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Everton are reportedly closing in on their first signing of the January transfer window as Arnaut Danjuma is poised to arrive at the club on loan from Villarreal.

The Netherlands international is set to join until the end of the season to provide Frank Lampard’s squad with an injection of quality in their fight against relegation in the coming months.

However, Danjuma may not be the final addition of the month for the club as Atalanta centre-forward Duvan Zapata is reported to be of interest to Lampard.

The Serie A side value the Colombian international, who is wanted by multiple English teams, at £25m and journalist Simon Phillips told GIVEMESPORT that it could be a “big risk” to sign the striker.

Farhad Moshiri could now repeat the blunder he made with Salomon Rondon by pursuing a deal to sign Zapata for £25m before the end of the month.

The Toffees swooped to sign the striker on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, potentially because of his previous record at Premier League level.

He had scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 32 top-flight appearances for Newcastle in his last season in the division, after also scoring 28 goals for West Brom prior to his spell at St. James’ Park, but was unable to replicate that success at Goodison Park.

Before departing the club at the start of this month, the 33-year-old marksman scored an unimpressive three goals in 31 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions – including one strike in 27 Premier League games.

Zapata, whose former teammate Papu Gomez claimed is “like a train”, could be a similarly poor signing for Everton as his form this season suggests that he is not the player he once was.

The Colombian centre-forward scored 10 or more goals in each of the past four Serie A seasons for Atalanta, including 15 or more in three of those campaigns, and proved that he could consistently find the back of the net in a major European league – as Rondon did with Newcastle and West Brom.

However, Zapata has only scored once in 12 appearances in the Italian top-flight this term and managed one in his final 12 Serie A matches at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Therefore, the 31-year-old may not arrive as the prolific scorer that he once was in Italy and, instead, could struggle to be a consistent scorer for Lampard in the Premier League, due to his struggles for Atalanta over his last 24 games.

The worrying downward trend in Zapata’s scoring suggests that he could end up being Rondon 2.0 for Moshiri if the Everton chief opts to pay £25m to sign the striker this month, which is why the club should reconsider swooping for the attacker.

Pundit Tam McManus ‘can’t believe’ that Newcastle United have not made a move for reported transfer target Youri Tielemans.

The Lowdown: Newcastle interested in Tielemans

The Magpies have reportedly been interested in a cut-price move for the 25-year-old this month, with his contract at Leicester City set to expire in the summer.

Both Jonjo Shelvey and Matty Longstaff are also out of contract in June, so the St James’ Park outfit will surely be looking for a central midfielder to replace them in the squad, either in January or in the next transfer window.

The Latest: McManus urges Tielemans move

Speaking to Football Insider, McManus says that he ‘can’t believe’ Newcastle have not made a move for Tielemans yet, claiming that the Belgian would be a ‘sensational’ and ‘tremendous signing’ for Eddie Howe’s side.

The 41-year-old said: “I can’t believe Newcastle haven’t at least made a move for him. Howe has been saying how much they need a new midfielder and he’s right there for the taking. I don’t get that one.

“Tielemans would be a sensational signing for any of the top four clubs and Newcastle, right now, are up there.

“It’s going to boil down to finances, he will be looking for a big payday as a soon-to-be free agent. So if Newcastle can stick up the money then I think he would be a tremendous signing. It gives Newcastle another quality option when going forward.”

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The Verdict: No-brainer

Considering Shelvey and Longstaff’s contract situations, signing Tielemans for a cut-price is surely a no-brainer for the Tynesiders.

Hailed by his boss Brendan Rodgers as an ‘outstanding player’ and ‘one of Europe’s top midfielders’, the Belgium international ranks in the 85th percentile for shot-creating actions, 84th for tackles, 81st for passes attempted and 80th for progressive passes per match of all his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year (FBRef).

Furthermore, he has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt already, featuring 140 times in the division.

At just 25 years of age, he has probably not even hit his peak yet, so he could be a mainstay in the Magpies’ midfield alongside the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton for years to come.

Fabrizio Romano believes Tottenham Hotspur may not be done in the transfer market once they sign Pedro Porro.

The Lowdown: Porro only the beginning

Spurs have been quiet pretty much all of January and only kicked into gear as deadline day approached, much like they did 12 months ago when they brought in Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur.

After bringing in Arnaut Danjuma, Tottenham have bided their time over Pedro Porro and now it looks like that will pay off, as they’re set to land the Spaniard on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy in the summer.

However, it might not be lights out for Spurs’ transfer business once he arrives, as Romano believes sporting director Fabio Paratici loves to do a late deal on deadline day, which may be exciting news for Spurs fans.

The Latest: Spurs not done yet

Romano told GiveMeSport to keep an eye on Tottenham as the deadline approaches because of how active Paratici likes to be in the transfer market, especially as the clock ticks towards 11pm.

He said: “I’m not sure that Porro will be the last because I know how Fabio Paratici, the Tottenham director, works and is used to some opportunities at the end of the market. Something could happen in different positions. So, I would keep the Tottenham market open until the end.”

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The Verdict: Paratici keeping his options open

While Romano doesn’t give away much in his comments, the fact that Spurs aren’t yet closed for business and are thought to be keeping their options open to please Conte further is a good sign.

If Daniel Levy could indeed strike up another deal, potentially for a midfielder given that Oliver Skipp has recently been linked with a move away from the club, that could be an interesting avenue for them to explore.

Spurs have been linked with a move for Italy international Nicolo Zaniolo, although Roma did reject their original offer of a loan deal with an obligation to buy in the summer, so that may well be something they look at as the deadline gets closer.

And given the nature of the surprise activity today at Spurs with Matt Doherty nearing a sudden loan exit, perhaps Paratici will have another trick up his sleeve.

Leeds United have already bolstered in a number of key areas this January window, with Victor Orta looking to avoid another repeat of last season’s narrow escape from the drop.

Unloading a club-record deal on a forward and reuniting Jesse Marsch with Max Wober strengthened up front and at the back, whilst Weston McKennie continues to be a top target of theirs.

However, one name that persists and was only mentioned again earlier this week was that of Michael Keane.

The Everton defender has endured a tumultuous time at Goodison Park ever since his £30m move, and despite the imminent arrival of his old boss Sean Dyche it remains to be seen whether he has a future on Merseyside after so many poor performances.

He could be offered an exit plan though through the Whites, who would welcome him as a solid option to potentially be the perfect foil alongside Wober.

When confident, the Englishman is a solid centre-back with a better passing range than many give him credit for. The issue is that since leaving Burnley he has struggled for consistency and so he has not garnered enough belief in himself.

Under Carlo Ancelotti however, he showed glimpses of what he could do when given the backing of his manager, as he earned a 7.06 rating across the 2020/21 campaign.

During this season he would average 4.5 clearances and 1.5 interceptions per 90, alongside an 87% pass accuracy (via Sofascore).

The 6-foot-3 titan uses his hulking frame to dominate his opposition and shares plenty of similarities with the aforementioned Austrian.

In fact, Keane was being lauded as recently as February last year, with Harry Redknapp labelling him “immense at the back”.

This is made more impressive given his stark drop-off in game time since the arrival of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski.

Before making the switch to Elland Road, Wober was averaging a 7.24 rating and had been dubbed “a leader” by journalist Beren Cross.

The 24-year-old would then showcase his more creative assets through his 0.7 key passes per game and five big chances created.

His presence beside Keane could be the catalyst to getting the best out of the 30-year-old, with their dominant stature sure to frighten any centre forward and the classy qualities of Wober sure to shine through further.

Combining these two could be the foundation that ends their defensive troubles, of which only four other teams in the league have conceded more.

Tottenham have been told to axe forward Son Heung-min by pundit and former SPFL striker Tam McManus.

The Lowdown: Son stars in 2022…

The South Korea international played a starring role for Spurs during their push for a Premier League top four finish last campaign.

Son’s electric form over 2021/2022 was a major contributor to Antonio Conte’s successful first season at the club with the attacker bagging an incredible 23 goals and seven assists in 35 starts (WhoScored).

The former Bayer Leverkusen winger even shared a Golden Boot award with Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah – owing to his phenomenal form at the time.

The Latest: McManus calls for Son axe…

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit McManus claims Son’s dip in form this year should result in the player being dropped – citing his general play as an issue alongside his weakened goal threat.

He explained:

“This guy won the golden boot last season, I don’t understand what has happened, it’s amazing, really.

“Everything he touched went in the back of the net and this season couldn’t be more different. He is so far off the pace.

“Not only is he not scoring but his general play just isn’t there either. You have to get him out of the team. I don’t know if Richarlison and Kulusevski are fully fit but when they are they need to come in.

“You have to play your form players. Tottenham are having a decent season even if the mood around the club is quite negative.

“Performances are well below par and Son kind of sums that up.”

The Verdict: Form is temporary…

The star’s decline is a shame to behold for both supporters and neutrals but we believe Son’s return to the top level is merely a matter of time.

Overall, he has amassed a quite incredible 139 goals and 77 assists since signing for Spurs from Leverkusen – making his £22 million transfer fee seem like a real bargain.

The 30-year-old has displayed his true class in a Lilywhites jersey time and time again, including on the big stages, scoring three goals across two Champions League quarter-final legs against Man City in 2019.

Son played a major role on their run to an unprecedented first ever European Cup final that same season, owing to the player’s natural talent and incredible ability.

Even if the ex-Bundesliga star needs time out of the starting eleven, we’ve little doubt his form will inevitably pick up again.

Eric Dier had one of his best games in a while in Tottenham Hotspur’s victory over Manchester City, journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed.

What’s the word?

Spurs produced a defensive masterclass to shut Man City out in North London, and Harry Kane’s early strike proved to be the difference.

A number of players including Emerson Royal and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg were outstanding, but Dier was also crucial in helping see out the victory.

Dier was awarded 9/10 by Gold in his player ratings for football.london, and was praised for the way in which he dealt with deadly striker Erling Haaland.

“Constantly pushing up the pitch and adding to the numbers in the middle. One of his best games in a while. Nothing got past him. It was the first time Haaland didn’t even have a single shot in a Premier League match.”

Rock in the middle

There was a nervous ending to the match as Spurs were reduced to ten men as Cristian Romero received a red card, but Dier’s commanding performance at the back helped them secure all three points.

The Englishman had come in for criticism at times this season, but looked back to his best as he kept Haaland quiet for the entire game.

Dier completed four long balls, won three aerial duels and made four clearances as per SofaScore, and looked assured in his defending as Spurs recorded their third clean sheet in a row in all competitions.

The 29-year-old has made 346 appearances for Spurs since his arrival in 2014, and his experience is now starting to prove vital in tough games, helping command his three-man defence to a convincing victory against the Champions.

Glasgow Rangers have scouted goalkeeper Shamal George ahead of a potential move to the Ibrox this summer, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: George profiled

George was an academy product of Liverpool having worked his way up through the U23s ranks at Anfield, but joined Colchester United on a free transfer in 2020 in a bid to find regular game time.

The 6 foot 3 shot-stopper then made the move to Livingston two years later so is no stranger to the Scottish Premiership, where his form under David Martindale has been impressive.

Michael Beale recently confirmed that the Light Blues are planning to make a new addition between the sticks ahead of next season, and it sounds like he’s got his eye firmly on the 25-year-old.

The Latest: Rangers monitoring George

According to Football Insider, Rangers scouts have ‘extensively watched’ George this term, with the player on the ‘radar’ of the Teddy Bears.

Talent spotters are claimed to have been ‘impressed’ with what they’ve seen, so this is definitely a situation to watch ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

The Verdict: McGregor successor?

Allan McGregor isn’t getting any younger (41) and could therefore retire when his contract runs out in the summer, so should he hang up his boots, George would be the perfect successor.

The Livingston colossus has kept six clean sheets so far this season and is averaging 9.7 long balls per league game, not to mention that he’s been the recipient of a man-of-the-match award (WhoScored).

The Birkenhead-born talent has also been praised for his ‘incredible reactions’ by journalist Josh Bunting so is a well-rounded keeper, meaning the Gers need to act fast should they not want to miss out on securing their target in the months ahead.

Flamengo manager Vitor Pereira has emerged as a potential replacement for Jesse Marsch as Leeds United boss, according to a new rumour.

The Lowdown: Leeds on the lookout

It is now approaching two weeks since Marsch was relieved of his duties at Elland Road, with a string of poor results and performance ultimately leading to his demise.

Since then, Leeds have been linked with a number of individuals, from Marcelo Bielsa to Carlos Corberan, but no appointment has been made yet.

Michael Skubala has stepped in as interim manager for the time being but it remains to be seen how long he will be in charge for.

The Latest: Pereira emerges as candidate

According to Mundo Rubro Negro [via Sport Witness], Pereira could possibly be on Leeds’ radar, with an ‘enquiry from an English club’ received.

The Whites and Southampton are both without a manager currently, which could seemingly point towards them being the club in question, and the Flamengo boss could ‘ask to leave’ because he has a ‘dream of training in the Premier League’.

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The Verdict: Interesting option for Whites

Pereira could be an intriguing appointment by Leeds if they end up being the club to have enquired about him, with the 54-year-old only joining Flamengo last month.

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He has tasted plenty of success in his career, winning two Primeira Liga titles with Porto, one Greek title with Olympiakos and a Chinese Super League with Shanghai Port – so he has undoubted pedigree.

While Skubala may be able to fill a void for the time being, bringing in someone with Pereira’s experience and nous could ultimately make the difference between Leeds staying in the Premier League or not.

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has claimed that there is no chance Brendan Rodgers could be hired as the next West Ham United manager.

What’s the latest on Brendan Rodgers to West Ham?

Over the weekend, the Hammers were unable to put up much of a fight as they lost 2-0 away from home in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur.

As a result, the club end the game week stuck inside the relegation zone on 20 points. Unsurprisingly, some supporters have started to lose patience with David Moyes.

For instance, while hosting the BBC 606 radio show, Sutton spoke to a caller who insisted that Leicester City boss Rodgers was the right man to come and take over for the rest of the season.

In response, the pundit said: “That’s not realistic. Do you think Brendan Rodgers is going to leave Leicester for West Ham? Come on, get in the real world.”

What does David Moyes’ pressure mean for West Ham?

It’s not been a great season for West Ham with Moyes accepting that his position was under press even before the new year. Though, up to this point, the board have stuck with him.

With the threat of relegation looming ever closer, however, it’s not hard to see why the fans will as though it could be an appropriate time for a change in manager.

Of course, Rodgers isn’t having the best season with the Foxes either. Indeed, they were thumped 3-0 away from home at Manchester United on the weekend which leaves them 14th in the table, just four points above the Irons.

At Leicester, the 50-year-old has averaged 1.64 points per game from 198 matches, while Moyes is at 1.53 from 154 matches. So it’s easy to see why he might be seen as an upgrade but it feels like a lot would have to change quickly and dramatically for Rodgers to end up at West Ham any time soon.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is in advanced talks over a new contract to extend his stay at the club.

What’s going on with Kante at Chelsea?

The midfielder has been absent for most of the season with injury while his team has suffered a poor run of form, putting manager Graham Potter under increased pressure.

Enzo Fernandez arrived for a British-record fee in the January transfer window, but the departure of fellow midfielder Jorginho means that there should be room for Kante in the side when he makes his return.

The Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the season, but it now seems that he could sign fresh terms to remain at the club beyond the summer.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that he is in advanced talks with the club, and it seems much more likely he will stay than in previous months.

He said: “What we can say is that the negotiations between N’Golo Kante and Chelsea over a new contract are progressing very well. It is not a done deal yet, but the negotiations are very advanced.

“So we can say that Chelsea and N’Golo Kante are closer now. In November, December, the new deal was really unlikely because the first meetings were not that positive between Kante and Chelsea.

“Then the player had a crucial role in the negotiation, because he loves London, he loves the club, he loves Chelsea, and so he really wants to continue there. N’Golo Kante’s giving top priority to Chelsea, so now it is about the length of the contract they are discussing, and then this is going to be a crucial point to understand the future of N’Golo Kante.

“If in November or December, it was maybe 30-40% for N’Golo Kante to stay. Now we are close to 60-70% for Kante to continue at Chelsea, but let’s see how the negotiation will continue to the final stages, and it’s really important for Kante to return as soon as possible.”

Will Kante be the same player as before?

At 31, Kante’s best years may be beyond him, and his lengthy injury spells may mean that he struggles upon his return to the side.

However, given Chelsea’s high turnover of players in the last two transfer windows, an experienced player like Kante, who has won nearly every trophy on offer in his time at Stamford Bridge, could be useful to help younger players such as Fernandez settle at the club.

Even if he has to settle for a rotational role, Kante may still have a big part to play at Chelsea, and given his admiration for the club and his popularity amongst the players, a contract extension could be a good move for all parties as the club await his return to action.

Therefore, this seems like a positive breakthrough for all concerned.