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West Brom are reportedly interested in signing Huddersfield Town midfielder Jon Russell this month and he could form a fantastic partnership with Okay Yokuslu.

According to reports from Alan Nixon in December, Carlos Corberan is keen to reunite with the 22-year-old at the Hawthorns, having given the young midfielder his first taste of senior football at Huddersfield during his spell with the Terriers.

The Jamaican midfielder would score twice in 22 appearances under the Spanish manager at the John Smith’s Stadium, playing a significant role in their run to the Championship playoff final last season.

However, he has lost his regular place in the starting side so far this campaign, with his last appearance coming in early October, so it is no surprise that rumours of a potential exit are rife.

If Corberan could help Russell rediscover his best form, which saw him average an impressive 6.87 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the Championship last term, he could be an excellent addition to the Baggies’ midfield.

The young midfielder’s contract is also set to expire at the end of the current campaign, which means that any January deal could prove to be a bargain for Corberan as he looks to continue West Brom’s resurgence in the Championship, with promotion certainly on the cards if they can maintain their current form.

Former Huddersfield assistant manager Danny Schofield was full of praise for Russell after he starred in an FA Cup win against Barnsley last season.

He said: “From day one when Jon stepped in the building we knew we had somebody who has got a special talent.

“He’s got real ability with the ball, very composed in central areas and I thought he had a really good game.”

Russell is not only an excellent midfielder in possession, as he also offers a big physical threat in the middle of the park, standing at an impressive 6 foot 4.

The prospect of having the 22-year-old alongside the similarly imposing Yokuslu, who stands at 6 foot 3 will equally delight Corberan and terrify opposition managers, as the Baggies continue to dominate and fly up the table.

The Turkish midfielder is West Brom’s top-ranked player this season according to WhoScored and leads the way for tackles per game, while Russell was ranked top for interceptions per game in Huddersfield’s squad last season, which suggests that they could form an incredible ball-winning partnership at the Hawthorns.

Therefore, Corberan should definitely try and bring Russell to West Brom this month.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that signing Atletico Madrid and Portugal star Joao Felix would ‘be a massive coup’ for Aston Villa.

The Lowdown: Interest there

Villa’s interest in Felix has been widely reported, as he could leave Atletico in the January transfer window.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano, who dubbed him a ‘special talent’, has shared that there are ‘tensions’ between Felix and his manager Diego Simeone, meaning that the former is ‘open’ to leaving in 2023.

The Latest: Be a ‘massive coup’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has claimed that it would be a ‘massive coup’ for Villa to sign Felix:

“It’d be a massive coup to get someone like Joao Felix to make the move to Villa Park right now. Obviously, you’ve got Unai Emery there who will know all about Felix from his time in Spain as well.

“But Villa have shown in the past that they can attract players, they signed Philippe Coutinho last January from Barcelona, so they do have the finances and the lure to sign these top players.

“So, it just shows the ambition that Villa’s owners have got that they’re actually in the mix for Felix.”

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The Verdict: Unlikely…

As much of a big signing as Felix would be for the Villans, it just seems highly unlikely that they would be able to attract him in January.

90min have listed European heavyweights Manchester United, Chelsea and PSG also among his potential suitors, and Felix may want to play for a team that can offer him European football.

Hailed as ‘electric’ for Portugal during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar by journalist Nico Cantor, the 23-year-old scored one goal and made two assists in four starts (Transfermarkt) before his country were knocked out by Morocco in the quarter-finals, showing the kind of promise that persuaded Atletico to pay a whopping £113m to sign him from Benfica back in 2019.

Nonetheless, Felix looked like a player that regained his confidence, but it would likely take a lot of persuading to get him to move to Villa Park.

Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Ben Brereton Diaz in the January transfer window and the Blackburn Rovers star could be the Eagles’ next Glenn Murray at Selhurst Park.

According to 90min, Palace are one of several Premier League sides to have scouted the 23-year-old frontman ahead of the winter transfer window, after his superb performances for club and country in recent years.

Last season saw the former Nottingham Forest man notch 22 goals in the Championship for the Ewood Park outfit as they narrowly missed out on the playoffs, and he looks to be aiming for automatic promotion with Jon Dahl Tomasson’s high-fliers this time around, having already hit nine league goals this term.

While it may be tough to prise Brereton Diaz away from the Lancashire club, as they currently sit third in the second tier ahead of its resumption this weekend, his contract situation could force Blackburn’s hand.

The Chile international is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning that foreign clubs are free to approach him on a pre-contract deal in January, so Blackburn may well be tempted to cash in on him to a Premier League side in January.

Other than Wilfried Zaha, Patrick Vieira lacks a consistent goalscorer at Selhurst Park, so it is easy to see why he would want to bring the “extraordinary” Brereton Diaz to the Premier League next month, given his goalscoring record in recent campaigns.

His ability in front of goal suggests that he could emulate Palace legend Glenn Murray should he join Vieira’s side in the January window.

Murray signed for the Eagles from rivals Brighton in 2011 and after hitting just seven goals in his first campaign, he exploded in the 2012/13 campaign and helped fire Palace to promotion to the Premier League, scoring a record-breaking 30 goals in the Championship.

That record would stand until 2021 when it was eclipsed by Ivan Toney, which emphasises just how impressive Murray was at Selhurst Park, and his 47 total goals for the Eagles means he will always be fondly remembered by fans.

Like Murray, Brereton-Diaz is known for his clinical finishing in front of goal, so there seems no reason why he can’t create a similar legacy to the Englishman at Selhurst Park should he join from Blackburn Rovers in the new year.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a shock move for West Ham United skipper, Declan Rice, with the Magpies believed to have joined the battle for the Englishman’s signature.

What’s the word?

According to West Ham insider, Claret and Hugh, PIF are believed to be keen on landing the 23-year-old next summer, with the report suggesting that the northeast side views him as a player who could be the ‘cornerstone of their project’ for the long term.

The report suggests that the Tynesiders could well make a move at the end of the campaign if their stunning early season form continues, with the hope being that the potential prospect of Champions League football could tempt the 34-cap superstar into a move to St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side are certainly not the only suitor for the midfielder, however, with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City having been heavily linked of late, while recent speculation has suggested that the London Stadium outfit would be open to a sale.

Any move for the Hammers academy graduate – whose current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2024 – won’t come cheap, however, with the Three Lions star potentially set to command a fee north of £100m.

“Another level”

At present, Newcastle are seemingly not in major need of additions amid their rampant start to the Premier League season, having lost just once in their opening 15 games to put them firmly in the mix for a top-four berth.

That being said, however, the signing of a player such as Rice could well help take the club to even greater heights, with pundit Paul Parker previously stating that the Irons’ talisman is the type of player who can take a team to “another level”.

Lauded as the “best central midfielder in the country” by Parker, the £60k-per-week sensation has been in truly stunning form in east London in recent years, having developed from being a promising talent into something of a “force of nature”, according to journalist Rob Blanchette.

The mature figure – who has already racked up 215 appearances for his current side to date despite his youth – could well be the answer to Howe’s prayers, with Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope only recently suggesting that a new central midfield asset could be a “priority” for the club.

Slotting in Rice to the base of the midfield would add even greater quality to the Newcastle ranks, with the 6 foot 1 colossus able to offer something of a unique asset as a result of his strength both in and out of possession.

The Kingston-born machine notably ranks in the top 6% in Europe for interceptions made as a sign of his ball-winning knack, while he also possesses a gift for being able to drive his side up the pitch with a surging, line-breaking run, having notably finished first in the division for successful dribbles during the 2020/21 campaign.

With David Moyes’ side currently in a relegation battle after an underwhelming start to the season, Rice could well be tempted to jump ship if things do not improve in the New Year, with the ambitious project on offer at St James’ Park likely to be an attractive prospect.

Indeed, he could just take the Magpies to another level, one West Ham are unlikely to reach anytime soon.

Sheffield Wednesday take a break from League One action on Friday night as they host Morecambe in the FA Cup first round at Hillsborough.

While Owls fans will be expecting a win against a side who have won the fewest games in the division and will be hoping to progress to the next round, the game offers Darren Moore a chance to experiment with his team somewhat.

Although the FA Cup has a rich history of shocks, you would hope that, given their respective standings, Sheffield Wednesday’s reserves and younger players could still have enough to deal with the Shrimps, especially at Hillsborough.

Therefore, Moore should consider handing a rare start to Nottingham Forest loanee Alex Mighten, as it could be a confidence booster for the youngster after a difficult start to life with the Owls.

Despite featuring on the opening day of the Premier League season for Forest against Newcastle United, Mighten was allowed to join Sheffield Wednesday on loan for the campaign but has so far failed to live up to expectations.

The speedy winger has no goals or assists in just four appearances for Moore’s side, with WhoScored awarding him a disappointing 6.24 rating for his performances in League One.

However, the talent is clearly there and if Mighten can pick up a goal or assist against Morecambe on Friday night, it could be exactly what he needs to push on and make a difference for the Owls in their automatic promotion push.

Academy manager Gary Brazil sang the 20-year-old’s praises after signing a new deal with the Reds in 2020.

He said: “Alex is now developing into the elite footballer we all hoped he would become. Brave, exciting, self-confident, single-minded, he has all the ingredients to go a long way in the game. He is another quality outcome from a group of staff that continue to punch above their weight.”

Morecambe will no doubt sit back and look to hit the Owls on the counter, so having a tricky winger with Mighten’s quality might just be the difference as Moore’s side look to find the breakthrough on Friday night.

With the game presenting a great opportunity to rest key players such as Barry Bannan and Josh Windass, Moore should unleash the exciting Mighten for a rare start, so that fans can get a better idea of what he is capable of.

It has been a hectic week at Aston Villa after the midweek sacking of Steven Gerrard following a heavy defeat at Fulham but the Villans must re-focus their attention for an important game against Brentford on Sunday.

Gerrard was relieved of his duties after seeing his side fall 3-0 at Craven Cottage on Thursday, a loss that left Villa hovering just above the relegation zone in the Premier League.

There is no time for the players to dwell on the Liverpool legend’s departure, however, as they need three points against the Bees on Sunday if they want to distance themselves from the bottom three.

Aaron Danks is the man in charge of the Midlands club this weekend and he will be hugely relieved about the news that emerged not long after the defeat at Fulham.

Douglas Luiz was sent off in London for a perceived headbutt on Aleksandar Mitrovic, with VAR encouraging the referee to produce a red card.

However, in a baffling turn of events, the Premier League have now reversed their decision and rescinded Luiz’s red card, meaning that he is available for selection at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

The former Manchester City dynamo has been a mainstay at Villa since joining the club in 2019, making 122 appearances, in which he has contributed seven goals and eight assists.

The 24-year-old machine also recently committed his future to the club and looks set to be an important player for Villa for the significant future, no matter who arrives as the new manager.

Back in 2021, Luiz’s impressive form caught the eye of his former manager Pep Guardiola, with the Citizens boss full of praise for the young midfielder.

He said:

“He’s an important player for Aston Villa. A guy who’s clever with the ball, so physically strong. He’s a lovely, lovely guy.”

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In the absence of Boubacar Kamara, who remains injured for the foreseeable future, it was vital that Villa have a defensive midfielder available for Brentford, so Danks will be delighted that Luiz’s red card was overturned.

West Ham United’s recent triumph over newly-promoted Fulham proved a positive day for the Hammers’ new arrivals, with things starting to fall into place with regards to a handful of those notable additions.

Sunday’s 3-1 win at the London Stadium saw Italy international Gianluca Scamacca get himself on the scoresheet for the third time in as many games, while former Lyon man Lucas Paqueta registered an assist for the second successive game, with the pair excitingly starting to gel in attack.

For all the brilliance of those new faces, that result also saw some of the club’s heroes from recent seasons come to the fore, with last season’s top scorer Jarrod Bowen starting to rediscover his goalscoring touch after slotting home from the penalty spot, having netted a week earlier in the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The former Hull City man was not the only figure who caught the eye on the day, however, with long-serving defender Aaron Cresswell once again providing a reminder of his undoubted importance to the side.

The Englishman’s role under David Moyes had seemingly been under threat following the recent capture of fellow full-back Emerson Palmieri- having also twice been sent off in last season’s Europa League run – although the 32-year-old has risen to the challenge of late, with that performance against the Cottagers showcasing his worth.

The £2.7m-rated ace – who had joined the Irons from Ipswich Town back in 2014 – provided a constant threat down the left flank against Marco Silva’s side, recording three key passes in his 90-minute outing, with that tally the most of any player on the day.

That attacking quality also saw the £50k-per-week gem register six crosses as a sign of his desire to impact play from the flanks, having racked up ten goals and an impressive 35 assists in 303 games for the east Londoners to date.

The three-cap ace’s most telling contribution came late on as he brilliantly denied substitute, Tom Cairney, with a vital goalline clearance, with the home side going on to seal the points in added time through Michail Antonio’s strike.

As per the Evening Standard’s Malik Ouzia, that was arguably the Liverpool-born star’s ‘best performance of the season so far’, with the 5 foot 7 machine likely unfortunate not to have walked away with an assist having produced notable fine moments in attack, including teeing up the aforementioned Scamacca in the first half.

Such a display served as a reminder that one-time Tranmere Rovers man is simply a “consistently good performer” for West Ham, having been “so reliable” for a number of seasons for the club, in the words of journalist Henry Winter.

Despite the presence and competition of new man Emerson, it looks as if Cresswell deserves to keep his place as the first-choice pick moving forward.

West Ham United defender Ben Johnson has held talks with the club over a new contract but there is no progress with his representatives yet, according to insider Claret and Hugh.

The Lowdown: Johnson’s instant impact

The 22-year-old has made his name in the Premier League after clocking up 64 first-team appearances, but is currently on the sidelines due to sustaining an injury against Aston Villa last month.

The right-back still has two years remaining on his current deal at the London Stadium but won’t be short of potential suitors given his age and versatility, so it comes as no surprise to learn that the Irons are looking to tie him down for the long-term.

The Latest: West Ham locked in talks

According to Claret and Hugh, West Ham have been ‘talking’ to Johnson’s representatives over fresh terms for ‘several months’, but they are ‘no closer’ to reaching an agreement as it stands.

It’s reported that GSBK ‘may re-open negotiations’ approaching Christmas, but it will take a ‘big improvement’ in the club’s league position to help discussions progress further.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Johnson earning a new contract in the capital would be nothing less than he deserves after making a real positive impression since his breakthrough under David Moyes.

The London-born gem, dubbed ‘phenomenal’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, averaged 2.5 clearances and 1.7 tackles per top-flight game last season (WhoScored), and has the ability to operate at centre-back as well as on the flank.

Johnson is an England U21 international and has a promising future ahead of him, which West Ham will be hoping is continued with their guidance in years to come.

Everton could reignite their interest in one of Chelsea’s young starlets…

What’s the word?

According to journalist Simon Phillips, Kevin Thelwell has moved once again for Conor Gallagher.

Reportedly available for £35m, Phillips said the following to GIVEMESPORT on the Toffees’ interest: “It’s true that they have asked Chelsea for Broja and/or Conor Gallagher as part of the Gordon signing.

“They want both of those players and, for me, they would be big statement signings if they can get either of those.”

Would be a dream signing

With Everton having already brought in Amadou Onana in midfield, and still reportedly coveting Idrissa Gana Gueye, Lampard is clearly looking to sign a certain type of central midfielder.

However, the prospect of bringing in this “relentless” England international who has all the grit but the ability to push forward and grab goals would surely excite the 44-year-old who would hope to mould Gallagher in his image.

Last season, whilst on loan at Crystal Palace, the 22-year-old scored eight and assisted three from midfield in a season that made the rest of the Premier League stand up and take note.

It is also an explanation for why there are so many clubs vying for his signature, with the Eagles, Newcastle United and West Ham United all interested.

For LOSC Lille, Onana ranked in the top 6% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles, whilst Gueye ranked in the top 8% for tackles and top 4% for pressures.

Lampard clearly wants energy with a defensive core, and who better to sit in front of them and shoulder more of the offensive burden than the Chelsea man?

Hoping he could be the creative spark in the Everton midfield, the fact that he ranks in the top 9% for dribbles completed is indicative of a man willing to drive with the ball at his feet from midfield to progress the team.

To have this bulldozing “monster” – in the words of sports editor Tom Dutton – driving at other teams’ midfields would be met with a raucous reception from Goodison Park, who thrive off a player committed to the cause. His 24.49 pressures per 90 further exacerbate this kinship they would surely form.

An English central midfield with an unparalleled work rate, Lampard himself scored an outstanding 177 Premier League goals during his career.

Gallagher would surely be his dream signing, as he would look to replicate his goalscoring feats with a man who has all the foundations to somewhat emulate the legendary Everton boss.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko.

What’s the word?

That’s according to 90min, who note that Salzburg have no plans to sell the youngster. Wolves are said to have watched him closely, but this recent revelation could deter the Midlands club from pursuing the forward.

Interest is thought to be high, with Manchester United, Newcastle United, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund all attentive to the situation.

The next Haaland

Standing at a domineering 6’3 but possessing a blistering turn of pace, this physical anomaly has often been likened to the super-talented Erling Haaland.

Now looking to replicate the Norwegian and make the move to the Premier League, Wolves could be the beneficiaries of this forward labelled “generational” by journalist Ryan Taylor.

Last season, the RB Salzburg striker contributed to 17 goals in all competitions and has earned huge praise for the effect his physical presence has on the opposition.

The 19-year-old has also started off the new season with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Austria Vienna, earning a SofaScore rating of 8.10 for his efforts. It looks like it may be a huge season for the breakout star, and perhaps Bruno Lage could look to invest in his talents now before he truly announces himself on the world stage.

The Old Gold struggled in the striking position last season, as the now 31-year-old Raul Jimenez only managed six league goals in 35 appearances. Another disappointing campaign for Fabio Silva, which resulted in no league goals, has even seen him sent out on loan.

Lage’s side is crying out for a hungry new striker to come in and make the position his own. Sesko could be just that man, and his hulking frame would thrive off the deliveries from the likes of Ruben Neves and Pedro Neto.

With 13 caps whilst still being a teenager, it is clear how highly thought of he is by those around his club and country.

Whilst the reported £55m price tag may seem steep, it could prove a smart investment as they look to tie down this generational forward who can emulate the machine that is Haaland.

AND in other news: Lage can seal his own Ronaldo with Wolves bid for “world-class” 308-goal target.