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Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the market to boost their squad depth in January and Gary O'Neil is now said to be targeting a player with previous experience of playing in England, according to a report.

Wolverhampton Wanderers look to January…

Despite being hamstrung in the summer by Financial Fair Play restrictions that led to the eventual departure of former boss Julen Lopetegui, Wolves were able to get some late business over the line to ensure an element of freshness was present in their squad heading into the first half of the campaign.

Nevertheless, January could be a busy month for the Old Gold in the market as O'Neil looks to ensure his side's healthy buffer between themselves and the relegation zone remains intact. Last week, The Telegraph reported that a striker and a winger will take precedence regarding incomings at Molineux, with Viktoria Plzen attacker Rafiu Durosinmi believed to be a target that could cost in the region of £7 million.

Meanwhile, outcast Fabio Silva, fellow striking option Sasa Kalajdzic and experienced defender Jonny Otto could leave the club in the same month following limited game time this season.

O'Neil could land dream Dawson replacement in Wolves move for 6ft 1 "monster"

Wolves may be looking to complete a few signings next month to bolster their squad.

By
Ross Kilvington

Dec 23, 2023

Information regarding the former's potential next move has come to light, with TEAMtalk reporting that Silva is attracting interest from north of the border from Celtic and Rangers, who would both be keen on sanctioning a loan deal for the out-of-favour striker in January.

Any deal to take Silva to either of Glasgow's big two would hinge on a percentage of his £80,000 per week wages being covered, though he is keen to ensure his development is furthered by playing regularly in the second half of 2023/24. Now, Wolves could be set to target a defensive reinforcement as O'Neil courts squad depth once the January transfer window opens for business.

Wolves want Bright Osayi-Samuel

According to TEAMtalk, Wolves have seemingly made contact by expressing their interest over a move to sign Fenerbache right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel, although he is also on the radar of Leeds United and Crystal Palace, with the Eagles the team leading the way at this moment in time.

The Nigeria international would be attracted to the possibility of returning to England, this time in the Premier League, after spending two years in Turkey following his previous spell on British shores with Queens Park Rangers. Out of contract in 2025, the 25-year-old could also be available for a modest fee if he fails to agree new terms with Fenerbache.

Labelled "dangerous" by former manager Mark Warburton, Osayi-Samuel has registered two goals and four assists in 23 appearances across all competitions this term (Osayi-Samuel statistics – Transfermarkt).

Wolves have a fairly thin squad due to their recruitment issues in the summer, with only two senior right-back options, so bringing in the Okija-born man could help to add defensive solidity and attacking prowess on the right-hand side of O'Neil's backline.

Newcastle United are now ready to make an offer to sign an "extraordinary" player in the near future, according to a new transfer update.

Newcastle could sign new attacker

Eddie Howe's side have not been without their problems this season, with constant injury problems threatening to derail their campaign at times.

Newcastle are already out of the Champions League after failing to get past the group stage, and they didn't even go into the Europa League play-offs as a result of their 4th-placed finish.

Meanwhile, they lost on penalties to Chelsea in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday night and have plenty of work to do to repeat last season's fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

However, the January transfer window will afford Howe the opportunity to make new signings, and it could be that they will target a new attacking player.

Both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak have found themselves in and out of the team through injury this season, and added firepower could potentially make a big difference between now and the end of the campaign.

VfB Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy has been linked with a move to Newcastle, with the 27-year-old enjoying a stunning season that has seen him score 17 goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances, 12 of which have been starts.

It looks as though the Magpies could be eyeing another attacking player, however, following a new report that has emerged regarding their possible January transfer business.

Newcastle want Joshua Zirkzee

According to Milan Web [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are keen on signing Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, with the Magpies willing to battle AC Milan for his signature.

The report claims that they are "ready to put" as much as €50m (£43.3m) on the table for the 22-year-old forward, and PIF would "guarantee a mega salary" for him, which could turn his head.

Zirkzee is a hugely exciting player who is impressing so much for Bologna at the moment, so the idea of him in a Newcastle shirt is mouthwatering. This season, the Dutchman has scored seven times and registered two assists in 15 Serie A starts, while Bologna coach Thiago Motta recently lauded him after a goalscoring performance against Sassuolo, saying:

"It was an excellent goal from a player with extraordinary qualities. He scored a similar goal in training. Joshua is very talented, but I want to emphasize that he also works very hard for it."

Bringing in Zirkzee could make such a difference to Newcastle's attack in the coming months, and with Wilson now 31 years of age, he could even be viewed as a long-term partner for Isak, not to mention someone who can provide stiff competition should Howe only play one striker in some games.

Newcastle signing £51m "phenom" could be bad news for Gordon

This £51m “silent assassin” could be coming for Gordon’s spot in the Newcastle team.

By
Adam Scully

Dec 21, 2023

At 22, he would be a long-term signing rather than a quick fix, and his 6 foot 4 stature makes him an imposing striker, but who is also strong technically, with WhoScored picking out dribbling and passing as two of the Magpies transfer target's main strengths.

Jesse Lingard looks set to return to action for FC Seoul just over a month after having a knee operation.

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• Lingard joined Seoul in early 2024
• Underwent knee surgery in April
• Ex-Man Utd man set for injury return

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lingard, who made a shock move to Seoul in February, underwent surgery on his meniscus in his knee last month but it seems the 31-year-old is already back in contention to play for the South Korean side this weekend.

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• WHAT JESSE LINGARD SAID

  In an Instagram post, the former Manchester United and West Ham player uploaded several photos of him back in training and wrote: "Ready for the game tomorrow ⚡️⚡️⚡️🚀🚀🚀 @fcseoul."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite finally ending his lengthy spell without a club, following his release by Nottingham Forest nearly a year ago, Lingard has been repeatedly criticised by FC Seoul boss Kim Gi-dong. The ex-West Ham loanee has been called out for his lack of effort and to date he has played just three times for the K League 1 side. The England international will hope he can turn things around quickly.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Seoul, who sit eighth in the league after 12 matches, host second from bottom Daegu on Sunday. Lingard will hope to get some game time in this upcoming encounter.

Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a move for a "superb" young player in the January transfer window, potentially seeing him as a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah.

Mohamed Salah's Liverpool future

Salah's future has been a major talking point of late, with the 31-year-old the subject of a huge £150m bid from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad last summer. The Reds rejected their advances, ensuring their star player stayed put for another season, but their interest is almost certain to return later this year, and there is another unnamed Middle East club in contact for Salah now too.

Liverpool will no doubt be braced for offers for the Egyptian superstar, who continues to stand out as comfortably his side's most relentless attacking player, and he will have to make a big decision over his future at the end of the season. His contract is up at Anfield next year, so he will either have to sign an extension in 2024, or find a new challenge.

The better outcome is to see Salah remain on Merseyside, considering he is still one of the best players in world football, but if he does move on, it is essential that the Reds bring in a spectacular replacement during the summer transfer window.

Liverpool eyeing Johan Bakayoko

According to Caught Offside, PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko is seen as a target for Liverpool, with a move even potentially happening this month, due to Salah's involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.

"Sources with a close understanding of the situation inside Anfield have informed CaughtOffside that Liverpool have as many as six main names on their list of targets for defence, midfield, and attack, with the latter being something they could be tempted to look at closely this January due to the absence of Mohamed Salah, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt."

Bakayoko looks like a player of immense potential, being hailed as a "superb" footballer by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and enjoying a wonderful season for PSV to date, chipping in with 11 goal contributions (three goals and eight assists) in 16 Eredivisie appearances.

Still only 20 years of age, Bakayoko has Salah's ability to cut inside onto his left foot from a right-sided attacking role, and he is already producing such impressive levels of end product, despite his tender years. While the Belgian likely wouldn't be able to come straight in and hit the heights of the Liverpool legend from the off, he could be an eye-catching long-term addition at Anfield, with his potential clearly through the roof.

Bakayoko could even be a great signing even if Salah stays this summer, arriving as a squad player, before eventually usurping the Egypt legend when he does finally drift past his peak.

Manchester United staff were reportedly livid that YouTuber IShowSpeed attended the club's FA Cup final victory party – and they didn't.

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• Man Utd beat Man City to win FA Cup
• IShowSpeed attended victory party
• United staff not happy at his presence

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United upset Premier League champions City to win the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory at Wembley last weekend. Now, according to the , the popular YouTuber, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr, was invited by United star Alejandro Garnacho to an after-party at the Marriott Hotel in Mayfair over the weekend. This reportedly did not go down well with many of the club's non-playing staff.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United's traditional end of season awards were cancelled by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in mid-May; partly so the men's team could focus on the FA Cup final, but also reportedly as part of his cost-cutting drive at the club. Therefore, the fact the 19-year-old was partying with the Red Devils players has left a bitter taste in the mouth of many of United's employees as they were not invited to the post-Wembley triumph.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  This comes amid the news that United's non-football staff were reportedly given a week to decide if they want to continue working at the Red Devils as Ratcliffe looks to decrease spending. A spokesperson for the club said: "This isn't a voluntary redundancy programme. The club recognises that not everyone wants to work from the office full-time so has provided options for staff who don't wish to return to the office to step away now."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  With Ratcliffe's INEOS group running footballing matters at United going forward, it remains to be seen which further changes he will implement at the Premier League giants. The next big decision is whether or not manager Erik ten Hag will keep his job.

Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw at Everton on Sunday stopped them from putting more pressure on Liverpool in first place.

The point ultimately put Unai Emery’s side third in the Premier League after 21 matches.

Despite the season already being a success, the boss is keen to add a couple of new additions to the squad in January.

Aston Villa’s search for an attacker

According to talkSPORT, Jonathan Rowe is a target for Aston Villa this transfer window with the Midlands side having 'clocked onto' his outstanding performances in the Championship so far this season.

However, they will not be alone in their quest for the attacker, with West Ham reportedly also interested.

Furthermore, David Wagner is confident of keeping hold of his star man this January.

January transfer window: All the deadline day deals from England and Scotland

Stay on top of all the latest transfer deals across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL as the January window closes.

By
Charlie Smith

Feb 1, 2024

The stats that show Rowe would be a good signing for Villa

Many top sides in the Premier League often overlook signing players from the Championship, but Villa knows how effective that strategy can be, with Ollie Watkins being the prime example of that.

The striker joined from Brentford in the summer of 2020 for £28m, and his move has been nothing short of successful, as the striker has netted 57 goals and registered 23 assists in 145 appearances.

Therefore, Emery could look to repeat that Watkins trick by acquiring another star from the Championship this season in the form of Rowe.

The 20-year-old winger only played in three matches last season for Norwich, but since scoring in all his first five matches of this campaign, he has arguably become one of the first names on the team sheet, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig having described his performances as "amazing."

Rowe is a versatile star who can comfortably play across the attack, which fits in with Emery’s likeness for having tactically flexible individuals. Nonetheless, the table below shows a handful of his stats from this season and how he compares to positionally similar players in the second tier.

Rowe happens to be Norwich’s top scorer this season with 11 goals in the Championship, five more than the second-highest, Adam Idah. This equates to 0.57 goals per ninety minutes on average, which ranks in the top two percentile for attackers in the league.

The Englishman has outperformed his xG and his goals/shot ratio is also in the top six percentile of positionally similar Championship players, highlighting the fact that he is a clinical finisher.

The Canaries ace is extremely hard-working off the ball, performing his defensive duties to a high standard, as shown by his tackles, tackles in the middle third of the pitch and his high touches in the defensive third metrics.

This attribute, along with his goal-scoring prowess, has drawn comparisons to Sadio Mane by Kulig, as the former Liverpool icon was known for his work off the ball and famously scoring 120 goals in 269 games for the Merseyside club.

The hunger to be relentless off the ball would make Rowe slot perfectly into Emery’s intense system and philosophy, and the ability to play as an inverted midfielder, a winger, and a number ten makes him a valuable player to have. It would be a smart signing that wouldn’t be overly expensive.

Harry Redknapp has claimed that Kylian Mbappe is "miles away" from reaching the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Euro 2024.

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• Mbappe makes the move to Real Madrid
• Redknapp says he's still not close to Messi or CR7
• Backs Kane for Euros' Player of the Tournament

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe has finally made his long-awaited move to Real Madrid as Los Blancos announced the Frenchman's move on Monday. However, legendary former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp has claimed that the 25-year-old is not in the same bracket as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have put up insane numbers over the past 15 years. He also revealed that England striker Harry Kane has his backing to win the Player of the Tournament ahead of Mbappe at the European Championship in Germany.

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• WHAT REDKNAPP SAID

  Speaking to BetVictor, Redknapp said: "Kylian Mbappe is a real talent but when it comes to the Player of the Tournament, I’d rather side with one of the England players.

  "Mbappe is hot and cold. He can be the best player on the pitch in one game then you might not see anything of him in the next.

  "He is a great player but I still wouldn’t put him in the same bracket as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He is miles away from being what those two have been for the last 15 years.

  "I can see why he’s favourite for the Player of the Tournament award, but I’d rather be backing one of the England players like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe, Kane, Foden and Bellingham have all had very spectacular seasons heading into the Euros and are the outright favourites to win the Player of the Tournament award in Germany. Kane shone in a record-breaking debut season at Bayern Munich, while Foden spearheaded Manchester City's latest title charge and Bellingham became a Champions League and La Liga winner at Real Madrid. Mbappe, meanwhile, signed off at Paris Saint-Germain with a French double.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  While the odds suggest that Mbappe will be the outright standout player, it will only be when the Euros actually begin that the performances can be judged properly. The Euros will kick off on June 14 when Germany take on Scotland at Allianz Arena.

Crystal Palace have seemingly made a move to win the race for Chelsea forward Armando Broja, according to reports.

Crystal Palace form under Hodgson

The Eagles are in a woeful run of form under Roy Hodgson, winning just one of their last 12 games in all competitions. As a result, Hodgson’s future has been placed in doubt, with the likes of Steve Cooper and Julen Lopetegui named as possible replacements for the current Palace boss.

A change in the dugout could help turn the club’s fortunes around, however, Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman also have the January transfer window to add quality to the squad.

A new attacker at Selhurst Park has been linked this month, with an offer made for Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah, whereas FC Krasnodar’s Jhon Cordoba and Sunderland’s Jack Clarke have also been mooted as targets. Broja appears to be another target, with a new update now emerging.

Armando Broja transfer update

According to HITC, Crystal Palace have made contact with Chelsea by expressing their interest in a deal for Broja. The Eagles aren’t alone, though, as Fulham, West Ham and Wolves have also done the same.

The report adds that Chelsea are ready to part ways with the forward before the end of the January transfer window and want at least £35m for his services. Another way the Blues are open to doing business is a loan with an obligation to buy.

The 22-year-old has only scored three goals in all competitions since the beginning of the 2022/23 season but has been limited to starts at Stamford Bridge.

Broja has been praised in the past by former Chelsea and Everton manager Frank Lampard, who saw the forward up close during his time at Stamford Bridge.

“He’s a very nice, very good lad and a very talented young boy. ‘He came into us at the start of the Covid times, trained with us and showed the attributes that I think you’re seeing now in the Premier League at Southampton. He’s fast, strong, has a real eye for goal and he’s a very, very good young player so I’m very aware of his strengths in a Southampton team playing very well.”

Meanwhile, Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has also hailed Broja in the past, labelling his attributes back in 2022, saying:

Therefore, securing the services of someone like Broja ahead of the likes of Fulham, Wst Ham and Wolves could be just what the Eagles need for the remainder of the season and in the long run, making this one to keep an eye on.

Marcus Rashford has been given a warning about his England future following Gareth Southgate's decision to leave him out for Euro 2024.

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• Rashford did not make the cut for Euro 2024
• Warned not to follow Gascoigne's path
• Midfielder did not return after snub in 1998

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  To the surprise of many, Rashford's name did not appear on the list of England players who would be heading to Germany for Euro 2024. The Manchester United winger struggled to hit his best form in the Premier League last season and did not even make the bolstered provisional squad. Former Three Lions international David Seaman has compared his situation to Paul Gascoigne, who did not return to the national team after not being included for the 1998 World Cup.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rashford has gone from hero to zero for both club and country as he sits and watches this summer's tournament from home. While he is capable of performing moments of magic, Southgate prides himself on consistency and form, something the 26-year-old has had nothing of in 2023-24. He has a lot of work to do if he is to play himself back into the squad following Euro 2024 ahead of the likes of Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer.

• WHAT SEAMAN SAID

  In his column for Betway Insider, Seaman said: "The Rashford situation makes me think back to Glenn Hoddle leaving Paul Gascoigne out for the 1998 World Cup. We all had our allotted times to see the manager, and when Gazza went in, I had no idea of what was going to happen. He found out he wasn’t going and had a huge argument with Glen Hoddle. Gazza was so devastated, it was hard to pick him up and get him on the plane home.

  "I’d never have imagined that would be the end of his England career. He wasn’t always fit, but he was still so brilliant and always seemed to make an impact. Once the manager’s made that call, though, it doesn’t look good. It can happen in football – you get left out once, and that’s it, you’re done."

  Seaman added: "It's sad to see one of England's best players struggling, though, because everybody knows what Marcus is capable of."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

  The Manchester United man posted a good luck message to his international teammates ahead of their trip to Germany and it is likely that watching from a TV screen will only motivate Rashford to pick up the levels again. He only bagged seven goals in the Premier League last season but in 2022-23 he hit 17.

GOAL breaks down what the U.S. team will look like for this summer's tournament on home soil

The Copa America is heading back to the United States and, for the hosts, this summer's tournament will be a vital measuring stick as we reach the halfway point on the road to the 2026 World Cup.

The U.S. men's national team will be looking to build on the successes of the 2022 World Cup cycle, and on the road to 2026, this summer's Copa America will be their biggest test. For years, this group has been desperate to prove that they can hang with the world's elite; well, here's their chance. Teams like Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay are up there with the best on the planet, and if the U.S. wants to be considered among them, an extended run in this tournament is the only way to prove it.

Back in 2016, the last time the tournament was hosted stateside, a U.S. team under Jurgen Klinsmann put forth a respectable showing, making it all the way to the semifinals before being trounced by Lionel Messi's Argentina, and eventually fell in a third-place game against Colombia, too.

A run to the semis will feel like the bare minimum for Gregg Berhalter and co. this summer. He has a talented young group at his disposal, perhaps more talented than any U.S. team we've ever seen. As such, Berhalter has needed to make some tough choices this summer in terms of his roster selection as he looks to guide the U.S. through a big moment in this group's history.

So who is on the USMNT Copa America squad? GOAL takes a look at the official 26-man roster.

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  GOALKEEPERS

  Matt Turner remains the USMNT's No.1, and despite his lack of minutes at club level for Nottingham Forest, it doesn't feel like that'll change any time soon. There isn't quite anyone in position to challenge him at the moment, and his U.S. performances have never shown any sign of dropping off.

  Behind him, Ethan Horvath remains the clear backup, with Johnson behind him.

  Name	Club
  Ethan Horvath	Cardiff City
  Sean Johnson	Toronto FC
  Matt Turner	Nottingham Forest

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  DEFENDERS

  At right-back, Sergino Dest was set to be the go-to starter before his untimely injury. Joe Scally is his replacement, though Tim Weah and Shaq Moore provide alternative options. Antonee Robinson, meanwhile, is a lock at left-back, while Kristoffer Lund will provide backup.

  Centrally, Tim Ream and Chris Richards seem are the starters, but all three of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson will be competing for minutes.

  Name	Club
  Cameron Carter-Vickers	Celtic
  Kristoffer Lund	Palermo
  Mark McKenzie	Genk
  Shaq Moore	Nashville SC
  Tim Ream	Fulham
  Chris Richards	Crystal Palace
  Antonee Robinson	Fulham
  Miles Robinson	FC Cincinnati
  Joe Scally	Borussia Monchengladbach

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  MIDFIELDERS

  The MMA midfield of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Tyler Adams carried the USMNT through the 2022 World Cup, and that trio could very well return this summer. However, Gio Reyna still has his role to play, and it will likely move Musah to the bench.

  Behind Adams, the U.S. has a new backup No.6 in Johnny Cardoso, while Luca de la Torre is the player to come in if McKennie or Musah are absent.

  Malik Tillman, meanwhile, will still have his say after an outstanding season with PSV.

  Name	Club
  Tyler Adams	Bournemouth
  Johnny Cardoso	Real Betis
  Luca de la Torre	Celta Vigo
  Weston McKennie	Juventus
  Yunus Musah	AC Milan
  Gio Reyna	Nottingham Forest
  Malik Tillman	PSV

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  FORWARDS

  Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent will all be vying for a starting role at striker, but it's more likely now that we see Wright played in a wide role.

  With Sargent carrying a knock, it's more than likely one of Pepi or Balogun get the nod for game one vs Bolivia, now, too.

  Out wide, the options essentially pick themselves. Christian Pulisic will start on the left, while Weah will be on the right, with Wright available off the bench alongside Brenden Aaronson.

  Name	Club
  Folarin Balogun	Monaco
  Ricardo Pepi	PSV
  Christian Pulisic	AC Milan
  Josh Sargent	Norwich City
  Tim Weah	Juventus
  Haji Wright	Coventry City
  Brenden Aaronson	Leeds United