All posts by z3u9t.icu

Tottenham Hotspur "will" consider winter window approaches for one "fantastic" player after a situation "change" at Spurs.

How have Spurs started this season?

Ange Postecoglou has guided his new team to second in the Premier League standings after an absolutely exceptional start to the 2023/2024 season. Spurs are enjoying a brand new lease of life under the Australian, despite some early doubt surrounding the former Celtic coach. Postecoglou's lack of experience in major European divisions made his appointment an arguable risk, but so far, he's proving all of his doubters very wrong.

A completely new-look Spurs side, compared to that of Antonio Conte's last term, remain unbeaten over their opening seven league matches. The north Londoners have even scored just as many goals as league champions Man City, winning five games in all and seriously exciting supporters with a fresh brand of attack-minded football. Tottenham next take on Luton Town this Saturday, prior to another international break, and the odds heavily favour a routine win for Postecoglou's imperious Lilywhites.

While the likes of Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are now thriving among Postecoglou's main starters, despite being outcasts under Conte, but the same cannot be said for a few others.

Will Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg leave Tottenham?

The player to have suffered most since Postecoglou's arrival at Tottenham has, arguably, been Denmark international star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The former Southampton star was a lynchpin of Conte's midfield last term, scoring four goals and assisting five others in 35 league appearances.

However, Hojbjerg has been a victim of Postecoglou's new system at Spurs this season, with there being no room for his influence as Tottenham's manager looks to prefer the dual midfield pivot of Bissouma and Sarr. The 28-year-old can feel hard done by this, as Hojbjerg was one of the club's most consistent performers last season and has been since his arrival in 2020.

Nevertheless, his "radical change" in situation means Tottenham "will" make Hojbjerg available for transfer in the January window. Juventus are named as major suitors for the midfielder, who have made contact already. This has spiked interest from Hojbjerg and his agents, with Juve believing he can be a real difference-maker. That is according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness).

The "fantastic" player could well be a hot commodity when the window reopens, and it is little surprise given Hojbjerg's quality and reliability in the centre of midfield. Indeed, the Dane was once called an "invaluable" cog in Tottenham's system.

"He’s proven already this season what an important player he has become under Conte, " said Noel Whelan to Football Insider in 2022.

"He has become more consistent, and he’s a permanent fixture on the teamsheet straight away. I can understand why Real Madrid want him, because he’s playing like one of the best midfield players – not just in the Premier League, but in Europe.

“I think they’ve got to try and do what they can to keep him, and I didn’t think I’d be saying that after some of his performances when he first signed. What he’s doing right now is invaluable for that front three at Spurs.”

So far this season, Aston Villa have very much looked like a side on the up under Unai Emery, who has got things right at the second time of asking in the Premier League, restoring his reputation after the disaster that was his Arsenal spell a few years ago. The credit for their rise deserves to be shared around Villa Park, and not just given to Emery, with the recruitment team working wonders to build an impressive squad.

Their job doesn't end with the summer, though. Instead, their attention simply turns to the January transfer window, when they will undoubtedly look to bolster Emery's squad even further. One recent transfer update will leave them disappointed, however.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

During the summer transfer window, the Villans got their expensive additions spot on, and have been rewarded with results ever since. In total, Aston Villa's summer spending reached the €93m (£80m) mark, as they welcomed the likes of Nicolo Zaniolo and Moussa Diaby.

Player

Price

Moussa Diaby

€55m (£48m)

Pau Torres

€33m (£29m)

Nicolo Zaniolo

€5m (£4m) loan fee

Youri Tielemans

Free

Clement Lenglet

Loan

The Midlands club may not face the same success when it comes to January arrivals, though, with the latest Jonathan Rowe transfer news suggesting that Villa could face disappointment. According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Norwich City are set to block the Villans' January move for their star player, and will not entertain any offers.

This comes as a blow for Villa, who were reportedly in pole position to land the winger's signature. It looks like they'll now be forced to wait until next summer to test the Canaries' resolve, which could be easier to break down if they fail to secure promotion into the Premier League this season.

How has Jonathan Rowe performed this season?

Rowe's stats show that he has been the standout player for Norwich this season. The winger has scored seven goals in 13 games in all competitions, and at 20-years-old, will only get better with time. If his side are to earn promotion back into the top flight, then Rowe will undoubtedly be at the forefront of their charge, despite still being so young.

The Villa target has earned deserved praise for his performances this season, including from Norwich boss David Wagner, who said, via the Pink Un: "Hopefully he comes back healthy. He has done great so far, and he deserved every praise, but he knows he has to start to work even more if he wants to improve and continue this form. He is a very smart guy. He will do what is necessary. He is in a good mood, obviously.

“Everyone else can speak about the (Coventry) goal, I would speak about the defensive block in the second half because it showed how committed he is to do the hard work as well for the defence. He is a team player, he works hard. Obviously, he is scoring goals, which is great.”

With that said, Villa will be frustrated by their recent transfer blow, especially given Rowe's form. Norwich may still face a fight to keep hold of their rising star during the summer, however.

Liverpool are back in Premier League title contention this season after languishing to a fifth-placed finish last year, but manager Jurgen Klopp will certainly not feel that his current crop is the finished article.

Anfield has undergone major surgery in the midfield this summer, with a mass exodus repaired through several impactful additions.

The Reds could be busy transfer-wise in 2024, and while some may argue that the frontline is the least in need of repair, the ever-looming prospect of Mohamed Salah's departure warrants attention.

What's the latest on Nicolas Gonzalez to Liverpool?

Liverpool withstood lucrative intrigue from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad in August, rejecting a staggering £150m transfer offer for Salah, with simply not enough time to even consider replacing such an indomitable offensive force.

And now, it has recently been reported by CalcioMercato, Liverpool could clash against divisional rivals Chelsea to sign Fiorentina star Nicolas Gonzalez, with the 25-year-old attacker viewed as a suitable option to bolster the right wing.

Reliant on their star forward's faculty for goals, La Viola are expected to demand up to €60m (£52m) for the Argentina international, should interested parties step up their interest next year.

How good is Nicolas Gonzalez?

Gonzalez could bring goals and electricity to Liverpool's frontline, with Brentford pushing for his signature in the summer and launching a €43m (£37m) bid, to no avail.

The £64k-per-week ace has scored seven goals and supplied two assists from 11 matches across all competitions this season, having posted 14 goals and five assists last term.

He has been dubbed a "jewel" by OptaPaulo on X (formerly Twitter), and enjoyed stunning success on the field in the past that has also led journalist Josh Bunting to remark that he is a "joy to watch".

While he is not on the same level as Salah, this should hardly dissuade Klopp and co from furthering their intrigue, with his talents aligning with the way Liverpool play, and given that the Reds' £350k-per-week sensation once plied his trade with Fiorentina, scoring nine times from 26 outings, Gonzalez could now replicate his rise.

They are big boots to fill, with Salah ranking among the 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 4% for assists, and the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area, as per FBref.

To replace or match Salah's output would be a fool's notion, quite simply, the rate at which the 31-year-old wizard has plundered goals and assists – 194 and 83 from 316 matches, to be precise – is something only the pantheon of modern strikers can emulate.

But the club's activity over the past several transfer windows suggests that Klopp is seeking to suffuse quality across the full frontline, maintaining the incisiveness when the day of Salah's exit does arrive.

And given that Gonzalez ranks among the top 1% of positional peers in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for total shots, the top 8% for goals, the top 19% for progressive passes, and the top 1% for aerial wins per 90, he certainly offers the dynamism to impress in Klopp's system.

Once described as an "amazing" player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 28-cap star is impressing in Serie A and starting to demonstrate a striking record on par with Salah's before he left Italian football to join Merseyside.

And given that Salah was 25 when he joined Klopp's team, the cogs are there for Gonzalez to take the next step in his burgeoning career and serve as a frightening new option at Liverpool's disposal.

Arsenal have reportedly been dealt a "major new injury" blow in what has been described as a "huge setback" for manager Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal injuries – the latest

Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all currently contending with various issues at this moment in time. Saka, who comes as the latest injury worry, limped off late on against Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, and Arsenal have been waiting to find out the extent of his problem.

Arteta, speaking after their 2-0 win over the La Liga side, did admit he was hopeful over the winger's condition. The Spaniard explained:

"It was just a kick and I was told by the physios on the radio that he wasn’t happy to continue so he will have some discomfort but hopefully, I want to assume that he will be ok."

Meanwhile, club captain Odegaard and striker Nketiah both missed their clash against Sevilla, with both fighting to be fit for Burnley this weekend.

"They are racing against the clock to be fit and they are trying their best and they tried to be here today with us," said Arteta on Odegaard and Nketiah.

"It wasn’t possible and now we have another 48 hours before we play Burnley. We will try again and we will see because we need players at the moment."

The same can be said of Tomiyasu after he went off with his own knock against Sevilla, with Arteta not wanting to take any risks, but the likes of Jesus, Smith Rowe, Timber and Partey are more long-term absentees and appear set to miss Burnley.

Partey delivers "major new injury blow" to Arsenal

Sharing an update on the latter man's condition, journalist John Cross of The Daily Mirror has claimed that Arteta has been dealt a "major new injury blow".

Indeed, it is believed Partey has undergone specialist surgery and is set to miss the rest of 2023, in what has been described as a "huge setback" for Arteta as he gears up for another Premier League title challenge. The 30-year-old has had to contend with fitness issues galore this season after originally being handed chances by Arsenal in a makeshift right-back role.

Partey's extended spell on the sidelines means that Arteta may even be tempted to dip into the winter transfer market for a solution, as links continue to surround Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz.

Shoots from distance

Plays long balls

Arsenal have also been targeting Arthur Vermeeren from Royal Antwerp, according to recent reports, and it appears midfield cover may well be more firmly on the agenda in north London.

This "latest setback" for Partey means he will be out for longer than expected, and there is an added complication with the Africa Cup of Nations in January next year. If the midfielder is back in time to take part in the tournament, Ghana may well want him to report for duty and leave Arsenal short in that area of the squad.

Manchester United's ownership problems have been well-documented since the Glazer family bought the club back in 2005.

Despite spending a similar amount of money to the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea over the past decade, the Red Devils have just two EFL Cups, an FA Cup and a Europa League title to show for it.

Both City and Chelsea have splashed huge wads of cash on players over the years but have been able to recuperate funds to bring their net spend down by selling the likes of Cole Palmer for £40m and Mason Mount for £55m, making a profit on certain big-name players.

On the other hand, Man United have made a profit on just one player in the last three years and he is currently outperforming the team's second-most expensive player of all time.

Daniel James' stats at Manchester United

Daniel James arrived at Old Trafford in 2019 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for a fee of £15m from Championship outfit Swansea City, having never played a single minute of Premier League football before.

United's record appearance maker Ryan Giggs admitted that Solskjaer sought his advice before giving the green light to sign the rapid winger when he was the head coach of the Welsh national team.

The Wales international spent a little over three seasons at the Theatre of Dreams, making 74 appearances in all competitions and scoring nine goals while registering nine assists. However, by the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign, the Reds secured the signing of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund which was the catalyst behind James' eventual departure to bitter rivals Leeds United for £25m.

The English giants made a £10m profit on the Welshman but given Antony's recent performances in a red shirt on the right wing and Sancho's internal suspension from the first-team, Man United may have made a mistake allowing James to leave.

James vs Antony stats comparison

In 12 appearances this season for Manchester United, Antony has failed to register a single goal or assist, leading to a lot of criticism directed at him. The Athletic journalist Adam Crafton even claimed that James was "more useful than Antony", following United's heavy 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester City at the end of October.

While James is not the type of player to set the world alight, he has statistically had a better individual campaign at Elland Road than Antony at Old Trafford, with the Peacocks sitting pretty in third place and pushing for promotion back to the promised land of the Premier League.

The 26-year-old has played a vital role in what has been a solid campaign for the Yorkshire club so far, bagging four goals and four assists in 15 appearances.

James is currently averaging 0.75 goals and assists combined per 90 while Antony has yet to record one goal contribution. Additionally, James has been far more of a threat for Leeds, boasting 3.4 shots per 90 and 1.23 shots on target per 90 to Antony's 2.96 shots per 90 and lowly rate of 0.56 shots on target per 90, according to FBref.

Furthermore, James is attempting fewer take-ons in each game, totalling 2.83 per 90 to Antony's 4.44, yet has a 49.3% success rate to the Brazil international's 29.2%.

While Antony is playing at a higher level than James, there is not much difference between the duo's performances or statistics on the pitch, further highlighting United's flawed recruitment strategy under the Glazers.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is reportedly keen on signing a "rapid" and "quality" centre-back after Micky van de Ven's injury.

Van de ven injury exposes centre-back depth

While van de Ven is expected to be back once the January transfer window comes around, there is no denying that the Dutchman's absence has exposed a glaring lack of depth in defence at Spurs.

Previous outcast Eric Dier has been forced to replace the summer signing in Postecoglou's starting eleven recently, a player left unselected until their 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League 10 days ago.

The Englishman doesn't really suit Tottenham's new high defensive line and was arguably exposed at points during Spurs' loss to Wolves last Saturday. Cristian Romero's absence through suspension doesn't help matters either, but Spurs quite simply need van de Ven's speed for the way Postecoglou wants to play.

Two consecutive losses have highlighted Spurs' need for a van de Ven/Romero alternative when either, or both, are unavailable to play.

Postecoglou personally wants Bournemouth star Kelly

As a result, reports in the last two weeks have indicated that Tottenham are prioritising the the addition of a new left-sided centre-back in January. Uruguay star Sebastian Caceres, Everton's Ben Godfrey, Crystal Palace ace Marc Guehi, Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly have all been linked with moves to Spurs recently.

According to TEAMtalk, who shared an update on their transfer plans this week, Postecoglou is personally keen on signing Kelly as an alternative to van de Ven.

The Cherries defender is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning he could leave the Vitality Stadium for a fairly cheap fee in January. A report by Football Insider this week stated that Kelly could leave for around £25-£30 million, which may come as tantalising for Tottenham given the defender's suitability for Postecoglou's system.

"Rapid" and "quality" Kelly seems perfect for Spurs

As highlighted by Sky journalist Jamie Weir, the Englishman may actually be suited to Spurs' style in a similar way to van de Ven. Indeed, Kelly is both comfortable in a high line and possesses electric pace.

Holding on to the ball

Blocking the ball

Concentration

"Find the ignorance/snobbery over Lloyd Kelly fairly odd," said Weir on X in September.

"Lots of comments asking who he is. He’s 24, a rapid left-footed CB, comfortable playing a high line, homegrown and has leadership qualities, having captained Bournemouth for a year."

Meanwhile, former Bournemouth boss Scott Parker once called Kelly a defender of real "quality".

"I think Lloyd Kelly has got the attributes and the ability to be a top Premier League centre-half," said Parker.

"And I think we are blessed and very, very lucky to have someone of his quality, really.

"You take players like Lloyd probably for granted in the sense of he makes things look very effortless and easy. And when you're watching him on the eye, you put someone else in that position of a ball down the side of a defender or one in the channel and getting in a foot race, he makes it look very easy, that you probably never appreciate it."

Sunderland have been having to make do without a “fantastic” player because of injury, but a key update has emerged regarding his return, courtesy of reliable journalist James Hunter.

Sunderland's injury problems

The Black Cats were hoping to return from the international break with a win away to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday afternoon, but that didn't prove to be the case.

Instead, Tony Mowbray's men slumped to a 2-0 defeat on the south coast, and that result coupled with other scorelines throughout the day means that Sunderland have dropped to ninth place in the Championship table.

3 strikers Sunderland could sign to finally replace Ross Stewart

Sunderland have never replaced the potency Stewart showcased on a regular basis at the Stadium of Light.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 22, 2023

In fairness, injuries aren't necessarily helping Mowbray at the moment, with a number of players unavailable as they tackle respective fitness issues.

Defender Aji Alese is one player who is currently absent, with his return not expected to arrive for another few weeks, while youngster Mason Burstow, who joined on loan from Charlton Athletic in the summer, also missed the loss to Plymouth.

Mason Burstow injury latest

Providing an injury update on X after Saturday's game, Hunter claimed that Sunderland loanee Burstow is expected to return to the fold in the near future.

Tony Mowbray expects Mason Burstow back in action very soon after he missed safc's defeat at Plymouth."

Meanwhile, in his report for The Chronicle, Hunter gave more depth on the matter, explaining that Burstow could even be back for the visit of lowly Huddersfield Town at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening:

"Mason Burstow is expected to be available for Sunderland's midweek game against Huddersfield Town despite missing the trip to Plymouth Argyle through injury. On-loan Chelsea striker Burstow has not been starting games recently, with boss Tony Mowbray giving Nazariy Rusyn a chance instead, he but has been involved from the subs' bench.

[…]

"Mowbray did not give any details of the nature of Burstow's injury but indicated that it was a minor issue, saying he is set to train tomorrow and be in contention when the Terriers visit the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening."

Burstow has done a solid job for Sunderland since arriving on a temporary basis from Sunderland, and while he isn't necessarily one of the first names on Mowbray's team sheet, he is still a handy squad player who it is important to have available.

The 20-year-old has started seven Championship games for the Black Cats this season, also making two substitute appearances in the competition, but no goals have come his way, and only one assist.

Sunderland

9

0

Chelsea

3

0

Charlton Athletic

23

6

England Under-20s

2

0

For Burstow to become a more key figure upon his return from injury, he needs to improve his end product, especially considering he is a forward, with his contribution something that could be vital to Sunderland's promotion chances.

The youngster is clearly a talent, with former Charlton manager Johnnie Jackson once describing his progress as "fantastic" and calling him a "really humble young man", and it's now a case of finding some consistency and delivering goals and assists at a more regular rate.

Arsenal are enjoying a superb start to the Premier League campaign and are now making significant progress off the pitch regarding a new deal at the Emirates Stadium, according to a report.

Arsenal see off Wolverhampton Wanderers…

On Saturday, Arsenal ensured that they would finish the weekend top of the Premier League table regardless of results elsewhere after goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were enough to ensure Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha's reply was nothing more than a consolation for the visitors as the hosts ran out 2-1 winners.

Despite a nervy few minutes towards the end of the clash, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was delighted with his players' attitude to see an important three points over the line, stating via the club's official website:

"I can only praise the players the way they played, competed, they were excellent, we played against a really good side and we generated so much and conceded almost nothing, the scoreline should’ve been very different."

He then added: "We are really unlucky in certain moments, we hit the post twice or three times I think, and at the end, we made an error close to the goal and in the Premier League, you get punished big time and then it’s game on, but I am really, really happy with how we performed again."

Showing resilience in the final stages, Arsenal have the joint-best defensive record in the division at the time of writing, conceding just 11 times over the course of 2023/24.

David Raya and his backline have shown a steely edge when required this term and one of the Gunners' defensive assets now looks set to commit his future to the club, according to a report.

Takehiro Tomiyasu set for pay rise

According to Football Insider, Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is in advanced talks over a new deal at the club, which would see the Japan international receive a significant pay rise from his current £55,000 per week contract.

Takehiro Tomiyasu statistics in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

19

Goals

1

Assists

3

Bayern Munich are believed to be keen on Tomiyasu; nevertheless, the versatile defender is happy at the Emirates Stadium and is seen as a key component of Arteta's plans due to his adaptability, which enables him to slot into right-back, left-back and central defensive positions comfortably.

Impressing with his propensity to distribute the ball efficiently, Tomiyasu has recorded a passing accuracy of 85.9 % in the Premier League and averaged around one long pass per match across all competitions (Tomiyasu statistics – WhoScored).

Labelled "terrific" by Arsenal boss Arteta, Tomiyasu has once again emerged from the periphery to be an important contributor for the Gunners and will be needed over the course of the season if his current employers have designs on winning their first league title since 2004.

With his current terms set to expire in 2025, it makes perfect sense for Arsenal to renew Tomiyasu's terms to ward off any interest in his services from elsewhere.

Arsenal closing in on deal to sign £8k-p/w "magnificent talent" for Arteta

The Gunners have reportedly made a breakthrough in their pursuit of a long-term target.

ByChloe Chadwick Dec 2, 2023

Everton have been credited with an interest in a new defender, but a fresh report has revealed that they aren’t the only club who are looking to bring him to the Premier League in January.

Sean Dyche's current left-back options

The Toffees have Ashley Young and Vitaliy Mykolenko as their two natural candidates at left-back as it stands, but there’s a chance that the former could be heading for the exit door either in the upcoming window or next summer for two reasons in particular.

The Goodison Park veteran is now 38 years of age, and with his short-term deal also set to expire at the end of the season (Everton contracts), Sean Dyche may have to enter the market to find a suitable replacement for him should he not be offered the chance to extend his stay beyond the conclusion of the campaign.

Everton want to sign "humble" Italy star who's at the peak of his powers

Another Premier Leage club are also keen.

ByHenry Jackson Dec 11, 2023

If that is the case, Gent’s Archie Brown has emerged as a potential target, with the 21-year-old having only put pen to paper at his new club four months ago from Lausanne-Sport, where he’s so far made a total of 18 appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Brown statistics).

The Belgian Pro League star already has experience under his belt playing in England having grown up in the academy at Derby County, and if the following update is to be believed, he could be heading for a return to his homeland with three clubs monitoring his situation.

Everton keeping tabs on Brown

According to The Daily Mail, Everton are interested in Brown, but they are also set to face stiff competition from teams in a couple of other countries ahead of January.

“Everton and Burnley are among the clubs keeping an eye on former Derby youngster Archie Brown. And the English left-back is now back on the radar of sides in England as well as from Germany's Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A. As well as Everton and Burnley, Championship Leeds are also monitoring Brown.”

Brown is a real prospect for the future

While Brown is naturally a defender, he’s much stronger in the attacking aspect of his game where he’s posted 43 contributions (24 goals and 19 assists), from 136 appearances since the start of his career, displaying his desire to get involved in the final third.

Standing at 6 foot 2, the left-footed ace has also recorded 51 crosses over the course of the current campaign which is the second-highest total throughout his squad, so he loves to burst down the flank, dribble past his marker and whip balls into the box (FBRef – Gent statistics).

Alongside at left-back, Brown even has the versatility to operate higher up in the midfield and as a centre-back, so his ability to provide cover in positions outside of his own should any unexpected injuries occur will be yet another attractive attribute to Dyche and Everton, making this one to watch.

Newcastle United are battling a number of Premier League rivals to make a "world-class" marquee signing, according to a new transfer claim.

Newcastle's January transfer plans

The Magpies are badly in need of adding some fresh blood to their squad in the January transfer window, with injuries taking their toll the more this season has gone on. Eddie Howe has had to make do with a depleted squad at times, losing so many of his most important players to fitness issues, and it has heightened the need for reinforcements this month.

Plenty of players have been backed to join Newcastle in the coming weeks, with Kalvin Phillips one whose name has constantly emerged as a strong link in the middle of the park. The 28-year-old will almost certainly leave Manchester City, potentially on loan, and he could be a perfect option to come in and boost Howe's midfield options.

Centre-back additions are also a possibility, in order to add more depth at the heart of the defence, and Bayer Leverusen star Piero Hincapie is an exciting talent who has been linked with a move to St James' Park. There is also a chance that an attacking signing is made, in order to ease the burden on Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak, with Serhou Guirassy looking like the standout target currently, having enjoyed a great season for VfB Stuttgart to date.

It looks as though Newcastle could be looking to be very ambitious in the transfer market, however, according to a new update that has emerged.

Newcastle want Paulo Dybala

According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are interested in signing Roma star Paulo Dybala, but aren't alone in showing a willingness to snap him up.

Chelsea and Manchester United are also seen as options for the Argentina World Cup winner, who scored in the penalty shootout win over France in the 2022 final. Dybala is contracted to Roma until the summer of 2025, but the report states that he has a €13m (£11.3m) release clause in his contract, meaning he could be snapped up on the cheap in January or this summer.

There is no doubt that Newcastle signing the 30-year-old would be an eye-catching piece of business, with the Argentine such a talented footballer – one who has even been hailed as "world-class" by Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva.

While Dybala is someone who could raise the level of those around him, simply because of his talent on the ball and pedigree as a player down the years, there would still be doubts over whether his best days are behind him, given his age. He hasn't necessarily set the world alight at Roma, even though he has still scored four goals and registered six assists in Serie A this season, and he would likely demand big wages to match the £137,000 per week he is currently earning.

Howe could unleash £88k-p/w Newcastle ace in new role by ditching Almiron

Miguel Almiron may have played his way out of Newcastle’s starting lineup.

ByAdam Scully Jan 1, 2024

For that reason, Newcastle would be wiser to make a move for a younger option who would be more of a long-term signing.