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Newcastle fans have taken to Twitter after they were linked with a move for Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans, as reported by Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur.

The Belgian international joined the Ligue 1 side back in May 2017 for a fee of around £20m, and was part of the side that finished third at the World Cup last summer.

Monaco, who sit 19th in France’s top flight and are in real danger of relegation, are open to selling the 21-year-old for the same price they bought him for (as per the Telegraph), or shipping him out on loan.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

With Thursday’s 11pm deadline fast approaching, Newcastle are running out of time to get players through the door that would aid their hopes of Premier League survival.

Newcastle fans, though, aren’t too positive about the chances of signing Tielemans if their reactions on Twitter are anything to go by. Here’s a look at what they’ve been saying…

Newcastle United are reportedly now ‘on the prowl’ to sign Philippe Coutinho in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Remembering his Liverpool days

Coutinho is a name that will be very familiar to Premier League fans from his time at Liverpool, where he was quite simply sensational, scoring 54 goals and making a further 45 assists in 201 games in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt).

His performances earned him a big-money move to FC Barcelona back in the 2018 winter window, in which he left Anfield for a whopping £121.5m.

His form allowed him to work his way into the Brazil national team as well, as the great Pele admitted that he liked Coutinho back in 2015, calling him an ‘excellent’ and ‘intelligent’ player.

The Latest: Newcastle ‘on the prowl’

As per Sport, the St. James’ Park faithful are now ‘on the prowl’ to sign Coutinho in January, and the North East could be one of his ‘possible destinations’.

He will be given a chance to impress new manager Xavi, who has recently described him as having an ‘innate talent’, otherwise he could well be sold in a couple of months.

The Verdict: Risky?

Coutinho has struggled to settle into life at Barca, and so signing him would be risky business for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.

There is certainly a question mark over whether he can recapture the form that he had when he was in England before, as that was over three years ago now.

However, as Xavi recognises, Coutinho still has talent, and at 29 years of age, still has plenty of time to prove that he is still one of the best.

Nonetheless, he could add some ‘creative flair’ and ‘pace in attack’ that Eddie Howe himself noted when Liverpool thrashed his AFC Bournemouth side 4-0 in 2017 (The Liverpool Echo), and could turn out to be the difference between relegation from the Premier League and staying up.

In other news, find out which six-foot-one powerhouse NUFC are eyeing here!

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele…

What’s the talk?

According to Mundo Deportivo, via Sport Witness, PIF have submitted a proposal to the French forward as they attempt to bring him to St James’ Park.

The report claims that they have offered him €15m (£12.7m) per season in wages and a €15m signing-on fee, with the attacker out of contract at the end of the season and available on a pre-contract agreement in January as it stands.

Fans will be buzzing

Newcastle fans will surely be buzzing with this update on the PIF’s efforts to land Dembele for the club for two reasons.

Firstly, they will be delighted to read that the owners are being ambitious and ready to spend a decent chunk of money to bring players to Tyneside. If he signs a three-year contract with the club on €15m per season, they would be committing €60m on the 24-year-old including the signing-on fee, which in total comes to around £50.8m, and this proves that they are willing to spend big in the market.

Fans will also be buzzing with this news as the prospect of Dembele arriving at the club is an exciting one. PSG forward and former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi previously tipped him to become ‘one of the best’, with the Argentine saying: “On the pitch he’s a phenomenon. It’s up to him where he ends up, he could be one of the best. He’s young and he is adapting.”

The 24-year-old has 51 goal contributions in 120 matches for Barcelona, having managed 32 in 50 for Borussia Dortmund earlier in his career. In total, he has produced 40 goals and 43 assists in 170 games at the top level for the two clubs, which works at out at roughly a goal contribution every two games. This shows the level of quality he could bring to Eddie Howe’s side, with his ability to score and set up goals.

Last season, Dembele scored three goals and set up two in six Champions League outings for the Catalan giants, which shows that he can deliver in the final third at the highest level of club football. Therefore, he could have the potential to arrive at Newcastle and make a big difference to the team by chipping in with vital goal contributions in the Premier League.

AND in other news, PIF can land Howe’s dream NUFC deal with “world class” £126m gem, he’s the next Suarez…

Rumoured Wolves transfer target Donny van de Beek is in talks with Crystal Palace over a January move, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Wolves keen on Van de Beek

The Dutchman has had a disastrous spell at Manchester United, featuring over just 69 minutes of Premier League action this season.

Van de Beek has been linked with a move to Wolves, as Bruno Lage eyes up quality additions, but nothing has come to fruition in the January transfer window.

It now looks as though the final nail in the coffin may have been delivered, in terms of him moving to Molineux.

The Latest: Romano delivers blow

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Romano confirmed that Palace were in talks with the midfielder over an imminent move:

“Talks ongoing again today between Manchester United and Crystal Palace for Donny van de Beek. Patrick Vieira is pushing to have Donny soon.

“Discussions on salary coverage and loan fee between the two clubs. No buy option clause included.”

The Verdict: One that got away

It is hard to put your finger on what has gone wrong for Van de Beek at United but he showed his ability at Ajax, enjoying 75 goal involvements (41 goals, 34 assists) in 175 appearances.

For that reason, Wolves missing out on him is a blow, even if it was only on loan, with his arrival having the potential to give the midfield an added dimension between now and May.

It looks as though Wanderers will have to make do with what they have, but with Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves in superb form, and no European commitments, the squad should hopefully have enough quality to continue its current excellence.

In other news, some Wolves fans have gushed over a transfer update. Read more here.

Everton have already been linked with signing a number of players in the January transfer window, and Rafael Benitez will be hoping to add quality to his struggling side over the next few weeks, with another name being put into the conversation to join the squad at Goodison Park in 2022.

What’s the word?

Fabrizio Romano took to his Twitter replies to make the bold claim that the club are interested in signing Phillipe Coutinho during the transfer window.

Replying to a tweet, the transfer insider confirmed that the Toffees are in among many other clubs considering a move for the Barcelona player, claiming: “Everton are among clubs considering Coutinho. Not the only one. I think he plans to stay in Europe as priority. We’ll see.”

The £16.2m-rated star has been a hot topic of transfer speculation, as he has failed to make an impact at Camp Nou since joining the La Liga giants in 2018, scoring just two goals so far this season, which is a far cry from the expectations when the club signed him for £142m. However, he did show glimpses of talent at Bayern Munich, where he played his part in winning the Champions League on loan in 2019/20.

Despite the rumours of interest from Arsenal, Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham, it has since been reported by Mundo Deportivo that the 29-year-old could go back to Brazil amid interest from both Atlético Mineiro and Palmeiras, which the reports suggest could benefit Coutinho’s chances of getting into the national squad for the World Cup at the end of 2022.

Would it be the right move for Everton?

There is no doubt that Coutinho has talent, with Brazil team-mate Roberto Firmino gushing: “You simply can’t say that he’s not a magician. He has magical powers. He produces plays that don’t exist, that you couldn’t make up.”

However, Everton have a habit of overspending in the wrong places, and the fans will be fuming if the transfer budget is blown on a player like Coutinho, instead of investing in a number of younger prospects who can elevate the team for the future, with Demarai Gray a perfect example of the type of signings the Merseyside club need to be making.

One Everton fan took to Twitter to react to the potential signing of Coutinho, venting: “Moshiri actually cannot help himself. It’s an insane addiction he has to overpriced washed players than are nothing more than short-term solutions that don’t help us in the long run.”

Gray was signed for £1.7m in the summer and has since become Everton’s joint-top scorer this season, making an impact far beyond his market value when he joined the Blues. That has set the bar for the kind of signings Benitez needs to be making, instead of buying a player coming to the end of his peak with wage demands of £383k-p/w, a sum could easily spread across multiple other signings.

Were they to splurge on Coutinho rather than investing a similar amount across several new signings, Everton fans would surely be raging at the club, much like the example above.

In other news: This transfer target could solve one big issue for Benitez

A section of Newcastle fans were found partying outside St James’ Park when PIF officially completed their takeover of the club from Mike Ashley.

Supporters were then given another reason to rejoice as the club decided to take down the Sports Direct signage from the ground this week, removing sizeable reminders of the much-maligned former owner.

However, it will take longer to reshape the dysfunctional playing squad he created, with the Magpies currently sitting 19th in the Premier League table.

Transfer howler

One signing with whom the Sports Direct mogul had a complete howler was the addition of Emil Krafth from Ligue 1 side Amiens in the summer of 2019.

Ashley reportedly sanctioned a £5m transfer fee for the right-back. The defender signed a four-year, initial £32k-per-week, deal at St James’ Park, which went up to £37k-per-week this term. This means that he earned £1.6m per season in his first two years at the club and is set to earn £1.9m by the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

He averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.30 in the Premier League in 17 games in his first season on Tyneside. He then recorded an average score of 6.47 in 16 games in 2020/21 and is currently averaging a rating of 6.23 this term, having started five games and made one more appearance as a substitute.

In terms of WhoScored ratings, he has ranked 19th (current), 16th (2020/21) and 24th (2019/20) in the Magpies squad in his two-and-a-half seasons at the club to date. This highlights how he has never been able to consistently perform to a good enough standard under Steve Bruce or Eddie Howe.

Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright previously claimed that the Sweden international was ‘out of his depth’ under Bruce last year, saying: “I thought Krafth was way too out of his depth there, playing in that position. Steve Bruce, with the players that he’s got and how it’s going, they’re doing the best that they could but the mistakes cost them.”

At the time of writing (11/12/21), Transfermarkt value him at just £3.15m – a drop-off from the £5m Newcastle paid for him just two years ago. This shows that he has been a disaster of a signing both in terms of his on-pitch performances and from the financial aspect of the deal, as his current valuation suggests that the club would have to take a loss on him if they decided to sell.

Therefore, Ashley had a howler with the signing of Krafth in 2019, and the defender is just one example of the remaining issues from the former owner’s tenure that PIF will need to fix in the coming weeks, months and years.

AND in other news, “My information is”: Journalist drops major NUFC transfer claim which will leave fans buzzing…

Jesse Lingard is reportedly ‘open’ to the idea of returning to West Ham in the January transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Hammers hero last season

At beginning of last season, not many Hammers fans would have expected Lingard to be a club hero come the end of the campaign.

That’s precisely what happened, however, with the 28-year-old excelling on loan after joining in January, scoring nine goals in 16 Premier League appearances.

Unfortunately, Lingard returned to Manchester United in the summer but he has been a fringe player under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once again, starting zero top flight games and playing just an hour in total in the competition, despite the fact he has found the net twice in that time.

The Latest: Return on the cards?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones talked up the idea of Lingard making a popular return to the London Stadium, saying the Englishman is keen on it happening:

“He’s becoming open to the idea again. He was hoping things would work out for him at United but it hasn’t.

“He’s barely seen any football in the Premier League so it’s been a bit frustrating for him because he thought he’d get more of a look-in than he’s got. He probably feels he deserves that as well.”

The Verdict: Perfect potential signing

This is a wonderful time to be a West Ham fan, with David Moyes building a superb squad that looks capable of mounting a genuine top-four challenge – that momentous win over previously undefeated Liverpool speaks volumes.

Lingard could be the icing on the cake in January, though, bringing with him end product and experience that could further aid the Hammers – talkSPORT pundit Darren Gough even went so far as to compare one of the England international’s goals in East London to Diego Maradona.

It would also only improve the feel-good factor at the club currently, given how loved Lingard was during his short stint in east London, and is a win for the player too, granting him more opportunities to secure a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

In other news, a journalist has made another West Ham transfer claim. Read more here.

As the Premier League progresses and players are getting transferred like trading cards in January, it’s interesting to look at the top players of the league to far. Maybe it will inform some transfer decisions, maybe it will inform some betting options or maybe it is all pie in the sky given the ridiculous sums bandied around in the press and on TV.

Whether you’re looking for some insight or amusement, take a look at our picks for the players to keep an eye on in the Premier League.

Photo by Emilio Garcia on UnsplashJamie Vardy, Leicester City FCAre all goals created equal? That is the question that is posed from looking closely at Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy. The striker memorably put away three goals in September in a game against Burnley in the early days of the Premier League – but one of them was an own goal. No, Jamie, we’re not about to forget it either.However, Vardy is making up for it for being one of the top scorers of the Premier League, third in place behind Liverpool’s Salah and Jota. In 16 games played he has gained nine goals and his ability to turn the tables on his opponent at the last possible moment makes for a nail-biting experience to watch. For that alone, you should keep an eye on him.Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait to see him, as at the moment he’s off for a month with a hamstring injury incurred during his game against Liverpool on December 28th, 2021. He can do some sports betting online like the rest of us for the time being.Kieran Trippier, Newcastle FCOnly as of the 4th of January has the news been confirmed that Keiran Trippier is joining Newcastle United FC. Coming in from Atletico Madrid of all teams, the 31-year-old defender was bought for £12million to Newcastle, where he will be reunited with his old Burnley turned Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe. Doesn’t that warm the heart?The sad reality is that Newcastle is currently second to last in the Premier League at the moment, having shamefully won only one game since the season started, and they’ll need a decent injection of talent to pull them out of this slump. Will Trippier be the one to pull them out?He’s got the experience, having played for Burnley, Tottenham, and England in the past, and his time with Atletico Madrid has left a good impression, concluding with a La Liga win last season.Mohamed Salah, Liverpool FCLiverpool FC are currently third on the Premier League table, just a point behind Chelsea and vying for that semi-final space – and no one can say they would have got there without Mohamed Salah.Salah not only tops the scorers’ chart but the assists chart too, having assisted on 9 goals on top of his 16 scored in 20 games. In the process he equaled Jamie Vardy’s record of scoring a goal in 15 consecutive Premier League games, proving he can go against the best before him and extending his long history of breaking records.It was frankly a snub to see that he wasn’t nominated for the FIFA Fifpro World 11 awards, especially when 10 Premier League players made the cut.Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp agrees, saying that Salah is “phenomenal” and that “For sure, at the moment, he is the best player in the world.”Does praise get any higher? Even, no, especially, if it’s coming from your boss.Unfortunately, yet another game has been postponed due to an outbreak amongst the players, so we’ll have to wait to see how Salah does against Arsenal in the first semi-final match of the season.

Image from: unsplash.com

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones of Eurosport has made a West Ham United transfer claim involving Sparta Prague striker Adam Hlozek.

The Lowdown: West Ham eye Hlozek…

As widely reported in recent months, the Czech Republic international is a striker West Ham and manager David Moyes have been keeping tabs on as the January transfer window opens for business.

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Indeed, Football Insider claimed just before the new year that the Irons, and by extension recruitment chief Rob Newman, made an early approach for Hlozek to find out what it would take to win the race for his signature.

They believe that Sparta could demand around £16-20 million for West Ham to sign him mid-season with The Daily Mail reporting since then that Hlozek is still firmly on the club’s radar.

Sharing an update, Jones has made a claim to GiveMeSport as he backs their interest further.

The Latest: Jones makes Hlozek claim…

Speaking to GMS, he says that West Ham are ‘definitely’ eyeing a move for the 19-year-old sensation who they like a lot.

However, he also claims his valuation could well be reason why they haven’t made their move yet.

“He is definitely somebody that’s on their radar and they like him a lot,” Jones explained.

“I can’t remember what his value is right now but I think that’s part of the concern of signing him at the moment.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

As West Ham remain in the market for a player who can back up striker Michail Antonio, a move for Hlozek in January comes with both ups and downs.

Lauded as ‘world class’ by his agent Pavel Paska (90min), the teenage hot shot has certainly impressed since the beginning of 2020/2021 – racking up 21 goals and 24 assists in all competitions (Transfermarkt).

These numbers at such a young age highlight his magnificent potential, but one red herring may well be that this comes in a far inferior division to the Premier League.

It remains a point of contention whether he could eventually replicate those numbers in England and there is an argument to be made he is more one for the future than the here and now.

West Ham shareholder Daniel Kretinsky’s ties as co-owner of Sparta, however, could gift the club an advantage in the race for his signature.

We believe a swoop for Hlozek is certainly worth considering even despite the slight drawbacks.

In other news: ‘Tears in my eyes’, ‘Finally’…Many West Ham fans flock to ‘very exciting’ transfer development, find out more here.

Pundit Frank McAvennie has been reacting to updates on Newcastle duo Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Trippier and Wilson updates

The Magpies have headed to Dubai during the international break for a warm-weather training camp.

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Wilson has been out since December with a calf problem, while Trippier has been sidelined since February following a metatarsal fracture, although both players made the trip to Dubai along with another long-term injury victim Federico Fernandez.

Eddie Howe is hopeful that both Wilson and Trippier will return to action before the end of the season after making returns to training.

The Latest: McAvennie reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie labelled the pair’s return to training as ‘incredible’, adding that it is an ‘exciting time’ for both players. The 62-year-old said:

“Newcastle have done so well to keep winning without those players.

“Tripper was so, so good before his injury and we all know how good Wilson is on his day.

“He’s still their top scorer. It’s incredible to see them both working to be back and Newcastle have a decent end to the season.

“I think they just need one or two more wins to really secure their safety.

“Then you are looking at how high they can finish, getting into the top 10 is not out of the question for me.

“It’s an exciting time for them and I’m sure the fans can’t wait to see those guys back.”

The Verdict: Almost safe for another year

Newcastle have enjoyed a fine start to 2022, picking up 20 points from a possible 30 to leave them nine points clear of the bottom three with nine games remaining.

They have coped without Wilson, but having him back to challenge Chris Wood in attack will be a huge boost. Trippier’s return will also be a welcome one given his impressive early impact, but Howe will need to be cautious with the pair in the final weeks of the season given how long they have been sidelined.

Hopefully the Magpies will be all but safe before the two players make full recoveries, but only time will tell whether or not that proves to be the case.

In other news – Deal agreed: Lee Ryder now drops big Newcastle update during international break on ‘hard-working’ gem