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West Ham United could be set to move for one of the World Cup’s breakout stars…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to The Mail, who claimed that the performances of Azzedine Ounahi in Qatar have led to his reported £40m price tag.

His club Angers remain unwilling to part with him for any less than that, with interest from the Hammers, along with Premier League rivals Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, sure to drum up a substantial fee.

However, GSB hold reservations given the supposed gulf in quality between his performances for club and country.

The next step

Having finished in the European spots for the last two seasons, it is clear that David Moyes is looking for ways to continue bridging the gap between his team and the traditional ‘top six’.

The manager’s vast summer overhaul saw an expenditure of £158m, yet their current position of 16th will surely worry him. In order to turn the tide, he needs quality and depth in all areas, and central midfield has been lacking.

Declan Rice has been West Ham’s star man for many years now, shouldering the majority of the defensive burden in the engine room. However, his recent comments suggest that his ambitions might have outgrown the London Stadium.

Moyes will duly need to make a statement of intent in January, and spending £40m to give the captain this partner could be integral in taking that next step.

Such is Ounahi’s pedigree that Ray Parlour touted him for a move to Arsenal as he told talkSPORT (via Daily Mail): “Ounahi, the No.8, he is different class. Would I take him at Arsenal? Definitely!”

His displays alongside Sofyan Amrabat for Morocco have captured the imagination, with the perfect blend of defensive steel and attacking impetus once the ball has been reclaimed. 

The 22-year-old has recorded a 6.97 average rating across the tournament, recording 0.9 shots, 0.9 key passes and 1.3 tackles per game (via Sofascore). Even Jose Mourinho felt implored to praise the midfielder, labelling him “absolutely incredible”.

Although Ounahi’s average rating may be lower for his club, he arguably offers slightly more as his shots per game average increases to 1.6 and his key passes average is 1.2 per match.

For West Ham to place this beside their sensational captain who can also create and defend could be the catalyst for a sustained push for the Champions League places.

Newcastle United have been developing their team over the last two transfer windows to improve their presence in the Premier League, and a new potential transfer target has emerged ahead of January.

What’s the latest?

According to Jacque Talbot for Football Transfers, Eddie Howe’s side have joined the race to sign Atletico Madrid and Portugal star Joao Felix.

As per the report, the Magpies – alongside Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Aston Villa – are targeting the 23-year-old, so they will have a lot of competition to secure Felix’s signature.

It is claimed that Newcastle believe that they can get Felix on a cut-price deal but are cautious about signing him due to their well-structured wage bill which could be compromised to secure the Atletico forward.

He’s a big Allan Saint-Maximin upgrade

It was reported this week that Newcastle are looking to sign another wide forward in January to bolster their attacking threat in their pursuit to challenge for a Champions League qualification berth in the Premier League.

The Magpies are currently third in the table after a run of impeccable form which has left them four points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United during the World Cup break.

Newcastle have only lost one top-flight game this season, with only current league leaders Arsenal matching them in that regard, and Howe will be hoping that his team can resume their impressive form when they return to action after Christmas.

One way that the 44-year-old could ensure that his team does not drop off in performances or suffer fatigue which could lead to crucial points being dropped over the second half of the season is by adding depth in the most important areas of the pitch.

As a result, signing Felix would be a major coup for the Tyneside outfit and would fit the profile of player that the club is looking to sign in the new year.

Indeed, the £85.9m-priced Portuguese winger – who was dubbed “outstanding” by Jurgen Klopp – would be a huge upgrade on Newcastle’s current left-sided attacker Allan Saint-Maximin, especially when you compare the players’ respective output over the season so far.

Felix has outperformed Saint-Maximin in many attributes, including goal contributions (6 v 4), shots on target percentage (47.4% v 41.7%), pass completion (73.3% v 66.7%), and tackles and interceptions won (8 v 4).

There seems little doubt that Howe will have been watching the 23-year-old closely at the World Cup in Qatar, as the Atletico gem has been one of the standout performers for his Portugal team over their run in the tournament.

Across four appearances, Felix has scored one goal and registered two assists, along with averaging 0.8 key passes, one tackle, 4.3 successful duels and 2.8 shots on goal per game.

With that in mind, if the powers at St James’ Park could secure a deal for the talented winger, it could set up Newcastle’s forward line for years to come.

Jurgen Klopp is set to have a complete clear-out at Liverpool over the coming months, with several first-team players out of contract.

James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita are all free to leave the Anfield side in the summer and Klopp will have already begun to look for replacements in order to rejuvenate his midfield.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski has emerged as a transfer target for the Anfield side, and this could give the German a licence to finally bin Keita, who has missed the majority of this season with injury problems.

Zielinski is currently starring for Poland at the World Cup, helping them qualify from the group stage for the first time since 1986.

The 28-year-old has been one of Poland’s best performers in Qatar, ranking second in the squad with a Sofascore rating of 7.10/10 and shots on target per match (0.3) while ranking first for key passes made per game (1.7), demonstrating just how important he is to the national side.

The £107k-per-week sensation has also excelled for Napoli this season, leading the side to the top of the Serie A table by registering eight goal contributions while also creating a further nine big chances and an impressive 2.3 key passes per match.

These statistics clearly show not only does he provide a vital attacking threat from the midfield engine room, but his creativity also generates plenty of chances for others and Klopp urgently requires some more dynamism in his midfield.

Former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti sang the Napoli machine’s praises: “Zielinski is a complete midfielder, he played in all positions with me. He is dynamic and skilled with the ball.”

High praise from one of the most successful coaches in European football and Zielinski may well be a surprise name linked to the club, however, there is plenty he can offer Liverpool.

Klopp may well have to sign a midfielder or two in January to ensure a major rebuilding job doesn’t occur in the summer and with the Serie A outfit valuing the Polish international at around €40m (£34m) back in the summer then the 55-year-old might just test Napoli’s resolve with a January bid.

Glasgow Rangers face an extremely important few weeks ahead, with Ross Wilson looking at replacing the sacked Giovanni van Bronckhorst with a manager who can bring the Premiership title back to Ibrox.

The frontrunner appears to be Mick Beale, who has previous experience at the club having been the first team coach under Steven Gerrard between 2018 and 2021 and he certainly knows the Light Blues inside out.

Will Beale be given funds to strengthen in January, however? That is the key question and many of the Ibrox faithful are demanding some fresh faces ahead of a crucial second half of the season.

One name that should be brought to Rangers is Lyndon Dykes, who has scored six goals under Beale’s tutelage in the English Championship this season and he could be the ideal Alfredo Morelos replacement as a result.

The Gers were linked with Dykes back in January this year, however, with Morelos, who has only scored three goals this term, out of contract in the summer and no talks of an extension, the new manager will need some attacking reinforcements.

The Colombian was even branded “lazy” by former Light Blues striker Ally McCoist live on BT Sport when Rangers played Borussia Dortmund last season and this term hasn’t been the finest for the 26-year-old compared to his usual high standards.

Dykes, on the other hand, can be the perfect foil for Antonio Colak. The 27-year-old isn’t a natural finisher like the Croatian, but his build-up play is superb and he could form an interesting partnership with the club’s top scorer this season.

That’s not to say he can’t chip in with some important contributions himself, with John Eustace claiming Dykes has a knack for netting “all kinds of goals” and this could be invaluable for the Glasgow side.

There are only a few weeks left until the January transfer window opens, and with Wilson aiming to get the new manager in long before then, there will be no excuses not to add some new talent to the first-team squad.

Leeds United could finally bring long-term transfer target Ryan Kent to Elland Road at the end of the current campaign.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Leeds Live, who claim that, having been heavily linked with a move for the Glasgow Rangers winger ever since the Whites’ return to the Premier League back in 2020, Victor Orta could finally land the 26-year-old next summer – when the attacker’s current contract at Ibrox is set to expire.

The report goes on to suggest that, while the Scottish Premiership side are likely to do all they can to tie the former England U20 international down to a new contract between now and the end of the season, a move to the top flight of English football on a free transfer could fit perfectly with the forward’s plans heading into his prime years.

Absolute steal

Considering just how impressive Kent has been for Rangers in recent seasons, coupled with the fact that Leeds have been linked with a £20m move for the winger for the past two years, should Orta manage to seal the signing of the 26-year-old on a free next summer, it would undoubtedly represent an absolute steal for the Premier League side.

Indeed, the £15m-rated talent has been a continuous source of goals and creativity for Gers over the past four and a half years, hitting the back of the net on 31 separate occasions and providing his teammates with a further 53 assists over his 196 appearances for the club – averaging a direct goal involvement every 189 minutes of football played for the Light Blues.

The £52k-per-week winger particularly impressed over his 37 Premiership outings in Rangers’ title-winning campaign back in 2020/21, scoring ten goals, registering nine assists and creating nine big chances for his side, in addition to taking an average of 2.3 shots – 0.9 of which were on target – making 1.8 key passes and completing 1.9 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the player who Andrew Dickson dubbed “completely unplayable” and “on a different level altogether” average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.23, not only ranking him as Steven Gerrard’s fourth-best performer in the league but also as the seventh-best player in the top flight of Scottish football as a whole that season.

Furthermore, over the forward’s 1465 Champions League minutes in the current campaign, despite his side’s disastrous showing in football’s most prestigious club competition, FBref still rank Kent in the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s big five leagues for dribbles competed per 90 – highlighting just how effective the 26-year-old is with the ball at his feet.

As such, it is clear to see exactly why Kent has been a long-term target of Orta and Leeds, as the winger would undoubtedly make an exceptional addition to Jesse Marsch’s current wide attacking options at Elland Road – especially on a free transfer.

Aston Villa’s owners NSWE will provide new manager Unai Emery with the funds to make new signings in January, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Emery set to make mark

The Spaniard has replaced Steven Gerrard in the Villa Park hot seat and already made a positive impact, with key wins picked up against Manchester United and Brighton.

Emery will take time to fully make his mark in the job, however, and he is sure to want to bring in players who are tailor-made to thrive in his system.

January signings are key, in that respect, and it looks as though the manager will get his wish.

The Latest: New signings in January?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano confirmed that the funds would be available to sign new players in January:

“For sure, they will look at new signings. Unai Emery, when he negotiated with Aston Villa, he had some guarantees on new potential signings in January and, of course, in the summer.”

The Verdict: Good move by owners

NSWE deserve undoubted praise for making the money available in the next window, ensuring Emery is given the support he needs to take the club forward.

If January was to drift by without any signings coming in, it could hamper Villa’s progress moving forward, not allowing the boss to take the team in a positive direction.

A few additions in key areas could make for an exciting second half to the campaign, however, before further reinforcements are made during the summer.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has the ‘full support’ of the club’s board despite a poor run of form, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Early pressure building

The Premier League giants appointed the 47-year-old in September following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, but just two months into the job, early pressure is already mounting on the former Brighton boss.

The Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle last weekend, with the west Londoners having now lost four of their last five games in all competitions, and they are already eight points adrift from the top four.

The Latest: Potter has Chelsea board’s backing

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that, whilst Chelsea are currently in a slump, Potter isn’t in any way under threat of losing his job and has the backing of Todd Boehly.

The Italian wrote: “Chelsea have no doubts on Graham Potter. Full support as long-term project has just started – feeling internally is that he needs time and he [is] the right man for the job.

“Board additions will continue with Paul Winstanley.”

The Verdict: Rightly so

The Stamford Bridge outfit have been struggling to get results of late, but there’s absolutely no denying that backing Potter is most definitely the right decision moving forward.

Brighton’s former manager has so far won seven, drawn three and lost four of his opening 14 games in the Chelsea dugout, averaging 1.71 points per match (Transfermarkt).

Also, he hasn’t had any opportunity to bring in his own players yet, so January will provide the perfect chance for him to start creating his new-look squad once the transfer market reopens.

Unai Emery got his Aston Villa career off to a blinding start as he beat Manchester United 3-1 in his first Premier League match in charge last Sunday.

The club are now 14th in the table but could still head into the World Cup break level on points with the drop zone if results do not go their way next weekend.

Villa have not enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign, losing seven of their 14 matches, and Emery could use the upcoming January transfer window to bolster his squad.

One player Villa are reportedly looking at ahead of the market opening is Villarreal winger Nicolas Jackson, who worked with the Spanish coach earlier this season and last term.

Fellow Premier League sides Newcastle and Everton are also said to be keen on the gem but his pre-existing relationship with Emery could give the Villans the advantage in this particular race.

The Spanish head coach could unearth his next version of Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar at Villa Park by securing a deal to sign Jackson in January.

Reporter Ashley Preece recently described him as a player with “bags of potential” and talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that the winger is known as “Neymar” in his home country of Senegal. 

In an article about Jackson for Kulig’s website, Harold Monteiro Macedo wrote: “He is an attacking midfielder who can also play one both right and left wing and as a striker. He is very good on the ball, good at dribbling and passing. He likes to carry the ball to create danger and create chances for his teammates.”

This suggests that the attacker, who has a £27m release clause, is similar to the Brazilian sensation in the sense that he can play in a multitude of roles across the frontline and is adept at moving past players with the ball at his feet, much like the PSG star – who has completed 4.3 dribbles per game across his career.

The Spanish tactician will already know all about the 30-year-old with Neymar featuring 30 times under Emery. During their spell together in Paris, the Brazil international scored a remarkable 28 goals and also registered 18 assists. It is far-fetched to suggest Villa’s latest transfer target could reach the same heights but it shows why the comparison is such an exciting one.

Jackson has shown signs of having the end product to match his phenomenal build-up play, scoring two goals and providing two assists, whilst creating four ‘big chances’ in eight La Liga starts for Villarreal this season. That comes after producing five goals and seven assists in 25 appearances in the Spanish third tier for the B team last term.

At the age of 21, the forward has plenty of time left on his hands to develop and improve his final ball and this means that he could grow into a more consistent and impactful winger with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Therefore, if the wing wizard can fulfil his undoubted potential, Emery could well be staring at his new version of Neymar. Exciting times.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes that Leeds United are ‘actively looking at the January transfer window’ ahead of potential additions.

The Lowdown: Summer business

The Whites were certainly active in the summer transfer window, bringing in a number of players at a cost of £93m. However, the club actually made a £7.79m profit after selling both Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha in big-money deals.

Jesse Marsch’s side have struggled in recent months but earned a surprise win against Liverpool last weekend to take them out of the Premier League relegation zone, and it looks as if the Yorkshire club are already preparing for the winter transfer window.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke was asked about Leeds’ transfer plans heading into 2023. He believes that the club ‘definitely’ need to strengthen and is sure they are ‘actively looking at the January transfer window’.

The journalist said: “I think they definitely need help in that squad. Jesse Marsch obviously had a great result at Liverpool, which has eased the pressure on him. But again, the pressure can soon be turned on, if results don’t go their way, so I’m sure they’re actively looking at the January transfer window to see what they can do.”

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The Verdict: Exciting comments

Leeds have never tended to strengthen their squad in the New Year over the past five years, so O’Rourke’s comments are certainly exciting for Whites supporters.

Many would argue that Elland Road chiefs could have done with signing a new left-back and centre-forward in the summer due to the injury struggles of Junior Firpo and Patrick Bamford.

Centre-back Pascal Struijk has frequently lined out at left-back, whereas Bamford has looked out of form, already missing nine big chances in the Premier League this season.

Struijk has impressed at left-back and is currently the club’s best-rated performer, as per WhoScored, but the club may look at adding to their central attacking ranks as they look to avoid another intense relegation battle.

Crystal Palace have several young English prospects in their squad and after fantastic performances over last season, some of Patrick Vieira’s most promising rising stars were given the golden opportunity to play for their country for the first time.

Tyrick Mitchell, Marc Guehi and loan player, at the time, Conor Gallagher were all handed their debuts in Gareth Southgate’s side over the last 12 months for their outstanding contributions with the Eagles, something that has led to a continued conversation about their inclusions in the upcoming World Cup.

The Athletic published an article where the publication’s journalists put together their predicted 26-man England squads and despite a slow start for Palace, some of the club’s players were mentioned.

Senior writer Dominic Fifield named midfielder Eberechi Eze in his predicted squad, a player who has not only been a standout performer for Palace this season but also took an unfortunate blow to his chances of featuring in the Euro 2020 squad last year.

It was reported in May 2021 that Eze was given notice of his selection for Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad for the European tournament, however, a serious Achilles injury sidelined the player in the same month and he spent 162 days in recovery.

Unfortunately, the talented Palace ace hasn’t featured for his country since returning to action from his injury and it will be interesting to see if he will make the cut when Southgate does put together his squad over the coming days and weeks ahead.

However, there was another player named in Fifield’s predicted squad who has had the opportunity to prove himself on the international stage for Southgate, with Guehi named as a potential selection for the World Cup.

The Athletic’s Chelsea reporter Carl Anka also named Guehi in his predicted 25-man squad, and it’s not hard to see why when you consider his consistency in the centre-back position for Palace.

The 22-year-old – who was dubbed an “absolute tank” by Josef Bursik – averages 71.6 touches, 1.1 interceptions, 1.2 tackles and 3.6 clearances per game, as well as winning the majority of his duels (59%) over 12 league appearances.

When you compare Guehi to regular England centre-back Harry Maguire over this season, it is clear that the Palace ace is in much better form in comparison ahead of the international tournament.

The £18m machine has a better pass completion rate (88% v 87.6%), has made more tackles and interceptions (26 v 7) and has won more aerial duels (14 v 7).

Guehi is no stranger to international success either, as he scored one of the goals that led England to victory in the 5-2 defeat over Spain in the U17s World Cup final back in 2017, something the Palace centre-back claimed was the “best moment” of his life.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Guehi should be given the opportunity to travel to Qatar with the England squad next month as he has proven he can offer consistent form and has defensive attributes that could prove invaluable to Southgate during the tournament.

Indeed, with Southgate looking short of quality central defensive options, and Maguire out of form, the Palace defender could be an unexpected answer to his prayers.