Rangers fans react as Solanke loan deal edges closer

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Loads of Rangers fans have been reacting to Friday’s big transfer news, as reports claim Dominic Solanke is “all set” to move to Ibrox.

According to TalkSPORT, Solanke will join Rangers in January, while Umar Sadiq will return to Roma.

Solanke was heavily linked with a move in the summer, and it certainly felt like Sadiq was the second choice.

The Nigerian youngster has not made the desired impact since joining from Roma, and his performance in the League Cup semi-final may just have been the last straw.

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Solanke meanwhile has been in excellent form for England’s Under-21 side, but has made just one appearance so far this season for Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp showed last season he is a big fan of the youngster when he continually picked him over Daniel Sturridge, but Sturridge’s resurgence in this campaign has left Solanke out in the cold.

The report claims Crystal Palace are one of a number of Premier League clubs showing interest, but the Gers are in “pole position” to secure the loan move.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Celtic fans push for permanent Benkovic move after dominant Europa display

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Loads of Celtic fans have been giving their verdict on Thursday’s win in Norway, and they’re absolutely delighted with the form of Filip Benkovic.

Celtic looked to be heading into the season drastically short of options at the back, with Dedryck Boyata refusing to play and Jack Hendry enduring an awful spell of form.

The late loan signing of Benkovic and resurgence of Boyata has given Brendan Rodgers a clear first-choice pairing though, and the Leicester loanee was phenomenal again on Thursday.

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The Bhoys kept their European dreams alive with a 1-0 win over Rosenborg courtesy of Scott Sinclair’s first half header, but Benkovic was the star of the show.

He is only 21, but the 6 ft 4 in youngster looked like a man amongst boys if truth be told, completing 93 per cent of his passing, winning four aerial duels and making four interceptions along with six clearances.

Fans are desperate for Rodgers to make his loan move a permanent one after yet another dominant display, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Bertrand Traore could give Everton more of a lethal edge

Everton should be looking to bolster their options on the right wing during the upcoming January transfer window.

The Toffees have made a great start to life under Marco Silva and European football is not out of the realms of possibility if their form continues. The Portuguese tactician has completely transformed the Everton squad into a cohesive attacking unit, getting the best out of Richarlison and Glyfi Sigurdsson in the process. Silva made some excellent signings over the summer and should continue to invest in the squad in January.

One area of improvement would be right wing. Theo Walcott has been the preferred option so far, but the former Arsenal winger has failed to rediscover his best form and allowed Ademola Lookman to get his first start of the season against Newcastle last week. The youngster managed more touches, completed more dribbles and earned more fouls in 77 minutes than Walcott had in any match this season. However, Lookman remains a raw talent who is yet to fulfil his potential.

Therefore, Everton should make a move for Lyon superstar – Bertrand Traore. Valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, the winger has been scoring for fun since being deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea. After spending a year on loan with Ajax, Lyon secured his services on a permanent basis, and the forward ended his debut campaign with 17 goals in all competitions.

Traore’s excellent form has continued into the new season, scoring five goals and registering two assists in Ligue 1 already. The winger possesses a deadly left foot and loves to cut in from the right wing. The 23-year-old has blistering pace, and excellent dribbling skills which makes him a nightmare for defenders to deal with – his arrival at Goodison Park would give the Blues an attack to be feared.

The Burkina Faso international could be the final piece of the puzzle on Merseyside.

Everton fans, thoughts?

The Chalkboard: Emery must avoid playing Granit Xhaka at centre-back

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Unai Emery’s decision to play Granit Xhaka at centre-back for the visit of Tottenham on Wednesday certainly backfired, and it is a mistake that the Spaniard must not make again while in charge of the North London club.

On the chalkboard

All in all it has been a poor week for Arsenal after they were beaten by relegation threatened Southampton before losing 2-0 to their bitter local rivals in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup.

In both of those games Emery has started Xhaka at centre-back, and the two results prove that the Tottenham game should be the last time he experiments with this.

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Xhaka was caught in no man’s land for the first goal on Wednesday evening as Heung-min Son broke the non-existent offside trap and got in behind to fire the visitors ahead.

The 26-year-old, who looked comfortable in Emery’s midfield at the start of the season, then failed to get close enough to Harry Kane in the second half, allowing the England captain to turn and play the ball over the top for Dele Alli to dink over Petr Cech.

Better options

Xhaka’s struggles were even more inexplicable as the experienced Laurent Koscielny was on the bench at the Emirates against Spurs.

The Frenchman has only just returned from a long-term injury, but he would surely have been a better option at the back than Xhaka.

The Swiss international has proven that he can be an asset in midfield for Emery, but the Gunners should look to invest in a natural centre-back in the January transfer window to avoid having to play him out of position in the future.

The Chalkboard: The Man United players who ought to be fearing for their futures after Mourinho’s exit

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Manchester United have confirmed the departure of embattled boss Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese leaves Old Trafford with the Red Devils mired in sixth place, and already 19 points in the wake of league leaders Liverpool.

It’s the end of an era for United, and there’s likely to be plenty more change to come. Whenever the new manager comes in, whoever that may be, he’s almost certain to instigate an overhaul of this underperforming squad.

On the chalkboard

Mourinho’s tactics have been muddled this season, as he’s continually failed to land upon a system that suits his side or a best starting XI he can rely upon. All too often, the former boss reverted to investing his faith in ageing, declining stars such as Ashley Young, Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini.

Who’s most to blame for Man Utd’s poor season? FFC’s James Jones has his say in the video below…

The next man in the dugout must be bold and take steps to drag the Red Devils into a new era. The likes of Young, Matic and Fellaini – who produce serviceable but tired, uninspiring football – must be let go and replaced with altogether more vibrant options.

The likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are stagnating players who offer no room for improvement and must also be usurped in this side. 

With their next appointment, United must finally achieve what they have so far failed to do since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement – have a plan.

Time for change

The current squad at Old Trafford is a hodgepodge of Ferguson leftovers and David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Mourinho signings. Each of the four aforementioned coaches are very different from one another, and prefer contrasting styles of football. This lack of consistency in managers has resulted in a lack of cohesion amongst the playing squad.

That has to change now. The new man must be brought in with a clear vision, and the resources provided for it to be brought to fruition. Part of that process must also include the ousting of players who cannot thrive in the glare of this bright new dawn at Old Trafford.

Domenico Berardi could make Newcastle United fun again

Newcastle remain on the verge of the Premier League relegation zone following a goalless draw against Fulham at the weekend and then an absolute trouncing away at Anfield.

The Magpies have enjoyed a decent run of form in recent weeks which lifted them out of the bottom three, but a win against the Cottagers would have been hugely beneficial. The festive period is not kind to Rafael Benitez with games against Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United all scheduled in the coming weeks. The Spaniard was hugely disappointed to see his side fail to register a single shot on target against Claudio Ranieri’s men.

Luckily for Benitez, the January transfer window is fast approaching giving him the opportunity to bolster his ranks. Given their lack of joy in front of goal, reports suggest that the former Liverpool boss will look to improve his options in the final third. It is believed that the Magpies will attempt to a sign a winger to get the best from Salomon Rondon up top.

One man who should be on their shortlist is Sassuolo winger – Domenico Berardi. Valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, the 24-year-old was once considered one of the brightest prospects in Italy after graduating from the club’s youth academy. His potential prompted Juventus to pay £4m for his services in 2013, but he was loaned back to Sassuolo before re-signing for his former employers permanently in 2015.

Berardi remains a crucial player for his side and has rediscovered his best form after a difficult campaign last year. The winger has found the back of the net five times in all competitions as well as registering four assists for his team-mates. The Italy international possesses electrifying pace and expert dribbling ability which would make him a nightmare for Premier League defences – he ticks all the boxes for Benitez.

A move to the Premier League could be just what he needs to realise his potential.

Newcastle fans, thoughts?

Leeds fans react as Mallik Wilks pens new three-year deal

Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media to the news that academy graduate Mallik Wilks has penned a new contract at the club.

The new deal runs until 2022, ensuring the 6 foot ace is tied to his local side for a further three-and-a-half seasons.

Wilks, born in Leeds and raised in Chapeltown, started his junior career in the Whites’ academy and was handed a scholarship in 2015, before turning out for his senior debut in the FA Cup against Sutton United in January 2017.

Currently, the 20-year-old winger is on loan to Doncaster Rovers, and will remain at the club for the rest of the current season, but clearly has a future at Elland Road.

At the Keepmoat Stadium, Wilks has contributed to the Rovers fighting for promotion into the Championship with seven goals and four assists in 25 games prior to the turn of the year.

Leeds fans are clearly delighted with the news the academy star will be sticking around for a while yet judging by these Tweets shared by Whites followers on Twitter.

West Ham could finally be rid of Andy Carroll were Manuel Pellegrini to win race for Neal Maupay

According to a recent report from The Sun, Neal Maupay could be set for a move away in this month’s transfer window. The 22-year-old striker currently plays his football at Championship side Brentford and has done so since leaving Saint-Etienne back in 2017, with his impressive goal-scoring exploits in the second tier seemingly attracting interest ahead of the rest of the January window.

And that’s because reports suggest that Aston Villa, managed by former Bees boss Dean Smith, are eyeing up a move for the Championship hotshot, as should West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini in a move which could finally rid the Hammers of fellow forward Andy Carroll.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, while there have been some moments of magic from the 29-year-old during his time at the London Stadium, Carroll’s six-and-a-half year stint in East London has on the whole been a big disappointment, what with the striker suffering greatly from injury problems during that time.

In fact, the England international appeared for just the ninth time this season in their 2-0 success over Birmingham City in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday to underline his difficulties with injury, which can be further underlined by the fact that he has played only 137 times for the club since 2012, equating to less than 20 appearances a season.

However, the Hammers aren’t exactly well-stocked in the final third of the pitch behind talisman Marko Arnautovic, what with Carroll, Lucas Perez, and Javier Hernandez the only other out-and-out strikers at the London Stadium – and there is some uncertainty about the latter’s future at the club as well.

Clearly then, while Carroll’s contract is up at the end of the current campaign, one senses that West Ham need another forward option to then allow the 29-year-old to leave in the summer, with Brentford’s Maupay the man they must seek to sign this month.

The 22-year-old has been in outstanding goal-scoring form pretty much ever since he made the move to Brentford back in 2017, bagging 12 times in the Championship last term under Smith in their run to ninth place in the table, before taking it to another level this time round at Griffin Park.

And that’s because the Frenchman has netted 15 goals and laid on six assists in just 24 league appearances for the Bees, sitting just one goal behind top Championship goal-scorers Tammy Abraham and Billy Sharp – clearly, the 22-year-old has proven his worth and delivered the goods in front of goal.

And with the Hammers themselves slightly short in the attacking third of the field, Maupay would represent the perfect addition in this month’s transfer window, not just in terms of bolstering the forward ranks, but also given that his arrival could finally rid the East London outfit of Carroll come the summer.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

Everton chasing Bournemouth’s £13.5m-rated Ryan Fraser after Scotsman’s stunning form

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Everton are chasing Bournemouth’s in-form forward Ryan Fraser after the diminutive star’s eye-catching season so far, with Transfermarkt valuing the player at £13.5m thanks to his phenomenal displays.

What’s the word, then?

Fraser has been in exceptional form for the Cherries this season, scoring five goals and recording nine assists as Eddie Howe’s side were challenging in the European spots at the beginning of the season – only Eden Hazard has more set-ups with 10 to his name.

The Scottish international is enjoying the most productive campaign of his career since signing from Aberdeen back in 2012 for just £400,000, and has caught the eye of Everton according to The Sun.

The Toffees, who had to contend with the tricky winger’s talents on Sunday, are interested in his services and may tempt the South Coast side with a £15m opening bid – Fraser has 18 months left on his current deal, and Bournemouth will be in a difficult situation if talks do not go smoothly.

What would he bring to Goodison Park?

Fraser, standing at 5′ 4″, uses his low centre of gravity to fantastic effect, with his dribbling and ability to change direction key features of his game.

Whilst this has always been a standout part of his play, the 24-year-old’s end product has come on leaps and bounds this season – he appears to be helped by the excellent form of his teammate Callum Wilson, as the England international stretches defences by running the channels and freeing up space for Fraser to operate in.

Marco Silva currently has Richarlison to do just that for the Scotsman if Fraser were to end up on Merseyside, and with Ademola Lookman currently out on the right flank for Everton, the Toffees would perhaps have the best wing duo outside the top six with Fraser in their ranks to compliment the young Englishman.

Rodriguez summer signing no use for Liverpool in defining season

According to Spanish outlet Don Balon, Liverpool are the frontrunners to sign Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez at the end of the season. 

The 27-year-old is currently on loan at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich from Real Madrid, but has fallen out of favour at the Allianz Arena, and is not expected to return to Los Blancos. Liverpool have therefore opened the door for him to continue his career in the Premier League.

Primarily a number 10, Rodriguez is perhaps the player that Liverpool need most at the moment. While they are going through an injury crisis with their defence, they do have the personnel there when everyone is fit. However, there is no one really at Anfield to play as a creative midfielder, injuries or not. Rodriguez would fit the bill perfectly, and could be the man to link The Reds’ midfield to their lethal attack.

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However, the only problem with this is that they need this player now. There is no doubt that Liverpool will be a force in English and European football for years to come, and Rodriguez would be a great signing, but for the immediate future, this deal obviously does not help them.

Liverpool are leading the Premier League currently and are chasing down their first ever Premier League title. They hold a four-point lead over Man City, and will want to make the additions to their squad that will clinch that elusive title for them. Unfortunately, a summer signing just does not suit them at the moment.

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