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After establishing himself as a World Cup hero in Qatar, it is no surprise that Yassine Bounou is starting to attract Premier League interest, with Wolves reportedly one of the sides keen on signing him.

According to Spanish news outlet Mucho Deporte, Lopetegui is keen to reunite with the Sevilla goalkeeper at his new club, with Aston Villa also credited with an interest in the 31-year-old.

They claim that the Old Gold have already submitted a bid for the shot-stopper, as Lopetegui looks to improve upon his goalkeeping options at Molineux, despite the impressive form of Jose Sa since he joined the Midlands club from Olympiacos last year.

Following the exit of John Ruddy in the summer, the inexperienced Matija Šarkić has been the main backup to Sa at Molineux, so it is easy to see why Lopetegui might prefer someone like Bounou in January.

The Canadian-born goalkeeper, who is nicknamed ‘Bono’, has been one of the standout performers for Morocco in their impressive run to the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.

In his three appearances thus far, the ‘keeper has conceded just once in the 2-1 win over Canada, keeping clean sheets against tough opposition in Croatia and Spain and earning a strong 6.90 average rating from WhoScored.

He has been a big part of the Atlas Lions’ superb defensive performances, with their ability to keep the opposition out crucial in their penalty shootout win over Spain earlier this week.

In the shootout, Bono would save all three of Spain’s penalties to knock out Luis Enrique’s side and secure his position in the World Cup history books.

Former Wolves man Romain Saiss, who has also been a big part of Morocco’s success, was full of praise for his goalkeeper after he helped seal their spot in the quarter-finals against Portugal on Saturday.

He said: “It is amazing for him. He had a heroic game today, not only during the penalties. He just wanted to show why he was named the best La Liga goalkeeper last season. He is a great keeper, he proved it against Spain. We owe him a lot today.”

Lopetegui already knows Bono well, as the experienced goalkeeper made 113 appearances under the Spaniard at Sevilla, even popping up with a goal, so he should definitely look to bring him to Molineux as competition for Sa in January.

Middlesbrough are considering a swoop to sign Rotherham United midfielder Dan Barlaser in January, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Contract expiration looming

The Championship playmaker will be out of contract at the end of the season, making the winter market the final opportunity for the Millers to cash in or risk losing him for free next summer.

The 25-year-old has been the standout performer under Matt Taylor so far this campaign and his performances appear to have caught the eye, with Steve Gibson now weighing up an approach.

The Latest: Middlesbrough eyeing Barlaser

According to Football Insider, Boro are ‘plotting a move’ for Barlaser in the New Year, with Michael Carrick believed to be a ‘big admirer’ and ‘keen’ to take him to the Riverside Stadium.

Rotherham are ‘reluctant’ to lose their star, but understand that they might be ‘forced’ to sell him at the start of 2023 should they want to receive any kind of fee.

The Verdict: Howson replacement?

Jonny Howson’s deal is set to expire upon the conclusion of the current season, so Barlaser could be the perfect replacement should the captain not extend his stay.

The Gateshead-born talent has posted 66 direct goal contributions throughout his career (38 assists and 28 goals), with his efforts having been highlighted with a Player of the Month award earlier this year (Transfermarkt).

Barlaser will likely be available on a cut-price deal given his contract situation, which the hierarchy should capitalise on before the race for his signature potentially hots up.

While Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou will no doubt be plotting further incomings in January to help bolster his squad, the upcoming window will also set be dominated by talk of potential departures, with outgoings likely to be firmly on the agenda for the Parkhead outfit.

One man who is currently believed to be angling for a move is Greece international, Giorgos Giakoumakis, with recent reports suggesting that the 27-year-old faces an uncertain future in Glasgow following a stall in contract negotiations.

Although the former VVV-Venlo marksman still has just over three-and-a-half years left to run on his current deal with the Old Firm giants, the belief is that the club could well move him on after failing to meet the player’s wage demands.

The Scottish champions may wish to think again before sanctioning that exit, however, with the 11-cap ace having proven a prolific figure at the club to date with 25 goals in 50 games in all competitions, notably finishing joint-top of the scoring charts in the Scottish Premiership last term with 13 goals in just 21 games.

While keeping the imposing forward on their books may well prove an astute move, Postecoglou and co could certainly be more ruthless with regards to Giakoumakis’ teammate, Yosuke Ideguchi, with it perhaps having already come to a point where the Japanese dud will need to be moved on.

The recent speculation – as per The Scottish Sun – is that the 26-year-old will be offered the chance to return to his homeland next month, with a number of J-League sides said to be keeping tabs on his current situation, ahead of a possible swoop.

The one-time Leeds United man only joined the Bhoys back in January earlier this year – alongside compatriots Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate – although has been unable to make a telling impact since then.

The anonymous asset – who was previously described as a “superstar” upon his arrival at the club by pundit Noel Whelan – has made just six appearances in all competitions for Postecoglou’s side to date, with all of those having come in the second half of the last season.

Having been ravaged by injury throughout his time in Scotland so far, there has been notable misfortune as far as the 5 foot 7 man is concerned, although it remains to be seen how long Celtic can keep patience with a player who simply cannot stay fit.

With the Scottish giants not suffering in the midfielder’s absence this season, as the 15-cap menace has failed to feature this term, it does appear that an exit could well be in the best interests of all parties.

Amid talk that a new midfield addition could be on the way following reported interest in Tunisian star Aissa Laidouni, Ideguchi’s chances of featuring are only set to become even slimmer, with it seemingly an ideal time to get his £6k-per-week salary off the wage bill.

Postecoglou may have got little wrong in his tenure thus far, although the 57-year-old will have to admit that signing the former Gamba Osaka man has been one of his most notable blunders.

Sunderland look to have suffered a big injury blow in the build-up to Christmas, with Danny Batth likely to be sidelined with a calf injury.

What’s the word?

The experienced centre-back was forced off in last weekend’s game against Hull City and Tony Mowbray has provided a worrying update on his injury situation.

He said: “It’s very, very rare that you have your whole squad fit and available. Danny Batth felt his calf. Whether it is a tear, I’m not sure, but he felt a sharp pain in his calf as he pushed off and he had to come off.”

Fortunately for the Black Cats, Daniel Ballard was able to make his long-awaited return from injury in the same game, replacing Batth after his injury, while Bailey Wright will also soon be back in contention after returning from the World Cup, where he helped Australia reach the round of 16 before defeat against eventual winners Argentina.

Gutting news for Mowbray

This will be a frustrating and gutting situation for Mowbray, as Batth has been a crucial part of Sunderland’s strong start to life back in the Championship, as only he and Anthony Patterson have started every single game in the second tier.

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Only seven players in Mowbray’s side have been ranked higher than the former Wolves man according to WhoScored this campaign, which emphasises just how important he is at the back for the north east outfit.

The 32-year-old leads the way for clearances and aerial duels won per game by defenders in Sunderland’s squad, living up to his description as “colossal” by journalist Josh Bunting.

Indeed, the titanic defender has made a whopping 4.1 clearances per game – a team-high – and has also won 3.9 aerials a match, the second-best in the entire squad.

The Christmas period is always a busy one and with Sunderland set to face promotion hopefuls Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day, Mowbray will certainly be gutted that he will be without his most-reliable centre-back.

Hopefully, for the Black Cats, Batth’s calf injury will be a minor one and he can make his return to action as soon as possible, as he will undoubtedly be vital to their hopes of being in the playoff picture over the final few months of the season.

Leeds United have been handed a tough test for their return to Premier League action this evening following the recent World Cup break, with the Elland Road outfit set to play host to champions Manchester City.

This fixture did not prove particularly fruitful for the Whites last season as the Yorkshire side shipped 11 goals without reply in those two meetings, with it even more concerning that that miserable record came prior to Erling Haaland’s arrival.

The Norwegian hotshot – who was born in Leeds – will seemingly be hoping to maintain his rampant start to life in English football with another clinical showing later today, with the 22-year-old having already bagged 18 goals in just 13 league games thus far.

Although manager Jesse Marsch will likely be concerned with trying to stop his former Red Bull Salzburg asset from adding to that tally, the American should also be considering how his own attacking unit can hurt the opposition, with the 49-year-old seeking to avoid a third successive league defeat.

The former RB Leipzig man has, however, seen his preparations disrupted amid the injury woes of a number of his key men, with it now an anxious wait to see if the likes of Jack Harrison, Crysencio Summerville and Rodrigo – among others – will be fit to feature against Pep Guardiola’s side.

That lengthy list of potential absentees could well provide a chance for summer signing Wilfried Gnonto to prove his worth from the start, however, with the Italy international having been restricted to just three top-flight appearances so far this term.

The 19-year-old’s only start in the league in the current campaign for his new club came in the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last time out, with the teenager having been hooked at the break in that 4-3 thriller.

Nevertheless, the former Zurich starlet – who scored 12 goals and recorded ten assists in 74 games during his time in Switzerland – has shown flashes of his quality during his time in England thus far, having particularly impressed during the club’s recent mid-season friendly fixtures.

That impact was lauded by pundit Noel Whelan, who suggested that the youngster could now be deserving of a more prominent role heading into the second half of the campaign:

“I think he’s ready. Everyone has seen that. He’s had time to settle into the football club, into the environment, new teammates – and now he looks ready, and very hungry.

“There have been some real moments of brilliance in these friendlies. He’s like a firework when he gets on the ball because he’s just got so much energy.

“He is definitely a very exciting player and someone who can make a difference in this second half of the season.”

Having been eased into his new surroundings in recent months, the time has seemingly come for Gnonto to truly show what he can do by being given a consistent run in the side, with the club’s injury woes set to provide him what that platform to impress.

While it may not be ideal circumstances to unleash such a raw talent against the might of City, the 5-foot-7 sensation could well prove the hidden gem who can make the ‘difference’ tonight.

The January transfer window is now open for business and Glasgow Rangers boss Michael Beale could make his first signing in charge of the club this month.

In December, Football League World reported that the Gers are interested in signing Beale’s former striker down south of the border – Lyndon Dykes.

Journalist Dean Jones recently revealed that the Light Blues are still eyeing up a swoop for the Scotland international, as he told GIVEMESPORT:

“Rangers are retaining their interest in QPR striker Lyndon Dykes as Beale is so keen on him.”

It remains to be seen how much it would take to snap him up from the English club but the head coach is seemingly hoping to reunite with the Australian-born marksman.

The 27-year-old forward has not scored in any of his four appearances since coming back from the break for the 2022 World Cup but had found the back of the net four times in his last nine Championship games under Beale.

This indicates that he was thriving under the Rangers boss and that he is now struggling to find his best form without him at the helm, which bodes well for any potential move to Ibrox with the Englishman in charge.

The Light Blues could now form a terrifying duo for opposition defences in the Scottish top-flight by signing Dykes and deploying him to make the most of James Tavernier’s quality deliveries into the box.

14 of his 64 career club goals have been headers and this suggests that the 6 foot 2 striker offers a big threat in the air, which is backed up by him winning 4.0 aerial battles per match in the Championship this season.

Meanwhile, no Rangers striker has won more than 1.1 per game in the Premiership and two of them – Alfredo Morelos and Antonio Colak – have won less than one per outing.

Tavernier has created 3.0 chances from ten crossing attempts per match in the top-flight this term, with 30% of his crosses being won by one of his teammates on average.

Dykes, who was once hailed as “mobile” by former Scotland forward Darren Jackson, has won 45% of his aerial contests this season and this indicates that he could increase the percentage of crosses from the Gers captain that result in a shot on goal for the club.

The Scotland international’s history of scoring with his head also indicates that he could thrive off the service provided by the skipper and that is why they could form a menacing duo in the second half of the campaign, with Dykes towering over defenders to head home Tavernier’s balls into the box.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale has admitted that Kemar Roofe is ‘touch and go’ to make the squad for their Old Firm clash at Ibrox on Monday.

The Lowdown: Crucial derby

Rangers’ Old Firm derby against Celtic is a crucial fixture for their season, as they currently sit nine points adrift of the league leaders in the Scottish Premiership table.

If they can win and close the gap to six points, then they will feel as if they have a realistic chance of snatching the title away from their neighbours going into the second part of the season.

The Latest: Roofe ‘touch and go’

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match, Beale has admitted that Roofe is ‘touch and go’ to make the squad, and it will depend on the availability of Alfredo Morelos, who has trained:

“Alfredo Morelos has trained and should be available along with Colak. Roofe is touch and go, he would definitely be available if Morelos doesn’t make it.”

The Verdict: Worrying

The fact that there is a chance that Roofe will not make the squad is certainly worrying given his injury record so far this season.

The striker has been limited to just two senior appearances, and with the addition of Antonio Colak in the summer, his game time will likely be limited even more once he regains his fitness.

Roofe’s contract with the Gers expires in 2024, and so the board have a big decision to make over whether to extend his deal, or let him go.

Nonetheless, the 29-year-old finished as the club’s third-highest scorer last campaign with 16 goals in total over all competitions, and so he will feel like he still has something to offer the team.

Newcastle United’s attempt to sign Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda is ‘fairly’ now a ‘done deal’, according to Reuters journalist Fernando Kallas.

The Lowdown: The story so far

The Premier League high flyers are reportedly on the lookout for a new right-back this month and have identified the 18-year-old as an ideal candidate.

The Magpies have been credited with a strong interest in the youngster, and speculation of a move was increased after head of recruitment Steve Nickson was spotted with his agent at a match last week.

The Latest: Kallas’ comments

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Kallas revealed that Fresneda is set to make the move to St James’ Park, with farewells already underway in La Liga.

Quoted by Newcastle World, the reporter said of the Valladolid defender: “He’s 18 years old and he made a very good game over the weekend. He neutralised Vinicius Junior when Real Madrid played Valladolid. I heard the coach and his team-mates are already saying goodbye to him because it’s fairly a done deal that he’s going to Newcastle.”

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The Verdict: A rock at the back

Eddie Howe’s side have already completed their first signing this month as Garang Kuol’s transfer was activated, and Fresneda could be the next to follow at Newcastle.

The Spaniard currently averages 3.3 tackles, 2.9 clearances and 1.4 interceptions per league game, highlighting the rock that he can be at the heart of defence (WhoScored).

PIF will be keen to bolster their ranks in a bid to secure a top-four spot at the end of the campaign, and the addition of Fresneda would surely only increase the chances of that happening.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has been given a timely injury boost ahead of this weekend’s north London derby against Arsenal…

What’s the latest?

The Italian head coach has been without several stars since the Premier League returned to action following the World Cup break, with some key names amongst them, including Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Whilst the pair of them were involved for their countries in Qatar, one player who wasn’t was Dejan Kulusevski, whose last appearance came on Boxing Day before he picked up another problem.

After missing the defeat to Aston Villa earlier this month, The Athletic described the issue as a ‘small muscle injury’ but he has not been seen since – until now, in what is a major boost to Conte and the side.

The Swedish winger has been spotted in training, alongside Yves Bissouma, as preparations get underway for Sunday afternoon’s game.

Conte’s trump card

Just as the Sky Sports reporter in the training clip suggests, Kulusevski is “massive” and “so influential” for Spurs as he brings creativity and threat in the final third.

Indeed, since his arrival from Juventus nearly a year ago, the 22-year-old dynamo has provided six goals and 13 assists across 33 appearances, whilst this campaign alone, no player has laid on more assists or created more key passes per game, as per WhoScored.

In fact, he is only one of four players to create more than one key chance each outing in the Premier League this term, only emphasising his importance, to not just the attack but the squad too.

He could well be Conte’s trump card as the Italian looks to continue on from their 4-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace with a shock result against the league leaders.

It’ll be a tougher test than last season, where the Gunners rolled over in a 3-0 defeat to Spurs as they sit five points clear of defending champions Manchester City at the top.

They also have the second-best defensive record in the league behind Newcastle United, so Conte will certainly need his best attacking talent fit and firing if he’s to stand a chance of gaining a result at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.

Kulusevski – once described as a “non-stop machine” who doesn’t stop running and “an absolute monster” by journalist Nima Tavallaey Roodsari – could prove to be the difference in any successful result, so having him back in training will surely have Conte and the Lilywhites faithful absolutely delighted.

AND in other news, Paratici could sign Spurs another Romero with £34m “prodigy” who “does make mistakes”…

The January transfer window is well underway and Tottenham Hotspur are yet to make a move to bolster their squad by dipping into the market.

Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte were busy over the summer as they brought in Fraser Forster, Richarlison, Djed Spence, Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma, and Clement Lenglet with the hope of improving the team.

The pair could now work together to secure further additions to the squad in the final two weeks of the window to give the side the best chance of securing a Champions League place for next season.

One player who has been linked with a move to the club is current Brighton winger Leandro Trossard. Reporter Ryan Taylor recently told GIVEMESPORT that Spurs have made a “verbal proposal” to the Seagulls but is not sure if they will go back in with another offer for his services.

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi banished the Belgian international from their match against Liverpool and has since said:

“Nothing serious happened with Trossard. But recently, he didn’t give 100% in training and on matchday, that’s it on my side.

“Maybe his agent fancies selling him for a lower transfer fee… surely, Trossard didn’t tell me the truth. Everyone in the dressing room knows how things went. But if Trossand wants to rejoin us with the right attitude, I am happy to coach him.”

Tottenham must now pounce on any opportunity to sign the 28-year-old, if he is not settled at the AMEX, as Conte could form an exciting partnership at the top end of the pitch by pairing him with Harry Kane.

The Spurs centre-forward has been in phenomenal form in the Premier League this season as he has plundered 15 goals and one assist in 19 appearances.

Kane has created eight ‘big chances’ and provided 1.8 key passes per game in the top-flight but has only been rewarded with one assist for his terrific creative efforts.

Trossard, meanwhile, has found the back of the net seven times in 16 outings for Brighton this term, after scoring eight goals in 32 games in 2021/22.

The £40k-per-week gem, who was once dubbed a “magician” by journalist Deji Faremi, has proven that he can be a goalscorer in the Premier League and bringing in a player of his quality could allow Spurs to make better use of Kane’s passing ability.

No Spurs player, outside of the England captain, has scored more than four times in the division this season and this indicates that Trossard would be a welcome addition to Conte’s options out wide.

Now, just imagine Kane spinning on the halfway line and firing a through ball for the Belgian international to run onto and use to score a goal for Tottenham in the second half of the season. They could form an exciting partnership up front and that is why Paratici and Conte must swoop for him again this month.