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Leeds United have suffered a major blow in their pursuit of Brenden Aaronson…

What’s the word?

After having an initial £15m bid knocked back by RB Salzburg earlier this week, it appears as if the Austrian Bundesliga champions have told the Yorkshire outfit that their star midfielder is absolutely not for sale this month.

That is according to 90min, who claim a club spokesman has told the website that the 21-year-old is not leaving the Red Bull Arena anytime soon.

Perhaps that is hardly a surprise given their involvement in the Champions League knockout stages, where they will face German giants Bayern Munich later this month.

Gutting blow for Bielsa

This will come as hugely gutting news to Marcelo Bielsa, who is said to hugely admire a player of Aaronson’s quality and potential.

He is not only thought to be Leeds’ only target during the January transfer window but also one that the Argentinian head coach has personally demanded.

“So, Brenden Aaronson’s the one Leeds United want. The top and only target right now. Another offer will go in,” revealed LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross earlier in the week.

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Meanwhile, fellow journalist Pete O’Rourke recently told GIVEMESPORT:

“He’s the one that Bielsa really wants. He thinks he fits the profile as the type of player that can go straight into his side.”

Indeed, it’s easy to see why the 66-year-old wants to bring Aaronson to Elland Road before deadline day in a little over ten days time.

His performances in UEFA’s elite competition have been quite remarkable indeed – operating as a ‘half-winger’ in Salzburg’s 4-2-2-2 system, he ranks amongst the top 1% of midfielders for pressures (27.84 per 90) and forcing the opposition into losing possession (8.55 per 90), via FBRef.

That goes to show his immense work rate in the final third and as we know with Bielsa’s philosophy at Leeds, he likes his attackers to defend from the front with a high press.

Dubbed “ruthless” and “relentless” by his former Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin, the young “playmaker” would tick plenty of boxes for Leeds.

Aaronson would fit like a glove in the current United squad, so the fact that the Yorkshiremen won’t be able to sign him this month will come as a devastating and frustrating blow to Bielsa, who must be livid to not secure his main target.

It’s now four years since the club bagged a new midfielder and that wait could rumble on further now.

AND in other news, Bielsa could land the next David Batty in “exciting talent” as Leeds  target “big signing” this January…

The board at West Ham United are waiting on David Moyes to clarify his January transfer targets as talks continue with agents, according to reports by Claret and Hugh.

The Lowdown: An additional centre-back is needed

West Ham will be looking to bring in a centre-back in the January transfer window following the injuries sustained by defensive duo Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna.

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The Hammers have been missing Zouma in the backline, as the Frenchman was integral in making crucial clearances for the team, leading the squad in this respect with 5.2 per game. However, it is expected that the 27-year-old will make a return from his hamstring injury in the middle of January, alleviating the pressure on current partnership Issa Diop and Craig Dawson.

An addition was made essential following the season-ending injury sustained by Ogbonna, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture. This comes as a blow to the Italian, whose contract is set to expire in the summer – just when he is expected back from injury.

This illustrates just how vital it is that Moyes brings in additional cover at the back, as a few injuries have severely altered the team’s defensive dynamics.

The Latest: Hammers board wait on Moyes amidst talks

According to reports by West Ham insiders Claret and Hugh, the Hammers’ new board is waiting to hold its first meeting in light of the resurgence of the pandemic. This meeting is expected to cover transfer targets for the January window, but it is reported that Moyes is yet to make his final decision regarding who he wants the club to prioritise when pursuing a new centre-back.

West Ham have shortlisted Liverpool’s Nathaniel Phillips and Burnley’s James Tarkowski as potential options ahead of the transfer window. It is understood that talks are ongoing with the players’ agents, but the board meeting will need to be held first before a decision can be made on finer details such as payment.

The Verdict: Big decision for Moyes

Moyes will have a tough time considering which out of the two aforementioned options he wishes to prioritise in the club’s pursuit of a new centre-back. Stronger links have been made with the Liverpool defender, who could well be a perfect addition to the side.

Phillips has received huge praise whenever he has been thrown into action for the Reds. The £15m-valued colossus has made more clearances per game (three) than any of his team-mates in the Carabao Cup this term, while Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has described some of his performances as ‘unbelievable’.

If the Hammers decide to pursue Phillips, the board will need to meet quickly as a variety of clubs could be interested in the player in January based on those figures and endorsements.

In other news: West Ham insider lifts lid on exciting behind-the-scenes Rush Green development

Everton have made one of the first signings of the January transfer window, and this development could be the culmination of the rumoured Lucas Digne and Rafael Benitez feud, as it is looking increasingly likely that the left back will now leave the club.

What’s the word?

The Toffees completed the signing of Vitaliy Mykolenko this morning, with the Ukrainian penning a four-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The youngster spoke out after securing his move to the Premier League from Dynamo Kyiv, saying: “Moving to Everton is a big and important step in my life. I have always dreamed of playing in the Premier League. English football is where the game was born and I think that it will suit my game very well.”

The signing of the 22-year-old seemingly confirms that the speculated differences between Digne and his current manager are irreparable, with the pair reportedly falling out over a conflict in opinion on tactics during a training session.

The £110k-p/w gem, dubbed a “monster” by former France full-back Eric De Meco, has not been seen in the starting line-up since the Merseyside derby a month ago, and he has not even been in the squad for the subsequent games, although has been seen in training over the last few days.

Digne has been heavily linked with a move away from the club, with a loan switch to Chelsea to cover the injured Ben Chilwell among the rumours which had been building in momentum for the out-of-favour Frenchman.

Great signing, but at what cost?

Benitez is already struggling to win over the fans after a poor first half of the season, and this situation with Digne, who has become a fan favourite at the club, will surely only add fuel to the fire regarding the scrutiny the Spaniard has faced in his time managing the Toffees.

The 28-year-old has made 127 appearances for Everton, with six goals and an impressive 20 assists from his left back position over the last three years.

According to SofaScore, when you reflect on his defensive attributes from last season, he helped in keeping nine clean sheets out of 30 matches played, with an average of 2.4 clearances per game and no errors leading to shots or goals for the entire campaign.

Benitez could be heading for a colossal mistake by axing the defender, losing out on his experience in a vulnerable phase for the Merseyside club right now, and the Spaniard will need to justify the signing of Mykolenko rapidly if he intends to win over the fans and prove that his decision is the right one.

In other news: Benitez could sign this Premier League ace in January

Manchester United’s new manager Ralf Rangnick is tempted to move for RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara in the upcoming January transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to SPORTbible (who cite The Mirror), the 63-year-old tactician could sanction a deal for the box-to-box dynamo after previously signing him from Red Bull Salzburg for Leipzig back in January 2019.

Haidara’s current contract with the Bundesliga giants is believed to contain a £33m release clause, meaning a move to Old Trafford over the coming months could be relatively straightforward.

Man Utd can get rocking again

Securing the Mali international’s services during the winter window could get United rocking again, rescuing their stuttering season in the process.

The highly-rated 23-year-old has become a crucial cog in Leipzig’s setup over the last two years, scoring ten goals and providing six assists in 100 appearances for Jesse Marsch’s charges.

However, it’s the holding midfielder’s defensive work that really catches the eye.

As per FBref.com, Haidara has averaged 0.96 tackles won per 90 this term, 6.56 successful pressures and 2.26 blocks, outperforming Scott McTominay in each metric.

After bringing the midfield gem to the Red Bull Arena from sister club Salzburg, Rangnick made no effort to hide his pleasure at Haidara’s arrival, lauding the engine room operator’s quality.

“We’re delighted to have signed Amadou,” he told the club’s official website upon his unveiling (as relayed by Bundesliga.com).

“We’ve been following his progress in Salzburg, as he’s developed into an absolutely exceptional player there. There aren’t many players his age with so much potential. He has all the requirements to follow in Naby Keita’s footsteps.”

With Rangnick’s famous gegenpressing style requiring a set of players with a very specific set of physical and mental attributes, the temptation to bring in a player already familiar with what is required is obvious for the German coach.

United’s lack of a natural defensive midfielder has long been discussed amongst pundits, fans and journalists alike, and Haidara could be the ideal solution.

It remains to be seen whether United’s new boss will be backed with significant sums in order to improve his first-team squad over January, but if he is, then the versatile gem may well be top of his wishlist.

And, in other news…Rangnick can become instant hit at Man Utd by signing “complete” £45m-rated “machine” 

Ross Wilson sealed a masterclass when he signed central defender Leon Balogun for Rangers in the summer of 2020.

He arrived at Ibrox on a free transfer from English side Wigan, having previously been at Brighton, and has made 46 appearances for the club to date.

The Gers paid £0 in transfers fees for the experienced defender and it is safe to say that he has been well worth snapping him. He is reportedly on £14k-per-week in wages, which meant that the Gers paid him £728k for his first season at Ibrox and they got incredible value out of him for that price.

Balogun played 19 times in the Premiership for the Gers last season and was outstanding at centre-back. He averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.13 as he won 61% of his duels – winning 95 in total – and made 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game for the club.

This shows that he was able to turn in consistently excellent performances at the back, winning a high percentage of his battles on the pitch and regularly winning the ball back for his side. Rangers ended up securing the title and his displays at the back played a role in that.

Earlier this year, former Gers boss Steven Gerrard lauded him as an important player when discussing his injury situation. He told The Herald:

“We are hoping it is a little bit of tightness and we will know in the next 24 hours. I will certainly be praying tonight. He felt something in his hamstring. That’s what he came off with, but he wasn’t sure if he felt something or whether it was a bit of tightness.

“We will work that out in the next 24 hours and hopefully he will pull through because he is important for us. I thought his performance was top tonight as well.”

So far this term, he has averaged a score of 7.05 across 11 league starts. He has won 64% of his duels – winning 85 in total – and made 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game. The defender has been able to carry on his form from last season and show that he is able to continue to be a key member of the squad moving forward.

In total, the 6 foot 2 colossus has won 180 duels and made 81 tackles and interceptions in 30 Premiership appearances for Rangers since his move. He has been phenomenal at the back and these statistics highlight just how impressive he has been for the Ibrox giants.

Hopefully, he will be able to continue to impress under Gio van Bronckhorst’s reign and further prove why Wilson pulled off a masterclass by bringing him to Glasgow.

To sign a player of his quality without paying a penny in transfer fees is worthy of applause and the Gers chief should be proud of his work in this instance.

AND in other news, “A target…” – Journo delivers big Rangers transfer update that’ll scare fans…

Leeds United may still have the chance to sign Sampdoria centre-back Omary Colley, but only if a ‘great offer’ is made for the Gambian.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Colley move

Leeds ended up not bringing in a new central defender in the summer transfer window, but one player they did target was Colley.

The 29-year-old has been an impressive performer for Sampdoria in recent years, making 94 appearances for the Serie A club, not to mention winning 25 caps for Gambia.

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The Latest: New update emerges

Leeds’ interest in Colley eventually fizzled out to nothing, but it appears as though he could still leave his current club, should the right offer come along.

That’s according to his agent, who told TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness] that an exit as a distinct possibility if everything clicks into place, in terms of salary:

“The reasoning is always the same: he can leave Sampdoria only if a great offer arrives; let’s say the offer of a lifetime. He is fine at Sampdoria and Genoa.

“He will never leave this team for clubs and salaries of the same level or slightly higher. In fact, we have always rejected similar offers in recent years.”

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The Verdict: Is he needed?

While Colley has proven himself to be a strong defender in a top league, there isn’t a great need for him at Elland Road, considering the options at Marcelo Bielsa’s disposal.

He already has Diego Llorente, Liam Cooper, Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk to choose from, and while some of those have had injury problems, it still represents plenty of depth.

Not only that, but Colley is also 29 now and wouldn’t likely be a long-term signing – something that is needed, in order to build towards the future.

In other news, one player has again been tipped to leave Leeds. Find out who it is here.

Antonio Conte will have plenty to think about in the next ten days with the bulk of his Tottenham Hotspur squad away on international duty.

And the Italian has several issues to solve, notably their problems in the final third, where they are amongst the poorest in the Premier League…

Conte’s tactical dilemma

It’s been touted that the 52-year-old will alter his formation in the coming weeks and this could well be to accommodate a more attacking figure in midfield.

“There’s an expectation within the club that the starting XI and formation will change over the coming weeks,” claimed football.london reporter Alasdair Gold this week.

“I think the width from the wing-backs negates the need for wingers up front as well, so I think we’ll see a shift to a 3-4-1-2 and yes I reckon two or three faces in the team will be different within a month’s time.

“As for converted wing-backs, [Sergio] Reguilon and Emerson (as well as [Ryan] Sessegnon and [Matt] Doherty) have the ability to carry out the role so I’m not sure he needs to convert anyone particularly but who knows what the future holds for Lucas [Moura] and [Steven] Bergwijn if he did go down that route.”

The introduction of a ‘no.10’ or a similar type of role could help Spurs create more chances for Harry Kane and Heung-min Son to feast upon, especially as they have not registered a shot on target in nearly four hours of league football.

Similarly, no team in the Premier League is averaging fewer shots each outing than Spurs (10.1) – not even rock-bottom Norwich or the other two teams in the dropzone.

Harsh on Moura

However, one unfortunate consequence of this change in tactics would see Lucas Moura axed from the starting XI as the need for wingers will no longer be necessary.

There’s an argument to be made that they aren’t anyway as Conte deploys two really advanced wing-backs on either flank.

The Brazilian has arguably been one of the Lilywhites’ standout performers this campaign.

Only Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (7.15) has recorded a better average WhoScored rating than Moura (7.04) after 11 matches. And he’s started and played the full 90 in all of them.

The 29-year-old wide man, who is now valued at £18m by CIES Football Observatory, does lead the way for dribbles per game (three) – by quite some margin too, with Tanguy Ndombele (1.6) the next best and Emerson Royal (one) the pick of the wing-backs, as per WhoScored.

Moura is also quite an industrious presence right across the pitch, so perhaps he could stake a claim at right wing-back. It would be familiar territory for Conte, that’s for sure.

Moses-like role?

The Italian converted struggling Chelsea flop Victor Moses into an astute option on the flank and he could well do the same with Moura.

As per WhoScored, the former Paris Saint-Germain star is also averaging 1.1 key passes per game, which is the second-most in the squad, as well as 1.5 shots, 1.3 tackles and 1.2 clearances per outing too.

This shows that he likes to get everywhere on the pitch and does more than just simply attack. He can contribute defensively, to a very good standard, having averaged more tackles than even centre-back Eric Dier (0.2).

It is no wonder the Englishman once dubbed his teammate a “nightmare” to train against, you only have to look at those numbers to see that.

On the above evidence, there is certainly a case to be made for Moura becoming Conte’s next Moses. It would definitely be one way to keep him in the starting XI, just as he deserves.

It would then be unfortunate for Emerson but you won’t be able to keep everyone happy in north London.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano reveals Conte’s potential plans for January…

Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham has lifted the lid on a collapsed stadium deal which saw chairman Daniel Levy squander ‘millions’.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing financial boosters…

Following the easing of coronavirus restrictions and life slowly getting back to normality, Tottenham have seen numerous prestigious events being hosted at their brand new state of the art ground.

The NFL, for example, as well as the recent heavyweight boxing bout between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, will have grossed the club millions of pounds worth of off-field revenue.

However, in a revelation, insider Wenham has claimed that Spurs could have been earning more over lockdown as he lifts the lid on collapsed stadium sponsorship discussions just before COVID.

The Latest: Wenham makes stadium deal claim…

As per the club insider and Spurs source, speaking to FI, the Lilywhites and Levy were actually in talks with HSBC over the stadium’s naming rights but a deal ‘fell through’.

“I know Tottenham were previously in discussions with HSBC, that fell through for whatever reason,” he explained.

“That was right before the pandemic. In hindsight, would Tottenham have taken that deal? Who wouldn’t?

“We could have been earning millions for two years even while the stadium was shut.”

The Verdict: Big blow…

Given Tottenham and Levy announced a £63.9 million loss during the pandemic last year, it’s safe to say a naming rights deal would have assisted the club in a major way financially.

Spurs ended up having to borrow £175 million through the bank of England in what was a turbulent time off-field for the club.

After the HSBC blunder, Tottenham will be hoping to secure the right naming rights deal as soon as possible.

In other news: Spurs already have offered pencilled in to sign ‘world class’ player who Hoddle called outstanding, find out more here.

Keith Downie has provided a fresh, exciting Newcastle update regarding the potential appointment of Paulo Fonseca…

What’s the talk?

The Sky Sports journalist sent out a tweet stating that “the consortium” have not decided on the Portuguese head coach as of yet.

Steve Bruce was relieved of his duties earlier this week and PIF have held talks with Fonseca over a potential move to Tyneside, although Downie has now revealed that they are yet to conclude their search.

The journalist tweeted on Thursday evening: “Newcastle’s new owners held talks with Paulo Fonseca remotely yesterday, but the consortium also want to speak to further candidates before deciding who will replace the departed Steve Bruce.”

Buzzing

This exciting update on the club’s plans will surely leave Newcastle fans buzzing as it shows that PIF are going with a measured, calculated approach instead of rushing into all of their decisions. They have not arrived at St James’ Park with no football knowledge to make quick changes all over the place as if they are playing Football Manager.

PIF are willing to take their time and ensure that they make the best possible appointment. With Newcastle currently 19th in the Premier League, they need to focus on avoiding relegation before thinking about pushing on to the next step and climbing towards the top of the table.

This is why the selection of Bruce’s replacement is crucial for the club as they need to bring in someone who can get the best out of the current squad to lead them into a position where they can potentially attract a higher grade of player in January, which Newcastle fans would surely love.

Whether Fonseca is the man for that job remains to be seen, but Magpies fans will be buzzing that the owners are not just going with the first manager they’ve contacted. It makes sense to weigh up all the possible options before making a final decision and it will be interesting to see who else is considered in regards to the vacant position.

This will hopefully mean that PIF do not make the wrong call as they are set to collect as much information as possible. Therefore, Newcastle fans will be buzzing with this approach from the owners as it shows that they are doing their due diligence and leaving no stone unturned to make sure the club has the best possible tools to avoid playing in the Championship next season.

AND in other news, “One thing said to me…”: Craig Hope reveals new NUFC manager link, fans could be livid…

A number of Rangers supporters have hailed John Lundstram’s performance against Dundee following huge praise from Steven Gerrard.

The Premiership champions were back in action on Saturday afternoon, making the trip to bottom-placed Dundee. It wasn’t necessarily a classic Rangers performance, but Joe Aribo’s goal proved to be the difference between the two teams on the day.

One player who caught the eye was Lundstram, who produced one of his strongest performances since joining from Sheffield United in the summer. The 27-year-old completed a team-high 66 passes and won six of his eight duels, while also succeeding with each of his three dribble attempts (SofaScore).

Gerrard was full of praise for the midfielder after the game, describing him as an “absolute powerhouse”, as per the club’s official Twitter channel.

Lundstram hasn’t always impressed in his first few months in a Rangers shirt, drawing criticism for some of his early-season performances, but this was a positive sign that he is now ready to go up a gear.

Rangers fans laud Lundstram display

These Gers supporters took to Twitter to hail the former Blades midfielder, duly agreeing with Gerrard in the process.

“What a performance from the big man yesterday”

Credit: @craigtaylor_72

“Lundstram was our midfield today – at both ends of the park”

Credit: @gmkelly1979

“Big man was brilliant”

Credit: @Neil0806

“Hold my hands up and say I gave him pelters a few weeks ago but he was outstanding today. Growing into the jersey”

Credit: @Michael9589

“I hate to admit but… he’s right, he was unbelievable”

Credit: @PipoSilvia

“Lord Lundstram”

Credit: @irn_bruu

In other news, a pundit is worried about some Rangers injury news has emerged. Read more here.