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Southampton could look to sign Villarreal winger Nicolas Jackson this month, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Lowdown: Jackson a wanted man

The 21-year-old has matured into an impressive young footballer, becoming a key figure at Villarreal, scoring and assisting twice apiece in La Liga this season.

Jackson certainly isn’t without suitors currently and there has been recent interest from the Premier League, with Aston Villa arguably the front-runners to sign him and Saints linked, too.

Now, a new update regarding Southampton’s interest in the attacker has emerged.

The Latest: ‘Save themselves’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Sheth said that Jackson could be a long-term addition for Nathan Jones’ side but is already good enough to save them from relegation:

“I think Nicolas Jackson will be one of those players that not only would they look at: yes, he can help us in the future, but in the short-term, could his goals and performances help Southampton get out of that bottom three and just, just save themselves from relegation.”

The Verdict: Ticks lots of boxes

Jackson could be a really astute signing by Southampton, hopefully in the January transfer window, adding the firepower that they need in the final third.

Granted, last weekend’s vital 2-1 win away to Everton has eased some pressure on Jones, but there is a dearth of goals in attack, with Che Adams the highest-scoring attacker with four in the league.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has said Jackson is having a ‘great time’ this season, and the versatile speedster could spearhead Saints’ attack between now and the end of the season, and beyond.

Newcastle United have entered the January transfer window with a new central midfielder at the top of Dan Ashworth’s to-do list.

What’s the word?

The Magpies have been handed a number of injury setbacks in midfield already this season with Bruno Guimaraes missing a number of games and Jonjo Shelvey barely featuring through his respective injury. Setbacks in a key area of the pitch to big players which seem to have left Eddie Howe feeling slightly short in midfield.

This is according to the reliable Toon correspondent Craig Hope, with the Daily Mail journalist claiming a new midfielder is now the ‘absolute priority’ for the Magpies this month:

“You know central midfield, from what I’m hearing and again that was reinforced by one or two conversations today [Saturday], is the absolute priority,” Hope said on his YouTube channel.

A number of names have already been linked with a potential move to Tyneside ahead of this month’s transfer window with the likes of Youri Tielemans among the list of potential winter targets.

Another name which is believed to be on Ashworth’s radar is the 21-year-old Moises Caicedo from his former club, Brighton & Hove Albion who he signed from Independiente in 2021 for a fee of around just £4.4m.

Ashworth is also said to have set his radar on options from across Europe with Ajax’s Edson Alvarez a potential option alongside the brother of Marcus Thuram, Khephren Thuram, who is currently showcasing his talent out in Ligue 1 with OGC Nice.

Area for improvement

Newcastle’s midfield has certainly become one of their strengths under Howe with the signing of Guimaraes seeing the Brazilian become one of the most impressive players across the league in that position.

The Brazilian has been a revelation on Tyneside having as he finds himself in the top nine percentile for non-penalty goals, completed dribbles, tackles and blocks (via Fbref).

And alongside him has been his fellow Brazilian, Joelinton, whose improvement under Howe has been nothing short of remarkable with the 26-year-old’s turnaround being hailed by Jamie Carragher in recent days.

However, Shelvey’s absence has left a gap in Howe’s three-man midfield which has not exactly been claimed with any real conviction by either Joe Willock nor Sean Longstaff.

Willock’s goal-scoring prowess shown during his loan spell under Steve Bruce is now a distant memory with the Englishman scoring just four goals under Howe.

And Longstaff has been slammed for his display in the 0-0 draw against Leeds United on Saturday as the Englishman squandered opportunities to snatch all three points.

With the Magpies flying in the Premier League and Champions League football a real possibility this season, it does feel like a quality partner for Guimaraes and Joelinton could be a big addition for Howe.

Newcastle United are believed to be targeting exciting young talents who can help to strengthen the squad for the long-term, with Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth having already secured the signing of 18-year-old Garang Kuol ahead of the January transfer window.

The Tynesiders could well add to that by bringing in fellow teenager Matheus France from Flamengo, with Globo reporting that Ashworth and co are interested in signing the promising Brazilian prospect.

The 18-year-old is believed to have a €100m (£87m) release clause in his existing deal with his current club, although previous reports have suggested that fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace were eyeing a move for closer to £15m.

That latter fee could represent something of a steal for the “special” talent – as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – with the exciting forward having already scored six times in just 25 senior appearances to date.

The Brazil U20 international also offers remarkable versatility due to his ability to feature through the middle or in a midfield role, with the aforementioned Kulig having previously stated: “Great midfielder, great striker, he can play almost everywhere. One of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil at the moment.”

Interestingly as far as the St James’ Park outfit are concerned, Franca also shares a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with another reported Newcastle target in the form of Goncalo Ramos, according to FBref.

The Benfica gem was seemingly a “top target” for the Magpies during the summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, while transfer insider Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that Ashworth and co are still interested ahead of 2023.

The 21-year-old – who could cost around €120m (£105m) due to his release clause – has been in prolific form this season with 15 goals and six assists in 22 games for the Lisbon outfit, having also scored four times in just five games for his country at senior level.

However, the “remarkable” predator – as described by Gary Lineker – could well prove expensive due to that aforementioned asking price, hence Newcastle potentially needing to look at Franca as a suitable alternative.

The duo’s likeness is illustrated by the fact that Ramos ranks in the top 8% in the Men’s next eight competitions for pass completion, while the Flamengo gem is only just behind as he ranks in the top 16%, showcasing their quality in possession.

Equally, while the latter ranks in the top 6% for non-penalty goals, Ramos is only just ahead as he features in the top 5% in that regard, with the pair proving especially ruthless from open play.

As such, turning to Franca could well be an ideal alternative to the Portuguese gem in the New Year, with the teenage Brazilian starlet set to be a prospective signing who could well sparkle for the Magpies for the long haul.

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.