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Leeds United will look to sign a young left-back and forward in the New Year, according to Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Summer business

The Whites were active in the summer ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge at Elland Road, with seven new signings made.

The club did receive big fees for Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, which ultimately paid for big arrivals such as Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra and Tyler Adams.

Leeds have tended to avoid any winter window business in recent years, but it looks as if that might change in 2023 in what appears to be an exciting update for supporters.

The Latest: Hay’s claim

Hay shared a link to a story for The Athletic on Twitter, with the Whites currently out in Spain in what he describes as feeling like another pre-season.

The reliable reporter described the training camp plans and intense double sessions, but also added that a young left-back and forward are ‘on the agenda’ at Elland Road – surely music to the ears of fans hoping for a busier winter window than usual.

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The Verdict: Right move

Centre-back Pascal Struijk has had to fill in for Junior Firpo this season and has actually been the club’s best-performing player, as per WhoScored.

However, looking to bring in a young left-back to rival the pair seems to be smart, whereas a new forward seems a must despite Rodrigo having nine Premier League goals to his name this season.

Patrick Bamford hasn’t scored a competitive goal in 2022 and has once again struggled with fitness, so a new striker could help the club avoid another serious battle against relegation.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is personally targeting the signing of Inter Milan wing-back Federico Dimarco, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Tottenham making transfer plans…

Despite a summer of spending which totalled £147m, the Lilywhites have been tipped to potentially return to the market in 2023.

Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar and Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovksyi are mentioned as Spurs targets by sections of the media, and full-backs like Denzel Dumfries have also emerged as candidates to strengthen the Premier League side.

This comes as Spurs continue their chase for Champions League qualification ahead of the 2023/24 season, and this could be major factor in convincing serial winner Conte to remain in N17.

Backing the Italian with major transfers could be crucial, and one claim has suggested that the 53-year-old has his sights on another of his former Inter Milan stars.

The Latest: Conte targeting Dimarco…

Indeed, the Tottenham head coach is now believed to be personally targeting wing-back Dimarco from the San Siro. The 25-year-old has impressed for Inter this season and has even managed to battle his way into Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad.

Bearing that in mind, Calciomercatoweb state that Conte now has Dimarco in mind for next summer as a possible left-sided heir to Ivan Perisic, especially considering that the 33-year-old Croatian has entered the twilight phase of his career.

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The Verdict: Exciting target…

Dimarco could actually be the wing-back Spurs that have been crying out for, with question marks also surrounding the readiness of Ryan Sessegnon.

As per WhoScored, the Italian ranks in Inter’s top five best overall players and has averaged the team’s second-highest rate of key passes per 90 in the final third.

Dimarco has delivered more crosses from out wide on average than any Nerazzurri player, further backing why Conte is allegedly targeting him ahead of next year.

Called ‘world class’ and a ‘goal threat’ by members of the Italian media, we can think of nobody better to hand Spurs a serious full-back upgrade.

Newcastle United could make a move for Brighton’s in-form attacker Leandro Trossard in the January transfer window, according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.

The Lowdown: Trossard having superb season

There have been some outstanding attacking performers in the Premier League so far this season and the Belgian is arguably right up there. He has scored seven goals in just 12 top-flight appearances, including a memorable hat-trick in Brighton’s 3-3 draw away to Liverpool.

Trossard could be a wanted man in January, and it looks as though Eddie Howe could see him as a key piece in his St James’ Park jigsaw.

The Latest: Newcastle eyeing up Trossard move

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Downie claimed that Newcastle are interested in signing the Seagulls star in the winter and believes that the 27-year-old could be very attainable for the Magpies, whose director of football Dan Ashworth previously held a similar role at Brighton.

The Sky Sports reporter said:

“That’s one I could potentially see happen in January. The issue they’ll have there is the fact that Brighton have done so much business with them already, in the shape of Dan Ashworth and Dan Burn.

“They’ve already plundered Brighton for one big player and a director of football.”

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The Verdict: Could be a great signing

Trossard has been outstanding this season, wreaking havoc with his intricate style in the final third and being called a ‘great, great player’ by Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi.

At 27, the 21-cap Belgium international is at the peak of his powers, and the fact that his current deal expires next summer means that the Seagulls could be willing to sell him in January in order to reap a transfer fee for him.

Trossard has the ability to take Newcastle’s attack up another gear, with his versatility meaning that he can excel on either flank or in a more central attacking role.

Leeds United are reportedly in the mix to sign Red Bull Salzburg striker Noah Okafor.

The Lowdown: ‘Crazy form’

Okafor has started the current campaign in fine form, contributing to ten goals in 18 games for the Austrian side playing as a centre-forward. The 22-year-old has been labelled as ‘incredibly prolific’ and in ‘crazy form’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig last month.

The Switzerland international played 44 times under Jesse Marsch for Salzburg, and it looks as if a reunion could be on the cards, providing the Leeds boss remains in charge at Elland Road heading into 2023.

The Latest: Leeds links

Calciomercato name-checked Leeds with an interest in Okafor earlier this month and provided a new update on Wednesday evening.

Translated by Sports Witness, they claim that Leeds are genuinely in the mix for his signature and will provide ‘stiff competition’ to AC Milan for the forward.

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The Verdict: De Ketelaere 2.0?

Leeds’ main attacking target over the summer was Charles De Ketelaere, who eventually moved to AC Milan despite Andrea Radrizzani confirming that a €40m fee was agreed with Club Brugge.

This update on Okafor could bring back bad memories for the Leeds board, who may have to face off with the Italian giants once again in the New Year for another exciting attacking talent.

A new striker appears to be needed at Elland Road, though, with the Whites struggling to put away chances, so Okafor could be seen as an ideal addition in Yorkshire.

Journalist Fraser Fletcher criticised the performance of Ryan Kent as Glasgow Rangers lost 7-1 at Ibrox in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Lowdown: Humiliation

It turned out what promised to be another memorable night at Ibrox in Europe to a humiliating one for the hosts, shipping no fewer than six goals in the second half to lose 7-1 overall against Premier League Liverpool.

Scott Arfield had got Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side off to a dream start with his opening strike, but seven goals for the visitors followed, including a quick-fire hat-trick from Mo Salah.

The Latest: Kent criticised

Taking to Twitter, Fletcher was heavily critical of Kent’s performance, suggesting that he has ‘packed it in’ for the Gers, and even going as far as to claim that his body language was ‘horrendous’:

“Has Ryan Kent completely packed it in for Rangers? Complete lack of want and desire, horrendous body language that suggests he isn’t that fussed as well. Running down his contract? Knows he has a move in January?”

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The Verdict: Head elsewhere

Judging by this latest performance, Kent’s head seems to be elsewhere.

His current deal is set to expire in the summer, and he has reportedly rejected a ‘big-money’ offer from the club to stay.

On Wednesday night, the winger lost three of his four individual duels, and recorded no shots on target, successful dribbles, key passes or crosses in the game (SofaScore).

Kent only had a mere 22 touches of the ball in total, the second fewest of any starter in the Light Blues squad, emphasising how little of an impact he had on the match, and suggests that he was not fully committed to trying to get his team a result.

Nonetheless, if the Englishman continues to show the same kind of attitude on the pitch, it may be best for the Teddy Bears to move him on for a suitable fee in the January transfer window.

Manchester United are thought to be interested in Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, according to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath.

The Lowdown: Bellingham rumours

The Red Devils were fairly busy over the summer, bringing in six players at a cost of £216.3m.

However, attention is already turning to the January window, with speculation gathering over a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.

United are thought to be battling a number of Premier League rivals for the 19-year-old’s services, and it looks as if another England international is of interest to United chiefs.

The Latest: Pickford as well?

McGrath shared a story for The Telegraph on Saturday, suggesting that United are wavering when it comes to offering. David de Gea a new Old Trafford deal.

The journalist revealed that Pickford is one of a number of goalkeepers in the frame to replace De Gea at Man Utd, should he not receive a contract extension.

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The Verdict: One to watch

Pickford, hailed as ‘world class’ by Frank Lampard, has been Everton’s best performing regular this season, as per WhoScored, and you could say that he is in the prime of his career at the age of 28.

He has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt and is under contract at Goodison Park until 2024, so should his situation remain the same and United and De Gea go their separate ways, then Pickford could well be of real interest.

A cut-price fee could also be on the cards due to his contract situation, so this could be one to keep an eye on over the next eight months.

Liverpool have joined the race to make a late move for Paris Saint Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Juventus in advanced talks

The 28-year-old still has two years remaining on his contract with the French giants, but is expected to make a Parc des Princes exit this summer to seek more game time after making zero league starts so far this season.

Juventus are believed to be in very advanced negotiations to sign the Argentina star, but fresh reports have now emerged which suggest that the Reds believe they can block the deal and bring the maestro to the Premier League.

The Latest: Liverpool’s Paredes pursuit

According to Argentinian outlet El Litoral (via Liverpool Echo), it’s claimed that Liverpool have ‘joined the race late’ in a bid to sign Paredes this window.

It’s stated that the Merseyside outfit are in an ‘attempt to hijack’ Juventus’ move, who are currently in the ‘latter stages’ of a transfer.

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The Verdict: Back up option to De Jong?

Liverpool are seemingly hurriedly trying to sign a midfielder before the September 1 deadline, having reportedly made a bid for Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong.

The Netherlands international would surely be the first choice if he’s attainable, given his status and reputation as one of the best young midfielders on the planet.

The Argentina international Paredes meanwhile, dubbed ‘beautiful to watch’ by former PSG ace Fabrice Pancrate, is supposedly leaving Ligue 1 in search of regular football, so a move to Anfield, where he may not even achieve that once everyone is fit, seems like an emergency option for both parties.

One thing Paredes does have on his side however is remarkable passing statistics, ranking in the 99th percentile amongst central midfielders across Europe for both passes and pass completion – to put those numbers into perspective, Liverpool’s Thiago sits in the 98th and 93rd percentiles.

Rangers have not been shy when it comes to signing players from clubs south of the border in the past.

This latest summer transfer window has seen the Gers bring in players such as Ben Davies and Tom Lawrence from English clubs to help strengthen their squad.

Another player the Ibrox side secured from England is Scott Arfield, who made the move to Glasgow from Burnley back in the 2018 summer window.

With there still being some time left before deadline day arrives at the end of this latest transfer period, the Gers could use this time to secure a potential successor for the former Clarets star.

Earlier in the window, the club were mentioned with a potential move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks.

Hailed as a “perfect” player by former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, Winks could be a valuable asset for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

To compare the £91k-per-week Englishman with Arfield, according to SofaScore, the duo have an identical rating for their tactical ability as well as a similar rating for their defensive prowess, highlighting some similarities between the pair in the middle of the park.

By the same metric, Winks trumps the current Rangers midfielder in terms of his technical, creative and attacking ratings, which suggests that he would be more of a threat in front of goal than the Canadian.

Despite playing ten fewer league games than Arfield last season, the 26-year-old still managed to deliver more crosses and make more interceptions than the former Burnley figure.

Bearing in mind that the 33-year-old is one of the oldest figures in Rangers’ squad, the Spurs man may well be seen as a viable and suitable long-term replacement for the veteran at Ibrox.

Taking into account how the Englishman only started nine Premier League games for the north London club last season and was not included in the squad for their opening match of the season against Southampton yesterday, this suggests he could be surplus to requirements at the club and would be better off elsewhere. Indeed, reports of late suggest he is now expected to leave north London before September 1st.

With that in mind, a potential move to Ibrox where he can play regularly and fight for trophies at a big club would surely be a tempting prospect for him.

As a result, the Gers should certainly explore a move for the midfielder so they can tick off a long-term replacement for Arfield on their list.

Sky journalist Lyall Thomas has relayed some promising Tottenham Hotspur transfer news involving Udinese starlet Destiny Udogie.

The Lowdown: Spurs preparing…

The Lilywhites are preparing for the 2022/2023 Premier League season and have already made a plethora of summer signings in Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence.

Antonio Conte, it’s safe to say, is receiving the full backing of Spurs and sporting director Fabio Paratici this summer as they gear up for the Italian’s first full campaign in charge.

They’ve been tipped to potentially add a creative midfield player to their ranks alongside the possible addition of a new defender with an update emerging on Udogie.

The Latest: Tottenham open Udogie talks…

As relayed by Sky journalist Thomas, there has been a promising development.

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He explains, relaying news from his colleague Gianluca Di Marzio, that they’re ‘pushing ahead with talks’ to sign the 19-year-old after his brilliant season in Serie A over 2021/2022.

Thomas stated (via Twitter):

“Tottenham are pushing ahead with talks to get the Destiny Udogie deal done. Udinese looking for £21m and to keep him on loan for the season.”

The Verdict: Wise move?

Udogie comes as a very bright prospect and finished 2021/22 as one of Udinese’s best performers, even ranking as one of their top four performers by average match rating (WhoScored).

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, an expert on Europe’s best young talents, claims the wing-back is a ‘tenacious tackler’ and possesses ‘top pace and physicality’.

For £21 million, he would be a significant investment, but it’s clear the potential is certainly there to work with.

Celtic saw a raft of new attacking players come to the club over the previous summer and winter transfer windows.

With the Hoops ending their previous campaign with the Premiership title under their belt and more goals scored (92) than any other team in the top flight, it’s safe to say that those attacking players were impressive additions to the club.

One of those who had a solid debut season at Parkhead is Kyogo Furuhashi, who found the net 12 times in 20 league appearances.

Now that the 2022/23 season is fast approaching, the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window could give Ange Postecoglou the chance to strengthen his squad in order to give them the best chance of not only securing the league title once again but also being as successful as possible in Europe.

One player who has been mentioned with a move to Celtic and who could be a potential upgrade on Furuhashi is Bristol City striker Antoine Semenyo.

Last season saw the 22-year-old score eight goals and provide 12 assists in 31 Championship appearances, which shows that while he may not have scored as many league goals as Furuhashi, the Robins striker showed how capable he is of setting up goalscoring opportunities for his team-mates.

Bearing in mind how the Celtic attacker could only provide two assists in the Premiership, this is an area where Semenyo, who is currently earning £3.5k-per-week, could be an upgrade on the Japanese attacker.

The Ghanaian also ended his Championship campaign with a higher average of shots, key passes and dribbles per game than Furuhashi throughout his first season with the Bhoys.

To further highlight Semenyo’s attacking talent, his manager Nigel Pearson said that the striker “is a real threat with his power and pace.”

Taking all this into account, it’s safe to argue that the Bristol City star certainly has the attacking prowess to be a suitable addition to Celtic’s squad and potentially put Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis’ places in the team at risk.

Should Postecoglou want to add another attacker to his squad who can be just as reliable when it comes to creating goals as well as scoring them, securing a deal for Semenyo could be the ideal next move for the Hoops.

AND in other news: “Celtic are…“: Journalist drops exciting transfer claim that’ll leave Parkhead buzzing