Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Manuel Ugarte and the Uruguayan could be a superb addition to Julen Lopetegui’s side at Molineux.

What’s the word?

According to Media Foot, the Midlands outfit and Atletico Madrid are already in talks to sign the 21-year-old thanks to his agent Jorge Mendes, who has a strong connection with both clubs.

Lopetegui has already recruited Matheus Cunha in the January transfer window and the Spanish boss is no doubt looking for more recruits across the pitch this month as he looks to pull the Old Gold away from any relegation battle this season.

Ugarte is currently valued at €18m (£15.9m) by Transfermarkt and still has three and a half years to run on his contract with Sporting, which suggests that any deal for the midfielder this month could prove to be an expensive one.

However, considering his impressive performances in both the Primeira Liga and Champions League so far this campaign, it could be a worthwhile investment by the Midlands club, especially if he can play a big part in keeping them in the Premier League in the second half of the campaign.

He’s exactly what Lopetegui needs

While there is no doubt that Wolves are blessed with a lot of midfield talent, with Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Matheus Nunes all excellent passers of a football, there is an argument that none of these options boasts the physical attributes of a defensive-minded midfielder such as Ugarte.

The Uruguayan has contributed more tackles per game (three) in the Portuguese Liga than anyone in the Wolves squad, while he has also averaged a mammoth 4.8 tackles per game in the Champions League this season.

In fact, no player has won more tackles or duels in the UCL this term, so it is easy to see why football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as a “midfield machine.”

When in a relegation battle, technical ability on the ball is often outweighed by mental attributes such as desire and determination and Ugarte certainly seems to be a full-blooded midfielder, with FBref suggesting that he scores in the top 10 of percentages for tackles, blocks, interceptions, passing and dribbling when compared to other midfielders across Europe’s top leagues.

Therefore, Lopetegui should definitely look to bring the Uruguay international to Molineux this month, as it seems clear that he could offer something very different in the Wolves midfield.

Arsenal’s lengthy pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk is still ongoing, as the Gunners look to agree a fee below their asking price, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the club want to pay in a structure that involves bonuses and add-ons.

What’s the word?

Shakhtar have publicly stated that they would like a fee of around €100m (£88m) to part ways with their star player, but Arsenal have no intention of paying this figure upfront.

The 22-year-old is highly coveted by Mikel Arteta as he looks to strengthen his attack in the January window, but the current asking price is too high for such an inexperienced player.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano confirmed that negotiations are ongoing as Arsenal do not want to pay this fee upfront, but are willing to structure a deal in a large overall package which includes bonus clauses and add-ons with a lower initial fee.

“Arsenal want to sign Mudryk, but not for guaranteed €100m,” he stated.

“This is why they are speaking about the potential package. It’s true that they are discussing about bonuses, the potential future percentage.

“There are some details to discuss between clubs, but at the moment, Arsenal have no intention to match the full €100m package. This is why the negotiation is still ongoing.”

Inevitable?

Given that the player has shown his immense desire to move to north London and that Arsenal have been in constant negotiations for some time now, there is a feeling that the deal will eventually happen in this window.

Mudryk’s value may never be higher at Shakhtar following some outstanding performances in the Champions League group stages, and receiving a large fee for the 22-year-old now could give their finances a major boost.

Arsenal may be more desperate for the player now, as despite being a long-term signing, he could give Arteta’s side a major boost in the title race with the Gunners currently top of the Premier League.

If negotiations continue until a later stage of the window, then Arsenal may be forced to pay a higher initial fee, although the player’s desire to join the club could yet swing things in their favour.

Leeds United chief Victor Orta could transform Jesse Marsch’s attack with a cunning double swoop this month…

What’s the word?

According to The Express journalist Ryan Taylor, the Yorkshire giants are one of the teams to have bid for Angers SCO attacking midfielder Azzedine Ounahi.

“I know they put in a bid for around about £17.5 million,” he told GIVEMESPORT before revealing that the likes of Napoli, Marseille and Almeira were also keen to sign him before the January 31st deadline.

It comes after Foot Mercato first revealed that the Whites had submitted an offer, though his current £10k-per-week deal isn’t set to expire until 2026 and that – combined with his sensational exploits at the World Cup in Qatar – puts the Ligue 1 side in a very strong negotiating position.

Some reports in Italy suggest he’d be available for €25m (£22m).

Imagine Ouhani and Rutter

If Orta were to stun the rest of Europe by landing Ouhani, then he could well hand Marsch some much-needed impetus in the final third, where the American has struggled with injuries – namely to top talisman Patrick Bamford and summer signing Luis Sinisterra – and inconsistencies.

The Moroccan, 22, is an “elegant” and industrious midfielder capable of making things happen in transition, having been lauded as a “little protege” by Corentin Bouchard, his former assistant manager at Avranches.

“He is a beautiful player, an elegant player, the kind of player people go to the stadium to see. I just hope he continues to amaze everyone,” he further claimed to Sky Sports.

Indeed, Ounahi ranks inside the top 1% of all midfielders across Europe’s top five divisions for successful dribbles per 90 (2.48) and has similar statistical traits to that of FC Barcelona duo Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, according to FBref’s model.

He could, therefore, be an ideal addition to the engine room on top of mooted striker target Georginio Rutter, who has emerged as a likely signing in the coming days, with Sky in Germany revealing that Leeds were closing in on a club-record £35.3m deal for him.

The France U21 international is a versatile attacker capable of playing through the middle and out on the left. Whilst his returns of two goals from 15 appearances in the Bundesliga this campaign aren’t anything to shout about, he did deliver 13 goal contributions for Hoffenheim last term in what was a breakthrough season.

Rutter is described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as a “complete striker” and a “clinical finisher” with “blistering pace,” which bodes well for his chances of being a success for both Leeds and in the Premier League, whilst journalist Joe Donnohue has also waxed lyrical about the 20-year-old.

“He’s physical, beats players 1-v-1, packs a punch with his shooting but equally, is unpolished and as with any transfer above a certain threshold, a calculated risk. That said, think his profile is the type of addition Leeds need in their forward line.”

Both Ounahi and Rutter would be worthy additions this month, so Orta must do all he can to secure the pair of them as on the above evidence, they would clearly add tenfold to Marsch’s struggling side.

Leeds could well form one hell of an exciting duo for years to come by signing both the Angers midfielder and the Hoffenheim striker before the deadline on January 31st.

AND in other news, Forget Firpo: Leeds’ “desperately poor” 104-touch dud was an “absolute joke” vs Cardiff…

Manchester United’s pursuit of Joao Felix has stalled as Atletico Madrid’s demands are currently too high, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Felix availability

At the beginning of December, Spanish outlet Cadena SER reported that Atletico Madrid were willing to let Felix leave in the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, there are also claims from Spain (as relayed by The Mirror) that the 23-year-old has allegedly fallen out with Diego Simeone and is open to pastures new, with a loan deal until the end of the season piquing the interest of Premier League sides, notably United.

The Latest: Mendes’ involvement

Unsurprisingly, Jorge Mendes is set to play a huge part in the deal with Felix one of his clients, and the super-agent is attempting to convince Atleti into lowering their demands that are so far putting off interested clubs.

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that as it stands, there won’t be an agreement between the two sides.

He said: “Manchester United confirmed to Jorge Mendes they really like Joao Felix and they want Joao Felix.

“Jorge Mendes is speaking to Atletico Madrid because they are asking [for] more than €15m for Joao Felix; it’s around €18m considering the taxes and all these kinds of [things] for a simple loan of six months.

“This is why Jorge Mendes is trying to understand if these conditions could change, because Manchester United and Arsenal are really interested – but at different conditions.”

The Verdict: Ridiculous fee

The idea of spending upwards of £15m on a six-month loan deal seems absolutely preposterous from United’s point of view, especially with the Portuguese never having proved himself in the Premier League, while his form this season is far from scintillating, despite broadcaster Nico Cantor dubbing his World Cup displays ‘electric’.

A return of five goals and three assists in 19 games in all competitions – albeit from only 10 starts – is far from convincing, particularly when a loan deal offers no long-term assurances for him to build on.

Erik ten Hag may well be looking for a new forward to replace Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad, and with options potentially limited in January, a significant deal might have to wait until the summer, but we feel a short-term option for a relatively underperforming player seems incredibly unlikely to happen.

Celtic attacker Giorgos Giakoumakis could leave the club during the January transfer window, according to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Giakoumakis linked with exit

A number of Hoops exit rumours have emerged in recent weeks, with Josip Juranovic perhaps the most high-profile player linked with leaving the club.

The Croatian is not alone, however, with Giakoumakis another of those who has been backed to move on, having scored 25 goals in 56 appearances to date.

Now, another update has emerged, with the Greek’s future in Scotland again thrown into doubt.

The Latest: Fresh update emerges

Taking to Twitter, Romano claimed that Giakoumakis is the subject of lots of interest from a number of clubs:

“Giorgos Giakoumakis could now leave Celtic as many clubs are approaching the Greek striker. MLS, Japan clubs, also Sampdoria have asked for the conditions of the deal.”

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The Verdict: Would be a blow

Losing Giakoumakis would be a clear blow for Celtic, given his aforementioned goalscoring record, with Ange Postecoglou losing firepower in the process.

[freshpress-quiz id=“419088″]

The 28-year-old’s potential exit would surely lead to the Hoops bringing in an immediate replacement, with Cho Gue-sung looking like the leading candidate, following some recent reports.

The hope is that Giakoumakis still stays put at Parkhead beyond this month, however, helping Celtic win yet more trophies and continuing to dovetail effectively with the likes of Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota.

West Ham United have identified an AFC Ajax sensation to bolster the midfield ranks and pump some new life into the fold after a damaging 2022/23 campaign thus far. 

Finishing within the European platform in both the past two seasons, Hammers boss David Moyes is now under weighted scrutiny surrounding the confidence in his management of such a talented bunch of players.

Despite his prosperous fortunes since assuming the role of head coach for a second time in December 2019, the club have run wayward this term, languishing in 17th place, level on points with Nottingham Forest, who are only in the drop-zone due to an inferior goal difference. 

With Ajax’s Edson Alvarez distinguished as a player to navigate a course that will get the Iron faithful cheering once again, a glimmer of hope might indeed arise from a troubling situation.

This is according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who detailed his thoughts on the situation to Loaded Mag’s Fully Loaded Transfer Show on Youtube.

He said: “I think Alvarez is one to keep an eye on. West Ham are looking at him because Declan Rice is going to leave for Chelsea in the summer.”

Imagine him & Paqueta

Alvarez has been highlighted as a potential replacement to the likely departing Rice, who has become the Hammers’ most coveted asset across the last few years.

One of the most integral and industrious cogs in the Ajax system, the £30.8m-rated midfielder has made 19 appearances this term, scoring a goal and providing two assists.

As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old has recorded a commendable average rating of 7.21 this term in the Dutch Eredivisie, making 2.2 tackles and 2.5 clearances per outing, sweeping aside the opposition’s advances and recycling possession for his formidable outfit, impressing with his creative flair by completing 88% of his passes and making 1.2 key passes per fixture.

His anchoring approach to his midfield play could meld with that of the Hammers’ marquee summer signing Lucas Paqueta, who arrived from Olympique Lyonnais in a lucrative £51m deal after dazzling in the French Ligue 1, grabbing nine goals and six assists from 35 appearances in a stunning season.

This teerm, he has not quite hit the ground running as Moyes’ east London outfit fail to clinch a rich vein of form, having failed to find the back of the net and assisting three times from 16 showings.

However, with the signing of Alvarez for years to come, Paqueta could have a partner that he could form a deadly partnership with.

The Mexican Alvarez, lauded for his “tenacious” attitude by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would be a stellar addition to a West Ham side in desperate need of reinvigorating, and with Rice potentially leaving, he would indeed be the perfect partner for Paqueta.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is one of the contenders for the Manager of the Year Award in the Premier League this season. His side is not only in the mix for a top-four finish, but it may also have a chance to win the title.

Howe was appointed as the Toon boss in November 2021. At the time, the primary target was to avoid relegation. The former Bournemouth manager did that with ease in the end, which meant the club was able to invest in their squad during the summer transfer window.

Eddie Howe 👏 pic.twitter.com/5SbUjmS0WI

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 10, 2023

Newcastle attracted high-quality players in the last two transfer windows, so the expectation from Howe’s team was much higher in the 2022/23 campaign. A push towards the top end of the table was the goal and the Englishman has overseen that.

The World Cup break came at a bad time for the Magpies as they had won five consecutive Premier League games when the league took a break. However, since the resumption, they have returned in great form, as they have not conceded a goal in their opening three games, including an impressive 0-0 draw away to Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Newcastle are now odds-on at 10/11 for a top-four finish in the campaign. Those unfamiliar with betting terms can read more about fractional odds in this guide. If the denominator in the fraction (second number) is larger than the numerator, like in the case of Newcastle in the Champions League qualification, it means they are rated more likely to achieve something than not, as their probability is higher than 50%.

Unfortunately, the North East-based club are only 50/1 in the Premier League outright market for the title this season. They remain underdogs at those odds, but if they can keep up their excellent form, they could continue to close the gaps on Arsenal and Manchester City, keeping themselves in the mix in the closing stages of the campaign.

Toon Chasing First Major Domestic Trophy Since 1955

As well as being in a good spot in the Premier League table going into the second half of the season, Newcastle are also in contention for the Carabao Cup. A 2-0 victory over Leicester ensured they progressed through to the semi-final of the competition. They will now face Southampton over two legs in the last four.

Newcastle haven't won a major domestic trophy for 68 years.

Eddie Howe's side are three games away from glory in the Carabao Cup 🏆👀 pic.twitter.com/jWW9b59YEJ

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 10, 2023

Newcastle have not won a major domestic cup competition since 1955. They lifted the FA Cup that season, beating Manchester City 3-1 in the final at Wembley. Since then, their supporters have had very little to shout about.

The Toon will be expected to qualify past Southampton, and they could meet Manchester United in the final in March. Dutchman Erik ten Haag is in his first season with the Manchester club, and he has also made a good start to his reign.

Newcastle’s wait for another FA Cup success will have to go on until at least next season. They were stunned by Championship club Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of that competition.

The Best May Still Be to Come for Howe and Newcastle

Whatever happens this season, Newcastle fans can be very excited about the club’s future. They will be expected to strengthen once again this summer. If they qualify for the Champions League, that will open the door to an even bigger pool of world-class players.

Newcastle have been linked with Brazilian defensive midfielder Danilo recently. If they add two or three players of his calibre in the summer, it could make a big difference toward their title credentials next season.

Howe has shown he can get the best out of the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak and Sven Botman. Those players have all made a difference since arriving at St James’ Park following big money transfers. They all appear to be enjoying playing for their manager and in the system he adopts for his team.

The 45-year-old is regarded as one of the brightest English managers in the sport today. Some pundits are predicting him to be the man the FA target as Gareth Southgate’s replacement when the national team boss decides to walk away from his role. Before then, Howe will want to win trophies at Newcastle and help develop the club into one of the best in Europe.

Photo by Unsplash

It is no real secret that Manchester United are seeking a centre-forward recruit this month, with the recent exit of Cristiano Ronaldo having left Erik ten Hag somewhat light in the attacking ranks heading into the second half of the campaign.

Following what was a hefty summer spend of over £200m – and with takeover talks still looming – it looks as if United will be acting with a restricted budget in the coming weeks, hence the need to find a low-cost, short-term option before the window is out.

According to Calciomercato, the Red Devils could well be interested in turning to a familiar face in the form of ex-Manchester City marksman, Edin Dzeko, with the Bosnian hotshot having just six months remaining on his existing deal at San Siro.

That could well lead to an exit from the Serie A side in January, with the Old Trafford outfit seemingly eyeing up a possible move to bring the 36-year-old back to the Premier League, having previously scored 72 goals during his time at the Etihad.

Turning to the veteran asset – who has 319 club career goals to his name to date – may not appear an ideal scenario to some due to his age, although the prolific “beast”, as described by journalist Joe Lago, is still delivering the goods in Italy.

The 126-cap maestro has scored ten goals and registered four assists in 23 games in all competitions this term, having notably scored in the recent triumph over league leaders Napoli to end their opponent’s unbeaten run.

That should indicate that the ageing figure can still very much do a job at the elite level, with Ten Hag potentially able to utilise the former City man in a similar way to his use of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar during his time in charge of Ajax.

Despite being well into his 30s after returning to Amsterdam for a second spell in 2017, Huntelaar went on to play an important role for the Eredivisie outfit under Ten Hag’s tutelage, notably scoring 16 goals in 28 league appearances during the 2018/19 campaign – despite only 13 of those outings coming from the start.

Having that experienced and clinical figure off the bench was certainly a useful tool for the current United boss, with the one-time Real Madrid striker netting nine goals from just six league starts the following season, before bagging seven goals in only 11 league outings in the first half of the 2020/21 season.

Such was his impact, Ten Hag was seemingly desperate to keep his compatriot at the club even longer, only for Huntelaar to eventually opt to join German outfit Schalke in January 2021 for the final few months of his illustrious career.

The experienced coach may well have potentially wanted the aforementioned Ronaldo to take on that super-sub, part-time role at the Theatre of Dreams, although he could now find his Huntelaar 2.0 with the acquisition of Dzeko.

Nottingham Forest have seemingly found their form in the Premier League in recent weeks and now Steve Cooper could be set to strengthen his squad even further ahead of the second half of the season with a new potential transfer target identified.

What’s the latest?

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are plotting a surprise move for Newcastle United striker Chris Wood this month.

As per the report, Cooper is keen to add another striker to his newly-built Premier League squad in January and Wood has been identified as the player who could be the perfect fit for the club in their pursuit to retain their top flight status.

It is claimed that Forest are exploring both permanent and loan options in order to acquire the services of the striker and Eddie Howe could be tempted to reach an agreement to free up his squad for potential new signings at St James’ Park.

Imagine him & Johnson

There is no doubt the Forest boss will be thrilled with the turnaround his team has had over the last few weeks and months with the side finally climbing out of the bottom three after a run of impressive form.

The Tricky Trees are now 13th in the top flight table after picking up 10 points in their last five outings and last week progressed to the Carabao Cup semi-finals when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on penalties in a heated clash at The City Ground.

As a result, Cooper will be desperate for his team to continue their momentum and further strengthening the forward line with a Premier League proven goal-scorer like Wood could be the final addition needed to secure a comfortable finish at the end of the season.

Over 508 career appearances, the £80k-per-week goal machine has scored 166 goals and registered 43 assists with a goal contribution every 156 minutes so far – proving that Wood has been a reliable and consistent goal threat over his career to date and could be a valuable asset to Nottingham Forest in their forward line.

The 31-year-old – who was hailed “tremendous” by Les Ferdinand – has found himself falling out of favour on Tyneside due to the arrival of Alexander Isak and the form Callum Wilson has been in over the season so far, but has been lavished with praise on numerous occasions by some of the biggest names in English football.

All-time Premier League top goal-scorer and Toon legend Alan Shearer claims the striker never “gives defenders a moment’s peace” and is “horrible” to play against:

“I like him, I like what he does for the team and he is the focal point for them He is very good at occupying two centre-halves.

“He is horrible to play against and he won’t give defenders a moment’s peace.”

The Forest boss could even form a fantastic attacking partnership between Wood and Brennan Johnson if the striker makes the move to Trentside this month as the young forward has been a consistent source of creativity in the attacking threat with 24 shot-creating actions and four goal-creating actions this season so far.

However, the team currently have the joint-second worst goal tally in the entire Premier League, so having a player like Wood who can consistently convert those chances missed in front of goal could drastically increase the goals scored by Forest over the second half of the season.

With that being said, if the Forest hierarchy could secure the signing of Wood this month it could be a great piece of business for the club and will give the manager another option to strengthen their attacking threat in order to dominate games and help to pick up the crucial points needed to remain in the Premier League next season.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane may have a release clause or gentlemen’s agreement in his Spurs contract, claims Tony Cascarino.

The Lowdown: Kane’s situation

Kane has not committed his long-term future to Tottenham with him yet to agree an extension on his current £200k-per-week deal that expires in 2024.

The 29-year-old is in his 10th Premier League campaign since making his top-flight debut for the Lilywhites in a late cameo against Newcastle United in 2012.

He’s since gone on to score 265 goals in 412 games for the north Londoners and is one away from levelling Jimmy Greaves’ club goalscoring record.

The Latest: Cascarino’s comments

Despite him being on the verge of immortality at Spurs, Cascarino questioned on TalkSport whether there is something in Kane’s contract that could see him leave in an attempt to bag the first major trophy of his career.

He said: “With 18 months on his contract now, he has to make up in his own mind what direction he goes.

“Daniel Levy’s played a big part in keeping him at Spurs, but when the last contract was signed, were words said that ‘if I’m not achieving some of the goals I want to do with the record on my CV, can you let me go for a certain amount?’”

“Harry clearly does want to win things – who wouldn’t?

“He clearly does, he plays with the type of manner that he really does try desperately hard to be as successful as he can, but it’s just not happening with Spurs, though.”

The Verdict: Career-defining decision

With Kane turning 30 before the start of next season, the end of his current contract sets up a huge dilemma that will define his career, with guaranteed legendary status at Spurs on the cards or a greater chance of winning silverware elsewhere.

England’s joint all-time goalscorer is yet to lift a single major trophy in his incredible playing career, with Spurs previously league runners-up, twice beaten finalists and four-time beaten semi-finalists in Kane’s time.

Antonio Conte is a serial winner but with his future also uncertain and no obvious winning remedy at the club, silverware doesn’t look to be on the cards at present, so it’s a huge decision that looms for the Englishman as early as the summer.