According to Calciomercato, Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore is subject to interest from reigning Premier League champions Manchester City this month.

What’s the word?

The Italian news outlet claim that the 23-year-old has impressed Pep Guardiola ‘so much’ this season and as a result, the club are preparing to table an €80m (£68m) offer for him to try and tempt Wolves into a sale.

Traore has scored three goals and provided one assist against the Citizens in the top-flight, succumbing them to two successive defeats in their previous two meetings.

The Spaniard has been an integral part of Nuno Santo’s plans this campaign, in 30 matches in all competitions, he has scored five goals and assisted seven more, per Transfermarkt.

He even played at right wing-back early in the year to cover for Nuno regular Matt Doherty.

Should he be sold?

It would be quite the disaster if Wolves were to accept any bid for him during the current transfer window as he’s pivotal to the system that his Portuguese boss is utilising at the moment.

The 3-4-3 formation sees Traore take up a right-forward position alongside Raul Jimenez and one of Pedro Neto and Diogo Jota, so if he were to get injured or was handed an unlikely suspended (not been carded), then there would be no other player able to play his role.

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It would mean reverting back to the 3-5-2, which caused indifferent results early in the campaign or playing someone out of position there.

Nuno’s philosphy of keeping a small squad is going to hurt when a player of Traore’s quality departs as there are minimal options able to step up to fill such a void.

The same goes for Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves, who too have been linked with exits this month.

Can you remember how much each of these transfer icons cost? Only experts will get 100% on our quiz…

A Traore-shaped departure in the west Midlands would be devastating for their season and long-term goals. The side currently sit seventh in the Premier League and have every chance to break into the top six if they keep their form up.

The 23-year-old is clearly key to that given his goal involvements so far this term.

And in other news, plenty of Wolves fans were wrong to single out this emerging prospect for criticism against Manchester United…

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided an update on Manchester United’s transfer plans for this January transfer window.

What did he say?

The summer window saw the club sign just three players on permanent deals, Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire. They also let go of numerous first-team stars, including the likes of Ander Herrera, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez amongst others.

Now, the Red Devils have been linked with a whole host of players in recent weeks, with names like Donny van de Beek and James Maddison being mentioned amid speculation over a potential move to Old Trafford.

However, ahead of the club’s Premier League clash against Norwich, Solskjaer moved to downplay any rumours of major deals, instead admitting that people shouldn’t be expecting too much action from the Manchester side.

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He said (as quoted by The Evening Standard): “We’ve still got the same thoughts we had a month ago. We’ve got the players we have and are working with the ones we have. I can’t say yes or no, but I wouldn’t expect many ins and outs.”

Worrying times

Whilst United may be fifth in the table and still well in the race for the top four, the lack of urgency shown by Solskjaer in regards to potentially bringing new players in, is worrying to say the least. The Red Devils have numerous holes in their squad that need addressing, not least their issues up front.

The club are relying upon an 18-year-old in Mason Greenwood to be their third-choice striker, whilst they still haven’t bought a genuine replacement for Lukaku who left in the summer to join Serie A giants Inter.

Quickfire Quiz: How much do you know about Man Utd’s history in the January transfer window?

This is the exact time for Solskjaer to loosen the shackles, and be dominant with his voice. Publicly address how new signings are an absolute must for him, and put some much-needed pressure on the likes of Ed Woodward and the Glazers. Instead, the Norwegian has effectively chosen the coward’s way out by tiptoeing around the issue of the transfer market.

Being non-committal with his phrasing, saying “I can’t say yes or no”, and effectively implying he is happy with what he has currently got. A stronger voice is needed, or else United risk seeing this season petering out into nothing.

Meanwhile, this Man Utd target’s big-game mentality is exactly what they need.

According to The Evening Standard, Crystal Palace are rivalling Inter Milan for Ashley Young’s signature, while Lazio have emerged as another potential destination.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Evening Standard’s report barely mentions the south Londoners other than in the title and one line in the article, although Young’s future at Manchester United definitely seems uncertain.

The Red Devils ‘hastily’ prepared a one-year contract extension in a bid to keep the 39-cap England international, with his current deal set to expire in the summer – however, that was rejected.

Young is attracting interest from Inter Milan, and has received assurances from Antonio Conte that he still wants him at the San Siro despite the Italian’s pursuit of another left-back in Leonardo Spinazzola.

Despite Crystal Palace’s interest, it is believed that the former Aston Villa man wants to play in another country before he retires.

Would make a mockery of Crystal Palace’s ‘acceptance’Â

While speaking on the HLTCO podcast, The Athletic’s Dominic Fifield let slip an interesting piece of information.

He revealed that there is an ‘acceptance’ from the club ‘at all levels’ that the average age of the squad is too high, given that it is the oldest in the Premier League – only Max Meyer, Jairo Riedewald, Connor Wickham and Brandon Pierrick are under the age of 27.

Fifield adds that ‘everyone’s working to change that’ in regards to the age of the squad – in that respect, signing a 34-year-old Young would make a complete mockery of that ‘acceptance’ from the club.

It would, in fact, make the former Watford man the oldest player in the entire squad by a couple of months, seeing as he was born in July of 1985 whereas Gary Cahill – also 34 – was born in December of that same year.

It’s the dawn of a new decade in the Premier League, but how much do you know about the last 10 years?

Throw in the fact that Young earns £120k-a-week at Old Trafford and The Evening Standard mention nothing about a pay cut, and this would be a downright ridiculous move from the south Londoners.

In other news, Roy Hodgson has a good excuse for Crystal Palace’s snail-like pace over the festive period…

Leeds lost 1-0 to QPR on Saturday, but it all could have been so much different.

Once again, United dominated possession, but they couldn’t make it count as their poor run extended to just one win in their last seven league games.

QPR’s goal came in controversial circumstances as Nahki Wells handled the ball before netting, but Leeds should have equalised soon after that.

Indeed, The Whites had a huge chance to level the game in the first half, but it was squandered, and a former Leeds star believes that there’s only one man to blame for United failing to find the net.

What’s been said then?

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink pulled no punches when talking about Patrick Bamford’s miss in the first half.

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Bamford was one on one with the keeper, and despite the stopper being in no man’s land the former Middlesbrough forward couldn’t put his shot on target.

“Bamford, he will be really disappointed with it, because this is actually a very simple chance,” Hasselbaink said on Sky Sports’ coverage of Leeds vs QPR (18/1/20 1:20PM)

“The goalkeeper makes it easy for him, and he makes up his mind, but the execution is poor. He should do exactly what he was trying to do, but the execution should be better.”

Difference between three points

Bamford’s failure to do his job on Saturday was the difference between zero points and three.

The striker not only failed to convert the above chance though, as he also saw a penalty saved in the second half as well.

United apparently want to sign a striker this month, and it can’t come soon enough as Bamford is once again proving that he can’t be relied upon if United are serious about reaching the Premier League.

Hasselbaink is absolutely right to slam Bamford for that miss, and we can only hope that this acts as a bit of a wake-up call for the attacker.

Leeds need him fit and firing, especially now he’s the sole senior striker left at the club.

In other news, Phil Hay has revealed that one Leeds target has already been training at Thorp Arch this week.

Having captained Brazilian side Corinthians, West Ham may have been hoping Fabian Balbuena could bring in some vital leadership in central defence when he joined them back in the summer of 2018.

In his debut campaign in English football, Balbuena averaged a pretty impressive 1.7 tackles and 2.3 interceptions per game in the Premier League, earning an average match rating of 6.98. However, this season has been a completely different story, with his numbers taking a significant dip.

As per Whoscored, the Paraguayan is now averaging just 1.2 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game, whilst his match rating has dipped worryingly to a measly 6.67. And after being given the chance to impress against West Brom in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, Balbuena was hooked at half-time, and saw the Baggies knock his side out of the competition.

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After seeing his performance, West Ham fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the 28-year-old.

Some Hammers fans were particularly critical of his passing, with one supporter in particular claiming that Balbuena gave away the ball more times than he had been to see the side.

A couple of supporters even called for Balbuena to be sold.

Getting substituted in a game is never the greatest of feelings, but getting pulled from a match at half-time is particularly damning. Whilst Balbuena was joined by both Pablo Fornals and Carlos Sanchez in seeing their afternoon come to an abrupt end, the centre-back may be wondering whether he will now get a genuine opportunity to shine once again.

It’s the dawn of a new decade in the Premier League, but how much do you know about the last 10 years?

Damaging defeats like the one on Saturday can often see managers take a ruthless position on matters, and Balbuena may be one of the long-term casualties of the Hammers’ disappointing FA Cup exit.

Meanwhile, West Ham hold an interest in bringing back this former star.

Georginio Wijnaldum has been a huge part of Jurgen Klopp’s revolution at Anfield since he he joined the club in 2o16.

He has made 169 appearances in all competitions, scoring 16 goals and providing 16 assists. Not just that, he has also appeared in two Champions League finals, and he has started all but one Premier League match this term as the Reds close in on a first league title in 30 years.

Call yourself a Liverpool expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?

In the long-term, though, his future is still in doubt. He has just 18 months left on his contract, and there have previously been rumours he could depart the club in the summer. His latest comments in regards to his situation on Merseyside throws up more questions than answers.

When asked what the future holds, he said: “What would I like? It is difficult to say. It depends on what the club wants and how the situation is at that time. We will see.”

This has got the Liverpool fans talking, and there has been plenty of reaction. Some fans are clearly not happy with his words and do now want him to go.

Given how much he has contributed during his stay at the club, it is not surprising that many fans are worried about his lack of clarity on this situation.

However, not everybody is worried. Whilst he is appreciated as an important player, some supporters believe he is replaceable.

Klopp has already got rid of the likes of Philippe Coutinho in the past – a player who showed quality for Liverpool, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists in his last full season at the club, but who also pushed for a move to Barcelona – so it is unlikely he will put up with a player who is not fully committed to the cause.

Other supporters, meanwhile, believe this a ploy as he looks for more money.

The Netherlands international currently earns £75,000 a week – according to Sportrac, 14 players in Liverpool’s squad earn more than him, including Xherdan Shaqiri who has started just one league match this term. He is surely deserving of a bigger salary.

In regards to the “Gerrard situation 2.0” comment, this refers to the former Liverpool captain’s exit in 2015. The now Rangers manager explained that he would have stayed at the club had he been offered a new deal in 2014 (The Liverpool Echo via The Independent).

Whilst his situation is up in the air, for now he must concentrate on helping Liverpool win their first-ever Premier League title.

In other news, James Pearce provides an update on Jurgen Klopp’s FA Cup decision.

Stoke City are showing interest in signing Aston Villa centre-back James Chester on loan, with TEAMtalk suggesting that they have taken pole position to sign the 31-year-old.

The cult hero has only played twice this campaign, so could be allowed to leave in order to get more minutes on the pitch.

Judging by the responses to villareport’s tweet about the potential move, the feeling towards it is very mixed.

Having put his body on the line for the club last season, playing through injury, there are some Villa fans who feel that they should allow Chester to leave the club if he wants to.

One has suggested that it would be “not fair” for Villa to stop him leaving, while another has suggested that the club should “do whatever is good for him”.

Did he really play for us?! No Villa fan has managed to name all of these obscure Villans….

There is also a claim made that they should “give him a lifetime contract”, as well as letting him leave temporarily.

The fondness felt towards him has also manifested itself within some fans as an unwillingness to see him leave Villa Park.

Chester has played a total of 126 games for the club, scoring 11 goals and providing an assist, with his aforementioned sacrifice last season playing an important role in promotion to the Premier League.

Despite his lack of minutes this season, having spent time recovering from that injury, fans want to see him stick around in the hope that he can go on to make an impact.

Meanwhile, a journalist has detailed what Villa can expect ahead of the transfer deadline.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk may have completed a full U-turn over one member of his Owls squad in recent weeks, his recent comments would certainly suggest that.

What’s he said?

The Owls drew 0-0 to Millwall at the weekend with Moses Odubajo filling in a left-back for the injured Morgan Fox, making it two successive starts for the formerly cast off defender.

Early in the January transfer window, the Sheffield Star revealed that the 26-year-old had been told he was free to leave the club after a spell of eight games on the sidelines.

Although Monk’s stance appears to have changed, speaking this week, he said:

“He’s been training hard and that’s your job as a professional footballer, to be ready. The door is never closed for anyone, your performances will dictate what your opportunities are and he’s done very well.”

Garry Monk, Owls boss.

Last-gasp opportunity

Odubajo was signed in the summer by his former Hull City boss Steve Bruce but never got to play under the 59-year-old as he soon acrimoniously departed for the Newcastle United job on the eve of pre-season.

He went on to start four of the first six league games under caretaker boss Lee Bullen before Monk took the helm in September.

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The right-back was then named in the starting XI for his opening five matches in charge before being dropped to the bench for the next six games, and the same occurred later on in the season after he picked up a red card against Derby County.

A run of four straight starts was ended through suspension, but upon his return, Monk seemingly lost faith in Odubajo as he didn’t play any of their next eight matches.

However, it appears he has been given a second chance, one that you’d imagine is last chance saloon if The Star’s report is to be believed – although so far he appears to be taking his surprise opportunity.

Are you a Championship expert? How much did each of these big-money signings cost?

Odubajo will need to keep it up if he is to have a future under Monk at Hillsborough, especially after the breakthrough of academy starlet Osaze Urhoghide, in addition to having Scotland international Liam Palmer as a first-choice right-back.

And in other news, Sheffield Wednesday set for a huge boost ahead of Barnsley trip…

Sheffield United fans were full of joy during their victory over Bournemouth on Sunday.

They praised the efforts of dynamic duo Oliver McBurnie and Billy Sharp but among their remarkable pursuit of Champions League football, there is a growing narrative hovering over John Lundstram.

Benched in the last two games for new arrival Sander Berge, he seemed to send out a message with his goal against the Cherries. His emotion was clear in his celebration as he pointed towards his chest as if to say he was still one of the main men at Bramall Lane.

It was that particular moment, amongst others that led to a debate on social media as one fan seemed to think that the midfielder wasn’t happy despite scoring the winning goal.

Given he’s been restricted to appearances from the bench against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, it’s hardly surprising.

Other reactions centred around the need for Lundstram to be given a new contract. The 25-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of the season but there seems to be a hope that he will put pen to paper on new terms.

Talking to BBC Radio Sheffield over the weekend, manager Chris Wilder noted: “I’ve got a meeting away with the owners and Steve (Bettis, CEO). The next job is now for me to look at those contracts and the club and keep the group together, because it’s a decent little group we’ve got here and I don’t want it to get broken up.”

Who is that?! Nobody has been able to name the teams all of these obscure managers were once in charge of…

Meanwhile, Lundstram had the following to say: “Going forwards it’s something that the gaffer and me will speak about. It’s a club on the up, so we’ll see what happens in the future and hopefully it can plan itself out.”

Wilder has previously stated that the club will take up the option to automatically trigger a one-year extension.

However, one of the most heated debates arose around whether Lundstram should be playing over Berge.

The Norwegian has started twice since his arrival, impressing on his debut by winning six tackles. However, he was more underwhelming last weekend and was withdrawn on the hour mark after failing to win any challenges.

Some thought Berge wasn’t up to speed with the Premier League yet, pleading for Wilder to start Lundstram again.

A further supporter thought their January arrival didn’t have the mobility to play in the role that Sheffield United’s number 7 does. Given that Berge’s natural position is as a holding player, that verdict is largely correct.

Who starts in Sheffield United’s next encounter against Brighton remains to be seen but after Lundstram’s contribution from the bench, Wilder certainly has a large dilemma on his hands.

Meanwhile, one Blades player drew EYE-CATCHING comparisons to Billy Dearden on Sunday…

Stewart Donald deserves praise. That isn’t a succession of words you’re likely to hear on a regular basis.

The Sunderland owner is a heavily hated figure. In fact, that’s perhaps putting things lightly. He’s attracted criticism from various corners of the Stadium of Light this season, no more so than when he released a statement at the start of January. Within that, Donald confirmed he’d put the club up for sale.

The trouble is, however, that no one is willing to meet Sunderland’s current valuation of £40m.

Bloomberg suggested the Mackems wanted to tie things up by the end of February but that’s now looking incredibly unlikely.

Animosity has followed Donald around like a bad smell but there is one decision he deserves enormous credit for – sticking with Phil Parkinson.

The choice to move Jack Ross on had initially looked like a bad one, so had the move to land Parkinson.

From his opening 14 matches in charge, the former Bolton manager had won only two games. Considerable fan pressure called for him to be sacked and replaced with Kevin Phillips.

What might have happened if that had occurred is anyone’s guess, but the fact of the matter is that Parkinson’s defied his doubters.

It would have been easy for Donald to pull the trigger before the New Year and sack him. However, he stuck with the 52-year-old – a decision that could ultimately prove season-defining.

Sunderland have been nothing short of exceptional in recent months. They’ve won seven matches in their last nine outings and have kept seven clean sheets from eight of those encounters.

Their form has been in complete contrast and much of that is owed to Parkinson. If Donald had sacked him, they would have been left searching for someone who would need to establish new ideas at the height of the January window.

Where is he from?! Can you name which obscure countries these famous players have represented?

Instead, Parkinson was allowed to crack on with his own formulas, while also assessing options to strengthen the squad.

Sunderland have now lost just once in their last 13 outings, a run that stretches all the way back to 14th December.

The two months since have vindicated the owner’s faith in sticking with the current managerial team. It was a brave one, and for that Donald deserves credit.

Should the Black Cats achieve promotion, he’ll merit even more.

Meanwhile, Alan Nixon has provided a HUGE update on Sunderland’s takeover situation…