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Wolverhampton Wanderers could end up targeting Liverpool midfielder Fabio Carvalho this summer, says journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Fabio Carvalho?

Speaking on the Here We Go Podcast, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano issued an update on Carvalho's Liverpool future, stating: "Fabio Carvalho I am told is also leaving. We have to see what solution they will find but he is young and he is never playing so it is important to clarify these things.”

The Daily Mail interpret Romano's comments as signalling that he will be made available for a loan exit this summer, which could be initiated to help clear space for the prospective arrival of Ryan Gravenberch, who is said to be a top target for the Reds in the forthcoming transfer window.

As per The Liverpool Echo, Jurgen Klopp has recently praised Carvalho for his work ethic in training, stating to reporters: "He's training exceptionally, Fabio Carvalho is training exceptionally."

Earlier this year, The Sun claimed that Wolves pair Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes were on a shortlist of potential midfielders the Reds could sign this summer, something which journalist Jones believes may potentially send the £40k-per-week ace heading in the opposite direction to Molineux on a loan basis.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said: “There is uncertainty about what happens with Fabio Carvalho. Firstly, it’s worth pointing out that he will not give up on making it with Liverpool. He’s very driven to ensure the move works out long-term.

“But this has been a tough season for all involved, and chances could be just as limited for him next season because Liverpool have to bounce back. That is going to mean top-level recruitment.

“I think a loan will be discussed for Carvalho. Fulham hoped it would become an option when he left them, but it never did. Marco Silva helped hugely with his breakthrough, and I’m sure he would welcome him back if the player is open to it.

“It is difficult to take a decision like that. From Carvalho’s perspective, it may feel like admitting defeat, and I did check out other moves that could be on the table.

There has been nothing yet, but it sounds to me like Wolves could become an option. They are in an uncertain moment with players like Matheus Nunes and Ruben Neves, and an opportunity to sign someone like Carvalho, who is an adaptable attacking midfield player, would be a good fit.

“At least one of those two will leave Wolves, and of course, Liverpool are interested in both, so again, there could be room for negotiation around this. There are also doubts about players like Adama Traore and Joao Moutinho. So, this is a squad that is going to undergo maintenance in the summer. It is early days, and there are so many discussions to be had at every end of this, but one thing for sure is that Carvalho will have good options.”

Would Fabio Carvalho be a good signing for Wolves?

Carvalho is a bright young talent and could add some versatility to the Wolves midfield, given his capacity to operate in an attacking midfield, central midfield or on the left flank.

In the 2022/23 season, the 20-year-old has made 20 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions and netted three goals in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

FBRef also note that the youngster compares well to his positional peers across the top five European leagues in the metric of touches in the opposition penalty area, with Carvalho having had an average of 6.13 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the top 1% of midfielders in this statistical realm.

If Wolves are indeed to part ways with either Nunes or Neves in the summer, Carvalho would be a sound addition to the ranks that would help to soften the blow.

Arsenal could be set to lose 21-year-old striker Folarin Balogun over the summer as the youngster gains interest ahead of the transfer window.

Could Arsenal sell Balogun?

The English striker is currently playing his football out on loan with Ligue 1 side Reims, where he is enjoying a rich vein of form having returned 17 goals in 27 league appearances (via Transfermarkt).

However, he is set to return in the summer ahead of the transfer window, where his future will be decided by those in north London.

Balogun has hit the headlines in recent weeks amid the international break with the striker potentially switching his allegiance to play for the United States in the future.

And speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has provided an insight into the striker's potential options in the summer:

"He will be back at Arsenal at the end of the season. There are already 3-4 clubs interested in signing Balogun in the summer, but Arsenal will decide at the end of the season.

"Now, they are only focusing on the Premier League and I think it's absolutely fair. So it will take some time, but I think in the summer it's going to be a crucial moment to understand more on Balogun on both transfer and national team this season."

What could this mean for Nketiah's future?

Over the summer, Mikel Arteta saw Gabriel Jesus arrive in north London in a big-money deal as the Gunners looked to bolster their options up top.

In addition, Arsenal secured the future of their other young striker, Eddie Nketiah, as the 23-year-old inked a new deal which will see him earn £100k per week.

This does raise the question of where Balogun may fit in when he does return to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

Jesus has had his injury issues this season which has seen him miss a big chunk of the campaign, during which Nketiah has stepped up as his replacement.

However, the 23-year-old has only been able to provide a return of four goals in his 23 Premier League appearances this season (via Transfermarkt).

Arsenal have invested big in Nketiah, not only financially but by rewarding him with the famous number 14 shirt.

But it cannot be ignored that during his time in Ligue 1, Balogun has shown his potential having returned more goals than both Neymar and Lionel Messi.

Thierry Henry hailed Balogun's braveness for leaving England as "refreshing" as he left in search of some more regular first-team football.

And in doing so, he may be asking a question of Arteta as to whether Nketiah has done enough to maintain his spot in the first team in north London ahead of Balogun.

Despite not scoring anywhere near as many goals as Balogun this season, Nketiah has provided the Gunners with some impressive work off the ball, having recorded an average of one tackle per 90 minutes (via FBref).

But the striker had failed to score in his six league games before picking up an injury, whereas Balogun has returned seven goals in his last nine games.

A big decision lies ahead of the Gunners, but on the back of the season Balogun is having, it is unlikely he will be short of potential suitors.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is personally waiting for Julian Nagelsmann to show an interest in joining Spurs, according to reports.

Could Nagelsmann join Spurs?

The former Bayern Munich boss, after being relieved of his duties last week, has been linked with taking the Spurs managerial post this summer – with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel stepping into his shoes in Bavaria.

Now out-of-work and readily available, Nagelsmann stands out as a prestigious new candidate to take the reins in north London with Levy actually eyeing him back in 2021. The 35-year-old was a target to replace Jose Mourinho back then and reports suggest Tottenham see an opportunity to go back in for one of European football's most exciting young coaches. Sky Sports claim an approach has been made by the Premier League top four hopefuls as Levy begins work on finding a replacement for Conte.

The Italian parted company with Spurs by mutual consent earlier this week, tasking Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason with guiding the club to Champions League qualification. Nagelsmann is seen as a top candidate by Levy and co, joining the growing list of prestigious candidates alongside Mauricio Pochettino and Luis Enrique among others.

Now, a report by The Daily Mail has an update on Tottenham's chances of hiring the German, with Levy personally waiting to see if Nagelsmann is in fact interested in making a move to Hotspur Way.

The Mail add that contact has been made with the former RB Leipzig boss as Levy weighs up his chances of hiring him, especially considering the possible interest of other big clubs. Indeed, Tottenham aren't the only interested party when it comes to Nagelsmann, as both Real Madrid and Chelsea are currently monitoring developments.

Is Nagelsmann perfect for Spurs?

We believe the manager's new-found availability should be a big draw for Spurs and arguably puts him out in front with the likes of Pochettino. Nagelsmann encourages an intense, high-pressing and entertaining brand of football which could be a breath of fresh air to supporters who are yearning for a departure from the more pragmatic styles of Conte, Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo in recent years.

BBC Sport Writer Raj Chohan, writing on Twitter, recently gave an insight into Nagelsmann's tactical attacking, stating:

"No Lewa replacement led Nagelsmann to plan a 4-2-2-2 in pre-season with a Mané-Gnabry front 2. This pair’s obvious decline then forced him to abandon. He did excellent to then re-shape the attack around a hold-up 9 like Choupo. His methods of coaching an attack are outstanding."

Going by claims like this, he could be exactly what Spurs need, but the competition for his signature may well be fierce.

Tottenham Hotspur are likely to be gearing up for what could be another summer transfer saga involving record goalscorer, Harry Kane, with the 29-year-old facing an uncertain future in north London as the end of his current deal looms large.

The England skipper – whose existing contract is set to expire in 2024 – is said to be ‘open’ to extending his deal at the club, although speculation is rife that the 80-cap sensation could be bound for pastures new, amid interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United.

It was just over 18 months ago that the prolific marksman was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and had even attempted to force an exit to the Etihad, albeit with the typically stubborn Daniel Levy having thwarted that interest with his reported valuation of more than £120m.

That failure to seal a departure has hardly made an impact on the experienced striker as he has remained the go-to man for the club since then, notably bagging 18 league goals already this season as well as 20 goals in all competitions – ensuring he is the only member of Antonio Conte’s squad to reach double figures this term.

Evidently a crucial figure for Spurs, it would be an obvious blow if Kane were to move on any time soon, with it likely to prove an almost impossible task for Conte and co to be able to replace him.

As such, rather than taking the risk of splashing the cash on a high-profile new addition that may not ultimately be a success, Tottenham could potentially save themselves millions by looking to the youth ranks to find a suitable candidate – with teenage starlet Jamie Donley no doubt one such option.

Who is Spurs starlet Jamie Donley?

The promising Northern Irishman – who has represented England at youth level – could well be the next gem to emerge from Spurs’ academy set-up, having even been branded as the ‘new Harry Kane’ in recent times, as per the Belfast Telegraph.

The eye-catching 18-year-old – who signed his first professional contract just over a year ago – has been a real standout figure in the youth ranks of late after bagging 24 goals and nine assists in just 39 games for the U18’s, while he boasts 11 goal involvements in 27 games across all fronts this season.

Clearly a real ruthless presence in front of goal, Donley was recognised for his talents by earning an inclusion in the Guardian’s Next Generation list for 2021 – showcasing the top 20 youngsters across the Premier League – with journalist David Hytner writing that the young dynamo has been ‘noted for his tenacity and finishing ability’.

The exciting left-footer was also the recipient of notable praise from journalist Josh Bunting back in November, with the respected source having stated: “Jamie Donley what a talent he is, 17 years of age and I have no doubt if he keeps his head down he’ll have a bright future in the game. Natural finisher but his work-rate is really good, has a nice attitude and will get better as he matures. Could see a loan really benefit him.”

As Bunting acknowledged, Donley may have to follow Kane’s path in trying his luck out on loan before making the grade in the first-team, although the hope will be that he can eventually rise to become the club’s leading figure in attack.

West Ham chiefs are on alert as former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino becomes ‘keen’ to replace the under-fire David Moyes.

The Lowdown: Moyes in firing line…

The Scotsman has been in the firing line this past few days following a 2-0 London derby defeat at the hands of Tottenham, putting pressure on his position at the Hammers helm.

Reports have even suggested that Moyes could be sacked if West Ham lose their crunch clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.

There’s also been claims of free agent managers being ready to seize the job if Moyes is dismissed, most notably former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.

The Latest: Pochettino eyeing West Ham job…

According to Football Insider, it is believed a big name in Pochettino would be ‘keen’ on taking the West Ham hot seat if the club decide to part company with Moyes.

The Argentine has been out-of-work since leaving Paris-Saint Germain and has even been linked with Real Madrid.

FI add that the West Ham board have been ‘aware’ of his potential availability.

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The Verdict: Shock

Pochettino has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu and just across London to either Chelsea or Tottenham, so if he were to join relegation threatened West Ham, it would be a major shock.

Of course, however unlikely, the 50-year-old would be a stellar replacement for Moyes and especially as a free agent, thus requiring no compensation fees.

Winning trophies abroad with PSG, Pochettino also arguably over-performed with Spurs during his tenure – even guiding them to a Champions League final in 2019 despite serious lack of backing.

Called a ‘top’ and ‘excellent’ manager by decorated boss Pep Guardiola, the ex-Southampton gaffer comes with plenty of credentials, yet this is a move we believe this move could be a bit out of West Ham’s reach right now.

The Sun reporter Nick Emms has been reacting to an update involving Leeds United and Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola.

The Lowdown: Orta in Spain

The reliable Phil Hay was one of the first to say that the Whites have placed Iraola on their managerial radar, with Fabrizio Romano then claiming the Spaniard is the ‘favourite candidate’ to replace Jesse Marsch after Carlos Corberan signed a new deal with West Brom.

Reports have suggested that sporting director Victor Orta is in Spain to hold talks with the La Liga side over a potential move for their manager, something that has left Emms excited.

The Latest: Emms reacts

Taking to Twitter, Emms, a sports reporter for The Sun, reacted to the news of Orta being in Spain.

He said that Iraola ‘would be a fantastic long-term option’ at Elland Road, adding that the 40-year-old ‘could be a really exciting option for Leeds’.

The Verdict: Smart candidate?

Iraola likes to play a 4-2-3-1 system and builds his sides around high-pressing and energetic football, something that the Whites faithful enjoyed under Marcelo Bielsa.

He is on course for a career-best league finish in Spain, with Vallecano currently in fifth place in La Liga after 20 fixtures.

Iraola’s side have even managed to draw with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid this season while also inflicting a 3-2 defeat on Real Madrid, so in regards to the long-term project at Elland Road, this looks a shrewd appointment as he appears to be going from strength to strength in the dugout.

Tottenham Hotspur will be willing to allow a right wing-back to depart the club this month regardless of whether they bring in Pedro Porro.

What’s the latest?

There is the belief a deal for the Sporting CP right wing-back, Porro, is edging closer, with Fabrizio Romano sharing the details of the clubs’ meetings over the last 24 hours.

Porro’s potential arrival in north London would mean Antonio Conte would then have four right wing-back’s to choose from with Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Djed Spence already at the club.

However, there has been a report from the reliable Alasdair Gold suggesting Spurs would now greenlight Spence’s potential departure on loan this month.

And speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has claimed Porro’s possible arrival will not determine whether a right wing-back will leave the club:

“The information that I’ve got is that Porro arriving is completely independent of any departures. It’s not a case of Porro comes [in] so we can let Djed Spence go. I don’t think that’s the case at all.”

Spence searching for game time

The reports surrounding a possible deal for Porro will make positive reading for Spurs fans with the likes of Romano claiming the meetings on Wednesday went well for the Lilywhites.

However, it does make us wonder what Spence would have been able to provide Spurs this season had Antonio Conte offered him a serious opportunity in the XI.

Right wing-back has been a real issue for Spurs this season with Doherty and Emerson only returning two goals and one assist between them this season.

With this in mind, it is pretty obvious why Spurs are looking to bring in Porro when he has returned Sporting with three goals and 11 assists across all competitions this season.

But it does beg the question as to whether Spence could have provided the Italian with an improvement on the likes of Doherty and Emerson.

Since landing in north London over the summer, the 22-year-old has been offered just 41 minutes of competitive football under the 53-year-old manager.

Yet in the winter friendly game against Motherwell, Spence was one of the players who impressed the most with Gold hailing the youngster’s attacking threat:

“Showed some lovely footwork in getting high up down the right-hand side and put in a couple of dangerous early crosses.”

“This was an eye-catching performance from the 22-year-old,” Gold wrote.

However, the opportunities after the World Cup break have not come for Spence with his only appearances since coming in the final 13 minutes of the FA Cup and the final two minutes against Aston Villa.

There are clubs believed to be interested in taking Spence off Tottenham’s hands this month and we do think regardless of whether they land Porro, Spence’s departure should be approved before the end of the month.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly closing in on the signing of West Ham United defender Craig Dawson, having missed out on the Englishman during the summer.

What’s the word?

That’s according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, with the transfer insider revealing that an agreement has been reached to bring the 32-year-old to Molineux for a fee of around £3.3m.

Writing on Twitter about that impending move, the respected source stated: “#Wolves have agreed a £3.3m fee with #WHUFC for defender Craig Dawson and are hoping to get the deal completed in time for Sunday’s trip to #MCFC. Dawson is a long-term target who came close to joining in the summer.”

As noted by Crook, reports in the summer had suggested that the experienced centre-back was keen on joining the Midlands outfit, only for the Hammers to ultimately pull the plug on deadline day after failing to secure a replacement.

Coady 2.0

While the Old Gold did recruit Republic of Ireland international, Nathan Collins, during the summer window, the club were left somewhat depleted defensively after the reliable trio of Romain Saiss, Willy Boly and Conor Coady were all allowed to depart under Bruno Lage’s watch.

The exit of the latter man, in particular, proved particularly surprising as the long-serving skipper was allowed to join current relegation rivals Everton on loan, after having racked up 317 appearances for Wolves since 2015.

The old-school defender was undoubtedly something of a leader for the club both on and off the pitch, having led “by example” according to Lage, who also described him as “one of the best” back in March.

That importance to the side was laid bare last season as the England international started all 38 games for the club in the Premier League, keeping 11 clean sheets in that time and averaging 3.7 clearances per game to illustrate his defensive prowess.

The 29-year-old also proved something of a threat in an attacking sense in the 2021/22 campaign, having recorded a respectable haul of four league goals from his centre-back berth.

Current boss Julen Lopetegui could well find Coady 2.0 by bringing in the aforementioned Dawson, with the no-nonsense “warrior” – as lauded by West Ham boss David Moyes – also proving influential in both boxes.

The versatile rock – who can feature at the heart of the defence or at right-back – is evidently a player willing to put his body on the line for his side, with the former Watford man ranking in the top 6% among his European peers for blocks made.

Equally, the £45k-per-week brute – who has averaged 3.3 clearances and 1.3 tackles in eight top-flight games this season – is also something of a weapon in the opposition penalty area, having scored nine goals in 87 games for the Irons in all competitions.

Although, like Coady, the Rochdale-born machine may not be the most glamourous of names, he does offer that workmanlike and hard-nosed defensive resilience that could well prove vital in the scrap for survival.

On the evidence of his form at the London Stadium in recent years, Dawson could well emerge as a truly astute, bargain capture for Lopetegui and co.

The January transfer window is now officially open for business and Sunderland could be busy this month as Kristjaan Speakman attempts to improve the squad.

Tony Mowbray arrived at the Stadium of Light towards the end of the summer window and this means that he has not had much of a chance to stamp his own mark on the side by bringing in his own players.

In spite of the circumstances around his arrival, the ex-Blackburn Rovers boss has led the Black Cats to eighth in the Championship table and in contention to fight for a play-off spot at the end of the season.

Mowbray must now reignite the club’s interest in central defender Dion Sanderson as he could be an excellent signing for the club heading into the second half of the campaign.

Scottish giants Rangers and Birmingham, who currently have the centre-back on loan, are reportedly vying to land him on a permanent deal from Premier League side Wolves and the Black Cats must now throw their hat into the ring.

The Northern Echo reported that Sunderland were keen on a deal to sign Sanderson, on loan or permanently, last summer but he ended up moving to St. Andrew’s but Mowbray must now make another move for the enforcer.

He would be an upgrade on current central defender Bailey Wright and would be an exceptional signing in the immediate term and for the future.

The Australia international has played 13 times in the Championship this season for Sunderland and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.85. He has made 1.1 tackles and interceptions per match, completed 81% of his attempted passes and won 56% of his individual duels in the second tier.

Sanderson, who former Mackems boss Lee Johnson once dubbed a “Rolls-Royce”, has averaged a score of 6.92 across 24 appearances for Birmingham. The 6 foot 2 colossus has made a whopping 3.1 tackles and interceptions per outing and won 55% of his battles at the back, which shows that he has a similar level of efficiency to Wright but is far more active in cutting out opposition attacks.

His average score also suggests that he has been performing to a higher level than the ex-Bristol City man and that he would be an upgrade on Sunderland’s options in that area of the pitch.

At 23, he is also seven years younger than Wright and would be a signing for the future as well as the here and now. He would suit the approach of signing young players with potential to improve, with the ambition of selling them on for considerable profit further down the line, and Mowbray must now reignite Sunderland’s interest in his services.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Enzo Fernandez over the last few weeks and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to Portuguese news outlet O Jogo, Liverpool have been given priority in the transfer battle to sign the Benfica and Argentina star in 2023.

As per the report, it is claimed that the Reds are willing to match any bid the Portuguese giants receive for Fernandez and the player is prioritising a move to Anfield over any other club at the moment.

It’s thought the Reds and a number of other clubs have already made contact with a view to signing him in 2023.

It could be bye-bye Keita

It is no secret that the powers at Anfield and Jurgen Klopp are keen to rebuild the personnel in the centre of the pitch in the new year, with Jude Bellingham and Sofyan Amrabat also linked with moves to Merseyside in the upcoming transfer window.

It comes as Liverpool struggle to retain their dominance in the top flight over the current campaign with Klopp’s team falling into sixth in the Premier League ahead of the World Cup break due to a run of inconsistent performances.

There are a lot of pending changes set to take place for the Merseysiders with FSG reportedly keen to sell the club, sporting director Julian Ward’s resignation and a number of players out of contract at the end of the season – especially in midfield.

Naby Keita is one of the midfielders who will be free to talk to foreign clubs about his future when the January transfer window opens soon and despite reports of contract talks emerging, the increasing possibility of Fernandez’s arrival at Anfield could completely blow the Liverpool midfielder’s chances of striking up a deal to remain.

The 27-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout his four-year spell in Klopp’s squad – with 18 incidents of injury or illness tallied up amounting to over 12 months of his contract spent on the injury table and this season the player has not featured at all.

As a result, the signing of Fernandez could be the perfect opportunity for the German coach to move on from the lack of reliability Keita offers with a fresh young perspective in the centre of the pitch.

The €120m-valued talent (£105m) – who was hailed “spectacular” by Lionel Messi – ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shots on goal, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, as well as ranking in the top 10% for assists, proving that he is one of the hottest midfield prospects in Europe right now.

That was all evident on the biggest stage of all in Qatar this winter, with the 21-year-old winning the tournament’s best young player award having lifted the famous trophy last Sunday.

His performances in the Middle East were phenomenal, as the Benfica starlet scored one goal, registered one assist and completed an impressive 88% of his passes.

With that being said, if the club could secure a deal for Fernandez it would give more leverage to Klopp so that he can finally part ways with Keita without the concern about the depth in midfield next summer.