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When Noni Madueke left Crystal Palace for Tottenham Hotspur in 2014, few would have predicted that he would be starring in the Eredivisie for PSV just over five years later.

The talented young winger was a product of Palace’s academy but would move across London to Spurs when he was just 12 years old, later signing for PSV’s youth system in 2018.

He has gone from strength to strength with the Dutch giants, establishing himself as a mainstay at the Philips Stadion and it is perhaps no surprise that the England U21 international is now attracting interest from some of Europe’s elite.

Chelsea are said to be pondering a move for the 20-year-old, who has contributed 20 goals and 14 assists in just 79 appearances for PSV’s first team, having produced some sensational numbers with their various academy sides.

While Graham Potter is reportedly very keen on the exciting young talent, it would be something of a surprise to see PSV let another winger go so soon after losing the talismanic Cody Gakpo to Liverpool.

However, it is surely only a matter of time before Madueke is seen in the Premier League and while it would have been impossible to predict his progression when he was just a child at Selhurst Park, the Eagles will no doubt already be rueing the fact that they weren’t able to keep him around.

PSV have reportedly set Madueke’s asking price at £31m, which would have been a huge fee for Palace had he remained in south London and enjoyed the same trajectory with his boyhood club, especially when you consider that only Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been sold for a larger fee in the club’s history.

Although Patrick Vieira is blessed with wide talents such as Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, Madueke’s impressive 7.19 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the Eredivisie this season suggests that he would have been a great player for Palace to have at the club.

Former PSV midfielder Tommie van de Leegte was full of praise for Madueke in 2020, saying:

“He’s fast and has the capability to trick his opponent. He brings creativity and is very explosive in his actions. That’s what PSV needs.”

If Madueke does end up at Chelsea, or another Premier League club in the future, then Palace will surely be even more disappointed that they couldn’t keep hold of the talented winger in 2014. Indeed, it is already safe to say that have endured a nightmare on the effervescent talent.

Journalist Ryan Taylor has tipped Wolves to view Craig Dawson as ‘the top target’ in the January transfer market after past interest in the defender.

What’s the word?

Last summer, the West Ham United centre-back very nearly left his current club in favour of a move to a team in the Molineux outfit with Aston Villa also in the race for his signature.

No deal materialised but Wolves have supposedly seen an offer for the player rejected in the current winter window. Amid all that, Atletico Madrid for Felipe has been rumoured to be an alternative target with Reuters claiming talks have been ongoing.

However, while talking on his own YouTube channel, Taylor has now stated that he expects Dawson to be the priority this January, while adding that the player should be keen on a move away from London.

The journalist explained: “There was some discussions with Atletico Madrid for Felipe but I think Craig Dawson would be the top target.

“He wants to move back to the Midlands. He actually doesn’t live in London and he’s making a long commute to West Ham every day. Tried to leave the club in the summer but the right option didn’t materialise.

“So I think that’s one that can be revisited and David Moyes will probably be keen to let him move on, so he can bring in another player.”

Transfer options

Brazilain defender Felipe might seem like a more glamour signing – after all, he has won the Club World Cup and La Liga – but that may well mean he has higher wage demands and it might take more to convince him of a move to England.

Dawson, on the other hand, seems very open to the move for the reasons stated above. What’s more, with his contract set to expire this summer, he should come fairly cheap. And with plenty of Premier League experience, 246 appearances to be precise, he could come in and make an immediate impact with little adaption likely needed.

The main issue, however, could be the fact that the recent bid seemed to annoy David Moyes. Indeed, just before West Ham played Wolves, an offer came in for the defender and when asked if that was a destabilising thing to deal with, the manager said: “It is, yeah, I agree with you.”

Tottenham Hotspur are ‘preparing’ their final offer to sign Sporting Lisbon wing-back and top transfer target Pedro Porro, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Porro move…

The Lilywhites hold a strong interest in signing the 23-year-old for Antonio Conte before the end of the January transfer window.

Spurs made a part-exchange bid for the player earlier this week, and whilst Sporting are thought to be waiting on the offer amounting to his €45m (£40m) release clause, reports have suggested that the Premier League club are growing in confidence of sealing a deal.

For example, The Times recently claimed that both Tottenham and Sporting are ‘preparing’ to reach an agreement over Porro, and the north Londoners are confident that they can stump up the majority of his clause, with the rest coming through variables and instalments.

The Latest: Tottenham ‘preparing’ final offer…

Portuguese newspaper Record (via Sport Witness) have a slightly different update on Sunday, claiming that Spurs are ‘preparing’ a final bid to sign Porro this month, with it being unclear as to exactly what the offer will be.

It’s added that Sporting will continue to insist on the player’s clause, mainly because they made a promise to manager Ruben Amorim that no star player will leave the club barring the payment of their release clause.

A complication for Spurs could come in the form of interest from Real Madrid, who could enter the talks if Conte’s side make progress. Manchester City are also thought to have a €23m (£20m) buyback clause.

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The Verdict: Push for a deal…

Porro would unquestionably add quality to Tottenham’s ranks at full-back, especially going forward.

According to WhoScored, the former Ma City gem has stood out as a real threat going forward with six league assists already this term. In addition, Porro has averaged their joint-highest rate of key passes per 90 (2.4) and ranks second for attempts at goal (2.6 per game) in that time.

Compare that to Tottenham’s squad, with no defender in Conte’s ranks able to boast such attacking numbers or that tally of assists, which shows how he could be a real upgrade for the north Londoners.

Some members of the media have also dubbed Porro a ‘sensational’ player in his position, and if Spurs can win the race for his signature, we believe that their manager would be handed a huge boost in his quest for a top-four finish.

Leeds United once again performed admirably in their latest Premier League clash but came up short at home to Brentford.

In a game which finished 0-0, the Whites boasted 59% of the ball and had more shots, limiting the Bees to zero shots on target (via Sofascore).

It was their lack of cutting edge which prevented them from claiming all three points, as well as a defiant David Raya (five saves) in the Brentford goal, so perhaps the ongoing transfer window could help Leeds to acquire that touch of quality before it slams shut next week.

One name who continues to be touted with a move to the Premier League is Nicolo Zaniolo, who has fallen out of favour at AS Roma and was reportedly the subject of an enquiry by Victor Orta.

His manager Jose Mourinho even admitted that, despite expecting the Italian to stay, there has been a transfer request, saying in a statement subsequently relayed by Fabrizio Romano: “Nicoló Zaniolo has asked to leave the club — but it’s not sure that it’s gonna happen. Current proposals are not enough.

“We only need a good proposal to let Zaniolo leave, and we’ve not received it. My feeling is that at the end, he will stay.”

It seems that the proposal that Mourinho is seeking sits near Roma’s €40m (£35m) valuation for the 23-year-old.

A silky yet “frightening” player in the attacking third – as dubbed by Ben Jacobs – his attributes lend to Leeds’ requirement for a reliable match-winner. Although Zaniolo has not been that for the Giallorossi this season, he showed more than enough last term to suggest he could excel anywhere in Europe.

Recording eight goals and nine assists in 2021/22, signing him would add another maverick to the Whites’ squad akin to Rodrigo, who has enjoyed similar form in the current campaign.

The Spaniard boasts ten league goals this term and 12 in total, so to add Zaniolo’s 2021/22 haul to this in future would surely be enough to turn disappointing results into deserved victories for Jesse Marsch’s team.

Such is the Italian’s immense quality that journalist Nick Mercadante took to Twitter last year to issue the following praise: “Zaniolo in form is a nightmare for Serie A, and The Answer for Italy. He’s an absolute monster.”

With tricky feet and an eye for both a pass and a goal, he resembles Rodrigo through both their shared quality and goal threat.

The Roma forward ranks in the top 5% for total shots per 90 when compared with other attacking midfielders in Europe’s five main leagues over the past year, and his penchant for creating chances further complements the qualities that he shares with the Leeds forward.

Rodrigo has managed 2.9 shots per game this season at a 19% conversion rate, which is an impressive return.

With Marsch having been so reliant on the former Valencia man, it would not only be a welcome addition for instant success but also offer Leeds a fine alternative should the 31-year-old start to slow down in terms of goal output.

Crystal Palace have been linked with Antalyaspor striker Haji Wright recently, and his arrival at Selhurst Park could allow Patrick Vieira to finally ditch Jean-Philippe Mateta.

According to journalist Tom Bogert, the Eagles – along with Brentford and Southampton – are interested in the 24-year-old as a result of his impressive performances in the current Turkish Super Lig campaign.

The versatile attacker boasts ten goals in just 16 league appearances this term, with WhoScored awarding him a strong 6.94 rating for his performances.

Considering that this would rank him as both the top scorer and best performer had he produced the same displays in a Palace shirt, it is easy to see why Vieira would be keen on bringing him to Selhurst Park.

Wright also caught the eye with his performances for the USA at the World Cup in Qatar recently, scoring against Netherlands in the round of 16 with an audacious flicked finish.

Back when he was first establishing himself with Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga, the American earned plenty of praise from academy coach Norbert Elbert, who said: “I always describe Haji as a bag of surprises. He’s yet to have consistency in his game. He has a lot of pace on and off the ball, has no weaker foot, his dribbling is good and he is a threat on goal.”

The young attacker now seems to have found that consistency with Antalyaspor this season, and given Palace’s worrying form in front of goal since the World Cup, Vieira could do a lot worse than bringing the American striker to Selhurst Park this month.

The Eagles have managed just four goals in their past seven games, with the likes of Odsonne Edouard, Jordan Ayew and Mateta all failing to fire under the 46-year-old, with the latter having been linked with a move to Turkey this month.

Since signing for the Eagles, the former Mainz marksman has managed just nine goals in 54 appearances, including a woeful return of one goal in 19 senior appearances this term, so it is surely time that he is offloaded for good.

Vieira needs a regular source of goals, and if he is to take a punt on Wright in the final week of the transfer window, it could duly see Mateta jettisoned after his underwhelming form in recent months.

There is optimism aplenty at Arsenal right now despite the failure to secure the signing of Moises Caicedo from divisional rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, but moves must be made to ensure a deal is tied up in the summer…

What’s the word?

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attempted to raid the Seagulls once again and fired a succession of bids at the south coast in hopes of securing the Ecuadorian prodigy Caicedo, but Albion’s resolve was unwavering.

An initial £60m bid was followed by a £70m offer, both of which fell on deaf ears amid an £80m asking price, and Arsenal instead turned attention towards Chelsea’s Jorginho, who was signed for £12m to instil experience and composure into the ranks.

While technical director Edu may see the failure to land priority targets in the shape of Mykhaylo Mudryk and indeed Caicedo as somewhat of a disaster, high-flying Arsenal must nurse their wounds and ensure focus does not slip from the Premier League title race and make the requisite moves to continue talks at the end of the campaign.

“Revelation”

Brighton signed the 21-year-old Caicedo for a paltry £4.5m from his Ecuadorian homeland outfit Independiente del Valle, beating Manchester United to his signature after the Red Devils were credited with an interest in the weeks preceding Albion’s swoop.

Since then, he has blossomed into a regular presence in his outfit’s side, starting 18 of his team’s 19 league matches this term, providing tenacity and composure from the centre for a side that currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League, just seven points behind fourth placed Man United and with a game in hand.

This meteoric ascension up the table is a testament to the club’s diligence and accuracy in the transfer market, with an esteemed recruitment team that rarely hit wide of the mark.

And with Caicedo, once heralded as a “revelation” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, in the centre pulling the strings, it is no wonder that some of the division’s most prominent outfits have been sniffing around and willing to part with such a lucrative sum of money to land his signature.

As per Sofascore, the 28-cap gem has recorded an average league rating of 7.10 this season, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 1.1 key passes per match, also making 2.9 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game – illustrating his dynamic approach that indeed sets him a gulf apart from the majority of positional peers plying their trade in the Premier League.

And upon his arrival to English football, South American football writer Tim Vickery waxed lyrical about the calibre of the young gem.

He said: “He is a terrific athlete who makes football look easy. A box-to-box midfielder.

“That kind of box-to-box midfielder that’s very much in the tradition of the England game. Strong, quick, intelligent and cool. He really does look like the genuine article.”

Granted, Arsenal would have reaped the rewards of landing Caicedo for the remainder of the campaign, but the club are in a superb position regardless, five points clear atop the league table and boasting a remarkable crop of superlative young talent.

And with the signing of Chelsea’s experienced pass master Jorginho, the centre of park has added the sheen it needed ahead of the business end of the season.

As such, the Gunners should not feel the effects of the missed transfer too strongly, but in order to cement success for years to come, and make up for their late transfer woes, Edu must pull all the punches and secure their man in the summer.

HLTCO presenter Dan Cook believes that Crystal Palace will hope to sign Conor Gallagher and Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer.

What’s the word?

In the January transfer window, it’s clear that both players were viewed as possible targets by the Premier League club. Indeed, there was talk of a deadline-day loan move for the former Eagles loanee.

On top of that, Wan-Bissaka was linked with a move away from Manchester United throughout the previous month, with his former club touted as a possible destination.

And while these deals never came to pass, that doesn’t mean that the Eagles won’t push to get them done in the summer. Indeed, while talking on the HLTCO podcast, Cook claimed that Palace may feel as though a deal for either or both players could be achievable later this year.

He explained: “There were other players that we were seemingly interested in. I think the two most high-profile of those were undeniably Conor Gallagher and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

“Neither of those moves materialised, but I do think there is probably a degree of hope within the Crystal Palace hierarchy that potentially, once again, coming towards the summer, we can look to re-evaluate and potentially go in for both or one of those two players.”

Good deals?

Palace ended January with both Naouirou Ahamada and Albert Sambi Lokonga arriving. However, the latter is only on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season.

With that in mind, the club could look to bring in a new midfielder next summer when Lokonga departs, and Gallagher could make a great fit – after all, he spent a season on loan last term and impressed at Selhurst Park with 11 goal contributions in 34 league outings.

Back in defence, there may be more need for a new right-back to come in, with Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward the obvious options right now – though both are out of contract in the summer.

Of course, Wan-Bissaka is a former Palace player himself, and there has been plenty of talk about how he could be keen on a return. While he’s played more games of late, he still only has eight league appearances this term, so he could well be on the market this summer.

Therefore, we don’t believe that any hope behind the scenes at Palace for either of these two players would be displaced.

Liverpool have rarely got it wrong during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure so far, from the development and reinvestment in the squad to the tactics on the pitch that the club has enjoyed in recent years.

Alas, the successful squad at Anfield has turned stale this season, but there is little dispute that the club built one of the most talented teams that the Premier League has ever seen, with former sporting director Michael Edwards and the manager working together to develop a team which has dominated domestically and in Europe.

Liverpool have won an FA Cup, Carabao Cup and their first-ever Premier League title over the last five years, also reaching three Champions League finals during that time, winning one of those.

One of the catalysts in the club’s ability to land some of the hottest prospects in world football was the sale of Philippe Coutinho back in 2018, when the Merseysiders took the big risk in selling one of their superstars to Barcelona for £142m, and there is no doubt that they struck gold with the move.

FSG are renowned for their strict and tight budgets when it comes to transfers – unlike certain competitors – and will only spend wisely when they have sold players first. Coutinho’s sale facilitated an opportunity to invest in both Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk for a combined £142m, giving Liverpool two of the most important players in their successful era under Klopp.

Letting go of the Brazilian playmaker was a brave decision, as he was one of the best-performing players in the team at the time. He amassed 201 appearances, 54 goals and 45 assists during his five years  at Anfield, with a goal contribution every 150 minutes.

However, with the player reportedly refusing to train and play in crucial games for the club shortly before he was sold, their hands were tied, and Liverpool duly had the last laugh.

Fast forward five years and Coutinho – who was dubbed a “big disappointment” by Shay Given – is now 30 years old and currently playing for Aston Villa, with his former Reds team-mate Steven Gerrard snapping up his services in a permanent deal last summer following an initial loan from Barcelona.

The Brazilian is now believed to be worth 94% less (€10m/£8.8m) than he was when Liverpool sold him and is struggling to make his mark in the Midlands this season. He fell out of favour in the team after Gerrard’s sacking and Unai Emery’s arrival, not featuring for more than 45 minutes in a league game since mid-October.

With that in mind, there is no doubt that Liverpool played an absolute blinder when they sold Coutinho, who is a fantastic example of the grass not always being greener on the other side for players who seek out ‘bigger’ moves.

The Athletic’s George Caulkin has claimed that Eddie Howe was worried about the flat atmosphere prior to Newcastle United’s game last weekend.

The Lowdown: Difficult to maintain a great atmosphere

It was always going to be hard for Newcastle fans to replicate the atmosphere they managed in their last home game in the Carabao Cup semi-final as they booked their first trip to Wembley this century.

However, it should have perhaps been easier to get the crowd off their feet than it was given they scored two goals in the opening three minutes of the game – albeit with one correctly disallowed.

The fact that it’s difficult to maintain such a high that resulted in a final place being booked was certainly not disregarded by Howe, as he seemingly drilled it into his players about getting the fans up for the game.

The Latest: Howe was concerned pre-West Ham game

Caulkin has admitted on Pod on the Tyne that leading up to the West Ham game, Howe was indeed worried about what the mood and atmosphere would be like around St James’ Park after such a huge game midweek.

He said: “There had been proper concern within the club that there would be a flatness, both to the atmosphere and also to the team’s performance, after getting through to the cup final. They were really trying to guard against that.

“Howe had made a point – certainly at the training ground in the week – to sort of emphasise the importance of these matches, and it was notable that the announcer was saying ‘oh, it’s flat, we need to liven up’.”

The Verdict: Newcastle must guard against complacency

While getting to their first final this century is something to be celebrated and get excited about for Newcastle fans, they must remember that they’re still going for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Therefore, they should be looking to pick up maximum points away to the likes of struggling Bournemouth this coming weekend – who are yet to win in the league since the World Cup break – and when struggling Liverpool come to Tyneside the following Saturday.

This is not just to help their push for the Champions League, but if they don’t win any of their next three games, it will likely only dampen their confidence heading into the final, so Howe will need fans and players focused on the present and only turn their attentions to the cup final until later this month.

Leeds United continue to be linked to a multitude of managers, with Andrea Radrizzani struggling to narrow down his search for a successor to Jesse Marsch…

When has Nuno been linked to Leeds?

One of the latest to be mentioned in the conversation for the Elland Road vacancy is Nuno Espirito Santo, who departed from English football just 16 months ago but could now be set for a sensational return.

The former goalkeeper had impressed at the helm of Wolverhampton Wanderers before enduring a tough spell at Tottenham Hotspur which rerouted his coaching career to Saudi Arabia.

According to a report by The Athletic from late last week, he has been mentioned in discussions among the Whites’ hierarchy, and the Portuguese coach would reportedly be keen on a return to the Premier League.

Would Nuno be as bad as Marsch?

Hiring the pragmatic 49-year-old might offer a wholly different style to Marsch, who was dismissed a week ago today, but could bear the same results.

There was one glaring issue with both of the teams that Nuno managed whilst in England, and that was a lack of goalscoring impetus. During his time at Molineux, his statistics were somewhat bolstered by Wolves’ stint as comfortably the best team in the Championship in 2017/18, but upon earning promotion his side had a -4 goal difference across his 114 matches in the Premier League.

Then, during his short stint at Tottenham in 2021, his team scored just nine goals in ten top-flight matches and conceded 16, leaving little wonder as to why he was subsequently sacked.

With that being his most recent foray into management in the UK, it marks a searing indictment of his potential appointment at Elland Road if Spurs could hardly score despite boasting prolific talents like Harry Kane (283 senior club goals) and Heung-min Son (188), whilst lacking any solidity at the back.

Therefore, to take over a struggling Leeds team which has already shipped 38 goals in 22 Premier League games would be a recipe for disaster.

Even Marsch had managed to see his team score 52 times during 37 matches in charge in Yorkshire, despite his questionable defensive ideals as 60 goals went in at the other end.

Nuno’s tenure in north London was tough, with Alan Hutton outlining the frailties that he thought had lost the 49-year-old his job, saying: “Yes, he’s only been given 10 games in the league and 17 in total but we’ve not seen any progression. To this day, we don’t know how they were trying to play. Were they a counter-attacking team? Were they a possession-based team?

“I mean, they hadn’t had a shot on target in over two hours. From a team with players like that, top internationals, that’s embarrassing. Tottenham were shocking, let’s not dress it up. They were terrible.”

To appoint someone who had suffered so dearly in his most recent job in English football, with a far more potent squad than the one he might inherit at Leeds, could prove to be Radrizzani’s greatest blunder, even more so than hiring the much-maligned American.