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Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt is ‘ready for a new step’ in the words of agent Mino Raiola, who has represented the 22-year-old since his Ajax days.

De Ligt joined Juve in 2019 after becoming one of the breakout stars of Ajax’s journey to the Champions League semi-finals, which included claiming the scalp of the Turin giants.

The Turin giants won the race for his signature, sealing a deal worth up to €85.5m, and he has since played 89 times for the club, winning Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana honours.

Juve failed to win the league last season and have struggled so far in 2021/22, trailing leaders and reigning champions Inter by 12 points. They are even five points adrift of the top four.

It has already been rumoured that De Ligt could move on if his side fail to close that gap and miss out on Champions League football for the first time since 2011/12.

But now Raiola, in an interview with Dutch publication NRC, has suggested that both he and the player consider it time to start a fresh challenge somewhere else, regardless of what happens this term.

“[De Ligt] is ready for a new step…he thinks that too,” the agent said.

De Ligt is still under contract at the Allianz Stadium until 2024, which gives Juve a firm position from which to command a sizeable transfer fee. However, if they are not able to offer Champions League it will put more pressure on them to sell to a club that is in the competition.

Central midfielder Sean Davis has signed with Nashville SC via free agency, according to reports.

Davis recently left the New York Red Bulls after six years, 208 appearances, and two Supporters' Shield titles having failed to agree a new contract with the club. The Red Bulls officially announced the departure of their club captain on Thursday via their social media channels.

According to MLSsoccer.com'sTom Bogert, Davis already has a move to Nashville lined up ahead of the 2022 MLS season.

Should the report be true, Nashville will be adding one of the most valuable free agents on the MLS market this winter. Davis would slot into Gary Smith's midfield alongside Dax McCarty and Anibal Godoy in what would arguably be the most experienced trio in the league.

Davis, 28, is best known for his relentless work rate and defensive capabilities. The three-time USMNT midfielder made more tackles (146) than any other player in MLS in 2021, while he ranked first among Red Bulls players for pressures (683), interceptions (95), and recoveries (480). Davis also completed more passes (1,214) and progressive passes (190) for the Red Bulls and will offer Nashville extra ball security in midfield.

Nashville - who are switching to the Western Conference for the 2022 campaign following the arrival of Charlotte FC - have been a huge success in MLS so far, making the Playoffs in each of their first two campaigns.

The Tennessee club have enjoyed the most success signing MLS veterans and using their experience and know-how to see out games and pick up results against the odds. This season, they reached the Eastern Conference semi-finals before losing to the Philadelphia Union on penalties.

Right-back Alistair Johnston has highlighted CF Montreal's willingness to 'move mountains' as key to his transfer from Nashville SC.

Johnston was among the best right-backs in MLS last season across his 28 appearances and was rewarded with his first 18 senior caps for the Canadian national team.

Following a couple of weeks of speculation, Johnston completed a move back to his homeland, with Montreal paying $1m of General Allocation Money (GAM) for his services. Nashville also retain a 10% sell-on clause starting at $1m if the defender is transferred again in the future.

Johnston has been given a healthy pay rise following his move to Montreal, but he insists it was the feeling of being wanted that made the move so attractive.

“The money’s as much about that as it is anything else,” Johnston said during a video conference (via the Calgary Herald). “You want to be somewhere where you feel like you’re wanted. And I always felt wanted in Nashville. It just felt like Montreal was willing to move mountains — and move anything possible — to come get me. And that was something that really stuck out for me and got me excited about this potential move.”

Still just 23, a lot has changed for Johnston over the last 12 months, going from a relative rookie to the starting right-back for one of the strongest Canadian teams in recent memory.

But as performance levels increase, so does pressure. For Johnston, that's no bad thing.

“When I was in Nashville, if I made a mistake, people would say ‘he’s still a rookie, he’s still one of the young guys just out of college,’ ” he said. “Now I’m a Canadian international. They paid a big transfer fee to get me, so the pressure is going to come. But, as a football player, you want that pressure."

Johnston continued: “I’m looking forward to having a bigger role. I know it’s a young team compared to the national team. In Nashville, I was the youngest starter, but I look at the backline here and I’m potentially one of the old guys (and) I can’t even grow a beard yet.”

The Premier League fixture between Southampton and Newcastle has been postponed due to the number of Covid-19 cases and injuries in the Magpies' squad.

It's the second game this weekend to be called off, joining Leicester vs Norwich on the scrapheap of postponed games.

A statement from the Premier League reads: "Southampton's match against Newcastle United at St Mary's Stadium, due to be played at 14:00 BST on Sunday 2 January, has regrettably been postponed.

"Newcastle continue to have ongoing COVID-19 cases and injuries that led to their match against Everton being called off earlier this week.

"The Board accepted the postponement application as the club do not have the required number of players available for the match (13 outfield players and one goalkeeper).

"The Board was able to make its decision in advance of the fixture to give clarity to the affected clubs and their fans. We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption caused to supporters' festive plans.

"The League is aware that the decisions recently to postpone matches will disappoint supporters and understands their frustrations at a special time of year when fans look forward to attending and watching football games.

"The League aims to provide as much clarity as possible but unfortunately postponements sometimes have to be made at short notice, as safety is our priority. Where possible, the League will endeavour to keep supporters updated if games become at risk on a matchday."

The Telegraph report that Southampton are angry with the late decision and have lodged a complaint with the Premier League regarding the 'lack of transparency' over the process.

2021 was a fun year of Premier League football.

Mohamed Salah defied logic with his goalscoring exploits at Liverpool. David Moyes defied logic by making West Ham a legitimately good football team. Norwich City defied logic by being worse than we actually thought they were going to be.

Lorenzo Insigne will leave Napoli to join Toronto FC next summer in one of the biggest transfers in MLS history.

The 53-cap Italy international has been one of the most consistent forwards in Serie A over the last ten years, making well over 300 top-flight appearances for the Partenopei.

Insigne's contract is due to expire at the end of the current Serie A campaign, with Napoli only offering the 30-year-old reduced terms to renew his deal. Some European giants have been courting Insigne, most prominently Scudetto holders Inter.

But nobody could match the offer from Toronto - a reported five-and-a-half-year contract that is worth about $13m USD ($16.7m CAD) per season, with up to $5.1m USD ($6.5m CAD) in add-ons.

90min understands TFC and Insigne have agreed on terms and that he'll join the Canadian club in the summer.

Insigne's deal won't be announced until Toronto clear a Designated Player (DP) spot on their roster. At present, their three slots are taken up by Alejandro Pozuelo, Jozy Altidore, and Yeferson Soteldo.

As revealed by 90min, Toronto have been actively offering Soteldo out to clubs globally at an asking price of $7m USD - $500k USD more than they paid Santos for the Venezuela international in April 2021. Altidore will not be returning to the club as a DP player, either.

Brazilian clubs Sao Paulo and Palmeiras have been most heavily linked with Soteldo, while it's thought clubs from around South America are particularly interested in the 24-year-old winger.

The signing of Insigne will be a landmark moment for Toronto and MLS as a whole, with the Reds acquiring an active starting player for the Italy national team, who won the European Championship in the summer.

And Toronto may not be finished there, with fellow Italians Andrea Belotti and Domenico Criscito also linked with a move to Canada. According to Waking The Red's Singh, there hasn't been any serious contact between Toronto and Belotti, but the club are in talks with Criscito and another Italian striker from Serie A.

Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Jamie Vardy could be out of action for up to a month after suffering a hamstring injury during Leicester City's 1-0 victory over Liverpool.

Vardy pulled up in the second half but as the Foxes had already used all three substitutes he was forced to soldiered on until full time.

The injury blow is the latest in a long line of setbacks that Leicester have had to deal with this season. Heading into the Liverpool match they were without nine first-team players, with both starting centre-backs Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans sidelined.

This meant Rodgers was forced to field Daniel Amartey and Wilfred Ndidi in defence against the high-flying Reds. This, combined with the fact that most of the rest of the starting XI had played just over 48 hours previously, made the victory nothing short of miraculous.

Antonio Conte has admitted he will need signings in the January transfer market to improve the quality in the Tottenham squad.

Spurs' prospects have improved with Conte's arrival, sitting five points off the Champions League qualification spots, though as shown in the disappointing Europa Conference League defeats to Vitesse Arnham and Mura, the depth in the squad is suspect.

Speaking before Tottenham's clash with Watford on Saturday, Conte said: "After only two weeks I said we needed to improve the quality of this squad and for sure we need to. I was sure after seven to 10 days about this and then I had to make the evaluation over who I can count on and who I can't."

The Italian also gave differing insights on the futures of Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks.

Borussia Dortmund are in pole position to sign Angers starlet Mohamed-Ali Cho, who remains on the radars of both Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

Still just 17 years old, Cho is an integral part of the starting lineup at Angers. He has 18 Ligue 1 appearances to his name and has contributed two goals while playing as both a striker and a right winger.

The young Frenchman, who spent five years at Everton before returning to his homeland in 2020, was nominated for the 2021 Golden Boy award and is seen by many as a future star.

L'Equipe note that Angers are looking to get a 'dream' figure of €40m (£33.5m) to sell Cho, whose contract expires in 2023, and although that sort of fee is unlikely, there are a number of sides keeping an eye on the situation.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has revealed just how much he hated celebrating his side's Champions League triumph in 1999 because he didn't actually play in the game.

Scholes was a regular part of the United team at the time but picked up a yellow card in the second leg of the semi-final against Juventus which saw him ruled out of the final because of an accumulation of yellow cards.

The midfielder joined Roy Keane on the sidelines, with the pair both wearing suits as they came on to the field to celebrate with their United team-mates, but Scholes has admitted that he felt as though he did not deserve the glory.

"You don't feel part of it one bit," he told BT Sport's What I Wore. "Some people say that's strange because you played a part of the 15-16 games to get to where you are but you're in the stands and have no control over the game. There is nothing you can do influence that game of football."

Lyon have rejected Chelsea's request to bring Italian left-back Emerson Palmieri back to the club this January.

Chelsea hope to find cover for the injured Ben Chilwell, who is facing nine months on the sidelines following the decision to send him for surgery on a partially torn ACL.

As it stands, Marcos Alonso is the only natural left-back in Thomas Tuchel's squad, and attempts to use Reece James in the position in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Brighton ended badly after he was forced off with a hamstring injury.

The Blues have contemplated recalling Emerson from Lyon, but according to L'Equipe and Nizaar Kinsella, the French side have blocked such a move.

Antonio Conte has revealed Hugo Lloris is in talks with Tottenham over a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

World Cup winner Lloris has been one of Spurs' most consistent performers in a few turbulent years for the club but progress over fresh terms to extend his time in north London has been slow.

Pierluigi Gollini was brought in on loan during the summer to provide competition between the sticks, but Lloris has kept the Italian firmly at bay with a string of impressive performances, and the club's supporters are eager for him to be given a new contract.

Speaking ahead of his side's clash with Watford on New Year's Day, Conte said: "Hugo is a Tottenham player, he's the captain. For sure he will talk with the club to try to find a solution.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that the Reds won’t have a chance of catching Manchester City in the Premier League title race if they continue to play like they did at Leicester.

Klopp watched his side slump to a 1-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night, with a single goal from ex-Everton winger Ademola Lookman securing the shock result.

That loss - only Liverpool’s second in the league this season - meant the Reds failed to cut into City’s six-point lead. The reigning champions will also have the chance to extend that cushion to nine points, albeit having played a game more, if they make it ten consecutive wins when they face Brentford on Wednesday night.

Klopp is still confident that Liverpool will have a chance of catching up if they play their ‘normal’ game, but any further slip-ups only make the task even harder.

The latest round of contract talks between Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona have broken down, leaving the Frenchman free to talk to other clubs in January.

Dembele is approaching the final six months of his deal, and while Barcelona have always claimed publicly that the winger wants to renew, Dembele himself has repeatedly pushed back negotiations.

Barcelona had hoped to get an answer from Dembele before January. Gerard Romero claims they've had one, but it's not the one they were hoping for.

Talks are understood to have ended without a resolution, and now Dembele appears to be inching closer to the exit door at Camp Nou.

Thomas Tuchel has criticised the refereeing performance of David Coote following Chelsea's disastrous draw with Brighton at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had taken the lead via a Romelu Lukaku header in the first half, before a stoppage time goal from Danny Welbeck earned a well deserved point.

Speaking after the game, Tuchel lambasted the referee, the injury issues he's facing at the moment, and, well, pretty much everything in between.

"Very frustrating and of course very disappointing," he began. "We gave everything and we had enough chances to win the match.

A late header from Danny Welbeck saw Brighton snatch a late point against Chelsea on Wednesday, dealing the Blues a huge blow in the title race.

Both sides had their chances early on. Romelu Lukaku was a real threat in the opening stages, while Tariq Lamptey was lively down the visitors' right and should have done better with a scuffed chance ten minutes in.

Robert Sanchez nearly gifted Chelsea a lead soon after, failing to claim a corner and watching on as Cesar Azpilicueta's scrappy effort came back off the post, but it was a sign of things to come as another corner gave Thomas Tuchel's men a goal before the half-hour mark.

Romelu Lukaku rose highest to head past Sanchez, and once VAR was satisfied that the Belgian had not fouled Neal Maupay, the goal was given.

The young winger knew he was one of the top talents in his academy class, and he played like a player bursting with confidence. The goals came flooding in and, most importantly, it was obvious that he was absolutely loving life at Chelsea.

In the first team, that swagger is yet to carry over.

For whatever reason, his 117 senior appearances - up to and including Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Brighton - have posed more questions than answers. A return of 15 goals and 20 assists is respectable, but it's not enough for a player seen by most as one of the premier talents of his generation.