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Arsenal’s interest in Wolves winger Pedro Neto ‘is real’, the reliable Steve Madeley has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Neto linked with move away

The Portuguese maestro is one of the most exciting players at Molineux, providing huge quality down the flanks when fully fit and firing, registering 23 goal involvements (11 goals and 12 assists) in total for Wanderers.

Unfortunately, Neto has been linked with a summer move to Arsenal in recent times, with Mikel Arteta perhaps seeing him as the final piece of the puzzle after their red-hot start to the season.

Bruno Lage’s side are already seriously lacking in attacking firepower, so to lose their up and coming superstar would be an enormous blow.

The Latest: Madeley confirms interest

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, The Athletic‘s Madeley confirmed that Arsenal want Neto but did add that they may not be able to sign him this summer:

“Arsenal’s interest in Pedro Neto is real and understandable. But it’s hard to see how they get him in this window.”

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The Verdict: Big loss if it happens…

Neto would be a huge loss for Wolves, with Premier League legend Alan Shearer describing him as a ‘huge talent’ and Lage surely desperate to keep hold of him.

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Goals are already coming at a premium for Wanderers, with only one scored in the league this season, so losing one of their biggest attacking threats is far from ideal.

Should Neto end up leaving this summer, it is essential that the funds are used to replace him immediately – if not, it is hard to see Wolves threatening the European places or even the top ten.

Napoli are reportedly willing to sell Victor Osimhen to Manchester United on two conditions.

The Lowdown: Osimhen rumours

Osimhen, dubbed ‘the most terrifying striker in Europe‘ by journalist and African football expert Saddick Adams, has been linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer.

Reports back in May suggested that the Red Devils actually made an ‘important offer’ for the forward, and after going quiet for a while, speculation has returned in the final days of the window with the club still not getting a new recognised number nine through the door.

The Latest: United rumours

The Manchester Evening News relayed an update from the Italian press on deadline day regarding Osimhen.

They claim that the Serie A side would be ‘willing to send’ Osimhen to Old Trafford on a season-long loan on two conditions.

The first would be United making a move permanent next summer for €100m (£86m), a fee worth more than what United paid for Antony, and the second being Cristiano Ronaldo joining Napoli.

The Verdict: Unlikely

Ronaldo is thought to be in the squad for tonight’s trip to Leicester, so it does seem extremely unlikely that United would be able agree to Napoli’s demands.

It is deadline day, though, so anything could happen, but United’s only chance may be to launch a late offer without the inclusion of Ronaldo.

On paper, Erik ten Hag could do with another forward to rival Anthony Martial and Ronaldo, and Osimhen may well be a brilliant addition after just coming off his best season in front of goal with 18 goals, so it could be a deal worth revisiting in January if one doesn’t materialise in the final hours.

Liverpool could look to the Championship to solve their midfield issues…

What’s the word?

According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, the Reds will focus their pursuits on Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge rather than the reported Douglas Luiz.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he claimed: “Klopp finally admitted they need some help in that area. I’ve not heard Douglas Luiz myself, but I heard they were interested in Sander Berge at Sheffield United.”

He is reportedly available for £35m which owes to a release clause.

Forget about Luiz

The hulking Norwegian has been a midfield colossus since signing for the Blades in 2020.

Still just 24 years old, Berge struggled for fitness and did not feature much during their stint in the Premier League.

However, since dropping down to the Championship he has proved how, with his immense physicality and wonderful technique, he would be a much better option for Jurgen Klopp than Luiz.

The Brazilian only boasts five goals and seven assists in his 106 Premier League appearances, whereas Berge last season scored five and assisted three, albeit in the second-tier.

For a side that dominates possession like Klopp’s to opt for the more offensive-minded midfielder would be integral.

It is especially important given how Fabinho will likely lock down the deeper role for many years to come, whereas Thiago and Jordan Henderson are 31 and 32 years old respectively.

Berge’s season has started in a similar fashion, with two goals and two assists in just seven games, whilst also boasting 1.3 key passes per game as well.

He could be the added piece of firepower needed to unlock the deep defences Liverpool often face, using his technique and brute strength to bully down the door.

Conversely, Luiz has started this season with just 0.5 key passes per game, creating zero big chances. His lack of forward-thinking would not make him a good fit at Anfield, where they would prefer the all-action style of the Sheffield United man.

In terms of how Klopp hopes to play, with an entertaining and attacking style, as well as with the type of midfielder that he is in need of, all signs point towards signing Berge over Luiz.

Leeds United had an official at Hampden Park on Wednesday evening to watch Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Mudryk, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Mudryk profiled

Mudryk is primarily a left winger but can also play on the right and as an attacking midfielder.

The 21-year-old, described as a ‘serious talent’ by Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Darijo Srna, has progressed through the academy with the Ukrainian side and has made 31 senior appearances.

He’s contributed to 16 goals in those games and is at the peak of his powers, valued at a career-high £13.5m by Transfermarkt.

The Latest: Leeds links

90min shared a story on Thursday regarding Mudryk, claiming that 11 Premier League sides had scouts in attendance in Scotland.

Leeds were one of those, with the report suggesting ‘most clubs were keeping an eye on Mudryk’.

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The Verdict: Evening to forget

Plenty of Premier League scouts were seemingly there for Mudryk, but he actually had an evening to forget at Hampden Park. As per SofaScore, Mudryk was the worst player on the pitch with a poor match rating of 5.3/10.

Playing on the left, Mudryk missed a big chance, lost 13 of his 14 duels, failed to complete any of his six attempted dribbles and lost possession 16 times.

It’s safe to say the Leeds scout sent to watch the player wouldn’t be providing a glowing report, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Whites continue to track the young forward.

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper could still leave the club during the international break, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Lowdown: Poor start to the season

Having welcomed 22 new signings to the City Ground this summer in a £152m transfer overhaul, the Tricky Trees have not got off to the start they would have been dreaming for upon their return to the Premier League this season.

Seven games deep into the 2022/23 campaign, Forest sit 19th in the league table, having gained just four points thus far.

However, the Reds are preparing to face bottom-place Leicester City at the King Power Stadium next Monday, with Cooper’s side looking to turn round their four-game losing streak.

The Latest: Sheth’s claim

Grouping Cooper alongside Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers and Wolves’ Bruno Lage for having come under scrutiny this season, Sheth believes that whilst it remains a possibility, he doesn’t think any of the three managers will lose their jobs – just yet.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the Sky Sports reporter claimed:

“That hasn’t happened at Leicester or at Nottingham Forest or at Wolves at all just yet. But then you’ve also got to remember what’s happening behind the scenes at the club as well.

“Because if, for example, they are after another manager, and they find that that manager is not available, say that manager became available the day after the international break finished, there’s still a possibility that one of these managers could still go.

“But as it stands, it seems like they’re going to be given that chance to turn things around at those clubs.”

The Verdict: Crucial fixture

Forest’s upcoming Premier League clash against the Foxes will prove to crucial for both Cooper and Rodgers as they face uncertainty over their futures at their respective clubs.

Leicester are yet to win a single game this season and have secured a draw just once, having lost the other five matches.

Cooper’s side, on the other hand, haven’t looked out of place going forward. Instead, they have continued to struggle defensively.

Therefore, Cooper’s back-line will need to firm-up if their manager is going to keep his job in the coming months.

Aston Villa face Leeds United in the Premier League this afternoon and the fixture represents a chance for Steven Gerrard’s men to build some momentum before the league halts due to the World Cup in six weeks’ time.

It hasn’t been all plain sailing for the 42-year-old manager this season, with the win against Southampton in their last outing only Villa’s second league victory of the season – as pressure slowly begins to build on the manager.

Gerrard could make some changes ahead of the tie, however, with a few players putting in disappointing performances in the win against Southampton, especially Leon Bailey.

On the chalkboard

Despite a solid 1-0 victory over the Saints, Villa had two weak links which could have potentially cost them all three points.

Philippe Coutinho and Bailey received SofaScore ratings of just 6.4 and 5.7 respectively, with the pair losing possession a staggering 43 times between them during their time on the pitch.

It was the Jamaican winger’s performance that was the most frustrating, however, especially since he had secured the side a 1-1 draw against champions Manchester City in their previous match, scoring the equaliser.

Bailey had just 44 touches against the Saints, was successful with just one dribble attempt and completed just eight successful passes during his 67-minute spell on the pitch.

It truly was a very poor performance for the £65k-per-week winger, who was described as a “big talent” by Gerrard and the 42-year-old can’t afford a similar showing from the forward against Leeds today.

This may mean a change in formation for Villa. Against Southampton, Gerrard lined his men up in a 4-3-3 formation, but if Bailey is dropped, he could revert to a 4-3-1-2, with Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings leading the line, with just Coutinho playing directly behind them and no out-and-out wingers.

Results are all that matter now for the Englishman, especially if he wants to remain in a job and it could mean a drop to the bench for the 25-year-old winger.

Leeds have been in decent form this campaign, but a 5-2 defeat to Brentford in their last match proves they are vulnerable at the back, and this is something Villa will be aiming to exploit.

When Matty Longstaff scored on his Newcastle United debut against Manchester United, it seemed as if the Magpies had a potential superstar on their hands.

Sadly, since then, the young midfielder has done little to suggest that he will ever make it as a Premier League player, and Eddie Howe should look to get rid of the 22-year-old at the earliest opportunity.

The younger brother of Sean, made his first team debut as a 19-year-old and scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win, adding another goal in a 4-1 defeat against the same opposition later in the season.

Longstaff’s only other goal for the club came in a FA Cup replay against Rochdale in the 2019/20 season, with the youngster unfortunately never kicking on from that eye-catching campaign.

The midfielder was sent on loan to Aberdeen for the first half of the 2021/22 season after struggling for regular game time in the 2021/22 campaign, with links to Udinese perhaps disrupting the youngster’s focus.

During his time in Scotland, he would manage just five appearances, in which he failed to score or assist, with his chances of making it in Newcastle’s first team quickly diminishing.

There were eyebrows raised when Longstaff joined Mansfield Town in League Two for the second half of last season but his performances there indicated that he could still have a promising future, as he contributed an impressive six goals and two assists in 18 appearances.

However, it became clear that he wasn’t part of Howe’s plans for this season and inexplicably, he was sent back on loan to League Two, this time with Colchester United.

After scoring six goals in a side challenging for promotion, it seems baffling that he was allowed to join Colchester, who look likely to be involved in a relegation battle this season, as surely a League One loan or return to Mansfield would have been far more beneficial.

The fact that he has made just six appearances for Colchester this season and has failed to score or assist, suggests that Longstaff simply does not have a future in Newcastle’s first team, and Howe must bite the bullet and get rid of him at the earliest opportunity.

West Ham United are holding talks ‘behind the scenes’ regarding a new contract for Craig Dawson, according to reliable journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: Wolves move collapses

The Athletic reported that the Irons accepted a £4m bid from Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers for the centre-back on deadline day, though a move fell through due to GSBK missing out on their replacement in Southampton’s Jan Bednarek.

The 32-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season which makes an exit increasingly likely, but it appears that David Moyes is keen to extend his stay at the London Stadium.

The Latest: West Ham enter Dawson talks

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Brown revealed that West Ham are currently in negotiations with Dawson over putting pen to paper on fresh terms:

“That is going on behind the scenes. I think Dawson knows he’s well-respected and well-liked at West Ham. They don’t particularly want him to go.”

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The Verdict: Let him go?

Dawson has been a loyal servant to West Ham over the years having made 80 appearances, but it would be the right decision to allow him to leave during the upcoming January transfer window.

The ‘top class’ veteran, as dubbed by sports journalist Josh Bunting, has only made two starts in the top flight this season, and picked up an injury whilst in Europa League action on Thursday, which could now see him sidelined for some time.

Dawson wanted to move to the Midlands for family reasons which suggests that he doesn’t see his long-term future with the Irons, and that’s why an exit would be best for both parties.

Aston Villa could be set to move for a former Premier League manager who is very highly rated…

What’s the latest?

Journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking to the Off The Ball podcast, issued a small update on Johan Lange’s quest to fill his club’s managerial vacancy.

He claimed: “Two outsiders just to keep an eye on, Bielsa, former Leeds manager, and AVB too.

“It’s an open race at the moment but one thing I do know is that a lot of the legwork behind formulating a short list and touting candidates had been done a week ago, which means the Villa board are not starting from now in terms of their recruitment.”

He could take them to the top

Marcelo Bielsa has earned the highest praise across the footballing world for his contribution to the various clubs he has graced.

His most notable success for English clubs was with Leeds United, where he finally gave the club what they had been craving for so long, returning them to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.

His outlandish, unorthodox but often brilliant brand of football saw them walk the Championship and finish in a sensational ninth in their returning season in the top flight.

Whilst his tenure may have ended on a sour note, having been dismissed by the Whites after a run of poor performances, his impact on the game as a whole cannot be overstated.

The Argentine was labelled a “genius” by Mauricio Pochettino and the “best coach in the world” by Pep Guardiola, top praise from some of the greatest coaches themselves in Europe.

Bielsa’s style of play does have risks that could result in a drop-off in results, but when it works his teams can compete with anyone. Perhaps with a much-improved squad to the largely Championship-level he had at Elland Road, he truly could excel.

Their win over Manchester City in April of 2021 stands testament to this, as they beat the would-be champions with ten men.

The upsides of appointing the 67-year-old are remarkable, and he really could take them to the very top. However, they have to be wary of the potential downsides too.

West Bromwich Albion are expected to make a managerial appointment within the ‘next few days’, according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett.

The Lowdown: Baggies interview Corberan

The Hawthorns outfit have been on the lookout to find Steve Bruce’s successor following his sacking earlier this month, and despite being linked to several candidates, are yet to land their man.

Former Huddersfield boss Carlos Corberan is believed to have held two interviews with the board, surely making him one of the favourites in the race to take over in the Championship.

The Latest: Dorsett’s update

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Dorsett revealed that the Baggies are now coming to the final stage of their employment process, revealing club officials want a deal done before Saturday afternoon.

“WBA have interviewed several managerial candidates today- some for the 2nd time- as they accelerate recruitment process.

“Club officials expect an appointment within the next few days and ideally before Saturday’s game at Millwall.

“Hierarchy confident process has been thorough.”

The Verdict: Ideal candidate

If Corberan is the man West Brom are seriously looking at bringing in, it’s easy to see why given his previous record in England.

During his spell at Huddersfield last season, the Spaniard took the Terriers all the way to the playoff final and was one game away from promotion thanks to his exciting 4-3-3 attacking formation.

Compensation also won’t need to be paid considering he’s currently a free agent so this is a move that could work out well for both parties.