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Arsenal ‘really appreciate’ transfer target Mykhaylo Mudryk ahead of a potential move for him in January, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

The Lowdown: Mudryk wanted by Arsenal

The 21-year-old has emerged as arguably one of Europe’s most exciting young players, producing some magical performances for Shakhtar Donetsk.

Mudryk has scored three goals and registered two assists in the Champions League this season, not to mention being praised by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

The Gunners have been strongly linked with a move for the winger, and January could be a time to snap him up.

The Latest: Romano provides update

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano claimed that Arsenal are still big admirers of Mudryk, with a potential bid imminent:

“They will sign players if they are the right players for Arsenal’s project in January. We know they’re following Mykhaylo Mudryk. He is a player they really appreciate and he’s a winger they really like.

“They had contacts with his agents for a long time because – last summer – they wanted Mudryk, but they never negotiated with Shakhtar as they knew they wanted more than €40-45million. Now they want way more than that.”

The Verdict: What a signing he would be

It can be easy to overhype young players before they have time to fully reach their potential, but Mudryk does look like a special player with a massive future ahead of him.

His displays for Shakhtar in the Champions League have really caught the eye, not least one superb finish against Celtic, and he could be add further brilliance to an already exciting Arsenal attack.

To have Mudryk as another left-sided option alongside Gabriel Martinelli would provide Mikel Arteta with extra depth, and he could be the sprinkling of extra genius that helps get the Gunners over the finish line in the Premier League title race.

Sunderland fans will be confident of shooting up the Championship table after the World Cup break as star striker Ross Stewart should be back available after recovering from injury, but the Black Cats’ hopes of keeping him in the long term have seemingly suffered a blow.

Journalist Alan Nixon has suggested on Twitter that an agreement between Stewart and Sunderland for a new contract is not close, which represents a big blow to Mowbray ahead of the January window.

“Nothing close,” he tweeted.

His contract with the northeast side is currently set to expire in June 2023, although the Championship side do have the option to extend it by another 12 months.

However, they are understandably keen to tie him down to a longer deal in order to ward off any potential suitors in January and ensure that he doesn’t leave for a minimal fee in the near future.

Chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus confirmed this at a recent meeting with fans, saying: “We are having ongoing conversations and we’re all hopeful that it will lead to a successful outcome.”

Director Kristjaan Speakman also suggested it during the summer after Stewart played a big part in Sunderland returning to the second tier.

He said: “Ross has had an incredible season. So, for us, we’re always trying to protect players like that who have performed so well. And naturally, you want to try and reward players.”

The Scotland international started the new season in superb form for the Black Cats, contributing five goals and three assists in just seven appearances, earning an incredible 7.81 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This ranks him comfortably as the top performer in Tony Mowbray’s side so far this campaign, so it is clear that he has been a big miss for Sunderland, as they have dropped down the table in his absence.

Stewart is not only the top scorer in the squad, despite playing far fewer than most, but he has also averaged more shots per game and more aerials won per game than any other player, which emphasises how important he is to the way Sunderland play.

After such a strong start to the 2022/23 term, on the back of an electric season in League One to fire Sunderland to promotion, it was perhaps always likely that the 26-year-old would attract interest from elsewhere.

Rangers, in particular, were heavily linked with Stewart over the summer, and Mowbray may well be concerned that his time at the Stadium of Light could soon be coming to an end.

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If the star striker cannot be tied down to a new deal at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland may well be forced to cash in, which would do their chances of flying up the table serious harm.

Newcastle United may well have been left to regret one notable failed transfer in the recent past, with the Magpies having seemingly missed out on signing Australia’s World Cup hero, Aaron Mooy.

Reports back in May 2017 suggested that the Tynesiders – as well as a handful of other Premier League clubs – had made a bid to prise the playmaker from Manchester City, with the 5 foot 9 ace having impressed while on loan at Huddersfield Town in that 2016/17 campaign, earning the club’s Player of the Year award.

As it proved, the Sydney-born ace ultimately sealed a permanent switch to the Terriers that summer for a reported fee of just £8m, going on to score a respectable seven goals over the next two seasons in the top flight.

Huddersfield’s relegation at the end of the 2018/19 season ultimately saw the midfield maestro again linked with a move to St James’ Park, albeit with Mooy instead sealing a switch to Brighton and Hove Albion on an initial temporary deal.

Now at Celtic, the 32-year-old – who arrived at Parkhead in the summer after a spell in China – may not be the most glamourous name that Newcastle have missed out on over the years, although the experienced ace has more than shown his class with his displays in Qatar over the last few weeks.

The 57-cap menace notably sparkled in the group stage triumph over Tunisia to help kickstart his nation’s tournament after a first-game defeat at the hands of France, having put in an “immense shift” in that 1-0 win, in the words of journalist, Josh Bunting.

That “relentless” performance in the centre of the park, as per Statman Dave, saw the Hoops man notably win four of his six ground duels, while also recording three tackles, two interceptions, two blocks and two clearances.

The £23k-per-week ace again impressed in the subsequent meetings with Denmark and Argentina, having notably been lauded by Magpies legend Alan Shearer following that latter defeat, with the former England international stating:

“He’s the heartbeat of that team. He’s been their best player, played every minute of their three games, had more touches, more passes, more tackles, won possession more than anyone else in his team and he’s brave in terms of possession.

“He’s not afraid to get on the ball, and most things go through him when they’re attacking and defending.”

Such has been his impact in Qatar, FourFourTwo’s Mark While also stated that it was “weird that Aaron Mooy hasn’t played regularly for a better team”, with the ageing asset seemingly a player who could have flourished on a grander stage.

As such, Newcastle may well be ruing their inability to get him through the door all those years ago, particularly with the midfield department having not always been particularly strong prior to Bruno Guimaraes’ arrival, amid the dark days of Jeff Hendrick and the like…

Former Glasgow Rangers defender Alan Hutton has backed his old club in their reported move to bring Josh Onomah to Ibrox in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Onomah move plotted

As per Football Insider, new Gers manager Michael Beale is ‘plotting’ a move for Onomah in January, and is a ‘long-term admirer’ of the Fulham central midfielder.

A number of Championship clubs are also thought to be ‘weighing up’ a move for him, as his contract at Craven Cottage expires in the summer.

With just 14 minutes of Premier League football played so far this season, Marco Silva’s side could look to offload him in January for a suitable transfer fee.

The Latest: Hutton backs move

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton has backed the Light Blues in their pursuit of Onomah, singing his praises after playing with him at Aston Villa:

“I know him, I played with him at Aston Villa so I know what kind of player he is, what kind of character he is.

“He is very good. I think he has been unfortunate that he has gone to a team and not played. He is that type of guy that you need to play week in week out so that you can see the best of his ability.

“There is no doubting his talent, I have seen it with my own eyes. He is more than capable of coming to a place like Rangers and handling it. I think he would be a good addition to the team.

“Getting a player of that quality, although he has not been playing regularly in the Premier League this season, I know he would be able to handle the task.“

The Verdict: Get it done

Onomah is clearly a player with ability, but has perhaps not been able to show it often enough.

At Villa, he scored four goals and made a further three assists in 37 games in total over all competitions (1-0 to Fulham.

He is still only 25 years of age, not reaching his prime yet, and with Beale seemingly keen on a move, he could really mould Onomah into a key player for the Teddy Bears for the second part of the season.

Sunderland have benefitted hugely from the loan market in recent seasons and they could repeat a masterclass by bringing Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer to the Stadium of Light in January.

It has been reported that the Black Cats are among a number of Championship sides keen on signing the 21-year-old forward next month as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the rest of the season.

With the playoffs still in sight for Tony Mowbray’s side, the former Blackburn Rovers boss will be keen to ensure that his side is strengthened rather than weakened in the winter transfer window.

As Ross Stewart is potentially on his way out of the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats could turn to the loan market once again for a replacement, and Archer’s goalscoring form with Preston North End and England U21s last season suggests that he could be the ideal man.

The youngster, having already went on to score on seven occasions for the Lilywhites in the Championship, before hitting four in four for Lee Carsley’s England side in the summer.

Lowe was certainly a big fan of Archer during his spell at Deepdale and would wax lyrical about the striker’s ability and potential last season.

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He said: “Cameron has got an abundance of talent.

“It is getting him in the right places, I don’t want him coming short all the time, I want him to be on the shoulder, sniffing around, being proactive, not reactive.

“His quality levels are fantastic, he’s bullish, strong, he can roll, he has got that little burst of pace too.”

Should he arrive in January, he will be looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow loan star Simms, who has been hugely impressive since joining on a temporary basis from another Premier League side in Everton during the summer.

The 21-year-old has five goals and two assists in just 14 Championship appearances this season and is ranked as the fourth-best performer in Mowbray’s squad according to WhoScored, which emphasises just how important he has become at the Stadium of Light.

Signing a player such as Archer, who has obvious ability and a huge amount of potential, on a low-risk loan deal, would represent fantastic business for Sunderland and there seems no reason why he can’t have a similar impact to fellow loanee Simms.

Liverpool have been dealt a potential scare regarding the fitness of defender Ibrahima Konate. 

The Lowdown: Konate’s World Cup efforts

With domestic football on hold, the centre-back has been showing his talent on the international stage with France at the World Cup in Qatar.

Throughout the tournament, the 23-year-old has made four appearances for Didier Deschamps’ side, helping them get to the final.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s all-important clash against Argentina to see who will be lifting the trophy, there have been some concerns regarding Konate’s fitness.

The Latest: Konate fitness worry

According to a recent report from L’Equipe, Konate and Raphael Varane have been hit with a virus that has swept through the France squad in recent days.

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The report also adds that the £70k-per-week Liverpool defender has more prominent symptoms than his fellow countryman.

The Verdict: A concern for Liverpool

To highlight how impressive the centre-back has been for France in this World Cup, Konate has made more clearances (14) than any other player in the squad, as well as having the joint-highest combined total of tackles and interceptions (22) as well as one of the highest passing accuracy percentages (91.8%).

His performances across the tournament have earned him an overall rating of 7.1/10 from WhoScored, making him the eighth-highest rated player in the squad.

Having also been hailed as an “incredible” player by fellow Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, this further showcases just how impressive Konate is and why he’d be a big miss for club and country if he’s likely to miss any matches in the near future.

Moving forward, it’s safe to say that everyone in the France camp and everyone at Liverpool will have their fingers crossed that Konate will not only be fit enough to feature against Argentina but also be in the right shape to come back to England and get back into the swing of club football once again.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is unsurprisingly at the centre of transfer attention from one of Europe’s giants following his World Cup-winning campaign with Argentina. 

What’s the word?

Having reached the pinnacle of footballing success at the tournament in Qatar, the 30-year-old has found himself on the Christmas wish list of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, according to French outlet Mediafoot. 

After signing for Villa from Arsenal in a £17m deal in 2020, Martinez has become a world and continental champion for his country, starring as first-choice ‘keeper during both tournaments while also impressing for the Villans in the Premier League.

The likes of Atletico Madrid and Juventus have also registered an interest across recent weeks, although Villa can rest easy in the knowledge that the player penned a new deal with his club earlier this year, securing his services until 2027. 

Keep at all costs

It would take an astronomical fee to prise Martinez away from the Midlands, with NSWE likely to demand a transfer fee far eclipsing what they paid to bring him to the club two years ago. 

After nearly a decade with the Gunners, Martinez joined Aston Villa having assumed a largely peripheral role across the majority of his senior career, but has since risen to prominence. 

Now managed by Unai Emery, Villa have reaped the rewards, with the Argentina hero an imposing last line of defence.

He has made 91 appearances for the club since his arrival in the Midlands, keeping 30 clean sheets and consequently earning a place within his national squad, now become arguably one of the most sought-after shot-stoppers in the game. 

In Qatar, the €25m-rated (£21.8m) star played all seven matches for his country, keeping three clean sheets, making a host of crucial saves throughout the competition and starring in two penalty shoot-outs, including the final.  

For Villa this season, as per Sofascore, Martinez has recorded a rating of 6.91 in the top flight, saving 69% of shots faced and keeping three clean sheets despite the dismal start to the campaign which saw the dismissal of Steven Gerrard and subsequent appointment of Emery.

Regarding the Bayern interest, it really would take a seismic bid for Villa to sanction the Argentine’s departure, and unless something truly remarkable materialises, there is no logical explanation for allowing such a colossal player to leave.

There is still plenty left in the tank for this “unbelievable” ace – as heralded by team-mate Matty Cash – who could maintain his place between the sticks at Villa Park for years to come.

Having appointed Emery at the helm, who has won four European trophies, Villa must utilise the growing trophy-winning pedigree within their ranks to steer their own ship towards a first piece of silverware since the turn of the century.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Sofyan Amrabat and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

According to Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Paisley Gates), Liverpool are preparing an official bid for the Fiorentina midfielder.

As per the report, Jurgen Klopp is a huge admirer of Amrabat and is pushing to tempt the player with a move to Merseyside, with the club preparing to table a bid of €40m (£35.5m).

Klopp needs him badly

It is no secret that Liverpool are keen to rebuild their midfield personnel in 2023 with a number of high-quality players already touted with a move to the club.

Jude Bellingham, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo have all been linked with the Merseyside club over the past few weeks but it appears that the powers at Anfield are yet to make their move.

The Reds have already acquired the services of Cody Gakpo to strengthen the forward line in the absence of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, however, improving the centre of the pitch should be the top priority.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner will all be out of contract at the end of this season but with Liverpool in an unsettled position in the Premier League, they may need to advance on their midfield revamp this month.

As a result, the signing of Amrabat would be a big addition for Klopp as the German coach badly needs midfield additions if they are to compete for a top-four spot over the second half of the season.

The Morocco international caught the attention of the Reds during his World Cup performances in Qatar last month, helping his side become multiple record-breakers at the prestigious international tournament.

Over seven World Cup appearances, the 26-year-old – who was dubbed “outstanding” by Joe Cole – tallied up a 92% pass completion rate in his own half, as well as averaging 56.6 touches, 2.3 tackles, 1.4 clearances and 3.4 duels won per game.

With that being said, if Liverpool could secure the signing of Amrabat this month it would be a great opportunity for Klopp to bring in a fresh perspective in the heart of the team to potentially give his side the much-needed boost they require over the remainder of the term.

Erik ten Haghas made a steady start to life in thePremier League, and the Red Devils have won all four fixtures across all competitions since the conclusion of the 2022World Cup, but there is an undeniable necessity for a new established centre-forward to lead the line.

According to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, Manchester United haveMemphis Depay’under consideration’ as a potential candidate to bolster the centre-forward position after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo by mutual consent in November.

Depay was previously on the books at Old Trafford, signing for the cub in a£31mdeal in 2015 from PSV Eindhoven, before departing for Olympique Lyonnais after a lacklustre season, but he has since grown into his skin and could make a marked improvement on the United attack should he arrive once again.

Game-changing for Antony?

Depay only managed toscoretwo Premier League goals and one assist during his season-and-a-half stay in English football, following a tremendous campaign in the Eredivisie where he plundered 22 goals from30outings.

Since his brief stint in Manchester, he has gone on to become one of the most prominent forwards in world football, scoring 76 goals and assisting 55 more from178appearances for Lyon, and since earning a transfer toFC Barcelona.

A dynamic forward with bite from the left flank and the more traditional central striking position, the 29-year-old Depay has usually adopted the role of the former for Barca.

Indeed, his rank inside the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals, the top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 1% for progressive passes received across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, shows he can flourish in either position under Ten Hag.

His presence could help £85m summer signing Antony to finally flourish; despite scoring three goals from his first three league outings for Man United, the 22-year-old Brazilian has since blanked on five occasions, and could use a creative partnership with someone of Depay’s ilk to bring him into the limelight.

With the 43-goal Netherlands international playing so high up the pitch, naturally gliding into pockets of space and searching to unleash his powerful foot, Antony can hover in and around the penalty area, looking to utilise his wand of a left foot to bypass the goalkeeper, offering another dimension to the offence.

The £177k-per-week phenom could rectify the substandard time he spent in England with a return to the Theatre of Dreams, and could add the final ingredient to serve up Ten Hag’s recipe for success.

With United currently situated in fourth place with a game in hand to level-pointed Newcastle United in third, the outfit are clearly already navigating toward the path for greener pastures after a shoddy period that has left the club without silverware since 2017.

However, with the tide seeming to turn, the “magician” in Depay – as lauded by presenter Deji Faremi -could provide that cutting-edge desired to transcend fortunes to the next level, right at the top.

Arsenal are in talks regarding a move to bring Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that Edu has now made contact with Mateja Kezman – the Serbia international’s agent – concerning a deal for the Lazio talisman this winter.

The report goes on to state that, with the attacking midfielder now 28 years of age, his chances of securing a so-called big move are faltering, however, the playmaker’s current side are believed to be eager to tie their star man down to a new deal at the Stadio Olimpico – with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2024.

In terms of Milinkovic-Savic’s asking price, Lazio president Claudio Lotito revealed in an interview with Il Messaggero back in October 2022 that “every month the price goes up” for the Serb, with the Serie A club said to be demanding a figure in the region of €120m (£106m) in order to part with the midfielder in January.

“Insane”

Considering the extraordinary ability Milinkovic-Savic undoubtedly possesses, it is not difficult to understand why Mikel Arteta would be interested in a deal to bring the 28-year-old to The Emirates in the January transfer window.

Indeed, over his 16 Serie A appearances in the current campaign, the £53m-rated talent has been in exceptional attacking form, having already scored three goals – outperforming his xG of 2.00 – registered seven assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.6 shots, making 1.3 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

The £100k-per-week midfielder also impresses in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.7 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and winning 6.8 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per match, as well as playing an average of 2.9 long balls, 2.3 chipped passes and completing 40 total passes – at a success rate of 77% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the player who journalist Arjun Pradeep dubbed a “phenomenon” and reporter Siavoush Fallahi labelled “insane” average a simply breathtaking Sofascore match rating of 7.28, not only ranking him as Maurizio Sarri’s second-best performer in the league but also as the joint ninth-best player in the Italian top flight as a whole.

As such, with Milinkovic-Savic evidently being a talent who is as effective in the final third as he is in a defensive capacity, it is indeed easy to see why Arteta would be interested in a deal to bring the 39-cap international to north London this winter, as based on the Lazio star’s numbers of late, he would most certainly make an insane title-boosting addition to the Spaniard’s current options in the middle of the park.