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Manchester United and Liverpool are thought to be leading Barcelona in the race to sign Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Midfielder wanted

The Red Devils have been hit with a midfield shortage at points during the current campaign, with Donny van de Beek and Christian Eriksen spending months on the sidelines through injury.

Erik ten Hag decided to bring in Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich late in the January window, something which has proven to be a shrewd move. The Austrian has made nine appearances for United, scoring his first goal in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Fulham on Sunday.

Star midfielder Casemiro has also received two Premier League red cards in 2023 to add to the club’s midfield woes, with a new midfielder thought to be a transfer priority at Old Trafford over the coming months alongside a forward.

The Latest: Neves update

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared a transfer update regarding news in the last 48 hours.

He claimed that the Red Devils and Liverpool are leading Barcelona in the race for Neves’ services, with the player ready to quit Molineux at the end of the season.

Wolves are not likely to stand in the way of a potential exit, with United considering making an offer with Sabizter set to return to Bayern and Scott McTominay potentially in line to leave.

The Verdict: Smart move?

Neves, dubbed a ‘beast’ by journalist Jimmy Conrad, is only under contract until 2024, so there could be scope for a potential cut-price transfer after they placed a whopping £100m price tag on the 26-year-old just last year.

The Portugal international can play as a defensive or central midfielder and is known for scoring long-range goals in the Midlands, making 169 appearances in the Premier League.

Journalist Raj Chohan has previously lauded the midfielder as having the ability to be a ‘top fit as a defensive midfielder at an elite side’, while he has also branded him an ‘unbelievable technician’.

Neves has been Wolves’ top performer in what has been a struggle this season, as per WhoScored, recording a match average rating of 7.00/10, a better score than United midfielders Eriksen, Sabitzer, Fred and McTominay.

Therefore, you could say that a move to Old Trafford would be a wise one by Ten Hag as he looks to strengthen his squad ahead of his second season in charge, and it looks as if it could materialise following this update.

Nottingham Forest have made contact to sign Espanyol defender Cesar Montes this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Successors needed

Steve Cooper already has Joe Worrall, Felipe, Steve Cook, Willy Boly, Scott McKenna and Moussa Niakhate available as centre-back options but five of those have now entered the final 18 months of their contract meaning that successors could soon be needed.

The Mexican international only joined Diego Martinez’s side in January, but having already put in some impressive performances over his eight appearances, has caught the eye of two potential suitors in the Premier League.

The Latest: Forest make contact

According to Spanish outlet La Grada (via Sport Witness) Forest and Wolves both ‘have asked’ Espanyol about signing Montes ahead of the 2033/24 season.

The Reds have ‘not increased’ their interest to anything more official yet with there still being months to go before the window opens, but their target does have a €30m (£26m) release clause included in his deal.

The Verdict: Perfect for Cooper

Montes is a seasoned professional having made 273 senior appearances throughout his career and he would be the perfect defensive candidate to slot into Cooper’s backline.

The Hermosillo native currently averages 5.5 clearances and 1.8 aerial wins per 90 minutes in La Liga, highlighting the strong physical presence he provides (WhoScored).

The Adidas-sponsored gem also has an outstanding success rate of 100% for dribblers tackled, which is exactly the profile of no-nonsense player the boss should target.

Barcelona manager Xavi has claimed that Montes has a lot of ‘potential’, so should the opportunity to sign him arise, Forest have a no-brainer of a decision to make.

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Impressive season

Neymar, hailed as a ‘special talent’ by talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy, has once again starred for the Ligue 1 side this season, contributing to 22 league goals in just 19 appearances.

In total, the 31-year-old has been involved in 193 goals in 172 games for PSG after joining from Barcelona in a deal worth £190m back in 2017.

Primarily a left-winger who can also play as an attacking midfielder or second striker, Neymar is under contract with the French giants until 2025, but a summer exit could be on the cards.

The Latest: Transfer update

90min shared a story on Thursday regarding Neymar, where United were named.

They claimed that intermediaries have already spoken to the Old Trafford chiefs over a potential deal, with the Brazilian seemingly keen on a move to England. Alongside United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle are also thought to be potential destinations.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

It looks as if a move to the Premier League for the Brazilian star could be a possibility in the coming months, so it could be one to keep an eye on.

The Red Devils are on course to finish in the top four, so could offer Champions League football to Neymar next season, something Chelsea and Liverpool may not be able to offer.

Should a transfer materialise, Erik ten Hag may have to evaluate his left-winger options, with both Neymar and Marcus Rashford potentially battling it out for that position.

Rashford has been in fine form in recent months in that area but can move centrally if required, so it’ll be interesting to see what would happen if a move to the red side of Manchester was made official for Neymar.

Liverpool have fallen heavily below standards this season, and have been linked with a host of midfielders to reinstate an air of authority to their weathered outfit, and Sheffield United’s Sander Berge might be the man to navigate away from danger.

Despite languishing in ninth place in the Premier League and boasting just a solitary victory from six matches across all competitions since the turn of the year, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have not bolstered the central ranks.

Many players have indeed been linked, and a more prudent option on the list comes in the form of Norwegian midfielder Berge, who has been a centrepiece to his side’s efforts since arriving from Genk in a £22m deal in 2020.

Last week, Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom confirmed via talkSPORT that Liverpool and Premier League rivals Chelsea has registered an interest in the gem.

And now, according to Sky Sports chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Fulham have lodged a £20m bid – plus add-ons – to land the talented ace, so Liverpool must act swiftly if they are to fortify the ranks ahead of the business end of the campaign.

While Klopp confirmed that no transfer business will be conducted before the closing of the January window, the Reds have been known to move beneath the waters with their past dealings, and should an apt opportunity arise a lunge for the phenom could indeed be made.

And Berge, who has racked up 87 appearances in Yorkshire since his arrival, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists, has demonstrated his worth on English soil, albeit largely in the second tier.

But United, who are second in the Championship table and a whopping 12 points ahead of third place Middlesbrough – also with a game in hand – have been a cut above the majority of the crop, and owe a large slice of their prosperous fortunes to Berge’s tenacity and ubiquitous midfield presence.

As per Sofascore, the 32-cap star has recorded an average match rating of 6.98 in the league this term, making 1.4 shots, 1.2 key passes and 1.2 tackles per outing for his high-flying team.

With his vibrant addition to the Anfield ranks, Berge could be the perfect replacement for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain-Chamberlain, who is expected to depart the club upon the expiry of his contract in six months.

While United’s Berge is not the most exuberant of names to have reached the Liverpool rumour mill this season, he possesses a refined and all-embracing set of skills when it comes to his midfield work, and has been a vital cog in his Championship outfit’s thus far successful season, with teammate and former Red, Rhian Brewster, once remarking him as a “Rolls-Royce” of a midfielder.

Should Klopp and his technical director Julian Ward decide to push for a £20m move before the transfer doors slam shut tonight, Klopp could lay the foundation from which to build upon; with the Premier League giants lost at sea, Berge might just be worth entrusting with saving the ship from sinking.

Manchester United are ‘watching’ Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Randal Kolo Muani ahead of a potential move, according to journalist Christian Falk.

The Lowdown: Kolo Muani impressing of late

The 24-year-old is enjoying an impressive season for Frankfurt, scoring five goals and registering 10 assists in the Bundesliga in just 15 appearances.

Kolo Muani came to prominence during the 2022 World Cup, playing three times and scoring once for France, as well as being denied by Emiliano Martinez in the dying seconds of the final against Argentina.

Now, it looks as though the Frenchman could possibly be heading to England, following a new claim.

The Latest: Man United ‘watching’ Kolo Muani

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Falk said that United are eyeing up a move for Kolo Muani, as Erik ten Hag looks to add further attacking options at Old Trafford.

The journalist claimed:

“They’re watching him, of course, but it’s not concrete now. They have a solution now with Weghorst, and then they have to see, but Frankfurt said they won’t sell him in this winter, €100 million won’t be enough. So, you can now see how much they could like in the summer for him.”

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The Verdict: Good for squad depth

There is no doubt that United need to sign a centre-forward for the long-term, even though Wout Weghorst has come in on loan to add depth for the time being.

Kolo Muani could fit the bill excellently, with his all-round game highlighted by his assist tally, showing that he is someone who can link up well with those around him. He has 33 senior club assists in total, along with one in five caps for France.

He has been hailed as a ‘superb’ player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also described his move to Frankfurt as a ‘masterpiece transfer’, such is his ability.

At 24, Kolo Muani should just be coming into his prime years, so the £25k-per-week attacker could be the next piece of the jigsaw for Ten Hag, bringing pace, power and end product to the United forward line.

A big update has emerged on Aston Villa and their pursuit of Alex Moreno during the current January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to John Percy of The Telegraph, the Villans are closing in on the signing of Real Betis full-back Alex Moreno to be their first recruit of the month.

The reporter also adds that Unai Emery is not settling for one new addition to his squad at Villa Park as he is also keen on bringing a winger in.

Percy Tweeted: “#avfc to continue talks with Real Betis over £12m deal for left-back Alex Moreno. Getting closer. Unai Emery also targeting a new winger as a priority this month.”

Dream start

Bringing in Moreno from Betis before the end of the month would be a dream start to Emery’s first window in charge of the Villans for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the left-back is Spanish and would be able to strike up an instant connection with the head coach without having to worry about a language barrier, whilst the defender coming in from La Liga also means that the Villa boss already knows him well from his time at Villarreal.

At the age of 29, Moreno is also an established professional who has racked up 145 appearances in the top-flight of Spanish football, along with 148 in the second tier. This means that Villa are not taking a risk on a young, up-and-coming, prospect and are getting someone who, in theory, can hit the ground running and make an instant impact.

The defender could also be a dream fit for the manager’s style of play. Emery is a manager who likes to utilise counter-attacking with pace after defending deep to protect his own goal and Moreno ranks in the 78th percentile or higher in dribbles completed, touches in the opposition’s box and progressive passes received per 90 amongst his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days.

These statistics indicate that he is good at bursting past players down the left flank and great at getting into advanced positions to be passed to by teammates, which would suit a counter-attacking style where the full-back is bombing on to join the attack.

Therefore, the signing of Moreno would be a dream addition for Emery’s first new arrival due to the instant impact that he could have heading into the second half of the campaign.

QPR manager Neil Critchley has confirmed a big boost for the Hoops ahead of their Boxing Day fixture against Cardiff City, with Ilias Chair now available for selection.

The winger will return from Qatar this week after Morocco sensationally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, with the former Stevenage man making his World Cup debut in their third-place play-off defeat against Croatia last weekend.

It is undoubtedly a big boost for Critchley to have the 25-year-old back at Loftus Road, as he has arguably been the top performer in QPR’s squad so far this season.

Chair’s three goals and six assists in the Championship has helped him to average a superb 7.17 rating from WhoScored, which comfortably ranks him as the best in the Hoops’ squad, so they will be hoping that he can rediscover his pre-World Cup form upon his return to club action.

Although the west London outfit secured an impressive 1-0 win over Preston North End in Critchley’s first game in charge last weekend, it seems likely that Chair could return alongside Chris Willock and Lyndon Dykes in attack.

Ahead of the Moroccan’s return for QPR, Critchley said: “I’m delighted for Ilias. He loves to play football and I’m sure it was a very special moment for him.

“Players want to play and although I am yet to meet Ilias, it’s obvious to see that he is someone who loves to play football and he will feel relieved to have got some minutes under his belt at a World Cup.

“We will be pleased to have him back and we may also have one or two back and I may have a selection headache for the Cardiff game.”

The “exciting propsect” – as dubbed by Glenn Murray – has averaged the most shots, most key passes and second-most dribbles per game in QPR’s squad so far this season, which emphasises just how much of an attacking threat he provides and how delighted Critchley must be to have him back so soon.

Last weekend’s victory moved the R’s back into the play-off positions, and keeping Chair fit and firing could be pivotal to any promotion aspirations that the Hoops may have this season, so it would not be a surprise to see him going straight back into the starting XI on Boxing Day.

Erik ten Hag will no doubt be delighted that some of his Manchester United players are currently starring at the World Cup.

Casemiro was highly influential against Serbia in Brazil’s 2-0 victory, achieving a SofaScore rating of 7.8, ranking only second behind Richarlison’s 8.4 rating and the midfielder took 77 touches and won 83% of his total duels throughout the tie.

It might be the performance by Bruno Fernandes however that pleases the Dutchman the most, with the 28-year-old leading Portugal to a crucial opening 3-2 win against Ghana.

It was an entertaining match and the African side perhaps should have snatched a late equaliser if it weren’t for an unlucky slip by Inaki Williams as he was about to score, but it was Portugal who held on.

Fernandes achieved a SofaScore rating of 8.4, the highest on either starting XI and he was integral to the win, providing two assists, making three key passes, and also creating a further two big chances, showing that he was at his attacking best playing on the right-hand side of a front three including Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix.

The Man United star also had a 94% pass success rate, while taking 66 touches of the ball during the match, proving that he wanted to constantly be involved and his desire was important in Portugal’s.

Journalist Josh Bunting said Fernandes was “the most effective player” following a change in formation, while Statman Dave also lauded his performance, claiming he made a “crucial contribution” against Ghana, and if Portugal fancy a deep run in this tournament, they will need Fernandes performing at this level throughout.

Ten Hag will be keen on watching his future matches in the tournament and hoping he can maintain this excellent level, although the Dutchman will be wary that if Portugal happen to reach the final, Fernandes won’t get much rest time between then and the resumption of the Premier League on Boxing Day.

Seeing his players influence matches on the biggest stage of all will give the United manager hope that they can star for the Old Trafford side during the second half of the season and help them finish in the top four and secure a Champions League place next season.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be ‘touch and go’ for the Premier League game vs Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day, according to journalist Joe Thomas.

The Lowdown: Triple injury concern

The Toffees forward was forced off the pitch in the 2-0 defeat to Leicester City at the start of the month which caused plenty of concern among supporters.

Frank Lampard later revealed that the 25-year-old was suffering from three different injuries in the form of his hamstring, shoulder and a small knock, and an update on his potential expected return date has now emerged.

The Latest: Calvert-Lewin fitness update

Asked on Twitter whether Calvert-Lewin is likely to be available to face the Wanderers at Goodison Park next month, Thomas replied:

“DCL will be touch and go for Wolves. The hope is he will be fit but I think experience has taught them to be cautious.”

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The Verdict: Don’t take unnecessary risks

Calvert-Lewin is undoubtedly one of the most integral members of Everton’s squad having posted 77 goal contributions in 197 appearances, but there’s no need to risk him if he’s not ready.

The Sheffield-born talent has only made four starts this season so will likely require time to get up to full speed, and the club won’t want to make matters worse by throwing him in at the deep end.

The Merseyside outfit are in desperate need of points to get them away from the danger zone, but continuing without their attacker for one or two games might prove to be the safest option.

Glasgow Rangers could be set to sack manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the coming days, according to reports over the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Calls for the sack

The Premiership giants have lost ground in the title race in recent weeks, falling nine points off the pace, and there has recently been calls from some fans for the 47-year-old to be dismissed following a dismal run of form for the Light Blues.

The Dutchman insisted during his post-match interview on Saturday following the 1-1 draw at St Mirren that he didn’t feel under any pressure despite a noticeable dip in form, although the Ibrox hierarchy appear to have a different view.

The Latest: Rangers set for big decision

According to Football Insider on Monday, Rangers are ‘increasingly likely’ to relieve Van Bronckhorst of his duties in the coming days after the board held ‘crisis talks’ regarding his future.

The Ibrox directors have been ‘locked in discussions’ over what to do, and it’s believed that the 47-year-old’s job is ‘hanging by a thread’.

It’s stated that plans are being ‘put in place’ for a new manager to be in the dugout for the first game back after the World Cup break, with QPR’s Michael Beale identified as the number one target.

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The Verdict: Time to go

Van Bronckhorst made an initial impact upon his arrival last year and got the club back into the Champions League group stage, but with pressure from many supporters impossible to ignore, now seems the right time to let him go.

That is all the more case given the mid-season break for the World Cup, as a quickfire change could give his successor a few weeks on the training ground to get his feet under the table.

The Rotterdam native has only won two out of his last seven games in all competitions, and after crashing out of Europe in unenviable record-setting fashion, Rangers’ season is already at risk of petering out to anti-climax.

The Gers are still on course to secure Europa League qualification for 2023/24, but a change at the helm could well be needed if the club want a stronger chance of success next season.