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Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce when they host Newcastle United in the Premier League as the race for the top four hots up.

The Lilywhites could not only go three points clear of Manchester United, who are sat in sixth, after their slip-up against Leicester City on Saturday night but they would also put the pressure on their fourth-placed arch-rivals, Arsenal, before their clash with Crystal Palace on Monday night.

However, the Magpies will be no easy task as Eddie Howe has transformed their fortunes at St James’ Park since taking the helm – three wins in their last five outings have seen them move clear of the relegation zone.

Antonio Conte is facing a few injury problems heading into kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, so it will be interesting to see what sort of side he can name this afternoon.

Here’s the XI we’re predicting…

There could be just one change from the side that defeated West Ham 3-1 before the international break.

Sergio Reguilon is doubtful for this encounter, and with Ryan Sessegnon currently absent through injury, it leaves the Italian head coach light on options at left wing-back.

Without the pair, it hands him only two options.

He can either revert to a back four with Ben Davies returning to his natural left-back role, or he could switch Matt Doherty to the other flank and reintroduce Emerson Royal on the right.

It’s the latter that seems more plausible, so the £26m Brazilian defender returns to the team, playing alongside the Irishman, Davies, Eric Dier and Cristian Romero, in front of skipper Hugo Lloris.

Emerson, 23, has not been in the best of form since arriving from Barcelona in the summer, with his performances being described as “terrible” and “horrendous” on occasions.

The midfield remains unaltered, with Oliver Skipp also still missing, so Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur continue in tandem.

Further forward, the electric trio of Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevksi and England talisman Harry Kane will look to continue their fine form together, even despite the big dilemma surrounding Steven Bergwijn.

It’s hard to ignore the Dutchman’s form for his national side this week, scoring three times, twice in the win over Hojbjerg’s Denmark and once in the draw with Germany.

But given the form of the aforementioned unit, Bergwijn may still have to wait for a chance to impress domestically.

AND in other news, Conte handed big injury boost ahead of Newcastle clash…

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper must do all he can to keep on-loan ace Keinan Davis at the club for next season.

What’s the story?

The centre-forward has excelled on-loan from Aston Villa at Nottingham Forest since his move in January and journalist Ashley Preece has said his “Villa future is done” and that it’s likely he will move permanently in the summer.

This gives Forest and Steve Cooper every chance at signing the 24-year old but they’ll have to move quickly with other clubs in the Championship likely to be interested.

As for a fee, according to Preece, Villa will be looking for something in the region of £5m – £10m.

He’s been compared to Collymore

Although he’s not been at the club for a long time the striker has already been compared by broadcaster Darren Fletcher to Forest legend Stan Collymore.

When being asked to describe Davis’ time so far at the City Ground he picked out his goal against Barnsley and said the way he drove forward and finished so well had “a touch of Collymore” about it.

Despite only spending two seasons at the club Collymore is still regarded as a hero by many. He was vital to their promotion to the Premier League in 1994 and in his last season he scored 23 league goals firing Forest to third in the top flight.

Davis will be hoping he can be the one to fire Forest to the Premier League in a similar way to how Collymore did, and with Cooper’s men still pushing to secure a play-off place, his goals might make the difference.

Since January, Davis has made 14 appearances for Forest and contributed to seven goals in that time which has impressed many, including journalist Daniel Storey who labelled him “sensational”. Though, it doesn’t seem enough for Villa manager Steven Gerrard to want to keep hold of him.

Cooper will be in need of a new striker for next season with Lewis Grabban out of contract this summer. Davis has proved that he can be a reliable goalscorer in the Championship, and if Forest go up he’s proved he deserves a chance to lead the line for them in the Premier League.

Ultimately, whatever happens, the £25k-per-week earner won’t be short of suitors and Forest have to make sure he doesn’t go to one of their rivals or he could come back to haunt them.

IN other news: Nottingham Forest reignite interest in Blackpool winger Josh Bowler…

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Rafael Benitez has suggested he could quit Newcastle United over the club’s lack of investment, according to his Manchester City pre-match press conference quotes, as reported by Sky Sports.

The Magpies have yet to make a new signing this month, despite sitting just one place above the relegation zone.

What’s the word?

Newcastle have attempted moves for a number of players this month, but none have yet come off.

The club were in talks to sign Jordan Lukaku on loan from Lazio but, per BBC, the deal fell through.

Chronicle Live report that a bid was tabled for Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron, too, but that the club refused to increase the offer after receiving little encouragement from the American club.

And the Spaniard’s frustrations at the way the club have been operating appear to have boiled over.

Sky Sports report that, when asked if he could guarantee that he would stay at the club until the end of the season, Benitez said: “No, I cannot guarantee anything. I guarantee I will be focused and try to do my best every minute.

Check out the video below for Emma Conybeare’s rundown of which clubs need what in the January transfer window…

“We will wait until Thursday (transfer deadline day) and see what happens.

“Hopefully we can get three points against Manchester City and then everybody will be happy.

“I came here and I decided to stay in the Championship because I can see the potential of the club. I will try to do my best until the last minute.”

Coming home to roost

You reap what you sow.

Chairman Mike Ashley has continually failed to invest in the football club he owns, and he is yet to break the club-record £17million fee (per BBC) the club paid for Michael Owen in 2005 prior to his arrival.

To put that into perspective, Owen is now a pundit and retired in 2013, six years ago.

And here we are. Benitez stuck with the club through relegation, brought them back into the Premier League and steered them to a 10th-placed finish last season.

Now, he is being hamstrung by a lack of investment from the club’s owner, and the Magpies are just two points clear of Cardiff City as the very real spectre of the drop looms once again.

Few fans would blame the Spaniard, one of the best managers in world football, if he did walk away – Ashley will be the man at fault and he will have serious questions to answer.

Leeds United could potentially sign Barcelona centre-back Oscar Mingueza on loan this summer as part of a deal which could see Raphinha go the other way.

The Lowdown: Raphinha linked with Barca move

The future of the Elland Road winger is a major talking point at the moment, with the 25-year-old continually linked with a move away. Barcelona appear to be the current front-runners to snap up the Brazilian during the summer transfer window, should he decide to move on to pastures new.

It now looks as though one player could head in the opposite direction if the transfer materialises.

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The Latest: Mingueza on loan?

According to Diario Sport, Mingueza could be used as a bargaining tool by Barcelona, allowing Leeds to sign him on loan if Raphinha heads to Camp Nou.

The 22-year-old defender has made eight La Liga starts so far this season but has struggled to oust the likes of Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia as a regular starter.

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The Verdict: Good part of a potential deal

The hope is that Raphinha ends up remaining at Leeds beyond this summer, but if he does go to Barcelona, bringing in Mingueza could at least soften the blow a little for the Elland Road club.

The centre-back has one cap to his name for Spain, which highlights his pedigree; and with his current deal expiring in 2023, the Whites could even sign him permanently next summer if he impresses on loan.

Leeds have been worryingly leaky at the back throughout the season, conceding 67 goals in 30 Premier League games, more than any other top-flight team, and Mingueza could come in as a dependable option to bolster Jesse Marsch’s defensive ranks, with the current crop proving all too easy to breach.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has provided a key Leeds transfer update. Read more here.

Eddie Howe has been handed a fresh Newcastle United injury lift over one of his first-team stars…

What’s the latest?

Callum Wilson has revealed that his season is far from over as he is hoping to be back out on the pitch for the Magpies before the end of the month.

He has been out of action since suffering a knock against Manchester United in December and is now seemingly closing in on his return to action.

The Daily Mail quote him as saying: “I aim to be back by the end of April or the beginning of May.”

SJP faithful will be delighted

This update from the striker will surely delight the fans as it means that they will be able to see him play for the club again in the coming weeks.

They would have to wait until July/August to see him in the flesh if he was ruled out for the rest of the current campaign and that would mean a seven/eight-month gap between his last game for the side and his next.

Instead, they will, hopefully, be able to watch him in the final few matches of the current campaign. Newcastle are currently 12 points clear of the bottom three and can head into the rest of their games without the pressure of a relegation battle, which means that it could be the perfect time to bring Wilson back into the fold.

They can now afford to give minutes to the forward as he recovers from injury and gets back up to speed as they are not in a desperate position where they need to be at their very best in every match to scramble themselves out of the bottom three. Howe can, therefore, experiment with his side in the coming weeks to find out more about his squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

For example, he could play Wilson up front alongside Chris Wood to see what their link-up is like. It will be interesting to see how they complement each other on the pitch, with the latter’s strong hold-up play potentially allowing the former to feed off flick-ons.

Wood has won a whopping 7.8 aerial battles per match and this shows that he has the ability in the air to provide a focal point at the top end of the pitch.

Meanwhile, Wilson has scored six goals in 14 Premier League starts and is the club’s top scorer, with the New Zealand international’s presence alongside him allowing him to focus more on getting into the box to finish off chances. His lethal nature in front of goal is why his return this season is a big boost that the fans will be buzzing with.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Dubravka: Newcastle’s £72k-p/w passenger went missing in LCFC win…

Many Sunderland fans have been left buzzing over some transfer news that has emerged on Jermain Defoe.

As per The Chronicle journalist James Hunter, Lee Johnson has ‘not ruled out’ a move for the striker in the January transfer window.

They are ‘aware’ of his situation, after Defoe departed Glasgow Rangers earlier this week, but ‘a million and one things’ would have to happen for a move to go through.

Nonetheless, what an exciting deal it would be. Yes, Defoe is 39 years of age now, but Black Cats have fond memories of him during his previous spell at the Stadium of Light, especially the memorable goal that he scored against rivals Newcastle United in the Premier League back in 2015 to give them a 1-0 win.

Defoe scored a total of 37 times in 93 games in all competitions over three seasons (Transfermarkt), and so bringing back as a squad option would be a dream.

Sunderland fans on Defoe transfer news

These SAFC supporters buzzed as the transfer news was shared on Twitter:

“So there’s a chance”

Credit: @kieranwiIson

“Don’t tease me”

Credit: @flaptingss

“So we’re trying, omds”

Credit: @SunlunnWill

“Bring him home”

Credit: @danstewart1234

“Please @LeeJohnsonCoach I’m on my knees”

Credit: @conorsafc_

“Offer him £1,000,001 a week”

Credit: @WearsideRoar

In other news, find out what other transfer update has Black Cats fuming here!

Celtic have reportedly had a bid rejected for Caen striker Alexandre Mendy, according to a reputable French outlet L’Equipe. 

The lowdown: Career so far

The 28-year-old has spent his entire career in France so far, becoming somewhat of an eternal loanee, racking up 54 senior goals in 207 appearances across numerous spells out on loan as well as permanent stints at Bordeaux, Nice and Guingamp.

Mendy arrived at his current club Caen from Bordeaux in 2020 on a free transfer and has since shone for the Normandy based Ligue 2 outfit.

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Now the Guinea-Bissau international could be set to leave for domestic action elsewhere for the first time…

The latest: Bid made

As per reputable French source L’Equipe, Celtic have seen an initial offer of €3million (£1.5million) rejected by Caen.

The report claims that a number of other clubs are vying for the seven-cap ace’s signature but it’s the Hoops who have made the first move ahead of the summer transfer window.

It’s stated that the side currently sitting eighth in the French second tier would negotiate ‘in the event of a higher offer’ for their talismanic frontman, who was hailed as ‘very strong’ by former Bordeaux manager Jocelynn Gourvennec.

The verdict: Ange not messing around

This season, Mendy, who can also operate as an attacking midfielder and out wide, has scored 16 times and provided one assist in 30 Ligue 2 outings, all while earning an impressive 7.04 average rating and winning an outstanding 4.7 aerial duels on average per game (Sofascore). To put that in perspective, that’s more goals and headers won than Giorgos Giakoumakis.

However, unproven outside of the lower reaches of French football and already 28, upping the current offer would enter the realm of taking a risk with a portion of Ange Postecoglou’s summer budget.

Whilst the Bhoys must find suitable recognised centre-forward backup for Giakoumakis and Kyogo Furuhashi, the Greek-Australian boss has already proven to be a shrewd operator in the transfer market, so upping the bid on a player with plenty of unknowns could be a questionable decision.

Either way, to see the boss and club chiefs acting so decisively with summer targets is a positive, giving supporters hope that whatever the result of these talks, plans for the transfer window are already in action.

In other news, Frank McAvennie is in awe of one Celtic player’s development. Find out who it is here.

Speaking to Give Me Sport, journalist Sami Mokbel of The Daily Mail has made a Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie as the Lilywhites also reportedly close in on Adama Traore.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move…

The Ivory Coast international has been a transfer target for Spurs since the beginning of the January transfer window with reports suggesting manager Antonio Conte is ready to make a move.

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Indeed, according to ESPN, Tottenham transfer chief Fabio Paratici was weighing a lucrative offer to sign Kessie earlier this month with The Telegraph since claiming that they are in fact weighing a move.

Conte is apparently a ‘huge fan’ of the San Siro ace with Mokbel sharing what he knows on the situation.

The Latest: Mokbel makes claim…

The Lilywhites are expected to come to an agreement with Wolves for Traore, say The Athletic, and speaking to GMS, the Mail reporter says that a deal to sign Kessie is also ‘doable’ before the January 31 deadline.

“I think that is certainly a deal that could be doable and I think that could be doable sooner rather than later,” he explained.

“I’m talking this window, if both clubs can come to an agreement.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Signing a midfielder is reportedly one of Conte’s four transfer priorities at Spurs and we believe they don’t come more accomplished than Kessie.

The 52-cap star, despite a being a natural defensive midfield player, has been utilised in a more advanced role at Milan under Stefano Pioli and has thrived – scoring 19 goals since the beginning of 2020/2021 and adding to his career total of 46 (Transfermarkt).

He’s even called ‘sumptuous’ by his manager, and if Tottenham could either land him on a free deal in the summer or this month for a cheaper fee, we believe he could provide a real injection of threat in Conte’s midfield alongside Traore.

In other news: Spurs ‘edging closer’ to signing ‘massive’ £15m defender, find out more here.

Some Everton fans have been left fuming over some manager news involving Frank Lampard.

Writing earlier in the week for The Times, which has since been shared by The Toffee Blues on their Twitter page, journalist Paul Joyce has revealed that the Goodison Park faithful have now started talks with Lampard over potentially becoming their next permanent manager, following the temporary appointment of Duncan Ferguson.

Lampard has been out of work since January last year, after leaving Chelsea in ninth spot despite big spending the previous summer.

It is telling that Thomas Tuchel came in and straight away won the UEFA Champions League with the same group of players.

Nonetheless, the ex-Derby County boss is still relatively inexperienced as a manager, and so the Toffees job may be too big for him at this moment in time.

Everton manager news on Lampard

These supporters of the Merseyside club were left fuming as the manager news on Lampard was shared on Twitter:

“Disaster”

Credit: @mikjaal

“Don’t want Lampard”

Credit: @suejw2506

“No no no BIG DUNC end of discussion”

Credit: @2Virgil

“Swerve Lampard for me”

Credit: @helsby1

“Noooooo”

Credit: @Ashkingman

“Is Moshiri completely losing it? Wouldn’t have him take part in any managerial moves considering his awful record so far!!”

Credit: @chazzylad

In other news, find out what off-field update has Blues gushing here!

Liverpool, and by extension transfer chief Julian Ward, are interested in signing highly-rated Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni this summer, according to journalist Santi Aouna.

The Lowdown: Tchouameni excels for Monano

The 22-year-old has emerged as arguably one of Europe’s most exciting midfielders, having impressed hugely for Monaco this season.

Tchouameni has made 32 Ligue 1 appearances so far in 2021/22, averaging 2.5 tackles and 2.8 interceptions per game (Whoscored) and even being hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by Paul Pogba and ‘incredible’ by Paul Robinson, who said he’d be a ‘good fit’ for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.

The Frenchman has been linked with a move to the Reds in the recent past and another exciting transfer claim has now emerged.

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The Latest: Journalist shares Reds contact

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, Foot Mercato journalist Aouna confirmed Liverpool’s interest in signing Tchouameni in the summer.

“Contacts have already been initiated between the parties,” he said, claiming the player himself is “interested” in a move to England.

The Verdict: ‘Good fit’ indeed

Midfield is an area of the pitch that Klopp should be looking to strengthen this summer, with a freshness required, in terms of age.

Tchouameni could be the perfect acquisition by Ward, in that respect, coming as a hugely exciting option, such is the quality of his all-round game.

The France international is a colossal figure off the ball, as mentioned with his defensive statistics, but he is also strong technically, enjoying an 87.2% pass completion rate in the league this season. He looks tailor-made to thrive in the Premier League, given its physical, technical style.

Tchouameni’s long-term potential is great and he is someone who could be seen as a long-term replacement for the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, but also be a key figure immediately.

In other news, a key Liverpool update has emerged regarding a superstar player. Read more here.