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Adam Reach hit a first-half brace as Sheffield Wednesday recorded a 3-1 win over Swansea City in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Wednesday raced into a three-goal lead before the interval, with Steven Fletcher joining Reach on the scoresheet in what was an incredible first 45 minutes.

Oliver McBurnie netted for the Swans in the 69th minute, but it was a case of too little, too late as the home side secured all three points.

Ahead of the clash with Swansea, Reach – a 2016 arrival from Middlesbrough – had actually gone eight Championship games without finding the back of the net.

However, the 26-year-old was back to his brilliant best against the Swans and that led to a host of praise from the Wednesday fans on social media.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Reach has now managed eight Championship goals for the campaign and certainly played a key role in Steve Bruce’s side winning for the first time since February 2.

A selection of the Twitter reaction to Reach’s double can be seen below:

With just three wins, seven draws and five defeats under their belt, it’s safe to say that Southampton have had a rather mixed season in the Premier League so far.

One man who has played a big part in their campaign so far is Mohamed Elyounoussi, who has scored four goals and provided two assists in 13 appearances across all competitions.

After spending a couple of years on loan at Celtic, where he racked up 24 goals and 17 assists in 67 appearances, the winger has been a regular figure for Ralph Hasenhuttl this season.

Back in October, it was reported that fellow Premier League clubs Arsenal and Leicester City were interested in signing the Norwegian, who has been described in the past by Tom English as a “dangerous” player.

However, it seems as though the south coast club have been handed a boost regarding his future, which will surely have a lot of fans buzzing. Elyounoussi has revealed in recent days that he and his family are comfortable living in Southampton at the moment and that it’s where they “belong.”

This should be a big relief to the club and any Southampton fans who may have been concerned about a potential exit being on the cards for the 27-year-old, who is currently earning £59k-per-week according to Salary Sport.

Taking into account how Southampton have a track record of selling players to fellow Premier League clubs in recent years – such as Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool, Matt Targett and Danny Ings to Aston Villa and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Tottenham Hotspur among others – it seems unlikely that fans would have been open to seeing their club flogging yet another one of their assets to a top-flight rival.

Moving forward, if Elyounoussi can add some more goals and assists to his tally for the season in the Premier League, he could finally prove himself to Hasenhuttl after spending such a long time in Scotland with Celtic.

If that is the case, however, there’s every possibility that other clubs could then have an interest in signing Elyounoussi and could make it difficult for Southampton to keep hold of him, especially if a club which can offer him European football and higher wages were to come in for him.

With that in mind and his current contract at St Mary’s set to expire in the summer of 2023, it could be worth the hierarchy at Southampton offering him a new deal before this one runs out.

In other news: Gao could replicate Adam Armstrong masterclass at Southampton with “elite” 16-goal ace

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 should seal the signature of Adama Traore before this month’s transfer deadline…

What’s the word?

That’s according to the reliable Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Athletic after he delivered a fresh and exciting claim on this week’s episode of the ‘View from the Lane’ podcast.

“I think it’s more likely than not that they will end up signing Adama Traore,” he said.

“Traore I gather is still the likeliest target to come in. Tottenham are working on trying to get a deal done. Wolves do want to sell him. Tottenham are trying to find a way to do it.

“Some people talk about the possibility of a loan with an obligation, and I do think that if Matt Doherty were to go back to Wolves that would be slightly easier as that would be part of the deal but so far, I haven’t got any indication that is actually going to happen, even if Tottenham would like that to happen.

“I do think they will get it over the line.”

Just get it done

It’s thought that the Wolves star is available for just £20m this month but it seems as if the Lilywhites are dithering over a loan with an obligation to buy in the summer – really they ought to just stump up the cash now as manager Antonio Conte is in desperate need of additions.

As per the Telegraph, the tricky Spain international has been identified as a priority for the Italian, who sees him as a perfect fit for the right wing-back role over summer signing Emerson Royal.

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You’d imagine that Traore, who doesn’t have the best end product, would thrive in such a role and under a head coach like Conte.

Indeed, the 25-year-old powerhouse scored his first goal of the season at the weekend in the Old Gold’s win over Southampton, where he came off the bench in a 12-minute cameo – a sign he’s set to leave, perhaps?

But the 5 foot 10 dynamo, who has played for Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, has a nice mix of dribbling ability and brute physicality that would not only make him a lethal threat down the right flank but one that would have Spurs fans on the edge of their seats.

He’s built like a brick wall, as once alluded to by BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand, who dubbed him “a machine” who could be “a powerlifter or a cruiser-weight boxer” and Southampton forward Che Adams, who described him as a “monster” to the Premier League’s YouTube channel back in May.

Traore currently leads the top-flight for dribbles per game (4.3), which is more than the likes of Mo Salah (1.9), Wilfried Zaha (1.9) and Tottenham’s very own Lucas Moura (2.5), via WhoScored.

That combined with his average of 1.5 key passes per game last season suggests he’s a nuisance in the final third. He has previously played the wing-back role under Nuno Santo at Molineux, so he wouldn’t need much time in adapting and there’s no one better to learn from than Conte. Just look at Victor Moses’ time under him at Chelsea.

If Pitt-Brooke, who is one of the most reliable when it comes to Spurs news, believes the deal is likely to happen despite the situation dragging on and on, then many around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium must be absolutely buzzing.

It’s surely a matter of time before a deal is struck, especially as the Spaniard is entering the final 18 months of his current contract.

AND in other news, Spurs could land big Alli upgrade in “special” £18m-rated gem, he gave Dier nightmares…

Liverpool have not even started negotiations with Sadio Mane over a new deal at the club, according to reliable journalist Neil Jones.

The Lowdown: Mane into final 18 months

The 29-year-old has been an incredible player for the Reds, scoring 107 goals and registering 44 assists in 244 appearances overall.

Mane’s current deal expires in the summer of 2023, however, and with his 30th birthday approaching, there are slight question marks surrounding his future.

The arrival of Luis Diaz also potentially clouds the situation, with the Porto man possibly seen as a long-term replacement for Liverpool’s No.10.

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The Latest: Jones makes important claim

Writing for Goal on Sunday, Jones claimed that ‘there have been no formal negotiations’ between the Reds and Mane’s representatives regarding a new contract.

He also states that the signing of Diaz ‘adds an extra layer of intrigue’, perhaps hinting that the Senegal superstar sees the signing as a threat to his future at Anfield.

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The Verdict: Potential exit on the cards?

There is an argument to say that Mane isn’t quite the world-class player he once was, even though he has still scored ten goals this season.

His blistering burst of pace has dropped off slightly and his all-round involvement in games isn’t as great as in the title-winning season, with only one league assist to his name in 2021/22.

That being said, he remains a player who would walk into most teams – Jurgen Klopp has hailed him as ‘unbelievable’ – and if he agrees to sign a deal that isn’t necessarily long-term it would make perfect sense.

He may gradually become more of a squad player if Diaz excels, as well as the increasingly influential Diogo Jota, but at 29, there are still years left in him at the top.

In other news, some Liverpool fans love an update regarding one Reds player. Find out who it is here.

Having conceded 29 goals in 17 Premier League games so far this season, it’s safe to say that Everton could do with adding some defensive reinforcements to their squad sooner rather than later.

The upcoming January transfer window could well provide the Merseyside club with the best opportunity to do just that so they can try to improve their form in the second half of the campaign.

In a recent Everton-themed transfer mailbag report from The Athletic, Toffees journalist Greg O’Keefe was discussing the possibility of the club making a move to sign Norwich City right-back Max Aarons, with whom the Blues have been linked in the past, during the upcoming window.

He said: “With plenty of room to improve in age terms, he might be a good addition but it remains to be seen whether Everton will be able to spend another fee similar to what they’ve agreed for [Vitaliy] Mykolenko.”

Having signed Ben Godfrey from Norwich last year in a deal worth a reported £20m, with him going on to cement himself in the team by making 51 appearances across all competitions, the club now has the chance to replicate this sort of deal, this time with Aarons as a young defender from Norwich who has the capacity to make a long-term impact at Everton.

Having been praised in the past by Jon Newsome for delivering some “outstanding” performances for the Canaries, the 21-year-old could potentially one day become a long-term replacement for Everton’s 33-year-old captain Seamus Coleman at right-back given the age gap between the two players.

In terms of a potential move to Everton in January, it would be hard to see Norwich being particularly willing to let Aarons leave halfway through the season as they are trying to avoid relegation. Indeed, the £19.8m-rated youngster has played more minutes than anyone else at Carrow Road in the Premier League this season, showing how important he is to Dean Smith’s side.

Either way, Everton should definitely explore the possibility of trying to secure a deal with Norwich for Aarons in January. If the Canaries aren’t willing to let him go next month, the Toffees could wait until the summer to see if the situation would be any different.

In other news: Benitez must finally axe £92k-p/w Everton flop, he’s stealing a living

An update has emerged on Newcastle United transfer target Divock Origi, regarding Liverpool’s plans for him ahead of the January window.

What’s the talk?

According to Northern Echo journalist Scott Wilson, Jurgen Klopp is set to veto any potential deal for the Belgian international as he wants him to remain at Anfield.

The report claims the Reds want to keep hold of Origi ahead of the African Cup of Nations, which will see Mo Salah and Sadio Mane miss a number of Premier League matches, despite the Magpies believing he would be interested in a move.

Gutting

This news will surely leave Newcastle fans feeling gutted as it appears to rule out any chance of the attacker arriving at St. James’ Park in January. Eddie Howe reportedly wants to sign players with experience of playing in the Premier League, which is why Origi could have been an ideal target for the club with his previous form in the division and his current lack of game time.

He has only played 16 minutes in the top-flight this season and made nine appearances last term for the Reds, suggesting that he could have been a player the club would be able to tempt away from Anfield. That is why this update on Klopp wanting to keep hold of him is surprising, and gutting for Newcastle as his minutes on the pitch do not suggest that he is a serious first-team option.

Since the start of the 2015/16 campaign, Origi has scored 20 Premier League goals in 34 starts for Liverpool – with a number of appearances off the bench in that time. This shows that he could have the potential to be a regular goalscorer if handed minutes on a consistent week-in-week-out basis, as he has been able to chip in with goals for Klopp despite his limited involvement.

Former Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany once hailed his compatriot and lauded his work rate in training. He said: “He (Origi) is very gifted and talented. Technically, he’s a monster. More importantly, he is an outstanding worker in training. I see him working like crazy.”

This high praise from the retired centre-back adds to the pedigree of the £10.8m-rated beast and further illustrates why fans will be gutted that he appears set to stay at Liverpool, instead of joining Newcastle. He has Premier League experience and could have bolstered the squad, given his statistics, but Howe will now need to look elsewhere…

AND in other news, Paid £12m, now worth £4.5m: Newcastle had howler with dud accused of trying to “cheat”…

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”…

Angelo Ogbonna’s potential early return from a serious knee injury is a ‘massive boost’ for West Ham, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Ogbonna could return early

The Italian was enjoying a superb start to the season back in the early months of 2021/22, only for his campaign to be cruelly cut short by injury.

Ogbonna suffered cruciate ligament damage in the memorable 3-2 win at home to Liverpool back in November and it was generally thought that he wouldn’t feature again this season, potentially even playing his last game for the club.

It has recently emerged that the centre-back looks likely to feature again before the summer, however, in a positive update for both West Ham and the player himself.

The Latest: Journalist reacts to news

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke discussed the update, admitting it is an undoubted boost:

“It would be a massive boost to get Angelo Ogbonna back, who was in really good form for West Ham prior to the cruciate ligament injury he picked up against Liverpool.”

The Verdict: Enormous boost for Hammers

From a purely human perspective, it is heartwarming that Ogbonna looks likely to wear the Hammers shirt again, with the general assumption that he had donned it for the last time, as his contract expires this summer.

The veteran has been a great servant for West Ham and it is only right that he is able to receive a proper send-off at the end of the season, and although we won’t see him in action immediately, this could be a timely boost to morale around the camp ahead of Sunday’s clash with Everton.

That being said, David Moyes must be ruthless when it comes to using Ogbonna, only playing him if he feels he is truly ready, with European football on the line at the London Stadium, both in terms of the Premier League and Europa League.

In other news, an exciting West Ham transfer claim has emerged. Read more here.

Adam Jones has claimed that Everton must now make Burnley ‘regret’ their 2-0 loss at Norwich City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Great results for Everton

After the Merseyside club beat Manchester United 1-0 at Goodison Park in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, other results at the bottom of the table also went their way over the weekend.

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Watford lost 3-0 at home to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, while Burnley then went and lost to Norwich. It means that Frank Lampard’s team are now four points clear of the relegation zone with just eight matches left to play.

The Latest: Jones reacts to Premier League results

Taking to Twitter, Liverpool Echo journalist Jones has now given his reaction to the results, claiming that the Clarets dropping off after beating Everton 3-2 in midweek was a ‘real let off’ for Frank Lampard’s side.

He chimed: “Well that is quite the weekend of results for Everton. In some ways, it’s a real let off.

“Burnley really dropped the ball after what seemed like a defining victory in midweek. Everton need to make them absolutely regret that over their next few games, whatever it takes.”

The Verdict: Not over yet

The race to secure Premier League safety is certainly not over yet, but of course the weekend’s results provide a huge step in the right direction for the Toffees.

Some of their next few fixtures look particularly daunting, with a trip to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby followed by a home match against Chelsea to come.

There could be plenty of twists and turns along the way, but Lampard will be hoping that Everton’s win against the Red Devils can install some much-needed confidence in his team, ready for the rollercoaster ahead.

In other news, one Everton ace has been branded ‘disappointing’