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According to Spanish news source El Nacional, a major update has come to light involving Liverpool and soon-to-be free agent Denis Zakaria.

The Lowdown: Reds eye Zakaria move…

The Switzerland midfielder is on his way out of Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of 2021/22 as a plethora of clubs, including Liverpool, take a keen interest in signing him.

Zakaria can sign a pre-contract with overseas clubs this month or opt to wait until summer before deciding his next destination, with the Reds, Real Madrid, Juventus, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona all linked with a move (El Nacional).

The Bundesliga ace, once likened to Bernabeu star Toni Kroos by German football legend Lothar Matthaus, could come as a real snip for no transfer fee as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp apparently eyes a move.

Sharing an update on Zakaria’s potential move to Anfield, El Nacional have provided a promising piece of news.

The Latest: Spanish source makes promising Zakaria claim…

According to their sources, as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez aims to bring Zakaria to the Spanish capital, Liverpool could well and truly throw a spanner in the works as they ‘upset’ the La Liga club’s plans ‘in recent days’.

Indeed, the Reds have apparently made a lucrative offer, putting a ‘higher salary on the table’ than Madrid as Klopp personally believes Zakaria would be a ‘good recruit’.

While the 25-year-old takes his time to consider all proposals, El Nacional stated that ‘everything indicates that he will end up landing in Anfield’.

The Verdict: Promising update…

As all signs point towards Liverpool being favourites to land the defensive midfielder, we believe he could certainly be a great acquisition for Klopp if they can win the race for him.

According to WhoScored, Zakaria has averaged a tidy 90.1% pass accuracy over his 15 league starts for Monchengladbach this season. By comparison to Liverpool’s regular starters in the English top flight, only Curtis Jones has racked up a higher success rate (92%), perhaps supporting the theory that the Swiss beast would be an astute addition.

Highly versatile, the 25-year-old can also operate as a centre-back when required, so the 6 foot 3 powerhouse could potentially kill two birds with one stone for Klopp.

Lauded as ‘devastating’ by Italian football coach Uli Forte, this could be one of the best free deals of the summer, and we urge Liverpool to get it done.

In other news: ‘Ooooo’, ‘Making moves’…Liverpool fans buzz as FSG now eye ‘perfect signing’, find out more here

Newcastle United have been dealt a major injury setback after their 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League…

What’s the latest?

Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has dropped a devastating update on the Magpies’ injury situation following a number of knocks against on Monday night.

He tweeted: “Understand Callum Wilson’s injury is torn calf muscle & fears are period of months sidelined. Allan Saint-Maximin injury is also calf related, while Ryan Fraser has picked up a hamstring problem.”

Fans will be fuming

Newcastle fans will surely be fuming with this update, which comes as a major body blow to Eddie Howe’s side ahead of the January transfer window.

These knocks could also place an added emphasis on the need for quality recruitment to be completed next month, as the Magpies appear set to lose their main goal threat for a considerable portion of the campaign. Wilson has scored six goals in 14 Premier League starts, having netted 12 times in the division last term whilst also providing five assists for his teammates.

The English centre-forward is Newcastle’s top scorer, so Howe will be losing a significant goal threat from his side in the battle against relegation. Fans will be fuming as it could drastically weaken their chances of avoiding the drop this season.

There is also no guarantee that anyone who is signed in January will be able to come in and make an instant impact, whereas Wilson has already proven that he can score on a consistent basis for the Magpies at this level. This means that their top-flight survival could depend on a gamble in the market next month, which may concern supporters.

The update does not provide further details on the injuries to Saint-Maximin or Fraser, but they do not appear to be as worrying as the setback to Wilson. This could be seen as a glimmer of good news, but losing either of them as well for any period of time is a blow, particularly given the Frenchman’s goal against Manchester United on Monday, which highlighted the impact he can have in the final third and why fans will be gutted with his potential absence for a sustained period of time.

AND in other news, Forget Saint-Maximin: Newcastle’s “unplayable” beast who won 8 duels stole the show v Man Utd…

Speaking live on air to Sky Sports (via Football Daily), reliable transfer journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has shared some Tottenham Hotspur transfer news involving Juventus forward Dejan Kulusevski.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Kulusevski…

According to numerous reports out of Italy, both transfer chief Fabio Paratici and Spurs boss Antonio Conte are big admirers of the Sweden international as they target a move.

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TUTTOmercatoWEB say that the two Lilywhites figures see Kulusevski as a ‘gem’ with real potential as he enters Tottenham’s transfer target list.

Meanwhile, other reports suggest that Paratici could take him to Tottenham as Conte personally green lights a move for the 21-year-old (La Gazzetta dello Sport).

Now, sharing what he knows, Di Marzio has made a claim live on Sky.

The Latest: Di Marzio makes Kulusevski claim…

Speaking to the broadcast giant (via Football Daily), the Italian reporter says that Spurs do indeed hold an interest in Kulusevski – citing both Paratici and Conte’s personal fondness for the player.

“I know that Antonio and Fabio Paratici they like Kulusevski,” he explained.

“He’s a Juventus player that Fabio got at Juventus, bought him from Atalanta, it’s not easy, but he is one of the names.”

The Verdict: Get it done?

Lauded as an ‘athletic phenomenon’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, we would advise Spurs to move for Kulusevski given he could plug many holes in Conte’s squad.

He is able to operate as an advanced playmaker as well as on the wings and further forward, with his best season for ex-club Parma indicating he could do a job in north London.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a very impressive 2.2 key passes per 90 over the 2019/2020 season for Parma – more than any Spurs player has managed in the Premier League this season.

Still young, Kulusevski also has plenty of room for improvement and it is believed Juve are open to selling for around €35 million-€40 million (£29.3m-£33.5m).

Indeed, he could actually come as a brilliant option for Spurs.

In other news: ‘I’ve been told this morning’…Sky reporter also shares ‘breaking’ Spurs transfer news on live TV, find out more here.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard included teenage midfielder Tim Iroegbunam in a senior matchday squad for the first time against Leicester City on Sunday, and a number of fans were quick to heap praise on the 19-year-old following the club’s official post.

Iroegbunam made the move to Bodymoor Heath over the summer from Midlands rivals West Brom. The central midfielder has since gone on to make 15 appearances for Villa’s under-23’s, three of which have come in the EFL Trophy.

He has seemingly impressed in recent months and was among a number of youngsters involved in first team training under former manager Dean Smith.

Gerrard also included Iroegbunam in his first training session as Villa boss and named the youngster on the bench in the 2-1 win over the Foxes on Sunday afternoon.

Villa fans react

Here is what these Villa fans had to say in reply to the club’s official Twitter post on Iroegbunam, with one labelling it as ‘great’ and another calling the 19-year-old a ‘baller’.

“Good move this. Best player on the pitch on Tuesday”

Credit: @SethRol05972053

“FINALLY”

Credit: @maxavfclove

“This tweet is better. Good. Inject it.”

Credit: @AVFC_AP

“Great to see him in the match day squad”

Credit: @MarkSparkyD

“Can’t wait for a song for this baller…”

Credit: @MarkJirobe

“Top top baller, basically Pogba but better”

Credit: @ItsBenSmith1404

In other news: Luke Hatfield urges Aston Villa to sign ‘unbelievable’ 24 y/o

West Ham boss David Moyes has revealed that they are dealing with further injuries ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash at Arsenal…

What’s the latest?

The Irons make the short trip to the Emirates Stadium later this evening, where they will be looking to bounce back from the weekend’s disappointing 0-0 draw with Burnley, while their place inside the top four is now at risk, especially if the Gunners pick up three points.

And speaking ahead of kick-off, the Hammers boss has claimed that he has a few more injuries.

“I think we’ve got some people who have got injuries,” he told reporters during his pre-game press conference (via the club’s official website).

Of course, he’s not going to say exactly who is doubtful because that would give Mikel Arteta a massive advantage, though Said Benrahma and Manuel Lanzini were the two players to make way in the second half. It remains to be seen whether that was tactical or due to knocks.

Meanwhile, central defender Craig Dawson did miss last week’s final Europa League group game with a problem but he was involved again on Sunday.

Injuries piling up

Indeed, if Moyes is without further first-team players tonight, then he is having a bit of a nightmare with the bulk of his defensive line on the treatment table.

Both of his first-choice centre-backs, Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna, are expected to miss the majority – if not all of – the rest of the 2021/22 season, whilst full-back duo Aaron Cresswell, who has been absent since colliding with the post against Man City, and Ben Johnson have been missing in recent games.

That’s an entire back four absent for Moyes, so if he is claiming that he has further players with injuries, then he must not only be worried but also quite angry as he seemingly cannot catch a break right now.

Ryan Fredericks is another name that has been missing from the matchday squad for several weeks now, only adding to his defensive woes and that ultimately gives the Scot a substantial lack of options ahead of tonight’s encounter.

This will be the Hammers’ fifth game inside two weeks, with another two matches to play before their Boxing Day clash with Southampton at the London Stadium.

The hectic festive fixture list is doing the manager no favours whatsoever, so you can understand if he was a little anxious over the coming days and weeks.

AND in other news, Moyes could land another Tomas Soucek in West Ham swoop for “extraordinary” 6 ft 5 colossus…

According to journalist David Ornstein for The Athletic, Dean Smith has been offered the job at Carrow Road and is set to be announced as Norwich manager in the next 48 hours.

The Athletic have also reported that the plan is also to secure Craig Shakespeare, who has previously worked as assistant manager at Leicester and Aston Villa, as Smith’s second in command.

Norwich are said to be confident in appointing both men over the next 48 hours, giving the pair plenty time to settle into their new roles and begin working on the huge challenge of pulling the Canaries from the grips of relegation in the Premier League this season.

Smith knows what it takes to keep teams up

Smith is familiar with relegation battles in his previous role with Aston Villa and will surely offer some invaluable experience and insight at Norwich as they try to drag themselves out of the bottom three over the next few months. The manager famously saved Villa from relegation on the last day of the 2019/20 season with a draw at West Ham.

The 50-year-old will be hoping to emulate his success of transforming Villa into an established Premier League club at Carrow Road, with a squad of hungry young players desperate to make an impression with hopes of staying in the top flight next season.

Norwich have only managed to take five points so far from a possible 33 and are currently bottom of the Premier League table, five points shy of 17th-placed Watford.

Daniel Farke was sacked shortly after the Canaries secured their first win of the season last weekend away to Smith’s former club Brentford, ending his four-and-a-half-years in Norfolk.

Smith became the frontrunner for the job and accelerated to being offered the Norwich head coach role after former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was ruled out of the job yesterday afternoon.

The 50-year-old is already familiar with Premier League relegation battles and, as stated above, came out the right side of the line with Villa a couple of seasons ago. Ornstein’s claim that Smith is on the brink of getting the Norwich job several days before their next match against Southampton should have Canaries fans buzzing, as a proven top-flight operator will have time to implement his ideas on the training ground by the time the Saints come to Carrow Road.

In other news: Norwich may beat the drop by unleashing “world-class” talent who’s in a ”rough patch”