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Transfer insider Dean Jones has been reacting to Aston Villa’s plans to move for Villarreal forward Samuel Chukwueze.

The Lowdown: Villa links

Unai Emery looks set to be backed by NSWE in the January transfer window with a ‘huge’ budget, and it seems as if Chukwueze is a top target for the Spaniard.

Football Insider revealed earlier this month that Villa are plotting a move for the 23-year-old, who fits the bill due to his speed, direct approach and ability to create and score goals.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Jones was speaking to GiveMeSport regarding Villa and Chukwueze, saying that Emery may want his new club to be at the ‘front of the queue’ for the Nigeria international.

The journalist stated: “It’s being played up a lot and it seems like he is a player that Emery has clearly got on his radar for January.

“Managers always want to bring in somebody that they recognise and a game-changer is, obviously, something they all look for too. It comes hand-in-hand with an appointment like this, that they’ll be looking for someone like Chukwueze.

“He won’t want him to go anywhere else either. If he’s actually going to make a transfer, they want to be at the front of the queue.”

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The Verdict: Record move?

Reports have suggested that any club would need to pay around €50m (£43.5m) for the forward, which would make him Villa’s most expensive signing of all time if they land him for that amount.

Chukwueze has been hailed by ESPN journalist David Cartlidge as a ‘ridiculous’ talent who ‘tortures’ defenders and has played under Emery more than any other manager in his career.

He has contributed to 29 goals in 94 games for the current Villa boss and you’d like to think that he still has time to improve before reaching his prime, so this could be an ideal deal to try and pull off and one to keep a close eye on heading into 2023.

Newcastle United are reportedly still in the race to sign Vasco da Gama central midfielder Andrey Santos in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Newcastle interest

The St. James’ Park outfit’s interest in Santos has been widely reported, as they look to increase their pool of promising young talent following the arrivals of Garang Kuol from Australia and Irish defender Alex Murphy.

He has already played 37 senior matches for Brazilian side Vasco by the age of 18, scoring eight goals (Transfermarkt), and looks to be another prospect from Brazil destined for great things.

The Latest: Still in race

As per French news outlet Le10sport, the North East club are one of five teams that have made an offer for Santos, with the January window coming up.

He has been dubbed the ‘new Bruno Guimaraes’ in Brazil, so a move to Tyneside seems the perfect fit.

However, PSG are now thought to be working on a potential deal ‘behind the scenes’, and their football advisor Luis Campos has ‘already positioned himself’ with Santos’ representatives.

A January transfer is possible, if a club can come up with a fee of around €20m (£17.5m).

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The Verdict: Get it done

The comparisons to Bruno alone should persuade Eddie Howe’s side to make a swoop for Santos in January.

With three goals and two assists in the Premier League from the middle of the park, Bruno ranks as their second-best performer in the division per WhoScored, and so to sign a player of a similar nature in midfield should excite the Toon Army.

Lauded as a ‘monster’ physically by Brazilian legend Juninho, Santos has also been likened to one of the greats of the game in Sergio Busquets (Goal), and so the 18-year-old clearly has a very bright future ahead of him.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is set for the club’s transfer backing in January as journalist Fabrizio Romano shares promising news.

The Lowdown: Conte supported…

You can make a very serious argument that no Spurs manager has been supported financially as much as Conte in recent seasons.

After the Italian guided them to a top four Premier League finish last season, Lilywhites owners ENIC granted a £150 million equity increase which sporting director Fabio Paratici promptly put to use.

The north Londoners completed moves for Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and a permanent deal to sign Cristian Romero – with murmurs of potential Janaury moves now surfacing.

The Latest: Romano makes promising Spurs transfer claim…

Now, sharing the latest out of Spurs, reliable reporter Romano has claimed Conte will be backed further mid-season as he drops a promising update.

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Writing for CaughtOffside, the transfer correspondent explains there is a ‘chance’ Paratici and co make January signings and Spurs will certainly try.

He explained:

“Tottenham will try to support Conte as they also did in the summer.

“In January they will try to find a solution for players that are not playing regularly; there’s a chance for new signings, for sure.”

The Verdict: Good news…

How they will back Conte remains to be seen but this update comes as good news, potentially shifting some deadwood and replacing them with superior players.

There have been no shortage of Spurs links but we believe a move for Leicester City star James Maddison takes precedent above all.

Conte is arguably in dire need of a proven playmaker who can link defence to attack with the Englishman fitting that bill, especially since he has been the Foxes’ best player so far this season.

Glasgow Rangers face somewhat of a contract dilemma at Ibrox over a few players as January looms into view. The likes of Alfredo Morelos, Filip Helander, and Ryan Jack are all in the last year of their current contracts and Giovanni van Bronckhorst won’t want any of them to leave for free.

One of the club’s biggest assets, Ryan Kent, is also in the last year of his current deal and with rumours linking him to Aston Villa, he could be on the move.

Furthermore, Football Insider have claimed that the winger has rejected a big money deal at Ibrox and all the signs are looking very ominous regarding his future.

The Dutchman will be looking at potential replacements for the Englishman, and the club appears to have been scouting a young talent who could well be Kent’s ideal heir.

Rangers have scouted Mohamed Daramy

The Ibrox side were one of 39 clubs who were scouting the recent Denmark vs Croatia U21 match, alongside European heavyweights such as Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

According to the Daily Record, the scouts could well have been eyeing up Danish winger Daramy – who worked under current assistant manager Dave Vos at Ajax – with the connection certainly hinting at a potential swoop.

Daramy began his career at FC Copenhagen before joining Ajax in the summer of 2021, signing a five-year contract.

He impressed last season, scoring three goals and grabbing three assists in just 16 senior matches for the eventual champions before sealing a loan move back to his former club at the beginning of the current campaign.

One goal in seven league appearances for the Danish side is a decent enough return and his stats show that he could be a solid replacement for Kent.

In fact, the youngster already has a greater goal conversion rate than Kent this season (10% to 7%) while also having more shots on target per game (0.9 to 0.3), proving he can be an important goal threat for his team.

Daramy has also completed more successful dribbles per match (1.9) than the Rangers winger so far (1.7) and has lost possession on average 11.7 times per match, less than Kent’s 13.7 as the Denmark international displays a growing maturity.

Tom Maston described a goal he scored against Turkey U21s last year as “stunning” while he also dubbed Daramy the “flying winger” following his move to Ajax last summer.

Van Bronckhorst will be aiming to bring in a high-profile replacement for Kent, but by signing Daramy, he could get someone who is young, eager to impress, and who may earn the club a fortune a few years down the line.

Nottingham Forest will head to the King Power Stadium on Monday night and Steve Cooper has now delivered a double injury concern ahead of the important Premier League clash for his team.

What’s the latest?

The Forest boss took to his pre-match press conference to deliver an update on the fitness and injury issues at The City Ground, and addressed the concerns surrounding Morgan Gibbs-White and Scott McKenna.

Cooper told the press (via Nottinghamshire Live):

“Scott is a doubt, to be honest. He had to withdraw early from the Scotland camp,

“With regards to Monday, we are still unsure whether he will be available for that.

“Morgan obviously missed out on the England Under-21s. But we are integrating him back into training over the last day or two. We are not completely conclusive on that yet, but we are hoping so.”

It’s bad news for Forest

Nottingham Forest haven’t had the best start to their Premier League campaign and are currently 19th in the league table after suffering four consecutive defeats, so to lose two starting players to injury would be bad news.

Both Gibbs-White and McKenna have consistently featured for the Garibaldi Reds over their campaign so far, and Cooper will now have to look to other options in the squad to fill their positions in the team should they not be available for the clash against Brendan Rodger’s side.

Forest have already suffered a number of fitness problems with the defenders in their squad as Steve Cook, Moussa Niakhate and Omar Richards all sustaining injuries over the season so far, which led to the panic signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-back Willy Boly on Deadline Day.

Both Niakhate and Richards remain unavailable for selection against Leicester and now McKenna could join them too, leaving Cook, Worrall and Boly to cover the back-line in their away clash.

Leicester are the only team below Forest in the table and taking advantage of the Foxes’ even worse start to the season by securing all three points from the clash could give the team a great chance to get out of the relegation zone if results go their way this weekend.

With that being said, Cooper should have enough players in his team to make up for the absence of both Gibbs-White and McKenna should they be unavailable for the game on Monday night, and securing their second victory of the season could put them in a much stronger position in their Premier League challenge.

Nottingham Forest have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of a renowned transfer target…

What’s the word?

Taking to Twitter, Fabrizio Romano issued an update on the pursuit of Atletico Madrid full-back Renan Lodi by the Reds’ director of football Kyriakos Dourekas.

The Italian tweeted: “Nottingham Forest are pushing to sign Renan Lodi on loan from Atletico Madrid. €5m loan fee offered, also buy option could be included – around €30m. Talks still ongoing on clubs and player side, but Forest are pushing after Atletico changed their position on LB”.

The Brazil international has two years left on his £61k-per-week deal with the La Liga giants.

He’s better than Toffolo

Although Harry Toffolo enjoyed a remarkable 2021/22 season for Huddersfield Town, he has started life in the Premier League with a bit of a whimper, registering zero goal contributions in Forest’s opening three games.

Last season’s haul of six goals and seven assists marked an outstanding Championship campaign from the 26-year-old as the Terriers reached the play-off final, where they were defeated by the Tricky Trees.

These figures become somewhat hard to compare against the Brazilian, who did not record as many goal contributions but featured across both La Liga and the Champions League in 2021/22.

Across all competitions, his 42 games yielded four goals and six assists. This is not far off Toffolo’s Championship return in the same number of regular season matches, with some of Lodi’s goal contributions even coming in Europe’s elite club competition.

The 24-year-old also has plenty of familiarity playing at wing-back, with his underlying figures in comparison to positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues last season further proving his mastery of the role.

Lodi ranks in the top 5% for non-penalty goals, hinting at a proficiency in front of goal, whilst also ranking in the top 2% for progressive passes received and top 7% for touches in the attacking penalty area. He is a constant threat, and clearly quite a clinical one too.

In 2021/22, the Atletico defender had a greater shots on target percentage (40% to 35.7%) and more shots per game (0.76 to 0.71) than Toffolo, so he would appear to offer Forest a greater attacking threat if he were to come to the City Ground.

It seems strange that Diego Simeone is so receptive to his possible exit, given how just last season the Atletico manager noted the “important role” that Lodi could play under him.

Their potential loss could now be Cooper’s gain, as the Forest manager might already be able to improve upon the signing of Toffolo with this talented Brazilian star who already has experience at the highest level, and the ability to back it up.

Nottingham Forest are believed to have made a move to sign Wolfsburg midfielder Aster Vranckx, according to reports in France.

What’s the word?

As per L’Equipe, the 19-year-old is said to have ‘received offers’ from a handful of clubs across Europe, including Forest, although it is unclear as to whether the Bundesliga side will sanction his departure.

The promising teenager – who made the move to Germany from Mechelen in 2020 – has also reportedly been the subject of interest from fellow Premier League side Everton in recent times.

As for the Reds, manager Steve Cooper has already bolstered his midfield ranks this summer with the signings of Lewis O’Brien, Orel Mangala, Cheikou Kouyate and Remo Freuler, while recent reports have suggested that a move for Lyon’s Houssem Aouar could also be in the works.

Cooper’s own Gallagher

Although it remains to be seen whether the former Swansea City boss would move for yet another central midfield option before the September 1st deadline, there is no doubting that signing Vrancx would be an astute piece of business, having impressed for his current club.

Dubbed “very talented” by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schäfer, the £9m-rated prospect scored twice in 24 German top-flight outings last term, having previously scored five goals and registered four assists during his time in his native Belgium.

Although he can clearly make an impact in the final third, the 6-foot menace is seemingly more highly regarded for his all-round attributes, having been described as a “box-to-box midfielder” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

That ability to make an impact at both ends of the pitch could see the £9.7k-per-week titan likened to current Chelsea gem Conor Gallagher, with the pair sharing a number of stylistic and statistical similarities according to FBRef.

With the 22-year-old also noted as a “box-to-box midfielder” by Zach Lowy, the Englishman dazzled last term on loan at Crystal Palace, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in the league as he enjoyed a real breakthrough campaign at Selhurst Park.

While he has since returned to his parent club, the midfielder is the subject of interest from teams across the Premier League, having proven himself a relentless and energetic presence in the centre of the park.

Any manager would no doubt be thrilled to have a Gallagher-esque figure in their side, hence the potential intrigue at the comparison which can be made between the Blues starlet and young Vranckx.

That claim is corroborated by their similarly impressive statistical records, with the young Belgian notably ranking in the top 6% for pressures made among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues. The more senior Gallagher ranks in the top 7% in the same metric, albeit having played more minutes.

There are not just parallels defensively, as Vranckx averages 1.58 dribbles completed per game, while Gallagher is only just behind on 1.42 per match, showcasing their innate ability to drive their teams forward from midfield.

Such traits made the Three Lions international a huge success for the Eagles last term and he was even dubbed a “manager’s dream” by his former boss Patrick Vieira, with the hope being that the Wolfsburg prodigy can mirror that impact if he is to come to the City Ground this summer

CBS Sports Golazo journalist Ben Jacobs has shared that Newcastle United have officially ‘enquired’ over the possibility of signing Jack Harrison.

The Lowdown: Winger wanted

Leeds United’s Harrison is thought to be on the list of a number of Premier League wingers that the St. James’ Park outfit are looking at signing, with Everton’s Anthony Gordon and Leicester City’s Harvey Barnes also reportedly linked.

They have already brought in players with top-flight experience in Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier, while Sven Botman has come over from Lille in Ligue 1.

The Latest: Newcastle enquiry

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs has shared that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) have now made contact about potentially signing Harrison before the window closes:

“Newcastle have enquired about Jack Harrison. That does tell you that, alongside a young, hot talent, they are also considering a bit more of a proven Premier League product.

“Newcastle are thinking of £20million to £25million if they’re to proceed and Leeds are holding out for £35million-plus.

“I don’t think that Newcastle, even though they are still considering that move, will pay above the odds. That’s the challenge. Newcastle are being very sensible and they’re getting quoted, at times, fees that are considerably above market.”

The Verdict: Patience needed

After selling both Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips to FC Barcelona and Manchester City respectively, Leeds don’t desperately need the cash and are clearly holding out for a sizeable fee for Harrison.

Therefore, the Magpies need to be patient and wait until towards the end of the window, where his valuation could drop.

Hailed as ‘really direct, quick and exciting to watch’ by former Whites ace David Norris, Harrison managed a handy ten goals and two assists in total over all competitions last season (Transfermarkt), as he helped Jesse Marsch’s side avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Nonetheless, the 25-year-old Englishman would be a smart signing for the Toon, but only at the right price.

It will take an astronomical fee for Leeds United to lure Ivan Toney away from Brentford this summer, reports the reliable Mark Douglas.

The Lowdown: Striker search drags on

Leeds aren’t making any secret of their search for a new goalscorer this summer but have so far had little success, with the move for Charles De Ketelaere seemingly faltering amid interest from Milan while interest in Arnaud Kalimuendo has also stalled.

Victor Orta is clearly desperate to snap up a new centre-forward for Jesse Marsch, even flying out to New York in connection with Valentin Castellanos, who now looks set to join Spanish side Girona.

Reports over the weekend name Toney as yet another target to reinforce the striker position, and Douglas has shared more information on the interest in the Bees star.

The Latest: £40m

According to the iNews reporter, Brentford have ‘no intention’ of selling Toney, but could be convinced if an eye-watering offer ‘close to the £40million mark’ arrived.

Douglas confirms Leeds are one of several Premier League clubs in the mix, name-checking the Whites alongside Newcastle, West Ham and Manchester United.

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The Verdict: Worth it

It’s hard to argue against Toney being an incredible candidate to rival or perhaps partner Patrick Bamford at Elland Road, given his phenomenal record since leaving Newcastle as a youngster.

The 26 year-old scored 49 times in 94 games for Peterborough before earning his move to Bees, where he has gone on to bag 47 goals in 89 appearances – OptaJoe called his end product ‘phenomenal’ as he obliterated the record for goals in a Championship season during the 2020/21 campaign.

Standing at 6 feet tall and ranking in the 88th percentile for strikers throughout Europe when it comes to aerial duels, the Englishman would provide a somewhat different type of threat to Bamford, and his place in the 84th percentile for progressive passes shows he could also turn creator and help the incumbent number nine thrive.

Yes, it would take a record fee to make this deal happen, but it could be just what Marsch needs to take his system to the next level. Get it done Victor.

A claim has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their efforts to sign Raphinha in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the club are in talks with the player’s agent as Fabio Paratici attempts to bring him to north London in the coming weeks.

Spurs will have to beat off interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona, though, as the journalist has provided an update on the race to land the winger.

He tweeted: “Raphinha deal. Arsenal have already scheduled a meeting with Leeds next week – Leeds will ask again for £65m fee. Barcelona still in contact with Deco after personal terms agreed, but no fresh bid yet. Tottenham and Chelsea, still in talks with agents. Race still open.”

Imagine him & Heung-min Son

If Tottenham can land a deal to sign the Whites star this summer then they can secure an exciting wing partnership with him and Son next season.

Whilst Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Moura are also set to be options out wide for Antonio Conte next season, Raphinha offers a big goal threat in the Premier League and having him and the ex-Leverkusen man on the wings is one of a number of combinations that could be used in 2022/23.

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In the top-flight last season, the Leeds man was sublime despite the club’s battle against relegation. He ended the campaign with 11 goals – a year on from scoring six in his first term – as he showed that he has the quality to score goals at an impressive rate at this level.

Creatively, he was let down by his teammates as he provided 10 ‘big chances’ and managed 1.9 key passes per game – only to register three assists. This suggests that the players he was playing alongside were not good enough to make the most of his passing ability.

With Son on the left-wing for Spurs, Raphinha, who was once dubbed a “phenomenon” by Emerson Royal, would find a player capable of finishing the chances that he is able to create.

The Tottenham star scored a whopping 23 Premier League goals last term from an xG of around 17, after finding the back of the net 17 times from around 11 xG in 2020/21.

These statistics show that he has immense finishing and would be able to thrive off the Leeds gem’s creativity, which is why they would be an exciting pair to watch play under Conte.

AND in other news: Conte could land Spurs masterclass in deal for “explosive” £30m gem, he’s Foden-esque…