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Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur ‘insider’ and club source John Wenham has made a claim involving defender Matt Doherty.

The Lowdown: Paratici era in full flow…

Since Tottenham appointed managing director Fabio Paratici in the summer, it is safe to stay the Lilywhites’ new transfer chief has got busy.

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The 49-year-old oversaw much activity during his first transfer window, especially in the way of outgoings at N17, with Serge Aurier, Joe Hart, Toby Alderweireld, Erik Lamela, Paulo Gazzaniga, Danny Rose, Moussa Sissoko and Juan Foyth all leaving Spurs permanently (Transfermarkt).

Now, it appears he could offload yet another player as Spurs source Wenham makes a claim.

The Latest: Paratici ‘will look to sell’ Doherty…

Speaking to FI, the club source, who regularly breaks news on his Lilywhite Rose social media account, has shared what he believes on Doherty’s future.

After mutually agreeing to terminate Aurier’s contract at Spurs, Wenham says that the club are now ‘in a position’ to offload the Republic of Ireland international as well.

“Tottenham would have accepted permanent departure offers for him this summer,” he told Football Insider.

“It was just the fact that, I believe Aurier led on the club a little bit. He was never as interested in staying as he said he was.

“He has consequently been paid up to leave on a free with one year left on his deal.

“Tottenham are now in a position where they will look to sell Doherty next summer.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

Signed by former boss Jose Mourinho in the summer of 2020, it’s safe to say he hasn’t exactly hit the heights managed under Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves.

Nuno once hailed the 29-year-old as ‘fantastic’ during his time at Molineux (BT Sport), but Doherty’s performances at Spurs have attracted opposite opinions – with pundit Noel Whelan branding his form in parts as ‘worrying’ last season (Football Insider).

Could it be time for Tottenham to cut their losses and re-invest in the right-back area?

In other news: Spurs now want ‘outstanding’ 29 y/o who Pochettino wanted to make one of his highest earners, find out more here.

Aston Villa have approached Bologna over a move for left-back Aaron Hickey.

That’s according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, and his update has had a number of Villa supporters talking on social media.

Hickey was linked with a move to Villa Park back in October when Dean Smith was in charge, but it seems as if Steven Gerrard is also keen on a move after being impressed by the Scot during his time as Rangers boss.

Dorsett revealed on Wednesday evening that Villa have approached the Serie A side for Hickey’s services, with Johan Lange also exploring alternative left-back options.

Hickey is valued at £11.7m by Transfermarkt and is under contract with Bologna until 2024. He’s missed just one Serie A game all season and has mainly turned out as a left-midfielder in a back three system.

Villa fans react

Both villareport and The AVFC Faithful shared the news regarding Hickey on Twitter. This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with many hoping to see Hickey in the Midlands.

“IM GONNA FAINT”

Credit: @catrinavfc

“very huge news. would be a delight to have him play LB for us”

Credit: @NoahKnowsBall

“I’m excited by this more than the potential Coutinho signing”

Credit: @JimGroves11

“OH STOP THAT”

Credit: @AVFCCharlie

“Don Lange is on one today”

Credit: @lukerobinson89

“ITS HAPPENING”

Credit: @noah_avfc

In other news: ‘Mental’ – Some Villa fans fume as Gerrard eyes club-record transfer. 

Leeds United could be well-placed to land Sergino Dest from FC Barcelona this summer, sports journalist Pete O’Rourke says. 

The lowdown

TEAMtalk reported at the end of March that Leeds were looking into the possibility of signing Dest.

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The Whites are apparently enthused by the prospect of signing the 21-year-old, confident he would be an ‘excellent addition’ to Jesse Marsch’s squad.

It was only in October 2020 that Dest, who can operate as a right back, right winger and a left back, sealed an £18.9million move from Ajax to Barcelona.

But before he suffered a muscle injury last month, there were signs that he was falling down the pecking order at the Nou Camp.

He’d started 11 of the first 12 La Liga matches under Ronald Koeman, but Xavi had only selected for him for four of the last eight before he sustained the injury (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke said Leeds, and by extension Whites director Victor Orta, could tap into their existing relationship with Barcelona after they struck a £13.5million deal for Junior Firpo in 2021.

And having Dest’s fellow countryman Marsch in the dugout could also be a significant factor.

“Leeds do seem to have a decent relationship with Barcelona, having signed Junior Firpo in the summer,” he said.

“You can’t rule this one out, especially with the American links.”

The verdict

Dest, who’s scored three goals and provided four assists in 69 appearances for Barcelona and boasts 31 career G/A (11G, 20A), would be some coup for Leeds.

In 2020, he featured in the IFFHS Under-20 Team of the Year alongside the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Ansu Fati.

And even if Leeds can’t make a satisfactory offer of their own, a swap deal for the £16.2 million-rated ace could be a possibility.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have considered offering Dest to Leeds as part of a move for Raphinha.

Adding a player of the USA international’s ability and potential would surely soften the blow of losing the team’s top goalscorer.

In other news, could Marsch revisit an Orta target Bielsa resisted?

So far this season, West Brom have won ten of their 21 Championship games under manager Valerien Ismael, drawing seven and losing four along the way, placing them in third place in the league table behind Fulham and AFC Bournemouth.

With the January transfer window around the corner, it seems as though Albion could be set to do some business as they prepare for their promotion charge in the second half of the campaign and attempt to close the gap between the two clubs ahead of them.

What’s the news?

Journalist Alan Nixon recently shared a post on his official Twitter page claiming that on-loan Baggies striker Jordan Hugill will return to his parent club Norwich City in January.

He stated: “Forest. Front of the queue for young Norwich striker Idah. Should be loaned out … Canaries to have Hugill back from West Brom to fill that hole…”

Given how the striker has only managed to score one goal for the Baggies in the Championship since arriving back in August, it feels like it could be a case of West Brom wanting him gone rather than Norwich being desperate to have him back, even though they haven’t exactly been particularly potent in front of goal this season with just eight scored in 15 Premier League games.

With 17 league appearances for the Baggies under his belt this season, it’s not as if Ismael hasn’t given the 29-year-old ample opportunities to prove himself as a useful goalscorer for the team since he’s been there either.

In those games, Hugill has only managed to rack up an average of 0.3 shots on target per game with 0.3 key passes per game, highlighting just how ineffective he’s been for the Baggies. It’s sage to say his loan deal hasn’t really exactly worked out in the way that all parties would have presumably hoped it would have back in August.

Taking this into account, it would be safe to assume that the West Brom fans will not have been pleased with Hugill’s time at the club so far and thus, would be buzzing to see the back of him in January.

If the striker does return to Norwich in January and calls his spell at West Brom to an end, the Midlands club should definitely try and find a suitable replacement for the striker that could come in and hopefully have more of an attacking impact on the team. Judging by his numbers, that shouldn’t be too hard.

In other news: Val could kickstart WBA’s promotion push with move for “invaluable” 59-goal monster – opinion

Fabrizio Romano has delivered a major update on Arsenal’s transfer plans…

What’s the word?

According to the Italian journalist, the Gunners will definitely sign a new striker in 2022, whether they are able to this month or will have to wait until the summer still remains to be seen.

“Arsenal are trying to sign [Dusan] Vlahović since October – but Dusan is still planning to leave in summer, not now. Nothing has changed yet. Really complicated negotiation on player/agents side. Many clubs will be in the race in June,” he revealed on Twitter before adding:

“Arsenal have many names in the list for the new striker now or summer. It’s not only Vlahovic. And they will sign an important striker in 2022, for sure.”

Vlahovic seems increasingly unlikely for the north London outfit this month but it’s not all doom and gloom as Romano claims that the club will land a first-team ready forward before the end of the year.

Several intriguing names have been mooted with a move to the Emirates Stadium in recent weeks, ranging from Lille talisman Jonathan David to Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Much-needed addition

This will surely come as music to the ears of manager Mikel Arteta, who will be hugely concerned about his striker department heading into the summer.

That’s because he could quickly be without a senior centre-forward.

Alexandre Lacazette looks destined to leave Arsenal for nothing at the end of the season as his contract comes to an end. There has been little talk on him extending his deal to remain.

Meanwhile, the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is perhaps the biggest question mark. He was stripped of the captaincy after a disciplinary breach last month and has not started since the defeat to Manchester United at the start of December.

And now the 31-year-old has been sent home from the Gabon camp at the Africa Cup of Nations due to health complications, only further throwing doubt over his chances of playing for the Gunners ever again.

It also seems unlikely that Eddie Nketiah will want to stick around should he continue to find opportunities hard to come by. He has regularly been linked with top-flight rivals Crystal Palace. Just like Lacazatte, the young striker’s contract is up in the summer.

On the above evidence, it is easy to see why Arteta so badly needs a new forward at some point this year. It would be more beneficial to bring one in this month but that will prove a hard task.

Either way, the Spanish head coach must be buzzing over the thought of signing a new talisman to lead this promising Arsenal squad into the future.

AND in other news, Arsenal could secure Arteta’s perfect Vlahovic alternative in £45m-rated “phenomenon”…

Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici is now reportedly in talks to try and sign Corentin Tolisso for Spurs after contacting his agents.

The Lowdown: Ndombele replacement?

Calciomercato reported earlier on in the week that Spurs are ‘in the running’ to sign Tolisso alongside some of the biggest names in European football, namely Inter Milan, Juventus, PSG and Atletico Madrid.

Perhaps they have one eye on Tanguy Ndombele potentially leaving the North London club, given recent reports of interest from abroad and the fact he wanted to leave during the summer, per The Times.

Nonetheless, if Nuno Espirito Santo were to lose one of his central midfield players, then a replacement would be needed.

The Latest: Paratici wants Tolisso

According to a most recent report from Calciomercato, Tolisso has made the ‘surprise decision’ not to renew his current deal at Bayern Munich, which is expiring next summer.

He is reportedly a ‘long-time ball’ of Paratici, who has been talking to his agents to try to bring him to the Lilywhites.

However, there is ‘nothing advanced or defined’ at this moment in time, as Atletico Madrid have been named as a club who could potentially hijack a deal.

The Verdict: Ndombele out, Tolisso in

It has not quite worked out for Ndombele at THFC, with a mere ten goals and eight assists in 83 games on total over all competitions across the last three consecutive seasons (club-record £63m for him, fans should certainly expect more.

At a good age of 24 and still holding a market value of £40.5m, now may be the best time for Nuno and Paratici to cut their losses.

In would step Tolisso, who could come on a free transfer next summer, and if it does not work out, they can always sell him on for a profit.

Nonetheless, there is no reason why it should not, given that he has scored three times as many goals (48) as Ndombele (16) has from midfield in his club career so far, and is capable of playing anywhere across the middle of the park like Ndombele can, providing depth in multiple positions.

A UEFA Champions League and World Cup winner as well (Transfermarkt), Tolisso has that extra winning mentality, which would be very useful for a side who have not won a major trophy since 2008.

In other news, find out who this Tottenham ‘insider’ believes may be offered a new deal here!

Journalist Darren Lewis has tipped West Ham United to buy real quality if  Daniel Kretinsky ends up purchasing a 27% stake in the Hammers.

The Lowdown: Kretinsky eyes Irons stake

Over the past few days, it has emerged that the Czech investor is interested in buying a 27% stake in the east London club (via The Guardian).

As of yet, however, there has been no official comment from the club or from the businessman himself.

The Latest: Big times ahead

Speaking to Sky Sports’ Super Sunday Matchday (via Hammers.news), Lewis predicted big times ahead for the Irons as he discussed the possibility of Kretinsky investing in the club and the subsequent potential for lucrative signings in the January transfer window. He said:

“What it does, it provides the ability for West Ham to go into a transfer window where they are going to look at quality, rather than making up numbers, with a degree of confidence.

“He (Kretinsky) is a guy who is very canny with his investments, he’s got other business interests as well outside of football.

“He’s generated a lot of optimism within the West Ham fanbase because they’re feeling now that with a guy like that coming into play suddenly they can start to think about the club matching David Moyes’s ambition…

“Now what the new investment enables them to do is go into a transfer window looking to attract – and they will be able to attract – the kind of quality player that will hopefully take the club to another level.”

The Verdict: Wait and see

Of course, the rumours that there could be a new investor at the club will surely have delighted many West Ham supporters. David Gold, David Sullivan and Karen Brady, are the current owners, and it is fair to say they are far from popular among many Irons fans.

Worth €3.4bn (£2.9bn, via Marca), Kretinsky is not quite on the level of Roman Abramovich or Sheikh Mansour, for example, but fresh impetus and points of view may be exactly what West Ham need to move to “the next level”, as Lewis put it. Should the deal go through, it promises to be an exciting time ahead for the Hammers, who are already flying as it is.

In other news, many West Ham fans love this news about Mark Noble

Wayne Rooney’s Derby County are still at risk of receiving a points deduction this season.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a claim made by John Percy, with The Telegraph journalist revealing on Twitter that talks are ongoing between Derby and the EFL over an “agreed sanction” for the club’s financial breaches, with the governing body pushing for a points deduction – with a nine-point sanction on this season’s total, with a further three-point suspended deduction, being a possible outcome.

Percy continued by stating that the Rams insist that their accounting did not break EFL rules, so a compromise must be reached between the two parties – something which both Derby and the EFL wish to resolve as soon as possible.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “DCFC update: talks ongoing with the EFL over an “agreed sanction” for financial breaches. EFL pushing for points deduction (-12 & -3 suspended possible). Derby insist their accounting policy is fair, so compromise must be reached. Both sides determined to finally resolve it ASAP.”

Fans will be worried

The news that the EFL are still pushing for a points deduction is sure to come as a headache to everyone professionally involved with Derby County, while it is also bound to leave fans of the club rather worried.

Indeed, despite Wayne Rooney’s side starting their Championship campaign in impressive form considering the club’s off-field issues, picking up six points over their opening five fixtures of the season and suffering defeat just once, a possible nine-point sanction would completely wipe out this decent early season form, and then some.

However, with it appearing as if there are negotiations to be had with the EFL regarding the severity of the club’s punishment – Percy revealed in a further tweet that “Derby will either try and agree a compromise or fight [the sanctions]” – it would certainly not appear as if a nine-point penalty is inevitable.

As such, all of Rooney, Mel Morris, the Derby County players and fans of the club will undoubtedly be hoping that a positive resolution can be found regarding the Rams’ fate in this matter, and then they can finally begin to put this whole mess behind them.

In other news: Alan Nixon reveals worrying off-field Derby County development, fans will be fuming

Rangers manager Gio van Bronckhorst may be forced to be creative with his squad at Ibrox in the coming weeks as he faces a big issue at the top end of the pitch with his Gers team.

Ex-Leeds forward Kemar Roofe has suffered a fresh injury blow and it remains to be seen how much of the campaign he will miss.

Van Bronckhorst told Herald Sport:

“We don’t know the exact injury or how long he’s going to be out. We have to wait until the doctor tells us the extent of the injury.”

Big issue

The injury to Roofe has left the Dutchman with a big issue as Alfredo Morelos is his only senior, natural, centre-forward, with Fashion Sakala currently being deployed in a wide role.

With games coming thick and fast over the festive period, rotation may be vital for the Gers and they cannot afford to play Alfredo Morelos in every single game. Therefore, if Roofe is out for a number of matches then the 43-year-old may need to dip into the academy pool to find a stand-in until the ex-Anderlecht man is able to return.

One player he could look to is teenage forward Tony Weston. The former Blackpool man has been in sensational form for the B Team. He scored 15 goals in the Lowland League by the start of December and has since added a 16th strike, to go along with his five goals in eight cup outings. This means that he has found the back of the net a whopping 21 times in all competitions for the reserves.

With that in mind, it’s clear to see why he was dubbed “clinical” by Gers coach Steven Smith.

His ex-Blackpool manager Simon Grayson once lauded his enthusiasm for the game too, saying:

“He’s got so much enthusiasm. The lads were watching what he was doing, where his pure enthusiasm and love of being a professional footballer is at the front of his mind.

“He’s got 30-year-old lads behind him in the warm-up and I’ve never known a 16- year-old lead with stuff like that. He’s got confidence in his ability and it’s great for him.”

Weston’s sublime form for the B Team suggests that he could be deserving of a chance to make the step up to the senior side. He could come in and help plug a gap whilst Roofe is injured and allow van Bronckhorst to rest Morelos, in order to prevent the Colombian from being overworked and picking up any knocks of his own.

Therefore, the ex-Feyenoord coach must hand this huge opportunity to the teenager to see whether or not he is able to adapt to playing senior football.

AND in other news, Forget Tavernier: “Terrific” Rangers beast with 51 duels won is already Gvb’s key man…

Arsenal could revive their interest in Newcastle United’s Freddie Woodman, Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder has claimed.

The lowdown

Arsenal have a ‘pressing need’ for a second-choice goalkeeper but it was revealed on Wednesday that talks over a potential deal for Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale were ‘on the brink of breaking down’ (via The Athletic).

The Blades were demanding £35million for Ramsdale when Arsenal hoped to pay around half that figure.

Woodman is set to start Newcastle’s Premier League opener at home to West Ham United on Sunday with Martin Dubravka and Karl Darlow both sidelined.

He spent last season on loan at Swansea City, keeping a league-high 21 clean sheets for the beaten playoff finalists. The 24-year-old’s Transfermarkt value has now climbed to £9million.

Newcastle and Arsenal have already done business this summer, of course, with Joe Willock’s permanent move announced on Friday.

The latest

Ryder reports that, earlier in the summer, a swap deal was discussed whereby Woodman would head to the Emirates and Willock would return to Tyneside.

That was abandoned after Dubravka and Darlow were hit with separate issues, but Arsenal could now re-open conversations after encountering frustration in their Ramsdale pursuit.

The verdict

Newcastle might not stand in Woodman’s way when Dubravka or Darlow return to the fold, but it will be interesting to see what the player himself decides.

Will the allure of Arsenal persuade him to accept another back-up role, or will he express a preference for first-team football elsewhere?

Off the back of his displays for Swansea last season, he really ought to be a starting ‘keeper in the Premier League.

In other news, Newcastle have reached an agreement for this perfectly-named ace.