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As per an update in the paper edition of Corriere dello Sport, as shared by Sport Witness, there has been an exit development out of Tottenham Hotspur involving Tanguy Ndombele.

The Lowdown: Conte seeking sales…

The January transfer window has just 11 days remaining with Spurs still yet to confirm an incoming despite heavy links to Wolves star Adama Traore.

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Tottenham transfer chief Fabio Paratici and club chairman Daniel Levy, however, have managed to shift one face with promising youngster Dilan Markanday completing a permanent move to Blackburn Rovers.

Other names have been linked to a north London exit, including the likes of Matt Doherty and Dele Alli, with news from Italy now sharing a development involving club record signing Ndombele.

The Latest: Levy personally green-lights exit…

As explained in the report, Tottenham’s Levy has now personally given the go-ahead for him to leave this window as he transfer lists Ndombele.

According to CDS (via Sport Witness), the Spurs honcho has even offered him specifically to former boss Jose Mourinho at Roma – but Ndombele’s €10m-per-year (£8.3m) salary has proven a major stumbling block despite their interest.

The Verdict: Time to go?

Mourinho himself lauded the 25-year-old’s ‘amazing ability’ during his tenure at N17 and it’s little secret Ndombele possesses real talent when applying it correctly.

He finished last campaign as Spurs’ best dribbler in the Premier League, averaging more successful take-ons per 90 (2.2) than any Lilywhites man over 2020/2021 (WhoScored).

However, the real point of contention is Ndombele’s attitude and application, especially considering this isn’t the first time he has been linked to unceremoniously leaving Tottenham.

Now may be the best time to cut ties as Conte seeks a major rebuild and new dawn at the club.

In other news: Spurs edge closer to first January signing as Conte personally eyes ‘massive’ £15m man, find out more here.

Leeds United will need to pay a ‘decent fee’ to Feyenoord if they want to sign exciting midfielder Orkun Kokcu, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Leeds keen on Kokcu move

The Whites may be eyeing up new signings in the January transfer window, in order to tackle what has been a disappointing start to the season due largely to injuries ripping through a thin squad.

Kokcu is one player who has been linked with a switch to Elland Road this year, having caught the eye for Feyenoord and emerged as arguably one of the most exciting young midfielders in the Netherlands.

The 20-year-old has been compared to Germany World Cup winner Mesut Ozil in terms of playing style and has backed that up by registering six Eredivisie assists this season.

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The Latest: Journalist makes key claim

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke made it clear that Kokcu was unlikely to come in on the cheap, should Leeds make a move for him:

“The boy at Feyenoord, I think he might cost a decent fee.”

Reports in the Netherlands, via TEAMtalk, believe Victor Orta and co will face competition from Sevilla and Roma.

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The Verdict: Hugely talented prospect

Leeds are badly in need of a creative spark in midfield, with only 18 goals scored in as many league games in 2021/22 to date.

While Kokcu’s aforementioned assist-making quality stands out – he has 19 in total for Feyenoord – Patrick Bamford (two) is the only Leeds player with more than one in the league this season.

Not only would Kokcu come in as a long-term prospect with a high ceiling but he could also make an immediate difference, taking some of the creative pressure off the likes of Raphinha and Bamford and giving Marcelo Bielsa an extra attacking dimension.

In other news, one Leeds player could be out of action for a long period. Find out who it is here.

Speaking to Football Insider, a Tottenham Hotspur source has shared some Saturday night exit news involving Matt Doherty.

The Lowdown: Conte overhaul begins?

Antonio Conte has been making his evaluations on the squad over the past few weeks as he assesses who should stay or leave north London in the winter window, as he candidly admitted to the press.

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There have already been a few names mentioned as possible departures in January, with the likes of Dele Alli, Giovani Lo Celso and Doherty all linked with a move away from N17.

Sharing the latest update on the Irish defender, a Lilywhites source has apparently lifted the lid on a weekend development.

The Latest: Conte and Spurs ‘will’ allow Dohery exit…

As per Football Insider, sharing news ‘on Saturday night’, Tottenham and Conte are now set to greenlight the Republic of Ireland international’s potential exit this month.

Indeed, Doherty ‘will be allowed’ to leave the club this winter, with Spurs allegedly open to either a loan move or permanent deal for the player.

The Verdict: Right call…

Since signing for Tottenham from Wolves in the summer of 2020, it’s safe to say things haven’t quite worked out for the former Molineux star in north London.

Making just 39 appearances in all competitions over a season and a half at Spurs, Doherty has never quite cemented his place in the first team under three separate managers in Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo or Conte.

His market value has also dropped by £8m since last year, so we advise Spurs transfer chief Fabio Paratici and chairman Daniel Levy to find a buyer this month before that plummets any further.

Contracted until 2024, there is still time to cash in on the 29-year-old, and it’s safe to say that finding a buyer for Doherty should be one of Tottenham’s squad-trimming priorities this month.

In other news: ‘Absolute no-brainer’…Sky Sports pundit thrilled by ‘exciting’ transfer news out of Tottenham, find out more here.

With Ralf Rangnick’s appointment as Manchester United’s new interim manager confirmed, a new era has begun at the Theatre of Dreams, and it’s one that could alter several ingrained perceptions.

Former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves a huge amount of credit for the good work he oversaw during his two-and-a-half-year reign, but there’s no doubt that a change was needed.

The Norwegian’s tenure had become sour in the final months of his reign as things began to unfold at unprecedented speed.

His preference for allowing individuals the freedom to express themselves and showcase their talent without the constraints of a set system could only take United so far and ultimately became exposed.

And Solskjaer’s style and lack of specific instructions also left certain players vulnerable and susceptible to criticism from frustrated onlookers.

While creative talents such as Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood thrived, less technically gifted stars such as Fred often looked like square pegs in round holes.

At times, it was hard to pinpoint what sort of player the Brazil international actually was.

Not physically imposing enough to be a true box-to-box player, not defensively astute enough to be a sole No.6 and lacking the imagination and ability to be an attack-minded playmaker.

However, the 28-year-old appears to have a certain set of skills that should make him the ideal fit for Rangnick’s famous Gegenpressing system, making his once mocked £52m price tag look like a dream deal for United.

Rangnick’s high-intensity, counter-pressing system revolves around winning the ball back high up the pitch, taking a shot within ten seconds of regaining possession and always attacking vertically.

It requires a set of players capable of carrying out the extensive physical workload placed upon them, but with the footballing IQ to match.

“Our idea is clear, it’s very, very similar to my coaching friend Jurgen Klopp,” Rangnick told the Coaches’ Voice YouTube channel (as relayed by inews). “Our Red Bull football is heavy metal, rock and roll, it’s not a slow waltz. We hate square passes, back passes, just having the ball ourselves doesn’t make sense.”

And when assessing Fred’s underlying numbers, it’s clear that the South American – who was once described as “outstanding” by MUTV pundit Ben Thornley – could turn into Rangnick’s main man during their time together in the red half of Manchester.

As per FBref.com, no player with over 270 minutes of top-flight action has bettered his total of 26.2 successful pressures per 90 this season, while he also ranks second for tackles won (2.23) and fourth for progressive passes (4.36).

With a new set of principles introduced for players to be judged on, Rangnick’s arrival could see Fred’s position in this United side transformed over the coming months, transforming his status as the much-maligned scapegoat into an undroppable pillar for the ‘Godfather of German coaching’ to build around.

And, in other news…MUFC can get rocking again with “absolutely exceptional” £33m gem who Rangnick loves

A concerning injury update has emerged on Rangers centre-forward Kemar Roofe…

What’s the talk?

Gers boss Gio van Bronckhorst has confirmed that the ex-Leeds man suffered a knock ahead of the clash with Hearts, but remains unsure as to how long he is going to be out of action for.

He was absent from the matchday squad as Rangers won 2-0 at Tynecastle thanks to goals from Alfredo Morelos and Joe Aribo, with his manager now revealing it was due to an injury.

The Dutchman told Herald Sport:

“We don’t know the exact injury or how long he’s going to be out. We have to wait until the doctor tells us the extent of the injury.”

Gutted

With no set timeline on Roofe’s return or an indication of how serious the knock is, supporters should be incredibly concerned about the fitness of someone who has been a key player for them this term.

The uncertainty could certainly lead to some segments of the Ibrox faithful panicking as they ponder all of the possible outcomes of his injury. It would, of course, surely be easier for supporters to digest if they had an estimate on when he would be back, although it must be said that there is nothing van Bronckhorst or the club can do about that until the doctors have assessed things correctly.

What’s more, is that he’s been an important player for the club and it would surely weaken the Gers squad quite significantly. After all, he has scored six goals in six Premiership starts along with one goal in three Europa League starts, having bagged 14 times in 18 starts in the league last term as they won the title.

This shows that he knows how to find the back of the net in a blue shirt and suggests why fans will be frustrated by this body blow for him and the club.

His absence takes away a goalscoring threat from van Bronckhorst’s side and could harm their chances of picking up points over the festive period as games come thick and fast and rotation could be vital to keep players fresh.

It really feels like this setback has come at exactly the wrong time for the Glasgow giants.

AND in other news, Gvb could save Rangers millions with “lovely” £3.1k-p/w colossus who has “everything”…

Everton have been linked with a move for Monaco midfielder Aleksandr Golovin as new manager Rafa Benitez looks to replace the departed James Rodriguez over the coming months.

What’s the story?

According to Russian outlet Championat (as relayed by Inside Futbol), the Toffees are showing a ‘serious interest’ in the highly-rated 25-year-old ahead of a potential bid.

Inside Futbol’s report claims a source was quoted as saying: “The Premier League club is showing serious interest in the Russian midfielder. So far, everything is at an initial stage.”

An expected price tag isn’t listed for Golovin, but with his current contract not set to expire until the summer of 2024, it could take a sizeable fee to prize him away from the principality club.

Everton fans will love him

The Russia international established himself as one of the most exciting and promising talents in his homeland after making 113 appearances for boyhood club CSKA Moscow, helping them lift the top-flight title in 2016.

Golovin’s impressive displays for the capital club saw him play a pivotal part in his country’s run to the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals, where his performances caught the eye of Jose Mourinho.

During his work as a television pundit for broadcaster RT, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager said: “Golovin is a playmaker, he’s a player that gives the dynamic of the team.”

And it wasn’t only Mourinho who was convinced by the creative talents showings on the biggest stage of them all.

Ligue 1 outfit Monaco spent big money to secure the £25.2m-rated magician’s services after the tournament, and although he made a slow start to life in French football, Golovin is now finding his best form once again.

Since the beginning of 2020/21, the versatile forward has bagged nine goals and provided a further 12 assists in 40 appearances for Niko Kovac’s charges, illustrating the true potential that Golovin possesses.

His ability to play defence-splitting passes with ease, provide threat from dead-ball situations, and his defensive work-rate means he’s a player that the Everton faithful would love to see arrive on Merseyside during the winter window.

With Rodriguez’s exit over the summer leaving a significant gap in Benitez’s squad, the Blues’ hierarchy could secure the ideal candidate to plug it by sanctioning a move for Golovin.

And, in other news…Forget Godfrey: Everton liability who lost possession 17x had a shocker vs Wolves 

Despite having an average squad age of 26.1 according to Transfermarkt, Southampton’s two senior goalkeepers Alex McCarthy (31) and Fraser Forster (33) are two of the club’s four oldest players in their squad.

With this in mind, it’s not surprising to hear that they have been linked with a transfer move for a young goalkeeper that could become Southampton’s next long-term shot-stopper.

What’s the news?

It has recently been reported by TEAMtalk that Southampton are showing an interest in Ajax goalkeeper Charlie Setford.

The report also claims that the 17-year-old, who apparently grew up as a Saints fan, has a number of other Premier League clubs keeping an eye on him as well.

Must swoop

As a product of Ajax’s youth academy, the teenager, who is currently valued at just £90k according to Transfermarkt, has made a total of 12 appearances for the Dutch club’s youth sides, keeping two clean sheets in the process.

This season has seen Setford make three league appearances for Ajax’s U21 side in which he has managed to make a total of eight saves.

The youngster has also been on the bench for nine of Ajax’s Eredivisie games, showing how close he is to the first team at such a young age.

On the international stage, 6 foot 3 Setford has played in four friendlies for England’s U18 side after pledging his allegiance to England over the Netherlands where he was born.

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Based on the above, it appears the teenager possesses plenty of potential. Thus, this could be a dream deal for Gao Jisheng to complete at a low price on a player that could grow and develop to have a big future at St. Mary’s as Hasenhuttl’s perfect long-term replacement for either McCarthy or Forster.

With The Athletic reporting back in August that McCarthy has put pen to paper on a new deal at the south coast club, it seems as though Setford may have to wait a few years if he does join Southampton before he can become their first-choice goalkeeper.

But with Forster’s current contract at the club set to expire in the summer, his potential exit could give Setford a place in Hasenhuttl’s squad to start competing for the number one spot. That would be an ideal solution for all parties.

In other news: Big blow: Southampton dealt worrying injury setback that will surely have Ralph gutted – opinion

Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves has revealed that former AS Roma boss Paulo Fonseca is a contender for the now vacant Newcastle United manager’s job.

What’s the story?

The Magpies finally confirmed on mid-Wednesday morning that Steve Bruce had left the club via mutual consent, and Graves has indicated that Fonseca is in the frame to take over.

Writing on Twitter earlier this morning before news broke of Bruce’s departure, he said: “Should #nufc new owners decide to part ways with Steve Bruce, we understand former Porto, Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca would be of significant interest. Latest on @SkySportsNews. Fonseca is currently out of work and came close to joining Tottenham in the summer.”

Fans should be excited

While Fonseca may not be the most recognisable name to English football fans, he’s certainly earned a reputation out in Europe as someone who’s a winner and is capable of creating teams who play exciting, attacking football.

At Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, the 48-year-old won three successive league titles and three successive domestic cups, while his team at AS Roma saw him build the team into a genuine force in European competition.

“I’d put them with Atalanta and Sassuolo as the league’s entertainers,” claimed The Athletic’s James Horncastle, via Tifo Football, whilst Alex Stewart described his style as “exciting.”

And, despite their Europa League exit last season at the semi-final stage, Portuguese journalist Alex Goncalves still backed Fonseca to enjoy a big career, tweeting: “It’s a bad result for Paulo Fonseca today, a 6-2 defeat to Manchester United. His managerial CV is exceptional, & his managerial ability matches it, but his time at Roma may be coming to an end. A talented manager who plays stylish football likely to be available this summer.”

After the dreariness of Bruce-ball at St James’ Park, Fonseca’s arrival could lift spirits at St James’ Park, and his penchant for front-foot football is sure to excite Magpies fans.

Meanwhile, George Caulkin has dropped some behind-the-scenes insight on PIF…

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been handed a major injury boost ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by BBC Sport, Willy Boly – who is yet to feature under Bruno Lage in the Premier League this season – is once again available for selection for the visit of Everton on Monday evening, as the centre-back has recovered from an illness which ruled him out of the 1-1 draw with Leeds United last weekend.

However, the report also goes on to confirm that Fernando Marcal will miss out once more due to a calf injury, while Everton will conduct late fitness tests on Yerry Mina, Fabian Delph and Andre Gomes, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure are unavailable for the Toffees.

Fans will be buzzing

While Boly has not exactly been an ever-present figure in the Wolves backline this season, the news that the defender looks set to make a return to action against the Toffees on Monday night will nevertheless have the Molineux faithful buzzing.

Indeed, last season, the £9m-rated man highly impressed over his 21 Premier League appearances, helping his side keep six clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, four clearances and winning 4.8 duels per game.

The Ivory Coast international also chipped in going forwards, scoring one goal, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.7 shots per game.

These returns saw the £46k-per-week centre-back earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as Wolves’ seventh-best performer in the top flight of English football.

As such, it is clear that, when given the opportunity, Boly can be an extremely important part of the Wolves backline, something that means, considering just how short of options Lage currently is in the position, the 30-year-old’s return is a major boost for the club ahead of the Everton clash.

In other news: 1 start all season: Lage must unleash “dangerous” £60k-p/w Wolves ace, he’d terrify Ev

Manchester City’s seven-game unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday night as they lost 2-0 to PSG in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s side’s last defeat in all competitions heading into the match was their 1-0 loss to Tottenham on the opening day of the Premier League season.

Idrissa Gueye and Lionel Messi scored the goals for PSG to succumb City to defeat, whilst the Blues missed multiple chances to level the scores – including Bernardo Silva hitting the woodwork from point-blank range.

Despite the loss, there were some positives for City to take from the game. One of them was the performance of Spanish international midfielder Rodri.

The midfield enforcer was superb for City throughout the game and was their shining light in an otherwise dim display in Paris. He was able to impose himself on the French outfit and show off his quality, which is a promising sign heading into the rest of the campaign.

Per SofaScore, Rodri made an impressive six tackles during the 90 minutes. He also won eight of his 12 duels, including seven of his 11 on the ground and his only aerial contest. This shows how he was able to break up the play and keep City on the front foot in the match, albeit he was ultimately let down by his teammates failing to make the most of their possessions in the final third.

The City beast was also only dribbled past once in the entire match. This means that he was able to hold his ground in the middle of the park and regularly win the ball back, without being exposed by PSG’s midfielders by allowing them to run past him and head towards Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte unopposed on a regular basis.

On the ball, he also caught the eye. Per SofaScore, Rodri completed all 10 of his long pass attempts and 95% of his passes overall in the game. This led to him creating two chances for his teammates and only giving the ball away five times in the 90 minutes.

He was excellent in possession to match his superb defensive work and that is why he was a shining light for Guardiola in midfield. It is now down to Rodri to maintain this level of performance throughout the rest of the campaign, with his teammates hopefully upping their game around him to give City the best possible chance of winning.

AND in other news, 66.7% duels lost: Man City lightweight let Guardiola down badly vs PSG…