Tottenham, Chelsea, West Ham United, and Newcastle are ready for a transfer battle, as they scout PAOK forward.  According to German outlet Kicker, these premier league clubs are evaluating Stefanos Tzimas. Tzimas is on loan from PAOK at Nurnberg, where he has been playing well.  He has scored seven goals in 12 matches in the German second division, leading to whispers of a major transfer. Nurnberg can sign Tzimas permanently at the end of the term, but only if they have the £15M requested. They can also sell him in the summer, if they decide to keep him.

AC Milan are at the forefront of a transfer bid to sign Carney Chukwuemeka this winter. But, a new report shows that Chukwuemeka will not be joining AC.  According to football london, the 21-year-old will not be signing a contract with Milan whether loan or permanently.  The Blues are ready for bids on the midfielder when the transfer window begins. However, he will most likely sign with another English team, in the Premier League or Championship.  Chelsea would want him to grow in the EPL and to determine whether he can be future first-team material.

Liverpool fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold says he is enjoying his time under Arne Slot. As his contract nears its end, Alexander-Arnold has stated how happy he is this campaign.  “We’re just so kind of assured that we’re going to get results in games because we believe so much in (the) game plan,” Alexander-Arnold said while speaking to Liverpool’s website. “It’s always important, especially under a new manager, to have a relationship that works both ways, which is what we’ve got. He needs to believe in us that we’re good enough to carry out the game plans and go and get the results and understand and apply what he tells us to do. “Likewise, us as players, we need to see that the style of play and the tactics and the game plans are working and will get us results. “I think from the first few games we really got that and then from then on, when you’ve got that belief flowing both ways it’s always going to be a good journey.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arterta assists Gabriel Jesus’ lack of goals does not concern him. Jesus started Wednesday’s Champions League victory against AS Monaco, but did not get on the scoresheet.  However, Arterta insisted when he was asked about building the striker’s confidence: “Nothing, just to put him in front of goal like he’s done today on a couple of occasions, and there are millimetres, centimetres to see if the goal goes in or not. “He was there, he looked really alive, he had created the first goal from a great move and that’s him, so we have him back. He’s with us and I’m sure he will contribute to the team.” Arteta also stated: “We have a massive responsibility. I cannot kick the ball but we can coach them, we can teach them and sometimes they have to take a step back as well, it’s a decision they have to take. They cannot be thinking about what they have to do, what we’ve told them as well. “We try to provide the right information and right tools so they can understand the defence, understand the keeper a lot of things that we work on, and after that it’s their execution. It’s a difficult thing to do in football but they have a lot of talent to deliver that.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had to be physically held back by security, to stop him from fighting a fan.  According to the Daily Mail, the confrontation did not happen recently and was after the Citizen’s FA Cup Final loss to Manchester United. It was suggested that the fan who had a Scouse accent said to Pep, “right mate, just ’cause you lost” after the City manager walked past him. The remark elicited a response from Guardiola, who was held back twice by his entourage as he said multiple times, “do you know what is lost?”, before being ushered away.

Ex-Arsenal assistant coach Steve Round has dispelled the rumours that he left Mikel Arterta, because he signed David Raya.  Round left the Gunner in the summer of 2023 and worked with Arteta for years, with reports stating that the signing of Raya, who took over from Aaron Ramsdale, was the last straw for him. But, while speaking in Footy Accumulators’ No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast, the former assistant coach stated that those claims were untrue and he just needed a change of location.  “I read a piece about that and that’s completely untrue, it’s a load of rubbish.  “There were no arguments or differences of opinion or anything like that. When I first went in with Mikel, I said to him, when the time is right, I think I’ll need to move on when it suits us both.  “We had a discussion in that summer (2023) and we said, I think it’s time that I went and we were both in agreement with each other.  “I think I needed to step away from it and have a break. I’ve been on the front line for nearly 30 years and it was tough.  “And I think he (Arteta) needed to refresh his staff as well and promote a couple of younger coaches. I’d moved more into the technical director sphere, which is what I’m looking at right now. So I just felt it was the right time.  The Gunners are having a fantastic season so far and Round believes Arteta’s side can go all the way this year and lift their first Premier League title in over 20 years.  “You look at the team now, there’s men all the way through the team who are physical, strong, aggressive, superb on set pieces. They can score a wide range of goals, and I think they’ll push right to the end this year.  “I know there’s a nine-point gap now, but that can easily whittle away. If Liverpool lose (Mohamed) Salah or (Virgil) Van Dijk, the whole thing can change really quickly. It will go right down to the wire this season.” 

Manchester United are ready to bring in African players to their squad as they search for a new centre-forward. According to Sky Sports, they have shown interest in Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface and Omar Marmoush.  These three players belong to Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen, and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.  Osimhen is presently on loan to Galatasaray and has a buyout clause in his contract with Napoli for €75m. For Marmoush, Frankfurt is asking between €50-60m, which has already garnered strong interest from Liverpool.  Boniface from Nigeria is also on Manchester’s radar. Although, his contract with Bayer is till 2028. 

Pep Guardiola responded to Manchester City’s defeat in the Champions League. Sporting CP defeated City by a 4-1 scoreline in Lisbon in the group stages on Tuesday. That was their third consecutive defeat in all contests, which has shocked the four-time Premier League champions.  “It is a tough challenge, but I am here. It will be a tough season – we knew that from the start. But this is what it is. I like it, I love it, I want to face it and lift my players and try it,” Guardiola stated post-game. “Life is like this. Maybe in the past six Premier Leagues in seven years and four in a row is an exception. Sometimes you lose. “Today we were really good – Bournemouth, no, they deserve it. We played really bad against Bournemouth and played really good today. “I know how we behave today, how good we were, and how a young central defender (Jahmai Simpson-Pusey), what an exceptional game he played. “When you lose 4-1 what can I say? My team I like it, we were close to making it 0-3. “The stadium was calm but in one action we lose simple things with quality players and things that normally don’t happen. When you are so close to going 0-2 and then 1-3, it’s difficult for the players, I understand it. “I have to try and find an explanation. Sometimes it is just football. “We have to accept it. Life is that, sport is that. Everyone has to be better and better and better and we will find it “We are alive in all competitions, and we will continue.  “We are coming back to Manchester to prepare the game against Brighton. I am not giving up. Maybe people are waiting but I am not giving up.”

Edu Gaspar is resigning from his role as Arsenal’s sporting director.  According to the Daily Mail, Gaspar made a shocking decision to leave the Gunners after discussing with the board.  More information about his exit will be provided in the next 24 hours, which might also include an official confirmation of the news.  Edu is recognized for his contributions towards rebuilding the club as title challengers, after he returned in 2019. He worked with Mikel Arteta in piecing together the Gunner’s team over the last three years. Edu has been connected with a top job in the Saudi Pro League in recent weeks.