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Newcastle United could well be set for a timely boost heading into the second half of the season, following an update on the fitness of striker, Alexander Isak.

What’s the word?

As per the Chronicle, the 23-year-old is currently stepping up his return from injury, with the Sweden international having been included as part of the Magpies’ travelling party for the warm weather training camp in Saudi Arabia.

The report suggests that manager Eddie Howe is hopeful of having the former Real Sociedad man ready for action when club action resumes at the end of the month, with the Englishman set to assess whether the 37-cap marksman will be able to feature against Al Hilal later this week.

The 6 foot 4 superstar has not featured since the draw with Bournemouth at St James’ Park back in mid-September due to a thigh injury, having joined the northeast side for a club-record fee of around £59m over the summer.

Boost Howe’s Champions League hopes

It is no doubt encouraging news to learn that the one-time Borussia Dortmund man could even be in contention to take to the field later this week, with it having been a real “nightmare” scenario – in the words of pundit Alan Hutton – for all parties in recent months.

While fellow striker Callum Wilson has held the fort impressively in his teammate’s absence, scoring six goals in just 11 Premier League outings, it will certainly be a real boost to provide further competition to the Englishman’s striking berth by bringing Isak back into the fold.

The latter man had initially made a strong start to life in his new surroundings prior to his stint on the treatment table, with the Solna-born ace scoring twice in his three top-flight outings to date, including on debut in the narrow defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

That clash on Merseyside showcased the youngster’s undoubted finishing prowess as he lashed on from the angle to initially put the visitors ahead, while also showing great composure to fire in after the break, albeit with that second effort subsequently ruled out for offside.

Having only seen flashes of that talent thus far, it will surely be a welcome boost as far as Howe and co are concerned to have their marquee addition fit and firing again, with that impending return likely to only bolster the Tynesiders’ hopes of securing Champions League football.

For all the talk of potential new acquisitions to strengthen the forward line – including the likes of Marcus Thuram and Mykhaylo Mudryk – the return of Isak could well prove to be like a cliched new signing.

Newcastle have already been thriving in his absence – losing just once so far this season – hence the excitement at the potential improvement that the Swede could make over the festive period and beyond.

Leeds United are showing ‘serious interest’ in signing Atletico Madrid attacker Matheus Cunha in January, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein.

The Lowdown: Leeds in need of new attacker

The Whites are looking a little light on attacking options currently, ahead of what could be a pivotal second half to the Premier League season.

Patrick Bamford is still struggling to rid himself of injury problems and there is nobody in the team who can guarantee goals in a similarly prolific manner, while the Englishman himself has not exactly looked his usual standard when he has played this term.

A January addition is surely needed in that area and an exciting update has now emerged, in that respect.

The Latest: ‘Serious interest’ in Cunha

Writing for The Athletic on Monday, Ornstein claimed that there is genuine interest in Cunha from Leeds:

“There is serious interest, too, from Leeds United.

“They tried to get Cunha before he went to Atletico from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2021 and he knows their head coach Jesse Marsch from their time together at another German club, RB Leipzig, in 2018-19.

“Having narrowly missed out on Cody Gakpo of PSV Eindhoven and the Netherlands in the summer, Leeds know how important it is to pounce before players they want in the market become out of reach for them.”

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The Verdict: Could be a brilliant signing

Cunha could be just what Leeds are looking for in the January transfer window, with the 23-year-old winning eight caps for Brazil to date, which is no mean feat.

His time at Atletico has started to peter out, however, and a fresh challenge at Elland Road could be perfect for him, allowing him to be a star player rather than a cog in the machine for a defence-minded side.

Cunha has been compared in play style to a young Roberto Firmino with his quick feet, vision, versatility and work rate – if he could come in and have that kind of impact at Leeds, he will be a hero in no time. The Whites should do all they can to snap him up.

Leeds United are still in the race to sign Atletico Madrid attacker Matheus Cunha but Wolves could play a key role in the saga, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Cunha off to England?

The Brazilian’s future at his current club certainly feels up in the air at the moment, having clearly fallen down the attacking pecking order under Diego Simeone.

Cunha didn’t make a single start in the Champions League group stage earlier in the season, while only two have come his way in La Liga in 2022/23.

He has been linked with a move to several Premier League clubs, including Leeds, and it would now arguably be a surprise if he didn’t head to England in January or next summer.

The Latest: Jones’ update

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones reported that the Whites may need Wolves to fall away, but revealed there are some ‘interesting’ things happening behind the scenes that make a move to Elland Road ‘doable’:

“If Wolves can’t tie it up, then it will be one to look out for. I was sceptical of Leeds’ interest at first, but there are actually some interesting factors that could make this doable.”

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The Verdict: Could be a great signing

Cunha is someone who could be an extremely exciting signing by Leeds, adding a sprinkling of stardust to an attack that hasn’t always fired this season.

Granted, his time at Atletico hasn’t necessarily gone to plan, but he is still someone who has won eight caps for Brazil and been described as ‘amazing’ by journalist Maxi Angelo, who tipped the forward as a ‘terrific successor to (Roberto) Firmino at Liverpool’.

Cunha is capable of playing down the middle and on the flanks, which will no doubt appeal to Jesse Marsch, and at 23, he is still someone whose best years should be ahead of him.

West Ham United travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on league leaders Arsenal in tonight’s Premier League clash, with David Moyes’ men hoping to gain a positive result and get their campaign back on track.

The Irons have struggled this season, recording just four top-flight wins and currently languishing near the relegation zone in 16th place.

Moyes is facing an attacking crisis ahead of the match, with Michail Antonio and Gianluca Scamacca both doubtful. This means that the Scot might need to place his trust in Jarrod Bowen to lead the West Ham line against the league leaders.

Bowen usually operates on the right wing for West Ham, but there is no doubt that he can provide an excellent attacking threat if deployed through the middle against Arsenal.

The £60k-per-week machine has been a revelation since arriving at the London Stadium in 2020 from Hull City, going on to score 32 goals and register 23 assists in 125 appearances so far for the Irons.

Last season was his most prolific one under Moyes, with Bowen scoring 12 league goals along with grabbing 12 assists as he played an integral part in helping his team to finish seventh in the table.

Furthermore, the “unreal” winger – as dubbed by football reporter Stephen Killen – managed to create nine big chances while averaging 1.2 key passes per match, showcasing his ability to create plenty of opportunities for his team-mates.

The Englishman hasn’t quite been in the same rich vein of form this term, netting just twice in the league so far in 2022/23, but his goalscoring credentials over the previous couple of years shouldn’t faze Moyes in having to play him slightly out of position against Arsenal.

There is no doubt that Bowen could cause problems for the Gunners’ centre-backs tonight if played through the middle, and if he can replicate his performances of last season, he might just net some hugely valuable goals for West Ham.

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to make an offer for Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar, according to a report from TEAMtalk on Saturday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Tottenham’s Skriniar links

Spurs’ links to Skriniar are nothing new, with Football Insider reporting in April 2021 that the club’s then-manager Jose Mourinho was eyeing him for a summer transfer swoop.

However, the move did not transpire, with Calciomercato claiming that the defender had no interest in a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and instead wanted to commit his future to Inter.

It was recently reported by the same news outlet that Spurs are again in the running to sign the Slovakian, and it now looks as though Antonio Conte is going to take that interest one step further by making an official offer…

The Latest: Skriniar in Conte’s sights

According to transfer expert Graeme Bailey, who spoke to TEAMtalk, the Lilywhites are now ‘ready’ to make an offer for the 27-year-old, whose contract is set to expire in 2023 and will therefore be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January.

There will be stiff competition for his signature, though, with several top Premier League clubs and Paris Saint-Germain all interested, while Inter still believe that they can convince him to stay.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Conte has been presented with a fantastic opportunity to bolster his defence with the signing of a player in his peak years, without the sizeable transfer fee which would usually be attached, with Skriniar having previously been valued at just under €60m (£53m).

Furthermore, the 6 foot 2 enforcer is used to playing in a three-man defence with that system being deployed by Simone Inzaghi at Inter in every match so far this season, so he would not take long to adapt to Conte’s chosen style of play.

Lauded as a ‘monster’ by Serie A analyst Marco Messina and ‘one of the best free agents who could ever become available’ by Bailey, the Slovakian specialises in his ability on the ball. That is highlighted by an average pass completion percentage of 92.1% per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

With Tottenham struggling defensively this season, conceding the most goals of any team in the top eight of the Premier League, Skriniar would be an ideal signing for Conte.

Chelsea are starting to take shape under the new ownership of opulent American businessman Todd Boehly, with the summer spending spree now spilling over into the winter market.

Having parted with approximately £259m during the entirety of the 2022/23 term, Chelsea are now looking to add a few more names to the fold of genuine star quality in order to assist an ascension to the very front of the Premier League pack.

According to The Times, Graham Potter has identified Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister as a shrewd alternative to Enzo Fernandez, who has been earmarked by technical director Christopher Vivell ahead of a prospective move during the ongoing January transfer window.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently tweeted to confirm Chelsea’s advancing progress in their pursuit of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar’s Best Young Player Fernandez, though the SL Benfica board are still yet to grant a departure.

Romano said: “Chelsea and Benfica will hold new direct talks today for Enzo Fernandez. The deal is advanced as reported last week, but Rui Costa’s final approval is still pending – as key step to get it done.

“Enzo has agreed terms with Chelsea last Wednesday. He wants the move.”

“Golden boy”

If a late stumbling block proves to throw a spanner in the works, Fernandez’s compatriot and fellow World Cup winner Mac Allister could prove to be a fine acquisition indeed.

With reports that Chelsea will have to meet Fernandez’s £106m release clause, consideration should be made in regard to Brighton & Hove Albion’s midfield maestro, who is reportedly available for roughly €40m (£35m).

As per Sofascore, Fernandez recorded a rating of 7.10 in Qatar, impressing from his creative role in the centre, while the dynamic Mac Allister recorded a rating of 7.05, equally demonstrating his aptitude through his all-encompassing work on the pitch.

And in the Premier League, the £48k-per-week gem’s exploits have been even more fruitful, with his five goals from 14 league appearances a large part behind his club’s fantastic efforts as they sit very much in the mix for a European spot at the front of the table.

The 14-cap ace’s rating of 7.34 in the Premier League this term are largely down to his robust performances, averaging 1.9 shots per match, making 0.9 key passes and completing an impressive 89% of his total passes.

And his 3.4 tackles and 1.4 interceptions have also gone a long way to maintaining Albion’s commendable status as an established top-flight team despite losing lauded manager Graham Potter to Chelsea near the start of the campaign.

Hailed as Brighton’s “golden boy” by content creator Ryan Adsett, Mac Allister could transfer that aura to Chelsea, and while the Blues might be interested in Fernandez, his compatriot down the road could bring every bit the calibre to the ambitious outfit for a portion of the price.

Leeds United are believed to be ‘in the lead’ in the race to sign Torino defender Ola Aina, according to a new transfer report from Italy.

The Lowdown: Aina a key figure for Torino

The Nigerian has matured into an important squad player for his current club in Serie A, making 103 appearances for them to date.

However, Aina has been limited to just seven league starts this season, and it could be that a new challenge comes his way in the current transfer window.

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to Leeds in December, and a new update has emerged in that regard.

The Latest: Leeds ‘in the lead’ for Aina

According to Tuttosport [via Sport Witness], the Whites are currently ‘in the lead’ for Aina’s signature, with the defender ‘destined’ to leave Torino after some ‘erratic’ performances.

His current deal expires at the end of this season, so a January exit could allow him to earn Torino some money from selling him this month.

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The Verdict: Good versatile option

Admittedly, Aina hasn’t been pulling up any trees with his displays this season, but he could still prove to be a handy prospective addition for Jesse Marsch this month. He has been described as a ‘great player’ by Torino manager Ivan Juric, despite his patchy form of late.

The 29-cap Nigeria international’s positional flexibility is something which stands out as a positive – he has been hailed as “Mr Versatile” in the past by Fulham podcaster Sammy James – and he is capable of playing at centre-back, full-back and in a defensive midfield role.

The reports that Torino are keen to sell could put Leeds in a strong bargaining position, allowing Victor Orta and co to sign him on the cheap and arguably for a cut-price figure.

Leeds United have reportedly moved into the ‘pole position’ to sign an exciting midfield talent…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to journalist Ciro Venerato, speaking on RAI and transcripted by Area Napoli (via Sport Witness), who suggests that the Whites have moved into the lead in their pursuit of Azzedine Ounahi from Angers.

The journalist, who was covering Napoli’s pursuit of the Moroccan maestro, claimed: “As regards the Napoli transfer market, we can say that Leeds are in pole position for the Moroccan Azzedine Ounahi.

“The English have offered €25m (£22m) to Angers and €2.5m to the player, higher figures than those offered by Napoli which had stopped at €1.5m.”

Marsch could ditch Roca for Ounahi

Having only signed for Leeds last summer, Marc Roca has already established himself as a mainstay in Jesse Marsch’s side.

The Spaniard does offer a dependable pair of legs beside the relentless Tyler Adams, and for that, he must be commended.

However, given how the Leeds manager likes to play his football with what The Athletic’s Liam Tharme described as ‘a high-risk, potentially high-reward approach’, perhaps he would be better served to employ someone like Ounahi, who has a lot more attacking impetus than the former Bayern Munich maestro.

Whilst Roca boasts a 6.92 Sofascore rating in the Premier League, it could be argued that he largely occupies a similar role to Adams, with both being more defensive-minded midfielders. 

Roca averages 2.2 tackles per game alongside an 81% pass accuracy, which is dwarfed by the four tackles per game and 83% pass accuracy of the American.

There is not an inherent need for this solely defensive midfield base, and therefore the 26-year-old could take a back seat if World Cup star Ounahi does sign from Angers.

The 22-year-old ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past 12 months, which he pairs with an unrelenting desire to push forward when possible. As such, he also sits in the top 5% for progressive passes received.

Alongside Sofyan Amrabat in Qatar, he provided an impressive base with which Morocco could push forward with speed, shocking Portugal and Spain along their way to making history as the first country from Africa to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

At club level, Adams could operate in that solely defensive role to allow Ounahi to push forward and truly unlock the potential of this Leeds team. After all, his exploits at the tournament in Qatar were lauded as “genuinely world-class” by World Cup consultant and USA-based coach Jed Davies.

Whilst it would require a slight tweak in philosophy, it seems clear that Marsch favours an offensive style which somewhat forsakes defending. As such, in 17 league games this season, the Whites have scored 25 goals but conceded 31, the joint-fourth worst tally in the division for the latter.

If Leeds are to continue neglecting their defensive duties, the least they could do is sign players appropriately to maximise their output going forward. Ounahi fits this bill and would be an ample attacking upgrade on Roca.

Tottenham Hotspur are now likely to attempt contract talks with Harry Kane following the conclusion of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

Spurs will be looking to tie down their main man, Kane, in the coming months to a new and improved contract to keep him playing his football in north London.

The 29-year-old now has just over one year remaining on his deal in N17 meaning next season could potentially be his last in a Spurs shirt.

However, this also means there is a danger that Spurs could be left with a major issue on their hands over the summer if the striker is to reject any potential offer provided to him by Spurs.

But speaking on NBC Sports, David Ornstein has claimed any talks over a new deal will not take place until after the January window has been wrapped up:

“Harry Kane too out of contract in 2024. No talks as yet. With the window and the World Cup, that’s likely to happen after.

“The ball is in his court. Will he leave as a free agent in ’24? Will he sign a new deal? It will probably come down to Tottenham’s ambition and chances of competitive trophy-winning potential and that relates back to the overall ownership picture and the chances of success.”

Time to move on?

The England captain will turn 30 over the summer and will potentially still have the narrative of failing to win a single piece of silverware hanging over his head.

Spurs remain in two cup competitions, the Champions League and FA Cup, but now are well out of the running in the league with their local rivals opening up a 14-point gap on them over the weekend.

But the future of their striker will likely be a big concern to all involved with the club given the form he has shown despite Spurs’ struggles in the league this season.

In his 19 league appearances, the England captain has provided a return of 15 goals and an assist. A return which has only been bettered by Erling Haaland.

If Kane was to reject any contract offers put to him by the Lilywhites it would leave Daniel Levy with a huge decision to make over the summer.

Would he make Kane play out his contract in north London and then allow him to leave as a free agent in the summer of 2024?

Or would he look to cash in this summer in a bid to bring in some money to replace the striker who is looking to beat Alan Shearer’s record of Premier League goals?

Finding a striker who could replace Kane’s output at Spurs would not only be incredibly difficult but could also prove incredibly expensive.

And with that in mind, selling him in the summer if he is to refuse any contract offers could possibly turn out to be the smartest decision.

At his age, it does feel like this could be Kane’s last big contract, so if Spurs are to keep ahold of him, their form will likely have to improve with Champions League football potentially a huge factor in his decision-making.

Everton are the Premier League club showing the ‘most interest’ in Villarreal attacker Arnaut Danjuma, according to a transfer report on Monday.

The Lowdown: Danjuma constantly linked

The Dutchman has been continually linked with a move to Goodison Park in the January transfer window, as Frank Lampard looks to bring in attacking reinforcements and save the Blues from relegation.

Danjuma is having a fairly quiet season for Villarreal, making only six La Liga starts and scoring just twice, and it could be that a move away appeals to him, having reportedly fallen out with his teammates.

A new update further suggests that it could be Everton who snap up the 25-year-old this month, despite the many teams linked.

The Latest: Everton showing ‘most interest’

According to Monday’s copy of El Periodico Mediterraneo [via Sport Witness], Villarreal have given Danjuma permission to talk to English clubs about a potential move.

Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Bournemouth are all mentioned in the report but it is Everton who are thought to be showing the ‘most interest’. A loan move with an option to buy in the summer looks like the most likely scenario.

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The Verdict: Much-needed January quality

This is a story that seems to have real legs to it given Villarreal’s apparent desire to get rid, and Danjuma could be just the type of player Everton need to add goals and assists to a struggling attack.

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A tally of 22 goals in 51 appearances for Villarreal is not far off a one-in-two ratio and the fact that he is effective on the left, right and centrally makes him a tricky customer for defenders.

Jonathan Woodgate once described Danjuma as an ‘exceptional’ player during their time together at Bournemouth and he could be someone who changes Everton’s fortunes for the better.