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Tottenham Hotspur could still make a move for Weston McKennie during the January transfer window, according to football.london reporter Alasdair Gold…

What’s the word?

The reliable local journalist suggested the Juventus midfielder as a potential target after the World Cup in a recent video for his YouTube channel.

“I wouldn’t rule out Tottenham continuing to look at Weston McKennie. He’s a good player, got a great engine, box-to-box, very versatile as well,” he said.

“They’ve got a lot of options in that midfield, but with his versatility, who knows if they look at him again in this upcoming window, because I do think he’d be a good player.”

In the past, Gold has also claimed that Lilywhites sporting director Fabio Paratici “adores” the USMNT international, so a move could very much be on the cards in the near future.

Bentancur 2.0

It is true that Spurs boss Antonio Conte is stacked with options in the engine room, perhaps the most of anywhere else on the pitch, but he is hardly going to say no to adding another top-quality candidate.

McKennie’s versatility is a key asset as he would be able to play anywhere in the engine room, making any tactical shifts rather easy to make as the 24-year-old dynamo will be able to shift across to any role required.

“He’s an outstanding talent. In the No.6 or No.8 position he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need,” once claimed his former Schalke 04 boss David Wagner.

Currently, the American is starring for the USA at the World Cup in Qatar, where he helped his side thwart England over the weekend. In 77 minutes, he registered two tackles, won four duels and created one big chance – on top of having a 90% passing accuracy, too, via Sofascore.

The Telegraph even suggested that his performance ‘made England sweat’, whilst journalist Miguel Delaney claimed that he completely dominated Gareth Southgate’s midfield.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was also impressed by the bit-part Juventus ace, suggesting that his energy was “excellent,” and that sort of quality is something that will make Conte very keen to secure his signature this winter.

Indeed, Evening Standard reporter Dan Kilpatrick added some weight to this argument as he suggested that McKennie would be “very useful” to Spurs, particularly in a counter-attack system, which by and large is what the Italian deploys in north London.

Given the timing of the potential swoop and the player’s form for the Serie A giants (he ranks 17th of 25 for average WhoScored rating), this move could well be Rodrigo Bentancur 2.0 – an Old Lady flop turned Spurs fan-favourite in less than a year.

As such, Paratici and his staff must be trusted if they are to launch a move for the American monster at the turn of the year. After dominating England, McKennie could quite clearly cut the mustard in the Premier League, so Tottenham must look to land the £26m midfielder in the coming months.

AND in other news, Conte could form a “midfield machine” as Spurs eye “roaming” £52m World Cup starlet…

Arsenal have been excellent thus far during the 22/23 campaign, topping their Europa League group and perching atop the Premier League table as the season paused for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

And with the tantalising, agonising thought of securing the league title after almost two decades now emerging from the obscurity of the fog like a towering, gleaming pillar, the Gunners are searching for shrewd signings in the January transfer window to bolster the pack, and prevent a slide from grace in the latter half of the campaign.

Gabriel Jesus was recently felled while performing for Brazil at the World Cup, now facing an extended period on the sidelines, and while the frontline still boasts considerable might, the slick, cohesive model has lost a chunk of its brilliance.

Should another key figure be lost to injury, Arsenal’s finely-poised balance may just take a detrimental tumble, and as such, the hierarchy are looking to act swiftly.

With The Sun reporting in October that Gunners owner Stan Kroenke is set to bless manager Mikel Arteta with funds this winter, with a winger, centre-midfielder, and defender the priority.

And one ace that could slip his way into transfer plans is Adrien Rabiot, who has been excelling at the World Cup with France, cementing a starting role in the world champion’s team.

His influence and presence have indeed earned plaudits, with Frederic Piquionne tweeting: “Adrien Rabiot is the Emmanuel Petit of 98 best player in the World Cup.”

Such a comparison is high praise indeed, with the 27-year-old exhibiting attributes of tenacity, guile and intelligence that embodied Petit’s starring role as France clinched gold on home turf at the 1998 World Cup.

Rabiot has recorded an average rating of 7.35 in Qatar, scoring during the opening group game against Australia and completing 88% of his passes as France breezed into the quarter-finals, where a clash against England awaits.

Also averaging 1.8 shots per match, making 2.5 tackles and 1.3 interceptions, the “complete” dynamo’s versatility has proved invaluable for Les Bleus.

Now emerging as a “key player” for the side, as praised by teammate Ibrahima Konate, the £21.5m-rated star would be a sterling addition to this title-chasing Gunners team, tightening a formidable grip on the hold the team has on the domestic scene at present.

With the player’s club Juventus willing to sell him to Manchester United in the summer, with the move failing to pass the finish line, Arsenal will know that they might just have some success in drawing him over to north London, and should do so with swift conviction.

Chelsea have reportedly ‘held talks’ in Qatar over the potential signing of AC Milan and Portugal winger Rafael Leao.

The Lowdown: World Cup exploits

Leao featured for Portugal at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he managed two goals on the way to them reaching the quarter-finals, despite not starting a match (Transfermarkt).

Before the tournament, the winger boasted seven goals and nine assists in 20 appearances in total across all competitions for Milan this season (Transfermarkt), and is sure to attract plenty of interest come the January transfer window.

The Latest: Talks held

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Leao does not want to extend his current deal at Milan, which is set to expire in 2024, and Chelsea are one of three clubs ‘in’ for his signature.

They have ‘held talks’ in Qatar over his potential signing, and Milan have rejected their first offer of €70m (£60.1m) for him, wanting his release clause of €150m (£128.8m) to sell.

The Verdict: Sign him up!

If the Blues can afford Leao, then they must sign him up in January at all costs.

Sitting in eighth place in the Premier League table, they are the lowest scorers (17) in the top half, and are in desperate need of a refresh in the frontline.

Leao has shown how threatening he can be in front of goal, and sharing a similar playing style to the likes of Mo Salah, Son Heung-Min and Luis Diaz, the 23-year-old is sure to thrive in the top flight.

The future of West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is still uncertain, but following his recent comments while on international duty with England at the World Cup explaining how he wants to play Champions League football, it seems eminently possible that this could be his last season at the club.

With 18 months left on his current contract and a list of potential suitors including Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, David Moyes could receive a massive transfer fee for the 23-year-old.

With this in mind, it seems likely that the Irons boss will be on the lookout for a replacement for Rice, either in January or the summer; and with their interest in Juventus and France midfielder Adrien Rabiot increasing recently, the 59-year-old might just have the ideal heir for the Englishman.

Furthermore, journalist Dean Jones discussed West Ham’s interest in the midfielder while speaking to GIVEMESPORT, saying: “It has probably been ramped up by the fact that Rabiot’s open to coming to the Premier League.

“So, I’m not sure I can see him as a Rice replacement exactly, but what he does bring in that sense is a technical level that very few players in the game can offer.”

This is a big bonus for Moyes, knowing that a move to the Premier League is tempting for Rabiot; and despite Jones saying that he doesn’t see him as a Rice replacement, the French World Cup star possesses all the qualities to excel in the West Ham engine room.

Indeed, the £148k-per-week French dynamo has outperformed Rice during the tournament in Qatar. The 27-year-old has registered more goal contributions (two to zero), more key passes per match (0.6 to 0.2) and more tackles per match (2.0 to 1.2), proving that he can be more effective at both ends of the pitch than the West Ham midfielder and could be a more than capable replacement.

Journalist Samuel Luckhurst dubbed Rabiot a “cracking midfielder” following his performance against Australia in the holders’ first match of Qatar 2022, while Scott Saunders described him as “the world’s best midfielder” following that game.

Rabiot has just six months left on his current contract at Juventus and Moyes could secure the player for a bargain price in January or, better still, for nothing in the summer.

The Frenchman’s form at the World Cup is certain to have attracted plenty of interest, and if Moyes can lure him to London, it would be a big statement of intent by the east London club.

A potential priority for Celtic in the January transfer window could well be a new centre-forward addition, with the Parkhead outfit potentially preparing for the probability of having to replace contract rebel Giorgos Giakoumakis.

With the Greece international attracting notable interest after reportedly failing to agree terms regarding a wage increase at the Premiership champions, there is a distinct possibility that the 28-year-old could depart Glasgow next month, leaving Ange Postecoglou rather light in the attacking ranks.

One potential solution to that problem has emerged in the form of Sunderland striker Ross Stewart, with the Old Firm outfit believed to be ‘waiting in the wings’ for the Scotland marksman amid the uncertainty surrounding his future at the Stadium of Light.

The suggestion is that the 26-year-old has yet to commit himself to the Black Cats despite having just six months remaining on his existing contract , having seemingly turned down the chance to become the Championship club’s highest-paid player.

However, Tony Mowbray’s side do have the option to extend Stewart’s current contract a further year, with that fact reportedly seeing the Wearside outfit slap a £10m price tag on the former Ross County man’s head.

Despite that hefty asking price, a move for the 26-year-old could well be worth it as far as the Scottish champions are concerned, with Stewart having been in “unbelievable” form during his time south of the border, according to Sunderland team-mate Alex Pritchard.

After previously scoring 28 goals in 82 games during his time at Dingwall, the 6 foot 2 marksman has since netted 35 goals and registered eight assists in 73 games for his current club, including six goals and three assists in just eight outings in England’s second tier this term.

Such prolific form could even see the one-time St Mirren man likened to Portugal’s World Cup hero, Goncalo Ramos, with the pair said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities according to FBref.

That is evidenced by the fact that Ramos – who scored a hat-trick on his first start for his country in the 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland in Qatar – notably ranks in the top 5% in his position (in Men’s Next eight competitions) for non-penalty goals, while Stewart ranks in the top 1% in that regard, albeit having featured less frequently.

Equally, that similarity is also evidenced by their work ethic in attack, with the latter averaging 1.36 tackles per game, while the Benfica sensation is only just behind as he averages 0.92 tackles per game from his striking berth.

That willingness to put in the hard yards defensively is clearly a trait that both men share. Stewart has been lauded as a player who has “got everything” by the aforementioned Pritchard due to his hold-up play and desire to run in behind, while Ramos has also been described as a player who “never gives up” by team-mate Alejandro Grimaldo.

Being able to land an asset similar to that of the Portuguese hotshot would prove a real coup for Postecoglou and co, with the 21-year-old Ramos having been in prolific form in recent times, scoring 14 goals and registering six assists in just 21 games in all competitions so far this term for Benfica.

To be able to secure an answer to such a highly-coveted figure – who is reportedly attracting the attention of Manchester United – in the form of Sunderland talisman Stewart could well help to give Celtic an even greater lift heading into the second half of the season.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has dropped an update surrounding the fitness of Anthony Ralston ahead of the Hoops’ Premiership clash against Hibernian tonight. 

The Lowdown: Ralston injury blow

The Hoops were without the 24-year-old during their 4-1 win over St. Johnstone at the weekend after he was forced off in the second half of the 2-1 victory against Livingston three days previously, having picking up a knock to his ankle.

This ended up not being a problem for the Bhoys as Reo Hatate scored two of Celtic’s four goals on Saturday whilst filling in for Ralston at right-back.

As the Glasgow giants prepare to take on Hibernian at Easter Road, Postecoglou has shared some behind-the-scenes details regarding the defender’s recovery.

The Latest: Postecoglou’s update on Ralston

Speaking on Tuesday ahead of tonight’s clash, Postecoglou shared an update on Ralston’s fitness and the likelihood of him being able to play against Hibs.

The Celtic manager said of the 24-year-old (via Glasgow Times): “We will see. There was improvement yesterday and there was improvement today. We obviously have an extra day’s break for this game, so we will assess it as we go along.”

The Verdict: Encouraging for Celtic

While this is undoubtedly an encouraging update from Postecoglou, Celtic’s previous match – and Hatate’s goalscoring performance in particular – showed that they didn’t miss Ralston all that much.

This could suggest that the Hoops may not need to rush him back into action tonight and risk him incurring further damage which could keep him on the sidelines for longer.

However, with Ralston having the joint-highest average of tackles per game (1.6) at Celtic in the league this season, this would make him a useful player to recall against Hibernian, especially as they have the third-most shots at goal in the Scottish top flight this season (309).

With tonight’s game in mind, Postecoglou should not consider starting the Scottish right-back unless he is 100% fit enough to play.

Everton selling Jordan Pickford would be a worrying sign that they are struggling financially, according to an update from journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: Pickford linked with exit

The 28-year-old has been one of the Blues’ standout players throughout 2022, playing a big part in them avoiding relegation from the Premier League last season.

Pickford has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park recently however, with a summer exit reportedly on the cards once the 2022/23 campaign ends.

It would be the second summer in a row they lose a high profile player after Richarlison’s move to Tottenham, so the hope is that the England international stays put.

The Latest: Journalist worried about finances

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown said that Pickford moving on next summer would suggest that Everton have no choice but to generate funds through sales:

“I think the uncertainty is unhelpful to everyone. If Everton want Pickford to stay, they should get that done as quickly as possible. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t.

“If they were to sell Pickford, I think it would be a giant warning sign that they really are struggling for cash and that the ambitions might not be the same as they were.”

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The Verdict: Concerning time at Everton

There is no doubt that this is a concerning time for Everton, with results on the pitch hugely disappointing and the pressure building on Frank Lampard all the time.

Losing Pickford would further weaken the Blues, with the Englishman described as ‘outstanding’ by Leon Osman and winning three Man of the Match awards from WhoScored this season.

The hope is that the goalkeeper remains at Everton beyond the summer, and if he is sold for financial reasons, it will be a big worry for supporters, especially at a time when their new stadium is being built.

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Pape Matar Sarr is believed to have been informed by Antonio Conte that he will not be leaving north London this month.

What’s the latest?

There has been a belief that Sarr, alongside Bryan Gil, could be set to leave Spurs over the course of January for a potential loan move in search of some regular football.

However, the Senegalese midfielder has now made appearances in Tottenham’s last two Premier League outings against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.

Sarr came on for just 10 minutes in the home defeat against Villa on the weekend, but the 20-year-old was trusted with a further 24 minutes in Spurs’ emphatic victory at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night.

And on the back of his impressive cameo displays in the top flight, Gold believes Conte will have told the player to forget about a loan move away from N17:

(48:50) “It sounds like he’s been told he’ll be there for the rest of the season bearing in mind what Conte said. Obviously ever-improving English as well. He looks really in the group.

“I think I noticed in the third goal, he leapt on top of the Spurs players and the celebrations [he] came out of nowhere and ended up on top of them all. So clearly feels enough of part of the group to do that,” he said on the Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham podcast.

Seizing the opportunity

Sarr joined Spurs last season, however, at such a young age, the midfielder was immediately returned to Metz on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

And he was able to get a lot more first-team action under his belt with the Ligue 1 side than he may have done with Spurs after making 33 appearances in the league (via Transfermarkt).

Sarr will have required a lot of patience this season with the 10-minute cameo on the weekend his first appearance under Conte this season.

However, he has seemingly seized an opportunity with Rodrigo Bentancur out through an ongoing injury issue and with Yves Bissouma suspended for the game against Palace on Wednesday.

“Today also Bissouma was banned for one game. Rodrigo is injured, also in midfield we were in a bit of trouble. Instead, good answer from Skippy and a good answer from Pape Sarr,” Conte said after the game.

The 20-year-old only played for 24 minutes against the Eagles, however, in that brief cameo, he managed to complete more tackles (2) than Oliver Skipp (1) who he replaced after 66 minutes (via SofaScore).

And it seems as if it is not just Conte’s eye who Sarr caught on Wednesday night with journalist Ryan Taylor hailing the youngster as “monstrous”.

With Spurs’ issues through injury and an underwhelming start to Bissouma’s career in N17, we think it is essential Conte keeps hold of Sarr with the Senegalese ace showing a lot of potential over the last few days.

Tottenham Hotspur have now set their sights on Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as a long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Pickford a target for Conte

Hugo Lloris has been a loyal servant to Tottenham, making an incredible 439 appearances for the club, but he is now 36-years-old, and Antonio Conte has seemingly started to think about long-term replacements.

It has previously been reported that Pickford is the manager’s ‘main objective’ to replace the Frenchman, with the Everton man emerging as England’s first-choice keeper, making 50 caps, and there is now belief that they could tempt him into a move.

The Latest: Spurs confident

According to a report from the Mirror, Spurs are indeed targeting the 28-year-old as a successor to Lloris, and they now believe that they can tempt him, given his contract stand-off with the Toffees, yet to agree a deal to remain at Goodison beyond 2024.

The allure of playing Champions League football could entice the Englishman into the move, with his current side struggling considerably in the Premier League this season, now sitting in the relegation zone.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

While Everton are enduring a difficult campaign, the former Sunderland man has been a shining light in a poor team, ranked as the third-best average performer in the squad, with an average SofaScore rating of 7.11.

The shot-stopper has made 68 saves in the Premier League, the second-highest amount of any player, and so the Toffees are very fortunate to have him in goal, or they could be in even more danger than they already are.

Lauded as ‘sensational’ by journalist Jeff Wallner, while also being said to have ‘world class distribution’ by Nick Emms, Pickford would be the perfect successor for Lloris, and at 28 he could be a mainstay between the sticks for many years to come.

Everton have been linked with a move for Anthony Elanga this month in an effort to strengthen the attacking threat ahead of the second half of the season and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano took to The United Stand YouTube channel yesterday to confirm that Everton are still interested in signing the Manchester United winger on loan before the transfer window closes.

Host Mark Goldbridge asked about Elanga’s possible move to Goodison Park over the next few weeks, and Romano revealed:

“I think it’s a possibility, Everton already wanted him in the final week of August.

“Everton are still interested, they’re a big fan of him and I think it’s a very good possibility for the player because he was tempted in the summer but Erik ten Hag said ‘no you have to stay here, you’re an important player for us’ – now the feeling is different.

“So, I think this is one they will decide to do in the final days or weeks of the window because Everton are pushing – many clubs are interested in Elanga – but Everton are really pushing.”

Lampard’s next prodigy

Frank Lampard isn’t having the most successful time on the blue side of Merseyside and looks set to face another difficult relegation scrap again this term if the manager is unable to turn things around in the most immediate instance.

However, despite the troubled situation he has found himself in at Goodison Park, the former Chelsea boss is renowned for his eye for young talent and for nurturing their development by introducing them to consistent first-team football.

Tariq Lamptey, Armando Broja, Reece James, Mason Mount and Marc Guehi have all become established Premier League players and some have even become Champions League winners since Lampard gave them all their top-flight debuts.

As a result, the signing of Elanga could not only be an opportunity for Everton to add fresh quality to their attacking threat but also a chance for the player to work with a manager who has championed youth throughout his management career so far.

The talented 20-year-old has already tallied up 30 goals and 19 assists over his 115 career appearances rising through the ranks of Man United’s academy with a goal contribution every 153 minutes, proving that he could be a valuable asset to the Toffees in their pursuit of improving their goal tally in their upcoming fixtures.

Although earning consistent game-time over last season, the opportunities for Elanga to shine at Old Trafford have dwindled since the arrival of former Ajax boss Ten Hag – averaging just 31 minutes over 13 Premier League appearances this campaign which will surely be frustrating for the youngster who has already had a taste of senior football.

With that being said, the opportunity to go to Goodison and work with a manager who thrives in developing youth talent could be a tempting prospect for Elanga. At the same time, it would offer Everton another attacking option to really push on for a comfortable finish in the top flight by the end of the season.