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When Chelsea announced that they had won the race to sign Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk back in January for an £88.5m fee, you would be forgiven for thinking that he could be a player to take the club to the next level.

He had starred for Shakhtar Donetsk during the first half of the season, registering 18 goal contributions across all competitions, and he was one of the most sought-after wingers on the continent.

Since arriving at the Stamford Bridge outfit however, he has underwhelmed so far, grabbing just two assists, while the 22-year-old has an average Premier League Sofascore rating of 6.38/10, succeeding with just 27% of his dribble attempts and failing to score.

Would the Blues have been better off pursuing another January target instead – perhaps one who could have offered a greater attacking threat and settled in better than Mudryk? In Portuguese forward Rafael Leao, Chelsea appear to have missed a trick.

Did Chelsea miss out on Rafael Leao in the January transfer window?

The club were linked with the AC Milan player throughout the winter transfer window, with the Serie A side demanding a fee of €80m (£70m) in order for anyone to sign him, which would have worked out cheaper than the Mudryk deal.

There is no doubt Leao would have been a much better signing for Chelsea than Mudryk when you take a deeper look into their respective stats this season.

Across various attacking metrics, Leao has registered more goals (ten to six), shots per game (3.59 to 1.82), shot-creating actions per game (4.55 to 2.83) and delivered more crosses (57 to 11) this season than the Chelsea winger, suggesting that they may have signed the wrong player.

Leao ranks in the top 10% across Europe’s big five leagues for assists, progressive carries and successful take ons over the past year, whereas the Ukrainian barely ranks in the top 40% for the latter two statistics, clearly suggesting the Milan star is one of the finest on the continent in his position.

Having been dubbed “electric” by teammate Fikayo Tomori, the data does suggest he may have added more goals to a struggling Chelsea frontline and in turn, could have saved Graham Potter from the sack.

That is all conjecture of course, but the stats don’t lie – Leao has been in much greater form than the current Chelsea winger and perhaps in hindsight, would have made a bigger impact at the club.

Feyenoord boss Arne Slot could be a contender to replace Antonio Conte at Tottenham, according to Voetbal International editor Pieter Zwart.

Who could replace Conte at Spurs?

The Premier League top four chasers finally announced the departure of Conte earlier this week, coming after a week of speculation over the Italian's immediate future. Conte was expected to depart Spurs even before his infamous post-Southampton rant, as his contract was set to expire at the end of the season, but both the manager and club mutually agreed to call time prematurely.

A plethora of big name managers and more left-field options have been linked with the post, including former Tottenham manager and fan favourite Mauricio Pochettino. Other notable names include the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, who's just left Bayern Munich, and another free agent in ex-Barcelona boss Luis Enrique.

Even the likes of Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Frank, who've both been performing brilliantly at their respective top flight clubs, have been tipped as possible contenders for the Spurs job. Abroad, Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner is a name consistently linked and Slot, who is currently chasing a title with Feyenoord, has been a name mentioned by reliable outlets like The Times.

Now, analyst and editor-in-chief Zwart has weighed in on Tottenham's links to the 44-year-old – claiming to Voetbal Primeur (via Sport Witness) that he could seriously appeal to chairman Daniel Levy. He says that Slot's work on a shoe-string budget at both Feyenoord and Ajax puts him in real contention to succeed Conte in the summer.

Zwart explained:

“Daniel Levy has the image of a miser. He wants to achieve a lot with little money. That is, of course, what Arne Slot has done. First at AZ, where he competed for the title, and now he is doing the same at Feyenoord with a low budget. I can imagine that he would come into the picture.”

Is Slot the ideal Spurs manager candidate?

Slot has arguably overachieved with Feyenoord this season, having led the Dutch title-chasers to the Eredivisie summit, losing just one game all season. They're currently on a real hot streak, winning their last six league games and boasting the second-best defensive record in the division behind FC Twente.

Their Dutch head coach is seemingly working wonders at Feynoord with members of the media holding Slot in seriously high esteem. Netherlands football expert Marcel van der Kraan, speaking to talkSPORT recently, even called him the "most exciting head coach" he's seen in the last 10 years – going on to claim he utilises a "more" attacking style than Man City boss Pep Guardiola.

Going by his team's sublime form and steadily rising reputation, he could certainly appeal to Spurs.

One of Southampton’s relegation rivals are plotting a move for striker Che Adams in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

The Lowdown: Adams a good servant

The 26-year-old joined Saints from Birmingham City back in 2019 and he has proved to be a consistent performer in their attack in the four years since.

Adams has scored 30 goals and registered 15 assists in 139 appearances for Southampton, including four Premier League strikes so far this season.

The Scot’s current deal expires at the end of next season, however, and with Saints relegation-threatened, this summer could be the best time to sell.

The Latest: Leeds eyeing up move

According to Football Insider, fellow strugglers Leeds are one of numerous clubs who are willing to sign Adams ‘in a heartbeat’ if Southampton suffer relegation to the Championship.

The Whites are thought to be ‘big admirers’ of the striker, having been linked with him in the past.

The Verdict: Hard to keep him

Losing Adams would be an undoubted blow for Saints, not only because of his eye for goal but also his work off the ball, having averaged 1.5 fouls and 0.7 tackles per game in the league this season.

The £52,000-a-week attacker would surely not accept playing in the Championship, having scored six goals in 22 caps for Scotland, and it would be hard to begrudge him a move away, though it would certainly hurt to see him join a team who escape the drop if Saints do go down.

The hope is that Adams, who has been hailed as ‘terrific’ by Ally McCoist, helps steer Southampton to safety and then eventually extends his stay at the club, although that feels unlikely right now.

Glasgow Rangers failed to secure their first trophy of the campaign as they were beaten 2-1 in the final of the League Cup by their bitter arch-rivals on Sunday.

The Light Blues are also nine points adrift in the Premiership title race and have already been knocked out of Europe, which means that their last realistic chance of securing silverware in 2022/23 is the Scottish Cup.

Michael Beale, who replaced Giovanni van Bronckhorst as manager at Ibrox during the break for the 2022 World Cup, could end his first campaign with the Gers without a trophy, which could place a big emphasis on the need for changes to the squad in the summer.

Whilst the main focus could be on who Rangers bring in to improve the squad, the Glasgow giants will also need to jettison some of the players who are not up to scratch.

One dud who Beale must ruthlessly bin from the club in the summer, following on from his performances before and during the current manager’s reign, is winger Scott Wright.

Should Rangers cash in on Scott Wright?

Football Insider recently claimed that the Gers may be willing to entertain offers for the forward in the summer after rejecting interest in his services in January, with clubs from the English Championship said to have been keen on him.

The £5.6k-per-week attacker has never been able to establish himself as a regular starter at Ibrox, and his performances have left a lot to be desired.

Last season, the forward managed seven goals and three assists in 37 appearances in all competitions, including one goal in nine Europa League outings. He produced occasional moments of quality but was unable to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis, which may be why Giovanni van Bronckhorst was reluctant to start him week in, week out.

The 25-year-old’s form has regressed even further this term, having failed to notch a single goal and proving only two assists in 29 matches in all competitions.

Wright was not involved in a single goal in his seven European outings and has managed one assist in 18 Premiership games, whilst the lightweight has also lost 57% of his duels and created just 0.4 chances per match in the league.

Former Rangers forward Mark Hateley once criticised the dud’s “loose” touch and stated that the winger “needs to reboot” during a league match for the Light Blues in which he struggled.

That criticism has been the case throughout Wright’s time at Ibrox, as illustrated by his disappointing attacking statistics over the last 18 months. That is why Beale must ditch the forward this summer, as the former Aberdeen man has not been able to hit his stride for the Gers and remains an underwhelming player.

Quite simply, Wright has not done enough to prove that he deserves to be a key player for Rangers moving forward, and the Ibrox hierarchy should duly be looking to replace him ahead of next season.

The Athletic journalist David Ornstein has delivered a frustrating update regarding reported Newcastle United transfer target Conor Gallagher.

What’s the word?

Taking on Twitter, the respected source revealed that the 22-year-old midfielder is set to stay at current club Chelsea despite hefty interest in his services, with the Stamford Bridge outfit seemingly not entertaining any loan offers for the England international.

Ornstein stated: “Conor Gallagher staying at Chelsea. #CFC don’t want another loan & permanent offers well below valuation. Barring late twist, 22yo midfielder will be at Stamford Bridge until at least summer + important part of youth movement.”

In his attached article for The Athletic, the reporter went on to name the Magpies as one of the clubs who had been keen on a possible move for the promising youngster, although it now looks unlikely that any transfer will take place before tonight’s deadline.

Deadline Day heartbreak for Newcastle

That could well be a heartbreaking update as far as Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is concerned, with the 45-year-old likely to have been keen to bolster his midfield ranks before the end of the transfer window, having allowed long-serving playmaker Jonjo Shelvey to join Nottingham Forest.

Although journalist Luke Edwards (Telegraph live updates, 14:32), has suggested that there is a ‘sense of calm’ behind the scenes at St James’ Park, amid the prospect of missing out on the former Crystal Palace loanee, it will be of real frustration to have yet again failed to recruit what appears to be a long-term target for the Tynesiders.

Gallagher – who was reportedly the subject of a £45m offer from Everton on Monday – would no doubt have provided stern competition to Howe’s current options in midfield, having showcased his quality in the Premier League of late.

Although the four-cap menace has endured a mixed return to the first team in west London – having started just nine top-flight games this season – he has still illustrated his relentless and dynamic presence under Graham Potter, notably averaging 1.4 tackles per game in the league while also creating five big chances.

The highly-coveted asset, who also ranks in the top 14% among his European peers for dribbles completed over the past year, had particularly impressed during his stint at Selhurst Park last season, scoring eight times and registering three assists in the league under Patrick Vieira.

Bringing in such an all-round gem would certainly have helped in the Magpies’ push for Champions League qualification, and it’s set to be hugely frustrating for Howe not to be able to strengthen his already limited midfield resources.

Phil Hay has insisted there is still confidence about the 49ers’ Leeds United takeover despite the threat of relegation.

The Lowdown: Takeover still on the agenda

There has been ongoing talk about the 49ers and when they will eventually increase their stake in Leeds to become majority shareholders of the club, but there appears to be no concrete answer despite an apparent option for 49ers Enterprises to take over by January 2024.

This may well come down to the fact that Leeds’ top-flight future was uncertain until pretty much the last kick of the previous campaign when they beat Brentford away from home – and this term looks like it may follow the same path.

So the 49ers may not be keen on throwing a load of money at a club that could soon drop down into the Championship and lose a lot of value, which has led to discussions over what happens if the worst was to occur come May.

The Latest: 49ers still on course to become majority owners

According to Hay, there appears to be nothing to worry about amid the ongoing process of the 49ers purchasing Leeds United outright.

Speaking on The Phil Hay Show, he said: “One of the big points of discussion, certainly recently and at the moment has been, what happens if the club go down; what happens if the club are relegated?

“I think there’s confidence at Elland Road that they will stay up and the feeling that they will be okay in the end. But clearly, a club that are valued at around about £500bn in the Premier League are not worth anything like £500bn in the EFL.

“So there would need to be – certainly in 49ers Enterprises’ eyes – some form of contingency for what happens, if, come May, Leeds are no longer a Premier League club, if they are back in the Championship.

“So that, as we understand it, has been one of the key points of discussion.”

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The Verdict: Appears to be a matter of time

With Leeds splashing out heavily in the summer transfer window as well as this month, it may well suggest that the 49ers are still committed to a future purchase of the club, and may perhaps be able to take on the burden of bigger transfer fees such as the one shelled out for Georginio Rutter.

However, that may all go up in the air if Leeds fail to turn around their shocking run of form, which has seen them win just three of their last 19 games, as that is nothing more than relegation form and they’re only outside of the bottom three because of how poor other sides around them have been thus far.

Jesse Marsch will know there’s pressure from Andrea Radrizzani and his prospective successors to results to pick up, as his mismanagement could well be the difference between a £500bn takeover and one that is a fraction of that price with Leeds in the Championship.

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Pape Matar Sarr has seriously impressed Antonio Conte since his return from the World Cup late last year.

What’s the latest?

Spurs have suffered a major blow in their midfield recently with their Uruguayan central midfielder, Rodrigo Bentancur, missing through an injury he picked up in the World Cup.

It was initially thought the 25-year-old would only miss a few weeks and would likely return for the game on New Year’s Day against Aston Willa, however, this has not been the case.

This has offered a number of players with an opportunity to impress Conte but it is apparent the likes of Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp have perhaps fluffed their shot in the starting XI.

But speaking on Chris Cowlin’s YouTube channel, journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed the young Senegalese midfielder has seriously been impressing Conte of late:

(29:15) “But I would also say, I think I mentioned it earlier in this video call, but the emergence of Bryan Gil and Pape Matar Sarr in recent weeks has been such a huge positive for Spurs.

“Because Conte’s really seen something that he can work with. I know Sarr returned early from the World Cup when he was expected. And the time he spent on the training field has really left an impression on Conte.”

Time to shine

Since returning from the World Cup, Sarr has made his debut for the Lilywhites with appearances from the bench in their last two league games against Villa and Crystal Palace.

And then the 20-year-old was handed his first start as a Spurs player in their FA Cup game against Portsmouth on the weekend where he played the full 90 minutes in N17.

This all comes after months of sitting on the bench and, at times, not even being included in Conte’s matchday squad after spending last season out on loan with Metz.

But following the World Cup, the midfielder pretty much returned straight to London to get back to work under the Italian manager and it seems as if this has gained the 53-year-old’s trust.

Amid the January transfer window, there have been some reports suggesting the player could leave on loan for the remainder of the campaign with the Serie A side, Salernitana, showing an interest.

However, it seems as if the youngster may finally be getting his opportunity at Spurs having impressed massively in the games against Palace and Portsmouth.

And it sounds as if he is doing the right things behind the scenes, too, with Taylor claiming the Italian boss is taking a real shine to the young midfielder.

There is a tough run of games ahead for Spurs in the coming weeks, so it will be interesting to see what role Sarr may play in these games and how Bentancur’s potential return could affect his game time.

Insider ExWHUemployee has claimed that West Ham United manager David Moyes wanted to sign Kalvin Phillips in the past and so a loan could possible be on the cards this winter.

What’s the latest?

During the summer, the England midfielder moved to Manchester City from Leeds United in a transfer that was reported to cost £45m.

However, since then, things have not exactly worked out for the 27-year-old as he has made just one Premier League appearance all season.

With the January window now open, rumours have sparked suggesting that West Ham have reignited their interest in Phillips and could make a move for him.

While speaking about it all on The West Ham Way podcast, Ex revealed that Moyes genuinely wanted the player in the past and so if he is available then this could be something to keep an eye out for.

He said: “Kalvin Phillips is someone that West Ham, David Moyes especially, 100 per cent rates.

“I know categorically, factually, that we spoke about signing him in the summer, and he was someone – and in January, before that – that we really, really wanted.

He added: ”So there’s definitely truth that David Moyes likes Kalvin Phillips. Whether he’s available, I don’t know.

“A loan deal could potentially be on offer if Man City are prepared, and then I think we’d be interested.”

Rice replacement?

It certainly does seem as though Phillips has struggled to win over manager Pep Guardiola. On top of his lack of regular game time, the Spaniard also questioned the midfielder’s fitness after he returned from the World Cup, suggesting that he was ‘overweight’.

On top of that, West Ham may well be in the market for a new central midfielder with Declan Rice expected to leave the club in the summer.

However, it remains unclear if Phillips could be on the move this winter but perhaps in the summer, a swap deal could be arranged between the two clubs. This would certainly soften the blow for the Irons if their captain was to depart.

For now, it’s definitely something to keep a watchful eye on.

Everton could finally be set to ditch their long-term injury liability but at a huge loss…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to GOAL Brasil reporter Raisa Simplicio, who took to Twitter to issue the following update on Yerry Mina’s future:

“Yerry Mina has a contract with Everton until June 2023 and in January he can already sign a pre-contract with any club. 

“The English club will not make an effort to keep the defender and if a proposal arrives, he can be released”.

The Colombian has just six months left on his £120k-per-week deal.

Let the club down

Having been signed for a mammoth £28.5m back in 2018, the 28-year-old has only mustered 93 games across his near-four year spell at Goodison Park.

When fit, Mina has been one of the club’s best defenders during his time there, but the issue has remained regarding his fitness and lack of reliability.

This culminated in his continued absence last season, where he truly let his team down when they needed him most.

In a season blighted by protests and fan discontent, the Toffees had slumped into a relegation battle under Rafael Benitez.

Frank Lampard was handed the unenviable task of turning it around, and only secured survival in their penultimate game of the season.

Of that season he would feature just 13 times, but in his first six games of that season, he would only lose once.

What further exacerbated his importance was outlined in a report made by The Athletic, as they noted how during that campaign their win percentage grew from 19% without him to 36% with him. This was a figure made even more extreme for the season before that, as a win percentage of 58.3% with him in the team dropped to 21.4% without.

Despite this, Noel Whelan still saw fit to claim: “On his day, he can be a fantastic defender. On most days, he looks average.”

Having been relied upon by fans and his coaching staff on numerous occasions, he has constantly found new ways to let them all down with his crippling fitness issues.

As such, his departure will be a welcome sight as they look to reinvest his mammoth wages into some newfound reliability.

He has let the club down with his lack of playtime and has bled the club dry financially along the way.

Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth could well be able to offload striker Chris Wood in the January transfer window, amid reported shock interest in the New Zealand international.

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Juve Dipendenza, Serie A giants Juventus are reportedly open to a move for the 31-year-old in the New Year, should the Magpies firm up their apparent interest in Moise Kean.

The report suggests that the Tynesiders have their ‘eye on’ the 22-year-old – who is on loan in Turin from Everton – with that interest potentially set to see a swap deal emerge with Wood heading in the other direction, with the former Burnley man said to be ‘certainly well liked’ by Max Allegri.

The suggestion is that Il Bianconeri view the 70-cap marksman as a potential understudy to Dusan Vlahovic – who has been linked with a move to St James’ Park – although any move will likely rest on whether Kean moves in the other direction.

Ruthlessly ditch

It could well seemingly prove an opportune time for Ashworth and co to move on the one-time Leeds United man, with Wood having simply struggled to make his mark following his £25m arrival from Lancashire back in January.

The 6 foot 3 menace – who has also been linked with a return to Elland Road in recent days – had no doubt been a “strange” addition at the time, in the words of talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, having only scored three goals in the first half of last season for the Clarets.

Although the Auckland-born powerhouse had enjoyed a notable record at Turf Moor with 53 goals in 165 games across all fronts, the move to the northeast seemingly stunk of a short-term fix, with Eddie Howe’s side having been in need of a reliable backup to the injury prone Callum Wilson.

The £80k-per-week dud went on to score just twice in 17 games in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, having subsequently scored only two goals in 16 outings this time around, with one of those strikes coming against lower-league side Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

The towering forward now seems a “bit lost” at Newcastle – in the words of pundit Tam McManus – as Howe’s more progressive approach appears at odds with the player’s own strengths, having typically been a player who “feeds on long balls”, as per McManus.

With club-record signing Alexander Isak now stepping up his return to fitness, there appears little need to keep Wood at the club, particularly should the aforementioned Kean arrive in his place, with the latter man having netted five times in 18 outings this term.

While Wood has only been with the Magpies for just under a year, Ashworth must surely use this potential opportunity to ruthlessly ditch him sooner rather than later.