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Tottenham Hotspur return to action today but face a stern test on the road against playoff-chasing Preston North End in the FA Cup.

The Championship outfit currently sits firmly in mid-table but are but a string of victories away from third place, such is the tightness of the division.

Meanwhile, Antonio Conte’s side are struggling for consistency, and are yet to record back-to-back league victories since early October.

Therefore, this denotes a potential banana skin for the Lilywhites to navigate.

To do so, the Italian will be keen to allow some of his strongest players to start the game in an effort to cruise in front before removing them from play.

With Harry Kane reportedly suffering from illness that could see him ruled out, they will need someone to lead the line to great effect or at least supplement the struggling Englishman.

There can arguably be no other option than to recall Richarlison, who has struggled for starts this season since his summer move.

He still boasts five goal contributions across 18 appearances in all competitions, which is an admirable return just begging to be improved upon.

Although the signing of Arnaut Danjuma might overshadow most things around the game, it is likely to be the Brazilian who will steal the show if anyone.

Last season for Everton he was a hero in their moment of need, digging in against all the odds to score the goals needed to secure survival.

His ten goals and five assists for an abysmal Toffees showcased his qualities, spurring the north London outfit to unload £60m on the 25-year-old.

Frank Lampard himself admitted that it was tough to replace a player of his qualities, labelling him “unique” in his skillset. It is just this set of skills that could be so instrumental today in helping them progress in a competition that would be so important for them to win.

Conte himself doubled down on this tough mindset, claiming: “Feel his personality, he’s a warrior, a fighter. We need this type of player.”

The £90k-per-week marksman must call upon his goalscoring talents once again now, performing when the chips are potentially down to drag his team through into the next round of the hat.

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is set to sign a new contract at the club despite nearing a deadline-day move to Leicester City, according to Sky Sports.

The Lowdown: Harrison future?

Harrison’s future at Elland Road has been a topic of debate for months now, with the 26-year-old subject to intense interest from elsewhere in the summer, with multiple bids rejected by the Whites (via The Athletic).

Jesse Marsch was understandably keen to keep hold of the star, who bagged Premier League campaigns.

Harrison has struggled this season, though, potentially due to the demand put on him, with just one goal and four assists coming so far this season in the top flight, while completing the full 90 minutes in the league just five times.

The Latest: Deadline Day drama

After a quiet winter window regarding Harrison, it’s now been revealed that the Englishman was embroiled in a race against time move to Leicester, which ultimately fell through following Leeds’ 11th-hour offer for him to remain at the club.

Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett claimed: “I can tell you exclusively we expect Leeds winger Jack Harrison to sign a new contract at Elland Road in the coming weeks, and this after Harrison was recalled from a deal he was in the midst of signing with Leicester City on deadline day.

“He was actually in the process of undergoing a medical when Leeds decided to recall him to Elland Road.

“My understanding is that around mid-afternoon on Tuesday, with only about seven or eight hours of the window still remaining, Leicester managed to strike an agreement with Leeds United of £20m plus add-ons for Jack Harrison.

“He had already started that medical when Leeds rang up and said, ‘listen, we will match the salary offer that Leicester are making to you, so come back,’ and Harrison did.”

The Verdict: Stay at Elland Road?

With Harrison’s current deal in West Yorkshire set to expire in 2024, LeedsLive reported in December that the Whites were expected to begin discussions over a new deal.

It seems that it took Victor Orta almost losing the 26-year-old on deadline day to accelerate talks regarding a new contract amid a move to the Foxes forcing his hand, to the sure relief of Leeds fans, who must see this as an added bonus to the €41.25m (£36.2m) spent by the club last month, with Weston McKennie’s £30m (via Sky Sports) option to buy not included.

Although he’s seen marginally fewer minutes this season compared to others, with Harrison’s future set to be resolved, it could kick his Leeds career back to the heights he previously experienced which even earned him shouts for an England call-up from Sky Sports reporter Tim Thornton (via GiveMeSport).

Journalist Craig Hope has claimed that Scott McTominay is keen on a move to Newcastle United and the club will try and sign him if he becomes available.

What’s the word?

While it is certainly good news that key midfielder Bruno Guimaraes looks set to only miss a few weeks out with injury, when it had been feared that he could be sidelined for months, it has served as a reminded of just how badly the Magpies could do with some more depth in that position.

With that in mind, Manchester United midfielder McTominay could be an exciting option for Eddie Howe this winter. However, according to Hope, while the 26-year-old is up for a switch, the Red Devils are less sure about letting him go.

While speaking about it all on the True Faith podcast, the journalist explained his understanding of the situation, saying: “The player is keen, we’re told. And if for whatever reason, Man United turned around and said, ‘Okay, there’s a deal to be done with Scott McTominay’, I 100% would expect Newcastle United to act on it.”

Winter switch on the cards?

While Newcastle are known to be extremely wealthy, they are yet to spend big this winter on any new players. This does mean they should still have the funds to splash out on McTominay if he becomes available.

The Scotland international, who was hailed as “immense” by BBC journalist Bill Rice, has only started six times in the league so far this term for Man United and so it’s not hard to see why he would be happy to leave.

What’s more, with 113 appearances in the English top flight, it probably wouldn’t take him long to adapt to his new environment. Still, Erik ten Hag is probably key here and if the Dutchman doesn’t want to let McTominay go, Newcastle will have to shop elsewhere.

Should that change, however, all the ingredients are there to potentially make this a pretty quick transfer.

Journalist Miles Starforth feels Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi was fortunate not to be sent off for a second yellow against Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Guehi’s possible second yellow

30 minutes into the Premier League clash at Selhurst Park, Callum Wilson was brought down by the Eagles man, who already had a yellow card at the time after being booked in the early stages of the game.

Wilson would then be replaced by Alexander Isak on the 67-minute mark, as he looked to repeat his heroics from last week’s 1-0 victory against Fulham.

The Latest: Guehi was ‘lucky’ claims Starfoth

Starforth took to his Twitter account and claimed that the 22-year-old was fortunate to be on the pitch after he poorly blocked off Wilson.

He tweeted: ‘Palace’s Marc Guehi, already on a yellow card, is lucky to still be on the pitch after crudely blocking Callum Wilson.’

Starforth was not the only one to take this stance, as Shields Gazette colleague Dominic Scurr also of the opinion the defender got off lightly.

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The Verdict: Pawson gets it wrong

In our view, Guehi’s challenge was certainly worthy of a second yellow, in fact, it was more of a booking than the foul that saw him carded in the first place.

It’s extremely frustrating to see the lack of consistency when it comes to decisions by referees, and Craig Pawson, who was in charge of officiating the fixture, was perhaps guilty of this yet again.

A decision like that totally changes the dynamic of the game. Palace were able to continue to assert themselves well but that could’ve been changed had Guehi been sent off.

Overall, it was a frustrating day at the office for the Magpies, but Palace did very well to contain them.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is scouring the January transfer market in search of quality acquisitions to bolster his side’s prospects of establishing a competitive edge within the Premier League, with a new phenom distinguished.

What’s the word?

Marseille’s Matteo Guendouzi has been identified as the perfect fit to complete the jigsaw at the heart of the Villa midfield, with the former Arsenal ace impressing during his time in the French Ligue 1.

That’s according to prominent publication L’Equipe, who – as translated by Get French Football News – have stated that an unnamed Premier League outfit have cemented a concrete offer for the ace.

The report continues to allude to Marseille officials holding the belief that Emery, who signed and managed Guendouzi at the Gunners, is the manager with interest in his signature, and a move could materialise over the next few weeks.

Villa’s own Modric

Guendouzi did not quite find his feet after signing for Arsenal in an £8m deal in 2018, at just 19 years old.

He made 82 total appearances for the Gunners, scoring one goal and registering five assists, but was shifted towards a series of loan moves after being alienated by Mikel Arteta, before signing for Marseille on a permanent £9m deal in 2021. 

He did win the 2019/20 FA Cup for his efforts in north London, but ultimately fell out of favour in a transitional period for the illustrious outfit.

Speaking to The Athletic, former Arsenal performance director Dan Burgess said: “When he arrived, from a physical perspective he certainly wasn’t in a position to play in central midfield for a top-six Premier League club.

“He worked really hard at improving himself physically so that by the end of that first year, he was absolutely capable. He showed massive improvement.”

There is now a belief within the Villa camp that the 23-year-old can flourish as a centrepiece within a top-flight project in England, with the £35m-rated ace’s performances in France and his inclusion within Didier Deschamps’ 2022 World Cup squad indicators that increment to his game has expanded year-by-year.

Indeed, claims of “world-class potential” from scout Jacek Kulig are beginning to ring true with this French “monster” now having the makings of a fine top-flight midfielder.

Now having made 78 appearances for Marseille, his eight goals and 17 assists affirm an upgrade in proficiency, while his impressive 7.00 and 6.88 ratings over the past two campaigns are further evidence of a maturing confidence and ability on the field.

As per FBref, the maestro ranks within the top 11% of midfielders in Europe’s top leagues for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 9% for progressive passes received, illustrating his growing offensive presence on the pitch – and his assured average 85.2% pass accuracy is certainly not to be sniffed at.

He bears striking similarities to legendary Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, with the Croatian indeed Guendouzi’s most comparable player on FBref, and could now start to grow into a role of the 37-year-old’s mould.

Modric, 2019 Ballon d’Or winner and five-time Champions League victor, has forged 456 displays for Los Blancos, scoring 36 goals and 74 assists as the supreme orchestrator in the middle, with his composed presence and knack for instigating offensive manoeuvres two traits that Guendouzi can hope to nurture to continue to draw comparisons.

And with the 162-cap Modric’s average career passing accuracy of 88.9%, Guendouzi will need to develop his ball-playing ability even further to finally emerge as one of the hottest midfield prospects in world football.

Already praised for his “masterclass” performances, the French ace can pave the foundation for a prosperous career at a highly ambitious and competitive Villan outfit, and with Emery at the helm, the partnership could result in devastating consequences for opposing teams.

Journalist Charles Watts has slammed Arsenal defender William Saliba after another ‘rusty’ performance in the club’s most recent match.

What’s the latest? The Gunners managed to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points on Saturday as they claimed a 4-2 win over Brighton away from home.Twice in the game, Mikel Arteta’s men lead by three goals, but twice they let the Seagulls cut the deficit to just two, which made for a nervy final stage of the game.In particular, Saliba was guilty of making a big error for the home team’s second goal, failing to clear the ball before Evan Ferguson ran in behind to pull one back for Brighton.Speaking on YouTube after the game, Watts was critical of the defender’s display, saying (9:54): “He’s definitely rusty Saliba, which is no surprise because only pay about 20 minutes while he was away for France in six weeks. He just hadn’t played much football.”I think he’s come back, he was rusty against West Ham. He was definitely rusty [against Brighton], really uncharacteristic error for the second goal.”World Cup hangover?Against West Ham, Saliba was also at fault for the opposition’s goal as he lunged in and brought down Jarrod Bowen inside his own box resulting in a penalty. Although, he did win every single one of his duels.And so after this latest mistake, it’s easy to see why some criticism has been aimed at the centre-back. Of course, having been away with France at the World Cup, he may still be feeling the impact of that.After all, he only played 28 minutes across the whole tournament, so won’t have great match fitness. But he could also be very disappointed by the way things panned out as his country lost to Argentina in the final and he didn’t come off the bench.Elsewhere, we’ve seen Kalvin Phillips criticised by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after returning from the World Cup overweight, so perhaps a little rustiness from Saliba isn’t the worst thing in the world.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter is searching for a new left-sided centre-back with credentials of the highest class to kickstart his tenure at the club.

What’s the word?

With intense speculation over the future of Croatia’s World Cup star Josko Gvardiol over the past several weeks, it seemed Chelsea were going to unleash the heavy artillery on the precocious ace. 

While that remains in question, The Athletic are now reporting that AS Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile is the frontrunner for a move to Stamford Bridge, with the Blues said to be keen on the defender.

A fee of roughly £30m has been quoted, which is dwarfed by the lucrative €100m (£85m) demands of RB Leipzig for Gvardiol, consequently bolstering Badiashile’s hope of joining the west London giants. 

“Complete”

Since Todd Boehly assumed the ownership role at Chelsea earlier this year, there has been a clear discernible trend to the transfer activity – with the onus on signing talented young prospects and developing them at Stamford Bridge. 

Badiashile, 21 years old, is an imposing 6 foot 4 colossus who exhibits ball-playing prowess and fearsome physicality in abundance, the key attributes for a prosperous modern defender at a top outfit.

Having made 135 appearances for Monaco since rising through the youth ranks, Badiashile has netted six goals and served three assists, distinguishing himself as one of Europe’s most promising youngsters.

With Potter’s desire to play slick, fluid transitional football, it is paramount that the titan’s at the back can contribute toward the offensive drives at the opposing net, and Badiashile, hailed as a “complete defender” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, indeed fits this bill.

As per FBref, the Frenchman ranks within the top 7% for progressive passes and the top 9% for non-penalty goals when compared against positional peers across Europe’s major leagues this past year. 

There is a clear indication that Badiashile boasts the specific set of attributes required to flourish at this current Chelsea side, and the Blues would indeed notch up a gear with his deployment into the starting fold. 

He would be a worthy alternative to Gvardiol; the 20-year-old Leipzig ace is certainly one of the premier defenders in the game right now, but with a transfer fee almost certainly doubling – at least – what Boehly could clinch Badiashile for, it is really a no-brainer in which move Chelsea should forge, consequently leaving ample funds to target other areas of the pitch.

With Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger both departing the Blues on free transfers last summer, moves were made to replace the dynamic duo – Wesley Fofana arrived from Leicester City in a deal worth up to £75m, and Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for £33m.

Despite these acquisitions, Chelsea have failed to find the level of defensive resilience that has gone in tandem with the club’s success for many years now, currently languishing in seventh place with just 17 points from 14 matches, in part due to Fofana’s injury problems and the 31-year-old Koulibaly’s inconsistency, and Badiashile could alleviate such concerns with swift conviction.

Sunderland have submitted an enquiry to sign Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer in January, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Archer out of favour

The Walsall-born talent has found first-team opportunities hard to come by this season, having played just 44 minutes of league football under both Steven Gerrard and Unai Emery.

As a result, a number of clubs have now been alerted to his situation ahead of the winter market, and following a fresh update, the Black Cats are name-checked to be keen on bringing him to the Championship.

The Latest: Sunderland make Archer contact

According to Football Insider, Sunderland are among the clubs to have ‘made enquiries’ regarding Archer’s availability in the New Year.

Tony Mowbray’s side are believed to be ‘chasing’ the 20-year-old, although they aren’t alone in their pursuit, with several second-tier outfits ‘queuing up’ to take the striker on loan for the remainder of the season.

Emery must now ‘decide’ whether to keep him as a backup option at Villa Park or let him go out and get some regular minutes under his belt in 2023.

The Verdict: Potential advantage?

Despite there being multiple unnamed clubs interested in Archer, he shares the same agent as five players who are already at the Stadium of Light, which could give Sunderland an advantage in the race for his services.

The England under-21 forward posted eight goal contributions in 20 outings during his previous loan spell at Preston North End, which saw him hailed as ‘bullish’ by their manager Ryan Lowe.

The Black Cats are reportedly ready to sell Ross Stewart in January should he not want to sign a new contract, so Archer would be an ideal temporary replacement if the Scotland international departs the Stadium of Light.

Journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has described Leeds United target Cody Gakpo as ‘something special’, following his latest 2022 World Cup heroics.

The Lowdown: Gakpo flying in Qatar

The 23-year-old made a great start to the tournament earlier this week, heading home the opening goal in the Netherlands’ 2-0 victory over Senegal.

On Friday, Gakpo fired home a stunning strike to give his country the lead against Ecuador, prior to the South American side earning a 1-1 draw in the second half.

The Dutchman is threatening to be one of the star players of the World Cup and Leeds have been linked with an audacious move for him in the recent past.

The Latest: Romano hails attacker

Taking to Twitter, Romano lauded Gakpo’s brilliance after his brilliant strike:

“Two goals in two World Cup games. 17 goals and 16 assists in 31 games this season between PSV Eindhoven and Dutch national team. 23 year old. Cody Gakpo, something special.”

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The Verdict: Too good for Leeds?

The idea of Leeds signing Gakpo is almost too good to be true, considering the youngster has already registered 12 assists and scored nine goals for PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie this season.

His performances in Qatar are only driving up his price tag – Leeds journalist Phil Hay described it as a ‘breakout tournament’ for him on Friday – and the likelihood is that he will end up at a club who are playing Champions League football.

Unfortunately, Leeds are a long way from being able to offer that currently, so the thought of Gakpo heading to Elland Road feels more like wishful thinking than anything.

Newcastle United are thought to be interested in making a move for Ecuador midfielder Gonzalo Plata, according to a fresh transfer update.

The Lowdown: Plata tastes victory with Ecuador

The 2022 World Cup got underway on Sunday afternoon, with Ecuador getting their tournament off to an ideal start with a deserved 2-0 victory.

Plata started on the right-hand side of midfield for the South American side, playing his part in the win and enjoying a 90% pass completion rate, according to Sofascore.

As the 22-year-old looks to continue impressing in Qatar, a key update has emerged regarding his future.

The Latest: Newcastle keen on move

According to Give Me Sport, Newcastle ‘rate’ Plata, although Brighton’s already Ecuador-heavy squad means he could be tempted to move to the south coast.

The Real Valladolid star is tipped to ‘mesmerise’ supporters at the World Cup, due to the ‘trickery’ that he possesses.

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The Verdict: Good for squad depth

With Eddie Howe looking to build a formidable squad at Newcastle, Plata is exactly the type of player who could come in and provide strong competition for places.

At 22, the Ecuadorian would be seen as a long-term acquisition, as the Magpies look to force their way back into the European scene and eventually win major trophies in English football.

Plata already has top-level experience, making 10 appearances in La Liga to date, winning 31 caps for his country and proving to be a key figure, and he could be an exciting fresh attacking option at St James’ Park.