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Manchester United have maintained interest in a summer transfer target who is now soaring in Qatar…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Dean Jones reported that the Red Devils are still interested in Josip Juranovic, with the right-back playing an integral role for Croatia, who have made it to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

Jones said: “Manchester United have had a close eye on him for sure. 

“To be honest, his valuation is going to depend on which level of club comes in for him, because if it’s Man United, you hike it up. But if it’s a West Ham, then you’re not going to be getting as much.”

According to the Daily Mail, United boss Erik ten Hag has held an interest in the 27-year-old since arriving at the club in the summer, and with the full-back position an area the club wish to strengthen, the Dutchman is now seemingly preparing a winter bid. 

Bad news for Dalot 

United may be scouring the market for new additions, but with Diogo Dalot excelling on the world stage with Portugal, questions arise over whether the signing of the 27-year-old Juranovic would be the best avenue for the club and the respective players.

As per Sofascore, both players have been enjoying marvellous campaigns in Qatar, playing important roles for their nation and both steering towards the quarter-finals.

Juranovic has recorded a rating of 7.15, starting all four matches, while the Portuguese Dalot has been sensational, recording an average rating of 7.8 across the past two fixtures, notably producing a wondrous performance in the 6-1 round-of-16 demolition of Switzerland.

And in the Premier League, Dalot has remained a consistent performer, making an average of 2.1 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per match, whereas the 25-cap Croatian has managed just 1.1 tackles and 0.6 interceptions for Celtic this term.

Although Chris Sutton has described the Croat as “outstanding”, a superlative that aptly sums up his World Cup, Juranovic’s performances this season at club level have earned some unwanted criticism, with pundit Tam McManus labelling him “too inconsistent”, having just mustered one goal and assist apiece for the Glasgow giants and failed to leave a positive mark regarding his defensive duties.

Despite playing well in Qatar, the Celtic ace has been overshadowed by Dalot, and to evict him from his starting role when he is just starting to roar into life would be ludicrous.

If Aaron Wan-Bissaka was to move back to Crystal Palace, something that has been rumoured, after failing to stamp his authority into the club, then a move may be more viable, but with Juranovic likely demanding regular first-team minutes, Dalot’s progress might just be hampered. It’s a move that only spells bad news for the ever-impressive Portuguese wing-back.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will be hugely impressed with the efforts of his squad members at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with a wealth of his players earning plaudits.

Indeed, the likes of Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes were all exceptional, earning Man of the Match awards and giving their Dutch manager plenty of optimism ahead of the second stage of the campaign.

But it is the performances throughout the tournament of Harry Maguire that might evoke the most confidence in Ten Hag, who will be positively delighted with his £80m centre-back’s displays, following intense scrutiny in his standards for the Red Devils for some time now.

Having played 153 games for the Old Trafford faithful since his lucrative move from Leicester City, Maguire has often been signalled out for criticism.

The centre-back, who often gets lamented for his lack of pace and positioning during some of United’s heavier defeats across the past few years, can now use the foundation to underpin his efforts for the Red Devils going forwards.

As per Sofascore, the 29-year-old recorded an average rating of 7.34 while in Qatar – bettered only by Bukayo Saka in the England squad – and his contribution was crucial, with his 1.4 tackles and 3.6 clearances per outing a defining part behind the three clean sheets England kept as they narrowly lost out to France in the quarter-finals.

And having completed 100% of his dribbles (0.4 per match), and winning 68% of his duels (5.2 per match), the former Foxes man encapsulated the traits that Ten Hag requires for his robust United team.

Channelling such performances can reignite the fire in Maguire’s belly, and prompt him to maintain levels as domestic football kicks off once again.

With United currently sitting in fifth place in the Premier League, having conceded 20 goals after 14 games, Maguire will indeed need to up the gear regarding his performances, serving as an insurmountable bedrock that repels opposing forwards with ease.

In fact, having played just nine times for United this term, starting only three Premier League matches, the 53-cap England international will certainly hope that his efforts on the major stage have earned another shot at a central role in his manager’s plans.

That being said, as per Sofascore, the £25.7m-rated defender has recorded a rating of 7.0 across his four appearances in the league this term, with two poor performances against Brentford and Arsenal eclipsed by a fantastic recent showing against West Ham United, where the colossus recorded a rating of 7.9 making a whopping eight clearances and blocking three shots on the way to a valuable clean sheet to partner a well-earned victory.

His collective performances will need to improve, that is unquestionable, but Maguire is on the path to redemption following a brilliant World Cup campaign, he just needs to maintain it.

Arsenal are interested in a deal to bring Iván Fresneda to The Emirates in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness), who claim that the Gunners have ‘already moved’ for the Real Valladolid right-back in order to get a headstart on what looks to be a ‘frantic race’ for the 18-year-old’s signature in the winter market.

Indeed, the report goes on to state that a host of other unnamed Premier League clubs are also keeping a very close eye on the situation of the Spain U19 international ahead of potentially launching their own move for the defender in January, while Edu is believed to be ‘already talking’ with Valladolid regarding a deal that is ‘around half’ of his current €30m (£26m) release clause.

“Beastly ability”

With Fresneda very much looking to be ‘one of the most promising young talents in European football’ – as AS suggest – at present, it is not difficult to understand why Edu would be interested in a deal to bring the teenager to north London in January, as the full-back undoubtedly possess the potential to quickly become worth a great deal more than his current £26m clause.

Indeed, over his six LaLiga appearances so far this season, the £2.5m-rated wonderkid has been a rock on the right of Pacheta’s backline, helping his side keep one clean sheet, in addition to making an average of 2.5 tackles – the 12th-most in the league – 1.3 interceptions, 2.8 clearances and winning 3.8 duels – at a success rate of 55% – per game.

The £2.6k-per-week talent has also excelled when going forwards, having already created two big chances for his Valladolid teammates, as well as making an average of 1.5 key passes, finding his man with 0.5 crosses and completing 29.7 total passes – at a success rate of 82% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the defender average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.02, currently ranking him as Valladolid’s second-best performer in the top flight of Spanish football – a quite remarkable feat considering the right-back only turned 18 years of age back in September.

Quite understandably, Fresneda’s performances have earned the Spanish youth international a considerable amount of praise, none more so than from journalist and podcaster Juan Arroita, who said of the teenager in a post on Twitter earlier this season:

“Iván Fresneda has a beastly ability to take measured crosses from the right-handed lane. How good does the boy look? 17 years old…”

As such, it would appear highly advisable for Edu to do everything in his power to fight off the fierce competition and win the race for Fresneda’s signature this winter, as the Valladolid starlet would not only appear to be a real diamond for the future, but he could quite easily also go on to play a key role on the right of Arsenal’s backline in the current campaign.

Manchester City are reportedly considering a move for AC Milan star Rafael Leao and the winger could prove to be Pep Guardiola’s next Leroy Sane at the Etihad.

According to German journalist Florian Plettenberg, the Portugal international doesn’t want to extend his contract at the San Siro beyond 2024, which has alerted City, Chelsea and Real Madrid to his availability.

Leao has enjoyed a superb season thus far for the Rossoneri, contributing seven goals and five assists in all competitions, averaging an impressive 7.12 rating from WhoScored for his performances in Serie A.

Teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic is certainly a big fan of the 23-year-old and has urged him to commit his future to AC Milan, saying:

“Leao is on another level, above average. He lacks a step, he will only do it when he is fully convinced of his abilities.

“Today even he doesn’t really know how strong he is. Then he will be really scary. And the price will go up.”

Despite this, he was never afforded a start by Fernando Santos in Qatar, coming off the bench in all five of Portugal’s fixtures, as they lost in the quarter-final against the competition’s surprise package, Morocco.

Although Leao would only manage 86 minutes of action in the Middle East, he still made a big impression, contributing two goals in wins against Ghana and Switzerland.

He also caught the eye with his dribbling ability, completing six successful dribbles during the tournament, which was as many as Neymar, despite the Brazilian playing more than three times as many minutes.

Should Leao arrive at the Etihad in 2023, his raw pace and dribbling ability may remind City fans of Sane, who proved to be a big hit in the Premier League before his move to Bayern Munich in 2020.

The Germany international would contribute an eye-catching 39 goals and 46 assists in 135 appearances for the Citizens, regularly terrifying defenders with his speed on the ball.

WhoScored suggests that both Leao and Sane excel at dribbling and long shots, while they both like to cut inside, so they are clearly similar types of players.

As such, Guardiola would be incredibly foolish to turn down the exciting Portuguese talent in 2023. He could just be their new wing wizard.

Chelsea have now identified AS Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile as their priority signing as a left-sided centre-back, according to a report from The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Chelsea targeting defender

The Blues signed Kalidou Koulibaly for £33m in the summer, but it appears as though the Premier League club are already planning to cut their losses on the defender after he has failed to hit the ground running, albeit from a relatively brief timeframe.

Calciomercato reported on Friday that the Senegal international could be on his way back to Italy, duly paving the way for Chelsea to bring in a new signing in his position, with Badiashile now deemed to fit the bill.

The Latest: Badiashile in Potter’s sights

Given that Josko Gvardiol’s price has risen considerably since the World Cup – he is now expected to cost more than £79m – Graham Potter has started to turn his attention elsewhere in terms of signings for January and next summer, as per a report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein on Saturday afternoon which was shared on Twitter.

The report details that Badiashile is now the manager’s priority target, and there is a belief that the Frenchman will sign for the Blues in the coming weeks for a fee of around £30m.

The Verdict: Better than Koulibaly?

Journalist Amr Shaheen has previously lauded the 6 foot 4 defender as a ‘monster’, and this is evidenced by his fantastic performances for Monaco over the past year, averaging 2.63 aerial duels won per 90 minutes, an increase on the 2.08 per game averaged by Koulibaly in the same timeframe.

At just 21, the Frenchman still has plenty of scope to develop and he could be a mainstay in the Chelsea defence for years to come, whereas Koulibaly is 31 and likely approaching the end of his peak years.

For a relatively low price of £30m, signing Badiashile would be a really good piece of business from Potter if he goes through with it, leaving him with further funds to strengthen elsewhere in January.

Arsenal have reportedly agreed on personal terms with Shakhtar Donetsk forward Mykhaylo Mudryk ahead of a potential move during the January transfer window.

What’s the news?

That’s according to Sport Arena (via The Mirror), who suggest that Mikel Arteta and Edu have finally agreed on contractual terms with the Ukrainian and all that needs to be sorted now is the transfer fee, with Arsenal having had an initial offer of £55m rejected last week.

Shakhtar have set their asking price at £85m and according to fresh claims from Fabrizio Romano today, the Gunners have even now lodged a second bid for the exciting speedster.

The final piece of the puzzle

Arsenal appear to be edging closer to their first signing of the transfer window and it could be a timely one at that, especially considering they are short of attacking options at the minute.

Gabriel Jesus suffered a knee injury at the World Cup and was ruled out for three months, leaving a massive gap in the Arsenal attack, with Arteta having to rely on Eddie Nketiah as the club’s sole senior centre-forward.

Mudryk’s versatility could be crucial for Arteta, with the player capable of playing on either wing or as an attacking midfielder and his attacking qualities could take the pressure off Nketiah’s shoulders.

He has scored ten goals and registered eight assists in all competitions this season while ranking in the top 5% across Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals, assists, and dribbles completed while ranking in the top 10% for touches in the attacking penalty area and progressive passes received.

These clearly show Arsenal will be acquiring one of the best performers on the continent and it could be the final piece of the puzzle for Arteta heading into the second half of the campaign.

Journalist Josh Bunting dubbed the player “frightening” while writer Sacha Pisani labelled him a “baller” earlier this season, something that suggests the the 21-year-old what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

His performances in the Champions League supplement that too. The winger has found the net three times, has registered two assists, and created one big chance across six appearances in Europe’s elite competition while taking 1.5 shots, making 0.8 key passes, and completing 1.7 dribbles per match.

Arsenal may be leading the Premier League table by seven points, however, Arteta won’t be resting on his laurels as he strives to improve his squad but the Spanish tactician can complete his attacking puzzle by confirming the signing of Mudryk in the next few weeks.

Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez would be an outstanding addition for West Ham United, Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

What’s the word?

Hammers captain Declan Rice has been strongly linked with a move away this summer, and the club would need a top-quality replacement for a player of his calibre.

They have recently been linked with Alvarez, and the Mexico international could become their top target if Rice leaves at the end of the season.

Speaking to Football FanCast, O’Rourke stated that the 25-year-old would be an excellent signing for the Hammers and cited Chelsea’s previous interest as an indicator of his quality.

“He’d be a brilliant signing if West Ham are able to do that one.

“He’s a top player, a Mexico international, played in the Champions League on a regular basis for Ajax.

“Chelsea really considered a move for him in the summer transfer window but the move didn’t happen, so that shows the calibre of the player, that you’ve got top clubs like Chelsea after him.”

A perfect replacement?

The Mexican has played 122 games for Ajax, predominantly as a defensive midfielder, and could slot straight into Rice’s role behind Lucas Paqueta and alongside one of Tomas Soucek or Pablo Fornals.

Both players are of the same build, with Alvarez measuring at 1.87m compared to Rice’s 1.88m, so considering his experience, he could potentially replace his physical presence in front of the back four.

A deal could be pricey given that Chelsea had a £43m bid rejected in the summer, but if West Ham were to receive a large fee for Rice, they would be able to afford a big-money replacement – and Alvarez would arrive as a player with Champions League and international experience.

Manchester City remain very much in the chase for the Premier League title, with Pep Guardiola’s men sitting second in the table, just five points behind Arsenal with more than half of the season left to go.

It’s hard to fathom just how further Guardiola can strengthen his squad when it contains a plethora of riches that should be sweeping all in front of them. Still, the Spaniard knows how to pick a player which can fit his model, and Jude Bellingham could be an intriguing signing for City.

Last month, 90min claimed that the club were interested in Bellingham following his impressive World Cup campaign with England and now a recent update from Sky Germany states that City are willing to meet Borussia Dortmund’s asking price of €150m (£131m) to lure the midfielder to England.

By doing so, Guardiola could have the perfect heir to İlkay Gündoğan ready to slot straight into the starting XI.

Perfect Gundogan replacement

The German midfielder has played an integral part in Guardiola’s City juggernaut since joining from Dortmund in 2016, winning nine major honours with the club, including four league titles.

He has scored 51 goals in 277 appearances for City, made even more remarkable considering he has operated in either a central or defensive midfield role during his stint in England, although with his contract expiring at the end of the current campaign, a replacement will need to be found sooner rather than later.

There is no disputing Bellingham is one of Europe’s finest midfielders, and at just 19 years of age, there is massive scope for further development.

Compared to positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the Englishman ranks in the top 10% for non-penalty goals, dribbles completed, touches in the attacking penalty area, and progressive passes recovery, clearly indicating that he would be an excellent signing and someone the 51-year-old could build his team around.

The Dortmund sensation has been wonderful in the Bundesliga this term, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.38/10 from just 15 appearances, registering five goal contributions, and taking 2.1 shots per game, suggesting that he, like Gündoğan, possesses an attacking threat from the centre of the pitch.

Bellingham isn’t shy in assisting his team with defensive duties either, averaging 3.2 tackles, 1.1 clearances, and 1.4 interceptions per match, while winning a staggering 9.7 duels per game – a success rate of 62%.

Sky Sports reporter Adam Smithy described him as an “unreal talent” last year and if City wants to land the coveted Champions League trophy they have craved for so long, Bellingham could be the final piece of the puzzle.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou will be worried about the transfer links concerning Daizen Maeda, Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

What’s the word?

The Japan international, hailed as “immense” by the Hoops boss, has attracted interest from the Premier League following some impressive displays at the World Cup. He has scored six goals and provided five assists for his club this season.

With Southampton providing a potential path to the Premier League, should they come in with an offer, then it may have to be considered, and Postecoglou may be concerned that he could lose one of his star players as a result.

Speaking to Football FanCast, O’Rourke claimed that the Celtic manager will be worried as the appeal of the Premier League to Scotland’s biggest stars could see yet another top player leave.

“I’m sure he is worried about it. It’s part of the game that English clubs will be coming for some of your top players and unfortunately for the likes of Celtic and Rangers, they will find it pretty hard to keep hold of them due to the riches and the money that is on offer down in the English Premier League,” he stated.

A familiar path

The pathway to the Premier League between Southampton and Celtic is a familiar one, as a number of players have moved from the Hoops to the south coast over the years.

Victor Wanyama, Virgil van Dijk and Stuart Armstrong, amongst others, have all traded Celtic Park for St Mary’s, and Maeda could follow.

It would be a big blow to lose a crucial player mid-way through the season, but Maeda’s performances at the World Cup could mean Celtic gain a decent fee for the 25-year-old.

Newcastle United are likely to look into the loan market this month but are unlikely to be given any help from other Premier League clubs.

What’s the latest?

Almost two weeks into the January transfer window, Newcastle are yet to open their wallet with no new faces having come through the door this month.

And there is serious speculation as to whether Newcastle will be restricted by FFP regulations this month with the summer a potential opportunity for them to invest in new players.

There have been some links to players they are interested in with the likes of Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid, but there is the expectation loan deals could be on the agenda later this month.

This has been suggested by the reliable Newcastle correspondent, Craig Hope, who has been speaking on his YouTube channel about the possibility of some temporary signings coming through the doors of St. James’ Park:

(2:30) “I wouldn’t be surprised if they go into the loan market. Now, that will be more difficult from a domestic perspective because the players who are perhaps good enough to come to Newcastle now probably play for four teams in the top six/top seven and why are they going to help out a team who are flying such as Newcastle? So yeah, probably one to watch on that front.”

Short-term improvements

Newcastle have already seen how loan deals can pay off in recent years with Joe Willock’s loan spell from Arsenal one of the more impressive temporary moves seen in the Premier League.

The midfielder returned a stunning eight goals in just 14 Premier League appearances for the Magpies during Steve Bruce’s tenure at the club.

And under Howe, Matt Targett impressed during his loan spell from Aston Villa and played a big role in the starting XI last season – albeit having been uprooted by Dan Burn this season.

So there is definitely a case to be made that loans should not be discounted this month if Newcastle do not have the ability to spend on some of the big-name targets like James Maddison.

But there is the concern of whether Newcastle could actually bring in a high-quality player this month from a side that would actually be willing to potentially improve the Tyneside club.

Newcastle have shown up to now that they do not need to go knocking on the doors of the Premier League’s biggest clubs for some of their players.

However, the January window can often prove a difficult one to navigate so it does seem as if Dan Ashworth has his work cut out in the weeks to come.

What would be interesting to see is whether there would be scope for Newcastle to potentially pursue a loan deal with the option/obligation to buy in the summer.

This has proven a major success with their Champions League rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, in the signing of Dejan Kulusevski and could certainly be an option for Newcastle to consider.