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Manchester United are reportedly still keen on signing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, although they face competition from a number of Premier League rivals.

The Lowdown: Constant De Jong links

The Dutchman was constantly linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer transfer window, with his future at the La Liga club up in the air.

In the end, De Jong stayed put at Camp Nou, and he has largely performed well this season, enjoying a 92.2% pass completion rate across nine La Liga appearances.

However, a fresh rumour has emerged which suggests that the 25-year-old could still move on in the near future.

The Latest: United still keen on signing De Jong

According to ESPN, De Jong is still being tracked by United ahead of a potential January move, with Barca seemingly not desperate to keep hold of him.

Chelsea and Liverpool are also credited with strong interest, though, and the three Premier League heavyweights are ‘ready to lead the race’ for his signature.

The Blues are believed to have been given encouragement that the 25-year-old could be willing to reconsider his Camp Nou future amid a sparsity of starts and the firm possibility of Barcelona failing to get out of their Champions League group.

The Verdict: Final piece of midfield jigsaw

While De Jong not necessarily being a key player at Barca may raise some eyebrows over his quality as a footballer, he could be a wonderful signing for United.

His technical ability in tight spaces and resistance to the press would make him an ideal foil for Casemiro in the middle of the park, as well as an upgrade on Fred, with his seasonal WhoScored rating continually exceeding the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk man.

To have Casemiro and De Jong sitting deeper, with Christian Eriksen or Bruno Fernandes causing havoc further forward, would have the potential to be an exceptional and well-balanced United midfield.

Whether or not the Red Devils can pip their domestic rivals to his signature remains to be seen but he ticks all the boxes in midfield, having been hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by his manager Xavi in the past.

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Goncalo Ramos over the summer transfer window so far and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

Is Goncalo Ramos joining Newcastle?

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are interested in signing the Benfica striker but will need to provide the right offer to snap up his services this summer.

As per the report, Newcastle were proposing a €60m (£51m) offer to secure the signing of Ramos, however, it would only be an €80m (£68m) bid that would convince the Portuguese club to part ways with their star player.

How good is Goncalo Ramos?

Eddie Howe will surely be thrilled with his squad at St James' Park after their achievements and huge progress last season with the side reaching their first cup final in almost two decades and qualifying for Champions League football.

However, there will be little room for sentiment when it comes to planning to compete on all fronts next season and subtle tweaks will need to be made to ensure that the team can build upon the progress they have already made and can comfortably challenge for trophies.

As a result, the signing of Ramos would be a wise investment for the Magpies should they be able to meet Benfica's financial expectations this summer as the promising young goal machine would be a worthy successor for Callum Wilson.

Until last season, the Newcastle mainstay had been the first-pick front-man in the number nine role, however, the arrival of Alexander Isak provided quality competition for the England international and has been since rotating with the Swedish striker which has been a success as the pair have both been hugely impactful in front of goal.

Having said that, Wilson will turn 32 years old during the next campaign and with injuries a consistent problem for the goal-scorer, the arrival of Ramos could be bad news for his short-term future on Tyneside, as the Portugal international would be seen as part of the long-term future of the club.

Over 106 appearances for Benfica so far, the 22-year-old talent – hailed as "pure class" by Ian Wright – has scored 41 goals and registered 16 assists with a goal contribution every 110 minutes so far; as well as tallying up 25 appearances in the Champions League making him a potentially valuable prospect for Howe when his team challenges in Europe next season.

Not only that, whilst predominantly playing as a centre-forward, Ramos is versatile with experience playing as a second striker and in an attacking midfield role too, so there is no reason why the Newcastle boss would need to sacrifice Isak to start Ramos as he could play in a slightly deeper role just behind.

With that being said, a move for Ramos is definitely one to watch as injecting some more youth into the forward line would set up the strike force for years to come and assist Newcastle in their pursuit for success.

Wolves’ decision to hand Steve Davis the reins until 2023 already looks to have backfired after recent defeats, but Jeff Shi could save the Old Gold’s season by bringing in Ruben Amorim.

Following Bruno Lage’s sacking in early October, Wolves have been turned down by both Julen Lopetegui and Michael Beale in their attempts to find a new head coach at Molineux.

After overseeing two defeats and one win in his first three games in charge, it was confirmed that Davis would be the main man at Molineux until after the World Cup, when Wolves’ managerial search would resume.

Unfortunately, the former Crewe Alexandra boss – who had never managed above League One before Lage’s departure – already looks well out of his depth at the Premier League club, with Wolves suffering an embarrassing 4-0 home defeat against Leicester City at the weekend, with Brendan Rodgers’ side bottom of the table before the rout at Molineux.

This leaves the Old Gold 19th in the league on just nine points, with their return of five goals by far the worst in the top flight, and it feels that a significant change is needed if they want to avoid relegation this season.

One man who has been linked with the vacancy is Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim. The 37-year-old is emerging as one of the top young managers in European football thanks to his work with the Green and Whites, who he led to their first Portuguese Liga title in 19 years in 2020/21.

While it was suggested earlier in the month that Amorim had snubbed Wolves, Shi has now been handed a boost in any potential pursuit of the Portuguese manager, as The Telegraph have reported that his release clause has dropped to just £10m.

The outlet claimed that it would be a boost to Aston Villa’s hopes of appointing the 37-year-old, but they have now hired Unai Emery, which opens the door for an approach from Wolves for the Sporting Lisbon boss.

Given that Amorim has averaged 2.24 points per game during his time with the Portuguese giants, he could instil a much-needed winning mentality at Wolves.

He definitely appears to have the potential to save the Old Gold’s season should Shi bring him to Molineux, with relegation looking like a distinct possibility under the current management team.

Crystal Palace put on a resilient performance at Selhurst Park this afternoon after losing 3-0 to Everton last week, beating Southampton 1-0 in front of their home support.

The three points for the Eagles means that they have now broken into the top half of the table and are currently 10th, with their position hanging in the balance of other results around them this weekend.

Patrick Vieira will be proud of his team, who despite having less possession (45%), fewer shots on goal (12 v 14) and fewer big chances (one v three) showed their determination and hard-working attitude throughout the game in south London.

In a relatively uneventful first half, Palace showed how clinical and threatening they can be when in possession, which was inevitably rewarded with a 32nd-minute goal from Odsonne Edouard after he was set up by left-back Tyrick Mitchell.

Despite the Saints doing their best to make a second-half comeback, their desperate efforts were not converted, with 10 of their 14 shots taken in the final 45 minutes of the game, and the Eagles duly reigned victorious, claiming all three points with their first-half goal.

Although Edouard’s goal was the obvious lynchpin in Crystal Palace’s success, there was another player who was key to their victory today.

Luka Milivojevic was an absolute star in the engine room and put on a midfield performance of which Vieira would be proud.

Over his 90-minute display, the 31-year-old took 60 touches, made 33 accurate passes and won 72% of his duels, along with making one key pass, four clearances, four tackles and two interceptions, proving that he ran the show in his role.

The Serbian midfielder’s display against the Saints was his highest-rated performance of the season so far in eight Premier League appearances according to SofaScore, so Milivojevic will be really pleased with the positive impact and hard work that he put in this afternoon.

There are just two more opportunities for Palace to pick up points in the league before the World Cup starts next month, and Vieira will be hoping that this win can inspire further victories when the Eagles face Nottingham Forest and West Ham United over the next couple of weeks.

Reports have suggested today that FSG have placed Liverpool up for sale following a 12-year ownership tenure after purchasing the club from George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks in October 2010.

FSG have overseen one of the finest periods in the club’s recent history, with Liverpool winning a raft of honours since appointing Jurgen Klopp in 2015.

The owners could end their tenure at Merseyside with a bang, however, by securing a move for a talented 19-year-old who is currently thriving in Spain…

Liverpool should sign Alberto Moleiro

It’s no secret that the Anfield side are desperate to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, with the club routinely being linked with the youngster. However, they may try and bring another young talent into the club during the January transfer window to bolster the midfield area.

According to Spanish outlet AS, Liverpool have joined the race to sign Las Palmas attacking midfielder Alberto Moleiro, along with Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund.

The report claims that Klopp is an admirer of the youngster and with a release clause of €30m (£26m), he will certainly be a cheaper alternative to Bellingham.

Moleiro has been likened to Barcelona superstar Pedri for their similar playing style and the fact both players hail from the Canary Islands, with the two young midfielders starting off at Las Palmas.

There are some differences despite the obvious comparisons between the two Spaniards, with Moleiro’s ex-manager Pepe Mel once saying: “Pedri is a player who dictates the tempo of the game and ensures that possession is not lost. On the other hand, Moleiro always looks to get forward and engage the opposition’s defence.

“Moleiro creates the chances, but Pedri is in charge of starting the moves off.”

The 19-year-old “wonderkid” – in the words of one source – is thriving in LaLiga 2 this season and is clearly destined for an immensely bright future in the game.

He has made 1.5 key passes per match while also creating five big chances, a number that actually out trumps Bellingham’s 0.9 this term. Although still very much a raw prospect, this interest from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid suggests he is the real deal and Klopp would certainly be able to bring the best out of the player.

Bellingham may or may not join the club next season, but with the Liverpool midfield urgently needing some rejuvenation, FSG could secure the future of the club with one final act of mastery in the transfer window.

After all, Moleiro may just become a more realistic target next year if the Reds ultimately miss out on Champions League football.

Aston Villa have scouted Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Contract situation

Hailed as an ‘extraordinary talent’ by his former Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, the 23-year-old will soon be entering the final six months of his Ewood Park deal.

The Chile international recently admitted that he would ‘hopefully’ be staying with the Championship outfit until the end of the season as they push for promotion.

He has scored nine goals in 20 league games during the current campaign, with his form seemingly catching the eye of Villa Park officials.

The Latest: Villa linked with Brereton Diaz

90min journalist Graeme Bailey provided an update regarding Brereton Diaz on Tuesday.

The reporter claimed that Villa are among a number of Premier League clubs who have scouted the forward, with a £10m offer in January potentially enough to tempt Blackburn into selling.

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The Verdict: Good idea?

Brereton Diaz can play anywhere across the front three, so he could fit into Unai Emery’s plans after the new manager played a 4-2-3-1 system in his first game in charge at Villa Park.

Described as the ‘face of Pepsi’ in Chile due to massive marketing campaigns following his international success, the Blackburn gem appears to be going from strength to strength and is still just 23 years of age.

Therefore, a cut-price move in 2023 could be a wise idea from NSWE, although they may face plenty of competition for Brereton Diaz’s signature.

Sky Sports’ northeast reporter Keith Downie has said that having three Newcastle United players in the England squad for the World Cup is ‘unbelievable’.

The Lowdown: Three Magpies for the Three Lions

Three Magpies players were included in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad for the World Cup in Qatar, with Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson all getting the call.

The former two were safe picks having made recent squads, but Wilson has not played for the Three Lions since 2019, although he has been picked by Southgate ahead of the likes of Tammy Abraham and Ivan Toney for the upcoming tournament.

The Latest: Downie buzzing

Taking to Twitter, Downie was left buzzing after the England squad was announced, claiming that having three players from St James’ Park in it is ‘unbelievable’ for Newcastle.

The Sky Sports reporter tweeted: “Unbelievable how far Newcastle have come in such a short space of time. And having three players in the England squad for Qatar symbolises exactly that.”

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The Verdict: Deserved

All three Newcastle players deserve their place in the England squad as a testament to how well they have performed to get the Tynesiders up to third place in the Premier League table.

Having three players from one club in the squad is the joint-second highest representation behind Manchester City with five.

It puts Eddie Howe’s side level with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, and they have more than Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur from the so-called ‘big six’.

The fact that the Toon are mixing it up with the more traditional big boys is shown by the players in the England squad, and they all deserve their seats on the plane to Qatar next week.

Leeds United may have Borussia Monchengladbach defender Joe Scally on their radar, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Scally profiled

The 19-year-old is primarily a right-back who can play further forward or as a left-back.

The United States international will represent his country at the World Cup alongside Leeds duo Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams and even shares the same agent as the former.

He has been with the Bundesliga club since 2021 and currently holds a career-high Transfermarkt valuation of €12m (£10.5m).

The Latest: Leeds name-checked in Scally links

90min journalists Graeme Bailey and Sean Walsh shared a story on Monday regarding Premier League scouts watching Borussia Monchengladbach against Borussia Dortmund last Friday.

They claimed that Leeds had scouts watching Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro and added that ‘Scally may well be on their radar considering the club’s considerable American contingent’.

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The Verdict: Is he needed?

Leeds are fairly well-stocked at right-back at this moment in time, with Rasmus Kristensen and Luke Ayling to call upon and Stuart Dallas still to come back from injury.

Cody Drameh is also on the books at Elland Road, although the youngster is attracting plenty of interest across Europe.

Scally has been hailed as a ‘great defender’ by USA team-mate Ricardo Pepi, so if Drameh departs and Ayling doesn’t extend his current contract beyond its expiry next summer, perhaps the Monchengladbach man could be a worthwhile target at Elland Road.

Everton could well be plotting a move to bolster their midfield ranks in the near future, with very recent reports suggesting that Hoffenheim FC star, Dennis Geiger, is one of those currently on the club’s watch list.

Despite having overseen a vast midfield overhaul in the summer, with Idrissa Gana Gueye, James Garner and Amadou Onana all joining the Merseyside club. However, it seems Frank Lampard is not quite satisfied as his side sits precariously above the relegation zone.

As per Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenburg, the Toffees have now identified Geiger as the final piece in their midfield puzzle and are noted as “highly interested” in taking advantage of his dwindling contract.

The German machine has just seven months remaining on his £25k-per-week deal, and the thought is that the tough-tackling 24-year-old could be the man to replace Gueye and thrive as part of a double pivot with the aforementioned Belgian.

Benfica are the main club set to rival them for his signature, but talks remain ongoing with all interested parties.

The 5 foot 7 maestro has been outlining his talents across his homeland for some time now, and despite his career still being so young, he has already featured 106 times for his boyhood club.

His diminutive frame would pair nicely with the 6 foot 3 presence Onana brings, as well as his defensive output.

Geiger has earned a reputation for boasting a fine well-rounded skillset, outlined in his 1.6 key passes and 1.6 tackles per game. His physicality is also commended by former teammate Sandro Wagner, who notes how he is “extremely ripped” and a “good boy”, who is “all the more cheeky on the pitch”.

There is not one particular asset with which he truly excels, but in the same vein few areas of his game let him down. This would mark an upgrade on Gueye, who although is sensational defensively, offers comparatively little going forward.

The Senegalese star this season is yet to score or assist, and offers just 0.2 key passes per game. This downside is only rectified due to his 2.5 tackles and 2.0 interceptions per game, via Sofascore.

This is often more than made up for by the defensive work that Onana gets through, as he has offered 2.6 tackles and 1.4 clearances a game.

Meanwhile, Geiger already has four goal contributions so far this season from a similar position on the pitch.

These two could provide a solid midfield foundation upon which the whole team could rely for years, supplemented and challenged by the youth of Garner.

Whilst they will face fierce competition from a European heavyweight for his signature, Lampard must do all he can to welcome Geiger to Goodison Park.

Julen Lopetegui has a huge job on his hands if he is going to keep Wolves up this season and the January transfer window will undoubtedly be vital to the Spaniard’s hopes.

The Old Gold sit bottom of the Premier League ahead of the return of domestic football later this month, having scored just eight goals and conceded 24 in just 15 top-flight fixtures so far this season.

After impressing defensively last season but struggling in front of goal, with only the relegated sides scoring fewer, Wolves have managed to abandon their security at the back but look even worse going forwards, so it is no surprise that Bruno Lage was sacked.

Interim manager Steve Davis did little to stem the tide and Lopetegui will have to hope that Wolves start to look far more like their old selves once the World Cup break is over, otherwise, he risks taking them back down to the Championship.

In a recent interview with Football FanCast, journalist Pete O’Rourke suggested what he feels Wolves need in order to move up the table.

He said:

“We all know that Wolves have struggled so far this season, finding themselves bottom of the table. I think a good January transfer window, with the squad that’s already there, they can quickly move up the table and get themselves out of trouble.”

Reports have suggested that Loptegui is set to be backed by the Wolves board in January, as it seems clear that several signings are needed if they want to avoid the drop.

A striker and a centre-back must be a priority for the former Sevilla boss considering the lack of depth in those positions, as injuries to Sasa Kalajdzic and Raul Jimenez proved disastrous in the first half of the campaign, while Nathan Collins’ red card vs Manchester City left Ruben Neves in defence, such is the quality of alternative options in the heart of Wolves’ backline.

However, they still have highly-regarded Premier League players such as Neves, Pedro Neto and Matheus Nunes at their disposal, so it seems fair to suggest that a few signings and the new manager bounce could just get Wolves out of trouble, but Jeff Shi must be willing to spend the necessary money.