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Transfer expert Dean Jones says that Arsenal have Wolfsburg right-back Ridle Baku on their ‘radar’ ahead of this summer.

The Lowdown: Busy summer ahead…

Arsenal look to have a busy summer ahead, as they look to build a squad that can compete in the UEFA Champions League as well as the Premier League.

They have strongly been linked with a move for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, and are also in the race for Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund and Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto, so are clearly looking to strengthen in a number of different areas of the pitch.

The Latest: Baku on the radar

Writing for GiveMeSport, Baku is one of a number of right-backs ‘on the radar’ of Arsenal’s, and has been for a ‘couple of years’.

There is a feeling that he could be ‘very adaptable’ to the team given his versatility and work-rate, and so the Gunners could well act on their interest.

The Verdict: Is he needed?

Mikel Arteta already has Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu that he can call upon in the right-back position, while Cedric Soares is set to return from his loan spell at Fulham at the end of the season.

Thus, the North Londoners need to weigh up whether bringing in Baku is sensible, although he can play in a number of other positions.

Hailed as ‘outstanding’ by his former head coach at Mainz Sandro Schwarz, the Germany international ranks in the top 17% of all full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for a number of key metrics, including non-penalty goals, shots and blocks per game.

Nonetheless, he is 24 years of age, and so still has plenty of potential, but right-back is a crowded area at the Emirates Stadium.

Leeds United invested heavily last summer, entrusting Jesse Marsch with vast funds to ensure he would guide them far away from the relegation battle he had just saved them from.

Of the seven new faces he brought in, the biggest task the American was faced with was replacing the goals of Raphinha, who had left that summer.

The Brazilian had turned into a truly world-class asset whilst at Elland Road, and his exploits were integral in their continued presence in the Premier League. He was their top scorer last season on 11, so to seek a direct replacement for him was somewhat foolish.

Few could replicate what he did, and with hindsight perhaps offsetting his goals across numerous purchases might have been a smarter move.

However, Luis Sinisterra was selected as his successor, as the Whites parted with £21m to tempt him to Yorkshire.

Whilst he had looked electric the season prior for Feyenoord, his spark has since dwindled out amidst injuries and a loss of form.

How much has Luis Sinisterra cost Leeds?

Whilst his initial fee is mouth-watering enough, the 23-year-old was also handed a £65k-per-week deal to partner it. This was a necessary evil, as if he was expected to be their main man, a figure such as this was to be expected.

However, given how the South American has not performed, it instantly makes the total sum seem foolish. All in all the forward will have cost £24.4m come the conclusion of this campaign, yet he has only mustered 13 appearances in the league, costing the club a depressing £1.6m for each showing he has made this season across all competitions because of his absences.

His return of just two goals is a far cry from what was desired when he first joined too. Frustratingly, this must be branded a failed deal thus far.

It is extremely disappointing to see how little impact he is having, given how he thrived in the Netherlands as aforementioned. Sinisterra's final season in the Eredivisie saw him notch 12 goals and assist a further seven, and in all competitions posted 37 goal contributions.

Clearly capable of magic, there have been brief flashes of the 5 foot 10 winger's potential, but not enough to merit his cost. For example, podcaster Conor McGilligan had brandished one of his goals for Leeds as "Paul Gasgoigne-esque"; high praise indeed.

The talent is obviously there, and were the club's number 23 fit and firing he could truly be the catalyst towards ensuring their safety. It will not be an easy task, but should Javi Gracia reignite the speedster it could be one of his most important feats as Leeds manager.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is of interest to Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Juventus, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Emery not impressed with Martinez

The Argentine has missed just two games in the Premier League this season and has remained first-choice under Unai Emery.

However, the Villa boss was left fuming with the World Cup winner at the weekend after he went up for a corner against Arsenal in injury time. The Gunners ended up breaking away to score their fourth goal, with Emery publicly voicing his frustration with the 30-year-old over that incident.

The Latest: Villa will listen to offers for Martinez

Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Martinez, claiming that Villa are ready to entertain offers in the region of £40m for the Argentine.

The goalkeeper is viewed as one of the club’s most saleable assets, with Atletico, Inter and Juventus all interested in his services.

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The Verdict: Good time to sell?

Villa paid Arsenal £20m for Martinez and, by the end of the current campaign, they will have had him on the books in the Midlands for nearly three years.

His current deal at Villa Park doesn’t expire until 2027, so this summer could be an ideal opportunity to maximise his value.

There have also been reports of a frosty relationship between Emery and Martinez, so with multiple European giants keen on the goalkeeper, it could be a good time for Villa to sell.

Liverpool are undergoing a somewhat transitional season this term, to put it mildly and the 2-0 derby win over Everton will surely not be enough to satiate Jurgen Klopp and the extremely high standards that he sets at Anfield.

The club currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, nine points from the Champions League places, and unless a remarkable turnaround is achieved over the final 17 matches, the Reds may miss out on European competition altogether for 2023/24.

January was the perfect time to make some changes and sign a couple of players to give the squad a much-needed spark, having been so lethargic during the opening few months of the campaign. Despite being linked with the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo they ended up with Cody Gakpo, which is a solid enough addition, albeit one which doesn’t improve their midfield conundrum.

Klopp missed a chance to secure a move for Sofyan Amrabat during the January transfer window, and he could’ve been a cheaper option compared to some of the Reds’ other targets.

Will Klopp rue missing out on a move for Sofyan Amrabat?

Available for £35m from Serie A outfit Fiorentina according to The Mirror (23 December 2022, p53), the Moroccan would have been an ideal option to rejuvenate Klopp’s midfield.

With James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out of contract in the summer, and Thiago (31) and Jordan Henderson (32) not getting any younger, January was the ideal time for Liverpool to sign a couple of midfielders.

Instead, Klopp will rue missing out on the Morocco international, especially considering his form for club and country this season.

Amrabat has an average Sofascore rating of 6.85/10 across his 19 Serie A appearances, having averaged  59.6 touches per game and a 90% pass success rate, along with winning 51% of his duels. He has shown that he could work well under the German in the heart of Liverpool’s midfield, especially with his wonderful passing ability.

Not content with starring in one of the toughest leagues in Europe, he also played an integral part in Morocco’s sensational run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

The 26-year-old took 56.6 touches per game and completed 85% of his passes, carrying on his early season form for Fiorentina, and this was vital to the Atlas Lions’ success in Qatar.

The midfielder was also superb defensively, making 2.3 tackles, 1.4 clearances and 0.9 interceptions per game and demonstrating his physicality by winning 49% of his ground duels, efforts which went a long way in Morocco conceding just one goal in their opening five matches.

Journalist Lorenz Kohler described Amrabat as “different class” last year, and he certainly was the glue which held Morocco together during their historic run in Qatar.

Klopp will now have to wait until the summer if he still wants to pursue a deal for the player, although it would be no surprise if the 26-year-old’s price tag rises significantly from the £35m which was touted at the end of 2022.

Leeds United should look at former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino to replace Jesse Marsch, claims football data expert Michael Caley.

The Lowdown: Marsch out, Corberan in?

The Whites confirmed the sacking of Marsch on Monday afternoon, following a run of seven Premier League games without a win, picking up just three points during that time.

West Brom’s Carlos Corberan emerged as the front-runner for the job almost immediately, with the Baggies boss already a known entity at Elland Road having coached the Under-23s while Marcelo Bielsa was first-team boss.

Caley has suggested another student of Bielsa however, with Pochettino perhaps more easy to attain given he is currently without a club.

The Latest: Time for Pochettino

Caley, a football data expert and one half of the Double Pivot Podcast, took to Twitter after the news of Marsch’s exit.

He said: “Leeds is a really good talent fit for Pochettino and a pretty safe success bet for a comeback, if his heart is still in the game.”

The Verdict: Spot on

If Pochettino is still keen to return to the English top flight, as was suggested last year following his exit from PSG, then Leeds could be a match made in heaven.

The 50 year-old, who managed an incredible 2.15 points-per game in Paris and 1.84 per outing at Tottenham (Transfermarkt), utilises a 4-3-3 formation, which would allow Marc Roca, Tyler Adams and new signing Weston McKennie all to get into the starting XI, something which looked unlikely with Marsch’s favoured 4-2-3-1.

He may also endear himself to Leeds fans quickly given his relationship with Bielsa, calling the former Whites boss a “genius” and someone he admires greatly.

Pochettino has no shortage of admirers, with Pep Guardiola claiming he is right up there with the elite coaches in world football and even Bielsa himself calling him “brilliant”.

If Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Group want a stylish, attack-minded manager with a long-term vision, they could do much worse than Pochettino.

Liverpool are said to have no chance of signing Ryan Gravenberch this month, with Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg claiming that the midfielder is set to stay at Bayern Munich.

The Lowdown: Liverpool eyeing a new midfielder

There have been numerous central midfielders linked with moves to Anfield, with Fabrizio Romano recently claiming that Moises Caicedo is ‘one to watch’, while there has also been talk about Jude Bellingham and Matheus Nunes.

Liverpool’s interest in Gravenberch seems to be long-standing, with reports as far back as April 2021 touting him for a move to Merserside and the transfer links re-emerging that summer, before resurfacing again in recent days after his agent was reportedly spotted at Anfield.

The Latest: No chance of Gravenberch

Plettenberg took to Twitter with an assessment of Liverpool’s chances of signing the 20-year-old in the final week of the transfer window, and the message is rather emphatic.

He tweeted: “News #Gravenberch: It’s decided and no doubt: He has to stay at #FCBayern! No transfer in January. Within the club they still believe in him. A loan to Liverpool or to another club is NO topic.”

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The Verdict: Blow for Klopp

Jurgen Klopp is in real need of an upgrade in central midfield, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita yet to extend their contracts beyond their expiry at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson and James Milner are both well into the twilight of their careers, while the midfield in general has been identified as a major weakness in the current Reds team.

Gravenberch has been hailed as a ‘top talent’ by football scout Jacek Kulig and has shown some indicators that he could go on to be a fantastic player at the highest level. For instance, he has averaged 3.62 shot-creating actions per 90 over the past year, a figure which puts him in the 88th percentile compared to other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.

Liverpool do have feelers out for other midfield targets in January, but it will still be disappointing that there appears to be no chance of them signing the Dutchman, as he seemingly would’ve had plenty to offer in an attacking sense and still has lots of time on his side to develop even further.

Chelsea are ‘speaking’ to Sporting CP defender Pedro Porro’s agent ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Porro profiled

The Spaniard made the initial switch to the Primeira Liga on loan from Manchester City back in 2020 but made his deal permanent last summer where his impressive performances this season have gained him a couple of admirers.

The Blues and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly both targeting a move for the right-back this month, though Sporting boss Ruben Amorim admitted that he would only be allowed to leave should potential suitors pay his €45m (£40m) release clause.

The Latest: Chelsea make contact

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Phillips shared a significant update regarding Chelsea’s pursuit of Porro, but claimed that there are other candidates that the club are also considering in the same position.

“On Pedro Porro, again they’re speaking to his agent to see if a move would be viable this month.

“Jeremie Frimpong is another one that’s up there. I’ve not had anything on Denzel Dumfries yet, but he’s another one that they’ve looked at.

“Those three are the main ones I’d say and the key right-backs they’re looking at to add some competition for Reece James.”

The Verdict: James alternative needed

Reece James is currently ruled out of action with a knee injury, but even when he returns, Porro would provide an excellent alternative to the England international.

The Don Benito native is an attacking full-back who loves to get down the flank and put crosses into the box, which is shown in his numbers having recorded ten assists and even scored two goals himself already this term (Transfermarkt).

Porro has been described as a ‘special talent’ by Zach Lowy, and Todd Boehly cashing out on him should the opportunity arise is surely a no-brainer of a decision to make.

Tottenham Hotspur have made Alessandro Bastoni a priority but that move is likely to come in the summer rather than during this month’s transfer window…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, who appeared on a recent episode of the ‘Last Word On Spurs’ podcast.

“It’s obvious that Tottenham wanted to strengthen at centre-back, with two really. The priority was a left-footed one, which is what they brought in but they were also looking at right-footed ones as well.

“‘[Alessandro] Bastoni and [Josko] Gvardiol were the top two targets for the left-footed one in the summer. Both of them stayed where they are, so it’s not like they missed out on them to other clubs.

“There will be another year ticked down in their contracts next summer, so those two names come back around. And maybe Spurs are in a better position to be able to get one of them on a permanent basis.”

Ambition to match Conte

A lot has been made of a potential rift between manager Antonio Conte and the board as everyone knows that the club need to spend big if the Italian is to truly transform Spurs’ fortunes on the pitch.

He certainly appears to be committed to doing so as mentioned in a recent press conference. He said (via football.london reporter Alasdair Gold): “This is a problem between me and the club. Now I am really committed for this club and for Tottenham. Then there is this project and I signed a contract with this club to accept this project & try to build and help the club.”

It’s then on the likes of chairman Daniel Levy and owners the ENIC Group to give the 53-year-old exactly what he needs and Bastoni would be a great start considering the pair have worked together before and even won silverware during their time together.

Clement Lenglet’s loan will expire at the end of the current campaign, so the squad will be back to square one in terms of lacking a natural left-footed centre-back.

Bastoni is exactly that and should come considerably cheaper (£44m) than Gvardiol, who is currently estimated to be worth in excess of £90m.

Once described as a “phenomenon” by Italian football expert Conor Clancy, the Italy international started 33 of 38 league matches – contributing to a whopping 2.45 points per game – on Inter Milan’s way to the Serie A title in 2020/21.

That season he showed a mix of expertise with the ball at his feet and the sort of aggressive character that Conte loves in his players – as per FBref, he averaged 2.34 tackles and interceptions per 90, as well as 2.31 clearances per 90 and 2.98 progressive passes per 90.

Eric Dier’s poor form saw him dropped from the starting XI last time out, whilst Davinson Sanchez cannot get a look-in and Joe Rodon is out on loan, so aside from Cristian Romero, few are guaranteed a place.

That’s why a centre-back is likely to be high on the list of needs for Conte if he’s to turn Spurs into a successful club anytime soon. Bastoni, given his potential at just 23, his history with the manager and his obvious quality would make him the most perfect candidate to match such ambition.

As such, Levy must sanction a move as soon as it’s viable to do so.

AND in other news, Paratici could seal an “unreal” steal in Spurs move for “incredible” £35m “golden boy”…

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their interest in Randal Kolo Muani ahead of next summer’s transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Foot Mercato, Spurs are one of two Premier League sides eyeing up a potential swoop to sign the French international at the end of the season.

The report claims that fellow English outfit Liverpool are also in the running and that Fabio Paratici wanted to snap him up last summer, only for Eintracht Frankfurt to win the race.

Paratici is now hoping to have more success this time around and Sport Bild (via Foot Mercato), recently claimed that it will cost at least €60m (£52m) to prise him away.

A big Moura upgrade

The Spurs sporting director could land manager Antonio Conte an upgrade on Lucas Moura by securing a deal to sign Muani, whether that comes in January or next summer.

Tottenham’s Brazilian winger has struggled in front of goal under the Italian head coach and has not done enough to prove that his long-term future should be at the club.

Moura has scored two goals and provided six assists in 42 Premier League appearances since the start of last season, whilst scoring once and assisting two in eight European matches and finding the back of the net three times in domestic cup competitions.

Muani, meanwhile, has plundered Bundesliga side in all competitions since making the move from FC Nantes.

Frankfurt board member Markus Krosche previously hailed the gem’s talents, saying: 

“Randal Kolo Muani brings attributes that we need for our game. He’s fast, robust and a very good finisher.

“He’s also tactically versatile and can play in several different systems, which will give us even more flexibility next season. Randal’s potential has attracted the interest of many clubs. We’re very pleased that he wants to take his next steps at Eintracht Frankfurt.”

The 24-year-old dynamo’s impressive form for the German side comes off the back of him producing 41 matches for Nantes last season, which means he has been directly involved in 39 goals at club level since the start of last term – 25 more than Moura.

Therefore, the French international, who is currently in Qatar with his country at the World Cup, would be a big upgrade on the former Paris Saint-Germain dud.

His statistics indicate that he would offer far more than the 30-year-old at the top end of the pitch, as they both play in a variety of attacking positions, both in terms of scoring and creating goals, which is why he would improve Conte’s squad.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that Newcastle United will get “bigger and stronger” by splashing more cash, amidst their sumptuous start to the Premier League season.

The Lowdown: Overachieving 

As a result of successful recruitment across the past two transfer windows under the guidance of PIF, Newcastle currently sit third in the Premier League in a feat that may far outweigh their expectations.

Eddie Howe’s side have lost just once in their opening 15 league games and won five top-flight games on the spin prior to the break for the World Cup.

The Latest: Upwards trajectory 

Sheth, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, heaped praise on the Magpies and backed them to improve even further by splashing the cash in an exciting claim.

“Newcastle United are starting to come, they’re only going to get bigger and stronger and spend even more money, and this has been done with Eddie Howe not breaking the bank now, and they find themselves in the top three.”

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The Verdict: Foundations built, time to spend 

Over the last two transfer windows, Newcastle have assembled the core foundations of their squad. The likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope, Dan Burn and Sven Botman, to name a few, all play vital roles in Eddie Howe’s 4-3-3 system. 

With the core of the squad now in place, the club could now do with digging deep and splashing out on a couple of high-profile signings who fit in with the vision that Howe is assembling on Tyneside. 

The fight for Champions League qualification will arguably be a tougher ask throughout the second half of the season, so marquee reinforcements in the New Year could be the difference.