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Newcastle United are absolutely flying; third in the Premier League table in January, boasting affluence unmatched across most of the footballing globe, and yielding a fluid, cohesive squad with a vibrant and calculating manager in Eddie Howe, but that does not mean the squad won’t be bolstered this winter.

What’s the word?

Despite the Magpies’ excellent, sustained form across 2022, Howe is still on the prowl for new additions, and Leicester City’s midfield maestro Youri Tielemans could be the man for the job, with reports linking the northern outfit with the Belgian and his contract sext for expiry at the end of the season.

And now, according to a report from The Athletic, Howe recognises that while his squad might be performing admirably, there is an underlying lack of depth across the park that will give their more established top-level rivals the edge in the quest for Champions League football.

Tielemans is indeed one such player who has been extensively watched by sporting director Dan Ashworth according to the report, and with the likes of Arsenal also desperately vying for his name, a January move for the star might be prudent in the grand scheme of acquiring the best talent on offer.

Wijnaldum 2.0

Should Newcastle pull off a move, they would repel the advances of eminent outfits such as the Gunners, making a statement when asserting their newfound authority and stature among Europe’s elite.

Howe would welcome a midfielder of the highest quality, increasing both the depth and the level of operation from the centre at a thriving St. James Park, much like the past signing of Georginio Wijnaldum from PSV in 2015.

While it’s true that the dynamic Dutchman was often utilised further up the pitch than his time at Liverpool, where he joined Jurgen Klopp’s side in a £25m deal in 2016, Tielemans could certainly look to emulate his European positional peer.

For Newcastle, the 32-year-old plundered 11 goals and five assists from 40 appearances – notably scoring four goals in a 6-2 victory over Norwich City.

Because Liverpool and Newcastle can actually draw a fair few comparisons regarding their rise to prominence; both teams were languishing below expectations, before external forces swooped in and prompted an ascension towards European qualification, and beyond, in the Reds’ case.

For Howe, who will just take each game as it comes, clinching a spot in the coveted Champions League or indeed falling short and still finding a spot in either the Europa League or Conference League would all be considered an unmitigated success in the early days of a new era on Tyneside.

Having someone like Tielemans, a player of genuine world-class quality, forging their way within the ranks would pay dividends, instilling the cal, composed aura to orchestrate the play and cranking up the gear with his unrivalled ball-playing prowess and resounding knack for striking the net from distance, just as a certain Wijnaldum did.

His thunderous strike against Chelsea in the 2020/21 FA Cup final clinched the Foxes their first triumph in the distinguished annual tournament, while his tireless performance in the FA Community Shield helped defeat Manchester City in last season’s curtain-raiser.

Having made 178 appearances for Leicester, scoring 28 goals and 25 assists, the 25-year-old is truly one of the Premier League’s best central forces – lauded as “one of Europe’s top midfielders” by boss Brendan Rodgers.

Newcastle must clinch his services, while there are no gaping holes in the booming Magpies side, someone of Tieleman’s ilk could lift the club’s ambitious prospects to the next level, much like Wijnaldum’s tenacious efforts at Liverpool.

Arsenal have now submitted a new proposal to Shakhtar Donetsk for the potential addition of Mykhaylo Mudryk in the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

The reliable transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now claimed the Gunners have made a fresh approach to the Ukrainian side for the services of their 21-year-old winger. Edu Gaspar has already seen one approach rejected by Shakhtar for Mudryk but the Brazilian has now submitted an improved offer:

“Now we can say that Arsenal have improved their proposal. I’m still checking to understand how much Arsenal have offered because now all sources want to keep things quiet after Shakhtar rejected the opening proposal. It was €40m plus €20m in add-ons, Shakhtar said no.”

Mudryk has certainly not shied away from voicing his thoughts on a potential move to north London with the journalist Ben Jacobs claiming it would be a dream for the winger to join Arsenal.

And even in the weeks since his interview with Jacobs, the 21-year-old has been dropping some cryptic hints on social media about potentially linking up with Mikel Arteta’s side.

Having seen their initial proposal for the Ukrainian rejected by Shakhtar, it now seems as if the Gunners may have taken a step closer to potentially bringing the winger to north London.

Title boost

Arsenal have made an exceptional start to the campaign which has seen them climb to the top of the table and with a seven-point gap to the chasing Manchester City.

Given they find themselves in perhaps an unexpectedly good position in the table, perhaps the Gunners look to make the most of this opportunity in the January window and strengthen their title charge with some big additions.

And in Mudryk, they would certainly be getting a potentially huge addition after what he has shown during his time recently for Shakhtar across all competitions.

In the league, the 21-year-old has returned seven goals and six assists in just 12 appearances as well as three goals and two assists in just six Champions League appearances (via Transfermarkt).

Despite Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka making an electric start to the campaign, Mudryk has certainly been able to provide a comparable return which could only push the current Gunners duo with more competition potentially added to the squad (via FBref).

If the Gunners were able to bring in a player of Mudryk’s quality it would be interesting to see how he would fit into the squad, but it would certainly be a headache which Arteta would welcome.

Arsenal’s links to wantaway forward Joao Felix on loan have left journalist Charles Watts confused over the pursuit.

The Lowdown: Felix on the move

It was reported at the start of December that Felix would be allowed to leave Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window.

Despite starting just six La Liga games, the Portuguese has bagged three assists and scored four goals in his last three league outings.

But a fractious relationship with Diego Simeone and the belief that his pragmatic system is hindering Felix’s creative ability has led to the 23-year-old being open to leaving for pastures new until the end of the season at least – potentially in the Premier League.

The Latest: Arsenal’s openness

With a star as gifted as Felix coming on the market, it has unsurprisingly piqued the Gunners’ interest, and amid their strong league position, they have been touted with a short-term move to aid their title pursuit.

However, Watts claimed on his YouTube channel that a deal doesn’t fit Arsenal’s vision after it transpired that any potential deal would likely be a loan switch.

He said: “For Arsenal, for [Manchester] United, for Chelsea even, he would be an attractive option because he’s a very, very good player, clearly.

“But it all just depends on which club is going to be willing to put down the sort of money that Atletico are asking for Felix to effectively just borrow him on loan, because it doesn’t seem like there’s going to be any sort of obligation to buy at the end of that.

“So it’s basically just borrowing him for however much money Atletico are demanding, and it appears that’s an awful lot of money at the moment.”

The Verdict: Only as backup

Arsenal have so far under Mikel Arteta stuck to their vision, with every transfer meticulously weighed up with regard to how it would affect the squad.

Arguably, the only transfers that have failed under the Spaniard are Alex Runarsson and Nuno Tavares – both of whom are currently out on loan. And considering the amount of money spent in recent years, Edu’s hit-rate in the transfer market isn’t too shabby.

Mykhaylo Mudryk fits the philosophy of youthful exuberance up front, and although he’s incredibly talented now – with him bagging 10 goals and eight assists so far this campaign – at only 21, he’s set to blossom in at a top side for years to come.

But Felix doesn’t offer a long-term plan, with Atleti still unsure of whether he has a future at the club, which may yet come under a new manager, meaning he’ll only likely be a late alternative in the window if Mudryk’s deal fails and Arteta is desperate for attacking cover over the second half of the season.

Leeds United added to their squad over the weekend by striking a club-record deal to sign winger Georginio Rutter from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

However, that was not the club’s only business that they completed last week as Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch also sanctioned an exit for Polish international Mateusz Klich.

The Whites allowed the veteran midfielder to join Major League Soccer outfit D.C. United on a free transfer and the club could look to bring in a replacement for him during the January transfer window.

Klich made 14 appearances off the bench during the first half of the campaign and this indicates that there is now a gap in the squad in that position heading into the second half of the season.

Earlier this month, Leeds were named as one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in a deal to sign Bristol City central midfielder Alex Scott, alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton and Hove Albion, and AFC Bournemouth, and he could replace the 32-year-old at Elland Road.

The Telegraph’s John Percy has claimed that Wolverhampton Wanderers are particularly keen on a swoop for the gem but the Championship side’s £25m asking price could prove to be an issue for them.

Orta could now replace the departed Klich by securing a deal to sign Scott ahead of their top-flight rivals, as the 19-year-old has shown promise in the Championship this season.

Robins player pathway manager Brian Tinnion previously heaped praise on the talented youngster, saying:”His work rate and his desire to learn has been unbelievable.

“He has every single attribute you would want in a professional footballer. He can tackle, he’s great with both feet, he can head the ball, his delivery is good and his overall quality is great.’

“He lets his football do the talking and he’s getting better all the time. We are really excited about his future.”

These comments indicate that he is a player with big potential and his form this term backs that up.

He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.88 in the Championship and made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game, along with chipping in with four assists for his teammates, which shows that he is a tenacious midfield player who can also provide creativity at the top end of the pitch.

At the age of 19, Scott could arrive as a long-term addition to the side instead of someone who would be expected to make an immediate impact.

This means that he could be the perfect replacement for Klich as the maestro could take up the Polish gem’s role of being a substitute option, rather than replacing a regular starter, before working his way into the XI in the future.

Everything looked rosy for Glasgow Rangers in the summer of 2021. The Ibrox giants had just claimed their 55th Premiership title by a landslide, going unbeaten along the way, and their crosstown arch-rivals appeared to be in disarray.

With a chance to secure qualification to the Champions League group stage for the first time in 11 years just a few games away, it was clear that Steven Gerrard needed to make signings. Dutch midfielder Joey Veerman was duly targeted, but no official move was made due to his £8m asking price, with the player himself hitting out at the price tag.

Shortly before the January 2022 transfer window, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed that the now 24-year-old was still wanted by Rangers, saying: “Veerman will definitely be high on the list of targets. They tried to sign him in the summer and he still remains high on their list of potential targets.”

He eventually joined PSV Eindhoven, and it’s a case of what might have been for the Light Blues, especially with new reports linking him to none other than Manchester United.

Erik ten Hag is eyeing more signings from his native Netherlands, and Veerman is one of the players on his list having impressed since joining PSV.

Former Rangers striker Michael Mols once dubbed the 24-year-old “perfect with the ball”, and his form since joining the Dutch giants a year ago has been wonderful.

In 51 appearances in Eindhoven, he has scored 13 goals and registered 12 assists while playing predominantly in a central midfield role, and these are wonderful returns considering his primary position.

This season has seen the Dutchman go from strength to strength, achieving a Sofascore rating of 7.41/10 across 16 Eredivisie appearances, chipping in with five goal contributions and creating eight big chances, while also making 1.9 key passes per match.

He is no slouch defensively either, winning 58% of his duels and making 1.5 tackles and 0.8 clearances per game in demonstrating his all-round ability, and it’s no wonder that Man United are interested in bringing him to the Premier League.

The demands for his signature in 2021 were obviously out of Rangers’ price range, but considering the form he has displayed since joining PSV, it’s evident that the Glasgow club should have brought him to Ibrox by whatever means possible.

Gerrard definitely had a shocker over the midfield dynamo 18 months ago, and it looks as though Veerman could blossom into a Premier League star if he maintains his current performance levels.

Crystal Palace have joined the race to sign Bristol City forward Antoine Semenyo, according to Sky Sports.

The Lowdown: Previous speculation

The Eagles have seemingly had Semenyo on their radar for some time now, with speculation over a move emerging back in April 2021.

Reports back then suggested that Palace were leading the race for the player, but as we know, a Bristol City exit has failed to materialise.

Now 23 years of age, Semenyo contributed to 20 Championship goals last season and eight during the current campaign, and a move to Selhurst Park still seems to be a possibility.

The Latest: New claim

Sky Sports posted in their transfer blog on Wednesday morning, claiming that Palace and Southampton have joined Bournemouth and Burnley with interest in Semenyo.

They add that Bournemouth remain the favourites for the Ghana international, but Palace are keen on a potential move.

The Verdict: Smart move?

Dougie Freedman and Patrick Vieira could do with looking at adding to their attacking ranks in 2023, especially as Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew are out of contract in the summer.

Semenyo, described as a ‘nightmare to play against’ by his manager Nigel Pearson, is primarily a centre-forward but can turn out on either wing and appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation.

You’d like to think he still has room to improve before hitting his prime, and with Palace enjoying success with taking young talent from the Championship in Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, Semenyo could be the next to make the step up to the Premier League with the club.

An update has emerged on Everton and their efforts to find a new manager to bring to the dugout to replace Frank Lampard at Goodison Park…

What’s the talk?

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed that former Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa is one of the options Farhad Moshiri has been in contact with.

He has not been in a job since the Whites parted ways with him at the end of February 2022 and the Toffees are now hoping to tempt the experienced boss back into management.

Ornstein Tweeted: “Marcelo Bielsa among candidates Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has been talking to about replacing Frank Lampard as Everton boss. 67yo Argentine the option Moshiri wants to appoint but unclear if that has support of others in #EFC hierarchy.”

Imagine him & Arnaut Danjuma

Everton are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal until the end of the season and he could form an exciting working relationship with the ex-Leeds boss.

Back in 2021, Bielsa reportedly wanted to sign the Dutch forward for the Whites and this indicates that the winger would suit the way that the 67-year-old wants to play, as the manager believed that the gem would have been a good signing for his former club.

Bielsa’s style of play has been described as “risky” and “open” by journalist Sam Tighe, whilst Mauricio Pochettino hailed the coach as a “genius”, and this is why his football is so attractive to watch.

The Argentine tactician likes to play aggressive, high-energy, football and wants his players to create overloads and use quick combinations to punish teams on the counter-attack.

This indicates that he could get the best out of the attackers at Goodison Park as his football would, in theory, put them in positions to do damage in the final third on a regular basis.

Danjuma’s form for Villarreal last season suggests that the Dutchman could be the saviour for Everton in the Premier League between now and May if Bielsa can get him firing.

In La Liga, the Netherlands international produced 10 goals and three assists in 17 starts last term. The 25-year-old also plundered six goals and one assists in 10 starts in the Champions League, which shows that the dynamo can also compete at the top end of club football.

No Everton player has managed more than three goals in the Premier League this season, whilst Alex Iwobi (five) is the only player with more than one assist, and this suggests that Danjuma could provide a much-needed injection of quality in the final third.

Now, imagine the former Bournemouth man producing match-winning moments on a regular basis in Bielsa’s high-intensity, pressing, style of play at Goodison Park…

Journalist Dean Jones claims Southampton has been working to ‘identify the best candidate’ in the forward position before the January window closes.

The Lowdown: Saints make Sulemana bid

A report coming out of Ghana has claimed that Nathan Jones’ side has submitted a bid for Kamaldeen Sulemana of Rennes.

In addition, the French side is apparently ‘tempted’ to accept the offer made by the Premier League team, the fee is said to be around £17 million.

Sulemana tends to operate on the left wing, but the Ghanaian can also play on the right side and as a centre-forward if need be.

The Latest: A striker will come

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones tipped the Saints to get a new striker in before the window slams shut at the end of the month.

He said, “Manchester United signing Wout Weghorst, that’s really the sort of player that Southampton might have been looking at in a window like this if it was potentially available.

“You see other clubs throwing pretty big money players that seem reasonably risky. I know the list has been drawn up for Saints. They’ve been working through it to identify the best candidate, and I’m pretty sure that they will sign somebody.”

The Verdict: Proven striker needed ASAP

We believe that Southampton have a potential bright spark in the form of Sekou Mara, but they need to bring in an already-established striker into their ranks.

Earlier in the season, pundit Micah Richards was in awe of Mara’s assist against Brentford in a 2-2 draw. Speaking on Match Of The Day (via The Daily Echo), he described the Frenchman’s assist as ‘ridiculous’.

Mara is only 20-years-old and still has room to improve and develop. Che Adams and Adam Armstrong have proven to be immense goal-scorers in the Championship, but have never cut it consistently at Premier League level.

This is why we think that Jones needs to bring in an established forward into his sqaud, as not only would Mara potentially thrive learning off a more experienced striker, but Adams and Armstrong are both under the age of 27 and could benefit under the tutelage of a wise attacker.

Should Southampton stick with what they have upfront then it could be a total disaster for them, as they have the joint-fourth worst attack statistically in the league and currently sit bottom of the league.

Southampton striker Che Adams won’t be ‘allowed to leave’ the St. Mary’s Stadium before the deadline on Tuesday night, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Everton’s interest

The Scottish international has now entered the final 18 months of his contract on the south coast, and having not yet put pen to paper on fresh terms, has been linked with an exit this month.

Premier League rivals Everton are the club to have recently been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old, with rumours suggesting that Nathan Jones’ side would sanction a sale should they find a suitable replacement, though it appears that is no longer the case.

The Latest: Crook’s update

Taking to Twitter, Crook revealed that Southampton aren’t in fact thinking about letting Adams go, with the player set to remain in red and white for the foreseeable future.

“Told there is no truth in claims Che Adams will be allowed to leave #SaintsFC this month. Not even under consideration.”

The Verdict: Correct decision

Adams was previously dubbed a ‘phenomenon’ by former Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, and making the decision to keep hold of him for at least the rest of the season is the right one.

The Leicester-born talent has posted ten goal contributions in 24 appearances across all competitions so far this campaign and makes a brilliant target man, averaging 2.5 aerial wins per league game.

Adams will have a significant role to play in trying to help his side escape relegation over the next few months, but should the club drop down to the second tier, they may have no choice but to cash in on some of their most prized assets later in the summer.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir believes that Nottingham Forest are only going to bet ‘better and better’ following the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Lowdown: Climbing the table

Steve Cooper’s side won three huge points at the weekend thanks to an early strike from Brennan Johnson.

Forest are now six points clear of the relegation zone and sit 13th in the Premier League after 21 games played.

Seven new faces joined the club in January, including Jonjo Shelvey, Chris Wood and Keylor Navas, bringing their tally of new players to 30 this season.

The Latest: Weir raves about Forest

Weir tipped Forest for long-term success in the future and expects them to avoid the drop come the end of the season when talking on Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement.

He stated: “I think Steve Cooper’s doing an incredible job. I think they’ll stay up this season.

“And I think once they do stay up, they’re only going to get better and better, and they’re going to strengthen again over the summer – that’s what all the indications are.

“They’re doing some proper business out there. They’re not just trying to scrap for their lives, plucky old Nottingham Forest. They’re a big club.”

The Verdict: Cooper’s finding a tune

We believe that Cooper deserves praise for the job he’s done this season with Forest, especially when you consider the amount of players he has signed in the last two windows.

It can take time for teams to settle when they bring in a lot of new players, and often their league form can be impacted by that.

Another example of this in England’s top flight is Chelsea, as the Blues signed a lot of new recruits over the last two transfer windows and are floundering in the Premier League.

Should they remain in the league next season, Forest’s stock will surely only rise given the money top-flight football brings, and they’ll be able to acquire more quality players as a result.

Cooper claimed that loan signing Keylor Navas showed ‘big commitment’ to join Forest, and the fact a player with the pedigree of the Costa Rican shot-stopper wanted to make the move to the City Ground indicates they’re still recognised as big club in European football.

In our view, the better they get, the calibre of players that want to join will only get higher, so Weir’s claim should be an encouraging sign for those connected to the club. The onus will now be on the Reds to stay afloat.