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As quoted in a football.london Q&A, reliable correspondent Alasdair Gold has now backed claims from the last few months about Tottenham Hotspur eyeing AC Milan star Franck Kessie.

The Lowdown: Spurs in for Kessie?

The print edition of Tuttosport revealed back in March (via Sport Witness) that Spurs attempted to sign him in January, claiming that they could come back in for him due to his contractual situation at San Siro (his current deal expires in 2022).

Tottenham’s interest in Kessie took a major turn recently, with the player’s agent claiming that they are in fact interested in a swoop this summer alongside Inter Milan and another unnamed Premier League club (TUTTOmercatoWEB Radio).

The Latest: Gold backs Kessie claims…

As quoted by football.london, Gold claims that Tottenham indeed hold an interest and Kessie is a player who the club have liked ‘for a while’.

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However, in terms of making a move, much will depend on the future of Spurs’ current midfield men and what new manager Nuno Espirito Santo decides to do with them.

Of course, the price tag will also come into consideration, but the 44-cap Ivory Coast star may well leave for less due to his contract expiring at the end of next season.

“He’s a player Spurs have liked for a while and his contract situation with just a year left on his deal at Milan will make him even more attractive,” Gold explained in a football.london Q&A.

“Whether they make a move depends on not only the price but also Nuno Espirito Santo’s decision on what is going to happen with his midfield with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in there and Oliver Skipp returning.

“The future of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko is also set to be decided. I’d imagine defence is a priority first for transfers unless Paratici negotiates a deal for Kessie that is too good to sit on.”

The Verdict: Insane target…

The 24-year-old is crucial for Milan in Serie A and a fabulous all-rounder, seemingly adept at both going forward and protecting the back four.

A natural defensive midfield player, Kessie still managed 13 goals and four assists over the 2020/21 Serie A season whilst averaging a solid 1.4 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game (WhoScored).

His quality is perhaps best summed up by former Italy international Antonio Cassano’s glowing recommendation. Speaking to Bobo TV, via Milan Live, the 38-year-old branded the Rossoneri star as ‘devastating’ for his performances under Stefano Pioli.

We’d go as far as to say that snapping up Kessie would be Tottenham’s signing of the window, if they make a move for him.

In other news: Tottenham want ‘absolutely phenomenal’ 6 foot 6 beast, his club are already hunting replacement…find out more here.

Wolves and Bruno Lage have made no secret of their intentions in the transfer window, and have been linked with numerous players over the last few months, with a midfielder now making it onto the list of speculated transfer targets potentially making a move to the Molineux.

What’s the word?

According to TEAMtalk, Wolves are reported to be amongst many clubs trying to secure the signature of Huddersfield Town midfielder, Lewis O’Brien.

Wolves are suggested to be one of five clubs interested in the 23-year-old Championship player, who has put in a number of impressive performances this season, that has aroused interest from top-flight clubs.

The report states that the Terriers value the midfielder at £15m, and with Leeds United allegedly already putting in a £13m bid, Wolves will need to work fast to secure a deal if they are indeed interested.

Replacement for Dendoncker?

O’Brien has been a wonderful player in recent campaigns, leading to praise by many, including Huddersfield head coach, Carlos Corberan, who hailed him  “very special.”

He has scored two goals and bagged one assist, with a clear appetite for attempting to score from his midfield position with 20 shots on goal in 24 appearances this season.

With his praise and statistics in mind, he could be an ideal replacement for one of Lage’s midfield titans.

Leander Dendoncker has failed to impress this season so far with former Wolves midfielder, Dave Edwards, claiming “he hasn’t hit the levels” at Wolves this season so far.

“I also think they need another midfielder. Neves and Moutinho are very technical and Dendoncker is a little bit different, but he’s not hit the levels to make Wolves a better team.”

Other than Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves, the 26-year-old is the only real central midfield option but doesn’t offer anything in the way of creativity going forward, with no goals and one big chance missed already this season, as much as he delivers in his defensive attributes, lacking consistency in his performances.

Wolves could really do with adding a more creative midfielder to their team, to take the pressure off Dendoncker having to cover for his more creative midfield peers Moutinho and Neves, with creativity a weakened attribute in the defensive midfielder’s game.

The Huddersfield Town star could be the perfect solution to Lage’s problem with his lack of depth in midfield, and would really take the pressure off if there was a potential injury threat that could hinder the progress of the team in the second half of the season.

After all, he has registered one key pass and 2.8 tackles per game this term, far more than the man he could replace.

Wolves’ Belgium international, for instance, has registered 0.4 key passes and 1.4 tackles a match. With that in mind, Jeff Shi and co simply has to swoop for O’Brien.

In other news: Jose Sa hailed as Premier League signing of the season so far

Leeds United are stuck in a horrendous rut right now and if they don’t improve in the January transfer window, Marcelo Bielsa could lose his job with the Whites staring down the barrel of a potential relegation from the top-flight.

An added problem for Victor Orta and co is that the winter market is usually a tough one for Leeds to negotiate in with the famed Jean-Kevin Augustin move the nadir of the Spaniard’s work since arriving in Yorkshire.

What’s the word?

One area that Leeds desperately need to improve in heading into the New Year is in the middle of the park.

Kalvin Phillips enters 2022 injured while Mateusz Klich is desperately out of form too.

One player that they could sign is Macedonia international Ejif Elmas. That’s according to Talha Arslan via The Express who claim that Leeds are prepared to bid £15.3m for the Napoli midfielder.

However, that may fall some way short of the Italian club’s estimation of the 22-year-old with CIES valuing him at a mighty £59.2m.

The new Alioski

The comparisons with livewire and former Leeds player, Gjanni Alioski, are all too obvious.

For starters, they both hail from Macedonia, and secondly, they are both goal scoring wide players.

Although Elmas is capable of playing in the middle of the park too, he is a rampant threat when afforded the opportunity to play down the left flank, an area of the pitch that Alioski thrived in for Leeds.

The 29-year-old scored 22 goals and registered 19 assists while in Yorkshire but was never the most consistent of players.

That being said, he was a mainstay under Bielsa for years and developed nicely from an attacking winger into a full-back.

Elmas wouldn’t necessarily make the same transition but his ability to play in a multitude of positions, specifically in the centre of midfield, makes him an appealing proposition this winter.

However, his ability to score goals, like Alioski, is also a major plus point.

The North Macedonia international has bagged six times for Napoli this term while creating three goals for his teammates too.

Speaking about him in April, his agent commented: “I think Napoli have a jewel. A young footballer, a leader of his national team who often scores goals.”

With that sort of attacking threat in mind, he’d be a wise addition from the Leeds hierarchy this term and in the process, Bielsa could just discover his next Alioski; a vibrant and versatile attacking threat from Macedonia.

AND in other news, Orta can finally axe Leeds flop who left Bielsa “furious” by signing 28-goal “rocket”…

Southampton fans are far from happy with the news that Ralph Hasenhuttl is trying to turn Yan Valery into a centre-back.

The Saints have had a relatively poor start to the season under the Austrian boss. As is stands, they have won just one of their nine Premier League games to date, scoring just eight goals (Sky Sports).

Valery, meanwhile, remains very much on the periphery of the Saints starting XI, having featured in just two League Cup fixtures (Transfermarkt).

Ahead of the clash with Chelsea, it seems that Hasenhuttl has plans to introduce Valery into the side on a more regular basis, although perhaps not as you would expect.

The gaffer has suggested Valery could be used at centre-back, saying he has done well when playing there in training in place of the injured Jack Stephens (via Hampshire Live).

The news was shared on Twitter by @SaintsExtra ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge, and it attracted plenty of attention from the supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Valery news below

“That’s enough for me. Ralph out.”

Credit: @MitchLT76

“Don’t even think of it Ralph!!! About time we got rid of valery anyway he’s so bad”

Credit: @msmith3110

“sorry what”

Credit: @ed_carter6

“He’s lost the plot mate”

Credit: @Declan_SFC

“Might as well stick Shane Long at cb”

Credit: @sfcwill_

“Vallery one of the weakest full backs we’ve had physically for a while, put in the position where any mistake costs a goal, can’t see how that could go wrong”

Credit: @Moody_boy18883

In other news, Southampton fans were unhappy with this man’s treatment by Hasenhuttl.

Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for £4.9m-rated Junior Sambia from French club Montpellier this summer as they look to strengthen their defensive positions.

What’s the story?

According to reports from French outlet Le10 Sport the Eagles are interested in the right-back who is out of contract this summer. He would be available on a free transfer which would be a coup for the South London club.

However, they face competition from Ligue 1 club Marseille who are also interested in signing the 25-year old. He had previously been linked with Premier League club Newcastle United all the way back in 2016.

An upgrade on Clyne

If Sambia were to join Palace then he would be competing with Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward for the right back position at Selhurst Park.

He is also a versatile player, one dubbed a “golden guy” by French commentator Bertrand Queneutt, and can play in a defensive midfield position therefore providing another option for Patrick Vieira.

When it comes to his defensive skills he is in the top 5% in Ligue 1 this season for number of blocks. He also betters Clyne in a number of categories, including shot-creating actions, successful dribbles and progressive carries.

It’s his quality going forward compared to what Palace currently have in that position which is impressive. His average goal creating actions per 90 minutes sits at 0.18 which betters Clyne at 0.14 and Ward at 0.09.

Sambia is also only 24-years old which makes him significantly younger than Clyne meaning he would be a good long term option for the Eagles.

He has a higher number of progressive carries this season at 103 which is more than Clyne and Ward combined.

Vieira has turned Palace into a more aggressive side that’s not afraid to go at opponents and signing Sambia would fit perfectly into this. The fact he is French also could potentially give Palace an edge on signing him due to their manager’s connections.

With all of this considered, especially the fact he wouldn’t cost them anything in terms of a transfer fee, it’s hard to see why Palace wouldn’t make this move in the summer.

It would free up funds for them to spend elsewhere, whilst still improving a key position in their squad.

IN other news: Crystal Palace: Vieira lining up potential Tyrick Mitchell replacement…

Aston Villa are ‘in the queue’ to sign wantaway Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah in January, according to Ekrem Konur. 

The lowdown

Nketiah has yet to make the matchday squad for a Premier League game this season, having picked up an ankle injury just before the campaign started.

His only first-team minutes have come in the Carabao Cup clash with AFC Wimbledon, a game in which he scored.

Last season, the England Under-21 international was limited to just four Premier League starts.

Significantly, his contract is up come the end of the season and, according to a report from David Ornstein in August, ‘there is no sign’ of a forthcoming extension.

Arsenal may, therefore, be under pressure to sell their £14.4million-rated asset in January amid the risk of losing him for free.

The latest

Nketiah ‘plans to leave’ The Emirates at the turn of the year because he ‘wants regular first team football’, Konur says.

Villa can expect to face competition from newly-promoted Brentford and from Leeds United, where Nketiah had a spell on loan during the 2019/20 season.

The verdict

It certainly looks as if Nketiah will be leaving the Gunners, but it’s hard to see Villa being his next destination.

If he wants to be playing week-in, week-out, then he surely won’t go to a club where he’ll be behind two other strikers – Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins – in the pecking order.

Perhaps Villa should look in-house if they want to bolster the first team’s attacking ranks. Cameron Archer has been particularly impressive.

In other news, fans flocked to this update on Leon Bailey.  

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien as new manager Patrick Vieira continues to overhaul the first-team squad.

What’s the story?

According to Football Insider, a source has revealed that the Eagles are keen to secure the 22-year-old’s services this summer, with fellow Premier League club Leeds United also credited with an interest. Marcelo Bielsa’s side reportedly tabled an opening offer of around £3m for O’Brien, and the Argentine is said to be “exasperated” that Leeds are yet to make a breakthrough in negotiations.

However, the standoff in talks appears to have opened the door for Palace to swoop in. The report claims that the Terriers initially demanded £10m for their prized asset but would now likely accept a seven-figure fee.

O’Brien has entered the final 12 months of his current contract at the John Smith’s Stadium, so he may be available in a cut-price deal, although Huddersfield do have the option of triggering a one-year extension clause.

Imagine him and Gallagher

After rising through the ranks at his boyhood club, O’Brien has established himself as one of Huddersfield’s most promising midfielders, scoring five goals and providing seven assists in 82 appearances for the Yorkshire outfit.

Vieira has already bolstered his midfield engine room options in the shape of Conor Gallagher on loan, but with James McCarthy departing and Cheikhou Kouyate linked with an imminent exit, the former Nice boss may need added reinforcements for the upcoming campaign.

Therefore, Palace chairman Steve Parish must swoop for O’Brien, snatching a much-coveted transfer target from under Leeds’ nose.

The youthful pair would add energy, technical ability and running power to the Eagles’ midfield, attributes which have been desperately lacking in recent years as Roy Hodgson’s side grew old together.

Palace have been targeting young, exciting acquisitions in the current window, changing the landscape at Selhurst Park in the process, and O’Brien should certainly fit into the makeup of the new-look side.

It remains to be seen whether the Eagles follow up their interest with a formal offer, but many supporters must surely be hoping that they do.

In other news… Get it done: Palace must swoop for “dangerous” 21 y/o prodigy, Vieira will love him

Antonio Conte may have discovered a new secret weapon at Tottenham Hotspur after Ryan Sessegnon delivered an exciting cameo on his return from injury this weekend.

Spurs moved into seventh place with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Leeds United on Sunday evening and the Italian will surely be buoyed by what he saw from several of his key players, including Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Sergio Reguilon, who both scored rare goals.

But perhaps in the 21-year-old dynamo he now has a threat that not many will have seen as he has only made 15 appearances since his £25m move from Fulham in the summer of 2019.

He spent last season on loan to Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, where he proved to be a reliable influence at left wing-back and almost as if it were by chance, it’s a system that the Lilywhites will be building upon under Conte.

Sessegnon provided two goals and three assists, whilst averaging two tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 0.7 key passes per game in the German top-flight, as per WhoScored, which suggests not only is he a threat going forward but he can do some very solid defensive duties, too.

Since October’s international break, the young gem has been stuck on the treatment table but after returning to training last week, Conte selected him in his matchday squad before bringing him on in the place of the knackered Reguilon in the 79th minute.

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In just 11 minutes, he enjoyed ten touches of the ball, made two of his three passes, put in an interception and won 100% of his aerial duels, via SofaScore.

As quickfire cameos go, that was certainly a major source of encouragement, particularly as he played left wing-back and that’s likely going to be his best role under Conte going forward.

Once dubbed a “big, big talent” by former Cottagers teammate Stefan Johansen, it’s time for Sessegnon to finally repay the investment chairman Daniel Levy made in him over two years ago.

The £18m-rated wide man was also lauded by the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick as being “lively and encouraging” in his post-Leeds column, whilst further reports claim Sessegnon has “impressed” Conte on the training pitch.

All the stars are aligning for the rarely-seen 21-year-old to play a big part under the Italian but only time will tell if he can actually kick on this time.

AND in other news, Conte eyes “dominant” £54m-rated “Rolls-Royce”, he could be Spurs’ new Jan Vertonghen…

Everton will be hoping to end a four-game winless run when the Premier League resumes this weekend, but they’re set to face a tricky test in the shape of reigning champions Manchester City.

Rafa Benitez’s charges have already experienced a season of two halves in the opening weeks of 2021/22, losing just one of their opening seven top-flight fixtures before picking up a single point from a possible 12.

A draw against Tottenham Hotspur last time out halted a streak of three consecutive losses, but a much-needed win will be hard to come by when they visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The two sides faced off three times in all competitions last season after they were pitted against each other in the FA Cup, with the Citizens comfortably winning all three encounters with an aggregate score of 10-1.

One player who started every game in the one-sided trilogy was Gabriel Jesus, and the £90,000-per-week beast played a pivotal part in the Manchester side’s success, grabbing a goal and an assist against the Toffees.

His 14th-minute strike in the 5-0 thrashing in the last game of the season extended his impressive record against Everton, taking his tally to eight strikes in nine appearances when lining up to take on the Blues.

For context, only 12 players have scored more against the Toffees than Jesus in the entire club’s history.

With City’s plethora of attacking options cutting opposition’s defences open at will this term, Benitez faces a near-impossible task of keeping the likes of Phil Foden, Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva at bay, but perhaps it’s Jesus who he should be most concerned about.

This season, the 24-year-old has almost been exclusively used out wide rather than in his typical centre-forward position, making him more elusive and harder to mark.

Jesus’ unwavering work ethic also makes him a nightmare for full-backs and opponents looking to push forward, an attribute that Pep Guardiola holds in high regard.

“He is exceptional and he has a key role for us for many years and been a big part of the huge success we’ve had every season,” the Spanish tactician remarked.

“Sergio was injured and played a few games last season. Always when Sergio was fit he was an important part of the team. He was incredibly recognised by me.

“He was a proper striker and Gabriel is a proper striker.

Football has a quirky habit of repeating itself and producing patterns over a number of years, and Everton are going to have to be on their best form to prevent Jesus from becoming their new nemesis.

And, in other news…EFC may repeat Iwobi disaster by signing “lacklustre” £140k-p/w dud, Brands must avoid

Some Liverpool supporters have been reacting positively to Fabinho’s hilarious impression of a Scouser in a social media post.

The start of the 2021/22 season is edging closer all the time, with excitement building ahead of the Reds’ Premier League opener away to Norwich City next month.

The majority of Liverpool’s squad are now back in pre-season training, although some are still enjoying some time off after their involvement in summer tournaments.

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One of those is Fabinho, who helped Brazil reach the final of Copa America, which they lost to arch-rivals Argentina.

On Sunday, the 27-year-old was taking part in a fan Q&A on Instagram and a video emerged on Twitter of him doing an impression of a Scouser, as requested by a supporter.

Fabinho is heard saying “Want some chicken, lad?” in what is an excellent impression, illustrating that he has integrated nicely into the Merseyside community.

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Liverpool fans love Fabinho’s impression

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to show their appreciation for the Brazilian’s “outstanding” Scouse accent.

“Class”

Credit: @ethanabs_

“I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM, I LOVE HIM”

Credit: @adamwhite_01

“Outstanding from Fabs”

Credit: @ParisPinney

“Yes Fab”

Credit: @hells_bells_10

“Absolutely superb”

Credit: @GregThompson7

“Fabinho is too funny! Great accent!”

Credit: @kop_girl77

In other news, two clubs are reportedly interested in signing one Reds player this summer – find out who it is here.