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Tottenham should be looking to hijack Chelsea’s pursuit of Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella to offset the imminent departure of Mousa Dembele, who has been the subject of a successful £9m bid from Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan.

What’s the word, then?

Spurs needed to sign some midfield reinforcements anyway, before the interest in Dembele became concrete. The Belgian has started just seven Premier League games this season as he struggles to maintain a consistently good level of fitness, and even in the games he has played in, he looks far from his usual dominant self.

Along with the 31-year-old’s issues, another midfield man in Victor Wanyama has started just a single league game as he too battles to avoid injury – however, it is a battle that he is losing quite heavily.

Mauricio Pochettino has reacted by promoting the likes of Oliver Skipp and George Marsh into the first-team in order to deal with the crisis in the middle of the park, but an accomplished, marquee signing in Barella wouldn’t go amiss – especially if it meant top-four rivals Chelsea missed out on him too.

Who is he?

The Italian international is a versatile young midfielder with a whole host of strings to his bow. At just 21 years of age, Barella can perform effectively in both the central midfield and centre attacking midfield positions, with his long-range shooting ability and tough tackling being key features of his game.

He has previously been lauded by none other than Andrea Pirlo, and it is clear to see why the Blues view him as an ideal candidate to succeed Cesc Fabregas in the middle of the park.

Check out Neymar’s controversial new haircut for 2019 and Xherdan Shaqiri as you’ve never seen him before in the video below…

Barella is also a strong set-piece taker, who can threaten the goal more often than not from dead-ball situations – he is set to be a star player for the present and the future, and Spurs simply can’t afford to let him go to Stamford Bridge.

Marco Silva seemed like the perfect manager for Everton. They’re a team that has been famed over the last decade or so for being a consistent, stable outfit, yet that stability has descended into relative chaos as of late.

A flurry of failed managerial appointments offered varying levels of success to the Goodison Park faithful, yet Silva seemed like a good man to help steady the ship, whilst also bringing back the brilliant football that the club had been known for.

However, so far, he’s been somewhat underwhelming. Results have been inconsistent, and so far, the Toffees haven’t lived up to expectations. They won at the weekend against Bournemouth, but it was hardly convincing.

That said, whilst it may not please fans, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to see Silva failing to dominate. His job was always going to be a difficult one, and with every passing week, the task on his hands grows ever larger. It was never going to be a one summer job. In fact, the truth is that the Portuguese will still need another window or two to really leave his mark on the team.

Bringing players in is crucial, but it’s also important that the Toffees get rid of the deadwood at the club. According to the Daily Mail, that’s exactly what they’re planning with Cenk Tosun, Oumar Niasse and Morgan Schneiderlin all reportedly available for a transfer this month.

Each player moved to the club with a lot of expectation, but they’ve all failed to deliver. Despite having obvious roles to play, they’ve not stepped up, and that’s been a big problem for Everton.

With the club looking to sell, that implies that Silva is being given the time to build the team in his image, and whilst it’s not working perfectly right now, by the time a year or so passes, maybe the Portuguese will have the squad he wants.

Then, and only then, can we pass judgement on the Portuguese.

Thoughts?

According to a recent report from The Newcastle Chronicle, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez does not want to sell Jonjo Shelvey this month amid interest from West Ham. The Englishman has been at St James’ Park since 2016 after leaving Swansea City, although just 11 Premier League appearances for the Magpies this season has called his future at the club into question.

Manuel Pellegrini’s Hammers, as well as Claudio Ranieri’s Fulham, are reportedly keen on the 26-year-old, only for Benitez to state that the midfielder is not for sale this month – yet that shouldn’t deter Pellegrini from testing Newcastle’s resolve as he eyes up the central midfield reinforcements West Ham so desperately need.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the summer departure of Cheikhou Kouyate to Crystal Palace has left the East London outfit somewhat short in the middle of the park this season, with Declan Rice’s remarkable rise somewhat bailing the club out of what looked set to be a serious problem in the centre of the pitch.

Mark Noble continues to do a decent job in that area and Pedro Obiang adds much needed strength to those ranks, but with the latter possibly set for a move away this month, Pellegrini could find himself struggling even more in the centre of midfield – Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshere remain injured as well to throw another spanner in the works.

As such, while Shelvey isn’t perhaps the most defensive-minded of central midfielders, his presence would add a great deal to a Hammers midfield clearly in need of improvements in this month’s transfer window.

The 26-year-old made the move to Newcastle in 2016 as the North East giants sought the signings needed to keep them in the top-flight that season, only for the club to eventually lose their Premier League status come the summer.

Yet Shelvey stayed with the club to help them return to the top tier at the first time of asking, before appearing 30 times last season as Benitez’s men defied the odds to record a hugely impressive tenth place finish in the Premier League table – Shelvey certainly played his part in that effort with one goal and three assists over the course of the campaign.

And with a much-improved disciplinary record in recent times, he hasn’t been booked at all this season, it appears as though Shelvey is slowly but surely becoming a more reliable option in the middle of the park – alongside the rapidly improving Rice, whose off the ball traits have been particularly impressive this term, the duo could strike up a formidable central midfield partnership, what with Shelvey extremely effective on the ball.

As such, while Benitez has made clear that the Englishman isn’t for sale this month, Pellegrini and West Ham simply have to test Newcastle’s resolve by making a move for the 26-year-old, as doing so could go some way to solving their key issue in the middle of the park.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

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Lots of Crystal Palace fans have been reacting to a surprising transfer rumour, as reports claim the Eagles are considering re-signing Yannick Bolasie.

Bakary Sako is expected to return to Crystal Palace after a short stint with West Brom, per The Daily Mail, and it looks like he may not be the only former Eagle coming back to Selhurst Park.

According to The Guardian, the club are considering a move for Bolasie, who has effectively been told to find a new home by Everton boss Marco Silva.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

“It is a possibility of course (another loan). Until now we have had no enquiries. We will do what is the best solution for him and us as a club,” Silva said on Thursday.

“For sure, he knows (that he will not get game time at Goodison Park). I took that decision last summer, because I realised it would be difficult for him to get the minutes he wants.”

The 29 year-old, who made the switch from London to Merseyside back in 2016, returned from a loan spell at Aston Villa this week, having scored just two Championship goals, per Whoscored.

The Toffees need to sell before they can buy this month, and offloading Bolasie even on loan could make the difference, providing his loan club pay a chunk of his wages.

The tricky winger scored 13 times and added 30 assists during his last stay at Selhurst Park (Transfermarkt), and it’s fair to say Roy Hodgson’s squad isn’t exactly overflowing with dangerous attacking players at the moment, so a move would make sense.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where more than a few fans want to bring Bolasie back…

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Everton have asked about the possibility of signing Thomas Meunier in an exchange deal with Paris Saint-Germain that would see Idrissa Gueye leave the Premier League, per Telefoot.

What’s the word?

Gueye has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park throughout the January transfer window as the Parisian side looks to strengthen their midfield ahead of losing Adrien Rabiot for free in the summer, when his contract is due to expire.

Telefoot are now suggesting that Everton will allow Gueye to move to Ligue 1 on the basis that Paris Saint-Germain’s right-back, Meunier, moves in the other direction.

However, while the French giants are said to be open to an exchange, the word is that they will demand cash alongside Gueye.

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin may be out for the season but it’s given him a chance to show off his new accesory. Check out the video below to see for yourself…

Would it be a good deal?

Gueye may be a key member of Marco Silva’s squad, but the 29-year-old has been inconsistent this season. In some games, the Senegal international is commanding in the middle of the pitch, but in others, the match seems to pass him by.

Similar can be said regarding Seamus Coleman, who Meunier would replace, and the Goodison Park faithful have already seen one full-back in Leighton Baines ushered out of the way for a younger option in Lucas Digne.

Meunier would also represent what Coleman has lost over the years, as the right-back has been involved in seven goals for PSG so far this season, scoring four and assisting three in all competitions.

The biggest issue, however, is that swap deals rarely work out. Everton could be lumbered with a highly paid option sat on the bench if Meunier cannot establish himself in the starting XI immediately.

Another concern is that Gueye would have to be replaced at short notice, and if PSG are asking for cash alongside the 62-cap international, Everton would be getting the shorter end of the stick.

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West Ham United take on Premier League leaders Liverpool at the London Stadium on Monday night. 

Both sides will be heading into the clash hoping to bounce back from disappointing results last time out. The Hammers fell to a 3-0 defeat to Wolves, whilst Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to take three points from Leicester City and extend their lead at the top to seven points.

The Reds will be the favourites heading in Monday night’s encounter, but the Irons have already produced some impressive performances at home against ‘big six’ opponents this season – including wins over Arsenal and Manchester United and a hard-fought draw against Chelsea – so we should be in for an exciting game.

So, will West Ham add another scalp to their list, or will Liverpool get back to winning ways and maintain their advantage in the race for the title?

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 8pm kick-off…

What History Tells Us

Liverpool have certainly had the most joy out of this contest in the Premier League era. Their tally of 27 wins over West Ham dwarfs their opponent’s count of nine victories. 

The Reds’ aggressive and attacking style of play has generally reaped rewards against the east London club too, as they have racked up an impressive 85 goals in this fixture. West Ham, meanwhile, have only mustered 40. However, the likes of Felipe Anderson and Marko Arnautovic have the capacity to add to that number on Monday should the visitors show any signs of complacency. 

All in all though, there aren’t many positives for Manuel Pellegrini to take from his side’s head-to-head record, but West Ham have repeatedly upset the odds this season and he will believe in their ability to do so again in front of their own fans on Monday.

Key Battle – Felipe Anderson vs Sadio Mane

Both attackers primarily play on the left flank, and both are absolutely instrumental to their respective team’s forward approach, whilst they are also relied upon to produce end product. Both have also been in fine form so far this season.

Anderson has been integral to the Hammers’ attacking play this season. Since his summer arrival from Lazio, the Brazilian has quickly settled into the pace of the Premier League and has shown his class and skill on a number of occasions. 

His average output of 1.7 shots, 1.9 dribbles and 1.8 key passes per game demonstrates how vital he is to the Irons’ attack and how many methods he has of hurting his opponents in the final third. His return of eight goals and two assists makes him one of West Ham’s most prolific men so far this season and he will be key to their chances of success against Liverpool.

Mane forms part of Liverpool’s astonishingly effective attacking contingent alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. This trio are able to combine effectively with one another, and their cohesion is central to Liverpool’s current success.

All three are capable of scoring and assisting goals, and the stats suggest that Mane is chipping in with his fair share. His average of 2.4 shots, 1.7 dribbles and 1.2 key passes per Premier League game this season is evidence of just what a potent attacking threat the Senegal international is. With ten goals and one assist already under his belt so far this season, the 26-year-old will be keen to add to his tally on Monday.

Both Anderson and Mane can win games for their teams, but Mane’s teammates may be better equipped to playing him into goalscoring positions on a regular basis, which could make all the difference. 

Ref in Focus – Kevin Friend 

Kevin Friend’s influence on this match could go a long way towards determining its result. Out of the 18 officials to have taken charge of a Premier League game this season before the weekend, none had average more penalty awards per game that Friend’s figure of 0.5. Should either side on Monday give him any reason to point to the spot, then Friend is unlikely to hesitate.

What’s more, out of the 18, the 47-year-old ranked in the top five in terms of fouls per game, fouls per tackle and yellow cards per game, averaging 22.25, 0.66 and 3.63, respectively. 

This could lead to a rather disjointed game, with plenty of set-pieces, which is likely to suit the home side more than Klopp’s free-flowing outfit.

Team News

The Hammers have a huge injury list, with talented stars such as Jack Wilshere, Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko certain not to be available for Monday’s game. What’s more, plenty of Pellegrini’s alternative options may not be fully fit either, such as Samir Nasri and Lucas Perez.

Arnautovic may be fit to lead the line for the home side, whilst club captain Mark Noble and talented teenager Declan Rice will almost certainly be tasked with anchoring the midfield. 

The Reds ought to look to test Noble’s mobility and the likely presence of Angelo Ogbonna and Pablo Zabaleta’s ageing legs in the Hammers’ defence ought to encourage Liverpool’s pacy, dynamic attackers.

Liverpool aren’t without defensive losses of their own though. The absences of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez ought to mean that James Milner, returning from suspension, slots in at right-back. What’s more, without Dejan Lovren available for selection, Joel Matip will likely deputise, which immediately makes the Reds’ rearguard a less solid unit.

Having sat out the disappointing draw against Leicester, Klopp will likely reintroduce Fabinho into the middle of the park, to ensure that the Reds don’t lose the physical battle to Noble and Rice. Overall then, that’s two changes from the side that drew with the Foxes last time out. 

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Birmingham City will travel to Loftus Road this weekend to face a QPR side who are struggling for form.

On the chalkboard

Garry Monk has established himself as a popular figure amongst the Birmingham supporters this season after taking the club to within touching distance of the play-off places.

The Blues are certainly outside contenders for a spot in the top-six but they have a handful of talented attacking players who are capable of firing them into contention.

One of those players is Jota, Birmingham’s club-record signing. The Spanish winger has struggled to discover his most potent form in recent weeks, but a small tactical change against Nottingham Forest saw him return to goalscoring form.

Monk opted to play the attacker in a more central role at the top of a diamond, and that facilitated a vastly improved performance from start to finish, with his crucial opening goal giving him the confidence to thrive behind the front-two.

Same again against QPR?

QPR have been in poor form in the Championship of late. A midweek FA Cup victory over Portsmouth may have temporarily boosted morale, but Monk’s travelling side will pose a much sterner threat than the League One promotion hopefuls.

The Rs have lost three out of their last four games and have conceded nine goals in the same period, statistics which suggest Birmingham’s creative players could enjoy themselves in the capital.

With Jota moving closer to the potent pairing of Che Adams and Lukas Jutkiewicz, the visitors should have the firepower to pour further misery on Steve McClaren’s side.

Monk’s tactical tweak paid dividends against Nottingham Forest last time out, so he should stick with his winning formula to maximise Jota’s influence and help Birmingham take another step closer to the play-offs.

Tottenham showed they are still in the Premier League title race with a 3-1 win over Leicester at the weekend.

Spurs took the lead after 33 minutes when Davinson Sanchez headed home from a Christian Eriksen cross. Mauricio Pochettino’s men doubled their advantage in the second half when Eriksen turned scorer, beating Kasper Schmeichel after a wonderful piece of skill. Jamie Vardy ensured a nervy ending to proceedings but Heung Min-Son was on hand to score an injury-time goal to seal the points.

The victory means Tottenham trail Liverpool and Manchester City by just five points – they were well and truly in the title race. Regardless of where they finish, it’s clear that Pochettino has built a team capable of challenging for honours in years to come. However, Spurs could still use some new additions in the summer to end their long wait for a trophy.

One man Pochettino should be aiming to sign is Atletico Madrid dynamo – Rodrigo. Valued at £45m by Transfermarkt, the Spaniard is a new arrival at the club after Diego Simeone paid £18m to prise him from Villarreal. The 22-year-old has been an instant hit at his new employers, enjoying a pivotal role in the Argentinean’s starting eleven so far this season.

The defensive midfielder loves to get stuck in and would add another valuable layer of protection to the Tottenham defence – Rodrigo has averaged an impressive 3.2 tackles per game this season; more than any other Spurs player. The defensive midfielder is also dominant in the air, winning 2.3 aerial duels on average, meaning the physicality of the Premier League should be no issue. Rodrigo also has a fantastic range of passing meaning he is an excellent replacement for Mousa Dembele in the engine room (WhoScored).

Still improving and developing, Rodrigo could become a Tottenham legend in no time at all.

Tottenham fans, thoughts?

Tottenham players have urged Jose Mourinho to sign Wolves winger Adama Traore, according to Football Insider.

The Spaniard played a key role in Wolves’ performance against Spurs, scoring the equaliser before eventually falling to defeat in stoppage time.

His performance earned him an 8.5 rating from WhoScored, with Spurs’ defenders finding him extremely hard to handle.

Eric Dier, Harry Kane and Jan Vertonghen all received bookings for fouling the winger, who has enjoyed a terrific start to the 2019/20 season.

With Wolves’ season starting back in July, Adama has already played 26 games this season, scoring four and assisting six in that time.

His form has helped Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to the knockout stages of the Europa League, where they’ll face Espanyol, and to within five points of the Premier League top four.

It would be quite a shock if a player so often criticised for his supposed lack of end product were to join a huge club where consistent end product is required, and Wolves fans wouldn’t be very happy to see one of their star players leave.

Here’s how some of them reacted to the news:

Watch Wolves vs Manchester City live on Prime on Boxing Day!

On Monday, Liverpool were drawn against Atletico Madrid in the next round of the Champions League. It is arguably the toughest they could have picked up.

On the chalkboard

The Reds qualified for the next round of the competition on the final matchday of the group stage, thanks to a 2-0 victory away at RB Salzburg. In the end, that was enough to see them top to the group.

Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, were only able to finish second in their own group, with Juventus leading the way. Los Rojiblancos have not been at their best so far this campaign, but they have the ability to cause problems for their opponents.

Tough to break down

Liverpool have lost just once so far this season, but that did come against Napoli in the Champions League. The Italian side triumphed 2-0 at home against Jurgen Klopp’s men, and that came after they had just 48% possession. They still managed more shots on target than their opponents, though.

Watch Leicester vs Liverpool Free Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

Atletico, meanwhile, could only manage a 2-2 draw at home against the Old Lady earlier on this campaign, but Maurizio Sarri’s side are a better team than Napoli – they are the Serie A champions and are currently second in the league behind Internazionale with Gennaro Gattuso’s men lying in eighth – but they will have been disappointed not to pick up all three points.

Despite having just 46% possession, they still managed eight shots on target to their opponents’ six in that match. They also won 15 aerial battles to 11, which is very similar to that Napoli and Liverpool match – the former won 12 compared to nine.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

In the return leg, Napoli were incredibly hard to break down – they managed just 26% possession, yet they reduced their opponents to just five shots on target during the match.

Atletico may not be too good going forward – they have just 18 goals in La Liga this term to date – but they are incredibly difficult to break down.

The 10 goals they have conceded is the least in the league, and they conceded just five in those six European matches as well.

With the likes of Joao Felix and Diego Costa to cause danger up front, Liverpool have a tough task on their hands. Their current form means they will go into the match as favourites, but the style of Diego Simeone may be their toughest challenge of the season.

In other news, this Liverpool star would be downgrading if he moved to this European giant.