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Luis Enrique opened up on Kylian Mbappe exit from Paris Saint-Germain as the France star appears all set to join Real Madrid next season.

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• Mbappe set to leave PSG for Real Madrid
• Coach hailed the French star as a club legend
• Fans remained divided on attacker's exit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  On Friday, the France captain finally announced that he would leave PSG after seven years at the end of the current season. The 25-year-old will finally complete his move as a free agent to La Liga giants Real Madrid.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A day after the attacker's official announcement, Les Parisiens manager Luis Enrique opened up about the star player's exit. He spoke highly of the France international while calling him a club legend, although the fans remain divided on the player's contribution to the club.

• WHAT LUIS ENRIQUE SAID

  Speaking to reporters about the star attacker's transfer, Luis Enrique said: "He's wonderful as a player and as a person. He's a club legend, he's had seven years so I understand that. As far as Kylian is concerned, these are things that we knew already for a long time and everyone knew it was made public yesterday but that doesn't change anything."

  The manager also revealed the kind of relationship he shares with the Los Blancos-bound player as he added: "Despite the fact that they wanted to oppose us and despite Kylian’s denials, I can tell you that he is wonderful as a player and as a person. There is still one title to compete for (French Cup final against Lyon) and that is our objective. Then I am convinced that we will be stronger next season regardless of the players who will be present or not."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PSG?

  The newly crowned French champions will be next seen in action on Monday as they take on Toulouse in a Ligue 1 clash.

The Argentine is being strongly linked with a move to the Premier League after a stellar debut season at Estadio Do Dragao

A new era is about to begin at Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp's nine-year reign is now officially over, and Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has been chosen to fill the beloved German manager's spot in the Anfield dugout.

Slot won't be facing a rebuilding job on Merseyside, but it has been suggested that key players such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk could follow Klopp through the exits, and it will be necessary for the Dutchman to stamp his mark in the transfer market if Liverpool are to re-emerge as title contenders in 2024-25.

If reports from Argentina are to be believed, Porto's Alan Varela could be the first new addition, with Liverpool said to have already opened "formal talks" to sign the midfielder. According to Portuguese outlet , the Reds are considering triggering Varela's €70 million (£60m/$76m) release clause – a hefty investment that is sure to raise plenty of eyebrows.

Varela is not a superstar yet, but he certainly has the potential to be one, and GOAL is here to provide everything you need to know about Porto's Argentine general…

• Where it all began

  Varela was born just a 40-minute journey away from Boca Juniors' iconic home stadium, La Bombonera, and was raised in Argentina's capital city Buenos Aires. He became obsessed with football at a young age and began his journey towards the professional ranks by linking up with Barcelona Juniors Lujan, the youth academy created by La Liga giants Barcelona to nurture Argentine talent back in 2007.

  Boca soon took notice, drafting an 11-year-old Varela into their academy ranks in 2012 – after a hilarious initiation ceremony that saw him and six other new players forced into getting very unique haircuts – and seven years later he began training with the first team. Varela also signed his first professional contract in 2019, and made his debut for Argentina's Under-20s, but had to bide his time before becoming a fully-fledged starter for Boca.

  Varela finally made his senior bow in a Copa de la Liga Profesional play-off stage clash with Independiente in December 2020, and put in an impressive display to help Boca to a 2-1 victory. His minutes dwindled as the tournament went on, but got his first taste of silverware after Boca beat Banfield on penalties in the final, and they followed up that success by clinching the Copa Argentina.

  In the 2021 campaign, Varela made 27 appearances across all competitions, and although Boca ended up finishing a disappointing fourth in the league table, he was developing at a rapid rate.

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  The big break

  Boca bounced back with a vengeance in 2022 to win their 35th Argentina Primera crown, alongside another Copa de la Liga Profesional triumph, and Varela was one of the most important members of the squad. He provided the rock solid base for Boca's success across his 47 appearances, three of which came during their run to the Copa Libertadores last 16, and also weighed in with one goal and two assists.

  Varela's solitary goal also happened to be the 8,000th in Boca's history, and gave them a vital 1-0 win over Deportivo Cali in their final Copa Libertadores group game. It was a fitting strike for the weight of the moment, too, as he rifled a fierce shot into the net from 25 yards out – albeit with the help of some poor goalkeeping.

  The season would end on a sour note for Varela, however, as he was one of 10 players to receive a red card as Boca suffered a 2-1 defeat to Racing Club in a bad-tempered Trofeo de Campeones final – with the referee forced to cut the contest short in extra-time due to a lack of remaining players. Still, Varela had more than made his mark, and was rewarded with a shirt upgrade from No.33 to No.5 after the departure of Carlos Zambrano.

  By this stage, Varela was attracting attention from top clubs across Europe, and Porto eventually edged out the competition in August 2023, snapping him up for the bargain price of €11 million. “I’m really happy to arrive at a club as big as Porto and I can’t wait to get to know my new team-mates, the club facilities. I’m so happy,” Varela said at his unveiling. “It’s a beautiful stadium. I can’t wait to play here and I’m going to get straight down to hard work to try and earn the trust of the coach."

  Varela would soon learn that winning Sergio Conceicao's trust is no easy feat as he swapped the comfort of life in his homeland for a whole new challenge and environment in Portugal.

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  How it's going

  Varela made his debut for Porto off the bench in a draw against Arouca before starting in a 1-0 victory over Estrela, and Conceicao stuck with him for their Champions League group-stage opener against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Dragons stormed to a 3-1 win over the Ukrainian champions, and Varela played the full 90 minutes, only to face criticism from his manager in the days that followed.

  Speaking on the integration of Varela and fellow new addition Ivan Jaime, Conceicao said: "They have to understand some of the ideas I have. I would say they have a lot to improve." The Porto manager's words had the desired effect, though, as Varela nailed down a spot in his starting XI with a string of stellar performances to help the team fight at the top of the Primeira Liga and qualify for the Champions League knockout stages as runners up in Group H behind Barcelona.

  Varela eventually opened his goal account for Porto in January, showing great composure to capitalise on a defensive error and round two players before tapping into the net, finishing off a 5-0 rout of Moreirense. He produced a brilliant first-time finish from the edge of the box the following week as Porto saw off Farense, leaving Conceicao delighted with his progress.

  "He has a good arrival, a good shot, he defines well – both in the short and long pass. He is also a player with quality and, in that sense, there has been an interesting evolution, especially now that I am asking a little different things of him," the Portuguese coach told a press conference.

  Porto then turned their attention to the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie against Arsenal at the Estadio Dragao, which saw Varela properly introduce himself to fans across Europe. Porto secured a massive 1-0 victory thanks to a late strike from Galeno, but it was Varela that walked away with the Man of the Match award.

  Varela recorded more ball recoveries (five), interceptions (three) and passes in the opposition half (11) than any other player, running himself into the ground while also showing great technical quality on the ball. Porto would go on to exit the competition on penalties after a tense second leg in north London, but they did so with their heads held high, and Varela's stock has only continued to grow.

  Porto slumped to a disappointing third-place finish in the league, but can still salvage silverware in the form of the Taca de Portugal, if they beat new champions Sporting in the final. The question is: will that be Varela's send-off game now that Liverpool and others are hot on his tail?

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  Biggest strengths

  Varela is currently following in the footsteps of some of the biggest South American stars of this generation, including Angel Di Maria, James Rodriguez, Enzo Fernandez and Luiz Diaz, all of whom played in the Portuguese top-flight before moving on to one of Europe's elite clubs. The Porto star doesn't possess quite the same level of flair as those men, but he is already a master at shielding the defence and driving his team forward with his physicality.

  The combative defensive midfielder has a great engine and reads the game brilliantly, while he also possesses an aggressive streak and will to win that makes him a perfect leader. Varela isn't just a brute, though; he also has a superb passing range and keeps a cool head under pressure in tight areas.

  For all of these reasons he has been dubbed 'the next Javier Mascherano' in his homeland, which will be music to the ears of Liverpool fans. Mascherano played for the Reds between 2007 and 2010, establishing himself among Europe's top midfielders before going on to form part of a star-studded Barcelona team alongside Lionel Messi, and Varela has the potential to reach similar heights if he stays on his current trajectory.

Jurgen Klopp has stressed internally that Liverpool should not and will not be forced into throwing hail marys in the transfer market, panicking into short-term solutions.

Against Arsenal before Christmas, Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas broke his collarbone after a collision, with Klopp grudgingly revealing that the Greece international will be sidelined for a long time.

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Andy Robertson is also still out for around a month, but Liverpool will need to invest despite heading into the new year at the top of the Premier League table, and with a prudent, thought-out approach, the Reds might have identified the dream signing.

Liverpool transfer news – Kylian Mbappe

According to a recent report from talkSPORT, Liverpool are potentially set to be in the mix – alongside 'frontrunners' Real Madrid – to sign Kylian Mbappe this year, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward set to depart the French club on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

Players who are in the final year of their contract can discuss terms with non-domestic clubs from January 1st, leaving Klopp's side in a brilliant position to complete one of the Premier League's gargantuan all-time transfers.

Valued at £113m by Football Transfers, Mbappe's signature would be more than a little tricky to obtain but with Mohamed Salah's future at Anfield up for debate, this deal could mark the ultimate statement of intent from Klopp.

Kylian Mbappe's style of play

Without a doubt, Mbappe is one of the finest forwards of his generation. Having won the 2018 World Cup with France and clinched the tournament's Young Player of the Year award after bagging four goals and an assist, iconic goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon went on to say: "he will make a mark in the history of football and write incredible pages of the sport."

The 25-year-old has scored 233 goals and supplied 100 assists from 282 appearances for PSG, and with the Champions League – the one elusive prize left at club level – still out of reach, a move to a team of pedigree such as Liverpool or Los Blancos is the right move to continue his journey toward a place in the pantheon of all-time greats.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 5% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for pass completion, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting the skills that have led Poland's Piotr Zielinski to describe him as an "alien".

Why Liverpool would need Kylian Mbappe

With a salary of £1.19m-per-week, signing Mbappe would be no easy feat for Klopp and co, but with Real Madrid handing the player a mid-January deadline and letting him know that he would have to take a pay cut, Liverpool definitely could swoop in.

They say that revenge is a dish best-served cold, and Liverpool could take great satisfaction in beating Real to the acquisition after Jude Bellingham signed for the LaLiga giants in a deal that could total £115m from Borussia Dortmund in the summer after a vested and long-standing interest from the Anfield side.

The prodigious England international has been in extraordinary form since the summer, posting 17 goals and five assists from just 21 outings from a No. 10 role.

Liverpool have been in fine fettle this term and will probably not rue the failed deal too much, especially considering that the Premier League title is very much attainable, but there is little question that it will have stung at the time.

Signing Mbappe would be the perfect way to mark a sense of retribution, adding a generational talent to the ranks who could lead the charge toward illustrious success for many years to come.

Lionesses star Georgia Stanway has expressed confidence in the England goalkeeper situation despite Mary Earps picking up a hip injury on Friday.

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• Lionesses defeated by France on Friday
• Earps limped off early with hip problem
• But Stanway confident in England's options

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Earps pulled up in pain less than a minute into England's defeat to France in Newcastle after completing a simple passing motion. The Manchester United goalkeeper tried to continue but was withdrawn after only eight minutes after struggling to do so.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, the Lionesses have some great goalkeepers at their disposal and Hannah Hampton, Earps' replacement, showed that with a truly excellent save to deny Maelle Lakrar before the first half was done. It was little surprise to hear head coach Sarina Wiegman say after the game that she is confident in Hampton's ability to perform if Earps is unable to play in the return game in France on Tuesday and Stanway agreed.

• WHAT STANWAY SAID

  “They're both great goalkeepers. You can play either one of them and you know exactly what you're gonna get and I think that's what's special. Either one, you feel safe with them behind you and for an outfield player that's exactly what you want," the midfielder told reporters.

  "You can see the way that Hannah distributes the ball is world-class. The passes that she was making into full-back areas were unbelievable. To come on at [eight] minutes, it's completely different circumstances and within the first five she pulls off a save like that so that shows the type of goalkeeper she is. I know she's had her head down and she's been working really hard at Chelsea and she's got her place at Chelsea, she's been playing games. She deserved it tonight. Obviously, we hope that Mary is okay and she recovers well but like I said, you could play either one of them you know exactly what you're going to get because they’re both world-class.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Wiegman had not had the chance to speak to Earps or the medical team when she came to her press conference on Friday, so was unable to offer a detailed update of the goalkeeper's situation. She did, however, admit that it was a concern given Earps so rarely has to leave the field.

Celtic could look to bolster their midfield options this month after the January transfer window opened for business at the start of last week.

It was recently reported by HITC that the Hoops are one of the clubs interested in a swoop to sign LDU Quito defensive midfielder Oscar Zambrano.

The outlet claimed that Celtic and Rangers are both keeping tabs on the impressive youngster but are yet to make a formal approach for his services.

Whereas, Premier League side Bournemouth are in 'advanced' talks to secure a deal for the Ecuadorian whiz, who has been likened to Chelsea star and compatriot Moises Caicedo.

The Sun have since claimed that the Cherries and Luton are both prepared to pay £5.5m for him, but the hold-up is due to an issue regarding a 15% sell-on clause that would be owed to the teenage talent that his club want him to waive.

If the Hoops can win the race for his signature then Brendan Rodgers could land his next version of Leicester City battler Wilfred Ndidi.

Ndidi's last full season with Rodgers in numbers

The pair's last full season together came during the 2021/22 campaign as the Nigeria international made 19 Premier League appearances in midfield for the Foxes.

Ndidi showcased his immense defensive quality with 5.4 tackles and interceptions made per game and a duel success rate of 54% in the top-flight.

He also completed 80% of his attempted passes and did not contribute with a single goal or assist to help his team at the top end of the pitch, which illustrates how much the defensive midfielder focused on keeping the opposition out.

The following campaign, Ndidi averaged 3.7 tackles and interceptions per match across 27 matches for Leicester as they were relegated under a combination of Rodgers and Dean Smith.

The statistics that show why Zambrano could be Ndidi 2.0

Celtic's head coach could unearth his next version of the Foxes star by snapping up Zambrano, who has the potential to be an excellent midfielder.

At the age of 19, the £5.5m-rated enforcer is not the finished article and, therefore, may not be able to match the defensive output that Ndidi was able to produce in his peak years for Rodgers.

However, his form for Ecuador at the U20 World Cup last year suggests that he has the basic tools to operate effectively as a number six.

Zambrano averaged 4.3 tackles and interceptions per match and won 55% of his duels across four appearances for his country at the tournament.

However, he only managed 2.0 tackles and interceptions per clash across 24 Serie A matches for his side during the 2023 campaign, which suggests that the Hoops target is still getting to grips with first-team football and that there is still development needed for him to excel in a senior setting.

Celtic targeting "unbelievable talent" for Rodgers in January

Celtic are among a host of teams on the trail of a young midfielder.

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The teenage whiz, who was once hailed as "unbelievable" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, also showcased his creativity with 2.3 key passes per game at the U20 World Cup.

Ndidi has averaged 0.5 key passes per match throughout his career and this suggests that Zambrano could offer more in possession whilst also being able to cut out opposition attacks at an impressive rate with tackles and interceptions.

However, there is no guarantee that the 19-year-old machine will be able to translate and build on his U20 World Cup form to senior level and that is a risk Rodgers may need to take to unearth his next Ndidi in the years to come.

West Brom are advancing in talks to sign an experienced Championship player hailed for being "everywhere on the pitch", according to a new transfer update.

West Brom transfer news

The Baggies have the chance to make some key signings during the January transfer window, and manager Carlos Corberan has even hinted that new faces will arrive in attack, saying:

"Without any type of doubt we're going to need a winger, because we have lost, let's say, the two first XI wingers we've been using in the games – they were Phillips and Jeremy. We have a gap in this position. After, when you cover the gap, you can evaluate the different possibilities, to see if it's better to add another winger, or to add a player who can give you more than one position."

Fenerbahce striker Umut Nayir is one player who has been linked with a move to West Brom this month, but Cardiff City are providing competition for his services. Meanwhile, Wales and Bournemouth ace Kieffer Moore has also emerged as an option for the Baggies, as he looks for more regular playing time away from the Cherries.

West Brom in talks with Andreas Weimann

According to a fresh update from The Bristol Post, West Brom are now in "advanced talks" with Bristol City captain Andreas Weimann over a January move to the Hawthorns.

"Bristol City forward Andi Weimann is in advanced transfer talks with Championship rivals West Brom, Bristol Live understands, with the Austrian international in the final six months of his contract at Ashton Gate.

"It's unclear whether it's a loan or long-term permanent switch but he's unlikely to be offered a new deal this summer, either way, it will end Weimann's five-and-a-half year stay in the West Country. The 32-year-old is club captain but has struggled for game time all season, mainly due to injury, but also the change in management."

Weimann could be a strong option for West Brom to bring in before the end of the month, with the 32-year-old a player who now has a wealth of experience at this level. The former Aston Villa man has now made an eye-catching 326 appearances in the Championship, scoring 65 goals and also chipping in with 38 assists in that time. Not only that, but he has also tasted plenty of action in the Premier League in the past, appearing 113 times overall.

Former Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson has lauded Weimann for being "everywhere on the pitch", such is his versatility and ability to cover ground, and he would add a combination of firepower and work ethic to West Brom's squad.

West Brom could sign dream Moore alternative who scored 17 goals last season

West Brom could distance themselves from the Kieffer Moore transfer race by signing this striker instead.

By
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At 32 years of age, the 21-time capped Austria international admittedly isn't getting any younger, but he could be an excellent short-term addition at the Hawthorns for a few years, doing his bit to get Corberan's side back into the Premier League.

Robert Lewandowski was forced off the pitch during a friendly against Turkey just days before Poland's opening match at the Euro 2024.

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• Lewandowski limped off the pitch against Turkey
• Suffered injury six days before Euro 2024 opener
• Milik ruled out of Poland's Euro squad

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The veteran forward limped off the pitch just after the half-hour mark after suffering a knock during Poland's 2-1 win over Turkey in an international friendly in Warsaw on Monday. The Poland captain's injury is a huge blow for the team who begin their Euro 2024 journey against the Netherlands in less than a week's time.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  TVP Sport journalist (via ) reported during the match that the Barcelona star's injury should not be a matter of concern as he felt slight muscle tension and decided to leave the pitch as a precautionary measure.

  However, on Tuesday, the Poland national team confirmed that their skipper will miss the tournament opener against the Netherlands on Sunday after he tore biceps on Femoris muscle.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  The official statement read: "On Monday evening, the Polish national team played a friendly match against Turkey. We present the medical report of the national team doctor, Jacek Jaroszewski, regarding the players who suffered injuries in this match. Today, at Enel–Med Szpital Centrum, we examined three players who were injured in the match against Turkey – says Jacek Jaroszewski, doctor of the Polish national team.

  "Paweł Dawidowicz suffered a strained quadriceps muscle. In the case of Karol Swiderski, the examination revealed a sprain of the ankle joint without significant damage. After treatment, both players should return to full training within 3-4 days.

  "Robert Lewandowski suffered a torn biceps femoris muscle, which will exclude him from participating in the first match of the tournament. We are doing everything so that Robert can play in the second match, against Austria, says Jacek Jaroszewski."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  The match against Turkey was the 150th national team appearance for the 35-year-old striker. Since making his debut in 2008, Lewandowski has scored 82 goals in the international arena.

US men's national team star Brenden Aaronson is set to return to Leeds United this summer, and is determined to prove himself

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• Aaronson to return to Leeds in 2024/25
• Spent season on-loan in Bundesliga
• Set to play for USMNT in Copa America

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Speaking to The Athletic, the 23-year-old revealed that he is excited to return to Leeds United this summer after spending a year away on loan in the Bundesliga with Union Berlin.

  After speaking with manager Daniel Farke, the German revealed he has plans for the American in his team, and that he was excited to integrate him back into the project.

  Aaronson himself is now buzzing over making his return, as he has "unfinished business" with the club.

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  WHAT AARONSON SAID

  “It was an awesome conversation,” Aaronson said. “The role he sees me playing, the games he watched of me, how I fit into the team, and, importantly, the things I can get better at.”

  With a new sense of ambition, the American has his heart set on seeing Elland Road return to the top flight of English soccer.

  “It’s a grind. It’s a challenge I want to be up for… all I care about is getting Leeds United promoted back to the Premier League.

  “I know how big the club is, how much it means to people in the city,” Aaronson added. “Coming back, I’m going to do the best I can. All I want to do is bring Leeds back to the Premier League. I can’t wait to play at Elland Road in front of our fans again.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Leeds fell just short of promotion in 2024, ending the season on 90 points and falling during the English Championship playoffs. Meanwhile, Aaronson has a tough campaign in the Bundesliga with Union Berlin, who were in the relegation zone for much of the first half of the campaign.

  It was a learning curve for the American, though, who had plenty of takeaways from his stint there.

  “Playing in the Bundesliga is super physical, it’s just a battering,” Aaronson said. “The biggest thing I learned this year is working on physicality. I got a nutritionist and I gained six pounds of muscle mass, which is huge for me. I had to gain weight. At Union, there wasn’t a ton of football. We were without the ball much more. It forced me to get stronger and win more duels.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AARONSON

  Aaronson will represent the USMNT at Copa America this summer, with their first group stage game coming on June 23 versus Bolivia. They'll follow it with matches vs Panama and Uruguay during the remainder of the group stage.

Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy by extension could advance in a late January bid to sign a "perfect" left-footer, suggests journalist Dean Jones.

Spurs enjoying fruitful January transfer window

Spurs are enjoying one of their best winter transfer windows in recent memory, having sealed quick-fire deals for the likes of Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin earlier this month.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

Werner provides versatility and experience in attack for manager Ange Postecoglou, while Dragusin comes in to reinforce Tottenham's centre-back depth in a big boost for the Lilywhites.

It's also been widely reported that Spurs are in talks to sign Club Brugge sensation Antonio Nusa in a buy-to-loan-back deal, as the club look to replicate previously successful moves for the likes of Destiny Udogie and Pape Matar Sarr in recent years.

Amid those negotiations, Chelsea star Conor Gallagher also remains of serious interest to Tottenham among others, and it hasn't entirely been ruled out that the club will move to sign another defender after Dragusin.

Eric Dier's move to Bayern Munich means the north Londoners have been weighing up moves for the likes of Napoli centre-back Leo Ostigard as back up, while Bologna star Riccardo Calafiori has also been linked.

The latter of the two has made 17 Serie A appearances for Bologna as a mainstay of their backline, and Tottenham have apparently made contact over a move for Calafiori according to recent reports from the continent.

Spurs could advance late January bid for Calafiori

Reporter Jones, speaking to GiveMeSport, has now hinted at the possibility of a January bid from Spurs for the 21-year-old. Indeed, he says Tottenham could advance in a late window bid for Calafiori, as he fits the profile and Spurs have a history of attempting to strike last-gasp winter moves.

"The intent has been on moving players on and that has gone brilliantly over the past couple of weeks, and there are a couple of situations still being dealt with this weekend," said Jones late on Sunday.

"It’s interesting because it is going to allow Spurs some room to manoeuvre in the final week of the window and we all know they have a tradition of liking a late deal. Calafiori has a profile that would fit with what we have been told to expect from Spurs in terms of emerging talent over the course of this year and it would not surprise me if they look to advance that."

The left-footed centre-back is amassing a real reputation in Serie A, with aspiring data analyst Ben Mattinson branding Calafiori the "perfect" player for Bologna in his position.

The January transfer window is due to slam shut on Thursday night and Arsenal are yet to make a first-team addition to bolster their playing squad. Mikel Arteta's side are chasing Premier League and Champions League glory in the second half of the season and a signing or two could boost their chances of a successful campaign.

Latest Arsenal transfer news

The Gunners have been linked with a swoop for Napoli centre-forward Victor Osimhen as the club have reportedly been in contact with his representatives ahead of a possible move for the marksman. Fellow Premier League side Chelsea and Spanish giants Real Madrid are also interested in signing the Nigeria international, who is set to be available for a fee of €140m (£119m) to any side outside of Italy.

The 25-year-old number nine, who scored a staggering 26 goals in the Serie A last season, is currently at the Africa Cup of Nations with his country and has scored one goal in four outings. He is not the only star of the tournament who is on Arsenal's radar, though, as they are also keen on one of Ivory Coast's key men – Ousmane Diomande.

Ousmane Diomande transfer update

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, as relayed by Sport Witness, the Gunners have sent their scouts to watch the central defender in action for his country at the AFCON. The report claims that Arteta's side are compiling detailed reports on the 20-year-old colossus, who has started twice in the competition so far, as they are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a swoop to sign the Sporting giant.

It states that a January transfer is 'impossible' and that Arsenal, along with the other unnamed sides scouting him at the tournament, are collating information on his performances ahead of a possible summer approach to add him to the squad to compete with the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba.

Sporting are said to be looking for a fee within the region of €80m (£68m) for their star centre-back, although it remains to be seen whether or not they will maintain that stance through to the next transfer window.

Interestingly, FBref name his teammate Goncalo Inacio as one of the most similar players to Diomande over the past 365 days in comparable competitions. The Portugal international was touted as an Arsenal target last month and the Gunners could land a dream alternative to him by signing the Ivorian starlet.

As you can see in the table above, both centre-backs are progressive passers who consistently look to advance the ball into dangerous positions for their teammates to do their work at the top end of the pitch.

Inacio has averaged more progressive passes and carries but has also attempted eight more passes per 90 with a slightly worse success rate, which suggests that Diomande could reach his levels of progression with a higher usage rate.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

At the age of 20, the £68m-rated gem, who was hailed as an "elite talent" by scout Jacek Kulig, is two years younger than the Portuguese enforcer and has plenty of time left to develop and improve, which is why he could be an exciting long-term signing for Arsenal if they can win the race for his signature in the summer.