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Arsenal appear to be closing in on their first two signings of the summer transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners have reached an agreement with Benfica over the transfer of left-back Nuno Tavares, who is expected to cost the club around €8m (£6.8m) plus add-ons.

He also revealed that the North Londoners are now working to complete a move for Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Writing on Twitter, Romano said:

“Arsenal have an agreement signed with Benfica for Nuno Tavares since yesterday. Done deal, no doubt. Fee will be €8m, plus add ons. Nuno will sign until June 2026 – he’s in London to undergo his medical.

“Arsenal now working to complete also Lokonga signing.”

Getting things done!

It certainly seems as if sporting director Edu Gaspar and the rest of the Gunners’ hierarchy is going about their business quietly as they look to bolster Mikel Arteta’s playing squad for 2021/22.

Arsenal finished in eighth place last term, meaning they will miss out on European football for the first time in 25 years.

There are now around five to six weeks until the new campaign gets underway, so it has to be hugely encouraging to see the club signing players early – they have also been linked to some more exciting names in Brighton defender Ben White and Italy’s Euro 2020 star Manuel Locatelli.

With Tavares, current first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney will be getting some solid competition, whilst it also presents the opportunity for him to be played in a back-three, just like Arteta did at times last season and just as he plays for Scotland.

And in Lokonga, the Gunners could be getting some much-needed squad depth, with as many as three central midfielders set to depart the Emirates Stadium.

Granit Xhaka looks set to join Jose Mourinho at AS Roma in a €20m (£18m) deal, Matteo Guendouzi is closing in on a move to Marseille, and Lucas Torreira is reportedly up for sale, too.

All in all, it appears Arteta has identified how to overhaul his squad and the board are prepared to back him in doing so. Therefore, it could well be an exciting time to be a Gunners fan, heading into a season where they will need to deliver results on the pitch to get back on track. Arsenal supporters will almost certainly be buzzing with Romano’s update.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Bellerin: Edu can strike gold with Arsenal swoop for “special” £20m-rated gem…

BBC pundit Noel Whelan has been reacting to Newcastle full-back Jamal Lewis’ hamstring injury, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Lewis pulls up

The 23-year-old was making just his fourth Premier League start of the season against Liverpool on Thursday but had to make way after just 15 minutes.

The Northern Ireland international was starting to become a regular under Eddie Howe, but he now looks set for a spell on the sidelines, with Howe admitting after the 3-1 defeat that his issue ‘looked bad’.

Matt Ritchie replaced Lewis at Anfield, with the latter possibly missing the entire festive period due to his muscle problem, which starts with today’s clash against leaders and champions Manchester City.

The Latest: Whelan reacts

Whelan, who regularly features as a pundit for the BBC, was talking to Football Insider regarding the injury.

This is what he had to say in reply, labelling it as a ‘massive blow’ for Howe and Newcastle:

“He will be a big miss.

“He’s got that real energy and is capable of getting up and down the pitch in that natural wing-back position – that’s why he was signed from Norwich.

“It’s yet another muscle injury, and that just shows what a demanding season it is for everybody – and it will have been the last thing Eddie Howe wanted. He’s lost an integral part of the team.

“It’s a massive blow for him. He must be thinking: ‘When are things going to change for me?’”

The Verdict: Ritchie to the rescue…

Howe currently has three defenders out injured, two of whom are left-backs, so he may have no other choice but to rely on Ritchie over the coming weeks.

At least the 32-year-old is a player Howe knows well from his time at Bournemouth, and the Scot already has plenty of game-time under his belt this season.

Hopefully Ritchie will stay fit between now and the New Year, as otherwise Newcastle and Howe may have to use round pegs in square holes to fill the left-back void.

In other news, NUFC have made a huge offer to sign this ‘force of nature’

West Bromwich Albion succumbed to a first home defeat since February as Steve Bruce’s side lost 3-1 to Stoke City in the Championship this afternoon.A Jake Livermore own goal in the first half got the Potters underway before Jacob Brown doubled the visitors’ lead in the second half.There were hopes of a comeback when Callum Robinson halved the deficit with 17 minutes to go but those were ultimately extinguished when Lewis Baker scored the clincher for Michael O’Neil’s men deep into added time.It was a lacklustre display from the Baggies, who will probably be desperate to see the back end of the campaign given their 11th-placed position, with any chance of sneaking into the play-offs all but over.Having spent last term in the Premier League, Albion’s first season back in the Championship has certainly been a disappointment, particularly with results like today’s.What has also been a disappointment is the West Brom tenure of winger Grady Diangana so far.The 23-year-old West Ham youth product was sold by West Ham at the start of last season after the winger impressed on loan at The Hawthorns in the 2019/20 campaign.The transfer gained plenty of attention, not for the fee or context of the move but for the public outburst from West Ham captain Mark Noble, who tweeted: “As captain of this football club I’m gutted, angry and sad that Grady has left, great kid with a great future!!!!!”

However, the signs of a great future have still yet to be shown at West Brom by Diangana, who endured a tricky afternoon against the Potters today and let his manager down.

According to SofaScore, the 23-year-old had fewer touches of the ball (30) in his 58 minutes on the pitch than goalkeeper Sam Johnstone (42). Moreover, the winger lost the ball on 12 occasions, an average of every 2.5 touches, had no shots and attempted just two dribbles, completing neither.

There was little defensive contribution either, with the 23-year-old failing to make a single clearance, block or interception and winning just one tackle. Furthermore, Diangana lost six of his eight duels (75%).

On a more positive note, the winger’s passing was mostly accurate, with an 88% success rate, whilst he also completed two long balls. However, it was largely an afternoon to forget for the Englishman.

That’s a phrase which has been thrown around frequently about the winger since making his move to West Brom permanent, with Diangana scoring just three goals since leaving east London for good.

Two of those have come this season, along with just one assist, in 37 Championship appearances, so there needs to be more end product from the player.

The season appears to be all but over for Albion, with 2022/23 being Bruce’s first full campaign in charge of the Baggies.

Whether or not that will end positively will become clear over time, but what is certain is that Diangana will need to show signs of improving his contributions for West Brom, as otherwise he may well be on the move again.

In other news: West Brom now set for big disaster over “unbelievable” £7.2m-rated gem

Leeds United are eyeing a January transfer move for Middlesbrough midfielder Marcus Tavernier, with Victor Orta said to be a big fan of the player.

What’s the story?

According to TEAMtalk, Marcelo Bielsa’s side have joined the chase for the 22-year-old, with the likes of Southampton, Burnley and Brighton all having watched him closely among Premier League suitors.

The report added that Orta is a confirmed fan of the player, having overseen his rise during his time at the Riverside Stadium a few years ago.

Could be Leeds’ own Mason Mount

With the ability to play out wide on either flank, and in the centre of midfield, there’s a lot to like about Tavernier and what he could potentially bring to the table at Elland Road.

His former manager Tony Pulis once stated: “Some days he comes in and he’s brilliant, some days he’s a bit lackadaisical. He’s going to be a top player. He’ll eventually play in the Premier League.”

Indeed, former Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock has even suggested that Tavernier could well end up emulating the success of Mason Mount and the kind of impressive step-up he has made in recent times.

Warnock added: “I think he has a few strings to his bow to be honest. I looked at Mason Mount and how he’s come on in the 12 months, there’s no reason why Tav can’t do that in the next 12 months.

“If he motivates himself and listens he’s got some great attributes and good habits, and one or two not so good. All being well we can put him in the right direction and he’ll become a very good player. Not that he isn’t now but I think he could become even better.”

At 22, Tavernier could come on leaps and bounds under Bielsa’s guidance at Elland Road, and the man with 14 senior goals to his name could possibly enjoy a rapid rise to stardom with a move to Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Leeds are facing a transfer battle for this Brazilian ace…

Rangers continued their march towards a second successive Scottish Premiership title as they thrashed Motherwell 6-1 on Sunday.

Steven Gerrard’s side won the league last season without losing a single match, racking up 102 points, as they won 34 matches and were held to draws in the other four.

It has not been quite as easy this term, but the Gers are top of the table after 12 games as they sit on 12 points. They have won eight, drawn three, lost one and are four points clear of second-placed Celtic.

Despite all of this success, Gerrard has also had bad moments in charge at Ibrox and a few of them have come in the transfer market. One piece of business that they may look back on with regret is the sale of Ross McCrorie to Aberdeen in February earlier this year.

After coming up through the ranks and heading out on several loans away from Rangers, McCrorie was sold to the Dons in February for a reported fee of £203k. He made 55 appearances for the Gers before his exit but only made 17 league appearances in each of his two senior seasons respectively.

Former Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes once lauded the midfielder and explained that he did not want to be a bit-part player, saying:

“I think he’s a dream on and off the pitch.

“He is different. He didn’t want to be in the shadows, he didn’t just want to be a Rangers squad player, he wanted to get out and get on with his career, and I love that about him.

“He deserves a lot of credit for that, because I know Rangers see qualities in him, but the fact Ross was in such a hurry to get on and get out is testament to him.

“His athleticism gets him out of trouble, his brain gets him out of trouble, gets him into positions. Having Ross’s power and intelligence in there allows us to play with one or two more attacking players.”

This season, McCrorie has started ten Premiership games for Aberdeen and caught the eye with some impressive performances. Per SofaScore, he has made 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game and won an eye-catching 67% of his duels overall, whilst also making 3.2 clearances per game.

At the time of writing (01/11/21), Transfermarkt value him at £900k. This is £697k more than what Rangers sold him for in February, which is why Gerrard may regret cashing in on him.

Steven Davis, meanwhile, for Rangers has not performed as well on the defensive side of the game. Per SofaScore, he has made 2.1 tackles and interceptions and 1.0 clearances per game, whilst only winning 46% of his duels. This suggests that McCrorie is a superior midfielder in terms of the defensive game.

Therefore, he could have been a great option for Gerrard to call upon in games, particularly in the Europa League for example, where they are not expected to dominate the ball. McCrorie has shown that he can excel at the physical side of the game and that could have been a useful asset for the Gers, which – coupled with the poor financial aspect of the deal – is why his sale was a howler from the club.

AND in other news, 87.5% duels lost: Rangers dud with 0 key passes let Gerrard down vs Motherwell…

As per Sport, a significant update has dropped involving West Ham United and Barcelona goalkeeper Neto as manager David Moyes plots to replace Lukassz Fabianski.

The Lowdown: Fabianski nearing end?

West Ham’s current number one is nearing the twilight phase of his career and they may have to start planning for the future sooner rather than later.

Having just retired from international duty with Poland, Fabianski’s career at club level is also a talking point with his current deal set to expire in 2022.

The Irons snapped up Alphonse Areola on a season-long loan with the option to make it permanent but it appears new transfer chief Rob Newman has alternatives in mind.

The Latest: West Ham ‘best placed’ to sign Neto…

As Barcelona seek to get the Brazilian powerhouse shot stopper off their wage bill, it is believed that ‘he may already have a foot and a half outside the club’, according to Sport.

Indeed, the Catalans will apparently let him go and it may well happen as soon as January, with West Ham now the ‘best placed’ to sign him if he does leave.

Moyes is apparently preparing to replace Fabianski and has one eye on the 6 foot 3 keeper.

The Irons could in fact ‘bet’ on a swoop for his services.

The Verdict: Right move?

Given their links to England international Sam Johnstone and the presence of Areola, we believe the potential signing of Neto isn’t exactly a headline-grabber by comparison.

At 32-years-old with just a handful of Barca starts over the last two seasons, he comes as an arguable back up at best to better options like Johnstone – who himself could leave for West Brom due to his 2022 contract situation.

In other news: Contact made: West Ham have already positioned themselves to sign 17-goal ‘real handful’ for Moyes, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured quite a horrid time ever since their defeat in the Champions League final in 2019.

Mauricio Pochettino was sacked soon after, Jose Mourinho has been and gone. Ryan Mason even returned in a caretaker capacity.

And the north Londoners are yet to break back into the top four – a stark contrast from their run of three successive top-three finishes under the Argentine.

The squad had got very stale, with several players way overstaying their welcome. It was only this summer that the likes of Erik Lamela and Moussa Sissoko were finally moved on.

Player recruitment has always been questionable throughout chairman Daniel Levy’s time at the helm but he does deserve plenty of credit for perhaps their biggest shining light throughout these tough few seasons.

Last summer, the Spurs supremo managed to haggle Southampton for their skipper, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who only cost £15m. The Saints had been wanting over double that (£35m) beforehand.

He has arguably been one of their best signings of recent times, an ever-present figure under Mourinho, Mason and now Nuno Santo. And in that time, his value has skyrocketed.

As per CIES Football Observatory, the Danish powerhouse is now worth €50m (£45m) – an increase of 200% from their initial investment. A true Levy masterclass.

In the 14 months he has been at the club, Hojbjerg has already amassed 64 appearances, scoring four goals and providing five assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Back in December, Mourinho lauded the central midfielder as a “phenomenal player”.

“Pierre is, first of all, very intelligent. He reads the game very well. He’s going to be a coach one day, for sure,” the Portuguese told reporters (via Goal.com). “Physically he’s very, very strong and technically he’s much better than people think. Because sometimes people think the guy that is good technically is the guy that does the backheel. The guy that is good technically is the guy that does something wonderful. But these are not my words. These are words from coaches of 30, 40 years ago. Simplicity is genius.”

Also dubbed a “monster” by one-time Denmark and Derby County midfielder Morten Bisgaard, Hojbjerg has been a real success story for Spurs and Levy in particular, especially when you contrast it to the investment in Tanguy Ndombele.

The Lilywhites chief certainly played a blinder over signing the 26-year-old beast last season.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops exciting Spurs transfer claim ahead of the January transfer window…

Many Southampton fans have been left buzzing as it was confirmed who will they will play in the Carabao Cup second round.

As per their official Twitter page, they will face Newport County away from home, who currently play their football in the EFL League Two.

Given that they are three divisions above them in the Premier League, this means that the St. Mary’s faithful should have a good chance of going through into the next round of the competition.

Perhaps more importantly in this instance, it gives Saints supporters a chance to go on a new away trip after a year of football without fans, and so it is not a surprise to see so many of them buzzing when they heard who they were going to face.

Southampton fans on cup draw

These fans buzzed as the draw was announced on Twitter, with one Saints supporter exclaiming it is a cup tie they can get ‘excited’ for, while another described it as ‘fantastic’:

“What a fantastic draw…! Better than Palace, Arsenal or Sunderland!”

Credit: @cj_garrett

“Can’t wait”

Credit: @ryanrd1905

“Away days are backkkkk”

Credit: @DanColmer

“Now this is a cup tie I’m excited for”

Credit: @Trimbleee_

“This’ll be a good away day #SaintsFC”

Credit: @T_2292

“Love that!”

Credit: @SaintsProgs

In other news, find out what club news has Saints buzzing here!

Newcastle United are reportedly now willing to pay big money in order to sign Ronald Araujo.

The Lowdown: Destined for greatness

Despite the trouble in which Barcelona have found themselves in recent times, having to let Lionel Messi go to Paris Saint-Germain and potentially not being able to qualify from their Champions League group, the emergence of Araujo is at least one shining light at Camp Nou.

Recently described as a ‘spectacular’ player by his new manager Xavi, the 22-year-old looks destined for great things, and his teammate Gerard Pique already thinks that he ‘has everything’ for a central defender despite his tender age.

One of the most notable qualities about Araujo is his physique, as he stands at 6 foot 2, and he is in ‘exuberant physical condition’ according to former Uruguay centre-back and fellow countryman Andres Scotti, making him a bit of a beast.

The Latest: Wanted

As per El Nacional, Newcastle now want Araujo and are ‘one of the most interested’ clubs from the Premier League in the race for his signature, along with Chelsea.

They would reportedly be ‘willing’ to put an offer of £60m on the table, comfortably surpassing the club-record £40m that they spent on Joelinton, as well as giving the 22-year-old a ‘big’ contract.

Ideally, Barcceloa do not want to sell, but the report claimed that they would ‘have to study’ a prospective offer of that magnitude.

The Verdict: Unrealistic

It does seem too unrealistic that a player of Araujo’s quality and promise would move to Newcastle this early in the project, especially as they are currently in a relegation scrap.

Eddie Howe’s preference for high possession and attacking football would certainly suit Araujo more than some of the other centre-half options in the Magpies’ squad, given that the Uruguay international has averaged more passes at a higher success rate per game than Ciaran Clark, Federico Fernandez and Jamaal Lascelles in their respective domestic leagues so far this season (WhoScored).

However, despite the kind of money that the Tynesiders now have at their disposal, it seems likely that Araujo would look elsewhere for now, perhaps to reigning Champions League holders Chelsea, until the long-term project at St James’ Park has developed further.

In other news, NUFC are also eyeing this ‘incredible’ beast

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly confident that they can sign Cristian Romero in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Alderweireld leaves

As per BBC Sport, Spurs have reached an agreement to sell Toby Alderweireld to Qatari club Al-Duhail.

This means that Nuno Espirito Santo’s team will have to look for a new central defender as a replacement for the Belgium international, ideally before the 2021/22 Premier League season starts.

The Latest: Romero confidence

According to Tuttomercatoweb, the North London club are confident that they can sign Romero, as talks continue with Atalanta over a potential deal.

He is reportedly their top target, but the Serie A side want a fee in the region of €60m (£51.1m) for his signature, and the Lilywhites’ latest offer falls short of that value.

The Verdict: Sign

The reported fee is certainly a lot for THFC to pay, especially for a centre-back, but Romero could turn out to be a mainstay in the team for years to come.

Once dubbed a ‘phenomenon’ by Italian media after signing for Juventus, the 23-year-old has the potential to become one of the world’s best in his position, if he is not already.

Romero has played at the highest level in the UEFA Champions League last season, and helped Atalanta qualify for the elite European competition once more for the next campaign, a player who is made for the big stage.

Nonetheless, the Argentinian would certainly be a statement signing by Tottenham.

In other news, find out which ‘top-four quality- target Spurs have been backed to sign here!