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Aston Villa are interested in a move to bring Inter Milan forward Joaquin Correa to the Premier League, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Senior attacker required

Following the departure of Danny Ings in January, Unai Emery moved to replace him with Jhon Duran, but being just 19 years of age, the boss is likely to be in the market for a more senior replacement and has identified the 28-year-old as an ideal candidate.

The Argentinian international’s contract at the San Siro isn’t due to expire until 2025, but having made just four starts this season in the Serie A under Simone Inzaghi, has fallen out of favour.

Emery already came close to working with the striker before having arrived at Sevilla shortly after the boss departed in 2016 but it appears that he’s now planning to try and capture him himself.

The Latest: Villa eyeing Correa

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), West Ham United are currently in ‘pole position’ to sign Correa but are set to face ‘competition’ for his signature from Aston Villa.

The Midlands outfit are ‘lurking’ in the background and have already ‘expressed interest’, though it’s made clear that they would have to ‘rebuild him both physically and mentally’.

Inter are reportedly ready to ‘offload’ him in the summer with a sale being sanctioned ‘increasingly probable’, and the two clubs mentioned are ‘very wealthy’.

It’s believed that the attacker ‘wouldn’t mind a different challenge’ regarding a move to England after the last two ‘unforgettable’ seasons.

The Verdict: Potential bargain

Inter Milan wanting to get rid of Correa may mean that they are willing to let him go at a cut price so Aston Villa would be getting a bargain should they secure his services for a reduced fee.

The 6 foot 2 colossus has posted 102 goal contributions (63 goals and 39 assists) in 346 career appearances and ranks in the 99th percentile for pass completion, highlighting how prolific he is in the final third and how strong his link-up play is with his fellow teammates.

The Juan Bautista Alberdi would also bring plenty of versatility to Villa Park having played in six different positions since emerging onto the scene, including out wide on both flanks and at centre-forward.

Finally, Correa has been dubbed a ‘formidable’ player by his manager Simone Inzaghi and he has all of the qualities to fit the profile of striker that Emery has been looking for.

Journalist Miles Starforth has revealed Newcastle United’s hierarchy are concerned about having to play in the Europa Conference League next season.

The Lowdown: European football is essential for next season

After such a strong start to the campaign, which saw Newcastle pick up positive results against the traditional top six, they have put themselves in a strong position to qualify for some form of European football next season.

However, with just two Premier League wins since the turn of the year, the Magpies have fallen away in the top-four race, although they will go back into the conversation if they were to win their two games in hand.

While Newcastle fans would likely be ecstatic with any sort of European football given they’ve not played on the continent for 10 years when they were dumped out of the Europa League by Benfica, Starforth has claimed that not everyone at the club shares that view.

The Latest: Newcastle worried about playing on a Thursday next season

Starforth has been speaking on the Loaded Mag YouTube channel about how people at the top of the club are concerned about how Thursday night football could impact their league form next season.

He said: “If it’s the Conference [League], then great. I think this club, with the strength in their squad, can attack it. Though the caveat to that, I think there is some concern higher up at the club about what this would mean for their Premier League form.

“There’s no question it would impact Premier League form and we can’t gloss around that. There is that concern there about what it would mean, and I guess it’s how do you minimise that impact on your domestic form [with] those games, the travelling and everything else.”

The Verdict: PIF must build a squad able to compete on multiple fronts

While it’s a natural worry from people higher up at the club who will wish to ensure that Newcastle can competently challenge on all fronts next season, the fans will be itching to have European ties back.

PIF will be looking at West Ham and how their form has fallen off a cliff in the Premier League during their participation in the Europa Conference League and be wary about replicating that, especially as they spent lavishly over the summer to improve their squad.

All of the big clubs in England know how to balance their squads while competing midweek in Europe and not letting standards drop on the weekend in the Premier League, which is the next step Newcastle must make if they wish to become regulars at the right end of the table.

Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson has been praised for his ‘cracking’ equaliser during the Premier League game vs Everton by journalist Paul Taylor.

The Lowdown: Honours even

The Reds were the hosts at The City Ground on Sunday afternoon where Steve Cooper and his side played out a 2-2 draw with the Toffees with the home goals coming either side of the break.

The Welshman was at the double for the Midlands outfit, with the leveller being smashed into the top corner from inside the box following a neat one-two with Ryan Yates in the build-up.

The Latest: Taylor’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Taylor couldn’t speak highly enough of Johnson’s finish to bring Forest equal for a second time. He wrote:

“Johnson swaps passes with Yates, before hitting an unstoppable shot high into the net to make it 2-2. Cracking goal, that. Certainly feels like a vital one.”

The Verdict: Best player on the pitch

Forest needed to get something out of yesterday’s game to continue their climb away from relegation and that was only possible thanks to the contribution of Johnson.

The 21-year-old was awarded a match rating of 8.3, which was higher than any other player across both teams, making him the best-performing individual on the pitch.

Cooper’s dynamo also recorded a 100% successful dribble rate, completing four from four, whilst completing all but three of his passes (SofaScore).

Johnson has been key to Forest’s success so far this season, and after this performance, he will undoubtedly continue to be for the remainder of the 2022/23 term.

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.

Newcastle United could see Alexander Isak return to the squad on the weekend when West Ham United travel to Tyneside following his injury concern.

What’s the latest?

The Magpies booked their spot in the Carabao Cup final on Tuesday night with victory over Southampton at St. James’ Park but they did not come out of the game unscathed.

Bruno Guimaraes will be missing for the game against the Hammers on Saturday and the fitness of Isak is still unknown fully despite the expectation from Craig Hope for him to be involved.

After being hit by a James Ward-Prowse free-kick, it was reported the Swedish forward had sustained a possible concussion which saw him walk off in the second half.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, Hope suggested he would expect to see Isak involved to some extent on the weekend after speaking to Howe on Friday:

(1:50) “We’ll have to wait and see on that one. But there wasn’t a definitive answer either way. And perhaps that also was part of the reason as to why the club wanted us out of the training ground pronto this morning.

“But is “fine”. So I wouldn’t be surprised if he is involved in some form tomorrow [Saturday].”

Potential involvement

Although there will be one eye on the Carabao Cup final, there are some important games coming up for Newcastle in the coming weeks as they look to strengthen their spot inside the top four spots.

And the game against a struggling West Ham could prove to be a potential banana skin of a game with David Moyes’ men in serious danger of facing relegation this season.

However, the possibility of missing Isak from the side could be a huge blow for Howe with the Swede already proving an incredibly reliable source of goals.

Despite missing the majority of the season already through injury, the 23-year-old has been able to provide a return of three goals in five Premier League games (via Transfermarkt).

And the latest goal came in Newcastle’s last home game in the league with the forward coming off the bench to score an 89th-minute winner against Fulham.

In comparison, Callum Wilson finds himself in the middle of a goal drought with the 30-year-old’s last goal coming back in October against Aston Villa.

With this in mind, Howe will be hoping Isak is fit to play in the game on Saturday but with it being a potential concussion it is something which the 45-year-old manager should not be gambling on.

Tony Mowbray’s Sunderland return to action in the Championship today as they face Swansea at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats were held to a 1-1 draw by Blackpool last time out in the division but come into this match off the back of a 2-1 win over Shrewsbury in the third round of the FA Cup.

They found themselves 1-0 down to the League One outfit in the 81st minute of the match but two goals in stoppage time ensured that their name was in the pot for the fourth round.

Sunderland started the game with a fluid front three of Patrick Roberts, Jewison Bennette, and Amad Diallo – three wingers by trade – as Ross Stewart was rested on the bench.

However, the Scotland international was brought on in the second half and his 92nd-minute equaliser kept the game alive and allowed Luke O’Nien to win it two minutes later.

Mowbray must now unleash the centre-forward from the start as he is the club’s only natural number nine following Ellis Simms’ return to Everton at the start of the month.

Stewart is a crucial player for the Black Cats as he is their main goal threat and the one most likely to go and win a match for them.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the £2.7k-per-week forward plundered a whopping 26 goals in 49 League One outings for Sunderland as they won promotion to the Championship, whilst no other player managed more than 10.

His form in the third tier led to teammate Alex Pritchard lauding his talent, with the midfielder saying:

“[Stewart] is unbelievable. The size of him, on the ball, he can run, he can hold the ball up, he’s good with his feet. He’s got everything. He’s great in the air. Holds the ball up and he gets in behind and you see in the semi-finals – the goal he got in behind and he’s so quick. And he’s been a revelation this year for us.”

The 26-year-old has followed that up by scoring 10 goals and providing three assists in 12 matches in all competitions this term, including nine strikes in 11 Championship outings – three more than any current Sunderland player has scored.

These statistics show that he is Mowbray’s best attacking option as he is their biggest goal threat, as he has proven at both League One and Championship level.

Therefore, Stewart can be the match-winner against the Swans by being the focal point at the top end of the pitch and potentially scoring the all-important goal to seal all three points if he is given the right service.

Glasgow Rangers are interested in a move for Royal Antwerp defender William Pacho this month, according to reports from Belgium.

The Lowdown: Beale’s first transfer window

Michael Beale was confirmed as the Light Blues’ manager in November, so January will present him with his first opportunity to bring some of his own players to Ibrox as he begins building his long-term project at the club.

The Premiership giants already have plenty of options at centre-back, including the likes of Ben Davies and Connor Goldson, but that doesn’t appear to have stopped Beale from wanting to add further defensive reinforcements.

The Latest: Rangers eyeing Pacho

According to Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad (via Glasgow World), Rangers are ‘keen on signing’ Pacho after ‘impressing’ under Mark van Bommel this season.

The Ecuadorian has reportedly ‘emerged as a target’ for Beale, with the 21-year-old offering ‘competition’ for places, as well as a ‘path to the future’.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Ross Wilson will know that he needs to invest in the squad if he wants Rangers to seriously compete with their Glasgow arch-rivals, so wrapping up a deal for Pacho seems a no-brainer.

The Belgian Pro League star is averaging 2.6 clearances and 2.1 tackles per 90 minutes and also provides an aerial threat with his height, standing at 6 foot 3 (WhoScored).

Pacho has been dubbed a ‘fantastic signing’ for Antwerp by Jacek Kulig, and he is someone who would certainly seem able to firm up Beale’s defence should he put pen to paper at Ibrox in the coming weeks.

Reliable journalist Ashley Preece has not ruled out the idea of Aston Villa completing a move for Spain and Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres.

The Lowdown: Torres linked with Villa

The 25-year-old has arguably stood out as one of the best defenders in La Liga in recent years, making 151 appearances for Villarreal and winning 23 caps for the Spanish national team.

Torres has been linked with an exciting move to Villa recently, having worked under Unai Emery before the 51-year-old replaced Steven Gerrard, winning the Europa League together with the Yellow Submarine in 2021.

With the January transfer window fast approaching, it is a rumour which is not going away.

The Latest: Preece hints at Torres move

In a Q&A for Birmingham Mail, Preece delivered a teasing four-word verdict regarding Torres, having been asked about centre-back signings.

When one Villa fan name-checked the Villarreal defender as someone he wants to see in the Midlands, the journalist replied:

“Pau Torres, let’s see.”

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The Verdict: Ideal centre-back upgrade

Torres could be an outstanding swoop by Villa if they manage to get a deal over the line, although their lack of European football could end up working against them.

The Spaniard has been described as a ‘fabulous’ player by BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves, while WhoScored’s performance metrics suggest that he would be an upgrade on Villa’s current centre-back options.

Torres has averaged a rating of 6.64 in La Liga this season, which exceeds Tyrone Mings (6.50) and Ezri Konsa (6.42) in the Premier League.

The lure of the English top flight could possibly work in Villa’s favour, as could his relationship with Emery, but they may still need quite a convincing sales pitch in order to land his signature.

Crystal Palace are thought to be ‘very interested’ in signing Galatasaray full-back Sacha Boey.

The Lowdown: Boey profiled

Boey is primarily a right-back but can also turn out as a left-back if required, and has thrived since joining the Turkish side last year. The 22-year-old has made 32 appearances for his current employers after leaving French side Rennes.

Sponsored by Adidas, Boey still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his Galatasaray contract, but it looks as if he could be on the move in the New Year.

The Latest: Palace interest

Sports Witness relayed an update from Foot Mercato regarding Boey on Tuesday.

They claimed that talks over an improved contract have not been successful so far, with Palace, Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg all ‘very interested’ in his services.

The Verdict: Needed?

Steve Parish, Dougie Freedman and Patrick Vieira need to sit down and think about their right-back ranks in the long run, with current options Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne both over the age of 30 and out of contract in the summer.

Boey seems to be making a real impact with Galatasaray and is catching the eye of Palace chiefs – along with others – so securing his services could be a wise move in 2023.

A reunion with Aaron Wan-Bissaka has also been mentioned, so the club may need to decide between him or Boey.

Erik ten Hag will no doubt be delighted that some of his Manchester United players are currently starring at the World Cup.

Casemiro was highly influential against Serbia in Brazil’s 2-0 victory, achieving a SofaScore rating of 7.8, ranking only second behind Richarlison’s 8.4 rating and the midfielder took 77 touches and won 83% of his total duels throughout the tie.

It might be the performance by Bruno Fernandes however that pleases the Dutchman the most, with the 28-year-old leading Portugal to a crucial opening 3-2 win against Ghana.

It was an entertaining match and the African side perhaps should have snatched a late equaliser if it weren’t for an unlucky slip by Inaki Williams as he was about to score, but it was Portugal who held on.

Fernandes achieved a SofaScore rating of 8.4, the highest on either starting XI and he was integral to the win, providing two assists, making three key passes, and also creating a further two big chances, showing that he was at his attacking best playing on the right-hand side of a front three including Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix.

The Man United star also had a 94% pass success rate, while taking 66 touches of the ball during the match, proving that he wanted to constantly be involved and his desire was important in Portugal’s.

Journalist Josh Bunting said Fernandes was “the most effective player” following a change in formation, while Statman Dave also lauded his performance, claiming he made a “crucial contribution” against Ghana, and if Portugal fancy a deep run in this tournament, they will need Fernandes performing at this level throughout.

Ten Hag will be keen on watching his future matches in the tournament and hoping he can maintain this excellent level, although the Dutchman will be wary that if Portugal happen to reach the final, Fernandes won’t get much rest time between then and the resumption of the Premier League on Boxing Day.

Seeing his players influence matches on the biggest stage of all will give the United manager hope that they can star for the Old Trafford side during the second half of the season and help them finish in the top four and secure a Champions League place next season.