Newcastle United fans will hope the New Year brings about a positive change in form at St James’ Park.

While the Premier League giants did bow out from 2025 with a 3-1 win over Scott Parker’s relegation-doomed Burnley, it was far from a picture-perfect end to the year for Eddie Howe’s men, with a 1-0 defeat in the Tyne-Wear Derby in December still stinging, alongside a disappointing loss by the same scoreline against Manchester United on Boxing Day also knocking morale.

Howe has already noted that January will be “season-defining” for his troops, as the fixture schedule continues to be overloaded with tough match-ups.

He will, of course, want the Saudi PIF to dip their toes into the chaotic transfer market, too, to help his team have a positive start to 2026, with plenty of moves reported to be in the works…

Newcastle prepare approach for Ligue 1 star

The window has only been open for a matter of days, but the rumour mill at St James’ Park has thrown out a wide variety of rumours.

Indeed, Kees Smit continues to be linked with a switch to Tyneside away from AZ Alkmaar – as Real Madrid even begin to show an interest in the Dutch midfielder – with Manchester City youngster Oscar Bobb also allegedly on Howe and Co.’s radar as they aim to bring in reinforcements all over the pitch.

Newcastle are also eyeing up incomings in defence, with Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope revealing that an approach is anticipated this month from the Premier League strugglers, involving a move for Toulouse left-back Dayann Methalie.

Hope states that the 19-year-old is well-liked by those on Tyneside, with his comfortable approach on the ball, and his ability to play as a left-sided centre-back if needed, making this a very attractive deal to try and get over the line.

With cover in the defensive areas also perhaps needed, with Lewis Hall’s troubling injury record on the left, this could be a very smart move to progress further with, as Methalie potentially goes down as another Malick Thiaw-style masterstroke for PIF this month.

Why Methalie can be Thiaw 2.0

Thiaw would enter the building in the summer as an intriguing pick-up from AC Milan, having collected an encouraging seven clean sheets last season from 19 Serie A starts.

The feeling in the air would have been one of expecting the German to take time to acclimatise to his new surroundings, but he has turned into a Premier League warrior effortlessly, with 19-goal menace Erling Haaland even feeling his wrath this season, when the number 12 bravely put an end to one of the Nordic attacker’s darts forward back in November when Newcastle won 2-1.

Averaging 4.9 duels won per league game, on top of registering a 90% pass accuracy, Thiaw looks as if he’s been playing at the peak of his powers in the Premier League for some time, as opposed to just half a season, with the 6-foot-4 titan even lauded as the “future of the club” by Toon captain Bruno Guimaraes.

At just 24 years of age, Thiaw will have aspirations in mind that he can go on to be a mainstay in the Magpies’ defence for the foreseeable future, with Methalie possibly linking up with the Dusseldorf-born defender, another buy with the future firmly in mind, considering the Frenchman will only hit 20 years of age himself in February.

Methalie’s Ligue 1 stats (25/26)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Methalie

Games played

16

Games started

14

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches*

36.4

Accurate passes*

12.7 (77%)

Big chances created

1

Tackles*

2.1

Ball recoveries*

3.5

Total duels won*

4.1

Stats by Sofascore

Much like Thiaw, though, the homegrown Toulouse talent is playing with a maturity beyond his years in Ligue 1, as seen in him averaging 4.1 duels won per top-flight contest this season, during what is his first breakout campaign in the senior set-up.

Subscribe to the newsletter for Newcastle transfer insight Want deeper transfer analysis? Subscribe to the newsletter to get focused Newcastle transfer breakdowns, scout profiles and wider transfer-market context – a single place for informed coverage and tactical perspective.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

With two goals also under his belt for the France U21s, it’s clear that the Les Violets’ number 24 has a bright future in the game, with journalist Alfred Frank going as far as to state that Methalie is the “complete player”, while also hailing him as “one of the best left-backs in Ligue 1”.

This possible move really does have all the ingredients to be another sensational Thiaw capture, with Newcastle never looking back after gambling on the promising 24-year-old to come good on English shores.

With European giants such as Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus previously noted as being keen, the Toon could well have to fend off some fierce competition to land Methalie’s services, as the drama of the January transfer window returns in full swing.

Related Not just Gordon: Howe must bin Newcastle star who "doesn't look interested"

Eddie Howe must now consider axing this Newcastle United stalwart, who is regressing like Anthony Gordon.

Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson

Crystal Palace had a rather busy previous summer transfer window, not only seeing numerous players come in and out of the south London club but also with Roy Hodgson ending his spell in charge and being replaced by Patrick Vieira.

With 26 Premier League games played, the Eagles have managed to rack up a mixed bag of results with six games won, 11 drawn and nine lost, putting them in 11th place in the league table with 29 points on the board.

Despite their spotty run of results, one player that has been consistently impressive for Vieira’s side this season is midfielder Conor Gallagher.

Since making the move to Selhurst Park on a loan deal from fellow Premier League side Chelsea, the 21-year-old has played more minutes than any other Palace midfielder or attacker, showing how highly rated he is by the Eagles boss.

In his 22 league appearances, the youngster has also shown what an asset he can be in front of goal by scoring a hugely impressive eight goals and providing three assists along the way, which is more goal contributions than Wilfried Zaha has managed to produce.

The Englishman, who has been described as a “star” by Noel Whelan, has also shown how useful he can be from a defensive point of view in midfield by racking up 54 tackles, 17 clearances and 18 interceptions.

In terms of his overall performances, WhoScored have him listed as Palace’s highest-rated player with an overall rating of 7.31/10, which interestingly also makes him the eighth-highest rated player in the entire Premier League this term behind the likes of Mohamed Salah, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.

Having been tipped to be an “important player” for the Eagles by Vieira at the start of the season, Gallagher has certainly lived up to that title with his impressive performances on the pitch in 2021/22.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that Steve Parish pulled an absolute blinder in getting the Chelsea youngster to Selhurst Park for this campaign and would surely have the fans erupting if he then manages to secure the player on a permanent transfer once his loan deal ends at the climax of the campaign.

In other news: Forget Mateta: CPFC’s “silent assassin” with 75% duels won stole the show vs Watford – opinion

football.london’s Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold has revealed that the club want at least four new signings over the summer.  

The Lowdown: Late January business

Spurs left it late when it came to transfer activity in January, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski arriving from Juventus.

There were also multiple outgoings in the final days of the transfer window, with Bryan Gil, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso leaving on loan and Dele Alli joining Everton on a permanent deal.

Those incomings and outgoings haven’t exactly revived the club’s fortunes in the second half of the season, though, with Antonio Conte’s side suffering surprise defeats to Burnley and Middlesbrough in recent weeks.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-copy/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Gold’s transfer claim

Gold ran a Q&A on football.london on Saturday, with one fan asking for information regarding the club’s summer plans.

This is what he had to say in reply, revealing that Spurs chiefs want a striker, right-wing back, centre-back and a creative player:

“There’s been a lot of talk about Tottenham having to spend this summer in order to convince both Conte and Kane of their ambition, while Fabio Paratici also likes a free transfer. I think Spurs will be pretty busy this summer. They need to be. In terms of positions, at this point they want a new striker, a right wing-back, a left-sided centre-back and another creative player. Anyone who leaves will have to be replaced as well. Like I say, it has to be a busy one.”

The Verdict: Crucial few months for Spurs

You’d expect that Tottenham would be able to attract a better calibre of player in the summer if they finish in the top four, making the next few months vital with regards to the club’s long-term project under Conte.

The Italian and Harry Kane may also be more inclined to stay in north London with Champions League football guaranteed next season, with Gold also admitting that possible stadium naming rights may give a boost to the transfer kitty over the summer.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

However, if Spurs fail to finish in the top four, it could be difficult for them to bolster the four areas that Gold mentioned with top quality.

In other news: Spurs and Conte gifted another injury boost before Everton clash as ‘team player’ now declared fit

Crystal Palace have ‘watched’ Aston Villa’s Morgan Sanson ahead of the summer transfer window, according to French outlet Jeunes Footeux (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Villa paid £14.2million to sign Sanson from Olympique Marseille in January 2021, but it hasn’t really worked out for him in The Midlands.

Sanson has only started two Premier League games this season, playing just 242 top-flight minutes in total, and has suffered a string of injuries.

Now valued at £12.6million by Transfermarkt, he’s under contract for another three and a half years.

Patrick Vieira did add two central midfielders to his ranks last summer in the form of Will Hughes and Conor Gallagher, but he knows the latter is due to return to Chelsea at the end of his loan.

The latest

‘It would not be surprising,’ the report states, if Sanson left Villa Park come the summer.

They claim he’s failed to win over manager Steven Gerrard since his appointment in the autumn, and so the 41-year-old could sanction his departure.

Palace are among the clubs ‘alerted’ to his situation, along with French sides Lille and Rennes.

Significantly, the Ligue 1 teams would prefer to do a loan deal rather than buy Sanson outright.

The verdict

Sanson has earned plaudits when he’s actually featured, with team-mate Emiliano Martinez dubbing him ‘outstanding’ and ex-Villan Jack Grealish describing him as ‘class’.

He’s someone who can provide goal and assists from midfield, like Gallagher, as evidenced by his tally of 47 goal contributions in 157 appearances for Marseille.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

But ability counts for little without availability, and Palace need to be wary here. There’s a reason Villa are reportedly willing to cut their losses.

The Eagles should avoid a move if they have any doubts about Sanson’s capacity to overcome his fitness troubles.

In other news, Palace have also been linked with a second-tier star.

Gio van Bronckhorst’s Rangers sealed their place in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup on Sunday as they won 3-0 away from Ibrox.

Connor Goldson was the quickest to react after Filip Helander’s effort crashed back off the crossbar and put the Gers 1-0 up – his third goal of the campaign in all competitions.

They were then given the perfect chance to double their lead as James Tavernier was brought down in the box after linking up with Aaron Ramsey. The former dusted himself off to tuck the spot-kick away and make it 2-0 to Rangers heading into the second half.

Academy product Alex Lowry, who scored against Stirling Albion in a previous round of the competition, burst away on the break and teed up Fashion Sakala to round out the scoring as the Zambian found the bottom corner to put the clash with Dundee FC to bed.

Although Tavernier got himself on the scoresheet for the 12th time this season and won the penalty himself, another player stole the show from the Gers skipper – Ramsey.

The midfielder caught the eye throughout the game as he impressed in a routine victory for the club. He was given an opportunity to show that he is not at Rangers just to collect a wage before heading back to Turin and he did exactly that by helping them to secure their place in the last four of the competition.

He played a pivotal role in the second goal as his clever play with Tavernier led to the full-back being blocked off, with the Wales international showing off his sharpness to build up the play.

Ramsey, who was praised for his “surging” play in the first half, was hailed by former Scotland captain Colin Hendry as the former professional said: “Aaron Ramsey’s been efficient. He’s hardly given the ball away.”

Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie was also quick to praise the Juventus loanee, Tweeting: “Aaron Ramsey has been really impressive also, taking the ball in with ease and making neat combinations. Fingers crossed he can get a run in the team because his quality is evident.”

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell Tweeted his appreciation of Ramsey’s performance: “2-0 Rangers! Tavernier converts from the spot after he was brought down in the box. Nice play between him and Ramsey, who looks a lot sharper. It was today to get him going and make a strong start given recent cup struggles. Good display so far.”

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

These comments illustrate how influential he was throughout the game, with his calm presence on the ball often allowing his teammates to make runs around him to open up space and drag Dundee players out of position – the penalty incident highlighting this particularly well.

Hopefully, Ramsey will now be able to kick on and enjoy a succession of starts in the Europa League and Premiership to help Rangers win some silverware this season.

AND in other news, Cost £2.2m, now worth 145% more: Rangers struck gold on “consistent” £18k-p/w dynamo…

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s reported transfer interest in Memphis Depay.

What’s the talk?

Speaking on the Here We Go podcast (via This is Futbol), the transfer insider claimed that, despite recent reports suggesting that Spurs had made an early move for the Barcelona centre-forward ahead of a potential move in the summer transfer window, the Premier League side have in fact not submitted an offer for the 28-year-old, nor are the club in discussions with Barca concerning a deal for the Netherlands international.

Regarding Spurs’ reported interest in Depay, Romano said: “From what I’m told, Tottenham are not negotiating for Depay. And on Tottenham’s side, I’m told they made no bid for Memphis Depay. So let’s see what happens with Barcelona if they will be open to let him go, but, as of now, Tottenham are not working to sign Depay.”

Supporters will be devastated

Considering just how impressive Depay has been for Barcelona since his move to Camp Nou last summer, the news that Tottenham are not believed to be in discussions regarding a summer deal for the forward is sure to have left the club’s fanbase devastated.

Indeed, over his 19 LaLiga appearances so far this season, the £42m-rated hitman has been in electric form for the Catalan giants, scoring 10 goals, registering two assists and creating five big chances for his team-mates, also taking 2.5 shots and making 1.9 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the £158k-per-week striker – who can also operate on the left-wing or just behind a centre-forward – average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.36, ranking him as the sixth-best player in the top flight of Spanish football.

However, it has not only been domestically that Depay has impressed, with the former Lyon marksman also averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.13 over his six Champions League outings this term, and a 7.15 rating over his two Europa League games.

Furthermore, FBRef also rank the 28-year-old in the top 2% of all forwards in Europe’s big five leagues for passes attempted per 90 minutes, in addition to the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 5% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful dribbles.

As such, considering his positional versatility, clear eye for goal and incredibly progressive mindset on the football pitch, it would be a difficult argument to make that Depay would not make a fantastic addition to Antonio Conte’s current attacking arsenal in his Tottenham side.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

However, following Romano’s latest update, it would appear as if a move for the Dutchman is not as close as many are suggesting – something which is sure to disappoint many of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful.

AND in other news: Alasdair Gold drops behind the scenes Spurs update which will have supporters buzzing

According to The Times, Aston Villa are leading the race for Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips, with the club willing to pay as much as £60m for the England international, despite having missed most of this season.

Manager Steven Gerrard is on the lookout for players to improve his midfield options, with Douglas Luiz potentially on his way out the exit door this summer, alongside £14m flop Morgan Sanson.

Phillips is not the only midfielder that has been shortlisted by the Midlands club, with Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma also being linked, but it appears that the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ is Gerrard’s top choice.

The transfer would shatter Villa’s record for most amount of money spent on a single player, but would the transfer fee be worth it for a club without European football to look forward to next season? Our writers give their verdicts below….

George McGibbon

“It is difficult to understate how good Kalvin Phillips is at the job he does. Indeed, following Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League in 2020, the 26-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the most effective players in world football, with FBREF ranking the £36m-rated regista in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for pressures per 90, as well as the top 3% for blocks, the top 16% for tackles and the top 18% for interceptions.

“As such, it is not difficult to see why the Andrea Pirlo-esque talent has caught the eye of Steven Gerrard, as not only would Phillips be a major upgrade on Marvelous Nakamba, he could also prove to be the final piece of the puzzle in Aston Villa’s three-man midfield alongside John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey – something which, in my opinion, would be more than worth the £60m fee required to prise the England international away from Elland Road.”

Vijievan Jeevathayalan

“One of Gareth Southgate’s England heroes from last summer’s EUROs, Kalvin Phillips has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last few years. From plying his trade in the Championship, to becoming a bona-fide international star, the midfielder is everything that Gerrard needs. Combative in the tackle – he ranks sixth among his Leeds teammates this season – and composed on the ball – he averages the third-most passes for his side – Phillips would be a huge upgrade on Douglas Luiz.

“The Brazilian of course has been linked with a move away from Villa Park in recent summers, with the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal mentioned as potential suitors. If Villa are to take that next step forward, then signing players who are better than what they have is crucial. In the Premier League this year, Phillips boasts far more tackles, interceptions, passes and shots per game than his Villa counterpart, and would represent a real statement signing from NSWE.”

Daniel Emery

“Kalvin Phillips would be a phenomenal signing for Aston Villa. He would be a major upgrade on Douglas Luiz in the middle of the park as he has the quality to be Steven Gerrard’s defensive linchpin next season.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“The Leeds man ranks in the top 18 percentile or higher for pressures, tackles, interceptions and blocks in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days (per FB Ref) whilst Luiz ranks lower than the 45th percentile in tackles and blocks and is below Phillips in all of those statistics.

“Phillips is able to offer defensive protection at the base of the midfield. This would provide the perfect platform for the likes of Emi Buendia and Jacob Ramsey to work their magic in the final third as he is able to screen the back four and cut out any fires – subsequently starting attacks for others to finish off.”

In other news: Gerrard must boldly axe “outstanding” £52k-p/w AVFC gem, he could leave for nothing

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has broken an ‘update’ on Leeds United’s quest to sign RB Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson this summer.

The Lowdown: Aaronson a primary target

Few players have been more regularly linked with a move to Elland Road in recent months than Aaronson, who was tipped to head there during the January transfer window.

Instead, the 21-year-old ended up remaining at Salzburg for the time being, where he has started all eight of his side’s Champions League games this season.

It seems almost inevitable that Leeds will return for Aaronson this summer after making two bids and considering a third under Marcelo Bielsa, and a fresh update has emerged in that respect.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Leeds ‘favourites’ to sign midfielder

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Sky Sports Germany’s Plettenberg claimed that the Whites are the front-runners to snap up the American:

“Update Aaronson: He still wants to leave Salzburg in summer. Negotiations with Leeds are still ongoing. RB rejected offers from LUFC in winter. But they still want him! It is said that Leeds is the favourite. Price tag: €25-30m. No release clause. Big talent!”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-40/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Everything makes sense

There really are only positives when it comes to Leeds signing Aaronson this summer, with so many things working in his favour.

He has played under Jesse Marsch in the past, taking out the risk element of a manager signing someone he doesn’t know, while his style of play fits perfectly into what the Whites’ boss is looking for.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Fully of energy and quality, Aaronson has averaged 1.8 tackles per game in the Champions League this season, showing that he is a hard-working player, and 1.6 key passes per match also prove that he can be a creative force in an attacking midfield role. Only Raphinha (2.1) has averaged more for Leeds in the Premier League in 2021/22.

In other news, Adam Pope has dropped a key Leeds injury claim ahead of the weekend. Read more here.

Jesse Marsch could be facing something of a transfer nightmare at Leeds United this summer as another one of his key attacking stars is attracting interest…

What’s the word?

According to the Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Tottenham Hotspur have an interest in signing Whites winger Jack Harrison when the transfer window reopens at the end of the current campaign after attempting to sign him in January.

The north London outfit submitted an enquiry for the 25-year-old two months ago but there was no intention to sell from Leeds’ side. They went onto sign Dejan Kulusevski on an initial loan deal from Juventus instead.

Spurs are said to retain their interest in Harrison heading into the summer transfer window as it’s believed sporting director Fabio Paratici was informed of the former Manchester City man by former Old Lady boss Andrea Pirlo, who played with the Englishman at New York City FC.

Marsch’s nightmare

With Raphinha increasingly likely to leave Elland Road this off-season amid interest from Barcelona, reports also linking Harrison with an exit are certainly cause for concern, and not just because it would leave the American head coach light on options.

The £13.5m-rated dynamo has played in every Premier League game since Marsch took over from Bielsa and has found some form, scoring two goals in his last two appearances, via Transfermarkt.

Both Marsch and Harrison were once on both sides of the New York rivalry in the MLS, with the 48-year-old taking charge of New York Red Bulls for two-and-a-half years and he knows all too well of the quality the 25-year-old can offer.

“We tried to find a way to draft him from university,” Marsch revealed (via LeedsLive). “I knew who he was. It’s nice to be on the same team now.

“I followed Leeds so I could see Jack. I’ve followed players from MLS and their adaptation. I could see Jack had taken a lot of new responsibility here. He was always the type of player after the game was always very respectable and would shake your hand.”

He then went on to add:

“He can run all day. He is explosive, he’s effective in 1-v-1s, he’s dangerous, he’s smart.”

Indeed, under the former RB Leipzig and Salzburg boss, Harrison has emerged as a key influence on the left flank, where he has also averaged 1.5 key passes and 1.4 dribbles per game, ranking second to only Raphinha in the current squad, via WhoScored.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Heading into the summer, it seems a forgone conclusion that the Brazil international will move on to new pastures, so it will be crucial that the Yorkshire giants do not lose another key player in attack.

Marsch will need Harrison heading into next season and interest from Spurs, who could well offer European football in 2022/23 is a worrying prospect and one that could keep him up at night, as a result.

AND in other news, Leeds star who made 68% passes was “all over the place” vs Southampton…

Ruben Amorim is looking to strengthen his squad in several key areas in 2026, and a “physical beast” has now emerged as a top target for Manchester United.

Amorim prepared to bide his time in the transfer market

With the January transfer window edging ever closer, Amorim has been speaking about his plans, and the manager stressed the importance of not rushing into any deals, saying: “What we cannot do is reach January and try to do everything with urgency and make mistakes again and be left saying ‘here we go again’. I am not going to go to Jason [Wilcox, director of football] and say we need a lot of players.”

The Red Devils’ recruitment since Sir Alex Ferguson retired has been much-maligned, but some of their summer transfer business has been successful, with Bryan Mbeumo making a flying start to life at Old Trafford, netting six goals in 16 Premier League games.

Matheus Cunha has also impressed at times, scoring against Aston Villa last time out, but United’s rebuild appears to be far from over, with a new central midfielder of particular interest, given that Casemiro’s contract is set to expire in the summer.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Man United also remain keen on signing a new left wing-back, alongside a centre-back, and several potential options have now been identified.

Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is one of the Red Devils’ top targets, with the defender’s composure in possession and physical presence potentially making him an ideal fit in Amorim’s system, while his Premier League experience is an added bonus.

Amorim has no interest in making any stop-gap signings, wanting to bring in new players capable of making a difference on a long-term basis, and Branthwaite could fit the bill, given that he is just 23-years-old.

Related Real Madrid could now make January bid for £52m Man Utd star who Amorim loves

The Red Devils could have a big decision to make in the January transfer window…

Posts ByDominic Lund "Beast" Branthwaite could be expensive signing for Man Utd

A deal for the Everton defender could be on the pricey side, with it being revealed the Toffees have set an asking price of £70m, but there are indications he could be a success at Old Trafford.

Scout Ben Mattinson described the Englishman as a two-footed “physical beast”, off the back of a loan spell at PSV Eindhoven, and the centre-back has since gone on to catch the eye in an Everton shirt.

Subscribe to our newsletter for deeper Man United transfer analysis Unlock detailed transfer and scouting coverage when you subscribe to the newsletter, with thorough breakdowns of Man United targets, positional fits and recruitment strategy to help fans follow the club’s rebuilding choices and signings. Subscribe Subscribe to our newsletter for deeper Man United transfer analysis Unlock detailed transfer and scouting coverage when you subscribe to the newsletter, with thorough breakdowns of Man United targets, positional fits and recruitment strategy to help fans follow the club’s rebuilding choices and signings.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Carlisle-born defender is yet to make an appearance this season, as a result of a hamstring injury, but Statman Dave was left very impressed by a display against Liverpool last season.

Branthwaite is now experienced in the Premier League, having made 75 appearances in the competition, but Man United may be better off waiting until the summer to potentially pursue a deal, as it remains to be seen how he recovers from a long injury lay-off.