Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has been hailed for securing the deadline day signing of Pedro Porro by TalkSport’s Simon Jordan.

What’s the latest?

In the final hour of Monday’s deadline, the north London club finally announced the signing of the Spanish right wing-back from Sporting CP.

It is believed the Lilywhites had marked Porro as their priority going into the January transfer window and certainly endured some bumps along the way in securing his services.

And the deal has been revealed to be an initial loan until the end of the campaign with Spurs holding an obligation to purchase Porro over the summer.

Speaking on TalkSport, Jordan hailed Levy for securing the player who he will not have to pay for until the summer:

(0:20) “Clever from Daniel [Levy] as well because he’s getting a player that he doesn’t have to pay for until the summer. If you watch what Liverpool did last year, they had to bring forward the signing of [Luis] Diaz because they were going to get them in the summer. Spurs were sniffing around and it triggered the transfer deal being brought forward for the selling club.

“It’s just clever from Daniel. He’s got £42m player for six months for no transfer fee beside his wages.”

Clever business?

This is the type of deal which has become pretty common at Spurs over recent years with Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski both brought in on similarly structured deals.

And there is certainly some sense behind this type of deal with the Lilywhites and Sporting hitting an impasse across Sunday and Monday with the deal seemingly hitting the rocks.

It had been suggested throughout the window that if Spurs were to buy the player then they would have to pay his release clause which would give the Portuguese side no other option but to sell.

However, there have since been reports claiming this release clause had become ineffective in the final days of the window meaning Spurs had to find a way around it.

And they did find a deal which suited both parties with the Portuguese outfit giving the player the green light to make the move on Monday night.

The deal will reportedly see Spurs pay an initial £5m loan fee and then £39m across a number of instalments which may not have been the case if they were to simply pay his release clause.

Although there is seemingly a lot of admiration for the way in which Levy has orchestrated the eventual deal for Porro, we do wonder what Jordan thinks about the Matt Doherty debacle.

The Irishman has seen his contract at the club terminated after a mutual agreement to move to Atletico Madrid with the Lilywhites hitting their loan limit of eight players.

Doherty departs Spurs with 18 months remaining on his deal with the club.

Everton suffered in the January transfer market as they scrambled to secure the elusive striker that Farhad Moshiri promised.

It was a position that everyone could see needed bolstering, with the Toffees having scored only 15 goals in the Premier League before this weekend, yet it seemingly took until deadline day to spark them into action, ultimately to no avail.

Sean Dyche was left without any additions of his own, burdened with a relegation-threatened squad desperately lacking confidence.

Despite that, yesterday saw him mark his return to management with a famous win at Goodison Park over league leaders Arsenal. His team were resolute and disciplined, with James Tarkowski’s powerful header the difference between the two sides.

He may instil a tireless attitude and some much-needed defensive security, but again Everton require a consistent finisher if they are to comfortably pull away from the relegation mire.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 62nd-minute substitution was indicative that he is not yet truly fit following a spate of injuries, and with Dyche’s preferred 4-4-2 formation, the 25-year-old will need a reliable partner should he even remain available.

Neal Maupay somewhat lacks the physical assets needed for Dyche’s system, ranking in the bottom 21% of strikers in Europe’s five main leagues for aerial duels won. Meanwhile, Ellis Simms is expected to play an improved role, but it does leave the Toffees without a viable backup at centre-forward.

It seemed like they had one in Tom Cannon, who had hit a vein of unstoppable goalscoring form for the youth team before being sent out on loan to Preston North End last month.

To recall him and offer him some well-earned senior experience could be the answer to Everton’s transfer howler, which has left them light in a position of huge importance.

Even with yesterday’s win, the Toffees have still scored just 16 goals in 21 top-flight games, while the 20-year-old alone boasted seven goals in just 11 Premier League 2 matches, and he seemed poised to demolish his eight-goal tally from the 2021/22 season before his loan exit to Deepdale.

Cannon’s youth coach Paul Tait had predicted where his career might be heading early in the new year, praising the prolific forward and outlining what he could offer teams by saying: “I think the next part of his journey and pathway will probably be a loan, I would imagine. He certainly didn’t do himself any harm showing his finishing power with that strike.”

Clearly drawing the attention of numerous Championship clubs, Preston was elected as his chosen destination. He may well thrive at Deepdale, but he could also have done so at Goodison Park to quell Everton’s toothless form.

Dyche may have come in too late to prevent the club from making a howler in January by loaning Cannon out, but the 51-year-old can put that to rights by unleashing the youngster properly on Merseyside later this year.

An injury update has emerged regarding Glasgow Rangers midfielder John Lundstram ahead of the weekend’s Premiership action, and it could come as a concern for Michael Beale at Ibrox.

What’s the latest injury news involving John Lundstram?

The English midfielder, who turns 29 tomorrow, was substituted in the Light Blues’ most recent league clash after incurring an ankle injury and missed the Gers’ subsequent Scottish Cup tie.

However, Beale spoke to the media before the Premiership clash away to Livingston tomorrow, providing a tentative update on the 28-year-old’s fitness.

The Rangers boss said: “Lundstram is touch and go for the weekend.”

Will John Lundstram be fit to play for Rangers?

Saturday’s game might come just too soon for Lundstram judging by Beale’s comments to the media, and with the League Cup final against Celtic just nine days away, the 42-year-old may wish to ensure that the Englishman is fighting fit for that match instead of risking him on Livingston’s artificial pitch.

The 28-year-old has been in outstanding form this season under both Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Beale, becoming an integral part of the Rangers midfield.

Across 25 Premiership appearances this term, Lundstram has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.07/10, ranking him not only as the Light Blues’ seventh-best performer but also as the joint-20th best player in the Scottish top fight, underlining his importance to Beale.

His all-round ability has been on show this season, with the player scoring five times, taking 80.8 touches per game and having a 90% pass success rate, not only content with improving his goal tally but also controlling the play in midfield and utilising his combative style to great effect.

The £22k-per-week maestro has also chipped in with 1.2 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per match and has won 3.3 duels per game, with his defensive ability adding an extra layer of protection in front of the Rangers defence.

Former Ibrox defender Maurice Ross praised Lundstram last year, hailing him as the “cornerstone” of the team. The Englishman has certainly justified that billing during the season so far, and it will be a big blow for Beale if the birthday boy is unable to take to the pitch tomorrow.

Journalist Charlie Wyett has insisted Southampton will put Ruben Selles in charge until the end of the season, while criticising the ongoing mess at St Mary’s.

The Lowdown: Southampton taking a huge risk

Southampton have found themselves in a whole load of trouble this season having sacked long-term boss Ralph Hasenhuttl earlier in the campaign before appointing Nathan Jones, only to hand him 14 league games.

This then saw the Saints approach recently sacked Leeds boss Jesse Marsch, but talks broke down at the final hurdle, which has left assistant coach Selles as the man in the hotseat.

It is indeed yet another huge risk for Sport Republic to be taking if they do leave Selles in charge until the end of the season as he has no experience of being a first-team manager, while the Saints’ Premier League status is at stake.

The Latest: Selles has huge pressure on his shoulders

Speaking on Sky Sports, Wyett was far from thrilled by Southampton’s managerial situation and the mess which occurring on the south coast.

He said: “I think, probably, Southampton will stick with Ruben Selles, who’s the caretaker, who was assistant to Nathan Jones and Ralph Hasenhuttl. But again, this is a big ask.

“He’s 39, he’s only ever been an assistant manager. He only became an assistant manager 13-14 years ago; he was pretty much a fitness coach before that. So this is a big ask.

“Maybe the other option is to bring in an experienced coach to work alongside him, but it is a bit of a mess, that’s for sure.”

The Verdict: Sport Republic taking a huge gamble

The club’s downturn in fortunes was arguably set in motion during the summer, when Southampton made the bold and risky decision to recruit a number of young players with either none or very little Premier League experience which now appears to be backfiring.

Then the merry-go-round of managers followed, and that has done nothing to help their form on the pitch this season, with the Saints sitting rock bottom of the Premier League with just four wins to their name.

Selles will likely be delighted if he’s handed the job on a full-time basis, but it’s a big ask for someone so young and inexperienced to lead a club like Southampton out of the rut they are in and away from relegation trouble.

Former Scotland footballer Peter Grant believes Rangers should axe Alfredo Morelos following his “disgraceful”  previous behaviour at the club.

The Lowdown: Morelos on the move?

Morelos’ situation at Ibrox has been well-documented, with the Colombian’s £33k-per-week deal expiring in the summer (via Salary Sport) and no extension in the works.

Despite the SPFL transfer window closing last month, Turkish side Konyaspor have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old according to reports in Turkey (as per The Scottish Sun), and with the Super Lig window still open, it could mean Morelos is on the verge of an exit this month should a deal be struck.

The Latest: Grant’s rant

Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show, former Celtic man Grant urged Rangers to consider bids that come in for their striker after claiming his behaviour in regard to his contract saga do not merit another chance to remain at Ibrox next season.

He said: “I wouldn’t be giving him a new contract, not for the way he’s carried on when you’re going to play the last four months of the season. Sorry, that’s not enough when you’re playing at a club that’s supposed to be challenging and trying to win things. And the way he went on with the last manager, which was disgraceful.

“So all of a sudden you think two or three good games offers you that, and I said to you before, I said that’s my concern coming into the season, bangs a few goals in, you get sucked in again thinking, well, he’s changed, he’s turned the corner because he works really well with a manager.

“He’s done it too often. They say a leopard never changes its spots, and I’m all for giving guys another chance, but he’s had so many chances.”

The Verdict: Sell now?

With potential interest from Konyaspor, Rangers could avoid Morelos’ contract saga rumbling on any longer, with the side eighth in Turkey’s top flight desperate for goalscoring options given they’ve picked up just one point from their last five games.

It’s not a certainty that the Colombian will leave Glasgow, but the Daily Record’s report last month that his agent had offered his services to Inter perhaps shows where his preference lies.

An imminent move does seem unlikely given his nine starts in 11 games under Michael Beale potentially show his importance at Rangers, and with Antonio Colak still easing his way back to fitness and Kemar Roofe playing just 82 minutes of football all season, his place is key right now.

However, we would not be surprised if Grant’s view is one that resonates with sections of the Rangers faithful who may have had enough of Morelos’ attitude and behaviour during his time at Ibrox.

Aston Villa endured a relatively quiet January transfer window as Unai Emery only brought in two new signings – Jhon Duran and Alex Moreno from Chicago Fire and Real Betis respectively.

One player the club were reportedly interested in signing last month was central midfielder Matteo Guendouzi but Johan Lange and the head coach opted against a move for the Frenchman in the end, with a return for him in the summer possibly on the cards.

It was reported that Marseille were looking for a fee in the region of €50m (£45m) and Villa were seemingly unwilling to cave into the French club’s demands.

When asked if the club could reignite their interest during the summer window, journalist Dean Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “It wouldn’t surprise me if the link came back onto the radar.

“I’d say it also depends how Marseille’s season plays out. I think they had a reasonably good transfer window themselves, and it might be quite an exciting place for him to be.”

Emery could now land his next version of Dani Parejo by securing a deal to sign Guendouzi from the Ligue 1 outfit ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Spanish midfielder played for the Villa boss at Valencia and Villarreal and racked up a whopping 145 appearances in the middle of the park – making him the head coach’s fifth most-used player in his career.

Parejo, 33, is a combative central player who also has the quality to open up defences and create chances for his teammates on a regular basis. In LaLiga this season, the gem has made 2.4 tackles and interceptions per game and created 1.4 chances per match – after assisting ten goals and making 2.2 defensive contributions per outing last term.

Guendouzi, meanwhile, has made 2.0 tackles and interceptions per match and assisted three goals in Ligue 1 in 22/23 – having chipped in with 1.6 interventions per game and assisting eight goals in the French top-flight last season.

They have also both averaged seven progressive passes per 90 over last 365 days, a fact that indicates, along with their statistics over the last 18 months, that they have similar play styles in midfield, albeit Parejo has performed to a slightly higher level.

Both are combative in the sense they are willing and able to get stuck in to win the ball back for their side whilst also providing quality in possession by consistently assisting goals and creating opportunities for others.

Therefore, Guendouzi, who Alan Hutton claimed would “bring fire” to Villa’s midfield, could be Emery’s next version of Parejo if the coach can help the 23-year-old – who is ten years younger than the Villarreal maestro – to continue to develop and increase his defensive and creative output.

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.

Wolves look set to trigger an extension in Nelson Semedo’s contract at Molineux, which could prove to be a big boost for Julen Lopetegui.

Is Semedo getting a new contract at Wolves?

As per Express and Star journalist Liam Keen, Wolves are likely to trigger the Portuguese full-back’s two-year contract extension before the end of the season, in order to ensure that the former Barcelona man cannot leave on a free transfer when the campaign ends.

Keen suggests that the decision is in Wolves’ hands and it seems likely that the 29-year-old will remain with the Old Gold in the summer, as the club will surely want to see some return on their £36.8m investment in the right-back from 2020.

The deal makes sense from a footballing perspective as well as a financial one, as the Portugal international has been much improved since Lopetegui’s arrival last year and has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

Has Semedo undergone a big turnaround at Molineux?

After Semedo was sent off in the 3-2 defeat against Brighton earlier in the season, for which he was strongly criticised by Steve Madeley, it seemed as if many Wolves fans may have seen enough of the defender, whose qualities at the back have been a problem throughout his time in the Midlands.

Dexter Lembikisa’s promotion to the first-team put pressure on the former Benfica man to improve his performances and he has done just that, impressing in recent home wins over West Ham and Liverpool. WhoScored awarded him 7.33 and 7.24 ratings for those respective performances, which is far better than his 6.47 average in the Premier League.

Lopetegui spoke about Semedo’s improved performance levels at the end of January, so it is perhaps no surprise that the Spaniard wants to keep him around next season.

The 56-year-old said: “We are happy with Nelson’s performance. His commitment is very big in his daily work. He wants to improve, so we try to help him. At the moment he’s playing very well.

“I think he’s defending well, which is very important. In elite football, first of all, you have to defend well and after he is to do more because he’s a good player.”The Portuguese right-back has shown glimpses of impressive performances in the past, with The Athletic’s Tim Spiers labelling him “unbelievable” back in 2021 after a strong display against Fulham.He is starting to show some consistent form under Lopetegui and is very much first-choice at right-back, so it can only be good news for the Wolves boss that Semedo’s stay at Molineux will likely soon be extended for another two years.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly eyeing a potential Newcastle United move for goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.

The Lowdown: Goalkeeper conundrum

Eddie Howe currently has four senior goalkeepers in his squad in Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka, Loris Karius and Mark Gillespie, while Karl Darlow is also on loan at Hull City in the Championship.

Pope is no doubt his undisputed number one, having started not been used at all.

The Latest: Chevalier interest

As per Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport, Newcastle are keeping Chevalier ‘under observation’ ahead of a potential move this summer, while fellow Premier League rivals Fulham are also doing the same.

The goalkeeper did renew his contract at Lille until 2027 at the end of January, but could still be available for the right price.

The Verdict: Perfect understudy

At 21 years of age, Chevalier would be the perfect understudy for 30-year-old Pope, and has the potential to eventually succeed him as the new number one at St. James’ Park.

Journalist Zach Lowy recently hailed him as part of a ‘really exciting’ Lille team, who are currently fifth in Ligue 1 and chasing a UEFA Champions League spot for next season.

The six-foot-two colossus has played a key role in that, conceding just 14 times in 17 league matches, and keeping an impressive seven clean sheets (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, if he continues to impress, Chevalier will likely attract more interest come the summer, so it is important that the Magpies wrap up this deal quickly.

Presenter and Manchester United fan Mark Goldbridge wasn’t impressed with Wout Weghorst during the 2-0 win over Leeds United on Sunday afternoon.  

The Lowdown: Three points for Man United

Erik ten Hag’s side came away from Elland Road with all three points after late goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. The victory sees the Red Devils move on to 46 points after 23 Premier League games, taking them into second place ahead of Manchester City’s game with Aston Villa late this afternoon.

The Dutch striker kept his place in the starting line-up for today’s win after also starting in the reverse fixture on Wednesday, but he didn’t impress Goldbridge.

The Latest: Goldbridge criticises Weghorst

The United Stand presenter took to Twitter midway through the first half to share his thoughts on the forward. He said that Weghorst was ‘looking completely out of place again’ and said that the Red Devils weren’t playing to the 30-year-old’s strengths.

United reporter Samuel Luckhurst also said that the striker had been ‘poor’ during the first half.

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The Verdict: Unfair?

Ten Hag persevered with Weghorst at Elland Road, with the Dutch forward featuring for the full 90 minutes. Statistically, the 30-year-old actually performed well, as per Sofascore.

He outperformed the likes of Jadon Sancho and Rashford with a match rating of 7.2/10, registering two key passes and creating one big chance. Weghorst also contributed defensively with two clearances and one blocked shot.

Ten Hag appeared to alter the player’s position in the second half, moving him to a slightly deeper role. That is something he could look to explore further after a positive second-half display from Weghorst, so Goldbridge could be regretting his comments in the opening exchanges of today’s match.