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In terms of incoming transfers this month, things have been rather quiet for Leeds United, who are currently sitting in 15th place in the Premier League table with 22 points from 20 games.

With there being now just two weeks left until the January transfer window closes, the Yorkshire club will have to get a move on if they want to get any new faces through the door at Elland Road to strengthen Marcelo Bielsa’s squad and give Leeds the best chance of finishing as high up the table as possible.

One transfer deal that the Whites could look to complete this month which would surely please Bielsa, is for Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nandez.

After being linked with a move for the £39k-per-week Uruguayan back in the previous summer transfer window, the next couple of weeks could give Leeds another shot of securing what could be seen as Bielsa’s dream transfer.

With recent reports suggesting that Leeds would have an advantage over any other club that would be interested in making a move for the midfielder this month from a financial point of view, this could pave the way for Victor Orta to work out a deal to bring the midfielder to Elland Road before the January transfer window closes.

Having been labelled as “unstoppable” in the past by journalist Mina Rzouki, Nandez has played in 17 of Cagliari’s 22 Serie A games so far this season, showing how important he is to the team and why it could take a substantial transfer fee, specifically €25m (£21m), to get the Italian club to let him go halfway through the season.

In terms of what sort of fit he would be at Leeds in Bielsa’s side, the fact that Nandez has played in a number of different midfield positions this season shows that he is a versatile figure that could be very useful for the Whites given the small number of central-midfielders in their squad at the moment.

As a result of their injury crisis, which currently sees Kalvin Phillips and Adam Forshaw missing from midfield, it is surely an ambition for the Argentine coach to bring in a central player before the window slams shut at the end of January.

Thus, Leeds should definitely launch a move for Nandez to see whether he’d be willing to play in the Premier League under the guidance of Bielsa in a move that would surely push the team up the table.

The Leeds manager’s dream will be to keep the club in the division and with a midfield titan like the Uruguay international in their ranks, it significantly improves their chances of doing so.

In other news: Phil Hay drops another huge injury blow at Leeds that will leave Bielsa worried – opinion

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has revealed that Coventry City midfielder Gus Hamer is “admired” by Steven Gerrard.

What’s the story?

During a Q&A for The Birmingham Mail, Preece claimed that both Gerrard and assistant Gary McAllister were both at Coventry’s clash with Birmingham recently, and that Hamer is someone they have had their eye on.

He said: “As for January, usual names are sticking given Gerrard’s Rangers links but position-wise; a left-back, DM and possibly a forward could be added. Villa, Gerrard and Lange still assessing squad (three weeks into six-week review process). Bailey/Traore injuries are a concern for me.

“There could also be something in Gerrard and Gary Mac being at Coventry vs Birmingham the other week as well with Gus Hamer (Cov) admired.”

Perfect for Villa

Despite playing in a deeper position last season, Hamer was Coventry’s third top scorer with five goals while he also provided three assists too.

That all-round facet to his game is reflected by the fact he also averaged an impressive 1.4 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per game, and a team-high 1.5 key passes and 1.8 shots per match.

It’s no surprise then that his boss, Mark Robins, raved about his talents on the Sky Blues Extra podcast, where he called him “unbelievable” (via the Coventry Telegraph), whilst pundit Ali Maxwell simply dubbed the Dutchman as the “class act” of this Coventry side.

In fact, Robins has already tipped Hamer to move to the Premier League in the future and praised his “frightening” technique, and given the kind of dynamic midfielder he is, could be absolutely perfect for this new era under Gerrard at Villa.

The 5 foot 6 machine could bring some vital depth and quality to Villa’s engine room, especially when you consider that they tried to sign James Ward-Prowse in the summer and are now currently dealing with injuries and potential AFCON absences with Marvelous Nakamba next month too.

Meanwhile, Gerrard must finally unleash this Villa star…

Newcastle United have reportedly now made an approach to sign Brennan Johnson in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Rising talent

Johnson is a player that has caught the eye since his loan spell at Lincoln City last season, in where he scored no fewer than 13 goals and made a further 16 assists in 48 games in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt).

He helped the Imps get through to the Sky Bet League One play-off final with his impressive performances against Sunderland in the semis, so much so that he received praise from the great David Beckham, who is ‘close’ with the Johnson family according to Lincoln manager Michael Appleton (Lincolnshire Live).

Nonetheless, he is now impressing once more back at his parent club Nottingham Forest, and has been the ‘shining light’ in the team so far this term claims journalist Josh Bunting.

The Latest: Approach made

As per The Daily Mail, an approach has now been made by the St. James’ Park faithful, as well as Everton, to sign Johnson, but they will have to meet his £20m valuation.

However, West Ham United and Brentford are also in the race for his signature, while Tottenham Hotspur are currently monitoring his situation.

The Verdict: Sign

Given that Johnson is already playing in the Championship, it would not be too much of a risk for the North East club to sign him in January, should they find themselves relegated down to the division at the end of the campaign.

Nonetheless, he would offer an extra bit of quality in the middle of the park to help them stay up, and his five goals and four assists in the Championship so far this season show that his prowess at Lincoln was certainly no fluke.

Nonetheless, at just 20 years of age, Johnson still has so much potential, and if Eddie Howe can get the best out of him, the Wales international could be a real bargain for the future at £20m.

 In other news, find out which ‘magic’ Premier League genius Nick Hammond is now eyeing here!

Taking to Patreon, reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has made a transfer claim involving Wout Weghorst whilst also sharing an ‘interesting’ update.

The Lowdown: West Ham still in striker hunt…

West Ham’s hunt for a new centre-forward alternative to Michail Antonio has been ongoing since last January, when David Moyes first confirmed that offers had been made.

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Since then, their search has so far proved fruitless as they are repeatedly linked with many options, with Moyes himself going as far as to say he was ‘desperate’ for a forward signing over the summer.

The likes of Andrea Belotti, Adam Hlozek and Youssef En-Nesyri have been mentioned lately, but talk of a past summer target in Wolfsburg striker Weghorst has now resurfaced.

The Latest: Ex shares ‘interesting’ update…

Writing on his Patreon, Ex said that Weghorst continues to be a ‘definite target’ after West Ham’s public links earlier this year.

As well as this, the club insider relays an ‘interesting’ social media update, namely that the 29-year-old has now started following the club on Instagram.

He added that while you cannot read too much into his decision, it is certainly worth discussing given West Ham’s links with the player.

The Verdict: A must move?

While the towering 6 foot 6 colossus is slowly approaching the twilight phase of his career, he could be a brilliant backup option to Antonio going by his plaudits and goalscoring record.

He racked up an impressive 25 goal in all competitions last season for Wolfsburg and has even drawn comparisons to former Premier League star Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Lauded as the ‘most dangerous player in front of goal’ by his former boss Oliver Glasner, The Athletic claimed over the summer that he is valued at around €30m (£25.9m), a fee which could represent good value for money for West Ham.

In other news: ‘Christmas sorted’, ‘Announce the league’ – ExWHUemployee’s ‘fantastic news’ has many West Ham fans excited, find out more here.

Crystal Palace are thought to be keen on signing Wolves left-back Rayan Ait Nouri, according to Jeunes Footeux, relayed by Sports Witness.

And, as to be expected, a number of Palace fans have been giving their thoughts to the links on social media.

Patrick Vieira has just one senior left-back on the books at Selhurst Park in Tyrick Mitchell, and apparently wants another to compete with the 22-year-old.

Ait Nouri only made the permanent move to Molineux in the summer in a deal worth just shy of £10m and has made 10 appearances in all competitions under Bruno Lage.

The French defender now seems to be on the radar of his countryman Vieira, while Newcastle United are also name-checked with an interest in the 20-year-old.

Palace fans react

@CPFCtransfersHQ shared the links to Ait Nouri on social media on Wednesday afternoon. This is what these Eagles supporters had to say in reply, with a mixed response and one labelling the full-back as ‘class’.

“I will flip”

Credit: @Sumo08112

“IM ON MY KNEES”

Credit: @EBERZEE

“Huh”

Credit: @IocaIpIa999tic

“He’s class but this just stalls Mitchell’s development and we don’t need him with Tayo and Reece coming through too”

Credit: @connor_paIace4

“Lol what”

Credit: @CPFCMax9

“please”

Credit: @bentekefan0

In other news: Palace and Leeds could battle again as transfer news emerges on £18m-rated beast. 

Phil Hay has provided a mixed update on three Leeds United players’ hopes of facing Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, with praise for Joe Gelhardt but bad news on Raphinha’s chances.

The Lowdown: Leeds aims for quarter-finals

The Whites are looking to make it into the quarter-finals on Tuesday, making the trip to north London to face an unpredictable Gunners side.

Leeds haven’t won the League Cup since way back in 1968 and now would be a great time to change that, further adding to Marcelo Bielsa’s legacy.

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The Latest: Hay gives update on trio

Speaking in a Q&A for The Athletic ahead of the game, Hay gave an update on Kalvin Phillips, Raphinha and Joe Gelhardt’s chances of featuring at the Emirates:

“Kalvin Phillips made the bench on Saturday so might have a good chance of playing. Raphinha’s ankle injury doesn’t sound like a bad one but it would make sense to be cautious with him this evening.

“I guess the big question is whether Joe Gelhardt starts. And if not, he will surely feature in some capacity after his performance on Saturday.”

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The Verdict: Exciting to see Gelhardt again

It would be great to see Phillips back in action after a recent layoff, although there is a nagging feeling that says he shouldn’t be risked before Leeds’ return to Premier League action away to Norwich City on Sunday.

The same applies to Raphinha in that respect, but Gelhardt will surely earn a start, following an exciting cameo on Saturday which saw him win a last-gasp penalty.

The 19-year-old should be brimming with confidence and this would be another great opportunity to see him in action.

In other news, Hay has revealed that another Leeds player is struggling with injury. Find out who it is here.

A tantalising update has emerged on Newcastle’s search for a new director of football…

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Rudy Galetti has claimed that former Chelsea chief Michael Emenalo is on the verge of becoming the Magpies’ director of football to work with Eddie Howe at St. James’ Park. The reporter has stated that he could be in the door before this weekend’s clash with Brentford in the Premier League.

He Tweeted: “Last details definition between Michael Emenalo and Newcastle. There is an excellent chance that #NUFC will formalize the new director of football already within the next match against #Brentford.”

Excitement

This update from Galetti will surely get Newcastle fans excited as it suggests that the club are close to bringing in a sporting director to assist Howe moving forward.

It means that PIF are appointing a worker with key footballing experience to make the tough decisions and calls that need to be made to help the club progress, rather than believing that they can do it themselves without the requisite knowledge. After all, that was something that cleared proved detrimental in their hopes to bring Unai Emery to St James’ Park.

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Emenalo enjoyed a respectable playing career as a left-back, earning 14 caps for Nigeria, but has been far more successful behind the scenes with roles at Chelsea and AS Monaco. Whilst at Stamford Bridge, he helped the club win three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Europa League as the technical director, showing that he knows what it takes to build a side capable of winning major silverware.

The Telegraph reported that he was behind the influx of Belgian talent at Chelsea, signing the likes of Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne. Back in 2019, he also stood by Chelsea’s academy and put an end to plans to scrap it in order to use the money elsewhere. He told The Telegraph:

“I defended the academy when there was pressure and doubt and pessimism.

“There was a time when there was a clamour to do more and a manager came in to make a presentation to say the academy was not necessary. The argument was that it takes too long, we don’t have time, we should use it to make some money here and there, and that the owner should stop pumping money into it because it seemed like a waste.”

Without his intervention, the Premier League giants may not have ended up developing Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Reece James, among others, and this shows the qualities Emenalo could bring to Newcastle.

He could provide an emphasis on youth development along with a keen eye for talent and that could help the club moving forwards in terms of recruitment. Therefore, fans will be delighted, and excited, to read that the retired Nigerian is closing in on a deal to oversee matters on Tyneside.

AND in other news, Was worth £14.4m, now £8.1m: NUFC endure howler over gem compared to “Philippe Albert”…

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been slamming the display of Alfredo Morelos in their game at home to Hearts in the Premiership this afternoon.

It was not the Colombia international’s best day as he was guilty of missing several decent chances to make the match more comfortable for Steven Gerrard’s men, after John Lundstram had given his team the lead late in the first half at Ibrox.

The striker was also guilty of giving the ball away far too cheaply and far too often throughout the match in an overall performance which would have disappointed his manager considering what Morelos can produce.

Nonetheless, he must now put this performance behind him and try to make amends in the Europa League in midweek.

Rangers fans on Morelos display

These Rangers fans slammed Morelos’ performance on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that he was ‘rotten’:

“Morelos looks miles off it. Again.”

Credit: @BMCRangersRants

“Not alone. Morelos has been rotten”

Credit: @Grove1969

“Announce the 2019/20 Morelos please”

Credit: @johnbucky81

“Get that Morelos off!!!!”

Credit: @RFC5572

“Hook Morelos. Please”

Credit: @FinlayV3

“If Morelos could finish game would be over”

Credit: @Dp1973Dp

In other news, find out what Michael Stewart comments have left these Gers fans raging

Many Manchester City fans were left slamming the display of the referee in the first half of their game away at Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League.

Istvan Kovacs of Romania was put in charge for the group stage match in Belgium, and there were a few fouls given against Pep Guardiola’s team that were questionable.

Jack Grealish was penalised early on in the half when through on goal, Kevin De Bruyne was on the end of a controversial decision against him, and Aymeric Laporte was given a yellow card just after the half hour mark, despite it looking like that he did not make much contact at all with the player.

Grealish also had a goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up, which a lot of MCFC supporters thought was very soft to say the least.

Man City fans on ref display

These members of the Etihad Stadium faithful slammed the performance of the ref in the first half on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that he was ‘awful’:

“This ref is awful”

Credit: @EthanMekoUK

“How bad is this ref so far? jeezzz”

Credit: @ThorpPau

“This ref has already thrown the game and we’re just over 10 minutes in”

Credit: @HansSwoleman

“Ref having a nightmare”

Credit: @cjkms98

“Ref’s a disgrace”

Credit: @NateKRono

“Ref stinks already not surprised”

Credit: @citybyron

In other news, find out which £100m-rated ace City have ‘every chance’ of making an offer for here!

Frustration is the motto by which Wolverhampton Wanderers have often lived in the last 12 months.

Nuno Santo’s final campaign with the Old Gold was full of it as they were rocked by countless injury blows before finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since being promoted.

That was all capped off by the Portuguese manager leaving after a rift with the club’s owners over transfers.

Bruno Lage has replaced him, and although their luck on the injury front is beginning to change, results are still poor.

Wolves have played some vibrant attacking football this season but they have still only recorded three points and scored two goals in their first five matches. Four games have been and gone without Lage’s men even troubling the scoreboard and it’s beginning to get worrying.

Marcal’s clumsy defending led to an Ivan Toney penalty in the first half against Brentford on Satuday, and from then on, there was no recovering.

The biggest sign of frustration came from Raul Jimenez. So often a man who leads by example in this Wolves side, his performances under the new boss have been a concern.

However, we must keep some crucial factors in our minds. The Mexican’s career could quite easily be over after a sickening clash of heads with David Luiz last season, while the Wolves frontline isn’t exactly supplying him with much.

The fact that he’s scored no goals this term is not just down to him but the likes of Adama Traore and Trincao, who haven’t quite sprung into action this term.

Jimenez struggled significantly on Saturday in their 2-0 defeat, though, so much so that he threw his protective headgear on the ground and played out the remaining minutes without it.

Wolves’ team doctors and physiotherapists will have been scared for the forward, but after missing a headed opportunity that he’d usually take in his sleep, few can blame him for getting angry.

Their star man was provided with a delightful cross late in the game and his leap to win the ball was quite incredible, but with the goal at his mercy, he put a golden chance wide of the target.

It was a poor miss and one which would have surely rippled the net before a fractured skull ended his 2020/21 campaign early.

What was most worrying, though, was his inability to show for the ball. Jimenez had fewer touches (30) of the ball than Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa (36), while he completed just 14 passes during his time on the field.

Furthermore, the Mexico international was surprisingly off the pace when it came to winning physical duels. That’s usually one of his biggest strengths but it deserted him at Molineux this weekend, winning only 18.1% of the duels he contested.

Jimenez will no doubt improve, but at the moment you do have to worry about his and the team’s form.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Raul: Wolves have a future gem in 21y/o whose “delivery is unbelievable”…