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Aston Villa are believed to be ‘working’ on a last-gasp deal to sign exciting Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Aouar a huge talent

The 24-year-old has arguably been considered one of the most gifted French players for some time now, having racked up 224 appearances for Lyon since breaking into their first-team as a teenager.

Aouar is out of contract at his current club at end of this season however, at which point he would be able to seal a free transfer to another club.

It could be that Lyon are willing to the sell Frenchman before January comes to an end in order not to lose one of their top assets for nothing, which is where Villa come into play.

The Latest: Villa linked with late move

According to Football Insider, the Villans are looking at sealing a late move for Aouar before deadline day ends on Tuesday night.

It is stated that Unai Emery is still ‘in the market’ for a central midfielder this month and NSWE have now ‘turned their attention’ to the Lyon star, with negotiations ongoing over a short-term deal.

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The Verdict: What a signing

Aouar could be a superb signing for Villa if they manage to get a deal over the line, bringing in genuine star quality and bags of experience, despite still only being 24.

The one-cap France international has been hailed as an ‘incredible’ footballer by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, which says a lot about his ability, and his attacking metrics for a midfielder are off the scale, sitting in the 75th percentile or higher in every single piece of FBRef’s goalscoring and playmaking data.

Aouar’s creativity is outlined by a tally of 35 assists for Lyon and he could bring a sprinkling of unpredictability alongside the industriousness of Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara.

Liverpool hosted Chelsea in their Premier League clash at Anfield this afternoon and Jurgen Klopp will be disappointed with yet another lacklustre display that left the score-line at a stalemate 0-0.

This is the third time in a row the two teams have failed to score against each other within 90 minutes and the fifth consecutive draw when the sides have met in all competitions.

Despite a disappointing result, Liverpool have moved up to eighth in the league table following a point earned in the clash which will be barely a consolation for the Reds as they could be 12 points adrift of the top four if Newcastle United win their game against Crystal Palace tonight.

Over the performance, Klopp’s side had less possession (48%), fewer big chances created (1 v 3) and fewer accurate passes completed (373 v 428), however, the Merseysiders did have more shots in total (15 v 11) and more shots on target (3 v 2) than Graham Potter’s side but ultimately didn’t have enough to steal the game.

In the first half, it looked like Liverpool were set to concede another early goal in the fourth minute when Kai Havertz found the back of the net but it was quickly overturned by VAR as offside leading into an otherwise uneventful half.

In the second half, despite having 10 shots on goal, Liverpool continued to struggle to find the back of the net whilst Chelsea stagnated with no threats on target for Alisson Becker to worry about, leaving the two teams to share the spoils in the foggy North West at 0-0 on the final whistle.

It was a poor performance across the pitch and on both sides but there was one player in particular who failed to get stuck into his role for Liverpool today and ended the game with fewer touches than Alisson.

Over his anonymous 82-minute performance, Harvey Elliott – who was dubbed “miscast” by journalist Tom Reed – made just 24 accurate passes, lost possession of the ball every 3.5 touches, failed to complete 100% of his crosses and lost 50% of his duels combined, as well as making no dribble attempts, taking no shots on goal and no tackles throughout his display on the left wing.

Indeed, the youngster was playing out of position with Elliott more commonly occupying a role on the right wing or attacking midfield roles, however, the poor work rate displayed by the player today will surely leave his German coach frustrated.

With that being said, the chance of finishing in a Champions League qualifying spot is becoming more and more difficult for Liverpool as each fixture passes and now Klopp will need to look to the next game for another opportunity to close the gap and climb the table before it’s too late.

Liverpool could potentially sign highly-rated RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol in the summer of 2024, according to journalist Christian Falk.

The Lowdown: Gvardiol magnificent at World Cup

The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the best young defenders in world football, following a superb 2022 World Cup for Croatia, in which he helped them finish third. That led to presenter Mark Chapman saying ‘the world is at his (Gvardiol’s) feet’.

The Leipzig sensation started all seven matches for his country in Qatar, averaging an incredible 5.3 clearances per game and scoring in the third-place playoff win over Morocco.

He is sure to be a wanted man across Europe, such is his potential, and he has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the recent past.

The Latest: Liverpool backed to make move

Speaking to Caught Offside, Falk claimed that the Reds could snap up Gvardiol next year, not being able to afford both him and Bellingham this summer:

“It would be good for Liverpool if Josko Gvardiol stays another season as they can’t do two transfers like Bellingham and Gvardiol – they’d have to pay about €100m,”

“Christopher Nkunku is going to Chelsea this summer, so Leipzig will be losing one player and getting a lot of money in return, which means there’s no need to sell another. There aren’t so many clubs that can pay the fee.

“If Liverpool fail to land Jude Bellingham and have the money free, they’ve shown previously that they’re willing to spend a lot of money on a defender.

“It could work out for Liverpool and it’s worth remembering that Jurgen Klopp is very aware of what’s happening in the Bundesliga, so I think he’d be keen.

“I believe Gvardiol would like to make the next step and will certainly consider his options if there’s an offer on the table. If a Premier League club wants to pay this kind of money in the summer, Leipzig’s position on the matter will change.”

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The Verdict: Sign him in 2024?

Gvardiol looks like a genuine special centre-back, already performing at such a high and mature level, despite only just entering his 20s, so the idea of him in a Liverpool shirt of mouthwatering.

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Signing him in 2024 also sounds ideal for the Reds, with Jurgen Klopp already having four strong options currently but changes required once next year arrives.

Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip both turn 33 next year, and doubts remain over Joe Gomez’s long-term worth after serious injury problems, so Gvardiol could be viewed as Ibrahima Konate’s long-term partner at the back for Liverpool.

Leeds United put on an impressive defensive performance against Newcastle United on New Years’ Eve at St James’ Park where they earned a well-fought point and Jesse Marsch will surely be hoping it’s the confidence boost the team needs to inspire improved performances in 2023.

The West Yorkshire outfit are now 14th in the Premier League and three points clear of the relegation zone heading into the new year, however, the Leeds boss will surely be searching for ways to even further improve the side’s points tally to ensure they finish in a more comfortable position and don’t get sucked into a relegation scrap over the second half of the season.

Luckily for Marsch and Victor Orta, the January transfer window is now open for business so he could be given the golden opportunity to strengthen key areas of this squad during the next few weeks should the powers at Elland Road sanction moves for new additions.

One player who has been recently linked with a move to the club is Villarreal ace Alfonso Pedraza, a talented left-back who could be exactly what Leeds needs to add depth to the position.

At present, Marsch only has one natural left-back in Junior Firpo, however, the former RB Leipzig manager has been leaning on centre-back Pascal Struijk to occupy the position.

As a result, the signing of Pedraza would be an important addition for Leeds heading into the remainder of the season, especially considering how efficient the La Liga star is on the left side.

The 26-year-old – who was dubbed “powerful” and a “machine” by BT Sport’s Simon Harrison – ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, dribbles completed, progressive passes and touches, and this season so far has continued to shine in the Spanish top-flight.

Over 11 league appearances, Pedraza has registered one assist, created two big chances and completed 52% successful dribbles, as well as averaging 1.5 tackles, 1.4 shots on goal and winning 4.4 duels per game, proving that he has the ability to not only win possession of the ball but also pose an attacking threat.

Marsch could even land his own Ivan Perisic with the Tottenham Hotspur full-back named as one of the most comparable players to the Villarreal player, according to FBref.

The positional peers have shared many similar attributes over their season so far including pass completion (75.7% v 66.1%), goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (0.33 v 0.39), tackles won (16 v 11), aerial duels won (9 v 9) and clearances (14 v 11). On that evidence, it provides an indication that they are both comfortable in possession while demonstrating equal offensive threat.

With that being said, if Leeds could secure the signing of Pedraza – who has a transfer valuation of €15m (£13m) – there is no doubt that he could have a positive impact on the team and their Premier League campaign, as well as giving Marsch a left-sided full-back he can trust to deliver in the position.

Chelsea have been beset with forward issues for a considerable amount of time, with a score of strikers failing to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge across the past few decades.

What’s the word?

Frontal failings are not always the case in west London, and with Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic touted, the Serbian finisher fits the profile to adopt the talismanic role at Stamford Bridge and soar at the front of the Chelsea ship. 

Earlier this week, CBS Sports correspondent Ben Jacobs released a revealing tweet about the forward’s situation at Juventus, hinting at the possibility of a transfer come the new year.

He said: “Told there is a very real possibility Dusan Vlahovic will leave Juventus in 2023. A January exit is not being ruled out by those close to him. Several top European clubs are in touch with his agent, including Chelsea, although nothing particularly advanced at this point.”

Offensive issues finally fixed?

Since emerging onto the scene in the Italian Serie A with Fiorentina several years ago, Vlahovic has gone from strength to strength and last year earned his move to giants Juventus last January, signing for a fee of roughly £64m.

And although a bid to prise him away from Juventus’ clutches would need to be lucrative, there are indications that his long-term future does not lie at the Allianz Stadium, with Chelsea hoping of injecting a talented striker into their fold.

Having only scored 17 goals across 14 league fixtures this term, and currently sitting in eighth place in the Premier League, Chelsea are in dire need of roaring back into life.

Additionally, news of Armando Broja’s season-ending injury has recently seeped into Blues’ news, with an ACL injury ruling the striker out for over half a year.

Last season, the 22-year-old Vlahovic scored 29 times and assisted six more across 45 appearances, switching to The Old Lady midway through the campaign. 

And the preceding term, the Serb truly etched his name into eminence in Italy by scoring 21 times across 37 Serie A outings for the Viola, stamping his name into the conversation for the globe’s best forwards right from the maiden stage of his career. 

The “monster”, as described by Zarko Lazetic, has truly emerged as a supreme talent, and should Chelsea decide to pluck him from a Juventus team struggling to find form and direction, they would yield one of the most prolific young stars in the game, and still yet to fully emerge at the zenith of his ability. 

Indeed, having scored seven goals and two assists across 15 club appearances this season, also starring for Serbia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the £68.8m-rated gem is well on the way to unearthing his full potential.

For Serbia, the 19-cap ace has already scored ten times, and in Qatar scored once from his two appearances in the group phase, only starting in the closing fixture against Switzerland. 

Having averaged 1.5 shots per match and won 56% of his duels, Vlahovic demonstrated on the pitch the level of hype behind his name, indeed backing it up despite Serbia’s failure in qualifying for the knockout stage.

With Chelsea interested, the head is often swayed in the direction of Stamford Bridge, and despite only signing for Juventus last year, who currently sit in third place in the Italian top-flight, ten points behind leaders Napoli, plying his trade in the Premier League under Graham Potter’s tutelage could be an opportunity too big to miss for this clinical marksman.

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is reportedly being eyed for a transfer by Barcelona manager Xavi. 

The Lowdown: Gundogan’s contract situation

As things stand, the German’s contract at the Etihad Stadium is set to expire at the end of the current season.

Across 273 appearances for the Premier League champions, the 32-year-old – who represented his country during their group stage exit from the World Cup in Qatar – has scored 51 goals, provided 35 assists and won numerous domestic trophies.

Now that the midfielder will be turning his attention back to club football in the coming weeks, it appears that he has found himself on the radar of one of Europe’s most successful clubs.

The Latest: Xavi eyeing Gundogan for Barcelona

According to recent reports from Spanish media outlet Sport (via Sport Witness), Barcelona manager Xavi sees Gundogan as his number one choice to replace Sergio Busquets once the latter’s contract at the La Liga club expires in the summer.

The report adds that Pep Guardiola wants to keep hold of the Germany midfielder and see the club offer him a new one-year deal, but would not stand in Gundogan’s way if he wants to leave City at the end of the season.

The Verdict: Man City must offer Gundogan a new deal

This season has seen the £140k-per-week midfielder score two goals, provide two assists and show why he is such an important player for City across his 12 Premier League appearances.

Specifically, only Kevin De Bruyne (45) has made more key passes than Gundogan (23), who also only has three City players above him with a higher combined total of tackles and interceptions (19).

With an overall performance rating of 7.1/10 from WhoScored, only six City players score higher, further highlighting how impressive the 32-year-old – who has been hailed as a “beautiful” player in the past by Gary Lineker – has been for the English champions.

Taking all of that into account, we feel that City should definitely offer Gundogan a new deal and do all that they can to try and convince him to continue his journey with the club.

Everton are seemingly eyeing a January swoop for Eintracht Frankfurt attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada…

What’s the latest?

As per journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking to Football FanCast, the Toffees could be set to move in on the contract rebel whose £33k-per-week deal is set to expire this summer.

He said:

“It’s a hard signing I think for Everton to do.

“The price tag will be pretty high and Frankfurt won’t be that keen to sell now they’re through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

“But he’s a skilful player a real playmaker as well and somebody who would definitely be somebody who can maybe improve Everton in the midfield.”

Other Premier League clubs have also registered an interest, with Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United likely to fight for his services.

He can be Iwobi 2.0

One of Frank Lampard’s biggest success stories in his nine months in charge has been the revival of Alex Iwobi’s career.

Having been signed for a fee rising to £34m, he disappointed with his lack of attacking output from out wide, despite admitting: “For my national team, it’s completely different and I do like playing in the midfield as a number 8 or number 10.”

Clearly taking heed of this, the new manager opted to play him through the middle and has since reaped the rewards to great effect.

The Nigerian international is a man reborn and has also upped his offensive numbers too despite also averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.1 clearances per game.

In this campaign alone he already boasts one goal and five assists in the league.

With Kamada, Lampard could be set to repeat this feat, by signing a tricky attacking midfielder who is also willing to work back and defend.

The 21-cap Japan international has started this season in an even more impressive fashion than the last, having already scored 12 goals and assisted four across all competitions including the Champions League.

He also played a vital role in his side’s Europe League triumph last season, with five goals across that campaign.

What makes him akin to Iwobi is the fact that he also ranks in the top 11% for tackles, meaning that perhaps the two could be worked into a system that allows them both to shine creatively, but relies on their relentless defensive work too.

MatériaMais Notícias

Foram dois anos e dois meses juntos, mas, neste sábado, Paulo Henrique Ganso e Nene ficam de lados opostos para o primeiro Fluminense x Vasco de 2022. As equipes, que voltam a se encontrar após quase um ano, têm em seus camisas 10 grandes expectativas, mas correspondidas de formas opostas. As histórias deles se cruzaram em 2019, e nem mesmo os 20 gols em 2020 fizeram o meia hoje no Cruz-Maltino cair nas graças da torcida tricolor. Muito disso pela presença daquele que estará do lado mandante nesta nona rodada do Campeonato Carioca.

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Nene passou 792 dias no Fluminense antes de retornar ao Vasco, em setembro do ano passado. Foram 118 jogos, 28 gols e muitos altos e baixos ao longo de uma passagem que dividiu opiniões, mas não passou despercebida. Já Ganso chegou no começo de 2019 com um contrato de cinco anos e muita expectativa, algo que acabou não dando retorno até o presente momento.

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Recebido com festa no aeroporto, Ganso era quem tomava conta do meio em 2019. Preferido de Fernando Diniz, chegou a ser capitão e titular absoluto com os treinadores que passaram ao longo do ano conturbado. Com Marcão, o cenário começou a mudar, mas só se consolidou em 2020. Paulo Henrique fez uma pré-temporada mais longa – por conta dos repetidos problemas físicos – e, com Odair Hellmann, Nene quem deslanchou. Foi o jogador mais decisivo do Flu na temporada, com 20 gols e sete assistências.

Enquanto isso, Ganso ficava para trás. Foi titular em apenas quatro dos 32 jogos em 2020 e viu 2021 ser o ano em que menos atuou na carreira. Além da chegada de Cazares, que o transformou em terceira opção para o setor, se lesionou justamente na partida em que recebeu uma oportunidade e vinha bem, no empate em 1 a 1 com o Barcelona de Guayaquil (EQU), na Libertadores.

Nene também teve queda de rendimento. Se no início era titular absoluto com todos os treinadores, passou a ser mais contestado. Chegou a ser barrado dos onze iniciais num clássico com o Flamengo, mas se mostrou importante e voltou. A consolidação do esquema com três volantes, porém, acabou com a já desgastada passagem. Em 12 de novembro o jogador estava no banco do Fluminense e quatro dias depois já era titular do Vasco.

VAI TER CHANCES?

O técnico Abel Braga começa a decidir nesta quinta-feira qual será o time que vai a campo enfrentar o Vasco. Isso dependerá do desgaste físico dos jogadores, já que o Fluminense está no meio da disputa da segunda fase da Libertadores e decide contra o Millonarios na outra terça-feira. Assim, há chances de Paulo Henrique Ganso ter uma nova oportunidade, algo que já aconteceu contra o Volta Redonda.

Abel raramente tem atuado com um meia de criação na equipe, mas na rodada passada do Estadual entrou com Ganso e Nathan. Assim, viu o Flu fazer o placar mais elástico de 2022 e o camisa 10 ir bem. Até o momento, são quatro jogos na temporada e apenas esse como titular. Na Libertadores, entrou no segundo tempo da vitória por 2 a 1 fora de casa.

NENE NO VASCO

Nene foi contratado pelo Vasco em meados de 2015. Chegou para ser a referência técnica de um time que lutava contra o rebaixamento. Ele foi o destaque da reação histórica que quase resultou na permanência do time na elite. Quase. Ele permaneceu e teve média de quase meio gol por jogo em 2016, quando novamente foi importante – agora para o título estadual e para o acesso de volta à Série A do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Em 2017, o Vasco conquistou pela última vez uma vaga na Copa Libertadores. E lá estava Nene. Se não tão decisivo como outrora, ainda maestro. Mas a vontade de mudar de ares pesou e, no início de 2017 ele rumou para o São Paulo. E do Tricolor Paulista ele pulou, dois anos depois, para o Tricolor Carioca. E depois de outros dois anos ele voltou ao clube de São Januário. Voltou para o local que ele chamava de casa.

-> Confira a tabela do Campeonato Carioca

E novamente para tentar ser herói, desta vez já na luta pelo acesso. Novamente não conseguiu, embora tenha começado bem. Deu esperança, mas sucumbiu junto a um time esfacelado tática, técnica, física e psicologicamente. Hoje, aquele que disputou posição com Ganso tem 40 anos. É o artilheiro do Estadual junto com Raniel: em seis jogos disputados, o meia vascaíno fez cinco gols e deu três assistências. Na passagem anterior, haviam sido 44 gols e 33 assistências em 132 jogos.

Passado e presente no Fluminense. Passado e presente no Vasco. Os futuros de Ganso e Nene se encontrarão novamente neste sábado, no Estádio Nilton Santos.

Wolves’ search for a new manager has taken another twist, with former boss Nuno Espirito Santo now reportedly under consideration by the Old Gold.

According to the Express and Star, the Portuguese manager is keen on a return to Molineux 17 months after being sacked and is being considered by Jeff Shi and Fosun as they assess a number of options.

Bruno Lage was sacked nearly two weeks ago and the Old Gold seem no closer to selecting their new boss, with top choice Julen Lopetegui turning down the position earlier this week due to the ill health of his father.

This disappointment has seemingly turned the Wolves board back to Nuno but it points more towards poor planning and desperation rather than the Portuguese manager being the best fit for the job.

The 48-year-old manager took charge of 199 matches in his first spell at Wolves, winning the Championship title in the 2017/18 campaign before earning a spot in the Europa League after a superb debut season in the Premier League.

While he will be fondly remembered for bringing in players such as Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho, his time at the club did not end well, as he left by “mutual agreement” after the 2020/21 season, despite signing a new three-year deal in 2020.

Wolves finished that season in 13th position in the Premier League, scoring just 36 goals in the top flight, which suggests that the Portuguese boss would not be the man to solve the Old Gold’s current woes in front of goal, as they sit on just three goals from the opening nine Premier League fixtures this season.

After his Molineux exit, Nuno would join Tottenham Hotspur, where he lasted just 17 matches, with his style of play not winning over any Spurs fans, and he was swiftly sacked by Daniel Levy after winning just nine of those games.

Now in charge of Al-Ittihad in the Saudi League, having only joined in the summer, it is difficult to argue a case for Nuno returning to Premier League management, especially with his old side.

However, Fosun are clearly getting desperate in their search for a new manager and you worry for Wolves’ Premier League safety if they bring in the former manager as Lage’s replacement.

West Brom have now been dealt a big injury setback involving striker Daryl Dike as Steve Bruce revealed the striker is not close to fitness.

The Lowdown: Dike injury

Dike played just 12 minutes in West Brom’s opening Championship game away at Middlesbrough in a 1-1 draw, and has not featured since this season after picking up a thigh injury (Transfermarkt).

Unfortunately for the striker, his time at the Hawthorns has largely been injury-plagued, and so Albion supporters have barely been able to see him play since moving from the MLS back in the January transfer window.

The Latest: Bruce gives update

Speaking to the media, Bruce has confirmed (via Birmingham Live) that Dike will not be returning to action after the international break, when they host Swansea City in the Championship:

“No, unfortunately.

“What’s he been, six weeks? There’s still a way to go, still a process.”

However, the manager did claim that he could still make a return before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar in November:

“Possibly. That’s about eight weeks. Maybe, that’s a more realistic target.”

The Verdict: Big blow

Of course, it is a big blow to hear that Dike has still not been able to recover from his thigh problem, and so will not be ready to play straight away after the international break has finished.

The USA international boasts a decent goal record at club level, including nine strikes in the Championship for Barnsley in the 2020/21 campaign, but has only featured a mere three times for the Baggies (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, due to his injury problems, they will not want to rush him back, but will be hoping that he can play in a couple of games later down the line before the World Cup begins.