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Craig Hope has claimed Mark Gillespie is available for Newcastle United next weekend despite not being in the 25-man Premier League squad.

The Lowdown: Goalkeeper crisis

Newcastle were dealt another major blow prior to their Carabao Cup final clash next weekend as Nick Pope will miss the huge game due to him picking up a red card for deliberate handball yesterday.

The Magpies are also sweating over the fitness of Joe Willock who missed the game against Liverpool due to a hamstring injury which was sustained the week before against Bournemouth.

While Willock’s absence will indeed be a huge blow if he doesn’t make the squad next week, the fact that Pope and Martin Dubravka aren’t available for the final next week is a big concern with Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie the only options for Howe.

The Latest: Karius or Gillespie to step up

Karius is the likely man to fill Pope’s boots next weekend, but boyhood fan Gillespie could make an unlikely appearance according to Hope who revealed on his YouTube channel that he’s eligible to play despite not being in Howe’s 25-man Premier League squad.

He said: (6:25) “Who will play, Karius or Gillespie? Well, Eddie said those are the two keepers who are available, Mark Gillespie is available. Of course, it’s the EFL Cup, it’s outside of the Premier League so even though he’s not registered in the league, he comes in and likely will be back up to Loris Karius.”

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The Verdict: Eddie Howe has tough decisions to make

If Eddie Howe was able to have one eye on the cup final before the Liverpool game then his main selection headache would have been how does he fit Allan Saint-Maximin into the team when Bruno Guimaraes returns.

However, after Pope’s moment of madness last night, Howe must now contemplate throwing Karius in at the deep end for his Newcastle United debut at Wembley to try and help the club lift their first piece of silverware since 1969.

His other option would be to hand Gillespie – a lifelong Toon fan – a dream start on the biggest occasion in the club’s modern history despite him having made just four appearances since joining back in 2020, and although his game time he has been lacking over the years he’s been hailed over the last few months as an ‘unsung hero’ by Dominic Scurr.

Manchester United officials are laying the groundwork over a potential move for Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Fresneda profiled

Fresneda is just 18 years of age and has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in La Liga. The Spaniard has made 12 first-team appearances in all competitions this season, starting seven league games.

He was in demand during the January window, with both Arsenal and Newcastle heavily linked with a move. The Gunners were the ones who reportedly agreed on a deal, but as we know, a winter window swoop failed to go through, and it looks as if United are looking to take advantage ahead of the summer.

The Latest: United update

FI shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Fresneda, claiming the Red Devils have taken a “really active interest” in signing the teenager.

Their report states that United chiefs have tracked the player in the last few weeks and are laying the groundwork over a possible transfer.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

Fresneda, who Matt Clark of La Liga Lowdown has lauded as being ‘remarkably complete’, appears to be a star in the making, and a move to Old Trafford could make sense.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was linked with an exit in recent months but remained at the club after impressing Erik ten Hag, featuring heavily following the World Cup.

However, should the Englishman move on in the summer, then perhaps Fresneda could come in and rival Diogo Dalot for a spot in Ten Hag’s side. It could be a wise call in the long run, and it seems as if United are already exploring a transfer, making this one to watch.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had something of a resurgence since Julen Lopetegui took over as manager in November, and the January transfer window was a further indication that the Old Gold are back on track in the Premier League.

On the pitch, the Midlanders have started to show discernible improvement after a woeful start to the campaign left them facing a grim battle against relegation from the top flight and confirmed the dismissal of Bruno Lage after 16 months in the job.

Last summer, the Wolves squad saw a more comprehensive reshuffle than in previous years, with Conor Coady, Willy Boly, Romain Saiss and Leander Dendoncker all departing. The ill-effects of the changes were initially felt, proving to be the final blow for Lage as his tinkering did not get the machine whirring as planned.

However, Lopetegui has reignited the fire among the squad at Molineux, and several well-placed winter signings have bolstered the ranks further after already showing hints of revival.

Since his first match in the dugout after the conclusion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Wolves have only lost three times from ten matches across all competitions, with the recent 3-0 drubbing of beleaguered Liverpool embodying the turnaround which has lifted the Old Gold to 15th in the Premier League table.

One player who is thriving is Daniel Podence, who has scored three goals from six league outings since the World Cup.

The winger has not always been a starring figure in Wolverhampton since his £16.6m arrival from Olympiakos in January 2020, but five goals from 16 top-flight starts this term is an indication of his marked improvement as a direct threat and an evolution from the graceful but ineffective force who plundered just two league goals last season.

With Everton eyeing a move for the ace – who is out of contract at the end of next season – earlier in the campaign, there was an increasing belief that a deal might have been forthcoming, but Lopetegui evidently views the 27-year-old as an integral part of his plans for the remainder of 2022/23.

Candidly, for all of Wolves’ improvements, their tally of 15 league goals this season is the lowest in the top flight despite the three-goal romp over Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, and effective firepower is a coveted component for the club at present.

With five goals in the league, the “delightful” Podence – as hailed by Sky Sports co-commentator Alan Smith last year – has come up with 33% of his team’s tally so far this term, and to have cast him aside based solely on the uncertainty over his long-term future would have been a costly mistake.

As it is, he looks set to continue making a mark on Wolves’ season, and the fact that the team’s most potent forward remains in the Midlands for the rest of the campaign could end up being the difference between them enjoying a sixth successive year of top-flight football or returning to the Championship.

Therefore, you could argue that Lopetegui has struck gold in a sense by warding off any interest in the 27-year-old.

Tottenham Hotspur had their eyes on Udinese forward Gerard Deulofeu over the January window and came close to signing him.

What’s the latest?

Fabio Paratici was able to address two areas of Antonio Conte’s squad last month with the signings of Arnaut Danjuma and Pedro Porro.

However, it seems as if the Dutchman may not have been the Italian’s first-choice target with suggestions the Lilywhites were close to signing Deulofeu if it wasn’t for an ongoing injury.

Indeed, Fabrizio Romano has shed some light on some of the stories to emerge from the January transfer window with Tottenham being a club seemingly holding some unearthed secrets.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, reliable transfer guru Romano has revealed the Lilywhites were eyeing the former Everton man last month:

“This is a very surprising one.

“But I can reveal [to] you that this is an exclusive name; Tottenham were considering a move for Gerard Deulofeu.”

“But what happened? Deulofeu was really close to Tottenham. From what I heard, the deal was almost done for Deulofeu to join Tottenham. But what happened is that Gerard Deulofeu had an injury, a serious injury, and so he was not available any more on the market right before joining Tottenham.”

Premier League-proven

The Spanish forward has experience in the Premier League having previously played for both Watford and Everton between 2013 and 2021.

Over the years, the 28-year-old has been sent out on a number of loans but was able to rack up 127 appearances in the English top flight (via Transfermarkt).

In that time he was able to return 20 goals and 24 assists in the league but it is in Italy where the forward has found his best form.

Playing for Udinese, Deulofeu has provided the Serie A side with 18 goals and 14 assists in 68 appearances with 13 of those goals coming in the 2021/22 campaign.

There may be some who question his ability in the Premier League with the Spanish forward far from prolific during his time in England.

However, it is worth remembering Danjuma did not score in any of his 14 Premier League games when he was at Bournemouth before moving the Villarreal.

But the upside of Danjuma is he is still a few years younger than Deulofeu and the Lilywhites have landed him on an initial loan meaning they can try before they buy with the Dutchman’s contract holding a buy-clause in the summer.

Fortunately for Spurs, Danjuma has made a bright start to life in north London with a goal already to his name after a 19-minute appearance.

But it is certainly intriguing to see Spurs once again diving into the Italian market for potential signings.

An update has emerged on Aston Villa and their plans heading into the next transfer window at the end of the season…

What’s the talk?

According to The Athletic, the Villans are retaining an interest in France international Matteo Guendouzi as they consider a summer swoop to sign the Marseille central midfielder.

The report claims that Unai Emery wants to improve his strength in depth in the middle of the park and reuniting with the gem he worked with at Arsenal could be an option ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

This comes after Football Insider reported that Villa were interested in snapping the Marseille talent up during the January window, when he was valued at £30m.

Leander Dendoncker upgrade

Villa could strengthen the competition for places within their midfield set-up by landing an upgrade on one of the players who has struggled to push for a starting berth this season.

Leander Dendoncker arrived from Premier League rivals Wolves last summer and has been unable to make a positive impression on the pitch so far this term.

The Belgium international has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.74 across 15 appearances in the division and has only been selected in the starting XI five times.

In those 15 matches, the 27-year-old has failed to produce a single goal or assist and has made 2.0 tackles and interceptions per outing, which shows that he doesn’t offer much going forwards to go along with his defensive contributions.

Guendouzi, meanwhile, has made 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game in Ligue 1 for Marseille this season but he has also chipped in with one goal and three assists.

Last season, the £41k-per-week maestro scored four times and provided six assists for his teammates in the French top-flight and averaged an impressive Sofascore rating of 7.00.

The Frenchman has proven himself to be a combative midfielder who can also make an impact at the top end of the pitch by producing goals and assists for his side.

Guendouzi, who Alan Hutton once described as a “fiery character”, also has experience playing in the Premier League after making 57 appearances in the division during two seasons with Arsenal prior to moving back to his home country.

This suggests that the gem could hit the ground running at Villa Park next season as he already knows what it takes to perform in English football.

Meanwhile, his pre-existing relationship with Emery – who he played 66 matches for in all competitions at The Emirates – also means that the midfielder does not need time to adjust to the tactics.

Therefore, Guendouzi could come in as a big upgrade on Dendoncker as the dynamo could replicate the current latter’s defensive contributions whilst delivering high-quality performances and making an impact going forward – adding real competition for places in midfield.

Southampton could sign a ‘surprise name’ before tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Southampton busy…

Throughout deadline day, the south coast club have been linked with the likes of Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana and Genk striker Paul Onuachu.

It has been a very busy morning and afternoon at St Mary’s, with Nathan Jones attempting to add more attackers to his ranks before the deadline.

The Premier League strugglers are among the division’s lowest goalscorers, and it could be necessary for them to add more options in attack.

The Lowdown: Southampton ‘surprise name’ can’t be ruled out…

According to talkSPORT reporter Crook, amid Southampton’s links to both Onuachu and Sulemana, a ‘surprise name’ cannot be ruled out either.

It’s claimed that there are ‘lots of balls in the air’, and Saints supporters may be in for a promising final few hours of the window.

He explained (via Twitter): “#SaintsFC still engaged in talks for Sulemana. Didn’t seem like Onuachu was moving forward last night but lots of balls in the air. Could yet be a surprise name. Pressure on Sport Republic to come up with something in the next 11 hours.”

The Verdict: Exciting…

After the links to Portuguese top-flight star Vitinha, as well, it appears that Southampton supporters may well see more names come out of the woodwork in the final few hours of the transfer window.

Marseille appear to have hijacked the Saints’ bid for Vitinha earlier today, leaving the discussions for Sulemana and Onuachu potentially crucial if Jones wishes to strengthen the Saints’ top-flight survival bid.

Signing an attacker is particularly important, with Southampton currently at the foot of the table and only Everton winning fewer matches than Jones’ side.

The Saints have scored four in their last five matches, with two of those goals coming against the Toffees on January 14 in a 2-1 win at Goodison Park.

Depending on who the ‘surprise name’ may be, supporters may well be hoping it is someone who can make a significant contribution in the final third.

An update has emerged on Arsenal and their chances of landing a deal to sign Amadou Onana in the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Speaking on 90min’s Talking Transfers podcast, journalist Graeme Bailey revealed that any clubs hoping to sign the Belgian international would have to part ways with at least £50m.

This came shortly before The Evening Standard reported on Tuesday night that the Gunners have placed the Everton central midfielder on their radar heading into the final week of the window.

Fellow Premier League club Chelsea are also said to be interested in signing the 21-year-old, who joined the Toffees from Lille for £33m last summer.

Upgrade in midfield

Edu could land Mikel Arteta an upgrade on current Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga by matching Everton’s £50m valuation of Onana to sign the gem this month, or in the summer.

Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have nailed down the starting spots in the middle of the park in the Premier League this season and Lokonga has been unable to force his way into the team.

The 23-year-old gem has only started twice in the top-flight so far this term, playing six times in total, and has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.75, whilst making 1.0 tackles and interceptions per game, after playing 19 matches in the division in 2021/22 – making 1.9 tackles and interceptions per outing.

Arsenal could now land an upgrade on the midfielder and, in turn, find real competition for Xhaka and Partey by swooping for Onana as the 21-year-old has caught the eye in the Premier League this season.

Despite playing in a struggling team, who are 19th in the table, the gem has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.94 across 18 appearances in the division, which immediately indicates that he could offer more than Lokonga in terms of his average performance level – based on their respective displays in 2022/23.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once hailed Onana as “dominant” and a “one-man army” and this praise is backed up by his statistics for Everton as the Belgian international has made 3.5 tackles and interceptions per match and won 61% of his ground duels in the Premier League.

Only Partey (3.5) can match the Toffees gem’s number of defensive actions per game this season and this suggests that the youngster could provide an injection of steel to Arteta’s options in the middle of the park, which is something that Lokonga has been unable to do.

Therefore, Arsenal could land an upgrade on their current Belgian midfielder by signing his compatriot from Everton before the window slams shut, as Onana’s performance levels and his defensive contributions indicate that he would offer more to the Gunners.

Chelsea are considering a move for Everton’s Anthony Gordon this winter, and could clinch the winger’s signature after failing in a bid last year…

What’s the talk?

Last summer, the Blues were reportedly willing to pay up to £60m for the Toffees star, having seen an initial bid of £40m-£45m rejected by the Merseyside outfit.

Since then, Everton have been attempting to tie their ace down to a new deal, but a snag in negotiations has left owner Farhad Moshiri resigned to allowing suitors to return with offers, with the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle United interested in a potential £30m deal.

But now, the Blues indeed seek further firepower to bolster the flanks despite the lucrative fees spent over the past year, with the Telegraph’s Matt Law hinting at a “frantic” end to the window for the Blues, stating that the club could reignite their interest in the Liverpudlian, who would be permitted to return to Goodison Park on loan until the end of the campaign.

Dream Ziyech heir

Chelsea, led by manager Graham Potter, have been unrelenting in the transfer market this winter, making a raft of signings to bolster the squad after the lucrative summer spending spree.

After completing the signings of wide players Mykhaylo Mudryk for £88.5m and Noni Madueke for £29m this month, technical director Christopher Vivell could land Boehly a dream addition in Gordon, who could fit like a glove into Potter’s system.

Having made 78 appearances for the Toffees, the 21-year-old has only scored seven goals and served eight assists, although he has largely been plying his trade across the maiden period of his career with a wayward outfit offering little sign of life.

Hakim Ziyech has been repeatedly linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge; having signed for Chelsea for £33.3m in 2020, the Moroccan whiz has made 98 appearances, plundering 14 goals and 11 assists, often failing to earn a regular starting berth and consequently seeking pastures new.

And with the likes of Everton and AS Roma interested in his services, Chelsea could look to recuperate a portion of the fee used to land the gem and in turn throw at a deal for a new wide player.

And with Gordon, who is Everton’s second-highest goalscorer this season, averaging 1.6 shots and 0.5 key passes per game in a lowly outfit who have outscored only Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this season, the platform is ready for expansion as he seeks clarity over the trajectory of his development.

Dubbed “frightening” by Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard, the former England U21 intenrational would also bring a wealth of defensive experience to provide a multi-dimensional approach to his play with the blues, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for blocks and the best 3% for tackles, as per FBref.

With the west London outfit undergoing a systematic restructure, signing a young star of Gordon’s ilk could encapsulate the changing of the winds; while not expected to start every fixture right from the off, the Everton phenom could continue to nurture and develop his skills and finally emerge as a spearhead at the centre of an exciting new chapter at a club looking to win it all.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has stated that he is sure Tottenham Hotspur will ‘try again’ as talks continue with over a possible Pedro Porro transfer.

What’s the word?

Spurs have been linked with a move for the Sporting CP all winter but unless they are will to pay his £40m release clause, it seems like a fairly complicated deal to complete.

However, that hasn’t stopped those at the club from working on the deal and contacts have been ongoing with the player’s agents and other intermediaries.

The good news for Spurs fans is that Porro is keen on a move to the Premier League side and Romano expects more efforts to be made over the coming weeks to complete a transfer.

When talking on his YouTube channel, the journalist said (17:31): “Top priority is a new right-back for Tottenham, it is Pedro Porro and he remains a top priority for Tottenham.

“Sporting want 45 million euros, the release clause. But Tottenham are in contact with these agents, with his intermediaries. The player wants to move and so I’m sure Tottenham will try again.”

Plenty to consider

If Spurs really want to complete this deal in January, so long as they are certain Porro will sign a contract, they could trigger his extension clause right at the last minute and get the transfer sorted.

This means the club can spend the next few weeks trying to negotiate the best deal possible with Sporting, knowing they can still sign him for £4om if all else fails.

As per WhoScored, when compared with other Tottenham wingbacks Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty, Porro makes and completes more crosses, key passes, and dribbles per 90 and has more assists this season.

With that in mind, it’s not hard to see why he’s being targeted so persistently.

An update has emerged on the fitness of Glasgow Rangers centre-forward Antonio Colak after the club’s 2-1 win against Aberdeen on Sunday in the League Cup…

What’s the latest?

Speaking to BBC Sport Scotland, via journalist Joshua Barrie, Light Blues manager Michael Beale has revealed that the Croatian international is set for another spell on the sidelines.

He said: “We thought he was back, he’s had another slight problem. It’s not a big one, he’ll be out for a week to 10 days.”

The English head coach also offered an update on Kemar Roofe after the striker came off with an elbow injury in the semi-final victory, saying: “We’ll have an x-ray on that tomorrow. It’s not a dislocation so we’re hoping it’s just a bad landing and it’s just a sore one.

“With Antonio Colak out – he’s our top scorer – and now Kemar struggling and he was our top scorer when we won the league, the group deserve great credit to continue to win under pressure every three or four days.”

Frustration for Beale

Whilst losing Roofe, who scored the winner on Sunday, is a blow for the Light Blues, Colak suffering an injury setback that could keep him out of a number of matches should leave the manager feeling frustrated.

If the Croatian forward is out of training for 10 days then he will miss games against Kilmarnock, in the Premiership, and St Johnstone, in the Scottish Cup, before returning shortly before a game against the latter side in the Scottish top-flight, which could also limit his involvement in that clash.

His continued absence is a blow for the Gers as the gem has been terrific since arriving at Ibrox from Greek giants PAOK last summer and is the side’s main source of goals.

The gem has scored four more Premiership goals than any other Rangers player and six more than any other striker at the club with 11 strikes in 15 outings.

Colak was also crucial to the team’s qualification for the group stages of the Champions League as he struck three times in four appearances in the qualifying rounds.

In the Premiership, the 29-year-old has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.30 – the third-highest in the squad – and this shows that the dynamo has consistently delivered top-quality performances throughout the season so far.

Therefore, Beale should be frustrated by this latest setback for the striker as Colak has the ability to be an important player for the new head coach, which is why the manager should be desperate to get him back fit and playing regularly.