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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

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…

Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has been dealt a huge blow over the fitness of his superstar centre-back Raphael Varane.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-game press conference on Monday, interim manager Ralf Rangnick revealed news that the United fanbase will be gutted to hear ahead of such an esteemed clash against Liverpool tonight.

The German confirmed that Edinson Cavani, Scott McTominay, Luke Shaw, Fred and Raphael Varane will all miss the trip to Anfield.

On Raphael Varane’s injury status, Rangnick said: “Rapha [Varane] didn’t train with the team. He was on the pitch with one of our rehab coaches.”

Rangnick will be gutted

Whilst Varane has failed to live up to the standards we grew so used to seeing at Real Madrid defensively speaking, he has maintained his composure in possession – which would have been of great benefit to Manchester United against a high-pressing Klopp side tonight.

Maguire and Varane are difficult to split in their defensive metrics this season and are also the most composed duo on the ball within United’s central defensive line.

The 28-year-old has managed to transfer his passing prowess powers from his time at Real Madrid, with his passing completion percentages of both short and long pass types ranking him in and around the 90th percentile for positionally similar players across Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days, according to FB Ref.

His pass completion percentage for short passes is around 95%, whilst his pass completion percentage for long passes is lower at 81%.

It’s this particular range of passing that United will miss most tonight, with his efficiency in possession serving as a kickstarter for United’s counterattacks. For a defensive player, his ability to create is impressive, as can be evidenced through his assist against Wolves earlier this season.

Varane also brings experience at the back, with the Frenchman having a full understanding of the term ‘pressure’ with his experience on the big stage with Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

With Ronaldo ruled out and Maguire not seen as an out-and-out leader in most people’s eyes, Varane’s presence, just for experience alone, will be sorely missed.

Rangnick and the United faithful will be gutted, but can hopefully look forward to the Frenchman’s return soon.

In other news: Imagine him & Bruno: Ralf can terrify LFC by unleashing Man Utd’s “elite” £180k-p/w gem…

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.

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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:

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

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. 

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’