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Sky Sports’ northeast reporter Keith Downie has said that having three Newcastle United players in the England squad for the World Cup is ‘unbelievable’.

The Lowdown: Three Magpies for the Three Lions

Three Magpies players were included in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad for the World Cup in Qatar, with Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson all getting the call.

The former two were safe picks having made recent squads, but Wilson has not played for the Three Lions since 2019, although he has been picked by Southgate ahead of the likes of Tammy Abraham and Ivan Toney for the upcoming tournament.

The Latest: Downie buzzing

Taking to Twitter, Downie was left buzzing after the England squad was announced, claiming that having three players from St James’ Park in it is ‘unbelievable’ for Newcastle.

The Sky Sports reporter tweeted: “Unbelievable how far Newcastle have come in such a short space of time. And having three players in the England squad for Qatar symbolises exactly that.”

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The Verdict: Deserved

All three Newcastle players deserve their place in the England squad as a testament to how well they have performed to get the Tynesiders up to third place in the Premier League table.

Having three players from one club in the squad is the joint-second highest representation behind Manchester City with five.

It puts Eddie Howe’s side level with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, and they have more than Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur from the so-called ‘big six’.

The fact that the Toon are mixing it up with the more traditional big boys is shown by the players in the England squad, and they all deserve their seats on the plane to Qatar next week.

Arsenal are in contact with the agents of Mykhaylo Mudryk ahead of a potential move in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, with the Italian transfer insider confirming in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that, following continuous reports linking Mikel Arteta’s side with a move for the Shakhtar Donetsk winger this winter, Edu is indeed in contact with the 21-year-old’s representatives regarding a potential swoop for the forward.

Concerning the Gunners’ interest in the Ukraine international, Romano said: “Shakhtar are not selling Mudryk for €40m (£34.8m) or €45m (£39.1m). They want around €60-65m (£52.2-56.6m), not less than that.

“It’s not going to be easy, but Arsenal are still interested in Mudryk. They have contacts with his agents, so it could be an interesting opportunity for them.”

Unreal signing

Considering just how exciting a talent Mudryk clearly is, Romano’s claim that the 21-year-old could be an “interesting opportunity” for the Premier League side would seem like something of an understatement, as the winger would undoubtedly be an unreal signing for Arsenal to get over the line in January.

Indeed, the £13m-rated talent has burst onto the European football scene in 2022/23, having already scored five goals and registered six assists over his ten Premier Liga appearances – averaging a direct goal involvement every 67 minutes of football played – as well as starring during Shakhtar’s Champions League campaign.

In the Ukrainian side’s first outing in the competition this season – an unexpected 4-2 win over RB Leipzig – the 21-year-old stole the show, scoring one goal and registering two assists, as well as making two key passes, completing two of his three attempted dribbles and creating one big chance – with these metrics seeing the winger earn an incredible SofaScore match rating of 8.0.

This performance saw the attacker draw a considerable amount of praise, with Jack Collins stating after the game that Mudryk is both “absolutely unreal” and “almost undefendable”, while Sam Tighe dubbed the youngster a Jack “Grealish regen”.

The eight-cap star followed this up with a goal in both the home and away tie with Celtic, while also turning in an extremely impressive performance despite a 2-1 defeat at the hands of reigning champions Real Madrid.

As such, considering the wealth of young and exciting attacking talent Arteta already has at his disposal in north London – such as Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Fábio Vieira, Gabriel Martinelli, Marquinhos and Gabriel Jesus – the further addition of a player as talented as Mudryk would very much appear a dream for the 40-year-old manager.

Indeed, with the added firepower of the Ukrainian sensation, it would appear wise not to bet against the Gunners going on to lift the Premier League title come next May.

Newcastle United have an agreement in place to complete the raid of Manchester City’s regional scout, Paul Midgley, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

The Lowdown: Improving all areas 

Having been taken over by PIF in October 2021, it seems as if the Manchester City rebuilding model came up in talks as to how the Magpies would progress. 

As we found out with the Anzhi Makhachkala case study, you cannot just splash cash and hope for the best with decisions needed to be astute and fit a long-term vision. 

And within this latest update, we have another sign that Newcastle are looking to improve their ranks off the pitch as well as on.

The Latest: Deal allegedly done

According to Romano, Newcastle ‘have reached an agreement’ that will see Midgley become the head of youth recruitment. Taking to his personal Twitter page to share the update, the transfer expert said:

“Newcastle have reached an agreement to hire Paul Midgley as Head of Youth Recruitment — joining from Man City where he was regional scout.”

“Agreement in place and deal done as Newcastle want to improve all club’s areas.”

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The Verdict: A big vision 

Newcastle clearly have a big vision under the guidance of PIF and are looking to improve all aspects of the club. It’s an approach that is a shrewd one, with continual improvements to all departments of the club standing them in good stead to become a force with real longevity. 

As of right now, all steps taken under the guidance of PIF have been spot on, which combined with Eddie Howe’s fine-tuned tactical nous, sees the side as genuine Champions League qualification contenders this season.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter wields one of the best right-backs in world football in Reece James, but could be set to bolster the right-flank with an offensive-minded addition, with the January window drawing near.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Chelsea reporter Simon Phillips has revealed that the London giants are scouting Jeremie Frimpong, with the 21-year-old Bayer Leverkusen starlet soaring under the wing of new boss Xavi Alonso.

Phillips goes as far as to say that the ace has been regarded by Chelsea for several seasons now, with the club intent on adding a quality option to contest with James for the right-back spot.

But with divisional rivals Manchester United also reportedly vying for the dynamic ace’s signature, Potter would do well to move swiftly and lure the player to Stamford Bridge, with his slick skill set adding a valuable dimension to the squad.

Regarding the future of Leverkusen youngster, Phillips said: “I think it’s a position that Chelsea will address in the summer rather than January, but they are starting to look at targets. Jeremie Frimpong is on there.

“Chelsea have scouted him a few times in recent seasons and they’ve stepped that up again now under the new ownership.”

Potter’s next Lamptey

Blues boss Potter is no stranger to talented full-backs, with James his starting right-back, as well as overseeing the rise of Marc Cucurella at Brighton, who he followed to Chelsea this year, and nurturing the continuing development of Tariq Lamptey at the Seagulls.

Lamptey has been beset with injury issues the past few years, failing to conjure up a sustained spell of fitness that allows him to break into the first-team fold with regularity, but his brimming talent is undeniable.

And Frimpong, who bears similarities in his knack for bombing forward and seeking offensive openings, in addition to utilising his pace and prowess on the ball, could raise his game to the next level under the tutelage of Potter, who displays a track record of developing and nurturing rising stars.

While Cesar Azpilicueta can still perform admirably in the position, as evidenced by his efforts for Spain at the Qatar World Cup, he is in the twilight of his career and moves must be made to replace the illustrious veteran and ensure the future will continue to breed success.

Scoring five goals and registering three assists across 21 fixtures for Leverkusen this season, the £26m – as valued by his club – Frimpong is continuing the rich vein of form that transcended him from prospect to prodigy at Scottish champions Celtic.

Indeed, over his 51 appearances for the Bhoys during the maiden stages of his career, the £21.4m-rated dynamo displayed all the aptitude to flourish as a modern right-back, with the perfect blend to slot right into any team searching for success.

As per FBref, the Dutch international – called up the Netherlands’ international squad but still without his senior debut – boasts some of the most impressive offensive and ball-centred statistics about, with the site ranking him in the top 1% for dribbles completed and the top 4% for touches within the attacking penalty area of full-backs in Europe’s big five leagues.

With Potter continually searching for talent who can carry the ball from the defensive half to the offensive third, Frimpong – hailed as “outstanding” by former head coach Neil Lennon – fits the bill with aplomb, with his innate gliding nature and will to search for positive openings at every opportunity will serve him well indeed at Chelsea.

With Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils looking to snap him up, the Blues should kill two birds with one stone and add him to a talented team, hampering United’s progress whilst doing so.

Arsenal are lamenting the unfortunate injury to Gabriel Jesus on World Cup duty, with the forward positively paramount to the club’s seasonal success, but a glimmer of sunlight has possibly emerged from the darkness…

What’s the latest?

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts said that he is optimistic over the fitness of Emile Smith Rowe, who has been sidelined since having surgery at the end of September.  

Watts said: “He’s got a really big part to play in the second half of the season. It is that whole cliché of ‘like a new signing’ “Obviously, he’s not a new signing, we know that.

“But suddenly having him involved again if he’s fit, and if he’s healthy and he’s finally got over this groin issue – which, fingers crossed, he will have done because of the operation – and you can get him back to the sort of fitness and sharpness he showed at the first half of last season, then Arsenal are going to be laughing.”

Smith-Rowe can fill the void

With Jesus reportedly facing an extensive spell on the sides, Eddie Nketiah might feel like the most obvious option to replace the Brazilian’s goal output. However, the 22-year-old Smith Rowe also represents a fine option and could not be returning to action at a better moment. 

Only making four substitute appearances this season before receiving his injury shackles, the three-cap England international will certainly need to find his feet before roaring into life, but if last season’s endeavours are anything to go by he possesses all the capability to lead the Gunners to glory.

As per FBref, the gem ranks within the top 5% for non-penalty goals scored when compared to positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues over the past year, which illustrates a goal-scoring prowess that can fill the boots that Jesus has left.

Last season alone, Smith Rowe, valued at £50m, scored 11 goals and provided two assists in 37 appearances, including ten goals in the Premier League, illustrating his credentials in front of the opposition net. 

Described as a player who can “find space in a telephone box” by Danny Cowley when he was on loan at Huddersfield, the playmaker’s marvellous blend of pace, trickery and composure would allow him to offer a direct threat while also increasing the creativity in the team, sitting deeper when required and allowing the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to search for openings, with space created.

Smith Rowe will feel like a new signing when Gunners boss Mikel Arteta welcomes him back into the fold, and while the blow to Jesus might be viewed as detrimental to the clubs title charge, the return of a prolific attacking midfielder can ease the concerns, offering quality support in attack.

Celtic target Cho Gue-Sung is attracting interest from Europe, according to his representative. 

The Lowdown: Red-hot form

Having asserted himself as the top scorer in the K-League, Cho has built on this stellar bout of momentum by continuing his goalscoring prominence at the prestigious Qatar World Cup. 

22 goal contributions from 31 K-League appearances was already an impressive feat, yet two goals from four appearances on the World Stage in Qatar makes his star rise that bit more. 

It is no wonder the Korean gem has already caught the eye of Ange Postecoglou, with The Daily Record reporting he is indeed a ‘target’ for 2023.

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The Latest: Representative reveals all

Whilst a move to Turkey or France had been touted, Cho’s representative was keen to shut those two options down.

According to The Daily Record, who have relayed the update via Korean outlet Khan and name-checked the Bhoys, Cho’s representative revealed: “The rumour that these two clubs are interested in Cho Gue-sung is not true. 

“It is true that clubs in Europe are interested in Cho Gue-sung. It is certain that (clubs in) the European leagues are keeping an eye on Cho Gue-Sung at the World Cup.”

The Verdict: Go for it?

Contract talks have stalled with Georgios Giakoumakis and Postecoglou will not be satisfied with the Hoops’ over reliance on Kyogo Furuhashi, so an additional striker is necessary. 

If the club can get their hands on Cho, who has scored 51 goals throughout his career so far, we could be looking at goals galore in Parkhead. 

Cho’s current side Jeonbuk FC created a decent amount of threat with 52 big chances in the K-League last season, but that is less than half of the amount that Celtic conjured up last term. You can only imagine how many goals would result from Cho being in a side who created 115 big chances last season.

This one looks really exciting.

Manchester United are not considering exercising a contract clause in David de Gea’s Old Trafford deal at this moment in time, according to Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: De Gea under Ten Hag

De Gea has gone past 500 Manchester United appearances this season and has once again been first choice at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag.

The 32-year-old has featured in every minute of action in both the Premier League and Europa League, keeping nine clean sheets.

The Spaniard is out of contract at the end of the campaign, although the club have the option to extend his stay by a further year.

The Latest: Plettenberg’s post

Plettenberg took to Twitter on Saturday to provide an update on De Gea. The Sky Sports reporter shared what he’s been ‘told’, revealing that the club are not currently considering activating a 12-month contract clause and that Ten Hag is open to signing a new number one.

He tweeted: “News De Gea: We‘ve been told that MUFC – at this stage – is not considering to pull his clause to extend for one more year. Ten Hag is open to get a new No. 1 but the player would like to stay beyond 2023. Current salary between €18-20m/year confirmed.”

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The Verdict: Interesting…

Old Trafford officials may have something up their sleeve when it comes to a new goalkeeper, as it does seem surprising at this stage that they don’t want to cover themselves by keeping De Gea until 2024.

Martin Dubravka and Tom Heaton are the backup options available to Ten Hag, although you’d presume that at 33 and 36 respectively they are only viewed as cover, so the Red Devils will need a marquee addition if De Gea departs.

It will be an interesting situation to follow in 2023, but it wouldn’t come as a shock if the club were to eventually exercise the clause in De Gea’s contract.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that signing Atletico Madrid striker Matheus Cunha would be a ‘big coup’ for Leeds United.

The Lowdown: Contact made

As per 90min, Leeds, as well as Aston Villa and Everton, have made contact with Cunha’s representatives over a potential move, and are ‘actively trying’ to strike a deal for him in the January transfer window.

Cunha is interested in working with Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, but ‘sources’ have claimed that he wants to explore all of his options before making a final decision on his future.

His entourage have also offered him to Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United, and Atletico are desperate to offload Cunha’s wages, and would be prepared to sanction a loan deal.

The Latest: Cunha a ‘big coup’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has claimed that signing Cunha would be a ‘big coup’ for Jesse Marsch’s side:

“It’d be a big coup if they could land Matheus Cunha, who does seem like he is available. There’s going to be big competition for his signature. We’ve already seen the likes of Wolves and Aston Villa strongly linked with him.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

It has recently been reported that it is not clear how long Patrick Bamford is going to be out for with injury, meaning that the Whites need to strengthen their striker options in January.

Lauded as a player who is ‘very fast’, with ‘great technical skills’, ‘unpredictable gameplay’ and an ‘excellent goal instinct’ by his former boss Maurizio Jacobacci, Cunha showed early promise as a teenager at FC Sion, where he managed seven goals and four assists in 15 games under the Swiss (Transfermarkt).

Once hailed as ‘something special‘ by former Hertha Berlin head coach Bruno Labbadia, the Brazilian continued his impressive streak in Germany, managing 23 goal contributions in 40 games (Transfermarkt), while at RB Leipzig, he managed a further nine goals and three assists (Transfermarkt).

Cunha has not been able to reach the same heights at Atletico, failing to find the back of the net so far this term, but there is no doubt that the talent is still there.

If Marsch puts an arm around his shoulder on the pitch, then we could see the best of Cunha again, if the Peacocks are able to bring him to Elland Road.

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on a January transfer for Stade Rennais’ Martin Terrier, who is considered to be one of Ligue 1’s most prolific forwards. 

United are making progress under Erik ten Hag, albeit not the finished article, and there is an overarching feeling within the club that a continuation of newfound cohesion and a further calculated signing could lift the club to the upper echelon of European outfits.

There is still work to be done, and the rancorous exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, terminating his contract after an impassioned interview with Piers Morgan, has left a hole in the offensive third.

And now, according to Media Foot, Ten Hag has been in contact with the player’s representatives, with the club delving into the possibility of striking a reported £34m deal.

He’s “a-la Thierry Henry”

The Red Devils, after finishing sixth in the Premier League last term, have made a promising start to life under their Dutch manager and sit in fifth place after 15 matches, just one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and with a game in hand.

A talisman would certainly go a long way, and while the Theatre of Dreams is host to offensive prowess aplenty, there is something missing, something that could boost the ascension back to a place at the very front of the pack.

Terrier has been in fine form this season, scoring 11 goals and serving four assists from just 20 appearances, including three in six in the Europa League.

And last year in Ligue 1, the 25-year-old’s 21 strikes were bettered only by Wissam Ben Yedder and the imperious Kylian Mbappe. 

There is a clear indication that the gem would arrive at Old Trafford with an abundance of goals in tow, slotting into the fold without seam. 

With his dynamism allowing him to flourish both as a central striker and as an inside forward, cutting in from the left flank, Terrier bears eye-catching semblance to one Thierry Henry, whose 228 goals and 103 in 376 appearances for Arsenal sit in tandem with two Premier League trophies and three FA Cup’s – left his iconic status etched perpetually into English footballing lore.

Illustrating the similarity between the two players, European football writer Tim Williams once said this:  

“He’s a very quick, left-sided right-footed attacking player whose trademark is coming in off the left flank and whipping shots in, a-la Thierry Henry.

“Looking at his age and the phenomenal season he had last season, he will probably think that if he is ever going to make a big move to the Premier League, it’s probably going to be now or never.”

United’s prolonged intrigue in the player also bodes well for the prospect of an eventual bid, with 90min reporting in early November that the outfit had sent scouts to observe his match performance.

Time will tell whether a move comes to fruition, but with such sustained stellar showings, Terrier would certainly be a boost to an ambitious United side’s exploits.

Therefore, Old Trafford chief John Murtough must look to sign the Frenchman when the transfer window reopens for business on January 1st.

Tottenham Hotspur may have been handed a blow in their believed interest in Sofyan Amrabat amid this month’s transfer window.

What’s the latest?

It has been reported for the best part of a year now that the north London has held an interest in the Fiorentina midfielder, Amrabat, with Fabio Paratici in contact with the Serie A side during the last January window.

Interest in the 26-year-old was carried into the summer window and has now reportedly extended into this month’s market with Antonio Conte’s men still believed to be showing an interest.

However, they are not the only club said to have Amrabat on their radar this month with one of their Premier League rivals, Liverpool, credited with an interest in the Moroccan.

But after his exceptional display in the World Cup, Fabrizio Romano has suggested on the House of Champions YouTube channel that the midfielder’s price tag has more than doubled on the back of his showings in Qatar with Fiorentina wanting €40m (£35m):

“Fiorentina had a conversation with people close to the player and they were very clear, they want €40m for Amrabat.

“So after his World Cup, the value has basically more than doubled than before the World Cup because I think in the summer with €16m/€17m, Amrabat was available.”

Room for improvement

Spurs looked like they had made one of the signings of the summer when they had prised away Yves Bissouma from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal believed to be worth around £35m.

However, the Mali midfielder has been hugely underwhelming since making the move to north London with Alasdair Gold recently awarding him 5/10 ratings for his displays against Brentford and Aston Villa.

With this in mind, it seems as if Conte could welcome another midfielder this month if someone of Amrabat’s quality was an option.

Amrabat’s defensive showing in Qatar was nothing short of exceptional with possession won 19 times across his games against France and Spain.

But his impressive returns don’t end there with the Moroccan inside the top three percentile across midfielders for progressive passes (6.05) per 90 minutes (via Fbref).

Spurs have already, reportedly, cooled their interest in the right-wing-back Pedro Porro this month having found out the Spaniard’s £40m price tag.

With this in mind, it has to be imagined Romano’s update will come as a potential blow to Daniel Levy and Paratici this month if funds are not widely available to be spent.

As Spurs hope for positive news on the fitness of Rodrigo Bentancur, youngster Pape Matar Sarr shone at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night which may provide Conte with some hope surrounding his midfield options.

So considering Amrabat, who has been hailed as a “crazy player”, may now be out of reach for Spurs, it will be interesting to see if Conte puts more trust in some of his younger options like Sarr over the coming months.