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West Ham have also mapped out a further transfer plan for January as manager David Moyes ‘closes in’ on Sao Paulo defender Luizao.

The Lowdown: Moyes in trouble…

Despite a summer of heavy spending, the Hammers find themselves in real Premier League danger with only Everton, Nottingham Forest and Southampton scoring fewer goals.

West Ham linger just one point above the drop zone as we approach the second half of 2022/2023 – something which certainly will not please the east London board after their significant investment in the squad.

As a result, Moyes is under real pressure to turn things around and January presents an opportunity to strengthen his options.

The Latest: West Ham map out attacking transfer plan…

According to reliable reporter Jack Rosser, formerly of The Evening Standard, West Ham have mapped out a further transfer plan for January as Moyes also ‘closes in’ and looks to ‘secure a deal’ for Luizao.

Writing for The Sun, Rosser claims both Moyes and the Irons are now looking at adding ‘one or two forwards’ after Luizao as they seek to reinforce West Ham’s attacking options.

The London Stadium side apparently want to seal an agreement for an out and out striker mid-season amid their goalscoring woes.

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The Verdict: Much needed…

As highlighted by their concerning numbers in front of goal, a further injection of final third quality is badly needed by Moyes before he edges closer to the chopping block.

Sacking the Scotsman would be a real shame considering just how much he has arguably overachieved with this side, having sealed back-t0-back European campaigns for West Ham since the beginning of 2020/2021.

Perhaps the board needs to give Moyes more time, and more backing, to truly realise the potential of this squad under the former Everton manager.

Tottenham Hotspur were one of the busier Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window, with sporting director Fabio Paratici adding no less than seven fresh faces to Antonio Conte’s first-team squad, as well as turning Cristian Romero’s loan deal into a £42.5m permanent switch to the club.

However, while the likes of Richarlison, Ivan Perisic, Clément Lenglet and Yves Bissouma have all enjoyed fine starts to life at Spurs, there has been one summer signing who has arguably been performing better than any other new addition so far this season – 17-year-old Will Lankshear.

Indeed, having joined Tottenham from Sheffield United in a deal that could rise to £2m, the centre-forward has been in devastating form for Spurs’ U18 side this term, having already bagged four goals in four appearances for Stuart Lewis’ outfit, as well as notching in a 2-1 UEFA Youth League defeat to Sporting Lisbon back in October.

These performances have not gone unnoticed, with Conte reported to have already called the teenager up to train with his senior squad, while John Wenham also took the time to praise the youngster in an interview with Football Insider.

Regarding Lankshear’s start to life in north London, the Spurs insider said: “I believe Will has four in four in the U18s league. Then one in the youth Champions League and one in the cup so that is six in 10 games. It is a very, very good start for a 17-year-old who has only just arrived from Sheffield United.

“He is settling back into a category 1 academy. Do you know what I’ve noticed, I’ve been really impressed with how he just finishes his chances. There are no mistakes, he doesn’t have any caveats so his game so far but he is only 17 and I think he is a complete finisher at the moment.

“But, if in time we can see him improve his passing levels then maybe we can look at him as a Harry Kane-lite or something like that. At the moment though, he looks like a complete out-and-out finisher and he had made a phenomenal start to his life at Tottenham.”

Indeed, it is not only Lankshear’s deadly nature in the final third that is similar to that of Harry Kane, but the 17-year-old’s route to Tottenham is almost identical to that of the England captain’s, with the duo having both been released by north London rivals Arsenal before eventually ending up at Hotspur Way.

As such, should the player who Nathan Hemmingham dubbed a “hotshot” be able to continue his remarkable goalscoring form upon making the step up to U21s and first-team football in the coming seasons, Conte could well unearth Spurs’ next £77m-rated centre-forward at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – something that is undoubtedly an extremely exciting prospect.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Denzel Dumfries could now cost the club at least £50m, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Tottenham eyeing right-back

Tottenham’s interest in Dumfries is nothing new, with the club reportedly touching base with Inter Milan about the right-back regarding a transfer move in the summer, as per Tuttosport (via Sports Mole).

Now, Antonio Conte could be set to launch a new bid for the ace, having already made enquiries about his availability last month, with one of Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty possibly on their way out in January.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

While there is evidently interest on Spurs’ behalf, the move could potentially be impacted by the increased transfer fee Inter may now demand after his World Cup performances.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT:

“Denzel Dumfries has been outstanding at the World Cup for the Netherlands, and I think his price tag’s just gone up and up. So it’s going to be hard for Tottenham to strike a deal with Inter Milan this January to sign Dumfries, who’s probably going to be at least £50m.”

The Verdict: Worth it?

Although a deal for the 26-year-old could set Tottenham back a lot of money – £50m is a huge increase on the £25m price tag set in the summer – he would be a vast improvement on the current wing-back options, and more suited to the manager’s style of play.

Given that Conte is known as a back-three specialist, he needs wing-backs who can provide for his team on the front foot, and the £55k-per-week earner is able to do just that, as signified by an expected 0.18 non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers.

These attacking talents were on display at the World Cup, where he recorded a goal and two assists against the USA, operating on the right in a 3-4-1-2 system.

Journalist Josh Bunting has also pointed out that Dumfries is ‘solid’ in a defensive sense, while also describing him as ‘brilliant’, and even though he may be one of the more expensive options, he would be a very good signing for Conte in January.

Southampton have a monumental task on their hands in trying to secure Premier League survival this season, with Nathan Jones’ appointment marking the first managerial turnover at St Mary’s since 2018.

It remains to be seen whether the former Luton Town boss has the credentials to steer them to safety, but one thing that he must do is add some firepower in January.

With his side currently marooned in 19th place, they have scored just 13 times in 15 games in the Premier League. This toothless nature can be traced back to the lack of proficiency out wide, with plenty of their wingers stealing a living of late.

Therefore, the recent report revealing Ryan Fraser’s availability in January is something which should certainly interest them. At least that’s the feeling of transfer expert Dean Jones, who claimed just over a week ago that “it would be a really nice option”.

If it means that Southampton could finally ditch the likes of Theo Walcott, the journalist could well be proven correct.

Having joined on a free transfer from Everton in 2021 following a loan spell in the season prior, the 33-year-old has now spent the last two-and-a-bit years at St Mary’s. earning £75k-per-week. This astronomical outlay has been rewarded with just 33 Premier League appearances and six goal contributions.

Although Fraser has not set the world alight of late, he has proven to be a dependable option in the Premier League throughout his career.

The diminutive Scotsman offered five goal contributions last term for Newcastle United, and in his best season for Bournemouth he posted some remarkable statistics under Eddie Howe.

Across 38 games during the 2018/19 season, he scored seven goals and set up 14 as the Cherries propelled themselves to 14th place in the final standings.

Should he recapture consistent fitness, there is every reason to believe that this form could be rediscovered once more to ensure Southampton’s place in the top flight.

The £42k-per-week speedster has impressed on occasion of late, with one display for Scotland in September leading Dominic Schurr to say that he was “back with a bang”.

Perhaps his return to the south coast could see him once again return with a bang, and help Jones to steer Southampton out of the bottom three.

Aston Villa have made contact to sign Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram in January, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Thuram attracting interest

The Frenchman has recently been in Qatar, having represented his nation at the World Cup, and his performances in the latter stages of the tournament appear to have caught the eye of multiple potential suitors.

The striker’s contract with Daniel Farke’s side is set to expire at the end of the season, so the winter market will be his club’s last opportunity to cash in, and there’s a strong chance that the 25-year-old could be on his way to the Premier League.

The Latest: Villa make contact over Thuram

According to 90min, NSWE have ‘spoken’ to Thuram’s representatives regarding a potential move to Villa Park, but they are set to face competition from top-flight rivals Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and Newcastle, along with Inter Milan from Serie A.

The France striker has ‘already confirmed’ that he won’t be extending his stay at Monchengladbach, with the Bundesliga giants duly ‘asking’ for just £10m to secure his services.

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The Verdict: Get it done…

Thuram has been dubbed a ‘phenomenon’ by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, and looking at his numbers, Villa splashing the cash in the New Year should be a no-brainer of a decision.

The 6 foot 2 attacker would provide a different dimension up top with his height while also offering a threat in the final third, having scored ten goals and provided three assists in just 15 league appearances this season (WhoScored).

Unai Emery will be looking to secure a top-half finish during his first campaign at the Villa Park helm, and the addition of Thuram would surely help the 51-year-old greatly in pursuit of that goal.

Liverpool have suffered a devastating injury setback to Virgil van Dijk this week and now a new update has emerged on a potential new transfer target who could soften the blow this month.

What’s the latest?

According to Italian news outlet Il Mattino, Liverpool are interested in signing Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae.

As per the report, Van Dijk’s hamstring injury has prompted the powers at Anfield to look at their potential options during the January transfer window with Min-jae a player who has attracted the attention of the Merseyside giants.

He’s a perfect Van Dijk heir

It is no secret that the Merseyside giants have been struggling this season and the latest injury to Van Dijk will only be even more cause for concern for Jurgen Klopp as the manager attempts to improve performances on the pitch over the second half of the season.

The Reds are currently sixth in the Premier League after 17 outings and are seven points adrift of the top four at present, so a turn-around is desperately needed as soon as possible if they are to have any chance of qualifying for Champions League football.

There is no doubt that mounting injury issues to key players this season so far has had an effect on Liverpool’s form with Van Dijk joining Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz on the injury table, so the signing of Min-jae could be a great opportunity to bolster the quality in the back-line.

When comparing Min-jae to the Liverpool centre-back this season the pair share a number of similarities in their output including goals scored (2 v 2), pass completion (89.3% v 89.1%), clearances (60 v 70), blocks (18 v 15) and interceptions (16 v 19), via FBref.

The Korea talent – who was hailed “unbelievably good” and a “rock” by Serie A expert Matteo Bonetti – ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers across the top five European Leagues for non-penalty goals, shot-creating actions, passes attempted and aerial duels won, proving that he is one of the most talented progressive defenders in Europe right now.

With that being said, the signing of Min-jae would be a great piece of business for Liverpool if they can secure his services over the rest of this season by paying his €50m (£44m) release clause.

And as such, he could be the perfect heir to succeed Van Dijk when his time comes to an end at Anfield.

Leeds United snatched a point from West Ham United after Rodrigo fired home an equaliser in what was a thrilling affair under the lights at Elland Road on Wednesday night.

The two teams, who find themselves at the wrong end of the Premier League table, battled all evening with the visitors coming from behind to take the lead just seconds after half-time but the in-form Spaniard spared Jesse Marsch and co from four defeats in five with a composed finish in the 70th minute.

He’ll rightly take some plaudits, as well as substitute Jack Harrison – not just because of his nicely-timed assist but also in the way he reacted to being dropped from the starting XI.

However, we may have just witnessed a breakthrough game for £3.8m summer signing Wilfried Gnonto as he opened the scoring. After a neat one-two with Crysencio Summerville, the Italy international fired home a powerful effort inside ten minutes to bag his first-ever goal for the Whites.

We have seen glimpses of the talent that has seen the 19-year-old already capped eight times by Roberto Mancini, having provided an assist in 45 minutes of action against AFC Bournemouth a few months ago.

But in only his third top-flight start, Gnonto was graded as the highest-rated performer on the pitch by Sofascore figures and he also caught the eye of much of the media attending the encounter.

Indeed, LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross claimed it was another ‘impressive’ outing from the teen, adding: ‘Continued to carry the threat all evening for Leeds. At the forefront of every scrap. Loves a battle.’ Meanwhile, journalist Alan Rzepa claimed he “absolutely ruined” his opposite number, Thilo Kehrer.

The former FC Zurich wonderkid – who is only earning around £20k-per-week in west Yorkshire – was a constant thorn in David Moyes’ side as he managed to win three free-kicks, on top of putting in three tackles himself. He also won 11 of his duels.

Further forward, he managed two shots and three successful dribbles, via Sofascore, as he certainly gave West Ham “nightmares” all night – in the words of writer Tom Carnduff, who also suggested that Leeds had found “an absolute star” in Gnonto.

It’s hard to argue against that and what perhaps makes it even more impressive is the fact that, upon his arrival, Marsch stated that he was one for the long-term future, rather than right now.

“Is he Premier League ready? No, it’d be more of a long-term project with Gnonto,” the American head coach claimed back in August (via Fabrizio Romano).

He’ll have rightfully changed his tune on the £18m-rated gem now.

Based on last night’s showing, Marsch and Leeds may well have unearthed a diamond, at a bargain price too.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Meslier: Leeds’ “sloppy” dud “struggled” again, he’s looking a flop…

The finances involved in any deal to bring Wout Weghorst to Manchester United on loan could block the move from happening, journalist Laurie Whitwell has claimed.

What’s the word?

The Dutchman has been linked with a move to United as Erik ten Hag seeks a short-term striking addition to provide depth up front.

Weghorst is currently on loan at Besiktas from Burnley but is thought to have an option to buy in his loan contract.

Whitwell has claimed that this could prove problematic for United, as Burnley may not want to risk losing out on a future fee, with the Red Devils unlikely to keep the striker beyond the end of the season.

Speaking on the Talk Of The Devils podcast, Whitwell explained why this might put the deal in jeopardy.

He said: “Wout Weghorst, he’s obviously got a contract at Burnley and he’s over on loan at Besiktas. We have held talks about it, United, with Burnley and the player.

“I think he’s up for the move. He’s pushing for it, you can see why he would want that. But it’s a complicated one because Besiktas have a €10m option to buy.

“Would they actually relinquish that? And also, Burnley, they would probably want compensation because there’s an asset there for them. Besiktas would need financial remuneration, I think Burnley might as well.”

How much should United pay?

With Man United reportedly confident of signing the striker, you would have to say that Burnley suddenly leaning towards compensation in the form of the option to buy from Besiktas would be both a shock to United’s system and a twist in their chase.

Even if they have to pay a compensation fee, it would still represent a low-cost deal to pad United’s depth until the summer.

However, if Burnley ask for a large upfront fee or for an obligation-to-buy clause to be inserted into any deal, United should perhaps avoid Weghorst altogether.

Any outcome which results in the club being stuck with the player beyond the end of the season is arguably not desirable, as they may want room in the squad, as well as on the wage bill, to spend big on a top-class forward in the summer.

That said, if they could agree on a low-fee deal with Burnley, we believe it would still represent better value than other potential options on the market on higher wages and transfer fees.

Newcastle United could now potentially be propelled into the January transfer window with a midfielder possibly on Dan Ashworth’s radar after Sunday’s victory.

What’s the latest?

Eddie Howe’s men boosted their hopes of a spot in the Champions League for next season with a big win at home against the in-form Fulham.

However, the celebrations on Tyneside will be tainted by the injury concerns over their star midfielder, Bruno Guimaraes, who was replaced at half-time.

The scenes after the match will not have provided the Toon Army with much optimism as the Brazilian was seen leaving the stadium wearing a protective boot and being supported by crutches.

And this has seen journalist Craig Hope speak on his YouTube channel about the possibility of this injury seeing Newcastle enter the market for a midfield backup:

“That perhaps might just give Eddie the case he needs to go and knock upstairs and you know look for midfield reinforcement especially given they were already light in that area without injuries. So as that’s one little newsy item to emerge from the press conference there.”

Backup for Bruno

The pictures during the game certainly showed the emotions of the Newcastle midfielder who was seen leaving the pitch at half time as he fought back the tears.

Speaking after the game, Howe has claimed the midfielder will go for a scan on Monday to find out the severity of the injury sustained against the Cottagers.

And perhaps that will be the determining factor as to whether the Magpies go into the market to strengthen their midfield options.

In the small sample size without Guimaraes, the Toon’s form was not the best with just two points taken from a possible nine (via Transfermarkt).

On top of this, Howe’s midfield options are already sparse with the likes of Jonjo Shelvey also sat on the sidelines through a long-term injury issue.

So with that in mind, if Guimaraes is to be sidelined for a number of weeks or even months, it could become a priority for Newcastle to provide Howe with some backup in midfield.

As well as Guimaraes’ potential absence leaving Howe short in midfield options, it will also leave Newcastle without a player who has shown huge quality since making the move to Tyneside.

Newcastle have been linked with Youri Tielemans for a number of months now, so it will be interesting to see if this is an opportunity Newcastle could look to take up this month.

The Belgian now has just a matter of months left on his deal with Leicester City so he could prove a cheap option this month with Brendan Rodgers believed to be wanting a number of players gone this month.

Journalist Darren Lewis has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur ‘like’ Leandro Trossard and could get a deal done for a figure between £25m and £30m.

What’s the word?

Things have not been going well for Antonio Conte of late and this was summed up by their drab display against Arsenal as they fell to defeat at home in the north London derby.

However, the club could lift the mood amongst the despairing fanbase with a new signing or two before the January window slams shut at the end of the month.

One player who could be joining the club is Trossard. Indeed, the Brighton star looks set to leave the Seagulls this winter and Spurs have already seen a £12m bid turned down for the player.

While speaking on the Last Word on Spurs, Lewis explained that a deal should be ‘easily achievable’ so long as Daniel Levy is prepared to bid a reasonable amount.

He began by saying on whether a deal could be done: “Yes, in a word. Tottenham like him and Tottenham have had a conversation over him. The thing about Trossard is that Chelsea like him as well, the agent is offering him to a lot of clubs.”

Lewis added: “I think he had six months left, but they’ve activated the option so that he has another year, so that they don’t lose them on the cheap.

“And they’ve been talking about the fact that they want their full valuation for him. But to be fair, I would imagine that sort of about £25-30m, and [that is] easily achievable.”

Worth the spend?

Things really have soured at Brighton for the Belgian, who has been hailed as ‘unreal’, so it seems pretty unlikely that he will remain at the club and his agent will no doubt be doing all he can to secure his client a move.

However, Spurs bid of £12m did not seem to be seriously considered by the Seagulls and so it remains to be seen if another offer is made over the coming weeks.

Perhaps, Levy will be keeping an eye out for alternative targets in the coming weeks, knowing that he can always turn back to Trossard at a later stage – seeing as he is unlikely to be taken off the market by his current club any time soon.

Still, Chelsea and Arsenal have also been linked with the 28-year-old and could move for him anyway time soon, so Spurs can’t afford to hesitate for too long on this deal if he is a player they really do want.