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Journalist Ryan Taylor has tipped Arsenal to go out and add Ferran Torres to their attacking options this January as he could be “available” in the market.

What’s the word?

It’s no secret the Gunners are in the market for a new forward this winter and they looked as though they would be signing Shakhtar Donetsk ace Mykhailo Mudryk before Chelsea swooped in and picked him up in a deal worth £88.5m.

Consequently, Mikel Arteta and co will now have to weigh up a number of alternative options over the coming weeks. One possible player who could be of interest is Barcelona’s Torres.

Indeed, while talking on his own YouTube channel, Taylor suggested the Spaniard could be a ‘very good fit’ for the Premier League side while adding that he might be on the market too.

The journalist explained: “One name that I would put forward – I don’t know if there is interest, but one name that I would say could potentially fall under interest is Ferran Torres.

“He really does fit that kind of profile that Arsenal are looking for in terms of a versatile forward that can play multiple positions across the frontline.

“I think stylistically, in terms of his technical qualities, I think he’s a very good fit for Arsenal. He could potentially be available as well this month, I think. Barcelona squad’s very inflated, there’s a lot of options in there, particularly in attack.”

Mudryk alternative?

Torres, who has been labelled as “clinical”, certainly could come in and help add some depth to a number of different positions as he can operate anywhere across the front three. Indeed, while he has predominantly operated on the right wing, the 22-year-old can play down the middle or on the other flank.

What’s more, as he used to play for Manchester City – where Arteta used to work as an assistant manager – the Arsenal boss should be able to find out exactly what to expect from the attacker, even though they weren’t at the club at the same time.

After the blow of missing out on Mudryk, the Gunners need to act fast in the market to bolster their squad as they look to hold their lead at the top of the league table. With his versatility and past experience of English football, Torres could be a decent option to come in and make an immediate impact if Barcelona are indeed willing to let him go.

Tottenham Hotspur director of football Fabio Paratici is set to continue in his role at Hotspur Way despite the recent controversy surrounding the Italian.

What’s the latest?

Last week, it was confirmed Paratici would be receiving punishment following the latest financial scandal at Juventus with the Italian side deducted 15 points over the weekend.

It has been confirmed Paratici would be handed a two-and-a-half-year ban from Italian football following the verdict from the FIGC.

However, the ban is believed to hold a request to extend the ban to cover his dealings across UEFA and FIFA activities.

But speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed Paratici will remain in his position at Spurs for now:

“Honestly, they are not commenting on the story. So honestly, I don’t know, let’s see how they will react. It will be an official position, I think, in the next days when the situation will be official and clear also on their side.

“What I can say is that Fabio Paratici’s taking care of all the negotiations now for Tottenham.”

Work to be done

It has been a slow start to the January transfer window for the Lilywhites with Paratici yet to bring in any new faces through the doors at Hotspur Way.

There have been links to the likes of Pedro Porro and Nicolo Zaniolo and Romano claimed the Italian is still currently working on both of those deals.

There has recently been reports suggesting the director of football overpaid for the current Spurs centre-back Cristian Romero during his time at Juventus.

However, there is the belief that no wrongdoing has been done since the Italia joined Tottenham which may well see his job in north London secure for the time being.

But it would be interesting to know whether these allegations were something Daniel Levy was aware of when he appointed the Italian back in the summer of 2021.

And if he was not aware of them, whether last week’s verdict may have serious repercussions on Paratici’s future at Spurs even if his ban does not directly affect his role in north London.

Unless new light is shone on his ban, it does seem as if Spurs are willing to allow Paratici to continue on in his role as Spurs look to provide Antonio Conte with some new players this month.

However, it will be interesting to see if Daniel Levy looks to take action into his own hands after the window closes next week following the Italian’s wrongdoings.

Tottenham Hotspur target Nicolo Zaniolo is ‘keen on the move’ to the Premier League, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Zaniolo wants to leave

The AS Roma attacking midfielder has now entered the final 18 months of his contract in Serie A, and his manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that the 23-year-old has asked to leave the club this month.

The Italy international has been the subject of long-standing interest from the Lilywhites, and despite not yet agreeing a deal, the playmaker is reportedly keen to make the move to N17.

The Latest: Zaniolo ‘keen’ on Spurs move

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Spurs and Roma aren’t on the same page negotiation-wise for Zaniolo, but claimed that the 23-year-old has his heart set on playing for Antonio Conte’s side.

The journalist outlined: “Tottenham are currently only offering an initial loan for Nicolo Zaniolo with buy option included. That’s their only proposal as things stand.

“Roma want €35/40m guaranteed fee, no agreement yet. Player keen on the move. AC Milan, also keeping an eye on the situation.”

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The Verdict: No-brainer

Zaniolo has been praised by Francesco Totti for his ‘explosive’ strength, and Spurs completing a deal for him appears a no-brainer for the club’s hierarchy.

The Nike-sponsored athlete has posted 42 goal contributions during his time at Roma and currently ranks in the 95th percentile among positional peers in Europe’s top five league over the past 12 months for shots taken per game (3.64).

The Italian also offers versatility, with the ability to operate in three different positions, and with Conte in need of a creative central player (none of his current central options have more than two assists this season), this appears to be a match made in heaven.

Tottenham Hotspur could still make a late January move for Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Tottenham targeting Brozovic

The 30-year-old has been wanted by Antonio Conte for quite some time, with Calciomercato reporting that he was a target for the Premier League club back in November 2021, and their interest has been maintained ever since.

Mondo Calcio reported earlier this season that Spurs were leading the race for the Croatian, who is said to be coveted by many suitors, and they could now finally make an attempt to bring him to Hotspur Way.

The Latest: Deal on the cards?

According to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, the January transfer window could still have some ‘surprises’ in store for Inter Milan, one of these being Tottenham potentially making a move for Brozovic.

It is detailed that the Lilywhites could come forward with a bid of €25m (£22m), which might be enough to tempt the Nerazzurri into a sale, with Juventus also said to be interested in the Croatian.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

The 30-year-old’s best attribute is definitely his ability to pick out his team-mates, attempting an average of 73.36 passes per 90 in the past year. That ranks him in the 95th percentile compared to other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, completing 89.2% of his passes.

Hailed as a ‘fantastic’ player by former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, the maestro mainly features in a defensive midfield role, but he also offers a threat on the front foot as he ranks in the 88th percentile for non-penalty goals, averaging 0.17 per 90 over the past 12 months.

However, Conte does not really need another midfielder, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur ranking in the top three Tottenham players so far this season as per Sofascore metrics. Also, Brozovic’s age means that he might not be the best-judged signing, as he is likely to already be past his peak.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice remains a summer target for Chelsea and a host of top Premier League clubs, according to a new transfer report.

The Lowdown: Chelsea eyeing midfielders

The England international’s future has been a major talking point of late, with a summer exit from the Hammers looking almost certain after he rejected a long-term deal.

Chelsea have long been seen as one of the contenders to snap up Rice at the end of the season, as Graham Potter looks to make huge changes to his midfield, currently pursuing a deal for Enzo Fernandez.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that the Blues are locked in negotiations with Benfica over a deal for the Argentine World Cup winner, but it looks like they are still keeping a few eggs in the Rice basket as well.

The Latest: Blues battling PL rivals

According to Football Insider, the Blues are still ‘keeping close tabs’ on Rice, with the Englishman rejecting a number of new contract offers from West Ham.

Fellow Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are all mentioned in the same breath, though, so it will be a fierce battle to sign him.

The Verdict: An Enzo alternative?

Rice is exactly what Chelsea could do with this summer, with the Hammers favourite a huge influence both on and off the ball, averaging a 94.3% pass completion rate and 2.2 interceptions per match at the 2022 World Cup.

The fact that he was a boyhood Blues supporter could certainly work in the club’s favour, should nostalgia take over, as well as reuniting with great friend Mason Mount.

The £60,000-a-week-earning Rice has been described as ‘magnificent’ by Gary Lineker and he is someone who could be a dominant mainstay of Chelsea’s midfield for around a decade, so he is certainly a viable target for the summer if the Fernandez deal falls through.

The title charge continued for Celtic on Sunday afternoon as the champions romped to a 4-1 victory away to St Johnstone, with that emphatic triumph ensuring that the Parkhead giants have restored their nine-point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Just a few days on from having produced a first-half blitz to see off Livingston, the Old Firm outfit again struck an early blow in Perth, with Kyogo Furuhashi seeing his cross turned in by an unfortunate Andy Considine, before that lead was soon extended as the Japan international lashed home for his 22nd goal of the season across all fronts.

While a long-range piledriver from Drey Wright did offer a sprinkling of hope to the hosts midway through the first half, that belief was soon extinguished as man of the moment, Aaron Mooy bagged his sixth goal of the campaign.

A late strike from David Turnbull – following a dismissal for the experienced Considine – inflicted further misery on Callum Davidson’s men, with the Hoops comfortably strolling to a third win of the season over the Saints.

That commanding performance proved yet another fine day for the aforementioned Mooy, with the Australian playmaker stealing the headlines as a result of his superbly taken goal, having produced a delightful finish to dink the ball over the onrushing Remi Matthews.

That moment of magic epitomised the confidence that the 32-year-old is playing with at the moment, having unsurprisingly been awarded the man of the match gong, while also leading the way with his 7.7 match rating, as per Sofascore.

Amid what was a ‘superb performance’ by Mooy – as described by Scottish Daily Express reporter, Lindsay Herron – the former Brighton and Hove Albion man was not the only figure to have stolen the show at McDiarmid Park, with fleet-footed maestro, Jota, having also shone on the flanks.

The Portuguese dynamo appears to be getting back to his best having now provided four goal involvements in his last five league games – following a run of seven top-flight games without a goal or an assist – with that latest contribution having come with the 23-year-old teeing up Mooy with an exquisite chipped pass over the defence.

The former Benfica ace also had a key role in the game’s second goal after showing great trickery down the flanks before firing the ball across the box for Kyogo, via the aid of a deflection, with the diminutive striker subsequently firing in on the turn.

Jota also went close to getting himself on the scoresheet only to see his long-range effort strike the crossbar, while the wide man also produced another clever pullback late on to find Liel Abada at the back post, only for the latter man to fire high and wide.

Such an impactful display saw the £17k-per-week man register two key passes from his 54 touches, with his match rating of 7.4, as per Sofascore, second to only that of star man, Mooy.

While the electric forward did lose possession on 16 occasions and commit five fouls on the day, he once again illustrated the stunning, game-changing impact that he can make in the final third for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

To have a fit and firing Jota once again will surely be a major boost for the second half of the season.

Everton failed to strengthen their squad during the January transfer window, with their focus lasered on securing a new manager in Sean Dyche, although a new update has emerged on a potential summer target.

What’s the latest on Dennis Geiger to Everton?

According to transfer expert Christian Falk, Hoffenheim midfielder Dennis Geiger could become the first signing of the Dyche era at Goodison Park when the transfer window reopens in the summer.

Falk wrote in his Caught Offside column: “Dennis Geiger could become Sean Dyche’s first signing for Everton. There is serious interest there, he’s 24 and is set to become a free agent in the summer. Also, Frankfurt and Benfica are interested, so I think there will be competition between Frankfurt and Everton.

“Frankfurt has to act on the position and they need someone but Everton has a bit more money. I think Geiger’s future could be up to these two clubs.”

Dyche could finally bin Davies

The recently-appointed Everton manager was not confirmed in the job until just before Deadline Day last month, so he wasn’t given an opportunity to get his feet under the table and obtain a full understanding of the gaps in personnel within the squad in time to acquire the right players to fit his philosophy.

However, the former Burnley boss has shown what he could get out of his current crop of the players at Goodison Park by taking all three points from league leaders Arsenal last weekend, so it will be interesting to see what he can do when he brings in players who he believes can make a positive impact next season.

Indeed, there is still a long way to go over the current campaign, with 17 fixtures left to secure survival in the Premier League. Nonetheless, planning for the future shows ambition and an intent to improve, and Geiger would be an excellent coup for the club.

Across 17 Bundesliga appearances this season, the 24-year-old has scored one goal, registered two assists and completed 57% of his dribbles, averaging 1.6 key passes, 1.4 tackles and 2.5 successful duels per game, proving that he can offer a real attacking threat from the middle of the park.

Geiger has been the recipient of some high praise over his career so far, with former Hoffenheim striker Sandro Wagner drawing comparisons with one Bayern Munich stalwart by saying: “He’s a real live-wire on the pitch. With a few more improvements, he can be like Joshua Kimmich.”

Snapping up the German talent’s services when he becomes a free agent in the summer could give Dyche the perfect opportunity to finally bin Everton dud Tom Davies, who will be out of contract in the summer.

The £25k-per-week liability has struggled to make his presence known on the pitch and offer consistency to the team, starting only four league matches all season and ranking as only the Toffees’ 18th-best performer this season with a modest 6.64 rating (as per Sofascore).

In 170 appearances for the club since his senior debut in 2016, Davies has managed just seven goals and eight assists, failing to offer much of an attacking threat from midfield, and he has often been a lightning rod for criticism from supporters over his performances.

By contrast, Geiger has managed more goal contributions (19) than the 24-year-old Toffees liability in 51 fewer senior career appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

If Everton can secure Geiger’s signature this summer for free, it would appear to represent a great piece of business for the club and could significantly improve their attacking quality in midfield next season.

Everton have had a really difficult season so far in the Premier League, however, the supporters will now be hoping that the new appointment of Sean Dyche can bring the club back to life just in time to survive relegation.

Dyche has already given the Goodison Park faithful a glimpse of what can be possible with the current crop of players when he led the side to their first victory since October last year against league leaders Arsenal last weekend.

Indeed, there is still a long way to go for the Toffees as they remain one point deep in the relegation zone ahead of a challenging clash with Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby this weekend.

Should the former Burnley boss retain the club’s Premier League status at the end of the season, there is no doubt that the Everton hierarchy will need to invest in the manager’s philosophy over the summer transfer window despite financial problems continuing to loom.

Developing and reinvesting in the forward line has become the most pressing concern for the Merseysiders, however, they could have a hidden gem returning to the club in the summer to strengthen another key area of the pitch.

Jarrad Branthwaite was sent out on a season-long loan to PSV Eindhoven in the summer, giving the academy graduate the opportunity to prove his worth with consistent first-team football and he has done so phenomenally.

Over 14 Eredivisie appearances, the 20-year-old talent has scored one goal, successfully won 54% of his duels and tallied up a 92% pass completion rate in his own half, displaying radiant composure and domination at the heart of the defence.

Not only that, Branthwaite now ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers across the ‘next eight best’ leagues for non-penalty goals, passes attempted, pass completion and progressive passes.

The Everton youngster’s displays in the Netherlands have started to attract attention from some of the biggest clubs in the world with Manchester United, Roma and bitter rivals Liverpool all scouting Branthwaite.

Although it could be tempting for the Toffees to sell their valuable asset in Branthwaite this summer in order to boost funds to reinvest into the forward line, keeping hold of the defender could pay off and give the club their next Phil Jagielka who could dominate in the backline for years to come.

Jagielka was a consistent and reliable performer for Everton over his 12 years with the Merseyside club, becoming a modern great – amassing 385 appearances before leaving in 2019.

Like Branthwaite, he was composed in possession of the ball, completing over 82% of his passes across multiple top-flight campaigns.

Now, the young defender could even follow in the footsteps of Jagielka on the international stage too, with his former Carlisle boss Steve Pressley claiming the young centre-back could be in line for an international call-up:

“He had so many quality attributes to become a top player,” he began.

“I told people he was a future England international.”

With that being said, it will be interesting to see if the power brokers at Goodison see the value in keeping hold of Branthwaite or whether they will be blinded by an opportunity to collect a quick payday on the player this summer.

Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth was again active last month in order to help bolster Eddie Howe’s squad, with the Englishman notably moving to secure the services of Harrison Ashby and Anthony Gordon from West Ham United and Everton, respectively.

The signing of the latter man was undoubtedly the more high profile of the Magpies’ January business – with Garang Kuol also joining from Central Coast Mariners – as the 21-year-old was snapped up on a hefty £45m deal from Goodison Park.

While that willingness to fork out such a sizeable fee for the Englishman is a testament to the faith that Ashworth and co have in him, it is believed that Gordon was not the only attacking option that the Tynesiders had been targeting, with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams also having been on the club’s radar.

Did Newcastle want to sign Nico Williams?

According to The Athletic, the 20-year-old starlet was a possible ‘non-English alternative’ to that of the Toffees man for Newcastle, with journalist George Caulkin suggesting that a move for the promising Spaniard had been “discussed” by those at St James’ Park.

That follows reports during the winter window that suggested that fellow Premier League side Aston Villa were willing to meet the player’s £45m release clause, albeit with the forward himself said to have rejected the prospect of moving to the Midlands.

It is difficult to know whether Williams could have been tempted to link up with Howe’s side had the northeast outfit made a firm approach of their own, although nevertheless, it may well prove something of a blunder to have plumped for Gordon instead.

Should Newcastle have signed Williams rather than Gordon?

The Bilbao “sensation” – as described by journalist Shina Oludare – has already made a big impression for the Basque outfit in recent times, having scored seven goals and provided six assists in 26 games in all competitions.

The 5 foot 11 winger now boasts a tally of ten goals and seven assists in just 68 first-team appearances for the La Liga side to date, with the seven-cap speedster having also been part of La Roja’s World Cup squad in Qatar.

The aforementioned Gordon, by contrast, had just three goals to his name and no assists across all fronts this season for the Merseysiders prior to his recent switch, having recorded only seven goals and eight assists in 78 appearances for his former employers.

The England U21 international also appears to lack the dynamic brilliance of Williams as he ranks in just the bottom 39% for progressive carries among those in his position in Europe, while the Pamplona native ranks in the top 6% in that same metric.

Equally, the latter also appears to offer more in a creative sense from his usual left-wing berth as he ranks in the top 15% for progressive passes received, while Gordon only ranks in the bottom 10% in that regard.

Although Newcastle’s new man has ample opportunity to go on and thrive under Howe in the coming years, he has already faced notable criticism in recent times, with Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler (Sunday Mirror, 12/02/2023, page 75) stating that the forward’s price tag was “ridiculous” as he has “hardly done anything” in the game.

Gordon will no doubt be striving to prove the now-retired icon wrong, although it is hard to shake the fact that the club may well have been better served landing a higher-quality asset with the signing of Williams.

Journalist Paul Brown claims that Everton central midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure is ‘way, way below his best’.

The Lowdown: Resurgence

Doucoure is enjoying a resurgence under new manager Sean Dyche, as he has started and played the full 90 minutes in Everton’s last three Premier League games under him.

Before that, he had only started twice in the league, and had only made 12 appearances in total over all competitions this season (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, Dyche is clearly seeing something in Doucoure to bring him back into the fold, after he was linked with a move to Fulham in the January transfer window.

The Latest: ‘Below his best’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Brown claims that Doucoure is still ‘way, way below his best’, citing a golden opportunity he had to score in Saturday afternoon’s 1-0 win at home to Leeds United in the Premier League:

“He is still way, way below his best in my opinion. There was a point in their last game when he was clean through on goal and couldn’t even get a shot away before that chance was snuffed out.

“If you look at replays of that carefully, his foot did slip as he plants it. Maybe that was just misfortune, but I can’t help thinking that the Doucoure of two seasons ago would have buried that immediately.”

The Verdict: Needs a run of games

Doucoure needs a run of games to get back to his best at Goodison Park, and Dyche seems to have full faith in him to excel in his midfield until the end of the season.

Despite his miss last weekend, he was one of the best players on the pitch, winning six of his duels and recording two successful dribbles, one clearance, two interceptions, four tackles, two key passes and one accurate long ball (SofaScore).

Doucoure also recorded the highest pass accuracy (88%) in the entire Toffees squad, showing the overall influence he had on the match.

Being the joint-highest earner in the squad on £120,000-per-week, he needs to show consistency now, which will only come if Dyche keeps giving him starts.