Manchester United’s business in the January transfer window may not be completely finished, as they could sign a new right-back if Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaves, Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

What’s the word?

Wan-Bissaka looked certain to leave as he failed to make a single start before the World Cup, but has impressed in recent weeks as he covered in the absence of Diogo Dalot.

This improvement meant that United were no longer prioritising a right-back in January, but they could still move for one if the Englishman leaves the club.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano claimed that United could still be active in the market, as Wan-Bissaka will only leave if they can find a replacement.

“I would keep an eye on a new right-back, only in one case,” Romano stated.

“The case is that Wan-Bissaka leaves the club, because if Man United receive a good proposal for Wan-Bissaka, and keep an eye on two clubs: Wolves and Crystal Palace.

“Now Wan-Bissaka is performing well, it is not an urgent situation for Manchester United, but in case they receive a good proposal, there is still a chance for him to leave the club in January.

“In that case, it’s on Manchester United to bring in a new backup option for Diogo Dalot.”

A deal can wait

Given that Wan-Bissaka is starting to find some form under Erik ten Hag – he received a season-high league match rating of 7.5/10 against Wolves recently (via Sofascore) – it may be wise to see if he can fulfil the potential which made United spend £50m on him in 2019.

If he can prove himself as a useful option over the next few months, he will save United from having to find a replacement, and if he does not perform well, they can let him go in the summer.

Selling him now runs the risk of a replacement not settling well mid-season, and letting him go whilst he is in good form could come back to bite them later if he becomes successful elsewhere.

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer priorities seem to have shifted of late, perhaps spurred on by recent performances.

Whilst Antonio Conte initially seemed keen on signing additional wing-backs and perhaps even another attacker, ever since their loss in the north London derby, rumours have shifted to surrounding the future of club captain Hugo Lloris.

In fact, journalist Sami Mokbel even claimed after the defeat to Arsenal that it had sped up the process of engineering his exit, with the 36-year-old having seen his powers wane dramatically of late.

Three of his last five matches have resulted in a Sofascore rating of 6.0 or lower, exacerbated by the mammoth four mistakes he has made leading to a goal this season.

In his seniority, it seems frequent blunders are creeping in, and perhaps to save his legacy would be to find his replacement sooner rather than later.

One of those being touted to overtake the mantle is Brentford shot-stopper David Raya, who encapsulates everything needed to be a successful modern goalkeeper and could be available for just £20m.

The Spaniard’s acquisition could bear resemblance to the initial signing of Lloris in 2012, who joined in a £13m deal having impressed at Lyon.

Signed as a 25-year-old, just two years Raya’s junior, he was bought with the intention to hold down the spot for the foreseeable future. He has starred for the Lilywhites and France ever since, announcing himself as a “hero” in the eyes of journalist Jonathan Johnson for the latter.

This move could be a repeat, with the 27-year-old showing all the hallmarks of someone who could thrive in the Premier League for the next decade.

Averaging a 7.13 rating this campaign, he has played an integral role in the Bees’ sensational form in England’s top flight. He pairs impressive saves with composure beyond comparison, which culminates in a 74% save success rate and 22.9 passes per game.

Also boasting a competency as a sweeper keeper showcased through his 100% run-out success rate, there are seemingly very few outstanding flaws to his game.

His form has even spurred manager Thomas Frank to dub him “one of the best in the league” at what he does.

Finally a viable Lloris replacement seems to have come onto the market, with the qualities needed to thrive in the modern game. Spurs must not waste time in their pursuit, with the other Premier League clubs sniffing around. It is a deal they must make to secure the best possible successor, repeating their initial masterclass to sign him in the first place.

Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis should feel incredibly fortunate not to have conceded a penalty on the weekend in the semi-final at Hampden, according to Dermot Gallagher.

What’s the latest?

Ange Postecoglou’s side have booked themselves a spot in the final of the Scottish League Cup following their 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Goals from the Greek striker and Daizen Maeda proved to be the difference between the two sides at Hampden with the Bhoys set to face their city rivals in the final.

However, there have been some suggestions that Kilmarnock could have been awarded a penalty for a clumsy challenge from the Celtic striker.

And although it was not given, speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, the former referee, Gallagher, has suggested the striker did shove Joe Wright to the ground unfairly:

“I think the clue here for me is where is the ball. Where’s the ball? There’s no ball in the picture. Still not there. Still not there. Still not there. There it goes. So I think he’s taken a massive risk and he’s got lucky. You know, I think it should be a penalty.”

Big let-off

When you consider the ball is nowhere near either of the players as the striker forces the Kilmarnock man to the ground, it is not difficult to see where Gallagher is coming from.

It does look like a really clumsy challenge from a striker who is not used to defending inside of his own area.

And we have to agree with Gallagher, that on this occasion, the Hoops have seriously been let off the hook by Willie Collum and the official operating VAR.

Had Collum just missed the incident live then there could have been understanding as to why it was not given, however, with VAR introduced there is no excuse for incidents like this not to be given.

And given the teams were only separated by one goal at the time, Giakoumakis could have landed his side in real bother with the momentum potentially taking a swing against them.

However, Celtic will feel as if they have been owed a decision back by VAR this season with a number of contentious calls going against them.

One was the handball against Matt O’Riley in the victory over Ross County late last year in which the midfielder was somehow deemed to have deliberately handled the ball inside his own box.

Celtic have seemingly been let off with one here, but it appears as if that could well have been one of Giakoumakis’ final games in a Hoops jersey on Saturday so he will be grateful his time at Parkhead has potentially ended on a goal and not a penalty against them.

Everton are now without a manager, and the rumour mill has swiftly kicked into gear surrounding who might be the next person for the job…

What’s the latest?

Following the sacking of Frank Lampard on Monday, 90min were among the outlets to report on some of the potential replacements. One of the names mentioned is Marcelino, who was most recently at the helm of Athletic Bilbao before stepping down midway through 2022.

With the Spaniard still out of work, he would represent a cut-price option, which would be preferable given Everton’s much-publicised financial issues.

However, Farhad Moshiri remains unsure of his frontrunner, with the Iranian continuing to assess all of the options available to him.

Marcelino could fix Lampard nightmare

Whoever is selected for the role has an almighty task on their hands, overhauling a club which has been slowly heading in the wrong direction for years.

With the performances dwindling, toxicity had been brewing among the fan base, and it has come to the fore of late with various protests aimed towards a board deemed not fit for purpose.

It is inarguable to debate that since Moshiri’s riches came to Goodison Park, the club has actually regressed from the frugal tenure of David Moyes. Years of mismanagement have culminated in this season, in which they sit joint-bottom of the Premier League and scrambling for any kind of positive results, which have been all too rare in recent months.

With just three wins from 20 top-flight matches, the writing was on the wall for Lampard, who admittedly had done well to avoid relegation last season.

The Toffees now need to avoid another quick-fix appointment and instead put someone with true managerial pedigree into the role.

Marcelino has that in bucketloads, with the 57-year-old having floated around the higher end of Spanish football for some time. Having managed Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia, as well as Athletic Bilbao, he boasts two trophies across those reigns.

His philosophy is a rigid 4-4-2 which has been described as high-octane, and he demands plenty from his players. Such no-nonsense ideals will be imperative towards removing Everton of the worst of the playing staff who have let down so many managers now.

His teams are fit and work hard for one another, as outlined in this self-evaluation that he once gave: “The players are on top form, they’re like cannons. They’re going to give their all to win. You don’t have to pay attention to motivation for this game.”

This is the kind of attitude that Evertonians will surely want to hear, returning to the ‘Dogs of War’ mentality fostered back in 1995 at a time when it is needed most.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Jude Bellingham is becoming increasingly difficult and they may only be able to compete for his signature if new investors arrive, according to a report from Germany.

The Lowdown: Klopp eyeing midfielders

Liverpool have been linked with a number of midfielders during the January window, including the likes of Matheus Nunes and Declan Rice, with Jurgen Klopp looking to sign long-term replacements for the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner.

Bellingham is believed to be Klopp’s ‘top priority’, however Borussia Dortmund are set to demand around £130m for the midfielder if he does not commit to a new deal, which would make him the most expensive Premier League signing of all time.

The Latest: Deal becoming difficult…

According to a report from SportBILD (via Sport Witness), a move for the 19-year-old is becoming increasingly difficult for Liverpool to plan this summer, with the huge transfer fee considered a major stumbling block.

It is detailed that the only way the Reds will be able to raise the revenue needed is if the club gets an investor promptly, or if new owners come in.

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The Verdict: Blow for Liverpool

It will be very disappointing for Liverpool fans that if they are unable able to compete for the central midfielder’s signature without new investment, as he is a generational talent, with a wide range of different abilities.

Hailed as ‘fabulous’ by Graeme Souness (via Manchester Evening News), the starlet specialises in driving the ball forward, completing an average of 1.7 dribbles per 90 in the past year, with this on show during the World Cup.

The youngster made a fantastic galloping run in the build-up to Harry Kane’s goal against Senegal, while he also displayed his creative talents in the round of 16 by bagging an assist.

Given his age, Bellingham has time on his side to develop into one of the best midfielders in the world, and it would be a huge blow for Liverpool if they were to miss out to a rival club.

Everton are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing exciting Lorient striker Terem Moffi, according to a new transfer update.

The Lowdown: Everton lacking firepower

The Blues are in a dreadful run of form currently, with Frank Lampard’s side sitting 18th in the table and looking set for another tense relegation battle.

A lack of firepower has been an issue all season long – Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray are Everton’s joint-top scorers in the Premier League with three goals apiece, which sums it up.

A new attacker is badly needed in the January transfer window and it looks as though they have their eye on Moffi.

The Latest: Blues linked with Moffi signing

According to Football Insider, the 23-year-old is wanted by the Blues, but they are battling with Newcastle United, Southampton, Aston Villa, West Ham, Leicester City and Bournemouth for his signature.

Moffi’s current Lorient deal expires at the end of next season, meaning the French side are running out of time to receive a sizeable fee for his services.

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The Verdict: Great option for Lampard

Moffi could be exactly what Everton are looking for in this window, with the Nigerian already bagging 11 goals in 16 Ligue 1 starts this season, as well as being described as ‘superb’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

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While the step up to the Premier League is undeniably great, the Lorient man can’t do much worse than the Blues’ current options, with summer signing Neal Maupay netting just once in 13 league outings.

It clearly won’t be easy for Everton to get their man – Newcastle look a particularly exciting proposition at the moment – but Lampard may feel that Moffi can be the season-changing player he needs in the final third.

Ryan Taylor of The Express has said that he ‘expects’ Crystal Palace to be active in the January transfer window right until deadline day.

The Lowdown: No new faces in January

So far this month the Eagles signed no new players this month, four players have left Selhurst Park on loan including Jack Butland who made the temporary switch to Manchester United.

Palace has been linked with players since the month began, one name who was recently reported by TEAMtalk was Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Patrick Vieira’s side has also been linked with Premier League and former loan star Conor Gallagher per The Sun, but the Chelsea midfielder is not looking to leave West London this month as reported by the Daily Mail.

The Latest: Taylor gives Palace January verdict

Speaking with GiveMeSport, Taylor said that he would expect Palace to be working away at transfers right until the final minute of deadline day. He believes they need to add a new right-back and a midfielder to their ranks.

He stated, “I expect Palace to be active between now and the end of the window, I think they’ve got no other option because they’re losing a lot of players at the end of the season.

“And right-back is definitely an area that is in need of something; I think midfield as well.”

The Verdict: Palace also need a new striker

We believe that the right-back is certainly an area that Vieira’s side need to bolster this month, Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward are the only natural options in that position and both are over the age of 30 which means they’re likely past their prime.

Another area that the Eagles should look to improve in  January is their striker situation, Palace has scored only 18 league goals this season which is a tally that is the joint-fifth worst.

Odsonne Edouard (three), Jean-Phillippe Mateta (one) and Jordan Ayew (one) have a combined total of five league goals between them. That’s simply not good enough for a Premier League side and they’ve been lucky that Wilfried Zaha has been able to dig them out, scoring six league goals and providing two assists in 18 matches.

As we get closer to the final week of the window Palace must look to bring in some new recruits, it’s clear their squad needs quality added in particular areas of the pitch.

West Ham United are reportedly in for yet another striker but could lose out if they don’t act quickly…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to French publication L’Equipe, who state that OGC Nice seem set to sign Terem Moffi after having a bid accepted for the Nigerian. 

This comes just days after Sky Sports reported the Hammers’ initial £25m bid.

The report claims that the French outfit has a deal in place with Lorient for the forward, but awaits the sale of Andy Delort before they can sign their top target.

As such, this leaves a small window of opportunity for director of football Mark Noble to gather additional funds and secure this deal.

Must act quick

If the Irons are truly serious about their interest in Moffi, then they must work with haste to add another striker to their squad.

It could be an integral deal in solving one of their big issues, as goalscoring has somewhat escaped David Moyes’ side at times this season. They have managed just 15 goals in 19 Premier League appearances, and unsurprisingly sit joint-bottom of the table.

That is in no small part thanks to the two strikers already at the London Stadium, who have both endured toothless campaigns thus far.

Michail Antonio can be somewhat excused given his age, with the 32-year-old having scored twice in 18 appearances.

But the man who was brought in to replace him has truly disappointed, as Gianluca Scamacca represented a £35.5m outlay of which they have seen little return.

The Italian has only mustered three league goals, and with an expected goals of 2.47, he is depressingly good value for that return.

This exacerbates the need for Moffi, especially given the perilous position they find themselves in. Moyes cannot afford to give the 24-year-old Italian time to acclimatise; he has to perform now.

That is exactly what the 23-year-old is doing in France, as he boasts 12 goals in just 18 appearances this season. He is only three shy of West Ham’s total goals scored in the league, which is both a damning indication of their performances as well as a glowing recommendation of their target.

His proficiency in front of goal is exactly what has been lacking, with journalist Jacque Talbot labelling him as “deadly as they come”. FBref even ranks him in the top 14% for non-penalty goals, compared to his position peers, which adds to his credibility as a lethal finisher in Europe.

With Nice closing in on a deal, it is left to the east London outfit to make their final move. It could be one of paramount importance, as missing out on this deal could be the difference between safety and relegation.

Manchester United are eyeing up another signing as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his first-team squad…

What’s the news?

According to the Express, Man United could land a dream Jude Bellingham alternative in Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who is struggling for game time at the Bundesliga giants this season.

The Old Trafford side were keen on reuniting Ten Hag and the youngster not long after he had taken the United job, but he ended up moving to Bayern for a bargain fee of £21m.

The Dutchman is keen on adding Bellingham to his star-studded squad during the summer, however, with a £130m price tag and plenty of competition for his signature, Gravenberch might be the best alternative.

“World-beater”

Ten Hag is extremely familiar with the 20-year-old, handing him his debut at Ajax back in 2018 and he made a total of 103 appearances for the club, becoming one of the most sought-after talents in the Eredivisie.

Indeed, last season, Gravenberch was superb, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.17 as he scored twice and grabbed five assists as Ajax won the league title by just two points ahead of PSV Eindhoven.

His creative talents were evident from the centre of the pitch as he created six big chances, made 1.1 key passes, and took 66.5 touches per match and his performances led to Bayern eventually landing the youngster.

It hasn’t been plain sailing in Munich this term however, with the midfielder making just ten Bundesliga appearances, totalling 177 minutes as he has struggled to break through and gain regular game time and this could lead to Ten Hag sensing an opportunity to lure him to Old Trafford.

His underwhelming spell in Germany shouldn’t deter United from making a move, with Gravenberch ranking in the top 15% compared to positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues with regards to total shots, shot-creating actions, touches in the attacking penalty area and progressive passes received per 90.

Journalist Marcel van der Kraan has lauded Gravenberch previously, saying: “This is maybe why he stood out so early and why Ajax picked him, with his great skills and technique, and brought him to the academy. They could easily put him three or four years above his own age. That’s when people started to find out this kid was only 12. They thought he is going to be a world-beater.”

The £155k-per-week sensation could continue his development at United and forget about his spell in the Bundesliga, reuniting with Ten Hag in the process.

Bellingham may be the ideal option for the Old Trafford faithful, but Gravenberch could be the dream alternative, and for a fraction of the price too.

Tottenham Hotspur are targeting Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar as they look for a new centre-back, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs leaking goals…

Spurs have leaked more Premier League goals than any team in the top eight so far this season, a statistic which will undoubtedly frustrate Antonio Conte.

While the north Londoners boast three clean sheets in their last six matches, Tottenham have also leaked eight goals in the same timeframe.

The numbers suggest that Spurs could be in need of more central defensive quality, and recent reports have claimed that Conte is eager to strengthen his backline.

The Latest: Tottenham targeting Skriniar…

Taking to Twitter, Rudy Galetti claims that Spurs are indeed ‘looking’ for a fresh centre-back option and Skriniar, who has been targeted before, is at the top of their wish list.

He explained: “Tottenham are looking for a new centre-back: Milan Skriniar is one of the names at the top of the list. Confirmed.

“As it stands, the Inter player won’t renew his contract – expiring at the end of the season.”

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The Verdict: Get it done…

The Slovakia international could be a major upgrade for Conte at Spurs if they can beat Paris-Saint German to his signature. The Ligue 1 giants have also been heavily linked with a move for Skriniar, who has yet again starred for Inter as a colossal central defensive presence.

According to WhoScored, the defender has played more Serie A minutes than anyone under Simone Inzaghi this season whilst averaging a cool 91.7% pass accuracy, the best in the Inter squad.

Skriniar stands out as a composed, reliable asset for the Nerazzurri who has also blocked more shots at goal per 90 for Inter than any other player.

Called a ‘sensational’ defender by members of the press and a ‘proper’ player by Spurs legend Graham Roberts, the former Sampdoria star has certainly attracted plaudits for his performances.

Even on a pre-contract ahead of a possible move later in 2023, the 27-year-old would come as a fine option at N17.