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Newcastle United are interested in a move for Boca Juniors midfielder Alan Varela, Ben Jacobs has claimed.

What’s the word?

Eddie Howe is on the search for a central midfielder in the January transfer window and has reportedly identified the 21-year-old Argentinian.

Varela has made 76 appearances for Boca and could make the move to England if Newcastle step up their interest.

Speaking on NUFC Matters, Jacobs revealed the extent of Newcastle’s interest and claimed that a deal could be struck later in the window.

He said: “He’s young, but he’s not teenage-young; he’s 21 years of age, I believe, and by the summer, he’ll be 22. But I think that we have to be very careful about how much time he might need to take to Premier League football, and still whether he’s worth that kind of transfer fee.

“I haven’t made too many direct enquiries on this one, but the last time I sort of checked in which was a week or so ago, I was certainly told that the interest from Newcastle is genuine, but we’re running out of time within the window.

“I still think they’ll surprise us, Newcastle, with something, with a late move or two.”

Another Ashworth masterclass?

Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth was at Brighton when the club signed Alexis Mac Allister from Boca Juniors in 2020, with the World Cup winner developing into a top-class midfielder.

It is clear that Ashworth has an eye for talent in the region and could secure Newcastle the next prospect coming out of Buenos Aires if he secures a deal for Varela.

Even though Newcastle may have the financial firepower to spend on big names, it is these kinds of signings that Ashworth found success with at Brighton, and if Varela develops into a top-class player at Newcastle, they will have secured a bargain in the long run even if they have to pay what may appear to be slightly over the odds now.

Bryan Gil is set to stay at Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window, Alasdair Gold has claimed.

What’s the word?

The Spaniard looked set to depart, possibly on loan, as he hardly featured for the club for the first half of the season.

However, he has since impressed in a few displays now he has been given a chance by Antonio Conte, and with Lucas Moura set to depart, Gil is now set to stay.

The club have been linked with a move for Leandro Trossard, but Gold has claimed that Gil would still be a squad option even if the Belgian was to arrive.

Speaking on the Gold and Guest Podcast, Gold revealed what he was told about the former Sevilla winger.

“Bryan Gil would be likely to stay now. Cristian Stellini pretty much told me that.”With Bryan Gil, Trossard, Kulusevski, Richarlison, Kane, Son, that suddenly becomes a very strong-looking lineup, as long as you’ve got them all available, and I think that has been Conte’s biggest issue.”Another chance?

Gil’s Spurs career has been a disaster since joining for around £21m and Erik Lamela in 2021, spending the second half of last season on loan at Valencia, and hardly having a sniff at first-team action.

However, he has impressed in flashes, and at just 21, he still has time to fulfil his potential. If he is given a fair shot at the club, then he could prove himself as a worthwhile signing.

If Trossard is to arrive in this window, then it could further block his path to action, but it seems that he will have six months to try and save his Spurs career before potentially pushing for a summer move.

Aston Villa have started life under Unai Emery very brightly indeed, having won three of the four league encounters since the Spaniard’s arrival at the back end of October.

Most recently, the Villans sank Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on enemy turf, and with the opening of the January transfer window, there is certainly plenty to be optimistic about within the Claret and Blue army.

With Emery likely to polish his outfit with his own sheen, there have been multiple names flying around the rumour mill, and vague intrigue could solidify into concrete interest over the coming weeks.

Previously, The Mirror reported that the Midlands outfit were targeting Dutch forward Arnaut Danjuma ahead of the January window, with Emery well accustomed to the dynamic ace’s skill set having managed him at Villarreal before returning to the Premier League.

And now reports from Spain state that with Villa recently instigating transfer negotiations, a deal could be struck in the region of €50m (£44m), despite the rumoured release clause of €75m (£66m) within his current contract with the Yellow Submarine.

A game-changing signing

As transfer insider Dean Jones remarked to GIVEMESPORT at the end of 2022, the Dutchman could be a “game-changer” as far as the Midlands side are concerned.

Danjuma has been beset with consistent niggling injury setbacks this season, only playing 15 times, although he has still found the back of the net on five occasions for his Spanish outfit as he continues to exhibit his devastating dynamism.

However, last season the 25-year-old truly blossomed into his own with the club, netting 16 times and finding four assists from 34 outings, emerging as one of the Spanish La Liga’s most ruthless forwards, also playing a pivotal role in a monumental Champions League campaign that saw a surge to the semi-finals.

His six goals in the continental competition were the driving force behind Villarreal’s exploits, with his notable winner against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals proving to be decisive in advancing in a huge upset.

While Emery cannot currently offer him guaranteed European endeavours off the bat, there is the allure of working under the manager once again that gave him his most productive top-flight spell.

Indeed, under the 51-year-old, Danjuma scored 19 goals and assisted four more from 43 appearances, accounting for the vast majority of the 21 total goals he has forged for Villarreal.

He was branded a “nightmare” by Kevin Phillips for his robust aura and devastating presence along the offensive third, with Sofascore recording his performances in La Liga last term at 6.97, scoring ten times from just 17 starts.

And having signed for the club from AFC Bournemouth in August 2021 in a £21.3m deal, he has already paved the foundation for a successful career on English soil, having scored 17 goals and served eight assists from 52 appearances with the Cherries.

Emery must complete the signing, issuing in a new talisman who could become game-changing in Aston Villa’s climb up the table.

Neil Critchley was finally confirmed as QPR’s new manager last Sunday, and the former Blackpool boss will have some big decisions to make at Loftus Road in January.

Having been top of the Championship in October, the Hoops now find themselves ninth in the standings with a negative goal difference after some woeful recent form.

In their last six league games, the west London outfit have managed no wins, only one draw and five losses, with just one goal scored and 10 conceded, which sees them ranked as the most out-of-form team in the league.

Therefore, it is clear that Critchley has a big job on his hands if he is to get the R’s back into promotion contention, and the 44-year-old will need to be ruthless with some of his decisions if he wants to progress with his new club.

One such decision should be to get rid of veteran winger Albert Adomah.

The former Aston Villa man, who turned 35 yesterday, has just one goal in 17 appearances for the Hoops so far this season (14 of those as a substitute), averaging a shocking 6.15 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the Championship.

The Ghanaian forward is something of a fans’ favourite at Loftus Road, having made 89 appearances for QPR in total, contributing five goals and nine assists in that time.

He also enamoured himself to the fan base by celebrating with the away end after a penalty shootout win over Leyton Orient in one of the first matches back with fans in attendance in August 2021 after the pandemic had prevented supporters from following the Hoops in person.

However, football is a ruthless business, and he simply doesn’t offer enough on the pitch anymore. That is emphasised by his woeful average rating this season, which ranks him as only the 21st-best performer at Loftus Road.

Considering that he is one of the best-paid players at the club, earning £12.5k per week, Critchley should definitely look to get rid before Adomah’s contract expires in the summer of 2024. Otherwise, he risks costing QPR a significant sum of money despite being a fringe player who is no longer good enough for Championship football at this point in his career.

Tottenham are reportedly pressing to sign Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in 2023.

The Lowdown: Gvardiol at the World Cup

Hailed as a ‘beast’ and ‘one of the most talented’ defenders in European football by writer Manuel Veth, Gvardiol is currently in Qatar at the World Cup.

The Croatia international has helped his country into the last 16, playing every minute of action in the three group games, with his side conceding just once.

The 20-year-old appears to be attracting plenty of interest, with Spurs seemingly one of the clubs keen on his services.

The Latest: Gvardiol transfer update

Corriere dello Sport provided an update regarding Gvardiol’s future on Saturday, where Tottenham were named. They claimed that Spurs and Chelsea are pressing to sign the centre-back, with Real Madrid also keeping an eye on the situation.

Leipzig would want between €70m and €80m (£60m-£68.5m), which would make him Spurs’ all-time record signing, should a transfer materialise in that price range.

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The Verdict: He is needed

Antonio Conte seemingly wants to bolster his defensive ranks in the New Year, with links to Inter Milan pair Stefan de Vrij and Milan Skriniar continuing in recent weeks.

Spurs have conceded 21 times in 15 Premier League games – the most out of any team in the top eight – so landing a marquee defender like Gvardiol could help to firm things up in both the short-term and long run.

It looks as if Tottenham will need to pip rivals Chelsea to a potential record deal, though, so this will be one to watch heading into the New Year as Fabio Paratici and Daniel Levy aim to strengthen Conte’s ranks.

Newcastle United have reportedly scouted Rennes winger Martin Terrier over the last two weeks ahead of a potential move in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Exceptional form

With 11 goals and four assists in 18 games in total over all competitions for Rennes so far this season, Terrier is a player in exceptional form (Transfermarkt).

The French winger, who was hailed as ‘phenomenal’, ‘very quick’ and even likened to footballing legend Thierry Henry last term by European football writer Tim Williams, has carried on from where he left off after netting 21 times and supplying seven assists in the last campaign (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Scouts sent

Writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that the St. James’ Park outfit are one of a number of clubs in the Premier League to have scouted Terrier over the last couple of weeks, having made contact with Rennes in the summer.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Leeds United, Leicester City, Wolves and Aston Villa have all watched him in action, while Liverpool and Leeds also contacted Rennes in the summer.

Terrier has recently been called up to the France national team ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and Rennes will ask for in excess of £30m for his services in January.

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The Verdict: No-brainer

To sign a player of Terrier’s quality for £30m in January is surely a no-brainer for the Tynesiders.

Should he play in the World Cup, the Frenchman is sure to attract attention from some of the top clubs in Europe, and with the added competition from the Premier League, it may be difficult for Eddie Howe’s team to persuade him to join above all.

Terrier is 25 years of age, and so the Magpies will want to sign him when he is about to enter his prime, with fellow French winger Allan Saint-Maximin among those who could try and help push through a move.

Behind-the-scenes details have emerged regarding newly-appointed West Bromwich Albion manager, Carlos Corberan, and the methods that he is looking to implement at the club immediately.

The Lowdown

West Brom take on Sheffield United in the Championship this afternoon for what will be Corberan’s first game in charge of the Midlands club since being appointed earlier this week.

Before this game takes place, Baggies supporters have been given some behind-the-scenes insight over how the new manager is looking to shape his team.

The Latest

On Friday, journalist Lewis Cox shared a post on his official Twitter account which included an article he wrote for the Express & Star regarding Corberan and his managerial methods.

The insight, which Cox described as “interesting” in his Twitter post, surrounds what the manager has been looking to instil in his players on the training field ahead of today’s showdown against the Blades.

Specifically, the intensity and psychological aspects are areas that the former Huddersfield Town boss has been focusing on in the early days of his new job, urging his players to make an immediate step up in the former and to believe in themselves.

The Verdict

Bearing in mind how the Hawthorns outfit have won just two of their 16 league games so far this season, this suggests that a change in the mindset of the players is certainly needed.

In terms of the intensity, only four clubs have racked up a lower combined total of tackles and interceptions than West Brom (379), which highlights how much more proactive the players need to be when out of possession.

Then from an attacking point of view, with the joint-third lowest rate of goals per shot on target (0.25), Corberan will need to find a way to get his players to be more clinical in front of goal.

Looking ahead to today’s game, if the Baggies can pick up a win against the Yorkshire club, this would be the perfect way for Corberan to get his tenure in charge of West Brom up and running.

Renowned Sunderland podcasters Roker Report were left criticising the performances of Lynden Gooch, Dan Neil and Elliot Embleton away to Swansea City in today’s Championship clash.

The Lowdown: Poor first half

Tony Mowbray’s side were poor by their usual standards, especially in the first half.

They found themselves two goals down at half-time as Oliver Cooper and Harry Darling scored for the hosts, before Jack Clarke managed a reply for the visitors early in the second half.

The Latest: Sunderland trio criticised

Taking to Twitter, Roker Report were particularly critical of the performances of Gooch, Neil and Embleton, claiming that they would have taken all three Sunderland players off at the half-time.

The podcaster tweeted at the interval: “Gooch, Neil and Embleton in particular have been awful, so I’d take all three off.”

The Verdict: Must do better

When two or more players are not having their best game, it is difficult to pick up a positive result.

Both Neil and Embleton were shown yellow cards and lost eight duels between them, while also failing to record a shot on target and losing the ball a total of 24 times before both were substituted in the 78th minute (SofaScore).

As for Gooch, he lost out on two of his duels and failed to make a single interception, key pass or successful cross, losing the ball on 16 separate occasions and receiving a late yellow card (SofaScore).

All three will need to perform much better if the Black Cats are to start picking up positive results, with no win since mid-September.

Medical expert Ben Dinnery has been left wowed by the appointment of Jack Nayler as Everton’s new Head of Sports Science.

The Lowdown: Nayler appointed

The Goodison Park outfit confirmed last week that Nayler has been appointed as the new Head of Sports Science for the Men’s First Team.

He has extensive experience in elite-level sport and joins them after 15 months with established Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

He also has five years of experience in the same role for reigning Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, and has also been First-Team Sports Scientist/Conditioning Coach at UEFA Champions League champions Real Madrid.

Nayler has also worked with both PSG and Chelsea, and has a Masters degree in strength and conditioning and a degree in sports and exercise science, physiology, nutrition, pedagogy, psychology, biomechanics and sports medicine.

The Latest: Dinnery wowed

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery, who also contributes for Sky Sports, has claimed that hiring Nayler appears to be a ‘major coup’ for the Merseyside club, adding that he has an ‘impressive’ resume:

“It’s an impressive resume.

“You don’t get an opportunity to work at so many top clubs without picking up some real good habits and knowledge.

“We know that football is a results-based business. On paper, it appears to be a major coup for Everton, but the ultimate litmus test will be how the backroom staff goes on to take them to the next level.

“But, yes, it looks like a really good recruit for them. Hopefully, for supporters, he is another piece of the jigsaw to help Frank Lampard realise his Everton dream.”

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The Verdict: Inspired appointment

Given the number of high-profile clubs that Neyler has worked with, this looks to be a really inspired appointment.

His expertise in strength and conditioning will be music to the ears of the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has suffered from injury problems over the last two seasons.

It shows a step in the right direction for the Toffees, who will now look to kick on after their 1-0 at home to West Ham United in the Premier League before the international break.

West Bromwich Albion are reportedly looking to secure a transfer for former Nottingham Forest striker Lewis Grabban.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Football League World, the Baggies are in talks to sign the player as a free agent following his exit from Forest at the end of last season.

With 546 club appearances and 168 goals under his belt, the 34-year-old certainly has the experience to be a useful asset for the Hawthorns outfit.

During his four-year stint at Forest, the veteran found the net 56 times in 149 appearances across all competitions.

Bruce needs him

With Daryl Dike out for a significant period of time with an injury, it’s evident why Steve Bruce needs to add a new centre-forward to his squad before the summer transfer window closes, even though he did recently see his side put five goals past Hull City.

Despite that, only seven clubs in the second division have a lower rate of goals per shot than West Brom (0.08), so having a player like the 34-year-old Grabban in the squad could help the Baggies find the net on a regular basis.

With that in mind, securing a deal for the former Forest star is a must for the Baggies, not just from a financial point of view but also from a short-term footballing perspective too.

To highlight his attacking prowess, in 32 league appearances last season, the Englishman ended the campaign with 12 goals, leaving only Brennan Johnson (16) with more, while he also had the third-highest number of shots on target (22) at Forest.

Described by Jamie O’Hara as a player that “knows what it takes to get goals”, Grabban has also been hailed as being “a great presence on the pitch” by Steve Cooper which is certainly something that Albion could do with in the absence of Dike.

Thus, if the Midlands club feel that Grabban could do a job for them while injuries ravage their forward line, sealing his signature as soon as possible could put to bed any worries there may be as they aim to strengthen the squad ahead of transfer deadline day.