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Tottenham Hotspur are still looking to find a resolution to bring Pedro Porro through the doors this month and his potential arrival could see a number of players depart.

What’s the latest?

Over Sunday night and Monday morning it has emerged there have been fresh issues surrounding the deal to bring the Spanish right wing-back over to N17 after a deal was believed to be agreed upon.

It was suggested Spurs and Sporting CP had found an agreement on Saturday night during the Lilywhites’ FA Cup clash away to Preston North End.

Now it appears this deal is hanging in the balance, but prior to the development it had been suggested his possible arrival could see two out of Spurs’ current three right wing-backs depart in the final hours.

Indeed, writing in his latest transfer round-up column for GiveMeSport, insider Dean Jones has claimed two of Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Djed Spence could leave if Porro is to arrive:

“Patience has been key in negotiations for Pedro Porro but it is as good as done – and may prove to be the last of the major signings. Their next job will be to figure out how to deal with a right-back pile-up of Matt Doherty, Emerson Royal and Djed Spence. Two of the three could go,” said Jones.

One in, two out?

It now appears to be a big if, but if Porro is to land in north London ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, then it will leave Antonio Conte with a surplus of options in that position.

And one player who has already proven to be surplus to requirements this season is the youngster, Spence, who has been handed minimal opportunities by Conte.

There have been strong suggestions that Spence could be headed for the exit doors in N17 this month with a number of Premier League clubs believed to be interested in a potential deal for the 22-year-old, and it has since emerged he is close to moving to French outfit Rennes.

As for Emerson, there have also been reports claiming the Lilywhites could be prepared to allow him to leave this month with the likes of Juventus credited with an interest in the Brazilian.

And even Doherty’s future has been questioned recently with Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas suggesting the Lilywhites could be open to listening to offers for the Irishman.

However, the main focus will surely now be on securing the services of Porro with just over 24 hours remaining in the January transfer window.

With Spence having played minimal game time, between Emerson and Doherty, the pair have provided an incredibly underwhelming return of just two goals and one assist across a combined 2463 minutes of football in all competitions.

And with this in mind, you could be forgiven for thinking Conte could see either player depart this month and not really feel any big loss to his squad depth.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte has been non-committal over the availability of Cristian Romero and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ahead of his team’s Champions League Group D clash against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.

THE LOWDOWN: FATIGUE WAS FELT

Having been beaten convincingly by Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United just last week, Conte was hit with further detriment over Hojbjerg and Romero, who both felt the fatigue of playing regular minutes for the side and needed a well-earned rest.

As such, both players sat out the game against Newcastle United yesterday, with the manager still unsure as to when they will return to the Tottenham line-up.

THE LATEST: CONTE COY ON DUO’S RETURN

Speaking to the media after the defeat to the Magpies, Conte stated that Romero had struggled over the “last two or three games” and was “half and half” as to whether he would play in Spurs’ two most recent matches. It was a similar struggle with Hojbjerg, having played “every minute of every game”.

The 53-year-old said (via football.london): “Romero was the last two or three games. He arrived every day half and half to decide if he play or doesn’t play. I think in the past we have taken a risk. The players gave their availability to play otherwise, honestly, if the player doesn’t want to play, I don’t force the player.

“Now, after the game against United, he felt a lot of fatigue and then yesterday, he felt fatigued in his calf. Before in his thigh, the right. Now left in the calf. Pierre, it was the same because Pierre played every game, he played every minute, and he was really tired.

“About Richy and Deki? No chance. I don’t know about Pierre and Cuti for Wednesday. If you ask me in this moment, I don’t have an answer because I don’t know the way they recover from this fatigue and this situation if they have something, Romero in his calf or Pierre in his thigh.”

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THE VERDICT: MIND GAMES AT PLAY?

With Conte coy on whether Hojbjerg and Romero would be available for the clash against Sporting, one may wonder whether this is an example of mind games heading into that all-important fixture.

However, if the pair are indeed suffering with fatigue, it would be wise to give them another game off to recover, in order to avoid potential injury.

The Danish midfielder in particular could do with time off if he is not at 100%, having played the third-most minutes of any outfield player in the squad so far this season.

Leeds United youngster Leo Hjelde is considered an injury ‘doubt’ for his side’s Premier League clash with Liverpool, adding to the considerable list of problems for Jesse Marsch.

The Lowdown: Leeds head to Anfield

The Whites make the trip to Anfield on Saturday evening in what represents another crucial game for the under-fire manager.

The American is desperately battling to keep his job at the moment and there is no denying that he can’t afford too many more bad results.

Injuries aren’t helping Marsch’s current plight and another potential setback has emerged with kick-off against Jurgen Klopp’s side on the horizon.

The Latest: Hjelde could miss out

Taking to Twitter, Phil Hay confirmed that Joe Gelhardt, Rodrigo, Luis Sinisterra and Tyler Adams all need to be assessed while Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw will not play.

And with defensive depth already so thin, Hjelde could also miss out this weekend:

“Hjelde is a doubt too.”

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The Verdict: Injuries continue to mount

Granted, Hjelde isn’t exactly is one of the first names on the team sheet at Elland Road but this still has to be considered a blow, affecting Leeds’ preparations for Liverpool.

The 18-year-old hasn’t yet played a minute of Premier League action this season but he is a huge talent who has actually even been compared to Saturday’s opponent Virgil van Dijk, so he may have been expecting to start getting some minutes as the injuries stack up in the defensive ranks.

The hope is that Hjelde is passed fit for the game and named on the substitutes’ bench – if not, the Whites simply have to crack on with even less depth and focus on picking up a desperately needed positive result.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch is still expected to be sacked in the coming weeks despite the weekend win over Liverpool, according to one report.

The Lowdown: Huge win for Marsch

The Whites picked up their most important Premier League victory of the season so far on Saturday night, winning 2-1 at Anfield in dramatic fashion.

Crysencio Summerville’s late strike earned Leeds all three points in what was a massive result for Marsch, who has reportedly been clinging to his job recently.

Unfortunately for Marsch, though, it seems as though his current situation may not have changed, even despite that statement victory.

The Latest: Sacking still on the cards

According to page 77 of The Sunday Mirror [30 October, via MOT Leeds News], it is still ‘only a matter of time’ until the American is relieved of his duties as Leeds boss.

It is stated that many supporters don’t want Marsch to carry on as manager, despite such a memorable win at Anfield.

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The Verdict: Point of no return

Sadly for Marsch, it does feel as though there is little he can do about keeping his job now unless he manages to produce a remarkable run of form from nowhere.

The next bad result could well result in his sacking and it could be that Leeds want to bring in a new boss by the time the World Cup gets underway next month, so that they would have a few weeks to work with players behind the scenes while club football takes a breather during the tournament.

When a large and vocal element of the fan base turns on a manager, that is a big problem, and it doesn’t look as though the swell of negativity towards Marsch will be changing any time soon if even inflicting Liverpool’s first league defeat at Anfield in 30 games can’t win over the doubters.

With the World Cup looming, a number of Newcastle United’s English contingent have no doubt put themselves firmly in the mix for a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad, following what’s been a stunning start to the season for Eddie Howe’s side.

The Magpies currently find themselves in third having lost just one of their opening 14 Premier League games thus far, with Sunday’s 4-1 win over Southampton at St Mary’s ensuring a fourth successive top-flight triumph for the high-flying outfit.

That result did see Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier forced off with potential issues, although the pair remain in contention to feature in Qatar, with Wilson having scored six goals and provided two assists in just ten league games this season, while his compatriot has formed part of the league’s most solid defensive unit thus far, conceding only 11 times in 14 games.

There had been a belief that January arrival, Dan Burn, could also make a late push to secure a place in the 26-man squad, although the towering defender did himself no favours in front of the aforementioned Southgate at the weekend, following what was a shaky display from the former Brighton and Hove Albion giant.

The win over Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side – which ultimately spelt the end for the Austrian’s time in charge – did see another Englishman stake his claim for a spot on the plane next week, with midfielder Joe Willock having impressed on the south coast.

The 23-year-old – who was signed on a permanent deal from Arsenal last summer for a fee of around £25m – scored his first goal of the season in stunning fashion on Sunday, latching on to a delightful pass from teammate Trippier before poking his effort past a helpless Gavin Bazunu.

That moment of quality was seemingly just reward for the player’s impressive work ethic of late, with the £80k-per-week ace having “grafted hard” in recent times, in the words of journalist Daniel Wales, despite not always managing to deliver an end product.

The former Gunners starlet – who also laid on two assists in the win over Fulham a few weeks ago – has no doubt struggled to recapture the form he showcased on loan at St James’ Park during the tail end of the 2020/21 campaign, in which he scored eight goals in just 14 appearances, although has remained a firm fixture in the side this season with 12 starts in the league to date.

While Willock may be an outside bet to earn a place in Southgate’s travelling party, the London-born menace no doubt offers a real forward-thinking and energetic midfield option, as he notably ranks in the top 9% for touches in the attacking penalty area among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

With the Three Lions currently on a miserable winless run that stretches back to March, the national side could well be in need of a fresh face to shake things up a bit, with the Newcastle man likely to have done his chances no harm after this latest outing.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a move for Celta Vigo defender, Javi Galan, ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to reports in Spain, via Football Espana, the Magpies are believed to be targeting the 27-year-old at present, with the full-back said to have a release clause of around €18m (£15m) in his current contract.

The former Huesca man – who joined his current side in 2021 – was previously heavily linked with a move to Barcelona over the summer, albeit with the Catalan outfit ultimately bringing in Marcos Alonso from Chelsea instead.

As for the St James’ Park outfit, Eddie Howe and co were seemingly eyeing a new left-back recruit in the recent window – despite the permanent capture of loanee Matt Targett – with the likes of Borna Sosa and Alejandro Grimaldo having been mooted as possible options.

Imagine him and Botman

It would appear that the northeast side are keen to strengthen on the left of the defence, with Galan no doubt a quality option as a result of his strength at both ends of the pitch, notably providing a real asset with his ball-playing prowess.

That skill in possession has been evidenced by the fact that the 5 foot 8 menace notably ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed among those in his position in Europe, with that a far greater record than that of the aforementioned Targett (bottom 23%) and teammate Dan Burn (bottom 5%).

Such relentless quality on the ball also saw the diminutive gem finish second to only Lionel Messi back in the 2020/21 campaign in Spain with regards to completed take-ons, showcasing his ability to initiate attacks from deep.

The £25k-per-week ace – who has three goal involvements to his name this season – does not shirk his defensive responsibilities, however, as he also ranks in the top 9% for tackles made, a record again superior to that of both Burn (bottom 31%) and Targett (top 12%).

That tireless, ball-winning knack was evident in his side’s most recent La Liga outing against Rayo Vallecano, with the one-time Cordoba man – who has been dubbed “so good” by journalist Deji Faremi – winning a ridiculous 18 of his 21 ground duels in that stalemate, as well as winning both of his aerial duels.

The all-round asset could well prove to be a perfect partner to current Newcastle star Sven Botman on the left of the defence, with the “special” Dutchman – as described by pundit Jamie Redknapp – having shone at St James’ Park to date.

The towering centre-back – who has been dubbed a “machine” by talkSPORT pundit Steve Harmison – has been a revelation since his £35m arrival from Lille in the summer, forming part of a backline that has shipped just 11 league goals so far this term.

Having the left-footed colossus alongside Galan in the defensive unit could well prove to be a truly impenetrable partnership as far as Howe and co are concerned, with the Magpies needing to wrap up what could prove to be a bargain capture of the Celta star.

Aston Villa have been linked with Villarreal defender Pau Torres recently and signing the Spaniard could allow Unai Emery to finally get rid of Calum Chambers.

According to 90min, Villa are competing with Premier League rivals Wolves, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea for the 25-year-old centre-back, who has caught the eye with his performances for club and country in recent seasons.

It has been suggested that the Villans would have to pay upwards of £40m for the Spain international in January, which suggests that he would automatically become a starter under his former manager at Villa Park.

Torres’ old Villarreal B manager Miguel Alvarez was full of praise for the centre-back as he progressed through the ranks with the La Liga side.

He said: “He has especially, for a defender, a tremendous ease of playing passes through the lines, always finding the free player. Above all, he was excellent at making decisions; a tremendous calmness on the ball, which few defenders have.”

Thus, it would clearly represent an exceptional signing, with the defender possessing a rare set of skills.

Should he seal a reunion with his former manager, it will only push Chambers further down the pecking order, with the likes of Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Jan Bednarek arguably ahead of him, even in the absence of the injury-stricken Diego Carlos.

Since signing from Arsenal on a free transfer in January, the versatile defender has made just 16 appearances for his new side, scoring one goal, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be more utilised in the Premier League under Emery, who did start him in the recent cup defeat against Manchester United.

Steven Gerrard opted to hand the 27-year-old a three-and-a-half-year deal at Villa Park, meaning he is contracted until June 2025, which may prove to be a mistake considering his lack of game time so far this season.

The former England international has featured in just 99 minutes of Premier League action in the current campaign, and his one start against West Ham resulted in a 1-0 home defeat.

Chambers earns £50k-per-week at Villa Park and the potential arrival of Torres would surely spell the end of his chances of being a first-team regular, so Emery should look to get rid of the defender rather than him burning a wage on the bench until 2025.

Leeds United are once again interested in a deal to bring Pedro to Elland Road in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Brazilian media outlet Coluna do Fla (via Sport Witness), who claim that, after being heavily linked with a move for the Flamengo centre-forward over the summer, Victor Orta has now reignited his interest in the 25-year-old ahead of the winter market – with the Spaniard believing the striker is the ‘right name’ to bring into the club.

The report goes on to state that the Whites will be keeping a very close eye on the Brazil attacker at the Qatar World Cup, however, it is also claimed that, with the forward boasting a €100m (£86m) release clause, Flamengo will expect to be heavily compensated if they are to part with the two-cap international in January.

Huge coup

Considering just how impressive Pedro was in Brazil last season, coupled with the fact the 25-year-old is a part of a Brazil squad that are favourites to go on and lift the World Cup in December, it is undeniable that, should Orta manage to get a deal over the line for the Flamengo sensation this winter, it would be a huge coup for the Whites.

Indeed, over his 24 Série A fixtures – only 12 of which came as starts – last season, the £17.5m-rated talent was in breathtaking form, hitting the back of the net 11 times, providing three assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.2 shots – one of which hit the target – making 0.7 key passes and completing 0.4 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the player who Guy Mowbray dubbed “special” average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.01 – playing a key role in Flamengo sealing a second-place finish in the top flight of Brazilian football in 2022.

The attacker also played a starring role in Flamengo’s Copa Libertadores-winning campaign last term, scoring an astonishing 12 goals, registering two assists and creating six big chances over his 13 appearances, in addition to taking an average of 2.5 shots – 1.3 of which were on target – making one key pass and completing 0.6 dribbles per game.

These metrics saw the 25-year-old average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.34, not only ranking him as Dorival Júnior’s third-best player in the tournament but also as the 23rd-best player in South America’s most prestigious club competition as a whole last time out.

And, with Patrick Bamford appearing less and less likely to ever get back to the levels that saw him score 17 goals and register eight assists over 38 Premier League outings in 2020/21 due to a series of injury setbacks, it would appear extremely wise for Orta to begin considering a replacement for the former England international.

As such, considering his astonishing returns for Flamengo last season, it would appear as if Pedro would make an exceptional addition to Jesse Marsch’s current attacking options at Elland Road, not to mention being a huge coup for the Whites.

Ashley Preece has confirmed that Aston Villa are set to sign in-demand winger Cole Brannigan.

The Lowdown: Academy additions

Villa have been proactive over the last 18 months when it comes to adding to their academy ranks, with the likes of Josh Feeney, Kerr Smith and Rory Wilson all arriving at Bodymoor Heath.

Reports suggested last week that Brannigan is set to become the latest youngster to pen terms with Villa, and reliable journalist Preece has shared what he’s heard on a possible move.

The Latest: Preece’s comments

Preece shared an Aston Villa notebook for Birmingham Live, where he was asked if Villa have indeed seen off ‘a host of top clubs’ to sign Brannigan.

The Villa reporter replied, saying that the teenager is ‘expected to sign terms with Villa’, adding that Manchester City were also in for his services.

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The Verdict: Future star?

Villa appear to signing an in-demand youngster who was also wanted by Chelsea and Leeds alongside City.

You’d expect that the Northern Ireland under-16 international may slot straight into the under-18s in the Midlands, looking to progress to the under-21s and first team in due course.

Hopefully a transfer will be announced in the New Year, and in the years to come, Villa may reap the rewards of a move for Brannigan by seeing him in the first-team setup.

Transfer expert Dean Jones has claimed that both Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos could stay at Glasgow Rangers after the appointment of Michael Beale as manager.

The Lowdown: Contract uncertainty

Kent and Morelos’ contracts at Ibrox expire in the summer, meaning that they can either leave as free agents or sign a pre-contract agreement with a non-Scottish club in the January transfer window.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Beale has admitted that he would ‘ideally’ like to keep both players, claiming that they were ‘excellent’ when he was assistant manager to Steven Gerrard at the Light Blues.

The Latest: Both could stay at Rangers

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that there is a ‘chance’ that Kent and Morelos could now stay at Rangers following Beale’s appointment as manager at Ibrox.

The journalist said of the two players: “I think there’s a chance that they could stay because I’m expecting new life from this team. And I’m sure that they are expecting new life and everybody else, too, and perhaps more ambition as well.”

The Verdict: Another chance…

Under a new manager, Kent and Morelos could be given another chance to revive their careers at Rangers.

They have only managed four goals between them across all competitions so far this season, a sheer contrast to the 30 that they managed during the 2020/21 Premiership-winning campaign under Gerrard and Beale.

Both 26 years of age, Kent and Morelos still have plenty of time in their careers to turn things around, and Beale will know how to get the best out of them given his previous association with the Rangers duo.

Therefore, the Light Blues should look to give both players new deals and duly fend off any potential transfer interest in January.