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Arsenal are on the hunt for some fresh additions in the January transfer window to bolster their chances of winning the Premier League title.

The Gunners have only won one of their last five league encounters, meaning they have fallen behind Liverpool who currently lead the race.

A number of issues have begun to plague the squad, chiefly the lack of offensive firepower. Gabriel Jesus has only scored three goals this term while Eddie Nketiah is without a Premier League goal on the road for over a year.

However, the left-sided '8' role has also been a problem since Granit Xhaka left. Indeed, it took his replacement, Kai Havertz, 13 league games to finally score from open play.

As a result, it will be interesting to see what areas of the pitch Edu and Co prioritise in the coming weeks of the window.

Arsenal's plans for January

A striker is thought to be high on the list of priorities for Arsenal with the likes of Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke linked with a move of late.

A defender could also be forthcoming with Jurrien Timber still ruled out for an extended period of time. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko have both struggled with fitness issues with Arsenal's depth being tested to the max in that area of the pitch.

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However, there are also murmurings of a midfield arrival. Sergi Roberto, Barcelona's captain, has recently been touted with a move courtesy of reports in Spain.

If the Gunners really want to make a splash, though, they should revive their interest in Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella.

Arsenal held an interest in the Italian over the summer window of 2023, with Football Transfers revealing they were willing to make an approach if Thomas Partey left the club.

Partey is currently injured and will miss AFCON, meaning another arrival in the centre of the pitch isn't entirely off the table. Reports since the summer state that Barella could cost £80m.

How Nicolo Barella compares to Martin Odegaard

Arsenal's current club captain Martin Odegaard has found life trickier this season. Last term, the Norwegian superstar found the net on 15 occasions in all competitions, ensuring he ended the campaign as their joint-top goalscorer alongside Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

He racked up those numbers with the assistance of Partey behind him and Xhaka to the left of him. It was an incredibly well-balanced midfield but that is lacking in the current term.

Of course, the addition of Declan Rice hasn't hampered Arsenal but they have struggled without Xhaka, a man who found the net on nine occasions in 2022/23. Havertz has found form of late, scoring four goals in his last nine appearances, but he doesn't quite offer the same ability to break through the lines as their former Swiss star could.

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Odegaard has suffered as a result, bagging only four goals in 17 league matches to date this season.

He could be boosted by the signing of Barella, who actually happens to be a very like-minded player. Indeed, as per FBref, the 26-year-old's most 'similar' player is Arsenal's number 8. So, how do they specifically compare?

As can be seen, there isn't a great deal between the pair in many metrics. Odegaard produces more shot-creating actions (phases of play that lead to a shot) and subsequently plays more key passes, but their carrying statistics and how involved they are in the penalty box are very alike.

In many senses, Barella is a right-footed version of the former Real Madrid man, occupying spaces between the lines to create "genius" moments – as he was once described by sports editor Mike Piellucci.

Also described as a "warrior" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Barella produces technical elegance that would make him a perfect fit for this Arsenal team. With Havertz struggling to replicate Xhaka, perhaps reviving their interest in the Inter star would be a wise idea.

Lionesses and Manchester United star Ella Toone has been told to improve in a key aspect of her game by England boss Sarina Wiegman.

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• England to take on France
• Wiegman counting on Toone to get the three points
• Pointed out one scope for improvement in her game

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Toone was part of the side that fell to a 2-1 defeat to France in Euro 2025 qualification on Friday evening. The midfielder endured a frustrating evening, failing to impact the game for significant spells.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, Wiegman is not overly concerned. Toone had 10 goal contributions with United in the WSL and the England manager lavished praise on her tactical awareness on the pitch. However, she feels that Toone can still improve her defensive work rate when her teammates are chasing the ball.

• WHAT WIEGMAN SAID

  Talking to Wiegman said: "I think she has developed very much. I think she’s in a good place. She’s becoming more and more aware of what she needs to do, but also the bigger picture. That’s nice about team sport. If you’re connected really well you can play better as a team. I think she can still improve. Defensively she can still improve. When we started working together to where we are now, I think she’s improved a lot. And I hope, a lot more to come."

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Toone will look to make amends to her game when England play away to France on June 4 in their next Women’s Euro 2025 qualifying fixture at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne.

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers appears to be a busy man this month as the Northern Irishman looks to bolster his playing squad throughout the January transfer window.

FootballScotland reporter Mark Hendry recently claimed that the Hoops are hoping to add a winger, a left-back, and a centre-forward to the group before the end of the month.

The window opened for business at the start of last week and the Scottish giants are yet to make their first addition. However, they are closing in on a swoop for Rapid Wien forward Nicolas Kuhn.

Hendry reported that the Bhoys 'expect' to land a deal for the German attacker, which would then leave the club in need of a left-back and a striker.

Celtic are currently top of the Scottish Premiership table and could be looking to bolster their side to ensure that they secure the title at the end of the campaign.

One striker who could be brought in to add to Rodgers' firepower is reported transfer target Lawrence Shankland, who could be a lethal partner for Luis Palma at the top end of the pitch.

Celtic transfer news – Lawrence Shankland

Journalist Graeme Bailey revealed at the start of the month that Celtic are considering a swoop to sign the Scotland international in January.

The accompanying report from HITC, however, revealed that there is plenty of competition to secure his signature and it could, therefore, be a difficult one for the club to complete.

Everton, Sheffield United, Burnley, and Crystal Palace from the Premier League are said to be keen on the Hearts captain, whilst Championship sides Southampton, Middlesbrough, and Hull are also interested in him.

Football Insider claimed in December that Hearts are prepared to demand a fee of at least £3m for their skipper, and it remains to be seen whether or not Celtic are prepared to pay that for the centre-forward.

The outlet added that Glasgow Rangers have been keeping tabs on the Scottish number nine but the £3m valuation looks set to park their interest until the summer, for financial reasons.

If the Hoops are able to win the race for his signature over the coming weeks, Rodgers could land a lethal partner for Palma in the final third due to his terrific goalscoring quality to go along with the winger's outstanding creativity.

Luis Palma's season in numbers

The Bhoys snapped the impressive forward up from Greek side Aris during the summer transfer window ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and he has been a revelation so far.

It has not taken him any time to adapt to Scottish football as the talented whiz hit the ground running at Parkhead and established himself as a key player for the former Leicester manager.

He has been a decent scoring option for Rodgers with five goals in 17 Premiership matches to date. Only David Turnbull (seven), Kyogo Furuhashi (eight), and Matt O'Riley (ten) have scored more than him within the squad.

The 23-year-old ace also showcased his offensive skills on the biggest stage with two goals in four starts in the Champions League earlier this term.

Palma's biggest strength, however, has been his creativity. The right-footed magician has produced nine assists and 3.4 key passes per match across his 17 league outings, to go along with 11 'big chances' created for his teammates.

Meanwhile, no other Celtic player has racked up more than seven assists or provided more than 2.6 key passes over game in the Premiership this season.

These statistics suggest that the Honduras international has been the club's most-creative forward so far this term and the most likely player to unpick an opposition defence.

Therefore, Palma could be the perfect player for a new centre-forward to play alongside as he has the quality to consistently create high-quality chances for them to find the back of the net with.

The statistics that show Shankland could be lethal for Celtic

Shankland could be a lethal striker at Parkhead with the current Celtic star's help based on his impressive form for Hearts over the last 18 months.

Last season, the 28-year-old marksman plundered an eye-catching 24 goals and four assists in 37 appearances and 33 Premiership starts for the Jam Tarts.

He has proven that his sublime return in front of goal last term was not a flash in the pan. The £3m-rated forward is currently the top scorer in the Scottish top-flight with 13 goals.

These statistics suggest that Celtic would be bringing in a proven scorer at this level and someone who has outperformed Rodgers' current number nine – Kyogo – both in terms of goals and efficiency when it comes to taking 'big chances'.

Therefore, the former Dundee United finisher would not waste as many big chances in front of goal as the Japan international has, which could result in Palma being rewarded with more assists for his fantastic creativity.

Journalist Philip West hailed Shankland as a "big game player" and that is backed up by his record this season. The Hearts captain has scored twice – in separate matches – against Celtic and once against Rangers in the Premiership.

He also produced a moment of magic, as shown in the video above, in the 93rd minute of the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian to secure a 1-0 win for his side.

This shows that the Scottish ace is built for the big occasion and, therefore, has the mentality required to be a success in a pressured environment at Paradise as the experienced forward can step up in big games to be a difference-maker.

Having a winger as brilliant as Palma on the left of him at the top end of the pitch would also mean that he would get the opportunities that he needs in front of goal to be a sublime number nine for the Hoops, which is why Rodgers must push to land his signature before the end of the month.

Tottenham Hotspur remain active in the market as they look to add another player to their squad before the January transfer window slams shut on Thursday.

Tottenham's search for a midfielder

Spurs have snapped up Timo Werner, on loan from RB Leipzig, and Radu Dragusin, on a permanent deal from Genoa, to bolster their side so far this month. However, Daniel Levy is still working to bring in a new central midfielder for Ange Postecoglou, who currently has the likes of Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, Oliver Skipp, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to pick from.

Recent reports claim that the Lilywhites are in talks with Chelsea over a deal to sign England international Conor Gallagher from their rivals.

The report states that Tottenham want to sign a central midfielder as a priority and they appear to have identified the Blues captain as their top target. However, Mauricio Pochettino's side are demanding a staggering £80m for their skipper and it remains to be seen whether or not Spurs are willing to meet their demands.

Joshua Kimmich transfer update

The same report adds that Spurs could make a sensational late swoop to sign Bayern Munich and Germany star Joshua Kimmich if they fail to land Gallagher. Football Insider claim that the 28-year-old maestro, whose current contract is due to expire at the end of next season, could be allowed to depart the Bundesliga giants.

They run the risk of losing him for nothing next year if they do not cash in on him in this window or the summer, if he does not put pen to paper on an extension, and Tottenham could take advantage of this situation by moving for his signature. The outlet reveals that Bayern would be willing to part ways with their star midfielder for a fee of up to £60m, although they claim that it could also be as low as £40m.

Kimmich would be a dream alternative to Gallagher as the experienced star could offer far more quality and control in possession for Postecoglou in the middle of the park.

As you can see in the table above, the Germany international excels when it comes to progressing play into dangerous areas for his teammates to either score or create for another player to score. The £60m-rated midfield general, who was once lauded as "phenomenal" by Jose Mourinho, has also made 6.1 ball recoveries per match in the Bundesliga this season, compared to Gallagher's 6.9 per outing in the Premier League for Chelsea.

This suggests that there is not a significant difference in their defensive work for their respective clubs, whilst Kimmich offers far more on the ball for his team.

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Therefore, the Bayern star could be a dream alternative to the England international due to the qualities he could provide in possession to build up attacks effectively and consistently from a number six or eight position under Postecoglou.

Mason Greenwood has reportedly made an extended stay in La Liga his transfer “priority”, with Valencia putting a £25m ($32m) bid to Manchester United.

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• Forward starred on loan at Getafe
• Wanted by clubs across Europe
• Red Devils expected to sanction sale

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  That offer falls considerably short of the Red Devils’ valuation, with Serie A giants Juventus getting closer to that asking price with an approach that could be worth as much as £40 million ($51m). They have been leading the chase for Greenwood, ahead of domestic rivals Napoli and Lazio.

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  Several clubs in Spain have also expressed interest, after seeing Greenwood register 10 goals through 36 appearances for Getafe during a productive loan spell in 2023-24. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are said to sit among his other suitors.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  claims that the 22-year-old forward has informed his representatives that “his priority is Spain”, with a “concrete offer” from Valencia being confirmed. United are expected to sanction a permanent departure from Old Trafford at some stage.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Greenwood will be due back in England for pre-season training if no deal is agreed through the early weeks of the summer window, but the one-cap England international is unlikely to figure for them again as talks regarding another fresh start outside of his homeland continue.

Cristiano Ronaldo can make a “dream” come true for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at Euro 2024, but Georgia are “not afraid” of facing Portugal’s GOAT.

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• Last-16 places up for grabs
• Portuguese already through
• May decide to rest all-time great

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  With qualification spots still up for grabs in Group F, the battle to secure places in the last 16 is set to go down to the wire. Portugal are already assured of their progression into the knockout stages after picking up victories over Czechia and Turkey.

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  WHAT KVARATSKHELIA SAID

  Georgia have just one point to their name, but victory over Portugal could take them through and Napoli star Kvaratskhelia has said of potentially facing Ronaldo with so much on the line: “He was an idol for me. I'm happy to see him on the field. It was a dream I had [to face him], and we’ll see what happens.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Zuriko Davitashvili is also hoping to face Ronaldo in the heat of European Championship action, but has said of heading into that contest with no fear: “It's a pleasure to face him, but I'm not afraid. I'm looking forward to it, and we want to show that we can play well against these teams.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  There is every chance that Ronaldo will be rested by Portugal on Wednesday, with Roberto Martinez in a position to rotate his squad. Kvaratskhelia will be hoping that the 39-year-old takes to the field at some stage, with there a post-game shirt swap lottery to take into account.

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United future has come in for questioning at points this season, and one rather infamous manager is already keen to replace him at Old Trafford.

Man Utd's form under Ten Hag

The Red Devils recorded their first Premier League win of 2024 on Thursday evening with a dramatic 4-3 win at Wolves. Kobbie Mainoo was the hero at Molineux in stoppage time, scoring a dramatic winner after United initially surrendered a two-goal lead.

However, things haven’t exactly gone to plan in all competitions throughout the campaign, losing early in the EFL Cup to Newcastle United and being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage.

In the Premier League, the Red Devils are currently eight points adrift of a top four place with just 16 games remaining. There have been rumours that Sir Jim Ratcliffe was looking into replacing Ten Hag at Old Trafford with former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, with talks even held over a potential move, however, another former Blues manager is keen on the United job.

Jose Mourinho wants United return

According to The Daily Mail, Jose Mourinho is eyeing up a sensational return to Old Trafford to replace Ten Hag. It is believed that the former United boss, who recently left Roma, is keen to work with the new regime at United, meaning Ratcliffe and INEOS.

"His ambition is to return to United," a friend explained. "He feels like he has unfinished business there after how it ended last time and he had made it his mission to go back."

Mourinho was in charge of the Red Devils between 2016-2018 and won the Europa League during his time at Old Trafford. Since then, the Portuguese manager has been in charge of both Tottenham and Roma, leaving the latter earlier this month.

The 61-year-old has also come in for praise throughout his career, with Owen Hargreaves saying after Roma won the Europa Conference League in 2022: “Mourinho is almost at his best when he is the underdog like you saw initially when he was at Porto. They are not going to blow people away, that is not his style of football but he gets the job done. Football is about winning and Mourinho wins.”

Joe Cole also said: “Roma have got an outstanding manager in Jose. I had a good half an hour with him and he was in great form before this game.”

Mourinho feels he has unfinished business with United by the looks of things, and although a return appears to be unlikely, it could be one to keep an eye on if Ten Hag fails to win the FA Cup or finish in the top four of the Premier League in what would be a season to forget after his first year in charge.

On Sunday, Liverpool lost 3-1 against Premier League title rivals, Arsenal. The sides have seemed to have developed something of a rivalry over the past couple of seasons.

The Gunners' win against Liverpool was arguably one of their best performances of the season with veteran, Jorginho, putting in a stellar performance.

This is largely due to Mikel Arteta's men having most of their first-team available for selection. Whilst Liverpool's performance was below par, this could be due to the number of injuries they sustained in the lead-up to the game.

Throughout the Premier League campaign thus far, a number of Liverpool's players have had stand-out seasons, although one man, excluding Alisson and Virgil van Dijk's mishaps, was below par at the Emirates.

What Curtis Jones did wrong against Arsenal

Curtis Jones' performance on Sunday certainly left a lot to be desired.

His outing was quite possibly the Englishman's worst showing of the season by a country mile. More often than not this term, the Academy graduate has been one of the first names on Klopp's team-sheet but could find himself back on the bench next time out.

On this occasion, although, Jones was the second-best starting midfielder for Liverpool and managed to garner a rating of 6/10, as per Liverpool ECHO, it wasn't his finest afternoon.

Jones' poor display is further backed up by Sofascore as the midfielder only managed to touch the ball 57 times throughout the entirety of the game. To put that into context, Alisson managed to touch the ball 60 times, which outlines how little of an impact the 23-year-old had on the game.

Furthermore, he lost possession of the ball on 12 occasions and only won two of his seven duels, being bypassed on a number of occasions in the centre of the pitch,

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During Sunday's clash, it felt as if he had little to no energy after the start of the game. But, when he was moved to a deeper role after the interval, he did seem to get more of a handle on the tie.

The 23-year-old will be looking to improve his performance before the Reds' next game against Burnley on the 10th February, otherwise Klopp may look to replace him with one of his teammates.

Two players could fulfil Curtis Jones' role

As the season goes on and Liverpool get ever closer to winning the Premier League title, they will need all the help that they can get.

Hence, why the fitness of the Reds' first-team squad will be essential towards the latter end of the campaign.

Crucially, Thiago featured for the first time under Klopp in Sunday's clash after sustaining an injury all the way back in April. Since arriving at Anfield in 2020, the Spain international has sustained a number of injuries.

However, when fit, he has often been one of Liverpool's best players. He plays an important role in the side and is often lauded by fans and pundits alike, notably described as a "world-class" figure by Diogo Jota. Although he doesn't contribute to many goals, he is often the pass before the assist.

Indeed, Thiago is the first port of call between the defence and the midfield, meaning his off-the-ball work is often a key part to his game. The 32-year-old could be an ideal stop-gap for Liverpool as Jones attempts to re-find his good form.

Another option Klopp could look towards is Dominik Szoboszlai. The midfielder was absent from Sunday's clash due to injury, but throughout the season, he has arguably been Liverpool's best player after Mohamed Salah.

His range of passing and creativity are second to none and this is proven by his nine goal contributions this season, a tally bettered by no other midfielder in the squad. Once the Hungary international has returned to the first-team fold, he will likely be the player Klopp chooses.

Philippe Coutinho is on course to return to boyhood club Vasco da Gama after agreeing to a substantial salary cut to leave Aston Villa.

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• Coutinho requests Aston Villa termination
• Personal terms with Vasco da Gama agreed
• Brazilian club willing to sign two of his friends

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Coutinho is only waiting for the formality of his Aston Villa contract being terminated in order to become a Vasco da Gama player again for the first time in 16 years. has reported an agreement with Vasco has been reached after Coutinho's representatives began talks two weeks ago. They wanted to get to that stage before requesting that Villa end his contract. Botafogo, Fluminense and Gremio were also interested.

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  Mutually ending Coutinho's deal two years early is not expected to be a problem. He spent the 2023-24 season on loan with Al-Duhail in Qatar, having not particularly impressed during his sole full campaign at Villa Park and not part of Unai Emery's plans. A much reduced contract is seen as a small price to pay as Coutinho will be heading home to Rio De Janeiro, having left Vasco as a 16-year-old to move to Europe with Inter Milan.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Vasco da Gama will help Coutinho develop his charitable foundation as he seeks to give back to the community. The club appears to have also accepted his request to recruit Souza and Alex Teixeira, both of whom grew up with Coutinho in the Vasco youth ranks. Souza's contract with Istanbul Basaksehir has been terminated to facilitate the move, while Teixeira, once a major target for Liverpool during Coutinho's time there, has been without a club since beng released by Vasco in December.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR COUTINHO?

  After spending half of his life in Europe, this move could be the reset that Coutinho needs. He only recently turned 32 and still has plenty of football left to play should he so wish. His arrival should also be a boost to Vasco da Gama, who are struggling just above the relegation zone 12 games into the 2024 Brasileirao season.

West Brom have been dealt a huge blow with the news that a "very important" player has suffered a major injury setback, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed the likely timeline for a return to action.

West Brom news

The Baggies look set to be right in the Championship playoff mix in these final few months of the season, with Carlos Corberan's side fifth in the table, as things stand. There is also hope that the takeover of the club will be completed soon, with a recent report claiming Dr Shilen Patel is lining up Torino manager Ivan Juric to replace the current boss.

Some key January transfer business was conducted, in order to bolster West Brom's squad, with the likes of Mikey Johnston and Andreas Weimann arriving on loan until the end of the season, coming in from Celtic and Bristol City respectively.

There are more established current players who also remain key to the Baggies' hopes of returning to the Championship, however, and keeping them fit is going to be so important. That isn't the case with everyone at the moment, unfortunately, with Daryl Dike going off the pitch in tears in last Saturday's 2-2 draw away to Ipswich Town, having picked up what looked like a serious issue.

Daryl Dike set to return in early 2025

Taking to X, Romano confirmed that West Brom and USA striker Dike has ruptured his achilles, acting as an enormous blow for the injury-plagued attacker, revealing a probably return date of early 2025.

"Bad news again for Daryl Dike. It's a ruptured achilles, the second he has suffered in under a year. Dike will miss the majority of the remainder of 2024, expected to be back in 2025. Wish you all the best and speedy recovery."

This is such a tough one to take for Dike, not to mention being a hugely upsetting update for West Brom supporters, with the American's career at the Hawthorns constantly affected by the type of injuries that badly affect a player's abilities on return.

The 23-year-old arrived at the Baggies two years ago now, but in that time, he has been limited to just 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals along the way. That highlights just how little action Dike has enjoyed, and to suffer a second achilles problem in a short amount of time will raise concerns about how much he is affected in the long-term.

He is such an exciting prospect, which only makes it harder to take, with Corberan someone who has waxed lyrical over him in the past, saying: "The fitter he is, the better it is for the team. The more he trains, the better condition he’s in to perform. So there isn’t any doubt that he’s one very important player for us that we need to keep controlling, because he’s one player that we need in the box."

Realistically, West Brom will have to accept that Dike will play no part in the remainder of the year, and not having him around could have such an impact on their promotion hopes between now and May.

Admittedly, he has only featured for 49 minutes in the Championship this season and they are still flying high, but his quality in the final third could have been so important when the crunch matches arrive in the spring.