Scottish champions Celtic could well be facing the prospect of losing another exciting academy asset in the near future…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, promising Hoops defender Bosun Lawal is believed to be attracting notable attention from clubs in Europe, with Italian duo Pisa and Verona named as potential suitors.

The standout interested party named in the piece is Premier League outfit Brentford, with the Bees said to be ‘monitoring’ the 19-year-old’s progress at present, ahead of the January transfer window.

The young Irishman – who has 18 months remaining on his existing deal at Parkhead – only joined the Old Firm giants from Watford during the summer of 2021.

Ajer repeat

That apparent interest from Thomas Frank’s side will seemingly have a familiar feel as far as Ange Postecoglou is concerned, with the west London outfit having poached Kristoffer Ajer from Glasgow for a fee of around £13.5m just 18 months ago.

Although the Norwegian defender was a more established figure than Lawal at the time of his departure, his exit illustrated the notable pulling power of the Premier League, with clubs south of the border having regularly come calling for the Bhoys’ brightest talents.

That has also been evident in the case of Scottish sensation, Ben Doak, with the winger having made the move to Liverpool earlier this year, with recent reports having also claimed that midfielder Ewan Otoo is of interest to clubs in England.

In the case of Lawal, the teenager’s departure would be a particularly worrying blow due to his impressive rise through the ranks of late, with the former Hornets ace having notably been named on the bench for the recent victory over Aberdeen.

That inclusion was a sign that the towering centre-back has caught the eye of Postecoglou in recent times, having also been named as part of the first-team squad for the recent Sydney Super Cup.

The “outstanding” asset – as described by ‘B’ team coach Tommy McIntyre – has notably racked up five goals and two assists in just 13 games in all competitions so far this season, proving a real goal threat from his defensive berth.

The next step will now seemingly be for Lawal to truly establish himself at senior level, with the versatile ace – who can also feature in midfield – no doubt highly thought of by those at Paradise.

As Celtic found out in the case of the aforementioned Ajer, however – as well as others – it can often prove difficult for players to turn down the temptation of joining a Premier League outfit.

Tottenham Hotspur have been implored to sign Sofyan Amrabat as the January transfer window approaches…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Pete O’Rourke, who gave his thoughts on that potential move after noting Spurs’ interest earlier in December. In fact, Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici were reportedly keen on the Moroccan in the summer.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT once more, the transfer insider issued the following claim: “On paper, he looks like he’s the ideal midfielder for Antonio Conte. A great defensive midfielder, great energy to get around the pitch, likes making tackles and he’s also good on the ball as well, so a good passer.

“I think for someone like Antonio Conte, his work rate is perfect for the type of football that he likes to play.”

Reports have already emerged suggesting that Fiorentina will demand a fee of around €45m (£40m) for the 26-year-old.

He’s “perfect” for Conte

Having starred in a Morocco side which enjoyed sitting deep and hitting teams on the break, there is plenty of proof to support O’Rourke’s statement.

At the World Cup, Amrabat sat as a sole defensive midfielder behind a proper midfield four, sweeping up behind them and then helping them transition into attack. The 6-foot destroyer recorded 2.3 tackles per game and paired this with an 85% pass accuracy.

He was instrumental in Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals, with talkSPORT pundit Adrian Durham claiming: “He has been my player of the tournament”.

This was supported by the claims of sports writer Carlo Garganese, who tweeted: “Amrabat the best centre midfielder in the tournament. MONSTER”.

His lung-busting runs and relentless work rate also drew praise, although it isn’t just for his country that he has impressed. In European league action, he sits in the top 5% for pass completion and the top 4% for progressive passes among positional peers in 2022, showcasing the technical superiority that he matches with his physical dominance.

However, should Conte swoop for him, he would likely hope to find a similar position to his role for Morocco in which to deploy Amrabat.

The 26-year-old could be integral in perfecting the Spurs manager’s conservative style, acting as the most important player in forging their counterattacks.

It truly could be an ideal move, and one which would certainly catch the eye following the Moroccan’s displays on the world stage over the past month.

Leeds United’s move for Birmingham City starlet George Hall in January will depend on the fee the Championship side demand.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Alan Nixon, with The Sun journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that, following a number of reports linking Victor Orta with a £3m move for the 18-year-old, whether or not the director of football manages to get a deal over the line for the central midfielder this winter will depend on how much Birmingham command for the youngster.

In response to a supporter asking for an update on Leeds’ interest in the reported Everton and Liverpool target, Nixon said: “Been after him before… would come down to the cost.”

A big signing

Considering just how exciting a prospect Hall very much looks to be, the argument that Orta could seal a big signing by beating the likes of Everton and Liverpool to the addition of the teenager this winter is an extremely easy one to make.

Indeed, the £1.6m-rated talent is already beginning to establish himself as a key figure in John Eustace’s first-team squad, having scored one goal, registered one assist and created two big chances over his 18 Championship fixtures – five of which have come as starts – this season, as well as taking an average of 0.3 shots, making 0.2 key passes and completing 0.2 dribbles per game.

These displays have seen the £577-per-week starlet – who is able to operate from central, right, left and attacking midfield – come in for a significant amount of praise, none more so than from Eustace, who said of the 18-year-old last year:

“George is a fantastic young player who’s a big player for us and for the team… he’s a top young player. But all I want to do is to keep on developing George in the right way, which I think we have done so far.

“For me, George Hall is one of the top young players in the league. He’s a very effective player whether he starts or we have him coming off the bench. He’s only just turned 18 – and he’s got an opportunity to showcase himself here. We don’t want George Hall going anywhere.”

As such, while a figure in the region of £3m is undoubtedly a great sum of money to spend on a player who has played just 20 senior fixtures in his career to date, considering the sheer amount of potential for future growth the midfielder possesses, it is easy to make the argument that for the sake of the future of Leeds’ midfield, this would be a big acquisition.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte wants two big signings every transfer window and this winter market will be no different.

What’s the word?

Insider Dean Jones has suggested the Italian demands two big additions during every transfer window and this window may now seem bigger than those gone by with his future in north London under serious scrutiny.

Speaking on the Ranks FC podcast amid the January window, the transfer guru said: “Conte wants two significant signings every single transfer window. These aren’t signings that are backup players, these are players of [Dejan] Kulusevski’s nature. He feels at the moment when Kulusevski’s not available in this team, there’s nobody else of that level.”

The Lilywhites have picked up from where they left off before the World Cup break and not in a good way as their defensive frailties continue to show following their draw against Brentford and defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday.

And with the north London side sliding down the table and outside of the Champions League spots, Jones expects Conte to demand at least two new starters during this month’s transfer window.

January magic needed

As Jones suggested, Conte is expected to want at least two significant signings but if his time in north London is now uncertain, then is Daniel Levy likely to grant him his demands?

The Italian now has just a matter of months remaining on his deal at Spurs and there will be question marks as to whether his long-term future is at Tottenham with the Londoners struggling in the way that they are.

And if Conte is to leave either at the end of the season or even before that, will Levy provide Conte with the players he wants when he may potentially have to find a new manager in the coming months?

But with their current form in mind, it has to be said for the good of their chances in qualifying for next season’s Champions League, signings are needed.

During the game against Aston Villa, Harry Kane had to wait 20 minutes for his first touch of the ball and come the end of the game only had 35 touches to his name (via SofaScore).

And their defensive frailties are there for all to see, so it seems as if it could be a big summer for Fabio Paratici if the club’s owners are to provide the funds needed to bolster their Champions League push.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui got off to the perfect league start with a 2-1 victory over Everton on Boxing Day, however, there will be tougher matches ahead.

The win marked the club’s first three points since October and the Spaniard will be hoping this can be a catalyst for a markedly improved 2023 under his leadership.

The January transfer window is looming into view and with Lopetegui still assessing his squad, there could be plenty of ins and outs during the month.

Joao Moutinho hasn’t quite lived up to his high standards this season and with Wolves having reportedly been offered American Weston McKennie, it might be time for the club to ditch the Portuguese midfielder.

Lopetegui must ditch Moutinho

This season, the 36-year-old veteran has seen his influence wane in the starting XI. He has played 14 Premier League matches so far this term and registered just one goal contribution, taking an average of 55.8 touches, and having a pass success rate of 85%.

These numbers may sound impressive enough, but compared to last season, where he averaged 68.5 touches and a pass success rate of 87%, there is a noticeable drop-off.

Serie A side Juventus are interested in signing Rayan Ait-Nouri and have offered McKennie as part of the deal according to reports in Italy and the American would make a good signing.

The 24-year-old has struggled for game time this season, starting just nine times, however, he has achieved a solid enough Sofascore rating of 6.84/10 for his performances.

He has double the amount of goal contributions than Moutinho while creating three big chances and making 0.6 key passes per match.

Defensively, the £55k-per-week star has made 0.6 tackles, 0.5 interceptions and 0.8 clearances on average per match and his versatility could be another bonus for Lopetegui, as the player can also operate in a centre-back role if required.

His former sporting director at Schalke, Christian Heidel claimed four years ago that McKennie could be destined for big things, saying: “Weston is a very good footballer, but he also has a lot of traits that are very, very important to Schalke. The fans love the way he plays, and the work he puts in. His body language is extraordinary.”

He may not have lived up to this potential as of yet, but a move to the Premier League where he would get much more regular game time could help massively.

This in turn would allow Lopetegui to ditch Moutinho and move towards a future filled with younger talent who can steer Wolves away from danger.

Liverpool are eyeing a surprise move for a Serie A midfielder as Jurgen Klopp looks to add some more depth to his midfield…

According to journalist Ahmet Ercanlar (via TEAMtalk), Klopp has held talks with Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas over the phone as he aims to lure the player to Anfield.

It’s clear that the German is requiring midfielders ahead of a busy second half of the season, and Elmas could be a cheaper alternative to Enzo Fernandez and will be able to slot straight into the team.

Elmas can solve Liverpool’s key issue

With James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out of contract at the end of the season, plus Arthur Melo’s loan spell coming to an end, Klopp’s midfield options could look rather sparse in the summer and next month could be the ideal time to add some reinforcements.

Elmas might be an ideal solution in January, especially with his good form so far this season for the Serie A leaders.

The 23-year-old has played 14 league matches for the club, although he has started just four, chipping in with three goals and an assist, which is a goal every 179 minutes.

Despite spending just 38 minutes on the pitch on average per game, he has made 0.6 key passes, taken 24.2 touches and created one big chance, showing his ability to still contribute, even if he is coming off the bench in the latter stages of a match.

The £32.5k-per-week Macedonian is an excellent passer of the ball, which is supported by the fact he is ranked in the top 4% across Europe’s big five leagues for pass completion success rate (84.8%) when compared with positional peers, and this could see him shine in Klopp’s team.

Elmas’ versatility could also be a big bonus for the German, as he can play in the centre of the midfield, as an attacking midfielder, or even on the left wing, and with Luis Diaz injured at the moment, it could be an opportunity for Klopp to kill two birds with one stone.

The Napoli player’s agent – George Gardi – once dubbed him a “jewel” and despite not getting many starting opportunities at the Italian side, this could certainly change if he moved to Liverpool, especially with the Anfield side sorely lacking in midfielders.

Leeds United slipped to a third successive Premier League loss with defeat at home to Manchester City on Wednesday evening, with the visitors running out 3-1 winners courtesy of a typically clinical double from Erling Haaland.

While it may be hard to contend with a figure who now has 20 goals to his name in just 14 league appearances this season, the Elland Road outfit were no doubt architects of their own downfall at times, having conceded just moments before half-time after being exploited on the counter.

Pep Guardiola’s men were then gifted the opportunity to extend that lead after the break as Liam Cooper’s under-hit pass sparked a City breakaway, with the aforementioned Haaland duly converting following unselfish play from Jack Grealish.

The away side then bagged a third soon after to all but confirm the win, with a late strike from Pascal Struijk proving nothing more than a mere consolation as Jesse Marsch’s men were unable to mount what would have been a remarkable comeback.

On what was a frustrating night for the Whites, captain Cooper was a particular villain due to his shaky display in the backline, with the 31-year-old having won just three of his six total duels, while also recording a measly 5.5 match rating, as per Sofascore.

Although the Scotland international’s ‘horror pass’ – as described by Leeds Live’s Beren Cross – may have been the most obvious blunder for the hosts, the centre-back was not the only one among his teammates to have wilted against the champions.

Summer signing Marc Roca was especially underwhelming in his midfield berth, with the Spaniard appearing to struggle amid the absence of the suspended Tyler Adams in the centre of the park.

The former Bayern Munich man was particularly ‘wasteful’ against the Etihad outfit – as per 90min’s Michael Graham – having squandered possession on 18 occasions after regularly handing the ball back to the opposition.

That ensured that the 26-year-old recorded a pass accuracy of just 75% from his 57 touches in total, having also won just four of his ten ground duels and been dribbled past on two occasions as a marker of his struggles defensively.

That limp showing ultimately saw Roca record a match rating of just 6.1, as per Sofascore, with that figure the joint-second worst of any Leeds player on the day, illustrating just how ineffectual he truly was.

While the strength of the opposition may well have been a factor, it is hard to overlook what was a worryingly nervy display from the one-time Espanyol man last night, as he simply failed his manager.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has shared an injury update regarding Whites winger Luis Sinisterra. 

The Lowdown: Sinisterra’s season so far

Leeds signed the Colombian from Feyenoord in July on a five-year deal, making him one of several incoming players at Elland Road during the summer transfer window.

Since then, the 23-year-old has made 10 appearances for Leeds across the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, scoring three goals and providing one assist along the way.

With Sinisterra having been out of action since October with a foot injury, Marsch has shared an update on the player ahead of his team’s domestic campaign resuming in the next few days.

The Latest: Sinisterra injury update

Speaking in his latest press conference (via Leeds Live) ahead of their upcoming Premier League match against Manchester City, Marsch gave a promising update on the 23-year-old, who could be ‘on track’ to return in January.

The American said: “Luis Sinisterra is making great progress and we feel like he’s on track. We have to be a little bit cautious with this injury, but we’re hopeful that in a couple weeks he can be back in training.”

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The Verdict: Good news for Leeds

To highlight how useful an attacking figure the former Feyenoord player has been for Leeds in the top flight this season, only two players in Marsch’s squad have a higher rate of shot-creating actions per 90 minutes than the Colombian (4.17).

In addition, only two Whites players have completed more dribbles than Sinisterra (11), which highlights just how tricky a player he can be for opponents to face.

This shows just how much of a boost it will be for the team to have the winger, who has been praised for his “excellent” performances for Leeds by journalist Leon Wobschall on Twitter, back fit again in the coming weeks.

While it looks like Sinisterra will be set to miss the upcoming match against Pep Guardiola’s side, this update from Marsch about the winger’s recovery is definitely a positive one for the Elland Road faithful.

Newcastle United’s attempt to sign Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda is ‘fairly’ now a ‘done deal’, according to Reuters journalist Fernando Kallas.

The Lowdown: The story so far

The Premier League high flyers are reportedly on the lookout for a new right-back this month and have identified the 18-year-old as an ideal candidate.

The Magpies have been credited with a strong interest in the youngster, and speculation of a move was increased after head of recruitment Steve Nickson was spotted with his agent at a match last week.

The Latest: Kallas’ comments

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Kallas revealed that Fresneda is set to make the move to St James’ Park, with farewells already underway in La Liga.

Quoted by Newcastle World, the reporter said of the Valladolid defender: “He’s 18 years old and he made a very good game over the weekend. He neutralised Vinicius Junior when Real Madrid played Valladolid. I heard the coach and his team-mates are already saying goodbye to him because it’s fairly a done deal that he’s going to Newcastle.”

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The Verdict: A rock at the back

Eddie Howe’s side have already completed their first signing this month as Garang Kuol’s transfer was activated, and Fresneda could be the next to follow at Newcastle.

The Spaniard currently averages 3.3 tackles, 2.9 clearances and 1.4 interceptions per league game, highlighting the rock that he can be at the heart of defence (WhoScored).

PIF will be keen to bolster their ranks in a bid to secure a top-four spot at the end of the campaign, and the addition of Fresneda would surely only increase the chances of that happening.

Insider ExWHUemployee has claimed that Harry Maguire could be a good signing for West Ham United amid recent links in the media.

What’s the latest?

It’s no secret that the Manchester United defender has been much maligned in recent times. As a result of his poor form, he has been dropped at club level, making just three Premier League starts all season.

With the January window now open, talks have begun to suggest that he could be on his way out of Manchester in the near future with the Hammers named as a possible destination.

Indeed, former England International Stuart Pearce told TalkSport: “If I was West Ham, if I was Newcastle, if I was Aston Villa, I’d be all over trying to get Harry Maguire out of there. I’d be asking the question whether he’s available.”

Amid all this, Ex has weighed in on the idea of a possible transfer. He told The West Ham Way podcast (8:37): “There was talk of Harry Maguire. You know, West Ham fans will laugh at that but I would take him.

“Not that I think that we need him with [Kurt] Zouma and [Nayef] Aguerd back but if [Craig] Dawson goes, possibly.”

Redemption arc

Before his move to the Red Devils, Maguire had established himself as one of England’s finest central defenders – hence the £80m transfer fee paid for him.

And while he all know how things have turned sour recently, he did remind plenty of his quality with his performances for the Three Lions at the World Cup.

With that in mind, it certainly seems plausible that he could rediscover some of his past best form if he leaves Man United and moved to the right club.

It remains to be seen if West Ham have any real interest in a deal but with Dawson long linked with an exit, perhaps the club will be in the market for a new centre-back in the near future.