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Tottenham Hotspur managerial target Roberto De Zerbi shares a similarity with Antonio Conte, says reporter Alasdair Gold.

The Lowdown: De Zerbi linked…

The Brighton boss has been linked with taking over at Spurs over the last few weeks with Football Insider first breaking news that Lilywhites chiefs are impressed by him.

Having had really big shoes to fill, De Zerbi has thrived in the Seagulls hot seat since taking over from Graham Potter, who departed for Chelsea earlier this season.

The Italian has been praised by top flight rivals like Man City boss Pep Guardiola for his ‘incredible’ football and Brighton are well in contention for a European qualifying place.

His brilliant job at the Amex has reportedly alerted top clubs and Spurs remain linked with a move for the 43-year-old.

Chairman Daniel Levy and sporting director Fabio Paratici apparently have De Zerbi on their radar alongside Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank.

The Latest: Gold makes De Zerbi claim…

Speaking in a football.london Q&A, reporter Gold has said De Zerbi shares some similarities with Conte, namely that he is a ‘bit of a livewire’.

When asked about the 43-year-old and his links to Tottenham, the journalist also claimed he naturally falls into the category of summer managerial targets.

Gold said:

“The Italian would naturally fall into the summer category of candidates as it’s doubtful he would walk out on the Seagulls at this stage of the season. He would also be expensive with reportedly a big £11m release clause in his contract.”

“Like Conte, De Zerbi is also known to be a bit of a livewire behind the scenes, but his football would likely win over plenty of fans if he can get Tottenham playing as his Brighton team do.

“It’s all down to Levy really and what kind of direction he’s going to tread in next. If he wants a project manager then the 43-year-old is an up-and-coming coach and he could do a lot worse, but it’s whether the Spurs chairman is prepared to gamble again with all eyes on him or take a safer, but still not guaranteed to succeed, option.”

The Verdict: Exciting candidate…

The former Sassuolo boss would excite Spurs supporters with his brand of attacking football.

Gold also claimed in the Q&A that De Zerbi has adopted a similar formation to Pochettino with Brighton even scoring more goals than top-four hopefuls Man United and Newcastle so far this season.

This is despite Brighton having a far inferior squad in terms of depth and quality, so the ‘special’ De Zerbi deserves real credit.

While Pochettino remains the standout candidate, especially given his status as a free agent, De Zerbi could well be one to watch out for this summer.

Everton will make a trip to Trentside tomorrow for their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest and now the Toffees could be set for a big injury boost.

What’s the latest on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury?

Sean Dyche took to his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon to deliver a promising update on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s recovery.

The Everton boss told the press:

“Dominic Calvert-Lewin is recovering and getting strong. We’ll see [for Sunday].”

Will Calvert-Lewin play against Nottingham Forest?

Whilst the injury update from Dyche is promising it is not a confirmation that Calvert-Lewin will return to action on Sunday afternoon at The City Ground, however, it will give the Goodison Park faithful some hope heading into the away clash.

The Toffees are currently one point deep in the relegation zone and desperately needed to start picking up crucial survival points over their remaining 13 fixtures if they are to have any chance of avoiding a drop into the Championship at the end of the season.

Calvert-Lewin has tallied up 59 goals and registered 18 assists over his 203 appearances for Everton and scored the most important goal of the campaign for his club last season when he found the back of the net against Crystal Palace to secure survival in the Premier League, proving that the gem is an incredibly valuable asset to the squad.

There is no doubt that Calvert-Lewin is the most experienced striker at Everton with both Neal Maupay and Ellis Simms struggling to replicate the number nine’s impact in front of goal which has been an obvious issue in the most recent performances for the Merseysiders.

Over the last four league games in the 25-year-old’s absence, the Toffees have won one and lost three – with club captain Seamus Coleman scoring the only goal during this period against Leeds United, neither Simms nor Maupay have found the back of the net.

Calvert-Lewin scored 29 Premier League goals between the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns and the Everton boss would have a lethal finisher on his hands if he can get the best out of the England international, which is why the marksman’s potential return is a big boost.

With that being said, the forward could be the linchpin in not only snatching all three points away from home on Sunday but also better their chances of survival at the end of the season if, of course, he can remain fit.

Newcastle United’s players have a chance to etch their names in the history of the club as they prepare to take on Manchester United in the League Cup final on Sunday.

The Magpies could win their first major domestic trophy since 1955 by overcoming the Red Devils but they head into the match in disappointing form in the Premier League.

Eddie Howe’s side have only won one of their last seven games in the division and have scored three goals in that time – failing to score in four matches.

Their goalscoring woes are a cause for concern and the head coach could solve the problem by making a slight alteration to his team in the coming weeks.

The English head coach could improve the club’s attacking output and allow them to put teams to bed by punishing them in the final third by unleashing Alexander Isak next to Callum Wilson as a front two.

Will Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson work as a pairing for Newcastle?

Whilst it may not be his preferred choice for the final on Sunday, given the magnitude of the match, Howe could go with them as a pair in the Premier League in the final months of the campaign to fire the team to Champions League football.

They have only played alongside each other in one match this season and that resulted in them linking up for Isak to score the winning goal against Fulham in the top-flight.

The pair played 19 minutes together at the end of that clash at Craven Cottage and the Swedish international bundled in the winner after Wilson did well to keep the ball alive at the back post.

Wilson, who was once hailed as “unique” by Magpies coach Graeme Jones, has been the main centre-forward for Newcastle this term. He has started 14 matches for the Magpies in the division and produced seven goals and three assists in that time – after managing eight strikes in 16 starts for the club last season.

The £46k-per-week marksman is a proven goalscorer at this level and his eight assists since the start of 2020/21 also suggest that the dynamo can also be an effective creator for his teammates.

Isak, who was once dubbed a “unicorn” by radio presenter Kev Lawson, has scored three goals and created seven chances in five Premier League starts for Newcastle since making the move from Real Sociedad – after managing 23 goals and ten ‘big chances’ created in his last two full LaLiga campaigns. 

These statistics show that the 6 foot 4 titan has the quality to score goals and create opportunities for others, much like his potential strike partner Wilson.

Therefore, they could be an excellent duo as they are both adept at finishing chances and linking up with their teammates and their combination for the winning goal against Fulham is a glimpse of what they could offer as a pair, which is why they could solve the club’s current goalscoring woes.

Sky Sports reporter Tim Thornton has shared developments on Leeds United’s pursuit of Andoni Iraola after reports emerged claiming Rayo Vallecano wish to hold onto their manager.

The Lowdown: Leeds still looking for a manager

Following the sacking of Jesse Marsch, many may have expected a manager to be lined up given they had two games this week, but there still appears to be nothing in the works.

Someone who was said to be of interest but ruled out quickly was Carlos Corberan after he signed a new contract at West Bromwich Albion, while Iraola is said to have had his move to Elland Road blocked by his current club.

The Spanish boss has managed to guide Rayo Vallecano into the top five of La Liga as things stand, so it’s no surprise as to why Leeds want him and why the Spanish side are apparently desperate to keep him.

The Latest: Inaola one to keep an eye on

Thornton has stated on Sky Sports that while Iraola has had a move to Leeds blocked, fans should keep an eye on the Spaniard over the next few days to see if Vallecano’s stance softens, with the former Athletic Bilbao potentially still open to moving to West Yorkshire.

Speaking on Thursday, he said: “Developments this morning regarding the leading contender for the role at Leeds United – we told you about this yesterday, Andoni Iraola, the Rayo Vallecano manager.

“Leeds United were keen on him, but Rayo Vallecano have blocked Leeds United’s move for him.

“Leeds have been tracking him for a while. It’s my understanding that the coach himself is open to a move to Leeds and to the Premier League, so this is one to watch. We’ll see how it plays out over the course of the next few days, but Leeds have been keen on him for a while.”

The Verdict: Radrizzani must act swiftly

It has been a pretty disastrous week for Leeds off the pitch as owner Andrea Radrizzani told fans that he would have something for them by way of a new manager by Wednesday night, and that proved to be a false promise.

The fact that Corberan decided to extend his stay at West Brom, Iraola looks stuck at Vallecano and Feyenoord have and essentially indicated that they wouldn’t be interested in losing Aren Slot mid-season looks to have left Leeds at a dead end.

Considering Iraola’s achievements at Rayo Vallecano, which include promotion to La Liga and chasing a European spot this term, it is no wonder why Leeds are looking at him – but it seems his current club won’t let him go without a fight.

Pundit Tam McManus has backed Newcastle United to potentially make two more signings in January before the transfer market shuts at the end of the month.

What’s the word?

The big recent news coming out of the club is the exit of Chris Wood who has joined Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season, with an option to make the transfer permanent.

However, in terms of incomings, only Garang Kuol has arrived and he was instantly loaned out to Hearts anyway so won’t be making any impact for the club this term.

This time last year, though, Newcastle spent big in January making five signing with the likes of Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett all arriving.

Despite the lack of activity so far, in an interview with Football Insider, McManus has claimed that he wouldn’t be shocked if there was still business to be done.

Indeed, he said: “I know it has been quiet at Newcastle so far this month, it’s been quiet everywhere. But we saw this in the summer. There was nothing and then Matt Target was on his way for a medical.

“There was nothing then Nick Pope and Sven Botman arrived out of nowhere. Isak came completely out of the blue. I don’t even think Newcastle had been linked with him when the news broke that he was in the air on his way to St James’, that’s big for them,

“It would not surprise me at all if Newcastle got a couple of players over the line before the deadline. They are capable of that. A lot of clubs aren’t. There are messages to journalists and agents and then it makes its way onto social media and a deal hasn’t even been agreed.”

Time to act?

Clearly, the current ownership at Newcastle has proven their willingness and ability to operate in the winter window but time is running out if the club do have any major plans.

According to The Telegraph, the Magpies could move for any one of Chelsea trio Hakim Ziyech, Conor Gallagher or Ruben Loftus-Cheek. While a new right-back is also said to be on the agenda to provide cover for Trippier.

According to reports, Ivan Fresneda could be the defender to come in and do that role but it seems as though Arsenal currently lead that race for the Spanish youngster.

And so, as we hurtle towards the final week of the window, it feels as though something a little out of the blue may have to pop up for the Magpies if they are to land multiple new signings.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has distinguished Napoli hitman Victor Osimhen as one of the leading candidates to assume the elusive talismanic role at Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, the Blues have struggled this term and are currently languishing in tenth place in the Premier League, with the ten-point gulf separating the club between the west London outfit and fourth placed Manchester United an alarming sign considering the wealth of investment pumped into the Stamford Bridge squad since the arrival of new owner Todd Boehly last year.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Chelsea have indeed highlighted Osimhen, alongside Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic, as players capable of leading the line across the coming era for the side, and a bid could be forthcoming before the conclusion of the ongoing winter transfer market.

Signing for Napoli for roughly £71m, the Nigerian sensation has swiftly emerged as one of the hottest commodities in the Serie A and now spearheads an imperious and relentless outfit that high eye atop the table, nine points clear of second-placed AC Milan.

Having signed Mykhaylo Mudryk for £88.5m already this winter, a deal might be viewed as implausible for the aspiring outfit, particularly with the forward’s value now thought to be €140m (£122m), but the cogs could in fact fall into place given the unabating storm that is Boehly’s might on the transfer front.

Huge Auba upgrade

This season, the £93k-per-week Osimhen has clinched 13 goals and four assists from 18 appearances for his soaring outfit in all competitions, blossoming into one of Europe’s superlative strikers with his electric pace and devastating cutting-edge.

With this tally a continuation of the excellent 18 goals the phenom tallied last term – a number he is well on track to surpass this time out – there is a clear growth and nurturing of a natural host of skills that is setting him among the very top forward’s the game has to offer.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 3% of forwards for rate of goals, the top 4% for total shots and the top 9% for touches in the attacking penalty area across Europe’s top five leagues, providing an apt illustration of the paramount importance he has at the head of the ship, evidenced by first place Napoli’s league-high 44 league goals and his career average 2.9 shots per game, merging output with an innate prolific sense.

The “goal machine”, as hailed by reporter Mimi Fawaz, would represent a marked and emphatic upswing from the current deployment of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the club’s forward option; signed from FC Barcelona in the summer – in a deal sending left-back Marcos Alonso going the other way – the 33-year-old Gabonese veteran has only found the net three times from 17 outings since his arrival, and as he approaches his twilight years, the most prudent option certainly seems to fall into Osimhen’s favour.

As the graphic above indicates, it’s evident that the Nigerian international is having a considerably better season as he becomes a larger force year by year. Aubameyang, on the other hand, is a fading force, one Chelsea could do without in their new era.

Bearing this in mind, Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell would be wise to swoop in the coming weeks; if the funds are indeed available and it would be no detriment to the overall wealth of the football club, then one of the most fearsome forces in world football would be unleashed at the front of a Blues outfit that view only the sky as the limit.

Manchester City have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of centre-back Giorgio Scalvini, who now looks set to stay with Atalanta.

The Lowdown: Man City linked with Scalvini

According to Calciomercato, the Premier League champions joined the race to sign the 19-year-old towards the end of November, but Atalanta were determined to keep hold of him until the end of the season and were unwilling to entertain offers of less than £27m.

Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid were all named as potential suitors in the same report, so Pep Guardiola would have had to do battle with some European heavyweights to secure his signature.

However, it now appears as though Atalanta have taken an even firmer stance and won’t be willing to sell the youngster anytime soon…

The Latest: Scalvini set to stay at Atalanta

As per Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Atalanta president Antonio Percassi has shot down the hopes of Man City and anyone else who had eyes on a move for Scalvini.

The Nerazzurri chief told Eco di Bergamo: “We are not gonna sell him now, for sure. Scalvini is the symbol of our Academy project, so he will stay.”

The Verdict: Blow for Man City

Lauded as a ‘dominant, elegant & complete centre-back’ by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, the 19-year-old is a hugely precocious talent, as indicated by the fact that he is already a regular feature in Serie A and has made three senior appearances for Italy.

The 6 foot 5 colossus has amassed 29 league appearances for Atalanta since breaking into the team last season, putting in a string of impressive displays – notably in his team’s 2-0 win at Empoli in October, in which he made the joint-most tackles and interceptions of any player on the pitch.

These are consistently good traits possessed by the teenager, with an average of 2.7 tackles per 90 over the past year placing him in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, while a match average of 2.17 interceptions ranks him in the 93rd percentile.

There may be more opportunities for Man City to sign Scalvini in the future, as a move away from his current club has not been ruled out on a long-term basis, but it is a blow that they seemingly will not be able to sign him in the near future.

Wolves are in pole position for the signing of Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha over both Everton and Leeds United, says journalist Sam Leveridge.

The Lowdown: Old Gold in talks…

The Old Gold’s desire to bring in Cunha is no secret to both fans and the media alike with manager Julen Lopetegui even confirming their interest recently.

As the January transfer window looms, Fosun International will be looking at many different avenues to strengthen the Molineux side who currently sit bottom of the Premier League table.

Scoring fewer goals than any other side in the English top flight, new attacking options could be a must in the winter window.

The Latest: Wolves lead chase for Cunha…

Cunha appears to be their top target with Marca reporter Leveridge now sharing an update on Wolves’ pursuit of the Brazilian.

He shares that the 23-year-old was left out of Atletico’s squad for their recent friendly against Ponferradina as an ‘exit nears’.

Leveridge adds an update on his possible new club with Lopetegui currently in the driving seat for his signing, with Wolves’ two other competitors, Everton and Leeds, falling behind.

He said (via Twitter):

“Matheus Cunha not in the Atlético Madrid squad for their friendly vs Ponferradina tonight as an exit nears. Seems Wolves continue to lead the race for him, but Everton and Leeds also interested.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Wolves are reportedly deep in talks for the South American ace who shone at former club Hertha Berlin over the 2020/2021 season.

His form in the Bundesliga indicates Cunha could be of use for Lopetegui, and he appears to have the physical attributes to be a success, having been called a ‘very fast’ forward by former coach Maurizio Jaccobacci.

According to Jaccobacci also, the Atletico wantaway has an ‘excellent goal instinct’ – something Wolves are in dire need of right now.

Nottingham Forest taking on Stoke City in a friendly will be a ‘useful test’, according to journalist Paul Taylor.

The Lowdown: Training programme underway

The Premier League side secured a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace almost a fortnight ago which saw them climb up the table to 18th, just one point from safety during the World Cup break.

The Tricky Trees are now underway with their mid-season training programme at Wilford Lane as they step up preparations for their return to domestic action, and it sounds like a match has been scheduled to ensure they stay up to speed.

The Latest: Taylor’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Taylor revealed that Forest are set to face the Potters in a friendly next week and delivered his thoughts on the arranged fixture. He wrote:

“#NFFC will play Stoke City at Loughborough University on Friday December 2 (7.30pm) as part of their mid-season training programme.

“#NFFC fans will be allowed to attend.

“Might not be as warm as Spain or Greece… but a useful test for Steve Cooper’s side.”

The Verdict: Ideal competition

Forest being able to fit in a match before returning to league action is a bonus regardless of the opposition, but Stoke are the ideal competition.

Alex Neil’s side have been in the Championship for a few seasons now and are looking to gain promotion so the Reds will know the position they are in having been there and got the tee shirt.

Steve Cooper will be given a good indication of where his team are at based on the outcome of this game and they will be hoping to pick up where they left off when they face Blackburn in the EFL Cup next month.

With the recently-appointed Unai Emery looking to usher in the new era at Aston Villa, he has unsurprisingly been linked with plenty of his old players that already know him well.

Villarreal at the club that seems to have been targeted, with Pau Torres and Yeremy Pino hot favourites to make the switch.

However, as was seemingly the case with Steven Gerrard, the Spaniard will want to address a midfield sorely lacking in creativity.

Whilst John McGinn, Leander Dendoncker and Douglas Luiz are all good players in their own right, there is little drive or the ability to pick a pass from deep.

That could explain why reports have been emerging linking the Midlands giants to Juventus’ midfield Weston McKennie.

Although they are one of many teams interested in the £26m powerhouse, according to journalist Simon Phillips, to secure this deal and slot him beside Luiz, who has just signed a new long-term contract himself, could hold down Emery’s midfield for the foreseeable future.

With the steel and solidity brought by the Brazilian, outlined in his 85% pass accuracy and 1.6 tackles per game, he would pair nicely with the American international who has earned praise for his goalscoring exploits from midfield at times in his career.

Boasting a “powerful” presence – as claimed by his old manager Dominic Tedesco – his surging runs from deep and pressing energy would complement a Villa side that has attempted to push high this season but achieved little success.

Despite having the seventh-highest team sequence pressures in the league, only one has resulted in a goal. To add this proficient “pressing machine”, as dubbed by journalist Chris Smith, to the Villans’ midfield, would be a stroke of genius.

With four goal contributions already this season across Serie A and the Champions League, he has offered a solid stream of performances for a Juventus side that are seriously underperforming.

He also has nine goals at international level in just 37 games and is poised to star at Qatar in the upcoming World Cup.

That’s not to suggest that he won’t contribute defensively, as he ranks in the top 8% for blocks and averages 1.28 interceptions a game. These exploits are likely what led to Andrea Pirlo labelling him a “rock”.

McKennie is the quintessential all-around midfielder, and under an accomplished manager like Emery he could be moulded into Luiz’s perfect partner.