The overarching sense of positivity immersing Aston Villa since the appointment of Unai Emery as head coach at the back end of October has been so profound that the club’s endearing faithful demanded victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It wasn’t to be, and for over three-quarters of the Midlands affair in the Premier League, defeat was on the cards following Daniel Podence’s early opener for Villa’s heated rivals. 

With thanks to Danny Ings’ emphatic finish, parity was restored in the 78th minute with an emphatic move that justified the ramping of the gas in the second half, maintaining Emery’s impressive record of just one defeat from five league outings since his first game at the helm.

And victory could’ve been the card that was dealt, adding the Old Gold to the likes of Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur in falling to Emery’s hand for his present outfit, if not for Leon Bailey’s inexcusable open-goal blunder in the dying embers of the affair, a strike that would have given the Claret and Blue three points and inched them closer to a tantalising, if unlikely, European finish come the end of the term.

While Ings steals the headlines for clinching the equalising goal during the 1-1 draw, his seventh of the season, it was centre-back Tyrone Mings that truly stole the show, impressing with defensive assurance and dazzling with his attacking edge that prevented a defeat on home turf that could only be viewed as a detrimental setback against a team in the Premier League drop-zone.

Indeed, the 29-year-0ld found Ings after trailing for the majority of the encounter with a delectable threaded pass and exhibited his leadership and composure with aplomb.

As per Sofascore, Mings’ impressive 7.7 match rating was bettered by no other starting player for either side, and his assist rounded off a refined display; making 90 touches and succeeding with nine of his 15 long balls, ending the clash with a tidy pass completion rate as a result.

The 17-cap England ace was a figure of ball-playing prowess from the back, imitating the offensive waves from deep within the side’s system.

He also won both his ground duels and one of his three aerial battles, refraining from making a foul throughout the entire evening, also making four clearances and two interceptions.

It is a promising sign considering Mings’ last several performances in the Premier League have not exactly evoked confidence in his superiors, failing to clinch a rating reaching 7.00 for five divisional outings, before Wednesday’s resounding display.

The “maverick”, as lauded by Dan Bardell, has been a regular presence in Villa’s side since his £20m arrival from AFC Bournemouth in 2019, starting 16 of the 18 league fixtures this campaign.

If he can continue to dazzle with “delightful” performances, with Bardell once again waxing lyrical about the titan following the recent draw, then he will assert his position as inflexible in Emery’s ambitious set-up, and steer the club toward success.

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.

Wolves have reportedly submitted a second bid for OGC Nice midfielder Mario Lemina, as Julen Lopetegui looks to add to his midfield options at Molineux now the transfer window has opened.

What’s the word?

The Old Gold have been linked with a move for the Gabon international in recent days and after seeing their first bid rejected, reports are claiming that Wolves have now gone back to the Ligue 1 side with a better offer.

According to Daily Mail journalist Tom Collomosse on Twitter, Lopetegui’s side have returned with a €5.5m (£4.9m) bid for the former Southampton midfielder.

However, Collomosse also claims that it might take a little more for Wolves to get a deal done, but it seems likely that the 29-year-old could return to the Premier League this month.

Lopetegui’s own Caicedo?

It is easy to see why Lopetegui might want to recruit a defensive-minded midfielder this month, given that the Old Gold possess a lot of technically gifted midfield players but not many natural battlers, which are definitely necessary in a relegation battle.

According to FBref, the fifth-most similar player to Lemina, when compared with other midfielders across Europe’s top leagues, is Brighton sensation Moises Caicedo.

The Ecuador international has recently attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool after starring with the Seagulls, having established himself as a key player at the Amex Stadium at just 21.

When comparing Lemina and Caicedo’s performances from the current campaign, the two share remarkably similar stats with regard to tackles in the attacking third (both eight), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.11 vs 0.13) and touches in the defensive penalty area (38 vs 39).

According to WhoScored, Lemina and Caicedo also share the exact same strengths; interceptions, concentration and aerial duels, which suggests that they are very similar types of midfielders.

During the £138k-per-week earner’s spell with Southampton, the Gabonese star caught the eye of BBC pundit Garth Crooks after an impressive display against Crystal Palace.

He said: “My goodness, this lad looks a powerhouse.

“I suppose when you’ve played for one of the biggest clubs in the world in Juventus, you should have all the tools to survive in any league.”

Lemina could be precisely what Lopetegui needs in his midfield if he is going to win ugly at Wolves and given his similarities with Caicedo, who is undoubtedly one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League at the moment, the Spanish manager would be foolish not to bring the former Juventus man to Molineux.

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.

Kevin Hatchard has revealedKevin Hatchard has revealed the latest update he’s received on the future of Chelsea target Marcus Thuram.

The Lowdown: New attackers a priority

After a dreadful run of results for Graham Potter, which has included back-to-back defeats to nil against Manchester City, it appears obvious that new attacking reinforcements are required.

The Blues have reportedly entered advanced talks over a move for Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix, though it seems their spending may not stop there.

Chelsea are also being linked with exciting players such as Thuram and Mykhailo Mudryk, showing Todd Boehly isn’t going to be taking it easy, and, much like over the summer, will look to flex his financial muscles once again.

Thuram wouldn’t actually set Chelsea back too much given he’s out of contract in the summer, which could appeal to the Blues – especially if they could beat Manchester United to his signature.

The Latest: Thuram being considered

Hatchard has admitted live on Kevin Hatchard has revealedSky Sports that he received an update on Monday morning regarding Chelsea’s genuine interest in the France international.

He said: “I had a text this morning from a journalist friend of mine who says Chelsea are definitely interested, they would like to do that deal in this month.”

The Verdict: Smart business could help out Potter

On paper, signing Thruam ticks multiple boxes for Chelsea as he’s in a rich vein of form this season with 13 strikes across all competitions, is a versatile forward who can play across the frontline and would reportedly only cost £8.5m.

Therefore, instead of splashing out silly money on inflated price tags, Boehly should box smart and bring in an exciting talent who is available for a cut price fee and would be able to help Potter immediately.

But it’s not just Chelsea that can see Thuram’s ability, with clubs such as Man United and Newcastle United being linked with the forward, who was labelled ‘world-class’ only a few months ago.

Transfer expert Dean Jones says that there is a ‘feeling’ that Newcastle United target Marcus Thuram may be leaning towards a move to Italy.

The Lowdown: Inter Milan interest

As per 90min, Inter Milan are readying a contract offer for Thuram, who also has other clubs in Italy and the Premier League after him, including Newcastle.

The report adds that the St. James’ Park outfit ‘are ready to try and tempt’ the Borussia Monchengladbach striker to join them in 2023 and will submit an offer ‘if the player shows a desire to make the move’.

It is also reported that ‘talks with Thuram’s representatives have been positive’, with Eddie Howe believing that Thuram ‘would be a good fit’ to his current squad.

The Latest: Thuram ‘leaning’ towards Italy

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones says that there is a ‘feeling’ that Thuram is ‘leaning’ toward a move to Italy, amid interest from the Magpies:

“They do like Thuram and they are quite interested in that, they’re trying to gauge how serious the player is about coming to the Premier League.

“There’s a feeling among some that maybe he’ll be leaning towards going to Italy, so we’ll have to wait and see what his desire is to come to the Premier League, because at the moment that’s a little unclear.“

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The Verdict: Get it done

The North East club need to do everything that they can to try and persuade Thuram to move to Tyneside in this window, rather than to Italy.

With his contract expiring in the summer, the 25-year-old would be available for a cut-price, and to get a player of his quality on the cheap is surely  no-brainer.

Hailed as ‘world class’ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, and ‘a little crazy‘ by former team-mate Denis Zakaria, now in the Premier League with Chelsea, Thuram ranks in the top 4% for non-penalty xG, top 7% for dribbles completed and top 8% for shots of all strikers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year (FBRef).

He boasts an impressive 13 goals and four assists in his opening 17 games for Gladbach in total over all competitions in the first part of the season (Transfermarkt), and is rated highly by both Howe and Allan Saint-Maximin, suggesting that he would be a perfect fit on Tyneside.

Aston Villa are still pursuing a potential move for experienced Real Betis left-back Alex Moreno in the January transfer window, according to reports from Spain.

The Lowdown: Moreno linked with Villa

Unai Emery is highly likely to add to his squad this month, with funds available to bring in reinforcements and bolster their Premier League ambitions.

One player who has been linked with a move to Villa of late is Moreno, with the left-back starting 14 matches in LaLiga this season.

A fresh update has emerged, and it’s one which suggests that the Villans’ interest is not going away.

The Latest: Villa in a hurry for Moreno

According to Spanish outlet AS [via Sport Witness] on Thursday, Villa are attempting to ‘speed up negotiations’ with Moreno, with Emery keen on bringing him in this month.

Betis are hesitant to part with the 29-year-old, though, and will likely only sell him if a club matches their valuation of the player.

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The Verdict: Good competition for Digne

Moreno would be an ideal January addition for Villa, providing Lucas Digne with healthy competition at left-back and allowing Emery more quality and depth in that position.

The Spanish defender has vast experience at a high level, having made 145 appearances in LaLiga, so he would be considered a safe pair of hands at this point in his career.

Whether or not Villa and Betis are able to agree on a fee remains to be seen, but at this point, it feels as though Moreno could be one of Emery’s first signings at Villa Park.

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Tottenham Hotspur youngster Pape Matar Sarr has seriously impressed Antonio Conte since his return from the World Cup late last year.

What’s the latest?

Spurs have suffered a major blow in their midfield recently with their Uruguayan central midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur, missing through an injury he picked up in the World Cup.

It was initially thought the 25-year-old would only miss a few weeks and would likely return for the game on New Year’s Day against Aston Willa, however, this has not been the case.

This has offered a number of players with an opportunity to impress Conte but it is apparent the likes of Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp have perhaps fluffed their shot in the starting XI.

But speaking on Chris Cowlin’s YouTube channel, journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed the young Senegalese midfielder has seriously been impressing Conte of late:

(29:15) “But I would also say, I think I mentioned it earlier in this video call, but the emergence of Bryan Gil and Pape Matar Sarr in recent weeks has been such a huge positive for Spurs.

“Because Conte’s really seen something that he can work with. I know Sarr returned early from the World Cup when he was expected. And the time he spent on the training field has really left an impression on Conte.”

Time to shine

Since returning from the World Cup, Sarr has made his debut for the Lilywhites with appearances from the bench in their last two league games against Villa and Crystal Palace.

And then the 20-year-old was handed his first start as a Spurs player in their FA Cup game against Portsmouth on the weekend where he played the full 90 minutes in N17.

This all comes after months of sitting on the bench and, at times, not even being included in Conte’s matchday squad after spending last season out on loan with Metz.

But following the World Cup, the midfielder pretty much returned straight to London to get back to work under the Italian manager and it seems as if this has gained the 53-year-old’s trust.

Amid the January transfer window, there have been some reports suggesting the player could leave on loan for the remainder of the campaign with the Serie A side, Salernitana, showing an interest.

However, it seems as if the youngster may finally be getting his opportunity at Spurs having impressed massively in the games against Palace and Portsmouth.

And it sounds as if he is doing the right things behind the scenes, too, with Taylor claiming the Italian boss is taking a real shine to the young midfielder.

There is a tough run of games ahead for Spurs in the coming weeks, so it will be interesting to see what role Sarr may play in these games and how Bentancur’s potential return could affect his game time.

Celtic are thought to be in pole position to sign Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors forward Cho Gue-sung, with an offer already on the table.

The Lowdown: Successful World Cup

Cho represented South Korea at last year’s World Cup in Qatar and impressed on the biggest stage, helping his country qualify for the last 16.

The 24-year-old netted twice in a group game against Ghana and become a breakout star, gaining millions of followers on social media, partly due to a viral clip of him mocking Cristiano Ronaldo.

He was linked with a move to Parkhead as a result, and it looks as if a transfer is a real possibility going on a recent update.

The Latest: Transfer news

The Daily Record relayed an update on Celtic and a move for Cho in the last 48 hours.

They claimed that the Hoops are in pole position for the forward and have tabled a £2.2m offer to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, who appear to want a bidding war for their star attacker.

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Ange Postecoglou is seemingly on the search for a replacement for Giorgos Giakoumakis after contract talks broke down with the Greek striker. He’s thought to be poised for a January exit, so bringing in Cho could be a shrewd move.

The South Korean has been labelled a ‘physical player’ who can be a ‘real handful for defenders’ by journalist Pete O’Rourke and can also provide an option out wide. He has scored a total of 57 goals for club and country, so hopefully, a transfer can gather more pace in the coming days.

Liverpool are expected to sign a midfielder in the January transfer window, according to insider Dean Jones.

What’s the word?

Liverpool have been struggling this season following a period of success under Jurgen Klopp, with the midfield in particular attracting criticism as the core are ageing and struggling with fitness issues.

The club’s desperation for a new midfielder has seen them strongly linked with Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund for a summer move, but Jones claims that they will look to bring another body in during the transfer window.

Thiago and Naby Keita have suffered with injury problems, whilst James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are beyond their best.

Speaking on his Ranks FC Patreon, Jones has hinted that Liverpool expect a midfield arrival this month.

“I have been told to expect Liverpool to sign a midfielder in this window because it’s such a problem,” he stated.

“With Van Dijk now missing too with injury, there’s also a question of Liverpool suffering problems with leadership and experience.”

A lot of quality needed

Liverpool arguably need three new midfielders to completely rebuild the spine of the team within the next few windows.

Bellingham is one for the summer, but if they are to boost their chances of finishing in the top four, then they will need some quality within this window.

They have been linked with Moises Caicedo of Brighton, and the 21-year-old would bring a lot of quality, as he has impressed in his 18 appearances this season.

Given their current ageing midfield, Liverpool should keep the future in mind even when investing in this window, and aim to sign younger players with potential to grow, but who can also bring leadership qualities.

An option they could explore is Wolves captain Ruben Neves, who is out of contract at the end of next season.

Neves would provide plenty of leadership qualities, and has bags of Premier League experience under his belt, but it remains to be seen whether Wolves will be willing to let a star player leave mid-way through the season.

Liverpool’s choice of signing could either give the team a massive boost and help them secure Champions League football, and possibly Bellingham, for next season, or he can help further the rot within the team and continue the decline which has taken place this season.

It is therefore a hugely important signing, and one Klopp cannot afford to get wrong.