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Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani must avoid making a massive mistake by selling Raphinha amid a recent transfer claim.

What’s the story?

The Brazil star has been in scintillating form for his country during the international break, including a game-changing performance against Venezuela when he came on as a substitute and helped set up two goals in a 3-1 win.

That has since seen former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor drop a major claim that Marcelo Bielsa’s side will find it difficult to keep hold of Raphinha in the long-term, and that he could look to push for a move away sooner rather than later.

He said: “I think it’s going to be very hard. Leeds need more investment in their squad, they need to start buying players that can keep them fighting even further up the table.

“Over the next year, year and a half, people like Raphinha will leave, his head will get turned by other clubs. Raphinha is getting into Brazil squads, he’s playing for Brazil now. He’s not going to want to play for Leeds, he’s going to want to move and play for a bigger club that’s playing in the Champions League. Someone of Raphinha’s quality should be playing in the Champions League.

“It’s just the reality of football. If Leeds can’t invest and get a better squad that’s challenging to get into Europe he will want to leave. That’s just normal.”

Time for Radrizzani to act

After embarking on a spending spree in their first transfer window after clinching promotion to the Premier League – the club broke their transfer record to sign Rodrigo and also snapped up the likes of Robin Koch and Diego Llorente among others for decent amounts too – they were far quieter this summer.

The Whites spent almost half of what they did last year, bringing in Jack Harrison on a permanent basis from Manchester City, signing Barcelona ace Junior Firpo, and clinching a late deal for Manchester United’s Dan James.

With The Athletic’s Phil Hay already admitting that some of European football’s heavyweights could make a big bid for Kalvin Phillips sometime soon, losing him and/or Raphinha would be a monumental blow for Leeds.

If the Yorkshire club are intent on making progress and eventually closing the gap to the Premier League’s ‘big six’, and pushing for a potential European spot too, then continuing to spend money on reinforcing the squad is key to convincing the likes of Raphinha and Phillips that they can achieve their goals here at Elland Road.

It’s now become imperative for Radrizzani to put his money where his mouth is over these next couple of transfer windows, and show his star players and the fans as a whole that he wants this club to take that all important next step.

Selling Raphinha would leave fans absolutely fuming. It would be an unforgivable mistake on the part of the Leeds supremo to do so. He is too good a player to lose.

Meanwhile, Phil Hay has delivered his take on Kalvin Phillips’ future…

Tim Spiers has now revealed some key transfer news involving Wolves and Adama Traore.

The Lowdown: Who’s in the running?

Traore’s contract at Molineux expires in the summer of 2023, and with no sign of him penning a new deal any time soon, the January transfer window provides the optimum opportunity for the Midlands club to get the maximum value out of selling him.

Tottenham have been strongly linked with signing him after reportedly already having personal terms agreed, while Italian football journalist Rudy Galetti has recently claimed that the 25-year-old is on his way to Barcelona on a loan move with an option to buy.

The Latest: Traore’s price tag revealed

Replying to a Wolves fan on Twitter, The Athletic journalist Spiers has revealed that Traore’s asking price is €25m (£20.9m), contrary to some reports of a higher figure. The journalist tweeted:

“I think there’s some confusion because some reports are £ and some €.

“From what I’m told it’s €25m, so £20.9m.”

The Verdict: Too cheap

While Traore has not been at his best so far this season, with just one goal scored and no assists in 23 games across all competitions (Transfermarkt still value him at £25.2m, and there is no doubting his ability on his day.

The Spain international currently averages a whopping 4.2 dribbles per game in the Premier League, second only to Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin (4.3), and at 26 years of age, he still has room for improvement.

Wolves should not be bullied into selling him cheaply with just a few days left in the transfer window.

In other news, find out what transfer update has left these Wolves fans gushing

The vast majority of the transfer window for Everton has revolved around James Rodriguez.

Will he or won’t he be a part of the Toffees’ plans for the season is a question on everyone’s lips, but we may have just received an answer.

What’s the word?

For so long it looked as though Rodriguez had played his final game for the Merseyside outfit. His agent Jorge Mendes was speaking to other clubs and he could have been on his way to Italy.

A move to Porto nearly materialised too with the attacking midfielder potentially heading back to his former club in exchange for winger Luis Diaz.

However, a major twist has occurred on deadline day, according to the Liverpool Echo.

They now report that, with James unable to agree on personal terms or find a suitable club in the final hours of the window, he is now willing to stay at Everton.

Rafa must be delighted

Rafa Benitez will know James well from his time at Real Madrid, and once he penned terms at Goodison Park, he will have been keen to utilise him.

However, the Colombian hasn’t been seen all season, so the Spaniard hasn’t actually been able to put him on the team sheet yet.

It’s difficult to work out whether he’d have wanted to initially, though. James infamously declared that he didn’t even know who Everton’s next opponents were during a Twitch stream a few weeks ago.

That being said, it’s difficult to ignore his qualities, and with Everton struggling to sign new players, he is still a key part of their squad.

You only need to assess his remarkable CV and his performances during a debut campaign in English football.

The Colombia international had a hand in ten Premier League goals, while he was their most creative player in the top-flight. Rodriguez provided 1.7 key passes per game, which was more than anybody else in the squad.

With that in mind, the manager will surely be delighted to see him wanting to stay at Goodison Park. He could be vital in their chase for European football.

AND in other news, “Talks progressing” – Insider delivers exciting Everton claim, Benitez surely elated…

Celtic have opened negotiations with VVV-Venlo over a move for striker Georgios Giakoumakis, according to The Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Giakoumakis profiled

Giakoumakis, who stands at 6 feet tall, is a Greece international and has been with his current employers for 12 months.

During that time, the 26-year-old has scored 29 times in 33 appearances, 26 of which came in the Eredivisie last season.

Giakoumakis was described as a ‘phenomenon’ by Dutch journalist Jeroen Kapteijns, and it seems as if he could well be on the move to Glasgow.

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The Latest: Postecoglou phone call

According to The Daily Record, talks have begun over a potential £2.5m move to Parkhead.

Ange Postecoglou is thought to be playing a central role in any move and called Giakoumakis to discuss a possible transfer.

The forward was left impressed by Postecoglou’s approach and is interested in leading Celtic’s attack.

The Verdict: Sign

Should Odsonne Edouard get the Celtic Park exit he has been working on, a replacement will be needed and Giakoumakis could be an ideal candidate.

He’s just come off the most productive season in front of goal of his career and appears to be in his prime at 26.

A £2.5m fee could also prove to be a shrewd piece of business, especially as his Transfermarkt valuation has skyrocketed over the past six months.

In other news: Sky Sports reporter: Celtic now won’t sign right-back who pleaded for Hoops move. 

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West Ham visit Selhurst Park on Saturday to face Crystal Palace and will be hoping for a repeat of their previous meeting – the Hammers ran out 3-2 winners on December – although their chances will be significantly boosted if Manuel Pellegrini makes a simple tactical tweak.

On the chalkboard

There is a feeling of positivity around the London Stadium this season, despite some questionable results – Pellegrini has taken the helm and was backed extensively in the transfer market as he looked to overhaul the mish-mash he inherited from David Moyes.

While a few of the summer signings have failed to make an impact – albeit largely due to injuries – Felipe Anderson has been exceptional in the Premier League and is a threat when given an opportunity to whip in a cross or take a shot on goal.

Playing on the left-flank, the Brazilian has been a standout performer but will surely struggle to produce the goods if he starts in his regular role. He may not like it, but the former Lazio man must be deployed on the right if he wants as much joy as usual.

Avoiding Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has outshone Eagles talisman Wilfried Zaha this season and his battling performances in defence have surely put him on the radar of the big six.

As the noisy Selhurst Park faithful will tell you, wingers hate playing against the former winger; his pace makes him difficult to get away from and, on the rare occasion that he is beaten, a perfectly-time sliding tackle will often see him win the ball back.

Anderson would surely breathe a sigh of relief if he was tasked with attacking down Palace’s left, guarded by Patrick van Aanholt. The Dutchman is a threat going forward but can be caught out in defence – Pellegrini must switch his speedster over to the opposite wing if he wants to get the best from his star man, even if it means the 25-year-old won’t be able to cut inside, as he loves to do.

Who is West Ham’s worst ever signing? Check out the video below for a pretty strong candidate for the dubious honour…

Reliable Arsenal reporter Charles Watts shared a post on midfielder Matteo Guendouzi on Tuesday lunchtime.

And a number of Gunners fans have been interacting with the news that the 22-year-old could make his France debut this week.

Guendouzi sealed a move to Marseille during the recent transfer window, joining on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy next summer.

That means the midfielder is still technically a Gunners player until the end of the campaign. Guendouzi has been a regular for Marseille in a number of different positions, captaining the Ligue 1 side prior to the international break.

He’s now away with France ahead of a UEFA Nations League semi-final against Belgium on Thursday evening.

Arsenal fans react

Watts quoted a tweet from Guendouzi, claiming he could make his senior debut for his country this week.

This is what these Arsenal supporters had to say in reply, with one believing it is ‘criminal’ the midfielder didn’t remain in north London.

“Wow finally some positive Guendouzi news from Charles”

Credit: @hawt_red

“His what? Hmm”

Credit: @Matteo_Olie

“Cue meltdown in 3…2…1….”

Credit: @therealemjaypea

“Criminal that he isn’t at Arsenal”

Credit: @John3attersby

“Guendouzi is far better than Elneny. And right now he is obviously better than Lokonga. So we gave away a player for almost nothing just because Arteta’s ego can’t stand him. In 2-3 years time Marseille will sell Guendouzi for 50-60mil”

Credit: @luisbunuel3

“Arsenal is cursed I swear as soon as players leave us they’ll get the best for their career”

Credit: @FiliusIllyrico

In other news: ‘What’s wrong with this club?’ – Many Arsenal fans erupt at Ornstein news.

An update has emerged on Inter centre-forward Edin Dzeko, regarding Newcastle United’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to the print edition of The Sun (19/12/21), via SempreInter, PIF are eyeing up a swoop for the Bosnian international.

The report claims that Eddie Howe wants to strengthen his attacking options and the former Manchester City man has been identified as a target.

World-class

Ex-Inter chief Walter Sabatini branded Dzeko as “world-class” last month and that is exactly what he could be for Howe at St. James’ Park if PIF are able to secure a deal for him in January or next summer.

He is a proven goalscorer who has been able to find the back of the net wherever he has played and his arrival could provide a major lift to the Newcastle squad. His experience and quality could aid the Magpies in the fight against relegation, with the forward still firing in the goals at the age of 35.

The Bosnian has scored a whopping 303 goals across his club career for the likes of Wolfsburg, Roma, Inter and Manchester City. He has also bagged himself 60 strikes for his country, which means that he is currently on 363 goals overall.

His former Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco once lauded his talents, saying:

“I must say, he’s an extraordinary player, and not just in terms of his finishing – he gets the team playing, brings the ball down and produces good service for his team-mates. He’s a fantastic professional, his pre-match preparations are always spot-on. When he has a bad game he might appear lethargic, but he does well when he’s determined.”

He has bagged 11 times this season for Inter, which shows that he still has the goalscoring touch despite his age, and he has previously proven that he can perform in the Premier League. The veteran netted 50 goals and provided 24 assists in 130 matches for Man City in the English top-flight, beating the goalkeeper on 72 occasions for the Cityzens in all competitions.

This shows why he could be world-class for Howe at Newcastle as he is a proven finisher who has adapted to several leagues, including the Premier League, and is still scoring at an impressive rate to this day with Inter. Therefore, PIF must ensure that they can secure a deal for his services in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, Forget Clark: £44k-p/w NUFC liability who was dribbled past 3x was shocking v Man City…

Transfer insider Dean Jones has been reacting to some transfer news from Everton involving Jannik Vestergaard.

The Lowdown: Vestergaard swoop?

It has previously been reported from a Football Insider source that managing director Kevin Thelwell is now plotting a move to bring Vestergaard to Goodison Park in the summer.

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A senior scout from the Merseyside club watched the Leicester City central defender play for Denmark during the international break, and the recruitment team want to prioritise signing a ‘dominating’ centre-back like him.

The Latest: Jones reacts

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has now given his reaction to the news, claiming that the potential deal is ‘not one that’s been mentioned’ to him as being ‘likely’ to happen:

“It’s not one that I’ve heard. He’s not one that’s been mentioned to me as one that is likely.”

The Verdict: Needed

The Toffees certainly need a new presence in the backline, and Vestergaard could be just that.

Described as a ‘real threat‘ in both boxes by journalist Luke Hatfield, the 29-year-old stands at a mammoth six-foot-six-inches tall, winning 2.1 of his aerial duels per match on average this season.

Jamie Carragher previously called the Blues’ defence a ‘Championship back four’ just last month, and given his Premier League experience, Vestergaard could be an ideal signing should they avoid relegation.

Nonetheless, Frank Lampard will have to make-do with what he has got for now, and could look to the big Dane this summer.

In other news, find out the latest on Lampard’s future here!

Paddy Kenny has given his reaction to some transfer news involving Newcastle United and Kieran Trippier.

The Lowdown: Trippier targeted

As per AS, the Atletico Madrid right-back is now a transfer target for the St James’ Park club following the completed takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.

Journalist and La Liga expert Guillem Balague revealed earlier this month that the Tyneside club have already ‘started negotiations’ with Tripper’s representatives over a potential move, as they are ‘really interested’ in signing him.

It is unclear whether the new owners will target the 31-year-old in the January transfer window or whether they will wait until the end of the season, depending on what their fate is in terms of potential relegation from the Premier League.

The Latest: Kenny reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League goalkeeper Kenny has since given his reaction to the transfer news, claiming that it would be ‘big’ for Newcastle if they were to sign Trippier. The 43-year-old said:

“This is big for Newcastle if they can get away with it.

“He has been linked with a move back to England a couple of times now. He’s been away for a couple of seasons and he’s done really well in Spain.

“Obviously, he won the title and he seems to have impressed a lot of the fans over there. It’s no surprise really because he’s a top talent.

“I really like him, always have. His crossing is top-drawer, and his free kicks are amazing too. He’s a proper specialist when it comes to those two.”

The Verdict: No-brainer

There is little doubt that Trippier would elevate the quality of the squad that Eddie Howe currently has at his disposal at St James’ Park, given that he helped win the La Liga title with Atletico Madrid ahead of the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona last season.

As Kenny mentions, the defender also offers a threat from crosses and free kicks, which would be a very handy weapon to have in Howe’s armoury.

The Newcastle boss is fond of the England international from his time managing him at Burnley and claimed that the 31-year-old is ‘one of the best crossers of the ball’ that he has ever worked with (The Bournemouth Echo).

Trippier had a great relationship with Howe back then too, expressing his admiration for his former boss by claiming that he is a ‘great manager’ who helped him personally (The Burnley Express).

This relationship could work wonders on the pitch if the Magpies bring him in, so it seems a bit of a no-brainer to get a deal done.

In other news, NUFC are ‘keeping a close eye’ on this Champions League gem ahead of a potential transfer

Arsenal may have felt very aggrieved to have lost 2-1 at home to Manchester City in Saturday’s Premier League encounter.

They were playing so well against the reigning champions at the Emirates Stadium – going a goal up through Bukayo Saka before Granit Xhaka gave away a penalty for Riyad Mahrez to equalise – until Gabriel found himself sent off for two quick yellow cards which turned the game on its head, as Rodri bundled in the winner in injury time.

Using statistical experts SofaScore, The Transfer Tavern have now analysed who the three worst performers (to have played at least 45 minutes) for the Gunners were on the day:

Aaron Ramsdale (6.0)

Perhaps unlucky to come in third-worst, as he could do nothing really for both goals, Ramsdale was given a overall rating of 6.0 by SofaScore.

Admittedly, the goalkeeper failed to make any saves and also gave the ball away on 22 separate occasions from his 38 touches, the most out of any player on the pitch.

Granit Xhaka (5.8)

While given the joint-worst rating (5.8) among the Arsenal line-up by SofaScore, Xhaka is second on our list through other factors.

Although he gave away the penalty for a foul on Bernardo Silva, he looked fairly solid up until that point.

However, the Switzerland international lost out on seven of his duels in total and failed to register a shot, successful dribble, key pass, cross or accurate long ball. He actually recorded fewer touches than Ramsdale (35) and also lost possession twice.

Gabriel (5.8)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Gabriel was rated as the Gunners’ joint-worst player as SofaScore gave him a 5.8 rating along with Xhaka.

His two yellow cards were silly to say the least, and it ended up swinging the match in City’s favour. The 24-year-old also lost two duels and failed to block any shots or make any interceptions, losing the ball three times.

In addition, he only had 19 touches in total, the fewest out of any Arsenal player to have started the match.

In other news, find out whose display against City was slammed by many Gooners