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Everton could make an offer for Union Berlin forward Sheraldo Becker today, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Everton targeting a forward

The Toffees have been linked with several different options in attack before the transfer deadline, with talks said to be underway about signing Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Everton have also shown an interest in signing Rennes’ Kamaldeen Sulemana and Al Sadd forward Andre Ayew, so there are plenty of options for Sean Dyche to choose from, and a late swoop could also be made for Becker.

The Latest: Becker deal possible

Plettenberg claims that the 27-year-old could be targeted as a replacement at Everton for Anthony Gordon, who has recently joined Newcastle United for £45m.

The reporter says that he has ‘been told’ a first official offer for Becker is a possibility today, and that the player would be open to a Premier League move, despite his current employers wanting him to stay in Berlin.

The Verdict: Get it done

Football writer Kevin Hatchard has waxed lyrical about the Surinam international, describing him as ‘mega-quick’ and also hailing his crossing ability, which could make him a very good option for Dyche on the wing.

However, the Amsterdam-born ace is versatile, featuring in either a second striker or centre-forward role in every match so far this season, scoring seven goals and bagging four assists in 18 Bundesliga matches.

This indicates that the speedster could be more suited to playing in the middle, challenging Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a place in the starting XI, with the Englishman failing to score in nine of his ten Premier League matches in the 2022/23 campaign.

Liverpool’s once imperious ship now represents but a shadow of its former presence, with the Premier League giants struggling for form and fluidity this season; now signings must be made in order to secure future success.

Pre-season preparation flew out of the window after competitive proceedings kicked into place, with the Reds quickly fallen behind the pace-setters at the forefront of the division, and boss Jurgen Klopp does indeed now have work on his hands.

According to Dean Jones – writing for GIVEMESPORT earlier in January – assiduous Fulham centre midfielder Joao Palhinha had been distinguished as a transfer option for the Merseyside club this winter, and while he only joined the Cottagers in the summer for £20m, an enticing bid from Liverpool could prise him away from the clutches of his west London outfit.

The report continues to state that the impressive machine has been nothing short of a revelation for his newly-promoted side this season, and given the consistency of his prowess, he would enhance any outfit he played for.

Arriving in the Premier League for what is increasingly emerging as a bargain, the 27-year-old Palhinha has thus far scored three goals from his deeper position on the pitch.

But the most profoundly splendid elements to his skill set do not lie in his offensive strengths; with Sofascore recording his average league rating at 7.12 this term.

The 18-cap gem’s incredible 4.7 tackles per game have seen him dubbed “Casemiro-esque” by writer Zach Lowy, while his 1.9 clearances and 1.1 interceptions have proved invaluable for Marco Silva’s outfit, who perch proudly in seventh place after clinching promotion from the EFL Championship last year.

Also winning 64% of his duels and completing 82% of his passes, he is indeed the robust phenom Liverpool so dearly need to charge the batteries once again.

Should he arrive, he would be the perfect replacement for the likely-outgoing Naby Keita, who has been stricken with incessant injury issues since arriving at the club for £48m in 2018, only making one starting league appearance this season.

Keita has recorded a lowly 6.50 rating in the English top-flight from his bit-part role this term, and has only completed 75% of his passes and made 0.2 tackles per match, a sizable decline on the numbers registered by Palhinha.

As such, Julian Ward and co must do everything they can to land the Portuguese powerhouse, he has swiftly proven his mettle as a standout component in a thriving team, and among Liverpool’s crop of talent, one could only imagine the impact he would have from the middle, pulling the strings and serving as the “engine” – as dubbed by Statman Dave – to roar Anfield into formidable and unrelenting life. 

Tottenham Hotspur did well to sign Pedro Porro during January, but Antonio Conte would likely still not consider the transfer window a huge success.

His side currently sit three points off the pace for top four, having played one more game than most teams around them, and they are battling with two of the Premier League’s most in-form teams in Newcastle United and Manchester United for a Champions League place.

The Italian has always been vocal in his demand for additional support. Indeed, it was as recently as November that he challenged his hierarchy to match the spending of both the Magpies and Arsenal.

However, even with the acquisition of the Spaniard, they have pushed payment of the £39m transfer fee until the summer by taking him on loan until then.

It therefore begs the question as to why they could not have secured Conte his “main priority” last month, which was reportedly a centre-back according to Sky Sports’ Michael Bridge. There were few credible reports which suggested that they might actually move for one, and in the end, such a deal never materialised.

Whilst it might frustrate the 53-year-old Spurs boss, he could now look to his youth ranks to plug this all-important gap, and the outstanding candidate for such a promotion has to be Maksim Paskotsi.

The Estonian defender boasts just one senior appearance for the Lilywhites but remains a highly-rated asset who is seen as the future of the club. Indeed, such is his talent that, in 2020, football talent scout Jacek Kulig labelled him “one of the most talented players in Estonia”.

Having only featured sporadically even at under-21 level, the 20-year-old does not post a great deal of data with which to analyse. However, having been hailed by Kulig as one of the best players for his country, his impressive displays in the UEFA Nations League stand as the best way to gauge his quality.

Averaging a 7.10 Sofascore rating in that competition, his averages of 1.5 interceptions and three clearances per game outline him as a stalwart at the back. He pairs this with an average of one key pass per 90, which further paints him in the image of the quintessential modern-day centre back who is comfortable on the ball.

With a sparkling future seemingly ahead of him, now is as good a time as any for Conte to promote the young titan to the first-team ranks and fill the gap which really needed sorting last month.

The sooner that Paskotsi is exposed to a higher level of football, the sooner that he can set about remedying his club’s biggest failing in the January transfer window.

While Newcastle United avoided the temptation to secure a last-ditch deadline-day signing, one notable piece of business which took place amid the climax to the January transfer window was the departure of the long-serving Jonjo Shelvey, with the Englishman having joined Nottingham Forest after seven years on Tyneside.

That lengthy spell had seen the 30-year-old rack up 202 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies, having only recently been lauded by Eddie Howe as an “incredible technician” for his quality in possession.

The experienced playmaker had also been a typically industrious and committed figure at the heart of the midfield, with former team-mate Mikel Merino once describing him as “very aggressive” due to his tough-tackling approach.

While the former Swansea City man had only featured sporadically for the Magpies this season due to injury – making just five appearances in all competitions – his exit has still left something of a void in Howe’s squad, with the Tynesiders currently rather light in terms of midfield options.

As such, the former Bournemouth boss could well be in need of a swift replacement this summer, with Sporting Lisbon starlet Manuel Ugarte one such option who could prove a dream heir to Shelvey at St James’ Park.

According to Portuguese outlet Record, via Sport Witness, Newcastle are said to be one of the clubs who are keeping tabs on the 21-year-old ahead of next season, having reportedly already ‘made approaches’ to see if a deal could be struck.

The report also outlines that the Primeira Liga outfit are hoping to secure a contract extension in an attempt to ward off any interest, although the player himself is not said to be keen on the prospect of seeing an increase to his current €60m (£54m) release clause.

The Uruguayan “midfield machine” – as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has enjoyed a standout campaign so far in Lisbon, having showcased his Shelvey-esque midfield aggression as he has averaged 3.6 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game from his 17 league outings.

Equally, like Shelvey – who averaged 0.7 key passes per game last season in the Premier League – Ugarte has also illustrated his creative flair of late after averaging 0.4 key passes per game, as well as enjoying a 91% pass accuracy to emphasise his innate composure.

The youngster’s quality is also showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 1% among those in his position in the ‘Men’s next eight competitions’ for pass completion, also featuring in the top 1% for tackles made and the top 2% for interceptions.

That all-round brilliance was on show when Ruben Amorim’s side defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League back in September, with the six-cap starlet having won seven duels on the day and completed 100% of his dribbles.

As such, with a hole in the Newcastle squad needing to be filled due to Shelvey’s exit, Amorim could well prove to be the dream successor as far as Howe is concerned.

Tottenham Hotspur remain interested in signing Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana this summer, according to recent reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing a new goalkeeper

With Hugo Lloris now 36 and laid low with injury, Spurs manager Antonio Conte has identified the need for a new goalkeeper. Several potential options have emerged, including the likes of Jordan Pickford, David Raya and Jan Oblak.

However, a new development at Inter Milan could open the door for the 53-year-old to go back in for someone in whom he has been interested for a long time, with 90min reporting back in November 2021 that the Italian had shortlisted Onana upon taking the job in N17.

The Latest: Onana available?

According to 90min, Inter are ready to sell the Cameroonian in the summer in order to raise funds, having struggled to balance the books since the global pandemic of 2020.

The Serie A giants are aiming to raise around £50m by July and they could look to cash-in on their goalkeeper, with Tottenham being alerted to his availability.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as a ‘superstar’ by UEFA-accredited journalist Oma Akatugba, the 26-year-old has been in fine form of late, keeping clean sheets in four out of his last six games, including one in the Milan derby last time out.

There are also plenty of indications that he would be an upgrade on Lloris, recording a better save percentage (75.6% to 72.5%) and far more touches of the ball per 90 (40.95 to 30.59) than the Frenchman over the past year, with the latter metric indicating that he is more comfortable in playing the ball out from the back.

As previously mentioned, Spurs have a range of different targets to replace their current first-choice goalkeeper, but Onana’s impending availablity is very good news indeed as he is proven at the top level, making 32 appearances in the Champions League.

West Ham United are interested in signing Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: West Ham eyeing midfielder

Declan Rice’s future at West Ham is in doubt, with talkSPORT reporting that the club have now set their valuation of the midfielder at £120m, amid interest from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

As such, the Hammers will need to sign a suitable replacement in the summer, and while Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has recently been linked with a move, there is also a possibility that they move for a young English player…

The Latest: Scott on the radar

According to a report from The Sun, West Ham are one of the Premier League teams interested in signing Scott, having recently checked on the midfielder, with Crystal Palace also named as potential suitors.

However, the 19-year-old is said to be valued at £20m by current club Bristol City, which may deter David Moyes from launching a summer bid.

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The Verdict: Worth it?

The youngster’s teammate, Kal Naismith, recently sang his praises on the Open Goal podcast, lauding him as ‘deadly’ and comparing his play-style to that of Jack Grealish, while his manager Nigel Pearson has hailed him as ‘destined for the very top’.

Despite still being a teenager, the Guernsey-born maestro has already cemented his place in the Bristol City starting XI, making a total of 37 appearances in all competitions this season, picking up one goal and five assists in the process.

Given that Scott has proven himself in the second tier, it suggests that it won’t be long before he is able to make the step up to the Premier League, and while £20m is a lot of money for an unproven quantity in the top flight, it could be a very savvy investment if his development continues on its current trajectory.

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Impressive season

Neymar, hailed as a ‘special talent’ by talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy, has once again starred for the Ligue 1 side this season, contributing to 22 league goals in just 19 appearances.

In total, the 31-year-old has been involved in 193 goals in 172 games for PSG after joining from Barcelona in a deal worth £190m back in 2017.

Primarily a left-winger who can also play as an attacking midfielder or second striker, Neymar is under contract with the French giants until 2025, but a summer exit could be on the cards.

The Latest: Transfer update

90min shared a story on Thursday regarding Neymar, where United were named.

They claimed that intermediaries have already spoken to the Old Trafford chiefs over a potential deal, with the Brazilian seemingly keen on a move to England. Alongside United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle are also thought to be potential destinations.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

It looks as if a move to the Premier League for the Brazilian star could be a possibility in the coming months, so it could be one to keep an eye on.

The Red Devils are on course to finish in the top four, so could offer Champions League football to Neymar next season, something Chelsea and Liverpool may not be able to offer.

Should a transfer materialise, Erik ten Hag may have to evaluate his left-winger options, with both Neymar and Marcus Rashford potentially battling it out for that position.

Rashford has been in fine form in recent months in that area but can move centrally if required, so it’ll be interesting to see what would happen if a move to the red side of Manchester was made official for Neymar.

Craig Hope has insisted that Eddie Howe is frustrated by how Newcastle United have ended up having to play Loris Karius.

The Lowdown: Karius has a chance to impress

It is simply the stuff of dreams for Karius and the worst nightmare for Nick Pope as Newcastle’s number one is set to miss the Carabao Cup final due to the red card he picked up in the Liverpool defeat.

Whereas Karius is set to make his Toon debut due to Martin Dubravka being cup-tied, although he may well have not had the chance to do so if Howe had not been persistent behind the scenes.

Karius was brought in at the back end of 2022 on a short-term basis due to Karl Darlow’s injury and it looked as though that would be it, although Howe pushed hard for the club to keep Karius amid Darlow’s desire to leave in January.

The Latest: Howe far from impressed by the goalkeeper situation

Hope has admitted on the True Faith podcast that Howe is indeed frustrated with how the situation has been allowed to unfold behind the scenes that will now see him being forced to play someone that’s not kicked a ball in two years.

He said: (52:00) “For all the credit we’ve given Newcastle United for how they’ve managed themselves on and off the pitch in the last 18 months and 10/10 top marks, they’ve got the goalkeeping situation wrong.

“To be so well-stocked in the goalkeeping department and end up with your fourth choice, I know Eddie’s frustrated over it, it’s not ideal and I do think they’ve made a mistake.

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“Four players have been allowed to leave the club this season and on four occasions Eddie has sat down in front of us and he’s used the phrase, we’ve got to respect the wishes of the player, or it was a good deal for the club.”

The Verdict: Newcastle could be their own worst enemy

If Newcastle are to lose on Sunday they will hope it’s from Manchester United being the better team and absolutely nothing to do with how their fourth-choice keeper has performed as that will only cast a grey could over what’s been a stunning season.

PIF have been hailed for the signings and smart business they’ve done since taking over Newcastle with signings such as Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes proving to be great purchases, although letting Dubravka leave for a top-four rival at the start of the season is looking more and more peculiar as the days roll on.

Had Dubravka not gone out to Man United then he would indeed very likely be getting ready to start a cup final for Newcastle and it would’ve filled Magpies fans with hope given he’s played 132 times for the Toon and been a good servant, but now it all falls on Karius who is yet to even make his debut.

Manchester City are  willing to push Arsenal all the way in the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Man City eyeing a new midfielder

Pep Guardiola has made it clear that he wants to sign a new midfielder in the summer transfer window, with it recently emerging that Alexis Mac Allister is being targeted in a deal which could cost more than £70m.

The Sky Blues have also been linked with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, although it may be difficult to land the 19-year-old, given that Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid are also interested.

The Latest: Man City will push to sign Rice

According to Football Insider, Man City are planning to push Premier League title rivals Arsenal all the way in the transfer race for Rice over the summer.

The likes of Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in the England midfielder, who could cost as much as £80m, although Champions League qualification could be crucial in this pursuit.

That puts City in a very strong position, with them looking like certainties to qualify for the tournament again next season, whereas that seems a tall order for the Merseysiders and west Londoners.

The Verdict: Get it done?

West Ham manager David Moyes has previously stated that £100m would be considered a ‘cheap’ amount for his club’s captain, so the potential availability of Rice for £80m gives City all the more reason to pursue a deal.

Hailed as ‘incredible’ by journalist Matt Law in the past, the 24-year-old ranks in the top 11% compared to other midfielders in Europe’s five main leagues for numerous key metrics, including his pass completion rate, progressive carries and interceptions.

Rice’s long-range shooting was also on display in the Irons’ 4-0 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, netting his team’s third goal with a fantastic strike from outside the penalty box, achieving an 8.2 Sofascore rating for his efforts.

Also, the 24-year-old is likely to be just about to enter his prime footballing years, and he would appear be an excellent prospective addition to Guardiola’s side.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that four other Liverpool players could follow Firmino out the door.

What’s the latest on Milner’s contract and Liverpool?

Big news came out of the club this week as it was revealed that Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino will not renew his contract, meaning he will leave for free this summer.

Having been a part of the Red’s setup team since 2015, this will be a big blow for Jurgen Klopp but it sounds as though one of their other more experienced squad members may also be on the move this summer too.

Indeed, while talking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that on top of expected departures for Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and loanee Arthur Melo, Milner may opt to head off at the end of the seasons too.

He said (1:22): “So, Firmino is available on the market on a free. He’s not going to be the only one of this big Liverpool revolution because Klopp is informed about Firmino.

“But the feeling in the club is that also Naby Keita has very good chances to leave on a free transfer; Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club on a free transfer; James Milner will make a decision at the end of the current season; and also Arthur Melo will not stay in Liverpool next season and we’ll be back to Juventus to find another solution.

“So many changes are expected.

What is Milner’s contract situation at Liverpool?

Firmino will leave Liverpool having played over 350 games for the club. While if Milner goes, they’ll also been losing someone with a similar number of games (318) under his belt.
What’s more, the duo have won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Club World Cup.
Still, all good things must come to an end and it may well be the right time to start a new era at Liverpool. After all, the club’s poor form this season suggests something drastic may well need to happen in the summer if they want to get back to their best.

Milner will see his contract expire this summer and so the next few months will be key to him making a decision. Klopp has hinted that he wants the 37-year-old to stay but it remains to be seen if the Englishman will commit to another season.