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Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte is sweating on the fitness of another one of his attacking options as his side welcomes Liverpool to north London for their monster Premier League clash.

What’s the latest?

The Lilywhites topped their Champions League group thanks to a last-minute winner against Marseille in midweek but it came at a price as Heung-min Son has been ruled out of their remaining matches before the World Cup in Qatar.

Now, according to the Italian, fellow winger Lucas Moura is a big doubt heading into kick-off today. He told reporters during his pre-game press conference (via football.london):

“The problem is Lucas Moura is having some different faces for his pain in his tendon. Today he was really bad and he said to me he was really worried for this but I ask of him to try to be available because we need [him].”

Another frustrating blow

Whilst a merely peripheral figure of Conte’s first-team squad, having the Brazilian international unavailable would be a frustrating blow, given the mounting injury problems at Hotspur Way.

Another one of his wide and attacking options in compatriot Richarlison is also on the treatment table, whilst centre-back Cristian Romero is another that’ll miss out against the Reds.

Emerging fan-favourite Rodrigo Bentancur – last weekend’s match-winner in the win over AFC Bournemouth – has also been nursing a knock, whilst the dangerous Dejan Kulusevski has only managed half a training session before this massive encounter, so his potential to start has to be rather slim.

It leaves the 53-year-old boss with a bit of a conundrum in attack and whilst Jurgen Klopp’s side are languishing down in ninth place, they have been a whole lot better in recent outings and have had their own injury woes to deal with, particularly in defence.

Without the majority of his aforementioned attacking stars, Conte may well have to call upon the relatively inexperienced Bryan Gil to help Harry Kane in the attack, if not push Ivan Perisic further forward to his old position in the final third, having been converted into a wing-back by the Italian at Inter Milan.

Either way, the comments surrounding Moura – who started and played the full 90 in midweek against Les Olympiens – are worrying, especially over his potential to start against Liverpool.

These injuries keep piling up before the long domestic winter break and that will surely leave Conte reeling as he looks to keep Spurs in the top-four race, where they still remain third despite inconsistent and unconvincing outings over the past month or so.

AND in other news, Spurs could seal dream Son alternative by signing £21.3k-p/w “animal” who’s “decisive”…

Aston Villa recently made the decision to part ways with manager Steven Gerrard and swooped to bring in Spaniard Unai Emery to replace him in the dugout.

The former Villarreal and Arsenal head coach enjoyed a phenomenal first game in charge of the Premier League side as his team smashed Manchester United 3-1 on Sunday.

He masterminded a superb victory over the Red Devils and ended their opponents’ nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions, with Leon Bailey, Jacob Ramsey, and Lucas Digne getting on the scoresheet.

Ramsey, in particular, was impressive as he registered one goal and one assist, whilst also winning eight of his ten individual duels and making an eye-catching six tackles in the middle of the park.

The 21-year-old, who scored six goals in the Premier League last season, could be a key player for Emery in the coming months but there is another member of his family who could be on the manager’s radar heading into the 2023 – Aaron Ramsey.

Jacob’s 19-year-old sibling is currently out on loan at Norwich in the Championship and his promising displays at Carrow Road suggest that he has the potential to follow in the footsteps of his brother.

The new Villa boss could even unearth his next David Silva by bringing Aaron Ramsey back to the club, either in January or at the end of his loan deal next summer, and helping him to fulfil his potential.

Emery joined Valencia in 2008 and had the pleasure of managing the majestic attacking midfielder, Silva, for 67 competitive matches, in which the maestro scored 16 goals and provided 20 assists as a young attacking midfielder before moving to Manchester City in 2010.

The magician, who could play as an eight, a number 10, or out wide on the left, enjoyed a fantastic spell in England, eventually becoming one of the greatest technicians seen in the English top-flight. Indeed, he racked up 60 goals and 106 assists in 309 Premier League matches for the Cityzens.

Ramsey, whose vision was dubbed “outstanding” by ex-Villa boss Dean Smith earlier this season, has caught the eye in the Championship and could be the next star to make the breakthrough in the first-team at Villa Park.

The teenager has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.92 and chipped in with three goals and three assists in 17 league outings for the Canaries, whilst playing in central midfield, as a number 10 and out on the left wing.

His form at senior level comes after he produced a sublime 24 goals and 13 assists in 53 matches for Villa at U18 and U21 level combined, which shows that he has a knack for making a big impact in the final third by bursting through from a midfield position.

Therefore, he could be Emery’s next Silva by pushing into the Villa side and making his mark by scoring and assisting goals from the middle of the park – becoming a mercurial, versatile, talent just like the former Manchester City man.

However, it is down to Ramsey to push on and develop his game as he gains more experience at first-team level so that he can adapt to playing in the Premier League, in order to fulfil the potential that his impressive statistics suggest he has.

Sheffield Wednesday have been handed an injury boost after Mallik Wilks and Liam Palmer returned to training, according to journalist Joe Crann.

The Lowdown: Absent trio

The League One side secured a 1-0 victory over Accrington last weekend, but were without the services of Palmer, Wilks and George Byers.

Darren Moore confirmed that the latter two had missed out due to sustaining contact injuries, whilst Palmer was suffering from an ear infection at the time, although a positive fitness update has now emerged from Hillsborough.

The Latest: Crann’s update

Taking to Twitter, Crann revealed that the Owls’ two injured players are back on the training pitch and could come into contention for the game against Shrewsbury on Saturday. 

He wrote: “Good to see that Mallik Wilks and Liam Palmer are back training with #SWFC after missing the last game…

“No sign of George Byers yet though.”

The Verdict: Don’t take risks

Wednesday are currently in a really strong position, and whilst it’s a massive bonus for Moore to have his duo return to action, there’s no need to take any unnecessary risks if they aren’t fully ready to participate.

The Yorkshire outfit find themselves third in the table, just five points off the top, and are now unbeaten in their last six league matches.

The Owls are set to take on Mansfield in the FA Cup next weekend, so this would present an ideal opportunity to give the returning players some minutes to save rushing them back and risk making the situation worse than it currently is.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter is ‘not particularly enamoured’ by the thought of signing Cristiano Ronaldo, according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Blues considering approach

The Premier League veteran mutually agreed to have his contract terminated by Manchester United earlier this week following an explosive interview that saw him face the consequences of his actions.

The Mirror have claimed that the Blues are considering making an approach for the striker after initially being linked with him over the summer, and it’s believed that he wants to join a team that competes in the Champions League.

The Latest: Jacobs’ comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs revealed that Potter wouldn’t be keen on having someone like Ronaldo behind-the-scenes. He said:

“As a young manager already making the step up to Chelsea, my understanding is that he’s not particularly enamoured by the idea of having a character like Cristiano Ronaldo in his dressing room, and certainly not without a kind of clear out first.

“Otherwise, there’s naturally a scenario where Ronaldo could come in, Aubameyang is already there and not getting as much game time as he would like, Armando Broja has been given guarantees that he’s going to get game time, Kai Havertz expects to be in the starting line-up for big games, Raheem Sterling’s being sort of migrated to left wing-back but would obviously prefer and is more comfortable being part of a front-line.

“So, the concern from Potter’s perspective is what will Ronaldo do to the dynamic.”

The Verdict: Correct decision

Ronaldo is undoubtedly a world-class player having made an astonishing 924 goal contributions in 949 appearances throughout this career, but avoiding a deal would be for the best.

Over this past week, the World Cup forward has shown how he can react to off-field events, and if this is how he’ll respond every time things aren’t going his way, it’s no surprise to learn that Potter doesn’t want him in the dressing room.

Chelsea reportedly have an agreement in place to sign RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku, and he appears to be a much better option than the Portuguese.

Nottingham Forest were active, to say the least, in the summer transfer window, so it does not come as a shock to discover that PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands star Cody Gakpo was on that list.

The Lowdown: Gakpo the goal machine

The 23-year-old is genuinely on fire this season, and his impressive haul of three World Cup goals for Louis Van Gaal’s Netherlands have well and truly put his name on the global footballing map.

Whilst this tournament in Qatar has been the cherry on top of his ever-growing reputation, his efforts in the Eredivisie paved the way. In 14 league games under Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV this term, Gakpo has almost equalled his record from of 12 goals and 13 assists from last season, having played 13 fewer matches at this point. 

The PSV star appears to be having a breakout year amidst his growing reputation as a big-hitter in the final third of the pitch. 

The Latest: Gakpo had been in line for Forest move

According to Nottingham Post, Gakpo was on Forest’s list of potential summer transfers. 

The report states that, at one stage, the Reds were well placed to land the Dutchman, with a fee rising to around £35m quoted by the end of the summer. 

That amount now looks to be a bargain, with Gakpo’s World Cup displays and stellar start to the club season paving way for a fee closer to around £50m, as mentioned in the report.

It is added that Arsenal is now the only ‘realistic destination’ for him, with Forest now likely to focus on bringing in a centre-forward and a ball-playing defender in January rather than a winger.

The Verdict: Missed opportunity 

With Gakpo’s stellar form broadcasting his name onto the world stage, it would seem that Forest have missed their chance to sign the rising star, with PSV playing a blinder by holding onto his services for another few months as his stock and his asking price grow all the time. 

The Eredivisie outfit will now receive a much larger fee, with this revelation sure to rub salt into the wounds of the Garibaldi faithful. 

A presence like Gakpo’s is much-needed at the City Ground, with Steve Cooper’s side the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League with just 11 goals scored to date.

For additional context, the “flying” Dutchman – as dubbed by Fabrizio Romano, has scored 13 goals on his own for PSV this season in all competitions. The maths tell you all you need to know here.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in Bayern Munich’s wily winger Leroy Sane, with the north London club assessing avenues to go down in the midst of an unlikely title charge.

What’s the word?

Talking to CaughtOffside, esteemed transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano recently said that Bayern have no intention of selling the 26-year-old, who has been an offensive focal point in Germany since his £54.8m move from Manchester City in 2020.

And despite interest from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, no deal has come anywhere close to being forged. 

Arsenal, while also some distance away from entering negotiations with the German giants, hold an advantage in manager Mikel Arteta’s previous association with City, when Sane was at the club.

Regardless, a mammoth bid would certainly be required to prise him away from Bayern clutches.

The reporter said: “There has been some speculation, but there are no talks between Bayern and Arsenal for Sane as of today. I don’t see Bayern selling Sane in January unless a crazy bid arrives.”

Dream Saka partner

Sane would be a signing of genuine title-chasing intent, an addition to the hungry pack that would likely cement the current position at the forefront of the Premier League, such is the calibre of player.

With Bukayo Saka Arsenal’s coveted asset on the offensive front, placing Sane into the fray would add a new dimension to the attack, providing quality to bounce off the young Englishman and create devastating transitions down both flanks.

Ranking in the top percentile for totals shots, the top 12% for dribbles completed, and within the top 10% for progressive passes received, when compared to positional peers across the past year, as per FBref, Sane is a vibrant tool, capable of providing a wealth of techniques to unlock defences and terrorise goalkeepers, both with direct assault and auxiliary support. 

At Man City, the 50-cap star flourished, forming a devastating triad alongside Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling and winning five major honours, including two Premier League titles. 

And during his stay he recorded 39 goals and 46 assists in 135 outings, emerging as one of the hottest offensive prospects in the division.

Should Arsenal forge ahead with a move, such feats could be emulated once more on English soil; the Gunners, sitting atop the league table at present, are free-flowing and have only been outscored by City this term.

With the likes of Saka scoring five goals and registering six assists already for the Gunners this term, adding Sane, who could alleviate the workload, would possibly complete the final piece of the puzzle as the club searches for major silverware once again. 

It might take a lucrative fee, with Bayern reportedly demanding £60m for his signature, but he would be worth every penny and would likely make an instant impact on the soaring season.

It might be difficult, but Gunners owner Stan Kroenke should break the bank and present Bayern with an offer they can’t refuse for the “unbelievable” star, as lauded by Bavarian boss Julian Nagelsmann, forming a formidable partnership with Saka on the flanks.

And with Arteta at the helm, having already signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from the Citizens this summer, Sane would have the perfect platform to integrate into the side, with the tantalising prospect of spearheading a new era at the Emirates Stadium. 

Tottenham Hotspur are now in pole position to complete the signing of Barcelona’s Franck Kessie.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target midfielder

Kessie only arrived at the Camp Nou in the summer transfer window, joining on a four-year deal upon the expiration of his contract with AC Milan.

However, it has recently been indicated that the Catalonian club would be willing to part with the central-midfielder in the January transfer window, with Spanish sources outlining a move back to Italy as a potential option, due to the move to Barcelona not working out.

With Tottenham looking to add more depth to their midfield options, Antonio Conte may consider a swoop for the Ivorian, instead bringing him to the Premier League.

The Latest: Tottenham in pole position

Sport Witness detail reports from Spanish outlet Sport that Spurs are leading the race to sign the 25-year-old, already contacting his current club regarding his availability, although Inter and Napoli are also in the running and have spoken to the player’s agent.

All three clubs are eager to complete the signing on a loan deal, but Tottenham are willing to include a purchase option in the finer details of the agreement, which could be a decisive factor, as could Conte knowing the maestro well from his time in Italy.

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The Verdict: Make it happen

Lauded as ‘fantastic’ by Serie A analyst Matteo Bonetti, the 60-time Ivory Coast international would be a quality signing for Conte, as shown by his impressive displays with former club AC Milan.

The £30m-rated ace’s exploits in the 2020-21 season were particularly impressive, weighing in with a remarkable 13 goals and 6 assists in Serie A from central-midfield, while last season he was a consistent performer en-route to his side winning the league title, registering an average SofaScore rating of 7.07.

In La Liga, Kessie is yet to hit the ground running, but in truth he has not been given long to adapt to his new surroundings, and if he given a consistent run of games at Tottenham, he could well emerge as a key player under Conte, capable of both scoring and assisting from deep.

Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-back Yerson Mosquera could be set for a departure from Molineux in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Turkish publication Takvim (via Sport Witness), who claim that Galatasaray are interested in a deal to take the 21-year-old on loan this winter, with the Super Lig side’s manager Okan Buruk said to have ‘already approved this transfer’.

The report adds that, with the Colombian defender yet to make his Premier League debut for Wolves, he is ‘willing to go to another team’ for the second half of the campaign, although it remains unclear as to whether Julen Lopetegui would approve Mosquera’s departure.

Big mistake

Mosquera has not featured overly regularly since his £4.5m move to Wolves last summer, while Lopetegui is reported to be targeting the signing of a new centre-back in January.

However, considering just how short the Spaniard currently is in terms of central defensive options, it’s easy to argue that it would be a big mistake to let the 21-year-old leave.

Indeed, Wolves’ decision to sanction the departures of Conor Coady, Willy Boly and Romain Saiss in the summer already appears to have been a disastrous call by the club’s transfer team. Toti’s injury leaves the Old Gold with just three senior centre-backs, and the backline has already shipped 24 goals in 15 league fixtures this term.

Also, with Lopetegui having already deployed a three-man backline in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last time out, it seems likely that this is a formation the 56-year-old will be calling upon once again when Premier League football resumes after the break for the World Cup. Therefore, in an ideal world, Wolves would possess at least six centre-back options to cover each role.

As such, even if the club were to sign two central defenders in January, greater depth would still be required in order to avoid the predicament in which the club currently find themselves, leading us at Football FanCast to believe that sanctioning Mosquera’s departure – even on a temporary basis – would indeed be a big mistake on the part of Lopetegui and his transfer team.

Newcastle United and owners PIF by extension are the ‘latest to join the hunt’ for Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Magpies flying…

Currently four points clear of fifth, Eddie Howe’s side are currently contending for a Champions League qualification place and have started this Premier League season off very brightly.

Newcastle also boast a supreme defensive record with only league leaders Arsenal conceding as few goals as the Magpies – potentially filling supporters with enthusiasm they could be back in Europe sooner rather than later.

PIF’s takeover of the club appears to have kickstarted a bright and positive new era, and it appears Howe will get the attempting backing of his owners to further upgrade their squad.

The Latest: Newcastle ‘latest to join’ Skriniar race…

Amid the Slovakia international’s contract dispute, Newcastle are the latest side to take a serious interest in signing Skriniar – who could be available as a free agent in 2023.

Reporter Graeme Bailey, taking to Twitter, explained:

“Inter Milan remain hopeful on Milan Skriniar contract as Premier League interest grows. Newcastle are latest to join the hunt Slovakian, who could be available for free in 2023.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

If the 27-year-old doesn’t agree to fresh terms in Italy, Newcastle should swoop in and take full advantage.

Called a ‘monster’ by members of the media, Inter’s star has been indispensable under Simone Inzaghi this season, with only Nicolo Barella playing more Serie A minutes (WhoScored).

Skriniar also ranks highly in terms of tackles, clearances and blocks made per 90 in the Italian top flight for Inter – and there is little debate he could replicate that form under Howe in the North East.

Frank Lampard has suggested that Tom Cannon, Isaac Price and Stanley Mills could all be involved for Everton in their Boxing Day clash at home to Wolves.

The Lowdown: Premier League returns

After the break for the World Cup in Qatar, the Premier League returns today with the first round of festive domestic fixtures.

The Goodison Park outfit are at home to bottom-of-the-table Wolves under new manager Julen Lopetegui, with Lampard under pressure to get his team off to a good post-World Cup start as they sit just outside the relegation zone themselves.

The likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Mason Holgate are reportedly fitness doubts for the game, while both James Garner and Andros Townsend have been ruled out with longer-term injuries and Conor Coady is ineligible to face his parent club.

The Latest: Youngsters involved?

Speaking before the match (via Liverpool Echo), Lampard has claimed that Cannon, Price and Mills could all be on the bench for Everton and be involved against Wolves, having impressed during their mid-season tour of Australia when the squad were trying to build up match fitness.

When asked about the trio’s possible involvement today, the Toffees manager said: “Without a doubt. They will have to continue and keep working and improving and not get disheartened if the opportunity doesn’t come as they see it after Australia and going forward. The more they train and the better they train then they will get opportunities.

“Isaac was probably our best player, he had a fantastic two games in Australia, Tommy Cannon has been playing regularly well, scoring and training with us. They have both got a lot to improve and learn in their game, that is absolutely normal, but at the minute they are part of the first team squad rather than part of the U21s that come up to us when we need them – with Stanley Mills as well.

“That can sometimes change as injured players return and stuff like that but at the minute they are training and they are training at a level that keeps the level high so they are definitely knocking on the door and possibly both – Isaac and Tommy and possibly Stan – could be on the bench on Boxing Day.”

The Verdict: Deserve their chance

Cannon, Price and Mills all deserve their chance in the Everton first team based on their performances in Australia and in training with the senior squad.

Cannon has been especially impressive for the under-21s this season, with 11 goals and three assists in 15 games so far, while the striker has also played twice under Lampard at senior level (Transfermarkt).

Price is also producing from central midfield, with four goals and two assists in 15 matches (Transfermarkt).

It will be interesting to see if the Everton manager decides to use any of those three from the bench as the Toffees take on Wolves this afternoon.