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Everton endured a notoriously disappointing January transfer window, in which they afforded Frank Lampard the majority of the month before eventually dismissing him.

Then, appointing Sean Dyche with little time left, he was forced to scramble for deadline-day deals, all of which fell through.

It marked yet another embarrassing chapter in Farhad Moshiri’s legacy, who continues to bewilder fans with his decision-making as each season passes.

One of the targets the former Burnley boss and Kevin Thelwell were reportedly keen on was Sheraldo Becker of Union Berlin; a move which obviously did not come to fruition. 

This season has seen the forward star for a Bundesliga outfit truly upsetting the apple cart. He is an important cog in a magnificent story, and it will be interesting to see how their season plays out as they vie for the title.

However, once that campaign concludes, it seems like the Toffees are set to reignite their interest, as per journalist Christian Falk, speaking to CaughtOffside last week. With only a reported €15m (£13m) valuation placed upon him, this could mark a huge coup too.

They are set to battle with another Premier League club in West Ham, and should they secure his signature, he would surely prove to be a fine partner for Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front.

Sean Dyche’s philosophy is hardly a complicated one, with a solid 4-4-2 formation at its core. As such, he requires two quality forwards who are willing to put the work in.

The English marksman boasts speed and power, but Becker could offer more of a creative foil who can feed off the chaos that his physicality causes.

Having already scored seven times and assisted a further four in the league, the 27-year-old has starred as more of a shadow striker playing off a teammate. His experience in Germany in such a role already makes him a good match for this Everton side.

Not only this, but his ability to drop deeper and create makes him an unusual asset who is hard for the opposition to track. His varied skillset was outlined best by journalist Josh Bunting, who claimed: “Sheraldo Becker in this team just fits perfectly, not just clinical but he’s also creative.”

As such, his 7.16 average rating for the season is underpinned by 1.4 key passes per game and a 21% goal conversion rate, via Sofascore).

Should Calvert-Lewin regain his fitness and recapture his goalscoring form of old, the two could prove to be a formidable strike partnership for any defence. Despite his injury concerns, he has remained in the top 4% for aerials won when compared to other forwards across Europe.

His form of the 2020/21 season also remains fresh in the memories of supporters too, as he notched 16 goals in 33 league games.

Should Dyche mastermind their survival and then tempt Becker to Goodison Park, it could be a truly outstanding signing to propel them way up the table.

Glasgow Rangers are in an excellent place at the moment, winning ten out of 11 matches following the appointment of Michael Beale late last year, and the move is paying off so far.

Although a title challenge may prove to be out of the question considering the nine-point deficit to the top of the Premiership table, the two domestic cups will very much be in the sights of everyone at Ibrox.

Beale will no doubt be planning ahead for next season, and signing Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin in January is an encouraging start. However, he may face a problem when it comes to retaining certain players for 2023/24, with eight first-team squad members out of contract at the end of the campaign.

The likes of Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Scott Arfield will most likely be released, but Beale must do everything that he can to keep Alfredo Morelos at the club, especially considering his recent form.

The Colombian striker was linked with a move to La Liga outfit Sevilla last summer, and with his future uncertain heading into the final year of his contract, many felt that the Ibrox club would cash in on him.

No such move materialised though, and as the 26-year-old struggled to regain confidence following his recovery from a season-ending injury in April 2022, Giovanni van Bronckhorst used him sparingly at the beginning of this campaign.

Indeed, Morelos scored just three goals before December and there were even accusations that he had downed tools, but since Beale has arrived at Rangers, the striker has been a man reborn.

Six goals and three assists in 11 games under the 42-year-old has rejuvenated the player, and there is no doubt that the regular run of matches has helped him to get back to his best.

Morelos was described by one former Premiership player – who wished to remain anonymous – as “a nightmare for defenders”, while Jordan Campbell once dubbed the £33k-per-week hitman “lethal”. With Beale building a Gers side which is much more fluid in attack compared to his predecessor, imagine how many goals the Colombian could get next season.

Rangers need Morelos in top form for 2023/24 if they plan on ending Celtic’s recent dominance of the Scottish game; and if he can use the remainder of this campaign as a springboard to get himself back to the leanness and sharpness that he showed between 2018 and 2021 – where he scored 76 goals in three seasons – then he will almost be like a new signing for the Light Blues.

Aston Villa have been busy during the transfer window so far, signing Jhon Duran and Alex Moreno while also shipping out striker Danny Ings to fellow Premier League side West Ham United and Unai Emery will be aiming to conduct more business over the coming days.

Indeed, another signing could potentially be on the way, this time for Lyon striker Moussa Dembele. News outlet Media Foot claimed in December that Villa were interested in the Frenchman and now talkSPORT have confirmed that Dembele is wanted as a replacement for the recently departed Ings in order to spearhead the Villa attack.

Ings was Villa’s top scorer with seven goals this season and it’s clear that Emery requires someone who could be a lot more clinical than this, and Dembele fits the bill.

His performances at Lyon have seen him labelled as a “scoring machine” by journalist Bertrand Latour previously while he is also statistically similar to Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez and he could be a wonderful addition for Emery.

According to FBref, Nunez is the first-most similar player to Dembele across Europe’s top leagues, and given the Uruguayan’s ability and potential, it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

This season has seen the two players register similar statistics with regard to shots on target percentage (42.1% to 40%), goal-creating actions (two to one), successful dribbles (five to four) and aerial duels won (19 to 16).

Nunez and Dembele excel at finishing and headed attempts, underlining their attacking ability both on the ground and in the air and these attributes could give Villa a major boost as they look to secure a spot in the top half of the league table.

The £52k-per-week striker hasn’t been at the races this season, scoring just twice, however, this rough patch is surely temporary considering he netted a stunning 21 goals in Ligue 1 last term and a fresh start in England may help him rediscover his form.

The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, therefore Emery could be well placed to secure himself a bargain this month, and with it some well-needed firepower in his Villa side.

Former Glasgow Rangers defender Alan Hutton has claimed that Dion Sanderson ‘looks like a Rangers signing’ and has backed a potential move to Ibrox for the 23-year-old.

The Lowdown: Sanderson targeted by Rangers

According to Football Scotland, Sanderson does not have a January recall option at Wolves, meaning that Birmingham City would have to allow any potential sale to Rangers in this transfer window.

He is a target for the Premiership giants in January, with Ibrox scout John Park having been sent to watch him recently.

Wolves are looking for a transfer fee in the region of £3m to sell Sanderson, with Michael Beale on the lookout for defensive cover as Filip Helander is expected to leave the club following a long-term injury.

The Latest: Hutton backs Rangers move for Sanderson

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton claims that Sanderson ‘looks like a Rangers signing’, adding that the 23-year-old ‘suits’ the mould of Beale’s teams.

The former Scotland right-back said: “I think if you look at the centre-half position at this moment in time, [Filip] Helander will probably leave, [John] Souttar can’t stay fit, [Ben] Davies is coming on to a game but he has got his injury problems. So it is Goldson plus one.

“I have seen a fair bit of him, he is a big aggressive centre-back, he likes to play with the ball, he can drive out and make things happen. So he suits that Michael Beale mould.

“He looks like a Rangers signing to me.”

The Verdict: Defensive cover needed

As Hutton points out, both John Souttar and summer, and at the moment there are no signs of him signing a new deal.

Therefore, Rangers need more cover in the centre of defence, and Sanderson would provide that.

Lauded as a “Rolls Royce” of a defender by current Hibernian boss Lee Johnson when he and the player were together at Sunderland, the 23-year-old boasts plenty of experience in English football, and he is someone Beale will know well having previously managed in the Championship with QPR.

Sanderson is enjoying a “magnificent” season on loan at Birmingham so far, according to his manager John Eustace, and would be a shrewd addition by the Light Blues at potentially just £3m.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been strongly linked with a move for Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha, and journalist Pete O’Rourke believes he could be the perfect Diogo Jota replacement.

The Lowdown: Wolves target Cunha

According to a report from Goal, Wolves are leading the way in the race to sign Cunha, but Julen Lopetegui will still have to fend off interest from the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa and Leeds United if he wants to bring the Brazilian to Molineux.

The same report details that the player knows he will be leaving the Rojiblancos in the near future, it’s now just a matter of which club he goes to, and O’Rourke has now delivered his verdict on why he would be a good acquisition for Wolves this January.

The Latest: O’Rourke reacts

O’Rourke believes that the 23-year-old could take on the responsibilities of two players who have been vital for Wolves in recent years.

In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said:

“He’d be a great option, I think, not just as a long-term replacement for Diogo Jota, but it looks like he could be a long-term replacement for Raul Jimenez.

“It does seem like he is coming to the end of his time at Molineux, it seems like he might not figure in the plans of the new manager of the club as well.”

The Verdict: Jota replacement?

Journalist Alan Rzepa has previously hailed the forward as an ‘absolute baller’, and while he has only exhibited this sporadically during his spell in La Liga, there is undeniable quality there, akin to the raw ability possessed by Jota upon his arrival at Molineux.

Both players flourish in laying on their teammates with assists, with the Portugal international averaging 0.44 per 90 minutes in the past year, while Cunha is just shy of this mark on a figure of 0.36 in the same timeframe, with both players in the top two per cent compared to other forwards.

The 23-year-old actually has the edge in non-penalty expected goals, averaging 0.49, while this figure stands at 0.42 for Jota, indicating that he has the ability to alleviate some of Wolves’ issues in front of goal.

With the £65k-per-week earner still at quite a young age, he has time to fulfil the ‘enormous potential’ he was deemed to have by former Hertha Berlin sporting director Michael Preetz, and would be an astute signing for Lopetegui this January.

Some members of the media were bemoaning the injury suffered by Teden Mengi as Manchester United lost 1-0 to Real Betis in a friendly on Saturday evening.

The Lowdown: Preparations underway

Preparations are now underway for Erik ten Hag and his side to return to Premier League football, having arranged friendly games during the break for the World Cup in Qatar to get themselves back up to match fitness and sharpness.

The Old Trafford outfit went down 1-0 thanks to a Nabil Fekir goal early in the second half, but the fixture gave an opportunity for Ten Hag to look at some of the youngsters in the academy, as well as first-team squad members not at the World Cup.

The Latest: Mengi injury

Mengi was forced off with a hamstring injury early in the first half, which The Times journalist Charlotte Duncker labelled as ‘bad news’.

Manchester Evening News reporter Rich Fay described the injury as ‘awful’, citing that Mengi has had ‘rotten luck’ in that regard having had to be carried off on a stretcher, adding that the 20-year-old defender was ‘set to leave on loan’ in the January transfer window.

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The Verdict: Not ideal

The revelation that Mengi was set to leave on loan means that this latest injury is certainly not ideal for him or United.

The youngster has gained valuable experience on loan at Derby County and Birmingham City previously and has also played 79 times at youth level with the Red Devils, but he has only made two competitive appearances for the senior team (Transfermarkt).

The problem that Mengi has had is being able to keep himself fit, and the fact that he has had hamstring issues in the past makes this latest setback all the more worrying.

He will likely see the clash against Betis as a missed opportunity to impress Ten Hag going into the second part of the season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a terrible start to their Premier League season, however, there is still time to turn it around with the January transfer window approaching.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Wolves could make up to “three signings” during the upcoming transfer window.

Romano told GIVEMESPORT:

“So, it means one, two, three signings, it depends, as always, on the opportunities.

“But Lopetegui signed for Wolves because he knows that they will invest in January, he knows that they need new players, fresh energy. And so, I think both Aston Villa and Wolves will be busy in the market in January, yes.”

Lopetegui could save Wolves’ season

There is no doubt that Wolves are in a troubling position in terms of retaining their Premier League status, however, there is no reason why acquiring the right players in the new year can’t be season-changing for the club.

Wolves are now rock bottom in the league table after collecting just ten points out of a possible 45 in their first 15 outings in the top flight but they are only four points adrift from safety, so there is certainly everything to play for in the second half of the season and survival could be in sight with the right recruitment.

Indeed, there have been many problems at Molineux over the current campaign ultimately leading to the sacking of Bruno Lage at the beginning of October and now the supporters will be hoping that new manager Julen Lopetegui can save their season with a much-needed fresh start.

The new head coach has echoed Romano’s comments on Monday in his first press conference since signing his three-year deal with Wolves, revealing that there will be moves made in the winter transfer window:

“I agree because my responsibility is to try and improve. When the market opens we have this possibility and I think we are going to do that. I am not going to speak about names out of respect for our platers.

“We have to play the next four matches with this squad. We believe in this squad and we believe we can improve their performance.”

With that being said, despite the relegation woes there is a lot to look forward to at Wolves and if they invest well in January there is no reason why Lopetegui can’t turn the season around with 23 league games remaining.

Indeed, he has already shown what a capable manager he is throughout Europe. Arming him with the right players, therefore, could be game-changing.

Leeds United are thought to be ready to make a move for Cadiz CF defender Momo Mbaye.

The Lowdown: Mbaye linked with Leeds

The Whites were first linked with a move for the 24-year-old at the end of October. Reports suggested that Leeds were closely following the Senegalese centre-back alongside Brighton and Southampton.

Hailed as a ‘class act’ by Darragh Collins, Mbaye has made just four senior appearances for his current employers, but it seems as if Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani are ready to pounce.

The Latest: Mbaye transfer update

Sport Witness relayed an update regarding the defender on Wednesday, in which Leeds were once again name-checked.

They claimed that Wolves have joined the Premier League trio in the race for Mbaye, adding that all four English suitors would be ready to move in order to secure the 24-year-old’s services in January.

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The Verdict: Not a priority…

Jesse Marsch currently has four senior centre-backs at his disposal and that includes Pascal Struijk, who has mainly filled in for Junior Firpo at left-back so far this season.

Patrick Bamford has also had his injury issues this season, so if Leeds are to add to their squad in January, perhaps a new left-back and centre-forward should be higher up on the list than another centre-back.

Mbaye doesn’t have much senior experience either, so there’s no guarantee that he would be an upgrade on Marsch’s current options at the back.

Manchester City not making a move to sign Jude Bellingham in 2023 would be a ‘massive surprise’, according to reliable journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Three-horse race

The midfielder still has three years remaining on his contract at the Signal Iduna Park, but it’s been revealed that he could be set to leave for £83m next summer.

The Sky Blues are believed to be firmly in the race to land the 19-year-old, with Premier League rivals Liverpool and Spanish giants Real Madrid also credited with an interest.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke backed Man City to really go for Bellingham should he become available, and was full of praise for the teenager:

“We saw how well Bellingham played for Dortmund against Manchester City the other week and Pep Guardiola is fully aware of what Jude Bellingham can do.

“I think Jude Bellingham has got the world at his feet right now.

“He’s such a talented player at such a young age, captaining Dortmund already as well.

“It’d be a massive surprise if Manchester City are not one of the clubs looking to sign Jude Bellingham because I think he’s good enough for any team in the world.”

The Verdict: One for the future

Bellingham is one of the most promising talents out there right now, and with the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne not getting any younger (both 31), it’s clear to see why City are after him.

The England ‘superstar’, as dubbed by Troy Deeney, already has six goal contributions to his name in all competitions this season, and currently averages 2.6 dribbles and 2.3 shots per Bundesliga game (WhoScored).

Bellingham will already know Erling Haaland from his time at Dortmund, and the Norwegian’s connection could give Pep Guardiola’s side a huge advantage in the race for his services.

Reporter Dean Jones has been reacting to the rumours regarding Wolves and Julen Lopetegui.

The Lowdown: Lopetegui speculation

Wolves have been on the hunt for a new manager for a week now after deciding to part ways with Bruno Lage. Reliable reporter John Percy stated that Lopetegui was one of two top targets from Molineux chiefs, with the 56-year-old since losing his job at Sevilla.

Wolves were set to step up their pursuit of Lopetegui following his dismissal in Spain, and Jones has given his thoughts to a potential move.

The Latest: Jones reacts

In a story shared on Saturday, Jones, talking to This is Futbol prior to Sevilla parting ways Lopetegui, said that ‘there’s a lot to consider’ for Wolves as they weigh up the possibility of bringing Lopetegui to the Midlands, labelling it as a potential ‘gamble’.

“Lopetegui, obviously he’s got his own position to weigh up right now.

“Might be a bit more of a gamble, I would say.

“So yeah, there’s a lot to consider there.”

The Verdict: Shrewd target?

Lopetegui likes to play an attacking 4-3-3 system and left Sevilla with 90 wins from 170 games, a relatively successful period where he won the Europa League during the 2019/20 season.

Yes, his side have struggled this season and he doesn’t have experience in the Premier League, however, neither did Nuno Espirito Santo or Lage when they arrived in the Midlands.

Lopetegui does have plenty of experience across Europe, though, so he could prove to be a smart target, so it will be interesting to see if they manage to bring him to England.