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Aston Villa will be hoping to put the transfer disasters of the past behind them now that Unai Emery has been appointed, however, they could be heading for another howler in January as a new update emerges.

What’s the latest?

According to Chelsea journalist Simon Phillips, the London club are interested in signing Matty Cash this month.

As per the report, Chelsea are stepping up their pursuit of a right-back in January due to Reece James’ injury troubles and a lack of depth in the position with Graham Potter interested in a shock move for the Aston Villa star.

Chukwuemeka repeat

Since joining the Villans in 2020 from Nottingham Forest, the Polish right-back has quickly established himself as one of the most consistent and reliable performers in the squad.

After tallying up 85 appearances for the Midlands outfit, Cash has scored four goals and delivered six assists proving that he is both potent in his attacking threat whilst being a solid defensive asset on the right flank.

Over 15 Premier League appearances this season alone, the £80k-per-week talent has completed 64% of his dribbles and tallied up an 85% pass completion rate in his own half, as well as averaging 53.3 touches, 1.3 interceptions, two tackles, 1.2 clearances and 3.6 duels won per game.

As a result, Chelsea’s interest could be a huge threat to Emery’s pursuit of vast improvement at Villa Park as the club could head for a repeat of the Carney Chukwuemeka sale which has seen the former Aston Villa teenager thrive at none other than Stamford Bridge since conceding defeat in the summer after failed contract talks.

The wonderkid was once hailed as the “best 16-year-old in the country” by Christian Purslow a few years ago and to lose him to the Blues was a huge blow despite his relative inexperience.

Thus, losing the 25-year-old Cash – who was hailed “exceptional” by Alex McLeish – to the same team would only rub further salt into the wounds of the transfer team at Villa Park.

Indeed, it would lead to another prospect that can play a key role in the future at Villa Park needing to be replaced and would prompt a much-needed serious financial investment to replace Cash’s prowess in attack, which combined with his reliable defensive attributes won’t be easy to come by.

With that being said, Emery must do everything he can to avoid another outgoing of a highly-rated member of the squad, especially ahead of the second half of the season when the Villarreal boss will be working hard to improve the performances on the pitch to achieve a comfortable finish at the end of the campaign.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter will know that victory against London rivals Crystal Palace this afternoon will be imperative, with securing three points are all that matters in the fight to climb back up the Premier League table.

Despite a lucrative £315m spending spree since the arrival of Todd Boehly as owner last year, the Blues have suffered an internal collapse, hardly helped by the barrage of injuries with which the club have been beset, leaving them in mid-table mediocrity.

Indeed, in tenth place and with a miserable seven defeats from the past ten matches, the west London outfit are falling into very dangerous territory and could see European qualification of any kind falling out of their reach.

Victory for Potter would put Chelsea on 28 points after 19 Premier League matches, and in order to bypass the resilience of Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace, stability and flair needs to be at the heart of proceedings.

To achieve this, Mason Mount’s performance will likely be crucial to the result, with his role as the Blues’ conductor and his creative ingenuity perhaps providing the spark, the definitive moment, which can finally stabilise the ship.

While Kai Havertz might retain his role as Chelsea’s centre-forward, it is Mount who might just be the offensive focal point in his team’s endeavours for success.

Having made 25 appearances this season, scoring three goals and supplying six assists, the “incredible” Mount – as dubbed by Joe Krishnan – has been a shining light in a lacklustre team, with his average Sofascore rating of 7.25 ranking him second among outfield Chelsea players in the current Premier League campaign.

Averaging 1.6 shots and 1.4 key passes per match, maintaining an 81% passing accuracy, completing 60% of his dribbles and winning 1.6 tackles per game, Mount’s all-encompassing work could indeed be the difference in a fixture that Chelsea simply must win.

As per FBref, Mount ranks within the top 5% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past 12 months for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 2% for rate of assists, the top 5% for shot-creating actions and the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area. This all serves to highlight the threat that he offers in the final third.

His vibrancy is invaluable to Chelsea, and whenever the Blues rekindle the form required to get them on an upward trajectory once again, the 23-year-old will almost certainly be within the thick of the action.

With optimism fading, Potter must work his magic to inject some life back into his team, and against Palace, the foundation could be paved for a revival ahead of the business end of the season.

The “world-class” Mount, as dubbed by Sam Inkersole, will need to channel every ounce of his creative calibre today; without him, Chelsea might struggle to defeat even a Palace team in poor form. Potter simply must trust in the 23-year-old once again this afternoon.

Tottenham Hotspur could turn to a familiar figure should they look to replace under-pressure boss Antonio Conte.

The Daily Mail recently reported that the Italian was ‘facing questions’ over his ‘increasingly uncertain’ future at the club amid the Lilywhites’ poor run of form.

Conte is out of contract in the summer and whilst there is an option to extend his deal for another 12 months, it seems as if that may not happen.

The report also links the north London outfit with a sensational return for Mauricio Pochettino, who according to journalist Pete O’Rourke would be the “perfect” candidate to replace the Italian in the near future.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said:

“I’m sure if Levy wants Tottenham to get back on the right foot, if things don’t work out with Antonio Conte, then Pochettino would be the perfect fit as he knows the club and could come in and hit the ground running.

“As much as it would hurt his pride, it might be a wise move if they do move for Pochettino.”

Spurs’ results and performances on the pitch have not only been inconsistent but also massively disappointing, with the side winning just three of their last nine Premier League outings.

And even though Conte is recognised as an established world-class head coach, the football hasn’t been pretty and when you’re not picking up wins, it looks even more dull.

Also per the Mail, another former Chelsea boss in Thomas Tuchel has emerged as a potential candidate to take over but just as O’Rourke suggests, Pochettino’s familiarity at Hotspur Way – with the players and working to a tight budget – surely makes him the absolute ideal man to lead this club.

Across 293 games in charge, the Argentine managed a 54.3% win record and led them to the Champions League final in 2019. It also included three straight seasons of finishing inside the top three in the Premier League – something that has not been repeated since 2017/18.

The 50-year-old has also been out of a job since the summer when Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain sacked him after just 18 months in charge

As such, a reunion with Pochettino could indeed be the best solution for all parties come the summer. If anyone is going to get Spurs close to that level again, then it’s surely the man that’s done it under similar circumstances before.

AND in other news, Paratici could sign a new Dembele in £26m “engine” who “dreams of Tottenham” move…

Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis is set to sign for MLS side Atlanta, rather than Urawa Red Diamonds, according to a report from Greece.

The Lowdown: Giakoumakis set to depart

With Giakoumakis often featuring in a more limited role this season, appearing as a substitute in his last eight matches for Celtic, there have been reports linking him with a move away throughout January.

The Hoops, at one stage, were said to have accepted an initial £3m bid from Urawa Red Diamonds for the striker, with Fabrizio Romano this week claiming that the Japanese side were still ‘leading the race’ for his signature.

The Latest: Agreement with Atlanta

A more recent report from Greece has now indicated that the 28-year-old has agreed to continue his career with Atlanta in the United States, turning down a move to Japan.

All that is left is for Celtic to approve the transfer, which is expected to happen in the next few days.

The Verdict: Right decision?

Whenever the Greece international has been given a run in the team, he has always been very good in front of goal, netting 17 goals in 24 domestic games last season, however a deal is probably the best move for both parties.

Ange Postecoglou has hailed the forward as being ‘super’, but the Celtic boss is blessed with some fantastic options in attacking areas, namely Kyogo Furuhashi, who is enjoying a prolific season, already on 17 league goals.

Giakoumakis has done very well for Celtic since arriving for £2.5m in 2021, but the Hoops are more than capable of bringing home their second league title in a row without him, and Postecoglou can use the funds raised to invest in other areas of the squad.

West Bromwich Albion spent just over £1m in transfer fees last summer, leaving Steve Bruce to trawl the free agents market to upgrade his threadbare squad.

His additions were shrewd and impressive on paper, yet he could not get them playing in a manner necessary to retain his job, as he was sacked in October and replaced by Carlos Corberan.

The Spaniard now seemingly finds himself in a similar position but has benefitted from a sensational run of form which has his team just one point outside the Championship play-offs, despite taking over just three months ago with them in the relegation zone.

It marks a masterful turnaround in their season and has given fans hope once more that a return to the Premier League beckons.

It could have made sense to build upon such fine form by bolstering the squad, but with the transfer window soon closing and little sniff of a big incoming deal at The Hawthorns, it seems unlikely.

Clearly still financially hamstrung, with the club taking out a £20m loan over the festive period, perhaps the loan market could be an effective one to add another body or two to Corberan’s squad without potentially upsetting the balance of the team.

The ideal outcome would likely be to attain a highly-rated youngster form a big club, and in a potential move Leighton Clarkson, they could do just that.

Having seen himself noted as a target of Championship clubs earlier in the window, the 21-year-old remains an asset just waiting to be persuaded to undertake a different temporary deal from his current one from Liverpool.

Given the harmonious nature at The Hawthorns and West Brom’s red-hot form, it would make sense for the youngster to pick the Baggies in an effort to gain further senior experience, having excelled on loan at Aberdeen and already made three senior appearances for his parent club.

He remains the “top talent” that writer Matt Addison dubbed him, despite an unsuccessful loan spell at Blackburn Rovers in 2021.

This season, the industrious midfielder boasts a 7.02 rating in Scotland, where he has four goals and one assist to his name (via Sofascore). With an eye for a goal and a pass clearly among his standout traits, his defensive qualities still manage to shine through, showing great maturity in his intelligence and knowledge of the game.

His average of 1.6 tackles per 90 outlines him as a fine all-round operator and the perfect foil for the similarly weighted Tom Rogic. He can even conjure spectacular moments, with one particular goal he scored for Aberdeen being dubbed “special” by Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker.

The Australian has been in solid form for Albion this season and has quality in abundance going forward while not being afraid to put a foot in when needed. His return of one goal and three assists in 2022/23 would support this, alongside an average of 1.4 tackles per 90 (via Sofascore).

If played together, the two would likely go about their defensive work with a stellar combined effort. Should they go forward from the same midfield at West Brom, it could be a devastating combination for the rest of the Championship, and one which could just spur them on to promotion.

Everton have ‘made inroads with agents’ to strike a deal for Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Gordon leaving Everton

The Daily Mail reported that Everton are set to lose Anthony Gordon, with the winger on the brink of joining Newcastle United for an initial £40m after missing three days of training to force the deal through, and a new option in the youngster’s position will be required.

Journalist Ryan Taylor claims that the Toffees are targeting a winger after missing out on Arnaut Danjuma, with Sulemana deemed to be of ‘strong interest’.

The Latest: ‘Inroads’ on Sulemana

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about a potential move for the Ghanaian, Jones offered a promising update for Everton fans.

He outlined: “Sulemana is somebody that they’ve made inroads with agents to see how that deal could be struck, and I think it is certainly possible that it could happen.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Now that Gordon seems set to depart, Everton will have the required funds to be able to sign Sulemana, and there is every indication that he could go on to be a success at Goodison Park.

One of the Ghanaian’s best attributes is his ability to beat opponents one-on-one, ranking in the 98th percentile for dribbles completed per 90 in the past year with an average of 3.87. He also ranks in the 85th percentile for assists, often displaying an ability to pick out his team-mates in promising areas.

Hailed as an ‘enormous talent’ by football scout Jacek Kulig, the youngster isn’t shy to get involved in the defensive side of the game either, showing a keen eye for tackles and interceptions (top 10% for both among wingers in Europe’s big five leagues), indicating just how well-rounded and versatile he is as a player.

Sean Dyche, who looks set to be announced imminently as Everton’s new manager, will likely be keen for his first few reinforcements in the final days of the January transfer window, and Sulemana would be an excellent signing who would probably give the Toffees a real boost in their bid to avoid relegation.

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay could be ruled out for weeks with an injury, as confirmed by manager Erik ten Hag.

The Lowdown: United’s injury issues

The Red Devils have a number of midfielders currently on the treatment table, with Donny van de Beek ruled out until the end of the season with a knee injury, while Christian Eriksen has recently suffered an ankle injury.

With the issues mounting up, the last thing Ten Hag needed was another player to suffer a setback, however McTominay has now joined the growing list, missing the recent 3-1 FA Cup victory against Reading.

The Latest: Ten Hag’s update

The United boss confirmed the severity of the injury in a recent interview, saying: “Scott McTominay is not available for the coming week, two weeks, maybe even longer.

“So we have a challenge there, the squad has a challenge. We have quality players there, that is obvious, but the depth is not that good anymore. But we as a team have to deal with that.” (via Manchester Evening News)

The Verdict: Blow for United?

The ‘immense’ 26-year-old has made 24 appearances for Man United in all competitions this season, indicating that Ten Hag views him as an important player, and so he moved swiftly to secure a new midfielder on deadline day.

A deal to bring in Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich was finalised late last night, and it appears as though he could take on some of McTominay’s defensive responsibilities, given that he has averaged more tackles and interceptions per 90 than the Scot in the past year.

As such, while it will be a blow for the Red Devils to not have the sufficient squad depth to rotate over the next few weeks, the addition of Sabitzer means that they should be fine in the Scotland international’s absence.

Journalist John Gibson has shared his concerns over the worrying form of Newcastle United’s number nine Callum Wilson.

The Lowdown: Newcastle struggling for goals

Since joining from Bournemouth in the summer of 2020 Wilson has been a very reliable goal scorer for Newcastle, although he has never been one to stay fit for a prolonged period of time.

However, that appears to have been flipped on its head with Wilson now seemingly able to stay fit, he’s featured in the last seven games across all competitions but hasn’t found the back of the net since October.

In fact, club-record signing Alexander Isak who is yet to start a game since he returned from injury, has scored more goals than Wilson having netted the winner against Fulham at St James’ Park, whereas Wilson’s most recent display against Southampton saw him complete just one dribble.

The Latest: Wilson has to step up

While Eddie Howe has admitted he still has confidence in Wilson, the same can’t be said for Gibson who admitted he is worried about Wilson on the Everything is Black and White podcast.

He said: “I remain worried about Callum Wilson, I think Callum Wilson is not yet the Callum Wilson we have known all the time he’s been at St James’ Park.

“We’ve always prided the fact that in the past whenever Callum Wilson has been out injured he’s come back into the team and unbelievably hasn’t needed matches to get up to pace, he’s come back in the team and almost hit the ground running every time he’s come back in.

“This time, he looks strangely lethargic, it’s nothing to do with I think his mind like Saint-Maximin, Maxi is confused about whether he’s got a future here or whether his future is elsewhere, Callum Wilson is all here but he hasn’t got that pace he’s shown, he’s not running the channels, he’s not getting behind, the ball not sticking with him and he’s not got that clinical ice-cold finish.”

The Verdict: Howe will be praying for Wilson’s form to return

With Isak likely to miss out this weekend due to the fact the striker seemingly showed signs of concussion after taking a James Ward-Prowse free kick to the face on Tuesday, Wilson has to step up.

The England international will know that he’s now got real competition for the centre-forward spot in the form of a £60 million Sweden international who’s scored three goals in just five league appearances.

Howe will be doing everything he can to get Wilson back on form and playing with confidence having worked with him for a number of years at Bournemouth and now on Tyneside, so if anyone can get him ticking again, it will be the Toon boss.

Sunderland return to action in the Championship on Saturday as they host Reading at the Stadium of Light with the hope of bouncing back from their defeat to Fulham.

Tony Mowbray’s side were beaten 3-2 by the Premier League side in their FA Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday night in a thrilling match on Wearside.

The Black Cats put in a spirited display against Marco Silva’s men and came close to drawing level with the Cottagers in the final stages of the game after Jewison Bennette pulled one goal back in stoppage time.

Sunderland now come up against 16th-placed Reading and could move into the play-off spots with a win as they currently sit two points off the top six in the table.

Will Joe Gelhardt start against Reading?

One change Mowbray must make to his side from the defeat to Fulham is bringing in on-loan Leeds United centre-forward Joe Gelhardt from the start.

The 20-year-old, who arrived at the Stadium of Light during the January transfer window, was ineligible to play on Wednesday after playing for his parent club in an earlier round last month.

He is the only natural striker available for Sunderland, after Ross Stewart’s injury and Ellis Simms’ departure, and has the potential to be a match-winner for the Black Cats.

Amad Diallo (seven) is the only midfielder with more than four strikes in the Championship this season and this suggests that Mowbray is not blessed with a plethora of regular goalscoring outlets.

Gerhardt, however, could be the main man for goals for Sunderland if the gem can hit his stride in a red and white shirt as his form Leeds at youth level shows that there is a huge attacking threat to be unearthed.

These statistics show that the 5 foot 9 gem, who was once hailed as “absolutely outrageous” by Leeds reporter Beren Cross, was a consistent, reliable, goalscorer for the Whites at U21 level. 

The young centre-forward has also shown glimpses of his quality at Premier League level as the gem has scored two goals and provided six assists in six starts – playing 35 times in total.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp once lauded the gem as “exciting” and a “human wrecking ball” for his impact in a top-flight match for Leeds and this suggests, along with his contributions in attack, that Gelhardt has the ability to make an impact at the top level.

Therefore, in theory, the 20-year-old should be able to thrive at a lower level if presented with the chances he needs from his teammates to find the back of the net, which is why Mowbray must unleash him from the start.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was ‘furious’ with Fred during the 2-2 draw against Leeds United on Wednesday night, according to reporter Simon Stone.

The Lowdown: Winning run comes to an end

The Red Devils won 13 fixtures in succession at Old Trafford heading into the clash against the Whites but had to dig deep just to earn a point. The visitors found themselves two goals up in the second half before Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho struck to earn the home side a draw.

The two sides meet once again on Sunday afternoon, and it looks as if one United player may be doubting his place in the team following Ten Hag’s antics.

The Latest: Ten Hag furious with Fred

BBC reporter Stone was at Old Trafford for the game and provided live updates on Twitter.

He said during the second half that Ten Hag was ‘furious’ with Fred at one point and threw his chewing gum to the ground in anger.

The Verdict: Night to forget for Fred…

Fred had a night to forget against Leeds and was outperformed by midfield partners Marcel Sabitzer and Bruno Fernandes, as per SofaScore.

The Brazilian lost possession a whopping 27 times, committed three fouls and was dribbled past on two occasions. He ended up with a match rating of 6.9/10, but with Casemiro still suspended and Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay out through injury, Fred could retain his place in the team on Sunday purely down to a lack of senior available options.