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Arsenal could return for Moises Caicedo in the summer, after failing to sign him in the January transfer window, Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

What’s the word?

The Gunners had a number of large bids rejected for the Brighton midfielder late in the window, and the Ecuador international expressed his desire to join the league leaders.

However, Brighton remained firm in their stance that he was not for sale, and Mikel Arteta ultimately signed Jorginho from Chelsea instead.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that Arsenal could return for Caicedo in the summer, as their interest will likely still be alive as they search for a long-term solution in midfield.

“Moises Caicedo, obviously, admitted in a social media post that he would be keen to move on from Brighton and he wanted the opportunity to join a top club like Arsenal or Chelsea,”

“I’m sure Arsenal’s interest will remain and it’s a deal that they will try to rekindle in the summer.”

Caicedo or Rice?

Now that Jorginho has joined, it may be the case that Arsenal only pursues one of Caicedo and Declan Rice, whom they have reportedly made their top target.

Rice is older, and more experienced in the Premier League as well as being a full England international.

Caicedo, whose potential move deal with Arsenal was described as “outrageous” by Lee Hendrie, ranks more favourably for tackling as per FBref, indicating that he may be stronger at pure defending, but Rice ranks higher for passing and clearances, and may also bring a better sense of leadership to the club.

Arteta has brought in some strong personalities with the likes of Oleksander Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard, both of whom captain their national sides, and Rice’s experience as West ham captain may swing Arsenal’s preference towards him.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in signing Udinese forward Gerard Deulofeu this month and the Spaniard could be the man to finally replace Diogo Jota at Molineux.

Speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has suggested that Old Gold boss Julen Lopetegui is a big fan of the 79-goal forward, which implies that he could still end up at Molineux before next week’s transfer deadline.

Romano said:

“I think it’s about Udinese wanting to keep Deulofeu.

“For example, I’m told that also Wolves’ manager, Lopetegui, is [a] big fan of Deulofeu, so it’s true that Aston Villa like him but also Wolves have been tracking him.”

The Spanish manager has already brought in attacking reinforcement in Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia, while Goncalo Guedes has left on loan, but the Midlands outfit may need more players before the window shuts if they are to improve their current standing as the lowest scorers in the division.

Deulofeu would certainly add quality in the final third if he were to swap Udinese for the Midlands, as he has been one of the standout performers in Serie A so far this campaign.

The former Everton and Watford man – who earns a reported £22k-per-week at Udinese – has contributed an impressive two goals and six assists in 16 appearances, averaging a strong 7.05 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He has also averaged a superb 2.8 shots and three key passes per game in Italy’s top flight, with Diego Costa’s 2.2 shots (of the players to start at least once) and Pedro Neto’s 1.8 key passes (despite his injury problems), the most of the players in Lopetegui’s current squad.

This suggests that there is still a need for an attacker in the side who can regularly produce goals and assists, the type of which hasn’t really been seen at Molineux since Jota left for Liverpool in 2020.

From Wolves’ 2019/20 season, the Portuguese winger would rank second for shots per game and fourth for key passes, finishing as the second top scorer behind Raul Jimenez with seven goals.

He has only improved further under Jurgen Klopp, with 34 goals and 14 assists to his name since his switch to Anfield, with Wolves certainly looking far less of an attacking threat since his departure.

Like Jota, Deulofeu is capable of playing anywhere across the front three and has emphasised his goalscoring prowess in England before, scoring with a “genius” finish against Wolves in the FA Cup semi-final.

Therefore, with Wolves still arguably in need of a natural replacement for Jota, Lopetegui should definitely look to bring Deulofeu to Molineux before the window shuts.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hopeful of ending the transfer window with a bang by adding another one or two new faces to the squad as Julen Lopetegui continues his renovation of the team.

Bringing players such as Mario Lemina, Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Nunes to the club is a key step in the right direction, with the Spaniard aiming to beef out his midfield and attacking options, however, he shouldn’t be forgetting to improve positions that have proven problematic during the campaign.

The right-back area has seen Nelson Semedo struggle so far this campaign, registering a Sofascore rating of 6.67/10 and being susceptible to defensive lapses which have culminated in Wolves conceding 30 goals in the Premier League this term already.

The Old Gold have been linked with a move for Brighton and Hove Albion defender Tariq Lamptey to bolster their options on the right side of their defence, however, having missed 36 games through a variety of injury problems since 2020, the Molineux outfit might be better off signing someone else.

Heerenveen youngster Milan van Ewijk is another defender linked with a switch to Wolves and the Dutchman could be a more reliable option for Lopetegui.

The 22-year-old has played 18 times in the Eredivisie this season, achieving a Sofascore rating of 7.13/10 while showcasing his attacking ability by scoring three goals, creating two big chances and making 0.8 key passes per match.

Despite his age, Van Ewijk is also extremely mature and combines attacking intelligence with defensive ability to great effect, helping his team keep seven clean sheets in 18 matches this term.

He has also made an average of 1.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per game in the league, while also winning 59% of his duels and the defender even praised himself while discussing his strengths back in 2019.

He said: “I’m a fierce right back who can attack well, but also defend well and I’m in good shape. I can certainly be found in the front. Last season I also gave a number of assists. I’ll show the rest during the matches.”

Another attribute that could stand him in good stead in the Premier League is his speed, with the official Eredivisie Twitter account sharing that the young defender was the fastest player in the top flight before Christmas, with a top speed of 34.66kph and the speedster would work well bombing up and down the right flank under Lopetegui.

A move for the Dutchman could certainly help solve Wolves’ issues on the right side of the defence and with just a few days left of the transfer window, the 56-year-old will need to act fast to secure a deal for Van Ewijk.

Crystal Palace have been linked with re-signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United this month and it seems as if the Eagles are confident that they will win the race for the right-back.

What’s the word?

Ever since Erik ten Hag arrived as the new manager at Old Trafford, it has seemed clear that Wan-Bissaka doesn’t have a future with the Red Devils, so it was only natural to see the Eagles linked with signing him, more than three years on from his £50m move from Selhurst Park.

In a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook provided the latest on the 25-year-old, suggesting that he could still leave on loan this month despite reclaiming his starting spot in the absence of Diego Dalot following the World Cup.

He said: “In terms of Wan-Bissaka, I know Wolves are very keen but Crystal Palace feel that if he goes anywhere, he will go back there. But I think United would need to bring in a right-back as cover because Dalot has been injured since the World Cup. To be fair, Wan-Bissaka has taken his chance quite well.”

He could be unstoppable for Vieira

This season has seen Patrick Vieira alternate between Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne as the starting options at right-back and given they are 33 and 31 respectively, it is obvious that a long-term solution is needed in that position.

According to WhoScored, the two experienced defenders have earned 6.51 and 6.27 average ratings for their performances in the top flight so far this campaign, which ranks them as the 11th-best and 14th-best players in Vieira’s squad, indicating that the Frenchman urgently needs an upgrade in the January window.

In Wan-Bissaka, they could be presented with an unstoppable force down the right-hand side once again.

While the United full-back was cast aside by Ten Hag for the first half of the season, he has really caught the eye in recent wins, helping United to clean sheets in his last five starts in all competitions, earning an impressive 6.85 rating from WhoScored for his displays in the top flight.

The strong defender, who was duly labelled “unstoppable” by Dave O’Grady back in 2019, has always had his limitations going forward but could help to make Palace a much more secure defensive outfit should he return to Selhurst Park this month.

Indeed, he ranks in the top 3% of players in his position throughout Europe’s top five leagues for interceptions and sits within the very best 1% for tackles, as per FBRef. As for Clyne and Ward, they rank poorly, sitting in the worst 10% and the worst 18% respectively for tackles.

It is clear that Vieira does need to strengthen in that position given Ward and Clyne’s underwhelming form and advanced age, so it can only be good news that Palace are reportedly confident of Wan-Bissaka’s return. He could well be an unstoppable defensive menace upon his return to London.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in RC Lens defender, Kevin Danso, with sporting director Dan Ashworth seemingly keen to strengthen the club’s centre-back ranks.

What’s the word?

According to French outlet Jeunes Footeux, the Magpies are said to be ‘actively working’ to improve their squad ahead of next season, with the Austria international one of those who the northeast side are currently tracking.

The report suggests that a switch could potentially occur at the end of the season, albeit with any deal set to cost as much as €40m (£35m), with the 24-year-old’s existing deal with the Ligue 1 outfit set to expire in 2026.

The 11-cap sensation has previous, albeit brief, Premier League experience which may be attractive to the St James’ Park outfit, having spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Southampton.

Bye-bye Lascelles

Although that stint with the Saints proved somewhat underwhelming, as the 6 foot 3 brute only featured ten times across all fronts, the former Augsburg man has since gone on to sparkle after moving to France back in the summer of 2021.

The £8.5k-per-week sensation enjoyed a fine debut campaign last term after averaging 1.2 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game from his 33 appearances, while also proving a real threat going forward after providing four goal contributions in that time.

The one-time MK Dons youth asset has continued that stellar form in the current campaign after playing a vital role in Lens’ remarkable title surge, having kept eight clean sheets in his 17 Ligue 1 starts, while winning 77% of his aerial duels and recording 1.1 tackles and 1.2 interceptions.

The “powerful” titan – as described by Saints journalist Adam Leitch – was notably part of the side that triumphed over Paris Saint-Germain on New Year’s Day, having made a whopping five interceptions and six clearances against the European giants, while also enjoying a 93% pass accuracy rate as a marker of his stunning composure on the ball.

As such, were Ashworth able to bring Danso to Tyneside, the Austrian ace could well prove an ideal upgrade on club captain, Jamaal Lascelles, with the Englishman reportedly one of a handful of Magpies assets who could be allowed to depart this month.

That exit talk has come following the 29-year-old’s slide down the pecking order under manager Eddie Howe, with the long-serving figure having only made seven appearances so far this term, including just four league outings.

The forgotten man has underwhelmed when he has featured in the top flight as he averages just 0.3 tackles and zero interceptions per game this term, having kept only two clean sheets in 26 league games last season after averaging 0.8 tackles and 0.6 interceptions – a record far inferior to that of Danso.

Equally, while the latter man was helping to keep Kylian Mbappe and co at bay a week ago, Lascelles’ latest outing saw the £40k-per-week dud struggle to contend with a Josh Windass-inspired Sheffield Wednesday side, as the League One outfit claimed a shock FA Cup triumph.

That display – which saw the defender endure some ‘tough moments’ according to the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder – has laid bare the need for a fresh face in the backline, with Danso seemingly the upgrade that Newcastle are craving in order to wave farewell to their current skipper.

West Bromwich Albion enjoyed a lengthy stint in the Premier League following their promotion in 2010 under Roberto Di Matteo before Steve Clarke took over.

The Scotsman replace the future Champions League-winning boss with little experience, having only been a caretaker manager at Newcastle United at that point along with various stints as an assistant, but he led the Baggies to one of their best finishes in recent history.

Adding some shrewd signings, including the deal to bring in Romelu Lukaku on loan, Albion finished eighth in 2012/13 – their highest placing since the Premier League began.

Whilst the Belgian marksman stole many of the headlines for their transfer business, as he scored 17 goals and set up a further seven in that campaign, Claudio Yacob arguably had a far greater impact on the club, having joined in that same summer.

Arriving on a free transfer in 2012, the Argentine midfielder would become a mainstay across the various managers who would come and go in The Hawthorns’ hot seat.

The 35-year-old went on to feature 175 times for the Midlands club and earned a reputation for adding a physicality to their engine room, along with a stability that arguably only Gareth Barry replicated when he joined in 2017.

It is no surprise that this came just a year before Yacob left in 2018 and is a testament to his pedigree that only a Premier League legend like Barry could replace him.

During the 2015/16 campaign, which is the earliest recorded Sofascore data for his tenure in the Premier League, the Argentine boasted a 6.91 average rating despite a 14th-placed finish for West Brom, averaging 3.4 interceptions, 3.2 tackles and two clearances per game (via Sofascore).

This was indicative of his entire career in the Midlands, where he became an ever-reliable stalwart. 

Indeed, during Yacob’s time at the club, ex-Baggies team-mate Salomon Rondon was full of praise for the midfielder, claiming: “Claudio is a very good man and a superb player. He is very important for Albion, he has been at the club for a long time and is a key player.”

It is clear that, given the Argentine’s modest price tag, combined with his immense stature and longevity at the club, Clarke struck gold with this deal back in 2012. The now 35-year-old was arguably the most important signing of that summer’s transfer window for West Brom.

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing up a move for Lyon right-back Malo Gusto in the summer.

The Lowdown: Right-back needed

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is reportedly being allowed to leave in the January transfer window, and Diogo Dalot’s contract at Old Trafford expires in the summer.

This could leave United very short at right-back come the end of the season, so a new player is needed in that position for Erik ten Hag’s squad.

The Latest: Gusto eyed

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Gusto is one of ‘several top transfer targets’ at right-back, alongside Netherlands duo Denzel Dumfries and Jeremie Frimpong:

“Malo #Gusto: The 19 y/o is very high rated at #MUFC and one of several top transfer targets as a right back. #Frimpong is still in. Ten Hag is pushing for #Dumfries. Gusto would be a big solution in summer 23. Bosses estimate a price tag of around €30-40m.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

The Red Devils are in desperate need of freshening up the right-back position, and 19-year-old Gusto would be a perfect signing in that sense.

Hailed as ‘one of the most exciting’ right-backs in the game by journalist Zach Lowy, and a ‘real player’ The Daily Express’ Ryan Taylor, he has often put in performances well beyond his years, notably earning praise for his handling of Neymar in a Ligue 1 game for Lyon against PSG.

Gusto has already played over 50 times for his club, making six assists from right-back (Transfermarkt), and is a star in the making.

Nonetheless, if deals for the likes of Dumfries or Frimpong become too difficult to do, then the young Frenchman could be an ideal alternative.

Newcastle United are reportedly of interest to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, sparking speculation that the German could open to a move to St James’ Park.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football Insider, who claimed that the German is currently “obsessed” with the developments at St James’ Park, having been said to be enquiring about the Magpies’ transfer dealings and behind-the-scenes activities.

That interest has led to a belief that the 55-year-old could well be keen on taking on the job at the northeast side when he does eventually move on from Anfield, having previously admitted that it is almost impossible to compete with the uber-rich Tynesiders, as well as the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.

The report adds that despite the former Borussia Dortmund boss having only recently signed a new contract extension with the Reds – taking his deal to the summer of 2026 – there is growing uncertainty over his position amid a potential sale for the Merseysiders, as well as the impending exit of a number of key executives.

Better than Howe

Newcastle supporters are likely not contemplating a change at the helm due to the remarkable job that current boss Eddie Howe has done in his tenure thus far, with the Englishman having taken the club from fearing for their safety a year ago, to now dreaming of life in the Champions League.

While aided by strong investment – having spent over £100m this summer – the 44-year-old has notably impressed due to his knack for improving those already at the club, with the likes of Joelinton and Miguel Almiron having been obvious beneficiaries of the former Bournemouth man’s arrival.

Despite having done a “top class job” in reviving the Magpies – in the words of Pep Guardiola – it may prove difficult for Howe to keep his job if the aforementioned Klopp truly is interested in the role, with PIF likely to be tempted to bring in the latter man in the future.

The one-time Mainz boss is something of a coaching “genius” – as described by Adam Lallana – having worked wonders since his arrival in English football back in 2015, having helped to guide his side to Champions League and Premier League glory in recent years.

Such longevity at the elite level – having previously won the Bundesliga title twice during his time in Germany with Dortmund – has seen the enigmatic figure lauded as one of the best coaches in the world, having notably been named the FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year in previous years.

A “God at Liverpool”, in the words of pundit Jamie Carragher, Klopp has managed to do something “unique” in turning Liverpool from a club seemingly on the decline into regular contenders for both European and domestic honours.

Clearly a man who knows what is needed to build a team capable of challenging at the top of the table, the heavily experienced coach would surely prove too good an option to turn down despite Howe’s impressive work thus far, particularly with the latter man’s only piece of silverware as a manager to date coming in the form of the Championship title in 2015.

It would be a ruthless move, but PIF could well secure something of a dream appointment if they were to get Klopp in the door, with his quality arguably incomparable to that of the current Newcastle boss due to what he has achieved in the game.

Southampton are considering a move to sign Marseille midfielder Pape Gueye in January, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Bit-part player

The France-born talent made the move to the Velodrome in 2020, but he has recently fallen out of favour and is fourth in Igor Tudor’s pecking order behind Valentin Rongier, Matteo Guendouzi and Jordan Veretout.

He has played less than 400 minutes in all competitions this season, whereas the other three have all had more than 1,000 minutes of game-time (Transfermarkt).

Despite the 23-year-old still having nearly two years remaining on his contract, two clubs in particular have been alerted to his current situation and are keen on bringing him to the Premier League.

The Latest: Southampton eyeing Gueye

According to French outlet Jeunes Footeux (via Sport Witness), both Southampton and Leeds United are ‘keen’ on a deal for Gueye.

The source claims that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will be looking to ‘take advantage of the existing contacts’, with Saints chiefs already having a connection with Marseille following the transfer of Duje Caleta-Car.

The south coast club would reportedly ‘prefer a loan with a view to buy’ whilst the Ligue 1 outfit want straight cash, but given Marseille’s urgent need for funds, the maestro could be handed over on a ‘silver platter’.

The Verdict: Don’t do it…

Southampton already have plenty of midfield options at their disposal in the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Joe Aribo, Ibrahima Diallo, Stuart Armstrong and Romeo Lavia, so this area of the pitch doesn’t need any further additions.

Also, the Senegal international doesn’t contribute enough in the final third of the pitch, having only scored four goals and provided two assists in 92 appearances for Marseille (Transfermarkt).

Whilst he has been dubbed a ‘fantastic’ player by Josh Bunting, the Saints should turn their attention elsewhere as Hasenhuttl looks to bolster his ranks in the winter market.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has his sights set on signing Roma midfielder Nicola Zalewski, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Zalewski’s career so far

Having graduated into the Giallorossi first-team last year, the 20-year-old has since made 34 appearances for the club.

Often used as an impact substitute by manager Jose Mourinho, the left-sided midfielder has featured four times in Roma’s starting XI this season, playing in both Serie A and the Europa League.

The youngster has duly earned a call-up to the Poland national team, for whom he has made seven appearances and played in each of their UEFA Nations League matches this year.

The Latest: Spurs interested in Zalewski

According to Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), Conte has had his sights set on Zalewski for ‘some time’ and Spurs are looking to bring the 20-year-old to Hotspur Way in the future.

However, Mourinho is not ready to part ways with the player, and the Serie A club agree that he needs to be kept in Rome at all costs. Whilst the Poland international’s contract runs until the summer of 2025, Roma wish to extend his deal by a further two years.

They realise they have a ‘precious’ player ‘on their hands’, so the club are working on a contract extension in order to ‘discourage Tottenham’ from making a move for the youngster.

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The Verdict: Huge talent

At just 20 years of age, Zalewski continues to demonstrate why he is a hugely exciting prospect emerging onto the European football scene.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the left midfielder ranks in the 96th percentile for progressive carries and dribbles completed, the 93rd percentile for pressures and interceptions and the 91st percentile for tackles made.

Having also played as a right midfielder and a left-back so far this season, the Polish gem continues to demonstrate his versatile qualities across the pitch.

Therefore, this could make a prospective move to Tottenham even more enticing from Conte’s point of view, with the Spurs boss still yet to nail down a sure-fire option at right wing-back.