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Arsenal are ‘convinced’ by the ‘potential’ possessed by Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby but a January move may be hard to complete, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Diaby’s Leverkusen future

The 23-year-old is currently contracted until June 2025 so Leverkusen have no pressing need to sell the winger, who has been linked to Arsenal for a long time, as reported by 90min at the end of last season.

Die Werkself have started to turn their form around in the Bundesliga, winning their last four matches in the division, so they will not want to scupper their progress by allowing one of their star players to leave.

Journalist Patrick Berger has reported that it would take £68m plus bonuses to tempt Leverkusen into a sale, and Romano has now shared a fresh claim on the situation.

The Latest: Romano’s update

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about the potential move, the journalist said: “Moussa Diaby is a player that Arsenal have been following for a long time and they know him very well.

“They’re convinced of his potential but, at the same time, Bayer Leverkusen have no intention to sell the player in January unless they receive a really important bid.”

The Verdict: He’s worth it

While a deal for the 23-year-old would set the Gunners back a hefty sum, there is every indication that he would be worth it, judging by his performances for Leverkusen over the past few seasons.

The Frenchman was at his best in the 2021/22 campaign, weighing in with an incredible 13 goals and 12 assists in 32 appearances, with the latter tally ranking him third in the league for that metric behind only Christopher Nkunku and Thomas Muller.

Morade Djeddi, president of his first club Esperance Paris 19e, once lauded the attacker as possessing a ‘supernatural, divine gift’ for dribbling, while also praising his ‘explosiveness’ on the ball.

Mikel Arteta may have to wait until the end of the season before launching a bid for Diaby, but by that point Arsenal are likely to be in a very strong negotiating position, given that they will have almost certainly secured Champions League football and could even be Premier League winners by then.

Aston Villa could see Lyon striker Moussa Dembele as the ideal replacement for Danny Ings this month, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Villa linked with Dembele signing

In recent times, the 26-year-old Frenchman has found himself linked with a move to Villa Park, having caught the eye greatly for the Ligue 1 side down the years.

Dembele has an impressive record of 69 goals in 160 appearances for the French giants, not to mention bagging 51 in 94 during his time at Celtic.

It doesn’t look as though Villa’s interest in the striker has gone away yet, following a fresh update.

The Latest: Possible Ings replacement?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones claimed that Dembele could be seen as the best replacement for Ings, who has moved to West Ham:

“It’s a really interesting option. He’s one of the names that we floated at the start of the window as an option for somebody when they were desperate for a striking situation to be resolved.

“I think if you’re looking for somebody to replace Ings now in that frontline, Moussa Dembele would certainly be capable of that.”

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The Verdict: Upgrade on Ings?

It is important that Unai Emery brings in a new striker this month, mainly in terms of squad depth, and Dembele would be an exciting addition, with his aforementioned goalscoring record summing up his pedigree.

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In fact, the Lyon man could easily prove to be an upgrade on Ings, considering he is our years his junior and has been described as ‘excellent’ by Brendan Rodgers during their time at Celtic.

Looking at their underlying statistics, Dembele actually scores higher than Ings for every single attacking metric except for assists per 90 minutes, while he also wins out in many of the possession-based numbers, such as dribbles and pass completion.

The £66,000-a-week-earning Dembele could help take Villa up another gear in the second half of the season, at a point where Emery is threatening to build a formidable team, bringing more firepower to a side that has only scored 23 times in 20 Premier League outings this season.

Liverpool are interested in swooping for RB Leipzig’s industrious midfield ace Amadou Haidara, who is of interest to a plethora of European outfits following his exploits in the German Bundesliga.

The Independent’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney has reported that Brighton & Hove Albion have just had a bid rejected for the Malian midfielder, with Leipzig unwilling to sell their pivoting gem in the centre this winter due to difficulty in signing a replacement.

Delaney continued to state that such transfer revelations mean that Liverpool could revisit a deal in the summer, with the Merseyside outfit’s desperation in finding a new sheen to the centre of the park well documented amid their struggles this season.

With Manchester United also reported to be interested in making a move, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp must act swiftly, making the requisite plans and presenting an enticing offer to Amadou and his German team.

Imagine him & Bellingham

The £33m-valued Haidara has made 22 appearances this season, but has only started four times in the league, and could search for pastures new after falling out of favour.

And with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all out of contract at the end of the season, there could indeed be a calling for an assiduous new ace of Haidara’s mould to catapult the north west club back into title contention after falling wayward this year.

As per FBref, Haidara ranks within the top 14% of midfielders across Europe’s major leagues for progressive passes, the top 19% for rate of goals and the top 20% for rate of assists, illuminating the offensive impact he could have on the Liverpool outfit.

Speaking to The Guardian in 2021, Haidara proclaimed that the former Manchester City behemoth, Yaya Toure, was his idol, also stating that he “loved Steven Gerrard” and has attempted to emulate his game.

He said: “Everything he did was amazing. I love to watch his videos and try to take things from his game.”

If Haidara, hailed as “mouth-watering” by journalist Zach Lowy, was to join the Anfield ranks, he could form a deadly partnership with fellow Liverpool target Jude Bellingham, who has been at the centre of intense speculation over his future with Borussia Dortmund, touted by high-profile sources for a move to Klopp’s team.

With the former Birmingham City maestro ranking among the top 4% of positional peers for rate of goals and completed dribbles in Europe, and the top 14% for progressive passes and shot-creating actions, there is an undeniable sheen that could bolster Liverpool’s desire for a swift ascension back to the top.

With Bellingham also thriving through his energetic aura and composure and assurance with the ball at his feet, Klopp and co could finally witness that cohesion and intensity reinstated into the side, which certainly looks devoid of its former unwavering tenacity this season, languishing in ninth place in the Premier League.

There is so much to be said for the potential that could stem from such a partnership, but quite simply, just imagine a Reds team with an injection of just half the life and vibrancy that the two aforementioned stars could bring.

The duality in vigour and an unflinching presence, partnered with the contrasting skill sets, could give Liverpool the finely poised balance that the hierarchy so desperately crave, and while landing the pair might break the bank, the time for action is now.

Liverpool must return to their former glory, and forming such a ‘mouth-watering’ dynamic duo is the way.

Leeds United have made an approach for Manchester City midfielder and former Whites star Kalvin Phillips, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Zero Premier League starts

Phillips left his boyhood club for the Etihad Stadium last summer in a £45m deal, but things haven’t gone to plan for the 27-year-old in Manchester.

The England international, who shares the same agency as Leeds striker Patrick Bamford, is yet to start a Premier League game under Pep Guardiola, missing large parts of the season with a shoulder injury.

The Man City manager said that the midfielder returned from the World Cup ‘overweight’, and it looks as if a number of clubs are keen on his services.

The Latest: Leeds enquire about Phillips

The Sun’s Phil Thomas shared an update regarding Phillips just after midday on Tuesday, with Leeds being one of three Premier League clubs named with an interest in the midfielder.

The report claimed that Victor Orta has asked about taking the 27-year-old back on loan, although City are refusing to do business with the Whites, Everton or West Ham.

The Verdict: Not a surprise

Although Phillips is yet to make a real impact in Manchester, it doesn’t come as a shock that City have turned down an approach from Leeds.

He is one of just two senior holding midfielders at the Etihad alongside Rodri, and you’d expect that he will receive more minutes as the season goes on, with City still involved in three competitions.

Leeds have also added to their own midfield ranks with a loan swoop for Weston McKennie from Juventus, and it looks as if a return to Elland Road for Phillips won’t materialise today.

McKennie has also outperformed Phillips overall this season, as per WhoScored metrics, so you’d expect that Orta and co are delighted with a move for the USA international.

Tottenham Hotspur have been given an injury boost ahead of their Premier League clash against Manchester City later today, with Richarlison now available for selection again.

The Lowdown: Richarlison’s absence

Spurs were dealt a blow when the 25-year-old played 84 minutes of Brazil’s World Cup quarter-final against Croatia in December, despite him injuring his hamstring in the warm-up before kick-off.

The Brazilian has had persistent problems with his hamstring, missing the FA Cup win over Preston with the issue following a brief comeback, but it now appears as though he has finally put the injury behind him.

The Latest: Richarlison available v Man City

Speaking ahead of the clash against Manchester City this evening, Tottenham’s assistant manager Cristian Stellini offered a promising update on the 25-year-old’s progress towards a return.

When asked whether the forward is available to feature, the Italian said: “Like I said after the last game Richarlison had a small problem and now he is available. He has been training in this week and he is available.”

The Verdict: Great news for Spurs

The initial injury came at a very bad time for the 42-cap Brazil international as he was just starting to come into some very good form, scoring three goals and claiming one assist at the World Cup.

Hailed as ‘incredible’ by journalist John Bennett, the former Everton attacker is still searching for his first Premier League goal in a Tottenham shirt, although he has impressed in Europe, scoring twice in the 2-0 victory against Marseille in the Champions League.

Richarlison may not start today, given that he has only featured as a substitute in the last three games for which he has been fit, but it is still great news that he has shaken off his latest injury concern. Squad depth will be vital for Antonio Conte in the second half of the season, with the manager looking to compete in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Wolverhampton Wanderers make the trip to the south coast this afternoon for their Premier League clash against Southampton, and Julen Lopetegui will be hoping that his team can take confidence from their recent victory over Liverpool into today’s bottom-of-the-table clash.

The Midlands club are now 15th in the table – two points clear of the relegation zone – and another win against Nathan Jones’ side today could be a huge opportunity to widen the gap to the bottom three.

In terms of injuries, Sasa Kalajdzic, Chiquinho, Hwang Hee-chan and Boubacar Traore are all unavailable for the trip to St Mary’s, although late fitness tests will be undertaken for two players, with Lopetegui hinting at a chance for Pedro Neto and Mario Lemina to be involved.

In his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Wolves boss confirmed that the Gabon midfielder has recovered from illness, but a decision won’t be made on him until the morning of the match.

Lopetegui said of Lemina (via the club’s official website): “I don’t know if he’s going to be 100 per cent but he’s better so we’ll have to take the decision tomorrow morning with him. We don’t know if he will play or not, because we have had a little problem with a couple of players.”

What could Wolves’ XI look like against Southampton?

Football FanCast predicts just three changes to the team which beat Liverpool last weekend, with a full overhaul of the forward line and a switch to a 4-3-3 formation…

Jose Sa (GK), Nelson Semedo (RB), Craig Dawson (CB), Max Kilman (CB), Rayan Ait-Nouri (LB), Ruben Neves (CM), Mario Lemina (CM), Matheus Nunes (CM), Daniel Podence (RW), Raul Jimenez (ST), Adama Traore (LW)

Following that fantastic performance at Molineux, there is no doubt that the manager will want to keep the skeleton of his team relatively the same to not only reward the players for their efforts but to ensure continuity in key areas of the pitch.

As a result, we expect to see no personnel changes in midfield or defence at St Mary’s this afternoon, although Hwang’s injury could provide an opportunity for Lopetegui to experiment with his forward line and give some of his more experienced players an opportunity to prove their worth.

The first change we expect to see is Wolves stalwart Adama Traore returning to the front three, with the pacy 27-year-old capable of causing chaos on the left flank. He should be able to keep the Saints defenders busy in order to open up more opportunities for the visitors, with Pablo Sarabia dropping out.

The two other changes we predict are Daniel Podence’s return to the starting XI to replace Hwang, and Raul Jimenez replacing Matheus Cunha at centre-forward.

Indeed, the Brazilian loanee – for whom Wolves have a £44m obligation to buy in the summer – has been a breath of fresh air in the team, posting a tidy 6.9 Sofascore rating against Liverpool as he landed two shots on target, although there is no ignoring Jimenez’s record against Southampton.

The Wolves titan – who was previously dubbed “sensational” by Conor Coady – has scored five goals in his last five appearances against today’s opponents, proving that he could be the talisman that his team needs in order to secure another victory.

Lopetegui is in a great position to distance Wolves from a relegation scrap at the bottom of the table by stealing all three points from St Mary’s today, with Southampton rock-bottom and reeling from a 3-0 hammering by Brentford and uncertainty over the status of Jones as their manager.

West Bromwich Albion are already looking at Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore as a possible replacement for Carlos Corberan, according to The Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: Corberan speculation

The 39-year-old has made a huge impact at The Hawthorns since taking over in October, guiding the Baggies from the relegation zone to the play-offs in just 13 games in the Championship.

The Spaniard has won 10 leagues games and appears to be a top target for Leeds United after they sacked Jesse Marsch on Monday. Corberan is believed to be open to talking to the Elland Road hierarchy, and West Brom chiefs duly appear to be making contingency plans amid the speculation, with former Albion manager Moore a possible target.

The Latest: Moore eyed for West Brom return

The Daily Mail shared an update on Monday evening, stating that West Brom – and by extension owner Guochuan Lai – are aware of speculation regarding Leeds and Corberan.

They claimed that Albion are assessing potential replacements, and Moore – who has won 24 games in all competitions this season with the Owls – ‘will be one of the names at the forefront of their thinking’.

The Verdict: Good thinking…

Corberan might end up staying in the Midlands, but it is a good idea for West Brom to look at potential candidates in case he does leave for Yorkshire.

Moore, who was hailed as an ‘honourable’ manager by Gareth Ainsworth, left the Baggies after 11 months in permanent charge of the club in 2019 but has been enjoying a positive 2022/23 season at Hillsborough, with the Owls currently top of League One.

He likes to play a 3-5-2 system and appears to be getting the best out of Wednesday’s current squad, and having accrued valuable experience elsewhere, he could enjoy a better second stint at The Hawthorns, making this one to watch for the Albion faithful.

Wolverhampton Wanderers spent wildly last summer under then-manager Bruno Lage, securing deals for Goncalo Guedes (£27.5m), Matheus Nunes (£42.2m), and Nathan Collins (£20.5m) as the Old Gold splashed the cash in order to replicate or even better their impressive tenth-place finish in 2021/22.

Fast forward eight matches into the current Premier League season, and the Molineux side had recorded just one victory, with Lage unsurprisingly losing his job with the club in the relegation zone and none of his big-money signings managing to click as swiftly as he’d have hoped.

It was a player that the 46-year-old missed out on during the summer transfer window which proved to be his biggest howler in charge of the club, especially with the form that one Goncalo Ramos has shown in the subsequent six-month period for both club and country.

How has Goncalo Ramos done since Wolves missed out on him?

The Portuguese forward has been in devastating form this season, making the missed opportunity even more heartbreaking for the Old Gold, as there is no doubt that he could have significantly improved their goalscoring woes.

Wolves were linked with a move for him before the start of the season, with Benfica looking for £30m in order to sanction their star striker’s departure.

Ramos enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2021/22, scoring eight goals for the Lisbon club, but it was at the start of this season that he really began to explode and showcase his talents to the continent.

In four Champions League qualifying matches, he netted four times to propel his team into the group stage, adding another goal for good measure in that phase of the competition.

This has been supplemented with 13 domestic goals so far this season, and the 21-year-old duly earned a place in the Portugal squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

He started twice for his country as they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Morocco, but his performance in the last 16 against Switzerland gave the world a glimpse of his full capabilites.

The youngster received a sublime Sofascore rating of 9.8/10, the best on the pitch by some margin, as he a wonderful hat-trick on the night that he made light of Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock omission. He also grabbed an assist, took six shots in total, made two key passes and created a further big chance in what was a World Cup performance which will go down in history.

He showcased his prowess in the air by winning three of his five aerial duels, and this natural goalscoring ability – combined with an already impressive physical presence – would have vastly improved Wolves’ squad under Lage.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig lavished praise on the striker in 2021 as he claimed 11 goals in just nine matches for Benfica B, tweeting that those were “outrageous numbers”, and it certainly looks like Ramos hasn’t slowed down one bit after graduating to senior football.

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha is reportedly no longer a priority target for Arsenal, although he is still on the transfer list ahead of this summer.

The Lowdown: Long-term interest

Arsenal’s interest in Zaha dates back to 2019 when now Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was in charge, as the Ivorian was on the verge of signing for the Gunners before they decided to sign Nicolas Pepe instead.

The 30-year-old’s contract is now up in the summer, meaning that he can leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

The Latest: Not a priority

As per Football Insider, Zaha is no longer a priority target for the Gunners ahead of this summer, but he is still on the shortlist.

Other clubs in the Premier League are also believed to be interested in his signature, including North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The Verdict: Why not?

The Emirates Stadium outfit will need to increase their squad depth for next season assuming that they qualify from the UEFA Champions League through their league position.

On a free transfer, they could do worse than to bring Zaha in to add to Mikel Arteta’s attacking options, who has proven pedigree in the Premier League with 67 goals and 43 assists in just under 300 games in total (Transfermarkt).

Arteta is also thought to be a big fan of his, dubbing him a ‘terrific’ player who has had a ‘phenomenal’ impact on the top flight, and so the Ivorian should be able to fit in well at the Emirates should he make the move.

Chelsea have fallen by the wayside this season and are enduring an overwhelmingly turbulent ride, and despite already dismissing Thomas Tuchel for Graham Potter in the early phases of the term, a second sacking might be forthcoming…

What’s the latest on Chelsea’s manager situation?

Having won just one of the past ten matches across all competitions, Chelsea are in crisis. An emergency board meeting took place earlier this week to attempt to identify the crux of the issue and rectify it ahead of the business end of the campaign.

And should Potter’s dismissal indeed be on the cards, high-flying Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has been earmarked as a potential replacement, according to CalcioMercato.

The Italian outlet declares that the Partenopei’s boss has been distinguished as one of the optimum figures to lead the line at this new Chelsea project, with owner Todd Boehly spending more than £550m on transfers since last summer.

Imagine Luciano Spalletti and Victor Osimhen…

Given the bulk of expenditure in west London, it is inexcusable that the Blues languish in the mid-table obscurity they find themselves shackled to; with just 31 points from 23 Premier League outings thus far, Chelsea are in grave danger of missing out on Champions League football next season.

And trailing Borussia Dortmund 1-0 after the first leg of the continental tournament’s round-of-16 phase – the outfit’s last credible hope of silverware this term – Potter might face the axe in short time after failing to harness the abundant quality at his disposal, with a daunting league trip to Tottenham Hotspur also looming this Sunday.

If the seat becomes vacant, the “genius”, as dubbed by Mina Rzouki, would be an excellent choice for Boehly and co, but with Napoli 15 points clear atop Serie A and holding a two-goal advantage over Eintracht Frankfurt in their Champions League knockout fixture, succeeding in this pursuit may be tricky.

However, given the Italian outfit’s ascension under his wing, it could result in a momentous turnaround for Chelsea, should he indeed switch for a different shade of blue.

According to one scout report, fluidity and a complete understanding of positional play at Napoli have resulted in Spalletti’s squad flourishing at a towering height, and if this could be implemented at Chelsea, the brimming quality could indeed finally start to glisten.

And given Chelsea’s interest in Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, with the likes of the Mirror reporting that a deal will be fiercely pursued this summer for the €100m (£88m) “monster” – as hailed by journalist Oluwashina Okeleji – hiring Spalletti could result in a seismic addition of one of Europe’s most blistering forwards. 

Indeed, it is likely the forward would favour a manager who has been so crucial to his recent development and if the 63-year-old manager favours Chelsea, then Osimhen could well favour the same switch, an eventuality that is surely a dream for their adoring fans.

Lauded as a “goal machine” by Mimi Fawaz, the Nigerian has been integral in his team’s endeavours this year, rivalling the very best of the game’s striking sensations and scoring 18 league goals and served four assists from 19 outings thus far, netting in each of his past seven Serie A appearances.

Prising Spalletti away from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium is certainly a tall order, but if Chelsea succeed in landing the coveted manager, the recipe for success might just be within Christopher Vivell and Boehly’s clutches.

And just imagine if his acquisition resulted in the arrival of the ‘monstrous’ Osimhen…