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Leeds United have been linked on numerous occasions to Viktor Gyokeres and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the latest on Leeds’ interest in Viktor Gyokeres?

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are plotting a move for the Coventry City striker whether they retain their Premier League status or not this summer.

As per the report, the west Yorkshire club are already working on a striker signing for the summer regardless of their unstable position in the top flight and it is claimed that Leeds are huge admirers of Gyokeres with the intention to pursue the player in their efforts to bolster their attacking threat.

Is Gyokeres better than Patrick Bamford?

The appointment of Javi Gracia this week will be a huge relief for supporters after a disappointing defeat to Everton last weekend which has resulted in the side falling into the relegation zone.

The Whites are now 19th in the Premier League table after failing to pick up a single victory since the beginning of November last year when they beat Bournemouth and the newly-appointed manager will have a huge challenge on his hands to offer a quick turnaround in performances to secure safety this season.

Leeds have struggled to kill games over their entire campaign so far with Patrick Bamford unable to hit the ground running since his return from long-term injury issues, so the signing of Gyokeres this summer could be the perfect opportunity to acquire the services of a young and prolific striker.

In fact, Victor Orta could land a huge upgrade on Bamford if he could secure a deal for the Swedish goal machine this summer as Gyokeres has outperformed the Leeds stalwart in many attacking attributes.

When comparing the positional peers over the season so far in their respective leagues, Gyokeres has scored more goals (14 v 1), registered more assists (4 v 2), created more chances (43 v 7) and offered a better shot accuracy (68.85% v 52.63%), as per Squawka Comparison Matrix.

Of course, the Swede has played a higher number of games but it’s clear to see that he is the most lethal asset right now.

Not only that, over 32 Championship appearances the 24-year-old ace, who was hailed “unplayable” by teammate Maxime Biamou, has averaged 2.9 shots on goal, 1.3 key passes, 1.9 successful dribbles and won 6.3 duels per game, proving that he is a huge presence in the final third and could be extremely valuable to Gracia next season.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Gyokeres would be a great addition to the Leeds squad no matter what becomes their fate at the end of the season.

Aston Villa have encountered their first unwanted run of form under new head coach Unai Emery as the club have lost all three of their last three matches in the Premier League.

The Villans have lost to Leicester, Manchester City, and Arsenal, conceding a whopping 11 goals in the process, and are now 11th in the table as it stands.

In spite of their horrible defensive record and run of defeats, central defender Ezri Konsa has been one of the team’s standout performers of late.

The titan won 11 of his 17 individual duels and completed at least 93% of his attempted passes in the three losses and this indicates that the centre-back did his part in being dominant defensively and composed in possession, but was let down by his teammates.

How much is Ezri Konsa worth now?

In the summer of 2019, ex-Villa boss Dean Smith swooped to sign the central defender from his former club Brentford in a deal worth £12m.

The English head coach worked with the enforcer during their time together with the Bees and believed that he could make the step up to the Premier League.

Smith ended up striking gold for the club with his decision to reunite with the defender as Konsa has been a reliable performer in the top flight for a number of seasons with his market value consequently soaring.

At the time of his move to Villa Park, Football Transfers expected his transfer value to sit at €14m (£12m) and it has since risen to an eye-catching €40.1m (£36m) in the subsequent three-and-a-half years.

This means that his xTV has soared by a whopping 188% since joining the Villans, which that certainly a reflection of the form he has produced in the Premier League.

Konsa, who Reach editor Mat Kendrick once hailed as being “composed” and “unflappable”, has racked up 123 appearances for the club in all competitions to date and has been dominant in the top flight this season.

The 25-year-old has played 23 times for Villa in the league this term and has won an outstanding 73% of his individual duels, including 84% of his battles on the ground, whilst Mings has won 56% of his 50/50s in total and only 46% on the deck.

These statistics show that the former England U21 international has been able to dominate opposition attackers throughout the season so far, whilst his centre-back partner has struggled in that respect, and his 87% pass completion suggests that the gem is also reliable with the ball at his feet.

Konsa is an excellent performer for Villa and has proven himself to be a fine Premier League centre-back since arriving at the club in 2019 and that, along with his rising market value and scope to improve further at the age of 25, is why Smith hit the jackpot by signing him from Brentford.

Liverpool may have one last trick up their sleeve in the transfer window, insider Dean Jones has claimed.

What’s the word?

Jurgen Klopp’s side have struggled this season, as they find themselves in real jeopardy of missing out on a place in the top four, and need reinforcements in midfield.

They have brought in Cody Gakpo for around £35m in this window so far, but with less than a week remaining, there is no indication that another transfer looks close.

However, Jones has claimed that their business may not be over, and pointed out that Liverpool have previously sprung surprise transfer deals before.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones may have given Liverpool fans a sliver of hope that they will bring extra quality to the team.

He said: “They do tend to surprise us, and I think that’s probably the optimism and the hope that Liverpool fans will have right now.”

Midfielder market thin

Despite the Gakpo deal, Liverpool’s priority is perhaps in midfield, so it may not be surprising if targets remain on their transfer shortlist this month.

The market for midfielders available mid-season is thin, with Chelsea and now Arsenal reportedly looking to strengthen in that area, and Liverpool may struggle to find someone before the deadline on January 31st.

Indeed, Liverpool Echo journalist Ian Doyle suggested this could well be the case despite calls to bolster the Reds midfield, with a lack of attainable targets at present – hence the move for Gakpo instead.

They were linked with a loan move for Ryan Gravenberch, but those links have been quickly shut down, and given the lack of available options, they may be forced to continue the season with their current squad – unless Jones’ hunch is correct.

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is still expected to be absent for an extended period, despite recent claims that he could return within four to five weeks, journalist Charles Watts has explained.

What’s the word?

Jesus picked up a long-term injury during the World Cup, but recently admitted on video while at Arsenal’s win over Manchester United that he hopes to return within four or five weeks.

Eddie Nketiah has performed superbly in his absence, with the Englishman’s brace helping his side secure a massive victory over the Red Devils, but the return of Jesus is sure to give Arsenal a boost.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts relayed Mikel Arteta’s claims that despite the Brazilian’s eagerness to return as soon as possible, the club are set to act with caution over his injury and not rush him back after speaking to the Spaniard on Wednesday.

“I asked Mikel about [Jesus], if he could confirm that that is the kind of timeframe that they’re looking at, and he said it’s really difficult with him, because he’s chomping at the bit, he’s pushing every single day to be back – he said he [Jesus] wants to be back next week. He then said that’s absolutely not going to happen because it was a really big injury, but he hopes that it’s weeks and not months.

“He clearly didn’t confirm what Jesus said at the weekend, and Arsenal have been very, very careful not to put a timeframe on Jesus’ injury and his return from injury, because they don’t want to put any undue pressure on him, on the club, on the medical staff, which is understandable. So we’ll have to wait and see, but that’s what he said to me.”

Ease him back in

With Nketiah’s excellent form coming at the perfect time, as well as the addition of Leandro Trossard from Brighton, there is no urgent need to rush Jesus back and risk further injury.

Arsenal will have a packed schedule as the season goes on, and if he returns within the next two months, he will still have a big role to play in the title race and cup competitions, but we believe he should not return unless he is completely recovered given the severity of the injury.

Although he was on a fairly lengthy goal drought before his injury – failing to score in his last 10 appearances in all competitions – his impact on the team has been astronomical since his arrival from Manchester City, with Martin Keown previously describing him as a “fantastic leader”.

If Arsenal do go on to win major silverware this season, the contribution of Jesus will have played a big part despite his injury issues.

Aston Villa appear to be keen on signing Olympique Lyon forward Moussa Dembele, potentially during the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Ings exit…

It looks as if Unai Emery is set to lose Danny Ings this month, with the Englishman seemingly on his way to West Ham in a deal worth £15m.

That will leave Ollie Watkins as the only recognised senior centre-forward available to Emery, although the club have reached an agreement to sign teenage forward Jhon Duran, and it looks as if another attacking addition could be on the cards.

The Latest: Dembele links

Foot Mercato shared a story on Thursday afternoon, claiming that Villa are thinking of moving for Dembele due to Ings’ pending exit.

The report states a January move hasn’t been ruled out, although Villa are ideally keen on a summer move where the French forward could become a free agent.

The Verdict: One to watch?

It’ll be interesting to see if Villa look to sign another forward or if Emery is happy with Watkins and Duran for the second half of the campaign, especially with the manager tending to go with a 4-4-2 system in the Midlands.

Dembele, sponsored by Adidas, has plenty of experience for the likes of Fulham, Celtic and Lyon, scoring 139 senior goals during his career and is an out-and-out centre-forward.

He is now 26 years of age and was once described as ‘the new Didier Drogba’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so a cut-price move now or free transfer in the summer could be a smart one by Villa, making it one to watch in 2023.

Aston Villa failed to extend Unai Emery’s winning run in the Premier League to three matches as they lost 3-1 to Liverpool on Boxing Day.

The Spanish coach won his first two league games in charge of the Villans prior to the World Cup break, beating Manchester United and Brighton, but was unable to maintain his 100% record.

Jurgen Klopp’s team did not take long to get off the mark and there was almost nothing that Unai Emery’s team could do to prevent it as the Reds showcased their quality.

Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a world-class pass to find Andy Robertson in a wide right position and the Scotsman’s measured pass found Mo Salah for a tap-in.

The away side found their second before half time as Virgil van Dijk’s left-footed shot deflected off Ezri Konsa’s hip and nestled into the bottom corner of Robin Olsen’s net.

Ollie Watkins pulled a goal back in the 59th minute as he peeled off the back of Joel Matip and guided a header in the far corner to get the hosts back into the match.

Despite a spell of pressure from Villa after that goal, Liverpool reacted well and went on to make it 3-1 with ten minutes left to play as Stefan Bajcetic brilliantly rounded Olsen and slotted through Tyrone Mings’ legs.

Whilst you could lay the blame with the defence for conceding three goals, Villa’s attack let them down on Boxing Day as they failed to make the most of the chances that came their way and were unable to capitalise on the periods of dominance they had over the Reds.

One player who let Emery down badly was Jamaican international Leon Bailey as he struggled out wide throughout the match. His performance personified the team’s display as he showed flashes of quality but ultimately lacked the composure to provide the final shot or pass.

As per Sofascore, he only completed five of his 13 attempted passes (38%) in the match and did not create a single chance for his teammates, despite attempting six crosses.

The lightweight also had three efforts on goal and missed one ‘big chance’, racking up 0.43 Expected Goals in the process, which shows that he did not have the quality to punish Liverpool in the final third.

Bailey also left a lot to be desired out of possession. As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old lost 75% (3/4) of his individual duels as he failed to make a single tackle, block, or interception.

This shows that the attacker struggled off the ball as he was weak and allowed himself to be bullied by the opposition defenders, with Robertson and van Dijk dealing with him with ease.

Therefore, he let Emery down badly as he did not showcase his attacking quality on the ball and did not do enough defensively to help out his team on the other side of the game.

Celtic youngster Scott Robertson appears set for an exit from Parkhead in the near future following an update with regards to his contract status.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Record, the Old Firm outfit have informed the 21-year-old that he won’t be handed a new deal at the end of the season, with the academy graduate’s existing contract set to expire in just six months’ time.

The report suggests manager Ange Postecoglou has told the young Scotsman that he has ‘no future’ with the Glasgow side, despite the playmaker having been part of the club’s recent Sydney Super Cup voyage.

The piece goes on to note potential destinations for the 6 foot 1 gem, with a move to fellow Scottish Premiership side St Mirren, as well as Scott Brown’s Fleetwood Town, having been mooted.

Postecoglou must finally ditch

A departure for Robertson has seemingly been something of an inevitability due to his lack of game time in recent years, with the youth product having made just a solitary outing for the Scottish champions at senior level to date.

That rare appearance came as far back as the 2019/20 campaign during Neil Lennon’s second spell in charge, with the midfield maestro having played the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 Europa League defeat to CFR Cluj away from home.

That outing lead to notable praise from the aforementioned Brown who tipped the emerging talent to go on to enjoy success in the game, with the former Hoops skipper stating (Celtic View, Volume 55, Issue 25, Page 12):

“He’s very relaxed and conducts himself with professionalism, he’s not big-time and I think he’s got a really bright future ahead of him.”

“He’s the template for how young ones should approach making that step up – he’s humble, but at the same time isn’t scared to put himself about and show his qualities on the training pitch.”

That glowing assessment seemed to illustrate that Robertson would be able to become a regular feature in the first team at Paradise, having also shown his quality during a loan stint south of the border at Crewe Alexandra, after earning plaudits from boss David Artell for his debut display:

“I thought that Scott Robertson was the best player on the pitch. He was terrific.”

Despite the midfielder’s positive stint in England – having also enjoyed spells with both Gillingham and Doncaster Rovers in recent years – his subsequent return to Scotland has not proven fruitful, having remained on the periphery of Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

With the title-winning coach already having notable depth in the midfield department – with a new addition in the centre of the park potentially on the horizon – it will likely prove even harder for Robertson to force his way into the side.

For all his previous promise, the fact that he has been unable to secure a regular berth in the senior set-up since his first-team bow almost three years ago is perhaps telling that he is simply not of the quality required to make a name for himself at Celtic Park.

As such, it is no doubt in the best interest of all parties for an exit to be agreed upon in the New Year, with Postecoglou needing to ditch a figure who appears to have no place in his plans.

Jurgen Klopp is set to have a complete clear-out at Liverpool over the coming months, with several first-team players out of contract.

James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita are all free to leave the Anfield side in the summer and Klopp will have already begun to look for replacements in order to rejuvenate his midfield.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski has emerged as a transfer target for the Anfield side, and this could give the German a licence to finally bin Keita, who has missed the majority of this season with injury problems.

Zielinski is currently starring for Poland at the World Cup, helping them qualify from the group stage for the first time since 1986.

The 28-year-old has been one of Poland’s best performers in Qatar, ranking second in the squad with a Sofascore rating of 7.10/10 and shots on target per match (0.3) while ranking first for key passes made per game (1.7), demonstrating just how important he is to the national side.

The £107k-per-week sensation has also excelled for Napoli this season, leading the side to the top of the Serie A table by registering eight goal contributions while also creating a further nine big chances and an impressive 2.3 key passes per match.

These statistics clearly show not only does he provide a vital attacking threat from the midfield engine room, but his creativity also generates plenty of chances for others and Klopp urgently requires some more dynamism in his midfield.

Former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti sang the Napoli machine’s praises: “Zielinski is a complete midfielder, he played in all positions with me. He is dynamic and skilled with the ball.”

High praise from one of the most successful coaches in European football and Zielinski may well be a surprise name linked to the club, however, there is plenty he can offer Liverpool.

Klopp may well have to sign a midfielder or two in January to ensure a major rebuilding job doesn’t occur in the summer and with the Serie A outfit valuing the Polish international at around €40m (£34m) back in the summer then the 55-year-old might just test Napoli’s resolve with a January bid.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is keen on bringing in Nicolas Jackson from his former club Villarreal, according to a fresh transfer report.

The Lowdown: Jackson shines for Villarreal

The 50-year-old has left the Yellow Submarine to take charge at Villa Park, with the Spaniard tasked with picking up the pieces left by his predecessor Steven Gerrard.

While there is a decent squad in the Midlands, it still seems likely that the new boss will want to bring in fresh faces who could suit his style of play.

It looks as though he plans to go straight back to his former club in that respect, following a recent report.

The Latest: Emery wants Jackson at Villa

According to Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Emery has ‘instructed his new club to move quickly and try to sign’ Jackson.

The 21-year-old’s current Villarreal deal expires at the end of this season, so they could be keen to earn some kind of fee for him in the January transfer window. He is thought to have a £27m release clause.

The Verdict: Exciting option

The fact that Emery knows Jackson inside-out as a player can only bode well, in terms of being an expert on his qualities, and the 21-year-old’s numbers certainly speak for themselves.

The Senegalese winger has two goals and two assists to his name in La Liga this season and he could be a fresh new option in a central attacking role, with Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings not setting the world alight so far in 2022/23.

At 21, Jackson is still very much a work in progress, so he should be viewed as an exciting prospective long-term addition who could mature into a formidable prospect under his former manager if Emery brings him to Villa Park.

The Daily Telegraph journalist Sam Dean has revealed that Gabriel ‘limped’ down the tunnel after Arsenal’s 2-0 loss away to PSV Eindhoven on Thursday evening.

The Lowdown: Sticky patch

Mikel Arteta’s team are enduring somewhat of a sticky patch right now, with last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Southampton in the Premier League followed up by Thursday’s defeat to PSV in the Europa League.

Marquinhos missed training alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko in the build-up to the game, and with long-term absentees Emile Smith Rowe and Mohamed Elneny already on the treatment table, the north London club may now have another injury to deal with…

The Latest: Gabriel ‘in pain’

Taking to Twitter, Dean has revealed that Gabriel ‘limped’ down the tunnel after Thursday’s defeat in Eindhoven and looked to be ‘grimacing in pain’.

The Telegraph reporter observed:

“Gabriel Magalhaes limped down the tunnel at the end of the game. Looked to be grimacing in pain.”

The Verdict: Not another one…

The hefty October schedule seems to have already taken its toll on Arsenal, and Arteta will not want another serious injury to one of his key players with midweek matches against FC Zurich and Brighton and Hove Albion to come on top of their remaining top-flight fixtures before the World Cup.

Gabriel has WhoScored).

Nonetheless, given their patchy form right now, Arteta will ideally want to call on the Brazilian once more when they face Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.