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Manchester United are looking to finalise a 2023 deal for AS Monaco defender Vanderson.

The Lowdown: Vanderson profiled

Vanderson is primarily a right-back who can also play further forward as a right-midfielder or right-winger. The 21-year-old only joined Monaco at the beginning of the year but has made 33 appearances for the French side.

Valued at a career-high £16.2m by Transfermarkt, the full-back has been labelled as a player that is ‘good at taking set pieces’, and he appears to be of real interest to those at Old Trafford.

The Latest: United links

Sports Witness relayed an update from Wednesday’s edition of Sport regarding Vanderson and United.

They claim that the Red Devils have ‘already begun to move to try to tie up’ Vanderson’s services, with the 2022/23 campaign thought to be the player’s final year with Monaco.

The Verdict: Busy January?

It looks as if United officials could be in for an extremely busy New Year when it comes to further additions to Erik ten Hag’s squad. The United manager reportedly wants a right-back, midfielder and centre-forward in January.

Contact has been made with the representatives of Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos, while Ten Hag also wants Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans, so Vanderson appears to be the third real target over the coming months.

Arsenal fan and journalist Freddie Paxton has been left baffled by Gareth Southgate’s bizarre use of Gunners star Bukayo Saka in England’s 1-0 defeat away to Italy.

The Lowdown: Saka’s ‘new’ role

The Three Lions made the trip to the San Siro on Friday evening but produced an insipid performance, suffering a loss that saw them relegated from their UEFA Nations League group.

Saka was named in Southgate’s starting lineup, but strangely, he was used in a left wing-back role, predictably not performing at his best all night long.

The 21-year-old has actually played left-back 23 times across his career, but the majority of those appearances came as he broke through from the youth team, recording just two assists from 12 showings there in the 2019/20 Premier League season.

The Latest: Paxton fumes at Southgate

Taking to Twitter, Paxton, a football writer and Gunners supporter, criticised Southgate for his use of Saka and also the decision to select Harry Maguire.

“Southgate’s management is just weird. He sees what happens at club level but often completely disregards it. Saka at LWB. Why? Harry Maguire still one of the first names on the team sheet. Why? Maybe a bit harsh but having him in charge of this crop seems like a massive waste.”

The Verdict: What a waste of talent

Saka has matured into one arguably of the best young wide players in Europe, invariably making a name for himself as a right-sided attacker as he’s racked up 29 goal involvements in 48 appearances from that wing.

For Southgate to use him in a far more defensive position is bordering on scandalous, as the north London starlet was woefully ineffective against Italy, touching the ball only 28 times and recording zero crosses or shots (Sofascore).

If Saka is to play regularly for England at the upcoming World Cup, it has to be out on the right-hand side or not at all, with him and Phil Foden potentially battling for a starting berth on that flank.

Southampton have suffered in the early stages of this Premier League campaign, and despite having impressed throughout his tenure at times, their loss to Everton might be the final nail in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s coffin. Following the defeat, a reliable source has offered an update on his future.

What’s the latest?

According to The Daily Mail, the Austrian is in serious danger of losing his job following three straight defeats.

Martin Semmens and the hierarchy at the club seem to already have plans in place, with Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper under consideration to replace him.

With the Tricky Trees boss also on thin ice, it could represent something of a managerial switch-up should they both lose their jobs after their next games.

He’s a dream Hasenhuttl heir

Although many might question the decision to bin off Hasenhuttl, having won just twice this season, his Saints side sit within a point of the relegation zone.

It has hardly been a sensational campaign, and despite what seemed like a fine summer transfer window, their lack of experience on the pitch is starting to show in their performances.

To replace him with Cooper could mark a fresh start for both club and manager, with the 42-year-old having earned plaudits for finally leading Forest back to the Premier League last season after their 23-year wait. It was a feat that Jurgen Klopp described as “crazy”.

He would bring in a pragmatic style that might suit this Saints side more, solidifying them whilst allowing their more technical players to thrive on the break.

One thing that will certainly impress those selecting the new boss is Cooper’s well-known ability to work with youth.

Having started his career as a part of Wrexham’s coaching staff, he was soon promoted to manager of Liverpool’s academy before moving on to the England U16s and then the U17s, where he triumphed at the World Cup.

With Southampton having the second youngest average age squad in the league, at just 24.1, this does seem like a match made in heaven.

It is hard to see Hasenhuttl surviving much longer given their poor form, and with Cooper seemingly set to become an option for his replacement, it might force their hand even sooner.

Everton reportedly still have Ajax star Mohammed Kudus on their shortlist ahead of the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Flying

Kudus is absolutely on fire at the moment, as he scored yet another goal in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, albeit in a 6-1 loss at home to Serie A side Napoli.

That is three goals and one assist in Europe’s elite competition now so far this season, while he has also added five more goals in Dutch football (Transfermarkt).

Hailed as a ‘world-class talent’ by former Dutch Footballer Jan van Halst, there have been reports that Kudus may now be out of the Toffees’ reach following their interest in the summer, after impressing so much on the big stage.

The Latest: Still on shortlist

As per German news outlet Bild, Borussia Dortmund are now targeting a move for Kudus, but the Goodison Park outfit still have the Ghana international on their shortlist.

However, fellow Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur are also in the race for his signature, so it could well be a three-way battle to determine who signs him in January.

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The Verdict: Get it done

If there is a chance that the Merseyside club can still get a deal done for Kudus, then they must do so at all costs.

The 22-year-old reportedly went on strike in order to try and force through a move to Frank Lampard’s team in the summer, and the chance to play in the top flight should still be an attractive proposition for him.

However, both Spurs and Dortmund can offer him Champions League football, while the Blues cannot offer him any European football at all, so Kudus is likely going to need more persuading this time if he is to move to them instead.

Everton were on top of the world under Carlo Ancelotti when his reign truly began at the start of the 2020/21 season.

Having identified the gaping hole that was the Toffees midfield, he set out to fix it by adding Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan into the fold.

The decision to acquire the Brazilian, who was 29 at the time of signing, was one which indicated that the Italian was there to bring instant success.

He then had them sat top of the table having won their opening seven games in all competitions, with James Rodriguez’s classy displays lighting up an empty Goodison Park.

Looking back on that now, it seems like a fever dream.

What progress was made during that season was melted away after Ancelotti abruptly left for Real Madrid, and Rafa Benitez arrived to cull the club of all hope.

The signings like Allan for £25m (including add-ons), who were intended to bring instant success, changed from statements of intent to money misspent on ageing talent.

These moves did not take Everton any closer to their European dreams, although at first they seemed that they might, because the project remained unfinished.

Having now left for Saudi Arabia, he spent 107 weeks on Merseyside. Many would argue during his time at the club actually reverted.

That’s not to completely blame the 31-year-old, although he did sit on wages of £70k-per-week whilst only featuring 57 times for the club. In total, he has cost Everton around £32.5m.

He was advertised as a tough-tackling midfield general upon arrival, who could win and carry the ball whilst also possessing the talent to deliver in the final third.

Across these appearances, he did not score and only assisted three times, compared to the 11 he scored and 17 he set up for his former side Napoli.

Broadcaster and Everton fan, Dave Downie, at one point during Allan’s Everton career, labelled him an “imposter” with regard to how he would go missing when playing away from home.

When signing a seasoned professional like him, Evertonians rightly expected a lot.

However, they were ultimately let down by him and the whole promise that was sold by Ancelotti.

That period will always be remembered with fondness, but at the end of the day, it is another example of Farhad Moshiri’s spending once again going to waste.

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to keep up their hot streak of form when they return to Premier League action later this evening.

Antonio Conte’s side bounced back to winning ways last weekend as they defeated Brighton and Hove Albion on their own patch before defeating Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Now, the north Londoners welcome a much-improved Everton side to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Former midfield foe Frank Lampard has somewhat turned things around in Merseyside as the Toffees find themselves in midtable, rather than in the relegation dogfight – for now.

Meanwhile, Spurs will be looking to cement their top-four ambitions with another result but the latest setbacks to both Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski make that a tad more difficult.

Although the Italian head coach could turn to Yves Bissouma after his second start of the Premier League campaign last weekend.

There were understandable signs of rust in the 70 minutes he was on the pitch but it’s evident that he could well become the third wheel of the dynamic midfield duo of Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the engine room.

The Mali international aided his side with his powerful presence, having won over 66% of his duels, which was more than the unrelenting Uruguayan (42%) and the great Dane (16.6%), via SofaScore.

He should be fresher than most too after he was dropped to the bench in midweek and given Everton’s upturn in form, largely thanks to their new spine providing defensive stability across the pitch, Bissouma’s enforcer-like nature could be vital in helping Spurs beat Lampard’s rigid XI.

At the Seagulls last term, the 26-year-old – who cost £25m in the summer – averaged 2.9 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per league outing, via WhoScored, and that is currently better than everyone in the Spurs squad this term.

It’s exactly why journalist Aaron Stokes previously lauded Bissouma as an “absolute monster,” so in a bid to forget about these worrying injury blows, Conte must look to unleash the box-to-box machine later today.

Now valued at £18m by CIES Football Observatory, it’s got the be time to see Bissouma in action more in the Lilywhites strip going forward. He could do some serious damage to the Toffees if handed the keys to do so.

AND in other news, Conte drops Lucas Moura update…

Nottingham Forest will still be celebrating their incredible victory in the Premier League last weekend when they beat Liverpool 1-0 at the City Ground, but Steve Cooper must not get complacent and will need to continue to adapt his team to inspire results over the season ahead.

Indeed, the three points earned against the Merseyside giants could be incredibly valuable in the Garibaldi’s pursuit to retain their top-flight status at the end of the season, as they are currently matching their relegation zone competitors with nine points and are just two from safety.

Forest will face Arsenal, Brentford and Crystal Palace over their final three games before Premier League football breaks for the World Cup, and taking as much as they can from those fixtures will be essential for setting themselves up in a much more comfortable position ahead of the second half of the season.

Despite the fantastic three-pointer against Jurgen Klopp’s side, there are still many issues to iron out at the City Ground. Cooper will have the opportunity during the forthcoming break to work on solutions to tally up many more points when the Tricky Trees return to action after Christmas, as well as the chance to strengthen in the January transfer window.

One player who has failed to make the desired impact on the team since his highly anticipated arrival in the summer is Jesse Lingard, with the former Manchester United sensation struggling to impose himself effectively on opponents over his first few outings for his new club.

The 29-year-old, who was dubbed “anonymous” by The Guardian journalist Will Unwin, has offered no goal contributions in his 10 Premier League appearances so far and has shown little effort in his performances when selected by Cooper.

Lingard has failed in 69% of his duels and 60% of his dribbles, making just 0.9 key passes and 0.4 interceptions per game and creating zero big chances for his forward team-mates so far. That will be massively frustrating for Forest, considering that he is by far the highest paid player at the club, collecting £200k-per-week.

As a result, the arrival of Gustavo Scarpa will be a huge attacking boost for the Garibaldi when he arrives in January after agreeing to join the club for the second half of the season when his contract expires with Palmeiras.

The Brazilian attacker, who was hailed as “creative” by Brazil coach Tite, has scored 36 goals and delivered a whopping 50 assists in 207 appearances, with a goal contribution every 141 minutes.

Last season alone, the talented ace scored 12 goals and set up another 14 in 56 appearances, so there is no doubt that Nottingham Forest will benefit hugely if he can continue this consistent output when he moves to England in the new year.

The arrival of Scarpa will offer Cooper much more creativity and hopefully many more goalscoring opportunities than Lingard has provided so far, and the Palmeiras player could be exactly the attacking threat that Forest need in order to secure another season of top-tier football.

Everton saw many changes take place in the team at Goodison Park over the summer, with eight new signings making the move to Goodison Park whilst several players also moved on to pastures new.

One of the most notable transfers of the entire window in the Premier League was Brazilian forward Richarlison’s £60m move to Tottenham Hotspur, leaving Everton with a weakened attacking arsenal ahead of the new season.

Indeed, the powers at Goodison Park attempted to replace the talented goal machine by signing Neal Maupay and Dwight McNeil but were unable to secure a deal for a prolific finisher before the transfer window slammed shut on September 1st.

Despite Richarlison’s exit, Everton are in a much better position this season than they found themselves towards the end of the last campaign, although they are still struggling to consistently find the back of the net in the Premier League.

Only Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth have scored fewer goals than the Toffees this season so far, so there is definitely still an opportunity to strengthen the forward line.

Whilst Frank Lampard may be scouring the upcoming transfer market for attacking players who can make a positive impact on the attacking threat in the team, the manager could potentially save millions by unearthing a homegrown talent to replace Richarlison’s goal contributions instead.

Francis Okoronkwo completed a move from Sunderland to Everton back in 2021, signing a professional contract with the Toffees just days after his 17th birthday, and the player Craig Hope dubbed a “talent” has been impressing ever since.

Just like Richarlison, the 18-year-old Blyth-born forward is comfortable and capable of providing goal contributions in both the centre-forward position and on the left flank – with this trait being on display during his time with both the U18 and U21 teams.

Okoronkwo has scored eight goals and delivered three assists over 27 appearances across the two youth teams – averaging a goal contribution every 141 minutes – and most recently bagged the second in the U21s’ clash with Hertha Berlin earlier this week.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for Okoronkwo and if he continues to flourish in the youth teams, he should begin to catch Lampard’s eye in no time at all, potentially becoming the Richarlison heir Everton so desperately need.

Manchester City intend to ‘robustly’ defend themselves against the Premier League charges for breaking financial fair play rules, according to reliable reporter Mike Keegan.

The Lowdown: Man City charged

The Premier League has charged Manchester City with numerous breaches of its financial rules after a four-year investigation into alleged wrongdoings, which are said to have taken place between 2009 and 2018.

City have been accused of not co-operating with the investigation, and the Premier League have now referred the club to an independent commission, which can impose punishments ranging from fines to points deductions and even expulsion from the top flight.

The Latest: Man City to defend charges

Taking to Twitter in the wake of the news, Keegan provided an update on what the club’s next course of action could be following this morning’s bombshell.

The Daily Mail reporter said: “Will not come as a surprise but I’m told that City intend to ‘robustly’ defend themselves against PL charges which dropped this morning.”

The Verdict: Serious concern

Considering the severity of the potential punishments, the charges will be a serious concern for the Sky Blues, who will be hoping that this huge off-field news does not affect performances on the pitch, with the club still competing for the Champions League and Premier League.

Man City have previously encountered problems with UEFA in relation to alleged financial wrongdoings, but they managed to avoid the most major punishments after the Court of Arbitration for Sport lifted a two-year Champions League ban and reduced a €30m (£26.8m) fine to just €10m (£8.9m).

The club will no doubt be hoping for a similar outcome this time around, but BBC Sport’s Simon Stone has detailed that it will be an expensive case which will drag on for a long time, with all manner of punishments possible if City lose the legal battle.

Crystal Palace put on a resilient performance at Selhurst Park this afternoon after losing 3-0 to Everton last week, beating Southampton 1-0 in front of their home support.

The three points for the Eagles means that they have now broken into the top half of the table and are currently 10th, with their position hanging in the balance of other results around them this weekend.

Patrick Vieira will be proud of his team, who despite having less possession (45%), fewer shots on goal (12 v 14) and fewer big chances (one v three) showed their determination and hard-working attitude throughout the game in south London.

In a relatively uneventful first half, Palace showed how clinical and threatening they can be when in possession, which was inevitably rewarded with a 32nd-minute goal from Odsonne Edouard after he was set up by left-back Tyrick Mitchell.

Despite the Saints doing their best to make a second-half comeback, their desperate efforts were not converted, with 10 of their 14 shots taken in the final 45 minutes of the game, and the Eagles duly reigned victorious, claiming all three points with their first-half goal.

Although Edouard’s goal was the obvious lynchpin in Crystal Palace’s success, there was another player who was key to their victory today.

Luka Milivojevic was an absolute star in the engine room and put on a midfield performance of which Vieira would be proud.

Over his 90-minute display, the 31-year-old took 60 touches, made 33 accurate passes and won 72% of his duels, along with making one key pass, four clearances, four tackles and two interceptions, proving that he ran the show in his role.

The Serbian midfielder’s display against the Saints was his highest-rated performance of the season so far in eight Premier League appearances according to SofaScore, so Milivojevic will be really pleased with the positive impact and hard work that he put in this afternoon.

There are just two more opportunities for Palace to pick up points in the league before the World Cup starts next month, and Vieira will be hoping that this win can inspire further victories when the Eagles face Nottingham Forest and West Ham United over the next couple of weeks.