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Chelsea are going into the January transfer window loving the Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez but will not pay over the odds for the Argentine.

What’s the word?

Reliable journalist David Ornstein has claimed the Blues have entered the January market with a midfield reinforcement firmly on their radar and Fernandez is certainly one of their options. However, he has also said the Londoners will be disciplined in their pursuit of the gem who shone at the World Cup.

“I can tell you that Chelsea love Enzo Fernandez. They love Jude Bellingham as well,” Ornstein told NBC Sports.

“There’s no doubt that they are focusing on Enzo Fernandez but not at all costs, reports that they have agreed or are on the verge of agreeing a deal, as my understanding are not quite accurate. That’s not to say that they won’t. It’s to say that they won’t be held to ransom. They’re going to be disciplined in this situation.”

The future of the 21-year-old appears to be up in the air following his success in Qatar with Benfica reportedly expected to hold out for the player’s €120m (£106m) release clause if he is to leave this month.

Fabrizio Romano has suggested the 21-year-old would green-light a move to Stamford Bridge despite only making the move to Portugal last summer from River Plate in a deal believed to be worth in the region of €12m (£10.6m).

Blues won’t be bullied

Although Ornstein has suggested the Blues are in love with this player, he did also make it clear that Todd Boehly will not be bullied into paying over the odds for the midfielder on the back of his displays for Argentina.

During his displays for Argentina which saw him awarded the Young Player of the Tournament award, the 21-year-old completed the most tackles and most passes into the final third of the pitch among all players in the Qatar competition (via Squawka).

However, it is not just in the World Cup where he has shone with previous praise coming from journalist Guilherme Lopes in 2022 where he claimed the player “has everything to be world-class”.

High praise for a player who is clearly providing a huge influence despite being just 21. But it is still a huge price to potentially pay for a player who hasn’t played a full campaign in Europe yet.

It is also believed Chelsea hold a strong interest in the West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice ahead of this summer’s transfer window – a player with vast Premier League experience at a young age.

Albeit with Rice playing for a struggling West Ham side, this season has seen Fernandez attempt on average 45 more passes per 90 minutes than the Englishman (via Fbref).

And the Argentine has a much, much higher pass completion rate than the West Ham midfielder but Rice does edge Fernandez when it comes to tackles completed per 90 – although only marginally (via Fbref).

With Rice and England international and established Premier League player, his price tag will likely be in a similar range to Fernandez so it will be interesting to see what avenue Boehly goes down in the coming months.

Scottish champions Celtic could well be facing the prospect of losing another promising academy asset, amid reports of significant interest in teenage playmaker, Rocco Vata.

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet, Tuttomercatoweb (via Milan Live), the 17-year-old gem is believed to have caught the eye of a host of Europe’s top clubs, with the likes of Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus all said to be tracking his progress at present.

This follows a previous report from back in October which also named Premier League sides Manchester City and Arsenal as potential suitors, with the Republic of Ireland youth international having only 18 months left on his existing deal at Parkhead.

This worrying news comes amid recent claims that fellow youth stars Ewan Otoo and Bosun Lawal are also the subject of hefty interest, with the Old Firm giants having only recently seen young Scotsman, Ben Doak poached by Liverpool.

Forget Juranovic

At first-team level, the major talking point with regard to outgoings has been centred around Josip Juranovic, with the Croatian international appearing likely to depart next month after contract negotiations hit an impasse.

While the 27-year-old has been a regular fixture under manager Ange Postecoglou over the past year or so – featuring 50 times since his £2.5m arrival last summer – the loss of the right-back may not represent too great a blow, with the Hoops having already moved to secure Canadian international Alistair Johnston as a suitable replacement.

With academy graduate Anthony Ralston also currently thriving at full-back, with three assists to his name this season, the loss of Juranovic can seemingly be accommodated for should he move on in the New Year.

In the case of Vata, however, there will be undoubted fears at losing such a promising talent who is only just beginning to take his first steps at senior level, with the teenager having made his debut off the bench in the recent win over Hibernian.

The “impressive” talent – as lauded by youth coach Darren O’Dea – had been part of the club’s recent trip to Sydney during the World Cup break, after also earning a place in the travelling party for the pre-season trip to Austria.

That involvement in the first-team squad is an indication of just how highly thought of the 5 foot 9 gem is at Paradise, having also been described as a figure who could well go right “to the top” in the game, according to O’Dea.

Such quality has been evident in the youth ranks in recent times with Vata – whose father, Rudi, previously played for the Bhoys – having scored ten goals in 23 games in all competitions this term, including eight goals in just 14 Lowland League games for the club’s ‘B’ team.

Hopefully, he can go on to build on his recent senior bow and establish himself in the side over the coming months, although the concern will be that one of those multiple interested parties looks to pounce sooner rather than later.

While cashing in on Juranovic may be an astute move, Celtic must do all they can to avoid losing Vata.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr is being targeted by Italian outfit Salernitana, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Sarr’s Tottenham career

Spurs signed the youngster from Metz in the summer of 2021 but immediately loaned him back to the French club so that he could continue his development in Ligue 1, making 33 appearances in the division in 2021/22.

Now that he is back with Tottenham, his game-time has been limited. However, he has recently started to feature more often, appearing in the last two matches as a substitute, perhaps signalling that Antonio Conte would be unwilling to sell the 20-year-old.

The Latest: Salernitana interested in Sarr

According to a report from Tutto Salernitana (via Sport Witness), Salernitana are making a new attempt to sign the youngster, with their sporting director Morgan De Sanctis resuming contact with Tottenham over a potential move for the player.

Competition is said to be fierce, but it is claimed that Sarr is said to be ‘fascinated’ with playing in Serie A, which could give the Granata a boost in the race for his signature.

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The Verdict: Unlikely

While the move could have happened earlier in the season when the Senegal international was not receiving much game-time, it now seems unlikely that Conte will want to part with Sarr after his recent cameo appearances.

Against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, the youngster looked impressive after coming off the bench, registering a 95% pass accuracy while also winning three of the four duels that he contested, getting very much involved in the game despite only featuring for 24 minutes.

Lauded as a ‘huge prospect’ by journalist Ryan Taylor, it would be unwise to sell Sarr now that he is exhibiting such promising signs, and Conte should continue to give him opportunities in the first team so that he can continue his development.

Scottish champions Celtic reportedly remain well placed to sign Jeonbuk striker, Cho Gue-sung, despite the emerging rival interest in the South Korea international.

What’s the word?

As per Football Scotland, the Parkhead outfit have been joined in the race for the 24-year-old’s signature by Old Firm foes, Rangers, albeit with the Light Blues having yet to make an offer for the forward.

Writing on Twitter about that developing story, journalist Mark Hendry has revealed that the Hoops – who have reportedly made a £3m bid for the highly-coveted sensation –  are still in a “strong position” to get the deal done.

The transfer insider stated: “Key element to note is #RangersFC have not yet made concrete bid while #CelticFC have been in negotiations for a while. Hoops still in very strong position.”

Sky Sports have also since revealed that the Bhoys are ‘holding talks’ in London with the player’s current side in an attempt to strike a deal.

Bye-bye Giakoumakis

Despite the Gers having shown their interest in the 6 foot 2 menace, it would appear that Ange Postecoglou’s side are still a leading candidate in the battle for the forward, with Cho’s arrival potentially set to help alleviate the exit of Greek marksman, Giorgos Giakoumakis.

The 28-year-old has been unable to agree terms regarding an improved deal with the Glasgow side, with the contract impasse sparking suggestions that the former VVV-Venlo ace could be allowed to depart this month.

The latest speculation is that the £12k-per-week man could be on his way to J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds, while transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed that the imposing marksman is attracting interest from a raft of suitors across the globe, including Serie A outfit, Sampdoria.

The 6 foot 1 powerhouse has typically been a free-scoring presence for the Hoops to date with 25 goals in 56 games across all fronts, although he has failed to score in the Scottish Premiership since October after featuring off the bench in each of his last eight league outings.

That lack of game time should indicate that Postecoglou may well be planning for life without the one-time AEK Athens man, with the addition of Cho only set to help hasten Giakoumakis’ departure from the club.

The Korean hotshot has been in prolific form at club level in recent times after netting 21 goals in 35 games during the most recent K-League campaign, having also starred at international level with six goals and two assists in just 20 appearances.

Not only is the former FC Anyang man able to match Giakoumakis’ finishing prowess, but he can also offer a physical presence and a focal point when leading the line, having been described as a “real handful for defenders” by journalist Pete O’Rourke.

As such, managing to get Cho through the door should well ensure that it is the ideal time to say goodbye to Giakoumakis.

Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in Club Brugge’s Noah Mbamba this month and the versatile youngster could prove to be Patrick Vieira’s own version of Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany at Selhurst Park.

Sports Witness relayed an update from Kicker regarding the 18-year-old, claiming that German side Bayer Leverkusen are edging closer to a summer move after agreeing on terms with the player.

However, the report adds that Palace and Chelsea have ‘made efforts’ to sign Mbamba this month and would be willing to pay Brugge a transfer fee, which could see him opt for a move to the Premier League rather than the Bundesliga.

Any transfer fee for the teenager is likely to be a minimal one, as his contract at the Jan Breydel Stadium is set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

Mbamba might only be 18 but he already has experience playing in the Belgian top flight and the Champions League with Brugge, boasting 25 senior appearances in his career thus far.

The Belgium U19 international has featured as both a defensive midfielder and a centre-back in that time, so he could offer plenty of versatility at Selhurst Park should he join Vieira’s side this month.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig clearly rates Mbamba highly, as he has done a full scout report on the youngster on his website, where he describes him as a similar player to Kompany.

The current Burnley manager would start his career in Belgium with Anderlecht, also as a defensive midfielder and a centre-back before moving to Hamburg and later Manchester City, where he would go on to establish himself as a club legend, making 360 appearances for the Citizens.

He will be fondly remembered by City fans for his role in their transformation, as he helped the Etihad outfit to four Premier League titles, two FA Cup wins and four League Cup wins during his spell with the club.

Amongst other things, Kulig describes Mbamba as a complete, elegant and dominant centre-back, which certainly bodes well for his potential in the game.

If he can become even half of the player that Kompany was, he would surely be a worthwhile signing for Eagles CEO Steve Parish to sign off on during this month’s transfer window.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will undoubtedly be whirring the cogs in his head at full force as he looks to devise a solution to the club’s current woes, and might delve into the transfer market for a signing to make an instant impact. 

With prolific forward Cody Gakpo already sealed several weeks ago, joining from PSV Eindhoven on an initial £35m deal, the onus appears to be firmly on the centre of the park, with a raft of potential signatures within the transfer discussion. 

One potentially shrewd acquisition comes in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielderRuben Neves, with the assiduous ace out of contract at the end of next season and consequently touted for an exit this year, with the Old Gold possibly seeking to recuperate the reported £15m fee that secured his services from homeland outfit FC Porto in 2018. 

A few days ago, according toFootball Insider, the Reds have identified Neves as an alternative to West Ham United’s Declan Rice, who has been heavily touted with a move away from east London across recent weeks. 

With Liverpool technical director Julian Ward holding a purse with scant funds to bolster the squad further, a move for the Portuguese midfielder might indeed be the most prudent avenue to delve down. 

Performances on the pitch are indeed a glaring indication that the current crop at Anfield are failing to match their manager’s aspirations, with the dejecting results partnered by a stark decline in intensity and cohesion following a preceding campaign that saw the Merseyside outfit clinch the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. 

Fresh talent is paramount, and in the 25-year-old machine, Liverpool could recharge the batteries and steer the ship back on course before facing the business end of the season with resources that might prove to be inefficient in the fight for Champions League football next season. 

The “beast” that is Neves – as hailed by ex-USMNT star Jimmy Conrad – has made 236 appearances for Wolves since his arrival, and this season has recorded a commendable average Premier League rating of 7.27, as per Sofascore, completing 84% of his passes, making 2.6 tackles and 2.4 clearances from his sweeping role in the centre.

The club might be mulling over signing the industrious maestro in the summer, but his inclusion for the remainder of the current campaign could replicate the success the club had in the early stages of Klopp’s tenure in signing Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for £75m, in a deal that served as the catalyst for a prosperous era for the distinguished outfit. 

Van Dijk indeed arrived with a weight of expectation following the lucrative fee, but duly lived up to it with his mesmeric defensive performances and supreme leadership and composure, a central figure in monumentally winning the Premier League and Champions League, among a host of further trophies.

And joining in a January window himself, his profound impact on his side could be something that the £58k-per-week Neves could also harness, indeed bolstering the midfield ranks with his tenacious approach and unwavering physicality.

As such, Klopp would be wise to push for a deal before the culmination of the January window in less than two weeks; while perhaps not the same calibre of signing, the impact that Neves could make at Anfield would emulate Van Dijk’s legendary signing, instilling abundant confidence and fluidity and mapping the way to prominence once again.

Vinny O’Connor has claimed live on Sky Sports that he expects Frank Lampard to lose his job at Everton at some point today.

The Lowdown: Change on the horizon

As things stand, not many people would be backing Everton to avoid the drop as they sit second from bottom and have won just once in their last 14 games across all competitions, leaving the Toffees in real danger.

Their two most recent defeats have been the most damaging, with Everton losing to relegation rivals Southampton and West Ham in back-to-back meetings, as well as Wolves not long before that.

Therefore, talk of Lampard being sacked won’t be much of a surprise. However, it won’t likely please Evertonians given they are desperate for change at boardroom level, rather than simply in the dugout.

The Latest: Lampard set for the sack

O’Connor has been positioned outside of Everton’s Finch Farm training ground as many await the news of what the future holds for Lampard – and it doesn’t look positive.

He said: “I think there is an inevitability about it. In fact, we are hearing that, effectively, a decision has been taken and the expectation is that at some point today, it will be announced that Frank  Lampard will be leaving his post as Everton manager.”

The Verdict: Writing has been on the wall

It’s simply inexcusable for a club like Everton to be languishing in the bottom three, and while many will point towards the board for this, the fact that Lampard has recently lost against teams who’ve all been in the bottom three at kick-off shines a very poor light on the beleaguered boss.

Therefore, even if a new manager only brings about a small bounce back, it would be better than the current form they are showing – and Farhad Moshiri will surely be looking to do anything he can to keep the club in the league, despite bizarrely claiming that sacking Lampard would not be his responsibility.

However, doing so would be in the owner’s interests, as aside from maintaining the club’s top-flight status, Moshiri has reportedly been looking to sell the club, and if they were to drop down into the Championship, the value would likely plummet significantly.

Azzedine Ounahi remains a “top target” for Leeds United heading into the final few days of the January transfer window…

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist and transfer insider Dean Jones, who provided a recent update on the Whites’ pursuit of the Angers SCO midfielder to GIVEMESPORT.

“Ounahi is still a top target for Leeds,” he said.

“From what I hear, they are still trying to persuade Angers to let him out but, at the moment, it’s hard to tell whether it’ll happen.”

It’s thought that the Ligue 1 outfit is asking for around €30m (£26m) to let the Morocco international this month, with some reports suggesting that the Yorkshire giants had offered only €25m (£22m).

Forget Wober

If director of football Victor Orta wants to end Leeds’ winter window with a bang, then he ought to get a move for Ounahi over the line.

It’s all good adding some much-needed quality to the backline, bringing in the versatile Max Wober, but it means very little if they aren’t getting the right protection in front.

Without Kalvin Phillips, the Whites perhaps lack that defensive midfield enforcer and whilst Tyler Adams and Marc Roca are regular starters after their switch to Elland Road in the summer, their partnership still leaves the side exposed at times.

Last weekend’s 0-0 draw to Brentford ended a run of four successive games in which the side have leaked two or more goals, and it was also just their third shutout since early October.

Ounahi would offer that solid protection as the 22-year-old averaged 1.3 tackles and one interception per game on the biggest stage, the World Cup. He’s certainly consistent as he has offered his side the same returns domestically this season.

It’s just his performances in Qatar that heightened his qualities best, with former Premier League-winning boss Jose Mourinho lauding him as “absolutely incredible,” whilst scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him a “revelation” for his country.

The talent-spotter’s glowing review of the “box-to-box” machine should also help alleviate fears that he wouldn’t flop after such global hype, suggesting that the 22-year-old is “fast and dynamic,” has “excellent technique, touch and close control” and is defensively reliable.

FBref liken his statistical profile to that of Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, which bodes well for his long-term potential in the game and whilst neither are defensive animals, he is also compared to Matteo Guendouzi and Seko Fofana, who are workhorses in their own right.

Ounahi ranks inside the top 1% of all midfielders across Europe for dribbles completed per 90 over the last year, which highlights just how impressive his ball retention is – an asset that would be beneficial to manager Jesse Marsch as he looks to protect his backline with more reinforcements.

The Angers man may be no Phillips but he’s certainly an unreal player that would add a lot to this Leeds squad. As such, he could be the best bit of business Orta makes this week.

AND in other news, “Interesting” – BBC man accuses Jesse Marsch of false comment after Leeds draw…

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has been left buzzing after the news that Leeds United defender Diego Llorente is set to leave the club.

What’s the word?