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With 18 games played in the Premier League so far this season, Newcastle United have the worst defensive record in the top flight with a total of 41 goals conceded.

Taking this into account and the imminent opening of the January transfer window, this could provide newly appointed transfer consultant Nick Hammond with the opportunity to sign some players that would help strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad, particularly at the back.

Looking ahead to January, it seems as though Newcastle have identified someone they would like to bring in to help fix their defensive issues.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Telegraph, Newcastle are leading the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Joe Rodon.

The report also claims that Spurs are likely to allow Rodon to leave on a short-term deal in January to get some regular game time. However, fellow Premier League clubs Brighton & Hove Albion, Watford and Leeds United are keeping an eye on the centre-back as well.

Rodon to the rescue

Since joining Spurs from Swansea City back in October 2020 in a deal worth an initial fee of £11m plus add-ons, the 24-year-old, who is currently earning a weekly wage of £24k-per-week according to Salary Sport, has only made 20 appearances for the north London club across all competitions.

Having been praised in the past for his “colossal” display for Wales in their 3-1 defeat against Belgium back in March by BBC Wales Football Correspondent Rob Phillips, a move to Newcastle on loan in January could suit all parties if Rodon gets to play regularly.

If he achieves that, then he could potentially save the Toon from relegation if he can fix up what can only be described as a shambolic defence.

The Magpies have shipped more goals than any other team in the top-flight (41) and have one of the worst defensive records in the highest four divisions of English football. Only Morecambe and Peterborough United (44) have let in more strikes throughout 2021/22 than Newcastle.

With pundit and former Premier League star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink saying that “nothing fazes him” when talking about Rodon, this is the sort of mindset that Newcastle will need to have in their side if they are going to escape the relegation zone and secure their place in the Premier League next season.

His defensive attributes and strong-willed mentality could be exactly what Hammond needs to add to the Newcastle squad in order to rescue their campaign.

Taking all of this into account, the Toon should do all they can to secure Rodon’s signature in January, even if it is only on a temporary basis just so they can add some defensive strength to their side, which is what they desperately need if they are going to avoid the drop.

In other news: Move over Ashworth: NUFC must consider “irate” DoF whose “behaviour’s been a disgrace”…

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has described Marcelo Bielsa as ‘incredible’, following a revelation which sums up his dedication at Leeds United.

The Lowdown: Bielsa transforms Leeds

The 65-year-old has arguably been the most influential figure at Elland Road for many years, transforming the Whites’ fortunes and guiding them back into the Premier League.

Bielsa has got Leeds playing some of the most entertaining football in the club’s history and his down-to-earth nature means he is adored by supporters – he recently stopped by a local youth team for an impromptu coaching session.

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The Latest: McLeish hails ‘incredible’ Argentine

It has now emerged that the Argentine hasn’t even taken a summer holiday after a gruelling season, instead overseeing upgrades being made at Thorp Arch.

Speaking to Football Insider after that news, McLeish waxed lyrical over Bielsa, lauding his all-round brilliance:

“The guy just lives and breathes football, doesn’t he? The Leeds fans adore him. It would be like losing a family member if he was to leave Leeds.

“That is why they are acquiescing to a lot of his visions for the club. A pure football genius. He’s an incredible man in terms of the nature he goes about things.

“He is certainly an awesome coach when you consider the improvement to the many teams he’s been at.”

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The Verdict: Please stay, Marcelo

This story perfectly sums up Bielsa’s remarkable work ethic and obsession with football, highlighting why Leeds need him to stay on for as long as possible.

He is a truly an enchanting character, much in the way Jurgen Klopp is at Liverpool, and it will be a desperately sad day when he eventually leaves the club.

The hope is that is still a long way away, however, with a new deal potentially being signed imminently.

In other news, a pundit has revealed who he thinks would be a perfect fit at Leeds this summer. Find out who it is here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Spurs legend, Paul Stewart, has claimed that Nuno Espirito Santo would not bring trophies to Tottenham Hotspur if he was appointed as their new manager.

Nuno has been linked with the Spurs job after his most unsuccessful season at Wolves, as they find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table after back-to-back seventh-place finishes.

Daniel Levy will know that their next manager needs to win a trophy, as Tottenham have not won anything since the League Cup back in 2008.

Speaking on how Nuno would not bring trophies to Tottenham and how he wouldn’t be excited to see the 47-year old manager at Spurs, Stewart exclusively told FFC:

“I know that he takes all his coaching staff with him and buys players through one agent, so I’m not sure that’ll bring trophies to a big club.

“I’m not knocking what he’s done at Wolves though because he’s done a great job but I wouldn’t get excited if he came to Spurs.”

Levy was reportedly looking to target Brendan Rodgers after Julian Nagelsmann joined Bayern Munich but the Leicester City boss claims he is happy at the King Power stadium.

Journalist Jordan Cronin has slammed both Richarlison and Anthony Gordon for their antics as Everton lost 2-0 away to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Everton tactics

Frank Lampard clearly set up his team to frustrate the hosts at Anfield, as they committed eight fouls in total and picked up five yellow cards (SofaScore).

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One of those was for Gordon, who was booked for simulation in the first half, while Richarlison was also cautioned late on after a nasty tackle on Jordan Henderson, amid the Brazilian being accused of play acting and deliberately time wasting throughout the game.

The Latest: Cronin reacts

Taking to Twitter, Cronin slammed Richarlison and Gordon for their antics on the pitch, saying:

“There’s trying to frustrate Liverpool and then there’s Everton. Embarrassing at times, especially Richarlison and Gordon.”

The Verdict: Nothing to show

Ultimately, the tactics employed by Everton did not pay off, as Jurgen Klopp’s team won 2-0 in the end.

Richarlison and Gordon did show some bright sparks in the match, as they won a combined 13 duels between them and also recorded four successful dribbles and two key passes in total (SofaScore).

However, they were guilty of giving the ball away no fewer than 33 times combined, and ultimately they could not make the most of their strides toward Alisson’s net.

Nonetheless, the Toffees will want to put this result behind them now and focus on Chelsea at Goodison Park next weekend as they aim to climb out of the relegation zone.

In other news, find out which Premier League club are now eyeing this Toffees centre-back

Southampton have reportedly been scouting Bristol City midfielder Han-Noah Massengo in recent weeks, and if the 19-year-old were to make the move to St Mary’s, it could be bad news for Saints youngster Alexandre Jankewitz.

According to the Bristol Post, Southampton scouts have been in attendance at Ashton Gate in recent weeks in order to watch a number of Nigel Pearson’s too players, with Massengo also seemingly attracting interest from the likes of Brighton, Norwich City and Bournemouth.

The 19-year-old Frenchman has been a regular in the Robins’ side since joining from AS Monaco in 2019 in what was a serious statement of intent from the Championship side, who made the teenager the second-most expensive signing in their history.

Since then, the midfielder has gone on to make 51 appearances for the club, in which he has failed to contribute a single goal or assist.

Despite having experience in the Champions League with Monaco, you could argue that his time with Bristol City hasn’t really worked out so far, as he averaged a disappointing 6.44 WhoScored average match rating for his performances last season, a figure which has dropped to 6.27 this term.

However, the £3.6m-rated Frenchman is still young and could perhaps unlock his potential with a move to a Premier League club such as Southampton, where he could learn from the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Oriol Romeu whilst challenging for a spot in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first team. Therefore, Martin Semmens should definitely consider bringing him in this summer if they can negotiate a reasonable price with the Robins.

If he were to make the move to the south coast, you might worry that it could impact the future of fellow 19-year-old midfielder Alexandre Jankewitz, who has already voiced his frustrations about a lack of playing time under the Austrian manager by handing in a transfer request in January.

The Swiss under-21 international undoubtedly has potential but seemingly isn’t in Hasenhuttl’s good books after his horror tackle on his full Premier League debut, which saw him sent off after two minutes in the 9-0 defeat against Manchester United. Nearly two months on, that remains his most recent senior appearance.

Therefore, Jankewitz is perhaps already eyeing a move away and might not appreciate Southampton signing another youngster to compete for playing time in his position, so that could be the catalyst for him seeking a permanent exit from the Saints this summer.

In other news… Ralph can amend key Southampton issue next season with swoop for £10.8m-rated “great talent”

Celtic have reignited their interest in Liverpool defender Ben Davies, according to The Daily Mail’s Stephen McGowan.

The Lowdown: January drama

The Hoops looked set to sign Davies on a pre-contract agreement from Preston North End during the winter window. Reports suggested that a deal was all but completed, but the Reds came in at the last minute and signed him from Preston in a deal worth £2m to solve their defensive shortages.

Described as a ‘left sider’ by Charlie Adam, the centre-back is still waiting to make his Liverpool debut, and it seems as if Celtic are planning to go back in for the 25-year-old this summer.

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The Latest: McGowan’s claim

According to McGowan in The Daily Mail, the Hoops are back in the hunt for the centre-back. He claimed in a story on Thursday evening that Celtic are in competition with a number of English clubs looking to tie up a season-long loan deal.

Liverpool would rather sell Davies, who is on £60,000-a-week, but it seems as if the Hoops are eyeing a temporary move for him.

The Verdict: Centre-back links keep coming

By our count, Davies is the fourth centre-back who has been linked with a move to Parkhead in the past few weeks. The Hoops have also been credited with an interest in Hadjuk Split’s Mario Vuskovic, Rubin Kazan’s Carl Starfelt and Tottenham’s Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Bringing in two of the four could well be handy, especially with Kristoffer Ajer looking for a move away this summer.

That would leave Ange Postecoglou with Stephen Welsh, the injured Christopher Jullien and new signing Osaze Urhoghide as centre-back options, so securing two of the four should leave him with more than enough options in that department for his first season in charge.

In other news: Celtic target, who made a number of Parkhead demands, secures cheaper move elsewhere, find out more here. 

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit Kevin Phillips has been wowed by an alleged West Ham transfer development that the Hammers are ‘laying the groundwork’ to sign Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard this summer.

Indeed, as per the same outlet, West Ham are in pole position to sign the forward and they claim he could also be available for a fee in the region of £8-10 million. 

Edouard has been a prolific goal scorer north of the border over the last few seasons, scoring 57 goals in 100 SPFL appearances for the Hoops (Transfermarkt).

Phillips wowed by alleged Edouard development

This has allegedly prompted GSB and West Ham to lay the groundwork for his possible capture, and Phillips believes securing him for around £10m would be a ‘huge bargain’ and a ‘no brainer’.

“For £10m it would be a huge bargain,” explained Phillips to Football Insider.

“If he is available for a fee in that region it will not just be West Ham sniffing around, there will be a lot of other clubs interested and that could drive up the price

“West Ham play good football and they have some fantastic players at the moment so they are an attractive proposition. They are a club heading in the right direction.

“If they can grab hold of Edouard for that sort of money, it is a no-brainer for me. If it works, you have a bargain and if it doesn’t you have not lost too much money. £10million is nothing for a player in this day and age.”

Transfer Tavern take

Given his impressive record and the fact he is still only 23-years-old, a fee in that region would indeed be huge value for money.

He is only likely to get better and has proven to be clinical in front of goal, meaning a West Ham swoop for that price is surely a certainty for the club.

David Moyes missed out on signing a striker in January, but if the Irons can pull off a cut price move for Edouard, you could say it was a masterclass to avoid rushing into an panic deal for an inferior player.

In other news: West Ham fans flocked to this ExWHUemployee claim, find out more here.

Birmingham City manager Lee Bowyer will utilise the loan market sparingly at St. Andrew’s this summer.

What’s been said?

In recent comments cited by Birmingham Live, the Blues manager insisted that his current squad of players does not need all that much work in the upcoming transfer market, before suggesting that he is slightly reluctant to sign a number of players in the loan market.

The 44-year-old said: “Loans you have to be careful because some clubs put rules in there and try to punish you if a player doesn’t play. I believe if you bring a player in and he isn’t doing enough or playing well enough to play, then you get punished – that’s wrong.

“You can’t just play a player because you don’t want to affect the club financially, some people would play a player because they want to save money but if you play that player, you are probably going to lose the game.

“I understand why clubs do it, they want their player to go out on loan, get experience and play the game but again, it all comes down to picking the right people. If you pick the right people then you won’t have those problems to worry about.”

Fans will be buzzing

Lee Bowyer has been saying all the right things in recent weeks, having recently revealed that the club’s owners are happy with his plan to build a side capable of a promotion push slowly, rather than spending big on a number of short-term signings that could fire the club up the table, while these latest remarks would also suggest that the former Charlton manager really has his head screwed on when it comes to the club’s transfer strategy.

And, considering how poorly Birmingham have acted in the transfer market in recent years, the 44-year-old’s remarks are likely to leave the St. Andrew’s faithful buzzing.

Indeed, with the Blues having spent a total of £43.62m in the past five seasons on incoming transfers, and the club finishing in 19th, 19th, 17th, 20th and 18th place in the Championship standings over the same period, this would very much appear to have been money largely wasted.

Furthermore, as a result of their careless spending on fees and wages, Birmingham were also found to have broken the EFL’s Financial Fair Play rules in 2019, subsequently being handed a nine-point deduction and having a business plan imposed on them by the governing body.

However, with the extremely level headed Bowyer at the helm, it would seem as if the days of frivolous spending are now well behind Birmingham, with the Blues very much appearing to be a club on the up under their new gaffer.

In other news: Bowyer drops Trillion Trophy Asia update that will surely have Birmingham fans buzzing – opinion

West Ham United have been dealt a massive blow in their pursuit to sign Odsonne Edouard this week…

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the 23-year-old Celtic forward has edged closer towards a move to the Irons’ Premier League rivals Leicester City as they look to conduct their business early.

It’s claimed that the Midlands outfit have made progress over signing Edouard in recent days and that Brendan Rodgers is keen to re-sign the Frenchman, having managed him at Parkhead.

There is hope that the Foxes can beat the likes of West Ham and Arsenal to a deal this upcoming transfer window.

Moyes won’t be happy

This will come as a crushing blow not just to West Ham fans who have been craving the addition of a prolific marksman such as Edouard, but to David Moyes as well.

In mid-April, the same source suggested that the Hammers were the front-runners to secure the France under-21 international this summer. Football Insider claimed that the east London club were ‘laying the groundwork’ to make their move and that they were hopeful of securing him.

Edouard has made clear his intentions to leave the Hoops this summer, which has opened up a potential transfer tussle in the Premier League, with many teams eyeing up a move for him. He is thought to be available for around £15m to £20m, as per The Sun.

It’s no secret that Moyes is desperate for a striker, it’s pretty much the only position in which they have been linked with an array of names, ranging from Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham to Czech starlet Adam Hlozek.

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The 58-year-old has only had one senior striker available to him since January, when the club’s hierarchy sanctioned the exit of club-record flop Sebastian Haller to Ajax after just 18 months at the club. It left him with only an injury-prone Michail Antonio, yet he still guided them into the Europa League.

A player of Edouard’s calibre would be the perfect frontline signing to bolster their claims heading into next season after the 23-year-old talisman scored 22 times in all competitions this term, adding to his 28 goals and 19 assists from 2019/20.

It’s no wonder he has been lauded everything from being “talismanic” by former boss Neil Lennon to being a “big talent” by teammate Leigh Griffiths.

Similarly, ex-Hammers striker Frank McAvennie believes he’s a “wonderful talent,” which should have the London Stadium big wigs wanting him even more considering the Scotsman knows a thing or two about being a top striker for West Ham.

It’s not just his ability to score goals which is so appealing. Not only has he been said to have “that bit of magic in his feet” by former Celtic and Scotland forward Frank McGarvey but his movement and ability to read the game are also just a further two hugely appealing attributes.

Speaking to BBC, Edouard’s former France youth coach Jean-Claude Giuntini claimed: “He had the confidence and the obsession with scoring all great strikers need. He never doubts his qualities. But this behaviour can create panic – for the opposition defenders.

“He had an excellent sense of anticipation which gave him a remarkable ability to read play. And he had a considerable skill for shooting – his efforts were targeted, precise and powerful.”

All in all, Moyes could live to regret West Ham’s failure to clinch him as their top-flight rivals hone in on a move for the “unstoppable” Edouard. He could well have been the missing piece of the jigsaw up top, especially considering he’s available for half the price of an Abraham.

It seems likely that the Irons will miss out on a bargain solution to their striking woes and that’ll leave their manager reeling. Moyes better hope the Frenchman doesn’t bang one in at the London Stadium next season.

AND in other news, Hugill 2.0: Moyes risks huge West Ham disaster over £12.5m-rated flop who “can’t run”…

According to Football Insider sources, Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Peterborough United prodigy Ronnie Edwards.

The Lowdown: Highly-rated defender

Edwards, just 18, has already made seven senior appearances for Peterborough United, starting two games in last season’s League One promotion season.

The teenager joined Posh from National League side Barnet in August 2020 and is highly-rated within the club.

Edwards has made two appearances this season – one in the cup and one in the league – while Spurs have previously shown their trust in young talent from the Football League with the likes of Dele Alli and Joe Rodon.

The Latest: Spurs keen to sign him

In the report by Football Insider, transfer sources reveal Fabio Paratici and Tottenham have set their sights on signing the young defender, with a number of top clubs across the country tracking him after he burst on the scene last season.

Spurs sent scouts to watch Edwards play for Peterborough under-23s against Watford last week, with the view to a potential transfer to bring the Englishman to the Premier League.

Edwards’ involvment with the first team this season would see his price tag drastically increase and Spurs will be monitoring him as the season goes on.

The Verdict: Another Rodon

The 18-year-old prodigy is yet to cement himself in Darren Ferguson’s side above the experienced Frankie Kent and Mark Beevers. And with Spurs’ nature of recruiting players for the first team of the future, it would be hard for Edwards to say no.

Rodin meanwhile has appeared for Spurs 15 times so far and is showing great promise, hailed as a ‘special player’ and ‘flawless’ by Wales Online journalist Ian Mitchelmore.

The arrival of Edwards will be a bonus for the under-23s side and a statement of thinking ahead for the future of the club.

With Japhet Tanganga and Rodon already options at the back, it could be a very youthful Spurs defence in the years to come with the arrival of Edwards.

In other Tottenham news, an offer has been tabled for ‘extraordinary’ midfielder. Find out more here.