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Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Premier League goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has delivered his verdict on Newcastle’s signing of Callum Wilson.

With six goals in his first eight games across all competitions, it’s been an impressive start to life on Tyneside for Wilson. The England international arrived from relegated Bournemouth back in the summer transfer window for around £20m, and he is already proving his worth for the Magpies.

Now, Kirkland has thrown his backing behind Newcastle’s summer signing, and insisted that he has improved massively in recent times. Speaking to FFC’s James Beavis, he said: “They needed somebody up top, didn’t they? Wilson, he’s surprised me, because I saw him a few times for Bournemouth but he looks like a different animal now. Now he’s there, he looks like a different player. Superb.

“For £20m as well, that’s nothing these days, for a number nine, for a striker, who’s going to score you 10-15 goals. An absolute bargain.”

If Wilson keeps his current form up, then he’s well on course to break the 20-goal barrier for Newcastle in the Premier League, and it’s been a long time since that’s happened.

Having a proven goal-scorer at the top of the pitch who you can rely on week-in and week-out to find the back of the net and stick chances away is always going to be the difference-maker at the highest level. The Magpies had to watch Joelinton toil away at the top part of the pitch last season, and it was no surprise that they looked toothless in attack, scoring just 38 goals in the entire league season.

Wilson however, is showing that he can absolutely be that man for Newcastle, and Steve Bruce will be hoping he delivers on that.

Liverpool are showing ‘strong interest’ in bringing Ajax defender Pers Schuurs to Anfield in January, according to reports.

Schuurs on Anfield radar

The 20-year-old has been linked with a move to Anfield in recent weeks after he impressed against the Reds when the two teams faced off against each other in the Champions League.

Schuurs has been likened to a young Virgil van Dijk and was described as a “leader” by former Manchester City goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus when he was playing at Fortuna Sittard (cited by Tribal Football).

The 6 foot 3 centre-back was formerly a trialist at Anfield before he was allowed to continue his development in the Netherlands, and CalcioMercato (via Sport Witness) suggest they are showing a ‘strong interest’ in bringing him back to Merseyside in a senior role.

Schuurs has started every game in all competitions under Erik ten Hag this season and is quickly becoming a key asset for De Godenzonen (Whoscored), stepping into the shoes that Matthijs de Ligt left when he moved to Juventus in 2019 for £67.5m.

The report added that the Holland U21 international is valued at €30m (£26.8m) with his contract due to expire in 2022.

Transfer Tavern take

Acquiring Schuurs in January may be a tall order for Jurgen Klopp, with Ajax top of the Eredivisie standing and in a strong position in the Champion League to progress into the latter stages of the competition.

But with the catastrophic injuries to Virgil van Dijk and potentially Joe Gomez, the Reds must obtain reinforcements sooner rather than later.

Joel Matip is their only established centre half available for selection at this time but has his own wretched injury history. Their injury crisis is dire and they may have to move away from Schuurs for the time being, unless they are willing to spend big to bring him to Anfield.

In other news, Liverpool fans react as ‘vital player’ speaks out about uncertain future. 

Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard must give Nathan Patterson the time to shine at Ibrox amid interest in James Tavernier.

What’s the word?

Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson recently revealed that the club are pleased with Patterson’s progress as he has become a fully-fledged member of the first-team squad.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Danny Mills believes that Tavernier will not go down without a fight. The former England international insisted that the captain will relish the competition for the right-back slot but won’t be prepared to give up so easily.

He said: “You need strength in depth and of course, as a young player you look up to senior players and see what they’re doing and they can learn for them.

“I’m sure he will give him tips, but Tavernier will want to make sure that he continues to play at the level he’s at so the younger generation don’t get a chance.

“When younger players are coming through you think ‘you want my shirt, I’m not going to give it to you, you’re going to have to rip it off my back, you’re going to have to be playing so well that the manager has no other option but to leave me out.’

“It will not be something Tavernier will be prepared to give away easily. Competition for places drives players.”

Reports in recent times revealed that the £4.5m-rated ace is still a target for Leeds United, despite Rangers rejecting approaches for the skipper in the summer and they are expected to rebuff any similar attempts in the coming months ahead too.

Time to shine

Patterson’s appearances have been limited to just 52 minutes of playing time in total in all competitions so far this season but he will probably be denied a temporary switch away from the Ibrox outfit in the winter transfer window as Gerrard has a shortage of viable right-back options following the departures of Matt Polster and Jon Flanagan.

Meanwhile, Tavernier has played in every single game in the Scottish Premiership this season, scoring eight goals and supplying six assists, which has led to calls from fans and pundits alike like Alan Hutton for Gerrard to give the club captain a well-earned rest.

It’s notable that Patterson didn’t hesitate to accept a call-up by Scott Gemmill’s Scotland U21 international side, having spent a considerable amount of time on the bench at his boyhood club, so it’s perhaps hardly surprising that he struggled to make much of an impression when played out of position on the right of the midfield.

The Ibrox boss surely must realise the 19-year-old needs to be playing on a consistent basis to continue to grow and improve as a player rather than giving him a few minutes here and there as that will be detrimental to his development.

Former Rangers goalkeeper Wes Foderingham has spoken highly of Patterson’s “superb” ability in the past, saying (via quotes by FourFourTwo): “Nathan has done really well, he performed really well in Dubai and in training he has looked very strong, so I think he deserved his chance tonight.

“He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and was superb up and down the line and crossing into the box. I think the club will be really excited with Nathan.”

Gerrard has recently raved about the full-back and says he can push Tavernier for a place in the starting line-up.

“It’s interesting to watch Borna [Barisic] and James because they’ve now got big competition for places,” he said, via The Scottish Sun. “The way he’s looking in training, I wouldn’t think twice about putting Patterson in to start a game.

“And [Calvin] Bassey has already proved that he’s capable of stepping in as well. Both James and Borna know they have a challenge for their positions, which is good.”

Despite Gerrard’s comments, his chances have been few and far between, so if Tavernier does end up leaving the club in the near future and Patterson fails to live up to his obvious potential, Gerrard will only have himself to blame. Giving him a cup run, at least, would be a good start. One thing’s for sure, the Gers have a real talent on their hands – they just need to get the best out of him.

AND in other news, Dado Prso 2.0: Glasgow Rangers must regret not signing Lyndon Dykes…

Southampton were linked with a move for Anderlecht starlet Marco Kana recently and the 18-year-old could well prove to be the long-term partner for Mohammed Salisu in the Saints backline.

According to Calcio Mercato, the South Coast club are scouting Anderlecht closely and like the look of Kana, who can play as both a centre-back and a central midfielder.

The Belgian U21 international, who is currently valued at £4.05 million by Transfermarkt, already has 22 appearances under his belt for Les Mauves’ first-team.

He arguably has the perfect mentor with him at the Pro League side, as they currently managed by former Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany, who won four Premier League titles during his time with the Citizens.

It has been suggested that the 34-year-old sees a lot of himself in Kana, so if he could replicate even half of what Kompany did during his time in England, then he would surely prove to be a very good signing indeed.

Should Southampton complete a move for Kana in the January transfer window, it could be argued that they already have the long-term future of their central defence sorted, following the signing of fellow youngster Salisu last summer.

The 21-year-old joined from Real Valladolid during the summer and although the Ghanaian is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Saints, he is touted for a big future with the club.

Therefore, you can definitely picture Kana alongside Salisu in the Saints team, which could spell bad news for fellow centre-back Jan Bednarek.

The Polish international has just 18 months of his contract remaining and if Salisu can establish himself as a first-team regular, potentially alongside Kana, before then, you worry whether Bednarek will have a long-term future with the South Coast side.

Whilst he has been fairly solid so far this season, having averaged a 6.78 rating for his performances in the top-flight, he has been error-prone in the past, which may lead Ralph Hasenhuttl to favour a new partnership in the future.

It will be interesting to see whether Southampton can complete a move for Kana in the coming window and how quickly the 18-year-old could establish himself as a key member of Hasenhuttl’s first-team.

And, in other news… Southampton made a huge error releasing “special” centre-back wanted by Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur left-back Sergio Reguilon has indisputably been one of their standout performers so far this season, but on Thursday evening he endured a rare night to forget.

Jose Mourinho’s side defeated Royal Antwerp to leapfrog them into first place in Group J, meaning they’ll be seeded for the Europa League round of 32.

Whilst Spurs were victorious in north London, it wasn’t the most thrilling, entertaining or even best display and that much was summed up by the Spaniard’s performance.

Valued at €70m (£64m) by CIES, Reguilon was one of the few who kept his starting place from Sunday’s win over arch-rivals Arsenal, though by half-time, he was hauled off by the Portuguese boss.

Indeed, he received the lowest rating of any Spurs player (6.5) and was awfully lightweight in possession.

Per SofaScore, Reguilon won just 33% of his duels, lost the ball eight times and made just five passes. Even Joe Hart recorded more touches than the 23-year-old despite playing between the sticks, a role that shouldn’t see him more involved than the industrious left wing-back.

The Evening Standard graded him a five out of ten, claiming that Regulion “didn’t get forward enough” before he was replaced at half-time.

Whilst some will believe that the decision was down to keeping an eye on Crystal Palace this weekend, the former Real Madrid ace was still woefully poor for perhaps the very first time this season, and it would have left his manager fuming.

Reguilon has been a popular figure on and off the pitch as football.london’s Alasdair Gold revealed earlier in the season that “everyone loves him” in training whilst the £25m signing has quickly become a fan-favourite with supporters.

With Ben Davies pulling off an impressive display at left centre-back and then at full-back, it could give Mourinho plenty to ponder in terms of team selection, especially when coming up against Wilfried Zaha and then Mo Salah.

The Welshman would offer a more defensively-sound presence, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Spurs could find their own Timo Werner in “stone-cold” EFL star…

Leicester City have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League this season as they currently sit just four points off the top spot. Their latest win over title contenders Spurs really turned a lot of heads and Brendan Rodgers will not want to take his foot off the gas.

The next hurdle will see the Foxes take on Manchester United, who will be buzzing off the back of their 6-2 win over Leeds. The Red Devils have also shown that they are capable of pulling out some big results, so Leicester must be ready for a tough battle on Boxing Day.

However, despite the convincing scoreline, not every part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team performance was watertight. Luke Shaw struggled in defence, but this was masked thanks to the smorgasbord of goals scored at Old Trafford.

According to Sofascore, the left-back lost 50% of his duels and was dispossessed 13 times. He also made an error that led to a goalscoring opportunity for Leeds, as well as only conjuring up a measly 13 accurate passes.

With Ayoze Perez known for his pace on the ball, he could cause some serious problems for Shaw on Saturday. If he can exploit this weakness in United’s defence, it would raise his confidence massively.

The £45,000 per week speedster is currently struggling for game time, with Rodgers flitting between Cengiz Under and Harvey Barnes on the right wing.

Perez didn’t make it off the bench against Spurs and he has just the one goal across all competitions this season, as per Transfermarkt. If Rodgers starts him against Man United, he could be handing him a huge opportunity to get back into groove and throw his hat into the ring to start every week.

In other news, James Maddison produced creative masterclass vs Spurs…

Leeds are incredibly unlikely to do any transfer business in January.

We hate to admit it, but this isn’t a period of the year that either Marcelo Bielsa or Victor Orta like. You only need to look at the deal for Jean-Kevin Augustin last year to understand that.

What’s the word?

Of course, that won’t stop the Whites from being linked with new faces. After all, if an exceptional circumstance reveals itself then Orta could be tempted to act.

The likes of Diego Costa and Julian Draxler have been touted with switches but the latest name on the block is someone rather unknown in comparison.

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Leeds and AC Milan are both interested in signing Toulouse midfielder Kouadio Kone.

If the 19-year-old departs then he could become the most expensive player in Ligue 2 history. The report claims that any willing suitor will have to pay €15m (£13m) in order to prise Kone away.

Leeds have supposedly been interested in the player for a while and now a move could materialise in the coming month.

Ronaldo Vieira 2.0

Kone is an unknown quantity on the biggest stages but the qualities he’s shown in his small career so far are exceptional.

The teenager has a tall frame and is mightily powerful both on the ball and off it. Detailing Kone’s finest qualities, journalist Marco Conterio said: “Alla Pogba, he is a dribbler with a great physique and long levers, with precision even in the shot on goal. At the moment he is one of the most interesting box-to-box on the international scene.”

That is a glowing review and you only need to look at the statistics to understand further what sort of player Leeds would be getting.

In Ligue 1 last term, the youngster won a colossal 2.7 tackles per game. On top of that, he managed 1.5 interceptions a match and 0.8 dribbles. Kone is a real nuisance when he strides forward, being fouled 2.2 times an outing.

Of course, these qualities are rather similar to Kalvin Phillips but we want to compare him to a former United man in Ronaldo Vieira. The midfielder is now playing his football in Italy but possessed very similar qualities.

During his final season at Elland Road, Vieira won 2.1 tackles and made 1.4 interceptions a match. In terms of his dribbling, the Brazilian managed 0.7 successful take-ons.

Evidently, they are incredibly alike. If Orta brings Kone to Yorkshire then he could well make up for the loss of Vieira in 2018.

AND in other news, Forget Rodrigo: Leeds must move for “extraordinary” £30m gem, Orta has found Pablo 2.0…

West Brom are rapidly closing in on their first signing of the Sam Allardyce era.

According to the reliable John Percy at the Telegraph, Scottish winger Robert Snodgrass will undergo a medical today ahead of his switch from Premier League rivals West Ham.

The 33-year-old is expected to sign an 18-month deal at the Hawthorns, leaving behind reported £40k-per-week wages in east London.

It adds a crucial dimension to the faltering Baggies and something they lack in abundance, proven top-flight experience. He’s racked up 163 appearances and contributed to 51 goals, per Transfermarkt.

But that isn’t going to be enough to keep them in the division, no, they need additional firepower, so perhaps it’s time for Big Sam to consider a U-turn on mooted target Daniel James now that Snodgrass is nearly through the door.

The Daily Mail claimed earlier this week that the 66-year-old has opted against bringing in the Manchester United misfit this January as he aims to land a centre-back, midfielder and striker instead.

Indeed, all three positions are necessary to strengthen this month, but Albion shouldn’t turn their noses up at someone of James’ quality.

Red Devils teammate Andreas Pereira lauded the 23-year-old speed demon “explosive and so fast” in an interview to the official website last season.

The former Swansea man has found life tough in the big time, regularly being snubbed for the likes of Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford on the wings, whilst he has no place when a diamond midfield is deployed by Ole Gunner Solskjaer.

James did start 26 matches last term, however, and that saw him reap decent returns – three goals and six assists – whilst also averaging 1.3 shots and 0.8 dribbles per game, via WhoScored.

But it is, of course, his remarkable speed that makes him such a lethal threat on the break and that’s what Albion are also lacking. Could you imagine if they had James against Liverpool?

Yes, Big Sam masterminded a point, but with James on the counter, they could have punished a weak Reds backline.

An arrival of his nature could be a game-changer for the Baggies’ survival bid. James is valued at just £14.4m by Transfermarkt and is thought to be on £45k-per-week.

That seems like a bargain, on the face of it, and it would certainly benefit all parties involved.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Pundit reacts as Allardyce closes in on FIRST signing…

As the January transfer window approaches, Premier League clubs scramble to register their interest in players who will help transform their season. Leeds United are amongst the top flight parties to be scanning the market for their next big fish.

Despite a successful summer window, the Whites are struggling slightly in their returning Premier League season. Their main area of concern is arguably the defence, having shipped 12 goals in their last five games and conceding a total of 33 goals in the league alone, with only West Brom having let more in.

Marcelo Bielsa is struggling with his backline, particularly with his centre-backs. Robin Koch is currently injured and Diego Llorente has made just one appearance since he joined the club in the summer. Similarly, Pascal Struijk has been limited to his first team action this season, not making it off the bench on nine occasions, as per Transfermarkt.

A new defender needed at Leeds

Leeds cannot expect to flourish in the Premier League with so few reliable centre-back options. Outside of the usual partnership between Koch and Liam Cooper, personnel is worrying. That’s why Victor Orta and co must once again consider a move for a new central defender.

According to Football Insider, Leeds have been linked to Ipswich Town starlet Elkan Baggott. Despite being a 17-year-old from a League One side, the promise of his ability is great. Towering at 6 ft 5, the teen could be the perfect protege to Koch, who was a stalwart in defence before his injury.

Sofascore reports that the German was averaging 1.6 tackles per game and a 92% passing accuracy in his own half. This is more than the likes of Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Tottenham’s Eric Dier.

Bringing in a young player who is already of beastly stature to work under the likes of Koch and Cooper could be a stroke of genius from Leeds. The Football Insider report also claims that he would cost as little as £300,000 to secure a move, which is a very attractive amount.

A sum so small would be a great investment for Bielsa, who would no doubt be able to blossom Baggott into a strong, first team player. Just as he is currently doing with 20-year-old Illan Meslier.

In other news, Bielsa must make ruthless call on Helder Costa…

Liverpool travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon and after some recent poor displays, Jurgen Klopp should axe Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Reds continued their shocking start to the new year by losing 1-0 at home to Burnley on Thursday evening –  a result which ended their unbeaten Anfield run.

Klopp started Oxlade-Chamberlain against Sean Dyche’s side, in the hope that he could help to unlock the Lancashire side’s defence but in truth, the former Arsenal man was up there with the worst players on the pitch.

As per SofaScore, the 27-year-old midfielder would pick up a 6.4 rating for his display, which was the joint-worst of any player who featured at Anfield.

During his time on the pitch the Englishman would contribute just 22 passes, the second-lowest of any Liverpool player.

He would also win just one of his six duels during the game, which suggests that the Burnley midfielders and defenders regularly had the better of him throughout the game, so it was no surprise that Klopp decided to bring him off shortly before the hour mark.

Following the game, the Athletic writer James Pearce had this to say about Oxlade-Chamberlain’s performance:

“Oxlade-Chamberlain’s form is a real concern. He was a passenger and struggled badly once again.”

The midfielder, who earns £120k per week at Anfield, has worked extremely hard to get back to full fitness after the knee injury that kept him out earlier in the season, so it would perhaps be something of a ruthless decision to axe the former Southampton youngster after what was just his second Premier League start of the season.

However, he has struggled to impress in all of his recent performances, and if the Reds want to progress past their old rivals in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, then Klopp will surely be better served by selecting another midfielder in his place, considering only Divock Origi and Adrian have averaged lower ratings in the top-flight so far this season.

And, in other news… Liverpool can sign their dream Henderson heir in £50m beast tipped to become a real leader