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Newcastle United are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when his contract expires at the end of the season.

What's the latest on Oxlade-Chamberlain to Newcastle?

According to the Daily Mail, Eddie Howe and co are mulling over completing a swoop for the 29-year-old this summer, looking to bolster the ranks with the ostensible exploits in Europe next term.

United are joined in their interest by fellow Premier League outfits Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion, with the latter allegedly interested in a January swoop before discarding interest due to concerns over paying a fee for a player available for nothing in a matter of months.

The former Arsenal gem has been at Anfield since completing a £35m transfer from north London in 2017 and has played a role in triumphant campaigns in both the Premier League and Champions League, but has found game time hard to come by across recent years.

Should Newcastle sign Oxlade-Chamberlain?

Oxlade-Chamberlain is unquestionably a talented ace, but he has failed to get a grasp on his career at Liverpool over recent years. He was impressive in the early phases of Klopp's success on Merseyside but was detrimentally hindered by a knee injury in 2018 that restricted him to just two appearances in the 2018/19 campaign.

Having scored 18 goals and provided 15 assists from 145 outings for the Reds, he does indeed appear to have been deemed expendable as his contract dwindles to a halt, and if Howe attempted to sign the £120k-per-week dud in the coming months, Oxlade-Chamberlain would flatter to deceive at St. James's Park.

Previously branded "woeful" by the Telegraph's Uche Amako, the one-time Southampton youth product would surely replicate Chris Wood's ill-fated spell on Tyneside with a transfer, with the veteran 70-cap New Zealand international completing a £25m move from Burnley last January.

Having plundered his riches at Turf Moor, Wood failed to assert his authority under Howe's wing and managed to clinch just five goals from 39 appearances, with journalist Josh Bunting remarking that the 31-year-old was "not suiting the style" implemented by Howe.

Similarly, Oxlade-Chamberlain might not gel cohesively with the thriving Magpies outfit; while Howe's demands for a hard-working and unrelenting system suits the Liverpool dynamo on the surface, his inability to remain fit would likely hinder his chances of wedging with way into starting contention with regularity.

A versatile player, the intrigue in the 35-cap England star likely centres around his aptitude across a raft of areas, bolstering the team and providing fresh dimensions from a multitude of angles, but with 88 matches missed due to injury over his near six years on Anfield, he is simply not reliable enough to occupy a role in the ambitious Newcastle team.

Tottenham Hotspur may have been handed a potential boost in their pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Glasner…

Recent reports have suggested that the Austrian tactician is on Fabio Paratici’s shortlist as a long-term replacement for Antonio Conte.

Claims from Germany suggest that Glasner has already been contacted by Spurs ahead of a possible move for the Austrian, coming as his Frankfurt contract is slowly winding down.

Spurs are reportedly on the lookout for Conte’s replacement after the Italian’s scathing post-match rant against Southampton last weekend, with Glasner mentioned alongside the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and Luis Enrique.

The Premier League top-four hopefuls squandered a 3-1 lead late-on to share the spoils 3-3 at St. Mary’s, a result which culminated in Conte’s wrath.

Indeed, Conte attacked the very culture of Tottenham, his squad and even the board – stating:

“We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart (in).

“Why? Because they are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.”

The Latest: Spurs handed Glasner boost?

Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, sharing news from across the continent, has an update on Glasner’s situation at Frankfurt.

Amid Tottenham’s interest, it is believed the tactician is stalling on a new deal and wants to take his time.

Glasner apparently now wishes to assess his options, with Plettenberg explaining:

“He wants to take his time in order to take a decision about a contract extension beyond 2024. Good relation with Krösche but still a strong interest from [England]. No concrete negotiations with Frankfurt at this stage. Should follow next weeks. Top coach!”

The Verdict: Make the move?

If Spurs could tempt Glasner into swapping the Bundesliga for English football, he could come as a fairly solid candidate and potential alternative to the likes of Mauricio Pochettino.

The latter man, given his credentials and status as a free agent, should be viewed as Daniel Levy’s top managerial priority in our opinion.

However, if Spurs are unable to agree the Argentine’s return, Glasner has been praised for his ‘intense’ and ‘aggressive’ football.

The former Wolfsburg boss also has experience winning silverware, clinching the Europa League title last year at the expense of Scottish giants Rangers.

Tottenham Hotspur and Antonio Conte’s time together in north London is now appears to be coming to an end, with the Italian expected to leave at the end of the season, according to reporter Dean Jones.

Will Antonio Conte leave Spurs before the summer?

The 53-year-old is only contracted at Spurs until the end of the current campaign and there are reports suggesting neither party are looking to extend.

Reports are already suggesting names which could potentially succeed Conte with the former manager Mauricio Pochettino a name being touted as a possible option.

Despite the Lilywhites’ struggles in recent weeks, it does seem as if Conte could still see out the remainder of the campaign with just a few months remaining on his deal.

Speaking on the Ranks FC podcast, insider Jones has claimed there is now an expectation within Hotspur Way that Conte will leave the club in the summer:

“I’m told that Antonio Conte, this is his last season, he’s going to wait until the summer, it sounds like. But this is going to be his last season. That’s almost every person around Tottenham is saying that right now. So prepare for the rebuild. How soon it comes, who it is, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Should Spurs sack Conte now?

There is certainly a case to be made for Spurs parting ways with a manager who – according to reports – does not want to remain in the job ahead of next season.

Despite the negativity hanging around the club, Spurs need to clinch a spot in the top four as it will provide them with more room to spend over the summer.

And the results in the Premier League are still proving inconsistent as they have been since the turn of the year.

Next up for Spurs is a huge Champions League game against AC Milan with the north Londoners chasing a one-goal deficit with a spot in the quarter-finals at stake.

It will be interesting to see what happens if Conte – who returns to the sidelines on Wednesday – is unable to turn around the tie in north London.

If Spurs do crash out of the Champions League, there will be no other opportunity for Conte to get his hands on silverware at Tottenham and it will raise the question as to what is his motivation for the remainder of the campaign.

Apart from his own record, the Italian may feel there is very little left at Spurs to get him up for the remaining Premier League games given he is believed to want out of the club.

And that could certainly prove a concerning thought for Daniel Levy and it would be interesting to see if elimination from Europe may just turn the chairman’s hand.

Newcastle United are tracking Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Frimpong profiled

The Dutchman made the move to the Bundesliga from Celtic back in January 2021 and it’s fair to say that he’s excelled in his just over two years with Xabi Alonso’s side.

The BayArena right-back is currently his side’s overall second-best-performing player with a rating of 7.10, form which has caught the eye of Eddie Howe, who now reportedly thinks he would be the perfect player to put pen to paper at St. James’ Park.

The Latest: Frimpong ‘being tracked’

According to Jacobs (via CaughtOffside), Newcastle and Manchester United are both monitoring Frimpong and considering whether to make an approach this summer.

“More generally, there are a few other full-backs to keep an eye on. Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is being tracked by Newcastle and Manchester United.

“And Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters will almost certainly be on the move if Saints go down. Tottenham considered a return and Chelsea have looked at him [in] the past.”

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The Verdict: Trippier alternative

Kieran Tripper isn’t getting any younger (32) so Newcastle will be keen to add a younger alternative to their ranks, and Frimpong might be the ideal candidate to come in and be just that.

The Amsterdam native is a very attack-minded full-back having made eight goal contributions in the Bundesliga this season (five goals and three assists) and loves to dribble past his opponents, averaging 2.3 per game.

The Puma-sponsored star also ranks in the 99th percentile for five different statistics, including touches in the attacking penalty area, showing the attacking impetus he provides from the flank.

Frimpong has been hailed a ‘lively’ player by Leverkusen’s former CEO Rudi Voller and PIF need to splash the cash to secure their target ahead of their competitors.

Glasgow Rangers are keeping a close watch on striker Petar Ratkov ahead of the summer transfer window as Michael Beale looks to strengthen his squad at Ibrox.

What’s the latest on Petar Ratkov to Rangers?

According to Football Insider, the Premiership giants are monitoring the Serbian striker as they look to find potential replacements for Alfredo Morelos, as his future is still uncertain.

Ratkov is wanted across Europe, with both Anderlecht and Parma having bids rejected for him during the January transfer window, so there could well be a battle for his signature once the season has finished.

The 19-year-old currently plays for Serbian top-flight club FK TSC, and no fee has been mentioned as of yet ahead of any potential move.

Will Alfredo Morelos leave Rangers?

Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos is in the final few months of his Rangers contract, and although Beale claimed that he would sit down with the player to sort out his future once the transfer window shuts, there has been no word of an extension as of yet.

Having scored 121 goals for the club in six years, he will be tough to replace; and although Ratkov won’t be touted as a like-for-like replacement due to his age and inexperience, he may well become Beale’s very own Luka Jovic.

The Serbian machine was signed by Real Madrid in 2019 for €65m (£58m) having impressed during the early part of his career, and Ratkov could be on a similar trajectory.

Indeed, according to talent scout Jacek Kulig, the teenager’s main strengths include pace, link-up play and heading, and this is certainly similar to the current Fiorentina striker.

Jovic likes to do layoffs and plays the ball off the ground often, with the two strikers keen on linking up well with team-mates. The 25-year-old has scored 15 headed goals throughout his career, which suggests that the two are quite comparable in their respective styles of play and their main strengths.

While maybe not as clinical as he would like, Ratkov is still only 19 years of age and has scored five times in 21 league matches this term, creating two big chances and averaging two shots and 0.7 key passes per match, showing that he doesn’t solely rely on goals in order to provide an effective attacking threat.

Compare this to Jovic this season, who has netted three times in Serie A, taken 1.8 shots per game, created zero big chances and played 0.7 key passes a game, with the youngster outperforming his elder compatriot across a few metrics in 2022/23.

Ratkov may not be the answer to Beale’s Morelos conundrum, although signing him this summer could not only lead to the Serbian developing into an excellent talent; he might also become Rangers’ own version of Jovic, and it could lead the Light Blues towards making a solid profit in a few years’ time.

Crystal Palace will likely make a signing before the transfer deadline to boost both the quality and morale of the squad, insider Dean Jones has claimed.

What’s the word?

Palace are yet to complete a transfer in the January window, but do look set to secure a move for Naouriou Ahamada, and have now been linked with a deadline day loan for Albert Sambi Lokonga from Arsenal.

Patrick Vieira’s side are winless in their last four Premier League matches, and with morale dipping, signings could be necessary to provide a boost for the second half of the season.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones explained that the Eagles have a quality gap in their squad that needs addressing and that a deadline-day deal could help Vieira’s side significantly.

“I’m cautiously optimistic that Palace will fill a gap. Obviously, they’ve got a couple of problems in their starting 11 at the moment,” he stated.

“I think that just bringing in somebody, for reasons of morale, raising morale more than anything, will probably give everybody a lift.”

Midfield reinforcements

Palace had been linked with a move for former loanee Conor Gallagher to strengthen their midfield in this window, but may miss out as they secure Ahamada and Lokonga instead.

Gallagher’s presence from last season has been missed, but these two young signings can bring a fresh energy to the squad in the middle of the park.

Lokonga has been previously praised by Vincent Kompany, who even compared the Belgium international to Yaya Toure, and his arrival in the squad could help Palace rediscover their form to finish the season strongly.

Chelsea’s handling of Hakim Ziyech’s failed transfer to Paris Saint-Germain has been disgraceful and their business may cause a problem for Graham Potter, Scott Minto has claimed.

What’s the word?

Ziyech looked set for a deadline day loan move to PSG, but a problem with the paperwork meant the move did not go through, much to his disappointment.

Chelsea spent heavily in the January window, signing in eight players, including four attackers in Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk and David Datro Fofana, meaning Ziyech’s game time could become severely reduced.

However, the Morocco international started in their following game, a goalless draw with Fulham, and this decision has now been questioned, given that he was close to leaving just days before.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Minto claimed that the messy situation will do Graham Potter no favours.

“You’ve got at least half a dozen, if not double figures, of players who can’t even get in the squad. How do you keep players happy all the time?” He stated.

“An example is Hakim Ziyech. What happened was disgraceful, really. I blame his agents more than anyone but Chelsea as a club should have sorted that out and should have made sure it happens.

“Why is he going to Fulham just days after he should have joined PSG? It makes no sense. So that’s Graham Potter saying, ‘I’ve got to bring this guy onside’ and that’s a distraction.”

Ziyech harshly treated

The biggest victim of the whole saga was Ziyech himself, who now finds himself in limbo at Chelsea.

With his future almost certainly being away from the club, he will now have to settle for a role which is unlikely to include regular starts for the rest of the season, and his head will be elsewhere having nearly secured a move away.

Potter has a difficult task to keep him happy, whilst also keeping his younger new arrivals content with the amount of game-time they will receive, and with Chelsea out of both domestic cup competitions, there are less fixtures for rotation.

Tottenham Hotspur are now ‘really close’ to completing the signing of Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Porro, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Positive progress

The Premier League giants have held an interest in the 23-year-old since the start of the month, having seen an initial offer rejected due to the fee being below his €45m (£39m) release clause.

However, Fabio Paratici and his team held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss an improved deal, which went as well as could have hoped, and it sounds like the right-back is almost set to seal a move to N17.

The Latest: Porro deal ‘close’

Taking to Twitter late on Wednesday night, Romano claimed that Spurs and Sporting have scheduled a final set of negotiations for later today to finalise the deal.

He wrote: “More on Pedro Porro. Understand new round of talks between Tottenham and Sporting on Thursday to get the deal sealed — it’s now ‘really close’, at key stages.

“All parties feel it could be done in the next 24/48 hours. Payment terms are the final point of discussion.”

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The Verdict: Relief for Conte

Porro had reportedly been identified as Antonio Conte’s number one target this month, so after endless speculation, it will be a huge relief for the Tottenham manager to finally get his man over the line.

The Spaniard already has 11 assists to his name this season and has put a remarkable 107 crosses into the opposition penalty box, highlighting the threat that he brings along the flank.

The Sporting full-back also ranks in the 99th percentile for six different statistics among positional peers in Europe’s major leagues over the past 12 months, including shot-creating actions, and will be a hugely exciting signing to follow in the footsteps of loan arrival Arnaut Danjuma.

Journalist Ryan Taylor has tipped Wolves to view Craig Dawson as ‘the top target’ in the January transfer market after past interest in the defender.

What’s the word?

Last summer, the West Ham United centre-back very nearly left his current club in favour of a move to a team in the Molineux outfit with Aston Villa also in the race for his signature.

No deal materialised but Wolves have supposedly seen an offer for the player rejected in the current winter window. Amid all that, Atletico Madrid for Felipe has been rumoured to be an alternative target with Reuters claiming talks have been ongoing.

However, while talking on his own YouTube channel, Taylor has now stated that he expects Dawson to be the priority this January, while adding that the player should be keen on a move away from London.

The journalist explained: “There was some discussions with Atletico Madrid for Felipe but I think Craig Dawson would be the top target.

“He wants to move back to the Midlands. He actually doesn’t live in London and he’s making a long commute to West Ham every day. Tried to leave the club in the summer but the right option didn’t materialise.

“So I think that’s one that can be revisited and David Moyes will probably be keen to let him move on, so he can bring in another player.”

Transfer options

Brazilain defender Felipe might seem like a more glamour signing – after all, he has won the Club World Cup and La Liga – but that may well mean he has higher wage demands and it might take more to convince him of a move to England.

Dawson, on the other hand, seems very open to the move for the reasons stated above. What’s more, with his contract set to expire this summer, he should come fairly cheap. And with plenty of Premier League experience, 246 appearances to be precise, he could come in and make an immediate impact with little adaption likely needed.

The main issue, however, could be the fact that the recent bid seemed to annoy David Moyes. Indeed, just before West Ham played Wolves, an offer came in for the defender and when asked if that was a destabilising thing to deal with, the manager said: “It is, yeah, I agree with you.”

Leeds United have suffered a blow in their quest to sign Morocco and Angers midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, as the player prefers a move to Europe.

The Lowdown: Leeds make Ounahi bid

In the past few days, it has been claimed that Victor Orta and co have made an offer for the 22-year-old, in what could be an audacious swoop by the club.

Ounahi stood out as one of Morocco’s best players at the 2022 World Cup, making seven appearances in total and helping them reach the semi-finals.

Unfortunately, it now looks as though Orta’s quest to bring him to Yorkshire could be difficult.

The Latest: Whites dealt blow

According to L’Equipe [via Sport Witness], the Whites aren’t Ounahi’s ‘preference’ and he is ‘not excited’ about the prospect of heading to Elland Road.

Instead, it looks as though the Angers midfielder is holding out for a move elsewhere, with respective bids from Napoli and Almeria both mentioned in the report.

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The Verdict: Big blow for Leeds

This is a disappointing update, considering how impressive Ounahi was at the World Cup, being hailed as a ‘revelation’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Unfortunately, the lure of current Serie A leaders and Champions League contenders Napoli is another level up from Leeds, in terms of what they can offer, arguably both football and money-wise.

Should Ounahi’s mindset change, Jesse Marsch should jump at the opportunity to sign him, with the Moroccan capable of providing legs and class in midfield, having excelled so much alongside Sofyan Amrabat in Qatar, enjoying an 83.3% pass completion rate.