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Aston Villa’s owners NSWE will provide new manager Unai Emery with the funds to make new signings in January, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Emery set to make mark

The Spaniard has replaced Steven Gerrard in the Villa Park hot seat and already made a positive impact, with key wins picked up against Manchester United and Brighton.

Emery will take time to fully make his mark in the job, however, and he is sure to want to bring in players who are tailor-made to thrive in his system.

January signings are key, in that respect, and it looks as though the manager will get his wish.

The Latest: New signings in January?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano confirmed that the funds would be available to sign new players in January:

“For sure, they will look at new signings. Unai Emery, when he negotiated with Aston Villa, he had some guarantees on new potential signings in January and, of course, in the summer.”

The Verdict: Good move by owners

NSWE deserve undoubted praise for making the money available in the next window, ensuring Emery is given the support he needs to take the club forward.

If January was to drift by without any signings coming in, it could hamper Villa’s progress moving forward, not allowing the boss to take the team in a positive direction.

A few additions in key areas could make for an exciting second half to the campaign, however, before further reinforcements are made during the summer.

The Athletic’s Chelsea correspondent Simon Johnson has shared an exciting update on midfielder Mason Mount’s contract talks.

The Lowdown: Mount deal taking time…

The England international, who has been selected for Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad, has been at the centre of speculation linking him with fresh terms.

However, unlike fellow academy graduate Reece James, who put pen to paper on a new deal soon after rumours over his own future abounded, Mount’s proposed fresh contract has taken a fair bit longer.

The 23-year-old’s current deal is set to expire in 2024, with still no extension confirmed as of yet, but Johnson has shared some good news in this regard.

The Latest: Chelsea making a breakthrough?

The Premier League giants have apparently made a breakthrough in talks with the midfielder.

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article from The Athletic, Johnson has shared an update on Mount’s new contract.

He tweeted: “Update on Mason Mount’s contract talks at #CFC…positive talks were held recently & there is now great optimism a deal will be agreed when the next round of negotiations, scheduled for January, resume.”

Following on, the journalist states that a ‘significant development’ took place in the last meeting held before Mount left for the World Cup with England.

The Verdict: A must…

The Three Lions ace is a key player for Chelsea manager Graham Potter, ranking in the Blues’ top four  players in terms of shots at goal and key passes made per 90 in the top flight (WhoScored).

With Mount still very young at 23 and able to improve even further, the Blues and owner Todd Boehly certainly won’t want to risk the notion of needing to sell him before his deal expires in two years’ time.

Indeed, sealing a new deal for Mount should be among the club’s top priorities.

Manchester City have reportedly offered Bernardo Silva a new contract at the Etihad Stadium. 

The Lowdown: Silva previously linked with exit

The midfielder was heavily linked with a move away from the Manchester club during the previous summer transfer window.

Despite links to Barcelona, Silva, who is currently involved in the World Cup with Portugal, ended up staying with Pep Guardiola’s side.

With domestic football on hold to make way for the tournament in Qatar, it seems as though some behind-the-scenes movement has been made at City regarding Silva.

The Latest: City offer Silva a new contract

According to a recent report from Football Insider, the Citizens have offered Silva a new contract to keep him at the club after Guardiola recently extended his stay at the Etihad.

The report also adds that this proposed deal with the Portuguese international is believed to be worth more than £40 million in total.

The Verdict: A smart move from City

Since joining the Manchester club from AS Monaco back in 2017, the midfielder has scored 50 goals and provided 56 assists in 273 appearances across all competitions.

In the Premier League, only three outfield City players have racked up more minutes than Silva this season, which shows how important he is to Guardiola and the team.

Across his 14 league appearances, the 28-year-old has scored two goals and delivered five assists, leaving only Kevin de Bruyne (9) with more assists.

Then from a defensive point of view, only Joao Cancelo (45) and Rodri (40) have a higher combined total of tackles and interceptions than Silva (29).

Having been praised for his “phenomenal” performances for City in the past by journalist Henry Winter, it’s safe to say that the midfielder is an integral player for the club.

Taking all of this into account, it’s easy to see why the club are looking to tie Silva down to a new contract and keep him in the squad, which we feel would be a very smart move.

The latest suggestion is Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is believed to be eyeing a new centre-forward addition in the January window, with the 57-year-old keen to strengthen his attacking options heading into the second half of the campaign.

One man who could well potentially prove a solution for the title-winning coach is Scotland international Ross Stewart, with the 26-year-old – who is also attracting interest from Old Firm foes Rangers – facing an uncertain future with current side Sunderland.

The suggestion is that the Black Cats could well be open to selling the 6-foot-2 marksman in the winter, with the former Ross County man having yet to commit his future to the club with just six months remaining on his existing deal.

The Parkhead giants are said to be ‘waiting in the wings’ should the striker be up for grabs in the New Year, with the Irvine-born ace no doubt set to be an attractive option for Postecoglou and co due to his goalscoring heroics of late.

The one-time St Mirren hitman has scored 34 goals and registered eight assists in just 72 games for the Championship side to date, having notably netted 26 goals in England’s third tier last season to help drag his side to promotion.

Despite injury woes having hampered his campaign this time around, the £3m-rated talent still boasts a haul of five goals and three assists in just seven league outings, having been something “revelation” in the words of teammate, Alex Pritchard.

A player who has “got everything”, in the words of Pritchard, due to his hold-up play and impressive work ethic – showcased by the fact he ranks in the top 9% for tackles made among those in his position, as per FBref – Stewart would no doubt offer a quality striking alternative for the Glasgow side.

The hope will be that the Scotsman can emulate the impact of another man to have arrived at Celtic Park from south of the border in the form of Kris Commons, with the now-retired ace having gone on to blossom in a green and white jersey.

Like Stewart, the playmaker was also in the final months of his contract at EFL outfit Derby County when he was snapped up by Neil Lennon for a bargain fee of just £300k in January 2011.

The Mansfield-born ace – who made 12 appearances for Scotland at international level – was an instant hit at Paradise after netting a delightful lob on debut against Aberdeen, before finishing that 2010/11 season with 11 goals and four assists in just 14 Scottish Premiership outings.

The left-footed wizard would go on to be a mainstay of the side over the next few years in his creative berth, racking up 89 goals and 72 assists in 227 games for the club in all competitions, notably winning the SPFA Player of the Year award at the end of a stellar 2013/14 season in which he recorded 45 goal involvements in just 48 games across all fronts.

That huge success story will no doubt be one that Stewart could well potentially emulate, with Commons showcasing the benefits of securing a mid-season deal after exploiting a player’s contract uncertainty.

It could well prove to be yet another masterstroke for Celtic if they can get the Stadium of Light star through the door.

Frank Lampard looks set for a big boost at Everton in the coming weeks, as influential midfielder Alex Iwobi is reportedly set to sign a new deal at Goodison Park.

The Nigeria international, who joined the Toffees from Arsenal in 2019, has been revolutionised as a central midfielder under Lampard and has been one of the bright sparks in an otherwise disappointing season for the Merseyside club.

Therefore, it is no surprise that Lampard is keen to offer him a new contract to extend his stay at the club, as his current deal was set to expire at the end of next season.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news on Twitter on Saturday, writing:

“Alex Iwobi will soon sign a new deal with Everton. Talks are well advanced, it’s going to be a new long-term deal. Negotiations are progressing to the final stages.”

In total, the 26-year-old has made 114 appearances in an Everton shirt, contributing eight goals and 14 assists, but his seven goal contributions so far this season emphasise the positive transformation he has undergone during his time at Goodison Park.

Journalist Joe Thomas was full of praise for Iwobi earlier this season on the Liverpool Echo’s Royal Blue podcast.

He said: “We are almost running out of superlatives to describe Alex Iwobi, at some point we are going to have to start thinking about and I wonder, maybe you two can help me with this, but at what does it need to reach before we can start discussing whether we can have a statue of him outside Bramley-Moore?

“He’s just been absolutely phenomenal and is another player Frank Lampard and his coaching team have been crucial to his renaissance really.”

So far this campaign, no player in Everton’s squad has contributed to more goals in the Premier League than Iwobi, while his 6.75 rating from WhoScored ranks him as the fifth-best performer in Lampard’s squad.

He also leads the way for key passes at Everton, which emphasises the creative influence he is beginning to have on games.

Therefore, it can only be great news as far as Lampard is concerned that Iwobi is close to extending his stay with Everton, as he will no doubt be important for the Toffees when the Premier League resumes later this month, with another relegation battle seemingly on the cards.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a former starlet to slot into the centre of the park this winter and could make their move imminently. 

What’s the word?

Ismael Bennacer has risen to prominence in Italy, currently plying his trade for AC Milan and starring, playing 31 times in the league last year as the club won the league title in a resounding fashion.

And now after such composed and assured performances, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is set on bringing the player back to the Emirates Stadium to play a role in the Gunners’ own bid for domestic glory. 

TuttoMercatoWeb reported at the weekend that Arsenal are indeed among the interested parties, perhaps even the frontrunners, and that the player himself would be open to a move back to the Premier League, with a club he knows well from his development days. 

A return home 

Having been on the books at Arsenal for two years, the club confirmed that the midfielder, then 19-years-old, would complete a permanent move to Italian outfit Empoli in 2017, being sold by a certain Arsene Wenger for just £850,000.

Since signing for AC Milan, Bennacer has seen his stock rise like a hot air balloon, worth an estimated £37m at present, and he has now attracted the Gunners’ interest once more, who view him as a sterling opportunity to bolster the thriving midfield.

Once described as “simply amazing” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he has made 21 appearances for Milan this term, scoring one goal and registering one assist. Bennacer has been in fine fettle, with Sofascore recording his average rating at a commendable 7.29, with his 89% pass accuracy complemented by 2.0 key passes and 2.3 tackles per outing.

And as per FBref, the Algerian dynamo ranks within the top 5% of midfielders across Europe’s big five leagues this year for shot-creating actions, while also within the top 11% for dribbles completed and 15% for progressive passes. 

It is the rounded nature of this skill set that will have caught Arteta’s eye; Arsenal will already be aware of such talents, but the way that he has grasped them and moulded them into the making of a towering midfield presence on the continental stage will bode very well indeed with the hierarchy as they plot and plan for the future. 

The 40-cap Bennacer could also come as an alternative for Youri Tielemans, who the Gunners are reported to hold heated interest in, with a view to a deal emerging this winter or upon the expiry of his contract next summer.

With other potential suitors likely to circle like sharks for the Belgium technician, Bennacer could be a shrewd alternative, with suggestions that Arsenal allegedly begrudge the decision to depart with the ace five years ago.

Tottenham Hotspur are waiting to find out the availability of one of their top targets…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Dean Jones, who gave his view on the rumours linking Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij to north London.

The Dutchman is entering the final six months of his £117k-per-week deal, with reports suggesting that he could leave for as little as €5m (£4m) in January.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones then claimed: “He’s a contender, we’d have to wait and see. Spurs are waiting really. Inter have offered him a new contract and at the same time, they’re being offered players of their own in case the player does leave.”

Romero masterclass

For Tottenham to dip back into Serie A and pull out another sensational defender could draw comparisons with Fabio Paratici’s transfer masterclass to unearth Cristian Romero.

The Argentine signed for Spurs in a £42m move in 2021 and has become a mainstay in the team, with his bravery and defensive work rate arguably unrivalled in the Premier League.

This is exemplified in his 6.94 average performance rating, which is propped up by his 1.4 interceptions, 2.4 tackles and 2.8 clearances per game (via Sofascore).

Italy is renowned for breeding some of football’s best defenders, and adding another could offer the defensive impetus that Conte needs in order to really enforce his title-winning philosophy on this group.

In De Vrij, the Dutchman has enjoyed a similarly impressive season for the Nerazzurri, boasting two interceptions, one tackle and three clearances per game (via Sofascore). He pairs this with an 88% pass accuracy which suggests that he could become the perfect modern-day defender in England.

The 6 foot 3 titan could probably more than cope with the physical demands placed upon him in the Premier League, with former Lazio teammate Mauricio leading the praise for the 31-year-old by saying: “Stefan is a great defender and deserves to be at a big club. He’s very tall, he’s strong and fast, he runs a lot – he’s a monster!

“He also has excellent technique and knows how to play the ball like few others, and that’s the difference between him and other players. He’s a calm defender who never gets agitated.”

Bringing in another top defender from Italy could see Conte and Paratici repeat Spurs’ earlier success with Romero, bolstering a backline which has conceded the most goals of any team in the Premier League’s top eight so far this term.

Wolves look set to complete the signing of Atletico Madrid striker Matheus Cunha in January, although the move could easily turn into Julen Lopetegui’s first disaster as manager of the Midlands club.

What’s the word?

According to Express and Star journalist Liam Keen, Cunha has undergone a medical with the Old Gold and will join on-loan, with an obligation to buy for £40m in the summer.

He reiterates that the £40m purchase option will be activated should certain clauses be met, which are expected to be a formality and that the transfer will become permanent regardless of whether or not Wolves can remain in the Premier League.

A potential Loptegui disaster?

Lopetegui has clearly identified the need for a striker at Molineux and has worked quickly to bring in an exciting prospect with plenty of experience at the top level.

Cunha has featured in the Champions League with Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig and, while he has struggled in spells with both those clubs – scoring just 16 times in over 100 outings – his excellent form at Hertha Berlin suggests that he could be Wolves’ saviour this season.

The 23-year-old would contribute an impressive 13 goals and ten assists in 40 appearances for the Bundesliga side, but has struggled to replicate that form since his move to Madrid, with just seven goals and eight assists in 54 appearances.

Wolves have managed just eight goals in the Premier League so far this term and struggled to break down Gillingham earlier this week, with only late goals from Raul Jimenez and Rayan Ait-Nouri securing the win against the side rock bottom of League Two.

Considering the decline of Jimenez, alongside injuries to Pedro Neto and Sasa Kalajdzic, there will be a lot of pressure on Cunha to be the main man at Molineux for the rest of the campaign.

In an ideal world, the Brazil international will fire in the goals to keep Lopetegui’s side in the Premier League and more than justify his fee but if he fails to do so and Wolves are relegated, it could prove to be a hugely costly mistake.

The frontman is unlikely to want to play in the Championship with Wolves and would surely leave for a big loss, alongside other big names on a cut-price deal, as the Midlands club would take a huge hit financially from relegation.

There is no doubt that £40m for a striker who has failed to score this season is a big risk and it could massively backfire on Lopetegui if the Old Gold do succumb to relegation from the top flight in 2023.

West Ham United finally returned to Premier League action on Monday evening, however, it was largely the same old story for David Moyes and his men at the Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal running out comfortable 3-1 victors.

Indeed, despite taking the lead through Said Benrahma’s 27th-minute penalty, in truth, it never felt as if the Hammers would be able to hold on to all three points, something that a trio of second-half strikes from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Edward Nketiah made sure of – with Mikel Arteta’s outfit making light work of the Irons’ backline after the break.

However, while it is true that none of the Hammers’ starting XI overly covered themselves in glory on Monday – with Vladimir Coufal, Thilo Kehrer and Tomas Soucek all particularly disappointing – it was undoubtedly the display of £51m summer signing Lucas Paqueta that was the most worrying at The Emirates yesterday night.

Indeed, over his 90 minutes on the pitch, the £62m-rated talent was anonymous in the middle of the park, losing 12 of his 19 duels – a failure rate of 63% – being dribbled past by an opponent twice and taking just one shot at goal – which failed to hit the target – in the whole match.

The £150k-per-week playmaker did return slightly more impressive numbers in possession of the ball, completing 40 of his 49 attempted passes – a success rate of 82% – and making two key passes, however, this was just about all the Brazil international offered the Hammers throughout the duration of the match.

Indeed, the 25-year-old’s Sofascore match rating of 6.10 – the worst of any player to feature in the match – reflects just how disappointing Paqueta was against the Gunners, while the Evening Standard journalist Malik Ouzia also awarded the midfielder a four in his own player ratings, as well as stating:

“Back in an advanced role having excelled deeper for Brazil in Qatar but struggled to make any real impact as he was outshone by Martin Odegaard.”

Indeed, after an impressive World Cup campaign with Brazil, Moyes would have undoubtedly been hoping for Paqueta to continue his fine international form into the Premier League, however, after a shocking performance on Monday, there is much improvement needed should the playmaker get anywhere near the level he displays for A Selecao.

Wolves have reportedly submitted a second bid for OGC Nice midfielder Mario Lemina, as Julen Lopetegui looks to add to his midfield options at Molineux now the transfer window has opened.

What’s the word?

The Old Gold have been linked with a move for the Gabon international in recent days and after seeing their first bid rejected, reports are claiming that Wolves have now gone back to the Ligue 1 side with a better offer.

According to Daily Mail journalist Tom Collomosse on Twitter, Lopetegui’s side have returned with a €5.5m (£4.9m) bid for the former Southampton midfielder.

However, Collomosse also claims that it might take a little more for Wolves to get a deal done, but it seems likely that the 29-year-old could return to the Premier League this month.

Lopetegui’s own Caicedo?

It is easy to see why Lopetegui might want to recruit a defensive-minded midfielder this month, given that the Old Gold possess a lot of technically gifted midfield players but not many natural battlers, which are definitely necessary in a relegation battle.

According to FBref, the fifth-most similar player to Lemina, when compared with other midfielders across Europe’s top leagues, is Brighton sensation Moises Caicedo.

The Ecuador international has recently attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool after starring with the Seagulls, having established himself as a key player at the Amex Stadium at just 21.

When comparing Lemina and Caicedo’s performances from the current campaign, the two share remarkably similar stats with regard to tackles in the attacking third (both eight), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.11 vs 0.13) and touches in the defensive penalty area (38 vs 39).

According to WhoScored, Lemina and Caicedo also share the exact same strengths; interceptions, concentration and aerial duels, which suggests that they are very similar types of midfielders.

During the £138k-per-week earner’s spell with Southampton, the Gabonese star caught the eye of BBC pundit Garth Crooks after an impressive display against Crystal Palace.

He said: “My goodness, this lad looks a powerhouse.

“I suppose when you’ve played for one of the biggest clubs in the world in Juventus, you should have all the tools to survive in any league.”

Lemina could be precisely what Lopetegui needs in his midfield if he is going to win ugly at Wolves and given his similarities with Caicedo, who is undoubtedly one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League at the moment, the Spanish manager would be foolish not to bring the former Juventus man to Molineux.