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Celtic have been handed a major injury boost regarding the return of James Forrest.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a claim made by Alison Conroy, with the journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that Ange Postecoglou expects the midfielder to return to first-team training at the beginning of the forthcoming week, having been sidelined since August due to injury.

In her tweet, Conroy said: “The manager is hopeful James Forrest can return to full first-team training from Monday.”

Celtic fans will be delighted

While Forrest has been somewhat plagued with injury over the last couple of seasons, having made a grand total of just 15 Scottish Premiership appearances since the start of 2020/21, the 30-year-old’s return to first-team action will nevertheless have Celtic fans delighted.

Indeed, the £5.4m-rated man has proven in previous campaigns that he has the ability to be an extremely important part of the Celtic squad, with the 30-year-old scoring 17 goals and registering ten assists over 58 appearances in 2017/18, bagging 18 goals and providing 20 assists over 56 appearances in 2018/19, and scoring 16 goals and registering a whopping 22 assists over 47 games in 2019/20.

The Scotland international has also shown flashes of this form in the current campaign, making one key pass and providing an assist during a 25-minute cameo in the Bhoys’ 6-0 demolition of Dundee, as well as scoring and registering one assist in a 4-2 win over FK Jablonec in Europa League qualifying.

As such, should the man who Neil Lennon dubbed a “priceless” talent be able to continue this level of attacking output upon his return from injury, he will undoubtedly become a very useful player within Postecoglou’s Celtic squad, and could even prove to be the final piece of the 56-year-old’s attacking puzzle.

Indeed, with the likes of Jota, Kyogo Furuhashi and Georgios Giakoumakis already beginning to fire in the Celtic frontline, the further addition of the £15k-per-week Forrest would only appear to strengthen the Hoops’ chances of reclaiming their Scottish Premiership crown this season.

In other news: Celtic enter into negotiations with “excellent” £5.5k-p/w beast, fans will be buzzing

Rangers have not been reluctant when it comes to spending money to bring new players to the club over the past few years.

However, one player with whom the Gers were linked in recent memory but didn’t end up making a move to Ibrox is Joey Veerman, and missing out on him could now be a great source of regret for the Light Blues.

Back in April 2021, The Scottish Sun reported that Rangers were interested in signing the Dutch midfielder from his previous club Heerenveen.

The 23-year-old, who has been described as a player who “looks beyond his years” by coach Robert Molenaar, ended up staying where he was last summer before eventually making the move to PSV Eindhoven in January in a deal worth a reported €6m (£4.9m).

In his 18 league appearances for Heerenveen in the first half of the current campaign, the midfielder scored three goals and provided six assists, earning himself an overall performance rating of 7.32/10 from WhoScored, making him their second-highest rated player.

Things have just been as impressive for the 23-year-old since joining PSV, having scored two goals and provided four assists in just nine league appearances, earning an overall rating of 7.29/10 to become third-highest rated player at the club according to WhoScored.

Taking all this into account, it’s safe to say that Ross Wilson dropped the ball by not securing a deal which would have seen Veerman join Rangers, based on what he has done on the pitch for Heerenveen and PSV this season.

Given the midfielder’s young age and the fact that Rangers currently have the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Scott Arfield and Steven Davis in their squad – who have all hit the age of 30 and are set to become free agents at the end of the season – Veerman could have been an ideal long-term midfield option for the Gers and would have been worth the investment.

Alas, it seems as though the Ibrox club will just have to live with their mistake and hope that they don’t miss out on any other reported transfer targets when the opportunity presents itself to strike.

In other news: Van Bronckhorst’s £3.6m-rated “leader” can be Rangers’ “real handful” in Old Firm

Rangers have been heavily linked with SC Heerenveen midfielder Joey Veerman throughout the transfer window but it seems he is resigned to staying with the Eredivisie side, which is a blow to Steven Gerrard at Ibrox.

What’s the word?

Rangers have been tracking the Dutchman for a number of months but Heerenveen were clearly not keen on selling one of their top prospects and have rejected bids from a number of clubs, which perhaps discouraged Rangers from acting further on their interest.

Veerman has now spoken out on his future, with AZ Alkmaar the latest side to see their advances turned down, saying:

“I am simply paid by Heerenveen. I am also a player of this club.

“It now takes another day and a half for the transfer window to [close], so it will be quite difficult to leave.

“I already knew about AZ’s offer two days earlier. It’s just before the transfer period, but I can’t change that.”

A blow for Rangers?

From Veerman’s quotes, it seems unlikely that he will leave the Eredivisie side before the transfer window shuts and unfortunately for Rangers, after their Champions League exit last month it was perhaps always going to be difficult to match Heerenveen’s asking price.

However, it is still a blow for Rangers that he won’t be joining, as his performances in the last two seasons suggest that he could have been a huge hit at Ibrox.

Last season saw the 22-year-old contribute seven goals and ten assists in 31 Dutch top-flight appearances, averaging a superb 7.40 rating from WhoScored for his performances, whilst he has two assists to his name in just three appearances so far this campaign.

Former Rangers man Michael Mols certainly rates Veerman highly, as he discussed whether or not he would be a good fit at Ibrox all the way back in April, saying:

“He is perfect with the ball and in possession, he’s a really great player. His passing and movement with the ball is really relaxed in a good way.”

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Therefore, it is a shame for Rangers that they couldn’t sign the £7.65m-rated Veerman this summer but after seeing links with him for the past few months, it seems as if any hope of him moving to Ibrox is over.

And, in other news… Rangers beast redeemed himself with superb Old Firm display

Alexandre Lacazette could join Crystal Palace on a free transfer come the summer, 90Min claim. 

The lowdown

Lacazette’s contract is due to expire at the end of this season, and as it stands, neither the club nor the player are said to be particularly keen on an extension.

If the Frenchman’s situation remains the same in January, he’ll be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club.

Lacazette has made 173 appearances for Arsenal since he joined in 2017, scoring 67 goals and providing 29 assists (via Transfermarkt).

Manager Mikel Arteta hailed him as a manager’s ‘dream’ last December after he came off the bench to score the winning goal away to Brighton and Hove Albion.

The latest

Lacazette is apparently ‘open to the idea’ of staying in London, with Selhurst Park a possible destination. West Ham United have also emerged as admirers.

The duo from the capital face significant competition from abroad, though. Ligue 1 outfit Lyon would like bring Lacazette back, while clubs in La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A are also said to be in the frame.

The verdict

Lacazette would in theory represent a real coup for Palace given his CV, but there are reasons to doubt the wisdom of the deal.

First of all, his wages. He takes home in excess of £180,000 per week at present, and you’d imagine that would be a far greater burden for the Eagles.

And then there’s the fact that Palace have only just signed a striker in the form of Odsonne Edouard. If he lives up to his potential, he could be the answer to the club’s no. 9 problem.

He’s only 23 years old, so more additions at the top end of the pitch may simply be unnecessary in the short-term.

In other news, Palace fans react as this blow emerges.

Newcastle United now reportedly want to sign Ross Barkley when the January transfer window opens.

The Lowdown: Free to go

As per 90min, Barkley is free to leave Chelsea in January, and was even expected to go in the summer.

West Ham United were exploring a loan move for the central midfield player at one stage, while Burnley entered the race at the end of the window.

The Latest: Talks already ongoing

According to 90min, the St. James’ Park faithful are one of three clubs in the Premier League who now want to sign Barkley in January, along with both Leeds United and Burnley.

They are keen to do a deal for the Englishman, and intermediaries have actually already initiated talks with the North East club to offer his services.

Barkley is on the shortlist of the new owners, along with Blues teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The Verdict: Sign

Barkley may have fallen off from the early hype he got while playing for Everton, but he is still a player who can add to the current Magpies squad.

Dubbed an ‘unbelievable’ and ‘unreal’ player by none other than Callum Wilson  – and one who he would like to play with –  on The Super 6 podcast (via The Chronicle), he may cherish linking up with a deadly striker in Wilson, who showed how much of a threat he is when given the right service with a goal at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

It is amazing that he is still just 27 years of age, as it feels as if he has been around forever, and given that Chelsea seemingly want to get rid, Barkley could be available for a price Newcastle’s new owners can comfortably afford.

In other news, find out which ‘outstanding’ manager is now in the frame for the NUFC job here!

Dean Windass has urged Leeds to improve defensively – and reckons the Yorkshire outfit should sign players in that area.

Whilst Marcelo Bielsa’s men caught the eye with their high-pressing, counter-attacking football on their return to the Premier League last season, they shipped 54 goals, the most in the top-half and even more than Fulham, who were relegated.

Leeds conceded four or more goals on five occasions and were hit for six at rivals Manchester United last December.

And Bielsa’s side have continued in a similar vein in the early parts of this season, letting in seven goals in just three hours of Premier League action, including another five at United on the opening-day.

Leeds have started with a similar defence to the one that played for the majority of last season – although Junior Firpo did make his full debut in the draw with Everton on Saturday.

With that in mind, Windass exclusively told Football FanCast that Bielsa could do with signing some defenders before the window closes:

“You defend first and foremost, and then you attack. But I’m hoping that Leeds improve the squad defensively – I’m a Yorkshire fan, I’m not criticising them, it’s a fact.

“You’re conceding four of five, you did it last year and you can’t afford to do it this year.”

Aston Villa have introduced a new manager, with Steven Gerrard joining the club in November, and he will surely be confident going into his first Premier League winter transfer window, making his own mark on the squad.

Gerrard has been in charge of the side for seven games, with four wins for the Villains so far climbing from 16th to 10th since his arrival, and has had the opportunity to work with the current crop of players at Villa Park to determine his next moves in the upcoming transfer window.

He recently spoke to Birmingham Live to offer an insight to his plans for January;

“In terms of the January window, there’s obviously conversations at Villa and there always will be behind the scenes identifying areas where we can improve.”

Time to go

One player who is expected to be axed in the winter transfer window is striker, Wesley Moraes, who has been on loan at Club Brugge for the first half of the season, struggling to make an impact on the Belgian side with no goals or assists in his seven appearances.

The centre forward suffered a horrific ACL injury back in January 2020, when he was playing for Aston Villa, which saw him injured for almost 18 months, making his return in April 2021, and being sent out on loan to Club Brugge a few months later.

He is now linked with a move to one of two Brazilian clubs, Sao Paolo or Internacional, who are both rumoured to be interested in the £35K-p/w gem and it could really be a blessing in disguise for Gerrard, as he will be looking to free up funds so that he can spend on players he wants to add into his Aston Villa team of the future.

Rumours of a replacement

Gabriel Barbosa, better known as Gabigol, has been heavily linked with Aston Villa and a number of other Premier League clubs for that matter, including Newcastle United, West Ham, Arsenal and Everton.

The Flamengo forward has offered a much better output in his most recent season for his club compared to Villa flop, Wesley, with an impressive 29 goals and nine assists in 43 appearances, and has quite rightly grabbed the attention of Premier League clubs desperate to add goals and creativity to their side.

Flamengo legend, Zico, claimed Gabigol “has everything” in an interview: “I think Gabigol has everything to be the greatest striker in Flamengo’s history.”

Reports suggest that the goal machine would costs around £17m, but with the competition so broad across a number of Premier League clubs rumoured to be interested in securing Gabigol’s signature, it could be a battle of the highest bidder.

The Villa boss would surely welcome a striker with the volume of goals Barbosa has scored for his Rio De Janeiro based club at Villa Park, as he continues to attempt to climb the Premier League table in the second half of the season, in the hopes he will be able to repair the damage done before his arrival to the club last month.

In other news: Gerrard dealt a blow in securing transfer target

According to a report from Italian outlet MilanLive.it (via Sport Witness), Liverpool remain interested in signing Watford winger Ismaila Sarr. 

The lowdown: Reds slayer

Initial interest in Sarr materialised shortly after the Senegalese ace had put Jurgen Klopp’s side to the sword at Vicarage Road in February 2020.

The 24-year-old forward was in unstoppable form on the night, scoring twice in a 3-0 victory as Watford ended Liverpool’s hopes of going through the Premier League season unbeaten.

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The Anfield club instead opted to sign Portuguese ace Diogo Jota, whose productivity has been off the charts since arriving on Merseyside.

However, as the summer transfer window looms, a reignited move for the ex-Rennes speedster remains a possibility…

The latest: On the radar

As per MilanLive.it, translated by SW, it’s stated that Liverpool ‘seem to have plans to get serious’ in pursuit of Sarr this summer.

The report claims that AC Milan view the Reds and new sporting director Julian Ward as a ‘dangerous competitor’ in the race to sign the 39-cap star.

This comes after reports last month revealed Klopp is personally a huge fan of the player, marking him out as his number one target to reinforce the attack.

The verdict: An inevitable departure?

So far this season Sarr has scored five times and provided one assist in 17 top-flight outings for relegation-threatened Watford, taking the Africa Cup of Nations winner to 41 direct goal contritions for the Hertfordshire club.

Named player of the season in 2020/21, having dropped down to the Championship only to fire Watford straight back up, should the Hornets indeed be relegated for a second time during his stay then a move away seems inevitable.

Predominantly operating from a right-wing role, Sarr would provide adequate cover for Mohamed Salah, a position of relative understrength in comparison to the abundance of natural left-wing options in Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz and Jota himself.

Lauded as a ‘freak’ by teammate Ben Foster, adding the £24.3million valued man to the already frightening Liverpool attacking ranks would be a worthwhile venture at the right price.

In other news, manager admits desire to sign Liverpool cult hero. Find out more here.

Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rüdiger would be a top signing for Tottenham Hotspur, according to former Spurs defender Graham Roberts.

The Lowdown: Rüdiger out of contract

The Germany international has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, excelling in Thomas Tuchel’s back-three system. His electric form has ensured that he is a crucial component to Chelsea’s back-line – he has started 14 of 15 Premier League matches this term and drawn massive praise just last week from Blues legend Gianfranco Zola.

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However, the defender is out of his £100,000-per-week contract in the summer, and is yet to commit his future to the West London club.

With a £31.5m valuation, Chelsea will not want to lose him on a free at the end of the season. This has opened up the possibility of a transfer in the January window. Consequently, a whole host of clubs may well be interested in the colossal defender, including Spurs, who are expected to pursue a new defensive signing for Antonio Conte.

The Latest: Rüdiger linked with Tottenham

According to transfer insider Dean Jones (via GIVEMESPORT), Tottenham have made Rüdiger the most lucrative offer. It was even revealed earlier this year that the player spoke with former manager Jose Mourinho about the possibility of a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Former Spurs centre-back Graham Roberts has now sung the German’s praises, claiming that he would be a good signing for Conte. Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said:

“I think it would be good for us. He’s the most improved player I’ve seen in the last year in the Premier League.

“From where he was under Frank, he’s become a man-mountain, he’s a really good passer of the ball.”

However, Roberts is not confident in the deal coming to fruition, claiming that he’s “not sure he would come to Tottenham”.

The Verdict: Ideal but unlikely

With Cristian Romero currently out injured, the arrival of the Germany international would instantly improve the starting 11 in north London – he is part of a defence who have conceded just nine times in 15 games this term, and Rio Ferdinand even called him the best defender in the league last season.

Despite this, it is unlikely that the Chelsea player would choose to join a London rival, especially one below their current ambitions.

He could perhaps opt for a move overseas, with Real Madrid keen to find a replacement for Raphaël Varane and the Spanish giants almost always in and around the trophies come the end of each season.

With the defender out of contract in the summer, there will be a long list of clubs aiming to bring Rüdiger in on a free, so this one certainly feels difficult for the Lilywhites to pull off unless they offer him massive wages.

Celtic are set to bring in Yokohama F. Marinos forward Daizen Maeda in January, according to The Scottish Sun.

The Lowdown: Maeda profiled

Described as a ‘tireless worker’ by Kieran Devlin, the Japan international worked under Ange Postecoglou at Yokohama F. Marinos. In fact, the Hoops boss actually signed Maeda on loan in 2020, with the 24-year-old scoring 24 goals in 67 appearances for his current employers, with 21 of those coming in 33 J1 League games last season.

He still has over just two years remaining on his contract, but it seems as if a move to Celtic is now on the cards.

The Latest: Reunion with Ange expected

The Times first linked Maeda with a move to Parkhead towards the end of October, claiming that the Hoops were confident of sealing a winter move.

The Scottish Sun shared a story late on Tuesday evening, with comments from Postecoglou on links to another Japan international in Reo Hatate.

Within their report, they claimed that Maeda is expected to make the move to Scotland, with Postecoglou identifying other targets for which he wants the Hoops hierarchy to move before the transfer window opens in January.

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The Verdict: More firepower…

Maeda has just come off the back of his best-ever year in front of goal, so it’s an exciting time with a move seemingly edging closer.

The Hoops have struck gold by bringing in Kyogo Furuhashi, who has already scored 13 times in green and white; and like Furuhashi, Maeda can also play centrally or out wide.

A transfer in 2022 would give Postecoglou more firepower and versatility within his attacking ranks, and perhaps Maeda could prove to be a replacement for Albian Ajeti, with Celtic reportedly ready to cut their losses on the Swiss striker.

In other news: £9,000-a-week Celtic ace is ‘about to leave’ Parkhead, journalist claims