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Chelsea have ‘registered an interest’ in Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi ahead of January, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Midfield revamp

The Premier League giants are reportedly planning a midfield revamp in the New Year, with Todd Boehly and Graham Potter currently in the process of identifying the right candidates.

The Spaniard still has five years remaining on his contract in La Liga, but after an impressive start to the 2022/23 season, is now being heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge next year.

The Latest: Zubimendi contact made

Taking to Twitter, Phillips revealed that Chelsea have made contact to sign Zubimendi ahead of a potential move in 2023. He wrote:

“Told Chelsea have registered an interest in Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi (23).”

The Verdict: Kante successor?

N’Golo Kante’s deal is set to expire at the end of the season, and after recently being linked with an exit next summer, Zubimendi would be the perfect successor should he depart.

The Real star is naturally a defensive midfielder, where he’s currently averaging 2.4 aerial wins and 1.6 tackles per league game, though he has also provided three goal contributions this term, showing he can be a threat in the final third too (WhoScored).

Zubimendi has been hailed a ‘special’ player by Sid Lowe, and at just 23 years of age, he would be a fantastic signing for the future of Chelsea.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could dip into the market and snare a former academy prospect, bringing him back to the Emirates Stadium with a lucrative bid.

What’s the word?

90min are reporting that Valencia have initiated contract talks with their rising star Yunus Musah, who signed for the Spanish outfit in 2019, after departing from the Gunners academy. 

With Liverpool and Chelsea also emerging as potential suitors for the dynamic midfielder, Arteta will need to move swiftly if he is indeed to make his move for a player they have been tracking since 2019.

The report states that while Valencia would be open to sale, should they fail in their contractual offer, Musah’s release clause of €100m (£86m) could be a wall too insurmountable to overcome. 

Ramsey heir

Arsenal have gone from strength to strength across the past few seasons, and now top the Premier League table after 14 matches played, ahead of the formidable Manchester City by five points.

There is a desire to improve several departments of the team, however, with The Sun reporting earlier this season that Gunners owner Stan Kroenke will present the Spaniard Arteta with funds to target impactful additions, with the centre of the park and the wide flanks desired.

Musah played an integral role in the USA’s commendable World Cup campaign, where the side finished second in the group phase and lost in a thrilling round-of-16 encounter against the Netherlands.

As per Sofascore, the industrious midfielder recorded an 87% pass success rate in Qatar, making 2.0 tackles per match and aiding his team as the central focal point, linking the offensive and defensive departments with a refined presence that belies his tender age.

His tenacity in the centre offers shades of Aaron Ramsey, who starred for the Gunners, making 371 appearances for the London giants, scoring 65 goals and assists apiece and playing a vital role in securing three FA Cup trophies during his lengthy stay. 

Musah, who ranks within the top 7% for dribbles completed when compared to midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues this term, as per FBref, displays a clear aptitude for seeking out forward transitions and instigating positive plays. 

Much like Ramsey, there is a knack for implementing a forward-thinking mindset into the game, and Arsenal would certainly welcome this approach back to the Emirates, with the “connector” – as Gregg Berhalter calls him – raising the performance of all his teammates when he’s fit and firing. 

Having already plied his trade at Arsenal at youth level, the door remains open for a return, and despite the deal likely being rather expensive, Arsenal would boast a newfound presence of dogged ubiquity in the middle, who could help them continue to rise.

Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara is ahead of schedule when it comes to his recovery from injury, according to David Ornstein.

The Lowdown: Knee ligament damage

Kamara, who arrived over the summer on a free transfer, suffered knee ligament damage towards the end of September during Villa’s 1-0 win over Southampton.

The 22-year-old was excepted to miss the World Cup with France as a result of his injury. However, it looks as if the central midfielder now has a chance of making the trip to Qatar, in an update that will benefit new manager Unai Emery.

The Latest: Ornstein’s post

Ornstein took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to provide an update regarding Kamara.

He revealed that the midfielder is ahead of schedule and could yet make the World Cup. The reliable journalist added that Kamara is expected to re-join Villa’s main group next week and could be available against Manchester United on November 6.

The Verdict: Boost for Emery

Kamara has been one of Villa’s best-performing midfielders this season, as per WhoScored, so knowing he could be back for Emery’s first game in charge is positive news.

He was a regular prior to his injury, starting every Premier League fixture in a holding role under former manager Steven Gerrard.

Emery favoured a 4-4-2 system at Villarreal but could alter that in the Midlands, but whatever formation he goes with, you’d expect that Kamara may well be key to his plans in the short and long run.

Aston Villa have reportedly targeted an exciting young European coach as their next manager…

What’s the latest?

According to The Telegraph, sporting director Johan Lange has already begun talks with Ruben Amorim to bring him from Sporting CP to Villa Park.

The report claimed that despite a big offer having been tabled, Mauricio Pochettino remains unlikely to join due to his aspirations being set at a much higher level.

The Portuguese boss is said to be willing to listen to the club’s offers, but he does have a big buy-out clause in his current contract.

It would be a smart appointment

Instantly, it is worth noting that with the vast wealth of the Villans owners, there will be few financial hurdles they cannot overcome to get who they want.

The fact that Amorim seems initially receptive to their interest should instantly outline him as an outstanding candidate, as he clearly would like to join the club despite what he has built at Sporting.

Having earned his managerial start at Braga, it only took 13 matches for one of the giants within the league to snap him up.

He only lost two of those games, both of which were to Rangers on their route to the Europa League final. The 37-year-old boasted 2.38 points per match.

Once he had moved to Lisbon, he began setting about a new identity that the club had been sorely lacking. Despite a fourth-placed finish in his debut year, the foundations were in place for the success that was to come.

During the 2020/21 campaign, the club’s faith paid off, as Amorimreturned their first league title in 19 years.

He was crazy about his 3-4-3 system which had the ability to revert to a diamond in midfield. This would benefit a Villa side that Steven Gerrard often switched between a narrow 4-3-1-2 formation and 4-3-3, which caused confusion. Finally, it could bear fruit.

Having featured in Europe and won numerous pieces of silverware, the exciting young manager shows a clear identity and a track record for developing a struggling squad into something really special.

It is a move that The Athletic journalist Jack Collins thinks would be a “smart appointment”.

With a Villa side inundated with talent that has lost its way, perhaps Amorim could be the man to turn it around and get them where they will feel they belong.

Arsene Wenger will go down as arguably the greatest manager in Arsenal’s history, leading the club to three Premier League titles as well as seven FA Cup wins.

The Frenchman brought the likes of Thierry Henry, Marc Overmars, and Sol Campbell to the club over the years, presiding over a fruitful period at Arsenal.

He wasn’t without his faults, however, especially during the last few years of his reign, signing players who weren’t up to the required standard.

One such move occurred in the summer of 2016 for a striker who went on to flop at the Emirates…

Wenger had a nightmare over Lucas Perez

Arsenal signed Spanish striker Perez from Deportivo La Coruna six years ago for a fee of £17m as Wenger looked to bolster his attacking options.

Perez had scored 24 La Liga goals in the previous three seasons and made the move to London in order to experience the Champions League.

21 appearances and just seven goals followed during his one and only season at Arsenal, a far cry from the strike rate that Wenger had anticipated when splashing out close to £20m for the player.

Perez cost Arsenal £2.4m per goal and despite the club winning the FA Cup that season (he didn’t make it off the bench) it was an uninspiring season for the side.

The Spaniard wasn’t given a second chance, being loaned to former club Deportivo, where he scored eight La Liga goals, before joining fellow Premier League side West Ham United in 2018 on a three-year contract.

He couldn’t prove Wenger wrong, however, finding the net just six times in his solitary campaign at West Ham.

His career has petered out since then, with the lightweight striker currently back in LaLiga with Cadiz, where he has scored just one goal so far this season.

It’s fair to say signing Perez wasn’t one of Wenger’s finest moves at the club and the mere mention of his name will send shivers down the spines of the Arsenal faithful.

Newcastle United’s decision to sell James Tavernier to Wigan Athletic in 2014 has massively backfired, with the right-back now starring in Europe as Rangers’ club captain.

After making just ten appearances for Newcastle’s senior side having progressed through the academy, the Toon cashed in on Tavernier, with Wigan reportedly paying just £90k to sign him on a three-year deal.

The defender struggled for regular game time during his spell with the Lancashire side but impressed on loan with Bristol City, contributing three goals and one assist in just 13 appearances for the Ashton Gate outfit.

That was enough to convince Rangers to bring him to Ibrox in 2015 and he has established himself as something of a legend with the Teddy Bears in the seven years since, with his form regularly attracting interest from sides in the Premier League.

In 362 appearances for Rangers, Tavernier has contributed a phenomenal 86 goals and 111 assists, helping take them from the Scottish Championship to the Champions League this season.

Last season saw the Englishman finish as the Europa League’s top scorer as Rangers lost in the final against Eintracht Frankfurt, which is a remarkable achievement for a defender and he has appeared three times in the Champions League so far this season as the Scottish side returned to the elite competition.

His performances in the run to the final earned him the praise of former Rangers man Andy Halliday. He said:

“I’m going to get stick for this and I do not care but Tav’s performances have been at a world-class level.

“He has performed to the highest level. In every knockout round, he’s scored the first goal at Ibrox.

“You’re wanting someone to lead the team forward and he’s scored first in every game – he’s unbelievable.”

Still only 30, Tavernier is a vital part of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side and shows no signs of slowing down, with three goals and four assists to his name already this season.

While the Toon boast a top-quality right-back of their own in Kieran Trippier, there is no doubt that the club made a mistake in not giving Tavernier more of a chance during his time at St James’ Park, and selling him for peanuts has definitely backfired.

Football League World editor Sam Rourke has revealed that Sunderland are among a number of clubs who are ‘keen’ on signing Morgan Fox.

The Lowdown: Defensive reinforcements

The Stadium of Light outfit are reportedly set to win the race to sign Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke on loan for the season, after losing new signing Dan Ballard to injury.

It looks as if they want to strengthen at left-back as well, with Dennis Cirkin the only senior option in the squad at the moment in that role.

The Latest: Fox interest

Taking to Twitter, Rourke revealed that Sunderland – along with Swansea City – are ‘keen’ on Fox, although Championship rivals Reading have ‘enquired’ over the Stoke City left-back.

The journalist tweeted: “Understand Reading have enquired about Stoke City left-back Morgan Fox. Swansea and Sunderland also keen.”

The Verdict: Needed

Alex Neil’s side certainly need cover in the left-back area, and Fox would help to provide just that.

The 6 foot 1 ace is vastly experienced in the Championship, with 199 games played in the division for three different clubs, scoring four goals and supplying 15 assists at that level (Transfermarkt).

When Stoke signed him from Sheffield Wednesday in 2020 after he rejected the latter’s offer of a long-term contract extension, Potters manager Michael O’Neill sung his praises, highlighting Fox’s ‘defensive acumen, athleticism and delivery from set-plays’.

Also, at 28 years of age, Sunderland would be signing a player in his prime, so this could turn out to be a very shrewd piece of business from the Black Cats if it comes off.

Sheffield Wednesday could announce the signing of Hull City winger Mallik Wilks at some point on Monday, according to reliable journalist Dom Howson.

The Lowdown: Wilks off to Wednesday?

The 23-year-old has been the subject of interest from the Owls throughout the summer transfer window, with Darren Moore seeing him as a primary target.

Over the weekend, it was claimed that Wilks’ move to Hillsborough was edging closer all the time, with the player handing in a transfer request at the MKM Stadium.

It now appears as though the prospective transfer could be completed in a matter of hours.

The Latest: Move nearly complete

Taking to Twitter on Monday morning, The Examiner’s Howson claimed that Wilks’ signing could be confirmed before the day is out.

The reporter tweeted:

“Mallik Wilks could be unveiled as a #SWFC player later today. Wilks will give them more pace in attack and tactical flexibility should Darren Moore wish to change formation.”

The Verdict: Exciting wide addition

Wednesday have been crying out for a wide attacker this summer, with plenty of central firepower in their squad but not enough on the flanks.

Wilks could be the person to resolve that issue, providing ammunition for the likes of Michael Smith and Lee Gregory, having registered 49 goal contributions in his League One career to date.

Add to that a tally of 30 goals in 91 appearances for Hull City and the Owls could have an exciting acquisition on their hands – one who could further increase their chances of finishing the 2022/23 season League One champions.

With Howson also noting the winger’s pace and versatility – he can line out anywhere across the forward line – it’s very encouraging to hear that Wilks could be a Sheffield Wednesday player by tonight.

Steve Bruce has admitted his side are in desperate need of transfer reinforcements… 

What’s the word?

Speaking to the press following West Bromwich Albion’s 2-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers, he claimed that the club are actively seeking a striker replacement.

He noted: “I’m hopeful, we’re hopeful.

“We’re trying, we’re having to because the club has been unfortunate. We’ve got two big number 9s who have had a series of awful injuries which has been difficult. Especially the one to Dike.”

Daryl Dike, a January signing, was recently ruled out for “at least a couple of months.”

Ian Pearce will have to act quick, as their head of recruitment, to satisfy the manager’s issues.

They need a striker desperately

Their loss to the Lancashire side has left the Baggies languishing in 20th, having yet to win from their opening three fixtures, only scoring three whilst conceding four.

With one of the goals also coming from a set piece, that means that they have only managed two open-play goals this season.

Bruce’s side are decidedly toothless, with Karlan Grant now heavily relied upon to shoulder the main goalscoring burden.

Although he did score a respectable 18 Championship goals last season, the Baggies boss will be hoping not to have to solely depend on the English striker and will therefore be looking to bring someone else in.

Back in the 2020/21 season, when Dike was last fit, he bagged nine goals in just 19 appearances during his loan move at Barnsley, propelling them to an unlikely playoff push.

The absence of this presence will be hugely detrimental to their dreams of a promotion push themselves, as they look to return to the Premier League with haste.

Reyes Cleary did earn himself his first start in their win over Sheffield United, but despite his incredible ceiling, the 18-year-old cannot be relied upon to be a mainstay in the side just yet.

Hosting a Cardiff City side next who sit fifth, having conversely won two of their opening three league fixtures, will pose another tough test for West Brom, who will struggle once more against a resolute and hard-working side.

With Bruce so open about their need for a striker, it is clear how deep the problem lies. It is an issue that Pearce desperately needs to find a solution for as soon as possible, ideally before they fall so far that a playoff push becomes a near-insurmountable task.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has now made a fairly promising Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim as he shares news on Leicester City star James Maddison.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye new playmaker?

It is reliably believed that Spurs and sporting director Fabio Paratici remain in the market for a creative midfield player despite sealing a plethora of new signings so far this summer.

Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence have put pen to paper on move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as manager Antonio Conte prepares for his first full Premier League campaign in charge.

The likes of Nicolo Zaniolo (Roma) could reportedly follow their already-confirmed incomings as Paratici sets his sights on a playmaker.

There have also been some links surrounding Foxes star Maddison amid Newcastle’s attempts bring him to St. James’ Park.

The Latest: Bailey makes promising Maddison claim…

Taking to social media, reporter Bailey of 90min has now made a promising Spurs transfer claim involving the Englishman.

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Indeed, the journalist refuses to rule out Conte’s side in the race for Maddison and implores supporters to ‘keep a close eye’.

He explained (via Twitter):

“Keep a close eye on Tottenham…they are long-term admirers of James Maddison and are keeping abreast of the situation.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Reportedly valued at around £60 million, Maddison would come as another marquee signing after Richarlison and a serious investment on behalf of chairman Daniel Levy.

That being said, the star Leicester midfielder is homegrown and would help balance their worrying quota, not to mention a brilliant player.

As per WhoScored, the 25-year-old was Brendan Rodgers’ best-performing regular last campaign – finishing 21/22 with their highest match rating per 90.

Maddison also racked up their most goals and assists combined (12G, 8A), backing what a real threat he is in the final third and leaving little surprise pundits like Owen Hargreaves have called him ‘unplayable’ on his day.

Indeed, the £110,000-per-week star would really be the cherry on top of a superb Spurs transfer window.