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Wolves’ search for a new manager has taken another twist, with reports suggesting that talks are progressing with Julen Lopetegui ahead of him taking over the vacant post at Molineux.

What’s the word?

The Spanish manager, who was recently sacked by Sevilla, was seemingly Wolves’ first choice to take over from Bruno Lage after the Portuguese boss was sacked by the Old Gold in early October.

However, Lopetegui would turn down a move to Molineux due to the ill health of his father, which forced Fosun to consider other options as they look to turn around a woeful start to the season which leaves the Midlands club in the relegation places in the Premier League.

Liam Keen, who covers Wolves for the Express and Star, confirmed the news on Twitter.

He said: “Incredible how football works out…Wolves are back in talks with Julen Lopetegui. It’s progressing well and Wolves are hopeful of appointing him before the World Cup break.”

‘Incredible’ boost

After QPR manager Michael Beale was approached, only for him to also turn down the job, it should be an incredible lift for the club to reignite talks with their initial number one choice.

After all, the failed appointment of Beale led the board to announce that interim manager Steve Davis would remain in charge until after the World Cup break.

Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that the former Crewe Alexandra boss was way out of his depth as he oversaw losses against Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester City, which has seemingly forced the board to reconsider.

And now, it seems as if Lopetegui will be the man to succeed Lage at Molineux, in the hope that the 56-year-old can re-produce the form he showed in the early days of his spell with Sevilla, with whom he won the Europa League in 2020.

Lopetegui will need to improve upon the form he showed with Sevilla earlier this term, however, as the Spanish side won just one of ten games in all competitions, including heavy losses in the Champions League against Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, which saw him relieved of his duties.

Despite that, the Spaniard still averaged an impressive 1.85 points per game with the Rojiblancos, which is a big improvement on the 1.29 points per game averaged by Lage at Wolves.

Therefore, all being well, Lopetegui can be the man to get Wolves out of the mess they find themselves in and ensure that they are still playing Premier League football this time next year.

Given his CV, he could just be a brilliant appointment for Fosun. As Keen says, it’s remarkable how quickly football can change in the space of a few weeks. For once, there is a sense of optimism and hope surrounding Molineux. This is an unexpected, but incredible boost for the club.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their chances of landing Mykhaylo Mudryk in one of the upcoming transfer windows…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, the Shakhtar Donetsk winger is open to making a move to St. James’ Park as the Magpies are currently tracking his progress.

The report claims that the gem is interested in moving to the Premier League and Newcastle, who sent scouts to watch him in action against Celtic earlier this week, are a club he would be willing to join.

It is also stated that Eddie Howe is a fan of the Ukraine international and has already given the higher-ups at the club the green light to pursue the forward.

Huge coup

Signing Mudryk, whether that is in January or next summer, would be a huge coup for Howe as the gem is an immensely talented young player who is attracting interest from a number of clubs.

Liverpool and Arsenal are both reportedly keen on the winger and Brentford had an offer of £26m turned down in the summer transfer window.

This shows that he is not short of potential suitors in the upcoming market and that is why the forward being open to signing for Newcastle is a big boost for the club – as it indicates that other teams, who are in European competitions, eyeing him up has not put him off of the idea of arriving at St. James’ Park.

The attacker has been in fantastic form in the Champions League this season and is showing, at the age of 21, that he has the quality to stand out at the very top level of club football.

These statistics prove that he can be a difference-maker in the final third, and his displays at league level for Shakhtar are also eye-catching. He has scored three goals and provided five assists in six Premier League for the Ukrainian giants, which suggests that his performances in the Champions League are no fluke.

Journalist Josh Bunting claimed that the gem has a “frightening turn of pace” and talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as being “on fire” earlier this season, which is backed up by his goal contributions in all competitions.

The 21-year-old, who has been capped eight times by Ukraine, could make an immediate impact for Newcastle – as he has already proven himself in the Champions League – whilst also holding the potential to grow and develop in the years to come.

Therefore, signing Mudryk would be a huge coup for Howe given the interest in the youngster’s services and his impressive form this season.

Manchester United are interested in making a move for Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams, according to a new transfer rumour that has emerged.

The Lowdown: Adams impressing at Leeds

The American made the move to Elland Road during the summer transfer window, joining from RB Leipzig after three years in Germany.

Adams has made an impressive start to life at Leeds, standing out as one of their best players and starting a total of 10 Premier League matches to date.

It could be that Leeds have to battle to keep hold of Adams no sooner after he has arrived, however, following a new update.

The Latest: United keen on signing

According to Football Insider, United are ‘keeping close tabs’ on the 23-year-old currently, as they weight up whether or not to make a move for him.

It is stated that they have a ‘long-time interest’ in Adams and he is considered a player who could come in and bolster their midfield options.

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The Verdict: Could be a strong option

Adams has the potential to be an excellent signing by United, possessing the kind of technical quality and energy that Erik ten Hag wants in his midfielders.

The 19-time capped USA international has averaged a hugely impressive 4.1 tackles per game in the league this season – no Leeds player to have started one game or more has a better average – and his ability to break up play can be priceless. Journalist Tim Thornton thinks he has ‘done brilliantly’ in 2022/23 to date.

Adams would arguably prove to be an upgrade and more of a long-term prospect than the likes of Fred and Scott McTominay, both of whom are seen their limitations exposed this season.

With the World Cup set to kick off in Qatar later this month, England manager Gareth Southgate might want to consider calling up West Ham stalwart Aaron Cresswell.

The 32-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to the season and was recently named in SofaScore’s European team of the month after his impressive displays for the Hammers in the month of October.

While Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen will be the main contenders from West Ham’s squad to make the cut in Qatar, Cresswell’s chances have been significantly boosted in the past week.

Much has been made about the plethora of top-quality right-backs available to Southgate in the England squad but there aren’t too many contenders on the other side.

Luke Shaw seems the likely choice to start there after his great European Championships, which saw him score England’s goal in the final, however, he has lost his starting place at Manchester United to Tyrell Malacia at times this season, with just seven Premier League starts under his belt.

Ben Chilwell’s injury struggles have come to the fore at the worst possible time again, as a hamstring injury picked up for Chelsea in midweek could rule him out of Qatar, which may open up the door for Cresswell instead.

The 32-year-old, who earns £50k-per-week at West Ham, does have three England caps to his name but last made the squad in 2017, despite some impressive form for the Hammers in recent seasons.

Paul Robinson was full of praise for Cresswell in 2021 and suggested that only Shaw and Chilwell were ahead of him in the pecking order for England.

He said:

“Cresswell is an amazing player. Consistency is the word with him. You know what you are going to get week in, week out. He never lets the team down.

“It is just unfortunate for him that England have got so much strength in that position with the likes of Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell. He has been the unsung hero at West Ham over the past couple of seasons.”

So far this campaign, the former Ipswich Town man has made 12 appearances in the Premier League and averaged a strong 6.84 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which ranks him ahead of the likes of Shaw, Chilwell and Crystal Palace man Tyrick Mitchell, who could be another outside shout heading into the tournament.

Therefore, considering the injury suffered by Chilwell and their respective form so far this campaign, Cresswell should definitely be in contention to board the plane to Qatar in a few weeks’ time.

Aston Villa have scouted Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Contract situation

Hailed as an ‘extraordinary talent’ by his former Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, the 23-year-old will soon be entering the final six months of his Ewood Park deal.

The Chile international recently admitted that he would ‘hopefully’ be staying with the Championship outfit until the end of the season as they push for promotion.

He has scored nine goals in 20 league games during the current campaign, with his form seemingly catching the eye of Villa Park officials.

The Latest: Villa linked with Brereton Diaz

90min journalist Graeme Bailey provided an update regarding Brereton Diaz on Tuesday.

The reporter claimed that Villa are among a number of Premier League clubs who have scouted the forward, with a £10m offer in January potentially enough to tempt Blackburn into selling.

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The Verdict: Good idea?

Brereton Diaz can play anywhere across the front three, so he could fit into Unai Emery’s plans after the new manager played a 4-2-3-1 system in his first game in charge at Villa Park.

Described as the ‘face of Pepsi’ in Chile due to massive marketing campaigns following his international success, the Blackburn gem appears to be going from strength to strength and is still just 23 years of age.

Therefore, a cut-price move in 2023 could be a wise idea from NSWE, although they may face plenty of competition for Brereton Diaz’s signature.

Newcastle United are preparing to make an offer for Lille striker Jonathan David in January, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Previous interest in David

The Canadian still has more than two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract with the Ligue 1 club, but following his impressive performances under Paulo Fonseca, he has been the subject of strong interest.

The Magpies eyed a move for the 22-year-old last year, and even though a deal failed to materialise before the deadline, PIF are now taking a second bite at the cherry in a bid to bring him to the Premier League.

The Latest: Newcastle readying David offer

According to French outlet Media Foot (via Sport Witness), Eddie Howe ‘wants an extra man’ up top in 2023, with the 44-year-old having identified David as ‘that player’.

Newcastle are reportedly set to ‘make a new attempt’ to land the forward by ‘making an offer’ in the winter after a previous failed approach.

Whilst the exact amount they are willing to cough up ‘hasn’t filtered’, it’s stated that Lille will find it ‘very difficult’ to keep hold of their star striker.

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The Verdict: Wood replacement?

Chris Wood has failed to make a serious impact at Newcastle this season with only two league starts to his name, so David would most certainly be an upgrade should he depart St. James’ Park.

Dubbed ‘mind-blowing’ by Jacek Kulig, the 5 foot 9 Canadian attacker has nine goals and three assists in 15 appearances this term and is averaging 3.3 shots per game (WhoScored).

Even taking into account their disparity in game-time, David has far more goals and shots per 90 minutes than Wood, along with a better rate for shots on target and successful passes (FBRef), so he could certainly be considered an upgrade on the New Zealand target man.

The Magpies are currently third in the Premier League after a remarkable start to 2022/23, and the potential arrival of David should only increase their chances of nailing down a top-four spot come the end of the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur have been named as one of the clubs reportedly interested in signing Fenerbahce attacking midfielder Arda Guler. 

The Lowdown: Spurs’ transfer business

The north London club have not been shy when it comes to signing players from foreign countries over recent years.

Figures such as Cristian Romero, Ivan Perisic and Emerson Royal, among others, have all made moves to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from a variety of clubs across Europe.

Now though, it appears that the Lilywhites have their eyes on landing a transfer deal for another talent making a name for himself abroad.

The Latest: Guler links

Speaking to Radio Goal (via AreaNapoli), journalist Valter De Maggio had this to say about Guler and the interest in his services.

“Guler is an interesting footballer, he is doing very well and is also followed by Cristiano Giuntoli, now I add other details. On the footballer there are two other top clubs: PSG and Tottenham. It was also proposed to Napoli in the past.”

“A variable termination clause hangs on the footballer. If you dispute up to 1500 minutes with Fenerbahce, the clause is €5 million, If it exceeds 1500 minutes, it rises to €20 million. Reflections are underway at the Naples house.”

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The Verdict: A long-term investment?

With 59 appearances for Fenerbahce under his belt across their senior and youth sides, the 17-year-old has scored 20 goals and delivered 19 assists.

After scoring two goals in 21 minutes during Fenerbahce’s 6-0 win over Kasimpasa back in August, Guler has only played 13 minutes of league action across four substitute appearances.

Having scored three goals from 12 league appearances last season with just nine attempts on goal and six on target, this ended up giving the youngster the highest rate of shots on target per 90 minutes (1.85) at the club.

This highlights how much of a nuisance Guler, who has been described in the past by coach Erol Tokgozler as a “special” player, can be for opposition goalkeepers when given the chance to play.

Taking into account how young he is, it would be safe to assume that if Spurs were looking to sign the attacking midfielder, it could be seen as a long-term investment rather than as someone that would automatically be put into Antonio Conte’s side.

Newcastle United are reportedly strongly interested in signing Frankfurt central defender Evan Ndicka ahead of the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Out of contract

Ndicka is out of contract in the summer, meaning that he can leave on a free transfer or for a cut-price in January.

The Frankfurt ace can also sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in the winter window, and is sure to attract plenty of interest around Europe.

The likes of West Ham United, Manchester United and Arsenal have all been linked over the past few months, so a move to the Premier League could well be on the cards.

The Latest: ‘Strong’ interest

As per Italian news outlet Romagiallorossa.it, the St. James’ Park outfit, as well as fellow top-flight rivals Tottenham Hotspur, hold a ‘strong’ interest in Ndicka, as well as Serie A sides Roma and AC Milan.

Other clubs in the Premier League are also thought to be interested, so it will be interesting to see if they look to try and sign Ndicka in January, or as a free agent in the summer.

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The Verdict: No-brainer

Signing a player of Ndicka’s quality, especially for a cut-price, is surely a no-brainer for the North East club.

The Frenchman, who was unlucky not to make the France squad for the FIFA World Cup, has been described as an ‘exciting’ talent by Frankfurt journalist Christopher Michel at just 23 years of age, while Michel has also hailed his goal threat from centre-half as ‘enormous’, and his injury record as ‘incredible’.

Aside from the six-foot-two colossus’ defensive qualities, where he has won more aerial duels and made more clearances per game than any of his team-mates in the Bundesliga this season (WhoScored), the fact that he has an added goal threat makes him such a dangerous player in both boxes.

Indeed, Ndicka managed an impressive four goals and four assists in the Bundesliga from centre-back last term (Transfermarkt), and the fact that he stays injury-free is an added bonus which could really help the Magpies in the second part of the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur are among the multitude of teams interested in signing Josko Gvardiol, who was one of the standout players of the World Cup group stages.

Tuttomercatoweb reported last month that current Lilywhites star Ivan Perisic had been tasked with convincing the 20-year-old that his future should lie in north London.

During the summer window, RB Leipzig’s asking price was thought to be in the region of £70m and that would have only increased after announcing himself on the world’s biggest stage, with the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid also keen on his signature.

Whilst he would cost sporting director Fabio Paratici a club-record fee, it should not put the Italian off from sealing a real piece of the future. Gvardiol could be one of, if not the, best centre-back in the world considering he’s already delivering at just 20.

And by winning the race to land him, Spurs could well eclipse the signing of Heung-min Son, who has undoubtedly been one of the Lilywhites’ best-ever deals. His returns of 136 goals and 76 assists for just £22m have been unmatched.

Croatia kept two clean sheets across their three matches, despite being in Group F with Belgium, one of the favourites for the tournament, though they didn’t qualify for the knockout stages.

Gvardiol played an integral role for the Vatreni, combining his frightening physicality with his deft touch on the ball – form that led transfer guru Fabrizio Romano to laud him as a “monster”.

Across those three matches, the Croat colossus has averaged a 90% passing accuracy, despite managing near 70 attempts per game, via Sofascore. A feat that outranks every one of Spurs’ current starters, including Eric Dier, who averages an 87.6% accuracy rate from 66.7 passes per game.

Gvardiol has also managed a whopping 5.7 clearances, 1.7 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per game at the World Cup too. By comparison, not even Cristian Romero has averaged more interceptions, whilst the Leipzig titan would also lead the way for clearances.

Meanwhile, his performances have also seen him dubbed as the Erling “Haaland of defenders” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, only further emphasising just how much of an instant impact he has made.

Journalist Zach Lowry even praised him as a “Rolls-Royce” and as a “sensational centre-back,” having been the best player on the pitch despite sharing it with Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modric.

With Romero now a permanent presence at Hotspur Way, Paratici and co could really land their best-ever signing by luring the Leipzig superstar to north London in 2023. They may need to wait until the summer and fork out in excess of £70m but he’d be worth every penny and more.

AND in other news, Conte could land dream Maddison alternative in Spurs move 22 y/o World Cup “superstar”…

Everton have been linked with a move for Ismaila Sarr for some time now, and a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to The Mirror, the Toffees are exploring the opportunity to sign the Watford winger when the transfer window reopens next month.

As per the report, despite Watford’s intentions to keep Sarr at Vicarage Road for their promotion charge in the second half of the Championship season, Everton are plotting a £35m bid for the player.

It’d be a major coup

There is no doubt that the signing of Sarr would be a major coup for Frank Lampard in his pursuit to improve his team after another disappointing start to their Premier League campaign.

Everton are currently teetering on the edge of the relegation zone in 17th after a string of poor performances left them just one point above the bottom three ahead of the World Cup break.

One of the biggest issues that the Toffees are currently experiencing is their lack of attacking threat and prolific finishing in front of goal, scoring the joint-second fewest goals of any team in the top flight so far.

As a result, if the powers at Goodison Park can secure a deal for Sarr in January, the Watford winger could be a hugely valuable asset to Lampard over the remainder of the campaign.

In 109 appearances for Watford, the 24-year-old – who was once dubbed “outstanding” by BBC pundit Garth Crooks – has scored 30 goals and registered 21 assists with a goal contribution every 174 minutes, proving that he is a consistent and reliable threat in front of goal.

Furthermore, Sarr has been a standout performer for Senegal during the World Cup in Qatar, helping his nation to the round of 16 in the prestigious tournament.

Across four appearances at the finals, the talented forward scored one goal and successfully completed 69% of his dribbles, along with averaging 1.5 key passes, 2.8 shots per goal, one tackle and a whopping 9.5 successful duels per game.

Lampard is in desperate need of a player who can make an instant positive impact on the attacking threat in the team, and Sarr could be the perfect player to make the difference which might save Everton from another difficult relegation scrap at the bottom of the table over the second half of the season.