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A big Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged regarding the club’s plans for Eddie Howe’s squad.

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has revealed the positions that PIF will be targeting in the upcoming summer transfer window.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I think they’ll bring in a centre-back, a forward, like a playmaker, and a striker. They’re also looking at the goalkeeping department, and then it all depends on players going.

“If they lost a centre midfielder or they don’t manage to sign Matt Targett, then they’ll look to bring in more on top of that.”

Howe will be buzzing

The Magpies head coach will be buzzing with this claim from Downie because it shows that the club want to strengthen key areas of the starting XI.

Firstly, he will be delighted by the prospect of a playmaker coming through the door. Out of all the players who have played 20 or more Premier League matches for the club, Allan Saint-Maximin (1.5) is the only player who is providing at least one key pass per game.

This suggests that Howe is in dire need of more creativity in his squad next season as he does not have enough in his team at the moment, as evidenced by their performances in the top flight. Saint-Maximin is the only player providing his teammates with chances on a somewhat regular basis and bringing in a playmaker will, therefore, improve the volume of opportunities that are being created for the forwards to score from.

Secondly, Howe could be buzzing to add competition for Martin Dubravka between the sticks. The Slovakian has struggled in terms of sweeping up at the back as he ranks in the seventh percentile in Europe’s top five leagues for defensive actions outside the penalty area and in the second percentile for the average distance of his defensive actions – as per FBRef.

This suggests that he is rooted to his line too often and is not dealing with balls in behind his defenders as often as the majority of goalkeepers in Europe. Therefore, Howe will surely be keen to bring in a shot-stopper who can excel at that side of the game to challenge Dubravka for the number one position.

The head coach will also be buzzing to bring a centre-back to the club as the Magpies do not have a single player in that position younger than 28. He will want to add some youth to the mix to ensure that they do not end up needing to replace their entire defence in one summer as they all head into their 30s.

AND in other news, Bid planned: Howe must seal NUFC deal for £30m “monster” whose “simplicity is genius”…

Antonio Conte could be in line to take over from Nuno Espirito Santo as Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, who suggested in a post on Twitter that it is only a matter of time until the former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager is appointed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following Nuno’s sacking on Monday morning.

In his tweet, Di Marzio said: “Antonio Conte @SpursOfficial” – accompanied by an hourglass emoji.

Fans surely buzzing

Following Spurs’ 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United on Saturday – a result which left Tottenham fans furious on social media, as well as the team in eighth place in the Premier League standings – it very much appeared to be a matter of when rather than if Nuno would be relieved of his duties as the club’s manager.

And, after reports on Sunday had claimed that Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici were meeting to discuss the future of the 47-year-old boss, it was confirmed on Monday that the former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager would be leaving the North London side with immediate effect.

Rumours regarding Antonio Conte’s subsequent appointment began almost immediately, with Di Marzio being one of the first to suggest that a deal for the Italian could be nearing completion, as well as offering a further update on his initial three-word tweet, stating: “Antonio Conte is expected to be in London today for final details and will sign a contract until 2023 with @SpursOfficial.”

And, should Levy manage to finally convince Conte of a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after failing this summer, it would appear to be a genuinely positive appointment by the Spurs chairman – after the disappointment of both the Jose Mourinho and Nuno eras.

Indeed, Conte is a serial winner, having lifted three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus, the Premier League in his first season at Chelsea, and once again lifting the Scudetto with Inter Milan last term.

As such, with Spurs having been in something of a freefall decline since the departure of Mauricio Pochettino back in 2019, if there is one man who has proven he knows what it takes to return a side to the top, it is Conte. His return to London would undoubtedly leave fans of the Lilywhites buzzing.

In other news: The Athletic journo drops intriguing Spurs transfer claim, fans will surely be buzzing

Aston Villa have been dealt a setback in their pursuit of Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, with the south coast club having no desperate need to sell one of their star players in order to generate funds.

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports, the 25-year-old is in no rush to leave the Amex Stadium this month, despite interest from the Seagulls’ Premier League rivals Villa. Moreover, Brighton manager Graham Potter has stated that he is “confident” Bissouma will stay at the club beyond this month.

The Malian’s focus will currently be on his country’s fortunes at the Africa Cup on Nations, with Sky stating that his future will become clearer once he has returned to the UK from international duty. However, the midfielder did admit back in September that it would be his “dream” to play for a Champions League club after Manchester United and Liverpool were linked with swoops.

Last week, The Athletic reported that a fee of around £50m will be demanded by Brighton if they are to let their midfield maestro depart after three-and-a-half years on the south coast. In that time, the 25-year-old has impressed massively, with Gary Linker labelling him “exceptional” last April.

Steven Gerrard will be gutted

Although a deal for Bissouma may be completed in the summer, Gerrard will be desperate to add a quality midfielder to his ranks, especially with Marvelous Nakamba expected to be out until April with a knee injury.

At 6 foot in height, the Malian would offer more of a physical presence in the Villa midfield, with regulars John McGinn (5 foot 10) and Douglas Luiz (5 foot 9) shorter than the Brighton beast.

Moreover, according to SofaScore, the 25-year-old has averaged a rating of 7.21/10 in the Premier League this season. That’s significantly superior to Luiz’s 6.95 and Nakamba’s 6.65, although McGinn is averaging a slightly better 7.35.

Last season, Bissouma made an impressive 104 tackles and 64 interceptions in 36 Premier League appearances, an average of 2.9 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game. This term, the Malian has improved, averaging 3.6 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per match, whilst also posting a 71% dribble success rate and 89% passing accuracy.

As for McGinn and Luiz, the former is averaging 2.7 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per match, whilst the latter is lagging behind with 1.7 tackles and 1.1 interceptions.

It is clear as to why numerous clubs, including Villa, are circling around the Brighton midfielder and why his price tag is substantial. There is little doubt that Bissouma would improve Gerrard’s midfield, but the 41-year-old may have to be patient if he wants to bring the Malian to Villa Park, or else look elsewhere if an immediate solution is required.

As it stands, the manager may well be gutted that his team’s chances of landing the 25-year-old this month appear slim at best.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano drops major Villa transfer update which will have fans buzzing

Patrick Vieira has a very important game coming up this weekend at Selhurst Park against Everton, where the Eagles could really do with taking all three points after losing their last three games.

The south Londoners currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, just six points clear of the relegation zone. Whilst not appearing to be in immediate danger of the drop currently, it would be reassuring for Vieira if his team could pick up a few more points to go into the New Year full of confidence.

One player who will be hoping to come in and make a positive impact on the team this weekend is Will Hughes. The next game against Everton could be the perfect opportunity to refresh the side and offer starts to players who haven’t had much chance to make an impact. Especially during the current losing streak, making some changes could inject a new lease of life into Vieira’s side on Sunday.

Hughes was signed this summer, completing a move from Watford to Palace in a three-year deal believed to be between £6m and £10m, but he has failed to get much game-time so far with only one appearance in the Premier League this term.

The £6.3m-rated gem sustained a minor back injury in early November and also competes with James McArthur for a spot in the team. However, the Scot has picked up a hamstring injury, so Vieira will need to shuffle the pack and could give Hughes a rare start this weekend.

Vieira has been full of praise for the 26-year-old upon his arrival to the club, saying: “He’s a player that we know quite well. He’s really comfortable on the ball. He’s a really good link with the play going forward. I’m really glad and really pleased to have him in the squad.”

Unfortunately for Palace, if they lose to Everton they could fall as far as 16th, should Southampton and Leeds take at least a point from their games this weekend, and this is a position that Vieira will be hoping to avoid, especially with the advantage of being at home.

Hughes could offer a fresh impetus to the midfield for the Eagles this weekend, and if picked he would have a point to prove to his manager as he seeks to gain a more regular spot in the team.

In other news: Vieira must axe this Palace player in January

Liverpool defender Joel Matip was the standout player in a heated Merseyside derby that saw his side claim a 2-0 victory over rivals Everton.

Whilst he might not grab the headlines due to a great impact from Divock Origi and a goal from Andy Robertson, he really was their stand out player defensively today.

The victory keeps Liverpool within a point of title rivals Manchester City, and on a winning run that stretches to four wins from their last five in the league.

On the other hand, it leaves Everton in the relegation zone as they face a battle to stay in the Premier League. It could be the last derby on Merseyside for a while, and it wasn’t as easy as Liverpool might have thought with Everton holding them to 0-0 in the first half.

Despite the Toffees’ best efforts, Matip remained resilient at the heart of the Reds’ backline, winning 80% of his duels including every single one of his six on the ground.

The £140k-per-week star was SofaScore’s highest-rated player out of anyone on the pitch scoring 8.2 with Robertson second with 7.8.

The 30-yeard-old has been a key part of Liverpool’s on the field success this campaign and has been Jurgen Klopp’s chosen partner to Virgil van Dijk, beating off competition from new signing Ibrahima Konate as well as Joe Gomez.

He played the full 90 minutes and also had a pass accuracy percentage of 89% which was third only to fellow defender van Dijk and midfielder Thiago. His quality is massively appreciated by Liverpool fans but less so by those outside the club.

Former Premier League player Jermaine Jenas has described Matip as “under-rated”, and we agree that he probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

Unsurprisingly when it comes to the amount of goals conceded this season, Liverpool are second only to City, having let in just 21 all campaign and a huge part of that is because of the ability of Matip.

The Reds have already won the Carabao Cup and are still in with a chance of winning every other competition. Matip has consistently proved to be a reliable player and showed again in a tough derby game just why it’s so hard to score against Liverpool’s defence.

IN other news: Sources: Liverpool agree terms to sign “special” £36m-rated ace, Klopp surely buzzing…

Speaking live on Thursday during Sky Sports’ The Transfer Show, as transcribed by West Ham Zone, Kaveh Solhekol has made a claim involving the Irons and Sevilla defender Diego Carlos.

The Lowdown: West Ham in defender hunt?

Despite summer signing Kurt Zouma edging closer to a return from injury, manager David Moyes and recruitment chief Rob Newman have still been tipped to potentially sign a centre-back this month.

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At one point, it was seen as more of a major priority for the Irons due to Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna’s absences from the squad with names like Burnley’s James Tarkowski and Liverpool Nathaniel Phillips repeatedly linked.

As the January 31 deadline looms, West Ham’s search for a major mid-season signing goes on, with Solhekol now sharing what he knows after speculation arose that the Hammers may be the unnamed London side to match Newcastle United’s bid for Carlos.

The Latest: Solhekol makes live TV claim…

Making on air claim involving West Ham and the 28-year-old, Sky’s reporter has moved quickly to quash any rumours that Moyes’ men are the mystery club.

“I know for a fact it’s not West Ham United,” he said (via WHZ).

“That leaves Chelsea, Spurs, Crystal Palace and I’m not sure Crystal Palace are looking to sign a centre-back or spend £30million on a centre-back.”

The Verdict: No surprise…

The colossal Brazilian, if West Ham had tabled the bid, would arguably excite fans going by his reputation – but the player’s price tag could represent too much of a hurdle for GSB.

Lauded as a ‘beast’ and ‘revelation’ by Spanish football analyst Domagoj Kostanjšak, Carlos has averaged an impressive 3.6 clearances per 90 over his 20 Spanish top flight starts this campaign (WhoScored).

By comparison to West Ham’s current crop, only Zouma has managed more in that time (5.2) – perhaps indicating he would have been an complimentary partner in Moyes’ central defence.

Alas, with the Irons not in contention after all, it appears the Scotsman may have his sights set on other defensive targets, and perhaps ones with a cheaper price tag.

In other news: ExWHUemployee: West Ham agreement to sign ‘world class’ £17.10m striker ‘there to be done’, find out more here.

Leeds United are reportedly showing an interest in Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma, sending scouts to watch him in action earlier this week.

The Lowdown: Danjuma impresses against Man United

Danjuma played in his side’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday night, as they lost in the dying seconds at Old Trafford.

Despite the result, the wide man caught the eye for Villarreal, injecting pace and directness as well as providing an assist for Paco Alcacer.

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The Latest: Leeds eye up winger

According to Football Insider, Leeds had scouts present at the game, in order to keep an eye on Danjuma’s performance.

A Whites source has claimed that they are ‘monitoring’ the former Bournemouth man, ahead of a potential move for him in the future.

Liverpool are also believed to be keen on signing the 24-year-old, who has scored three times already this season.

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The Verdict: Shrewd potential signing

Danjuma could be an excellent buy for Leeds, providing more squad depth and potentially coming in to replace Helder Costa in the long-term, with the Portuguese on loan at Valencia currently.

He scored 17 goals in 31 starts for Bournemouth last season, which shows how prolific he can be, and at 24, his peak years should still be ahead of him.

His youth, pace with the ball and end product suggest he could be the perfect man to come in and compete with the likes of Raphinha, Dan James and Jack Harrison.

In other news, a pundit has claimed Leeds United would accept a big-money offer for one player. Read more here.

West Ham United’s unbeaten run in the Premier League came to a gutting end as they were defeated by former loan star Jesse Lingard and his Manchester United side on Sunday afternoon.

After coming on as a substitute, the 28-year-old midfielder cut inside and curled an effort past Lukasz Fabianksi with just two minutes remaining after Cristiano Ronaldo had made it all-square before the break following Said Benrahma’s 30th-minute opener.

There was to be late drama as visiting defender Luke Shaw was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area in stoppage time and David de Gea managed to save the spot-kick from Mark Noble, who had come on moments earlier specifically to take it.

Some may be quick to blame the retiring Hammers skipper but on his day, he’s among the finest penalty takers in the division and you’d back him to score nine times out of ten.

Other members of David Moyes’ squad were far more culpable for their struggles on the pitch at the London Stadium, one of whom was arguably Pablo Fornals, who was quite poor out wide.

He played the entire 90 minutes and recorded 56 touches – the fourth-highest of the home side – but he failed to contribute much in an attacking sense.

As per SofaScore, the £26m-rated Spain international failed to keep his two shots on target, and whilst he made two key passes, they failed to result in anything notable.

Fornals struggled against the likes of Paul Pogba, Shaw and Ronaldo on his side of the pitch and it saw him earn the lowest rating in the West Ham squad with 6.1.

He lost 11 of his 14 duels (79%) both on the ground and in the air, and from those 56 touches, he lost the ball 13 times – or once every 4.3 times and once every seven minutes.

Fornals was also dribbled past three times, only reinforcing the fact that he couldn’t match his opposition on the flank and he recorded one error that nearly cost them hugely, via SofaScore.

Moyes would’ve expected a lot better from one of the more experienced members of the squad, particularly as he knew the Spaniard would need to step up to help fill the void left behind by Michail Antonio, who was suspended for this fixture.

Fornals badly let the Irons down on Sunday afternoon, and he must improve if he’s to keep his place in the team, particularly with the likes of Nikola Vlasic arriving in east London.

AND in other news, Moyes could unearth West Ham’s next Upson in 17 y/o “monster” who’s “got everything”…

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has name-dropped James Ward-Prowse as the kind of signing he’d love to see at Leeds United.

What’s the story?

The Southampton captain was linked with a move away from St Mary’s in the summer transfer window when reports emerged of interest from fellow Premier League side Aston Villa, but the England international stayed put.

Hay has now suggested that Ward-Prowse could be a great fit at Elland Road instead.

He said in a Q&A for The Athletic: “Ward-Prowse is a terrific player who will surely move on from Southampton eventually. The sort of player I’d like to see at Leeds. From what I’m told, Leeds don’t intend to go back for Nketiah.”

Imagine him and Kalvin Phillips

While Kalvin Phillips might currently be out injured, the prospect of seeing him line up with his England colleague in the Leeds engine room is surely mouth-watering.

Dubbed a “machine” by his teammates at Southampton, the £42m-rated Ward-Prowse had a fine season in the Premier League last year.

The £100k-per-week ace would offer something that Leeds really missed last season – goals from midfield. The Saints star managed eight goals in the Premier League, as well as chipping in with seven assists, numbers which are far better than anything that Bielsa’s current options produced (Mateusz Klich was the closest with four strikes to his name).

As per FBRef.com, Ward-Prowse’s passes in the Premier League last season progressed for more than 10,000 yards, a real indication of how he is always looking to move things forward rather than keeping things simple.

That figure ranks him 49th in the entire division for 2020/21, a pretty impressive achievement considering that most of the players above him are goalkeepers and defenders – in terms of midfielders, only Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ashley Westwood, Rodri and Granit Xhaka exceeded the 26-year-old’s tally.

Having him alongside a deeper-lying playmaker like Phillips could see Leeds have the perfect blend of control and dynamism in midfield, with the former protecting the back four and setting up attacks, and Ward-Prowse getting further forward to offer a goal threat.

It would be a real dream midfield duo for Bielsa.

Meanwhile, Leeds could finally axe one flop by signing this Championship sensation…

Tottenham Hotspur are once again interested in a deal to bring Max Aarons to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), who claim that Spurs, as well as AS Roma, Borussia Dortmund and Everton, are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the Norwich City right-back ahead of a potential swoop in the winter market – with the Canaries believed to value Aarons at around €22m (£19m).

However, despite the considerable amount of interest, the report goes on to state that Antonio Conte’s side are the most likely destination for the England U21 international, with the North London side having been heavily linked with a move for the defender this summer.

Conte’s next Hakimi

While Aarons has been part of a Norwich side that suffered relegation to the Championship back in 2019/20, as well sitting at the bottom of the table in the current campaign, the right-back is undoubtedly a player who boasts a serious amount of potential.

Indeed, despite his side’s struggles in the top flight, the £19.8m-rated man has proven in the Championship that, when part of a side fighting at the top end of the table, he poses an incredible amount of attacking threat from full-back.

Over his 41 second-tier appearances during his breakthrough season in 2018/19, the 21-year-old scored two goals, registered six assists and created six big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.8 key passes and taking 0.6 shots per game.

The youngster who Aidy Boothroyd claimed always “gives 100%” also impressed in an attacking capacity over his 45 Championship appearances last season, scoring two goals, providing two assists and creating five big chances, in addition to taking an average of 0.6 shots and making 1.4 key passes per fixture – with these returns seeing him earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.97.

This attacking threat is somewhat comparable to that offered by Achraf Hakimi during his time under Antonio Conte at Inter Milan, with the right-back scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists over his 45 appearances for the Italian manager.

As such, should Fabio Paratici go on to secure a deal for the right-back who Daniel Farke dubbed a “special” talent, we would not bet against Conte turning Aarons into his next Hakimi at Tottenham, something that will be an incredibly exciting thought for fans of the club.

In other news: Levy handed huge transfer boost on £70m “machine”, he’d revolutionise Conte’s Spurs