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Manchester United are in the race to sign one of Europe’s most talented young forwards, with a foray into the transfer market expected in the forthcoming window. 

What’s the word?

According toCorriere dello Sport, United boss Erik ten Hag is among the growing list of managers interested in the services of Dusan Vlahovic, who has also garnered attention from fellow Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea. 

Despite only signing for Juventus in a£66.6mdeal from Fiorentina in January 2021, the forward is open to a move away from the Old Lady, who have failed to win the past two league titles afternine in a row from 2012 to 2020, also sittingten pointsbehind leaders Napoli this term. 

With the Red Devils searching for a new striker following theacrimonious departureof Cristiano Ronaldo last month, who agreed a mutual termination of his contract following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, Vlahovic could fit the profile of centre-forward that the club are seeking. 

United’s next Van Nistelrooy 

Juventus are understandably said to be reluctant to wave goodbye to their most coveted offensive asset, but with the Turin club currently plagued byfinancial difficulties, an enticing offer might be too good to refuse. 

Vlahovic has been in fine form in 2022/23, scoring seven goals and setting up two more from15appearances across all competitions. Last season, departing Fiorentina for Juventus midway trhough, the 22-year-old scored 29 goals and supplied six assists from 45 appearances, alerting the major players across the continent to his prowess.

Should Ten Hag surge towards a deal for the phenomenon, he could bring a potent attacking force to the the Premier League, with the19-capSerbian – scoring ten goals for his country – already demonstrating an innate ability in front of goal which sets him head and shoulders above most positional peers. 

FBrefranks Vlahovic within the top 19% of forwards for rate of non-penalty goals over the past year, while also highligting his relentless pressure in the opposition penalty box by ranking him within the top 11% for total shots. 

The marksmanship of the “monster” (as dubbed by his former coach Ivan Tomic) certainly bears a resemblance to a former Old Trafford striking sensation in Ruud van Nistelrooy, who etched his name into Premier League folklore with his devastating clinical ability, earning a reputation as one of the best goal-poachers in the game. 

The deadly Dutchman bagged 150 goals and 25 assists across219outings for the Manchester giants, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup during his time at the club. 

Should Vlahovic channel that aura and transfer his abundant talent to the Premier League, United might just acquire a forward who could emulate the success of one of their deadliest-ever strikers.

Manchester United are ‘talking’ to David De Gea regarding a new long-term contract, according to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas.

The Lowdown: Four deals extended

The Premier League giants have recently triggered one-year extensions on the deals for Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot and Fred, though doubts were raised when the 32-year-old’s name wasn’t included in the list.

The Red Devils goalkeeper will be out of contract at the end of the season, creating speculation surrounding his future, though a positive update on the club’s stance has now emerged.

The Latest: Negotiations ongoing

Taking to Twitter, Thomas revealed that MUFC are currently in discussions with De Gea over extending his stay at Old Trafford.

“Man Utd: Talking to David de Gea about a new longer-term contract, meaning they haven’t triggered the year extension in the current one (yet). They have triggered extensions until 2024 in the contracts of Rashford, Dalot, Shaw and Fred, however.”

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The Verdict: Correct decision

De Gea has been hailed a ‘world class’ shot-stopper by journalist Josh Bunting, and United wanting to retain his services for the foreseeable is completely the right decision given his impressive record between the sticks.

The Spaniard has kept a total of 174 clean sheets during his time in the top flight, and even despite a perceived dip in recent years, nine of those shutouts have come in just 20 games across all competitions this season.

Erik Ten Hag will know that the 6 foot 2 colossus is a key cog at the back which is why the club need to do everything they can to get him to put pen to paper on fresh terms as soon as possible.

Arsenal are one of the clubs in the mix to secure a transfer deal for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic. 

The Lowdown: Arsenal’s previous interest in Vlahovic

The north London club have been linked with a move for Vlahovic in the past, most notably back in the previous January transfer window, before he eventually made his move to Juventus.

Since then, the 22-year-old has gone on to score 16 goals in 36 appearances for the Italian club, taking his career total to 88 goals in 193 club games.

Now that the next January window is set to open in the coming days, the Serbian could be on his way out of the Serie A side just 12 months on.

The Latest: Arsenal in the mix for Vlahovic

According to a recent report from Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the striker is currently unsettled at Juventus and has the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich after him, with the English clubs “interested even immediately to sign Vlahovic”.

The report also adds that while the Italian club are keen to keep hold of the striker until at least the end of the season, an offer of €90m (£79m) would be considered in January.

The Verdict: A big investment for Arsenal

This season has shown how much of a deadly striker Vlahovic is despite his reported issues off the pitch.

For example, as well as having more shots at goal (30) than any other player at Juventus in the league, the striker also has the joint-third highest number of key passes (11) at the club.

His overall performances have earned the striker, who has been described as an “extraordinary” player by former manager Vincenzo Italiano, a solid season rating of 7/10 from WhoScored, making him the fifth-highest rated player at Juventus.

Taking all of this into account, it’s clear that the Juventus attacker would give Mikel Arteta’s side a very capable goalscorer as well as a potential long-term figure at the club given his age.

However, with the hefty transfer fee that it could take to sign him in January, this would certainly be something that the Gunners would need to consider very carefully before making a decision.

Newcastle United take on league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this evening, with the Magpies heading into the clash on a run of 12 games unbeaten in the Premier League,  stretching back to the end of August.

Eddie Howe’s men will, however, be looking to improve upon their showing against Leeds United last time out.

Indeed, the Tynesiders were held to a goalless draw by the struggling outfit after lacking that cutting edge in the final third.

The northeast side will also go into tonight’s meeting having lost their last 11 away games against the Gunners in all competitions, although they can be encouraged by their 2-0 win over Mikel Arteta’s men at St James’ Park at the tail-end of last season.

Ahead of this latest showdown in north London, here’s how Football FanCast predicts that Newcastle will line up…

The top-four hopefuls will be without Matt Targett later today as the Englishman has joined the likes of Alexander Isak, Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett on the treatment table, although Callum Wilson could be in line to return to the starting lineup after featuring off the bench last time out.

With that in mind, we predict that there will be two changes from the side that recorded a stalemate against Leeds, albeit with Howe likely set to persist with a backline that has shipped just 11 league goals so far this term.

The first alteration could well lie in midfield, with Joe Willock – who had been lauded as “very athletic” by his manager earlier this week – potentially the man to give way after failing to make an impact against the Whites, having made just 29 touches before being withdrawn just after the hour mark.

That change could well see Joelinton slot in alongside Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes in the centre of the park, with the Brazilian having featured on the left flank against Jesse Marsch’s men.

That tweak could then see Allan Saint-Maximin return in that role as part of the attacking trio, with the £70k-per-week maestro potentially set to prove a real “game changer” for the Magpies, as previously lauded by journalist Craig Hope.

Joining the Frenchman and Miguel Almiron in attack will likely be the aforementioned Wilson, with teammate Chris Wood having been ‘wasteful’ on Saturday, according to Newcastle World’s Dominic Scurr, after missing two big chances.

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.

Tottenham Hotspur target Tete ‘could be an option’ in the January transfer window, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Interest in Tete

Tete is currently on loan at Lyon from Shakhtar Donetsk, but 90min recently detailed that a number of Premier League clubs have been offered the chance to sign him on a loan deal of their own, with a view to a permanent deal.

Tottenham are named in the report as a potential destination, while the Brazilian has also been named by Football London as a player on their five-man shortlist in January. (via the Express)

The Latest: Jones’ update

In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, Jones claimed that the 22-year-old could be considered by Antonio Conte at a later date this month:

“Tete could be an option towards the back end of the window, he might offer some value.

“Other Spurs targets, like Harvey Barnes, I can’t see them managing to get him in this window.

“Ismaila Sarr, Watford don’t want to sell him. So none of those are particularly easy to do.“But the toughest thing to consider is, are any of those players actually up to the level to make up for the absence of Dejan Kulusevski? It’s really hard to guarantee that.”[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-updates-2/” title=”Tottenham latest updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-tottenham-fans.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Tottenham Hotspur are now closely monitoring Lecce midfielder Joan Gonzalez after conducting recent scouting missions, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Interest in Gonzalez

Gonzalez is a very highly sought-after young player, with fellow Premier League side Everton scouting him multiple times, while Juventus and Borussia Dortmund have also been named as interested parties.

Tottenham’s interest in the 20-year-old has already been documented, but they now appear to have their sights more firmly set on the youngster, after the latest development…

The Latest: Scouting missions conducted

According to a report from CalcioMercato (via Sport Witness), Spurs have sent officials to Italy to closely follow the youngster, ahead of a possible approach either in January or the summer.

Dortmund are said to have retained their interest, while Serie A side Napoli could also make a move for the midfielder, who is said to be valued at around £13m.

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The Verdict: Future star?

Despite still being at a young age, the starlet has already managed to put in some brilliant performances in the Italian top flight this season, impressing considerably in November’s surprise 2-1 win against Atalanta, bagging an assist and making two key passes.

The Spaniard has, at times, managed to show his ability going forward, getting his first professional goal for the club in the match against Monza, however the signs indicate that he would be more of a defensive option for Antonio Conte, ranked in the 95th percentile for average blocks per 90 in the last year compared to his positional peers, with 1.82.

Tottenham already have Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in this area of the pitch, while Joao Palhinha has also now emerged as a target, so Gonzalez is unlikely to be considered as someone to make an immediate impact, but he certainly seems like one for the future.

Leeds United have already enjoyed a fruitful start to the January transfer window, welcoming enforcements up front and in defence.

The recent signings of Max Wober and Georginio Rutter both represented large outlays, which could suggest Victor Orta might slow down in his acquisitions.

However, with recent reports from Fabrizio Romano that have emerged, it suggests that despite stumbling somewhat in their pursuit of Azzedine Ounahi, they remain wholly interested.

He wrote on Twitter: “Azzedine Ounahi deal. Leeds have to decide how to proceed with signings after spending big money on Rutter, deal not dead but other clubs also moving… Next week expected to be key — as Napoli have offered €15m to Angers one week ago.”

With a reported offer of €25m (£22m) sent last week, it remains to be seen whether that is true and will be accepted above the offer from the Italians.

“Incredible” to watch

The Moroccan has been a long-term target of the Yorkshire outfit ever since his sensational displays at the 2022 World Cup, with links between player and club dating back as far as the 12th of December, when Orta himself outlined their interest.

As such, these recent comments from the mega-journalist reaffirm their pursuit and will leave fans of the club hoping they can add to an already blistering start to the window.

Especially with someone who captured the imagination so absorbedly at the World Cup, leading to praise from the great Jose Mourinho: “Their No.8, the young boy that plays in France in Angers, Ounahi, was absolutely incredible.”

It was his display against Spain that seemed to draw the most accolades, with Luis Enrique commending the workmanlike display that saw him cover 14.7km: “He didn’t stop running. He must be exhausted.”

However, these displays were not reserved for the international game, as for his club he retains 25 carries per 90 at an average distance of 11.33m.

The 22-year-old is a consistent progressive presence, and as such, he ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed too. He is certainly a thrilling player to watch, capable of the spectacular 

His former assistant coach Corentin Bouchard had predicted such a rise to the top, as long as he found the right environments. He claimed: “He was so talented, that was clear in every training session, and we always hoped he would get there.

“He had strong technical qualities, both to keep the ball and to unbalance a team by passing, dribbling or shooting. On top of that, he had very, very impressive stamina, which allowed him to repeat his efforts again and again.”

He continued: “He is someone who has ego and character, but who also listens to what is said to him and is very respectful and affectionate. That’s why he was like our little protégé.”

His addition is sure to bolster an already-improving Leeds squad and would give fans another asset of whom to get excited.

Leeds United have been dealt a transfer setback after learning that forward target Ben Brereton Diaz is closing in on a move to Villarreal, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Scouting mission

The Blackburn Rovers striker will be out of contract at Ewood Park at the end of the season, and over the past few months, this has alerted several potential suitors that a deal could be struck.

The Chile international has been the subject of strong interest from the Whites for some time, with Leeds chiefs having watched him in action on numerous occasions this term and reports confirming he’s a ‘long time target’.

Following a fresh update however, it sounds like he won’t be making his way to Elland Road.

The Latest: Brereton Diaz to Villarreal?

According to Football Insider, Brereton-Diaz is now in ‘advanced talks’ to join Villarreal in a ‘blow’ to both Leeds and West Ham, his other Premier League admirer.

The La Liga giants are ‘confident of finalising terms’ following a positive round of negotiations on Wednesday, despite Leeds and the Hammers ‘trailing’ the player.

The 23-year-old could sign a pre-contract agreement ahead of a free transfer in the summer, though a move this month has also been mentioned for a fee in the region of £8m.

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The Verdict: Setback for Marsch?

Brereton Diaz has been hailed as a ‘phenomenal’ player by R.D football scout so it’s a definite setback for Jesse Marsch to learn that he looks likely to miss out on securing one of his long-term transfer targets.

The Stoke On Trent-born talent has already posted 13 goal contributions in 26 Championship appearances this term, averaging 2.7 shots per 90 minutes (WhoScored).

The Rovers talisman would have been the ideal attacking reinforcement to come in and try to steer the Whites to safety, but they will have to hope that new arrival Georginio Rutter is able to have the same desired effect.

Chelsea ‘would be favourites’ to sign Josko Gvardiol should he leave RB Leipzig and move to the Premier League, according to journalist Christian Falk.

The Lowdown: Gvardiol offers hope

The Croatian’s contract at the Red Bull Arena isn’t set to expire until 2027, but with a £97m release clause included, there’s a chance he could be set to make an exit before that date.

The Blues are one of several clubs to have been credited with an interest in the centre-back having failed in their attempts to secure him last summer, with attention having grown since his solid performances at the World Cup.

The 21-year-old has also recently admitted that the two parties agreed to revisit the deal this month with the top-flight being his preferred next destination, offering fresh hope that he could still move to Stamford Bridge in the near future.

The Latest: Chelsea in pole position?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Falk claimed that Chelsea would be the club leading the race for his signature should they put the money on the table, but suggested that they would indeed be set to face competition from one of their London rivals.

“I would say Chelsea would be favourites if they pay that amount, and also Tottenham can hope, but it’s really expensive.”

The Verdict: One for the future

Gvardiol has been dubbed ‘The Haaland of defenders’ by scout Jacek Kulig, and looking at his statistics, that praise is certainly justified and he would be a hugely exciting signing for the future of Chelsea.

The left-footed colossus currently ranks in the 99th percentile for dribbles completed, in the 95th percentile for progressive passes and 87th percentile for shot-creating actions, as per FBRef (vs other centre-backs in top five leagues), highlighting his vision and composure in playing out from the back.

The Zagreb native also has seven goal contributions to his name for Leipzig, showing the threat he can bring to set pieces, making him the perfect candidate to really come in and be a dominant figure in the heart of Graham Potter’s team.