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According to a report from AS Roma Live (via Sport Witness), the Serie A club remain interested in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz. 

The lowdown: Luiz is a wanted man

The 23-year-old has previously been indexed with a move to Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United (Birmingham Mail).

Despite the speculation, the former Manchester City academy starlet has remained a regular feature for the Villans this season, making 27 appearances across all competitions.

A fresh report from Italy has claimed that there is strong interest on the Brazilian from further afield…

The latest: Jose Mourinho keen on Luiz

As per the report from AS Roma Live, as translated by Sport Witness, Roma’s admiration for Luiz has ‘never completely disappeared’.

It is stated that the five-cap Brazil international is ‘not the happiest’ at Villa Park, having not been rewarded with a new contract.

Indeed, recent comments from Gerrard confirming that talks over a new deal for the Brazilian aren’t forthcoming are believed to have been viewed as a ‘green light’ by Roma.

The verdict: Secure him at all costs

Valued at £31.5m and into the final 18 months of a contract in the Midlands (Transfermarkt), the club would certainly be best served to tie down the midfield general to fresh terms sooner rather than later.

Described as a ‘clever’ operator on the ball by Pep Guardiola, Luiz has formed an impressive partnership alongside John McGinn whilst completing 86% of his passes this season, earning an overall performance rating of 6.93 from Sofascore.

Given the levels of interest in Luiz’s services, without a new deal it’s difficult to envisage a summer without strong renewed interest; and as things stand, Villa may be forced to cash in on the Brazilian, perhaps even to a Premier League rival.

In other news: Source claims Aston Villa outcast will move on this summer. Read more here.

According to a report by The Times, a major midweek update has come to light on Tottenham Hotspur’s plans for loanee winger Dejan Kulusevski.

The Lowdown: ‘Decky’ shining at Spurs…

The Sweden international, who is nicknamed ‘Decky’, is currently enjoying life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on loan from Juventus, with Spurs manager Antonio Conte raving over his starlet to the press.

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Kulusevski joined the club in January alongside midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, with both players impressing as part of Conte’s new-look Spurs contingent.

The 21-year-old has racked up two goals and five assists over his 10 Premier League outings so far as he forms an effective understanding with Son Heung-min and Harry Kane as part of Tottenham’s front three.

As per The Times, his form has now prompted Spurs to make a major transfer call.

The Latest: The Times share big Kulusevski update…

According to their information, the Lilywhites are now ‘ready to move early’ to ‘snap up’ the player in an eight-figure £25 million permanent deal.

Indeed, Tottenham and their transfer chief Fabio Paratici apparently plan to trigger Kulusevski’s £25m clause this summer rather than waiting until his loan expires, when the option could cost around £33.5m.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Going by his performances so far, £25m could be a real bargain for Kulusevski’s signature permanently, with Serie A expert Nima Tavallaey Roodsari telling 101 Great Goals that the Swede would be a hit under Conte.

The Italian football journalist tipped the 21-year-old to become an ‘absolute monster’ working with Tottenham’s head coach, drawing emphasis Kulusevski being a ‘non-stop machine’ who ‘never steps running’ (101 Great Goals).

Going by the player’s WhoScored returns, Nima has been proven correct, with the winger already averaging a higher match rating than anyone in the Spurs squad bar Kane and Son.

Taking this into account, it’s crystal clear to see why Spurs are now ready to make his move a permanent one.

In other news: Tottenham eye agreement ‘in the coming weeks’ as they make offer for exciting midfielder, find out more here.

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Stoke City are interested in signing Sam Vokes from Burnley before the transfer deadline, according to Sky Sports News.

The Potters have identified the striker as a potential acquisition but Sean Dyche will not let any player leave unless he can source a replacement.

What’s the word?

Stoke, per Sky Sports, could sell both Peter Crouch and Bojan Krkic before the transfer deadline and are keen to bolster their attacking options.

The club are currently 15th in the Championship, but believe Vokes has the ability to play in both the second-tier and the Premier League.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Vokes has been a key member of Dyche’s side this season, making 28 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

However, he has scored just four goals in all competitions and his last strike for the club came in November 2018, in a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.

Per The Mirror, Burnley are interested in Birmingham City’s Che Adams, who could be a replacement for the Welshman.

Soar up the table

Stoke could soar up the table if they manage to sign Vokes.

The 29-year-old has played 113 games in the Premier League and has 198 appearances to his name in the Championship, according to Transfermarkt.

As per the same stats-based website, his goalscoring record is light-years better in the second-tier than the top-flight; he has scored 52 goals in the Championship, compared to 17 in the Premier League.

Stoke bringing him in, particularly to replace the enigmatic Bojan and the ageing Crouch, would do wonders for their hopes of working their way into the top 10 and potentially into the play-offs.

The Potters are currently eight points behind sixth-placed Derby County; Vokes could be just the man to score the goals needed to close that gap.

According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur have ‘turned their attention’ to a new target as they eye a move for Oxford United defender Luke McNally.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye lower league talent…

The Lilywhites’ on-going search for new defensive additions isn’t exclusive to just the top tiers of European football.

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Some of the lower league’s brightest have been linked to Spurs in recent months, including the likes of Djed Spence, who Fabio Paratici lodged multiple January bids for.

Peterborough United defender Benjamin Mensah has also been the subject of interest, as previously revealed by the club’s own director Barry Fry.

Now, however, it seems Tottenham now have their eyes on yet another talent from below the Premier League.

The Latest: Lilywhites turn attention…

According to FI, Spurs have turned their attention to McNally with a recruitment source explaining that one bid of £2 million has already been put on the table.

Tottenham club officials are also apparently being sent to run the rule over Oxford’s towering defender until the end of this season with regular scouting trips planned.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The 22-year-old has been impressing for Oxford in England’s third tier with teammate Sam Long branding McNally an ‘absolute machine’.

Oxford’s centre-back possesses a physicality which could be perfect for the intensity of Premier League football with the player standing at a colossal 6 foot 3.

The fact he is attracting ‘extensive interest’ from rival clubs is also an indicator of his real potential, leaving little wonder he’s caught Tottenham’s eye also.

As McNally joins the list of talent on Tottenham’s agenda, it’s clear there is reason to believe he could be a promising addition.

In other news: Paratici sets sights on ‘phenomenal’ £100m man who Spurs have been offered before, find out more here.

Celtic signing Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent deal this summer would be a ‘big, big boost’ according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Dream loan spell

The American traded Tottenham for the Hoops last year, arriving at Parkhead on a season-long loan in order to enjoy regular starts away from north London.

Carter-Vickers has enjoyed a fantastic spell at Celtic to date, becoming an influential figure at the heart of the defence and winning four Man of the Match awards from WhoScored.

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He has also scored four times for good measure, including the crucial winner in the 2-1 victory away to Rangers earlier this month.

The Latest: Permanent move imminent?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke talked up the idea of Celtic signing Carter-Vickers on a long-term basis in the summer transfer window. The journalist said:

“It would be a big, big boost for Celtic if they were to get this deal over the line. I think he has been instrumental in their success this season and has helped to shore up their defence.

“Celtic have got the best defensive record in the Scottish Premiership this season as well, so Carter-Vickers has played his part in that.”

The Verdict: No-brainer for Celtic

There is very little, if anything, which doesn’t make sense regarding the Hoops signing Carter-Vickers permanently, given the impact he has made at the club.

Spurs are reportedly willing to sell him, not seeing him as a key figure, and £6m would be enough for Celtic to snap him up, which arguably feels like a bargain given his performances in green and white.

The 24-year-old has the potential to be a vital player at Parkhead for many years, with his average of 4.2 aerial duel wins and 1.2 interceptions per game highlighting his defensive expertise.

In other news, Ange Postecoglou has admitted ‘concern’ over one player. Find out who it is here.

Following the appointment of Steven Gerrard as Dean Smith’s replacement at Aston Villa, it was revealed that the owners at Villa Park would give financial backing to the 41-year-old during the January transfer window.

The first example of this could be seen in their recent loan deal for Barcelona and former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho.

Looking ahead to the rest of the window, the Midlands club have plenty of time left to complete any deals that they think will improve Gerrard’s squad and enable them to end their season on a high.

However, one potential target who the Villans should definitely avoid this month is Norwich City’s Todd Cantwell.

With Villa having been linked with a potential £40m move for the midfielder last summer, The Athletic’s David Ornstein recently claimed that the Canaries would be willing to sell the 23-year-old for a reduced fee of £15m or more.

Despite this substantial drop in price, the Midlanders should still avoid making a move to sign him this month.

From a Villa point of view, even before the arrival of Coutinho, they have a significant number of midfield and attacking players in their squad, including youngsters Jacob Ramsey, Carney Chukwuemeka and Cameron Archer, who could end up being overlooked if Cantwell were to join.

In terms of what the 23-year-old – who is currently valued at £18m by Transfermarkt – could offer to Villa, he has not scored a goal or provided an assist in eight Premier League appearances so far this season. That suggests that the Englishman may not have the quality to get into the Villa team in the first place.

In addition to Cantwell’s lack of goal contributions in the league this season, his performances haven’t been much to shout about either. WhoScored give him an overall rating of 6.23/10, which would rank him among Villa’s lowest-rated players this season.

Having been accused of “getting above his station” by pundit Chris Sutton after walking down the tunnel at Carrow Road when he was substituted in Norwich’s game against Villa last month, the 23-year-old may not necessarily have the attitude that Gerrard would want in his squad either.

Overall, Villa must avoid a potential transfer howler and forget about securing a deal for Cantwell this month despite the apparent decrease in Norwich’s asking price.

In other news – Forget Coutinho: Lange can transform Gerrard’s Villa by signing “aggressive” £22.5m beast

Fresh information has emerged regarding Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte’s links to French giants Paris Saint-Germain, as well as details on Mauricio Pochettino’s links to Spurs.

The Lowdown: Conte news

According to Le Parisien (via Get French Football News), Conte has offered himself to officials at PSG on an initial two-year engagement in the hope of replacing Mauricio Pochettino, who is soon expected to be relieved of his duties as head coach, already drawing links back to N17.

However, Alasdair Gold, football.london’s Spurs reporter, has revealed that people around the Italian have suggested that the rumours are not true.

As a result, a sense of unrest has overwhelmed the ongoing preparations at Hotspur Way ahead of Sunday’s clash with Leicester City.

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The Latest: Fresh info emerges

According to a fresh report by football.london reporter Gold, there is no official break clause this summer in Conte’s deal.

At the end of the season, it is expected that the 52-year-old will meet with chairman Daniel Levy and managing director of football Fabio Paratici to discuss future plans.

Gold also reveals that previous claims of Levy holding regular contact with Pochettino are false, saying ‘those within the Argentine’s camp’ have shared that the former fan favourite exchanges only the odd pleasantry with the Spurs chief.

The Verdict: Conte is crucial to Spurs

Whilst the opening few months with the Italian in charge hardly went swimmingly, Tottenham have managed to win 13 of their 23 league matches under Conte’s reign.

As a result, the Lilywhites have cemented themselves as genuine top-four contenders in the league this season. Spurs are now up to fifth in the Premier League table, just two points behind Arsenal in fourth.

This improvement illustrates the vast changes which have positively affected the north London club’s results. Therefore, this means the news that there is no official break clause in Conte’s deal will come as a huge sigh of relief to Tottenham fans.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Noel Whelan makes Joe Rodon exit claim

Newcastle United transfer target Niklas Sule has decided to leave Bayern Munich, according to Bild (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

26-year-old centre-back Sule is out of contract at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Bayern president Herbert Hainer said over the weekend that the player’s camp were considering an improved offer from the club.

Sule has been with Bayern for four and a half years, having joined from TSG Hoffenheim for £18million back in 2017.

In that time, he’s made 158 appearances, including 25 so far this term.

The latest

The report from Germany (via SW) states ‘decision made’, with Sule opting to leave Munich as a free agent in the summer.

Sule ‘has long since rejected’ the offer of a €10million-per-year (£160,000-per-week) salary.

Newcastle are named among the clubs ‘interested’ in snapping up the German for next season.

The verdict

You’d imagine the move would depend upon Newcastle staying up, but what a signing this would be.

Sule is a 37-cap Germany international who’s played at the last two major tournaments for his country.

He also boasts a huge trophy haul, including the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League and a remarkable four Bundesliga titles.

Sule is a strong tackler, but he’s also more than comfortable in possession, excelling at passing and dribbling (via WhoScored).

One surprising asset, given that he looks ‘like the Incredible Hulk’ is his speed. Sule has been clocked at 21.6 miles per hour, which at one point made him the second quickest player in the Bayern ranks (via Bundesliga.com).

He has so many qualities that there’s bound to be a long queue of suitors – Jupp Heynckes called him ‘superb’ and ‘world class’ – so this would be quite a coup if the Magpies can snap him up on pre-contract terms for the summer.

In other news, Newcastle are reportedly moving in for this signing.

A significant claim has been made regarding Rangers and their pursuit of a new forward this month…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that the Gers are working on a deal to sign Andreas Skov Olsen this month and that they have been keeping tabs on his progress.

It remains to be seen how far along any prospective transfer is, but the reporter believes that the manager and sporting director are both keen to get this move over the line.

He told GIVMESPORT: “Skov Olsen, from Bologna, seems to be the one that Ross Wilson and van Bronckhorst have been pushing for. He is the one that they’ve been tracking for quite a long time.”

This comes after it was reported earlier this week that Belgian outfit Club Brugge are closing in on a deal for the attacker.

Excitement for Rangers fans

Rangers fans will surely be left excited by this claim from O’Rourke, as it appears to offer them fresh hope that Olsen will end up at Ibrox by the end of this month.

Despite the player reportedly being on his way to Brugge, the Gers remain keen on a deal and are pushing for it to happen, which shows that Wilson will not give up easily. Until the documents are signed and the announcement is made, Olsen is still available to sign before the end of the transfer window, and there is a collective desire from the top dogs in Glasgow to bring him to the club.

Supporters will be excited by this, as he could be a fantastic addition to the team and solve a problem area for Van Bronckhorst. No one player has been able to nail down the right wing position on a regular basis for the Gers, with Scott Wright lining up there in the draw with Aberdeen earlier this week.

He was hooked off in the 64th minute after creating one chance and losing six of his seven ground battles, whilst also failing with his one dribble attempt, as per SofaScore. The winger has two goals and zero assists in 13 Premiership matches, whilst Ianis Hagi – who can play centrally or out wide – also has two goals and zero assists in 15 league games.

Olsen has two assists in just six Serie A starts this season and has produced five goals and three assists in seven starts for Denmark in their 2022 World Cup qualifiers. This suggests that he could come in and provided an added goalscoring and creative threat on the right flank which Hagi and Wright have been unable to offer, which is why Rangers fans will surely be buzzing with the club’s concerted efforts to bring him to Ibrox.

AND in other news, Rangers can finally replace Gilmour by signing “phenomenal” 18y/o who “has everything”…

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst is facing a battle to keep central defender Filip Helander at Ibrox beyond the summer.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, sources have revealed the giant centre-back is attracting interest from a team south of the border ahead of the summer.

The report claims that former Gers manager Steven Gerrard wants to be reunited with the Swede to replace Tyrone Mings at Aston Villa next season. He is not convinced by the England international and is now monitoring Helander with a view to a swoop for him later this year.

Ross Wilson will be excited

Rangers’ sporting director will surely be rubbing his hands together with excitement at the prospect of being able to cash in on Helander.

His pre-existing relationship with Gerrard could allow him to negotiate a favourable financial package with Villa, whilst the deal, in general, would be a shock.

Despite the Liverpool legend’s connection with Rangers, it would be an incredibly surprising move given Helander’s issues this season. He has struggled for form and fitness and has not done enough to suggest that he would be an asset to a Premier League team, much less ahead of Mings.

In the Premiership this season, he has only played six times and averaged an underwhelming SofaScore rating of 6.75 – lower than any other senior Gers centre-back – and was subbed off at half-time in his last two starts in the division.

Rangers have only kept one clean sheet in his six outings and the overall standard of his performances has been below-par in comparison to the other players in his position. Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey have all averaged scores of 6.97 or higher, whilst outcast Jack Simpson previously averaged a score of 6.83.

His injuries are also a massive cause for concern. He missed 22 matches with a foot injury in the 2019/20 campaign and then suffered a blow to his knee at the start of 2021/22 that kept him out of 32 games.

The centre-back made his return earlier this year and was then hit with another setback as he damaged his foot earlier this month, which is predicted to keep him on the sidelines for at least 12 outings.

Meanwhile, Mings has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.91 and played 29 matches in the Premier League, after playing in 36 games last term and averaging a score of 6.95 for Villa. He has been more consistent than Helander in terms of his ability on the pitch and his reliability from a selection standpoint, which is why it would be baffling for Gerrard to make this transfer move.

Therefore, Wilson will be excited as he has the chance to seal a masterclass of a deal by selling the Swede to Villa as he would be offloading an underperforming, unreliable, dud.

AND in other news, Major blow: Rangers now hit with significant setback that’ll leave supporters gutted…