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This hasn’t exactly been a mind-blowing transfer window for Rangers but when the Gers are undoubtedly the best side in Scottish football right now, what exactly can Gio van Bronckhorst add to Ibrox that the club doesn’t already have?

Of course, Nathan Patterson has left while there is still the threat of Alfredo Morelos leaving Glasgow behind but they have done some business, adding James Sands has been added to their ranks.

Further arrivals seem unlikely in the grand scheme of things but one player at van Bronckhorst simply has to lure to Ibrox is Andreas Skov Olsen.

The Danish winger has electrifying qualities and it’s thought the club are interested in a deal to bring him to Scotland this month.

However, they could be beaten to the 22-year-old signature by Club Brugge who are understood to be closing on a £5m deal for the attacker.

This is disappointing news for the Gers but if Ross Wilson and the club’s manager can still convince him to join then he’d be a terrific signing.

In fact, not only would it be an eye-catching signing for the Glasgow giants but the league as a whole.

Journalist Josh Bunting told his Twitter followers: “If because I don’t know the details and if it’s true Rangers sign Andreas Skov Olsen then wow, that’s actually groundbreaking for Scottish football. Shows that players really respect that league, beautiful footballer, would fit the side and the way that they want to play so well.”

Indeed, it’s incredibly hard to argue with those sentiments. The Dane may have failed to score in Serie A this term but you can’t ignore the rate at which he scored goals for Nordsjaelland, finding the net on 27 occasions in 51 outings.

Blessed with a lethal left foot, it’s easy to see why he’s modelled his play style on Netherlands great Arjen Robben.

Yet, under van Bronckhorst, it’s another Dutchman that he could replicate, that of Robin van Persie.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker played under the current Rangers boss at Feyenoord, where he was a revelation, bagging 25 times in 45 matches.

Therefore, with Skov Olsen possessing a similarly dangerous left foot and the ability to score goals on a regular basis, the club’s head coach could well find his next van Persie this winter.

The Scottish champions may already have the likes of Ryan Kent and Morelos in their ranks but Skov Olsen could take their attack to the next level. Rangers must complete a deal if one is still there to be done.

AND in other news, Rangers can finally replace Gilmour by signing “phenomenal” 18y/o who “has everything”…

Celtic have reached a ‘general agreement’ with Kawasaki Frontale for Reo Hatate, according to Japanese outlet Hochi.

The Lowdown: Hatate profiled

Hatate has recently just helped Kawasaki Frontale win a second consecutive J1 League title, making 38 appearances in 2020/21.

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He turned out in a number of positions, mainly in midfield and at left-back, with Celtic reportedly seeing Hatate as a midfield addition, with his current contract set to expire at the end of January.

The 24-year-old is on €38,000-a-year (around £625-a-week) with his current employers, but it seems as if a move to Glasgow to join countryman Kyogo Furuhashi is on the cards.

The Latest: Agreement reached

Japanese outlet Hochi posted on Twitter on Sunday evening, shortly after Celtic’s 1-0 win over Motherwell, claiming Hatate is set to ‘move’ to Scotland.

A ‘general agreement’ has been reached between the two clubs, so it seems as if the Hoops will pay a small fee to the J1 League side for Hatate’s services.

The Verdict: More good news

The Hoops have also agreed on a fee with Gamba Osaka for midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi, so Celtic are now closing in on two January signings already.

That can only be good news, especially with the number of injuries Ange Postecoglou has had to deal with in recent weeks, while the fact everything is in place so soon shows impressive planning from a club who have often been lacking in the boardroom in recent years.

Postecoglou will know just what Hatate and Ideguchi will bring to Scotland following his time as a manager in Japan, and the quicker Celtic can complete their January business, the better, with Japanese forward Daizen Maeda another on the club’s winter window wishlist.

In other news: Devlin claims ‘special’ Celtic ace may have broken bone amid ‘conflicting’ info. 

Leeds United have been linked with a move for Boubacar Kamara this month and he’d be a magnificent, and much-needed, addition to Marcelo Bielsa’s engine room.

According to the Daily Mail, the Marseille star is a player that the Yorkshire giants like, whilst podcaster Conor McGilligan has claimed that the young powerhouse is very attainable.

“Aside from wages, it looks like Leeds United might be able to get this deal done for a very good price. He’s out of contract in the summer, but there would be a whole host of suitors in the summer. But in January, Leeds could get that one done,” he said (via YouTube).

The addition of a new midfielder is perhaps one of the biggest priorities for the Whites’ recruitment team during the January transfer window – just last month, The Athletic’s Phil Hay said:

“As for recruitment, I said last week that some business in January would make sense. It doesn’t have to be [a] huge amount or hideously expensive but it’s been pretty comprehensively shown, for example, that without [Patrick] Bamford it’s not clear who should be at nine. And they do need another [in] midfield. That’s blindingly obvious.”

Since then, Bielsa has suffered from a devastating setback in losing anchorman Kalvin Phillips for the foreseeable future, so the need to bolster the heart of the pitch has increased tenfold.

Some of the Argentine’s longest-serving players have criminally let him down, too, such as Mateusz Klich, who has looked a little out of his depth in the Premier League this season.

WhoScored rank him as United’s second lowest-rated central option, which only highlights how poor he has been. During Bielsa’s first two seasons at the club, the Polish international had missed only one game, so it’s rather telling.

Kamara would be a serious upgrade on the 31-year-old, especially as he has experience in some of Europe’s biggest competitions.

Valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, the France U21 international is an absolute beast in midfield. He has already racked up over 110 appearances in Ligue 1 and has featured 21 times across the Champions and Europa League. This is a calibre of player that is perhaps lacking from Bielsa’s engine room.

He has earned glowing reviews on his ability and potential in the past, including a particularly exciting one from ex-Marseille teammate Rolando.

“This kid is a phenomenon,” he claimed. “When he started training with us, he was 15 years old. And from day one, I said, no, but this little one is going to be a great player.”

Since making his debut for Marseille, Kamara has averaged a whopping 2.3 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 1.8 aerial duels won per game, via WhoScored, which suggests he’s a very strong physical presence and with Klich failing to match these numbers since Leeds’ promotion, it would be wise for Victor Orta and co to try and secure him this month.

For a reported £10m asking price, the Spanish director of football could land quite the bargain upgrade, should he push ahead with their interest before Deadline Day.

AND in other news, Leeds eye record-breaking swoop for 6 ft 1 “extraordinary talent”, Bielsa needs him…

Newcastle United reportedly now have ‘the opportunity’ to sign AS Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo.

The Lowdown: Newcastle’s new Gascoigne?

Back in 2019, the player’s agent Claudio Vigorelli claimed that his client ‘resembles’ former Magpies midfielder Paul Gascoigne for his ‘physical qualities’ and can be ‘devastating’ like Gazza with his ‘technique and quality’ (The Daily Mail).

The former England international was a cult hero at St James’ Park, being their Player of the Year in the 1987/88 season, and scored 20 goals in 94 games in total for them across all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Zaniolo is still only 22 years of age, and given the comparisons to Gazza, he seems to have a big future ahead of him.

The Latest: Opportunity comes around

As per Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle now have ‘the opportunity’ to sign Zaniolo for ‘significant amounts’ of money, with Tottenham Hotspur also an option for the Italy international.

However, they will not be able to sign him in the January transfer window, but a deal may be possible next summer.

The Verdict: Makes sense

With the Magpies currently in a relegation battle, it would make a lot of sense for them to wait until the summer before they can assess whether they can sign Zaniolo.

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Currently rated at £36m by 16 goals and provided a further nine assists in 87 matches for Roma, showing that he has an eye for a goal and an assist.

At 22, he has so much potential, and if Newcastle can avoid relegation, he would certainly be an astute signing to target.

In other news, NUFC are in ‘advanced talks’ with this DoF candidate

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left buzzing as some early team news has emerged ahead of their Old Firm clash next month.

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match at home to Dundee United this afternoon, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has now revealed that any players that are set to represent their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January will be available for their game away at Celtic on the 2nd before being released.

The likes of Leon Balogun, Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo could well be called up to the Nigeria squad for the tournament, which kicks off a week later on the 9th.

All three have made at least 18 appearances in total over all competitions so far this season for the Ibrox faithful, and so are all important members of the squad.

Thus, having them available for potentially their biggest game of the season against their bitter rivals, given their positions in the Scottish Premiership table, would be a big boost to their chances of winning.

Rangers fans on team news

These Teddy Bears supporters buzzed as the team news was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it is ‘brilliant’:

“Superb news especially with the way Aribo and Bassey are playing right now.”

Credit: @NYCRFC

“There’s some brilliant news for your Friday afternoon”

Credit: @OhItsSteely

“Superb news!”

Credit: @sayersy1872

“Smashing news”

Credit: @swigalot

“Huge news”

Credit: @rossco2586

“Absolutely fantastic words from the man himself”

Credit: @rossco72_

In other news, find out which loanee is now set to return to RFC here!

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a potential double injury blow regarding Bryan Gil and Ryan Sessegnon ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by Football.London, 20-year-old Gil, who has missed Spurs’ last two fixtures due to a thigh injury, is once again a doubt for the trip to Everton on Sunday afternoon, while 21-year-old Sessegnon, whose only two appearances this season came against FC Pacos de Ferreira in Europa Conference League qualifying back in August, is also a doubt for selection.

Conte would be gutted

While it is true that neither Gil nor Sessegnon have featured regularly for Tottenham so far this season, the continued absence of both players will nevertheless have left Antonio Conte gutted, as the duo clearly have the potential to play an important role under the 52-year-old manager.

Indeed, with the Italian lining Spurs up in a 3-4-3 formation in the 3-2 win over Vitesse on Thursday evening, it would appear likely that this is a tactic Conte will persist with going forwards and is a setup in which wing-backs are highly important.

As such, Sessegnon’s positional versatility – with the £16.2m-rated man being able to play anywhere along the left-hand side of the pitch – is a trait that Conte will find extremely useful this season, particularly as Ben Davies is much more rigid regarding his positioning.

Meanwhile, £22.5m summer signing Gil is another player who could prove extremely useful for the former Inter Milan manager, as the Spain international is also adept at playing a variety of different positions on the pitch, something which could lead to Conte trying the winger out at right wing-back – much like he did with Victor Moses at Chelsea and Inter Milan.

However, for now at least, the 52-year-old will have to make do without the services of both players, a circumstance that will undoubtedly frustrate the Italian as he heads into his first Premier League fixture in charge of Tottenham.

After all, he will want every player available for selection immediately so he can tinker with what might be his best line-up in north London.

In other news: Conte must unleash £40.5m-rated Tottenham “maverick” today, he would terrify Everton

After winning three of their four previous Premier League games prior to their international break, Southampton have a great chance to get back to where they left off with a match against Norwich City, who have only won one game in the league this season, next up for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side at the weekend.

Looking ahead to the match at Carrow Road, it seems as though the Saints have been handed a major squad boost just in time for the clash against the Canaries that will surely have a lot of Southampton fans buzzing given the various player’s importance to the squad.

What’s the news?

It has recently been reported by Hampshire Live that Valentino Livramento, Armando Broja, and Nathan Redmond have all returned to training after previously being doubts to feature in the match.

Presuming that all three will be fit enough for selection by Saturday, this will be a big boost for Hasenhuttl when it comes to choosing his starting XI to take on Dean Smith’s side.

With Livramento, who dropped out of the England U21 squad last week through injury, the fact that he has played 90 minutes in all but one of Southampton’s league games so far this season with one goal and one assist under his belt shows just how important he has been for the team and suggests that he will be in the starting XI at the weekend if he’s fit.

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Even though Broja, who has struggled with an ankle injury in recent weeks, managed to score his first two goals for the Saints in their games against Leeds United and Burnley back in October, the fact that Che Adams and Adam Armstrong have both found the back of the net since then could give Hasenhuttl a tough decision over who he plays up front against Norwich. That would hand the manager a rare selection dilemma, but one he’ll be delighted to have.

Then with Redmond, who missed Southampton’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa after testing positive for the pandemic, even though he’s yet to score in the league this season, the fact that he has provided two assists and started seven of their 11 league games shows that he is an important figure for Hasenhuttl.

Taking all of this into account, only time will tell if the trio will all start against Norwich or not, but Hasenhuttl will definitely be glad to have them back in training rather than out on the sidelines to give him more options across the pitch.

In other news: Ralph must ruthlessly axe £60k-p/w “nice guy” at Southampton, he’s their weak link – opinion

Even though Liverpool currently have a hefty number of central-midfielders in their senior squad at the moment, some of them, such as Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson and James Milner have all hit or gone past the age of 30.

One player that the club currently have in their youth system that we feel could well go on to be a suitable replacement for one of those previously mentioned senior midfielders is 18-year-old Tyler Morton.

As a product of Liverpool’s youth academy, Morton, who is currently valued at £270k according to Transfermarkt, has made 23 appearances for Liverpool’s U18 side in which he has managed to score six goals and provide seven assists in the process.

Morton has also made 24 appearances for Liverpool’s U23 side, scoring five times and supplying four assists along the way, proving himself as a rather useful attacking option from midfield.

The midfielder made his senior debut for Liverpool during their 3-0 win over Norwich City in the Carabao Cup last month in which Reds manager Jurgen Klopp said Morton put in a “confident” performance in his first senior outing for the Merseyside club.

Opening up on the midfield general, the German boss explained: “Tyler, really, he gave us the opportunity to connect again, because he just played simple, passed the ball in the right spaces, defended the right spaces.”

In addition to this, Morton was given an overall match rating of 7/10 for his performance against Norwich from the Liverpool Echo who said that he “slotted into the defensive midfield role impressively” after replacing Naby Keita.

The teenager has managed to rack up an average of three key passes per game based on the two performances he’s put in for Liverpool’s U23 side in the Football League Trophy this season, which is considerably more than Henderson (1.1 key passes per game) has done in the Premier League so far this season.

We feel that if Morton continues to play well for the youth team and take any opportunity that comes his way to play in Klopp’s side, such as their upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Preston North End later this month, then he could well see himself as a possible regular first-team player in the next few years, in the same way Curtis Jones has done.

Looking ahead to the future further down the line, even though he signed a new deal over the summer, we could see Morton potentially being a long-term replacement for Henderson if he ends up leaving when his current deal expires given his age.

Like the skipper, he is defensively astute and capable of carrying the ball forward. He’s certainly one to watch.

In other news: Imagine him & Thiago: Klopp must secure LFC move for “incredible” £36m-rated machine – opinion

Reliable Leeds United reporter Phil Hay thinks Luke Ayling, Patrick Bamford and Junior Firpo all have a chance of featuring against Norwich City this weekend.

The Lowdown: Injured trio

Marcelo Bielsa has been without a number of key players this season, with the Whites flirting above the relegation zone as a result.

Bamford and Ayling have missed Leeds’ last six in all competitions with ankle and knee issues respectively, whereas Firpo hasn’t been seen for the last three.

However, ahead of the trip to Carrow Road on Sunday, Hay believes all three could feature in some capacity following Bielsa’s comments last week.

The Latest: Hay’s tweet

Hay replied to a Whites fan on Twitter on Wednesday morning who asked about Bamford’s situation.

The Athletic reporter claimed that after Bielsa admitted Ayling and Bamford would be missing for Wolves and Arsenal, the media took that as ‘they had a chance of Norwich’ – a big six-word update.

The same goes for Firpo, as Hay mentioned.

“Bielsa said last week that Bamford and Ayling would miss Wolves/Arsenal. We took that to mean that they had a chance of Norwich. Same with Firpo.”

Hay’s tweet was liked just 60 times as of Thursday lunchtime – 0.028% of his 211,000 followers, so it seems to have gone under the radar due to it being a reply in a thread rather than a regular post.

The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Bielsa already has a relatively small Leeds squad when everyone is available, so being without three players for a period of time, especially the likes of Bamford, Ayling and Firpo, was always going to make life difficult.

Hopefully, Hay’s interpretation regarding the trio will prove accurate, and that they can all feature in some capacity on Sunday.

Even if it is a place on the bench, it may give Leeds a boost they need in their attempts to gain a second league win.

In other news: Pundit spots Bielsa fury at something 18-cap Leeds man did. 

Watford host Stoke City in the Carabao Cup at Vicarage Road tonight as they look to build on their 3-1 win over Norwich at the weekend.

The Hornets picked up their second Premier League win of the campaign as they beat the Canaries at Carrow Road, with Emmanuel Dennis scoring the opener before a brace from Ismaila Sarr sealed the three points.

They now come up against Championship side Stoke as they attempt to progress through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

How many changes will Xisco make from Saturday? Here is our predicted XI…

We are predicting that he will make six changes to the team which won at Norwich, with Daniel Bachmann, Jeremy Ngakia, Adam Masina, Christian Kabasele, Imran Louza and Ashley Fletcher all coming into the line-up.

As you may expect with a cup game, we are predicting that Xisco will make a change between the sticks. Foster came in against Norwich and helped Watford to victory, but we believe he will now be axed so that Bachmann can have some minutes in goal against Stoke. He could have the chance to show Munoz that maybe he should be starting ahead of the veteran Englishman in the league.

In the defence, we are predicting that Ngakia, Kabasele and Masina will come in. This is simply a case of rotation for Munoz to offer some of the fringe players more minutes, whilst resting the likes of William Troost-Ekong, Danny Rose and Kiko Femenia. Munoz can see how they do against Stoke and then decide whether or not they deserve more playing time in the Premier League in the coming weeks.

Summer signing Louza started in the previous round of the cup and we are predicting that he will take Juraj Kucka’s place in the midfield. The Moroccan recorded a 7.0 SofaScore rating against Crystal Palace as he made three tackles and two interceptions, which is why he deserves his place in the starting line-up as he performed well when called upon that night.

Finally, we are predicting one change to the potent front three against Norwich. Munoz could keep Dennis and Sarr in the side to help them continue their positive momentum, whilst Ashley Fletcher may come in for Josh King at centre-forward. We published an article explaining why the ex-Middlesbrough forward should be given a starting berth in the number nine role tonight.

AND in other news, Xisco must unleash £13k-p/w Watford beast with “super attitude”, he’s a match-winner…