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Newcastle journalist Liam Kennedy has made an interesting claim on Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard.

What’s the talk?

The Magpies reporter has name-checked the England international as a player he has heard strongly mentioned as a player the club will want to sign in the January transfer window.

His agent reportedly came to St. James’ Park in October to watch a match and keep an eye on developments at Newcastle, ahead of a potential switch.

Kennedy told GIVEMESPORT:

“The likes of Jesse Lingard and others are names that I’ve heard really strongly mentioned.”

Willock 2.0

The club are currently sat 19th in the table and without a win in their ten matches thus far. They are six points adrift of safety already and appear to be heading for relegation, which is why they need a saviour to come in and rescue them in the January window.

Joe Willock joined the Magpies in the winter market last season and helped Newcastle stay in the division by scoring an outstanding eight goals in 11 Premier League starts. He became a consistent goalscorer in the top-flight and won valuable points, which is exactly what Lingard could do for them this term.

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PIF must secure a deal for the United attacker as he could be the difference-maker for them in the second half of the campaign, much like Willock was in the 2020/21 season. Michael Carrick previously lauded the midfielder’s unique skillset and claimed that he is difficult to play against. He said:

“I think his movement is excellent. It’s something that sounds quite simple, but it’s difficult to defend against.

“He senses where the space is and how to use it. I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a dribbler with skills and tricks but he’s dynamic. How he plays, he is unique in some ways. You don’t see so much of that now as everyone wants to get on the ball. Off the ball, he’s very effective.”

The £80k-per-week dynamo joined West Ham on loan last season and managed a similar output to Newcastle’s current attacking midfielder, bagging nine goals and four assists in 16 Premier League outings for the Hammers. This shows that he has the quality at this level to come in and make an instant impact on the side by scoring and creating goals, which is why – as Willock was earlier this year – he could be Newcastle’s hero in January.

PIF must now work hard to ensure that they can get a deal over the line for the Englishman to bolster their squad and chances of survival.

AND in other news,  Duncan Castles drops exciting NUFC manager update that should leave fans buzzing…

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now dropped some Newcastle United injury news involving Callum Wilson.

The Lowdown: Injury worries

After Fabian Schar was forced to withdraw from the Switzerland squad for their upcoming friendlies against England and Kosovo due to an adductor problem, the injuries seem to be piling up for Eddie Howe and his team.

Aside from Wilson, Kieran Trippier has also found himself sidelined, but it looks as if he is now stepping up his recovery, while Isaac Hayden is out long-term and Martin Dubravka is reportedly suffering from angina.

The Latest: O’Rourke on Wilson

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke has now given an update on Wilson’s fitness after he joined his teammates in Dubai, claiming that he is ‘making good progress’:

“He’s gone away with him on this trip to Dubai just to work on his fitness as well.

“He’s been out since December with his injury but making good progress.”

The Verdict: Big boost

Of course, the fact that Wilson is making good progress is a big boost for the St. James’ Park faithful.

It was expected that he would not return until the end of April, but now it looks as if he could come back much sooner.

Wilson still remains the North East club’s top scorer in all competitions so far this season, despite being out injured since January, and he is more than capable of providing the goals that could guarantee their safety.

Nonetheless, should he, Trippier and Schar all return within the next couple of weeks, it should give everyone on Tyneside a huge lift.

In other news, find out which ‘spectacular’ talent NUFC are now ‘interested’ in here!

Following on what has been a relatively quiet summer transfer window, Valerien Ismael’s side West Bromwich Albion side were equally quiet on deadline day, with the only movement at The Hawthorns being 19-year-old centre-forward Jovan Malcolm’s departure on loan.

Having confirmed the signings of Adam Reach, Alex Mowatt, Matt Clarke, Quevin Castro, Jordan Hugill and Jayson Molumby, Albion were to make no more moves prior to the closure of the market on Tuesday evening, while they also failed to find a club willing to take Kenneth Zohore off of their hands.

Indeed, it was reported that Ismael had given the green light for the Baggies to offload the 27-year-old centre-forward on Tuesday, and, while Albion could not find the £1.8m-rated man a new home, the striker nevertheless looks unlikely to feature in the Frenchman’s first-team plans with any great regularity over the course of the season.

As such, the club’s failure to move the striker onto pastures new this summer, coupled with the 45-year-old’s aforementioned apparent unwillingness to utilise the Denmark international, could present the West Brom manager with something of a headache going forwards.

Lack of depth

While it is true that West Brom have not exactly struggled for goals in the absence of an out and out number nine so far this season, having found the back of the net 12 times over their opening five Championship fixtures, with only Jordan Hugill – aside from Zohore – in the Frenchman’s squad who could really be described as a classic centre-forward, the 45-year-old could be left somewhat short in the position over the course of the club’s campaign.

Although Callum Robinson and Karlan Grant can operate through the middle if required, both players are more suited to playing on the wing, meaning that, if Zohore is not going to be considered for the role, Ismael has no choice but to place a considerable amount of trust in the Norwich City loanee.

And, considering the centre-forward’s form in the Canaries’ promotion-winning campaign last term, during which the 29-year-old scored just four goals over his 31 Championship appearances, the argument could easily be made that the Frenchman’s trust could be slightly misplaced.

As such, should Hugill indeed struggle to find form at The Hawthorns this season, the failure to shift Zohore’s £16.5k-per-week wages off of the club’s books on deadline day – something which, it can be assumed, stopped the club making a move for another player in the position – could prove extremely costly for the club’s promotion hopes come next May.

In other news: Ismael sets sights on last-gasp West Brom deal, could be the final piece of the puzzle

A number of Wolves supporters were unhappy with Daniel Podence’s performance against Southampton, even though they won the game.

Bruno Lage’s side faced an important Premier League match on Sunday afternoon, having only won once in five outings in the competition before kickoff.

It may not have been the most entertaining game, but Raul Jimenez’s superb solo effort clinched a vital 1-0 victory at St Mary’s, taking Wolves into 14th place in the table.

There were a number of strong performers on the day for the visitors, but one player who never seemed at his best was Podence, who lost possession nine times overall.

The 25-year-old is still looking for his first league goal or assist of the season and Wolves could do with him going up a gear.

Wolves fans unhappy with Podence display

These fans took to Twitter to criticise Podence’s performance after the game.

“Podence. Did he make a successful pass?”

Credit: @Pep30692329

“Imagine my surprise when Podence contributed nothing today”

Credit: @RK13REF

“Great support, fabulous for Raul to score just a shame that Podence and Marcal couldn’t find an away shirt to pass to. Adama and Ayt Nouri please Bruno”

Credit: @andrewhos

“Though we were overall very poor, wing-backs both dreadful, midfield missing, Podence terrible. Hwang meh, didn’t even think the centre-halves were particularly good, some bad positioning at times & gave up passing from back. Bit of magic saved us, but Jimenez poor up to that point”

Credit: @jamiewalters23

“Thought we were by far the better team 1st half but picked wrong option time and time again. Podence had a nightmare, Raul edge of box chose not to shoot. After we scored I thought we were horrific”

Credit: @Thesilencedjuan

“Hwang finding his feet in the league maybe but Podence believes his own hype and Marcel thinks Wolves are his Pension. Totally inept performance from the last two”

Credit: @DingleBal

In other news, one Wolves player’s first-half performance at Southampton was also criticised. Read more here.

Rangers could consider loaning out Stephen Kelly in January ‘if he doesn’t get any game time before then’, according to The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell. 

The lowdown

The 21-year-old has logged just 13 minutes of senior action so far this term, making brief appearances in the first leg of the Europa League qualifier against Alashkert and the League Cup win over Dunfermline Athletic.

The midfielder spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Ross County, playing 29 games across all competitions, and former County boss John Hughes hailed Kelly as a ‘magnificent’ player and an ‘absolute winner’.

The latest

A supporter asked Campbell on The Athletic’s matchday forum what was ‘going on’ with Kelly, who ‘seems to be nowhere’.

The journalist replied that the 21-year-old ‘just has to stick around and hope an opportunity arises’, but his prospects of game-time at Ibrox have taken another hit with Ryan Jack close to a comeback.

Campbell ‘imagines’ that ‘the question of a loan will be reviewed in January’ if indeed Kelly remains outside of Gerrard’s thoughts.

The verdict

It seems as if the plan was to fully integrate Kelly into the first team setup off the back of a loan spell which delighted Ross County, but it hasn’t really panned out that way.

Worryingly, he is yet to even make Steven Gerrard’s matchday squad for a Premiership game. Ultimately, the competition is just too great at this point, and so another loan move would probably be sensible for the 21-year-old if this season isn’t to just go to waste.

In other news, some Gers fans slammed this man’s performance against St Mirren. 

Sheffield United have reportedly rejected Nottingham Forest’s attempts to sign Blades defender Max Lowe on loan this summer.

The Lowdown: Lowe struggles for playing time

United were relegated from the Premier League last season, but Lowe did not play much of a part in that wretched campaign. The 24-year-old was limited to just seven starts in the league, with Chris Wilder not deeming him a key player for his struggling side.

He is also yet to make an appearance in the Championship this season, which suggests that he has no real future at Bramall Lane under Slavisa Jokanovic either.

The Latest: Blades reject bid

Nonetheless, Football League World claimed that the Blades have turned down a loan bid from Forest for the left-back, potentially due to their lack of options in that area.

It is ‘not yet known’ whether Chris Hughton’s side will make another bid for Lowe, who has also been linked with Reading and Swansea.

The Verdict: Keep hold of him

United have made a poor start to the season and they need as many options as possible in the coming weeks and months. For that reason, it makes sense for Jokanovic to keep hold of Lowe, especially as Yuri Ribeiro, Tyler Blackett and Nicholas Ioannou have all moved on.

The hope is that the £2.7m-valued defender can play a positive role as the season progresses, reaching his full potential after joining from Derby County in 2020.

In other news, some Sheffield United fans have criticised one player after their latest defeat. Find out who it is here.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is facing a quadruple blow ahead of his side’s Old Firm clash next month.

What’s the story?

Along with Kyogo Furuhashi, the Hoops added to their Japanese contingent this month with the signings of Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi.

However, all four are likely to be missing from the clash against Rangers on February 2 due to being on international duty with Japan at the time.

A report from Football Scotland explained: “The Japanese FA had been pushing for the government to relax rules on people entering the country from abroad with restrictions in place caused by Omicron.

“It now looks like they have bowed to that pressure with the government recognising it is in the ‘public interest’ for Japan’s best players to be available for the World Cup qualifiers.

“That includes the likes of Kyogo and his new Celtic team-mates, although Hatate is yet to earn a senior cap for his country but is expected to be called up soon.”

Fans will be gutted

With Celtic fans yet to see the likes of Maeda, Hatate and Ideguchi in action just yet, the news that they will now be missing from one of the biggest games of the season in the Premiership is sure to leave them feeling gutted.

If the newly-arrived trio’s time in Scotland could be mirrored by that of Furuhashi’s start to life with the Hoops, then Celtic fans are in for an absolute treat.

However, with Japan facing China on January 27 and Saudi Arabia on February 1, and the Old Firm clash at Celtic Park a day later, it’s improbable that the quartet will be available for the game.

Also, given the nature of the title race right now, Celtic could really have done with being at full strength as they look to close the gap on Rangers. Instead, they have been handed a major early blow before such a big game.

Meanwhile, Celtic must ruthlessly axe this player…

Crystal Palace are reportedly keen to sign Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen this summer, as the Eagles look to push on after a successful first season under Patrick Vieira.

What’s the talk?

According to TEAMtalk, the south London side are interested in luring the Dane away from west London this summer, after the attacking midfielder joined the Bees in January on a six-month contract.

There was a risk in signing the 30-year-old who hadn’t played since suffering a cardiac arrest last June whilst in action for Denmark at the EURO 2020.

However, the former Tottenham Hotspur star has settled back into the Premier League excellently and is a target for an array of clubs, including Palace.

Palace must sign Eriksen

Crystal Palace will be hopeful that their midfield will once again include Conor Gallagher next season, with the Englishman highly impressing at Selhurst Park on loan from Chelsea this term, however, the Eagles are yet to make any sort of breakthrough in extending the 22-year-old’s stay in SE25.

Therefore, if Gallagher isn’t to stay with the Eagles, signing Eriksen would ensure Vieira’s midfield doesn’t suffer. Having said that, the attacking threat of both Eriksen and Gallagher in the same midfield would be a mouthwatering concept for Palace supporters.

Despite fears that the 30-year-old wouldn’t be able to play football again, the Denmark international has returned to action with no signs of wear and tear, having been labelled “unbelievable” by his manager and fellow countryman, Thomas Frank.

The midfielder has scored and assisted once in five league appearances for Brentford, having left Inter Milan in the summer, as well as netting twice last month upon his return to the Denmark national team.

Having earned 111 caps for Denmark as well as making 533 senior appearances at club level, the 30-year-old possesses remarkable experience that the Eagles could certainly do with, despite aiming to lower the average age of their squad.

Moreover, the Dane has scored 148 goals in that period, highlighting the quality he could provide.

It would certainly be a statement signing for Palace who have impressed under Vieira in the Frenchman’s first season as a Premier League manager.

The South London outfit are currently 10th in the Premier League whilst also set to face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Securing a top-half finish and potentially winning the FA Cup would be a marvellous success for the Eagles. Moreover, it would certainly attract higher quality talents in the summer, such as Eriksen.

AND in other news: Vieira must finally unleash £37k-p/w Palace “baller”, his “magic” could stun Chelsea

Everton could seal a bargain deal in either the upcoming January transfer window or next summer after being linked with a move for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria.

What’s the story?

According to Sky Sports journalist Angelo Mangiante, the Toffees are one of three Premier League clubs who are interested in securing the 25-year-old’s services, with his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

He tweeted: “Liverpool, West Ham and Everton are interested in Denis #Zakaria, contract expiring in 2022.”

The Goodison Park outfit were forced to limit their spending to just £1.8m during the last window in order to remain within Financial Fair Play’s regulations, so snapping up Zakaria in a cut-price deal or on a free transfer would surely be appealing to the club’s hierarchy.

Rafa Benitez could seal big bargain

After arriving at Borussia-Park from Young Boys back in 2017, the Switzerland international has established himself as one of the dominant engine room operators in the Bundesliga in recent years.

In 141 appearances for Gladbach, Zakaria has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists, but it’s the box-to-box dynamo’s overall performances which have really caught the eye.

One of the most decorated German footballers of all time in Lothar Matthaus is amongst the 25-year-old’s admirers, claiming that the midfielder reminds him of Real Madrid maestro Toni Kroos.

“I’m glad that Gladbach have found another pearl,” revealed Matthaus (as relayed by Planet Football). “At his age, I was earning my first stripes for Borussia. He reminds me of Toni Kroos at that age.”

Zakaria’s former manager Marco Rose has also been openly complimentary about the £51,000-per-week midfielder, previously telling Sky Germany: “He is a very complete footballer who still has a lot of development potential. He has incredible dynamics, understanding of the game and is not yet at the end of his development.”

The appraisals don’t stop there either, with Swiss stopper Yann Sommer suggesting he had qualities that reminded him of Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane.

With Allan and Fabian Delph in their 30s, and Tom Davies, Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes all struggling for form, bolstering Everton’s options in the middle of the park is likely to be high up on Benitez’s to-do list.

Whether the 61-year-old can entice Zakaria to Goodison Park remains to be seen, but the Swiss beast would certainly add some much-needed steel and class to the Toffees’ midfield. If they can get him on a free transfer, it may well be one of the biggest bargains Benitez has ever saled.

In other news… Journalist provides big Lucas Digne update after Everton absence, fans surely fuming

Aston Villa have been handed a major injury boost ahead of their upcoming Premier League fixture.

What’s the latest?

In a recent Q&A for Birmingham Live, Ashley Preece revealed that central midfielder Morgan Sanson returned to Aston Villa’s first-team training on Tuesday, having recovered from an illness that had ruled the 27-year-old out of the club’s last two Premier League fixtures.

Speaking about the current condition of the former France U21 international, Preece said: “Morgan Sanson is expected to return to training today, so we’ll see where he’s at fitness-wise [ahead of the Brighton & Hove Albion clash].”

Gerrard will be buzzing

With both Marvelous Nakamba and Douglas Luiz appearing to both be doubts for the visit of Brighton on Saturday, the news that Sanson is back in contention for the weekend is sure to have left Steven Gerrard buzzing.

While it is true that the Frenchman is yet to play a single minute of Premier League football this season, the midfielder nevertheless highly impressed in Villa’s penalty shootout loss against Chelsea in the League Cup earlier this term.

Indeed, over his 42 minutes on the pitch against the Blues, the £14.4m-rated man made one key pass, created one big chance for his teammates, made three tackles, one clearance and won all six of his duels.

These returns saw Sanson earn a SofaScore match rating of 7.5, ranking him as the club’s second-best performer against the Premier League leaders.

As such, should the 27-year-old indeed be fit for Saturday’s fixture, it will undoubtedly come as a major boost to Gerrard’s chances of picking up all three points against the Seagulls with absentees already riddling the squad. A win will quite rightly be a result that the 41-year-old is desperate for in the first game of his tenure at Villa Park.

In other news: Grealish 2.0: Gerrard could save AVFC millions with 18 y/o sensation dubbed “the best”