Lecce wing-back Patrick Dorgu is in England for his medical with Manchester United. He was present for Lecce’s victory over Parma last night, but did not participate in the matchday team.  Lecce and United have agreed to terms over a fee for Dorgu, who travelled to Manchester early on Saturday morning.  Before then, he bid farewell to Lecce fans who also visited Parma and also had a word for reporters at the local airport. Dorgu will join the Red Devils for €38m. 

Newcastle United has shown interest in Brazilian star Luiz Henrique who plays for Botafogo.  This report is according to Corriere dello Sport, who say that although Fiorentina are in the lead to sign him, Newcastle face competition from Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Zenith and Lyon, despite struggling financially.  Botafogo signed Henrique last year for €16m after his brief stay with La Liga side Real Bets. And now, the six foot player has secured six caps for the Brazilian Serie A side, and can play on either wing or up front.   Eddie Howe is looking for a worthy replacement for Miguel Almiron, who has been linked with a return to America. Other players who could replace Almiron are Bryan Mbeumo and Tyler Dibling, however they are considered to be too expensive presently.  With only two weeks left in the January transfer window, Newcastle have a limited time to get some work done. So they might want to bring Luiz onboard quickly.

Lille coach Bruno Genesio admits that he was frustrated by his club’s Champions League loss against Liverpool. Jonathan David equalized the opener by Mohammed Salah for Liverpool, before substitute Harveu Elliot scored the winner halfway through the second-half. Genesio said afterwards: “I feel a bit sorry about the fact that while we were disciplined in the first half, we were a bit timid. We weren’t really that keen on going on the attack and should have used the ball better. We didn’t move quickly enough or use overloads out wide. “In the second half things were a little bit different and we tried to be more ambitious. We did equalise but didn’t make a good job defending the second goal. “We may well have equalised again as we had some opportunities. Had we played in the first half as we did in the second half we might have done better. “Hopefully this will help us grow and become more confident and make us aware of what we are able to do. We needed to go for it a bit more often and create more problems for Liverpool.” Genesio added: “Of course we have a sense of frustration. When you lose you are always disappointed and frustrated. It’s a feeling which is mixed with pride as well. The display we put on, particularly in the second half when one man down, was something I’m very pleased with. “But we’re frustrated particularly with the way we conceded the second goal. The real problem was that we lost the ball in midfield a lot and went a bit too wide too slowly. We know they are quick in transitions, not least of all Mohamed Salah, and the first goal they got us off balance but even before we lost the ball we could have done better in an attacking point of view. “I have a few regrets but it shows the gap that still exists between us and one of the really top, top teams. There’s a reason they are top of both leagues they are in at the moment. “They have seven wins out of seven in the Champions League so nobody should be surprised to see how they played this evening. They have highly-talented players and are extremely fast up front, which is important in modern football. They are very good one on one in the duels as well, and we saw the impact of that.”

Arsenal watched their Premier League title hopes take a devastating blow when Aston Villa came back from a two-goal deficit to force a shocking 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium. This was a fifth undefeated match in seven fixtures for Unai Emery against his former club. After watching Liverpool move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League earlier in the day, the Gunners knew they needed a positive response against a Villa side that is in-form.  Arsenal threatened an early breakthrough when Gabriel Martinelli watched Emiliano Martinez spoil a close-range effort, while Ian Maatsen’s strong drive was stopped by David Raya.  The end-to-end nature of the game continued as the first half progressed, and after Ollie Watkins rejected a good chance for Aston, Arsenal snapped the deadlock in the 35th minute.  Leandro Trossard, passed a remarkable cross to Martinelli, who passed Maatsen and sent the ball home to score his seventh goal of the season.  Mikel Arteta’s squad carried that into the early stages of the second half and soon they topped off their lead, with Kai Havertz converting from another inch-perfect Trossard delivery.  Resolute, the guests split the deficit when Youri Tielemans timed his run to bury Lucas Digne’s cross into the bottom corner. Tielemans hit the post a minute later as Villa was on the edge of an incredible turnaround.  Villa equalised the scores with 22 minutes left, as Watkins was unmarked at the back post to score using Matty Cash’s pass. Both clubs were ready for the grand finale as they chased a late winner, and Arsenal thought they had it in the 88th minute, only for Mikel Merino’s strike to be ruled out due to a handball by Havertz.  The Gunners stayed menacing, as Merino scored in stoppage time, but Aston stood their ground to claim a share of the points. 

Manchester City are monitoring Salford City goalkeeper Matt Young.  Young is on-loan at Salford from Sunderland this campaign. The Manchester Evening News reports that Young’s form has impressed City scouts.  However, a transfer to Manchester this summer for the goalkeeper will not be possible.  Young recently signed a new contract with Sunderland to 2028 and said:  “I have been with the club for over a decade. I have supported Sunderland AFC my whole life. The place means the world to me, as a player and as a supporter.”

Newcastle United have sent out head of recruitment Steve Nickson to scout for them.  The Magpies are circling Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. Trafford, who used to play for Manchester City had some challenges adapting to Burnley last season.  But, he has been exceptional in the Championship, and could transfer in the summer. According to The Mail, Newcastle will wait until the end of the term to make their move.  With Martin Dubravaka likely to leave the club then, Trafford could be his replacement. 

Liverpool frontman Virgil van Dijk has disclosed that he may not be signing a new deal with the club.  Van Dijk will conclude his contract at the end of the season, same as Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.  Whether the captain stays or leaves within the next few months is not clear yet, even to him.  While speaking to Sky Sports, he said:  “I don’t think so, but I am calm about it, like I said months ago.  “We’ll see what happens in the future and at this point I have got absolutely no update.   “It’s all about at the moment focusing, for me and the team, on Spurs (on Wednesday night). It will be a tough game again, but a good (Carabao Cup) semi-final.” 

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. ”