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Tottenham Hotspur could dip their toes into the Championship before the January transfer window deadline on Monday night…

What’s the word?

According to HullLive, the north London outfit are preparing a ‘big-money’ bid for versatile Hull City attacker Keane Lewis-Potter, who has been subject to a bid from Brentford and interest from rivals West Ham United in the past.

It’s believed that any move from Spurs would see the 20-year-old gem loaned back to the Tigers for the remainder of the season, whilst manager Antonio Conte was one of a number of managers to have sent scouts to watch him in recent games.

Hull City are expected to hold out for at least £14m and their new Turkish owner Acun Ilicali isn’t keen to sell, especially as his value will only increase with time.

Shades of Eden Hazard

Whilst this potential signing isn’t going to provide Conte with an instant addition or the fans much excitement this month, it would be a very wise long-term investment.

The 5 foot 7 winger has been in solid form for the Championship strugglers, leading the way for goals scored (five) and he isn’t too far behind in terms of creativity, having managed three assists and an average of one key pass per game, via WhoScored.

Primarily a left-sided attacker, Lewis-Potter is capable of playing in a variety of roles – indeed, he’s played in five different positions this season alone, which includes upfront and on the other flank.

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Conte loves to make the most of a player’s versatility but in the Hull City gem, he could well discover his new Eden Hazard.

“I’ve seen some players that are playing in the Premier League now who I don’t believe are as good as Keane is,” Tigers youth coach Craig Fagan told The Athletic last month. He later added:

“Keane is maybe more athletic, maybe technically has a few more tricks in the bag than Jarrod. He’s similar to how Eden Hazard plays, with that low centre of gravity, coming inside and shooting. He’s not as good as Hazard by any stretch of the imagination at this point but he’s got the skills and abilities to be striving towards that.”

Spurs have certainly had a mixed bag of success when it comes to lower league signings, with the likes of Jack Clarke and Joe Rodon perhaps erring on the side of disappointment but for every one of those there is a Dele Alli, for example.

Lewis-Potter, who has also been dubbed a “special talent” by his former boss Grant McCann, isn’t going to drastically change Spurs’ fortunes in the race for a top-four finish but under Conte’s stewardship, he could well become a future first-team star.

You only have to look at the success of Jarrod Bowen at West Ham to see why this risk might be one worth taking.

Conte could well have a new Hazard in the coming years, should Fabio Paratici and co seal a move for the promising EFL sensation before Monday night’s deadline.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Dele: Spurs plot swoop for £18m-rated “extraordinary talent” who’s like Zidane…

A number of Wolves supporters have been hailing their players after a club post showed them receiving their booster jab on Monday.

Wanderers picked up a solid 0-0 draw at home to Champions League holders Chelsea on Sunday afternoon as their resolute form continues. That result followed the 1-0 win away to Brighton last week, leaving Wolves sitting eighth in the Premier League currently and dreaming of European football next season.

Away from the field of play, Bruno Lage and his players have been leading by example, with the club’s official Twitter channel sharing photos of them all receiving their booster jab as an extra layer of protection against the global pandemic.

The manager had recently stated that every member of the squad was keen to get the job, with Wolves having one of the best vaccination uptake rates of any Premier League club (Daily Mail).

It is great to see at a time when all footballers are being urged to get vaccinated, helping to ensure that the Premier League schedule continues as normal for as long as possible amid a spate of recent postponements.

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Wolves fans hail players

These Wolves fans took to Twitter to hail the players for getting their booster jabs.

“My club – leading by example!!!”

Credit: @Kingwolf84

“Leading the way”

Credit: @TheKevinLeslie

“Well done Wolves”

Credit: @cassie2195

“I love my team”

Credit: @carlos_alpuche_

“Top, top Football Club WWFC. COYW”

Credit: @Philip_wwfc

“Leading by example. Well done”

Credit: @kerry337

In other news, some Wolves fans have been reacting to a Tim Spiers tweet. Read more here.

Taking to Twitter, journalist Rudy Galetti of Sportitalia TV has made a Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving Inter Milan shot stopper Samir Handanovic.

The Lowdown: Paratici eyeing new keepers?

Even though it seems as if Tottenham number one Hugo Lloris is likely to pen a one-year extension at the club, the future of number two Pierluigi Gollini is up in the air.

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Reports even claim the Lilywhites could decide to cut short his loan spell and send him back to Atalanta despite having the option to sign him on a permanent deal at the end of 2021/2022 (L’Eco di Bergamo via The Spurs Web).

This comes amid ‘concerns’ those within Tottenham have over Gollini’s fitness as they weigh up making his move a permanent one (The Athletic), but it appears Spurs may also have their eye on alternative options already.

The Latest: Galetti makes Handanovic claim…

Taking to Twitter, reporter Galetti has shared news on a brand new target for Conte and transfer chief Fabio Paratici as news emerges on Handanovic.

The 37-year-old’s contract at the San Siro expires this year, meaning he is now free to negotiate pre-contract summer moves with overseas clubs.

Tottenham have apparently taken an interest in doing this and Handanovic now ‘could arrive’ in England as a free agent later in 2022.

It is also believed that Conte has personally ‘asked for’ his former keeper as Spurs keep tabs.

The Verdict: Right call?

Arguably solid for a quick-fix, the 81-cap Slovenia international is a player Conte certainly knows well and played regularly during his time at Inter Milan.

Over the last two seasons, Handanovic has been a mainstay in the Nerazzurri starting line up but came under-fire for some of his unreliable performances near the end of 2021.

He has, however, stood out with brilliant performances as well since then and his experience working under Conte could be of real benefit to Tottenham.

A seasoned and experienced shot stopper with plenty of time at the top level, he has also been called a ‘monster’ by his goalkeeping teammate Michele Di Gregorio, currently on loan at Serie B side Monza.

On a free deal, Handanovic certainly shouldn’t be dismissed as an option should Gollini leave.

In other news: ‘I’ve been told this morning’…Sky journalist shares ‘breaking’ Spurs transfer news on live TV, find out more here.

Despite being just two points off the top spot in the League One table at the moment, Sunderland are in the midst of a big injury crisis with the likes of Niall Huggins, Denver Hume, Dennis Cirkin and Luke O’Nien all out.

One other injury concern they have is with winger Aiden McGeady, who suffered a knee ligament injury last month and isn’t expected to be back until the new year.

With this in mind, Sunderland manager Lee Johnson could now have the opportunity to unleash one of the club’s youth talents to see if he has what it takes to perform in the senior side on a regular basis while McGeady is out on the sidelines.

21-year-old attacker Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka joined Sunderland’s U18 side back in the 2016 summer transfer window and has since gone on to make a total of 94 appearances for the club’s U18 and U23 sides, scoring 28 goals and providing ten assists in the process.

Labelled in the past as a “terrific” player by Elliott Dickman, Kimpioka has also had loan spells away from Sunderland with Southend United and Torquay United.

Even though he has made 16 senior appearances for the Black Cats, Kimpioka only made his first league appearance this season during their recent 5-0 win over Morecambe where he came on for a 15-minute cameo.

Despite predominantly playing as a centre-forward, Kimpioka has played on both the left and right wings throughout his career so far, racking up 14 goals and six assists in 47 appearances in those positions.

With this in mind and the fact that McGeady will be out for the next few weeks, this could be a great time for Kimpioka to have a consistent run in the team to show Johnson that he is ready to be a regular senior figure for the club given his clear talent in front of goal across numerous attacking positions and solve the predicament of having McGeady unavailable.

However, with the majority of Sunderland’s injury issues coming in the defensive positions, it seems likely that Johnson will be more concerned with that area of the pitch rather than the attack, especially with Nathan Broadhead and Ross Stewart scoring 14 goals between them in the league so far this season.

In other news: Johnson must seal Sunderland swoop for “aggressive” £1.8m-rated beast – opinion

Nathan Ake and Jesse Lingard are both keen on the idea of moving to West Ham United, according to Eurosport. 

The Hammers are exploring the possibility of signing Manchester City centre-back Ake after serious injuries to Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna. David Moyes has publicly admitted that the double blow may force the Irons into the winter market.

The £28.8m-rated Netherlands international would reportedly be eager to make the switch to the London Stadium ‘if City show they are open to a transfer’.

Newcastle also hope that they can reunite the Dutchman with Eddie Howe, his boss at Bournemouth, but choosing a top-four race over a relegation battle is seen as a ‘no-brainer’.

Lingard heading back to WHU?

As for Lingard, West Ham intend to open discussions as soon as January trading commences.

The east London club have received encouragement that they’ll be able to bring back their former loanee, who is valued at £19.8m. There are a number of clubs monitoring the 28-year-old’s situation, but he ‘likes the set-up at West Ham’.

Twitter page West Ham Fan Zone relayed the news, and here’s what some supporters made of it, with one believing that the double coup would be “gargantuan” if it comes off.

West Ham fans bask in Ake and Lingard update

“Because we are absolutely gargantuan”

Credit: @leggy_lp

“Need to get them signed up in January”

Credit: @darters17

“Loooool we’re massive”

Credit: @Will_04_

“Add Martial and that is a superb January window!”

Credit: @MaxJones11966

“Money can’t make you massive”

Credit: @NathWHU_

“Relegation battle or top 4 battle? Tough choice”

Credit: @iglad80

In other news, West Ham are also pursuing this potential blockbuster deal

Rumoured Wolves transfer target Aaron Ramsey is still likely to leave Juventus in the January transfer window, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Ramsey linked with Wolves move

The 30-year-old was linked with a move to Molineux last month, having ended up staying put in Italy after the summer transfer window.

Ramsey is not considered a key player for Juve after only making one Serie A start so far this season, appearing for just 97 minutes of action overall.

It seems likely that the 69-cap Wales international’s future lies away from the Italian giants, with a return to the Premier League potentially on the cards.

The Latest: Romano gives fresh update

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, Romano gave a fresh update regarding Ramsey’s future, admitting that Juve are still aiming to offload him in January:

“Juventus are still planning to find a solution to sell Aaron Ramsey in January. He’s out of the plans and looking for a potential new challenge.”

The midfielder’s current deal in Turin expires in the summer of 2023, at which point he could leave on a free transfer.

The Verdict: Still has plenty of quality

At 30, and with numerous injury problems in the past, Ramsey may be more of a short-term fix at Wolves rather than a long-term solution.

That being said, his pedigree speaks for itself, with 18 goals scored at international level, including two in European Championships, as well as 65 goals and 65 assists for Arsenal. He has also been hailed as ‘world-class’ by Wales team-mate Joe Allen.

Ramsey could offer Wolves’ midfield more of the kind of goal threat which can be lacking from the likes of Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves, giving Bruno Lage another exciting option in the middle of the park.

In other news, one Wolves player has been linked with a move to a European club. Find out who it is here.

Everton have suffered a potentially significant blow in their pursuit of Porto forward Luis Diaz after they were priced out of a transfer.

What’s the story?

The Toffees were heavily linked with the 24-year-old over the summer, and it was claimed that they wanted to sign him as part of a deal which would have seen James Rodriguez move in the opposite direction and return to the Estadio Dragao.

However, no agreement was ever reached, and Rodriguez ended up joining Qatari side Al-Rayyan after being deemed surplus to requirements by new Everton manager Rafael Benitez.

A Bola (via Sport Witness) are now claiming that Porto’s hierarchy are determined to receive a record-breaking fee for Diaz, eclipsing the €50m (£42.2m) they collected from Real Madrid for Eder Militao.

That fee is currently out of Everton’s reach due to their financial restraints, while Newcastle United, the other potential suitors for Diaz’s signature, would have no problem splashing out such a sum.

Benitez will be gutted

News that the Blues will no longer be able to compete for Diaz’s signature will leave Benitez feeling gutted, given the quality of the Colombia international.

The creative talent played a pivotal part in the Dragons’ domestic double in 2019/20 and has taken his game to new heights in the opening weeks of the current campaign, bagging a remarkable 11 goals in 16 appearances.

After firing Sergio Conceicao’s charges to a crucial Champions League victory over AC Milan in October, Diaz was showered with praise by his teammate Sergio Oliveira, who said: “I don’t have to answer, we know his qualities, apart from the human level he is also extraordinary on a technical level. The best for him will also be the best for us as a team.”

His impressive performances at club level have earned Diaz 30 caps for his country, and the youngster featured heavily for his nation in last summer’s Copa America, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals.

Therefore, Benitez will be hugely disappointed that the 24-year-old won’t be pulling on an Everton shirt any time soon.

Injuries to Richarlison have forced the Spaniard to field the struggling Alex Iwobi and inexperienced Anthony Gordon on several occasions this season, hampering the Merseyside outfit’s progress.

Whether Marcel Brands is able and willing to dip into the market over the winter in order to strengthen Benitez’s forward line remains to be seen, but attacking reinforcement are certainly needed at Everton.

In other news… Brands could find Rafa’s next Pablo Aimar at Everton in “very clever” £22.5m-rated ace 

As per Football League World, a significant update has emerged on the future of Tottenham Hotspur winger Jack Clarke.

The Lowdown: Clarke struggles continue…

Since his move to N17 from Leeds United in 2019 for an initial £10 million fee, it’s safe to say the youngster’s Tottenham career has been a complete non-starter so far.

The 20-year-old has since endured several Football League stints out on loan in an effort to nurture his development, most recently Stoke City for the second half of last campaign as Spurs sanctioned his 2021 January loan move.

Now, as per FLW, Nuno Espirito Santo has personally sent a message to the player.

The Latest: Spurs set to sanction another move away…

According to their sources, the Spurs head coach has now told Clarke he is free to leave as a plethora of lower league clubs take interest in signing him on loan.

As well as this, Tottenham are now ‘ready to sanction’ another move away for the attacker after his most recent temporary move to the bet365 stadium in January last year.

AFC Bournemouth are apparently the most keen to snap him up mid-season with Spurs’ stance made crystal clear.

The Verdict: Last chance saloon?

With his contract expiring at the end of next season in 2023, we believe it could be last chance for Clarke to resurrect his career and prove to Spurs he still possesses the quality to come good.

Signed after an impressive start to his original career at Leeds, the forward simply must rediscover that form and send Nuno his own message that he may have a part to play in future.

In other news: Not just Winks & Alli: Paratici told to sell vulnerable senior man who’s stuck in a rut at Spurs, find out more here.

Guillem Balague has revealed the four managers who have rejected the chance to manage Newcastle United so far.

The Lowdown: Manager scramble

The St. James’ Park faithful’s search for a new permanent manager to succeed Steve Bruce has been a bit of a mess so far, as Graeme Jones is set to take charge of another game at the weekend as it stands.

There have been so many names thrown around in recent days, including the likes of Paulo Fonseca and Zinedine Zidane, but it certainly begs the question whether any truly elite boss wants to take charge of a team currently locked in a relegation battle.

The North East club have a mere four points and no wins from their 10 opening games in the Premier League so far this season, sitting in 19th spot, just above Norwich City (Premier League).

The Latest: Four rejections

It is openly known that Unai Emery has now rejected the chance to manage the Tyneside outfit in favour of staying at Villarreal following a statement that he released yesterday, and it has also been widely reported that Antonio Conte rejected them as well, and is now the manager of Tottenham Hotspur

However, two names that may have gone under the radar are Joachim Low and Xavi, both of whom journalist Balague has now revealed have also said no to the Magpies job, among others.

The Verdict: Desperation

With so many rejections, these are desperate times now for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium, who are clearly struggling to sell the long-term project amid a relegation battle.

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A true legend of the game as a player, Xavi now reportedly looks set to manage his former club FC Barcelona, which should in turn rule him out of any chance of managing the Toon, certainly in the short-term.

Having left his post as Germany manager following Euro 2020 after 15 years in charge (Sky Sports), Lowe is unlikely to want to get back into management straight away, leaving NUFC in a very difficult position as they scrap to see who is available at this moment in time.

In other news, find out which ‘phenomenal’ manager was Newcastle’s top choice here!

Leeds United have been name-checked as one of the Premier League clubs interested in signing Arsenal starlet Eddie Nketiah.

What’s the story?

According to journalist Ekrem Konur on Twitter, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are in the race to sign the England under-21 international, with the likes of Brentford and Aston Villa also mentioned.

He added that Nketiah wants to leave the Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window due to a lack of game-time, and is keen for more first team football elsewhere.

He loves Marcelo Bielsa

While he may only have played half a season under Bielsa – he featured just 19 times (mostly off the bench) and scored five goals for the Whites – the £13m-rated forward made a real impression at Elland Road during a loan spell in 2019/20, not least with the manager himself.

The Argentine said of the 22-year-old: “He’s a specialist great player with a lot of resources and our play is a collective way of playing and one player needs to adapt to this style.

“For this reason when we felt he was part of the team we thought that we were going to feel the same and that he would continue with us. He didn’t take this decision but he is a great player, an excellent professional and he had very good behaviour, he is a gentleman in every sense.”

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan has also waxed lyrical about Nketiah, claiming that his style of play is very much reminiscent of Jermain Defoe.

The 46-year-old said: “He reminds me of another Jermain Defoe and look at how well he did at West Ham. He’s very much that similar sort of player. He plays off the shoulder, very dangerous in the box. He’s a player you can’t take your eyes off because his movement’s so good.”

Crucially, despite the lack of consistent game-time at Elland Road, Nketiah left Leeds clearly feeling like he learned a lot in Yorkshire, and he paid tribute to Bielsa in particular after his recall.

The striker said: “I’m grateful for my time at Leeds. Bielsa is a very demanding manager, so every day I was pushing myself to the limit in training, and I feel that mentality has stuck with me at Arsenal, to always give my all in training and in matches.

“I also learned a lot defensively off the ball with the way Leeds play, I learned a lot about the importance of pressing from the front, defending from the front and the impact it can have to the team and the way we play.

“I definitely learned a lot, I put myself out of my comfort zone which was a good thing for me, it’s made me a lot stronger mentally and has improved me as a player. I’m grateful for my time there.”

Given the recent injury to Patrick Bamford and the lack of cover up front at Leeds, a fresh move for Nketiah would surely have fans buzzing.

Meanwhile, Beren Cross has dropped a Leeds United transfer update…