It has been reported that Leicester City are interested in Harry Souttar as they look to bolster their defence.

The Lowdown: Defensive recruits needed

After a long time being dormant in the January transfer window, it appears Leicester City are now starting to get busy with Victor Kristiansen soon to be announced and Souttar is said to be the next player on the club’s radar.

Souttar starred for Australia out at the World Cup playing every single minute for his national side and saw them advance out of the group stages and those performances appear to have piqued Leicester’s interest.

The Foxes have the fourth-worst defence in the league having shipped 33 goals already, so bringing in both Kristiansen and potentially Souttar could help solve their issues, especially with the latter standing at six foot six.

The Latest: Souttar could help Leicester’s set-piece woes

Dan Bardell has been speaking live on Sky Sports about Souttar and how his height alone could help solve some of Leicester’s issues in their own defensive third.

He said: “I mean they’re a disaster zone from set pieces; so he’s six foot six, so you think he might help a little bit with that, but Leicester need so much more than a centre-back from the Championship and a left-back from Scandinavia.

“They’re at the moment in serious danger of going down especially when Maddison is not fit they just have no invention whatsoever when James Maddison is not on the pitch.”

The Verdict: Leicester must improve at the back

It’s not just the sheer number of goals Leicester are conceding this season under Brenden Rodgers it’s how cheap some of the goals have been that they’ve conceded, including seven from set pieces, which is the fourth-most in the league.

While Bardell appeared to disregard the ability of both Kristiansen and Souttar, the former has Champions League experience and the latter is an international for his country so they could well be good additions if they both arrived.

Rodgers will know how leaky his defence has been and the need for improvements will be essential, which makes the situation surrounding Caglar Soyuncu even more strange as he looks set for Atletico Madrid in the summer but can’t even get a look in at the King Power Stadium.

Everton in desperate need of reinforcements in their attacking threat after losing Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s struggles to stay fit, which has led to what looks to be another difficult relegation scrap for the club over the second half of the season.

The Toffees are currently 18th in the Premier League after collecting just 15 points from a possible 54 in their first 18 games, with the third-worst goal tally in the entire division contributing to their plight.

Frank Lampard did have the opportunity to strengthen his forward line last summer by adding Dwight McNeil and Neal Maupay to the squad at Goodison Park, but it has quickly become clear that the attacking duo are not consistent and reliable goal contributors. Therefore, the current transfer window will likely be the manager’s last chance to get it right, with pressure mounting on his position at the club.

One player who has recently been linked with a move to Merseyside is Lorient forward Dango Ouattara, a talented young winger who could be the solution to Everton’s unfolding nightmare.

Across 16 Ligue One appearances this season, the 20-year-old – dubbed a “breakthrough” player by Robin Bairner – has scored five goals, registered four assists and created five big chances, along with averaging 1.2 key passes, 2.9 shots on goal, 1.1 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 1.3 successful dribbles and a whopping 7.8 duels won per game.

Furthermore, Ouattara ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues over the last 12 months for tackles, interceptions, blocks, clearances and aerial duels, proving that he is not only potent in attack but one of the best performers defensively in his position.

In fact, Lampard could land his very own Bukayo Saka for Everton, with the Arsenal ace named as one of the most comparable players to Ouattara over the last 12 months, according to FBref.

The two tenacious forwards have shared many similarities in their output so far this season, including goals (5 v 6), shots on target rate (32.6% v 34.4%), progressive passes completed (35 v 33), goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (0.79 v 0.81) and dribble success rate (33.3% v 33.9%).

With that in mind, signing Ouattara – who has a price tag of £18m  – would be a major coup for Everton, and if a deal can be done over the next few weeks, it could be a huge boost in their chances of surviving relegation over the second half of the season.

West Ham United enjoyed a busy summer transfer period, which seemed like a turning point in David Moyes’ career at the London Stadium.

It marked a transformative window in which eight new faces entered the fray, and with an improved calibre of player it was expected to propel the Hammers to new heights after a successful seventh-place finish and Europa League semi-finals.

However, they now find themselves wallowing towards the bottom three and facing the very real possibility of a fight to aviod relegation.

Despite their team being full of stars, fans of the club will know that talent enough cannot secure their place in the division. The 2010/11 season certainly taught them that.

Their disappointment thus far in the campaign is likely tied to their underperformance in the market and could explain their tentative approach to the January window, where Danny Ings remains only their second purchase.

However, ever since the conclusion of the World Cup, rumours persist that link Mark Noble and the Irons with a move for Stoke City and Australia defender Harry Souttar.

Having been tipped to make the move to east London by Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer, the initial rumour emerged as December drew to a close, with his reported price tag to be at £25m.

Although he would be making a big step up from the Championship, there is reason to believe that the 24-year-old would represent an upgrade on current stalwart Kurt Zouma.

The Frenchman has endured a tough season which has culminated in a disappointing 6.89 average rating, a far cry from 6.95 and 7.15 from the two seasons prior.

In fact, the 28-year-old has overseen a steady decline as the years have gone on, despite entering his prime years.

Meanwhile, Souttar is a defender on the rise, which came to the fore in Qatar.

Earning a 6.97 average rating, he was a defensive rock for a country that emerged from a group containing would-be finalists France, dark horses Denmark and a resolute Tunisia side that would beat the French too.

Averaging an 83% pass accuracy, he also recorded 1.5 interceptions, one tackle and an incredible 5.5 clearances per game (via Sofascore). This far outweighs Zouma’s 0.9 interceptions, 0.3 tackles and 4.8 clearances per 90 from this campaign, as per Sofascore.

It was no surprise to see him labelled “an absolute monster of a defender” by The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell, as he continued to claim he was: “Huge, quick, can head it and is also fairly comfortable on the ball.”

These are attributes that Moyes will be keen to add to a defence that has shipped 25 goals so far this season.

Whilst Zouma has struggled as part of this team, Souttar was thriving on the biggest stage, proving his ability to take the next step up.

As the former Chelsea defender declines, the Potters have an up-and-coming brute on their hands that West Ham will want to snap up quickly.

Injury expert and Sky Sports contributor Ben Dinnery has given his insight on the latest Crystal Palace injury to Wilfried Zaha. 

The Lowdown: Zaha suffers injury

Zaha pulled up 65 minutes into Palace’s weekend clash and limped off the pitch before being replaced.

The match against Newcastle United was the Ivory Coast international’s 19th appearance in the Premier League this season, having scored on six occasions and provided two assists heading into the game.

The Eagles avoided defeat, but had to settle for a draw as they sweat over Zaha’s fitness.

The Latest: Possible tendon issue

Dinnery spoke about the possible diagnosis of Zaha’s injury when speaking on the Premier FPL Injuries YouTube channel.

He stated: “We’ve seen a non-contact injury for Wilfred Zaha. Pulled up, right hamstring, didn’t look great at the time, tried to continue, fairly high up, so that could maybe indicate that it’s [a] tendon [issue]. Never good when you see him going off.”

The Verdict: Olise to step up

Michael Olise was one of the players who came on as Zaha left the field on Saturday, and we believe there is an opportunity for him to step up and make a big statement at Palace.

Vieira has raved about the 21-year-old in the past, describing Olise’s work ethic as ‘unbelievable’ in a press conference last year.

Statistically speaking, Olise has arguably been more of a creative force for Palace than his teammate over the last 365 days, as he averages 3.94 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes as well as 0.29 assists per game.

Zaha comes up short in both departments compared to the Frenchman, with tallies of 3.62 and 0.06 per 90 respectively.

Therefore, we believe that the loss of Zaha may not be as worrying as some Palace fans may think, as Olise is evidently a player who can create, and in a side with only 18 league goals this season – the fifth-lowest in the league – he might just be capable of filling the void if the Ivorian is out for the long term.

Leeds United’s search for a new left-back is one which is seemingly never-ending.

Marcelo Bielsa could not find one, and in the summer Jesse Marsch seemingly struggled too.

Although, it did seem that with the £12.8m signing of Junior Firpo in 2021 that the former had done it.

Joining from FC Barcelona, it initially appeared that Victor Orta had pulled off a transfer masterclass, enticing an exciting young talent from Camp Nou to Elland Road, sure to hold down their problem spot for many years to come.

However, the Dominican’s time in Yorkshire has been nothing short of diabolical.

Struggling with the intensity of the Premier League and lacking the concentration to remain present throughout a full 90 minutes, he played a huge role in their terrible underperformance last season

This is no greater exemplified than in his 6.60 average rating from that campaign, which has only worsened in his short cameo this season.

With Pascal Struijk having been preferred to the 26-year-old, who has since seen that rating drop to 6.30, it is clear that the Whites once again need to find their fix for the left-back spot.

That could therefore explain reports that emerged last week, linking them with a move for Hungary international Milos Kerkez.

With the AZ Alkmaar defender valued at more than £15m, it will not be an easy deal to make.

However, he has shown flashes of brilliance to suggest this price tag could be justified.

This season, the 19-year-old boasts a 7.00 average rating in which he has established himself as a fine defender with a creative presence.

As such, he has scored twice and created two more big chances, all whilst recording 1.0 key passes per 90, via Sofascore. In fact, across all competitions, he actually has nine goal contributions this season.

This is supplemented by his 1.3 interceptions, 1.7 tackles and 1.7 clearances per game, also via Sofascore, which are made even more impressive given his youth.

The teenage sensation already boasts four caps for his country and seems poised to have a phenomenal future ahead of him.

This is highlighted in an interview he shared with Scouted Football, as he outlined his desire to be the best amongst some amazing youngsters at AC Milan: “You have a lot of really talented young players in the Primavera and you can grow tactically there, which was good for me. I was determined to prove myself.”

Marsch could bring Kerkez to Yorkshire early to get him well-adjusted to a problem position that has plagued the club for so long, and in doing so finally rid himself of Firpo.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Jude Bellingham is becoming increasingly difficult and they may only be able to compete for his signature if new investors arrive, according to a report from Germany.

The Lowdown: Klopp eyeing midfielders

Liverpool have been linked with a number of midfielders during the January window, including the likes of Matheus Nunes and Declan Rice, with Jurgen Klopp looking to sign long-term replacements for the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner.

Bellingham is believed to be Klopp’s ‘top priority’, however Borussia Dortmund are set to demand around £130m for the midfielder if he does not commit to a new deal, which would make him the most expensive Premier League signing of all time.

The Latest: Deal becoming difficult…

According to a report from SportBILD (via Sport Witness), a move for the 19-year-old is becoming increasingly difficult for Liverpool to plan this summer, with the huge transfer fee considered a major stumbling block.

It is detailed that the only way the Reds will be able to raise the revenue needed is if the club gets an investor promptly, or if new owners come in.

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The Verdict: Blow for Liverpool

It will be very disappointing for Liverpool fans that if they are unable able to compete for the central midfielder’s signature without new investment, as he is a generational talent, with a wide range of different abilities.

Hailed as ‘fabulous’ by Graeme Souness (via Manchester Evening News), the starlet specialises in driving the ball forward, completing an average of 1.7 dribbles per 90 in the past year, with this on show during the World Cup.

The youngster made a fantastic galloping run in the build-up to Harry Kane’s goal against Senegal, while he also displayed his creative talents in the round of 16 by bagging an assist.

Given his age, Bellingham has time on his side to develop into one of the best midfielders in the world, and it would be a huge blow for Liverpool if they were to miss out to a rival club.

The January transfer window is well underway and Aston Villa made their first addition of the month earlier this week by bringing in Alex Moreno from Real Betis.

Unai Emery swooped to sign the left-back from LaLiga, where he managed Villarreal earlier this season, and the Spanish head coach could look to make further additions before the window slams shut.

He has enjoyed a terrific start to life in the dugout at Villa Park by winning four of his first six Premier League matches in charge of the club but that may not stop him from attempting to bolster his squad.

Spanish outlet MARCA reported, earlier this month, that Villa are one of a number of teams interested in signing midfielder Kang-In Lee from Mallorca.

Newcastle United, Burnley, and Dutch giants Feyenoord are also said to be eyeing up a deal for the South Korean gem, who has a release clause of €17m (£15m) in his contract.

The report claimed that money would not be an issue for the Magpies or the Villans in this particular transfer chase and this indicates that Lee is a realistic target for the club to pursue in the next couple of weeks.

Emery must now complete a deal to sign the LaLiga ace as the 21-year-old gem has the potential to be a big upgrade on current Villa midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian international joined the club on a permanent basis last summer and has struggled to find his best form in the Premier League so far this season.

Coutinho has failed to produce a single goal or assist in 16 top-flight appearances for Villa.

He has created 0.4 chances per game and averaged a disappointing Sofascore rating of 6.61, which suggests that he is contributing very little to the side in terms of his general displays and his end product in the final third.

Kang-In Lee, meanwhile, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.05 across 17 outings in the Spanish top-flight for Mallorca. The 21-year-old has chipped in with two goals and three assists from midfield, whilst creating 1.6 chances per match and eight ‘big chances’ in total for his teammates.

These statistics indicate that the South Korean international, who assisted one goal in one start at the World Cup in Qatar, would be a big upgrade on Coutinho at the top end of the pitch. The gem could offer more of a threat in front of goal whilst being considerably more creative in his passing.

Valencia academy director Luis Vicente Mateo once hailed him as an “outstanding” talent and late South Korea legend Yoo Sang-chul once claimed that the dynamo “absorbs knowledge like a sponge” – indicating that he is open to learning and developing under Emery’s coaching.

Lee is also nine years younger than the Brazilian and could, therefore, offer more to Villa in the long term, which is another reason why Emery must push to get this £15m deal over the line.

Newcastle United centre-back and captain Jamaal Lascelles could seal a move to Wolves during the January transfer window, according to a new update.

The Lowdown: Lascelles struggling for minutes

The 29-year-old was once a key figure at the heart of the Magpies’ defence, helping them return to the Premier League and becoming a popular player.

Lascelles has found himself out of favour at St James’ Park this season, however, with only six league appearances and three starts coming his way in 2022/23 to date.

Fabian Schar and Sven Botman have become Newcastle’s undisputed centre-back pairing, and for that reason, Lascelles may be eyeing a move elsewhere.

The Latest: Wolves line up move

According to Football Insider, Wolves are ‘plotting a move’ for the Magpies skipper, should they fail in their attempts to sign West Ham’s Craig Dawson.

They want to bring in a ‘proven’ player in the Premier League and believe Lascelles falls into that category.

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The Verdict: Wait until the summer?

This is a tricky one for Newcastle, who may be willing to sell Lascelles, but only if they bring in a sufficient replacement before the end of the month.

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Should he be sold, there is the risk that Eddie Howe’s squad depth is affected, with an injury to either Schar or Botman having the potential to damage their top-four hopes.

The first-choice pair are certainly an upgrade on the Lascelles, who have made 4.3 and 3.1 interceptions per game in the league this season, compared to his tally of 1.7.

The Englishman is a leader in the dressing room, though, which is the reason he is captain, and he has been hailed as ‘absolutely superb’ by manager Eddie Howe, so allowing him to leave in the summer arguably makes more sense.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has slammed Aston Villa for selling Danny Ings in the January market to a Premier League rival.

What’s the latest? West Ham United have managed to sign the English striker from the Villans for a reported £15m fee. With six goals in 18 league game to his name this term, this might have come as a bit of a surprise to many.Evidently, though, new Villa manager Unai Emery was happy to let him go. It does, of course, suggest that big things are planned in terms of an incoming before the winter market slams shut.However, while the club had been linked with Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma, their Spanish manager has suggested that there is no truth to the claims.Indeed, Emery said (via BirminghamLive): “Really? He’s a good player and, last year, he played very well at Villarreal with us. But now I’m not thinking about him.”While speaking on Chasing Green Arrows, Jones insisted that Villa were mad for letting Ings go but it must mean they have something exciting planned even if Danjuma isn’t likely to arrive.He said: “I think Aston Villa are mad, here. They must have something great up their sleeves. I mean, they’ve played down the idea today of Danjuma signing. So they must have something good.”I understand, like, Danny Ings isn’t really quick enough to play the type of football that Unai Emery wants to transform to, but he was their only goalscorer. Very strange.”Right decision?Ollie Watkins has proven to be a more reliable goalscorer in recent years, with 32 in 98 as a Villan while Ings managed 14 in 52. So it’s not quite fair of Jones to say Aston Villa don’t have anyone else to rely on for goals – though Watkins does have just four in the league this term.Still, the new West Ham man has been a pretty good forward over the span of his career, and has over 100 senior goals to his name at club level, enjoying more fruitful spells with the likes of Burnley and Southampton before joining the Villans.With that in mind, it’s easy to see why there could be a concern that his goals will be missed unless Emery can bring in an exciting new attacking signing before January ends.Of course, the club have just spent decent money on 19-year-old Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire – who managed 22 appearances in MLS last season, scoring eight goals and providing five assists – but it remains to be seen if any more high-profile deals will happen this winter with Ings now out the door.

Newcastle United are close to striking an agreement with Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij, according to DAZN journalist Orazio Accomando.

The Lowdown: Newcastle’s De Vrij interest

Newcastle have been named as potential suitors for the Netherlands international since last May, as reported by Football Insider, with the centre-back showing no signs of wanting to extend his deal at the San Siro beyond June 2023, when his current contract expires.

It has been documented that the Magpies were one of the clubs believed to be interested in signing the 30-year-old on a pre-contract agreement this month, with Tottenham Hotspur also named as potential suitors.

The Latest: Accomando’s update

According to Accomando, who works for DAZN Italy, Newcastle are ‘close’ to an agreement for the Dutchman, having submitted an ‘important offer’ in recent days.

The journalist infers that Eddie Howe’s side are leading the race ahead of Tottenham and AC Milan, who have also made their interest clear.

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The Verdict: Make it happen

The Newcastle defence has been unbelievable this season, conceding just 11 goals in the Premier League (five fewer than any other team in the top flight), but Howe will want more strength in depth, and the 30-year-old has a proven track record of performing at the top level, making 27 appearances in the Champions League.

Hailed as a ‘monster’ by former Lazio team-mate Mauricio, the 6 foot 3 colossus ranks in the 85th percentile for interceptions per 90  in the past year among centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues with 1.89, displaying his knack for being able to read the game and cut out opposition attacks.

De Vrij has also averaged more tackles and won more aerial duels than Fabian Schar and Sven Botman in the same timeframe, indicating that he could be a real upgrade to Howe’s already robust defence.