We kick off our final media roundup before the holidays with a fittingly festive piece of transfer gossip.

According to Ghana Soccernet, NYCFC are ready to rival LA Galaxy and a host of European sides for the signature of Ebenezer Ofori.

No fees are mentioned in the story, so none of the clubs linked can be accused of making “Scrooge-like” offers for Ebenezer (sorry).

Those clubs include Hamburg, Krasnodar and West Ham.

The story reads: “Ofori, who plays for AlK Stockholm, has been in stupendous form the last two seasons in the Swedish top-flight.

“The 21-year was named best midfielder in the Allsvenskan in 2015 and was named in the league's Team of the Season this term.

“He has been likened other emerging youngsters Valencia's Dani Parejo, Julian Weigl of Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli.

“The former New Edubiase United player is a sure bet to make a move during the January transfer window.

“Ofori is likely to make Ghana’s provisional squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.”

.@Guaje7Villa brings the house down and scores the first goal in Yankee Stadium history! #25DaysOfGoals pic.twitter.com/PolmlHDP4w — New York City FC (@NYCFC) December 23, 2016

Elsewhere, Esbjerg fB midfielder Jeppe Andersen is another potential target for the club, according to reports in Denmark.

Danish publication BT run with quotes from Andersen: “I do not really know that much about it, but I have heard New York could be a possibility.

“Now Let’s say that it if it becomes a realistic option, which is not the case right now, I would be interested in it. Right now there is nothing concrete, so far as I know.”

A former Denmark u21 international, Andersen is also apparently attracting interest from Brondby.

As ever, don’t forget that NYCFC.com should be your first port of all for confirmed transfer stories over the winter window when, and only when, the deals are done.

Away from transfer speculation, David Villa has hit out at people with “nasty” opinions of MLS, stating that the majority of them have probably never watched a game.

“Soccer is soccer in every country. Here it is very good – it is passionate, competitive, physical,” Villa said in an interview with Uproxx. “A lot of passion to play here in MLS.

“People sometimes have opinions that are nasty, no? I mentioned yesterday – if the people coming here are watching one month, three, four games, it’s impossible to have this opinion.

“The people who have this opinion have never watched a game in MLS, it’s not important for the people who want to build this league because this opinion is not true. If you watch the games or if you watch the construction or building of the league.”

That’s all for today… Happy Holidays from all at NYCFC!

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