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Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run to three games in the Premier League after securing a draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.

It could have been even better for the Eagles, though, as Patrick Vieira’s charges were just moments away from securing all three points before Alexandre Lacazette struck deep into injury time.

The Gunners started the game brightly and dominated the opening 20 minutes, deservedly taking the lead after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacted quickest to a Vicente Guaita save following Nicolas Pepe’s curling effort.

But Palace improved after a slow start and began to dominate possession against their north London rivals, although they struggled to create any real chances in the first half. 

However, that soon changed following the interval. Christian Benteke continued his good record in games against Arsenal with a well-taken equaliser, smashing the ball into the corner of Aaron Ramsdale’s net after Jordan Ayew robbed Thomas Partey of possession. 

The visitors once again stole the ball off their hosts to take the lead, with Conor Gallagher dispossessing Albert Sambi Lokonga in his own half before executed a perfect counter-attack, resulting in Odsonne Edouard hammering in a shot via the underside of the bar.

It was an impressive performance from Vieira’s charges despite Lacazette’s late equaliser, and there was a surprise star of the show leading the line for the capital club.

As per SofaScore, Benteke was awarded a match rating of 7.6 out of 10 for his efforts, the highest total received by any player on the pitch. And when taking a closer look at his underlying numbers, it’s easy to understand why.

The Belgium international struck the target with both of his shots during the 90 minutes, successfully completed both of his dribbles and won eight of his ten duels (80%), highlighting his effective and efficient performance at the top end of the pitch.

He bullied the Arsenal defence with his monstrous presence and not for the first time, beat the goalkeeper at the Emirates Stadium.

Benteke hadn’t found the back of the net all season until Monday night, but his expertly taken strike will fill him with confidence in the weeks ahead and provide Vieira with another viable source of goals.

And, in other news…Parish must seal Palace move for “phenomenal” £5.85m-rated gem, fans will be buzzing 

We’re a little over a week into the new year and it appears Leeds United still have nothing in the pipework when it comes to incomings this month…

What’s the word?

Ahead of the Whites’ FA Cup clash with Premier League rivals West Ham United earlier this afternoon, The Athletic’s Phil Hay dropped a worrying five-word update on their transfer matters.

When asked if the Yorkshire outfit were ‘down the line’ with any additions yet, the ever-reliable reporter responded:

“Very quiet on that front,” he said.

Signings needed

This will surely cause a bit of anxiety amongst the Elland Road faithful, if not some anger as it’s evident just how bad the club’s recruitment team need to bolster Marcelo Bielsa’s playing squad.

Typically, United have never spent much, if at all, during the winter transfer window, especially under director of football Victor Orta and the Argentine head coach.

However, that is something that has got to change as the 66-year-old’s playing squad has been ripped through by injuries this season.

For example, he had as many as nine first-team players missing against Arsenal last month and that’s barely changed, with both Tyler Roberts and Joe Gelhardt picking up knocks this week.

Patrick Bamford has spent the vast majority of the season on the sidelines, without a backup, meaning Bielsa has had to deploy players out of position up top, such as Daniel James and Jack Harrison.

Whilst another midfielder is surely high on the agenda, having been on the lookout for one over the past few windows.

Further cover in defence wouldn’t go amiss either as there is seemingly a new centre-back absent with every passing week.

Leeds cannot afford to leave their business late either as it increases the risk of them overspending on one or two targets, as well as the prospect of missing out on them too.

It’s certainly a worrying that it’s quiet, even if it’s merely a week or so into the month. The club have had plenty of time to identify additions, so they should be busier than this.

AND in other news, Bielsa must ruthlessly axe Leeds’ “shocking” £47k-p/w passenger, he’s not good enough…

Manchester United are predicted to make huge changes this summer, including the appointment of a new manager and now Fabrizio Romano has made a huge claim on the transfer plans at Old Trafford.

What’s the word?

According to popular transfer insider and journalist Romano, Manchester United are already making plans to sign their next striker, with Richarlison and Darwin Nunez named as two players the club are interested in.

The Italian took to his YouTube channel to make the claim:

“Erik ten Hag knows how important it is to decide who is the perfect striker for Manchester United as soon as possible.

“For example, Darwin Nunez, and Richarlison are already players they have discussed internally.

“The perfect striker will be discussed with ten Hag before jumping into negotiations. Man United will 100% sign a new striker regardless of what happens with Ronaldo.”

Supporters will be excited

Following the shocking 4-0 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday evening, supporters will surely be excited that the wheels are in motion to start making changes and improving the squad with Richarlison and Nunez named as potential candidates.

Richarlison is currently embroiled in a relegation battle at Everton, however, at just 24 years old could be a great signing for Man United to improve the quality in the front three.

The Brazilian striker usually plays on the left wing to accommodate his partnership with Dominic Calvert-Lewin who plays in the centre-forward role at Goodison Park but has proven he can also be effective in his team-mate’s role too following his absence this season through injury.

The Toffees attacker has scored 49 goals in 145 appearances for his current club, but with the right service and guidance could have the potential to become a much more consistent goal threat and would be a good prospect for replacing Marcus Rashford if he was to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, as per reports.

Nunez is a hugely hot prospect for many Premier League clubs with Liverpool and Arsenal also speculated to be interested in securing his signature this summer following a fantastic season so far from the Benfica striker.

The 22-year-old has scored an impressive 33 goals in 38 appearances for his Portuguese club and has caught the eye of several clubs following his Champions League performances scoring six goals in the competition against Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax.

With that being said, if ten Hag does join the club he will have a challenge on his hands to identify the right players to make an instant impact on the struggling Man United side to ensure next season they have the opportunity to compete for trophies, and signing a new strike force is clearly a promising priority.

AND in other news: Ten Hag must brutally axe “terrible” MUFC flop who made just 11 passes v LFC

With the halfway point in the 2022 January transfer window approaching, the only incoming transfer deal that Wolves have managed to pull off is a move for Japanese midfielder Hayao Kawabe.

However, he is apparently going to spend the remainder of the season on loan back at the club Wolves signed him from, Grasshopper Club Zurich.

Though, it seems as though the Midlands club could be about to get involved in another January deal that would not only see a new player come in but see a current one leave Molineux at the same time.

It has recently been reported by Spanish outlet Sport (via Daily Express) that Barcelona are willing to make a swap deal for Wolves winger Adama Traore that would see Ousmane Dembele make the move to Molineux this month.

Before joining Barcelona back in the 2017 summer transfer window from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth a reported fee of £135.5m, the winger had racked up ten goals and 22 assists in 50 appearances for the German club.

During his time in Spain, the 24-year-old has made 129 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions in which he has managed to score 31 goals and provide 23 assists along the way.

With previous reports of Traore’s unhappiness at Wolves and reluctance to sign a new deal at the club, perhaps making this reported swap deal with Barcelona would be a good way of not only getting the Spaniard out of the club but also getting an immediate replacement for him as well.

Furthermore, it would keep him out of the hands of another Premier League team like Tottenham Hotspur who are reportedly interested in him too.

However, with Dembele’s significant injury record during his time at Barcelona, this will have to be taken into account by Wolves if they are willing to discuss a potential swap deal between the £27m-rated Frenchman and their flying winger before deciding whether or not it would be beneficial to have him in Bruno Lage’s squad.

Previously labelled as a player that “offers something different” to the team by former Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, Dembele’s potential move to Molineux could blow the Wolves fans away.

A major plus point would be an immediate Traore replacement but promisingly, he’d also surely be an upgrade. After all, Joan Laporta once said: “For me, Dembele excites me, he is better than Mbappe.”

Pep Bartomeu, meanwhile, added: “Dembele is better than Neymar. He’s at Barca and he is better.”

Considering the France international’s knack for scoring and creating goals, he could certainly more than the current Wolves winger who hasn’t been particularly consistent during his time at the club with just ten goals and 18 assists in 152 appearances.

In other news: Wolves “interested in” signing “strong” £14.4m-rated beast, Lage would be thrilled – opinion

Paul Robinson has now dropped a big Newcastle United claim involving Ciaran Clark.

The Lowdown: Clark’s indiscipline

The Irishman has come under the spotlight recently due to his indiscipline, as footage shared last month showed him punching an opponent in a friendly against Al-Ittihad, which resulted in him being sent off.

This comes after he was given a red card just nine minutes into their 1-1 draw at home to Norwich City in the Premier League in November, and with the signing of Dan Burn from Brighton on Transfer Deadline Day, the 32-year-old’s future at St James’ Park will have to be questioned.

The Latest: Robinson reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson – who regularly appears on Sky Sports – has now claimed that Clark may have even played his last game for Newcastle, saying:

“You don’t know what has gone on behind the scenes but that was the perfect example of how not to perform in an audition in front of your new bosses.

“You don’t get sent off in a friendly game in front of your new owners when you’re on a training camp.

“He has played in quite a few games this season. If the manager sees him as surplus to requirements I’m surprised we didn’t see him move on before the deadline.

“Given his recent disciplinary record, this could be the end for him at Newcastle.”

The Verdict: Get rid

Following the arrival of Burn on Tyneside, Newcastle can now afford to get Clark off of their books.

The Republic of Ireland international is currently ranked as the fifth-worst player in the top flight at the moment, and the worst out of his teammates (WhoScored), so he would not be a big loss should the Magpies decide to get rid.

Nonetheless, he should at least be frozen out by Eddie Howe for his indiscipline until such time that a suitable buyer comes in for him.

In other news, NUFC are interested in this £83.3m-rated ‘engine’

Manuel Pellegrini is surely expected to strengthen his options at right-back during the summer transfer window.

The Hammers signed Ryan Fredericks from Fulham in the summer but the Englishman has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League. Instead, Pellegrini has used Pablo Zabaleta on the right flank for the majority of the season. However, his long-term future at the club remains unclear with the ex-Manchester City man fast approaching the end of his career.

The 34-year-old has reportedly (as per Claret and Hugh via City Watch) been offered a coaching role at the London Stadium but is yet to confirm whether he will retire from the professional game. Nevertheless, Pellegrini must bolster his options on the right side of defence. Reports from the Daily Mail suggest West Ham are lining up Manchester United veteran Antonio Valencia on a free transfer.

Instead, the Hammers should make a move for Strasbourg flyer – Kenny Lala. Valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, the 27-year-old has proved to be a fantastic addition since signing on a free from Lens in the summer of 2017. Lala has been one of the most consistent performers in Ligue 1 this season which should make the West Ham scouts sit up and take notice.

The Frenchman has been a constant threat from the back, scoring an impressive four goals as well as registering nine assists from defence. His blistering pace and dribbling ability make him a nightmare to deal with and would cause plenty of headaches for Premier League defenders. Not only does Lala excel offensively, he doesn’t neglect his defensive duties, averaging an impressive 2.5 tackles per game in Ligue 1 this season (WhoScored).

With his contract set to expire in the summer, West Ham should grab themselves a bargain.

West Ham fans, thoughts?

Antonio Conte wants Tottenham Hotspur to sign Weston McKennie, who is a very familiar name to sporting director Fabio Paratici…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Gazzetta dello Sport, who claim the 52-year-old manager ‘appreciates’ the Juventus midfielder ‘a lot’ and envisions him becoming ‘the new [Arturo] Vidal’ under his stewardship.

At one stage, the 27-cap American looked destined to leave the Serie A giants this January but an exit is a little less certain after a breakthrough into the starting XI under Massimiliano Allegri in recent months.

However, the report claims that ‘anything can happen’ if Juventus receive a good offer for his services. It remains to be seen what sort of fee that could be, though Transfermarkt currently value him at £22.5m.

Watch out Skipp

Whilst Conte is said to be a massive fan of young Hotspur Way graduate Oliver Skipp, the arrival of McKennie in north London would certainly put his place amongst the starting XI at risk.

That ‘Vidal role’ is similar to what Mousa Dembele was so expertly deployed in during his time at the club, and the 23-year-old could certainly become a comparable player to the Belgian if he joins the club.

Described as an “outstanding talent” by former Schalke 04 boss David Wagner, McKennie is capable of being an absolute powerhouse across the engine room. “In the No.6 or No.8 position he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need. And he’s brave on the ball as well. He can be one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga,” he added.

No other central midfielder is averaging a better WhoScored rating (6.73) for Allegri this campaign, whilst he attempts 2.2 tackles, makes 1.2 interceptions and manages 1.3 dribbles per 90 in the Italian top-flight.

This shows that not only is he a dominant ball-winning maestro but one that can drive the ball forward to contribute in the final third, much like Dembele under Mauricio Pochettino all those years ago.

Also dubbed a “leader” by Wagner and a “rock” by ex-Juve boss Andrea Pirlo, McKennie would be. an astute signing for sporting director Fabio Paratici to make but the consequence may fall at Skipp’s feet due to the two players occupying the same position.

It would be hard for Conte to axe Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as he is currently their best-performing player in the Premier League, earning a 7.15 rating, which is even more than top goalscorer Heung-min Son.

Therefore, it’s likely that the 21-year-old gem is most at risk, having garnered a rating of just 6.46, even if that’s a little unfair on his true performances.

Although, later down the line a duo of Skipp and McKennie could grace the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for years to come. It’s just in the short-term that he could be impacted severely, should the American join in January.

AND in other news, Alasdair Gold reveals behind-the-scenes Antonio Conte claim that Spurs fans will love…

After falling to a 3-1 home defeat against Chelsea on Boxing Day, Aston Villa’s next Premier League outing sees them take on Brentford at the weekend after their midweek clash against Leeds United was postponed due to a virus outbreak within the Yorkshire club.

Looking ahead to the match against Thomas Frank’s side, against whom Villa could only secure a 1-1 draw in their previous league meeting back in August, it seems as though Steven Gerrard’s side could welcome back a player who was not involved in the weekend’s defeat to the Blues.

What’s the latest?

According to a recent report from The Athletic by Gregg Evans, Villa midfielder John McGinn missed the Chelsea game through illness “but is expected to be back” for the match against Brentford next weekend.

Given how McGinn has started in each of his 16 Premier League appearances this season, with three goals and two assists in the process, it shows just how important he is to the side.

Also, the 27-year-old’s overall performances have proved what a crucial figure he is for Villa, with WhoScored listing him as their highest-rated player with a season rating of 7.18 based on his league performances throughout the campaign.

A welcome return

With all this in mind, it would surely be a big boost for Villa to have McGinn, who Evans said “can help make a difference,” back in the side for the match against Brentford, which would duly delight the supporters as well.

Gerrard has also previously shared his admiration for the Scotland international by saying that he feels like he is  “the lucky one that’s able to work with him and try to improve his game.”

Moving forward, with the Brentford match on the horizon, this would be a great opportunity for Villa to put their defeat against Chelsea behind them and secure another win to help push them further up the table.

If McGinn is ready to play again, he would surely give his side a better chance of securing all three points, as they haven’t won either of the two league games that he’s missed so far this season – one of which was against the Bees four months ago.

In other news: Luke Hatfield reveals his big transfer “worry” for Villa in January, fans must be scared

As per Fanatik, an update has come to light on Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans involving Fenerbache defender Kim Min-jae.

The Lowdown: Tottenham target centre-half…

The Athletic recently revealed that Spurs and manager Antonio Conte have a new central defender in their sights this summer with a number of key targets already shortlisted.

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According to their information, Joško Gvardiol, Alessandro Bastoni, Sven Botman and Nico Schlotterbeck have all been identified for possible attempts this summer as club chief Fabio Paratici gets to work on the 2022/2023 campaign.

Now, with news emerging on another defensive candidate out of Turkey, it appears Conte has personally approved a move for Kim.

The Latest: Conte green-lights move…

According to Fanatik, Tottenham and Everton have ‘taken action’ over Kim with Lilywhites officials scouting the player and recommending him to Conte.

Subsequently, the Italian has now personally approved a move for the South Korea international defender by giving the ‘green-light’.

The Verdict: Right call?

The 52-year-old wants to see new additions at N17 over the summer as he seeks to improve Tottenham further over his first full season in charge next year.

Kim, who could cost around €23 million (£19m), certainly comes as an affordable alternative to fellow targets on the list with the defender also being called a ‘monster’ in his homeland.

The 6 foot 3 powerhouse, branded one of the stars of the transfer window this summer by Fanatik, may well be one to watch out for if Spurs can’t offload players like Tanguy Ndombele for a profit.

In other news: Tottenham official dispatched as Conte identifies ’emerging superstar’ signing, find out more here.

West Ham are one of the clubs ‘most interested’ in signing winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia this summer, according to a new transfer update.

The Lowdown: Productive season for Kvaratskhelia

The 21-year-old has enjoyed an impressive spell for club and country, catching the eye with his performances for Rubin Kazan and Georgia, respectively.

Kvaratskhelia scored two goals and registered four assists for Kazan in the Russian Premier League this season before joining Dinamo Batumi, due to the ongoing situation in Russia.

West Ham have been linked with a move for the youngster in the past and their interest doesn’t appear to be going away, as a new link popped up on Friday.

The Latest: West Ham keen on move

According to Il Mattino, the Hammers are one of those ‘most interested’ in acquiring Kvaratskhelia’s signature, should he make a quick-fire exit from his current club.

The level he is playing at is a significant step down, due to returning to his homeland after his Kazan contract was terminated, so he could jump at the chance of moving to the Premier League.

Leeds United and Napoli are two of the clubs also thought to be in the mix.

The Verdict: Exciting wide addition

Kvaratskhelia is an exciting prospect who is already impressing for Georgia, scoring five times in 13 caps, and he could be a great option for David Moyes to bring in this summer.

Predominantly a left-sided player, he could provide stiff competition for Said Benrahma in that position, potentially even coming in as an upgrade on him. He averaged four dribbles per game for Georgia in World Cup qualifying, showing what a direct and skilful player he is. To put that into context, his total dribbles per game for club and country combined comes in and three, which is more than double Benrahma’s 1.3.

Kvaratskhelias’ situation means he could even be available for free, with his stay at Batumi ending in June, meaning there is less risk in taking a punt on him, too.

In other news, one former West Ham player could return to the club this summer. Find out who it is here.