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Liverpool are among several Premier League clubs eyeing up a move for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse this summer, according to a new update.

The Lowdown: Midfield additions essential

The Reds have a huge summer transfer window ahead of them, with major reinforcements required in order to overcome a huge slump this season.

Jurgen Klopp’s squad has started to grow old together, and with a lack of younger signings coming in, it seems to have taken its toll both physically and mentally.

Liverpool’s midfield has been particularly out-of-sorts, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson looking past their best and the likes of Thiago, Naby Keita, James Milner, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all not offering enough, both in terms of consistency and availability.

Jude Bellingham continues to be linked with a big-money move to Anfield, with the Borussia Dortmund sensation one of numerous midfielders linked with a summer move, but more than one player needs to come in in that area of the pitch.

The Latest: Liverpool scouting Ward-Prowse

According to Football Insider, Ward-Prowse has emerged as a potential option for Liverpool, with the report stating that the Reds have ‘sent scouts’ to watch him in action.

Newcastle United and Manchester United are also mentioned as possible suitors, however, with the 28-year-old almost certain to leave Southampton if they are relegated from the Premier League.

Ward-Prowse’s current deal with Saints runs until the summer of 2026, so it seems unlikely that he would be able to arrive on the cheap.

The Verdict: Is he too old?

There is no denying Ward-Prowse’s ability as a top-flight player, having been such an influential star for Saints over an extended period of time, making 399 appearances for them in total.

In that time, he has scored 53 goals and registered 51 assists, catching the eye with his free-kick ability.

Ward-Prowse could easily be a good signing for Liverpool – Oriol Romeu called him an ‘unbelievable’ player last year – but the one issue is his age, with the Reds in need of younger midfielders who can be long-term signings.

The two-goal England international turns 29 in November and is only a year younger than Fabinho, for example, and there is a risk that he comes in and drifts past his peak too quickly.

It could be that Ward-Prowse comes in and plays at a top level for five years but it isn’t a risk worth taking, with the likes of Bellingham (19), Matheus Nunes (24) and Mason Mount (24) younger, more sensible options.

An update has emerged on Liverpool and their plans to improve their squad in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Jurrien Timber to Liverpool?

According to 90min, the Reds are one of a number of clubs eyeing a deal for Ajax centre-back Jurrien Timber at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, alongside the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayern Munich.

The report claims that the player has asked his representatives to explore the possibility of a summer switch away from the Dutch giants, after opting against a move earlier this season.

He was valued at £43m by his current club last summer, amid interest from the Red Devils, but it remains to be seen how much they are set to demand for his services this time around.

Who could replace Joe Gomez at Anfield?

Jurgen Klopp could land a dream upgrade on Joe Gomez by replacing the defender with Timber in the summer, as the 21-year-old is an excellent young prospect.

The England international is a versatile defender who has often been deployed at centre-back and right-back butt the Ajax star has the adaptability and quality to be used in the same way, with the defender having played at least 49 times in both of those positions in his short career to date.

Over the last 365 days, Timber has produced 11.23 progressive passes and carries combined per 90, whilst the Reds ace has managed 8.29 per 90.

The 14-cap Dutchman has also completed 91.5% of his attempted passes and completed 0.65 take-ons per 90 in that time, which are both higher than Gomez’s 83.7% and 0.24.

These statistics suggest that the £39m-rated Ajax enforcer has the scope to offer more quality in the build-up play by progressing the ball, through take-ons, passes, and carries, effectively throughout matches to get forwards involved in the game as much as possible.

Timber has also averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01 in the Eredivisie this season and this suggests that the gem could provide an upgrade on the level of performance Gomez (6.92) has provided the club in the Premier League this term.

At the age of 21, the dynamo, who Jacek Kulig once hailed as “tenacious”, is also four years younger than the current Liverpool defender and, therefore, has the potential to grow and develop further to become significantly better than the Englishman whilst offering more long-term value to the Reds.

Therefore, Klopp could land an upgrade on Gomez, for now and for the future, by swooping in ahead of their rivals to secure a deal for Timber.

Chelsea would be making a ‘great signing’ by turning Joao Felix’s loan move into a permanent one during the summer transfer window, says journalist Ryan Taylor.

The Lowdown: Felix impressing on loan

The 23-year-old made the temporary switch to the Blues in January after being allowed to leave Atletico Madrid, joining until the end of the season.

Felix has only actually made three appearances for Chelsea to date but he has added a spark to the attack, scoring in the 1-1 draw at West Ham last weekend and looking classy throughout.

The Blues reportedly want to sign the Portuguese starlet permanently this summer, and Taylor is buzzing about the potential move.

The Latest: Get it done, says Taylor

Speaking to Give Me Sport, the reporter talked up the idea of Felix officially becoming a Chelsea player, saying it makes complete sense contrary to the typical reluctance to ‘fall in love’ with temporary signings:

“There’s that famous saying, ‘don’t fall in love with a loan player’.

“But Chelsea have the money to spend and if you look at what he’s done in the two matches-and-a-half he’s played, there’s so much quality there and he’s in an attacking team now.

“I feel like he would be a great signing for Chelsea. But he’s not a striker, effectively, he’s a second striker.”

The Verdict: No-brainer for Chelsea

While it is admittedly still early days for Felix at Chelsea, signing him on a permanent deal still feels like a no-brainer, given his vast potential and the quality he already possesses.

This is someone who won the European Golden Boy award in 2019  – the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have also won it in the past – and has been described as ‘special’ by former teammate Alvaro Morata.

Granted, Felix hasn’t yet hit the heights many expected in his career, having only scored four times in 28 caps for Portugal, but he could explode at Chelsea if he is let off the leash, unlike at Atletico.

The attacking star would clearly cost a lot of money, both in terms of transfer fee and wages, but the money is there for the Blues to spend and he is so talented that taking a gamble on him makes sense.

As Celtic breezed to a rather comfortable 3-0 win at home to Livingston on Wednesday evening, one standout figure among Ange Postecoglou’s ranks was that of Matt O’Riley, with the elegant midfielder having staked his claim for a more regular role in the games to come.

The former MK Dons gem – who arrived at Parkhead on a £1.5m deal a year ago – had gone into that clash with David Martindale’s men amid what has arguably been the first rocky patch of his spell in Glasgow to date, having been ousted from the starting lineup due to the impressive displays of summer signing, Aaron Mooy.

In the words of his manager, the latter man has been in “outstanding” form since returning from World Cup duty with Australia, having been a truly “immense” figure for his country in Qatar – according to journalist Josh Bunting.

The 32-year-old playmaker’s impact had seen him rack up six goal involvements in his previous six Scottish Premiership outings heading into last night’s encounter, having also netted twice in the Scottish Cup victory over second-tier outfit, Greenock Morton.

That rampant hot streak ensured that the experienced ace was afforded a well-earned rest for the visit of Livi, although the 57-cap maestro has seemingly been warned that his recent starting berth is no more certainty moving forward, such was the impressive outing of his replacement, O’Riley.

The Danish U21 international had only started two of the last four league games since the derby – as well as only featuring off the bench in the cup meetings with both Morton and Kilmarnock – ahead of facing the West Lothian outfit, with it having been a “big chance” for the 22-year-old to remind any potential doubters of his quality, as per journalist Ryan McGinley.

It would appear that the silky starlet more than took that opportunity, having notably played his part in the home side’s opener after delivering a delightful, whipped cross into the penalty area that eventually found its way in following a ricochet off teammate, Daizen Maeda.

That moment of quality was then followed by another key contribution to tee up Kyogo Furuhashi’s 18th league goal of the season, as the one-time Fulham youth product produced a stunning, lofted pass from deep to set the Japanese forward in on goal.

Although the youngster had squandered possession in the build-up to that assist – having lost the ball on 24 occasions in total from his 64 touches – the £12k-per-week menace showed excellent tenacity to atone for that error, proving that he can put in the hard yards defensively, as well as provide quality service in the final third.

That involvement also ensures that O’Riley now has nine assists to his name in the top flight already this season, with that remarkable tally the highest of any player in the division – including Mooy (6).

Such a strong outing – which saw the London-born ace record a solid, 7.2 match rating, as per Sofascore – has illustrated that the 6 foot 2 ace will not simply relinquish his place in the side without a fight.

Despite all of Mooy’s brilliance of late, the one-time Huddersfield Town man will now be aware that he has real stern competition to be the creative hub in Postecoglou’s side.

With deadline day having come and gone, Leeds United can likely reflect on what was a hugely impressive window with regards to incomings, with sporting director Victor Orta having sealed the notable arrivals of Max Wober, Weston McKennie and Georginio Rutter, as well as that of teenage starlet, Diogo Monteiro.

Despite that “terrific” January business however, – in the words of journalist Phil Hay – there may well be a sense that the Whites could have potentially strengthened even further, with the defensive unit arguably one area that still needs addressing.

Although the capture of Wober will help to bolster a backline that has shipped 33 Premier League goals already this season – the fifth-worst record in the division – the departure of Diego Llorente to Roma has left little competition for Robin Koch with regards to natural, right-sided centre-backs.

According to Hay – alongside Mark Carey for The Athletic – Orta and co seemingly had the chance to solve that problem after being offered the option to sign Axel Tuanzebe from bitter rivals Manchester United, albeit with the Yorkshire side ultimately opting against a deadline day swoop.

The 25-year-old – who has just six months remaining on his existing deal at Old Trafford – has subsequently secured a temporary move to Championship side Stoke City until the end of the season, with that drop into the second tier having come amid a frustrating last few years due to a lack of regular game time and injury.

While those recent woes – which saw the former England U21 international fail to feature in the first half of the season – may suggest that the Elland Road outfit dodged a bullet by snubbing the chance of a deal, Tuanzebe’s impressive performances in the past have served to showcase that he could well represent an opportunity missed for Jesse Marsch’s side.

The DR Congo-born titan first burst onto the scene at the Theatre of Dreams during the tail end of the 2016/17 campaign under Jose Mourinho, having notably done an “amazing job” – in the words of the serial-winning coach – to thwart Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez on his top-flight debut.

While chances have been few and far between with the Red Devils since then for the versatile defender – who can feature at full-back, in midfield or at centre-back – the 6 foot 1 brute notably showed his class in a Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain back in October 2020.

That clash at the Parcs des Princes saw the towering defender produce a colossal display up against the electric presence of fleet-footed Frenchman, Kylian Mbappe, having “snuffed out danger” against arguably “two of the best strikers in the world”, as per pundit Rio Ferdinand, in the form of Mbappe and teammate Neymar.

Operating on the right of a back three on the night, Tuanzebe showcased his remarkable recovery speed to keep pace with the World Cup-winning superstar, notably recording seven clearances and winning three of his five duels, while also losing possession on just three occasions.

The imposing ace also previously impressed during his three loan spells at Aston Villa, having helped the Midlands side to secure promotion in the 2018/19 campaign under Dean Smith after forming a “dominant” defensive partnership with Tyrone Mings, as per journalist Sam Tighe.

While those high points have been followed by notable lows – as the former Villa man featured just twice during his temporary spell at Napoli in the second half of last season – it would appear that Tuanzebe is a player of real quality, with a settled home possibly set to allow him the chance to truly harness that undoubted potential.

The hope will be that both Marsch and Orta will not live to regret failing to sign a potential hidden gem, with it set to be a real blunder if Tuanzebe does go on to blossom in the years to come.

Nottingham Forest have come to life in the Premier League over the last few weeks with an impressive run of form that has seen them climb out of the relegation zone, however, a huge injury setback has now been revealed by a reliable source that will be troubling for Steve Cooper.

What’s the latest?

The Telegraph’s Midlands football reporter John Percy has confirmed that Dean Henderson will be out of action following a thigh injury sustained against Leicester City last weekend.

Percy tweeted:

“#nffc goalkeeper Dean Henderson set to miss 3-4 weeks with a thigh injury sustained in Leicester game on Sat. Wayne Hennessey expected to deputise but Forest may consider signing another goalkeeper.”

Cooper will be frustrated

There is no doubt that the latest injury blow to Henderson will be frustrating for Cooper as the side have finally hit a consistent and positive run of form of late and the Manchester United loanee has been a key player in the team’s rise up the table in recent weeks.

Although Forest have spent the majority of their campaign in the relegation zone, they are now 13th in the Premier League after picking up 10 points in their last five games, creating a five-point gap between themselves and the bottom three which is an incredibly impressive comeback ahead of the second half of the season.

The 26-year-old keeper is currently the fourth highest-rated player in the Forest squad and was integral in the club’s progression to the FA Cup semi-finals last week when he saved two of penalties in the shoot-out against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the City Ground.

Not only that, Henderson ranks seventh for shots saved and ranks fourth for aerial challenges won in the entire Premier League this season so far, proving that he has been an outstanding performer for the Trentside team.

Cooper will now need to rely on Wales international Wayne Hennessey to cover for the talented keeper should the club not dip into the market this month to strengthen the position whilst they have the opportunity to do so.

Hennessey has conceded seven goals over his four appearances for the Tricky Trees since joining in the summer, however, in his two appearances in the FA Cup the Welshman did keep two clean sheets so the manager will be hoping he can rely on the keeper to retain the positive momentum when they face Bournemouth this weekend.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see how the powers at the City Ground deal with the loss of Henderson and whether they will take advantage of the January transfer window to bring in another keeper to cover over the upcoming fixtures.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has revealed that the Yorkshire club have received a transfer enquiry for Whites midfielder Mateusz Klich. 

The Lowdown: Klich linked with Leeds exit

This season has seen the 32-year-old make 13 senior appearances for the Elland Road outfit across the Premier League and Carabao Cup, albeit with only two of those seeing him included in the starting XI (both in the latter competition).

Earlier this month, it was reported that Major League Soccer outfit DC United are keen on signing the midfielder and have been in advanced talks over a possible transatlantic move for him.

With the January transfer window on the horizon, Marsch has shared some behind-the-scenes details regarding the Poland international’s status.

The Latest: Marsch reveals Klich enquiry

Speaking in his latest press conference (via Leeds Live) ahead of the club’s upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester City, Marsch shared that Klich has been the recipient of an enquiry, going on to talk up the player’s importance at Elland Road.

The Leeds manager said: “There has been an enquiry for Mateusz but I think from all sides, we’re still cautious about picking that it might be time for him to leave. I think he’s still been really important here.

“One of the interesting things is he’s played the fifth most matches for me since I’ve been here, he’s played 25 and 28 games since I’ve been here. So, for me, he’s one of my favourite personalities of anyone I’ve ever coached and we have a really good relationship, we’ve been open with each other in all these moments along the way.

“I’m not sure, again, that it’s the time for him to leave, but with the 2 of 28 games, they haven’t all been starts and I know that sometimes players would like to play a little bit more.

“I think we’ve had good dialogue about his role within the team and continued role within the team. So I think that that’s not necessarily set in stone and he’s obviously a guy that I still very much like and we think is still a big part of this team.”

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The Verdict: Leeds should keep hold of Klich

With 192 appearances for the club to his name, the midfielder has undeniably been an important figure for Leeds over the past few years.

Even though Klich does seem to be rather low in the pecking order at Elland Road this season, having not started in the league, the club should not consider letting him leave next month.

Should an injury blow befall the likes of Tyler Adams or Marc Roca, that is when Marsch would have to turn to the 32-year-old to add cover in the midfield engine room.

However, with the Elland Road stalwart set to enter the final year of his contract next summer, that could be the ideal time for him to leave before he becomes a free agent, especially if his playing situation doesn’t change throughout the remainder of the current campaign.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Sofyan Ambrabat recently and now a reliable source has given an update on the player’s future ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Fiorentina and Morocco World Cup hero has put himself “in the shop window” after his performances on the international stage.

Sheth told GIVEMESPORT: “All of the noises he’s making are that he’s happy at Fiorentina, he’s happy with the owner, he’s happy with the staff, he’s happy with the coach and he’s happy with everything there at the minute.”

“Fiorentina, as you’d expect, are very happy with him. But he has put himself in the shop window and those performances in the World Cup were absolutely fantastic.”

Thiago heir

It is no secret that Liverpool are plotting a midfield rebuild at Anfield – with several players linked to moves to the club in 2023.

Both Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez have been reportedly targeted by the Merseysiders with reports suggesting that the Premier League giants lead the race for the talented duo.

Indeed, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner will be out of contract – as it stands – at the end of the season, so it makes perfect sense for the club to be assessing their options in the centre of the pitch.

However, many members of the successful squad are coming to the latter stages of their careers with Thiago Alcantara, in particular, well into his 30s and will ultimately be out of contract in 2024.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp could land his very own Thiago heir with the signing of Amrabat in the January transfer window, as the £44m-valued midfielder could add depth to the deep-lying roles in the heart of the team.

The Moroccan gem – who was hailed as being a “different class” by journalist Lorenz Kohler – took the World Cup by storm this winter in Qatar, playing an integral part in his national team’s record-breaking progression to the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament.

Over seven World Cup appearances, Amrabat tallied up a 92% pass completion rate in his own half, as well as averaging 2.3 tackles per game, 1.4 clearances and 3.4 duels won per game.

All of that eventually saw him named in Football FanCast’s Team of the Tournament, voted for by readers on Twitter.

Not only that, when you compare the 26-year-old’s season so far in the Serie A to Thiago’s season for Liverpool, the pair share many similarities.

Amrabat came close to his positional peer in many attributes including pass completion rate (90% v 86.6%), shot-creating actions (19 v 19), tackles and interceptions won (26 v 32) and aerial duels won (40% v 43.5%).

With that being said, the signing of Amrabat could be a great piece of business for sporting director Julian Ward as bolstering the midfield with quality depth should be an immediate priority in the new year.

Tottenham Hotspur could land an exciting talent in mooted transfer target Andreas Skov Olsen, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

In recent weeks, the north London outfit have been linked with a move for the 22-year-old dynamo, with Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad revealing that Spurs had sent scouts to watch him at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.

He, and his national side Denmark, struggled to make much of an impression, leading to Danish tabloid B.T. to slam his performance in their final group stage defeat to Australia. They questioned his ability on the world’s biggest stage after failing to inspire much in the final third.

However, despite this disappointing display, O’Rourke believes that Spurs could still do little wrong in swooping for the Club Brugge sensation.

“He’s a very talented player, Skov Olsen,” he told Football FanCast.

“He’s playing in Belgium with Club Brugge at the minute and helped them win the title last year, and now also helped them qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, which is an incredible feat for the Belgian club.

“Very highly regarded in Denmark. We obviously didn’t see the best of him at this World Cup where he got a few chances but obviously, Denmark weren’t able to qualify.”

Whilst his exploits for De Rød-Hvide won’t have left Lilywhites scouts too impressed, there is no denying at just 22, Skov Olsen is a talent for the future.

Such publications are quick to forget his involvement at Euro 2020, where Denmark reached the semi-finals of the competition. His ability and quality even led Danish legend Brian Laudrup to laud him as a “crowd-pleaser” and a “real creative force.”

That’s exactly what Spurs have been missing in the final third in recent seasons.

The £18m-rated attacker has been in electric form domestically this campaign, having registered eight goals and four assists across 21 appearances, including contributions against Bayer Leverkusen and FC Porto in the Champions League, as per Transfermarkt.

Skov Olsen is clearly capable of impacting a game at the front end of the pitch, so it would be foolish to write off his ability based on one mid-season international tournament, in which bigger stars such as Christian Eriksen and Joakim Maele underwhelmed.

O’Rourke is right in his appraisal of the 22-year-old gem and as such, sporting director Fabio Paratici must continue to monitor him heading into the January transfer window.

Manchester United are looking ahead to the future as Erik ten Hag eyes up a swoop for a Premier League goalkeeper…

What’s the news?

According to TEAMtalk transfer expert Graeme Bailey, the Dutchman is interested in signing Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez as a replacement for David De Gea.

“Robert Sanchez has proven himself as one of the best keepers in the Premier League over the last 12 months. He’s one of those who has pushed David De Gea out of Spanish contention,” said Bailey on the shot-stopper. “Brighton will demand a big price, little doubt,” he then added.

De Gea’s contract expires at the end of the current season and would likely have to take a wage cut to extend his deal.

Ten Hag can boldly ditch De Gea

There is no doubt the Spaniard has been a club stalwart for United, joining back in the summer of 2011, however his form recently suggests that a change may be required between the sticks for the Old Trafford side.

Last season, the 32-year-old kept just ten clean sheets in 46 matches, conceding a staggering 66 goals in all competitions as the Red Devils struggled yet again.

In contrast, Sanchez kept 11 clean sheets, conceding 45 goals, all while playing just one match fewer than his compatriot.

The 25-year-old has continued his fine form from last term into the current season, conceding 19 goals (one fewer than De Gea) while also having a higher save percentage (68.8% to 66.7%).

Former Brighton manager Graham Potter lavished praise on Sanchez following an impressive performance against Burnley in 2021, saying:

“He is a monster in terms of his physicality.

“He’s not just big but he is powerful, he is fast.

“In terms of attributes as a goalkeeper, he has got everything to be a top goalkeeper.” Going by his recent displays and the fact he has been called up to the Spanish World Cup squad, Potter’s assessment appears to be spot on.

Brighton will demand a big fee for one of their star talents, however, with Ten Hag looking to put his own stamp on this United side, he may well splash the cash on the talented Spaniard and boldly ditch De Gea in the process.