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Chelsea are continuing to target Europe’s brightest talents after a lucrative summer transfer window, with one particular teenage phenom at the top of the winter list.

What’s the word?

Jude Bellingham is possibly the name holding the most weight in world football on the transfer front at present, with the 19-year-old’s endeavours for club and country leaving him as one of the most valuable players on the globe at £218m, according to CIES Football Observatory.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are all firmly in the reckoning, alongside the Blues, but the west Londoners feel a move can be achieved regardless, with owner Todd Boehly said to be “obsessed” with the tantalising thought of bringing him to Stamford Bridge. 

And with Borussia Dortmund reportedly valuing their prized asset at £129m, Chelsea’s deep wallet will serve them well in clinching a deal, should they make the requisite strides toward putting the cogs in motion.

Imagine him & Nkunku

With transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently tweeting that Chelsea have won the race to sign prolific RB Leipzig sensation Christopher Nkunku, the onus on signings of supreme quality does not seem to have waned. 

Should Chelsea succeed in signing Dortmund’s wonderkid, a marvellous partnership could form in the pockets between midfield and attack.

With Nkunku scoring 17 goals in 23 outings for Leipzig this season, his offensive calibre is evident, with a burning desire to contribute effectively for his team on the offensive front.

Bellingham, in retrospect, has clinched nine goals and three assists in 22 appearances for his club this season, channelling a knack of his own for instigating promising forward transitions from the centre, however, it is his composure and tenacity in the middle of the park that lays the foundation of his glistening career.

This is further illustrated by the player’s looping header to put England in front against Iran during their 2022 World Cup opener, his first goal for his country after 20 outings.

Adding the 19-year-old sensation to the fray could create a seamless link at the heart of the team, with his industrious prowess allowing the Frenchman freedom to flourish further up the field. 

There is an overarching sense of resignation at Dortmund, with the Yellow Wall accepting the fact that they will not be able to retain their precocious talent for years to come, and as such will look to strike a deal whilst the player’s value is at its zenith, before it dwindles alongside his current contract. 

As such, an affluent outfit such as Chelsea would be prudent to bite the bullet and claim the player’s signature swiftly, with the knowledge that hesitation might tip the odds firmly in the favour of a rival suitor. 

With the eight-cap Nkunku reportedly costing the Blues £52m, Chelsea’s transfer expenditure under Boehly would be edging toward the £300m mark, with a deal for Bellingham raising that number considerably higher still.

However, the “superstar”, as dubbed by pundit Rio Ferdinand, would be an excellent addition nonetheless, with his pedigree already high despite his tender age.

Warding off interest from other prominent outfits would be a profound statement of intent from Boehly, with Chelsea adding one of the sport’s brightest sparks alongside a prolific star in Nkunku, with success across multiple fronts undoubtedly set to follow.

Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will be assessed by Uruguay’s medical team following an injury scare in Friday’s win over Ghana in the World Cup.

The Lowdown: Group stage elimination

The 25-year-old started every World Cup game for his country in Qatar, but despite a 2-0 win over Ghana in their final group game, Uruguay were eliminated on goals scored.

It meant heartbreak for Bentancur but joy for his Spurs team-mate Son Heung min, who produced a brilliant late assist to help South Korea qualify alongside Portugal.

The Latest: Bentancur injury scare

Bentancur only played 34 minutes on Friday and was substituted after feeling discomfort in the first half.

The midfielder was visibly upset when leaving the pitch, and Sport Witness relayed an update from Uruguayan outlet El Pais on his condition. They claimed that Uruguay’s medical team are set to assess Bentancur, with an official report in the ‘next few hours’.

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Bentancur has been a key member of Antonio Conte’s squad this season, starting 19 games in all competitions.

He has been the club’s second-best performer in the Premier League behind Harry Kane, as per WhoScored, highlighting his importance in Tottenham’s midfield.

Therefore, with club action set to return later this month, everyone associated with Spurs will be hoping for a positive update on the Uruguayan’s condition; and by the looks of it, they’ll know sooner rather than later.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale took charge of his first match on Saturday as his side beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in a friendly.

The new Gers head coach picked up a convincing win at Ibrox and will be hoping for more of the same when Hibernian come to visit on the 15th in the Premiership.

He showcased his willingness to rely on youth in the match as he started academy full-back Adam Devine in the back four, whilst the likes of Alex Lowry and Charlie McCann were on the bench.

Beale has a history of coaching young players as he was the assistant coach, and then manager, of Liverpool’s U21s between 2012 and 2016 and worked as a youth coach at Chelsea for ten years.

During his time at Stamford Bridge, he played a key role in the development of a number of talented players and helped the likes of Mason Mount, Declan Rice and Reece James to take the next steps in their careers.

GOAL once claimed that Mount remains close with Beale and despite not having worked together for ten years continues to pick his brain for advice.

The England international has gone on to score 32 goals and assist 37 in 181 matches for Chelsea and has been capped 36 times by the Three Lions, by the age of 23, and this shows that the Light Blues boss helped to develop a top-quality player.

Beale could now unearth his next version of the talented Chelsea midfielder by working with Ross McCausland to get the best out of the Northern Ireland U21 international.

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell, in September 2021, compared the youngster to Ianis Hagi and Ryan Kent after he played as a number 10 in the UEFA Youth League and he could be converted into an attacking midfielder, just like Mount, by the Gers head coach.

McCausland mainly plays as a winger, on the left and the right, but has shown that he can play through the middle in European competition for the club.

The 19-year-old wizard, who Head of Academy Craig Mulholland hailed as being “dominant” in one-on-one duels, has showcased his ability in front of goal this season with seven goals and two assists in 21 matches across the Lowland League and UEFA Youth League.

This comes after he managed seven goals in the Lowland League and plundered three goals in five Youth League matches last term, whilst also providing one assist on his Premiership debut for the club.

McCausland has the potential to be Beale’s next Mount as, like the Chelsea star, he is capable of playing in a multitude of positions across the frontline and has shown that he has the quality to be a match-winner with goals and assists in the final third.

The Gers head coach must now work with the teenage gem, as he did with the England international, to unearth his talent and help him to become a first-team regular in the coming years.

Sunderland’s signing of Danny Batth on a free transfer has proven to be a masterstroke by Kristjaan Speakman, as the centre-back has been instrumental to the Black Cats’ impressive start to the season.

The experienced defender had spent much of his career in the Championship with the likes of Wolves, Middlesbrough and Stoke City, so he was always going to be a valuable addition at the Stadium of Light when he joined the Wearsiders last January.

Batth came to the north east on a free transfer from Stoke, having turned out just 11 times in the Championship for the Potters last season, and he featured 12 times for the Black Cats as they earned promotion back to the second tier via the League One play-offs.

So far this term, only seven players have earned a higher average rating from WhoScored than Batth, with his strong 6.74 rating a testament to his impressive start to life back in the Championship.

The 32-year-old also ranks first for clearances and second for aerial duels won in Sunderland’s squad, which emphasises how important he is to Tony Mowbray and why he has earned a reputation as a “colossal” defender, as Josh Bunting called him.

The Sunderland-supporting journalist was full of praise for the former Wolves man at the weekend when an injury forced him off in the 1-1 draw with Hull City.

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Bunting tweeted: “Hopefully that injury for Danny Batth isn’t serious, hope it’s just a minor one or a precaution and he’s back for Boxing Day. Has been our best player this season, obviously great to have Daniel Ballard back in the team and an option from the bench. Batth is the leader at the back.”

Only Anthony Patterson has also started every single game for Sunderland in the Championship this season, which shows how highly Batth is valued by Mowbray at the Stadium of Light.

Therefore, Speakman deserves a huge amount of praise for prising the defender away from Stoke on a free transfer earlier this year, as it seems likely that he will be hugely important in any push for the play-offs again this season.

Manchester United are on the hunt for a new talisman following the mutual termination of legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract last month, following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan. 

United manager Erik ten Hag is considering swooping for Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann following the forward’s efforts at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he played a pivotal role in France’s surge towards a second successive final. 

This is according to French outlet Mediafoot, who state that the Red Devils are positively desperate to land their man, who has been the essential cog in the Les Bleus system.

The report continues that United have held an interest in the player since 2017, increasing the attention on their man in the summer, with the player instead re-signing for Atletico from FC Barcelona.

Rashford connection

With United’s interest piqued and the cub boasting the financial wealth to strike a deal, the 117-cap French star could indeed find himself at the centre of a huge move to Old Trafford, with the likes of Marcus Rashford cashing in on a swoop.

The 25-year-old forward has been in fine form for club and country this term, scoring eight goals for United before clinching three goals with England at the World Cup. 

Griezmann has scored six goals and served five assists across 21 appearances for the Madrid-based side, starting just 12 times, but has eclipsed that form at club level by rising to the occasion in Qatar with the French national team.

Indeed, as per Sofascore, the 31-year-old recorded a stunning rating of 7.7 at the World Cup, bettered by no one else in the France squad, not even World Cup final hat-trick hero Kylian Mbappe.

The starring role for the gem, deployed behind towering centre-forward Olivier Giroud, has left him and his nation to reap the rewards of his all-encompassing performances.

Starting six matches and providing three assists, Griezmann averaged 3.1 key passes per match, created seven big chances, completed 84% of his passes and averaged two tackles per showing.

It is this level of genius, the ubiquity in his presence as the roaming playmaker in front of the midfield anchors that has reignited the hype around his abilities.

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where France clinched gold, Griezmann had a role of equally paramount importance, playing all seven matches, scoring four goals and providing two assists. 

Should Ten Hag forge ahead with a move – the “phenomenon” – as dubbed by Ander Herrera would not come cheap, with this being a player who previously cost £107m in 2019.

However, with a major move away from Spain a prospect that would need to be acted upon swiftly with the player’s 32nd birthday arriving in March, his head may be turned by the idea of injecting his flair into the Premier League.

And Rashford’s skill-set could indeed entwine with Griezmann’s own, with the pair knitting creativity and direct assault seamlessly, a partnership to terrorise defences across Europe and potentially set United back on a route that has seldom been seen at Old Trafford in recent years; one of glory.

Everton return to action today as they host the Premier League’s bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park.

With both teams enduring a tough season so far, it was the Midlands outfit who acted upon their lowly league position by relieving Bruno Lage of his duties and replacing him with Julen Lopetegui, with this match marking the latter’s first top-flight fixture at the helm of the Old Gold.

Both teams will be desperate for a win, with the Toffees having entered the World Cup break off the back of two harrowing losses to Bournemouth.

Having first been dumped out of the Carabao Cup, they lost by the same margin again in the league four days later as they were thrashed 4-1 and 3-0 respectively. As such, Frank Lampard’s men sit just one point above the relegation zone.

What makes this precarious fixture even tougher for Everton is that they will be without Conor Coady, as the loanee from Wolves will be ineligible to face his parent club.

Although the 29-year-old has already established himself as one of the Toffees’ best and most influential players – with DaveOCKOP dubbing him a “good leader” – it may come as a surprise that the £55k-per-week colossus is not already a permanent addition. That leaves Lampard with a defensive dilemma as he ponders who to play beside James Tarkowski this afternoon.

With Michael Keane and Mason Holgate having shown their frailties against the Cherries last month, as seen in their lowly Sofascore ratings, they are likely to have fallen even further down the pecking order. Yerry Mina is an option, but his unreliable fitness will surely worry Lampard.

Luckily for the 44-year-old, he could throw the returning Ben Godfrey straight back into competitive action today.

Having suffered a horror leg break in the first game of the season, he made his comeback at the start of November for the under-21s.

Having since had an extra month-and-a-half of rehabilitation, the 24-year-old should now be fit to recapture his form from his debut season at Everton.

Featuring 31 times in the 2020/21 campaign, he recorded a 7.03 rating from Sofascore whilst establishing himself as a physical marvel. As such, journalist James Whaling saw fit to label him a “monster”.

Enjoying a tough tackle and often using his blistering speed to cut out attacks ahead of time, he made 1.1 interceptions, 1.8 tackles and 3.5 clearances per game that season, all whilst having to deputise at left-back (via Sofascore).

Whilst the absence of Coady will likely be felt heavily given his aforementioned leadership traits, Godfrey can ease that burden whilst adding further pace and youthfulness to their back line.

Therefore, Lampard must unleash him from the off today for his first Premier League appearance since the opening day defeat to Chelsea.

Sky Sports contributor Ben Dinnery expects Callum Wilson to return to the Newcastle starting XI in favour of Chris Wood.

What’s the word?

Wilson has missed Newcastle’s last few matches with illness, with Wood being handed a rare opportunity to start in his absence.

Wood scored a penalty against Leicester City, but was unable to find the target as Eddie Howe’s side drew 0-0 with Leeds United, and is now expected to return to the bench as his side travel to face league leaders Arsenal.

Speaking on the Premier FPL Injuries YouTube channel, Dinnery claimed that now Wilson was available to play again, he should come in for Wood as Newcastle’s first-choice striker.

“Callum Wilson has missed a little bit of time on the training pitches due to illness,” he stated.

“But he’s done enough, or I think he’s done enough to prove himself to Eddie Howe. So he’s in a good position and I think he probably takes over from Chris Wood.” 

Newcastle’s injured stars

It would come as no real surprise to see Chris Wood dropped tonight after his “poor” performance in the eyes of Craig Hope last time out against Leeds United.

Wilson was one of many Newcastle stars who has missed game time this season, and the Magpies have been excellent despite this.

Record signing Alexander Isak has been absent for a while, whilst Allan Saint-Maximin has missed most of the campaign.

Jonjo Shelvey is now also expected to miss over a month, and Newcastle may dip into the market to reinforce their depth amidst all of these absences.

They currently sit third in the Premier League after a stunning start to the season, and could make a strong push for a top-four finish and a long-awaited return to the Champions League.

Wilson returning will be a huge boost for their tough test against Arsenal, and once the likes of Isak return to fitness they will have a squad strong enough to compete in the league and cups.

Everton have reportedly had a bid rejected for Danny Ings already this month, and a reliable source has given an update on the club’s pursuit of the player as the Toffees attempt to strengthen during the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed that Everton remain keen on the Aston Villa striker despite getting knocked back by the Midlands club with their previous bid.

Romano claimed in his Caught Offside daily briefing: “Danny Ings is one of two or three options being considered by Everton.”

It would be a major coup

There is no doubt that Ings would be a major coup for Frank Lampard in his pursuit to not only save his job at Goodison Park but to also improve the attacking threat in the Everton team.

The Toffees are currently 18th in the Premier League table and inside the relegation zone after a number of poor performances, and to add insult to injury, they were knocked out of the FA Cup on Friday night after losing to Manchester United at Old Trafford in the third round.

Everton have the third worst goal tally in the top flight, which will come as no surprise following Richarlison’s departure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s frequent absencees from the team due to a number of injury problems over the last 18 months.

As a result, signing Ings could be the season-changing deal which might save Everton from a spell in the Championship as they compete to retain their Premier League status over the second half of the campaign.

The former Liverpool striker – who was dubbed “phenomenal” by Noel Whelan – has tallied 120 goals and 36 assists over his youth and senior career so far, with a goal contribution every 154 minutes. That is an impressive and consistent output which would be a highly valuable asset to Lampard.

Across 17 league appearances this season, Ings has scored six goals, created one big chance and successfully completed 60% of his dribbles, along with averaging 1.5 shots per game.

Signing a striker who can offer consistent goal contributions will be crucial for Everton if they are to maximise their chances of staying up this season, and acquiring the services of Ings would provide them with a player who is not only a natural finisher but has the requisite Premier League experience (187 appearances) to make an instant impact on Merseyside.

If the powers at Goodison Park can secure the signing of Ings this month, it should certainly strengthen the attacking threat in front of goal and give Everton the best chance of top-flight survival once again in what looks set to be a tight relegation scrap.

Liverpool have found themselves struggling to maintain their own high expectations so far this season, and Jurgen Klopp will surely be more frustrated as each poor performance passes.

The Reds are currently sixth in the Premier League after their first 17 games, collecting just 28 points from a possible 51 so far, which has left them seven points adrift of  a Champions League qualifying spot at present.

Liverpool’s league position and failure to progress in the Carabao Cup is a reflection of their poor performances, which has been complemented by a lack of investment in their midfield.

The powers at Anfield have made some notable signings over the last 12 months, with Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez all coming to L4. However, the pressing issue remains in midfield, with a number of contracts expiring in the summer and the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson into their 30s at this point.

As a result, the golden opportunity to strengthen the midfield ranks at Anfield this month should not be squandered by Julian Ward and co, as Liverpool cannot afford to drop many more points if they are to be in contention for a top-four finish at the end of the season.

One player who has been linked with a move to Merseyside is Valencia and USA midfielder Yunus Musah, a talented prospect who could be the perfect player to spark the youthful revolution which seems needed at Anfield.

The 20-year-old captured the attention of the football world with his contributions for his national team during the World Cup, and Klopp could capitalise on the youngster’s promising output by making a move for him and subsequently developing him into the next superstar to wear the famous red shirt.

In 13 La Liga appearances this season, Musah – who was dubbed “special” by USA team-mate Tyler Adams – has registered two assists, created three big chances and tallied an 83% pass completion rate, along with making 1.9 tackles and winning 4.4 duels per game.

The young sensation also ranks in the top 11% of his positional peers in the top five European leagues for dribbles completed and progressive passes received, and he could be Liverpool’s long-term replacement  for Naby Keita for just $21m (£17.6m).

The Guinea midfielder is set to part ways with the Reds at the end of the season when his contract expires, and Klopp will surely be looking for a progressive and hard-working operator who can show up when they’re needed most to replace Keita after four-and-a-half injury-plagued years at Anfield.

With that in mind, signing Musah could be a great piece of business and give Klopp a fantastic prospect to mould into his ideal midfielder for the future.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Declan Rice over the last few months and now a reliable source has given an update on the club’s pursuit of the player in 2023.

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Liverpool are one of the clubs interested in signing the West Ham United midfielder.

Solhekol claimed, via Sky Sports Transfer Centre:

“Lots of clubs are interested in signing him, for instance, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool as well.

“So, there could well be a bidding war for him if West Ham do decide to sell him.

“We know a lot of clubs are looking for a central midfielder. He’s young, he’s the captain of West Ham and a regular starter for England as well. There will be a lot of clubs interested in him.

“He brings a lot to the table but the price is going to be at least £80m, £90m or £100m. I think West Ham would be looking for something like £100m for Rice.”

Klopp needs him

There is no doubt that Liverpool are in desperate need of a refresh in the centre of the pitch with a number of players either coming to the end of their contracts or reaching the latter stages of their career.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are all set for an Anfield exit at the end of the season, whilst captain Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are both well into their 30s and will likely start to be phased out to make way for the future at the club next season.

As a result, the signing of Declan Rice could be a hugely worthwhile investment despite his expensive price tag as the 24-year-old England international is proving to be one of the hottest young midfield prospects in the Premier League and could offer Liverpool many years of quality in the centre of the pitch.

Over 19 Premier League appearances, Rice has scored one goal, registered two assists and tallied up an incredibly impressive 90% pass completion rate.

He is a well-rounded football, averaging 1.5 interceptions, 2.4 tackles, 1.2 clearances and playing 1.3 key passes per game, displaying that he is not only defensively solid but also a progressive presence that can make an impact in the final third too.

The Reds have been struggling to dominate their opponents in the middle third over their first 18 top-flight outings this season so far with lacklustre and tired displays from the midfield personnel which has seen the team outrun in many of their clashes, with the Premier League reporting that Liverpool were the sixth worst for distance covered in km (1537.6) ahead of the World Cup break.

The Hammers star – who was hailed a “force of nature” by journalist Rob Blanchette – could improve this significantly if the club can secure his signature as Rice recorded the second-best distance covered in the entire Premier League over the same period of time.

With that being said, it is clear that Jurgen Klopp needs a player like Rice to come in and bring the Liverpool midfield back to life, so it will be interesting if the powers at Anfield are willing to meet the transfer valuation West Ham are demanding as the situation is getting desperate at the club in terms of the need for change.