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Chelsea are continuing to target Europe’s brightest talents after a lucrative summer transfer window, with one particular teenage phenom at the top of the winter list.

What’s the word?

Jude Bellingham is possibly the name holding the most weight in world football on the transfer front at present, with the 19-year-old’s endeavours for club and country leaving him as one of the most valuable players on the globe at £218m, according to CIES Football Observatory.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are all firmly in the reckoning, alongside the Blues, but the west Londoners feel a move can be achieved regardless, with owner Todd Boehly said to be “obsessed” with the tantalising thought of bringing him to Stamford Bridge. 

And with Borussia Dortmund reportedly valuing their prized asset at £129m, Chelsea’s deep wallet will serve them well in clinching a deal, should they make the requisite strides toward putting the cogs in motion.

Imagine him & Nkunku

With transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently tweeting that Chelsea have won the race to sign prolific RB Leipzig sensation Christopher Nkunku, the onus on signings of supreme quality does not seem to have waned. 

Should Chelsea succeed in signing Dortmund’s wonderkid, a marvellous partnership could form in the pockets between midfield and attack.

With Nkunku scoring 17 goals in 23 outings for Leipzig this season, his offensive calibre is evident, with a burning desire to contribute effectively for his team on the offensive front.

Bellingham, in retrospect, has clinched nine goals and three assists in 22 appearances for his club this season, channelling a knack of his own for instigating promising forward transitions from the centre, however, it is his composure and tenacity in the middle of the park that lays the foundation of his glistening career.

This is further illustrated by the player’s looping header to put England in front against Iran during their 2022 World Cup opener, his first goal for his country after 20 outings.

Adding the 19-year-old sensation to the fray could create a seamless link at the heart of the team, with his industrious prowess allowing the Frenchman freedom to flourish further up the field. 

There is an overarching sense of resignation at Dortmund, with the Yellow Wall accepting the fact that they will not be able to retain their precocious talent for years to come, and as such will look to strike a deal whilst the player’s value is at its zenith, before it dwindles alongside his current contract. 

As such, an affluent outfit such as Chelsea would be prudent to bite the bullet and claim the player’s signature swiftly, with the knowledge that hesitation might tip the odds firmly in the favour of a rival suitor. 

With the eight-cap Nkunku reportedly costing the Blues £52m, Chelsea’s transfer expenditure under Boehly would be edging toward the £300m mark, with a deal for Bellingham raising that number considerably higher still.

However, the “superstar”, as dubbed by pundit Rio Ferdinand, would be an excellent addition nonetheless, with his pedigree already high despite his tender age.

Warding off interest from other prominent outfits would be a profound statement of intent from Boehly, with Chelsea adding one of the sport’s brightest sparks alongside a prolific star in Nkunku, with success across multiple fronts undoubtedly set to follow.

Transfer expert Dean Jones says that Leeds United are ‘confident’ that Jack Harrison will sign a new contract ‘soon’.

The Lowdown: Ongoing situation

TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey revealed last week that Harrison’s contract at Elland Road is an ‘ongoing situation’, as he has ‘strong interest’ from a number of clubs.

The Whites rejected ‘big money’ from Newcastle United for the winger in the summer, and a new deal is ‘firmly’ on Victor Orta’s agenda.

The Latest: Leeds ‘confident’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has shared that ‘sources close’ to the situation are saying that Jesse Marsch’s side are ‘confident’ that Harrison will sign a new contract at the club ‘soon’:

“I’ve checked this out and sources close to it are saying that Leeds are confident that he will sign that new contract soon.”

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The Verdict: Exciting

The fact that Harrison is seemingly close to signing a new deal will come as exciting news for Peacocks supporters, especially given that he has been linked with a move away.

The winger has been one of Leeds’ standout performers in the Premier League so far this season, scoring one goal and making three assists in 13 appearances, earning himself two man-of-the-match awards, per WhoScored.

At 26 years of age, he still has a lot to offer, and the Whites will no doubt need him performing to his best if they are going to survive in the top flight again this term.

Everton have yet again found themselves falling into trouble in the Premier League after a poor run of performances have left the Toffees just one point clear of the relegation zone.

Frank Lampard will be frustrated that his team have fallen so far after starting out well with, at one point, the best defensive record in the top flight, but the good form was short-lived and ultimately the lack of attacking prowess in front of goal started to catch up on the team.

After Jamie Carragher branded Everton’s backline a “Championship back four” following a number of humiliating defensive performances last term, the powers at Goodison Park worked hard over the summer to snap up some of the best talents that the club could afford to improve the defence.

Indeed, it was a success with James Tarkowski and Conor Coady developing a solid centre-back partnership that works perfectly with ‘keeper Jordan Pickford too, however, there are now growing concerns at the other end of the pitch.

Following Richarlison’s £60m move to Tottenham Hotspur alongside Dominic Calvert Lewin’s ongoing injury struggles that have seen him sidelined for the vast majority of the last 12 months, it is safe to say that the experience in the forward line has taken a big hit.

In fact, only Wolverhampton Wanderers have scored fewer goals than Everton this campaign which will be extremely disappointing for Lampard who will be desperate to resolve the lack of goals being scored when the transfer market reopens.

One player who could help the manager to get Goodison Park rocking again over the second half of the season is Watford and Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr.

Everton have been linked over the last few days with another move for the Senegalese winger after failing to secure his services in the summer and Lampard needs him now more than ever, especially when you consider the player’s form in the Championship this season.

The Senegalese star – who could cost £30m – has scored six goals, registered four assists and created two big chances, as well as averaging 1.2 successful dribbles and winning 3.9 duels per game over 17 appearances.

In fact, the versatile forward – who was dubbed “outstanding” by Graeme Bailey – has scored 53 goals and registered 42 assists over his career so far with a goal contribution every 180 minutes, proving that he has always been a consistent and reliable performer in front of goal.

With that being said, Lampard should do everything he can to convince the powers at Goodison to deliver a tempting offer to Watford to secure the services of Sarr.

Indeed, his tricky forward play and ability to find the net with great regularity could get the fans on side again, with the Senegal international very much looking like the missing piece of the puzzle.

Former Premier League goalkeeper and Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has claimed that Enzo Fernandez would be an ‘amazing’ signing for Liverpool.

The Lowdown: Liverpool interest

As per Football Insider, a ‘recruitment source’ has shared that the Anfield outfit are ‘monitoring’ Fernandez’s situation at Benfica going into the January transfer window and next summer, and he is said to have a release clause of around £105m.

Reports from Portugal have even claimed that they have already reached an agreement with his agent over a move, and are now the ‘priority’.

The Latest: Be an ‘amazing’ signing

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson has claimed that Fernandez would be an ‘amazing’ signing for Jurgen Klopp’s side, as he was a ‘standout’ player for World Cup winners Argentina in Qatar, and suggests that they could wrap up a deal for him in the summer:

“Fernandez would be an excellent option for Liverpool.

“He is only young and he is already performing at the highest level. He was one of the standout players at the World Cup.

“There has been many failed signings off the back of a World Cup. Fernandez is doing it every week at club level as well though.

“He has a great engine, is the right age and has shown he can perform on the big stage. It would be an amazing signing.

“We know Liverpool are after [Jude] Bellingham but they need at least two midfielders next summer. It would not surprise me if Fernandez is one of them.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

Whether they are able to sign him in January or have to wait until next summer, the Reds simply need to get a deal for Fernandez done before he is poached elsewhere.

Hailed as a ‘beast’ by CBS Sports broadcaster Ives Galarcep after his exploits at the World Cup,  the 21-year-old won the Young Player Award at the tournament, and was Argentina’s fourth-best performer overall, scoring one goal and making one assist in his seven appearances on the way to his country winning the trophy (WhoScored).

Fernandez has also been a mainstay in a Benfica team sitting comfortably top of the Portuguese top flight, and in the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League after qualifying from their group.

His impressive performances for club and country warrant a big move sooner rather than later, and the Merseysiders could take full advantage.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is currently having to deal with the uncertainty surrounding the future of Giorgos Giakoumakis, with the Greek international potentially set to move on from Parkhead in the New Year.

Reports at the end of last month revealed that the striker is ‘unhappy’ regarding his current contract situation, with the two parties having seemingly failed to agree fresh terms regarding a wage increase.

That fact has ensured that the 28-year-old is now attracting interest from potential suitors, with it unclear as to whether a bumper new deal can be agreed upon or if the former VVV-Venlo man will opt for an exit next month.

As former Hoops striker John Hartson suggested, “something is going to have to give” to find a resolution to this problem, with the ongoing uncertainty likely to be no good to anyone.

It will no doubt be a blow to lose an asset who scored 25 goals in just 54 games for the Old Firm outfit to date, with the 6 foot 1 marksman also offering a useful, striking alternative to teammate Kyogo Furuhashi as a result of his imposing frame and elite hold-up play.

That quality has been lauded by another former Celtic Park icon in Chris Sutton, with the pundit having only recently praised the striker’s physical attributes: ‘To put it simply, I think he gives Celtic a focal point to hit in games when they are under pressure. A physical presence they can find if needed. Basically, a different option to Kyogo who is more about playing off the shoulder and running in behind.’

Should Giakoumakis depart any time soon, the Scottish champions will have to find a suitable alternative to fill that void, with Postecoglou not wanting to see his attacking options diminished amid this current, rampant surge towards the title.

One possible target who could well act as a replacement to the £12k-per-week man is Banik Ostrava centre-forward, Ladislav Almasi, with journalist Rudolf Ludvik having only recently revealed that the Bhoys could turn to the Slovakian international in 2023.

The nine-cap titan was also reportedly a target for those at Paradise back in the summer window, with it set to be an astute move if the club are to turn to him as the man to replace Giakoumakis in the squad.

Like the latter man, Almasi offers a real focal point through the middle and a different option to Celtic’s other attackers as a result of his 6 foot 5 frame, ensuring he could well prove to be a useful impact player when needed for Postecoglou.

Not that the Bratislava-born ace is an attractive asset due to his size alone, however, having proven himself a particularly lethal figure in front of goal during his recent stint in the Czech Republic.

The £1.5m-rated man – who still has just over two-and-a-half years remaining on his existing deal at the club – has scored 21 goals in just 43 games for Ostrava to date, ensuring that his overall club career tally stands at 52 goals in 121 games.

The 23-year-old has proven particularly impressive in the current campaign thus far with five goals in just seven league outings, showcasing just how ruthless he can be in front of goal.

With Postecoglou potentially set to have to find an heir to Giakoumakis in the near future, Almasi could well be a suitable candidate for the role.

Manchester United and Arsenal are the front-runners to seal a loan move for Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix, according to reports from Spain.

The Lowdown: Felix on United’s radar

The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford a number of times in recent months, especially since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in November.

Felix appears to be unsettled at Atletico currently, struggling to earn consistent starts (just five in La Liga this term) and potentially looking for a new challenge in January.

A fresh report suggests that United could be well-placed to secure a move for the 2019 European Golden Boy winner and grant him an escape route from the Spanish capital.

The Latest: Man United well-placed for Felix

According to Spanish outlet AS on Monday [via Sport Witness], United and Arsenal are the ‘two best-placed clubs’ to snap up Felix in the January transfer window.

Atletico are demanding a fee of approximately €100m (£88.1m) to sell him outright and are unwilling to budge on that figure. However, the La Liga club are amenable to a loan exit until the end of the season if a fee of €9m (£7.9m) is forthcoming, albeit without an option to sign permanently.

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The Verdict: Would bring star quality

There is an argument to say that, following Ronaldo’s exit, United could do with an out-and-out striker more than a number 10 of Felix’s ilk, but he could still be a superb signing for the short-term if Erik ten Hag brings him in.

Hailed as “special” by team-mate Alvaro Morata, he possesses genuine star power, as highlighted by his aforementioned Golden Boy win in 2019 and transfer fee of €126m (£113m) that year; and he could thrive in a more technical, attack-minded team than the often conservative Atletico of Diego Simeone.

At 23, Felix still isn’t in his prime, so Ten Hag may see him as someone who could blossom into a consistent world-class talent over time; and perhaps if the Portuguese gem is a hit on loan at Old Trafford, a permanent transfer could subsequently be sought.

David Ornstein has listed four midfield transfer targets Chelsea are big admirers of.

The Lowdown: Chelsea’s midfielder transfer shortlist

Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for Enzo Fernandez this January, although his hefty release clause could indeed be a problem for Todd Boehly.

However, if they don’t land the young star, Chelsea fans shouldn’t be too worried, as The Athletic’s Ornstein has revealed they are interested in a number of midfielders from Europe and the Premier League.

The Blues could well be stepping up their pursuit of a new midfielder amid interest in one of their own, with Jorginho reportedly wanted by top-four challengers Newcastle United.

The Latest: Ornstein reveals four-name transfer list

Ornstein was speaking on the NBC Sports YouTube channel when he revealed that Chelsea have a list of midfield targets and that they aren’t just going all in on Fernandez.

He said: “They’ve got other options, too – the likes of Declan Rice (£100m), Alexis Mac Allister (£60m), Moises Caicedo (£60m) and Romeo Lavia (£50m).”

The Verdict: Chelsea must sign a midfielder

Chelsea surely have to sign a midfielder, and judging by those names listed by Ornstein, they are going for a younger player to provide some much-needed legs and energy for Graham Potter.

This is because a lot of their midfield options are starting to get on in their careers, with the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante all going to be on the wrong side of 29 come the end of the season.

However, it does remain to be seen whether Chelsea will sign a big-name midfielder in January or wait until the summer to try and land someone such as Rice, who won’t be able to leave mid-season, as David Moyes has confirmed.

Newcastle United may have the opportunity to sign Youri Tielemans in January, journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed.

The Lowdown: Tielemans situation

Tielemans is heading into the final six months of the £120k-per-week contract at Leicester City he penned when he joined the Foxes permanently in 2019.

With Brendan Rodgers’ side currently floundering in the bottom half of the table, it seems very unlikely that the 25-year-old will sign a new deal amid interest from major Premier League clubs.

Indeed, Arsenal are reportedly prepared to wait for Tielemans’ contract to run down in order to sign him on a free in the summer.

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has reported that Newcastle are huge admirers of both Tielemans as well as club teammate James Maddison, but a move for the former bodes more chance this month given the Belgian’s current situation.

The Latest: Jacobs’ comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs suggested that the Magpies are becoming more confident a cut-price deal can be sewn up in January.

He said: “In January, Tielemans will not suddenly be worth the £30m that perhaps Leicester wanted for him, because that contract has ticked down a little bit further.

“So, this is where Newcastle will be one to watch for Arsenal in particular because there’s a growing feeling that Newcastle might consider a low offer for Tielemans in January to strengthen their midfield, to see how Leicester react.

“Leicester may say they don’t want to get rid mid-season or Leicester may say they’re now resigned to losing Tielemans for free. But there’s always that temptation if a reasonable [bid] but still much lower than the £30m or so from last summer is tabled.”

The Verdict: Go for it

The chance to snap up a Premier League-proven midfielder who will improve the squad on a cut-price January deal is an incredibly rare one.

Previously dubbed “technically gifted” by journalist John Bennett, the 25-year-old has played 180 games for the Foxes, scoring 28 and assisting 25, with his incredible FA Cup-winning goal against Chelsea in 2021 an unforgettable reminder of the quality he possesses.

Eddie Howe’s side are currently slim in midfield with Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff the only fit and comfortable centre-midfielder options available, with Joelinton recently finding form in attack.

We think Tielemans, who was previously hailed as ‘one of Europe’s top midfielders’, would be a sensational addition, with him in the top 16% for tackles and 13% for blocks amongst midfielders at he top level (via FBref).

Also in the top 15% for shot-creating actions and 21% for progressive passes, Tielemans has shown just how well-rounded he is and what he could add to the Magpies’ engine room to get them across that European finishing line.

Leeds United continue to be linked with additions to bolster their midfield, with Victor Orta actively seeking out improvements in the engine room…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Sport Italia, who claim that a number of European clubs, including those from the Premier League, are interested in Salernitana maestro Lassana Coulibaly.

Having made early advances towards the 26-year-old, Nottingham Forest have already seen a bid dismissed in December. The Serie A club will reportedly hold out for a fee of around £8.5m, as they hope to keep hold of their player.

Repeat of Adams masterclass?

Having struggled this season domestically, Coulibaly retains a constant level of quality in one area – his defensive statistics.

Averaging a 6.75 Sofascore rating in the current Serie A campaign, this somewhat masks what benefits he can offer to a team when they play to his strengths.

Boasting the ability to break up play and set his team on the counter with a threaded pass, a deal here would bear many similarities with Leeds’ summer move to sign Tyler Adams from RB Leipzig.

The American has taken to Premier League football with ease due to his aggression, tenacity and immense quality. However, his final season in the Bundesliga was not too dissimilar from Coulibaly’s current campaign.

The then-Leipzig midfielder only averaged a 6.68 rating from Sofascore in 2021/22, and making just one tackle per match, it seemed unclear just what tempted the Yorkshire outfit to splash out £20m on the 23-year-old.

However, with an average Sofascore rating of 7.01 and a mammoth 4.2 tackles per game in the current Premier League season, the Whites’ decision is starting to bear fruit.

With Mali international Coulibaly, it could be argued that an even stronger foundation is in place to succeed at this level. He is averaging 3.1 tackles alongside 0.7 key passes per 90 this season, supplemented by an 85% pass accuracy.

The basic principles to be a successful midfielder at Elland Road are already in place, with his time at Ibrox on loan in 2018/19 having had a lasting impact on then-Rangers boss Steven Gerrard.

The 42-year-old praised Coulibaly, stating: “He (Lassana) is a machine, he’s exactly what this football club needed in terms of that enforcer in the middle of the park. He enjoys getting after people, biting into tackles and doing the ugly side of the game. He loves it and is only going to get better, there is more to come.”

If the gegenpress-loving Jesse Marsch could describe his quintessential player, many of the qualities listed by Gerrard would likely crop up. The Salernitana ace bears striking similarities with Adams, and should he be half as shrewd as the summer 2022 signing has been so far at Leeds, it would mark a fine deal by Orta and co.

Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas has shared an exciting update on Wolves’ pursuit of Flamengo midfielder Joao Gomes.

The Lowdown: Wolves backing Lopetegui…

Amid their battle to avoid dropping out of the Premier League, the Old Gold hierarchy are attempting to back manager Julen Lopetegui in his bid to steer the club away from relegation.

Wolves have already put pen to paper on deals for Mario Lemina, Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha this month, while an agreement has also reportedly been reached for West Ham defender Craig Dawson.

They have also been heavily linked with a move for Gomes for much of the January transfer window as they battle Ligue 1 giants Lyon for his signature.

The Latest: Gomes wants Wolves move…

The French giants have now been dealt a real worry, with Gomes seriously preferring a move to Molineux, according to Thomas via Twitter.

The 21-year-old’s eagerness to join up with Lopetegui has handed a blow to Lyon whilst motivating Wolves to re-enter talks for Gomes before January 31. As a result, in some exciting news for Old Gold supporters, it is ‘game on’ for signing the Brazilian youngster.

The Sky Sports reporter explained: “Joao Gomes wants to sign for #Wolves. He’s determined, despite strong interest from #Lyon. #Flamengo obviously prefer the French club’s more attractive offer – but Wolves are back in talks knowing the player really wants to join them. Game on.”

The Verdict: Good news for Wolves…

Gomes is arguably one of South America’s most promising and coveted talents right now, even attracting interest from major European clubs such as Real Madrid and Liverpool.

South American football expert Tim Vickery has also praised the youngster’s evolution in recent years, drawing attention to the Flamengo starlet’s ‘excellent lung power’ and ‘considerable’ presence on the pitch at such a young age.

Gomes has also been called a ‘wonderkid’ by sections of the media, highlighting why Wolves are eager to get a deal over the line ahead of fierce competitors in Lyon.

The robust South American tough-tackler, whose average of 3.2 per game exceeds everyone at Molineux, could be a handy prospective addition for Lopetegui in the Midlands; and going by Thomas’ update, it appears that Wolves are well and truly in the chase.