahead of the looming January transfer window.

The Latest: Wolves worry Inter…

As per Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Wolves are also targeting a move for exciting young Argentine midfielder Alcaraz.

Inter, who are also firm admirers of the player, are hesitant to make an immediate move and are wary that Lopetegui’s side are well and truly in contention.

As such, they are hoping Alcaraz can ‘resist the courtship’ of Wolves and FC Porto – with the report adding he is available for just £13 million.

The Verdict: Make the move?

The 19-year-old has been praised by sections of South American media as he stands out as another very promising prospect across the Atlantic.

DAZN reporter Àlex de Llano, for instance, claims Alcaraz’s movements are ‘gold’ for Racing and has heaped praise on the teenager’s dynamism.

For just £13m, it’s a fairly reasonable move financially, but if Wolves can wait until the summer, that would be ideal.

January represents a need for experienced senior figureheads who can come in and make an immediate impact in Lopetegui’s bid to avoid the drop.

Glasgow Rangers return to action in the Scottish Premiership tonight as they host Motherwell with the aim of continuing Michael Beale’s 100% start to life at the club.

The Englishman has won all three of his competitive matches in charge of the Light Blues since taking over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst and has a chance to extend that run this evening.

Beale’s team beat Ross County 1-0 last time out as John Lundstram’s early strike from distance ended up being enough to secure all three points.

How many changes will the head coach make to his side from that game?

Here is our predicted XI…

We are predicting that Beale will make four alterations to the starting line-up by bringing King, Jack, Matondo and Colak back into the fold.

Ahead of this match, Beale stated that he needs to be “careful” with Goldson and Ben Davies after they returned from injury lay-offs and that could mean that one of them is given a rest to avoid a reoccurrence of their issues.

This could open the door for academy graduate King, who was once described as a “big Rolls-Royce” by former Gers defender Allan Hutton, to come in for Davies at the heart of the defence. The youngster has started seven matches in the division this season and has shown, with an average Sofascore rating of 6.84, that he is a reliable performer.

In midfield, Jack and Matondo could replace Glen Kamara and Malik Tillman to freshen the side up amid a busy festive period for the Light Blues.

FFC published an article explaining why the Welsh international should be given an opportunity to play. Jack, meanwhile, is a steady customer who can dictate the tempo in midfield, with his average Sofascore rating of 6.90 and 89% pass accuracy showing that he can be trusted to retain the ball and put in solid displays in the middle of the park.

Finally, we are predicting that Colak will replace Sakala at the top end of the pitch to provide the side with an additional goal threat after scraping past Ross County.

The Croatian striker is fit to play after missing Beale’s first three matches in charge and his 11 goals in 14 league matches this season indicates that he could have a big impact in the game tonight.

Scottish champions Celtic maintained their nine-point advantage at the top of the table following a hard-fought draw with bitter rivals Rangers at Ibrox on Monday afternoon, with the Hoops reliant on a late Kyogo Furuhashi strike to bail them out of trouble.

The Parkhead giants had gone into the clash on a 12-game winning run in the Scottish Premiership and it looked to be more of the same as the visitors raced into an early lead against Michael Beale’s men, with the lively Daizen Maeda capitalising on Alfredo Morelos’ errant pass to ruthlessly fire his side ahead.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were unable to build on that advantage, however, as the momentum quickly shifted in the latter stages of the opening period, with experienced goalkeeper Joe Hart notably almost playing the league leaders into trouble after dithering on the ball inside his own box.

The Light Blues’ pressure would then pay off just after the break as Ryan Kent curled in in fine fashion, before James Tavernier lashed home from the penalty spot following Carl Starfelt’s rash, sliding challenge on Fashion Sakala.

The Swedish centre-back would see his blushes spared as Kyogo fired in with just minutes to play – as the Bhoys avoid handing any sort of lifeline to their Glasgow foes in the title race – although it still represented a grim outing for the 27-year-old.

The former Rubin Kazan man – who has previously been described as “clumsy” by pundit John Hartson – appeared particularly shaky in the second half as Postecoglou’s men were under the cosh, having looked ‘rattled’ at times, as per Glasgow Live’s Matthew Fulton.

The five-cap brute endured a ‘torrid’ time of it after the interval, according to Football Scotland’s Ryan McDonald, having simply been unable to live with the relentless pace of Sakala alongside makeshift left-back Josip Juranovic.

While the Stockholm-born centre-back did win six of his nine aerial duels and record seven clearances on the day, he was particularly wasteful in possession after losing the ball on ten occasions from his 103 touches, having also committed four fouls as a marker of his struggles.

Equally, the £19k-per-week dud also won just one of his five ground duels and achieved a rather limp match rating of just 6.8, as per Sofascore, having been perhaps fortunate not to see his penalty error prove costly.

A typically solid presence so far this term – having averaged a 7.28 match rating in the top-flight – it was simply was ‘not his best day at the office’, in the words of the aforementioned McDonald.

Such an underwhelming display may well have given hope to the likes of Moritz Jenz and Yuki Kobayashi of dislodging Starfelt as Cameron Carter-Vickers’ long-term partner in the backline.

Chelsea are ‘charging’ towards the signing of Borussia Monchengladbach and France striker Marcus Thuram, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Thuram a big talent

The 25-year-old’s reputation has been enhanced in recent times, having produced some impressive performances for his country at the 2022 World Cup.

Thuram chipped in with two assists in Qatar, despite all five of his appearances coming from the substitutes’ bench, and he has also scored 10 goals in 15 Bundesliga matches this season.

The Frenchman has been linked with a move to a number of Premier League clubs recently, and it now looks as though Chelsea could enter the race.

The Latest: Chelsea in the mix

According to Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], the Blues are ‘charging’ to sign Thuram this month and are currently ‘very hot’ on his trail.

Todd Boehly is ready to ‘splurge’ money in the January transfer window, and the Monchengladbach star is seen as a primary target currently.

The Verdict: Ideal Blues signing

Thuram could be exactly what Chelsea’s attack needs at the moment, given the fact that he is a central striker who is in goalscoring form.

No Chelsea player, let alone attacker, has more than four goals in the Premier League at the moment, and so they need someone to come in and make an instant impact.

Lauded as ‘world class’ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, and ‘a little crazy‘ by former team-mate and now Chelsea midfielder Denis Zakaria, Thuram ranks in the top 4% for non-penalty xG, top 6% for dribbles completed and top 8% for shots of all strikers in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year (FBRef).

With his contract up in June, Chelsea could even sign Thuram for a cut-price.