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Leicester City target Jack Harrison is ‘keen’ to sign a new contract with Leeds United, according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett.

The Lowdown: Reinforcements needed

The Foxes are just one point above the Premier League relegation zone following a mixed start to the season, and Brendan Rodgers will know that he has to bolster his attacking ranks this month should he want to avoid the drop.

The Elland Road winger’s deal is set to expire in June 2024 and he hasn’t yet put pen to paper on an extension, leaving his future up in the air after bids from Newcastle United in the summer.

The Foxes are said to have identified the 26-year-old as a potential target, though it doesn’t sound like he wants to leave Yorkshire anytime soon.

The Latest: Harrison’s stance

Taking to Twitter, Dorsett again confirmed Leicester’s interest in Harrison but revealed that the player has his heart set on staying with the Whites.

“#lcfc interested in #lufc Jack Harrison as they search for a winger. Leeds don’t want to sell, especially to a relegation rival, and I’ve been told Harrison keen to agree new contract at Elland Road. Currently has 18 months left. Brazilian Tete likely to be half the cost for Leic.”

The Verdict: Setback for Rodgers

Harrison has been one of the standout performers for Leeds in recent years, and Rodgers will have suffered a setback by letting his target potentially slip through his fingers.

The Stoke-on-Trent-born talent has recorded 57 goal contributions during his time with Jesse Marsch’s outfit and is a versatile player with the ability to operate in four different positions, leading one to wonder how dangerous he would look interchanging in an attack alongside a healthy James Maddison (Transfermarkt).

The Whites star also ranks in the 94th percentile for most tackles per 90 minutes by players in his position, showing his desire to help his team at both ends of the pitch, which is exactly the profile of player Leicester are in need of recruiting.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in signing Moussa Diaby during the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies have made a ‘fresh’ enquiry over the potential availability of the Bayer Leverkusen forward as Dan Ashworth scouts out targets for the final weeks of the month.

The report claims that the club have held a long-term interest in the former Paris Saint-Germain attacker and remains informed on his situation, with Leverkusen possibly needing to cash in on him if they are unable to move on over players before the window slams shut.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth recently claimed that the Bundesliga outfit wanted €100m (£88m) for the winger last summer and has stated that fellow Premier League side Arsenal made contact over a deal for the gem.

Ryan Fraser upgrade

Ashworth could land Eddie Howe a big upgrade on current Newcastle winger Ryan Fraser by beating off competition from the Gunners and securing Diaby’s signature.

Miguel Almiron has been the club’s go-to option on the right this season and the manager has flickered between Joelinton, Joe Willock, and Allan Saint-Maximin on the left.

Fraser, who can play on both flanks, has made eight appearances in the Premier League and struggled to prove that he is deserving of a place in the squad.

In those eight games, the Scotland international did not produce a single goal or assist and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.71, after scoring two goals and providing three assists in 27 outings for the Magpies in the 2021/22 campaign.

These statistics show that the 28-year-old has found it difficult to make a significant impact on a regular basis at the top end of the pitch in the English top-flight.

Diaby, who was once praised as being “fearless” by Chronicle editor Aaron Stokes, could come in as a superior alternative to the former Bournemouth man, given his performances for Leverkusen over the last 18 months.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has scored six and assisted three goals – creating 10 ‘big chances’ – in 15 Bundesliga outings whilst averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.21 this season, and plundered 25 direct goal contributions in 32 matches in the German top-flight last term.

Since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, Diaby has created 1.9 chances per game on average in the division and this is far more impressive than Fraser’s creative statistics, as the Toon winger has not averaged more than 0.9 key passes per match since 2020/21.

Therefore, Newcastle could land an upgrade on Fraser by securing a deal to sign the Leverkusen forward, due to the dynamo’s potential to be a match-winner for Howe with his regular goals and assists from out wide.

Journalist David Ornstein believes the next few days are crucial for Everton, Frank Lampard and his future.

The Lowdown: Testing times for Lampard

Lampard will likely be sweating over his job after a shocking home defeat in midweek which made it one win in their last 11 games across all competitions.

However, no developments have yet emerged over any action being taken, which could suggest he’s being afforded more time to turn things around – something that Farhad Moshiri hasn’t done very often during his tenure, having gone through a lot of managers in recent years.

Everton were loudly booed off at Goodison Park last night after a 4-1 horror show against Brighton & Hove Albion, and that has led to several media outlets questioning his future.

The Latest: Ornstein expects defining days

Following the game, Ornstein was speaking on Sky Sports about how Lampard is now set to embark on some ‘critical days’ as Moshiri debates the manager’s future.

He said: “There seemed to be hope when they got that draw at Manchester City just a few days away, but now they face a defining few days. They go to Manchester United on Friday in the FA Cup. I suspect Frank Lampard will get that match – I certainly think he should.

“But beyond that, there’s a Premier League game against Southampton [at] bottom of the table and then West Ham too in the same region, so these are critical days for Frank Lampard, of course, in his managerial career.”

The Verdict: Lampard should be sacked

It’s not as if Lampard has been left out to dry by the Everton board after being handed eight new players over the summer including several tried-and-tested Premier League stars such as James Tarkowski, Conor Coady and Idrissa Gueye.

Therefore, Lampard doesn’t really have a leg to stand on when it comes to why he should stay in the job as results have been poor, performances haven’t been good enough and it appears as though the fans have turned on them after their latest defeat.

Moshiri has to make a potentially season-defining decision in the coming days as to whether or not he sacks Lampard, as the wrong choice could see the Toffees fall into the Championship for the first time in their history with a brand new stadium on the way.

Perhaps the FA Cup weekend will afford Moshiri more time to assess his options and see what managers could replace Lampard before pulling the trigger and frantically looking for someone new, as he appears to be safe for the moment.

Aston Villa are reportedly favourites to sign Sevilla and Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou – better known as Bono – in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: World Cup heroics

Bono is enhancing his reputation at the World Cup in Qatar, having been hailed for his ‘exceptional’ performances by former Morocco international Mustafa El Haddaoui.

His heroics in the penalty shootout win over Spain in the round of 16, where he managed to save two spot kicks, were praised by ITV pundit Joe Cole, and he has kept three clean sheets in four games in helping his nation to reach the semi-finals.

Bono is sure to attract plenty of attention in the January transfer window after shining on the world stage.

The Latest: Villa favourites for Bono

As per Spanish sources, Villa are ‘favourites’ to sign Bono in January, while fellow Premier League clubs Manchester United and Leicester City have also asked about his situation.

Sevilla have set a starting price of €40m (£34.4m) for the 31-year-old, who has a release clause of €50m (£43m).

Unai Emery is reportedly looking for a new number one to replace Emi Martinez, as his relationship with the Argentine is described as ‘not very good’, dating back to their mutual time at Arsenal.

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The Verdict: Get it done

It is a shame that Emery’s relationship with Martinez has seemingly not been resolved, which means that a new goalkeeper must be a priority for Villa going into January.

Not only has he impressed at the World Cup, but Bono is also playing at a high level with Sevilla, for whom he has featured 120 times in La Liga and European competition.

A Europa League winner in the 2019/20 season, he was hailed for his ‘monster’ saves by CBS Sports broadcaster Ives Galarcep after helping to eliminate Man United in the semi-finals, showing that he can also perform in big games at club level.

If Villa were to pay £34.4m or more for Bono, it would surpass the initial club-record fee of £33m paid for Emi Buendia in 2021, but his performances both at club level and on the international stage suggest that the Moroccan would be worth every penny.

Nottingham Forest haven’t had the fairytale start to their Premier League return that they would have dreamed of, with Steve Cooper’s side spending the majority of their campaign so far in the relegation zone.

Indeed, the Tricky Trees began to show glimpses of their ability to compete when they picked up crucial points from four of their last five top-flight outings ahead of the World Cup break, which has now left them just one point shy of climbing out of the bottom three.

There is no doubt that Cooper will be spending the prolonged mid-season break searching for solutions and opportunities to strengthen his team ahead of their challenge to retain their Premier League status over the second half of the season.

Whilst the manager will have the chance to strengthen his squad by snapping up new players in the January transfer window, it is clear that the 42-year-old is also keeping a close eye on the emerging talent in the academy.

Both Dale Taylor and Detlef Esapa Osong were spotted in the first-team training session yesterday after clearly impressing Cooper with their contributions to the youth setup over the season so far, and Osong in particular could be an incredible young prospect for the senior team.

The talented 18-year-old forward signed his first professional contract with the Garibaldi last January after featuring heavily in the under-18 setup.

Jody Caudwell, Forest’s Head of Coaching and Player Development, heaped praise on the youngster when he penned his first deal, claiming that Osong has a “bright future” at the City Ground.

Caudwell gushed: “We feel he has a bright future at the football club. Esapa has great potential in his position which he is displaying in training and in games week on week.”

Across 40 appearances in the under-18 and under-21 teams, Osong has scored 19 goals and registered five assists, with a goal contribution every 136 minutes so far, proving that he can offer a consistent and reliable goal threat.

Cooper could even have Forest’s next Stan Collymore on his hands with the young centre-forward, who is showing signs that he is a prolific and natural finisher who can offer goal contributions in big moments too.

Collymore was a favourite at the City Ground during the 1990s, scoring 45 goals in 78 appearances for the Reds.

Moving to the present day, Osong scored a brace and delivered an assist in last season’s FA Cup Youth semi-final against Chelsea under-18s, which led to the Nottingham Forest under-18 side securing their place in the final against Manchester United.

The talented young striker now has the opportunity to impress Cooper whilst training with the first team and will likely be seen in the senior setup in no time at all if he continues to flourish and impress in the academy.

Sheffield Wednesday have taken Hassan Ayari on trial from rivals Sheffield United, Joe Crann reports.

The Lowdown: Ayari profiled

The 19-year-old is primarily an attacking midfielder who can play on either wing.

A Tunisia youth international, Ayari has been on loan at sixth-tier club Scarborough Athletic, making four appearances during the current campaign. However, it looks as if a move across Sheffield could well be on the cards after news emereged in the last 48 hours.

The Latest: Crann’s news

Crann took to Twitter on Monday to share a story for The Star on Wednesday’s under-21s, who lost 3-1 to Peterborough United.

He said that there are a couple of trialists at the club currently, one of which is a ‘surprising’ one in Blades-owned Ayari.

The Verdict: One to watch

It looks as if Wednesday could well be open to a potential move for Ayari, so his trial could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

The Owls’ under-21s manager Neil Thompson has labelled the Tunisian ‘lively’, and still just a teenager, he could prove to be an intelligent prospective addition in the long run.

He’ll have to impress Wednesday officials first, though, with central midfielder Charlie Greenwood another who is on trial looking to catch the eye.

غادرت بعثة فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي، برئاسة محمود الخطيب رئيس النادي، مطار القاهرة منذ قليل متوجهة إلى قطر ‏استعدادًا لخوض مباراة كأس التحدي ضمن منافسات كأس الإنتركونتيننتال.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي مع الفائز من مباراة باتشوكا المكسيكي وبوتافوجو البرازيلي، والتي تجمع بينهما يوم 14 ديسمبر الجاري.

طالع.. رسميًا | قائمة الأهلي في نصف نهائي كأس إنتركونتيننتال.. انضمام 28 لاعبًا

ويترقب الأهلي مباراة بوتافوجو البرازيلي وباتشوكا المكسيكي في ديربي الأمريكتين لمواجهة الفائز منهما على كأس التحدي المؤهل إلى نهائي بطولة كأس القارات للأندية أمام ريال مدريد الإسباني بطل أوروبا.

وكان الأهلي قد أدى مرانه صباح اليوم، حيث خاض اللاعبون فقرات بدنية خفيفة تحت قيادة أندرياس إندويا مخطط الأحمال، قبل الانتقال إلى تنفيذ الجوانب الخططية وتدريبات الكرة.

ثم أجرى الجهاز الفني تقسيمة كرة قوية شهدت حماسًا كبيرًا من جميع اللاعبين، تمهيدًا للمشاركة في كأس الإنتركونتيننتال.

Leeds United’s academy has been famed for producing some impressive talent over the years, with Kalvin Phillips, Johnathan Woodgate, Alan Smith and James Milner just some of the names to have come through.

As is always the aim with the youth process, the club are looking to find their next big star to break into the first team.

Having lost Raphinha in the summer, they created a vacancy to be challenged by whatever newcomers might be after that spot. One might have expected Luis Sinisterra to be his direct replacement, but until he has truly eclipsed the Brazilian, the spot is always up for grabs.

That will at least be the mindset of Sean McGurk, who has been knocking on the door of the senior squad since moving to Yorkshire last summer.

The 19-year-old joined from Wigan Athletic as a highly-rated youngster, who had full confidence in his own game.

When asked what kind of a player he was, he issued the following response:

“People describe me as a player who is quite exciting, I like to create goals and score goals and I think that is the strongest part of my game.”

This will please fans, who have already had to see last season’s top scorer depart in the summer.

It could mark a like-for-like switch, as one goal-scoring inverted winger makes way for another to come through.

For the Latics, McGurk played a huge role in helping the under-18s side become Professional Development League National champions, scoring 13 goals in the process.

Whilst he is yet to truly set the Premier League 2 alight, his three goals and one assist suggest he is not wholly out of his depth.

There is a stunning goal scorer in there, and with the likes of Joe Gelhardt having made the same career moves as him thus far, it marks a clear path to the first team.

Constantly earning experience and improving, it will surely not be long before he can truly stake his claim for a spot on the wing.

If he can take his goal-scoring exploits for Wigan and translate them into the senior games, Leeds fans will soon forget all about Raphinha.

Fulham have made contact to sign Inter Milan defender Stefan De Vrij next summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Attracting interest

The centre-back will be out of contract with the Italian giants in 2023, and the fact that he could available on a free at the end of the season has alerted several Premier League clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have both been credited with an interest in the 30-year-old, though a new name has now entered the fold in the race for his services, and it’s coming from Craven Cottage.

The Latest: Fulham eyeing De Vrij

According to FC Inter News (via Sport Witness), Fulham have ‘contacted the entourage’ of De Vrij, and are ‘ready to move’ for him should he not agree to fresh terms with Inter.

The Dutchman is believed to ‘still prefer’ to remain in the Serie A, though the club have ‘frozen all talk’ of a new deal, which has now ‘opened the door’ for Marco Silva’s side, who are considered a ‘valid track’.

It’s stated that the Cottagers have the sufficient ‘money to invest’ and could offer their target ‘important sums’ to entice him to England.

The Verdict: Massive coup

If Fulham could pull off the signing of De Vrij, it would be a massive coup for everyone associated with the club given the profile of player he is.

The 6 foot 2 star, who Antonio Conte once said was ‘like Bonucci’, has Champions League experience under his belt and has made a name for himself on the world stage.

Knowing that he would be a guaranteed starter would surely give the Cottagers the advantage over their fellow competitors, so this will definitely be one to watch in the months ahead.

Nottingham Forest could be ready to add more defensive reinforcements to their side… 

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Tutto Atalanta, the Tricky Trees could move for Atalanta’s right-back Hans Hateboer.

The Dutch defender has reportedly lost interest in Italy and is ready for a new challenge, preferably in the Premier League.

Although Forest are yet to make a move, they are noted as one side who ‘like’ the player.

Imagine him & Lodi

With Steve Cooper closing in on a move for Atletico Madrid left-back Renan Lodi, he could quickly reinvent his wingbacks with a couple of stars from some highly rated European clubs.

With Hateboer offering more defensive security in a wing-back, he could provide the steel to the Brazilian’s finesse.

His incredible pace and physique have seen him labelled the ‘mad horse’ by Atalanta’s fanbase, as his tireless running draws humorous comparisons.

He featured 21 times last season in a defence that conceded on average 1.3 goals per game, the seventh-best in the Serie A.

The Dutchman would also bring a wealth of experience, having featured 16 times in the Champions League for his club.

To combine this with the pedigree and attacking talent of Lodi, who scored four and assisted six across all competitions last season, it could see them strike up a symbiotic relationship that Cooper could work into his pragmatic system.

It would see the explosivity that Djed Spence brought last season swapped to the left flank, with the solid role handed to the 28-year-old. That’s not to suggest that he won’t bomb forward on occasion, as the £24k-per-week ace ranks in the top 10% for progressive passes received and touches in the attacking penalty area.

He could bring his experience and take it into his prime years at the City Ground, which could be integral in steering Forest away from a relegation battle this season.

The move makes perfect sense for all parties, as it sees Forest gain a talented European stalwart whilst he can finally challenge himself in England’s top flight.

Combined with the inbound Lodi, it makes for a frightening prospect for the league who will have to contend with their contrasting styles but impressive skillsets on either flank.