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Wolves have reportedly submitted a second bid for OGC Nice midfielder Mario Lemina, as Julen Lopetegui looks to add to his midfield options at Molineux now the transfer window has opened.

What’s the word?

The Old Gold have been linked with a move for the Gabon international in recent days and after seeing their first bid rejected, reports are claiming that Wolves have now gone back to the Ligue 1 side with a better offer.

According to Daily Mail journalist Tom Collomosse on Twitter, Lopetegui’s side have returned with a €5.5m (£4.9m) bid for the former Southampton midfielder.

However, Collomosse also claims that it might take a little more for Wolves to get a deal done, but it seems likely that the 29-year-old could return to the Premier League this month.

Lopetegui’s own Caicedo?

It is easy to see why Lopetegui might want to recruit a defensive-minded midfielder this month, given that the Old Gold possess a lot of technically gifted midfield players but not many natural battlers, which are definitely necessary in a relegation battle.

According to FBref, the fifth-most similar player to Lemina, when compared with other midfielders across Europe’s top leagues, is Brighton sensation Moises Caicedo.

The Ecuador international has recently attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool after starring with the Seagulls, having established himself as a key player at the Amex Stadium at just 21.

When comparing Lemina and Caicedo’s performances from the current campaign, the two share remarkably similar stats with regard to tackles in the attacking third (both eight), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.11 vs 0.13) and touches in the defensive penalty area (38 vs 39).

According to WhoScored, Lemina and Caicedo also share the exact same strengths; interceptions, concentration and aerial duels, which suggests that they are very similar types of midfielders.

During the £138k-per-week earner’s spell with Southampton, the Gabonese star caught the eye of BBC pundit Garth Crooks after an impressive display against Crystal Palace.

He said: “My goodness, this lad looks a powerhouse.

“I suppose when you’ve played for one of the biggest clubs in the world in Juventus, you should have all the tools to survive in any league.”

Lemina could be precisely what Lopetegui needs in his midfield if he is going to win ugly at Wolves and given his similarities with Caicedo, who is undoubtedly one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League at the moment, the Spanish manager would be foolish not to bring the former Juventus man to Molineux.

Journalist David Ornstein believes the next few days are crucial for Everton, Frank Lampard and his future.

The Lowdown: Testing times for Lampard

Lampard will likely be sweating over his job after a shocking home defeat in midweek which made it one win in their last 11 games across all competitions.

However, no developments have yet emerged over any action being taken, which could suggest he’s being afforded more time to turn things around – something that Farhad Moshiri hasn’t done very often during his tenure, having gone through a lot of managers in recent years.

Everton were loudly booed off at Goodison Park last night after a 4-1 horror show against Brighton & Hove Albion, and that has led to several media outlets questioning his future.

The Latest: Ornstein expects defining days

Following the game, Ornstein was speaking on Sky Sports about how Lampard is now set to embark on some ‘critical days’ as Moshiri debates the manager’s future.

He said: “There seemed to be hope when they got that draw at Manchester City just a few days away, but now they face a defining few days. They go to Manchester United on Friday in the FA Cup. I suspect Frank Lampard will get that match – I certainly think he should.

“But beyond that, there’s a Premier League game against Southampton [at] bottom of the table and then West Ham too in the same region, so these are critical days for Frank Lampard, of course, in his managerial career.”

The Verdict: Lampard should be sacked

It’s not as if Lampard has been left out to dry by the Everton board after being handed eight new players over the summer including several tried-and-tested Premier League stars such as James Tarkowski, Conor Coady and Idrissa Gueye.

Therefore, Lampard doesn’t really have a leg to stand on when it comes to why he should stay in the job as results have been poor, performances haven’t been good enough and it appears as though the fans have turned on them after their latest defeat.

Moshiri has to make a potentially season-defining decision in the coming days as to whether or not he sacks Lampard, as the wrong choice could see the Toffees fall into the Championship for the first time in their history with a brand new stadium on the way.

Perhaps the FA Cup weekend will afford Moshiri more time to assess his options and see what managers could replace Lampard before pulling the trigger and frantically looking for someone new, as he appears to be safe for the moment.

Tottenham Hotspur will find it ‘difficult’ to complete a deal for Sporting Lisbon right-wing back Pedro Porro in January, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Tottenham chasing Porro

At the start of the transfer window, Tottenham were said to be close to completing a deal for the 23-year-old which would have amounted to £35m, but negotiations were not as quick as initially anticipated.

Spurs cooled their interest in the Spaniard upon learning that Sporting were demanding his £40m release clause to be paid, and the move has seemingly now been thrown into jeopardy.

The Latest: Could be difficult

According to Romano, Porro is Tottenham’s main transfer priority this month, but Sporting are reluctant to sell him if the clause in his contract is not met.

The Italian tweeted: “Understand Pedro Porro is top of the list for Tottenham as new right back. Spurs will try to sign Porro as player would be keen on the move.

“It’s difficult deal in January as Sporting have been very clear: €45m release clause or no way. Stance could change in June.”

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The Verdict: Keep pushing

Considering that Tottenham were believed to be close to securing a deal amounting to £35m, paying an extra £5m for a player with Porro’s ability doesn’t seem excessive, and Daniel Levy should pay the full amount before another club does.

The defender has been lauded as a ‘special talent’ by journalist Zach Lowy, and he would be a perfect signing for Antonio Conte in an attacking sense. He has averaged 4.61 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes over the past year, placing in the 99th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s major leagues.

Pundit Noel Whelan has recently called the right wing-back position Tottenham’s ‘most fragile area’, owing largely to the disappointing form from Emerson Royal, who was labelled ‘dreadful’ by journalist Josh Bunting earlier this season, so it is clear that an upgrade is needed at the earliest availability.

Manchester United have recently been beaten to the loan signing of Joao Felix after weeks of intense speculation regarding his next move, with Premier League rivals Chelsea securing his services until the end of the season.

A multitude of sources, including Fabrizio Romano, had touted Old Trafford as one of the likely destinations for the Portuguese international, but it was not to be, with Graham Potter’s Blues the victors in the race for his signature, largely due to the willingness to pay the £9.7m loan fee.

However, the Red Devils can swiftly forget about the recently missed target by intensifying speculation concerning their interest in Tottenham Hotspur’s star striker Harry Kane, who is yet again subject to rumours regarding his future in north London.

According to ESPN, United manager Erik ten Hag’s January acquisition of Wout Weghorst – nearing completion – is merely a temporary fix to the chasm left in the central striking position following the acrimonious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in November.

And Kane could be the glistening gem to catapult the club to success next summer; a wealth of Premier League experience, an incredible goal record, innate leadership, and a creative spark that few world-class centre-forwards can come close to rivalling.

Forget Felix

Last year, Kane was at the centre of attention stemming from Old Trafford for his name, according to The Athletic, while in the summer of 2021, Manchester City nearly clinched a deal for the Premier League icon with a £100m bid, which was ultimately unsuccessful despite the player’s burning desire to seal the deal.

And should Ten Hag succeed in a move this year, United would finally cement the talismanic role at the club with a supreme striking option.

Kane has scored 265 goals for Spurs across 412 appearances, is England’s joint-record goalscorer with 53 international strikes – alongside Wayne Rooney – and is second in the all-time Premier League goal tally with 208 strikes, behind Alan Shearer with 260.

And as per FBref, over the past year, the £62m-rated forward ranks within the top 14% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for goals, the top 16% for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for progressive passes – supreme statistics and an affirmation of the all-encompassing brilliance of his refined game.

Missing out on Felix will sting, but with mounting speculation over Kane’s future, and United seemingly at the forefront of the rumours, it might prove to be the eventual diamond acquisition for the Theatre of Dreams.

With United on a fantastic eight-match winning streak, and Marcus Rashford enjoying a prolific purple patch in front of goal, the often turbulent waters have been calmed, and with the club still fighting across every possible front this season, there is plenty of optimism and belief that Ten Hag can finally bring silverware back to the red side of Manchester after a five-year drought.

Injecting the “monster” – as described by Heung-min Son – that is the 80-cap Kane into the fold would be a terrifying prospect for the rest of the division, and beyond. His cutting edge, ingenuity and sporting charisma are all elements that will ignite impactful change at Old Trafford, and maintain it over the coming years.

Michael Beale is still awaiting his first signing as manager of Ibrox giants Glasgow Rangers with two weeks left to go in the January transfer window.

The English coach arrived in Scotland to take over from Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst during the break for the 2022 World Cup and Ross Wilson has not been able to get any deals over the line for him as of yet.

Rangers could be in the market for signings this month to improve their squad to give them the best possible chance of winning silverware in the second half of the season and one area in which they need to strengthen in is central midfield.

Veteran wizard Steven Davis has been ruled out for the remainder of the season through injury and this leaves a gap in the squad in that area of the pitch.

At the end of last month, The Scottish Sun reported that the Light Blues are tracking St Mirren central midfielder Keanu Baccus and he could be the replacement they need for the Northern Ireland international.

Beale reportedly sent scouts to watch the gem in action and they are now set to face competition from teams south of the border to land the Australian international’s signature.

The Telegraph recently claimed that English Championship sides Norwich City, Middlesbrough and Cardiff City are interested in signing the dynamo, who is set to cost a fee in the region of £350k as he has 18 months left on his contract with the Scottish outfit.

Baccus – who was once described as a “focal point” in midfield by journalist Josh Bunting – could be a solid addition to Rangers’ squad and an ideal player to come in and replace the rotation role that Davis fulfilled during the first half of the campaign.

The injured Gers gem played eight Premiership matches, starting three, prior to his setback and reserved minutes could suit the St Mirren dynamo as he is still a young player who is making his way in the European game.

He moved away from his home country for the first time last summer and has enjoyed a respectable first season in the Premiership so far this term. Baccus has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.81 across 19 appearances in the division – making 3.4 tackles and interceptions per match.

No Rangers player has managed more than 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game in the top-flight this season and this suggests that the 24-year-old – who manager Stephen Robinson claimed has an “incredible work ethic” – could add steel to Beale’s options in the middle of the park.

The youngster could initially arrive as a backup option, taking up Davis’ place in the squad, but with a view to an increased role in the future if he is able to develop his game by gaining more experience and training with the likes of John Lundstram, Glen Kamara and Ryan Jack.

Liverpool are among the prominent pool of suitors considering a swoop for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, who has been a revelation since his introduction to regular Premier League football on the south coast.

With Jurgen Klopp’s Reds failed to unearth the free-flowing cohesion and intoxicating intensity that have so often gone in tandem with the German manager’s footballing philosophy, question marks have been raised high above Anfield with the onus now on finding a solution to steer back on course.

In order to remedy the glaring issues, the overarching consensus is that a midfielder of top-class quality must be clinched to re-establish the stability, and prodigious talent Caicedo has indeed been distinguished, with CBS Sports reporter ben Jacobs confirming the Reds’ interest earlier in January.

Recently Chelsea had a £55m bid for the star rejected, with Albion reluctant to part with their prized asset just yet, touting him at a whopping £75m, and should Liverpool want to clinch his signature, it does appear that they will have to wage transfer war with the opulence of Todd Boehly’s Chelsea.

The phenom, who Enrico Castro-Montes heralded as “eye-catching” and a “crown-jewel”, has been dubbed a tenacious and ubiquitous presence in midfield; a disruptor and tactically astute player, and it is this burgeoning and expansive skill-set that has indeed left Klopp with a glimmer in his eye.

The fact is, much of Liverpool’s lacklustre season boils down to the lackadaisical collective efforts of the floundering midfield, with Thiago Alcantara the only senior central signing since the 2018/19 campaign – and while the Spaniard’s ball-playing pedigree is unrivalled within Merseyside, he is not the physical machine Liverpool yearn for.

The “leader” that is Caicedo, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, could effectively replace Gini Wijnaldum, who departed Liverpool at the culmination of his contract in 2021, signing for Paris Saint-Germain after making 237 appearances for Liverpool and notably winning the Premier League and Champions League.

Hailed as an incredible athlete and supreme box-to-box gem, Wijnaldum boasts much of the talent Caicedo does, with the South American perhaps more physical, if a little more unrefined on the ball.

But with age on his side, the 21-year-old Caicedo must find himself in Liverpool red this year if the prestigious outfit are indeed to land a player capable of taking them right back to the very top of the game.

Considering Caicedo’s emphatic introduction to life in the Premier League, the centrepiece to all the good work that the Seagulls have forged, it is a no-brainer that he must be considered for transfer by Liverpool.

Much like the signing of Wijnaldum in 2015, he already plays his trade in the English top-flight with Klopp no doubt now hoping to repeat that trick by delving deep into the market and emerging with a catalyst to pump vibrant life into the side.

Tim Vickery once said that he is the “real deal”, and Julian Ward must now push any caution aside and pounce. 

West Ham United have found themselves struggling in the Premier League this season with a number of inconsistent performances leaving the side vulnerable and in contention to get caught up in a difficult relegation scrap over the second half of the season.

The Hammers are currently 16th in the league table following their victory over Everton at the weekend, however, after collecting just 18 points from a possible 60, the side remains just one point clear of the bottom three.

David Moyes’ position at the club has been under scrutiny over the last few months due to the incredible downfall West Ham have experienced since finishing seventh last season and an incredible campaign in the Europa League reaching the semi-finals.

Nevertheless, the east London side could have already taken advantage of their opportunity to strengthen the attacking threat during the January transfer window with Danny Ings joining the club last week and now the club could be set to even further bolster the centre-forward role.

It has been reported over the weekend that the club remain interested in a move for Lorient striker Terem Moffi with the Nigerian goal-scorer in fine form this season.

Over 18 Ligue One appearances, the 23-year-old sensation has scored 12 goals and successfully completed 61% of his dribble attempts, as well as averaging 1.9 shots on goal and winning 3.2 duels per game.

Lorient manager Christophe Pelissier has lavished praise on his talented goal-machine, hailing Moffi when reflecting on his impact at the French club.

In a ringing endorsement that will no doubt excite the Irons faithful, he said: “Terem is a man of gold. It’s amazing the state of mind this player has. He ticks all the boxes of the high-level player.”

As a result, Moyes could land the dream Michail Antonio heir for West Ham as the 32-year-old striker is coming to the end of his career, whilst Danny Ings is also in his 30s at this point, meaning that the two current strikers are not long-term prospects at the club.

When comparing Moffi to Antonio this season, the 23-year-old striker has outperformed the Hammers centre-forward in many attributes including goals scored (12 v 2), shots on target rate (54.5% v 33.3%), shot-creating actions (26 v 23) and dribbles completed (52.6% v 40%).

With that being said, if West Ham could meet the reported £25m transfer tag that Moffi is commanding it would be a major addition for the club, one that would certainly put them in good stead to get into a more comfortable position in the Premier League table over their remaining fixtures.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their chances of landing a new number nine in the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Record, the Light Blues have ‘maintained’ a long-term interest in signing Scotland international Ross Stewart from Sunderland.

The report, however, claims that the Gers do not have the funds required to do a deal before the current window slams shut, which could force them to wait until the summer to act upon their interest.

Football Insider reported, last month, that the Championship side value the centre-forward at a whopping £10m, as they have an option to extend his current contract through to the summer of 2024.

Alfredo Morelos successor

Not being able to pursue a deal for Stewart until the end of the season could turn out to be perfect timing for Rangers as that is when their current striker’s contract expires.

Alfredo Morelos’ deal is due to end in the upcoming summer window and his departure would leave a huge gap in the squad at the top end of the pitch

The Colombian international has racked up 119 goals in 252 matches in all competitions for the Gers, which shows that the gem has been a reliable goalscorer for the club over a considerable period of time.

Morelos has scored seven goals in 19 Premiership appearances this season and Stewart could come in ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, if Rangers have the funds to compete for his signature by then, as a dream successor as the Scotsman could replace Michael Beale’s current forward.

His current teammate Alex Pritchard once lauded the gem’s talent and what the forward offers to the team, saying:

“[Stewart] is unbelievable. The size of him, on the ball, he can run, he can hold the ball up, he’s good with his feet. He’s got everything. He’s great in the air. Holds the ball up and he gets in behind and you see in the semi-finals – the goal he got in behind and he’s so quick. And he’s been a revelation this year for us.”

These comments are backed up by Stewart’s impressive form over the last two seasons. The 26-year-old plundered 26 goals in 49 League One outings last term and has followed that up by scoring ten goals and assisting three for his teammates in 11 Championship starts for the Black Cats in the current campaign.

Stewart, who already has Premiership experience from his time at Ross County, has proven himself to be a prolific scorer in the third and second tier of English football and this indicates that the marksman could be an excellent signing for Rangers if they bring him in to replace the out-of-contract Morelos, who has been far from prolific this season.

Couple his impressive form for Sunderland with the fact that he is a Scotland international and already knows the division and the country and that is why the forward would be a dream successor to the Colombian finisher.

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has suggested that Leeds United could still be in the market to sign a new centre-back before the January window shuts.

What’s the word?