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Newcastle United will reportedly sell either Karl Darlow or Loris Karius during the January transfer window, with the other goalkeeper staying put.

The Lowdown: Pope firmly first choice

The Magpies are flying at the minute, with Eddie Howe having a number of hugely important players at his disposal who have taken the team up a level.

Nick Pope is one of those after arriving from Burnley last summer, starting 19 times in the Premier League this season and becoming one of the first names on the team sheet, featuring for more top-flight minutes than anyone else at St James’ Park in 2022/23.

Darlow and Karius have had to play second fiddle to the England international, and one of those two could be set to depart Tyneside in the near future.

The Latest: Darlow or Karius set to leave Newcastle

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Keith Downie claimed that one of the two ‘keepers will leave Newcastle this month after Martin Dubravka was recalled from his loan spell at Manchester United.

The Sky Sports reporter said:

“There’s been no update on Karius when we’ve asked about him. One of them will stay. Either Darlow will go out and try and find regular football somewhere and they’ll keep Karius as the number three. Or Karius will be allowed to go and Darlow will just kind of be forced to be the number three.

“They’re not going to keep all three goalkeepers, one of them is going to leave. I think it depends on Darlow and whether he wants to go and play or if he’s content with being the number three goalkeeper.”

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The Verdict: Karius to move on?

It would arguably make more sense for Karius rather than Darlow to be the goalkeeper to depart Newcastle in January, with the German yet to make a single appearance for the club.

Question marks possibly remain over just how much his nightmare performance for Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid has affected him, so it feels like a greater risk to keep hold of him rather than the 32-year-old.

By contrast, Darlow knows Newcastle inside out at this point, having racked up 100 appearances for the club across seven-and-a-half years, so he is arguably a more natural and reliable alternative to Pope, and Dubravka.

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Leeds United continue to be linked with Azzedine Ounahi, who is greatly admired throughout the club, it seems…

What’s the latest?

That is at least the suggestion made by CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs, who spoke toGIVEMESPORTon Victor Orta’s long-standing pursuit of the Moroccan.

He claimed: “We know that Jesse Marsch likes the player but I think the sense I’ve got with Ounahi all along is that he’s going to take his time in making a decision.Agreeing on a fee with Angers will take some time because they’re milking the amazing World Cup that he had.

“I think that it’s going to take far more than the £20m/£25m that clubs have sort of circled and offered so far, it could be £30m/£35m perhaps. Angers are trying to maximise the value as much as they can and get the best possible and inflated price.

“I don’t think that Leeds will necessarily want to move on that, now that they have brought in a couple of others. They’ve already spent a bit of money and they certainly won’t want to get sucked into a bidding war.”

Dream deal for Leeds?

This is clearly a deal that the Whites are incredibly keen to make happen, considering how it has largely dominated their transfer window despite making two other additions.

His displays in the World Cup captured widespread attention, and as such it has spurred the Yorkshire club to engage in a fierce battle for his signature with Serie A leaders Napoli.

There are clear reasons for Leeds’ intense desire to acquire him, which were outlined in Qatar.Averaging a 6.97Sofascorerating throughout their historic run to the semi-finals, the 22-year-old was a staple in the engine room, offering a hard-working quality to perfectly complement Sofyan Amrabat.

He recorded0.9key passes per game and paired it with a defensive work rate which often went unnoticed next to the Fiorentina man. His match averages of1.3 tackles and oneinterception were integral in quietly breaking up play and starting counterattacks, qualities which led Jose Mourinho to label him “incredible”.

Ounahi’s unparalleled ability with the ball at his feet was what truly helped with his lightning-fast transitions, as he ranks in the top 1%for dribbles completed when compared to other midfielders in Europe’s five main leagues over the past 12 months.

He also places in the top16%for total shots among that particular bracket of players, further highlighting the numerous strings that he has to his bow.

A fine presence to have in midfield who can provide at both ends of the pitch, it will be a cathartic feeling for Leeds if they can sign him, bringing an end to this saga with their dream deal under wraps.

Journalist Liam Keen has claimed that Wolverhampton Wanderers will not look to loan out Toti Gomes in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Limited minutes for Wolves

Gomes has only played seven Premier League matches this season, with three of those appearances from the start, averaging just 45 minutes per game for Julen Lopetegui’s side.

In 2020, Swiss outfit Grasshoppers took the player on loan for two years and Gomes featured 54 times in all competitions, scoring three goals.

The Portuguese defender signed a new contract in March of last year, with the deal seeing him through until 2027.

The Latest: No chance of a loan

During a Q&A section of the Express & Star’s Wolves podcast, Keen said he doesn’t believe that Gomes will be loaned out and could be an option for them should they play with a back five under Lopetegui in the second half of the season.

He stated: “I don’t think so. we’re talking about the number at centre-back – it’s going to be two for each position, left and right.

“And particularly if they do want to play a five, they’re going to want Toti around the building. Obviously, with Mosquera going on loan – it hasn’t happened yet, but he will be going out on loan.

“So I don’t expect that to happen. I keep championing Toti, I think he’s a very good player, I think he’s a natural defender. I’d like to see him get more opportunities, but we’ll wait and see.”

The Verdict: A future Wolves starter

We believe that Gomes has the potential to be a future star at Wolves and deserves some more Premier League opportunities.

Former Old Gold boss Bruno Lage has praised the player in the past, stating in a press conference in May last year (via The Express & Star) that he ‘works hard’ every day and added that every time he plays, he has a ‘good performance’.

Despite Keen’s claims, Wolves recently signed Craig Dawson from West Ham United, with the defender signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club.

However, the stats show that Gomes has arguably more impressive defensive stats than their new signing, averaging 1.29 tackles per game in the last year. Additionally, he makes 1.1 interceptions and 1.84 blocks on average from the last calendar year.

Meanwhile, Dawson has produced 0.89, 0.57 and 1.75 per game in those respective departments.

That said, he trumps the 24-year-old in shot-creating actions with 0.86 per 90 minutes, with Toti’s being 0.18 – so Dawson may offer more in attacking scenarios.

Depth is essential to any team and we’re not saying Dawson won’t be a good signing, but Toti certainly deserves a chance under Lopetegui.

He’s proven to be effective in the defensive third and he can only improve and develop his game, considering how old he is. Therefore, we think staying put would be the best solution.

TalkSport pundit Martin Keown has slammed Everton’s Anthony Gordon for his recent actions following his links to Premier League side Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Gordon returns to training

The Toffees man showed up to training this morning, as captured on Sky Sports, having previously missed training sessions at Finch Farm for the last three days.

It now looks as if Gordon will leave the club and head to Newcastle, the agreed fee is said to be £40 million.

Gordon missed their most recent league game which was a 2-0 defeat against West Ham United, which would be Frank Lampard’s last game in charge of Everton, but featured in the game before against Southampton.

In 16 Premier League appearances, Gordon has found the back of the net just three times and is yet to provide an assist.

The Latest: Keown tears into Gordon

Speaking live on TalkSport, Keown ripped into the 21-year-old and said no matter the circumstances, you should always turn up to work.

He stated (0:39), “I’ve seen players position themselves. but I’ve never seen anyone never turn up for work.

“I always feel that’s almost unforgivable. Because when particularly when Everton in where they are, he’s just a young boy who’s an Evertonian fan.

“I think he started the game just after the World Cup on Boxing Day, then he hasn’t really featured. Now, whether or not there’s been a falling out with the manager, a decline in his performance, there’s been a few injuries.

“But whatever you do, you turn up for work and he hasn’t he hasn’t done that, So this one was unforgivable.”

The Verdict: Time to cash-in

We believe that Everton was right to agree on a fee for Gordon and £40 million will certainly be a boost for their transfer budget as the window gets closer to ending.

The Toffees are simply not in a great position at all and the uncertainty with Gordon won’t have helped matters. Plus keeping him around the dressing room may have added to the toxicity surrounding the club.

With Sean Dyche seemingly on the way to Goodison Park, perhaps the club may look to improve in the final few days of the transfer window.

Everton are in need of goals and having that additional money could help. Indeed, between their current forwards, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay have just two league goals between them.

A player who wants to leave departs and the club get a hefty cash injection would be a great outcome for Everton and a small step in the right direction.

Liverpool’s well-documented struggles are clearly discernible this season, with the current FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders falling prey to the end of a formerly prosperous cycle after years of milk and honey under Jurgen Klopp’s tutelage.

This season, the Reds are devoid of the fluidity and unrelenting intensity that go in tandem with their German manager’s footballing philosophy, and the club now languish in ninth place in the Premier League, knocked out of both domestic competitions.

Following long-term injuries to attacking duo Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz several months ago, technical director Julian Ward accelerated plans to bolster the frontline and clinched the signing of Cody Gakpo for an initial £35m in the early phases of the January transfer window.

With the midfield illuminated as the epicentre of the crisis this year, many expected the Merseyside outfit to plunge back into the deep end and emerge with a fresh midfielder in tow, but it was not to be; the doors slammed shut and Klopp is left to tinker away with his options and attempt to rectify the wrongs that the club have been beset with.

Manchester United, resurgent under new manager Erik ten Hag, have cast aside the cobwebs from the dreadful preceding campaign and now look set to reclaim a spot in the Champions League and compete for major honours once again.

Bolstering their hopes of maintaining their recent purple patch, the prestigious side sealed a deadline day swoop for Bayern Munich’s Marcel Sabitzer, with the 28-year-old Austrian powerhouse arriving on a six-month loan deal.

While names such as Jude Bellingham and Matheus Nunes have been touted for a summer transfer, such optimistic murmuring will do little to quell the turbulent waters that surge weather the Anfield walls and show little sign of abating, with the outfit indeed ten points behind the Red Devils in fourth place, albeit with a game in hand.

Sabitzer has been a menace within the German Bundesliga for several years, starring with RB Leipzig before earning a move to the division’s dominators in 2021, arriving for a reported €16m (£14m).

Having made 185 appearances in the German first division, the star has plundered 34 goals and 29 assists.

And the manner in which United dipped into the market and swiftly emerged with the ace begs the question as to why Liverpool failed to act in a similar manner having first been linked with the midfielder 18 months ago.

Sabitzer ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for total shots, the top 4% for progressive passes received and the top 2% for tackles, as per FBref, and would bring life in abundance to an outfit sapped of potency, a transitional presence adding a valuable dimension to Klopp’s side, who desperately need an extra element of creativity.

Sky Sports’ Uli Koelher amusingly stated yesterday that Man United would be landing a dynamo that “shoots like a horse”, while reporter Keith Costigan once lauded him as the “heartbeat” of his former Leipzig side.

Liverpool were tepid in their transfer approach over the latter period of the window, and the strategy does indeed indicate an acceptance to bide their time and strike with conviction in the summer, but with Thiago Alcantara the only permanent senior midfield signing since the 2018/19 campaign, this inaction could have detrimental consequences.

Sabitzer would have brought energy, direct assault from the centre, perhaps even a goal-scoring streak that he has demonstrated to possess in the past.

Alas, he now dons United colours, and Liverpool must make do with their options, but United’s acquisition is a reminder that options existed on the transfer front, and the Reds failed to act. A chance has certainly gone begging for Ward and co.

Ben Jacobs has namedropped Newcastle United when discussing where Moises Caicedo could go in the summer.

The Lowdown: Newcastle will look for a midfielder

For the majority of the January transfer window, it was widely reported and accepted that Newcastle were looking to hand Eddie Howe a new central midfielder with the likes of Youri Tielemans and Caicedo being tipped with a move.

When Jonjo Shelvey departed for Nottingham Forest on a permanent basis many may well have expected PIF to be bullish in the market and replace him with an upgrade, although nobody arrived on deadline day.

While The Athletic documented Newcastle’s interest in Caicedo, Brighton’s unwillingness to even enter discussions with other clubs suggested that no matter what, he wasn’t going to be leaving.

The Latest: Caicedo to be looked at in the summer

Despite his eye-watering price tag, Ben Jacobs did indeed name-drop the Magpies on his Twitter Space when discussing what the future holds for Caicedo after his failed attempt to force through a January move.

He said: (1:24:55) “I genuinely believe it’s going to be very difficult for Brighton to get £70 million for Moises Caicedo in the summer, I think the valuation could easily drop to more like £60-65 million and then you start looking at is their value for Liverpool to enter the race who didn’t really want to go above that number.

“Somebody else who could surprise us with Caicedo as well, Newcastle United might be a team looking for a midfielder and Caicedo might come into the fore as well, especially if you consider Joelinton is playing in a more advanced role, Jonjo Shelvey has left so Newcastle could be quite active in the market for some kind of central or box to box midfielder as well.”

The Verdict: PIF could land a major coup

If it’s true what Jacobs says about Caicedo’s valuation likely to plummet by about £10 million in just a matter of months then Newcastle could well see that as value for money and try to move in the summer.

Newcastle would have likely wanted to bring in a new midfielder last month given their sheer lack of options and hindsight have been a wonderful thing when Bruno Guimaraes was handed a three-game suspension.

Caicedo ranks inside the top five for tackles in the entire Premier League (FBRef) so it’s obvious why the Magpies would be keen, much like so many other clubs, to add Caicedo to their side as it would indeed allow someone such as Guimaraes to venture further forward.

Everton seemingly have a clear path to sign free agent Isco, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Talks held

It has been reported that talks are underway with regards to the Goodison Park outfit potentially signing Isco, and a meeting has been scheduled with the intention of advancing those.

Isco was going to move to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga during the January transfer window, but that broke down after the Spaniard was told that he would not be on their UEFA Europa League list.

The Latest: Clear path?

As per Spanish news outlet Estadio Deportivo, Everton can offer Isco an ‘escape’ in terms of finding a new club.

They note that he has already rejected offers from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and a move to the MLS has also been ruled out because the quota for franchise players is already full.

This means that the Merseyside club have a clear path if they are serious about signing him, and with talks already underway, an official offer could be expected soon.

The Verdict: Get it done

After not being able to sign a single player in January, and letting Anthony Gordon go to Newcastle United, the Toffees could do with some added reinforcements to bolster their squad ahead of what looks to be another relegation battle.

Lauded as a ‘brilliant footballer’ and a ‘true magician’ by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, Isco is a player who can offer some flair and guile to the side, and his experience at the top level would also be useful in the dressing room.

He has won the UEFA Champions League no fewer than five times with Real Madrid, along with many other major accolades, and he is someone the rest of the Blues squad can look up to in terms of getting vital results from now until the end of the campaign.

The date is 10 April 2022. West Ham United have just fallen to defeat away to Brentford, with the preceding fixture at the London Stadium six months earlier presenting the same ending.

The difference? In the second clash, Bees striker Ivan Toney put in a scintillating performance of attacking brilliance, with a goal and an assist apiece against the Champions League-chasing Hammers, reminding David Moyes of what could have been with his tremendous display.

Fast track to the closing days of 2022 and history has repeated, only this time Toney’s fierce strike and well-placed assist unravel West Ham in their own backyard by a 2-0 scoreline, compounding the east Londoners’ woes in the lower levels of the Premier League.

In just their second season back in the top flight, Brentford now perch in eighth place after 22 matches with just four defeats, and the polarity between their own fortunes and that of their cross-capital rivals could not be any more overt upon glancing at the table, with West Ham just two points and two places above the dreaded drop zone.

With Toney on fire, Moyes and the West Ham board could do little but cast a rueful eye onto the exalted 26-year-old, who has seemingly been of interest to the circumspect Irons for several years.

Did West Ham blunder on Ivan Toney?

Having scored 24 goals in 32 appearances for League One outfit Peterborough United in 2019/20, Championship promotion hopefuls Brentford swooped for the marksman for £5m, with West Ham having also enquired about him.

Toney then plundered 31 goals and ten assists from 45 league outings in 2020/21 as the focal point in the Bees’ monumental promotion to the Premier League, in which he has since scored 26 goals from 53 appearances.

Now valued at €36.4m (£32m) by Football Transfers, the “lion” – as dubbed by his manager Thomas Frank – is one of the most potent strikers in England, having scored 14 goals in 20 league matches this term as the west London outfit chase the prospect of European football.

Moyes and West Ham have retained their interest in the phenomenon, with The Mirror reporting them to be among the raft of interested suitors last summer.

With the Irons among the most impressive teams in England over the past couple of seasons, a talisman of such proficiency could’ve been invaluable, maybe even elevating the squad to new heights and clinching silverware or Champions League qualification.

Having recorded an average Sofascore rating of 7.36 this season, averaging three shots and 0.9 key passes per game, also creating nine big chances to illuminate the multi-faceted core to his game, there is no disputing that he would be the most devastating offensive presence in east London for some time.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and this adage can be duly applied to football. Considering that Moyes instigated the £35.5m transfer of Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuolo last summer, and with him having just three Premier League goals so far, coughing up a similar fee for Toney would likely have borne fruit much sooner.

The figure might have appeared steep in the summer of 2021, perhaps justifiably so for a player without a top-flight goal to his name at that point, but his remarkable goal record across the underlying two tiers of English football were evidence enough that he bore all the talismanic skills requisite for an ambitious outfit with European credentials.

He could have been a “machine” – as heralded by Phil Spencer – under Moyes, and with West Ham currently battling to preserve their Premier League status, the plight of the past does not warrant attention.

Still, just imagine Toney at the apex of the Irons’ attack, and it’s hard to think that they would be in their current plight.

Leeds United are yet to make an approach for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, according to Phil Hay for The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Postecoglou linked with Leeds

The Whites were quickly linked with a move for the Hoops boss after parting ways with Jesse Marsch last Monday. The Australian was believed to be on the radar at Elland Road, with recent reports suggesting that a move was still possible.

Postecoglou has admitted that he will not be distracted by the “noise” of rumours linking him with a move to the Premier League, and it seems as if Leeds are yet to make an official move for the 57-year-old.

The Latest: No approach for Postecoglou – so far

Reliable Leeds reporter Hay shared a story for The Athletic on Saturday regarding Leeds’ search for a new manager.

When it came to Postecoglou, the reporter claimed that no approach has been made so far, although ‘Leeds are not oblivious to the Australian’s impact at Parkhead’.

The Verdict: Fingers crossed that he stays

Postecoglou has transformed Celtic after taking over in the summer of 2021, taking them back into the Champions League group stage after a five-year absence, and it does feel inevitable that he will take on a Premier League job at some point.

However, Celtic will be hoping that now isn’t the right time for him to exit, with the Hoops on course for back-to-back Premiership titles under the 57-year-old.

Postecoglou’s contract at Parkhead does expire in the summer, so it could be a wise move by club chiefs to try and extend that deal and potentially insert a release clause, should both parties wish to do so.

Newcastle United have reportedly already shown ‘first signs’ that they would be willing to pay the release clause of Paulo Dybala to sign him this summer.

The Lowdown: Summer interest

Newcastle were reportedly interested in signing Dybala as a free agent last summer, as his contract at Juventus was expiring.

However, he ended up signing for AS Roma instead, but with a release clause inserted in his deal.

The Latest: Newcastle showing ‘first signs’

As per Italian news outlet Calciomercato, the St. James’ Park outfit have already shown ‘first signs’ that they would be willing to pay Dybala’s release clause, which has been set at just €12m (£10.7m) for non-Italian teams.

However, the clause is also thought to be ‘attractive’ to their fellow Premier League rivals Manchester United, and so there could be a battle for his signature come the summer.

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The Verdict: Bargain

Signing Dybala for just over £10m would be a real bargain, considering that his market value is currently nearly three times as much as that, and he was valued at around £100m just a few years ago.

Hailed as a ‘world-class’ player on his day by former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Dybala ranks in the top 20% for a number of key metrics for forwards in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, and of course, comes off the back of a FIFA World Cup win with Argentina.

The 29-year-old has so much experience of playing at the highest level for both club and country, and would be a shrewd addition to the Magpies, especially if they are playing in Europe next season.