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Journalist Dean Jones says that Everton are ‘starting to work on’ a new contract for Alex Iwobi.

The Lowdown: Talks opened

It was reported earlier this month that initial talks have been opened over a new deal for the Nigerian at Goodison Park.

He is currently the club’s joint-highest earner on £120,000 per week, but he only has two years left remaining on his existing deal on Merseyside.

The Latest: Working on it

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has shared that Everton are ‘starting to work on’ Iwobi’s new deal, adding that the 26-year-old has been ‘key’ to the Toffees’ turnaround after nearly suffering relegation towards the end of last season.

The journalist said of a possible new contract for the ex-Arsenal man: “They’re starting to work on it now because obviously, he’s been so impressive, so important, and so key to this turnaround. They just want to make sure that they don’t let things slip.”

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The Verdict: Well deserved

Iwobi is thoroughly deserving of a new contract at Everton, even if he is already the joint-highest earner in Frank Lampard’s squad.

The Nigeria international has only missed 17 minutes of football all season, scoring one goal and delivering a further six assists in the Premier League, playing in every position in the middle of the park (Transfermarkt).

He is currently their sixth-best performer in the top flight and ranks highly among his team-mates for average tackles, shots, dribbles, crosses and long balls per game, while no other Everton player has made more key passes than the 26-year-old (WhoScored).

The previously much-maligned Iwobi is a man transformed under Lampard, and with just two years left on his current deal, the Toffees need to ensure that he puts pen to paper on fresh terms.

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has started to realise his potential in Darren Moore’s side and the Owls manager must look to tie him down to a new contract at Hillsborough.

The 21-year-old midfielder joined Sheffield Wednesday from Manchester City in the summer of 2020 and has gone on to make 59 appearances for the club, in which he has contributed six goals and three assists.

Five of those goals and two of the assists have come in just 14 appearances this term, which emphasises how much he has improved and become an integral part of Moore’s squad.

However, his contract at Hillsborough is set to expire at the end of this season and it would represent a big blow if he were to depart on a free transfer, especially if he can help the Owls earn promotion back to the Championship.

Sheffield Wednesday reporter Dom Howson provided the latest on the youngster’s contract situation recently, writing:

“I asked Darren Moore for an update on Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s contract. Says talks remain ongoing and is still confident FDB will extend his stay. FDB has taken his game to another level this season. They need to sort his future ASAP.”

Moore spoke about the midfielder’s contract situation following last weekend’s game, which saw Dele-Bashiru notch his fourth league goal of the campaign in the 4-2 win over Burton Albion.

He said: “We are talking (about a new contract) at the moment. The boy is happy here. He wants to stay here and we want him to stay here but we understand from a contractual point of view that it has got to be right for all parties.”

It sounds as if Moore is very keen for the former Manchester City youngster to extend his stay at Hillsborough, which is no surprise when you consider that his four league goals have come from just five starts in League One throughout 2022/23.

Saturday saw him earn a very strong 8.07/10 rating from WhoScored for his performance, which shows just how good he can be in the Owls’ midfield, alongside the influential Barry Bannan.

While it is also imperative that Moore extends the Scottish midfielder’s contract, as he is also set to become a free agent at the end of the season, he will turn 33 next month and cannot be expected to star at Hillsborough forever.

Dele-Bashiru meanwhile is still so young and has so much potential, so it is vital that Moore gets him tied down to a new deal, as he can be the future of Sheffield Wednesday’s engine room.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly weighing up a potential January transfer bid for Everton winger Anthony Gordon. 

The Lowdown: Previous interest in Gordon

The summer transfer window saw Spurs being mentioned with interest in the winger, along with fellow Premier League side Chelsea, who were reportedly willing to pay £60m for the player.

After that summer interest and links away from Goodison Park, Gordon has been a key figure for Frank Lampard’s side as their leading scorer so far this term, but reports have emerged regarding the uncertainty over whether or not he will sign a new deal with the Toffees.

It now appears that Antonio Conte’s side could look to test the waters in January and see if they can lure the winger away from Merseyside.

The Latest: Spurs planning January move

According to a recent report from The Sun, the Lilywhites will look to make a move for Gordon in January following their previous interest in him and have already made early enquiries about a possible move for the 21-year-old.

The report also adds that Chelsea are apparently not looking to reignite their interest in the player, which could give Conte’s side a clear shot at signing the winger, coming as an obvious boost for the north Londoners.

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The Verdict: Smart target for Spurs

With three goals to his name across his 13 Premier League appearances this season, the 21-year-old has also racked up more shots on target (15) than any other Everton player.

Praised by Alan Shearer for his “fearless” attitude on the pitch, Gordon has shown how dangerous an attacking option he can be in the English top flight.

Bearing in mind how Spurs signed a few players from Premier League clubs during the summer window, including Gordon’s former team-mate Richarlison from Everton, this and the claim that Chelsea aren’t in the race could fill Lilywhites supporters with confidence that their club can land Gordon in January.

Taking all that into account, securing a deal for the Toffees dynamo in the winter could prove to be a smart long-term investment for the Tottenham hierarchy to make, given his young age and impact on the pitch.

Southampton midfielder, Romeo Lavia, has been praised by journalist Jacob Tanswell following the Saints’ Premier League defeat against Liverpool. 

The Lowdown: Nathan Jones’ first game in charge of Southampton

The south coast club travelled to Anfield on Saturday only to lose 3-1 in what was Nathan Jones’ first game in charge of the Saints.

Che Adams managed to grab an equaliser in the ninth minute of the game after Roberto Firmino’s early opener, only then for Darwin Nunez to score a brace before halftime.

Despite the disappointing result, one Southampton player found himself on the end of some hefty praise from Tanswell.

The Latest: Praise for Lavia

During the game, Tanswell took to Twitter to share this comment about Lavia, who played 82 minutes of the game at Anfield.

He said: “Lavia has gone down injured with what hopefully looks to be cramp. Has reminded everyone how good he is, if anyone forgot, today.”

The Verdict: A bright spark for Southampton

Since arriving at St. Mary’s back in July from Manchester City in a deal worth up to a reported fee of £14m, the Belgian has made seven appearances for Southampton in the Premier League.

Across those seven games, the 18-year-old has racked up the highest percentage of successful passes (88.3%) at the club out of players that have attempted more than 30 passes this season.

With only three other players at the club having made more passes into the final third of the pitch than Lavia (30), who missed eight games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury, this highlights just how much of an effective midfield figure he is for Jones’ side.

Looking at the Liverpool game, Hampshire Live said in their player ratings article that the Saints looked better when Lavia was involved in the game, further showcasing how much of an impact he has when in the team.

Some parts of the media were left criticising Bruno Fernandes for his part in Fulham’s equalising goal against Manchester United in the Premier League.

The Lowdown: Bright start

United and Fernandes made a bright start to the game when his pass was put on a plate for Christian Eriksen to tap in the opening goal with just 14 minutes on the clock.

However, his performance seemed to dip in the second half, as he was partially at fault for the equaliser for the hosts scored by former Red Devil Dan James before Alejandro Garnacho netted a dramatic late winner.

The Latest: Fernandes criticised

Taking to Twitter, Manchester Evening News reporters Samuel Luckhurst and Tyrone Marshall were both critical of Fernandes for losing the ball cheaply which directly led to Fulham’s equaliser.

Luckhurst claimed that he was ‘really timid’ as he was dispossessed, while Marshall called his ball ‘poor’.

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The Verdict: The good and the bad

Fernandes showed moments of brilliance in the first half, but was not at his best in the second. The attacking midfielder lost out on eight of his nine duels in total, a staggering 89%, and failed to record a single shot on target or dribble. He maintained just a 67% pass accuracy, the joint-lowest in the side, and gave possession away a total of 16 times. (SofaScore).

Fernandes will now be heading to the FIFA World Cup with Portugal, where he can shift his focus away from club football until the league season resumes again.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a terrible start to their Premier League season, however, there is still time to turn it around with the January transfer window approaching.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Wolves could make up to “three signings” during the upcoming transfer window.

Romano told GIVEMESPORT:

“So, it means one, two, three signings, it depends, as always, on the opportunities.

“But Lopetegui signed for Wolves because he knows that they will invest in January, he knows that they need new players, fresh energy. And so, I think both Aston Villa and Wolves will be busy in the market in January, yes.”

Lopetegui could save Wolves’ season

There is no doubt that Wolves are in a troubling position in terms of retaining their Premier League status, however, there is no reason why acquiring the right players in the new year can’t be season-changing for the club.

Wolves are now rock bottom in the league table after collecting just ten points out of a possible 45 in their first 15 outings in the top flight but they are only four points adrift from safety, so there is certainly everything to play for in the second half of the season and survival could be in sight with the right recruitment.

Indeed, there have been many problems at Molineux over the current campaign ultimately leading to the sacking of Bruno Lage at the beginning of October and now the supporters will be hoping that new manager Julen Lopetegui can save their season with a much-needed fresh start.

The new head coach has echoed Romano’s comments on Monday in his first press conference since signing his three-year deal with Wolves, revealing that there will be moves made in the winter transfer window:

“I agree because my responsibility is to try and improve. When the market opens we have this possibility and I think we are going to do that. I am not going to speak about names out of respect for our platers.

“We have to play the next four matches with this squad. We believe in this squad and we believe we can improve their performance.”

With that being said, despite the relegation woes there is a lot to look forward to at Wolves and if they invest well in January there is no reason why Lopetegui can’t turn the season around with 23 league games remaining.

Indeed, he has already shown what a capable manager he is throughout Europe. Arming him with the right players, therefore, could be game-changing.

Tottenham Hotspur have been backed to make a move for Borussia Dortmund and Germany World Cup gem Youssoufa Moukoko, according to Spurs expert John Wenham.

The Lowdown: A rising star

Moukoko, 18, has been a name to keep tabs on for years now, having telegrammed his name in Europe after he broke a Bundesliga U19 goalscoring record at the age of 15.

In that season, Moukoko scored a mesmerising 34 goals in 20 games for Dortmund’s development side – an early indication of his potential. 

The starlet has done enough to become a member of the German national set up and has already turned out for the side in this illustrious World Cup tournament, owing to his solid return of six goals and three assists in 14 Bundesliga games for Dortmund this term.

The Latest: Wenham wouldn’t be surprised 

As per a piece from Football Insider, Spurs expert Wenham claims he would not be surprised if the club ended up making a move for Moukoko.

“I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Tottenham made a move for him. He would be told that he would be part of the first-team squad but would also play every game for the Under-21s to build up his understanding of English football.

“He has a contract that expires in the summer and I expect clubs to be in for him in January. I can see the logic of Tottenham signing him and putting him in the scenario where he would be back up to Kane but also playing for the Under-21s.

“I think signings of that level are needed to make sure our Under-21s aren’t relegated. We aren’t just going to watch that happen without trying to do anything.”

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The Verdict: Nice try…

Wenham’s ideology surrounding Moukoko comes from an astute and developmental place of thinking, but a move to Tottenham could be unrealistic.

Moukoko, who could be available for just over £26million in the New Year, has started eight games for Dortmund this season and has appeared 14 times in the Bundesliga from a possible 15. 

He is a regular for Dortmund and is in Qatar as mentioned and as such, you could say that a transfer to Spurs to rival Harry Kane and play in the U21s when needed is unlikely.

Everton defender Michael Keane is set to leave Goodison Park on loan during the upcoming January transfer window. 

The Lowdown: Keane’s season so far

Having been a prominent figure for the Toffees last season, making 38 appearances across all competitions, things have been rather different this term. The defender has featured just three times for Frank Lampard’s side across the Premier League and Carabao Cup so far in 2022/23.

Now that the January transfer window is just a month away from opening, it seems as though the Merseyside club have made a decision regarding Keane’s future.

The Latest: Keane set for loan exit

According to a recent report from the Liverpool Echo, the Englishman is set to wave goodbye to Goodison Park during the upcoming transfer window.

The report adds that a Premier League trio consisting of West Ham United, Fulham and Leicester City are interested in signing the 29-year-old on loan from Everton.

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The Verdict: Would be ideal for Keane

Given the lack of playing time he has had this season, it’s easy to see why Everton think a loan move away from Goodison Park in January would be ideal for Keane.

Bearing in mind how Lampard has the likes of Conor Coady, James Tarkowski, Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate as his other centre-back options, it seems unlikely that, injuries aside, Keane would get a significant haul of minutes across the second half of the season for the Toffees.

Despite the £80k-per-week defender being criticised for his “abysmal” performances in the past by Noel Whelan, that there are reportedly a host of clubs interested in signing Keane in January shows that he can offer something to prospective loan suitors.

If the centre-back can join a club in January on loan where he’d be able to play regularly, this could put him in a good position to return to Everton and have a better shot at breaking back into the team on Merseyside.

Aston Villa may have to wait until the summer transfer window before making a move for Ismaila Sarr.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Ed Aarons, with The Guardian journalist revealing in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that, despite Birmingham Live’s Ashley Preece recently stating that the Watford forward remains a target for Johan Lange in the January transfer window, Villa may now have to wait until the end of the current campaign to make a move for the 24-year-old.

Regarding the Premier League side’s interest in the Senegal international, Aarons said: “The premium of World Cup performances and scoring is going to result in Watford wanting a bit more money, I think. He may be one that they have to wait until the summer for – when he’s got just a year left on his contract.”

“Absolutely unreal”

While Aarons’ claim does not appear to be wide of the mark – with it being reported that Watford are demanding a figure in the region of £45m to part with Sarr this winter, £15m more than the £30m asking price quoted last summer – considering just how impressive the winger has been this season, it would still appear wise for Lange to make a move in January.

Indeed, over his 17 Championship appearances in the current campaign, the £19m-rated talent has been in fine form for the Hornets, having already bagged six goals, registered four assists and created two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.1 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 1.2 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £63k-per-week flanker average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 6.95, currently ranking him as Watford’s eighth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

However, it was undoubtedly the 24-year-old’s performances at the World Cup that have captured the most attention in the current campaign, with the player who ex-teammate, goalkeeper Ben Foster, dubbed a “freak” having been one of Senegal’s star players in the Lions of Teranga’s run to the round of 16 in Qatar.

Indeed, over his four appearances in the competition, the trickster bagged one goal, as well as took an average of 2.8 shots, made 1.5 key passes and completed 2.3 dribbles – the same number as Argentina’s Lionel Messi – per game, in addition to making an average of one tackle, 0.5 interceptions and winning 9.5 duels – at a success rate of 66% – per match.

These returns saw the player who Luke Thrower labelled “absolutely unreal” average a remarkable Sofascore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Senegal’s joint-best performer in the biggest competition in world football.

As such, with Unai Emery reported to be eager to sign a new wide forward in the January transfer window, it would very much appear as if Sarr would be worth paying a premium for in order to secure his services ahead of the second half of the Premier League season, as the World Cup star would represent an unreal addition to Villa’s current attacking arsenal.

According to Marca, ‘transfer experts’ believe Aston Villa are the favourites to sign Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix.

The Lowdown: Felix at World Cup

Felix is currently with Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, where he has helped his country into the quarter-finals.

The 23-year-old registered two assists in the 6-1 win over Switzerland in the last 16 and has started three of the four games as a left winger.

His future at Atletico has been a hot topic of conversation in recent days, and it seems as if a move to the Midlands could be on the cards.

The Latest: Villa links

Marca shared news regarding Felix on Tuesday morning, with Atletico’s CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin admitting that an exit in the New Year is a real possibility.

The report adds that ‘Villa are believed to be the favourites to sign him’ and ‘several transfer experts believe he’ll move to Villa Park to start working with Unai Emery’.

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The Verdict: Exciting

Felix moved to Atletico back in 2019 from Benfica in a deal worth €127m and has contributed to 51 goals in 129 games.

NSWE will give Emery a ‘huge’ transfer budget in 2023, so they may well be able to afford the attacker given they sealed a move for Philippe Coutinho earlier this year.

Felix can play in a variety of attacking positions and has plenty of experience at the highest level despite being 23 years of age, so this could be an extremely exciting move and one that looks doable.