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Besiktas are said to be stepping up their efforts to bring Cenk Tosun back to the Super Lig from Everton, per reports in Takvim.

What’s the word?

The Turkish publication suggests that Besiktas president, Fikret Orman, plans to enter into talks with Tosun’s agent in order to determine the possibility of his client moving back to Turkey in the New Year.

It is understood the Super Lig outfit see their former striker as the man to replace Alvaro Negredo – who left in the summer – and will use the 27-year-old’s fall from the Everton first team as the base of their move.

Any transfer for Tosun from Besiktas’ side will be in the form of a loan deal, and they have previously identified the 29-cap Turkey international as a priority signing after Richarlison’s strong spell as a striker.

Tosun spent three and a half seasons at the Istanbul club, scoring 64 times in 142 outings, and is viewed fondly by the fans for the part he played in consecutive Super Lig triumphs and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League.

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Silva cannot afford to lose Tosun

Despite recent favouritism of Richarlison as the striker, Marco Silva cannot afford to lose Tosun in the January window.

The Eintracht Frankfurt product started the season as the go-to man for his Portuguese coach, starting each of the opening five matches, but a lack of form flipped his involvement to making just five substitute appearances since.

In those substitute appearances is where Tosun has scored, though – netting his first of the season against Fulham and then securing the points against Crystal Palace in a late ferocious spell by the Toffees.

Despite only featuring from the bench in recent weeks, the busy Christmas period will see the 6 foot striker handed more chances as he remains the number two behind Richarlison. Silva’s only other option is Oumar Niasse, but he has only called on the Senegalese forward four times in the league – all brief outings as a substitute.

Have your say on if Silva should sell Tosun in our poll below…

After a slow start to life at Newcastle United following his loan move from West Brom over the summer, Salomon Rondon managed to kick his St. James’ Park career into gear just before the recent international break.

The 29-year-old got his name onto the scoresheet twice in the Magpies’ 2-1 Premier League win over Bournemouth, and has since come in for praise from a Newcastle legend.

The Breakdown

Speaking to the Premier League’s official website about Rondon, former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi said: “Clearly his strength is his aerial prowess. If you look at the goal he scored in the last home game, it was just a top-quality finish with his head.

“There’s his hold-up play, too. He’s a strong guy and it’s something he can do very comfortably for Newcastle.”

Looking at his time at West Brom, as alluded to by Ameobi, £11.7m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Rondon is quite clearly at his strongest when his back is towards goal and when balls are being put into the box for him to attack.

The 29-year-old is a physically imposing centre-forward who relishes going head-to-head with central defenders in the air.

With the likes of Kenedy and Matt Ritchie in the side, two very capable crossers of the ball, those scenarios Rondon thrives in are ones the team should have no problem creating.

On top of Kenedy and Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey and Ki Sung-yueng are also good at playing direct balls, which is obviously a further boost for Newcastle’s Venezuelan No.9.

Rondon has all the makings of a good Premier League centre-forward and is in a team that has the characteristics needed to help him deliver on a consistent basis.

Arsenal’s u-23s were put to the sword on Monday evening by Derby County, suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat.

One wouldn’t think that a Premier League 2 team that has someone like Laurent Koscielny as a centre-back would suffer under pressure, although the Arsenal captain, who made his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt since May, was subbed off as a precaution at half-time.

At that stage Freddie Ljungberg’s youngsters were only 1-0 down but what followed in the second-half shows that Arsenal need to add to their first-team squad in order to find a balance in the club between the different age groups.

The U23s were without some of their main players, who were called up by Unai Emery ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash at Vorskla.

But, although Emery has used the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith-Rowe from the start of the competition, injuries in his squad has had an effect on the rest of the club. Alexandre Lacazette and Stephan Lichtsteiner are a doubt for Thursday’s match due to small niggles, while Danny Welbeck and Nacho Monreal are both not available due to longer injury layoffs.

Koscielny and Konstantinos Mavropanos’ absence has also not helped the cause and has the club been forced to call on Julio Pleguezuelo to add cover at centre-back ahead of the match with Vorskla, while Smith-Rowe and Nketiah could feature in order to provide some regular starters with a rest ahead of Sunday’s North London Derby.

All these factors sound like one big confusing setup but the bottom line is that the Gunners will need to drastically make additions in the upcoming January transfer market, as well as next summer’s transfer window, if Emery wants the complete squad to pose a real challenge in all competitions.

The manager has been able to work his rotation system to great effect so far this season but with still a long way to go, the squad could become even thinner if some players are overplayed.

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According to the Birmingham Mail, Blues winger Jota is expected to return from injury in time for the clash with Bristol City on Saturday, but here at Football FanCast we want to know whether he should be thrown straight back into the side.

The 27-year-old has missed the recent games against Aston Villa, Millwall and Preston, but with Birmingham winning their last two games he may have to wait for his chance from the bench, despite clearly being one of the most creative players at the club.

Jota has scored one goal and provided five assists in 17 Championship appearances so far this season, but Garry Monk’s side won 3-0 at home to Preston last weekend without the Spaniard in their side.

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Bournemouth loanee Connor Mahoney has deputised in Jota’s absence and the Blues have looked strong and well-balanced in their previous two wins.

So, Birmingham fans, should Jota come straight back into the starting XI if he is fit enough on Saturday? Or would Monk be wise to stick with a winning team? Have your say by voting in the poll below.

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Following the news of Lewis Cook’s serious knee injury, which will rule him out for up to nine months, Bournemouth need to sign a replacement if they are to make a serious push for Europe.

What’s the word, then?

The England international ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee midway through the 2-1 home victory over Huddersfield, leaving Eddie Howe without perhaps his best midfielder for the remainder of the season.

Jefferson Lerma often partnered the 21-year-old in the middle, but despite his excellent ability, even the Colombian cannot fill the void entirely on his own.

Andrew Surman and Dan Gosling are the next in line to replace Cook, with the former starting in midfield in the 4-0 loss to Liverpool recently, although he was sub-standard and not a patch on the crocked star – a signing will have to be made to cover Cook.

Who should they get in?

One man who used to be a solid, consistent Premier League performer, but has had some time out of the spotlight is Stoke City’s Joe Allen. The Welshman has scored four goals and recorded four assists for the Potters in 21 Championship games so far this season, whilst continuing to be his hard working, committed self even in England’s second tier.

He is arguably too good to be playing in such a division, and really should be on his way back to the top-flight in the near future such are his impressive talents.

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At 28 years of age, time may also be running out for the former Liverpool man to get back amongst the big boys in the Premier League. Allen, like Cook, is a composed midfielder who can keep the game ticking over nicely, but also get in on the act at the top end of the pitch.

He is a model professional and someone who the Cherries should be taking a serious look at in the Winter transfer window, especially if they don’t want their season to derail.

Would Allen be a good signing for Bournemouth? Have your say down below…

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According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United have confirmed that Izzy Brown limped off in an U23 game because of a tight hamstring, allaying fears that there were complications with his recovery from his ACL injury. However, the scare proves that players must be brought in during the January transfer window.

On the chalkboard

Just a couple of weeks ago, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa stated that he would rather improve the players he has than sign new ones. However, even though Brown’s latest injury doesn’t seem to be anything serious, the scare proves that the Whites are just one injury away from a potential crisis.

This could also be confounded by the fact that Samu Saiz has now agreed a loan move to Getafe that will begin in January, and Bielsa must act to ensure Leeds take their chance to earn promotion back to the Premier League.

The Whites are currently sitting at the top of the Championship table after beating Bolton 1-0 on Saturday, and fans of the club will be desperate to not see things slip after the winter window.

Bolster the squad

Throughout his career, Bielsa has been known for his preference for working with small squads. However, the Argentine may have to compromise on his morals and bring in reinforcements in the winter window.

Games in the Championship come thick and fast as Bielsa now knows, and his high-tempo style of play has taken its toll on the players so far this season, with the Whites getting extremely unlucky with injuries.

Bielsa and chairman Andrea Radrizzani must now bring in reinforcements to see out the season, as Brown’s potential injury has exposed a weakness in the squad.

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Marco Silva became the first Premier League manager to concede six goals in a single game as manager of three different clubs after Everton were thrashed by Tottenham.

Since losing the Merseyside derby against Liverpool in injury time, Everton have looked a completely different team. Despite taking the lead against Spurs, the Toffees were sliced open time and time again allowing the Lilywhites to score at will. Braces from Son Heung-Min, Harry Kane as well as goals from Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen secured a routine victory for Mauricio Pochettino to heap further misery on the Blues.

Everton enter Christmas without a win in five league goals with goals flowing at the wrong end of the pitch. While Silva may have implemented an attacking style to the side, the Blues need to get back to the basics if their form is going to improve. Luckily for Silva, the January transfer window is just around the corner.

One man who should be on his shortlist is Monaco full-back – Djibril Sidibe. Valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt, the defender has been a key player for the French side since joining from Lille back in 2016. Sidibe made 27 appearances in Ligue 1 last season under Leonardo Jardim, and his impressive showings attracted interest from Atletico Madrid who reportedly tabled a £25m offer for the Frenchman. The defender ultimately stayed put, but Monaco’s dreadful form which has left them in the relegation zone could make Sidibe consider his future at the club.

With Seamus Coleman failing to impress yet again, the 26-year-old would be the perfect long-term replacement for the Irishman. The defender is quick and possesses a fantastic engine, allowing him to get up and down the right flank with ease. A return of 17 assists since joining his current employers shows that Sidibe can also provide a significant threat from the back.

Able to play left-back as well, this move should be a no-brainer.

Everton fans, thoughts?

Son Heung-min’s 2018 has been a staggering year for someone faced with one of the most unique scenarios a Premier League footballer is ever likely to experience. 

Tottenham Hotspur walked away from the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening with a newfound sense of local superiority, courtesy of goals from Son and Dele Alli. Son was the man who struck first blood in the north London derby with an accurately arrowed effort beyond Peter Cech.

Fittingly, Son was not only the man to make the first major impact of the game, but he was the last player to leave the field – complete with a South Korea flag draped on his shoulders – after celebrating with the travelling supporters, a pair of noteworthy moments which underlined his importance both on and off the field.

Rewind just a few weeks into the past and a damning reminder of how close Tottenham were to losing Son to mandatory military service isn’t hard to find. The scenario was a dreaded one for all parties concerned, but Son eventually stood up in the face of adversity and played a pivotal role as his nation  won gold at the Asia Games.

As a new dawn lingers on the horizon with 2019 just round the corner,The Guardian have taken time to reflect on the year of 2018 by producing a list of the 100 best male footballers of the year, an esteemed list which saw Son rank in 78th position.

And The Guardian journalist David Hytner had this to say about Son’s impact this year: ‘Low maintenance, high-energy crowd favourite, Son is arguably the biggest football star in Asia. Leaves everything out on the pitch and has become a consistent goal threat, finishing last season with 18 in all competitions for Spurs.’

In a few short words Hytner manages to encapsulate the core components of Son’s game, most notably his exemplary attitude and determination to please the supporters with his diligent approach and dead-eyed killer instinct in the final-third.

Within a squad containing Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Harry Kane and even Lucas Moura it can be difficult to stand out, but the 72-time capped international is truly a unique talent with an unrivalled blend of qualities.

Considering everything he has achieved in 2018, his place in 78th on the list seems rather unjust, especially when a quick glance upwards details Marcos Alonso and Leonard Bonucci occupying the places directly above him.

But at the end of a watershed year in his career, Son will not care too much about his rank on the list; all that really matters is the quality of his form at Tottenham which, in recent weeks, has been close to his scintillating best.

Tottenham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

The majority of the Celtic fans who answered our recent poll believe that academy product Mikey Johnston is worth over £12m to the club.

Brendan Rodgers has suffered from a serious striker shortage in recent weeks, which has meant 19-year-old Johnston has been asked to lead the line on a number of occasions.

The youngster, who was traditionally a winger, netted his maiden goal for the club after coming on as a first-half substitute against Motherwell. He then followed this up with a brace against Dundee just before Christmas.

Celtic fans are clearly excited about his potential, and a majority 34 per cent of those who voted in our poll suggested that he should be valued at over £12m based on his recent performances.

Johnston is also a Scotland U21 international with one goal in six caps for his country, so there looks to be plenty more to come in the future.

According to Calciomercato, AC Milan are open to selling Franck Kessie if they’re offered the right price, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea apparently keen on bringing the midfielder to the Premier League.

What’s the word?

As per the aforementioned report, the Rossoneri would likely accept a bid in the region of €45 million (roughly the equivalent to £40.2 million) as their struggle to comply with financial fair play regulations could force them into a sale of the midfielder.

AC Milan’s loss could be Spurs’ gain, and Mauricio Pochettino’s squad could greatly do with the addition of Kessie.

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Since his arrival at the San Siro, the 22-year-old has developed into a fine and versatile midfielder. The 25-cap Ivory Coast international has impressed with his consistency, technical ability and defensive discipline in Serie A.

Spurs would be wise to do all they can to ensure that they win the race to his signature this month.

Making Spurs a greater force

With Mousa Dembele ageing, and Victor Wanyama unconvincing at the highest level, the north London club could do with some additional quality and steel in their midfield ranks. Kessie could usurp both Dembele and Wanyama in Pochettino’s starting XI, and make Spurs an even greater force to be reckoned with in the middle of the park in the process. 

Considering he still has so much of his career ahead of him too, and much more potential for improvement, investing in Kessie now could solve one of Tottenham’s key midfield issues for years to come.