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Sky Sports News journalist Kaveh Solhekol has claimed that Erik ten Hag will be very interested in who becomes the new Manchester United owner despite his recent comments in the press.

What’s the latest on the Man Utd takeover?

Ahead of the Red Devils recent Premier League game, the manager was asked for his thoughts on the current takeover saga amid bids from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

In response, he told Sky Sports (via TalkSport): “It has nothing to do with us. We have to focus on football. That is all that we have to do, we have to perform, we have to get the right results in and don’t get distracted from things going around or around the club.”

However, when speaking on Sky Sports News, Solhekol claimed that “behind the scenes” Ten Hag and co will also be talking about it as the takeover will play a huge role in defining their success at Man United.

He explained (5:09): “Ten Hag needs to be backed in the transfer market. You can’t have another window like January when they were only making loan signings.

“Old Trafford needs to be redeveloped. You know, Erik Ten Hag is doing a fantastic job at the moment. The fans, 100 per cent behind him. He needs this situation sorted out as well.

“I know when he spoke to you on Friday, he said that it had nothing to do with him. But come on… Behind the scenes, behind the scenes, they’re all talking about it and they know that the future for them could be uncertain depending on who comes in.”

What does the latest takeover news mean for Man Utd’s transfer plans?

Ten Hag certainly is doing a pretty good job with the Red Devils right now. Indeed, in his debut season, he has led them to the Carabao Cup final and has them potentially in a title race.

Of course, though, all this takeover talk could have a destabilising effect if a saga develops and a new owner can’t be decided upon soon.

What’s more, seeing as the majority of the fanbase want the Glazers to leave the club entirely and have done for some time, it could be extremely damaging if they ended up remaining in charge.

Indeed, the form found under Ten Hag has helped vastly improve the mood at Old Trafford and the Dutchman will be desperate for that to remain the case during his tenure.

With that in mind, as Solhekol says, the manager and his staff will likely all be discussing the situation behind the scenes, keeping close tabs on the latest developments, and hoping that things work out for the best.

Everton have had few shining lights throughout this abysmal campaign, which culminated in Frank Lampard’s sacking late last month.

It has left Sean Dyche with the unenviable task of fixing a club in complete disarray, as they seemed destined to fall to the first relegation in their history.

To turn things around he must fundamentally change everything that his predecessors before him have done, except perhaps one thing.

How did Lampard get the best out of Iwobi?

One of Lampard’s few impressive feats was to transform the career of Alex Iwobi, which had been dwindling out following his £34m move back in 2019. His transfer was almost a microcosm for the whole club, as his aimless purchase mirrored a career that had stagnated. The Nigerian’s best position was unknown, and his untapped potential remained just that.

But, when the 44-year-old came in, he chose to move the £120k-per-week winger centrally, where he operated as part of a three-man midfield.

Instantly, he became a revelation.

His tireless work rate in the engine room was finally realised, and at the start of this season, he boasted six goal contributions before the World Cup began.

What has happened to Iwobi since?

Since then, however, he has struggled, and in Dyche’s first game in charge, he returned to the right wing.

Whilst his 4-4-2 system might not facilitate an attack-minded central midfielder like Iwobi, to truly reignite him to those levels he must find a way to fit him in centrally.

In the long-term, he could actually operate in the role undertaken by Abdoulaye Doucoure against Arsenal, partnering the striker as the first line of press.

Anything to return him to the area where he is most deadly.

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson was full of praise for him earlier on in the campaign, as he claimed: 

“He was brilliant at the weekend.

“He is looking like a top player. We are seeing more quality from him in a deeper role. He is just getting better and better. The system that Frank plays really suits him. Iwobi is a much better player than he was two years ago. He is improving game by game.”

This came just before Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison had suggested he “should be creating more” for the Toffees.

Whilst he had initially proved him wrong, he must now recapture that form to ensure it was not simply a purple patch. Iwobi’s revival could be integral to their survival bid, and Dyche must prioritise it.

Tottenham Hotspur are a club that boast a wealth of world-class talent, and yet for whatever reason, they remain unable to truly make that step up to challenge for the Premier League title.

Harry Kane and Heung-min Son have often thrived in attack, and Cristian Romero has returned that steel in defence they lost in the absence of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.

However, one many who they never truly replaced was Mousa Dembele.

The Belgian maestro is remembered with fondness across the whole division, with his play style synonymous with the ideal midfielder for the league.

With poise and finesse combined with a tough-tackling nature, he featured 249 times for the Lilywhites and seldom disappointed.

His 2015/16 campaign was arguably his most impressive, recording a 7.41 rating across just 29 appearances. Across this season he would average one key pass per game alongside a 90% pass accuracy, yet married this with 3.6 tackles and 1.9 interceptions, via Sofascore.

What stands out the most of all these is that he also maintained a 92% dribble success rate that season too.

He was truly unstoppable.

To find his replacement is to reignite any hopes Spurs have of trophy-hunting once more, and they could find a potential option in Fulham’s Joao Palhinha.

Having been linked earlier on in the window, the Portugal international only moved to Craven Cottage last summer for £20m.

The 27-year-old has since gone on to thrive in the midfield under Marco Silva, blending power with passing perfection that resembles the former north London favourite with an added “engine” that Statman Dave lauded.

Earning a 7.12 rating, he is averaging a mammoth 4.7 tackles per game. In fact, he is comfortably the top tackler in the Premier League this season.

His physicality is unmatched, more than earning the statement that Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir uttered on the midfielder:

“He’s everywhere, crunching into tackles. Big unit, strong as an ox. One of the signings of the season”.

Maintaining an 82% pass accuracy too, the ability on the ball is less impressive than his potential predecessor but has room for improvement. 

A strong enforcer to hold down the midfield with added flair, Palhinha’s addition would be the final piece in Antonio Conte’s midfield, allowing him to focus on areas in more need.

Wolves look set to confirm the signing of Flamengo midfielder Joao Gomes in the coming days and the Brazilian’s arrival at Molineux could see sporting director Matt Hobbs amend his summer mistake with Enzo Fernandez.

Recent reports have suggested that the 21-year-old will sign for Wolves in a £15m deal after he rejected Lyon, with a medical planned for early next week.

Despite his age, Gomes already has 117 appearances under his belt for Flamengo and it seems likely that he will arrive as a first-team option for Julen Lopetegui as he looks to keep the Old Gold in the Premier League this season.

With the transfer likely to be wrapped up in plenty of time before Tuesday’s deadline, it is a possibility that the young midfielder could be ready to face Liverpool next weekend and if he can live up to his obvious potential at Molineux, it could prove to be something of a masterstroke signing by Hobbs.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig certainly rates Gomes highly, as he sang his praises on Twitter in 2021.

He wrote: “João Gomes is such a unique player. Fantastic mix of midfield destroyer, deep-lying playmaker and box-to-box midfielder. Tireless runner, amazing work rate and tenacity mixed with really good technique and playmaking skills. He always gives 100% on the pitch. Warrior.”

Gomes’ all-round ability suggests that he could be a superb box-to-box midfielder in the future, which Wolves were clearly in the market for last summer under Bruno Lage, with a move for River Plate midfielder Fernandez seemingly on the cards.

Hobbs even flew to South America to try and complete a deal for the young star but in the end, he would sign for Benfica, where he has been able to establish himself as one of the top prospects in the world after his performances in Portugal, while he also caught the eye with World Cup winners Argentina in Qatar.

Having won the young player of the tournament, it was no surprise to see Fernandez linked with some of the world’s top sides this month, although Benfica look set to hold strong on their €120m (£105m) asking price for the 22-year-old.

It was undoubtedly a huge mistake by Hobbs that he couldn’t seal a deal for the Argentine midfielder last summer but he could amend that with his latest signing from South America, with Wolves fans hoping that Gomes can follow in the footsteps of Fernandez at Molineux.

The January transfer window is open for business and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta appears to be turning to the market to bolster his side’s chances of landing the Premier League title.

As it stands, the Gunners are five points clear of rivals Manchester City at the top of the table and nine points clear of Newcastle United in third.

However, they are not being complacent this month as they are reportedly looking to improve their squad by bringing in fresh recruits before the end of the window.

One player who could find himself plying his trade for the Gunners in the second half of the season is Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Dean Jones has revealed that the Gunners are set to engage in discussions with the Spanish side over a deal for the forward.

“I’m hearing that Arsenal are going to try to negotiate with Atlético over João Félix.

“They will try to find some common ground over the loan fee and accept that they might have to overpay compared to a typical loan fee.”

Arsenal could now find their next Alexandre Lacazette by securing a deal to sign the Portuguese international, with FBref listing them as being similar types of players.

Like the French striker, who is currently playing for Lyon in his home country, Felix is not a traditional, tall, number nine who will bully defenders and tower above them to win headers. However, he is a talented, tricky, attacker who can score goals by using his skill and intelligence to beat opposition players.

Lacazette plundered 71 goals and 36 assists in 206 outings in all competitions for Arsenal during his five years at the club, which works out at a goal contribution every 1.92 matches on average.

Felix, meanwhile, has scored 54 goals and assisted 29 in 173 senior club matches for Atletico and Benfica combined, which works out at 2.08 matches per goal involvement and shows that he has a relatively similar level of production to the former Gunners man.

The 23-year-old, who teammate Yannick Carrasco hailed as “immense”, has produced four goals and three assists in six La Liga starts for Diego Simeone’s men this season and his incredible form indicates that he could hit the ground running at The Emirates as he is currently delivering involvements on a regular basis. 

It is now down to Edu and Arteta to negotiate the right deal with Atletico so that they can welcome Lacazette 2.0 to the club before the end of the month.

Glasgow Rangers and manager Michael Beale are looking to bring Benedito Mambuene Mukendi to Ibrox in January.

The Lowdown: Player profile

Mambuene Mukendi, nicknamed ‘Beni’, is 20 years of age and can play as a central, defensive or attacking midfielder. The Angolan plies his trade with Portuguese second-tier side Trofense and is out of contract at the end of the season.

He’s made 40 senior appearances for his current employers, 15 of which have come during the 2022/23 season, and is valued at €200,000 by Transfermarkt.

The Latest: Journalist’s update

The Scottish Sun’s Jordan Davies shared a story on Thursday evening regarding Rangers and Beni.

He revealed that the club are interested in a serious £500,000 move in January, with the midfielder regarded as one of the most promising players in his league.

The Verdict: One to watch

It seems as if Rangers have done their homework on Beni, so a move for the versatile midfielder could be a wise one in the long run.

You could say it is fairly low risk at £500,000, and Beale could help take the player to the next level and increase his valuation dramatically, something the club have done in the past with a low-price move for Glen Kamara.

Beni would provide an option in a number of midfield areas, something that could come in handy during the second half of the season, so this could be one to watch closely over the coming weeks.

The transfer mill is well and truly turning, the January market is just weeks away and Liverpool are linked with a plethora of names, ready to swoop after a lacklustre start to the 2022/23 campaign.

What’s the word?

Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a move for talent down the right flank, with Spanish publication AS naming the Reds as potential suitors for Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda.

The 18-year-old has been at the centre of interest from clubs for about a year now, with Atletico Madrid attempting to swoop in January.

And now Liverpool join the list, with manager Jurgen Klopp alongside a plethora of Premier League bosses with eyes on the burgeoning starlet who possesses a £26m release clause.

Milner upgrade

The introduction of Fresneda at Anfield would be a prudent move for Klopp’s side; while Trent Alexander-Arnold looks set to maintain his vice on the position for years to come, competition for places is paramount for a side looking to contest for major honours across the domestic and continental front. 

Calvin Ramsey was signed from Aberdeen for £6.5m in the summer, while the veteran James Milner has been a stalwart for the Merseyside outfit, although holds limited time as he approaches his 37th birthday.

Milner, who was once dubbed a “workhorse”, has indeed been dependable and adept across a multitude of positions under Klopp, with the centre-midfielder notably filling in down the right flank in the absence of another option in the position, bar Alexander-Arnold. 

And the 61-cap England international, for all his experience and technical ability, is often left struggling against the blinding pace of many Premier League and Champions League wingers at present.

In the league this term, the £60k-per-week earner has recorded an average rating of 6.74, and although impressing on occasion, now faces the culmination of his Liverpool career with his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign, something that would only be accelerated if Fresneda arrives.

He would inject vitality into the position, adding an offensive, more direct, drive to the team that could reap rewards when Alexander-Arnold does indeed find himself benched or rested. 

Making seven appearances for Valladolid this term, the youngster is working his way towards a regular standing within the team, and with such little experience, is inevitably going to attract more and more attention for his name. 

As per FBref, Fresneda boasts a rounded arsenal despite his tender age, ranking within the top 5% for tackles and the top 3% for clearances, while also indicating his forward-thinking approach with his rank within the top 16% for progressive passes received, when compared to full-backs across Europe’s major leagues. 

Lauded as “beastly” by Spanish journalist Juan Arroita, Fresneda has a promising future ahead of him, a potential that could be harnessed and tapped at Liverpool.

An update has emerged on Aston Villa and their interest in signing Roma centre-forward Tammy Abraham in 2023…

What’s the talk?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Villans are thinking ‘concretely’ about a swoop for the England international as Unai Emery looks to shape his squad during his first window in charge of the club.

The report claims that fellow Premier League side Chelsea have a €75m (£65m) buy-back option but it is ‘difficult to imagine’ them triggering it.

It is stated that only teams from England have the financial power to snap Abraham away from Roma. The Serie A side are open to cashing in on him, despite previously viewing the dynamo as ‘immovable’.

Big Watkins upgrade

Ollie Watkins has endured a rough season in the Premier League this term as he has struggled badly in front of goal. The Englishman has plundered two goals from 14 appearances in the top flight, averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.64.

This comes after he scored 11 goals in 34 league outings in the 2021/22 campaign while averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.90. This shows that his performances have dipped this season after a respectable return last season.

Abraham, who claimed that Jose Mourinho is turning him into a “monster”, is in a similar position in that he has only scored three goals in 12 Serie A starts for Roma after smashing in 17 goals in 37 matches last term – averaging a rating of 7.06.

These statistics suggest that the former Chelsea man would be a better option for Emery if both players are at their best, as his average performance level and goal return dwarfed Watkins’ in 2021/22.

The striker has also proven himself in the Premier League in the past, as he scored 21 goals in 37 starts during his final two top-flight seasons with the Blues before he made the move to Italy.

This shows that his form in the Serie A last season was not a fluke as he has shown that he can score goals on a consistent basis in England and Italy, with his current form looking like an anomaly on paper.

At the age of 25, Abraham also has plenty of time on his hands to improve and develop as a player and this means that he could be a great signing for the here and now and for the future, rather than being a short-term option.

Therefore, Villa must swoop to sign Abraham in the January transfer window or next summer as he has the potential to be a big upgrade on Watkins at the top end of the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a setback in their bid to bring Daichi Kamada to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

Speaking in a recent interview with German publication Sport1, the attacking midfielder revealed that, despite the reported interest of Tottenham Hotspur and a host of other European clubs, he will not be leaving Eintracht Frankfurt this winter.

However, the 26-year-old did go on to suggest that he and his representatives will be in talks with interested parties regarding the possibility of a free transfer at the end of the current campaign – when his contract with Eintracht ends – in January.

Regarding his future, the Japan international said: “I’m staying in Frankfurt this season. Even if there could be talks with other clubs in winter, I’m not interested in leaving immediately. I’ve already decided that I want to finish the season with this coach and this team.

“I am much more demanding than you think when it comes to the clubs I would like to switch to. There have been talks and contacts with big clubs for two years.”

The playmaker went on to claim that he is also in discussions with the Bundesliga side concerning the possibility of signing a new deal with the club, stating: “Of course, we are in talks about extending the contract. After my performance, that’s not a big surprise either.”

Paratici must move

While Kamada’s claim that he will not be leaving Germany this winter will undoubtedly come as a blow to both Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici, the 26-year-old’s decision nevertheless brings with it a significant financial silver lining.

Indeed, with the Japanese sensation’s current deal at Deutsche Bank Park coming to an end in the summer of 2023, should the forward-thinking midfielder fail to put pen to paper on an extension with Eintracht prior to January, Kamada will be free to discuss pre-contract terms with a new suitor upon the turn of the year, before moving on a free at the end of the season.

And, considering just how impressive the 21-cap international has been in Germany so far this season, should Paratici go on to land the playmaker on a free next summer, it would undoubtedly represent a massive coup for the sporting director.

Indeed, over his 13 Bundesliga appearances this season, the £26.5m-rated talent has been in astonishing attacking form, having already bagged seven goals, registered three assists and created two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.5 shots – 0.8 of which have hit the target – making one key pass and completing 0.5 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the player who MUNDIAL claimed has been “tearing it up” average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.14, not only ranking him as Oliver Glasner’s best-performer in the league but also as the 32nd-best player in the German top flight as a whole this term.

The £33k-per-week wizard has also caught the eye for all the right reasons over his six Champions League fixtures in 2022/23, scoring three goals – one of which came against Spurs – and creating one big chance for his teammates, while also averaging a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.18 in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

As such, it is clear to see that Kamada – who was once dubbed “the liberator of Arsenal” for scoring a brace in a 2-1 Europa League win over the Gunners that ultimately led to Unai Emery’s dismissal – would make an exceptional addition to Conte’s attacking arsenal – leading us to believe that Paratici must do everything he can to land the midfielder, especially on a free transfer.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte has been non-committal over the availability of Cristian Romero and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ahead of his team’s Champions League Group D clash against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.

THE LOWDOWN: FATIGUE WAS FELT

Having been beaten convincingly by Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United just last week, Conte was hit with further detriment over Hojbjerg and Romero, who both felt the fatigue of playing regular minutes for the side and needed a well-earned rest.

As such, both players sat out the game against Newcastle United yesterday, with the manager still unsure as to when they will return to the Tottenham line-up.

THE LATEST: CONTE COY ON DUO’S RETURN

Speaking to the media after the defeat to the Magpies, Conte stated that Romero had struggled over the “last two or three games” and was “half and half” as to whether he would play in Spurs’ two most recent matches. It was a similar struggle with Hojbjerg, having played “every minute of every game”.

The 53-year-old said (via football.london): “Romero was the last two or three games. He arrived every day half and half to decide if he play or doesn’t play. I think in the past we have taken a risk. The players gave their availability to play otherwise, honestly, if the player doesn’t want to play, I don’t force the player.

“Now, after the game against United, he felt a lot of fatigue and then yesterday, he felt fatigued in his calf. Before in his thigh, the right. Now left in the calf. Pierre, it was the same because Pierre played every game, he played every minute, and he was really tired.

“About Richy and Deki? No chance. I don’t know about Pierre and Cuti for Wednesday. If you ask me in this moment, I don’t have an answer because I don’t know the way they recover from this fatigue and this situation if they have something, Romero in his calf or Pierre in his thigh.”

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THE VERDICT: MIND GAMES AT PLAY?

With Conte coy on whether Hojbjerg and Romero would be available for the clash against Sporting, one may wonder whether this is an example of mind games heading into that all-important fixture.

However, if the pair are indeed suffering with fatigue, it would be wise to give them another game off to recover, in order to avoid potential injury.

The Danish midfielder in particular could do with time off if he is not at 100%, having played the third-most minutes of any outfield player in the squad so far this season.