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Crystal Palace have been dealt a huge injury blow which should spur chairman Steve Parish into action as we enter the last two weeks of the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

Joachim Andersen was forced off in Palace’s 1-0 defeat against Chelsea last weekend, and The Athletic’s Palace reporter,Matt Woosnam has now provided an update on the centre-back via Twitter.

He wrote: “Palace defender Joachim Andersen expected to be out until next month with a calf injury picked up in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Chelsea.”

The Denmark international had started all but one game for Patrick Vieira in the Premier League before Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United, which the former Lyon defender was forced to sit out.

He is also likely to miss tough upcoming fixtures against Newcastle United, Manchester United and Brighton, which is undoubtedly a blow to Palace’s chances when you consider his fine form this season, with WhoScored ranking him as the third-best performer in the squad.

Parish must act

Palace are not blessed with much squad depth in the heart of their defence, and while Chris Richards did an admirable job alongside Marc Guehi on Wednesday night – they were the Eagles’ two highest-rated players as per Sofascore – Andersen’s injury should spur the Eagles into action.

Should Guehi or Richards pick up an injury, it would leave just 33-year-old James Tomkins available as backup, as Nathan Ferguson is also still sidelined through injury.

The Eagles’ post-World Cup form has been far from encouraging, and throwing a 22-year-old Richards in the deep end alongside another 22-year-old in Guehi could spell trouble for Palace as they look to avoid being sucked into a relegation battle, which is not unthinkable given their upcoming fixtures.

Andersen has proven himself to be a leader at the back for Palace this season, leading the way for clearances, passes and long balls per game, which also emphasises the creative impact that he can have from centre-back.

Vieira was full of praise for the 26-year-old’s importance at Selhurst Park last season, saying: “He is massively important. Joachim played in France, he played in Italy, he was in the Premier League last year. He has this experience of moving around and going to a new club.

“When you want to have possession and you have a centre-back who is really comfortable having the ball at his feet it’s quite important. He will be a massive help for Marc to build his confidence and he is doing really well.”

Therefore, it is a significant blow to the Palace manager that Andersen will be sidelined for a month, and Parish should surely consider bringing in another centre-back to aid Vieira in this month’s transfer window.

USA midfielder Weston McKennie has attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur as he hopes for a ‘late window offer’, according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Spurs linked with McKennie…

Spurs have been sporadically linked with a move for the United States international as he allegedly seeks a move away from Serie A giants Juventus.

Reports have suggested in the past few months that Antonio Conte is an admirer of the former Schalke 04 midfielder, with contact made even before the January transfer window opened.

McKennie is apparently being eyed by various suitors from both the Premier League and abroad, with Aston Villa, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund named as parties having been in the race for the 24-year-old.

The Latest: McKennie attracts Tottenham interest…

Making a Spurs transfer claim on Twitter, Jacobs has shared an update on the player’s situation at Juventus. He claims that McKennie has ‘attracted some interest’ from the north Londoners and Conte as he hopes for a late January offer.

Jacobs tweeted: “Told Weston McKennie still hoping a late window offer comes in. There’s already been an approach from Villa, but McKennie waiting for other suitors.”

He continued: “McKennie has attracted some interest from Spurs and Dortmund with Juve open to a sale. Chelsea have also considered him, and he spoke with Christian Pulisic about the club, but Moises Caicedo still their top priority. McKennie advantage is he can play in lots of positions.”

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The Verdict: Make the move?

Given that Juventus are open to the sale of McKennie, and with the player not particularly keen on a move to Villa, this could be a good chance for Conte to finally get his man.

Tottenham’s interest in signing the 24-year-old dates back to 2021, and we believe that he could add even more steel to Conte’s squad.

Spurs are already well stocked in central midfield, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur, Oliver Skipp and Yves Bissouma able to come in and play a role in front of their back four. However, McKennie’s versatility means that he can also play across the midfield and even as a centre-back, something which could be of serious interest to Conte.

The American has been called a ‘rock’ defensively by former Bianconeri boss Andrea Pirlo and dubbed ‘incredibly underrated’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and while he hasn’t been at his best for Juve – ranking a lowly 17th in their WhoScored charts this season – he is one of the stars of his national team.

McKennie ‘caught the eye’ of journalist Matt Law with a brilliant display against England in the World Cup two months ago, with the midfielder standing out as one of the USA’s best players overall in Qatar as he started all four of their matches in their run to the knockout stages.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Bryan Gil is now expected to start in their FA Cup game on the weekend against Portsmouth, according to Alasdair Gold.

What’s the latest?

Spurs put their fight for a spot in the top four to one side this weekend as their FA Cup journey begins with a clash at home against the League One side, Pompey.

Prior to Wednesday night’s victory against Crystal Palace, this game probably would have come as a welcome break to league actin for Antonio Conte’s men.

However, their second-half efforts against the Eagles saw them clinch three big points in which Bryan Gil played a huge role after getting the nod from the Italian to start his second consecutive game in the league.

And on the back of his impressive display, Gold is now expecting Conte to give Gil another run out in the squad in hope to keep his impressive form going ahead of the north London derby:

(19:20) “He could have played the full 90 last night [Wednesday]. But I think it’s a good thing that he was actually taken off because it almost showed that Conte was kind of trying to protect him. I’m presuming he’ll play against Portsmouth as well,” said Gold on the Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham podcast.

Stepping up

Tottenham have had to deal with their fair share of injuries this season with Son Heung-min suffering a blow to the face before the World Cup break which saw him sidelined for a number of weeks.

And for the second separate time this season, Conte finds himself without either Dejan Kulusevski or Richarlison to pick from with the two forwards also missing through respective injuries.

However, fears over filling the goals and assists left behind by the duo may have been put to rest on Wednesday night following the impressive display from Gil which saw Conte rave about the Spaniard after the game:

“It was really important, you know about Bryan Gil we are talking about a player who was born to play football. He understands football quickly. He’s so clever, so intelligent to understand the situation,” the Italian said.

The 21-year-old – hailed as “special” – picked up his first assist in the Premier League on Wednesday as he provided a pinpoint perfect pass for Harry Kane’s second goal of the game.

What was perhaps just as impressive as Gil’s assist was his defensive display with the winger also providing Spurs with two tackles, a clearance and an interception (via SofaScore).

There have been some suggestions that Gil could be set for a January move away on loan for the remainder of the season. It will be interesting to see how this may have changed on the back of his display in south London.

Liverpool’s most salient area for reinforcing on the transfer front is unequivocally the centre of the park, but that does not mean the club won’t target the offensive front if the right, enticing opportunity comes along.

And according to reports stemming from Italy (via the Liverpool Echo), MLS outfit Chicago Fire’s prodigious forward talent Jhon Duran has caught the attention of Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who is making a ‘concrete’ move for the player with the January market recently swinging its doors open.

The teenager has scarcely tasted senior action, but has already impressed in his first year with a clinical edge and fearsome physicality that could pave the foundation for an exemplary career as a striking phenomenon.

A fee of roughly $21m (£17.5m), could be enough to prise him away from Fire’s clutches, as per Calciomercato, and although the asking price might appear steep for an unknown commodity on European soil, his dynamic skill set would be a welcome tool for any top outfit chasing success…

Calciomercato reporter Raffaele Amato tweeted this about the situation: “Liverpool are also making concrete moves for Duran, but the current offer is lower than Benfica’s. The biggest pitfall for the Portuguese is represented by Aston Villa. Chicago are aiming to collect 20 million euros.”

Next Suarez

At only 19-years-old, Duran has bagged eight goals and five assists from only 14 starts across the 2022 MLS campaign in a breakthrough year where the Colombian phenom has emerged onto the American scene in resounding fashion.

The three-cap gem was at the centre of heaped praise from talent scout Jacek Kulig when he was still only 18-years-old, regarded as a “complete” centre-forward, “fast, powerful & confident with the ball at his feet”, and “aggressive & determined in the penalty area.”

His all-encompassing aura on the pitch, despite his tender age, could pay dividends for Klopp as he looks to turn the page on a new chapter at Anfield, and bring the club a talisman for the coming years that could emulate the success of coveted centre-forward Luis Suarez, someone who like Duran, was very much an aggressive and complete attacker.

Suarez signed for the Reds from AFC Ajax in 2012 for a fee of £22.7m, and he went on to forge one of the most devastating careers in Premier League history, captivating fans and pundits alike with his blistering arsenal and innate knack to find the back of the net from every distance and angle, scoring 69 goals and 39 assists over just 110 Premier League outings.

The “wonderkid” – as heralded by Tom Bogert – is still very much untested on the biggest stage, but he certainly holds the ingredients to serve up a concoction of striking excellence, and with a cutting edge already apparent from his little time spent in the MLS, he could nurture his precocious abilities at one of the world’s most prominent outfits.

His impressive Sofascore rating of 6.91 is a testament to his tenacity and all-encompassing approach to his game, and with 2.2 shots per match, his peppering output is certainly reminiscent to a former phenom in Liverpool red who took the nation by storm.

Arsenal full-back Cedric Soares is reportedly being eyed for a January transfer move away from the north London club. 

The Lowdown: Soares’ season so far

This season has seen the 31-year-old make just four appearances for the Gunners across all competitions, starting just one of them.

This suggests that the right-back is not particularly prominent in Mikel Arteta’s plans, with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu both ahead in the pecking order.

With the January transfer window close to opening for business, the Portuguese defender has found himself being watched by numerous clubs.

The Latest: Soares eyed for January exit

According to a recent report from European media outlet Foot Mercato, fellow Premier League side Fulham are keen on signing Cedric in January on a loan deal with a mandatory option to buy.

The report also adds that Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid have their eyes on the defender, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £75k-per-week at the Emirates.

The Verdict: A decision for Arteta

The only game Cedric started this season saw him complete the full 90 minutes of Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup.

During this game, the defender failed to make even one tackle or interception in the game, as well as managing to give the ball away on 18 occasions, which makes it easy to see why he hasn’t been a regular figure in the team.

Taking into account the lack of regular game time this season, it could be said that moving him out of the club in January for a suitable fee would be a good move for all parties.

Despite previously being praised for his “fantastic” performances in an Arsenal shirt by former Gunners player Gilberto Silva, if a suitable transfer offer comes in for the 31-year-old next month, we feel that Arsenal should definitely consider accepting it.

Aston Villa could be set for a busy January transfer window following the appointment of Unai Emery with the manager likely to want to put his own mark on the team and now a new potential transfer target has emerged.

What’s the latest?

According to The Mirror, the Villa boss is plotting a swoop for Villarreal forward Arnaut Danjuma in the January transfer window.

As per the report, Emery is keen to address the lack of wide forwards available at Villa Park and is planning to raid his former club to acquire the services of the talented winger in order to strengthen his team over the second half of the season.

A “nightmare” for opponents

It is no secret that Aston Villa are in need of some clinical and high-quality wide forwards after Steven Gerrard let go of Trezeguet, Anwar El Ghazi and Bertrand Traore, so if Emery could convince Danjuma to make a move to Villa Park in 2023 it would be a major addition.

The 25-year-old ace – who was dubbed a “nightmare” by Kevin Phillips – has scored 71 goals and registered 36 assists over his career so far with a goal contribution every 130 minutes, proving that he is a reliable and consistent performer in front of goal.

The former Bournemouth man certainly lives up to that billing as far as his ball carrying is concerned where he has terrorised defenders for years. Indeed, he made 1.4 dribbles per game last term and has made as many as three per match in World Cup qualifying for the Netherlands.

Sadly, Danjuma has not been consistently featuring for his Spanish club this season after suffering an injury a few months ago, but that hasn’t stopped him from scoring two goals over six La Liga appearances with the winger averaging out at just 53 minutes per game.

The former Villarreal manager may have a huge advantage in snapping up the services of the Netherlands international due to Danjuma’s huge admiration for Emery, something he expressed in an interview with ESPN:

“Emery is special: he’s one of the main reasons why I came to Villarreal,” Danjuma claimed.

“It’s such a privilege to work under him as a coach. He is so open with the players and I am learning so much from him. It is really enjoyable to work with him. He is one of the best. He is different.”

With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Emery would put Ollie Watkins back in the centre-forward role to partner Danjuma or whether he’d play alongside Danny Ings instead should the club secure the player’s signature in the coming weeks.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reportedly wants to sign Sevilla left-back Marcos Acuna.

The Lowdown: Acuna profiled

The 31-year-old has been with his current club since 2020, making 92 appearances for the La Liga side. The Argentine is currently at the World Cup in Qatar, featuring in all three group games to help his country into the last 16.

He is primarily a left-back but is capable of lining out in a number of different positions, featuring in seven different areas of the pitch during his career.

The Latest: Emery interest

A transfer update has emerged over the last 48 hours regarding Acuna, in which Aston Villa were named.

One Spanish outlet said that ‘Emery has been captivated by the Argentine and wants him to be his new winter reinforcement’, with the Spaniard also eyeing a new winger to come in at Villa Park.

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The Verdict: Needed?

Emery seems to be a big fan of Acuna, although he currently has three left-backs on the books at Villa in Ashley Young, Lucas Digne and Ludwig Augustinsson.

The latter of those is on loan from Sevilla, so the manager may see Acuna as a shrewd prospective addition to possibly replace Augustinsson and provide competition to Digne and Young.

Acuna would also offer an option further forward and in midfield, so he could prove to be a smart prospective addition in the Midlands for the right price.

Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich has been backed to make a move away from Elland Road during the upcoming January window by transfer expert Dean Jones. 

The Lowdown: Klich’s season so far

So far this season, Klich has appeared in 11 of Leeds’ 14 Premier League games, but has yet to find himself in a starting XI.

The summer arrivals of Marc Roca and Tyler Adams seem to have pushed the 32-year-old down the pecking order under Jesse Marsch, with those two players being regular figures in the team.

With Klich missing out on a place in Poland’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar, this has led to Jones claiming that a January exit from Elland Road could be on the cards for the player.

The Latest: Klich backed for January departure

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones had this to say on Klich current situation and what the future may hold for him.

He said: “It makes sense that he would probably be annoyed at the moment, particularly over the fact that he hasn’t made it to the World Cup with Poland.

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“That’ll be playing on his mind once they return to action too. I think Klich could be one that goes in January.”

The Verdict: Leeds should keep hold of Klich in January

Given the lack of league starts for Klich this season, it’s easy to see why Jones thinks the player may want to leave the club in January.

Across the 11 substitute appearances he’s made this season, the Polish international has still managed to win seven tackles, which is one more than Brenden Aaronson, who has played significantly more minutes than Klich.

This highlights the use the veteran has for the team and why we feel they shouldn’t consider letting him go in January.

Should the likes of Roca or Adams pick up an injury at any point throughout the rest of the season, Klich would provide a suitable option for Marsch to call upon.

Also, with his current contract at Elland Road set to expire in 2024, it may be better for the club to wait until the end of this season, so they’d be able to cash in on him if he wants to leave and not sign a new deal.

Newcastle United are currently fourth in the Premier League after a fantastic start to the season, but it looks like they are showing no signs of slowing down their recruitment to strengthen the team even further with a transfer target revealed for January.

What’s the latest?

According to 90min, Newcastle remain interested in Stade Rennais forward Martin Terrier and have recently been scouting him too.

As per the report, the Magpies had contacted Rennes in the summer about the possibility of signing the talented player a few months ago, but no official bids were made.

The French club are willing to listen to bids in excess of £30m, however, it won’t be easy to secure Terrier’s signature as Arsenal, Manchester United, Leeds, Leicester, Wolves and Aston Villa have all been named as clubs who have scouted the player recently alongside Newcastle.

Isak’s perfect partner

Although Newcastle have posed an impeccable attacking threat to their opponents lately with a 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa last weekend, it is clear they are keen to strengthen their forward line further.

The North East outfit, who have become one of the richest clubs in the world after their Saudi takeover, have already been linked with a January move for James Maddison and Armando Broja, but the signing of Terrier would be monumental in their search for the perfect player to partner new striker Alexander Isak.

This season so far Terrier is the highest-rated (7.59) player at Rennes according to SofaScore, and it will come as no surprise when you consider his output in the team.

The France international – who was hailed “gifted” by Gaëtan Laborde – has scored eight goals, delivered three assists and created three big chances over 13 Ligue One appearances, as well as averaging 1.6 key passes, 1.7 tackles and a whopping 7.6 duels won per game, proving that he is a huge goal threat for his opponents.

Not only that, Terrier ranks first for goals converted outside of the box, third for aerial duels won and is currently the fourth highest-scoring player in the entirety of Ligue 1.

The 25-year-old plays predominantly on the left flank of the final third meaning he would compete with fellow Frenchman Allan Saint-Maximin for the position alongside Isak when he returns to fitness if Terrier makes the move to Tyneside.

Indeed, Isak is a proven goal-scorer but isn’t as prolific in winning possession of the ball as Terrier, ranking in the bottom 30% of his positional peers for tackles. However, what the young striker lacks in taking on opponents he makes up for in taking goal-scoring opportunities, ranking in the top 25% for shots.

Terrier can complement the Newcastle forward perfectly as he has no trouble with causing chaos for opponents in his pursuit to win the ball ranking in the top 20% of his positional peers for tackles, interceptions and aerials won.

With that being said, it would be an absolute no-brainer for Newcastle to secure the services of Terrier if the opportunity arises when the transfer window opens, however, Dan Ashworth will need to work fast as he is already catching the eye of many Premier League clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action this afternoon as they welcome an in-form Newcastle United to north London.

Antonio Conte will be looking to see a reaction from his side after they tasted defeat at the hands of Manchester United on Wednesday in what was a pretty dire defensive display up at Old Trafford.

However, the Italian head coach is without two key attackers in the form of Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison, as per The Athletic, whilst it may be too soon for fellow forward Lucas Moura to return to the starting fold.

As such, Spurs may well stick with the 3-5-2 formation that we’ve seen in recent outings, though there could be as many as four changes from midweek.

Lilywhites skipper Hugo Lloris remains the no.1 between the sticks, though his back three has one alteration as loanee Clement Lenglet comes in for Ben Davies on the left-hand side, joining both Eric Dier and Cristian Romero, who were both well below their usual standard against the Red Devils.

Emerson Royal is back from suspension and seems likely to return to the fold, replacing Matt Doherty at right wing-back, whilst Ivan Perisic is rested from the off, allowing Ryan Sessegnon a start on the other flank.

In midfield, the 53-year-old tactician has a big call to make, having started Yves Bissouma last time out. He may well turn to an old favourite in Oliver Skipp, who is yet to start a single competitive game this term. He’ll line up alongside Conte’s usual engine room suspects, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur.

That would leave Harry Kane and Heung-min Son to lead the line up front once again.

Predicted Spurs XI (3-5-2): Lloris; Lenglet, Dier, Romero; Sessegnon, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Bentancur, Emerson; Son, Kane

AND in other news, Conte reveals early team news ahead of Newcastle…