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Aston Villa target Kieran Tierney could be allowed to leave Arsenal this summer after face-to-face talks with Mikel Arteta, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Villa interest

Reports in the week linked Villa with an interest in Tierney, with Football Insider saying that Arsenal could green-light a summer sale and value the player at £30m.

Tierney has dropped down the pecking order under Arteta this season following Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival, with the majority of his minutes coming in the Europa League.

Villa could be willing to sell Lucas Digne to make room for the Scot, with Unai Emery already bringing in Alex Moreno back in January.

The Latest: Jacobs’ comments

Jacobs was talking to TEAMtalk regarding Tierney and his future in London. The reporter said that the player has held talks with Arteta and is still valued with the Gunners.

“My understanding with Tierney is that he held face to face talks with Arteta to try and better understand his future and was really just told to fight for his place and that he’s still valued.”

However, he went on to say “there is a very realistic possibility that he leaves if the right offer comes in over the course of the summer.”

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The Verdict: Gamble?

Tierney, described as a ‘warrior’ by Ashley Cole, has struggled for minutes this season, but when he has been on the pitch in the Premier League, he hasn’t impressed statistically, as per WhoScored. The Scot has a top-flight match average of 6.24/10, a lower score than both Digne and Moreno.

Therefore, an expensive £30m move could be seen as a gamble by some, but with Pete O’Rourke believing Emery may not trust Digne, a new left-back could be on the agenda in the Midlands this summer, meaning Tierney could be a name to keep an eye on, especially following Jacobs’ comments.

Arsenal could reignite their interest in Ivan Fresneda this summer transfer window, with the Gunners viewing the teenage talent as one for the future…

What’s the latest on Arsenal’s interest in Ivan Fresneda?

That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who recently provided a fresh claim on the situation to GIVEMESPORT, where he said:

“I think Arsenal see him as a real potential star in the making, so I’m sure they will continue to follow his exploits at Valladolid.

“If the opportunity does come up, I’m sure they will make a move for him this summer.”

It’s thought that sporting director Edu Gaspar and co held “conversations” over a potential move during the January transfer window, as per Fabrizio Romano, with Arsenal also reportedly matching Borussia Dortmund’s bid of around £13m.

Fresneda is also believed to have a release clause in the region of £26.5m.

Is Fresneda a good summer signing at the Emirates?

Despite only being 18 years old, the former Real Madrid youngster has emerged as one of LaLiga’s best prospects as he has enjoyed a major breakthrough just 128 miles from where he was born.

Fresneda only made his full debut in Spain’s top-flight back in September but has managed to keep a regular place in Valladolid’s side, registering a total of ten appearances thus far.

One of those outings was against his former club and even though he was expectedly on the losing side, he put in a masterclass of a performance against one of the world’s best.

The teen managed to completely shut down £107m-rated phenom Vinicius Junior, who has been in the form of his life this campaign with 18 goals and nine assists in all competitions yet against Fresneda, he could only complete one of his eight dribble attempts (12.5%).

Also via Sofascore, the Brazil international’s 6.2 match rating was the worst of any Los Galacticos player, only further highlighting his struggles against the Valladolid gem, who by comparison, notched a 7.2 match rating for his efforts.

The young Spaniard has made quite the name for himself as a tough-tackling machine, capable of anticipating what the opposition is going to do. Indeed, Fresneda is among the top 2% of full-backs across Europe’s big five for tackles per 90, as well as the top 5% for clearances per 90, via FBref.

He also is among the top 10% for interceptions too, making him something of a defensive animal.

It’s likely why the former La Masia sensation has been lauded as a “very special talent” by ESPN UK editor David Cartlidge and a “remarkably complete right-back” by LaLiga expert Matt Clark in recent times.

As such, given the evidence above, Edu could well land Arsenal a phenomenal young talent in the summer but he’ll have to beat some stiff competition with Newcastle United, Dortmund and Juventus all vying for his signature.

AND in other news, Sold for £3.5m, now worth £18m: Arsenal suffered big blunder on “fearless” 25 y/o titan…

Liverpool are prepared to sell goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher should he request to leave the club this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Kelleher’s confession

The Irishman has worked his way up through the academy ranks at Anfield to become a regular feature of the senior first-team squad in various cup competitions, but he’s yet to be handed his chance in the Premier League.

Alisson continues to be Jurgen Klopp’s number one between the sticks, with the 24-year-old having taken Adrian’s place as the German’s second-choice option.

The 6 foot 2 colossus, however, previously hinted that he would have to consider his options at the end of the season if he wanted more game time, and it sounds like he’s set to do just that.

The Latest: Liverpool open to exit

According to reports via Sports Mole, Kelleher ‘could be on the way out’ of Liverpool in summer to join a club where he’ll be first-choice and able to get regular minutes under his belt.

The Merseyside outfit ‘do not want to lose’ the shot-stopper, but having decided that they won’t send him out on loan next term, will be ‘fair to him’ should he decide to move on.

The Verdict: Demand a respectable fee

Kelleher has been dubbed an Anfield ‘hero’ by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, and whilst it will be sad to see such a talented home-grown player leave, the club will be able to use his impressive record to demand a respectable fee.

The Cork native has kept ten clean sheets in 20 senior appearances for the Reds this campaign and previously made an extraordinary name for himself with his penalty-saving antics to win his side the Carabao Cup trophy in 2022.

Kelleher will have no doubt wanted his career to progress with his boyhood club and it’s a real shame that it looks set to be coming to an end, but it will be in his best personal interests to seal a move elsewhere.

Chelsea transfer target Moises Caicedo will cost £90m if the Blues want to sign him, according to The Independent journalist Miguel Delaney.

The Lowdown: Chelsea eyeing up Caicedo move

The Blues continue to look bullish in the transfer market, having already acquired the services of six players (including Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk) this month.

Another player who has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge is Caicedo, who has excelled for Brighton this season but is now looking to force an exit from the Amex Stadium.

However, despite the player’s apparent desire to leave and his social media actions enraging club bosses, his current employers won’t simply let him walk away for a song.

The Latest: Brighton want £90m for Caicedo

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article for The Independent, Delaney said that Brighton will only sell Caicedo for an eye-watering amount of money.

He tweeted: “Chelsea and Arsenal would have to go to £90m on Caicedo.”

The Verdict: Is he worth it?

Caicedo does look like an exceptional young midfield talent, having won 2.9 tackles and 1.3 aerial duels per game in the Premier League this season and previously being dubbed a “terrific athlete” by South American football expert Tim Vickery.

No Chelsea player has averaged more tackles per match, barring Mudryk in one appearance, highlighting how much bite the Ecuadorian could add to the Blues’ midfield.

That being said, £90m is a vast sum of money who has only played 26 times in the Premier League, and it could be argued that the £15,000-per-week Caicedo hasn’t proven himself to be worth that sort of fee over a prolonged period of time.

That would make Chelsea signing the 21-year-old for such a figure a clear gamble, even though he has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by his former Brighton boss Graham Potter, and the Blues could be wise to hold off for now or consider a cheaper alternative.

Glasgow Rangers have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Morgan Whittaker, according to reports on Saturday.

The Lowdown: Rangers chasing Whittaker

The Ibrox giants have made their interest in the midfielder very clear, given that they have recently had a £1.5m bid turned down.

Swansea City manager Russell Martin said: “We have had bids, we’ve rejected bids, they are quite a way from the club’s valuation of Morgan.”

Rangers boss Michael Beale has confirmed that Whittaker is on his radar, describing him as a ‘good player’ that the Premiership club ‘know and like’, and it appears as though the player himself would be interested in the move.

The Latest: Move back on?

As reported by Glasgow Live, the 22-year-old was left out of the Swansea squad which took on Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, which is crucial for the Light Blues as it means that a January move is still possible.

If the Englishman had featured for the Swans, it would have meant that he could not play for Beale’s side this season, with players unable to line out for more than two clubs during one campaign (Whittaker was on loan at Plymouth Argyle earlier in the campaign), and the report also claims that the youngster is keen on signing for Rangers.

In a further boost for Beale and co, Swansea don’t play again until next month, nullifying any danger of him featuring prior to the transfer deadline.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘superb’ by journalist Chris Errington, the former Derby County man emerged as one of the key players for promotion-chasing Argyle earlier this season, netting nine goals and bagging seven assists in 25 League One appearances.

The playmaker was recalled by Swansea at the start of January, but he still ranks joint-third in League One for the amount of goals that he set up, and no Plymouth player has scored more than him, despite the fact that he mainly featured as an attacking midfielder.

At just 22, Whittaker still has a lot of time to develop even further, and a move to Rangers would appear to be the perfect next step, so Beale should prioritise his signature heading into the final few days of the January transfer window.

Anything other than victory against Fulham on Thursday night is a grave cause for concern for Chelsea manager Graham Potter as the tactician sets his sights on reclaiming a place among the European competitors of the Premier League.

Indeed, the Blues have run off course this term, and now occupy the tenth-placed role in the league following a detrimental run of form that has left the west London giants ten points adrift of Manchester United in fourth place.

Succeeding at London rivals Fulham’s home ground of Craven Cottage would be a stellar step in the right direction, with the newly-promoted outfit exceeding expectations this season and currently perching in seventh place in the division.

Should Potter taste defeat, the Cottagers would soar six points above the weathered Blues, albeit having played a game extra, whereas victory would restore parity and open the door for a return to European contention.

Despite signing from Napoli for £33m in the summer, colossus Kalidou Koulibaly has failed to hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, his performance in the FA Cup thrashing against City typified that, with the Senegalese titan being outshone by his less experienced teammates.

He is a minnow in terms of influence when compared to one other senior centre-back, who is defying expectations. That player, still unquestionably imperative in the fight against further issues, is the veteran centre-back Thiago Silva, who is still a beacon of strength and leadership despite sitting firmly in the twilight phase of his professional career at 37 years old.

Having made 102 outings since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2020, Silva has often provided the defensive resilience required to secure victory, notably playing a central role in his club’s 2020/21 Champions League triumph, recording a solid average rating of 6.97 en-route to glory.

This season, making 20 appearances across all competitions, the 113-cap Brazilian veteran has maintained his impressive level of performance despite his club’s troubles, averaging an exceptional rating of 7.31 in the Premier League.

His robust presence, making 1.6 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 4.2 clearances per fixture, have been imperative in stopping the backline from crumbling – and with 0.5 shots per match, his direct offensive presence adds another dimension.

And ranking within the top 2% of defenders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 4% for passes completed and the top 17% for progressive passes, as per FBref, Silva can serve as the creative force from the back to pump life into the offensive third of the pitch, starting transitions from the back in a bid to bypass the cohesive Fulham outfit.

It’s also worth noting that the £110k-per-week earner’s towering presence will be important in quelling the threat of the prolific Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has scored 11 goals in 15 games after seismically netting 43 times in the EFL Championship last season.

As per Whoscored, Silva has won a career average of 2.0 aerials per match, while the Serbian striker has displayed his towering presence up front with a ratio of 3.7 – nullifying this element of the game, both as a direct threat and for his hold-up play, is paramount.

Lauded as a “Rolls-Royce” by Chelsea icon Joe Cole, Silva truly is one of the great defenders of his generation, and despite his numbered years at top level, he can continue to play a definitive role in Chelsea’s resurgence over the latter period of the 22/23 campaign, and that starts with returning to winning ways against Fulham.

A claim has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their potential chances of adding to their ranks in the upcoming January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Dean Jones has suggested that Michael Beale could entice Birmingham midfielder Jobe Bellingham into making the switch to Ibrox next month.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It’ll be interesting to hear more about what Rangers feel they can offer him because there would have to be some edge that they’d have that could give them the nod over him going to some of the big teams that are going to be in for him.

“But, certainly, Beale has something special about him that might be able to tempt someone like that to the club.”

TEAMtalk recently reported that the Gers are one of a number of clubs, including Sunderland and Newcastle United, interested in snapping up Jude Bellingham’s brother.

Steven Davis’ heir

Earlier this month, the club confirmed that veteran midfielder Steven Davis is set to miss the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign due to a knee injury.

The experienced gem, who turns 38 on Sunday, is out of contract at the end of the season and it remains to be seen whether or not he has already played his final match for the club.

This means that Beale could already be on the lookout for a short and long-term replacement for the Northern Ireland international and Bellingham could fit the bill.

The 5-foot-10 midfielder is 20 years younger than Davis and has almost his entire career ahead of him, which means that he would be a signing for the future and someone who could grow and develop over time.

Despite his young age, Bellingham has played 13 times in the English Championship for Birmingham this season and started their only match in the EFL Cup as they lost to Norwich on penalties.

He won 63% of his individual duels, completed 85% of his attempted passes and won three tackles in the clash with the former Premier League side, as he showcased his ability and potential as a ball-winning midfielder.

Ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson once described him as an “exciting” talent and tipped him to go the “levels” of his brother Jude, who has been capped 22 times by his country before turning 20.

Bellingham is a promising, young, central midfielder with room to grow and bringing him in as a long-term heir to Davis’ position in the squad could be a shrewd move by Rangers, as it shows that they are planning for the future rather than looking at short-term fixes.

Southampton have ‘looked’ at signing 2022 World Cup star and Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Ramos stars in Qatar…

Portugal manager Fernando Santos raised many eyebrows following his decision to drop superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for their Last 16 clash against tie against Switzerland on Tuesday.

However, his decision was well and truly vindicated, with the Portuguese going on to make a real statement and battering their opponents 6-1 on a night to remember for Ramos especially.

The 21-year-old rising star, feeling the pressure after coming in for Ronaldo, bagged a scintillating hat-trick on what was surely the most memorable night of his career.

The Latest: Saints have ‘looked’ at Ramos…

Ramos’ ability has long attracted interest from the Premier League, even before his World Cup heroics, and the Saints have now been name-checked as a candidate to sign him.

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, taking to Twitter, has claimed that Nathan Jones’ side are one of many clubs eyeing a move for the Portugal’s new hero.

“Ramos has a release clause of €120m & was drawing interest long before the World Cup. He almost joined PSG over the summer. Benfica wanted close to €45m & that price will be higher now. Several EPL clubs have looked, including MUFC, NUFC, LUFC, Wolves, Southampton & Forest.”

The Verdict: Exciting player…

Southampton and Sport Republic, if they’re to make a move, will want to negotiate a fee far lower than that £104m exit clause.

Going by Jacobs’ tweet, that appears to be something Benfica are willing to do but Ramos’ price tag may well still be lofty – especially after his performances in Qatar.

The attacker’s stock is rising, and so is his price tag and queue of interested sides, so Southampton may face an uphill battle to get this one over the line.

However, having been called ‘incredible’ by members of the media, he is at least worth an attempt.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that Diego Carlos returning from injury before the end of the season would be a ‘huge boost’ for Aston Villa.

The Lowdown: Out of protective boot

It was reported earlier this month that Carlos is now out of his protective boot, after rupturing his Achilles tendon on his home debut against Everton back in August, which has kept him out for the rest of the season so far (Transfermarkt).

He is continuing his rehabilitation work at Bodymoor Heath alongside strength and conditioning coach Oli Stevenson, and is targeting a return early in the New Year, after previous concerns that he could miss the rest of the season.

The Latest: O’Rourke reacts

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has claimed that it would be a ‘huge boost’ for Unai Emery and his squad to be able to recall Carlos this campaign, adding that he has been a ‘big loss’:

“I think he’s been a big loss in that defence where Villa have conceded a lot of goals, they’ve tightened up under Unai Emery, but I think if Emery could call upon Diego Carlos between now and the end of the season, it would be a huge boost for the whole squad.“

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The Verdict: Massive

It cannot be underestimated how massive it would be for Villa to be able to play Carlos again from the start of the New Year, after initial fears.

The central defender ranked as Sevilla’s seventh-best performer in La Liga last season, while none of his team-mates averaged more aerial duels, clearances or blocks per game than him, per WhoScored.

It is easy to see why Villa paid £26m for his services in the summer, and given that they have conceded 22 goals already in the Premier League, the ninth-most in the division, the Brazilian would be welcomed back at Villa Park with open arms.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been handed ‘brighter news’ as journalist Sean Walsh shares an update on Son Heung-min’s future.

The Lowdown: Son considering exit?

Last season’s joint-winner of the Golden Boot has actually been weighing his future away from the Premier League with Spanish giants Real Madrid reportedly eyeing a move.

Journalist Christopher Michel claims Carlo Ancelotti’s side hold an interest in the Spurs attacker, who was absolutely crucial under manager Antonio Conte last season.

As per WhoScored, he finished 21/22 as their best-performing player with an impeccable 30 goal contributions in 35 top flight starts – backing just how much of a blow it would be to lose him.

Son is claimed to be weighing up his future amid this interest from Real, but Walsh of 90min has some good news for supporters with an update on the situation.

The Latest: Walsh shares ‘brighter news’ involving Son…

Taking to social media, the journalist has refuted claims that the La Liga side are weighing up a move.

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Writing on Twitter, he states Spurs would never consider the sale regardless – explaining:

“Some brighter Tottenham news ahead of kick-off.

Son Heung-min’s been linked with a move to Real Madrid, but understand it’s of no concern to Spurs as they wouldn’t consider sale.

Real Madrid are playing down interest in Son, anyway.”

The Verdict: Wonderful…

The 30-year-old looks to be going nowhere any time soon which comes as a brilliant bit of news.

It is arguable the transfer was a long shot anyway considering Son is nailed down to a 2025 contract and isn’t getting any younger.

Chairman Daniel Levy would demand extortionate fees for the sale of Tottenham’s star asset and it is very questionable whether Real president Florentino Perez would sanction such sums for a player with little sell-on value.