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Liverpool have reportedly opened talks with Brighton & Hove Albion for midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The Lowdown: Gakpo in

The Reds have already bolstered Jurgen Klopp’s squad days ahead of the January window officially opening by securing the services of Cody Gakpo.

An agreement has been reached with PSV that will see the Dutch forward become a Liverpool player on January 1. It doesn’t look as if the club are finished there, though, with significant news emerging on Caicedo.

The Latest: Caicedo next

Journalist Rudy Galetti took to Twitter to relay news regarding the Reds opening talks with Brighton for Caicedo on Thursday evening.

He added that an enquiry was made on Wednesday and said ‘just now Liverpool want to speed up things to sign the player’.

The Verdict: Exciting

Many supporters may have been hoping to see the club look to bring in a midfielder following the arrival of Gakpo, especially as that area of the pitch has been a hot topic of transfer conversation in recent months.

Caicedo, hailed as an ‘exceptional player and character’ by his team-mates, has been a regular for the Seagulls this season and has outperformed all of Liverpool’s senior midfielders in the Premier League, as per WhoScored.

Still just 21 years of age, he appears to be a star of the future, so a move now could be an exciting one both in the short and long run.

Arsenal sporting director Edu could reportedly be turning his attention towards the signing of Napoli forward, Hirving Lozano, according to reports in Italy.

What’s the word?

As per La Republicca, the Gunners – as well as Premier League rivals Newcastle United – are said to be tracking the Mexican international at present, with the 27-year-old believed to be facing an uncertain future with the Serie A outfit.

The report suggests that the winger ‘could leave at the end of the season’ due to his current contract status, with the former PSV Eindhoven menace having just 18 months remaining on his existing deal in Naples.

The piece also claims that the 63-cap speedster has shown an interest in making the move to England in the past, with the north Londoners seemingly hoping to make that dream a reality, having been ‘courting’ the wide man of late.

Arsenal’s next Saka

The £87k-per-week dynamo is currently thriving for Luciano Spalletti’s highflying outfit having scored four goals and provided three assists in 20 games in all competitions this term, taking his overall tally for the club to 30 goals and 16 assists in 134 games thus far.

The “frightening” talent – as lauded by Rangers Review journalist Derek Clark – had previously netted 40 goals and laid on 23 assists in just 79 games during what was a scintillating spell in Holland, having proven himself a truly devastating asset off the flanks.

Interestingly for Mikel Arteta and co, the one-time Pachuca ace is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with current Emirates hero, Bukayo Saka – according to FBref – with that boding well for the impact that Lozano could make in the red and white jersey.

That likeness is not only illustrated by the fact that the two men typically operate in a wide berth, but also with the duo offering a real threat in the final third, with showcased by the fact that Lozano averages 2.81 shots per 90, while Saka averages 2.67 for that same metric.

The pair also offer a real creative spark in attack with the latter man having created three big chances in the Premier League this season, while Lozano has also created three big chances in the Italian top-flight.

Managing to recruit a Saka-esque talent would surely be a real coup as far as Edu is concerned, with the Englishman currently a leading figure in the club’s title charge, having scored six goals and laid on six assists in the league already this term.

To think that Arsenal could find another version of the “devastating” youngster – as described by pundit Rio Ferdinand – in the form of Lozano is a truly mouthwatering prospect, with such an addition only set to bolster what is an already eye-catching forward line.

Tottenham Hotspur have now made contact with Angers regarding the signing of midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Ounahi targeted

While impressing at the World Cup would have made people more aware of him, Ounahi has long been the subject of interest from across Europe, with giants like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain sending scouts to watch him prior to the tournament.

The same report credits Premier League clubs Leicester City, Newcastle United, Southampton and West Ham United as all having an interest in the midfielder, but there is no mention of Tottenham.

However, the Lilywhites could now be set to make a late attempt to hijack the transfer…

The Latest: Tottenham make contact

According to a report from La Repubblica (via Sport Witness), Tottenham chiefs have now been in contact with Angers, who have set an asking price of £30m on one of their prized assets.

It is claimed that Napoli had agreed the transfer with the player, but Spurs are ‘meddling’ and could change his mind if they choose to make a concrete offer.

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The Verdict: A risk?

The 22-year-old has received high praise from a legend of the game, with Jose Mourinho hailing him as ‘absolutely incredible’ after his performances out in Qatar, and he has also displayed very promising signs at club level.

Over the past year, the maestro has averaged 2.48 dribbles completed per 90, placing him in the 99th percentile compared to his positional peers, while he has also proven himself as a live-wire in the opposition box by registering 2.68 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, in the 91st percentile.

However, £30m is a considerable sum of money, and BILD report Spurs have already offered midfielder Daichi Kamada a contract, with a view to bringing him to the club on a free transfer at the end of the season (via TEAMtalk).

This deal would make more financial sense, and Antonio Conte already has the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at his disposal in midfield, so it is not an area that needs immediate attention.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring David Raya to north London in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Matt Law, with the journalist revealing in a recent article for The Telegraph that, with Spurs looking to sign a long-term successor to Hugo Lloris between the sticks, Fabio Paratici has now identified the 27-year-old Brentford shot-stopper as one of his top targets for the position.

Law goes on to suggest that, while the signing of a new ‘keeper is not a priority for Antonio Conte in the January transfer window, with the France international having turned 36 years of age on Boxing Day, there is an acknowledgement among the Tottenham hierarchy that an heir to Lloris should be signed at the end of the current campaign.

“Incredible”

Considering just how impressive Raya has been for Brentford in recent seasons, it is easy to see why Paratici would be interested in a deal to bring the Spain international to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Lloris’ long-term successor.

Indeed, over his 24 Premier League appearances last season, the £19.5m-rated shot-stopper was in sensational form between the Bees’ sticks, keeping eight clean sheets, as well as making an average of 3.3 saves – the joint seventh-most in the league – playing 10.8 long balls and completing 25.8 passes per game.

These returns saw the 27-year-old average an astonishing Sofascore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as Thomas Frank’s joint fifth-best performer in the top flight of English football last time out.

For context, those numbers were all better than Lloris’, with the Frenchman struggling within the latter stages of his career. By comparison, he achieved an average rating of 6.98 in 2021/22, having made 2.6 saves per game and completing 4.6 long balls a match.

The £25k-per-week Raya has been in fine form over his 18 Premier League fixtures in the current campaign too, having already kept five clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 4.4 saves – the most in the division – playing 10.8 long balls and completing 23.3 passes per match.

These metrics have seen the player who The Athletic’s Jay Harris dubbed “incredible” and “one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League” average a quite breathtaking Sofascore match rating of 7.11, not only ranking him as Brentford’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint 43rd-best player in the top flight as a whole.

As such, considering just how solid a ‘keeper Raya has very much proven himself to be over the last two seasons, it is indeed easy to see why Paratici is targeting the two-cap international as Lloris’ successor between the Spurs’ sticks, as the Spaniard would undoubtedly be an incredible signing for the Italian to get over the line next summer.

Leeds United are closing in on their second signing of the January transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, a deal for Hoffenheim striker Georginio Rutter was on course for completion that would break the Whites’ current club record of £27m, which they spent on Rodrigo back in 2020.

The Daily Mail believe this fee to be around £35m plus add-ons and also claim that a medical is scheduled for this week.

Rutter has been excused from the Bundesliga outfit’s recent friendlies ahead of the league’s return in just over a week’s time, meaning the door has opened for Leeds to make their move.

Rutter can take Leeds to new heights

The young forward could be the answer to Jesse Marsch’s woes and one that may well benefit the club for years to come, given he’s just 20.

A pure no.9 to fill Patrick Bamford’s shoes is arguably the no.1 priority right now and will be for the next few seasons should they fail to resolve it. And Rutter is just that, a complete and all-round talisman capable of performing through the middle.

Past targets such as Cody Gakpo and Charles De Ketelaere were never out-and-out strikers but more versatile options that could feature anywhere along the frontline – a bit like summer signing Wilfried Gnonto.

Whilst 10 goals and four assists in 57 league appearances aren’t the eye-catching statistics that Leeds fans will be hoping for in their new forward, it is surely hoped that he can blossom into a well-oiled attacking machine under the stewardship of Marsch, the man who took Erling Haaland to a new dimension early in his career at RB Salzburg.

Rutter, who has been dubbed a “huge talent” by journalist Ronan Murphy, appears to be a surefire fit for the American’s pressing system too, with Hay also highlighting that the Frenchman’s “running on the ball, dribbling and take-ons, is very good.”

As further described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 20-year-old is also a “complete” and “clinical finisher” with “blistering pace” and these are all attributes that should serve him well in the Premier League, particularly as a natural successor to Bamford, who proved in 2020/21 that when fully fit he’s a talismanic centre-forward with 17 goals and seven assists.

Also dubbed “physical” by journalist Joe Donnohue, it’s more clear as to why Leeds chief Victor Orta is prepared to pay a club-record fee for a relatively inexperienced player with a lack of figures to back it up.

As such, Rutter could genuinely be a big missing piece in the Whites’ puzzle and one that should still serve them well for many seasons from now.

AND in other news, Beren Cross drops Illan Meslier injury update…

Chelsea have signed Wesley Fofana from Leicester City for £75m, Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for £33m and Benoit Badiashile from AS Monaco for £35m since Todd Boehly assumed the ownership role at the club last year, but could find the catalyst for defensive security in homegrown talent Levi Colwill.

Indeed, the precocious rising star is thriving out on loan at fellow Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion, undoubtedly gifted to the Seagulls on a temporary basis to pave the foundation for a successful career in the English top-flight, with eventual plans to incorporate the 19-year-old into the first-team fold at Stamford Bridge.

If weaselling his way into contention on the South Coast was the test, Colwill passed with flying colours.

With the 2022/23 season roughly at its midpoint, the ace has made 12 appearances across all competitions, initially playing a peripheral role before indeed earning the trust of Roberto de Zerbi and starting the past five league fixtures.

The “rising talent” – as hailed by The Athletic’s Simon Johnson – has completed 90% of his passes in the Premier League for Brighton, as per Sofascore, while also making 0.9 interceptions and 2.0 clearances per game, and appears to be cementing his stature as a regular name on the team-sheet.

Arguably his most impressive performance came in his last outing, where the outfit monumentally dispatched Liverpool 3-0 at the AMEX Stadium.

Recording a match rating of 7.5, Colwill was integral in rebuffing the flimsy Reds attack, completing 93% of his passes, making two clearances and winning three of his four duels, also displaying a creative sheen to his arsenal that will leave Potter impressed, creating one big chance.

With Chelsea’s perilous position in the Premier League this term, having plummeted to tenth place and fallen to defeat across seven of the past 11 matches across all competitions, Colwill is demonstrating his aptitude with a Brighton side that actually perch above the Blues in the table, sitting within European contention in seventh place and having previously drubbed Chelsea 4-1 in what was Potter’s managerial debut for the west London outfit after departing from Brighton, who exacted revenge in devastating fashion.

And as per FBref, he ranks among the top 3% of centre-backs for attempted passes, the top 12% for aerials won and the top 19% for shot-creating actions when compared to those plying their trade within Europe’s big five leagues, despite his inexperience.

He is comparable to Arsenal’s rising star William Saliba, who ranks among the top 3% of defenders for pass completion and the top 6% for dribbles completed.

With the French Saliba earning plaudits for his role in Arsenal’s brilliance this season – the Gunners perch atop the Premier League table and look the most arresting outfit in the season, regarding the slick, seamless style of their play – Colwill can continue to rise into his own with the Seagulls, perhaps earning a shot at Stamford Bridge in the future and biding his time, much like his peer across London in Saliba.

While certain members of the Chelsea fanbase might yearn for an exciting young star such as Colwill at present, allowing him to continue his development at Brighton is a move that will bear eventual fruit; Chelsea are rebuilding with a wealth of fresh faces, and while targeting high-profile names often works out, it would be a travesty to ignore a burgeoning teenage talent such as Colwill, who must one day be allowed to don the Chelsea shirt and cement his legacy at the club.

Liverpool are ‘interested’ in completing the signing of West Ham and England star Declan Rice, according to an update from journalist Rudy Galetti.

The Lowdown: Rice on the move this summer?

The 24-year-old has already matured into one of the Three Lions’ most important players, starting five matches at the 2022 World Cup and averaging a 91.2% pass completion rate over in Qatar.

Rice has remained loyal to West Ham until this point, avoiding a big-money move elsewhere, but it looks highly likely that he will leave in the summer transfer window as his contracts ticks towards its final 12 months.

The midfielder’s current Hammers contract expires at the end of next season, meaning he would be allowed to leave on a free transfer at that point if the Hammers do not trigger the one-year club option in his deal.

The Latest: LFC ‘interested’ in signing

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Galetti said that Liverpool are one of the clubs keen on snapping up Rice this summer:

“It’s an open race. It’s an evolving situation because also Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in him. We have to wait a few more weeks to better understand the future of Declan Rice.”

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The Verdict: Bellingham a better option

Rice is an outstanding footballer who has been hailed as the ‘best’ in the world in the defensive midfield position by John Terry, and he certainly would add the legs that Liverpool’s midfield has been so sorely lacking this season.

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The Englishman has averaged 2.3 tackles per game in the Premier League this season, whereas the struggling duo of Fabinho (1.8) and Jordan Henderson (0.8) have lesser tallies, with the Brazilian’s status as the Reds’ go-to number six surely in doubt if this deal goes through.

However, while Rice would clearly be a strong signing by Liverpool, he would also cost an eye-watering amount – supposedly around £70m – and it is hard to see the Reds being able to afford both him and Jude Bellingham.

The Borussia Dortmund superstar has to be their first-choice option, given his status as a generational talent, and for that reason, they should avoid a move for Rice, unless their financial situation suddenly changes.

Arsenal have held ‘very good’ talks with William Saliba about extending his contract at the Emirates Stadium, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Saliba’s contract situation

The 21-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of next season, with Arsenal retaining the right to extend it by an extra year. However Mikel Arteta will surely be very keen to tie him down to a long-term contract, given his importance to the team.

The Frenchman has emerged as a vital part of the Gunners’ backline this season, making 18 appearances in the Premier League in a breakthrough season after returning from a loan spell at Marseille.

The Latest: Saliba ‘happy’ at Arsenal

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano stated that talks are progressing well between club and player, claiming that there is no reason why Arsenal shouldn’t be able to reach an agreement with Saliba on an extension.

The Italian said: “I’m told the conversations are very good between Saliba and Arsenal. The player is really happy at Arsenal. I honestly don’t see there being a big problem or any issues here.”

The Verdict: Fantastic news

The 21-year-old has been a consistent performer for the Gunners this season, one of 11 players in the squad who’s averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.0 or above, and there is every indication that he has the potential to develop even further.

An aspect of Saliba’s game which sets him apart from other centre-backs is his ability on the ball, averaging a pass completion rate of 92.2% per 90 in the past year, placing him in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

Considering that he has completed 0.54 dribbles per 90 in the same timeframe, the youngster is clearly comfortable in possession, meaning that Arteta can trust him in being able to bring the ball out of defence and advance it into more threatening areas.

Hailed as an ‘outrageous’ talent by Connor Humm, Saliba is the perfect modern centre-back, and Arsenal should now ensure that his long-term future is played out at the heart of their defence by offering him lucrative new terms.

Leeds United have made an opening bid to Juventus for midfielder Weston McKennie, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Midfield search

The Whites appear to be on the hunt for a marquee midfield addition before Tuesday’s deadline and now have McKennie in their sights following speculation of a move for Angers’ Azzedine Ounahi.

Elland Road officials appear to have already spoken to the USA international, with personal terms reportedly agreed. There is still some work to do before the 24-year-old can join up fellow countrymen Jesse Marsch, Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson in Yorkshire, but an offer has now been made.

The Latest: McKennie offer

Romano took to Twitter on Wednesday night to share an update on Leeds and McKennie.

The transfer expert revealed that an opening bid of €28m (£24.6m) has been made by the Whites, but Juventus are holding out for a fee closer to €35m (£30.8m).

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The Verdict: Big money…

Leeds have already splashed the cash this month, spending an initial €40m (£35.2m) on Max Wober and Georginio Rutter. A move for the latter was a club record, so it’ll be interesting to see if they are willing to pay big once again and match Juventus’ demands for McKennie.

There appears to be a €7m (£6.2m) difference at this moment in time, so Victor Orta, Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers could go back in with a meet-in-the-middle offer of around €31.5m (£27.7m).

Should the club match Juventus’ €35m asking price, it could break an Elland Road record for the second time this month.

Chelsea are working hard to secure the signing of Enzo Fernandez before the transfer window shuts in just a few hours and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source.

What’s the latest?

The Athletic’s football correspondent David Ornstein has revealed that there is “heightened optimism” for Chelsea to strike a deal for the Benfica midfielder before the deadline.

Ornstein tweeted this evening: “Sources in Portugal tell @TheAthleticFC there’s now heightened optimism agreement can be struck for Enzo Fernandez to join Chelsea. Benfica have granted permission to do medical in Portugal in case deal struck.”

Ending the window with a bang

There is no doubt that the signing of Fernandez would see Chelsea end the window with a bang, especially after the London club let their Italian midfielder Jorginho sign for Arsenal this afternoon.

The deal for the 22-year-old talent has been stuck in a back and forth, with the powerbrokers at Stamford Bridge desperately trying to reach an agreement with Benfica president Rui Costa on the structure of the payment of the £106m release clause.

Chelsea are speculated to have their hands tied in only being able to offer a payment plan with a substantial amount upfront to ensure they stay within the Financial Fair Play regulations after spending over £600m since Todd Boehly became the owner last summer, should Fernandez sign today.

The Argentine powerhouse would be a simply supreme acquisition, with his array of talent having the potential to be game-changing for Chelsa’s midfield.

Indeed, he ranks in the top 7% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues over a number of metrics, including shots on goal, assists, shot-creating actions, passes attempted and progressive passes.

It proves that he is one of the hottest young prospects in Europe right now and would be a huge asset to Graham Potter in his pursuit to improve Chelsea’s season.

The Blues are currently tenth in the Premier League after 20 outings and are now ten points adrift from a Champions League qualification spot inside the top four, with a number of injuries to key players plaguing their ability to control games.

N’Golo Kante, Christian Pulisic, Raheem Sterling, Denis Zakaria, Ben Chilwell and Reece James are just some of the important presences on the pitch that Potter is unable to call upon at present, so the signing of Fernandez is quite evidently an important deal, one that could see the Blues well and truly end their window with a bang.

With that being said, it now seems like it will just be a matter of time before Fernandez is pictured in the famous Blue shirt and Potter will surely be hoping that January’s addition will give the squad enough to climb the table into a much more comfortable position sooner rather than later.