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Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard is plotting to raid former club Rangers with a January swoop for midfielder Glen Kamara.

And, as to be expected, the transfer update has had plenty of Villa fans talking on social media.

Villa are considering a midfield addition in the New Year after Marvelous Nakamba’s serious knee injury.

Kamara has been a player linked with following Gerrard to the Midlands ever since the latter moved to Villa Park in November, and it seems as if a formal offer is set to be launched.

According to TEAMtalk, also shared by The Sun, Rangers are considering selling Kamara for big money, with Gerrard and Villa keen on his services.

Ibrox officials are well aware of interest in the Finland international from Villa, with Kamara described as a player who would fit in a ‘top-six’ Premier League side by former Rangers star Antti Niemi.

Villa fans react

The AVFC Faithful shared the news regarding Kamara on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon. This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with some excited over his ability while others questioned his fit as a replacement for Nakamba…

“At least he would be cheap. But another number 8, when we have five of those already? Sounds crazy”

Credit: @daviddjuphammar

“Doesn’t excite me at all.”

Credit: @DaveHin55518309

“That’s boss lad”

Credit: @danielhavfc

“A good fit for the hole we need to fill. Could be a cut-price deal suitable for Jan, and SG and coaching staff know what they are getting. Wouldn’t complain at all.”

Credit: @Ryan__Wills

“get in”

Credit: @itzwraggy

“Isn’t he a box to box player? We need a CDM bossman”

Credit: @Vinnieno41

In other news: ‘Even worse’ – Many AVFC fans flock to Preece’s January transfer update.

A Newcastle United transfer claim has been made regarding their business in the window in the coming days…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Pete Graves has dropped an exciting update which promises a huge week for those associated with the Magpies.

He tweeted: “Expecting transfer breakthroughs at #nufc this week. Been fairly amused by some of the names mentioned in certain places recently, however there are players under serious discussion that haven’t been mentioned anywhere yet.”

Fans will be delighted

Newcastle fans will be delighted with this update as it suggests that they are in for an exciting week of action in the transfer market.

The Magpies are in a desperate situation in the Premier League and new additions could be vital to their efforts to remain in the top flight. They are 19 games into the season and have mustered a measly 11 points, just one more than bottom-placed Norwich, with a mere one win to their name so far.

Dean Smith’s Canaries are also the only team who have conceded as many goals as the Toon (42) in the league, highlighting their fragility at the back. Eddie Howe’s side have conceded far too many goals, during his tenure as well as under Steve Bruce and Graeme Jones, and that could need to be addressed this month.

Their struggles on the pitch over the course of the first 19 games suggest that the current playing squad is not good enough to save their top-flight status. The lowest points tally to secure Premier League survival in the competition’s history has been 33 and the Magpies are currently on course to end with 22, falling well short of what is required to remain in the division.

This is why strengthening the squad with new signings this month could be crucial to Howe’s chances of avoiding the drop. Therefore, fans will be delighted that the club are expecting ‘breakthroughs’ in negotiations in the coming days, for it suggests that players will be coming in to bolster the squad as soon as possible.

Supporters will surely not want any deals dragging out until late in the month, particularly near deadline day, and they will be buzzing to see some business being done early. It means that they may be able to relax during the latter stages of the month instead of watching the club rush around and potentially make panic buys which do not make sense from a footballing or financial point of view.

AND in other news, “I am told…” – Journalist drops big Newcastle transfer claim which will deflate Toon fans…

Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis will ‘definitely leave’ Parkhead, should Ange Postecoglou add another forward, according to pundit Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: Source shares update

The Hoops have already brought in two forwards this year in Daizen Maeda and Johnny Kenny.

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Jota is also closing in on a permanent transfer, with sources close to Football Insider claiming Celtic want another wide forward on top of Maeda and Jota.

One player who has been linked is Shabab Al-Ahli’s Mehdi Ghayedi, and should the Hoops bring another in, McAvennie thinks Giakoumakis could make way.

The Latest: McAvennie’s comments

McAvennie was talking to Football Insider following the possibility of Celtic signing another forward.

He believes a third forward could spell trouble for Giakoumakis, who cost the club £2.25m over the summer when Dominic McKay was CEO.

“I’ll never say no to new strikers coming in.

“I think we have some great strikers. Kyogo has obviously proved it and the new guy Maeda is really exciting.

“I look at Ajeti and he’s not done it. I’ve said enough about him at this point.

“Giakoumakis, he’s not done anything really, has he? He barely plays and I do wonder why did we sign him?

“I don’t know if it’s a fitness thing or if he’s not up to the task but he was on fire last season.

“He doesn’t look right here. I just wonder if a loan spell might be best for him.

“I think if another striker comes in then he will definitely leave. The squad needs to be smaller now, not bigger.”

The Verdict: Patience required

Giakoumakis is an out-and-out centre-forward, whereas Maeda can turn out on the wing along with Jota.

The 27-year-old has only started two games for Celtic due to injury, so patience may be needed instead of shipping him out months after spending millions.

Should the Hoops add another striker this month to grant Postecoglou his wish of a third wide forward, then perhaps it would be wise to sell Albian Ajeti instead, who has had numerous chances in Glasgow.

Reports in November suggested Celtic would look to cut their losses on Ajeti, and if they do, that would leave Giakoumakis to battle Kyogo Furuhashi and Maeda for a central role.

In other news: Journalist drops big transfer claim as Celtic eye £12.5m-rated midfielder; Ange ‘a big admirer’. 

Even though Aston Villa have been particularly busy in the January transfer window so far with the likes of Lucas Digne, Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen making moves to the Midlands club in the past few weeks, it appears as though the club still have their eyes on potential targets and areas to improve their squad.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Athletic by Villa journalist Gregg Evans, the Midlands club have had “some conversations” over the possibility of a new striker being brought in this month, with Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah being “considered” for a move to Villa Park.

After joining the club from Chelsea’s youth system back in 2015, Nketiah has worked his way through Arsenal’s youth ranks and even had a loan spell with Leeds United, as well as making 73 senior appearances for the Gunners with 18 goals and one assist under his belt.

With the 22-year-old’s contract at Arsenal set to expire in the summer, Villa’s apparent interest could persuade the north London club to sell Nketiah, who Mikel Arteta has described as “extraordinary” in the past, and get a suitable transfer fee rather than see him leave as a free agent at the end of the season if he doesn’t sign a new deal there before then.

One in, one out

If Villa were to sign the £9m-rated Nketiah this month or even in the summer transfer window, this could give the Midlands club the chance to finally axe their current striker Wesley on a permanent basis.

He joined Brazilian club Internacional on loan earlier this month after spending the first half of the season on loan in Belgium with Club Brugge but could be shipped out permanently in the summer if bumped even further down the pecking order.

Given how he failed to score a goal for Brugge during his time there this season and has only managed to score six times in 26 appearances for Villa across all competitions since his arrival back in June 2019 in a deal worth a reported fee of £22m, selling him could be a great way of getting his £46k-per-week wages of the club’s bill to accommodate a place for Nketiah in their squad for the future.

If Villa and Steven Gerrard think Nketiah would be a good fit in the squad and deliver what they want, then they should definitely make an approach to Arsenal to see what his situation is and whether or not they’d be willing to negotiate a suitable deal for him.

Either way, his entrance would certainly facilitate a permanent move away for one of the club’s unfortunate flops.

In other news: Sky Sports journo drops exciting AVFC transfer update on live TV, fans surely buzzing…

Many Arsenal fans have been left slamming the display of Takehiro Tomiyasu in their 2-0 loss at home to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night.

The Japan international was run ragged by Diogo Jota at times, as the former Wolves winger left him in the dust to slot in the away side’s first goal of the night.

Jota then made a clever outside to inside run off the back of Tomiyasu before chipping the ball over Aaron Ramsdale for his second.

The right-back had a poor game in general by his standards, losing out on eight of his duels in total, while he also failed to block any shots or make any tackles or crosses.

He gave possession away 18 times, the joint-second most out of any player on the pitch (SofaScore).

Arsenal fans slam Tomiyasu

These members of the Emirates Stadium faithful slammed his performance on Twitter, with one Gunners supporter even going as far as to claim that he was ‘horrible’:

“Smith-Rowe was HORRIBLE, Tomiyasu too”

Credit: @_HenryHP

“How bad were we defensively today though? Tomiyasu was poor from the get go”

Credit: @Levanja

“Tomiyasu looked like he was pulling a caravan tonight”

Credit: @jakefox_90

“Smith Rowe and Tomiyasu dropped a disasterclass”

Credit: @jormzyy

“Tomiyasu looked scared of the ball.”

Credit: @collindbaxter

“Tomiyasu so poor today, looked almost amateur at times.”

Credit: @11Kanna

In other news, find out whose display in the first leg was slammed here!

Aston Villa have made no qualms in strengthening their squad during the current January transfer window with Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Digne and Robin Olsen all being brought in to help strengthen Steven Gerrard’s squad.

With those players now through the door and integrating themselves in the squad, the Midlands club look set to try and tie down the future of one of their key current players.

What’s the news?

According to a recent Twitter post from journalist John Percy, Villa are “are poised to open talks” with midfielder Douglas Luiz over a new contract following interest from Premier League clubs in the current window.

The midfielder, whose current deal at the Midlands club is set to expire in the summer of 2023, has garnered interest from Arsenal in recent weeks.

Gerrard will be thrilled

Villa signed the Brazilian from fellow Premier League side Manchester City back in the 2019 summer transfer window in a deal worth a reported fee of £15m.

Since then, the 23-year-old has gone on to cement himself as an important figure for the Villans by making 94 appearances across all competitions with three goals and eight assists under his belt.

Having started 16 of the 17 Premier League games he’s appeared in this season as well as racking up an overall performance rating of 6.91/10 from WhoScored, making him Villa’s third-highest rated player, it’s easy to see why the club would want to open talks with Luiz over a potential new contract to tie him down to Villa and shoo away any interest from Arsenal, which would surely please a lot of fans.

If the £31.5m-rated ace does end up signing a new deal at the Midlands club, this would surely please Gerrard as well the fans given how he clearly recognises Luiz’s talents by playing him so regularly.

The Villa boss made this clear by recently saying that he and his coaching staff rate the midfielder “extremely” highly.

Moving forward, if the Villans can get Luiz to sign a new deal in the coming days and pledge his future to the project that Gerrard is building, this could be seen as just as important as their recent transfer deals earlier in the window.

In other news: “I’m hearing”: Insider drops “emerging” AVFC transfer claim, Gerrard would be furious – opinion

An update has emerged on Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield, regarding his future at Ibrox…

What’s the latest?

According to the Daily Record, the club remains in talks with the Canadian utility man over an extension as Ross Wilson attempts to thrash out a deal.

The report claims that the two parties are yet to reach an agreement over fresh terms but they have not given up hope yet, with the Gers sporting director plotting a big move to keep him. He is currently due to leave on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

Elation

This update will surely leave Gio van Bronckhorst feeling elated as he will want to keep the midfielder around in Glasgow for another season.

He was previously dubbed a “managers’ dream” by his former manager John Hughes and that is exactly why van Bronckhort will be delighted with the club’s attempts to tie him down to a new contract. Arfield is a valuable squad member as he has been regularly called upon by the Dutchman throughout the campaign.

The ex-Burnley man is capable of playing in a variety of positions and works his socks off for the team whenever he plays. He has played 23 matches in the Premiership, starting 14, and made 1.3 tackles and interceptions per game whilst playing in central midfield and out on the right wing.

Whilst he may not have the quality to continue to be a regular starter for the Gers, he can still offer value off the bench and in rotation. Van Bronckhorst, given Arfield’s appearances this term, clearly trusts him to do a job in midfield and that is why he would love to have him as an option for the 2022/23 campaign.

He has produced four goals in the Premiership this season but has also missed a whopping seven ‘big chances’ and failed to record a single assist. This shows that his final product has been inconsistent, at best, and that is why he should be kept on in a reduced role.

Instead of being a player van Bronckhorst relies on to start each week, he should be utilised as an experienced squad option who can fill in when needed whilst offering advice to the younger players. He can help the likes of Charlie McCann and Alex Lowry in order to get them into a position where they can take over from him in the first team.

AND in other news, 27 appearances, 3 goals: Allen had a howler with “unbelievable” £8.5k-p/w Rangers flop…

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly now eyeing up a permanent deal for Aaron Ramsey in the summer.

The Lowdown: Ramsey’s contract running out

The Wales midfielder only has 15 months left on his contract at Juventus, meaning that he can leave the Serie A giants as a free agent next summer.

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He is currently on loan at Ibrox, and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team may look to take advantage of his contract situation once the 31-year-old moves back to Turin.

The Latest: Permanent deal for Ramsey?

Writing in his latest piece for TEAMtalk, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that Rangers are now plotting a permanent move for Ramsey, with Juventus indicating that they would let him go for free.

The Teddy Bears would still need to pay a sign-on fee and fork out a hefty figure for the Welshman’s salary, but the absence of a transfer fee makes their potential swoop ‘viable’.

The Verdict: Sign him up

Even though there would be question marks over his age, and the fact that he has struggled with injury problems throughout his career, signing Ramsey on a free could be a deal worth doing for Rangers.

He is adored at international level with Wales, with midfield team-mate Joe Allen previously dubbing both him and Gareth Bale as ‘world-class’ players; while former international Joe Ledley claimed that having the duo as team-mates ‘makes you feel like God’ after they recently helped Wales to reach their World Cup play-off final with a 2-1 win over Austria.

Ramsey has two goals in his last two Premiership games for the Light Blues, bagging an early opener in the 2-1 loss at home to Celtic over the weekend, so he has already shown that he can be a real asset for the Gers.

In other news, find out what ‘huge blow’ for Rangers has now emerged

Rangers put on a fantastic display today as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men kept their title dreams alive by taking all three points in a 4-0 victory which puts the Ibrox side six points behind their rivals with five games to go.

The Gers dominated in every inch of the pitch with 72% of possession, 22 shots, five big chances and ultimately four goals hitting the back of the net against their opponents this afternoon.

Despite the absence of Alfredo Morelos, Rangers did not disappoint with Kemar Roofe securing his first hat-trick for the club.

He opened the scoring early in the second minute of the game, following up with another in the final moments of the first half and securing his third in the 50th minute during the 4-0 rout of St Mirren.

One player who put in a fantastic performance is Joe Aribo, who put the final nail in the coffin of the game with the fourth goal in the 76th minute, and despite his late strike was massively influential throughout the game.

According to SofaScore, the 25-year-old who was branded “useless” by journalist Zino Mulla was anything but on this occasion, putting a run of poor form behind him. He made five key passes, two tackles and one clearances, winning the majority of his duels combined (13/7) and was successful in 100% of his dribbles over the course of the game.

Aribo definitely made his presence known today after struggling to find his form ever since he returned from the African Cup of Nations in January, with the centre midfielder confessing last month he hasn’t been at his best in recent months:

“I’ve not been at my best compared to how I was before I left for the internationals.”

With no goals and just one assist in his last ten appearances for Rangers, Van Bronckhorst made a brave decision to start Aribo in today’s game but the decision certainly paid off as the midfielder looked like he was back to his best. However, with five crucial games to go in the league, Rangers must push on in the title race with Celtic, and the Nigeria international can’t afford to have any more howlers.

Rangers have an important week of football ahead of them with a difficult clash against Braga in the Europa League quarter-finals second leg on Thursday night and will take on Celtic in the Scottish Cup final on Sunday, so the manager must deploy his best players and channel the confidence from this victory on the games ahead.

In other news: GvB can axe £10k-p/w liability as Rangers eye “frightening” £8.4k-p/w “bag of tricks”

Liverpool have been dealt a last-minute blow with Roberto Firmino a doubt for the title-deciding crunch clash against Manchester City.

What’s the news?

The Brazilian forward was not seen at Liverpool’s training ground on Friday ahead of today’s game which will be a worry for them, but Jurgen Klopp is still hoping he will have a fully fit squad available to him.

In his press conference the same day, the German manager said: “it looks like everyone’s available again”, with the other doubt being Fabinho who suffered a cut following a clash of heads in their Champions League game against Benfica midweek.

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Firmino vital to Liverpool

Bobby Firmino as he’s called has been a vital part to Liverpool’s success under Klopp, and although players such as Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz have shown they can fulfil that role, he would be a huge miss ahead of their biggest game of the season.

He has been involved in eight goals in 17 Premier League appearances for the Reds this term and has more combined goals and assists per 90 minutes compared to Jota at 0.82 to 0.73.

It’s not just a push for the title that the club need to maintain, but they are also still in the FA Cup and Champions League. A fit Firmino will be vital to any success Liverpool have this season.

Opponents City also boast an incredibly strong squad going into the fixture with Ruben Dias the only big miss for them.

With Firmino they could perhaps exploit this defensive weakness and he could link up with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané for a ruthless front three.

Another advantage to having Firmino over the other options available is the big game experience that he has. The forward has appeared in two Champions League finals for the Reds and played a key part in their last title-winning campaign.

His experience is extremely valuable and he has been described as “elite” by former Premier League striker Ian Wright.

Just a point separates the two sides and whoever claims victory will be in pole position to lift the famous trophy in May. It promises to be a game to remember, and the potential absence of Firmino could leave City with a huge advantage.

IN other news: Liverpool now plot bid for £101m machine, he could be better than Thiago – opinion…