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Newcastle United have been named as one of the clubs who are interested in Fenerbahce defender, Attila Szalai, with the Hungary international having caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs.

What’s the word?

According to Turkish outlet, Turkiye Gazetesi, the Magpies – as well as the likes of Leicester City, West Ham United and Serie A side Bologna – are believed to be keeping tabs on the 24-year-old, with the player said to be potentially keen on making a switch to England.

The report does suggest, however, that the 31-cap sensation – who still has just over three years left to run on his existing deal in Istanbul – is likely to favour a move away from his current side at the end of the season, as he hopes to bow out with a title triumph.

Previous reports claimed in the summer that the former Apollon Limassol centre-back – who joined the Super Lig outfit back in January 2021 – could command a fee of around €15m (£13m).

Howe’s own Van Dijk

It may seemingly come as no surprise to learn that the Tynesiders are plotting potential additions to bolster the backline, with the centre-back ranks seemingly in need of increased depth, particularly amid the recent speculation that club captain Jamaal Lascelles could be allowed to depart.

Adding Szalai to Howe’s side could well prove to be something of a masterstoke as far as those at St James’ Park are concerned, with the “immense” defender – as described by writer Bence Bocsak – having notably earned comparisons to Liverpool colossus, Virgil van Dijk.

As per Bocsak, the towering titan has been dubbed the “Hungarian Van Dijk” due to his brilliance for both club and country, offering a real rock-sold presence much like the Dutchman as a result of his 6 foot 4 frame.

Much like the Anfield hero – who is just slightly taller at 6 foot 5 – Szalai offers more than just an imposing figure, however, as he notably ranks in the top 17% in Europe for progressive passes made as a sign of his strength on the ball, with Van Dijk also impressive in that regard as the 31-year-old ranks in the top 10% for the same metric.

It is no doubt a real promising sign to be compared to the latter man, with the former Southampton sensation – who made the move to Merseyside on a £75m deal back in January 2018 – having even been dubbed the “best centre-half of all time” by pundit, Michael Owen, after helping to guide Jurgen Klopp’s side to a string of major honours in recent years.

For Howe and co to potentially have their own version of the one-time Celtic ace truly is a mouthwatering prospect, with the hope being that Szalai can make a similar impact if he is make the move to the northeast in the near future.

Newcastle United are reportedly set to move on Matt Ritchie in the New Year, with the former Scotland international having become something of a peripheral figure at St James’ Park of late.

What’s the word?

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who suggested that the Magpies have informed the 33-year-old that he is surplus to requirements, with a move away seemingly in the pipeline in January.

The respected source stated: “I’ve been told that he is a player that has been told he can go in the New Year. I know there has been some interest from America, there are MLS clubs that like him, so that might be an avenue that opens up to him.”

This follows a recent report from Football Insider that revealed the Tynesiders are willing to listen to offers for the versatile dud when the market re-opens, with manager Eddie Howe said to have given the ‘green light’ to the sale of the experienced asset.

The suggestion is that the Premier League side are open to a cut-price sale in the winter window, with the player’s current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

Howe must ditch Ritchie

While Howe – who previously coached the veteran during his time in charge at Bournemouth – is a notable admirer of the 16-cap machine, having dubbed him an “incredible” asset in the summer, the 44-year-old may well need to be ruthless and ditch Ritchie in the near future.

The latter man has been at the club for over six years since joining from the Cherries on a £12m deal back in 2016, going on to rack up 190 appearances in all competitions in that time, scoring 24 goals and recording 33 assists in total.

While that is a respectable tally, the Gosport-born man arguably enjoyed his best season at the club during his debut campaign with Newcastle then residing in the second tier, scoring 16 times and providing ten assists in all competitions to help fire the club back into the Premier League.

For those promotion heroics alone the £45k-per-week talent is likely to still be a popular figure on Tyneside, although it is hard to ignore his struggles since making the step up to the top flight, with his tally of three league goals in the 2017/18 season his best for the club in a Premier League campaign.

While the winger has largely operated in a wing-back berth in recent years, it is telling that he has failed to score a single league goal since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, while having also featured just twice in all competitions this term.

As pundit Alan Hutton suggested, both Ritchie – and teammate Jamaal Lascelles – could well be better served moving on sooner rather than later, with the former Tottenham Hotspur defender stating:

“It’s brutal, Lascelles is the club captain and I don’t think there will be many fans who have anything to say against Ritchie but this is football.

“They aren’t playing. It’s better for them if they go and play somewhere else every week. We know who is getting a game for Newcastle and these guys can’t get in.”

A solid, yet unspectacular servant for Newcastle over the years, the time has now come for the 5 foot 8 man to seek a new home.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has ‘great interest’ in signing Real Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi in January.

The Lowdown: Muriqi impressing for Mallorca

The 28-year-old joined Mallorca from Lazio during the summer transfer window, having initially enjoyed a spell on loan at the La Liga side last season.

Muriqi has hit the ground running at his current club, scoring eight goals in just 12 league starts in 2022/23 to date, as well as netting five times in six outings for Kosovo in the UEFA Nations League.

While the towering 6ft4in attacker has only recently joined Mallorca, another switch could potentially be on the cards.

The Latest: Emery keen on signing

According to a report from Spain [via Sport Witness], Villa and Sevilla are the ‘most insistent’ clubs when it comes to potential interest in Muriqi and Emery sees the Kosovan as a ‘great option’ to add to his attack.

It is stated that the player is currently happy at Mallorca, however, which could prove to be a possible stumbling block.

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The Verdict: Upgrade on current options?

Muriqi could be an inspired signing if Villa managed to get a deal over the line, enhancing an area of the pitch that has arguably looked weak at times this season.

Danny Ings leads the Villans’ Premier League scoring charts with just five goals to date, while Ollie Watkins has really struggled for form, bagging just twice.

If Villa come in with a sizeable offer for Muriqi, who has scored 119 goals during his career for club and country, it will be interesting to see if Mallorca consider a sale – his record this season suggests he could be a great addition to Emery’s side, bringing aerial prowess and proven end product in a top European league.

Sheffield Wednesday have been rocked by the news that centre-back Michael Ihiekwe is out injured for a couple of months, journalist Joe Crann has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Ihiekwe injured v Mansfield

The 30-year-old has been a key figure for the Owls so far this season, playing his part in their League One promotion push and making 18 starts in the division.

Unfortunately, Ihiekwe was injured in the recent 2-1 win over Mansfield Town in the FA Cup second round, meaning that he missed Saturday’s goalless league draw away to Derby County.

A fresh update has emerged regarding the defender’s fitness, and it’s one that Darren Moore won’t want to hear.

The Latest: Crann confirms bad news

Taking to Twitter in sharing a report for The Star, Crann claimed that Ihiekwe is expected to be missing for a few months with a knee problem:

“A bitter injury blow for #SWFC as Michael Ihiekwe is ruled out ‘for a couple of months’ after sustaining knee ligament damage. No surgery required, but Wednesday don’t expect him back until early next year.”

The Verdict: Massive blow for Owls

This is a huge setback for Wednesday, with Ihiekwe performing so well in general this season, putting his experience and consistency to good use, averaging 3.6 clearances per game in the league.

With Ben Heneghan also a long-term absentee with a knee injury of his own, Moore’s centre-back options are now limited, which will be a big concern heading into a busy festive period.

It could even lead to the Owls delving into the transfer market for a new defender in January, with injuries threatening to derail their promotion charge if they are not careful.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will likely have been keeping a close eye on a handful of his key men in action during England’s defeat to France on Saturday evening, with the likes of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford having all featured in that World Cup, quarter-final showdown – as well as Raphael Varane.

Should the Dutchman have watched on as the Three Lions slipped to an agonising loss against the holders, the 52-year-old would also have been able to run the rule over a number of potential transfer targets among the Three Lions’ contingent.

One such figure whom the former Ajax boss may have been paying close attention to is Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, with the 19-year-old – who came close to making the move to Old Trafford back in 2020 – still likely a name firmly on United’s radar.

The teen “superstar” – as described by club legend Roy Keane – enjoyed a real standout tournament as a focal point of Gareth Southgate’s side, having looked as if he had “played 100 times” for the national team such was his immensity maturity, in the words of pundit Gary Neville.

With the former Birmingham City starlet seemingly edging towards a move to rivals Liverpool, however, the focus of Ten Hag’s attention could well have been on another of the club’s long-term targets in the form of Bellingham’s midfield partner, Declan Rice.

The West Ham United skipper has been linked with the Manchester outfit in recent years – including over the summer – with the 23-year-old’s latest displays for his country likely to have only caught the eye of those at the Theatre of Dreams once again.

The 39-cap machine was arguably the glue holding things together in the centre of the park for Gareth Southgate’s side having started all five games in the tournament in Qatar, notably averaging 2.2 interceptions and 1.2 tackles per game in that time.

The £60k-per-week man – who ranks in the top 7% in Europe for interceptions made among those in his position – also showed his strength in that regard on the world stage as he leads the way among players at the tournament so far with 11 interceptions in total.

A true ball-winning asset, Rice was particularly impressive in that eventual defeat at the hands of Les Bleus yesterday, with the “world-class” gem – as described by journalist Sam Inkersole – having been simply “incredible” on the night, as per journalist Sam Farley.

That ‘magnificent’ performance – as lauded by the Mirror’s John Cross – saw the Kingston-born menace win five of his eight total duels, while also showcasing his strength in possession after losing the ball on just five occasions.

Although the latter statistic may lead some to suggest the youngster played it safe when on the ball, the 6 foot 1 warrior did more than just keep things tidy after recording six passes into the final third and laying on one key pass from his defensive midfield berth.

To be able to produce such a “monstrous” display – as described by journalist James McManus – in such a pressurised encounter is a testament to Rice’s quality, with the one-time Chelsea man – like Bellingham – again producing displays that belie his relative youth.

Such performances in recent weeks have only further served to showcase just why the likes of United are so interested in his signature, with former defender Paul Parker previously stating that the commanding figure is someone who could take the club to “another level” were he to be snapped up in the near future.

With it looking as if the Hammers may be willing to cash in sooner rather than later – due to the player’s contract situation – it could well prove an opportune time for Ten Hag and co to pounce in 2023.

Wolves are seemingly the frontrunners to sign Matheus Cunha in January, and the Brazilian could form an excellent partnership with Adama Traore in Julen Lopetegui’s side.

Fabrizio Romano has suggested that the Atletico Madrid striker is being targeted by the Old Gold ahead of next month’s transfer window, as Lopetegui looks to overhaul a Wolves attack which has struggled immensely in recent campaigns.

So far this term, Wolves have managed just eight goals in 15 games in the Premier League, so it is no surprise that they are propping up the table ahead of the return of top-flight football just after Christmas.

Cunha has struggled for goals in recent years with RB Leipzig and Atletico, but he showed in previous spells with Hertha Berlin and Swiss outfit Sion that he can provide a consistent goal threat, hitting 23 goals and 18 assists in 72 combined appearances for those clubs.

At 23, he still has a lot of potential, and there seems no reason why he can’t live up to his former Sion boss Paolo Tramezzani’s tag as an “extraordinary” player with a fresh start at Molineux.

According to WhoScored, Cunha’s main strength lies in his dribbling, which suggests that he could cause nightmares for Premier League defenders in a similar way to Traore, should he make the move to the Black Country in January.

The Spain international was once seen as an “unstoppable” player by Darren Bent because of his pace and power but has struggled for consistency in recent seasons under Bruno Lage.

However, it seems as if Traore could become a regular once again under Loptegeui’s management, with the new boss hoping that the 26-year-old will extend his contract at Molineux, and his counterattacking threat could prove crucial in improving the Old Gold’s woeful recent form.

Wolves’ central midfield options boast just two assists between them so far this term, which suggests that Lopetegui might have to rely on wide options to be his main source of creativity at Molineux.

The prospect of Cunha and Traore running at defenders on either flank and causing problems with their pace and dribbling is surely an exciting one for the 56-year-old, so he should definitely look to bring the Atletico Madrid man to Molineux next month.

Aston Villa have officially registered their interest in signing Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix in January, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Exit on the cards

The Portuguese international still has four years remaining on his deal at the Metropolitano Stadium, but his future has become uncertain after reports last month claimed that he is ready to make the move elsewhere in the winter.

Atletico chief Miguel Angel Gil Marin has backed up these suggestions by admitting that a deal is likely to take place, which has alerted several clubs, and there’s a chance he could be on his way to the Premier League.

The Latest: Villa make Felix contact

According to 90min, Villa are ‘keen to talk’ to Felix, and their initial contact has ‘not been dismissed’ by Diego Simeone’s side.

Unai Emery is believed to carry ‘substantial pulling power’, though the Spanish giants ideally want a deal worth ‘at least’ £100m to recover as much of the £113m they paid for him as possible.

A loan currently looks the ‘most likely scenario’, with a switch to the top flight not ‘impossible’.

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The Verdict: Splash the cash

Felix has been described as a ‘nightmare’ for defenders by talent spotter Jacek Kulig, and whilst £100m is a huge sum of money, NSWE should splash the cash to land him.

The Viseu native has clocked up 51 goal contributions in 129 appearances for Atletico and is a versatile player with the ability to operate in three different positions (Transfermarkt).

Also a mainstay in Fernando Santos’ national squad, Felix is a player in high demand and it would be a massive coup for Villa should they be able to secure his services.

Tottenham have now opened ‘negotiations’ to sign Sporting CP full-back and Real Madrid target Pedro Porro, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move…

Spurs have been linked with the former Man City defender in recent months as manager Antonio Conte sets his sights on a right-wing-back upgrade.

The Italian is reportedly dissatisfied with his current options in the position with both Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal up for the axe heading into January.

Lilywhites sporting director Fabio Paratici, in a bid to back Conte next month, has now apparently opened talks to sign Porro, who has been shining in the Portuguese top flight.

The Latest: Spurs open ‘negotiations’ over Porro signing…

Reports out of Spain say that the Premier League side ‘wants to give’ Conte the signing of Porro.

AS claim negotiations have been ‘opened’ by the north Londoners and they want to ‘incorporate’ him next month, but the problem lies with Sporting, who think of the 23-year-old as a key player.

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The Verdict: Perfect player…

Called a ‘sensational’ full-back by members of the media, Porro has come on leaps and bounds since leaving Manchester on a permanent deal.

The Spaniard has four league assists to his name already this season and ranks as one of Sporting’s top five best-performing players by average match rating (WhoScored).

An attack-minded wing-back, he also sits in their top two for shots at goal and key passes made per 90 – with it being clear he could provide real threat in the attacking areas for Conte.

If Paratici can sway Sporting into a January deal, there is little denying from our perspective he would be an upgrade on both Emerson and Doherty.

Everton’s offensive focal point Dominic Calvert-Lewin is approaching a return to competitive action after a prolonged period severely hampered by consistent setbacks. 

What’s the word?

As relayed by the ECHO, Lampard recently expressed his relief at welcoming the club’s talisman back into the thick of the competitive preparations, although it is still unclear if he will be available for the City clash.

He said:

“Having Dominic back in the fold is a great thing for us because players who can make a difference at the top end of the pitch means points.”

It appears to be touch-and-go regarding his inclusion in the starting line-up, if indeed the matchday squad, and it will be an agonising wait over the next 24 hours as the medical department assess the likelihood of his availability.

DCL is a “beast”

The 25-year-old hotshot has scored 59 goals and assisted a further 18 from 197 appearances for the Toffees, and the chasm left by his absence this season has certainly been felt by his team, who currently fight against the vice of the relegation zone, just one point away from the 17th placed strugglers. 

And in his most prolific season, the £86k-per-week phenom scored 21 goals and served five assists from 39 appearances across all competitions, playing an integral role for his team as they completed an impressive tenth-placed finish.

However, this season Calvert-Lewin has been restricted to just six outings, scoring one solitary goal.

As per FBref, despite his injury woes, Calvert-Lewin ranks within the top 2% of forwards for aerial success rate over the past year, indicating a towering presence that the Toffees have been missing might bear fruit for the side upon his return.

Once lauded as a “beast in the air” by journalist Josh Wright, his inclusion is simply paramount, Everton cannot afford to continue the downward slump; it will lead to the unthinkable prospect of relegation from the Premier League.

And with the Merseyside outfit only scoring 12 goals in the division this term – a lowly tally worsened only by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest – someone of Calvert-Lewin’s ilk simply must enter the fray at Goodison Park and navigate the proud club away from danger.

City, in retrospect, have scored the league’s highest goal tally with 43 strikes, 31 goals above Everton, and it truly will take something spectacular to rebuff their advances.

Especially with the Toffees losing ten matches on the trot against their menacing opposition; it will not be easy, but Lampard will demand a cohesive and resilient performance, and when they do have the chance to break and threaten the City goal, they will feel far better about their forward surges with the imposing Calvert-Lewin lurking in the penalty area.

That’s if he is fit enough to feature, so the manager will certainly be sweating over his availability heading into kick-off on Saturday.

Newcastle United continued their impressive unbeaten run in the Premier League after holding league leaders Arsenal to a goalless draw on Tuesday evening, with the Magpies’ only loss this term having come away to Liverpool back in August.

The Magpies had more than held their own in what was a fiercely contested encounter in north London, with referee Andy Madley having notably dished out five yellow cards prior to the interval as a sign of the ferocious nature of the battle.

On a night in which the Tynesiders were at times forced to dig deep in order to repel their rampant hosts, a rare opening did fall the way of Brazilian powerhouse, Joelinton, only for the midfielder to inexplicably header wide just before the break.

As it proved, Eddie Howe’s men were ultimately left thankful for the goalkeeping heroics of Nick Pope to help keep the Gunners at bay, with the Englishman superbly denying Eddie Nketiah from the angle in the closing stages.

That commanding outing – in which the summer signing made four saves – saw the former Burnley stopper rack up his tenth league clean sheet of the campaign, while also recording a solid match rating of 7.9, as per Sofascore.

The only Newcastle figure to better that figure, however, was Kieran Trippier, with the 32-year-old recording an 8.4 match rating after yet again proving something of a hero for the northeast side from his right-back berth.

The “relentless” ace – as lauded by journalist Dom Smith – was typically dominant defensively as he won five of his seven total duels, having notably been “exceptional” in dealing with opposition winger, Gabriel Martinelli, according to the Telegraph’s Sam Dean.

The 53-touch maestro – who made four tackles in total on the night – also offered a real threat in an attacking sense as he recorded a respectable haul of three key passes, with that the joint-most of any player for either side.

Trippier – who produced a ‘superb captain’s display’ according to the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder – was ultimately crucial in helping to maintain the away side’s truly imperious defensive record, having shipped just 11 goals in 18 league outings thus far this term.

While it may not have been pretty at times, that latest result has illustrated once again the great strides that the St James’ Park outfit have made under Howe this season, with the visitors having fought tooth and nail to earn a point that keeps them firmly in the top-four race.

For all the plaudits that will flood in for the aforementioned Pope following that clash, it is also worth noting just how influential Trippier was once again as the real leader in the side.