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An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their attempts to bolster their squad in the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards has revealed the two players the Magpies are hoping to bring in before the end of the window today.

He Tweeted: “#nufc still working hard on two transfers and hopeful at least one of them can be done on deadline day. More to follow.”

The reporter then followed it up with: “Matty Targett and Eddie Nketiah are the two btw.”

Buzzing

Eddie Howe will surely be buzzing with the potential of both of these players arriving at the club in the next 24 hours.

On Targett, the ex-Bournemouth coach will be delighted with his potential arrival as he is a player with vast Premier League experience and has proven that he can perform at this level.

This suggests that he could be able to come in and hit the ground running with no issues in terms of needing to adapt to the pace of physicality of the league, which are problems that may occur with signings from abroad.

The 26-year-old has over 100 appearances in the top-flight under his belt for Southampton and Aston Villa combined, whilst also playing 21 times in the Championship and twice in the Europa League.

He also has an average WhoScored rating of 6.90, showing that he has been able to deliver consistently solid performances across his entire career, which is another reason why the Magpies head coach would love to have him.

Nketiah, meanwhile, would leave Howe buzzing because of the potential he holds. He has 18 goals in 75 games for Arsenal at senior level, having scored 28 times in 40 matches for the U23’s. The youngster also has an outstanding record for England at youth level, with 35 goals in 38 games from U18 to U21 level.

This season, he has scored five times in four starts for the Gunners, highlighting his knack for being able to find the back of the net and the scope for development he has. However, he has been unable to find himself a regular spot in the Arsenal team in the Premier League, which is why he could be one for the future rather than someone who is expected to make an immediate impact.

Howe would surely enjoy working with him on the training pitch to improve him over time, whilst also using him off the bench to gain experience and potential make a difference. He can learn from the likes of Callum Wilson and Chris Wood before coming into his own with time.

AND in other news, “He is one..”: Journo claims NUFC now “really like” ST who is miles better than Wood…

Many Sunderland fans have been left fuming over some transfer news that has emerged on Josh Hawkes.

As per the official website of the Stadium of Light faithful, the midfield player has now signed for Tranmere Rovers on a permanent deal, seeking more first team football.

He had only made two senior appearances for Lee Johnson’s team this season before moving on loan to Tranmere, where he scored one goal and made a further three assists (Transfermarkt), and now joins them permanently.

Having done well at Hartlepool United and at youth level for the Black Cats, scoring 27 times and supplying eight assists before this campaign (Transfermarkt), some SAFC supporters did not want to see the 22-year-old leave.

Journalist and Sunderland fan Josh Bunting claimed that it is ‘frustrating’ as Hawkes was the player that he was ‘excited about the most’.

Sunderland fans on Hawkes transfer news

These Black cats fumed as the transfer news was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it is a ‘weird’ move:

“Surprising and hugely disappointing decision from @SunderlandAFC”

Credit: @RokerPark150705

“Think we could regret this one”

Credit: @Lennonspringett

“Weird choice thought he was promising”

Credit: @markbussey14

“Better than Diamond … big mistake”

Credit: @Baybeface87

“Hate this, absolutely stupid selling a promising young player again, it’s getting stupid now Sunderland”

Credit: @Jack76943

“Would’ve kept him tbh”

Credit: @safctom

In other news, find out who Sunderland’s three worst players were against Portsmouth here!

Reliable journalist Tim Spiers believes Wolves youngster Theo Corbeanu has a big future in the game, following some impressive loan spells away from Molineux.

The Lowdown: Corbeanu shining on loan

The 19-year-old is a highly thought-of figure at Wolves but he has been shipped out on loan in recent seasons, in order to enjoy more minutes elsewhere.

Corbeanu did well at Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the campaign, chipping in with two goals and assists apiece in six League One starts, before heading off to MK Dons.

He has also scored once in his first five games there, not to mention netting twice in six caps for Canada.

The Latest: Spiers excited about youngster

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Spiers waxed lyrical over Corbeanu, as he plugged an article written for The Athletic:

“They’re singing his name in the stands and waving Canada flags. Promotion with MK Dons and a World Cup with his country? Things are happening for Theo Corbeanu.”

The Verdict: One for the future

It is great to see Corbeanu thriving so much elsewhere, as he looks to eventually reach his potential and become a key figure for Wolves.

At 19, he is already showing he can produce end product in a tough, physical League One, and he has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Under-23s manager James Collins.

A move back to Wolves this summer could make sense, although if Bruno Lage feels another loan move would be beneficial for his development, that would be a more shrewd decision.

Staying put at Molineux and getting no minutes is of no benefit to anyone.

In other news, Spiers has also made a fresh claim regarding two Wolves players. Find out who they are here.

Rangers enjoyed a busy transfer window as they managed to bring in Aaron Ramsey, Amad Diallo, Mateusz Zukowski and James Sands throughout January.

However, they failed to move on one of the players who has struggled for game time this season – Jack Simpson. The defender has been an outcast for most of the season so far and they were unable to find him a new home last month.

He joined the Gers for an undisclosed fee from AFC Bournemouth in February 2021. At the time of the deal, ex-Gers boss Steven Gerrard said this: “We are delighted to have Jack here. We have been aware of him for some time and excited to finally have him.

“Clearly it’s a bonus to have him here now earlier than initially planned. His presence makes us stronger and we are all looking forward to working with him.”

Simpson went on to be a big flop after these strong comments as he went on to make seven appearances last term under Gerrard.

Five of these outings came in the league and he averaged a disappointing SofaScore rating of 6.62 for the Gers, losing 50% of his duels and being dribbled past 0.6 times per game. He was a lightweight at centre-back and his statistics show that he was far from good enough to be a regular starter for Rangers.

This season, he has played six games to date – three of which have come in the Premiership – and has started three matches. Gio van Bronckhorst selected Calvin Bassey ahead of him after an injury to Leon Balogun early in his reign and picked James Sands at centre-back alongside Filip Helander in the recent win over Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup.

The Dutch head coach is seemingly not keen on the Englishman and this highlights how poor of a signing he has been, as he is the second manager – after Gerrard – to cast him aside for the majority of their time at the club. This is why he has been a dreadful signing by Wilson and it has cost the sporting director a sizeable chunk of money.

He is reportedly on £3.1k-per-week and has been at Rangers for around 54 weeks, which means that over £167k has been spent on his wages without him making a big contribution to the side. Therefore, he has been draining Wilson’s wage budget without giving much back in return for it.

This is money that could have been spent on bringing in another player who could play regular first-team matches for the Gers. Instead, it appears to be being wasted on Simpson and that theme looks set to continue until the summer transfer window.

AND in other news, GvB masterstroke: “Phenomenal” Rangers gem has seen value soar 150% in just 6 months…

A Newcastle United transfer claim has been made on Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that the Premier League enforcer is a player the club could target to bolster their squad in the summer.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Signing somebody like a Kalvin Phillips, an England international, a top Premier League player, would be a huge statement from Newcastle.”

This comes after 90min reported last week that the Toon are one of a number of teams keeping tabs on his situation at Elland Road. Leeds are yet to discuss a new contract with the gem and this has alerted Newcastle and a host of others sides looking to potentially sign him at the end of the season.

Excitement

Magpies fans will surely be excited by the prospect of Phillips coming in as a “statement” signing ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The 26-year-old has been restricted to 12 games due to injury this term, but proved his quality in the Premier League in his first year in the division. He averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.21 for the Whites, making an impressive 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game.

Phillips then went on to play a key role in his country’s journey to the European Championships final. He started seven games en route to the penalty loss against Italy at Wembley, making 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game.

England manager Gareth Southgate previously lauded the defensive-minded midfielder, saying: “He’s been excellent. The way he has taken to international football, it hasn’t surprised us because what we’d seen with Leeds, even in the Championship, we felt could convert into our team.

“We felt he could play an important role with us. To play in the enormity of the matches he did in the summer and play as well as he did is massive credit to him.”

His performances for Leeds and England, coupled with these comments from the Three Lions coach, highlight his immense quality in midfield. He has proven that he can step up and perform at the top level and in high-pressure situations, which is why he could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle.

Therefore, Magpies fans will surely be excited about the possibility of him arriving at St. James’ Park in the summer as he could be a big addition to Eddie Howe’s side. He could be the marquee signing of the window to, hopefully, push the team into competing for the top half of the table instead of battling against relegation.

AND in other news, Huge boost: Howe handed big NUFC injury lift pre-Brentford that’ll delight fans…

Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly a realistic destination for Romelu Lukaku in the summer.

The Lowdown: Lukaku’s struggles

It is safe to say that the Belgian has had his struggles since returning to Chelsea last summer, with a bust-up between Thomas Tuchel and him over an interview the striker gave claiming that he was unhappy at Stamford Bridge being widely reported.

On the pitch, he has not been able to have the sort of impact that you would expect from a player who cost a whopping £97.5m to sign from Inter Milan.

He has scored just 10 goals across all competitions so far this season, with only five in the Premier League (record of a mere seven touches of the ball in the Blues’ 1-0 win away to Crystal Palace, the fewest of any outfield player to feature for a full 90 minutes in a top-flight match since such records began being taken.

Thus, with Kai Havertz scoring in midweek in the Champions League against Lille in a false-nine position, there are now question marks over whether Lukaku should really play instead of him in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Latest: Tottenham move for Lukaku?

As per Calciomercato, Tottenham is now the ‘only realistic escape route’ for Lukaku if he is to move on in the summer.

The Belgium international reportedly ‘wants’ to leave the Blues, and he could make the switch to north London if the deal is right.

The Verdict: Shock

It would certainly be a shock if Lukaku moved across the capital to Spurs, even if his former manager Antonio Conte is in charge at N17.

Having excelled under the Italian’s management, scoring no fewer than 64 times and supplying a further 17 assists in just 95 matches under the 52-year-old at Inter (Transfermarkt), it would not be a surprise if Conte wanted to work with him once more.

The Italian even called the 28-year-old a ‘gentle giant’ when he was managing at the San Siro, so it seems clear that they have a good relationship off the pitch as well.

However, it seems strange that Lukaku, who Thomas Tuchel has dubbed ‘world-class‘, would leave Chelsea after just one campaign when so much money was spent on him, especially to a major London rival in Tottenham.

In other news, Spurs are also eyeing a move for this ‘quality’ playmaker

Manager Ralph Hassenhuttl has won over critics this season as his Southampton team have played some exceptional football, particularly in recent weeks including their 3-2 win away at Antonio Conte’s Tottenham.

Their high-flying wing-backs Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker-Peters have received plenty of praise for their attacking performances, while James Ward-Prowse is regularly gaining admirers and earning plaudits.

One player, however, who has had arguably the biggest break-out year of the season is on-loan striker Armando Broja, who at 6 foot 3, has terrorised defences this season.

What’s the news?

Southampton are desperate to make their temporary deal for Broja a permanent one, but with Chelsea tempted about the idea of keeping the Albanian, and interest from Arsenal, Hassenhuttl might face an uphill battle to acquire him.

While Transfermarkt value the striker at just £8.1m, it’s extremely unlikely that Chelsea will accept a bid anywhere close to that number – due to his unique combination of size, skill and pace.

Must sign if possible

Should the south-coast club be able to sign Broja on a permanent deal, it simply much be completed as the 20-year-old has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the league, if not the continent.

Ignoring the eight goals in 25 games so far in all competitions this season, he is also demonstrating superb ability as a hold-up striker – being in the top 10% across Europe’s top five leagues for aerials won as a forward (4.68 per game) as well as in the top 22% for progressive carries (4.13 per game) and dribbles completed (1.38 per game).

The Slough-born striker also has demonstrated his ability when asked to lead the press, as he is in the top 14% for interceptions (0.69 per game) and 23% for pressures (17.55 per game).

There aren’t many strikers in the world that possess his flair and size, with Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak in demand for similar reasons, but for Broja to get to that level, he must start netting more goals – and while he is developing at this pace at Southampton, that is definitely possible.

After all, Premier League legend Alan Shearer still thinks he’s “clinical” inside the area.

His departure just a year after losing Danny Ings last summer would surely be a disaster for Hasenhuttl and it would be a monumental blow for the Saints if they can’t complete a deal, something the fans will surely be left devastated by as they see a player of his talent leave at the end of the season.

In other news:Forget Tino: Southampton gem with “super football intelligence” is their breakout star

Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur ‘insider’ John Wenham, who break news on his Lilywhites Rose social media channels, has shared what he’s been ‘told’ about transfer target Toby Savin.

The Lowdown: Spurs set sights on lower league talent…

Tottenham chief Fabio Paratici is allegedly leaving no stone unturned in his search for top talent, not excluding England’s lower leagues.

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Peterborough United wing-back Benjamin Mensah and Middlesbrough starlet Djed Spence are two players who have been linked with a north London move recently and Savin, currently of Accrington Stanley, is another.

The young goalkeeper has impressed under John Coleman in recent seasons, allegedly attracting the interest of Spurs, with Wenham now sharing what he knows.

The Latest: Wenham shares what he’s been told…

As per his sources, speaking to FI, Tottenham are ‘very keen’ on Savin and the insider expects Paratici to make a move ‘as soon as the window opens’.

“I’m always happy for Tottenham to be signing up young, English talent from the lower leagues,”  he explained.

“From what I’m told, Tottenham are massively interested in him and we have had scouts watching him extensively.

“I do expect we will make a move for him as soon as the summer window opens.

“What I think could then happen is he could be loaned back to Accrington for the 2022/23 season.

“He might even be loaned to a team in the league above, I’m not sure.

“But from what I was told, Tottenham are very. very keen on him.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Also drawing attention from the likes of Man United, Savin has arguably stood out as one of the most promising keepers in the Football League in recent seasons.

Coleman has already lavished praise on the ‘outstanding’ homegrown youngster and we believe he has the potential to be a future heir for Hugo Lloris should he continue his rise.

The colossal 6 foot 4 ace could well be one to keep an eye on.

In other news: Conte eyeing major priority as Spurs make pre-summer move for ‘fantastic’ player likened to Bale, find out more here.

Wolves have another Premier League fixture ahead of them this evening with a clash against relegation strugglers Watford at Molineux.

Having lost their three previous league games with just one goal scored and five conceded, Bruno Lage’s side will be desperate to put this poor run of form behind them and grab a much-needed victory to reignite their chances of securing European football for next season.

On the chalkboard

One figure that has not started the Old Gold’s two previous league games that should make a return to the side on this occasion is striker Raul Jimenez.

Since arriving at Molineux back in the 2018 summer transfer window on loan from Benfica before signing on a permanent deal a year later, the 30-year-old, who has been described as a “special” player in the past by former Old Gold boss Nuno Santo, has scored 53 goals in 122 appearances across all competitions, showing how prominent he has been for his team in front of goal.

Taking into account how the Midlands club have failed to score a goal in the two games that the Mexican has started on the bench, this should persuade the Wolves boss to put the £100k-per-week striker back in to see if he can start firing again for his side, which is what they badly need at the moment.

With Watford having conceded 27 more league goals than the Old Gold this season with 50 in total, perhaps this is the exact sort of opposition that Jimenez can reignite his prowess against after not managing to find the back of the net since Wolves’ 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur almost a month ago.

With Hwang Hee-chan only managing to have three shots at goal in the two previous league games that he started against West Ham United and Crystal Palace, this will surely give Lage an easy decision as to who he could take out of the team to make way for the £19.8m-rated centre-forward.

Whether the former Benfica manager decides to bring the striker back into the starting XI tonight or not, this will still be a massive game for the home side and their season, as anything other than a win would surely be seen as another huge disappointment for the club.

In other news: Wolves may unearth the “next Iniesta” as Lage plots bid for £8.1m-rated Moutinho heir

Leeds United correspondent Adam Pope has been left thrilled by the news that Jamie Shackleton started for the U23s in their 1-1 draw away at Arsenal.

The Lowdown: Injury return

Shackleton played the full 90 minutes in what was his first game for the U23s since March, when he picked up an injury, while he has not featured for the senior side since February (Transfermarkt).

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He is yet to play under Jesse Marsch, but given the injuries that they have to some key members of the squad, Shackleton may well get a call-up to the first team very soon if he can prove his form and fitness.

The Latest: Pope reacts

Taking to Twitter, Pope gave his reaction to the news that Shackleton started, claiming that it was ‘great to see’, in what he claimed was a ‘big’ match for the U23s given their position in the league table:

“Great to see Jamie Shackleton involved again in what is a big game for the U23s.”

The Verdict: Boost

It certainly is a boost to have Shackleton out on the pitch again, albeit for the U23s.

Marsch has not been able to use him yet, and the American no doubt will want to try him out in the first team to see how he does.

The 22-year-old ranks highly among his teammates in terms of average tackles, blocks and dribbles per game in the Premier League, while he also boasts the highest pass success rate out of any Whites played to have made five or more appearances (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, it is good to have him back as another handy squad option from now until the end of the campaign.

In other news, find out what ‘phenomenal’ LUFC injury update has wowed this injury expert here!