Liverpool suffered two worrying injuries to key players in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City, and journalist James Pearce has provided an update on the influential pair.

Liverpool's injuries vs Man City

The Reds picked up an impressive result in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, battling their way to an excellent point away to the reigning champions.

Prior to the game, City had won all 23 home matches they have played in all competitions in 2023, but Jurgen Klopp's men proved to be a match for them at the Etihad, showing off their title credentials in the process.

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Erling Haaland opened the scoring before half-time, making the most of some questionable defending to fire past Alisson, and it looked as though Liverpool could be on their way to a damaging defeat in Manchester. Thankfully, Trent Alexander-Arnold equalised with an inch-perfect finish with time running out, however, earning his side a hard-fought draw at the home of last season's Champions League winners.

There were two negatives to take from the game, though, with Diogo Jota leaving the field with an injury in the second half, and Alisson then going down in the dying seconds, with both looking like they may have potentially suffered hamstring issues. It is a big concern ahead of the festive fixtures, with Klopp needing as many of his key figures available as possible.

James Pearce drops Liverpool injury update

Taking to X after the game, Pearce confirmed that Liverpool pair Alisson and Jota are both "set for scans" on the injuries they picked up at City.

This is clearly concerning news for Liverpool, and the fact that scans are needed to determine the severity of the injuries does suggest that neither simply suffered cramp in a high-intensity encounter.

The idea of the Reds losing Alisson for a sustained period doesn't even bear thinking, considering the Brazilian is seen by many as the best goalkeeper in the world, and his influence has possibly been unrivalled at Anfield this season.

Even against City, on a day when he was far from his best, he still made a crucial save to deny Haaland just seconds before Liverpool went up the other end and equalised through Alexander-Arnold, and he is a colossal presence between the sticks.

Meanwhile, Jota would be another big miss, with the Reds forward scoring eight goals overall this season, and he is someone who does seem to pick up injuries on a frustratingly regular basis.

The hope is that the scans reveal that both Alisson and Jota have only suffered minor issues, potentially not even missing a Premier League game, but that could be wishful thinking, and it is easy to envisage Klopp having to make do without both for a chunk of action.

Not having Alisson available for a lengthy spell would be particularly galling for Liverpool supporters, with Caoimhin Kelleher a solid backup option but not someone a title-chasing team wants in their starting lineup every week, but the Reds do at least have Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo to call upon in attack without Jota around.

Dermot Desmond and the rest of the board decided to go down a familiar route over the summer as they opted to bring Brendan Rodgers back to Celtic for a second spell.

The Hoops were in need of a new head coach after Australian tactician Ange Postecoglou departed to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Rodgers left Leicester City earlier this year and was, therefore, available for the club to swoop for and he has enjoyed and endured a mixed start to his second stint in Glasgow.

The Bhoys are unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership with 11 wins and two draws from their opening 13 matches. However, they are also out of the League Cup after a 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock and are bottom of their Champions League group.

Their form has come off the back of a busy summer of transfer business as the Celtic boss was allowed to bring in nine new recruits; Marco Tilio, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Hyun-jun Yang, Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Odin Thiago Holm, Paulo Bernardo, Luis Palma, and Nat Phillips.

One of those signings has yet to kick a ball for the Scottish giants in a competitive match, though, and his future has now come into question ahead of the January transfer window.

Celtic transfer news – Marco Tilio

According to a recent report from the Daily Record, Tilio may consider a move away from Parkhead on a temporary basis ahead of the second half of the season.

The outlet claimed that the winger could secure a loan move to find regular game time in the first half of 2024 after a troubled start to life in Scotland.

After being signed before Rodgers arrived in Glasgow, the Australia international dealt with an issue and the Northern Irish boss confirmed that he would miss the start of the season.

However, the ex-Foxes chief did add that Tilio is an "exciting" player and this may have given supporters something to look forward to over the coming weeks. Yet, over four months on from those comments and the forward is yet to make his first-team debut for the Hoops.

A loan exit from Parkhead should not be on the cards for the talented ace, though, as a possible exit for Daizen Maeda could open the door for him to break into the side.

TEAMtalk reported in September that Tottenham are keeping close tabs on the Japan international ahead of a potential swoop to reunite him with Postecoglou in January.

The outlet claimed that it could take a fee of around £25m – the figure they recieved from Al Ittihad for Jota – in order to tempt Celtic into parting ways with him and it remains to be seen whether or not any clubs are willing to pay that.

If Maeda does leave, though, then Rodgers may already have the dream heir to his position in the team in Tilio, who he could unearth as an excellent option on the flanks.

Maeda's season in numbers

The 26-year-old whiz has not enjoyed a phenomenal start to the campaign and raking in £25m for him would represent a masterclass from the Hoops.

Maeda has only contributed with two goals and two assists in 12 Premiership appearances so far this season, which is an average of one goal involvement every three matches.

For context, Jota, who was sold for £25m and is two years younger, managed an eye-catching 11 goals and 11 assists in 33 league outings for the Scottish giants last season – one contribution every 1.5 games on average.

This suggests that Spurs, or any other side, would be overpaying to land the Japanese forward as he is older than the Portuguese whiz and affects games far less frequently as a wide player.

Maeda, who scored eight goals and provided five assists in 35 Premiership matches during the 2022/23 campaign, has also struggled at Champions League level.

Since the start of last season, the right-footed ace has played ten matches in Europe's premier cup competition and contributed with zero goals and one assist. He has missed three 'big chances' and only created one 'big chance' for his teammates during that period.

These statistics suggest that Maeda is not able to influence games with goals, assists or 'big chances' created on a regular basis – certainly not as regularly as Jota was able to do with the same price tag.

The statistics that show why Tilio could be Maeda's heir

Signed from Melbourne City for £1.5m, Tilio's form for his former club over the past two seasons indicates that he has the potential to come in as an upgrade on the Japan international if he does move on in January.

The 22-year-old wizard burst onto the scene as a regular contributor for his side during the 2021/22 campaign as he showcased his attacking quality as a scorer and a creator of goals.

Tilio ended that season with a return of five goals, five assists, and nine 'big chances' created, in 13 A-League starts and 24 appearances in total.

His nine 'big chances' provided and 1.6 key passes per game for his teammates suggest that the Australian ace deserved more than five assists to his name and proved that he has the quality to frequently open up opposition defences.

The left-footed gem, who was once compared to Manchester City and England star Phil Foden by talent scout Jacek Kulig, followed that up with a terrific 2022/23 campaign.

Tilio plundered an impressive ten goals and five assists in 29 A-League outings for Melbourne City, alongside winning two penalties for his side, and was then snapped up by Celtic.

The 5 foot 7 Hoops outcast, who was once hailed as a "phenomenal" talent by A-League striker Bruce Djite, has not had the opportunity to show whether or not he can translate that form over to Scottish football this season.

His return of one goal or assist every 1.93 matches last term for Melbourne is far more impressive than Maeda's aforementioned statistics out wide this term, which is why he could emerge as a dream heir for the Spurs target during the second half of the season.

Last week, Premier League clubs voted against banning loan moves between affiliated clubs in the aftermath of Newcastle United being linked with signing Ruben Neves in January, having left Wolves for £47m in January.

13 teams in the top flight voted in favour of the ban while seven rejected its premises. One of the seven contrarian voters were Newcastle, which may not have come as a surprise to many people as the Magpies are currently owned by the PIF which also has a majority stake in some of Saudi Arabia's biggest clubs; Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli.

Nevertheless, the striking down of the proposal has opened the door for Newcastle to dip into the Saudi Pro League market in January and head coach Eddie Howe has his sights set on one player in particular.

Gabri Veiga to Newcastle links

Speaking on the Premier League All-Access Podcast, journalist Alex Crook revealed that Newcastle United have turned their attention away from signing Neves and could well reignite interest in Gabri Veiga.

The Magpies were keen to secure Veiga's services during the summer but were pipped to his signature by Al-Ahli who activated the midfielder's £34m release clause.

Veiga broke onto the scene two years ago with his boyhood club Celta Vigo and came to the forefront of the minds of many elite clubs in Europe, especially after scoring 11 goals in 36 appearances in his first full campaign.

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti even hailed the youngster as being an "excellent" player, while Premier League outfit Arsenal were reportedly looking to sign the Spain international to replace the outgoing Granit Xhaka last season.

Regardless, Al-Ahli pipped all suitors to the signing of Veiga, handing the 21-year-old a three-year deal worth £10.4m per year. However, Veiga could be on the move already, with Newcastle set to come calling this winter.

How Gabri Veiga compares with Joelinton

Veiga has featured 12 times in all competitions for Al-Ahli this term and has scored once and registered two assists in the process, while featuring as a central midfielder, a holding midfielder and a number '10', according to Transfermarkt.

The Spaniard hasn't contributed to many goals under the guidance of 35-year-old head coach Matthias Jaissle but has still been a key component for the side who are currently sitting third in the league this term.

The former Celta man could be the perfect player to ease Joelinton out of the side if Howe can get his hands on the talented midfielder. In fact, Veiga even outperformed Joelinton in a number of key metrics last term when the pair were both plying their trades in Europe.

Goals

0.43

0.2

Expected Goals

0.24

0.24

Assists

0.16

0.03

Expected Assists

0.11

0.06

Key Passes

1.1

0.88

Switches

0.12

0.14

Passing Accuracy %

80.5

87

Progressive Passes

4.27

4.39

Progressive Carries

2.67

2.16

Tackles

1.69

2.36

Final 1/3 Tackles

0.16

0.27

Stats via FBref.

Newcastle have transitioned from a side battling to survive in the Premier League to one vying for titles and a place in Europe's elite club contest but the Magpies still boast just the ninth-highest possession average in the top flight with 53.2%, as per FBref.

Eventually, Howe will want his side to become more dominant on the ball and players like Veiga are a necessity for this.

While Joelinton is statistically more efficient defensively, Veiga trumped the Brazilian on several fronts, particularly in playmaking, despite being six years younger than his potential future teammate. Evidently, Veiga has a massive ceiling and could be the perfect player for the Geordie club to make the step to the next level.

Since the start of the 2023/24 season, Arsenal have been nothing short of dominant, with the side leading the way in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League Group B.

On Wednesday night in Europe, the Gunners raced out the blocks to secure a 5-0 lead by half-time versus Lens, with the tie concluding 6-0, a much more convincing victory than the 1-0 away win against Brentford.

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Mikel Arteta took the opportunity to rotate some of his key men in the second half in order to protect them from injury, with one of those being Bukayo Saka, who has suffered a couple of knocks this season already.

Because of this, the boss may look to reinforce the right-wing position in his side this transfer window.

Arsenal transfer news – Neto

As per TEAMtalk last week, Arteta is interested in signing the “elite” Pedro Neto, but it is rumoured that only a fee upwards of £60m will be considered by Wolves.

Manchester United and teams from Saudi Arabia also recognise Neto as a target, but the Portuguese winger’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has been in contact with the club from north London.

Despite the 23-year-old currently nursing an injury himself, Arteta is still a huge admirer of his talent, and Arsenal are the club who are most likely to acquire his services, with Neto wanting to remain in Europe.

How Pedro Neto compares to Bukayo Saka

The winger who can operate on either flank has plenty of similarities to Saka, who will inevitably be above him in the pecking order.

Much like the England international, Neto is “incredibly talented and physically gifted”, according to Wolves boss Gary O’Neil. Physicality and the ability to bounce off players to create or retain the ball, is one of Saka’s most important traits, therefore Neto would be like-for-like competition.

Both attackers are left-footed right-wingers which ensures build-up and attacking structure remains the same, with the wingers thriving in 1v1 scenarios where they can chop back onto their strong foot or go to the byline for a cutback.

Creativity is an attribute that both individuals possess, with Saka excelling at shot-creating actions per game (5.14), key passes (2.79) and assists (0.44), via FBref.

Also, bearing in mind that Neto plays in a far less dominant side, he produces almost identical numbers, 4.37 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, 2.54 key passes, and 0.71 assists. Each statistic above puts the two players in the top 90 percentile in the Premier League for those actions.

The only aspect of Neto’s game that doesn’t compare to Saka’s right now is his output in front of goal, only netting one goal this season, with the England international scoring four. However, Neto has proven he can still tear Premier League defences to shreds.

Indeed, he is more of a creator this campaign and has registered the most assists in the top flight, 7, which is two more than Arsenal’s star boy.

It is quite clear why Mikel Arteta views Pedro Neto as the perfect Saka back-up.

Sunderland are reportedly in danger of losing a player who could “amass a lot of caps” for his country, with a number of clubs interested in snapping him up.

Sunderland transfer news

The Black Cats could be in the market for new signings when the January transfer window opens, in order to boost their chances of being promoted from the Championship this season. Tony Mowbray's side currently sit ninth in the league table, following their 1-1 draw away to Millwall on Saturday, and added quality and depth could help get them out of what is a dip in form that has seen the manager's future thrown into doubt.

Sunderland have been linked with a number of players in recent weeks, with AFC Wimbledon forward Ali Al-Hamadi one player who is seen as a target for the Black Cats. Elsewhere, Peterborough United attacker Kwame Poku is considered another transfer target for Mowbray's men, as the club look to bring in attacking reinforcements.

On the flip side, however, Sunderland could keep it difficult to keep hold of certain players, one of which being Jack Clarke who has been linked with a winter window exit, and another update regarding a different individual.

Trai Hume could leave Sunderland

According to a worrying report from TEAMtalk, Sunderland youngster Trai Hume is wanted by a host of English clubs, ahead of a potential exit from the Stadium of Light, with the club tempted into selling due to the profit they can make.

"Burnley, Leicester City and Leeds United are among a host of clubs are looking at Sunderland full-back Trai Hume, TEAMtalk can reveal. Northern Ireland international Hume arrived at Sunderland from Linfield in 2022 in a bargain deal worth less than £200,000. The 21-year-old has impressed hugely and that has seen a host of clubs showing a strong interest in securing his services.

"TEAMtalk sources have told us that Premier League side Burnley, along with Championship promotion contenders Leicester and Leeds, are looking closely at Hume. Hume only signed a new long-term contract in the summer, now due to last until 2027 with the option of an extra year, but Sunderland will be tempted into a sale given the profit they can make on him."

Losing Hume could be a real setback for Sunderland, considering both the impact he is having at the moment and his long-term worth as a player. The 21-year-old's current influence is summed up by the fact that he has started all 19 Championship appearances so far this season.

Appearances

19

Tackle per game

3.3

Aerial duel wins per game

2.6

Clearances per game

1.6

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has heaped praise on his compatriot, too, saying he thinks he could be a regular for his country for years to come, along with Liverpool's Conor Bradley:

"I think Conor (Bradley has maybe more in his locker than just us seeing him as a right-back. The decision for me in the previous two games was that we played with a back three and I had seen Conor play consistently as a right wing-back for Bolton. Trai had played as a right-back or a left-sided centre-back in a three, but I see two very young players who I’d be very surprised if they don’t amass a lot of caps for Northern Ireland."

Sunderland appear to be in a strong position to retain Hume's services, as his Black Cats deal runs until the summer of 2027, but it'll be interesting to see if they are tempted to move him on at the right price.

Tottenham Hotspur ended a run of three successive defeats in the Premier League with a hard-fought draw against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, but will now need to return to winning ways to fight for a top-four spot.

Ange Postecoglou has worked wonders in north London since leaving Celtic for the Premier League in the summer. Still, while Spurs blitzed into form in the early stages of the season, the squad's thinness has unravelled the progress across recent weeks.

The injury-ravaged side is still only two points off fourth-placed Aston Villa and will have been galvanised by the point claimed at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the January transfer window must be utilised, and while the backline requires the most urgent attention, Postecoglou will be eager to strengthen his attacking options too.

Tottenham transfer news – Wilfried Gnonto

According to a piece from Football.London at the end of last month, Tottenham have shown an interest in signing Leeds United's Italian forward, Wilfried Gnonto.

According to Calciomercato, Leeds would look to recuperate €30m (£26m) for the 20-year-old, and whether Spurs would agree to such an outlay remains to be seen, despite the youngster's undoubted talent.

Gnonto handed in a transfer request in August as Everton pursued his signature for £25m and presented four official offers, and while efforts were rejected, there is now a clear sense that the Whites would grant his departure if their valuation was met.

Wilfried Gnonto's style of play

Gnonto was one of the bright sparks at Elland Road last season as Leeds crashed out of the Premier League, with the dynamic forward hailed for his "electric pace" and knack for being an "absolute nightmare for defenders" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Signing for Leeds from Swiss side FC Zurich for £4m in 2022, Gnonto only bagged four goals and assists apiece in his maiden term in England but succeeded in convincing a host of outfits of his quality, leading to a frenzy of activity for his signature this year.

The 13-cap Italy starlet ultimately remained in Yorkshire, however he has not been handed a regular starting berth under Daniel Farke's leadership and has started just six Championship matches, scoring one goal and supplying one assist.

Nonetheless, he is a tremendous talent and would be a fantastic addition to Spurs' budding dynasty, with Postecoglou perhaps initiating the next wave of attacking might down the N17 by completing a transfer.

Spurs' attacking segment is probably more secure than several other areas of the field, with the backline particularly flimsy and in need of reinforcements, but Gnonto would offer a special slice of quality to be moulded into something spectacular over the coming years.

And with Heung-min Son, aged 31, now shifted into the role of focal frontman – to great effect, by the way, scoring nine goals and providing two assists from 11 games in the English top-flight up top – there is space for such a player to make the move and earn a place against the likes of Brennan Johnson.

Why Tottenham should sign Wilfried Gnonto

Gnonto boasts pace and power and, principally placed on the left wing, could prove to be the perfect heir to Son's position in the team in the future, especially with Richarlison still flattering to deceive.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across divisions similar to the Championship over the past year, showcasing his aptitude as a "pocket rocket" – as has been claimed by pundit Tam McManus – barrelling into the danger area with attacking abandon.

His even spread of goals and assists for the Whites further evidences the protean ability that could replicate Son's prowess, with the South Korean machine posting 154 goals and 82 assists across his Spurs career.

With someone of Alejo Veliz's calibre awaiting a breakthrough to the starring centre-forward spot in the future too, Spurs really could hit the jackpot here.

Veliz, also aged 20, signed from Argentinan club Rosario Central for £13m in the summer and has been touted as the "complete" striker by Kulig, which could lead him to succeed Harry Kane as Spurs' talisman in the long-term.

Kane has been praised as a "phenomenon" by Bayern Munich sports director Christoph Freund after destroying German football since moving from Tottenham in the summer and ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 13% for assists and the top 19% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Competition

Apps

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

12

18

5

Champions League

5

4

2

DFL-Supercup

1

0

0

*Stats sourced via Transfermarkt

This evidences the 'complete' skill set that has cemented him as one of the finest players of his generation, and while they are big boots to fill, Veliz is viewed as a prospect with the potential to emulate the Lilywhites' record scorer, having been purchased as he departed.

For his part, the Argentinan ace ranks among the top 15% of forwards for goals, the top 1% for clearances and the top 12% for aerial wins per 90, which really does underscore the multi-functionality that became such an effective trademark of Kane's brilliant career at Tottenham.

With Veliz's natural ease in the striking role and Gnonto's marauding brilliance, Spurs really could unearth a strikeforce of immense quality for years to come.

With Son still plying his trade at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and capable of offering his guidance and skills to the respective pair, this could be a prudent investment that would pay off handsomely.

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Postecoglou and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will now need to juggle the club's needs and decide whether £26m could be spared for a player such as Gnonto this winter – or indeed if negotiations could whittle down the price, with Rodon used as a bargaining chip – but certainly, it might be a brilliant move that could be lauded down the line.

Newcastle United were flying high last season and rode the wave of the PIF’s influx of cash, eventually finishing inside the top four which had been the club’s best campaign for more than two decades.

However, the Magpies are now a product of their own success and are starting to feel the pressure of increased expectations mounting on their shoulders. An early exit from the Champions League and back-to-back defeats in the Premier League over the past week certainly haven’t helped to alleviate this burden.

A draw would have secured the Geordie outfit Europa League football heading into the new year but a rather naive game plan from the side saw them throw the kitchen sink at the possibility of qualifying for the UCL knockout phase.

A handful of players froze during the game and looked incapable of handling the pressure, particularly the entire forward line.

Newcastle United’s performance in numbers vs AC Milan

Eddie Howe set his team up in a typical 4-3-3 and deployed Miguel Almiron on the right, with Anthony Gordon positioned on the left flank. Callum Wilson was perhaps the only surprise addition to the side, having made his first start since the beginning of November after suffering from a hamstring problem.

Wilson looked off the pace from the get-go. The England international had four attempts on goal which came to a total xG of 0.42 on the night. Overall, the Magpies registered an xG of 1.78, so Wilson alone had roughly one-quarter of his team’s total xG.

Incidentally, Almiron had a larger share of the xG pizza on Wednesday night. The Paraguay international had three shots at goal and boasted an xG of 0.86 in total, but failed to convert a single opportunity. This number was heightened by a miss in the 20th minute where Almiron refused to go with his right foot to tap the ball into an open goal, allowing Fikayo Tomori to make a huge block.

On the opposite side, Gordon had only one shot, which tallied an xG of 0.03, before being hooked after the hour-mark by the manager.

For Howe, the most worrying aspect of his frontline’s performances will undoubtedly be the lack of service for the striker. Both Almiron and Gordon failed to create a single chance during the game and together didn’t even manage to put a successful cross into the box, according to FotMob.

When Alexander Isak entered the fray, the Swedish centre-forward created one chance which was more than both combined. However, as per FotMob, Newcastle’s top-scorer this season managed to take merely one shot in over 30 minutes on the pitch — a true indictment of the wingers’ performances.

As a result, Newcastle are now being linked with a wide player ahead of the winter window, somebody who can offer a little more creativity than both Gordon and Almiron.

Newcastle United transfer news – Samuel Iling-Junior

According to Corriere Dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Newcastle United are keeping tabs on Samuel Iling-Junior’s situation with Juventus ahead of the January transfer market. The Italian outlet are claiming that the Bianconeri are willing to allow the winger to leave over the coming weeks and have even 'mandated' some agents to potentially complete a deal.

Tottenham Hotspur are another club that have been interested in signing Iling-Junior ever since Juventus made the 20-year-old available for purchase, but now the Magpies could battle it out with last Sunday’s victors for the ex-Chelsea academy star.

Iling-Junior has been tipped with having a £20m price tag as his contract does not expire with the Italian giants until the end of the 2024/25 campaign. However, Newcastle could have an edge in the race to acquire the attacker’s services as Iling-Junior has the same agent as Kieran Trippier.

Despite breaking through the ranks with the Old Lady last season, Iling-Junior hasn’t had much game-time at all this term to showcase his talents, making merely five substitute appearances which comes to 114 minutes of action. Now, a move could be on the cards.

Samuel Iling-Junior’s stats

One of Iling-Junior’s most impressive characteristics is his ability to play on either side of the flank and even as a wingback. This would be a dream for Howe as the young Englishman can cover on both wings in case another injury crisis riddles the team.

Position

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Left-Winger

59

15

15

Left Wingback

23

3

6

Right-Winger

7

3

1

Central Midfielder

1

0

0

Stats via FBref

Furthermore, Iling-Junior’s attacking output is first-rate too. In 113 appearances in all competitions since the start of the 2019/20 season, including at youth level, the winger has bagged 44 goal contributions, including 21 goals and 23 assists. In that same four-and-a-half-year period, Almiron has recorded 39 goal contributions, with 10 assists and 29 goals.

It’s very clear from his statistics that Almiron is more of a goalscoring winger, considering he has almost triple the number of goals as he has assists. However, what Isak and Wilson need right now is someone who can put the ball on a plate for them.

This season alone, Howe’s side have whipped in just 239 balls which is the third-lowest in the Premier League. Only Burnley and Sheffield United have mustered fewer, according to FBref. In addition, Newcastle have scored merely five headed goals from 20 matches.

Since being at Newcastle, Almiron has registered one assist every 18.8 matches on average. Meanwhile, Iling-Junior boasts one assist every five matches in his career. The talent's style of play has even been described as "flamboyant" by football scout Jacek Kulig.

Isak is the future of Newcastle United and Howe needs a wide player who will be able to provide his top goalscorer with excellent balls to tuck away chances and win games. In this respect, Iling-Junior is a clear upgrade on Almiron and the Mags would do well to secure his services for so cheap in January.

TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O'Hara has showered a Tottenham target with praise and said "we'll take him" after a Spurs transfer boost this week.

Players tipped to potentially join Spurs

Lilywhites boss Ange Postecoglou has suffered from a real lack of squad depth over this last month, forcing the Australian into some innovative on-field decisions at times.

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Micky van de Ven's hamstring injury and a recent suspension for Cristian Romero prompted Postecoglou to use both Emerson Royal and Ben Davies as makeshift centre-backs for a period, highlighting his real lack of faith in Eric Dier.

Previous fringe players Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil are also seeing more match action amid Spurs' recent shortage of cover, but that is an issue which sporting director Johan Lange and chairman Daniel Levy are reportedly looking to rectify in January.

Tottenham are looking to sign a new centre-half as one major priority (Sky Sports), leading to reported interest in Genoa star Radu Dragusin, Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and other defenders linked with Spurs recently. Lange also holds a keen interest in Samuel Iling-Junior (Juventus), as Postecoglou and co allegedly scour the market for new wide options (Sky).

Amid some doubts over the futures of Lo Celso and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, there are some suggestions that Tottenham could reignite a move for Premier League midfielder Conor Gallagher as well.

The Mail reported this week that Spurs still want to sign the 23-year-old, and could well be boosted in their chase as Chelsea consider a "shock" sale of Gallagher to fund their own transfer plans.

O'Hara thrilled by Gallagher after Spurs transfer update

Following this update, when asked about it live on talkSPORT (via The Boot Room), O'Hara said he'll certainly "take" Gallagher at Spurs.

Praising the "high energy" star, who's now fought his way into becoming a key player for Pochettino, the ex-Tottenham midfielder also concedes that it will be a difficult one to pull off.

“Listen, I really like Conor Gallagher I think he’s got brilliant energy, high energy, he gets around the pitch," said O'Hara. "He lacks a little bit of what [James] Maddison’s got in terms of star quality but he’s got energy and you’ve seen with Ange Postecoglou’s side he likes a bit of fitness, he likes someone with high energy.

“I’d be surprised if Chelsea let him go to be honest, I think he’s been quite a big part of their side this season. In terms of one of their half-decent performers only him, Cole Palmer and [Raheem] Sterling have actually done anything good for them really. I’d be surprised if they let him go but if they want to then yeah we’ll take him.”

The former Crystal Palace star struggled at points last term but is now an important cog in Pochettino's midfield. Previously, his best season came when on loan at Palace, where he managed eight goals and three assists in 34 league appearances in 2021/2022.

Arsenal are enjoying another fruitful season of football this campaign, and despite falling to defeat at the hands of Aston Villa last weekend and drawing 1-1 away to PSV during the week, Mikel Arteta's men are just a point off top spot in the Premier League and through to the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

Much of the Gunners' success this year has been built off of a steely defence and dogged midfield, with the free-flowing attacks of last season not quite there yet.

However, with the January transfer window fast approaching, the north Londoners have the opportunity to add some more firepower to their attack, and it looks as if they might just do that.

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The latest player to be linked with a move to the Emirates is a striker who has already played in England and has been likened to Rasmus Hojlund: Moise Kean.

Arsenal transfer news – Moise Kean

According to reports from Italy (via TEAMtalk), Arsenal's desire to sign a new striker in 2024 could lead them to pursue the Juventus forward and former Everton striker.

The Italian attacker has been plying his trade with the Old Lady for a few years now, mostly on loan, but officially rejoined the side in March of this year for a fee in the region of £25m.

His time at Everton wasn't great, with just four goals coming from his 39 games, but in Turin, he has shown some of the form that got him the move to Merseyside in the first place, scoring eight times in all competitions last season.

The Gunners would be unlikely to get a discount on that valuation.

However, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauding Kean as a "huge talent", £25m might still prove to be value for money in the long run, especially given the price Hojlund went for in the summer – a striker similar to the Juve man.

Moise Kean could be Arsenal's Rasmus Højlund

Now, there might be some trepidation among Arsenal fans that a player who just couldn't get to grips with English football only a few years ago would be a poor signing to make during a title charge, and there is some validity in that thought process.

However, even in his backup role at Juventus, Kean has shown that there is a great player in there and that he could become a brilliant striker with the right coaching – potentially from Arteta.

He compares quite well to several very talented strikers across Europe as well, with FBref including Dominic Solanke, Dusan Vlahovic and Hojlund among the ten most similar.

Player

Club

Jørgen Strand Larsen

Celta Vigo

Beto

Everton

Luis Javier Suárez

Almeria

Yoane Wissa

Brentford

Alexander Sørloth

Villarreal

Dominic Solanke

Bournemouth

Dušan Vlahović

Juventus

Cyle Larin

Mallorca

Terem Moffi

OCG Nice

Rasmus Højlund

Manchester United

The Danish number nine hasn't actually opened his Premier League account just yet, but based on his performances, he really should have – having netted on five occasions during United's ultimately flawed Champions League run.

The £72m marksman certainly showcased his undoubted potential in European competition and is evidently a work in progress for Erik ten Hag's side, someone who could well blossom at Old Trafford over the coming years.

Such is his talent, the 20-year-old even gave Gabriel a run around in Arsenal's 3-1 victory over the Red Devils earlier this season, subsequently being hailed for his "aggressive" display by pundit Gary Neville.

So how do Kean's underlying numbers stack up to the former Atalanta man's? Quite well, it turns out.

The "fearless" 23-year-old, as described by Thomas Tuchel, comes out on top in several key metrics, such as non-penalty expected goals and assists, progressive passes, goal-creating actions, tackles and interceptions, and even aerial duels.

Kean

Højlund

0.46

0.36

2.12

1.14

0.96

1.25

0.38

0.57

0.19

0.00

2.29

2.72

1.54

0.45

1.35

0.68

Ultimately, Kean is clearly not the finished article, like Hojlund, but if he came into an Arsenal team that is on the up with a manager who has proven his ability to work with young players, then this could be a transfer in which everybody wins.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is personally leading the charge to sign a “powerful” player, with an offer now ready to be submitted, according to a report.

Berta taking hands-on role at the Emirates

Having laid the foundations, the Arsenal hierarchy believes now is the time for the team to start winning silverware, and Berta has a big role to play, with the Italian regarded as a master negotiator, capable of being involved in multiple deals at once.

The 53-year-old is taking a hands-on role at the Emirates Stadium, attending training sessions and press conferences, while also putting in work behind-the-scenes to secure agreements for the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi.

There have been some disagreements with Mikel Arteta, however, especially when it comes to which striker they should bring in, with Berta keen to sign Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, while the manager would prefer to sign RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Berta is simultaneously working on moves for both strikers, indicating a decision is yet to be made as to which striker is the preferred option, and the north Londoners are also keen to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch.

That is according to a report from Super Deporte (via Sport Witness), which states Berta is now leading the charge for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, who has recently been identified as a key target by Arteta.

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Such is Arsenal’s level of interest, they are now ready to submit an offer in the region of €20m – €25m (£17m – £21m) for Mosquera, with around €3m – €5m (£2.6m – £4.3m) of the higher amount based on bonuses relating to performance.

Berta is said to be key to the deal, with the sporting director retaining a long-term interest in the 21-year-old, having also targeted him during his time with Atlético Madrid.

"Powerful" Mosquera could be ideal centre-back signing

With any new centre-back signing unlikely to immediately take Gabriel or William Saliba’s spot in the starting XI, it would make sense to bring in a younger centre-back, capable of replacing one of the first-choice options on a long-term basis.

The Valencia star is showing very promising signs in La Liga, having now established himself as a key player, missing just one La Liga game last season, while the defender has also received high praise from former youth coach Miguel-Ángel Angulo.

Angulo said: “He’s characterised by a physical condition and good technical qualities, powerful in the air, and mature for his age.”

Having also received plaudits from Statman Dave, Mosquera is clearly an exciting young player, who could provide Arsenal with the depth to compete on all fronts next season, before going on to stake a claim for a regular starting spot.