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Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui has already begun his revolution at the Molineux outfit, securing his first signing with Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha, initially on loan from Atletico Madrid.

This is just the beginning for the Spaniard, with January expected to be filled with plenty of new faces as well as a few players exiting the club who have no future in the Midlands.

One player who has been recently linked with the Old Gold is Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres according to a report from The Telegraph and he could be an excellent addition to Lopetegui’s side, especially considering his form this season.

The 24-year-old is joint-top of the Championship goalscoring charts having netted 12 goals already this season and with Wolves urgently requiring someone who can actually put the ball in the back of the net with ease, having scored just ten goals in the Premier League this season, signing Gyokeres could be a wise investment.

Imagine him and Cunha

Lopetegui could even form a dream duo by landing the Swede and playing him alongside Cunha and this is surely a partnership that would guarantee goals in the second half of the season.

After all, the Sky Blues striker has been dubbed a player “with a hunger to score goals” by his manager Mark Robins and with Diego Costa and Hee-chan Hwang failing to score between them this season, new attacking options remain a priority.

Despite failing to score this season, Cunha has scored 39 goals in his club career so far along with 19 for several underage Brazil sides, however, by grabbing four assists last season and creating five big chances, he could be the ideal foil for Gyokeres.

The 11-cap Swedish international appears to be the more out-and-out goal scorer of the two, netting 64 goals in his club career and if Lopetegui could find a way to incorporate both of them then it could prove to be a masterstroke by the manager.

January could be an exciting month for the Molineux faithful and if Lopetegui manages to sign the players he thinks will improve the starting XI, then there could be life in the club yet.

West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is now ‘pretty set’ on leaving the club, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Rice’s West Ham future

The 23-year-old has long been linked with a move away from the Irons, but Chelsea are now said to have the edge in the race for his signature, given his previous affiliation with the club.

The same report from The Athletic also claims that Manchester City and Manchester United have both registered their interest, so there will be no shortage of Premier League options for the Englishman should he choose not to extend his stay at the London Stadium.

The Latest: Rice ‘pretty set’ on leaving West Ham

It appears as though the 23-year-old not committing his future to West Ham is now the likely scenario, judging by Jones’ most recent comments to GIVEMESPORT.

When asked whether some Premier League clubs now being interested in Sofyan Amrabat could help the Irons hold onto Rice, the journalist replied:“I don’t think so, no. Rice is pretty set, from what I hear from other people, on leaving West Ham no matter what happens. I don’t see much that could happen at other clubs or at West Ham that could change his mind.”

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The Verdict: Blow for West Ham

It is no secret just how vital the midfielder is for David Moyes’ side, having averaged a 7.19 SofaScore rating in the Premier League last season, the highest of any player in the West Ham squad.

Despite the Hammers’ poor start to the campaign, Rice has gotten better, as indicated by a 7.27 SofaScore rating this term, with his all-round game a cut above the other players at the London Stadium.

An average pass completion rate of 90.2% over the past year places him in the 95th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, while he has also weighed in with 1.84 interceptions per 90, which sees him rank in the 93rd percentile.

Losing a player of this significance would be a huge blow for West Ham, but given that he is contracted until 2024 – with the option for an extra year – the saving grace is that they will be able to hold out for an astronomical transfer fee.

Bayern Munich chiefs are ‘working’ on a potentially ‘massive deal’ for Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Kane back in form…

Following a briefly regrettable spell out of form under former Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo this time last year, the 29-year-old has certainly returned to his best.

Antonio Conte’s reign has lead to Kane rediscovering the very best of his ability in a sole striking role, having racked up 12 goals in just 15 Premier League starts this season (WhoScored).

The England captain, who is currently at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, is unsurprisingly attracting interest, with his Spurs contract set to expire in 2024.

The Latest: Bayern ‘working’ on Kane move…

According to reports out of Germany, it appears that Bayern are still very much in the running for Kane.

Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg claims that the Bundesliga side are ‘still working’ on a move ‘in the background’ as they eye a potentially ‘massive deal’ to bring him to Bavaria.

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However, in a possible boost for Tottenham supporters, chiefs at Bayern are ‘skeptical’ as to whether they can pull off what would be a huge agreement worth between €80m and €100m (£69m-£86.1m).

It’s added that Kane has made no decision on his future yet but will do after the World Cup.

The Verdict: Crunch time…

Kane has made no secret of his desire to win trophies and Bayern could provide the perfect platform to clinch major silverware at the back end of a stunning career.

This will undoubtedly be a temptation for the Tottenham striker, especially if he allows his contract to run down, which could force chairman Daniel Levy into making a tough decision.

Newcastle United are experiencing a phenomenal campaign in the Premier League but could still look to the January transfer window to further strengthen their squad, with a new potential transfer target emerging.

What’s the latest?

According to reports coming out of Spain (via Sport Witness), the Magpies are interested in signing William Carvalho.

As per the report, Newcastle join a host of top-flight clubs in their interest in the midfielder, with Arsenal and Leicester City also named as potential suitors.

Despite being an important part of the rotation in the squad at Real Betis, it is claimed that Carvalho is open to a move away from the club in the winter transfer window.

Howe could land World Cup star

There is no doubt that depth in midfield is something that Eddie Howe is looking to address and was considered an important signing for the manager back in the summer, so the signing of Carvalho could be the perfect opportunity in January.

Indeed, it is unlikely that Carvalho – who will be representing Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar over the next few weeks – will be a guaranteed starter at St James’ Park as Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff, Joelinton and Joe Willock are all in fine form this season.

However, with the club desperate to push on for success in the Premier League but also still competing in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, having good depth in the centre of the pitch by signing a player like Carvalho can reduce fatigue, giving Howe more options to work with as they juggle fixtures over the second half of the season.

Over 13 La Liga appearances this season, the £58k-per-week ace – who was hailed “extraordinary” by Portugal chief Paulo Bento – has scored two goals and successfully completed 75% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 1.2 tackles, 60 touches and winning 4.2 duels per game.

Not only that, Carvalho also ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers in the top five European leagues for progressive passes and dribbles completed and the top 20% for both pass completion and non-penalty goals over the last 365 days.

With that being said, if Newcastle can secure the signing of Carvalho at the right price in January, it would be a great piece of business and the player could be a valuable asset to the team in their pursuit of trophies and success.

Football pundit Frank McAvennie has reacted to recent rumours linking Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan with a move away from the club in the summer. 

The Lowdown: Gundogan linked with summer exit

The German is set to see his contract at the Etihad Stadium expire at the end of the current season. This has seemingly led to recent reports claiming that both Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich are interested in signing the midfielder as a free agent in the summer.

With that in mind, McAvennie has offered his thoughts on the matter, stating what he thinks Gundogan should do.

The Latest: McAvennie speaks out on Gundogan’s future

Speaking to Football Insider, the former West Ham United striker had his say in response to the recent reports linking Atletico and Bayern with the City star.

The 62-year-old said: “That is two good teams with two good managers. [Diego] Simeone is doing a great job. Madrid is like London, it is a big, wonderful footballing city. But so is Munich. I do not think the money would be that different.

“For me, it would be either or because they are both huge clubs. He is a good player, I do not know if Man City will let him go. I think you would want to stay at Man City if you were looking at those three clubs.

“It is great when people want you, it shows you are doing the right thing. It will make him better because it will give him a boost of confidence and he will know he won’t drop down the pecking order if clubs like that are interested in him.”

The Verdict: Offer Gundogan a new contract

Having appeared in all but two of City’s games across all competitions this season, donning the captain’s armband more often than not, this highlights just how important the 32-year-old is for Pep Guardiola.

In addition, the midfielder – who has been praised by journalist Josh Bunting for his “beautiful” ability on the pitch – has shown in this Premier League campaign how useful a figure he is in an attacking and defensive sense.

For example, only Kevin De Bruyne (43) has made more key passes than Gundogan among Guardiola’s squad (23), while only three City players boast a higher combined total of tackles and interceptions than the German (18).

Taking all that into account, we feel that it should be one of City’s top priorities to get the midfielder to sign a new deal and continue his journey with the club.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has shared the latest news surrounding the injury sustained by Liverpool forward Diogo Jota during their 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Jota’s injury

Amid the final few minutes of the Reds holding on to their one-goal lead provided by Mohamed Salah, the Portugal winger went down with an injury after putting on a fine display for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Consequently, the 25-year-old left the field on a stretcher, with the Liverpool boss later stating: “If Diogo stays down, it is not good.”

The Latest: Ornstein’s news

Ornstein has now shared an update on Jota’s injury, revealing major worries over the severity of the attacker’s issue.

Taking to Twitter on Monday morning in sharing a corresponding article for The Athletic, the journalist revealed: “Liverpool forward Diogo Jota set for scan today on calf injury suffered in victory over Man City. Fears the issue is serious & may put 25yo’s #QatarWorldCup2022 participation with Portugal in doubt. All parties hoping for better news.”

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The Verdict: Huge blow

With Portugal preparing for their first World Cup clash against Ghana on November 24 and their subsequent group games against Uruguay and South Korea, Jota’s involvement in Qatar has been thrown into huge doubt with this injury.

This will come as a blow for the Portuguese national team, with the 25-year-old’s record of having scored ten goals in 28 appearances sure to be sorely missed.

Focusing on Liverpool, with Luis Diaz having already been ruled out until after the World Cup, Jota’s injury will serve as a major impediment in Klopp’s squad selection. Youngsters like Fabio Carvalho and Harvey Elliott now look set to be handed more responsibility in his absence.

Therefore, with Jota having been dubbed an ‘unbelievable footballer’ by journalist Ryan Taylor and boasting a fine record of 34 goals in 93 Liverpool games, it will be a big ask for the former Fulham duo to step up and fill the void left by their elder team-mate in Klopp’s forward line.

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has relayed an injury update on Stuart Dallas.

The Lowdown: Serious injury

Dallas, labelled as a ‘big character’ for the Whites by Pete O’Rourke, has been sidelined since the end of April after suffering a serious injury against Manchester City.

The Northern Irishman sustained a femoral fracture following a challenge on Jack Grealish which required specialist surgery in London.

The 31-year-old has been working his way back in recent months, with Jesse Marsch providing an update on his situation on Friday.

The Latest: Another operation

Hay relayed comments from Marsch’s pre-match press conference, where he began with an injury update.

He said that ‘Dallas has had a further, small operation this week but is doing really well’, adding that he ‘could be back in a couple of months’.

Hay also shared the update regarding midfielder Adam Forshaw, who has undergone hernia surgery and is out for a month.

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The Verdict: Good to see

Some may have thought that another operation would have put a setback when it comes to Dallas’ return, but it looks as if he is doing well and could play a part in the second half of the season.

He has been a key member of the Leeds squad in recent years, turning out in midfield and left-back under Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch.

A New Year return would give the club a big boost, and for Dallas personally, it would be a significant accomplishment, especially as one pundit believed his career could be over back in May.

Liverpool are one of the most successful clubs in English football as a result of their fantastic recruitment strategies and their development of young talent with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen graduating into the first team.

One of the most recent success stories to rise out of the Liverpool youth team is Trent Alexander-Arnold, but since Jurgen Klopp has arrived his eye for thriving talent combined with the scouting team’s thorough recruitment routine has seen the club turn players signed into superstars.

Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Andy Robertson are just some of the players who didn’t cost a fortune to sign but developed into seasoned professionals who win trophies season after season, with the first ever Premier League title won in 2020 a testimony to the team built by Klopp and the powers at Anfield.

However, there has been a constant at the club over the many years of success and that is talent brewing in the U18s, U21s and U23s on the Red side of Merseyside, and there is one player, in particular, who is capturing the attention of the Liverpool boss.

Ben Doak joined the Liverpool academy only this summer from Celtic and has already been hailed by Klopp when he spoke out on the Scottish champions:

“Celtic are doing really well and the Scottish game is full of talent. We have another Scottish boy in Calvin and another big talent in the under-18s (Doak), so it’s a cool place to scout again.”

The 16-year-old who was hailed “fantastic” by Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, has been proving himself to be an absolute nuisance for opponents in both the Liverpool U18 and Liverpool U19 teams with four goals and three assists already tallied up in just eight appearances.

More recently the youngster displayed his talents against Rangers in the UEFA Youth League, contributing to the team’s 4-1 thrashing of his former rivals scoring the second goal in the 26th minute of the clash earlier this week.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for Doak at Liverpool and he could very easily become one of the next superstars to break through into the senior team if he continues to dominate in his position in the youth teams.

There was natural excitement among Wolverhampton Wanderers fans when their club signed Patrick Cutrone from AC Milan in 2019 but his time at Molineux proved to be a huge disaster.

Cutrone had scored 27 goals in 90 appearances for the Rossoneri, including 18 in the 2017/18 campaign, an impressive return for such a young striker.

Even though he had managed just three goals in 34 Serie A appearances in the 2018/19 season, there were few complaints from Wolves fans when the Old Gold paid £23m to bring him to Molineux in the summer of 2019.

Unfortunately for the 21-year-old, he failed to have anywhere near the impact of fellow 2019 striker signing Raul Jimenez, and struggled for game time under Nuno Espirito Santo.

That season saw the Italian forward make just 24 appearances in all competitions, registering a paltry three goals and four assists.

Few would have predicted that they would be his only goal and assist returns in a Wolves shirt.

The following season saw Cutrone loaned to Fiorentina where he hit five goals, with the forward returning to the Artemio Franchi Stadium again in the 2020/21 campaign, only for him to fail to score in 13 appearances, the majority of which came from the bench.

Four more goalless Wolves appearances came in that season, before he joined Valencia in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign, once again failing to score or assist.

It was never going to be good for Cutrone’s confidence or health for him to be loaned out to so many different clubs and never really break into the first team, especially as a young striker.

During his time at Fiorentina, his agent suggested that the former AC Milan man had gone “into oblivion” with the Serie A side, despite them being keen on his signature.

Cutrone found his feet slightly with Empoli last season, hitting three goals in 31 appearances, after which Wolves decided to cut their losses and allow him to join hometown club Como in Serie B.

His time at Wolves saw him make a total of 28 appearances, and his £63k-per-week wage combined with the transfer fee meant that they would pay nearly £1m for every appearance in an Old Gold shirt, which represents awful business.

The decision to spend such a large fee on a striker who had only enjoyed one good season was a risk that massively backfired for Wolves and it will be a transfer mistake that they are not keen to repeat.

Aston Villa have picked up three points from their first three Premier League games of the season and there is no doubt Steven Gerrard will want to improve upon their current form, with Pete O’Rourke revealing exactly what the club needs in the final week of the transfer window.

What’s the latest?

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed the “top player” that Aston Villa should sign to improve their team over the season ahead.

Speaking to Football FanCast, O’Rourke claimed:

“He’s a top player Otavio, he was linked with Liverpool earlier in the window quite strongly as well as Arsenal so he’s got great pedigree, he’s played Champions League, he can score goals and create goals, Villa do need somebody who can do that because they don’t score enough goals.

“They’re too dependent on Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings to get them the goals, so bringing in someone like Otavio could maybe help ease the burden on them as well.”

Gerrard could form a deadly trio

After losing two of their first three Premier League games so far there are certainly many areas of concern for the Villa boss, but the signing of Otavio could certainly improve the quality and goal-scoring opportunities in the forward line.

Villa have had 40 shots on goal, 11 on target but have only managed to convert three, whilst already conceding six, so there is no doubt there is an opportunity there to find a player who can not only offer creativity but better finishing too.

Otavio has scored 24 goals and delivered an impressive 62 assists over 239 appearances for Porto with a goal contribution every 197 minutes played, proving that he could be a very valuable asset in the Villa team and certainly improve their current attacking threat.

When you compare the Portuguese talent, who comes with a £38m price tag, to Emi Buendia, Jacob Ramsey, Philippe Coutinho and Leon Bailey over last season, Otavio comes out on top in many areas of creative play.

Otavio contributed more assists (9) in fact he delivered more than Ramsey, Bailey and Coutinho combined (6), completed more crosses (74) and had more shots in total (44) than everyone other than Coutinho (66), as per FBref.

The versatile talent can effectively play in a number of attacking positions including right midfield, attacking midfield, right or left wing and has even been dubbed the “perfect fit” for Aston Villa by PGR Analytics to suit their narrow style of play in the attacking third.

As a result, Gerrard could form a deadly attacking trio with Otavio delivering the creativity and high-quality goal-scoring opportunities to both Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins if the club can secure a deal before Deadline Day next Thursday.