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While things at Celtic appear to be increasingly on the up under the management of Ange Postecoglou, with the Bhoys currently on a run of six games without defeat in all competitions, there are nevertheless a number of positions in the 56-year-old’s first-team squad that are lacking a considerable amount of depth.

Indeed, in a recent article for The Athletic, Kieran Devlin highlighted Celtic’s need for an adequate replacement for Callum McGregor in the number six role, as, during the four-game period in which the central midfielder was sidelined back in September, the Hoops clearly lacked a player who could replicate the 28-year-old’s “passing range, speed of thought and execution to accelerate attacks.”

However, before Postecoglou enters the January transfer market in search of a backup for the Scotland international, perhaps it would be wise to take a closer look at one of the club’s summer signings first – in the shape of Liam Shaw.

Indeed, after joining the club on a free transfer back in July, the 20-year-old said of his style: “I describe myself as a box-to-box midfielder, a lot of energy running up and down, I can score a goal, and be aggressive in that I like a tackle and I like to press people.”

This is something that was evident in his 19 Championship appearances for Sheffield Wednesday last season, over which the £315k-rated man scored one goal and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.3 key passes, 0.7 tackles and taking 0.5 shots per game.

While these statistics are not exactly mind-blowing, it must be remembered that his returns came while the midfielder was enjoying his breakthrough season in professional football within a side who were fighting at the wrong end of the Championship table – before ultimately suffering relegation.

Indeed, it is clear to see that the foundations are undoubtedly there for Shaw to blossom into a fine number six, something that will be developed further with more experience of first-team football.

However, with the 20-year-old being yet to make an appearance in the Scottish Premiership under the management of Postecoglou, it would appear a very wise move for the Bhoys boss to finally unleash the rarely-seen Shaw in the coming weeks and months, as the midfielder could prove to solve one of the 56-year-old’s biggest issues at Parkhead.

In other news: Ange must ruthlessly axe “incredible” £14k-p/w Celtic ace, there’s a better option

Keith Downie has now dropped some exciting Newcastle United transfer news involving Darwin Nunez.

The Lowdown: Offer reports

The St. James’ Park faithful have reportedly already made an offer for Nunez, as they look to chase a marquee signing in the summer window.

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He is one of the most sought-after players in European football at the moment after scoring 33 goals in just 38 matches in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Nunez watched

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sky Sports journalist and North East reporter Downie has now shared that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have indeed ‘watched’ Nunez ahead of a potential move in the summer, although he did not confirm if an offer has been made:

“Nunez is someone they’ve looked at, they’ve watched. I think a proven goalscorer on the European stage will be one of the main priorities, if not the priority in the summer.”

The Verdict: Exciting

It is certainly exciting for the Toon Army to be linked with a player like Nunez going into the summer, even if Downie believes they are just at the scouting stage right now.

After their 1-0 win at home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday night, they are almost certainly safe now on 40 points, and so can start planning ahead in the long-term project.

They will struggle to attract Nunez ahead of other teams with no European football to offer, but at 22 years of age, you would think that there could be another opportunity to sign him down the line, once the Tyneside outfit really start to make a name for themselves on the world stage.

In other news, find out what big NUFC update this transfer insider has now revealed here!

A big Rangers transfer claim has emerged, regarding the potential sale of Romanian forward Ianis Hagi from Ibrox and his future under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

What’s the talk?

Former Premier League forward Noel Whelan has claimed that the Gers will need to buy and sell players like the winger for profit to compete with Celtic in the long-term, citing their business model with Virgil van Dijk in particular.

He told Football Insider: “Rangers have got to sell players like him in order to be self-sustainable.

“That’s been the case for Celtic too, not just Rangers. As much as they’re giants in Scotland and well-known across Europe, we’ve seen over the years that Celtic will take profits on their best players.

“Their recruitment has been so crucial for them, and that’s the same for Rangers. They buy them, nuture them, develop them – but then when the time is right, they sell them on.

“It just like what happened with Van Dijk at Celtic. Many have come through there and done a great job for them, winning titles at the club.

“It’s just the way of the world right now. Money talks if you are Rangers or Celtic, they just can’t compete with the Premier League clubs at the moment.”

Masterclass

Turkish outlet En Son Haber recently claimed that Rangers are preparing for Hagi’s exit as a number of clubs circle around the forward. In selling the attacker, they could repeat an Old Firm masterclass from Celtic – as they sold van Dijk for a gigantic profit back in 2015.

Per Transfermarkt, the Hoops signed the Dutchman from Groningen for £2.48m in 2013 before selling him to Southampton for £14.13m two years later. He is one of seven players Celtic have sold for more than £11m since 2014, whilst Rangers have not sold a player for more than £3m in that time.

The Gers reportedly paid £4m to sign Hagi from Genk in 2020 and the interest in his services now could offer them the chance to make a profit on him, much like Celtic did with van Dijk. Ross Wilson now has a major decision to make and he could repeat their masterclass in doing so.

Selling the Romanian international could allow them to kickstart a healthy business model moving forward where they are able to develop young talent before selling them on for big money and then replacing them with more prospects. The Gers could use Hagi as the poster boy for this, showing targets his potential success to convince them to make a similar switch.

This could aid the club in their attempts to sign talented youngsters in the future, as it would show that Rangers are willing to be a stepping stone in their footballing journey. Whilst it may not be music to the fans’ ears, it could be a profitable move by Wilson that helps the long-term future at Ibrox.

AND in other news, Gio can finally axe a “Rangers legend” by signing “perfect” £3.1k-p/w beast in January…

Leeds United are not looking to sign former midfielder Ronaldo Vieira this month, according to The Mirror’s David Anderson.

The Lowdown: Italian reports

The Whites are looking to bring in two midfielders before the end of the month, with numerous updates emerging from Italy regarding Vieira.

The 23-year-old has recently returned to Sampdoria’s matchday squad following a lengthy period out through injury, with reports towards the end of 2021 suggesting Vieira was ‘ready to return home’ with his bags packed.

A recent story went as far as to say Leeds are ready to sign Vieira over the coming weeks, however, it doesn’t seem as if that will materialise after all.

The Latest: Anderson’s post

Anderson took to Twitter on Wednesday afternoon to provide an update on the Englishman.

This is what he had to say, revealing the Whites are not making a move for Vieira.

“I know Leeds fans would rather hear who they are trying to sign, but it is my understanding that they are not attempting to re-sign old boy Ronaldo Vieira.”

The Verdict: Correct call?

Leeds currently have Kalvin Phillips and Jamie Shackleton out injured, leaving them with just two out-and-out midfielders available.

Vieira’s last competitive appearance came way back in February though, so it wouldn’t make sense to bring an injury-hit midfielder to rescue Leeds’ injury-hit squad.

There’s no denying that the Whites need additions in the middle of the pitch before the month is out, however, they need to be the correct ones in both the short and long term, so it seems to be the right move to not pursue Vieira going off his recent injury woes.

In other news: ‘This is huge’ – BBC pundit reacts to ‘massive’ Leeds news he’s heard from Elland Road. 

Many Sunderland fans were left slamming the display of Elliot Embleton in their 6-0 loss away at Bolton Wanderers in League One on Saturday afternoon.

It was a day to forget for manager Lee Johnson and his team, in what could turn out to be a very damaging defeat in the race for automatic promotion up to the Championship.

Embleton was just one of a number of poor performers for the Stadium of Light faithful, missing with both of his shots at goal, while he also failed to record a single successful dribble and lost possession of the ball eight times (SofaScore).

He also recorded fewer touches than his own goalkeeper Ron-Thorben Hoffmann, highlighting his lack of impact from an attacking point of view.

Sunderland fans slam Embleton

These Black Cats slammed his performance on Twitter, with one SAFC supporter going as far as to claim that he was a ‘passenger’ in the match, criticism which is certainly backed by the numbers:

“Gooch, Embleton awful. Offer nothing”

Credit: @LeeSafcMiller

“Elliot Embleton did absolutely nothing in that half. A passenger far too often for long spells in games.”

Credit: @Michael35507062

“Can’t believe I haven’t seen anyone talk about how bad Embleton has been recently it’s like playing with 10 men. He takes the kick off then just disappears for 10 minute intervals”

Credit: @tazzlor___

“Gooch, Embleton, Neil not good enough, I get the home grown craic but come on!!!!”

Credit: @ChristopherT198

“Embleton and Gooch very lucky to survive half-time.”

Credit: @_toosb

“Dan Neil poor, Embleton poor, Gooch dire!! And that back like is horrible. We look vulnerable every time we have an attack against us!!!”

Credit: @leech_tom

In other news, find out transfer update has Black Cats buzzing here!

[ad_pod ]Tottenham Hotspur confirmed via their official Twitter account on Friday that midfielder Harry Winks is being assessed ahead of the north London derby against Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday with a hip injury, and it could give teammate Victor Wanyama a big chance.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the England international has become a key part of the Spurs team this season and been a consistent starter – he has played the full 90 minutes in nine of their previous 11 Premier League fixtures.

That included the 2-0 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, but it appears that between then and now he has picked up a hip issue, which could potentially see him miss out against the Gunners.

The news would be a big blow to Mauricio Pochettino and the supporters given the 23-year-old has been one of their most impressive performers in recent times, forming a strong partnership with Moussa Sissoko at the heart of the midfield.

Opportunity knocks

One man’s misfortune can be another one’s gain in this case however, with Wanyama waiting in the wings following his own return from injury.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas lifts the lid on the North London Derby’s famous 4-4 – Check out the video below…

The 27-year-old has been an unused substitute in three of the club’s last four top-flight matches, playing 10 minutes in the win against Leicester City.

With Eric Dier also out as he recovers from illness and Mousa Dembele leaving during the January transfer window, the only other options Pochettino really has to slot in alongside Sissoko would be Christian Eriksen or Oliver Skipp, but Wanyama would provide the bite and strength those two perhaps don’t really have.

The Kenya international would surely also thrive to return to the XI on such a big occasion, giving him the rare chance to be a Tottenham hero.

Pundit Alex McLeish has urged Celtic to open talks with midfielder Tom Rogic regarding a new contract, Football Insider report.

The lowdown: Ange plays down talks

Despite the 29-year-old fast approaching the final 12 months of a deal at Celtic Park, Ange Postecoglou was calm over his compatriot’s future when speaking back in February.

The Hoops’ boss has continued to rely heavily on the Australian ace though, calling upon the ever-reliable midfielder on 44 occasions across all competitions so far.

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This importance hasn’t gone unnoticed as onlookers begin to speculate as to when Rogic’s future could be resolved.

The verdict: McLeish has his say

A reliable report from The Athletic has claimed that the man signed for £432,000 from Central Coast in 2013 (Transfermarkt) could look to move onto pastures new and head to Asia at the end of the season if Celtic win the league.

Speaking to FI, ex-Scotland boss McLeish is hoping that won’t happen, urging the club to open negotiations with a transformed Rogic in the near future.

“He’s been the bane of everybody recently, but he was invisible for a big period. It’s taken his countryman, Postecoglou, to come in and show the faith in him again.

“And he’s rewarded his gaffer with some incredible performances. I would have thought Celtic would make it a high priority to get Tom on board for a few more seasons.”

The verdict: No brainer

Despite an influx of exciting arrivals at Lennoxtown under the watch of Postecoglou, should all parties be willing to extend, a new deal for the 51-cap Australia star should be a straightforward decision for the club.

So far this season Rogic has scored six times and provided ten assists for Postecoglou’s side and seems certain to play a huge role in the Bhoys’ quest for a domestic treble.

As per Whoscored, the Aussie is one of the most creative players in the squad, with only three players (min. 700 minutes) creating more chances in Premiership action this season – he is simply too good to let walk.

In other news, three Celtic stars shone in Scottish Premiership victory. Find out who here.

Hertha Berlin centre-back Niklas Stark could be interested in joining West Ham in the January transfer window, according to a fresh report.

The Lowdown: Hammers linked with Stark move

The Hammers continue to shine both domestically and Europe this season, even if last weekend’s 1-0 defeat away to Wolves was a rare setback.

Despite the positivity at the club, new signings are important in order to keep the good times coming, with January reinforcements potentially on the cards.

West Ham have been linked with a move for Stark in the winter window, with the 26-year-old making 11 Bundesliga starts so far this season.

The Latest: New update emerges

A new report from Fussball Transfers [via Sport Witness] claimed that a move to east London could ‘appeal’ to the Hertha man.

That’s as long as the Bundesliga club are able to find a sufficient replacement in January, with Stark’s current deal expiring next summer.

The Verdict: Good Ogbonna replacement

Angelo Ogbonna’s likely season-ending injury has highlighted the need for a new centre-back to come in, and Stark looks an ideal candidate.

The German has averaged a hugely impressive 5.6 clearances per game in the league, which is more than any West Ham player. That shows what a competent, no-nonsense defender Stark is, not to mention that he is also averaging 1.2 tackles and 1.7 interceptions and winning 2.4 aerial duels per match.

The fact that Stark’s contract expires soon might also make Hertha more willing to sell, in order to receive a fee for him while they still can.

In other news, some West Ham fans have flocked to a Hammers transfer claim. Read more here.

West Ham United have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Fabio Carvalho to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that the Fulham attacking midfielder could find a move to a Premier League side too tempting to turn down this month.

The report goes on to state that all of West Ham, Liverpool and Leeds United are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the 19-year-old – who has less than six months left to run on his current contract at Craven Cottage – ahead of a potential £5m swoop for the forward prior to the closure of the January market.

Lanzini’s heir

Considering just how impressive Carvalho has been for Fulham this season, it would appear a very smart move for Moyes to make an offer for the attacking midfielder this month, rather than waiting for the England youth international to become a free agent at the end of the season.

Indeed, the £3.15m-rated prodigy has been in breathtaking form over his 17 Championship outings in the current campaign, having already scored eight goals, provided two assists and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.1 shots, making 1.5 key passes and completing 1.2 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £650-per-week forward who Greg Cruttwell – one of Carvalho’s first coaches at Balham FC – dubbed “unplayable” average a SofaScore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Marco Silva’s eighth-best performer in the second tier.

Indeed, there are clear similarities between the Fulham starlet and West Ham’s own Manuel Lanzini – with both players being slight in stature, being able to operate on either wing as well as their primary position in the number 10 role, being extremely comfortable in their progression of the ball and possessing a penchant for scoring spectacular goals.

And, with the Argentina international turning 30 next season, as well as his current contract expiring in the summer of 2023, it will not be long before a replacement could be required for the Hammers’ current attacking midfield magician – with it being difficult to find a more suitable candidate than Carvalho.

As such, it is our belief that the West Ham board must do all they can to fight off the competition in order to secure a deal for the 19-year-old this month, as Carvalho is clearly a player heading for the very top of the game – something he could well achieve at the London Stadium.

In other news: Moyes can land perfect Gabigol alternative as WHU submit offer for “quality” £8.5m gem

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will be without one of his standout performers since the 41-year-old’s arrival last month on Sunday as they host Midlands rivals Leicester City.

What’s the latest? 

Speaking in his press conference, Gerrard confirmed that left-back Matt Targett will face a late fitness test before the Villa boss makes a decision on whether or not to include the 26-year-old against Leicester.

The 41-year-old said: “Matty Targett will probably struggle for this game, but we’ll make a late decision on him.”

The defender was taken off in the 67th minute during the Midlanders’ clash with Manchester City on Wednesday night due to a head injury and therefore faces a race against time to be available to face the Foxes.

Leon Bailey is a confirmed absentee for the game, with Gerrard also sweating on the fitness of Danny Ings (Birmingham Live) as Villa face the prospect of being without several valuable players this weekend.

Gerrard will be gutted

Villa have been excellent during Gerrard’s short time at the helm, winning twice and losing narrowly to Manchester City. One of the key factors to the former Liverpool captain’s instant success has been the performances of Targett at left-back, who has been a standout performer in the last couple of games.

The 26-year-old was rated 8.1 by SofaScore in Gerrard’s first game, a 2-0 win over Brighton, and then scored the opener in their 2-1 triumph at Crystal Palace last week.

This is a stark contrast to his start to the campaign under former manager Dean Smith, where the defender’s performances were under par, particularly against Watford on the opening day as he was withdrawn at half-time after a tricky test against Ismalia Sarr.

Villa do have a natural replacement in Ashley Young, but the 36-year-old has started just one Premier League game at left-back this term, also being deployed as a winger and central midfielder on occasion.

However, the £900k-rated veteran has also vastly improved under Gerrard, recording his two assists to date this season against Brighton and Crystal Palace.

It appears that Targett won’t beat the race against time to be fit for the Leicester clash, which is a significant blow to Gerrard, who will be gutted if he has to do without the 26-year-old. Villa fans shouldn’t panic though, as in Young they have a vastly experienced replacement to fill in at left-back.

In other news – Forget McGinn: Gerrard must stick with £52k-p/w Villa beast dubbed “better than Pogba”