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Aston Villa may have had a busy January transfer window in terms of bringing new players into the club such as Calum Chambers, Lucas Digne, Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen.

However, it seems as though deadline day could see the Midlands club strike a deal that would see one of their current players leave Villa Park in the coming hours.

What’s the news?

According to a recent Twitter post from The Athletic’s Villa journalist Gregg Evans, Istanbul Basaksehir are hoping to sign Trezeguet on loan. 

Since joining the Villans back in the 2019 summer transfer window from Kasimpasa in a deal worth a reported fee of £8.75m, the winger has gone on to make 64 appearances for the Midlands club across all competitions but has only managed to score nine goals and provide five assists along the way.

After recovering from a serious knee injury back in December that he picked up back in April last year, the attacker has only played 10 minutes of action for Villa this season which came during their 2-1 away defeat against Brentford in the Premier League.

Fans will be thrilled

Taking into account the 27-year-old’s inconsistent goal contributions since becoming a Villa player and the fact that Steven Gerrard recently admitted that Trezeguet will find regular game time hard to come by this season, fans will surely be thrilled to see the Egyptian international leave the club, freeing up space on the wage bill of more recruits down the line.

After all, this is a player who has bagged just nine times in 64 outings.

With Villa having a number of players in their squad that can play on the wings such as Emi Buendia, Bertrand Traore, Philippe Coutinho and Leon Bailey, it’s not hard to see why Gerrard thinks Trezeguet may have a challenge on his hands to play regularly. Therefore, it makes a potential loan move away beneficial for the winger and the Villans.

Moving forward, if the £9m-rated attacker does end up leaving Villa on loan before the January transfer deadline and ends up having a successful time in Istanbul, perhaps this could be the first step towards the attacker eventually leaving the club on a permanent basis and putting an end to his spell in England with the Midlands side.

In other news: Lange must seal late AVFC swoop for “massive” £29k-p/w machine, Gerrard would love him – opinion

Leeds United have endured a tough and frustrating second season in the Premier League as they find themselves on the cusp of a relegation battle but amid the mounting injury crisis and disappointment on the pitch, there has been at least one positive.

Another one of the club’s promising academy starlets, Liam McCarron, made the most of Marcelo Bielsa’s busy treatment room on Saturday after he made his senior top-flight debut for the club.

The 20-year-old winger replaced fellow substitute Crysencio Summerville in the 81st-minute.

After the game, McCarron made note of his pride on Twitter, where he said: “Unfortunate not to be getting the results we deserve at the moment but delighted to make my premier league debut in front of these incredible fans, we keep pushing.”

The young prospect signed for the Yorkshire giants from Carlisle United in 2019 and has emerged as a bit of a utility player for Mark Jackson’s U23 squad.

Indeed, the 5 foot 9 dynamo has largely played as a left-back but can also play in central midfield and further up the wing. In some ways, this could echo the role of Stuart Dallas under Bielsa.

The Northern Irishman, despite being a midfielder by trade, is nicknamed the ‘Cookstown Cafu’, which only goes to show the level of performance he often achieves when deployed at full-back, rather than in his natural role.

McCarron has played 12 times for the U23s in the Premier League 2 this campaign, where he has contributed a goal and an assist from left-back, as per Transfermarkt.

Capped by Scotland at U19 level, the versatile gem could well follow in the footsteps of the 30-year-old in the first-team squad and he could prove to be a valuable asset to Bielsa considering the ongoing injury nightmare.

His former academy coach at the Cumbrians, Darren Edmondson, once described him as a player “with no ego, no airs and graces”, also claiming that “his work rate is unbelievable.”

After making his senior bow at the weekend, McCarron will be hoping he can continue to catch the eye of Bielsa during a desperate time of need. In the young dynamo, the Argentine could well discover another priceless Dallas-like presence.

He’s certainly one to keep an eye on.

AND in other news, Bielsa must now brutally axe £34k-p/w Leeds passenger, he’s not good enough for the Premier League…

West Ham must make a ruthless call on Andriy Yarmolenko in this January transfer window amid a recent update on his future…

What’s the story?

According to Claret and Hugh, the Hammers have made the Ukrainian winger available for a move away, but no club has come in for him just yet.

They said: “West Ham insiders are surprised they have not yet seen a single inquiry come in for Andriy Yarmolenko. With his contract running out in June the Irons were pretty well convinced that the Ukrainian international would attract several clubs.”

The report added: “The Hammers have made it clear among agents that Yarmo can leave for as little as £2 million with the main objective of getting him off the wage bill for the rest of the season but so far no club has bitten.”

Needs to be sold

Since making the move to West Ham, it’s fair to say things haven’t turned out the way Yarmolenko would have wanted, playing just 71 times for the club and scoring only 11 goals. This season has seen him play 17 times across all competitions for the first team but score just one goal, so it’s no surprise that the Hammers are looking to get rid of him.

The £100k-a-week earner was even touted with an exit by Noel Whelan, who suggested that the Hammers would do well to get him off the wage books.

He said: “I thought he was excellent for Ukraine at the Euros but he’s been very inconsistent for West Ham. When you’re looking to get the wages down it’s probably the right thing to do. Clubs have been hit financially with the fans not being there.

“Some players have got to go and if they feel he is one of them then that will give them some breathing space. They’ve still got fantastic wingers there, no doubt about it. This is an opportunity to get their highest earner off the wage bill. It makes certain sense.”

With no clubs coming in for him, though, perhaps West Ham must make the decisive and bold move of just cancelling his contract rather than waiting to see if somebody else takes him off their hands for an actual fee.

The man who Declan Rice once dubbed “special” must simply never play for the Hammers again.

Meanwhile, West Ham are interested in this South American centre-back…

As per Football Insider, former England number one Paul Robinson believes that Nathaniel Phillips is more likely to be allowed to leave Liverpool than Joe Gomez, amid strong interest from West Ham.

The Lowdown: West Ham’s centre-back crisis

West Ham are now running short in the defensive department due to injuries sustained by centre-backs Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma.

Ogbonna is expected to be out for the rest of the season after suffering from a cruciate ligament rupture on the 7th of November, whilst Zouma sustained a hamstring tendon injury during the Hammers’ 3-2 victory against Chelsea.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-developments-2/” title=”West Ham developments” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The 27-year-old Frenchman is especially important to West Ham’s defensive success, as he leads the team’s statistics with 5.2 clearances and 0.5 offsides won per game. The Italian defender also deploys the high-line to perfection, sitting second with 0.4 offsides won per game.

As a result of this huge blow to David Moyes’ plans, Liverpool player Phillips has been shortlisted as a January transfer target, and it is believed that a fee around £12m would be enough to secure his services.

The Latest: Robinson reacts to Phillips links

As reported by Football Insider, Robinson, a regular pundit on Sky Sports, believes that there is more chance of Phillips leaving Liverpool in the January window than Gomez. The former Spurs keeper said: “Phillips has got more chance of leaving than Gomez has, that’s for sure.

“I still think a deal will be difficult to do though given the injury crisis Liverpool had last season.

“Phillips was brilliant at the end of last season but whether he is of the same level as Zouma and Ogbonna, I would question that.

“It’s an area that Moyes probably need to address though.”

The Verdict: Phillips a possibility

The Sunday Mirror have reported (as shared by Football Insider) that the Reds will block any attempt at luring Gomez away from Anfield.

However, it is understood that Jürgen Klopp will listen to offers for the 6 foot 3 Phillips, who is deemed to be lower in the pecking order at Liverpool. This could open up the possibility of the 24-year-old making the switch in January.

The Englishman may not be as technically gifted as Zouma and Ogbonna, exemplified by not having made a key pass when playing in the League cup this season, but Klopp has hailed his heading ability, saying that “in the air, he’s a monster!”

Therefore, Phillips may just be the perfect addition to help reduce West Ham’s defensive crisis and simply add a bit more depth and solidity where Moyes needs it most.

Manchester United and Leeds United both want to bring Ruben Amorim to the Premier League.

That’s according to reports recently relayed by The Express [via TEAMtalk], and as to be expected, a number of Man United fans have been reacting to the links via social media.

Ralf Rangnick has been brought in by the Red Devils in interim charge until the end of the season, when he will then move into a two-year advisory role.

The likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag have been linked with a move to Manchester in 2022, but it now seems as if Amorim is also in United’s thoughts, with the Red Devils keen on the fledgling coach, according to The Express.

The 36-year-old is currently in charge of Sporting Lisbon, guiding them into the Champions League last 16, and has averaged over two points per game in each of his three managerial positions. Amorim has a £25.4m release clause, with Leeds also keen on the Portuguese coach as a possible replacement for Marcelo Bielsa.

United fans react

Well-known Twitter channel The United Stand asked their followers if they would like to see Amorim at Old Trafford following the links. Here is what these United supporters had to say in reply…

“This is crazy”

Credit: @thahala_moses

“We can have our own Naglesmann you.. Am excited already…”

Credit: @incredible_mua

“If he beat Pep then yesssssss. I trust every guy coming from Lisbon”

Credit: @Vbj38864507

“Yessss”

Credit: @DianeMo68212313

“Class manager”

Credit: @UCLVarane4

“To everyone asking who he is, I’ll say it. He’s the best manager in Portugal, have to admit. He was in a weak Braga and was destroying everyone and placing 3rd (amazing). He was bought by sporting and in his first year won the Liga NOS (Sporting had not won since 2002[sic]).”

Credit: @alves_115

In other news: ‘Next joke please’ – These Man United fans fume as exit rumour emerges

Taking to Twitter, Italian reporter Daniele Longo has dropped a three-word Tottenham Hotspur transfer message involving Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevksi.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Kulusevski move…

As per recent reports, Tottenham have now entered the race to sign the Swedish youngster, with Antonio Conte, Fabio Paratici and even Daniel Levy apparently impressed by him.

Calciomercato first claimed that the Spurs chairman may open his purse strings in pursuit of the player and could be ‘serious’ about signing him. Meanwhile, according to TUTTOmercatoWEB, both Conte and Paratici believe that the 21-year-old is a ‘gem’ and share the same ‘esteem’ for his talent.

In an update, Calciomercato reporter Longo has responded to news account The Spurs Web with an exciting three-word message.

The Latest: Longo drops three-word claim…

Taking to social media, the Italian reporter reiterated Tottenham’s interest while sharing a fresh development. Indeed, according to his information, contact has now been made for Kulusevski as the Lilywhites ramp it up.

Responding to his own piece of news that Spurs want the Swedish talent, as shared by The Spurs Web, he simply stated: “Contacts in progress“.

The Verdict: What Spurs need?

There is currently an abundance of talent coming through at N17, with the likes of Oliver Skipp, Dane Scarlett and Troy Parrott recently emerging from Hotspur Way’s glittering academy.

However, that hasn’t stopped them from taking to the market in search of Europe’s most prestigious gems, with Paratici also holding an interest in Club Brugge talent Charles De Ketelaere (Calciomercato).

Already capped 19 times by Sweden at such a young age, Kulusevski has certainly been turning many heads, with footballing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo once calling him a ‘great talent’.

As Spurs make contact, potentially singing the youngster would come as a real coup.

In other news: Spurs close to signing ‘monster’ of a player as Conte seeks to solve severe problem, find out more here.

Flocking to Twitter, many Manchester United fans have been left excited as an update emerges on managerial target Zinedine Zidane’s desire to move to Old Trafford.

The three-time Champions League-winning boss, currently out of work after leaving Real Madrid in the summer, has been heavily courted by United recently amid Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s precarious situation at Old Trafford.

Indeed, the Norwegian is reportedly holding on to this job by a thread as unrest grows (The Sun), and Zidane is now at the centre of intense interest from United among other candidates.

The Times recently claimed that they are ‘stepping up’ their bid to appoint the Frenchman, and while he is hesitant over taking the Old Trafford hot seat, club officials are ‘hopeful’ that the 49-year-old can be swayed by his closeness to Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane.

In another update on United’s pursuit of Zidane however, journalist Duncan Castles has just dropped a promising claim that one supporter called the ‘best news ever’.

Taking to Twitter whilst also sharing his piece in The Daily Record, he says that Zidane is actually ‘attracted to the opportunity’ of United whilst the Red Devils make ‘progress’ in potentially hiring him.

Man United fans excited…

Flocking to this claim, it’s little wonder many Red Devils supporters have been left excited as Zidane’s personal temptation for the role allegedly grows.

Given United have also made ‘progress’ in their bid to appoint the serial winner with 11 major trophies, fans have plenty to say.

Find all of their verdicts down below.

“WHAT? HOLD UP, WE’RE COMING!”

Credit: @100Nuno_

“Best news ever”

Credit: @TheNotoriousFU

“Siuuuu”

Credit: @UTDMarcel

“Wow”

Credit: @United_Rules

“@ManUtd

sign Zidane #OleOut

#OleOutNow

#ZidaneIn”

Credit: @Left_Winger07

“don’t get me hyped please”

Credit: @_ShowtimeG

“I pray this could be true”

Credit: @Hormilekan07

Everton have suffered a huge injury blow after it was revealed star midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has suffered a serious issue to his foot.

What’s the word?

The in-form 28-year-old has been the Toffees’ standout performer in the opening weeks of the current campaign, but he’s set for an extended spell on the sidelines after picking up a potential stress fracture.

It was initially believed that Doucoure had suffered a broken foot, with Paul Joyce, the Northern Football Correspondent for The Times, relaying the initial news.

He tweeted: “Everton concerned Abdoulaye Doucoure is facing lengthy time out with broken foot.”

However, the Merseyside outfit have since provided an update on the Frenchman’s situation, releasing an official statement on the club’s website.

“Everton can confirm that Abdoulaye Doucoure has suffered a stress response in a bone in his foot sustained during Sunday’s match against West Ham United,” the statement reads.

“The French midfielder is being assessed by the Club’s medical team at USM Finch Farm and is undergoing further investigation to determine the full extent of the injury. Contrary to reports, Doucoure will not require an operation.”

Rafa Benitez will be gutted

News that Doucoure is set to be on the treatment table for several weeks will leave Everton manager Rafa Benitez feeling gutted.

The box-to-box dynamo has been in fabulous form this season, bagging two goals and providing four assists in his eight Premier League appearances – a superior contribution to the entirety of the previous campaign in 21 games fewer.

His defensive attributes will also be a huge loss to the Toffees with the French brute winning 2.5 tackles per game this term, a tally only bettered by Allan.

And injuries to fellow midfielders Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph will leave the Blues extremely short of options in the engine room when Watford visit Goodison Park over the weekend.

It means the likes of Tom Davies and Jean-Philippe Gbamin will have to step up in Doucoure’s absence, gifting the youngsters a rare chance to impress from the off.

And, in other news…Brands must sanction EFC swoop for “incredible” £19.8m-rated gem, Benitez needs him 

As per a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), there has been a big development in the race to sig Dusan Vlahovic and it involves Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Conte era begins…

The new era of Antonio Conte has officially begun at Tottenham and it’s safe to say that his arrival comes with plenty of excitement and anticipation.

Tipped to bring a high intensity style of football back to Spurs by Serie A experts, the promise of how he can implement a more exciting brand of football is matched only by his pull in the transfer market.

Claims from Italy suggest that the 52-year-old’s presence at N17 could open the door for Tottenham to bag a host of Serie A stars and one of the biggest names is Fiorentina striker Vlahovic.

There have been no shortage of links to the player since Conte came through the door and now La Gazzetta have made a pretty exciting claim.

The Latest: Meeting held in London; Spurs favourites

As per their sources, via SW, a meeting has already been held with Tottenham in London as La Viola officials fly to discuss a deal which could be worth around €70m (£59.9m) to the Serie A side.

What’s more, Vlahovic could personally earn around €6m-per-year (£5.1m) in a possible Spurs move with the Lilywhites and managing director Fabio Paratici potentially prepared to pay big.

La Gazzetta also say that Tottenham are ‘perhaps the favourite’ to get a deal done for Vlahovic.

The Verdict: Exciting claim…

Given his phenomenal goalscoring haul of 21 in Serie A alone last season, not to mention the fact he has continued in that vain so far this year, we believe he is the first priority for Spurs going forward.

Refusing to put pen to paper on a new deal, with his contract expiring in 2023, Tottenham are in a fairly strong negotiating position and could even whittle the £59.9m price down theoretically.

Lauded as a ‘really crazy’ player by former Bulgaria international Valeri Bojinov, we believe this update should come as exciting for Spurs fans with a meeting now held.

In other news: Conte now plotting to sell ‘very talented’ Spurs player who Nuno called ‘unique’, find out more here.

West Bromwich Albion centre-forward Reyes Cleary is attracting a significant amount of interest from the Bundesliga.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that all of Borussia Dortmund, Schalke and Hoffenheim sent scouts to watch the 17-year-old in action for West Brom’s U18 side against Chelsea U18s back in August, with all three German clubs having maintained their interest in the striker since.

The report goes on to state that the Albion starlet, who is yet to sign a professional contract with the Championship club, is also being monitored by a number of Premier League sides, as well as some from the Italian top flight.

Fans would be livid

While West Brom have developed something of a reputation for producing exciting young talents in recent years, with the likes of Louie Barry and Nathan Ferguson coming through the Albion academy, the Baggies have often been unable to keep hold of their most promising youngsters, with the two aforementioned players leaving the club for Aston Villa and Crystal Palace respectively.

As such, considering just how much potential Cleary appears to possess, if the 17-year-old were to go down the same route as Barry and Ferguson, it would undoubtedly be something of a nightmare for Valerien Ismael, while also leaving fans of the club fuming.

Indeed, over his three Premier League 2 appearances so far this season, the centre-forward has scored six goals, bagging braces against Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Fulham.

These performances have led to comparisons with former West Brom loanee Romelu Lukaku, while the Baggies U18 coach, Peter Gilbert, dubbed Cleary a “powerful forward player with an eye for goal and is an excellent finisher.”

So, it would certainly appear as if the West Brom youngster has an extremely bright future in the professional game, however, whether or not this future is at The Hawthorns will likely come down to just how hard Albion fight to keep hold of the centre-forward.

In other news: “Key” £23k-p/w West Brom dynamo who made three key passes stole the show vs Cardiff