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Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Monaco left-back Ismail Jakobs and the 23-year-old could prove to be Patrick Vieira’s own version of Andy Robertson at Selhurst Park.

The Guardian Ed Aarons claimed last month that the Eagles have Jakobs on their radar ahead of the January transfer window, despite his lack of game time at Monaco so far this season.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Really top-class left-backs are a bit of a premium, but I think Crystal Palace could do with somebody to give a bit of competition to Mitchell.

“Maybe he’s on their radar because the Senegalese link with Crystal Palace is quite strong.”

Since joining from Koln in 2021, when sporting director Paul Mitchell praised his “quality”, the Senegal international has managed 57 appearances for Monaco, in which he has no goals and three assists.

This season has seen him make just three league starts for the Monégasques, which suggests that an exit in January could be on the cards if he wants more regular first-team football.

Should he join up with Vieira’s side, he could emulate Liverpool’s star left-back Robertson, with the Scottish defender undoubtedly one of the best in the world in his position, having helped Jurgen Klopp’s side to success in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League during his time at Anfield.

According to FBRef, the former Hull City man is the ninth-most similar player to Jakobs when compared to other left-backs across Europe’s top leagues, which suggests that the Monaco man certainly has the attributes to be a hit in England.

The two defenders registered very similar statistics last season with regards to expected goals and assists per 90 (0.31 vs 0.27), tackles in the middle third (both 15) and dribble success rate (54.5& vs 56.5%).

WhoScored also suggests that both Jakobs and Robertson like to cross, which suggests that the Senegalese star could be more of an attacking threat than Tyrick Mitchell at Selhurst Park.

There is a real lack of competition at left-back in Palace’s squad, so Vieira would surely be foolish to turn down someone such as Jakobs given his similarities to one of the division’s best in Robertson.

Aston Villa have been linked with Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie recently and the Ivorian could be Unai Emery’s own version of Yaya Toure.

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, Villa would be willing to offer €14m (£12m) for the 25-year-old in January, a price tag significantly lower than his £52m value courtesy of CIES.

Indeed, the Catalan club might be prepared to accept such a low amount as they are in need of a financial injection after their excessive summer spending failed to result in a spot in the Champions League knockout stages.

Kessie only arrived from AC Milan on a free transfer in the summer but has struggled for regular game time in Xavi’s side so far this campaign, with just two starts in La Liga to his name thus far.

It is something of a surprise that the Ivory Coast international has struggled to win over his new manager, considering his superb form which helped AC Milan to the title last season.

He would make 31 appearances in Serie A, scoring an impressive six goals from his central berth and averaging a strong 6.94 rating from WhoScored, which suggests that he could be an excellent addition at Villa Park if he can rediscover that form under Emery.

His form at the San Siro earned him a lot of praise from Antonio Cassano, with the former Italy striker singing his praises on Bobo TV.

He said: “I want Kessie in my team, he scores goals, he assists, he has personality, he has quality, he doesn’t lose the ball, he’s intelligent. I’m watching him carefully, he was devastating against Roma.

“It reminds me of the Yaya Touré of better times. He’s a different player, but in terms of impact. He is holding up the Milan midfield by himself .”

This is certainly a promising comparison, given Toure’s hugely impressive form in the Premier League during his time with Manchester City, who he also joined from Barcelona.

The powerful midfielder would notch an incredible 79 goals and 49 assists in his time at the Etihad, including 20 goals and nine assists in an incredible 2013/14 campaign.

Therefore, the prospect of having a similar player to Toure at Villa Park will surely be an exciting one for fans, and Emery will no doubt be hoping that he can entice the Barcelona man to leave Camp Nou.

Rangers are currently stepping up their search to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the dugout, with the Dutchman having been relieved of his duties at Ibrox earlier this week just a year on from having been appointed Steven Gerrard’s successor.

The 47-year-old’s time in charge ended in something of a whimper as he saw his side held to a frustrating 1-1 draw away to St Mirren, with the Light Blues reliant on a late James Tavernier spot-kick to spare their blushes.

One notable tale from that disappointing stalemate was the withdrawal of Glen Kamara at the interval, with the Finland international having reportedly had something of a bust-up with his manager at full-time after venting his frustrations.

That had come after the former Dundee man – who was signed for a bargain fee of just £50k back in January 2019 – had been reduced to something of a bit-part role in the early months of the season, starting just seven games in all competitions – albeit while impacted by injury.

There may well have been frustration at the player’s apparent desire for an exit – having come close to joining Nice in the summer – with pundit Noel Whelan describing the 27-year-old as somewhat “disrespectful” after publicly stating his ambition to play in a “top-five league”.

Having rather had his time in Scotland ruined under Van Bronckhorst, the 48-cap menace is now being tipped to finally seal an exit when the market re-opens in the New Year for a fee of around £10m, with Serie A side Salernitana one of those to have been linked of late.

Despite that speculation, a change at the helm in Glasgow could well spark a revival for Kamara at the club, with the “vital” asset, as described by pundit Paddy Kenny, someone whom a new appointment would likely be hoping to build around.

The one-time Arsenal man has been a “big player” for the Gers over the years, as per Kenny, racking up 174 appearances in all competitions to date, scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists in that time.

That impressive spell has seen the £21k-per-week ace play his part in the club claiming a league title and a Scottish Cup success, while also proving influential in last season’s Europa League run, scoring a vital goal in the win over RB Leipzig at the semi-final stage.

With a number of the club’s key figures coming towards the end of their contracts, Kamara – whose existing deal is set to run until 2025 – may well be one whom a new appointment simply can’t afford to lose, with the hope being that a change in the dugout can spark a change in fortunes on the pitch for the midfielder.

Tony Mowbray’s Sunderland returned to Championship action with a bang as they beat Millwall 3-0 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

The Black Cats swept the Lions aside with relative ease in their first match back after the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and have moved up to tenth in the table.

Amad Diallo opened the scoring with a simple finish from close range after excellent work from Alex Pritchard down the left allowed Ellis Simms to flick the ball into the winger’s path.

Pritchard then doubled the lead as he brilliantly evaded a number of challenges in the box before rifling in an effort that was too hot for the goalkeeper to handle.

Simms rounded out the scoring in stoppage time as he raced onto a ball over the top and lifted the ball over the Millwall shot-stopper before passing it into an empty net.

Whilst Pritchard was pulling the strings in midfield all afternoon and was heavily involved in two of the goals, the real hero for Mowbray on Saturday was central defender Danny Batth.

The former Stoke City man was a colossus at the back for the Black Cats as he repelled attack after attack with his sublime defending alongside Luke O’Nien.

He was crucial to Sunderland picking up a clean sheet in the match and made vital interventions in the first half to keep the game at 0-0, which provided the attackers with a platform to go and win the game in the second half.

Batth made a goal-saving clearance off the line in the first half after Anthony Patterson watched the ball go over his head and consistently won his individual duels and was in the right place at the right time to cut out attacks.

As per Sofascore, he won 11 of his 14 battles (79%) and made ten clearances, one tackle, one interception, and four blocks across the 90 minutes, whilst not being dribbled past a single time.

These statistics show that the 6 foot 3 titan was sensational for Sunderland as he dominated the opposition from a physical perspective and put his body on the line multiple times to preserve the clean sheet.

He was also composed and reliable on the ball as he completed 81% of his attempted passes and only lost possession 12 times from 77 touches, which shows that he was not a liability on the other side of the game.

Scottish champions Celtic reportedly missed out on World Cup star Hakim Ziyech in the not-too-distant past, with the Moroccan international currently thriving as part of his country’s remarkable surge to the quarter-final stage in Qatar.

Reports back in January 2016 suggested that the Parkhead giants were one of the clubs to have been scouting the playmaker during his time at Eredivisie outfit FC Twente, with the emerging talent attracting attention from teams across Europe.

As it proved, the Netherlands-born gem ultimately opted to stay put in the country and subsequently went on to join Dutch giants Ajax later that year, having racked up a stunning haul of 34 goals and 30 assists in 76 games during his spell at his former club.

That move to Amsterdam also proved particularly profitable as the 5 foot 11 wizard went on to provide 130 goal involvements in just 165 games in all competitions, memorably forming part of the side that reached the last four of the Champions League back in 2019 under Erik ten Hag.

Something of a “phenom” – according to journalist Muhammad Butt – the one-time Heerenveen ace went on to join Premier League giants Chelsea in the summer of 2020, albeit with that move to Stamford Bridge having arguably failed to work out, with the £100k-per-week man scoring just 14 goals and providing only ten assists in 92 games to date.

Nevertheless, the 47-cap sensation has gone on to showcase his quality on the world stage in recent weeks in Qatar, having had a truly “standout World Cup” so far in the words of CBS reporter Ben Jacobs.

The fleet-footed menace has started all four games for the African nation at the tournament so far, proving a typically ruthless presence in the final third having scored one goal and laid on one assist in that time.

That solitary strike came during the final group game against Canada as Morocco sealed their place in top spot, with the Blues ace producing a delightful dink from range to catch out opposition stopper Milan Borjan.

Such a moment of genius has epitomised Ziyech’s form at the tournament thus far, having also averaged 1.8 dribbles per game, while proving himself willing to put in the hard yards defensively after also averaging 2.0 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game.

Having at one stage been out of the international reckoning for almost 15 months following a row with former boss Vahid Halilhodzic, the 29-year-old is now a leading figure as Walid Regragui’s men look to become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, should they beat Portugal on Saturday.

As such, it may well be a real source of frustration for the Glasgow side to see the player flourishing at the elite level, having previously been tracking progress before he truly announced himself in the game.

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha is tempted by another big move away from the club, according to a key update from transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Zaha rumours rife

The Ivorian’s future has been arguably the biggest talking point at Selhurst Park of late, with the Eagles potentially desperate try and keep hold of their star man.

It appears as though Zaha is torn currently, no doubt being keen on remaining such a loyal figure at Palace but also being wanted by some of the top clubs in the country.

Now, a new update has emerged – one that Eagles fans may not want to hear.

The Latest: One more big challenge?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones admitted that Zaha could be eyeing up one last high-profile at this point in his career:

“Palace has been a great club for him. They’ll do everything and have done everything they possibly can to try and get him to stay.

“But from what I hear, he’s still got a drive within him to have another crack at the really big time.”

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The Verdict: Hard to begrudge him

If Zaha does end up leaving Palace next month, or in the summer for that matter, it really is difficult to begrudge him a big switch to a trophy-chasing club.

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He is a wonderful footballer, having scored 89 goals and registered 75 assists for the Eagles, and the club have no divine right to expect him to stay put.

It would be preferable for Zaha to remain a Palace player, of course, and there is still a possibility of that, but at 30, he may feel that it is now or never to have one last crack at a fresh challenge in a better team.

Aston Villa youngster Seb Revan is ‘attracting interest’ from clubs ahead of a potential loan move in the January transfer window, according to Gregg Evans.

The Lowdown: Revan training with first-team

The 19-year-old left-back is a highly thought of young prospect at Bodymoor Heath and he has made 31 appearances for the Under-21s after graduating from 28 showings for the Under-18s.

While a first-team debut is yet to come Revan’s way, he has been training alongside the senior players this month, as Unai Emery works with his squad during the 2022 World Cup.

With minutes hard to come by, however, it looks as though a temporary move could be on the cards for the teenage defender.

The Latest: Loan move likely?

Taking to Twitter on Thursday evening, Evans claimed that several clubs are looking at a possible January move for Revan, with a summer exit not materialising earlier this year:

“Seb Revan is attracting interest from a number of clubs. He almost had a loan move secured before an injury over the summer. #AVFC will sanction a loan for the defender who has been training with the first-team this month.”

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The Verdict: Ideal for experience

Considering Revan is highly unlikely to force his way into Emery’s plans this season – Lucas Digne is the undisputed first-choice left-back – a loan move makes perfect sense.

It would allow the Villa youngster to earn regular playing time at a competitive level such as the Championship, helping him grow as a player in the process.

Revan could then return to Villa Park next summer a more rounded, mature footballer, at which point he could eye up a first-team debut moving forward.

Celtic defender Stephen Welsh has been urged to make a move away from the Parkhead club during the upcoming January transfer window by BBC pundit Tam McManus. 

The Lowdown: Welsh’s season so far

So far this season, the 22-year-old has made just six appearances for the Hoops across all competitions, which suggests that he’s not particularly high in Ange Postecoglou’s pecking order.

With the Hoops recently acquiring the services of defender Yuki Kobayashi, this could make Welsh’s chances of getting regular game time even thinner.

With the January window close to opening, the Scotsman has been backed to make a move away from Parkhead.

The Latest: Welsh backed for January exit

Speaking to Football Insider, McManus had this to say Welsh and his immediate future at Celtic ahead of January.

“He’s 22 now, he cannot be sat on the bench or in the stands every week. He has to go and play games for somebody. Celtic have depth at centre-back and now they have just signed Kobayashi as well.

“Welsh is well down the pecking order at Celtic now and he just has to leave. Whether he goes to Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen or somewhere down south, he has to get away.

“Whether it is a loan deal or a permanent doesn’t matter right now. We’ll have to see what kind of offers come in but he is helping no one if he isn’t playing.

“I would be surprised if Welsh is still at Celtic when the window closes.”

The Verdict: The right move

Given the lack of regular game time he’s had so far this season, it would make sense for Welsh to potentially join another club on loan, where he’d be able to play on a consistent basis.

Even though he’s only played in four league games this season, his performances in those games have earned him a season rating (6.88/10), which makes him the lowest-rated centre-back at the club according to WhoScored.

With that in mind, it could be an idea for the club to move him on temporarily in January so he can improve his game and have a better chance of breaking into the team in the future or earning a permanent switch.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Brighton  & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis MacAllister in January and his potential arrival at the Emirates could be another masterclass by sporting director Edu.

What’s the word?

According to TyC Sports journalist Gastón Edul, Chelsea, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are all keen on the Argentina international, who stared at the recent World Cup in Qatar as Lionel Scaloni’s side triumphed against France in the final.

While Chelsea are said to be leading the race for the former Boca Juniors man, it is thought that a January move could be extremely difficult, as the Seagulls are in a strong position financially and won’t be keen to sell the 24-year-old after some eye-catching recent performances.

The young midfielder had already impressed in the Premier League ahead of the World Cup break, hitting five goals in 14 appearances for Brighton, earning a strong 7.05 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

However, he featured in a more advanced position in Qatar and was one of Argentina’s most consistent players en route to glory, scoring one goal and providing one assist, earning a 7.11 rating from WhoScored which ranked him as his country’s third-best performer behind only Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.

Therefore, it is clear that MacAllister already has what it takes to perform at the very top and it is easy to see why Arsenal might want to bring him to the Emirates in 2023.

A repeat of Arsenal’s White masterclass

Brighton have cultivated a reputation for identifying top young talents and selling them on for big fees in recent years, with Ben White, Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma all leaving for big transfer fees after establishing themselves as top young talents at the Amex Stadium.

White, in particular, has caught the eye with his performances for the Gunners this season, earning a strong 6.89 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the top flight, despite being moved to right-back by Arteta this season in order to accommodate William Saliba in the starting XI.

WhoScored state that MacAllister’s strengths include passing, holding onto the ball and defensive contribution, all of which suggest that he has the ability and attitude to be a success at the Emirates.

Former Brighton boss Alan Mullery praised the versatile midfielder on BBC Radio Sussex’s Albion Unlimited podcast during the World Cup.

He said: “Mac Allister has looked a class, quality player.

“He thinks of what he wants to do when the ball arrives, play it short, run it, defend it. He’s a very good midfield player. He has the capability to go forward and also defend. He’s not big and strong but he wins tackles. He has this attitude and when he has the ball he looks forward very carefully. I think he has been outstanding this season.”

Considering the success of their last signing from Brighton, it is no surprise that Edu is seemingly looking towards the south coast for another potential addition in 2023.

Leeds United are concerned Patrick Bamford could be out for a further extended spell following a recent operation.

The Lowdown: Surgery in Germany

Bamford, hailed as a ‘hardworking’ player by former teammate Kalvin Phillips, has had plenty of injury problems over the past 18 months, missing games last season with ankle, hamstring and foot problems.

The 29-year-old has only managed four Premier League starts during the current campaign and recently underwent surgery in Germany prior to domestic football returning.

Reports suggested that the procedure went well and that the forward was set to return to training before the New Year, but a worrying update has emerged.

The Latest: Bamford update

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared news he’s heard out of Elland Road regarding Bamford in the last 24 hours.

He revealed that the Whites fear the forward could be out for an extended period in a new injury setback.

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The Verdict: New attacking addition crucial

Bamford just can’t remain fully fit for a period of time under Jesse Marsch, with this latest update seemingly another setback for both player and manager.

Therefore, it is even more important that the club bring in a new forward this month to help senior forward Rodrigo.

Failing to do so would be a huge worry ahead of the second half of the season, with Bamford potentially not returning to action for the foreseeable.