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Aston Villa are preparing to intensify their pursuit of Real Betis winger Luiz Henrique, and could make an official bid over the coming week…

What’s the word?

On Tuesday, it was reported by the Daily Mail’s Dominic King that Villa boss Unai Emery had failed with a club-record £45m bid for Athletic Bilbao’s prodigious young star Nico Williams, with the player reluctant to leave Basque Country, but the Premier League outfit’s hierarchy has consequently turned attention to Henrique.

King’s report followed to confirm that Emery would not be deterred in his pursuit of a top-class flanker to aid the side’s resurgence, with a fee of £20m likely required to prise him away from the Heliopolitans.

And now, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones has speculated on the situation, affirming his belief that Emery would be well-advised to make a move for Henrique over Williams, regardless of the latter’s refusal to switch allegiances.

Jones said: “To be honest if Villa have Luiz Henrique as a backup option, I feel he is better suited to the Premier League anyway [compared to Williams] and they should go down that route.

“I have been very impressed with the way he makes things happen and I know a couple of other Premier League clubs have been scouting him.”

Grealish 2.0

When Jack Grealish departed Villa Park for dominant Premier League champions Manchester City in a British record £100m deal in 2021, even the most fruitful thinkers among the claret support would have scoffed at an apt replacement falling into the club’s clutches any time soon.

The 27-year-old Grealish’s qualities are so distinctive, his graceful dribbling so enigmatic and adroit, that the mere fact he graced the pitch in the Midlands for so many years has been enough to leave supporters’ hunger sated.

All that could change in the blink of an eye should technical director Johan Lange manage to pull off a coup for Betis’ Brazilian gem Henrique, who has only subsisted on the European scene since last summer, when he left homeland outfit Fluminense for pastures new.

And having made 17 starts for his La Liga outfit, scoring three goals and five assists, the 22-year-old is swiftly asserting himself along the most talented prospects playing in the country, with his marvellous blend of skill and disruptive Grealish-esque dribbling dumbfounding hapless defenders.

There is something about the way Henrique runs with the ball, like a swan gliding gracefully through water, but with a vicious innate knack for breaking down opposition and darting from angle to angle in a captivating tussle of energy.

As per FBref, he currently makes 1.77 dribbles per game over the past year, and should he up the output he will indeed be a deadly force on the ball; Grealish, comparatively, makes 1.64 dribbles per match, which is intriguing considering the calibre of his gliding gait on the pitch.

Hailed as “characterful” and “thrilling” by reporter Graham Hunter, the starlet is an edge-of-your-seat sort of sensation, capable of leaving scores of supporters in pandemonium with his exploits on the field.

This natural sheen of stardom is indeed very much reminiscent to Grealish, and if the current Betis gem can maintain his expansive growth, he could emulate a Midlands icon who recorded a Premier League average rating of 7.54 during his final term, captivating with six goals and ten assists from just 24 starts.

With Aston Villa indeed already willing to part with more than double this amount for Williams, a deal simply must be concluded to continue the ascension towards prominence; Grealish will be reborn in Aston once again.

Manchester United have been making considerable progress under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag, who arrived at the club last year after departing AFC Ajax, and could find the perfect Cristiano Ronaldo replacement in Marcus Thuram.

Having indeed left his Netherlands homeland to take the reins at Old Trafford, Ten Hag oversaw a lucrative summer spending surge to put a new glint on the club’s sheen, and the adjustments certainly seem to be working.

While progress is immensely promising, there is more that must be done to return the club to its former glory, and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Thuram could indeed fit the bill to assume the talismanic role this year.

Out of contract with his German Bundesliga outfit at the end of the current season, Thuram has been subject to heavy speculation over his next move, with Bild reporting that his outfit could grant his departure this month for as little as £10m.

The Premier League giants are flying, with ten victories from the past 12 fixtures and the Carabao cup final a whisker away following the 3-0 first-leg victory over Nottingham Forest in the semi-final.

And with areas of the pitch still requiring reinforcements, the work that has been swiftly made to bolster Old Trafford must not be understated, but with the inclusion of someone of the “world-class” Thuram’s ilk – as lauded by VFL Wolfsburg director Marcel Schafer – prospects will only be enhanced.

This season, the £82k-per-week France international has made 19 appearances across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and registering four assists, indeed one of Europe’s most prolific marksmen.

And with the nine-cap forward ranking among the top 11% of his positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals and total shots, and the top 5% for dribbles completed, there is an undeniable sense of transitional prowess that could further enrich the Red Devils’ ferocious frontline.

If United are indeed to sign the gem, he could be the perfect replacement for the recently departed Cristiano Ronaldo, who mutually terminated his contract with the outfit in November, with the 37-year-old falling out of favour under Ten Hag’s tutelage.

During his second spell with Manchester United, Ronaldo’s performance and efficacy within the Theatre of Dreams’ system created a schism among English football, with his goal tally laudable but overall contribution indeed creating a sense of polarity.

In the “beast“, as once labelled by Atul Kasbekar, that is Thuram, who certainly boasts all the acumen to both flourish in front of goal and contribute with ball progression in the attacking third, United could actually improve on the legendary Ronaldo’s, whose acrimonious departure will swiftly become but a distant memory.

Manchester United hung on to secure a hard-fought victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, with Erik ten Hag’s side sealing a 13th consecutive win at Old Trafford in all competitions despite having been reduced to ten men in the closing stages.

Following what was a rather serene opening 70 minutes or so for the Red Devils – have led courtesy of goals from the deadly duo of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford – a moment of madness from midfield colossus, Casemiro, ensured a nervy end to proceedings for the home side.

With the experienced Brazilian having been dismissed for seemingly grabbing Will Hughes by the throat amid what was a mass brawl between both sides, United were then forced to dig deep to thwart the visitors from capitalising on their man advantage, particularly after Jeffrey Schlupp had sparked hope of a comeback with a clever, improvised finish.

Despite an agonising finale following a lengthy stint of added time, there was to be no equaliser for the Eagles as the hosts held on to secure all three points, with Ten Hag’s men marching on amid what is a relentless run of games across all fronts.

One notable standout performer on the day for the former Ajax boss was that of midfield machine, Fred, with the 29-year-old having been “particularly superb” in the centre of the park following his compatriot’s early exit, as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

While there may well have been a clamour pre-match to see January arrival Marcel Sabitzer come straight into the side from the start, Fred showcased just why he will be no mere pushover in the battle to fill Christian Eriksen’s midfield void, having once again been a relentless presence in the centre of the park.

The all-action gem was at his tenacious best as he notably won six of his ten ground duels, including five tackles, against the south London outfit, having also been rather composed in possession after recording an 86% pass accuracy rate and laying on one key pass from his 63 touches.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk ace – who scored in the midweek victory over Nottingham Forest – also came close to adding to his tally for the season after guiding Wout Weghorst’s pull-back narrowly wide of the post, having illustrated his ability to make an impact in both boxes for his side.

Having so often been a much-maligned figure at the Theatre of Dreams since his arrival in 2018 – notably being described as “not good enough” by club legend Roy Keane earlier this season – the 32-cap dynamo has more than proved his worth under Ten Hag of late, with yesterday’s outing having been another indication of the vital role he can play moving forward.

With the likes of Eriksen, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek all currently injured – and with Casemiro now suspended – the £120k-per-week “bargain”, as recently lauded by writer Casey Evans, could well be a key figure for United over the coming weeks and months.

Leeds United return to action in the Premier League this afternoon as they travel away from Elland Road to face Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest.

The Whites are in search of their first win in the division since the turn of the year and Jesse Marsch will be hoping that their success in the FA Cup will give them the confidence they need to pick up all three points today.

Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra, and Junior Firpo all got on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win over Accrington Stanley last time, but the American head coach may not go with an unchanged XI in spite of the victory.

Here is how we predict the team will look when the news drops at 1pm…

Illan Meslier; Rasmus Kristensen, Maximilian Wober, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo; Tyler Adams, Marc Roca; Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto, Jack Harrison; Patrick Bamford.

We predict that Marsch will make three alterations to his XI, with Struijk, Adams, and Gnonto all returning to the side to replace Robin Koch, Sam Greenwood, and Georginio Rutter.

At the back, the head coach will need to bring in a replacement for the suspended Koch and Struijk, who started at left-back in their last Premier League match, could come in to take his place alongside Wober and allow Firpo to start at full-back.

The Dutch defender has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.89 in the top flight, which places him sixth in the squad, and this suggests that the gem is a reliable performer who is capable of stepping in at the heart of the defence.

In midfield, new signing Weston McKennie could be left on the bench after arriving less than a week ago and regular midfield pair Adams and Roca, who are both in the club’s top five performers on Sofascore ratings, could continue until the USA international is fully up to speed and ready to compete for a place in the XI, which also leaves Greenwood on the bench.

Marsch could also bring in Gnonto to start in the attacking trident behind the striker to replace Rutter. FFC published an article explaining why the young Italian should replace the fresh arrival from Hoffenheim, after the 20-year-old Frenchman’s difficult debut against Accrington Stanley.

Finally, the head coach must unleash Patrick Bamford in the number nine position after the news that Rodrigo is set to be out of action for around two months.

The £70k-per-week dynamo, who was once hailed as “outstanding” and “exceptional”, has scored three goals and provided three assists in his last five appearances for the club and this suggests that the attacker is on form and deserving of a place in the XI.

West Ham United had a quiet transfer window in which Danny Ings remained their main acquisition throughout the month.

The Premier League-proven marksman was expected to come in and offer an instant source of reliable goals, given how he had provided that to plenty of clubs across England.

However, a knee problem sustained in his first game could be a sign of things to come, with the injury-prone striker having struggled for fitness many times in his career.

It, therefore, has sparked the question as to whether 30-year-old was the answer to their goalscoring issues, of which they have scored just 18 times in 21 games.

Another option that they flirted with in January was Sheraldo Becker, who has been starring for Union Berlin of late in their unlikely push for the Bundesliga title.

Having reportedly enquired about the attacker just before deadline day, it was a move that never truly materialised despite only a €15m (£13m) reported valuation; just £2m shy of what they paid for Ings.

However, according to journalist Christian Falk, via CaughtOffside, both Mark Noble and Everton will reignite their interest in the summer, should the Hammers remain in the division.

By then, the 27-year-old could have added to his already impressive tally of seven goals and four assists in the league. What might also interest David Moyes is the fact that he somewhat translated this form into European matches, of which he has become accustomed to in recent seasons.

It could be a move that finally reignites Jarrod Bowen, who has admittedly disappointed this season.

Severely lacking a firing forward at the London Stadium, he has struggled to shoulder all of the offensive burden. As such, he only has four goals and one assist to his name this league campaign, a far cry from his 24 goal contributions the term prior.

Adding Becker to the fold would not only give him a lethal forward to aim at, but the Bundesliga star also has the creative qualities to provide for him too.

As such, when compared to other strikers across Europe, he ranks in the top 8% for assists. Journalist Josh Bunting served to supplement this by claiming: “Sheraldo Becker in this team just fits perfectly, not just clinical but he’s also creative.”

This comes across in his 7.16 average Sofascore rating, which is greatly aided by his 1.4 key passes completed per 90.

Finally, Bowen could recapture that long-forgotten form with this summer addition. He just has the small task of ensuring they remain in the Premier League to make the deal a possibility at all.

One notable transfer target for Newcastle United in recent times has been Leicester City talisman James Maddison, with reports last August having claimed that the Magpies had lodged a bid of around £50m in order to prise the Englishman from the King Power Stadium.

That was followed by further claims made during the January transfer window which suggested that the Tynesiders were “in talks” over a deal for the 26-year-old, while there have already been reports that Eddie Howe and co will make another approach at the end of the season.

Those at St James’ Park may well be hoping that their persistence pays off, although there could be lingering concerns that the move is simply not destined to happen, with Premier League rivals Manchester City also now in the mix for the one-cap England international’s signature.

That may well ensure that the Tynesiders are forced to look elsewhere to find a potential playmaking alternative to Maddison, with recent rumours circulating that the Carabao Cup finalists are interested in Eintracht Frankfurt star Daichi Kamada.

What’s the latest on Kamada to Newcastle?

As 90min reported last week, Newcastle are among a host of top clubs across Europe who are ‘weighing up’ an offer for the Japan international, with the 26-year-old seemingly set to depart the Bundesliga side once his contract expires at the end of the current campaign.

That has ensured that the 6 foot sensation is now able to negotiate a potential free transfer elsewhere, hence the growing list of suitors who are lining up to secure his services ahead of next season.

Could Kamada be an alternative to Maddison?

The chance to sign Kamada for nothing would undoubtedly be an attractive prospect for the Magpies, particularly with it set to require more than £40m if they are to land the aforementioned Maddison this summer.

While the latter has been a leading creative presence for the Foxes this season with nine goals and five assists in 16 league appearances, the Frankfurt ace has also proven a real potent threat in the final third, with 13 goals and five assists in 28 games across all fronts, including seven goals and five assists in 18 Bundesliga outings.

Much like Maddison, Kamada – who is valued at around £13m by CIES Football Observatory – also offers the benefit of being able to feature in a variety of roles. He has typically lined up in a central midfield berth in recent times, although he can feature in a more advanced position as well as on the flanks.

The likeness between the pair is also illustrated by their ability to drive forward from deep, with the former Sagan Tosu machine ranking in the top 16% among midfielders in Europe for progressive carries, while the Leicester maestro also features among the top 16% for that same metric.

That should well showcase that it would be an astute move for Newcastle to plump for Kamada this summer on a free transfer, with that saving PIF from having to splash the cash to prise Maddison from his current club.

For all the Coventry-born gem’s undoubted quality, the Frankfurt dynamo is also a “superb” asset and an “incredible talent”, according to journalist Josh Bunting, with such a bargain deal certainly one to consider for those on Tyneside.

Chelsea could look at the possibility of signing Joao Felix on a permanent deal in the summer following the conclusion of his short-term loan deal.

Do Chelsea have a buy clause for Joao Felix?

The Portuguese forward joined the Blues in the January transfer window on a loan deal which will take his stay in the English capital until the end of the campaign.

And it was a big-money deal which saw him move to Stamford Bridge with Chelsea believed to be paying in the region of £10m for a matter of months of service.

However, it is not believed the Blues have the option in Felix’s loan contract to make his stay permanent in the summer.

But speaking on the Meczyki YouTube channel, journalist Fabrizio Romano has suggested they could look to sign him anyway from Atletico Madrid:

(1:12:50) “And so Chelsea are really happy with Joao Felix. They don’t have a buy option, but they have a great relationship with Atletico Madrid.

“They feel at the end of the season, they can have a conversation with Atletico Madrid to keep the player in case they want and in case Joao Felix wants to stay.

“At the moment, the feeling is very good. The player is happy in London. The player is happy with the club. The club is really happy with the player and so I would not be surprised if Chelsea and Atletico Madrid will try to find a solution in the summer for Joao Felix to stay on permanent deal to Chelsea.”

Will Chelsea sign Joao Felix permanently?

It has certainly been a turbulent first month for the 23-year-old since he made the move to Stamford Bridge after he was shown a red card on his debut against Fulham.

Having served his three-game suspension, the forward has gone on to show some signs of promise with a stunning goal in their recent game against West Ham United.

There have been reports suggesting the Portuguese ace is already enjoying his life in England is wanting to stay put for next season with Chelsea already impressed from what they’ve seen.

“Receives in tight spaces, he’s very fluid in his movement. He brings people into the game, but at the same time, he can help us in the final third with goals and key passes,” said Graham Potter after their game against West Ham.

And the report from Spain has also suggested that Mason Mount could be used as a makeweight in a potential deal ahead of the summer transfer window.

Not having a clause in his contract could have its pros and cons for the Blues with it allowing them potential room to negotiate over a possible deal for the Portuguese ace.

However, if he continues to impress for Chelsea, then it could well bump up the valuation that Atleti may put on his head after originally signing him for £111m.

Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett has said that Jordan Pickford is ‘close’ to agreeing a new contract at Everton, and paperwork is expected to be signed soon.

The Lowdown: Talks ‘deferred’

It was reported earlier this month that talks had ‘deferred’ over a new deal for the 28-year-old, given the uncertainty of the Toffees’ Premier League status.

They are currently just one point above the relegation zone, but have been encouraged by the fact that Sean Dyche has managed to win two of his three games in charge so far.

The Latest: Agreement ‘close’

Taking to Twitter, Dorsett has shared that Pickford is now ‘close’ to agreeing a new contract at Goodison Park, with the paperwork expected to be signed ‘within the next week’.

The Sky Sports reporter tweeted: “Jordan Pickford close to agreeing new contract at #efc – paperwork expected to be signed within the next week.

“Deal is a real show of faith from Pickford and a big boost to Dyche, with Everton still only a point outside the relegation places. Current deal expires summer 2024.”

Dyche confirmed that Pickford is close to signing a new contract when asked in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, and so this seems like the deal will be announced sooner rather than later.

The Verdict: Huge boost for Everton

The reports that Pickford is committing his long-term future to Everton will come as a huge boost for Dyche and supporters.

Three of the so-called ‘big six’ in Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked with a move for him in the summer, and it may have been difficult for him to turn them down, especially if the Toffees were to be relegated from the top flight.

Pickford has been such a key player in the Premier League once again this season, making the third-most saves (79) of all goalkeepers, while he also ranks third for punches made (13).

To put it simply, the Toffees would be in a far worse position if it were not for the England international, who is their third-most used player in 2022/23, so tying him down to a new deal would be massive.

Journalist Dean Jones has revealed that Antonio Conte will not be leaving his position as Tottenham Hotspur manager any time soon despite recent rumours.

What’s the latest on Antonio Conte and Spurs?

For a little while now there have been some rumblings about the Italian potentially leaving Spurs, especially as his contract expires in the summer – although the club have the option to trigger a 12-month extension.

What’s more, Conte hasn’t enjoyed the best of times lately, having had to step away from the job in person for a brief time as he recovers from undergoing surgery to remove his gall bladder.

Taking that all into account, it’s no shock that rumours have grown stronger about a possible departure but in reaction to such talk, Jones has revealed that a parting of ways is not on the cards at this moment in time.

While speaking on the Chasing Green Arrows YouTube channel, the insider explained (18:03): “There was a few whispers at the start of this week that Conte and Spurs might even end up parting ways and amicable terms.

“I checked it out with two people who were pretty in the know at Spurs and they said it’s just not really realistic right now.”

Could Spurs see Conte go before the end of the season?

Seeing as Spurs are still in the race to finish inside the top four in the Premier League, fighting in the Champions League knock-out stages, and into the fifth round of the FA Cup, it’s not as if there is nothing to play for this season.

With that in mind, even if the quality of football has been scrutinised at times this season, it would be a bit of a shock if Conte was to abandon ship at this stage.

Even so, with his bad health and lack of contract certainty, the club may be wise to start planning for a future without the Italian when the season finishes – which would explain the constant links to former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

For now, though, it sounds as though Conte will see out the rest of the current campaign with Tottenham.

Transfer expert Dean Jones says that Newcastle United target Conor Gallagher would prefer to stay closer to London should he leave Chelsea this summer.

The Lowdown: Strong interest

Newcastle reportedly made an enquiry to take Gallagher on loan late on in the January transfer window, but Chelsea did not want to negotiate.

However, it is claimed that a potential deal could be revisited in the summer, should the St. James’ Park outfit come up with a suitable cash offer.

The Latest: Gallagher blow

Writing in his column for GiveMeSport, Jones says that Gallagher would prefer to stay as close to London as possible, should he leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

He describes the update as a potential ‘blow to Newcastle’, with reports that the central midfielder could even end up signing a contract extension.

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The Verdict: Move on

It sounds like Gallagher would not be particularly keen on a move to the North East, and so the Tynesiders need to swiftly move on to other targets.

Hailed as a ‘monster’ by football content creator and Crystal Palace supporter Tom Dutton, the Englishman showed what he is capable of in a loan spell at Selhurst Park, where he managed Player of the Season award.

Still only 23, Gallagher has plenty of potential, and could play more regularly at the Magpies than the bit-part role he is now used to at Chelsea.

Nonetheless, it is imperative that the Toon bring a new midfielder in, with Jonjo Shelvey allowed to move on and both Matt Ritchie and Matty Longstaff out of contract this summer.