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Glasgow Rangers defender Nikola Katic has revealed that he is desperate to return to action at Ibrox after missing the entire 2020/21 campaign through injury.

The Lowdown: Katic struggles

The previous campaign was a magnificent one for the Gers as they won the Premiership for the first time in 10 years, but the Croatian did not play a single minute (Transfermarkt).

He picked up a serious injury during the pre-season training (BBC) and was therefore sidelined for the entire season.

The Latest: Katic desperate

Speaking to Rangers TV, Katic revealed his desire to return to the action. He said:

“I am happy that all that is behind me and now I am ready to go with the team again.

“I am desperate to get back on the pitch, I lost 12 months with my injury and now I am so desperate to play and so excited.

“I’m giving everything 24 hours per day to be as ready as possible to help the team and to prove to the manager and fans how ready I am.”

The Verdict: Like a new signing

As the Premiership was cut short during the 2019/20 campaign due to the global pandemic, Katic played in 19 of a possible 29 league matches and looked as though he would play a big role the following season. Then fate intervened, but it certainly didn’t seem to hurt the Gers too much as they conceded just 13 goals on their way to the league title (thefishy.co.uk).

However, there is no doubting that £1.44m-valued Katic (Transfermarkt) is a player Steven Gerrard trusts given his regularity of action in 2019/20, and his return to the side will almost feel like a new signing. His desire to play could be a huge boost and, if handled correctly by Gerrard, he could have a big say in the Gers’ potential achievements next term.

In other news, Gerrard has provided an update on this Rangers man.

Newcastle United face the unenviable task of playing against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Premier League today in the club’s last match before Christmas.

The Magpies are 19th in the table as it stands, on 10 points, whilst the Citizens are flying high at the summit with 41 points to their name.

Eddie Howe’s men come into the game off the back of a 3-1 defeat away to Liverpool in midweek, losing to Jurgen Klopp’s side after taking the lead early on through Jonjo Shelvey.

Unleash him

One change to the team from that loss could be the reintroduction of Callum Wilson after he was left on the bench at Anfield. The former Bournemouth striker must be unleashed against Man City and placed back in the starting XI after he was given a rest against the Reds.

He has had his chance to sit and watch on from the sidelines for the majority of the game to catch his breath back after a busy schedule of late. This, hopefully, means that he will now be fresh and 100% ready to take on City in tip-top shape.

Wilson has scored six goals in 12 Premier League starts this season and is the biggest goal threat in the Newcastle squad. Allan Saint-Maximin’s tally of three is the next highest, whilst the ex-Cherries attacker’s return of 12 league strikes last term also topped the goalscoring charts for the club.

Howe previously said of the 29-year-old: “He is an outstanding player with unique attributes for us. He has that ability to run in behind and he’s got the work ethic off the ball and, of course, he knows where the goal is.”

The Magpies head coach, who once dubbed Wilson’s passing as “hugely impressive”, must now unleash him from the start against Man City.

Wilson could provide a focal point at the top end of the pitch whilst harbouring the potential to be the match-winner for the club. The £92k-per-week dynamo’s goalscoring record for Newcastle shows that he has the quality to find the back of the net at this level

That is why he should be starting as the number nine today, whether that comes in place of Allan Saint-Maximin – after his injury against Liverpool – or anyone else. He has proven himself to be the most effective goalscorer at St. James’ Park and that is why he is deserving of a place in the XI.

AND in other news, Journo drops transfer news that’ll leave NUFC fans buzzing, he can be the next Shearer…

Liverpool are set to complete the signing of highly-rated Celtic midfielder Ben Doak, according to Football Insider.

What’s the story?

According to their sources, now that the Reds have agreed the signing of Fulham’s Fabio Carvalho, they are close to agreeing on a deal for the Celtic teenager who has already been pictured holding a Liverpool shirt.

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The 16-year old is set to sign an initial three-year deal with Liverpool paying around £600k in compensation to the Scottish club. It’s understood that to begin with he will play for the club’s development side.

More exciting than Carvalho

Fabio Carvalho has lit up the Championship this season, with 14 goal contributions in 29 appearances, so we know an awful lot about how good he is.

However, the fact we know less about Doak, and that Liverpool are signing the youngster for such a fee for his age, makes this one more exciting and intriguing.

He has already made two senior appearances for the Hoops, one of which was as a late substitute in an Old Firm game which shows just how highly thought of he is in Scotland.

Where he has excelled is at youth level for his country. Doak has made six appearances for Scotland U17’s scoring four times, which included a hat-trick in a 6-1 rout against Georgia last month.

He’s been described in glowing terms as a “generational” talent by Bhoys Analytics and will be looking to the likes of his fellow countryman Andy Robertson when judging how successful a move to Anfield can be.

Doak rejected a professional contract from Celtic to move south of the border and sign for Jurgen Klopp’s side. Whilst this may seem like a bold decision, it’s not every day that you get offered the chance to sign for one of the best teams in Europe.

He is a wide player with the ability to play on the wing and in the full-back position, adding a further string to his bow, with Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou describing him as a “fantastic kid” who is “composed” for his age.

It was reported by The Athletic that Leeds were also interested in signing the teenager but Liverpool managed to seal the deal first.

Overall it’s an extremely exciting signing, he may not feature in the first team straight away but with a lot of clubs interested, he must be special. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on how he progresses through a Liverpool set-up that is known for developing great players.

IN other news: Fewer touches than Alisson: Liverpool gem who won just 16.6% duels let his side down

Everton have been struggling with a mild injury crisis over the last three months, but with players now returning from injury there has been no better time for them as the Toffees take on some of the Premier League giants in their upcoming fixtures.

Between now and Christmas, Everton are set to face Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, all within their next six fixtures, and will be hoping to grab as many points as they can from these huge games to climb into a much better position in the table.

Rafa Benitez’s side currently sit 11th in the table with just four wins so far this season, and with such tough fixtures coming up for the Toffees they will be thankful for the returns from injury with the likes of Richarlison and centre back Yerry Mina.

Everton have been ruthlessly exposed at the back over the last few months with Benitez’s side conceding seven goals in their last four games, with an embarrassing 5-2 defeat to Watford contributing to most of those goals.

It appears that most of Everton’s defensive issues come from set pieces, and zonal marking, with this being something that the manager has addressed. Everton’s expected goals against from set-pieces is 4.0 and tied for second-worst in the league.

Responding to this, the Spanish coach said; “The main thing for us is to make sure we attack the ball and show some character when we have to challenge, we’re not doing that. It’s not just zonal marking, if it’s man-to-man, then they block your defender and you could have a man free.

“I think it’s a question of how to defend, show character and the aggression you have to show when defending a setpiece.”

With all this considered it is no wonder that fans were buzzing that Yerry Mina made his return to training at Finch Farm last week.

Rafa could solve one of his biggest problems in conceding too many cheap goals, by unleashing the £18m rated beast against Man City in their next game.

The club took to Instagram to announce the highly anticipated return of the defender, with the caption reading: “Return of the King.”

Standing at 6 foot 5, the defender who has been described as a “monster” by Michael Ball, possesses all the physical traits to improve them from dead-ball situations.

The Toffees seem to be on the other side of their injury disasters, with key players back in training ahead of the Premier League’s return this weekend and Dominic Calvert Lewin’s imminent return after being sidelined with a quadriceps injury in August.

In other news: Better than Iwobi? Jonathan Ikone on Everton’s radar

Pundit Paul Robinson has been reacting to Tottenham’s interest in Wolves winger Adama Traore, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Long-term target

Traore has been on Tottenham’s radar for some time now, with the club coming close to landing the speedster over the summer.

That was when Nuno Espirito Santo was in charge, but, as we know, a move never materialised, with Wolves cancelling a summer deal.

Since then, Traore has continued to struggle in the final third at Molineux and is still awaiting his first goal contribution of 2021/22. As a result, it appears as if Antonio Conte has fresh plans for the 25-year-old, similar to what he did with Victor Moses at Chelsea.

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The Latest: Robinson reacts to update

According to The Athletic, Conte and Fabio Paratici are still keen on Traore and would look to turn him into a right wing-back in north London, with journalist Sami Mokbel also reporting a £20m move is in the works.

Robinson, who features on Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding Traore. This is what he had to say to the update, labelling the Wolves man as ‘devastating’ and a ‘great addition’ for any side, however, he had his reservations regarding the Spaniard as a right wing-back.

“If Wolves are going to cash in on him it’s going to be soon because he is not going to sign another contract. He has been touted about heavily in recent windows.

“I cannot see him playing as a right wing-back in that system for Spurs. Defensively, I don’t think he gives Conte enough.

“Going forward he is devastating. He is a player I admire and that I like but as a winger, not a wing-back.

“He would be a great addition to any side but I don’t think he’s got the defensive capabilities to play on the right-hand side of a back five.

“I see him as part of a front three and Spurs have a lot of options in that area. I don’t think Spurs need him.”

The Verdict: Moses 2.0?

Moses heaped praise on Conte for the influence he had on his career, with the Nigerian playing a key role as the Blues won the Premier League in the Italian’s first season at Stamford Bridge.

And it now seems as if Traore’s career could turn around by moving to Spurs. The right-winger has scored just 10 times in 151 appearances for Wolves, so moving back into a deeper wing-back role could actually benefit him in the long run.

He’s got the athletic attributes and directness already, and was even labelled as ‘unplayable’ back in 2020 by Jurgen Klopp, while Pep Guardiola felt that no one can ‘handle’ his speed.

Conte clearly has a highly-rated target who he feels he can make better, and should he replicate what he did with Moses with Traore, it could be a frightening prospect.

In other news: Spurs now take next steps to sign ‘one of the best’ from PL rivals; Conte personally wants him. 

An update has emerged on the fitness of Rangers central midfielder Ryan Jack, via an insider source… 

What’s the latest?

Close friend of Ryan Jack and former Gers star Greg Stewart has revealed that the midfielder is not too far away from being back in action for the club.

Stewart has claimed that Jack will be ‘like a new signing’ for the Gers and that he has heard the 29-year-old is closing in on his return.

He told the Daily Record:

“It’s been a difficult one for Ryan.

“He’s had a couple of problems but from what I hear it won’t be long before he’s back on the pitch. That’s great news – it will be like a new signing for the team, because we’ve missed him.

“Every team would miss having a Ryan Jack in their line-up as he’s got a bit of everything about him. He even chips in with a few goals, which is great for a midfielder. Once he’s back, it will be like he’s got a new lease of life and I can’t wait to see him out there again.”

Gerrard will be buzzing

Jack’s last appearance for the Gers came back in February and he recently took to Instagram to post a picture of his muddy boots on the floor of what appeared to be a changing room.

His post left plenty to speculate over in regards to what stage he is at in his recovery, but these quotes from his close friend provide a better perspective as he has stated that Jack is not too far away from being fit.

Gerrard is surely buzzing with this news as it will be a welcome boost to his team in the coming weeks and months.

Jack adds another central midfield option for him to call upon in the Scottish Premiership and Europa League, which could make him feel like a new signing, as Stewart explained. It also allows him to rest and rotate his other options in that area of the pitch.

Back in 2019, the Teddy Bears head coach lauded Jack as a leader within the squad as he demands everyone around him to up their levels. He said:

“Ryan is an example for the rest of the squad because he never drops his standards, whether it’s a training session or a game.

“He knits everything together, he drives the team on, he demands from everyone else around him.”

This suggests that Gerrard will love to have Jack back in contention to play as he could raise the standard of those playing alongside him and lift the XI overall.

Whilst you can debate his own merits as a player and whether, as an individual, he is better than the likes of John Lundstram, Steven Davis, Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo, his leadership – as explained by Gerrard – could be an immeasurable boost to the Gers.

AND in other news, Huge blow: Rangers facing potential nightmare over key Ibrox gem, fans will be livid…

Aston Villa were open to selling midfielder Douglas Luiz over the summer, according to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans.

The Lowdown: Luiz links

Villa made a number of big-money signings over the summer but failed to add to their central midfield ranks. They also sold Jack Grealish to Manchester City for £100m, and it appears as if Luiz was also regarded as a possible departure by the Villa hierarchy.

He won Olympic gold with Brazil over the summer and was linked with moves to Manchester City and AS Roma, but as we now know, the £52,000-a-week man remained in the Midlands and has been a regular in recent weeks.

The Latest: Evans’ claim

Evans shared a story on The Athletic on Wednesday, looking at Villa’s new 3-5-2 formation. He suggested that the club were open to moving Luiz on in the recent window for the right price, but there wasn’t enough interest.

Evans then added that Dean Smith welcomed the Brazilian back to Bodymoor Heath with a presentation to celebrate his success at the Olympics along with the Villa squad.

The Verdict: A close shave

As Evans mentioned later in the article, Luiz has been an unsung hero in Villa’s wins over Everton and Manchester United, so Villa have been lucky to keep him at the club.

A midfield three of him, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey has worked effectively in Smith’s new system, and with Villa’s lack of depth in midfield, parting ways with the 23-year-old could have been a costly mistake.

Roma are still linked with Luiz, so it’ll be interesting to see what Villa’s stance is in the New Year.

In other news: ‘Believe it or not’ – Preece shares worrying under-the-radar update on Villa ace who Smith loves. 

Manchester City are enjoying a growing reputation for establishing young players and Cole Palmer could well be the next top talent off the production line at the Etihad.

The 19-year-old was rewarded with his first Premier League appearance in the 5-0 win against Norwich City recently, whilst he also started in the Community Shield against Leicester City, which emphasises that he is definitely in Pep Guardiola’s thoughts.

As an attacking-midfielder, comparisons to Phil Foden are always going to be likely and there seems little reason to suggest that Palmer can’t make it as a regular at Manchester City in the future.

The Englishman followed up his appearance against the Canaries with a dominant performance for Manchester City U21s in the Papa John’s Trophy against League Two side Scunthorpe United, scoring a superb goal in the 3-0 win.

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Academy manager Brian Barry-Murphy was full of praise for the youngster following the game, saying:

“He plays the game on a level I could never dream of. My first impression was how humble he was, how hard-working he was, how respectful of his teammates he was. I know they’re clichés but it’s very refreshing to see.

“His work rate without the ball is very inspiring. The other players will always notice how he is. His ability with the ball is a given, you’re expecting what you expect and what you saw today was some amazing individual skill.”

Barry-Murphy will be in regular contact with Guardiola over the progress of his young players and if Palmer continues to perform like this, then it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him quickly establish himself as a first-team player.

Like Foden, Palmer will likely be slowly introduced into the first-team with occasional appearances from the bench and starts against inferior opposition but that certainly worked out for the 21-year-old, who became a key player for the Citizens last season on their way to the title.

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Palmer managed 13 goals and six assists in the Premier League 2 last season and has clearly given Guardiola something to think about. With those kinds of numbers under his belt, it’s clear to see why he’s in the mould of Foden, a player who contributed to 26 goals last term.

And, in other news… Txiki should seal swoop for “outstanding” goal-machine after ex-player claim

Celtic midfielder David Turnbull has dropped a claim regarding Jota’s potential permanent switch to Parkhead.

What’s been said?

In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, the 22-year-old Scotland international suggested that he and his teammates would love to see the Benfica loanee make a permanent move to Celtic in the January transfer window, as he and his colleagues have been highly impressed with the impact the winger has had during his short time in Glasgow thus far.

The report goes on to state that Ange Postecoglou’s side do hold an option to make the Portugal U21 international’s temporary deal a £6.2m permanent move this season, and Turnbull is clearly of the belief that the 22-year-old would be well worth the money.

Speaking about Jota’s transfer situation, the midfielder said: “We hope that he signs, but it’s up to them and the club to decide that. I’m sure the boys would be keen on him doing that anyway.

“He seems to be enjoying life in Glasgow, on the pitch you can see that. And away from the pitch, he seems to be enjoying it as well – apart from the weather. He seems to be loving life. Jota’s been absolutely flying and we are pleased for him.

“From the first minute he’s been excellent both on and off the ball and he’s been doing what he needs to do. He’s chipping in for the team by scoring goals and that has been excellent. It’s great for him and it’s great for the side.”

Fans will be delighted

Considering just how impressive Jota has been since his arrival at Parkhead back in August, the news that Turnbull and his teammates appear to very much be in favour of their club sealing a deal to sign the forward on a permanent basis is sure to have delighted the Celtic fanbase.

Indeed, over his 10 Scottish Premiership appearances this season, the £3.15m-rated man has already scored five goals, registered four assists and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of three shots and making 1.5 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the winger average a SofaScore match rating of 7.39, ranking him as the joint fifth-best performer in the top flight of Scottish football.

The £7.1k-per-week forward has also been in excellent form for the Hoops over his five Europa League appearances, scoring two goals, providing two assists and creating four big chances for his side, metrics which have seen him average a SofaScore match rating of 7.40.

As such, it would indeed appear as if Jota would be well worth the reported £6.2m he’d cost Celtic to sign permanently this winter, while the prospect of the winger remaining at Parkhead beyond the end of the current campaign is certainly something that will delight Bhoys fans.

In other news: Celtic dealt big transfer blow, Ange will surely be fuming

An update has emerged on Everton target Angelo Fulgini, regarding Angers’ valuation of the midfielder.

What’s the talk?

According to The Daily Mail, Ligue 1 side Angers are prepared to cash in on Everton transfer target Angelo Fulgini and have placed a £12m price tag on his head.

The report claims that Everton, Monaco, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Southampton are among the clubs showing an interest in the central midfielder.

Fans will be buzzing

Everton fans will be buzzing with this news as it seemingly increases the club’s chances of being able to get a deal over the line for Fulgini.

The report indicates that Angers are willing to cash in on him and that could allow the Toffees to swoop in and take advantage of their financial position to sign him, as the French said are said to need the funds.

Rafa Benitez will be looking to improve his squad ahead of next season and one area which could need strengthening is the midfielder. Andre Gomes played in 28 of the club’s 38 Premier League games last term and averaged a dismal WhoScored rating of 6.46. He made fewer than two tackles and interceptions per game, whilst only providing one chance created every other game.

This suggests that replacing him could be a smart move by Brands and Benitez ahead of the end of the window. Gomes has not been able to produce week-in-week-out in the Englush top-flight and it could be time for him to be axed from the club.

Fulgini, meanwhile, enjoyed a sublime season in Ligue 1 for Angers, averaging a fantastic WhoScored rating of 7.13 across 33 appearances. In those games, he managed seven goals and four assists from midfield – whilst also scoring three times in the cup.

This shows that he has been able to consistently deliver top-class performances, which is something Gomes has been unable to do for the Toffees.

The Frenchman could be an improvement on some of Everton’s current options and he has the quality to come in and replace the ex-Barcelona man.

For £12m, Fulgini could be a terrific bargain addition to the squad and provide Benitez with a higher standard of player in the midfield mix to compete with the likes of Allan, Doucoure and Tom Davies.

AND in other news, Brands must sanction bargain £12.8m deal for “terrific” beast, Everton need him…