Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Leeds United right-back Cody Drameh and the youngster could be a big upgrade on Nathaniel Clyne in Patrick Vieira’s side.

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace are all interested in the 20-year-old, with Palace thought to see him as a great option for the future at Selhurst Park.

Leeds are reportedly keen to tie him down to a new deal at Elland Road but he is currently behind Rasmus Kristensen and Luke Ayling in the pecking order in Jesse Marsch’s side, which could lead to his exit in January.

The England U21 international has been limited to just seven appearances for the Whites’ senior side in his time with the Yorkshire club, but he did catch the eye during a loan spell with Cardiff City in the Championship last season, contributing three assists in 22 appearances for the Bluebirds.

And, the youngster’s former manager, Steve Morison, was full of praise for Drameh during his time with the Welsh side in 2021/22.

He said: “Barnsley was a horrible game. He’d never experienced anything like that and he came in with a couple of last-ditch tackles right at the death of the game, which was phenomenal.

“Tonight? It’s a good thing they can’t call him back after that because he was outstanding.”

While he was playing in the Championship, his performances last season would earn him a solid 6.89 rating from WhoScored, as he averaged 3.8 tackles, one interception and two clearances per game.

For comparison, Clyne has earned a woeful 6.19 WhoScored rating for his performances in the Premier League this season after averaging just 1.1 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and one clearance per game, which suggests that Drameh certainly has the edge from a defensive point of view.

During his time with Cardiff, the Leeds youngster also averaged more key passes (0.6 vs 0.5), dribbles (1.1 vs 0.1) and shots (0.3 vs 0) per game than Clyne, which suggests that he could easily take the 31-year-old’s place in Vieira’s starting side should he arrive at Selhurst Park next month.

Aston Villa may have to wait until next summer to pounce for the signing of Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, according to an update from journalist Ed Aarons.

The Lowdown: Villa keen on Sarr signing

Unai Emery will be eyeing new signings in the upcoming transfer window, as he looks to take Villa up a level and introduce his own style of play after an underwhelming period under Steven Gerrard.

One player who has been linked with a move to Villa Park since before Emery arrived is Sarr, who has scored six goals in 16 Championship starts for Watford this season.

The 24-year-old starred in the 2022 World Cup with Senegal, starting all four matches and scoring a crucial goal against Ecuador before being eliminated by England on Sunday night.

The Latest: Summer move more likely

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Aarons claimed the summer move to Villa is most likely:

“The premium of World Cup performances and scoring is going to result in Watford wanting a bit more money, I think.

“He may be one that they have to wait until the summer for, when he’s got just a year left on his contract.”

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The Verdict: Much-needed pace out wide

Speedy wide players are certainly something Villa are lacking currently, with the exception of the inconsistent Leon Bailey, so Sarr could be an excellent addition next summer.

Frankly, he is too good to be playing in the Championship – he bagged 11 direct goal involvements as a newcomer to the Premier League in 2019/20 – and he is at an age where he should only improve further, with Senegalese compatriot and hero Sadio Mane also 24 when he joined Liverpool from Southampton back in 2016.

Ben Foster has hailed Sarr as a ‘freak’ talent, and if Emery believes he is someone who could suit his system, sealing a move for him at the end of the season would make perfect sense.

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for former loanee Tammy Abraham.

The Lowdown: 2018/19 loan at Villa

Abraham spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Villa Park under Dean Smith and helped the club to achieve promotion to the Premier League. The forward, who has previously been labelled a “goal machine” by former Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott, netted 26 goals in the Midlands during that promotion campaign.

He has been with AS Roma for the last 18 months, where he has continued to score at a regular occurrence, with his tally for the Serie A club currently at 31.

The Latest: Villa linked with Abraham

Calciomercato shared a story on Tuesday evening regarding Abraham, with Roma no longer considering the forward non-transferable.

The report name-checked Villa, saying that they ‘can afford an important engagement’ for the 25-year-old.

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The Verdict: Shrewd move?

Abraham has scored goals wherever he has been during his career, with his senior tally for club and country currently at 124.

Still just 25 years of age, the England international could be just what Unai Emery is seeking as he searches for a new A-list forward, and you’d like to think that NSWE could afford a deal after promising the manager a ‘huge’ budget.

The former Villa loanee could prove to be a smart prospective signing to provide another option alongside Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins, so a possible 2023 move could be one to monitor.

Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly be set to revive their interest in Everton starlet, Anthony Gordon, having been heavily linked with a move for the Englishman in the summer.

What’s the word?

Recent reports have claimed that the north Londoners are potentially contemplating a move for the 21-year-old in the January transfer window, with Frank Lampard’s side said to value their prize asset at around £60m.

This follows speculation in the summer that revealed the Lilywhites were hoping to complete a double swoop for the one-time Preston North End loanee – who was also linked to Chelsea in the recent window – and ex-teammate Richarlison.

Amid the fresh reports of Spurs’ interest, journalist Paul Brown – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – has now provided his thoughts on the move, suggesting that Antonio Conte and co could well find their next Dejan Kulusesvki by bringing the Toffees’ sensation to the capital.

The respected source stated: “He’s someone who could literally come in when Kulusevski is not around or needs a break. I think he’s a very similar kind of player.

“High energy, when he’s on it, full of drive, gets you up the pitch, a bit of a spark plug for his team and he does produce. He has a decent end product when he’s in form.”

Paratici’s next Kulusevski

Tottenham’s sporting director Fabio Paratici no doubt worked wonders to secure the signing of the aforementioned Kulusevski back in January earlier this year, bringing in the Sweden international on an 18-month loan deal from Serie A giants Juventus.

That move almost instantly paid off as the 22-year-old helped to steer his new side into the top four, adding a further string to the club’s attacking bow alongside Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, after scoring five goals and laying on eight assists in just 18 league games in the second half of last term.

That hot streak has continued this term for the 27-cap sensation – despite a spell out with a thigh injury – with the former Atalanta prospect having recorded six goal contributions in just nine top-flight games.

As Brown alluded to, Paratici could look to replicate that astute signing with the addition of Gordon, with the “fearless” asset – as described by pundit Alan Shearer – having also sparkled so far this term, netting three times in 14 Premier League outings, after scoring four goals in what was a breakthrough campaign last time out.

While not prolific, the Liverpool-born menace offers that real dynamic threat with his ability to run in behind in the final third – much like Kulusevski – having recorded 11 total chance-creating carries so far this term, while his Spurs counterpart is just ahead having recorded 18 for the same metric.

Although the latter man may well be one step ahead at present, that comparison is a marker that Gordon is heading in the right direction towards becoming an elite talent, with his encouraging work ethic – shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% for tackles made among those in his position in Europe – also likely to appeal to Conte.

With Tottenham having struck gold by bringing Kulusevski to the club in the winter window earlier this year, Paratici could again make another potentially game-changing addition in the form of the Goodison Park hero when the market re-opens in the New Year.

Leeds United oversaw a summer of vast change under Jesse Marsch, with the American allowed to reinvest heavily following the sales of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.

With the latter, it marked a tough task to replace their top scorer, and arguably the catalyst for their survival.

Although Luis Sinisterra has performed admirably at times, it was always going to take time for the Columbian to acclimatise following his £21m move.

Perhaps Marsch might be opting for a different tactic this January, similar to what he did with Phillips, by spreading his output across multiple different players.

That could explain their reported interest in another south American winger in Gonzalo Plata.

Poised to battle with Newcastle United for his signature, the winger is currently impressing for his country at the World Cup, building upon his impressive start to life at Real Valladolid.

Having moved permanently to La Liga for a €10m (£8.5m) fee, the 22-year-old has been around the senior game for some time despite his youth.

Because of this, his average Sofascore rating of 6.71 is actually commendable, where he has been averaging 1.1 key passes per game.

Although he is viewed as a very raw wide man – with journalist Dean Jones once labelling him “pacey” – he clearly boasts all the physical assets to be a huge success in European football.

Ranking in the top 7% for dribbles completed stands as a glowing recommendation for his ability on the ball, furthering Adrian Blanco’s claim that he is a “true trickster”.

By signing this exciting 33-cap talent, it could spell the end of Dan James’ career on Elland Road.

The Welsh attacker boasts a similar skillset but has consistently underperformed at the level that is required. He has just four goals in 40 appearances since his £25m move from Manchester United.

As such, Marsch’s decision to bring in a new winger while he is out on loan is a damning assessment of his standing within the squad.

He has had his chances, but with the Ecuadorian maestro boasting 24 goal contributions to go alongside his incredible ability to beat a man, it would be a huge upgrade to swap Plata out for the 25-year-old dud.

Therefore, the American head coach can finally send James packing if he were to follow up his interest in the Ecuador whiz this January.

Tottenham Hotspur journalist Alasdair Gold has shared some details regarding a behind-the-scenes meeting between Antonio Conte, Fabio Paratici and Daniel Levy ahead of the upcoming January transfer window. 

The Lowdown: Spurs’ transfer business under Conte

Since the Italian took charge of the north London club just over a year ago, he has been backed in the transfer market and been able to bring in numerous players.

Names such as Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison and Yves Bissouma, among others, have all made moves to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With the January transfer window set to open for business shortly after the conclusion of the World Cup, it seems that some behind-the-scenes details have emerged regarding what may happen in the window.

The Latest: Gold shares behind-the-scenes meeting details

In a recent online Q&A on the Football.London website, Gold was asked what he thinks the priorities will be for Spurs in terms of strengthening the side in January and when a meeting between Conte, Paratici and Levy will take place to discuss the upcoming winter window.

In response, Gold said: “Personally I think an attacking midfielder and a centre-back are priorities plus any upgrades Spurs can find in the market. As I said below, a right wing-back might end up becoming a requirement depending on Conte’s decision when it comes to Djed Spence.

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“The meeting between Conte, Levy and Paratici should happen after the head coach returns on November 28 when first team training resumes at Hotspur Way. Paratici and Conte speak most days so you would imagine they will still have some dialogue even during this rest period for the latter at some point.”

The Verdict: Reinforcements needed at Spurs

Given the hefty amount of deals that Spurs have been involved in since Conte took charge, this should fill a lot of supporters with confidence that the same thing can happen again this time around.

In terms of what areas of the squad Spurs may need to strengthen in January, the fact that they have conceded more goals (21) than the likes of Brighton (19), Crystal Palace (18) and Everton (17) this season, some extra defensive reinforcements is what Conte needs for his side.

Also, with only two clubs making more errors that have led to an opponent’s shot at goal than Spurs (8), this is something that the manager will want to work on with his current players and whatever new faces come in during the January window.

Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford is likely to sign a new contract at the club in the near future, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Rashford back to his best

The 25-year-old suffered a big dip in form last season, looking like a shadow of the player who has impressed so often at Old Trafford down the years.

Thankfully, Rashford is now performing excellently again, scoring three times for England at the 2022 World Cup, and netting four goals in the Premier League so far this season.

The Englishman’s current United deal expires at the end of this season however (club option), and he has yet to put pen to paper on a new contract.

The Latest: New deal expected

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones said he believes Rashford will extend his stay at United before the Red Devils are forced to activate the one-year extension option:

“In the not-too-distant future, I think we probably will see Marcus Rashford signing a new longer deal.”

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The Verdict: No-brainer for United

While there were doubts over Rashford’s long-term future at United at one point, his turnaround in form has shown that he is worthy of a new deal.

At 25, he is still a relatively young player, so he should become an even more polished footballer in the coming years, and his love for his boyhood club is plain to see.

Rashford may not always be a nailed-on starter for United under Erik ten Hag, depending on his form, but his performances as an impact substitute for England show how devastating he can be from the bench too.

Aston Villa have begun life under Unai Emery extremely well, looking rejuvenated under the Spaniard as they claimed two Premier League wins from his first three matches before the World Cup break, equalling Steven Gerrard’s win total in eight fewer matches.

The honeymoon period won’t last long, however, and with games coming thick and fast from Boxing Day, Emery will need to maintain this momentum in order to drag Villa away from trouble.

Thoughts will now turn to the transfer window and the 51-year-old will have a few targets in mind in order to strengthen his squad. The club have been linked with a move for Stefan de Vrij recently and he could form a formidable duo with Diego Carlos on his return from injury.

A monster duo

Villa signed Carlos in the summer from Sevilla following an excellent 2021/22 campaign. The defender averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09/10 for his performances and he was an integral part of the side that managed to keep 13 clean sheets in La Liga.

Not only that, but he also averaged an impressive 3.5 clearances per game, one tackle per match and won 62% of his total duels, suggesting his physicality was a key strength.

Unfortunately, the Brazilian was injured while playing in just his second Premier League match and it looked like he would miss the majority of the campaign. He travelled to Dubai to train with the squad ahead of the second half of the season however and could return sooner rather than later.

Having conceded 22 goals league goals already, it’s clear the defence needs to be strengthened and for just €5m (£4m), they could land De Vrij.

This season, the Dutchman has been solid for Inter Milan, averaging two interceptions, three clearances and one tackle per match, while using his colossal 6 foot 3 frame to win 68% of his aerial duels, and there is no doubt he and Carlos could form a superb duo at the heart of the Villa defence.

Indeed, the 30-year-old has been dubbed a “monster” by former Lazio teammate Mauricio, and he also lavished “excellent” praise on the centre-back with it evident De Vrij is well respected by other players.

Emery could give the Villa side a big boost if he manages to convince the Inter defender to leave Serie A for the Midlands, and it would certainly improve their woeful defence with a potential monster duo being created at the back by the Spanish tactician.

Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings has a ‘big six months’ ahead of him in terms of his future at the club, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Poor season for Mings

The Englishman had a tough time of things during the summer, with former Villa manager Steven Gerrard deciding to strip him of the captaincy.

Since then, Mings’ form has been hit-and-miss this season, with some individual errors proving costly and doubts being raised over his long-term future.

With Unai Emery now in charge, this feels like a pivotal moment in the 29-year-old’s career, especially as reports have already suggested Villa will be in the market for a new left-sided defender.

The Latest: ‘Big six months’ ahead

That’s certainly the opinion of Jones, who told Give Me Sport that Mings needs to perform between now and the end of the season:

“Mings has probably got more to prove, I think he’s got a big six months ahead. He’ll still believe in himself, he’s got to at this point, it’s all going to be about strength of mind for him, I think, in how he comes through this.”

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The Verdict: Time to prove himself

It does feel that Mings is battling to save his Villa Park career – he has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Gabby Agbonlahor in the past – especially with Emery no doubt eyeing up future signings to improve his overall squad.

Once the 2022 World Cup is done and dusted, the centre-back needs to find a consistently high level to prove his worth, with his current deal expiring in 2024 and the club potentially looking to cash in next summer.

The fact that Mings was in the team before the World Cup break does suggest that Emery will stick with him for now, but continued patchy showings could be hugely problematic for him.

Tottenham Hotspur have been backed to land a transfer deal for Everton winger Anthony Gordon by talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor. 

The Lowdown: Spurs’ previous interest in Gordon

The Lilywhites were linked with a move for the winger during the previous summer transfer window but didn’t end up signing him.

Earlier this month, Alasdair Gold revealed that the north London club are still keeping tabs on the Toffees star. Now though, it appears that Antonio Conte’s side have been backed to finally secure a deal for Gordon.

The Latest: Spurs backed to land Gordon

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor had this to say on the situation surrounding Gordon and a potential move away from Goodison Park. He said:

“If Spurs are interested in Anthony Gordon I would definitely sell him. I feel like he hasn’t done anything really since he got linked with a move to Chelsea.

“Lampard’s been playing him from the bench in the last few games. That’s strange with the quality that he’s got.

“He’s not been putting in the performances. Did the big-money transfer links get to his head? There are questions to be asked there.

“He needs to sort himself out because clubs might be interested but they might not if they see your performances can drop so easily. I think if Everton can get a decent amount, they would sell him.”

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The Verdict: Spurs should be cautious

Across the 14 league games he’s played in for Frank Lampard’s side this season, Gordon has found the net three times but has yet to provide an assist.

Having completed 179 of the 249 passes he’s attempted, this has left the Englishman, who Chelsea were reportedly willing to pay £60m to sign in the summer, with one of the lowest passing accuracy percentages (71.9%) at Everton.

In a similar fashion, Gordon has one of the lowest percentages (22.2%) for dribbles completed at Everton having successfully pulled off just eight of the 36 dribbles he’s attempted.

Taking all of this into account, we feel that Spurs should think carefully over whether they choose to launch a move to sign the Everton attacker, especially if it would take a significant amount of money to do so.