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According to Goal, Wolverhampton Wanderers are one of three Premier League clubs vying for the signature of Atletico Madrid attacker Thomas Lemar.

What’s the word?

It is believed that Diego Simeone is keen on adding a striker to his armoury this month, but for that to happen, there has to be a departure of some kind with Thomas Lemar being the ‘chosen one.’

Simeone claims the Frenchman hasn’t lived up to expectations in Madrid.

The report suggests that the La Liga outfit has circulated his availability, resulting in interest from the west Midlanders as well as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Lemar is a client of super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has deep ties with Wolves having brokered many deals since Fosun took ownership in 2016.

The Portuguese representative has even completed a few between the two clubs with Jonny and Diogo Jota both switching the Spanish capital for Molineux in recent seasons.

Jota upgrade?

Lemar’s time at Atletico has been nothing short of disappointing after a £52.7m move from Monaco in the summer of 2018. In 64 appearances, he has managed just three goals and six assists, per Transfermarkt.

However, the red and white stripes of Madrid has notoriously been an unhappy hunting ground for many a forward under Simeone – their creative issues have been highlighted here, while his style of play is well renowned for being defensively-focused.

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Therefore, Lemar can be given a free pass, for the time being. He’s only 24 after all and still has plenty to offer, which is why Wolves must pursue him at all costs this month.

The wide man helped Monaco to a Ligue 1 title as well as a Champions League semi-final, and directly contributed to 55 goals in his 127 appearances at the club, via Transfermarkt.

Phillipe Tranchant, who unearthed Lemar’s talent as a 12-year-old playing football in Guadeloupe, once labelled him as “extraordinary” while his dribbling ability, versatility and impressive use of both feet are also highlighted throughout the same article.

This makes him an exciting prospect for Nuno Santo, especially given Jota’s struggles this term – he has bagged just three times in 19 league matches, two of which in the same game while he is yet to provide an assist, which is poor considering he’s hit at least five in the previous two seasons, per WhoScored.

It’s the dawn of a new decade in the Premier League, but how much do you know about the last 10 years?

If the Portuguese boss can unearth the player that was at Monaco, then Wolves will have an elite talent on their hands, one that would be an instant upgrade on the faltering Jota.

He would also bring squad depth with his ability to play anywhere across the front three.

And in other news, John Ruddy believes he knows exactly who can replace the departing Jesus Vallejo this month…

Speaking at the club’s AGM on Tuesday night, Everton director of football Marcel Brands dropped a solid hint at where the club’s next transfer business could be, as per The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe.

What did he say?

Well, the Dutchman was speaking about how the squad has changed during his time in the role – he was appointed at the end of the 2017/18 season – and picked out a position he sees as a potential weakness after current manager Carlo Ancelotti arrived and changed the formation to 4-4-2 – Marco Silva preferred 4-2-3-1 previously.

According to O’Keeffe of The Athletic, Brands said: “The new manager has changed the system to 442 and so we have more options in the middle and maybe a little less on the right side. We’re always looking for new players but have to be careful and think about the numbers.”

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He isn’t wrong

While the likes of Bernard, Richarlison and Alex Iwobi are able to play on the right if required, they are more suited to playing on the left – or in the case of Richarlison and Iwobi maybe even through the middle given the former’s performance up front this term and the latter suggesting his strongest position is as a No.10.

That leaves Theo Walcott as the only natural senior option to play on that flank, and even he has largely flattered to deceive this term with no goals and two assists in 19 appearances in all competitions.

Call yourself an Everton expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

The Toffees then look to need some extra quality on the right flank, and that is perhaps why Ancelotti experimented with using Djibril Sidibe as a right wing-back in some matches recently – it wasn’t a decision that really paid off, however.

The other issue the Merseyside outfit have if they want to strengthen the right flank either this month or in the summer is money – they announced record losses of £111.8m for year to June 2019 at the AGM, although they insist that they remain compliant with FFP.

Despite that, you would think that a loan addition would me more likely in the short-term.

In other Everton news, the Toffees are reportedly closely tracking a Champions League recorded as being faster than Mo Salah this season…

Tottenham Hotspur could end up sending Giovani Lo Celso back to Real Betis this month.

Sources have told Football FanCast that Spurs are chasing a deal for Bruno Fernandes of Sporting Lisbon and that any deal could result in the termination of the Argentina international’s short-term stay at the club.

Of course, it has been widely reported that Spurs do have the option to sign Lo Celso this month should they so wish and so one has to ask the question: Who would be better?

Obviously, one must preface this with the fact that Lo Celso hasn’t had that much time to make his mark on Spurs.

He has made a total of 17 appearances for the club, scoring two goals, in the 4-0 thumping of Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, and the 2-1 FA Cup win over Middlesbrough.

In total, though, he has made just five starts and one has to wonder if he will ever get a proper chance under Jose Mourinho.

His statistics, nevertheless, are somewhat instructive.

In the Premier League, he has averaged 0.6 shots per game, 0.5 key passes, 0.4 dribbles and is fouled 1.3 times. Defensively, he makes 0.9 tackles, 0.2 interceptions, 0.4 fouls and is dribbled past once.

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

His numbers are better in the Champions League, where he has made two starts, he averages 1.3 shots per game, 1 key pass, 0.3 dribbles and is fouled once. Defensively, he makes 2.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 0.7 fouls and is dribbled past 2.3 times.

Bruno Fernandes, by comparison, is playing regularly.

He has scored 15 goals in all competitions and registered 13 assists. As he is Sporting’s captain, if he is available, he plays.

Offensively in Liga NOS, he averages 3.6 shots per game, 3.7 key passes, 1.7 dribbles and is fouled 2.5 times. He also makes an impressive 2.4 tackles per game, 0.2 interceptions, 1.5 fouls and is dribbled 1.2 times per game.

This is a player who is revelling in the role he has been given.

His statistics point to a player who is given licence to roam forward from the attacking midfield role he regularly occupies to support the striker.

One feels, then, that he and Lo Celso could well play together – the latter plays in a more withdrawn role than Fernandes but one thing that these stats certainly point towards is this: opportunity.

Last season, after all, Lo Celso scored nine goals and registered four assists in La Liga, averaging 2 shots per game, 0.8 key passes, 2 dribbles, while he is fouled 2.1 times. Defensively, he mucked in with 1.6 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 1.1 fouls and was dribbled 0.8 times.

This was a more rounded, complete player and it is because he was playing.

Fernandes is evidence that game time equals chances to shine; it is about time Lo Celso was given his.

Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen may not be on his way to Inter Milan…

James Ward-Prowse enjoyed an exceptional display as Southampton drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

On the chalkboard

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in a game they dominated at St Mary’s Stadium.

Having beaten Spurs in the league, Southampton enjoyed the lion’s share of possession throughout the game and their midfield was orchestrated by Ward-Prowse.

Per WhoScored, Saints had 59.1% possession throughout the game and also had 10 shots to Spurs’ eight.

Ward-Prowse picked up the joint-highest rating of any player on his team, registering 79 touches of the ball, along with one key pass and a passing accuracy of 83%.

While he did not complete a dribble, he won four aerial duels, the joint-highest of any player on the pitch, along with five successful tackles, the highest of any player, and three interceptions.

He also managed to have one shot, testing Hugo Lloris in the away goal.

Someone’s got to own them: Who do these incredibly unwanted PL records belong to?

A mature display

This was a fine performance from a player who showed a high degree of maturity in the centre of the pitch.

Whenever the ball came his way, he was able to distribute it effectively, and he also turned in a remarkably assiduous defensive performance.

He has been in fine form in the Premier League this season, scoring four goals and registering two assists, but he showed against Spurs that he can do the less flashy stuff too, keeping his side ticking over from midfield.

Ward-Prowse has been ever-present in the league thus far this term, and it is little surprise.

He is the man who makes Saints tick.

Meanwhile, Southampton fans have reacted to a major exit rumour!

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered the chance to do a deal for Juventus midfielder Emre Can this month, but what would he bring to the club?

On the chalkboard

Sources confirmed to Football FanCast earlier this month that the club have been given the opportunity to make a move for Can.

And reports now claim that a number of clubs are interested in a move for the ex-Liverpool midfielder; Bild, via The Daily Mail, reports that Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are also interested.

This season, Can has made eight appearances in Serie A but just two have been starts.

He has yet to complete the 90 minutes, however, thus his sample size is too small to measure his ability.

Last season, then, offers a clearer picture. He made 29 appearances in Serie A in total, scoring four goals and registering one assist.

Per WhoScored, he averaged 1.1 shots per game, 0.7 key passes, 0.9 dribbles, along with 2.2 tackles, 1 interception and 1.5 fouls along with 1 clearance.

He also averaged a passing completion rate of 87.1%, with an average of 34.7 per game.

The defensive midfielder needed

Spurs really do need a defensive midfielder.

They only have Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama as options in the position and the latter has played just 23 minutes in the Premier League, while Dier has not completed 90 minutes in the league since the win over Wolves in December.

Spurs have thus been operating without a proper anchor-man in midfield but Can would offer an option to revert to utilising that role in their system.

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

He has the ability to spray the ball around accurately as well as win it back and he has Premier League experience too, playing 115 times in the competition during his spell at Liverpool.

If the competition can be beaten, Spurs would do well to bring him into the club prior to the transfer deadline.

Meanwhile, Spurs have to offload one star this month!

Hertha Berlin are looking to put themselves on the map in the Bundesliga.

In the summer, they received €125m (£105.4m) following new investment from Lars Windhorst, and the arrival of Jurgen Klinsmann has seen an increase in publicity for the club from the German capital. The former Tottenham striker has said that Hertha can have a European presence within three years.

Their transfer dealings, though, indicate that they now have the financial power to back up those quotes. They broke their transfer record in the summer by signing Dodi Lukebakio from Watford – he cost €20m (£16.9m) – and they have now done so again – Lucas Tousart has completed a €25m (£21.1m) move to the Olympiastadion.

Call yourself a Liverpool expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?

This transfer could have an impact on the future of Marko Grujic. The Serbia international has been with Die Alte Dame since the summer of 2018 on loan, and has since made 37 leagues appearances for the club. During that time, he has eight goals and two assists, and was even called the best midfielder in 20 years at the club by former manager Pal Dardai.

The 23-year-old has himself said that he wants to return to Liverpool, and some Reds fans look like they would welcome him back with open arms. Now, it looks as though this is going to be a crucial moment in the career of the former Red Star Belgrade man. Tousart will be loaned back to Lyon until the end of the season – that means that he could be seen as a replacement for Grujic, and it indicates that the latter will not be there beyond the summer.

Where he ends up remains to be seen. Liverpool, of course, could still move him on, whilst he may also have done enough to earn himself a place in Klopp’s squad. He has just a few months to make certain that it ends up being the latter, rather than the former.

Meanwhile, our writers give their verdict as Jurgen Klopp’s turns down the chance to re-sign one ex-star.

A large number of Premier League footballers are now enjoying their winter break and stars are rather ‘busy’ posting images from their holidays on social media.

Interestingly enough, while many would naturally decide to go sun-bathing somewhere hot and exotic, Andrew Robertson took a different approach altogether.

The Liverpool star decided to go back home to Scotland and play some golf instead.

And he was quick to post a hilarious

/B8O9K0GBcvj/” data-lasso->Instagram snap to reveal his preferred winter break destination.

Robertson joked about the strength of the Scottish sun and mentioned that the fans don’t have to worry about him since he’ll be using factor 50 to protect himself.

Of course, he’ll be lucky to catch any sun in early February back in Scotland and it didn’t take long for some of his friends to respond to the hilarious post and rinse him in the process.

The likes of Kevin McDonald and David Meyler were among the first ones to the scene but were quickly followed by Jamie Redknapp as well.

McDonald remarked how Robertson must be the only guy willingly going to St Andrews to play golf at a time when any other sane person would be sun-bathing in Dubai.

Still, the immensely popular Liverpool left-back always was special, wasn’t he?

In other news, many Liverpool fans reacted to Matthew Upson’s rather harsh verdict on their FA Cup victory…

Liverpool have set the Premier League alight so far this campaign.

The Reds are breaking records left, right and centre – they have a 22-point lead at the top of the table, for example, which is the biggest such margin in the history of England’s top flight – and they are still unbeaten in the division so far this term.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

However, with the league all but sewn up, the Reds will have to defend their inevitable title next season, and that could lead to some new signings arriving at Anfield to boost Jurgen Klopp’s squad. One of those who is said to be of interest is Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic. As per fcinternews.it, the Reds have scouted the 27-year-old, who has a €60m (£50m) release clause for clubs outside of Italy.

The fans have been reacting to this news, but it seems that they aren’t really behind the idea. Many believe it won’t happen.

Tonali is another player plying his trade in Serie A. A midfielder who plays for Brescia, he has been linked with a move to Merseyside (Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness).

Others believe that his age will stop a deal happening.

Indeed, considering the Reds’ have signed Sepp van den Berg, Harvey Elliott and Takumi Minamino in the last three transfer windows – who are aged 18, 16 and 25 respectively – it would be a move that does not fit in with their apparent current transfer policy.

Others, meanwhile, don’t think they need him.

In all fairness, there could be a spot for a new midfielder in the summer. Adam Lallana is set to leave, whilst Georginio Wijnaldum could also depart. Brozovic would fill that void should he arrive.

Elsewhere, James Pearce says this signing is more likely for Liverpool than Jadon Sancho.

Celtic are set to travel to Denmark on Thursday evening for the first leg of their last-32 Europa League encounter with FC Copenhagen.

The hosts returned from their winter break on Friday with a 1-0 defeat away at Esbjerg as the title-chasing outfit struggled for creativity in the absence of Viktor Fischer. 

The former Ajax ace has been in outstanding form for the Danish outfit this season, providing two goals and an eye-catching nine assists in the Superligaen.

But the Hoops will fortunately be spared of the task of preventing Fischer from weaving and conspiring at the Telia Parken Stadium on Thursday.

The 25-year-old has been officially ruled out for a few weeks after injuring himself at Copenhagen’s training camp in Portugal earlier this month.

While neutrals and Copenhagen supporters will naturally be disappointed by the playmaker’s absence, Celtic are likely to view the setback through a starkly contrasting lens. 

It’s a huge boost for the Hoops as they bid to finally make a significant impact on the European stage this season, and it’s one which could have a knock on effect on veteran striker Dame N’Doye. 

The 34-year-old striker is something of a legend at the club, having scored a whopping 115 goals in 213 appearances across all competitions which span over a 12 year period. 

He started in a front-two with Michael Santos on Friday and is likely to lead the line once again this week, but the absence of Fischer is telling. 

In the 47 games the two players have played alongside each other, they have combined to goal scoring effect on 14 occasions. That Fischer has teed up Copenhagen’s relentless goal machine in 11 of those instances underlines the effectiveness of their understanding in the final third.

Without his partner in crime, N’Doye may lack the spark in midfield which he needs to carve out clear cut opportunities in front of Fraser Forster’s goal.

To put things into perspective, Inter Milan’s Christian Eriksen, who Fischer has played alongside with at Ajax and also for the Denmark national side, has combined with Copenhagen’s star six times – the second highest number of joint goal participations after N’Doye.

This is undoubtedly a huge blow for Copenhagen on a collective level, but for their star striker it’s particularly troublesome as the Scottish giants bid to make a big statement in Scandinavia.

West Brom are enjoying a renaissance under Slaven Bilic as they steamroll towards the promised land of the Premier League, but the decisions of former boss Tony Pulis still winds some supporters up to this day.

And that has been echoed in Oliver Burke’s comments this week; a disastrous flop Pulis signed for an eye-watering £15m back in the summer of 2017.

Speaking in the Daily Record, the 22-year-old said: “For me, right now I’d like to find myself a club where I can settle, enjoy and play week in, week out. And find my confidence again, which I’m slowly getting back, to prove all the doubters out there wrong.”

Burke is currently on loan to La Liga side Alaves where he has only contributed to two goals in 20 appearances, per Transfermarkt.

It has caused outroar amongst the Baggies faithful, here’s what has been said…

There’s certainly no love lost between Albion fans and the Scottish winger and descriptions such as “fraud,” “selfish idiot,” and “absolute waste” go a long way in proving that.

You can read more on this and other top stories via our West Bromwich Albion News page.

Burke is yet to live up to his eight-figure price tag having scored just once in 24 appearances for the Baggies, and it has led to further supporters slamming his cost to the club by labelling him as one of the worst signings they have ever made.

He was then blasted for being a “muppet” as well as a “woeful player” whilst one member of the Hawthorns faithful claimed Burke wasn’t even worth £1m let alone £15m.

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This view agrees with the opinions of some more fans, who made it known what sort of level he should actually be playing at with League One and League Two being mentioned.

As mentioned at the start, Burke was signed by Pulis, which was referenced by one final supporter. He pondered if it was one of his many blunders at the club as no one is going to want to sign the 22-year-old upon his return this summer.

And in other news, West Brom assistant Danilo Butorovic has tempted ill-fate on Instagram this week…