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Transfer insider Dean Jones has been reacting to reports linking Aston Villa with a move for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos.

The Lowdown: Ceballos linked with Villa

Unai Emery brought in just two players during the January transfer window in Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran, but it looks as if Ceballos was also wanted at Villa Park.

Reports in Spain suggested that the Premier League club were rejected by the Real Madrid man last month, with those same reports hinting that a summer move could be explored.

The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has played just 883 minutes of football during the current campaign.

The Latest: ‘Scope’ for Villa to sign Ceballos

Speaking to GiveMeSport regarding Villa and Ceballos, Jones described the Spaniard as a ‘really good player’ and said that there is ‘scope to get him on a decent contract’ due to his age.

The journalist stated: “Ceballos is a really good player. He’s a good age in his mid-20s, which gives you scope to get him on a decent contract and expect a lot from him.”

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The Verdict: One to watch?

Should Villa go back in for Ceballos and succeed in a potential free transfer, it could be a wise move by NSWE.

The Spaniard would offer plenty of versatility in a variety of midfield roles and would know what to expect in England after making 77 appearances for Arsenal during a loan spell in north London, having been brought to the club by Emery four years ago.

Ceballos earned a respectable 6.84 average WhoScored rating during the 2019/20 season with the Gunners and improved with a 6.85 rating in the following campaign, standing out with a 91% passing success rate in the Europa League in both of those seasons.

Having been hailed by Robin van Persie as a “joy to watch” during his time at Arsenal, he could be a smart signing by Villa, so it could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months.

Sky Sports Italy have shared another update on Tottenham Hotspur and their interest in Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move…

Reports over the last 48 hours have heavily linked Zaniolo with a move to north London after Spurs’ repeated links to the Italy international last summer.

Gianluca Di Marzio first broke the news that the Premier League side had rejuvenated their interest in the 23-year-old with both West Ham and Borussia Dortmund also eyeing a move.

Fabrizio Romano then reported that any chance of a new deal for Zaniolo at Roma is completely off and his January exit is now a real possibility.

The links to Zaniolo have been met with some praise as Sky’s panel claim he is a ‘Conte-type player’ and could even fill the void left by former creative midfielder Christian Eriksen.

The Latest: Sky Sports share Zaniolo update…

Sky Italy have shared their own update on the situation.

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The reliable news source claims the idea of an exit this month is ‘increasingly’ convincing for the player and his agents are now ‘working’ with Roma to find the best solution for both parties.

They also claim Tottenham are the only club to have actually ‘moved’ for Zaniolo, despite reports of other interest, but their conditions of a ‘loan deal with the right to buy out or at most with a conditional obligation’ haven’t satisfied the Serie A side.

It’s added that Zaniolo can only leave for a permanent fee of around €40 million (£35m).

The Verdict: Keep pushing?

It is arguably true that Spurs are in dire need of a figure who can come in and finally fill the hole left by former star Eriksen, especially as manager Antonio Conte seeks to guide his team to Champions League qualification.

As per WhoScored, there is reason to believe Zaniolo could inject some flair and creativity – with no Roma player averaging a higher rate of completed dribbles or fouls drawn per 90 last season.

He also ranked in their top three for shots at goal, and while he is arguably not at his best this year with just one Serie A goal, perhaps working under a manager like Conte could reignite a bright spark of form.

Zaniolo also has the physicality to be a success in England and under Conte, standing at a lofty 6 foot 3 and being praised in recent years for his ‘physically imposing’ stature.

Depending on the conditions of a deal, a move for Zaniolo may well end up being a fruitful one.

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is ‘expected’ to remain at the club despite being linked with a move to Aston Villa, Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

The Lowdown: Maguire linked with Villa move

The 29-year-old has suffered a frustrating season to date Old Trafford, losing his place in the team and being limited to just four Premier League starts.

Maguire has been strongly linked with a switch to Aston Villa in recent days, as he potentially looks for more regular football away from United.

Now, another update has emerged, however, following a fresh twist in the saga.

The Latest: Romano slams exit links

Writing on Twitter, Romano said that there is no truth in the rumours and that Maguire would be remaining at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future:

“Reports of Harry Maguire deal ‘done’ with Aston Villa are now denied by all parties involved. No negotiations or talks ongoing.

“Maguire is expected to stay at Man United, the position is very clear.”

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The Verdict: Sell in the summer

For now, Maguire is a solid squad player for United, with his performances at the 2022 World Cup showing that he is a good player, being hailed as ‘dominant’ by Bryan Robson.

It does feel as though Erik ten Hag doesn’t see him as an important part of his plans moving forward, however, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez the main centre-back pairing.

Maguire turns 30 in March and ultimately isn’t good enough if United want to reach that next level, so selling him in the summer for a decent amount makes sense, using the money to bring in someone more suited to Ten Hag’s style.

Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero is available for selection for the Premier League meeting with Aston Villa this afternoon.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by the Evening Standard, Antonio Conte revealed that, after missing Spurs’ 2-2 Boxing Day draw with Brentford as a result of his World Cup-winning campaign with Argentina, Romero will be available for selection for the visit of Villa later on today.

Regarding the availability of the defender, Conte said: “Romero is back, yeah. He’s back and he’s available for the Aston Villa game.”

Conte must unleash Romero

Considering just how important a part of the Tottenham starting XI Romero has become since his initial loan switch to the club last summer, should the 24-year-old be anywhere near full fitness, the argument that Conte simply must unleash the centre-back against Villa is an extremely easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 22 Premier League appearances last season, the £71m-rated talent was in astonishing form at the back, helping his side keep five clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 2.8 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 3.3 clearances and winning 5.9 duels – at a success rate of 62% – per game.

The Argentina international also impressed in possession of the ball, enjoying an average of 73.8 touches per match, as well as playing an average of 2.6 long balls, 0.3 key passes and completing 51.9 passes – at a success rate of 87% – per fixture.

These returns saw the £165k-per-week defender average a breathtaking Sofascore match rating of 7.15, not only ranking him as Conte’s sixth-best performer in the league but also as the joint 31st-best player in the English top flight as a whole last time out.

It has been a similar story over the 24-year-old’s eight Premier League outings in the current campaign, with the centre-back having helped Spurs keep one clean sheet, in addition to making an average of 2.4 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 2.8 clearances and winning 5.4 duels – at a success rate of 59% – per game.

These metrics have seen the player who MARCA journalist Juan Di Sciascio dubbed a “little animal” average an extremely impressive Sofascore match rating of 6.94, currently ranking him as Tottenham’s joint eighth-best performer in the league.

As such, with Conte undoubtedly hoping to avoid a repeat of Brentford – when Spurs went 2-0 once again, before salvaging a point in the second half – against Villa this afternoon, the 53-year-old simply must reinstate Romero in his back three, as the World Cup-winner is certainly something of a game-changer at the back for Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a definitive price tag on one of their reported targets…

What’s the latest?

Having reportedly asked on the availability of Denzel Dumfries at the end of November, Pete O’Rourke has now had his say on whether Antonio Conte will be able to tempt the Dutchman to north London.

In doing so, he issued a price tag that Fabio Paratici and co may have to cough up.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Denzel Dumfries has been outstanding at the World Cup for the Netherlands, and I think his price tag’s just gone up and up. So it’s going to be hard for Tottenham to strike a deal with Inter Milan this January to sign Dumfries, who’s probably going to be at least £50m.”

Ditch Emerson

A polarising figure ever since his 2021 summer move, every Spurs fan has an opinion on Emerson Royal.

The Brazilian was signed as a progressive wing back to play under Nuno Santo, however, with the hierarchy swiftly rethinking their managerial move it left the Brazilian stranded.

Lacking defensive awareness and a cool head, and not boasting enough offensive flair to make up for it, the 6.88 average Sofascore rating he earned last season somewhat papers over the cracks.

Pundit Jamie O’Hara even took to talkSPORT Edge to issue a damning statement on the 23-year-old: “I would pay someone to take him off our hands. I’ll give you £5m to get rid of this liability.”

If this stands as a microcosm for fans’ thoughts on Emerson, an upgrade could be in order.

Although a steep price tag has been touted, last summer proved that Conte will receive hefty financial backing in the search for a trophy. He was afforded £146m to bring in eight new faces.

Therefore, the £50m fee for one of the paramount attacking full-backs in European football could actually prove shrewd business, especially after his impressive World Cup campaign.

Having already boasted five goal contributions in just 20 games this season for his club, the 26-year-old once again translated that into international success.

Earning a 6.78 rating, across his five games the defender would record one goal and two assists whilst maintaining 1.4 interceptions and 1.6 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

His involvement in all three of their goals against the United States was imperative in their qualification to the quarter-finals, where they would narrowly lose on penalties to Argentina.

It was a display labelled “breathless” by Micah Richards, with Alan Rzepa having dubbed him a “monster” during the last major international competition too.

His consistency also lends to his value, as he recorded 12 contributions last season too.

These make for phenomenal statistics, especially when his competition has only ever recorded one campaign that could compete, where he boasted nine goal contributions during the 2019/20 season for Real Betis.

Conte has been unafraid to reach into his pockets to get who he wants, and this move could be imperative in his side taking the next step by adding some much-needed power to their attack.

Newcastle United are reportedly still plotting a move for Vasco de Gama sensation, Andrey Santos, despite intense rival interest in the highly-rated teenager.

What’s the word?

According to GOAL, while the Magpies are yet to make a formal approach for the 18-year-old, the belief is that sporting director Dan Ashworth could well make a firm offer for the Brazilian once the transfer window opens in January.

As per the report, the youngster’s current side are believed to be eyeing a club-record fee if they are to part ways with their prize asset, with any deal set eclipse to the €18.5m (£16m) exit of Paulinho to Bayer Leverkusen in 2018.

The Tynesiders will, however, face a battle for the midfielder’s signature amid reports that Premier League rivals Chelsea are in ‘advanced talks’ regarding a £12m deal for the playmaker.

Howe’s own Laimer

The Rio-born starlet may well be a rather inexperienced asset – having made just 37 senior appearances for his current side to date – although the midfield maestro has more than showcased his quality in that time, having netted eight times in all competitions thus far.

Despite his youth, Santos has seemingly warranted the clamour for his services due to his sparkling form in his embryonic career at first-team level so far, having only recently been lauded as a “monster” and a “complete player” by compatriot Juninho Pernambucano.

With adding a new addition in the centre of the park believed to be something of a “priority” in the New Year for manager Eddie Howe, according to journalist Craig Hope, the Magpies could well find their ideal solution in the form of the Brazil U20 international.

Interestingly as far as the northeast side are concerned, the teen’s talents have even been compared to RB Leipzig sensation, Konrad Laimer, in recent times by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with the versatile ace – who can also feature on the flanks – having been one of the leading figures in Europe in his position of late.

The 25-year-old – who has been dubbed the “Austrian N’Golo Kante” due to his relentless and tireless presence in the centre of the park – notably ranks in the top 1% in Europe for blocks made as a sign of his defensive prowess, while he also offers real ball-playing quality as he also ranks in the top 12% for dribbles completed.

The 24-cap machine – who could well be on his way to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich – is no doubt an impressive figure to be likened to, with such a comparison to Santos likely to bode well for the Magpies.

While Ashworth may well face a battle to land the exciting “wonderkid” – as once described by journalist Bolarinwa Olajide – such a move would surely prove worth it for Newcastle both in the short-term, but also in the years to come.

Given their current form, Everton fans could be forgiven for looking back on fonder days when their biggest concern every season was not relegation but how close to the European spots they could finish.

However, their crippling truth remains the former, as they once again seem set to be sucked into the battle for safety this season.

Having lost their last three in all competitions, scoring just once, Goodison Park were forced to once again watch injuries ravage them as Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were all reported to have picked up various issues against Leicester City.

Whilst the former two turned out to be fit for the weekend’s clash with Bournemouth, it was confirmed that the latter would once again be facing a spell out due to a combination of a hamstring injury and a dislocated shoulder.

This is hardly the first time they have seen their English marksman struck down, which is what called for the introduction of a new forward in the summer.

Neal Maupay entered as the ‘cut price’ option, although many wished they had spent that £15m on Championship star Ben Brereton-Diaz, who they continue to be linked with for double the price.

Perhaps taking a chance on this free-scoring Chilean could finally see the Toffees land their heir to Romelu Lukaku, who they have admittedly never replaced since his £75m move to Manchester United.

The Belgian remains their all-time top scorer in the Premier League and bagged 87 times in 166 games.

All Everton need at the moment is a consistent goalscorer and over the last season and a half that is exactly what the 23-year-old has been.

He has backed up his 22-goal haul from last season with nine already this campaign, and since switching his international allegiances seems like a man possessed in front of goal.

His blistering form saw him labelled a “phenomenal player” by football scout Ron Dor, but with plenty of other clubs interested the Merseyside club should act soon.

With just over six months left on the attacker’s deal, the aforementioned £30m fee does have some wriggle room, as recent reports suggest he’ll only cost around £10m.

With Everton likely to still be somewhat stifled financially, this is a deal that could secure their safety in the second half of the season. For them, that would be priceless. Kevin Thelwell could finally present them with the goalscorer they have craved to replace the consistency Lukaku provided.

A big claim has emerged on Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and his contract situation at St. James’ Park…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Dean Jones has revealed that the Magpies believe that the Brazilian will put pen to paper on fresh terms to commit his future to the club.

It was recently reported that Newcastle are set to offer him a new contract to ward off interest from elsewhere and Jones has claimed that the gem is being backed to sign it.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I think it just underlines the progress that they’re making.

“I think it’s important to point out that Newcastle think he will sign this deal. There’s not too much concern over it and the player is loving life at Newcastle.”

Eddie Howe would love it

The Magpies’ head coach would be in dreamland if Guimaraes does sign a new long-term contract with the club.

Indeed, the manager will be able to work with the talented midfielder in the long term, rather than worrying about him moving elsewhere.

Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Liverpool are all reportedly interested in snapping the maestro up from Newcastle and news of their pursuit could have left Howe worrying about Guimaraes’ future. However, this latest update suggests that he has nothing to worry about and the ex-Lyon man will turn down a move elsewhere to commit his future to the Toon Army.

Keeping Guimaraes is a huge boost to his team on the pitch. The midfield dynamo has been in phenomenal form since arriving in England and is a key player for the club in the Premier League.

The £120k-per-week “maverick” – as dubbed by Darren Bent – has averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.32 in the top-flight this season, scoring two goals and providing two assists in ten appearances so far, along with averaging 4.0 tackles and interceptions per match.

Last term, he averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.25 and chipped in with five strikes and one assist in 11 starts, whilst making 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game.

This shows precisely why Statman Dave described him as a “sensational” signing for the Toon, as he is consistently winning the ball back for his side whilst also contributing with goals and assists in the final third.

Therefore, Howe would surely love it if the club can tie the Brazilian down to a new contract as Guimaraes is a crucial player for him and his project in the north east.

Nottingham Forest host Liverpool at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, and Garibaldi manager Steve Cooper has revealed an update on the availability of his players ahead of the clash.

What’s the latest?

The Forest boss took to his pre-match press conference to deliver an update on Lewis O’Brien’s recovery from illness, confirming that the 24-year-old will unlikely be available for selection this weekend.

Cooper told the media (via Nottinghamshire Live): “Lewis still hasn’t recovered from his illness.

“Lewis is still poorly. We are helping as much as we can with his recovery and really trying to get to the bottom of it. He’s taken a bit of a hit with it.”

Another blow for Cooper

Forest are experiencing an injury crisis with all of their left-backs currently ruled out, so O’Brien’s continued struggles to recover from a bout of illness is another blow for Cooper ahead of the match this weekend.

The 24-year-old midfielder has been arguably one of the best players on the pitch for the Tricky Trees this season and is currently the fifth highest-rated player in the squad according to SofaScore.

In eight league appearances this season, O’Brien has scored once, made two tackles per game and tallied a 94% pass completion rate in his own half, while also winning the majority of his duels (63%) and completing 67% of his dribbles so far, proving that he is an effective presence in the middle of the park.

Omar Richards, Renan Lodi, Harry Toffolo, Jack Colback and Moussa Niakhate are also unavailable for the difficult clash against Jurgen Klopp’s side in the luinchtime kick-off tomorrow, and with O’Brien capable of deputising at left-back, another option has seemingly been stricken off the list.

Forest are currently rock bottom of the Premier League table following Leicester City’s win over Leeds United last night, so picking up points in any way possible will be essential in their upcoming fixtures ahead of the World Cup if the Garibaldi are to have any chance of climbing out of the bottom three before the Qatar tournament.

Cooper will be hoping that the solid defensive performance in the 0-0 stalemate against Brighton and Hove Albion in midweek will give his team the confidence to put on another resilient display in front of their home supporters on Saturday to pick up at least a point against Liverpool.

When Dean Smith was sacked as Aston Villa manager last season, there were no shortage of candidates to replace him and the club may have missed a trick in not appointing Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand.

The 50-year-old manager was one of several names linked with the vacant position in November of last year, with Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett confirming live on air that the Danish boss was under consideration.

He said: “The Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand is also on their list. He’s very well known by the sporting director [at Aston Villa], Johan Lange, who himself is Danish. I expect him to be interviewed – but I suspect he’s a bit of an outsider for the role, as I see things at the moment.”

However, the Villans would opt to appoint former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard in a move that has perhaps backfired, as the former Liverpool star continues to struggle despite some star-studded additions.

As it stands, Gerrard has a poorer win rate of 36% than predecessor Smith (40%) and Steve Bruce (45%), which suggests that the appointment has not gone to plan so far.

While recent results against Manchester City and Southampton have eased the pressure on the Villa boss, their start to the season has not been good enough, when you consider that the club will have had European ambitions following the impressive additions of Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and Philippe Coutinho under Gerrard’s tenure.

In Hjulmand, they could have signed a manager who has seriously exceeded expectations with Denmark in recent years.

The former Mainz manager has won 21 out of 31 of his games in charge of Denmark, including in the build-up to the World Cup, which saw the Danes win nine out of ten of their qualifying fixtures, scoring 30 goals and conceding just three.

Hjulmand also memorably led Denmark to the semi-final of Euro 2020, despite the adversity faced by the squad in the opening fixture against Finland when Christian Eriksen collapsed, which emphasises his ability to unite a squad.

Denmark captain Simon Kjaer was full of praise for Hjulmand’s influence during that tournament, saying:

“Kasper has been absolutely fantastic in the way he has handled it all in having full focus on that we should continue to play football but that people were in different places mentally. And at the same time he has had to deal with himself.

“It has been very impressive. He has been a fantastic coach and leader of the team also externally. I can only praise him. I am very grateful to have him as a coach.”

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While Gerrard impressed at Rangers domestically, his side always struggled in big games in Europe, with the Scottish side only qualifying for the Champions League following his departure.

His less than impressive spell at Villa thus far suggests that he still might be out of his depth in the Premier League dealing with top-quality players, whereas Hjulmand has already shown an ability to get the best out of top talents with Denmark, so the Villans may well regret not appointing him last year.