Newcastle United have endured an inconsistent start to the Premier League this campaign and may now be set to ramp up their interest in a long-term target to bolster their rearguard.

Newcastle United seek January reinforcements

Without question, Newcastle fans will feel their campaign could’ve went slightly better than it has so far, though they are still within touching distance of the chasing pack in the hunt for European qualification.

Eddie Howe will feel his side are slowly getting back on track. However, former Magpies defender John Anderson believes he will have a tough juggling act to gauge when trying to compete efficiently across all fronts.

He said via BBC Sport: “He sees the Premier League as the main priority because of wanting to be in the Champions League again next season. The League Cup comes next because it is a semi-final, and then it is the FA Cup and Champions League. Realistically, it is just about qualifying for the next round or stage.

“Somewhere along the line, the amount of games they are playing will take its toll so Howe is going to have to make changes. He has to rotate and give players game time.”

Reinforcements will be necessary, and Oscar Mingueza is on the Magpies’ radar and could make an £8 million move amid competition from Aston Villa for his signature.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen is also admired by Newcastle after his summer saga nearly saw a transfer to St James’ Park come to fruition. Now, another Premier League star could have a similar dilemma.

Newcastle tracking Brentford star Michael Kayode

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are keen on signing Brentford star Michael Kayode and have been hot on his trail since 2023 when he pitched up at Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

Manchester City, Juventus, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on the full-back, who has made 24 appearances for the Bees this term.

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With Tino Livramento the subject of interest from Manchester City, a move for Italy U21 international Kayode would make a great deal of sense. Nevertheless, it is difficult to envisage Brentford letting one of their key men depart mid-season with Keith Andrews having already described him as a “sensation.”

Tottenham Hotspur also retain an interest in the £14m Brentford man and it is easy to see why, given he has won 118 duels on league duty this term, per Fotmob. It’s easy to see why scout Ben Mattinson has heralded him as a “powerful runner.”

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Howe clearly wants his side to kick on after a trying first half of the campaign and will now look to convince Kayode and other potential arrivals that the North East is the best place for their footballing development.

Manchester United are now reportedly in pole position in the race to sign an England international this month.

Man Utd in pole position to sign England star

The Red Devils could be in for a busy month as they look to break into the top four and finally find some consistency under Ruben Amorim. INEOS already fixed their manager’s attack in the summer with an impressive overhaul and could now do the same to solve his midfield problems.

Having his say on the January transfer window, the Man United boss told reporters: “Sometimes I have one idea, Jason and the board have another idea. Every decision we make, we need to reach a common ground.

“That is really important because you don’t need to make everything for the manager because the manager can change and [then] you need to change everything.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham

“But you also need to understand the manager understands the way of playing. If you don’t reach common ground the player would not come, so we just try to do that.”

On the transfer front, recent reports have suggested that Man United’s focus will be on their midfield this month, but it remains to be seen just who will arrive.

The likes of Ruben Neves have reportedly emerged as serious options as he looks to leave Al-Hilal in the winter window. With a return to the Premier League on the cards, United have reportedly contacted the Portugal international’s agent.

He’s not the only name on their shortlist, though. According to TeamTalk, Man United are now leading the race to sign Conor Gallagher, who is also looking to return to the Premier League this month.

Gallagher could replace Manuel Ugarte

It could be a case of one in, one out at Old Trafford. Recent reports have claimed that Galatasaray are prioritising a move to sign Manuel Ugarte from Man United this month, which would hand the Red Devils the perfect chance to welcome Gallagher.

Whilst not a like-for-like replacement, the England international would instantly offer far more energy at the heart of Amorim’s side as well as key versatility.

League stats 25/26

Gallagher

Ugarte

Minutes

634

554

Progressive Carries P90

2.71

0.97

Progressive Passes P90

3.43

5.16

Goals

2

0

Unlike other targets, Gallagher is unlikely to cost United a hefty fee, either. Atletico Madrid have reportedly priced their midfielder at just €30m (£26m) in the new year in what is more than affordable for INEOS.

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What could be a problem is Gallagher’s wage demands. In Spain, the former Chelsea man earns around £151,000-a-week, which would put him among Man United’s top 10 earners.

The Red Devils must decide whether they simply value Gallagher that highly in the January transfer window or whether they wait for the summer to land the likes of Adam Wharton or Elliot Anderson.

Liverpool have reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a decade after a 2-1 win away to Manchester City on Tuesday night.

Comfortably 3-0 up on aggregate from the first leg, it threatened to be a difficult night for the Reds when Gabriel Jesus netted less than two minutes into the match, but two second half goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino ensured progress.

While those goal heroes will steal the headlines, Liverpool fans were quick to praise a less obvious performer after the match – midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The former Arsenal man gave the Reds great stability in the middle of the park and supporters can’t believe how good his progress has been at the club since being signed by Jurgen Klopp last summer.

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At the Gunners he was often overlooked and didn’t appear to possess the leadership qualities he is currently showing at Anfield, with some fans believing he is a future captain.

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Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his City performance…

West Ham remain interested in signing Stuttgart forward Sasa Kalajdzic in the summer transfer window, according to sources in Germany.

The Lowdown: Kalajdzic struggling for minutes

The 24-year-old has played a bit-part role for the Bundesliga side this season, making just four league starts and registering one goal and assist apiece.

The towering 6 foot 7 Kalajdzic may, therefore, be looking for a way out of Stuttgart at the end of the season and West Ham have been linked with a move in the past.

A new update has now emerged that acts as a boost to the Hammers.

The Latest: Hammers still keen on move

According to German outlet Kicker [via Sport Witness], West Ham’s interest in Kalajdzic ‘has not waned’ and a ‘goodbye’ from Stuttgart in the summer looks likely.

It is even claimed that a transfer is ‘apparently imminent’, suggesting a switch to the London Stadium really could be on the cards.

Kalajdzic’s current Stuttgart deal expires at the end of next season, so the German club only have two transfer windows left to receive a fee for his services and he is unlikely to sign a new deal.

Because of this, the report suggests his previous €20m (£16.5m) price tag is ‘likely to drop by quite a bit’.

The Verdict: Strong summer addition

Kalajdzic could be a unique addition for the Hammers in the summer window, given his enormous frame, giving them a different option in attack when Michail Antonio needs a break.

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He has scored four goals in 11 caps for Austria, showing that he is capable of producing end product on the international stage, and has been efficient in front of goal when afforded more minutes in Germany, scoring 16 times in 23 Bundesliga starts last season.

The fact that Kalajdzic’s price tag is believed to have plummeted from the original fee Stuttgart wanted only acts as a further boost for David Moyes.

In other news, one pundit has ripped into an ‘overrated’ West Ham trio. Read more here.

Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias has been one of the best recent signings in the Premier League and has gone on to be dubbed “the best centre-back in the world” by the likes of Jose Mourinho.

This season, the defender has scored two goals and set up three more in the Premier League, showcasing his ability on the attack when given the chance, particularly on set pieces.

However, should Wolves had acted on their interest in the defender back in the summer of 2019, the 24-year-old could have been playing at Molineux right now instead of the Etihad Stadium, where he won the Premier League title last season.

The idea of a defence consisting of Max Kilman, Conor Coady and Dias might now seem unfathomable, but if Wolves coughed up £57m back then, that would have become a centre-back trio.

At the time, that fee might have seemed extortionate, but now the former Benfica star has a market value of £67.5m, leaving Fosun to regret their decision not to paying his release clause.

Averaging a 7.10 Sofascore rating in the Premier League this term, Dias has performed better than any Wolves defender, with Romain Saiss the pick of the bunch on 7.07.

It isn’t up for debate whether or not Dias is a world-class ball-playing defender – he ranks in the top 2% among centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues and continental competitions for pass completion percentage per 90 (93.6%).

He also ranks in the top 3% for passes into the final third per 90 (6.25), top 2% for passes completed per 90 (74.48) and top 9% for long passes completed per 90 (12.23). Furthermore, the 24-year-old is extremely comfortable in possession, ranking in the top 1% for progressive carries per 90 (8.16) and the top 3% for touches per 90 (87.64).

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Unfortunately for Wolves fans, the chances for Dias to now appear in an Old Gold shirt appear slim to none, having missed their chance to sign the defensive “rock” three years ago.

In other news: Lage could solve major Wolves problem with £16.2m-rated star with “magical powers”

West Ham have not been shy when it comes to signing players from Championship clubs in recent years. One successful example is Jarrod Bowen, who the Hammers signed from Hull City back in the 2020 January transfer window and has since gone on to provide 42 goal contributions in 92 games across all competitions.

What’s the news?

Looking ahead to the upcoming summer transfer window, it seems as though the east London club have set their sights on securing another Championship star and bringing him to the London Stadium, in what could potentially pave the way for one current Hammers figure to leave the club as a result.

According to a recent transfer report from The Sun, West Ham are keen on signing Nottingham Forest centre-back Joe Worrall during the upcoming summer transfer window if the Championship club fails to secure promotion to the top flight by the end of the season.

Diop replacement

As a product of Forest’s youth academy, the 25-year-old, who has been dubbed as a “leader” and praised for his “outstanding” performances by Steven Gerrard when the defender spent some time on loan with Rangers, has made 168 senior appearances for the club across all competitions, chipping in with four goals and six assists along the way.

With 28 league appearances under his belt this season, the defender has earned himself an overall performance rating of 7, making him the sixth-highest rated player in Steve Cooper’s squad according to WhoScored, showing not only how important he is to the team with the number of games he’s played in but also how much quality he has.

Should David Moyes’ side secure Worrall’s signature in the summer, this could spell the end of the road in a West Ham shirt for Issa Diop.

He has only started nine league games this season and hasn’t managed to prove to the Hammers boss that he should be the first-choice centre-back there. WhoScored list him as the second-lowest rated player to have started more than one league game with an overall performance rating of just 6.44.

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Taking this into account, if the club and Moyes feels that they would be better off giving Worrall the chance to step up to the plate in the Premier League rather than stick with Diop, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £61k-per-week according to Salary Sport, it could be curtains for his West Ham career.

In other news: Huge blow: West Ham dealt crushing double injury setback that’ll have Moyes fuming

Chelsea have expressed an interest in signing Celtic’s Ben Doak, according to The Daily Mail. 

The lowdown

The Athletic’s James Pearce reported at the start of this week that Liverpool were close to signing the 16-year-old.

The Hoops have tried to convince him to stay, handing him first-team opportunities against Dundee United and Rangers, but it seems that the player’s head has been turned. It’s understood that he has his heart set on the idea of working under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

The latest

The Daily Mail’s Brian Marjoribanks has now revealed that Liverpool aren’t the only ‘leading Premier League club’ to pursue Doak, as Champions League holders Chelsea have also made known their admiration for the winger.

However, Marjoribanks corroborates Pearce’s report that Liverpool are currently poised to win the race for the teenager.

The verdict

It’s no surprise that Doak has caught the eye of elite clubs south of the border. After all, playing top-flight football at the age of 16 is certainly no mean feat.

In the words of his former academy coach Martin Miller, the teenager is ‘very quick and very good on the ball’. Furthermore, he boasts a ‘fantastic’ attitude and impressive composure on the big stage, according to his manager Ange Postecoglou.

Celtic are only due to receive a meagre compensation fee given that the player has yet to sign a professional contract. Indeed, The Daily Mail claimed that the figure could be as low as £150,000.

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You would wonder just how lucrative his sale could have been if the Hoops had managed to keep hold of the 16-year-old for another couple of years and top clubs had continued to track him.

In other news, Alan Hutton has slammed this Celtic player

While Raphinha leaving Leeds United this summer ‘isn’t a formality’, his future is now causing ‘real concern’ at the club, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Raphinha’s future unknown

The Brazilian has starred for the Whites during a difficult season in the Premier League, chipping in with nine goals and three assists in the competition, drawing praise as ‘wonderful’ from Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy.

There has been constant speculation regarding his Leeds future in recent months, however, with a host of clubs linked with signing him this summer.

A fresh claim has now emerged, as the situation continues to look cloudy as we move closer and closer to the transfer window.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: O’Rourke drops key claim

Speaking to Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke claimed that while Raphinha’s exit isn’t definite, he ‘won’t stick around’ for a team fighting relegation, an ominous message for Leeds supporters:

“I wouldn’t say it’s a formality, it’s a real concern for Leeds. Obviously Raphinha won’t want to be sticking around in a team that’s fighting for survival.”

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The Verdict: Still hard to predict

This is a transfer saga that could still be alive come May, with Leeds’ Premier League status potentially playing a key role in Raphinha’s final decision.

If they stay up, he may feel that one more year at Elland Road makes sense, whereas relegation to the Championship would surely be the final nail in the coffin.

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The lure of moving to a huge club such as Liverpool or Barcelona could be too good to say no to, however, and it would be hard for Leeds fans to resent the decision too much if he decides to enjoy a new challenge.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly keen on signing one player. Find out who it is here.

According to a report from Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte may well leave the club at the end of his contract next year. 

The lowdown: Short term vision

The north London club appointed Conte in an official Head Coach capacity on a contract until the summer of 2023 with an option to extend for a further year.

Having lifted the Serie A title in 2020/21 at Inter Milan, the Italian’s stock was high and Spurs had seemingly landed an elite boss to help the push towards a Premier League top-four finish following the short reign of Nuno Espirito Santo.

However, the length of the deal was always of concern in some quarters and now it appears the 52-year-old may already be restless.

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The latest: On the move?

As per the report from Gazzetta, translated by SW, the man in the hot seat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could already be considering a role back in Italy or beyond.

It’s stated that Conte views contracts as a ‘stepping stone’ rather than a ‘prison’ and there are already ‘too many clouds over London’ despite the presence and best efforts of familiar colleague Fabio Paratici.

Furthermore, the report claims that ‘it is not certain’ that the former Italian national team coach will even see out the contract with the Lilywhites, citing a potential tilt at the Paris Saint-Germain managerial role should Mauricio Pochettino move on at the end of the current campaign.

The verdict: Pull out all the stops

Boasting an enviable trophy cabinet containing eight major honours – including one English top-flight success at Chelsea – Tottenham appointed a truly elite figure in Conte and should be trying everything possible to retain the Italian’s services beyond 2023.

At present, Conte’s longest stint in any role stands at just 106 games whilst in west London, further proof of a tendency to move on swiftly.

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Albeit still the case that Spurs are outsiders for a top-four finish, sitting three points behind arch-rivals Arsenal, there has been an upturn in results since the arrival of the man described as ‘one of the best managers in the world’ by Thomas Tuchel.

Whether or not UEFA Champions League qualification can appease Conte remains to be seen, otherwise, a hefty summer transfer budget may well be required.

In other news, Tottenham are now eyeing four summer transfer targets. Find out more here!

Newcastle United made it through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup once again last night, with a hard-fought 2-1 win over fellow Premier League side Fulham.

Eddie Howe’s men certainly didn’t produce the most vintage of displays, but it was enough to secure their place in the final four for a second consecutive campaign.

Yoane Wissa managed to net his first goal for the Magpies during the triumph, whilst Lewis Miley leapt highest from a late corner to secure a much-needed win for the club.

As a result, Howe’s men will now face Manchester City in a two-legged semi-final, potentially booking their place in the final and moving one step closer to retaining their title.

However, if they are to get one over the most inform side in the division, the manager will need to drop multiple players who struggled to deliver despite the 2-1 victory.

Newcastle’s poor performers against Fulham last night

Full-back Tino Livramento has often been one of the shining lights within the Newcastle squad in recent months, but his showing at St James’ Park last night was one of his worst in recent times.

The 23-year-old featured for 76 minutes before being withdrawn, but he failed to deliver whilst on the pitch – as seen by his tally of 100% duels lost in the air and on the ground.

He also failed to complete any of his crosses or dribbles, while being unable to complete a single tackle – showcasing his lack of impact at both ends of the pitch.

However, Livramento wasn’t alone in failing to deliver on Tyneside, with central midfielder Joe Willock massively unable to take advantage of the start handed his way.

The Englishman was making just his fifth start of 2025/26, but it was yet another night to forget, as he was dominated without the ball, subsequently losing 67% of his ground duels.

He also failed to win any of the tackles he entered, whilst completing just 50% of the dribbles he attempted, with Howe making the right in call in replacing him after 72 minutes.

The Newcastle star who needs to be dropped after Fulham

The aforementioned duo evidently failed to deliver for Newcastle last night, but Howe will no doubt be pleased that his side were able to win ugly in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.

Sunday’s defeat against local rivals Sunderland has certainly ramped up the pressure on the 48-year-old, with retaining their League Cup triumph from last year now needed to help save his job.

The win against Marco Silva’s side was definitely much-needed, but the side will need to ensure they up their levels in the next round if they are to get past Manchester City.

If Howe is to reach a second successive League Cup final, he will certainly need to drop winger Jacob Murphy, with the 30-year-old currently enduring a huge drop in form.

Last season, he was one of the Magpies’ most influential players, as seen by his tally of 23 combined goals and assists across all competitions – three of which came in the Carabao Cup.

However, this campaign has been a slow one for the fan-favourite, with Murphy so far registering just five goal contributions in his 19 appearances in league and cup competitions.

Last night, he was handed a chance to impress from the off, but his 85-minute display on home soil was one to forget – with his stats backing up his awful performance.

Jacob Murphy – stats against Fulham

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

85

Touches

56

Passes completed

68%

Possession lost

25x

Crosses attempted

9

Crosses completed

0

Dribbles completed

1

Duels lost

67%

Stats via FotMob

Murphy has become known for his crossing during his spell on Tyneside, but he was hugely ineffective in such an area against Fulham – as seen by his tally of zero crosses completed from his nine attempts.

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He also was only able to get past the opposition full-back on one occasion, whilst also being caught offside once – subsequently showcasing his lack of quality in the final third.

However, his most alarming area was his wastefulness in possession, subsequently completing just 68% of his passes and giving possession away on 25 separate occasions.

To cap off his disappointing performance, Murphy was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder – the joint-lowest of any Magpies player who started the win.

After such a display, the manager must look to replace Murphy in the upcoming games, with the attacker evidently appearing like a shadow of his former self.

The recent form has no doubt been a concern, but a change in shape or personnel within the final third of the pitch could help the manager save his job and secure a second Carabao Cup trophy in as many seasons.

Related Saved by Miley: Howe must drop Newcastle flop who looks well past his best

Eddie Howe must ruthlessly drop this Newcastle United flop who looks well past his best at the club.

Posts ByDan Emery