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Leeds United could be set to secure a like-for-like transfer swap this January if reports are to be believed…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to TuttoMercatoWeb, who suggest that Sasa Lukic is preparing to leave Torino following weeks of continued reports linking him with a move.

Although resigned to losing him, the Italian outfit will demand a fee of around €20m (£18m). This would be seen as ‘an offer that cannot be refused’.

With Mateusz Klich also ready to leave Elland Road, it could mark a sensational switch around that could see the Yorkshire outfit benefit.

Bye-bye Klich

Despite being a mainstay for large parts of Marcelo Bielsa’s reign, it seems that in recent seasons the Poland international’s influence has waned.

The 32-year-old has made 192 total appearances for the Whites, although over the summer Jesse Marsch was keen to revamp his engine room by signing Tyler Adams and Marc Roca.

As such, Klich has been limited to an average of 18 minutes per game. During that time, his average rating of 6.55 is indicative of his diminished stature.

This is not far from the equally disappointing 6.67 rating he received last season.

He has been a loyal servant to the club, with Sky Sports presenter David Prutton labelling him an “unsung hero”, but his time may be up.

His replacement in Lukic has proven himself more than dependable and has excelled in this campaign in Italy.

Having been handed a 6.96 average rating, the 26-year-old has established himself as a combative presence boasting a touch of class.

The Serbian pairs 1.4 tackles per game with 1.0 key passes, alongside an 89% pass accuracy, via Sofascore.

In whichever position he is deployed he can excel and given his youth and talent, he marks a sensational upgrade on Klich.

Although, Josh Bunting did note that he looked particularly “outstanding protecting the back three.”

It may be tough to see a fan favourite depart, but when the alternative is so impressive it certainly will soften the blow.

The Daily Mail’s northeast reporter Craig Hope has revealed that Jonjo Shelvey has not had his one-year contract extension activated at Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Contract expiring

The 30-year-old’s contract at St James’ Park is set to expire next summer, with the option of a one-year extension.

The midfielder has recently been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a calf injury and had also struggled with a hamstring problem earlier this season.

The Latest: Extension not activated

Taking to Twitter, Hope has revealed that Shelvey’s one-year extension on his contract has not been activated amid his latest injury setback, which suggests that he could leave Newcastle once it expires.

The journalist tweeted: “Jonjo Shelvey now facing 6-8 weeks out with calf injury. As far as I understand, his one-year contract extension has not yet been activated.”

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The Verdict: Time to go?

There is no doubt that Shelvey has been a great servant under Eddie Howe, who labelled the 30-year-old a ‘huge player’ for him having been a regular under the Newcastle boss last season, even being given the captain’s armband on occasion (Transfermarkt).

However, he has picked up far too many injuries over the years, and at 30, his best footballing years are probably behind him now.

Nonetheless, the Magpies can already call upon the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Joe Willock in Shelvey’s position, or alternatively sign another midfielder if they feel that one is needed.

Tottenham Hotspur continue to be linked with plenty of potential incomings for the upcoming January window, which hints that Antonio Conte has another war chest to unleash in his bid to revolutionise his club.

It seems that one particular area of interest is in midfield, where the Italian seeks to add creativity and unpredictability to bolster his attack and offer something more when his team cannot break down stubborn opposition.

Whilst James Maddison might be the immediate option, given how he is already excelling in the Premier League, perhaps Conte could return to his homeland to find a superb alternative for a fraction of the price.

The 26-year-old boasts seven goals and four assists already this term, looking to build upon last season’s haul of 18 goals and 12 assists. Despite this, a reported price tag of £60m could put him just out of reach for the Lilywhites.

Instead, they could act upon rumours which emerged earlier in the month and finally sign long-term target Ruslan Malinovskyi.

Reportedly available for just €15m (£13m) and having failed in a summer bid, Tottenham could now save themselves millions and reignite their interest in a player of similar pedigree to Maddison.

Despite enduring a poor season, with just three goal contributions to his name, the Ukraine international has proven on numerous occasions that he can be a top performer.

Just last season he recorded 17 goal contributions across the board, while in the 2020/21 campaign he scored eight goals and set up 12 in Serie A alone. During that campaign, football journalist Fernando Evangelio even lauded the Atalanta dynamo as “an animal” after he had scored again.

As such, Malinovskyi sits in the top 4% for progressive passes, the top 7% for assists and the top 9% for total shots among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues in 2022 (via FBref), a firm indicator of his attacking threat.

The midfielder has been a consistently creative presence for years now at Atalanta, as outlined in his tally of 58 goal contributions across 142 appearances at the club.

Although the Ukrainian’s numbers might seem to falter when compared to the recent successes of Maddison, the disparity is not so large that it demands spending an extra £37m on the Englishman.

Therefore, Conte must seal an ideal alternative in the reliable maverick Malinovskyi.

Everton selling Jordan Pickford would be a worrying sign that they are struggling financially, according to an update from journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: Pickford linked with exit

The 28-year-old has been one of the Blues’ standout players throughout 2022, playing a big part in them avoiding relegation from the Premier League last season.

Pickford has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park recently however, with a summer exit reportedly on the cards once the 2022/23 campaign ends.

It would be the second summer in a row they lose a high profile player after Richarlison’s move to Tottenham, so the hope is that the England international stays put.

The Latest: Journalist worried about finances

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown said that Pickford moving on next summer would suggest that Everton have no choice but to generate funds through sales:

“I think the uncertainty is unhelpful to everyone. If Everton want Pickford to stay, they should get that done as quickly as possible. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t.

“If they were to sell Pickford, I think it would be a giant warning sign that they really are struggling for cash and that the ambitions might not be the same as they were.”

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The Verdict: Concerning time at Everton

There is no doubt that this is a concerning time for Everton, with results on the pitch hugely disappointing and the pressure building on Frank Lampard all the time.

Losing Pickford would further weaken the Blues, with the Englishman described as ‘outstanding’ by Leon Osman and winning three Man of the Match awards from WhoScored this season.

The hope is that the goalkeeper remains at Everton beyond the summer, and if he is sold for financial reasons, it will be a big worry for supporters, especially at a time when their new stadium is being built.

Liverpool have been run into the ground; after years of Jurgen Klopp’s relentless machine churning away, grinding results, eking every last drop of passion from an immensely talented cluster of players, the unity and cohesion has fallen from the heart of the squad.

The illustrious Merseyside outfit currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League, seven points off fourth-placed Manchester United and leaking goals like a faulty tap, with the recent 3-1 chastening defeat away to Brentford illuminating the issues the club are beset with.

Since the 2018/19 season, Thiago Alcantara is the one senior central midfield signing to have bolstered Liverpool’s ranks, illustrating an inscrutable approach to the transfer field, with the likes of Gini Wijnaldum, integral in the robust pivot role under Klopp, failing to be aptly replaced.

Thiago, for all of his supreme ball-playing excellence, is not a box-to-box midfielder, and such a signing is of paramount importance to the future success of this Liverpool team.

They are now in serious danger of missing out on a crucial Champions League place for the first time in six seasons, when Klopp assumed the role of head coach at the weathered and withered team and breathed fresh life that preceded an abundance of major honours, including the Premier League and the Champions League.

While Jude Bellingham is the most prominent name touted to join the Reds at some point in 2023, it is perhaps the shrewder approach in targeting Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister that would bear fruit as Klopp and his team look to steady the ship.

Signing for the Seagulls in 2019 from homeland outfit Argentinos Juniors, Mac Allister has since gone from strength to strength, playing an integral role in the side’s ascension as a Premier League outfit capable of competing for a spot in a coveted European position.

His influence this season has been immense, scoring five goals from 15 appearances in the league from his dynamic role within the team; this is a discernible increase in efficiency from last year, when he forged five goals and two assists from 35 appearances in the English top-flight.

As per Whoscored, the 23-year-old has recorded a passing accuracy of 80% or higher in every competition since the 2020/21 season, indicating an assured aura that will be a definitive element piquing Klopp’s interest at present; Wijnaldum, however, has not dropped below 84% since initially arriving in England with Newcastle United.

Wijnaldum signed for the Reds for £25m from the Magpies in 2016 and much like that of the Dutchman, whose ubiquity and tireless attitude at the club has been sorely missed ever since his departure to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2021, the Seagulls ace could indeed pave the foundation for a career of stability and style under the Anfield lights.

The Argentine’s excellent Sofascore rating of 7.27 in the league is a testament to his diligence and incremental gains made at Albion, and it is no coincidence that his growth lays parallel with his teams, with his seasonal heat map also illustrating the intense work rate that will suit Liverpool’s German boss to a tee.

Mac Allister could truly emerge as Liverpool’s “golden boy” – a turn of phrase used by Ryan Adsett – having already tasted gilt-edged success in the form of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the £44m-rated maestro placing a brilliant assist for Angel Di Maria’s opener during the historic finale.

A once imperious outfit looks bereft of power after several high-octane years, not quite battered, but certainly in need of fortification, and Mac Allister could be the battery to charge an ascension right back to the top.

Chelsea have made contact with the agent of Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram to discuss a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

The Lowdown: After Nkunku

The Blues have already agreed a deal to sign RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku in the summer, but that hasn’t stopped them from wanting to bolster their attacking ranks this month in a bid to secure a top-four finish.

Thuram will be out of contract at the end of the season and could be available on a cut-price deal having not yet signed fresh terms at Gladbach, and following a recent update, there’s a possibility that he could soon be making his way to Stamford Bridge.

The Latest: Chelsea hold Thuram talks

According to 90min, Chelsea have ‘spoken with the representatives’ of the France forward to discover his availability, with the club ‘hoping to secure’ a deal before the end of the January transfer window.

Graham Potter’s recruitment team are believed to be ‘sensing a potential bargain’ given the striker’s contract situation, and Gladbach are ‘keen’ to sanction his sale this month, with the west Londoners’ interest ‘welcomed’.

However, the 25-year-old wants to ‘explore’ his options before making a final decision on what his next destination will be.

The Verdict: Massive coup if it comes off

Thuram has previously been dubbed a ‘beast’ by Jacek Kulig, and it would be a massive coup for Chelsea should they be able to fend off competitors and secure the Frenchman’s signature this month.

The 25-year-old has clocked up an outstanding 67 goal contributions (41 goals and 26 assists) in just 119 Bundesliga appearances, highlighting how prolific he can be in the final third (Transfermarkt).

Armando Broja has been ruled out for the season after sustaining a serious knee injury, so Thuram would also provide excellent cover and competition for places for the other attacking members of the squad at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal are interested in a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha after missing out on the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk, according to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari.

The Lowdown: Arsenal suffer Mudryk transfer blow

On Saturday, Sky Sports reported that Chelsea had pipped the Gunners to a deal for Mudryk, despite Mikel Arteta’s side having been in talks with the 22-year-old as recently as Friday.

It was a clear blow for Arsenal, with the Ukrainian an attacker of huge promise who had accrued 18 goal contributions in as many games this season and could cost Chelsea as much as £88.5m, and it means that the club may now turn their attention elsewhere.

The Gunners were linked with a move for Raphinha last summer prior to him joining Barcelona, and it looks as though their interest in the 26-year-old hasn’t gone away.

The Latest: Raphinha back on Arsenal’s radar

Taking to Twitter, Longari claimed that Arsenal could now see the former Leeds United winger as a viable alternative to Mudryk.

Sharing a corresponding article from Sport Italia which stated that ‘exploratory contacts’ have been made but no offer yet forthcoming, the reporter tweeted:

“Arsenal are still interested in Raphinha from Barcelona after Chelsea’s Mudryk deal.”

The Verdict: Strong option for Arteta

Raphinha has struggled to impress consistently since joining Barcelona, managing only seven starts in La Liga, scoring just twice, and not necessarily looking like a key part of Xavi’s future plans.

For that reason, a return to the Premier League could appeal to the 26-year-old, who scored 17 goals and registered 12 assists during his time at Leeds, including a penalty in the 2-1 win at Brentford which ultimately spared them from relegation last year.

Raphinha would add competition for places in attack at the Emirates Stadium, allowing Arteta to rotate more effectively. His wand-like left foot is always capable of wreaking havoc, having been hailed as a ‘magician’ by former Whites team-mate Dan James and regularly scoring with his left.

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Sunderland are yet to make their first splash in the January transfer window as Kristjaan Speakman and Tony Mowbray work to improve the squad before the end of the month.

The Black Cats are in the market to add to their options at the top end of the pitch after Ellis Simms was recalled by parent club Everton at the start of January, having spent the first half of the campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light.

It was recently reported by The Northern Echo that Mowbray now wants to bring in another striker on loan, alongside a permanent addition in that position, and that a forward from the Premier League is likely at this moment in time.

That player could be Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Deniz Undav, as the German has been linked with a move to Sunderland. Football League World recently named the Black Cats among a number of Championship clubs – alongside Blackburn, West Brom, Millwall and Norwich – who are eyeing up the forward.

He has not started a single Premier League match for the Seagulls this term, and the allure of regular first-team football in the second tier could convince him to drop down a division for the second half of the season.

Simms played one top-flight match in 2021/22 but then proved to be a reliable striker in the Championship for Sunderland as he scored seven goals in 14 starts, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.03.

Sunderland could now replace the Englishman’s impact by swooping to sign another Premier League outcast in Undav, as the German forward caught the eye in Belgium last season.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the 26-year-old plundered a whopping 26 goals and 12 assists in 38 Pro League starts, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.58.

The striker created an eye-catching 21 ‘big chances’ and delivered two key passes per match for Union Saint-Gilloise. This shows that he has the quality to be a regular provider as well as a goalscorer, which makes him a double threat at the top end of the pitch.

Speaking to Brighton’s YouTube channel earlier this season, the forward provided insight into his playing style in the final third, saying: “I can score inside the box, outside the box, I can score from the middle line, I can score from everywhere. I have no typical type of goal. I try to score with my head, with the left foot, right foot, with my shoulder, with everything.”

This suggests that Undav would suit any style of play as a striker due to his ability to score from a multitude of positions in a number of different ways.

Therefore, Sunderland must now swoop to sign him before the end of the month, as his phenomenal form in Belgium suggests that he has the potential to be a dream Simms replacement heading into the last four months of the season.

Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko was lauded by The Athletic pundit Jack Collins for one  ‘very special’ moment during Arsenal’s 3-2 victory against Manchester United on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Huge win for Arsenal

The Gunners once again proved their mettle in a huge match against in-form United, with Eddie Nketiah striking late to send his team five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

There were flashes of individual brilliance throughout the match, with both Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka netting from outside the penalty box, and Zinchenko was also singled out for his role in Nketiah’s equalising goal in the first half.

The Latest: Zinchenko lauded

While Saka will no doubt receive plenty of plaudits for his remarkable solo effort, Collins lauded the Ukrainian for his pass in the build-up to Nketiah’s header, which drew Arsenal level midway through the first half.

The pundit tweeted: “What a game already. Great ball from Xhaka, great movement from Nketiah, but Zinchenko’s composure in the recycling of that corner, and ability to pick the non-obvious pass, is very special.”

The Verdict: Impressive display

Not only was the Ukraine full-back vital in Arsenal’s first goal, he also put in another solid display in a defensive sense, making two interceptions, two tackles and winning the one aerial duel that he contested (Sofascore).

The 26-year-old displayed his ability to pick out the right pass for the first goal, and he continued to look comfortable on the ball throughout the 90 minutes, completing 57 of the 65 passes that he attempted (88% accuracy).

It will not get any easier for Arsenal next time out, as they travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup on Friday night, but Mikel Arteta will know that his side stand a great chance of another victory if Zinchenko and the rest of the team perform at the same level as they did today.

Everton are reportedly ‘interested’ in signing Shakhtar Donetsk winger Tete, who is on loan at Lyon.

The Lowdown: Gordon replacement?

It was reported this morning that Anthony Gordon returned to Finch Farm after missing training for the last three days, which comes with the news that Sean Dyche is expected to become the next manager at Goodison Park.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has since given an update on the winger amid strong links to Newcastle United, with him saying that a deal has now been ‘agreed’ worth £45m, and he will have his medical on Tyneside ‘in the next 24 hours’.

Once Gordon leaves, then the Merseyside club will be expected to be looking for a replacement, which would likely become Dyche’s first signing in charge.

The Latest: Tete interest

Taking to Twitter, journalist Alex Crook says that the Toffees, as well as Leicester City, are ‘interested’ in signing Tete:

“Understand #LCFC and #EFC are both interested in signing Lyon winger Tete. Not sure that’s the case with #LUFC at this stage.”

The Verdict: Get it done

With Gordon heading to the North East, it is imperative that the Blues get a replacement in, and they should be looking to sign Tete ahead of their Premier League rivals.

However, they may have to be quick, with reports that Leicester are making good progress with a deal.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed Tete as a player who has been ‘on fire’ so far this season, evidenced by the fact that he has six goals and five assists in 19 games in total over all competitions from the wing (Transfermarkt).

At just 22, the Brazilian is only one year older than Gordon, and so would be a viable replacement once the Englishman makes his move to the Magpies.