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CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that Chelsea will be ‘aggressive’ in the last few days of the January transfer window. 

The Lowdown: Busy January

Graham Potter has seen seven new faces arrive at Stamford Bridge this month, with Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk and Malo Gusto just some of the names who joined the Premier League side this January.

The Blues are also in ‘talks’ with Benfica to land midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that Chelsea are proposing a fee of €120m (£105.4m) in ‘different instalments’.

The Latest: Still active

Jacobs claimed that midfield is an area that Chelsea want to strengthen when speaking to GiveMeSport, as he expects them to push hard in the remaining hours of the window.

He stated: “Chelsea will surprise us in the final few days of the window – Chelsea will be aggressive in the final few days of the window.

“This is down to the fact that despite their big spending and a lot of exciting, creative-minded players coming in like Mudryk, Madueke and Felix, one of their priorities at the beginning of the window was a midfielder.

“They still haven’t got a midfielder and there’s only a few days left of the window.”

The Verdict: A huge rebuild

We believe that the massive spending by Chelsea is due to the fact they’re looking at rebuilding their squad as it’s Potter’s first window in charge since his appointment.

A number of the Blues’ summer signings already look like poor bits of business, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly have flattered to deceive.

Chelsea’s spending in recent times has been heavily criticised by many, including TalkSport’s Danny Murphy, who labelled their transfer activity as ‘ludicrous’.

The money spent by Potter’s side has certainly been ridiculous as far as the amount is concerned, but this is a Chelsea side that is severely underperforming this season.

That being said, questions have to be asked in terms of Financial Fair Play. It appears there’s a loophole within the regulations of FFP and the Blues have been able to spend money on players as they end up paying the transfer fees and wages over a longer period rather than in one go – though UEFA is taking steps to prevent this in the future.

Newcastle United are still looking for a new right-back this month amid links to emerge over an interest in the Inter Milan star, Denzel Dumfries.

What’s the latest?

It has been reported during the January transfer window that the Magpies had made a new right-back one of their priorities this month.

And a player of interest had been reported as the Real Valladolid youngster Ivan Fresneda, however, it seems as if Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have stolen a march on the Toon.

There have also been links to the likes of West Ham United’s Harrison Ashby emerging as a potential backup plan to the Spanish youngster.

However, speaking on BBC’s Transfer Gossip Daily podcast, journalist Luke Edwards has claimed a move for Dumfries would make a lot of sense:

(3:40) “I know Newcastle are looking for a right wing-back but they mainly wanted one as a backup to Kieran Trippier. So I’m a little bit suspicious about it just because those three names of clubs [Manchester United, Chelsea & Newcastle] would be the ideal scenario to create a market for your player.

“However, I can see – and this is strange – I can see the sense in all of those, if I’m honest.”

Competition at right-back

The arrival of Kieran Trippier at right-back last January has been a revelation on Tyneside with the 32-year-old quickly establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

However, there does seem to be an issue in their squad depth behind Trippier with the likes of Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo the options Eddie Howe has to rely upon.

And with this in mind, it is totally understandable why Newcastle may look to bring in another player in that position this month.

The addition of a young prospect like Fresneda or Ashby would make a lot of sense as it would allow Trippier to continue as the starting right-back but potentially see him take the young signing under his wing.

For now, Trippier is showing little signs of slowing down in a Newcastle shirt meaning there would be time for the young player to develop for when the time comes.

That time will likely come in the next few years but we do wonder whether this means a deal for Dumfries wouldn’t actually make much sense.

The Dutchman is still only 26-years-old and having made 13 starts for Inter in Serie A this season, we would struggle to imagine him being willing to sit in wait for the day Trippier needs to be replaced.

With Howe having built a squad around ‘humble lads’ the notion of having a current Champions League calibre wing-back sitting in wait on the bench would feel like a recipe for disaster.

And given the success Trippier is currently having on Tyneside, it is hard to imagine Howe being willing to set him back in the pecking order for a player with no Premier League experience.

Tottenham Hotspur endured a drawn-out January transfer window, in which their top target was only secured late on deadline day despite their interest in Pedro Porro being well-documented and long-lasting.

In the end they got their man, but the process was dragged out in a way which removed any element of fun or surprise from it.However, had they not finalised the deal, it could have been a damning indication of the lack of backing that Fabio Paratici had been given.

The sky-high ambitions of Harry Kane, who infamously came close to joining Manchester City in 2021 in the hunt for silverware, are plain to be seen. Had Tottenham failed in their pursuit of the aforementioned Spaniard, it could just have been the final nail in the coffin to force the 29-year-old out of north London.

Desperate to win a trophy, it is clear that he wants to do this with the club which gave him everything; but if they do not match his ambitions, there are plenty of clubs who will, such as Manchester United.

The Red Devils cruised to the Carabao Cup final on Wednesday night, not long after talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook dubbed a potential move for the England captain to Old Trafford one to “keep an eye on”.

The £200k-per-weekmarksman has long been linked with a move away from Spurs but has hitherto stayed put, most recently becoming the club’s joint all-time top scorer alongside Jimmy Greaves, a feat which promptedStatman Dave to justifiably dub Kane a “club legend”.

What makes his tally of 266 goals all the more special is that he has done it in just 415 games, whilst also providing 62assists along the way. A prolific marksman and a creative genius, there are few players on the planet who can do what he does.

Even this season, when at times Conte’s side have struggled, the80-cap hero boasts 16 goals in just 21league games, with those goals worth a massive 14 points to Tottenham all told.

His pedigree is further boosted by those exploits with his national team, where he has recently drawn level alongside Wayne Rooney as England’sall-timetop scorer, reaching the 53-goal milestone in 40 fewer caps than the former Everton striker.

He was also praised for how he led the line at the recent World Cup, as journalist Charles Watts tweeted during England’s 3-0 win over Senegal:”This has been an absolutely world class performance from Kane tonight. Everything that you want from your No.9.”

The lethal forward truly is one of a kind, and losing him last month would have been a gut punch to halt all the progress that Tottenham have made in the last decade. Their desperate hopes for a first trophy in 15 years lay heavily on his shoulders, so keeping him around for a little bit longer will be crucial in that pursuit.

However, given his undeniable talents, the transfer rumours will likely remain. At least Paratici has managed to keep him for another while and duly stave off disaster in the January transfer window.

Newcastle United have made contact to bring Sporting Lisbon midfielder Manuel Ugarte to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Midfield being targeted

The Magpies were reportedly targeting a central midfield signing in January, but having failed to land Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher and Sheffield United’s Sander Berge following two late loan enquiries, have no choice but to start identifying potential targets for the next window.

The Uruguay international’s contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade isn’t set to expire until 2026, but having been one of Ruben Amorim’s standout performers this season (he ranks as their fourth-best current player by WhoScored metrics), the youngster has emerged as an ideal candidate for PIF and Eddie Howe at St James’ Park.

The Latest: Newcastle make Ugarte contact

According to Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness), Ugarte has ‘caught the eye’ of Newcastle, who have added him to their ‘summer menu’ ahead of a potential move to England.

The Tyneside outfit have already ‘made approaches’ to enquire about the 21-year-old’s availability, although it’s believed that Sporting have ‘made it clear’ that a deal won’t be possible.

The Primeira Liga giants are keen to offer their player fresh terms and increase his release clause from €60m (£53m) to €80m (£71m), with that likely being the amount required to successfully prise him away from Lisbon.

The Verdict: Exciting prospective signing

Ugarte has been dubbed a ‘leader’ in defensive midfield by football talent scout Jacek Kulig despite still being at such a young age, and he would be a hugely exciting signing for Newcastle.

The Montevideo native currently ranks in the 99th percentile for pass completion and tackles made per game, and also in the 98th percentile for interceptions per match (FBref). These returns mark him out as a midfielder who is adept at breaking up opposition attacks while also keeping possession ticking over nicely for his team.

Securing a place in the Champions League would likely make Newcastle a highly attractive prospect to potential transfer targets, so it’s vital that the Magpies focus their efforts on the pitch over the next four months to bolster their chances of landing Ugarte come the summer.

Phil Hay has claimed that Leeds United are admirers of out-of-work coach Marcelo Gallardo.

The Lowdown: The manager search continues

After sacking Jesse Marsch over a week ago, Leeds are still without a permanent manager, and caretaker boss Michael Skubala will take charge for the time being, including for their relegation six-pointer at the weekend.

Leeds have certainly been trying to land a new manager, though they have been foiled in their attempts to bring in a new coach, with the likes of Andoni Iraola, Arne Slot and Alfred Schreuder all now off the table.

Someone who may well have been easier to land is the unattached Gallardo, who is yet to take up another job since leaving River Plate last year, although his unwillingness to join mid-season is proving to be a stumbling block.

The Latest: Gallardo is wanted by Leeds

Hay has admitted Leeds do admire Gallardo, who has been called ‘legendary’ and would love him as their manager, although he has also claimed on The Phil Hay Show that the Argentinian is unwilling to join a club without a pre-season to work with the players.

He said: “They like Marcelo Gallardo, who was at River Plate for eight years and left that job in October, but everybody around Gallardo says he does not want to take his next job at this stage. He wants it to be with a full season ahead of him, which I totally understand; it makes sense.

“That’s kind of the Bielsa attitude towards work, is that you want pre-season so you can plan it properly – you don’t really want to firefight.”

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The Verdict: Leeds must make an appointment sooner rather than later

Given that Leeds have got the two Manchester United games out of the way that were always going to be tough tests, the Whites now have two huge games on the horizon against relegation rivals Everton and Southampton, though having a new man in place in to prepare for them clearly would have been ideal.

In terms of bringing someone in from elsewhere, the Whites are seemingly back at square one, with Schreuder – who was in the Elland Road stands last weekend – now reportedly out of the running for the vacant role, so many will hope Orta and Andrea Radrizzani have something else up their sleeve.

When Marsch was sacked, many will have expected that something was in the pipeline, and even more so following Radrizzani’s ‘white smoke’ tweet, which suggested something was close to being finalised, but that has not come to fruition.

And while Skubala may yet be a relatively safe pair of hands for now, the Leeds board could well be counting their lucky stars he has got something of a tune out of the squad since Marsch’s departure – or Tuesday evening’s announcement will surely have seemed far more panicked indeed.

Tottenham Hotspur could turn to Roberto De Zerbi as Antonio Conte’s future at the club is looking rather bleak…

What’s the latest on Antonio Conte’s future at Spurs?

Renowned Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio recently provided an update on the 53-year-old, who remains out of contract in the summer.

Speaking to Sky Sports (via Tuttojuve), he claimed that negotiations over a new deal have stalled and there is now an expectation for his departure at the end of the season, with Serie A giants Juventus keeping a close eye on the situation.

Now, it seems as if the north London outfit are looking for potential replacements, in which the Brighton and Hove Albion boss has emerged as a likely candidate.

Has Roberto De Zerbi been linked to Spurs?

That’s according to Football Insider, who suggest that Spurs are monitoring the 43-year-old, having made an instant impression in replacing Graham Potter on the south coast.

The Italian has not only maintained the Seagulls’ impressive progress but has introduced a more attacking playstyle with a brimful of new talent. Only four teams have outscored De Zerbi’s men and they remain on course for their best-ever Premier League finish as they currently occupy sixth place, just four points behind Spurs.

His fellow countryman, meanwhile, has endured some inconsistencies at the helm of the Lilywhites and right now, he’s still in Italy as he looks to recover from an operation.

It’s been easy to question Conte’s commitment to the club as his furious and reactionary responses to defeats often lead to thoughts of if he’s already got one foot out of the door, though his one-game return last weekend – a 4-1 defeat to Leicester City – would suggest otherwise.

In his absence, assistant manager Cristian Stellini guided the side to an impressive victory over defending champions Manchester City – a result that now looks even better considering they toppled arch-rivals Arsenal in midweek.

It does seem likely, though, that a natural parting of ways will happen and De Zerbi should quite rightly be atop the shortlist.

His high-possession, fast-paced system is exciting and most importantly, somewhat successful. Indeed, since his arrival at the Amex Stadium, the Seagulls have recorded the most games with 70% possession or more – not even Pep Guardiola’s City.

All of the Premier League’s top guns have hailed him, ranging from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp describing him as “very influential,” whilst the aforementioned Spaniard claimed: “His impact in England will be massive in the future.”

Given the evidence above, chairman Daniel Levy could do little wrong in turning to the Brighton boss in a bid to end the ongoing uncertainty over Conte.

AND in other news, Signed for £15m, now worth over 4x more: Levy struck gold with Spurs’ 6 ft 2 “warrior”…

Transfer insider Dean Jones has provided his thoughts on Tottenham Hotspur’s reported interest in Brentford talisman, Ivan Toney…

What’s the latest on Ivan Toney to Spurs?

A report from Football Insider late last week claimed the Lilywhites are keeping a close eye on the 26-year-old’s situation with the Bees, with the Englishman believed to be negotiating a potential wage increase in west London.

The former Newcastle United man will likely not prove easy to prise from his current home with his existing contract set to run until 2025, while reports over the summer suggested that he is valued at around £50m.

According to the aforementioned Jones – speaking in an interview with Football FanCast – a potential move for the in-form asset would seemingly only occur should main man Harry Kane depart at the end of the season.

Asked about whether Antonio Conte and sporting director Fabio Paratici could pursue Toney ahead of next season, the respected journalist stated:

“I wouldn’t see Toney go to Tottenham unless Kane was leaving. I think that something like that would have to give before they would actually go into that discussion.”

Could Toney replace Harry Kane at Spurs?

This interest in the Northampton-born marksman comes amid the speculation surrounding Kane’s future at N17, with the 29-year-old having yet to commit himself to the club with just under 18 months remaining on his current deal.

While there has been talk that the England captain would be open to an extension, there will be a lingering concern that the academy graduate could be tempted to move elsewhere, with Premier League rivals Manchester United believed to be weighing up a potential approach this summer.

Trying to replace the long-serving sensation – who has also caught the eye of Bundesliga side Bayern Munich – would prove near-on impossible, with the 80-cap master having only recently surpassed the late, great Jimmy Greaves as Tottenham’s leading scorer with 267 goals in all competitions.

If the north Londoners are forced to fill the £200k-per-week man’s void, however, it may well be wise to turn to the second-highest scoring Englishman in the top-flight this season in the form of Toney, with the latter man’s tally of 14 league goals only three behind that of Kane.

The former Peterborough United ace has proven himself something of a goalscoring “monster”, as per journalist James Wokabi, over the past 18 months or so in the top tier, having scored 26 league goals since the start of the 2021/22 season.

Prior to that, the imposing asset had proven integral in steering Thomas Frank’s side to promotion after netting 33 goals in the Championship, having enjoyed a real resurgence after previously failing to make his mark at St James’ Park, where he featured just four times.

Much like Kane – who has been lauded as “complete” by footballing icon Thierry Henry – Toney does appear to offer more than just his clinical finishing prowess in attack, with that emphasised by the fact the has three assists to his name so far this season.

The physical forward will also have endeared himself to his potential future employers after scoring against Spurs’ bitter rivals Arsenal at the weekend, with the hope being that he could replicate such an impact for Conte and co.

Although no one at Tottenham will wish to see Kane depart any time soon, turning to the Brentford menace would surely help to ease that loss. Paratici ought to keep a close eye on developments heading into the summer, as a result.

Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Contact made

The Brazilian’s contract at the Parc des Princes isn’t set to expire until 2025, but Christophe Galtier’s side are reportedly open to sanctioning a sale in the summer.

The Reds are one of several clubs believed to have already been approached regarding a potential move, with the 31-year-old interested in completing a transfer to the Premier League.

The Latest: Liverpool offered Neymar

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have now been ‘offered’ the chance to recruit Neymar ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Sources close to the situation have claimed that FSG would need to pay between £70m and £80m to secure his services for Jurgen Klopp.

However, the Merseysiders believe that a deal is ‘unlikely’ as a result of the sum being demanded, not to mention the off-field ‘baggage’ that the Brazilian would potentially bring.

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The Verdict: Don’t do it…

Neymar has been dubbed an ‘artist’ by his manager Galtier, and whilst he ranks in the 99th percentile for four different statistics among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, including shot-creating actions and expected goals assisted, Liverpool are better off not pursuing a deal for him.

The Puma-sponsored athlete has previously been criticised over his attitude, with current Aston Villa manager Unai Emery admitting that he had to make special accommodations for Neymar during his time in charge at PSG as a result of the Brazilian not wanting to implement the 51-year-old’s style of play.

Also, Liverpool already have Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota as options in that left-wing position, so for someone who’d only likely be a bit-part player due to numbers and discipline, there’s no point in bringing Neymar to Anfield.

That’s before we even go into the folly of signing a 31-year-old who earns more than £600,000 per week and would shatter the Reds’ wage structure if he were to demand that amount on Merseyside.

Leeds United boast an academy most Premier League teams would envy as their squad has largely been built around their youth in recent years, both from their own set-ups and signings from elsewhere. 

The likes of Crysencio Summerville, Joe Gelhardt, and Wilfried Gnonto are just some of the youth who have been given votes of confidence, and it seems to be a philosophy that the Whites are keen to continue employing.

Perhaps they could look to emulate these aforementioned successes with a rare defensive promotion, as Liam Cooper enters the twilight of his career.

The club captain has seen his recent years plagued with injuries and so his opportunities have dwindled, especially since the January signing of Max Wober.

His 13 league appearances this season are a damning indication of this deterioration, although he remains an incredibly solid option – ranking in the top ten for average Sofascore ratings within the squad. Perhaps before the gem exits Elland Road, or calls time on his career, he could focus his efforts on helping Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen fill the void.

Can Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen emulate Cooper at Leeds?

The young central defender has impressed of late for his defensive work in the Premier League 2 but stole the headlines in their most recent outing as he notched what would go on to be the winner as they defeated Southampton’s youth side.

It marked his first goal in U21 football, having scored just once previously for the U18 side, and the contribution saw his team climb to the top of the table.

However, it is not his proficiency in front of goal that has captured the imagination, but, instead his immaculate understanding of the game to cut out threats before they become dangerous.

He may already be on Javi Gracia’s radar as the 18-year-old has been ever-present for this title-chasing side, with the teenage sensation boasting a maturity and physicality that belies his years. 

Such is his quality, he understandably holds a great deal of confidence in his ability. This was outlined in the description he offered on his own talents after the youngster penned a new deal back in 2021: “I’m a player who reads the game quite well and I like to defend on the front foot, I want to keep learning under the coaching staff and become a better player in general.”

With Cooper having had to use his match intelligence to compensate for his lack of speed, he has impressed at the top level for many years now – making 253 appearances in the top two divisions. 

Chilokoa-Mullen could grow to do the same, with an impressive knowledge of the game sure to take him far should he latch himself onto his compatriot and absorb what he can whilst he’s still around.

Manchester City fans are howling over a behind-scenes claim involving Man United after their 7-0 humbling to Liverpool.

The Lowdown: United jolted?

Before that dismal defeat at Anfield, the Red Devils were on an imperious run of form – even beating City at Old Trafford the last time the two sides met.

Also into the Europa League Last 16 and boasting a Carabao Cup, City supporters could’ve been forgiven for looking over their shoulders at Erik ten Hag’s men.

The Premier League champions (second) are followed relatively closely by United in third as the final standings begin to take shape – yet ten Hag’s humbling at the hands of Liverpool may now have jolted their real momentum.

The Latest: Blues howl over ‘brutal’ United claim…

According to reporter Chris Wheeler (via City Xtra), prior to their bitter loss on Merseyside, members of United’s squad spoke in their WhatsApp group about the prospect of pipping Arsenal and Pep Guardiola to the title.

This claim now looks hilarious to some City supporters, who flocked to Twitter after their rivals’ shocking result, saying:

“They keep embarrassing themselves” – @Xcott_17

“This gets funnier each day” – @mcfcdvd

“They need to know their place” – @sergilogy 

“They thought they had a seat at the table” – @FORMULICIA

“Who gassed these man go fight for 3rd place” – @IIM9320

“Who invited them” – @SxrgioSZN

“Brutal” – @callmearchers

The Verdict: Keep watch…

Tongue-in-cheek rivalry aside, although City are currently nine points ahead of their neighbours, United do still have a game in hand and may well reduce that gap to six points.

The Blues know all about fighting back from fierce points deficits – having been forced to do exactly that in numerous title-winning campaign – so a large portion of supporters will also know Guardiola’s men cannot take their foot off the gas.