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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…

Celtic have made an enquiry for Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Forster’s last 12 months

Since heading back to the Saints after his Parkhead loan spell during the 2019/20 campaign, Forster has barely featured under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The 33-year-old, on £70,000-a-week on the south coast, made just 13 appearances in all competitions last season, five of which were in the FA Cup.

Celtic have been linked with the likes of Joe Hart and Ben Foster in recent days, and it seems as if Forster, who Scott Bain described as ‘phenomenal’, is also on their radar.

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The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story on Forster on Friday afternoon, with Gabby Agbonlahor giving his thoughts on a possible Parkhead return.

Within their report, a Celtic source informed them that the Hoops have actually already enquired over a possible deal for the Englishman.

They didn’t say whether it would be a loan or a permanent move, with Forster now into the final year of his Southampton contract.

The Verdict: Avoid

Forster snubbed the chance to stay on loan at Celtic last season, so the Hoops should look elsewhere for any potential additions in goal.

He’s not exactly been a regular over the last 12 months and is on a huge salary, so there’s no guarantee he would be up to scratch straight away and could prove a risk financially.

It seems as if Celtic are testing the water though, so a Celtic Park return for Forster could be one to keep a close eye on as Ange Postecoglou continues his ‘keeper search.

In other news: Journalist in Turkey drops Friday transfer development; Celtic now close to signing 5-trophy ace. 

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Josh Griffiths could be set for a summer exit from The Hawthorns.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon, who claimed in a post on Twitter that the 19-year-old shot-stopper is attracting interest from both Portsmouth and Lincoln City in the summer transfer market.

Nixon goes on to state that the Baggies are currently deciding whether or not to allow the England U21 international to leave the club on a temporary basis, with the future of the West Brom number one Sam Johnstone also being somewhat up in the air.

Big mistake

While the interest in Johnstone appears to have died down in recent weeks, with both West Ham United and Watford believed to have been put off by the £20m price tag of the England international, it is by no means certain that the 28-year-old will still be at the club at the start of next season.

As such, considering the uncertainty surrounding the future of the club’s number one, in addition to the fact that West Brom are yet to appoint Sam Allardyce’s successor at the club, allowing such a highly-rated prospect to leave would appear to be something of a mistake from Xu Ke. That’s especially considering how impressive the 19-year-old was while on loan at Cheltenham Town last season.

Indeed, over his 44 League Two appearances for Michael Duff’s side, Griffiths helped his team keep an extraordinary 21 clean sheets and conceded just 37 goals, as well as making an average of two saves and 0.4 successful runs out per game.

These returns saw the £450k-rated ‘keeper earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.87, ranking him as the Robins’ ninth-best performer in the fourth tier of English football, playing a huge role in the club’s title-winning campaign.

As such, it would very much seem as if the man whom Andy Wilcox claimed has a “big future” in the game is more than capable of making the step up to the West Brom first team, something that he may well have to do if Johnstone does go on to leave the club this summer.

In other news: West Brom handed boost over “top-class” manager target that should have fans buzzing

West Brom centre-back Dara O’Shea’s current injury situation remains unknown, according to reliable journalist Steve Madeley.

The Lowdown: O’Shea suffers injury

The Baggies have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season, sitting second in the Championship after picking up 13 points from their opening five games.

O’Shea has been an ever-present in that time, playing every minute of action, but he suffered an injury in the Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 defeat to Portugal on Wednesday night.

The Latest: Madeley provides update

West Brom are no doubt sweating over the news, but taking to Twitter on Thursday, The Athletic‘s Madeley simply offered a two-word update, revealing they are yet to find out the severity:

“Nothing yet.”

This likely means they are waiting on the results of a scan, which could be a concern given his importance at the Hawthorns.

The Verdict: Huge player for Baggies

The hope is that O’Shea’s injury is not too serious and that he will be back for next weekend’s Championship clash with Millwall at the Hawthorns.

The 22-year-old has averaged 2.4 tackles and 2.2 interceptions per game in the league so far this season, outlining his defensive brilliance.

If O’Shea ends up being absent for an extended period of time, he could be a huge loss for Valerien Ismael’s side, as they look for a swift return to the Premier League.

In other news, a journalist has given his thoughts on West Brom’s interest in one player. Read more here.

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been reacting to transfer news shared by The Athletic’s Villa correspondent Gregg Evans.

The journalist shared a story on Friday morning, looking at the club’s plans for the summer window. The main takeaways from the piece are that Villa are looking to add two or three key players to their ranks this summer and are chasing Burnley’s Dwight McNeil and Norwich City’s Emiliano Buendia.

Villa have already laid extensive groundwork over deals for the pair, with moves not being viewed as replacements for Jack Grealish but rather to supplement the club captain.

Elsewhere, Evans admitted that West Brom’s Matheus Pereira isn’t rated as highly as McNeil or Buendia by Villa chiefs, while Celtic’s David Turnbull is not a target for the club.

However, as to be expected, it was the news on the Burnley and Norwich stars (who provided a combined 17 goals and 22 assists this season) which had a number of Villa fans excited.

Villa fans react

@villareport shared the news on Twitter on Friday morning and here is what some supporters had to say in reply, with one describing potential deals for Buendia and McNeil as ‘outstanding’.

“We are winning the league”Credit: @Nathhhavfc”love that”Credit: @catrinedwards18″Outstanding business if we can get this done. Young, forward, creative players!!”Credit: @viIlajake”Both would be excellent signings for us”Credit: @RossMatthewman7″They would be perfect for us”Credit: @1998_David_”Naaaa! I’m dreaming.”Credit: @RHAVFC

In other news: Villa linked with move for outgoing Tottenham ace, find out who it is here. 

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Kalvin Phillips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Telegraph, who claim that Antonio Conte is a big fan of the Leeds United defensive midfielder, with the 26-year-old believed to be on Fabio Paratici’s list of targets ahead of the upcoming transfer market.

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However, the report goes on to state that it is questionable whether Daniel Levy would be willing to offer the England international a similar salary to the one Manchester United will likely put forward to the Whites academy graduate.

Conte’s dream signing

Considering just how impressive Phillips has been for Leeds in recent years, in addition to the midfielder possessing a skill set that would appear to suit Conte’s brand of football seamlessly, it is easy to see why the 52-year-old would be keen on a deal for the deep-lying playmaker this summer.

While injury has seen the 26-year-old make just 14 Premier League appearances this season, Phillips proved last season that he is undoubtedly one of the best holding midfielders currently playing the game.

Indeed, over his 29 top-flight fixtures last term, the £45m-rated talent was the Whites’ standout performer, making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 2.6 tackles, 1.7 clearances and winning 5.3 duels – at a success rate of 52% – per fixture.

The £38k-per-week Englishman also highly impressed in a creative capacity, bagging one goal, providing two assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as completing an average of 1.2 key passes, 4.7 long balls, 41 passes and 0.7 dribbles per outing.

These returns saw the player who Nigel de Jong dubbed a “baller” and Adam Crafton labelled “stunning” average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.21, not only ranking him as Leeds’ best performer in the league but also as the ninth-best midfielder in the division as a whole.

Indeed, with Phillips being a tough-tackling, tireless and incredibly creative defensive midfielder, it is clear to see just how well the England sensation would fit into Conte’s tactical setup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

As such, it would appear highly advisable for Paratici to do all he can to convince Levy to stump up the 26-year-old’s £60m asking price, as Phillips would certainly be Conte’s dream signing for Spurs this summer.

AND in other news: “100%” – Fabrizio Romano drops Spurs transfer claim that will leave supporters buzzing