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Nottingham Forest have reportedly made a permanent move for Dean Henderson in the summer one of their main priorities.

The Lowdown: Henderson at the City Ground

The goalkeeper was one of numerous players to make the move to the City Ground in the summer and had been a regular under Steve Cooper before suffering a thigh injury last month. The 25-year-old has made 20 appearances for the Reds, keeping six clean sheets.

Keylor Navas has been brought in on loan from Paris Saint-Germain as a result of Henderson’s injury, but it looks as if Evangelos Marinakis and Forest have long-term plans when it comes to the Manchester United loanee.

The Latest: Transfer meeting

The Telegraph’s John Percy shared an article on Saturday looking at the inside story of a move for Navas.

The reliable reporter claimed in the article that a transfer meeting has already been held ahead of the summer window, with the Forest deciding that a permanent move for Henderson is one of their priorities for this year.

The Verdict: Could well happen

It seems as if Henderson turned down the chance to return to Old Trafford in January after Martin Dubravka was recalled by Newcastle, something which may impact his chances of a long-term future at Manchester United.

Should that be the case, Forest may well fancy their chances of securing a permanent move for the shot-stopper, who Paul Taylor hailed as ‘truly outstanding’ earlier this season.

He appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €22m (£19.8m) Transfermarkt valuation; and with regular game-time when fit, Henderson could be open to the idea of making a permanent move to the City Ground.

A summer move for N’Golo Kante ‘would be a huge risk’ for Liverpool, according to BBC radio pundit Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: Uncertain future for Kante

The Premier League veteran will be out of contract at Chelsea at the end of the season, and having not yet put pen to paper on fresh terms in west London, his future is up in the air.

Liverpool have been credited with an interest in the 31-year-old, who is currently set to become a free agent in five months’ time, as Jurgen Klopp looks to freshen up his midfield ranks ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

However, the Frenchman has reportedly held talks over extending his stay with the Blues, with the two parties confident of reaching an agreement, and one observers believes that such a development would actually be of benefit to the Merseyside club.

The Latest: Robinson’s comments

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson urged Liverpool not to pursue a deal for Kante due to his unenviable injury record and high wages, with the midfielder currently earning £290,000 per week.

The former England goalkeeper said in relation to the Reds’ reported interest in the Chelsea man: “There would be a huge risk to signing Kante. They already have one injury-prone midfielder in Naby Keita. You cannot take on a player like Kante given his injury record. Yes, he is a free agent but he will demand a lot in wages.

“I suspect there is a lot of agent talk in this one. The player is coming to the end of his contract and is not playing week in, week out so his agent will be putting the feelers out.

“There is a whole lot of change going on at Chelsea. A lot of players have come in. Kante probably is going to leave at the end of the season but I question as to whether Liverpool should go for him.

“He is coming towards the end of his career and has injury problems. Liverpool do not need to be signing that kind of player. It would be no more than a stop-gap.”

The Verdict: Don’t do it…

Kante has been dubbed a ‘world class’ player by his former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, and as a one-time PFA Player of the Year his talent is undeniable, but we agree with Robinson that Liverpool would be well advised to avoid moving for him, even on a free transfer.

The Parisian has missed the majority of this season with a hamstring injury, and considering that at 31 he is now seen as an older, more experienced option, he could only become even more liable to sustaining fitness problems moving forward.

The Reds are believed to be targeting the likes of Jude Bellingham and Matheus Nunes to rejuvenate their midfield this summer, and it’s important that Klopp sticks with this strategy of approaching younger players who would shape the long-term future at Anfield, rather than moving for quick fixes.

Leeds United have reportedly made a bid for Morocco star Azzedine Ounahi.

The Lowdown: Great World Cup for Ounahi

Morocco were the surprise package of the 2022 World Cup, incredibly reaching the semi-finals, not to mention knocking out Spain and Portugal along the way.

Ounahi was an undisputed key man for his country in Qatar, starting six matches overall and providing endless energy and quality in midfield areas.

The 22-year-old averaged 1.4 dribbles and 1.3 tackles per game at the World Cup, highlighting his effectiveness on both sides of the ball.

The Latest: Leeds eye double deal

According to Foot Mercato, Leeds are ‘currently completing the arrival of Frenchman Georginio Rutter’, and next up comes a move for Ounahi.

The report states that a bid has been tabled for the young Moroccan, who currently plies his trade at Angers in France, though there is no mention of how the Ligue 1 outfit have responded to Victor Orta’s opening offer.

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The Verdict: Could be a great addition

Ounahi could be a fantastic signing by Leeds if they manage to get a deal over the line, with Jose Mourinho hailing him as ‘absolutely incredible’ during the World Cup.

Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson have both been great additions by the Whites, and if they could sign the Morocco star as well, their midfield could suddenly look full of youthful exuberance and quality on and off the ball..

Ounahi possesses long-term potential and his energetic style of play would suit Marsch down to the ground – he covered more distance (14.7km) than anyone against Spain last month – so sealing a move for him, alongside Rutter, is a no-brainer.

Manchester United’s pursuit of FC Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong has dominated the Premier League transfer talk over the duration of 2022, and it might just continue to dictate conversations heading into the 2023 winter transfer window.

In the summer, reports indicated that the Dutch midfield maestro was all but confirmed to be penning a deal at the Theatre of Dreams, with Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenburg tweeting about the situation last year: “Ten Hag wanted him, he will get him! De Jong is on verge to join MUFC!

“Been told that de Jong could be presented at the weekend. But that’s not 100% safe now. There are plans to present him in the stadium.”

And now, according to reports from Spain, the phenom has internally expressed his desire to depart from Catalonia and ply his trade in Manchester, with the Red Devils now working on a proposal to to reunite manager Erik ten Hag with his prodigious ex-player.

Man United’s David Silva?

Signing for Barcelona in a £65m deal from AFC Ajax in 2019, De Jong has since made 158 appearances for the Spanish giants, scoring 15 goals and serving 19 assists, excelling as a deep-lying playmaker and winning one Copa del Rey trophy.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks within the top 7% for pass completion, 13% for dribbles completed and 11% for shot-creating actions, when compared to midfielders across Europe’s major leagues.

His supreme ball-playing abilities and knack for dominating the centre of the park sets him apart from the swathes of midfielders vying to earn a place in the conversation for the game’s elite, and De Jong is truly way ahead of the pack.

The Dutchman’s fantastic average rating of 7.29 in the Spanish La Liga this term, as per Sofascore, is a reflection of his stellar sustained showings, and with a pass success rate of 91% and 1.4 key passes per match are a big factor behind the Camp Nou outfit’s resurgence, with the club indeed in first place of the division after 15 matches played.

De Jong’s excellence could be utilised by Ten Hag to replicate the impact that David Silva had at city rivals Manchester City; signing for the Sky Blues in a £30m deal in 2010, the Spaniard went on to etch a perpetual name into City folklore, winning four Premier League’s and two FA Cup’s among other major honours in an illustrious career on English soil.

And with 77 goals and 140 assists from 436 appearances for the Etihad-based side, his presence was certainly felt within English football.

With both players creative geniuses and passers of the highest degree, De Jong could indeed inject his orchestrating aura into Old Trafford.

Hailed as “extraordinary” by Barca boss Xavi, it might be time for someone of De Jong’s calibre to finally try his hand at Premier League football, and complete the transfer arc with Man United that has dominated headlines for some time now.

Rumoured Manchester United transfer target Christian Pulisic wants to stay at Chelsea beyond January, according to Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Man United linked with Pulisic

In recent days, the American has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as Erik ten Tag looks to fill the void left by the departed Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pulisic is out of contract at Chelsea at the end of next season and his lack of regular starts could potentially leave him looking for a new challenge elsewhere.

While the 24-year-old could move on at some point soon, it doesn’t look as though it will be during this season.

The Latest: Pulisic not keen to move

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg claimed that Pulisic wants to stay at Chelsea beyond January instead of leaving in the next transfer window.

The reporter tweeted:

“News #Pulisic: Rumors about Dortmund, United & Newcastle not hot. Been told that he wants to stay at #CFC in winter! He really tends to this plan. But: Talks could take place if he would receive a great and interesting offer after the World Cup. But it’s unlikely.”

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The Verdict: Summer move instead?

While this news may come as a disappointment to United – a January switch isn’t impossible – they should still look at making the move happen once this season reaches its conclusion.

At that point, Pulisic will only have a year remaining on his contract and Chelsea may be looking to cash in on the winger, who has scored 26 goals in 133 appearances for the west London club.

At 24, the USA star is at a good age to come in and be a new hero for United – compatriot Tyler Adams has described him as ‘unbelievable’ – providing competition for places and adding more pace to an attack which has often lacked that quality in recent years.

Much of the speculation surrounding Wolverhampton Wanderers during the summer was whether or not Portuguese maestro Joao Moutinho would sign a new deal to stay at Molineux.

Eventually, the 36-year-old would agree to a new one-year contract with the Old Gold but his performances this season suggest that former manager Bruno Lage may have made a big mistake in keeping him on.

The once “outstanding” midfielder joined Wolves from Monaco in a deal worth £5m in 2018 and he has been a mainstay at Molineux in the four years since, making 191 appearances and scoring five goals in that time.

It was no surprise that Lage wanted Moutinho to stay for another year in the summer, as he made 35 appearances in the Premier League last season, averaging a solid 6.69 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the top flight.

Sadly, his form this season has been far less consistent, as his 13 league appearances have returned no goals or assists, with an average rating of 6.57 from WhoScored.

Considering he averaged an impressive 7.06 rating in his first season at Molineux, it is clear how much he has declined with age, and it seems clear that Wolves would be better off starting a younger midfielder as they look to avoid relegation this season.

No player in Wolves’ squad has been dribbled past more often in the current campaign, which emphasises that Moutinho no longer has the legs to compete in the Premier League and the Portuguese pass-master is a luxury which the Old Gold can no longer afford to have.

The summer additions of Matheus Nunes and Boubacar Traore at least give new manager Julen Lopetegui alternative options for when the Premier League resumes next month but in truth, Lage spent an unnecessarily huge chunk of Wolves’ wage budget on Moutinho in the summer, which could come back to bite them in January.

According to Capology, no player in the squad earns more than Moutinho’s £100k-per-week at Molineux, which suggests that Lage was thinking with his heart rather than his head when offering the veteran midfielder a new deal in the summer.

It seems clear that Moutinho is no longer good enough to be a regular starter in the top flight, and Wolves fans will be hoping that Lage’s summer blunder doesn’t cost Lopetegui too dearly in January as he looks to overhaul a squad that currently looks doomed to relegation.

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has been reacting to an off-field update regarding the Whites in the last 24 hours.

The Lowdown: No win in eight

Things haven’t been going well for Jesse Marsch at Elland Road, with the club currently without a Premier League win since August. The Whites have drawn twice and lost six of their last eight top-flight fixtures – form which leaves them in the bottom three.

It doesn’t get any easier for Marsch, who is preparing to take his side to Liverpool on Saturday evening with the backing of the Leeds board.

The Latest: Fixture change

It was confirmed on Monday afternoon that Leeds’ scheduled Boxing Day fixture against Manchester City has been moved to December 28th, while their first fixture of 2023 against West Ham United is now on January 4th.

Hay took to Twitter to react to the update on Monday evening, sarcastically calling it ‘magic’.

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The Verdict: Not ideal

Leeds will have to wait even longer to return to action following the World Cup, with supporters not getting the chance to watch the Whites on Boxing Day.

It isn’t ideal news for those who had already made plans, with the game chosen for broadcast by Prime Video. Traditionally, clubs play on Boxing Day, but Leeds will have to wait another 48 hours to face Pep Guardiola’s side, and it’ll be interesting to see who is in the Leeds dugout for that fixture.

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Manchester United could still land Memphis Depay in a “last minute” move.

The Lowdown: Depay linked with Man United

The Red Devils have been linked with a move for their former forward, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s future a hot topic of discussion in recent weeks.

Reports stated that United were ready to make Barcelona an offer for the Dutchman, with Samuel Luckhurst confirming that the 28-year-old could be an option.

Depay, who has a whopping €400m (£337m) release clause in his Barca contract, appears to have fallen out of favour at the Nou Camp, and it looks as if United could still be a potential destination.

The Latest: Romano’s comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano said that a ‘last minute’ move for Depay could still be possible, saying that ‘Barcelona are prepared to let him go on a free transfer’.

The Italian stated:

“Memphis Depay could be an opportunity until the last minute because we know that Barcelona are prepared to let him go on a free transfer in case he will reach an agreement with another club.”

The Verdict: Worth the risk?

Depay has netted 188 senior goals for club and country throughout his career, but he struggled during his previous stint at Old Trafford, scoring just seven times in 53 appearances in England.

However, he has impressed with Lyon and Barcelona since leaving Old Trafford and has been described as a ‘different beast’ by Red Devils journalist Luckhurst.

Therefore, a free transfer could be worth the gamble from Erik ten Hag and United officials, as Depay would then able to rival Anthony Martial and Ronaldo for a central role.

Nottingham Forest are believed to have shown an interest in Lyon striker Moussa Dembele, with Reds manager Steve Cooper still seeking to bolster his forward line.

What’s the word?

According to Foot Mercato, the City Ground outfit – along with fellow Premier League side Everton – are believed to have enquired about the Frenchman this summer, albeit with the 26-year-old not giving a ‘favourable response’ to any such proposals.

The report adds that the former Celtic striker – who currently has just one year remaining on his existing deal in France – is now ‘seriously considering’ agreeing fresh terms with the Ligue 1 outfit, although a failure to do so could see him sold before the September 1st deadline.

As for Forest, the Midlands club have already invested heavily in both Emmanuel Dennis and Taiwo Awoniyi to help bolster their centre-forward options, although another striker addition could be on the cards with the club’s reported move for Neal Maupay in danger of being hijacked.

Imagine him and Aouar

Although it could prove a difficult deal to get done, adding Dembele to his ranks would no doubt be a real statement signing for Cooper, with the former Fulham marksman having proven to be a “deadly” presence in front of goal throughout his career, in the words of journalist Rich Fay.

After rising through the ranks at Craven Cottage, the former France under-21 international – who could cost in the region of £25m this summer – was plucked by the Old Firm outfit in 2016, going on to score 51 goals in just 94 games across all fronts for the Hoops.

Having secured a move back to his homeland two years later, the £66k-per-week menace has continued to deliver the goods. He has racked up 67 goals in 144 games for his current club thus far, notably netting 22 goals in just 36 games last season.

Despite that fine form, the one-time Atletico Madrid loanee has seen his future in Lyon plunged into doubt by the return of compatriot Alexandre Lacazette to the club, with the former Arsenal man netting a goal and an assist on his comeback appearance against AC Ajaccio earlier this month.

That uncertainty could well allow Forest to swoop for the “scoring machine” – as dubbed by L’Equipe’s Bertrand Latour – with Cooper having the chance to add both Dembele and current Lyon team-mate Houssem Aouar to his squad, with the latter believed to be nearing a £15m switch to England.

The 24-year-old former Gunners target would be a notable coup for the two-time European champions, having scored 40 goals and provided 35 assists in 216 games for his current club to date.

Dubbed “incredible” by serial-winning coach Pep Guardiola, the creative midfielder would add undoubted quality to the Forest ranks, and it’s a mouthwatering thought to imagine the playmaker lining up with Dembele for the Garibaldi.

A duo who have both tasted Champions League football, such experience could well prove vital for the City Ground club this season in their attempts at Premier League survival, while also raising hopes for a potential push further up the table in the coming years.

Celtic are among a host of clubs to have sent scouts to check out Marseille attacker Bamba Dieng, according to a report from the Daily Mail. 

The lowdown: Wanted man

Signed for just £360,000 from Senegalese outfit Diambars FC following a successful loan spell, Dieng has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence in France, directly contributing to 12 goals in 42 outings for the Ligue 1 club.

The 22-year-old attacker has already attracted interest from West Ham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Leeds United after playing a part in his country’s Africa Cup of Nations success earlier this year.

Now, it appears as though Celtic are also among the clubs to have taken an interest in signing Dieng this summer…

The latest: Scouting trip

As per the Daily Mail, Celtic are believed to have sent club scouts to see the 11-cap star in action.

It’s claimed that newly promoted Premier League side Nottingham Forest are also keen on signing the Senegalese forward.

The report states that the Hoops ‘see potential in the pacy Senegal international’ – who has been dubbed the ‘new Sadio Mane’ and branded a ‘serious talent’ by football journalist Graeme Bailey.

The verdict: Major coup

Signing a player of Dieng’s calibre would be a sensational coup for the Bhoys given the levels of interest from south of the border.

Linked elsewhere to Barcelona starlet Alex Collado, it appears that the Bhoys’ hierarchy aren’t done with the summer transfer business just yet and as such more incomings to Lennoxtown could be possible

Operating across the entire frontline last season, the £9million valued ace scored eight times and provided three assists in 36 appearances for Marseille, showcasing impressive versatility that would be of huge benefit to Ange Postecoglou’s options.

Sharing similar stylistic traits to such renowned names as Martin Terrier, Ferran Torres and indeed Mane (FBref), Dieng is clearly a formidable talent and would be a superb addition to the Celtic Park ranks should a transfer become a possibility.