Leeds United are once again interested in a deal to bring Pedro to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Brazilian media outlet Coluna do Fla (via Sport Witness), who claim that, after being heavily linked with a move for the Flamengo centre-forward over the summer, Victor Orta has now reignited his interest in the 25-year-old ahead of the winter market – with the Spaniard believing the striker is the ‘right name’ to bring into the club.

The report goes on to state that the Whites will be keeping a very close eye on the Brazil attacker at the Qatar World Cup, however, it is also claimed that, with the forward boasting a €100m (£86m) release clause, Flamengo will expect to be heavily compensated if they are to part with the two-cap international in January.

Huge coup

Considering just how impressive Pedro was in Brazil last season, coupled with the fact the 25-year-old is a part of a Brazil squad that are favourites to go on and lift the World Cup in December, it is undeniable that, should Orta manage to get a deal over the line for the Flamengo sensation this winter, it would be a huge coup for the Whites.

Indeed, over his 24 Série A fixtures – only 12 of which came as starts – last season, the £17.5m-rated talent was in breathtaking form, hitting the back of the net 11 times, providing three assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.2 shots – one of which hit the target – making 0.7 key passes and completing 0.4 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the player who Guy Mowbray dubbed “special” average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.01 – playing a key role in Flamengo sealing a second-place finish in the top flight of Brazilian football in 2022.

The attacker also played a starring role in Flamengo’s Copa Libertadores-winning campaign last term, scoring an astonishing 12 goals, registering two assists and creating six big chances over his 13 appearances, in addition to taking an average of 2.5 shots – 1.3 of which were on target – making one key pass and completing 0.6 dribbles per game.

These metrics saw the 25-year-old average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.34, not only ranking him as Dorival Júnior’s third-best player in the tournament but also as the 23rd-best player in South America’s most prestigious club competition as a whole last time out.

And, with Patrick Bamford appearing less and less likely to ever get back to the levels that saw him score 17 goals and register eight assists over 38 Premier League outings in 2020/21 due to a series of injury setbacks, it would appear extremely wise for Orta to begin considering a replacement for the former England international.

As such, considering his astonishing returns for Flamengo last season, it would appear as if Pedro would make an exceptional addition to Jesse Marsch’s current attacking options at Elland Road, not to mention being a huge coup for the Whites.

The post-Michael Beale era did not get off to a good start for QPR on Sunday as they were comfortably beaten by league leaders Burnley at Loftus Road.

With the Clarets top of the form table and QPR bottom ahead of the World Cup break, Hoops fans will have been hoping that the time off would allow the west London side to get back to their best, ahead of potentially causing an upset against Vincent Kompany’s side.

However, the game played out to the form book on Sunday afternoon as goals from Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson, Ian Maatsen and Nathan Tella handed the promotion hopefuls a 3-0 win.

The result leaves QPR outside of the playoff positions, having topped the table in October, so the Hoops will be desperately hoping to get Neil Critchley through the door at Loftus Road early next week ahead of a crucial and busy festive period.

As per Sofascore, one man who disappointed in the defeat was 25-year-old winger George Thomas.

The Welshman was hooked at half-time by interim manager Paul Hall after a sub-standard display which was far too similar to several of his disappointing displays this season.During his time on the pitch, Thomas would register just 13 touches of the ball and complete six passes, both of which were fewer than goalkeeper Seny Dieng, which emphasises just how little he was involved.He would also fail to register a single shot, successful dribble or cross during the game, also losing the ball on five occasions despite barely seeing it against the dominant visitors.It was something of a surprise that he was handed a start given that he has made just two substitute appearances in the Championship so far this campaign, but he hammered home exactly why he isn’t good enough to be a starter under the new manager.Hall will be desperately disappointed in the former Leicester City man, and it would be a surprise to see him feature from the start again in the future.

Tottenham Hotspur have made Daichi Kamada one of their main targets in January…

What’s the word?

That’s according to German outlet Sport Bild, who claim that Spurs are one of several top teams eyeing a move for the Japan maestro after his impressive season for Eintracht Frankfurt.

His current £33k-per-week contract is set to expire in the summer and whilst the Bundesliga outfit have offered him an extension, he is yet to sign it and that means they risk losing him for nothing at the end of the season.

Despite this, his market value is in the region of €30m (£26m), with the Lilywhites, Borussia Dortmund and other clubs putting out ‘feelers’ for his signature ahead of the winter transfer window.

Better than Malinovskyi

It appears as if Spurs are in the market for a new attacking midfielder, having been linked to an array of names since the summer, including Leicester City and England star James Maddison.

Another player that seems to be in Fabio Paratici’s scope is Atalanta dynamo Ruslan Malinovskyi, who did come close to swapping the Serie A for the Premier League before the start of the season.

However, Kamada appears to be a far greater prospect, not just because he’s a lot younger at 26 years of age.

The Japanese maestro is enjoying a phenomenal season, where he has scored 13 goals and provided three assists across the German top-flight and the Champions League, including a contribution against Tottenham.

As per FBref, Kamada is outranks Malinovskyi for pretty much every key and worthwhile attacking metric, ranging from goal-creating actions (1.12 vs 0.33) per 90 to goals and assists (0.94 vs 0.50) per 90.

The Frankfurt sensation also leads the Ukraine gem for goals per shot on target, passing accuracy, tackles won and success, and minutes played per 90.

His domestic form saw journalist Josh Bunting laud Kamada as an “incredible talent” who is a”joy to watch,” whilst analyst Statman Dave suggested he was Japan’s “bright” spark in Japan’s recent World Cup defeat to Croatia.

As such, Paratici should turn his attention to the 26-year-old heading into January. He’s evidently a far greater attacking threat than Malinovskyi and one that could be available for a bargain given his contractual situation.

AND in other news, Paratici could land Spurs a steal in £26m “monster” who’s outclassed Hojbjerg in Qatar…

Sunderland are among a number of clubs interested in making a move for Aston Villa youngster Cameron Archer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Archer struggling for playing time

The 20-year-old is a hot young prospect at Villa Park, but having been loaned out to Championship side Preston last season, the 2022/23 campaign has been tougher for him.

Archer remained at Villa beyond the summer but he has only managed six appearances in the Premier League, all of which have come as a substitute and amounting to just 44 minutes.

For that reason, a move away could make sense, and a fresh update suggests that he could depart the Midlands temporarily.

The Latest: Sunderland keen on Archer

According to Football Insider, Sunderland are among a ‘number of Championship clubs’ to have enquired about a move for Archer in the January transfer window.

A loan move for the second half of the season appeals to the team in question, with the Villa youngster netting seven times in 20 outings for Preston.

The Verdict: Good for his development

A loan move between January and May makes complete sense for all parties, allowing Archer to enjoy the regular first-team action which proved so beneficial last season.

It is difficult to see him getting many opportunities at Villa in the coming months as Unai Emery looks to make his mark at the club, so giving him game-time elsewhere would be a better option.

That’s not to say that Archer can’t have a long-term future with the Villans, though – he has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Preston manager Ryan Lowe – and another impressive loan spell should only enhance his reputation.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies has been backed to remain in north London by pundit Frank McAvennie. 

The Lowdown: Davies’ season so far

This season has seen the defender make 17 appearances for the north London club across all competitions, starting 14 of them.

Then in the current World Cup, Davies has completed the full 90 minutes in both of Wales’ group games against the USA and Iran, showing how important he is for his country.

Having been such a prominent figure for club and country so far this season, one pundit has touted Spurs to keep hold of the defender once the upcoming January transfer window opens for business.

The Latest: Spurs backed to keep hold of Davies

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie doesn’t think Davies will be going anywhere, describing him as ‘absolutely priceless’ and someone who is ‘having a decent World Cup’.

“He’s a solid enough player but is he good enough for Tottenham?

“Antonio Conte starts him every week so there must be something there. He always looks good when I have seen him even if he isn’t getting man of the match every weekend.

“Can Tottenham do better? Maybe. The fans seem to love him and he is a cool, calm head who has been at the club for so long now.

“He will be an idol to the kids breaking into the team and he will help new players feel at home. Having someone like that at the club is absolutely priceless.

“They need to move on some players on in January but Davies won’t be one of them. He is so important. He’s having a decent World Cup too which is nice to see although I think he will be back with Tottenham pretty soon.”

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The Verdict: Useful player

Across the 12 league games that Davies has played in for Spurs this season, the defender has scored two goals and delivered one assist.

In addition to that, only Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (83) has made more passes into the final third of the pitch than Davies (47).

In terms of his defensive efforts, as well as racking up a combined total of 20 tackles and interceptions, only Eric Dier (47) has made more clearances than the 29-year-old (28).

This shows how much of a useful figure he has been for Spurs at the back and why we feel that they shouldn’t consider letting go of him in 2023.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly at wits end with starting shot-stopper David de Gea, with a host of options being assessed ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to reports from Spain, the Red Devils are eyeing Morocco’s World Cup hero Yassine Bounou, commonly known as Bono, as a possible replacement for their beleaguered goalkeeper. 

The likes of Yann Sommer and Jan Oblak have also been touted for a move to Manchester, but Bono might emerge as the frontrunner after a string of impressive performances at the World Cup in Qatar. 

The Red Devils would be facing heated competition for the 31-year-old’s signature, however, with Aston Villa boss Unai Emery also looking to forge a deal for the ace after expressing a long-time interest in him, as per Football Insider.

It’s thought that Sevilla would only sell their no.1 for a fee in the region of £26m.

Ditch De Gea

De Gea has been a loyal servant for the Red Devils for over a decade, winning the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his time between the sticks at the Theatre of Dreams. 

And winning the club’s Player of the Season award on four occasions – including last year – the Spaniard has basked in his fair share of success, almost moving to Real Madrid in a lucrative deal before a collapse at the eleventh hour. 

However, recent years have left the 45-cap international scraping for form, earning criticism on numerous occasions for his mistakes and “woeful” displays.

Which is why a transfer away from the club might be the best avenue for all parties, with De Gea offered a clean slate and United freeing the lofty reported wage of £375k-per-week.

Keeping three clean sheets in four World Cup matches, against the likes of Belgium, Croatia, and Spain, Morocco have exceeded expectations and risen from the ground in Qatar to perch alongside some of the most esteemed nations on the globe, on the very biggest stage.

And now with a tantalising quarter-final showdown against Portugal awaiting, Bono could see his stock rise even further with a good performance against the European giants.

As per Sofascore, Bono has recorded a rating of 7.2 at the World Cup, providing assurance and precise distribution from the back, allowing his teammates to push forward and search for openings.

With an average save percentage of 67% and a formidable performance in the last-16, where the 31-year-old saved three penalties as the nation sank Spain in a shootout after a valiant 0-0 draw, Bono is emerging as a figure of the utmost standing. 

And with FBref reporting that the “monster” – in the words of broadcaster Ives Galarcep – ranks within the top 16% for goal kicks and 23% for touches when compared to goalkeepers across Europe’s big five leagues, his knack for getting on the ball and distributing forward is something that will leave him in good stead with Ten Hag and his ball-playing philosophy.

Whether United make a move will remain to be seen, but with his level of performance recently and his reported wage of just £15k-per-week, Bono could be a prudent and viable option to replace De Gea.

Everton could be set to repeat old mistakes, should they move on from Frank Lampard…

What’s the latest?

As per transfer insider Dean Jones, should the 44-year-old be sacked, some Evertonians would be open to the possibility of a Roberto Martinez return.

The Spaniard was sacked in 2016 after his naivety got the better of him at Goodison Park, and he has since gone on to squander Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’, stepping down after a group stage exit in the recent World Cup.

Despite this, Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Obviously, with Martinez now being available, it’s something that’s going to be talked about. 

“I think there are Everton fans that would now be open to a return and maybe it’s a path they’ll have to consider if things go badly in January.”

Worse than Lampard

There were elements of Martinez’s Everton team which were adored by much of the fanbase, but it was clear by the end of his tenure that things were irredeemable.

Various protests were touted to encourage the board to take action, from throwing tennis balls on the pitch to flying planes over the stadium.

It was clear the divide between manager and fans was irreparable, so to suggest that some would welcome his return is either naivety in itself or shows just how downtrodden fans of the Merseyside club have become.

Despite this, it is clear that Lampard boasts far more tactical flexibility which would suit this Toffees team sitting perilously close to the relegation zone.

He showed last season that he could adapt, changing up his systems to try and limit their defensive inadequacies.

Meanwhile, the lack of offensive quality shown by Martinez’s Belgium was their downfall in Qatar, as they scored just once in three games.

During the 2013/14 season which handed the Spaniard his fame, as he led the Toffees to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, his free-scoring side earned plenty of praise. However, in his final season at Everton in 2015/16, his side conceded 55 times in the league, only 11 fewer than last term, when they narrowly avoided the drop.

If Matinez has lost that scoring touch, there is little value to having him back at Goodison Park – especially given the recency of his failure at leading a Belgium side boasting Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and more to glory. That prompted David Ben to label the 49-year-old a “fraud” and some journalists to label him an “awful manager”. 

Kevin Thelwell will likely be handed the task of finding Lampard’s replacement should Everton need one, and he would be heading for disaster should the rumours be true that they remain interested in their former boss.

Liverpool have reportedly approached Benfica and Argentina central midfielder Enzo Fernandez with a contract offer.

The Lowdown: Contact made

It was reported earlier this week that the Anfield outfit have made initial contact with Fernandez over a potential move, with the January transfer window approaching.

Benfica do not expect him to leave in January, although they do expect to sell him in the near future, with the summer a possible window for interested clubs.

The Latest: Contract offer

As per VaskySports, who broke the news of Thiago moving to Liverpool, the Reds’ interest in Fernandez is ‘true’, and they have ‘even approached’ the player with a ‘contract offer’:

“Liverpool’s interest in Enzo Fernandez is true and he even approached the player with a contract offer. There is still no negotiation with Benfica. His exit clause is 120 million euros. Real Madrid also has him on the radar.”

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The Verdict: Bellingham alternative?

Jurgen Klopp’s side have been strongly linked with a move for 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund and England star Jude Bellingham, but should a deal fall through, then Fernandez would be a worthy alternative.

The midfielder is currently starring for Argentina in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, ranking as the semi-finalist’s fourth-best performer, scoring one goals and making one assist while also ranking highly among his team-mates in terms of average aerial duels won, tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, shots, key passes, dribbles, crosses and long balls per game (WhoScored).

Fernandez has also been a top of the Portuguese top flight, and in the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League after qualifying from their group.

Nonetheless, he is only 21 years of age, and so like Bellingham, has an extremely high ceiling that Liverpool can hugely benefit from if they can secure his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur have made contact to sign Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries as two players face the axe from Antonio Conte.

The Lowdown: Paratici planning for January?

We’re approaching the halfway point of this 2022/23 Premier League season and it’s safe to say that Spurs bosses and Conte would take their current league position.

In terms of the standings, being three points clear of Manchester United in fourth is a fairly strong building point for the rest of the campaign, but Conte will not be happy with certain aspects of his team’s performances.

Their goals against record has been disappointing of late despite some spirited fightbacks, with the Lilywhites conceding 11 in their last five league games before the World Cup break.

The January transfer window represents an opportunity for sporting director Fabio Paratici to strengthen Spurs’ options, with one report suggesting that they’re targeting Dumfries.

The Latest: Spurs make Dumfries contact…

Indeed, the Netherlands star – who is currently at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has been ever-present for the Oranje so far at the tournament – is front and centre of Tottenham’s transfer ambitions.

90min claim that Spurs have made contact to sign Dumfries in the form of an enquiry, coming as both Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal now face the axe in January.

It’s believed that one of the duo could leave mid-season, with the Inter Milan defender potentially targeted as a replacement for whoever is sold.

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The Verdict: Right man?

The 26-year-old has been called a ‘very exciting’ full-back by members of the media, and his £36m price tag suggests he could be attainable.

Dubbed a ‘key player’ for Inter by journalist Sean Walsh, it could well be tricky to convince the Serie A giants to outright sell Dumfries mid-season, but 90min claims that Tottenham ‘would push’ to take him off their hands ‘straight away’.

It may be worth that extra push, seeing as neither Doherty nor Royal have truly convinced during their respective careers in N17.

Aston Villa could finally bin Frenchman Morgan Sanson by making a move for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie in the summer transfer window.

The £45k-per-week Villa player has featured just 21 times for the club since joining from Marseille in 2021 and with Unai Emery looking at putting his own stamp on the team, it’s highly likely he will be moved on sooner rather than later.

Kessie left AC Milan for the La Liga giants in the summer on a free transfer but now wants a move due to a lack of game time in Spain.

His agent is reportedly pushing for a move to the Premier League, with Villa keen on signing the midfielder to bolster their options in the middle of the pitch.

CIES Football Observatory value Kessie at around €60m (£52m) but in light of Barca’s financial trouble, Villa could be willing to offer up to €14m (£12m) for the player, meaning it could be an excellent piece of business for the club if they can reach an agreement close to that price.

Last season in Serie A, the 25-year-old played an integral part in Milan’s team as they were crowned champions for the first time in 11 years.

He played 31 matches, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.07/10, all while chipping in with six goals. The Ivorian also made 0.9 key passes per match, created a further two big chances, and succeeded with 73% of his dribble attempts, proving that he can be an excellent attacking threat from the centre of the park.

Former Italy striker Antonio Cassano clearly liked what he saw last season, lavishing praise on Kessie on Bobo TV, saying: “I want Kessie in my team, he scores goals, he assists, he has personality, he has quality, he doesn’t lose the ball, he’s intelligent. I’m watching him carefully; he was devastating against Roma.

“It reminds me of the Yaya Touré of better times. He’s a different player but in terms of impact. He is holding up the Milan midfield by himself.”

Emery could certainly add some bite into his midfield by making an offer for the Barcelona player, and with just two La Liga starts this season, Xavi might be keen on selling him considering the Catalan side’s financial position.

In turn this could give the Spaniard the licence to finally ditch Sanson, who has been stealing a wage for too long at the Midlands side without contributing anything of note during his 18 months at the club. With that in mind, Kessie would be quite the replacement.