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Newcastle could sign a perfect upgrade on Jonjo Shelvey in FC Metz starlet Pape Sarr.

What’s the story?

The 18-year-old is enjoying a real breakthrough campaign with the Ligue 1 side this season, playing 18 times in the league, and has established himself as one of the first names on the team-sheet in recent weeks for Metz boss Frederic Antonetti – he’s completed the full 90 minutes in 11 of the last 14 league games.

Now, French publication L’Equipe claim that Steve Bruce’s side are one of three Premier League clubs (Everton and Chelsea the others) who are interested in signing the teenager, while he is also attracting attention from Nice.

Better than Shelvey

While Arsenal loanee Joe Willock has been the man of the moment in recent weeks with his late rescue acts – Steve Bruce has even admitted that he would love to sign him on a permanent deal this summer – there’s a real argument to be made that Sarr could be just as influential of a signing for the Magpies.

Predominantly a holding midfielder but able to play slightly further forward too, Sarr could represent a real upgrade on Shelvey in the middle of the park.

His coach at Metz, Antonetti, has not shied away from lavishing his midfield starlet with praising, saying: “Pape Matar Sarr is elegance in the midfield, it’s talent, it’s making others play.”

And, when you look at his key stats, they are all comfortably better than what Shelvey has produced this season in the Premier League.

As per Whoscored, the Senegalese youngster averages more tackles and interceptions than the Magpies man, makes more dribbles per game, and also has a far better passing accuracy too – something that has long been associated with Shelvey as being one of his strengths.

Even for someone of his age, Sarr just looks far more composed protecting his back-four, and has got the ability to beat the opposition press either with a pass or by just powering past them with a run.

The 18-year-old has also been tipped to enjoy a superb career by Olivier Perrin, who initially recruited him to the Académie Génération back in his native Senegal when he was a youngster.

He said: “He will be able to go as far as he wants to go. He must work, be as he is there, modest, regular, hardworking. He must continue to love football and he will do like the great players, he will go far. I think he will go very far.”

So while Willock will undoubtedly be someone Newcastle look to sign this summer given his recent loan performances, bringing Sarr to St James’ Park could be a massive coup too and more focus should be given to him.

Dubbed as someone who’s “got everything” to his game, Sarr could be the next break-out star in the North East, if Newcastle can get a deal done.

Leeds United may have to battle La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid in the race to sign Agustin Alvarez in January, according to Mundo Deportivo, translated by Sports Witness.

The Lowdown: Alvarez profiled

Alvarez is a 20-year-old centre-forward who currently plies his trade for Uruguayan side Penarol.

He’s scored 33 goals for his current employers and one for Uruguay, with his Transfermarkt valuation rocketing in 2021 from £270,000 to £4.05m.

Leeds currently have Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo out injured, and it appears as if Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani could spend in the New Year as a result.

The Latest: Update emerges

Sports Witness relayed claims from Mundo Deportivo’s print newspaper in a story on Monday regarding Alvarez.

They suggested that both Barcelona and Real Madrid are keen on the forward, with a €12m (£10.2m) fee thought to be enough for Penarol to sell. Leeds, led by Orta of course, have reportedly already made contact for Alvarez and could make an offer in 2022.

The Verdict: Time to swoop?

Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking options are limited at this moment in time with Bamford and Rodrigo sidelined, with winger Dan James the latest to occupy a centre-forward role in the 7-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Tyler Roberts and teenager Joe Gelhardt have also been used, but bolstering the club’s attacking ranks with Alvarez could prove to be a shrewd move in both the short and long term.

A £10.2m fee should be in Leeds’ reach as well, compared to a £25m figure Blackburn want for Ben Brereton Diaz, and a few winter window additions could prove to be the difference in the club’s battle to avoid relegation in what could prove to be Bielsa’s final season.

In other news: Leeds now back in for summer target who is ‘like a beast’ – reliable journalist. 

Liverpool are reportedly one of the clubs in the mix to sign AS Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

What’s the story?

This comes after Italian media outlet Tuttosport (via Sport Witness) recently published an article claiming that the Merseyside club, fellow Premier League side Chelsea and Serie A giants Juventus are currently interested in signing the midfielder at some point in the future.

A replacement for Wijnaldum?

In terms of recent incoming transfer activity at Liverpool, the latest summer transfer window saw the Reds bring in defender Ibrahima Konate for a fee of £36m from German club RB Leipzig.

Regarding Tchouameni, the player joined Monaco back in the 2020 January transfer window from fellow French club Bordeaux for a fee of £16.2m.

Since then, the 21-year-old, who is currently valued at £27m according to Transfermarkt, has made 60 appearances for the club across all competitions in which he has managed to score five goals and provide four assists along the way.

Given how Liverpool saw Georginio Wijnaldum leave the Merseyside club for a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain over the summer, it’s understandable why the club would be interested in signing Tchouameni. He represents a long-term midfield option at a crucial point with Liverpool possessing the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner in their squad over the age of 30.

In his latest appearance for Monaco in their recent 3-0 Ligue 1 victory over Bordeaux, Tchouameni certainly showed what his previous club were missing.

He put in a near-perfect all-round display, demonstrating the type of qualities that Wijnaldum so regularly brought to Anfield.

Tchouameni scored a goal, hit the woodwork, made five tackles and won a whopping 13 of the 18 duels he was involved in. ultimately earning himself a very impressive overall match rating of 8.7/10, making him Monaco’s highest-rated player on the day according to SofaScore.

This alone shows why the likes of Liverpool, Juventus and Chelsea are apparently interested in snapping him up.

Looking ahead to the future, if Liverpool are keen on strengthening their midfield either in the upcoming January transfer window or the next summer window, we feel that Tchouameni should definitely be an option to consider bringing in.

However, with other big boys of European football also pursuing him, it could end up being rather difficult to sign the midfielder, but one that could be very beneficial for the club for the next few years.

In other news: Klopp masterstroke: £50k-p/w Liverpool gem has seen value rise by £49.5m in 3 years – opinion 

A report from 90min at the beginning of the month claimed Everton had joined the race for Zenit St.Petersburg forward Sardar Azmoun, with the 26-year-old set to be available for free next summer.

However, with the January window now just days away, it would be a good idea for the Toffees to further their interest next month.

Dubbed previously as ‘the Iranian Messi’, the £22.5m-rated forward has scored ten goals in 21 appearances across all competitions for Zenit so far this campaign, including a goal against Chelsea in the Champions League recently.

Furthermore, having joined Zenit from Rubin Kazan three years ago, Azmoun has a prolific record of 62 goals and 23 assists in 104 appearances for the Russian giants. A goal contribution every 1.2 games.

The Iranian has reportedly attracted interest from Everton owner Farhad Moshiri, who is of Iranian decent, and, according to a previous coach of Azmoun, Moshiri previously contacted him and “tried to negotiate a transfer.”

The Russian Premier League side may have no choice but to sell the 26-year-old next month in order to receive a fee, with his contract set to expire in just seven months time.

The Toffees have appeared stuck all season, sitting in an underwhelming 14th place in the Premier League and are in desperate need of some extra firepower to propel them up the table in order to avoid any nervy moments in the second half of the campaign.

Luckily, signings that initially received a mixed reaction from fans in the summer have exceeded expectations with Demarai Gray (five goals) and Andros Townsend (three goals) helping to fill the void left by star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Moreover, with the lack of goals from Rondon who has netted only once, Rafa Benitez’s side’s attacking output could’ve been much worse.

Alas, extra options in that department will be welcomed with open arms by the Everton faithful, and a possible deal for Azmoun would be shrewd business given his goals record for Zenit.

The only doubt would be the fact that the Iranian hasn’t played professional football outside of Russia, and therefore the jump up to the Premier League may prove a tricky one…at least initially.

AND in other news, Time to go: Benitez should axe EFC’s “reckless” £18m-rated dud, he’s not good enough…

According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension Daniel Levy, have no plans to offer Bournemouth loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers a new deal in the summer – with the door ‘set to close’ on his career in north London at the end of the season. 

Indeed, as per this report, the USA international’s contract expires at the end of this season – and Levy is set to green light his exit with or without a transfer offer.

Levy set to green light Tottenham exit

There is apparently no new deal on the table for Carter-Vickers despite a resurgence at Bournemouth in the Championship, coming as his sixth loan spell in England’s second tier.

Regardless of how he finishes this season, Tottenham are reportedly set to let him go and put an end to his 12-year stay at the club.

Carter-Vickers made his senior debut for Spurs half a decade ago at 18-years-old but now looks set to part company with Tottenham – but whether this is as a free agent or in a permanent transfer remains to be seen.

Transfer Tavern take

Spurs supporters may be wondering what might have been with the defender who displayed early signs of promise.

Former club fan favourite Jan Vertonghen once heralded his fellow centre-back in an interview with ESPN, calling Carter-Vickers an ‘absolute beast’ and a ‘real defender’ in 2016.

What awaits for him after Spurs is yet to be determined, but according to this report, Levy will green light his summer departure.

In other news: Tottenham transfer admission lifts lid on failed Levy coup with Pochettino, find out more here.

Reports by football.london earlier this week claimed Brentford are likely to demand around £30m for Ivan Toney, but West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan must take the “gamble” and beat Arsenal to signing the Championship sensation this summer.

The Hammers and Gunners are among an ever-growing kettle of vultures circling the Brentford Community Stadium with an eye on Toney’s situation, with interest continually building in the 24-year-old with each match-winning performance.

Toney is considered to be perhaps the most-scouted player throughout the second tier, such is the level of interest in his services, having scored more goals than any other player in the division so far this term with 25 in 33 games, along with providing nine assists.

Brentford are loath to losing such an important player for a third year in a row after parting with Neal Maupay in 2019 and Ollie Watkins in 2020, but are clear in their model that Toney will be the next to go for a profit so that they remain competitive in the Championship.

Maupay joined Brighton and Hove Albion for £20m after scoring 25 times in 43 second-tier appearances during his sole year under Thomas Frank, while Aston Villa paid a club-record £28m rising to £33m for Watkins after he fired home 25 goals in 46 league outings last term.

Promotion into the Premier League this season would see the Bees’ position altered and only the promise of an obscene amount of money would be enough to sign Toney, who will otherwise be available for close to £30m in the summer.

talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy has suggested that West Ham going out and spending big in the off-season to land Toney would be a risk he would not take, as the Northampton-born frontman is too unproven after a year with Brentford.

“Toney is unproven. It would be a lot to shell out on a man who hasn’t scored in any top-flight,” Murphy said, via quotes shared by HITC, last month. “I wouldn’t be taking that gamble.

“Watkins is a good example but there are probably lots of examples of players who’ve come from the Championship who haven’t done what Watkins has done.”

Watkins boasts a hat-trick at home to Liverpool and a brace away to Arsenal and is being tipped to contend for a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for this summer’s European Championship.

Toney should be being backed to go on and hit the Premier League with the same gusto as Watkins if promoted with Brentford or if he seals a top-flight transfer this summer, which West Ham co-owner and chairman Sullivan should be doing all he can to seal if the Bees’ push falls short.

While Murphy is reluctant to offer much hype, former Aston Villa and England striker Darren Bent has not been short in coming forward with praise for Toney.

“He’s good in the air and he has two good feet. But where I think he excels to an Ollie Watkins and a Maupay is that I think he’s more clinical. In and around that box with his finishing. I think he’s more cultured to his finishing,” Bent told talkSPORT in January.

“He has got more to his game and there are different types of finishes. Whereas Watkins is a very, very good player and he might say that he’s a little bit better than him all round. But in and around the goal if I give them both an opportunity to score a goal then I fancy Ivan Toney.”

If Toney goes on to be a better Premier League striker than Watkins is proving to be, Sullivan would rue the day he passed up on a deal – even at £30m – in his and David Moyes’ quest to land a replacement for Sebastien Haller this summer.

Haller was a costly failure, having been signed for a club-record £45m but sold in January for just £20.2m after 10 goals in 48 Premier League games, but could be long-forgotten if Toney is firing in goals left, right and centre at the London Stadium next season.

AND in other news, West Ham eye the man responsible for “unbelievable” signings that deliver millions in profit…

Liverpool are looking to open contract talks with defender Neco Williams this summer.

What’s the word?

That’s according to a report by the Liverpool Echo, who claim that the Reds are planning to hold talks with Williams at the end of the season, before making a final decision on the defender’s future at Anfield.

With the club making the 21-year-old available for around £10m last year, it has been a remarkable turnaround for the player.

There were no bids for Williams in the summer and this led to him joining Fulham on loan in January, where he has excelled.

Jurgen Klopp sees progress

The Welshman’s form in the Championship with Fulham – who were recently promoted back to the Premier League – has convinced Klopp to see what the future holds for the defender at Liverpool.

The £10m rated defender has played 14 times for his adopted side in all competitions and registered an impressive two goals and two assists during that time. A solid return for a right-back and this will surely have impressed a watching Klopp.

The manager is clearly a massive admirer of the defender, explaining that he “trained like a machine” with further compliments also coming from his international boss, Rob Page.

Page stated that Williams “had to be brave” to join Fulham from Liverpool in January, moving away from what could be a historic achievement if they win the quadruple and training with world-class players on a daily basis.

This move seems like it has paid dividends, however, with the news that Klopp could want the player – who Page also claimed is a “recipe for success” – to remain at Anfield after the summer transfer window.

There is no doubt there he is a talented player, his success already proves this, plus the fact he has been capped for Wales 18 times at such a young age.

And, should Williams continue his impressive form at Anfield next season, the right-back could well begin to challenge Trent Alexander-Arnold for his place in the Reds starting XI, something that would undoubtedly please Klopp greatly.

Indeed, with more competition for a starting role, the England international will need to be at his absolute best in order to remain as the German’s number one in the position – something that is only likely to improve Liverpool further next season, meaning Williams could indeed be Klopp’s recipe for success.

AND in other news: Liverpool now plot £67m bid for “sensational” 76k-p/w “winner”, imagine him and Salah.

It has been reported recently in The Athletic that Southampton are willing to let Michael Obafemi leave in the January transfer window, should they agree a deal which suits both parties, meaning he could be allowed to leave on loan or permanently.

The Irishman has struggled for game time for the Saints this season, with Ralph Hasenhuttl rarely deviating from his front two of Che Adams and Danny Ings.

Even when Ings has been sidelined through injury, the Austrian manager has preferred loan signing Theo Walcott up front, whilst it seems as if youngsters Dan N’Lundulu and Nathan Tella have both moved ahead of Obafemi in the Saints pecking order.

As a result, he has made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League so far this season, which will undoubtedly be disappointing for the 20-year-old when you consider that last season saw him make 21 appearances in the top-flight.

Hasenhuttl has criticised the youngster’s professionalism in the past, saying:

“The problem with Michael was always he would play one good game and then fall back a little bit and was not professional enough to force or keep his position in the team or in the squad.”

However, he has still shown himself as capable of being a threat in the Premier League, having contributed four goals and three assists in 29 appearances in the top-flight.

With Ings now sidelined after picking up a hamstring injury, you would hope that Obafemi would be given an opportunity to impress in the Saints’ upcoming fixtures, instead of goal-shy 33-year-old Shane Long, who started the Boxing Day fixture against Fulham.

Unless Obafemi can impress Hasenhuttl with his work rate in training, however, he is unlikely to be selected to replace Ings. The England international has proved to be a constant threat with his pressing in recent seasons, something which Obafemi hasn’t really shown so far in his time with the club.

The Republic of Ireland international is still just 20-years-old though and considering his contract is set to run until 2022, Martin Semmens and the Southampton board shouldn’t rush into a decision on the youngster in January, simply because he isn’t featuring as much in the first-team this season.

A loan move would perhaps be sensible, to ensure that Obafemi’s progress isn’t stifled too much, as they could definitely end up regretting selling the £4.05 million rated forward, as he showed enough last season to prove he can be a part of this Saints squad in the future.

Certainly, with Ings’ future still hanging in the balance, with the former Liverpool man yet to agree a new contract with the club, it would make even less sense to let Obafemi leave permanently, as the youngster could well prove to be the natural successor to Ings, provided he can start to show a bit more professionalism and prove to Hasenhuttl that he deserves to start.

It will be interesting to see whether the 20-year-old gets his chance in the Southampton first-team in the coming weeks but even if he doesn’t, the South Coast club shouldn’t allow him to leave permanently in the January transfer window.

And, in other news… Hasenhuttl must make a brutal decision on “unbelievable” ace not good enough for the PL…

Former Leicester City striker Brian Deane has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that Kelechi Iheanacho is better off staying at the King Power and developing under Brendan Rodgers.

This comes after reports in Spain (via Leicestershire Live) claimed that Arsenal are currently one club tracking the 24-year-old following his impressive run of form.

After barely being used in the first half of this campaign, £60,000-a-week man Iheanacho has since gone on to become arguably Leicester’s most important player.

In recent weeks, the Nigeria international has scored goals against the likes of Crystal Palace and West Brom to bring Brendan Rodgers’ men closer to securing Champions League football.

That has seemingly not gone unnoticed if reports about Arsenal’s interest are to be believed.

For Deane, though, a move to north London is something Iheanacho should not even contemplate given where the Gunners currently find themselves.

“I think he’s better off developing under Brendan Rodgers,” the ex-Leicester player told FFC. “I think it’s carnage at Arsenal.”

With where Leicester are in this current moment of time, as long as he keeps on getting regular minutes, then there really is not much reason for Iheanacho to leave the King Power.

Danny Mills has dropped a big claim on the potential takeover of Newcastle United as an update emerged involving Mike Ashley.

The Lowdown: Ashley releases statement

The Guardian have recently reported that Ashley released a powerful statement this week after HMRC quietly discontinued a long-running investigation into the tax affairs of the St James’ Park club.

As per the Shields Gazette, Newcastle and its chief executive have also accused the Premier League of what they believe to be anti-competitive behaviour in their decision-making process on the proposed deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

They are looking to take the Premier League to court over the matter and have also taken on an anti-competition case given to them by the Newcastle Consortium Supporters Limited (NCSL), with the EPL given fresh legal papers as Ashley looks to force them to wave through the bid.

The Latest: Mills reacts to Ashley activity

Mills, who is now a pundit after playing for the likes of Leeds United and Manchester City in his career, has since given his thoughts to Football Insider on Ashley’s latest activity, and his view on the potential takeover on Tyneside:

“It’s a case of Mike Ashley being desperate to sell and doing everything he can to get his money.

“But I think he’s right, it does need to be investigated as to why.

“There is the golf super league with Saudi Arabia, we’ve seen all the boxing going on over there as well and other sports.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a reason why they weren’t allowed to take over.

“There’s no better time with all the issues surrounding the so-called ‘big six’ and those smaller clubs can say ‘Hang on a minute, how can you allow this to happen to these other clubs and let them spend what they want but you’re not letting us compete?’

“It isn’t really fair. It’s almost like it’s a monopoly on who can do what they want and spend what they want.”

The Verdict: Ashley seems desperate

Given that there is already an arbitration hearing to take place between Newcastle and the Premier League, it seems as if Ashley is already starting to feel desperate by taking them to another legal battle to try and claim damages.

What the result of the arbitration case would be remains unclear, but the report that the businessman is trying to at least get some compensation from the failed takeover bid suggests that he may not be confident about getting a positive outcome from the saga.

In other news, find out what big claim another pundit has made on the potential takeover!