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Journalist Dean Jones has hinted that West Ham United could make a deadline day move for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.

The Lowdown: West Ham eye new attacker

The east Londoners have been linked with another attacking addition after completing the signing of striker Danny Ings from Aston Villa earlier this month.

Roma forward Nicolo Zaniolo has been mentioned in parts alongside Gallagher as Irons manager David Moyes attempts to reinforce his team’s fight for survival.

The Premier League strugglers are currently just one point off the drop zone with one victory in their last five games, potentially backing the need for a signing before tonight’s 11pm deadline.

The Latest: Jones hints at late West Ham move for Gallagher…

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones has teased the possibility of former Crystal Palace loanee Gallagher making a late move to the London Stadium.

He explained: “I am expecting them to do something. I mean, it’s West Ham and they’ve got gaps in the team, so I would say look out for Conor Gallagher; they could potentially go in for him again; they’ve already sounded him out and looked at that early on in the month.

“I think if Conor Gallagher is allowed out, particularly on loan today, then making an easy move across London could suit him, so I think that’s one to look out for.”

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The Verdict: Perfect player?

If Moyes want to add more creativity to his forward line at West Ham, Gallagher may be in the perfect mould if Chelsea do indeed sanction a loan deal for him.

As per WhoScored, the 22-year-old shone at Palace under Patrick Vieira last season whilst on loan, scoring eight goals whilst providing a further three assists in the English top flight. Gallagher also ranked as Palace’s best-performing player by average match rating, ranking in their top two for key passes made and completed take-ons per 90 in the final third.

West Ham are among the Premier League’s lowest goalscorers, with only Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Everton scoring fewer goals than Moyes’ side.

Ings’ injury also highlights the potential need for attacking reinforcements, and we believe that Gallagher could be perfect considering his form last season and previous plaudits.

Vieira heralded the Englishman during his loan spell at Selhurst Park, calling him a ‘really special’ player, and West Ham supporters may hope that their club can somehow pull off a late agreement for the 22-year-old.

Everton’s recent transfer activity is not usually tethered to positivity, and the recently concluded January window certainly left little to be desired on Goodison Park.

The Toffees were the only outfit in the Premier League to fail to complete a signing this winter, and despite landing Sean Dyche in the managerial role, the relegation-threatened outfit might just lament their lackadaisical approach come the end of the campaign.

An acquisition or two certainly would not have gone amiss, particularly in the offensive department, with Everton currently 18th and having scored just 16 goals in the division all season, behind only Wolverhampton Wanderers, but there were several panicked and frenetic attempts to bolster the forward firepower in the dying embers of the window that in hindsight might be viewed as a near miss.

With Dyche now at the wheel, and having pulled off a trademark win of resilience and grit in his first outing against none other than runaway league leaders Arsenal, there could finally be light at the end of the tunnel after several years of turmoil and strife within Goodison Park, with the former Burnley boss renowned for utilising the tools at his disposal and instilling cohesive tenacity within his squad.

As such, stricken striking options such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay might just rekindle the best of their form as the side looks to ascend from the murky waters at the depths of the top-flight, and recent pursuit of divisional aces such as West Ham United’s Michail Antonio might be viewed as near misses well avoided.

According to the Sunday Mirror (29/01, p78), Antonio was at the centre of interest from several Premier League outfits ahead of the culmination of the January window, with the 32-year-old stalwart’s contract up for expiry at the end of next season.

However, with the Toffees requiring an upturn in productivity and performance this season, it is unlikely that the ageing £85k-per-week forward would have offered more than the current crop on Merseyside.

Indeed, Antonio’s decline this season has coincided with his Irons outfit, with three successive league returns of ten goals a distant memory at present, with the Englishman having plundered just two league strikes all season despite playing 20 times.

And ranking among the bottom 11% of forwards across Europe’s big five leagues for rate of non-penalty goals over the past year, as per FBref, the “complete monster” that Antonio once was, as hailed by journalist Paul Brown, appears to have lost his panache.

In fact, his seasonal Sofascore rating of 6.72 does not exactly evoke confidence, especially when given that he would be trading one relegation battle for another, with the Toffees ostensibly fraught with more danger than the Hammers, who are in European competition and have lost just once across their past four league matches.

With his arrival, Everton might have faced a repeat of the infamous signing of Oumar Niasse, a £13.5m winter deal from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2016 and considered an overt failure after scoring just nine times from 42 appearances and was released at the end of his contract after scoring in just one of his three seasons donning the Blues’ shirt.

BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty once remarked that the deal is “comfortably one of the worst pieces of business Everton have ever conducted”, and there would certainly be fears that Antonio, approaching his twilight years, would bitterly add to such woes in the forward area.

Of course, Everton did not sign a single player and in fact, sold one of their most coveted assets in Anthony Gordon to Newcastle United for £45m, but with the recent victory in Dyche’s debut unrecognisable to the languishing Toffees squad that have sunk so heavily to the bottom of the division, there is hope yet that the ship can be turned around.

Leeds United are considering an approach for Steven Gerrard as their new manager, and he is ‘very keen’ to take over, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Search underway

Leeds have already been knocked back by several potential new managers, with Marcelo Gallardo and Mauricio Pochettino both uninterested in taking over at Elland Road.

With Feyenoord boss Arne Slot also rejecting the role, sporting director Victor Orta has had to turn his attentions elsewhere, and former Aston Villa boss Gerrard is now seen as an alternative option.

The Latest: Gerrard very keen

According to a report from Football Insider, the 42-year-old is ‘very keen’ on the job, as he would jump at the chance to return to Premier League management.

Leeds previously kept tabs on the Englishman during his time up in Scotland with Rangers, being seen as a top target when Marcelo Bielsa’s future was in doubt.

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The Verdict: Right appointment?

There is no hiding that the Liverpool legend struggled in his last managerial role, averaging just 1.18 points per match during his time with Villa, but that does not mean that he should be completely ruled out.

During his time with Rangers, Gerrard transformed the fortunes of the club, winning the 2020-21 Scottish Premiership title, after picking up a remarkable 102 points over the course of the season.

Former Villa goalkeeper coach Neil Cutler has lauded his former manager as being a ‘serial winner’ who has ‘unbelievable drive’, and these qualities will no doubt make him determined to succeed in his next role, which could be a boost for Leeds in their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Leeds United caretaker Michael Skubala will remain in charge at Elland Road for the club’s upcoming fixtures, Sky Sports report.

The Lowdown: Two games

Skubala, Chris Armas and Paco Gallardo have been thrown in at the deep end following Jesse Marsch’s departure last week. The trio oversaw back-to-back fixtures with Manchester United, with the Whites picking up one point despite two positive performances.

Leeds officials haven’t made any progress in regards to landing a new long-term coach, which has resulted in a significant update involving Skubala and co.

The Latest: Still in charge

Sky Sports reporter Tim Thornton was outside Elland Road on Tuesday evening to relay a Leeds managerial update.

He said that Skubala will remain in charge of the club’s ‘crucial’ upcoming fixtures with Everton and Southampton alongside Armas and Gallardo and said ‘at last there is some clarity’ in the short term. Thornton added that the Leeds board will continue to work behind the scenes on a long-term solution.

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The Verdict: A mess

Leeds have taken so long in their search for Marsch’s successor that the American himself already appears to have found a new job with Southampton.

It has been a messy 10 days at Elland Road, but as Thornton says, at least there is some short-term clarity with Skubala in charge, where hopefully, he will carry on the good work he has done in a short space of time against sides that are in and around Leeds in the table.

Keeping him in the position could be a shrewd move, should the club pick up positive results against Everton and Southampton, however, if those fixtures fail to produce a Whites win, the Elland Road faithful could well turn on the board.

Southampton centre-back Mohammed Salisu could return to the team for today’s trip to Leeds United, Ruben Selles has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Salisu injured

Salisu has made 20 appearances for Southampton in the Premier League this season, emerging as a very important player, however he missed last week’s 1-0 victory against Chelsea.

The centre-back picked up a knock prior to the trip to Stamford Bridge, meaning he was omitted from the matchday squad, however there has now been a promising update, which indicates he could return this weekend…

The Latest: Set to return?

As quoted by Hampshire Live, recently appointed manager Selles clarified that the defender could be a part of his plans this afternoon, saying:

“We had [Mohammed] Salisu back in training this week. And we’re’ not sure that he will play but he has the option to play tomorrow and the rest of the squad is fit and ready to go.”

The Verdict: Good news

Hailed as ‘brilliant’ by members of the media, the 23-year-old has very much impressed in recent weeks, being ranked by Sofascore as the best player on the pitch against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, despite the Saints losing 2-1.

The 6 foot 3 colossus put in a performance of a similar standard in the 2-0 EFL Cup victory against reigning Premier League champions Manchester City, winning all of his aerial duels and making five clearances.

Selles’ side managed to keep a clean sheet in the Ghanaian’s absence last weekend, shutting Chelsea out to secure a vital 1-0 victory, but the new manager will still be very happy to have his first-choice centre-back available again.

Given the level of Salisu’s displays in recent weeks, it would not be a surprise to see either Jan Bednarek or Armel Bella-Kotchap drop to the bench, but it will be a tough call for Selles, after the much-improved performance last time out.

Everton are interested in a summer move for Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: Everton missed out in January

The Toffees were linked with a move for the Colombian in the January transfer window, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that talks were held, but the two clubs could not reach an agreement.

Everton wanted to bring in the striker on an initial loan with an option to buy, but Atalanta insisted that the deal was permanent, so no agreement came to fruition.

The 31-year-old will have just one year left on his contract at the end of the season, and a move to Goodison Park could still be on the cards…

The Latest: Everton still interested in Zapata…

According to reports from Colombia (via Sport Witness), Everton are still in the mix to sign the forward in the summer despite missing out in January, although there is also interest from elsewhere.

The Atalanta player may be tempted to remain in Serie A amid interest from Torino and Fiorentina, but a move to Merseyside is a possibility, should Sean Dyche’s team avoid relegation.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed by commentator Matteo Bonetti as a ‘freight train of a striker’ who is ‘excellent in the air’, the marksman has a very impressive scoring record with his current club, netting 80 times in 179 appearances while also claiming 42 assists.

The 34-cap Colombia international not only excels in aerial situations, he is also very good at crafting opportunities which lead to attempts on goal, as indicated by his ranking in the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 in the past year.

That said, the former Napoli man is starting to show his age, scoring just once in Serie A all season, having become more of an impact player rather than a regular starter.

As such, Everton should continue to monitor Zapata for the remainder of the campaign, and if his form improves, there are plenty of signs that he would be an astute signing in the summer, especially given the Toffees’ current lack of a potent finisher.

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has claimed that Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca will be back in contention to start again “very soon” following recent injury issues.

What’s the latest on Marc Roca and Leeds?

The Whites managed to pick up an absolutely vital three points in the Premier League this weekend as they beat fellow relegation candidates Southampton 1-0.

Indeed, it seems as though the club got that new manager bounce with Javi Gracia now in charge and overseeing the crucial win which was decided by a single goal from Junior Firpo.

Having missed the last three league games due to injury, Roca returned to the bench against the Saints to make a four-minute cameo late on.

While talking about the player on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan noted that the player was “buzzing” after the win and tipped the Spaniard to start again soon.

He said (23:58): “I think Roca coming into this side, we’d get the ball on the back foot and he’d just switch it and he’d look at moving forward instead of laterally and back all the time. What are your thoughts on that?

“Because obviously he’s going to be coming back. He was celebrating yesterday. I mean, I was next to him on the touchline, he was buzzing and it looks like he’s going to be coming back into the setup very very soon in terms of contention for the starting eleven.”

Will Roca start for Leeds again soon?

Roca arrived from Bayern Munich for a reported fee of £10m in the summer and instantly established himself as a regular under former manager Jesse Marsch.

His lack of fitness meant, new boss Gracia opted to start Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie in the middle of the park against Southampton, with the Spaniard coming on for Patrick Bamford as a late defensive sub to help see out the game.

It remains to be seen if Gracia will persist with the same 4-2-3-1 set-up he played this weekend and who would drop out of the team if Roca was to come back in.

After this win, perhaps the Spanish manager will be hesitant to switch up his starting XI too much and with Roca still working his way back to full fitness, he might not come right back in.

Still, the Whites do have an FA Cup match against Fulham mid-week and so perhaps that will be the perfect time to tinker with the team a little and throw Roca back into the mix.

Tottenham Hotspur are likely to be gearing up for what could be another summer transfer saga involving record goalscorer, Harry Kane, with the 29-year-old facing an uncertain future in north London as the end of his current deal looms large.

The England skipper – whose existing contract is set to expire in 2024 – is said to be ‘open’ to extending his deal at the club, although speculation is rife that the 80-cap sensation could be bound for pastures new, amid interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United.

It was just over 18 months ago that the prolific marksman was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and had even attempted to force an exit to the Etihad, albeit with the typically stubborn Daniel Levy having thwarted that interest with his reported valuation of more than £120m.

That failure to seal a departure has hardly made an impact on the experienced striker as he has remained the go-to man for the club since then, notably bagging 18 league goals already this season as well as 20 goals in all competitions – ensuring he is the only member of Antonio Conte’s squad to reach double figures this term.

Evidently a crucial figure for Spurs, it would be an obvious blow if Kane were to move on any time soon, with it likely to prove an almost impossible task for Conte and co to be able to replace him.

As such, rather than taking the risk of splashing the cash on a high-profile new addition that may not ultimately be a success, Tottenham could potentially save themselves millions by looking to the youth ranks to find a suitable candidate – with teenage starlet Jamie Donley no doubt one such option.

Who is Spurs starlet Jamie Donley?

The promising Northern Irishman – who has represented England at youth level – could well be the next gem to emerge from Spurs’ academy set-up, having even been branded as the ‘new Harry Kane’ in recent times, as per the Belfast Telegraph.

The eye-catching 18-year-old – who signed his first professional contract just over a year ago – has been a real standout figure in the youth ranks of late after bagging 24 goals and nine assists in just 39 games for the U18’s, while he boasts 11 goal involvements in 27 games across all fronts this season.

Clearly a real ruthless presence in front of goal, Donley was recognised for his talents by earning an inclusion in the Guardian’s Next Generation list for 2021 – showcasing the top 20 youngsters across the Premier League – with journalist David Hytner writing that the young dynamo has been ‘noted for his tenacity and finishing ability’.

The exciting left-footer was also the recipient of notable praise from journalist Josh Bunting back in November, with the respected source having stated: “Jamie Donley what a talent he is, 17 years of age and I have no doubt if he keeps his head down he’ll have a bright future in the game. Natural finisher but his work-rate is really good, has a nice attitude and will get better as he matures. Could see a loan really benefit him.”

As Bunting acknowledged, Donley may have to follow Kane’s path in trying his luck out on loan before making the grade in the first-team, although the hope will be that he can eventually rise to become the club’s leading figure in attack.

It has been one year since a Wolves striker scored in the Premier League, something which would perhaps not be an issue for Julen Lopetegui if Kevin Doyle was still at Molineux.

Raul Jimenez, Diego Costa, Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan have all tried and failed for the Old Gold in the top flight, with their goalscoring issues a significant factor in their ongoing battle against relegation this season.

However, it has not always been an issue for the Midlands club, as former Republic of Ireland striker Doyle was a consistent source of goals in the Mick McCarthy era at Molineux.

How good was Kevin Doyle for Wolves?

Wolves would sign Doyle from Reading for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2009 and he would spend six years at the club before departing for Colorado Rapids in 2015.

It was something of a coup for the Old Gold given that the former Cork City man had hit 56 goals for Reading in 156 appearances, including 18 the season prior in the second tier, and his impressive goalscoring return would continue with his new club.

His debut campaign in the 2009/10 season saw him hit nine goals and one assist in 34 Premier League appearances, and he followed that up with another seven goals and six assists in all competitions the following season.

2011/12 and 2012/13 were disastrous years for Wolves as they suffered back-to-back relegations to League One but Doyle certainly couldn’t be blamed for their demise, as he contributed 14 goals and 14 assists across those two seasons.

McCarthy was full of praise for his striker’s “awesome” performance in August 2011 when he inspired the Old Gold to a 2-0 win against Fulham.

He said:

“Him and Fletch (Steven Fletcher) were the epitome of the team. They led from the front and worked the defence really hard.

“And ‘Doyler’ deserved his goal from a fabulous performance.

“He carved the first opening for himself and a couple of the lads might have been complaining he didn’t lay it off but I thought he was right to have the shot. I think he was just knackered and off balance at the end and put it over the bar. But his goal was terrific.”

Given Jimenez’s woes in front of goal across the last two seasons as a Wolves player, Lopetegui will be wishing he had a reliable finisher such as Doyle in his side for the rest of the campaign, as the Spaniard looks to steer the Old Gold well away from relegation trouble.

Tottenham Hotspur are all but certain to move on from Antonio Conte in the coming months, if not weeks, and another Premier League manager is thought to be in contention to replace him…

Will Antonio Conte leave Tottenham?

March has seen the Lilywhites crash out of both the FA Cup, losing to lower league opposition yet again, and the Champions League, leaving the Italian and his squad only fighting for a top-four finish once again.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano recently claimed that Conte is likely to leave his post when his contract expires in June, meaning chairman Daniel Levy will be tasked with finding his 15th manager in 22 years and ninth of the last decade.

That search could even be sooner after the 53-year-old’s recent media outburst at the players and Levy, following their 3-3 draw with Southampton over the weekend.

What’s the latest on Tottenham’s interest in Roberto De Zerbi?

Brighton and Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi has emerged as a candidate to take over from his fellow countryman after his impressive work on the south coast, according to Matt Law of the Telegraph.

Meanwhile, fellow journalist Dean Jones has since provided a fresh update on the situation to GiveMeSport, where he claimed the 43-year-old ‘will be one of five or six candidates’ in the running to succeed Conte at Hotspur Way.

De Zerbi was the Seagulls’ replacement for Chelsea-bound Graham Potter in September 2022 and he has continued the Englishman’s fine work by steering his side to seventh in the Premier League standings thus far.

Is De Zerbi a good appointment for Tottenham?

Boasting a 50% win rate across all competitions from his 24 matches in charge, the Brescia-born tactician has carried on where Potter left off and has Brighton well-placed to earn European football next term and he’s done so by making them exciting in attack yet still resolute defensively.

Indeed, the south coast outfit have conceded nine fewer goals than Spurs, who under Conte are supposed to be a defensively-minded machine whilst, in the absence of a true striker, they have still found the net more times than Newcastle United and Manchester United, both of whom are above them in the table.

As Pete O’Rourke recently described it to GiveMeSport, De Zerbi would be an “exciting appointment” for Spurs, thanks to his “attacking” and “slick” football and it could lend some similarities to when Mauricio Pochettino arrived at the club.

He – just like the Italian – impressed at a ‘lesser’ side in the English top-flight, with his work at Southampton catching the eye of Levy back in May 2014.

And the parallels between the two don’t just stop there as the pair both raised the stock of many players within their respective squads, whilst also achieving impressive results on the pitch.

De Zerbi has also shown a ruthless streak, axing his top goalscorer Leandro Trossard in January, which is something that Pochettino was renowned for – if you didn’t put in the work, you were gone, as former goalkeeper Brad Friedel once recalled to beIN SPORTS.

As such, given the evidence above, Levy and the club’s hierarchy could well discover their next Pochettino by hiring De Zerbi to replace the under-fire and erratic Conte in the coming months.

He’d certainly bring a more attacking and vibrant style to N17, something that should have the Lilywhites’ faithful purring with excitement.