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Speculation has been rife regarding the possible transfers Newcastle could pull off in the January window following PIF’s takeover of the club.

The likes of Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Timo Werner are just a few of the many names linked with a switch to St James’ Park after Mike Ashley sold the club to the Saudi Arabian consortium.

However, the focus must now be drawn to the players who could lose their game-time as a result of incoming transfers as it would be beneficial to have some out the door before bringing in new arrivals, due to limitations on the size of the squad and preserving harmony among the group.

One player who should be sold in the January window is midfielder Jonjo Shelvey. The 29-year-old has been a liability for Newcastle in the middle of the park and should be replaced by PIF, or whoever the manager is come the opening of the transfer market, with an upgrade in that position being signed instead.

Whilst Shelvey has the silky skills on the ball and the ability to switch the play with his excellent range of passing, he often lets himself down with a lack of work off the ball and his poor decision-making. Despite playing in central midfield, he has a career average of just 0.9 interceptions and 1.2 tackles per game, showing that he does not put the hard graft in defensively.

He has picked up 27 yellow cards and four reds during his time at St James’ Park, with the latest dismissal coming in last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Tottenham. Shelvey was brought off the bench by Bruce to help rescue the game and instead ended up being sent off for two silly challenges, giving his teammates a taller mountain to climb.

In two Premier League appearances this season, racking up 94 minutes of play, the former Liverpool man has completed one tackle, made zero interceptions, blocks or clearances and received three yellows cards, with two of them leading to a red on Sunday. On the ball, he has not been his useful self either, as he failed to complete a single dribble and provided just one key pass.

Tellingly, the 29-year-old has recorded the lowest average WhoScored rating of anyone in the Magpies’ squad this season with a paltry 5.22, being by far the worst player in a team occupying a place in the Premier League relegation zone. That does not paint a pretty picture of his form.

With Steve Bruce reportedly set to be sacked, the £70k-per-week dud’s time at St James’ Park could also be up after his dismal cameo appearance against Spurs. If Newcastle’s next manager was watching that game, he may have already jotted down a mental note to get rid of Shelvey at the first possible opportunity.

He proved himself to be a liability and that is not the sort of character or player you want to have around when trying to rebuild the club to lead them into a future of positivity and success. Therefore, it could be time for the Magpies to ruthlessly axe Shelvey by cashing in on him in the next transfer window, based on both his style of play generally and his disciplinary record, which was highlighted against Tottenham.

AND in other news, “Sources say”: Craig Hope drops major Newcastle claim that’ll delight supporters…

Flocking to Twitter, many Southampton fans have shared their takes as a major transfer claim comes to light involving former star Gareth Bale.

Serbian-born businessman Dragan Solak recently completed a £100 million takeover of the club in what kickstarts a brand new era at St Mary’s Stadium (Sky Sports).

The cable television tycoon’s purchase of a majority stake in Southampton brings an end to the club’s long search for a new owner with former chairman Gao Jisheng now relinquishing control of the Saints.

CEO Martin Semmens remains in his role managing the club as Southampton’s transfer chief and new owner Solak has reportedly set one eye on the January transfer window.

According to El Nacional, making a major claim on what Southampton could now do under their new ownership, Semmens and Solak have identified their ‘first’ transfer goal as they set their sights on Real Madrid winger Bale.

The Wales international, according to their sources, is attracting interest from the south coast side and it is a transfer that has the ‘approval’ of Galactios president Florentino Perez.

As well as this, it is believed that Solak has ‘already begun negotiations’ with Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, and Real’s board of directors over re-signing him at Southampton.

Southampton fans erupt…

Taking to Twitter, given the nature of this transfer claim, it’s safe to say there has been no shortage of reaction from Saints fans.

While some are excited over the prospect of a Bale return, especially considering his pedigree at the top level and previously good years with Southampton, others believe this move could be too far out of the club’s reach.

His age (32) and possible salary demands arguably come as a stumbling block to this move so it’s not hard to see why some fans don’t dare to dream.

Find all of their best reactions to this news down below:

“Imagine the scenes”

Credit: @gdwtownsend

“Yes please!!!”

Credit: @PhilGrinch

“Get it done! Let’s see how serious these new owners are!!”

Credit: @MarcTR4

“Anyone who says no is an idiot”

Credit: @RahilMajid

“This won’t happen but I would love it to he can’t even be compared to Walcott. Bale is another level Theo would never get to imo”

Credit: @saintjoshb

“It would be incredible. But I just don’t think, even with the new owners, that we could afford the funds for his wages. He’d lift the atmosphere of the club, I just hope he would actually try.”

Credit: @SamuelR75523948

“Surely not”

Credit: @Bradders1302

Everton are still at risk of being relegated down to the Championship at the end of their current Premier League campaign.

Despite their unfortunate position in the league table, it seems as though a potential clue has been dropped over one deal the Toffees could look to get done at Finch Farm during the upcoming summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist and transfer insider Pete O’Rourke had this to say about the possibility of Everton offering midfielder Fabian Delph a new contract in the summer when his current deal expires.

He said: “Potentially, it could maybe have Everton have a rethink on what they’re going to do with Fabian Delph.

“I think before that game, many people would have expected Delph to leave on a free transfer when his contract is up, but he came in from the cold against Manchester United and performed really well in that midfield role.

“For Everton right now, he’s obviously out of contract. He’s not getting any younger either, so, it’s going to be hard for him to turn things around and get a new deal at Goodison Park.”

Fans would be furious

Since arriving at the Merseyside club back in the 2019 summer transfer window, the Englishman has made just 37 appearances for the Toffees across all competitions and is yet to score a goal or provide an assist.

Having picked up a significant number of injuries since moving to Goodison Park, Delph hasn’t been the most reliable of figures in Everton’s squad over the past few years.

However, as O’Rourke mentioned, the 32-year-old did put in a solid shift against Manchester United in the 1-0 win between the two sides earlier this month.

Despite this, the midfielder has failed to impose himself as a solid option for the Toffees in the Premier League this season, with WhoScored giving him a rather uninspiring overall performance rating of just 6.46.

With that in mind and the fact that Delph didn’t exactly hit it off with the Everton supporters when he got involved in a social media spat with one of them back in the early months of his time as a Toffees player, it presumably wouldn’t please a lot of those fans to see him get given a new deal.

In other news: Lampard can now axe “reckless” Everton dud with move for “powerful” £27m-rated machine

Ludogorets’ Kiril Despodov is on Rangers’ list of targets, according to a report from Tema Sport. 

The lowdown

Despovodov, 25, is predominantly a right-winger, but he’s capable of playing across the frontline.

He only joined Ludogorets permanently last summer, having impressed the Bulgarian club during his loan spell from Cagliari.

Despodov has two and a half years left on his contract and is valued at £2.88million by Transfermarkt.

Rangers have only made one addition so far in January, loaning James Sands from New York City FC.

They have, though, recalled two attacking players in the form of Cedric Itten and Jake Hastie.

The latest

The report states that Despodov has attracted the interest of Rangers, as well as Super Lig outfit Istanbul Basaksehir.

But he apparently ranks only fourth in their list of priorities behind fellow right wingers Akinkunmi Amoo (Hammarby in Sweden), Brian Ocampo (Nacional Montevideo in Uruguay) and Robert Muric (Rijeka in Croatia).

The verdict

Despodov boasts an impressive record this season with nine goals and 12 assists in 29 appearances across all competitions.

Two of those goal contributions have come in the Europa League, though he wasn’t able to prevent Ludogorets propping up Group F.

How does he compare to the other names under consideration?

Well all of the players appear to be in a similar price bracket – Muric and Ocampo are valued at £2.7million, with Amoo a marginally more expensive £3.6million.

It’s Despovodov who leads the way for goal contributions in the most recent season though, with Amoo next on 18 overall (13 goals, five assists), followed by Muric (eight, seven) on 15 and Ocampo on 12 (four, eight).

It feels a little harsh, then, that he’s only regarded as plan D.

In other news, this ‘powerhouse’ could soon leave Ibrox.

Liverpool are reportedly confident that Mohamed Salah will sign a new deal at the club, with Luis Diaz’s arrival not affecting the situation whatsoever.

The Lowdown: Salah’s deal expiring soon

The 29-year-old has arguably stood out as the world’s best player this season, scoring 23 goals and registering nine assists for the Reds in all competitions.

Worryingly, Salah’s current deal expires in the summer of 2023, and talks regarding a new-and-improved contract at Anfield are still yet to show any real signs of progress, at least from the outside looking in.

Of course, if an agreement cannot be found, it will surely cross FSG’s mind that they are better off cashing in this summer than losing him for free in 15 months time, but a fresh update suggests that Liverpool fans’ worries could be eased soon.

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The Latest: New update emerges

According to Football Insider, a Liverpool source believes a new deal may soon be agreed for Salah, revealing the Reds are ‘confident’ and acting as an enormous boost for anyone associated with the club.

It is stated that talks could ramp up once the forward returns from Africa Cup of Nations duty, with Egypt taking on Sadio Mane’s Senegal in the final on Sunday.

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The Verdict: Simply has to be extend

The idea of Salah moving on, either this summer or when his contract runs out, simply doesn’t bear thinking about, given his vast influence at Liverpool.

He is already undoubtedly one of the all-time great Reds players – his record of 148 goals in 229 appearances is astonishing. He has been hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, and his incredible fitness levels suggest he will remain a top player well into his thirties.

Liverpool’s owners divide opinion amongst the fanbase but failing to sort a new contract for Salah would be inexcusable, potentially even defining their entire reign at the club.

In other news, Liverpool and Manchester City are reportedly tracking the same player. Find out who it is here.

[ad_pod ]Leeds could be handed a big fitness boost in the next couple of weeks, as Phil Hay has delivered an update on the condition of Jack Clarke.Leeds have had horrific luck with injuries this season, made even worse by the fact that Marcelo Bielsa’s squad was relatively thin to begin with.Clarke became the latest man on the injury list at Middlesbrough, as the youngster was stretchered from the Leeds sideline during the 1-1 draw at the Riverside.Clarke was taken to hospital for tests, and it is now understood that he was suffering from a virus.According to The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Phil Hay, the teenager will do indoor gym work this week and return to outdoor training next week, though not yet with the first team.

A boost before the Baggies

While Clarke still has plenty of recovery time in front of him, the fact that he is looking to shake it off and return as quickly as possible is fantastic news for Bielsa.

Kemar Roofe is out with a knee injury and Pablo Hernandez will turn 34 in April and has played a lot of games this season, so depth is absolutely crucial as the Whites look to keep pace with the teams around them.

Clarke’s ability to beat a defender and whip in a dangerous cross is matched by very few wingers in the Championship, and while next Tuesday’s clash against QPR may come too soon, he is surely eyeing the hugely important fixtue at the start of next month.

Leeds welcome West Brom to Elland Road on March 1 in a match that could ultimately decide who goes up automatically and who endures the play-off gauntlet, and Clarke’s potential return will be giving the Baggies’ full-backs nightmares.

Norwich City had a very eventful weekend with the Canaries finally securing their first win of the season before the celebrations took a twist when the club announced they had parted ways with manager, Daniel Farke, with immediate effect.

There have already been a few names put into the conversation, with the firm favourite being someone currently out of management.

That happens to be Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard.

Fabrizio Romano took to Twitter yesterday evening to confirm Norwich’s interest in the former midfielder and two other managers; “Frank Lampard had a conversation with the Norwich City board today, but still no decision made. Three names on the list, meeting planned to progress in internal talks and decide,” he said.

The main concern for Norwich is having a hefty relegation battle on their hands as they currently sit at the bottom of the premier league table, with just 5 points from 11 games. Luckily, there is still time to get a good run going, but is there potentially somebody available that would be a better fit than Lampard for Norwich’s circumstances?

Dean Smith was relieved of his duties as head coach at Aston Villa this weekend after five consecutive losses and has already appeared on the Canaries’ shortlist. Although he was only sacked a few days ago, Smith seems to be the perfect fit with the skills required to give Norwich the best opportunity of staying in the Premier League next season.

Dubbed a “universally liked” character by Villa CEO, Christian Purslow, the 50-year-old took Aston Villa from mid-table in the Championship and turned them into an established Premier League side. Smith’s success and experience with Villa will not go unnoticed by Norwich City’s sporting director, Stuart Webber, who will be looking for a manager with the proven ability to turn the tide on the club’s abysmal start to the season.

Tim Sherwood, who was speaking on Premier League Productions, has claimed that Norwich would be a ‘great job for him now’ as Smith looks to the future, and the next step in his career.

“He’s still a very good manager,” said Sherwood. “He has proved that he can get someone promoted and he has proved he can stay in the Premier League.”

Smith famously led Villa to a great escape from relegation in 2020, following it up with an impressive 11th place finish in the season after. Norwich will be looking for a similarly ambitious and direct approach from their new manager, to release them from their current relegation woes and secure another season of Premier League football.

AND in other news, Webber could land NCFC’s dream Farke heir with “attractive” coach, he’s a perfect fit…

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has dropped a promising injury update regarding Giorgos Giakoumakis.

What’s the latest?

In a recent interview with The Scottish Mail on Sunday (via 67hailhail), the Bhoys boss revealed that the centre-forward is now back in training after recovering from a knee injury, as well as suggesting that the 27-year-old should be in line for a return to first-team football after the winter break.

Speaking about the condition of the Greece international, Postecoglou said: “Giako is close. One session was not enough for him to be right for Sunday. He is back now to almost being available. If we had one more game he would probably be available but we are now looking to get him back after the break.”

Fans will be delighted

Considering the excitement that surrounded Giakoumakis’ £2.5m move to Parkhead this summer, the news that the striker – who has so far started just two games in his Celtic career – is finally back in contention for first-team football is sure to have delighted the Hoops fanbase and the 56-year-old manager alike.

And, if the £2.25m-rated man can hit anywhere near the heights he did at VVV-Venlo last season in the second half of the current campaign, his return from injury will very much feel like a new signing for Postecoglou and his side.

Indeed, over his 30 Eredivisie appearances last time out, the £8.2k-per-week hitman scored a remarkable 26 goals, registered one assist and created three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.2 shots – 1.5 of which were on target – and making 0.5 key passes per game.

These returns saw the centre-forward earn an extremely impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.35, ranking him as the joint sixth-best performer in the entirety of the division – a rather extraordinary feat when considering the fact that he was playing for a side that suffered relegation from the top flight.

As such, should Giakoumakis indeed be able to refind this form in the second half of the current campaign, it would undoubtedly come as a game-changing boost to Celtic’s chances of reclaiming the Premiership crown come next May – an outcome that would delight everyone involved with the club.

In other news: Ange can finally axe £41k-p/w Celtic deadwood with January swoop that “should happen”

Leeds United missed out on Ben Godfrey as a teenager amid comments that the centre-back was snubbed by the club following a trial…

What’s the story?

After being released by Middlesbrough as a youngster, Godfrey would then go on trial at Elland Road, Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday, with none of them leading to a contract, thus leaving the defender contemplating his future in the game.

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He said: “It felt a little bit like the dream was over. For them to say no was a massive confidence-breaker, really. It looked like the end of the journey.

“The moment that stands out massively is after that Leeds United trial. The coach told me they were not going to offer me anything but to go and prove him wrong. That stuck with me. I was desperate then. I could not wait to go and prove them wrong.”

Godfrey’s rise to the top

Daniel Farke, Godfrey’s former boss at Norwich, once tipped him to reach the very highest level, declaring: “Whoever signs Ben Godfrey can be unbelievably happy. It is no coincidence he is captain of the England Under-21s. This club has had some decent players in the past so to be rated the biggest transfer fee for a figure that is on the world level says everything about his potential.

“I am pretty sure he will play for best clubs in the world one day and he has the potential to captain England. That is what I wish for him. He is one of the best centre backs in the world in terms of potential.”

While Godfrey hasn’t exactly emerged as a real cornerstone of England’s defence, he has picked up a couple of caps for the Three Lions and earned himself a high-profile move from Norwich to Everton just a couple of years ago while Carlo Ancelotti was the manager on Merseyside.

Indeed, the 24-year-old’s potential and ability was on clear display just this past weekend, when the Toffees ran out 1-0 winners against Manchester United at Goodison Park. Godfrey was instrumental at the back, making a whopping game-high 13 clearances (more than double that of the man in second), and he wasn’t once dribbled past either.

Described as an “absolute baller” by Everton’s official Twitter channel, the £25m-rated Godfrey has certainly carved out a fine career for himself since that rejection from Leeds a number of years ago.

The 6 foot ace has proved not only the Whites wrong, but all those other clubs who snubbed him too.

AND in other news – Signed for £5m, now worth 700% more: Orta struck dream Leeds deal with “quality” 22-year-old

Fabrizio Romano has shared some ‘bad news’ for Manchester United regarding forward Edinson Cavani.

The Lowdown: Cavani’s injury problems

Cavani’s 2021/22 season has been one to forget, with the striker missing large parts of the campaign due to quarantine issues, knocks, tendon irritation and most recently a groin problem.

The 35-year-old has been limited to just six Premier League starts as a result, making a return to action against Tottenham prior to the international break.

He went away with Uruguay and featured against both Peru and Chile, however, Cavani appears to have picked up a fresh problem during the international break.

The Latest: Romano’s post

Romano took to Twitter in the early hours of Wednesday morning to relay news of Cavani’s latest injury. He said:

“Bad news for Manchester United as Edinson Cavani leaves the pitch with an injury during Uruguay game. New problem for el Matador.”

Manchester United have since confirmed that the striker is now a doubt for the match with Leicester City on Saturday following the fresh problem.

The Verdict: End of the road?

Cavani impressed during his first season at Old Trafford, scoring 17 goals in all competitions to earn him a new 12-month deal.

Unfortunately, the experienced striker hasn’t been able to replicate his form this year, so a summer exit could well be on the cards.

It looks set to be a summer of change for the Red Devils off the pitch, with a new manager coming in to replace interim boss Ralf Rangnick.

Cavani is just one of a number of United players out of contract at the end of June, so his days at the club could be numbered following this latest injury blow.

In other news: ‘Led to believe…’ – Insider now drops major claim on Bruno and Ten Hag following Man Utd talks.