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Derby County continue to challenge for promotion this term and Paul Warne is now reportedly keen to bring a talented youngster to Pride Park in January.

Derby County prepare for congested fixture schedule…

Derby County were afforded a free weekend in League One due to being knocked out of the FA Cup in a replay against Crewe Alexandra, which in spite of the manner of the defeat has given Warne's men some needed respite ahead of an important run of festive fixtures.

Last time out, Derby County narrowly managed to best Port Vale at Vale Park last week by a single goal to nil, as a late effort from Tyreece John-Jules wrapped up an important three points to keep them in contention for promotion.

The Rams currently occupy sixth position in the English third tier, with 33 points from their opening 18 fixtures in the division. In a competitive picture in the context of who could potentially gain entry to the Championship, Warne will be keen for his side to continue their consistent form, which has yielded just one loss from their last seven matches across all competitions.

Next up for Derby County is a home tie against Fleetwood Town in the second round of the Football League Trophy before a return to league action at the weekend, where they will travel to east London to face off against Richie Wellens' Leyton Orient side.

Come the New Year, bringing in additional reinforcements will be key to achieving their ambitions of gaining promotion and it now appears that an exciting young star is on the radar at Pride Park, according to a fresh report.

Derby County line up Ben Krauhaus move

According to TEAMtalk, Derby County are keen on Bromley midfielder Ben Krauhaus, who they have watched in action this campaign to monitor his progress at the National League outfit. Nevertheless, competition to sign the 19-year-old is vast, with Cardiff City, Swansea City, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic all interested in offering the youngster a chance to make his mark in the Football League.

Out of contract in the summer of 2024, it remains to be seen whether the Rams look to try and initiate a move for Krauhaus in January or whether they try and wait it out until the summer to land the versatile player on a free transfer.

Capable of operating as a central midfielder or on both flanks, Krauhaus has made 23 appearances in all competitions for Bromley this campaign, registering two goals in the process (Krauhaus statistics – Transfermarkt).

Looking to the future is always an important feature of any side's squad building and although Krauhaus possibly wouldn't arrive as a first-team-ready player, he could be someone to nurture into an important player over the coming years at Pride Park.

Derby County eyeing January move to sign "incredible" new striker

The Rams are in need of reinforcements in pursuit of promotion…

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 23, 2023

Gio Reyna is among those “charging up” at Nottingham Forest, but will the USMNT ace have a part to play in a pivotal weekend of Premier League action?

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• Reds preparing for home with Chelsea
• Could secure top-flight safety
• American hoping to have a part to play

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Forest head into the latest round of fixtures knowing that safety could be secured in their clash with Chelsea at the City Ground. As the late kick-off in the English top-flight on Saturday, the Reds will know how Burnley and Luton have fared before taking to the field.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With a superior goal difference to those directly below them, Forest will be all but safe if Luton lose at West Ham and Burnley fail to win away at Tottenham. If those results were to play out, then a point against Chelsea would guarantee survival for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side – while a win would have them virtually over the line regardless of what happens elsewhere.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Reyna will be hoping to play some part against Chelsea, having found himself back on the bench for Forest’s last two fixtures. He is being put through his paces ahead of a crucial contest, with the Reds “charging up” in a bid to ensure that they do not fall flat.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR REYNA?

  Reyna has struggled for regular game time throughout his loan spell in England. He has started just two matches and seen only 230 minutes of Premier League action in total. The likelihood is that he will return to parent club Borussia Dortmund in the summer before a decision is made on his long-term future.

Chelsea came into this season on the back of an impressive pre-season campaign and with an element of hope that, with new boss Mauricio Pochettino, they could fight their way back into the European places come May.

However, with 16 games of the Premier League season already played – almost half – the Blues are once again in the bottom half of the table, and based on performances, rightly so.

That said, injuries haven't helped the young side, especially in the case of club captain Reece James, who had to come off against Everton on the weekend and is now set to spend a second spell on the sidelines this season.

While his absence will undoubtedly cause more headaches for Pochettino, there is some good news, as the latest player linked with Stamford Bridge could even replace the Cobham graduate altogether – Denzel Dumfries.

Chelsea transfer news – Denzel Dumfries

According to Italian outlet Calciomercatio, Inter Milan star Dumfries has courted the attention of Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United, with both teams keen on signing the player in 2024.

The interest of United is undoubtedly one of the barriers that the Blues will have to overcome if they want to sign the Dutchman, but the other is the price, as according to Calciomercato.IT, the Nerazzurri will not sell their player for anything less than €40m – which works out to about £35m.

It would represent another sizeable investment from Todd Boehly and co, though with how well the "monster", as described by journalist Alan Rzepa, has performed in Italy and the uncertainty surrounding James' fitness, it would likely be worth it.

Denzel Dumfries could replace Reece James and Malo Gusto

Now, James is obviously an enormous talent and widely considered one of the best right-backs in world football, but if he can't stay fit for more than a couple of months, then Chelsea simply can not benefit from his talent.

Since making his debut for the Blues in September 2019, the "world-class" 24-year-old, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has suffered 17 injuries – not including the latest one – which have made him miss a combined 463 days of action and 89 games for club and country, per Transfermarkt.

With a record such as that, the chance of James following a career trajectory similar to Jack Wilshere, another uber-talented youngster, is worryingly high. And with Malo Gusto – who is also currently sidelined – not exactly tearing up trees this year, it could be time for the club to look at another long-term solution at right-back.

When comparing the trios' underlying numbers, Dumfries simply has to measure up well with the Chelsea captain; if he can be 75% of the player 100% of the time, it will be more useful to Pochettino.

Unsurprisingly, there are some areas in which the former Wigan loanee comes out on top, such as tackles won and non-penalty expected goals and assists. However, the Serie A defender comes out ahead in plenty of other areas.

Ultimately, for as fantastic as James is, and for as outrageously high as his potential might be, the fact that he can't seem to string a run of games together at age 24 should be – and probably is – ringing alarm bells at Chelsea.

For the reasonable fee of around £35m, the two-time European champions should strongly consider signing Dumfries as he would be a more than adequate player to play in James' place and potentially instead of him if the injuries remain a problem.

While Newcastle United have had moments to savour throughout the current campaign, with their best arguably coming in a 4-1 thrashing of Paris Saint-Germain, the Magpies have also endured their struggles in an inconsistent season. In the same period that they smashed the Ligue 1 champions, Eddie Howe's side have lost 3-0 against Everton and Goodison Park and fallen to a 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth in the Premier League, summing up a mixed start.

With Nick Pope now injured to add to Howe's woes too, the January window can't come soon enough for the Newcastle boss, who will be aiming to find some reinforcements. And among those arrivals may well be a Champions League winner to hand the Magpies a major boost.

Newcastle transfer news

Losing Pope to a long-term injury sums up Newcastle's struggles this season, with the Magpies dealing with several injury blows throughout the campaign and suffering as a result. Those at St James' Park have learned a harsh lesson about just how important squad depth is if a side want to balance both domestic and European football. With that said, they could now turn to a target who knows all about Champions League football and what it takes to even win it.

According to The Mirror, Newcastle could make a loan move for PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas if Howe wants to boost his goalkeeping options in the January window. The shot-stopper spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, so ticks the box for Premier League experience and has plenty of expertise when it comes to playing at the top. After all, this is a goalkeeper who helped Real Madrid to endless honours, including three straight Champions League wins. It remains to be seen whether Newcastle pursue a deal for the veteran goalkeeper, but it would certainly be a wise move in January.

Signing "outstanding" Navas could be stroke of genius from Newcastle

If Newcastle managed to replace the injured Pope with a player of Navas' calibre, it would be an act of genius by those at St James' Park. The Magpies are a side aiming for top-four finishes these days, and the former Madrid man knows all about life at the top, given his time in both Spain and Ligue 1 with PSG. Some of Navas' achievements speak for themselves.

It's no surprise that the goalkeeper was at the centre of praise from Steve Cooper during his loan spell at Forest last season. Cooper said:

"Brilliant in the first half, outstanding and composed. The obvious talking points are the saves, and rightly so, he deserves all the credit for that, but I loved his composure and game management and decision making, I really enjoyed that part of his performance.

"Delighted he has got up and running, it was something that helped us win for sure. We've had a good few days with him where all he's shown is a real good work ethic, humility, desire to jump on board. We are really pleased he is here and are looking forward to working with him."

Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh led a giant conga line to celebrate Barcelona winning their fifth-straight Liga F title.

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• Barca scored seven to win title in style
• Remain unbeaten in Liga F
• Bronze and Walsh lead celebrations

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona extended their dominance in Spain by winning a fifth consecutive title after beating Athletic Club 7-0 on Friday. England team-mates Bronze and Walsh embraced each other at full-time before joining in with the celebrations, which took the form of a giant conga line.

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• WHAT LUCY BRONZE SAID

  Bronze has been part of a defence that has conceded just nine goals in the league this season and she did not hesitate to post a picture with her and the Liga F trophy on Instagram. She uploaded with the caption 'BON DIAAAAAA CULERS.'

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BRONZE, WALSH AND BARCA?

  With the title wrapped up, Bronze, Walsh and Barca can turn their attention to the Champions League. After dumping Chelsea out in the semi-final, only Lyon are standing in their way as they target European silverware for a second consecutive season.

U.S. International Kevin Paredes ended his Bundesliga season with a goal on the final day for Wolfsburg in a loss to Mainz on Saturday.

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• Wolfsburg fall to Mainz 3-1
• Paredes ends season with a goal
• Winger set for USMNT role at Olympics

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Paredes opened the scoring in the match in the 18th minute, but Mainz went on to score three unanswered goals to seal a victory. Regardless, though, it was a momentous occasion for the youngster as he bagged his third goal of the season.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Paredes had an up and cown campaign for the Bundesliga side in 2023-24, finding himself out of the starting XI for a large chunk of the season around the turn of the calendar year. However, he burst back into the team in 2024, earning an eventual 15 starts across 28 total appearances.

  Now, heading into the summer, the U.S. will need the talented winger to bring his best form to the international stage as they gear up for the Copa America and the Paris Olympics.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Paredes was named USMNT Young Player of the Year in 2023 after starring for club and country. He was a part of the U.S. November camp and has been a mainstay with the U23s since.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PAREDES?

  Paredes will now turn his attention to representing the U.S. this summer at the Paris Olympic Games, while also being available for Copa if Gregg Berhalter so desires. The 21-year-old looks set to play a key role for Marko Mitrovic's side in July, though, and he'll likely report to camp this June for preparation.

No matter their mixed form in recent times, Scottish champions Celtic will be fully aware that a statement victory over their Old Firm rivals on Saturday afternoon will help to firmly quash the doubters, with the fixture so often proving decisive in the battle for Premiership glory.

The Parkhead outfit go into tomorrow's clash on home soil five points clear at the summit, albeit with bitter rivals Rangers having two games in hand, ensuring the pair are very much finely poised at present.

While the Hoops have picked up successive wins over Livingston and Dundee, Brendan Rodgers' side have certainly not been at their free-flowing best of late, hence why the former Leicester City boss could make as many as three changes from the side that ran out 3-0 winners on Boxing Day.

1

GK – Joe Hart

The 36-year-old – who has just six months left on his existing deal – may not be the long-term pick for Rodgers and co, yet the experienced stopper will be called upon once again this weekend.

2

RB – Alistair Johnston

The former Montreal man is yet to register a goal or an assist this season, yet that isn't for a want of trying, having notably provided six key passes last time out, while enjoying 122 touches of the ball.

It will be the Canadian's defensive strength that will be tested tomorrow, however, up against the lively Abdallah Sima.

3

CB – Stephen Welsh

The first change could see Stephen Welsh come into the side to replace the stricken Cameron Carter-Vickers, with the latter man set to be absent after he limped off at Dens Park.

With the likes of Gustaf Lagerbielke and Maik Nawrocki still not even making the matchday squad of late, Welsh will likely be called upon from the start for the visit of Philippe Clement's men.

4

CB – Liam Scales

Despite signing Nawrocki, Lagerbielke and Nat Phillips over the summer, it is Liam Scales who has deservingly been a mainstay in the side this season, having been truly "excellent" – as per his manager.

5

LB – Greg Taylor

With Alexandro Bernabei fading from view under Rodgers, Taylor is the undisputed first-choice pick at left-back and will once again get the nod.

6

CDM – Callum McGregor

A man who knows all about this fixture – having taken part in 35 Old Firm meetings to date – Callum McGregor will lead the side out in what could be a crucial encounter amid Celtic's hopes of defending their title.

7

CM – Matt O'Riley

If anyone is to win the game for the Bhoys, it is likely to be Matt O'Riley, with the in-demand ace – who has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A giants, Inter Milan – scoring nine goals and contributing eight assists in all competitions this season.

8

CM – Paulo Bernardo

Fresh from scoring his first goal for the club against Dundee, Paulo Bernardo could be rewarded with a first outing against the Gers, with the returning Reo Hatate more likely to be involved off the bench.

9

RW – Mikey Johnston

The fleet-footed "throwback" – as hailed by teammate Joe Hart – no doubt deserves a recall to the starting XI following his stunning late cameo on Tuesday afternoon, having sealed a richly-deserved win with two late goals at the death.

With Daizen Maeda having 'offered nothing' last time out, according to Football Scotland's Ryan McDonald, a change should well be made to the frontline.

10

ST – Oh Hyeon-gyu

It may seem a bold decision to make, yet with Kyogo Furhashi looking 'bereft of confidence' at the moment – as per McDonald – after scoring just once in his last seven league games, it could be a rare chance for Oh to impress from the start.

A return of five goals in the league from only three starts is a strong tally from the South Korean starlet, with Rodgers – who could perhaps unleash Kyogo from the bench – now needing to rely on a new figurehead in attack.

Norwich City still find themselves settling for averageness with 26 games of the Championship season up, the Canaries occupying 13th spot in the division under the disappointing reign of David Wagner to date.

Yet, it looks as if the underwhelming German manager is here to stay at Carrow Road with no real indicators that the ex-Huddersfield Town boss will be relieved of his duties in Norfolk anytime soon.

So, this month's transfer window could see the underperforming 52-year-old scramble about to bring new personnel into the building to kickstart a turnaround in fortunes.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

With that in mind, here are three potential signings Wagner could make this month to save his skin in the Canaries hot-seat…

1

Joshua Stokes

Wagner could well look to the non-league market to sign an explosive talent this January, the sort of purchase that could have the Carrow Road masses off their seats on a consistent basis if all goes to plan.

Joshua Stokes is a player in high demand this January, the Aldershot Town star wanted not just by the Canaries in the second tier according to TEAMtalk but also by the likes of Ipswich Town and Sunderland higher up the rankings in the Championship.

The attacking midfielder warrants such fervent interest in his services too, standing out as a talent who could play at a far higher level by scoring 15 goals in a gung-ho Aldershot side in all competitions this season.

Stokes could well be the goalscoring midfielder Norwich desire if Gabriel Sara ends up leaving this January, a risky signing that could really pay off and get fans back on side watching a player who strides across the turf whenever selected with a smile on his face.

2

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

This next potential move could also occur off the back of another departure happening in Norfolk, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi coming in on a potential loan deal to the Canaries to fill the void left behind by Jonathan Rowe leaving.

That would be a very hard gap to fill but Rak-Sakyi has shown in the EFL in the past – albeit in League One – that he is equally as tricky and hard to contain as Rowe on his day.

Even if Rowe did stay put at Carrow Road, Rak-Sakyi could displace below-par performers such as Christian Fassnacht if signed.

The current Crystal Palace winger's loan spell at Charlton Athletic during the 2022/23 season was the making of the 21-year-old, blossoming into a potent attacker at the Addicks with 15 goals and nine assists notched up from 43 games.

Another loan move away from Selhurst Park didn't materialise for the former Charlton fan favourite this summer, but Norwich were reportedly interested then and could revive their interest this month especially if Rowe ups and leaves for pastures new.

3

Dexter Lembikisa

Norwich could utilise the loan market once more by signing Dexter Lembikisa this month, the current Rotherham United loanee a wanted man according to TEAMTalk with Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town also wanting to sign the young full-back alongside the Canaries.

Supporters of Norwich know all too well what Lembikisa is capable of, the Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster turned crucial Millers first-teamer scoring a sensational first-time strike against Wagner's men earlier in the season.

The Canaries could well want to turn back the clock and sign a full-back reminiscent of Max Aarons in Lembikisa, pushing the likes of Jack Stacey all the way currently at Carrow Road to a starting spot if purchased.

Wagner knows that he will have to get his recruitment spot on this month to improve his side and get more wins on the board, or he could finally be put out of his misery and fired from his precarious job post.

Lionel Messi has put acting skills to the test, while speaking English, with the Inter Miami star featuring in a Bad Boys promo alongside Will Smith.

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• Ride or Die preparing to hit the big screen
• Florida's finest brought along for the ride
• Argentine advised to stick with his day job

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The fourth instalment of the Bad Boys film franchise, Ride or Die, is about to hit cinemas around the world – meaning that a promotional campaign is in full swing. Smith, along with co-star Martin Lawrence, has called upon assistance from Miami’s finest to help generate pre-release hype.

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  NBA superstar Jimmy Butler, who has become a talismanic presence in Florida for the Miami Heat, figures prominently in the latest teaser video – as he looks to become a Bad Boy, only to end up heading back to the court after failing an initiation programme.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Messi is also drafted into that process, but the Argentine icon is hilariously snubbed by Smith and Lawrence after turning up at their house and making a rare attempt at speaking English. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is knocked back due to his size and encouraged to try a different address as a door is slammed in his face.

Kylian Mbappe's long-awaited move to Real Madrid has finally happened and the Frenchman has received a message from his hero Cristiano Ronaldo.

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• Mbappe joins Real Madrid from PSG
• Shares old photos in Madrid jersey
• Ronaldo sends message to 25-year-old

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Real Madrid announced the signing of Mbappe as a free agent following his exit from Paris Saint-Germai on Monday. The Frenchman immediately sent out a message to Los Blancos fans and also posted an old photo of him in a Real Madrid jersey with posters of Ronaldo in the background. To the surprise of everyone, the five-time Champions League winner then sent a message of support to Mbappe.

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• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  The Portuguese forward left a comment under Mbappe's social media post, which read: "My turn to [watch]. Excited to see you light up the Bernabeu. #HalaMadrid"

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Real Madrid fans will surely be hoping that Mbappe can emulate similar feats to the Real Madrid legend, who scored 450 goals and gave 131 assists in 438 games in all-white. He also won five Ballon d'Or awards and claimed 16 trophies in nine years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

  The French star is unlikely to be seen in a Real Madrid shirt for some time as he will now train with the French national team ahead of the Euros in Germany. Los Blancos will hope that the 25-year-old will be able to join the club ahead of their pre-season tour of the United States.