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With a loan deal in place and a reported medical completed for Philippe Coutinho with apparent negotiations set to begin for the potential signing of Everton left-back Lucas Digne, Aston Villa have been very busy in the 2022 January transfer window so far.

Looking ahead to the rest of the window, it seems as though Villa have their eyes on signing yet another player this month that also has experience of playing in the Premier League which some Villa fans will be pleased to hear.

What’s the news?

According to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth, Villa are “in talks” to sign a back-up ‘keeper during the winter window.

Speaking live on Sky Sports News on Monday, he said: “We’re told they’re in talks to sign the West Ham United goalkeeper, Darren Randolph.”

Sheth also revealed that if a deal can be struck for Randolph this month, Villa could then allow current goalkeeper Jed Steer to leave on loan so he can get regular game time.

Randolph originally joined West Ham back in the 2015 summer window from Birmingham City on a free transfer. The Hammers then sold him to Middlesbrough in the summer of 2017 before buying him back in the 2020 January window.

Smart work from Villa

Overall, the 34-year-old, who is currently valued at £900k according to Transfermarkt, has made a total of 52 appearances for the east London club, keeping 15 clean sheets in the process.

With 34 Premier League appearances under his belt, it would be smart work from Villa to have a back-up option for Emi Martinez, who has played in all but one of their 19 league games so far this season. And when considering the experience of the top-flight that Randolph possesses, he very much fits the bill.

He’s made no appearances in any competition for David Moyes’ side so far this season with Lukasz Fabianski and Alphonse Areola ahead of him in the pecking order, but a move to Villa could give Randolph more of a chance to get some games under his belt should anything happen to Martinez.

If Villa do manage to secure a deal for the Irons stopper and then manage to get Steer, who filled in for Martinez in Villa’s 3-0 defeat against Chelsea back in September, out on loan and get some regular minutes, this could end up being a solid and fairly low-risk deal for the Midlands club to make.

In other news: Imagine him & McGinn: Gerrard could form deadly AVFC duo with “intelligent” 91 G/A ace – opinion

Celtic have been handed a double injury boost ahead of their upcoming Europa League fixture.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, Ange Postecoglou revealed that the injuries picked up by Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston during Celtic’s 1-0 win over Hearts on Thursday evening do not appear to be anything serious, despite both players being substituted in the fixture.

Speaking about the current condition of the duo, the 56-year-old Bhoys boss said: “Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston doesn’t look like anything serious.”

Postecoglou will be elated

Considering just how unlucky Postecoglou has been with injuries in his short tenure as Celtic’s manager thus far, the news that both Welsh and Ralston do not look as if they will be required to spend an extended spell on the sidelines is sure to have left the Greek-Australian coach elated.

Indeed, Ralston has been one of the surprises of the season so far, as, over his 13 Premiership appearances, the £270k-rated right-back has helped his side keep five clean sheets, scored three goals, provided five assists and created nine big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.8 key passes, 2.1 tackles and winning 7.1 duels per game.

These returns have seen the 23-year-old average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.72, ranking him as the third-best player in the Scottish top flight.

Meanwhile, over Welsh’s seven league fixtures, the £1.08m-rated centre-back has helped keep two clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 1.7 interceptions, 0.9 tackles and winning 5.6 duels per fixture – with these metrics seeing the 21-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 7.16.

As such, while there is nothing left to play for in Thursday evening’s Europa League fixture, the news that both Ralston and Welsh look as if they will be available for selection is undoubtedly a huge boost for Celtic – with fans sure to be delighted after finally hearing some positive injury news out of Parkhead.

In other news: Ange can save millions with “Roy of the Rovers” who’s got a “big future at Celtic”

The January transfer window is fast-approaching and Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have his first opportunity to bring players of his own to Ibrox.

He has been working with a squad built by his predecessors but will now be able to make a few additions, if any at all, to stamp his own mark on the team.

The Dutchman may also have to deal with departures of current first-team stars with interest hotting up heading into the final days of December.

How could Rangers look come the end of the January transfer window? Here is our predicted XI…

We are predicting that it could be a busy month for Rangers, both in terms of players leaving and others coming in from elsewhere.

Although Ianis Hagi has been linked with an exit, amid interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray, he appears set to remain in Glasgow. His father, Gheorghe, has confirmed that his son will not be leaving in the next transfer window, which should come as a big boost to van Bronckhorst’s plans.

However, one player who could be on his way out is Ryan Kent. He has been touted with a switch to Aston Villa to reunite with Steven Gerrard and it could make sense given that he was the man to bring the forward to Ibrox in the first place.

This would leave Rangers with a spot to fill out wide and the recently-linked Andreas Skov Olsen could be the man to come in. FFC recently published an article explaining why he could be the perfect replacement for Hagi, but the latest update on his future suggests that Kent is the player Olsen could replace – not the Romanian.

At centre-back, John Souttar may be signed to come in for Connor Goldson. The ex-Brighton man’s deal expires next summer and January may represent Rangers’ last chance to cash in on him before he leaves for nothing.

Souttar, who was previously dubbed as “aggressive” by Craig Levein, could replace the defender as his contract at Hearts running out at the same time as Goldson’s. Rangers have been linked with a swoop for the Scottish beast and they could take advantage of his situation in the same way other clubs may do with their own defensive rock.

Finally, Dutch midfielder Joey Veerman could arrive from Heerenveen. He is reportedly a target for van Bronckhorst heading into next month and he could add some extra attacking quality to the midfield.

The 23-year-old managed seven goals and ten assists in 31 games in the Eredivisie last term and is currently on three goals and six assists in 16 games this season. This shows the level of impact he could potentially have if deployed in the number 10 role in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.

We are predicting that the rest of the side will remain the same, with Allan McGregor, James Tavernier, Calvin Bassey, Borna Barisic, Joe Aribo, Glen Kamara and Alfredo Morelos completing the XI. Although, the likes of Scott Arfield, Juninho Bacuna, Leon Balogun and John Lundstram, among others, will also be competing for places.

AND in other news, Rangers Insider drops huge 8-word Ibrox transfer update that’ll leave fans ecstatic…

Wolves are confident are sealing a permanent move for in-form Wanderers striker Hwang Hee-chan, according to journalist Danny Rust.

The Lowdown: Hwang linked with Premier League duo

The South Korean has made a flying start to life at Molineux, having moved there on loan from RB Leipzig in the summer.

Hwang has scored four times in his first eight Premier League appearances – only six of those have been starts – and has struck up a good relationship with Raul Jimenez.

According to a recent report, however, Liverpool and Manchester City are eyeing up a move for the striker, highlighting the importance of Wolves securing his services permanently.

The Latest: Journalist gives positive update

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Rust has provided a positive update from a Wolves perspective, though, claiming the club believe a deal can be struck:

“It’s important for them to try and get that deal done.

“But, likewise, this is one where you have to question whether Liverpool or Manchester City are going to be able to offer him the game time that he can get at Wolves? Almost certainly not.

“We’ll see what happens, but I’m sure Wolves are still confident they can get a deal done.”

The Verdict: Vital deal to secure

Hwang has taken to English football seamlessly and if Wolves could sign him permanently it could feel like a major piece of business considering the giants of the division are seemingly circling.

At 25, he should be about to enter the peak years of his career and 45 goals in 126 RB Salzburg appearances, not to mention winning 43 caps for South Korea, speaks for itself.

Hwang has been lauded as a ‘top player’ by Bruno Lage, and assuming his current form continues, tying him down permanently is a no-brainer for Wolves.

In other news, some Wolves fans have gushed over an official club post. Read more here.

A number of Liverpool supporters are fuming after Joe Gomez was linked with joining Aston Villa on loan in the January transfer window.

The Reds have clicked back into top form since the international break, securing a trio of resounding home wins over Arsenal, Porto and Southampton.

Saturday’s 4-0 victory against Saints saw Jurgen Klopp’s side produce an excellent performance, swatting their opponents aside at Anfield.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

It was a third clean sheet in a row for Liverpool, but someone who hasn’t featured in that time is Gomez, who continues to recover from a calf injury.

The 24-year-old title-winning hero of 2019/20 has only featured for 13 minutes in the Premier League so far this season, and according to The Mirror [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter], Steven Gerrard wants to take him to Villa on loan in January.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-13/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans unhappy with Gomez rumour

These Liverpool fans on Twitter reacted negatively to the rumours of a potential exit for Gomez.

“No brov. All our CBs stay”

Credit: @Ariidunnu

“I would be very disappointed if this were true and they allow it to happen. JG is a class CB in my books, when fit he’s second after VVD.”

Credit: @alv_lam28

“Sorry Stevie, it’s a no”

Credit: @SalahFanV1

“There is absolutely no way on earth we’d loan out a centre back unless one was coming in. I also doubt we are bringing anybody in as well…so it’s hard to see any truth in this…”

Credit: @SMXLFC

“Am I the only one with PTSD from last season? I want 10 centre backs at all times…”

Credit: @30YearsRed

“No loaning out of any CBs. Nope. Not allowed.”

Credit: @ZachsEleven

In other news, some Liverpool fans have erupted after an update on one player emerged. Read more here.

A number of Wolves supporters have been showing their love for Jonny after a club tweet emerged of him continuing to work on his injury recovery.

Bruno Lage’s side find themselves on a good run of form at the moment, picking up ten points from their last four Premier League games.

In fact, it could be even better for Wolves, with four successive victories coming their way had it not been for Leeds United’s late equaliser on Saturday.

One player who Lage is having to make do without is Jonny, who hasn’t featured since April after suffering a cruciate ligament injury last season.

The popular 27-year-old is working hard on his recovery, with an official club tweet on Monday showing him in the gym looking typically focused.

Wolves fans react to Jonny footage

These Wolves fans took to Twitter to hail Jonny, reacting positively to the progress he is making.

“Guy’s a machine”

Credit: @MrR1g4t

“I love him. Vamos!!”

Credit: @dmarsden1988

“Brilliant to see @wolves”

Credit: @therealamarsden

“So good to see him”

Credit: @kellylouise3008

“Great to see him stepping his rehab up, what a player he is”

Credit: @DJRwwfc

“Come on Jonny!! Top defender! Badly missed, you will get there”

Credit: @JonMoss89615310

In other news, one player has been linked with a return to Wolves. Find out who it is here.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard could have some tough decisions to make next summer as a number of players are due to be out of contract.

Connor Goldson, Steven Davis, Leon Balogun, Scott Arfield and Jon McLaughlin are just a few of the first-team names on the expiry list, although the club hold a one-year extension option for Balogun.

This means that Gerrard, along with Ross Wilson, could be set for some difficult conversations in the upcoming months as Rangers plot their squad for the 2022/23 campaign.

His time’s up

One player who the club should be looking to move on is Canadian international midfielder Arfield. Gerrard must make the tough decision and cut ties with the experienced ex-Burnley man as his time is up at Ibrox.

The 33-year-old has only played six times in the Scottish Premiership this term, with one start to his name to date, and has averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.40. In the Europa League, he has played 12 minutes of football off the bench in the three group stage games against Lyon, Sparta Prague and Brondby combined.

This suggests that the £16k-per-week dud is not deemed good enough to play regularly in the Europa League or Premiership for Rangers. At the age of 33, he could still have a few years left in the tank to go somewhere else and play week-in-week-out, which is why Gerrard ruthlessly axing him from the squad could work for all parties involved.

In terms of how his departure would affect the squad, a replacement could already be in the works. TEAMtalk reported last month that Rangers are closing in on a deal to sign Joe Rothwell on a pre-contract deal in the January window.

This means that the 26-year-old would arrive at Ibrox on a free transfer in the summer, providing the perfect opportunity for Gerrard to allow Arfield to leave, with Rothwell taking up his place in the squad.

Therefore, it is time for the former Premier League midfielder to leave Glasgow at the end of the season. The succession plan, with Rothwell, appears to be well underway and his lack of involvement on the pitch this term suggests that Gerrard does not rely on his footballing ability enough to warrant paying him £16k-per-week for another two or three years.

AND in other news, Sold for £203k, now worth £900k: Rangers had a transfer howler over “dream” battler…

Former Premier League star Carlton Palmer insists that Jarrod Bowen should stay at West Ham United amid links elsewhere.

The winger has been touted as a potential target for a number of clubs, including Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Bowen has, of course, enjoyed a fine start to the season, with David Moyes’ side competing on multiple fronts after qualifying for the Europa League last term.

The winger has made eight appearances in all competitions and has provided an assist, while also occupying defenders with his pace and trickery.

Bowen is tied to a lengthy contract with the Hammers that runs until 2025 and he is valued at £27m by Transfermarkt.

And Palmer thinks that Bowen would be best served by remaining in east London as he looks to take the next step and reach a level befitting a move to an elite club.

He said: “When you’ve got players that are doing well, obviously clubs are going to be interested. That’s par for the course. But where does Jarrod go? He’s playing at West Ham, they’re a top-six side, so the only place he’s going to go, if you go off last season, you’re looking at Man City, Liverpool, Man United, Leicester City, there’s your top five clubs, so where’s he going to go?

“And you’re playing week in, week out at West Ham. For me, I think you sit tight. You sit tight, you’re playing football, carry on doing what you’re doing. He’s 24, he’s a young player, just carry on getting the experience and playing. When you leave to go to a big club, you need to play, you don’t leave to go and sit on the bench.

“That’s what you should never do. So he just carries on playing at West Ham. They had a fantastic season last season, they’ve started well this season, there’s no need to be thinking about a move.”

In total, Bowen has made 61 appearances for the Hammers, scoring nine goals and laying on 11 assists.

Celtic have been dealt a blow regarding the fitness of Josip Juranovic ahead of the Hoops’ upcoming Scottish Premiership clash.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by Football Scotland, the right-back could be set to miss the Bhoys’ trip to Fir Park on Saturday afternoon, as he has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury suffered in Celtic’s draw with Dundee United back in September.

Ange Postecoglou had previously stated that he hoped his summer signing would be in line for a return to first-team action immediately after the international break, however, it would appear as if the Croatia international may now be forced to sit out one further fixture as a result of his injury.

Ange will be gutted

While Anthony Ralston has highly impressed while filling in for Juranovic at right-back this season – with the 22-year-old having scored two goals, registered one assist and averaged a SofaScore match rating of 7.75 over his six Scottish Premiership appearances – the news that one of Celtic’s most exciting new additions is set to miss out on yet another fixture is nevertheless sure to have left Postecoglou gutted.

Indeed, the £2.25m-rated man had started his career at Parkhead in excellent form, helping his side keep one clean sheet, as well as making an average of one interception, two tackles, 1.3 clearances and winning 3.3 duels over his four Scottish Premiership appearances.

These returns had seen the 26-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 7.00, an extremely impressive feat considering half of his league appearances this season have come at left-back.

As such, the fact that Postecoglou once again looks unlikely to be able to call upon the defender this weekend is sure to dent Celtic’s chances of picking up a positive result against Motherwell – something that the 56-year-old Hoops manager will be desperate for considering his side’s unconvincing away form so far in 2021/22.

In other news: Celtic had a mare on £3.15m-rated “brilliant find”, he could’ve fired Hoops to 10IAR

Leeds Live reporter Keifer MacDonald has identified three Leeds United players who could be sold in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: High wage bill

It was reported last week that Leeds’ wage bill for the 2021/22 season would go past the £100m mark due to their decision to hand out big contracts since returning to the Premier League.

Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo and Raphinha all signed lucrative contracts recently, and alongside the signing of Daniel James from Manchester United, it is expected that the wage bill will increase by £46m from the £78m at which it stood 12 months ago.

With the January transfer window four months away, the Whites are likely to be forced into selling fringe players in order to add any newcomers to their squad.

The Latest: Who to sell

In a report for Leeds Live, MacDonald has named three players as potential options for Leeds to sell in exchange for more funds to spend themselves in the January transfer window.

Tyler Roberts, Robin Koch and Adam Forshaw are the three players named by the journalist. The trio made just 27 Premier League starts between them and were often introduced as substitutes throughout the campaign. Indeed, the latter was ruled out for the entire 2020/21 campaign due to a long-standing hip injury.

Between them, the trio have only made six appearances across the league and Carabao Cup this season, totalling only 301 minutes. Pascal Struijk, Illan Meslier, Jack Harrison and Luke Ayling have each had more individual game-time than the aforementioned trio combied.

The Verdict: Right moves for the right price

Roberts, Koch and Forshaw have played some role in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad since arriving at the club. Having only started 14 league games last season, the former struggled to stake his claim in Bielsa’s side and will need more first team football if he is to be a regular member of the Wales national team.

For Koch, injuries have seen his time at the club disrupted. Similar to Roberts, the 25-year-old will need more regular  first team football if he is to regain his place in the Germany squad.

Forshaw, who has more than 300 career appearances, 53 of which have come at Leeds, is now 29 and may find it a tough ask to ever regain a regular place in Bielsa’s XI.

If the club desperately need to trim their wage bill in order to fund potential January signings, the trio named by MacDonald may well be on the chopping block given their peripheral status in the squad.

In other news, Bielsa confirmed this boost to his Leeds squad for the clash against Liverpool