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Arsenal are interested in a teenage attacking midfielder as Mikel Arteta aims to bolster his squad…

What’s the news?

Foot Mercato have reported that Arsenal are interested in 19-year-old Fares Chaibi, who plays for Toulouse in Ligue 1.

The report states that Arsenal had scouts present during Toulouse’s match against Strasbourg last month in order to take a closer look at the youngster.

LaLiga side Sevilla are also interested in the player and Arteta might face competition to secure his signature. A fee has not been mentioned, however, due to this being Chaibi’s breakthrough season, Arsenal might not need to splash the cash.

Gabriel Martinelli 2.0

Arteta has begun to mould an Arsenal side that combines experience with young talent and this has eventually started to pay off this season.

During the summer, the club signed young Brazilian winger Marquinhos and he looks like an excellent potential, while there is no doubt that Chaibi could add something different.

In fact, the Toulouse player is more akin to Martinelli, with FBref rating him as fifth-closest to the Arsenal winger on their player comparison model.

This season has seen the two players register very similar statistics with regard to goal contributions (7 to 6), shots per game (2.51 to 2.16), and goal-creating actions per match (0.69 to 0.43).

While the Brazilian mainly plays out wide, Chaibi can play as a centre-forward, attacking midfielder or as winger, leading journalist Chebil Ishaq to describe him as “versatile” and this could be a big advantage for Arteta.

Fellow praise was also given by journalist Zach Lowy, who claimed the 19-year-old was “one to keep an eye on,” and his form this season certainly merits this praise.

Arteta might continue to scout the player for the duration of the season, as he is unlikely to gain much game time if he moved to the North London side in January.

However, with Sevilla interested too, much will depend on how they act going forward, and there might be no harm in Arteta making a move for him before loaning the youngster back out so he can continue his development.

With Martinelli really beginning to showcase this potential this season, Chaibi could follow in his footsteps and become a shrewd investment for the club.

Newcastle United securing a sponsorship deal with Saudia brings ‘exciting times’ for the club, according to journalist Lee Ryder.

The Lowdown: Saudia partnership announced

The Premier League outfit reached an agreement with Fun88 in 2017 but their reign looks set to be ending a year early, with the Chinese betting firm seeing their logo on shirts for the last time in the final game of the 2022/23 season.

The Magpies recently announced a fresh partnership with Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia, and whilst it remains to be seen whether their name will be on the club’s kits next term, it’s believed to be worth more than Fun88’s £6.5m per year contract.

The Latest: Ryder’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Ryder reacted to the news and was buzzing at the thought of the positive effects that this could have on Newcastle moving forward, stating: “Exciting times on and off the field for #nufc.”

Expanding in his column for Chronicle Live, the reporter claimed that Fun88’s deal will look like a ‘drop in the ocean’ compared to the club’s new commercial move, which could see them secure their ‘biggest-ever’ sponsorship agreement.

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The Verdict: Hugely encouraging news

Saudia becoming Newcastle’s official tour airline partner is massively encouraging news for the Tyneside outfit, who are set to fly out to Riyadh for their mid-season training camp this Sunday.

PIF securing this record-breaking deal will help to further boost the club’s profile and put St James’ Park on the map, although this has perhaps started to happen already after the unexpectedly strong opening to the campaign.

The Magpies could also become more attractive to other sponsors in the future, so both financially and socially, this could prove to be a huge step in the right direction.

Unai Emery will be given his first opportunity to stamp his own mark on the Aston Villa squad when the January transfer window opens next month.

He may want to bring in a few fresh additions to improve the squad in order to push up the table and compete in the top half, instead of against relegation.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece told supporters to “keep an eye” on Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha when asked who the club will look to sign during the upcoming window.

When asked about whether or not the Villans should swoop for the attacker, former player Gabriel Agbonlahor told Football Insider:

“Wilfried Zaha is a top player. Any club in the Premier League would love to have him.

“If Villa can get him on a free transfer it would be a great signing. He is what we are missing on that left side.”

Emery must now push the Villa board to sign the attacker, who is reportedly on £130k-per-week, as he would be a phenomenal addition to the side.

He is a proven Premier League performer, thanks to his many years of experience with Palace, who would add a huge goal threat out on the left flank.

Tony Cascarino previously told talkSPORT that the winger is almost “unplayable” and “causes havoc” when he is at his best, which he has been regularly over the past 18 months.

The Ivory Coast international has plundered six goals and two assists in 13 Premier League appearances for the Eagles this season, averaging a Sofascore rating of 6.95. Meanwhile, Danny Ings is Villa’s top goalscorer with five strikes and no attacking midfielder or forward has averaged a higher rating than 6.88 in the top flight.

This comes after the former Manchester United winger produced 14 goals and one assist in 33 outings in the division, averaging a score of 6.98 last term. No winger, or number 10, managed more than six goals for the Villans in the league last season and this suggests that Zaha is, as Agbonlahor claimed, what Emery is currently missing out wide.

The 30-year-old wing wizard is out of contract at the end of the campaign and the club must now swoop for him in January by convincing Palace to part ways for a fee instead of risking losing him for nothing in the summer.

His statistics suggest that he would be a huge upgrade on Emery’s current Villa wingers, due to his ability to score goals in the Premier League, and that is why he is a player who is worth pursuing in the next window.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their pursuit of Ryan Porteous ahead of the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that the Gers are not close to sealing a deal to sign the central defender, although he is a player of interest to the club.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It feels like this got blown out of control a little bit in recent times, as people are playing down the prospect of an imminent move.

“Clearly, it has been one on the radar, but I still feel there might be some ironing out to do.”

Speaking on Clyde Super Scoreboard, via The Sun, Jim Duffy recently claimed that the Light Blues could sign the 23-year-old ahead of Celtic: “I have heard that there is a little bit of a suggestion that he may be going across the road to their greatest rivals.

“So, I have heard that, whether there’s that much in it but that’s something that’s in the air on the football grapevine should we say.”

Blow for Michael Beale

The claim from Jones could come as a blow for the new Gers head coach as it suggests that the club are not closing in on the new signing.

This surely represents a setback for the Light Blues boss as Porteous has been in terrific form for Hibernian this season and would be a fantastic addition to the squad.

The central defender has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.29 and won 68% of his duels in the Premiership across 16 appearances so far this term, whilst Connor Goldson’s score of 7.24 is the highest among the Gers centre-backs in the top-flight.

John Hughes recently backed him to succeed at Rangers, saying:

“He has become a much better footballer over the last couple of years too. And he is still evolving and will be even better. Nothing intimidates Ryan. Going to Ibrox is not a problem for him. That’s the kind of guy you want in your team.

“A lot of people mention his temperament. If you take that out him then you’re not getting the same player.”

In possession, Porteous has completed 80% of his attempted passes and created 1.2 chances per match for his teammates, despite playing as a centre-back. This shows that he has value on the ball, as well as off it, and that he could play an important role in the build-up for Beale.

Therefore, people playing down a transfer for Porteous will come as a blow to the former Liverpool coach as he has the quality to be a superb signing for the Light Blues, given that his performances have been at a level above that of the manager’s current options this term.

Arsenal are interested in a deal to bring Mykhaylo Mudryk to The Emirates in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Evening Standard, who claim that, following a number of earlier reports suggesting that the Gunners were keen on a move for the Shakhtar Donetsk winger this winter, Edu has now opened talks with the Ukrainian side regarding a deal for the 21-year-old.

However, the report goes on to suggest that the Gunners are hoping for the Premier Liga outfit to lower their current asking price for the Ukraine international – said to be in the region of £85m – with Edu believed to be confident that he can knock Shakhtar’s current valuation of the forward down in negotiations.

A new Grealish-like sensation

Considering the “frightening” – in the words of Josh Bunting – talent Mudryk looks to be, it is not difficult to understand why Arsenal would be keen on a deal to bring the youngster to north London this winter – even for an astronomical price of £85m.

Indeed, after bagging two goals and providing seven assists over 11 Premier Liga outings last season, the £13m-rated talent has once again been in scintillating form over his 12 league fixtures in the current campaign, having hit the back of the net seven times and registered a further six assists – averaging a direct goal involvement every 70 minutes of domestic football played this term.

However, it has not only been in Ukraine that the 21-year-old has been catching the eye, as the winger also bagged three goals, registered two assists and created one big chance over his six Champions League fixtures this season, in addition to taking an average of 1.5 shots – one of which hit the target – making 0.8 key passes and completing 1.7 dribbles per game.

It was these performances that saw many sit up and take notice of the eight-cap international, with journalist and podcaster Jack Collins stating of the trickster following his display against RB Leipzig on the opening day of the Champions League season:

“Mykhaylo Mudryk is absolutely unreal. A goal and two assists, sure, but his explosiveness in small bursts is almost undefendable and his ability to keep the ball tethered to his foot, even at full speed, is Bernardo-esque. He’s going to be a star.”

However, in terms of player comparison, it is arguably Sam Tighe’s suggestion that Mudryk is actually more like a Jack “Grealish regen” that would appear to be more accurate, with the £100m Manchester City forward boasting a similar average of 1.5 completed dribbles per Premier League fixture so far this season.

As such, should Edu be successful in his attempts to land Mudryk this winter, not only would the Brazilian have added an exceptionally talented young attacker to Mikel Arteta’s squad, but he could also have unearthed a new Grealish-esque talent – something that is sure to be an extremely exciting prospect for all involved with the Gunners.

Liverpool have identified Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham as their priority target next summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Lowdown: Reds eye move…

The Premier League giants are reliably believed to be chasing Bellingham as one of a number of transfer options heading into 2023.

Argentina star Enzo Fernandez is said to have reached a pre-transfer agreement with Jurgen Klopp’s side, for instance, with the Anfield outfit now seriously attempting to back their manager on the field.

Bellingham, though, has been more heavily linked with a move to Merseyside in recent months as the 6 foot 1 midfielder dazzles for both England and Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

The Latest: Sheth reveals Liverpool stance on Bellingham…

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Sky journalist Sheth claims the Reds and owners FSG have identified the 19-year-old as their number one target heading into the summer.

He also says their delay in signing a midfielder could be down to waiting for Bellingham to become available in the new year.

Sheth explained:

“It’s clear he is the number one target for Liverpool.

“Remember, in the summer, they did want to bring in a midfielder but they decided to go short-term first of all and brought in Arthur Melo, maybe with one eye on next summer when Jude Bellingham potentially could be available.”

The Verdict: Tough move…

Bellingham’s sensational form in Germany, not to mention impressive cameos in the World Cup, have only raised his price tag and increased the queue of clubs seriously considering a move.

That being said, the dynamic and energetic midfielder would seriously upgrade Klopp’s options in the middle of the park, especially since he has been called a ‘monster’ by members of the media.

If Liverpool pull this move off, Bellingham would undoubtedly excite supporters.

Liverpool have had their worst start to a Premier League season in a decade, with a number of injury issues mounting and much upheaval at Anfield contributing to the inconsistency on the pitch.

The Reds are currently sixth in the table after their first 14 matches prior to the World Cup break, and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping for a fresh start for his squad when they return to action in the top flight tomorrow.

Liverpool will head to Villa Park for their first league game since 12 November and will face Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, who are unbeaten in the top flight since his return to the Premier League.

Not only are the Reds back in action, but the January transfer window will reopen this time next week, and it will be interesting to see if Liverpool make moves to improve the performances on the pitch and strengthen the squad ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Injuries have been mounting in the Merseysiders’ squad over the season so far, with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Arthur Melo currently sidelined ahead of the Boxing Day fixture, and the former two not expected back for at least the next six weeks.

As a result, Liverpool could be tempted to make a move for an attacking player in the January transfer window in order to bolster the squad following the exits of Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and Taki Minamino in the summer, combined with the ongoing injury issues.

One player who has been recently linked with a move to Anfield is Leicester City and England star James Maddison, a versatile attacking midfielder who could offer Klopp a multitude of solutions at Anfield.

Despite Leicester’s struggles this season, the 26-year-old has been undoubtedtly the standout performer in the team, and his incredible performances earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad in Qatar.

In 13 Premier League appearances so far this term, the £60m-valued ace – who was dubbed “frightening” by Rio Ferdinand – has scored seven goals, registered four assists and created three big chances, averaging three shots on goal, 2.4 key passes, 1.9 tackles, 33.6 accurate passes and 4.8 duels won per game.

Maddison has earned high praise for his outstanding performances this season, with talkSPORT’s Danny Murphy hailing the player in an analysis of the 26-year-old’s future by saying: “He’s a super talent, the only question mark over James Maddison is his application and sometimes his attitude, but his talent is up there.”

The former Liverpool midfielder continued: “Is he good enough? Yes. He’s a Champions League player. He has all of the qualities needed to play Champions League and international football.”

With that being said, the signing of Maddison would be a major coup for Liverpool if they decide that strengthening their attacking presence is crucial in the New Year, and there is no doubt that Klopp could get Anfield rocking if the Foxes maestro could perform at the same level for the Reds.

Southampton’s plans for the January window have now been detailed by transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Southampton’s poor start

Nathan Jones’ side currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, having acquired just 12 points from their opening 16 games, and much of this can be put down to their woes in front of goal.

The Saints have only managed to muster up 13 goals, with current centre-forward options Che Adams and Adam Armstrong not being clinical enough up to this point.

As such, their manager is now looking to make some additions in forward areas during the January transfer window…

The Latest: Dean Jones’ comments

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones revealed what areas Southampton will be aiming to strengthen in the upcoming market.

He outlined: “We know Southampton are in the market for two players and one will be wide and one will be a central figure of attack. Ultimately, he needs a bagsman, doesn’t he? He needs somebody that can be relied on in the box.

“They don’t have that guy. They don’t have a Mitrovic, an Ivan Toney, and that’s what they’re looking for. You’ve got to have somebody that you can turn to week in, week out for goals, and Southampton just haven’t had it.”

The Verdict: Reinforcements needed

Southampton’s success in the January transfer window is likely to shape their season, as they are really lacking a dependable goalscorer on whom they can rely to regularly find the net – only Adams (four) has scored more than two league goals for them in 2022/23.

As pointed out by Jones, other teams who may have been predicted to struggle before the season started both have strikers who frequently contribute to their attacking output, with Brentford’s Toney having a remarkable 11 goals in 15 Premier League games to his name this season.

With ten goals in 12 league games, Aleksandar Mitrovic has also been a difference maker for Fulham, who sit level on points with Brentford in the top half, whereas they could have been in a relegation dogfight of their own if they did not have him to call upon.

As such, Jones needs to ensure that he identifies a suitable player of a similar ilk in January, or Southampton could well find themselves sweating on their top-flight status right up to the end of the campaign.

Manchester United could well be inching closer to bringing Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix to England, following a promising update regarding the club’s interest in the Portugal international…

What’s the word?

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, there appears to be positivity surrounding the potential addition of the 23-year-old, with the Red Devils seemingly eyeing an initial loan deal with the option to buy for a fee close to €100m (£88m).

Writing on Twitter about that developing story, the transfer insider stated: “Talks between #ManchesterUnited and #Atleti for Joao #Felix are progressing well. Under discussion an onerous loan with option to buy (around €90m/100m). After an initial closure, now the [Spanish] club seems open to evaluate this type of solution.”

The 28-cap starlet is believed to be keen on making the switch to the Theatre of Dreams, with reports last month having claimed that United are the forward’s “preference” should he depart the Wanda Metropolitano this month.

Ten Hag’s own Aguero

The former Benfica ace – who previously scored 20 goals and provided 11 assists in just 43 games for the Lisbon outfit – is facing an uncertain future in the Spanish capital, having started just six La Liga games under Diego Simeone this season.

Despite that lack of action, the “special” talent – as lauded by teammate Alvaro Morata – still has seven goal contributions to his name in the league this term, having also registered one goal and two assists at the World Cup in Qatar.

Should Erik ten Hag and co bring the dynamic forward to the club this month, the hope would be that he can replicate the impact of another striker who traded life at Atleti for Manchester in the form of Sergio Aguero, with the now-retired Argentine having previously shone for United’s arch-rivals, Manchester City.

As much as it may pain those at Old Trafford to admit, the prolific marksman was something of a revelation for the Etihad outfit following his £38m arrival in England back in 2011 – then aged 23 – having gone on to score 260 goals in just 390 games for the Cityzens.

The former Independent man memorably broke Red Devils’ hearts at the end of his debut campaign after scoring on the final day to clinch title glory for Roberto Mancini’s men, with that strike perhaps the most important of the 184 Premier League goals that he would amass during his decade-long stint at the club.

That transfer proved immensely fruitful for all parties, with the aim now for United to replicate the success of their long-time foes and snap up another star from Madrid in Felix.

With Ten Hag desperately searching for a new striker, the 5 foot 11 menace could well prove the ideal solution.

Everton were knocked out of the FA Cup following a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford last night, and Frank Lampard will surely be feeling the pressure as the club are now out of all domestic competitions, while also currently occupying a place in the Premier League relegation zone.

The Toffees are currently 18th in the top flight after an awful run of form, collecting just 15 points from a possible 54 after 18 league games, which puts them in a hugely vulnerable position going into the second half of the season.

However, Lampard’s side did show glimpses of their capabilities throughout their clash against the Red Devils, something on which the manager picked up when speaking in his post-match interview.

The 44-year-old stated: “No one is happy in defeat, I am the worst, but you can control the performance, you can’t always control the result, but the performance was great, in lots of ways.”

“We can always be better, but the performance was good when you consider this is a Man United team in good form, their strongest team, they score after a few minutes, but then we show resilience, bravery on the ball, defensive organisation and work ethic, a bit like we did against City, but we were much dangerous tonight in the game and we had good chances in the game.”

Everton had 42% possession and showed strengths in their defensive display with more tackles completed, more duels won and more clearances made than their hosts. However, their lack of killer instinct to convert the chances provided and natural finishing in front of goal ultimately cost them progression in the FA Cup.

One player who ghosted yet again for the Merseysiders, though, was summer signing, Neal Maupay and the striker continued to prove against Erik ten Hag’s side that he has been another one of Farhad Moshiri’s disastrous pieces of recruitment.

Over his 69-minute performance, Maupay failed in 100% of his dribble attempts, only had 28 touches and was dribbled past once, proving once again to be ineffective in front of goal.

In the summer, Everton desperately needed to replace Richarlison and add a centre-forward who could emulate Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s eye for goal, as the Toffees striker has been dealing with a number of injury issues over the last 18 months.

Indeed, Maupay boasts a wealth of Premier League experience and had scored 26 times at that level for Brighton, but he is not the prolific game-changer which was much-needed at Goodison Park, netting only once in 15 appearances so far.

Now that Calvert-Lewin is back fit, there is no reason for Maupay to start for Everton; and if the Toffees can acquire the services of a reliable goalscorer during the January transfer window, it should push the £50k-per-week Frenchman further down the pecking order.