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The January transfer window is just days away from being over and Rangers have completed three signings so far this month.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has brought in James Sands and Amad Diallo on loan from New York City FC and Manchester United respectively, whilst John Souttar has been signed on a pre-contract agreement and will officially arrive in the summer.

It remains to be seen whether or not they will make further additions to the squad before Monday’s deadline, but one player with whom they have been linked this month is Peterborough forward Siriki Dembele.

Reignition

Rangers must now reignite their interest in the attacker, who could come in and be a replacement for underperforming winger Scott Wright.

The ex-Aberdeen man has so far failed to make his mark at Ibrox, and his latest performance for the club was extremely worrying. He started on the right wing in the 1-0 win over Livingston in midweek and delivered a frustrating display, as he completed 0% of his attempted dribbles and just 25% of his crosses and lost possession of the ball 13 times in 76 minutes, as per SofaScore.

Wright has two goals and zero assists in 14 Premiership outings this season, and the arrival of Dembele could allow Van Bronckhorst to axe him from the team.

Dembele has five goals and two assists in 24 games for a struggling Peterborough side in the Championship, having managed 11 goals and 14 assists in League One the previous campaign. He is a constant threat to opposition defenders with his ability to score and create goals, and he could be an exciting option for Van Bronckhorst to call upon.

This suggests that he could be a far better player than Wright, as he is able to regularly deliver quality in the final third, instead of failing to make a sizeable impact for the team.

He could also get the fans excited, with Peterborough chief Barry Fry previously lauding his ability on the ball. The 76-year-old told Football FanCast: “Siriki can get the ball in his own half and with dazzling dribbling ability, he can beat four or five players and score a wonder goal or cross it for somebody else to score.

“He’s very, very exciting. He’s got the best stats outside the [English] Premier League, I think. We’ll try to keep hold of him if we go up, and we’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse! So watch this space.”

The 25-year-old is out of contract in the summer and Rangers could either snap him up on a pre-contract ahead of next season or look to secure a cut-price deal to bring him in immediately. Either way, Van Bronckhorst could land a big upgrade on Wright by sanctioning this move, and he must reignite his interest in the Peterborough winger in the coming days.

AND in other news, “Monitoring”: Journalist delivers key Rangers transfer update which Van Bronckhorst will love…

Celtic rounded off 2021 on a winning note with a 3-1 victory over St Johnstone on Sunday lunchtime in their final match before the rescheduled Premiership winning break.

The Hoops were two goals to the good by the midway point of the first half thanks to a brace from Liel Abada, and although Chris Kane halved the deficit on 69 minutes, a late strike from Nir Bitton made sure of the points for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Unsurprisingly given the final score, there were plenty of strong performers for the Hoops this afternoon. We’ve pored through the figures from statistical experts SofaScore to pick out the three men who were the most impressive in a green and white shirt.

Liel Abada (8.7)

No surprise that Abada leads the way after netting twice in the opening 22 minutes at McDiarmid Park, although there was more to his performance than just those two telling contributions.

The 20-year-old completed 16 of his 20 passes against the Saints and had 10 shots in total today, six of which were on target, while he also recorded two key passes. The Israeli youngster won three duels as well, rounding off a tremendous Boxing Day for him.

Nir Bitton (8.4)

Abada’s compatriot could also bask in an overall strong performance supplemented by finding the net.

The 30-year-old led the way for Celtic in terms of duels won, coming out on top in nine of the 13 that he contested. He also made two successful tackles and one clearance in an industrious display against St Johnstone.

The Israel international was effective on the ball, too. In addition his goal, he had five other shots and played three key passes, making plenty of impact in the final third, while recording no fewer than 61 successful passes overall.

Josip Juranovic (8.1)

He may have been playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, but the Croatian had little trouble in adapting to the position judging by the performance he gave today.

His tally of four successful tackles was the joint-highest in Postecoglou’s side, while he also won five of his seven duels and made one clearance.

The 26-year-old had some joy in possession, too, posting five key passes and delivering six crosses to a team-mate, illustrating that he may be well-suited to a midfield position.

In other news: Celtic set sights on move for ‘quality’ Scot who has the same agent as David Turnbull

Leeds United youngster Sam Greenwood has confirmed that he is the latest player to pick up an injury, with The Athletic’s Phil Hay reacting to the news in frustrated fashion.

The Lowdown: Leeds suffer constant injuries

The Whites have had a disappointing season so far, and while performances have often been poor, injuries have played a huge part in their struggles.

Marcelo Bielsa has had to deal with an endless stream of fitness issues to key men, whether it be Luke Ayling, Kalvin Phillips or Patrick Bamford, among others.

On Monday, Greenwood confirmed on Instagram that he picked up an injury during the FA Cup defeat away to West Ham at the weekend, in a further blow for Leeds.

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The Latest: Hay reacts to Greenwood update

Taking to Twitter shortly after, journalist Hay reacted to the news with a frustrated four-word verdict that sums up the thoughts of most Leeds fans:

“This is beyond ridiculous.”

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The Verdict: Bad luck continues

Any team expects to suffer a few injuries during the course of a season but what Leeds have experienced since August is simply bad luck.

The number of absentees has made it extremely difficult for the Whites to find any sort of rhythm for weeks on end and aforementioned key figures such as Phillips and Bamford have been big losses – the former has missed eight games while the latter has been absent for 18.

Greenwood’s setback only further highlights the need for new faces to arrive in the January transfer window or risk a depleted squad getting sucked into a Premier League relegation battle.

In other news, Leeds’ long-term interest in one Premier League midfielder has been confirmed. Find out who it is here.

West Bromwich Albion are enjoying being back to winning ways after two consecutive victories in the Championship that has enabled the Baggies to get back into the race for automatic promotion back to the Premier League next season.

Valerien Ismael will be buzzing that his side are coming back into form and finally scoring goals, which has now put the side just three points behind Bournemouth in second, and five points behind top of the table Fulham, taking some much-needed pressure off the shoulders of the Baggies manager going into the Christmas period.

Despite the run of fine form for the side, one player is not hitting the expectations needed to maintain his place in the side, and Ismael should be looking to axe the player from his team.

Jordan Hugill has failed to make an effective impact on the West Bromwich Albion side, scoring only once in 1004 minutes played this season which is absolutely shocking for a number nine, especially when the Baggies are needing to take every opportunity to stay at the top of the table.

Former West Brom player, Kevin Phillips, has now weighed saying the striker “hasn’t stepped up” for his loan club this season;

“Players, like Hugill, haven’t stepped up to the plate and taken their opportunities. I thought if he got a run of games, he would score goals. It’s a slight concern but there’s still plenty of time left this season and hopefully, he can score a couple of goals and his form will pick up to help West Brom.”

The 29-year-old’s lack of progression during the first half of his loan deal hasn’t gone unnoticed by the manager, Ismael, either and he spoke out recently about Hugill;

“Since he came he’s tried to give everything,” Ismael said. “There are some situations which have been unlucky for him.

“At the end of the day, as a number nine, you need to score goals and this is why you get your money.”

The £1.6m-rated flop could be a liability for Ismael if he doesn’t find a way to inspire a run of good finishing for the striker, or he could let him go back to Norwich early and go hunting in the transfer window for a more prolific goal scorer to join the side in the second half of the season.

West Brom will be hoping to continue to thrive in the Championship as they take on Barnsley on Friday and could close the gap completely on the second place promotion spot, which would reignite the belief in Ismael’s reign at The Hawthorns.

In other news: Taylor Gardner-Hickman proves his worth to the team

Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter Vickers has dropped an update on his future at Parkhead.

What’s been said?

In recent comments cited by Football Scotland, the 23-year-old stated his belief that, while he is thoroughly enjoying life at Celtic after joining the club on a season-long loan deal this summer, it is a little too early to be discussing a permanent switch from Tottenham Hotspur to the Premiership side – although the Bhoys are reported to have an option to buy the defender for a fee of around £6m.

Speaking about his future, the USA international said: “I am enjoying my time up there and it is all going well. But I think it is a bit too early. It’s not fully down to me as well. So it is obviously discussions that will have to be had at the end of the season.”

Carter-Vickers can finally replace Van Dijk

Considering just how important a part of the Celtic side Carter-Vickers has become since his temporary switch to Parkhead this summer, the prospect of signing the centre-back on a permanent basis is sure to be one that excites the Bhoys fanbase.

Indeed, over his 13 Premiership appearances this season, the £1.8m-rated man has helped his side keep six clean sheets, scored two goals and provided his teammates with one assist, as well as making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 0.7 tackles, five clearances, 81.4 passes and winning 73% of his duels per game.

These returns have seen the £20k-per-week defender who Jan Vertonghen dubbed an “absolute beast” average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.45, ranking him as the fourth-best performer in the entirety of the Scottish top flight.

And, while there is still a very long way to go in the current campaign, Carter-Vickers’ returns so far in a Celtic shirt very much appear to be on course to match those of Virgil van Dijk’s during his own first season at the club, when the Netherlands international helped his side keep 20 clean sheets, scored five goals and registered one assist over his 36 Premiership appearances.

As such, should Celtic indeed go on to make the Tottenham defender’s temporary switch a permanent move at some point this season, it would certainly appear as if Ange Postecoglou has finally found an apt replacement for the club’s former star centre-back – something which would undoubtedly bode incredibly well for the future of the Hoops.

In other news: Ange must brutally axe “rattled” £17k-p/w Celtic liability who can be “Sunday League”

An update has emerged on Newcastle transfer target James Tarkowski, regarding his contractual situation at his current club.

What’s the talk?

According to The Athletic, the Burnley centre-back has decided that he will not be signing an extension at Turf Moor.

The report claims that he is willing to see out the rest of the campaign with the Clarets and give his all for the side, before leaving on a free transfer to fulfil his ambitions moving forward.

Howe’s new Cook

The Magpies are reportedly interested in signing the English defender and could now land him at the end of the season without paying a penny in transfer fees. Eddie Howe was recently named as Newcastle’s latest head coach and he could find his new Steve Cook by signing Tarkowski.

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Howe kept Bournemouth up in the Premier League for four of his five top-flight seasons at the club and Cook was a staple of his side at centre-back. The experienced defender made 168 appearances in the top division under the 43-year-old’s management, proving himself to be a vital part of the Cherries’ team over the years.

Cook averaged an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.89 or higher in Bournemouth’s four seasons of survival in the Premier League and Tarkowski could come in and prove to be a similarly influential figure at the back for Howe. The Burnley defender, who Sean Dyche previously called “outstanding”, has averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.02 or higher in his full Premier League seasons since becoming a regular in the 2017/18 campaign.

The 28-year-old has proven himself to be a reliable, impressive, Premier League defender and could be an excellent signing for Howe next summer. In those four full seasons at Turf Moor, he averaged at least 4.6 aerial battles won and 4.4 clearances made per game, highlighting his strong defensive skills to keep the ball away from the net.

This shows that, like Cook did with Howe, Tarkowski has earned the right to call himself a solid top-flight centre-back having performed to a high standard for a number of years. Therefore, he could arrive at Newcastle and be Howe’s next Cook and be a mainstay in the side at centre-back to help the Magpies push on as a club.

AND in other news, Was worth £14.4m, now £8.1m: NUFC endure howler over gem compared to “Philippe Albert”…

Everton extended their winless run to seven games after they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Brentford over the weekend.

That result means that Rafa Benitez’s charges have picked up just two points from a possible 21 since their victory over Norwich City on 25 September, dropping them down to 14th position in the top-flight table.

Benitez will point to multiple injuries to key players as the reason behind their significant slump in form, but the hugely underwhelming performances will also give great cause for concern.

In their last seven outings, the Toffees have scored just four goals and conceded a whopping 13 times, while they have now also failed to find the back of the net in over 270 minutes of action.

The prolonged absence of star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been a crucial factor in Everton’s attacking woes, and with his return still several weeks away, Benitez will be desperate to find a solution as soon as possible.

However, the answer to their struggles in front of goal could be a rather simple one.

Academy star Charlie Whitaker has long been tipped for big things by coaches within the Merseyside outfit, and now may be the time for the 18-year-old to make the step up to the senior ranks.

In the final game of 2020/21, Whitaker bagged a hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing of Southampton to take his tally to five goals and two assists in just four starts since being handed his full U23s debut by manager David Unsworth.

The youth team boss lauded the attacking talent in an interview with the Liverpool ECHO shortly after, saying: “I’ve watched Charlie for a number of years, and we always knew he had the quality in flashes.

“He has played out wide, he has played up-front….but we have tried to play him as a second striker, not a number 10, a second-striker because his game is naturally dropping into spaces where you want a number 10.

“We have tried to get someone up there with him, and he has been sensational. He is a great trainer, great to work with, and a great lad.”

Despite his promising performances in several positions, the youth team coach was determined not to get too carried away with Whitaker’s contributions since making the step up from U18’s level, though.

Unsworth continued: “I have really enjoyed the last few months working with him! I really have. He does the hardest thing in the game, which is score goals, and he makes it look really easy.

“For the size of him, he is good in the air, he is brave, we just need him to link play, and the future is bright for him. I’m not getting over-excited, because you can’t, it is too early. But the signs are very, very good.”

And Whitaker has picked up where he left off last season in the opening weeks of the current campaign, bagging five goals and providing one assist in 13 appearances.

Whether Benitez is brave enough to throw an unproven teenage talent into a struggling side desperately fighting for points in the Premier League remains to be seen, but the youngster could prove to be the catalyst required to turn Everton’s season around.

And, in other news…Imagine him and Gray: Everton could form a deadly duo with “immense” £19.8m-rated gem

Phil Hay has admitted that Leeds United star Raphinha could attract bids from clubs, but said that an exit in the January transfer window would be a surprise.

The Lowdown: Raphinha shines yet again

Marcelo Bielsa’s side picked up a massive 2-1 win away to Norwich City on Sunday afternoon, climbing to 17th place in the Premier League. It was Raphinha who again stood out for Leeds, scoring the opening goal and receiving a seven-out-of-10 rating from Leeds Live’s Beren Cross. SofaScore went one better, giving him an 8.0 rating, by far the highest of anyone to feature at Carrow Road.

The 24-year-old has been a wonderful signing but his form has inevitably seen him linked with a move away from Elland Road in the near future, with Liverpool among those interested.

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The Latest: Hay answers Raphinha query

Speaking in a Q&A for The Athletic after Sunday’s match, Hay gave a telling update regarding Raphinha’s future, admitting there is sure to be interest in the Brazil international.

When asked by a Leeds supporter how long the club would likely be able to keep hold of the 24-year-old, the journalist replied: “Very hard to say. He’s bound to attract bids. All a case of what they are and when they arrive. Needless to say, no way in the world that Leeds would want to lose him in January.”

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The Verdict: Raphinha exit seems probable

Raphinha is a wonderful footballer and has excelled for Leeds, scoring 10 goals and registering nine assists in 40 appearances for the Whites. His reputation is growing rapidly, however, especially after a flying start to his Brazil career, and it would be no surprise if he seeks a fresh challenge soon.

As Hay has said, a January exit would come as a shock, not to mention a big blow midway through a season which is already proving difficult for Leeds, but it is easy to see him moving on next summer, potentially wanting the challenge of playing in the Champions League. The Elland Road faithful should enjoy Raphinha while they can.

In other news, one pundit has commented on Leeds’ potential January transfer business. Read more here.

A source from Newcastle United has revealed that there are now talks taking place with Eddie Howe ahead of potentially making him their next manager.

The Lowdown: Second choice?

The Athletic reported just yesterday that Howe was the alternative option to Unai Emery to take charge at St. James’ Park, with the latter originally looking likely to be the next permanent manager.

However, Emery has recently released a statement claiming that he is now going to stay at Villarreal, meaning that they have to look at other candidates, as the new owners scramble to get someone in before the weekend.

Nonetheless, it looks as if Howe is now the favourite to take over from Graeme Jones.

The Latest: Howe talks

Speaking to Football Insider, a Tyneside club source has now revealed that terms are being negotiated with Howe over his potential appointment, and that Amanda Staveley is ‘confident’ that they will get their man.

The Magpies have turned ‘quickly’ to Howe, after Emery had doubts over the club’s strategy.

Should both parties reach a full agreement, then Howe should be appointed in time for their weekend clash against Brighton and Hove Albion.

The former AFC Bournemouth boss is ‘willing’ to work alongside Jones, and this is believed to be a ‘critical factor’.

The Verdict: Good fit

Howe is certainly a good fit for the Magpies for the predicament that they find themselves in at the moment.

Even though he did bring the Cherries back down to the Championship after five straight seasons in the Premier League (Transfermarkt), he at least has experience of fighting relegation battles, and his route of getting them up to the top flight in the first place should certainly not go unnoticed – the South coast outfit had a fraction of the resources as the Magpies now will.

Former Premier League boss Harry Redknapp lauded the ‘incredible’ job that he did at Bournemouth, while even the great Sir Alex Ferguson rates him as well, praising him during the summer amidst links to Celtic.

Howe certainly has his admirers, and given that he is out of work, should be far more attainable for the consortium.

In other news, find out which ‘world class’ manager is now being ‘pushed’ by Jones for NUFC here!

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side head into Sunday’s Scottish Premiership fixture in an undeniably poor run of form, with the Bhoys having picked up just 10 points over their opening seven games of the 2021/22 campaign.

However, Celtic’s hosts this afternoon, Aberdeen, are also a side out of sorts at present, with Stephen Glass’ men being without a win in five league fixtures – with the Dons currently languishing down in ninth place in the league table on eight points.

So, with Postecoglou undoubtedly hoping the Bhoys can pick up their first away win of the season at Pittodrie, will the 56-year-old manager make any changes to the team which started in the 4-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday?

Here’s how we think Celtic could line up against the Dons, along with the latest team and injury news…

With Josip Juranovic, James Forrest, Mikey Johnston and Christopher Jullien all failing to recover from their respective injuries in time for Sunday’s clash – with Postecoglou hoping that all four of the stricken quartet are once available after the upcoming international break – in addition to the longer-term absences of both Greg Taylor and Karamoko Dembele remaining sidelined, the manager’s options for the trip to Pittodrie are still somewhat limited.

However, we nevertheless predict that the Hoops boss will make two changes to the side that started against Leverkusen on Thursday.

In defence, the back five of Joe Hart, Adam Montgomery, Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Anthony Ralston remains unchanged from the Europa League loss.

The first change comes in central midfield, with the £4.5m-rated David Turnbull dropping out of the side for James McCarthy, in order to provide greater balance to the Celtic side with a slight tweak coming in attack.

Here, attacking midfielder Tom Rogic has to make do with a spot on the bench, with Kyogo Furuhashi – who started as the lone striker on Thursday – dropping back into a support striker role, while Jota and Liel Abada retain their places on the left and right flank respectively.

Replacing Furuhashi up top is Georgios Giakoumakis, with the Greek international being handed his league debut against Aberdeen, as Postecoglou will undoubtedly hoping that the 26-year-old can end Celtic’s run of two games away from Parkhead without hitting the back of the net.

In other news: Ange must unleash £2.25m-rated Celtic “phenomenon” today, he’d terrify Aberdeen