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Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for their former youth player Marcus Edwards. 

The Lowdown: Edwards’ history with Spurs

Having worked his way through the youth ranks at Tottenham, the winger left to join Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes in 2019.

The 23-year-old then joined his current employers Sporting Lisbon last January and has since gone on to score 10 goals in 34 appearances, taking his career total to 32 goals in 164 senior club career games.

After playing against his former club in this season’s Champions League group stage, it appears that the Englishman has been linked with a move back to Spurs.

The Latest: Spurs linked with Edwards return

According to a recent report from Record, the north London club have their eyes on potentially bringing the winger back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Last month, Edwards told the Evening Standard that he would be open to coming back to the Premier League in the future, which suggests that Fabio Paratici could entice the player if he makes a convincing enough offer to him.

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The Verdict: Worth a punt

Across Edwards’ 19 games this season, he has found the net seven times and delivered six assists. One of those goals came against Antonio Conte’s side as they drew 1-1 in the Champions League last month.

Indeed, his performance in the first meeting between the two teams in September, when Sporting won 2-0, was lauded as “unbelievable” by journalist Joe Prince-Wright, showing how much he haunted the Lilywhites when given the chance to prove a point to his former club.

To further highlight how impressive the former Spurs youngster has been for his current club this season, he has made more successful dribbles (24) than any of his team-mates in the league, along with the highest rate of shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (5.83) at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Moving forward, if Tottenham think securing a deal to bring Edwards back to the north London club would be a good move for all involved, they should definitely explore the possibility whenever they see fit.

Scottish champions Celtic remain atop the table heading into the World Cup break, with Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou set to keep his charges fit and firing in the coming weeks with a trip to Australia to take part in the Sydney Super Cup.

One man who will be part of the travelling party for that mid-season voyage is promising midfielder Scott Robertson, with the former Australia head coach confirming that the 21-year-old – as well as Bosun Lawal and Rocco Vata – will “get some game time” on the trip.

The young Scotsman is yet to feature for the Old Firm outfit this season, although was named on the bench for the two Champions League meetings with RB Leipzig, with his solitary senior appearance for the club having come in the Europa League against CFR Cluj back in 2019.

Since then, the 6 foot 1 starlet has been unable to truly force his way into the first-team fold, although did enjoy loan spells south of the border in recent seasons with Gillingham, Doncaster Rovers and Crewe Alexandra.

That latter temporary stint with the Alex last season was cruelly cut short due to injury, however, the Lenzie-born ace certainly made his mark in his 23 outings for the EFL outfit, scoring twice and laying on one assist.

Robertson had quickly made an impression at Crewe having been lauded by boss David Artell following his league debut for the club back in September, in which the youngster suffered a notable blow to the face, stating: “I thought that Scott Robertson was the best player on the pitch. He was terrific…

“He is a tough lad. I spoke to one of their players after the game and he was telling me how strong he thought Scott was and not just because he had his teeth virtually knocked out either!

“He was impressed with his performance and so were we.”

That assessment of the midfielder’s strength and tenacity suggests that those at Parkhead could well have another Scott Brown on their hands, with the former Bhoys skipper having been a truly ferocious customer during his lengthy, glittering spell in Glasgow.

The now-retired menace racked up 611 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants after joining from Hibernian in 2008, going on to score 46 goals and provide 63 assists, while also swooping a plethora of major honours.

The former Scotland international – who left Paradise last summer in order to join Aberdeen – was no stranger to a firm challenge nor a war of words with an opponent, having been dubbed the ‘hardest man in football’ at one stage, as per GOAL.

If young Robertson can replicate his one-time teammate’s fearless edge he could well go on to be a success at Celtic Park, having even been on the receiving end of praise from Brown a few years ago, with the current Fleetwood Town boss stating:

“He’s very relaxed and conducts himself with professionalism, he’s not big-time and I think he’s got a really bright future ahead of him”.

While it has been a long wait since the academy graduate’s debut to add to his tally of appearances, this upcoming trip to Australia could well prove a vital chance to impress Postecoglou.

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly keen on Northampton Town star Sam Hoskins and the striker could be the ideal man to replace Lee Gregory in Darren Moore’s side.

It was suggested earlier in the season by Football League World that the Owls, alongside Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Portsmouth, Barnsley and Derby County, were all keen on signing the 29-year-old after his phenomenal performances with the Cobblers so far this campaign.

After narrowly missing out on promotion from League Two last season, Hoskins seems determined to lead Jon Brady’s side back to the third tier this term, with 13 goals and two assists to his name in just 14 appearances.

This has helped him to average an incredible 7.55 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which ranks him as the best player in League Two, so it is easy to see why he is attracting so much interest ahead of the January window.

Brady was full of praise for his star striker earlier in the season, saying:

“What else can I say about him? Both finishes are sublime. The free-kick, to even try that was quite audacious in my opinion. To move Mitch (Pinnock) one way and then find the near post, was audacious, and how fitting for him on his 300th appearance to get two goals. Jeez, the boy is special.”

While he is contracted at Sixfields until 2024 and Northampton will be desperate to keep hold of him as they eye automatic promotion, this could represent Hoskins’ last chance to test himself at an undeniably bigger club, so the Owls may well be able to tempt him to Hillsborough.

Should he join Moore’s side, he would no doubt challenge the likes of Gregory, Michael Smith and Malik Wilks for a starting spot, as the Owls look to earn an automatic promotion of their own.

Considering that Gregory is now 35, and has just four goals to his name in 17 appearances this season, it could definitely be argued that Moore needs a younger, more prolific option up front if he wants to move ahead of Ipswich Town and Plymouth Argyle in the race for a spot in the Championship.

Therefore, Sheffield Wednesday should definitely be looking to bring the in-form Hoskins to Hillsborough in the new year.

Wolves could be set for a huge blow in January, with reports claiming that Ruben Neves has an agreement to join Spanish giants Barcelona.

What’s the news?

According to journalist Veronica Brunati, the Catalan club have “practically closed” a deal for the Portugal international, who has been the standout performer in a poor Wolves side so far this season.

In full, the reporter stated: “From a very good Portuguese source: FC Barcelona has practically closed Rubén Neves and Cristiano Ronaldo could enter the negotiation.”

It could spell relegation

New manager Julen Lopetegui will already have to work wonders in order to keep the Old Gold in the Premier League, as they currently sit bottom of the top flight after a woeful run of form, but losing Neves could be the final nail in the coffin for the Midlands club.

Of Wolves’ eight goals in the Premier League this campaign, Neves has contributed four, with the former Porto man ranked far higher than any other player according to WhoScored.

He has also contributed more passes, long balls and tackles per game than any other player in the squad this campaign, which emphasises just how much he can offer as an all-round threat in midfield.

It was widely expected that the player who Steve Bull dubbed “world-class” would depart during the summer transfer window but the 25-year-old remained at Molineux and took over captaincy duties from Conor Coady after he moved to Everton.

However, the maestro’s impressive performances in the midfield have not been enough to save Wolves, and he has been well and truly let down by his teammates, so it would not be a surprise if he was keen to test himself at a higher level in January.

While Barcelona may have crashed out of the Champions League this season, it is clear that they are still one of the biggest clubs in the world, so Wolves fans would perhaps not bemoan their long-serving star if he made the move to La Liga in January.

It would leave Lopetegui in a serious predicament, however, as his new side have lacked quality and goals this term, so to take away their best player and current top goalscorer would only make things worse and seriously damage their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Everton will be “willing” to allow their £240k-per-week duo in Yerry Mina and Abdoulaye Doucoure to leave if a bid is to present itself across the January window. 

The Lowdown: Sticky Toffee Strugglers

Whilst Yerry Mina has missed 32 games and counting for Everton over the last couple of seasons, Abdoulaye Doucoure has actually been an ever-present figure in the side since joining.

Yet, despite making 30 appearances for the Toffees last term, his minutes have been Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gana Gueye. 

To make matters worse, Doucoure sustained an injury in Everton’s Australian camp, with Mina suffering the same fate. 

The Colombian international’s latest injury setback, sustained in the Toffees’ recent friendly fixture against Celtic, will send him back to the treatment table. 

It’s a huge setback for a star who has missed 15 of Everton’s games this season through an ankle injury.

The Latest: Brown’s doubt

Journalist Paul Brown has put dampeners on the pair’s futures at the club, with the recent injuries by no means helping matters. 

Though, despite their setbacks, the journalist does not believe that boss Frank Lampard will be impacted by the pair’s respective absences. 

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Brown said: “I actually wonder about the futures of both Yerry Mina and Doucoure, because of their contract situation I think Everton will be willing to accept a bid for either, so I don’t think injuries to those two are a huge issue, really, for the club.”

The Verdict: A tough call

Deciding on the futures of two stars who offer depth when fit makes for a tough call. 

Given Mina’s injury woes of recent, a new deal would serve as somewhat of a risk, but so too would allowing his contract to run its course. 

A quick-fire January sale could be an option to recoup a bit of money on the former Barcelona asset, but it depends on whether Lampard has the star in his medium-term plans.

It’s the same for Doucoure who has offered an extremely consistent service in midfield for a number of years. 

Ultimately, both serve as depth-bolstering options at the very least when fit, so the duo should be kept hold of.

A further update has emerged regarding Leeds United’s settlement with RB Leipzig over the transfer of Jean-Kevin Augustin.

The Lowdown: Leeds statement

The Whites released a statement earlier this week, confirming they have ‘reached an amicable resolution of the dispute’ over the transfer of Augustin.

Leeds agreed on a deal to sign the forward permanently, should the club win promotion to the Premier League in the 2019/20 season.

A dispute has been ongoing ever since, with Leeds’ argument seeming to be the impact of the pandemic on that campaign. Financial details have now been shared on the situation after the club lost their appeal with The Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Latest: Update

LeedsLive relayed an update from Bild with ‘further details’ on Leeds and Leipzig’s settlement.

They claimed that the Whites will pay the full €21m fee, as well as €340,000 in interest for Augustin, however, Leipzig are reported to have been ‘accommodating with the payment modalities’, suggesting it can be paid in instalments.

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The Verdict: Bad news

Some may have seen Leeds’ statement earlier in the week and thought that the two clubs could have struck a deal below the full €21m fee.

However, that isn’t the case and it seems to have been confirmed that Leipzig will eventually receive the full amount.

That will only come as bad news for Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises, with Augustin only playing 48 minutes for Leeds and now on the books at FC Basel, where he holds a mere €1.5m Transfermarkt valuation.

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move for Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, according to club expert John Wenham.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target Pickford

The 28-year-old has emerged as a transfer target for Antonio Conte to replace long-term servant Hugo Lloris, who is nearly 36 and approaching the twilight of his career.

Journalist Dean Jones informed GIVEMESPORT of Spurs’ interest in Pickford, and a fresh claim has come to light which seems to signify that a move could well be in the offing…

The Latest: Wenham’s comments

Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham was full of praise for the England shot-stopper, while also claiming that the player himself would likely be keen on a potential move to Tottenham.

The Spurs expert said of Pickford, whose contract at Everton expires in 18 months’ time: “Tottenham will absolutely be looking at that. I think he is a very, very good goalkeeper. He is a bit unusual, personality-wise, I wonder if that is the reason he has stayed at Everton.

“He would be an asset to have at the back behind that defence. If Tottenham decide that Lloris is done and he can go, maybe next summer, then I don’t think you can go wrong with Pickford.

“I’m sure Pickford, at some point, will look to move to a club playing in the Champions League, he doesn’t want to be in a relegation battle. He should be at a big club, fighting for trophies rather than losing 7-1 to Bournemouth on aggregate across two games in the same week.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

Despite England’s heartbreaking exit from the World Cup at the hands of France, their first-choice goalkeeper enjoyed yet another decent tournament, keeping three clean sheets in five outings.

Also lauded as ‘sensational’ for his performances at club level by journalist Jeff Wallner, the 28-year-old has been a shining light in a poor Everton team this season, deemed their third-best performer in the Premier League by SofaScore with an average match rating of 7.24.

Lloris has been a fantastic servant to Tottenham, lining out 437 times for the club over the past decade, but Pickford would appear to be the perfect heir to the Frenchman, and Conte should pursue a move for the Everton stopper at the earliest opportunity.

West Ham United right-back Vladimir Coufal is attracting increasing interest ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Sky Sports News, who claim that the 30-year-old is attracting the interest of Bayer Leverkusen as well as two unnamed Premier League clubs ahead of the winter window.

However, the report goes on to state that, while David Moyes would be willing to listen to concrete offers for the Czech Republic international, the club may be reluctant to allow any defenders to leave in January due to the club’s injury crisis at the back.

Finally, it is claimed that Coufal – whose current deal at the London Stadium runs until the summer of 2024 – himself remains committed to the Irons, although the full-back is beginning to become frustrated with his lack of regular minutes in east London.

Coufal must go

While it is true that Coufal made an impressive impact upon his £5m arrival at the club back in the summer of 2020 – registering seven assists and averaging a Sofascore match rating of 7.01 in his debut campaign at the London Stadium – considering how poor the right-back has been this season, the argument that he should now be sold is an easy one to make.

Indeed, over his nine Premier League appearances in 2022/23, the £8m-rated man has offered West Ham extremely little going forwards, scoring no goals, registering no assists and creating no big chances, as well as losing possession of the ball an average of 18.1 times per game.

Despite failing to help the Hammers keep a single clean sheet this season, the £35k-per-week defender has returned slightly more palatable numbers at the back, making an average of 1.6 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 1.6 clearances and winning 3.4 duels – at a success rate of 54% – per match.

However, these metrics do not translate into very positive reading for the 30-year-old’s overall performance, with the player who Trevor Sinclair claimed “hasn’t got a clue” averaging an extremely disappointing Sofascore match rating of just 6.78 – a rather considerable drop from his first campaign with the club.

Furthermore, with the 34-cap international currently keeping Harrison Ashby – West Ham’s highly-rated right-back who is being linked with Newcastle United this winter – out of Moyes’ first-team squad, it would appear to make a great deal of sense for the 59-year-old to move Coufal on and finally unleash the “fearless” – in the words of Sam Delaney – 21-year-old going forwards.

As such, it would indeed appear as if a parting of the ways would suit all parties this winter, with Coufal likely to see more game time upon a departure from the club, while West Ham supporters would get to see much more of one of their club’s most exciting young prospects in the 30-year-old’s place.

Newcastle United could well able to form an impressive centre-back pairing with the addition of Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

What’s the word?

Recent reports in Italy have suggested that the Magpies are firmly interested in signing the Slovakia international in 2023, as the 27-year-old faces an uncertain future at the San Siro with just six months left on his existing deal.

The Tynesiders will seemingly have competition in their quest to land the potential free agent, though, with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur having all been linked with a move of late.

Focusing solely on the interest from those at St James’ Park, the aforementioned O’Rourke has told Football FanCast that Eddie Howe’s side could well have the makings of a fearsome defensive partnership, should the 58-cap brute be snapped up in the New Year.

Asked about the prospect of partnering the imposing ace with summer signing Sven Botman, the transfer insider stated: “On paper they’ve got the makings of a great central defensive pairing.

“You’ve got Botman who can play on the left-hand side with Skriniar on the right side and those two defenders together are real powerhouses as well.

“Two top defenders who have good pedigree in European football as well so I think it will be a great defensive pairing in the making for Newcastle if they can put them together.”

Could form “incredible” duo

As O’Rourke referenced, that left foot/right foot combination of Botman and Skriniar at the heart of the backline could well be a truly monstrous duo for Howe and co moving forward, with the latter having shown his quality in Italy in recent times.

The former Sampdoria ace – who has been dubbed an “absolute beast” by journalist David Amoyal – has racked up 236 appearances in all competitions for the Nerazzurri to date, memorably playing a key part in the Scudetto triumph during the 2020/21 campaign.

That glorious season under Antonio Conte saw the 6 foot 3 menace notably keep 12 clean sheets from his 32 league outings, while also averaging 1.5 tackles and 2.7 clearances per game as a marker of his defensive prowess.

As his current form has illustrated, though, the £92k-per-week machine is also a composed presence in possession, showcased by his ranking in the top 4% of players in Europe among those in his position for pass completion, also featuring in the top 14% for progressive passes received.

Partnering such an all-round figure alongside the aforementioned Botman would help to strengthen Newcastle’s backline even further, with the latter having already played a key role in conceding a league-best record of just 11 goals this season.

The “incredible” talent – as lauded by pundit Leon Osman – has clearly already made a “huge difference” since his £35m arrival from Lille, in the words of journalist Josh Bunting, with the towering 6 foot 6 colossus having made a smooth transition to life in English football.

The impressive 22-year-old – who has won 72% of his duels in the top flight this season – could well benefit from having an experienced long-term partner alongside him such as Skriniar, with current centre-back colleague Fabian Schar having just 18 months remaining on his existing deal at Newcastle.

As such, potentially prising the Inter colossus from his current club could well prove to be a masterstroke for the Magpies, with no opposition forward likely to relish coming up against a Botman-Skriniar defensive axis.

West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Azzedine Ounahi after the midfielder’s sensational performances at the World Cup and the Moroccan could be the man to replace Tomas Soucek in David Moyes’ side.

According to the Mail, West Ham, Wolves and Leicester City are all keen on the Angers star, who is expected to cost around £40m after bursting onto the scene in Qatar.

With his side currently bottom of the French top-flight ahead of its resumption after Christmas, a transfer could definitely be on the cards for Ounahi in January, but he will have to replicate his performances for his country rather than his club if he is going to be a success at the London Stadium.

The 22-year-old was a revelation for the Atlas Lions as they sensationally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, before defeat against France brought an end to their spectacular run.

Ounahi would play a big part in the historical wins over Spain and Portugal, earning 7.13 and 7.2 ratings from WhoScored for his performances against tough European opposition.

This led legendary manager Jose Mourinho to sing his praises, as he described the midfielder’s displays in Qatar as “jaw-dropping,” which certainly bodes well for any interested clubs in January, given some of the talents that the Portuguese manager has had at his disposal in his career.

Should Ounahi complete a £40m move to West Ham in next month’s transfer window, it could be bad news for Soucek, who has, this season, struggled to replicate the form he showed when he first joined the Hammers.

The Czech Republic international has averaged a 6.91 rating from WhoScored so far this campaign, compared to 6.97 and 7.34 average ratings from the last two Premier League seasons, while his goal tallies are also down significantly from years gone by, finding the net once in 2022/23, compared to ten in 2020/21 and five in 2021/22.

Meanwhile, his pass success rate of 76.9% is extremely disappointing for a central midfielder. Ounahi, by comparison, has averaged an 88.6% success rate with Angers this season, which suggests that he could be a much more reliable midfield partner for Declan Rice.

The Moroccan has also averaged more shots (1.6 vs 1.1), key passes (1.2 vs 0.5) and dribbles (2.6 vs 0.1) per game this season, so signing the impressive young midfielder could help Moyes drastically improve his midfield and finally bench Soucek after his less-than-impressive start to the current campaign.