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Wolves are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the 25-year-old could solve a big issue in Julen Lopetegui’s side.

It has been widely reported in recent days that the Old Gold are keen on signing the former Crystal Palace man when the transfer window reopens in January, with a loan deal seemingly on the cards.

Wan-Bissaka looks almost certain to leave Old Trafford in January after making just one substitute appearance under new manager Erik ten Hag in the first half of the season, and Wolves could be the ones to benefit.

Since making his £50m switch to Old Trafford in 2019, the right-back, who earns £90k per week, has gone on to make 127 appearances for the Red Devils, contributing two goals and ten assists in that time.

While he has come under criticism for his lack of attacking output during his time with the club, he has always been considered a very tough player to beat one-on-one, and it is his strong defensive abilities that could make him so valuable to Lopetegui.

In 2019, the young defender was labelled “unstoppable” by journalist Dave O’Grady, while Jamie Carragher dubbed him “the best one-on-one full-back in the world,” which emphasises what he could add at Molineux.

Right-back has been a problem area for the Midlands club since Matt Doherty’s exit in 2020, with Nelson Semedo and Jonny both struggling there so far this season, emphasised by WhoScored ranking them as the eighth and 18th-best performers at Molineux.

If the Old Gold are to get out of trouble this season, they need to rediscover the defensive form they showed in the first half of the last campaign, which had them challenging for a European spot despite their lack of attacking prowess.

It is telling that Wolves’ two wins this season have both come via 1-0 triumphs at Molineux against Southampton and Nottingham Forest respectively, so keeping clean sheets has to be the aim for Lopetegui when Premier League fixtures resume.

Wan-Bissaka’s form last season at United, when he ranked top for tackles and interceptions per game in the Red Devils’ squad, suggests that he can be key to solving Wolves’ defensive woes in the second half of the campaign.

Therefore, Lopetegui should definitely bring the 25-year-old defender to Molineux in next month’s transfer window.

Leeds United have been linked with a move for Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner in recent times, with the Elland Road outfit seeking a long-term solution at left-back.

What’s the word?

The Athletic’s Phil Hay revealed earlier this week that the 25-year-old is a player that Whites sporting director Victor Orta is ‘looking at’ ahead of the January transfer window, with a new left-sided full-back seemingly one of the priorities in the New Year.

The German ace – who has just a year remaining on his existing deal with his current side – had previously been a reported target for the Yorkshire side during the summer, with Jesse Marsch and co having seemingly been keeping a close eye on his progress of late.

Transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – has now delivered his verdict on that potential move, with the respected journalist stating:

“Obviously, there is an interest here, so that’s a good start. Marsch is going to have extensive contacts and understanding of the player through people he knows in terms of whether he is a good fit.”

Struijk alternative

A new left-back is firmly on the agenda for Orta in 2023 following the continued woes of former Barcelona man, Junior Firpo, with the underwhelming Spaniard having been hampered by injury since his £12.8m switch last summer.

That absence has seen Pascal Struijk take on something of a makeshift role so far this term, with the 23-year-old having performed admirably with two goals and one assist to his name in 14 Premier League appearances this season.

Nevertheless, it is far from an ideal scenario having to play the Dutchman out of position for an extended period of time, with the versatile ace having typically been deployed at centre-back or in the centre of midfield during his time in England thus far.

As such, the addition of Wagner could well see Leeds able to secure a more natural fit at full-back, with the 6-foot sensation offering genuine attacking quality as a result of his devastating threat down the flanks.

That impact in the final third is evidenced by the fact that the impressive asset registered eight assists in his 33 outings in the most recent MLS campaign, with his overall tally for the club standing at four goals and 21 assists in 128 games across all fronts.

Such attacking brilliance – which has seen him described as a “cheat code” by journalist Chuck Booth – is also illustrated by the fact that Wagner ranks in the top 3% among those in his position in the ‘Men’s next eight competitions’ for assists, as per FBref, while he can also put in a shift defensively as he ranks in the top 12% for interceptions.

The aforementioned Struijk, by contrast, ranks in the bottom 21% in Europe for assists and in just the top 23% for interceptions made, showcasing that he may not be quite as effective away from his usual central defensive berth.

Having missed out on getting Wagner through the door during the recent window, Orta could put that error behind him and move swiftly once the market re-opens next month, with the Philadelphia ace seemingly the ideal alternative to Struijk at left-back.

Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram wants to join a dream club this month, with Manchester United one of four options named.

The Lowdown: Contact made

The Red Devils appear to be on the search for a new forward this month after parting ways with Cristiano Ronaldo and missing out on Cody Gakpo to Liverpool.

Thuram, labelled ‘a little crazy’ by former team-mate Denis Zakaria, appears to be on the Glazers’ radar, with contact reportedly already made with the Frenchman’s representatives.

The 25-year-old is out of contract with the Bundesliga side later this year, and a further transfer update has emerged.

The Latest: Dream club

Sports Witness relayed an update from German outlet BILD regarding Thuram in the last 48 hours.

They said that the forward has two wishes, one of which being that he completes a transfer away from Monchengladbach this month. The other is he joins a dream club, with Manchester United named alongside Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

Thuram isn’t interested in joining Aston Villa or Newcastle United, with Monchengladbach ‘rethinking’ the situation.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Thuram is primarily a centre-forward but can also play out wide so would give Erik ten Hag another high-quality option in the final third.

He’s scored ten goals in 15 Bundesliga games and is valued at €32m by Transfermarkt, although you’d like to think a potential transfer fee could be lower due to his contract situation.

United could even now look to strike pre-contract agreement terms with the player ahead of a free transfer in the summer, so it could be wise to move fast in order to avoid more disappointment.

Arsenal are about to embark on a potentially season-defining run of fixtures as they begin the New Year with a seven-point lead atop the Premier League standings.

It begins with third-placed Newcastle United, who despite being nine points behind the Gunners, are the division’s best defensive outfit, having leaked only 11 goals from their 17 matches thus far.

Then there is the north London derby and Manchester United to come before the defending champions, Manchester City, early next month.

Both teams are in the midst of an unbeaten run, with Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on December 31st taking it to ten games without defeat and five wins from five.

Eddie Howe’s men, though, have not tasted defeat in 12 outings, nor have they conceded in five across all competitions.

With so many games coming thick and fast, it will be intriguing to see how manager Mikel Arteta navigates through the treacherous waters without having much strength in depth, to his aid, however, is the fact that they face lower-league opposition in the FA Cup on Monday, so he could remain strong tonight.

Indeed, that’s what reliable football.london journalist Kaya Kaynak has alluded to in his pre-game piece, where he has predicted the same starting lineup from three days ago.

Despite doubts over the fitness of Oleksandr Zinchenko, the poor form from William Saliba and Bukayo Saka being on the verge of accumulating enough yellow cards for a suspension, the chief Arsenal writer believes Arteta will continue with the exact XI players from Saturday.

‘Arsenal predicted XI vs Newcastle – Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli,’ he wrote.

What is key from this news is that the north London giants got through the weekend unscathed and without any more injury troubles. Gabriel Jesus is the big absentee with a long-term knee problem sustained during the World Cup, whilst Reiss Nelson’s return remains unknown.

Having a full squad of players available – besides the aforementioned duo – for such a crucial encounter is a big boost to Arteta and the squad as he may be able to rotate if need be.

The likes of Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira were all named on the bench on the south coast, whilst Emile Smith Rowe could finally make his return, so there is certainly scope to rest if the Spaniard so wishes.

But with Oxford United early next week, Arsenal could go strong and unchanged in a bid to extend their stay at the top of the table and put more legroom between them and the chasing pack, of which the Magpies are included.

As such, this early team news hint from a reliable source will come as fantastic news to anyone concerned with the Gunners.

AND in other news, Arsenal agree on personal terms with £85m “baller”, he’s Arteta’s final piece of the puzzle…

Manchester City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal as they earned an impressive 1-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening.

Pep Guardiola’s side started in the same fashion as they finished their disappointing 1-1 draw with Everton last time out and were perhaps fortunate not to go in behind at half time, as Carney Chukwuemeka’s strike came off the post.

However, Guardiola rang the changes in the second period and two of his substitutes worked together to great effect for the only goal of the game, as Riyad Mahrez tapped in Jack Grealish’s cross shortly after the hour mark.

City dropped deep and invited Chelsea’s pressure but Ederson wasn’t really tested and the Citizens would leave Stamford Bridge with a valuable three points.

Besides Mahrez, one man who was vital to the victory was centre-back John Stones, as he helped keep the scores level in the first half when he denied Christian Pulisic with a last-gasp tackle.

As per Sofascore, the England international would earn an impressive 7.6/10 rating for his performance against Graham Potter’s side, which ranked him as the best player to feature in the game from both sides.

Stones would contribute four clearances, two tackles, one block and one interception in the 90 minutes, which is even more impressive when you consider he has averaged just 1.5 clearances, one tackle, 0.3 blocks and 0.4 interceptions in the top flight so far this campaign.

The former Everton man is renowned for his ability on the ball but to have 102 touches and only lose possession on four occasions, completing 85/87 passes, represents a remarkable display by the defender, with his pass accuracy rate of 98% again an increase on his 94.6% average in the top flight.

When City were having a rough spell in the first half, they relied upon Stones at the back, with Sky Sports commentator Jamie Carragher awarding him the man of the match award and remarking that he “kept them in the game,” during the broadcaster’s coverage of the game.

Guardiola has dubbed the 28-year-old “exceptional” in the past and he lived up to that praise once again on Thursday, with his performance no doubt a huge part in City earning a massive three points in west London.

Everton are reportedly leading the race to sign the man who could save their season…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Spanish publication El Periodico Mediterraneo, who claim that the Toffees are now showing the most interest in signing Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma.

The suggested deal would be an initial loan move with an option to purchase the player in the summer, which would reportedly suit all parties involved.

The Dutchman also hopes for a move to a ‘bigger club’ and having rejected West Ham United in the summer of 2021, this could be another case of a player choosing a move to Merseyside over the London Stadium, just as Amadou Onana did.

Reignite McNeil

Having only signed for the Spanish outfit in the aforementioned summer for a €25m (£22m) fee, it can be assumed that a permanent deal for Danjuma would not come cheap.

The 25-year-old has impressed since his move to the Yellow Submarine, having starred for AFC Bournemouth initially to earn the transfer.

He would score 17 times across the Championship and the playoffs, assisting a further seven in what would see him named in the divisions’ team of the season.

Then, in his debut season in Spain, he would continue his fine goalscoring form with a 16-goal haul, adding four assists to a season where he would reach the Champions League semi-finals.

As such, he has been dubbed a “nightmare for defenders” by former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips.

Boasting experience beyond most in the Goodison Park dressing room, and a proven track record in recent years of scoring big goals, he could be imperative in offering that lethal touch that manager Frank Lampard has been missing in the final third this season.

His side have scored just 14 times in 18 Premier League games so far and unsurprisingly sit in the relegation zone.

Many of Lampard’s summer deals have fallen flat, with former Burnley winger Dwight McNeil disappointing, in particular.

The Rochdale-born dynamo only has two goals to his name this season, and as such has found himself in a permanent cycle of rotation with the other misfiring wingers at the club.

Perhaps the addition of such a “special” footballer, as lauded by former coach Adrie Bogers, could be the spark needed to reignite the 23-year-old, who only ranks in the bottom 35% of his positional peers across Europe for non-penalty expected goals.

He has proven in the past that he can be a reliable goal threat, offering eight goal contributions in just 21 games as a teenager back in 2018.

However, this return only came when faced with true competition in his position, as he battled with Aaron Lennon, Robbie Brady, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Ashley Westwood and more for the right to feature.

Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray have hardly offered that impetus, but Danjuma’s addition certainly would.

Arsenal’s imminent signing of Leandro Trossard won’t affect their long-term transfer plans, claims Charles Watts.

The Lowdown: Trossard’s arrival

The Guardian has reported that Arsenal have secured a deal to sign the Belgium international from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee potentially rising to £26m.

Mikel Arteta’s side moved in rapid time to lure the wantaway 28-year-old to the Emirates Stadium after it emerged that Trossard had fallen out with Roberto De Zerbi, leaving a move away looking inevitable.

It comes just days after priority target Mykhailo Mudryk joined London rivals Chelsea for £88.5m (via Sky Sports), with the Gunners unable to agree a deal with Shakhtar Donetsk before the Blues swooped in.

The Latest: Watts’ comments

Following the news of Trossard’s imminent arrival from the south coast, Watts said on his YouTube channel that he doesn’t expect the transfer to affect Arsenal’s long-term vision and their potential summer recruits.

He said: “I don’t think this is a bad signing at all. I also don’t think that this would stop Arsenal in the summer [from] going out and still spending big money on a younger winger, a more long-term thing – because Trossard is not necessarily just an out-and-out winger.

“I don’t think that necessarily stops you going out in the summer; say you wanted to sign a [Moussa] Diaby from Leverkusen, who we know Arsenal have been linked with, I wouldn’t say that would stop a deal like that.

“If Arsenal go on and get Champions League [football] next season – which you hope from this position, they will – they’re going to need a very big, talented squad.”

“It’s not going to completely take up a place in the squad for a potential more long-term target if they decide to do that in the summer.”

The Verdict: Summer recruitment

We agree with Watts’ opinion that Arsenal will surely re-enter the summer window for a younger and longer-term target just like their pursuit of Mudryk and emerging interest in Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby (via Sky Sports) suggests.

Watts’ claim makes logical sense, as the Gunners were reported to have made two bids for the Ukrainian worth £57m and £62m respectively (via talkSPORT) and the majority of that money will have remained unspent, while Trossard’s deal is only coming in at an initial £21m (via The Guardian).

Ahead of Manchester City being in action on Thursday night, Arsenal are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League and 15 clear of City’s opponents, Tottenham Hotspur, in fifth – meaning only a total collapse would see them fail to qualify for the Champions League.

This means more depth and quality will need to be added to the squad as Watts suggests, with Arteta seemingly reluctant to use his entire squad, having only fielded 17 players for over 100 minutes in the top flight this season.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy could have to swallow some of his pride if he is to bring Mauricio Pochettino back to north London.

What’s the latest?

Tottenham’s turbulent 2022/23 camping so far has seen major question marks raised over the future of Antonio Conte at the helm of Spurs.

The Italian now has just a matter of months remaining on his current deal with Spurs which could be extended by a further year if the club choose to do so.

However, after some of the 53-year-old’s recent comments, it does beg the question of whether the two parties are currently on the same track.

And this has led to some suggesting a return to north London could be a possibility for Pochettino, but journalist Pete O’Rourke has told Football FanCast this would require Levy to swallow some of his pride:

“You never say never in football. We’ve seen it happen before. So many managers have gone back to old clubs and they’ve had a second chance at the job as well.

“Yeah, I’m sure Daniel Levy might have to swallow a bit of his pride if he’s to have to turn to Mauricio Pochettino again, but we know Pochettino is a top manager. He’s probably been Spurs’ most successful manager in recent times.”

Homecoming

It is a stark contrast to the scenes at Spurs in the latter stages of the 2021/22 campaign where Conte led this side to a spot in the Champions League.

Now, the Italian is dropping regular hints that perhaps he will not be managing Spurs next season as well as sharing his frustrations around other issues.

“This season is a difficult season for me as a personal aspect. For sure, this season is making me have an important reflection on my future,” he said earlier in the week.

When you consider the run of results that Spurs are on, you do have to question how much longer Levy would tolerate it if they do not improve.

Pochettino is one of the candidates believed to be a possibility if Conte is to leave and it is no surprise went the Argentine was able to achieve such consistent top-four finishes in an environment others have struggled in.

However, there are some reports claiming not everyone inside Hotspur Way would necessarily be open to Pochettino making a return if Conte is to leave.

And considering the cycle of managers Spurs have been on since Pochettino was sacked, O’Rourke is probably right in Levy needing to accept he may have been in the wrong back in 2019 when he sacked the Argentine.

The likes of Jose Mourinho have failed to achieve anything like Pochettino has in terms of consistent Champions League football and it seems as if Conte may be struggling to progress the side under Levy.

So if Conte is to leave north London, it will be interesting to see who Levy turns to replace the Italian.

An update has emerged on Everton and who they would like to take over from Frank Lampard at Goodison Park…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol has revealed that the Toffees do have an interest, from some members of the club, in bringing a current Premier League head coach to Merseyside.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, the reporter said: “Another name that has been mentioned to me is Thomas Frank, the Brentford manager. I’ve been told that there are people at Everton who are big admirers of Thomas Frank.

“Again, I’m being told that people at the club are not sure whether he would leave Brentford (or) whether he would be happy to go and work at Everton.”

Dream Lampard replacement

The Toffees could land a dream replacement for Lampard if they are able to convince Frank to part ways with Brentford to join the club in the coming days.

He put pen to paper on a new contract with the Bees at the end of December 2022 and this suggests that the 49-year-old is committed to his current team, which means that it could be a difficult task for Farhad Moshiri to bring him to Merseyside.

However, if the Everton chief can pull it off then Frank has the potential to be a superb appointment, as the Danish tactician has proven his quality as a manager at Premier League level.

The former assistant manager to Dean Smith at Brentford led his team to 13th in the English top-flight in their first season in the division, after taking them up via the play-offs in the previous campaign.

This season, the Bees are currently sitting eighth in the table – a whopping 15 points clear of Everton – and have scored 32 goals in the Premier League – 17 more than the Toffees.

His achievements with Brentford show that the 49-year-old knows how to manage a team in the English top-flight and that he could play a big role in getting the club out of the relegation zone, given that the coach has prevented Brentford from being near the drop over the last 18 months.

Frank is also an engaging character who could galvanise the fanbase and the players. Jurgen Klopp previously hailed his “entertaining” press conferences and claimed that the football he deploys is “incredible”, which suggests that the Dane could get Goodison rocking with his personality and his style of play.

Therefore, the Brentford tactician could be a dream replacement for Frank and Everton must do everything in their power to convince him to make the switch, however unlikely it may seem at the moment.

Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti, son of former Everton boss Carlo, is now considering taking the head coaching role at Goodison Park.

The Lowdown: Lampard sacked…

The Toffees, after a dismal run over the first half of this Premier League season, sacked former boss Frank Lampard only a year after appointing the England legend.

Despite steering them away from the drop last campaign, Lampard’s run of 11 losses and six draws in 20 league matches, winning just three, saw him receive his marching orders mid-season by Everton’s hierarchy.

Everton have won the least matches out of any side in the top flight with reports suggesting that the likes of Marcelo Bielsa and Sean Dyche are among those being considered for the now vacant managerial role.

The Latest: Ancelotti ‘ponders’ Everton job…

According to Marca, there is another name in the frame as former assistant coach Ancelotti ‘ponders’ the Toffees offer of a potential position as Lampard’s successor.

It is believed that Everton are discussing the option of appointing the 33-year-old and Ancelotti is in fact ‘thinking’ about the job as he ‘eyes’ a move back to England.

The Verdict: Credible candidate?

The obvious qualm to this possible appointment by Farhad Moshiri is Ancelotti’s lack of first team managerial experience, something which could be seen as a necessity as they battle a drop to the Championship.

That being said, the young coach does have credentials and real plaudits from current Everton players – so he could be a popular choice in the Toffees dressing room.

Ancelotti’s influence at Real has also apparently grown in the past 12 months but his ultimate goal is to follow his father’s foot steps and become a manager.

Carlo Ancelotti has already paid tribute to his son as a ‘competent, disciplined, professional and very calm assistant coach’ – attributes which will be attractive to both Everton club chiefs and supporters alike.

Mason Holgate has absolutely raved over Real’s number two, calling him ‘unbelievable’ and even ‘similar’ to his father.

Already knowing the club during his time at Everton with Carlo, it would arguably remove the potential adjustment period involving in the hiring of a new boss.

There are reasons to consider this move, but as the Merseysiders fight for survival, there are those who would prefer a more experienced head like Dyche.