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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

Darwin Nunez is ‘one to watch’ as Newcastle look to further strengthen their squad, according to The i’s Northern Football Correspondent Mark Douglas. 

The lowdown: Goalscorers wanted

Newcastle, Douglas says, ‘made enquiries’ about Nunez last month, before the transfer window opened.

They’ve already strengthened their striker ranks this month with the £25million signing of Chris Wood from relegation rivals Burnley.

They should also have top scorer Callum Wilson back from injury in around five weeks time.

The Magpies have, however, only managed to net 21 goals in their first 21 Premier League matches, so it makes sense that they would want even more firepower.

Transfermarkt value Nunez, who still has three and half years left on his SL Benfica contract, at £28.8million.

The latest: Surprise!

Sources at St James’ Park have apparently spoken about a ‘potential surprise’ in the final knockings of the window, reports Douglas, aside from the more heavily reported targets like Jesse Lingard and Diego Carlos.

Clubs are expected to lower price tags to more ‘realistic’ territory as it becomes clear that ‘Newcastle’s is the only offer that is likely to materialise’.

Douglas has urged Newcastle fans to keep an eye on Nunez in the final week of trading, suggesting he may be the ‘surprise’ arrival.

The verdict: Perfect signing

Wilson will be 30 next month and Wood is there already, while Nunez is still only 22, so perhaps Newcastle envisage building their attack around the Uruguayan long-term.

And it’s no wonder they like him – his record is magnificent. This season, he’s scored 20 goals in just 25 appearances in all competitions, averaging one every 79 minutes.

Yes, the Primeira Liga may not be the standard as the Premier League (it ranks sixth in UEFA’s coefficient, while the PL is top), but Nunez has also carried his form into the UEFA Champions League.

He bagged a brace in a 3-0 win over FC Barcelona in September and was also on target in a defeat against Group E winners Bayern Munich in November.

Perhaps this is a deal to revisit in the summer, though, because Benfica know that selling a prize asset at this late stage could spark a late scramble for a replacement.

In other news, Newcastle are considering another player who produced a UCL masterclass.

According to Goal, Liverpool genuinely considered swooping for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse during the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Liverpool quiet…

Over these last few months, Anfield has been one of the quietest clubs in the English top flight when it comes to incomings.

The majority of their business was conducted through securing their current first team stars and tying them down to new and improved long term deals.

Ibrahima Konate did sign for Liverpool from RB Leipzig very early in the window to the tune of around £36 million, but that was the sum of their first team arrivals on Merseyside.

The Latest: Liverpool weighed Ward-Prowse move…

However, as per this report from Goal, Liverpool did in fact consider swooping for more first team additions and one of them was Southampton star Ward-Prowse.

The 26-year-old, who went on to sign a new deal at St Mary’s, was on the Reds’ radar alongside the likes of Marcel Sabitzer (now Bayern Munich), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Ismaila Sarr (Watford) and Harvey Barnes (Leicester).

While there was interest, Liverpool didn’t follow through akin to the rest of their targets – with supporters now having to wait until January for the prospect of new signings.

The Verdict: Mountainous task…

Ward-Prowse would have been a good signing for Jurgen Klopp’s side, especially considering his praise at Southampton over this last year.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl even lauded the player as ‘unbelievable’ following his very consistent 2020/2021 campaign on the south coast (Hampshire Live).

However, once he signed a new long term deal, which The Athletic say takes his value to around £50 million, it became an impossible task for Liverpool or any other interested party.

Whether or not the Reds could have mounted an improved assault before that fresh contract, we’ll never know.

In other news: ‘Salt to the wounds’, ‘Pain’, ‘FSG out’…Liverpool fans fume over ’embarrassment’, find out more here.

Manchester United have suffered a potentially fatal blow in their hopes to sign Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier this summer.

What’s the story?

The Red Devils have been linked with a move for the 30-year-old throughout the summer as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to add some cover and competitions for first-choice right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

However, it’s now looking increasingly unlikely that Trippier will return to English shores in the current window, with Spanish outlet AS claiming the La Liga outfit have informed United that he’s not for sale.

Their report states: “Strength at the back remains at the heart of the team’s identity and an asset which they don’t take for granted. Precisely for that reason, the club has made it clear that they are not prepared to enter negotiations with any club for Kieran Trippier.

“The answer from Atlético to every single inquiry about the English right-back has been a resounding No. Atleti have had to explain several times that Trippier is an important player for the team in their defence of the title and he isn’t for sale.”

It concludes by revealing the only way for any interested party can prize the full-back away from Wanda Metropolitano is by meeting the €60m (£51m) buyout clause in his contract.

Solskjaer will be gutted

Trippier has established himself as a top-class right-back in recent years following a string of impressive performances for both Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid.

The technically gifted workhorse has also made a name for himself on the international stage, scoring in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat against Croatia and catching the eye of the Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.

“His quality on the ball is outstanding,” said Southgate following a pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria back in 2018.

“There were two set-plays, the one just before the goal – a free-kick bang on the money – then the corner for Gary. It was a great delivery. But we also know his quality on the ball when he’s in the final third.

“Kieran has outstanding quality, and that kind of profile in that position is very important.”

Therefore, Solskjaer is likely to be gutted at this latest revelation. While Wan-Bissaka’s defensive qualities are unquestionable, the former Crystal Palace gem struggles with the attacking aspect of his game.

In the modern era, full-backs are judged on their attacking output as much as the one in and around their own penalty area, meaning Trippier would have been a very useful alternative option for the Norwegian tactician this season.

The Euro 2020 finalist would’ve been an ideal option to offer healthy competition to his fellow countryman at right-back and ultimately, that would have only helped push the club closer to their rivals in the title race this season.

As a result, Solskjaer could rue this development.

And, in other news…Ole must ruthlessly axe £7.2m-rated Man Utd flop this month, he’s been shocking 

The Southampton revival under Ralph Hasenhuttl continues with the south coast club managing to gain a point from their 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor last Saturday in a game where they came extremely close to winning. 

A stoppage-time penalty converted by Ashley Barnes ensured the points were shared after Nathan Redmond, who is at the top of his game right now, had given the visitors the lead.

And the 24-year-old has since come in for praise from one of his team-mates as he continues to impress under his new boss.

The Breakdown

Speaking about the form of Redmond, midfielder Stuart Armstrong told the Daily Echo: “I think everyone can see how talented a player he is in training and in games of late. His goal [against Burnley] was fantastic.

“The way he moved the ball and then a quick shot into the corner of the net with so much power, with so little back-lift. He is a very good player to have in our team.”

As mentioned by Armstrong, Redmond is undoubtedly a talented individual, something which has been clear since his days in the Championship with Birmingham City.

However, for whatever reason, it has not quite worked out for the England international at St. Mary’s despite a strong start to life in a Southampton shirt.

At 24, though, there is still plenty of time for Redmond to get things right, which he has been doing in recent weeks, and evolve that talent into something further.

Watching the way Redmond can take the ball past a defender with his pace and dribbling skill, he really should be on course to becoming a serious winger in the Premier League, yet without the numbers to go with it, that did not look like the path the former Norwich City man was heading down.

Rejuvenated under Hasenhuttl, though, Redmond now appears to be going in the right direction again.

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.

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…

A Rangers transfer claim has emerged on the future of Ibrox winger Ryan Kent and whether Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be able to keep him.

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the winger has a release clause in his contract with the Glasgow giants and that he remains a long-term target for a club in England.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “The Ryan Kent one’s interesting; he’s been a long-term target for Leeds. Ever since they won promotion back to the Premier League, there was links with Ryan Kent.

“He’s had another good season for Rangers, impressed especially in their European run as well. If Leeds did follow up their interest, there is a release clause in his contract.”

Bad news for van Bronckhorst

This update spells bad news for Gio van Bronckhorst as it means that he will be helpless to stop Kent from leaving if a club comes in with an offer that triggers the release clause.

Without that contract stipulation, the Dutch head coach could urge Ross Wilson to reject any offers for Kent’s services unless an eye-catching amount of money was placed on the table. Instead, he will be forced to suffer in silence if Leeds, or any other team, stumps up the required fee.

This means that it may be a summer full of anxiety for the ex-Feyenoord boss as he hopes that no team decides to come in for him at the required price, with July and August allowing teams to swoop for him.

He will be desperate to keep hold of the Englishman as he has been a key player for the club throughout the campaign, domestically and in Europe. The forward has produced three goals and 17 assists for the Gers, including 11 assists in 24 Premiership outings and four in nine Europa League matches.

These statistics illustrate his importance to the team as he has been a regular source of creativity for the side. He has proven that he can do it in the Scottish top-flight and in European competition, which is why the head coach will be eager to retain him heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

Therefore, it is incredibly bad news for the Ibrox boss that Kent has a release clause that can be triggered in the coming months, especially with him being a long-term target for Leeds. Hopefully, they decide to look elsewhere and Rangers will be able to enjoy his talents for another year, at least.

AND in other news, Big blow: Rangers dealt worrying injury setback that’ll leave Van Bronckhorst gutted…

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…

Taking to Twitter, journalist Rudy Galetti of Sportitalia TV has made a Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving Inter Milan shot stopper Samir Handanovic.

The Lowdown: Paratici eyeing new keepers?

Even though it seems as if Tottenham number one Hugo Lloris is likely to pen a one-year extension at the club, the future of number two Pierluigi Gollini is up in the air.

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Reports even claim the Lilywhites could decide to cut short his loan spell and send him back to Atalanta despite having the option to sign him on a permanent deal at the end of 2021/2022 (L’Eco di Bergamo via The Spurs Web).

This comes amid ‘concerns’ those within Tottenham have over Gollini’s fitness as they weigh up making his move a permanent one (The Athletic), but it appears Spurs may also have their eye on alternative options already.

The Latest: Galetti makes Handanovic claim…

Taking to Twitter, reporter Galetti has shared news on a brand new target for Conte and transfer chief Fabio Paratici as news emerges on Handanovic.

The 37-year-old’s contract at the San Siro expires this year, meaning he is now free to negotiate pre-contract summer moves with overseas clubs.

Tottenham have apparently taken an interest in doing this and Handanovic now ‘could arrive’ in England as a free agent later in 2022.

It is also believed that Conte has personally ‘asked for’ his former keeper as Spurs keep tabs.

The Verdict: Right call?

Arguably solid for a quick-fix, the 81-cap Slovenia international is a player Conte certainly knows well and played regularly during his time at Inter Milan.

Over the last two seasons, Handanovic has been a mainstay in the Nerazzurri starting line up but came under-fire for some of his unreliable performances near the end of 2021.

He has, however, stood out with brilliant performances as well since then and his experience working under Conte could be of real benefit to Tottenham.

A seasoned and experienced shot stopper with plenty of time at the top level, he has also been called a ‘monster’ by his goalkeeping teammate Michele Di Gregorio, currently on loan at Serie B side Monza.

On a free deal, Handanovic certainly shouldn’t be dismissed as an option should Gollini leave.

In other news: ‘I’ve been told this morning’…Sky journalist shares ‘breaking’ Spurs transfer news on live TV, find out more here.