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Chelsea have now placed Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong on their transfer shortlist, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Reece James’ injury issues

Graham Potter has been tasked with finding a replacement for Reece James in his first transfer window as Chelsea boss, with the right-back being ruled out for up to a month after he sustained an injury in his comeback match against AFC Bournemouth.

The 23-year-old missed out on representing England at the World Cup due to a knee injury which had kept him out of action since he played against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the beginning of October, and so the Blues are now targeting a right-back.

The Latest: Frimpong shortlisted

In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, Jones claimed that Chelsea have identified a multitude of different transfer options, spanning several leagues, but Frimpong is the one that he has heard the most about:

“There are loads of options that I’m hearing about, literally from five different leagues across Europe that they have options in.

“The one I’ve probably heard the most about is Jeremie Frimpong. So, I think that’s probably one on the shortlist, but we’ll find out in a few days. We’ll get a better idea of who they’re zoning in on.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

Neil Lennon hailed the 22-year-old as being ‘outstanding’ when he worked with him at Celtic, and he has since gone from strength to strength with Bayer Leverkusen, establishing himself as a key player for the German side.

This season, the Dutchman has weighed in with eight goal contributions in 21 appearances, a fantastic return for a full-back, even managing to score five Bundesliga goals, the second-highest amount totalled by any Leverkusen player.

The former Celtic man would not be a like-for-like replacement for James, who is more astute in his defensive duties, averaging 2.32 tackles per 90 over the past year compared to 1.68 from Frimpong, and that is a bonus for Potter, as he would have a new option who is better suited to games against different opponents.

West Ham United have identified an AFC Ajax sensation to bolster the midfield ranks and pump some new life into the fold after a damaging 2022/23 campaign thus far. 

Finishing within the European platform in both the past two seasons, Hammers boss David Moyes is now under weighted scrutiny surrounding the confidence in his management of such a talented bunch of players.

Despite his prosperous fortunes since assuming the role of head coach for a second time in December 2019, the club have run wayward this term, languishing in 17th place, level on points with Nottingham Forest, who are only in the drop-zone due to an inferior goal difference. 

With Ajax’s Edson Alvarez distinguished as a player to navigate a course that will get the Iron faithful cheering once again, a glimmer of hope might indeed arise from a troubling situation.

This is according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who detailed his thoughts on the situation to Loaded Mag’s Fully Loaded Transfer Show on Youtube.

He said: “I think Alvarez is one to keep an eye on. West Ham are looking at him because Declan Rice is going to leave for Chelsea in the summer.”

Imagine him & Paqueta

Alvarez has been highlighted as a potential replacement to the likely departing Rice, who has become the Hammers’ most coveted asset across the last few years.

One of the most integral and industrious cogs in the Ajax system, the £30.8m-rated midfielder has made 19 appearances this term, scoring a goal and providing two assists.

As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old has recorded a commendable average rating of 7.21 this term in the Dutch Eredivisie, making 2.2 tackles and 2.5 clearances per outing, sweeping aside the opposition’s advances and recycling possession for his formidable outfit, impressing with his creative flair by completing 88% of his passes and making 1.2 key passes per fixture.

His anchoring approach to his midfield play could meld with that of the Hammers’ marquee summer signing Lucas Paqueta, who arrived from Olympique Lyonnais in a lucrative £51m deal after dazzling in the French Ligue 1, grabbing nine goals and six assists from 35 appearances in a stunning season.

This teerm, he has not quite hit the ground running as Moyes’ east London outfit fail to clinch a rich vein of form, having failed to find the back of the net and assisting three times from 16 showings.

However, with the signing of Alvarez for years to come, Paqueta could have a partner that he could form a deadly partnership with.

The Mexican Alvarez, lauded for his “tenacious” attitude by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would be a stellar addition to a West Ham side in desperate need of reinvigorating, and with Rice potentially leaving, he would indeed be the perfect partner for Paqueta.

Newcastle United could look to strengthen their already phenomenal squad at St James’ Park this month, with a new update emerging from a reliable source on a potential option for the club to explore.

What’s the latest?

According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, the Magpies have been “offered” the chance to sign Brighton and Hove Albion winger Leandro Trossard.

Jacobs tweeted: “Trossard has been offered to Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester United over the past two months. #LFC and #MUFC made it clear very quickly they had no interest. #NUFC also prefer a younger option.”

Huge Allan Saint-Maximin upgrade

Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the rapid progress that the club has made since he arrived as manager 14 months ago, and he hit another milestone last night when his side progressed to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, the first time in 47 years that they have made it to that stage of the competition.

Furthermore, the Magpies are currently third in the Premier League after suffering only one defeat in the top flight over the first half of the season, which is an incredibly impressive achievement considering that they were relegation contenders when Howe arrived little more than a year ago.

Newcastle’s phenomenal form would suggest that they are not in desperate need to add any new players this month. However, with a major trophy in sight and the opportunity to qualify for Champions League this season becoming more of a reality than a dream, it would certainly not hurt to add depth to the squad to ensure that they are fully covered in the final push to tangible achievement.

Signing Trossard may not seem like a necessity for the Tyneside club, but since the opportunity has presented itself, it could be a major coup for Howe to bolster the quality in his forward line.

Across 16 Premier League appearances this term, the Belgium international – who was dubbed “unreal” by Rio Ferdinand – has scored seven goals, registered two assists and created one big chance, along with averaging 2.4 shots on goal, 1.5 key passes and 2.6 duels won per game.

Indeed, Trossard – who has a reported £30m price tag – could be a huge upgrade on Allan Saint-Maximin. The Brighton forward has outperformed the Frenchman in many attributes this season so far, including shots on target percentage (44.7% v 41.7%), pass completion rate (71.6% v 69.1%), progressive passes (50 v 23), crosses (35 v 11), shot-creating actions (50 v 26) and ball recoveries (65 v 28).

It is clear that the Seagulls sensation could provide the Magpies with more goal contributions from wing play and is much more clinical than Saint-Maximin, so the 28-year-old could be a great asset to Newcastle in their efforts to continue their winning ways this season.

If Dan Ashworth can scoop a good deal from his former club, having signed Trossard for Brighton in 2019, it could be a great piece of business for the Magpies not only for the remainder of the season but the longer-term future of their forward line.

West Ham United have made a move in their bid to bring Youssef En-Nesyri to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to David Ornstein, with The Athletic journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that, after seeing an offer totalling €30m (£27m) for the centre-forward rejected by Sevilla FC back in January of 2021, David Moyes has now launched a fresh bid for the 25-year-old this month – believed to be an initial loan deal.

In his tweet, Ornstein said: “West Ham make fresh approach to sign Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri. Unsuccessful bid to recruit Morocco international permanently in 2021 – this time offer is initial loan. Sevilla FC struggles mean WHUFC optimism low but interest firm.”

An unreal addition for Moyes

While En-Nesyri has not been at his free-scoring best in Spain so far this season – bagging five goals over 18 appearances – considering just how impressive the centre-froward has been in previous campaigns, coupled with his remarkable showing for Morocco at the Qatar World Cup this winter, it is easy to see why Moyes could seal an unreal signing here.

Indeed, over his 38 LaLiga appearances back in 2020/21, the £22m-rated talent was in sensational form going forwards, scoring 18 goals and creating six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.1 shots – 0.8 of which hit the target – making 0.4 key passes and winning 4.3 duels – at a success rate of 50% – per game.

These returns saw the 25-year-old average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Sevilla’s eighth-best performer in the top flight of Spanish football – playing a crucial role in his club going on to secure an extremely impressive fourth-place finish in the league that term.

The £106k-per-week striker also caught the eye for all the right reasons over his seven fixtures at the World Cup last year, hitting the back of the net twice, in addition to taking an average of 1.3 shots and winning 4.7 duels – at a success rate of 60% – per match.

These metrics saw the player who Aaron West dubbed “unreal” average a highly impressive Sofascore match rating of 6.90, ranking him as Morocco’s joint ninth-best performer in Qatar – playing a key part in the Atlas Lions’ historic run to the semi-finals.

All of that would bode phenomenally well for a side who aren’t exactly free-scoring this term. No player from an Irons perspective in the Premier League has scored more than three goals throughout 2023/23 with their leading centre-forwards – Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio – combining for just five all term.

As such, should Moyes believe that he can help the player who BBC Sport reporter Piers Edwards dubbed a “monster” refind his best level of form in east London, the Sevilla ace would undoubtedly represent an unreal addition to the Hammers’ current attacking arsenal, leading us to believe that the Scot must do everything he can to land the €40m (£35m) valued striker this month.

Premier League strugglers Everton are seemingly in need of a fresh injection of quality in their bid to stave off the drop, with Frank Lampard’s side currently languishing in the bottom three following what’s been a drab start to the new season.

With the Toffees currently having the eighth-best defensive record in the division, the club’s problem at present appears to lie at the other end of the pitch, as only Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers have scored fewer goals in the league to date.

That fact has ensured that bringing in a new attacking recruit is now something of a necessity for the Merseysiders before the window is out, with such a signing potentially set to prove the difference between relegation and survival.

According to the Daily Mail, the Goodison Park outfit could well have identified an ideal solution in the form of Villarreal wizard, Arnaut Danjuma, having reportedly made an enquiry to take the Dutchman on loan until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old – who is said to have a release clause of £45m in his existing deal – is also said to be of interest to top-flight rivals Aston Villa, while the winger’s former club Bournemouth have also been tipped for a reunion.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – has now provided an update on the race for the Nigerian-born forward’s signature, with the Italian journalist stating that Lampard and co are firmly in the mix at present.

The respected source stated: “For Danjuma, there are many clubs interested. I’m told Everton are one of them. It’s true that Everton are pushing, but Nottingham Forest are also among clubs exploring this move.”

The addition of the fleet-footed “baller” – as lauded by journalist Siavoush Fallahi – could well see the club secure a notable upgrade on academy graduate, Anthony Gordon, with the Englishman currently struggling to make his mark in the final third.

The 21-year-old – who was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer – has scored just three times in 17 games in all competitions so far this term, after previously providing seven goal involvements in 40 games during what was a breakout 2021/22 campaign.

While the youngster still has plenty of time to improve in the coming years, he simply is “not enough of a goal threat” at present, as per pundit Paul Robinson, having “not hit the heights” of last season.

As such, securing the more experienced Danjuma could represent the upgrade that Lampard may well be craving, with the £53k-per-week man offering the flexibility to feature on the flanks or in a centre-forward berth.

The former Cherries man has notably bagged six goals in 17 games in all competitions this season, after previously enjoying a standout campaign under current Villa boss Unai Emery last term after providing 20 goal involvements in just 34 games for the La Liga side.

A player who can clearly flourish at the elite level – having scored six goals during the Spanish outfit’s surge to the Champions League last four – Danjuma has showcased a consistency that Gordon simply has not been able to match.

There may well be something of a fight to be able to get the Netherlands international in the door, although the indication is that he could help to kickstart Everton’s season.

Chelsea are reportedly one of the clubs who are keen on a move for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, with the Spaniard facing something of an uncertain future at his current side.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Jacob Steinberg, via Twitter, the Blues are said to be “interested” in signing the 27-year-old during the summer, with the experienced asset currently having just 18 months remaining on his existing deal with the Bees.

In the attached piece for the Guardian, the report suggests that both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are also keeping tabs on the former Blackburn Rovers man at present.

The report notes that Graham Potter’s side could well be looking to bolster their goalkeeping department with Edouard Mendy having yet to extend his contract and with Kepa Arrizabalaga’s place in the side still said to be ‘uncertain’ in the long-term.

If the west Londoners are to prise the Barcelona-born sensation from his current surroundings, they could well be able to strike a deal for a rather measly fee of just £15m-£20m, as per the Telegraph.

‘Next level’ signing

A new recruit in the sticks has become something of a necessity of late due to Kepa’s current woes, with the former Athletic Bilbao man having been somewhat culpable in the Premier League defeat to Manchester City after failing to cut out Jack Grealish’s pullback, before then going walkabout for Fulham’s second goal in the 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage last week.

Those struggles have seen pundit Ian Wright describe the £150k-per-week dud as “nervy” and a player who simply makes “too many mistakes”, hence the need to find a suitable, long-term replacement in the coming months.

Turning to the aforementioned Raya could well prove a dream scenario for the Stamford Bridge outfit, with the 6 foot ace having been described as “next level” with the ball at his feet by journalist Dan Bardell.

That strength in possession is evidenced by the fact that the two-cap machine ranks in the top 6% for touches made among those in his position in Europe, having also been praised by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp last season for his distribution, with the German stating:

“Their goalie should have number 10 on his shirt with the balls that he played.”

That quality on the ball does not appear to come at a cost with regard to his brilliance at keeping the ball out of the back of the net, with the one-time Southport loanee having made 81 saves in 19 games in the top-flight this season – the most in the division.

Kepa, by contrast, has made only 38 saves in the top tier so far this term from his 11 outings, while also ranking in just the top 47% for touches made to illustrate that he is arguably not as comfortable in possession.

While the Brentford man may not be a potential glamour name for Potter and co to pursue, his ability to both prevent goals and help to offer an added threat creatively should well ensure that he can help take Chelsea to that ‘next level’.

90min journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed that Dusan Vlahovic would be a ‘great fit’ for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag.

The Lowdown: Man United offered chance to sign him

According to a report from 90min, the Premier League club and many others have been offered the chance to sign the Serbian forward.

Juventus could look to cash in on Vlahovic as they’ve been deducted 15 points due to concerns about their alleged false accounting and irregularities in the club’s finances.

The Serbian arrived in Turin last January for a £66.6m fee from fellow Serie A side Fiorentina, while in 17 appearances this season, he’s netted seven times and produced two assists in all competitions.

The Latest: Vlahovic would be a ‘great fit’

Bailey recent spoke on the Talking Transfers podcast and said that a move to the Red Devils would be great for the striker and thinks Ten Hag would love a long-term number nine like Vlahovic.

He stated: “I think he’d be a very good fit for Erik ten Hag.

“We know he likes this big number nine, we saw it with Sebastien Haller; he got the very best out of Haller at Ajax.

“We saw how he lined up against Arsenal with Weghorst – that is clearly, I think, the biggest indication yet of how in the long term he wants to play.

“And if you do want one of those number nines like this, I think Vlahovic is a very, very good fit. I like this a lot.

“He’s been offered around, basically, by intermediaries from Juve, letting know his likelihood of availability.”

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The Verdict: Vlahovic fits the bill

We believe that the Serbian forward could be the striker that Man United are looking for on a long-term basis and would be an upgrade on loan signing Wout Weghorst.

Ten Hag clearly sees the new January arrival as someone who can add quality to his side, speaking to Viaplay (via Manchester Evening News), he said that Weghorst can add ‘value’ to his team.

However, we think that the Dutch forward is more of a stopgap signing as his loan sees him through until the end of the summer, while Vlahovic would be a striker who fits the same mould but could represent a more long-term solution.

In the last year, the Serbian has averaged 0.5 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes and receives 7.66 progressive passes, Weghorst comes up shorter, posting 0.11 and 4.59 in both departments respectively.

It’s clear that Vlahovic is the classic number nine who gets into the right positions to receive attacking balls and has the ability to finish much better than Weghorst.

With talk of a potential takeover, a new and improved transfer budget could be in place in the future at Old Trafford. Ten Hag could have more money to play with and we believe Vlahovic would be a great striker for Man United.

Arsenal remain interested in Youri Tielemans but face competition from a Premier League rival…

What’s the word?

According to the Express, the Gunners are one of the teams keen on the Leicester City midfielder but Manchester United are one to ‘keep an eye on’ heading into the final few hours of the January transfer window.

With six months to run on his current £120k-per-week deal at the King Power, the Red Devils are said to be admirers, though the north London outfit are still in the race as they look unlikely to secure a move for the £80m-rated Moises Caicedo.

Better than Jorginho?

It’s thought that Arsenal chief Edu Gaspar is closing in on a £12m deal for out-of-contract Chelsea star Jorginho ahead of 11pm this evening but he could be missing a trick by not signing Tielemans, who was valued at around double that (£25m) during the summer.

Just like the Italian, the Belgian international is out of contract in the summer, making him a viable and bargain target in January and given he’s still only 25, he’d very much fit the typical profile of player that Mikel Arteta wants in his squad, compared to the 31-year-old.

Once described as a “phenomenon” by former Anderlecht ace Par Zetterberg, Tielemans is a more advanced type of midfielder – very much in the mould of a Thomas Partey or Granit Xhaka, making him an even better alternative as he should have no trouble in slotting in when needed.

Going forward, the Foxes maestro has delivered 28 goals and 25 assists across 184 appearances in the Midlands, via Transfermarkt, whilst he has averaged at least 2.2 tackles and 0.7 interceptions per game in each of the last two (and a half) seasons, per WhoScored.

It is perhaps why talkSPORT pundit Hal Robson-Kanu once hailed Tielemans as the “perfect” signing for the Premier League frontrunners to make.

“I’ve played against him first-hand. He’s a top-four player. His manipulation of the ball, the way he dictates the play, he will move the ball through the lines and receives the ball in tight areas,” he said.

“He will penetrate and hurt the opposition from a deeper place. That’s something for Arsenal fans, and the way they want to play, he would have been perfect for them.”

Given the evidence above, the Leicester star could well be worth pursuing before the transfer deadline this evening, regardless of Jorginho’s likely arrival.

He’d be a far better long-term fit for Arteta and the squad and one capable of making an instant impact, considering his experience and form in recent years.

In bringing Tielemans to the Emirates so late on, Edu could well seal a deadline-day masterclass.

AND in other news, Edu could secure perfect Partey alternative in Arsenal swoop for £26m “special talent”…

Chelsea could ‘look to sign’ Everton midfielder Amadou Onana in the next few days as an alternative to Brighton star Moises Caicedo.

The Lowdown: Caicedo interest…

The Seagulls star is a key midfield target for Graham Potter, and it’s believed that the Ecuadorian is ready to force a move to either Stamford Bridge or London rivals Arsenal.

However, it is also believed that Brighton have adopted a firm not-for-sale stance this month, potentially forcing Chelsea to weigh up alternatives.

The south coast club apparently value Caicedo at around £100m but they do not want him to leave the Amex Stadium, and if this transfer fails, Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol claims there are alternative targets for the west London club.

The Latest: Chelsea could ‘look to sign’ Onana…

Speaking on The Transfer Show via Sky Sports’ transfer blog [Friday, 17:16], Solhekol says that Chelsea could ‘look to sign’ Onana as an alternative. Enzo Fernandez is another name to whom they could turn, but the Toffees midfielder could provide immediate Premier League experience.

Solhekol stated: “Chelsea have a made a verbal offer before for the player and if Brighton are saying he’s not for sale, he’s not going anywhere, Chelsea may want to respect that and not make another offer.

“Brighton are making it clear and they value him at around £100m. There is still a possibility they look to sign Amadou Onana or Enzo Fernandez over the next few days.”

The Verdict: Good option?

The former Lille midfielder only joined Everton in the summer, but amid the Toffees’ struggle to escape relegation, Onana may want an escape route to Stamford Bridge.

Valued at around £31.5m by Transfermarkt, the 21-year-old certainly comes with credentials and may potentially cost far less than the eye-watering figures quoted by Brighton for Caicedo’s signature.

The Belgium international has even averaged a higher rate of successful tackles per 90 (2.6) than any regular in Chelsea’s squad with more than two starts, backing how he could become a colossal defensive midfield presence under Potter (WhoScored).

Still just 21 years old, Onana would come to west London with the potential to be a signing of real longevity similar to Caicedo.

The towering 6 foot 4 ace has already been called a ‘leader’ by former Belgium boss Roberto Martinez, and he could very well be a shrewd alternative to the Brighton midfielder, for whom a January transfer is proving increasingly difficult.

Aston Villa are enjoying a promising shift in fortunes under head coach Unai Emery, with the club now looking to continue their resurgence in the Premier League against Leicester City, who travel to Villa Park this afternoon.

With the Spaniard replacing Steven Gerrard in there managerial role in October, the Midlands outfit have since seen a commendable spike in both performance and fluidity, winning five of their seven league matches with the 51-year-old at the helm and losing just once against Liverpool.

The four-time Europa League winner has been vanquished in both domestic cup competitions, but the overall consensus so far is emphatically in his favour, and there is a real sense that Villa might just be undergoing a fruitful transformation on his watch.

With Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes now seeking to revive their own fortunes at Villa Park, having taken just one point from a possible 15 since the Premier League resumed at Christmas, today’s contest could be one of grit and dogged physicality, with the two teams perhaps requiring a moment of wizardry to settle the result in their favour.

Jacob Ramsey, who is valued at £31m by CIES Football Observatory, could be the man to do just that for the home side, with his dynamic capabilities in midfield making him a valuable focal point within Emery’s system and a regular starting presence despite his tender age.

Hailed as his team’s “hometown hero” by Squawka, the 21-year-old is traversing the right path towards a prominent role in the Premier League, having scored two goals and provided three assists from 14 top-flight starts this term.

Recording an average league rating of 6.94 from Sofascore, Ramsey has completed 85% of his passes and averaged 0.9 key passes per game, also making 2.3 tackles per match and winning 59% of his ground duels.

Douglas Luiz is the only Villa midfielder to boast a better Sofascore rating across the current campaign, and for a player so raw yet so reliable as a creative and all-embracing central outlet, Ramsey is quickly becoming one of his team’s most important assets.

As per FBref, the £70k-per-week gem ranks among the top 11% of midfielders across Europe’s big five leagues for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 5% for progressive carries, top 3% for blocks and top 15% for tackles. That illustrates a dynamic, refined sheen to his play which indeed sets him in good stead to flourish under Emery’s tutelage for seasons to come.

With the Foxes having run wayward of late, losing four of their past five matches in the Premier League and just one point above the dreaded relegation zone, Villa will hope to heap further misery onto their divisional rivals and climb into the top half of the table with a victory.

Ramsey could well be imperative in doing just that, with his transitional approach and robust nature on the pitch. Those quality was very much on display against Southampton last time out, as he won seven tackles and 11 duels, along with making two key passes, in a fine performance at St Mary’s.

With the 21-year-old given license to roam, he could run an out-of-sorts Leicester team ragged, and Emery must therefore start him once again today.