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Leeds United have reportedly moved into the ‘pole position’ to sign an exciting midfield talent…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to journalist Ciro Venerato, speaking on RAI and transcripted by Area Napoli (via Sport Witness), who suggests that the Whites have moved into the lead in their pursuit of Azzedine Ounahi from Angers.

The journalist, who was covering Napoli’s pursuit of the Moroccan maestro, claimed: “As regards the Napoli transfer market, we can say that Leeds are in pole position for the Moroccan Azzedine Ounahi.

“The English have offered €25m (£22m) to Angers and €2.5m to the player, higher figures than those offered by Napoli which had stopped at €1.5m.”

Marsch could ditch Roca for Ounahi

Having only signed for Leeds last summer, Marc Roca has already established himself as a mainstay in Jesse Marsch’s side.

The Spaniard does offer a dependable pair of legs beside the relentless Tyler Adams, and for that, he must be commended.

However, given how the Leeds manager likes to play his football with what The Athletic’s Liam Tharme described as ‘a high-risk, potentially high-reward approach’, perhaps he would be better served to employ someone like Ounahi, who has a lot more attacking impetus than the former Bayern Munich maestro.

Whilst Roca boasts a 6.92 Sofascore rating in the Premier League, it could be argued that he largely occupies a similar role to Adams, with both being more defensive-minded midfielders. 

Roca averages 2.2 tackles per game alongside an 81% pass accuracy, which is dwarfed by the four tackles per game and 83% pass accuracy of the American.

There is not an inherent need for this solely defensive midfield base, and therefore the 26-year-old could take a back seat if World Cup star Ounahi does sign from Angers.

The 22-year-old ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past 12 months, which he pairs with an unrelenting desire to push forward when possible. As such, he also sits in the top 5% for progressive passes received.

Alongside Sofyan Amrabat in Qatar, he provided an impressive base with which Morocco could push forward with speed, shocking Portugal and Spain along their way to making history as the first country from Africa to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

At club level, Adams could operate in that solely defensive role to allow Ounahi to push forward and truly unlock the potential of this Leeds team. After all, his exploits at the tournament in Qatar were lauded as “genuinely world-class” by World Cup consultant and USA-based coach Jed Davies.

Whilst it would require a slight tweak in philosophy, it seems clear that Marsch favours an offensive style which somewhat forsakes defending. As such, in 17 league games this season, the Whites have scored 25 goals but conceded 31, the joint-fourth worst tally in the division for the latter.

If Leeds are to continue neglecting their defensive duties, the least they could do is sign players appropriately to maximise their output going forward. Ounahi fits this bill and would be an ample attacking upgrade on Roca.

Manchester United take on Premier League table toppers Arsenal at the Emirates this afternoon in what promises to be a cracker of a tie.

The Old Trafford side have enjoyed a resurgence of late, winning seven of their previous eight matches, with the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace in midweek their only blemish and Arsenal will be in for a tough match.

Despite the extraordinary victory against Manchester City last weekend, the last-minute Palace equaliser brought Erik ten Hag’s men back down to the ground and he will likely make a few changes.

Wout Weghorst was uninspiring on his debut, taking just one shot during his time on the pitch, while Marcus Rashford had his quietest game in a while, failing to score and Ten Hag should switch it up slightly against Arsenal by unleashing Alejandro Garnacho.

On the chalkboard

The 18-year-old has broken through into the United first-team squad this season, making eight league appearances and generally impressing, scoring once and registering two assists while also creating two big chances and it appears he isn’t fazed by the big occasion.

His arrival with just 18 minutes left of the Manchester derby last weekend was the catalyst for the Red Devils to secure what looked like an unlikely victory midway through the second half.

The Argentinian provided the assist for Rashford’s winner and added a bit more fluidity to United’s attack after he replaced Christian Eriksen.

Mark Goldbridge dubbed Garnacho as “fantastic” while Liam Canning had this to say about the young winger following the match: “Garnacho was so direct and aggressive when he came on. Exactly what the team needed. Changed the game. What a talent.”

A slightly different approach will be needed against Arsenal, but Ten Hag should drop Weghorst to the bench, move Rashford to a more central role, and unleash Garnacho on the left wing in order to replicate the last 20 minutes of the City match.

If United play to their best, three points are certainly achievable, however, the manager will know not to get too carried away with results like last weekend, especially when a poor draw follows a few days later.

Whatever happens, it’s set to be a mouth-watering tie and could be a crucial one in deciding which way the Premier League title is heading.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a fresh move for Sporting CP defender Pedro Porro ‘today’, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Opening bid rejected

The Premier League giants were believed to have cooled their interest in the 23-year-old at the start of the month due to Sporting’s insistence on paying the full release clause, but it’s since been reported that he is in fact Antonio Conte’s number one target.

Romano has claimed that the Lilywhites saw their opening offer for the right-back turned down, with Sporting standing firm in their stance of only being willing to sanction a sale should they receive €45m (£39m) up front, as stated in his contract.

The player, however, is apparently personally keen to make the move to N17, and it sounds like Fabio Paratici isn’t ready to end his pursuit there.

The Latest: Second time lucky?

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday morning, Romano revealed that Spurs are preparing for a new round of negotiations for Porro in the hope of reaching an agreement before the end of the window.

“Understand Tottenham and Sporting will hold new round of talks for Pedro Porro today.

“Tottenham are offering €37m fixed fee plus add-ons, discussing about one player to be included as part of the deal.”

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The Verdict: Splash the cash

Porro has been dubbed a ‘special’ talent by Zach Lowy, and Tottenham may have to splash the cash should they not want to miss out on their primary target.

The Nike-sponsored star has racked up a mightily impressive 11 assists and three goals in 24 appearances this season and currently ranks in the 99th percentile of full-backs for six different statistics, including assists and shot-creating actions.

The Don Benito native also shares the same agent as Heung-Min Son and Richarlison, so this could potentially give Conte’s side an advantage when trying to get a deal over the line.

The January transfer window is a matter of hours away from slamming shut and Newcastle United may look to add to their squad before tonight’s deadline.

Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth moved to make their first senior addition of the month last week as they snapped up Everton forward Anthony Gordon on a permanent deal.

The Toon duo could now bolster the squad’s options in the middle of the park by pursuing a deal to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Jonjo Shelvey’s pending move to Nottingham Forest on a permanent basis opens up a space in the midfield department and the Blues gem could be the dream signing for the head coach in that area of the pitch.

Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that the Magpies are “interested” in signing the England international before the deadline but that they may not find out whether or not he is available until late into the day.

If Howe can secure a deal to sign the 27-year-old talent on deadline day then he could be a dream signing in the middle of the park as a technically-gifted midfielder who has already proven himself in the top tier of English football.

In the Premier League last season, Shelvey, who is set to be on his way out of the club, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 across 24 appearances. He made 2.2 tackles and interceptions and 0.7 key passes per game whilst completing 81% of his attempted passes, which shows that the experienced maestro was a well-rounded option for Newcastle in the middle of the park.

Loftus-Cheek could now offer similar qualities at St. James’ Park. The £120k-per-week dynamo also made 24 appearances in the top-flight last term and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.94, whilst making 1.7 tackles and interceptions and 0.8 key passes per outing and completing 90% of his attempted passes.

The gem, who was once dubbed an “animal” by journalist Aaron Stokes, is similar to Shelvey in the sense that he offers quality at both sides of the game and is a reliable passer in midfield, with neither player being a specialist in a defensive or attacking midfielder role.

At the age of 27, Loftus-Cheek also has room to improve and could develop under Howe’s coaching, which could make him an excellent addition for the mid-term as well as the immediate future.

He is a proven Premier League performer and someone who could, in theory, come in and hit the ground running – making him a dream addition to Howe’s midfield options after Shelvey’s prospective exit.

Aston Villa are approaching kitchen sink time when considering the best-placed move to make on the transfer front, with the winter market’s deadline day but a day away.

Unai Emery has thus far been a revelation since his arrival in October, winning five of his first seven Premier League outings, but there is still plenty of work to be done to ensure that Villa’s recent good fortunes are sustained with regularity.

And with Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran already secured on the transfer front, the Claret & Blue are swiftly moulding into a team of the Spaniard’s creation, with the likes of talisman Danny Ings also sold on this month to Premier League rivals West Ham United for a reported £15m.

While Duran is an exciting young forward option, the 19-year-old can hardly be expected to lead the line with devastating consistency just yet, having been signed from MLS outfit Chicago Fire, and his skill set would be more prudently utilised with soft, careful integration.

As such, forging ahead with a deal for the likes of Watford’s Ismaila Sarr, who has recently been linked with a move to the Midlands outfit, would be an excellent option for a side looking to add a number of dimensions to their attack.

Writing in his latest column for GIVEMESPORT, Dean Jones remarked: “Watford’s Ismaila Sarr is the latest wide forward to be linked while Luiz Henrique is a raw talent that has been scouted.”

Sarr was subject to a £25m move to Villa in 2021, with former boss Steven Gerrard pulling out of negotiations at the 11th hour following concerns relating to Sarr’s medical results, but with emphatic showings for the Hornets and the Senegalese national team ensuring, it is evident that he boasts every bit the acumen and prowess to dazzle under the ambitious Emery’s tutelage at Villa Park.

Since arriving in Watford, the 52-cap star has scored 31 goals and provided 22 assists from 115 appearances, a centrepiece to the club’s endeavour in pursuing an instant return to the top-flight following relegation to the EFL Championship last season.

And with seven goals and four assists this league term, the 24-year-old Sarr would bring that dynamic cutting edge that could prove the difference in Villa’s pursuit of prominence.

If Villa technical director Johan Lange can prove to be successful in the plot to land the Championship sensation, he could link up wonderfully with another prospective acquisition in Olympique Lyonnais’ Moussa Dembele.

He is another touted for a move to the club by Jones who suggested over the week that he has been “sought out” by the Villans ahead of the expiry of his contract at the end of the campaign.

The £52k-per-week Dembele has been his Ligue 1 outfit’s focal point in attack since arriving from Scottish giants Celtic in 2018 for £19.7m, scoring 69 goals from 160 appearances, but he has fallen out of favour this season and plundered just the two goals from 16 outings.

Despite this, he retains a clinical prowess that would allow him to flourish within any environment, and with the attacker still ranking among the top 6% of positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for rate of non-penalty goals, he is clearly a resounding marksman, retaining a consistency in front of the net despite the peripheral role he has played this term.

And Sarr, who former Watford shot-stopper Ben Foster once hailed a “freak of a talent”, could provide the blistering pace and enigmatic aura from the flank, cutting inside at will and offering auxiliary support when deemed appropriate.

With the link-up between the respective aces, Emery could finally piece the puzzle together and unleash a refined and formidable frontal edge to his oiled system, reaping the rewards of their labour and adding a dynamic sheen that could indeed pave a course for fortunes scarcely seen at Villa Park for some time.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is facing the difficult task of replacing Bruno Guimaraes for the next three Premier League matches due to his suspension.

The Brazil international was shown a straight red card in the Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Southampton and will now be out of action for the next three games before being back available for the final at Wembley against Manchester United.

Bruno has been a standout performer for the Magpies throughout the season so far, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.14 in the top-flight, which places him fifth in the squad and first for central midfielders.

The 25-year-old has chipped in with three goals and three assists from the middle of the park, and no other player in that position has managed more than two goals or two assists in the Premier League for Howe.

Joe Willock (6.86) and Sean Longstaff (6.74) have been solid performers in midfield but have not been performing near the incredible level of Bruno has since he arrived in England midway through the 2021/22 campaign.

Newcastle could find an alternative to the Brazilian talent by going into the transfer market at the end of the season, although that does not help them in the short-term, and one of their January targets could be the man for the job.

On deadline day, it was reported that the club were considering a deal to sign Sander Berge from Championship side Sheffield United, but the 24-year-old ended up remaining at Bramall Lane.

Howe must reignite Newcastle’s interest in the Norwegian midfielder heading into the summer, as he could be a dream Bruno alternative if he can make the step up to the Premier League.

In the Championship this season, the 32-cap Norway international has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 across 19 appearances and chipped in with four goals and three assists, whilst creating five ‘big chances’ for his team-mates.

The 24-year-old, who is also averaging 1.7 tackles and interceptions per match, has showcased his quality as a box-to-box midfielder, and his performances have led to team-mate Chris Basham dubbing him a “Rolls Royce”, which shows how highly his peers rate him. 

At the age of 24, Berge still has plenty of time left to develop and make the jump up to the Premier League to replicate, or even improve upon, the displays that he is putting in this season.

The midfielder, who played 29 top-flight matches for the Blades in his first two years in England, is a player who could make an immediate impact at St James’ Park whilst also holding the potential to grow and increase his value in the coming years.

Therefore, Berge could be a fantastic prospective signing for Newcastle as an alternative goalscoring and creative midfield option to Bruno and a gem in his own right, and Howe must pursue a summer deal for the Norwegian talent.

Journalist Lewis Cox has been left thrilled by some ‘massive news’ out of West Brom involving manager Carlos Corberan.

The Lowdown: Corberan linked with Leeds…

Amid Leeds United’s search for a new manager after the Whites sacked Jesse Marsch, Baggies boss Corberan was linked with the vacancy.

Reports suggested that the 39-year-old was a leading candidate to succeed Marsch at Elland Road with Leeds then dealt a hammer blow by news out of West Brom.

The Midlands side announced Corberan has signed a contract extension, keeping him with the Championship club until the summer of 2027.

The Latest: Cox reacts to ‘massive’ Corberan news…

Cox, a reporter for The Express and Star, has called this development ‘massive’ and ‘huge’ for West Brom – sharing his excitement over the news on Twitter.

He explained:

“Massive news for West Bromwich Albion. Carlos Corberan pens two-year contract extension on existing deal until summer 2027 amid reported Leeds interest. Huge. Vamos!”

The Verdict: Big…

The Spaniard has almost single-handedly resurrected West Brom’s season after the sacking of former manager Steve Bruce.

Corberan, since being appointed in late October 2022, has guided his side to a sensational run of ten wins in their last 12 games – including a phenomenal nine-game winning streak from early November to mid-January (Transfermarkt).

The former Huddersfield Town and Olympiacos head coach had all rights to attract interest from Premier League sides like Leeds given his brilliant record since coming to the Hawthorns.

Keeping hold of Corberan amid that previous interest comes as a potentially monumental bit of good news for West Brom supporters as they continue their battle for promotion this season.

Leeds United will be without Pascal Struijk for this afternoon’s Premier League clash against Manchester United, according to Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Struijk a regular for Leeds

The Dutch defender has been a key figure for the Whites this season, featuring heavily at left-back under former manager Jesse Marsch. The 23-year-old has made 22 appearances in all competitions, missing just one Premier League fixture so far in the current campaign.

However, he went off early at Old Trafford on Wednesday after taking a Marcus Rashford strike to the face, and it looks like he won’t be featuring at Elland Road today.

The Latest: Struijk to miss Man Utd clash

Hay took to Twitter to relay news from Michael Skubala’s press conference from Thorp Arch on Friday.

When it came to injury news, it was confirmed that Struijk will ‘miss out because of concussion protocols’, whereas Liam Cooper, Marc Roca and Luis Sinisterra are being assessed.

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The Verdict: A blow for Leeds

Not having Struijk to call upon isn’t ideal for Skubala, who like Marsch gave him the nod at left-back in midweek in his first game as temporary manager.

Struijk has actually been Leeds’ best-rated performer this season with an average match rating of 6.90/10, as per WhoScored.

He has chipped in with two goals and ranks highly for tackles made per 90, so it looks as if Junior Firpo – who has been one of Leeds’ worst performers statistically and a lightning rod for heavy criticism – could be forced to come in as his replacement.

Liverpool are interested in the signing of Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio this summer, a new transfer report claims.

The Lowdown: Centre-back on the agenda

While much of the current talk is about the Reds’ midfield, in terms of signings in the summer transfer window, a new central defender could also come in.

Jurgen Klopp may feel that that area of the pitch also needs freshening up, especially with Joel Matip and Joe Gomez’s performances proving patchy recently and the former being tipped to leave with just one year left on his deal.

Now, a new centre-back target has emerged, as Liverpool prepare for what is hopefully a big summer ahead.

The Latest: Reds scouts watch Inacio

According to Correio da Manha, the Reds sent club officials to watch Inacio in action for Sporting in Primeira Liga action against Porto last weekend.

The 21-year-old, whose current deal expires in 2026, is also thought to be wanted by Newcastle United.

The Verdict: Long-term acquisition?

A young centre-back with big promise feels like the best option for Liverpool this summer, considering Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk should continue to be the first-choice pairing for the foreseeable future.

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Inacio has been hailed as a ‘complete CB’ in his position by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and he enjoyed an 87.5% pass completion across six starts in the Champions League this season, showing composure on the big stage.

Inacio also averaged 3.5 clearances per game in Europe’s biggest club competition and he tasted title glory with Sporting back in 2020/21, so knows what it takes to win silverware.

At 21, he could come in as the fourth-choice centre-back, should Matip or Gomez move on, eventually maturing into a regular alongside Konate over time.

Chelsea are considering a move to sign Brighton and Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson this summer, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Ferguson profiled

The Irishman first arrived at The Amex when he joined the Seagulls’ youth ranks from Bohemians back in 2021, where he’s since forced his way into the senior first-team fold.

The 18-year-old’s contract on the south coast isn’t set to expire until 2026, but having impressed during his seven appearances in the Premier League this season, is generating interest ahead of the upcoming window, particularly from Stamford Bridge.

The Latest: Chelsea eyeing Ferguson

According to The Sun, Chelsea, alongside London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, are both ‘weighing up’ an approach for Ferguson this summer.

Todd Boehly and Co reportedly rate the teenager ‘highly’, and Brighton actually recruited him when Graham Potter was at the club, so they will already have an existing connection.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Ferguson has been described as a ‘complete’ striker by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and should the opportunity to sign him arise, Chelsea have got a no-brainer of a decision to make.

The Bettystown-born talent has scored ten goals and provided five assists in 20 outings across all competitions this term, and he’s averaging 1.7 shots per top-flight game.

Standing at 6 foot 2, he would offer a different dimension in the final third with his physicality and also has the versatility to operate in four other attacking positions.

Ferguson’s price tag is currently unknown but Boehly isn’t one to shy away from splashing the cash to secure his targets, and that’s exactly what he needs to do if he wants to beat his competitors to his signature.